The Annals of Canada
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The Annals of Canada COMPILED BY LIEUT.-COL WM. WHITE, C.M.G. Deputy Postmaster Ge.ieral of Canada. NOTE.-These Annals were published in the 'Canadian Monthly and National Review issued by Messrs. Adani,Stevenson and Company, of Toronto. The publication of this magazine having been discontinued and no other convenient medium for their continuance being available the compilation of these annals ceased. 1 PREFACE. f THE compilation of these Annals was undertaken with a view to supplying the Canadian reader with a concise summary of the leading events in the history of his country. The work is divided into three parts—the first embracing the period from the discovery of Canada to the capitulation of Mon- treal ; the second commencing with the Treaty of Paris and terminating with the Rebellion of 1837 ; and the third covering the term from the Union of the Canadas, in 1840, to the Confederation of the Provinces in 1867. Leaving, then, for the study of those who have leisure and incli- nation for poetic fancies, the story of a lost Atlantis and the misty outlines of the travels of early Norsemen, the reader will be brought at once to the time from which the history of the settlement of Canada may be traced with tolerable accuracy. Thenceforward will be found a simple record of events in the order of their occurrence, comment being for the most part avoided as foreign to the object of the work, which is rather to enable the reader to ascertain at once, with ease and certainty, the date of each occurrence, and the names of the per- sons and places connected therewith. In the earlier years the events to be noted are few and far between, and the reader may perhaps be of opinion that occurrences of too trivial a character have been recorded ; but it must be borne in mind that the theatre of action was very limited, and the actors few ; and it may be hoped that on such grounds the plea for a little extra indulgence on the part of the public will not be disregarded. Great care has been taken, by comparison of different authorities, to secure accuracy in the dates and in the names of persons and places. In a work of this kind, brevity is of course indispensable, and, therefore, as before remarked, the reference to each event will be as concise as possible. A singular coincidence may be remarked in some of the events recorded, as for instance, the defeats of Generals Braddock and the Baron Dieskau, where the regular forces of the two most powerful nations in Europe were severally defeated by bodies of pro- PREFACE. vincial troops, inferior to them in every respect, save one—the ability to adapt their tactics to the exceptional circumstances of their respective situations. Many of the occurrences which took place in connection with trade and commerce under the old rigime, prove very conclusively that combinations, or rings, are not by any means a modern invention ; and it is very doubtful whether any subsequent operator has eclipsed the Intendant Bigot in the magnitude of his operations. In military matters, the jealousies between the regular troops from France and the militia of Canada caused the governors great disquiet, the Marquis de Vaudreuil being forced to allude -to the effects of these misunderstandings, even at a time when the safety of the colony was in jeopardy. In matters ecclesiastical, human nature asserted itself in our early history pretty much in the same manner as it does now. M. de Laval, Bishop of Petrcea, found it impossible to place himself in accord with the Abbe de Queytus ; whilst the governor, the Viscount d'Argenson, asserted the supremacy of the State by demanding the place of honor at ecclesiastical ceremonies, which place M. de Laval stoutly contended belonged to him as Bishop—a dispute which remained unsettle-:' during the terms of three governors in succession. The otory of the early settlement of Canada is full of romantic incident. In those times there was no thought of converting the sword into the ploughshare, for the hand which guided the plough had but too often to defend it with the sword, and the golden sheaves of harvest were not seldom crimsoned with the blood of the husband- man. Few, if any, can read without deep interest the simple record of the travels of the early missionaries, who may well be said to have carried their lives in their hands, as they fought their way—half-starved, weary, and foot-sore—through the mighty forests of the New World. The reader will no doubt discover many omissions, and some inaccu- racies, in the following pages ; but if the perusal leads him to consuh those works which treat more fully of the events recorded, and thus brings him to a better knowledge of the history of his country, the object of publication will have been fully attained. WILLIAM WHITE. Ottawa, Jtmiiarv, /S^j. THE ANNALS OF CANADA. PART I. From 1492 to 1760. 