After his recent visit to Laval and while he was welcoming new recruits
at Montreal, the _lettre de cachet_ arrived for his departure.
Speaking of the position of Laval after the receipt of the letter
of May 11th, the journal of the Jesuits on September 7th says that
"he disposed all things sovereignly at Quebec and Montreal." Laval's
critics would translate it "imperiously" or "high-handedly," for,
according to the history of Canada by M. Belmont, Laval, in acquainting
de Queylus of his recall persuaded the governor to assist the departure
of his friend from Montreal with a squad of soldiers; or rather, as M.
d'Allet, his secretary, reports in his _Mémoire_, "with a considerable
number of our men as for some military expedition." But may not this
escort have been one of honour and protection in war time rather
than one of ignominy? The governor general himself carried out this
order and this escort may therefore have been appropriate on such an
occasion, both for the governor and his friend. Two others were removed
with the late grand vicaire, M. d'Allet and another Sulpician, though
d'Allet got no further than Quebec, at which place sickness detained
him during the winter.
We can imagine the grief of the Montrealers watching their departure at
the little harbour at the mouth of the St. Peter River near the fort.
But though silenced at present, Queylus is not finally suppressed,
for we shall find him back again at Montreal before the end of two
years. In the meantime he was determined to clinch the matter of the
disputed jurisdiction. Before leaving, however, he had the satisfaction
of having received on September 7th at Quebec, and having accompanied
to Montreal, the new recruits led by Jeanne Mance and Marguerite
Bourgeoys, whose experiences, since leaving Ville Marie in the previous
year, must now be chronicled.
After the cure of her hand and wrist on February 2, 1659, Jeanne Mance
visited Madame de Bullion, who gave her 22,000 _livres_, of which
20,000 were to be set aside for the annual income to support four
Hospitalières at Montreal, from M. de la Dauversière's foundation at
La Flèche. In addition, this lady paid Jeanne's passage and gave her
presents for the church as well as money to assist struggling families
in Montreal. In all, Madame de Bullion had given 60,000 _écus_ or
1,000,000 _francs_ to the Montreal work.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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