[Footnote 3: Page 6.--Editions of Champlain's works appeared at Paris
in 1603, 1613, 1619, 1620, 1627, 1632 and 1640; at Quebec in 1830 and
1870. An English translation was published by the Prince Society of
Boston in 1878-80. The Abbé Laverdière's edition, in six volumes, 4to.,
(Quebec, 1870), is the most perfect modern publication of the works.
It printed for the first time the text of the voyage of 1599-1601.
For bibliographical notes of Champlain's works see Bourinot's "Cape
Breton," 'Trans. Roy. Soc. Can.,' vol. ix., Sec. II., App. VIII. (also
in separate form, Montreal, 1892); Winsor's 'Nar. and Crit. Hist. Am.,'
iv., 130-134; Harrisse's "Notes sur la bibliographie de la Nouvelle
France."
French Canadian writers like Garneau and Ferland have exhausted the
language of eulogy in describing the character and life of Samuel
Champlain, but no one who follows his career can doubt the truth of
this latest tribute to the French colonizer of Canada by Dr. N.
E. Dionne in "Samuel Champlain, fondateur de Québec et père de la
Nouvelle France: Histoire de sa vie et de ses voyages," Québec, 1891:
"Il possédait à un haut degré le génie colonisateur, et c'est dans ce
rôle, si difficile de tout temps, qu'il fit preuve de sagesse et de
clairvoyance, et dans le choix des colons, et dans la direction qu'il
sut imprimer à leurs premiers efforts. L'intelligence de Champlain
se révèle dans de nombreux écrits, où l'observateur judicieux et
pénétrant coudoie le savant et le marin aussi hardi qu'expérimenté.
Comme cosmographe il a eu l'immense mérite d'avoir surpassé tous ses
devanciers, par l'abondance des descriptions et l'agencement heureux
des données géographiques. C'est un nouveau titre de gloire que l'on
doit ajouter à sa couronne resplendissante de tant de rayons lumineux.
Plusieurs historiens, même de ceux qui ne comptent pas parmi les
admirateurs des œuvres françaises, lui out rendu le témoignage d'avoir
fait entrer la science cartographique dans une nouvelle ère de progrès.
Naturaliste, géographe, marin, cosmographe; Champlain était tout cela
à la fois, et dans une mesure hautement remarquable pour l'epoque où
il vivait.... Pas un gouverneur sous l'ancien régime n'a donné d'aussi
grands exemples de foi, de piété, et de droiture d'intention."
It is Captain John Smith of Virginia who, among the colonizers of
America, can best compare with the founder of Quebec. The following
estimate of his character, given by the historian George Bancroft (i.,
138-139, ed. of 1866), could be applied in almost every particular to
the Frenchman; all we need do is to read "New France" for "Virginia,"
"French" for "Saxon," "France" for "England," etc.: "He was the
father of Virginia, the true leader who first planted the Saxon race
within the borders of the United States. His judgment had ever been
clear in the midst of general despondency. He united the highest
spirit of adventure with consummate powers of action. His courage and
self-possession accomplished what others esteemed desperate. Fruitful
in expedients, he was prompt in execution. Though he had been harassed
by the persecutions of malignant envy, he never revived the memory of
the faults of his enemies. He was accustomed to lead, not to send his
men to danger; would suffer want rather than borrow, and starve sooner
than not pay. He had nothing counterfeit in his nature, but was open,
honest and sincere. He clearly discerned that it was the true interest
of England not to seek in Virginia for gold and hidden wealth, but to
enforce regular industry. 'Nothing,' said he, 'is to be expected thence
but by labour.'"]