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1
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6
CASE
A
-pq
I
(IN PART)
OF THB
SEIGNIORS OF LOWER CANADA
1
SUBMITTED TO THE
JUDGES OF THE COURT OF QUEEN'S BENCH
AND OF THE SUPERIOR COURT
FOR LOWER CANADA,
IX EEFEEENCE TO THE QUESTIONS AND COUNTEU-QUESTION
S BEFORE THEM.
UITDIB
"THE SEIGNIOEIAL ACT OF 1854/
BY CHRISTOPHER DUNKIN, M. A,
ADVOCATF
iKantrtal;
rai-VTED Br JOHN U)VII^, SI. KicHOlAS STEEEI,
1865.
of
m
CASE.
b„tf™.,lIcomeB,„p„„ ,l,e ^^ co»<li,lo„ of 8elt!.mcrl."_,l„, . ,7"T ;
■• SCO ...t -s-isn jr.t' rs.'^ir zt:?,"^- "■'""' "■
"settling the countrv "— tl.at ..fi ,• ^ ^""^ ^^'° imri^se of
" as trustees for tie public" (rt) ^Z ^> ere looked on by the law
§ 2.— Indeed, this doctrine of the trustce^canififr nf tUr. n v ^
§ 3.-RepIying to what I then Baid, and admitting my facts as stat.d (^^ .-
Attorney General did not precisely re-affirm his doctrine of 85 S/."
quoted approvingly, and so in effect adopted, from O Ja 'sHi torv of CanV,"
the passage m which that writer (exaggerating it a littlc/rvs !! ' ^"''"
cfSr?rdS^fr^^
•' stated, but I differ from liZlll^J::: ,' ,T%t' \'" " '° *^^ ^"'''^ "« ''-
of Bill.^. reported io Quebec mZ^ ^SetfSS 'T/^ ",""' ''''''"'^
pamphlet ■'i)^4a/,» from Ca„<,J«n OffiJ p 18 '^ ' ^ '""'' ^'"'''"> '""
(c) Gabneau (2nd Edn.) Vol 1 n I "in ' Z\. i ■'
in " Dibal,," p. 20. ^' ' '" """^ ^P«««l^-See Report ubi tupr^, a^d
It i. obscrvablen^sLowlng ,Le W.e wa.in .hicb a .tate.ent of this sort can be hazarded
7V5^ ff"^
Ana on 11,. oH«r I,and, in U.e »,„o .pc-ech, alltr a,«,linj « f„„i tl,„, .. „,.
h.npofl.,a„cebcn,gd.tc™inodupo„.acclingtl,««„le,„o„t„fu„„|,„j;
e.ol«dnpong,.«i„g,l,e,„ .„ o„.p.™i» „ ^ mji.ijual^ „l,j.cl To .C
" Lc premier fief dont lc8 rcgistres dn pays fasscnt menfion cat oeloi d« • • T^
" ' CAa«.„ i: „, vassaux recevait ordinairement 90 arp*n. d» tme el ^omarr^i, > A
• entUre; ,1 iengageait d moudre J >on moulin, et d /„!• JZ Zur d^t , ^7
" • <ruatorzicme partie de la faring ■ il »-.r,.n.. ■ s , ■ "■'^'^ Pow droit demouturela
•• • vent., et relit sZltZt^ rcra'u't^^^^^^ ""l "^T'T^-^ '^ '"^ ^'
' ve. ,u-ii o-ea devait pour .os h..i4ru;i,,irpr l^re;:!;::!^ ' "' "^ ''"^^^-
" La loi Caoadienne n'a eonsidi^r^ d'ahorri lo «i„;~.
of h.s own not Bquariug with other people's. Yet R^v, ^1 „ An "'"*!""«' g"'^^ °"«
on aU mutations not eTzS^L ^ "' •"' °°'"'°' '"""'"^ *' ""*'" «««^"«
T
ft
I
■■ The «eig,.ior bold tLe -/S^rr^ltitTS^:;':! ..f "/ '"'^ "' ^''^- '™''^"^-
of 1 85 1 TI,7. r '' T'"''^ : ""7 '""'0 than the bolder trustee-doclrino
to Son?9\rn :T°"' '^^''^^''^ ^^° ^^^ ^" ^« ^°"-i,„ answc^
" droits .10 propri^Jd^; elTret Jel? "T^^^ "^ ^" ''"''" '«•!"'«• '« '*-
" ^"oS::d::ri^::;::i;:- - ^t: ::t '^ ''^'t';'^" ""^^^ ■- ''---- --
" a.aiont dans ces terrcs un droi de plri6 I H™vT .'^'""" '° '"^^ "^^ "'^^"^'«'
An on^lssion the „,ore striking, from the f..t that Question 17 (c) reads thus -
•' Fi«f or SeTgoio.7, a S ; ire IZlT , .7 '™"'"' '^ ""^ ^™"'' "^ ^"-°^«' '"
" dically, and with L rlZotTe.7n"1^5Tr IT "■'" "' " '•^'" P^y"*^"^ P^"'"
" maine utile) as well 88 the , /If ^, , '^ """^ P"''"'' *''° '^<"«''"""' ««Vc (,/o.
•' how were t e^rlqu red to oTZZtX'u ^^""tl ''""^ "' ""^^^ '^''^ ' ^^ -'•
-aetheright^oriJi„:;zt;;;::sro:Si;:s ^^-^ -^^-^—
and 4, Tvhich were thns drawn :_ ' "^ '^ ^"""^'^ ^""^^^''"'^ ^
- -I ..j.^„. .^.a u, 0,.' it.'™ „; .„;* ~"„t.i*LT,"*' ■" '"°''"™
-a«d »l,ich are now answered, or ralher not an.wered, d,™ :_
" et«." ' ^'^°"' ^ *"' «t hommage. lo cens, lea rentes, ks lods,
■ ■ navigables et des forc-t. ^ui ^^uvaieSr ' '"'^P'^"^-' ^'-^^ d^s eauK nop.
(-/) Same speech._See Report ubi ^md/^in « Dibah" r^r. ^, o^ a ~
from not having been able to obtain Jco^-, rlu *" "''"'• ^ ^'""^ ^ «"« « French :
ODtain a copy vf them in an authorized English form.
I
So that, in truth, the faihirc now to ha.nrd before this Coart the J,.f]„i,i.,„ „.
oI,II. „,.^ed on tl,o louHo of Assembly two j-.a« ago, has involve,! th. all Iw-
§ 6.-And yet, it will be within the n,..,nory of the Court, that one at least of
the earned Counsel on whon, it devolved to .support the Attorney Gen 1'.
rropomt.ons before this Court, went the whole length of n.aintuinin. the
aZ'T Jl '"^'^ «d„nnistrators, agents and trustees, {^^ ..nnu.tr^ieurs,
0^^ t Mi.c.mm,ssau-er,^) and their tenure of what they eall th.ir property
■ n w il':i "''• ^' " ''"'• T, ''-''''' "' '" ^"'' '•- ^"^' ■"--'-'»■
.« new uame— ";t</^t-co«,«w ««:/n«rw/ "—fittingly to designate it.
S 6.-Hard, however, as it may be, under such circumstances, to say what is
Attorney General at present in controversy, arc intended to be based it i. at
1 n^t comparafvoly easy to .ay what kind of definition they ro.pire a m tto
"I logical inference, in order to their being held good in law.
§ V.-Prnctically, they call upon this Court to declare aa law.-that all rate,
of charge upon ..««7afm, whether in Icind or money, exceeding the r"e
noney value o 2 .ols per .nperlieial arpent, even U.ough coutrLed fo 1 co
to cession of Canada to the British Crown.-must be cut clown to that vall^^
that the Se,gn,or, no matter what his own title or the tenns of his grant to
^hers, can have no right whatever upon any navigable water, (^)or to any reserve
rWorprot,inrespectthereof,(A)-noryet^^
or bathing any land that he may have conceded, or by reason of any spS
00 cession, reservation or prohibition in respect thorcof;(0 that hi. banamv
^Uiingmo^thanaconditional right tonI.his..^^iLgrind;;^^^^
. t h s nil on cor am term. ; (j-) that oveiy reservation or prohibition of any real
li .' ?^ "" ''"■""'* '" '"-^ ^''^•"'•' «''P"'^''^ by any of his concirr
«nds are to be valued, in effoct, by one .and the same rule ; (/) in a word -
hat o.er and above his house and mills, an.l what in i>op„lar llngu,.ge is ca ied
I-s domain as contr.anlistinguished from the rest of his ungranteS lands he h
JPJTf"" ''•~^" '"""'' *'"-^ •'"'"^"'^ ''^'''' »° "" fe™"« but those nmde since the
i:tr r." 'z^'-^'^ "-' ''-' -'- "^"-^^ ^ -^^ ^-'^ - -de
(?) Proposition 26.
(A) Proposition 27.
(0 Propositions 28, 29, 32, 39, 40, and 41
(*■) ProposiVions 89, 40, 41, and 42.
(0 Proposiliuns 9, 17, 25, and 45
I grain
and c.n Lave no manner of r.ght ,n, to or from any realty in hi. Seigniory.
beyond the value, m the aggregaH of thi, rent of 2 ,„U or los ..or arpont of tho
casual nght. mcident thereto, and of the profit (if any) of this linnt'iba^'lit
Jn ^'"^^'r i'- °'^'"^ ^"'^ '" *''° '™' °^ '^ ^''^ concession by tho Crown )
whose was the 8e,gn>ory.-tho domaine utile, in its largo entiroty.'^^f the w2
tr ct of land then granted under reserve .imply of the right. ;f th. Cro ™
which formed the domaine direct of the Crown ? (m)
§ 9.-Not the Seignior's own. For ho had nothing like the power of doin.^
as he would with it. All of it that he might take to his own u. .-all of i Z"
he could hold for himself.-all of it that, as Seignior, he had the* ri^" to mak
thssoi'ir' K ,': ''" '""^ "'"' ''^^° '"■■'■-^^-'' he is to build.
rill? t""'? " 'f ''' '"'^' "■°'"^""' '^"^ '^'^'^ ^'^ '«°t.s, and contingon
righU and profits, which he may realise if ho can.
lord 'l7crZTir!'r\'" ,? T' '^"^' " ''^"S''*'°" ^^'^'^^^ '"« f«"^'>l
«d T; f \" "'^ n'""^""* ''°'" '' °" ^^'^" *<"•'-. -hen thereto
requested. I^or such charge or obligation could always be given up or relaxed
of Tver! r -^ T^' '"^ enforcement ; could import no absolut; nullity
Dvokell no '"^'^ ''^'"''^ ""^^ ^"* "''•^ to invoke, or should have
invoked to no purpose, such enforcement.
2oln7i/aZl •'"""' ''T ''^ ^-«/^a,V,"_he holding in it, or in
im^nC i ".'"^'^ '"'"g'n'Ty domaine direct, and the rm/tarr. an equally
rZv • '! '^ "^'•\""'^>^iJ«'i ^"'"-'•'^ ««/. in his hands, and there is no
u^o ho Seii,^ 'rt °' ''" '"'^ '^ offset from the larger rfo;.a»„.
utile of the Seigmor by his contract of accensement with such censitaire. His
.titVrl'jod I'rr^r'^ ''':",''• ''■'' ' ^^ M~possible)..oidbein,misunder-
-e veHtarp^lilirth^S;^^^^^^^ t.e p.po.tioa tl.t .L Sei^Io«
a. possible ^^L f^S^^lllZ'^^: "P'^'" "^^"'^ -''»' ■" "'"<' -^--- to then.
" 'r«,^«f" TnTho relrt of r -^ « >'''/'^'''or*" «« coutra.<betin,.uished from
"*oWmo//rJo/yX» tZ''''^ • " '':' P'"'"''' ^'^'^ P''^»- -- shortened into
wasnaturiy puz ledbvihiJnt ^> "" '''"' "'''^ *^'*''«'''*«'l '^' ">P'>'' '"'" French
y*r) rendered riltitriT 7"!;''"; -P---— d M being himself a law
lished. PO"csseur,de franc al.u." I only saw the translation after it was pub-
for the Seigniors tnl^tocli^rrhL'r"'' t b.,. been often aaid that my argumen
tbbg ; and never wa. by J ,o"tI j i " " '> '^ " "^''" " "''"• " '"^ "" ''"''
I said. °^ '"^•°^'*''^J»«t»'«lm.t of such inferencflboin- drawn from what '
y<
i
10 be or M 1„ L I , -^ J »nl,ngcM „,„(to„ p„p„,.,i„„, ^,„^
profiK out of thn:, "il h-l ''rr .""'."""''"« '"°''""""«l"«»'«»»'i
0.17 «.a.ive, r^V^J^TZX LTZt''''' 'I' """^ -""^ "^
liHlo ♦« k • /. i'^ui>i>08ing iiim to tako too much or ir ve un tnn
^i^^z^r '^"r "i"'" ""'"^ "^^""^^^^ of Lif po it
policy. The TiSlTn . '"" '^'^ '"^'^ "' P"^^'« «""' °«' «°« of Public
efend hLsel ' Tn T """P'""' ''"'^ '^ would bo for him then to
as matfer of p blio n;i,Vv ^' '""'" ''"■° "' ''^"' "^^'^^ «"=»' -^'-plaint,
apposed tit a an i 'T/"^ "'''' ""'"°' '^°™ ^^^^ «"PP°^«<1 ^-« ^^ tho
of public policTT}.. ? . f. '°"'' "^ <=°'^*"^«°i"g « fundamental law
Attorn IT ^T;'"'^"''^' ^^' ^'^^'"^^ conclusions now taken by the
Attorney General may be maintained. On no other hypothesis can they t
iS
nt botwoon him
lot j'ot existent,
>ue might havo
i partly held in
itioD, theroaftor
I'ator he might
t as hiti own, —
for distribution
to pay himself
lands distrib-
^ oiwontiaiiy a
I, or by soreral
d, some as the
hole Seigniory
by taking so
luch ronta and
it theory, the
gilt, "?ouId be
give up too
lis position in
me of public
' him then to
e de cause, —
Iters, — might
ih complaint,
terms of the
)re8criptions,
parties is to
8 pretension,
vest in the
ils by public
'nsitaire, or
he Seignior
rust for the
sh and such
[ually 80 of
or-dealingB,
i and them
mental law
en by the
Q they be.
Either the Seignior's grant, as first made, must have meant all this, and nothing
more than this. Or, if it did not, logisiution must have brought it so to do.
8 15.-Tho Seigniors on the other hand submit, that this abHtrn.^t theory and
Uieso practical conclusions are alike pR-posterous—Tho grant l.y the French
Uown, of a . anadian Soigniory, involved no such extraordinarj- trust as this,-
•nvolved no trust at all,-was a simple grant of a property. Particular titles
may have had m thom one or another form of words importing more or h-^s of
roquircment as to the matter of sub-granting. Butsuch caseswere tl,ee«opu.,n,
not the rule. And even m such cases, this kind of clause could not possibly divi.io
the property granted, between the Seignior and all the world,-or make him an.l
all the world mcapable of so dividing it so as to let him havo mon- than . certiiin
minute share of it,-K)r turn him into a trustee for every body,— or give every
bo,ly a Vfstod right in it,-or do more than lay on him an obligation towards
Uio Uon^, which the Crown alone could enforce, which it might enforce or not,
which It has not enforced, which for the last ninety years and more it has had
no machinery for enforcing,-or, in a word, at all affect his right of property,
unless as this discretionary right of the Crown to hold him to his contract if it
would may be held to have formed part of its dom<une direct, and so to have
limited in theory the domaine utile which formed its grant to him. In every
ci«o, without exception, all manner of proprietary right in all real estate (land
or water) covered by the grant, less only the reserved rights or dornaine direct of
the Crown, was made over by it en domaine utile to the grantee Seignior, for
himself, and became his own. Such proprietary right was necessarily not ies.s,
but larger, than the proprietary right of the ccnsitaire ; made him not less,
but more, of a proprietor then the censitaire was or could be— And this
state of things continued. In the days of the French Government, no doubt,
under the police notions of that day, there were interferences in plenty with
all sorts of rights, proprietary and personal, and sometimes interferences for
threats of interference) with his rights, as with other people's. But these
(»uld not specially abate his rights. They even touched him less than
^ey did others ; for his was the ruling and favored class. And they made no
law As before the law, they abated no right. They p.^ssed by with their time
-«11 of them, on whatever class they might havo pressed,-leavin<r, as matter
of law no trace even of the fact that they ever were. Neither legislation nor
quasi-legislation ever made the Canadian Seignior less a proprietor than his title
made him gave any one but himself a vested interest in his property, or in a
word, at all altered the real estate law of Canada to his disadvantage.
§ 18.-Strange to say, the argument for the anti-seigniorial doctrine has been
made to rest in part on an assumption of its antecedent probability.
) J'k' t" ' f '* *\' c°>0"iZ''>tion of Canada was begun after the French Crown
had broken down the power of the great nobles, and when its policy (as this
argument assumes) was consequently anti-aristocratic, and fa^^rabie to the
development of the tiers itat ; that this development had even made conMder!
^progress; that the Custom of Paris, which the Crown introdu^ itt^
Canada, was distinguished among the Customs of Franco as favorable to the
I!H !
10
- oar y dnv, being there allowcTto t ' 1.^" Canada.-„obles, from
-the two companies to which tho 1 ' derogation from their rank
"'? companies, into .hill^lTj^Z 7' '"' '''''''' '^^"^ ^^ "^
'nu.s.on wLich was granted them tol u """'''"^ ^"* ^'' *''« «PeciaI p^
«f those companies heaving bonecelV^f '"" ^^^ '-k,-the'direcfi^
tHe co„;u..on .e^- CltSe: ^^^^^ ^^^^^ ^"'^ ^« -^e towards
-^^"^C^:Std^:i::^;^^^ agg.ndi.ed itse.
.nto notice,-that the Custom orSis o T ' '"'' ""' ^'(^^^^'^^S to r^
r ^ of tbe .an, other Custo: o r'a ^^^^^^^^ -- - advance e „p^
w- unavoidable, entered somewhat lar" ; 2 ^f ^'^V-^^' '"'""''• ^'«'-«° '"
-d colo„..tion,-no such admission rat'begi^er""'^"'^^"^'^'- ^^^^^
§ 19— Tbo policy of the French Cnu..
tenn. anti-aristocratic ; never sou'bt as " "T.""^' '° ^'^'^ ^'"° «^"«« of tb,
<^ied, m the political or social system o uJ T "' '''™'"'' P^operJy so
^« consolidation and extension o'f is o.^nr ""f ''• ^'''' '' --ed at, wS
f f 't ..evor lost sight for an h u^ ITZTV'^ '''''' ' «»'^ of th"
and nval to its own) of the great nobles t ,"^ ^"'^^ *^^ Power (hostite
generally, s. far as its one efd^uircd LT ."'t™'"^"^ '^'' ^^ ^''« "obla
Crown every possible fragment I'l^l^f^^^'i-'-^l-ys drawing to tS
^ass coquetting by tun. witha lor j" a^s^^^^^^^^^ '"" *'^^'^°^'- of whatever
and nobIcs,-it gradually resulted in a f Inn y°°""'°''*J''^^^3-ers, cle«fy
r^oplo, an aristocracy as subser en to i: ^ "" T'' '''' «"«*ocracy Z
?h and a people as odiously opZZ tl'"" '",' '' '^^'''''''^ *« ^W^
well exist witb one another. ^' ^ '^''"' "°^ aristocracy alike, as couU
§ 20.— The terms " neonlr." nnj u j-
far from moaning the lZ\Ct [Zt ' ".T"* '' '°™^ "^ '-^- --
compared with the great body of .i t v" f '"''^-" ™^" «'««« only, a«
J-e become almost more a l': r ehs ol '^'."'"''^^^'^ «« ^^ "-« - "
«t what may be in the strictersens cal d hi ""? ""°^' *''" '^'^ "??«' ^^^
P^^-V who formed the mass of he ^ oJT? " ?'^ "^^'""'^^^ *^ --
by no means risen with them ; wor d" lof' V"' ^'^^'^^ I>roper-had
Ouston,s found them.-every' wl^ ^ si Ij tf^ifm "'^""^" °' ^'^ ^^^'^
»' jectb of all manner of exactions, feudal,
1
odious features of the
It the roturier element
Canada,— nobles, from
■ation from tLeir rank,
ted, having been trad-
;ut for the special pei^
' rank,— the directicti
loft to roturier hands,
e first been roturiera;
■nada were not meant
or class in Franc^j.
lid be made towards
d aggrandized itself
»8 beginning to rise
■«s an advance upon
roturier element, as
y of Canadian trade
'6 true sense of thg
cement of the tiers
™ent, properly so
It it aimed at, was
ower ; and of this
the power (hostile
that of the nobles
ys drawing to tlw
obles of whatever
y, lawyers, cle;gy
f aristocracy and
3ssive to the peo-
cy alike, as could
le in mind, were
0, the tiers itat
all class only, as
5 far risen as to
1 an upper class
'■uriers des cam-
le proper—had
1 of the several
actions, feudal.
11
justiciary and otherwise,-over a great part of the country, mainmmaUes even
or absolutely serfs, (w) '
^^ § 21._In fact, it was only in August, 1779, that the King by Edit abolished
^^ lamainmorte et condition servile, ensemble tons les droits qui en sont des
suites et des dopendances," within the Seigniories of his own domain,-gave
1 ave other Scgn.ors t^ follow his example free of tax or indemnity to
h.m.olf,-and supj,ressedthe ^^ droit de suite sur les mainmor tables" through-
out France. T,ll then, even within so much of the Crown domain as fell under
the miluence of the coutumes mainmortahles, the state of the rural population
^"^^"''^ "^^^""ntedth is description, copied from this Edit .— ^°^"'"*'^"
(n) CnAMPioNNiias. describing tbe state of things on the ev7of theRevol^on, boj-s- '
Dauicr a tcl peut-6tre qui batera le povre laboureur avant la ^. .u moia. et auaiul le
pov, e homme laboureur a puy6 d grand' peine U cote en quoi il itoit de «^ ^L prni L
L,e tiera itat oubhait lour communautfi d'oriL'ine rt .na ,Ur..,i >. ■ 7 ^
" que 163 bourgeois qui I'avait &lu rp« t7 ,' ^ '' oroymcnt no representor
'•bieueentiquoplusn cato ;roS„ ftfirP''"'"^ "^'^ '"»'°"'«"" ^tait .i
"mune. soul l^ ir^::!:^ i^:^^'^^;;^- ^^ <!- -'"i<^~
M . 0. J Les .ntirets seula de la bourgeoisie la pr6occupait dans ea lutte avcc la noblesse
12
commented upon this i-J'/Z f t ' ""^'' '^"" Hkn-kxox bk P..v.ht
with what in Lth needfd to b dontv' T ' " ' ""«'* '° ^'^ '" '^^-P-i-n
;'ewing it as an extraord b ; ^tnl "„ 7^ ^ "'^'"^ ->«g7.-evrdentlv
lence. His words are not a lUtle Z l k?°^ ^'-''™""^'""l' «"^ t^^^-^vc;
We been, almost if not ii oLl " «„ t^? V T''^"'^'^' " ^''^^ "« ^-^ ^o
^'e s.te. o. whieh ^^^^ ^^ ^^ Z^ ^1
" do toJtes paTT/ °^7''^"* P°'"* -^'-i --p'r- la l.bert^ qu'ils .Vntendaient prometh.
: ITT' '''-'''' "^ I'A-Setti"^ tSd w Jr. ^"r ^'^'^^^■^ ^"■
•• Mam quand il s'agit de di^oiito- cettP rL^ ^".P'^Jf,' ^.'^"^ f"' P'-<58cnt6, declarant
- • • L'asscmbl^e vota dans lanuicS.S ,!?"'"' ' '''^*°"'" ^°^'°' P'"« """if^te-
" a.t ua i„,njense sacrificed la pa" dt! ' ""T} "'''" '^^°™'' <1- ^^^ «» compo,*:
Allowmg for some measure of exa^^erationlrf *""' PP- 'O^.-VIO.
««-ibed to tbe ..«««,. and JerZZTtol^ qua..i-aristocratic attribute, here
Jlucl. aseert that " /a domination ^lersTnl^'^Tr' ""'"'^' """^^ "" ""» »«« ^ord.
d«tiaction here drawn between JZrZZiZ "^T f "' '" "'*'■" ''"^ --^ed
«=«^ver8y. '"" ^'"^ '^"d «>« mass ci the French people, is beyond
»re41agl,\be, sontrcgnnl^,
'e; que. priviTfl do la lihort^
It mis cia-memes au nom-
"Bposor do lours biensnpri-a
ils no peuTcnt pas mime
'ation upon this state of
nt et supprimfi dans tout
veritable domicile dans un
srsonoe, de sea meubles, et
leur situation ou par dea
hat day, even this was
I Hen-RIon DE Paxset
to do in comparison
est eulogy,— evidently
manship and benevo-
Ji as tliey are said to
in sweeping away of
8t moment formed a
sserrir les uns los autres,
in roi.
i cette loi dev«nir la loi
isinuUles; en ferontile
ihiersavaient generalc-
entendaient promettre
ts. • • les laboureurs
Ifitruisant les archives,
OS villes etfrayocs in-
'ut prdscnt^, declarant
levint plus manifesto
I qui tout en compm-t-
las do nature d satis-
, pp.700,— 710.
!ratic attributes Lere
ade in the nine words
I villtt," the marked
!h people, is beyond
139, and Henrion do
lonrion de Pansey,
§ 22.-The decree of that 4th of August, 1 780, among other things enacted -
••.—.. et..ase.itiz=::;x^
2.-L0 droU exdusif des fuies et colombie™ est aboU ■" etc '
• 3.-Le droit exdusif de hi chasse et des garcnncs ouvcrtes est pareillement sboli - >t.
"-l.-To„tes!esjusUces8eigneurialessontsuppHm£.e8,"ete ^''"^'^' ''^^ ' -^■
^' 7.-La v6nalit6 des offices de judicature et de municipality est .upprim^,- etc
" niOro et dans^Se form:?eI " "'"'"" '' "' '^"^ '^ '"^'^ "'^ >« -^- -
" d6«,geance^(rj '^''"'""•1"*'' «'"'" «' ^'^^^^ et nuUe profession ntUe n'emportera
J'nC^ZX'^:ntt^' '7 -'?-' '"^ ''»°-' « ^--'^ ^-.
whoso vast prop rt and la^fh T T' '"°''''™ '^^"'"^^ «"*^ ^'S^^<^
taxation to tLC an unlvot'm " 1"^ " "'' '' ""'^'"^ ''^ *^« -^^^
on whom almost eve y burttn of t^^ " '"^ were a degradation, but
of municipal and judLal offiTl """ '"'''^ "^ ^''^ ' ''^^^ P"^"^ '™««»
fn,//«mor<e,-every where hmr^AoA J^ , t)arely not held, ,n servitude or
home ; granted land slSt^ J^^^^^^^ "^'' ^'""* '^ "'^^ --''^. - «t
simply a hoSronandfo;r ^"'^T' '" "«-'') «>« '-^lord at all, but
WRo.xBON-K.uu.-CoIIeetion 06n. des Lois, etc., Vol. 1, pp. 12-14.
14
^^^^^;-^^'''^ -^^ °^P-^-^^'"-ty. in hCdin, that
be, ana were, . noaS - a^^ L 1^?^ e""'"''" ^l" ''^""^"^ ^^^ --' *<>
h.vo been in France ? ^ ' ^"' ®"S"'"" «°^ '^'''^''«^>''« are known to
tl.is,-.and it is a conclusion too , h n tin . , ^'^' '"•■' *° '"''•^'- ^'■°'" '' J«
the doctrine adverse to tLen; v e Lc nroT, " ''''■' " "" '"^--'---tl.nt
upon tr..t; tl.at son.othin. o otL • ' T T/"'' '^ "''' ''''''' '° ^^ '''''^-"
inade good, for it to rest nj^. "■"^' °^^"'' ""'^' ^° 1"" ^^^^'^nl and
The Seignior, grantee of the French Pm^n
meaningless) of 3omething,_nr«v 7 "^T"''"' ^""''" ^°^^'^ '''■-
proprietor, as truly holder L-L-CTf';- '"^ "'° ^'^'J' ^''^'^ "« "'"ch
Crown, who never yet was cal e n ' '"?r^'''"''°' '''"'''«''''' '^ *''« «an.e
heldfo,oustedof4.. ;:teS^^ f ",f '""^'^'''-"^ ^^ ^« ^^
aorr.. cause shown why he shoulTbe '"'"^' ''" ^''^'''^ ^^''" ^-^-^^ ^<^^^
§ 2r.-Where, then, is such cause to be found ?
folding, n,„st be traoeblo to solef t ' - / T" '"T '''''^'^ '" ^'''^ ^^^'S"*- '«
of the -nure as first introdCdll Z f '^^ ^^ "'« P"^*^'^ F^-^'' '"w
Franco-Canadian law, includin.und r thr ''~'r' "^''" '"'^^ ^° ^''»''«d it«
«I1 local laws, and al regula 1^1 ist f ""^ t '°™^ °' '^*^ g^->'«. "^d
in Canada, through tho^ e ;h' Cr^ ^.^w' "'^""^ ''''^'"^^
"tanner) may be called its Tnlc nl , I"«tory,-or of what (in like
from something ia the law of f^ee afh" u- ""' ^""'^' ^" "^'^^^ ^""^s,
thing done here, or by the author S in Fr?"' It '^^'"^''^'-''^ ^^"^ ---
from something don'e since ^ZZ^^'tT''" T/''''''^'
qualification can be made out by reference fof. '""'' """'•'>''°" «f
sources of authority, it cannot b'e mldeTut atT "" " "°" ^' '''''' ''^^^^
eve^L'-mXf wa^ntS^^^^^^^^^ ^ ^-'i«eatlon, tending
Attorney General's Proros t^ns now betrT'."' '"°'""« ^-«'°P^<i - thf
.ions by those Propositions taken can be If .T' °' *'° 1'"'^''^^' -""^J"-
or from all of them together And t'll '"^ '^'""^ ''^"^ °^ '^''' ^'^"rces,
bo well content to waife a Itrutt in the T " '"?"* °'''""^ 1^°^''-"' «« to
against them, and to go themselves at on "^.r^^"''' '^ '^' ^'"^^ tendered
and of the laws, regultio r"" ri""? ^'-'^/'^tory of their grants,
to them. A negative is said trbeC-bL ZZl ''' ^"^'^ '" '^^'"^
^Tthing, they will here prove the qu ne J,t^e -^^^^^^^^^ " '"'""^ "^" ^"^^ ^
4 negative,— that they are not agenta or
15
m nntl tbem incapable
5 Jiim tliau those wLich
Y terms more favorable
ability, in holding that
Canada were meant to
emitaircs are known to
here at all to rest tho
are to infer from it is
as an inference,— that
not quite to bo taten
St bo put forward and
or (unless words nro
ery least, as much
miitaire of tlie same
other,— is not to bo
here shall have been
r. All of limitation
cli, to the Seignior's
purely French law
t may bo called its
of the grants, and
iaving force of law
• of what (in like
lit, in other words,
ia,— or from some-
a was French, — or
iuch limitation or
ore of these three
iliflcatlon, tending
3 developed in the
3 practical conclu-
■ of these sources,
leir position, as to
be case tendered
ry of their grants,
Jountry in regard
listory can prove
■re not agents or
trustees in any sense whatever, but proprietors Iml.itn™ i i.
to be subject to the disabilitie nor 1 abr o tL m^^^^ '"'^, ' '''''' '' ^'^
to be put in force against them. ^ ' ""'^ P"""''"^' ""^^ «^''#»
il Ca'I: '^^°' *'^"' '''' ''' ^^^-^ '- «^ *'- tenure, . first introducl
mcnt before this Court 7h '^ f:^"' besides expressly made in argu-
obligation to b "rn^^^^^^^^^ ""T?' ^'''° "^^"•"^" '''-— ^^«^ '^
on tLs n,ore fav'on.b e "o , ""'1 "' T''"''' '^ "" "' ^"^"S-"'
Canada, di,l „ot at any t m a" h To T' ' f ''' '" '''" ""^'^''^ '°
that the trustee-nuaHt7« I to 'f 7"'"' '" France,-in other word,,
- ^esult .om 1 Jof ^::ri.tr X^^^^ ^-
tl^o Questions and Fr^nosit 1 J! ' 1, ^^^ • "" '" ^^ '''''^ *'"^ ^^^^ ^f
e.tract-making._They read as follows •_ ^ •^°"' ^" ''"'^' i''"'"'' ^'^
" en fief an essential part of the fcu !l f f 'i' '•"' sub-infeudation of h.nds h.ld
" lands con,posiog it. Siile "»" ' ""' "' ""^ '^'^ ''"*^"''"- °^ '^« ^^'f- or of th,
"priotaire du fief ne pouvail Z lain, .* ! i''''°'' **" '^"•^'^'' ^^"''"'- «* '« P^o-
: ten.es,.i le oo.posrXa^iTLl^t^tur/eltll^SS 'r'"""!' "^^'^--' «
" ' ttant du ditflef, saJ pLeZolt'uZ' > ^"""''""^ desMnta,e», rcte, oucen»
" ' nm/ sur ce gu'il aliine/ "^ "''^''' *' «''^'*"^ '''•''" "«>"««n«/ a don>a-
" nninhabitad and uncuUirated rell wl ^ ^ ^ " ""'""■°'" Population, to a n«w,
" words. tl,e granting of C^ iZ^^^t^Z^r''- ° ''"'''" •"'^^^«"'>''"-. "^ in otbe
" all proprietors officfir ^ P"' '^^'^ '"'*' "^ "'"'^ ^^^ cultivation, binding on
■■.S:;^:i;;rrTai7a':rn^^^^^ "","°"^^'"' •"-•^^ - «7«t.a:af^dal.n
'• des habitants pour I meUrf ea^^^^^^^^ " '""*•■" ""'^ "^ '^"''-*'- ^^^ *"-- a
■•et.useerappSrtler..ir^.^--SS^:-:;:--^
I >'
16
" et dea mtondants." «<««'««8'od. 1c3 ordoDuancca «t jugemenU du oonseil .upfirienr
";Z"s'eS:--f'^^^^^^^ -., o..,e thop^opHeto™ of
■• thereto required ; .„d was their nSp'o":^^^^ 'iereJevance.,) when
" such obUgaUon to concede themf" ^^ ^ "'" ''^'^^ "«'"<"«J and limited by
• 8«i..7 with™. ,^^ u, a,. Jd".°Xl r„, ,K '"""'"" •'"?*/"«i S.I.
■ « <l-.ill.U„ tim, p„ pll.^ .S." '°°''""''"' "P""*"™!".... 0bUg.tl„ ; dU
clause of sanfeProposIdon.]' ''^''''"" " quasi-legislation. [Second
Jt'^roHr LSl^r ththte ; t "^^T ^"^-•- - - the nature
tions. (of ProposiUons 6, 9, aad TJut Li T „ ^!*''''*'^ ^""" t''^''* *'>«'« quasi^efid
ligation is held to invol^; ^^caX ^f ehe' tT"^ .""T- "'"P"'"*"'" " t''"' -^ "bS-
grantd/«« de «</«.„„,„ annu^/Cndip^ ''^'^ otherwise than by
and 42, that it is held to inyolyZuZtorJllZT '' ''' "' "^' "' ''' ««• ^0. «^
conditions most restrictively fixed as ^d^ h Se^o™ ""' "^'"^ " ""«"" '^^ «'«
ii'ir
I Ic8 anile, idita et ordon-
aenU du coDseil aapdrieor
Uige tho proprietore of
litre de rtJevances,) when
reetrictoJ and limited by
pri^tairea do fiefs et sci-
iea, quand ila on dtaieuk
iinte et limitds par oett«
I the feudal rules ? in the
nd to every ^/andSei.
il If not, to what Sei-
iro-fief, aoit en censive,
nbrement du fiet En
ntcette obligation ; eUe
roir 6t6 imposfie d tous
■ relevant to the one
that of Canada, in
the doctrine of the
Canada, the tub-
enarrierefieforen
M St/stem. [First
Mnot,withmtth«
which formed his
ig, here, sub-grant-
10 Proposition.]
defined anew, as
cultivation"] vias
>]
rench law, — being
slation. [Second
DOS as to the nature
' three quasi-defini-
I n that such obli-
otherwise than by
. 86, 82, 89, 40, 41,
t BO much, and on
17
tJiorcunto required"] restricted andlZui V l ^' ■•«Ievan,.es) w}>e„
e.iaW.h.l ly local legislation or .uasZZ^nhr^,'"' '" ■ '""^'•^'"^ '"''^'^
;^^j^ .. rre.ch la.,....:, .;:;£r' !::;!-- 'h';::z
»yste,n involves as necessary. To sav tl 1 1 v H T ; .'''° '"'''''''' "^ *^«
into CaMada, sub-grantin. L arriir/fifor! '' '^'""'^"^ "' ''"'•''^'"^^J
feudal sptem, is To say tMt bvTl at hw , T"' "" '^*''° ^^^^'^^ ^^ ^''^
«7stom absolutely re^ni 1^ , t 1 1 " r"'"' "" ''''''' '''" ^-'^'^^
«.r...//«r..,,;ontheSei.nirr Tl 11 «'^-tence,--„ade obligatory, ex
"nplied by the acknowle'rment b n •^' r'"'" "'^^ "° '^'^"^' '" ^ff^^t
Attorney General's 6th pCt'" 1T '"f-f-'b' --'e or not, in the .
Canadian Seignior to sub-Tnt o sit W 7 '" "'''^''' '""^'^''''^ °*' '^'^
differed fron. that of fZ^ l^ u^'Z,''' ^""^■'^'^°' '»>« '"^^ of Canada
n-ade by the learned Counsel w , . '"' '""=' ^<^°" ""equivocally
t-tb, the point coJL :rt:Teef^^^^^^^^^^^ ""T"' "^"-'^'- ^^
pretend to say, that by the J^F^TtJ^Z ) "'' T °"^ ^°"^^
a-y Seignior was ever obligatory on h bn -that L ' ^"^■S^-'''"g ^y
e-ee^the.uda,syste.n.ia4thin;b:;o:::f:;3;L:S:: ir '' '''
i4^2bie^es !r:^r :e;:;f ^°^"^^ r^--'^ ^--^ons, it i,
this of a fancied obligation on theFrr « '"' ""°"'"" '''"''"•^^ "<^""°» besides
;>y ;;.eir author for sngge^-:: to^l^i t;.^^^^^^^^ ^ -^'ed out
(still m reference to this same French hw o thV ^ ? ^°'' °" '° "^J^'
" was the alienation of the fiefZZTth 7 «'^^«»''^«"th century.) «„„rf
answer was not to have befl" /. T^f ''T''"^' '''' Z-*''^'^- -^"-The
could it be-" Yes?" If .i,Vn .• , , '""'''' '' '■'•^''"' ^"""^rh. Jiut how
rosing it, was forbidden wl;" tt 1^'^ Z "'^ T' '''' ^^ ''' '^'^ --
-anner) of such land, be enjoll" 1 tf tf'"'"-^ or alienation in one certain
-ust have thought that in t ^ e ve t , !?" ""' l""' '^''^'^ ' ^he writer
tion,-a view taken by no known auhoHt! T «»b-granting was no aliena-
-eant to ask the Cou Jt to sayTh L 2 T "T" ' '''' '"' "'"'^^ ^-«
composing it, otker^cise thai 1 1 t! • "°. '' '''' ^'^' '' '' "'« '-^s
r»'eei.se counterpart and fittl f . ^ ^^' "'"' f^^l^^J-'^n.-a doctrine the
TLo French Sei^Lor^ s bSZ^^ f '^''^^ '^-' - to go with i,
toal^^e eiU.rthef^or the ^^Z!;^:^::^:;;:^' '''' '''''''^
■iho former of tbesn f«.i., a^ . • , \ ^ "^' '" ""y o'^er way.
r ™,l„ be g^,e„„,,„ argument. Tie I.lter, „i,„
18
the time o.tnc for fyling his Propositions, co,.Icl not lo «o much as printe<I.
Accordingly, that clause of the Question is of the number of the unan wer d •
and the Court ,8 called upon (as though the Question had been-..„w conld
Ukepropruor of ilc fi.f ,,i„out tkecan.nt of Ms Sei.nior Do>ninant, .ispos,
of th anJscornponn, U, otherwise than by ,neans of suUnfcudation or hail d
cens ) to declare tlus,-"e< le j>roprUtairedufefnej,ouvalt,sa»> le cons J.
mcntdc son Sjncur Bomtnaut, disposer dcs tcrrcs ,iui le composaient, a.trcrrunt
qu au moycn dc la suUnfeodation o« bail d ccns^ Quito another thin. For
here, the supposed prohibition of the law is not made to attach to any niode of
ahenation ,vhatever of the whole fef under any circumstances,-nor vol to any
alienation otherwise than by sub-granting, of the lands of the >/, if only th.
beignior Dominant be a consenting party.
But again what a man cannot do,-still taking the received moaning of
words,-is what .t is not possible for a man to do. To say that the Seifjiior
could not, without the consent of his Seignior Dominant, 'alienate the lands of
his Seigmory otherwise than by sub-granting them, is to say, that without such
coiisent such alienation otherwise than by sub-grant was impossible, could not
. take effeet,-, attempted, would be a nullity. Of course. Counsel could no
more argue before this Court for this doctrine, than for that of the obli.ration to
sub-grant which had been put into print with it. And therefore, thouch it may
not have been in the same express terms given up, it must be enou "h here to
have noted the strange fact, that two such theses coild possibly have been so
laid down as these have been.
§ 36.-Another point, however,-invo]ved in the Attorney General's tenth
Proposition.-remains to be noticed. It is there laid do>vn, that the oblirration
alleged to attach to the Canadian Seignior, while established by local legislation
or quasi-legislation, had its origin in the provisions of the French lawmohibi-
tive of the dimembrement du fief As there defined, this obligation merely is
"to concede lands either en arriire fief ox en censive;" but from the tenor of
Uie Propositions read together, this is obviously not all that is meant The
obligation alleged involves (as has been shown) concession on certain' terms
most restrictively fixed as against the Seignior, and which neither he nor any
one else can vary in his favor. And this is held to have had its origin in the
J^rench law as to the '' demembrement dufief"
The text of that law is in these few words :
•• ai^I^:'^ "' ^'"' ddmembrer son fief au prejudice et sans le eonsentemcnt d. ,on
-forming part of Article 51 of the Custom of Paris ; which (by the way) with
Article_62, is appended bodily to Proposition 5, as if the two doctrines of that
Proposition were to bo found in them. So that, at all events, they were under
the eye of the writer of this tenth Proposition.
To any one v ho had never read a book on feudal law, or who had forgotten
all that he inight have ever read in such books, these words might seem to
import a prohibition of the alienation of the lands of a fief unless with the
content of tne Seignior Dominant; and if so understood, the supposed trustee-
!
80 much as printed.
of tbo uiiarisw t-rod ;
1 heen—" a )id con Id
>r Dominant, dispose
in/eudation or bail d
"ait,sa)i» le ronsente-
nposaient, antmiunt
anotlier thing. For
acli to any moJe of
:e9,— nor yot to any
tLo Jicf, if only tha
iceived meaning of
tbat tlio Seignior
lionate tlic lands of
, that without such
ipopsible, could not
Counsfl could no
)f the obligation to
>re, though it may
be enough here to
bly have been so
y General's tenth
Jat the obligation
y local legislation
inch law prohibi-
igation merely is,
from the tenor of
is meant. The
3n certain terms
iitlier be nor any
its origin in the
nsentemcnt d« eon
•y the way) with
doctrines of that
they were under
had forgotten
might seem to
unless with the
ipposed trustee-
Ij^^tlon of the Canadian Seignior might be thought to have had its origin i»
si:Lifs:r;:;:e^F^^^
;. r»rt of a /./, as wont to afT. h .^t he'^!;:; ™/^' '* ^'''^ ^' "'
d.«ros,,ion ofeither as afTected merely the roV/'^ ""' "^ ''''^
ing, tacitly if not in so mnn„ , , ^ °"''«/'C/; m a word, lecogniz.
^'^'^n.o.lAl^^LT' ''' ^'° "--'-ted doctrine laid do wt by
" 'er par parties. 11 n'cn m nns do ZT .• "" '" """P' ^■'' *"*"''t^'- °" ''« '« divi-
" ft il „ e,t plus du pouvoir du ^ L" Je ,e J ' " "\ •^?.,""""«-"'"^. -" c)o division.
" j"g-t A prop..., ,0 domaine du f f " i Z:^"' ''"""' P"^'"^"' """""^ "» '«
" CO ti.ro n'«,t po t L? d i C , ''f •^"'''",:'« '" «— ''. et t-utos les ol q o
o^^'M^:::Z:rC^ :; ' '■^' '■- ''-'-' «^ ^"-'-ration of the .V.
ye, ALf the'i^S^i:::-::,:;:^-^^^ ^:snf r'-- = --
purport to effect it, ifnot null rblrSr "''""* ''' '^°"«'="*) ^'-'W
otl>ers but only ^^againt h^ llti^^E:;- ^ ^^ them and
tbeXiT:,earat'h!i::;,::ilr'' '^^n^ 'r o^^'^'-'-^-^^. .hich .t.
only, in\he mere nterel s w '"'^r;"'^^'^' f ' "'"''^'"■'" ^^'^'^^ '''-
On the other hJ^l^^^T'^f'''''^^^^^^^^
Seignior, which is hllonecess^i^J^^^^^^^^^ -stee-obl gation of the Canadian
certain way, and to leave h T^no c a J tj 7,"'' ■'? -^-"''^■VV in one
which has nothing to do with thr7his>71^^^^ '^ "'"^- '^''"^^' -'^
^ts ongin in the former. It is not easy to sef ;^7w " "" '^ '"'^ ^^«^'
un!;!s!:rftt;itct:aref nf"T^ ^^"^^'^''^ ^-p-^- «.
/A TI., 7 H ~ i^_
r pp. 476 <t 6. ■^
20
It remmns however, to exaniino the nuosfion itself nn ;». . .
p.n.i.».iy ,.,m „„«„,„ „. „ ,„. ^J. j ,; ; ;;•;- -™.. i».i-
»ig»iot,»l mtoro,!, loft.ro ll,i. Court. Tl,e ca.. „l tklT- ' . """"
.irons f'<r tin™ to rout it m..r .„ li.. Soien.or, ,-, |,,. f,„ ,
b.u;« . ti: ::V4r.°t,,r "" "^ "■"' '"""•"• """" '"»>• ""•
§ 38. — Was there, then, in the liw nf p,„„ i . .
thing .l,»t.,er ,1,.,. L, .„ „.,,,,:,; fh';"!:"".'"""-'" ■";" <'«■'''. '"J
.^,.„*ut,,,..,,4::s:^:Ci-::---^^^
The more onrofully the law and hutnrt. «<• t.'
Lead, the more clearly wi 1 tT.o nt v„ r . "'' ^"'" '"'"' "f"'" ' ^'»
n.oro clearly will it be' se ot 1 X 1 r.^T'T, "■""" "'^f'"""' ' ^^«
what that of Canada is sa 'to h u^YI^ '•' '""''"' '''^' "^^'•""^^' ^"« "«*
it. but that it was venVfil'; \: r": '" !'"^ p-/' "^ - "- least like
antap miIbI to it ' '" '^""'''^''^ ""^^ ^«'""' irreconcilably
territories of the CustonX ^ 'n "o^LVt ""^'-ff ""'''' "■'''■"" ''^^
varieties of tenure of real estaV onl J o . , 77 "' '^''''~''' f'""'^''r'*'
le said to have involved Z:.^^::::::;^^^^ tr'' '-
enjLc Oku M, en allv witlT^^ "'1 *'" consequence. For the holder
and unwritten, and to\h tner.l 7 ^^"^ °' ,"*" '^''' '' '^' '"^^' -'■'"«"
property; and so, c ul oM J.^v t° M /'' '/'^ '" ^P^^' ^^ -ch Lis
.ui,^ht be inclined to do /) n Ss , \ T^"^''^ '""^ *^'^'^'^"""^' ^'-' ^'^
Lad its li,„itations and nlifi L J! ''"!'' "'"'-''°^'^' ^^•^" '^■« --'fe'''' "^ Proporty
citizen of a State ul^t^^^:^' TT^'' "^^ '''''' ^""'''''^ ^ ^
He could keep or he could JirlTT^^^ °"'^' >' ^'■■'d none,
as against all 'ho wor d .o Z ' ' "'"^^"" '' °^'"""'^^' «' 1'''^-"^^,
in hi; land, superior Li 2 ,f: '"°^ "°^', '''' "' ''^''^'^^''P ^^'^^ "^ Propert;
nobility of titl -tl at ^'w, ^"."^ "'"' ^''^'^'^' '''' '*'-*'''''' i^I^'reut
and it '(so to s^ak 1 r r.trr-^/;" '^^^''^^;'''^^.-wl^ich qualified him
by proprietors who sltulin%ptitt':T; '" 7^f .^.P-^' - -gJ^t be,
u u uo m a position of feudal inferiority to Liiuself.
(t) So much 80, tLat even Rovalt^ „„ . .. ^v '■ ', ~ '
~..-.ui.it.ui^'r,r,;trssiS-^^^^
its own merits, inJ»-
en of if, in tlin nnti-
ieigniors is l,y f,„. too
ess of what luny have
?ht into Canada, nnj
pon tlie Suignior, of
his Iioliling, over so
avo been tho germ,
iw may Imvo haj its
ono into, upon . jis
c'oinu ni)pareut ; the
w of France was not
nor in the ionst liko
etaii, irrocoucilably
•h law into Canack,
cularly. within the
lass,— six principal
ranc aleu noble, can
ship of it.
n may bo taken to
!e. For tho holder
o tho law, written
respect of such his
everything that ho
s riglit of property
his position as the
Illy, it had none.
Jrwise, at jileasure,
over or property
it, — that inherent
lich qualified him
irts, as might be,
to himself.
leurie honorijique
for it, and thore-
rts, as he might
'West aku posiible,
le larger and more
to be more hedged
21
t:^:;::^C^:^::xz ;™:,!;S': r -' "' ■•• - -
§ 42.— The poBifion of the Ecrlosiasticnl Hodv J, n
noW.r roJnrUr., (as might bo.) ditlered ;. n' t i ^t{:^{'T'r ''''''' ^
pond.ng/r«„, „/,„ tenure, in tin's -that sm. . . , , .' ''•'' *'^° '""'^^
Seignior J.on.inant ; for .'hom, ^ w „ 1 a f ' S t " ""^"^ '' " ^'-''. -
to Offer prayer ;(.) and who, wh'eneve L", . t" n'^I^J' '' ^''^ ^'f'^ ^"-1
l-ave been alienated in any way by suel hohW ^ n', ""-' ''''"' ''^ ''• ^''°"l<i
all MK.h feudal rights over the and " n t e ' T; ' 'v""": ""•"^-^ -''-^ ^'^
tJ_.e alienation or to accrue thereaft r , uld W y"'"''' ''"''''^ ^--
'' « ..rant, or be in.pliod from it by t he Cu om •"'' '"" •^"''"'■''''^'^ ^T
tliona.ion, and the tenure (as .„ ^r ^ ^7^ ;r''^"'^ '" *'"^ ""'"^^' °f the
;f-K.h lord again held of hiJ.^Xlp I'? ''T'T'''"''- ^^J' ^-^
"•g^or Donnnant might have "over r 'n b ^a d ^"^ ," "'"" "' '■'«'■' «"eh
in the Jiands even of its /•..„./. aL"./,' '•"''" ''"' "''''^^f' '« i^-
inant not to have sanctioned the g" I S, '''''f"' "^' '"'^^''^'^ ^--
if be should have done so. And so "^ of n "';"'"r"'" "I^^'" «'''«"«"-on.
in ascending series, to the hiX o;/! ll""" " °'?'""'^" ^-"'''-t
Hfrh.s of the Seignior Dominant" 'of the L "7"""*-I^"». -'joct to thes
inant, as might be, (rights for !".,•' ::;:'" "'""'''^'^ '^^^^^^r. Dom-
property of the ,and,-,he total oftllrZ^ J^JClf ' "'k'V"'*'«
therem,-and which each could Mwnvs in „.,,''''" '^'"*.^' ^^'''ch of Uiem
-aive, as he pleased,) such body, G r'b ei ht If u' ^"'' f '" ^^""'^ ^ "^^
observing only the renuiremenJs' of t e ,a / ^ -«^-tenures,
teop or to alienate, either wholly or bv ZtT 1 ^ , ^""mortc, was free to
of property (Jomaine ntik) w , slJ/ \ ?,"'''{ "' '' ^""'^'- ^^s right
</'V-0 of its Dominant oracenlgDominr; ' V'T '^'"^^ ^^'^ ''-^-
uulc was larger, where the ten elasT; 7 l^ '"'^ * ''^- ,^^ ^^^-'^--■-
was «» /.„„,A, ,„,,„, ^„,„™'^/«"^^^ than where it
took a scir,ncnne konoHf.ue of he I. T'~lf> ''f ''™" *''*^ ^''^"''^'^ ^ody
hold in whole or part by propr Lto s r,fn f 1',""' '" ""^''* '"''^^ ^he land
it could not. ^ Pf°P"etors its own feudal tenants, while by the latter
fcecnme that par ..n.c« ,/,W„, assimila n' Te^ n 1 "^"'^ ^"^ determiuate. the tenm-e
and between it and they!./ or censivTZZZ.^l Z '""^■^'''"''''o ""'"^"^ on the one hand
naJ^-See Hk.h.o.^. LLr, S^JXyo; 2 Vp'^Sr^ ^fZI"' ^"'""'^^ --^■
body 1- b,lX°ia^^^ tho grantee
r.lig.ous duty, the tenure retained the eLe thl Lr!5 •?.""""'"'• ""^^^ «''''' f"' P-ely
Hi=NE.o.v VE Pakskv, i,;„. ;.,„^.^ y j Z^/^1 °[""^^' ""t '«''« b^en granted by it.-S*e
'-"« again •.oid';f j.i J ,/;!;::'': "'•^•■'Vf!''!' '«-' (- -'-i^ or iL)
Vf-f^y, or. U.alneuUl,. ilJ^ZL ""^^"•'"' '"'°^i«'-«- I>"t In« right of
the. Of.., ,,„.:, Lu ii :!::;;•:; : z-s?''* -^ ^" -" ^'
Mmo. nt each st..p ..nVlit ha™ l„.nn J . "^ rarnmout.t.-ai. (he
"-«^-" ^>' '1... Lstt;:: z^zx^:tr' r "■;«"' •'- '■'"""^^'
P'nerally that of .xactinir so ,».„.|. 1 . ? . ""'"e'lmte lor.I, thero was
accruing, and to what " : ^ ? ""r'- •'l"'^'"' '" '"''' """• ^^''^'--^
ne, therefore, cou ot Z^ " '".'T 'V '""^ ^'«'" °'" '^''^J''^^'^- ''--"•
l.e was lH,,iaos much n.o o T! T . '"^■^"'""'- ^"^'' «" « ««"">-«' "ile.
ofhis lord. Kg ::;::;?' "'t "'"" ''^ ^•"^"'' •^■^ "- ■•"'"-' ">•>'
vassal's ; his 10..,.;^ ; ^ ^ ^:;:f '""'r "'? • ^^ 'f-^"-''' ''-'^^ '•'^" ^''«
cu..tances-b,far\Lo least do^::rofl^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ""dor very peculiar cir-
tLl:t^f:::;:;;'^Jr: ;;;--'-^o. the e^enty .a., in a. of
to 8ub-,rant fcudailv tiri i^' ' :. 1 ')' 'T'^'^^' '"^"^'^'^''^ ^^ ^''« ''^'J^'
tLo sameapparo. ;« a t Is '"*^'"'•'^';^'''> ''«^' "'-«)« o( necessity one and
real estate.'n'o I^U^T^TZT''' T''i ^°"''^'' °' ^'^''^ ^'^'^
;;; Which, .here holding ..;^;;.:::t i^ ::^:i:r"^ ^^ r- ^'-^
-:.ai„edL other ha„d"ha:i;;f ^ ''"^ ^''"^'° ^' ^" ""'"-^'^ ^^-i-^O
".iglit or might not have this eharact la . hlu 7'~ ' ^"''^''^' ''"'■'
otherwise. "'' " ' '■ ' '° " '"^'^'^ P«"niary point of view.-but not ^
!< -!
■iffTi'or Pominnnt ; wlio,
■And, liko tlio hoIJer
a Htignevrie hotiorifujue
Innd (ill whole or pnrt)
riors. Itut 1,;^ right of
ii'toil rliaracter; being
'••to lord, ns well n» by
■d riiramouiit,— n» flie
nt, or niighf bo imj.lied
rnedinto lord, tlioro was
nfit ujion nliormtionn,
to siieli fine, wliorevor
'lo rigbte oftlioiordor
te, 08 ho might soo fit.
limited iis to his right
a groalcr extent) held
\v highur lords,— and
lit of property the' ein.
d, as a general rule,
y the reserved rights
logetlior less than the
Jr very peculiar cir-
ntial want in all of
pacity of the lioldcr
f necessity one and
ited of certain visible
to such holder, but
was really no more
irming a part of the
imeuble incorjwcl)
—from the ofsenfial
-the prfip,srty he'd
matte) ', ,- ,xj|jj
e corporel, or might
or might not con-
\che aumOne, noble
lecial cases, and mor«
i in its nature, might
re hght, it might b«
t of Tiew,— but not
83
of'r'etr'f? '"f-^r '" "f" ' "'''^'" "'" ^' ""^''' --i< i" whole nr p.rt
-:^^::;:::r: :: s;r'^:;S ':t ^^-'^^ ""• -' - ""'""^-^
noble or ,„ M whetllrT '^ " '-'"/I' -n^'. ".'.un, either , .^franthr anm.Ue
"oblo temiros, answering to tie, 1 V T thod.st.nft,.,,, between the three
•uperior or suporiorsVlZ: ■''■'" •^'■'''''''" """"'"'- J""'^'^ "ith a
.urorio.s who held an inf^ r^ ^ Ire' 7 ™ '^'^' ^'"""'^ ^^"' " ""f"^''"^ ^
-ow...e„tasthatheL;:;'r::;!r:;:i;r-^^^^^^^^
il'o not hoMing, ; to tr " r '.""'T'^''' '" '"'''""^' "-' ""' ""-
-i.ichn.ay he^^alleculc:!^: :^;:;:^^;'!^''^f^^^^^^^ there was another.
>*^V<- ,uightulso beheld Iv» 1 .' ;""■'' "'"' ^^'"" ^^'"' "'^"""J
in the>... :;.;:;, ;;^,:;;7^ '-^ -rds to state exactly. It import.
haute, rno,n,ne I ZlTlfu -'T "' ^?'' '^"''^^^'^^ «-«'''li"g - it was
incidental to his ex oil of s"ch r 'f ^ ^'^ *" "'"° '^'^'^^^"^^ '"-" - '-
eruing, whether fromTs ij ' 7 " """"■^'""'^ °^ "" ''^°«''^ ""■"- "°-
vanoty.fothe r rnueaorfr ""^ ^'"' " °^''-vise,_the ownership of a
«"doi,.sclJ^ r-Id i^or^^:^^^^^^^^^ exactions mostly, of anomalon,
Leld) generall the own ; ^/'''' °* ^ '■■''"'=^' "' '^^'^^t, if not (.« some writer,
Bupela'd dir^^ • to ;: rto'ti.: r'""' "■"'"•^' '^ '""^ «•■ --"'^'^ -'v-/
property, like the seon^Z!2^ "^ "•ff"?'"-- '^''"'^ '»-' P'-'-'i-' kind of
unlike the sci.neuric iZ JZlf'"'^ '""'^' *^"'^' ^'^ ''^''^^ ^^^ "°l>''« tenure ; but.
