Narrative and Critical History of America, Vol. 4 (of 8): French Explorations and Settlements in North America and Those of the Portuguese, Dutch, and Swedes 1500-1700
History
Narrative and Critical History of America, Vol. 4 (of 8): French Explorations and Settlements in North America and Those of the Portuguese, Dutch, and Swedes 1500-1700
America -- Discovery and exploration; America -- History; United States -- History
Champlain returned to France in the autumn of 1610, but again visited
Quebec in 1611, though only for the summer, which was devoted almost
exclusively to the management of the fur-trade. This trade was at
best limited and desultory. The French did not obtain their peltry
by trapping, snaring, or the chase, but by traffic with the savage
tribes, who every summer visited the St. Lawrence for this purpose.
A small number of them appeared each spring at Tadoussac, and a much
larger number at Montreal, with their bark canoes loaded with skins
of the beaver and of other valuable fur-bearing animals. Having no
use for money or for such fabrics as are useful and necessary in
civilized life, the savages gladly exchanged the accumulations of
the winter, sometimes not reserving enough for their own clothing,
for such glittering trifles as were offered to their choice. To
facilitate these exchanges a rendezvous was established at Montreal,
and when the flotilla of canoes appeared in the river, the trade was
completed in an incredibly short time. As it was absolutely free and
unrestricted, the competition became excessive, and the balance-sheet
of the merchants usually presented an exceedingly small net profit,
if not a considerable loss. This competition was so disastrous, that
the associates of De Monts decided to withdraw from the enterprise,
and sold to him their interest in the establishment at Quebec. The
formation of a new company was forthwith committed to Champlain. He
accordingly drew up a scheme, embracing, besides others, these two
important features: First, that the association should be presided
over by a viceroy of high position and commanding influence; this was
supposed to be important in settling any complications that might arise
in France. Second, that membership should be open to all merchants who
might desire to engage in trade in New France, sharing equally all
profits and losses. This was supposed to remove all objections to the
association as a monopoly, since membership was free to all. The Count
de Soissons was appointed viceroy. He died, however, a few weeks later,
in the autumn of 1612, and the Prince de Condé, Henry de Bourbon II.,
was chosen his successor. The organization of the Company, under many
embarrassments, notwithstanding the precautions which had been taken by
Champlain, occupied him during the whole of the year 1612. Having been
appointed lieutenant, he returned to New France in 1613, arriving at
Quebec on the 7th of May of that year.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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