being carried twenty-five or thirty leagues in this position; on being relieved from which, he felt as if he had come out of a dungeon." Despite his misfortunes, he explored, on this expedition, a great extent of country, even reaching Lake Nipissing and Lake Huron. In all these arduous efforts in behalf of the new province, during which he repeatedly went to France, he obtained little aid in prosecution of his schemes, either from the crown or the company; and his utmost energies, at times, were required to prevent the emigrants from breaking up their settlements, and relinquishing altogether the attempt to colonize these inclement regions.

Religious dissensions between the Catholics and Huguenots soon sprung up in the little community, and Champlain, a zealous Romanist, with grief saw himself compelled by policy to allow some toleration to the latter. The Iroquois, in 1621, to revenge past injuries, sent three strong war parties against the French and Hurons, on the latter of whom they inflicted a considerable massacre. A stone fort was built for the protection of Quebec, which, at this time, had only fifty inhabitants, but which soon received a considerable addition of emigrants. In 1627, the "Company of New France," chartered under the auspices of the famous Richelieu, went into operation, with full dominion and sovereignty (saving certain feudal acknowledg ments to the crown) over nearly all the vast regions now known as British America, with the right to confer titles of a high order, and to select governors and other officers to rule their provinces. This powerful corporation, aided by gifts from the crown, undertook that, by the year 1643, six thousand additional colonists should be transported to the province; but its attempts were thwarted by misfortune, and in 1629, the little settlement of Quebec was taken by an English force, and all Canada was compelled to submit to the victors. In 1632, by the treaty of St. Germains, it was restored to France, little value at that time being attached by either nation to the feeble settlements thinly scattered over that inhospitable region. "At this period, the fort of Quebec, surrounded by a score of hastilybuilt dwellings and barracks, some poor huts on the island of Montreal, the like at Three Rivers and Tadousac, and a few fishermen's log-houses elsewhere on the banks of the St. Lawrence, were the only fruits of the discoveries of Verrazano, Jacques Cartier, Roberval, and Champlain, the great outlay of La Roche and De Monts, and the toils and sufferings of their followers for nearly a century."

Under the active administration of Cardinal Richelieu, however,

efficient means had been taken to promote the prosperity of the recovered colony; and the company, whose operations had been suspended by the late disasters, in the following year (1633) again placed Champlain in command of the colonies, and dispatched an expedition, carrying more property, it was supposed, than the entire province at that time contained. This expedition increased the population, and materially promoted the prosperity of New France; but the death of Champlain, which took place soon after, was a severe blow to the infant colony. "He died in 1635, leaving a high renown for courage, for patient and indefatigable industry, and for fervent piety-the latter, it seems to us, hardly deserved, considering his unprincipled interference in Indian warfare, and his bigoted exclusion of Protestant settlers from the forlorn refuge of the Canadian wilderness. He certainly bequeathed to the state which he had founded with such pains and perseverance, a deep and deadly native hostility, destined to involve it, at a later period, in almost total destruction." "To him, however," says an elegant author,* "belongs the glory of planting Christianity and civilization among the snows of these northern forests; during his life, indeed, a feeble germ; but, sheltered by his vigorous arm-nursed by his tender care-the root struck deep. And now a million and a half of Christian people dwell in peace and plenty upon that magnificent territory, which his zeal and wisdom first redeemed from the desolation of the wilderness."

* Warburton-"Conquest of Canada."

CHAPTER IV.

ADMINISTRATION OF MONTMAGNY.-UNPROSPEROUS CONDITION

OF THE PROVINCE.

UMPHS OF THE

D'ARGENSON.-D'AVANGOUR.-TRI-
IROQUOIS.-EARTHQUAKE.-REIN-

FORCEMENTS FROM FRANCE.-MESEY.-TRACY.-DE
COURCELLES. THE COMTE DE FRONTENAC: HIS
CHARACTER. TURBULENT ADMINISTRATION.-

DE LA BARRE: HIS EXPEDITION AGAINST THE
IROQUOIS: ITS FAILURE. CELEBRATED
SPEECH OF GARANGULA. -MAGNANIMOUS

CONDUCT OF THE IROQUOIS.

MONTMAGNY, the successor of Champlain in the government of Canada, wanting in the enthusiasm and experience of that famous commander, was unable efficiently to promote the increase and prosperity of the province. The foundation of the college of the Jesuits and of other religious establishments, which, prompted by the pious zeal of French ecclesiastics and of ladies of rank, took place about this time, were the most important events which distinguished the early years of his administration. The company, after the death of Champlain, did nothing towards settling or cultivating the country, but confined themselves to the more profitable trade in furs, and erected forts only for the convenience and protection of that enterprise. The affairs of the colony languished, and the Iroquois, with very natural enmity, continued to harass the weaker settlements. Montreal, it is said, would have been completely destroyed or abandoned, but for the timely arrival, in 1647, of an hundred emigrants from France, under M. D'Aillebout.

