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Bibliographical Note, The Fighting Governor
Of the literature on Frontenac and his period the
greater part is in French. The books in English to which attention
may be specially called are:
Parkman, Francis: 'Count Frontenac and New
France under Louis XIV.'
Le Sueur, William Dawson: 'Count Frontenac' in
the 'Makers of Canada' series.
Winsor, Justin: 'Cartier to Frontenac.'
Stewart, George: 'Frontenac and his Times' in
the 'Narrative and Critical History of America,' edited
by Justin Winsor, vol. iv.
In French the most important works are:
Lorin, Henri: 'Le Comte de Frontenac.'
Myrand, Ernest: 'Frontenac et ses Amis; Phips
Rochemonteix, Le Pere Camille de: 'Les
Jesuites et la Nouvelle France,' vol. iii.
Gosselin, L'Abbe: 'La Vie de Mgr Laval.'
Sulte, B.: 'Histoire des Canadiens-Francais.'
Ferland, L'Abbe: 'Cours d'Histoire du Canada.'
Faillon, L'Abbe: 'Histoire de la Colonie
Francaise en Canada,' vol. iii.
Gagnon, Ernest: 'Le Fort et le Chateau
Garneau, F.-X.: 'Histoire du Canada,'
edited by Hector Garneau.
Among the original sources for this period
the following are likely to be found in any large library:
'Jugements et Deliberations du Conseil
'Edits et Ordonnances.'
'Relations des Jesuites.' Ed. Thwaites.
'Memoires et Documents pour servir a
l'histoire des origines francaises des pays d'outre-mer,'
ed. P. Margry.
'Les Lettres de La Hontan.'
'Histoire de l'Hotel-Dieu de Quebec, par la
mere Juchereau de Saint-Denis.'
Bibliographical Note, A Chronicle
There is no complete naval and military history of
Louisbourg, in either French or English. The first siege is a
prominent feature in all histories of Canada, New England, and the
United States, though it is not much noticed in works written in the
mother country. The second siege is noticed everywhere. The
beginning and end of the story is generally ignored, and the naval
side is always inadequately treated.
Parkman gives a good account of the first siege in 'A
Half-Century of Conflict', and a less good account of the second
in 'Montcalm and Wolfe'. Kingsford's accounts are in volumes iii and
iv of the 'History of Canada'. Sir John Bourinot, a native of
the island, wrote a most painstaking work on 'Cape Breton and its
Memorials of the French Regime' which was first published in the 'Transactions
of the Royal Society of Canada' for 1891. Garneau and other
French-Canadian historians naturally emphasize a different set of
facts and explanations. An astonishingly outspoken account of the
first siege is given in the anonymous 'Lettre d'un Habitant de
Louisbourg', which has been edited, with a translation, by
Professor Wrong. The gist of many accounts is to be found,
unpretentiously put together, in 'The Last Siege of Louisbourg', by
C. O. Macdonald. New England produced many contemporary and
subsequent accounts of the first siege, and all books concerned with
the Conquest give accounts of the second.
Those who wish to go straight to original sources will find useful
bibliographies in the notes to Parkman's and Bourinot's books, as
well as in Justin Winsor's 'Narrative and Critical History of
America'. But none of these includes some important items to be
found either in or through the Dominion Archives at Ottawa, the
Public Records Office in London, and the Archives de la Marine in
Bibliographical Note, The
The story of Acadia and the Acadians has been told
many times, but most of the treatises on the subject are
unsatisfactory from the historical point of view, either because of
the biased attitude taken by the authors or because of their
inadequate use of original sources. The present writer has
deliberately avoided consulting secondary works. The following
titles, however, are here suggested for the benefit of the reader
who wishes to become acquainted with the literature of the subject.
