For these purposes then, he sailed in his own ship, some days after, with almost all his people, for a port of the Etchemins, called the White Rock, 22 leagues due west from Port Royal. He hoped to find there some help of provisions from the French ships which he knew traded there. Father Biard wished to accompany him to explore the country and discover the character of the natives, which was granted him. He found there four French vessels; one belonging to Sr. de Monts, one from Rochelle, one from St. Malo belonging to du Pont Grave, and commanded by a relative of his called Captain La Salle, of whom we shall soon speak, and another bark from St. Malo. Sr. de Potrincourt, calling each one of these four after the other, caused them to acknowledge his son for Vice Admiral; and then asked them for assistance, showing the need to which he had been reduced the last winter, promising to repay them in France. Each one contributed. But God pardon the men from Rochelle; for he deceived the Excise, and gave us barrels of spoiled bread for good." Then comes an account of the pardon of Sir Pont Du Grave, and then

CHAPTER XV.

The turn of Sr. de Potrincourt to France, and the difficulty of teaching the language to the Savages.

"He explained above the necessity which pressed upon Sr. de Potrincourt to send his people immediately back to France. He wished to conduct them in person in order to make better arrangements for everything, and principally for a new revictualling: for without this, those left behind at Port Royal, would have no means of passing the winter in manifest danger of being pierced by famine. For this cause then, he sailed about the middle of July of the same year, 1611, and arrived in France at the end of the August following. He left his son in his place, Sr. de Potrincourt, with two persons including the two Jesuits."

Then is a long account of the difficulty of teaching the language to the natives. Then we resume.

"One expedient presented itself to the Jesuits to rid them happily of all these perplexities; it was to find young du Pont Grave, whom they had heard had resolved to winter at the river St. Johns, some 18 or 20 leagues from Port Royal. Inasmuch as the said du Pont Grave had lived a long time in the country, and among the natives, it was thought that he must understand the language very well. Father Biard resolved to seek the said du Pont Grave, determining rather to pass French Bay in a canoe than to lose such an opportunity of doing good. But Sr. de Biencourt opposed strongly this determination, taking great offence, to which it was necessary to yield for peace."

CHAPTER XVI.

A voyage made to the river St. Croix, and the death of the Sagamore Membertou.

"At the end of August of the same year, 1611, Sr. de Biencourt having heard that the ship of Captain Plastrier of Honfleur, was fishing at Port aux Coquilles, (Shell Harbor,) 21 leagues west from Port Royal, decided to go and find him in order to introduce to him one of his men whom he was sending to France to hasten the expected aid, and to represent how pitiable their condition was. Father Biard accompanied him, and they met the ship so apropos, that if they had been a quarter of an hour later, the favorable opportunity would have been lost, for already he had set sail for France. He learned that Captain Plastrier had decided to pass the winter at St. Croix. This news decided Sr. de Biencourt to go to St. Croix on this very passage, before Captain Plastrier should fortify himself there, for he wished to obtain from him the fifth of all his trade and merchandise, because he wintered in the country. St. Croix is 6 leagues from Port aux Coquilles in the middle of a river. Sr. de Biencourt went there accompanied by 8 persons, and entered armed, having left Father Biard on one end of the Island. ** * * *Thanks to God, everything passed off happily. Plastrier treated us as well as he could; by his aid Sr. de Biencourt recovered a bark which was at Port aux Coquilles, with which he returned to Port Royal." * Then the account of the death of Membertou. Then

CHAPTER XVII.

* *

*

The journey to the river St. John, and the quarrels that came of it. "I said above, that Sr. de Biencourt brought a bark from Port aux Coquilles, with which he might make a voyage to the Armouchiquois. So are called the people who are at the 43% lower down towards the south west. They begin at

Chouaquet, and from what is said, they are very numerous. Famine pressed Sr. de Biencourt to this voyage; because as these people worked and stored grain, he hoped by means of barter or otherwise, to draw some help from them against the famine, who was waiting for us in the winter. His bark was prepared too late for so long a voyage, for we were not ready till the 3d October, and he still wished to go to the river St. John before taking the former route. The river St. John is at northeast of Port Royal having between the two, French Bay, 14 leagues wide. The entrance of this river is very narrow and exceedingly dangerous, for it is necessary to pass between two rocks, one of which throws upon the other the current of the tide, which is swift as an arrow. To the rocks succeeds a frightful precipice, which, if you do not pass at the precise time, out of a hundred thousand barques, not a hair will escape, but dies and property will perish. Young du Pont Grave and Captain Merbeville had settled some 6 leagues within the St. John, being in all seven or eight persons, all from St. Malo. Sr. de Biencourt wished to obtain from them the fifth of all their merchandise, because they lived in the country as we have said. On this account he had mistaken the journey. We were in all 16 Frenchmen and 2 natives as guides."

