Montréal, Québec, Canada (Sault-au-Récollet) (Côte-St-Michel) (Côte-St-Paul)
1653 - Life in Montreal

The Jesuit vision of the Mountain of Montreal is a mission to convert the Natives and stop French exploration and free trading. This objective failed, and one hundred new settlers arrived this year, being the only significant expansion since its creation. The French population of New France is estimated at 2,000 persons. To test the weak and fumbling French leadership, two hundred Mohawk warriors made a surprise attack on the Hospital. The Hospital, across the little St. Pierre River, the Mountain of Montreal, is on high ground. The Mohawk retreated as the timing did not appear right. Thirty-two French mercenaries were killed and twenty two were captured by the Iroquois during the past three years. The Mission of the Mountain of Ville-Marie (Montreal)'s defenses consisted of a mere fifty men. The Iroquois themselves are being attacked by their neighbors to the east and south and offered peace to the French in November. A revolt by the upper nobility in France failed and they are deprived of any political power.

As a result of the French Iroquois War, Ville-Marie (Montreal) has not traded for a single beaver skin from the Savages for the past year. At Trois Rivieres, the few natives that came were employed to defend the place. The stores in Quebec is the image of poverty. It is noteworthy that Ville-Marie (Montreal) only contained 60 people of which only 20 is capable of bearing arms.

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