Chapter XI

The Dominion of Canada possesses a noble heritage which has descended to us as the result of the achievement of Frenchmen, Englishmen, Scotchmen, and Irishmen, who through centuries of trial and privation, showed an indomitable courage, patience and industry which it is our duty to imitate with the far greater opportunities we now enjoy of developing the latent material and intellectual resources of this fair land. Possessing a country rich in natural treasures and a population inheriting the institutions, the traditions and qualities of their ancestors, having a remarkable capacity for self-government, enjoying exceptional facilities for the acquisition of knowledge, having before us always the record of difficulties overcome against great odds in endeavouring to establish ourselves on this continent, we may well in the present be animated by the spirit of hope, rather than by that feeling of despair which some despondent thinkers and writers have too frequently on their lips when it is a question of the destiny in store for Canada. In the course of the coming decades--perhaps in four or five, or less--Canada will probably have determined her destiny--her position among the communities of the world; and, for one, I have no doubt the results will be far more gratifying to our national pride than the results of even the past thirty years, when we have been laying broad and deep the foundations of our present system of government. We have reason to believe that the material success of this confederation will be fully equalled by the intellectual efforts of a people who have sprung from nations whose not least enduring fame has been the fact that they have given to the world of letters a Shakespeare, a Molière, a Montesquieu, a Balzac, a Dickens, a Dudevant, a Tennyson, a Victor Hugo, a Longfellow, a Hawthorne, a Théophile Gauthier, and many other names that represent the best literary genius of the English and French races. All the evidence before us now goes to prove that the French language will continue into an indefinite future to be the language of a large and influential section of the population of Canada, and that it must consequently exercise a decided influence on the culture and intellect of the Dominion. It has been within the last four decades that the best intellectual work--both in literature and statesmanship--has been produced in French and English Canada, and the signs of intellectual activity in the same direction do not lessen with the expansion of the Dominion. The history of England from the day the Norman came into the island until he was absorbed in the original Saxon element, is not likely to be soon repeated in Canada, but in all probability the two nationalities will remain side by side for an unknown period to illustrate on the northern half of the continent of America the culture and genius of the two strongest and brightest powers of civilization. As both of these nationalities have vied with each other in the past to build up this confederation on a large and generous basis of national strength and greatness, and have risen time and again superior to those racial antagonisms created by differences of opinion at great crises of our history--antagonisms happily dispelled by the common sense, reason and patriotism of men of both races--so we should in the future hope for that friendly rivalry on the part of the best minds among French and English Canadians which will best stimulate the genius of their people in art, history, poetry and romance. In the meantime, while this confederation is fighting its way out of its political difficulties, and resolving wealth and refinement from the original and rugged elements of a new country, it is for the respective nationalities not to stand aloof from one another, but to unite in every way possible for common intellectual improvement, and give sympathetic encouragement to the study of the two languages and to the mental efforts of each other. It was on this enlightened principle of sympathetic interest that the Royal Society was founded and on which alone it can expect to obtain any permanent measure of success. If the English and French always endeavour to meet each other on this friendly basis in all the communities where they live side by side as well as on all occasions that demand common thought and action and cultivate that social and intellectual intercourse which may at all events weld them both as one in spirit and aspiration, however different they may continue in language and temperament, many prejudices must be removed, social life must gain in charm, and intellect must be developed by finding strength where it is weak, and grace where it is needed in the mental efforts of the two races. If in addition to this widening of the sympathies of our two national elements, we can see in the Dominion generally less of that provincialism which means a narrowness of mental vision on the part of our literary aspirants, and prevents Canadian authors reaching a larger audience in other countries, then we shall rise superior to those weaknesses of our intellectual character which now impede our mental development, and shall be able to give larger scope to what original and imaginative genius may exist among our people. So with the expansion of our mental horizon, with the growth of experience and knowledge, with the creation of a wider sympathy for native talent, with the disappearance of that tendency to self-depreciation which is so essentially colonial, and with the encouragement of more self-reliance and confidence in our own intellectual resources, we may look forward with some degree of hopefulness to conditions of higher development, and to the influence on our national character of what can best elevate Canadians and make them even happier and wiser,

"The love of country, soaring far above all party strife;
The love of learning, art and song,--the crowning grace of
life."[65]

BIBLIOGRAPHICAL, ART AND GENERAL NOTES.

LOWELL'S ADDRESSES.