Then an account of the skirmish and the submission of du Pont Grave and Merbeville.

CHAPTER XVIII.

The voyage to Quinnibequi and the return to Port Royal.

"We remarked above that this voyage to the St. John was only a detour from the greater expedition to the Armouchiquois to get corn. When we had thus acted with the Malhouins we set sail taking the route towards the Armouchiquois. We arrived at Kinibequi at the end of October. Kinibequi is a river near the Armouchiquois, 433 degrees of elevation, and Southeast of Port Royal 70 leagues or thereabouts. It has two mouths, tolerably large, at least two leagues distant the one from the other; also many inlets and islands which divide it. For the rest, though the river is large and beautiful, we saw no good land, nor neither at the St. John. It is said, however, that above, far from the sea, the land is very fine, and the situation pleasant, and people work there. We did not ascend more than 3 leagues. We made so many quick turns, and leaped so many precipices, that it is a great miracle that we had not perished, several times. Some of our men cried two different times that they were lost; but they cried too soon, the Lord be praised. The savages flattered us with the hope of grain, then they changed their promise of grain into barter of beavers.”

Then follows an account of the entrance of the natives to the ship. "This tribe does not appear to be mischievous or malicious, although they defeated and overthrew the English who wished to settle among them in 1608 and 1609. They excused themselves to us for this, and related the outrages that they had suffered from the aforesaid English, and flattered us, saying they loved us well, because they knew that we would not shut our doors on the savages as the English, nor chase them from our table with clubs, nor let our dogs bite them. They are not thieves like the Armouchiquois, and they are the greatest speechmakers in the world; they do nothing without that. Father Biard went twice to see them, and (as he did everywhere) prayed to God in their presence, and showed them images, and the signes of our faith, which they kissed willingly, making the sign of the Holy Cross on their children, whom they offered to him that he might baptise them, and heard with attention and respect what was told them.

We were at Kinibequi till the 4th or 5th of November, a season too advanced for us to go farther according to our first plan. That is why Sr. de Biencourt returned, the more because he thought it better to endure the winter and the famine at Port Royal, being well lodged and warmed there, and trusting the mercy of God, than risking ourselves on the ocean, in a stormy season, among savages and enemies, having beside, hunger to fear, for our provisions commenced to fail greatly; thus then, we turned towards Pentagoet to return from there to Port Royal.

At Pentagoet we found a fleet of 80 Indian canoes, and one shallop, in all about 300 souls. From there we passed on to the Island of St. Croix, where Plastrier gave us 2 barrels of peas or beans; both were a very great present for us. * * While we were on the voyage no one remained at the settlement at Port Royal except Father Enemond Masse and a young Parisian called Valentine Pageau.

*

*

*

*

Snow began the 26th of November and with it, (which annoyed us most,) the retrenchment of provisions. They gave to each person for the whole week only about 10 ounces of bread, pound of lard, 3 porriñgers full of peas or beans and one of dried prunes. The Jesuits had never more, nor other thân each one of the company, and it is an impudent falsehood which some disturber alleges to the

contrary. All this time, the savages did not come to see us, except occasionally some one of the family of Membertou, to bring us some present of the chase. Then was joy and feasting, our people took heart a little."

CHAPTER XIX.

How the Marchioness Guerchville obtained from the King the land of New France, and the aid she procured for it.

"The ship thus fitted out and freighted, sailed from Dieppe the 31st of December, in the depth of winter, and happily appeared at Port Royal the 23d of January in the following year, 1612.”

CHAPTER XX.

The beginning of the disputes between Sr. de Biencourt and the Jesuits, and the causes of them; the accusation of Gilbert du Thet, and his defense.

CHAPTER XXIII.

Arrival of La Saussaye at Port Royal and then at St. Saviour.

"An expedition had been prepared in France, to remove the Jesuits from Port Royal and found a new settlement of French in some more convenient place. The chief of the expedition was Captain La Saussaye with 30 persons who were to winter in the country. The ship was 100 tons and commanded by Charles Flory de Hableville, a man brave, wise and peaceable.

