Le lingot : un journal du Saguenay, 1 septembre 1952, Supplément

Le Lingot Un J o u r n a 1 du Saguenay La culture est une curiosité désintéressée que l'Individu a de soi-même, de son milieu.de ses relations avec l'univers; c’est une recheiche de ce qui a été pensé, senti, exprimé avant nous et ailleurs que chez-nous.— André S1LGFKIEI) Le Lingot, Arvida, jeudi 25 septembre 1952 Il y a déjà dix ans que Tadous-sac possède la Maison Chauvin, reconstruite de celle que Pierre Chauvin avait fait bâtir à cet endroit en l'an 1600 et qui fut la première construite par les Européens au pays du Saguenay.On aime à connaître l'origine de cette maison primitive qui a précédé les établissements français de Port Royal et de Québec et dont la forme est si particulière.En voici l’histoire succincte.Le premier établissement de Tadoussac se rattache par son origine aux suites des découvertes de Jacques Cartier et à l’entreprise du marquis de la Roche à l’ile de Sable, Le commerce au Saint-Laurent Contrairement à ce qu’on a longtemps pensé et écrit, le fleuve Saint-Laurent n’a pas cessé d’être fréquenté régulièrement à partir du moment où Jacques Cartier y pénétra et y hiverna, en 1535-1536.On relève toute une série de voyages faits, soit par les neveux et arrière-neveux du découvreur soit par des concurrents français ou basques; on y trouve un commerce de fourrures actif, même des monopoles établis sous l’autorité des rois et s’étendant soit à l’ensemble du pays soit à des parties limitées de territoire.Il n’y a pas lieu de rappeler ici le détail de tout cela; citons seulement deux témoignages.Dans leur protestation contre le privilège accordé à Chauvin les marins de Saint-Malo donnent comme argument leurs "relations presque séculaires avec les Sauvages”, et les mêmes, en 1588.font valoir contre le monopole des arrière-neveux de Cartier le fait que "Noël n’est pas allé au Canada depuis deux ans”.C’est assez pour faire deviner l’activité et la longue continuité du commerce des Français au Saint-Laurent.Le cas du marquis de la Roche L’entreprise du marquis de la Roche fut autre chose que l’aventure qu’on a coutume de raconter.Dès 1577 et 1578 Mesgouez de la Roche avait obtenu des lettres patentes le faisant “lieutenant général” “viceroi” et concessionnaire de “toutes et chacune des terres” dont il pourrait se rendre maitre du côté de Terre-Neuve, ce qui pourrait s’étendre au pays du Canada.Le marquis échoua à deux reprises: en 1578 victime des Anglais, en 1584 vic.ime de la tem- pête, il ne put atteindre "ses terres”.Ses droits étant devenus caducs en 1588, le monopole de la traite dans le grand fleuve fut octroyé aux arrière-neveux de Jacques Cartier, les Noël.Chaton et autres, qui fréquentaient les lieux depuis plus de quarante ans; mais ce monopole fut bientôt révoqué et le trafic devint libre.Après sept ans de prison le marquis de la Roche devint libre lui aussi et il reprit ses projets d’exploitation en Amérique.Il obtint du roi Henri IV, d’abord en février 1597 puis de nouveau le 12 janvier 1598.une commission le faisant "lieutenant général des pays de Canada, Hochelaga, Terre-Neuve, Labrador, rivière de la Grande-Baie (golfe St-Laurenti de No-rembègue, et autres adjacentes”, avec monopole absolu des voyages et du commerce.Cette commission étant expressément définie comme la continuation des pouvoirs du sieur de Roberval, qui s’étendaient au Canada et au “royaume du Saguenay”, le lieu de traite de Tadoussac s’y trouvait compris.Le marquis établit son poste d’observation à l’ile de Sable, dans l’Atlantique et exerça une Devant les protestations du marquis Je la Roche, le roi Henri IV retira la première commission qu’il avait accordée à Chauvin et lui en signa une nouvelle, dès le 15 janvier 1600, par laquelle il faisait de lui “un des lieutenants” du marquis dans cent lieues seulement dans la Baye au long de la rivière vers Tadoussac”.Je remarque ici que c’est la première fois, du moins a notre connaissance, qu’apparaît le nom de Tadoussac, et qu’il apparait tout de suite comme désignant un endroit bien connu de tous, assez connu pour être le point de repère d’une détermination de domaine.Le privilège de Chauvin était pour une période de dix ans, et il comportait l’obligation d’établir des colons dans le pays.Chauvin ne fut pas lent à utiliser ses pouvoirs.Il eut pour associés deux hommes remarquables: un habitué des voyages au Canada.François Dupont-Grave, et