founded. Champlain, who had in the mean time returned to France once and
again, visited America that year, arriving at a place of rendezvous
appointed for another warlike expedition. Not finding the Indians, he
employed his time in selecting a spot for a new settlement, higher up
the river than Quebec. Carefully examining the region, he fixed upon
ground in the vicinity of an eminence which he called Mount Royal; and
it would seem from the prosperity which has since attended the place,
under the name of Montreal, that his choice has been amply justified.
After sowing grain on a cleared spot of some extent, he inclosed it with
a wooden wall. Champlain explored the River Ottawa, and many other parts
of the country, while he remained in it. In consequence of expeditions
from France, at various times, a few other settlements were formed; but
the colony, though bearing the imposing name of New France, was in a
condition of extreme weakness, and seemed to be viewed with
indifference, both by the mother-country and England.
_Capture of Quebec._--The growth of this place was very inconsiderable
for many years; but it early became a mark for the assaults of an
enemy. Hostilities having commenced with England, two French subjects,
David and Louis Kirk, entering the service of that country, equipped a
squadron, which sailed to the mouth of the St. Lawrence, captured
several vessels, and intercepted the communication between the
mother-country and the colony. In July, 1629, Sir David Kirk summoned
Quebec--a summons which was followed by a surrender of the place, the
invaded party being promised honorable conditions, and allowed to
depart with their arms, clothes, and baggage. The request of a ship
to convey them directly home was not granted, but they were promised a
commodious passage by way of England. In consequence of the adjustment
of difficulties between the two countries, the place was at length
restored; and Canada, with Cape Breton and Acadia, was confirmed to
France. The final treaty, however, was not signed till the 29th March,
1632.
_Death of Champlain._--Champlain, as the founder of the most important
places in New France, was for a long time the life and soul of the
colony. His energy, scientific accomplishments, and popularity, seemed
to be most intimately connected with the prosperity, and even existence
of the colony. In 1633, he was appointed governor, and sailed with a
squadron, carrying all necessary supplies, to Canada, where, on his
arrival, he found most of his former colonists. A greater prosperity now
attended the affairs of New France. Means were employed for maintaining
harmony among the inhabitants, and methods devised for introducing into
the colony only persons of unexceptionable character.
But the end of his enterprising career was now come. He perished in
the year 1636, having been drowned in the lake which bears his name.
His death was, of course, a severe misfortune to Canada, and the loss
could not well be repaired. M. de Montmagny was appointed his
successor, and appeared to have commanded the general respect of the
native inhabitants. But the colony was in a critical condition, and he
could act only on the defensive, in the hostilities in which they were
disposed from time to time to engage. Owing to the policy of the court
at home, of continuing no governor in power longer than three years,
Montmagny was displaced at the end of that time by the appointment of
another governor. This system, however, was ill-suited to a settlement
like that of Canada, where an intimate local knowledge, and a peculiar
mixture of firmness and address, were necessary to deal with
tumultuary tribes whom they were too feeble to subdue. Ailleboust,
his successor, is said to have been a man of probity, but he
indifferently possessed the energy required in so difficult a
situation. The Iroquois now became peculiarly turbulent, and, as will
soon be seen, brought dreadful calamities on the whites.
_Religious Enterprises._--Catholic missionaries had not merely formed
establishments at Quebec and Montreal, but had also penetrated into
the domains of the savages. These religionists certainly gave full
proof of sincerity in their work, as they renounced all the comforts
of civilized life, and exposed themselves to every species of hardship
and danger. The religious "establishments did little for the immediate
improvement of the colony, yet as points of possession, occupied by
persons whose avocations were professedly holy and useful, they laid
the foundation on which arose the superstructure of those morals and
habits that still and will long characterize the Gallo-Canadians."
As to the effect of the Catholic missions on the native tribes, it is
to be observed, they undoubtedly reclaimed their votaries from many
savage habits, and trained them up to some degree of order and
industry. The tribe found to be the most docile and susceptible of
improvement, was that of the Hurons; and their great numbers presented
a wide field for religious effort. More than three thousand of them
are recorded to have received baptism at one time, though only a
portion of the number probably retained even the profession of
Christianity. The general effect produced was in a degree favorable,
and softened somewhat the aspect of this wild region. The main object
was to unite the Indians in villages. Of these, several were formed,
the principal of which were Sillery, or St. Joseph, and St. Mary.
