The quarrels thus generated between the governor and the commissioner on
the question of the title of president grew so embittered that discord
did not cease to prevail between the two men on even the most
insignificant questions. Forcibly involved in these dissensions, the
Sovereign Council itself was divided into two hostile camps, and letters
of complaint and denunciation rained upon the desk of the minister in
France: on the one hand the governor was accused of receiving presents
from the savages before permitting them to trade at Montreal, and was
reproached for sending beavers to New England; on the other hand, it was
hinted that the commissioner was interested in the business of the
principal merchants of the colony. Scrupulously honest, but of a
somewhat stern temperament, Duchesneau could not bend to the imperious
character of Frontenac, who in his exasperation readily allowed himself
to be impelled to arbitrary acts; thus he kept the councillor Damours in
prison for two months for a slight cause, and banished from Quebec three
other councillors, MM. de Villeray, de Tilly and d'Auteuil. The climax
was reached, and in spite of the services rendered to the country by
these two administrators, the king decided to recall them both in 1682.
Count de Frontenac was replaced as governor by M. Lefebvre de la Barre,
and M. Duchesneau by M. de Meulles.




CHAPTER XII

THIRD VOYAGE TO FRANCE