Theiand-hoiL.„ ::::fr:^^^^^^^^^
hold it, or might not "ts U^JtoH , r . T"f ''"'"''" ''''^'' ''""-^'f' ""S^^t
description oflnl prolt p " "'f f ' T ""' ''''""•'^"'^^ '^^ those of any
were unatiected by ^^ or w e a«> ^17 ■"''' ^'""^ °' J'""'''^' «"'> 1'—'
particular cases, it'w^ eve he I? '; " 77 '''"^"^ ^^'S'^- ^nd in
- e-'^M as might b" T^ ;^r ''' °-'»/--/'-«-^- noble,
- g ■^"' t>y PaH.es havmg no ,a^„.,w. />o norij{,jue de VhinUuje,
Latiu,-" Lord." in English.) which fott' dl i r t"^""""' ^"^"'''"•" "P'""< in
by a sort of licence ns'd t^ ^n a m t p^^L ^^ T' «^7^""— "'-t"' --times
proprietor of the higher class, one whoClZw ^aT il^ °' ''«'' "^""' '" ^^-^ «
pr«/e " of the thing owned should bv . ; , ? »".'r«c«rie " as the mere "pro-
the noUon of a somLly n'tt^C:;::; -rrirr ° '" "^"^^""^ *° ^-'^'^ ^"^
24
the icl a of i^ S^^^^^^^ "^J^-. - small as to make
selves; others son^.Tr '^{', '' ''"'^'''' «till smaller tl.nn them-
the no .le cl^; oTn f ' "T '"'"' ^'""° "'^ ---^--or no dependency of
whatever mt eZ T" t"'^ "' ""•""' "° ""^''''"^^^^ territory or domain
hadZfero?*^ "-^''f' "='•"' "•'-I-'^t-«'y of every other quality, so^
pertv or r f ■ 1 ,7 " •'"''''' ^^''^'^' ^•■^'^ ^"''^ ^ ^'^"^I'^d fif 0. other pro-
n 1 o?t7' f 'r 'r^^'^'^''^-^- -' -^/orotherwise) extended over"
/7fe I .nrnf " ^ ^^^''^^'^^ P-I-'^i-- «'-- among the number; there, a
ieZt iLJryTT'' ''''' '"'" --ther,-or was, partly or in whole,
exempt tromall;M8<,ce but that of the Crown.
back toT« - ';0'"Fehend this anomalous ^tate of things, one must refer
the hw S'V T"^'" f"'' "'"^'^' ^^^^* '^^ ^^y t''o theory
Uielaw ^laid down by the feudists generally, traced the relation of feudd
uiriSzrjXnrt::::;"^^^'^
« r^con,ponsc a^Ssle do ce aZ 7 T'^^t'"' "'"' P""' "'^'^'^ '« *-' - b'*^-
" en a. Biuo„." etc. ^ ' ""'"' '" ^' '"•P^"* «° *<="•'«« 'J" '"^njo fief, si tant y
Again, in Art. 17, outhe same subject--
erritory that foil within
ith fiefs of nil Jescrip-
m the Crown, or other
t extent, consisting, —
large and small, im-
, mills, gardens, parks,
ir domain, — secondly,
racts as variant in di-
franche aumdne or en
at all, as niii;lit be, —
;hts over numbers of
them en franche au-
3r extent, but almost
so small as to mate
? to a farce,(.r) — yet,
1 smaller than them-
•or no dependency of
' territory or domain
)-granted territories,
other quality, some
one. Here, with a
th a largo one, no
i fief or other pro-
se) extenddl over a
e number ; there, a
partly or in whole,
gs, one must refer
:etly the theory of
relation of feudal
iom of Paris contain
gnnntledit manoir,
ir lo tout en baillant
mdmo fief, si tant j
of consistant seule-
nance," etc
vassal, so doit le
■ au dire de gens d
25
dependanco (whether as affecting the noble or the r,nn «.n *
its incidents, to the assumed fact ^f a direct 'an n I T'fi "'*^ '"
to the inferior, such assumed fact inT a /e 2l "'r^ ^ "^'™'
being historically true. ^ proportion ot cases was far from
§ 50.— In the first days of the feudal sr^t^m -i .,
cium or/./passed to the vassal, n^ ^^rty TuU mtf"' "' ''' *"^^'
and when /./. (at least, generally) we ele ^ 'a" L ^ ^ :"'°- '"' ""''"^
«>vereign leader, to his most powerful chiefrald if \'''''''^'' ">' <l"^i-
serve us such rewards— tbp Un i !' ^'^'^^ °^ '""^ ^"^^^t fitted to
any view to thelXp lel^^^^^^^ ^^ "f - ^'ven nor taken with
or otherwise. The Lnt wTs "mL '^"^ ''"'"'"'"'' ^'^ ^"^"^^"^
The grantee was no!gr Z t o peTccfn' t'T ^^"''^ '' "^^'""'^ ^-•
contempt for all mann'e" p atf^ LT Thf ' T^ ""'"' '"" '"'^'^^
in this lihe himself; hunterr^S Z'fli 1^ It^t' "^''■'° ^^'^
forest, than forest into farms. Fiefs larj o ttle *n b n, ?'?• '™' '°**'
different classes 7 mnl of """P"^"' '^ '^' ^''^'•'^'■'"'>"«- ^^^ of
bysuccessivetxirriiirrr^^^^^^^^^^^
others and for themselves and TtllM '1' ''"f" '^ *''' ^°'' '' ^''' <"«'
and slaves of the old le ° ol ^ "^ t?' f '" '^' ""''' """<^^°-' '^^ -^
not,-the prope ty P rhap ' of men f ? ' f' "'' °""^^ ^^''^'^ ''' «^^«"
was upon the Leln a d Tndusry of .IMh f"" 7 '"' "°' ^"" "'<^ «"•'• ^*
tions of all kinds that coZiTLI ^"'^^'' "P"° '^'' '«"*« «"d ^^^-
Jtef of this old tim and 1 foltr'" "' •*^' ^"• ^^''^' ^"^^ S™'^- ^^ *»-
any productive indu:tr;1rt;^;r::?Z:":r ^'^"^^"^^^' '''' -' "^"
oni::^^r:;z;:::^-^^^^
wnters,) the leaders, picked men and privates of /l-H'''" "^ ^^'''™
•ub-vassals in descending de J aTd t ol "'"""°^ ''^^''- '•'^'l''
«««W., serfs and so fofth. W L tl e t a T.''""' '" '""^ "'^^
Bub-infeudation could not havebin a e^l ^ f'''"^^' ""J' ^^7-
--ct might be something, thougr::^! ^:t;tr:if ;:i;i:
wero hardly tLat way. iena(„icic-= aud Ujoso ol tue ago
'! i
26
with every change of master of eve " ,? ^ '* " "^ '^ ^"'"^^ ' ^'^
would have lapsed leavZi to ^ -^'^'/''"'^^e-- it« grade, every sub-grant
to re-parcel ou't 1 1 1 2 Bes dlT" ''• "i'' "^^ '""°^^^^^ 1^-"-%
- no part of the style of l„„h oAh " '" ""^ "'^ °^^^"'^'° ^'^™«^
follower ; nor wa it ,^ the £ U^VT''^'^"^ '"'^ °'^^^*' ^ ^^ ^heir
population upon whom tl y let to ' T"? '" °*'^" ''^^P^'^'^- ^ho
ordered body of eensuZ^Z se r* r::l""''^V°. ^'^'^ '^'^"'^ <» -"
completely conquered, of variant or I's .^ 7 ' ^°^'''^'''''^ ""^'^ «' '««»
with, others far enough from te . o Ani Tl '""^ "''' °"^"-'' *° "^^^^
was not the easiest In the wo Id The fcd^; '" '' ''"^°"^' ''" *'^'^™
were not too strictiv bound down t'o th vltl '''''^T'''^ '''' ^'' ^^''-^'^^^
Pire de famine. They were fo 1 I ' \t'°™' "''' "^ ^•'y^o;to//o« .« 6.;,
"ot to be thei. for long To" '^'dl^ c J """' ^f ^ ^"'^^^^"^" ^'^'^^ --
cost a price that they rf her liS ,av T.^Trf ™'^""' '' ^'^
grantor of the /?./, when he wanl 1 7' J ° ! ^ °' *''" ^'^'^"■°'- ^^ominant,
%'.ting on their oU core for theJ;'"' T '.'' "' ''""^''* "^ '^^ ""'^ by-
-y one, unless to the relt ^t pa/e 17' I "' ""°""' ^'^ ""^^^'^-^ ^
%hting could seldom comoTmir u T''""''- ^" <^'' "^^^ «f ^he >/,
without. But, fo lis IrS To 1- °f " '"" '" '"^ '""-^ *"- ^« do-
country. The lord of th lAi to " >" "' " '^^''"^ ""^^ '" * hostile
J-ge, he might have o g^lo '1^"'"", ""'' ^'^°"-^°'^- ^^ '^^/C^ was
live, they must be togethl, or neTrfn sul T "' °' '" ^^^^'^ ^^^ *^
allotted any part of hfs ,?./to7f . T T"^^'"' "' *° '^'^ ^«f«- If ^e
place in tu^rn.' The b Ik^fthe ll^^^^ such dependant must garrison his
"ot be -let go from g rril c ut^^^^^
l^imselfinacantonofhisown. '"^■™''' ^^^^ P'^^i^g lord by
-lUy tttei;^^^^^^^ ^'^^^.^ ^^' ''^ -'^- -'-* -y now so be
was no of those iITwI! ^r"""'° f'°"°''"" '" '^^^ ^•'"'^ «f P^^P-ty
population of erprlSlrjr ™? ''^ T''' '""'°'^' "'''' '^ -"^'-ed
of the earlier age m^ b 'sj^:!' T'' T 'T' '"" '^''"'^ '^'^^^ P-P-
words, the lot or^onL of hnd .11 '^' "''"'"' °'^-"'' '''•' '"^ o'''^'
leader of mark- who aJrlt, ? '" T^""'^' '' ^ ^P°" °^ ^°"'l"«^t. '« the
what he would 'tmtoThm'r'^ ""' ' '"^^ ^"""^'^ ^'^^'^ -^---"g
more of his fav rti „„' ''ll'^T' P^^ °^ ^* - ^ to son. few of
« territory, that one or othe loca r ""' ' '"" ' '""'*^^^' ''' *''^ ^^'*^" *>f
charged properly with its me ' ! , . °'" ^""°''«"^'-y ^^ tl-e fallen Empire,
in the later days T the Empl s^'T^ " '"' '^'^""^'"^ *° *^^ «-- ''^d
not lost at the Lnds of if "Z, orT A '." ''"'"° ""^ ''' ''' °'^"' ^'^ ^»d
territory (or debris of te rlrZf onl" T''™"' '' "'■" ^'^"^^'^ the
possessions, once, of theXdel ofl e j;'''^^. ^^'^t ^"''^"'^-.-princely
tative of its old owners not dini ,.''"'" 'he hand of some represen-
kinds of property, .lZ::^^t (aUfC "'T' '' '' ^^^
o'n or tliat of their respective properties, at
entlj absurd. Re-distri-
business of its lords ; for
s grade, every sub-grant
!w followers presumably,
"larity of system formed
ordsof/^/i,orof their
1 in other respects. The
led to their hand a well
•pulation, more or less
ne easy enough to deal
' be imposed on them
tuary and his retainers
of exploitation en bon
f a possession that was
less of violence, it only
he Seignior Dominant,
Jought of any little by-
Dues, as unwelcome to
In or out of the Jtef,
ny long time be done
iting men in a hostile
iiold. If his /e/ was
• of his people had to
IS to bo safe. If he
ant must garrison his
nere retainers; could
sach playing lord by
vhat may now so be
at kind of property
•, with its conquered
hich the >/ proper
off-set ; or, in other
1 of conquest, to the
ugh (after retaining
fief to some few or
>ry, or the debris of
the fallen Empire,
■ing to the fisc, had
f his own, and had
was veritably the
i/tindia,— princely
i of some represen-
> lords of all these
2tive properties, at
27
least vied vith one another in the eagemes, of their appropriation to themselves
and the>r mgher dependants, of all sorts of titles of honor, Roman and Barbaria^
-in he number and m.htary organisation of their retainers,-in the rapacity
" w^d tl t?T " '?t '^^'^^— ^ - the contempt with which they
rnerr of T T '"" P^^^^-^y and their wealth. Not, of course, that every
LmTl-1 <="^^^.«-•*«.7 - property of the first magnitude; so as ti
we^e of ml ^"^ J^^V'^'*''-'" ^'"P^^"'-' ^^'"»^' ^^"k° - Count. They
mint r; ' '^"'" ^""'""^ ''' ''''' ^°"'^ °^ ^-'^ ^"'i consequence)
we e lords' f'rt": T f^t ^''''"'''''' ''' "«' ^^ "^^^'ry of their own
were lords of the land and of those who tilled it,-not simply land-owne.^ who
. tilled or saw to the tilling of their land themselves.
i i'm^eliZoT '"'r'" "'"P''^'"' '^''' ""'y ^1"^"y ^'^ «-^' to have
heRrannerlT ;rT°i '""'' «""'^" -^ates or fragments of estates of
tXZZ'oZt' 7 "'; '' "-''-^P—d representatives of their old
whom here' "^^^'1'"'^^%'' ^^'^^ ^^'^t-- - the hands of ex-slaves or c.fo„,,
loweHn! othe' '' f-""' '' ''^ times might have raised instead o
lowermg, o hers, fragments of tVee Barbarian allotments; and others perhaps '
^;:^:T::::'£'; ''- 't -' ---' -'-• ^^-^' p-^'^' ^^
labor ofacWnn T' '""' "'"^'^ ^''' ^<^^" ^'"'^'-ted »>y ^he actual
tlittr"""'"?!"'""™"'''"''™'' "'""»'■'•. i' i» '"""St to MV that it
for any ownenll or 1 ' , ^ ' '""=" '"'''' '"' ""»» ""' ''» !"«'■. »»'
not hi. "^ ° "^'"^ """'■'« »f " "'" "«» i« «»y K»»
nofatw!".™: l'"' '!" ",''" '" ''°' "' "'I"' »' "" f""' "•■" Ibe n,l. ; the */
' 1 i''f'i '
' if
I
|i
28
tentance, and at last, into a nron^rfv .v J ' ""*" *° "^''''te of in-
whether noble or ro/.ncTbecame l ' T °'' ''°'''"' "^"^'^ «« '^« «'^«''-«-
• class had before been towa^ Z ,re VdtT ^^''^V'^ "'^^''^"^ ^' "-*
right, b,.t of power and wrong. In m nl rT *^'"''-^^'^'"'"«'"otof lawand
strong am,; their own. or thSr ntighbo^u / T^t f"^'^''^^^' ^^ ^ «-
each must buy help. And the feudaf tie n^:i» T °"" '"""^h Limsc.lf,
ofthe>/,ofieredeverpvl,ereo tetopH^^^^^^^
one, and armed himself against others bvt "''"'' ^''^ ^««^' ^eased
himself; who in turn not only stren'l^en,".^ """''^ '^ ' '"''^Ser than
but if not thereby strong enoug soulhTf n™l' ^^ '"'"^ ''''''^ ''« «-"'' g^t,
ofsome one stronger. Cwt^nlir " ''' '^ -aking himself vafsal
raised, and his vanity gratified 11; ! T^ T'"'' ^ "^'^ ^'^^ -^
Violence even becam'e^mmo; L the mT "^"'''"^^ ^' ^■'^ --'«•
into vassalage. ^./, ;„ g Jt^J", ; 7T'T ° '°"'"^ ""^ °^ '-an,
by a process quite other than thaHf oncessi ^"^V ", -T '" '' ^^^^^
federations all added to the inducement forLr '7 '^' *''' ''"^^ ''«"-
[n favor of men already holding othertroroH^^ ""T? '^ ^'-^^ ^^ ^°"^^^-A
but whom for any reas'on it m g' be LJuITr^'l '""'°" ^'"^'^'^ ^ ^^"'^
iflto that position. (^)-With l.;l. ^ "' *"* *""P^' *^^" *« f^ to force
the true presumption as to tenure a,^d Zv r ^ fn ' ^^^ "^ ^'^°''«' '^^•^'^i'*
Cheney of the M, unless shor^ iS rt' Tm "'^ ''^^^-^^^ ^^^"
process of sub-division of the fief hetLZl ""^ ^°'^"*'^«' ^b" ^cry
tion; the younger sons or othfl Ssof thf"'",?""', '"'^' ^° «"^-'"^-^-
-Ives to hold of the eldest son oro htbo Id of the ?• fT "'"'"'"^ ^'^-
;"g to hold with him of their common lod-El 'f?' '"''^'^^ °'<^'«''"-
large/./ were fast resolving themsXs i, t.^f T ^'' "'" ^'''''"' «^^« «°<1
-ne>/./. The smallest propert el^^^^^^^ T?'"'^ ^'•^^-^* -^^
be held divisible in the way of sub ™Tn I «^'l"«''fi«d,-and as such to
process of sub-granting raTlost subs^Z ^k ~''- ^'°P^"'«« ^hat by the
were yet granted in tlfeirfnX s^.^ e^^^^^^^^^^ T'^'V '""'« ^^ ^ts,
leotsomuch as savoring of real ty immreabLff T- ^°°°T«r«aI rights,
-;.. .o..7«.., pensions, offi S oTp o f 3'^^^^^
of t^^.e state, were even granted as prope ties ^ ^'^ IT '" ''^^ '"""^^ ^^*^°
with, for the consideration of vassigrt he giv^f;;' " °""^^ ^"^ ^-^^
0) " Enfin, ils aehetSrent des vassmis ,.n ,i.„ ^
(o) See Heevb, Vol.1, pp. 123 e^,,y..
»ey. ; also BacssEL, pp. 4I ct .eg. ; and 396 et uq.
'ocial systora, wbich by
lien into an estate of in-
fer wo*, there camo into
axtensive, changes.
' tlie proprietor class (in-
ei-fw^/, as the a/f «<?•«.
lat the relations of that
;relations,notoflawand
' anywhere, was in the
strong enough Limsc-lf,
itself in the organisation
s. The weak appeased
sal of a stronger than
I'ery vassal he con 1,1 get,
making himself vassal
3- A man's rank waa
ortanee of his vassals.
forcing men of meana
lus came to be created
I which, the same con-
'f/«/* by concession,
fore eligible as vassals,
pt, than to try to force,
le fief, came even th«
Pt of France, reversin^j
ntothe>/ordepen.
ij localities, the very
Jnded to sub-infeuda-
res submitting them-
lare, instead of claim-
the franc aleu and
oplexityof/e/g and
3d,— and as such to
•operties that by the
ted into mere rights
Incorporeal rights,
^r-rentesfonciireB,
in the service even
' owned and dealt
irargent,oucnpajant
' and 396 e< My.
39
-retimes in tbe lord's; JeZlltt^'.Uy^^^^^^^^^
Bon.etimes not at all ; sometimes the fai conta t ^f M f ^ "' "" ^'"'^^
balf-yie.ding of a beaten man to a yoke that he 1- t '? "' "'"''"'"" **'•
be can ; often not faithfully recorded often on .' "^ "'^ ^''^ '"^^^"t
not faithfully adhered to. ' Thlfl; 1' ? Z " '''"' " "° '^"'^
vassal, of his lord; but the manner anTexS it 1.^^' ''T'"" ''^ ''''
tl« age of anarchy, and disappearinrwitht ♦)! ^ .' '"^''^'"^- '^"'"'''"•^I^
measure of militar; obligation buf Til' Ju' ''""' °' ^°"™^' ««-«
there would be casual rS Lo'f tSe I T' T ^" '"^*^'"-'?- ^^^'""-"'j.
*>«m.> of the usufructuary 11 ; t 2" n "^^r"'^^--- ^y way of
what mutations, what rights, anTh;^
general, there would hardly be fixed I ! \ f' ^'"'" °P'" '1"'^^''°»«- J"
might be, without limit of Lount or ot " tt"' "''"^' '"' ^'"'^'•^ «'--^-
•ttir.t might have been r^nt A , °°^<^^°^ ^" «I"'« •^^-Sf't be, ^r
later, often'and long, lord and vassal ml'tT "t "" ""'■^°™'-''""^ -no; or
as to what it was or shoul^L 1? , '' ^l^^"- controversies of every kind
«on,ehow,-but not alway bythe same'm ""' ''"' ""'"^"'^'^^ ^'^^ -"'-1
times, by fighting and defeat o he 1 ^ "" • " '° ''^^ '"°' '"'^ '" ^°'"'*-
defeat; sometimfs, wit ut fi.^ n! if^Z'^rT''^ ''^ ^°™P--"- ^^^o-
turn ; sometimes, by such show oM • f T ■ ""' "' °'^'^'"' «^ ^^ ^^'^ i"
.ometime, by in;orfL e (tied o il''' f t-'^'^ " "'° ^''"^-^ ""''^-<^ '
feudal superior; sometimes -11 " "^') '^f/"™^^. enemies, neighbou.^ or
interested in a like way -byVote^^^^^ ^TT' "' "'''^'•^ '^"^^^^^ -«••«
tboreon of assise, charier or ler L, T ' "' """'" "' '""""'^ ^'°"
to be carried into practte afterward! ' ^ ^'°"' .'°""'' ^"^°' ^'"^ «' -"Peror,
the other, on thisUc^le th^ ' :itr hT 'f ^l '" '^'^ °"^ ''"'^^^ ^
neighbourhoods alike, no one nelhWho^^^^^^^ " "''^"^' "° ^-
mobile as to make it impossible to I that ' "« "T ' '^■"■^' *''"'-^ ^
where at all. When at las the . f ?^ ""' ''"' ^•"^''^ '"'« o*" ^^^S>^ any
tl.e process. The onf „ f T?. "" "^'^' '''^ -"'' "- '^.na to° natch
was past tracing here. ecord o ,.f / ^"^^°'"^' '^'^^'^-^-^ everywhere,
be made. Her^e and the e "^ f Lr ir""" '' '''^ ^""" ^'^•^^^-"'^' -*
-rt of rule, particular Cu:!: stt! X:^^^^^^^ °' "'^ ™'"^'^^ '^^^''"^^ ^
countable restriction. But sucl Custlf ° '°"'' °"' "'" "'''^'' ""^-
bad to be,-and the Custol of Pai fuH T T'^'^r '^''^ ^'^"^'-'-
the tenure in each case were what b/ V ^^"."^ '''~'"' '^"^ '•°"^^'^'°"^ ^^
bave made them; that the pa^tTesco-ni " ^"^^
would; that in deVault of beC l^f .^T
settled the question of what then/^ . ""'''°"' ^'^ ■'^'='^^'""^^'^)
merelyshowidwhattheyh d r sumdl" '' ' *'"'' " '*^ ^"^"'=^' C-'°-
bad no reference to publfc or ^^ u^' ir' '""^'f ''' ^" ^ "°''^^' ^'"'^ ''
rew into form in times whcnC • I' ''"'" ''' ^"'"'^^ P"™'° contract.-It
when the idea of a public or general law was unknown.
§ 69.— Another chan'^e im-iilnnf * ,i
tiou, was that which brfu 'i tie ,^ "'"? '^"" '' ^''-^^^^ -^ after transi-
t>rou,ht the ccnsm into existence as a property in the
m
Bomet..:, of their h'o° Ton! t:o^^^^^^^ T"'^^ '^'^ --
land d litre dc pricaire and navZ hi " '"'"^ °" ^'•''- '"^^'s
hi.nself a., but his ^^:t^^^X^^r^^''':^ -'"'' '^
be looked upon a, a .an\vl!: 'LIV:::^^:':^^:^:, '' T'' ^
not to be dispo^essod, .hoso possession^Lh ^t 1) i' b! i^ ,"7"
even alienated, as a vested right. Impercontiblv fL .1 f "'^ °'
serf, a .«.-„.o...i/. ; the i«m.,or. tTT ! L; he I? became a serf ; the
C.U.I ngh,,; .nfu : «!L J 7ur; * ,"."'^' l"«™»-%. i"
service, (of ll,e ignoble l.i„.fl , il , "f ,'»,"? '"»«■ r«<l <l„e, „„<1
n.igl,t l«,Sigl,,,i:, ,!, i^;!* " ™T • ""'■°" '•"' '■•'■"''■«I.«'»«S1. ttey
fiction. And i^adS;y.;^7„„ ':. J,'" 'f '?;""'' i""" »' ^ii-
rar,-.nd even („„,ito ,h„ ofZX 1° , X:^."f '' °" f« f «»-•'
eontraet, there »a, ,l„avs mu,.I, „f ,|» „ '^ -^ ' '"' ""'«" V VW
pect espedally of water liX 1,1 ""''"'"J'/'S'" »' » proprielor.-i; ,e^
-'"jWoruie ;:;"':sr ii;t:fttirr '''"'''""^
any single Seigniory, on one and ♦!.« ? ^ Seigniories, or even of
make afl the aLai;s they loutl an P', r,"""" '''° P"''" ^'^^ ^-« *<>
and result, the history ohZ ^llrZntZl'Z^'''^' ''''' ^" P^^
chapter of the «««Ve m the CusZ! ^70 inures corresponded. The
of the Jief. Equally dear of iT e"" "" '""'"''^'^ '^ ^"'^ «' "^^^^^ «« 'hat
.ore lifted e.tent of t£r^::---rlf;-: -:^^^^
(b) That is to eay, when first fixed S f
became greatly lighter. Indeed even'fnr u-i. [ "' I ''f * ^''"^ ''" """■"y- ^''^^ "^ «"""«
work, which makes a nominal yf^; rlT fi' " '"'' *'" "'-^ ^^ "^'^^y^ «*
the inoreasing value 0/ the renCd popenr "'' ' ''"'"^ ''"'' ''^ ''"^'^ °'
Iiurch, and tho grownur
le proprietor class relax
•om living on his. lord's
wJmtever they might be,
lain cnmo by degrees to
d on that condition wan
s) might be inherited or
lave became a serf; the
colon, a censitaire ; th«
ind while one class thus
out rising, or even with
iudal contract, men of
md they freely contract-
were forced to become
under the influence of
-es held so to be. I'he
uited for in all sorts of
supposed, as might be,
!en made, or had come
of honorable recogni-
ictive of a rank below
t had, presumably, its
nit. Fixed dues and
equired, though they
3y generally were,(J)
r, observance, subjec-
nior's profit or grati-
M on the Seignior's
for, unless by special
proprietor,— in res-
ch the censitaire did
iigniories, or even of
parties were free to
It stint. In process
1 corresponded. The
rule or order as that
ic law, the contr.act
lower quality and
and conferred.
aoney, tLey of course
le rule was alw.iys at
ig rent, by reason of
31
coutractuiil and private. ^ 'aw, --was all irregular,
Canada the feudal s . em w s n,H o." •?' ""'' "P'" ^''^ P'^^^"'''^'^'' ^'''^^ i"
l-ere be given. As iT The lin "! T"^ ""^' P"^'"'= ''^^' '^<^"« ^0"^
I tl.ose whose names, on the sulject. are of the tirst aulh^.^; '
.igit have bee:,-D Jo::;::;;:: ^^^^^^^^^ "^^^ ""^^^^'' ^^'^^^-- ■'^ *--
"altoriuseorum tnntum. quia ^rd pc dct AvT Tf ^ " "^^ ''''"''' "'""'• «' "«"
" tractu ul.ro ci.roque obligaLio /So 8 TT ""'"'' '"'' ''"°^'^' •=' " ^«'° «""•
" qui eonstituit fcuda sicut vul t, dare .^ ? Ldl S '."^"k ':'"■' '"'^^ ''^ ""'"^ ''°"""-
• Bive cohoerentibus, quia destinaLnrvcw! A ^ • ^"' ''""' "' ^'"^■'- «'^« "i.tantibu.
"enim est iu.elligeudum rat ^neinid .""'"' '°° ^'' ^''^^"' *=' f'^'J' «"■"•■ hoc
«coucessionisu.a\initioad bere^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ T""' ' *^"'"'"°' "3- P"**"
" a CO., eed non respectu p«f (TXlT an. 1 di ' "' '""'*"-^ * ^''^'- ' '^^^'»-
•• uisi secuto consensu vasahi. quXtononr^r !'"''' *^"'' °°° '""^""'"^ "J^sse,
§ 3, GI. 4, No. 30 : Vol 1. pp.S?, g " """ ''""^"'^ ""'"""^'^ «"' 'Jerogar*.
—and D'ARGENTHfi, thus :—
" Imbcnda ra.io possessionurinTu IL n^ ™ "^ ' ^'" °"° '^"''''''- P""^'^''"''
« .ionibu« et acJalibus prrt^lTbus t Zr 'TT '""^""^ '""'^'' 1""' ^ --g""'
•' is dctorminatur d possession's ut I If ■'"''• '^"'^ "^' '^'"^"' "«" ''^'^'"ditur.
" accipiuut. * • ■«<=««'on'bus, ut 6 contra cum apparet titulus, possesaiones ab eo leg.m
31
:oH-,i.H'«.j,,,,,:;r:;::i;;::™: ;:™^^^^^^
- Jumresul«rem,mtm„m?„'l r P'«'es«.„n.., ju.lica.ulum eat <le co scnu^
- qw..e„.; est ab t";!^ , ,al 1 i,"" '""Tk^ """"""• ''"' ^'"'«"""-"" •-""'^
" -to."-Art. 211, UU rSos. 5 6 S. ,";." ""'" '^"' P"""" «' •=--''" - -"
i.a?:r i^::;: ^:is :^ "^ *"° ^-^ '^^^' - ^'« ^^. t^. aoetH„e
■' au vassal, disonsr ^f jid S'l.Trf "" '""" "'"''■'''"'' *J"'" '"' P''"-'; «=V.t
FoNMAUu brings down the doctrine to a later date •_
• " de \^ viont que Ics r,-.iac ions do col nn / M T' "'"" "='"" "' "" "J™" S^'"^'™':
" ' tions aneio'nes des fiefs.' "IZ utvxii " ""'''' ''"'' P'''^^"''J'<=° ^"^ ^''^-e-^
nicuvfi, after full discussion and appreciation of all tlvit p™,!? K -j
" II [le contrat du fief] doit done etre dofini une eonces^ion f lite i In .i" <•
" naissuuco f-iuioura subsistnnfo „„; i •. "'"^ (-"ncession laite a la eLarrjo d uiio recon-
p. 372. •" '"'^^■*''"'"'> 'l"' J'^'t s« wunifester de la maaiirc co„vemc."~Yol 1.
" Jeconelus de tous CCS caraetc'^rpg <l;Hn„t!r, i i . ,
■' portion de fief ou dalou.T a e " f p 1 nr "t '' '""' ''"^ "'^^^ '^ ''^" ^^'-e
" stipulation as^;: '^ c eS ^^^^ •=«/"' '" -°'-'. ^-'»'. <='-t i-dire 1^
" I'iaforioritfi relatives du pre, ie el de se ondf f"^ ' '''^\ ""'''""" '' ^"'"■""""^ "^^
•' tout fat conventuel et pri'v.- JLt L^Jp. S" ''^' ' " ' ^"' '^" '^ P°""^"« '
§ G4 -So completely so, tbat their mere contract not only made the law in
U.e first .nstance. of the/,/ or censi.e, as might be ; but (under re e re i of
7Zf, 7 •''"*' '''"' '* "'*^>' ^•^ P''^-'^^'^^' °f converting-the /^/int^
a cemn-e, or the c.««.c into a A/. To cite again, from Domouuk :-
I
•, ut po3smt otiam naturalia
noc juBta eatprobfttio po*.
consuctudo, i\ qii;l ro-alari^
fur. Est tjuim imtura fen-
t<rque. C. dc op. lib, aorih'it,
ilicandum est de eo scflun.
. nnt dutcrmirmtio liominig,
!tum et couveutio ia caau
3 Jiis day, this doctrine
Jonno, § 2, koim. 3, ffoj. 4,
Bur potest ..jiicessioni sum
litionaqu'il lui plait; cVsl
:cepter on A refuser, he
L"— Vol 6, p. 8.
ftu bail de son bien, telle
du susdit bail I'oblige d«
vis-;l-vi9 dos parties con-
ttttut municipal, en vertu
and muino il oontiendrait
t'Ciito ot au di'oit gonCral;
.03 priijudico doa conven-
»t could bo sjiid upon
days of tlio system,
owing terms : —
la charge d'uiia recon-
'ire coiiveiiitc"—yol 1,
que o'est le bail d'une
!t do reconnoitre, * la
1 la portioa CDacedC'o et
since its destruction,
itracts, tbus cbarao-
, quelquo filt leur titre,
at feodal, o'est d-dire la
stitua la supcrioritg et
eut rien do politique ;
y made tbe law, in
ider reserve only of
irds bo cbanged by
'erting'tbe/e/into
ouuN :—
S3
" Qunndoquo qtn's rem Bunm ccnsuiilcm rccPRnoscit ab eod..m ,?„.o! • , ,
" conver.0 r..m .nan, feu.lalem in c.ns.nn, et tm.c I den. .?. 7 '" ''""'"'°' ^'^ "
;; .le re tali qnali, recogno.citur, non innm.a ;";::;; ? Tf'-"' """''"""
" pectu ..norun, nee rc.pcetu p,.ses,io„i.. • . Unde ZllZ "'•."*•*";.'"'"""• '"-'^ ^'■«-
" .ione, el atatur, et recognitio scqnens, quatenus ertlJle .f ' """'""'" ''' "•""'"■
"Si vorolu.jua.odireeogni.io,!att«i.nuZ: Z;^:: r^
"rei inducendi, tune est nova dispositi , „er nnmn '" '^""!"""^' """""""'""" "latutma
" '.abontibna pro.e.tatom et non probib til/ nI; :/:!";'"'"'• ^^"'7-'^" ««' ab
" ct .lonnni n.ilia fieri po.e.t. ut L feudalia .i, cen' is" el I,""" •'""'"' '""^''
;origa,.W Breviter dieendun,. qn.d sic inter eoad' ' :!:,:::f;:;'^ "! <;"""-
" Imbaun .unt „, vel cauanm, sed non ro.peetu anneriorl! ,'',''"'".""""'» '1'" "^ i-tis
•■ c<,n..„tiat."_^ 51, 01. 1. No.. 10. U : Vol l/p Z "'"' "''""'"-'■ ""' '» ^"'«"
" Quod .i in renovatione do cert,! scicntia et 'aninm'di.ponendi nit nnrv.,1.. n
aut novum onus vel forma, orebriun t.nent, ut Uald * * c ' n 1 ^^ ' '>""'"'"
" non e.t ita ; in,6 remunot v.tua feodum .1 ccn 1 • ne; di t^' I "'""r?"."'^'"'- ^^'^
" mutata dumtasat."_g U, Gl. 2, n„. 5 , v„,. 1, ,, ^U. ' -'" '" 'l"'^'"'"
— or from I'ocquet de LivoxiAue :—
"Si e'e.t - vec connai,sanee do cause et sciemment, que le aeigneur et le auiet ont v „ 1
pon.a„on d'autroa devoir, .cigueuriaux dont le eoje. a e,o d.". C" u ' " ''""' """"
tage. quo le eons. Si au contrabe le aureona a eto niun. . "" "'''"'-
"di^tinctedu premier cen. il n'oat nln, nnnTl • ^ '"" ""° """^''•■"'^ '=^'^'5'^
— or again, from IlERvfi :
•• niera deuombremens „o seroi; p J il ! t .;' " '" '''T ''' ''"'''''' '^'"" '- 'I-
" dea titres constitutifa. quant ZZn~to '""'T^' '' "' '"''''""'' "" '"-»'= '""P^
■ m«. „.iiui ,„•„ ,t,to..; "11"!" rr """""'•" """' °"""'» •"•
I CS-Asain, for the general eom|.ari,on of the two tenure, ~a m«i,,., ,
by.ieg™„.ij:c 3;,r: ^;:'';:vn:T°?"""'"»'"
c.n.otbe„,.,.,it.i„.,l,t.keuL.,^;;^p^™•^i:_ ' ' '='™'"»
S4
" lui-mi'me qu'un seignour utile vis-A-Tis do cclul do qui il tient don li<5ritngo en fiof, n^ian-
" moiiis Cftto Hcigueurie uf'e qu'il ft, n'cBt jmn hnnttu il ce qu'il y n do puruincnt utile daiM
" laseigncui-ie; I'llu renforme auusi uuo scignetiric Imnoritiquo do riii5iitn;^n, quoiquo nubor-
" dorniL'c i\ ofllo du soignour de qui il rcliivu en fief." — /Xi Cens, Clinp. Prel.
" Lii Ffigntiinio utile du oolui (jiii tiont uu lioritngo a titro du fief n quelqui^ clu'so do plus
" quo colle dc oclui qui lo tient i\ titro de ecna : celui-ci n'li que I'utiiiti'! picuniiiiro do hii chofle,
" ctuo pout so ricn arrogcr do cu qui consiBto plus on Ixmnour qu'on utility pc'foutiiftiic. • •
" Da 111 rjiiit cttto autre dilTorcnco entro eelui qui tient uu li^ritiige en fiof ct colui qui ie tient
"4 cons ; pftvoir, quo cchii qui le tiont u conn no pout paa sous-buillor ilccns, * • Au con-
" trnire, celui qui tient un Loi itage i\ titro de fief jieut lo doiiuor, suit il pared tilre de tief,
" Boit a titre de cens."— />e« Firfs, Part 1, g 8.
CnAMi'iosxifeuE's comparison, more historically stated, may be nJiled :—
"Ku f,'ijn<'Mid,— !o droit du posso-iseur dos consiveB fut tnujourfl pltm pr(''Ciiii'e ct moins
" pui'sant quo celui du posscsseur d'un fiof; co fait so rnttrtche i\ plusioui-s causes; d'libord,
" riiif.';riorit6 dos pernonnes; le fouclataire fut originaiicinent un railitnire, par consequent un
" noble ; Bouvont lo vassal fut I'ogal du scignour, ct parfuis phu puissant quo lui ; mais lo
" ccnsitain.' (iccupa tnujours uno pcjsitiim plus luuulilo, quoiqu'd put lo di.sputcr parfois ison
" seigneur ]iar ses ricliosses acquisoa ou lieioditairos; illui fut toujoura inferieur 4 r:;ison do
" BdU rang, et plus eucnro parco qu'il u'etait pas armo coinme lui. Loreque lo ri;gime feodul
" n'exitta plus qu'i I'lHat do souvenir, dont la loi des poescssions fut un vcstigo, lo po<scsseur
" do tenures roturiiires devint parfuis, dans la societe, legal ou memo le supeiieur du pri>])ri-
" <Jtaire de la directo. Mais les prinoipes etftieut pesos, la terre etait imbue do la qunlitfi
" qu'elle avait oue pendant pluaieurs sieclcs, et sa nature legale resta toujours infOiliuro d
" cello du fief. Aussi, la directo seignewialo nlfecta-t-olle toujours plus imnu'iliafement
" les terros en con-ive ; lo caractere des possessions corrulativoa onaerva plus eflicftcemeut
" la trace do son origino." — Eitux Couruntcs, p. 270.
g CO. — Further, for the more special matter of the non-existence of the notion
of a limit of any kind, as to the conventional dues and burthens of tlio cens'ive
tenm'e. — The postulate of the Attorney General's Canadian system, creates, as
part of its public law, such limit — inexorably laid down, as to every possible
particular. Were it not so, there could be no excuse for citing on such a point,
— as from a writer of the age of the settlement of Canada, the following fiora
Galland : —
" Les cbarges ct redovanoes ordinaircs et nnnuelles d'heritagea tcnues en cenBivo (outre les
" lods et vcntes, et autres payables 4 cLangement) n'out d'autrcs regies que la volouto des
"seigneurs: souveut rudos, peniblos, pen couvonablea a des conditions libree ; i)reetation»
" annuelles d'argent, volaillos, grains, oublios, hostizes, chevagca, manoperte, manoiuvrcs,
" carropcriB, bians, bidanna, biaimUi, arbaus, oyances, bayes, fauchor lea prez, porter lo8
" grains au sauf du seigneur, curer les fosaez, et autres scmblablcs, qui ae justiiiout par
" noinbre de titrea." — Du Franc Akii, p. 91.
— or the later express conclusions as to it, of IlERvfi :—
" Jo conclua, en un mot, d'apres tout le dfiveloppcmcnt qui pr^c6de, que toujours Ic cena
" a 6te pi'oportionnfi au veritable produit de la chose accensfie, lorsqu'on a fait de vuritablea
" baux 4 cens, et non paa des vcntos sous le nom de baux 4 cons." — Vol. 6, pp. 121 , 2.
" Concluons done qu'aucune redevanco grosse ou menue, n'cst do I'essence du bail 4 cens, at '
" que la definition de ce bail ne pout so tirer dc la rodovance ceusuelle plus ou moins forto,
" presque toujours stipulde par ce memo bail, ou attribute par la coutume et par I'uaago. * »
« Touto autre prestation qu'une redevance fiie, tout autre devoir, toute autre maniire de
• marquer «a sujetion et do recounoitre de qui I'on tient la chose ceusuelle, peut 6galemcot
T
35
-or of nExnioN de Tansey ._ ~ *"^' ''P" ^**' -
■«:;:::■-*—: -:-:^;.:,,,..,„,„ ...„„...„.
tbere nnytl.ino else ? Can o m ,r 1 ''° ^"'" ^''"^ "^^ Cana.I;, Js
tand, Lowover, it is equally c ear Int . ^"''"°"- ^" '''« °'I^'^''
interest a,lverse to either The vl m ""■''"' '""'^^ *'>«" ''•'^^o hn,l no
With the expirv or re voc^^ of ' "'' ''''' '''''' '''^" ''« ^^ad It
•-.^ ^='i' too/ So that :,:t:ii isi': r'^' "■■ ''" ''-^'^ ^^ ^•^-
Bervce from a new vassal as from ihe old' '' '"'" "'^'^"^ «^ --"-.'
-c:^i:;;'r^^:t,!x i^^ Tf -^ ^^° ^^ - « -othm,
pa- (for compensation or with « MI ', '•" "" "' "'^^^'^^ '''« .^-'t to
«t. -ore, as the/./eame to [/ fr '::;": I,'?' "^^ -"^^'-■'''.— >J
-cl at last for a fine without leave.- hisTo'fH "'' '' "" '''''' '^'•■'-^
Sub->nfeudatlon grew into a usn^e lo L f T '^"^='^'' ^^''''''-'^'j--
fub-vas.al,-everyonei„theehain^of "; ' ■''' "'"^^ ^^^ ^^^
ing I^.s own property in the ^rant m. if; ? '~P''''""""' "^■''" -"^"J exn!,-erat-
of it a body of inLdiatetepenS of lirr' ''^l"' "^ -"^ ^^-a
granted a tract of land for militLy servle n ir";- "f ^""'■"'^"^ "•'- ^^ad
a vassal who had let go mucli
tary service m proportion, thus found 1
Of It to others, under like promise of
nniself w!!h
service to
36
Huoli vassiil, iiiiJ not to him the Dominant. Thoso other persons, holders
of such livnJ flnd of coui'so not admitting liis riglit to di.Mjiossoss theui, might ho
particuliiily obnoxious to him, would Buldom Inivo h(;<;n chosen as not hoiiig bo,
and would nlwayH bo moro hi^- ual's men than hi». When ho wanted service,
Ihey niiglit bo backward, whe...er the vn»nl, their chief, was so or not. Tho
vassal's own direct ability to servo would be the less. If tlneatencd, for want
of service, with n forfeiture that should adeot himself only, his liability would bo
tho less also ; though his power to resist might not bo. And on the other ham],
if threatened with a forfeiture that should atl'ect his sub-vassals, his jiower of
resistatice would presumably bo even greater than it would have been if tho
whole fief had remained in his own hands. The Dominant hail thus n strong
interest of tho military or political kind, against sub-infoud.ition by his viwsal.
g 70. As timo woro on, lio camo to feel that ho had another, — which bjr
defreos becaiue even more pressing than this. With tho ]iatrimoniality of tho
fiif, and tho recognition of tho ccnsivc as n tenure of property, there grew up
also the system of casual profits, from mutations and otherwise, which outlived
that of military service and may almost bo said to h.ive superseded it. IJut
every conversion of territory within tho/»/, into arriire Jicf cv ccnsit'c, brought
with it a diminution of these profits. Tho vassal would claim to pay, not so
much of tho revenue, price or value, of tho Jicf in its form as granted, but only
so much of tho revenue, price or value, of tho /'/in ifs form as held,— his moro
profits thereafter to accrue from whatever he might have created of arriire Jicf
or censivc, taking tho place of tho territory thereby covered ; a deduction, tho
more notable from the consideration, that ho was of course master, when
sub-'^rauting, and even afterwards, so to contract as to make such profits as
trilling as ho pleased.
§ 71, — The /(/thus dealt with, was therefore likely not to yield tho military
service, and sure not to yield tho profits, which together were its price. But tho
obvious claim (and indeed right) of tho Dominant would be, to have tho /(/ so
held by the vassal as that it should bo full security for both. The older contracts
of infeudation, made while tho transition was in progress, could not have provided
as to this ; and the nower, iu '.ho natural course of things, would not often do so
satisfactorily. Uenco a long conflict between Dominant and vassal, sometimes
settled in one way, sometimes in another ; and as its consequence, that chaos of
varyiniT local nsages, which has been called the law of the feudal tenure as to
this matter of the demembreinent and jeu deficf.
S 72. — The Assises de JfiausALEM form one of the oldest of the historical
documents, notable in this connexion. The usage which they laid down for the
Kingdom of Jerusalem, was presumably one moro or less prevalent in France,
before and about the time of their date, — A. D. 1099. (c) It is thus stated : —
(<;) " Cea assisea, comme on le volt par un avertiasemont qui est d la fin, sout Ics loix, sta-
'' tuts et coulumes accordes au royaumc de Jerusalem par Goi.l'/roi de Bouillon, Fan WW, pur
3T
etir,.i ,,uo lo ,,lu» dou flo .Kmorro .lu Bcigacr ,jui lo .k»,mnhr,.^' • • -Clmp, I8i. (,/)
By tl.i, u.nffo, then, U.oro wcro tl.reo restrictive co,uIition8 fo tl.o d^mnnhrr.
Z" r "T' "" '"■"•"' ''" ''''^"'""'< ''' ''"l'-i"<"^'"<l'»tioa ul.icl. tl.0 Do.ninara
niiglit not call in <|ii('Rtion,— vizr-
^l^Z/y.—That the/,/ must ow,. more than one kni-ht's service.
'o nll'"^ *'"' '"'l>-'"'"«»'<'''t'on ni.iH not extend to the half of it.
.W/y._Thnt it must 1,0 mndc for part of thesorvice.
.•nfon"l''' of" "";"";'"; "" '■''""' '"^^ ''"^ "■«'"' "« "g"'-* ^'« >-'^ to su.>
intoiKl , otherwise, he liad not.
cletlvl"'" T""'' "^ 'I'''" '""'^'■"""^' '' •''"^"''^ ^° ^"'""l^^-'. that though
Co I'; T ^'^"'•'^ '-y ^- Tort an,lJac,,ucsd'Ib..iin(.). its true .onL
o , fl ; ?;rTr'- '•'•''" •^'^''■"" ^/) **^"« - ^'-^ .-n his .lay (about
he as not prepare, to answer, whether it meant that all the arrf^n- fcf. together
" /'a ri> *s jmlriarche.1 et ilet baront.
;;. J. .r^o .:i :r ir •.!—:-;:- -^^^^^^
quent^pon the fal If t o ^2^ ^^.^'l ^w r^^b^ T"""'"" "^"".'""■^ •"•^«''- """-
service But in tJ,« n.l, n 7 . ^ '""'' '"■""'"'"^ "«<«' "f "^""^o military
a century aa.l a half or mnrn ■ h. i V?, T '" ^'*"'' "" °^ '"^ ''''« ''«'«• bv
later .late. To .^UronJ;: !! "'"' \'''' '° '*-'" ""' ''^ P"''"- ^^ '^^ -"=1.
saleo.„„c, thatofth-WtairJ^^o^^ r '° p"" ""* --"'^ "' "'" ^^'''^-J'- ""—
of itself, is fatal to Beugal Cry "" ''"'^"■*' ''""""^ '" •>« -"-^ ' -^i^h-
(./) Asal.SKS DE jEB[J9ALE5f. Vol 1 n 9S1 . V.U _ n
^ Th,. ,„, „ ,„„ tt. i,„. * j.„ .,„„, ,;, „,, ^^ ;• »;-■ ^^^^ ^^_^ ^^ _^^ ^^
A 6 ; aa,l Intr. pi) ^ "' '"'"' '""'"^ ''^'^^''•« '"'"• (See note on pp. 475
And on p. 596, from L. O.kk bks Ass.es. ^ later compilation. (See Intr., p. Uv.)
(*) -" et SI en doit mains doner de la moif it.."_Ze Tort p 449
- et 8. en deit I'oa doner mains do la meitie.'W.cg..; ^Ibdi,^, p. 464
(f) Ibid, J,. 2SS.
38
latter soTt „ -TL^; ^^^^^^ T'''''' "''''"^ ^'"^' '"^ '"^''"^^ *<> ^'^
•' en Court, se tltl^JtuelZ IT^' T ''■ T"' ''"' '"'"^ "^^-^ ^ P-^«
" la rente dou fi6."-Chap. 185. (0 "^"^ ''"^''' ^^ '''""'^ P"'*' ^"^^ ^"^ '^^
tl^at he couid cbige Zt fine he roulf" "'" "^ ^""^^"^ ^^'^ "^-^-^>'' ^
>/the «ropr/of the rflli, ? . "'^ ''""' '"'''' '•''^•^•'•«"°« *» *''« case of a
" IWoit Sr/r t ' :f „t;' -Jf ^, . . seoe n'est , aueun de ses ..ei., et par
;;l«-in dou se Jor par escTee ;' ZlZri ." •^"" '"°"^- ^' ^' ^^-^^-"^ -
apeler et avoir ce qui en sera faif In • "^"'^ "" autrement, le seignor pent
" court, on ee il ne li\ donVe ecu poeirTr '''T^ T'^' " ''^ ^^'^""^ ^ ''""'-' -
court, poeir [pouvoirj de faire le."-Chap. 142, (k).
(ff) Ibiil, pp. 553, 4,
hereditary yjc/s till much later.-Soe HEavi Vol i T, n. t "' "'""^ """^ °'^"-
.ore hrie«, sLd h, U^:^^:::^'^^^;:^' -• -"- ^^« -e is
bably L adopted in th Jet "io tlh' , "i"" ''"^'''^° ""'^'' *"" "=-- '^ P^""
Cbapter 142 express y efe« to ^e 1 ' ^'T' "t"' "^ ''^=""''° ''•^ ^"^ "^ "°t«-
only word usedl a L /!! to d iT. T" ' ""' "^^'"' ' '"' '" '•"'P'^-' ^« «'«
If this word be hero take; in M! n """^ "'" """^ ""* ''"^^ '"'^" ™«''"* *« ««'-«' ^oth.
of what may becid m cit /■ r" "°''""'° ""^ P^^-^P-uppoae that the penalty
ay caUed Uhcit demmbremnt, as opposed to sale, was the lighter fcn-foit of
39
--In the latter case, the more summary decision is:—
—" le seignor dc qui il tient eel fi6 peut prendre ce aim il n ni; '„/ . . •
" Boe eliose- car le seiirninr ,lo„ fi T • ! . ^ ""'^' ^' *°""' «' "ser wmo la
waived to anv extpnf Tl,n i,^;,. *i • , •', '"*'"^ '"'<^'e«, and could bo
m another interest. Tl,« Inw c. i •. " "^ i'"""-^' ''"'^""8''* be undone
than ,«n,,.s,.,uit„„,. p„,,, i„j,,, ,^^ ,„^ J J, 2.^;,','" " '™
Here ,s nolling to show that tl.s precis, point „a, decided.
prolcclicn „l,ich, l„ .bi. o,„„.r „f ,„b™ti„B, thr, aZlT. 1. n °
.uppoBition. ^ befor^.-e,pecmlly. where ti.e coutaet seem« to require eueh
endcntly of eai-her date tbau Uie Goustitutioa of Lothaire. of the jrear
40
"Similiter nee yasallu3fcuJum sine rohmtato domini aliennbit: in feudum iamen recW
dab.t B. secunda persona sit talis quo, feudo servire possit, ut si dans miles estTt Sle^^
accop.t feudum inveniatur miles, ad hoc ut feudum si conLn,;/ ", • r. ?
" lit Pi nrin,. r,„==:f n 1 J ,- 'euuum, SI contigent, dommo similiter servire
ut et prior possit ; et hoc ut dare liccat in infinitum.
"In quibusdam tamen curiis. ultra tortinm n<...o„„„w, r v
" rum flndnm n„r»«nif :„ V personam feudi coneessio non extenditur: ut
rum feudum pervemt in qunrtam personam, ei auferre dominus possit.
" ip.ltZt'tl IT ^?" •" ""1'"' ■" ''^"'™- ""^ ''^' """^ '^SO dare nisi qu4
" rirbet alii da'rl u^^\ I • ""'^" '"'''"''''"' ^1"°'' ""^"'s' ^^'^et desolis maseull.)
" S "cet ouod oui tIl.VeVT;f "'" '' f '"'''''' '"'''^"" '' ^"^'""^ Unde quibusdam
••;? Lr et^cu?^ 2 /rP" .^'^"''^"'" "■"'"**• Gerardusetaliidieunt quod
aperuui, cum masculi defuccrmt"— Lib. 2, Tit. 34. (m)
In Lonibar.]y, then, to tliis time, the usage of allowing the sale of a fief, under
any c.rcum.tances whatever, upon mere payment of a fine to the Dominant, or
without h,s express leave, was not established; and as a consequence, the grant-
ing en arnirefiefy'^^ not called an alienation. I„ fact, the idea of antagonism
between Donunant and vassal, in the matter of sub-infeudation, was hardly
developed. Sub-infeudation, accordingly, it was generally held, might go on to
any extent, and through any number of degrees, without regard to objection by
the Dommant, upon two conditions only :—
]s//y._That the sub-vassal must be of a class to be as capable of feudal service
as the vassal,_a8, for instance, that the sub-vassal of the soldier must bo a
soldier.
2«rf/y._That the sub-vassal must hold by a title analogous to that of the
vassal,-as for instance, that if the /./descended only to heirs male, the arriire
/f/must not be granted with descent to females,
_ Both of them, conditions having obvious reference to the Dominant's military
r^ght, more than to any other.-As to the latter, it is observable that there were
three conflicting doctrines held; one, in the pominant's interest, making the
sub-grant with descent to females (in the case supposed) a cause of immediate
torfoitiire by the grantor only, to the Dominant; a second, still more in his
interest, making it a cause of forfeiture by grantor and grantee both ; a third,
m the vassal's interest, merely regarding the enlargement of the title as inopera-
tive against the Dominant,-so that, in default of male heirs, he would come in
for the reversion.
It is observable also, that the inconvenience of this lax rule as to sub-infeu-
dation was evidently beginning to be felt ; some Courts holding, that the right to
8ub-infeud ceased with the third holder, or sub-vassal of the first sub-vassal,—
80 as to_ give the Dominant the right of taking away land from any one to whom
such third holder should have sought to make a further sub-grant.
The distinctions between this rule and that of the Assises are obvious By
the Assises, it ^vas distinctly stated, instead of being left matter of implication
that the arriirefief was t» be burthened with its share of military service. And
1136 presently to be noted ; and must therefore presumably date back to ^ reign of Conrad
the 2nd, from 1024 to 1030. But the remaining sentences, forming the gloss upon this first
tution'of mr*' °^ ^"' date-though presumably, eailier than Lothaire's Consti-
(m) See Corp. Jub. Civ., VoL 2, p. 1382.— Edn. of 1759.
41
although sub-infeudation mfght go on for any number of degrees, as nnder the
or ginal form of th.s Milan rule, there was an indirect limit set to it, by the non-
allowance of sub-grant from any fief of less than a certain extent, and by the
reqmrement that ev-ery grantee in succession should retain more than the half
thus f ^' -r , /?? ^"■'•' ""^ '""^''^ ^^-^^ '^'^ inconveniently small fief, were
ant. But there was nothmg in the Lombard rule, to prevent either.
Ih^ Emperor Lotha.re, at the instance of the chief feudatories and nobles of the
iimp.re, promulgated as a Ccnstitution-also to be found in the Liber Feudorum
— the following:—
„ -" Perraultas cnim interpellntioncs ad nos factas comperimuB. milites suabeneficia passim
^^ mstrahcrc, no .ta omnibus exhaustis, suorum seniorum ecrvitia subtcrfugere ; per quod vires
^ imperil masirn^ attcnuatas cognovimus, dum proceres nostri milites euos omnibus benefi-
ciis SUI8 exutos ad foDliciss. nostri numinis expeditionem nullo modo transducers valcant.
__ iiortatu.taque et consilio archiepiscoporum, episcoporum, ducum. eomitum, marchionum,
^^palatinonim.coeterorumquenobilimn, similiter ctiam judicum. hfle edictaU lege in omno
oevum, Deopropitio, valitura, decernimus:—
„ " f *".""' ^i"^'^ bcnefieia qua; d suis senioribus habent, sine ipsorura permissione distrahere,
vel abquod commercium ad.ersus fenorem nostra constitutionis excogitare, per quod
_^ "mperii yel dommorum minuatur utilitas. Siquis vcro contra hcec nostras legis Baluberri-
m» praceptaad hujusmodi lllicitum eommorcimn acecBserit, vel aliquid in fraudem hujus
legis macbman tentaverit, prctio ac beneficio se cariturum agnoscat. N-otarium vero nu!
^^ super hoc tall contractu libellum vel aliud instrumentum conscripserit, post amissionem
oacii, ipsum mfamiffl periculum sustinero sanoimus."— Lib. 2, Tit. 52.(n)
The word -distrahere " must have been used here, as of wider sense tlian the
ahenare of the older rule,-a3 covering sub-infeudation equally with sale, (o)
llie prohibition (by general consent) went to all distraction from mouvance,
whether with price paid or without, unless by consent of the immediate Domin-
ant, interested against it. And it is remarkable, that though a reason of state
B recited and the law (in so far) bears the color of a public Jaw, its effect was
still left to dei^nd wholly on private will, and the remedy provided by it was of
private application and in private interest. Each Dominant could permit sub-
nfeudation, or distraction from his own mouvance, with price paid or without,
to any extent, and could always waive (whether by inaction or otherwise) his
right to the penalty threatened in his favor.
