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most destructive warfare ; which, at an early 

 period, rendered some defensive fortifications 

 necessary to protect Quebec from the enmity 

 of her new, but implacable enemies. The 

 defences were at first of the rudest descrip- 

 tion, being nothing more than embankments, 

 strengthened with palisades. In 1629 it was 

 in an untenable state against the English, and 

 fell into their hands ; but, with the whole of 

 Canada, was restored to its former master in 

 1632. From this period some attention was 

 paid to the increase of the town, until 1663, 

 when the colony was made a royal govern^ 

 ment, and it became the capital. Its progress 

 towards prosperity was then somewhat acce- 

 lerated. 



From its growing importance, the English 

 were desirous to recover possession of the place 

 that a few years before, there would scarcely have 

 been started an objection against their retain- 

 ing, and made an unsuccessful, because ill- 

 timed attempt, in the latter part of the year 

 1690, to reconquer it, which was attended with 

 a disastrous result, and a severe loss. As the 

 place obtained consequence, and became an 

 object of desire to other and far more power- 

 ful enemies than the native savages, it was in 

 the last mentioned year fortified in a more re- 

 gular manner by works according to the rules of 

 art, built of stone, which, from that period, 



