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I 22X 26 X 30X 12X 16X 20X 24X 28X 22X qu'il tcet > de vue t\veen the UovernnuMU and Alexander Dennistoun and others, with respect to t he ownership of " The Ternl Firmft of Mingan," with copies of titles forwarded to the Uovern- ment in support of their claims ; Copies of the Report of the Order, in Council, granting to Alexander Dennistoun and others, the privilege of working during twenty-iiv«? years the deposits of magnetic sand, on th<> said • Terra Firma of Mingan." J. r.LANCHKT, Sec re tar v. Secretary's Office, I Quebec, 14th March, 1883. ) O] 111 in ♦ 1 Fi tr 41 of R 11] it! Ci on na th an Ti ' f • ■•' -*'TSWt*;-.1 T Department of Cro^n Lands, Ottawa, 13th December 1866. Colonel Denny one of the heirs ) of the Hon. .Tohn Richardson, [ &c., &c., &c. y S.'R, The purchnse of a certain tract ol ttio -cf usto lands of the Crown situate on the North Shore of the Gulf of Slaint Lawjonce in the County of Saguo- nay, having been applied for under the depviaueutal regulations relating to mineral lands, and inasmuch as part of ..Ui Public Domain comprising the tract lies conterminous with the easte.n limit of the Seigniory of " TeirA Firmil of Mingan "belonging, agreeably tr. ra,. Seigniorial Schedules (Cadas- tres) deposited in this Department in conitrmity to the 2.5th dau.se of the 41st ch. of the Con. Stat, for L. C. to the lieirB. Kichardson, I have the honor of intimating to you, as one of the heirs tc iiie estate of the late Hon. John Richardson that it has become indispeusaiily )iecessary to establish the line of separation between the said Seigni:.-y of Terra Firma de Mingan at its eastern boundary and the Public Dom^^n, with the co-operation of the Crown and the proprietors of the said Seig: - rr. To that effect it will be requisite for them to appoint at an early day on their behalf a sworn land surveyor to co-operate with the one to be named from tliis Department for the dna ?Jid permanent establishment of the line of separation abovementioned, ai the joint expense of the Crown and the Seigniors, as customary in such suiTJiys en bornage. Your early attention to the subject is recjuested. I hav-», &c., &c., (Signed!) A. Russell, A. C. True copy. Department of Crown Lanctfc; Quebec, March 1883. E. E. Tach£, Assist.-Comnjissionwr .1 , h's!| ^m Uavva, SUt Jnimnry 18»57. I have, Arc. (Signed), True Cf.py, Depa :; mont of Crown Land^. Quebec, March. 1H8;J. E. E. Tache, Assist. Comra. A. KUSSELL, A. C. Sir, Montreal IStii March, 1867. -■'■iv.-a (l„, .'o„„.„„j,„,,;, ;"'■;,'''' ''f"-™ -;■ l» «t»te that ho ,„Iv,.r ^■-^**j^*t.- ninry 18r.7. ii>n«>iit man tier, ily limit ol'tljo s o[' houiulary <^'ro\vii. ill tlu! Iho .siilijcct ol' I to you as (>iu> as apivnus Uy i>sitoil iu this lu> Con. Stat. 10 Ji'scription » tK' Minjfan to on tJio itltli tUSSELL. A. C. , 1867. y. has just ^t ho jiovor *>'^ to, and i tichodule jncntionod in it. and the other proprietors of the 8eiy are also desirous to liave the boundary lines hctwen the Seijfniory and the waste lands of the Crown duly and permanently estal)lished. The western boundary of the Seij^niory is described as Cape Cormorant whieh is doubtless correet, and if the exact point of division lias not alri'ady been iixed, (he extieme point of tlie Cape miiihl l>e adopted as ecmslitutini? it. The northern boundary uii'.;ht be establisheil without actual continuous survey, by taking' the averai^e coast liiu; for Iixed distances and eslablishiuii' the depth of the SSeigniory from hi^h water mark at each of the seiwcted points. The proprietors, however, are at a loss to understand on what grounds a river called in the t:?clu'dule the Croyuish (which by the way does not appear on any map to which they have had access) has been selected by the Seigni.-.rial Commissioner as tiie easterly limit of the Seii^niory. The eastern boundary is plwinly iiulicated in the description of the Seigniory to ]»e found ol" re«'ord by the words '• ht irnirnh anre vers lex E^qnimmix m) U\ J'Js/iu<>itoh Jb/if in-iliuiiiiriiini/ In /xrlir." And the ])aie dos l-Isquimaux, where are also the lisquinutux lslanastern 1)oundary of the seigniory and desiring me to express their entire willingness to take immediate steps to lix upon the exAi't point at which Ihi-ir casleni line, i.s to bo drawn, most reipji;tfally but earnestly protest against th) pi'jto:itio.i cjutained iu thj schedule in ques- I 6 li r .-^ ^(i , r f r JS. N( , manent boundary mark to ll n,i 1 /'"' '"^'^'^ ^^^'"'^^ «««bl., a por- '"S: to this view, th. nro»riotor« . . ^^ d.mculty exporioiiccd in acced- "'•-•''i<-tor.s to .. 0' ho u^"; T"" " 'ir"^' '^ ^'" appointment -h..iuioto the s.i..uo Li'^ i;iir";; *r. '^^' ^""'^'^'"^ b,u.korth« de"iJin. the .lilh,.ulty. ,;.; f ? "' '" '^" "^''^'^ -i^'^«^>'^' '"odo of 1« t^ n.e „tternu.t 'xte:t';^:;;v:t^ ^ l^i^'tl' i^^u'^^^""^^^' ^« -- open,aya.tamonntortrou,deandnn,at.n'^:;,;'^^^^^^^^ True copy, K Ji. Ta<'hk, Assist. Comniis. !>• C. L, Quebec, March, 1883 Your obodiont seryunt, T. B. Anderison, ;^ ••- ■— '2PP*V- gj Montreal 29th March 1867. U.ve.heh„uorlo,ta,e,h„t /pro"!' , !'*"T "' *'"'8«». """l y and (ht) pari (.f \m nio8f valmiblf >OKsil)iJity ofthoir ax an tho e.;sferii ••iinviho /»r the y 1)0 fixed in the It bo iivoidod by lid enable a por- tent person may ienced in acced- he appointment ion b.ick of the bj Jieard before tiitable mode of wive the matter endeavorinjr (o "I of a valuable mined to resist ostiou remains y bo tho consu. JERSON, w •ch 1867. le his letter Mingan, and at Seigniory, the eastern boundary, after a thorough investigation of the titles and instruments appertaming thereto. And I would refipe.tfully urge uiH.n the Dei^artment th.« reference of the question of the easteni boundary, if dispute.l. to some eompelent person or persons, being equally resolved with Mr. Anderson to protect my property from encroaehment by any one until u prop.r investigation and adjustment ot the diUiculty have been arriv»'d at. I have the honor to be, Sir, Your obedient servant, J. J. C. AUBOTT. The Hon. tho Commissioner of Crown Lands. True cop7, D. C. L. Quebec, March 1883. E. E, TACHE, Assist.-Commissiouer. Department ok Crown Lands, Ottawa, IGth April, 1867. The Hon. J. J. C. Abbott, MoDtreal, C. E. Sir, In reference to your letter of the 29th ultimo, intimating that, as proprietor of ten sixteenths of the seigniory of Mingan. you entirely concurred m the statements and representations contained in the letter of 1. B. Anderson, esquir., addressed to this department, on the subject of that seigniory, as to the eastern boundary, after a thorough investigation ot he titles and instruments appertaining thereto, I have now the honor luturtheranceofthe departmental letter to Lieut.-Col. Denny, dated 31st January last to inform you that this department is prepared, as a preliminary measure to the actual ]>ornage of tho boundaries of the seigniory of Terra firma de Mingan, to investigate into the titles and instruments upon which 'il the lu-m Eichordson rest tk. i,ropri,.|„ry of li,„ „,,id seigniory and more Crown. [,, that view, I wonld beg lo »„gp-est that (he proprietors of the ae,g„,orr do transmit, at an early or eonvenieat day, thl Hies '^ ...struments for examination a. this offlee, acompany ng So sTm"w» « h oxplauafons and remarks as will eondnce to a cleL nndersta-TdiZo hose Uoeumenls, the originals of which mns. neeesaarily he of reeord >" W': crnadf'™' "■■• " *"' '"- -^ •"•• '" '"" ™"* "f J-«ce, il' I have, &c.. True copy, E. E. Tach£, Asst.-Commissioner. Department of Crown Lands, Quebec, March, 1883. A. RUSSELL, A. C. ^H fj ^H ^^^^^H: I ^^^■' 1 1 1 ^^^^H / Sir, Montreal, 30th April 1867. in«fo!. '^ f "V'' ^^^''^^^^'^^^S'*' the receipt of your letter of the 16th instant and to say that I have communicated its contents to the heirs Richardson and my other co-proprietors of the seigniory, and that I have b en entrusted by them with the task of preparing, a memorial of our clai^^n and of the tiles and instruments upon which it rests. As, however such memorial wi 1 doubtless be required, not only to satisfy the department, but also to withstand the scrutiny of parties who are understood to be seekin- to procure from the government a grant of a portion of the seigniory for a nominal sum it will necessarily take some time to prepare it with the requisite amplitude and accuracy. In the mean time, in common with my co-proprietors I feel it to be incredible that the • Dei>artment could contemplate entirely disreo-ardino- a possession under a title of above a hundred years with the sanction of t"he Crown and selling the property «o possessed without notice to its holders Ml S'liiory and moiv lit lands of the •roprietors of thf those titles and ? the same with mderstanding of r he of record in ts of justice, in RUSSELL, A. C. Ipril iset. ter of the 16th 3 to the heirs id that I have il of ouv claim however, such apartment, but to be seekins" leigniory for a it with the feel it to bo lisregarding- a notion of the to its holders. 9 And wo also disbelieve the assovtion that Ih" Department has- consented to ])crmit individuals to exercise tJie rights of the Crown in an ai tion against us, with the promise of obtaining the property of whi.h I hey might sm;ceed in depriving us, although it is freely asserted that what we thus discredit is actually true. Yet injustice to ourselves, w(> must respectfully record our protest against the adoption of either of such courses of iction on the part of the Governmeni, feeling conlident that by so bringing our position under your notice, we shall ensure from you every coiisidi>r.)tv)n consistent with justice. And moreover we join in respectfully submit ing to you that in the establishment of our rights we cannot ])e dei)rived of the use of any legal evidence of title, wherever it may be found ; and we must venture to solicit a reconsideration of the declaration in the commvnicatiou from the Department to which this is a reply, that the originals o'all documents we produce must necessarily be of record in the Public Archives of the Province or "in the Courts of Justice in Lower Canada." (Signed) The Honorable j The Commissioner of Crown Lands. \ True copy. Department of Crown Lands, Quebec, March 1883. E. E. Tachk, Assist.-Comm. I have, &c , .T J. C. AlJROTT. DEPARTArr:NT of Crown L.\nds, Ottawa 8th Maj-, 1807. The Hon. J. J. C. Abbot, j Montreal, \ C. E. ) Sir, I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter under date the 30th ult received the 0th instant, in reply to the Departmental letter of the 16th ult, and in reference to the subject of your protest, be"* to inform 2 ° If ii Mi m ' HI •■Il 10 .nn,. do M,„s,,„, „,„ origin,!, ol' which documout. mu,t n;"Zily wl • ■ ocorf, &c , I ,, not ,„,,ud.Hl to deprive you of seMiug. forth or „,i„„ 1^1° oviden,e „1 tule, provided it be satirfaetorily established tht'uh fHb ha, emanated «■„,„ the (,,.ovvn and which ca,! be M.bsta:; „ X " to ^; to the Public IJecords ot iho rroviuce. lucitute True Copy. Department of Crown Lands, Quebec. March, 1883. E. E. Taoh£, Assist. Comm. I have, &c„ (Sig-nod), A. lIutiSELL, Quebec, 12th May, 1867. To THE IIONHLE. 8lU NaUCIs^SR BrlleAU, Trime Minister of Canada. Dear Sir, While forwarding to the aovornmont th. petition .ign.A by Messrs Lang-lois, Duval and mys.lf, sotting forth our pretentions i^speeti .then tended s.igniory of Ming,,,,, ,vo wore propaving to suZi hm bv t nu>n. coinpl-te in.iuonal. Hut, before iinishing such mei!^ ^, t "vaLd or the copy Ota document whi.h the would-b.. .S.igniors of Mino, ha re.1::^::^:^^'-''^^^"- - this gentleman, but we have We therefore beg of you not to form a definite opinion m this matter before we have had the means of finishing our memLl and to be kind uals lo L'xercise t'i"\vliiitso(n'«M'; proilui-o at tJiis ^uiory olTorrji (cossarily be of •sing- any legal lat such titK^ (1 on reloreiico IsiSELL, 11 oiumgh to renew the iiiistructiojis you have already given Mr. Bouehette, in so far as we are coucerned. And oblige. Yours very truly, True iO])y, E. E. Tache, Assis. Counnis. D. C. L., Quebec, March, 1888. L. J. C. FisET. {■•i |« My DKAll SiH, y, 1867. by Messrs ting the pre- thera by a wo waited ■ingiu had liad ordered It wo have his matter L> be kind You will prol)ably think it proper to lavor the views of the persons interested in the subject of the above letter by forwarding them what they demand. Your&c, N. F. Belleau, Quebec, 18th ISEay, 1867. J0>S. BOUCHETTE, D. A, C. True copy, K E. Taciie, Assis. Comm. Department of Crown Lands, Quebec, March, 1883. Department of Crown Lands. Quebec, 29th May, 1867. L. J. C. FiSET, esq., Prothonotary, Quebec. Sir, Your letter of the 12th instant, forwarded to the Honorable Sir N. F. Belleau, having been by him transmitted to this office. I have the honor to III If 1: ihli' 12 «nt A , , f Hfnora]>lo Mr. Abbott, having, by his loiter dated the nTofrV?! • rT™''^ *^"'"'^'^^ ^'^=" he was basy preparing a memo- ralo thot.tle.doeds,,nv.rtue of which the heirs Jiichardson claimed to e tabhsh then- nghi to the ownership of tln^ seigniory called Terra Firma w/r^'T';- *^^V'7^"'«'^'«"^:^- «'^»"1<1, in consequence wait a reasonable in f f M j\ T"^'''''' "*''^*" '""'"""'^^ ^''^^'^ •••-^P^rting on the peti- tion ol Messrs. J. J^nglois, G. Duval and others. I have the honor, &:c., A. ItUSSEIiTi, A C. True copy, Department oi' Crown Lands, Quebec, March, 188:3. K K. T.voiiK, Assist. Commis. Department of Ckomn Lands. Ottawa, 12th June 1867. The Hon. J. J. C. Auuott, Montreal, SiK, this XrmlntTh^t"'" ?"t f''^ ^^"" ^"^' ^"" ^^^^^ l^^--'! ^^^ -f-m this depar ment that you had been intrusted by the heirs Richardson with h task ot preparing a memorial of the titles and instruments upon which hey and yourself, as one of the co-proprietors, rest your cla m trthe seigniory of Mmgan " ! Inasmuch .s a considerable time has now e apsed I am to request that vou will h^ go "•oodns to tmnsmif ti ^'ap^ed. IS tter dated the lands of the Labrador Coast are urgent for a decision from the goAernment ill the matter. True <'opy, E. E. Tachk, Assist. Commis. Department of Crown Lands, Quebec, March 1883, I have, &r., A KUHSELL, A. C. Esquimaux Point 25th July IS'JT. My Dear Mk. Couchette, The opportunities of oommuui«ation between this and the civilized world are so lew and far between that I have hitherto been prevented from giving you the information you desired nie to obtain ,'br you respecting the old post of Mingan. The post is and always has been on the mainland. As y^u are of course aware, tha Islands are private property belonging exclusively to the Company, the mainland being rented by them from the 8'.'igniors. This trilling information, which has given me much pleasure to obtain for you, was giA'-en me by the Chief Factor, Donald Smith, Esq. who has been in the Hudson Bay Company's employment for many years and consequently can be considered reliable. Any other information 1 can obtain for you will bo sent by the Hrst occasion and it Avill always attbrd me a sincere pleasvire to be in any way useful to you. (Signed) True copy. D. C. L., Quebec, March 1883. .E. E. TacujS, Yours &c, H. J. G. rERCHARD. fill i 111 I m ■ 0i i.rMl AN9int.