Houdin was stationed at Quebec, under the command of General Murray, an attempt was made by the Vicar-General of Canada, to seduce him from his allegiance, by an offer of great preferment in the Romish Church : -- " We hear from Montreal that the Vicar-General of all Canada, residing at Montreal, has wrote a pressing invitation to the Rev. Mr. Udang, the chaplain of a regiment at Quebec, to return to the Romish religion, with a promise

o Printed abstracts of Ven. Prop. Soc. for 1753.

b The Rev. Michael Houdin preached to the provincial troops destined for the expedition against Canada, in St. Peter's church, Westchester, from St. Matthew, x chap., and part of SStii verse, " Fear not them which kill the body, &c.

c General James Wolfe fell on the Heights of Abraham in the moment ' ber 13th, 1759 -- [Editor.]

d Printed Abstracts of Ven. Prop. Soc. 15th Feb. 1754, to 15th Feb., 1760.

e New York MSS. from Archives at Fuiham, vol. ii, 887. (Hawks).

650 . HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER.

of great preferment in the Church, which Mr. Udang put into the hands of General Murray, who sent it enclosed to General Gage, who upon the receipt of it, sent a guard to take the Vicar-General into custody ; what will be the issue, is not known."

Mr. Houdin must have returned to New York in 1761, for about August of that year he was appointed by the Venerable Society to be their missionary at New Rochelle. With regard to this appointment, the Society's abstracts say : -- " That the French refugees are, according to Dr. Barclay, a very orderly, sober, and religious people ; to whom, at their earnest request, he hid preached twice lately, and had administered the holy communion, and was much pleased with their devout behavior.