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Befides this project, Madam, which I have been 

 juft now explaining to you, is as old as the colony; 

 it was formed by M. de Champlain its founder, and 

 has been, approved of by aim oft all the miffionaries 

 I have known, whofe painful labours in the fitua- 

 tion things have long been in, produce no great 

 good effects, at leaft in the diftant millions. It 

 would be now, indeed, too late to refume this de- 

 fign with refpect to the Indians, who difappear in a 

 manner as fenfible as it is inconceivable. But what 

 hinders its being followed with refpeel to the French, 

 and enlarging the colony by degrees, till it mould 

 join to that of Louifiana, and thus ftrengthen the 

 one by the other ? It has been in this manner, that 

 the Englim, in lefs than a century and a half have 

 peopled above five hundred leagues of the country, 

 and formed a power upon this Continent, which 

 when 'we view it nearly we cannot but behold with 

 terror. 



Canada is capable of furnifhing many articles 

 for a trade with the Weft -India iflands, and fome- 

 times actually fends thither no mean quantity of 

 flour, planks, and other timber proper for build- 

 ing. As there is, perhaps, no country in the whole 

 world, which produces more forts of wood nor of 

 better kinds, you may judge what immenfe riches 

 may be one day drawn from it. It appears that 

 very few perfons are well informed with refpecl to 

 this point. Nor am I, as yet, fufficiently informed 

 myfelf, to be able to enter into a more minute detail ; 

 I am fomewhat better acquainted with what relates 

 to the oil -trade, and mall have occafion to fpeak 

 of it very foon : As I am in a hurry to finifh this 

 letter, I have only time to conclude what relates 

 *o the commerce of this country in general. 



Vol. I. K No- 



