It is with the deepest sorrow that Québec surrenders and that New France in its entirety prepares to submit to the authority of individuals who are already behaving as rulers of our land. Apparently, although nothing is yet confirmed, it seems that several months ago, a peace treaty was concluded between our country and England. It is, therefore, possible that we are undergoing this trouble for nothing and that after leaving our new country we will come back again as masters.

In his reply to the invaders, Monsieur de Champlain emphasized that they had been able to take advantage of very special circumstances.

"Gentlemen", he informed them, "the truth is that negligence or the perversity of bad weather and the risks of the seas have delayed the help we were hoping for in our time of suffering and took away our power to frustrate your plans, as we did last year, when we did not allow you to succeed in your claims."

Illustration: Montréal Municipal Library,
photo: Collection Clio de 9 à 5.