Couagne, Jean-Baptiste de (1713) (Military surveyor at Louisbourg). Letter to the Minister of the Marine. December 1713. [CEA: J.-H. Blanchard papers, 22.2-8, p. 1, where it was cited as: PAC, AC, C”C, Vol. 8, p. 209.]

ln 1 773, aged 26, Jean-Baptiste de Couagne lb. 768 7, d. 1740) arrived from Canada (he had been born there, probably at Montreal) to take up a surveying post in the new colony then being established by the French on Cape Breton Island (or lle Roya/e as it was henceforth to be known) — a direct response to their loss to the British of both main/and Acadia and their Newfoundland base at P/acentia under the Treaty of Utrecht in that year. Recent/y commissioned as an ensign, and assigned to take part in the reconnaissance for the new colony, Couagne within a short time of his arrival despatched a letter to the minister recommending an exploration of the nearby l/e Sain t- Jean. Among the attractions of the island that he mentions and that must have been reported to him by people familiar with the region — the ’personnes du pays’ of his letter, are its ‘bons bois’ [fine woods]. His recommendation did not lead to any immediate action — all attention was then being given to the establishment of a base on lle Roya/e and it would be another six to seven years before the eyes of the French go vernment would turn to wards the island in the gulf.

REFERENCES: Harvey, D. C. (1926) The French Regime in Prince Edward Island. Yale University Press. pp. 31—32. Thorpe, F. J. (1969) Couagne, Jean-Baptiste de. Dictionary of Canadian Biography, II: 154.

l'on a e0 par des personnes du pays des mémoires trés particuliers de l'lsle Saint Jean, situé Nord Ouest et Sud Ouest dans Ie golfe Saint Laurent. Monsieur de Costebelle notre gouverneur doit donner a Monsieur de la Ronde, capitaine de cette garnison et a moy un ordre pour en faire la découverte. ll y a apparence que ce ne

The island has sera pas sans effet, d'autant que cette Isle est trés considérable par ses bons ports,

9000' WOOd-S“ sa pesche de morues, sa terre et ses bons bois et qu'elle n'a jamais été bien connue, j'aurés l'honneur d'en rendre un fidele comte a Votre Grandeur et I‘asseurer de I'exactitude avec Iaquelle je me serés acquité de cette commission.

[CEA: J.-H. Blanchard papers, 22.2-8, p. 1]

l have had from people of this area some very specific reports on lle Saint-Jean, located north-west and south-west in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Monsieur de Costebelle our governor should give to Monsieur de la Ronde, captain of this garrison, and myself an order to explore it. It appears that it will not be without result, as this The island has island is very important on account of its good harbours, its cod fishery, its soil and good woods. good woods, and as it has never been well known, I would be honoured to give a true account of it to your Excellency and to assure you of the precision with which I would

acquit myself of this commission. [partly based on Harvey (1926). p. 32]

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