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and of religious foundations. The colony had indeed 

 expanded, though a species of close borough to outsiders 

 and despite monopolies and absolutism. 



Another marked increase to the census soon took 

 place after the disbanding and settling in Canada of 

 the famous French regiment brought over from France, 

 in 1665, by the pompous Marquis of Tracy ; the 

 Carignan-Salieres Eegiment formed by the Prince of 

 Carignan and commanded by the dashing Col. de 

 Salieres. The King had promised extensive tracts of 

 land on the shores of the St. Lawrence to the officers 

 who would found families in Canada. Hence, the 

 origin of the French Seigniories granted to French 

 officers, several of whom hailed from the titled gentry 

 of France. In many instances, their names were 

 bequeathed to their broad acres, and are borne by them 

 to this day ; such as Capts. Saint Ours, de Berthier, de 

 Saurel, de Contrecceur, la Valtrie, de Meloises,Tarieu de 

 la Perade, de la Fouille, Maximin, Lobiau, Petit, Eouge- 

 mont, Traversy, de La Motte, La Combe, de Vercheres, 

 whilst their gallant troopers, allured to settle in Canada 

 by grants of land and farm stock from the Government, 

 were not slow in falling in love with the lively, bright- 

 eyed Josettes of Quebec and Montreal. Soon, says an 

 old chronicle, the parish priest had his hands full, with 

 marriages ; and, in due time, with christenings. Many 

 of these patriarchal families could successfully, in after 

 years, have claimed Col. Ehodes' premium of 100 acres 

 for the twelfth child. 



Social intercourse at Quebec in 1690, though on a 

 limited scale, was apparently of good form, according to 

 reliable writers. Charlevoix, a contemporary historian, 

 who wrote the history of the colony, in 1720, speaks in 

 high terms of the French societies of that and of previous 

 periods : " Manners were refined ; no boorishness ; the 

 language spoken, pure and no accent perceptible in the 



