RELIGION. Quebec was first settled by French Catholics and was the centre of the great mis sionary activity of the Jesuits. The Catholic faith still continues strongly predominant, its adherents outnumbering, the Protestants more than 0 to 1. They constitute two-thirds of the total Catholic population of the Dominion. (If the Protestants, the Episcopalians, Presbyterians, and Methodists are strongest.
The educational system is unlike that of any other Canadian province. As in the ease of the others, however, there is a 'Depart ment of Pnhlic Instruction' with a superintendent at its head. But the administration is represented by two committees. Catholic and Protestant, having the care of the schools of the respective faiths, prescribing such religious instruction as they see fit, and receiving proportionate support from the public funds. All Catholic bishops are members of the Catholic committee. The individual schools are in the hands of local hoards. There were, in 1900. 4950 Catholic
schools and 966 Protestant. Each class of schools contains some pupils of the opposite faith, SO in every 1000 in the Protestant schools being Catholics. The study of agriculture receives spe cial attention. There are one dairy and four agricultural schools. The expense of the public schools averages about $9 per enrolled pupil. About Il per cent. of this is met by Government grants, the rest being raised by assessment of the people. The higher institutions of learn ing are provided by private or denominational enterprise. These are the Laval University (Catholic) at Quebec, with a brand' at Mont real: Bishop's University (Anglican), at Len noxville; and McGill University (non-denomina tional), at Montreal. The last institution in particular has a wide reputation.