An. 1648. HISTORY OF CANADA. [Continued.] HE colony of Quebec was ftill : tent upon converting the Indians, than upon raifing plantations, and extending the fur trade, which chiefly centered at Trois Rivieres, and Tadoussac, to which places the northern Indians repaired with their skins, to exchange them for neceffaries. As for the Huron nation, among whom the miffionaries had made a great number of profelytes, they feemed to become more enervate, and abandoned, to all the neceffary maxims of defence, in proportion as they received the gofpel. One would imagine that the fathers and retainers of the miffion had perfuaded them to neglect all worldly means of fafety, and commit themselves entirely to the protection of Providence. In vain thofe enthufiafts coveted the crown of martyrdom, and even died rejoicing in the midst of the most horrible tortures. In vain they magnified every escape of an individual, into a miraculous intervention of the Almighty the Indians could not help being aftonished, when they faw that heaven did not protect the lives of its own immediate fervants, in the very article of preaching the gofpel; why an All-wife, and All-powerful Being, who created man, and influenced every emotion of the human heart, had not revealed himself in fuch a manner to the poor favages, as would have effectually fecured their eternal falvation, and fpared thofe horrible tortures, and inftances of brutal affaffination, which were every day inflicted upon the profelytes, and even the preachers of the faith. "Wherefore (faid they) did God Almighty work a miracle in favour of a poor inconfiderable woman, bewildered in the woods, and leave all the rest of the tribe to perish by cold and famine? Why did he fuperfede the laws of nature, to fave one wretched Indian profelyte, and give up a whole town to flaughter; nay a whole people to extermination, although great part of them profeffed the Chriftian faith; and all their enemies were the groffeft of all idolaters". Such was the reasoning of ignorant favages, unacquainted with the philofophy of the Christian religion. In a word, the Hurons were infatuated, and the Iroquois implacable. The former remained in the most fupine negligence, and fecurity: the latter let flip no opportunity, March 1761. of taking them at advantage. They were, as vigilant, active, and irrefiftible, as the moft favage beafts of prey; and, like them, literally thirfted for the blood of their enemies. They furprifed the Indian town of St. Jofeph, where father Anthony Daniel had fixed his million. They matacred man, woman, and child, without diftinction of fex or age. The father rushing into the midft of the carnage, to baptize the dying, was ftuck full of arrows; and as he continued, notwithstanding, to perform his apoftolic function, at length flain out-right: then like fo many half famished wolves, they fell upon his body, wallowed in his blood, mangled him in a horrible manner, and confumed him to afhes, with the chapel he had raised. About this time, the commiffioners of the English colony fettled in New England, propofed to the council of Quebec an alliance that should remain in full force, even though France and England fhould be at variance. The French colonifts would have willingly embraced the propofal, on condition that the English fhould join in their wars with the Iroquois: but this they rejected as an unreafonable demand, because they traded with the Iroquois, and confidered that nation as a fecurity to their frontiers, against the enterprizes of all the Indians. The truth is, neither France nor England could derive much honour from any connexion with fuch cruel and irreclaimable favages, whom no precepts could enlighten, and no example humanize. Their quarrel with the Hurons must have been an infatiable appetite for blood, implanted in their nature; for it does not appear that their refentment was fed by fresh provocation and hoftilities. The miferable Hurons lay overwhe'med in the most unaccountable indolence, and allowed themselves to be butchered, without making the least refistance. It does not appear that the French took any effectual steps, to roufe them from this fatal lethargy, tho' they themselves were fo much concerned in the prefervation of their allies. In the fpring of the year 1649, a body of Iroquois furprifed the Indian town of St. Ignatius, and maffacred all the inhabitants, but three men, who had the good fortune to escape, and gave the alarm at St. Louis, U mant was reconveyed to a hut, where, with the ftroke of an hatchet, they opened his skull, fo as that part of the brain came out; then they pulled out one of his eyes, and thrust a burning coal into the focket. Their exultation over this miferable facrifice was altogether extraordinary, because he feverely felt the tortures they inflicted, and from time to time uttered fuch difmal fhrieks, as would havé filled any other of the human fpecies, but those Indians, with horror and remorfo. The Hurons, having fuffered