56 FRANCE AND ENGLAND IN AMERICA. [1663-1673. 



respects no less, the labors of the wandering mis- 

 sionaries advanced the welfare of the colony. 

 Sagacious and keen of sight, with faculties stimu- 

 lated by zeal and sharpened by peril, they made 

 faithful report of the temper and movements of 

 the distant tribes among whom they were distribu- 

 ted. The influence which they often gained was 

 exerted in behalf of the government under whose 

 auspices their missions were carried on ; and they 

 strenuously labored to win over the tribes to the 

 French alliance, and alienate them from the heretic 

 English. In all things they approved themselves 

 the stanch and steadfast auxiliaries of the imperial 

 power ; and the Marquis du Quesne observed of 

 the missionary Picquet, that in his single person 

 he Wias worth ten regiments.^ 



Among the English colonies, the pioneers of civ- 

 ilization were for the most part rude, yet vigorous 

 men, impelled to enterprise by native restlessness, 

 or lured by the hope of gain. Their range was 

 limited, and seldom extended far beyond the out- 

 skirts of the settlements. With Canada it was far 

 otherwise. There was no energy in the bulk of 

 her people. The court and the army supplied the 

 mainsprings of her vital action, and the hands 

 which planted the lilies of France in the heart of 

 the wilderness had never guided the ploughshare 

 or wielded the spade. The love of adventure, the 

 ambition of new discovery, the hope of military ad- 

 vancement, urged men of place and culture to em- 



1 Picquet was a priest of St. Sulpice. For a sketch of liis life, see 

 Let.L Edif. XIV. 



