— 157 — 



These considerations forced themselves on me with 

 increased power recently, when, on entering my quiet 

 sanctum, I spied on my table in neat paper-covers, 

 presentation copies of two volumes which amongst our 

 litterateurs of French extraction are now like house- 

 hold words. 



The first was : — 



FnANgois de Bienville. — Scenes de la Vie Canadienne 

 au XVII Siecle, — Par Jos. Marmette. Quebec : — 

 Leger Brousseau, 1870. — 300 pages (1). 



More than once, the fascinating elf of Eomance has 

 become the handmaid of History, lighting up with her 

 magic rays and investing with all her nameless 

 graces, the prosy records of the past. 



The memorable example of the author of Waverley 

 was sure to call forth in every country devoted disciples, 

 most earnest followers. 



Our own land, full of literary promise, if not of 

 mature fruits, had its own stirring chronicles, teeming 

 with the warlike deeds of a " far-reaching ancestry, " 

 redolent of forest-scenes and Indian warfare ; and the 

 French reader owes thanks to Messrs. Chauveau, De 

 Gaspe, Tache', Faucher, Madame Craven, Mr. De Bou- 

 cherville and others ; but the historical novel, as 

 understood by Sir Walter, did not yet exist. Undoub- 

 tedly the French element in Canada had achieved 

 much in literature and progress since the emancipation 

 of the colonial mind by the new constitution which, in 

 1841, gave us responsible government ; a deal however 

 still remains to be done. 



Thanks to Mr. Joseph Marmette, the historical novel 

 in its attractive form and high aspirations has at 

 present amongst us a " habitation and a name." 



(1) The second, from the same pen, is styled : L'Intempant 

 Bigot — Roman Canadien, — Montreal : G-eo. E. Desbarats. 