«C9m)u> 14 Depautment ok CitowN Lax DS. TJic Hon, .1. J. c. A 15m )Tr, QiU'boi-, 18th Soptomhcr, 1807. Moil flea I. Slit, No reply liaviiiir 1 offho tL'fh.Tui.ohist, ii, r«l )pon rceived IVom you to tJ It'i-ciice U) liu' 111 li« I^i'i){irtmoii(iil Lettei yonvlrlUn- to iliis ])op.-,rtiii,.n(, ,u,<1.t d onioiiiil wlii.h you sinniii,.,! J>n>piirini,^ in suppoit, of the «•! iitt^ -'{Oth April last ]>iopriotors oi'lhc sci^riiiory of 31 ;nni.s of fh,. h,.irs Ui.hard.so.i and III you wern "bjt'ct, inasmuch tis, moreover, th nit?nii, [ Wi.. (o cull »(h er eo- yonr iilteutioii to thi 7 ---— •VV^»\.J J^ands of the province ol'Queb leor-anij^ation of that sedioii ol (he C ee- into townships is urg-i-ntly demanded rown I have. iV •>vC. J. C. muUBlLW, True copy, l^- K T.cHK, Asst.-Commissioner. Uopartment of Crown Lands, Quebec, March, 1882. C. V. L. Sir, Montreal, 19th September 1807. -^^"^:X^^Z:^.tZ^:^^^^^ ->.nit to you a to be able to do so anthorit^i.i.,;r ^. ',„H ^U^^Pr ' T^^*^^ been disappoint..d in this resnect T ...., , '"^'"" / ' ^*' ^h"'"- I^ut, as I hiv;. Stuart and Mr. Errol L L nd ^v ' ,!' "'/'^^^'^^^ '^">- '-*-• you to Mr. (JJdll owners of one iburth ^f'T^^;; i^^:^ ^ ^r'TT P ^ 1'^ ^^^^"^ city, to whom I understand the heirs Jl ^hards^i or 1 ?'""' ""^ '^'' them have as.si-ned their rio-hts Mv W .\?r S^^eatej- portion of John l]lackwood,'of Lon o . E^i^and arel'"' '' ^Y ''^^^"^^^••"' ^"^ ^^^r^' i"^ fourth of the Seigniory. ' ' '''''''^'^ '^"^'^^^^^^ ^^ ^'^« '-^main- -f*%#>^- 15 >i"o, and Mr. the remain- Monlreal, 20th September, 1807. Sir, The Honble.. .T. J. C. Abbott has communicated to me your letter of the 18th September instant, of the following, import : " No reply having- been received irom you to the Departmental letter " of the 12th June last, in reference +o the memorial which you sio-niliularly as regards the latter part of it, having reference to the erection of townships" vou allege as urgently demanded. I cannot entertain the idea that in the organization of that section of the Crown Lands for the purpose of erecting Townships, the Government ot the Province of Quebec can have in view, or that any part or portion of Jl § i«; Ih.. Soigniory oUh. Torru Finna do Miu^nn ran ho in.ludod in .n.h .Zr- i:;l ii:::r'"" '' "^"^^ ""''^ ^'^"'"' ' '''- ^^ •- •"-•-'^»'^« - --, u.Sontl) d..nK,nd.d n. a .ortain So.tion of tJu- Provinoo of Quebec an.l thoNMjrnmryolMu.oan. or .vr.ain parts <,f it, huv. boon disingonuouslv C.o^^n, ad those representations have heen made with u vie^v of obtain- mg grants (.1 certain portions of sucli pretended waste lands At the same time I distinctly state that the j)arties "so urgent in their applications, and so willing to o),tain grants of Iheir neiuhbo,-"pr"p.^^^^^^^ are parlies who, from interested motives, have taken o-reat^ pains and us.-.l Mln'rth rn^'^-'V'"*!:'^^' ^'^^ seigniors and clproprieU,,: J ffo iwi thnt I =";■'■' ^""" ^"'^ '" uninterrupted and peacable posse.- felon ol that feeigniory lor upwards of a century. The gmnt of the Seigniory of Mingan is of great antiquity and its •mi s and boundaries well established l>y title and charts in posLession oi' the Crovernment, to which easy reference can be had. Under the circumstances it is to be hoped that the Government will not entertain lor an instant any applications for grants of land, or any unbe- comnig. representations that may be made against the title and property of he Seigniors of Muigan, but, on the contrary, will discourage the anplLi- lons and representations of parties notoriously interested and dishono- lably engaged m the pursuit of impugning the title of others I may be permitted to say that in France and also in Endand such a proceeding by any party, .o lar from being entertained, would be frowned down by either governn,ent, goyernments always considering themsehl bound to uphold and cany out the grants and acts of their predeces^orr I have, &c., n. O. Andrews. Messrs. Errol R Lindsay and A. Lemoine, Esq , represent J of the seignory of Mingan, and G. O. Stuart, Esq., another |; perhaps the.se <^n men, residents of Quebec, might consider themselves entitled to slme om- munication similar to Mr. Abbott's on the part of Crown Lands departmem True copy, E. E. Tach^, Assist. Commis., Department of Crown Lands, Quebec, March 1883. H. O. A. od in such (mtc- L'Voeuhle in oveiy )!' Towiisliips i«i of Qik'Im'c, and disingenuously ntod lands ol'1h.> a view d'obtai il- ls. urgent in their hbor's properly. pains and used :.'o-propriotors of peacable posseji- tiquity and its II possession of overnment ■will lid, or any unbo- and property of ge the applica- d and dishono- rs. England such »uld be frowned ing themselves predecessors. Andrews. resent J of the ps these gentle- d to some com- ids department. H. O. A. 11 Attorney CIenek.vl'h Okkice 1' Q. Quebec, 8th January 1808. Du. BouRaEoia, City. Dear fiiR, I enclose herewith Mr, Stuart's letter and beg you to forward him the the documents which he solicits. Mr. Bouchette kuows all about the matter Yours truly, (Signed) GKDtON OUIMET. True copy, Department of Crown Lands, Quebec, March 1883. E. E. Tach6, Assist. Comm. Quebec, 6th January 1868. Sir, I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of yesterdiw dated the 4th instant, and beg to mcmtion that I shall be prepared in the matter of Mingan on the day you mentioned. Perhai)s you will be so o-ood as to facilitate the communicating to me of documents from the Department of Crown Lands which the Commissioner on the 29th of ().(o])er last .^ave ' directions to have prepared, but of which the material ones have not been sent. I have, &e.. True copy, Department of Crown Lands, Quebec, March 1883. G. 0. STUART, ^1 I w ■ifi : E. E, Tach6, Assist. Comm. 18 Montreal, March 2.')th, 1882, Sin, I havp tho honor to state that I am instructod by the propriotors of th. Mingaii seijr„iory to represent that they have just heard a report that an application has boon made to the Government at Quebec, for a lease, for a nominal sum, of the beach lots on the en^'re const of Labrador ; and that the subject is under the consideration of tho Government. In consequent e of this rumor, the proprietors caused inquiry to be made at Queb<«c, and have satisfied themselves that no such lease lius actually been executed ; but, ef course, they are imaw uro of whatreprescututiofis mnv have been made to the Government in furtherance of such application. For the last six months, the proprietors who are amongst the largest capitalists in this Province, have been investigating the methods of utilizing the iron sand, which is to be found on the banks of the Gulf, and in the beach lots in question. Their inquiries, both in England and in the United States, point to the conclusion that their original opinion of the value of the sand, which alone induced them to purchase the seigniory, is likely to be fully justified, and they have been for some time past in correspondence with persons, both in this country and in Europe, respecting arrangements foi establishing manufactories of iron, from the sand in question, which before long they hope to place in operation. * They have been advised, that although there may be no positive statute or law conferring pre-emption rights upon holders of property bordering on the sea, yet that the universal practice of the government of the late Pro- vmce of Canada, and of the Province of Quc1)l>c, has been to give the pre- ference of a lease or sale of such lots to the riparian proprietors. And the proprietors hare aloo been informed that notice was given to persons claim- mg to have purchased near the Natashquau Ptiver, that if they desired to exercise this right of pre-emption with regard to beach lots in front of their property, they might do so, at any time, within three months. Upon the whole, therefore, the proprietors believe that the rumour which has reached them 18 not deserving of belief, partly by reason of the enormous privileges which have been said to be asked for, and also because of their regarding it as incredible that the government would lease the beach lots in front of their propeity, without giving them the opportunity of applying for them. And they are confirmed in their disbelief of the rumour that such an act on the* part of the government would be an injustice of the grossest character to the proprietors individually and w^ould be most injurious to the interests of the country, in giving a property of such enormous mineral deposits to one person. '"^mm. 19 •ositive statute y bordering on f the late Pro- ) give the pre- tors. And the persons claim- ley desired to L front of their lis. Upon the h has reached ous privileges leir regarding )ts in front of ing for them, ach an act on sest character the interests il deposits to Notwithstanding that the proprielors cannot attach mm-h importance »o (he report in quostion, they have instructed mo to call the attention of the (lovernmenl to it, to requcNt the favor of a copy of any application that has Inen made and of any order or pro'eeding that has been taken up by the liovernment ujum such application and further to request that if it is the intention of th«^ Government to leasij or sell the beach lots in question the Ncigniors of Mingan aH the riparian proprietors may be allowed the uiual privilege of becoming the purchasers or lesf^ees. 1 have the honor to be, Sir, Your obedient servant, Alexander Dennistoun, To the Honorable The Provincial Secretary, Quebec. True copy, E. E. Ta(!HE, Assist. Commissioner. Department of Crown Lands, Quebec, 16th March, 1883. I';' Montreal, 10th April, 1882. Sir, I have the honor to apply for a lease for ninety nine years of a portion of the deep water or beach lots, to the extent of one hundred and twenty miles in all, along the front of the Seigniory of Mingan, extending from the Cap do Cormorants, along the northern shore ol the St Lawrence, Eastward, to the great bay towards the Esquimaux, where the Spaniards usually exercised the right of fishing called the Baie des Espagnols or the Baie Phil- lippeau. -The precise lots to be leased to be salected and desigaat.'d by me, within a period of two years, from the date of the lease now applied for. The purpose for whiih I wish to obtain the foregoing lease, is the exca- vation of the magnetic iron sand which exists at certain points upon the II' \'i''\ so mU\ SHjfi.iory and n,v,r, tho b..,vh lots alonir tho front ors....,..- , • i« my iijh.i.tion lorthwiti. I.> hriiwr «„ .|. i °' ^''iq-i.iorv. and it «u.d ore obtainea Irom tL- "ud lU lot"" '"" '"' "" "" ^'^' ^'"''"'^'^l I have th»> honor to bo, Sir, Yourobedi«>nt Norvttiit. * . ,. (Signed), Am.:xam)kr DesLtovs, lo tho Hon. Commi««ionor of Crown Lundn, / Province of Qncboc. j Trno Copy, EE, Tao„£., Asst. Commissioner. Dept. Crown Lauds, Qnebec, 15 ih March. *ti« Sir, Corrected application." Montreal, 10th April 1882. Norlhem ihore of the G^l oTs? '■y""' '>"''" ^^ Seigniory „„ ,h. ■'^^-i#?^ MOW upplu.d lor, and lon«os to ho ,s«ued. from timr i t.m... o,, l„t« «„ d,.Niffnut,.d, Th. pnrposo li,, .vl.i.-h I wish to ohfui,, fh,- loro-oi,,..- |.,is.> jn lo oxtrarl and innnuru.turo or othorwiMo dispcso of th,. ,„;.-nHir ir..„ sa.id whi.-h exists at .■..rtaini.uM.tM upon tho 8,.io,,.,„v in quo>ti«i,. as \v..|| as iiix.ii th.. hearh lots IVontiMir th." saui... and it is my iutonti.)n lorthwilh »., pnt my N.h..m.. n.to ..xe.;uti.)n, witli a view to >vhi..h I hiv., ho..,, mak.ii- .ostly and oxtonsivo inv.'sti.ifationi auion-tho iron mastors .W the Tuitod h tales and Juiropo. I h..nr to olirr, as a consideration lor snrh a lease, and as a i?narnnto.. I' my farnestnoHs in the matter, tlio sura of luo hun.hvd dollars (>^5n(>, to 1. paidonthesi-ning of the lease, t...rHh..r with a r.)yalty of liv,. c.-nls p.., ton, on all puriliod sand ore ohtaim-d from th.- sai.l h.-a- h lots. I would also state that I will agree to ooniuien.^.^ mitjing operath.nM withmaperiodofsixt.'en months from tho d.ooftho siirnatnro of said lease and continue said mining operations lor at h.ast six m..nths in ,.a. h year, durmg the .ontinuan.'o of tho leas., in .luostion, I'ailing which for any two consecutive years tho lease to be.ome nul. and void. I have the honor to be Sir. Your obedient Servant, (Signed), Ai.exandei Dennistoun, Acting as trustee for the proprietors . f Mingan Seigniory. To the Hon. Commissioner of Crown Lands. Province of Quebec. True Copy. E. E. Tach£, Asst. Comm. Department of Crown Lands, Quebec, loth Mars, 1883. ^^■^u. n Quobcc. April 20th 1882. Hon. E. J. Flynn, Commissionor of Crown Luuls, Dear Si u, * Kderring to corrospondonco I had with your Dopartmontoii thesnbieot of that partoftheshoroofthoKivorSt. Lawrence iontin/.h S^^^^^^^^^ of Miuffan, between Cap Cormorant and the Kivor Ao-wanm s on Xh I have been granted the right to mine for iron sand ibr^ e d "l" yeaV I now beg leave to inform you that I hereby relinquish ny rth to mtno on the said property (between Cap Cornaoraut and the Riv fLwan ) Very respectfully, Your obt. servt., <'^'«»«^^ Sam. E. St. 0. CHAPLEAr. True copy. E. E. Tach£, Assist.