New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-09-15
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
pARKMAN's CANADA.
THE OLD REGIME IN CANADA. By francis PARK

-erea relates the establishment and growth OF the
French power on the North American continens uuf>
ing the period from 1858 to the English conquest IN
i76S In a succession of vivid episodes, the acIhoI
describes the exciting scenes Of Indian wafiae anu
the labors of the Catholic missionaries py wnioh v0
savages Of the wilderness were brought WITHIN '"e
male of a nominal Christian CIVILIZATION. Ono VI
the most prominent figures upon MT f%S'
mans glowing canvas Is that OF FRANCIS Aa'ier
dc Laval the Pope's wear apoStohc ~,
Canada. whose subtle eccesasticism and sbrewd
xo,,dIiness are set forth in mastery portraiture
laval Though not A Jesuit was the most active sup
norter Of the Jesuit policy in the New World. lie
was n strenuous advocate of the supremacy OF the
pope regarding the principles Of the Galcan church
~ weak and unchristian concession to the secular
power. Laval was a descendant OF the Constapie
of France, Anne dc Montmorency. and thus shared
The blood of one of the proudest families OF Europe
From his earliest childhood his thoughts were dL
rected toward the church. He received the tonsure
at the age of nine. His zeal was boundless, aud MS
acts of standardization of the most revolving
character. BE made journeys on foot about the cou
try IN disguise penniless begging from door TO door,
and counting and opprobrlum, IN order that DC
might suffer for the love of God. But with his in
tense religious enthusiasm, he had largo share OF
worldly wisdom. He by nature no mere
dreamer However lofty the flights of his spirit hs
feet were always planted on the solid earth. hls
flaming zeal was combined with hard and practi-
cal turn of mind a narrow intellect, an obstinate
will and as his enemies asserted, the love OF 90
p,inion native to his blood. He but thirty-six
of age when he sailed for the seat of his future
Iabors in Canada in the Spring of 1863
His manner of life at tins time was marked by an
extreme austerity He lived in a small hired house,
with no attendants but gardener and valet, OF
when tho former was also at the service OF his
needy neghbors. He slept on hard bed which he
would not allow to be changed even when tS became
full Of eas. Every year he gave fifteen hundred OF
two thousand francs to the poor. Several portraits
Of Laval are extant A dropping nose of portentoes
size; we-formed forehead; brow strongly
arehed bright, clear eye; seanty hair, half hidden
by black skull cap thinlips compressed and rhfld
betraying q spirit not easy to move OF convince; ;
features of that understandable cast which marks the
priestly type such is Laval he looks grmly down
on us from the dingy canvas of two centuries ago."
OF the sincerity of his convictions there car be no
doubt. He believed firmly that the rulers of this
world should be subject to the authority OF the
Pope whom he regarded as the vicar of Christ upon
earth. But he himself was the vicar of Sbe Pope,
and within the bounds of Canada clothed with all
the authority of the Holy Father. The glory of God
demanded that this authority should suffer abate
ment He would be guilty before Heaven if he did
not maintain the supremacy of the Church over the
powers of earth and hell The principal fault OF bis
nature was his dOmineering temper. he was one of
those whose disposition always leans 10 the side of
authority. In the English Revolution he would
have inevitably stood for the Stuarts, or, in the
American Revolution for the Crown. But as a
Catholic aud priest above all things, he was
drawn by a constitutional necessity 20 the party of
Capitalization He fought Justify, in his way,
an Oh, md 1aVp his n
toa to the culture of humility. but soil and climate
were not favorable. His life one long assertion
of the authority of the Church. and this authority
was lodged in himself.
The Jesuits had made sagaci0us choice in this
jealous and obstinate priest to fight their battles
Canada was about TO enter upon state OF transi-
ton. Hitherto the ecclesiastical power had been
supreme The Jesuits, who were the most educated
and able body of in the colony, had controlled
it not only in things spiritual bnt III things tenn
poraL The governor little else than chief of
police under the direction of the missionaries. But
a change was at hand. From mission and trading
station Canada was 10 becomes colony, in the trne
sense of the word. Civil government was about TO
assert itself on the banks of the st. Lawrence. The
epoch of the apostles and martyrs passing away
and the soldier and juTist threatening to sup
plant the sway of the priests in the view OF Laval
it was the hosts of this world beleagueIing the
sanctuary which he called of Heaven to defend.
His attitude. in the fulllment of this mission, is
aptly set forth by the author.
According to Argenson Laval had said bishop can
do what he Hkes" and his action answered reasonably
well 10 his words. He thought himself above human
law. indicating the assumed rights OF the churcn
he invaded the rights OF Others and used means from
which healthy conscience woud have snrunk All MS
Thoughts and sympathes had run from childhood In
ecclesiastical channels and he cared for nothng outside
the church Prayer meditation. and ascetclsm had
leayeDed and nodded hun. During four years he had
been stepped IN the mysticism Of the Hermitage which
had for its aim the humiliation OF self and through self
annihatiOn the absorption into God. He had passed
fanaticsIn, he but great object, the glory OF
God on earth. He was penetrated by tue poisonous
all means are permitted when the end Is the service OF
God and as Laval, his opinion was always doing
doing that OF the devil he enjoyed. the OF means
latitude OF which we have seen him avail himself
The scene now changes to the palace of Fontaine-
bleu, the shrine of long course of vanished mon
archs haunted with memories of Capet. Valois, and
Bourbon. 1t was the morning of new reign when
the rank and beauty of France had assembled TO
nav their homage to the rising of Louis XIV
The authors sketch of this youthful monarch is no
less accurate in discrimination than happy in ex-
preston.
Nature had formed him TO act the part OF king Even
his critics aud enemies praise the and majesty OF
his presence, and he impressed his courers WEN an
admiration which seems 10 have been 20 an astonishing
degree genuine. He carried airs or royalty even INTO
ms pleasures and. while his example corrupted all
France he proceeded 10 the apartments or MOnespan
or Fontanges win the maesnc graoV Si 9yn az
religion; aud, the buoyaDcy OF youth passed
Ssvrii Mazariu nad reared him ia ignorance but his
excellent IN their way, aDd In private
station, would made him efficient man of bust
The vvacity of his passions and his inordinate
Of pleasure were joined 70 persistent VIII ana
rare power OF Labor Iae TsoroGs mediS sit ., ms
His astOnished courers saw him lake on himself the