The Rise of Canada, from barbarism to wealth, etc

Front matter

THE RISE OF CANADA, FROM BARBARISM TO WEALTH AND CIVILISATION. B V CHARLES ROGER, <\ QUEBEC. -~ „* Una rnanus calamum teneat, maims altera semim, Sic sis noininibus dignus utrinque tuis. VOLUME I. *Jy t QUEBEC : PETER SINCLAIR. Montreal, H. Ramsay and B. Dawson; Toronto, A. H. Armour & Co. ; London C.W., Andrews & Coombe; Port Hope, James Ainsley ; New York, H. Long & Brothers, D. Appleton & Co., J. C. Francis; Boston, Little & Brown ; Philadelphia, Lindsay & Blakiston; London, Trubner & Co. 1856. ST. MICHEL & DARVEAU, JOB PRINTERS, No. 3, MquniaisJStreet. TO JOSEPH MORRIN, ESQUIRE, M. D.. MAYOR OF QUEBEC, <ftt)is bolumc DEDICATED, AS THE ONLY MONUMENT, AVHICH CAN BE RAISED TO ACKNOWLEDGED WORTH, BY HIS OBLIGED AND i'AITHHI. FRIEND AND SERVANT, THE AUTHOR. £tue&C; <2Jicem4ti, /B55. INDEX.

Chapter I. Page

PAGE, Canada Discovered 4 Carder's Arrival in the St. Lawrence 5 . of La Salle 29 Indian Difficulties — Fort Niagara 30 Deception aud its Results 31 Commencement of the Fur Trade. 0 Massacre of Sehenectady 32 Quebec Founded t 7 Education— AVitchcraft 33 Exploration of the Ottawa 8 Port Royal reduced by Phi pps 34 The Cold — Lake Huron 9 De Froutenac's Penobscot Expedition 35 Sixty White Inhabitants H) The First Franco-Canadian 11 Trade— AA7ar— Population 36 The Colonists Dissatisfied 12 New England Expedition to Canada #... 37 The Hundred Associates J 3 Quebec Surrendered to the English. 14 Gen. Nicholson — Peace of Utrecht. 38 The Restoration — Death of Chainplain 15 Social Condition and Progress.. .. 39 Louisbourg — Shirley's Expedition. 40 The Massacre at Sillery Hi Siege of Louisbourg 41 The Effect of Rum upon the Iroquuis 17 Arrival of Troops — A Moon -Light Flitting 18 Swearing and Blasphemy — The Earthquake 19 The Physical Features of the Country 20 The First Governor and Council.. 21 Surrender of Louisbourg 42 A French Fleet Intercepted 43 The New Englanders' Convention. 44 Surprise and Defeat of Braddock.. 45 Avariciousness of Bigot 46 Capture of Oswego by Montcalni. 47 Incompetent Generals — Change of Ministry 48 Abercrombie's attack on Ticondel'irst Settlement of old Soldiers 22 roga 49 Surrender of Fort Frontenac 50 roga.

The Canada Company 23 Kingston Founded 24 AVolfe's Invasion 51 ixiu^;.-,iuii i ,'unui'u - . . . ........ .. ,&.. The Small Pox — De Frontenac — Sale of Spirits 25 The Repulse at Montmorenci 52 The Battle of Quebec 53 Marquette — Jollyet — The Sieur La Salle 26 Death of Wolfe 54 Death of Montcalm 55 The First Vessel Built in Canada. 27 Canada ceded to England 56 Voyage of the Cataraqui — Tempest ,'.n Lake Erie 28 Canada and New England 57 Quebec Act Taxation without Representation 54 Mouths of the Mississipi — Murder

Chapter II. Page

PAGE Churches and Education 10'1 Representation in the Imperial Parliament - 59 Lord Bishop Strachan ls|6 Montgomery's Invasion 60 The Church of England Ul7 The Dissenters and Episcopacy.- 108 Arnold— Montgomery — Allen 61 Gift of £20,000 to the King— Spencer Wood, &c 1"9 Garrison Pipeclay — the Habitants. 110 The American Siege — Death of Montgomery 62 Independence Refused by the Catholic Clergy ---- 63 A Provincial Agent in London — 111 The American Siege Eaised 64 A Speck of War-... 112 The Chesapeake Difficulty Settled 113 Independence — Defeat of Baum. . . 65 The Surrender of Burgoyne 66 Western Canada divided into Dis- 66 Feeling in the United States 114 War Preparations in Canada 115 tricts 67 Upper Canada — The Parliament.. 116 Divisions of the Province of Quebec. 68 Lord Dorchester 69 Governor General Sir James Craig. 1 17 Ry land's Love for the New "Governor 118 Governor-General Prescott 70 vernor.

