tted
out his expedition, and from whom he obtained his supplies, were
suddenly deprived of all their privileges of trade and colonization, by
Montmorenci. The Duke, determined on doing as he pleased with his own,
transferred the supremacy of the colonists to the Sieurs de Caen, uncle
and nephew. The one de Caen was a merchant, the other a sailor. The
sailor was soon at Tadousac. Before Champlain had well known, by a
letter of thanks for past services, that he was re-called, or rather
superseded, his successor had arrived at the head quarters of Nouvelle
France--Tadousac. De Caen solicited an interview with Champlain, which
was conceded. Smarting with indignation, Champlain was too polite. His
courtesy was so excessive, that De Caen became exacting as if to show
who he was. He wanted to seize all Champlain's trading vessels. They
belonged, he said, to a company whose privileges had been transferred
to him as the representative of another company. The furs with which
they were laden belonged to Montmorenci and the De Caens, as his
Grace's agents. Champlain demurred, and Captain De Caen peremptorily
demanded Du Pont's vessel. Champlain, no longer courteous, flew into a
violent passion. Du Pont was the favourite agent of his company, and
his own particular friend. Champlain's rage was of no avail. Nor was
the sympathy of the colonists of any value. De Caen was supreme, and
did as he pleased. The colonists, however, excessively indignant,
resolved to leave in a body, unless their opinions were allowed some
weight, and a number did take their departure. Although De Caen had
brought eighteen new settlers, the colony was reduced to only
forty-eight. Champlain, however, remained in Canada. He felt himself to
be the chief colonist, and only removed to Quebec, where he erected a
stone fort. The fort was partly on that part of the present city on
which the old Church of Notre Dame stands, in the Lower Town, and
partly where the former Palace of the Roman Catholic Archbishop stood.
Champlain pitched his tent outside the walls, which were almost
rectangular, under the shadow of a tree, which, until six years ago,
threw its leafy arms over St. Anne Street, from the Anglican Cathedral
Church yard. While this fort-building, vessel seizing, and unchristian
feeling were rending the infant colony to pieces, interfering with
trade, and proving vexatious to all, a union had been formed in France
between the old and new companies. The coalitio