fuch calamities from the incurfions of the Iroquois, abandoned all their villages in the neighbourhood of St. Mary; fome flying to the woods, and others retiring for shelter among other Indian nations. Those who remained at St. Mary's, being afraid of quitting their habitation in quest of provision, as usual, were afflicted with famine. The miffionaries propofed, that they should go and fettle upon the island Manitoualin, fituated in the northern part of the Lake Huron, very narrow, though forty leagues in length; but the foil was fruitful, abounding with wild beafts, and there was plenty of fish all round the coaft. This falutary propofal was rejected by the Hurons, who could not bear the thoughts of exiling themselves fo far from their native country: but they tranfmigrated to the little ifland of St. Jofeph, at a very small distance from that part of the continent where they dwelt before. Majefty's Speech. St. Louis, another town, at a small distance from the former. All the women and children of this fecond village immediately fied into the woods; but the men stayed and were flaughtered. The fathers Brebeuf and Lallemant, being here taken in the exercife of their offices, were put to death with torments, the defcription of which is horrible to human nature. The former, poffeffed of great fortitude, and transported with joy at the profpect of martyrdom, continued to preach with a loud and refolute voice, while they tortured him on a fcaffold, with the most excruciating torments. In order to filence him effectually, they cut off his lower lip, and the extremity of his nofe. They applied lighted torches to different parts of his body; they fcorched off his gums, and thrust a red hot iron into his throat. In this condition he was found by Lallemant, who was now brought upon the scaffold, enelofed in a fort of mail of fir bark, which they intended to fet on fire. This was a young miffionary of delicate nerves, whofe ftrength was not equal to his fpirit. He threw himself at the feet of Brebeuf, who ftill maintained a compofed and commanding countenance, kiffed his wounds, bathed them with a flood of tears, aand conjured him to redouble his prayers to God Almighty, that he might not be forfaken in this dreadful trial, by his patience and his faith, which he owned were almost exhausted. This unfortunate fanatic, the fon of a good family, and but lately arrived in Canada, was gradually roafted by the favages, who kindled the combustibles that furrounded him; but managed their barbarity in fuch a manner, that he confumed by a flow fire. In the mean time, they hung round the neck of Brebeuf a kind of collar of red hot hatchets, and poured boiling water on both their heads. When they had undergone these torments for fome time, the fenior was fcalped; then they thrust him through the body with a lance, and drank the blood that flowed from his wounds: finally, they opened his breaft, tore out his heart, and devoured it with the moft diabolical avidity. Lalle Here they pitched their cabbins, and lived quietly during the fum- His Majefty's SPEECH, relating to the Judges, March 3, 1761. My lords, and gentlemen, UPON granting new commiffions to the judges, the prefent ftate of their offices fell naturally under confideration, In confequence of the aft paffed in the reign of my late glorious predeceffor king William the third, for fettling the fuccef fion fion to the crown in my family, their commiffions have been made during their good behaviour: but, notwithstanding that wife provifion, their offices have determined upon the demise of the crown, or at the expiration of fix months afterwards, in every inftance of that nature which has happened. I look upon the independency and uprightness of the judges of the land as efsential to the impartial administration of justice; as one of the beft fecurities to the rights and liberties of my loving fubjects; and as most conducive to the honour of the crown: and I come now to recommend this interesting object to the confideration of parliament, in order that fuch farther provifion may be made for fecuring the judges in the enjoyment of their offices, during their good behaviour, notwithstanding any fuch demife, as fhall be most expedient. Gentlemen of the houfe of commons, I must defire of you, in particular, that I may be enabled to grant and establish upon the judges such salaries, as I fhall think proper; so as to be abfolutely fecured to them during the continuance of their commiffions. My lords and gentlemen, I have nothing to add, but my thanks for the great unanimity and application with which you have hitherto carried on the public business; and to defire you to proceed with the fame good difpofition, and with fuch dispatch, that this feffion may be foon brought to a happy conclufion. The SPEECH of the Right Hon. Arthur Onflow, Efq; on his taking leave of the Houfe of Commons. UST before the diffolution of the parliament, the honourable Houfe of Commons unanimously agreed, that