Volume 4 — Letter from the Reverend Father Charles Lallemant,20 Superior of the Missions in Canada, to Sieur de Champlain.

Letter from the Reverend Father Charles Lallemant,20 Superior of the Missions in Canada, to Sieur de Champlain.

[868] SIR,

Thanks to God, here we are in the district of your Lieutenancy, where we arrived after having one of the most successful voyages [869] ever yet experienced. Monsieur the General,21 after having told us that was impossible to give us lodging either in the settlement or in the fort, and that we must either return to France, or withdraw to the Recollect Fathers'22 obliged us to accept the latter offer. The Fathers received us with so much charity, that we feel forever under obligations to them. Our Lord will be their reward. One of our Fathers, together with the Recollect Father who came from France,23 went to the trading station24 with the intention of going to the Hurons or to the Hiroquois, as they should think best after consulting Father Nicolas, who was to be at this station to confer with them. But it happened that poor Father Nicolas was drowned in the last of the rapids,25 for which reason they returned, as they knew no one there, and had no knowledge of the language or of the country. We are therefore awaiting your arrival, to determine what it will be well to do. You will hear all you wish to know of this country from Father Joseph,26 therefore I am content to assure you that I am,

Sir, Your very affectionate servant,

Charles Lalemant.

Kebec, this 28th of July, 1625.