Thomas Chandler Haliburton, 'An Historical and Statistical
Account of Nova Scotia' (2 vols., Halifax, 1829), the earliest
general history of the province, based on but slight knowledge of
the sources. Beamish Murdoch, 'A History of Nova Scotia' (3
vols., Halifax, 1865-1867), fuller and more accurate than Haliburton,
but having less charm of style. Francis Parkman, 'France and
England in North America' (9 vols., Boston, 1865-1892, and later
editions). The chapters on Acadia are scattered through several
volumes of this valuable series: see the volumes entitled 'Pioneers
of France, The Old Regime, A Half-Century of Conflict', and 'Montcalm
and Wolfe'. Celestin Moreau, 'Histoire de l'Acadie Francoise'
(Paris, 1873). James Hannay, 'History of Acadia' (St John,
1879). P. H. Smith, 'Acadia: A Lost Chapter in American History'
(Pawling, N.Y., 1884). Justin Winsor, 'Narrative and Critical
History of America': see vols. iv and v (Boston, 1884, 1887),
containing scholarly bibliographical notes. Abbe H. R. Casgrain, 'Un
Pelerinage au pays d'Evangeline' (Quebec, 1887). Rameau de
Saint-Pere, 'Une Colonie Feodale en Amerique, l'Acadie' (2
vols., Paris and Montreal, 1889): the appendix contains some
interesting documents. Edouard Richard, 'Acadia: Missing Links of
a Lost Chapter in American History' (2 vols., New York and
Montreal, 1895). Rev. Wm. O. Raymond, 'The River St John'
(2nd ed., St John, 1910).
Some older works which incidentally contain interesting or valuable
references to Acadia may be mentioned. F. X. Charlevoix, 'Histoire
et Description Generale de la Nouvelle France' (3 vols., Paris,
1744; and translation by J. G. Shea, 6 vols., New York, 1866-1872).
Abbe Guillaume Thomas Raynal, 'Histoire philosophique et
politique des Etablissemens dans les deux Indes' (5 vols.,
Paris, 1770), which first painted a picture of an idyllic life of
simplicity and happiness among the Acadians. Thomas Hutchinson, 'History
of the Colony of Massachusetts Bay' (3 vols., London,
1765-1828). G. R. Minot, 'Continuation of the History of the
Province of Massachusetts Bay' (2 vols., Boston, 1798-1803).
Jeremy Belknap, 'History of New Hampshire' (3 vols., Boston,
1791-1792). W. D. Williamson, 'History of the State of Maine'
(2 vols., Hallowell, 1832). The last four works are of much value
for the relations between Acadia and the New England colonies.
Among special studies of note are: J. G. Kohl, 'Discovery of
Maine' ('Documentary History of the State of Maine,' vol. i,
1869). H. P. Biggar, 'Early Trading Companies of New France'
(Toronto, 1901). Henry Kirke, 'The First English Conquest of
Canada' (London, 1871; 2nd ed., 1908), a work which devotes much
space to the early establishments in Nova Scotia. Rev. Edmund F.
Slafter, 'Sir William Alexander and American Colonization'
(Boston, 1873), which contains a valuable selection of documents.
Abbe J. A. Maurault, 'Histoire des Abenakis' (Sorel, 1866).
Pascal Poirier, 'Origine des Acadiens' (Montreal, 1874) and 'Des
Acadiens deportes a Boston en 1755' ('Trans. Roy. Soc. of Can.,'
3rd series, vol. ii, 1908).
Several local histories contain information regarding the Acadian
exiles in the American colonies. William Lincoln, 'History of
Worcester, Massachusetts' (Worcester, 1862). Bernard C. Steiner,
'History of the Plantation of Menunkatuck and of the Original
Town of Guilford, Connecticut' (Baltimore, 1897). Rev. D. P.
O'Neill, 'History of St Raymond's Church, Westchester New York.'
J. T. Scharf, 'Chronicles of Baltimore' ( Baltimore, 1874).
Edward M'Crady, 'History of South Carolina under the Royal
Government, 1719-1776' (New York, 1899).
