PAPERS RELATING TO THE FRENCH

OCCUPATION.

FRENCH AND ENGLISH DISCOVERIES IN AMERICA BY CHAMPLAIN-1631.

Abstract of the Discoveries in New France, as well of those made by us as by the English, from the Virginias to Davis Straits, and of what they and we can claim, according to the report of Historians who have written thereof, which will enable every one to judge dispassionately of the whole.

The English do not deny us all New France and cannot question what the whole world has admitted; they therefore only argue about boundaries, restricting us to Cape Breton, which is in latitude of 454 degrees, not permitting us to go farther South, claiming to themselves the entire extent from Florida to Cape Breton; and within these last years they have been desirous to usurp, as they have done, even unto the River Saint Lawrence.

The foundation of their pretension is this:-About the year 1594, being on the Coast of Florida, they arrived at a place called by the said English Mocosa, having found some rivers and an agreeable country there, they began to build, giving it the name of Virginias, but being thwarted by the Savages and other accidents, they were forced to abandon it, having remained there only two or three years. Nevertheless, the late King James of England ascending the Throne since, he adopted the resolution to explore, settle and cultivate that country; for the encouragement whereof, he granted extensive privileges to those who would undertake this settlement, and among the rest, extended their right of property from the 334 to the 45th and 46th degrees of Latitude, giving them power over all strangers they may find within that extent of country and 50 miles Seaward. These Charters of the King were issued on the 10th of April, in the fourth year of his reign, and of grace 1607; 24 years ago. This is all that can be learned regarding those Countries from their commissions and documents.

Here is what we answer them:

That in the first place, their Royal Charters, on which they stand, contradict their pretension, because this special exception is ex

pressly stated therein-"We grant them all the countries to the 45th degree which are not actually possessed by any Christian Prince.” Now it happens that at the date of these Charters, the King of France actually and really possessed of the said Countries at least as far as the fortieth degree of Latitude, where the Dutch established themselves some years since; all the world knows it by Sieur de Champlain's Voyages, printed with the Maps, Ports and Harbors of all the Coasts drawn by him of which every body since made use and adapted to Globes and Maps of the World (Cartes Universelles,) which have been corrected according to this description. And 'tis to be seen by the said voyages that they were in 1604 at Saint Croix, and in 1607 at Port Royal, which said Champlain named, as well as several other places seen on the Maps, the whole settled by the late Sieur de Mons, who, as his most Christian Majesty's Lieutenant, governed all the Country as far as the fortieth degree.

Before the preceding year 1603, the said Champlain made the voyage to New France and into the Great River Saint Lawrence, by order of his most Christian Majesty, to whom, on his return he submitted a report thereof, which report and description he caused to be printed at the time. He departed on the 15th May of the same year, from Honfleur, in Normandy; at that same time, the late Sieur Commander de Caste, Governor of Dieppe, was Lieutenant General in the said New France, from the 40th to the 52a degree of Latitude. If the English say that they have possessed the Virginias not only from the year 1603, 4 and 7, but from the year 1594, when they discovered [it] as we have stated.

We answer, that the River they then began to possess, is at the 36th and 37th degrees, and that this their hap-hazard allegation might avail, if there were question only of occupying that river, and 7 to eight leagues on one and the other side of it, for so far may the eye be able ordinarily to embrace; but claiming by sovereignty, it is rather an over monstrous stretch of the arm, or rather of cognizance, to extend thirty-six times farther than was explored. Let us suppose it possible.

It would follow that Ribaut and Laudonniere having in the year 1564, 5, 6, gone well equipped to Florida by authority of King Charles IX., to cultivate and settle the Country, being there, founded Carolina at the 35th and 36th degree; thus the English are out of the Virginias, according to their own machinery.

Why shall they, being at 36 or 37, advance to 45, rather than we being, as they admit, at 46, descend as far as 37? What right have they more than we? This is our answer to the English.

And it is very certain and acknowledged by all, that his most Christian Majesty hath taken possession of those lands before any other Prince, and it is certain that the Bretons and Normans first

discovered the Great Bank and Newfoundland. These discoveries were made in the year 1504, 126 years ago, as mav be seen in Niflet's and Antoine Magin's History printed at Douay.

