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La Salle and the discovery of the great West - North Central ...

La Salle and the discovery of the great West - North Central ...

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1678.] THE KING'S APPROVAL. 125since we have nothing more at heart than <strong>the</strong> exploration<strong>of</strong> this country, through which, to all appearance,a way may be found to Mexico. . . . For this<strong>and</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r causes <strong>the</strong>reunto moving us, we permityou by <strong>the</strong>se presents, signed with our h<strong>and</strong>, to laborat <strong>the</strong> <strong>discovery</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> western parts <strong>of</strong>our aforesaidcountry <strong>of</strong> New France; <strong>and</strong>, for <strong>the</strong> execution <strong>of</strong>this enterprise, to build forts at such places as youmay think necessary, <strong>and</strong> enjoy possession <strong>the</strong>re<strong>of</strong>under <strong>the</strong> same clauses <strong>and</strong> conditions as <strong>of</strong> FortFrontenac, conformably to our letters patent <strong>of</strong> Maythirteenth, 1675, which, so far as needful, we confirmby <strong>the</strong>se presents. And it is our will that <strong>the</strong>ybe executed according to <strong>the</strong>ir form <strong>and</strong> tenor: oncondition, never<strong>the</strong>less, that you finish this enterprisewithin five years, failing which, <strong>the</strong>se presents shallbe void, <strong>and</strong> <strong>of</strong> no effect ;that you carry on no tradewith <strong>the</strong> savages called Ottawas, or with o<strong>the</strong>r tribeswho bring <strong>the</strong>ir peltries to Montreal ; <strong>and</strong> that you do<strong>the</strong>whole at your own cost <strong>and</strong> that <strong>of</strong> your associates,to whom we have granted <strong>the</strong> sole right <strong>of</strong>trade in buffalo-hides. And we direct <strong>the</strong> SieurCount Frontenac, our governor <strong>and</strong> lieutenantgeneral,<strong>and</strong> also Duchesneau, intendant <strong>of</strong> justice,police, <strong>and</strong> finance, <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>of</strong>ficers <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> supremecouncil <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> aforesaid country, to see to <strong>the</strong> execution<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se presents ; for such is our pleasure." Given at St. Germain en <strong>La</strong>ye, this 12th day <strong>of</strong>May, 1678, <strong>and</strong> <strong>of</strong> our reign <strong>the</strong> 35th year."This patent grants both more <strong>and</strong> less than <strong>the</strong>

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