General History of the State of Michigan: With Biographical Sketches ...

FRANCE MOVES TO ESTABLISH A COLONY IN AMERICA CARTIER PROCEEDS TO CANADA-HIS SECOND VOYAGE-ROBERVAL'S EXPEDITION -OTHER FRENCH EXPEDITIONS CHAMPLAIN'S FIRST EXPEDITION TO THE ST. LAWRENCE-HE FORMS A SETTLEMENT AT QUEBEC. OTHER VOLUMES of this work, treating of other States, give a complete narrative of the efforts of England and Spain to colonize the New World. Hence, in this place, it is sufficient to trace only the movements of France, in her unfortunate struggle to plant a permanent branch of empire in America. This is the more expedient since only the name of the latter is associated with the first settlement of Michigan.

At the beginning of the sixteenth century the discoveries of Christopher Columbus and Sebastian Cabot were creating considerable excitement in France, and Francis I granted a commission to Jacques Cartier, of St. Malo, authorizing him to prosecute discoveries in the far West. Cartier's outfit for this expedition consisted of two ships, of sixty tons burden each, and a crew of sixtyone efficient men. He set sail for America from St. Malo on the 20th of April, 1534.

This was by no means the first western movement of civilization. The Spaniards already occupied Florida; the English had taken possession of the middle portion of the continent, and the northern regions alone remained for the French. To the latter point the brave commander directed his little fleet. He made a safe voyage, and after exploring the northern coast of Newfoundland, he returned to France, reaching St. Malo on the 15th of September, 1534.

He gave a very favorable account of the new country to the French court, which was well received; but subsequent developments proved that he had done little more than land on the northwestern banks of Newfoundland. Fearing the consequences of the autumnal storms upon his ships, he remained but a few weeks. Nevertheless he had seen enough to persuade the belief that a fruitful country lay beyond, in the direction of Michigan and the surrounding States.

Immediately after Cartier's return to France preparations began for a second expedition. Three vessels were fitted out with a view to a more extended voyage. They were the Great Herminia, of about one hundred and twenty tons; the Little Herminia, of sixty tons, and the Hermirillon, of forty tons. The first named was the flag ship.

The fleet set sail on the 15th of May, 1535. This was a very important day at St. Malo. Every adventurer about to sail for the New World was an object of much interest to the inhabitants, and not a little pains were taken to celebrate their departure. In the hour of separation from kindred and country, the priests of their religion had sought to propagate their future comfort and support by preparing a gorgeous pageant. The officers and crews of the whole squadron confessed, and received the sacrament. Afterwards they presented themselves before the altar in the great cathedral at St. Malo, where the bishop, arrayed in sacerdotal robes of rare magnificence, bestowed on them his benediction.

An account of the voyage, which was many years after published in a French journal, states that it was very tempestuous. Many of the crew suffered unnumbered hardships, but after many days of toil and discontent, the eastern banks of Newfoundland again appeared to the eye of the adventurous commander. After five or six hours' sail, the squadron being in a higher latitude than Cartier had supposed, they passed the coast of the island, and still continuing their course, they entered, on St. Lawrence day, a broad gulf. In commemoration of this event, they gave the name of St. Lawrence to the gulf, and to the great river that flows into it, which they bear to this day.

Proceeding up the river's course, they found themselves, in a

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