CHAPTER XIV. 



1636-1652. 

 DEVOTEES AND NUNS. 



The Huron Seminary. — Madame de la Peltrie. — Her Pious 

 Schemes. — Her Sham Marriage. — She visits the Ursulinbs 

 OF Tours. — Marie de Saint Bernard. — Marie de lTncar- 

 nation. — Her Enthusiasm. — Her Mystical Marriage. — Her 

 Dejection. — Her Mental Conflicts. — Her Vision. — Made 

 Superior of the Ursulines. — The Hotel-Dieu. — The Voy- 

 age TO Canada. — Sillery. — Labors and Sufferings of the 

 Nuns. — Character of Marie de l'In carnation. — Of Madame 

 DE LA Peltrie. 



Quebec, as we have seen, had a seminary, a 

 hospital, and a convent, before it had a population. 

 It will be well to observe the origin of these insti- 

 tutions. 



The Jesuits from the first had cherished the 

 plan of a seminary for Huron boys at Quebec. 

 The Governor and the Company favored the de- 

 sign ; since not only would it be an efficient means 

 of spreading the Faith and attaching the tribe to 

 the French interest, but the children would be 

 pledges for the good behavior of the parents, and 

 hostages for the safety of missionaries and traders 



[167] 



