The Sulpician, Dollier de Casson's, account runs thus: "He went to
console Montreal by his presence and to dwell there to the great
happiness of all, especially to the lively satisfaction of MM. Souart
and Galinier, who did not fear to advance well in front in the wood
without any apprehension of the Iroquois, to get ahead of his bark
coming up the river to testify to the joy that they had at his return."
He was followed by six persons from Quebec who filled three chaloupes.
In this dangerous time such protection was necessary. M. Faillon, in
his history, says that it seems that the greater part of this company
"joined to do him honour."
Certainly his advent would have given no one at Montreal more
satisfaction than Marguerite Bourgeoys and Mademoiselle Mance, who were
waiting for him.
In the spring of 1657 Marguerite Bourgeoys became interested in
building a chapel in wood on land granted for the purpose by
Maisonneuve, at some distance from her home. The ecclesiastical
superior was then Père Pijart, who gave her permission and named it
in advance "Notre-Dame de Bon Secours." "Our Lady of Good Help," as
a standing prayer against the Iroquois. Père Siméon Le Moyne laid
the first stone in the spring of 1657, and Lambert Closse, acting
governor during the absence of M. de Maisonneuve, placed the necessary
inscriptions on a copper plate. Marguerite and her sisters laboured
themselves and were helped by the settlers; some carted sand, others
wood, and others acted as masons. Everyone was personally approached by
her for some service, however small. In the spring of 1658 she applied
to obtain the permission of M. de Queylus, then still in Quebec, but he
ordered her to suspend her work till his return, which was not until
the last week of August, for he did not wish any other enterprise
to conflict with the establishment of the parish church. Thus the
operations came to a standstill till 1659, when it was finished.[79]
The arrival, therefore, of M. de Queylus was awaited with anxiety by
Marguerite Bourgeoys and Jeanne Mance. The latter, having fallen on
the ice on January 28th, 1657, had been suffering with a dislocated
right wrist and had lost the use of her hand in spite of the efforts
of the local surgeons. She had found herself useless for her hospital
work. Thus she was desirous of the help of the Hospitalières of St.
Joseph, promised but not sent, since the buildings to accommodate them
had not yet been constructed. Besides, there were not enough funds to
maintain them, so that now Jeanne Mance approached M. Queylus with her
idea of visiting Madame de Bullion for the additional funds and then
to bring back the Hospitalières. In addition she could consult the
best physicians in France on the cure of her wrist. The grand vicaire
approved of her journey.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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