Governor Milnes . - r 71 Services of Sir James Craig 119 The Royal Institution Founded. . . 72 Cultivation of Hemp — Land Jobbing 73 The. Lachinej Canal — The Gaols Meeting of Parliament 120 The Judges in Parliament 121 Expulsion of Mr. Hart 122 Prorogation of Parliament 123 Act 74 Mr. Parent and " The Canadien.

" 124 Trinity Houses Established — An Antagonism 75 Dismissals from the Militia 125 Mr. Panet re-elected Speaker 126 Mr. Dunn, Administrator 76 The War— The Judges— Mr. Hart. 127 Upper Canada — The Separation Act 77 Parliament Angrily Dissolved 12S French Hatred of the British Officials 129 Debate on the Separation Act 78 Mr. Fox's Speech.. 79 Craig's Opinion of the French Canadians ] 30 Mr. Chancellor Pitt's Speech 81 Mr. Burke's Speech 82 Composition of the Assembly 131 Governor Simcoe and his Parliament 83 Vilification of the "Gens en Place." 132 The Martello Towers 1 33 Parliamentary Proceedings 84 The First Steamboat on the St. Lawrence 1 34 Simcoe's Character 85 London* Founded — Simcoe's Prejudices 86 Death of Washington 135 No Liberty of Discussion in the United States 136 Selection of a Seat of Government. . 87 Simcoe and the Hon. John Young. 88 The Newark Spectator 89 President Burr's Conspiracy 1 37 Madison — Erskine — and Jackson. 136 First Parliament of Upper Canada. 90 The Hon. Peter Russell 91 Washington Diplomacy — A new Parliament J 30 General Hunter, Governor 92 The Speech from the Throne 140 Hunter — New Ports of Entry 93 The Address in Reply ]41 Collectors of Customs appointed.. 94 Parliamentary Business 95 The Civil List 14-2 Civil List Resolutions ]4;i Grant and Gore 96 The Resolutions Premature 144 Lower Canada — Importance of Parliament 97 Mr. Justice De Bonne J 45 An Antagonism — Parliament Dissolved ]4fi Parliament Libelled 98 The Honorable Herman Ryland... 99 Mr. Ryland's hatred of Papacy.. 100 Romanism seriously threatened . . 101 No Roman Catholic Bishop of Quebec 102 Rumors of Rebellion ]47 Seizure of the" Canadien." 14s Sir James' upon Obnoxious Writ- , inS3 -. 149 A Proclamation ] 5(1 Mr. Plessis and Mr. Att'y. GenT. — Explanation 103 A Warning jei Misgovernment of the Country. . .

I§2 A New Bishop Made — Ryland Angry 104 An Apology for Misgovernment.. 153 The Red-Tapist and the Colonist. 1.A4 PAGE. PAGE. Arrogance of the Officials 155 Departure of Sir James Craig 161 The Craig Road completed 156 Meeting of aNew Parliament 157 Mr. Bedard, M.P., in prison 158 Why Air. Bedard was not liberated 159 Ml Peel on Canadian Affairs 162 Mr. Peel— Sir Vicary Gibbs 163 Legislation in Upper Canada 164 Brocke — Prevost— The " Little Belt." 165 Disqualification of the Judges 160

Chapter III. Page

Sir George Prevost 166 Opening of Parliament 167 Kmbudunent of the Militia 168 Declaration of War by the United States : 169 The Henry Plot 170 Henry's Treachery 171 The American .Minority's Fears. . 172 United States unprepared for War 173 The Feeling in Canada 174 Army Bills — Prorogation of Parliament , 175 Tin- Ste. Claire Riot 176 The Commencement us Hostilities. 177 Surrender of VhehiLlimaekinac 178 General Hull. — Proclamation — Amberstburgh 179 Offensive operations by the British. 180 The Battle ot'Maguago 181 Bombardment of Detroit 182 Surrender of General Hull 183 Hull in Montreal— His Excuse.... 184 .Surrender of H. M. S. " Guerriere" — The Fight 185, The " Guerriere " a wreck 186 Abandonment of the " Guerriere." 187 Tiie Northern States clamorous for peace 188 The Battle of Queens ton — Death of Brooke 189 The Victory— TheBurial of Brocke 190 The "President "and" Belvidera " 191 The " Frolic" and the " Wasp." 192 The " Macedonian " and "United States.