This prepared expedition sailed from Honfleur the 12th of March, 1613, and touched land first at Cape of the Have in Acadia, May 16th. There they celebrated Mass and raised the Cross, fastening to it the arms of Mme. de Guercheville, to show they had taken possession in her name. Then putting out to sea, they came to Port Royal. There they found only five persons. Contrary winds detained them five days at Port Royal, then a favoring northeast wind arising, we set sail, with the design of going to the river Pentagoet, to a place called Kadesquit, which we had decided upon for our new settlement, as having great advantages for this purpose. But God willed otherwise; for as we were at the Southeast of the Island of Menamo, the weather changed, and there arose on the sea so thick a fog then we could see neither day nor night. We dreaded this danger greatly, because in this place there are many breakers and rocks, against which we were afraid we would strike, in the darkness. As the wind did not permit to put to sea again, we remained in this manner, two days and two nights, tacking first to one side, then to the other, as God inspired us. This affliction disposed us to pray to God that he would be pleased to deliver us froin danger, and direct us to some safe place, for his glory. Of his goodness, he heard our Vows, for that evening even we began to see the stars, in the morning the fog cleared, we discovered that we were over against Mount Desert, an Island that the savages called Pemetiq. The pilot turned to the eastern side of the island where we anchored in a large and beautiful harbor, and we gave thanks, raising the Cross and singing praises to God with the sacrifice of holy Mass. We called this place and harbor, St. Saviour."

CHAPTER XXIV.

On what account we stopped at St. Saviour, and the beauty of the place. "Soon the natives made a smoke, which signified that we should seek them if we needed them. The Pilot took occasion to tell them that the Fathers from Port Royal were on board. The Savages replied that they would willingly see those whom they had known two years before, at Pentagoet; one was Father Biard, who went immediately to them and inquired about the route to Kadesquit, signifying that he wished to settle there. But said they, if you wish to settle in this part of the world, why do you not rather remain with us, who have quite as good a place as Kadesquit? And they began to sound the praises of their settlement, assuring us that it was so healthy and so agreeable, that when Savages are ill in other places, they bring them there to cure them. These commendations had no effect on Father Biard, because he knew well enough that the Savages are not wanting in what everybody else abounds, valuing one's own possessions.

But they knew how to arouse him, "for," said they, you must come, because Asticou our Sagamore, is sick unto death, and if you do not come, he will die without baptism, and will not go to Heaven; you will be the cause. On his part,

he wishes to be baptised." This reason so simply given, astonished Father Biard and persuaded him entirely to go there, especially as there were only three leagues to go, and it would cause but little loss of time, only an afternoon. Thus he entered one of their canoes, with Sr. de La Motte and Simon the interpreter, and went.

Arrived at the cabin of Asticou, we found him ill, but not dangerously, for it was only a cold which tormented him; and we had abundant leisure to visit this place so praised, as better than Kadesquit for a French settlement, and indeed we found that the Savages had some reason for praising it so highly, for we ourselves were astonished at it. Having given an account of it to the leaders of our expedition, and they having come and examined it, all unanimously agreed that we had better stop there, and seek no further.

This place is a pretty colline rising gently from the sea and bathed on its sides by two springs. The land is grubbed for 20 or 25 acres, grassy in some places, as high as a man. Its aspect is towards the south and east, almost to the mouth of Pentagoet, where several large rivers, full of fish, discharge. The soil is black, fat and fertile. The port and haven are as fine as can be seen, and in a situation to command the entire coast; the haven especially is as safe as a pond, for beside being separated from the large island of Mount Desert, it is also separated from certain small islets which break the winds and the waves, and fortify the entrance. There is no fleet for which it would not be sufficient, nor vessel so high which it might not approach land to unload within a cable's length. Its situation is 44 of elevation, less northern than that of Bordeaux.

Q

Having landed on this spot, and planted the Cross, we began to work, and with our work began our disputes. The cause of these, was that our Captain La Saussaye amused himself too much in cultivating the earth, and all the principal men begged him not to take off our workmen for that, but to apply ourselves without delay to dwellings and fortifications, which he did not wish to do. From these quarrels sprang others, till the English came to reconcile us, as you will see."

CHAPTER XXV.

Our capture by the English.

"Virginia is that continent of the earth which the ancients called Morosa, between Florida and New France, at the 36°, 37°, 38° of elevation. The country was first discovered by Giovanni Verrazzani, in the name of Francis I., as we said above, but the English having claimed it since 1593 or 1594, at last came to settle there, 7 or 8 years before this time. Their principal settlement, which they call Jamestown, is distant from St. Saviour, where we were, settled about 250 leagues in a straight line. See then, if they had any reason to pick a quarrel with us. These English, from Virginia, have the habit of coming every year to the islands of PEMCUIT,* which are 25 leagues from St. Saviour, to get shell fish (moulues) for the winter."