[Footnote 1: Page 1.--See "Democracy, and Other Addresses," by James Russell Lowell (Boston and New York, 1887) pp. 235-237. The address at the Harvard Anniversary, from which I quote in the commencement of the text, should be carefully read and studied by all those who are interested in education and culture in the Dominion, and do not wish to see the classics superseded by purely scientific and utilitarian theories. "Leave," he said, for instance, "in their traditional pre-eminence those arts that were rightly called liberal; those studies that kindle the imagination, and through it irradiate the reason: those studies that manumitted the modern mind; those in which the brains of the finest temper have found alike their stimulus and their repose, taught by them that the power of intellect is heightened in proportion as it is made gracious by measure and symmetry. Give us science, too, but give, first of all and last of all, the science that ennobles life and makes it generous.... Many-sidedness of culture makes your vision clearer and keener in particulars. For, after all, the noblest definition of Science is that breadth and impartiality of view which liberates the mind from specialties, and enables it to organize whatever we learn, so that it becomes real Knowledge by being brought into true and helpful relation with the rest."]

JAMESTOWN, VA.

[Footnote 2: Page 3.--"Nothing remains of this famous settlement but the ruins of a church tower covered with ivy, and some old tombstones. The tower is crumbling year by year, and the roots of trees have cracked the slabs, making great rifts across the names of the old Armigers and Honourables. The place is desolate with its washing waves and flitting sea-fowl, but possesses a singular attraction. It is one of the few localities which recall the first years of American history; but it will not recall them much longer. Every distinctive feature of the spot is slowly disappearing. The river encroaches year by year, and the ground occupied by the original huts is already submerged." Cooke's "Virginia" ('American Commonwealths,' 1884), p. 19.]

CHAMPLAIN.

[Footnote 3: Page 6.--Editions of Champlain's works appeared at Paris in 1603, 1613, 1619, 1620, 1627, 1632 and 1640; at Quebec in 1830 and 1870. An English translation was published by the Prince Society of Boston in 1878-80. The Abbé Laverdière's edition, in six volumes, 4to., (Quebec, 1870), is the most perfect modern publication of the works. It printed for the first time the text of the voyage of 1599-1601. For bibliographical notes of Champlain's works see Bourinot's "Cape Breton," 'Trans. Roy. Soc. Can.,' vol. ix., Sec. II., App. VIII. (also in separate form, Montreal, 1892); Winsor's 'Nar. and Crit. Hist. Am.,' iv., 130-134; Harrisse's "Notes sur la bibliographie de la Nouvelle France."

French Canadian writers like Garneau and Ferland have exhausted the language of eulogy in describing the character and life of Samuel Champlain, but no one who follows his career can doubt the truth of this latest tribute to the French colonizer of Canada by Dr. N. E. Dionne in "Samuel Champlain, fondateur de Québec et père de la Nouvelle France: Histoire de sa vie et de ses voyages," Québec, 1891: "Il possédait à un haut degré le génie colonisateur, et c'est dans ce rôle, si difficile de tout temps, qu'il fit preuve de sagesse et de clairvoyance, et dans le choix des colons, et dans la direction qu'il sut imprimer à leurs premiers efforts. L'intelligence de Champlain se révèle dans de nombreux écrits, où l'observateur judicieux et pénétrant coudoie le savant et le marin aussi hardi qu'expérimenté. Comme cosmographe il a eu l'immense mérite d'avoir surpassé tous ses devanciers, par l'abondance des descriptions et l'agencement heureux des données géographiques. C'est un nouveau titre de gloire que l'on doit ajouter à sa couronne resplendissante de tant de rayons lumineux. Plusieurs historiens, même de ceux qui ne comptent pas parmi les admirateurs des œuvres françaises, lui out rendu le témoignage d'avoir fait entrer la science cartographique dans une nouvelle ère de progrès. Naturaliste, géographe, marin, cosmographe; Champlain était tout cela à la fois, et dans une mesure hautement remarquable pour l'epoque où il vivait.... Pas un gouverneur sous l'ancien régime n'a donné d'aussi grands exemples de foi, de piété, et de droiture d'intention."

It is Captain John Smith of Virginia who, among the colonizers of America, can best compare with the founder of Quebec. The following estimate of his character, given by the historian George Bancroft (i., 138-139, ed. of 1866), could be applied in almost every particular to the Frenchman; all we need do is to read "New France" for "Virginia," "French" for "Saxon," "France" for "England," etc.: "He was the father of Virginia, the true leader who first planted the Saxon race within the borders of the United States. His judgment had ever been clear in the midst of general despondency. He united the highest spirit of adventure with consummate powers of action. His courage and self-possession accomplished what others esteemed desperate. Fruitful in expedients, he was prompt in execution. Though he had been harassed by the persecutions of malignant envy, he never revived the memory of the faults of his enemies. He was accustomed to lead, not to send his men to danger; would suffer want rather than borrow, and starve sooner than not pay. He had nothing counterfeit in his nature, but was open, honest and sincere. He clearly discerned that it was the true interest of England not to seek in Virginia for gold and hidden wealth, but to enforce regular industry. 'Nothing,' said he, 'is to be expected thence but by labour.'"]