_War made by the Iroquois._--In 1648, the Iroquois, as already
intimated, were resolved on renewing the war; for what cause, if for
any, does not now appear. Their movements were rapid and fatal. The
village of Sillery was occupied by four hundred families, and was
accordingly a tempting object to the savages. In a time of profound
peace, and while the missionary was celebrating the most solemn
ordinances of religion, the shriek was suddenly heard, "We are
murdered!" The enemy had commenced an indiscriminate massacre, without
distinction of sex or age. The women fled for safety into the depths of
the forest; but the infants whom they carried in their arms betrayed
them by their crying, and mother and suckling were alike butchered. The
assailants, at length, fell upon the priest, and after each in
succession had struck him a blow, they threw him into the flames.[84]
[Illustration: Extermination of the Hurons.]
By this onset, the Hurons were wholly routed; their country, which had
for some time reposed in peace and security, became a scene of
devastation and blood. Fleeing for refuge in every direction, a few
subsequently united with their invaders, but the greater number sought
safety among the Chippewas of Lake Superior. A small remnant of about
three hundred were able to secure the protection of the French at
Quebec. Here, they were viewed only as objects of charity; and though,
as such, considerable exertions were put forth in their behalf, yet the
whole number could not be accommodated. Numbers were exposed to cold and
hunger, until a station could be formed for them, which was named
Sillery, after their former chief settlement. In consequence of the
successes of the Iroquois, the French were chiefly confined to the three
forts of Quebec, Three Rivers, and Montreal. For a number of years, a
sad state of things existed in the colony. The French had been compelled
to accept of humiliating terms of peace, and even by these means, only
partially secured the boon. The Iroquois continually extended their
dominion, conquering one tribe of their fellow-savages after another,
and even insulting the French in their fortified posts. The latter, from
fear or weakness, were compelled to witness the destruction of their
allies. They were themselves, in a great measure, safe in their
fortresses, for these the enemy had no adequate skill to besiege.
_Accessions to the Colony._--It had been represented to Louis XIV.,
who had lately ascended the throne, that his government was exposing
the French name to contempt, through neglect of his fine American
province, and tame subjection to Indian ravages. He was sufficiently
bent upon aggrandizement not willingly to incur such a reproach; and
accordingly troops were dispatched from France, and the French power
was at once considerably augmented in the province. The Marquis de
Tracy was sent out at this time, 1665, in the joint character of
viceroy and lieutenant-general. Besides the soldiers, a considerable
number of settlers, including artisans, with horses and cattle, were
conveyed with him to Canada. He was able to overcome and repress the
savages, and increase the fortifications and defences of the country.
The population was more than doubled by means of the immigration.
_Progress of the Colony._--After M. de Tracy, the government was
administered successively by M. de Courcelles, Count Frontenac, M. de
la Barre, Denonville, and Count Frontenac the second time, down to the
year 1698. Under the first-named governor, the French power was
gradually extended to the interior of Canada and the upper parts of
the River St. Lawrence. A settlement of Hurons was established on the
island of Michilimackinack, a situation very favorable to the
fur-trade, and a site for a fort was selected at Cataraqui, on Lake
Ontario, a position of importance for trade and defence. Count
Frontenac, immediately upon his accession, caused the fort to be
completed. He conducted the affairs of the colony with spirit and
energy during a period of ten years, but he was too independent in his
administration to suit a jealous court at home. His successor, M. de
la Barre, not fulfilling the expectations of the government, was soon
rëcalled, and the Marquis Denonville appointed in his room. The
measures of this governor were not at all well advised; his treachery
to the natives brought him into difficulty; he obtained only an empty
victory over them, and, towards the conclusion of his administration,
the very existence of the colony was threatened. At this period, 1689,
Frontenac was rëcalled to the government. It was hoped that his
experience would teach him to avoid the errors of his former
administration, while his decision, energy, and fascinating manners,
were deemed of vital importance to the welfare of the settlement.
Frontenac, anxious to justify to the world the choice made of him, the
second time, to administer the affairs of Canada, determined at once
on several bold projects. As his own country and England were now at
war, and as England relied much on the aid of her provinces of the
south, he resolved on attacking the latter. Accordingly, he fitted out
three expeditions; one against New York, a second against New
Hampshire, and a third against the province of Maine. The fatal attack
upon Corlear, or Schenectady, detailed in another part of this work,
was the result of the first expedition. The burning of Salmon Falls,
on the borders of New Hampshire, proceeded from the second expedition.
The third destroyed the settlement of Casco, in Maine.
