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MICHIGAN AS A PROVINCE 1 - 5
This charter was granted by Louis XIII in 1627.
It should be said that although the company undertook in apparent good faith to send over settlers and supplies it met with obstacles and misfortunes from the very outset. Some of their ships were driven out of their course by gales and wrecked upon an inhospitable coast. Others were attacked and captured by the English who took possession of Quebec itself. After some hesitancy on the part of the French court on the question of expediency of trying to go on with the colony or abandon it altogether, and an expression of willingness on the part of the English to retire from the country, the French king, guided by the advice of Champlain, decided that it was worth while to maintain his foothold in the new world.
By so narrow a margin was the fate of this vast region of country preserved to France. The rights of the company of New France were restored, Champlain was appointed governor and a fresh effort was made to bring over colonists. The interest in missionary affairs and the establishment of the Jesuits in the country also had a tendency to attract some immigrants. But the company apparently had very little concern for the
colony as such, being almost wholly absorbed in the profits to be gained from the fur trade. Montmagny succeeded to the governorship after the death of Champlain, and although he shared the views and qualities of his predecessor, he lacked both men and means, and had but ill support from the company or the court.
Small settlements had been previously established at Three Rivers and at Montreal, but they numbered only a few huts and were in a languishing condition. The Sulpitians having decided to give attention to missionary efforts in this country, the French king assigned to them the whole island of Montreal and there they set up their principal establishment.
MICHIGAN
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