§ 75.-In fact, it is certain that they must commonly have done so, or else
must have ound themselves in the position of not being able to enforce their
fr tf 7n °V" ?' ""'"'• ""''''' '''' "'"'* «^"^-y ('h° 13th) we meet
Lit J:rrf- ^''^' '-"^'^ '' '-'-^^ ^'^ «-"^ H-a>- in the
(«) See CoEP. JuB. Civ., VoL 2. p. 1387.— Edn. of 1759.
J"! ".•'!'.™"''/r''i°^.°V^'' ""' Constitution could leave a doubt as to this, the terms of
the Constitution of Frederic the 2nd. next citedin the text [fiJ. i«M § 75], wo^ld remZii
(p) Who reigned from 1212 to 1249.
li:'
I J
41
" cl'll'"' •°*'^'*"" ^^"""' ^l™ '''*"'''"'' ecclesiarum quam aliis fldcHbus regni. non modi-
^^ ca.accei„n,us querelas, quod benefioia eorum et feuda, qua. vasalli ab cis ..^tinebant siue
undodob,ta8c,vmannHttebant; ct honor imporii, et nostra) folicis cxpoditionisc.nl
" T'l'V"""^": '■ ''*'"'' """ '^°"'"' ^Pi-P"-™. 'I"cum. n.arcLio„„m et con, 1
";::?pi:r:.iiC:::i;:;-" " """^"'^ ^'^^"""' •^^^ ''^^^'"'"' "^°^-^'«''-
modo Lstrahere seu al.cnarc, vel pro anicad judicare, sine permlsdone illius domini J
qucm feudura spectaro dignoscttur. """uni, na
" hulln , P'?""«'-«ni/«gm utilitatcm providentes, nonsoh-,m in postLm, s^d ctiam
m .rntuna ded ,c.n:.s, nulhus (cmpori. pra..criptiono impcdientc : quia quod ab initio de
J" e non yalu.t, t,.ctu temporis convalc.ccre non debet: emptori bon» fidei ei ell
actione do prctio contra venditorem competonte ^
-clSI'-'"' r'7'' '"'«='"'"'t'»°il'"» quorundam obvinntcs, qui pretio accepto quasi sub
'■ talc fi ' T ■"; TT f' '""^ ''"''"''• ^'-'"'^"'" --^"'•' «' ■•" ""- tra ert-ne
Several considerations here present themselves.
n3 In u!rn,'' r ''. '''"' ^°'"'°'"' "''^ "' ' '^'"""J'"" "^ " '^''^"•"^"''•^ '"'^ "'^d not,
lluV 7' '" ^«"^^''^-'l'«''"<^'ion to the ;.hrase " m/c.«rf«„, cfam"
of -on .on' "7^ '? '''"' ^"^■•''f«»^^ti«° ^^ thought a something short
r=uf. t, t was naturally quasi-gratuitous. Men would not commonly pay fo
It, u.. s. by promise of future service. The phrase ^^in/eudum da J 12 the
°rt;td htf^^'^/^^K^^ '" '''''' -t'-tilmoreand'mrof
P'Oix>rty, and the fnncy for sub-infeudation grew upon the Dublin mini = t
naturally tended to t.,Le that form, and pajLnt L oth vl ITe j a^:
future service, to become common. Add to these influences, that ofthe M , ,e
^hich coupled he right to sub-infeud at will, with the want of right to e»
th mI LT:r' '"^^ ^^ ? I>ominant,-and it is easy to understand 2/)
that i^ere had grown up what may be called a double abuse. The bulk of the
f± T. ";f '"""' "" " '''^'' ^'''''''' ^' -'"^^--l from the d act L .
... of the Dommant, without bisleave, orinother words without suit bcol
pensafon to h.m,-not merely by sub-infeudation of the quasi-jrratuitou l-^nT
-but also by sub-infeudation savoring of sale, distraction of mouvance effeTted
for apnco pa.d to the vassal. It was natural, that ia the 12th Cen„ry the
Dommants. with the Emperor at their head, should denounce this, and de'clr
(?) The Constitution of 1136, above cited, § 14.
(r) See Cobp. Job. Oiv., Vol 2, p. 1890.— Eda of 1789.
43
inant, and ,mnisb,nent of the Notary ; and timt inTo , th C.l? T\ """
operative. ""'^ '^° P*^''^' "" ''' "«'d«' '^'"'''^"'•"g practically
to '^^:tzc:x!T:r;^'' r *^r^*^ °^ ^^« ?-«- ^^ ^- -e^y
niit of a doubt as to t . ir ? ^ f ^''' "^'^ '^"^""^^ -'-'«''t«d to ad-
effected f more pro. of •"'"'^ J"', ''^''"■' *° -^^-^-^ation veritably
no sale, 1.10^^/0711. r "•"' "' P"" P^''^" ^^'^ ^'-'-"^^ ^^'^
be.oodi.erb;;er:;t^^^^
large enough to cove a °b fJ ^ T'"^f' ^°™'"'»"t.-'' ProLibition clearly
biWtion ofillXsU inffudl" 'T- "'"^''^^'■-"-- ^oilo.s a special pro^
we meant to a tach to 1 11" T"^^^^ "'^''' " '' ''° ^'"'^^^-^'^ ^-^-'"«
price should ha^rbertln^' TT " *° --/'^^ Bub-infeudation .here no
on the .ider:;^:^^ :nd ^Z^ Z^ll^^^ u t '°"^'''";
t at the ^,ui.o,ue failed to add to the un'oeS^ of L el^ TSrU
the Dominant) must have gone on, much as before. ' ^
§ re.-In England, again, events took quit* another course.
J!:;;::: t:iT '"^"^^^' '^^ ^^^-^-'^-^^'^ ^^ ^^^^' - -^— to t^s
" «d feodum illud."(0 """"^ * '''"""■" " ''^'''"""' I""'' P^^t'^^t
inthirxtrtM^^^^^^^^^^ -^ X.^.^..._,
Seignior Dominant -that it rlr?r "^ ' '^' P^^"'"''" "^ '^« ""'"^^l-te
that its enforcement in ac ^ TeteZ i "'v""^,!' ''^ "'"'^^^ "^''''--'i
right. But so much mo vaTe Jrei T "'" ""^ ^'''''' '"^ «"«^' ^^'^
(») /)«». f?orf., Vol. 2, p. 366.
(0 5/fl/«ie* at Large, Vol. 1, p. 8.
1:1
liM
'M.
44
Inciaentally, it shows that sub-infeu l.ition savoring of sale had by this tim«
become common in England, as elsewhere. " J)er « vel vendat » were the alterna-
tive expressions used for the two styles of sub-infeuding contract. In En<rland
and Italy, like causes had been at work, and in this respect with like effect."
§ ^7.-But in England the matter was soon dealt with by veritable legislation,
ine bTATUTE OF QuiA Emptores, in 1290, enacted thus:—
^ " Quia cmptorea tcrrnrum ct tenemcntonim de feo.li, rangnatum ct alionim, in prejudi-
_^ feodo sib. e La,red>bu8 su.s, de feoffatorib.m sui,, ct non de capitalibus dominis feodorum ;
^_ per quod ndcni cnp.tales domini esoaetas, raaritagia etcustodias terrarum ct tcnementorum
__ dc feodis 8«,s cxistentiura eccpiua nmiscrunt; quod eisdcm mngnatibus et aliis dominis
__ qnam plur.m.s durum et difficile vidcbntur, et similiter in hoc easu exheredatio manifesta ;
•■ ft™t!r '° P'*'"'''''"*"'" """ * • •''^ in^tadtiam magnatum rogui Bui concessit, providit
" il2"nr ^' r?? '"'"?' "t"'''"' "'"'"' ''"'"'" *'=™™ «"""» Bcutenementum, scu partem
'• ml;r r'""*''/?.^"' vendere.-ita tameu. quod feoffatus toncat terram illam se!, tone-
" prius tTnuit"''' ^'' "*'^"" '"■'''"'* '* '=™«"«'"J'"«' P" q""' f^^ffato' ""us ilia
^"Et si partem aliquamearundem terrarum et ten«men'orum alicui vendiderit, feoffatus
__ illam tenoat .mmed.atc^ de cnpitali domino, et onereturBtatimdeserviti. quantum pertinet
Bivc pertmero debet eidem capital! domino pro particuld illd. secundum quantitatem terne
Beu tcnementi venditi :" • •.-is^A Edw. I, Staf. 1, Cap. I & 2,(«)
Making, therefore, this radical innovation; that instead of the vassal's being
liable to restraint on the part of his Dominant in this matter, and more or leS
dependant on his assent in order to the sub-granting of more than some uncertain
traction of his Jie/,—he was now made free to alienate as he would, but practi-
cally unable m so doing to sub-infeud at all; the right of the Dominant being
protected by the simple expedient of making the new holder hold of him and not
of the vassal, and for his fair share of the vassal's service and dues.-Such pro-
tection was, of course, not perfect; because it left him exposed to the inconve-
nience of having his grant cut up into smaller holdings.-unable to insist upon it
that It should remain in name one Jief. But it saved his substantial rights in a
simpler and more effectual way than any regulation of the sub-infeuding practice
could possibly have done.-The freedom of the vassal, also, was not perfect; as
all further sub-infeudation was made impossible. But he, too, had the substan-
tials of the right, as he could alienate at will, on what terms he pleased, under
reserve only, tliat he could not make himself a Seignior Dominant over the land
alienated.
It is, by the way, a further indication of what has already been shown to have
long been the tendency of the sjstem,-that the word ^^vendere" alone is here
used, as the equivalent of the " distrahere " or « alienare " of the somewhat earlier
Italian texts. The quasi-gratuitous form of sub-infeudation must have become
the exception, and the form of quasi-sale the rule,-at least in England
(u) Statutes at Large, Vol 1., p. 123.
-i—it.
45
Nor is it altogether uninteresting, in thy snmi historical point of Wow, to noto
tlie contrast between the curt requirement of Magna Charta, seemin-^ly for the
mere protection of the Dominants' mHitary right, and the emphatic recital of the
Statute of QmaBmptores, as to « escheats, marriage, an.l wardships," and the
mamfest disheritance" which their loss involved.-In Enj^land, at least, the
military value of the Jief had become the secondary consideration.
§ Ye.-In Scotland, the same remedy was thought of; and a Statute, as near!
as possible ,„ the same words, promulgated, not many years later,-th«t of the
2nd Robert I, cap. 26 Though it doe, not seem to have been cabled into prat
tical effect, as that of Quia Emptores was in England.(y)
§ 70.-It has been suggested, that the idea of the English Statute of Quia
J-^T^/omwasprobably taken from an 0>rfo«na;».e of Philip Augustus common Iv
cited as of the date of 1210, but apparently promulgated in' 120^(1' Zh T ^
have been the case ; but the lapse of more than 80 years between them (indepen-
dently of the fact, presently to be noticed, of the non-enforcement of the Ordm-
name) renders it hardly probable—The like grievance might well have su^^ested
in the two cases, a like remedy. °^ '
The text of the material clauses of this Ordonnance of Philip Augustus is thus
given in Isamdekt's Recueil :— ^ ^ ' '^"^
" Philippus, Dei gratia, Fraticorum rex,—
; O- du^ B":g"f f . p;- comes Nivemcnsis, R. comes Boloni^. O. comes Sancti-Pauli
- G. do Domna Potn^ et plures alii magnates do re^no Francis, uuanimiter convenela ei
« _ publico firmaverunt. ut d primo die mdi in posterum i.a sit do feo/aCtlJ
" Quicquid tenetur de domino lig.i, vel alio modo. si contigerit per suceessionem horednm
I en pages 15 and 64 of hi» ht Volume:
on pago 64
49
In fact, it purported to be nothinff morfl flmn ,„
and .ou,o five or ,„ore of Lis grcatl," or ft .tT''""'n''"^'" ''" '"''^
force ti.is rule,-.eacl, of cou'o, in ^s^l^^^^ T' rT:f' ^^■
an, one of tl,e contracting parties found hireTf etilr t on ''1"''' *'"*
They ,„ay some of them La'-e made the eJt ''?.!""? '"'""'' '' ''" ^'^•
regarded particular territories, may Lave mo o'o I ^17 '"''""''"' '' ''
Customs of France indicate ti e infl, I! T «»"eeded. Some of the
greater lords. bJ:^:::^Z^Z^Z: T T'' °" "'° ^^'"' ^' "'«
pretending to make sub-i„feudaln 1 1; , e bl ^ '?!'" ^''^--t-— ^
that in ail manner of ways Had t)ZnT ."'''^ '^ '''-"''''^'^ '». ""^
such enforced, it wouIdTo doubt ha dlrT '"" " ^^""''" ^•^^' "-' -
^^m,.^o... did for England ut^I'" " f '"""''' ''^'' '''« ^'"^"'-^ ^^ '?«-
enforcod,(,)itleftma\erltS;i;cor:tr:':-^"' "" ^'"^^'"^ ^^
different. ° "" ^^"^=6 'n a manner altogether
.«onw,Trr ::;;::[ ir::r.f "'— • "'»-' "■« ^-
do»„ to that d,t«. Ill, „.orf3 „"_ '"'^ '" "'" '"^m i» P«rt of France,
■• -«tl~ U.X" tr it; iZ'' """ ,'" "" "•" - ™ *' «"*• «•'. «•
" livres por le nieffot. '' ^ ^ ^" ^ '""'"^<^ ''« ""o" s"gneur do soixnute
.See the notes on this Or.onnance, in I,..,^,, y„, j, ,, f "
(*)VoLl,pp. 238,9 ;Edn. of 1842.
(a) Vol. 2, p. 249.
above cited in tho text , and omits from U tL J V . "^ ^ """ ^"* °^*<' Pa^«g™phs
-/an.." Of course, therefore, h ^I^ks his cTn I.^ " T" " ^'^ """"' <-""*-•
4T.1> chapter of Leaumanoir. shows cea^jf tit wT Tl, ^"' ''' *"""^^ """'^'^^ "^^ ">«
W.eor„ther..in.edireetlinMhaU;ir;SSlt:;:ZS::f::2^^
47
re.ai.,er .A.e service .f U^ ;^:Z:^r'^7:'^rT^
«ub.grantable, is fixed at "not, n.oro than the third" Zl'tll ^ , .
>s ..tro uced oT li.itin, the ..b-grant to the i„>„.od 1 f^ Zv: ^T"
BesKles th,s, however, there k perhaps traceable in thk^
of the inn..ence of the pohcy invived i CS^Z:!: TS.rZ::;T'
The case of any atton.ptod sub-infeudation beyond the limit .ftl' ^^" T"'"''
n.et by the expedient of saving the innnediate^lt:! t the o^^^^^^ f
wUhstand.ng the contrary agreement of the vassal and sub-va al To n '
.an ,„,„, assume such mou.ance to hin.elf, and so reduce ZttomoSb"
infeudation into a mere alienation of property with no otb.r . ""''^^'^ '"^^■
vanco than was implied in the broakin^ui of U.p ^ V 7, ^"^' "' '" '""""
he :v. not obligedUs the J:::^t^f^^T^Z:r T ^"*
of the Statutes of" Quia E»mfor,^> wnnll I, "~'' ^'^ '"''P Augustus, and
^f^^^ this. In t^ first pC; Z'^::^:^!^^::^: t-
of CO lirres. And in the next, it would seem that, in ca e oH s „ ' " ■"'
to take the homage of the dolinr,„ont sub-vassal, h miX an 1" tl- '•"'-"''
the saisief,a,ale, and thereby (pJesumably) fore 1 em t r "d fl •'' " '^
or so modify it as to keep thU.o. J/ of the one J'^X k^^^^^
respects, the old notion of an escheat, or forfeiture of land o " oTi^^^^^
Domnun.t, as for a grave breach of feudal duty,-wbich wa loH ' ,
Asmes.cJerusalan ana in the Constitutions of Loth i anT^- " "^?
-deed followed naturally from the principles of the f uddsy tern h •';"' n '
^te^ys.1, be traced, thougbmateriillymodifiedtos^lt^^^^^^^^
Another peculiarity of the explanation left us as to this usa^e as ..nf * ,
^vth the oilier usages above noticed, lay in this. Beaumanofra," •-!. "'^'
;; a abrogio. ou . a.orti. ou aula :;t^ cr^^ : H^:^:^' ^"^" '^ «-
" Bires no I'e.t pas nor co. tenua A snnfTrir „n. • V / T ' empmds.-li tiers
••auco„teCco.„te]silesoufroir tuirrl's In iCf^^^^^^^^ '"",'"'"• '^^ ^'"-o. 'lusques
-i.neHpi.Uneh.sypot,e.rL^,.-;::---^^^^
right, the Sominanttritl,^^^^^^^ f''''^ '■"" ^^ ^™™ ^'^
waiver, but whenever any det It on h s nr , n' '^ T ''' ^°""^ ^^ ^"«
tho right of .ae«. /^oc/aV mi Jht^L^^^^ T^ ?"' "'"^ ^'^'"'- ^""^'"'^^t
stii: in his vassal's hands,-.^ ' o 1 oIiTT "'-^""^ ^^ '^ '' --«
to the Custom-at least in tl.is co„n:;io' ''"'"' " ''''''' ^^^ ^--a
The older usages of Palestine and Italy wJnV.ht),ron* ,, ,
/ > -,r 1 , " ■ ° "• ■-"•'" tne one
(c) Vol. 2, p. 263.
48
ImrnocliHtcly intorostcd in tl>c forfoiOro. Put they probably 1. fact ndmltto,! a
rigbt .. osoly atmlogous to thi^; a right, that is to.ay-wJ.cLvor t It • .
.n:.nc .atoDon.i..antshoui,,be .cheat.,,, to, or bion.o Z m'; ,^1^^^
nt above h.n,,-o„ tl.o part of «nch higher lord, to enforco in hi. ow be ff
any ,. oat wh.ch bo the .m.nediate I. ,„nt n.ight J.ave failed to onfor
But there was nothing ,„ mud. probable feature of the oiuer us.,., nor o in
the con.,,po„d,ng fcatuaMvhioh is recorded as appertaining to the lat , ,
of the eauvo.«,.s which partook- „t all of the character of a°public an "3
law. Ihe part.es nUcrested were all in turn n.as.ers of their own cour e ^ to
dK.r rcpecfvo r,ghts. There was no Hxingof such rights, irrespootively of the
o. n w,ll, sue h as was absolutely undertaken by the Statutes of " Quia Aptorel'
«ueh as would have beon etlecled by the Onhnnancc of Philip Augustus b.d it
been put into execution as a law of Franco.
§ 81 -Another rule, of earlier date as regards redaction, probably, thrn this
of the Leauvoisis, mdeod apparently antecedent to the Anglo-Xornmn rule I.iJ
down lyMa,na C^,.^,,-ia presented iu a recent French ^or^^O - o a„Hn
Normandy. It reads thus :— ^ ^' '"
-; CI>a.cuM pout doner jusqu-d la tierce part ,le «om franc tenement enasmono ot norservl.n
' pas tcMuz a o.r [oycrj celui i qui la terrc est .lonuOe, so i ue donno nloL-s dW ,
garaat.jo, por fore vers lui eo quo il devr.,-e oil qui li doie, L ^ eU
<• dehvrcr le, ou il t: t contrninz par la justice lo roi. *
<• Se cil qui donna la terro muert Banz oir [Loir], ou il forfet te.To, toz li fiez rovandra aa
••^ s<.gneur, ja ne rema:ndra por lo don, s'il no s'i asseuti ; ce pueit cstre fet malgro as oirl"' !!
Following this passage, are provisions as to the sale and as to the fic. meat
(tins latter term answering nearly to the arnntement or hail d rente of the 5ustom
of rans) of land._ Either of these contracts, it is stated, might be carried out to
any extent,-subject always to the same saving of the Dominant's ri^^hts as is
here provided for the case of t!.e two contracts of " don en asmone ct plr service "
In otl.r words, a tlurd part of the Jirf could be granted either en aurnOnc or en
crrareMoT the/</n,.gbt be sold or arrente without limit ; but not to the prcju-
dice of the Dominant, unless indeed ho should have given his ..ssent. The Dom
inant need not recognize any one claiming from his vassal, might still hold bis
vassal to the full service of the>y, and, upon failure of the vassal's heirs, or for-
feiture by him or them, might take the whole /</ to himself, to the exclusion of
a 1 claimants under title from the vassal ; in fact, was free wholly to ignore such
claim. "
These Etahlissements are given as a compilation of old Norman usa<res, appar-
ently madeunderPhilip Augustus, about the time of the loss of Normandy by Kin<.
John ; {e) and they certainly show a state of matters, such 'as (modified, perhaps"
more or less by local Anglo-Norman usage) may very well be supposed to have
led to the rule laid down by Magna Charta. They show the vassal free to sell
(d) Maunieb; Etahlissements, ^c., de Normandie, Paris, 1839.
(«) Sec Maem£b, p. xviii.
\
^-
49
T>r im.,l,.omal.Iy to rent liis limcl, without limif on i * , • .
.n,i .1,,. i,„„i„„,, .UH „ „„„; ,„,„, „ " , ; ; i;»".»n.» ..,. ,,„t;
c^ ... H„. ^.„ . „Ho„. ,„,.':;;i,",t;:; ';:;';; ;rtr £:
ITowcvor this may Imvo boon, thcrfl is nt h.„st evidenro of M,„ i
of aNonnan „..,„, liko that of ,h., Hoauvoisis in it Xr ' 7 ' '^""'.""''^
Ia;v, „n,' „, us ruh. of .uantitativo limitation of tlL fi I ., "r''"'"
^J^-That the .ubg.nt must not e.t.n., to more than the ll I, p,., ,,
2«<//y.-That unless assented to by the Dominant it simni l . t
as against him :— ' '' " ""'"''^ not be operative
--and as to which, wo are without the means of sivin-r t„ , .
What procedure it held the I)ou,iuant to be luthoS t^,:'' ,"'"• " '''
vassal, ,n ca«o of his transgressing its iimjt. ^ °""*''^ ''S"'"^' ^''»
orf)::-:;:i:;:!r:::rh:,;j°;t;:rr-^^
n..V cite as the fixed rule, even of an Hi I,. '• "''''" '' " '''''^' *''"' ''"«
-ueh later date, (;;;■:: ^iiVir.!!''""''''"^' '^ ^"-"i^^^ ^^ i-baMy ,::
" Aulcun ne peut vendre ne cn-a-or gc nVcf ,1„ „
;; tie-t do .,., par h.™„.^,o. No^ "p,:; 1 : e Ls .l^T 7r* " V"'^-'-' '" '-- '1-
.o,.oo.rs ct d;,.t. pui..t ere ^ie., et pJ^^ t :r^j;„^^^=-- '-
-A mode of stating the case, considerably more in the D ""• ' ""^"- ^^>
»nd "ot indicative of a general acnuioseence onT *' ^^°"""••"'^.s• interest ;
the vassal-doctrine of the J^tabliZcT ^'"'' " '''"'' '"^^' "^^ -"^J
</e Normandic, p. xvii ' ' P" ^'^^ Mabnieb, Etablmemenh ^c
than the £<ai/me;;«„, brought to Zlu^T ''""'°" ^ "^ 1""« ""^'y date.-oarlier, eren
(?) CoLTCMiBB Gbskbai, Vol, 4, p. 15,
50
pul-hc character, but l.anlly i„ „„y other. Their tlno.' ir^iiiil^l:':^"'' """-
••:^rr:::::7si;:-^^^^^^^ ..tu.
" *n r..co,.,p.nHa,i,.n d., leur neryicH Kt «L . . ', i '' "', '';"""* "'"""•" '^ ''""••"'■•'
J!Z. "" '"" '" '"' ''"' "'^^' ^"" ^- ''- ^'"^'^ va.al.-„a.th.r, ,W the
The latter couIJ only claim to sub-infeu,l, on two con,Ii(ion,:--
^i^G torn\i}r (chdlelain or baron) hul tl„. I..,. • i. ,
three conditions:- ^ ' ''"'*'■'' ''-^^ ^« «ul>-i"leucl, on iLo
l5</y.-That the grant should bo to a ^^ffcnmommc."
Jt::;^^'''''' '' '' ''' ^"-'-^-^'-^ ^'"^-^- -ice on.,, „„d
3/-<//y.-That it should extend only to part of the >/.
vationofas.lfen ; V vas it ;:f:!'""" n°'" ''"'"' ''"'•'"• '^'^^'■
dercd to the Don.inL "'"""^ °* ^"' ''^^ '"'^••^'^■° *« be rcn-
The requirement that the sub-crant of thA fiflnri ,.«. i x i
».».„, wa. ,,,i,.,„ a „,.„„ of r„; , :: ;rj ji;,'; ':; ""«■
Lut that which assumed to disallow sub-infuudation br ,..l . .• • ■ ,
from tl.at for service only, was precisely t h e" r e l^f C '" i^""S"''^h°J
.•hich forbade it, unless with consent o^t^^e Do, ^nt et^rTT ^°"f ''"*--
gratuitous, unless with the like consent. fa Z^o "k^^^^^^^^^^
nizes this as the first instance of its class """' ^^^ '■''=°S-
It is of course obvious, that all these restrictions, equally with every other vet
remarla.dx,pon (the statute of (2«/„£V^^^^^^^^^
m favor of the Domu.aut ; though it is not so clear what was the .Is elf h
remedy,-whether he had to be content with the mere taking to himself o^ the
1^
(h) See CocTUHiEa GsNiaA^ VoL 3. p. 209, note a ; aad Kum.xh. Vol. 2, p. 16.
^^(0 CouxuM^a Oisi.^, Vol 8, p. 212. Also H.^a.oN x,k P^«x, Du,. H.i., Vol. 2, p.
(A) •• C-cst pour la premiere fois que nous royoa, uned<?fense de .ou-infooder d prix d'ar-
geut ; ct nmlLeureusement cette dOfeuso, .i uui.ible d rogriculture, et si prnudiciable .u
"cornmerc, se t.o«ve .ujourd'hui dan. dix-huit .u viugt coutuxne^.-^i^rSrVoL 2.
61
moutmnrfi ofiho nViomiOi] hw,] or roi.M «^ e, .1
"'"Ton f.h.,,„,,,5, „,;,;,'.:,,'':,';■; /"O"'-— ...^,,1.
;: «::::^" ""-"-•" '■■ ""-"•" "-^■'-- "-;:~::,^:
The clann, tI,orof.,n. of tl.o c/ulH,un or &.,„« to s„l I, r ,' , ,
re«.tod ; «n<l it wo„I,l soB.n ,hnt tho u„,itl..d - .. ' "'vA 'f '''""° *° ^«
same (<>otin,;(„0 Imt o^ the oU, "l ! ,! 1:7' "' '"• '"^ "'"" "" ^ '^-
rc.a,n,.I „„.t be ono„,h to secure tl.o servi It ' £ t ' 'T '^'""^'^
look.Mg „ th,rj, the prohibition of the sub- J l^^ ^""T^'T^ '"''•
vassal. "oranr, me/, ,in vente, hy tho titled
§ 85.— Uenrion de Pnnsoy citos ns ninlo
Cannes <k Ckamj.u,ne, the folloivin,, Uor^Z ^^CT" "' ''" '''
CHATELKT,-a Compilation supposed to U. of ,ll? ,7 Co.v.stitl'tio.vs du
Century («) :- ^P°''^' ^"^ ^'" ''^ ^*t« of al>out the end of tho 23th
iJu roi, nu d nu, ligeraeDt
-"--^r^s;^,;----™
(0 See ISAMBEBT, Vol. 3 D R7 . n„^ ^ ^
3, p. 87 , OaiK>.N.VANOE3 DK8 Ro,8, Vol. 1. p. 6V4
VUry (the official redaction of „,e o , C^utllTlr^. " "" '''''" ^■'''=^*- ^'^ ^-'-' JI
mam,a,„e.l the ,iistu,ction=, almost iul "o^dTof t. t'.T"^" '"'"•'' '" 1"«««-0 -" 509
the unm.o., vassal, and applied the qXtonVri ST""' '"'^^''^
t^ yj^/^onlytothelatter.-See^rt. 24 and 2^7^ .l!!?°" ''' ^ ""«-"' P-t of
(n) See Kumbath, VoL 2, p. 16.
(o) HrxBiOK ?£ P,,T,s^, ^..„. ^^^^^ y^^ 2, p. 868.
■ i ! ii
M
62
i"*/'? ?!'"""° de Pansey observes, remarking on the expression -bailkr
d tcdmfii ) not to the extent of granting it away altogether, and reducing his
own holding to a mere /ef en Vair. °
§ 86.-He cites also, in the same connexion, tlie following from the Somme
Kuralc of Bouteillieb, of about the same date (/>) :—
" Q«and icelui qui tient le U, en vend partie pour son profit, et pour I'aecroissement du
d.t fi. arrcnter [..rente t] un bonnier ou deux, ou manoir ou aucunVcbose, fuire e plu
v,c ou a toujours. sous son Bcel taut seulement. ot eans son seigneur do qui il tient lefi^
appellor i et en ce fm.ant, il n'tbranche pas lefie.maU il TacoroiC'-Tit. slcy)
A mode of expression, indicative of an increasing laxity of opinion and
practice on tins subject ; but .vhich implies, by the use of the word -arrenter »
a quas.-recognition of the non-noble equally with the noble tenure,-and also
by the terms -partk " and " un bonnier ou deux, ou manoir ou aucune chose ''
the existence of some limit (however uncertain) to the vassal's right of alienation
sans son seigneur appeller."
♦1 ! Z'~^7'T"' ^°' ^"'■"'"" "'"«*'-««°''' to ^ somewhat earlier date, we find
lint the In^s Ancie.ne Coustcme de Bketaone, probably of date of about
1330,(r) shows, yet again, an entirely different state of things to have m-own uo
m that Province, in every respect but that of the non-public character of the
nile aid down After recital to the effect that the Dominant may acquire the
M held by his vassal, and convert it into domaine of his own, and'tha h
2:- ""'^ '"'"' ""''^ ''"'^ ^''^ "^ ^""'''^ roturiirment, this Custom
-" Et puisque celuy est seigneur du dcmaine [domainc] il en peut fea-er en herifaicn
autre ou autre, par certaines eonditions rente,, comme il toira qua bon C^^ 11
eeluy qu. prendra le feage ne fasse autre bootd. ne autre personne pour luy, do^ 1 pfut
issirventes au seigneur: il en peut reter.ir robeissance 4 soy, pource que celu! If «^
gouvernegeselonrassiseauConUeGeffroy; * » et si le seign;u7qu nuTo t Se ^1"
en auroit pnns aucuno bontfi pour faire le feage. dont ventes p^ussent'is.ir d scig u^^^J
pom- . n en issiro.t nulles veutes a scigneur.-mai, s'il y avoit autre bonte lito '^Z
en aevroicnt issir d seigneur, • » , si " etc -Art. 262, m „,c,/.(,,) ' '
Tliat is to say, the Seignior of any /./ held under the Assise au Comic
Gcpoy,{t) (or, m other words, held nobly,-for in the law language of Bre-
(p) Taisand, Vies des Jurisconsultes, p. 84.
(?) Henrio-v dk Pansev, Diss. Fiod., Vol. 2, p. 369.
199, note a.- and Heviw. lur fVain. Vol. 2, ch. 98 No 21 nn. fi-iS q ™i. .i "'•*'?•
given for preferring .bis date to the later ^ne assigned by Sgi ' ' '"""" ""
t L! H f r T:: """"°° '' °^''°"*>^ '"^^'»'''' """J " besides not long enough
to give the full sense of the passage. ^ cuougn
See also Hevin. tur Frain, Vol. 2, ch. 86. No 2S n ISo • wJ,»,.^ i „ xi. .
« autres, par certames conditions et rentes," &a '
(0 The An« a« ComU Geffrey wa, a Charter granted in 1185 by Oeoffiy. Duke of Brit-
tany, at the instance (as recited) of the Bishops and of aU the Baron. oT the Provfnco.
63
nobl. ., ,„ „obl, «„„„,) Laving „ng„„tcj ],„d („) „, |,i, .,, „,» ' '°,ri,
on such conditions and for sucli rem. «. I.» „i. . ■ ■ . ^ *
-uperiorily over ,h. land so gl.eT pr'vidc.itT; '""""! "" '"''"'
..tide ,he Dominaa. .„ a ™L, „ i„7't i .1 ,t .ro'm ""'T"' " ^
e..« of:;:,;:!;'"'""'.''-- ■' - r«s»'-<.f "".i"o.i,e.,,„„,d
Utlu Tl,« .„ "f" . '" * """'' """• "• l>"' l»o Mlriclioi,. :_
BO to limit its moaning; and the L m ofl n^ . '" "T"*' ^"' " " °'^' '■'-"''^"""'^'«
r. J< %««,.r. no th t„ ^.7 "f ,''"""-'°°- The matter there treated of. is the
the .■,/„!;,<,' ;e"lt«fn, """" '°-"^«-f-red.not to the oases of
.ale,] but^to theTa:!':'tr/z:: :;sLt^^^ ^"^-^'-^ °^
importing no feudal burtheni «nH in f?> •^'••^'"»«»'] whioh was a mere 6a,7 d m./e.
/>»' .* 1«. i\wl;.;t,:'2 p "20 "^ " P''^" '^"'^'^ character.=See Houa...
54
WHS SO little likely to be transgress i ZLlZ ''"' '«T"''°>"«"'«
of r.'ovicIing ngainst its trans.resln ' B tT^ 'i "° "" '" *'"" ^'''^•^ "-"^^'^^
could have been heavier than W "rV . r* '"'^ *° ''' ''•'*' '^'^ P^""''^
^"/^/('/co,^,;., by uhieh he LZT , °"""""' '° chose,-or to a
private controvers/wi.h the inteLsteTLil? '"''' ''^ ""^"^ "^^ °"^ ^^
• in an Or.on.ancc of Dnke L llS^^^^^ ^^ ^^-d
"otro pays, de ain.i le faire fassent diffio. If/ T", '^Z P'""'""''' *" ""<=""' ^'"""i'^ 'I*
" Vo„l„ns et ordonnons ouc dor!"! 1 ' •'^'^ '^ "" P*"'""* l'°l>"'^anco,_
-I'ich is n^ore lilcely- , / J. "i!"'" T' *''«" -^-"tly known, or-
Perhnps, that it .as Joubt d . e te t ^ S' '^'r; ""'""^ "^^ ^'''^ >^°'"*' -'
Ti.ere was an lehen io 1^ .rT', "'"'" '"' ^'"'"^ ^« ^« "-••'-"•
to use the phrase of tT a. t ™ f T ""■^' ^"'''"'^' '" ^'f -'«'•-' (-•
entitled to clai.n the in Ld « '"' '" "'""''^ ''^^ ^°'"'"''"'* ^'^ " ^e
-c. removed that dX ^ ZlT T t'^;' ^^ '^'■'"•^^'^- ^'""^ ^^^-
Duke could „,ake it-a.d in ^ SI m T' f '' '^' '''""""^^ '^^ ^''^
that eveo^ holder of . L" " I '""''"'^ ^^""'^ ^^ ««"''«^ go far)
cmn. tl. whole of i^J^noV" '^ '"' ^^" ""^'" *« -^./ant j
case, unless there should be an .v.f f ' ^""""'''^'•7 or otherwise, in the
silent as to sub.infeuda,n pie" T" "''" ""'-'^'^^ ^^-^^ « «
most affeeled by the CS:il,,, TTI '"'^ '^^^ '^^" ^'^ -"^^^^ "-"
have been felt with reference 'to'li onl ' ofT, 'V' •°'' °^ '"""'""^^ "^^^^
strong enough, by way of eo.pro.ise, tj-cont;;. hi riq^^ "'' '"' '""^
§ 80. — nEN'RION DE PvKSEv nfto-. . i •
proof Of the recognition of an unli I'l''" 7^/" ^'''^ ^'^'^-^^^^'^^^ as decisive
proceeds :- ^ "nlMn.ted;.« de ficfm Brittany as early as 1420,
Vol. 2, cL. 86. No. 25. p. S82 ' ^°'- '' ^P" '"^ ""^^^Tl^Ii^^i^;:;;:;!^^
W This last is Kevin's explanation,_p. 882
two for.s or contractliee HlT^rP X S^JL" '^T:'^'^^'^ ^'"•" "^'''^
CO Pabc, Pnnni,., </„ 2J,. Pr., Vol. 2, p. 85 ' ' P' **^' ""'^ ^°'"'"™
K
tl.e Customs was carried out, this idea of the nnWnut,,] jcu dejir/ had so gained
ground,(a) that in 1509 the Custom of Orleans was thus worded :-
'• to^Zim T"' ^T"' t "i**!*'' r"'' '*™' °" P""''""' ^''" '^"■»'*'"<'' * ''«' t«™P» "» 4
consent, et infeod^ le dU bail, pourra exploiter entiArement son dit fief."-Art. 4. (6)
- Uuv iT' J" 'T' *"""' ^ """' °" "■"'*' P«'-P'^'"-'"« '«» 1^^'itase qu'il Ucnt en fief, rcten,.
W Henri,,-, de Pansef, Dhs. Fiod., Vol. 2, pp. 3G9 STO
out srer'^'"""' *" ""^^ '"^ ''''^""" •'-^ -J« ^'■-■*'^« «-«^ ^^-'-^e,-, bnt With.
cZtf i3 dhiTrT r r"'."' """'* "" ^•"'"^"■"■^ - P"°te<l in the Coutun^Ur
w..ehir;rtl;ire^e'T:a;tr:/:;;^^^^^^^^^^
earlier date than the passage h^erS ^ " '"''' " ""' '^^^ ""='"' °^ -^ ■"-"
Jtrnrft!l\tt>.rr"''" " "f ^"""'' '•"" «"'"* -mmentator on thi. wovk, who wa.
« Tel 6ta.t done Tetat des ehose, 4 I'fipoqne de la re.laction de8 Coutumes. Rien d'uni
• forme ; preBqu'antant d'usages diff^rens qne de province,, et me,ne de g ^d . sS'neur l
Ic.1 vassal ponvctsejouer de la totalite du domalne; ailleurs il nS ^v" «;; " L
par cette vo.e qu'uae partie plus ou moins eonsid^.,able. Dane telle seiLuHe T j u de
fief par .nfoodafon 6toit dofendn ; dans telle autre, il C-toit permis. Mcn,e vTr'i d' rela
tiveraent 4 la faculty de recevoir de» deniers dVnt.vp n ,, ! • . ,
" dHtn/.I.,'.o ,1., fiof ., 1 •. , """• "™'^™ 1 <■'""««. Daus certains cantons, la port oa
i'iM
(6) CouTOHiKtt Genmai, Vol S, pp. 736 and 739.
56
te™s.-,arger sti... as regarded the scope ^v:' f/Cnlo'^^etllr- "'^"
" - pSiriirsir isr""^' ' ''™^^^'"' -^^ '"'' '-- -^^ ••^ -<«»- ^-^
—The former of tLese Customs laying it down thaf fl,. , • ,
of h,8 property by certain specified forms of oZ; . , "'''' "'^''' ^''^^
tbe ,«>„.„„•, ;ioL,>?y„._^trout tW? '"" '^'^S^^^P-'S: «'^«P to himself
profit upon the tranl'cti „; „:„ J^I'tW ' '.•\^°--"* -^ "g^t to
right (whenever occasion should otrfto LT t'"T'" ^'^ ^'^ ^*'"'"""''-
^'venu. The latter in effect savin,. Z !! , , ' '*'''" '"''''««' «« «^»
vassal's right to >.ake pok o 'f t 2%^'"^' '"j ^^'''''" '^•^'-^"•"= ^^'e
forrns of contract. Neither of tlLm n» ^^ ^ f "'^ ''^ ''" '^^■^-^ '^ «" ^'^^^
of what should be so ^^^^Z^I'TT '' ''■' "'^"' *^'^"'-
of anything -nore than \le fo, t koZZ J^^T •""'"" '' "" ^''""'•
lordship over the Jlcf. I„ a word bot Jh '"^.^''T^^''^^ f^onorijigue or
conversion of the ianded/./irolhe/J;-:^;!;^ "'"""'"°' °' '''^ "'"'^^'-^^^
§ 91.— Many other Customs were drawn in ♦!,. i-i . ,
hy no means all in the same terms Sone " 1 ^7"'' "'^''^ '''^'''' ^"'
others, the Orleans. Other! Z'' ,! ''° ""'"'''^ '^"""^^^ "'« Pans model;
forms of contract to be frv^^flVZ TTJ"'"*^"" " "" '"^^ ^-™ -
allowing the exemption frordue^ to thW^^^^ '" ''^' --' of "ot
«««. denkrs dVutri.id) Else vlr ati^ . ', "'"^^' "P"" "^^ ^"'^ '^ -«*
allowed. ,aite anothir U::^^!:^^^^^^^ ! ""^7''!^' >« '^^ >/ --
want's riijhts. As in BHtt-mv for J^, ^""^ ^^^ Protection of the Domi-
of the Trss ^nc.nj^:::'^:^^^^::^' °"^ ''' ^'-^^^
^as declared to be, that the vassal mi.ht Zi M "P""'/*"^'"' § ^^'^ '^' ^"^^
-/, noble or roturier, but „ "g ^ f ^7' ''^^ ^^ ''^^ -"^-' ^^ ^«.-
Lshed. or take more than so mu'ch of de!Z 2n7re Z "' ""'^ "" "'''■
such case to the Dominant.(c) ' ""''^'" P^'° ^^ J^ability in
so;e!it";\Votor'oTe;tedTrlr[ion' Privileged y.„ de Jlef ^,, u^^^^.
for instance, was stated nearly irr'm T:^''' "°' '^'^^ ^— -'«
Coustumier, thus :- ^ ''™' °^ ^«^"« ^AaWa and the Grand
. J ^' uumraago axclusivement,
(c) CouTUMiEE General, Vol. 3, p. 3.
i") See H.«a.o«.E P..«e.. J>i,. jrSo^, y,, ,^ ^^ 3^ ^^ ^^^
H.NBIO. OE P.»sE.. A-,, ^,„,., ;.,,: ;;p^;X 4."''"' "^"^ '• PP- ^^•^ --^ ^83 .. aUo
57
" poiirveu qiril demeure ag>ez pour satisfaira but ««*«. » j
-Art. 204,f/) sausrwre aux rentes et redcrances deneg d-j aeigneur."
- du dit fief. .„ns payer p ofi s a TZel d'n ■"" T '" ''"''^«"' ""^"^^ "" «-' ^"-*
« ce qu'il >^in^-Jn. t ""• '' '^"''1"^ ^'■'''' «">°'""«1 «' <Ion,«„ial sur
" Et neaamoins, a'il y a ouverturo tin rl;» fl„* i
The amplification of the phrase "..K«Oo«^rf« sonf,/" into ".. «.«oW
' .^ rf.^0.. .tfaire .on profit ,es heritages, rentes ou censiant ,u J^^Z
also perhaps meant as a mere change of expression,-a fuller and more prcci e
statement of what was originally intended '
in h^onrm tf"tf ''" ''■?''' y'^'- ^ ''--- <^efoyr and the addition
n e„ of them, of the proviso of Art. 5I,->o«r.fi gne Palienathn rCe.cide
les Jen. turs, et gu\l en retienne la foi entiire et guelgue droit seignevrial t
''^oman^annr ce guHl oUiner formed a change of great importance h
Cutom of Par.s was thereby bronght into the class of Customs defi^itiv ly
restnctu-e as to the extent and character of the privileged^, defief. ^
J ^^*-^^;^'"«"«"«« of th« change was felt in some others of the later
reactions of Customs m France, but not in all ; as, for instance, it did not
affect the second redaction of the Custom of Orleans, in 1683, which in thi
respect was worded substantially as in 1509.(/0 In an indirect way it gra-
wS Tit ;t ""'^r/^'t' ^J^-nterpretation given to those'custt.s
^ Inch, without be,ng wholly unlike that of Paris, were silent on this point. But
p ;r' On tir fr^: 'rr""^''' ^^^'^"^ ^''^ ^--^-^ ^^ »»- <^^-^^o™
vervt:^ t " n "'•''' ''^'•"'°" '''''' ^"^'-" P'-I^o^ ^'i^ "ot do
(5') Vid. supra, § 81.
(A) See CouTLMiEB Gknbeai,, VoL 8 n iJ'rfl • i^* n n • i •
Bnd57, cited above, g »0. ^ ' ^^t' '^-". '""'""^^.-^ompared with Art. 4
58
declaration b,.,, the ptr-«^^
was concerned, the rule to which . ,7 '*'/'' "'^^'^ ^'^'•"'"O' of that Custom
years hefore, ^as admitted by thL to Z bo "'!''' '"" '''''' ^^^'^
faih-ng proof of the ternas of «d. ItrTt "".f ' "• "'""' ' '^"^ ^^"*'
local usage was, and thereafter should bo n T ° P"'"'' ''"^ *'™ ''"'^ «f
the all but unrestricted li se o tb ol C . T""'' ''''' '''' '■'''''' "^'^^
restricted license of the n w But el .^T""''^'"' *'''''* ^'' ^'''^ *''° ^'<^'^
even of a local enact.uen fbove 7 /',' f 'T^ '' '"' "°' *^^ ^''--*-
public, state enactment. t fifed „o"h t irre P^ ""' f"" '''''''''''' ^^ «
laid down no rule that w.s no to l! !° " ^^^^ivoly of private contract;
they pleased for thtXin. 1% !^'^^°-"''^'^'l/''-» 5 1^^^ all parties to do as
thefr purely privl 4 A f'''''^ ^^••''^■'"- ^^ ^vhat it adn.itted to be
only t^^e IZZy' ''"" °"'"'^'" ^^ '^ P^--- -" ^''ow this.
lill
§ OG.-And first, for the matter of the>« de fief.
contract; or he ml have " /^ ^"' '"'"' ^''''' '""'"'^^^ ''• l'>' «''P^«««
ei.r-o7n:r ';•';«" Itn :/ ""',"':' '"~'"^ ""•■".-' >» "-»
" ceM,(n '.-anj .„,„ .3 ' ° "" ™'', W - '» ™'« <■" jo« <1» lief ou b«il i
".'.(..-...Jnot to Lav. had occ",io„ o Zf,! T""""""'' '^""^
control (ll,.„lc„com,™,,Ujrr, ?'^. """•*' "'•■" »"'«' t™''' -f
(A; S^"*- Dumoulin, p. 477. • 8 ^i".
(0-D«s.Ho<£,VoLl,p. 268.
69
" tivcmcnt, q„e dans la Cou u'^He inr s il « t'. '^"'"°"""' '"'"• '■"-^-"ffirma-
" par inf.;oda;ion."(„0 " """^ '"''""^ ''^ ^« J""^' *'« '«"" fiefs
-Again, as to fe,7 d rente, still speaking of the Custom of Paris •-
prestation qu>iUiJp;;,";,';;^;;J«;"-^ "^''r^ ''^•'■'^ '« q..aIificationdoccnBdla
" valont .!•„„ bail d ocub en Jn C "■"•; '""'" ''"" '" '"" * '•'■°'« '"■"•"'« ^M^-
" profit], i, faut .ne re;;e^;:e:rd:,:;oi!>[ "" "" ^^""""^ ^'^ ''^ «^^ c-^-^-. -
designafed accordinir to tho V /.!, , ''''^ '" ^""''"'^'^ "'"'^ sometimes
mere form. ^ ' "' '^''''"''''' "'^^1 ^°°''-^times according to their
nEKVfi follows (he former of these rules, wl>en he says •_
" ditions requise^ pour'la rMtrdujeu /e S^ '" " '' " ""'"'" """"'" ""
-A form of expr.sion exactly covered by Po.h.h's paraphrase of Dumoulin,-
"quelqnotitrequeceBoi polrva nT 7""" T''°"' '»"'''"' ^''^ J"'"-^"" ''« '^-Po'er d
(m) Diss. F6od., Vol, 2, p. 388.
(n) i)jw. fXoA Vol. 2, p. 874.
(o)2)m.Horf.,Vol.2,p.62«/,ej.
(p) Diss. Fiod., Vol. 2, p. 888 et seq.
(g) Diss. Fiod., Vol. 2, p. 393 ct 'seq.
(r) Vol. 3, p. 378.
(«) 2)m f»/s, part 2, chap. 8, Art. 2.
'■m
"'n
I 111
' I M
I
clmractorLse,! „,, one or otl.er of the fe dXort;,;' '?"'?"' """^^ "''"'' ^^ »>-•"?
contract of *«// d/./, or infoudation pro 'i J A ''''"' '' '""^ '^''*^
of any kind, or with any arran^oment tW ""'''°"' '■'^«''' ^^ fi-^ecl dues
:J"es.(0 Or, it n.y be\,.e J/H V-J.r^ ^"" "'^ '-•^^ - ^o theirc.s
J-t as low, and every stipulation a. o';; 2""' 1 ''^ ""'' •'■"^' "^ ^'^^ <-
f r «'- H«'--(«) Or, it .nay bo ^o I v^'" 'l "'""■^^^ J'-' - clraw'n, a.
«je i«^/ , ,,„, by the express re/erve of tl i ■ ?' ""'""'''"•^ '"^««'"t«'' to
Jl'ero, of course, there can be no c-Zm , / T A" P'"*^' "^ ^''° gr«"to;,-
^^^«^^'--^«-r^--./..^CLt:tlf^ n^aybe the^ant '.«
' ""' """^^^ «'• ^« '•«'«'•« ;(.«) for by all
As t-. the right to^ow i.l • ""' "^ ''^ "" '" "'"'' *^""'- " "'*°
rn f ""'"• ""'■ -^^'•'"^ "" }---o,- (I,, 4 tl7/''^ " "- °'d redaction were > J
W Herve and HENaro.y de Pavsbt in tl,«
et les lods. Le ee.gneur. mattre do le^ cumnW ! '^oog'^'tives do la direote, le cena
-Bt'puler que lecensne sera paa produced 'r''''"'"^°"''-'J« ''""e delle, n Z
Tho form lias
eurial et doma-
■a'lmit of being
Itinay betlie
'8 or fixed dues
I to their casual
just as high or
so drawn, as
indefinite!;- to
''0 grantor,—.
the grant en
rC'<')forbyall
of some rent*
er to the privi-
2, p. 380) does
> words of the
y imported, in
t, unsiistained
;erm8, always
aliinSe; even
inoijijh (o say
a were "pent
>ailler d cens,
fiff.—it was
9 disallowed
found in eer-
ie ezecssire
DB PaNSET,
J note, treat
admit that
I to casual)
aubt, there
ual, and in
tion recog.
la r^gle:
to, le cens
•s; ilpeut
IS annuel,
il impose
attach^e
I cena."—
! and 66,
61
these fonm of grant there is tho reserve of the /«^_and the obligation to reli
gious servK.0 whether definite or indefinite, and the right to other ad ( tl
money sen.o) larger dues whenever the property n,nv pass to otl,!r T / /
always in the grantor's hand .he ^^oliJ^J^, ZZ^^t^X^^Z
^rsncuruU et doManial » of the Custon,, the •' ,uel,ue drot rcpr'"nZ Tn
dxmimum cmle^^ of Pothier, which is rcmired in order to ZT /
of the unbroken unity of the grantorVs/./: ''"° "''^'"''''''
§ OO.-What is practically i.riportant, however, in this connexion is thi, - th„f
this required feudality of fonn may either be a mere form or ^^ v
character to the act. The v.sal, Whether his object bve'ritabirosuMn;:
or g,.„t as to a cc««.ae>e, or (undercolor of sub-i;feudation,oro?al^^^^^^^^
to sell, gwe, bequeath, exchange, grant for rent, or in any other wav 2 T ^
always do so without difficulty, under the form and whl^n t I'lfT^^ ^'"^
iLe Custom, without thereby ^e^tit.ing the D^i: 1 1 : I Zfi^^^^
jme of tho redaction of the Customs, indeed, this was s^^ i^^ct y .l"^^^^^^^^^^
that even under the Custom of Orleans, the terms of wlnVlXed Vi " o u '
cens, rente, fcrme an.l pension) have been already noted wrwlr' f''
the instance of Dumoulin himself, that a iail , c' Jm dl amo" v'! "^"^ 1
gave no occasion for the Dominant to interfere -f.) ^nd hi ^ ','^''"'"*
inaugurated was defended bv Vonin-r. mZT ■. , J»''«l'nulence so
nv'and 1.80, when :t^^::::^2 :^.:7:;:z [t;":^ """ "-"'
the claim of the Don.inant in such case w-as aZe L) lb 'r"-^'""' .^"'
.like change of jurisprudence was made in some ot Customs vj 7n T
of Or eans^(«) But no one ever pretended that i^.ro^^:'^^:^'^
vassal's nght, under the Custom of raris,-with its " vZ «■ 2 .1 "
projitr-io sell or otherwise alienate on ny rm wh2 unl " ^'"7 ""
feudal form of contract, without hindrance LZ^.TillT^^ ?''"'' '^'^y
Customs favorable to the Dominant on tl ; . ' , I>o'n>"ant. Tho
bitant of the common rule (6) ^ ' "'" ""'^^ '^'^' '" ^' '''-
Fiefs being commonly of cLplexcom oJti n Zr" ' ^''T '""'"^■"'^•
-ved third part of the f.f must iX^Ll^V^'Z^^'^:
bave been the time of thi'real or J^ ^LlLr :! ll^lX^
as
(x) Vide suprd, % 98, jjfote (/).
(y) PoiniEB, Cout, d'Orlians Art 1 _W,»„. . r.
'^"^ '•^'='""<«""=P^'''='^.'«"-^«'»o«/f„,pp.600and501
W Cout. d'Orliant, Art. 7.
^^ (.) H.av4 Vol. , pp. an and ,78.-H™ .. P™. m„. nod., Vol.. , pp. ,,,
(i) Henbion de PANssr, Diu. FM,, Tol. 2
p. 368 ; cited tuprd, § 88, note {k).
nil
62
§ 101.— Intimnfely connected wifli f1,;=
2>P"ren„v, ..t ""til,„i.e „ I^Vi '" tr^Vf^, ^ ■"'^'''-= ^"'
Denriox DB Pavset.O/) It is this- u.|,.f) ' ."'*'' *'"'C'>s.se,I only l,y
corporeal H.in, part wh/c. the v 1 „1 : r:;,;".r'^7'>^ "'" -'^-t of tl^
ont,tlin. Ins Dominant to ann.tation ZlX 7" ''''^' '' "'« '^^^ of
"->/ wore to be reekono.l,_or who J; ! th 1" '' '?" ''^^"^'"^ " -''"•»
"ro and j.nblic improvement, the vassal mW.t If l'"' *' !• """'"' "'■'"^"^"'-
interference from hi,, lord. This question S ,""^ ''""'"'' ^''"^« ^^•'"t''""'
in the iauor sense ; perhaps, with^ Tf r t ^^^^'^ T^ '^ '° ---
troversy than would have characteri^.-d the mw^ / T"^ ^'^'^^ "^ '''« "on-
raised and answered then. Indeed, the faot of V ."7' "'' ""^T^-^tion been
nor for so long afterwards, is anion-, the indi.nV c ,'""" '^°'" ^'"^" '-^'^H
respect of these controversies, to 1 er t "oT t ''" "!? ""'^^^^ I^^'' '"
matter was not, it is true, whether those wZ./ 1 ' '""''' '"'*^''«^'- The
ated with a view to their improvement O^^Z , """if'' '"''' ^« «'■«"-
as to one of the incidental rLuIts of their binl,' 7 "" ' '^" '' "■•^'' ^'^^^7
ant to have a -nutation fine on the oe s ion n T^' ^"^'^ '^'^ '^"'"">
have made little profit, and the Dominant Jiv . ' '"" '" '""''' ""^ "'"'^^ «"^>'J
no one appears to have thought of nZo„ '" ' '""•""" '^""^ ■""" '"'• «"'
would then probably have soLied aC fvlum ^ ""^' ""'''"' '" '^'^^
earher, authority set a special value on t 7 ,• ? 'T"?""'-^* ''' '^''' ^^'"«what
long after, it stil, failed t'o reali. Z^^^, ^'^ S '^""^^'' '^"^ ^^'
the Dominant no immediate mutat ot ^ : : "^ V" !'" °"^' ''^""' -^•■'-
(unless by his own consent) to tell a^ah 'l °! m "'' '"'"^ "'^"•^ ""* •'•"owed
otherwise to accrue upon the fief. At LT , '"'''""'" °'' '""^'^f"'"' fines ■
thenpecuniarilythemore important of ther^thet"? "l° '"''' '''' '''''' -««
or fifth part of the price of the>/ whenever H ^ ''^^S-a.-ded the ^,«-„«
easy to take, and w.xs not taken. But as relr, ' w, ^,'''''""''" '"'' "«t so
of the Jief whenever such mutation of tl^e 7fT , ' '^"^ °'' ^^^"''^ ■•«'«""«
to be taken upon the >/ without ded i^ I?"f '^^"- " '^^ '° ''' '' -««
unless, indeed, in the case of the Domi nu", ^'''""'-^'^^ alionations,-
iufeuded them. The vassal and those it ,Jr;"V?""'^ '''''"'' ^° ^^'^
-M, e,.ing immunity .om -^r::t:;^;^;-"(-:--^
i>25:;!rt;:.t^nr----n..tM.e.inH._ ., ^.^^^^
(rf)2)m.ilW.,VoL2,pp.890and391.
, ^ .-
es
migbt bo,) yot contracted subject to this ulterior rigl.t of Iho Se.V„ior D..n.!n„nf
-a r.sl.t that (noonor or Inter) one or oti.er of thwn was eltv" i '
ll.it in Iriitli, it wa» not m. Betweoi, the iiiip,i,il,.»ed >„ dc It.f .„,t
L:'(r'™r.f;.-^f' "'"'° "- -i "■*'' ''"«""-■ » ■-"' t^^ i
snown.o Add, that the com»i?,« being an extreme penaltv \va, ..)
stnct^ssmijuris, the pain of noth: .^.oHof desavcu or/S' ^^'
§ lOS.-Under the oldest of the known rules as to tbe matter of the rf.'«, ,„
brc^ent and Jeu da >/,-those of tbe Assises de Jerusale d L^^^^^^^^^^
rum,-as bas been above shown, (/) there was (it is true) a s ects of 2
commtsc, or forfeiture of tbe alienated part of theW tbrei!, / ^
Dominant for enforcement of what wer'e then tl^lj SHh.;: ''"' "' '''
13ut under the later rule of tbe Coutumes du Beauvoisis (oUh n •
tUe l«tb Century bad no larger rigbt than that of tbelS^i^ ^^^It
force the j^arties to rescind their bargain. ' ^ ^^ ^"^
And elsewhere in France, from the IStb to the leth Centnrr »l, ■
of tbe larger rigbt; and it n.ay be a <iuestiuu . bier em 'Xt "' h" ''"'
feodale was universally avaiJable.(A) ' "' ''" "^'''^
§ lOG.-For tbe period since tbe redaction of tbe Custom of Pari« ncvnmv
DK Paks.v (0 cites Auzanet as tbe one writer wbo would attaeb Tn t', ?
Pf, wben carried beyond limit, tbe penalty of a ^::ZX::£^. t
(e) Videinjrd,^n%etseq.
if) Vide''suprd, §§72--76, iuclusire
{g) Vide auprd, §80.
(/I) Vide suprd, §§81—89, incluair*.