1492. The Bahamas were discovered I Francis I. to undertake a voyage of by Christopher Cokimbus. discovery to the New World. I Cartier born at St. 1494. Jacques 1524. Verrazzani returned to France Malo on 31st December. but was not very well received, as he had failed to bring back with him gold, 1497. John and Sebastian Cabot valuable merchandize, or any other sailed in May, under a commission from j king Henry VII. of England, dated 5th ' objects of great interest or curiosity. March, 1496, to endeavour to find a Verrazzani returned to America the North-west passage to India and China year following. Of his subsequent dis- (Cathay). They sighted Prince Edward coveries and ultimate fate nothing Island on St. John's day, which led to definite is known, but he is believed to have been killed the natives. its being called the Island of St. John. by 1498. The Cabots are believed to 1534. JacquesCartier,an experienced have explored the Gulf of St. Lawrence navigator, having been commissioned I and a considerable portion of the At- by Francis I. to continue the discover- lantic coast this year. ies of Verrazzani, sailed from St. Maloes on 20th April, coasted the 1500. The coast of Labrador was greaterpartof gulf, ! the which he named visited by Caspar Cortereal.who sailed St. Limircncf, and took formal posses- from L'sbon. j sion of the country in 1 the name of his 1501. Gaspar Corttreal, a Portu- ' master the king of France. On his guese, sailed from Lisbon for America a return to France, which he reached on second time, but was never again heard the 5th September, he took with him from; nor was his brother Michael, who I two of the natives. sailed in 1502 in search of him. 1535. Cartier left St. Maloes on the 1518. Baron de Lery is said to have I ' 19th May, and returned to Canada with landed on Sable Island, and to have 1 three vessels, discovered and named left some cattle there. i the Saguenay, left two of his vessels 1523. Giovanni Verrazzani, a Floren- at Quebec, and passed up the St. tine navigator, was commissioned by i Lawrence, through Lake St. Peter, to 1536 CANADIAN ANNALS. 1603 Hochelaga, where he found an Indian WB. The coast of Labrador was village, which he called Mount Royal, visited by Sir Martin Frobisher in this from the mountain in rear of the and the two following years. village. Having returned to Quebec, 1583. nth June—SirHumphreyGii- then named Stadacona, his vessels bert sailed from Plymouth with five were frozen in on 15th November. ships, and arrived off Newfoundland 1536. On the 5th April, Cartier's on the nth July, when he proceeded vessels were released from the ice, to take formal possession of the Island and on the 6th May he sailed for France. in the name of the Queen of England. As he proceeded slowly, in order to The ship commanded by Sir Humphrey observe the coasts and islands in the foundered on the return voyage, and all Gulf, he did not leave Cape Race un»il on board perished. the 19th June, and arrived at St. Maloes 1592. Juan de Fuca discovered Van- on the i6th July. couver's Island and gave his name to 1640. Cartier arrived at Quebec the straits between the Island and the from France on 24th August. He mainland. built a small fort near the River St. 1698. I'be marquis de la Roche was Charles, and leaving a garrison there, appointed by Henry IV. lieutenant-gen- returned to France. eral of Canada, Hochelaga, &c., and sailed for Canada with about sixty per- 1541. Fran9ois de la Roque, Seigneur on de Roberval, who had been commis- sons, most of whom were landed Sable Island where many of them per- sioned, June 15, 1540, by Francis I., king ished miserably. marquis visited of France, as viceroy and lieutenant- The the neighbouring coast of Nova Scotia ;<eneral in Canada, Hochelaga, &c., left and then returned to France. France on 23rd May, with five vessels, well manned and equipped, having Car- 1699. Captain Chauvin, a naval tier with him as chief pilot, who landed officer upon whom had been conferred on Cape Breton, or on the adjoining powers similar to those given to the coast of Nova Scotia, where he built a marquis de la Roche, and M. Ponte- fort, garrisoned and provisioned it. grav4, visited Tadousac, and estab- Roberval himself proceeded to Quebec, lished a trading post there. and thence sailed to France.