OF BAELY CANADIAN HISTOEY. 41 



For particulars couceruiug the youth of Froutenac, his family aud marriage, see Park- 

 man's Appendix, where, among other sources, are named the Journal of Jeau Héroard, 

 physician to the Court, part of which is cited iu " Le Correspondant " of Paris for 18t3 ; 

 Pinard, "Chronologie Historique-Militaire;" " Les Mémoires de Sully;" "Table de la 

 Gazette de France ; " "Mémoires de Philippe Hurault " (in Petitot) ; Jal, "Dictionnaire 

 Critique, Biographique, et d' Histoire," article, " Frontenac ; " " Historiettes de Tallemant 

 des Eéaux," IX, (éd. Monmerqué) ; " Mémoires de Mademoiselle de Montpensier," Vols. 

 I-HI ; and " Mémoires du Duc de Saint Simon." Frontenac's will is printed in the 

 "Magazine of American History," June, 1883, p. 465, New York. 



At Frontenac's death we have an " Oraison funèbre du Comte de Frontenac, par le 

 Père Olivier Goyer," preached from the text. In muUUudine videbor bonus el in bello fortis. 

 A copy of this eulogy, containing a running commentary on its sentiments strongly 

 adverse to the views of the preacher, is preserved in the Seminary of Quebec. These 

 comments, selections from which will be found in Parkman's " Count Froutenac and 

 Now France under Louis XIV," pp. 431-434, are, Abbé Casgrain informs me, from the 

 caustic pen of Abbé Charles Glaudelet, who came to Canada in 1615, and laboured for half 

 a century in the Seminary. 



The list of printed books relating to the period under consideration is very long, but 

 few of these writings are entirely trustworthy as historical authorities, — prejudice and 

 partisanship characterizing them for the most part. The contests of the day developed 

 bitter antagonisms, and it was not easy at the time to withstand their influences. When 

 we investigate the writings of these contemporaries, we find a remarkable lack of unity 

 aud sympathy prevailing, and this often extends to matters of trifling import. Unsatis- 

 factory as chronicles as these books are, they are valuable as expressions of current 

 partisan feeling, aud in the latter form they frequently serve to throw light on all trans- 

 actions. Foremost among these early narratives is the "Premier Établissement de la Foy 

 dans la Noiivelle France " of Father Le Clercq. This work, it is said, was written under 

 the eye of Frontenac himself. Certainly it is highly coloured, and presents the Recollet 

 side in a strong and bold light. Bacqueville de La Potherie's " Histoire de l'Amérique 

 Septentrionale depuis 1534 jusqu'à 1701," (Paris, 1722, four volumes,) is an exceedingly 

 respectable authority, often quoted, and particularly useful for the light which it throws 

 on the relations of Froutenac and de Callières. It is also held in high esteem as a contri- 

 bution upon the condition of the Indians at that time. Charlevoix describes it as con- 

 taining " undigested and ill-written material on a good portion of Canadian history." 



The works of Hennepin, La Houtan, Tonti, and Marquette may be included among 

 the principal early narratives which are worth consulting by the student. With the help 

 of official and other contemporary documents, these writings may, in the main, satisfy the 

 mind. 



The "Histoire du Canada," by Abbé Belmont, Superior of the Seminary of Montreal 

 during 1713 and 1724, is a short history of affairs from 1608 to 1700. The Literary and 

 Historical Society of Quebec printed, about 1840, in their " Collection de Mémoires," a 

 small edition of the work from a manuscript copy in the Bibliothèque Nationale of Paris. 

 This essay is generally accurate, and the views expressed are evidently the result of care- 

 ful consideration. 



The general history of the administrations of Frontenac, de La Barre, and de Denon- 



Sec. II., 1885. 6. 