(0 Sur Dumoitlin, p. 616,
^ If
64
the property alienalo.!. Dut on r«fi.rn„^« . *
foun,l,-^„., that 1.0 intorpretorth C. ,o ■'"''' ""'^''^ it will U
«o.ne« Imt in tl.i, s.nso. A coL„r LI ' f '^ ^ "" r'^''""^' ^^^ "—"linff it
Lamo„.vov,(0 will «how tirh^ eoorn V'^"'''"''''""'■^^ •!'« vl..^,,;^,
doctrine of th^.v^.i /vi o 1 i . T '1 ''" ''' ^^^^ ''"'''" »« »''«
hand of ,lK. l>omin„„tf^7^;c.il ,;':';•''■''"'' ".' '" •^''^' "-^ " "-■^"' - 'f'«
ac,K,n ... compel the partie, ' . . ii.^Jt ZJ^^H^^IT'''' " ^^'^'^ ^^ ^
n,r:c:;r:';r r'zrr"f ^rr- '^'^ -- -^' '"- ^^^^^
3a/«e/.«;<^..(^) "'' '^^'^ '''"•^'•-' '"kes up Duplessis' idea of tha
.as adopted the simpler conclusion, that as tCl^ I^Zr ''''' '"^"""^•''''
ho vassal in respect of the alienation of so ch o h^^'^ " T"" '"''"''^"•^ '^
fonn, without fine paid to the Don.inant "he n nl ^'^ ""^'"" '"^''' '' ^""^
>ng more or in other form, is merely the io" o n " ^' ■""""'"''l "" ^''^ ""'-'""'-
-the exi,ibility, on the part of the Domirn 7l •'"^T"' °^"^'' ''"^"^S^''
moans, or otherwise,) of his ri^.hts ac^^^Zr ^^7 T '" '""'" ^"^''' "« «
thereafter in ordinary course. Indeed f ^ ^ "''"''^ ^"' *° "^""«
been really no controversy • for ,11 df' ..!/ ' , '""^ ^'" ''''''• *« ''"^e
weight of authority, to s4\.o;rn tt' ^ T^:! f '" ■" ^'"^^" ^^ ^"«
was as to the extent of this loss of privill , ,, ^ '^"''"°'' "' «" °P^".
alienations in the wholeexcessivo o v !;" ' "' '" '''" ""° '' «'-«'''-i^«
or only such as were thems^s j. • J '^.re " f?"' '"^»-'--. ^^ ^fleeted all
of extent had been reached. That ,n°e t!); .r:!^:: ::« """ ''' '''''
(A-) On Art. 51 of CiHtom of Paris; p. 40 of Edn. of 17C8.
(/) Vol. 1, pp. 98 and 99 ; Edo. of 1783.
(m) OB..DK CorrcM., Vol. 1, Ool. 817, 8 ; Obs. on Art, 6]
(n)Liv. 9, chap, 1 i„fin; p. 70, otEda. of iToe- dterl Jw w
mouUn, p. 5 10. • 01 i / -8 , cited by HK.vaiojf ds Paxsj^, ,«r i)«.
(0) iJM f,>/i,. Ddmembremenf, ch. 3, No 2" .fee • v I ,
same, pp. 510 and 511. ' '^"^ ' ^"'- '' PP- 105, Ac— Cited also by
(p) Fiefs, 2nd part, ch. 3, see. 3 • Vol 1 r, o"o n. j , ,
, ec a , Vol. 1, p. 2oa.-C.ted also by same, p. 811
(S) Sur Dumoulin, pp. 611 et seq.
65
^A/) .«. to b. l,.ld f,r „„ll. E,«, T; W r ./ '"""«'*' -'""
treats tho contract, however the Dominant .nirrl.f IT ? m ""^•^'''I'^e^^ly
vassal ha, alienated on certain term, en. n„l to n- - ! , '" """ "''"• ^''^^
bim, his vassal, censitaire, vendee, don e or Jhat H . ! - ^ '''^"'"l'^ '""
a>/-to be holJen of such Dominant a, the immodin: lord thereof LJ
part of such terms. But, the jeu proving to hav bee,? '^Z ve ; i ^ ^l "
the Dommant has asserted his riclit ha* «v«,.»» . k- /■ ,^^^ ""^ >rr,.g>ilar,
".ay ...V. be.., .„d U. «Juo Jl Tc : 1': Jt-^;!'"" » "■• «
thcr. do«s not require to bo muel, said ''" ^^■f'
inLtX^J^Irttt w^tt''^^ the phrase was used ^
on feudal L under he C^st^ f P H ' " Tere ''""t'^^'t T' '' ^"*^'™
to what under the Cus^, o^ZZZtlnl:. ^'Z^ "T ^ ^"'"^^'>-
and, opposed to it there was the "SIT/ , J'» d" M sans profii ;"
answering to what under trri.tfTar^rrl'r T'^ tJ "" """"^'"
(>•) Vide tuprd, §72. ~~ " ■ —
(») Vide tuprd, §80.
CO ViJeeupr,, § Vo._a,,o fl««,, ,, p,,,^,^ ^^_ ^.^^^ ^,^j^ ^^ ^ ^^^
E
»}
.:i-
1 1 ;ll
66
«...,„ :r„™w ,tt,..^,j „„,, „„. ^^^ ^ ^^ ^^^ ^^^^^
n.igl.t pl.y off (« ;ij. A) hi, */..," is 'I'. «»''««™«>im, .hat ,h. v.»»l
ts^:;rr^::;:t:;rhfrTh:iv""*^^^^^^^^
.0 ordinary mate of »«,« aflir, 'j '^ . " '*'""■ I"""* """i >««»■»«
nrd ;«dt:'d":i;fCSri ■" r'?' - - -Xt
.. u done .. u,; p^jir7jt,t:t'°rt ':7t:r-' " r r
against any one else, or with his conspnf fL Dominant. As
•'quodestpropri.divE£r 1^^^^^^^
« consensu domini. ^ ° '*' '"" ^"'"'""' 'P""" «' formam fcudi, sine
" Sed bene poesunt feudum dividere inter se in n»,4<.„ • ,-
" non tamen tanquafe feuda separata JZZl llT T^ " «''«'g"nda., pro diviso,
" n,fl et titulo eju.dem feudi sicuTab n 7„ ,,n^ ^ ' '"'"'*• "' '"'' ''*'«'n>i''atione, for-
" divhio feudi. led distributio ; t LrS^^ ^' '^'"'' f"-°P"'^ -° «'
" Bint partes quot«. sive partef intrrj^^s Et ho L" . f ! ""J""^^' ^""'"°^'""' ^'^«
"dum, sive constet in re corporal i, e vol; ^ LT ^7T' ''"' ^"'"^nsu patroni feu-
- indiviso. tam cBqualiter qurintqXr IT'''^"^^ «^'-d'. ^'^ P'o diviso q„4^ p^
" Sic & divcrso, si ab iuitio nnus vasallna <inf ^i r . .
" tanqua,n diversis et separatis per se " I n"! 1?' '^T }"''''''' '' ?'""''- '•"«««.
" in un„m feudum, sed debebunt possilr iaZrm dl" /""'"' ""'"' "«" '^"^-'^-''
•' omnibus, tam unicndo qute, separando t tuZZdt . '"''"'""* ^«»'i'»'-'>i- in hi,
" Tenerit; multum enim interest domin." T ' ' *'"""""' *' ""otoritas inter-
'• Manente uno et eodem titulo feudi r^tj, *
•' domino, pro parte non,-puta, vasaU; Ce^Zit;'''"" J'' ^""^ '"" *»'"» «>'"'«itti
: P"-^ F«'-«Ji. pro parte a manu domTn XS irl " **"'" ^*"^«'*'"« * * -Fo
« P.-0 parte noaO-gs, 01. 4, No. 31 («,) ^"' ""^^^ *" «' investitrnd renoyari; et
(u) rirfe «ttprd, §90.
W Vide «.,r.. gge, and «. «nd authoritie. there cited ; also ggw «.d 9,.
(w) Yol. 1, p. 188.
87
recognize the right of the Dominant to insist on iU m„;„«
nominal unity of the/./. He could not "en" ^.Xl^T *'' ''^ ""'
ber of co-vBssals, for any number of t^J.Ja -.T ^"'''"^ *"y ""m-
And be could no help t^Z^L fo/lf '" " T^'"'^^'^^ «^ *^« ^^Z'
eachownedaseparate^; ^Tnll^^^^^
in form than in substancC ' "'^' '"''" ^'^^^^'^^^ ^' ^r more
..!"!;;?.: rsaitzr^iLiubsf r-- ''- ^-'^ ^^ ^^« ^^
the part of some writers,_«ri!nArobaMv •! ^ ^"^"™^ '-ity of phrase on
the new Custom (by the way in ul' ht , {' . ' '""'"' ''"' "^ **'« ^^^^^ that
>- c. /./ and al tL^'Z^Jr mitl'Tlt^tfe:!': ^ .^^^'^'^ -'^
given to the former term somt-what lllTi '''""J, '"«<^« this peculiar sense
was always followed. It wlnet V^d ,170^7"""' ""'^""^ ^' ^*
made it mean. The words of H.l? r. '' "'^"^ '"^'•e tl^an he
c^ied a unanimous ^:.^:^on,TZZ^^^^^^^ ^"^^^^ ^'^^ -^ ^
"reportee comma partie int^grante du IT In .'''"'"'''•'»""' '^'''^'°'' tdu fief J est
Wlter,; "to 1..™ applied it also toTL,™!.^^^" "' ^"'''' '')' ■»">•
l»ve 6.,„ „ noce.s„j eonn«i„„ „iu. Ji X;_""> """P «« »»■ .lite, mi
ii~"h!i;:re^tt* ;r;' :;f ™' "^^^ *>/•• a... as ^
fcir p.,,. „f , ^.^ in.0 seTS;!;/":* r""' »' 'k. Hon.i.an.) e,„v«
son-eM) break, the title of ki, &/■!«„ ,L "*"'■ °''"' (""■ He lite
-o; combine, ,h. title, .r twf C "1,7 " "l"''''^ " "'" "*' "'-'f
Or there may ensue dimembrement .mnn "j"*'
'"eg.,lar; if, for instance, the pa^ le ll't^'^ "^'^'^^ ^--'- -r
w.th.n the privileged limit and in pr vii w "= 7. *'° '°'^ «^ *^«>/
nant for the like breaking up of the tit^I^ ?' ^'^ '^'"' ^'"> tl»° Domi-
/t^Ato be held otherwisefhan of the yi " "''^ '' ''''' ?-' « -P-ate
w Cited .«;>r<j. |3» ; n^r^D^;;;;;;;^ — ^ — —
S.igmor*_Vi<J, ,upr^ §104. ""* °""' ^^^ ">« l«»™«d CouMel r.to,d ag^ialtT*
B8
the co.o,„r„.i™ o/„«„. „ 1 W "', ! t""!? "f the >/; bat, >.itl.„„.'
«. . v««,l holding , .SelZr ' ? I*** "'*' -'"""Wsftl.e -luir.r
"imply c.o„ot b,. =■ "• """"" ''" <"" «»«"•. ■!■» eta"?, of till e
result, unless bv tlin nnn«»nw ""'^"««"e.iiptedrfe//Kr;»6/-eOTe»<oannot
have ;o cTLcte butZr IZ""! " '1"'^ '' ^'^ ^<'"'"^"'- ^h^ parties
chooses to insist „„;>„; 7 T ^"'^ "'^ '^^'' »^^'"*^ ^« "g^t if he
and force tkeVMe^M^^ Z'' ^'t?'""' '' *=''" '^•^^'^^ '"^ ™"^^''«>» fi^^'
and that, as for atJr:^::^;^::!^^^^ ""^ ^— ^'^ --
not bring things to thaTresult TT ""'"?*' ^^ '"''^™"S '^'^ "g''^'. ^^i"
nl; an'tsaTboTh " " '^^^''''■^^"' ^''^^'^ ^'^ '^ -^ of ^o^
word o„ceseiMthat,uestio„ is ^t r^JTZZlT^tZTrZ^t'^^
"legP6duSeigncur."(T Peut fa,re.-qu-il e,t impossible de le faire .L
!^j;
(z) Lttfitfi; part 2, cbap. 8, Art. I.
69
—or those of IlERvfi : —
" Etifin il suit que les commertateuw <le In Coutume ge .on< mis 1'ef.mit A 1. . .
tJ-e/./, parsed through .hat rnari^'^Iat '.^ f^^^ -««-, equally .ith
being, during ,.hich Ft could not be alLnrt! '"^'^'\^"««'-P'-operty phase of
-as later in passing through ir han te t. '^'.fT''*^'*^'-^'"** '''''''^'^ '^'
result of the p^f .as Jlr^\uZel\{^C^ " "''"" ^' ''''^'^^ '^'
and that generally 8peaki„<r the nrll °"' '"^ '^ '" '^« ^th^-",-
through, with theU-J; :f;u: t'he;ir "' '"" '"' " ""^^'^'^ ^^"«
But for all practical llZiTeJJTJf f ^""^ '"'^ «« *« it^d^en.l>ren,ent.
could no „.ore throw oT^ituir' "''^'^'^^^^-^-g- Thec.„«VaeV«
of his ««.«,, than the visal c M I'T 'v T'^T'. ^'^''^ --''^"ted the title
could no, to the prejudice and^lt ^tht I'jenTof ^i:'^ ^^. '' f ^^ ^«
one holding into separate holdings «, * Seignior, break his
into one, any n,or?than th^ v3 1 " T^^'f ^^ .^^ ^^"^ «^ '>o'<'-^
that his Seignior Censier couldkeeS as Jr f n ^! '"'^^'' ^ "«»'<J ^^^
There was no such thing. The ceZiZtZT T'''"" '"^ «*'°"g«^ '«««°»-
fine except upon sales, and th n ZyZ I ' ^'l"^ ""^'^ '"^ "° "'»»«"•»•'
fifth, .quired it less tLanthei;rttrrno^^^^^ '" ^'^ ^^ '^
comparison between the two tenures that th! ^, u*^ *'"'' '' """^^ "^
one was not accorded to the other kecLLt'^""?' ^''' '"'''^'^ ^ *^«
incurring lads et rentes on the sale tL'T' -f •'" ''' ^''^' ^°"'<^ "«* help
vance of a certain for., could a.S 1, e .r ' S"?'",,'™'*^' ^^ «^-
piecemeal; the one must incur the fine thll ."^ ''""'^''""-^ «^ ^^
-salhadaprivilege,whichthell2,tar^^^^^ ^«
re^r^cts, had .o. of property in his land Jhlte'^i^rad" ""^' '''''
(a) ('^ol. 8, p. 860. ' ~ . .
(6)n<fe,ttpr<i.§§64,89,60nnd6B.
1 f
* if
|i !ii!
' ill
1
II
i
1
I;j mm
:ii
TO
theories-can be made to look as though it possibly couIJ havA ho.n ,i
out of which the pretended system ofl^anaLn fcuda Lw ,^^^^^^^
General's Propositions set forth, xnay have been developed r " ^'^
§ 119.— Not to complicate matters more than could be helnflrl fh« . k- . ,
the Justice seisneurialcas ^^ntrn-distiu^MfTm^^^^ '"^^"V^
« much as possible kept out of view L. ' 7 ' ^ • ! '"' '" *^"''
unavoidable. " ^"'' '^'*'*^' '" '«f"'-«"co to it are
§ 1 20. — ClI AMPIONNIERE, in his WOrl' " /)/• /n n^r^v^ ',■ J r, ^
§ I21.-In maintaining this theory, however, Championni^re stands alone
ho^ had „or. U,.„ o » 1 ' ' f'""""" ■'°" »»' '"''''.-"■»' «!■• word
(rf) CHAMPioHxiiB^ £aM Co«ran<.., pp. 161 et .eg.
• (e) L.r«B,i«,. Buioire du DroU FranfoU. Vol 4, pp. 88 et ,eg.
71
are untruly ^ade,-a poi.t which one ha, hero no sum.ient means of ascertain
>ng,-the mferonco drawn from thorn is unavoidable.(/)
§ 123.— Indopendently of this consideration, however it is I,nr,l ^n.f ♦
possible) to defend Championni6ro from tho cnr!rof .1 ^ \ "^ """
of his favorite maxim, ">/ et /«,/ r„t„S7 "'''"''"^ *''" ""P"^'
feudistsofthefiscaUhooIareslCbv h"r I "^ '"'"' " *'"
maxim of ^'nulle tene sans :CZ'' T "s ^^V^^^-'T ''' ?"
feudists of tho fiscal school long pretended that it was. The former a da^o hi
holds for a correct expression of a great historical truth T w n t ^ '
sistent to interpret the two on tho Le p S- to t^ Wh !; k • "°" """
i-orb^i^ ,„_ j,,,^;^ n;ttt:.!:;rpror fef:;r
and perhaps, even in eon.o documents of that t!- I " ««'-t«"'ly was nof. always;
considerable interest, it as cer aX was XeZ ""^ Tr^T '""• ''"* '" -»• "^
1209, (cited ««;,ra. §79 ) usesTJ./L 1 « '^^f »'"'"'« of Philip Augustus, of the year
territori«lyj./.ie;irnCrir o dero7diT'' , ^""f °' '"•' P"''" "^ the/.^rfj, or
proper and the rest of the pr fits oflrel/Zi^ *""' P"'*^*" ''^ "-^■""'«
prevalence, at least at that peri d over ^f^t nfr of f" " "'r."""'" "' """^^ P'""""' «"«
.0 far fro. bein, anta,onistVrn;Cre;L!: "'''l^Z^!^''-'^-''''
have Customs that e;en Jeparabl^^^^^^^^^^^^ -* »""diHl. wo
toms not of that class) where the i7and t ' 1/ K '"'""' '"''' *"^'" ("'"'" ^^us-
.u«ed to be held, under one and thfsan" e 1 1 ' I "'"^°'' °' ''*'" ''"'"^ '"='J' «' P'«-
Custom of Paris as to any other f- ' '^ ''°* '''"' «« '"""'^ "^'^oco to U.e
w.t.a.. histoj ap;:r :z::r::i::!" ""• ^°'- '• - -•
« taU ont donne lieu & k formnle"! Si ' r f •'"""'' '' ** ^'^' ''^ ««" '■^'''I-
" tumiires, et que nous avo^ rapX 5e t^^^ "7^' T' '^'"'^ "^^ ^-'"'"" ^'"'-
« ' ble.' • . Charondas disa^t Zcnlt if' . f ^"''*"'* "°°* "*" ^^ '»™°"«' «"««'«-
'■tropabsoine.Mejnr2:srt:Lrr;i^^^^^^
« aiss6. dan, ces regions coutumidros des traces i p rude, ru^S ' ffl r^" ""^' "'''
de fief, et .base b,en remarquable. la separation de la justice et du fief u'avait ifeu,^^
proi»rl,ofll,o,»il luid » lo l,/„™ I f^ '"^ liKlfpenJo' Hv of tl,8
op«i Jo „,o,..„- ,; :t»"l : :\X" t:':': *ct ""■ -'^^ "'"'•
roses,— it wouiii onlv fnlU^ fj * i. • ^ ' ''^ Cbainpiomiaro sup-
to ha'vo had t"t oS^^f "7 ,?; ^ /"*"^^ ""y,-" ^^ -PPo-d in sou. cas'.
of those ti.es,-^ .f 1 o rXlr:; ^r" ''''•'•" '"°^^" ^*^'^'-'
iD<r tI,is,-to «m,.03e th-,* .II ,;, . . ""'V Cban,p,onn,^re towards shov-
^e-.ori,i„.ti.a„'^::;X^v ■:;:•; r^"?:""'^
the more unsystematic property .; ' J- i, '"f "■^l ""^"*'^^^ -«« "'^'"""y
of utterly unaccountabli vi;ietL;::,:i';; ' " ; ff "-^e-ter number
va.!ed,-the harder of the two i l.^ t '.^ b,^^ tt 'T ^''^'^'^''^'^ P'-
any one set of causes. *'"'' exclusive operation of
h-^nds, and little if at ll!) cut i^'. ' T'f^ "^""^ '"^e and in powerful
to unoy thatthisl.ppos Lnt r? " 1 "■ "'" f"^*: ^^'^ '' '« ^^ ^^ '''e question
been ..ive^al, or soCci: rcolo: tl" ''"^^^""^ >-'--» 'hen have
{j>otcni.^ holders of alen. nol^ZZi Jf Tn T'^'' '"'^' "'« ^^««' ^«"
«hip by oM.er men of their c at of « IS ^"/'*"" ^"'j^'^' '« ''*« --r-
collectcd fron, ,.:eir people and of . ^.^ 1 '"='"""^ ^''■«'^^'«"' *<> be
ing justice for profit.'atTl elr ost £' ""7 " '*'" '^^^'"^^^ ^'^ "^'""""'t-
cence in their own A.l to such .-„ r^''"^ "•": """^ ^''' '''^'''"^ '^^l^-^^'
neighbours, whom the^ ma^ I rhte" " "f ^"^°" '""''' '^' -«^^-
quality as Lttv pronrfeZ . H ^r, ""'"^ '°^'P"^« "''^Setber of their
othersipor the r il.^!^ W " ^'f '"""" ''''™^^'^««' «» *>>« P"' of
_-____^!.!;i!:;;^;;;i^^ °''^«y<'"d the territory
" de justice ne pouvait etre vendu ^^^II! P«;l«de Pans jugoaen 1664. quele droit
" U combien la ma,i J de Zsel SdT"^ ' '" '" """'^''^ * ' " °" '«" P«r
"v^ritehistoriqueetjuridtue^i^S! r«"» ""''"''' absolu. s'^loignerait de'l.
See aho. infr,, §127, NoMi). ""' ' ''''• *' ^P" ''■-'"'•
(A)Fu/«tn/r«i,§gi30e/„{.
(0 F»<&»«pd, g§60e/wg.
I
I
7S
of thoir own aleu or fief, they m«y al,o have followed in .ome meaaun the in-
rv.ous precedent, of exaction established for them by the Roman tax-gatherer
Vtutr*^ <^«f -g ^"'•t'^ the weak, are not apt to follow precedent exactly.
V !,.t they wanted tl.cy would gef, if they could. By the time that their exac
u..- were commg to be more regular and their people to rise towards .e po-
.U.on oUen^arre proprietors, the usages as to such matters would lie varfed
often and w.dely,_and the tradition as to what were or were not the "w
exactions of the Roman fisc, would have pretty well died out
of JriT "r "'" "-"^ ?'"' ^''"' ''"' '•'"^^'''""^ l"-*>">' <^'<«»^ '»'■''' tl.c i«,.V„
rnav nl ' ^'^'^'-/'^T"? '*' «« Championni^.re does, in the light of wlmt one
nay en 1 an appropnated right of exaction.-must in the nature of things ha e
.eon he d generally by men who would be holders also of aleux nobles or l( fi.fs
Tchii '^Tf" *'^'^ "^^" territory would not commonly submS
of tn if vtT" > '"" "^""' ■'" " "^^'^' '•'^^ ^-^^ ;«W Jcould not
often, ,f ever, have been a property wholly disconnected from, and independent
of the territorial holding of the aleu or fief. muependent
Jal^'x^^^'f' '' 7^^".««''«''" «« '""tter of historical induction, that many
aJonr t'" r T "'^'■" """ ^'"■''' '''' "'''^^' Championnie.; contends^
-and one, too, intimately connected with a territorial holding on the part of the
grandee;«,/e«cr. Kumkath succinctly states two such origins, thus f-
explo t de justice, toue les homme.. mdme librc« de leurs corps, qui y bab Sent LT
bfirent sous la pu.ssance priv^e dcs Seigneurs ct se trouvfiront lel jueticiablo On L^I
Plus tard, n,a.s toujour, sous les Carlovingiens. un chnngcment plus ^rave encore narce-
" e.erc. jusque ,. „„ „o« du rofet^jrc;;': p^ Lr^";:? eS';^^ ^''"7?"'
" gine des justices seigneuriale8."(/) PUD'«que. Tel est le second cas do I'ori-
And he might probably, have given them a still eariier date ; or at any rate
;«-ght have added to them anotl.er, of eariier date. For. with he unset led
ZT!f'Z "r" °'*'^ "^^•'^'"S'- - «f ^^« Cariovingi n era h e
ird «« though thlrr'";^ of Publicjusticiary functions for private profit,
exL'J.W.Xtt"'"^
(0 VoL 1, pp. 136 and 13Y.
i?
4
iS
'\f
74
care of ^oLe to nil o u e j e prirj/r -"^ il "^' '^^''"'^ ^'' ^«^'"^
law of the strongest. ^ ' **" h,n,self,-and this, b^ the more
' adiit'ofToSl^X^^^
as early „t any rate as tell h P^i '"^^^ " '"^ ^^ "* «'""'J°^'^^'« <i'ne,-
centuriis latere us isve'v T "' ^"''^"^ '''^ ^"'"° '^ -" «'-«
connecte.1 the nrol „T7owTr^ T^f ^^''^'''''^ ''"'•*'"»'' °"' f^''"' Europe
incidents. Laferriore citosVl! n "^ ^ \ ^""^ ''' ""'"'"' ""^ Presumed
of Bocr.x..Kn thlaxS r^r ^ " ^""'^ "' "''^> '"'° ^'^^ '^-«'- ^-«^*
^^^T:::Z^tT"'^''^ ''''-''' '•'« s„bstanceof';''
coctrino, 80 magnified by Champioani6re ; in these words •_
forth in rhetme";; ' ''""'"' ^'""' the substantive fact set'
citei "'^ ''™"""' ^'"- "« ^-' ^-"f". Vol. 4. pp. 96. 7 ; aad the authorities there
(«) Tits, §3; cited ttijwpja.
(o)P. 63;citeduii«t</,ra.
(P) Chap. 2. Art. 4.-See Coptushee GkstaAL, Vol. 4 p 1161.
clause of the OuZ oS LroHs 7 and^ S^^ "° '"'"''" '"'"' ""^° '» "-
nais (of 1521 ; see Oct. G^ Vol 3 n 9i7r m" , , "''' '" "*" °''^'°™' "^^ ^''"^''»»-
and niS) BIols (atV^o^lJt ?'^' ^" ^^"'''^^ (same year; /6W, VoL 4, pp. 1102
and rl^Vn^^r'^^^Jf;'^,^'''' ^-^ (»' ^=39; /*^., Vol. , ^123?,:
Jirrt^n-^t"^^^^^^^^^^
exceptional rulefor somerartieJar Clo'e, '^'''" "' Touraino-states it only as an
^renHtp^^ri^alS^^^^^^^^ ^ ^°^-'. .'- as an
*.«./^a^-"and^h,.ac;erizerL:;::SS^^^^
a« being ";^/«. JJ*/« <,„* origins flodaUs " M^tjmUc, est tout un. "
III a number of other Customs. tliGre was nn .„„i. ^i
.^.noa „.re or .ess of>.., eltJL::.!:! X oT^lS "rtS
«. n^ont 3;rlt " em like l7 ""'' '" '?;"^^'"' "^^"^ *'
Customary France. expression of the true usage of
to form Us CoZyj,:^^!?^ T" '' \'" "''^^"'^' ^«' ^'^^ Seignior
such Court, the Tall h die r It o T°" "^""'"^ '''"' ""^ ^^^^ ^'«'''"g
«.eir number was constan.r/ tt „' l-^^^^^ only of /./.-and
themselves unable or indisposed toHu7 "''" continually found
this particular jurisdiction (?) '^' """^ '" ^'^^ '°^* «' '^'^^
no?tZr ^tt/S^r -r l:r 7"^ -^^^^ ^^^^-P^^-'^^^^ vie. or
the process of appropr S°of a mi' ' u T'"""''"'' '" ^'''"^ '"«''-"« ^o
presume, that asTheSrn^f jr^ar^ pl^^^^^^^^^ ,? "N ? .■'^ .- '^^
Fwer required for some rnnh.rjJ ,i. ^V ''"'"■""^ of justiciary
armed force, differensX:rZtha\::r, ?,""*""" "' ^ '^'^P-'"^''
very variant de-^ree, -and tW wl "^ *'"' P°"''' ""^ ^'^^''^ Profits in
theT did, nilsSha^Va' t^^^^^ ^'-;^"™^' "'"' ^'^
of pride and profit- and thi, Jn « "P;^^*''«""• ^'le matter was at once one
-st have b^;'';o„ „ ; :z„;^^^^^^^^
merely checking their pretensions T^ . ^'"^ P"^""*^"'' sometimes,
pretensions of tLl own. '~'^''" ^""^ '"^*^^'' "^"^ -I'J^^'-g them t^
ofS^it:^:;tr:^r^^r't^'^
reserve in favor of die edltlTn . ."" *"^ "' ^'*'>*^"' ^he ;,a.a^e
qualified orTnnuled t 1^' ! T '' ''^^''''^ '' ^"'''^'^'^^ P-''-^ «' ^"tir^,
idoaof theali natbnofl'heT/" '?f ^ ""''' ""^' °"«« ^''^^^'^-^^ to the
and as mat r S n raf foTr ''' T ''■''r'"' P^°P'« ^^^ ^-«-.-
aU sorts of terms, the^rse^ratyrm Z^^^^^^^^^ "'^ '^ «"--' -
the counter-maxim, as matter ..J2:^SZ:^:XrL tltS
0) See Web.!^^ ^,-,,. <i, 2Vo« i)-a«f oi. Vol. 4. pp. 99 and 100.
n
§ 129.— Dovolope.1, then, presumably, from a varinfmf «,; • .•
«nd in a variety „f ways, tho jLce ^eiJ.iZ^^^J^^T 7 "'"";
'fpossible, a Btiil greater variety of foL r " "';""-^;°^;J "-^Toat) aB«umed,
the ca^, „,,on tho justice than ,„...„ d.o Z/ a„T ', '" ""'""'^^ "^
-mcthin, like connexion with .'.Mic ,f/of C' X ^Z' '' '^ ' '"l*^
without mlministerin.. iusfico nn,l ..,.,,1.1 ..^ • / ^.'•"'''" coul.l not rulo
«na hrinc.in<r into mo'Je or i "f mlm.n.st.r jnsti.o without ohneking
■"o"i^ iiuo more or luss of subioction to itjiolf oil » i„ • . .
by other authority than its own. «••"': .i.trUio.. .. justico
^y slow (iogrees, accordinojly the Crown Cc,urt„ w.,. i .
«tnntly enlar,nn. jurisdic.tion.'ap ,eIi„to a'lorS 2^ 'T' ' '=""■
over the Seigniorial Coul^ as rlLrZlT T^ ' *''«"• S'"""''"' superiority
and the efflclncv o^ h , , ^v 'rt,'^^^ "' ^r.""^ "' """^ •''"''^-'
them a constanti^ incro.,i; 1 3 Je Tf "r"*"^"f J-ulgmcnU. gave
advantage that bL,n.. still mtcfs^J^^^^^^^ "I" ^^ ""' '"" ^°'"^ ' ""
to extend ita interference to th« IT ,. ^ Powor went o„ gra.iually
i-icia^prerogati;::;i:!;^;^;:^rr";:c;rr""; -' ''^'
aw and eventually .naking them d!^fer to Z s "ion in " i""'"" '' "'
>a t e matter of tho appointmentof their officero ^ lice A . t ZTtT' T
men's minds became familiarised to the idea, that of ri2 a I . .' , "^ '
.Lould emanate or bo held to have emanated iom the Crowt! " ""' ""'""'^
as its ultimate feudal Dominant,-the s Iry j^ r^ riTsl 7 T ^7°
got rid of, under cover of the more public maxL ""o^7 •,^,/ . 'T ^''"
Although, even as to thU >.„♦)„ . , ■''*'"'* <^'"«'>« ''w '•o'-"
" L'opinion commune est qu'il ^y a point de justice albdiale : "-<0
the Crown of course set itself ZSTf^' 7 , '"'**'"■' "'^''^ " '^" Courte,
(0 -Dm*. Fiod., 7oL 2, p. 490.
8 ina.-Witl, tlie BRsumod feudal .lepondanre of nil « • • ■ . ■
*lm.c.vor wa, related to ,1.0 iudS'ii T .'{ '*"^"" ''''»^''^*«' "^
conclusion followed, that tho Z 117 '^ 7 ''•^''"" "^ '''" ^"""'^y- "'« '""^iJ'^'-
sion of it into distin t and epa « " i; ^ ''^''"'^ ^"^ ^■""'"^' ^ 'J'--"
^-^.-.a« also a .atte. ^SCl^S^^^l^J;'''-- ^'--i^ of
ca^i''i:n:!:^Si;:/^"::.^"^-«7- ♦•"^ p-eir.., ha., e„.„e to bo
.w/.. Hhcniii than ;:;:„;; r;::i;:,r"';-""^ B"b-.-„foudaiion of a
with that of tho dimanlrement of l'. ^V? "'.r '"' '" '"^''' 'J'"-"— «-
at Iea«t presume with nomo confide Tat' ' f''"";'; " *° ^^'"■•^'' - '"»y
law.(tO Ili« argument is thi«:_ "'" ■'"'" "°' ostabIiHl....d for
" •ffet est dc. ren.;,o le voml^ur ct IW, Zeur co J^ vf •"" ? " '^'^ J"-^"'^''--""" «on
" unique : le .itre „-.prouvo .,1 division nilSXrn """ ""'" ""^ J""'''" -"'" *'
"-van.: r , ^c^, rinf.odntl ce e Jj^^^^^^ Aof do^iuane. I'au.ro u„ lief
« multiplication uo j„»tice. ^ ""°" '^* '" J"«"'« ''i""! •Ii6n6e, il y a jonc
" n"y a pas de itu. ,„brement' -opS ui t e ir, * '"/ '"^'' '"^'^"^"^ immC-diat,-i
--yoitqaWseule; et cot.. ^He..^ I ^IV:::!;:; P^^"'^*^--- ^"-^^^^
thell?r;;ir;ftr;^^^^^^^^ ;;;: t:z '' ''' -''-' ^^'° ^- *« -■■ 'o on
Justice, though essentiali; ba ed ^10 27 ".^f "' ^"'^'"'•-^«''- of a
as a consequence, the nuHity of whateve?" • J/",^'"' '""' ""' '"^'^ *« ■""^-'^'^
of it. On this point. Ubn^n bk pi 1 ' '?•' '" '^'^''""''^ '^^ ^'"^^^^-^
thus:- "^ ' '^'"^^""'^'^^^P^^^seshimselfwithout any doubt,
_ _____^^^««pendan^mme cette irrdgularitfi rfisulto uniquemeut
(") See Henbion de Pansey Dim F/n ; tt- i « ~~ ■
Before .hie period. (abouU^S t Z^Zs^Zi:; "'T'" ""' P"' "^^ ^' •^*-
" la maniSre la plus Ubre et la plua ind firie Z , T ^°'"' " "■"«°*"'"^ J""'"'^°i«°t de
" r..erver le ressort de cello, qfif^cot'dill "-^ ^58 '""""'"^ ''"" j'"^''^^''' «' "« "
«>u.t not bo affected,) withru p e X ' i/ n^^^^^^^ "'^ V" ""'"^' '"'»' ""> -'-'
«««." eUi, w> <1, significant of Ls f^elW ^"tZ" I '' ^"^* '" '"'"""^' "'"^ '^o"'
(w.) 2>is». r.-ij,, Vol, 2, pp. 481, 2. " ' -=""«"«■
>i I:
78
;: *1' !'»'•;,'« P-'Wiq^^t ,1. mMt J*. ju,.iciHbIe.. .t q«o per.om>o no pout ,o p,«r«Ioir <lu
droit d ttutrui. lo loiKDcur lie par I'acto qu'il a touicrit. e«t ,mn r.P-v.l i^l .. P'®"""" *'"
" .i...re public, c. le, j.tioiable. ,rov.,'.ru„ nZ u^^ I^"^^^ :^^^^^^^^^^ '« »'"
" en lemaoder en f.ir« prouoncor la nulliW."(x) jun-dictioo, pcuvcot •«ul«
The mere opposition of the ju.tidahle, might of cour.o fail ; because -inde-
pendcnlly c the rule, of u.go of the Frcn.- Court, a, .o the ^art to b^ p S
n ..ch matten, by the minist^re public, «„a ,hc almost certainly of such oS
t.on fa.l.ng unless the mtni.Ure public supported it,-.he Crown, at any staTof
the proceedings might grant the required sanction, rracticallv, therefore it w^
the Crown alone that could here act. Unless it saw fit to act, \L contract hd"
nnr! If 't'lT P^ '"""h ^'t''' ^'f'S^^^T^t to these facultative restrictions on the
part of the Crown, he d^nu.J>rement and jeu de justice were also everywhere
subje..t to the same .acul.a.ivo restrictions on the part of the Seignior Domi .an
lld.(ir" '" i^^^cl^'ne.bre..a and >« Jjlef, strictly so
§ 1 37 -Added to ^vhich, there was another of quite a different kind, in refer-
ence to the ;.. rf. ,«,.-c.,-„rising out of the essentially noble quality of le
jusuce ; that U could not be alienated by uccenscme,.t. Whatever^., oil
/a<.o« might be stipulated for it (however qualified) must be such as could ba
paid for a noble property ; could notr be a cens.{a)
§ 138.-IIKNRION TK Panset Suggested, besides this, one more,-of the class
ofrestnctionsfacultam-etothe Dominant,-a8 peculiar to a certain clasl of
Customs, the Custom of Paris being one of them. His words are -
■; drolU et dee d„..nee de son fief: 2:'::Z^Zj;-!:i:rLZZ:Zs^
.. J^^lt'i^ZTeTrZr '' """ '"-'-' ■• '--^- ^^-^'- -' «-~
'• Mais toutea les Contumes ne eont pas r^dig^es dans des termes «us,i absolus Colle d«
From the terms of this suggestion, one may infer that the point was not one
that Lad been pract.cal ly raised and determined. Of course, it could onrhave
been ra.;^d by a Seign.or Dominant, who upon alienation o justice by hi vaTsaJ
made wathm the terms of the Custom (that is to say, under ie form of sIL
(«) Dies. FiotL, Vol. 2, p. 661. ' "
(y) The Crown would itself often be suoh afli<m!nrn«.«- . ,. .
master of both classes of restrictioM S«8°'« Dominant ; and in that ca.e. would b.
(z) Vide supra, §§ 98—118 incluiiTe.
(o) H.NaioN DB Pahset, Di3s. Fiod., Vol. 2, p. 491.
(6) Dim. Fiod., Vol 2, p. 492.
n
ever, was not kelv to com.! im f«, f„i i- ,• V ^""^"- ^"' " a t^'»W'S how-
b.,un to claim the^.t, t /itl^ ^'^i'li^'T'T' "'" "'" ^''•°- '"'^ <>"-
Seignior Dominant, af a pra.t ^ob „! ''.^"''""°"'"'7 '« t''"' "^ tl., direct
whether partial .«l nl , . 7^ "'; :'"^f " '' ''"•' ^^^'^'^ " ^l"-'-
the Crown. The Don.in '"c m C ",7 t'T "'•",?' '' ''''''''' '^
Crown% pii-fension. If the vn.U .0!^ ^ . ^'"'*^ prec«de..c« to the
Crown diLlIowanc wo . etZ L n tor" fn " 7"' '^"'""'^"'^'"' ^'-
ant'« claim mitrht be thoiM.t too It , """''' ""'' *^'^' ^''« '^'""in-
time later than that of the sPt.lomo.t en P'''"''V' C^'^-'f spoak.ng of a
(should su,.h letters-patonl be rl.e ) to old f" H e ;> '""'"^''"*' ^^ «"^'"'"'
If 8ub-inf«uded in part but Zl, ^ f I^ommant, as a co-vassal.
««..^-therecouldl a ^ce n^Ztr s o7 T"'' 7^ "' ''■^^^"^'■- ^^
that of the Crown would have sLod al . . .'"• ^^'"■"»"^-and
IfsubM>.feadedaaawhol tllbl/^r^
could clearly make g d 1^1: ^a^^tr'^" "' ^^'"'"''-'^^ ^^-inant
been without pretensiL to inteS "' "" ''°"'-^' ^^"^"''^ ^^^ve
of such distracL of r^J.? ^^ ' ^''°"" ^"^'^ ^°^«f"«^^) 'i-' -"ulling
4rerchi;\.:;:rr^^^^^^^^ -* ^« -^e to
have been effectedfl ndthe C tn ' jf'":' ''^ '^^''S'''''^" ^' >vouId not
PTtod wiih; s,i„j ,1,;'™; r.iil!:'" ™'"°'' '""«'-« 'I" Propmr
i 4
BO
There was the satre alsence of the absolute nullity, as in the case of tho
territorial Jief; and this, even though the Crown, upon an admitted consideration
of public policy {(Tordre public), had established-as with the >/ proper it had
not— a certain measured right of facultative interference in the premises.
§ 141.— In a word, subject to this incapacity (so to speak) for beino- held en
censive,-U> the risk of these royal disallowances of demembrement, distraction of
ressort, and (perhaps) partial sub-infeudation,— and to the risk of the Dominant's
disallowance of demembrement, and exaction of a mutation fine as from a
co-vassal,— this property called justice could be kept by its proprietor if he
would, or could be alienated whenever he pleaded, in whole or part, by any ima-
ginable description of contract, and on any imaginable terms.
Involving, it is true, in so tar as the exercise of the droit dejuger and of the
powers thence resulting may be in question, what our modern view of public law
would regard as a purely public trust, it was essentially a private property, held
by the Se.gnior-vassal for his own profit,-subject (like the territorial fief pro-
per) to reservation of the feudal share known as the directe, in favor of his
Seignior or Seigniors Dominant,-and subject further (as the territorial /./ was
not) to some degree of Crown regulation as to such mere powers,-by no means
in trust for the profit of any one but himself, least of all in trust for those whoso
111 fortune it was, as subjects of his justice, to have to be always contributing by
fees, fines, forfeitures and otherwise, to the making up of his revenues ^^jmiicicr.
Whether, with Championniere, we trace back these revenues, and this rfroeV
dejuger and these powers arising out of it, to an original appropriation of tribute
as opposed to appropriation of soil.-or, with other writers, rermrd them as
ongmally accessory, in one way or other, to an ownership of territoiy,— or adopt
both views in part, and conclude that they may have partaken of both ori.ri„.
and at first have been accessories, Eometimes of the o'le kind of property.^and
sometimes of the other,-the case is not in the least altered. The fact remains
that contrary to what every one would now hold for sound public principle, they
were a property, the property of a privileged class, and not a trust
§ 142.— In 1853, the argument was authoritatively urged, on the floor of the
House of Assembly, (J) that the feudal system in some way implied the constant
normal existence of some kind of general controlling power, over each grade of
feudal lane -holders in turn,— vested, of course, pre-eminently in the Crown, as
head of tho feudal hierarchy; that this feature of the system made it natural
and fitting, that in Canada the Crown should have controlled matters, as the
tlieory of the Attorney General's Propositions holds it to have doTie; that tha
control so held to have been exercised, was thus a feudal control ; and that its
(i) The speech that most insisted on it, was not reported ; and the argument waa not
repeated, in terms, before this Court. So that it cannot well be referred to here, otherwise
than impersonally.— atill, in its time bo much was made of it,— and the important question
of the power of the French King to do as ho ia said to have done in Canada, is so closely
connected with it,— that it perhaps ought not to be passed by
81
ton-exercise since Canada became a JirUkh P. • ^ ,
donment by the Crown, of a e^da' a ^ f/T '^^' ^^« ^^«» ^ ^^^^ of aba-
Buch feature of the feudal system as thf^rl .T vV""' "igbt regard
Canadian system may have been dovebped ' "'"' *'^ ""^^<^^ "-
aiiL':;7c':;;i:tv::S\rm";t!;te"^ ''-' 'r-' '- ^ ^^-p-'^^-
So f«r from supposing . .LZ Ztl! ^ ''■?"'^' °^ '" """«»» «« stated,
the one head of the confede a ' int^^ ,! ^T''"" '^^'"^'"^ ^'^S^'^-. "P to
system rested on a sZ sU n^^ " i" *'"t' ^'"'" ^^"'^^-^'^ ^-^al
no one head, even ifth ^ i'l a ^^0^'!. 't' ^ '" "^^^^^
long at work over the fas Zdn! TLT^ f'^'J '"'"^"^^^ ^^'> '^«-
point. It never had such te Tefdll/ . P ' """"^ ^'"°^^ «" '^-
said never q„i,e to have h^7t Zl ^ \ '" ^'■""'='- ^"^<=^^'' ^' '"ay be
jast,cou,ddiyt;:eeie;tVL«r\:;r
lence as the rule of tenure ov:r Lreh o"fra:^^^^^^^^^^^
from the «/m .o5/., whether kingly or not kini tt ' 'P'°"""'''^«'
precluded all normal exercise of I<,nLT ?^ r ''"'""'• '^ ^^^P'-^^^'j
i?rantee; ^ferring, I -TZon 1\Z7\T"^ P°"*^^ ^^ ^---'o' o^er
towards each othe^ to «,el: Sr ^^ ^ 'iTr'St-t" ^^"^^°""
»ng party had no more le^al onnfr.l *i ^^^^^'''*" ^^^ ^^'g^er contract-
than the lower had 11^'^ t , \ T"""''' "'^°" ^^''^ ^^'^^^'i^ted,
of almost repeatng whaTlC c ft" T.f "' " '='^"'^'^''^*-''' ^^^^ "^t
established, oL .I^^^.^X:::X'.^^l:Zl' '''-''' '' '-' ^""^
« e^lXSr^rfetSL:;::?^^^^^^^^ s^a„„,«ati,„e ou bnat.„.. En
" le vassal de la chose cone dTrc„ Tm 1 " "°""' '? '"^ "'"""^'''°' '^^ '«-- Jouir
" tracts de son .m, de co osel^eru 'e " nTirrr''' '""r""" "^^^ '« -«-' " --
'<«a^s.^.et. enesr..^
" consentenr ool::r:a :L'Z:ry:"" -' T-" "- «^-^- - -*-t sans un
''modification quil. jug;rl ;tor !„^1 '/ T^"'^'" '^' ^''-^^'"-t et telle
« Perdre do v„e la condition Xl d^^ic^iil''''""''^^'^^'""^"^"-' ™-'^
« primitif. Non ^or/et ol "Z^ L 721 ""^ <=<»'*^'^'^ = "« --it ajouter au titre
/- ao extramojure supplen, quod spontanea omusio repudiavit."([)
or vI^^'Yl" ""'' ^""' '^ *'"" "'"' "^ -> «^her Seignior-«i.„.-«.
^r^assal. It was never cl.med for bin, as matter of feudal law, or indeed »!
(*) Suprd, §g 63 and 64.
(0 Vol. 1, pp. 386-8B8.
matter of law generally,(»i) that ho vraa not. If in practico ho broke through
any of them, he ivs much did wrong— a wrong thut his own Courts, according
to law, would have been bound to set right— as any other niemboi of the feudal
confodoracy so acting would have done. There may be no doubt tliat such
wrongs were done, and not by tlio Kini^ only ; and tliat tliey were not always
righted, even whore redress was called for. All that has nothing to do with
what should havo been.
§ 144.— Supposing the French King to have undertaken in Canada, of his
sole authority, to set aside his feudal contracts after tliey wero made, or (which
is the same thing) to engraft upon them conditions that'fonned no part of them
as made,— he exercised no normal power known to tho feudal system, but a
prerogative utterly alien and antagonist to it.
Wo shall see presently what he really did or pretended to do in this way
and how farshort it falls, of what the anti-seigniorial theory assumes him to have
done. But m the mean time, it is impossible to avoid tho remark, that such vio-
lation of contract by the Crown is not more contrary to the feu.lal system than
to law m general ; and that, whatever theories may be broached as to the extent
of the arbitrary prerogatives of the French Crown in the iTth and 18th Centu-
ries, there can happily bo no doubt as to tho measure of the non-arbitrary pre-
rogative of the British Crown, since that time, and still.
§ 145.— If, then, the feudal system of Canada under tlie French Crown was
what the Attorney General's rropositions make it to have been, it was the anti-
podes of that of France, as then extant, in (at least) some not unimportant
particulars. It made tlie King master of his contracts after they were made
instead of being bound by them ; insisted on all but uniformity (except, of course'
as against him), in place of endless variety ; hedged everything round with rules
of public law and absolute nullities thence resulting, in place of leaving everything
to the operation of the relative millitiesof private law; substituted control in the
interest of tho comtairc, for protection of the interest of the Dominant ; postponed
the privileged class, so called in mockery, to the non-privileged; converted
the feudal sub-grant, from a prized right, into an onerous obligation ; made pro-
perty a public trust, instead of leaving public trusts for property. Yet the King
professed to bind himself to formal contracts of infeudation,-and these anything
but uniform; and men called things as in France, to the extent even of treating
tho partly public trust involved in tho peculiar property called Justice, as thou-di it
was the same property in Canada as in France. Granted, readily, that thin^ in
Canada are not to be supposed to havO been placed on exactly the footin<r of
things in France. A now country and an old havo their differences of necesrity.
Have they nothing else? Using the words, do not people think tho thoughU.
of their country and time !
J»O^See discuBdon md anthoritics as to thi., in the factum, of McaarB. Cherrier aud
83
§ 146.— But tho argument hero offered noprl r^.f ...i •
'' -ough, that aa yet we have not fou d "at fu', °" Probabilities, ft
system of Canada; nor anyfi.in.. i„ the f,. I> . '"^ '" ^'"^'^ ^''"^ ^he feudal
process of natural develop.^ ,., tZaZ^^f'T 1 ''"'"^' *^^'' ^^ -7
Jf it is to be found in any thinL^ <h f'*-*^" f"«l"oned into it. ^
legislation, l.t it be. O^^,'^ ;" ^^'" ^--';-' ^^^i«iatio„ o..,„,,
-to bo admitted as so found it „n " T" '"'''^^ ^'' ^ ^'S'" '« draw
can take for reasonably e." i.i -! ' "'"■"'""? ''"''' ^ *--« tbat one
competent. Donb,A,i\vo, Is d ubu ^r " '"'^' ''"' '^"^ "'" ^^'^^ '^
tr^ by a standard not doubtful ""^■' ""^' "^"'^^ ^^'^^'^^ «i^e right to
penod of C.»adian history ^ 'S'^'.^tion. And first,_for the Frojich
«- terms of the grants, and «IU itv ^1 ^ ^^f ::'"'^ ""^^ "^^ I'^--
usage having force of law in Canada tlon.l l) ' ""''"""^'' J"'''«P'-udenee and
"trodufl en Canada, „ L .„„„• 7, '"" "' "'• '« '■%""« f™Jal, 1,1 „„'i„.
coned. ,l,eir d ..^ ,, ;' ,:!"'"""""«'"'« W " oblige,! Seignior ,.
84
" eontiennent expmsiment cette obligation ; elle est (Tailleurs etahlie par plusieura
« arrSts et jugemms, ot parait avoir 6t6 impos6e h. tous les seigneurs qui tenaient
" leurs propriotes k titre do fief."
The thirteenth, going a step further, and speaking of «/e taux et les conditions
"des concessions do terres dans les seigneuries en Canada," holds them to have
been "sourais k des dispositions spdciales qui se trouvcnt dans plusicurs idits et
" ordonnances roijaux, tkls Qu'iNTERPRfiifia par P usage, var les jugemcnts des
"intcndants, et par un grand nombre des concessions en fief, ou par les brevets
" de confirmation de ces concessions"
The fourteenth speaks of a " montant des redevanoes accouturaues, dont parlent
"les arrits, idits et ordonnances, et entr\iutres CArrSt du 6 Juillet 1711."
The fifteenth, after admitting the variety of the rates prevalent before l7ll,
lays it down that by this " Arrit du 6 Juillet I7ll" " Jo taux en fut irrovocable-
"ment fi.xo k celui [!] alors usit6 et ctabli dans lo pays,"— and adds, tliat such
taux IS proved not to have exceeded the 2 sols maximum, ^^par les contrats de
" concession produits en cette cause."
The sixteenth refers generally to "les anciennes lots du pays, concernant la
" concession des terres seigneurialcs, et nommement cet Arret du 6 Juillet 1711
" V Arrit du 15 Mars 1732, et la Declaration Royale du 17 Juillet 1743." '
The seventeenth and following Propositions foil back on the cautious generality,
" les Ms enforce en Canada avant la cession du pays."
And lastly,— the thirty-fourth and following Propositions refer to the " Arrit
"du Conseil d'Etat du 4: Juin 1G86," as constitutive of a special "droit do
" banalito " in Canada ; the thirty-ninth anJ fortieth refer to " usage," as seeming
to have sanctioned such resei'vations by tho Seignior, as that of " bois pour la
" construction dumanoir, des moulins et des eglises, sans indemnity," but ap-
parently no others; and the forty-second refers to an^^ ArrSt deVintendant
"Hocquart en date du 22 Janvier 1710," as prohibitive of "corvees."
Otherwise than by aid of these expressions, which they surely are entitled to
characterize as inexplicit, and therefore unfair, the Seigniors have no means of
ascertaining from these Propositions, by what process of legislation or quasi-
legislation the great change, said to have been wrought as to feudal law iu
Canada, is held by the author of these Propositions, to have been so wrought.
§ 149.— It may be, that this is not much to be wondered at; considering the
fact, that tho nature and extent of the change itself, and even its result as extant
in the supposed present system of Canadian feudal law,— instead of being all
clearly and succinctly stated, as one would think they should have boon,- are
left for matter of not quite obvious inference, from a comparison of tho Proposi-
tions with each other, and even with some other excathedrd utterances of the
anti-seigniorial faith, be8ides.(n)
(n) Vidt tupra, §§ 1—16, and specially § 7, and Notes thereto; also § 38, and Nbts (r)
tLereta
85
"aJ ii. Ihem, it i. noticbl. il,a 1 7m ^ f ' "'"■ " '° "'""' " "> 1»
-h .... ea,eo«. r;: *',:.. fr 'r* K 't''"^,,™-' «"'•
nineteenth that <'/po',- /• '»'' "'ey are <oi« dVrc/re bmW/c "_k„ .j
twenty-fifth a'nci ^X^^Ztll t f '■' "T" --pealed.-and by the
«ritain(o) an3 to be cul down " ! T^]T\ "T '^' '"''°" °^ ^-'"''^^ ^^ «r-t
"." i» order ,„ i«.roduc/. 7 F™1 .^^^-f ^^^^^^^ >•»'-'" «" -S»»»,
lnlrod»cc-n«til,but„™.iki„„„i ,7 ? Canada ,t was necessan- (o
•o.»i Ji™bl.„„, „.iM~ "■'''»" '" "•«— '»'H 1.1 qu'mtroJult » C«..d» . ^
(.) Oral«K«s tH«. .ap.l«l.d Wore.-™, „„4 5 ,_ „„^' (^j^
II
^9%
'! I.;.
i < ;;
.liil'
86
Both argumonts aro as to fact. Both conclusions arc to bo proved for fact,against
the Seigniors ; the case against them being no-where, till both are proved If
the fact be so, it must bo readily proveable, by citation of documents of some sort
The documents of the time aro not lost. An<l unless evidenced at the time by
documente, the fact was not so. State intentions, constitutive of laws of state
fohcy,crordre public, for the regulating of all the real estate of a country under
sanction of absolute nullities against all contravention,-are not to be taken upon
trust, or as matter of guess or hearsay. To have existed, they must have been
authoritatively put in writing and promulgated. Suppose it to have been ever
so necessary, in a logical point of view, that in order to intend to introduce the
French feudal system into Canada, the King should have intended not to intro-
duce ,t but something else very diftcrent,-if the very fact of his intention to
introduce that something else be otherwise doubtful,-this doubt is not got
nd of by the supposition, but is merely reflected back and made to cover bothin-
fent,ons. Suppose it, further, to have been logically impossible to carry out the
intention of introducing this something else, unless by expressly limiting a rate
of rent, (and indeed, one may say, a great deal more besides,) and add the further
supposition that in very fact this express limitation of a rate of rent, and of these
other matters besides, is not to be found,-the doubt is only changed into a
certainty adverse to the theory of the existence of this intention. What must
have been done in order to give effect to it, the King did not do. He did not
give effect to it. For any legislative or state purpose, he did not entertain it.
The Seigmors need not trouble themselves with the logic of either argument.
Ihey join issue as to the fact.
§ 163.— The number of state documents cited in argument before this Court
by the learned Counsel in the anti-seigniorial interest, as bearing upon this issue,
though considerable, was not very great. And it would be comparatively easy,
by a mere criticism of them, to show not only that, they fail of making out the
required case against the Seigniors, but even, that ^he Seigniors might without
danger rest their whole case upon them. But the Seigniors have undertaken to
do more than this ; as well from their confidence in the strength of their cause, as
trom the certainly that any mere criticism of documents cited against them
would be unsatisfactory, on these accounts,-that other citations may aWays be
made in the printed factums to be submitted to this Court against them -that
all such citations, whether put forward at the argument or merely printed are
always made illustratively, and not as being all that can be made,-and that
therefore, however they may be dealt with, it might still seem a possible thin-^
for others to be brought forward, which should bo harder, if not impossible, to
answer. '
They enter, accordingly, without fear, upon the discussion of the actual history
of the feudal tenure, in Canada, through the French period of Canadian history.
§ 154.- This period, however, obvirwsly requ-res sub-division.
It is proposed to divide it into lour perio«it :—
87
from F,,„o. ,|,o .l.ould J" .a. t» h.^f ™"' °' '^""""''' "•>■ «'"«™'«
from Franoi. ,,,„ K„, „ S^, 7c° P' "',7, '^ '"»««lf- n« C«mii„„
»<■ Ma.*, Mot of til IZlHilT: '" f , '^^ "'• " '^""'"i" «™«"J
Fi«io» of .,.0 soil, ..»ei;rra :,:;;: -rir"" "'"""^ " "^ "w-
«1, under da„ „f ,540 ""l/. 3™"" "t™" '^ "" **"" <>« Rote'
poLlh™!^ '^■°~"° *» * '" '^'»' «' ■»« (^'»- 12). «.. f«r.U .bo-e
" terres:- ''*^P"'^' *=* '»«'»« de ceux qui demeureront da dites
..;-—-.,.. ....-a...,. :;;ir::^^
'■ *°"*<'^"- "« d--ir et ..rvice pour la guerre'S " " '"" '""'^«''""^«'-<=-ecpte
(;>) Edits et Ordonnaxcbs, 4'. Edn oflfios r r i o "^ ' ' '
VEBNKUE8 KT lNtKNDA«T8, 8". Edo. of 1854; ^4-7. ^^' '"*' '^'^ CoM^^^^IO.VS DwGoU-
tg) Scira UT Ord., 4» Vol 2 nn. ■I—*. „ i ^
. vol. 2. p„ 4-7 ; and Co«. des Gout, k 1vt., pp. 7-10.
IN
1 1 HI
y,t'
§ 168.— The Commissions given in 1612 by the Comte de Soissons, and in
1625 by the Due de Ventadour, to Charaplain iis Commandant under them res-
pectively, depute to him no power of disposal of land.(r)
§ 159.— To what extent the Marquis de la Roche, and his several successors
as Lieutenant General, the Comte de Soissons, the Trince de Condo, the Due d.
