The Founder of New France : A Chronicle of ChamplainColby, Charles W. (Charles William)
History
The Founder of New France : A Chronicle of Champlain
Colby, Charles W. (Charles William)
Canada -- History -- To 1763 (New France); Champlain, Samuel de, 1574-1635
For Canada Champlain is not alone a heroic explorer of the seventeenth
century, but the founder of Quebec; and it is a rich part of our
heritage that he founded New France in the spirit of unselfishness, of
loyalty, and of faith.
BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTE
Original Text
The best edition of Champlain's own works, in the original text, is
that of Laverdiere--'OEuvres de Champlain, pabliees sous le Patronage de
l'Universite Laval. Par l'Abbe C.-H. Laverdiere, M.A. Seconde Edition. 6
tomes, 4to. Quebec: Imprime au Seminaire par Geo. E. Desbarats, 1870.'
The list of Champlain's writings includes:
1. The 'Bref Discours,' describing his trip to the West
Indies.
2. The 'Des Sauvages,' describing his first voyage to
the St Lawrence.
3. The 'Voyages' of 1613, covering the years 1604-13
inclusive.
4. The 'Voyages' of 1619, covering the years 1615-18
inclusive.
5. The 'Voyages' of 1632, which represent a re-editing
of the early voyages from 1603 forward, and continue
the narrative from 1618 to 1629.
6. A general treatise on the duties of the mariner.
English Translations
1. The 'Bref Discours,' in a translation by Alice Wilmere,
was published by the Hakluyt Society in 1859.
2. The Des Sauvages (1604) was translated in 'Purchas
His Pilgrimes' (1625).
3. The 'Voyages' of 1604-18 inclusive were translated by
C. P. Otis for the Prince Society of Boston, in three
volumes, 1878-82, with the Rev. E. F. Slafter as
editor. This is a fine work, but not easily accessible
in its original form. Fortunately, Professor Otis's
translation has been reprinted, with an introduction
and notes by Professor W. L. Grant, in the 'Original
Narratives of Early American History' (Scribners,
1907). The passages quoted in the present volume are
taken from Otis's translation, with occasional changes.
4. The 'Voyages' of 1604-16 inclusive have also been well
translated by Annie Nettleton Bourne, with an
introduction and notes by Professor E. G. Bourne
(A. S. Barnes and Co., 1906). This translation follows
the edition of 1632, and also gives the translation
of 'Des Souvages' which appears in Purchas.
General Literature
The career of Champlain is treated in many historical works, of which
the following are a few: Parkman, 'Pioneers of France in the New World';
Dionne, 'Samuel de Champlain' (in the Makers of Canada' series); Biggar,
'Early Trading Companies of New France'; Slafter, 'Champlain' (in
Winsor's 'Narrative and Critical History of America,' vol. iv, part
i, chap. iii); Salone, 'La Colonisation de la Nouvelle France'; Sulte,
'Histoire des Canadiens-Francais'; Ferland, 'Cours d'Histoire du
Canada'; Garneau, 'Histoire du Canada,' fifth edition edited by the
author's grandson, Hector Garneau.
Portrait
Unfortunately, there is no authentic portrait of Champlain. That
ascribed to Moncornet is undoubtedly spurious, as has been proved by V.
H. Paltsits in 'Acadiensis,' vol. iv, pp. 306-11.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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