The
other two ships had on board the intending colonists; among whom were
soldiers and workpeople, priests, ministers, and some gentleman
volunteers. This expedition did not steer for Canada, but for that part
of New France then called Acadia (Nova Scotia), De Monts being under the
impression that he should there find localities more favorable for
settlement than by ascending the St. Lawrence. But it carried with it
those whom Lescarbot justly styled "the hope of Canada"; for besides De
Monts, there were Champlain and Pontegrave, and probably many of inferior
grade, whose participation in this attempt to found an Acadian colony
must have greatly assisted in rendering their future services more
valuable elsewhere.
The effort at colonization in Acadia may be said to have been sustained
under many vicissitudes during about nine years until the year 1613; but
long before this the attention and services of Champlain and Pontegrave
were withdrawn. De Monts lost his charter in 1606, about which time
Champlain having, in conjunction with Pontegrave, made a number of
maritime excursions from Port Royal, and some geographical discoveries,
during the previous two years, became urgent for the renewal of attempts
up the river St. Lawrence, which he never ceased to represent as offering
a more favorable field for enterprise than the shores of Acadia.
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