— 124 — 



Castle of St. Louis was palatial in its dimensions and 

 adornment. The panels of wainscotting upon the walls 

 were hung with paintings of historic interest, portraits 

 of the Kings, Governors, Intendants and Ministers of 

 State, who had been instrumental in the colonization of 

 New France. 



" Over the Governor's seat hung a gorgeous escut- 

 cheon of the Boyal arms, draped with a cluster of white 

 flags, sprinkled with golden lilies, — the emblems of 

 French Sovereignty in the colony. Among the portraits 

 on the walls, beside those of the late (Louis XIV) and 

 present King (Louis XV), which hung on each side of 

 the throne, might be seen the features of Richelieu, who 

 first organized the rude settlements on the St. Lawrence 

 in a body politic, a reflex of feudal France ; and of 

 Colbert, who made available its natural wealth and 

 resources, by peopling it with the best scions of the 

 Mother Land, — the noblesse and peasantry of Nor- 

 mandy, Brittany and Aquitaine. There, too, might be 

 seen the keen, bold features of Cartier, the first disco- 

 verer, and of Champlain, the first explorer of the new 

 land, and the founder of Quebec. The gallant, restless 

 Louis Buade de Frontenac, was pictured there, side by 

 side with his fair countess, called by reason of her sur- 

 passing loveliness ' The Divine.' Vaudreuil, too, who 

 spent a long life of devotion to his country, and Beau- 

 harnois, who nourished its young strength until it was 

 able to resist not only the powerful confederacy of the 

 Five Nations, but the still more powerful league of 

 New England and the other English colonies. There, 

 also, were seen the sharp, intellectual face of Laval, 

 its first Bishop who organized the Church and educa- 

 tion in the colony : and of Talon, wisest of Inten- 

 dants, who devoted himself to the improvement of 

 agriculture, .the increase of trade, and the well-being of 

 all the King's subjects in New France. And one more 

 portrait was there, worthy to rank among the statesmen 

 and rulers of New France, — the pale, calm, intellectual 



