TRANSCIBERS NOTE: Original spelling has been retained
IN TWO VOLUMES.
VOL. II.
NEW YORK:
HARPER & BROTHERS, PUBLISHERS,
82 CLIFF STREET.
1850.
In the year 1750, commissioners met at Paris to adjust the variousboundaries of the North American territories, M. de Galissonière and M.de Silhouette on the part of France, and Messrs. Shirley and Mildmay onthe part of Great Britain. The English commissioners, however, soonperceived that there was little chance of arriving at a friendlyarrangement. The more they advanced in their offers, the more the Frenchdemanded; futile objections were started, and unnecessary delayscontinued; at length Mr. Shirley[1] and his colleague broke up theconference, and returned to England. [1752.] It now became evident thata decisive struggle was at hand.
Under the rule of M. de la Jonquière, a great and growing evil cankeredthe spirit of Canada. The scanty salaries[2] allowed to the governmentofficers afforded a great inducement to peculation, especially as theremoteness of the colony rendered retribution distant and uncertain. TheIndian trade opened a field for enormous dishonesty: M. Bigot, theintendant, discontented with his inadequate stipend, ventured to farmout trade licenses for his own profit and that of his creatures, andspeedily accumulated considerable wealth; he, the governor, and a fewothers, formed themselves into a company, and monopolized nearly all thecommerce of the country, to the great indignation of the colonists. M.de la Jonquière and his secretary, St. Sauveur, also kept exclusively tothemselves the nefarious privilege of supplying brandy to the Indians:by this they realized immense profits.
At length a storm of complaints arose against the unworthy governor, andeven reached the dull ears of his patrons at the court of France. Awarethat his case would not bear investigation, he demanded his recall; but,before a successor could be appointed, he died at Quebec on the 17th ofMay, 1752,[3] aged sixty-seven years. Though not possessed of brilliantgifts, M. de la Jonquière was a man of considerable ability, and haddisplayed notable courage and conduct in many engagements; but amiserable avarice stained his character, and he died enormously wealthy,while denying himself the ordinary necessaries of his rank andsituation.[4] Charles Le Moine, Baron de Longueuil, then governor ofMontreal, being next in seniority, assumed the reins of power until thearrival of a successor.
The Marquis du Quesne de Menneville was appointed governor of Canada,Louisiana, Cape Breton, &c., on the recall of M. de la Jonquière in1752. He was reputed a man of ability, but was of haughty and austeredisposition. Galissonière, who had recommended the appointment,furnished him with every information respecting the colony and theterritorial claims of France: thus instructed, he landed at Quebec inAugust, where he was received with the usual ceremonies.
The orders given to the new governor with regard to the disputedboundaries were such as to leave little doubt on his mind that the swordalone could enable him to secure their execution, and the character ofhis stubborn though unwarlike rivals promised a determined resistance toh