The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, Vol. 6: Quebec, 1633-1634
History
The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, Vol. 6: Quebec, 1633-1634
Canada -- History -- To 1763 (New France); Indians of North America -- Canada; Jesuits -- Missions; Jesuits -- North America
XXI. In the final installment of Le Jeune's _Relation_ for 1633 (the
first part was presented in our Vol. V.), the superior describes the
coming (July 28), of the Hurons to Quebec, and the conference that was
held between them and the French. The missionaries make arrangements
to return with these savages, to labor in their country: but, at the
last moment, complications arise from the murder of a Frenchman by
up-country natives, and in consequence the Hurons refuse passage to the
Fathers. Le Jeune closes with an earnest appeal for help in their work
in Christianizing the denizens of the great wilderness.
XXII. This is a letter from Le Jeune to his provincial, written in the
year 1634, but not bearing specific date. He describes the condition
of the Quebec mission: states that at last the Huron country is open
to them, and Brébeuf and others have gone thither. He, with Buteux,
will go to the new settlement at Three Rivers, for which he gives his
reasons at length. The narrator recites their difficulties with the
hired workmen brought from France; and asks that these may be replaced
by lay brothers of their own order. He mentions several of these
brothers by name, describing their abilities and dispositions. The
field of missionary work is widening, and the superior tells how it
ought to be occupied, and how many should be assigned for each station.
He requests the provincial to appoint another superior in Canada, as
his duties are too heavy for him. More missionaries are asked for, and
a special petition is entered for the appointment, in this connection,
of his friend Benier.
Le Jeune describes the dwelling of the Jesuits at Quebec, and asks for
means to fence in a tract of land for their cattle, and to erect a
small house for the herders; also, to repair their buildings, injured
by the English. He plans how they may provide a portion of their own
food, hitherto wholly brought from France: and describes the crops
they have thus far raised, with the effect of the climate on each. He
deprecates the formation of too many missions, preferring to strengthen
those already formed; and relates the kind help given them by the
Company of New France.
In conclusion, our author rehearses the difficulties of reaching the
wandering tribes; asks for a seminary for the children; expresses a
desire to send some of these to France for education; and requests
aid to enlarge the Quebec mission. The manuscript which has come down
to us, lacks some of its final pages, but appears to be substantially
complete.
XXIII. This document is Le Jeune's _Relation_ of 1634, closed at the
mission house in Quebec, August 7th of that year, and sent to his
provincial at Paris. The following abstract covers the first nine
chapters (out of a total of thirteen), which is all we have space for
in the present volume.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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