First Century Afterthe Expulsion 81 
     
    
   
   
    
          
     
       
     
       
     
          
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
       
     
    
   
   
    
        
     
    
   
   
    
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     Drawing of the first church in Tignish, built in 1801. 
     
     L'Impartial Illustré. 
     
    
   
   
    
     A young Acadian (Silvain Poirier by name) expressed a desire to continue his 
     
     studies, thinking of the Ecclesiastical estate. He is a little old, being in his 
     
     seventeenth or eighteenth year. 
     
    

    
     He has only average skills; however he will be able to pass, I have taught 
     
     him for about a month, he is up to the Prepositions, having done the Verbs 
     
     quite well. Above all, he is virtuous, and resolutely good. I request that your 
     
     Lordship put him in the College that you deem appropriate, he has but 30 
     
     pounds and | hope to secure the same amount for him next year. (TR)''® 
     
    
   
   
    
     The Bishop of Quebec received this candidate for the priesthood 
     
     and enrolled him in the Seminary in Nicolet, even though the amount 
     
     of money Father Cécile had sent was not enough to cover the cost 
     
     of his first year. Financing the studies of the young seminarian proved 
     
     to be a problem since the impoverished parishioners refused to con- 
     
     tribute towards his education without a specific order from the bishop. 
     
     On the other hand, Monseigneur Plessis would not allow Father Cécile 
     
     to tax the parishioners of Tignish and warned him not to send students 
     
     without financial resources''’. Nevertheless, the young Acadian was 
     
     able to continue his studies with the help of a Quebec priest, who 
     
     knew the Poirier family, and with small contributions from Father 
     
     Cécile’.