Montmorenci and the Due de Ventadour, (whose powers as to land-granting
were presumably much the same as his,) actually made grants of land,-and
more especially, grants importing dignity.-does not appear. Their grants, if
ihey made many, could not generally have been taken effective possession of by
the grantees; and, with the two or three exceptions presently to be noticed.fs)
seem all to have lapsed.
§ 160.— But at least one grant made during the period covered by their suc-
cessive names, was either made as a Barony, or else erected into one, in favor of
Guillaume de Caen. In letters-patent of the King, of the year 1640, erecting a-
grant made to him of several islands in the West Indies, into a Barony, it ia
recited as a motive, that he had been —
— " depoe86d6 de la Baronnie du Cap de Tonrmente sitndo en notre pays de la NouTeH*
" France, kquello lui avoit 6t6 donnde et 6rig6e par des litres iUuBtres d'honneur, et en
» considfiration des grands perils, hasards et aventures qu'il a counis. tant pour prendre
• entree et habitudes en notre dit pays de la N. F.. que pour la conservation et defense d'ice-
' lui • , «t des grands frais et ddpenses qu'il a 6t6 oblig6 faire," etc.(<)
§ 161.— Another grant of the same period is known to have been made by
the Due de Montmorenci in 1622 or 1623, being the first grant of the seigniory
now known as thoSault-au-Matelot,(M)-presumably, much in the same terms in
which the second or confirmatory grant of it was made in 162C by the Due de
Ventadour.
(r) Edits et Obd., 4o, Vt.l. 2, pp. 8—18; and Com. des Gouv. w Int., pp. 11—14.
(») Vido infra, §§ 161—8 indusive.
(t) MonEAC DE St. Meev, Vol. 1, pp. 48 tl Mq.
The dispossession of which de Caen had complained, was no doubt a consequence of the
grant to the Company of New France in 1627 ; whereby the " articUi " that had been granted
to him BDd his associates were revoked- Vide Doccmints Skiqhbubiacx, 1852, Vol. 2 p 4 •
also infra, §§ 166, 169 and 187. '
(u) Numbered fal in Absteact or Titles.
For the sue of convenience, I propose to refer for these Titles, to my Abstract compiled
for this purpow. and laid before this Court, instead of referring to the Seigniorial Documents
or other so«vc« from which they have been carried into the Abstract.-In the Abstract, I
Lave induated those sources with extreme caro; to that there can be no difficulty in testing
the sufficiency and correctness of its extracts, or in ascertaining the tenor of the context,
there omitted as unimportant. And I have done my utmost to facilitate reference from every
Title to all otheie at all connected with it
It contains all the Titles which I had been able to bring together, down to the time when
I had to send it to press, shortly before the meeting of this Court. Some have been ascer-
tained since ; and for these I must of course refer speciaUy to the M. S. or other authority,
on whi«h my citations may rest.
8»
irniorvo.r;I!'srrr1 ^'^"'f")°»^-«<J.besido« .he SauIt-au-MatoIot. the sei-
gnior^, on the St. Charles, near Quebec Iv-imwn .. - t„ , r . -
confirm that graCtlhu;:-' '""* '"' "'"'"'^ to,_it proceeds first to
^r::i^::Z;rt£: -' pour ..^n^er ceu, qui deslreront cy ap.,
" nous octroy6 par Sa MaStTtfut/ " V"'=«««'«"^« «' teritiorB. et euivant le pouvoir 4
" dans I-euoloB d„ d^^E 'elt^ terres labourables dcffricWos ot cVmpn.e,
« comporte au dit lieu de SbeTsrr t tZT" ' 'T'' ""^ ^^"^ '«' '-' ^'^'-^ «*
« en fief noble par ,u, «es WU^s" a/ar Ir a ^^ '" ''•."™' ^^ ^ J^''
" acquest et en disposer pleinement M ZT\ T . ''"'^° ^^ ^"^ P^^Pre et loyal
"du fort et chateau de QuircT^ir'"'". '""""'" ''™ ^''° "''^«' '^ '"^^
" impos6es,»_ ^ " "•" '^'^'^ '' «°°'^'"°'^« qui luy seront ey apres par noua
-and then to add the grant of St. Joseph or Lepinay, thus :_
•'^:Z^::^:rt^t:^2:Tl'''''/''''''' ■'" '^^ Hebortet.sessucees.
"QudbecsurlarivifireSLilcS" V.'l"'^'''*"*"'^ ^' *«"« ^i'"^« P^ocI.e lo dit
" et de Caen, pour le po Tder^ d^^^^^^^ born e el li.itde par les .ieurs de CLan,p,aia
'■au....esronditionrdel^p;S^^^^^^^ ^"'^ J"^- ^^ «tre.
Se^:t:;:^r:t:^^^f^^-hisCourtb,Govern.ent(No.42.
in Canada, grLted 3. to HeL^^^^^ ' '^ ' "" "^""'""^ '^ ''° ^""^^^
copyofth;Lvedo:ll:f \1^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
possession of the lands new.; granted hl'^ ittt'thr^rf i" ''^ '"^
" «ei;oVu::;rsri~'rrut'^^ ^ ^'^ ^r;* r '^^ '■ ^"-*- ^« -- «'■
"St Charles, devant la maiLls Pertli Z7T Z'" ^"''" ^"'•''* "^'^^«
« pour mettrele dit Hebert en possess on iop I " '' "°''^ '''' '"^ ''''^"^ "*" ""^d.
« ges et rulsseaux) .toient s.;rrd uTcost d^ n JtuV?""" ^"""'"* ^° ^'^' P"'"-
" et de I'autre cost6 d IWlent des bornLn 1 • ^ " '^'" "PP^^iont au dit Hebert.
- de ce qu-il y a . donner atu:^ pEt',™^ ^" ''' "^"^ ^"^ ^^^-^"' ^"^ '■ ^^^^^
Notre Da,ne de? tl; to th Je! 'Z T ' ''"' "" *'^ *^^^' ^^^"' " -' <«'
-«1 of th.. gralteesln' ndlL o! " • " ""'"'' ""'"« '^'■^'* ''''
(r)No. 1 of Abstbaot.
I ;
III
do teiTo avco tous le. bou et prairie, ^t toutte« antrea choBo, o.,nfenues d«na la .lite ZZ
u .e . . : Notre volenti estant ,uil. Jouisaent p„i«lble„>ent de t«us lea boia. , XC
n^lr"^^!,""" scarcely bo thought an over-bold inference from these docu-
ment8,-all that one can bnng together for the period anterior to the creation
of the Company of New France,-tbat than far we find no trace of any intention
to make the tenure of land different in Canada from what it was in France ; that
loobng back to the two classes of grants of land (both of them, « en tons droit]
«J^.^.o;../r) which the King contemplated, it could not l.Le been in the
K.t)gs mmd to cause the "ffotihhommes" and " ffcns de minie " whose lands
should be gratited " en fiefs, seisneurics, chdtelknics, vicomUs, baronnies et autre,
dHimtes, to take a less estate in their lands, than the "autresdemoiuJre condition"
who were to Imve land » d charges et redevances,"-hnt the contrary ; that the
Barony of Cap de Tourmente, given to Guillaumede Caen, the head man of the
then tradmg projects for New France, was given and taken as a property in
which he was to have the same sort of proprietary right as he would have had
m a like property at home ; and that Hebert's {x) grant "m fief noble" and
the Jesuits' grant of Notre Dame des Anges-called neither fief nor aumOne
and readmg rather as if it had been m^.-iM. for an aZew-were veritable grants
ot and, and conveyed to the grantee . .-hing less than the entire corporeal
realty comprised within their limite, ,U ^ ult-au-Matelot, with its clearances
and buildings even then upon it (y) ■ a.,., que le tout iestend et comported-
St Joseph, with its "So^X;'^^«r«5r...^„,;,,„a„;,,"_a„dNotl•e Dame des Anges
with all Its " bois, lacs, etangs, riviircs, ruisseaux, prairies, cariires, pairiires et
autres choses qm se rencontreront dans le contenu de ces dites terres "
(x) It was atrangely made an argument before this Court, that Hebert was a roturier ■ a«
If bir?:? "ff r' °' *^ ^""^^ *'°"''^ '""^^ '^^'^^ *° ^'^ -'•> ^^^ inZz:iZ
of the distinctly stated terms of his grant. >-u.uou
Hebert's wa. not the first case-and we have not yet seen the last-of the emigrant
Toirgot a pub!;: trut" " """"• '° "°"'' "^^ ""' " ''"'"''■• ^«^"'^ - >/ -"'.
f^^f w f \!" '" ""'"^'"^ ^'^^ °*''"' """'^q^^^^es °f the anti-seigniorial theory, to suggest
that Heberts roi^ner quality .hould he held to show that the grant to him was meant to
have the high qualities of the grant en censive, in spite of its unlucky reference to the JUf
Jf!i "*i! ""^ "*?*'*' ^"^''^ ' '""''' '* ""y ''"" "'^^ J*« *° '"y "'-that the Propositions
of the Attorney Genera, require this Court to declare, as to this same property of Sault-au-
Matelot, which the Fr .* Eit.g's Vice-Roy for Canada certified for enclosed, cleared and
f^n "P^;^ . ^'"'' ""'""^ ^' ^'"'''"^ "' «"<"^ *" *•'« «^«' ^«"l«r of Canada, who had so
improved it, to be forever " „on propre et loyal acquest et en disposer pleinement et paisibU-
ment comme it verra bon estrv," that under that grant it was held after all, and is stiU held
91
Tie 'filiUommi, «l,n,uriaf „„ ,„ ,l,„„g,., „f „,„ „^^^
in it tbis idea. ^^'""""'t.on. But no amount of exntnination will detect
count., . «i.ou,;x:ir;srLra;Si::^ra7r''°^'^^ '
Ki»g upon tl.c surrender of hat Comp^rCharJJ ^ , f '.l "''"''™'''* ^^' ^'^''"^ "'«
originall, ,eft an open question we"e S ict d I'T H "^ ' *'' "f'"''" '' ™"'"''-'"
Bishop Laval) to these three- ^^ ""^ P'^^^' °^ "^° ^hen proprietor.
^ W pareil,e.ent • * da rendre .a Soy et Lo.n^e d la dito Co.pagnio dc 20 ans .n 20
2.-'' a.eo uno pic^ce d"or «valu«e d 6 lirres tourDois,-
" ailleurs en vertu duTt 80!.* tT ""°'T.""'^'"'« J"«««« d^n^ la ville de Quebec on
-the othcr.of tt la les/'olfi f^^r'^-'j^'mfidiatement au dit conseil souvcrain"-
by which iLu:i:i1^;^^^^^^^^^ ''''■^-- ^«« -dl9» of Aes.:.,)
ders, the Seminary of Quebec Iro add. 1 f a '"^'°"''' ^'"P"'^'"' "^ '^^ the° hoi-
ties, in these words :_ ' ^"^ '"' "'"' "><='»-P°™ted with, such respective proper-
- tenantes d litre de I? nour !n """'"""^ ^^ *""*«« '«« ^'''^^ * luy appar-
« titres de conce stn dlSes Te^eTe's^^^^^^^^ 'T^ '^'^' ^' ''^'^"^ ^'^^'^ ^^ '- 'fte
"titres. nyquepersonneltfpVire i^^ P- >- ^its
" tant du Sault au Mateiot quViutres 11",^!? . »"» JO"«sance des ditcs graves.
•' jouir par les sieurs Eccl^aLti^ueTd' c L ,11''^'^''"'="'"' «" ^it titre de fief; pour eu
" comn,e de chose nppartenanterdUsSe """""" '' "^""^ "'^"^ ' P^'"P^'-'^.
t>sc^rre;^;:sr:rs^
"V^::XZ^:^:rZ^-^^--] ^iv^^e _.,,,,, ,3 seigneu, ne
"^leure eensitaires pour Te^reced 'Zu ' ' "^ ^ ^^ ^^"'"'^
" fleuves et rivieres n^avigable " «on dtl' "T' ""•="" ^"''' ^"' ''' ^rSves des
•• pas le droit de percevoifd profits de lod, ..T P"^"." ' '' °«°""'5--*. "^ "'avaient
.1
IMAGE EVALUATION
TEST TARGET (MT-3)
*'A^.
1.0
145
1.1
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£f 1^ mil 2.0
IL25 i 1.4
1.6
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Photographic
Sdences
Corporation
23 WEST MAIN STREET
WEBSTER, N.Y. 14S80
(716) 872-4S03
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92
eral and Vice-Roys being apparently the parties here meant,-had been so
Sr ; .. '" "" '"' '"^ ^"« ^^"'-^-^' -'h some or 60 F ench
^habitant, >n th. interest of the merchants rather than of the Kin' and w .et
-gncul „re .as so neglected that a month's delay in the arnvafo hes
^^ rr' ''^* .''°" "'^° ^^-^^ ^"^^ ^'«'-^ « n^onopoly of he
trade (Gu.liauine de Caen and his associates, presumably) had only undertaken
to send out 18 men in the course of the 15 years of th ir mon poly but bd
done nothmg towards the discharge of that slight obligation during L 7 years
36 lu'res a head to all comers, made such difficulties about it, and so worried
Frenchmen when there, as practically to keep every thing in the count J Tn tTet
own han s;(«)_and that in consequence, the CarUinal le Richelieu, afL e m'
granted o de Caen and h.s associates, and on the formation of a powerful Com-
pany of 100 associates on the terms therein set forth.
tenth, state exactly the obligations imposed upon this new Company.
They were to send out from 200 to 300 men of all trades in the year 1G23
and to ra,se the number so sent to 4000 persons, both sexes counted, within the
16 years to end m 1643 ; as many as 1500 of the whole nnmber, being sent out
(according to Section 10) within the first 10 years of such term. They were to
orSid'ir ''""^' "' '" """'^'' "^ '° ''"'" '' '■'^"'^^ "'"«""• •" ""^ ^"rds of tL.
F anfo.8 cathohques pour, par leur example, disposer tes nations Ala religion chr6tieane.
« d la v.e c,v.le, e m.me y etablissant I'autorite royale, tirer des dites terres nouvelleS
decouvertes, quelque avantageux commerce pour I'utilit^ des sujets du roi."! " avoicnt 6t6
-31".;"" ''^ ^Tf ?"''""" * P^'""' " "« «> est fait qu-une habitation, en
kqueUe, b. en que pour I'ordinaire on y entretionne 40 ou 50 Frnnfois, plutot pour I'intiret
des marchandB que pour le bien et I'ayancement du service du roi au dit pays,-si est-ce
« eTl'a ct r '"^'«'^V".T'' " J""""-' 'l"^ '^ '°' ^ '«?" ^'^ plaintes'eu on conse I
et la culture du pay. y a 6t6 si peu avancfie, que si on avoit manqu6 d y porter une ann^e
rli "I" rrf "."'''""'"T" " P''''' ""'"^^^ dimes! ITs seroient ct
tramts dy pjnr de faim. n'ayant pas de quoi se nourrir un mois apris le temps auquel les
" vaisseaux ont accoutum6 d'airiver tous les aus. f i" "uquei les
-' Ceux aussi qui avoient jusqu'u present obtonu par eux seuls tout le commerce .^s dits
pays ont eu .. peu de pouvoir ou de volenti de le peuplur et eultiver. qu'en 15 annees que
« devo.t durer leur traite, ils ne se sont proposes d'y faire condulre au ^lus que 18 hommr
" misTIVT •'''•"* "^"'^ ^ " '""^ -1"^ ''' "^"'=^^^ «° furent dressl. ils ne se";;;
m s en aucun devoir, m commence de satisfaire d ce dont ils s'6toient obliges. Car bion
qu .Is so.ent enus de passer pour 36 livres chacun de ceux qui voudroieat alfer a„ di p ^^
drccnt aller habiter. que bien qu'il semble que Ton leur permette pour leur usage le com-
merce avec les sauvages, n^anmoins Cost une teUe restriction, que s'ils ont un W au do
ble par leur travail p us qu'il ne leur faut pour vlvre, 11 leur est d^fendu d'en seZrir Ic
Frangois et autres qu. en pourroient avoir besoin, et sont contraints de I'abandonner d ceux
qu. ont la ra.te. leur 6tant de plus la liberty otfie de le donner d qui leur pourroit apwrter
ae if ranee les commodit6s n^cessaires pour la vie."
93
provido these tl.eir colonists with shelter, food and .11 .fi,
years; after which, they nii^.t d'sdlTflf'''''''''''^^^'^^''''^
thatbehaIf,-^ithe;byLig„tg le.:!!^^^^^^^ ?' '"^"'^^ ^^^^^^ -
ance, with grain onough for one so vL f. T"'^ ''''"'^ ^"^ '^'^' '"^i'^ten-
labor. ^ ''' "'"y *° «"f>«'8t "Pon their own industry and
They were not to send out any but French-born Catholics
to assign them enough ciS Id ;r ^1"' ^"-'f ' ^'^^^^ ^^^'^^ P-fe^
they were to send out „,ore ecclesi.ti .^L o^X't"""- ^"' '''''''
always for the 15 vear^ Aft«, „ i • l ^ ^. ^"°"»''t "t.—raaintaining them
^-tion Of the J:::, fndVt^rtlS;^ ^^°"" '^^^ ''^ """" ^^ '^^
venan,,, ct qui fSoiront en d<5c.. que Ion oZS LZ , "*'' '"*"' ^^ ■«" prochaine",e i
;; 1-que.s expires. Ics die. assoeir Zt^^^^^^^^^^ ^^ P-f-t 3 aus seulement ;
industr,e et travail eubsister au dit pays et JyJZlZ " ''"''' P"'^^*^"' '^^ '^r
;; stranger .s dits ,ie«, at pe;p, 't LSe t nT f ^ ""'"^' '^'^^ ^^^ -«™
'^njointdceuxquicommandLrten aN F detnif T'"' •^'*"'""'J"^« ' «' «-»
sent article soil ex6out6 selon sa forme ot^n,",' V""° ^ "^ q"'«aictemeut le n^-fi-
« quelque cause ou occasion ^IcZtJ^ZCrT '^f ' '"'' <"'"'— P-
^_ "3.-En chacuue habitation qui s era coruf. J 7 ^^^ '''" ^^P" ^^ P'^" '»■»•
conversion des sauvag.s et consolation desFr^Lu ""•"''• '*'" '^
" trois eccl^siastiqucs au moius lesaull . . ^ '''" '"■*'°' "" '* ^1'^ N. jC. y ama
" orne.cn, etge'„.rale.e^;Xtn;d;t^^^^^^^
que fonction de leur .inistire. pein ts dit^ 6 Intr ~'"^' '''°' P"""- '«- ^ie,
"oies. pour se d^clmrger de la diteT,«! ^-f u' '' '"'"'^ "'"'''""' '«« ^its asso-
" '1'^f.ioheos. suffisantesVrleur ttZ itl '' "" '"^ ^^'^^-tiques dos te^
" "ombre d'cccl^siastiqu^ ei m^ier est tnn , "'"" '"'"^^ '" ''' ''"^ ^- *• "'"^ grand
"elites :.,.bitation«, soit VonrlTnSi^l^Vt T'^^'l'' '' ^^^^
"temps dos dites 16 annles- eTicIir ' / ""* '"^P*"^ ^e- dit« associ^s durnnt L
;; cbarit. tant de ceu. de la'du'e :;:ptirqTet; ^0'" '^ "' '' ^"'^'^^ ' '" '^^-''-
seront c.bort^s de subvenir abondTre^ a^'alrdr eTir^" '" "^'"' '^'l^'-
qm passeront eu la K F. pour traveller au abt de' W ""»""•' ^"'^' '^"^ '""'«
ForSectionl0.seeifl/r4§i72,Note(c) '"' '''"^'^
u
I ;
94
" S. M. donnera a porp^tuiW aux dita cent aesocids, leura hoirs ct ayans cauae, en toute pro-
pnd u, justice et se.gneurie. Ic fort et habitation de Quebec, avec tout lo dit pays dc la If
F dUo Canada -tant le long de, cot.s depui« la Floride, (que Ic, pr^ddcesscur. rois dc S."
M. ou fa, Lab.ter,) en rangeant les cotes de la mer jusqu'au cerelc Arctique pour latitude
et de longuu e dcpuis I'ls-.e de TorrcNeuve. tin.nt a I'ouest. ju.qu'au graL lae, dittmer
douee et au^eU. que dedans Ics tc,TOB.-ct lo Icng des riviere, qui y passcnt et se ddcbar-
gent daus e fl^ve appelo St Laurent. autren,ent la grande riviAre de Canada.-et dans
tous es autrcB fleuves qu, les portent d ia mer,-terres, mincB. miniercs. (pour jouir toutefois
desdUes u>.ne,co.,for„.<;n,cntarordonnance,) ports ct Mvres, fleuves. riLc., etan.,.
les, ...lots, c gen ralement toutc rctendue du .lil pays au long et au large et liar deli.
tantets.avantqudspourroutetendreetfairoconnoitrelcnor.deS. JI.; „e se Lervant
a dite M que le ressor de la fo. ct hommage qui lui sera portee, et A sc. SMccesecurs rois,
par Ics d.t3 aseoc.es ou 1 un d'eu:i.-avc. une couronne d'or du poids de 8 ,„ares >\ cbaque
mu at.on de ro...-et .. prov.sion des officiers de la justice souveraino. qui lui scront nom-
mCs t p..6sentes par les d.fs assocds lorsqu'il sera jug6 d propos d'yenetablir: Permettant
auxd,ts«ssoc.c.fa.rcfondre canons, boulels, forger tontes sortcs d'armes offensives et
d6fens.vcs, fa.re p,udre d canon, batir et fortifier places, et faire gdneralcment is dits lieux
.. ZTo "'"'''"'''' '"'^ P"""* '* «"f«t^ *!« dit pays, soit pour la conservation du com-
_^ " 5.-Pourront Ics dits associos am6iiorer et amcDager les ditcs terres, ainsi qu'ils verronfc
e re u fa.reet. cellos d.stnbuc: d eeux qui habitc.'ont le dit pays ct autrcs, en telle quautitu
eta.ns.qu>lsjugeront.lpropoa; leur douner ct attribucr tcls titres et bonneurs droits
pouvo.rs et facultos qu'ils jugerout dtre bons, besoin on neces.aires. scion Ics q,.alites, con'
d.t.onsetmer.tcsdcsper8onnes. et generalcment d tclles charges, reserves et condition,
qu .Is vcront bon etrc. Kt ndanmoins. en cas d'erection de ducbes, marquisats, eomtos et
baronmes, scront prisea Icttrcs de confirmation do S. M. sur la pr&entation de won dit
Be.gne.u- g.and-mnitrc, cbef ct surintcndant general de la navigation et com,T.crce de France
b.-ht aliu quo les d.ts associes puisscnt jouir plcinement et ppisiblement de ce qui leur
•• d^ceUer''" ''' ""''"''' ^' ^' '"""!""'■'' '°"' '^""^ ^"'« ''^ ^^' terres, parts ou portions
1:1
§ 169.-Be.side9 wliich, the seventh section sets forth the followincr Iar<re ^rant
of comniercia! monopoly.-as a further co^ideration for these same^uud-
takings : —
"7.-DavantageS M nccorderanuxditaassocids, pour tot,iours, le fafic de tous cuirs
peaux et peUeter.es de a dite N. F. ; et po.,r 15 anndes seulemcnt, » * finissan^ .-u e.X
dec. que ion c.-nptera 1648, tout autre com.nerce, soit terrcstre ou naval, qui so pou «
':::• ";-'/'•»■"-'■-* '^"^fi^-. -• q->aue sorte et mani^re que ce soit, en I'tcndue du S
pays, et autant qu'.l se pourra etendre; A la reserve de la peehe dcs .n.rues ct baleint
seulcnent, que S. M. ve..t ctre libre d tous ses sujets, revoquant d cet effet t^utcs aut^c^
coneess.ons contrmres a reffet que dessus, mo.ne les articles ci-devant ace ,rdes a Guillaume
de taen et ses assoc.ds; Et d ces fins interdira S. dite M., pour le dit t..„ps, tout le dit
commerce, tan au d.t do Caen qu'd ses aut.c3 sujets, d peine de confiscation !le vaisscaux et
marehand.scs, laquelle confiscation apparticndra d la dite compagnie; et mon dit seigneur le
grand-ma.tre no baillera aucun conge, passe-port ou permission, a autree qu'aux dita associ^s
pour les voyages et commerces aus-ditd on tout ou partie des dits lioux."
§ 170.— By the eighth section, this monopoly was so far limited as this, in
the interest of such French residents of the country a.3 should not bo receiving
support from the Company,— and no further ; that such residents might deal for
peltry with the Indians, but must give over all beaver skins so p.. jcured, to the
Company at 40 sols toumois apiece, on pain of confiscation,— the Company,
"a
"s
"d
95
however, not to be bound to give that nri,.,. fi.-
" marchande- ^ "^ P""' ^""^ ^"J' ^^'^ not " bonne, loyale et
§171 — The ninth section providn,] fi-,r fnw]
in the .h.pe of two vessels of l^to f,i !„ m' 'T^'f"'"" '° "-^-"P-y.
but not victualled ; which the Con, ny^r 1 ' /■ ' " '""°' ''""-^' ^'^^
unless indeed such loss should £ LI " ''f ""'""'' ''^ '•^l''-".if'o3t
enemies. "'^'^ ^^''^'^ ^'an^eJ m open war by the King's
§ 172.-The contingency of failure on the part of M,« P
remainder of the 4000,-ti:e3Mve:ttu^^^^^ to send out the
King the value of these two vessels' lav n. ,f "T'^' '"^ P'^>' «^'^'' ^o the
the kss of these vessels bv i,e hands of 2 ir '^f' '° ''" ^"° ^*" '"'^'^^ ''-•'•"S
excuse. Such payment ^as to b " Lie ^l^^T"'''' '' '''^'^^ ^ "'^^
tl'om, by the associates, each for lis ow„ ] . T^"'"'^' ^""^^ ' -' *''"-'ing
to lose its co.nn.erciaI privileges^c!) "^ ''^^ ^""l''^"^ ^^^ f-th'^r
tbem, and also the officers who Ijrcomn T v' '"' '''' ''"^ ^'^^'-'-^ ^^
fortified posts, were to take the Ki !'cor- '" ^^"' '"''""^ '^"^ '" ='" its
8 174. — From the thirfpenn. *« «i
Artisans sent out hv iUa r>
5-ce for 6 years, sho^.J^lyX^J rtrV^f '' '''' ^^"^"^ '^ ■^^-
"Po>irmcdtresdech./.d>cBuvre» anr T . '''""*'' ''■'^'■*'' ^o be -repute,
in Paris or in any otli ttrn If ^Z """^' '^ '"^^ "*°«""^- ^.Je:!:^
magement dc la dite inexocution, ila r s Co u S M^ '' "'"'"P""^ '""' '''^''J"'"-
dUs va.soau. so trouvera monter,-^o„ "u '^tiln " 7"" ' ^''^'""'^ ^'^ P'-- ^ea
"nmnquo.ent .■! fui^e passer le restedes iZn .. '' "^ '^''^''■' '''^^'>^^' ^^ 15 ils
"dlt est) les dits vaiB eaux .;toLn r ! . '^^■«n>«3stipulo ci-dcssus.-sauf si rcomma
-prised dc, dits vnissea Jp t /iXsir'^r'^ "° '' ""■ ' "' "^^'^ '^ -titj^i ™
"«ucune solidity, en telle Borte 0^1^^.^''"."^''''''^'''^''''''''-^^^. ans
"do la Joui3.nce du ...erce a 2 j;::;:- ^^I^;!^^' ' «' ^^ P'^-.
!i!
\l I
I I:
vm
96
All kinds of merchandize from New Franco were to bo frco of impost or toll
in Franco, for 15 years; as also all military and other stores destined for New
France.
All persons, ecclesiastics, nobles, officers and others, wore to be privileged to
join the Company without derogation from th r rank. A second hundred of
partners might ho admitted. As many as twelve of tho first hundred partners,
should there be so many not noble, wero to bo ennobled,— the King placing
that number of blank letters of nobility, at tho disposal of the Cardinal, for dif-
tribution to those members of tho Company whom it might select for that honor.
And lastly, all descendants of French settlers of tho country, and all converted
Indians, wero to bo taken for French-born subjects.
§ 175.— The remaining Sections provided that in case of war, civil or foreign,
duo delays should bo granted to the Company; and that all needftil further
documents were to issue as of right, in order to tho giving of full cftect to all
these arrangements.
g 1 TO.— Under authority of this instrument, which was executed by tho Cardi-
nal of the ono part, and by six members of tho Company of the other, tho Com-
pany immcliately proceeded to organise itself by the adoption of certain '^Articles
" ct conventions de Sociiti et Compagnie ;'\d) in some clauses of which, a-rain,
tho mgenuity of the learned Counsel hero retained against the Seigniors" has
thought to detect a something favorable to the anti-seigniorial theory.
§ 177.— By these, they formed tho required Company, under the name of
" La Compacjnk de la Nouvelle France;' with a certain amount of capital to be
raised on certain terms,— its affairs to bo conducted by 12 Directors, to be chosen
i-om lime to time, one third of whom at least wero to bo merchants.
These Directors were to have the naming, for royal sanction, of the members
of tho Company who should have command of the two vessels of war, and also
of the country of New France and tho fortified places therein; were to com-
mission all other officers and functionaries of the Company; were to make its grants
of land, and to commission whom they would to make such grants in the coun-
try,— the whole, on such conditions as they pleased ; and, under certain restric-
tions, were to carry on all the Company's business,— appointing such factors and
.igents as they pleased, where and with whatever powers they pleased.
The only clauses at all bearing on the matters hero in question, are the follow-
ing,— in reference to certain of tho powers and duties of these Directors :—
" 8.— » * nous leur donnons la facult6 de nommer et presenter au roi ceux qu'ilg jugeront
" capablcs, du nonibro des dits assooies, pour commander aux deux vaisseaux que le roi
" donnera, mume on touto I'etendue de la dite N. F. • • , places et forts qui so batiront en
" iccUe.
" 6.--Donncr lottres et provisions aux officicrs et gens de coramandement qui doivent «tr«
" 6tabli8 par la compagnie, excepts ceux qui commanderont aux places et forts et en tout*
" rotcndue du dit pays, qui seront pourvus comme il est dit ci-dessus.
(rf) Ed. w Obd,, 4°, VoL I, pp. 9 tt seq. ; and 8°, Vol. 1, pp. 12 ct leq.
97
" ? — Distribuer lea terrcs de la dite \ V a t 1^
: les p,u. avantageu.cs pour U 1 ^S s "uT t""'""" "' ^"'•'' --"' ^t-
" et enjosler Ics conditions. ^ ""'' ^ ^'°^' P°"' '» distribution dos ditcs 103
" compagnie." ""1" "* J"S«'*"t niceswire, pour lo bien de U dUe
d.U cas ,I« seront teoua d'appeler on leur a,semhl e le^ InV""' w ' ' ^""^ "« 'i"'««
fa . se pourra; et no vaudra co qui aura 6t6 par eu^ rl T "?""*"* '^'"' '^^^^^ fl"*
•-. au moin, aouscrito de 20 d.s 3its asaooi. rcompris ! "l"'"! "" '"^ '^'^'i'x^'^tion ne
•'en la pr<!,encodu sicur intendant des affaire, lu dTtZv ' ."""f '"""'"'«""' P'"*'"^*"".
amurcs, les resolutions ne sernnt valable "^e ts 1'^^^^^^^^ "* ""-/-^ ^' P"" >- ««tre
"d|recteursetdu secretaire de la compagnio" °' "" ""'"« «°"»«"t«« de4dc8
"qu'.ls,<,„d™t|iu„p„„,..'^ ■»"l««»«it ]«,,„„,, ■imi«m,otd,„,„„j^^^^
§."'«---'nth«y„rfcll„„i„ „,|,,l5j f J .
l«v,ng b«on Wd before tu Kins received hi. L,;',*""""'"""™"
fasued in d» form, oriering- "°"°° > "«' '«"«i..p.tei,l(«)
n^J in if redaction. °«^ mterpretafon, ftom the ,o,d,
Jw 17^ c:ri !: re *c « '"■■ ■""- » -"■•»« •»
than »hat thej de.crib«l .hemM hfvfnt itT « f ^?"'" *" '"" '«•» '"^
0. the c„..„ f„„ ,ei, „ J.X t:; ciet":h{:%r: it:;
(«) Ed. et
Oai,., 40. Vol 1. pp. I, ,t „^. . ^j g„^ y^,^ J ^^ ^^
("
08
their having boon nnything less. The fact of tlio King's having promised that
ho would rovoko all grants of land made in his name, so far from jjroving that
ho had made none, proves it to have boon known and admitted that he had ;
that his grants were of a kind (unless cancelled) to interfere with tho operation
of the grant he was then making. Nor does it even prove that he, tho King,
had or pretended to hiivo the hijal right to revoke such grants, by the mere
operation of his will and pleasure. Every one know that tho maxim " dmner et
^^retenlr ne vaut" was as good in law, against tho Crown as against the subject;
that what the Crown had given, it could not legally resume at will. If tho
recitals of this Acie are to be believed, those earlier grantees had absolutely failed
to avail themselves of their grants. It is as certain as any matter of history
can be, that with very fow exceptions indeed, they had no sort of possession,
and that generally thoy could not have so much as taken possession, even
as matter of form. No doubt thoy were, all or nearly all, in gross default
as regarded the conditions of their grants. When the King engaged to revoke
their grants, he must be presumed to have had this fact in view. Indeed, ho
in effect recited it as in his view. His meaning (for all ends of legal interpre-
tation) must bo understood to have been, that he would do what he was engaging
to do, in a legal way, and not in an illegal way ; either enforcing an escheat by
legal process, or else inducing the interested parties' to abandon a claim liable
to be legally defeated.
It is observable, moreover, by the way, in reference to the four grants above
remarked upon, (§§ 160— 163,) that the Company renewed that of Notre Damo
dos Anges(/') to the Jesuits, as we shall presently see ; that Hebert was left to
hold bis grants of Sault-au-Matelot and St. Joseph,((7) unrevoked, and without
re-grant or confirmation ; and that the King compensated Guillaumo do Caen,
— not as for an express revocation of the grant of his Barony of Cap de Tour-
mento, but simply as having been '' d^poMidi,"—hy granting him another Barony
elsewliere.(A)
In these cases, perhaps the only cases whore the parties might have made out
a grievance, the matter was thus arranged, without any testing of the promise of
revocation. In others, it is likely enough that there was no need of arrangement.
The King had engaged with the no'v Company, that thoy should have no trouble
from claimants under his grants ; and, — the lands being worth nothing, and the
claimants being acquiescent, whether from this cause, or from poverty, or from
consciousness that their claims would not bear looking into, — one may presume
that the Company had no trouble from this source to complain o^ or, if thoy
had, that the Crown in one way or other easily put an end to it.
( f) By No. fS of Abstbact.
(g) Vide tuprd, § 164, Note(y).
(A) Vide suprd, §160.
I It! I
99
' 8 182.--TI,o other suppowd tra.io of the trust idofi, which was «,k,„.^» . .
the learned Counsel in the anti-soigniorial interest is ^r ff ^ ^^ u '' ^^
section of the grant, and in the seventh of the ^^'^ {^7,': A '^ '"'
It was contended, that the rovil a,.tl,«ri.n.- "^ 7. of Assoomtion.
j>-er. f.r the i^p^v™ i^j:::!:'zzz^:'ji "tt^^ ''-
France, imported a trust for such -listribution m d t nt h« '^^ "^ ^''"
charge by the Comi>any to their l)!r.,.f. . '"'"g"ment of that
of such trust. ^ "'""• ""I""''*"' '* recognition on their part,
§ 183.— Trying, for the moment, to suppose the case so tn f.» - « . .
obvious remark suijm.sts itself as tn H,« / ®' * '^'■•■" ""^^ ^ery
trust. ^^ *-"• "•' "^ "'° '^'''■"•'*«'«' «nJ «-vtont of this suj.posed
The authority given to the Company is this :-
«l mmi™ ,k, p.„,.,„^ „ g4„£.„| ' , " " "'«"""«■. "!•« I«. ,|mlw, o„i„|is„„,
• «™. p™. ,.„„. J. .,.„,;„: "jVsm" t ^ ""''""■''■ """'"• "' I"""-.-,
.zrr:.iTr,i't .it^Tirrr •"-" «- » - "-
may please, and for the advantage n.erely of trOo' ''''-^"""^ ''* '^'"^
only that if their pleasu.. should'be to cl^l he granr;!'. ""'" '"^"^''■^"
earldoms or baronies, the grantees must get tl S" Jj Itt ? '""^"'''*'"'
an or er to the real enjoyment of such te'ritorl 1 S '^^""^ ^' ^°"«™"^-n
o"e^:t" ::^r r ir :ji^r :- - - = « - ^o do as
-e a particle of Hght or claim, ^nrir :^:::Qr ^S^^r
§ 184._Supposing, even, that the words which here ,V>«r,i
the discretion of the Company to hfi ^..r '"'' .^"'^ "^""^O" everything to
interest and the pleasure onKecLand'Tno T '', IT "'^'^ *« "*« -"
inference sought would still be frftmfl:-:"'"^' '"' '"" '^^^^ ^*^-^' '^^
Shi ll^rC tTent^rd ItyteZrcTr ""'^' ^^ "^^^r
if he wished it? The quesUon ansZ u^' B^utT" ' "''*.'' '^ ^'^^^ «"''
of Association of the Company apTom Kv '. I '"''"'"''' '^ *^« A^icle^
also answe. it, by «bowinrn leTrnTtW Si^' t^^ "' "'T '^"°*^^ (§ ^^^).
^-.^ortheCompany,anlthattheit,rbrg^^^^^^
t;,
100
as much of pntronago as could well bo given them in the matter. No trace is
to bo found of tlio notion that any one else had anything to do with it.
The Company was also to maintain a number of ecclesiastics. Could any
ecclesiastic prefer a claim to such maintenance ?
The Articles of Association charge the Directors to select members of the
Company (Art. 5), for certain commands. Could any such member therefore
claim such command ?
They direct the commissioning of other officers (Art. 6), and of clerks and
fn-tors (Art. 0), in tho same style in which they direct (by Art. 7) the distri-
bution of land. Had any man, therefore, a right to claim of them any of such
employments ?
Tho discretion of tho Company, and of tho Directors was lefl just as free in
any one of theso cases as in any other.
Indeed, the eleventh of tho Articles of Association, of itself alone, is a full
proof that no one thought of the Company as under obligation to attend to any
ones requests for land, otherwise than as it should suit the views of its Directors
and other members to do so. To what end, otherwise, the requirement of 20
signatures of Directors and other partners, set in presence of an Intendant, to all
grants of more than 200 arpents, while 4 signatures of Directors, with that of
the Secretary of tho Company, were to bo enough for any other act whatever?
§ 185.— If, indeed, these passages had been far less explicit than they are
and had stood unexplained by any context, there might seem to be some show
of reason for an argument to this efrect,-that although no one but the Company
took an mterest in the grant, so as to be able to require a sub-grant on any
specified terms, or even any sub-grant at all, yet the Company itself might be
viewed as tho dipnsitaire of a high public trust, and as bound thereby to a public
duty, limitative (though in a very indefinite degree, and at the instance of the
Crown only) of its proprietary right, properly so called.
§ 186.— But, in the first place, they are of a date and of a country, repellant
of such interpretation. The seventeenth Century was not the time, and the
France of that age was not the country, for this kind of refinement in the mere
interest of an idea of abstract public right.
And they occur, besides, in instruments which fully and clearly show what
their meaning was ; and that that meaning was precisely accordant with the
temper and habits of that time and country.
§ 187.— It was always held in principle, (as has been shown,) that the grant
of a_/fe/ was an essentially bilateral contract; the grant itself, however imper-
fectly phrased or recorded, binding the grantor— expressly or by implication of
Custom— on every point involved therein, and that, irrevocably; and the accept-
ance, even though it were the mere act of taking possession of the realty granted,
as largely and as irrevocably binding the grantee.
But here, extraordinary pains were taken to show that it was meant by both
parties to put of record the fact that this grant was in the strictest possible sense
a bargain— between contracting parties, after full discussion and appreciation on
both sides, of all its terms.
101
r»po.illoi,.r,omcliirorelitaii«K„Jl,. I ■ ,' I*™ 'li"«»»o<l ; Unit
have boon to inako it also tho che^p can^ ff all ir ' T^'"' "'""'''
such Vila land This latter nS A , '"' ""°'''' ^''« °''««"' *«
-tshows)to^r:;tri retire "?.:'; ^rLt^"^ "t::,-
been tried ; and could not be! in earnest, without trolattlr Z T\ ^"^
with its setUe s lit could It i!" •T^^'"' ""^ ^""^ *^™« '^ ^^^S^^^
uLiT,:r '"^ "" '"™ '•- *'-^'» ''""--"« i- -
dJt'"''~^'' '^^'^ "" '"'""' '"'• "'" "■• «'«!" •»■) -•tee of the tern
(«.« Zrl'jL? T'^^'"'^''"' "•"-" property, justice and lordship"
101
was of tlie vory largest properly tliat p. King could prant,) tho whole country of
New France, "lands, minoH and niinoraJH, (such niinis always subject to tho
''ordonnunce,) ports and harbors, rivers largo and less, {fleuvet, riviins,) ponds,
" islands, islets, and generally tho whole extent of tho said country in length and
" breadth, and further, so far as it shall bo possible for them to extend and
" make known tho name of His Majesty,"— under reserve of nothing but foi H
hmnmaffn, a light crown of gold at each accession to tho throne, and the function
ol simply commissioning tho highest officers of justice, on the Company's nomin-
ation,— specially added, that the Company might do just as it would with all its
lands, an.l might part with thcra just as it would, only not with any dignity as
high as or higher than the prized rank of baron, unless with his sanction. And
one may be thought to be reading a potty explicit contract for a pretty extensive
proprietary grunt.
§ 101.— But even with this, one will not have shown tho whole case. For
this contract imported two grants to the Company; that of this territory, with
'ts arge adjuncts, in the first place, and that of a largo commercial monopoly,
with Its a.ljunct8, in the second ; both for the one consideration so precisely stated.
And It i.rovided - pecially for the case of a failure on the part of the Company as to
what was no doubt regarded as the most onerous part of this consideration,—
tho getting out of tho re juired number of emigrants in the required time ; and
this, in two ways. If caused by war, foreign or civil, that is to say, not by fault
of the Company, further delay (by section 18) was to be granted. If not, (by
section 10) tho King's two ships were to be paid for, and the commercial mono-
poly to be forfeited. Nothing more.— The grant of tho land, with all its incid-
ents, was to hold ; unless indeed, in the case (as is understood, necessarily, under
every contract that is ever made) of such utter failure as should in law involve
an utter forfeiture.
\nvA
%>
^ § 102.— Expressions fell from the learned Counsel retained against tho Seig-
uiors, of a nature to imply that there was a something in respect of liability to
forfeiture for non-performance of contract, that distinguished the Canadian Jlef
from the French, and tended to imprint on the former a trust-character.
In this respect, there was no particle of difference between the two. For
failure of his contractual obligation, the French vassal always incurred forfeiture
just as certainly as the Canadian vassal could do. Desaveu t^nd /elonie imported
forfeiture under this rule; simply as being such failures, in respect of certain
clauses of the feudal contract— essential or natural to it, as might be. Every
Dominant and vassal, in regulating the terms of their contract, might make or
unmake causes of forfeiture, under their contract, as they would. But their
doing this affected no one else. The vassal liable to a hundred special con-
liaWe tl on^"'''' """' ^ ""'' ""^ '" *"'"'''" ^*'' ^^"^ ^""^''"^ *' *^" "»^*^ ""^^
It is no part of the Seigniors' pretension, that tlie King could not do this in
CanadS; nor even, that within certain limits be did not do it. All they say is,
mtmm
103
BO ,„uci moro extenZ Z' I .'^f ""'"'«' «f ''« "I-'ci"! obligations,-
contract, nZ o t UM th Cr T^'fl "^'T' '^ "" '''"^'' ^-''"" "^ ^"^^
been this cause of forfeitL ^'"■"' ''''''' ^""'^ ""^ "^"^^
r'<-:
In
H S^
104
_ It went almost as far towards giving away his execntlve supreniacv as Lis
J«d:ml. For he was not to have the direct choice of a single functionL con
nected with the affairs of New France. ^-uonary con-
And it reserved to the Crown, as ««2«-am, a proprietary rfiwfe as small as
Zur\rZ \^°"'"""; T,"^ '" ^'""''''y ^'''"^'''^ ^'•^*'«''"''». °f no'ni^al
vame,--to the exclusion of all pretence to quint, relief or other feudal due of
any kind.
§ 197 —It went even further.
,•„vlV^"!."^'!*^*'"'"^"if ^"'""""^ '■*^"-^' '* '"^ '^''^' ^""^ Poetical purposes,
involved the allowance of an unlimited ;m defef on the part of the Company (0
For there being no dues on mutations, however made, there could be no dis-
tinction of privileged and unprivileged,-no working check on any. The Crown
could neither demand di-es of any one acquiring land from the Company, under
pretence of making him a co-vassal with the Company, for his part of the/?./ of
New France ; nor yet ever subject him to loss, from having his title treated as
non-avenu, in the interest of the Crown.
But, that there might be no possible question as to the effect of all such
alienations, it declared expressly (by that fifth Section which has so strangely
been readf;) as if it could have been meant to be limitative of the Company's
powers) that the Company was to have this unlimited jeu de fief, as against the
Crown. The Crown, as Dominant, bound itself to recognise and admit all man-
ner of titles to land that the Company should see fit to issue ; derogating, therein,
trom the feudal rule in all time known and settled, to Uie contrary.
§ 1 98.-There was never any doubt as o the capacity of Dominant and vassal
to d-gate, as between themselves, from this rule, or from any of the usages a
to i\.jjeude /./that grew out of it. So that, of cou«e, the Company i
Dominant) would have been free, even without this clause, to let their vL Js do
what they would as to this matter, so far as the Company's rights went. But
&.S clause gave them the further freedom of so doing, as against the Crown
fitwfr?*^ bar^aa removed from the introduction (if the Company should see
inlres f 7"!™^^^'" ^«/«/ which it was obviously desirable, in thepublb
to 1^ ent tamed of absolutely introducing it. The Company were as free o
maintain It, or even to enhance its rigor as between them^^lves and their ZZ
tees, as they were to do otherwise. ^
J^^ll ^"^'t ^'T ^f ^ ""^ *^' '"'^P''' °^ '"^^ *^'"««' to tie the hands of a pr<^
pnetor by pubho rule, for mere public interests. ^
(i) VHt suprd, §§ 102, 103 et $eq.
ij) Vide supra, §§ 182 et teg.
105
§ 199.-A larger consequence of this fifth section.-which was thus in ir„ii,
§ 200— Of this grant, the Seigniors now hear it ar^uPrl ih., *
a word of what it savs hut ;„»;. .x.- , *'^g"ed,— that, not meaning
Ihey have no occas on to areue that it fuila «t .• ,, • ,
documents that followed it. '""^ """^ "''^^ ^'^^ ««"«« of
pro-
fc ^m, of ,Ue pa„t (a. they .™ „„., s„oh .. « „toit of . Joubt ";;„ Z
or 18 j.a„, .„, when .herefon, (from the .ile,c. of the Co Ji„ th.t b.Lf )
ftliS ! »!■• C'o,„, ,0 a. to h.™ been out of danger of the penallle. of
doles.... iT:et'.,:i'Xr •""" °' '""'»• "• '«"«"«™e-'
la e made hem oo happy to throw up their grant-agreed to make and mX
for the consideration of a stipulated yearly payment of 1000 beaver skins fnd
of an undertakmg by the settlers to buy all their stores at a uaUon a;d to
(*) Vide supra, §§ 189, etc.
106
relieve them of all charges for local a^lministration, and so forth, a cession to the
settlers, as a communaute d^hahitans, of their trading rights within certain terri-
tonal limits, large enough to cover all the ground then at all resorted to for such
purposes,
The Articles setting forth the terms of this cession, open thus :—
^ qm lu. ont 6t6 donn^a par le dfifunt roy de gloriense m*5moire, et ce faisant .Icmeurera en
pleine pyopn<!t<-. posf-ession, justice et scignciirie de tout lo pays et toute I'etendue d^cla-
rde parl6d.tdu mois do Mai 1628,portaDtl'6tablis8emeDt de laditecompagnie ; ct partant
elle disposera comme eUe a ci-devant fait, toutea lesterres, bois. pr6s, fleuyc», iles. riviOre.
mines et mm.ires, et eu fera exp^dier les concessions avec telles chaises et conditions
qu elle jugcra A propos. "(0
It hardly need be said that the context records in terms the fact, that all
parties held the trade sold to the settlers, to bo worth far more than the land not
sold to them. For, the fact of the price paid for the one, under reservation of
the other by the vendor, is proof enough of this.
The interesting fact is, that the settlers, at the moment when (as a commw
naute) they were buying the trade at a high price, left it of record that they
claimed no right in the land,— unless as individuals under title from the Com-
pany ; and that the Company was to remain as it always had been, proprietor of
such land in the largest sense, absolute master of its own terms as to all alienat-
ing thereof.
w
§ 203.— To enable the settlers to act as a communauU for the objects of this
contract, the King's sanction was required , and it was accordingly given on the
6th of March of the same year.
The Anit for this purpose, after reciting this contract, as being one—
-"parlcquel, entr'autres choses, la compagnie do la N. F., relevant [retenant?] etcon-
servant lesnoras, titres. autorites. droits et pouvoirs qnilui ont m donnds parl'^dit deson
«tabl:ssemeut, pour demeurer en pleine propriety, possession, justice et seigneurie de touB
les pays et fitendues des terres de la N. F. auroit accords," etc.—
-declares the King's entire ratification and approval of it, in the usual terras.(m)
III
^^(0 See MSS. Documents of Queb.o Histoeioal Society; 2d Series, Vol. 1, pp. 152-
Tl:e document cited in .Le text i. to be found, as above, in one of the MS. volumes of the
oYs;iro;cr'^ °^ ^-^- ^--^ ^^ ^-^^^ -• -^ - in ^^x
Three series of these volumes will be more or less quoted from in these pa^es -
and /ii" 71 "^ ''"'rr T'^ '"™' ^'^'' '^' "' ^^'"'"y- ^"-^ Col. Brodhead's copies
and extracts of documents by him taken in Paris. ^
The second, a set since copied in Paris, and received here a year or more ago.
me third, another set copied in Paris, and received here during hist year.
(w) Edits bt Ord., 4°, Vol. 1, pp. 18 and 19 ; 8°, Vol. 1, pp. 28 and 29.
107
of the 24th of February oZ!rlT2l^^' ' ' '^'"'"'' "'^
« a son ...t. et ^^^^izz:::^^!:^::^^ •'•^^ - "«-^*-»
»ppet:ii?r;rsL^^^' --^^^ *^'^ -'^' - ^« -- ^«^. -.^s the
" pour en disposer par S M a2 „1 S ? ^'"P",? '' '"^"'"'•" ''" ^'' P^^^ •*« 1" ^- ^■'
" de leur ordo^n" \1 Lor^ernU," ^^.C^^"^ '^ "'"^'"°* ^ '^ ^'^"''^ «' J^"-
recti ont!^:t rrr ^ ^' *'' ™^^" '^ *^-^^ «^ *^^ -- y-. «f'-
" qu!:3r^ j::;-!: S;:\S:;rr ^ ^^ o«lo„non. ..ion. et no. p,ai,
" et lieutenants g6n/rau« deVdiUnavB e nt ''"";'°"' "" "'"*''' ''•' gouvemement.
" rendre h iustien s«„l. ^ ^ P * *'' '"*""'' ^^ """« "<""•»«' ^cs officiers poup
" aoient erS^J^ I f nTt^Ll:;^^:^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^" ^''^ ^" ^ ^''" --•
Treltlsli' "' ''^ ""^ ^^'^^ ^^^^' ^^^- ^« ^'^^ *~»--. - it-
" accordfie Ta^ Tl// f ^ ? "'' "" ^*''" ^'^ concessions qui lui en auroie^t 6t4
'•rlrseHa nt! •"""'"^'"''^""'^'^^^ P''' "" <"«'t™' Tolo„taire,quele8int6-
reesfis en la d.te compagn.e en ont fait d notre profit le 24me ftvrier dernier," etc.
—and again, in its enacting clause :—
«"g<">n^, ordonnons et ^lablisgona un conseil souverain, en notre dit pays dela N F L
appartenoit.--pour ^tre le d.t conaeil souverain scdant en notre ville de Quibe^" etc.
sal'!^7f ^m"','" *5' ^^'"^'' ''"«t''"««ons under date of the "Tth of May of the
ponZ't ; f ^"'t'^^^ :'" ^-"^ ^^"* -t - ^ Commissioner to'report
upon the state of the colony, there occurs this incidental reference :-
(0) Enns .t Obi,., 40, Vol. 1. pp. 21 ct ,ej. ; 8", Vol. 1, pp. 37 ct .eg.
(P) H.n..0«n.,40. Vol. 2.PP. ,uUe,. Comm.«o.s .« Qop.. „ I«,.,pp. 22 ., «,.
VM
108
" Sur CO qu'il . 6t^ reraontrS an roi, quo jusqu'd prdscnt la propri6t6 du dit pave ayant
mains do S. M., il n y avoit point de justieo ruglfio," etc.
§ 207.-A manuscript document in the French archivesfy) shows, again, the
anguage m wh,ch the members of the Company, some eight years af;;rw;rds,
referred to th.s transaction, when preferring their prayer to the Kin^ for the
dedommaoetMntr in hope of which they had made their surrender:!
« S. M. coneidfirara, s'il lui plait, que par la dite remise clle est entrfie aux droits dent la
" compagoie jouissalt, qui aont * * "^ *"
" Plus la propri«t6 de tout le pays, d'oii il so pout tiror dcs bois coasiddrables pour la
construction et mastage des vaissoaux, forts et autres Mtimens ■""^^™'"«« P<»«- ^
" Plus lea forts et habitations, avee les canons, magasins et munitions."
iJ ^|;f-f '■.'^"S';' '^ ^^t'-'t ^^^ King gave the Company as a property,_what
tlesetlers w,th the King's approval) admitted for the Company's p oplrty
and did not b..y,-what the Company gave back to the King L a property -
what the Kmg again and again called a property that he had acquit byfuch
retroeess,on,_what its ex-proprietors never hesitated to characterise as haWnS
been the.r property, when asking the King to pay them for it,-was all the wMe
ri^rr;?;^ eZ* "^' ^'^ ^""'^ '-'' ^— ''^^^ ^^' ^ ^
riltfnf . \""''.^^' '' "'^'"''''^^ ^'''^ ""' *''=^^'<^» '<> '"^intain that
rights of property, when given m those times, were always scrupulously respected.
On the contrary, as part of their case, they will have occasion to show present
10 wha extent and how the temper and habits of those times causedThori"hS
aw, even by those m authority, is wholly aside from the question of what the
It tiZ", ""T^ r "°/ ''' '°" P"P"'^ '" "'^' ^--- - f-t P-er may
at times have put m hazard some of iu essential incidents.
§ 210.--In this case, however, and with reference to this grant to the Com-
pany of New France, there is no question of its having had effect given to it
very fuHy and exactly, at least in so far as regarded Canada,-from the time
when the retrocession by England (in 1632-3, under the treaty of St. Germain
en Laye) of Canada and of the portions of Acadie which the English had over-
run, enabled the French Crown to place the country in the effective possession of
the Company, down to the time when, in 1645, the settlers (as we have seen)
were allowed to acquire a great part of its rights. And from this latter date
as regarded the rights not so acquired by the settlers, and especially as regarded
the Company's absolute proprietary right in the soil, it was still very fully car-
ried out until 1663, when the Crown re-acquired those rights by voluntair sur-
render of the Company.
(?) y -1 Doc. Qua. Hist. Soo., 2d Series, Vol. 1, pp. 49-51.
109
§ 211.— With regard to that part of New Fnnpo ♦!,«„ i
§ 212.— Acadie formed part of the territory granted to the Comna.. . i
of Acachan titles to land, mention 8 such grants, (s) vil T^ '^'' "^''''''^" .
l.-In 1632 (May 19), to Razilly, who is described as »ri«.ul„ i t> •„
" Lieut, pour le Jioi, en la JV F " rf .. / T, ™ , "^ ^'^"''o <Je Razilly,
i?oya/, et de terrea adjcteentes, dan. rHerJue de 5 Ueuesau-dessus Till r
au^essous le l^g de la e6te, sur 10 liene. de pro/oJeT/Z ' '""^
3.-0n the same day to the 8ame,-of the " Ile de Sadle" •-
" 10 lieue, de pro/ondeur" .-_ ' "^'""' '« ''^'^' *«''
« r!;l^" ^^T"' *^'^*' '^' «ame,-ofthe "/or/e/ A« Jt7« <.•<,„ rf. Sr. Louie au
"E^nn. ./ ; l'^' *' '* ''•'"''^ '^^'^^'•'(O "^'"^d as "Claude de St.
E enne, pere "-of the " Aa6e7«<;a« appelee <le vieux logis^ d Pkntacouet de
^M^Z. ^ '?' ?• l""''''' "= ^°"'''^^' ^'^^ ^t«" ^1«™«1 to hold
itazillj 8 lights,— a grant which is characterized as one "mr /«„«.;/ •; 7 .
•■ t ^'i:: r^t'" ''°""* ^"^"""^' '""'- '«' -«" -« -S
M MSS. Doc (J„. H,„. ao„., srf s„i„^ y„, 2^ ^ ^^^_^^^
110
Besides wliich, the King's Commission to Nicolas Denys, of the year 1064
to be noted presently {infrd, § 218), speaks of some other old grants held br
bim m Acadie, as having emanated from the Company.
§ 212.-But for a number of years before the date of the Company's prant
to Le Borgne of 1657. it is sufHciently certain that its attention almost, if not
wholly, ceased to be directed that way.
Chaunisay, who bought Razilly's rights from his heirs in 1642 (u) seems to
have carried on his civil war with la Tour, which ended in the destruction of
the latter's fort in 1646,-without reference to the Company, and under pre-
caution only of getting the King's sanction. In fact, for some time before this
last date, there is no doubt that the embarrassments of the Company had been
gradually, but inevitably, forcing the real exercise of their chartered powere out
of their hands,-in Canada, to a less extent,-in Acadie (where the trader-
grantees fought out their quarrels without let or hindrance, even from the
Crown) to a greater.(i>)
(«) The deed is referred to, in the ^rvH of 1703. ns of date of 1642, Jan. 16. Though it
IS more than possible that Charnisny's poseessiou may have been of earlier date.
(.) The atate of affairs in Acadie through this period was so remarkable, and (i„ order to
the nght understanding of the documents to be presently eited)so interesting, as to wairant
the following condensed extract from Gnmeau.
I have not the means of verifying the stfttcments tliere made as to the first division of
Acadie into three provinces, and the commissioning of RaziUy, la Tour and Denys as their
respective Governors. If such Commissions issued after 1628, it is presumable that thev
issued on the presentation of the Company. Denys' did so, certainly {infrd § '>18 )
Nor can I verify the statements as to the grant on the river St. Jean in 1627,''to the elder
la Tour, and its confirmation in favor of the son, by royal letters patent before 1684 From
the Arrit nf 1703, it is plain that if such grant was so made and confirmed, the la Tours
(father and son) took the further precaution of getting titles from the Company in 1635 and
16S6,— being grants 5, 6 and 7, noted in the text.