The atrocities of the French and their savage allies soon aroused the
Northern colonies, New York and New England, to take vengeance on the
foe. The English determined to strike a blow which might at once
deprive him of all his possessions. Two expeditions were prepared; one
by sea, from Boston, against Quebec; the other by land, from New York,
against Montreal. The first was commanded by Sir William Phipps, a
native of New England, of humble birth, who had raised himself by his
talents to a high station. Both expeditions failed as to their
ultimate object; but Sir William captured all the French posts in
Acadia and Newfoundland, with several on the St. Lawrence; and it is
not without reason supposed that Quebec itself would have fallen, had
not the English commander too hastily considered the enterprise as
hopeless. He made a very considerable effort, but did not persevere.
The French, Colden says, returned fervent thanks to Providence for
having, by a special interposition, deprived their enemies of common
sense. Montreal was saved only after a most strenuous resistance.
The French, under the administration of Frontenac, sustained
themselves, and generally held their own against the attacks of the
English and the Indians. Peace, at length, having taken place between
France and England, negotiations were entered into for closing the
provincial war and exchanging prisoners; but before the negotiations
were concluded, Frontenac died. This event occurred on the 29th day of
November, 1698, and may be said to have constituted an era in the
Canadian history, as by his energy and talents he had retrieved the
affairs of the settlement, and raised it into a powerful and
flourishing state. De Callières, the successor of Frontenac, finally
effected the negotiations in 1700.
_Attempts by the English to Conquer Canada_.--The first serious
attempt to bring the French province of Canada under the English sway,
and its failure, have already been chronicled. Other efforts were
subsequently put forth with this object in view, as soon as the parent
countries had again taken up arms on account of the Spanish
succession. Canada, in this instance, was left to her own resources,
as Louis XIV. had been entirely unsuccessful in his European wars, and
could afford her no aid. She was at this time, also, able to repel her
invaders, or was providentially delivered from their attack.
De Vaudreuil, who was then governor, in contemplation of a formidable
attack, sought to dissipate it by an offensive movement. He sent out a
detachment of two hundred men, which, after a long march, succeeded in
storming and destroying Haverhill, a frontier village; though, while
returning, they fell into an ambuscade. Thirty of their number were
killed; but having beaten off their assailants, the remainder reached
Montreal in safety.
In 1709, the English left New York for Canada with a force of two
thousand men, joined by an equal number of savages. But after they had
erected a chain of posts from New York, and had occupied, in great
force, Lakes George and Champlain, circumstances occurred which
defeated the project. The savages, who were the Iroquois, failed them
from prudential considerations; and a pestilential disease happening
among the English troops, the enterprise was abandoned, after their
canoes and forts were burned to ashes.
The succeeding year, the English prepared a new and greater armament.
General Nicholson arrived at Boston with a considerable squadron and
fresh forces were expected, which, with those already in the country,
were to be employed in two joint expeditions, by sea against Quebec, and
by land against Montreal. But it happened, to the signal relief of the
French, that the squadron was wrecked near the mouth of the St.
Lawrence, a circumstance which prevented also the land forces, that were
already on the march, from proceeding farther. The treaty at Utrecht,
which took place on the 30th of March, 1713, put an end, for many years,
to their armaments for the reduction of Canada. The long interval proved
to be a season of prosperity to this French domain in the New World.
_Condition of Canada in 1721 and 1722._--This was the time when
Charlevoix visited the colony, who gave a description of its state as
he saw it.
Quebec was estimated to contain about seven thousand inhabitants; both
the lower and the upper town were partially built, but none of the
extensive suburbs appear to have existed. The society, composed in a
great measure of military officers and noblesse, was extremely
agreeable, and no where was the French language spoken in greater
purity. Under this gay exterior, however, was concealed a very general
poverty.
The only employment suited to their taste was the fur-trade. This,
connected as it was with habits of roving and adventure, had great
attractions for the people, and little fortunes were thereby
occasionally made; but these were soon dissipated in the haste to enjoy
pleasure and display. The absence of gold and silver, then considered
almost the only objects as giving lustre to a colony, had always caused
New France to be viewed as of less importance than it was in reality.
The coasts of the St. Lawrence, for some extent below Quebec, were
already laid out in seignories, and tolerably cultivated. At a place
seven leagues from the capital, many of the farmers were found in easy
circumstances, and more wealthy than their landlords. The latter were
in possession of grants which they had neither capital nor industry to
improve, and they were, therefore, obliged to let them out at small
quit-rents.
The island and city of Montreal presented to the eye objects of deep
interest. The population was considerable, as both the upper and lower
towns were already built, and a suburb had been commenced. Montreal
was rendered comparatively secure against the savages, by the vicinity
of two neighboring villages which were inhabited by friendly Indians.
_General Prosperity of the Colony._--Canada enjoyed a long period of
tranquillity, under the administrations of De Vaudreuil and Beauharnois,
Gallissonière, Jonquière, Longuiel, and Du Quesne and his successors.
