The sojourn of the French in Tadousac lasted many weeks, and the delay caused Champlain much annoyance.  David Kirke spent ten or twelve days on his visit to Quebec, where he wanted to see for himself how his brother Louis had disposed of everything, and what advantage he was likely to gain from the acquisition of the new country.  Believing himself to be the supreme ruler and master of New France, he outlined a brilliant future for the colony, looking forward to the day when he could bring settlers to take advantage of its natural resources.

Returning to Tadousac, the general invited his captains to a dinner, at which Champlain was also a guest.  The dinner was served in a tent surrounded with branches.  Towards the end of the banquet David Kirke gave Champlain a letter from Marsolet to inform him that the chief savages, gathered at Three Rivers in council, had resolved to keep with them the two girls, Esperance and Charite.  This was a severe trial to Champlain, who had hoped to be able to take them to France.  All his efforts, however, were useless, as there was a plot organized by the traitor Marsolet.  These children loved Champlain as a father, and were inconsolable when they realized that their departure for France was impossible.

Champlain relates many things that do not redound to Kirke’s credit, amongst other things that Kirke blamed his brother Louis for giving the Jesuits permission to say mass, and afterwards refused the permission.  Again, at the moment when the Jesuits embarked for Tadousac, Louis Kirke ordered a trunk to be opened in which the sacred vessels were contained.  Seeing a box which contained a chalice Kirke tried to seize it, but Father Masse interfered, and said to him:  “This is a sacred object, do not profane it, if you please.”  “Why,” said Kirke, “we have no faith in your superstition,” and so saying he took the chalice in his hands, braving the Jesuit’s advice.  The Catholics were also denied the privilege of praying in public.  This intolerant action was condemned by Champlain.  During their stay at Tadousac Champlain and the admiral went out shooting.  They killed more than two thousand larks, plovers, snipes and curlews.  In the meantime the sailors had cut trees for masts, and some birch which they took to England.  They also carried with them four thousand five hundred and forty beaver skins, one thousand seven hundred and thirteen others seized at Quebec, and four hundred and thirty-two elk skins.  The French had not given up all their skins; some had hidden a good many, and others kept them with Kirke’s consent.  The Recollets and the Jesuits were returning poorer than when they came.  Champlain alone was allowed to retain all his baggage.  At the commencement of September the admiral fitted out a medium sized barque with provisions for Quebec, with instructions to bring back the Recollets who were scattered throughout the country, and also some of the French who had intended to remain at Quebec and other places.