|
|
MICHIGAN AS A PROVINCE 1 - 5
This proves whether Detroit is a desirable or an undesirable country. Besides this nearly six thousand mouths of different tribes wintered there, as every one knows. All these proofs, convincing as they are, cannot silence the enemies of my scheme. If the king had the kindness to look into this matter well and follow it up, numberless advantages would be obtained from it, to the profit of the state, the colony, and religion. " He argues the necessity for sending to Detroit, Frenchmen with their families who shall be permanent settlers. He says: "There are at Detroit a good fort, good dwellings and the means of living and subsisting. It is for you to push this matter about the inhabitants and to consider whether you will permit the inhabitants of Canada to settle there to form a seminary to begin to instruct the savage children in piety, in the French language; to allow the Recollets to settle in order to discharge their functions there. It is the Lord's vine we must let it be cultivated by all sorts of good laborers. For nearly a hundred years it has been labored at without success have trial made, whether the methods which I have had the honor to propose are not more sound.
The result of Cadillac's appeal was that the garrison was increased and six Frenchmen with their families were sent to Detroit, together with some cattle. These latter were undoubtedly appreciated, for it appears that Madame Tonty's infant daughter Therese, the first white child born in Detroit, had died for lack of milk. Cadillac asked that some soldiers be sent over from France to strengthen the garrison for the effect it would have on the natives. Some of the soldiers whose terms of enlistment expired preferred to remain and become permanent residents.
MICHIGAN
Page 68
|
|
|
|
|
|