CHAPTER IX.
ON THE MEANS AVAILABLE TO AID THESE NATIONS TO THEIR ETERNAL SALVATION.
YOU have heard up to the present about the nature of the lands of new France, and the more important habits, arts, and customs of the inhabitants. Now, after considering the whole subject thoroughly, the result of all these opinions, sentiments, experiments, arguments, and conjectures of the wise can hardly be otherwise than [99] this; namely, that there is no probability of ever being able to convert or really help these Nations to salvation, if there is not established there a Christian and Catholic colony, having a sufficiency of means to maintain it, and upon which all the countries depend, even as to provisions and temporal needs. Such is the result and conclusion of our investigations.
Or comment est-ce que s'y pourroit dresser, fournir, & entretenir ceste colonie, & peuplade? Ce n'est point icy le lieu d'en minuter, & articuler les chefs. Seulement aduertiray-ie, que c'est vne grande folie à des petits compagnons, que de s'imaginer des Baronnies, & ie ne sçay quels grands fiefs, & tenements en ces terres, pour trois ou quatre mille escus, par exemple, qu'ils auront à y foncer. Le pis seroit, quand [100] ceste folle vanité arriueroit à gens qui fuyent la ruine de leurs maisons en France: car à tels conuoiteux infailliblement aduiendroit, non que, borgnes ils [138] regneroient entre les aueugles, ains qu'aueugles ils s'yroient precipiter en la fosse de misere, & possible feroiẽt-ils au lieu d'vn chasteau Chrestiẽ, vne cauerne de larrons, vn nid de brigands, vn receptacle d'escumeurs, vn refuge de pendarts, vn attelier de scandale, & toute meschanceté. Qui seroit lors plus en peine à vostre aduis? ou des gens de bien & craignãts Dieu, se trouuans enueloppés emmy telle compagnie, ou telle compagnie se trouuant liée, & contrainte par des gens de bien entremeslez? Il y auroit des secousses infailliblement des vns contre les autres, & Dieu sçait, quelle en pourroit estre l'yssuë.
Now how can these colonists and emigrants be sheltered, provided for, and kept together there? This is not the place to go into details about it or even to enumerate the chief points. I shall only suggest that it is great folly for small companies to go there, who picture to themselves Baronies, and I know not what great fiefs and demesnes for three or four thousand écus, for example, which they will have to sink in that country. It would be still worse if [100] this foolish idea would occur to people who flee from the ruin of their families in France: for to such covetous people it invariably happens, not that, being one-eyed, they would be kings among the blind, but that, blind, they would go to throw themselves into a wretched pit; and possibly instead of a Christian stronghold, they would found a den of thieves, a nest of brigands, a receptacle for parasites, a refuge for rogues, a hotbed of scandal and all wickedness. Who would then be more afflicted, do you think; the honest and God-fearing people finding themselves surrounded by such company, or such company, finding itself hemmed in and restrained by the presence of honest people? There would undoubtedly be some friction among them, and God knows what would be the result thereof.
[101] Aussi de l'autre costé; si ne faut-il point tant exaggerer les despenses, difficultez, & inconueniens possibles, qu'on en desespere les moyens, & bon euenement. Car à la verité, pourueu qu'il y eust du mesnage & bonne conduitte; i'estime qu'il y a plusieurs maisons particulieres dans Paris, & autre part, qui ont les moyens esgaux à l'entreprinse, voire & sans grandement incommoder leurs affaires par deçà; si Dieu leur en donnoit la volonté.
[101] Also, on the other hand, the expenses, difficulties, and possible inconveniences ought not to be so greatly exaggerated that the resources and success of the enterprise are despaired of. For in truth, if it should be managed and conducted well, I believe that there are several private houses in Paris, and elsewhere which have the means necessary for such an undertaking, even without greatly interfering with their affairs over here, if God would but give them the desire to do it.