The infant colony was, for a long time, very much ne glected by the mother country ; and its support was chiefly entrusted to private individuals, who fitted out expeditions at their own expense and risk. As the per sons, however, who conducted these enterprizes, were generally men of rank and fortune ; and as they received from government the exclusive right to trade with the Indians in furs, they found no difficulty in procuring as many individuals to accompany them, as they were able to support ; but still, their strength and numbers were peter sufficient to ensure protection against the barbar ous incursions of the savages.
The province of New France very soon became as much a missionary station, as a commercial settlement. A I cry general zeal for the Christian instruction of the Indians, was excited throughout the French empire ; and many individuals of rank and property devoted their lives and their fortunes to the cause. The Jesuits, how ever, soon engrossed the sole direction of this under taking ; and were greatly instrumental in obstructing the prosperity of the colony, both by their perpetual conten tions, which they maintained with the governors, and by the pernicious effects which their labours produced upon the character of the natives. The individuals, indeed, who were personally employed as missionaries, were generally men of true piety, always possessed of un daunted zeal, and frequently distinguished by extraordi nary talents. Their astonishing hardships, unceasing perseverance, and heroic sufferings, can never be to highly applauded, and can scarcely be adequately de scribed. Besides the ordinary perils and privations, to which they were daily exposed, they have often been known to rush into the midst of contending savage ar mies, for the purpose of discharging the duties of their office ; calmly to employ themselves, amidst the horrid carnage of an Indian engagement, in baptizing the wounded and the dying ; and generally in such cases to terminate their labours by the patient endurance of the most excruciating tortures. But all their exertions were unhappily attended with very little success ; and in sonic respects even proved rather hurtful than beneficial. They habituated themselves to the modes of savage life ; as sumed the dress and occupations of the Indian tribes, whom they went to instruct ; rendered themselves in a great measure dependent upon their protection and ser vices ; and in this manner too often incurred the con tempt, instead of acquiring the veneration of the natives. Even when they were successful in their ministrations, they may be said to have made allies to the French, ra ther than converts to Christianity. They did little more,
in most cases, than admit the Indians by baptism into the bosom of the Catholic church, instruct them in a few un meaning ceremonies, and inspire them with a bigotted hatred of the unconverted tribes ; while they left them as rude with regard to the arts of life, as ignorant of the principles of society, as averse to industrious habits, as regardless of Christian duties, as complete barbarians in short, in every respect, as ever they had been. Their converts even lost, in a great degree, the useful qualities of the savage, without acquiring the virtues of the Christian ; relaxed their wonted courage and vigilance, and trusted to the Saints for defence against their ene mies ; depended upon their new allies, in many instances, both for protection and provisions ; and thus became a heavy burden, instead of proving a useful barrier to the colony. The degraded appearance, also, and enfeebled spirit of the Indian band, who thus submitted to the tui tion of the Catholic colonists in Canada, compared with the industrious pursuits, orderly conduct, improved habi tations, and increasing comforts of those, who were in structed by the protestant missionaries, on the borders of New England, tended greatly to inspire the natives, in general, with a growing respect and attachment to the English, while it confirmed their contempt and dislike of the French. The English colonists naturally exerted their endeavours to encourage this predilection ; and many of the Indians became still more partial to their intercourse, for this additional reason, that they found in these states a better price for their furs, than what the French merchants could afford. These two citicuinstan ees, the mutual hatred ()I' the converted and unconverted natives of Canada, the former of whom were generally in alliance with the sett lement at Quebec ; and the prin ciple which the French adopted, of treating all those In dian tribes as enemies, who carried their commodities to the traders of New England, or who received English missionaries among them, kept the province of Canada in a state of perpetual contest, as long as it remained in the possession of France. These ecclesiastical proceed ings were so interwoven with the civil affairs of the co lony, and had such an influence even upon its commer cial interests, that this short sketch of their nature and effects, seemed necessary to explain and account for suc ceeding events ; but it has led us rather to anticipate the general history of the province, and we now return to the narrative of a few of the most prominent particulars in its progress.