The account is condensed by Garneau in his History of Canada, which we give in full.

GARNEAU'S HISTORY OF CANADA.
EXTRACT FROM CHAPTER I.

The destruction of St. Saviour and Port Royal.

"England claimed the country to the 45° of North latitude, as far as the heart of Acadia. France, on the contrary, pretended to claim as far South as the 40°. From this strife it happened that, while La Saussaye believed himself to be within the boundaries of New France, at St. Saviour, the English said they had advanced far into their territory. To support their claim, Captain Argall of Virginia, resolved to dislodge them, spurred on by the hope of rich booty, and by his prejudices against the Catholics.

He suddenly appeared before St. Saviour, with a vessel of 14 cannon, and struck terror into the defenceless inhabitants, who took him for a pirate at first. Father Gilbert du Thet in vain opposed some resistance. He was killed and the establish

* Pemaquid.

ment given up to plunder. Everything was taken or sacked, Argall himself setting the example. The French clung to Acadia on account of the fisheries. The English, because it was on their route. Argall did not hesitate to attack in time of profound peace. Apart from his personal motives, he well knew the opinion of his countrymen, who wished to settle the question by taking actual possession.

To legitimatise this act of piracy, for it was so, he stole La Saussaye's commission, and affected to regard him and his people, as vagabonds. Gradually he appeared to relent, and proposed to those who had trades to follow him to Jamestown, where, after having labored a year, they should be sent back to their country. One dozen accepted the offer. The others with La Saussaye and Father Masse, prepared to risk themselves upon a frail vessel, to reach the Have, where they found a ship from St. Malo, which carried them back to France.

Those who had Argall's promises, were greatly surprised on arriving at Jamestown, to find themselves thrown into prison, and treated like pirates. They vainly claimed the fulfilment of the treaty they had made with him, they were condemned to death. Argall, who had not dreamed that his theft of La Saussaye's commission would end so seriously, would carry his dissimulation no farther; sent the commission to the Governor, Sir Thomas Dale, and confessed everything.

This document and information drawn out in the course of the affair, determined the Government of Virginia to drive the French from all the points they occupied south of the line 45. A squadron of 3 ships was put under the command of the same Argall, to carry out this design, and the prisoners of St. Saviour were embarked there with Father Biard. Later, Father Biard was accused, without doubt, too hastily, of having served as pilot of the enemies to Port Royal, from hatred to Biencourt, who was Governor, and with whom he had had difficulties while in Acadia.

The fleet commenced by destroying all that was left of the old settlement of St. Croix; useless vengeance, since that had been deserted for several years; then sailed with a fair wind toward Port Royal where he found nobody; everybody being in the fields two leagues away: and in less than two hours all the houses were reduced to ashes as well as the fort. In vain Father Biard wished to persuade the inhabitants, drawn to the shore by the flames which devoured their shelter, to go away with the English, telling them that their ruined chief could no longer support them; they rejected his advice with anger, and one of them even raised an axe to kill him, accusing him of causing all their misfortunes. It was the third time, in its short existence, that Port Royal had been destroyed by different accidents, but this time the destruction was complete. One part of the inhabitants scattered in the woods, or mingled with the natives; another reached the settlement that Champlain had founded on the St. Lawrence. Potrincourt himself, who had remained În Acadia, overwhelmed by this last disaster, had to abandon America forever.

Potrincourt may be regarded as the real founder of Port Royal, and of Acadia itself; for the destruction of Port Royal did not cause the whole province to be abandoned; it was always occupied in one place or another by a part of its former colonists, to whom numerous adventurers came and united themselves."

APPENDIX C.

LETTER OF JOHN SMITH TO LORD BACON, 1618.

(S. P. O., AM. & W. I., N. ENG.)

To the Right Honble Sr. Francis Bacon, Kntt. Baron of Verolam, & Lord High Chancellor of England.

RIGHT HONORABLE :

be my apoligie. This 19 yeares my

Having noe better meanes to acquaint yor Lp. wth my meaning than this paper the zeale love and dutie to God my Country and yor honor I humbly crave may This 19 yeares I have encountered noe fewe dangers to learne what here I write in these fewe leaves, and though the lines they containe are more rudely phrased then is meete for the viewe of so great a judgment, their