-Commissiouer. Department of Crown Lands, Quebec, 15th March 1883, Montreal, 13th May, 1882 Sir, Keferring to ray application of 20th April last, I no w beg leave to annl v .a.wa.a a>o.., .T-el-^^f rrL^n'rai^r 3'.""' ""^^'-^ 2nd. For ten miles, commencing at the east bank of the river St Toh,, ■^mmm. Sd 20th 1882. it on the subject I ho Soigniory US, on which I 10(1 of 15 years, right to mine ver Agwanus) mage resulting HAPLEAfj 3rd. For five miles, commencing at the east bank of the river Natash- quan, and extending eastward alono- the shore of the St. Lawrence, being twenty five miles in all. I have the honor to be, Sir, Your obedient servant, ALEX.4NDER DeNNISTOUN. . The Honorable * Commissioner of Crown Lands, Province of Quebec. True copy, E. E. Txcnt, Asst.-Commissioner. Department of Crown Lands, Quebec, 15th March, 1883. m m Montreal, 31st May, 1§82. May, 1882. eave to apply commencinjr id extendiuff ver St. John, shore of the Sir, In the prospect of having extensive operations carried out in develop- ing iron lands of the North Shore of the St. Lawrence, I desire to purchase sufficient land to secure a good water power at the first falls on the River St. John, near Mingan post. I enclose a rough sketch of the river at this point, showing, within the red lines, the exte^^ of land required, containing probably from 600 to 800 acres. The distance from the St. Lawrence is about 25 miles following the course of the river or probably about 20 miles in a direct line. Rafts of sawn timber can descend the river without interruption. u I ha\e the honor to be Sir, Your obedient Servant, (Signed), Alexander Dennistoun, ihe Hon. Commissioner of Crown Lands, Province of Quebec. True Copy. K- E. TACHJ5, Asst. Comm. Derpartment of CroM-n Lands. Quebec, 10th March, 1883. Dominion Telegraph Company. Department of Crown Lands, 17 May 1882 MR. Alexander Dennistoun, Montreal. '- E. E. TACH£, True copy, E. E. Tach£, Assist. Comm. Dept, C. Lands, Quebec, 15th March 1883. Assist. Commissionev. -i-^«#^. 25' ill sell this loca Montreal, 2nd June 1882. :nnistoun, 8lR, Will you be pleased to causo a lease to be prepared for me in terms of the Order in Council, in my favor dated the 3 1st May 1882 and inform me here when it is ready. I shall then proceed to Quebec to comply with the said Order in Council and receive the lease. 1 have the honor &c.. Your 0})(Mli(>iit ^^i^rvant, AliEXANDKU l)KNNIf«T0UN. The Honorable Commissioner of Crown Lands, Quebec. True copy, E. E. Taohe, Assist. Comm. Dept. C. Lauds, Quebec 15th March 1883. I fay 1882. r in Council ce no action jrovernmeiit. CHE, missiouev. (By telegraph from Montreal.) 14th June, 1882. E. E. Tache, Department of Crown Lands. When can you send draft of lease to Dennistoun. Answer. Hurry matter if you can. J. A. ClIAPLEAU. True copy, E.E. Taohe, i Assist. Commissioner. Department of Crown Lands, Quebec, 15th March, 1883. ( 2e I (By telegraph from Montreal.) To E. 1. TAcnt, '^"'^"'' '^''^ •^""^' ^««-- department Crown Lands. Ti-ue Copj', E. E. Tac-hk, Assist. Commisioner, l^epartment of Crown Lands. Quebec, 15th March, 1883. name notary. ' P^^Pare lease ' Alkxaxder Denm.stoun. VR. Montreal, 11th August 1882. gan dated the 21st June last, I herebT'v a '' *'^ Seigniory of Min- of the present proprietors of the Seilfor? •^^j!'^"^""-^ ^o you the names Mmgan," viz : '^'S^^^^J o* Mmgan or "Terra Firma de Sir Hugh Allan, Knight, Andrew Allan, Esquire, John James Rcdpath, Esquire G-rge Alexander Drummond', Esquire, alloftheCityofJ^Zr"^""^^^^"^^ Also the heirs of thf' lata tt^„ li , * -my. viz: Octane Vi.cJrB":::";^^', ""■ •I'--"'-, of Mo». ""■ea, geulloBan, residing ia the Parish of ^ J^ino, 1882. to prepare lease EN'M.STOU\. 27 I have the lionor to be, Sir, Your obt. servant, (tMgued) Alexander Dennistoun The Honorable Commissioner of Crown Lands, Province of Quebec. True Copy. E. E. Tache, Assist.-Comm. ' Dept. C. Lands, Quebec, 15th March 1883. ?ust 1882. ig to me the ruiory of Min- '^ou the names erra Firma de n, of Mont- the Parish of the 31st May 1882 ^^ "^ ^^ '^'' Lieutenant-Governor, on No. 18. Present : The Honorable Mr. Lynch, Chairaaa, . I' " " Flynn, Paquet, Wiirtele. In Council. ..inlh May „t3 ,1 »; "rT"'';,''' *'™""' '"■"'' """O 'he tw™.y 1 ermit to « ork th„ deposus of mns,.olio sand on the beach ■ I 28 ofapnrtoniuMiorth.shoreofthoRivor St. Lawronco and submits it for the approval of the Lieutoiiuiit-Govcrnor. (Signed). To the Houoral)le Commissionor of | Crown Lands. J True Copy, E. E. T.wnt, Assist Comm. Dopt. Crown Lands, Quoboo, 15th March, 188;?, GUSTAVJ-: GRENIfiR, I)op. Clei^lc, Ex. Council. Upon (lie request of Alexander Donnistoun, for a permit to wo-k the deposits of niagnetie snnd on the beacli of a part of the north shore of the river St. Lawrence. Tiie undersiirned. Commissioner of Crown Lands, has the honor to represent : That, by his letter of the 10th April, 1882, Alexander Dennistoun esquire, acting for and in the name of persons styling themselves proprietors oi the Mingan seigniory, requests a permit or lease granting him the privilege of working, during ninety nine years, the deposits of magnetic iron sand, on the beach oilhi> norlli .shcre oi' the river St. Lawrence over an extent or ah^ut one hundred and twenty iive miles, to be chosen and taken '-between Cap Cormorant and Great Iky, towards the Esquimaux, where the Spaniards usually exercised the right to fish." That Samuel E. St. O. CMiaploau, esquire, has, by his letter of the ^3rd instant, given up to the Crown all the rights xvhich he might have on such beach, by and in virtue of an Ordor in Council, dated tho 15th March last. That the undersigned, without admittino- i„ any way the existence of the rights of the persons who claim to be proprietors, as Seigniors of the territory bordering on 1 he ..id b.ach, but at the «ame time desirino- to encourage the woridng of the deposits of magnetic ..and, recommends That .-■^•, 29 submits it for JKENIER, Wc, Ex. Council. nit to work the rtJi shore of the i the honor to -•r Deunistoun, Ivos proprietors iting him the its of magnetic Lawrence, over be chosen and he Esquimaux, :ter of the 23rd might have on ho 15th March !ie existence of igniors, of the iie Jeisiring to oramcnds that Ihe Commissioner of Crown Lands be authoriztnl to grant and sign in favor of the said Alexander iJennistoun, esqnire, a lease or permit liiving him the privilege of working, during :]') or !»1) years as it may be here.ifter stipulated, dating from this day, the iron ore or magnelic sand, over an extent of beach not exceeding one hundred and twenty live miles to 1)0 chosiMi between Cap Cormorant and the lliver Aijrwannus or Goynish, and this only between low water mark and hiuh water mark. That the said lease or permit be granted on the Ibllowiuii- couditiony: lo. The said extent of beach to be chnsi'n and described by the said Alexander Dennistouu and notice of the choi 'v and de.scripliou lo be given to the Comrrtissioner of Crown Lands in the course of the two years following the date of the lease ; 2o. Mr. Dennistouu shall pay in cash, before the passing and siiinint>- of the lease, to the Commissioner of Crown Lands, a sum of live hundred dollars ; 3o The said Dennistouu shall be obliged to i)ay unnually to tlic said Commissioner of Crown Lands, on the Jirst day of November, of eacli year. a rent equal to five cents for each ton of magnetic sand in its natural state taken during the year, whatever may hi the amount (>xtraiti'd the said Alexander Dennistouu being obliged to furnish the Commissioner of Crown Lands, every year, on the first of Moveni1)er, with a statement sworn to by the persons managing the work ; sm^Ii statement to show the number of tons of magnetic sand taken during the preceding' twelve uiontli.s ; — moreover the Commissioner of Crown Lands may, as often as he deems fit, and by whomsoever he pleases, have the working of (he sand deposits inspected, and in such case, the employees of the said Alexaiubn' Denuis- toun. fchall give the Inspector all the necessary information and help which he may require ; 4o Taking into account the number of tons of magnet ii- :s:uid taken during the year, the five cents payable for and upon each ton would not make the Slim of at least five hundred dollars, the minimum annual lease stipu- lated, it should be agreed and settled that the said Alexand'r i^.'iinislouii shall be obliged to pay at least the said sum of live liuudred dullar.s a year ; 5o. Finally the undersigned recommends that tliis leu se be gia^il d upon the express condition that in the course of the eighteen iiuuiths dating from this day, the said Alexander Dennistouu, shall ereet, <'siablis!i put in and operation within the limits of this Province, either l)y himwelfor ) I .30 Ul! lo.'iiis oi" a , s;t J>o» ; (iio said I id uiii"' iiif ^^^mr sand inu, piy-iro,,, or diirtil P"'Po.s.>, a Inrnar,. for Hu: ''xlraclion oi' th uninco to ho k,.,,( at worl, 'J and malloabK while the ]oaso exist id jind '."• '•"»'"""■"» ^v'th the work ol nn- at h>;\st six inoiiths oaoh inco provodthatsncii.smplt yoar iiigcau «o. IJut it is agreed th the satisfaction of tli •It ifiiltor trijils niiid « I^it'utoii;uit-C '■ ''I S'ood fiiitl '» it is found t '"^m^n Ol me Jvieutoiinii n. ,. • ^ -i- ">♦ •■mn n, j,s lound to i-oii at a net price l],at ^vhivh >!i''»'s to mill. "■on, the said Ah-xander ]) l>onuitioini)t>tition\vith "iJ^o, may export the nia,o-n,.tir s '""'"■- recommends that sliould (he said wm-niory and should it 1 >t'yoiid (he said R "vstahlish their title and riiiht 1 nd,s that it 1 Oovernmen( should Aii-vvanus or (Jovnisi <0 work the dei;osits ol IVSpoctiv,' Jo! ;, U H' .stipulated in the ■'■'I"' to owners of lo(s to the J. .similar Ji maiiiieti.' sand H't-'Jises or lease; ''ynt'tic sand taken •'xtent of bt>ach as ntire extont of the «nty milos jn .jj] j^^^ said lease that if the east of tht^ said lii m liver that in case (he S I'' eondidon b Ol •nscrii'd in th I >ho beach in f niii' them the rio-ht .said 1 '■ont of their "•"u iji case 111!' ,N,«]ci.nin,.c r.(' AT- , '^""^ to ™,.h !„,.. ,i„. .,± ™:: .'i",'f" " "•■"'!''' •■»'»''ii^i' the and void for th'f lidi 'll(Ul\ oas^s and li hoiild '"'om that tiineb eases or licenses iv right and title me b.^comij null ^o The uiideisio-ned further sn.>,.,Ml wonder justice to ,i,c persons who c^h a to iJ'T'T'"^' '^''^ '" "'"^^'^ '^- of Uje territory adjoining M,., ,aid b.H ■ " /^'^ ""'^^T' -^^^ Proprietor, o Mnigan" the saM Alexander J m^'^^T"^' ;"''^^ " ^^^^»-y ^vnown to the Goven.ment theuami ml ' '^\ '''*^^""^ d«lay, make P^-cns who thus claim to be pro "^ ^ " i^''^^^^'^'^'' '' -^3'- "^ the -ul proceedings, with tlie obji ot'c^ I • Ji '''^ ^^''"^"^•3'; and judi- '>S-hts and (itl..s of the said person tit, 'V ' '^?''""^^ ^'^'^^^« P^-*'t'-^»^ °^*^^'^i " "" '^'''" '^ ^»''^' judgment. And in di rase it shoiiM hr alisl,, and inh.i. i" I^, " i;" ' ^ '-"l-'T. su.h por- perm., shall l,u li.nit.d h, a puriod , r U , . '" ' *''""' ^^'" ^^^'««»t hand, it he d.vid.d Ihal . p . ull . ^ 'r'^' 'T' I'"' <"^ "^^^ "ther »nu.(y nine years ibr su, h p:.^' , I^ "!,, ' '""T";' ^"""'' ^^'" ^^ <^'- ^or 'h. ... oi.vhi..h..y'a...;:,t::;;:rt;i.r; ^^ ^---^ !*o. This lease will in .,11 ,.„^.,, i , • logoswhichnowexistc: w, :^^"f''''^'';-'''*h^' -^^ts and privi- roj?ul«tionsolthis IVc.vin.v //Lv or c^^ l.i "•'• '" '''''''' "^"^^e laws and the intention ollhe aoverun , .' ,! /: "7;" r'''^^'"'^"'-l^'-°l^"^t"'-« ^ to the said Alexander ])onnis,o:^ ' We H ", f'T '"?" ""'>' ^'' "^"^ of magnetic iron sand over an exte t o = , • ^vorking the deposits choose in virtue of these prm-nts ^^''^' '''^''"^ ^*' ^as a right to --'^^i^r!^^^^^^ *^^"^^"i". any of the come null and void ; and in such vZih ?i '"'" ^' P""'^'^ ^^all be- not have *he right to olaim^^h ; ;::Ji:;::^l ^^-^- ^^"'"^^^"" «^«» paid ni virtue of the said ieaso t . hi Pn '"^' '"^"">' ^" "^'^y have of any sums which he may wtt.d?^"" ''"'""' ^''^'^^^^'" ^'^"^l^. "or of the said lease. " '^^P^"'^"! "i imp:ovements in the execution KespectfuUy submitted, ('Signed), K. j. p,^,,,.^.^ Commissioner of Cro^^'n Lands (Si-^nod), GU..TAVK Grkmkr, Department of Crown Lands Quebec, 29th May, LS82.' Adopted 20th May, IBS'? (Signed), • \Y. ^y, l,-j,.^,„ True Copy of the Copy. E- E. Taohe, Asst. Coram. Department of CroM^i Lands. Quebec, 15 March, 1883. Dep. Clerk Ex. Council. l(l 32 0)1 this (lay llif fwiMify lirst nf.Iuii.\ ono thousand eiffht hund and oi, the niidorsiono,! Kotary Tuhlic for the Trovinro of Qu(>l)i., , rosidino- at (he City ol Moiitroal, in th(( said Province. r»'isoiially ciimo and aj>])eart'd: Tho lloiiomblc I'Mwanl Jauu'.s Flynn, of tlio City of Quebec, actins; in his (|U!ili Commissioner of Crown Lands a premium of iive hundred dollars ; the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged. So. That the said Alexander Dennistoun shall be obliged to pay \m\o\ the Honorable Commissionuer of Crown Lands annually on the first dav d November, a rent or sum of five cents for each and every ton of the said 88 I'iSquiro,— of tli !(1 and agrood as maguotio iron sand in its natural Htatn i,} nin, h. ,\ n. , year, whatever the nuanfi^v T ^y^^'^^''*^) gathered during the Alexander Do „LtorSLhf;?f r ^■'^^'^^ -'^X bo ; the%aid miHsioner ,.f ^^^own La^d "i '"'"'"'^^ '" ^"""«^ *« *!»" Honorable Com. statement «worn o atf tnodT T '" *'' ""^ "^"^^ «*" November a exploitation; saMl^lXtt^^^^^^^ *^J --"^^ of ore gathered during the last twelve months ^^^ • ^ "*^"'"' agreed that the Honorable Coml'iorr o c-^'' T^ ''' "^ '"^ made, as ofteji as ho will . """"'**"°"er ol Crown Lands may cause to be .aw the employM« of the «.i,l Al j "' "Pl°>"'t.ou atid m every such give to the OovLlm ufThZlfo r,h ' ."r"'"'°"" """" '« '«"'«' '<> which the latter .h.U;e^„rCtW° ' °"'""°" ""' """ •"-'""™ .mount of thr.'„'::f,:t4reS";?rhojf.r' 'r- ^ """'"•"" in any of the .aid years not heT-ffi^ should the number of tons gathered i» every such ^Hhe saY/ »^■™ , '° ?f'^"''' *"' ''"™'''» "'™ «'"> thes.id'lu„of«vrkul^eTl.,t:rre™^sX::r.''"''' ""^ '"'"'"' monih. fLm\t\wlfy'T„t j::;t'r' r.' " "''™"''' »'•"«'"- into operation and working oil ■.? May last, erect, esUblish and put bee. eHher by htosTlf or bv ^fl ''"' ""'""'"' "'""' J"'"™"^' »' «"<>■ tory (usine) to clothe ritZ^J^K"'*'"^" *" """ '^^ ' ""»»'-■ «»" m«,nr«;tory(uaine)tohe W ,■ ' "'?'