CHAPTER II.

HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF NEW BRUNSWICK AS FORMING A PART OF ANCIENT ACADIA.

THE Province of New Brunswick did not exist as a Colony previous to the American Revolution. The French had always considered it a part of New France, or Acadia, and therefore its history is comprehended in that of Nova Scotia until 1784, when it was formed into a separate Government.

The histories of all new countries, or such as are inhabited by an uncivilised people, must necessarily be very limited, and, from the lack of written records, they can never extend beyond the tradition of the aborigines. From the continued perils and hardships the first settlers in the North American Provinces were compelled to endure, little pains were bestowed by them on the preservation of records which would have been highly useful and interesting to succeeding generations. That part of American history which is filled by an account of New Brunswick is comparatively small; nevertheless, the following facts, collected from a variety of sources, will doubtless be of some interest.

During the reign of Henry VII., John Cabot, a Venetian navigator, believed in the possibility of finding a western passage to India, and the discoveries previously made by Columbus had excited a spirit of enterprise favourable to an inquiry of so much importance to the Eastern World. Accordingly, on the 5th of March, 1496, His Majesty granted a commission to Cabot and his sons Sebastian, Lewis, and Sacnuis, with full authority under English colours to take possession of all the countries they might discover unknown to Christians.

Two caravels and five ships were fitted out by the Western navigator and his friends. These vessels were supplied with articles of traffic

her peril. Sir Humphrey was seen sitting with a book in his hand, and he was heard to call out to his companions, "We are as near heaven by sea as by land." During the night, the signal lights of his ship suddenly disappeared, and he, with his whole crew, was buried in the ocean. Sir Humphrey Gilbert was a man of more than ordinary strength and stature. His appearance at once commanded esteem and veneration. He was celebrated for his genius and learning, courage and patriotism, and Queen Elizabeth had honoured him by peculiar marks of royal favour. With him perished Stephen Permanius, a learned Hungarian whose friendship for the Admiral had induced him to undertake the voyage.

Sir John Gilbert, the brother of Sir Humphrey, to whose title he succeeded, was the next to attempt the opening of a settlement on the North American Continent. In 1607, by the aid of Sir John Popham, he fitted out a fleet, and arrived in safety at the mouth of the Sagadahock, or Kenebec river, and spent a winter on a small island which contained only about eight acres. At this place the nobleman died, and his company, having suffered great distress, returned to England in the following year.

In the mean time, the French were jealous spectators of the attempt made by the English to colonise the New World, and Cartier, Roberval, and other Frenchmen visited Canada, thereby giving France a claim to the territory of the St. Lawrence. By the labours of these persons, a lucrative trade was opened with the natives, and the fisheries along the coast had attracted numbers of adventurers from the different nations of Europe.

Under the protection of Henry IV. the Marquis de la Roche sailed from France in 1598 with a number of convicts, whom he landed on the almost barren Isle of Sable, in the hope of making a settlement. He then proceeded to Nova Scotia; but having met with several disasters, he returned to France, leaving the miserable convicts on the island, where there was neither fresh water, fuel, nor a soil capable of producing anything but thorns and thistles. After these unfortunate people had been upon the island seven years, they were taken off by

Hackluyt, vol. iii. p. 155-158,

Chetodel, who had been a pilot to De la Roche. Only twelve of the number landed were found alive: these were pardoned of their offences, and each survivor received fifty crowns from the King. They also recovered heavy damages from Chetodel, who had taken from them all the skins of black foxes and other furs they had secured during their exile.

The early attempts to establish Colonies upon these shores were unsuccessful, and even calamitous; yet the value of the fur-trade, the nature of the soil, and the hope that always prevails of finding riches in unexplored regions, excited the Huguenots and other European merchants with the spirit of foreign enterprise. Previous to the year 1609, a mariner named Schavalet is stated to have performed no less than forty voyages to Canseau. In 1578, the number of fishing vessels upon the coast was 330; of these 100 were Spanish, 30 Biscayans, 150 French, and 50 English. The latter had command of the harbours.* Valuable furs were purchased from the savages for mere trinkets, and the teeth of the sea-horse brought high prices in the European markets. The interesting accounts given by those who had visited the country, had also much influence over the minds of the adventurers. The seas were represented as being alive with fish, the forests with black foxes and other animals with rich furs, and the rocks with gold, silver, and precious stones. All these circumstances combined, produced a spirit of rivalry among the European Powers, and to create undue emulation and strife among their subjects.

During the reign of Henry IV., a gentleman named De Monts, under very favourable auspices, made another attempt at colonisation. He received from his Sovereign almost unlimited powers and privileges, and every encouragement to pursue his arduous undertaking. De Monts had accompanied Chauvin up the St. Lawrence, and had made himself acquainted with a part of the Atlantic coast. His commission embraced all the territory from the 40th to the 46th degree North latitude, or from Hudson's Bay to Virginia; and he had a monopoly of the fur-trade over that vast tract of country, which was then called New France. The Colony was to be established at the expense of

Hackluyt, vol. iii. p. 132.