" 193 The Lords of the Admiralty 194 The " Constitution " and the ■ Java" 195 Capture of the "Java" — Spirit of "TheTin.es." 196 Generals Sheafft and Smyth 1 - '~ The Fleets on the Lakes 198 He Salaberry— Lacolle 199 Dearborn' Retreat 308 Smyth' Ut. -mpt .i brie 301 PAGE. Meeting of the Lower Canadian Parliament 202 The Prevalent Feeling— Mr. Jas. Stuart 203 Proceedings of Parliament 204 Mr. Ryland on the Press 205 The " Mercury " upon Mr. Stuart. 206 Openingof the next Campaign... 207 Battle at the River Raisin 208 Great Exertions on both sides... 209 Imperial Misapprehension of Canadian Resources 210 Assault at Ogdensburg 211 Capture of Toronto 212 Fort George Blown up 213 The Americans Surprised 214 Black Bock — Sacketts Harbour... 215 The Affair of Sacketts Harbour... 216 Indecision of Sir George Psevost. . 217 Unsuccessful Assault upon Sandusky 218 Stupidity of the English Military Departments 219 Capture of two War Vessels at Isle Aux Noix 220 Plattsburg Captured 221 Wisdom thrust upon the Admiralty 222 The " Shannon " and " Chesapeake.

" 223 The Fight— The Triumph" .... '. '. '. 224 "Argus " & " Pelican " — "Boxer " & "Enterprise 225 Travelling-The Thousand Islands. 226 Goose Creek— The Attack 227 York — Capture of the" Julia" & " Growler. " 228 Engagement on Lake Ontario — The Mishap 229 Barclay and Perry 230 The Battle — The Americans victorious 2711 Proctor's Retreat-Kentucky Moulted Rifles .' 232 Death of Tecumseh— Flight of Pi etc i- PAGE.

PAGE, General Proctor reprimanded and suspended 234 The Assault 275 A British Fleet on the American Coast 276 The intended attack uponMontreal. 235 De Salaberry and his Voltigeurs . . 236 The Battle of Chateauguay 237 Excellent effect of music 238 Admiral Cockburn & General Ross. 277 The Legislative Capital of the U. S. captured 27S The Canadians Victorious 239 The Destruction of the Libraries... 279 Capitulation of Alexandria 280 Wilkinson's Descent of the Rapids. 240 Chrystler's Farm 241 Death of General Ross . - 281 The Attack on Montreal abandoned 242 The Attack on Baltimore 282 Prairie Du Chien and Ste. Marie.. 283 Gen. Drummond — Upper Canada 243 Assault and Capture effort Niagara. 244 Nocturnal Attack on Black Rock. 245 Moose Island taken possession of.. 284 The Penobscot Expedition 2b5 Invasion of the United Sta'es 286 The Retreat of the Americans 246 The British Fleet defeated in Lake Champlain 287 Termination of the Campaign 347 Prosperity of Canada during the AVar 248 The Fight & tbe Surrender 288 The Retreat— Sir George Prevost. 289 Parliament — Upper Canada 249 The Parliameut of Lower Canada. 250 Character of Sir George Prevost . . 290 Accusation of Prevost by Sir Jas. Yeo .' 291 The Speech and The Reply 251 Proposed Income Tax 252 Fort Erie Blown up 292 Mr. Ryland and the Provincial Secretary 253 Mr. James Stuart and Chief Justice New Orleans — General Jackson 293 Nature of the Defences of New Orleans 294 Sewell 254 Pakenham — The Assault 295 The Rules of Practice 255 Gallantry of the 93rd Regiment... 296 The Defeat — Thornton Successful. 297 Resolutions aimed at Jonathan Sewell 256 Capture of Fort Boyer — The Peace 29i The Impeachment 257 Defence of Pakenham 's conduct. .. 299 An Unpleasant Position 258 The Hartford Convention 300 Chief Justices Sewell and Monk... 259 Consequences of the AVar 301 London Agents of the Province. . . 260 The Prorogation — Russian Mediation 261 The Canada Militia Disbanded. .. 302 Meeting of Parliament in Lower Canada 303 Capture of the " Essex.