Pierre du Guast, sieur de Monts, qui participait à l’oeuvre "pour son plaisir” mais qui devait s’y intéresser au point d’en devenir le continuateur.L’expédition s’organisa à Hon-fleur, en Normandie, dans l’hiver de 1600, et dès le printemps le "lieutenant du marquis de la Roche” prenait la mer.Il commandait une véritable flottille: quatre navires, soit le quart des navires normands qui firent voile vers les côtes canadiennes cette année-là.Chauvin commandait le Don-de-Dieu, de 120 tonneaux, avec Henrv Couillard comme maitre r mm L'extérieur de la Maison Chauvin a Steamship Lines) y faire aucun bon labourage, et où les froidures sont si excessives que s’il y a une once de froid dosseraient pas tous cette ap-à quarante lieues amont la dite rivière, il y en a là une livre.” Admettons que les touristes n’en-préciation sans réserve, il reste que c’était mal choisi comme centre de colonisation.De Monts n’en était pas satisfait et Du-pont-Gravé insistait pour le site des "trois-rivières”, qu’il a-vait déjà visité.Mais Chauvin pour qui le site avait peu d’importance pourvu qu’il eût l’air de remplir son programme de Todoussac.(Gracieuseté de la Canada La Maison de Pierre Chauvin par M.le chanoine Victor Tremblay surveillance si efficace que dès l’année suivante les voyages non autorisés cessèrent tout à fait.Il en résulta parmi les trafiquants normand et bretons un mécontentement très explicable.Ils s'agitèrent et.à l'instigation d’un habitué du Saint-Laurent, François Dupont-Gravé, le capitaine de marine Pierre Chauvin, accrédité auprès de Henri IV par des services rendus, obtint du roi.le 22 novembre 1599, une concession semblable à celle du marquis de la Roche, pour “le Canada et l'Acadie".La Roche ne réussit pas à é-vincer Chauvin, qui garda le droit d’aller à Tadoussac.Cependant il maintint son établissement à l’ile de Sable pendant cinq ans, puis il dut l'abandonner.La fin de l’aventure fut dramatique: une révolte ensanglanta le poste et les malheureux survivants furent rapatriés en 1603.d'équipage et Jehan Brouet comme chirurgien: Dupont-Gravé et De Monts étaient à son bord.Les autres navires étaient des petits bâtiments jaugeant seulement 230 tonneaux tous ensemble: l’Espérance, capitaine Guyon Dièrc; le Saint-Jehan, capitaine Nicolas Tuvache: le Bon-Espoir, capitaine Guillaume Caresme.Comme passagers, une équipe de colons.La première maison La flottille mouilla dans la rade de Tadoussac.L’endroit était excellent pour la traite des fourrures mais peu propice à un établissement.La plupart de nos gens connaissent Tadoussac; je laisse la parole à Champlain pour le décrire aux autres."Lieu le plus désagréable et le plus infructueux qui soit en ce pays, qui n'étant rempli que de pins, sapins, bouleaux, montagnes et rochers presque inaccessibles, et la terre très mal disposée pour mn n L'intérieur de !o Maison Chauvin à ship Lines).Tadoussac convertie en musée régional.(Gracieuseté de la Canada Steam- colonisation, tint pour Tadoussac.On y construisit donc un "fort", qui ne fut pas une merveille si on en juge par la description qu’en donne Champlain.Celui-ci, en effet, le vit de ses yeux trois ans plus tard.Avec une pointe marquée de malice, il écrit: “.Une maison de plaisance.de quatre toises de long sur trois de large et huit pieds de haut, couverte d’ais, et une cheminée au milieu, en forme do quart de garde, entouré de claies et d’un petit fossé fait dans le sable".Champlain indique sur une de ses cartes l’endroit où se trouvait cette bâtisse, y ajoutant un dessin de la maison elle-même.L’histoire de «e premier poste français est plutôt triste.Seize hommes y furent laissés, installés tant bien que mal, avec trop peu de provisions et des accommodements insuffisants, le tout sans ordre ni contrôle, pour y passer l’hiver.Sans experience, les malheureux furent victimes de cette incurie."Nos hivernants, écrit Champlain, consommèrent en bref ce peu qu’ils avaient, et l’hiver survenant leur fit bien connaître le changement qu’il y a entre la France et Tadoussac.C’était la cour du roi Petaud, chacun voulait commander; la paresse et fainéantise, avec les maladies oui les surprirent, ils se trouvèrent surpris en de grandes nécessités et contraints de quitter leur demeure et de s’abandonner aux sauvages, qui charitablement les retirèrent a-vec eux".Onze moururent durant l’hiver, deux autres succombèrent au printemps; les trois survivants furent