12 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 



own country, my parents and those with whom during my early years 

 I contracted the ties of a close friendship and among whom you hold 

 the first rank, for I have always especially esteemed your worth. The 

 only thorn which troubles my rest and prevents me from settling my 

 inclinations in the satisfaction flowing from our conquests and our 

 triumphs is being deprived of the conversation of my friends and find- 

 ing myself now, so to say, torn in as many parts as there are objects 

 of affection, and that those objects are to me so dear. I would sus- 

 tain with more patience this voluntary exile, and the remembrance of 

 the charms of Europe would not so often trouble my resolution, seeing 

 now that my circumstances are changed into an abode in these disagree- 

 able, wild and uncivilized lands; but I am now realizing to my cost, 

 what it is to be separated from those whom one loves and to endure 

 the pain of such a long absence without hope even of seeing any change 

 in my lot. But after all it is the result of my own inconstancy and 

 youth, and, as I have thrown the die, I must alone meet the result. 

 However that may be, I beg you to believe that I have erected an 

 altar in my heart upon which I offer every day vows and benedictions 

 in recollection of your worth and I cherish in my memory the pleasures 

 of our former enjoyments. I think that if I had not found this 

 remedy to alleviate my reminiscences I could not have endured tlie 

 distress that these memories threw over all my energies; but, at last, 

 I have learned by this means to soften their pain, and these solaces 

 are so pleasant that I gather them as roses and flowers, overspread 

 with contentment so great that it creates for me a paradise of enjoy- 

 ment and is the delight of my life. The sorrows of absence would 

 yet be endurable if, after a certain length of time, I could secure news 

 from you, but since my departure from France, my ill fortune has 

 been such that I have been without any, and I can in no way learn 

 how you are, nor the state of your affairs, except in imagination, and 

 T know very well that such imaginations are deceitful: That would 

 afford a new charm to quicken the ardour of my desires, but seeing 

 that my unfortunate situation forbids it, I leave the whole to chance 

 and hazard, both in giving you a description of New France and in 

 asking you to let us know what is going on in the old one, and if a 

 fair wind carries my letter to you, I beg that you will recognize this 

 mark of my affection and accept in good part what I say of events 

 on this side, until history records, in detail, all those facts for your 

 better information. 



You must know then after our departure from Eochelle wliich 

 was on April 13, 1604, under the direction of the Sieur de Bricant, 



