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6 THE WESTERN SEA (PART II), 1752-1753 MERET'S LETTER, 1752 The two synchronous manuscripts that have come to light illustrate in great detail Saint-Pierre's two distinct roles during his years as commandant of the posts of the Western Sea. His orders specified that he had been "assigned to go in search of the Western Sea" and "to disregard even his plans for personal gain."l His official report of 7 October 1753 covers the highlights of his entire tour of duty in the Western Sea, focusing upon incredible hardships, his relations-some of them death-defying-with various Indian tribes, and his efforts to locate the elusive river leading to the equally elusive Western Sea. But the report remains totally silent on the subject of his fur-trading activities. The earlier of the two manuscripts sheds light on the entrepreneur in a highly detailed letter to him from one of his well-connected business partners in Quebec. This letter was in response to two earlier letters that Saint-Pierre had sent in 1751 from Grand Portage and identifies him as a partner in a private fur-trading venture during his command of the Western Sea posts. Two of Saint-Pierre's partners, according to Etienne Taillemite, were, despite the court's prohibition, none other than the two top officials of New France, Franc;:ois Bigot, the intendant, and JacquesPierre de Taffanel de La Jonquiere, the governor-genera1.2 Saint-Pierre's third partner, the author of the 1752 letter, was a man in the shadows of the high and mighty who hitherto has been but a footnote in Canadian and American history. Only his last name, Meret, is now known, but the context of his letter to Saint-Pierre reveals his close association with La Jonquiere, and other documents uncovered in the research for this book confirm him as Governor-General Duquesne's secretary in 1753 and 1754.3 163 doc. 61 164 Jacques Le,!?ardeur de Saint-Pierre Meret's letter reveals an entirely different side of the officer than the adventurous, dauntless figure that emerges from his official reports. Instead we see a man with human weaknesses deeply engrossed in business matters. This letter, which meticulously responds item by item to Saint-Pierre's business concerns, provides a great amount of information on the problems of the fur trade as experienced both in the wild and in Montreal and Quebec. The problems discussed include, but are not limited to, sophisticated thievery of fur and slave shipments, a dishonest agent, fluctuating prices, and the difficulty in finding good engages, as well as health problems, severe food shortages, and the late arrival of canoes. The translation of Meret's letter to Saint-Pierre follows, with the letter's pagination indicated in brackets.4 Quebec 15 May 1752 Sir, I have received the two letters that you did me the honor of writing me from the great portage [Grand Portage, Minnesota] on 28 July and 5 August 1751 which I am going to answer item by item, the extent of the land which separates us not permitting me to let a single one escape. In your first from 28 July, you indicate your anxiety over the arrival of the last Canoes which had been sent to you from Montreal, having received up to that time but four, and one taken to Sault Ste. Marie, loaded with Com and fat; and your fear that some accident had happened to the latter Canoes, the first ones having already reached you eleven days ago. The critical Situation in which you would have been, Sir, if these last Canoes had not arrived safely, due to the impossibility of your coming back Inland, and of sending the bundles which remained in your possession, did not require any less of you from the difficult time you had to endure. I have avoided nothing this year in order to spare you, if it is possible, such worries, having taken all the necessary precautions to put M. Lechelles in a position to send your Canoes as soon as the weather and the season permit. I could not avoid having eight Canoes prepared for going up this year, although the Fitting out is not, by a long way, as extensive as last year's; and I made up my mind completely only when I saw the detailed Inventory that M. Lechelle sent me of the packages of goods which are to make up the Load. [18...

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