MARQUIS DE VAUDREUIL.

PIERRE FRANÇOIs, Marquis de Vaudreuil-Cavagnal, the last governer of Canada under French domination, and undoubtedly one of the best. This latter assertion will be readily granted, particularly when the trying and arduous circumstances under which he labored are taken into consideration. He was a son of the former governor of New France, of the same name, and was born at Quebec, in 1698. Having joined the military service he rose to the rank of major in the marine corps. In 1733, he was appointed governor of Three Rivers, and in 1743, of Louisiana, in both of which situations he was greatly popular. In 1748, he succeeded to his father's title; and in 1755, was elevated to the high and responsible appointment of governor of New France,an appointment, which, if Montcalm and he had acted in concert, and the former had paid more attention to the plans of the latter, he would certainly have held for a much longer period than he did. The jealousy, or rather the contempt, with which Montcalm regarded M. de Vandreuil and his valuable suggestions, certainly tended, in a great measure, to hasten the downfall of the French nation in America. M. de Vandreuil ever studied the welfare of Canada, and was devotedly attached to his sovereign. He would rather have died, and sacrificed all he possessed, than tarnish the glory and honor of the arms of his country. He was a true Frenchman, bold and energetic in his measures, and yet wise and judicious in carrying them out. was clearly manifested when he capitulated to Amherst at Montreal, notwithstanding the intention of the valorous De Levis to hold out with his scanty forces to the last; a determination which De Vandreuil saw was hopeless, and would involve the needless destruction of Montreal, and the loss of many valuable lives. He therefore pursued the wisest, and indeed the only course open to him, and no one can justly impeach his loyalty or patriotism in so doing.

This

After his return to France he was imprisoned in the Bastille, on some charges preferred against him by the friends of Montcalm, but a trial before the Châtelet de Paris exonorated him from these, and from all blame in his administration of the affairs of Canada. He was released from imprisonment, but stripped of nearly all his worldly possessions. He died in 1764.

BARON DIESKAU.

JOHN HARMAND, Baron Dieskau, celebrated as the commanderin-chief of the French forces in this country during the time anterior to Montcalm, and for the active part he took in the wars between the English and French during that period. His last act was when he commanded the expedition sent up to defeat and drive off that of the English which was advancing to invade Canada in 1755. On this occasion he achieved a brilliant victory over the army of Colonel Ephraim Williams, but on the same day met that of the celebrated Sir William Johnson. A second battle ensued, which resulted in the total defeat of Dieskau, he himself being made prisoner, and also seriously wounded. He was conveyed to New York, where his wounds were dressed, and he recovered, but only for a short time. His decease taking place at Surenne, in France, September 8, 1767.

M. DE VAUQUELIN.

A BRAVE and chivalrous French naval officer, who commanded the French ships at Quebec, at the time of the conquest. M. Garneau says that "he fell, sword in hand, into the enemy's power, covered with honorable wounds, after an heroic combat of two hours, maintained against several frigates, opposite Point aux Trembles." Almost all his officers were killed or wounded, as well as most of the 'scanty crew of l'Atalante, aboard which vessel he had hoisted his flag, and would not strike it.

Brave as he proved himself to be, Captain Vauquelin was ill received at court when he returned to France. The Moniteur de la Flotte of 1857, in an article on this brave sailor, recounts the following touching particulars :

It is well known that Jean Vanquelin, the celebrated naval captain, highly reputed for his rare merit and admirable intrepidity, after distinguishing himself greatly in defending Louisiana, and afterwards the city of Quebec, was, through some dark intrigues, disgraced and put in prison. Despite his reclamations and those of his family, he died in the year 1763, without having had his

case tried. Some authors even say that he was assassinated in the prison; but this report seems not to be sufficiently attested.

"He left behind him a son, Pierre Vanquelin, who devoted himself at an carly age to the study of African history and geography; his researches in which obtained for him a prize, in 1776, from the Academy of Lyons.

"This young savant, highly recommended by a brave officer who knew his connections (the Marquis de Vaudreuil), was, in 1774, placed by Turgot in the admiralty office, where he occupied his leisure time in drawing up a memorial, narrating the career and services of his father, in the hope of his merit being acknowledged and his memory cleared of blame. A circumstance occurring fortuitously, came in aid of this work of filial piety.

"In 1775, Queen Marie Antoniette was present at the first communion of some young girls of the Commune de Meudon; and after the ceremony was over, one among them, chosen by the others, presented to her Majesty a fine nosegay of white roses; reciting at the same time a complimentary address, prepared beforehand, thanking the Queen for the honor she had done the rude parishoners by condescending to come among them.

"The young girl charged with this duty was Mlle. Elizabeth Vauquelin, then aged thirteen, who lived with one of her aunts at Meudon. She greatly pleased the Queen, who after embracing her, asked whether she could do anything for her.

"The young lady, not disconcerted, yet with tears starting from her eyes, replied, 'I make bold to solicit your Majesty that you would cause justice to be rendered to the good name of my grandfather.'

