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fortifications the contents of the area did not 

 exceed 100 acres. A few houses, built close 

 together, in the year 1640, was the commence- 

 ment of the city of Montreal, or as it was first 

 named Villemarie; the situation being well 

 chosen, and possessing many inducements for 

 the colonists to associate themselves for the 

 comforts and convenience of society, it very 

 soon assumed the appearance of being built 

 with some attention to regularity and solidity 

 of the dwellings, containing a population of 

 4000 inhabitants; its improvement and exten- 

 sion were both rapid. In 1644 the Hotel Dieu 

 was founded by the pious charity of Madame 

 de Bouillon, and six years afterwards the zeal 

 of Mademoiselle Marguerite de Bourgeois esta- 

 blished the convent of Notre Dame. The infant 

 town was exposed to, and almost from its very 

 beginning experienced, the animosity of the 

 Iroquois, who made many attacks upon it. As 

 a protection against these repeated hostilities a 

 sort of barrier was drawn round it, consisting 

 merely of palisades; but so slight a defence 

 not inspiring the inhabitants with much con- 

 fidence in their security, the more powerful 

 safeguard of a wall, fifteen feet high, with bat- 

 tlements, was substituted, and had the desired 

 effect of repelling these formidable enemies to 

 its prosperity ; but as the ardour of the French 