«''''« iron or steel; the said the works of Ixril^^fst^d:^';?'''"'^".'''""""''' ""'" '"^ard to in e«;h year of the torn Z '"^'""= "t"^' dwmg at least sii months established a^d p»v«l^h.t IT r?'"" T™' '<""• P'<>"-»«d it is ana proved that such reduction can be done in this Province iif « II i 84 that itN limit towards the East k boyoii,! the said Rivor Ajrwunus or Ooynish, then tho Government shall grant unto them the same nriviWes 41. to mining rights, as those herein granted and lor the same price or rent ol five ecmts for each ton of magnetic iron sand gath^ed in its natural state {nNtatfn-ul) as aforesaid, upon all sm h additional beach that the said Alexander 1 ennistoun shall choose, provided however that the whole miles in aT '" "° '""'"'^ '''"" "°^ "^"'"'^ ''"' ^""'^'"'^ ^'"^ ^^^-'^^^ It being also stipulated and agreed that in case the Government should f?rant to proprietors of lots on the east side ol' said River Agwanus or Ooyiush similar luenses or leases granting them the right ot" exploring and working the u.uguet.c sand upon the beach in front of their respective ots; such l.cen.-e.s„r leases shall be so granted under the express condition, to « ,"h iT ?k' ^"'^T" "*' ^'"^"" ''^"" '''-''^'^''^ ^*^«''- "S-^ts and titles to such lots, the said luenses or leas(>* shall become null and void and of no effect from thence and for ever in 'the future. f., '^''i V' ^"'^^''' "^'''''''^ ""'^ understood that in order to act rightly towards the persons who pretend to be the Seigniors and proprietors of the territory contiguous to said beach and commonly called the " Seignory of Miugan the said Alexander ])eimistouir, shall denounce and give without delay to the Government the name, and corporate titles, if they terri'toT'a^V^ ^T'*''' ''?° '" ^'''^"''"^ *^ ^'' '^' proprietors of the said QueS'.T ? proceedings, the object of which will be to decide the shTn n?" '\Tir'"''^'^ "-^^'^ "^■•^^ '''^'' «^ "^^"d l-^-"« to the owner- de rif tw.h '^;."'^^ ^''^'''"' '^>' *'^" G^overnment of Quebec, in ^ delay of tweh e months and continued ^v:;h diligence until final judgment. nri^f^""^ J" '?' '^ '^°"^'^ ^" adjudged that these parties are really pro- ZrioTV iT ^''''''^'''^' to test their title to be taken within the said between the ht^^^^^^ of exploitation of the extent of the beach vellV^f ^1 r '"'"*'' ™"'^' ^^"" ''''''' ^'""^ ^ P«"«d of ninety nine and titles ?r ■'"'u'^'^ *^^' ^'^^^ ^'''''' ^^^^°t establi.h their rights to be «^'n '^ «7^«^«h>P «f the said property and do not cause the sLe aid su t^^^^^^^ "' f "^"*^' ^^ '''' ''^'' *"^"-» -»*-«' «d with the years '''''' ^''"* '^'" ^' ^'"^'"'^ *" '^ P'^"^^ ^^ *^'«»ty fi^'« by the ntrrr; is' l^'^^.^^^^f^lthat part only of said territory so claimed ha 1 bi^fo nS '?"'°'' '* ^^"^'^" ^^^^ ^^^^"8" t- them, the present grant shall be for ninety nine years for that part of the said territory, and for ''i^^m ^^"^*«i^. 8« gwanus or » privileges, if*' or rent itural state vt the said the whole ud twenty eat should •wauus or exj)lorinj[«; respective condition, and titles 3id and of ^t rightly tors of the jignory of and give }s, if they f the said iecide the le owner- ebec, in fT udgment. eally pro- imeut do 11 the said he beach nety nine 3ir rights the same with the enty five twenty five years for the other part for which they will not bo acknowledged as Seigniors thereof. Oo. The present grant or lease is thus made subject to all the rights and privileges actually existing or which Nhall exist in the I'utnre under and by virtue of laws and regulations of this Province in favor of all riparian occupants or proprietors : the intention of the Government in making this grant or granting this lease, being only to grant unto the said Alexander Dennistoun the exclusive privilege of exploring and working th»( forvuginous magnetic sandu upon th(5 extent of beach which he has the right to choose in virtue of these presents. In default by the said Alexander Dennistoun to fulfil all and every the clauses and conditions liereinabove imposed, the present grant or lease shall become null, void and of no elf.-ct whatever ; and iu such case the said Alexander D«mnistoun .sjmll not have the right to claim the reimlmrs- m^nt of any sum or sums of money which he will have paid, in virtue hereoi; unto the Honorable ( 'ommis.sioner of Crown Lands, nor ol any sum or sums of money which he will have spent in ameliorations, works and improvements in the execution of the present grant or lease : And lor the due execution hereof the said parties have made election of domicile at the Crown Lands office in the City of Quebec, where &;c. For thus etc. Done and passed at the said City of Montreal, at the Windsor Hotel, on the day and year first above written under the number fire thousand six hundred and eighty one, the said parties mating as aforesaid, having signed these presents, first duly read according to law. (Signed,) E. J. FLYNN, Com. C. L. ALFXANDEK DENNISTOUN, LS. N. DITMOUCHEL, N. P. True copy of the original hereof remaining of record iu my office. (Signed,) Ls. N. Dumouchel, N. P. claimed ent grant and for i1 ■ -l m (No. 58.) RETURN To Addrew of the Legislatire Assembly praying for : A copy of .he factum of the Houorabk G. Oki.I S.„.rt, in favor of persons r'-rVrr^C" -.-yofMin.an; ..LZl Department of Crown Lands. Quebec, 19th May, 1868. The undersigned respoctfully bogs leave to submit for the information of the Honorable J. O. Beaubien, Commissioner of Crown Lands, the accompanying memorandum, on the subject of the stated Seigniory of Terra Firma of Mingan, prepared specially in reference to the printed memorandum over the name of G. Okill Stuart, esquire, referred to the undersigned in connection with the report he had the honor of submitting to the Commissioner in December last, on the subject of the proposed survey " en bornage " to establish the boundaries between the said stated Soio-niory described in the Seigniorial Schedule No. 108, as in possession of th° heirs Richardson and the adjacent waste lands of the Crown. The printed memorandum abovementioned in the margin of which are inserted in red ink the corresponding number opposite such of the para- graphs therein, as have called.for the remarks and observations of the under- signed in his memorandum, is herewith returned. (Signed). Joseph Bouchette, Depy. S. Genl. if-. I Memorandum. Respecting the Seigniory of Mingan, or Terra Firma de Mingan. This Seignicry, extending from Cape Cormorant along the Northern Shore of the SJ. Lawrence, to the Bay " des Espagnols," has been held by the present proprietors,, and those through whom they derive title for upwards of two hundred years ; and their possession has been uninter- rupted until the- last few weeks, when attempts appear to have been made to disturb this possession by an officious intermeddling of persons desi- rous of raising disputes and controversies between the Executive Govern- 40 m. I/J meat of the country and the proprietors, and this with a view to thHr n speculative projects and purposes. ^^'"^ °^" It may not be altogether immaterial to premise thaf of « ,r« penod i„ ,he history of .his country, the Spa^irrZas": 11 .s .h^le::: G„1f iw^r """""''r* «»'"»S''«'«'>l»l>»ieni,i„ Newfoundland S ' opjn,o„, that had been previously expressed by the fl hermr?f pll ;t" <:fcard::xt^t::r^ •"' ~- '- -=-"r The right to this extensive region, after the earlier disputes with Fnr. generally ^vhatev; rgU brfoui^tlZ'S,;"^ «-lers. islands, and such manner as the CompTymi-hUWufp^^;',!" """",""'' ""'' "' such titles and honors, n^htl and' :wet "^Te ° St^hl t„rm 'xTe Company bec.ame proprietors of this part of America in r'rtuc of the „Im ^u^s:;i;to.4ruuh:;trn^-r^"^^ usually exc^ojsed the right of fishing, by two leagues in depth oHn th language of the grant itself: •' La tenefenne de Min.an, / S.^i^« / ou /e.s- Espagnoisjont ordinairemenl la p,che, sur deux lieues de profond^^>^ Two years after this grant, the Company of New France surrendered the country of New France to His Most .Christian Majesty 4TTu Se ■'-^^4$^' 41 •iew to their own monhof March, lbG3 accopted th.surrena.r, whou th. Governmeut ceased bo a P opnotary and he.-am.. a Ifoyal Gov.rumont. whi.h was ibllovved bytho Edict of the month ofMay,l.i.;i, estal>]ishino- th. West India Comply J^ranting o , Canada. Acadia, the islands olNe wtottndland and other i Ws and manx and Jrom the North or the said country M- C^^^^^^^^^^ moth "f n'" '?^^"''^' ^''^"^^'>^ "^^^ Jurisdiction. The Edict ot'tho Tov^ai ^'~^<^^^^^«^' 15-*'/Wo..sing this company, reestablished the Ro>al Government of Cannda. which was preserved IVom that time until he cession of Canada to the Crown ol Great Britain. In the intcvim l>etween the surrender ofthe company of Xeu' France and lh,.l olil.. West ndia Company VIZ. : on the 11th ot Ivbruary. Id,),., H.,llv and homaov was' rendered by the grantee or proprietor ollhe S.Mo-.uorv o!' Min^au, as established by the mos undisputable testimony in the ordinance ol the IL'th May 17.33 when It will a so be. seen that the original grant of liJ.Jl was destroyed b^ a fire m the Lower Town ot Que]>ec about fifty two vears before that ordinance, say about the year KlHl. /?., h \M"° '''•''"'" necessary to esta]>lish the limits of tlio Domame du ^* better known „i modern days as the " King's Posts," in the Saguenay County and with a view to vest in the Farmer-General the possession of that extensive tract ot country, proc.eedings were instituted in the name of Pierre Carler, Farmer-General of France, against the family and des- cendants of the above named grantee and proprietor, Fran9ois' Bissot in reference to so much only of the property in cjuestion as thev i>ossessed between the Tsfe.nuuXE.fs and a short distance (four or five leay-ues) below It; and a reiereiu-e to these proceedings will shew that the representatives iIh t tr' "Tf i'"""/'"' ^''""^■"•■^ ^^''''''' -^^'^' ''^' ''' «un-eudered all the land to the west of Cap Cormorant which they had occupied under the original grant of 16G1, part of that for which they had rendered fealty and homage on the 11th of February, im, and this portion was under the ordinance in question, re-united to the Doomme d„Rot or " King's Posts." Whether a Hire uouvel was or was not" taken out for the remaining por- tion of the original grant of the Seigniory in U501, it is dilficult, after the lapse of nearly a century and a half, now to say ; but a familiarity with the law and practioo on subjects of this nature renders apparent that the takiiio- out of a new title is merely confirmatary of a pre-existing one and, in no manner, affects or impeaches the first ; it is, in fact, a more recognition and confirma- tion of the^ old one ; and the reference to such a step quite strengthens the title as It had previously existed, and in this instance, the object to be attained would seem to bo to secure, on the one hand, the feudal rio-hts of tne Crown and, on the other, evidence of the contents of the burned title. 6 42 1661 to the 2th 01 May, 1733, undisturbed possession of the property in four or five leapes below It and, it beincv no longer desirable that thev knowt to ^h '' r 'T' ^'^""''^ •*' °^' ^' ^^'^^^^^ Cormorant, they, for reason, kuowii to themselves, and to meet the views and wishes of the Govern- ment ot the day, surrendered the same ; their title to the remainder of the grant continuing unimpaired and unquestioned. • '^'""^'''^^^ ^t th. As incident to th.- grant of the S.^gniory oi the Terre ferme de Min-an a subsequent grant of th« Seigniory of the Isles et Islets de Mingan, upon the same coast and innnediately in front of and of the some extent ah 12th day of March, 1b79, eighteen years after the grant of the Seigniory ol' as A^e] by the crown as by the proprietors, the two Seigniories have been recog„,.ed as co-existing Seignories in possession of the ^'resent proprietor and their auteur. tor more then 200 years without trouble or molestation The concession or grant of this Seigniory is as follows : « la Jn^Tv ?^'^7"r"' ^^'''^^^'' du Roi en ses conseils, Intendant de pays de la France Septentrionale. "A tons <;eux que ces presentes lettres verront, Salut,-A savoir • Lalande et Louis Johet, demeurant a (^,ieber. a ce qu'il nous pleust leur vou oir accorder en titre de fief, seigneurios. haute, moyenne et basse justice, les isles et islets appelees Mingan, estant du cote dit nord et qui «e suivent jusques a. la bale appellee I'Anse aux Espagnols, auxquels heux lis d6sireraient faire des etablissements de peche I moru; ei loups- manns. Nous, en vertu de pouvoir, a nous donnepar Sa Majeste, conioin- tement avec monsieur le Comte de Frontenac, conseiller du Roi en ses conseils, Gouverneur et Lieutenant General pour Sa Majeste en ce pays avons, au dits Louis Lalande, fils. et Jolliet, donne. accorde et concfid^' donnons. accordons et concedons par ces presentes les dits isles et islets Mingan, etant du cote nord, et qui se suivent jusques a la Baie -appellee 1 Anso aux Lspagnois, pour en jouir avec eux leurs hoirs et avant cause • seronttenusde porter au Chateau St. Louis de Quebec, duquel ils rele- jront, aux droits et redevances accoutumees, et au desir de la coutume de la Pr6vott6, ViscomtA de Paris, qui sera suivie pour cot ugard par <( ct (I i( II il II r('sontes dans un an. Au temoin de quoi ' nous avons sigiie ces presentcs, a kvWvs fait apposer le sceau de nosarmes, et contresigiie par notro secretaire. Dontie a Quebec le lOme iour do mars 1679. (Signe) DUCHESNEAU. " Registre suivant I'arn^st du Conseil du 4 o<-tobre 1680, intervenu en •' consequence d'arrest du «- "f '"'™- paj,^e 315, 8vo. edition.) --i'",-,-"!. (,j /i,/,^,. g^ Grdontumces, ■ ^^' ^ollowino. i.s a copy of tlu.s important dormnmt : " autro«, do no .i ^- t^ s^S '""^ "^ ^^'"'- ^^''^"^^"^ ^' *«»« • " -nde.de.- ;:d;i^:;;,tSH-:^^^ " ailles Ho.quart, lite. " oon,Il';\;X;;;;;trr,::itrd'''''''"r'' '" 'T ^'""" I'Handebourg, " «t P.opri«iin •" , . , f .• :: :i: i:'n '-"t t ''"'"^■■- O""' « ■' .la «..„,- I.>„„c„i,, llissoCi,, ,„'...„ 7 ,;,",'""'■'"'■ '"""■ """f »"n^e. des.