North American

HISTORY OF CANADA.

We now commence the long promised History of Canada. Having been more successful in obtaining data than we anticipated, we have thereby been enabled to commence at the earliest date. We have also promised a history of the late insurrection, and as that subject necessarily forms a part of Canadian History, it may be looked for under that head in due time.
The whole Area of Canada may be estimated at 250,000 square miles of very irregular form. It is bounded on the East by the Straits of Belleisle and the Gulph of St. Lawrence: on the North by the territories of the Hudson's Bay company; on the West and South West by the United States and the Indian Tribes: and on the South and South East by the American States of New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine, and by the British Colonies of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.
On the 11th August, 1534, a French mariner from St. Malo, in France, named Jacques Cartier, entered the vast Gulph to which he gave the name of St. Laurent. The next year he returned to America and ascended the River St. Laurent as far as Hochelaga, an Indian village at the lower end of the present city of Montreal. He was forced to pass the winter with the natives, who treated him very kindly. This new country was called New France, but was afterwards better known under the name of Canada, or the Province of Quebec. On the 15th January, 1540, Francois Ist., King of France, named by letters patent Monsieur Francois De La Roque De Roberval as his Vice Roy and Lieutenant General in Canada. With five vessels he left France for his new destination accompanied by Jacques Cartier; built a fort on the continent of Canada at a place not now known. Leaving Jacques Cartier as Commandant, he returned to France and came back in 1549, and we hear no more of him after. Nothing extraordinary occurred during this administration.
France allowed a long period to pass on without taking any trouble whatever about her new Colony, when on the 12th January, 1598, the Marquis De La Roche was appointed by the King of France. Lieutenant General over Canada, with the same powers as Monsieur Francois De La Roque De Roberval. His commission. which he held from Henry the 4th, makes provisions for partitioning the discovered land into Seigneuries and Fiefs, to be held under the feudal tenure, and as a compensation for military services in the field, when required. After an unsuccessful attempt to colonize Canada, he returned to France, where he soon died of grief.
In 1600, Mr. Chauvin received his commission as Governor of New France, where he arrived the same year. He however returned very soon to France and died immediately after.
In 1603, he was succeeded by the Commander De Chatte, who formed a company of merchants, fitted out an armament & gave the command of it to Mr. Pontgrave, who had letters patent from the King of France to continue the exploration and discoveries on the continent of America. Mr. Samuel De Champlain, whose name became so conspicuous in after time in the history of the new Colony, was in this expedition. They went as far up as Hochelaga, which they found destroyed. Commander De Chatte died the next year His successor was Monsieur Pierre Du Guast Sieur du Monts.
This gentleman belonged to the calvinist church, and the commission from the King said that he was sent to Canada to disseminate the tenets of the Catholic Church among the natives of the country. With a large armament he proceeded to the new Colony, and after having formed several small establishments of no great importance he returned to France, where he was deprived of his Commission.
Nothing of great consequence occurred in New France till 1608, when on the 3d July, Mr. De Champlain founded the city of Quebec. In September, 1609, Mr. De Champlain with Mr. Pontgrave returned to France and left the Colony under the charge of Monsieur Pierre Chauvin. In 1610, Mr. De Champlain returned to Canada. During this period Charles De Bourbon Count De Soissons had been commissioned Gov. General of the Colony, & Mr. De Champlain was named his Lieutenant The death of the Count took place very soon after, and the Prince De Conde became his successor; Mr. De Champlain was continued in his office of Lt. Gov., of Canada. It was in 1618 that the second city of Canada was founded. From its peculiar situation, being situated on a sandy point at the confluence of the St. Lawrence and the different branches of the St. Maurice, it was called "Three Rivers." This place is 90 miles above Quebec.
In 1620 the Prince De Conde ceded his Vice Royalty for 11,000 crowns to the Marshal De Montmorency, his brother-in.law, who also retained Mr. De Champlain as Lieutenant Governor, and named Mr. Dolu as Colonial Agent in France. During all these rapid changes of administration, the colony was increasing but slowly. As a proof of this, we shall add that in 1622 the whole population of Quebec which had been founded 14 years, was 50 souls only.
It was in 1622 that the charter of the company of Merchants, which had been formed by Commander De Chatte in 1603 and to which the greatest privileges had been granted, but which they had abused, was cancelled.