During this interval, the French appear to have entirely overcome that
deeply-seated enmity, so long cherished by the great Indian tribes.
Their pliant and courteous manners, their frequent intermarriages,
and, in some instances, actual adoption of the habits of savage life,
rendered them better fitted than the English, to secure the confidence
of the American savage. Instead of having to treat them as British
allies, they could usually employ them, when occasion required, for
their own military service.
An equally favorable change took place in respect to the fur-trade,
which had been considerably diverted to the English market. A more
liberal system appears to have been adopted; and a large annual fair,
opened at Montreal, became the general centre of the traffic.
_Canada transferred to the English._--In an early portion of the
volume, we have given an account of the "French and Indian war,"
during which an expedition against Quebec, under Wolfe, was attempted.
This was in 1759. That expedition resulted, as is well known, in the
death of that distinguished military hero, and the capitulation of the
city. A single incident, only, will be here alluded to, touching the
fall of this victorious general. On receiving his mortal wound, he
said, "Support me--let not my brave soldiers see me drop." About a
year following the surrender of Quebec, the whole of Canada was
transferred to the dominion of Great Britain, by which it has ever
since been held as one of her dependencies.
[Illustration: Death of Wolfe.]
_Refusal to join in the War of American Independence._--In the revolt
of the United Colonies against the government of the mother-country,
the Canadians were pressingly invited to join and assist the former.
They, however, never swerved from their allegiance. With a view to
conciliate the Canadians, the "Quebec Act," passed in 1774, changed
the English civil law, which had been at first introduced, for the
ancient system. The French language was also directed to be employed
in the law-courts, and other changes were made for the purpose of
gratifying the people. The most important privilege of all, that of a
national representation, was, however, not granted.
_Consequence of the American Independence to Canada._--The issue of
the war of independence in the colonies, though unfavorable, or at
least mortifying, to the mother-country, was attended with some
advantages to Canada. A large body of loyalists, who had sought refuge
in her territories during the war, received liberal grants of land in
the Upper Provinces, as also farming utensils, building materials, and
subsistence for two years. A great extent of country was thus put
under cultivation, and flourishing towns, as those of Kingston and
Toronto, arose from the policy which was adopted in regard to these
settlers. Thus was laid the foundation of that prosperity which has
since so eminently distinguished the Upper Province.
_Territorial Division and a Constitution._--A steady advancement and
growth of the country, caused the population to feel more and more
their importance, and they were little contented in the absence of a
representative government. The wish for such a government was, at
times, strongly expressed. In 1790, Mr. Pitt determined to comply with
the desires of the people on this subject; but, as a preliminary, it
was resolved to divide Canada into two governments, upper and lower.
The constitution granted, proved to be on a basis nearly resembling
that of the British constitution. The first house of assembly was
opened in 1792, but for several years their proceedings were of no
special importance. In 1797, General Prescott was called to administer
the government, when complaints began to be made respecting the grant
of lands. The Board constituted for that purpose, had appropriated
extensive tracts to themselves, and thereby had impeded the work of
general settlement. He was succeeded, however, in 1800, by Sir Robert
S. Milnes, as lieutenant-governor. A few years afterwards, a decision
of the chief justice of Montreal declared slavery inconsistent with
the laws of the country, and the small number of slaves then living
there received a grant of freedom.
_Dissensions after the Close of the War of_ 1812.--The contests in
which Canada was involved with the United States, during the war of
the latter with England, from 1812 to 1815, an account of which the
reader will find in a prior part of the volume, had scarcely closed,
before the country was disturbed by internal dissensions, particularly
the Lower Province. They arose chiefly from the jealousies which
existed between the different branches of the government. Indeed, as
early as 1807, the assembly seriously complained of an undue influence
exercised by the executive and judicial officers. The difficulties
continued through successive administrations, with partial suspensions
under compliant or conciliatory governors, until the government came
into the hands of Sir Francis Burton, who, by yielding all the points
in dispute, succeeded in conciliating the assembly. The principal
subject of dispute had been the public revenue and its appropriation.
But the conciliation was not lasting. Every concession to the assembly
gave rise to new demands, and the right was now claimed of an
uncontrolled disposal of the entire revenue. Lord Dalhousie, who
resumed office in 1826, resisted the demand, and the dissensions were
of course renewed. Their violence was, indeed, much increased. On the
meeting of the assembly in 1827, Mr. Papineau was chosen speaker, an
appointment which, on account of his violent opposition to the
measures of government, Lord Dalhousie refused to sanction. But the
assembly being in no mood to recede from its position, the consequence
was, that no session was held in the winter of 1827-28.