Of original sources, many of the more important narratives are
available in print. Champlain's Voyages, a work which
appeared in its first form in 1604: recent editions are by
Laverdiere (6 vols., Quebec, 1870); translation by Slafter (3 vols.,
The Prince Society, Boston, 1880-1882); and translations of portions
by W. L. Grant in Jameson's 'Original Narratives of Early
American History' (New York, 1907). Marc Lescarbot, 'Histoire
de la Nouvelle France' (1st ed., Paris, 1609): a new edition
with translation has been edited by W. L. Grant (The Champlain
Society, 3 vols., Toronto, 1907-1914). Nicolas Denys, 'Description
Geographique et Historique des Costes de l'Amerique Septentrionale'
(Paris, 1672): new edition and translation by William F. Ganong (The
Champlain Society, Toronto, 1908). Denys tells of De Monts,
Poutrincourt, Biencourt, and the La Tours.
Supplementary information can be obtained from 'The Jesuit
Relations' (the first number, by Father Biard, was published at
Lyons, 1616); see edition with translation, by R. G. Thwaites
(Cleveland, 1896). See also Purchas, 'His Pilgrimes,' vol. iv
(1625); and John Winthrop, 'History of New England,' edited
by James Savage (2 vols., Boston, 1825-1826), and by J. K. Hosmer in
'Original Narratives of Early American History' (New York,
1908). Gaston du Boscq de Beaumont, 'Les Derniers Jours de
l'Acadie,' 1748-1758 (Paris, 1899) contains many interesting
letters and memoirs from the French side at the time of the
There are several important collections of documentary sources
available in print. The 'Memorials of the English and French
Commissaries concerning the Limits of Nova Scotia or Acadia'
(London and Paris, 1755) contains the arguments and documents
produced on both sides in the dispute regarding the Acadian
boundaries. Many documents of general interest are to be found in
the 'Collection de Documents relatifs a l'Histoire de la Nouvelle
France' (4 vols., Quebec, 1885); in 'Documents relative to
the Colonial History of the State of New York,' edited by
O'Callaghan and Fernow (15 vols., Albany, 1856-1887), particularly
vol. ix; and in the 'Collections' of the Massachusetts Historical
Society (Boston, 1792-). The 'Collections' of the Nova Scotia
Historical Society (Halifax, 1879-), besides modern studies,
contain many valuable contemporary documents, including 'Journal
of Colonel Nicholson at the Capture of Annapolis,' 'Diary of
John Thomas,' and 'Journal of Colonel John Winslow.'
Thomas and Winslow are among the most important sources for the
The 'Report on Canadian Archives' for 1912 prints several
interesting documents bearing on the early history of Acadia, and
the Report for 1905 (vol. ii) contains documents relating to the
expulsion, edited by Placide Gaudet. The calendars contained in
various Reports to which references are made below may also be
consulted. The British Government publications, the 'Calendar of
State Papers, Colonial Series, America and West Indies,' which
has been brought down only to 1702, and the 'Acts of the Privy
Council, Colonial Series,' are also useful. But perhaps the most
valuable of all is the volume entitled 'Selections from the
Public Documents of the Province of Nova Scotia,' edited by
Thomas B. Akins (Halifax, 1869), though the editor has taken many
liberties with his texts. A volume entitled 'Nova Scotia Archives
II,' edited by Archibald MacMechan (Halifax, 1900), contains
calendars of Governors' Letter Books and a Commission Book,
The principal manuscript collections of material for Acadian history
are in Paris, London, Boston, Halifax, and Ottawa. In Paris are the
official records of French rule in America. Of the 'Archives des
Colonies,' deposited at the 'Archives Nationales,' the
following series are most important:
Series B: Letter Books of Orders of the King and Dispatches from
1663 onward (partially calendared in Canadian Archives 'Reports' for
1899; Supplement, 1904 and 1905).
Series C: correspondence received from the colonies, which is
subdivided geographically. All the American colonies have letters
relating to the refugee Acadians, but the most important section for
general Acadian history is C-11, which relates to Canada and its
dependencies, including Acadia itself, Ile Royale, now Cape Breton,
and Ile St Jean, now Prince Edward Island.