In 1624 the fort of Quebec was built with stone. Marshal De Montmorency the same year sold his Vice-Royalty to his Nephew, Henry De Levi, Duke of Vantadour. The next year a Recollet Priest by the name of Nicolas Viel, and a young converted Indian returning from Lake Huron to Quebec, were drowned by the upsetting of the canoe in a rapid of the channel which divides the Island of Montreal from the Island of Jesus. This fatal spot is still known by the name of Sault des Recollets.
Although France had experienced the greatest inconvenience possible from her system of colonization, in giving the disposal of her colonies to a company of Merchants, yet a new company called "Des Cent Associes," was formed. And incorporated by Royal edict, 19th April, 1628, Extraordinary privileges were granted to them. The fort of Quebec, all New France, Florida, with all the rivers &c., were to be under their exclusive jurisdiction. No heretics were to be allowed to settle in the new Colony. One of the conditions of the act of association was that the descendants of Frenchmen inhabiting the new country would be citizens of France and should enjoy the same privileges as the other subjects of the King if they went to France.
The first vessels which were sent to Canada by this new company, were taken by the English, who the next year, 1629, took Quebec & kept it nearly three years. By the treaty of St. Germain de Laye, Quebec was returned to the King of France on the 29th March, 1632.
The company 'Des Cent Associes' was the next year reinstated in all its privileges, and Mr. De Champlain was again sent back to New France as Governor. In 1635, the College of Quebec was founded and at the latter end of that year Mr. De Champlain, the Governor General of the Colony, died, very much regretted by every one.
Of all the French Governors he was undoubtedly the noblest and the most enterprizing. He left his name to several localities and more particularly to the lake which separates Vermont from New York.
Mr. De Montmagny, succeeded Mr. De Champlain as Governor of Canada. He followed all the plans of his predecessor. In 1640, the Island of Montreal was taken possession of by a Company to whom the King of France had conceded it. On the 15th February, 1644, the King of France confirmed the donation of the Island of Montreal to the religious order of Sulpicians at Paris, who kept it till the present day. This company immediately began to build the city of Montreal, to which they gave the name of Ville Marie.
In 1647, Mr. Daillebout succeeded Mr. Montmagny as Governor General of Canada, but nothing worthy of note occurred under his administration. It was under him that the Abbey De Quelus, who had been some time in Montreal, came from France, in 1657, with deputies sent from the Seminary of St. Sulpice to take formal possession of the Island of Montreal, and to build a Seminary. We mention this fact because we shall have occasion to notice hereafter the doings of the successors of this new religious order.
On the 11th July, 1658, Marquis D'Argenson arrived at Quebec as Governor General. The next year on the 16th June, Francois De Laval, Titulary Bishop of Petree, arrived in the new Colony. This was the first Catholic Bishop who came to Canada. About this time Baron D'Avangour was named Gov. General of New France, in place of Monsieur D'Argenson. In 1662 the King of France sent 400 troops to the colonists, and commissioned Monsieur De Monts to visit the whole country and to report thereon.
In 1663, Monsieur De Mesy was sent to relieve Baron D'Avangour in the administration of the Colonial Government. With Monsieur Gaudais he was also sent to take formal possession of New France in the name of His Majesty, to whom the company of "Des Cent Associes" had ceded their rights by an authentic instrument bearing date 24th February, 1663. Thus terminated the unfruitful system of colonization by societies of merchants and speculators.
The colony was then so weak and so poor that it depended entirely on the mother country for subsistence. The population did not exceed 7000 souls, Mr. Gaudais, that same year, administered the oath of allegiance to the colonists, settled the administration of justice, and named a Council which was composed of the Governor in Chief, the Catholic Bishop, the Intendant, 4 Councillors, which were chosen by the three above named gentlemen, an Attorney General and a Clerk.
Mr. Talon the first Intendant of the Colony arrived at Quebec in 1665. Justice was administered in the new Colony after the ordinances of the Kingdom of France and the "Coutume de Paris," Besides this Council which met every Monday to decide on civil and criminal matters, there were also three inferior tribunals: one at Quebec, one at Montreal, and one at Three Rivers. These inferior Courts were holden by a Lieut. General and a Lieutenant particular, an Attorney General & a Clerk. Appeal from these inferior tribunals could be made to the Great Council at Quebec. In the month of June, 1669, the King of France sanctioned several regulations made by the Council at Quebec, and also the enaction of a code of civil Laws for the Colony.
