CHAPTER III.

THE GOVERNMENT OF M. DE MEZY.

THE

HE representations of his commissioner, as well as those of the Handian Canadian Bishop, who strongly advocated the measure, determined Louis XIV. to demand their charter from "The 1663. Company of One Hundred Associates," and to place the colony in immediate connexion with the crown. The profits of the fur-trade having been much diminished by the hostility of the Iroquois, the Company readily surrendered their privileges, an act which inaugurated a new and better condition of things in Canada. As soon as the transfer was fully completed, and the necessary arrangements made for the conduct of the government, a new Governor, M. De Mezy, was appointed for three years, and an edict* published, which defined the powers of the principal officers of the colony.

Hitherto, with the exception of a tribunal for the decision of small causes, no court of law or equity existed in Canada, and the Governors decided according to their pleasure, † but provision was now made for the regular administration of justice, in conformity with the laws of France, and a sovereign council or court of appeal created. It consisted of the Governor, the Bishop of Quebec, and the Intendant, together with four others to be named by them, one of whom was to act as Attorney-General, and another as Clerk.

De Mezy, accompanied by the Bishop, to whom he owed his appointment, arrived at Quebec in the latter part of the summer, and at once assumed the government of the colony. He brought with him M. De Gaudais, who came out as the King's Commissioner to take possession of the colony, to report on its condition, and also to investigate the charges against the Baron De Avaugour. The latter willingly resigned his authority and returned to France, where he * Smith's Hist. Can. vol. i. p. 36-39.

+ Heriot's Hist. Can. p. 104. Smith's Hist. Can. vol. i. p. 36.

found no difficulty in satisfying his sovereign how little he was to blame. He afterwards entered the service of the Emperor of Austria and was killed in 1664, while gallantly defending the fortress of Serin in Croatia against the Turks. De Mezy brought out with him the four hundred troops already alluded to, and one hundred families of emigrants, with cattle, horses, and every description of agricultural implements.

As the Governor was indebted for his post to the Bishop, the Jesuits supposed that he would prove much more tractable and more favourably inclined to them than his predecessor had been. On this point they soon found they had made a serious mistake. The Governor, like De Avaugour, and a large party in France, viewed the growing influence of the order with the utmost dislike, and promptly applied himself to thwart its views in the colony.* But he speedily discovered that the Jesuits exercised an influence and power superior to his own. Owing to their representations, or to those of their creatures, Colbert determined on his recall. On the other hand, the statements of De Mezy in his own defence had considerable 1664. weight at the French court, and led to suspicions that the Jesuits had attained to greater influence in the colony, than was consistent with the interests of the crown."

While these events were in progress, Louis appointed the Marquis De Tracy viceroy of all the French possessions in the New World with instructions to proceed to Canada, after making a tour of inspection through St Domingo and the Windward Islands, and to provide for its future security by curbing the power of the 1665. Iroquois. The Marquis had scarcely departed on his mission, when M. De Courcelles was directed to proceed to Canada to supersede De Mezy. In conjunction with De Tracy, and Talon, the Intendant, he was also to form a commission to investigate the complaints against his predecessor, and, if necessary, was instructed to bring him to trial. But De Mezy died before even the intelligence of his recall had arrived, and thus escaped the mortifications which he must have otherwise been subjected to.†

THE GOVERNMENT OF M. DE COURCELLES.

The Marquis De Tracy arrived at Quebec in the month of June, bringing with him from the West Indies a portion of the regiment of

* Conquest of Can. vol. i. p. 287. Heriot's Hist. Can. p. 111.

+ De Mezy died 5th May 1665, before he knew of his recall.-Jesuits' Jour. The commission of his successor was dated 23d March 1665.

Carignan, and was soon afterwards joined by Governor De Courcelles, and the remaining companies of this corps. In the same fleet with the Governor came out 130 adult male emigrants, and 82 women and children. It likewise brought, for the use of the colonists, sheep and horses, and a large supply of agricultural and other stores.

The viceroy promptly applied himself to fulfil his instructions with. respect to the Iroquois. The force at his command readily enabled him to repel their usual summer forays, and the harvest was consequently gathered in security. To check their future inroads, as well as to place troops in close proximity to their country, and afford a secure base for offensive operations against them at any time, forts were erected on the river Richelieu at Sorel, at Chambly, and at a point above its rapids. The vigorous manner in which these forts were constructed, as well as the bolder front now assumed by the French and their allies, discouraged the Iroquois for the time. The Onondagas, the Cayugas, and the Senecas sent deputies to Quebec, to assure the Governor of their peaceable disposition, and of their desire to maintain in future a good understanding with the French. One of the deputies (Garahonthie) pronounced an eloquent eulogium on Father Le Moyne, who had died in his country a short time previous, and declared the sorrow of his people for that event.

