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Letter of the
Compte de Raymond to the Minister
Louisbourg, 5th December, 1752.
My Lord:
The ship which is to carry the dispatches is not yet ready
to sail, and is not likely to leave for eight or ten days.
I do not know whether the Sieur de la Roque, one of the land
surveyors of the colony, has yet arrived in Paris, where he
is going after he has entered into possession of an
inheritance at Toulouse.
I would be sorry, my Lord, if you were not apprised before
his arrival there, of his qualifications. He is a very good
man, full of zeal and talent. He is the son of one of the
King's Musketeers, of good family, and has rendered
excellent service during the last war.
He has done wonderful things here for me. It is he, who last
year made a tour of Ile Royale to inspect, according to my
instructions, all the ports and harbours, search for a new
route to Ile au Justaucorps, which is feasible, and would
shorten the sea voyage between this Island and Ile Royale
more than fifty leagues.
I had also entrusted him with the making of a general census
of the settlers on the Island, name by name, men as well as
women and children, their respective ages and professions,
the numbers of arpents each has of improved land, the number
of their cattle, their species, fowl, &c., &c.,
distinguishing the good workmen from those who are not, and
the character of each individual. He was also instructed to
examine, and inspect the most precipitous places on the
Island; those where troops could be most easily landed; how
many ships each harbour could accommodate, and their
tonnage; the difficulties of making each harbour, the rocks
and breakers at their entrances; what disputes exist
concerning concessions, and lastly, a general survey of
everything.
I instructed him to do the same during the summer at the Ile
St. Jean. He acted as my forerunner there, and I have seen
with pleasure, My Lord, during the general tour which I have
made, that when I have personally reviewed the reports which
he has made to me, they have all been proved correct.
This man, being of good family, is desirous of rising above
the average and asks a brevet as sub-engineer, which I pray
you to be pleased to grant. Monsieur Franquet has already
taught him much, and he intends to perfect himself during
his stay in France, but at the same time, I have arranged
with him that at present he shall not cease to be a
surveyor. He will be of the greatest assistance in the
general survey, which I intend to make of this colony, as
well of Ile. St. Jean, in order to come to some definite
settlement of the concessions. He will take with him two
other surveyors, and with his knowledge of the country, and
of each concession, he will be well fitted to satisfactorily
carry out the work.
I pray of you, My Lord, to not only grant him the favour he
greatly desires, but also to show him more kindness and
allow him to return by the first boat coming here.
If you intend to send us a fourth surveyor who has some
knowledge of engineering and who has the instruments
necessary for the survey of this country, it would be very
fitting to expedite this most interesting work.
Two surveyors would go one way, and two the other. I know
that to maintain four surveyors here will be putting the
King to much expense, but I also know that at the present
time they are very necessary, and will be so until the land
granting business is cleared up, and all the concessions
have been put in order and the boundaries determined; a work
which cannot be begun too soon. It would not be necessary to
keep more than two afterwards, one in this colony, and the
other at Ile St. Jean. The two others could be utilized on
other work, or returned to France.
Les Sieurs Chatton and Roche who are the other two
surveyors, and of whom nothing but good can be said, have
not yet received payment of the three hundred livres which
you had the goodness to grant to each of them towards the
cost of passage to this country. I beg you, My Lord, to be
pleased to send orders that they be paid, for I assure you
they have great need of this small sum, as they cannot live
here within the limits of their eight hundred livres pay.
I have the honour, etc.
Le Compte de Raymond
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