When, in 1658, the Marquis d'Argenson arrived in Canada as governor-general, the condition of that province was miserable in the extreme. Neglected by the company, its prosperity had continued to decline, even the fur-trade becoming almost extinct; and the Iroquois, having wreaked terrible vengeance on their ancient foes, the Hurons and Algonquins, seemed on the point of overpowering the French altogether. A great number of settlers were massacred by them at Montreal, and Quebec itself, surrounded by a force of several hundred warriors, was nearly in a state of actual

siege. To D'Argenson, in 1661, succeeded the Baron D'Avangour, a man of stern, inflexible character, whose prompt action saved the settlements from destruction. His urgent representations to Louis XIV. of the importance of the province and its defenceless condition, induced that sovereign to dispatch a force of four hundred men for its protection-the timely arrival of which inspired fresh hope and courage in the almost despairing colonists.

In the year 1663, a tremendous earthquake, continuing at intervals for the space of six months, spread dismay among the settlers, and extraordinary convulsions of the earth and the rivers are said to have taken place. The St. Lawrence, for a hundred and thirty miles, was discolored and impregnated with sulphurous matter.

The company of New France, by their mismanagement and imbecility, having reduced the colony to the lowest state, in 1664 surrendered their charter, which was transferred to another almost equally incapable association, the Company of the West Indies. The Baron d'Avangour, recalled at his own request, was replaced by M. de Mesey, who, quarrelling with the bishop of the province, was also deposed, and the Marquis de Tracy, for some time viceroy over the French possessions in America, in June, 1665, arrived in Canada from the West Indies, as governor in his stead. The arrival of a regiment of French soldiers, provided for the defence of the colony, enabled him to take more efficient means of defence against the Iroquois, and three forts were erected on the river Richelieu (Sorel or St. John's) to check the incursions which they habitually made by that passage from Lake Champlain. Nevertheless, by other routes they renewed their ravages with such fury, that all the vigi. lance of the governor and all the force of the colony was required to protect it from destruction. Having provided in the best manner possible for its defence, in 1668 he returned to France, leaving M. de Courcelles governor in his stead.

Many of the military officers, having received grants of land, with seignorial rights, settled in the province, and many of the soldiers were also distributed among the settlements, adding materially to the strength of the inhabitants. Three hundred courtesans, dispatched from France, were all disposed of in marriage within a fortnight after their arrival; and much encouragement was given by the government to the formation of families and the increase of a legitimate population. During the administration of Courcelles, much of Canada was explored; and the original inhabitants, by the

ravages of small-pox and the introduction of ardent spirits, were terribly diminished in number. His influence had been wisely and humanely exerted to check hostilities among the Indians, and the result had been favourable to the peace of the colony itself.

The Count de Frontenac, who, in 1672, succeeded De Courcelles, built, in the same year, the important fort which bore his name, on the site of the present town of Kingston. He was an able soldier, and a man of high qualities; but violent and obstinate in the prosecution of his plans. He was soon involved in dispute with the clergy and with the inferior officers of the colony, and resorted to extreme measures to enforce obedience. "The intendant-general, M. de Chezneau, having neglected some orders, was imprisoned; the procureur-general was exiled; the governor of Montreal was put under arrest; and the Abbé de Salignac Fenelon, at that time in Canada, superintending the seminary of St. Sulpicius at Montreal, was imprisoned, under pretence of having preached against M. de Frontenac." In one point of controversy, the clergy, to their honour, were in the right-that respecting the traffic of brandy for furs with the savages, which the governor insisted on continuing, but which, through the influence of the bishop, was finally suppressed by an order from the king. After remaining in office for ten years, this able and patriotic, but too unscrupulous man, was recalled to France. During his administration, considerable progress was made in discovery and settlement, and, in especial, the wonderful expeditions of Marquette and La Salle resulted in the opening to mankind of a region the most important in North America. (See Louisiana.)

Soon after the accession of M. de la Barre, who was next appointed governor, Indian hostilities, of a most serious nature, were renewed. The English, anxious to engross the trade in furs, had formed an alliance with the Iroquois or Five Nations, and the rivalry between the colonial agents involved the French in new difficulty with their ancient foes. That powerful confederacy had recommenced hostilities, by plundering the French traders who were supplying the rival tribes with arms, and had made such formidable preparations, that the destruction of the French settlements (at this time numbering only nine thousand inhabitants) seemed far from improbable. To avert or anticipate the threatened evil, the governor, with a force of a thousand men, marched toward their country, at the same time, however, making overtures of peace to the hostile con