" 262 An Agent — Public Opinion 304 " Frolic" & " Orpheus " — " Epervier"& "Peacock." 263 Service of Plate to Sir George Prevost 305 The " Reindeer " and " Wasp. " . . 264 Prisoners — 8th Regt. — Indians 265 The Attack upon Lacolle 266 Character ot Prevost as a Governor. 306 Close of the Session — the Lachine Canal . . 307 The Killed and AVounded-Plunder 267 Progress— Recall of Sir George Prevost 308 Recaptures of Plunder at Madrid. 268 Capture of Oswego 269 Legislation in Upper Canada 309. The Sandy Creek Business 270 Riall's Defeat 271 State of Parties in Upper Canada. 310 The Newspaper a Pestilence in the Land 31 J The Brock Monument — Gore's Return 3jy The Battle of Chippewa 272 The Battle continued 273 Siege of Fort Erie... 274 274

Chapter IV. Page

PAGE Drummond Administrator-in-chief. 213 Dissolution of Parliament 319- The Roads— The Inhabitants 314 The French Canadian character.. 315 General Wilson Administrator. . . ". 32*0- Information for the Colonial Secretary 32i Parliament— Waterloo 316 . ....%, ...... ..............^ __ ,ygi Sir John Shorbrooke's Notions 322 " My Native City.

" ■. 317 The Assembly Censured 318 The New Parliament 33^ V. PAGE PAGE Suspension of Mr. Justice Foucher. 324 The Chief Justice of ontreal... 325 The Civil List — xVntagoiilsm 370 Mr. Marryatt, M. P.— Stoppage of the Supplies 37 1 The Honorable John Richardson.. 372 •' Sub Rosa " Negociation 326 Management of the Commons 327 The Banks of Quebec and Montreal. 328 York and Kingston 329 Message from the Governor 373 Despotic conduct of the Assembly 374 First Steamers on the Lakes.. ~ . . 330 Effect of cutting off the supplies.. 375 Government of Upper Canada 331 Persecutions for Opinion's sake... 332 Joseph Wilcocks, M. P. P 333 The Prorogation — Kyland's Advice 376 Legislative Union of the Provinces 377 Agriculture and commerce in distress 378 Acts of the Upper Canada Legislature 334 The Union Bill 379 The Prorogation 336 The Church— Political Rights 380 Foreign Protestants — Prorogation. 337 l'urand's Parliamentary Libel 338 Durand Imprisoned — A\ryatt vs. Core 339 Antipathies-Increasing Difficulties 381 Parliament again in session 382 Sir F. Burton — District of St. Francis 383 Lower Canada Civil List 340 The Civil List 384 The Instructions — Foucher 341 " Times" Libel — Emptiness of the Public Chest 385 Adjudication of Impeachments 342 Mr. Ryland's Opinion 343 The Finances — the Receiver General 386 The Cliambly Canal 344 The Estimates — St. Peter Street, Quebec 345 Disinterment of Montgomery — Richmond 346 The Lachine and Chambly Canals. 387 The prorogation — Union of the Provinces 388 The Public Accounts of Upper Canada 389 His Grace the Duke of Richmond's Speech 347 Gourlay's Enlightened Views 390 Rejection of the CivilList — Lachine Canal 348 Construction ot Ship Canals recommended 391 Realization of a Dream — Mr. Merritt 392 Additional Impeachments 349 Some Feeling evinced by the Legislati ve Council 350 John Charlton Fisher, LL.

D , King's Printer 393 A Paul, Strahan, and Bate's Case. 35J A Testy Speech from the Throne.. 352 Rideau Canal — Population — Banks 353 Upper Canada — Mr. Gourlay 354 Mr. Gourlay's schemes 355 Suspension ot Mr. Caldwell 394 Lord Dalhousie's Explanation 395 The defalcation — Tea Smuggling. 396 Free navigation of the St. Lawrence demanded 397 Gourlay arrested 356 Gourlay's ejectment — Parliament. 357 Governor Maitland and the Con- Pettishness of the Lower Canada Assembly 398 Occupations Taxed inUpperCanada 399 vention 358 Death of the Duke of Richmond.. 359 Drawbacks on Importations 400 Antagonism — Maitland and the L. C. Assembly 360 Arrival of Lord Dalhousie 361 The Clergy Reserves 401 Parliament Closed — Tyranny of Maitland 402 Papineau's speech at Montreal 362 Dalhousie's opening parliamentary speech 363 The Bidwells and Brodeurs of U. C. 41 13 W. L. Mackenzie — Appearance and Character 404 Facilities for manufacturing in Lower Canada 364 Mackenzie Persecuted 405 Press Muzzliugs 406 Honorable John Neilson — Appearance and Character 365 Sir J. Robinson — Patience and Op- ■ pression 407 Quarrel of the Houses about the CivilList 366 Mr. Andrew Stuart— The Supplies, &c 367 The Lachine Canal— Sinecure Offices 368 Recall of Sir P. Maitland 408 A .atlhews— Willis— Robinson 409 The Gentry of Canada 410 The Litcrarv and Historical Society " 411 Departure of Lord Dalhousie 412 Additions to the Executive Council

