vidual act, lamented by the Huron nation, it was overlooked, and the treaty was concluded.

The colony was at that time in a very unsatisfactory state, the settlements at Quebec consisting only of fifty-five persons. Indeed the whole of the available possessions in New France included only the fort at Quebec, surrounded by some inconsiderable houses, a few huts op the island of Montreal, as many at Tadoussac, and at other places on the St. Lawrence, and a settlement just commenced at Three Rivers.

The Indian affairs were also in disorder. The Iroquois had killed a party of five on their way to attack a nation called the Wolves, and a hostile spirit was kindled amongst these fierce tribes. Champlain did all in his power to check the spirit, but he found it impossible to prevent a body of hot-headed young Indians from making an inroad into the Iroquois territory.

This band, having reached Lake Champlain, surprised a canoe with three persons in it, two of whom they brought home in triumph. The preparations for torturing them were already going on when intelligence was conveyed to Champlain, who immediately repaired to the spot. The sight of the captives quickened his ardor in the cause of humanity, and he entreated that they might be sent home unhurt, with presents to compensate for this wanton attack.

!

This advice was so far adopted that one of them was sent back, accompanied by a chief and one Mangan, a Frenchman. This expedition had, however, a most tragical end. An Algonquin, who wished for war, contrived to persuade the Iroquois that the mission was devised with the most treacherous intentions. The Iroquois, misled by this wicked man, determined to take cool and deliberate revenge. When the poor prisoner, the chief and the Frenchman arrived, they found the fire kindled and the cauldron boiling, and, being courteously received, were invited to sit down. The Iroquois then asked the Algonquin chief if he did not feel hungry. On his replying that he did, they rushed upon him and cut slices from different parts of his body, which soon after they presented to him half cooked; and thus continued to torture him till he died in lingering agonies. Their countryman, who had

returned to them so gladly, attempted to escape, and was shot dead on the spot; and the Frenchman was tormented to death in the usual manner.

When the news of this dreadful tragedy reached the allies of the French, the war-cry was immediately sounded, and Champlain, though deeply afflicted, saw no longer any possibility of averting hostilities. He felt that, as one of his countrymen had been deprived of life, the power of the French would be held in contempt if no resentment were shown. Indeed he experienced no little trouble amongst the friendly tribes who surrounded him, and in several cases Europeans were murdered in an atrocious and mysterious manner.

In the meantime the De Caens, though not resident in the colony, took an active interest in the fur trade. Being Huguenots, however, and not likely to forward the Duc's measures, Cardinal Richelieu, prime minister to Louis XIII, revoked the privileges which had been granted to them, and encouraged the formation of a company, to be composed of a great number of men of property and credit. A charter was granted to this company in 1637, under the title of "The Company of One Hundred Associates."

This company engaged, first, to supply those that they settled with lodging, food, clothing and implements for three years, after which time they would allow them sufficient land to support themselves, cleared to a certain extent, with the grain necessary for sowing it; secondly, that the emigrants should be native Frenchmen and Roman Catholics, and that no stranger or heretic should be introduced into the country; and, thirdly, they engaged to settle three priests in each settlement, whom they were bound to provide with every article necessary for their personal comfort, as well as the expenses of their ministerial labors, for fifteen years. After which clear lands were to be granted by the company to the clergy, for maintaining the Roman Catholic Church in New France.

In return for these services the King made over to the company the fort and settlement at Quebec, and all the territory of New France, including Florida, with power to appoint judges, build fortresses, cast cannon, confer titles, and take what steps they

might think proper for the protection of the colony and the fostering of commerce. He granted to them at the same time a complete monopoly of the fur trade, reserving to himself and heirs only supremacy in matters of faith, fealty and homage as sovereign of New France, and the presentation of a crown of gold at every new succession to the throne. He also secured for the benefit of all his subjects, the cod and whale fisheries of the gulf and coast of St. Lawrence.

The company were allowed to import and export all kinds of merchandise duty free. Gentlemen, both clergy and laity, were invited to a share in the concern, which they readily accepted till the number of partners was completed. This was a favorite scheme of Richelieu's; and the French writers of the day speak of it with great applause, as calculated, had it been strictly adhered to and wisely regulated, to render New France the most powerful colony in America.

This plan of improvement met with a temporary interruption. by the breaking out of the war between England and France in 1628. Charles I, of England, immediately gave to Sir David Kirkt, a French refugee, a commission authorizing him to conquer Canada. In consequence of this, after some offensive operations at Tadoussac, he appeared with his squadron before Quebec, and summoned it to surrender; but he was answered in so spirited a manner that he judged it prudent to retire.

In 1629, however, when Champlain was reduced to the utmost extremity, by the want of every article of food, clothing, implements and ammunition, and exposed to the attacks of the Iroquois, Sir David Kirkt, and his brothers Louis and Thomas, appeared again with a squadron before Quebec. The deplorable situation of the colony, and the very honorable terms proposed to him by Kirkt, induced Champlain to surrender Quebec, with all Canada, to the crown of England. The English standard was thus for the first time raised on the walls of Quebec, just one hundred and thirty-five years before the battle of the Plains of Abraham.

No blame can be attached to Champlain for this act, as famine pressed so closely on the colonists, that they were reduced to an

allowance of five ounces of bread per day for each person. Kirkt's generosity to the settlers, who were his own countrymen, induced most of them to remain. Those who wished to go were allowed to depart with their arms, clothes and baggage, and, though the request to convey them home to France could not be complied with, they were provided with a commodious passage by the way of England.

Champlain, with two little native girls, whom he had carefully educated, arrived at Dover, in England, on the 27th of October. He proceeded thence to London, for the purpose of conferring with the French ambassador. He soon afterward returned to France, where, his counsels prevailing at the court of Louis XIII, he was, upon the return of peace, again invested with the government of Canada.

CHAPTER III.

HISTORY OF NEW FRANCE, FROM THE WAR WITH THE ENGLISH IN 1629, TO THAT OF 1689 — THE FRENCH AND THE IROQUOIS-COLONIAL HISTORY - THE GOVERNMENT OF FRONTENAC-DEFEAT OF THE ENGLISH.

THE English held possession of Canada for three years, but, attaching little or no value to the territory, they readily restored it to France at the Peace of St. Germain en Lage, which was concluded on the 19th of March, 1632. The great and good pioneer, Samuel Champlain, had the pleasure of reëntering his beloved country once more with a squadron, containing all necessary supplies. He resumed the government of the colony which he had so long fostered, and continued to administer all its affairs with singular prudence, resolution and courage.

Champlain continued to prosper the colony till 1635, when, full of honors and rich in public esteem and respect, he died, after an occasional residence in Quebec of nearly thirty years. His obsequies were performed with all the pomp the little colony could command, and his remains were followed to the grave with real sorrow by the clergy, the civil and military authorities, and the inhabitants of every class, each feeling deeply the loss of a tried friend.

The death of Champlain was the most grievous misfortune with which Canada had yet been visited. During the greater part of his active life the chief object of his heart was to become the founder of the colony which he felt confident would attain to a summit of extraordinary power and importance, and to civilize and convert its native inhabitants. So great was his zeal for religion that it was a common saying with him, "The salvation of one soul was of more value than the conquest of an empire.”

It was just about the period of his death that the religious establishments, now so numerous, were commenced in Canada.