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A half-century of conflict. France and England in North America. Part ...

A half-century of conflict. France and England in North America. Part ...

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^6 SEARCH FOR THE PACIFIC. [1727.1727 the scheme was revived, <strong>and</strong> the colonial m<strong>in</strong>isterat Versailles ordered the governor <strong>of</strong> Canada tosend two missionaries to the Sioux. But the missionrequired money, <strong>and</strong> the K<strong>in</strong>g would not give it.Hence the usual expedient was adopted. A companywas formed, <strong>and</strong> <strong>in</strong>vested with a monopoly <strong>of</strong>the Sioux fur-trade, on condition <strong>of</strong> build<strong>in</strong>g a fort,mission-house, <strong>and</strong> chapel, <strong>and</strong> keep<strong>in</strong>g an armedforce to guard them.It was specially provided thatnone but pious <strong>and</strong> virtuous persons were to beallowed to jo<strong>in</strong> the Company, "<strong>in</strong> order," says thedocument, "to attract the benediction <strong>of</strong> God uponthem <strong>and</strong> their bus<strong>in</strong>ess."^ The prospects <strong>of</strong> theCompany were thought good, <strong>and</strong> the governor himselfwas one <strong>of</strong> the shareholders. While the missionwas given the most conspicuous place <strong>in</strong> the enterprise,its objects were rather secular than sj)iritual, —to attach the Sioux to the French <strong>in</strong>terest by thedouble ties <strong>of</strong> religion <strong>and</strong> trade, <strong>and</strong> utilize theirsupposed knowledge to reach the Pacific.Father Guignas was made the head <strong>of</strong> the mission,<strong>and</strong> Boucher de la Perriere the military chief. Theparty left Montreal <strong>in</strong> June, <strong>and</strong>, journey<strong>in</strong>g to theMississippi by way <strong>of</strong> Michilimack<strong>in</strong>ac, Green Bay,Fox River, <strong>and</strong> the Wiscons<strong>in</strong>, went up the greatriver toLake Pep<strong>in</strong>, where the adventurous NicolasPerrot had built two trad<strong>in</strong>g-posts more than forty^ Traite de la Compagnie des Sioux, 6 Ju<strong>in</strong>, 1727.2 On this scheme, Vaudreuil et B^gon au M<strong>in</strong>istre, 4 Octobre, 1723;Longueuil et Be'gon au M<strong>in</strong>istre, 31 Octobre, 1725 ; Beauharnois etDupuy au M<strong>in</strong>istre, 25 Septembre, 1727.

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