Roma at Three Rivers 17

discuss the relative powers of church and state or to consider the dangers of transferring to the wilder- ness the hereditary feuds of Europe, Roma promptly gave the chaplain a written congé on the ground that he was carrying on cabals to ruin his Company. The Abbé demanded justice from Dubuisson, the Sub-delegate of the Intendant, who favored his side of the controversy on the ground that Roma had used some improper terms in addressing the priest; and demanded reparation from Roma. But as Du- buisson had no power to enforce his judgment, he exerted himself rather in the direction of concilia- tion, and succeeded in temporarily allaying the dis- pute on the spot, though it was as usual continued in despatches to the Minister far off in the French capital. Dubuisson’s first report went down at sea with Le Michel.’ Roma wrote to both de Pensens at Port La Joye and St. Ovide at Louisburg. St. Ovide and Le Normant visited him and reported to the Minister that they had found delight in the Com- mandant’s achievements and had left him in harmony with the priest while at the same time they had in- structed Dubuisson to show a more favorable atti- tude toward his Company henceforth. De Pensens

also sided with Roma in the following spirited note to the Minister:

This priest appears to me a sharp-witted fellow to whom a seminary would have been more suitable than

6 Cu IV, Vol. 13, p. 83. 6 C11 IV, Vol. 15, p. 151.