427 



Raze in Newfoundland, and the fortieth degree 

 of north latitude), he in I6O8 made choice of 

 the site of an Indian village called Stadacon6, 

 upon the promontory, now named Cape Dia- 

 mond, and there, in the month of July, laid the 

 foundation of the metropolis of New France, 

 which has through many vicissitudes risen into 

 importance, and at the present day maintains 

 a distinguished rank among those of the greatest 

 consequence on the northern division of the 

 new hemisphere. — No less difference of opinion 

 has arisen as to the origin of its name, than 

 about that of Canada ; and the result of the 

 disputes has not been more satisfactory in fixing 

 its derivation : whether it comes from the Al- 

 gonquin, Abenaqui, or Norman languages, to 

 each of which conjecture has assigned it, we 

 have not the means of verifying ; nor is it in- 

 deed very material : it is enough to know that 

 Champlain called his new town Quebec. The 

 progress of its aggrandisement there is much 

 reason to believe was slow ; for the new settlers, 

 and indeed Champlain at their head, were not 

 only so impolitic as to encourage the prosecu- 

 tion of hostilities between the two neighbouring 

 nations of the Algonquins and Iroquois, but 

 even to join the former against the latter. This 

 interference drew upon the French the hatred 

 of the powerful Iroquois, and was the means 

 of involving the whole colony in a long and 



