Phélypeaux, Jean-Frédéric, Count of Maurepas (1726-1732) (Minister of the Marine). Letters to various officials in the Department of the Marine, both in France and in the colonies: 1726: 1 March (at Marly) to Beauharnois. [PAC, Reel 12876 Vol. 107, p. 391* 1726: 26 March (at Marly) to Beauharnois. [PAC, Reel 12876 Vol. 107, p. 621* 1726: 16 April (at Versailles) to Beauharnois. [PAC, Reel 12876 V0). 107, p. 741* 1726: 28 May (at Versailles) to Saint—Ovide and Mézy. [AC, Series B, Vol. 49, fols. 698-6991 1726: 2 July (at Versailles) to Saint-Ovide. [PAC, AC, Series B, Vol.49, fols. 721-722] 1726: 2 July (at Versailles) to Pensens. [PAC, AC, Series B, Vol.49, fols. 723-723v] 1727: 10 June (at Versailles) to Saint—Ovide. [PAC, AC, Series B, Vol. 50, fols. 583—583v] 1727: 10 June (at Versailles) to Mézy. [PAC, AC, Series B, Vol. 50, fols. 593v-594v] 1728: 18 June (at Versailles) to Saint-Ovide. [PAC, AC, Series B, Vol. 52, fols. 574v-575] 1728: 23 June (at Compiegne) to Mézy. PAC, [AC, Series B, Vol. 52, fols. 600-600v] 1728: 24 June (at Compiegne) to Pensens. [PAC, AC, Series B, Vol. 52, fols. 603—603v] 1729: 18 January (at Versailles) to Beauharnois. [PAC, AC, Series B, Vol. 53, fol. 109v] 1729: 29 March (at Versailles) to Beauharnois. [PAC, AC, Series B, Vol. 53, fol. 129] 1729: 30 April (at Compiégne) to Beauharnois. [PAC, AC, Series B, Vol. 53, fol. 135v] 1729: 22 May (at Compiegne) to Pensens. [PAC, AC, Series B, Vol. 53, fols. 599-599v] 1729: 22 May (at Compiégne) to Mézy. [PAC, AC, Series B, Vol. 53, fols. 606-607] 1732: 19 June (Compiegne) to Saint-Ovide & LeNormant. [AC, Ser. B, Vol. 57, fols. 741-741v]

* PAC Reel C12876 contains a selective transcription from the Archives de la Marine: Archives mar/times, Port de Rochefort, Série E: Services administratifs. Dépéches de la Cour.

The following extracts, from the official correspondence of Jean-Frederic Phélypeaux, the Count of Maurepas (b. 1701, d. 7781), minister of the Marine at the court of Louis XV for 26 years, mostly concern an attempt to extract masts and other timber from lle Saint-Jean in the 77208. The ’Sieur F/eury' whose letter sparked the venture must be Charles de Fleury Deschambau/t, a Canadian-born merchant and ship-o wner, who was a director of the Company of l/e Saint-Jean. Like all other attempts by the Marine to make use of North American masts it was to end in failure. Maurepas had succeeded his father as minister of the Marine at the age of 14, though he was only given full responsibility for his chronically under—funded department in 7723 when he was 22. Thereafter as minister he had responsibility for not only the overseas colonies, but also the French navy and the ports of France. As the maker and supervisor of policy with respect to lie Bo yale and lie Saint-Jean, he kept his eye not only on the greater affairs of state, but also, as is evident from these letters (all likely to have been drafted by his civil servants), on even the fine details, such as the size and quality of trees cut in the woods of f/e Saint-Jean. The concern of the 7 732 letter for the conservation of the island ’3 forests is unique among the French records for I76 Saint—Jean.

REFERENCES: Artaud, — . (1861) Maurepas, Jean-Frederic Phélypeaux, Comte de. Nouvel/e Biographie Généra/e, 34: 400—04. Rodger, A. (1974) Fleury de la Gorgendiére, Joseph de. Dictionary of Canadian Biography, III: 217.

1726: 1 March — (at Marly) to Beauharnois (Intendant at Rochefort)

Le S’. Fleury de la Rochelle m’écrit Monsieur, qu’il a une connoissance certaine que Masts can be got l’on porroit tirer des mats de l'lsle 8‘. Jean en telle quantité et des proportions qu'on from i/e spJean. voudroit, qu’il y auroit beaucoup de facilité de les embarquer sans autres frais ny Secours que ceux des Equipages des fluttes qu’on y envoyeroit, que la qualité en est meilleure que ceux de Canada at qu'ils couteroient beaucoup moins. ll ajoute que si j’agrée cette proposition i| Ia rendra plus Claire et qu'on peut cependant faire une {4” inspection 0f Epreuve de quelques uns de ces Mats qui sont a la Rochelle. Il est necessaire que 746/230,)??? at vous en fassiez faire la visite et afin d’aller en avant sur cette affaire j’écris au 8'. ' Fleury de vous remettre sa proposition que vous m’envoyerez ensuite avec Ie proces

verbal de la visitte de ces Mats et me marquerez votre avis sur le tout.

[PAC, Reel 12876, Vol. 107, p. 39]

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