Series F, which includes in its subdivisions documents relating to
commercial companies and religious missions, and the Moreau St Mery
Collection of miscellaneous official documents.
Series G: registers, censuses, lists of Acadian refugees, and
The 'Ministere des Affaires Etrangeres' has, in the 'Angleterre'
section of its 'Correspondence Politique' and the 'Amerique' section
of its 'Memoires et Documents,' extensive material on the disputes
with the English Government over Acadia. The 'Archives de la Marine'
(Series B), which is divided into eight sub-series, has a vast
collection of documents relating to America, including Acadia.
Acadian material is also found scattered through other series of the
'Archives Nationales' and among the manuscripts of the 'Bibliotheque
Nationale.' At the town of Vire, in France, among the municipal
archives, are to be found the papers of Thomas Pichon, a French
officer at Louisbourg and Beausejour, who after the fall of
Beausejour lived on intimate terms with the British in Nova Scotia.
In London most of the official documents for the period under
consideration in this volume are preserved in the Public Record
Office. The most useful collections are among the Colonial Office
Papers: Series C.O. 5, formerly described as America and West
Indies, embraces the papers of the office of the Secretary of State
who had charge of the American colonies; and C.O. 217-221, formerly,
for the most part, described as Board of Trade Nova Scotia, contains
the correspondence of the Board of Trade relating to Nova Scotia.
The 'Admiralty Papers and Treasury Board Papers' likewise contain
considerable material for the story of British administration in
In the British Museum are some manuscripts of interest, the most
noteworthy being Lieutenant-Governor Vetch's Letter Book (Sloane MS.
3607), and the Brown Collection (Additional MSS. 190694). These are
papers relating to Nova Scotia and the Acadians, 1711-1794,
including the correspondence of Paul Mascarene.
In Boston two important collections are to be found: the
Massachusetts State Archives, which contain some original documents
bearing on the relations between New England and Nova Scotia, and
others connected with the disposal of those Acadians who were
transported to Massachusetts, and many transcripts made from the
French Archives; and the Parkman Papers, which are now in the
possession of the Massachusetts Historical Society.
The Public Records of Nova Scotia at Halifax contain transcripts
from the Paris and Massachusetts Archives relating to Acadia,
transcripts from the Public Record Office at London and from the
British Museum, letter-books of the Governors of Nova Scotia,
minutes of the Executive Council, and much miscellaneous
correspondence and papers belonging to our period.
In the Public Archives of Canada at Ottawa a very extensive
collection of transcripts has been assembled comprising all the more
important official documents relating to Acadia. A full description
of most of the series can be obtained from David W. Parker's 'Guide
to the Documents in the Manuscript Room at the Public Archives of
Canada,' vol. i (Ottawa, 1914). The series known as Nova Scotia
State Papers is divided into several sub-series: A. Correspondence
from 1603 onwards, made up chiefly of transcripts from the Papers of
the Secretary of State and of the Board of Trade at the Public
Record Office, but including some from the British Museum and
elsewhere (a calendar is to be found in the 'Report on Canadian
Archives' for 1894); B. Minutes of the Executive Council of Nova
Scotia, 1720-1785; E. Instructions to Governors, 1708 onwards. The
Archives also possess transcripts of the French 'Archives des
Colonies,' Series B, down to 1746, Series C-11 and parts of
Series F and G, and of many documents of the 'Ministere des
Affaires Etrangeres,' of the 'Archives de la Marine,'
Series B, and of the 'Bibliotheque Nationale' (among the latter
being the 'Memoire instructif de la conduite du Sr. de la Tour').
Also transcripts of the Pichon Papers, of much of the C.O. 5 Series
for this period in the Public Record Office, London; of Vetch's
Letter Book, the Brown Collection and other sources in the British
Museum; and of parts of the Parkman Papers, and other records
regarding the exiled Acadians in the Massachusetts Archives.
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Chronicles of Canada, The Fighting Governor, A
Chronicle of Frontenac, 1915
Chronicles of Canada