CHARLEVOIX, sharT-vivit', PIERRE FRAN cOIS LACIER DE ( 16S2-1761). A French mission ary and traveler, best known as the historian of 'New France.' lie was born in Saint-Quentin, became a member of the Society of Jesus in 1(19S, and from 1705 to 1709 taught in the Jesuit Col lege in Quebee. Canada. lle then returned to France, where he taught "the humanities and philosophy" in a Jesuit college; but in 1720 was sent to America by the Duke of orl6ans to gather information concerning the 'Western Sea,' then supposed to be only a short distance front the Mississippi River. Arriving at Quebec in Sep tember. he ascended the Saint Lawrenee and the Great Lakes tits far as Slichilinmckinac, and, after questioning the Indians, reported that the Pacific could probably best he reached by way of the Missouri, "the source of which," he said, "is certainly not far from the sea." He pro ceeded by way of Lake Michigan and the Illinois River to the Mississippi. descended in a small vessel to New Orleans, and, after sutTering shipwreck. went to the island of Santo Domingo, whence, in December, 1722, he returned to France. Subsequently he was sent on various
missions by his order, and from 1733 to 1755 collaborated on the Journal des Treroux. Ile was a voluminous writer, but is best known for his Histoirc ct description go'n•ale dr la '•elle France at-re le journal historique (Pun ray age fait septentrionale (1744; English translation by .F. (t. Shea, 1805-72), a work though written the .Tesuit standpoint and frequently marred by carelessness and a fat iguing, prolixity, contains much valuable material. and has been of great service to later writers on the history of the French in America. Among his other writings. sonic of which have considerable value, are: Histoire rt description fp'nerale du Japon (1715 ; subsequent edit ions, much enlarged. 17311 and 17541: Histoire du christianisme an Japan; Fir de Irt niere )la•ie dr l'incarnation, fondalrire des Obit S de la Yon :Tile France (1724); Histoire de l'ilr espaynolc, on de Saint-Dominique ( 1730 : and llistoi•e du Paraguay (1750; English translation, 1709).