well the merits of their arguments, manifesting a con¬ 
sciousness of the deficiency of their own system, and a 
desire to arrive at the truth. This desire is inherent in the 
mind of man, and the nearer he approaches to the simpli¬ 
city of nature, the more strongly is it felt, and the more 
susceptible is he of its instantaneous impression. It is 
when the mind is carried away by the pride of reasoning, 
and the sophistry of argument, that it is found to oppose 
itself to the dictates of truth; which being capable of 
illustration by a natural and concise process, requires no 
embellishment to set it off. Thus we find the French met 
with no difficulties, but those which resulted from their 
own violent and imprudent conduct, which, however, were 
sufficient to counteract their designs. 
Immediately after Flacourt returned to France, he made 
a strong appeal to the then French minister, Fouquet, 
upon the subject of the colony, and particularly relative to 
religion: and we are led to suppose that his represen¬ 
tations were not without effect. Although we have not 
met with any account of the precise nature of his second 
voyage, or of the persons whom he took out with him, it is 
reasonable to conclude that he obtained the supplies that he 
requested, and amongst the rest a number of ecclesiastics. 
Indeed, in the dedication of his work, which was in all 
probability written after he had received his letters patent, 
he expressly alludes to such a provision. But his in¬ 
tentions, and those of the good priests who accompanied 
him, were frustrated by the wreck of the vessel, and the 
destruction of every soul on board, as we have before 
stated. 
Chamargou was the next governor, and after his arrival 
some considerable exertions were made by the French 
to establish the “ true faith” once more on the island ; 
but, like the former attempts, they were ill-conducted and 
did not succeed; nor would any system have succeeded, 
whose advocates had arrogated to themselves a dominion 
