Section IL, 1885. [ 39 ] Trans. Roy. Soc. Canada. 



III. — Sources of Early Canadian Hisiori/. 

 By George Stewart, Jun. 



(Read May 28, 1885.) 



The most couspicuous figure in the early history of French colonization in America 

 is, beyond any doubt, Louis de Buade, Count of Palluau and Frontenac. He was twice 

 governor of New France, and his admiuistratiou covers two of the most romantic periods 

 in the progress and career of the country. His mastery over the Lidian nature has never 

 been excelled. He understood the character of the savage well, and ruled him with the 

 rod of iron, or the blandishments of the courtier, as occasion suited. Frontenac first came 

 to Quebec, after a brilliant military experience in Europe, in 1672, — -a matured man of 

 fifty-two years of age, fiill of energy, zeal and enterprise. He continued in office from that 

 date until 1682, when, owing to his quarrels with the clergy and his Intendant, and cer- 

 tain trading operations forbidden by the court, reaching the ear of the king, he was 

 recalled to France, and Le Fèbvre de La Barre, a soldier of note, was appointed in his stead. 

 De La Earre, however, did not reign long. His career proved disastrous in the extreme, 

 and the miserable policy he pursued crippled the resources of the little colony, and lowered 

 the prestige of France in the eyes of the Indians. The king recalled him in the third 

 year of his governorship, and sent in his place the Marquis de Deuonville, a pious colonel 

 of dragoons, who arrived in Quebec in the autumn of 1685. De Denonville proved even a 

 more incapable ruler than his predecessor, and he had not been long in the country before 

 he had brought it down to the very brink of ruin. One disaster followed quickly on 

 another, and the Massacre of Lachine, in 1689, was the culminating blot on the troublous 

 administration of the weak and impotent marquis. It was then that all eyes again turned 

 to Frontenac, now in his seventieth year. The old warrior was forgiven his past follies 

 by Louis, and once more took up the governorship of the struggling settlement of La Nou- 

 velle France. He reached Quebec in the autumn of 1689, and was received with fireworks 

 and jubilations. He asserted his old power over the Indians, and soon had them under 

 subjection. His memorable defeat of Phips, and numerous small victories over other 

 enemies of his country, together with his general conduct of affairs lent lustre to his some- 

 what eventful reign. He died at Quebec in 1698, in the seventy-eighth year of his age, 

 sincerely mourned by all New France. 



The materials from which this brief story is drawn are copious and rich. A large 

 portion of the manuscript sources may be found in the invaluable collection of papers 

 relating to New France, in the Archives of the Marine and Colonies, the Archives Nation- 

 ales, and the Bibliothèque Nationale in Paris ; and in the office of the Provincial Registrar 

 at Quebec. The Archives of New York, Massachusetts, and Canada, have made extensive 

 transcripts from these documents as follows ; — ■ 



