Henri Raymond Casgrain

Henri Raymond Casgrain

Author of some of the best works in French Canadian literature, b. at Rivière Ouelle, 16 September, 1831; d. at Quebec, 2 February, 1904. His father, a proprietor of the old feudal regime who had been a member of the Canadian ministry, gave him a careful education at the College of Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pocatière. Having finished his classics he studied medicine, but became a priest in 1856. For several years he discharged his clerical duties at Beauport and Quebec, until poor health and a serious affection of the eyes compelled him to retire; thenceforth he was free to devote himself entirely to literary pursuits. He first wrote tales, such as, "Le tableau de la rivière Ouelle", "La jongleuse", "Les pionniers canadiens", for periodicals, his work appearing, 1860-68, in the "SoirÈes canadiennes et foyer canadien". In these narratives, which were well received, he depicted the life and customs of the early colonists of Canada. He has also left several biographies of Canadian writers, including lives of de GaspÈ, Garneau, CrÈmazie, Chauveau. Casgrain's instinct for research led him to devote himself almost exclusively to history. His historical works include: "Histoire de la Mère Marie de l'Incarnation" (1864); "Histoire de l'Hôtel-Dieu de QuÈbec" (1878); "Une paroisse canadienne au XVIIe siècle"; "Pelerinage au pays d'EvangÈline" (1855); "Montcalm et LÈvis" (1891); "Une seconde Acadie" (1894); "Histoire de l'asile du Bon-Pasture de QuÈbec" (1890); "Les sulpiciens et les prêtres des Missions Ètrangers en Acadie" (1897); not to mention numerous monographs, archæological studies, and letters of travel written for the press. Ill-health compelled him to spend a long time in Europe, and he turned necessity to profit by making researches in the archives of France; thus he gathered many valuable documents for he history of his own country. Under his direction the Government of Quebec published (188-1895) the collection known under the name of "Documents de LÈvis", dealing with the last wars between the French and English in Canada, which he had secured from the family of this name. He also collected and published the works of CrÈmazie, the national poet of the French Canadians, under the title: "uvres de CrÈmazie" (1882). Some of Casgrain's writings have been crowned by the French Academy. He was professor of history at Laval University, and president of the Royal Society of Canada (1889-1890). As historian, poet, and literary critic Casgrain has exercised considerable influence upon the intellectual movement in Canada, and has accomplished much in making his country known. Although almost blind he was gifted with remarkable fecundity. That he had read in his youth many of the works of Romantic school is betrayed by a style inclined to over-elaboration, but his diction grew purer as time went on. His literary judgments are not always accurate, and his appreciations of historical events are sometimes at fault. It has been said that he was better fitted to write tales than history. However, everything considered, his work, as a whole, has real worth. Above all he was a patriot; his one thought was to increase the fame of his country. Casgrain's outlook is somewhat restricted, but his flights of fancy are frequently beautiful, and he is always interesting. He left unedited memoirs, which were bequeathed, together with his manuscripts and a part of his fortune, to Laval University.

ROUTHIER, Eloge historique de M. H. R. Casgrain in Royal Society Transactions, new ser., X, 35; also Presidential Address, 1st ser., VIII, and Bibliography, XII; LAFLAMME, L'abbÈ Henri Raymond Casgrain in Annuaire de l'universitÈ de Laval (1904-05), XLVIII, 174; CAMILLE ROY, L'abbÈ Casgrain in La Nouvelle-France (1904), III, 257, 408, 511. For criticism see KERALLAIN, La jeunesse de Bougainville (Paris, 1896); ROCHEMONTEIX, Les Jesuites et la Nouvelle-France au XVIIIe siècle, II, 268.

J. EDMOND ROY