thanks should be given to the right hon. Arthur Onflow, Efq; Speaker, for his constant and due attendance in the chair, during the course of above thirty-three years, in five fucceffive parliaments; for the unshaken integrity and steady impartiality of his conduct there; and for the indefatigable pains he had, with uncommon abilities, conftantly taken to promote the real intereft of his king and country, to maintain the honour and dignity of parliament, and to preserve inviolable the rights and privileges of the Commons of Great Britain; upon which Mr. Speaker made the following speech to the house, viz. "I was never under fo great a difficulty in my life to know what to say in this place, as I am at prefent.... Indeed it is almost too much for me....I can stand against misfortunes and diftreffes; I have stood against misfortunes and diftreffes; and may do so again; but I am not able to ftand this overflow of good will and honour to me. It overpowers me; and had I all the strength of language, I could never express the full fentiments of my heart on this occafion, of thanks and gratitude. If I have been happy enough to perform any fervices here, that are acceptable to the house, I am fure I now receive the nobleft reward for them, the nobleft that any man can receive for any merit; far fuperior in my estimation to all the other emoluments of this world. I owe every thing to this houfe; I not only owe to this house, that I am in this place, but that I have had their constant support in it; and to their good will and affiftance, their tenderness and indulgence towards me in my errors, it is that I have been able to perform my duty here to any degree of approbation: thanks therefore are not fo much due to me for these fervices, as to the house itself, who made them to be fervices to me. "When I began my duty here, I fet out with a refolution and a promise to the houfe to be impartial in every thing, and to fhew my respect to every body: the first I know I have done, it is the only merit I can affume; if I have failed in the other, it was unwillingly, it was inadvertently; and I ask pardon, meft fincerely, to whomsoever it may have happened....I can truly fay the giving fatisfaction to all, has been my conftant aim, my study, and my pride. "And now, Sirs, I am to take my last leave of you. It is I confefs with regret, becaufe the being within these walls has U. 2 ever been the chief pleasure of my life; but my advanced age and infirmities, and fome other reasons call for retirement and obfcurity. There I fhall spend the remainder of my days; and shall only have power to hope and to pray, and my hopes and prayers, my daily prayer will be for the continuance of the constitution in general, and that the freedom, the dignity, and authority of this houfe may be perpetual-" When the addrefs from the hon. House of Commons was prefented to his Majefty, that he would be pleafed to confer fome fignal mark of his royal favour on the right hon. Arthur Onslow, Efq; their Speaker, for his great and eminent fervices, his Majefty was pleased to give the following most gracious answer, viz. "THAT he had the juftest sense of the long fervices and great merit of Mr. Onflow, prefent Speaker of the House of Commons; and had already taken the fame into confideration; and that he would do therein what fhould appear to be most proper, agreeable to the defire of his faithful Commons." His Majesty's most gracious SPEECH to both Houses of Parliament, on March 19, 1761. I My lords and gentlemen, Cannot put an end to this feffion, without declaring my entire fatisfaction in your proceedings during the courfe of it. The zeal you have fhewn for the honour of my crown, as well as for my true intereft, and that of your country, which are ever the fame, is the cleareft demonftration of that duty and affection to my perfon and government, of which you fo unanimously affured me at your first meeting. Nothing could fo much add to the pleafure which these confiderations afford me, as that I am now able to acquaint you with the great progrefs made of late by the combined army in Germany, under the command of prince Ferdinand of Brunfwick. I formerly told you, that the nature of the war, in thofe parts, had kept the campaign there ftill depending: and it now appears, to the furprize of my enemies, that the fuperior ability and indefatigable activity of my general, and the fpirit and ardor of my officers and troops, have greatly profited of this perfeverance, notwithstanding all the difficulties arifing from the feafon. By your affiftance, I have taken the best care to recruit that army in an effectual manner; and have made fuch a disposition of my fleet for next fummer, as may moft advantageously defend my kingdoms, protect the commerce of my fubjects, maintain and extend our poffeffions and acquifitions, and annoy the enemy. As in all my measures I have nothing in view but the security and felicity of my dominions, the fupport of my allies, and