Another report on the wood requested.

Report received.

The proposal of LeComte,

Concerning ten additional soldiers assigned to

cut masts.

1726: 2 July — (at Versailles) to Pensens (Commandant on lle Saint—Jean)

I received the letter that you have written 21 December of last year. I trust that you will send me this year some exact reports on everything concerning this island with respect to the masting, building wood, cultivated land and other advantages that

it has. _ [PAC, AC, Series B, Vol. 49, fols. 723-723v]

1727: 10 June — (at Versailles) to Saint-Ovide (Governor at Louisbourg)

l have received the letters that you wrote to me 20 and 28 November of last year on the subject of lle Saint-Jean. l have been very satisfied with the report that he [Sieur de Pensens] sent to me with the remarks that he has made during the inspection of the greater part of this island, from which it appears that we can obtain great advantages from the fertility of the soil, the good quality of the woods and the fisheries that can be established.

[PAC, AC, Series B, Vol. 50, fols. 583—583vl

1727: 10 June — (at Versailles) to Mézy (Commissaire at Louisbourg)

l have received the letter that you wrote to me 14 August of last year . From the account that the Sieur de Pensens, who inspected the greater part of this island, has made to me, as much on the bounty of the soil as on the quality of the woods, it would seem that when in time it will be settled, it will be a great support for lie Royalle.

I do not doubt at all that the report that has been made for you by the Acadian charpentiers [carpenters/Shipwrights], on the good quality of the wood of lle Saint- Jean be not true from the knowledge they have had in using it. I have examined the proposal that has been made to you by the man named LeComte, one of them He the Acadian charpentiers], of supplying 200 masts or small masts from 8 up to 18 inches in diameter, and the prices that he is asking for each size. You should have explained at the same time whether he would deliver them to the place of embarkation. It is therefore necessary that you agree this with him and that you report to me so as to receive my orders before you complete the contract. If he does not want to undertake to deliver them to the place of embarkation you will inform me whether one can easily get them out of the place where he will deposit them and what it will cost for that, as also the time in which they could be delivered in order that I may know if the ship that the King fits out each year will be able to load these masts on its return.

With regard to the prices concerning the proposed sizes, I here attach a price list on the basis of which you will act, while watching out to get a better deal if possible, and to lower the cost of the loading and the freightage charge.

[PAC, AC, Series B, Vol. 50, fols. 593v-594v]

1728: 18 June — (at Versailles) to Saint-Ovide (Governor at Louisbourg)

l have received the letters that you wrote to me 21 November of last year. His Majesty had thought that a detachment of 30 soldiers for lie Saint-Jean was more than sufficient; however he has approved that you have increased it by ten although he had wished that you had waited for his orders on this matter. You will observe it regularly in future.

[PAC, AC, Series B, Vol. 52, fols. 574v-575]