History of the settlement of Upper Canada (Ontario,): with special reference to the Bay QuintéCanniff, William
History
History of the settlement of Upper Canada (Ontario,): with special reference to the Bay Quinté
Canniff, William
Ontario -- History; Quinte, Bay of (Ont.)
Cartier’s stay in Canada during the winter was attended with much
distress, and the loss by death of twenty-six of his men; while most of
the rest were almost dying, being, it is related, saved by the medical
skill of the natives. In the Spring he returned to France, carrying with
him several Indians. It was five years later before another visit was
made to Canada, owing to the civil and religious wars existing in
France. It was the cruel laws enacted and put in force at this time in
France that expatriated so many noble Huguenots who were dispersed
throughout Great Britain, Ireland, and afterward America, the blood of
whom yet flows in the veins of many of the descendants of the loyal
refugees from the rebelling States of America. In the Summer of 1541
Cartier again set sail for the St. Lawrence. He was to have been
accompanied by one Jean Francois de la Roque, a brave and faithful
servant of the king, to whom had been conceded the privilege of raising
a body of volunteers to form a permanent settlement upon the St.
Lawrence. But unforeseen difficulties prevented his sailing until the
following year. In the meantime Cartier, to whom had been given command,
with five ships, had, after a tedious passage, reached Canada, and
ascended to Quebec. The intending colonizers immediately went ashore and
commenced the work of clearing the land for cultivation. The winter was
passed in safety, but in the spring, tired of waiting for the Governor,
who ought to have followed him the year before, and discovering signs of
hostility on the part of the savages, he determined to return to France.
So he embarked all the men and set sail. Before he had reached the
Atlantic, however, he met la Roque, with some two hundred more
colonists, who desired Cartier to return, but he continued his course to
France. Jean Francois landed safely at Quebec. In the autumn he sent
home two vessels for provisions for the following year, while he
prepared to undergo the severity of the coming winter, a season that
brought severe trials, with the death of fifty of his men. The following
year he set out with seventy men to seek fresh discoveries up the river,
but he was unsuccessful. France, again immersed in war, paid no
attention to the request for succor in the New World, but ordered
Cartier to bring back the Governor, whose presence as a soldier was
desired. With him returned all the colonists. Thus the attempt to
establish a settlement upon the St. Lawrence failed, not, however,
through any want of courage, or ability on the part of Cartier, the
founder of Canada. The name thus immortalized and which disappeared from
the history of Canada for many years, again occupies a place. And, Sir
George Etienne Cartier, of to-day, although not a lineal descendant of
the first Cartier, holds a position of distinction; and, as one who has
assisted in effecting the Confederation of the provinces, his name will
ever stand identified, as his great predecessor and namesake, with the
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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