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FC , Y. IK THE JESUIT RELATIONS AND ALLIED DOCUMENTS VOL. LXiv The edition consists of sev en hundred and fifty sets all numbered JEAN-BAPTISTE DE SAINT-VALLIER, THE P. TY The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents TRAVELS AND EXPLORATIONS OF THE JESUIT MISSIONARIES IN NEW FRANCE 1610-1791 THE ORIGINAL FRENCH, LATIN, AND ITAL IAN TEXTS, WITH ENGLISH TRANSLA TIONS NOTES ILLUSTRATED BY AND ; PORTRAITS, MAPS, AND FACSIMILES EDITED BY REUBEN GOLD THWA1TES Secretary of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin Vol. LXIV OTTAWAS, LOWER CANADA, IROQUOIS, ILLINOIS: 1689-1695 CLEVELAND: Cbc 3Burrows ^Brothers Company PUBLISHERS. MDCCOC COPYRIGHT, 1900 BY THE BURROWS BROTHERS Co ALL RIGHTS RESERVED The Imperial Press, Cleveland EDITORIAL STAFF Editor REUBEN GOLD THWAITES FINLOW ALEXANDER PERCY FAVOR BICKNELL Translators . CRAWFORD LINDSAY WILLIAM PRICE Assistant Editor EMMA HELEN BLAIR Bibliographical Adviser VICTOR HUGO PALTSITS CONTENTS OF VOL. LXIV PREFACE TO VOLUME LXIV . .11 DOCUMENTS :. CLIX. Lettre ecrite a M. le Gouverneur General de la [nouvelle] france Septentrionale. Etienne Carheil; [Mackinac, 1689] . 22 CLX. Relation de la defaite des Anglois a Quebec. Michel Germain De Convert; [Quebec, October, 1690] 40 r CLXL Lettre ecrite a M . le Comte de Fron- tenac Gouverneur et Lieutenant General pour le Roi en Canada. Jacques Bruyas ; au Sault pres Montreal, April 5, 1691 . 56 CLXII. Lettre a Quelques Missionnaires du Canada. Pierre Millet; Onneitft, July 6, 1691 . .66 CLXIII. Memoire Pour les Iroquois Chrestiens du saut en Canada. Anonymous; February, 1692 . .108 CLXIV. Lettre au R. P. Jean Chauchetiere, a Limoges. Claude Chauchetiere; Villemarie, August 7, 1694 . 116 CLXV. Lettre au P. Jacques Jouheneau, Bordeaux. Claude Chauchetiere; Villemarie, September 20, 1694 . 142 CLXVI. Lettre au R. P. Jacques Bruyas, en forme Superieur de la Miffion, la Misfion de 1 Im- de Journal de maculee Conception de N. D. aux Ilinois. Jacques Gravier; [Peoria,] February 15, 1694 158 CLXVII. Lettre k un Pere Missionnaire de Chine. Jean de Lambermlle; Paris, January 23, 1695 . 238 CLXVIII. Pis G. Marest iter et missio in sinum Hudsonium in ora septentrionali R. Canadsean. 1694. Epistola ad P. Thyrsum Gonzales, Praepositum Generalem Societatis Jesu, Romse. Gabriel Marest; Quebec, October, 260 1695 BIBLIOGRAPHICAL DATA: VOLUME LXIV 269 NOTES 273 ILLUSTRATIONS TO VOL LXIV I. Portrait of Jean-Baptiste de Saint- Vallier, second bishop of Quebec. Photo engraving from original oil painting in the Cardinal s Palace, Quebec Frontispiece II. Facsimile of handwriting of P. J. M. S. selected his Chaumonot, J. ; from " Priere en temps de guerre," sent in the form of a letter to Jacques Bruyas, S. in the archives of St. J. ; original Mary s College, Montreal. Probable date, 1683 . Facing 58 III. View of old Jesuit college and church upon the Champs de Mars, Montreal, built in 1692-94, burned in 1803 . 135 IV. Plan indicating exact site of old Jesuit buildings in Montreal, relative to the present City Hall and Court House . 151 PREFACE TO VOL. LXIV Following is a synopsis of the documents contained in this volume : CLIX. Etienne Carheil writes to the governor (now Frontenac) from Mackinac, to warn him of the dissatisfaction prevalent among the Ottawas, who are inclined to form an alliance with the Iroquois. Carheil vigorously denounces the inaction and timidity of recent French policy toward the Iroquois, and says that there is nothing left for the Algonkins save to secure peace as best they can, for the French no longer protect them. The Hurons at Mackinac are really taking the same course as the Ottawas, but are more politic and crafty in their methods. If these tribes are allowed to make peace for them selves, the Iroquois and the Dutch will monopolize the fur trade, to the exclusion of Canada. Carheil warns the governor that he cannot count upon the aid of the upper tribes, if he shall decide to make war upon the Iroquois. They have released the prisoners from that nation, and have forcibly indi cated their for the French alliance their contempt ; reasons for this are given at length. They reproach the French with weakness and cowardice, and taunt them with having accomplished so little in the Seneca campaigns. They regard the French alliance as also injurious to their trade, in which they get 12 PREFACE TO VOL. LXIV more advantage from the English. Carheil, after " summarizing the case, adds: From this it will be seen that our savages are much more enlightened than one thinks; and that it is difficult to conceal from their penetration anything in the course of affairs that may injure or serve their interests." He urges, accordingly, vigorous measures by the govern or against either the Iroquois or their inciters, the Dutch. CLX. Michel