Preface

. The beauty of a book, as of a picture, consists in the grouping of images and in the arrangement of details. Not only has attitude and gr6uping to be attended to by the painter, and by the narrator of events, but attention must be paid to light and shade ; and the same subject is susceptible of being treated in many ways. When the idea occurred to me of offering to the public of Canada a history of the province, I was not ignorant of the existence of other histories. Smith, Christie, Garneau, Gourlay, Martin and Murray, the narratives of the Jesuit Fathers, Charlevoix, the Journals of Knox, and many other histories and books, were more or less familiar to me ; but there was then no history, of all Canada from the earliest period to the present day so concisely written, and the various events and personages, of which it is composed, so grouped together, as to present an attractive and striking picture to the mind of every reader.

It was that want which I determined to supply, and with some degree of earnestness the self-imposed task was undertaken. My plan was faintly to imitate the simple narrative style, the conciseness, the picturesqueness, the eloquence, tbe poetry, and the philosophic spirit of a history, the most remarkable of any extant — that of the world. As Moses graphically and philosoplucally has sketched the peopling of the earth ; painted tho beauties of dawning nature; shown the origin of agriculture and the arts ; described the social advancement of families, tribes aud nations ; exhibited the short-comings and the excellencies of patriarchal and of monarchical forms of government ; exposed the warrings and bickerings among men ; told of the manner in which a people escaped from bondage and raised themselves on the wreck of thrones, principalities, and powers, to greatness ; published tho laws by which that most chosen people were governed ; and dwelt upon the perversity of human nature; and as other men, divinely inspired, have sublimely represented the highest stages of Jewish civilisation, so diil I propose to myself to exhibit the rise of Canada from a primitive condition to its present state of advancement.

My first great difficulty was to obtain a publisher. There could only be a very few persons who would run the risk of publishing a mere history of Canada, even with all these, fanciful excellencies, produced by one unknown to fame. But " where there is a will, there is a way,"

PREFACE.

. and about the middle of the mouth of June last, I had succeeded in disposing of a book, then scarcely begun, to Mr. Peter Sinclair, Bookseller, John Street, in the City of Quebec. That gentleman, with characteristic spirit and liberality, agreed to become my publisher, and until the 17th day of September, I read and wrote diligently, having written, in round numbers, about a thousand pages ot foolscap and brought to a conclusion the first rebellion. Then the work of printing was begun, and the correction of all the proofs together with the editorial management of a newspaper, have since afforded me sufficient occupation. Mr. McMullen, of Brockville, has, however, produced a history of this country from its discovery to the present time, almost as if he had been influenced by motives similar to those which have influenced ma.

His pictures, however, are not my pictures, nor his sentiments my sentiments. The books — although the facts are the same and necessarily derived from the same sources — are essentially different. He is most elaborate in the beginning, I become more and more particular with regard to details towards the close — I expand with the expansion of the country. In the first chapter of this first volume, the history of the province while under French rule is rapidly traced, and the history of the New England Colonies dipped into, with the view of showing the progressional resemblance betweeu that country which is now the United States and our own ; in the second chapter the reader obtains only a glance, as it were, at the American war of independence, when he is carried again into Canada and made acquainted with the many difficulties in spite of which Upper and Lower Canada continued to advance in wealth and civilisation ; in the third chapter a history of the war between England and the United States is given with considerable minuteness ; and the fourth chapter brings the reader up to the termination of that extraordinary period of mis-government, subsequent to the American war, which continued until the Rebellion, and has not even yet been altogether got rid of.

