160 QUEBEC AND ITS TENANTS. [1636-46. 



of history we find Hell beguiling the virtues of 

 Heaven to do its work. The instinct- of domi- 

 nation is a weed that grows rank in the shadow 

 of the temple, climbs over it, possesses it, covers 

 its ruin, and feeds on its decay. The unchecked 

 sway of priests has always been the most mischiev- 

 ous of tyrannies ; and even were they ^11 well- 

 meaning and sincere, it would be so stilLj- 



To the Jesuits, the atmosphere of Quebec was 

 well-nigh celestial. " In the climate of New 

 France," they write, " one learns perfectly to seek 

 only God, to have no deske but God, no purpose 

 but for God." And again : "To live in New 

 France is in truth to live in the bosom of God." 

 " If," adds Le Jeune, " any one of those who die 

 in this country goes to perdition, I think he will 

 be doubly guilty."^ 



The very amusements of this pious community 

 were acts of religion. Thus, on the fete-day of St. 

 Joseph, the patron of New France, there was a 

 show of fireworks to do him honor. In the forty 

 volumes of the Jesuit Relations there is but one 

 pictorial illustration ; and this represents the pyro- 

 technic contrivance in question, together with a fig- 

 ure of the Governor in the act of touching it off.^ 



1 " La Nouuelle France est vn vray climat ou on apprend parfaicte- 

 ment bien a ne chercher que Dieii, ne desirer que Dieu seul, auoir I'inten- 

 tion pureraent a Dieu, etc. . . . Viure en la Nouuelle France, c'est a vray 

 dire viure dans le sein de Dieu, et ne respirer que Fair de sa Diuine con- 

 duite." — Divers Sentfmens. " Si quelqu'un de ceux qui meurent en ces 

 contre'es se damne, je croy qu'il sera doublement coupable." — Relation, 

 1640, 5 (Cramoisy). 



2 Relation, 1637, 8. The Relations, as originally published, comprised 

 about forty volumes. 