-puteaupo.sted.. :\rinoaii Donr ..llm. ;i • , '^ ''"^^*''^' ^'t de iaire •■ >.rado,. e„ ca!,ot, a,i,. ,1a. ^ ii .J tt '.".'ru ^ k", ""'f J"^''":* '- " .'. Labrador, ,„ qui ^ " i ^ A ' !^' , 7 i ° ?'■"'*'"'■ '"" "" '"^^ ""i'" trouverait hors d'«at de satisfaire a «« o„g41o,.tl ; ''° ° '" ■■ sie«/'s::l;;i":'r;t,,.::'';i;r ;i;'" ""■■» •"« '■-« d.fe„.« »« d^t -....,. d^p^da... jr^:ytx=a«'^- :i-- .^^^Oil;.. 45 dps Kspapriiols. between that I' ill. the Lower t the year 1681. Iiriotors should oeu Cape Cor- )Hicc of Inten- iient rendered ling with the t C.'dunnances, ier de la Sei" Hague et tons iwx la conces- c. laudebourg, igan, dont il Mars, veuve iieuf annees I' devant M. pris que le ^i de iaire iusqu'a La- son chemin ' les attirer iverait que suppliant, it poste se ises au dit lit lieu de poste pour les altiror a Labrador o« ailleurs. sous telle p.ine et u.aond. quil nous pWa arbitrer et p. .ettre au suppliani de l.ire lin>. pul.lier e. alli.her 1 ordonnanee qui niterviendra, partout ou bosoin s.r., a .e que p -rsonne u en puisse pretendre rause d'ignorance ; j ^ "La requete signee "Volant d'llau.lebourg " au bas de hu,uelle " '11 ''^°""'r'' ? '^''' '^'' '^'^-'''''^ ''^''••' ''"'"H"-. l-t'^t! soit * nmiuuque au Sieur Brouague, pour .-n vej.ir devant nous Ic lendeniain a dix heures du matin ; ' ^^ " La signili,-ation des dites re,,uete et .".rdonnan.v, laite au Sieur Brouague par Clesse, huissior, en date- dn vingt du dit nioi. davril -ive.' " assignation a comparaitre pardevant nous au dit jour, etc : " L..S parties ay.uit eomparu, ieelles onies, et apro. ,,ue par le dit Sieur ^ de Brouague a etedit qu'il n'entend point traiter ave. d'autres sauva.ves qftaveeeeux qui sont et.qui viennent sur sa eon.ession el sur e,^le " appartenantau Sieur La Valtne.A vingt-deuxlieuesde la baie IMielvpoaux qv.il a .vttermee du dit Sieur La Valtrie, et que ee n'est uni,,ue,nent qu,:' pourarriver plutot ohozlui qu'il prend le p.rti de s'y rendreen rhaloupe ; ^ Nous avons donne aete au Sieur Volant de la de.laralion dn dit Sieur d,. ^ Brouague, en consequence, faisant del'enses au dit Sieur d. Brouao-ue et ^^ a tons aiitres do traiter avec les sauvages, autres ,p,e eeux qui se trouve-' ront sur leurs concessions, a peine do tons depens, donimages et interets 31andons, etc. Fait a Quebec, le deux mai mil sept cent trente-six." (Signe), H<)('(irAi;T. By dea^ofleaso before Panot and i el i4eh d". Miw-^ni and of the island of Anticosti leased this property from Cap. Cormomnt to the Bay Espagnols or Bay Thelipeaux. The following are extra.'ts iVoni this deed : « " Par-devant les notaires publics de la jn-ovince de (^ui-b ..-, y rosidant - soussignes, furent presents, Francois Joseph Cugnet, e/uier, s.'igiV.urde St '• Etienue, au nom et comrae ayant cpouse Demoiselle Jos.^iht^ del ilbntaine " et comme charge du pouvoir de Joseph de Lafontaine ; Fr.nicois 1,'n-esque' " ecuier, au nom et comrae charge de la procuration de (lilies d > Lilbnt vine •'• "Pierre Marcoux, au nom et comme charge de la procuration d'Autoiu^ dJ " Lafontaine. faisant tantpour eux et se portant fort Dour Mari- de L (ruiitaino •' Madeleine de Lafontaine et Francois do LiUbutuiue, auxquel.s ilspvoiucttout 46 mo. .0 .omm.. ]...,•.....,■. '-"»t« '^t qui so suivont r«.u, ,■..„„.,., /■„,„„,„ t,mt ,„„„ ,.„^ „, „. ':;" ■ ''"''>"' TiHoho- ■ .omii,-.,,, ; J„.,.,„h l)..»aa,„l,aui ,\ , r' D V S a",!™'"*' "''"• .com,,,,. re,.,v»„,„„„t 1,.3 Writiers .1„ ,K.r„„t .I„l|iel AnlLti au loH '• hentioKs it. : ro ' ; ausH pour .urs parts ot portions oomme " en v.Mf,. .\n '; "'" •'"'''^<' l»'^»Pn.-tairo do la .soijrneuriedo I'ifiled'Anticos^i V par So^U : t^ ;,. s hr' ""' l"".'"'""'^ ^^^' "-- de I'annee 1680. ratifie " al..rvn '-'"'""'' ■^i^"'-<''''lan8l ..toiiduodo pays ro.^onnu apnarto-^i^ aUu ..no de Wo par I'artido l.du trait^d^aixcondu iVll^hi^ "chnslls I' . f ^'Z \"'''' ^'^''' "^ ralifirations duement enregistr6s " I ^s h ' ■" ? ^^^«"Hxations du Conseil ^uperieur. a celui num6ro " ttl: n": "r r ''T r! "^^ ^-^i-- Jouis paisiblemen"^ " d r\T7 "'*''\"P^'^"' ^^^^P^"« l'^« ^l't^^« «inieos 1679 et 1680. et sur lesquelles " ^ t f. "r ^"'=!"";;^^^« ^-- --t-« out tonjours tenu fcu et lieu e y ^-^ I-- .Mu-.A.n..s ,ue par I.n,. ,ev„,i.r.:. .,e,q«cl« parties, out par "^ 4t irindivisd'nne «' It'gatairo, ot Hix tiers dans lo Castelneau. dans le flenvo \\i so suivent mt-nt appolt'o litiere, rommo ibriol taseho- IV o do Lajj'or- I'ommo ayaiit idrouil, 6cuier Mre. Marin, 'Hendiere ; «'t 8 de defunto ?ntos, ot aussi , au nom et R'Mgnonrs vt « Seigneurio J ri«'!taire8 d«J dite riviere parts et por- proprietaires Mingan, en lessiours De i la Nouvollc s rhretienne ons oomme d'Anticosti, s dits Sieurs 1680, ratifie annee. Les ipparto:!:xul A Utrecht le enregistrfis ui numero lent et sans r lesquelles lieu, et y ps marins, )Ut par ces " presentes volontairemonl doni... a titro , verso, etc." On the 1st of June 1772. by deed executed l,eiore Punet and colleaoue notaries. Marie Bissot, widow of the late Francois Vederiqu.s sold to Thomas Dunn, described as one of the Judges of the Prerooalive Court of Quebec one fourth of the Seigniory of Mingan, under the Ibllowing description: ^^ t e^t-a-savoir, le quart appartenant a la dite dame veuve Vederique dans __ la heigneurie et fief de Mingan, ci-d.-vant afterme a Monsieur Isbester et ^ par lui cede a sa veuve a mon dit Sieuv Dunn et compagnie, et a eux ^^ afterme, avec tous les droits de cens, rentes sei-neuriales, traite avec les sauvages, part de batimens construits sur la dite seigneurie. Et enfiu ^^ geu6raleraent tous les droits et pretentions que hi dite venderesse a dans ^^ la dite seigneune comme heritiere pour uu quart de feu Monsieur Fran- pois Bissot. et Dame Marie Lambert Dumont, ses pere et nitre." After the passing of this deed, the late Thomas Dunn obtained saisine and possession of one fourth of the fief and Seigniory of Mingan from the trown, as appears from the following r.noipt of the Deputy Receiver Gene- ral, written upon a notorial copy of the deed : ^^ " Received of Thomas Dunn, e^ght pounds, dx shillings and eight pence currency, being the f/uiut due to His Majestv. the third abated as I' customary, on the foregoing purchase of the rights by succession of Mrs Mary Bitsot, widow Vederique in the Seigniorv of Mingan. And I do " hereby put the said Thomas Dunn, esq., in saisine and possession thereof " Quebec, 20th May, 1781. . " WILLIAM GRANT, D. S. G. " 48 Tholollowinn. u.sirnnuM.t. tuk.-u Iron, th. I'uhli. Uo.ords of the Pro- notnr...s., (i„.,,.., .^ th. 4,h of (..col..,, HT.i. pron-s an Z rn^ p " ne.ivi. St tlltl!'"" ''" '""":""'■ ^'■"'^"'^- •^°^"»^'' ^""»"^- '^•■'»'"'-- «-^- Jo . >h {.ssot ,1.. Lnlonh...... .. .1.. n.ousi,.ur Joal. Tadx.'., houro-oois Tli. .0 h (iuH...... an non. H ..<.,a.n.. nyant ,,>ous.:. .l.-moiselle Mm-i.. Ann. Jo l.H d.. Mn.oan. lanl on l.tn-s no,us ,,u.. .onnuo fond^..s d« pouvoir d" M.nuan (d.s,uo].s 1..S dils si.-nr. Cuu„.. ot Ta.-h.'. .so font foHs X„ t .omnu. aksonts ; ) le.scju.ls es-di,s uorns dornonn.ats en c-etto villo . r. d. Nt. Loui.s M vhrl d Amours, cH-ui.-r, Sieur de TJaiuo, Midard Valetto de Chev.uny T.an-I aptisK. Amiot. Jacques Perrauh. LouiK Parent, Et en . '' ^en v' at ^'"v''"f'v^''"' ''■;''' ^"^'^"^ ^^'^ Saint-Germ;!;^!:^ them> Cotton, ISO.. Voyer et Jean-Bte. Francheville, tous anciens bourooojs ,.t notables de ...tie vilK.. y den.ourants. "dits !;^t?^'^' «^^^-»°"""-. out par ees presentes, declare ot attests aux dds notnnvs souss,o.,u,s ,n presenr<. cjuo dit est, et a tous qu'il appar h^jdnx sjn..re et v.ntaMe. quils out une parfaito connaissanio l^L he tiers cl.. In-anvo.s JJ.ssot sont eon.joinfeiuont avec les heritiers de LoiL Jolhet de M,no.an, reellc.nent proprietaires de la dite terre ferme ie MinC communement appellee i. «ei,^neuri. ot poste de Min^-aret qu' l^ e^ ont ou,ouvs ,pu, paisihhMnent et sans interruption depu s urtemp un^enu^nal; ,,u,lso„t touionrs < nu I'.n et li^;, Tout lait^ "Li^ "^ cut iait lanv la pc.hc ot Ja tnute avec les sauvao-os en vertu I tUn^s prnnordnn,x. qu. messieurs Cu.not -t Tache, Is - dits ^'^L t quahtes leur ,>nl d.Vlaro avoir ete perdu, et dont ils ne peuven le cmq lauMo, 1<1. qu, a consume les voute. In Palais ou Haient deposees les registres dans lesquels etaient enre^istres tous les titres de propnete des parfculiers de <..tte colonie; o'est I'ourquoi il s "0," acune dans les arch.ves du conseil superieur qui met les dits he^t^^rs dan c^^ de ne pouvon-p^duire aucuns titres or.ginaux enregistres Z ' 1 1 reo.^trosduditconseil; mais ils prouveut une posse^siou immenioriale (( (1 49 ^ of thi» Pro- 'd helort' two K^moriiil pos- rs of Franfois >aru.s dovaiit <''ciiit'r, scijr- is<'ll(> Miirif, iriioois (Ic la Marie Annt- pouvoir dcs TO foruio (le rts, presents ille. ir (le Lanan- lard Valet te iMit, Ktieiine rmain, Bar- >us aiicieiis attost^** aux iw'il appar- t'o quo los rs do Louis de Mingan, it qu'ils en uu temps valoir ot y vertu do i uoms et ^ peuvont cetto villo >u etaiont i titres de rouve uno tiers dans 5 daus los lAmoriale " qui est bioii 8uJfisaute, (Haiit appuyoo par le tfimoigtiapre dew douzo nota- " bles ot auoious liourgoois do >ollo villo suK-uommoH, qui oat do plu« " altirmo ot par sural»oudau< e. (|u'ilN so rappoUonl (|ue los voulos dn I'alaiB ' oil otuioiit ourerinou le« roffistroN dans Iosu nous dire reprcmitc, niais qui a 6'6 dil lilrv ilitle dit IH Jcrrier 16<)2, ek: On the 21st of January 177!'. James Shepherd, Esq., SheritFof tho Dis- trit t of Quebec, sold to William (uant, in virtue of an execution issued out of the Court of Common Pleas at Montreal, at tho suit of Joseph Fleury Deschambault, Ksquire, and others, against the goods and chattels, land* and tenements of Mario Josetto JoUiet Anticosti. widow of Pierre Sert and Charlotte Jolliot Anticosti, widow of Vital Carou, and other coheirs, in the suocessiou of the said Charles Jolliot d'Anticosti, and Jauo Leraelin, deceased, -undivided porfcious iu sevevai cteikjiiuries, and among others, the share of the 7 I II (1 It il (I 11 50 "tS^ W,?'^^;?T^' in the seigniory of the main land^Mingan^ mssZit ^l'r'''^^'\^^' ^:^t« Claire Bissot d'Anticosti. For sale keepiuL this Shenrs title was deposited with Berthelot d'Artimiy on the 6?h Of August. 1784, by the said William Grant. Thomas Dunn'^L Peter .^It bypropriltfof'thi SeT^^^ ''1 f ^^""^»^ ^^'^^' "^ ^^ ^-™- --ws: de la Provincp imuns et dos 'ille, et Pierr*' n* moitie leuiK •sent." he half of the also all their Louis Jolliet, re which the )t, Sieiir de la led of sale is t, district de es Espagnols, t, Sieur de la entales, alors ! la dite Terre quaut a pre- * par rincen- ictes de noto- 13, et la pai- ju'a present' la dite Terre I Allaiii, his Boisseau, on league nota- la Fontaine lade by the Grant and gan, and in lienaux and h^Hotiombte c, rue des onne Douai " riere de Lon^umit, sou epouse, du dit Sieur son mari autorisee a I'ettet des " presentes ; encore le dit honorable William Grant, au nora, et comme se "portant fort pour les heritiers Fleitrtj Dechamhault , representant Dame " Claire Joliette, conjointement avec la dite Dame Grant de la premiere " part, I'honorable Tiiomaa Dunn, ecuier, demouranl en cettc ville, rue St. " Louis, de la seeonde part et Teter Stuart, ecuyer, demeurant en cette ville, " rue St. Pierre, de la troisieme part," an adjustment of accounts upon the several purchases made l)y the co-proprietors was made. ' There was published, in the year iHOy, an official statement of the- uilferent titles of the ancient (Concessions of land en fief et mgneurie in Lower Canada, taken from the Registers in the Provincial Secretary's oiTice, by AVilliam Vondeuvelden, formerly Assistant Surveyor General of the Province and Louis Charland, Proviijcial Surveyor, certified to be corre«t by Sir George Pownall, then Secretary and Registrar. This work was dedicated to His Excellency Robert Prescott, Governor General. From this work the following is an extract shewing the boundaries of *hi,i Seigniory : " Terra ferma de Mingan. Concession du 25 fevrier 16G1, fiiite par la " compagnie au Sieur Francois Bissot de la Riviere, de la teiTc ferme de " Mingau ; a prendre depuis le Cap des Cormorans, a la cote du Nord» "jusqu'a la Grande Anse vers les Esquimaux ou les Espagnols font ordinai" '* rement la p^che sur deux lieues de profondeur." In a topographical descrip'tion of the Province of Lower Canada by Joseph Bouchette, Esquire, Surveyor General of the Province, published in London in the year 1815, the Seigniory of Terra Firma of Mingau is des- cribed as " extending from Cape Cormorant, along the northern shore of " the Labrador Channel to Goynish river, granted, February 25th, 1661, to " sieur Franyois Bissot." p. b()'o. And at page 31 of appendix it is described " as follows : " Terra Firma de Mingau. Concession du 15 fevrier 1661. " faite par la compagnie au Sieur Fran9ois Bissot de la Riviere de la terre " ferme de Mingau ; a prendre depuis le Cap des Cormorans, a la cote du " Nord, jusqu'a la Grande Anse vers les Esquimaux, ou les Espagnols font " ordinairement la p6che, ftur deux lieues de profondeur." It may be observed that the Surveyor General inadvertently gives as the Eastern boundary the river Goynish in the text of his work, while in his appendix, the correct description of the boundary is given in accordance with all previous public documents as the Baie des Espagnols near the Esquimaux, called also Phelippeau bay. This is repeated in Mr. Bouchette's I if weWJiiimmvii^iiiifiui,i4^iJA 54 I; Cape Cormorant o An'" sibloL is th« 1 ^'"'^''/^^^^'^^^ ^'^^'- F^om • ProvincPofluw... (t 1 , • *'"^'' ^'^'^ "°^^' contained in tHe " y/Z/e TVm/ i^m« rf. Minga,,. t'onco-ssion du iiot^mo Fevrier 16(51 fi.,f > olOctobe iTO l!v?t" L tf^ "'"'" " '" ""' P'orf^'tioi. of the 7tl, or uaober. 1,03, by which all the coast of I^abrador, from the river S, ceLbri as " W- T"' °' """ ^'"'"""'' of Q^'bec- dated Vth D,- "X real „,H . > ""'' """"'>"■ "'"^'' i-^fuctious state. " demand that ■• hat e:tabLS;:fr;" '' """'" "'""^ "^^"'"^ «*-- '"^^ -y oeo Act anneied the Cooatry which from the loth of Fcbruarv 17(1° L,I BvlL°:r, ."M""?"