Letters of Messrs. Lotbinieres and Monseignat.

any one knowing it. M. de Monseignat, also a brotherin-law of Arnaud, wrote me in the same style, but I did not receive their letters until some time after the convoy, by which I had sent an account of the seizure, had left Detroit."

CHAPTER VIII.

M. Cadillac's defense continued-Count Pontchartrain investigates the conduct of Cadillac's accusers-Questions Cadillac concerning the price and sale of goods-Requires a minute account of all the circumstances which caused the difficulty between him and the "Company of the Colony'-Cadillac details facts, and gives explanations and arguments-Conduct of M. Denoyer-His imprisonment by Cadillac-M. Vincelot sent to Detroit-His character.

Count. "Explain to me who are the two commissioners, Arnaud and Nolan.

La Motte. "They are two merchants, who conducted their business so badly, that they became overwhelmed with debts. M. Nolan is brother-in-law of Messrs. Delino and Lotbinieres. M. Lotbinieres is the father-in-law of M. Arnaud, and uncle of M. Vaudreuil, the governorgeneral. M. Monseignat is also brother-in-law of M. Arnaud. Messrs. Lotbinieres and Delino are directors, and bosom friends. The first has the full protection of his nephew, the governor-general, and the second is equally the favorite of the intendant, though not related to him. This, at least, is public opinion.

Count. "I see that you have been unfortunately situ ated, especially in your official station; but I am much deceived if these persons do not pay dearly for their

Cadillac accused of selling goods under price.

rashness. Let us investigate farther. Who are your accusers; and of what do they complain?

La Motte. "The directors of the company preferred the complaint; and the very commissioners whom I have convicted of fraud and embezzlement, are their principal witnesses.

Count. "Did the commissioners accuse you to the governor-general and directors of any wrong-doing before you detected them in their embezzlements?

La Motte. "None at all. It was ten months after I sent the directors an account of that procedure, signed by themselves, before a complaint was preferred against me.

Count. "That being the case, their testimony is not admissible, and ought at once to be rejected; but I would like to know of what the directors accuse you.

La Motte. "The first accusation is, that I have compelled their commissioners to sell goods to the savages under price, consequently at a loss, and to the injury of the company.

Count. "Have you ever done this intentionally?

La Motte. "The accusation is the greatest falsehood in the world, for, in 1702, the directors, far from complaining of me concerning the interests of the company, were perfectly satisfied. I can prove this by their own writings; such proof it is impossible for them to deny. It is also true, that they have paid me my salary

Directors satisfied till close of 1703.

to the end of the year 1703, which shows that they were satisfied. The whole affair is a trick of Messrs. Lotbinieres and Delino, who govern the other three directors. I have convicted their near relatives of fraud, and now they seek to screen these friends, by destroying my reputation for uprightness.

Count. "That, I call sport unto the death; but it is bringing their friends out of difficulty in a most shameful way. Their injustice shall be punished as it deserves, if you succeed in proving what you have asserted. You say that the directors appeared satisfied with your course until the close of 1703; did you not use coercion toward the commissioners in 1704, and cause them to sell goods at low prices? If so, confess it frankly, and give your reasons; no doubt they were sufficient to justify you.

La Motte. "If I had done so, I could easily confess it without running any risk, having for a guarantee the order of the governor-general, signed also by the intendant, and even the directors. These are the very words: "The commandant will leave to the commissioners of the company the liberty to traffic for furs, observing only that this is done according to the orders of M. de Callieres. He will also prevent the sale of goods at higher prices than those decided upon by the principal commissioners of the company.' This order was in reply to a paragraph in a long memorial presented to Messrs. Vau

Orders of Governor-general and Intendant.

dreuil and Beauharnais. The following is the substance of the orders returned: The directors consider it advisable that the commissioners confer with the commandant on all business of importance to the interests of the company; but they think the principal commissioner ought to decide in regard to whatever concerns the commerce of the company, according to the orders which he may receive from the directors, or which he may find most advantageous; always excepting those specific cases in which the commandant has a right to require obedience to his orders.'

Count. "These orders of the governor-general and intendant were judicious; otherwise, no doubt the commissioners would have sold goods to the savages at an exorbitant price, without troubling themselves about the removal of the savages from our interests to the English. Have you caused the sale of goods to be continued at the same prices as those directed by M. de Callieres, when you commenced the settlement at Detroit?

La Motte. "No. The orders of M. de Callieres were, to sell to the savages at Fort Frontenac at twenty-five per cent., and to those at Detroit at fifty per cent. He did this with a design. On the ratification of a general peace between the French and their allies, and the Iroquois, our savages would, at once, think of the commerce,