confidence to the colonists, who were then for the first time enabled to cultivate the soil with any security.

A tremendous earthquake, which appears to have agitated the whole of Canada, and a vast extent of the adjacent countries, in the year 1663, is described by the French writers * of that time, as accompanied by most violent phenomena, rendered more than usually terrific by the continuation of the shocks, at intervals, for nearly six months.

About the same time, on the evening of the 5th of February, a loud rumbling noise, seemingly occasioned by atmospheric detonation, was heard throughout the whole of those regions. The terrified inhabitants, having never heard of an earthquake in the country, at first conceived their houses on fire, and immediately flew out of doors; and their astonishment was then increased by the violent agitation of the earth, and every thing on its surface. The walls shook, the bells of the churches rang, and the doors flew open and closed again of themselves. The forest trees were seen all in violent motion, some thrown up from the roots, then with their tops bending nearly to the ground, first to one side, then to the other, or laid prostrate on the surface, from which again they were flung up in the air. The ice, which covered the lakes and rivers, in many places some feet thick, was broken open, and frequently thrown, with rocks and mud from the bottom, a great distance upwards. Clouds of dust obscured the sky. The waters were impregnated with sulphur, exhibiting yellow or reddish colours. From Tadousac to Quebec, about 130 miles, the St. Lawrence appeared white and thickly impregnated with sulphureous matter.

The convulsion of elements produced the most awful and incessant sounds; roaring at one time like the sea, then reverberating like the rolling of thunder; and again, as if mountains were bursting, and the rocks which composed them cracking and rolling over each other.

The darkness was rendered still more awful by the frequent flashes of lightning, or by the lamentations of women, the cries of children, and the howling of dogs and other animals.

Walruses and porpoises were said to have been seen as far up the St. Lawrence as Three Rivers, where they never appeared before; equally terrified with the inhabitants of the land, and the former howling in the piteous manner so peculiar to them.

The first shock continued, without intermission, for about half an hour. It was followed, about eight o'clock, by a second, equally violent. Thirty shocks were numbered during the night, and the whole country continued to be violently agitated, at intervals, until the end of July.

From all the accounts transmitted to us, it appears wonderful that no human lives were lost during this extraordinary convulsion; nor does it appear that any change was caused in the configuration of the countries said to be so long and violently disturbed by the power of its action. The River St. Lawrence and its tributaries, the Islands, Saghunny, Quebec, Lakes St. Peter and Champlain, Montreal, and the Rapids of St. Louis, or La Chine, are apparently at this day exactly in the same position as when discovered by Cartier and Champlain.

1

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