Champlain’s Quebec was very poor in everything but courage.  The fact that it was founded by the men who had just failed in Acadia gives proof of this virtue.  Immediately upon his return from Port Royal to France, Champlain showed De Monts a map and plan which embodied the result of his explorations during the last three years.  They then took counsel regarding the future, and with Champlain’s encouragement De Monts ’resolved to continue his noble and meritorious undertaking, notwithstanding the hardships and labours of the past.’  It is significant that once more Champlain names exploration as the distinctive purpose of De Monts.

To expect a subsidy from the crown was futile, but Henry felt compunction for his abrupt recall of the monopoly.  The result was that De Monts, in recognition of his losses, was given a further monopoly—­for the season of 1608 only.  At the same time, he was expressly relieved from the obligation to take out colonists.  On this basis De Monts found partners among the merchants of Rouen, and three ships were fitted out—­one for Acadia, the others for the St Lawrence.  Champlain, as lieutenant, was placed in charge of the Laurentian expedition.  With him went the experienced and invaluable Pontgrave.

Nearly seventy-five years had now passed since Jacques Cartier first came to anchor at the foot of Cape Diamond.  During this period no one had challenged the title of France to the shores of the St Lawrence; in fact, a country so desolate made no appeal to the French themselves.  Roberval’s tragic experience at Cap Rouge had proved a warning.  To the average Frenchman of the sixteenth century Canada meant what it afterwards meant to Sully and Voltaire.  It was a tract of snow; a land of barbarians, bears, and beavers.

The development of the fur trade into a staple industry changed this point of view to a limited extent.  The government, as we have seen, considered it desirable that colonists should be established in New France at the expense of traders.  For the St Lawrence, however, the first and only fruits of this enlightened policy had been Chauvin’s sixteen derelicts at Tadoussac.

The founding of Quebec represents private enterprise, and not an expenditure of money by Henry iv for the sake of promoting colonization.  De Monts and Champlain were determined to give France a foothold in America.  The rights upon which the venture of 1608 was financed did not run beyond the year.  Thenceforth trade was to be free.  It follows that De Monts and his partners, in building a station at Quebec, did not rely for their expenses upon any special favours from the crown.  They placed their reliance upon themselves, feeling confident of their power to hold a fair share of the trade against all comers.  For Champlain Quebec was a fixed point on the way to the Orient.  For De Monts it was a key to the commerce of the great river.  None of his rivals would begin the season of 1609 with