The successor of Mr. De Mesy as Governor General was Monsieur De Courcelles who was appointed in 1665. The Marquis De Tracy arrived at Quebec in 1666, with several companies of the Regiment called Carignan. The importance of the Colony became apparent to the new governor and three new Forts were built on the Richelieu river: one by Monsieur De Sorel, at Sorel, now William Henry; one by Monsieur De Chambly at Chambly, and the third by Monsieur De Sallieres at Ste. Therese, midway between Chambly and St. Johns.
The next Governor was Count De Frontenac, who succeeded Monsieur De Courcelles in 1672. The next year the new Governor built the Fort of Cataracoui now Kingston in Upper Canada.
In 1676, the whole population of French descent and of converted Indians amounted to 8,145 souls as shown by a census taken that year by the special order of the King.
In 1682, he received orders to proceed to France and to cede his government to Monsieur De La Barre, who tried to subdue the Iroquois, but failed in his attempt. During these frequent changes of administrations the Colony was in a miserable and wretched state: exposed to the sudden attacks of the Indians and often to famine. Under such discouraging circumstances the population increased faster than one might suppose. In 1686, a census showed that there were 11,249 souls in the colony.—The Marquis De Nouville was the successor of Monsieur De La Barre.
As the colony was constantly harassed by the Indians that were excited against the French people by the British, it was resolved in France to take possession of New York. Mr. De Frontenac was again appointed Governor General of Canada and arrived at Montreal on the 27th Oct. 1689. It was under his government, that the British General Sir William Phipps entered the St. Lawrence with 34 sail and about 3,000 men to subdue Quebec.— This occurrence took place on the 5th Oct. 1690. The English General sent a messenger to the French Governor to summon him to surrender the city, forts, munitions of war and the prisoners, within an hour. Mr. De Frontenac answered that such was not the proper way to address him and that he might expect a proper answer to his impertinent demand from the cannon. This expedition turned out a total failure for the British, who lost a great number of men and were obliged to sail back to their own shores, which they effected on the 25th of the same month.
After nine years of a good and judicious administration, Canada had the misfortune to lose its General Governor who died on the 28th November 1698, in the 78th year of his age. He was replaced by Mr. De Callieres.
To this Governor is owed a general peace to the colony, which under his administration enjoyed all the fruits of tranquility till his death, which occurred on the 26th May, 1703
The number of Frenchmen and their descendants in the colony, amounted in 1705 to 15,000 souls. In 1708 the Roman Clergy not content with the tythes the people were forced to pay them, which was the 26th part of all grains, wanted to increase it to the 13th part; but they were foiled in their attempts. In 1723 the commerce of the colony was found to have made considerable progress during ten years of foreign and internal tranquility. Nineteen vessels cleared from Quebec. loaded with Furs, Lumber, Slaves, Tar, Flour Pease, Pork, &c. Six Merchant ships and two ships of war were also built that year at Quebec.
The Marquis De Vaudreuil took the time of the colony. Under his government, the British threatened often to invade Canada, but never realized their project. All the time of this Governor was occupied in giving orders for marching and counter-marching his troops, calling together and then disbanding the Provincial militia. His death took place on the 10th October, 1725. He was succeeded the next year by the Chevalier De Beauharnois, a natural son of Louis the XIV, who was fortunate enough to keep the colony nineteen years in profound peace. It was under his administration that Fort Niagara was built. He also constructed another fort called Carillon on Lake Champlain. In 1744, Mr. De La Jonquiere was named to replace Mr. De Beauharnois, but having been made a prisoner by the British while on his way to Canada, Mr. De La Galissonniere was named Governor ad interim. This latter gentleman returned to France, as soon as the Governor was released. Nothing remarkable occurred under the administration of Mr. De La Jonquiere, who died at Quebec on the 17th May 1752. Till the arrival of a new Governor, the administration of the colony devolved upon Charles Lemoine, Baron de Longueuil, who was Governor of Montreal.

(To be continued.)