Tlie statement that la Tour the younger got the grants of Isle de Sable, La Heve and
Port Royal, in 1634, is contradicted by the Jlnit of 1703 ; which assigns these m-ants f2 3
and 4, noted in the text) to Razilly. ^ ^ ' ^
As to the after-narrative, I am not aware that there is any question.
Acadie,-8ay9 Garneah, starting from the time of the retrocession of the conquered nart
of it, in 1632-3, under the treaty of St. Germain-en-Laye,—
_" resla abandonnfie aux traitans. Laiss^s h leur propre'cupiditi, sans frein pour rfprimer
" leur ambiUon dans ces deserts lointains ou ils rugnaient en chefs indepcndans, ces mar-
" chauds s'arm^rent bientot les uns contre les autres. et renouvell6rcnt en quelque sorte lea
" luttes des cli&telains du moyen fige. • *
«L' Acadie fut divisfie en trois provinces, dont le gouvernement et la proprietd furent
« donnas au commandeur de RasiUi, 4 Charles Etienne de la Tour, et a M. Denis. Au pre-
« mier dchut Port-Royal, avec tout ce qui i-tait au and jusqu'i la Nouvelle Angleterre • le
« sec-nd eut depuis Port-Royal jusqu'au Canecau; le troisiime, la cote depuis Canceau jus-
" qu'a Gaep^.— Rasilli fut nomm6 gouverneur en chef de toutes ces provinces.
" La Tour, d^sirant faire confirmer par le roi de France k concession de terre faite 4 son
« p6r8 en 1627, sur la riviere St. Jean, obtint des lettres patentee qui lui en assuraient la
Ill
but also liis character at Court obtiino.l Uf„, ! / ^ours establishments,
wbich, .r,e, reci.., „r Li. di4„S;:i'„: tt S /H" '"« '^'^ "'
gomnor ana olberwiw, tl,„ .nrorem™ rf I. T ' 7 ^°'"'' "" ' '««!
^"J, 110 was confarmed or a]>pointed— one
« a..Jao.to. Mais le lla^TL m^; irZll:"^^ ' '• '' ^''^"' "^^ '^^^
« beaut^s naturelle,. • • qu'l, «« ,« fit .fder par la Tot 1^' ""n"T' * '" "^^^«- '^^ "^^
" Peu de to,„ps apr6.. Ralilli „o,,ut, et ses frSL c^S-It ''" ^ "" "" '''''^"^''- * *
•' de Oharnisa. qui fat no.^e gouveLu;de tutj ,^1: " ^""'"■"^ '^ ^ '^•^•^'-)^
i^e premier acte de Charnisfi fut d'abandonDer la H.^«"• • m • •
- traite des pel.e.erie, - - . .oit mal entendl s^^et desl li «, tuuTi'''^'' "^ "^
i7i?:r=Se^::;rsr:;::^^^^^^^^
•' "S^r^:rs^;:;rirsi^ ^.rL:sr:S::^
'■ que. rcgut I'ordre de I'arret r et de 1^0"! "■'t"*"'"^^ dans resprit du monar-
" n-osa point le soutenir ZjtLt^ S^. . ' t " 7"' '* ^""^^"-"""^ "^^ -««> -1 e
;; permettre d la Tour de prendre le voCL ofv ultrr^ "'"''■ *>"'" ""--^
force le mit en .tat no„ seulement de faire w7e itTci ' "'": ' * ' ^^"«
encore jusqu'au pied de ses propres murailles ♦ • ^ '^' '"'"* ^' Poursuivro
••rAcadieetlaNouvelleC e"e rEA" '"''^ 'T'' '' "^ «rce ent^
" D6barrass6 des Am.rieafns, e g uTe .eurde^^ ' ""'"^'' ' * "
sent de son fort, y oourut pour le ^d" mlif m!: "''rT '^"'' "* ''°"'- ^""' '^^
^:X"rai::pS:j;r^^^^^
" dans la place le jour de Pdquer Mada.^ Ta TorrTf " V^^^ "'""''''"' ««<'''^'«'»«'>'
" pouvait encore se d.fendre.ie forMlt^ri^^J^'''^ "°° P"^'* ^^^ '"'"•' "-^ «"«
;; colui-ci vit le peu de mond^l q Uv:it eu '^^^^^^^^ Quoad
"lationsi honorable, ilpr^tendit avoir 616 trn,?»?fi»!f '^"'°"" ""^"^^ "°« =«Pit«-
" loul..' • . -Vol. ,, pp. uj.ij" ° ■"" '' '""' * '• "«•• •' l«ei .n cUtoo SI.
W MS8. Bo,, te. H,„. s„„., ja s.ri^ Toi. t, pp. m_im
:k-
i
Sfi !
113
cannot precisely say which— aa Governor of the whole of Acadio, with most
extensive powers, administrative, legislative, and oven diplomatic ; all of which,
however, he was apparently to find his own means of enforcing, and that at his
own cost.
The clause in this instrument, defining his powers as to land, is the following :
" Voulons et entcndons que le dit Sieur d'AuInay Chamif ay puisse, ct Ini donnons pouvoir
" de 86 r^server et approprier ce qu'il jugera estie plus commode et propre A, son ^tablisse-
" ment ct usage, dos terrcg du dit pais d lui,— et d'en donner ct departir telle part qu'il
" advisera, tant d nos dits sujets qui s'y habitueront, qu'aux dits originaires,— et de leur attri-
" buer tels titrcs, honneurs, droits, pouvoirs et facult^a, qu'il jugera bon estre, eelon lea qua-
" lit^g, m^ritea et services dea pereoDues."
The whole of this grant — inclusive, as of course, among other things, of what
was altogether its most valuable item, a strict monopoly of the trade in peltry
— was made as of a property en fief, in these terms : —
— " Bvons au dit Sieur d'Aulnay Chamisay, privativement & tous autres, conwSdfi, octroy*
" et attribu6, ct par cea pr&entea concfidona, octroyons et attribuons, en conflrmant la poases-
" aion en laquelle il est de ce faire, la traite dea pcllcteriea aveo lea dita aauvagea de la
" Cadye depuia la riviere Saint Laurc-t juaquea d la mer et tent que le dit paiia et coates
" pourront a'estendro juaqu'aux Virginea,—
" pour en jouir, ensemble lea terrea, minea d'or, argent ct cuivre, et autrea m^taux et mi-
" ndraux, et de tontea lea choaea ci-deaaua d6clar6ea, d lui, sea hoira, aucoeaseurs, et ayanta
«' droit, —
" d cause de nous, en faiaant I'hommage, en personne ou par procurei r, attendu la distance
** dea lieux," etc.
§ 215.— The death of Charnisay, however, not long after, made an opening
for la Tour ; of which he was not slow to take advantage.
In 1651 (Feb. 27), he obtained accordingly, in turn, the King's letters-
patent,(.i:) setting forth his distinguished services, for the longer term of 42
years, and especially against Charnisay, (from all of whose charges he is, by the
way, declared to have been acquitted on the 16th of that month,) and confirming
or appointing him — the phrases are again ambiguous — as Governor of all
Acadie, with powers nearly answering to those conferred on Charnisay in 1647 •
though rather more briefly stated, and not en fief^ nor with any expressed here-
ditary right of property in his Government.
These letters-patent contained the following clause, in reference to his old
grants of land ; thought advisable, it is to be presumed, by reason of the very
difierent disposition which the King had indirectly assumed to make of them by
his grant of 1647 to Charnisay : —
" Voulons et entendona que le dit Sr. de St Etienne [de la Tour] ae reserve, approprie et
" jouisse pleinement et paisiblement de toutea lea terrea d luy ci-devant accordees, et d'icelles
"• en donner et d^partiv telle part qu'il avisera, tant d noa dita aujeta qui s'y habitueront,
" qu'aux dita originairea, ainsi qu'il jugera bon'dtre, euivant lea qualit^s, m4rites et services
" dea peraonnes."
(x) M?S. Doc. QoE. H»x. Soo., 2d Series, Vol. I, pp. 206-210.
113
r« «.. -«uu«on :s„« r*;- ^r";,:;^.';- -jr "S"-""
.ft.™.rd., h, „„ri«l h.r, mi Lm J n.™«w III 7''' ' ""'' "'°'"'
minor children of l,U old rival „ mil ». „M° "" "" P'»P«'')' »f 'li«
•tao, .n»p.«M .. conl74z ,:; X'XTL ""' ': "r""-
encounter. * "wquittal, lie had now hostilities to
.1^0. cL„„i», Ld :iu::::is:;rc^^^^ r:'-- "■•
i»PH«...d, ..d :Lrr jj:;\fisttd''r"'"«'''""^
of most of Acadie, in 1664 bv th« INr^i! i? , . '^' ^^ * "«^ <=«"q"e8t
Cromwell made a ,rant'"'th: lt:l'rt:^^^ Z' tf ' '"V^^"'
assocates, Temple and Crown ; and it only e passed into f , """ ^"^'"''
session of the French Crown, in 1667, undL theTe^ :rBre7:^^^^^^ ^''^■
tbe^ltp!::n?tf Snir;r^^^^^^^ - « --• «•--* under
the b.o.l-ro.va.. the D„o 7^^^! ^^^ LTrFefl^^ ' ^"'"^^ °^
a party acting as attorney for the wido^ Cha ni.«lJ ^ ^' '''""*''^' '^''^^
of partnership or associaLf.) between T::^^:'Z7i:t " '' ' ''''
tomamtamtheirrightsat Court and otherwise and 7l! Charn.say.-he
make over to him the half of their assle'/^'o Ae^^ '" ""^'■'^<''^^'- *«
Indeed, under date of December of the same year tmo; .1, v .
furmsh adocument implyingan acceptance b^re K n^o 'the D T '-^''""
gnior of Acadie, in virtue of this instrument It Z. ¥* ^"''^ ^' ^°-Sei-
forward in 170S, by the Duke' en osZ •" ^^P^^''^ ''^^^ l>««nput
and it may, the/efo^, b^atVstrTe ;: n7thTKi:''''VV" ^'^'^^^
it. But its existence, in the archives a, !!!, . ^ ''^'^"■^^ ^^«°"ted
(y) Recited in the ^rrit of 1703 ; «6i ,uprd..
(.)Rocitedia^„..,„fm8; aUo in itTW. Introductory to ,ame, «6.-^;,,.
(o) " Mais ses menses nvec leg Anfflnif. l'<.,ron* . j
" cela 4 main arm6e s'U 6t«it n^cessaire/'-allT; yr'; ^uT "" ^•*''"' **
(*) MSS. Doo. Qdb. Hist. Soc, 3d Series Vol 2 nn kso o t ....
ubi tuprd, ' '^'- ^' PP- "2-8 ; »''«' '•ecited in ^rrU of no8,
(c) 0.a»..„. Vol. ,, pp. 151, 2; also documents recited in M of ,708. ubi .upra
id) Recited in Jrrit of 1703, and in Mimoirt; ubi nprd.
H
114
men's minds were in those days, from anj too high idea of public right, or of
public tru^t ns involved in the high ofHccs of the state.
The preamble of this instrument (or perhaps, draft of instrument) for recog-
nJzing the successor to Richelieu's office of " grand-maistro, chef et surintendant-
" g6n6ral de la navigation et commerce de ce royaume," and uncle of the King,
as Co-Soignior with the heirs Charni8ay,((') reads thus :
" Commc nous serons toujours bien aise de maintenir nog gujcts dr.ns la joulMsnee de «• qui
" Icur appartient, auasi avons nous Ms ngrdable que pour te conserver dans lu pro|)ri6t6 dcs
" grAccs etbifnfaitsque m<\ia leur ovons departis, ils se servcnt des moyens qu'ils tiouveront
" Dfoprea et commodes A cet cffet, — or, estant arriyiS drpuia quelquo tempa quo curUiiia par-
" ticulicrs, (entre autrea, les uommtia CImrloa de Turgis de St. ICgticDue de lu Tour, Himon et
" Nicolua Deuis, friires, et Maillet) ont usurpfi sur notre cliiVc et bien Rira6e De. Jeanne
" Motin, veuve de Cliarlea Mciiou vivant Seigneur d'Aulnay, (auquel ct see eufans, par cog
" lettroB pntcntoa du moia de F^^vrier de I'nnnie 1647, noim donnusmes le gouverucmcnt per-
" p6tucl et la pr(ipri<5t6 do touto I'eatcndue doa pniis, costes d'Acadie, et isles uilj.iceutea de
" la N, F. en I'Ameiique Scptentrionale,) divers f.)rt8 et placea considiJraMeg du dit pays, et
" qu'ello a grand sujet d'apprfihcnder, si elle n'est pas proniptement et puissaniment secourue
" d'hommes, de vivres, d'argent et de vaisscaux, ello sera entiirement depoBsiidee da ce qui
" reste en son ^ouvoir, —
" Ellu a eu recours dans un si prcssant bosoing, d notre Ms cher et trtJs aimfi oncle le Due
" de Vandoame, pair de France, grand-maiatre, clief surintendant-gf-neral de la navigation et
" commerce de ce royaume, sur la confianco qu'clle a priae que la consideration de sa nais-
" Bsnce auBsy bien que le rang qu'll tient luyicroituue protection asseur^e, et quod'aillcurs
" par I'authorite quo sa charge luy donne, il pourroit mieux que personne la ri'tablir dans
" ce qui luy a est6 usurp6, la retircr d'oppreasion, et la garantir avec sea enfans d'une ruyne
" totallo qui acroit inevitable s'ils perdoieut la proprifit6 dea d. pays, pnrce que tout ce qu'ils
" avoient de bien a este employu dans le baatimcnt dea d. forts, & foire des peupladea, etd
" restablissement des s^minairea de personnes eccl^aiaitiquea pour vacqucr d la conversion
" des Sauvagea et au salut des Amea de ceux qui se sont habitu^ en ces quartiers Id,
" Mais d'autant que notre d. oucle le Due de Vandosme sera oblige de faire de grandes et
" immenaes d^penses pour donner secours d la dame d'Aulnay, et recouvrer sur les sus-
" nonun^s les lieux dont ils se sont emparez,— et qu'il ne seroit pas raisonnable qu'il lea fist
« sans quelque eapoir de renJtoursement,— elle a donn6 charge de convenir en son nom aveo
" notre oncle le Due de Vandosme, que moycnnaut cela il demeurera, enaemble ses hoirs,
" succesaeurs et ayant cause, conjoinctcment avec elle, ses enfans et ayant cause, Co-Seigneurs'
" de ses terres et pays de Acadie et isles adjacentes de la N. F. en TAmSrique Septen-
" trionale, gouvemement et pouvoirs y attribuer, et d'en signer et arrester ainsy qu'U • £te
" iaict un traits d'association," etc
§ 218.— The only remaining document citable in this connexion, which I
have been able to find, is the commi88ion(/) granted by the King to Nicolas
Denys, in 1654 (Jan. 30), pending his struggles with le Borgne, and just before
the surrender (by la Tour and le Borgne) of the parts of Acadie for which they
were fighting, to the English.
This Commission recognizes Denys as formerly " itutitui et itabli par la com^
" pagnie de la Nouvelle France " as Governor of the territory from Cap Rosiers
(e) MSS. Doo. Que. Hist. Soo., 2nd Series, Vol. 1, pp. 221—3.
(/) Edits it Obd., 4o, Vol 2, pp. \1 it $eg. ; OoM. DBS Gouv. n hn^ pp. 17 et uq.
118
-"^':!!fi^:^7}!::2:'i^:::z '- r '-' " ^-- -^-
" mam arm^ et »ars auJn Z't "' " ^"^^^^''^^'^^y^d hi, settlement, " d
Pbra.,0 that .„.ks the Cor. ^21 'JmTt cZ """' '"T "'"''^"''^ ^'
Tour, oonfirms-or natnos-hin. Z V . ^''"""*">'' «"J of 1051 to U
Cnpo Breton and oiC2n^X^:Zi:L ^'''f ""' ''^ Newfoundland,
" paffHie de la N. F.- etc. ^ """"' domination et la ditc com-
Like the Commission to la Tmir tu\ • .
Co,npan,. old grant, to hi„^I:;;;';;r^^^^^^ *° -"«™ '^«
of Ih. prop,i»ta,r right th.reby convoy.J | ^ """' '» «•!««
for .lleg,d t„..„„, b, Oh.n,I17 " '""^ <li,po,«d
tb.. be b'.d oL^JSZfZ IZ^V Tt""^ •'"■«"6l. it i. probable
been CWnmjV ' " '" '"''"S ^ >'•"•''! «" tbat b.d
«t,i"bX™e si'srrc "°'"'"° "■ " ■■' '"'"" '»^
tieml '" "°°' "" ''"'"■' « general regdalion a. to
sage :— ^ "* **' '"® claim, there occurs this pas-
^WMSS. V^ „, H,.,, s», W S.H.,,V.,.„^ «,_,„,_„,, „^ J ^,,
m
"^ 0« Icttre* [(!« T6r. 1647, an Sr. CiinmUay] n'^laient fmlni »oT6g{»Mt», •! ■( on trail
" TiHil'i lea faire enr6giatrer, on n'oilt pas mtiniuu d'j fuiru opponui. ij de la part de la com-
"|M(P«M dv Ml ^- ('■! 4 qui toute I'Auu'lie et le commerce dei pollvtorics cxcluiif avait Otd
■* $»tm*if 6 par Mit du nioia de Mai 16U^', rrgiatrd au parlement de Dordeauz, laquelle com-
** pl^i' HiM*fMt, et nu pK'judice do loquelle ces letlro^ pateotei na pourraioot paa aroir
— showing that tli<9 Crown lawyers of that day wore far enough from fancying
that the Crown liad any (lispcnmng power over its contracts, or that it» contract
with tlio Company of Now France Iiad passed to that l)ody anything short of the
bond fide propriotorHhip of tho soil, — as the deed said.
§221. — Indeed, this JfrfmojVc goes further; for it follows tip tho foregoing
extract, thus :—
" Quand on prondrait droit par ces Mtrofi, eltes ne dannai«nt an 8i«ur d'Auliuy [CTiami-
" aay] que le pouToir do s'approprier ca qu'il jugerait (5trc plua commode et proprc & ton
" 6tabli8iement et usage. Le droit de la rvure et de ses eofiuu £tait done r^duit d co qa'i)
" s'en 6tail approprid «i ulemant, et ne comprenait poa toute I'Acadie."
Distinguishing exactly this smaller grant to Charnisay, (upon the supposition,
always, of its having had any force at all,) from the larger grant to tho Com-
pany, tho rapporteur yet makos it vastly larger than the anti-seigniorial theory
would allow that to the Company to have been. Charnisay was free to take to
himself what he would ; and what he should have taken, would have become his
own. The Company, without having to appropriato anything, had all for its
own. By tho anti-soigniorial theory, holding all in trust, it could not so much
as appropriate anything in derogation of its trust. No such theory could have
been hinted at to the Conseil iTEtat, or (for that matter) to any body in those
times, — whether by a Dagucssoau, or by any less distingnislied Crown law officer,
or by anybody else.
§ 222. — Charnisay's grant of 1647, such as it was, and these confirmations to
la Tour and Denys, of 1651 and 1654, all provide for sub-granting, — equally
with tho grant to tho Company. But how ?
To CL," nisay there purported to be given a power of granting lands not
specially made his own ; in other words, » power of granting what was treated
by that instrument as if it were Crown )and. And with such grants, still accoi I
ing to that instrument, he was authorised to confer any kind of title or othpr
right, without restriction. — Could any one under that instrument demand a ; ;' ,
of him, as a right ? If so, on what terms ? Who were to be titled, or otherwise
privileged ? Who, but Charnisay, was to judge of the " qualUia, merites et »er-
" vicfs des personnes" — according to which, always, his grant purported to make
him free to m •• out his grants, by way of reward, as he should see fit ?
To la Tour a O^mys, — as to the Company, — the permission came, as having
reference to >iLat v <\^ .itte*^ t v be their own. And it came with those added
words: "otn« ','''> "''" ':"n itre, suivant let qualitis, mirites et services deg
** peraonnes." '"/hfit i. .'«9t sense could i; .syo borne in their case, than what it
bore in the grant to the i. >inpany ? Freeing them from control or interference
117
IM Kms. ot Fn»t. ,d.w, K, ,b, „tu.„„, „, c«,.J..-(i)
-i'
118
§ 228.— The seven properties acquired by the Jesuits were the following-—
1— Land at Three Rivers (600 arpents), under Title No. 4 of Abstract
rr^r^''^[l ^*"'^ '^'' '^''°^'' originally granted by the Due de Ventadour
(liUe No. t2, cited suprd, § 163) ; confirmed by Titles fS and 32.
*a^"f^f' ^°"'^ ^'"""""^ "' ^"''^'' (°^"°'^ *' ^^* ^2 arpents), under Titles
j<7 And o2*
4. — The Isle des Ruauz, under Title 18.
«•— La Vacberie, acquired in eichange for part of their College ground- con-
firmed under Title 32. e> t. .
6.— The Isle St Christophe, by Title 38c.
v.— Land at Tadoussac (6 arpents), by Title 42.
§ 229.— No two of these titles read alike; but they are all of them as far
from bmitative of the grantees' property in the grants made, as they well could
^^ § 230.— The 800 arpente at Three Rivers are given "i toujonrs," «en toute
u P'"°P"^'6. «e.gneurie, tout ainay quHl a pleu au roy nout concider le dit pays
de la N F. ' It may surely be assumed that it was not meant to require sub-
granting from so small a grant ; the rest of the tHle hinting at nothing of the
»ort So that these words become double indicative.-as showing, not merely
that the Company meant to give by the same sort of tenure as that under which
they had taken, but also that they hekl their ownership of New France for m
pnvate a property as that of a 600 arpent plot might be in the hands of a
religious community.
Notre Dame des Anges is first confirmed by Title fS. and the College ground
Titl ,f !^ V ^ u' ''• ^^'"'^ " ' '""J*^"'-'" '" " «" *«"'« P^-P"6'6." later, by
Title 32, the Jesuits having successfully claimed release from every kind of
charge or condition as attached to these grants,_Notre Dame des Anges is re-
granted a perpetuite, et en pleine proprieto, en/ranc aleu,{k) avec tous droits de
^^ ^aute, moyenne et basse justice, seigneur^aux et f6odaux, droit de pesche sur
^ lesdites rivieres, vis-4-vi8 de leurs concessions, privativement ^ tous autres,
mfeme les prez que la mer couvre et decouvre k chaque mur6e, sans aucune
charge ny redevance," under reserve only of appeals from their Justice to the
Grand S6u6chal of New France. And by the same Title, the College ground
and La Vachene were confirmed to them "en main-morte, sans aucune charge
"ny redevance."(it) ®
1 1*?J' ^^w • q"«"i«n '««ed at the ai^ument befor, this Court, whether or not the Companr
had the light to create an alcK vuiujwuy
h.°d!lSf * ^I"" specially conferred by the 6th Section of their Charter, this might well
Crown might possibly have proved to be more naminal than r«l. ^he gr«.t. inihe «.««
119
Isle des Ruaux, a small property, was given bv Tnh n « «„ ♦ .
" sistanco et estendue, sans en rien etenirTi " emr I /n!' ' '" ''"'
/»»«*. »^„ „,.„,„, ..„„,,„,„„„t„^„_ , p„|^,^.^_ ^^ ^,^ ;'__»,
T..I. 4 (for th. la„d .. Tl„«. !«„„, i,„p„,., „,. f,|,„i„^^ „„j „„<,u,c„._
"tions ndcessaires.-! ^ q" 'l" el^oisTont pour ks cultirer et dre.ser lea hubita-
••i:..^.uro,r:ce7r;:::;^t^^^^^^^^^^^^
"ccrtifi^e et que coUU>^^ZTlZh^rT f Tl ^TP-^^i^' ««» <l"'e"e en soit
"faire p^Jsui^^vScylst^r^''^ "'*"' '^^"'^'^ <>« "-«'« ^e ceu, qu'eUe doit
Title 13 (for Isle des Ruaux) says the same thing in other words.-except that
of tr^eTaT ''"" ''''' '' ''''-' ""' """^'^ ''' -'~ ^« ^^« ~s:t
the. having sLeelaLldrcfnrL^
to rel.g.ous services, and (in the latter) as to honors to the Company. Of thes^
wero grant, of persons ^ of t tad. oulTn: J "^"^' ^'"'^' '° '""^ "^ '"''^
" «m« ju'i/, jLront d JoHZTT °[^Z-^'-^- ^'^'^"^ K'^'e" to distribute sucJ. lands
ou^ certai;.,) of snu^j;: ;:,:rr::?^^^^
tion. '^ "^ "'^ S™"* " "'" '"'O'^" to have been ever ealled in ques-
li
Ir
120
the reservation of land clau,eB are the only ones that hare any interest here :-
" rue7o?;raVS- ''' •''''^''' ^-^ ^-^' '•'- ^-^ - ^-^ ^^ Q-^^cc et e„"u S!
ut besom de p,rtye dee dites terre, pour y faire bastir un fort ou autres baat. Z.T
7.-"etd6s a present ils laisBeront. pour la commodit6 publique, un chemin royal de 20
t^jses de argeur le long des borde de la dito .ivi.re St. Charle.'et du dit Z7st. Lau
rent, en 1 estendue dei terres k eui oonc^diies."
Title 32, of course did away with all condition as to these two properties, and
Zl .' tT ^"^ '^' ^^'^ ^' ^^'''''^^' "°^ '^"'l *' Tadoussac wer also
granted, without condition of any kind.
§ 232.-The Company, then, though bound towards the King, to cause a
certan amount of emigration to New France, did not bind these grantees to
effect any part of it. For the Jesuits, these contracts created-not an obligation
carry out any given number to the satisfaction of the Company-but nriaht
hesarrf -"'-"f«.-""try whom they pleased, witU reference to
the «a .sfaction or dissatisfaction of the Company as to their choice. All the
sh^TdTake t ,f r'^""' ''• ^'" '" ^'^ '^"« ^' any shipments that th?;
m Its returns to the King, for its own discharge towards the King.-The Jesuits
need not send out a settler, unless they chose
contatJ" t te^"^"'"' Tr/" '^^'^^ P-^-'« «f -ntrol, under their
contracte, as to the way m which the Jesuits should deal with their lands -
whether as their own property, or in the way of alienation by sub Jrat or otheT
wise. Large grant or small, all are alike in this. Indeed, L to t£ We ^ I
the H^ost striking incidental proof is given of the absoluLness of the proTtv
meant to be transferred, by the terms of the special reservations of roadraTdlf
buldbr".^r:r'*'""' """P''^'^ °^'-<^ ^- ^-^s or other putlo
suffilT; .^M '^'''' '* ^"^ "°* *""S^* *^^* '^' g'-««t«e« would have b „
ufficienlyhela to he render of their land, even for these public uses. W J
these petty reservations made,-wa, the sweeping reservation of a right tole
concessK,n on such and such terms, ^^anMAo^A «o* «arfe .^-Lf he pe y
reservations that were made, were given up. ^ ^
a„ff/«7''' '^""t ^''T'J'"'' '^' ^''P^'"°° '^ ^'^^ "°der restriction,-
and the Company from the disposition to restrict them.
Qu!be?--'^''''' properties are to be noted, as acquired by the H6tel Dieu of
l.-Lands at and near Quebec (12 arpents in town, 30 in the banlieue, and
200 near it), under Title da of Abstract.
2.~Grondine8 (W. part), under Title 10.
8.— St. Ignace, under Title 346.
121
§ 234.-The first of these titles seems to have been lost; but it is sufficiently
recited in the second of them. "umciently
By this latter (No. 10), the land in the town is declared to be given for the
bu.ld>ngoftheConvent,-and Grondines (1 league by 10) by Z of flhe,
endowment of it. The condition, if any, of the th'ree ialler tLta are n"
stated. Those of the fourth and large tract make it (strictly speaking) a grant
to be held nobly^ par servtce divin ; under obligation- to render an Lu fvery
20 yean,,-to offer a yearly mass.-to hand in rolls of any emigrants that might
be sent out,-and lastly, to enforce the Edict as to the trade in peltry.
T?lwr"^'^^^'^r^^"'''*'*'' ^^°- 34*) recites a donation to the Nuns, by
Robe.t G,ffard, of a part of a grant formerly made to him by the Compan;,-
and on their prayer thus confirms and enlarges their ownership :-
-."avons confirms et confirmons, et en fant que besoin est ou 8e«,it, donng. con«5d6 et ac
St. Charles, et 10 heucs de profondeur, A prendre • • et pardevant k la riviere St. Charles.
U cute ny.ere eomprise. isles et islets estant en icelle. vis d vis la dite i lieue de conc^lo
The words « enfranche aunOne et franc aleu» are certainly here out of place ;
« the two tenures are incompatible with each other,_and indeed, the obligation
to render ana..„eveY 20 years is (in strictness) incompatible with either.
But we certainly have here a grant, of noble tenure,-and one that was free of
all burthen save this of rendering aveux.
§ 236.-The Ursulines' properties may be called two in number-—
4«A '7^^'"!?.* !"^"?' ^"'^'" ^* ""'"^*"' «^ «'"*" ^'^H under Titles tSa.
t86, tl7a, \26b, t286, f28p, t28rf, and 34a. ' '
2.— Ste. Croix, under Titles fSa and 34a.
Jjnr?L^^V'oTf^"' "*''^ ^°' *^' ™""«'' *'^°t« *t ""'J "«a^ Quebec,
tT!^T If' !1 "'' ''''"* "" ^'"^- '^^' «*^"» "« -erely referred
TitMSaand^r ''^^'' '''''''' '^''''' ^^^^^ ^^ '^^ '^^ ^^^'^^ ^^
view to the endowment of the grantees, 12 arpents for their buildings, Ac, and
alsoSte Croix (1 league by 10) ; and by the latter, they added 30 arpents in
the banheue of Quebec, and 200 arpents near it ; .11, on the same terms ; that
IS to say under obl.gation_to render an av^u every 20 years,-to offer a yearly
m ss,_to hand in rolls of their emigrants,-to eaforce theedict as to trade in
peltry, — and further —
pour commeacer & dcfnchcr, oultiver et batir sur lea dites terre. conc^d^es et nareil
"nombre de 6 personne. I'ann^e suivante, autrement la dite concession dTmrureranl?!:''
122
■^r in other words, par service divln, and en mgneurie, witli this last special
obligation over and above those of tbe Grondinos grant (suprd, 8 234) to the
Hotel Dieu. \ •« > o /
As to this special obligation, by tlie way, it may be worthy of passing note,
Uiat the fact of its being here stipulated adds weight to that of its not beinrr
"tipulated in any other of the granU we have yet come to. When the Com°
pany meant to bind a grantee to take out emigrants, they knew the words to
use. When they merely required a deposit of rolls of such emigrants as might
be sent out, they did so, as meaning not to bind the grantee to effect any larffor
emigration than he might choose.
But it would seem that these grantees liked restriction of any kind as
little as the Jesuite or as the Ladies of the Hotel Dieu ; and that the Company
cared as little to restrict them. For, by Title 34a, all their grants, small and
large alike, were confirmed to them —
— " en franc alleu et main raorte, avcc pouvoir de bailler Ics dits licux en fiefs, cens et rentes.
^ portant lods etventes, saisines et amendes, meme le ditlieude Stc. Croix en toute jus-
tice, haute, moyenne et basse, avec tout droit de p^clie dans le fleuve St. Laurent le long
ae leur concession, d perp6tuit6,—
l.-xsans autre redcvance que les devotions desquelles elles s'acquittent tous les ans de la
" dite Compagnie, —
2.-«et & la charge de donner un aveu et donombrcment des dits heritages de 20 ans en 20
ana aux officiers de la dite Compagnie rfisidant d Qu6bec."
The words "en/ranc aleu" are of course as inaccurate, in a technical point
of view, hero, as in the St. Ignace grant to the Hotel Dieu just remarked upon
{suprd, § 235), and which bears date of the same year. But the grant is, not the
less, a grant of almost the largest property that the Company could give; con-
stituting all the properties in question (one of them being of 1 perch of land
only) into grants par service divin and en seigneurie, clear of all obligation, save
the required religious service and the «t;e«,— and adding to the one large pro-
perty the distinctive attributes of ih^ justice of all grades, and of the pSch« in
the St. Lawrence.
§ 238.— A sort of intermediate link between these grants to religious bodies
and the ordinary lay grants of the Company, is to be found in the grant of
Sillery, by Titles t29 and t30.
These Titles are very peculiar, and very interesting.
§ 239.— The former sets forth the grant, as made by the Company.
After recital of the Company's desire to bring together the Indian population
for religious teaching,— the attachment of certain converted Indians to Sillery —
and the building of a church there for them, by the Je8uit8,-thi8 grant runs
thus m favour of these Indians : —
•-« nous leur avons donn6 et donnons par ces prfeentes, de notre plein gr6, Testendue d'une
Ueue de terre depuis •• sur 4 lleues de profondeur, le tout sous la conduite et direction
de. pSres Jesmtes qui les ont convertis & la foy chrestienne, et de leu™ suecesseurs-
I!3
*-"«!!• toutofois dSroger mz mnomiionf do quolaim nopti™ -u.™
■r^ »p„.i„ ou».» d. „.,^. ^2. i ,*v.r,f i':::;:!"'!":
;;.™^p., .„ .i. . «^ rrjr rjrrr x:^^^
»n»,..i ™.",;»r.,r:. '"""•»"• "™. .i"p.«»*.,p„„u„ .„
the spot ar., Wi»t.r ■■ °"" """ «""' "»"'""<■ "'«' •'
Tl™ coafirm»tio„ (No, (3O), .(te, peoiul ot ll,» Comp..,'. g„„,, „d of the
King's wi.h to forward it. object, ppoceedB- gram, ana ot the
: 3^»d. .,.,. ..n, .. „;„. .„ ,. »T^ --» :',*T-p,si~ --t
i
f
ii"
irt
1S4
" Uu^^^l'::'''' -""«"' •"" "*"'"•'- ''"••^ --' t.„n. d-en r.ndr. oompte qu'd
people ,„ h.n. or fish IherJ.-Jl ^ilt'lSr ft T "' "'""'"^
that leave, they were to be », fr„ / f °' "" '''""''•• ^1*
otter, ne womT" «™e,.,^ /" "^''°° °' """ "''"8' " '» -l" "7
together; .. ^LioZT^Z^Z:""" '' *""—"/ -
.1.1?-""" "'""^ «"»'• "' "• '-^"■"P'V «l«it of divWo. i.„ .e,e„,
..^:h:^trio:;i;x^r--i^^^^^^^^
One, at least, purports to grant Justice, moyenn, et bam only. ^'
Others are en fief, tans justice. ^
J:::Cl:i ""^^^ ^ '^^^ '^^ '"*^^' "« "°* -^^^ ^ - ^^^^ ^helr tenor
One, of those extant, hardly admits of being classed.
Aiid, lastly, some are en eensive.
§ 243.-The grants purporting to pass the same measure of estat« ^, fl.-
Company held, cover the following properties :- *^*
l.-Beauport (1 league by 1 J leagues, with augmentation in deoth of 21 1«
more), under Titles 3 and 35 of AbstbIot ^ * ^"^"^
2.-LaCitiere(ofuna«certained extent, butpresumablycoveringall the District
Its
3.— Lauzon (6 leagues by 6 leagues), under Title 6.
5.— The Isle d'Orl6an8, under Title 7.
e.—The lale de Montr6al, under Titles f7a, 16, 16 and 46.
v.— St. Sulpice (2 leagues by 6), under Titles 15 and 16 '
9.— Mille Vaches (3 leagues by 4), under Title 36
nnd'e"; ^eTf' """"'"^^ °' ^^'"'^ ""^ ^'«"''^'-' (^^"^ ^ ^o 3 leagues, by 4,)
ll.-St. Roob des Aunais (3 leagues by 2), under Tide 41.
§ 244.-The common granting phrase of these titles reads thus :_
^llTi' ^^".f ; J"'"? ** Beigneurie. 4 perp6tuit6. tout ainsi et 4 pareiU droits an'il
a plu 4 Sa Majestfi dormer le paya de la NoureUe France 4 la dite ComjJagnie." ^
^^ Where these are not the precise words, others equivalent to them take their
§ 245 -Of the intent of these words, as purporting to grant every descrip-
tion of stream, arge and small, and indeed all land covered with water rwdl
as all mmes w.thm the territo.y covered by each title, there can be no quttln
ndependently of the effect of the words sei,neurie .n. Justice assupT^i
to the word ^o;,n^|^,-.he Company took their grant, as expressly includtg
terres, rmnes, rmmires, (pour jouir toutefois des dites mines confoLomentf
of?h™f ^r ''"''*i°" ""i"""' '^' P'°P*^^ ""Sht to be classed here, orunder the head
of the grants of unascertained tenor. ^
I rank it here, because from Document No. 40 of the firet series, laid by Government before
the olnir r"'^'. ""' "•'*' ''^'''' ^'"'•^ *»•« grants of Lauzon. iuprfe'tc X"
fact of jt8 being a grant to a son of Jean de Lauion. there can ha no i\a„^.^ T- ?
issued in the most favorable form then used for gral to 1^0 '""" °' "* '"""'«
The extent of the grant appears, from the fact8,-that Laprairie (Title 18> n.rfo .f r
gueuil Tales 446 and 80a). the Isle St. Paul near Montrrmtle a 49 ^d^^^^^^^^
<^Ued the Isle St. Jean aregiven as iU upper boundary ; and the Rividre St. Francois LS
»te lower boundary. What was meant by the words « mr et lac-' must be Jtir of^n
I
I
1S6
" I'ordonnance,) perls et havres, fltuves, riviim, itang, iales. islob. m »i, a i
In somo particular instances, indeed, as rejyardpd rivpr. onj i i
th.« «or.ls m ll,e grant.-Thu., the Bo«up„,t .rant (Till, si i, Jl t
•lartinj „hc,. ,1,. H,«, died Noto D«„/„. 8,'.^! w „\ .1^8?^'' "
«n«; .„d .l,e »,nl. .,, added .1.,,,.. ^..m.,,X'tlti^^:^^^^:
—words that could not have been so added if thev 1. Jl n.t V!. /P"^"'
f™ap.tofthe.r,propert^^^^^^^
(Title 5,) th« case >s stronger, if possible ; for there the description of hTl'
ject granted reads, " /« W... 5.„,.„., scitu.e -, .v.o 6 Heue "dep of d «;
"dans les terres, et 3 lieues ^ chaque cost6 de la dite riviere "-iTn!!
nver the first object of the grant, and giving the land on ei her' side S/-
The grant of Gaudarvdle (Title 33) contains the unnecessary words, C dVttut
le compns en :ceux. tant en bois, pros, riviires, ruimauJ, lacs, isles et J"?
ralement de tout lo contenu entre les dites homes ;" and that of !« A *
tation of Gaudarville (Title 37), like that of Beaup^t, bounS: th 1 Jr^
nver wh.ch .^all „,eant to fall within it,-adds " ickle R^^^ ^ cllt*
ympnser-l^, pnse de possession of La Citiere describes that granff "S
cons,stance des pays, isles, riviires, mer et lac mentionnees par^la d tTcol!
" cess,on." (5«^rd§ 243, Note (O).-And the second grant of Montreal, wUhs"
Sulpu^e, (T.tle 15, grants the rights of "pesehe et navigation dans e grand
fleuve St. Laureut, et autres lacs de la Nouvelle Franco,/o.,.* excepti en^uz
-qu^aurorent 4U concidis en propriite aux particuliers ^ showing Chat a
matter of course affair the concession of a navigable stream or lll^e as a 1
perty, was then taken for.(m) ^® *^ * ^^°'
§ 246.— In the matter of the conditions attached to these ,rran#. ♦!,
J l^:':^^^! ''' '"" ^"'''"' '' *'^ ^°"P^"^ «« ^°--°^ fo« varieties
ForBeauport, La Citi6re (presumably), Lauzon, Beaupr6, the Isle d'0rl6ans.
and the fim grant Title fTa) of Montreal, they we.x,, at eacL mutation of pos^
sessor, with the rendering of homma,e li,e, " une maUle ^or du pT. d deZy
(m) Indeed, the extreme readiness with which in thn«P Ao-^^ »„. / ^ .
was heldfor private propert,io the handsofSolr^^^^^^^^^
by any one familiar with the doeuments of the period Co "m . ^""'^
registered in Kew France, by the way.) in its aLX„nhe^;ee^t:pTr;; : hTorl"*
Bcen that they were -Lually delVwl^t J^^^^ ^'" »«
perty of one or another grantee Seignior! "avigoble. to be the private pro-
127
que U dit ** te sera riservi apria avoir donni en Apf «« ^ , .
and 40 wr'"'' "' ^''"!''^ *''° '''=•'"'' *™«' *"^» f""- St- Sulpice, (Titles 15 16
and 40,) there was to be— with the render of ordinarv li '
For Gaudarville, as first irrantcd rritln •\'i\ <> »«»„ i-
wa. c„,„b,„ed ..„ „.„„ ^.„ „„„,,, „ ,. „^ rrZ 2 IS^ j?'"
once, A OHAQUE MUTATION DK RoY " ''^ ""*
out of wLicb even .«chTw of glT IT'" 17 «™'' »'"■'' f'".
After h.,i„/.„""',!d 1«^. ■ '"'''"' "»'<li"'a-e"nouuWI-
WW „a, b. .n ,„ a„a „„, i„ „<,„,„_ .j^„ „,^^ „„,^ _^_, __J « _^»' ■*•£
188
were „„Uikely,„hrrt'Jr^r""""°' "'''■''''' <'»"'P»''y.»»'l"l'»
of the ,„,„o g«„,r.l cl«», .„d Zwll Z .T" *°"' '"" '" "'» °"'" '■"•»
o.mn„„ ,.n„ .hid, ev.,; bl Sr?„,t ' '""'P""!"" th.„ ™l„ „f
•bie j.h. 8„„.„, _"; L^ wri"„r,:bi: t " t f "■" """ ""■'■
tion not being by sulo nor vet ^ !!n„. ^ ■ , ^ ^^ °" ^^"^ »""'«■
nal coin, was to p y a S rlZ. 7a'~\ T"* ''^''*' '^"''^^^ ^-'^'^ "'''"i-
King.-a„.,.nt^7h:r;\:;" {:t:i^^^^^
mutation of possessor ;-whiIe the^eLored ;„;"" hfhe nom^ ""^
pay-not tl.e revenue of the whole /?./-_but Z;!i . } """"' '"'•"^ ***
Unjiop nil nf ♦J,„.^ X "" yraniing en jiej or en censive.
p«.fll w« f™, to Jcmetiurn'L 1 7 t"''" '"" "' «°""""- »»
fte form of . .„b.™„t « J/A '^ "■"°" ""' *<'"l'' ''«™ '"»'■ P"' hto
migh. b. cried e™ zZiZTii :r r' ■""• '" "■" p"™-
b/lho operation of i™ !&/■ 1? "^ ^ • "" ''""°'" "' J"'™ ""owed
(n) FWe suprd, § 102, etc.
It is assumed here, that the Oustom of Paris in fho .1,.
governed New France even at this tTme Bv'Z ^ "" "^ """*'"''•" '" '^' ''«"t""7»
Company recognised it. apparenUy f r t he fi^^ f^ t?"?*."' *?"'"" ^'^ ^'"^ *^^
their treaty with the habUant, in 1M6, (2rl ^2 ^ ^^, a\"" i"'" ^•"'^' ""'' •"'»
recognition. But as the Metropolitan CusS ti mat 1 K^ . ^^ *'* King,_repeat the
presumed rule from the first ' ^ P'°'"*^'y •"> *"''«" *° have been the
applicable to this period, it wou d Itlletfn {. ^"'''"° °^ ^*"'' '•-«'' »'« i^<>^8^i
lands of the count^ shodd L glluy i d ZtwTT'' ?'"*■ """^ " '""^ "''^^
M matter of Canadian law. wUd.-but would not avaU to do away with them
129
liaving one or other of the two feudal forms If \„.u„ i .1
/le/s should choose to alienate niocen.eal ^ ' ! ' ' »'*"*''''' ''^ »''«««
year's revenue would h.ve eeTt 'e "Z IIXT ""'" °' '''''' ^^^-' "
»m.Ie between such alie.utions, on he LoUch""^^^ """ '"" '""
money. The distinction of sale and not Tl "' ""' "'""">' '"■ ""' ''"^
there could have been no di£e . d' boZe'f Z'' ^:'' ' """'''^^^"-•
with deniers cTcntrie, and that withouT^ T >"""' '" "^^^ '^'- ^ '''"">
rccogn.se a. withdrawn from his immeite .«oVl: V^f- ' °"'"""^'""^'
him, was deemed of the highest vil„„ • =„ 1 , '"J^'^^en m sp,te of
great feudatories of tie C lw„ * ' of H ' "' 'Y '' "" ''"'^'^ ^>' *''«
speaks of this claim thus :- ' ''"" P'^"'"*^ P"^''«S««- I-ovsk..
"e;t';rXTiL'rernoa7r'" -'«-"-Mm e,t d-une notable i.p„.,„e. • .
" qui lo, pui.ent donned do lei pit £ ^^^^^^^^^ " '""' "'"<="''"• •^"'" '''^ " <1"'--
gument has to twist it inlo a heavy burtl andTm7J Tk"7"'""^' ''^■
not on these parties only-but on'ev^y bod.; To '"'^ '"''^" ^'^'^
§ 250.-If proof that the view here taken is the correct one oonM K
it would be found in the recitals of a Ui.. V\ • ' ^ ^° wanting,
these properties. '"'°' ^""' '""^'"^ '^'"''•^^^^^ to two of
(as wen as of SaulLMate, /p I^^^^^^^ ^'^ZLV '7 '''' ?'^^"^'
/./.fromtheburthensimposedbytW I 37 J ' '^'"' '"*'
-^e^..nti„g. (.L34 r::ir'citr=-::
"on6reuse,"eto. ""^"^"^ "'""^^ '««"' Seigneur Evesquc estime trop
And upon this representation by the Bishop, the burthen was remitted and
all the conditions of these grant, reduced to the four below stated ; a^th^; not
(0) i)« Seigneuries, Ohap. 8, No. 22 ;.p. 31, Edn. of 1701.
ISO
•imply by tho Company, but by nn.l with tho mlvico niso of tho Cornn.issionor,
.vho wore tl.en «ct.nK for tho Crown i„ roferc.ce to tho Con,p„„y'„ „„Hi,.,, then
Dot m the mo8t flourishing state. Tho words of tho dued are those :—
-" «von,, pour et »- nom de la .lite Compagnio. et de I'avi. ,le • • oorami,«irc« nomm«, par
lo Boy pour . . employ de. cffot. .1.. la dite Cumpagnio, r.mis ct rcm.ttous par ce.
^_ pri».nlo. au a . Seigneur Evonquo tout c« qu'il pourroit devoir • • et avons dfioharKo et
dcclmrKuon, le. d.U do.nninc.. terro. et seiKuouric, de Beauprfi ct I,le d'Orl^an. du devoir
etobl.gafou de payer A la ditc Compagnio lo roveu., d'.mo aunfio d cLaquo mutation de
pos.cH.eur .avoir.., demeurcr.n.t .culemont lo dit Scigoeur Evo.que 86minaire. ou
autre, qui lo. possfidcront A Pavcnir obligt'i—
^''qIIC- '** '^"^ "' ''"'"""^'' ^ ^ '"'" Compnguie de 20 an. en 20 an,, au Cbflteau de
2.-" avec UDC mailie d'or du poi. dc dcmi once pour ebacuno do. ditos .cignouric-
8.~" dont leg appellation, rcs.ortiront au Con.eil .ouverain de Qu(3b<'_
(and furlber, for indulgence as to all tbrco Soigniorios )
4.-" et .era en outre oblig,", ledit Seigneur Kvenquo, ou ... ayant cau.e, en r.oonn.i..«,ce
do la dito remieo de faiiu cCdubrer toui les an. une messc • •
-"moyennunt le.quellos charge, et Ic pr6.ont rfiglement,' le. d. terres et acqui.itionp,
^' tont le di emplacomcnt [Sault-au Matelot] que Ic. dite. .cigneurie, do I!caupr6 et Isle
d Orkan. demeurerout quitte et de.obargfi pour toujour, de ton. autre, droit, quolconquo.."
So much for the pretence that this clause (reductive of the ordinary dues of
tho /(/-though not enough so to meet the wishes of the Bishop) meant the
opposite of what it said.
§ 251.— To proceed, then, to another.
Two of theso grants and two only, do contain a further reference to alienation.
But lu what sense? Not only do they not require it in any shape, as by sub-
granting or otherwise. They simply restrict it.-and by two rules not in the least
That of Beauport (Title 8) reads —
6.-8ans quo le dit • * pui..ent disposer de tout ou de partie de. lieux cy de.8us d lay
eoncodesquavcclegr6etconsentomcntdeladiteCompaguio.pendantletormeetespaea
do 10 aa. d compter du jour des prdsente.,. apr.s. lequol temps il luy .era loisible d'en
'• de ultrCom^agl'"''^"' '°'^'^' ^"'^"""''^ requi.epar I'^dit de Testablissement
And the grann of Montreal and St. Sulpice (Title 16) roads—
8.-" ne pourront aussi los dits * • faire cession on transport de tout ou de parties des choses
cy dessusconc6dee.,au profit do ceux qui .eront desjd habituez .ur le. lieux, .oit d Qu6bcc,
aux Trois^RivicVcs ou ailleur. en la N. F., mais Bouloment d ceux qui youdront pasa«
exprfis, affin que la colome en soit d'autant plus augment^e."— ^^
The grantee of the former (in 1634, when the Company was just beginninc
to make their grants) was bound by contract not to alienate in any way-
whether by sub-grant or otherwise-to any one whatever, any part of his grant
(p) Tbe only other grant of the Company, directly referring to this matter. aUo uUrictt
ahenation,— but again, by a third rule.— See tn/rd, § 262.
au CbAtcBu de
r«ooDDaiuanca
80 rt$tricti
f^f if'n years to como, unlcsa with have of »l,n r
The grantee, of the l,ut«r (i 1g7 ,vv^2 "fV '""'';'"'" ^"""•''■<^-
contract not to ah'enatoin any way-wL i T >, ''"""'"'^^^ ""'''' ^"""'' ^7
one rosi,,o„t in Now ^>«nco/„„y [.rt i;l:^r"r'.°'''----to«ny
".i,irl.t.lo.oasthoyM.onlJ ,loal at.l ir ' ""' *" ^"•"«; l-"'
fit .0 .end outfrom Franco on purp.l ' ) ' "^ °°" "'"'" *''«^' ""gl't see
One clocH not w..n,!..r at tho fact that luAth.r i
way into any oth.r contract of concelsi^!/ ^'' '^'""'^ "^'"^ '° ''"ve found iu
J!"t one wfli may wondor that it «hoiiM'l,^v« i
»arvolio«s pr.ton.ion-that would r Z :r° "'"""^' ''' ^""'^^ ^'-'
contract.,, ah'ko, into holders of junt a tn.s -e^ta ! r l' "''•'""^ '''^'' "" *''-«
and on no otherB. ^ ' *^''''"*'' *'^' "lienation o., certain term>
g 262.-Cio.eiy connecto<l with the suhject mattor „f f. ,
a l..-cu!.arity marking one grant, only of t^i! I ■''""■'" '"'"'""^H ^^
Montreal and St. Sulpice. It reads tl"u8 ':- "'~*^''^ ^"'"° ^itlo is/ of
11.—" pour commcncer il fnirc v«lnir lo. .»
;;dor«irepH.er„ombro..o,„™e;e LS"p:;^,:'r; ""'"f"'' "">"' '-- '« * *
" Oon.pagnio, avoc lea provision. n,?cc8,n.re,;nn '^ '^^">f"'rquem..nt que fera la dite
eoni6ofllreolherllll..„f,k- , ,. »"""'»" "l «•"• Corap,.„ij.-_
tui»g™wtoHfgi„„.b„ji,,.,i^;,'7,;/ « k»" "'"• ■»'"» »' '.■.
thai, like one of i|,„,„ ,„ ,|,o .>„„,,■ '. , " " "« ""'y S'»iil of tl,„ „!«.
(?) Tliis title was specially ratified h^ #l,« ir- ,,t
p«^ »prt„ „ta. a.,^,.„ ,„ .„,„4°.°; ™ ;- " "i»."i « .. fab, .„. p^
i
i^
I
'1
!! •m'
192
of the special clause aa to not granting land to any but emigrants, also thrown
into It, both requirements facultative— oxperimentative— and apparently pecu-
liar to this single grant. '
§ 253.— This grant of Montreal and St. Sulpice is peculiar as regards two otlier
connected clauses : —
9.-" entend la dite Compagnie que la pr^sente concession ne pulsse pr6jndicier a la liberty
" de la navigation, qui sera commune aux habitants de la N. F., et par tou» leg lieus cv-
" dessus conc6d6s, — '
10^"et a cet effet qu'il Boit laiss^ un grand chemin royal de 20 toises de large tout d Pen-
tour de la dite isle depuis la rivifire jusques aui. tcrres. et pareille distance sur le fleuve
St Laurent dcpuis la rivo d'lccluy jusques nux terres conced^es, le tout pour servir a la
dite navigation et passage qui se fait par terre .•"— .
—indicative of an impression, (as to which we shall find further marked indica-
tions in other grants presently to be noted,) that the grant was of a property
of so large and high a kind, as in the absence of reservation of this kind mi<rht
warrant the grantees in the exercise of a power of interference, by absolute pre-
vention, or by toll, with the very navigation of the St. Lawrence.
§ 254.— In the same spirit, the grantee of Beauport was bound to build no
fortifications, unless with permission ; and the grantees of Montreal and St. Sul-
pice,— except for defence against the Indians.
And the grants of Lauzon, Beauprd, the Isle d'Orloans, Montreal and St. Sul-
pice, all contained a clause of reference to an intended procurement for them
of some one or other of the special titles, of duchy, marquisate, earldom or
barony, reserved for royal confirmation.
§ 255.— Several of these grants, again, on the other hand,— that is to sav
those of Gaudarville (Titles 33 and 37), Mille Vaches (Title 36), Neuville (Title
38), and St. Koch des Aunais (Title 41), were made under no conditions what
ever, except those for homage, dues to the Company, and regulation of the
appeal (provided of course, in all the grants of this class) from the justice o{ the
grantee.
§ 256.— One of these grants last referred to, that of Gaudarville,-is remark-
able, from the terms of the title (No. 37) for the Augmentation that was made
to it in 1653.
That title (granted by Jean de Lauzon, then Governor) ran thus:—
"Scavoir faisons que les irruptions continuelles des Iroquois paraissant joumellem nt aux ha
« bitaoB du Cap Rouge, oil ils ont fait plusieurs massacres et enle v6 nombre d'habi fans — le neu
" .'habitations lu'il y a demeurent [demeurant] abandonnfies, soit par la mort de ce Jx aui lea
" f .isoient Tivioir, soit parce que effectivement les babitans les ont qmtt6,-de mani Je an«
" celieu court fortune d'estre entiSrement perdu pour estre csloignfi de tons secours et avoir
" besom de quelque personne puissante qui avec I'assistanco de ses amis pust soustenir
« I'eflfort de ces barbarcs, y faisant construire quelque rfiduit ; et jugeant que louig de Lauzon
" Escuyer, seigneur de la Citifire et de Gaudarville, so ponrroit r6soudre 4 la deffenoe de oe'
" posto Bi on luy vouloit accorder ce petit espace de terre, et le joindre, ensemble la censive
" qui est sur iceluy, & sa terre et seigneurie de Gaudarville * •
133
"Rouge, icelle Riviere du SLleT- '"^^^ "''''' """''' '" ^"P
" Compagnie de la N. F^Zt Mr ZT\ ^'^'^f •»*"* ««« «4me, dmte que la
1-"A 1. charge d'en porteT a ZTl ^f , *"' ^^ ^ '^""' ''^ «°" <;tablissemeut _
2. J' et revenu d'une annCe 4 chaquo mutation.-
"ou son lieutenant dQu^rc!"^^^ re8sort.r«nt par devaot le sdndchal de la V. P.
added to laudarvill tb." 11, ' 7^' ^'^ ''' "°*- ^^^^ ^'^^'^ --
hood against the Indians -£ tS, ^ '^f"<=<' <>f Quebec and its neighbou'-
(r) Ticfc infrA, § 281.
(») This grantee was the near relativfi—^mti,^-
which-of the Governor. "-^'at'^e-brother, eon, nephew or cousin. I am not sure
(0 MSS. Doo. Q^ H«T. Soc., Snd Series, Vol. 1, pp. 84-86
W MSS. Doc. Qo. H,3T. Soo.. 2nd Serie, Vol. 1. pp. 86,88.
< ' till
fllji
134
ctioi, of »L n ^ !' '^''°''' mentioned, which, setting forth a revo-
wn^d U r.S r ''°™'' ""» »8«i» ««»8 for .n aSoctali.,, after-
Island of MontreaT^it w J^ /. ' "'' ^cmm«n««,^ rf'Aat/to^, of their
" diet pays '" 1 ' !" ' * "*'°'''' ^°"" ^« ^''«^«™ d^' Sauvages du
" ocution J« , ^ r "^ '' '"^°''''"' ^""''*«°* ^«^«i^ e«tre troubles en I'ex-
grantees to receive"4s/)/.«x"for8«n^o,^nfr'r f ^"/I^^"'"' P'^^^'' ^o the
and fortify their island ri.Ml ^^^^'f^^''"'''^°"-^'^""°'^««°"«^togovern
" nautir and fur h r « a fairl. , ^'"' ' '"'" ' " '^"'^^ ''^ ^'^^'^ <>« -«'««-
" Laurent leur tries u.tr^^^^^^^^ St.
" vivres et munition nlcessa^" ax ha^T ' ''"'' ^'^ ^ P"'" '''
of the readiness with which ifthor!! \' " P''""^ '"^'«'''''°»
the exercise of feudal ri'h of itT ^^T^^' ''''^''^^^ apprehension of
navigable rivers and an '"^f'^'^'j ^^^ '^' "'"J «f to" and otherwise) over
so toucan it-of he" ctthaHc^^H- '^^f""'-' '"''"'^'^^^ ^^ ''^ ^—
Company of New F^ ee hraTd^ T" '"""'^'" "^''^^ " *''«" '^«'^^' *J^«
i^ - ^haif as the ^:iv^^^ :^:z^^ ^
t«.e Co. i„,,,„, „, bein;o„.;::rnei;t X rc'" "'" "^ '^^ ''-"^
granted to M. de Fauca^s po" 1^^^^^^^^^^^ °"'^ « -»" *-' t'-e-br
tion of 1644, may have bL CaaUo oTv^r ^" "'«/'"=''°«*"'g "-eciWa of this ratiflc
or whether they were IZ^TtZr^ " ^'f "'"'° '•"^'"'"'f'^'' '« "^ further grant,-
Bjr were errors of carelessness, may be doubtful.