There are without doubt, errors, exceptions, and omissions enough to be found — an island may have been inadvertently placed in a wrong lake, a date or figure may be incorrect, words may have been misprinted, and, in some parts, the sense a little interfered with — but I have set down nothing in malice, having had a strict regard for truth. I have creamed Gourlay, Christie, Murray, Alison, Wells, and Henry, and taken whatever I djem id essential from a history of the United States, without a title page, and from Jared Sparks and other authors ; but for the history of Low.:r Canada my chief reliance has been upon the valuable volumes, compiled with so much care, by Mr. Christie, and I have put the essence of his sixth volume of revelations in its fitting place. For va uable assistance in the way of information, 1 am indebted to Mr. Christie personally, to the Honble.

Henry Black, to the Librarians of the Legis lative Assembly— the Reverend Dr. Adamson and Dr. AVinder— and to Daniel Wilkie, Esquire, one of the teachers of JjierBi^h School of Quebec. f o V«n 1 c- BOGER. Quebec, 31st December, 1855. I ! " Entered according to Act of the Provincial Legislature, •• for the Protection of Copy-rights, in the year one thousand •' eight hundred and fifty-six, by P. Sinclair, Quebec, in ■• the- Office of the Registrar of the Province of Canada." THE RISE OF CANADA FROM BAEBARISM TO CIVILISATION. '9?*1

Chapter I

There have been many attempts to discover a northwest passage to the East Indies or China. Some of these attempts have been disastrous, but none fruitless. They have all led to other discoveries of scarcely inferior importance, and so recently as within the past tAvelve months the discovery of a passage from the Atlantic to the Pacific Oceans has been made. It Avas in the attempt to find a ucav passage from Europe to Asia that this country was discovered. In one of these exploring expeditions, England, four centuries ago, employed John Cabot. This Italian navigator, a man of great intrepidity, courage, and nautical skill, discovered Newfoundland, saAV Labrador, (only previously known to the Danes) and entered the Gulf of St. LaAvrence. To Labrador he gave, it is alleged, the name of Primavista.

But that he so designated that still rugged and inhospitable, but not unimprovable, region, is less than probable. The name A\-as more applicable to the gulf which, doubtless, appeared to Cabot to be a first glimpse of the grand marine highway of Avhich he Avas in quest, and Avith which he was so content 1527. 4 CANADA DISCOVERED. that he returned to England and Avas knighted by Henry the Seventh. Sebastian Cabot made the next attempt to reach China by sailing north-Avest. He penetrated to Hudson's Bay, never even got a glimpse of the St. LaAvrence, and returned to England. Fifty years afterwards, Cotereal left Portugal, with the vieAV of folloAving the course of the elder Cabot. He reached Labrador, returned to Portugal, was lost on a second voyage, and A\7as the first subject of a " searching expedition," three vessels having-been fitted out Avith that view by the King of Portugal.

Several other attempts at discovery Avere subsequently made. Tavo merchants of Bristol, in England, obtained a patent to establish colonies in Newfoundland and Labrador, and in 1527, Henry the Seventh, for the last time, despatched a north-west pas sage discovery fleet. The formation of English settlements, and the exploration Avere equally unsuccessful. These facts I allude to, rather AA'ith the object of accounting for the name of "Canada," applied to the country through AA7hieh the St. LaAvrence flows, than for any other purpose. In the " Relations des Jesuits," Father Henepin states that the Spaniards first discovered Canada while in search, not of a northwest passage, but of gold, which they could not find, and therefore called the land, so A7alueless in their eyes, El Capo di Nada — ' ' The Cape of Nothing.

" But, the Spaniards, who possibly did visit Canada two years before Cabot, what ever the object of their voyage may have been, could not have done anything so absurd. Quebec, not Canada, may have been to them Cape Nothing, and doubtless Avas. It was the way they looked for. That was as visible to them as to Cabot, and a passage, strath, or way is signified in Spanish by the word Canada. It was not gold but a w7ay to gold that English, Spaniards, Italians, and French sought. It Avas the cashmeres, the pearls, and the gold of India that were wanted. It was a short way to wealth that all hoped for. And the St. LaAvrence has, indeed, been a short Avay to wealth, if not to China, as will afterwards be shown.* * The title of Henepin's book is " Nouveau Voyage d'un pais plus grand que 1534. CARHER'S ARRIVAI IX THE ST. LAWRENCE. 5 Passing oA7er the exploration of what is now the Coast of the United States, by Verrazzano, I come to the discovery of Gaspe Basin and the River St. Lawrence, by Jacques Carder, of St. Malo, in France.