"The noble heart of the Queen was softened on hearing this appeal. She again embraced the girl, and promised that her request should not be neglected. Nor was it; for that very day she informed the king of what had passed. Louis XVI., ever good, ever just, ordered M. de Sartimes, then Minister of Marine, to make inquiries regarding Jean Vauquelin, and let him know the

result.

"The inquiry was entered upon at once. Among the witnesses examined were Lapeyrouse, the Marquis de Vaudreuil, and members of the family of the Marquis de Montcalm, the hero of Canada. The inquiries made were eminently favorable to the memory of Vauquelin; they attested the glorious services which he had performed as a French naval officer, and proved the injustice of the accusations which had been brought against him in his later years.

"Louis XVI. caused the son of the deceased to be presented to him; and letting M. Vauquelin know the result of the inquiry, told him that his father's services would not be forgotten. The tepe ented to the king a copy of his memoire on the geogra

phy of Africa. Some months afterwards Louis sent him on an important mission to Morocco, in which he acquitted himself admirably. In 1777, the ministry having decided to establish permanent relations in the farthest east, Vauquelin was appointed king's consul in China, and obtained an exsequatur as such from Kien-Long, the reigning emperor. This fact has never obtained publicity till now. M. Vauquelin rendered great services, and left a good personal repute in China."

COUNT DE VAUDREUIL.

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THE COUNT DE VAUDREUIL mentioned in the deed, after the death of Pierre François, and lieutenant-general of the naval forces, was born at Quebec in 1723. He entered the French naval service in 1741, and commanded L'Arithuse in 1756. He battle to two English frigates on the Côte de Bretagne, and did not surrender until he had saved the fleet which he had under convoy. The English not only requested him to retain his sword, but sent him to France without exacting an exchange. At the commencement of the American war, in answer to an offer made to him by the king, of the government of St. Dominique, he said: "No, sire, the only post suitable to a seaman in war time, is that of a commander of a ship." He commanded the Fendant at the conquest of Grenada, under D'Estaing, took six millions worth of prizes during the cruise, and captured the Senegal in 1779. He was present, in his quality of general officer, at five naval engagements. That of D'Ouessant against Admiral Keppel was undecided; that of Martinique against Hood was a disappointment, as was the encounter between Comte de Guichen with Admiral Kempenfeldt; but that of the Chesapeake against Graves was a victory, which resulted in the capitulation of Lord Cornwallis. He was present at the two engagements with Rodney, under the Comte de Guichen, as well as under the Comte de Grasse Tilly. Seasam, who commanded the Triumphant, and who conducted the advance guard, spared nothing to be beforehand respecting the fate of Paris, and thereby saved twelve ships. The Council of War assembled in 1784 rendered entire justice to his able retreat; and Louis XVI. in person thanked him. Already a Commander of St. Louis, he was created Grand Croix in 1789. During this notable period he was led to the Etats Généraux. Threatened in 1792, he defended the

*

Tuileries, and afterwards emigrated. The minister, Bertram, wrote to him inviting him to resume his post. Las Casas, in the "Mémorial de Ste. Hélène," speaking about the emigration of Comblentz, says that the councillors of Monsieur were M. M. d'Avaray and de Jancourt, the Marquis de Vaudreuil and the Bishop d'Arras, and Marquis le Comte d'Artois. Madame de Genlis pronounces a eulogy on him in her Mémoires. He entered France with eagerness under the consulate, and died in 1802. He must not be blended with the Comte de Veudreuil, his contemporary, the same perhaps to whom Charlevoix was preceptor, who pursued Nelson during the American war, and who was chief of the squadron at Dominique, where he commanded the Sceptre, as well as in the engagement against Admiral Hood. He was wounded on the 12th of April..

CHEVALIER DE VAUDREUIL.

PIERRE FRANÇOIS RIGAUD, Chevalier de Vaudreuil, another member of that illustrious family, and brother to the last governor of Canada, successively lieutentant-governor of Quebec and governor of Three Rivers and Montreal, was born in that city on the 8th of February, 1704, and married on the 2nd of May, 1733, at Quebec, Louise Thérèse Fleury de La Gorgendière. According to the author of the memoirs, published by the Historical Society at Quebec, he was a brave soldier, not very ingenious, plain, affable, beneficent, and capable of risking everything for the service of his sovereign. He took Fort Massachusetts, achieved a victory over Colonel Parker on lake St. Sacrement, sunk twenty bateaux, and took five officers and one hundred and sixty men; destroyed the preparations of a campaign under the bastions of Fort George; went to France, where he prevailed on the French ministry to despatch Montcalm, De Lévis, Bourlamaque and Bougainville to this country; assembled at St. John the army which besieged Oswego and Ontario, and slid in between the forts, during the siege, in spite of a corps of troops which were there established to keep open the communication of these two fortresses. last attempt to detach from the English the Iroquois cantons, was made through his ministry in 1757. Rigaud de Vaudreuil

The

*But for the intrepid defence of the body-guard, and the exertions of the Marquis de Vaudreuil, who succeeded in reviving in the French guards some sparks of their ancient loyalty, the king himself and the royal family would have fallen a prey to the assassins. (Alison's History of Europe, Vol. I.)