THE CHRISTIAN LADY'S MAGAZINE. DECEMBER, 1838. BY-GONE DAYS. THE singular events recently combining to direct the public eye towards North America, have assisted to retouch so many fading pictures of the past, that the choice of objects becomes rather perplexing; more particularly where there is little of a spiritual nature to bring forward. In truth, my desire is rather to excite an interest for the inhabitants of that distant region in the breasts of those who are accustomed to make known their requests unto God in prayer for such as engage their attention, than to gratify them with tales of the past. My last paper spoke of Annapolis, up to the period of my leaving it: and it becomes a question whether to proceed in sketching other scenes as they passed before me, or to devote a few pages to the first settlement of our countrymen on that spot. The latter will more effectually assist my ultimate purpose: and if to any reader the detail DECEMBER, 1838. 2 I should appear dull, I can only repeat, that we have a duty to perform, even while seeking temporary amusement; and that future sketches of scenery and inhabitants may not prove the less acceptable for having been prefaced by some historical information. The North American continent had been discovered by Cabot, who, endeavouring to find a western passage to India, was surprised, on the 24th of June, 1497, by the sight of land. The point first descried, and thence named Prima Vista, is asserted by Galvanus to have been in latitude 45: if this be correct, Nova Scotia was the place; and the voyagers, coasting to the northward, must have entered the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and visited Newfoundland. The reign of Henry VII., however, was unpropitious for such costly enterprizes; and the matter slumbered while Henry VIII. pursued his turbulent course; while Edward VI. laboured to make his kingdom the kingdom of our God and of his Christ; and while ferocious Mary struggled to crush it deeper and more hopelessly than ever beneath the blood-stained hoof of Popery. These all passed from the scene: Elizabeth ascended the throne: before the rising sun of Protestantism every lingering cloud began to melt away, and beneath its gladdening beams the national character arose in all its strength, and energy, and enterprise, looking out into every quarter of the globe for openings to improve the commerce and extend the sway of England. It was in 1579 that the truly British queen granted a patent to Sir Humphrey Gilbert, for discovering, occupying, and peopling remote lands, not yet possessed by any Christian race; and in June, 1583, he sailed from Plymouth westward, made the harbour De of St. John, Newfoundland, in one month, and claiming it for the Queen of England, established the worship of our national Protestant church upon its rocky shores-Newfoundland, where at the present moment Popery is trampling with impunity on all that constitutes the value of our most venerated institutions! Nova Scotia was first colonized by the French. Monsieur De Monts, in 1603, accepted from Henry IV. of France the governorship-general of whatsoever country he might discover and take possession of, in following up the unsuccessful enterprise of the Marquis De la Roche, who had landed on Sable Island, and attempted to explore the neighbouring peninsula, but was frustrated by unfavourable weather. Monts was a Protestant, and secured to himself the free exercise of his religion; but, with the unfaithful spirit too common among men in authority, he readily bound himself to disseminate Popery among the aborigines of the land, and to establish it as the religion of the colony. After many adventures, and short visits to the south-eastern harbours of the peninsula, the party entered the bay of Fundy, and explored the Annapolis river. Poutrincourt, a friend and companion of De Mont's, was SO attracted by the grandeur, beauty, and fertility of this truly fine region, that he made it his choice, obtained a grant of it, and naming it Port Royal, there fixed his abode. De Monts attempted to establish the head-quarters of his infant colony on the island of St. Croix, but, finding it unsuitable, and no better place presenting itself, he, with his party, finally determined to follow the example of Poutrincourt, and made all haste to Port Royal, where they built, and fortified the place. Farther arrivals unmolested. A new settlement was formed expressly for their sakes; and they were escorted to it with a large party of adherents, by an envoy sent over from France. : But now appeared on the stage a new class of performers the English, having pursued their discoveries, and extended their colonization, were coasting in that direction, and ascertaining that Mount Desert was occupied by some subjects of France, resolved, though their country was at peace with her Gallic neighbour, to attack them as pirates. A Captain Argall led the assailing party; one of the unhappy priests was shot, the people routed, the cross erected by the Jesuits broken down, and the island taken possession of for king James. This was followed by an attempt to expel the French altogether from Acadia; and the surviving Jesuit, Biart, longing to be revenged on Biencourt, volunteered his services to the man who had slain his colleague, and himself guided Argall into the basin of Port Royal. Biencourt offered to divide the trade, and other advantages, with the English, on condition of having the treacherous Jesuit delivered up to him. This was refused by Argall, and after much wrangling, which the mediation of an Indian chief alone prevented from ending in open violence, a mutual dispersion took place, and the fair colony of Port Royal was reduced to a mere name, through the intrusion of two mischievous priests upon its hitherto tranquil and secure abode. In 1621, Sir W. Alexander obtained from James I. permission to settle this fertile and valuable portion of the West in the patent it was granted under the name of Nova Scotia, Acadia having formerly been the designation of the province: and a war breaking out, not long after, between England and France, advantage was taken of it to conquer such parts as were still possessed by the subjects of the latter country. Charles I., farther to encourage the enterprize, founded the order of Knights-Baronet of Nova Scotia, appointing Sir William governor-general, in the event of his succeeding: but, in 1632, after a great expenditure of life and treasure, Charles, infatuated by the counsels of his wily queen and her creatures, ceded it, by the treaty of St. Germains, to Louis of France; and with it Canada and Cape Breton; all of which were presently taken possession of by the enemies of England's name and England's faith. And here we behold the Indian race again, and to a far greater extent, more hopelessly than ever delivered over to the influence of papal Rome. Sixteen thousand Frenchmen were sent over, amongst whom the land was divided; some of the articles in the charter that secured these grants being to the effect that none but a native Frenchman should be admitted to settle there, no Huguenots tolerated, and in every district three Romish priests must be maintained at the public expense for fifteen years; after which lands were to be assigned them. Here we see the first planting of that seed which has, within the last year, yielded anew the crop of sedition and violence. These settlers were the original habitans, in Canada as in Nova Scotia; and their priests infused the poisonous doctrines of their faith into the native tribes, while carefully fostering the superstitions of the colonists. Numerous assaults were made on the part of England, and much disturbance given to the French; but they continued to hold possession of their prize, |