[GANONG] BOUNDARIES OF NEW BRUNSWICK 174 
Tour’s territory, 1.e., the peninsula, while the mainland is designated by 
a distinct name, the coast of the Etchemins, the latter name being derived 
of course from Champlain, as already mentioned (page 154 earlier). 
Another point of some interest to us is that by this letter of the King the 
Isthmus of Chignecto is for the second time in history made a boundary, 
although correspondence with the earlier (see page-173) and later, as 
well as the present Isthmus boundary is a matter not of descent but of 
coincidence, based on the physical features of the region. We must also 
note that Port Royal appears to be recognized by the King as lying 
within LaTour’s territory and Fort LaTour as lying within Charnisay’s. 
LaTour and Charnisay did not, however, control all of Acadia, for in 
1636 the entire Gulf of St. Lawrence coast had been placed under control 
of Nicolas Denys. His first patent as Governor is, however, unknown, 
but we may judge of its boundaries by those stated in the renewal of 
1654, later to be given. 
With the subsequent struggles of LaTour and Charnisay for primacy 
in Acadia we have here nothing to do. In 1645 partly by diplomacy, but 
chiefly by force, Charnisay made himself master of Acadia and high in 
favour with the French Court, while LaTour was an exile. In 1648, 
Charnisay received from the King, letters patent making him governor 
and lieutenant-general in the country and coast of Acadia in New 
France, which country is thus described :— 
lesdits pays, territoire, côte et confins de l’Acadie, à commencer 
dès le bord de la grande rivière de St. Laurent . . . . jusq’aux Vir- 
gines. 
(Memorials of the English and French Commissaries, 573.) 
TRANSLATION. 
the said country, territory, coast and bounds of Acadia, to begin on 
the shore of the Great River of St. Lawrence . . . clear to Virginia 
At first sight this letter may seem to have no particular bearing 
upon the subject of boundaries, but it has this importance, that, recog- 
nizing as it does that the mainland belongs to Acadia, it entirely neutra!- 
izes the force of the passage in the aforementioned King’s letter of 1638, 
which seems to confine Acadia to the peninsula ; and it shows how 
loosely these documents were often drawn, how readily support can be 
found in them for any desired view as to boundaries, and how easily 
boundary disputes may arise from them. 
In 1650 Charnisay died, and LaTour was immediately restored to 
royal favour. The next year, 1651, he was made lieutenant-general of 
Acadia, which, while not specifically bounded in his patent, nevertheless 
is clearly meant to include the entire country to beyond the Penobscot. 
