Le Normant de Mézy, Jacques-Ange (1726-1728) (Commissaire at Louisbourg). Letters to the Minister of the Marine:

1726: 14 August. [PAC, AC, C”B, Vol. 8, fols. 87v—88]

1727: 14 September. [PAC, AC, C”B, Vol. 9, fols. 91—92]

1727: 11 December. [PAC, AC, CHB, Vol. 9, fols. 113-114]

1728: 14 November. [PAC, AC, C”B, Vol. 10, fols. 101-103v]

Jacques—Ange Le Normant de Mézy (b. .7 , d. 774 7), after eighteen years as financial commissaire at the port of Dunkerque in France, arrived for the first time in the New World late in the summer of 77 79 to take up the position of commissaire ordonnateur at Louisbourg. Despite bitter clashes in the first few years with Saint-Ovide, the governor, he was to retain this position until 773 7. The post was second in importance to that of governor, carrying with it responsibility for virtually all financial and economic matters including trade, contracts, and supplies. From 7 725, with the failure of the proprietoria/ venture of the Count of Saint—Pierre, Mézy's authority extended to ile Saint—Jean where he had responsibility for over-seeing any exploitation of the island’s timber resources that might occur. In the first extract it is evident that he is only reporting information received at second hand from either Saint-Ovide or Pensens (the commandant on lle Saint-Jean). However, in 1727 he sent his son and second-in- command, in the company of Pensens, to inspect potential mast trees on the island, especially at a place called Cadocpichs (Savage Harbour). Though it appears that he never visited lle Saint-Jean, the elder Mézy’s name continues thereafter to occur in official correspondence in connection with an attempt to exploit the mast resource of the island in the late 77203. Crowley, describing Mézy as the least competent of the financial commissaires to serve at Louisbourg, considers that his limited initiatives in the timber trade of the two islands had little result. Mézy returned to France in 7 737 and was later succeeded in his post by his more able son.

REFERENCE: Crowley, T. A. (1974) Le Normant de Mézy, Jacques-Ange. Dictionary of Canadian Biography, III: 386-89.

1726: 14 August 1

. H [St. Ovide] a accompagné M.’S {de} Pensens et Tonty a l’isle 8‘ Jean avec une

goelette que j'avais {frétée} expres H y a visité quelques {postes} et est a present de

The woods retours icy {avec} Mond Sr de Pensens On dit Ia terre {de cette} isle fort bonne very fine. et les bois {beaux}. cette isle une fois etablie sera d’un grand secours pour assurer Ia subsistance de I’isle Royalle, une des grandes utilites encore que le Roy poura

Good quality retirer ce sont des matures pour mats dhune des plus grands v.aux de tres bonne masts. qualité et en abundance. [PAC, AC, CHB, Vol. 8, fols. 87v- 88] 1727: 14 September M. de 8‘ Ovide ayant pris Ie party d’envoyer Ie S’ de Pensens a |’is|e 8‘ Jean, j’ay profité de cette occasion pour y envoyer mon fils aux fins de visiter avec Mond S’ de chaSFS/ 0’; Pensens les matures de lad isle au presence des plus experts charpentiers qui y font Ibsepfcigd leur residence ce qu'il a executé et dont il a dressé proces verbal que j’auray l’honneur

d’envoyer a vostre grandeur en luy rendant compte des details dont je suis charge par Ie Vau du Roy, il a mesme aporté 2 mats lesquels comme ceux qu’il a visité me paroisent fort noueux, ququue fort raisineux et peu propres pour servir de mats d'hune.

[PAC, AC, CHB, Vol. 9, fol. 92]

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