rapatries.Le poste abandonné Chauvin ne vint pas lui-même à Tadoussac au printemps de 1601.et il n’y envoya qu’un seul navire.On n’a pas de détails sur ce voyage, si ce n’est le rapatriement des “colons”.En 1602 Chauvin fit un séjour de quatre mois dans sa "maison de plaisance”.Il ne devait pas la revoir.Rentré en France riche de fourrures mais gravement atteint par la maladie, il s’y trouva en face d’une formidable offensive organisée en son ab- sence contre son monopole.Il mourut au cours du procès qui s’ensuivit, entre le 20 janvier et le 15 mai 1603.L’entreprise passa aux mains d’Aymar de Chaste, qui prit au sérieux l’oeuvre de la colonisation mais mourut avant le retour de sa première expédition.C’est alors que le sieur de Monts, avec l’aide de Champlain, prit le monopole de la traite et porta l’effort de colonisation vers l’Acadie.Comme mémorial de cette entreprise, il restait à Tadoussac l’humble maison-fort qui n’avait servi qu’à un hivernement mais qui a le mérite d’être la première habitation à caractère permanent construite dans le “royaume du Saguenay”.Cette maison marque, dans la géographie et l’histoire de notre pays, le point de rencontre des deux grands courants d’activité commerciale des temps primitifs du Canada; elle est la première manifestation de l’effort colonisateur d’où devait sortir la Nouvelle-France.De là lui vient son importance.La reconstitution La reconstitution de la maison de Pierre Chauvin à Tadoussac.rêvée depuis longtemps par la Société Historique du Saguenay, a été réalisée par M.W.-H.Coverdale, président des Canada Steamship Lines.Mis au courant du projet par l’honorable juge E.Fabre-Sur-veyer à la fin d’août 1941, M.Coverdale s’y est aussitôt intéressé et a sans delai provoqué une rencontre avec les membres de la Société Historique.La rencontre a eu lieu à Tadoussac même au début de septembre, et séance tenante, devant la constatation que la documentation historique était suffisante pour permettre une reconstitution exacte de la maison-fort, la réalisation fut décidée.On se mit aussitôt à l’oeuvre.L’élaboration des plans fut confiée à l’architecte Sylvio Brassard, de Québec.La compétence de M.Brassard dans la construction de type français ancien et sa coopération à l’étude du fort de Port-Royal (qui est de la même époque et.on peut dire, de la même main-d’oeuvre que celui de Tadoussac) le désignaient spécialement pour guider cette reconstitution.La maison fut construite dans l’été de 1942 et aménagée en musée.M.Coverdale la remplit tout de suite de choses indiexi-nes empruntées à ses propres collections, avec programme de faire place aux choses de Tadoussac et du Saguenay à mesure qu’on en recueillerait.C’est ainsi que nous devons ce monument à la généreuse coopération de M.William-Hugh Coverdale.La Maison Chauvin estv une chose à visiter.En plus d’être intéressante par elle-même et par son contenu, elle est, ricljê de matière instructive qu’on,chercherait en vain dans les Ù*féÿ, et elle rappelle le premier effort réalisé dans la grande oeuvre de l’établissement de notre pays. Le Lingot, Arvidà, jeudi 25 septembre 1952 * * Louis Jolliet ¦rm.Hit Jolliet on James Bay by J.-ALLAN BURGESSE reproduced from THE BEAVER published by The Hudson Bay Company Louis Jolliet, the first Canadian-born explorer, is justly famous as the co-discoverer of the Mississippi, but it is not generally known that he also made a trip to James Bay.This was nothing less than a military ex pedition to scout out the English positions with a view to their expulsion from the area by force of arms.It was eminently successful.Jolliet carried out his instructions with such skill and address that the Hudson’s Bay aeople did not suspect his purpose and furnished him with all the information he required.Had his recommendations to the French Crown been acted on immediately the whole history of Canada might have beer changed.The arrival of the English at the “Bottome of the Bay” in 1668 had disturbed the French, who saw in it a direct threat to their fur trade, particularly to that of the Saguenay region which was being sorely tried by the ravages of the Iroquois.The northern Mon-tagnais were being cut off by the invaders from contact with Tadoussac and turned north to the newly established post of Charles Fort.Three expeditions had already set out to the Northern Sea from French Canada, but only two had managed to get through.These had been