— 100 — 



also had for effect to draw attention, to a phase in our 

 annals, at one time obscurely known : the resident 

 french nobility. Although primitive Canada, carries 

 on her escutcheon, many of the famous names of old 

 France : Eichelieu, the Prince of Conde, the marquis de 

 la Eoche, the count of Soissons, le chevalier de Montma- 

 gny, Laval, the marquis of Tracy, count La Galisson- 

 niere, the marquis of Beauharnois, the marquis of 

 Montcalm, Levi, several of these proud dignitaries, 

 though watching over the cradle of the nascent colony, 

 were never residents of New France. 



A memoir (1) of 1667, attributed to Intendant Talon, 

 mentions that the nobility " La Noblesse " counts but 

 four old nobles, in the colony, adding that four other 

 heads of families, were honored the year previous, by 

 the French King, with Lettres de Noblesse — in addition 

 to the nobles among army officers, who had settled in 

 Canada, the worthy Intendant, thinks this number 

 insufficent to uphold the king's authority and suggests 

 to the minister, that His Majesty should increase it by 

 sending in blank, eight Eoyal Patents of nobility for 

 eight of the most meritorious colonists, to be selected; 

 such practice having taken place the year previous." 



In a subsequent memoir (2), attributed to Intendant 

 Hocquart, and apparently written about 1736 when 

 the Marquis de Beauharnois was Governor and Hoc- 

 quart Intendant, it is stated that " there were a few 

 noble families in Canada, but that so many sons are 

 born to them, that it produces a number of Gentils- 

 hommes, younger sons, of gentle birth to be provided 

 for. 



(1) M6moire sur V4tat present du Canada, 1667. Documents 

 publies en 1840, par la SocUU LUUraire et Historique, 

 Quebec, p. 5. 



(2) Mtmoire sur le Canada, d'apres un manuscrit, aux 



Archives de la Marine, a Paris, 1736. p. 2 Document publie 



par la Socie'U LUUraire et Historique, Quebec, 1840. 



