PERREAULT, Francis Joseph, Canadian author, born in Quebec, Canada, in 1750; died there in 1844. Although he was the son of a wealthy contractor, the scarcity of books in the country placed many impediments in the way of his education, but by his energy and perseverance he succeeded in acquiring much practical and useful knowledge. He rendered more service to Canada by his pen than perhaps any of his contemporaries. He was prothonotary of the district of Quebec up to the close of his life. His principal works are "Le juge de paix et officier de paroisse pour la province de Quebec" (Quebec, 1805);" Dictionnaire portatif et abrege des lois et rogles du parlement provincial du Bas-Canada" (1805); "Manuel des huissiers de la cour du bane du roi du district de Quebec" (1813); "Question et reponses sur le loi criminel du Bas-Canada" (1814); "Moyens de conserver nos institutions, nos langues et nos lois"; "Extraits des registres du conseil superieur et de la provote" (1824)" "Traite d'agriculture adapte au climat du Canada" (1831); "Code stir a l'usage des habitants taut anciens que nouveaux du Bas-Canada" (1839); and "Histoire du Canada" (4 vols.).