conducted by missionary priests.Their purpose was to persuade the Indians to come south to their old mission stations, and were in no sense offensive actions against the English.In 1679, however, the Governor of New France, the Comte de Frontenac, incensed by the reports he had received of the activities at the Bay, commissioned Louis JoLiet to proceed into the King’s Domain — as the Saguenay region was called — explore it as far as Hudson Bay, make contact with the Indians along the way and take notes.In other words the commission was to spy out the English position and wean the Indians away, from them if possible.Jolliet left Quebec on May 13, 1679, accompanied by his brother Zacharie, five white voyageurs and two Indians.The party proceeded down the St, Lawrence to Tadoussac and thence up the sombre Saguenay to Chicoutimi, where it was joined by Father Antoine Silvy and one other voyageur, both of whom had wintered in the Lake St.John region.Father Silvy had been directed by his superiors to accompany Jolliet as far as Lake Nemeska, on the Rupert River, and there found the mission of St.Francois Xavier.The route followed by the party was that used by Father Albanel in 1674.It led up the Shipshaw and Manouan and crossed to the Peribonka, whence a chain of lakes led off to the west and Lakes Albanel and Mistassini, thence down the Marten and Rupert to the Bay.The distance covered was 343 leagues and involved 122 portages.Here is Jolliet’s own description of his visit to Charles Fort: “The Current carried us gently down before the fort,” he wrote, “where, seeing no one about, We shot off a gun to bring somebody out, not wishing to surprise them by disembarking right away without being seen.We were answered, not from the fort, for there was no one (there), but from the other side of the River where thrpe Englishmen were hunting and, as their boat was aground, the tide being low, they called to us in Indian to go and fetch them to the Fort, for they took us for strangers come down to trade.The River was very wide and we were too far away to be recognized as Frenchmen.We were going towards them and they were coming towards us across the flats when the first, who was about three hundred paces ahead of the others, saw that we were not their people.He did not hesitate to retrace his steps and rejoin the others and the more I told him to come on and have no fear the more he hurried.Seeing all three halted to tlook at us.We disembarked and I spoke to them in French.He who understood it a little answered, asked who we were.Having called to him that I was French and that my name was Jolliet, They came to us.The first embarked with us and the two others got into the Canoe of an Indian .who had joined us during this Dialogue.“Seeing that he did not understand French, I spoke to him in Latin.He told me that he knew it better than our tongue.(1) Thus we had no trouble in making our thoughts known one to the other.He showed me the peninsula, three of four leagues off shore, where was their Governor with a Ship (2) of Twelve pieces of Cannon and two small barques.They took us to the fort and received us very well, giving Us to Eat all of the best of what remained to them.For the vessel (3) had not yet arrived from London in which is sent out every year what is necessary for their supplies."My design was to leave next day without waiting for the Governor, but they made so much insistence to stay that I resolved to remain.As soon as it was day an Indian Canoe left to warn him and I sent him a letter which contained the following: Sir, ‘Having been employed by Monseigneur le Comte de Frontenac, Governor of all Canada, to visit the Nations and lands of the King’s domain in this country, I came down as far as lake Neminsco to return by the three Rivers.Being at this lake and having no more victuals and finding nothing to kill, reflecting furthermore that several Frenchmen had returned from your place these last few years with all sorts of Praise for ¥he good reception you gave them, I thought that you would not be less favourable to me than to them and that, on paying you, you would give me a little Biscuit and liquor to facilitate my return.Your people give me hope that you will come Here.I shall leave tomorrow only.If I am fortunate enough to see you I shall be ven pleased to pay my respects to you and assure you that I am (etc).’ “He had No sooner received my letter than he embarked in a barque of 15 tons with 15 men.The wind falling when he was half way over he got into a boat, accompanied by five sailors.I went alone to meet him, half a league along the shore.I saluted him from afar.A sand bar prevented him from disembarking opposite me.He passed me saying ‘Monsr, je suis a vous.’ Fifty paces further on he managed to land and came towards me alone.Meanwhile four of his people were seated in the boat one was ashore, holding a gun in his hand.The Salutations on both sides were civil and gave proof of goodwill.His first words were ‘Welcome, Sir.You are here in peace and have nothing to fear.You may stay as long as you please and when you wish to leave I shall aid you with all I can for your journey.I have long heard tell of you and am delighted to have the opportunity of receiving you and hearing you tell of that great discovery you made down Mexico Way on the River which the Savages call Mississippi.’ The English make much of Discoverers, and taking me by the hand, ‘Come,’ he said, ‘since you have no intent to Annoy Us you have no cause to fear that any harm will be done you.’ He made a sign to his people to continue on their way and for our part, we skirted the shore to the fort where 1 received all the honesty and Civilities that could be given anyone.He was very glad to get News of France and London.It was a year since his vessel had gone.He was expecting it from day to day and it was even somewhat overdue.He feared that it had been held up by ice in the strait.All the rest of the day was spent in talking of all sorts of things and he told me That they had a Ship of twelve pieces of Cannon to guard the Coast, which was to be seen at Anchor at a point off shore; that he had lost a 40-ton barque in the spring from the ice which, coming down from the inlnads, had crushed the vessel; that he had another of the same size and another of 15 tons with three boats; that all these vessels were to go trading to all the Rivers in the bay where the savages bring their Beaver; that they had three forts each some distance one from the other; and that they were preparing to work on a fourth this spring, (4) ever pushing further and further towards the West at the mouths of Rivers which come from close by Lake Superior where are the Nations who are accustomed to trade with us; and that they were, in all, sixty men.“With Regard to Beaver, he confirmed what I had learned from the savages; that he gets as much as he wants, especially since he advanced to these other rivers a year ago.He added that there was even something better which would make This establishment more iirjbortant in the futune, without explaining what this might be.“He asked me if I would join him and offered me ten thousand francs down and a thousand livres a year for this.I thanked him.saying that I was a born subject of the King of France and would be proud to serve him faithfully all my life.It was to found an establishment amongst the Assinibouels (Assiniboines), and explore beyond in the country of those Nations whom Monseigneur le Comte has induced to come down to us in the past four years.This year he sent them a present to attract them to him and open trade with Them.Their country is the only place for fine Beaver, and other small peltries.There is no doubt that if they are left in this Bay they will render themselves Masters of all the trade of Canada inside six years.Some of those (Indians) who used to come to Montreal have been there this year and are to return this spring.These are the Timiscamings and the Rodin band.Everybody knows that the Outaouacs (Ottawasl do not hunt Beaver but go and get them from the Nations of the Baye des Puants, (Green Bay) or those around Lake Superior and, consequently, it is likely that the latter, seeing themselves very close to well-established and well-stocked Englishmen, will keep their peltries — as several have Already begun to do.“Whenever it shall please His Majesty to wish to expel the English from this Bay in order to be Master of all the country and the Beaver trade, it will be Easy to provide the means and put them into Execution.The forts at present have but the name of Fort.They are small squares of pickets which enclose their houses.They build to resist the cold and not the arms of those who might attack from the land, against which they are not at all on their guard, believing that they have only to fortify the Seaward Side by keeping in the Bay a Ship and several 30 and 40 ton barques capable of returning to London.But it will be easy, when it shall please His Majesty to order it, to prevent them establishing themselves further, without driving them out or breaking with them.