And further, all confess that by command of King Francis, Jean Verrazan took possession in the name of France of said Countries beginning from the 334 degree to the 47th. This was in two voyages, the last of which was in the year 1523, 107 years ago.

Besides, Jacques Cartier, was the first to enter the Great River St Lawrence in two voyages made thither, and discovered the greatest portion of the coasts of Canada; in the latter of his voyages, in 1535, he ascended as for as the Great Sault Saint Louis of the said Great River.

And he made another voyage in the year 1541, as Lieutenant to Mr Jean Francois de la Rocque, Sieur de Robert Val, who was Lieutenant General of said Country, this was his third voyage when he remained. Not being able to live in the Country with the Savages who were insufferable, he concluded to return in the Spring, which he did in a vessel he had reserved, and being past the Island of Newfoundland, he met said Sieur Robert-Val who was coming with 3 ships in the year 1542. He caused said Cartier to return to the Island of Orleans where they made a settlement, and having remained there some time, it is said that his Majesty required him for some important affairs, and this enterprise by degrees failed, through want of applying the requisite vigilance.

About the same time Alphonse Saintongeois was dispatched by the said S de Robert-Val, others say by his Majesty, who discovered the Northern Coast of the Great bay, or Gulf of Saint Lawrence, and the Strait between the Island of Newfoundland and the Continent to the North up to the 52 degree of Latitude.

Afterwards the Marquis de la Roche of Brittany was, in the year 1598, in these countries of New France as his Majesty's Lieutenant; next Sieur Chauven of Honfleur in Normady, Commanders de Chaste and de Mons, as is stated-and Sieur de Pointrjncourt and Madam de Quercheville, who had some department in Acadie, sent thither la Saulsaye with whom were the Reverend Jesuit Fathers who, as well as Port Royal, were captured by the English, the said Sieur Champlain having discovered and caused to be discovered 28 years since, divers countries, over 4 to 500 leagues inland, as is seen by his proceding Relations printed from the year 1603 to the present time 1631.

Let us come to what is found written respecting the voyages of the English, it is not enough that they boast of being the first who discovered those countries: that they are, is questioned. It is very certain when any natural discovery is made, people are sufficiently curious to describe its epoch. The English have not neglected this, neither have any other Nation according to the memoirs sent to

them, they forgot nothing that has been done. But we do not find in any author that the English ever took possession of the Countries of New France until after the French.

It is true the English discovered on the North side towards Labrador and Davis Straits some lands, islands and some passages from the 56th degree towards the Artic pole, as is seen by the voyages printed as well in England as elsewhere; showing of what they can avail themselves, without usurpation, of which they have been guilty in several parts of New France. We must be blind and ignorant not to preceive the truth that History teaches us.

In the first place, Sebastian Cabot was, by order of King Henry VII of England, in the year 1499, to discover some passages towards Labrador, and return unsuccessful; and Mr. Martin Frobisher, since in the years 1576, 77 and 78 made three voyages thither. Seven years afterwards Honfroy Guibert was there. Next, John Davis discovered a Strait called after his name. Etienne Permenud was at the Island of Newfoundland, on its North East side, in the year 1583. Another, named Richard Witaabours, was sent shortly after to the same coast; then a man called Captain George was there in the year 1590, towards the North. From the latest memoir, an English Captain was in the year 1612 to the North where he discovered a passage in the 63a degree, as appears by the Map printed in England, and experiencing difficulties in the discovery of the passage for which so many Navigators have looked to go Westward to the East Indies for thirty-five years they have stretched as well to the Virginias as to the Countries belonging to us.

Now the common consent of all Europe represents New France as extending at least to the 35th and 36th degrees of latitude, as appears by the Maps of the world printed in Spain, Italy, Holland, Flanders, Germany, England, even when, if not since, they seized the coasts of New France where lie Acadie, Etechemins, Almouchicois and the Great River of Saint Lawrence, on which they have imposed, according to their fancy, the names of New England, New Scotland, etc. But it is not easy to efface a thing that is known to all Christendom.