With ships of one hundred and twenty tons, and forty tons, Carder arriAred in the St. LaAv rence — as some spring traders of the present day occasionally do — before the ice had broken up, and found it necessary to go back and seek shelter in some of the lower bays or har bours. He left St. Malo in April, 1534, and arrived in the St. Lawrence early in May. Returning to Gaspe, he entered the Bay Chaleur, remained there until the 25th July, and returned to France. Next year, Cartier arrived in the St. LaAvrence, after various disasters to his three vessels, and viewed, and named Anticosti, which he called L'lsle de L Assomption ; explored the River Saguenay ; landed on, and named the Isle aux Coudres, or Island of Filberts ; passed the Isle of Bacchus, iioav Island of Orleans ; ami at length came to anchor on the " Little River " St. Croix, the St. Charles of these times, on which stood the huts of Stada cona.

Cartier chatted Avith the Indians for a season. He found them an exceedingly good tempered and very com municative people. They told him that there was another tOAvn higher up the river, and Cartier determined upon visit ing that congregation of birch bark tents or huts, pitched on a spot of land called Hochelaga, now the site of Montreal. At Hochelaga the " new Governor " met with a magnificent reception. A thousand natives assembled to meet him on the shore, and the compliment was returned by presents of "tin" beads, and other trifles. Hochelaga was the chief In dian Emporium of Canada; it was ever a first class city — in Canada. Charlevoix says, even in those days this (Hochelaga) l'Europe, avec les reflections des enterprises du Sieur de la Salle, sur les Mines de Ste Barbe, &c, * * * et des avautages qu'on peut retirer du chemm racourci de la Chine et du Japon, par le moyen de tant de vastes contrees et de nouvelles colonies," ("published at Utrecht in 1698.

J In the commissions granted to Champlain, on the 15th October, 1612, and loth February, 1625, the same objects are adverted to -.—pour essayer de trouveT '? chemin faite pour alter par de dans le dit pays au pays de la Chine et hides On rntalrs." 1603. 6 COMMENCEMENT OF THE FUR TRADE. was a place of considerable importance, as the capital of a great extent of country. Eight or ten villages were subject to its SAvay. Jacques Cartier returned to Quebec, loaded his A7essels AA'ith supposed gold ore, and Cape Diamonds, Avdiich he supposed Avere brilliants of the first Avater, and then Avent home to France, where he told a truly magnificent tale con cerning a truly magnificent country. Expeditions for Cana da Avere eArerywhere set afoot. Even Queen Elizabeth, of England; sent Frobisher on a A-oyage of discoA7ery, but he only discoA7ered a foreland and tons of mica, which he mis took for golden ore.

Martin Frobisher was ruined. His Avas a ruinous speculation. Talc or mica did not pay the expense of a nine month's A7oyage with fifteen ships. But all that Avas then sought for is noAv found in Canada — and more. To obtain much gold, howeA'er, the settlement of a country is necessary. It is the Avants of the settlers AA'hich extract gold from the ground for the benefit of the trader. The only occupiers of Canada, no farther back than two hundred years, Avere Indians. The Montagnais, the Hurons, the Algon quins, the Iroquois, the Outagomies, the Mohawks, the Senecas, the Sioux, the Blackfeet, and the Crowfeet red faces, Avere the undisputed possessors of the soil. They held the mine, the lake, the river, the forest, and the toAvn ship in free and common soccage. They were some times merchants and sometimes soldiers.

They were all ready to trade AA7ith their Avhite invaders, all prone to quarrel among themseh7es. The Loquois and Hurons w7ere ever at Avar with each other. When not smoking they were sure to be fighting. The first Avhite man who opened up the trade of the St. Lawrence was M. Pontgrave, of St. Malo. He made several voyages in search of furs to Tadousac, and the wealthy mer chant was successful. With the aid of a Captain Chauvin, of the French navy, whom he induced to join him, Pont grave attempted to establish a trading post at Tadousac. He was, however, unsuccessful. Chauvin died in 1603, leaving a stone house for his monument, then the only one in Canada! 1G08. QUEBEC FOUNDED. 7 It Avas noAv determined by the French government to form settlements in Canada. And the military mind of France attempted to carry into effect a plan not dissimilar to that recommended a feAV years ago by Major Carmychael Smyth, the making of a road to the Pacific through the wilderness by means of convicts.