Note 54 — Front matter

Pierre Francois Xavier de Charlevoix, a French traveller, born October 29, 1682, at St. Quentin, died, 1761. His most important work of American interest bears the following title: Histoire et Description Generale de la Nouvelle France, Avec le Journal Historique d’un Voyage Fait Par Ordre Du Roi Dans L’Amerique Septentrionale. Paris, 1744. Several editions of the work, in three and six volumes respectively, were issued in Paris during this year. Journal d’un Voyage (ETC.), usually forms the last volume, with a separate title page. During 1761 this portion was published in English in London, two volumes, but it was not until 1865-72 that the Histoire proper was translated, and at that time by J. G. Shea (New York, 6 vols.). Foster is obviously in error as to the date mentioned (1722). Charlevoix’s work was not ready for publication at that time, though he had no doubt finished it in 1724, at which date he issued simultaneously, the Journal which was addressed to the Duchess de Lesdiguières. Some partial reprints of Charlevoix do not contain the linguistic portions.