*™' of Newfoundland to the Prov "c7o Quebt By the statutes of the Imperial Parliament 49 Geo. 3, e. £7, and S G^ 4, 55 lied in London in s from Cape Cor lel, to the Bivoi is Biasot. From contained in the ly. The land is I'or affricultuve. ?an islands, are were conceded, t. h-rier lOUl.fait." ' la lerrejerme (/>' luNordJusquVi t ordinairoment isieiir iV. Bei/iii. iirst volume of lort distance to the public ins- Cter the cession ition of the 7th I the river St. Anticosti, and )ast, were put land. We next iistructions for dated 7 th De- ' demand that n subjects on hould not be ies they may ed " the Que- ary 17G3, had ce of Quebec, nd 5 Geo. 4, 0. 07, the coast of T^brador from the river St John to Hudson'*, «frajfc a the Island of Anticosti all the adjacent islands, except the^^^Ia^^^^^^^^^^^^^ loundland. But by the statute 6, Goo 4 c 50 h so m„ -h • .u . coast a« lies to the west-ward of a lin. t\;:^:;J^ ^:^l^\Z^ oi North Latitude with the island of Anticosti, and all other island adhSn such par , as last aforesaid are ro-annexed to and made a part o rrovmce o I^vyer-Canada. In Mr. Bouchette's first mentioned It (181 he states [that "from Cape Cormorant to St. John's river" vvasfh i part of the Seigniory of TerrA Firmft of Mingan then i^Lowei^ „ .. "J th.s may account for his having limited the'seigniory to Z^^^^^^^^^^ The posts occupied by the proprietors through their lessees the Hnd son s Bay Company, are to be found distinctlv marked on a m^n ll ,.' by Josep,. m,.,ene, esquire, the " present 'DeptySWrcCr^ Lower-Canada, from the latest and most approL ast roWic^^nb fons authorities and Surveyors." These p^is are tot fS i^^^^^^^ u this map at various points between Cape Cormorant and tlu v d^^ Esquimaux, as follows i ''*> ^'^^ Mingan Quetachoo, Manicougan Bay '//.y//"/.'."'(OvdhVvhou.)' NaWpi River ^j^^ . Natashquan River , /ivrA, t ■ > Kegashka (Nata<,hg«oin.) T.^ " (Quv>gasca.) Mus-quano /xr • ' TTT , V 1 • Ti (Nas-quirou) Washsheecoutai Bay Clonianosheebo Coacoacho Bay Esquimaux Bay ' While the text of the useful work of the Survevor Genp. -il ih.^ , Mr. Bouchett. refers to the river Goynish as the ea^tJrn bound V'-tte beigniory of Mingan, the present Deputy Surveyor General, giyel o, hi! map as the eastern boundary the river Kegashka mentioned in the map i hrronieir ?tXt' " ^'"' - '' '''- --^^'-'' "- ^-p^^-^: li,h J^K T °^ ^7^?^«»t ^'P^^y S«^veyor General was originally pub- •hshed by him in 1846, and a new edition in 1852, in both of which the Kegashka river is stated to be the eastern boundary 56 William 8ax Provincial Land Surveyor, on the 18th of February, 1820, was examined before a Committee pf the House of Assembly of Low«'i' Canada, and at ihe request of the committtee, produced a figurative plan of the river St. Lawrence and its principal tributary streams from Kingston, in Upper Canada, to Ance Blanc Sablon, on the Labrador coast, then the , eastern extremity of the Province of Lower Canada. This plan exhibited also the Seigniories in I^wer Canada, including the Seigniory of Terra Firma of Mingan, and the Seigniory and island of Anticosti. The western limits of the Seigniory of Mingan, in this as in all other public documents, will be found at some distance to the east of Natashquan river, and clearly below^ the Kegashka. Very much the same limits of the Seigniory of Mingan or Terra Fe/ma are given by the Commissioner of Crown Lands, the Honorable Joseph CauchoH. in a Map of I.^wor Canada, published at Toronto, on the 12th ol •March, 18jt, and annexed to his report laid before the Legislature of Canada. Previous to the 1st of February, 1806, Mr. Matthew Lymburuer, a merchant at Quebec, purchased the Seigniory of the Isles et Islets de Mingan' and uiJon his property lieing brought to sale by the l^heriff of the District of Quebec, the Attorney General for the time being, the Houo.able Jonathan Sewell afterwards Chief Justice of Lower Canada, fyled with the Sheriff an opposition for the Crown dues as mutation lines upon the several purchases made by Mr. Dunn and the other proprietors ol" the fiefs and Seigniories of the Isles et Islets de Mingan and of the Seigniory of the Terre Femr, dc Mingnn, and it being difficult to establish the amount of the Quint due to the Crown upon the several deeds of distinct and separate portions of the Seigniories a reference to a skilful advocate, Mr. I'anet, afterwards Speaker of the House of Assembly of Lower Canada was agreed uix>n by the Attorney General on behalf of His Majesty King George the Third and the proprietors. The following is the deed of reference : " Pardevaut les Notaires publics en la Province du lias-Canada, resi- " dants ii Quebec, soussignes, furent presents I'Honorable Thomas Dunn, " President de cette province et Administrateur du Gouverneur d'icelle, " demeurant en son hotel, rue St. Ix)uis, en la haute-ville de Quebec, et " Monsieur Mathieu Lymburner, negociant a Quebec, ci-devant en societe " avec feu Sieur John Crawford, sous les noms de Lymburner et Crawford ; " encore Monsieur Jean GuillaUme Woolsey, encanteur et courtier, a Que- " bee, au nom et comme curateur a la succession vacante du dit John Craw- '' ford. I^squels, pour faciliter le cour deg affaires de la raas.se des dits «T " rabl Th„™,.^ ' ■""■ '™ ''"» I'y»l'»n«f «' Crawford et k dit Hon" '■reo-lerlemoi,l»,^t!l i 1 • * "■ "'"'"''' ''' ''<'"•«'»' P<">voir de •• p™ tveZts , ■°''''' 'l""-"'""™"" do" -!il- partt. doil res- " aimi reo-l.-. .li,, , "'"''• "™"''*' ■"»' 'K'Hvrera lo ditcompte •'•\Vool,ey sa'oir e d?, IT ',", n?u"""" '^J'™''"""-"' ''t John William "07™^^;^:™^!^^^^^^^^^ l.;ditLy,nburuer e, Crawford, et ausai ".r^„ 1 / ^ ^"^' ^^ sohdair^meut I'un Dour I'antrp nn ''.espectrvem 'e^tC^^^ d- ' *^« ^«f«r«^«« to ^^.nd:^?frr;^^^^ the sa.e parties. «ame£nth irs'e L^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^'^"'^ notary until the 22nd of the ^ usive, because m the language of this instrument, " les 68 *' titres BUT lesqaels M. Jeau Antoine Pauet, ecuier, avocat, avait a regler " lea droits, n'ont pu etre trouves et expedies des archiveH qu'apres le delai " fix6 par le dit compromis et la prolongation expirees." And on the 22nd of September, 1806, Mr. Tanet who had by that time completed his researches among the public archives adjusted the seiguorial rights of the Crown as appears by the following award : " Etat des droits de Quint dus a Sa Majeste par I'honorable Thomas " Dunn pour lui et Pierre Stuart, 6cuier, ensemble, et par M. Mathew " Lymburner, s6paremeut, sur leurs acquisitions dans les liefs de la Terrc " ferme de Mingan, des Isles et Islets de Mingan et de I'isle d'Anticosti. " Dress6 par M. Jean An+oine Panet, avocat, a Qu6bec, en consequence " du compromis passe dovant M, J. Plante, Notaire, du ler Fevrier, et des " actes fetant ensuite, des seize mai et dix m uf septembre 1800, dont minute " rest^e en T^tude du dit notaire." Titres des dits fiefs. F6vrier 1661. " Concession de la terre ferme de Mingan au Sieur. Frau9ois Bissot de " la Bividre, viiie Riegistre des fois et hommages, No. 78, folio 355, et le livre " des extraits des^ancieunes concessions en fief imprime a Quebec eu 1803, " page 69> Mars 1679. " Concession des isles et islets de Mingan k Messieurs Jacques De " Lalaude et Louis JoUiette enregistre au consoil deQu6bec selon I'arrfit du " 24 Octobre 1680, en consequence de I'arrfit du conseil d'Elat du Iloi du • " 29 mai mSme aun§e portant confirmation Hoyale." ..'•J " Concession de I'lsle d'Anticosti a M. Jolliet. traits imprim4 page 184. Mars 1680. Vide le dit livre d'ex- Avril 1725. J " A(te de foi et hommage des trois fiefs y 6nonces rendu au Roi par M. " Joseph Fleury de la Gorgendiere, comme ayant epouse demoiselle Claire " Jolliet, fiUe et h6ritiere du dit Sieur Louis Jolliet, et de Dame Marie " Claire Bissot son Spouse. 18 A%T:il 1725. " ^Vtttt •i dteeiabMliieiit dM data &•!■. 69 Propri£taires Actuels. vrier 1661. U9ois Bissot de 355, et le livre •uebec eu 1803, (I W'^rt ti Mars 1679. PS Jacques De selon I'arr^t du I at du lioi du • Mars 1680. II II dit livre d'ex- b'ril 1725. 1 II au Roi par M. 1 kt luoiselle Claire fl II i Dame Marie 1 " Moitie a feu M. William Grant, tant commo ayant 6pouBe Dame Marie Anne Catheriuo Fleury Deschambault, descondante des Sienrs Bissot et Jolliet, premiers concession naires qu'ayant acquis de ses co-h6ritiers des parts propres a. la dite Dame, et jouissant du residu de la dite moiti6 pour ce qui concerne les co-heritieris Fleury, Deschambault et autres, aiusi qu'il est explique par le cortrat do declaration et de division passS devant Mtre. Ls. Deschenaux, notaire, lo 12 decembre 1789, qui cite leurs titi«8 et qualites. " Un quart acquis par Monsieur Thomas Dunn, savoir : 1 juin 1772. " Devant leu M. Claude Panet, notaire, vente par Dame Marie Bissot, veuve de M. Thomas Vederique,, au prix de quinze cent livres de vingt sols, cy 1,600 20 Novembre 1777. " Mtre. A. Panet, Notaire, Cession de droits successifs indivis par Dlle. Magdeleine Belcourt de Lafontaine, descendante de M. Bissot, concession* naire et ropresentant son frcre It'gataire de M. Jacques de Lalande, anssi concessionnaire 1.500 18 Octobre 1781. "Mtre A. Panet, Notaire, cession par M. Fran9ois Belcourt de Lafon- taine a • Fran9ois Joseph Ougnet, e(;uier, son beaufrere, de tous droits indivis moyennant jCIOO Halifax. II n'en est du, aucun quint, n'y ayant alors aucun partage entre les parties parentes et co-propri^taires n^ces- saires." 17 Fevrier 1784, " Mtre. A. Panet, Notaire. Vente par M. Boisseau, Dame Claire Jolliet Mingan, son epouse, et autros descendants des concessionnaires, a Mes- sieurs Thomas Dunn, et Pierre Stuart, par moiti6 indivis entr'eux au prix, etc 12.000 6 Aout 1784. " Mtre. Berthelot Dartigny, Notaire. Acte de d6p6t de ra^judication faite par le Sheriff du 21 Janvier 1779 a M Wm. Grant, des droits de M^rie Jolliet A.nticosti et autres co-heritiers, au prix de 12,7000, portftnt II 1 i 60 declaration par M. Grant quo la dito adjudi.ation ,'.lait nioitir pour Ini ^ un quart pourM Dunn, oi nn quart pom M. IMorre Stuart. Or MoHsieurs Dann et Stuart, non co-propriC'l aires n.Mv««airos m co cas, doivont payor le quint 8ur la moitio du prix." ,; .j^J J ^ IH Janvier 178(5. ^^ " Mtre. A. Panet, notairo, Cossion par .M. I. Mais jo contraf do doolaration ^^ et de division passe outre lesdits a.ciun'.n.rs dovant .Mtre. I.s. Desohenaux .. "°*!!':^' ^\^^ d6cembre 1780, const,,!. ,„ ,,u,. M. William Cirant etait pour moitie au lieu d'un tiers, dans haus a, .luisitions, la moitio do M Grant " no parait devoir de Quint a cause de Dame Mario Auiui Catherine Floury 'I D6chambault, son epouse, dos.ondante d.-s Sieurs IMssot et .Tolliet, conces- sionaires et oo-proprietaires lu'cossaire do droits indivis entro elles et les '' co-heritiers, m6me les descendants du sienv Jacques do Lalande, aussi con- ^^ ceswonnaire par indivis. Et les deux autr.'s quarts d.3 Messieurs Dunn et ^^ Stuart, nouveaux acquereurs, doivont le quint sur lour acquisition, ouoi- qu lis n en doivent pas Bur la cession de I'un a I'autro apres qu'ils 'sont devenus co-acqu6reurs do droits indivis-cy ,5 000 00 22 Juin 1789. " L-autre quart, i^ede par M. Pierre Stuart A Monsieur Thomas Dunn ^^ devant Mtre. Ls. Deschenaux, notair,^ echanoo entr'eux, par lequol cii contrechange de trois emplacements, maison etc , on la basse-ville do » . ''' IT ^'^''*'' '^^'''''''* ^^ Seminaire, moitie echangee ot moitie « yf^d'ie Monsieur Pierre Stuart et son epouse cedant a titre d'echange a ^^ M. et Madame Dunn, tous les droits indivis dans les isles et islets de ^^ Mmgan, tant en fonds que revonus et a.vossoiros qui seront constates par e partage a taire une petite partie exceptoe do. isles et islets de Mingan terre ferme de Mmga 1 et do I'islo d'Anticosti, non comprise dans le dii .. «^hange, ce que le contrat do declaration et de division du 12 d6oembro 1789 parait expliquer. Laquelle cession par le dit echange est laite ^^ raoyennant ^250 d'Halilkx, de Soulte et Retour, on favour do M, et Madame Dunn. Comrpe les droits indivis dans Mingan et les revonus d'iceux u T'ftj" """"^S'' ^''' M«««^«"»-^ J^'^'^'i «t Stuart, par moitie indiviso do M. et Madame Boisseau et autres, selon la veute du 17 I'evrior 1784 dej-i " charg^. de quint, 11 n'est du ni quint ni droit d'echange pour la cession ^ que M. Stuart en a fait a M, Dunn, co-acquereuv ot co-proprioiaire avec 61 '• Total ao8 prix cles a.quisition^ faitos par Messieurs J)„nn ot Pierre Stuart, quidoiventlo quint o^.j-,^ (^ ^ " I^ quint monto a ~~ "Dontun tiers peut-tMre d^duit " TTitiTnH " Keste a payer par Monsieur Dunn, pour lui et pour M ^''''' ^^"'^^^ ^3,583 13 4 ' Egal a Targeut du cours du Ilas-Canada £ 147 ^f^i " EnJin M. Mathieu Lymburner pour scs acquisitions. "lo Mai 1788. • M re. J. Pinguet, notairo. Cession par M. Jos.j.h Bol.our do Lalou- " Z dlr '^""'ri' 'T r '^''''' '''''''''^'' "'^^'^'^ Iw more than a century and a hall bi'lore, be.amo (|uito an object for the North West Company and by obtuijiin!.' th.^m they would excliule all eompotition in their trade alon- the .oast as far as the Bay des Esquimaux Ihoy accordingly, as, appears by the loaso hereinafter next mentioned niterod into treaty with Mr. (Irant, who Ibr himself, and his .o-proprietors leased Mingan and tho .several posts upon it, and at tho same time sold and delivered to tho company their stock in trade at their several trading i>osts and gave up to them their wares, morchaiul o, houses, store, houses and other buildings at tho several posts. On tho 0th of September, 180:{, by deed of lease executed before Book and colleagiu«, notaries, at Montreal, b.'tween William Grant, of St. Koch in the Distn.tofQu.'bec, Esquire, acting for himself and on the part, and behalJ ol Peter Stuart and Thomas Dunn. Esquires, residing in tho City of (^uebLV, and Provin..; aforesaid, proprietors of the undivided Seigniory of Mingan, that is to say. th.