Coutant, a descendant of the original settlers of Xew Rochelle, and who was personally acquaitjted with some of the non-conformists are as follows : ' It is reasonable to suppose, that a people so warmly and conscientiously attached to the principles and forms of a religion for which they had suffered exile, confiscation and almost every imaginable form of persecution, would not willingly submit to be transferred by lair, and to be swallowed u]) within the pale of a church, whose rites, ceremonies, form of government and mode of worship, were entirely dissimilar to their own. We are disposed to think, therefore, that the statement, * " All but two individuals of Mr. Boudet's congregation unanimously conformed to the Church of England," is misleadiiir/ and calculated to convey the impression, (which is •certainly a false one) that the entire body of the French settlers at New Rochelle, except two individuals gave their cheerful and willing assent to the change. This may be true, but it does not state the whole truth by any means.

" >Ir. Boudet's congiegiition may have formed, as we have seen that it did, but a small part of the whole French Colony at the time, and on the occasion referred to ; consisting no doubt of the officials and principal men of the town, to whom had been committed in good faith the man. agemcnt of church matters, and the religious interests of the colony in general. This class always has existetl, and does still exist in all church establishments ; men, who by their pecuniary means and prominence in society, as well as by their official relations to the church and state, exercise a controlling influence. But it is equally certain, that the acts and doings of this class of (lersons cannot always be held to represent the views and wishes of a majoritij of the peoph'^ or even the unanimom approval of their own number, since even in the case we are considering, there were at least two dissenting voices.