English upon the destinies of the New World. France formerly possessed
a territory in North America, scarcely less extensive than the whole of
Europe. The three greatest rivers of that continent then flowed within
her dominions. The Indian tribes which dwelt between the mouth of the
St. Lawrence and the delta of the Mississippi were unaccustomed to any
other tongue but ours; and all the European settlements scattered over
that immense region recalled the traditions of our country. Louisbourg,
Montmorency, Duquesne, St. Louis, Vincennes, New Orleans (for such were
the names they bore) are words dear to France and familiar to our ears.

But a concourse of circumstances, which it would be tedious to
enumerate, *m have deprived us of this magnificent inheritance. Wherever
the French settlers were numerically weak and partially established,
they have disappeared: those who remain are collected on a small extent
of country, and are now subject to other laws. The 400,000 French
inhabitants of Lower Canada constitute, at the present time, the remnant
of an old nation lost in the midst of a new people. A foreign population
is increasing around them unceasingly and on all sides, which already
penetrates amongst the ancient masters of the country, predominates in
their cities and corrupts their language. This population is identical
with that of the United States; it is therefore with truth that I
asserted that the British race is not confined within the frontiers of
the Union, since it already extends to the northeast.

[Footnote m: The foremost of these circumstances is, that nations which
are accustomed to free institutions and municipal government are better
able than any others to found prosperous colonies. The habit of thinking
and governing for oneself is indispensable in a new country, where
success necessarily depends, in a great measure, upon the individual
exertions of the settlers.]

To the northwest nothing is to be met with but a few insignificant
Russian settlements; but to the southwest, Mexico presents a barrier to
the Anglo-Americans. Thus, the Spaniards and the Anglo-Americans are,
properly speaking, the only two races which divide the possession of the
New World. The limits of separation between them have been settled by
a treaty; but although the conditions of that treaty are exceedingly
favorable to the Anglo-Americans, I do not doubt that they will
shortly infringe this arrangement. Vast provinces, extend