gerous, for he does not weaken his strength; the bloodier a battle is, the nobler the victory and the more glorious the triumph. The more this infant Church has in common with the primitive one, the greater hope it gives us of seeing it produce flowers and fruits worthy of Paradise. But let us defer this discussion to the fourteenth chapter, and to the Relation which has been sent me from the Hurons. Let us speak of our French Colony, and of the wandering Savages, who will be all the slower to embrace our faith the less resistance they make to us. But after all, both the former and the latter belong to God; when it shall please him, his goodness will unseal their eyes. This film which covers

their sight seems to be growing thin

ner; some day we shall see it

fall, with joy and with

benediction.

be it.

So

[1] Relation de ce qui s'est passé en la nouuelle France, en l'année mil fix cens trente sept.

CHAPITRE I.

DES SECOURS QUE L'ANCIENNE FRANCE DONNE À LA NOUUELLE.

E croyois auoir parlé fi amplement l'année paffée, des fentimens d'affection qu'ont plufieurs perfonnes de merite, pour la nouuelle France, que ie ne pourrois plus rien efcrire fur ce fujet, fans vser de redites: mais l'amour qu'on porte au falut de nos pauures Sauuages fe va dilatant auec des accroiffemens fi notables, que nous ferions condamnez d'ingratitude deuant Dieu & les hommes, fi nous n'en beniffions [2] le ciel, & n'en rendions quelque tesmoignage à la terre. Ie ne veux pas reïterer ce que i'ay dit des affections de noftre grand Roy, des foins de Monfeigneur le Cardinal, des grandes despenses de Meffieurs les Affociez & Directeurs, lefquels me tefmoignent n'auoir receu aucune lettre particuliere de ma part au retour de la flotte, ce qui ne les a pas empefché de m'honorer d'vn grand tesmoignage de leur affection: mais ie les fupplie tres-humblement de croire que ie leur auois rendu ce deuoir, comme auffi à quantité de perfonnes tres-honorables, qui n'ont receu aucune de mes nouuelles, ie ne fçay par quel fort mes lettres ne leur ont esté renduës. Au reste

[1] Relation of what occurred in new France in the year one thousand six hundred and thirty-seven.

CHAPTER I.

OF THE ASSISTANCE WHICH OLD FRANCE GIVES TO THE NEW.

THOUGHT I was speaking so fully last year on the sentiments of affection for new France, entertained by many persons of merit, that I could write nothing more upon this subject without repetition. But the interest that is felt in the salvation of our poor Savages continues to extend, with so remarkable a growth that we would be condemned for ingratitude before God and men if we did not bless [2] heaven therefor, and bear witness thereof to the earth. I will not repeat what I have said of the kind interest of our great King, of the attentions of Monseigneur the Cardinal, of the great outlays of Messieurs the Associates and Directors, who assure me that they did not receive any special letter from me on the return of the fleet, which has not prevented them from honoring me with strong evidence of their affection; but I beg them very humbly to believe that I did perform this duty towards them, as well as towards a number of very honorable personages who have received no news from me; I do not know by what fate my letters were not delivered to them.

ces Meffieurs me parlent en des termes, dignes d'estre mis au iour, apres m'auoir declaré le defir qu'ils ont d'amplifier le Royaume de Iefus-Christ. Voicy comme ils poursuiuent:

Nous auons appris, & tenons pour regle certaine, que pour former le corps d'vne bonne Colonie, il faut commencer par la Religion, elle eft en l'eftat comme le cœur en la compofition de l'homme, la premiere & viuifiante partie, c'eft fur elle que les fondateurs des grandes Republiques ont ietté le plan de leurs edifices: qui ne dureroient pas s'ils auoient vn autre fondement: ainfi nous proteftons [3] qu'elle fera toufiours precieufement traittée, & qu'en toutes rencontres nous la ferons prefider en la nouuelle France. Mon cœur tient vn long difcours, lifant ces paroles, aufquelles ma bouche ne donnera pour response que ces deux mots. Fiat, fiat, in nomine Domini. Dauid voulant bastir la maifon de Dieu, eftablit puiffamment la fienne.

L'affection qu'on porte à noftre Colonie, & à nos pauures Sauuages, n'est point bornée par les Alpes. Sa Saincteté nous voulant combler de fes benedictions, nous a fait expedier cette année des Indulgences plenieres pour les iours de la Conception de la faincte Vierge, & de noftre glorieux patron, & protecteur fainct Iofeph. De plus il a defiré de noftre R. Pere General vne briefue Relation de tout ce qui fe fait icy pour la gloire de nostre Seigneur, pour nous accorder les graces & les faueurs neceffaires pour le bien de cette Eglife naiffante.

Le grand Maistre de Malte, homme plein de courage, de fageffe & de vertu, fe plaift, à ce qu'on me fait entendre, dans les difcours qu'on luy fait de la nouuelle France. Sa Majefté tres-Chreftienne, [4]

Moreover, these Gentlemen speak to me in terms which should be made public, after having declared the desire they had of extending the Kingdom of Jesus Christ. Here is the way they continue:

We have learned, and hold it to be a safe rule, that, in order to form the body of a good Colony, it is necessary to begin with Religion. It is to the state what the heart is to the organism of a man, the chief and vitalizing part. It is upon this that the founders of great Republics have based the plans of their edifices, which would not endure if they had other foundations. Therefore, we declare [3] that it shall always be treated as something precious, and that on all occasions we will give it precedence in new France. My heart utters a long discourse in reading these words, to which my mouth will give no other answer than these two words, Fiat, fiat, in nomine Domini! David, wishing to build the house of God, effectively established his own.

The interest felt in our Colony and in our poor Savages, is not bounded by the Alps. His Holiness, wishing to crown us with his blessings, has had sent to us this year plenary Indulgences for the days of the Conception of the blessed Virgin, and of our glorious patron and protector, saint Joseph. Furthermore, he has requested from our Reverend Father General a brief Relation of all that is done here for the glory of our Lord, in order to grant us the graces and favors necessary for the welfare of this infant Church.

The grand Master of Malta, a man full of courage, of wisdom, and of virtue, is pleased, as I have been informed, with the reports made to him concerning new France. His most Christian Majesty, [4] Monseigneur the Cardinal, and Messieurs the Directors