Germain de Couvert writes to a friend an account of the English expedition of 1690 against Quebec. The enemy, on October 16, sum mon the city to surrender, on an hour s notice; but Frontenac refers them, for answer, to his cannon. They inflict a heavy cannonade upon the town, but and make two raids with only slight damage ; upon neighboring settlements. Within ten days from their arrival, they restore the French prisoners, and depart for Boston. The English sustain severe losses, which are mentioned in detail. Many interesting particulars of the siege are recounted. The success of the French is ascribed to the intercession of the Virgin Mary, which kindles anew the fervor of her votaries. The Lorette colony sends its warriors to the a false rumor that the is repel English ; enemy approaching causes the other Hurons to take im mediate flight to the woods, whither the missionaries accompany them. The land expedition undertaken, at the same time, by the English against Montreal is also compelled by sickness to retrace its route, " a second stroke from the hand of our good God to overthrow the designs of our enemies upon poor Canada." PREFACE TO VOL. LXIV 13 CLXI. Bruyas also writes (April 5, 1691) to Frontenac, regarding matters at Sault St. Louis. An Iroquois and Dutch army have captured some Sault Indians, but have given these freedom. Three Mohawk chiefs then go to the Sault, claiming to desire peace. Bruyas relates the proceedings of a council held there between these deputies and the Christian Indians. He thinks that the Mohawks really wish peace, and hastens to lay the whole matter before the governor, for his information and guidance. The Dutch have promised to send back certain French prisoners, now held at Albany. CLXII. Pierre Milet relates, in a letter to some of his Jesuit brethren, his capture by the Onondagas in 1689, and his experiences among the Oneidas, during the succeeding two years. He is seized by the former, while on their way to commit the terrible massacre at Lachine. They present him to the Oneidas, among whom are some influential Christian savages, who cause his adoption into a family where the chieftainship is hereditary; he thus becomes virtually a chief of the tribe. The English are greatly displeased thereat, and make repeated efforts to induce the Oneidas to surrender Milet to them ; but the savages refuse to do so, and Milet is thus able to exert among them a strong influence for French interests, against the English. He is allowed liberty to live as he chooses, but within the Oneida village. CLXIII. This is a sketch of a memorial to be sent to Count de Pontchartrain, recounting the services rendered to the French in Canada by the Christian Iroquois at Sault St. Louis. During the late war, these Indians did excellent service as scouts, and brought in many prisoners. They have refused to 14 PREFACE TO VOL. LXIV abandon their religion, for which they have suffered torture and even death, remaining constant to the last breath. Nearly half of their warriors have in aid of the French the perished while fighting ; widows and orphans of these men are in great poverty, and the king is requested to extend them aid. CLXIV. Claude Chauchetiere writes to his of affairs brother Jean (August 7, 1694) an account in Canada at that time. He describes some recent eclipses, and compares their appearance in Canada with that in France. Iberville, who has gone to Hudson Bay to take Port Nelson from the English, to with but has wished Chauchetiere go him ; Silvy been sent instead. A bitter ecclesiastical war is going on between Bishop St. Vallier and the Jesuits and Re"collets. The bishop has adopted arbitrary measures in vari ous matters; he also inveighs against Callieres, governor of Montreal, who has always been one of Chauchetiere s penitents, and even threatens the latter with interdict. The Father relates various instances of his combats with St. Vallier over eccle siastical affairs. The Sault Christians, especially those belonging " to Catherine s band," continue in Christian fervor and practice. The women have given up gambling; and confraternities are being formed, especially among the young girls. The pious deaths of two Iroquois women, captured and burned by their pagan tribesmen, are recounted in detail. The writer thinks that piety like theirs would prevail among the savages, were it not for the intemperance that has become so them and our general among ; PREFACE TO VOL. LXIV 15 bishop, who is so zealous, has not yet ventured to open his mouth to banish drunkenness from his diocese." The missionaries wish that they could take their beloved savages far away from the French, to remove them from temptations to vice. Chauchetiere mentions the ecclesiastical relations between the and the and the Sulpitians Jesuits ; good work which Milet is doing in his captivity at Oneida.