considerations of selfish interest. It must, however, be acknowledged that a jealous, sullen, and even vindictive temper, obscured in some degree the lustre of his success, and detracted from the dignity of his nature. The Chevalier de Callières, governor of Montreal, was appointed his successor to the satisfaction of all classes in the colony.

The new governor3 applied himself vigorously to the difficult task of establishing the tranquillity of his territories. He endeavoured to procure the alliance of all the Indian tribes within reach of French intercourse or commerce, but the high price charged by the Canadian merchants for their goods proved a constant difficulty in the way of negociation, and ever afforded the savages a pretext for disaffection and complaint. In the midst of his useful labours this excellent chief was suddenly cut off by death; his upright and judicious administration won the esteem of all the colonists, and the truth and

3 "Sans avoir le brilliant de son prédécesseur, il en avait tout le solide; des vûës droites et désinteressés, sans préjuge et sans passion; une fermeté toujours d'accord avec la raison, une valeur, que le flegme sçavoit modérer et rendre utile: un grand sens, beaucoup de probité et d'honneur, et une pénétration d'esprit, à laquelle une grande application et une longue expérience avoient ajouté tout ce que l'expérience peut donner de lumières. Il avoit pris dès les commencemens un grand empire sur les sauvages, qui le connoisoient exacte à tenir sa parole, et ferme à vouloir qu'on lui gardât celles qu'on lui avoient données. Les François de leur côté étaient convaincus qu'il n' exigeroient jamais rien d'eux, que de raisonnable; que pour n'avoir ni la naissance, ni les grandes alliances du Comte de Frontenac, ni le rang de lieutenant-général des armées du roi, il ne sçauroit pas moins se faire obéir que lui."-Charlevoix, tom. iii., 353.

honesty of his dealings with the native tribes gave him an influence over them which none of his predecessors had ever won. On the petition of the inhabitants of Canada, the king willingly appointed the Marquis de Vaudreuil to the vacant government; soon after his accession a deputation of the Iroquois arrived at Quebec, and for the first time formally acknowledged the sovereignty of France, and claimed the protection of her flag.

M. de Raudot, the intendant, introduced various important judicial and fiscal improvements in the affairs of the colony at this time; by his influence and mediation he effectually checked a litigious spirit which had infused itself among the Canadians to a ruinous extent, and by strong representations induced the king to remove the cruel restrictions placed upon colonial industry by the jealousy of the mother country.

In the spring of 1708 a council was held at Montreal to deliberate upon the course to be pursued in checking the intrigues of the English among the allied savages; the chiefs of all the Christian Indians and of the faithful and warlike Abenaquis were present on the occasion. It was resolved that a blow should be struck against the British colonies, and a body of 400 men, including Indians, was formed for the expedition, the object of which was kept secret. After a march of 150 leagues across an almost impracticable country, the French attacked the little fort and village of Haverhill, garrisoned by thirty New Englandmen,

1708

and carried them after a sharp struggle; many of the defenders were killed or captured, and the settlement destroyed. The neighbouring country was however soon aroused, and the assailants with difficulty effected a retreat, losing thirty of 1709 their men.

Intelligence reached the French in the following year, that Colonel Vetch, who, during a residence of several years at Quebec, had contrived to sound all the difficult passages of the River St. Lawrence, had successfully instigated the Queen of England to attempt the conquest of New France; that a fleet of twenty ships was being prepared for the expedition, and a force of 6000 regular troops were to sail under its protection, while 2000 English and as many Indians, under the command of General Nicholson, were to march upon Montreal by the way of Lake Champlain. M. de Vaudreuil immediately assembled a council of war to meet the emergency, where some bold measures were planned, but a misunderstanding between the governor-general and one of his principal officers paralysed their execution. Finally, indeed, a considerable force was marched to anticipate the British attack, but the dissensions of the leaders, the insubordination of the troops, and the want of correct intelligence, embarrassed their movements, and drove them to an inglorious retreat. On the other hand, the English, mistrusting the faith of their Indian allies and suffering from a frightful mortality, burned their canoes and advanced posts, and retreated from the frontier. The per

fidious Iroquois, while professing the closest friendship, had poisoned the stream hard by the British camp, and thus caused the fatal malady which decimated their unsuspecting allies. The fleet destined for the attack of Quebec never crossed the Atlantic; it was sent to Lisbon instead, to support the falling fortunes of Portugal against the triumphant arms of Castile.

In the following year, another abortive expedition was undertaken by the English against Canada. Intelligence was brought to M. de Vaudreuil that ten ships of war of 50 guns each and upwards had arrived from England, and were assembled at Boston, together with 35 transports capable of conveying 3000 men; while a force of provincial militia and Indians of New York, nearly 2000 strong, were collected in that State to assail him by land. The French governor immediately called together the Iroquois deputies, and successfully urged their neutrality in the approaching struggle; he also secured the somewhat doubtful allegiance of the allied tribes, but only accepted the proffered services of a few warriors of each nation, and this more as hostages than for the purpose of increasing his strength.

M. de Vaudreuil then hastened from Montreal to Quebec, where he found that his lieutenant, M. de Boucourt, had effectually executed his orders to strengthen the defences. The settlements along the coast below that important stronghold were sufficiently guarded to render a hostile debarkation difficult and dangerous. The governor immediately

1710

re-ascended the St. Lawrence, and formed a corps of 3000 men under M. de Longueiul, at Chambly, to await the approach of the English. The invading army, however, retreated without coming to action, having received information of a great disaster which had befallen their fleet. The British admiral had neglected the warnings of an experienced French navigator, named Paradis, who accompanied him, and approached too near a small island in the narrow and dangerous channel of the Traverse; a sudden squall from the south-east burst upon him at that critical moment, and his own, with seven other ships of the fleet, were driven on the rocky shore, and utterly destroyed: very few men escaped from these ill-fated vessels.*

The generosity and loyalty of the merchants of Quebec furnished the governor with 50,000 crowns, to strengthen the fortifications of their town, on the occasion of a rumour that the English were again

4 Enfin la retraite des deux armées Anglaises qui devaient attaquer en même tems la Nouvelle France par terre et par mer, et diviser ses forces en les occupant aux deux extremités de la colonie, n'étant plus douteuse, et le bruit s'étant répandu que la première avait fait naufrage dans le fleuve St. Laurent vers les Sept Isles, M. de Vaudreuil y envoya plusieurs barques. Elles y trouvérent les carcasses de huit gros vaisseaux, dont on avoit enlevé les canons et les meilleurs effets, et pres de trois mille personnes noyées, dont les corps étoient étendus sur le rivage. On y reconnut deux compagnies entières des Gardes de la Reine, qu' on distingua à leurs casaques rouges, et plusieurs familles Ecossoises, destinées à peupler le Canada, mais quoique le reste de la flotte eût resté mouillé plusieurs jours au même endroit, pour enlever toute la charge des vaisseaux brisés, on ne laissa point d'y faire un assez grand butin." -Charlevoix, tom. iv., p. 82.