the reftoring of the public tranquility, I trust in the Divine Providence, to give a happy iffue to our farther operations. Gentlemen of the house of Commons, I cannot fufficiently thank you for your unanimity and dispatch, in providing for the expences of my civil government, and the honour and dignity of the crown: and I think myself as much obliged to you, for the prudent ufe, which in framing that provifion you have made of my confent to leave my own hereditary revenues to fuch difpofition of parliament, as might beft conduce to the utility and fatisfaction of the public as for what more immediately concerns myself. In making my acknowledgements for the large and extensive supplies which you have granted me this feffion, I am at a lofs whether moft to applaud your chearfulness in giving, or your wifdom in proportioning them to the extraordinary occafions of the public, notwithstanding thofe uncommon burthens, which I heartily regret. No care fhall be wanting, on my part, to fee them duly applied to the national ends for which you intended them. My lords and gentlemen, The expiration of this parliament now drawing very near, I will forthwith give the neceffary orders for calling a new one. But I cannot take my leave of you, without returning my thanks for the many eminent proofs you have given me of your fidelity and affection to my family and and government, and of your zeal for this happy and excellent conftitution. During this parliament, the flame of war was kindled by the injurious encroachments and ufurpations of our enemies; and therefore it became just and neceffary on our part. In the profecution of it you have given fuch fupport to my royal grandfather and myself, and such affiftance to our allies, as have manifested your public-fpirited concern for the honour of the nation, and the maintenance of its undoubted rights and poffeffions, and been attended with glorious fucceffes, and great acquifitions, in various parts of the world; particularly the entire reduction of Canada, a conqueft of the utmost importance to the fecurity of our colonies in North America, and to the extenfion of the commerce and navigation of my subjects. May God Almighty grant continuance to thefe fucceffes! the ufe which I propofe to make of them is, to fecure and promote the welfare of my kingdoms, and to carrry on the war with vigour, in order to procure to them the bleffings of peace, on fafe and honourable conditions for me and my allies; to which I have been always ready to hearken. Firm in these refolutions, I do, with entire confidence, rely on the good difpofitions of my faithful fubjects in the choice of their reprefentatives; and I make no, doubt but they will thereby demonftrate the fincerity of thofe affurances, which have been fo cordially and univerfally given me, in the loyal, affectionate, and unanimous addresses of my people. Then the lord chancellor, by his majesty's command, faid; My lords and gentlemen, IT is his majefty's royal will and pleafure, that this parliament be prorogued to Tuefday the feventh of April next, to be then here held; and this parliament is accordingly prorogued to Tuesday the feventh day of April next. The following Addrefs was humbly delivered by Mr. Jacob Henriques, into the King's own Hand, at the Parliament Houfe, on the 19th inflant. Wrote by HIMSELF. A private, humble ADDRESS, to the best of Kings, GEORGE the Third, &c. &c. &c. May it please the KING, THAT amidst the throng of loyal and and dutiful addreffes prefented by his faithful fubjects, a veteran, for the credit and honour of the British nation, with all imaginable respect, prefumes to approach his royal perfon, ever bearing in memory the glorious revolution, happy for thefe kingdoms and all Europe! In that period my late honoured father projected the Bank of England. "The race not being always to the "fwift, nor the battle to the ftrong; but "time and chance happening to all :" by various difpenfations of Divine Providence, after ufing every honeft and laudable endeavour, grudging no talent or expence for the public fervice, find myself fo circumftanced, that with the greatest humility I most earnestly entreat your majesty's royal favour, fo as to enable me to pafs through the few remaining days of my pilgrimage with lefs folicitude, affording me fome relief from the cares and anxieties of this life, that I may be fitter to prepare for my last great change, which at the fartheft cannot be far off. I have feven daughters to maintain. Hitherto my forrows and difappointments have been many and frequent; but if what I now offer, with the most profound reverence, fhall incline your majefty on mature deliberation to confider me, my, grey hairs will not go down forrowing to the grave, and my eyes will be closed in peace. May health, honcur, glory, and every felicity, attend your facred perfon, is the hearty with of Your majefty's most dutiful, most humble, and devoted fervant and subject, JACOB HENRIQUES, born 1683. Podical |