“After having been two days with him, and having learned all I wished to know, I re-embarked in my Canoe, having for victuals a sack of Biscuits and a sack of flour which he gave me along with a thousand excuses for being unable to give me anything else, and I set off again on my Way to Quebec where I arrived on 25th October 1679.L.Jolliet” (5) This curious relation contains a number of interesting subjects for conjecture.Who, for instance, was this scholarly Hudson’s Bay trader who had a smattering of French and who could converse fluently in Latin?And what was such a man doing at Charles Fort of all places?From what we know of those who were with Sayly, for he it was who was Governor at this time, most of them appear to have been mariners or labouring men and it is doubtful if any of them would have had a classical schooling.The only possible exception, we feel, might have been John Raynor, the surgeon whose quarrel with Governor Bayly is mentioned ii} Nixon’s report of 1682.As for Jolliet, Latin must have been as familiar to him as his native French for he had been well schooled at the Quebec Seminary and had even considered entering the priesthood.It is strange that Bayly, who had considered Father Albanel a dangerous interloper and had shipped him off to London as a captive, should have been so easily hoodwinked by Jolliet’s story of running short ol provisions.The Governor seems not to have suspected that there could have been any other reason for the visit.As Jolliet remarked “The English make much of Discoverers” and Bayly was probably overwhelmed by the unexpected honour of receiving so famous an explorer and so cultured a gentleman.Yet he only hinted at something which would add to the importance of Rupert’s House and was cautious enough not to let on what this something could be.Bayly was referring probably to the building of the Charlton Depot.When Jolliet mentioned the several Frenchmen who had lately returned from the Bay, could he have had in hiind Prévost and Leclerc who were taken to London in 1677?Eustache Prévost, at least, seems to have been back in Canada before Jolliet left Quebec and there is no record of any other visitors from New France.On his return journey Louis Jolliet halted at Mistassini where he established a post, the forerunner of the present post at that point, which is indicated on his map as “Maison Jolliet” and on later maps as “Maison Dorval.” It is probable that he left his brother Zacharie in charge, for, in later years, the name of Zacharie Tolliet is found in the records in connection with this post.One cannot but wonder at the amazing affrontery of Louis Jolliet.With a plausible story on his lips he ventured into the stronghold of a rival nation and proceeded to pump its governor of all the information he had to give.His report shows that he was a capable and observant man and it is very probable that had the French Crown acted immediately on the information obtained by him, the Enghsh could have been expelled from the bay with little trouble.New France, however, made no really effective move until several years later, and by then the Hudson’s Bay Company was firmly established in the Bay.In 1686, the Chevalier de Troyes led an expedition overland from Lake Temiscamingue, which was the opening phase of a struggle lasting eleven long years.Moose Factory fell to the French, then Charles Fort (or Rupert’s House) and Albany.In the course of the ensuing years post after post was taken and retaken with incredible rapidity.But always the Adventurers of England managed to hold on to at least one of their five posts in the Bay.The signing of the Treaty of Ryswick in 1697 found the French in command of all save Albany, and although they made a determined effort to recapture this post in 1709, the Company men managed to retain it until, under the terms of the Treaty of Utrecht, the French withdrew from the Bay.J** > * ¦diâiHiÜÉÉt Louis Jolliet house, Quebec These photos ore courtesy of Provincial Publicity Bureau, Que >ec-Cine-Photogrophy Service. * * * Lt Lingot, Arvida, jeudi 25 septembre 1952 I.?& ' < >m5s* Sis v-