the conversion of the natives, and their training, exclusively, in
the principles and worship of the Church of Rome.

The King was the more willing to grant a charter on these terms, because
De Monts and his company were to bear all the costs that might be
incurred in their enterprise. Preparations were then made for the
despatch of an expedition on a larger scale than any that had yet left
France for America.

Early in the spring of 1604 De Monts set sail with four vessels, well
manned, and equipped with all means requisite both for carrying on the
fur trade and for starting a colony at any place that might be judged
suitable. He had under him Champlain and Pontegrave, also a French
nobleman named Poutrincourt, who was going out to settle with his family
in America, and the subsequently celebrated historian Lescarbot. Two of
the ships were specially intended for the fur traffic, and in the first
instance to scour the coasts and inlets for the purpose of driving away
or capturing all persons found illegally trading with the natives. 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were withdrawn.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. In 1607,
therefore, De Monts procured the restorati