CHAP. II.

COMPANY OF NEW FRANCE SURRENDER THEIR CHARTER.CANADA PLACED UNDER THE GOVERNMENT OF THE COMPANY OF THE WEST INDIES. - WARS WITH THE IROQUOIS. - DISCOVERY OF THE MISSISSIPPI.

THE Company of New France, who had all along mismanaged the affairs of Canada, and who even lost the vast profits of its trade by neglecting, from ill-timed avarice, to provide for the exigencies of the colony, at length surrendered their charter to the king. Its powers and immunities were transferred, in 1664, to the Company of the West Indies.

The administration of the colony, without a constitution or courts of justice, was wretchedly managed after the death of Champlain. The governor, the Jesuits, and the bishop, appear to have been equally anxious to supplant each other in power. The Baron d'Avangour, just in his views, but at the same time inflexible in his decisions, was recalled, at his own request; and M. de Mesey, who was recommended by the bishop, succeeded him as the first governor under the Company of the West Indies. This officer quarrelled soon afterwards with the bishop, who, with many good qualities, appears to have been a very arbitrary ecclesiastic. A council, composed of the

governor-general, intendant-general, the bishop, and some others, removable at the will of the governor, was established about this time; in which, as a court of justice, presided the superior of the Jesuits, as Grand Seneschal of New France, to decide matters of dispute.

The complaints of the bishop and others against M. de Mesey, the governor, induced M. Colbert to recall him; and the Marquis de Tracy, who had been for some time before Viceroy of America, arrived in Canada from the West Indies, in June, 1665, with some companies of the regiment of Carignan; the remainder of which, with their colonel, M. de Salierres, arrived soon after from France. Three forts were then erected on the River Richelieu, by which the Iroquois descended on their expeditions against the French. The first was built where the old one stood (now William Henry), and M. de Sorel, who was left there as commandant, superintended its structure, and transmitted his name not only to the fort, but to the river. The second was erected by M. de Chambly, at a place still bearing his name; and a third, further up, by M. de Salierres, which he named St. Thérèse. These garrisons kept the Iroquois for some time in awe; but they soon recommenced their depredations, with greater fury than ever, by other routes; and it required all the vigilance of M. de Tracy to preserve the settlement from destruction.

Before this officer returned to France, he placed the country in a state of defence, which enabled it for some time to enjoy profound peace; and having, established the Company of the West Indies in all the rights possessed by the Company of New France, he left M. de Courcelles governor-general, with several officers of great abilities under his command.

From this period (1668) we find the affairs of Canada so far prosperous, that little apprehension was entertained as to the colony being established on a permanent foundation, although the ferocity of the savages left no grounds for expecting a cessation of hostilities for any definite period. Several of the officers who received grants of lands about this time, with the rights of seigneurs, settled with their families in Canada, and many of the private soldiers whom they commanded were also distributed among the other colonists, who were all equally ready to take up arms whenever the incursions of the savages rendered it necessary to defend the country. The French government, at the same time, sent 300 women of loose character to Canada, who, in less than fifteen days after their arrival, were all disposed of in marriage among the inhabitants, on which occasion considerable presents were made them. To all parents, who had ten children lawfully begotten, pensions were also given.

In 1670, the Church of Quebec was constituted a bishopric. The mission of Lorette, near Quebec, was also established about the same time; some important measures were also adopted for the better government of the country, and for maintaining peace with the savages; and, while the trade and agriculture of the colony were prospering during this interval of peace, the clerical orders became more enthusiastic than ever in their efforts to make proselytes of the Indians.

The fur trade, however, was in a great measure

intercepted by a fatal calamity, previously unknown to the inhabitants of the western world. The smallpox, more terrible to the savages than all the firearms of Europe, made its appearance this year among the tribes north of the St. Lawrence; and its ravages carried off more than half their number. This contagion, and the use of ardent spirits, have probably, since that time, destroyed a greater portion of the aborigines of North America, than war and all the diseases to which they were previously subjected.

Fort Frontenac was built in 1672, where Kingston now stands, for the purpose of aweing the Indians, by Louis de Baude, Count de Frontenac, for whom, however, the right of ground was obtained with great adroitness by his predecessor, M. de Courcelles, a man of great personal worth and practical abilities, but neither gifted with the splendid talents, nor blemished with the unyielding obstinacy, of M. de Frontenac.

M. de Frontenac was by birth of distinguished family, and a lieutenant-general of high reputation in the royal army. His brilliant talents were sometimes obscured by prejudices; but his plans for the aggrandisement of Canada were splendid and just; and, if his great views had not been thwarted by the jealousy of his enemies, his measures would certainly have soon placed Canada in a condition that would prevent the depredations of the Indians, and ensure its rapid settlement and cultivation. He possessed, however, a spirit which could not bear contradiction in the prosecution of his plans, either from the ecclesiastical orders, or from officers of whatever distinction in the colony. He was opposed in his measures, first by the ecclesiastics, and soon after by the intendant-general. Violent dissensions arose between them; and M. de Frontenac was not a man inclined to execute his plans with indecision, or by withdrawing the orders he had previously given. The intendant-general, M. de Chezneau, having neglected some order, was imprisoned; the procureur-general was exiled; the Governor of Montreal was put under arrest; and the Abbé de Salignac, Fénélon, at that time in Canada superintending the seminary of St. Sulpicius at Montreal, was imprisoned under pretence of having preached against M. de Frontenac, and having defended the Governor of Montreal.

The principal point of disagreement between M. de Frontenac and the bishop arose from a circumstance of very great importance, respecting which the former bishop had quarrelled with the Baron d'Avangour. This was the traffic in brandy, in exchange for furs, with the savages. This spirit was the most fatal article that Europeans ever introduced among the aborigines of America. It produced evils among the Indians of the most deplorable description. It superinduced, on their natural habits and disposition, the most degrading of European vices, which enervated their constitutions, and destroyed all that dignified their original character. The bishop at last succeeded in obtaining an ordinance of the king, enjoining M. de Frontenac to prohibit the sale of spirits to the Indians, under the most severe penalties.

This was considered as a victory obtained by the ecclesiastics over M. de Frontenac, who, however, notwithstanding the opposition to his government, had powerful friends at court, and retained his office