Conimiine of Guast in Saiitonge, a region of which La 

 Rochelle was the natnral center and strongly Hnguenot 

 in its proclivities, as was the family of de Monts. This 

 cliarter was given November 8, 1603. It conveyed to de 

 Monts in elaborate terms trading and seignorial rights 

 over the New World territory between the fortieth and 

 forty-sixth parallels of latitnde — those of Philadelphia 

 and Montreal today — this territory being designated 

 Lacadie, or Acadia. With, this came the appointment of 

 Lieutenant-general, and by inference Vice-admiral, of 

 this vast and vaguely known domain of Acadia. 



With reciprocal personal respect and the sympathy of 

 like purpose, these two men joined hands and hearts in 

 the enteri3rise now more definitely thought out and prac- 

 tically organized than any before. De Monts had been the 

 companion of Chauvin in a former voyage to these north- 

 eastern shores, and had the confidence of experience. 

 Champlain again received appointment as special geo- 

 grapher and reporter for the king. They enlisted also 

 the interest and companionship of Jean de Poutrincourt, 

 Baron of Saint Just in Bretagne, a man of ample means 

 and large of mind and heart, pronounced by King Henry 

 to be "one of the most honorable and valiant men of 

 the Kingdom." 



Thus was ordained and organized that famous adven- 

 ture of Acadia, fraught with human hopes as high and 

 fancies as wide as its sequel was to be bright with char- 

 acters of courage and devotion and stormy with vicissi- 

 tude and tragedy. 



Note by Editor: — This and the following extracts from General 

 Chamberlain's address are published for their admirable and eloquent 

 appreciation of the deeper meaning and significance of de Monts' adven- 

 ture. The story of the enterprise itself will be published, later in this 

 series, in a condensation from Champlain' s account. George B. Dorr. 



So passed to dust and ruin this little beginning on the 

 Island of the Cross. So passed into broken lights the 



10 



