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Voyages of Samuel De Champlain — Volume 02 by Samuel de Champlain
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made along the coast of this region. [7] These considerations had induced
the Marquis de la Roche, in 1598, to take a commission from the king for
making a settlement in the above region. With this object, he landed men
and supplies on Sable Island; [8] but, as the conditions which had been
accorded to him by his Majesty were not fulfilled, he was obliged to
abandon his undertaking, and leave his men there. A year after, Captain
Chauvin accepted another commission to transport Settlers to the same
region; [9] but, as this was shortly after revoked, he prosecuted the
matter no farther.

After the above, [10] notwithstanding all these accidents and
disappointments, Sieur de Monts desired to attempt what had been given up
in despair, and requested a commission for this purpose of his Majesty,
being satisfied that the previous enterprises had failed because the
undertakers of them had not received assistance, who had not succeeded, in
one nor even two years' time, in making the acquaintance of the regions and
people there, nor in finding harbors adapted for a settlement. He proposed
to his Majesty a means for covering these expenses, without drawing any
thing from the royal revenues; viz., by granting to him the monopoly of the
fur-trade in this land. This having been granted to him, he made great and
excessive outlays, and carried out with him a large number of men of
various vocations. Upon his arrival, he caused the necessary number of
habitations for his followers to be constructed. This expenditure he
continued for three consecutive years, after which, in consequence of the
jealousy and annoyance of certain Basque merchants, together with some from
Brittany, the monopoly which had been granted to him was revoked by the
Council to the great injury and loss of Sieur de Monts, who, in consequence
of this revocation, was compelled to abandon his entire undertaking,
sacrificing his labors and the outfit for his settlement.

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