135
>"! th« rollowbg:- 'l'«y<5»-'<'e >«<1 "J»«™, of He tract grontel,
t24 »1 3:"'"" "" '"» f^"^ -'■ »' i » lo.g«. b, 3,, „.,or Mo. ,».
«l7wf r,* '"' "' ^^ ^ "»^«»), and .b. Wos .„, Oie, ». ,„, o™o.
by 10), under Titles 20 and 25- ^11 ^f "'' ""^' S^- Ignaco (2 leagues
o. 1 ortnouf (1 j by 3 loaguc), untlor Title 21,
8.— St. Etienno (?) in the District of Three Rivers fi o i
Title f39. ^^^'^ "•^^'s (1 a league by 3), under
part of .a abaatoed J„ub« h?Al ^ """ ''"'"» ("f"*'"" «»,
Company, „ u., R. Ji;.:^!!' »?«. ' ''"''^ """ "" '''""^"■«
dar.:^f x:^;r. dt.r„r •:? i-- -^'^ '- '-
a question; but there can be none «« TT ' ''""''• "^^^ '^^ ">ade
stream not absolutely navigable A^d n ."^ /^^^'"^ *^« f"" P^op«rty of every
(-i^^<i,§245,Note(^))tlfedilctecat: Ih!^^ ''''1' '^^ «^--^'
is of a date later than this period ^™''" '""" "^^^S^^^'^ streams
exactly like that of Lauzon J "Xluttf'^^ '" '"' (^"^ ''^ '«
river, and but secondarily o/L mnlZf -^""^ ' ^'""' P"'"'^"'^ "^ tl^^t
Another, that of B6cancour ^o 03 " V^'" '''^' "'''■
«8 forming pai t of it. ^ ^ '"^''''''"' incidentally a " lac St. Paul,'
(y) Firfe «a;,r«J, § 246.
136
§ 260. — Indeed, so prevalent were the impressions of those days, as to tho
inherent rights oi a feudal lord, even over navigable rivers of the largest class,
that six of these grants contain clauses to prevent their exercise over the St.
Lawrence ; and this, although none of the grants (any more than that of Mont*
real above(z) referred to) purport to grant that river itself.
In the grant of Deschambault (No. 14), they are coupled with a prohibi-
tion of tho building of fortresses, thus : —
5. — " ne pourront aussy le dit * * bfttir aucun fort ou forteresse dans le dit lieu tenu en fief,—
C. — " ny emp^cher en quelque mani^re que ce soit la navigation sur le dit fleuve St. Laurent
" & I'eudroit des terrcs concedees,—
7.—" aius seront tenus, pour Bcrvir ii. la dito navigation et passage sur le dit fleuve, de laisser
" w. grand chemin de 20 toises de large depuis la rive du dit fleuve en la saison qu'il eat
" li plus cslerd jusques aux procbaines terrcs ou habitations qui seront faites sur icelle."
In that of Riviere du Sud (No. 17), they read thus : —
6,—" et encore que les dits lieux soient conc6d4s en pleine propri6t6, n6anmoins entend la dite
" Compagnie que la pr6sente concession ne puisse pr^judicier k la liberie de la navigation
" sur le dit fleuve St. Laurent qui sera commune d tons les habitans et autres nllants ou
" venants, —
7. — " et li cet effet qu'il soit laisse un grand chemin royal de 20 foises de large au bord du dit
"fleuve St. Laurent et depuis iceluy jus-ques aux terres fermes, les droits de seigneurie sur
" le dit fleuve St. Laurent rSservcz 4 la dite Compagnie."
And in those of Dautrc (No. 19), Portneuf (No. 21), Repentigny, &c., (No. 22),
and Becancour (No. 23), the difficulty apprehended is more expressly stated and
guarded against, thus : —
6.~" et encore que les dita lieux soient accord^s et concfid^a en pleine proprilt^, nfiantmoina
" ne pourra le dit * • ou autres habitants d'icelle empeacher le cours de la riviire St. Laurent
" ny d'autre qui pourroient se trouver dans les dites terres cy-dessus concfidees en pleine pro-
"priet,6, ny prelendre aucun droit sur les barques ou vaisseaux quipasseront en montant
" ou descendant, ou sHngercr de les arrester pour cause ou occasion que ce soit,
6.—" et mesme seront tenus de laisser un chemin royal sur le dit fleuve de St. Laurent de
" 20 toises de large 4 prendre sur le bord du dit fleuve St. Laurent en la saison qui est le
" plus ^Iev6 jusqu'auz terres plus proches d'iceluy."
§ 201. — For the matter of the dues payable to the Company, these grants
were not uniform ; one of them — Title f 39 — imposing the relief of the Custom
of Vexin Francois ; and the rest, either expressly or by implication, the quint
and relief of the Custom of Paris.
None of them, therefore, specially relieved the grantee from the ordinary
limitations as to the^'ew de fief and_;eM de justice.
§ 262.— One of them, and one only, the title (No. 12) of the grant of the
first half of '"^autre, — contains a stipulation as to the alienating of the land
granted.
And it is like those of Beauport and Montreal already remarked upon (suprA,
^ 251) in this ; that it restricts alienation of all sorts, instead of requiring it to
(*) Vide tuprd, §§ 283 and 257.
13T
be made in any particular way. But on the other ),*r,^ •* •
different rule of restriction fL oithe of the vo ,t ' r^'" "" ''"'"'^
words are— "™ '"'^^ t'^ere imposed. The
''~i % ;t» «:r ::.t^ rtrrr" :"• r - * ■»"• "- >-
of super-addinff to the obhVaZ ^"'^ '" ^^'^ particular respect
universal-tofu ni h ronS ""'°'"'"'"' ^"' '**'^' ^"'"^ ^'"« '"-^'^'^
pro tanto^ Zil^tftCfZ^^^^^ ""' out. in order to the discbarge
emigration. The clalTlht U ^''" ''"^' '' '"™^^'"^ «-« «--"* 'f
'■~ifrS,el„to*ulrrf2rrsa trtr "" '""■"« pourcomn-encene
" ou k la Rochelle. ensemble les bienm ' • '* *""■ P"''"''"''" *!"' ^"^ '"<''•" » ^^'^PP*
« charge de rendre le tout abord de vaksi Tf '.""I"" ' ^"^''''''' «° ''^ ^^ ^- * ''^
« Rochelle. le tout d peine de ndlit/rrprrnte'' ** '" """''^'' ' ^'^^P^ "" * '*
not be done twice in quite the sam! la""""' "''''''"^' '' "°"^<^ ^''^-' ^"'^
Add, that it was here made clear t}i-it tV,o v
nwd «ndnomore- .nd thrrr™ '"^'"te, wa, tosendont ,„ „„„y, „4
c., .he ■*« ,„. ;;c w„ ;ri;riS' '^'^- - "- -""
bd.g .hflhird of .l.„r °M T DltL . °'" ■" ""• "*' <"■'• =■').
■and alroa.y,„.«B,.w.^ft.Sr;;."?/J:«:? '»" 'f.*'
fact in some way gave color t^ th. -a T * '^' ' "^ ^'^o"^^ t^**
involved in them ' '^'' °^ " ^•"^'^'"g «f trust-character as
But how stands the case? The first nf ft,n tu
Chavigny, Ecuier, Sieur de Bercherea. IJ^^Z^'''" ""^ *" ^'''"«°'^ ^'
his wife; the second of an aul!!!!r ! '' ^''°"^'" ^^ Grand-Maison,
to him alone. Both of 1?^?" "" '^' ''"^^ *«™«' P"^P-ted to be
The third, issued by LndZi^^^^^^^ ""'^'^^^^ ^^P^^^ ^* ^-e.
name, set forth (truly or falseTv on^V ?'''™°'''" ^"""^"' '° '^' ^'^P'^r^
country and abandoned etSinThh:d-"Tr' that Chavigny had left the
andapparentlydesertinghi w ?e-ltm It w^' """^ 'r^"" " ^°"'"'°"'
(a) VidetuprO, I
138
too exact „dl.e,raoe lo «n,lhlng Ha, can be caliri a ™!, of law '
the »if., .h..Tht 'vS'z; :t Trwhir";'.'"; ""f-"^' » »'
ceeJfng ». all even,, left 1,„ „„„"". ■«„?,,?' ''"',?' "•"• "" f'""
petty, than he and .he, or he alorwiTcrj , """^ " "■ "■'" P'""
.hich ,„„. surely f„,.i.l „o ht. li .t'Z '° "*' "" '"■"" ^'"^^
.0., h,,. o„,;:7r3r;zrai5;r'' "' "— "- ^^
.^ «n,...e 4^zsr^u:r^,:tl~r::e^\"?"
-'•Dfisirant reeonnditre les bona services qu'elle a cv-devant rec„, m
"stances et d^Jendances en tilre d ?Z,!nfJ^ '"^^/" *^^^^^ «'«« * * -^cirlo-
" tellenie.- ' "^ " *" J*""' ^^^ ^"^ «' '^^ "«°» «>« ^yana cause, au dit titre de Cha-
l.-^_ mouvant par un soul hommago lige de Qu^ec,-
•operty should
luy accord^gpar
> Grand MaiaoD,
priSsentes, pcur
trgcg, clauses et
ly;"—
not with any
IS ever raised
jperty, or of
not, the pro-
i to this pro-
imer grants,
resting from
'sense of the
I lands held
irse) all the
nen of the
:ensive with
jh function-
ng proprie-
iar Quebec,
ly this new
I'elle espdre
* ses circoo-
»8se, suivant
litre de Cb4-
la dite Ohd-
rv^s."
Company
rised some
t does not
le chanjre
n, or even
3art of it
range of
existence
and the
)etty plot
139
law and usage. ^^°' '''' * "ew system of feudal
rnoyenne et basse only. " ^^''^ P"""?"''^ *° ^^^° granted .slice
Coulon,e-bythe CoZ ^. ^ ^ ^"^ «'7'«>^« o«/y ; and was granted-like
"SieurB^n V ;,^;;Pc\"!^f''^^,^' -^<^; *« -^ >"> local functionary; h
" velle France, Tm Sne" VI" '" ^""'^ ^""^ ^^^^^ - '' ^ou-
"Pagnie," being the g^f/e ^'J "" '" T*^"^? ^'-°'-- ^^ !« Com-
only :_ ^ ^'""'-" ' «"d the grant being in the following words-
"Pr^vosw etvicomto de Paris 10 Zen! 1? V '"*' '"'^'°' '"^ "^"'"""^ ''^ '» "lie.
««'appelleralefiofde iB^eVnc It . Lsl l T" T '°"'''""' ^" "° ''^ large, leque
<«evant des terras de ,a ferJe Tp'p Lai I a dTte o" '"^' ^l"' ^''"-"*' <>"' ^'^''V
ebarg^s de Lois revenus depuis qTls ITdeffrioht" "^"' '"^"'^ ^° '''^"»« «>"»
f ip;;;;?fTnf T/^^ *""* ^■"*'*'^^' ^'« *^« following:-
2 vr ^'"^^ ^* " '««g"« by 2), under Title 24a
2.-V,euxpont (?) (i league by 6), under Title 27.
4 -STr r/* * ^'"^"^ ''^ ^)' ""*i- Title 28.
6 -Ptt of ? -t '?' '' "P^"^^' "'^•^- Title 40.
and 43. •^''^^"^^ '" ^- ("-'^'^^ -^tl^ by I of a league), under Titles 43
6.-Boijcher (200 arpents), under Title 44.
7.-8. Ahchd (some 160 arpents), under Title 466.(6)
8— St. Jean (60 arpents), under Title 48. ^ ^
— " avons donnil en fief au Sr Aa t-h
|r|
?'
I!,!
I I
n
140
g 2^0.— One only of these grants (No. 43), that of part of Pointe du Lac, con-
tains any condition beyond those of homage and payment of feudal dues; and
Its further conditions are but these two : —
8— " feront Ics dita • » habituer les dites terres en leur eetcndue, et y travailler dans 4 ao«
"docejour,—
4.-- " Bouffriiont, lea dits *»ou autres jouissant des dites ferres, que lea chemins qui e«
^ pourront eetablir par les officiers de la Compagnie de la N. F., passent ^jar leurs dites
terres, si ainai lea dits officiers le Irouveiit expedient,—
—the former of these clauses presenting tlie only case, where the Company is
known to have imposed an obligation to settle the lands granted " en leur esten-
due," and (of course) leaving the grantee free as to his mode of doing it,— the
latter, an obligation far from universal, though not so uncommon.
§ 27i._The small extent of four of these grants, (Isle St. Joseph, Boucher,
St. Michel and St. Jean,) to say nothing of the small extent of Coulonge and
Bocancour (suprd, §§ 266-7), is of itself decisive evidence that grants en Jiff
were not in those days imagined to be saddled with any condition of sub-grant-
ing.
In this respect, there was no contractual distinction made between the 10
arpents of B6cancour, and the leagues on leagues of Beaupro.
§ 272.— Indeed, the titles of St. Jean, and— as I learn from the gentlemen of
the Seminary— St. Michel also, were in the position of Coulonge {suprA, § 265),
in this further respect also; that they were not in fact first grants of the land,
but merely erections of land granted and held by its grantee en censive, already.
The title of St. Jean is express as to this. Jean Bourdon, the proprietor
favoured with it, was an official and man of mark in those times, who had ob-
tained several other grants en fief, and whom we shall presently find(c) to have
got more than one other property converted from the censive into the fief This
particular title (very short) ran thus, by direct vote of the Company :—
" Sur la demande faitte 4 notre Compagnie par le sieur Bourdon qui I'a [qu'elle a] gratififi
" de la charge de prooureur fiscal au dit pays, tendante k ce que sa maison appellee St Jean
" fust mue en fief, il a e8t6 r6solu la dite maison Si Jean 6tre en fief avec la quantity de 60
" arpens de terre, —
1.—" mouvant et relevant du Fort Si Louis de Qa6bee,—
2.—" et ce, Buivant les us et coutumes de la ville, pr6vo8t6 et vicomt^ de Paris."
Did he, anymore than Daillebout with his Chatellenie, dream of a conversioo
of his property into anything ever so remotely analogous to a public trust ?
§ 273.— The further grants en fief which are known to have been made by
the Company in Canada, but of which the terms must be said to be unknown,
are not many.
(c) Ttde infrd, §§ 280, 281 and 801.
tiller dans 4 fin*
ween the 10
ne
141
I have ascertained none but the following :—
l.—Godefroy ; see No. 1 1 of Abstract.
2.— Pachevigny - see Nos. 20a and 28a.
a.—Niverviilo ; see No. 46a.
4.— Miogan, terre feme ; see No, 47tt,
5. — Dutort.
e—Des Manres, or St. Augustin.
7.— St. Fransois, in banlieue of Quebec
was quite small. And Pachovigny ^rranted in7 '* "'^ '*• ^t. Franfois
a/./of a fraction of an an>ent,^.J;ri;:'j^^^^^^^^^ ^^ ^^ated to have bin
Go!™-i!!r:4tAr::^^^^^^^ court b,
^^;^ interesting fro. this negative clause in its description of the tract
,■1^^ -'^"'^"^^^ la dite rivi.,e Puante. isles
sy rencontrast," eta '^ "^^ **" '"*' ^^- ''""I. encor bten que la dicte ligno
— a clause indicative of tha to^ii i
Common for the Aafiitan, under cert2S ^ t'^'° P''oprietors,--to be a
l..e been m«l,. ""*" ^ *»"«'' » much greater nuaber »,„,
i;,
(i) yick infrd, § 291.
(«) ^l* m/r<J, § 281.
!■
us
§ 270.-T]ireo of them wore made by instrumente which at the same time
made also a grant en Jiff. A comparison of tlie words used for the two urants
ought to bo not iiisignificant. '
First in dftto, of the three, is the grant of the first part of Beauport (Title 3
and 3 cent 1 of AnsTUACT), by which in lOlM, the /ief is first granted as a
league and a half of land, with a river included,—
-'' pour jouir des cllts lieux par le dit • « en toutte justice, propri6t«, et scignourio 4 perpfi-
tuite, tout ainsy et d pare.U droitn qu'il a plu 4 8. M. donuer le pays de la N F 4 la dit«
" Conipagnie, —
1.-" i la rCsei-ve fouteafoia de la foy et homn.oge que le dit • » geront tenus porter nu • •
2.-" avec una mniUo d'or du poid. d'une once, ct le revenu d'une annC-e do eo que le dit • •
"so ecrar<!8erv6 aprd. avoir donni en flef ou d eens et rentes toutoupartic dca dit«
" lieux, —
8.—" et que les appellations du juge des dito lieux ressortiront niiement d • •—
4.-" que Ics hommcs que le dit • • feront passer en la N. F. tournorcnt d U decbarge de la
"due Conipagnie en diminution du nombre qu'«lle doity faire pasacr, et d cct effet en
remcttra tousle* ana lee rolles au bureau de la dito Corapagnie, affin qu'clle en soit
" certiffifie, —
6.-sans t«ute.fois que lo dit * • puiesent traitter de. peauxet pclleteries au dit lieu ny
I ailleurs en la N. P. qu'aux conditions de I'^dit de restablissement de la dito Compa-
—and then two arpents of land are added en cemive, tLus :—
— « outre leiqueli chom cy la Compagnk a encore accordt au dit » • une place proche le fort
" de Quibeck contenant 2 arpcns, pour y comtruire une maison avec lei commoditCs de cour et
jardm, leiquels lieux il tiendra d cem du dit lieu de Quibeck,"—
-and these two more conditions are stipulated as applicable, anparently to both
grants alike : — "
conc^d^s qu^avee e gr6 et consentemeut de la dite Compagnie, peudanf a ie ^^
•'espacedelO an .•. apr<5s lequel temps il luy sera loisible d'en disposer au p^t dl
"personne qm so.t de la quality requise par IMt de Vestablissement delachteOom!
" pagnie, — " uom-
Xiroorpl^^^r * '"'^ "'"'^^'- '^'^ "^-^ •^ '^- ^^^^^ «- '- p-«io- d.
Second in date of 1640 is the grant of the first part of Deschambault (Title
tl4 and 14 cent 3), by which a censive is first granted, thus :-
— " floiM avoM au dit • • donnS, conctdi et octroxii, «t • • donnovj, rn«^ i
"parcesprSsente.le.terre.et lieu, cy apris dJare, e.T^Zlil f:Z'' ^V''':
"prendre dan. le lieu di.ignS pour la ville et banlieue de <iuibeTlZrolZt2l ' "
"encore .oncSd^., ou de procHe en proc.e, POur y faire ul loeZZr^^^^^^^
xpume retner avec .a famille. plu., 30 arpent, de terre d prendre hor. la dZTr 1
^'vilUde Quibecetde^ockeenprockeicZeenluu. a.^^::!;;^^^!. " *'"
—then, the fief, thus :—
143
The habendum follows, common to the two grants •_
permiesion d«
-then the particularisntion of the cmsivc, thus :-
— " Ics dill 8 arpent d« terre • • «/ /-.« sn „.
—and then, that of «lie fief, thus :_
• -"ot la dito i lie.io do torre • • «ur s • • .» » ..
" a toujoure • # '"' " *' «" '°"«o Fopri«t<5. juatioo ct eclgneurio ausai
^-;;^W, toutt.8.. de .aro,et .o...,o„ue.d..*3e.„t t^.de^.e,
I'Z"f ,''T^" '"' ''''°'^'' «' P''°fi'» de fief • •
4.—" on outro ne pourrout lea dita * • «» » »
inird and last in daffi nf^aAn • ^i.
"qudse pratique enF«„ce.selon la Coutume.«depZ-l "' "'"^ ** ""^ ««
— and then a cemive, thus : '
~" et de plus avont donnA, concidi et octro,.f ^/ . . /
;; • • una^ent d. terre dans ^wlLtS;':;^—;;?^^^ '' octroyon. , ladiU
'res.**aiackargeaussy,uecesoit cnSuZj^l^'t '^'"!'k> ou au. Trois Rivii.
" due • • eniouleproprUU,- " "'"^^'^' ^<'«'- «» Jo^ir pareillement par la
I.—" d la charge du cens qui sera de 6 denUrs „our /. ;v
I si
I
144
g 280. — Tlio earliest Ropnrato grant en ccnttve, by the Company, that I havo
found, is tliftt made by Titles 7 cms la and 13 cens 2 of Au.stbaot, — and which
appears to havo been the grant to liuurUon, ui'torwarda erected iutu his Ji^ of
St. Jean. {Suprd, § 272).
It was first made here by the resident Governor, about 1037, thus :—
— "avoDs distribu^! ct d^party bouh le bon plaiair dc Mesticiirg doladitc Compognle an
" giour • • In coneUtRncc do 60 nrpens do bois ou cuviron nicsuru do Pnriu en roture,
" 8citu£ea dana la biuiliuuo de Quebec ot conipris * *, pour on jouir luy iv* huritiers ct nyoat
" cause pleineuuncut ot pniaiblvmvnt on pure roturo, —
1,—" aux elmrgen ct ccnsivos que Messieurs do la Compog^uio de la N. F. ordonncront,—
2, — " et i\ la elmrge qua le dit • • fera travailler au d^fricliomcDl des dits bois,—
8, — " ct souffrirn quo Ics cliuinins qui so pnurront 6tablir par les offlciers do messieurs dels
" dito Compagnie pnssont por ses torrcs, si ainsy les dits uffieiors lo Jugeut expedient,
4.—" ct preudru couv .'ssiuu do messieurs de lu ditu Conipagnio dos dits b<>is d luy par nous
" distribu«»."
— and, in 1030, it was thus confirmed by the Company, after recital of the
above grant : —
— " la Compagnie a confirm6 et confirme la dita distribution dos torrcs, et en tont quo besoin
" est, en a de nouveau fuit don et conccssiou au dit • • pour en jouir par luy, sos successeura
" ou aynns cause, aux dits charges ot conditions cy dessus cxprimt'es, et outre moyeunant 1
" denier de ecus pour cliaquo arpcut por chaquo ao, tloul pourtant its paycront aucuue chose
" duruut les 10 premieres aiinSos i\ compter du jour do la dite distiibutioo."
§ 281. — Next in date, still keeping to the titles printed among the Seigni-
orial Documents of 1852, are two out of four cemive grants, — apparently
afterwards erocitod into a fief St. Fran5oi8, for this same M. Bourdon.(/)
By Titles 10 cens 4 and 10 cena 5, tlie Governor, in 1040, granted two tracts
in the banlieue of Quebec, — the one, of 75 arpents, to Bourdon, — the other, of
60 arpents, to " M. Jean le Sueur, Escuyer, Prestre, Cur6 de St. Sauveur ;" on the
terms of his previous grant above mentioned, — that is to say, leaving the rate of
cens to be fixed by the Company, llow the Company fixed it, does not appear ;
their confirmation not being extant.
By Titles 38 cens and 38 cens 8, respectively, his successor, in 1653, — "eu
^'■ijarddla dipense que les Sieurs Bourdon et St. Sauveur font sur les ditt
" lieux ■pour couvrir Quebec de V irruption des Iroquois, [g) et; leu >• donner courage
" de continuer,''^ — granted each of them an augmentation of his former grant,
to extend to the river St. Charles, in the following words : —
— " avons donne, cono6d6 et ootroy6, donnons, souoedonB ct octroyons au Sr. • • I'estendue
" de terre qui sera et ae rencontrere eutre sa coucessiou de • • et la rividre St. Charles,
— " pour en jouir por lo dit * * d toujours, —
iji
(/) They are printed in the Seigniorial Documents (Vol. 2, pp. 114 etseq., French ver-
sion), under the caption of " Titre du fief de St. Francois" ; but the title by whieh.the
change of tenure was effected, is not printed. I have not been able to procure it ; but it
■was presumably something not unlike the title either of St. Jean or else of St Michel or of
Coulonge.
(g) Vide suprd, § 256, for terms of neighbouring grant en fnf, made in same year, and
vith same view of inducing grantee to special service against tlic li> iians.
recital of the
ame year, oad
145
"uiro A la cbarire do dnniar. i
Ao^27 cent 6 of Adstbaot. ^ '" ^^^ Seioniokiai, Docd„„„s -
an, previous „„ot;„ent b, the LZZ uT^'"''"'''' "''''«"* -^--<i
The o.h.„,_„„ „„j '"" '■} tie granta,, .„d ,|,ei, „„• ,, J '"'
«'fc?r::i;:ts:trr T '"--"^ ''•»''■•' »»^>«»».
almost rather wonder Li „ ^ "*^ """^ «««Iers were few n ,
H«ve ... *.„; "" •"' "" -" ^ "^".e., „„ It ,„;?: ti^
■out, at all events (berfl
B« it I. of f„ h,„ |.„ . "'^^ '* "'• ne» i„ „g„„,„. i,,^,^ PP«'^o ™-
»y wb.t. f„ .he „k, „, <i:z^:zT/rr'' • '"■■■' ■ " "- »'
say; and what it does sav i. ^ / ^^* '° ^« ^'"awn from it if h.A 1
146
This document is an Ordonnance of Bigot, the last Intendant of Canada, under
date of 1 758 ; issued for the fixing of the rates of cens et rentes within the eentive
of Quebec. It recites, as fact, that the directeur du domaine du roi had repre-
sented to him the Intendant, that he had set himself to record the titles to pro-
perties in that eentive : —
"Que par I'examen d'iceox, il auroit rsconnu que lea o«ns et renUa dea trois quarte de»
" emplacementa, mouvant en la dite censive, 6toient inconnua et & r6gler ; lea titrea primitife
" itwat perdus ;^
" Qu'il auroit vu par lea titrea primitifa de I'autre part, que toutea lea oonoesaiona dea ter-
" raina daoa la dite yille avoient 6t6 accordSea par les gouremeara et iDtendaDta, & la charge
"de 6 aola, 6 deniers, de cena et rente* payablea toua les ans & la recette da dit domaine in-
"diatinctement du plua ou moina de terrain ;—
"Qu'il auroit dgalement vu que les conceaaions de terrea dans la faanlieue du dit Quebec,
■' aToient 6t& faitea a la charge d'un denier de cens et rentes par chaque arpent en auper-
" fioie,— et qu'il seroit & propoa de pourroir & la fixation de oes cens et rentes," etc.
Whereupon, as recommended, he the Intendaut ordered that those rates should
forthwith be exacted for the 29 years past, and at intervals of 10 years forever
thereafter.
All this, however, is far enough from showing that even within the Quebec
censive there had existed, before 1758, a known uniform rate ; and further still
from showing that such uniform rate was one of the early institutions of the
country. On the contrary, it is apparent that the thing remained for enactment,
was only enactod under color of the loss of most of the original titles, and bad to
be adapted to the different circumstances of tovra and banlieue by the adoption
of two entirely different principles of rating.
The rates, thus pretended to have been ascertained by this directeur du domaine,
and which were thus enacted by this Intendant in 1758, contrast with those
really ascertainable as imposed by the Company of New France, thus :
On the one hand, we have, as a result of what may have passed for research
on the part of a government ofBcial, in 1758, —
Upon all lots, in the town of Quebec, 6 soft, 6" deniers, per lot, irrespective of
extent, —
And upon all properties in the banlieue of Quebec, 1 denier per arpent.
On the other hand, we have, as facts, for this first period of the real history
of Canada, —
In 1634, grant (with Beauport) of 2 arpents in town of Quebec,— no rate
stated. {Suprd, § 279.)
In 1639, two grants (afterwards St, Jean? and part of Coulonge) of 50 and
160 arpents respectively, in banlieue of Quebec, — at 1 denier per arpent, but with
release from that charge for the first 10 years. (Suprd, §§ 280 and 284.)
In 1640, grant (with Deschambault) of 2 arpents in town or banlieue of
Quebec, and 30 arpents close to latter, — at 1 denier for the whole 32 arpents.
(Suprd, § 279.)
In 1647, grant (afterwards part of Gentilly) of a quarter of a square league
quite away from town or banlieue, — at 1 denier per arpent^ as the same should
be brought into value only. (Suprd, § 283.)
147
8 287 Ti •
l>7 every tind of vSt t V "''"^ '^'''' ^'^^ ^^^on 0^^^^-''"''
tZ\iT "'' '' ^^""* ^^°' '^^ feet i not so ,-7' "i '" *^« P'^-'^Wes of
«f «.. bod, of tbt^Z C '""■• '■■ -» '•"^''"- •» ft. ».if.™ ,
148
§ 289. — ^The answer to this question cannot be based on so large a collation
(relatively speaking) of the deeds of grant of these grantees, as has been above
made, of the Company's deeds of grant, by way of answer to the like question
in reference to those grants. I have not nearly the same proportion of the one
at command, as of the other. The public records have not been at all searched
officially for titles of sub-grants en Jief, — nor yet until the last moment before the
meeting of this Court, and then very slightly, for titles of such grants en censive. —
I have not had time to collect elsewhere any considerable number of titles, of either
of these classes ; nor even, so to arrange and study the comparatively few titles
quite lately exhumed in manuscript for production before this Court by order of
Government, as to be able to make half the use of them that with more time at
command I could have made. (A)
§ 290. — Still, there is material enough to indicate the fact, — which, indeed,
might be presumed in the absence of all indication, — that these grants of the
Company were taken and dealt with, as they were given, and not otherwise ;
that King, Company and settlers all alike acted as under the then feudal rules
of France, and not as under any prophetic sense of what in this nineteenth
century was to be said to have been the peculiar feudal rule of Canada in that
behalf.
'IP
§ 291. — Mention has been made (suprdy § 273) of a grant or grants by the
Company, out of which the Seigniories of Batiscan and Cap de la Magdeleine
were constituted.
The grantee, Jacques de la Fert6, one of the members of the Company (as
indeed were most of the holders of its grants of the highest class as to size and
tenure), granted Batiscan, 2 leagues by an unstated depth afterwards fixed at 20
leagues, to the Jesuits, in 1639, as an arriire-fief, to be held of himself, with ail
rights oi justice, subject apparently to payment of the ordinary dues of the Cus-
tom of Paris, and of a silver coin every 20 years. The title itself is not printed ;
but from the short paraphrase of it given by Bouchette (see No. 13a of Abstract),
it would seem to have provided that the lands comprehended in the grant were —
—"to be possessed by the Fathers Jesuits, or applied and transferred to savages or others
" becoming Christian!!, and in such manner as thn Fathers shall think proper, so that these
"lands shall not be taken rut of their hands while they shall think proper to hold and pos-
•'Bess them;" —
(A) The Counsel for the Seigniors have the right, and indeed, are bound, to p1a<^e before the
Court the facts, — that none of the MSS. produced by Government were communicated to
them until quite shortly before the meeting of the Court, — that a good many were not seen
by them till after their production,— and that some (they do not know how many) have not
been communicated to them at all. In particular the professed tables of rates and clauses
of ccruive grants— of which they are aware that a number of copies were handed in to the
Court, were never shown to them ; nor yet any copies, or note, of the deeds from which it
was prepared.
149
—a style of grant not aliqgether savoring ««• *
31 of A.s„uo,.) m./^L°." *//„"•';« »f^.« Company. ^Lno.
Jl'/' f'om it. J : , :,i„ (. ' ; ".""'^ f'' ia^ms P'nted t»-o amVre
P^pe-ti.. in a, ,t,i«M ;„i """' ""'' '" "S""'-! bo'l. of U,e„, J
« <!"'■'« nous demaadent, par c a prrentesleur do " """' ^'""•' "^^ "'^-^''^ 'e
long de la dite riviere St. Laurent du tiL dTsud . "' '' '"'''"•''""^ ' ''^"^^ ^e terre le
de profondeur dans les terres tirant verTle end 1 17^"^' ^^P"'« * * ' «" ^ lieue.
«Ung, et carri^re, qui ae tro„veron7d: • 1:172 ! h".""''' '"■'"'•^' '"^«' "-'^-"
reI,g,euxdelacompagnieferontpa8serteII«T '^'*' '"'''*«' ^'""^ '^^queb leg
-a grant, unmistakeablvr en fmnrho . ""^"'^ ' '-
altogether. '"^ '^'^"'^'^^^ «"-^«« «o*^^, clear of definite condition
8wv.,nt la Coutume du Vexin Frangoi.."
f.
iisr
160
§ 294 -In 1662, the ffardien noble then holding La Citi^re, made another
8ub^rant,-part of what becan:. the Seignior, of St Francois du Lac, (LXd
in Abs^aot, as No. ffi4. under date of 1672, instead of being ^TZZ^r
date of 1662,) on ter., considerably different, as shown by HkfrSia of atuS
consolidating several ■ ants into the Seignior, of St. Fran/ois du Lac. The Z
cnption of th,s sub-grant and of its conditions, as printed, reads thus :-
grand fleuve St. Laurent, jusques 4 my chemin de lembouchure de la riviSre dc8 Iroauoia
dans le d.t fleuve, et une lieue de profondeur dans les terres en la seignTun Jela S^"
dans la dite eatendue, aussy jusqu'd un quart de lieue dans le dit fleuve St T ..,.«. f
" e droit de chosse et de pesche entre les'dites isles et la terre ferl de ,a d te eZdr^^^^
- pour en jou.r en pleine propri6t^ et fief, avee moyenne et basse justice - '
loyal, non raehetable, qu, se deyoit payer par chscun an au jour de ' •
2 — et & la charge de la for et hommoge * •
titf'?th1.t?h' '*''^'"?' ^^T ""' ^''"'*' '* ^'^ '""Sgo^^^, in opposition tomy citationof this
TLeerrorur errors alludedto.in tbelatter 3artnfTi.i» 1.. i. -. ■
thought of It as a measure of frontage.-S=e Doc. Skioj,., Vol. 2, pp. 160-156
JZTl^:, ""?l '"" *'" "'^' "' "^^'""''"*' ♦'"'* '^'^ Seignior of La Citi^re here granted
trlZt , f/ Tr "r ''""'^' "' " '^''Sue of the bed of the St. Lawr nee X £•
frontag ,nd,eated.-although the words of the grant import more, as plainly as words c^n
he would yet have been himself e^ereising a pK,prietary right over the St Wn e rd
Z-X'TZTN^a^tTf :" '"'" "' ''''' ^-'ed to question or ^It h 'le^at
we'lt^fe noils of ^r t f '""*'*" ""'' '" '"'''"""' *» »''« -S""-* <- *» what
rllHClu^ur^^n SrrroiTl^trr;^^^^^^ wate.,enera„y, for
Ottawa, as part ofPetiteNation,to'beuotedh:LX:slSone!:;t:er" "'''' '' '''
oment boo et
enclave de la
ni
«hacun MDs BoKditg,- ^ ^'"*''* P^'^^K^* «" 3. qui seroit 2 minota de bled
"dePaHe...^^^""''^-^-*--'-- la eoutu.e du Ve.. F„„^U en.av. de celle
iT- Jet;!"/";"*^ ^ "oy-ne et basse seulen,eut,-
•way «^^. .,d ,1 ^ I f P«rt »f "■» ^.gm.ory w„ ve,7 early g,.„M
««ordi„g to no «,rt of ,„|, ^ ''" "■"« »' !■» atioie, <bey were made
" seigneurie de BpumrA n\ . , \. ^ ^ompagoie ane enoe de la V p j , .
«»g»ior,es ; and for a number of years he tw! "'''"* "^-^ -nanagement of thee
11.'
1
1
i
I 1
■
«■ I
158
8 208.--Another>/a3 to the name of which I am not sure (m) is mentioned
.a granted m 1659 (March 29), at the other or Quebec end of L Island, of an
extent of no more than 40 arpents of front, « aux memei droits que mon d. Sr
ae Lauzon venoit de concider le fief d'Argentinay:*
§ 299.-La Chevallerie, a/«/of 16 arpents by half the breadth of the island
-^here probably much less than a league, was granted in 1661 (Sept. 1),
~m? " m'^,' ^^ ^V *"*■■* *"'" *'°^'"' ^^ '^^"'"^ co9t6 nnchemiD d* 16 pieds de live,
et autant le long du fleuve poor servird la naTigation, • • ^
faireet disposer amsy que bon Icur semblera, en fief noble, et mouyantet relevant de
" notre diote seigneurie de Cbamy, (n)— "•"uyani eu relevant ae
1— ''par un seul hommage ligo au lieu geigneur.al d'icelle,—
2.— "d la charge des lots et yentea selon la Coutume de Paris."
J ^^„^--^"°'^«'" *'■'•« to ^ noticed in this connexion is one by which in 166&
TJ.'I. r ""f""" ^'*"* *'*'*^^ neighbouring small ^/Mesnu, under date of
1661 (March 12) was reformed, and its site changed from the north side of the
island to the south, ,n consequence of a clashing of grants. The terms of this
concession m such new site are thus stated :—
.^'2r.^^"°"'!lf iTT **' '"^ * * P~Pri6t«ire des terres cor rises ' * , et le tout
po^^.6dere„ tUredehaute, moyeone et basse justice et seigneurie et a.oits y appurtenants.-
~s r l SrJr '^" W«"''«-« d« l^J-ti- qu'il y pourra ouses ayLTuse establir
..•;ir:lt:;^TuT„r '"^"^'-^^^^^^ ^'^ -'^--^ '- Beaupr^enrMe
2.-.''et qu'ii sera tenu d'obliger ses tenaneiers de porter moudre leurs grains au moulia
^ bannal qui sera constru.t par les dits seigneurs de Beauprfi ea ITsle dOrieans dn cctS
'■r"!„TT ''T^ ''.*' * 'f «'"«"'«"' ^'<"^^^S6 'io la redevanee annueUe de 100 sols
"mentionnde au tiltre oidessus dattg,— «"■«'»
4.-'' les mutations de possesseurs demeureront fishes i la somme de 100 livres, tos., porta-
hies cbaque fois qu'ils auront lieu, 4 la recepte de la seigneurie du dit Beaupr6."
§ 301.— I have received from the Ladies Ursulii.es of Quebec, the titles of an
arrtire fief held by them in Lauzon, which are interesting from the fact of its
a good deal of dispute and litigation as to whether some of the criirefie/s in the Island
which had been granted (as this of Argentenay had been) to hold of Beauprfi, did so hold
or not Aud it was nt last decided, in accordance with the principle of the feudal system as
to (/i«iem6r«/»en<, that they did not. uum sysiem as
(m) If it was Beauliea, it must have been a second or supplementary title j as we have a
grant *n censive in Beauliea, under date of 165«.-It may hare been La Orosardidre, sinoo
umted (as to ownership) with Beaulieu ; and with it forming but a very small property.
(n) Whether Chamy was an arriire fief of the Isle d'Orl^ans. or simply another nam*
given to the /!./ of the Isle d'Orlfians. may be doubtful ,tho„gh I incline to^Wnk that L must
have been the former. In which case, La Chevallerie was, in the first instance, m orrt*r.
fief o{ tea amire fief. »'M«rB
163
having been based upon an original grant en eensive ; as we have seen that
several of the grants en fief made by the Company, also were.
In the first instance, the grant en eensive,— m&de in 1655 (March 30) bv tha
fZlT f 1^7''° l: "^r ^°"'''^'"' *''' ''""' P'''^°° ^^'^ «°"^«r'«'i other cLve
grants of h.s from the Company, :nto the fief, of St. Jean and St. Francois.-ran
thus,— see No. 88 c- 9o of Adstbact :— '
'■^seirel'rV.' Tut tT^f ""T P" '*" P^^'*""*' * «*" -J" «-» «t -tes
« 5e uTotlLTJ ""^"""^ •'" '•' ''' ' • "^«<' '"-' '^"^^ <^« «''«- «' '« P^e"' «^^
1.-" 4 U charge de 8> ^tablir dans la pr6sente ann6e, et y avoir feu et lieu on autre TX>ur
*. sans que le dit • pu.sse pr6teudre aucun doramage et iut«r6t ui restitution des d6.
pensea qu'.l y pourrait avoir faites pour l.tir ou d^fricher - «•«««»"'"' <!«» ^^
d,U 280 arpens de terre. payable ' ', p„„r cbaque annee, et la trentiimTpartie de it-
gmlle ou «^umon que le dit • • p^chera ou fera peeher au droit de la ZS u, JlTe
et bien conditionnfie. portable A * * aveo 2 chapons vifs _ "oucesiion, .alieo
XSe™"'" " ''"" *" """^ '^'^ '^'^^ U y en aum un construit .ur la dit,
*T" !' "•'"*/"' *'"'' *!* ^°^^^'' ^t ^^ P^'« ['""'■^"en/ ?] ne pouna pr^teudre aucun dom-
mage centre sea vou.ns pour lea d^ga.a que lea beatiaux y JourraiL faire d Javenir "1
~"Z rr^.^^rr '" ^'""""^ -J"' ^"°"* J"g^«nLas.:.eaparnoaofficr 'e^^
X"i2Tr;:;^dft;r;erii^^^^^^
1-'' et en cas de vente. noua ou ceux qui auront droit de noua, pourront retirer la dite con-
ces^on en rembouraaut le aon principal de la vente. fraia et loyaux comptes suhanUa
"prru;2:?r'''"''^"^''°-'°"'°- ^treeuiWeencecL, ,a .u'r^irrLS
After which in 1668 (May 29), upon Bourdon's petition to that effect, the
Seignior granted him a new title (No. 45a of Adstract), in these terms :-
-"Aquoiobtemp6rant,noua. voulant favorablement trailer le dit " . avons augments la
dite conceaaion d un arpent de front aur le dit fleuve, et 160 arpona de terre en b^do pro-
« I«l, 1 T "' ^"' ' '"■P""' ^' ^^°'"' «' '*=«"« "««« «' ^"g^« ^^ fief noble en-
«Jo2.^:t^;;s^'"' ""'""' '"" '^ """^' -^--''>-«j-«-. po- «
l.~" d la charge de la foi et hommage,—
"■"collTeZiair """'' * ' ^"'^'"' '" C-t"-du Ve^nPranaois enclave dek
8.-.«et que lea appellationa du juge qui sera 6tabU aur le. lieux rea«>rtiront pardevant le
" juge prfivost de notre dite aeigneurie,— i«iuey«ni le
^'^illtTcwJe^'' '" '"'* "°"'*'^''° ''*" """ '' ''^''"^''' "' '^'^'' '•'»>' *"• ^'••t
§ 302.— Another censtj^e grant by the same Seignior in the same fief (and
which also, as late as 1698 or 1699, was erected into an arriire fief,~seeNo
811oofAnaTBACT,-but "sambanLim et sans Jmiice'^) was made in 1648
Ill
154
(Oct. 15), of 5 arponte by 40, with rights oicham mdpiche, on quite different
terms from those of the above grant in 1 656,-thus •-
8 -'U la cwJrr T ' " V'""" ^^r" 'J '^''"«""'« '"•*'' «' »"''° cooditionofie.-
o.— a la cflarge de retrait en cas de vente."(o)
J^^l~^ ^^'■'If '?.' "^ ^''^ '■'""''' "'»'«' '''" "f *^« ««""« "eignlo'y, furnished
nrll f ' r ''''Tr ^"""""^ ''^'' '^'"'^^ ^y *^« Seignior, of the entire
property of a r«mm«failn,g within it, and of 18 feet of ground on either bank,
-and of the right to fix the pecuniary dues as he might see fit, in case of the
property passing out of the Ursulines' hands. This grant .No. 38a of Abstract)
runs thus : — '
■-"aTonsdonn^etaccorde, dot.non»-et accordons par ees pr^scntes •• le nombre de 320
arpeng do terre • • d eavoir: 8 arpene de front sur le grand fleuve St. Laurent 4 commencer
_ a 8 arpen, pr63 de I embouchure du ruisseau du moulin d scie • • et 40 arpens de profondew
••.Jrl " ir"".''", '"' ™''"*'"' ''" "°"''° * ""« 1»« "°"-'' °°»« reseryoDB en tout
«on contenu avec 18 p.eds de ohaque c6t6. et en sorte que le, dites M6re« ne p„i„ent user
du dU ruuseau, m autres ayant droit d'elles, que par notre permission particull6re,-pour
en jou.r par les d.tes • ayec tout droit de p«che et de chasse ^udevant et audedan, dVla
dite concession en main morte, franehe aumone, tant etsi longu >mcnt que cette concession
" sera entro leurs mains, ■» ■»
^'XiEe;'!!'^""' "^ d'aUfination nous lapourron. charger ainsi que nous jugerons raison-
^'Ltf', "•-'^"'^•"■^S inmbstance, to CondiUons 8, 4, 6 4 7, respectively, of the ctnsiv
grant to Bourdon, suprd, § 801.
§ 304._A fourth title (No. 386) indicates a rate of 1 denier per arpentand
a thirtieth of the eels and salmon caught, as having been charged in 1654, in
this sei^iory -without the 2 live capons, which formed part of the Bourdon
grant (Suprd, § 301.)
f.rti^- ^r^'\ ^^f,l \^ ^'■""* ""^ ^ "P""'' ^y ^<^') ^^^^ ^«« been laid be-
fore this Court m MS.,-No. 27 of 1st Serie. -shows, under date of 1656 (Nov.
(o) See No. fze cent 66 of Abstbaot.
Ji^iZ\^lT''']T!L^"^'''''''''''°''''''^''''^'-' ^^' '" "«8or9, are taken from
1«Z «f T f"^'**"'' "^ "°* ^'^"^ ^''^' ^^^"^ ^^ ^J*"!- »ffiur is recited a. a
matter of course transaction.
The erection into amirefief(ma of ABsraAcr) is there thus recited -
- .1 a ort6 et 6ng6 en arridre-fief le. 6 arpens de terre de front sur 40 de profondeur, si.
be«, a ser^it, a toujour, et sans banality et sans jusUce. au eontraire relevant de ceUe de ll
d^se,gr.eune, e moyennant que les habitans d'iceUe moudroient pr6f6rablement leur.
-rZstl^iS- ''""''"'"''''" ~"' " """''""' qu-Hyenaitunbani;
o""'.'/!*,"'^''^^ ^* ^ ^°^ ** hommage par le dit • • a perp«uit6,_
"mutairdl''" '''"^"'* ''" "^"'^ '''"° •""*' **" ^ ^«'«" ^ "K«"t monnoyfi, d chaqu.
mntotion d« poisesseur ou seigneur dominant." »-"»h'"
uite different
ich6 et mis en
procureur fit-
iditiotm^e, —
ry, furnished
iche uumdne
•f the entire
either bank,
case of the
f Abstract)
)mbre de S20
k commcncer
Jo profnndeur
rvoDs en tout
piiissent user
iliire, — pour
dedans de la
io concesBion
erons raison-
tha ctnsivt
arpent and
in 1654, in
) Bourdon
en laid be-
666 (Nov.
taken from
recited as a
badeur, sis
D tant que
I celle de la
ement leurs
lit UD banal
S, dchaqa*
155
18), with conditions answering substantially to those of this Bourdon want
caught, duly salted, and 2 live capons.
of d^'^^'f T f 'T^ ^"IT"' ^""'"^^^ '^' ^"''«'" «"«""^ g'«nt. in point
dLutlntlT i K f 7. o "''^ '' "^^"'^ ' -Py ' No. 26 of the Ist series of
document* aid before this Court by Government. It was made by the grantee
of these.gn,ory in 1637 (Jan. 29), to an old servant, apparently; and tfrrLl
are so pecuhar and so significant of the entire fr;edom of [he " ntlt of
accensement m those days, as to warrant its insertion here :-
•*^ill' too ImeTdl '/""'*' ?"""'""■ '^^ P-^-'-"^ «'" Wr^ditaire, au di»
-•" -quelle terre le d t 8r. ,6ra tenu lui faire mesurer et bomeToommonoaat • •
1—" A la charge que le dit Langlol. baillera par chacun an ' ,7'"?°'""* .
.z.trL":rsrts''""^^^^^
a " jTau» . ' wigneuriaux • • selon la Coutume de Pari,.
'•"de'^^itiiura;^^;;:!':!!'^^'"''^^'^
^■"SnttrinV-" ?:.? L""f '°" ' ''^''°' '" '*'" ""—^^ - "«J -eo un
1 arpent de terre, moyennant que le dit Sr. • • luv fasgo ditrioZ, . ]
" terres au mesme estat qu'eslait d luy._ ^ ^^""'"' "" ""''' '^''"* '«»
8.-^' que le dit Langlois sera tenu de se'faire bastir une maiaon dans Beauport-
J.-" y donner et faire ses bleds. farines au moulin du dit Sr • • ^oaoport.-
Cv£q:ru;t:^;t^^'"^" ^""--^ tie„nentquittele ditSr.de tousle.
'"w^fesuJnir;^^^^^^^^^^^
aAT'~lT ^^u'' T'"" ^^""^ "^ ^'"■^ P«"°^' belonging to this Seigniory
of Beauport, have been laid before this Court bv GovernnTfinf • .l!u f "''''7
in the Ipast lita ♦!,;=„„ * xi. • . """■"/ government neither of them
One No 2 oftV. \ " ^™''~"'' '"•^''•^' '"'^ ""^ ^'J'^'- ^^^ noticed.
One No. 2 of 2nd Series) ,s of 1644,-6 ar"3nts by a league and a-half with
no mention of cW or pMe; at a rate of 20 sols tLrrJ^,, arpent of front
otirtotrii^:^^^^^^^^^^^^^
odj enough referred to as if established undefth:'t CusC '^ '""'" '^'"«
and with no special conditions whatever ^'' "^'"*'-
fi ? 3f •-^^«»«"^'« grant in Deschambault under date of 1645 fNo 3 of 9n^
Series,) laid before this Court by Government, out-does even the We g anfof
1637 m Beauport, for the anomalous speciality of its conditions Itlso 8
arpents by 20, at a rate of cens et renU. of 2 ipons for the Thole nd o \
ifln'
il (■
'ii
166
d^rsjor erery -arpent de terre deffrithie - and tho added condition, read
-;' et pour donner courage «u dit Pierre Ma«6. et luy donner Je moyen de rim le dit Sr
" 3::::- '^"'' '^ "-^ ^^' -•'""" *' •^^•"'*' ""•"' >- -i^'' « -p- .«: la Xn^
• turra "*"■•"'"? r""""" •»'"''"»'- d"« « ana de la prfi^ente con L.io 7jy
pourra plua revenir. ct elle appartieudra enti^remont au dit Pierre Ma,«5 _ ^
- lequcl en ce ca» sera tenu •• do deserter sur lei terre. du dit Sr *• IJ 'arnent d« t.rr.
Couit^ d T """' ""''' '" '". ^* """■•' --^ * -"- - 1"^- Ti y tu :»
accou9tum6 de fmre en ce pay8,-au lieu ou le dit Sr. • • destinera • • J S «••
-"promcttantle dit Sr. -de dooner au dit Pierre Mass^ 6 journ^e. de «oo charpenticr
pour a.der d se loger et ea famille,-,an, que le dit Pierre M«e,6 aoit tenu «,urrrie S
« oharpentier, ny rendre aueune joumfie au dit Sr. • •
logemont. qu .1 n en ay autant fait d«.erter et ba.tir. affin que • • le dit Pierre M.8.6 aill,
demeurer en la conceesion que le dit Sr. • • luy pourra faire."
§ 308.-Among the documents laid by Government before this Court, there
are also three c^«., gra„U in Notre Dame des Anges (Nos. 4, 5 and 8 of 2ni
o ntbTm n :,7.f ''r '"^°^""^' " *^ ''----. -te or conditions;
are ahke, bemg for 4 and 3 arpents respectively by a depth of 4 leagues.
§ 309.-.There is one gn.nt, furnished (No. 1 of 2nd Series) from Sillery • also
made by the Jesuit Fathers, the proprietors of Notre Dame des AngeTlbut
on terms agam, as peculiar as was well possible
It was a grant of 2 arpents by 40, for a rent of 12 deniers per arpent as fast
a. It should be cleared, of 20 soh per arpent of frontage, of 2 deniers as cens,
and of 2 hve capons or ^^poullets venus," yearly,-in all, 3 sols or more per
arpent so soon as the clearance should have been made ; and under the follow-
ing special conditions :—
•^l7urchZ-°^^^^Tn"'^"' 'T' ^'^'^' F^ohe visavi.deleuroonoeasion.de
&.re un chem n commode » • afin que - puisse commodement desoendre la coste . •
""« 1 rr""" f '*J:''"8« ''^ "ommencer A faire d^fricher dans un mois oommengant . .
- et Mtir et habiter • • eur la dite eoncessicn dan. un an d'huy. pour tout d61ay -
~nl^lTr '""'""*' ^l '"'"''' '"* ^'''' """^ «° ""'t^ 'i^'^ I«» diU een. et rentes
puissent estre pergus par chacun an,—
-<• .inon et i faute de les percevoir. le dit • • Sup6rieur de la rfiddence de Sillerv • • on
'• ;.r uVdZr"" f T "'' T"'' """' '^'"'«^^""' Vos^essionae. d. Jnt.,Z
par luy dClaigs^s, prendront ma. forme ni figure de nroci^* .t ..n. i. », j
" fraiz qu'ils auront pu y faire,- ^ ' **^ '* rembonrser de.
de chauffage, et pour autres usages sur la dite concession, sans qu'U le. pLe empesoher
ou molester, quant etlorKiu'il. en auront bewin,- pui.se empesoner
m
-" .era mn\ tenu le dit • • d« moudre ... grain, au moulin qui .era ba.ty ,ur le. torr«
Mignourmle. des .auT«g« de Sillery. en awqu'on en f.«e iJstir ua." ^
§ 310.-Three Uties are produced within the Seigniory of Boaunro (Noh n in
.nd 53 o 2nd Series), all of a league and a half in'depth ; ot e w L^ no two of
"peaking, they are not grant«; not being made l,y the Seiirnior h,,f f ^
see. to recue the rate, and .ore or le. of the IditionsrS^ted^V'S
§ 811.-La8tly, in Ihe Isle d'Orldans, there are furnished by Government ihr.„
.ore c.«... g.„. of this period, and two other, have been l^Z!:^;^
Of the fonner one (No. 24 of 1st Series) is of 6 arpents by lo in an arrifr.
Jief then called Bcscheroau ; and the other two (Nos. 23 and 25 of 1 Seri^
m the small arriire fief of Beaulieu. ^"^'^ "«
Of the latter, one is in this same arriire fief • and fJ,n ^»i.«. /xr „
of Adsthact) is a direct cen^.e grant by the sL l™ of th T ^^l . "^ ^«
lines of Quebec, which was shorfly Jr2lZZ^'^'^^^^^^ 'V"""-
roturiire. (No. 35a of Adsthact.) * •^'""''^ ««'"^'^
No two of these are alike in terms; and no one of them follows in tem.s an,
one of those above remarked upon. ' ' ""^
§ 312.— The three grants the little arriirefief of Beaulieu »f tl,o .w -.
of the Island just opposite Quebec, are particularly r^n^XI' "'^
The earliest m date (No. 23 of 1st Series) was of 1652, for 4 arnents W
depth presumably ranging from 16 to 80 arpents, and a lot of Tq It *
near, with a right oipSche subsidiary to that of the Seiglr and als'o /r k!'';
pasturage for his own cattle only, on [he margin of the riv r on eUh r sidJt .
the whole, and 3 hve capons; the special conditions being, settlement wM •
arpents should be in cultivation,-and that the m^.^Z r °^ ^^
the river beach open to the pas;ura; abot po^^^^^^^^^ "^P^ ?'
grantee, but not to the extent of over 100 "Jo'w./L^ "'' '^ *'^
The second in date (No. 26 of 1st Series) was of 1869 -the «rr«nt i r
^r::;:^r::t;::5------of:;^^
" 8ion,(p)_ ^ *'^*'' ^ •^""*" ^^ "■>» P<"«- toute la dite conoea-
2-Mesdit. cens et rentes payables en effet« du crt da pays, au prix courant,-
(P) In all, therefore, moluding the eapooi, n or 13 »oU. «. nu,r. p.- -
hi \l
St^-"
158
I.—" portant lodn et ventes, laialoe et amende, telon U Ooutume • • do Parii • • ,
4.—" 8ora purmig au dit preneur d'aoToyer ms bettiaux i lui apparttnant en propr*, paltrt
" A la prairie et boil, et non & d'autren ; —
8.—" aura lo dit preneur droit de chasse tt de p6che derant la dite concession et dans tout«
" I'^tenduo do la dite terre.
«,— "Sera loisibloau dit seigneur boillour, si bon lui semblo, de tcndro quelquea fileta au
" devar ie la dite concession,
■;.— " Sera obligfi I.' dit preneur de fiuro mesurer la dito terre dani le jour et ao. i get dd-
" pens ;■—
8.—" comnio aussi d'cnvoycr moudre ses graiu.i au moulin banal du dit seigneur bailleur, eo
" cas qu'u y c» ait un bAti ;—
9.—" sera tcnu fairo garder ses besliaux, poor Oritcr toua dfigaU qu'lls pourraient faire i
" I'avenir ; —
10.—" cnaemblo de se faire bfltir dans le villagn qui sera proposfi pour cet effot ;
II.—'' tiendra lo dit preneur feu et lieu sur la dite terre, ou autre pour lui, fauto de quoi U
" pr^-sente sero nuUo."
The Intc'Bt in date, which has been furnished to me in MS., was of 1601
(Sep. 26), a grant to one Jean Fouchor, of 2 arpenta by a like unstated dejdh,
and also of a village lot, with right oi chasse and pSche, and pasturage on the
meadow ; at the rate of 6 deniers of cens, with 6 livres and 2 capons, for the
farm, and l;>'»MWe for the village lot; the other conditions being simply, that
the grantee should build a liouso and barn in the year and day, on pain of nul-
lity of his grant,— and that he should do suit to the banal mill, whenever one
should have been built.
§ 313.— That the second of these grants, that to Jean de Paris, should have
forced itself on the notice of the learned Counsel retained against the Seigniors,
was unavoidable. So also was, perhaps, the line of argument taken by them in
reference to it.
If a rate of 10 sols per arpen- in money, with an addition in kind raising it
according to the value of those days to 12 sols or thereabouts, could be and was
stipulated in 1669, — the sequence is not thence easy, to the doctrine that all
rates over 2 sols of money value of this day, are absolutely illegal, and must
now be cut down. To warrant it, there must be shown some text of law
enacted by competent authority, and in clear and precise terms. Every one
knows that no such text exists.
