^"ravels in North America. 27 



ït is not fo, as they fay, with the Englijh our Neighbours, 

 T^ nr , L ^^'^ th^y who know the two Colonies only 



Ifference e- i theManner of living, adinc^ and fpeaking 

 W Fr^nch^'â^ of the Inhabitants, would certainly judgl 

 ^ . ^ ^ ^ ^' ours to be the moil: flouriihing. In Ne^-w Eng- 

 land, and the other Provinces of the Conti- 

 nent of America^ fubjeft to ihe Britifb Empire, there prevails an 

 Opulence, of which they feem not to know how to take the Be- 

 nefit; and in Ne^ France, a Poverty difguifed by an Air of Eafe, 

 which does not feem conftrained. Commerce, and the Culture 

 of Plantations, ftrengthen the former; the Indullry of the In- 

 habitants fupports the latter, and the Tafle of the Nation diifufes an 

 unbounded Agreeablenefs. The Englijh Coloniil: gathers W ealth, 

 and never runs into any fuperfluous Expence : The French enjoys 

 what he has, and often makes a Shew of what he has not. One 

 labours for his Heirs; the other leaves them in the Neceffity in 

 which he found himfelf, to fhift as well as they can. Th-tEng^ 

 lijh Americans are entirely averfe to War, bccaufe they have much 

 to lofe ; they do not regard the Savages, becaufe they think they 

 have no Occafion for them. The Youth of the French, for the 

 contrary Reafons, hate Peace, and live well with the Savages, 

 v/hofe Efteem they gain during a War, and have their Friendlhip 

 atall Times. Icould carry the Parallel further, but I muft finifh : 

 The King's Ship is ready^ to fail, and the Merchant Ships are 

 preparing to follow it ; and perhaps in three Days there will not 

 be a fmgie Ship in our Road. 



/ am. See, 



LETTER III. 



Of the Huron Village ; What has hindered the Progrefs of the 

 French Colony ^Canada; Of the Money current there . 



Madam, Quebec, Feb. 15. 



I Am returned from a little Journey of Devotion, of v/hich I 

 Ihall give you an Account, but I muft firft acquaint you, that; 

 I was miftaken at the End of my lafl Letter, when I faid the 

 Road of ^ebec would be empty in three Days. A Ship from 

 Marfeilles lies here iHll, and has found Means to be under Shel- 

 ter of the Ice, with which this Rvver is covered. This is a 

 Secret which may be of fome Ufe. It is good to have- fome Re- 

 fource againft any Accident that m ay happen. The Captain of 

 this Ship weighed Anchor the 22d in the Evening, and after he 



had 