> said William G-rant for one half, the said Pot t htnart lor one (garter, and tho said Thomas Dunn, for the remaining quarter, ci tho one part, and Simon McTavish, John Gregory, William McGillivn.y, JJuncan McGillivray, William Holland and Uodorick Mc- KeiiiJie, ol the City of Montreal, men hants and co-partners in trade under he name, and iirm of McTavish. Frol,isher and Company, of the other part he above mentioned William Grant for himself and his co-proprietors' leased to the above firm of M.Tavish, Frobisher & Company (better known as the North ^Vest Comp.ny.) l>r th. period of nineteen years, to end on the 1st d.,y of (),to:,,.:-, 1S22, llieir S.iirniory or Post of Mingan, in which weroin.ludedth;>cst,.blishmenls or Posts of Cormorans, Mingan, Napen- sipen, (Nab'ssippi) and Masquerou, (the three last of which are mv'-d on the map ol Mr. liamhette. Deputy Surveyor General, abovementioned) and all the stores, housi-s, and building, thereon erected, &c. In the same lease it appears that tho lessors who had down to that time, used the goods above mentioned, for tho purposes of their trade with the Indians had also large stodvs oi g^oods at these posts on the Seigniory, for the disposal of which a special agreement was entered into between them and the Com- 68 At the expirutioii of thin leuNc, viss: on th.. I;Uh .luiic. lH-2r>, ll,,. :iJ,ov.. named lessors and th.'ir roim'Noiilaliv.'s, (il„. «hur.' ol' Mr. William Grant, ~T^^"n ~^'^^ "'^' "^ ^*^*' m.Minlime. h.'en acquired hy Mr. Hlackwood and Mr. Richardson) renewed tht^ sum.", siibstituliiiif the Iludsun's Bay tompany, as lessees until 1st October, 1«UJ. Attheexpimtionoi'this lease in iHOi' it was renewed from year to year, and the Hudson's Company still hold Iho IW oiMim?an, under lease trom the proprietors. On the 9th of October, 1887, t ho lilies aboveraentioned were formally recognized by Her Mfljesty's representative Lord GoNlord, then Guvernor general, Foi et I u.mma p. " {or tho hakI lief and seiffuiory of Mingan or the Terre Feme de Liv'j^nn, a;-.Uor other seioniorios held by the heirs Peter Stuart, was rea lev d ;ind he loss of the orioinal yrant of t lie seigniory by hre was again aa ri,fer|. The followii.y are extracts fn.m thin fonnal recognition by the. .own of the titles albr«said and of the -rant of the Seigniory of the Tene Ferme, in IGGl. " Du ueuf octobro mil huit cent trente-sept. ^^ " En procedant a la confection du Papier Terrier du Domaiue de la Keine dans la Province du Bas-Canada, est comparu au Chateau St. "Louis de Qu6bec, et pardevant nous Archibald Comte de Gosford " Baron Worlingham de Beules, dans 1.' comte de Suflblk, Capitaine' G6n6ral et Gouverneur en chef dans et sur les Provinces du Haut- " Canada et du Bas-Canada, Vice Amiral d'icelles, et un des Tres Houo- " rabies Conseillers ue sa Majeste, etc., etc.. etc. L'Honorable John " Stewart, ecuier, un des membres du Conseil Legislatif pour la dite " Province du Bas-Canada, au nom et (somme procureur special de " Mary Stuart, James T. S. Stuart, ecuior, et AVilliaiu Taylor Peter Short " 6cuyer, tous en qualite d'heritiers de feu iVter Stuart, ecuier, seigneur et " proprietaire du lie i St. Joseph, d'un tiers indivisde la Seigneurie de MiUe *' Vaches, et d'un quart iudivis des liefs et soiuuouries dt; la Terre Ferme de "Mingan et dans I'Isle d'Anticosti, .suivant procurations, etc. Lequel " Sieur comparant nous a dit qu'il vieur pardevant nous pour reudre et " porter au Chateau St. Louis de Quebec Poi et Homraage lige que les dits '' coustituants sont tenus de rendre a porter a Sa Tres Excellente Majeste " la Reine Victoria, a cause des tiefs et .seigueuries, et nous a represente " pour titres de sa propriete, savoir : " Here follows, as respects the Seigniory uf Miagau, a recital of the priu- apftl doeumeuts and titles already referred to. :-.i^^^'%'i'sM.k&ei^s?:x.-:,stia^i» 1 64 ^ The description or the Seigniory it«oir is thus given : "The iiel and Seigniory ol tlie Terre Feme 4c Mmgan .omineiiciug at the Cape Dos Corn. ^ Morans, on the North Shore going as far as the Great Bav towards the ' Esquimaux, where the Spaniards generally carried on their fishing, by two leagues m depth, vvhich was conceded by the company on the ■25th February 1661, to the Sieur Fraiifois Bissot de la Riviere, the title to • Which IS lost and is supposed to have been burned at the fire of the Inten- ^ dants ralaee about fifty or sixty years before, but of which Seigniory the . parties^ had been 111 possession, without trouble or disturbance, throuo-h .'. u '\^'^'? '''^°"' *^*'^' ^^"""''^^ *'*^^' ^»*^ *^''^"?'i their tenants, to whom they had leased and farmed the said seigniory for seal fishing and for the '^carrying on trade with the Indians, for more than one hundred years" This document concludes as follows : " Qui sont tous les titres que"le dit ^ Sieur comparant aux dits noms a dit avoir a nous representer, nous sup- pliant qu '1 nous plaise le recevoir aux dits noms a la Foi et Homma^e hge du dit fief St. Joseph et des dites portions iudivises des fiefs et seigneuries de Mille-Vaches, de la Terre Ferme de Mingan et de I'isle ^ d Aiiticosti relevant en pleine fief de Sa Majeste, et a I'instant s'etant mis ^ en devoir de vassal, t^te nue, sans ep6e ni eperons, et un genou en terre ^^ il aurait dit a haute et intelligible voix qu'il rendait et portait eutre uos mams la Foi et Hommage lige que ces dits constituants sont tenus de rendre et poiter au Chateau St. L6uis de Quebec, a Sa Tres Excellente Majeste la Reiiie \ictoria, a cause du dit fief St. Joseph et des dites por- 'I tions mdivises la seigneurie cje Mille-Vaches, de la seigneurie de la Terre ^ Ferme de Mingan et d-, I'isle d'Anticosti a laqufelle Foi et Hommage nous ^^ 1 avons re9U et recevons par ces presentes sauf les droits de la Reine en ^^ autres choses, et de v.atrui en toutes. Et le' dit Comparant aux dits noms fait et souscrit entre nos mains le serment de bien et fidelement servir ba Mjjeste et de nous ayertir et nos successeurs. s'il apprend qu'il ^^ se iasse quelque chose contre sou service et s'est oblig6 aux dits noms de fournir ses aveux et denombrement dans le temps prescrit par les lois •| usages et coutumes de cette province, et de tout il nous a requis acte, ce " que nous lui avons recorde et a sign6 avec nous. GOSFORD, Gou%'erneur en chef J. ST^^WART. F. W. PRIMROSE. G.P.J. 65 Tho liei' and ipe Dos CorpK towardN the ihiiio-, by two on the 25th the title tc; ofthelnten- Bigniory tho ice, through fs, to whom ;■ and i'or the dred years." ! que le dit ', nous sup- t Homtnage des fiefs et et de I'isle t s'etant mis )u en terre, t entre nos it tonus de i .Excellente 8 dites por- de la Terre nmage nous a Heine en It aux dits fidelement prend qu'il ts noms de >ar les lois, uis acte, ce )RD, r en chef. The above is extracted from the Registre de foi et hommage tome 4, p, 22, and certified by Joseph laurin A. D. C. The foregoing instrument is as formal and as binding a recognition of the grant of 1661, which was followed by the Foi et Hommage of 1668 and that of 1181, as it was possible for the Queen to give, and is an acknowledg- ment of title and possession from the year 16H1 to the year ISSt, a period of one hundred and seventy-six years. Added to this the period of time during which the proprietors of Mingan have since held possession of it, publicly, and in good faith, as s<''~uiors, acknowledged as such by the Crown and the public, viz : from 18S|t to 1861 a period of 30 years, gives an entire »nd complete possession of 20*t years, which possession the i>ro- prietors continue to hold. In a carefully prepared case on the part of the Seigniors of Lower Ca- nada, submitted to the Judges for Ijower Canada, under the Seigniorial Act of 1854, by Christopher Dunkiu, M. A., Advocate, now the Honorable Treasurer for the Trovince of (^uebet-, tht; grant by the Company of New- France of the 24th February 1661, to Francois Bissot, Hr. de la Riviere, is adverted "to, and the description there given is as described by Mr. Bou- chette, a grant " De la terre ferme de Mingan, a prendre depuis le Cap 4es " Cormorans a la cote du Nord, jusqu'a la Grande Ance vers les Esquimaux^ " ou les Espagnols font ordinairement la peche, sur deux lieux de profon- " deur." In the same case the grant by the Intendant Duchesneau, of the 10th of March, 16t9, to Sieurs Jacques de Lalande and Louis Jolliet, of the " Isles et Islets de Mingan, etant du coste du Nord, et qui se suivont, '' jusqiies a la Bale appelee I'Anse auX Espagnols," is also referred to. The following is the certiiicato of Henry Judah, esquire, in his pro- ceedings as Commissioner under the Seignioral Tenure Act, under the heading of Cadastre de In Sei^neurk de Mingan : " Cadastre de la Seigneurie de Mingan. " La Seigneurie de Mingan ou de Terra Forma de JV^ngan est 9ituec " duns le comte et district de Saguenay, ct est toute non concedee ; elle est " de la contenance de ciuquante lieues de front sur deux lieues de profon- " deur, a prendre depuin le Cap des Cormorans, jusqu'a la Riviere Goynish, " formant une superficic de *705,400 arpents, et est born6e pardevant au flenve " St. Laurent, et en piofoudeur et des deux cotes au Domaine Public. Ill I II 11 II II II II II 66 " PROVINCE DU CANADA, " Bas Canada. ( . ; Je sou88ign6, Henry Judah, un des commissaires en vertu de I'acte " Sr^Te lat;f ' "^^'^^^ ''''' -^^--^--t a la loi. fe pit cade-tre de la SeiRneune de Mmgan ou de Terra Ferma de Mingan " Je certifie que la valeur totale de la dite Seigneurie se monte a la somme de soixante et dix-mille cinq cent quarante%iastres... ^540 00 " Je decide qu'il n'y a aucune difference entre la valeur de cette Seigneune en franc alien roturier et sa valeur en fief, et que les droits de la Couronne dans la dite Seigneurie consistent dans le droit de 0^ et LTe su?ro '1'"^*^"^"'"*' ^^"^P«*^ enfonnantuneannrc;™* mune sur le Quint, accm dans lo Bas-Canada, pendant les vingt-cino ann^es ,mm6d.atement ant^rieures a la passation I I'acte Seignulde ale tT! '"' ^" ^''' ^'^^"^^"^ ^" ^^^^'^ ^'^ dispositions du dil acte se monte a une somme annuelle de cinquante deux piastres c quatre-vingt onsje centins IV« .. V52 91 J88l 83 "Etmaintenantjeclos finalement le dit Cadastre. En fbi de tout ce dessus, j'ai signe. Date a Quebec, ce 23 Janvier 1864. * " Henry Judah, - " Commissaire." 16M Lw^ Hr^'S^/'"- "•« P-P'rty thereby granted was reideiljTn 1668 for the whole extent of the Terre Ferme de Mmga,i from the kL'« Post., j™„„g Gape Cormorant, as far as the Bay D, . Kspagul or Phdf; peauBay. It is equally certain that another seigniorial grant of a like extent w^ M. .a eighteen yea™ atlerwards, by the Cmwn of ftanee alot *^3the"Hmifsr:h °"'"' *' 1 f * *^*^"» '^ "'-- "^ «^-'- place as the limits of the seigniory of the Xme Ferme de Mingan on the east ZflfM^'^'^fr''""''"- ■■■"'^»'l'"'"''y'«-i"f«-d that the Xi«,S of S unU f^r *°'''"" T" '" "'' "SiLted by the Ouston, also. It ,s quite certMn too that from 1661 to 1733. Famfois Bissot, aud 67 ertu de I'acte loi, fo present Mingan. e monte a la .. $70,540 GO leur de cette ) les droits de de Quint ; et le annC'B com- 38 vingt-cinq ?i{rnearial de itions du dit X. piastres ct $52 91 > Seigneurial e Seigneurie > piastres et $881 83 bi de tout ce A.H, missaire." de, nor that rendered in the King's 8 or Phelip- of a like mce, along >y the same an the east, he original !s et IsleLslde le Custona the former iisBot, and his legal heirs or representatives held quiet and undisturbed possession of "' " P«'"''' lawyer of the Tl land held in hef and that held edroluri/ That a neison of ihTL rieuce great skill, .nd one actuated by the strlngeTd:!: t ti.e ?f e Z't accurate state of the country, as was the late Colonel Bichette commS so grave an error .s in two editions of his most useful work, to pLo he ^: T " """ ""' ""* '• 'r'"" "•<• Preient Deputy Surveyor Ge^emf could have been so ilHnformed as to give' the limits of the Se "niory aTl seiW with the Kegashka river as it. eastern boundary when il wa' not. seigniory? That the Honse of Assembly in Lower CaildaTiRM and the Legislative Assembly of Canada in lil, twenty-e^ht™! S wSr:r T -:«-"-«l»dplac.ed onj. :,nals, official maps up^i which a seigniory having no legal existence was designated ■ or thaUhe b!^ ,T, J !u "'■ '■">-«h"« year, after 1808, the Crown would nare allowed the present proprietors of the Seigniory to hold tossI^o,, of the property .« a seigniory with their tradin; posta abo^t n^^d a 1 .["""'*''•, u" '""' "' "">" ^'^'^ •»'■.,; marked, not onironth^ ^Strr^f """""'"'»'"•' '" -->"" -»» published witLr t If ^ith such titles and such a possession as the proprietors of Min.r«„ now have, either could be shaken by adventurers fr«yXtfr Tw titles m Lower Canada would be safe from attack.'v h aL enoon Jl ment may be held out to such parties to benefit ^h .a L .s b' "pZI " ing totheirownuse the lawful possession of property o- . , person^X^!; his consent, aright which the proprietors oULj ! ctnLrZVep^^l of, unless by the judgment of a competent legal tribunal 69 ction of the iresentatives iory, known aory of men ndenvelden, ed that the s if it wero , could have would have lief Justice informed as them ujSoii •f the high e between long expe- e the most committed place the of Lower ar General fniory as a bien it was a, in 1829, ears after- aps, upon r that the ittcd anj' ni would Possession lamed as ily on the ithin the Mingan •ter, tew courage - [>ropriat- without leprived In addition to what precedes, it may be added that the rendering of tealty and Homage alone, in 1837, thirty years since, without referring to the Cadastre of the Seigniorial commission, and even Avithout the other loregoing overwhelming evidence, as to title and possession would be conclusive evidence as to the right of the proprietors to hold the Seignory of the Terre Ferme de Mingan, against any one who might attempt to disturb their title or possession. In the language of the French law : " L'Aote de prestation de Foi et Homnias-e e.st un titre pour le Seigneur Feodal, niais c'est aussi un titre pour le vassal," and again . '■ L'Acte de Foi et Hommage suivi dune ik)s- sossion de ttente ans, est suffisant pour 6tablir la feodalite contre le Seii,aeur.' So far is this doctrine extended, that under the custom of Paris it has been considered that the mere act of Foi et Ho ,.mage, followed by a possession of thirty years, will convert the tenure "censu(^/*S*::.