84 Hîjîorical Journal of 



to the Commandant, who is M. de Sabre'vois, of one of the beft 

 Families of Beauce, my Friend, my Companion in the Voyage, 

 and a good Officer. I iliall defcribe this important Fort, and 

 the Situation of it, in a few Words. 



In the iirft Years of our Settlement in this Country, the Iro^ 

 quois, to make their Incurfions into the very Centre of our Ha- 

 bitations, came down a River which difcharges itfelf into the 

 River 6*^. Laurence^ a little above Lake St, Pierre^ and which for 

 this Reafon, was called firil the Iroquois River. It has been 

 iince called the River of Richelieu, from a Fort which bore this 

 Name, and which was built at its Mouth. This Fort being in a 

 ruinous Condition, M. de Sorel, Captain in Carignan-Salieres^tgi- 

 ment, built another, which he called by his own Name. This Name 

 communicated itfelf to the River, and it is IHll called fo, tho' 

 the Fort has not been ftanding for a long Time. When we 

 have gone up the River about feventeen Leagues, going always 

 towards the South, but a little to the South Weft, we find a 

 Torrent or Water- fall, and overagainft it a Kind of little Lake, 

 formed by the River itfelf. It is by the Side of the Water-fall, 

 and overagainft the Lake, that the Fort is fituated. It was iirft 

 built of Wood, by M. de Chambly, at the fame Time that M. de 

 Sorel built his Fort, but it has been fince built of Stone, and 

 flanked with four Baftions, and there is always a pretty good 

 Garrifon kept in it. The Lands round it are very good, and 

 they begin to eftablilh fome Habitations here, and many People 

 think that in Time, they will build a Town in this Place. From 

 Chambly to Lake Champlain, it is but eight Leagues. The 

 River So7'el croftes the Lake; and there is perhaps no Part 

 of Neifj France which is more fit to be peopled. The 

 Climate is milder than any other Part of the Colony, and the 

 Inhabitants will have the Iroquois for Neighbours, who at the 

 Bottom are a good Sort of People, who will not feek to quarrel 

 with us, when they fee us in a Condition not to be afraid of 

 them, and who will find their Account I believe ftill better from 

 this Neighbourhood, than from that of Nenjj Tork, Many 

 other Reafons ought to engage us in this Settlement, but if I 

 ihould write all, I fhould have nothing to fay when I have the 

 Honour to fee you again. I fhail take Advantage of the Leifure 

 Hours I have here, to continue to entertain you with the Par- 

 ticularities of this Country. I have already given an Account 

 of what the Gulf and the River of St, Laurence may fupply for 

 the Trade of Ne^ France ; it remains for me to fpeak of the 

 Refources which the Inhabitants may find here for the Support 

 of Life. 



Wherever 