LESCARBOT.

[Footnote 4: Page 6.--Editions of Lescarbot's "Histoire de la Nouvelle France" appeared at Paris in 1609, 1611, 1617 and 1618; but the most complete and available modern copy is that printed by Tross in three volumes (Paris, 1866). For bibliographical notes of Lescarbot's works see 'Nar. and Crit. Hist. Am.,' iv., 149-151; Harrisse's "Notes."]

CHARLEVOIX.

[Footnote 5: Page 6.--Editions of Charlevoix's "Histoire et description générale de la Nouvelle France," etc., appeared at Paris in 1744, three volumes, 4to., and six volumes in 12mo., with maps. Dr. Shea's admirable English version and annotations were printed at New York in six handsome volumes, 1866-1872. For bibliographical notes see 'Nar. and Crit. Hist. Am.,' iv., 154, 358.]

HUTCHINSON'S HISTORY.

[Footnote 6: Page 6.--For bibliography of Thomas Hutchinson's excellent "History of Massachusetts Bay" (Boston, 1749, 1767, 1795; London, 1750, 1768, 1828, three volumes), see 'Nar. and Crit. Hist. Am.,' iii., 344. He was royal governor of the province, 1770-72, and died near London in 1789.]

SAGARD.

[Footnote 7: Page 6.--Editions of Sagard's works, "Le Grand Voyage," etc., appeared at Paris in 1632 and 1636, but Tross printed admirable copies at Paris in 1864-66. Charlevoix has not a favourable judgment of Sagard; but no doubt, while he is diffuse, he gives an excellent insight into Indian life and customs. For bibliographical notes see 'Nar. and Crit. Hist. Am.,' iv., 290-291; Harrisse's "Notes."]

P. BOUCHER.

[Footnote 8: Page 6.--Pierre Boucher's "Mœurs et productions de la Nouvelle France" appeared at Paris in 1664 (sm. 12mo.), and is described by Charlevoix as a faithful, if superficial, account of Canada. For bibliographical notes, see 'Nar. and Crit. Hist. Am.,' iv., 298; Harrisse's "Notes."]

JESUIT RELATIONS.

[Footnote 9: Page 6.--The Canadian Government published at Quebec in 1858, in three large 8vo. volumes, a series of the "Relations," from 1611-1672, and supplemental or complemental issues of allied and later "Relations" were printed through the efforts of Mr. Lenox, Dr. O'Callaghan and Dr. Shea, of New York. For bibliographical notes on these invaluable collections, see 'Nar. and Crit. Hist. Am.,' 290 _et seq._; Harrisse's "Notes."]

PÈRE DU CREUX.

[Footnote 10: Page 6.--Père du Creux or Creuxius published his prolix work, "Historia Canadensis," with map and illustrations, in Latin, at Paris in 1664. For bibliographical notes, see 'Nar. and Crit. Hist. Am.,' iv., 296; Harrisse's "Notes." Despite its diffusiveness, it has value for the historical students of his times.]

LA POTHERIE.

[Footnote 11: Page 6.--Bacqueville de la Potherie's "Histoire de l'Amérique Septentrionale depuis 1534 jusqu'à 1701" was published first at Paris in 1722, four volumes, 12mo.; but a later edition appeared in 1753. Charlevoix's opinion, that it is an undigested and ill-written narrative, is prejudiced, as the work is on the whole a useful and exact account of the French establishments at Quebec, Montreal and Three Rivers, and especially of the condition of the Indians of the time. For bibliographical notes see 'Nar. and Crit. Hist. Am.,' iv., 299, 357-358.]

LAFITAU.

[Footnote 11_a_: Page 6.--The following note with respect to this able priest's writing is taken from 'Nar. and Crit. Hist. Am.,' iv., 298, 299: "The Jesuit Lafitau published at Paris in 1724 his 'Mœurs des Sauvages Amériquains' in two volumes, with various plates, which in the main is confined to the natives of Canada, where he had lived long with the Iroquois. Charlevoix said of his book, twenty years later, 'We have nothing so exact on the subject;' and Lafitau continues to hold high rank as an original authority, though his book is overlaid with a theory of Tartaric origin of the red race. Mr. Parkman calls him 'the most satisfactory of the elder writers.'" Garneau, ii., 154, mentions that he discovered in 1716 a plant in the Canadian forests which is of the nature of ginseng, which for awhile was a valuable article of export to Canton. Eventually it became valueless in China on account of its being prepared improperly.]