CHAPTER II. 



1608-1763. 

 FRANCE AND ENGLAND IN AMERICA. 



The American colonies of France and England 

 grew up to maturity under widely different auspices. 

 Canada, the offspring of Church and State, nursed 

 from infancy in the lap of power, its puny strength 

 fed with artificial stimulants, its movements guided 

 by rule and discipline, its limbs trained to martial 

 exercise, languished, in spite of all, from the lack 

 of vital sap and energy. The colonies of England, 

 outcast and neglected, but strong in native vigor 

 and self-confiding courage, grew yet more strong 

 with conflict and with striving, and developed the 

 rugged proportions and unwieldy strength of a 

 youthful giant. 



In the valley of the St. Lawrence, and along the 

 coasts of the Atlantic, adverse principles contended 

 for the mastery. Feudalism stood arrayed against 

 Democracy ; Popery against Protestantism ; the 

 sword against the plougshare. The priest, the 

 soldier, and the noble, ruled in Canada. The 

 ignorant, light-hearted Canadian peasant knew 

 nothing and cared nothing about popular rights 



