Report of the King to governor de Beauharnois and to intendant Hocquart, 19 April 1729.

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Report of the King to Sieurs Marquis de Beauharnois Governor and Lieutenant general and to hocquart general commissary and Ordonnateur de la Marine in Nouvelle France.

His Majesty has been given an Account of what Sieurs Marquis de Beauharnois and daigremont reported with Regard to affairs in the Colony; Prior to replying he does not hesitate to explain to Sieurs Marquis de Beauharnois and hocquart that he esteems it necessary that they maintain close ties for the sake of good Service, tranquillity among the inhabitants and growth of the Colony. He cannot emphasise enough their attention to reciprocity.

The individual Sentiments they might have for the affairs in their Charge must not at all alter this union, and when they are Not of the same opinion, his Majesty wishes that they Communicate with one another Without rancour or irrationality and, if they cannot agree, they are to give an account either together or separately to his Majesty of their reasons Following which He will Issue His orders to them.

The preferred method for maintaining proper ties and understanding between them is to Avoid encroaching Upon their individual functions and to not act separately on affairs that Are common to both; There are numerous persons in the Colony who for personal Interests, or with a View to causing a division

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Between them will attempt to convince them that their Authority is greater than it is in fact, that they may act Alone in affairs common to both or that one or the other may Intercede, Under some false pretext, in affairs that are not any of his concern; they must beware of these persons; they must not assume to add to their authority by going outside the rules; True authority consists in fulfilling one’s duty, and beyond this one’s authority is no longer legitimate.

In order for them to come Together in their functions His Majesty has deemed it necessary to explain to them those that are individual and those that Are common to both of them.

All that has to do with the Military and the dignity of the Government belongs to the Governor and lieutenant general; it is he who must command the Troops and the Militia and assure that both Are well disciplined and prepared for Action when required.

As such he must Frequently be Informed by his officers of the State of their troops and request details from them so that they be made aware of his strong concern for utmost conduct and Discipline; His Majesty’s intention is to Prevent officers from acting unjustly towards their Soldiers by withholding their Provisions and Payments in some instances; officers only resort to

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such Vexations when these are tolerated and this will not be the case when Sieur Marquis de Beauharnois imposes punishment on these officers, in addition to the reparations that Sieur hocquart will require for the soldiers who are victims.

With regard to the Militia he must ensure that it Includes no local inhabitants or Workers and If there are gentleman who do not Wish to serve as officers, they will be required to Serve as Soldiers.

Bailiffs must Serve in the Militia Except for court bailiffs of the Conseil Superieur and the jurisdictions; the others have no Titles that will Exempt them And only officers with Commissions and Crests from His Majesty will be Exempted; The Militia must come under the command of Sieur Marquis de Beauharnois.

Land Concessions are the domain of both Sieurs de Beauharnois and hocquart; in respect to disputes regarding the property limits, Expanse, position and unification of the said Concessions, they must Know that the late King, on the Six July seventeen Hundred eleven rendered two judgements Registered with the courts of the Conseil Superieur de Quebec; one concerns lands granted by His Majesty as Seigneuries which in case of unification must come under His Majesty's domain,

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and are the concern of both Sieurs de Beauharnois and hocquart; the other concerns lands granted to individuals in the Seigneuries conceded by His Majesty which in case of unification must come under the domain of the said Seigneurs and are the concern of Sieur hocquart Alone. As to other trials that might occur Either for reasons of land partition or otherwise they will be judged by regular court proceedings, and they must not Intervene; Sieur hocquart must only give orders to the Judges to render a proper and Brief judgement If he is informed of their failure to do their duty.

The regional Police are the domain of both Sieurs de Beauharnois and hocquart, and the local Police are the domain of the regular courts and it is up to Sieur hocquart to oblige the Judges Appointed to Assume their related Responsibilities.

Sieurs de Beauharnois and hocquart must set their sights on more important issues, such As the growth of the population, Agriculture and Trade.

Sieur de Beauharnois must govern the people with kindness and humanity, Making sure that they are not subjected to any vexation or ill treatment by the Appointed officers and those of the Militia also in command, and ensuring that

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these officers do not Demand merchandise and goods from Merchants and inhabitants at a better price than what others pay.

Sieur hocquart for His part will govern the inhabitants with kindness and humanity in Meeting their needs and helping them Establish themselves and in preventing lowlier inhabitants from Being vexed by powerful ones; he will prevent Court officers from Abusing their power to Avoid paying their debts and from vexing their neighbours by assuring that judges render proper and brief judgements that he himself will deliver as Promptly as possible to the manufacturers in France who will have sold Cargo in the Colony from the Vessels in their Charge.

The administration of justice concerns Sieur hocquart in particular; it is he who must set Trials, gather witnesses, pronounce judgements, and Call for [organize] special counsel sessions, and when he deems it necessary to conduct them, he Will have Sieur Marquis de Beauharnois notified by the bailiff in charge.

His Majesty Wishes that justice Be carried out faithfully and orders Sieurs de Beauharnois and hocquart to report to him on the officers who do not conduct Themselves According to His terms

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and to jointly propose other Subjects to replace them, as for vacant judicial offices.

His Majesty requests that justice be allowed to take its course, and recommends in particular that Sieur Marquis de Beauharnois not interfere with general issues of justice; His Majesty requires Only that he assist when Required with the execution of judgements; for this he will dispatch a troop Sergeant and a few Soldiers to accompany the bailiffs; as for His guards, they must not Be used for this purpose nor approach the inhabitants as bailiffs; they Are merely there to have His Majesty’s authority respected in the person of the governor and must only Be called into action against those not obeying the rules of Service to His Majesty and for issues of honour left to the judgement of Sieur Marquis de Beauharnois. He will conduct himself on these Issues according to Regulations.

His Majesty wishes that judgements rendered by the Conseil Superieur Be Executed according to the law and that Counsellors have total freedom of Vote, but the Conseil must not Interfere either directly or indirectly with issues of Government. His Majesty has conferred upon it a portion of His authority in order to render justice

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to His Subjects; this is what those who comprise it must apply themselves to and focus all their attention upon. [...]

Source: France. Archives nationales, Fonds des Colonies. Série C11A. Correspondance générale, Canada, vol. 125, fol. 432-435, Roi de France, Report to governor de Beauharnois and to intendant Hocquart, April 19, 1729.

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