But the Mohawks and Oneidas still kept haughtily aloof, and as this conduct left no doubt of their hostility, a winter expedition into their country was resolved upon to punish them for the numerous injuries they had inflicted on the colony.* This expedition, composed of 300 soldiers and 200 militia, left Quebec on the 1666. 9th January, under the command of De Courcelles. Each man carried, besides his arms and the necessary warm clothing, twenty-five pounds of biscuit. During the march to the Richelieu the greatest hardships were encountered, owing to the severity of the weather, and some men were lost, who had to be replaced from the garrisons on that river. Still, De Courcelles resolutely persevered in the enterprise, and after a long and toilsome journey, the greater part of which his troops performed with snow-shoes, he found himself in the vicinity of Schenectady on the 9th of February. In the evening some Indians making their appearance he detached sixty of his best marksmen in pursuit. These were led into an ambuscade, and had an officer and ten men slain and seven wounded.

Intelligence of the approach of the Canadians speedily reached *For full details of this expedition see Relation, &c. la Nouvelle France, 1665,

1666.

Albany, three of whose principal inhabitants were despatched to inquire the cause of the invasion of English territory. De Courcelles stated, that he was not aware of being on ground belonging to England, that he had come solely to seek out and punish the Mohawks for the numerous injuries they had done to the people of Canada, declared himself willing to pay in money for provisions, and requested that his wounded men might be taken to Albany and attended to, which was done. Much to his chagrin, however, he learned that he was still three days' march from the villages of the Mohawks, which were well fortified after the usual Indian manner, and would be resolutely defended. Under these circumstances he resolved upon a retreat, and on the 12th of February put his little army in motion on their return. The Mohawks despatched a body of warriors in pursuit, but so rapidly did the French retire, that these had to rest satisfied with the capture of three stragglers from the main body, and the scalps of five men who had perished from hunger and cold.*

But, although this expedition failed in its object of surprising the Mohawks, and of inflicting a severe chastisement on them while unprepared to defend themselves, the hardihood and courage which it displayed made a most salutary impression on the confederate tribes. They no longer felt themselves safe from attack; and feared that the evils of invasion and plunder, which they had so often inflicted on the Canadians, would now be retaliated on themselves. The statements of the prisoners captured by the Mohawks strengthened this supposition; and in the following May deputies again arrived from the three western tribes to demand the continuance of peace. The Oneidas speedily resolved to follow their example, and used their influence with the Mohawks to send deputies also to Quebec, to make peace with "Ononthio." But these haughty warriors refused to become suitors in this way. The Oneidas, they said, might represent them, and they would be bound by their acts, but this was all they would concede. At the same time, they took the most effectual method of preventing the conclusion of peace. One of their scouting parties massacred three officers in the vicinity of Fort Anne, recently erected on an island in Lake Champlain, and captured some prisoners. To punish this outrage, Captain De Sorel promptly collected a force of three hundred men, and led them by forced marches towards the villages of the Mohawks. The latter were speedily acquainted with this movement, and feeling themselves unable singly to oppose the * Doc. Hist. New York, vol. i. p. 71. Heriot's Hist. Can. p. 117.

French, resolved upon submission. Two deputies were despatched to meet De Sorel. These took the prisoners with them, and were instructed to offer reparation for the murder of the three officers. The deputies met the French while still distant sixty miles from their villages, and their protestations so appeased De Sorel, that he returned and had them conducted to Quebec. Here they were treated with no small consideration, and the second day after their arrival were invited to dinner with the viceroy. The conversation chancing to turn on one of the murdered officers, one of the Mohawks boasted that it was he who had killed him. In a transport of rage De Tracy told him he should never kill another, and forgetful of his character as an ambassador, ordered him to be immediately strangled.

There was no course now left open to the viceroy, but that of a prompt and vigorous invasion of the Mohawks in their own country. The death of their chief could only strengthen their enmity towards the French, and his policy was, therefore, to extirpate them if possible, or, at all events, to so weaken their power that their hostility in future would not endanger the repose of the colony. Preparations for an expedition into the Mohawk country, on a larger scale than ever, were at once undertaken, and so vigorously were they prosecuted, that by the end of September a force of 1200 1666.

soldiers and militia, and 100 Indians, rendezvoused at Fort Anne, on Lake Champlain.

The main body of this force was commanded by De Tracy in person, although he was now seventy years of age: De Courcelles led the vanguard. During the march provisions fell so short that the troops were on the eve of mutiny; but fortunately a chestnut grove enabled them to appease their hunger, and the deserted villages of the enemy, who fled at their approach, soon after supplied them with abundance of food.

Hitherto the Mohawks had waged war for years without having had their homes desecrated by a foe, but they were now subjected to a misfortune which they had so often inflicted on others. Overpowered by a superior force, they were compelled to behold their homes, much more comfortably constructed than those of the other native tribes, given one after another to the flames; and the stores of corn, which they had prudently collected, plundered or destroyed by their invaders. One stronghold they resolved to defend. It was protected by a triple line of palisades twenty feet in height, flanked by bastions at the angies, and contained large stores of provisions. But, as the French approached with two fieldpieces to the assault, their courage failed

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