That the political fabric of France in America was doomed to fall in no way dims the fame of the great intendant.  Under his powerful direction New France, through her missionaries, explorers, and traders, stamped her mark over three-quarters of the territory then known as North America.  Her moral, political, and commercial influence was felt beyond her boundaries—­west, north, and south.  She had hoisted the cross and the fleurs-de-lis from the sunny banks of the Arkansas to the icy shores of Hudson Bay, and from the surges of the Atlantic to the remotest limits of the Great Lakes.  Her unceasing activity and daring enterprise, supplementing inferior numbers and wealth, gave her an undisputed superiority over the industrious English colonies confined to their narrow strip between the Alleghanies and the sea; and her name inspired awe and respect in a hundred Indian tribes.

What was Courcelle’s attitude towards the extraordinary activity displayed by Talon?  Evidently the intendant often acted the part of the governor; and the real governor, out-shone, could not conceal his ill-humour, and tried to assert his authority.  There were several clashes between the two high officials.  The governor frequently lost his temper, while Talon complained of Courcelle’s jealousy and harshness.  It must be admitted that the great intendant, in his fervid zeal for the public good and his passion for action, was not always careful or tactful in his behaviour to the governor.

CHAPTER IX

TALON’S ADMINISTRATION ENDS

In the survey of Talon’s first term of office mention was made of the many enterprises he set on foot for the internal progress of the colony.  One of these was shipbuilding.  During his second term a stronger impulse was given to this industry.  One of the intendant’s first official acts after his arrival in 1670 was to issue a decree for the conservation of the forests suitable for shipbuilding purposes—­to prohibit the felling of oak, elm, beech, and cherry trees until the skilled carpenters sent by the king should have inspected them and made their choice.  It is interesting, too, to find that in all grants of land Talon inserted a clause reserving these trees.  Shipbuilding in Canada was to be encouraged and promoted.  Had not Colbert given forty thousand livres for the purpose?  A shipyard was set up on the banks of the St Charles river.  Many ships were built there; at first only small ones, but the industry gradually developed.  In 1672 a ship of over four hundred tons was launched, and preparations had been made for another of eight hundred tons.  Seven years earlier only nineteen out of 2378 vessels in the French mercantile marine had exceeded four hundred tons.  The infant shipyard at Quebec was doing well.