INTRODUCTORY NOTE.

THE following papers, written by the illustrious missionary between the years 1642 and 1646, consist of,

I. Narrative of his Captivity among the Mohawks, from a Latin manuscript preserved at Montreal, and in Alegambe.

II. Account of his Escape, from the Relation of 1642–3, p. 284. III. Description of New Netherland, from his original manuscript. IV. His last Letters in 1646, from the Relation of 1646-7.

V. Captivity and Death of René Goupil, from his original manuscript.

VI. Letters of Gov. Kieft announcing his death, from an attested copy preserved at Montreal.

The narrative of his captivity forms part of a manuscript volume, entitled "Memoires touchant la mort et les vertus des peres Isaac Jogues, Anne de Noue, Antoine Daniel, Jean de Brebeuf, Gabriel Lalemant, Charles Garnier, Noel Chabanel et René Goupil," consisting of authentic papers relating to their life and death, being copied from originals, and each sworn to by Fathers Paul Ragueneau and Joseph Poncet; as to Father Jogues, it includes Father Buteux's "Narré de la prise du p. Isaac Jogues," Jogues' own narrative, his account of the captivity and death of Goupil, and letters of Fathers Buteux and De Quen relative to his death. It was found, accompanied by the Description of New Netherland, and the account of Goupil's death, in the handwriting of Father Jogues himself, both in letter form, with the folds and incisions for sealing in use at the time, and both more easily read than the court-hand of the volume. They were found in the Hospital of the Augustin nuns, or Hotel Dieu, at Quebec, where they had been deposited shortly before 1800 by Father Cazot, the last of the old race of the Jesuits of the French colony, who seeing his body then about to expire by the enactments of the English conquerors, which prevented their receiving new members, wished to save for Catholicity at least a few of the most valuable of the papers in the archives. The

volume in question, and some others, were selected by him, and faithfully preserved by the ladies to whom he intrusted them, as a sacred deposit, and were by them restored to the Jesuits soon after their return to Canada a few years since.

The use of these manuscripts has been kindly afforded by the Rev. Felix Martin, President of St. Mary's College, Montreal, Corresponding Member of the Society.

MEMOIR.

ISAAC JOGUES was born at Orleans, in France, on the tenth of January, 1607, and his family still enjoys the esteem of his native city. Educated in a Jesuit college but lately opened there, his tender piety, his wonderful love of the Cross, or, in less ascetic language, of sufferings, and a desire of pouring out his blood in attempting to convert the heathen to the Faith of Christ, induced him, towards the close of his studies, to ask to be enrolled among the members of the celebrated Society which had directed his education. Admitted to the Rouen novitiate in 1624, he was sent, after the two years of seclusion and prayer which usher in the religious life, to Paris to continue his literary studies. In 1629, he began his career as a teacher, and for four years attracted universal admiration by his able scholarship and ability in the direction of youth. The following letter in its latinity would do credit to a scholar writing in the quiet of his study; and other monuments are extant to show how easily he might have grasped at literary fame. He sighed, however, for the missions; and it was with joy that he received a summons to repair to the Clermont College, at Paris, to prepare, by the study of divinity, for the order of priesthood, which would enable him to set out for that field which he had ever ardently desired.

In 1636, after four years' study, he was ordained priest, and ordered to prepare for immediate embarkation to Canada, to which, when all chance of the European mission was cut off, his longings had been turned. After bidding farewell to his mother and family, he set sail from Dieppe with Father Garnier and Father Chatelain, and after a stormy voyage reached Miscou, a little island at the entrance of Chaleurs Bay, where the Jesuits then had a missionary station. Here he landed; but after a short stay proceeded to Quebec, and arrived in the city on the 2d of July: his two companions