-u«i^ a^i sy ^r^ 70 v^^ip " Th6orie den Matieres Ffeodales et Censuelles par M. Herv6. avocat au Parlement. Tome I, p. 885." The first rule laid down by the same wrih^r, as ieapecv« evUU^nce to be derived from titles, is stated in the terms foUov/iug : .. A. i^ plus puissant de tons les titre.s est une poseiessioa centej^aire bien «ablie Elle I'emporte m6me sur le litre original d'enfeodation ; elle ^ equipolle d un titre, habet r.* eonstituti, elle fait pr6sumer qu'il est ^ mtervenu entre le soi ,; leur et .on vassal quelqu'a.te quia d^rogfi au titre primordial, et qui s'est 6gar6 par I'ir.mre .les temps. Si m possession .. '^" .T'^^^^f* P^"' favo' ible au vassal quo le titre priraitif, U est cense, ou s 6tre red^mfi d'une partie des droits, o > en avoir ^e decharg6 par le ..^ijruBur. oi au contraire, ce dernier a 6t6 recoiutu pendant cent ans, par de^ .Iroifa non (jompris dans I'ancien titre d'inf6odation, on presume qua y a » une tioavelle concession de sa part, d la charge des droits dont J- ^ r;; mx pi,.i;3e8sion." li i« not attempted, even by those who have ventured to question the title otthe present proprietors, to shew that ih^ Crown, at any time, exer- cised any acts of possession in this Seigniory, or the land within its limits, as lormmg a part, or claimed to formed a part, of the ungranted lands of the Crovsn. On the other land, exclusive of the i)ossession of the grantees • and their representatives under the French Government, an uninterrupted possession has been shewn by the present proprietors and theit immediate predece-sors from the time of the cession of the country down to this time that possession including the whole extent from Capo Cormorant to the Bay des Espagnols or Bay Phelippeau. The leases above mentioned from . the proprietors to the North West Company of Montreal, subsequently continued to the Governor and company of Adventurers of England trading to Hudson's Bay, cover the whole extent of the Seigniory ; and during the several terms mentioned in those leases, these Companies, and the persons in their employ, or acting under their authority, had the exclusive occupa- tion and enjoyment of the same, posts being established at different places for the management and carrying on of the fur trade with the 'ndians. No adverse possession to those public acts of ownership is shewn or attempted to be shewn, and without repeating any of the pounds already stated, it may be added that the validity and constructio; o^theoriginal grantcannot be considered apart from the enjoyment that h an had under it during upwards of twf* centuries, and the recop-jitioi :jiade of the rights of the proprietors in - > ious acts of the Governr .< well under the Crown of France as Uiidci the Crown of Gi Brit ;aik ■71 •v§, avocat au ivi«lej)ico to be The public character of the possession of the proprietors and their title 18 so strong that they have no doubt of their being able to maintain both • but, at the same time they have conceived it to be their duty not to court litigation, and with this view the foregoing statement ha« been prepared Quebec, 14th December, 1861 GEORQE OKILL STUART, Q. C* Since the above memorandum was printed, the undersigned has had ^m.nunicationofa Report furnished by Mr. Bouchette. Deputy Surveyor General dated the 30th of November last, and of a Map of the North Shore 01 the St. Lawrence accompanying the same, dated the 13th of the present month. The theory of Mr. Bouchette is based upon the supposition th^ the origmal grant of the 25th February, 1661, had been revoked by the ordmance of the Intendant, M. Hocquart, of the 12th May, 1733 An a temp is made to support this view, and public documents, of which it is difficult to suppose he was ignorant, are studiously suppressed. He says : thl w/L f; •' r/ T^''^ lamination of the Edits el OrdonnaL, thewms et riglements du ConseU Sup^ieur de Quibec, and of the Ordonmnces et Jugetmnts des Gouvern^urs et ItUendants du Canadar the result of his iuves- t^tion 18, that no such Seigniory or Fief as the Seigniory called Mingan or Terra firma de Mmgan eiists ; and that the grounds and reasons for this statement are to be found in the volumes above cited. It is remarkable that i\7 M TT ""* *^"*Tf ^'""^ "°"'^''^ *^« judgment of the same Inten- d^t, M. Hocquart, of the 2nd of May, 1736, rendered three years after the Ordinance he haaqppied into his Report, was pa8sed,-to be found in the same collection of Edicts and Ordinances,--recogni.ing the existence of the ^^.T^.loJ ^« ^'*' ^««*^«"« ««»>'«. that nothing has been found subse- quent to 1738. Had he extended his researches to other departments, as the d-x^uments under his own supervision seem to be so limited in number he might have made himself acquainted with numerous public acts and docu- ments and other evidence recognizing the title of the present proprietors, most of which are ^noticed in the foregoing memorandum. Had he referred to the Hiatory of Charlevoix, he would have found the precise situation of theBayPhelippeauorBaydesBspagnols. Had he looked at the official statement of Mr. Vondenvelden, assistant Surveyor General of the Province published in 1893. and certified to be correct by Sir George Pownall! feecretarv and Registrar of the Provinde,-of which it is scarcely to be ^f'^i■^^,^yt^fJll\\.%■l>:4.*iy him on the o!" the lessees ►N, are given ; s, ho has sent Id, not a topo- memory and le lapse of the Mr. iJouchette hesrt the only >, published by -^6 known thut ation office by ag the limits of Governor d on the 13th r France, and chiolly com- parts of His )f which had ners for Trade lie Governors '^as published, th of the St. 3d on it. Nor )rth America. ), and wkat- ever use m >y have l)0('n miule of it by the; Commissiont^rs who iormcd thd Trenty of ITH-'J, or by the American Govcrinni'ut in tho sub.seqn 'Ut nenn- tiations respecting the south weistcru boundary line between the British rrovinces and the United States, it is now, for this first liun', lefcrred to in reference to matters siich as that upon which Mr. i)OUi'liett(! has ven- tured to oiler the result of his inquiries. "When Mitchell's rn.ip was made, the wl-iole of tlie north shore, above and b low Quebec, was granted in Seigniories; none of these are to be found on it, and yet I\Ir. IJouchette finds it extraordinary that Mingan alo^.e is omitted. The other ancient maps he refers to, in general terms, havj not been specifn d. Had they contained anything to support his 1 osition, it is not at all unlikely that he would either have produced or have particularly referred to them. The omission of Surveyor General Holland's map, if there be one, that of Assis- tant Surveyor General Vondenvelden, those of the late Surveyor Creneral, those of himself, and those which, he says, have been published since 1781, exhibiting the seigniory, as variously bounded on the east, is a peculiar feature in the report of Mr. IJouchette. In reci'ut maps contained in every modern Atlas, published here, in lilngland, or in the United States, the Seigniory of Mingan is to be found as extending from Cape Cormorant downwards, and iVone of these asain are noticed by Mr. Roiichette. Then it seems unaccountable that he should, in his anxiety to g^\ at results have passed over the Foi e.t Honimuge in 18^7, while objecting to th> of 1781 upon a suppcsed clerical omission. But what is still more exti j vinary is the fact that he should have suppressed the Legislative title to theseignioiv of 1850, one higher and stronger even than a title from the Crovm. This title from the Legislature is contained in the 65th section of the Consolid- ated Seignioral Act, referred to in Mr. Judah's certificate, m<'ntioned in the above memorandum. It may not be altogether useless to give the enact- ment which is as follows : " And inasmuch as the following Fiefs and Seigniories, namely : '' Perlhuis, Hubert, Mille-Vaches, Mingan and the Island of Anticosti, are " not settled, the tenure under which the said seigniories :i.e held by the " proprietors of the same, r spectively, is and has been, since the passing of " the Act 19, 20 V. C. 53, changed into the tenure of franc-all u roturier ; " The difference in value between each of the said seigniorit^s as heretofore " held, and the same seigniory when held in franc-alleu roturier, and also " the value of the casual and other rights of the Crown in the said seigniories, " shi-1' be ascertained and entered in the schedule of the seigniory and th • " aiuount of the whole shall, upon the hling oi the said schedule, becomi- " due and payable by the seigniors to the Crown, and shall form part of 10 ^ir t4 ''theiuiui appiopiiolod in aid of the «-vnsitaire8. "-Consolidated Statutes lor Lower d.iada (180J), pa;,'*! 428. The Sei .;.<,. :: >m udment Ad ol' 1856 from which the al.ove proviHion 18 taken, was, ntvodu/ed into the JA-isluture of Canada by Mr. Attorney txeneral Prummoiid, .nd wa8 carried through tho Legislative Ass..ml.Iy m the .same session, I,y Mr. Attorney General Cartier, and received the Ivoyal Mssent on the li.th ol June, 1856. On this occasion the Crown othcers did no more than laid ho-,,, '^ne at intervals by other distinguished awyers before them, such u.i Mr. riewell, Mr. Monk, Mr. Punet and Mr Ogdeu. The remaining and only ditilcuKy seems to be the question of the geographnal extent of land granted by the Company of New France in 1661. and in what mnnncr the eastern boundary can be as ertained. Mr. Jiouchette has slated t!uit the proprietors have unexceptionnally acqui-sced 1.1 the description co!itained in the cadastre or schedule prepared by Mr .Tudah, a statement which th"y most emphatically deny. They have never relinquished the right to any portion to the west of the Gr.ind Ance vers les Esquimaux. Their lessee, have their posts established thus far, and the proprietors claim it as their boundary In the c.,-. of grants of cci^si- derable ago such as this, when the words, as is often the case, are iadefii ' ^ or ambiguous, the rule is that they are to be construed by usnge and eujo, ment, including, in these laUer terms, the assertion of owner, hip by the proprietors, as has been so often done in relation to this S'igniory, and as often recognized by public authority. No more public ;,<',t of ownership and no more public recognition of this extent of land as a ^ieigniory, can be had than that it has stood as such, independent of title altogether, among *he l-.vs and statutes i this country since 1736, and until the tenure was changed i-ao franc-alleu roturier by the provision of tho law above cited. Mr. Bouchette dates the oc< upation of the heirs Richardson from the year 1803, and says that there is a lapse of 142 years from 1661 tc 1803 unaccounted for. The same w - of information and a.curacy which per- vades the rest of this P lort v iH be ibund by an exami latiou of the continued acts of possess di nctly shewn lu the above memorandum from 1661 until 1733, as liti by the ordinance of that year, and by the Intendaut in 1736,— and as shewn by lease to M Isbister assiirned to Mr Dunn and Company before 1772,— by the deed of sale to Dunn from Marie Bissot in 1772, by the acte de notoriete in 1776 establishing an imm.mo- rial possessK.n of the grantees, by a Sheriff's .sale in 1779, by the receij^ -of 18 lated Statutes »ov<^ provision Mr. Attorney v« Asscinhly received the I the Crown listinguished net and Mr. jstion of the w France in •tained. Mr. y acqui'sced ared by Mr y have never d Ance vers hus far, and nts of c. si- ireiadelii t^ and en jo J cliip by th(! iory, and a- ownership igniory, can } altogether, il the tenure * law above >n from the J61 tc 1803 which per- itiou of the jmorandum, and by the ?ned to Mr. from Marie u immcmo- .e receix- of the Quint paid to the Crown in 1781 on Mr. Dunn's punhase and the puttinif olhim in iHKSsessioii f.f the premi,se,s, — by the Koi et ll«/nima<;.' in 1781, by deed of sal" from Nicolas (iaspard IJoisseau of 1784, by another from AVilliaui Grant to Thomas Dunn and Peter Stuart 'ri789, the lease of 1803 and siu-ceeding leas"8 until this time, the Foi et Hoi image of 18:n intervening, and finally the fitatute of 1856 recognizing the iith" and riglu of the present proprietors. With such overwhelming evidence as to the existence of the Seigniory, it is dilUcult to conceive how Mr. Houch'tte cmi .justify his endeavouring' to disturb the repose of the propiietons, and the uiuisiuil amount of zeal and feeling exhibited in his Rej.ort, throwing the weight of his oth.-e on the side o| those who, without any riirht to Mingnn. are endeiivouring to procure titles which wou'd, mo.st certainly, involve a troublesome and most serious litigntiuu. Not having hid access to some docirn'Mits by Mr. r.ouchet'e «:\id to exist, and being of the nature of short leases which terminated more iliau a century since,— in his report stated to be annexed to it, but which are not, —it is dilltcult to understand how they can affect the established possession of the proprietors. Not one of these leas 's has any ref»M-ence to land above the Kegashka river which, in Mr. Bouchette's plan of 1S40, as well as in that of 182!) of Mr. Saxe, — who is supposed to have taken his boundary on the East from the map of Mr. Vondenvelden,— is stated to be the eastern boundary of the Seigniory. IIow it wiis that this boundary was encroached upon between the Bay d s Espngnols and the Kegashka river does not •ipear, and no adverse possession is shewn ; but, on the contrary, a quil>t and continous unmol(>sted occupation by the proprietors, through their lewee-', of the whde Seigniory, his bjeii eitablishid. Mr. Bouchette has, in his report volunteered an opinion upon legal questions which are scarcely within the -ovince of ;i Deputy Surveyor General to decide. If instead of merely ciung the following principle of law from an opinion of the Honorable Sir Narris^e lielleau, " commc regie, " la Couronne ne doit pas interpreter stric teraent la loi de maniere a enle- " verau sujet une propriete ou partie d'icelle en possession de plus de cei)t " ans en 1781. Au contraire, la plus grande latitude d'interpretation favo " rable a I'int^ret prive doit pr^valoir," he had acted up to the spirit of il his report would have been a much more safe guide for those whom it is intended to influence. Geokue Okill Stu ut, Ciuebec, :ilst December. 1867.