The learned Counsel, accordingly, sought to put in question the fact; and
argued that this rate was really of 10 sols per arpent of frontage. Its words
are express, to the contrary. In the long record of an obstinate law-suit in
1745, {q) between the then Seignior of Beaulieu and the then holder of this land,
this grant is cited and argued upon by both parties, always in its obvious sense
as fixing a rate per superficial arpent, and neither the parties, nor the Intendant
before whom the suit was pending, ever thought of questioning the perfect
legality of such rate. Yet the deed, found by search at Government instance
among the notarial records, is now impeached I It is said, that it must have
been a mistake. It was even argued that its style proved this, — inasmuch as in
(j) Printed in the 2Dd VoL of the DoonMiNra SEiomuauvx, pp. 187 *t uq.
if
109
gr.nt made .1 . lo„e, ,ale. l)u no o«,-U]l „„r.tTh. "^ r'' '"'' ' '-
§ 314 -.Arrived at tlio end of the dis im? „ of tl> . Mrio,} «f n ,•
b-story, I n,ay surely again «ay. that a, yet w. >•,„ o cor oCtlr^, f, m
ten ever bo remotely to indicate the nofion. o. "pTrt' the offh 'Ki! °"^^
o the Company, or of their grantees or Bub-grantees - h„ 1 f f ^^' '"
of^^a eitW .., or .as meant to ., a lething Z:^:^::^!:^
To make it possible to imagine that such a system was thpn tl,m,™i i r .,.
grants «.^./-should (at the veiy least) have beenCrZ arte o af tolV !
of and reau re distrilmtmn . „„ i .1 . """v 'arge, so as to admit
Bizes from the arpent or less, to the thousand arpents and upwards
Eveiy one dealt with all manner of contracts for disnosal of knT • , •
France; exercising aU that fredom-not to T 1 censn b iv«» ^T""^ f '°
oiTdo™^^^^
conditions a, to pH ^tel7o ht ""' "',T*'' ""'" "" '""'"^^^ "^^-nt
of size and buTen Xet S Zf:"''' ''""""^' °'""* ^'^^
under a system thr-nteZsed BO che'J';!r T-'"''"^ '''"'"'^« ^'^'^ «
contract ide for the l'^^ ^^ s^t ST h' "f "^^" ^"^^ ^^'* °^
baronial were expressly contemplated ^^1' "^ ^®^'' ^'■*''" '^^° *'^''
Juntice was parcelled ^outw^r^^^^ "",' """ '° '^^^ ^^^'^ --*«d-
back from it, with all the aristocrat/ •^' ? '''' extensively, or was held
' ^' aristocratic capnce and punctilio of the France of that
(»•) Vide tupra, § Uq,
11
160
day. The dues to be paid by the Seignior to his dominant, were fixed at will ;
clauses in factum were introduced into their grants, at will,— but never any clause
hinting at that obligation to sub-grant, which the anti-seigniorial theory now
makes out to have been of the essence of all grants en fief in Canada. Holders
cn>/ of the Company, suWnfeuded with as large license as the Company had
infeuded to them,— still with this pregnant omission of the special clause that
they should all have put in, according to the anti-seigniorial hypothesis.
The Company and its Seignior grantees made their grants en eemive with as
large license; at rates ranging from the denier or twelfth of a sol for 32 arpents—
or for each arpent cleared— or for each arpent granted, with release from payment
for a first lOyears— up to the 10 or 12 so/« per arpent ; without special burthen
of any kind, or with any kind of bargain that they saw fit to make and could
make as to any. And men sought for the great favor of having their cenme
grants converted into grants en fief.
Unless every one then looked upon the fief as a mere property, every one's
contracts were all carefully worded, to mislead as to their meaning.
§ 315. — And this is not all.
The Seigniors' case is not merely, that thus far we have come upon no trace
oiih&fidii-commis seigneurial. Although that is much.
Allowing for lapsed and renewed grants, something like three teuths of all
the land qow held seigniorially in Lower Canada, is still held under the
seigniorial titles— from the Crown or from the Company— of this period. The
Attorney General's Propositions dis-property (so to speak— one has to coin a
new word for a new idea) every fief, without exception for titles of any class.
But nothing is more certain, than that by feudal law— herein coincident with
the very first principle of all law— no mere will or word of the Crown, which
had bound itself contractually to these grants, could ever change them from
what they were when made, into what these Propositions assert that they
are now.
§ 316.— We arrive, then, at the Second Period of our history of Canadian
land-granting ; that which ended with the surrender of the Charter of the
Company of the West Indies, in 1614.
% 317. — It was an assertion repeatedly insisted on in argument, before this
Court, by the learned Counsel retained agai it the Seigniors,- and not without
reason, in view of the necessities of their argument, — that all the grants of the
Company of New France were revoked by the King.
This assertion has been more than once indirectly contradicted, in the foregoing
pages, by anticipation. It .' , now time to deal with it directly.
§ 318. — In the first place, and without reference to the tenor of any document
or documents emanating fr 'a the King or firom any one else, that may be cited
as in support of it,— it cannot be true ; because an examination of the titles to
seigniorial properties furnishes ampio proof to the contrary.
on no trace
161
any former grant as havin.^ been marl« nf if a ^l ' °"* relerence to
part of the prior grantees La C'^f k' '"'^°"' ■remonstrance on the
though not to^heeTn?ofignoriSt;M^^^^^^^^ '^ ''^''-^'^''
while they still assumed to lolj f ) tjt^ . ,T^r'°"'''^'^"'«^
must have been other grants in th ,£ cas iLth t^-'""'^' *'^' *'''"
come down to us. "'^''""Sh their names have not
pHXtrttrrb::sr??r'^"^ ^° *^^ -^^ «^ -^-e. of
for insfance, in h ' case o^l^e i ^ ITm' f ^ ^"^'^"^ "^ ^'^^ ^-t- As
by Title I3L, already no edMl' ^'''^'' '""^ '^' '^'^ ^'<^r><5»"«.
as in the case of PorLe a„d tie m'r '°"'''""^ ^'^'^ '^'^^^d- Or
those grants were sed the o^ o'^^^^^ where
But in all these cases, hatever the cha„l "7"'.'°' *'' °'^" '"'^ ^ --"^•
title was always most' exprt2;rX„tf "'''' ^'^ ^'"'^^ ^^"'^^^^ °^ '^^ ^'^
And everywhere else, it always was so tr^^UU. ,u
claiming to hold under ihese old'tit^; 2:::!^li^r'''''''' ''''''' ""^
f^^ ~::fr cl^^rr T-"'- «^^^« Company-sgrants. So
Company that failed to remain Jf fie "! '"'"". "^ " '"""'* ^'^^ «^ the
^ to . there is no presu^^ 2^ .ef ^ ^^^ ::^i:^-
wrought ;;;i?rl^^^^^^ ---^"^ ^'^'^^ - -^^ ^« '^-e
such thing. ' " '^^ '""^ *** '^""'^ tJ^^t they could have done no
§ 320,— The first of these is an Arr^t of tha i?;„ • i. • ^
date of 16C3 (March 21), printedlvTth 1 ^ ^ ^' ^''«*"^ '^'^'«'. ""der
has taken character for purpo" of r In^^^^^^ I'l ''"^' ''^ ''^^ ^'^^' '''«»
the printer rather than from'^ea, etrn;' " "" '"''"^ ^'^^"^ ^'^ ^' •>y
Those contents are as follows :—
" roit repris tous les droit, qui leur avolT t !,f ' *" '" '^•""P^S'"* ''^ '« N. P. au-
" du trait6 du 29 avrU 1627^ "''''"^^' P" '^ '^^ ^^f""', en consequence
(«) Vide suprd, §§ 292-298.
(0 rw.««/.ra, §164, note (*), and §260.
(«) Doo. Seion, Vol. 3. pn 135 g . Vr.,^ «
Il 1
162
lll'll
-" et ayant 6t6 remontr^ 4 S. M. que I'une deg principaleg causes que lodit pays ne s'eit
" pas peuple comme il auroit et6 4 dfisirer, et m^me que plusieurs habitations out Otfi dfitruites
' par les Iroquois, proyient des concessions de grande quantity de terrcs qui ont 6t6 accor-
' d^es d. tous les particuliers habitants du dit pays, qui, n'ayant jamais m et n'6tant pas en
' poi.yoir de d^fricher, et ayant fitabli leur demeure dans le milieu des dites terres ils s«
' sont par ce moyen trouv^s fort 61oign6s les uns des autres, et hors d'etat de ae secourir et
■ a'assmter, et meme d'etre seoourus par le. officiers et soldats dee gamisons de Quebec et
autres places du d.t pays -et mSme il se trouve par ce moyen que dans une fort grande
Vendue de pays, le peu de terres qui se trourent mx environs des demeures desdonataires
se trouvant d6frich(5es, le reste est hors d'dtat de le pouvoir jamais ^re •—
" A quoi 6tftnt necessaire do pourvoir, S. M. 6tant en conseil a ordonnfi e* . -doDne —
-"quo dans 6 mois du jour de la publication du present arret dans le dit pays, lous lea
partiouhers habitans d'lcelui feront d6fricher les terres contenues en lei!« concessions^
-" '""""• f. t ^""'^ f '\ ^'^ '« '^'t *•>'"?« P'*'^^^. "rdonne S. M. que toutes les terres
encore en friche seront d,stnbu6es par nourelles concessions au nom de S. M soit u^
aneicns habitants d'icelui, soit auic nouveaux. R6voquant et annullant S diteM toutea
concessions des dites terrcs non encore d^frichdes, par ceux de la dite compagnie "
; Mande et ordonne S. diteM. aux Srs. de Mfizy, gouverneur, 6v^que de Petri, et Robert
intendant audit pays, de tenir la main 4 I'exgcution ponetuelle du present arr^t; meme'
de faire k^stnbution des d.tes terres non d6frich6es, et d'ea uecorder des concesdons ««
§ 321.-Tho recital here given as to the evil to be remedied, is significant, aa
well from what it says, as from what it does not say.
What it complains of, is the too great size of the'grants, and the consequent
dispersion of the grantee settlers. ^
Of distinction between grants en fief and grants ea censive, there is not a
word.
But, upon the anti-seigniorial theory, that the grants en fief were made for
sub-grant en censive, and under implied obligation thereto, this complaint and
this silence were equally misplaced. The grants c« /f/, so viewed, except perhaps
the very largest, could hardly have been called too large. Those en censive in
most in8tances,-excepting always as regarded their excessive denth an evil
not by that time felt or 8uspected,-hardly were so. Taken alf together as
undoubtedly they all were, for grants of a mere property to the grantees -the W
a more nearly absolute property than the cens{ve,-the undistinguishing complaint
of their generally excessive size was most natural and well founded Upon the
anti-seigniorial hypothesis, quite another style of document was called for.
§ 322.-S0 also, with the main enactment. Within 6 months from the
publication of the Arr8t, every gi.uit was to have been cleared I Still no dis-
tinction of the fief from the censive. '
But, if the former had had in it a particle of that element now called the
" fidii-commis seigneuriair such distinction must have been made. The holder
of land under any sort of trust for the letting of it out to others to clear could
not have been required under pain of forfeiture, instantly to clear it all himself.
_ § 323-Nor was the threatened penalty less significant; the simple distribu-
tion of the uncleared lands to others. On what tenure ?-How account for there
being nothing said of this ; ,f, indeed, the distinction of the tenures n«rf . v
BO shghtly of the character now sought to be set ^^7' ""^ *«""«« P^^ook ever
§ 324.-.In truth, it is impossible not to see, that however sensillv fU
preamble may be said to have stated the evil that pressld for rlr^^,^ J
en^tments as to the remedy itself were too preposterousTpltr rntt!
Even the .gnorance of a home Council of State of ih.1T I ,
postu. of affai. in a new Colony, could no h ve been sTu J' "t T'
;neviU.e%eli„,^^^^^^^
from its timber and its climate, to fay notht ofSlI^^*' '"' '' '''"^
-r:L:rcrp,reroft^^
lands at once ; a coLand impl'^tttXTdr^^^^^^^^ 'T^' ^"
to which no show of obedience conl.1 fT^ i • "*"" ""^where, and
of the few post, that were TeM ."^c^ ^itrS Ld ^Tf ^'^ ^'°'^^^^
added, should be held liable to grant to ott Set tsC^^ ' ^^«
pronounced, of all existing grrnt.. much L, f n . ^.^^^^^^'^''^ ^^s not
What was said as to revocaC of' Tl ' f^ ''''*'"« ^'^"'^ ^'^ M
» ivii.„ s order ran, Hat tlio uiicleariid lands should be re-di»irih„..H ;. i ■
name to ne» applioanta, te the King to tUa. end and in Ik., ..„ "
annulling whatever older grant, „ig1,t ha.e tatmadetLetr """'' '"
description. Had it been enfi.r.»ri '° P'°""'»*'« * '^"'e o? haute police of this
revoked, that question would have been Se 1 if n ^ '''"'"''^ ''^ ''^
merely ^r want of a party courageot It ■;h t ;: t:^r^^^^^^ ^^
the ArrSt was not enforced, and was not meant to be enforcTd -wL n .7
a mere arrSt commimtoire, mch as the Frpnnh °^ ^^^^'-'^^S' '» « ^wd,
practice ofissuing, for all so'rt, of purposes ' "" " *'^ ^^^^^ ^^^^
natlranlttlToftii^^y^^^^^^ ^^^-^^'^ as to the
Sr. Gaudais, who was sen^SC. "m^S ^0^^ " ^'^
to report upon the state of matters in New France>) Commissioner
n
H E«„ „ Oa.. *«. 701. 2, pp. ,4 w ., ; Co-.^„„, „„ «„^.^ „
pp. 28««Mf,
I
I
164
These instructions thus treat of the subject-matter of this Arret:-
" grande quantite do terres qu i sf^r^H / ""^'°''°*''''''"' """' ^^ ''''"<'''" '*» P'""
" unis dans lour, demeures et ou'L n« 1 • .?• '" ""*' "l"' ^"^ ^'' ''»''''»"'' «°>'«''«
fut ]e plus certain. ,1 trourera assurement. dtant sur les licux. qno le peu de soin eTd^
oonnaissance que la con.pagnie ~ui a eideyant poss^d^ le pays en a eu et I'^vilTl
d LabUaUons, qu, se trouvant fort ^loign^es les unes des autres. non seulemenries pa^
cuhers qu. ont obtenu dea concessions n'ont pas It6 en «at d^ faire les dSi 1.0^
ma.s m^me a donn6 grande facilitd aux Iroquois d couper la goi^e. ma.sacrer et eTdrc
its*; f HT •" '? "*" '«'^*«''-«--<=t c'est eequialig. le" de J Se
Urr^t (.) dont la cop,e est mise entre les mains du dit eieur Gaudais, ensemble de ?mre
" ^c„re au s.eur .v^que de Petrde, de remettre entre ses mains I'origioal du dit a^ '. pi
"le. .epubheretaffioher^artoutaussitotaprissonarrivde. "'.pour
" Et comme il voit claire,mnt par les raisons ci-dessus expliqu6es. quHl e,t impossible de .e
pou.o.jama. assurer de cepays efd'y faire des habitation, IsidLnles, ^^ZnCil
'toueeu.gu,cnteu ces concessions de les abandonner. et de s'unir e,. I lourgZZ
paro^sses les plus uombreuses qu'il se pourra, pour dfifricher toutes los terres JTilt
veront au. environs de proche en proehe, lesquelles .„ ce cos il faudroi de Z^IZ
partager et en donner 4 chacune bourgade on paroisse, selon le nombre de families din'
ello seroU compos6e,-.7 iichera de persuader cette .iritt par toutes sortes de mZZauli]
ment d /aire reusstr ce dessein, lequel il leur fera connoitre 6tre non seulom.n ^
" necessity absolue pour leur conservation, mais mS,ne gue S. M « L~cZ 1 "'"
" rhocation generate de toutes les concessions. ^^ ^'"' ""*
" Au cas que quelqucs-uns de ceux auxquels les dites concessions ont 6t6 faites se mett.nt
en devo. de les ddfneher eatierement, et quWt I'expiration des 6 motp 'r Ip *
d.t arr^t, xls a.en commence d'en ddfricber une bonne partie, I'intentiou de S M est que
8ur leur requete le conseil souverain les puisse pour.oir d'un nouveau droit de 6 mo"I
« nuUr» ' '"' ^'"' ^"' '""''' '*' '""^'''' concessions soient d^elarfies
§ 327.-nere, then.-besides that all grants, /«/ and censive, are still treated
alike, we have the King plainly telling his Commi si.ner, that this ArrSt h-d for
object simply to oblige the holders of land-granta to give up the idea of goinjr
off to bury themselves on their respective propertic8,-in a word "to abaM^
their grants, and come together into -bourgada et paroisses," where they could
unite their clearances, upon smaller grants to be made them with that special
(x) Evidently the Arrii of the SUt of March.
166
into «K.pe,,.i«., fc, u,, c4i„g out of .hi. LZ llZ?.'^'!"""" "T
«»-. of . ,„.,. ..o..io„ ^f f„ ,„„^ 4 rKi;;rx"ie: ;oS
«m«,„i.,, o, .L r„^il;4':*'' ""' """• ■■■". «•» '"' be '»<, ».i,her
contract, of concc.ion to th irlitcc. ,h'v„l.Lr "r'""'^; ''J' "■*
As to the„ t« matt.,., the King .h» i„.,™oted hi, Commi„ioLr 1
•■ i«™ i« lubta. „ „. „ M,.„, ;„ Tl!, "'»' *■ *'•• Hi.i„i.. Stat lit™ »
■ LtZL^ «'rci"dtr.!'r ' ■ ^ *!,' '*"• i-™ '■""""-«"' "» «-
ui« uamiww, que b. M. veut soulager en toutes choses."
.oflwT itV' *'^/\PT'<^« *^« -*^>- -to another little act of
r^r:ri^^^:^^^^^^i ^^^^ ow. ,00, ,.
purchase of the right to trade in fu" ' '""'' ''"^ ^" *'^^"- ''^'P-^*^
<lontttt:itt"th: r'"" "1"^"^ " *^ ^" ^^«* -"'^ i'-'l>'y be
fi iv
\m
%
166
Instructions, l ; of them, savoring of fiscality and Court craft,— rather mors
than of that pure benevolence, which on high anti-seigniorial authority is said
to have so marked the wh.>le policy of the Kings of France in reference to
t'anada.(y)
Not to say, that the latter is, yet again, t super-abundant proof of the non-
revocation of-nay, even of the non-int^jution to revoke-the CompanyV
seigniorml grants. Those grants alone could have stood in the w«y of the
recognition of all manner of fiscal right of the Crown, whether as arising out of
ite«,«t,«raine/«,or<-utofthe directe /onciere in and over nil land in Canada.
Had they been revoked, the revocation woult! Lave estaL.iir.r.d these fiscal
rights la their entirety, ipso/aclo. Had it be«i even intend*;,! to revoke them
no enquiry or report could have been wanted, for the finding out of 8i.;ie way
or otht;'- to establish them.
§ 329- -All incidental procsdure which happens to have come down to m.
shows that in Octob- >• <>i (his year (1663) the Governor and Bishoo had
occasion to recognise, at:; lid i, -cognise m<nt unhesitatingly, the Company's
grant of the Island of Montroal, i-,-> « grwU, in full force, of the full property of
such Island. r r j
The Governor commission, k;.- the Sr, de Maisonneuve as local Governor of
Montreal. The latter sL onoo laid his Commission before the Conseil Superieur,
the Governor and Bishop present; and with leave of the Council gave notice t-I
the " Srs. intiressis en la tehjmurie et propnete de la dite Me de Montreal" o'
his application that it should be enregistered. The Cur6 of the Island appeared
and stated that ho was only their agent for the taking possession of the Island'
" en vertu des cessiom et transports d eux fails de la proprietS d'icelle; " but that
i.e knew they held letters patent of the King (being Title 16, suprd, 8 251)
which conferred on them the further right to name the Governor of the Island'
Whereupon, the Council allowed a delay of 8 months for the production of
their title*, and of these letters-patent with the rest; and in the meantime
registered the Commission, to be acted on till the further pleasure of the King
should be known.(o)
What the final decision was, does not appear. But certainly neither the
Talidity of the Company's grant, nor yet its proprietary character, were for a
moment put in question.
§ 330.~In fact, it was not until the 6th of August of the year following
(1664), that the Governor and Bishop laid the Arrit of 1663 before the Conseit
Supirieur. When the proceedings had (6) were as follows :—
(y) Vide tuprA, % 223.
(«) Edits w Okd, 4?, "Vol 2, p. 340.
(a) Edub it Oa»., 4«, Vol. 2, p. xxiii ; 8». Vol. 2, p. 12.
(6)Doa S«ioN., Vol. 3, p. 143; Edits. "■ Obd., 4°, Vol. 2, pa xxiu and 128. \ 2-\
Vol. 2, pp.18 and 19. • »
« en la eompmniie de J« N" F ««,. i ° i •, , ! ' , P" '*' c.-devant int6reu6a
"comma aussi qu'il soit dfifendu 4 tons pr/tendus seSe2^ ^ I"" f'"'^ «« PO"n-a.-
" dWunes tevres e„ non-valeur. d peine de ndHt - "^ "" '° '"P"" ^"^ «°"'^*«-«
" b:.tr:;ii' d7Cn:;i';::^i'^^^^^^^^^^^^ "-^^ - ....iq^, au .^d. de.
"quederaisoD." "^ *•" P'°«"'«"'-S«'>^«1 d« «>". pour, ea r^ponse vue, dtre ordonnfi ee
§ 331.-A1I which further shows the same state of things, and puts still the
same interpretation upon this ArrSt. The Governor and Shop forluy call
for an order to put the Arrit into precise execution; but at the same time
declare as formally, that it shall not be executed. Gaudais, it is clear, Lad
either not tried, or else had wholly failed to persuade all parties of the expediency
of an exact compliance with the King's wishes. The holders of grants ^re not
ready to abandon them ; and they were promised accordingly that the ArrSt
when registered, should not have effect as against them, to make them leava
their houses and settlements however uncleared, but should merely regulate as
to future grants,-and be accompanied with a prohibition to all claimant Sei-
gniors to sub-grant wild land on pain of nullity. Notwithstanding which, on
the demand (most inconsistent, one must admit, with this promise, unless indeed
the demand was meant for a mere threat, to admit of facultative application by
future judgments ,f occasion should require,) that all wild land be declared re-
united to the Crown domain, the order that passed went no further than to the
commumcation of the^„-^< to the syndic des haUtans, for such remonstrance
as he might have to offer.
«.r ThZT'"'! ^/ f "''^' "^"'° ^''' "«* *??««"■ 5 °' ^'^^ther he offered
any. The matter rested there. The ArrSt was not registered; perhaps Lad
not been meant to be. o , r r «*
J ^^^--^J^""", f' '""y l^a^e been, one inference from one clause of this
entry on the Council Journals is unavoidable.
168
The Governor and Bishop offered so to modify the Anil, in practice, a» to
make out of It, or rather add to it, a iwoAim-on-
On the understanding that the object in view was what the King called it in
the preamble of the Arrit and in his instructions to Gaudais, the prevention of
Btray settlement on remote grants.-this is intelligible enough. The holders of
extant grants were to be let alone, by way of compromise, as to any stray settle-
ments that they might have made, but were to be restrained from sub-granting
a« Se.gn,ors (and the holders of the grants at any distance were generally hold
ers by Seigniorial title) any land not first cl. ared.
On the anti-seigniorial theory, which makes the Seigniors to have been agents
for the granting of wild land, and treats this Arrit, not as a police threat for a
temporary end, and having no more reference (to say the least) to grants en
/f/than to grants encensive, but as a real and special revocation of all extant
grants en/«/,— this clause is unintelligible.
§ 333.— The records of the Conscil Supirieur furnish note of another proce-
dure, having reference to this Arrit ; and still in the same sense. The entry(c)
18 this, under date of three months later, 1664, Nov. 8 :—
- tr^^T r r'" ^' P^"'*" ■""■ ^^ ^^'^ •^^ LauzoD.-qui ont remontr^ que les
dites pfiches sont sur des lieux non ddfricbeg ni habitues,—
-"CO qui fait que nous, sieur de M6«y. gouverneur, * • en la N. F., avons ordonnd
^^ au procureur-g6n§ral du rol, de s'opposer A. la distribution de leura deniors, commc 6tant
^^ 163 dites fermcs (pourquoi on leur demande) entre les mains de S. dite M. suivant eon
_^ arret du consed. du 8e. mars. 1663, enr^gistrg, public et affioh6 ou besoin a 6t6 le ■
^^ et de p us, par la declaration qui en a m faite par nous et Monsieur r^vdque en date du
8e aout dernier smvantl'ordrequele roinous en a donn6.-et qu'ilsoitordonnS que les
" au Z TsTo Z-^' ''™" "'"* ""^ *"'" '"^ """' '"^ ^'^«" P-^ - ^^Po-
" I'IZTa' I' '^'' """■ P''°«"'*"'-g«°«''Jduroi a requis-que d6fen,es soient faitesdtous
" se nZ n T^r "T""" '*"'" "' ^"^'^ ^"^ ^'' "«« °°" ''^fr'«'>^« "' I'^Wtuds, et de
" Sputifet IT '^ """' •"' " "-''' "" P'°'' '■« ^- ^•-** ^- '' F^-' -*
" N t tl Z \ *7««J JO^q^e" 4 nouvel ordre du roi,-ce faisant, que les dits P.
" It cue e nZnf ^^ J! """""' 'J" ^'''' '" "'""'«"' '-°°« ^'^^"''We ddcharge,-
et que le present sera lu, pubL6 etaffichS afin que nul n'en ignore."
^ § 334.-In this case, upon suit by the grantee of the Seigniory of Lauzon, or
in his right, against parties renting of him certain rights of fishery on the St.
Lawrence, opposite uncleared land, for rents due,-the Governor orders the
Crown law officer to intervene and claim such rents as belonging to the Crown.
The dates given to the King's Arrit, and to the declaration of the Bishop and
(c) Doc Seign., Vol 6, pp, 9 and 10 ; Eons et Oan., l-. Vol 2. p. xxiii ; 8- Vol 2, p. 21.
169
himself, upon which taken together he professes to base this claim, are wrondv
sta^d ; but there can be no doubt that the reference is to the AliTof Ztit
the claim. Ihe blank left, as to the pretended enregistration and publication of
the Arret, talhes .ell with the failure of the Council in August' J^we have
seen) to order the taking of those steps in the case. ^
The law officer of the Crown intervenes, and demands three things :_
J.-^ general prohibition to all SeigDiors,-of the leasing out of wild land or
of fish,ng nghta opposUe to wild land, and of all other proprietary acts under
their titles from the defunct Company :— i i j ^« uuuer
2.— Payment of the monies in suit, to the King's use.
3.— Publication of the order to be rendered.
The Council evaded the first of these conclusions, by just prefacinrr their
order as to the second and third, with theCourt formul JhLheW '^^.
be executecl ; a formula, by the way, which they seem to have drawn I if rev
had thought that more than one such ArrSt was in question,-bu to iri I tZ
took care to add as a saving clause, " until further order of the King." ^
§ 335.-Of course, no one can ascribe weight, in a legal point of view to anv
procedure at he mere instance of de Mezy, before the LLu SupiZ'roZ
troubled administration Even if one could, the fact that this ^r./had not been
proposed for enregistrat on till August (suprd, § 330) would be decisive that Us
«x months of delay could not have expired in November of the same year and
therefore, that the ^..^, could have had no operation as to the case nZd _
independently of all considerations arising out of its tenor and of the fac that it
w^ not even then enregistered. For some reason or other, it is ma es ttha
the Governor was bent on a mere stretch of power; in which the Counci
seconded him,— but not to the full extent.
wl,!ll! '^'r^'!' i '^' ^^^^^ "/^'•'«<' "fermiers » and afermer- is still not
wholly without significance. They are not the proper words for th; case of any
form of feudal sub-grant. The defendants here sued must be presumed to have
held under a lease, far short of a hail d cens ; and such leases are here referred
to as m common use.-It is one of the tacit assumptions necessary to the anti-
seignional theory, to ignore the fact of the resort to such leases.
The demand of a prohibition to be addressed to the Seigniors, is a^ain of
Itself a new evidence of the known fact that their titles wer^not h dfohave
been revoked ; and the failure of the Council-or in other words, its re usal-
o^der such prohibition, shows anything but adisposition to have' them re ked
§ 336.-Add, that the Kir,-A Tarther order could not have confirmed even
the temporary sequestration here ordered. The Seignioiy of LauzonTa^ ZZ
f !■
I Si
170
held ever since as it had been till then, under ite old title (No. 5, su.rd 8 243
Ac), as granted by ( he Coinpany.(,/) ' ^ ' » ^*^'
fl!!^'~Vr ■'""'? °"°'^'' " ' ■''''■ f .nt document,
thi 1^ T. ^"""^■"■''" ""■ '^*''^''' ''"^ -^^ '^^^y government Laving reached
iLt' *'""■' '''"•"••" ■' -J'"""«''«tion w,' effected ; the J^>ZL de
T^ll r r7 ^'^'"^''^ ^^'""'^^ "''^'"dod; and Messieurs do Courcelles and
Talon, respectively, as Governor and Intendant of New France.
The Kmgsmstructions to Talon in this capacity, un.W .V>. , -.666 March
27, drawn presumably by Colbert, thus treat of thi. . ..Uer :(«>_ '
;;oh,po...™ieu..v.,rro:r,:z
" pour une espace do corraa n..'il. „'n„. • • 7., " *"" ?■■'* '*«« concesaions
"parleurvite. r , ,t toliZTr m P""^'' ""* *'"'""=''^'« ''«« If^Juoi'- qui
"antantqu'ilsera danaZorbiS /^ / / ''"""" P-'^oi'^** «» de no, bourgs
" nouveuux d^friohemen,, et d abandonncr les leurs^ ' "' ''" '""J''"" '^ '"'" ^^^
•• lie d la prud Le du r Sr tZ f'*^"' "' 7' ^^ '^'^^ '^"'' ""''»-«• S- dite M.
te c e grantee to that of
n the ^i. iowrencf,— where
^rf) A title, it may be remembered, that assimilated the
the Company, but gave r.o special right uf pSche or otherw
It IS obvious enough iLese fisheries must have been.
It occur. ,i o no one in those days, to suggest a distinction on that score as to the Sei
gnior-s be:ng owner of the piche a. well as of the laud adjoining.
(e) MSS. Doo. Que. Hist. Soo., Ist Series, Vol. 1, pp. 40-42.
171
" hahitans uront obligt, d» dtJHchtr touU, le, term gui hur nnt tit .«.,/ ,/,. ■
"MU .e.faire, il Uur ,n .era retranO, cHa,u, aLe ;r.;l'X Srpi;',«
donnerd ,k nouveaux colon,, et par ce moyen il y uuoit lieu dV.^,. ^ , '* ^"""^ ''.'
II reste encore une chose A foire sur la m(?me moti^ro nni «■•»;..„ i,„ v i. '
;;jion de . co,o„ie. ,. e. ,.e ,e roi a..re .uHrLr^ritrZ^t rr^r
Talon fa.,epr<^parer 3U ou 40 habitation., pour y recovoir auUnt du nouveaux uZZen
;; ft..»nt ubattre le. boi, et en.emencer le. terre. que ron aura d.frldu.c. au"d';l' d^
§ 338.-If, even, one could siipposo that the JrrSt here referred to was not
the one above given, but another issued at about the same time, it would not be
tho less certain from this extract that the Arrit of 1063 above cited was never
f th uncleared grants of the CV.mpany (hardly any of their gran,., being other
than uncleared) had already been revoked, or even if the King had supposed
them so to have been, he could not have suggesteu, as a line of ;olicy to be per-
haps pursued the obtaining from tho grantees a very partial abandonment of
tbem uncli- threat of worse, in case of non-compliance. We shall see, presentlv
that from t,ie surrender of the Company's Charter to this time, hardly any
grants had been mad.. So that tho body of grantees with whom Talon
(mstructed as to this, in the same sense in which Gaudais had been instructed)
was in act m concert, could only have been the Company's grantees.
§ 33!^ T;„t in truth, there is no trace of any other ArrSt of 1663 on this
subject, . the one above cited. The King certainly referred to that, in his
instructions t ^ Gaudais ; and characterised it as he did to Talon. De Mozy and
Laval char," • i.ed it in the same sense, to the Council at Quebec. In fact it
was dealt v. Ax and spr '-en of, not as a piece of legislation, taking character from
Its enacting clauses ^ loosely, as part-and part only-of an intimation
given of the King's wii. The author or authors of the instructions to Gaudais
and Talon, respectively, must have written of it, from the despatch that covered
U, and not from direct perusal of tho document itself. De Mezy and Laval in
proposing It for enregistration {suprd, § 330), and de Mdzy and his Crown law
o&cer afterwards in the alfair of the Lauzon fishery lessees (suprd. 8 333) had
no hesitation in adding to or taking from it, just as circumstances required
referring always, as to a perfectly sufficient authority, to the royal instructions
conveyed to them, or said to have been conveyed to them, in other form. It
was nothing more than a fragment of the body of instructions, as to the
contemplated reduction of the settlements in Canada into bour^ade form,-the
fragment given to the local executive in form for promulgation ; to be author-
itatively promulgated, after enregistration in the archives of the Conseil Supi-
nmr ,f occasion should serve; but which seems not to have enregistered. and
most surely was not promulgated and acted on.
§ 840.-_These instructions to Talon even indicate what one may call an inve-
terate tendency of the French Court of that age, to proceed in this way,-6y
mmue Mt meant in earnest, /» y
Ih
h i
171
»„1,1 »»,„► I , " ° '"'" '^^'' '*" y*""" ""«cfed upon. Talon is
old tha 1.0 need not try to oxecuto it exactl-. ; but that it i, veryV irab th«
Lesho K, trytoper«„..do the «o,ti..r«to„ct w..h hin^.oaMoginW,^ e^^^^^^^^^^^
f thoy should be refractory, of all th.ir uncleared landn. Not that the kZ12
lurthei threat, for pubhcation, of an escheat, year by year of a tenth or f!ftn«nT
:: :;:::,' ^;^ -- "— ^'-^- — ^ - "*«: :=.:' ;t:
quelle ne peut qu'ezclter Ics habitants au travail. Aiusi iecr '^ ^. ' P"'*"
"quelle me soitrenvoyfie. ' •" ' "l"* ''°"' orjonnere*
"On peut toujourB d bonne heure disposer des families d pa,ser dans rann.5e prochaine «„
- me donne les .ecoure ndcessaire.." ^ ^ ' •^" "' ''•' ** P"' «11«
tra?I '^c'^'f ;.! '''Ir'''" ^''' ''^''''^ *°' °' ^^''^ '«"-'•. I fin<J no further
trace. So that . could not have been sentoutin form and acted on U„Ies/
88 Sr;:rb:7r'f °' ^'^ f'^' ^^ l«^2,*pre.ently to be nolicedC^;,'
g& 389 e^sf,/.), be taken for a tardy promulgation of it.
111! !'
1=1
(/ ) I'be size illustratively given, is at least illustrative of the Io<««n».. „r „ .•
"f,"^ M" .»,o«, „p„,. 4. ^ .oL° at SZt ■.; C- • '"' •■"'■'«~'
It IS supposable enough, no ubt, that neither he nor vet the author nfTi,» j uu ^..
greats/grants in view at all ; that all they were exact yln\l7j;'^'',f^ ."^
the more immediate environs of Quebec and Thr^^vL I T settlement of
arose „therasto«„«-.andsm:?it;il^^^^^^^^ P-"cal question
of !:;?ron1nh;:e :^^^^^^^ °^ ^^^ ^^^^-^-^y' - of its .ster flc^on
Or) MSS. Doo. Qu«. Hbt. Soc, 1st Series, Vol. 1, pp. 68, 9.
(*)Vi<iJtn/ra,§867.
173
8 342.-rt muRt bo admitted, however, that Tnlon can have had no fl,n , .
of l.utt.r,g into execution the Arrit of 1003 ».. ««« „ » . , "^'''
not propoee, so to do. "" ""' instructed, a..d ho did
8 '*'•*''• — Tn the moantiine, that is to «nv ■Jir.rfi., k /• .i
§ 344.— The preamblo recited the recent organisationm of a " /-
the necessity of stren.tCnr.h.f P ? "' ^"""'^ ErirnnociiaU^^ ;
abando„„.eJofCa2 r,/c^^ ;^^^^^^^^^ -"'-;-' P-i-ses; ,h;
Com,.„jnle des Isles ,le lluioulTZ w! T ^ I T '""'' ''''' "^^ "•«
1642. to individuals .ho had Xwfid^^^^^^^^^ :'""': ^""'^'^ "'- -
(k) See Document No. 56 of Ist Serie,, laid before this Court by Government.
(0" On vcnoit, par un 6d\t d'octobro 1663 rle fnrm^n .,„„ „
;; Jo.e de ,a Guyanne, cnL ,a rivi "i: de. i'f IZTt S.^ToTeltt^^'r J'^"
parut propre u etre utilen,out chargoe en mdmo terns desautrcs colonies' satf 1 T^T
'• le nombre des associfis. Un 6dit dP mni 1 nai .„ colonies, sauf i augnicnter
(m) The words of the Edit u to this, are these —
" eoneaiCes en rann<3e 1642, au Heu dTV-nIi '\TP'^"'^ ^ '•"!'■"« "°"« 1«» avions
" d otablir dans cette grande tend e du oLfS^"" '"«'"'""—"' ^o cette colonie et
" appliques , cultiver les terr^'nW u^l d::rr'r""'7l '"''"'' ^•'"^' -"'--'
''6trangers.ensorteque jusque 4prit?so?ri «^^^^^^^ '^"' P"' '* ««°"^« <!««
" ont les premie, dluvert'et habu/ s d^ ; , "j '/: " '", T^T.'^*^ ^""^^'^ "J"'
" personnes qui ont cultiv6 les dites terrll/tSe "^^ P'"''*"'* '"'^^''^ d«
In the course of the argument before this CnJt ♦»,. .•
or not the Company of Lw Franceul, ^ ' J^,?;;; '"V^^"^^^^^^^^^
answered unhesitatingly for the Seigniors i^ the "ffil "0 ' "' ""'' '° ^^"'-'"'^ --
If authority or precedent can be of use to nroTn wi. .. • i
prmciple (suprd, §§ 197 and 198) the kZX u . ^"""^ *!"*'"'"> °" t''^ ^eor* of
nie. de I'LUuernaj be of such uJe ' ""^ '""''' ^''^ ""='* ''^ ^^« ^'-^"iT..-. del
174
§ 345.— After v.liich, the JSdit proceeds:—
" A ces causes etautres bonnes considdrations 4 ce noua mouvadi, .avoir faisons o„'«.
pri^B"-avon,parle present 6dit,6tabl, et^ablissons uno Compagnie des /nTes S ' ?r
•' qu. sera co.posde des int.ress.s eu la terre fenne de I'A. J^ It dr^tno;;^^^^^^^^^^^
Kew France. Jhe clauMs in it, corresponding to the 4th and 8th of the latter (,uvrd Slfifi^
are given in the following words, in Potjt, Vol 1 nn. 11 ik .nj • Z ^^ ' ^^^'
Vol. 1, about p. 60. ' ^^ ^"*°' '^^ '" ^•""'*'' »= St. Miar,
" 8.— Nous avons accorde et accordons, k DerodtuffiS an-r o..^.-/ j . „
« leurs hoirs, .uecesseurs et ayants cause la nrS 1' T vT^^\ ^^ '" '"'' <""npag°ie.
"justice et seigneurie, les terr^ft " r W es'T^l Ivr^ T ' L"''"'" **' ^° ^""
« les mines et minidres. pour jouir des ditis mine, :n^r '. '' ^""'^'' '' "'^™«'°«°t
« toutos lesquelles chosLs'susdUes nous I, ^^ZZnX .T "'"'="' '' ''
" mage, qui nous seni fait et 4 nos succeruJ roU T F f ""'"'*" '" '""' "' ^'""•
;_ no. de tous. . ehaque mutation de roTeTrp^Wsit d^il' ^^ t^ T'"''-'''
"q—seront nomm.s et pr^ent.s par les dits associ^.l^TuJ^'LlT::
" 7 — Les dita associes disposeront des dites choAPs A ah* .„» j - j . ,.
" aviseront pour le mieux ; distribueront le rre; ntrt eu, Tdc ' f 1^°" 'l"''"
« les lieux, avec reserve de tels droits et devoirs et A telltr:, ? '^"' «'l>abitucront sur
" ront plus 4 propos, et mome en fief, avec 12 loye ne T^ '' ''""'''"''"^ '!"'•'« J"S«'-
•• ddsirent avoir litre de baronnies, .L^aITZI^^^L^"^''''''''' '' *" "^ <!"'"«
" leur 6tre pourvu de lettres ndceJsair^s/' ^ ' ^'"■"■°"' P''"'^^^''" "°"« P««'
Petit (Vol. I, pp. 17, 18) give? the following account of sales m«l„ h. fi. r.
" La Guadeloupe et sea ddncndanccs la D^SsimT m . '"''''l"""'^ ^^ '^e Company :-
" vendues au beau fr^redugoLernriels^otfB;., "^"^f'' '^^ '*"°*^«' ^"'•«'"
" rente de 600 livi^s de suc.^ fin.^ui fut te ill ?«"' «"""»« de 60,000 livres, et une
" li^e, en argen, . raison de uZ:^:X::^^^Z!Z ""^ ~ '' "°"
•• «.et;,rz:;e,lr;,!::£: Ti ^^"^ '-'- r •- '^^'''-^- ^« - ^o-ne.
•' du 27 sept. 1650. "' ^"'''' P"""" '" ^°"""« <!« 60,000 livres, par acte
" Le gouvemeur de St. Christophe, chevalier dn M«lf^ „-i. *
" pour une somme de 120,000 livr^ c;tte isle It if ^^ T '" """" ^' »"" "''''«'
•• de St. Burthdlemy. par acte du [^Mtl'" ^ '"'""''^ ' ""'''' '^^ ^'- ^"^*^ «'
Dissatisfied in 1664 with the result of the.te sales an.] iha f.»
up a French trade with their Islands, the K ng yet lade no r.! "' '^ V^' "'"'^''^ '° ^**
legality, but simply nndertook, as w^ shall Zt io^^LlTT- "^ '^""""""^ ''''"
holding under them.-Had a doubt been posSl oftl le^lit^fTeY"' "'^ """"
not to be supposed that they would have been mjJnrZ w, { transactions, it ie
of course way in which they here are mention.T 7.. .r' ^""^ ''''''"'■''' ""'^ '° ""> '"'»««
taken to get rid of the ineon've nc" S t ey we^e f It'LT'"' ""'^ """'"^ ""'' ''«-
Between the case of this Company and tl.a Yf ThTr '? ""'*'''''•
but the one difference hinted at CLTjllll „Tm 7,^/ ""'" ^"°'^' *''^^« ^"^
resulting from soil and climate, o^he Vest itlia?!/! ^*' °V664,_that the fertility,
paid for those Islands, while t l^s Jr du e et Zd ^ f "^' *° ""' " P"'«
Indians, of New I'rance, left the latter LHi.,.7 V ^' ? " ''"°''*^ '''^'' """'^ ^"^"^e
New Fr'ance took no Lnyt^itZ^L -a„dTn^' " f ' r:'^"' " ''' ^'""P^^ "^
of confidence that it did not._th cfre slot! Z '' Tr '"""''^ *- '"^ ''"' "^^ ''^^'^^
any doubt or cavil as to sue!, right b" ml in trelet"thTr* "' '''"' '«'^' "' '"
been tempting enough to induced n to give'L'y t C**' ""^ «""'" ""^^ "<" ''•'«
175
" Terrcaeuvo, et autres Isles et terre ferme /ep3e 'no d du < , '."' ?"''"' '"*' ^'
" Virgiuie et Fioride, ensemble la cote de I'IZZ 7 l'",*^" W« ^' Canada jusqu'a la
" Bon„e-Esp6,anco, tant et si avant ^"111^™"'^^^^^^ J--!"'- ^^P ^e
" pays nous appartiennent pour 6tre!,u avorZi devant h-t* ■"' - "" "^^ '*' '^''
" la dite Compagnie s'y 6tablisse en chnssant ou so^L.T . . ^"^ '"* ^""5"'^' ""'t que
•' des dite pays, ou le.'autres atTous de 1^^^^^^^^ "" -^"-'« '■abitita
" ainsi qu-elies sont insiSr^es ci-apr6s :"-etc. ' ^'^°"' *' accordons,
§ 340.— Those of the subjoined " articles et conditions " wJ,;„T ,• .
.elate to ana,ualifytheg.„teo„ve3.ab,theab:vt:::it^^^^^^^^^^^
'M-^enduedosditspaysci'devareZlL L;^^^^^^^^^ '" .f " ^'^ -"<5ea,(„) en
" appeli.es Anti.le, Labitoes par lea ll^X^n^m:^::^!'' '''"' '' ''^'»^"-^-
" la oompaguie des dites isles formde eu 1 642 en remrurr„M ^ " particuiiers par
•' celles des sommes qu'ils ont payees pour racha, If A' f"'^"'"''* Propriotaires d'i-
" et des amdhorations et augmeLt ons a J^isv„nTf >'""'"" ''"" "=°°''»'^ ^'acquisition
•MescommiasairesparnousLdtSetTe tfsrt tSd'V'^K'J" '^
" depuia I'acquiaition des dites islL '""'*"' J°'"'''^*'"''"'«*'°''« q^'i'sy ont 4tabiiea
" cfidons d la dite comWnie.-poren o" /rS °'''^y"'^' «' -"•
"justiee;nenonsr6servant autre drrt ni 1/ ' . "'" ^'"f"'^^^' «-Kneurie et
;;dite eo.p.gnie sera tenne detufl: Zo^s: :^^^^^^^^^^ .- ,a
ro., avco une couronne d'or du poida de 30 marca '"''""" ''"^' ^ '^'"'l''^ '""'ation de
" .-ales,. n,..s ebargeant d'y satis aire si a crilre tT """ "" T''' '" •^"*' *«"«» «'
" rC-voquun. d leur foard toutea les oonl ' '"'^"'' ^^'^ "°"^ ''^""^ 'dvoqud et
" en terns ftant ^ qu'e be^ n r^ f 1^^^^^^ " """ """''^^' ""^^"""-
" contenu en ioellea, ainsi et comm si el s S la il" .T''"T' P""" ^""'^ "^^ *''"* '«
" 22.— Jouira In Hif» » Ltoient par ,icuh6rcment exprim.es
" ^^^S'^^^y^SZ^ '' T,": '^^ '"*- '-- ^' i <^ea droits
" qu'ila se 1. Jt /pr^sen't pa t sti;^ ^ 2^:^^^^ '" 'J'^^ *"^^^^' '■«'-' -^
" trouve d propos de les commuer en^!Z7J7 T'~T "' ° "'' '^"^ '" «o"'P"gaie
" 23.-La d/te compagnie pou a Jdroun^ h"""!; ''T'^S^'"-' ^es d.ts hal^ta^a.
" terreafermeade i'AmTrloue n, aiM ? *' '*' '"''''"'' '<'" ^'"^ J«« elites isles et
•' droits seigneurlaux qtTe^Ztr-lu :; "^ '''' ""^''^^'-^ *"'^ -'' -'-
" fleuvea, rivifires, isles, et isS Int ll '.. f ?' """"■*'' "*P«' ^"'^«^' P^^ '«- hdvres
"denouspayerpour/at nd^'dl /2 s ;t:r'"^''"^^^^^^^^
" quels nous lui avons fait don." '^''' ""'""' '^'°'"' '^^ "ouverainot^. dea-
^.WI^e^40_yeara Hmitod by the Z5tb article, for tbe commeroiM ^
\IM
176
■' 40^Apr*8 les dites 40 ann^es expirees, s'il a'e.tjugi i propos de eontmuer le prinl^w
du commerce toutes les terres et isles que la compagme aura conquiae.. habit/esCfdt
" hat an, T^" ' '^'"°'™ Beigoeuriaux et redcvances qui seront dus par les dS
habaant. lui demeureront 4 toute perpetuiW en toote propriet Jeigneurie et jLt ce^K-ur
dLfol """ "f •*" ■'"° '"' """"''' <="'"'"« de -n propre hTritag ,!!^cmme aC
•' dtst diZr ""■"'""'■ "?""■ "*^°""''' ---« et marcLanirqu" n aura
« etSl no P'^-^*"^ P0UTo.r ^tre troubles, ni que nous puissic.sretirer Ich elites terr I
et. les pour quelque cause, occasion et pr^texte que ce soit ; ft quoi nous av.n, re onci
ds a present, d cond.t.on que la dit. compagnie no pourra yendre les dites torres /.ucun,
etrangers sans notre permission expresse." "ucuns
§ 347.-By the fifteenth and three following articles it was provided that the
Company was to have a 40 years monopoly of all the trade of the v t Irrit
nes thus made over to them, their fisheries alone excepted ; that they .ere to be
pa.d a bounty of 30 kvres a ton on all goods to be import d by theL i o Ich
ZTT: t' 'r ' ^''"^'^^" goodstobe.honce'brough cl to
France ; that any of such goods which the Company might wi.h to re-sh p to
fore.gn parts, should be free of export duty, if freighted if French s Is 'a^d
that the Company shonld pay no duties of export or import on any sto es of
war, or provisions or other necessaries for their ships.
§ 348.— By the twenty-fifth and six following articles th« r.^
ra,M fore, to .ppoml Governor, at ple.sur., „ho „e„ to be comZioned
by the K,.8 , ,„ „„„„ „.,, „„^,„„,_ ^^ ^, ,„„,„ ^^j^ own coZiT
sion for tho superseding of a Governor to Lave force for B m„.,I,.
» to obviate di»eu,t, „on an, delay in tb. it^Trof'" IXtn^rio? Z
witb a„ .ings and princes of tbcir .err!,! ^^^ tL'i^n^.; ot,'" to"
make war upon tl.cn, "„„„««,„,... todemand the King-.V.,"'.™
cost, against all enemies of the state, who should molest the J- ,„J , .
and remove all local offlcm of jostle; of every ti"d an 1 d! , "''''
vatio,, ,n,v, that .be members o'f such C.»»7i:tl XXr^'cr,';
were to t»ke commissions from the Crown, upon the Company. it ll?'
thc:rm'onSfw''hiXfS:ti'*'?'""''''''»'*'»^^
French settlers in th r'rlS^t^S, rdttl'-.r rd'cZrrr
rr.:u:ra^'tr=:LTar=s^^^^^^^^
.« consecutive year, to be -«.,.„ ^^/ZZ'^^'iZCTottZt
(o) Tlie words of this article are:—
It cannot be suid that th.s provision was necessary for the introduction of the Oustomof
177
§ 350.— By the second and following thirteen aifiVIn- ♦!,„ *i • .
n.t ic. .b»» SOW J j„' iT ;t.uri . X" ''" "i'' ■" '"''""'« "^ «■"■
at will by tl» hc\.k„ k,™.lT , ' •"'* "■ ""I" t'»"*mblo
pow„vs-,„bj.ct,o.l,, .„ri" :l, J;,i " -"'•''■ "'"' "«»
-t .ubjoct t„ „izu,, f„, Tk " " I : : r- ""' ™ '"'"^
Special pr„,i,i„„, i„ f„„, „nM^„„„ fi<» of «»„rc al other i„,.„co.
'"=■"" """ ''•-^- ''--2::?.:f ;r. 'ir -"^ "*- - •»
f.vtti:f:j™r '"'-'^ '» '""'• «» ^' "«- r.r«y l,„vy ad,..,,., „. „,..
inli"„TLti;:i:s St::!"""" "'°° "• ''^°"«" - »•'»-''
" l.—COT tiniejinug regardotw dans I't-tablissompnt ,Uo r, , .
and »., Vol , p. 8»,, „,„ ^.j,,,., t™. .;;t,f;*jSr " O"-*". Vol. .,p.=8,
■ I. "r i;'r;:z:'; i: 'z: ? ""*• "" •• '"«'" •' ■• «"^= <■«- <• -«
bi.t! ^rriit'i'*?:;:;,:;-'.^-::' - r'^-^ r--- - »• '-' p-*-
than as provided by the Cstom of pJIr^fP ,'- ''"'""'"'' ""'"''"■''
infinitely too much, or infinitely too htfle ^"^ '" "''"'"'" '^''^ "°' ''"P"^' "'her
eame rule mu,,t bo applied to all othe^ eo ; t's L! t-n"' '' ""'-■-""' "'"""^^^ '^^^
well have said that his .ubjectB should not 1 L^t at a^ 1 '^^ " "'''' "' ' "^^ ^'"° »'«''' -
mu3t leave all details of t heir eontral ofT I i ""^ '''*'*" "''""^ °>«"«r, but
(in the silence of the parties rudlplT '" '"' "''^^P-^""- - ">« Cu;ton
it were for the uses of a'n U.ei^^^^J:, "" "'"" """ ^'"^^ ^""" "^ "°'-"' -'-
If on other hand, he lifllH f^ ,«„„„ i ,i
«» under anot/.r C 21TJlZTT\''f •"*" '"'"''^ "<="^" '"'''^« «"«•> •'"rtract
nor yet trans.res, any xp 1" • iren ^ ' ^,'1' *'° ""'^^"'^ °^ «"«'' "'"^^ Huston -
n>ay «ost safely bea^^ ^ Cr" ^ ^.f^ ;f ''^ °^ '^^ --ersal Custom ; the rule
The introduction of the Custom „fpl; T . °° «nli. seigniorial end.
other. r.»*r«iaed meo no Ire tj^ thefrr '.'"'? t P™"""^" "^'^^ ''^" •>''-'"■> "' any
of marriage, and oth.r ooZr^J'^n ""'''' "' """""""' *•""> "^ ^ «^«" Co«raci
178
' gloire do Dieu en procurant le salut de8 indiens et Bsuvages, aiaquela nous d^sJroM fcir„
ecnnoitre la vraie religion, la dite Co.pagnie • • .er. oWig^e de'f pZer a« pL;^!
desBus concedes le nonjbre dVcl6siastiquea nficessaire pour y prober fe saint^^^^^^
T m!. P^P 't "^^ '" •"■"'°'='' ^' ^'^"eion catiolique, apostoliquo et romaine comme
auss. de b4t.r des dgUses et y ^tablir des cures et presbit^res, dont elle aura la no iZon
habitants, esquelles 6ghses, curd, et presbit^res, la dite Compagnie sera tenue d'entreterir
d cem:„ent et avec Lonneur, en attendant qu'elle les puisse four raisonnablement -ll
^r irrn ", ^'^!,?'''''" ^^'^^ '"'""^•'' aucundesdits eccMsiastique quCnU
autorite que les memes gouverneurs et proprietaires des dites isles."
lit
J ?f ""^^ !' ''^''°"' ^'^ '''"'*•■''' *^«' t^« terms of the real estate grant con-
veyed by this instrument, are not altogether the same as those of the like grant
made to the Company of New France. ^
The general words of the opening clause (svprd, § 345), which of themselves
might read as an absolutely unqualified grant of property, arc qualified by the
subjomed articles (su.r,, § 346) ; although neither to the extent'nor in the wt
required by the anti-seigniorial theory. ^'
§ 853 -Instead of at once taking an estate for ever in the whole of the
conceded territory, as the Company of New France did,-the Company of the
West ndies had the whole of their larger territories made over to Lm (in
property, and with the superadded attributes of lordship and JusUce) under tiis
very pecuhar limitation that so much thereof as they should get possession
and settk during the 40 years of their commercial monopoly, and also (if
redeemed from the vendees) the sold West India Islands.'toJ^her w h
seigniorial and other dues thereto appartaining, should remain theirs for ever on
he easy and comprehensive tenure agreed upon, -everything else, presumably,
n the event of the term of their commercial monopoly not bei^^ extended
then reverting to the Crown. ° '''"■^"''^'''
r,.r?f f IV^'* *''"' ""? ^""''"^ '° '^'""^ '''' ^'''''^ to them as a pro-
p rty of their own ; and with a license as to their disposal of it, that was ^ery
nearly if not quite as large as that allowed to the Company of New France.
§ 354.-Indeed, in one particular that license was larger; for they w^re to
pay no ^^droUe de souverainete" on their mines,-while the Company of New
France was only entitled to hold them " con/ormement a rordonnance,' that is to
say, subject to payment of such dues.
§ 365^-And in another particular, it has been spoken of, as if larger- for the
twenty-third article in place of the more general terms used in the fifth seel ion
of the older grant (p) which have been spoken of as though they did not com-
Islands, m 16<t2, to th« €o>npasnU d» Ma de l'JmMiuc.~.Supri, § 844, Fote(«).
179
prehend the contract of 8ale,-expressly declared tbat the Company of the West
Iod.es n.ght sell, as well aa sub-grant, on what terms and to whom it 7oJI
In tins respect, however, the truth is, that a comparison of the two clauses
X' X::rc:r™"" ' ""' *"^"°" " ^- ^"""
Onder tbo oWe, g,,„i, ,h, right to .oil, „o, „erii„g i,, ,,, „.„,i„„j
^th Company by op.„.i„„ of W, and „, „e„ amply protected b tS
rtr;ro:r;:::to;;^^^^^^^^^^^^
Under this later grant, the rights to create ch&tellenm and aleux and to
dispose of^«s<ec« quite at pleasure, are not so clear. ' ^
§ 356 -Practically, however, for all purposes of the present amnm^nt fh.
minor shades of distinction are utterly unimportant. ^ ^ '"'' '^'''
What ,s at once certain and important, may be summed up in hw words
Both grants alike dealt with all the three cumulative elements Z T «lu
anfan 1'?""'^' " "^"^^ '^™^ ^" "-"^ "^ -*-' -igable or not,
ta own interoBt '^ """^ "'" ""''' " '' =''»"" I'to^ine upon i.
(?) Videsuprd, §§ 197, 8, and § 344, Note (m).
<)•) yide suprd, § 265.
(») Vide suprd, § 230, Note (yfc).
(0 Fj'rfe sup;<^ § 199,
m^"'<T,z'^r>:ttt^°"'^ "" •"»' "■•■'• " "» '^» " b.»,,.o
years, an indefinite part of it wl l! ' " ' "«''''• ^"' *»'' "' ■^''° «"d «f 40
were not wholly ,,aS ^v^lV^ T"' "tr^^*^ ^ "^-^ '" *« C--. the words
d«e«, the propeHy of the C«wn Tr .^^ ^"T' "'^ P°^"' '^"""^ '''"^^ ^-^ ^^^^ ^o reduce
Crown might'bo trid enti«e7 „ '•"'"?' ''^ ^-""''-"'"^ "« ^^ ^'^i^''- ^''-''fore, ,!
of its fiscal inU...i ""^ '" ''"'l"''^' ^l"*' "^«y «»'<»^<1 »°^ be reduced to the pr.J^dice
180
unmistakeably, that all such dues, however variant, had been legally and rightly
established, and were not to bo altered otherwise than by consent of the parties
interested.
J >
n
§ 356.— There is no doubt, however, that this grant to the Company of the
West Indies was much more imperfectly carried into execution in Canada, than
that to the Company of New France had been.
§ 357.— The Royal instructions to Talon, of 1665, March 27, already referred
to {suprd, § 337), contain the following significant passarro:
— " S. M. a joint lo d. pays il la concession qu'elloa faite 4 la Compagnie des Indoa Oeci.Ien-
•' tales, dout il est nC'ccssaire que le d. Sr. Talou voye le? lettres do concession, pnr lesquelles
" la compagnie est en droit de nommer le gouverneur et tons les autres officiers; et [maisf]
" comme la compagnie connait assez qu'elle ne pourroit pas trouver des personnes'qui eussent
•■ assez de rafirite, et qui fusscnt assez autorisiies pour oceuper ces postes et les remplir digne-
" mem, elle a eto bien aise que le roi fit cette nomiuation, jusques d ce que par la continuation
•■ do9 boutcs et de la proteotii.n de S. M., cette colonie s'augnaentant considerablement, la d.
" compagnie puisse aloi-s par elle-meme trouver des sujets propres pour y envoyer
•' II a &t6 bon que lo d. Sr. Talon sceust toutes ces choses pour lui faire connoltro que
' I'lntention et la volont6 du roi sont qu'il proic^ge, appuye, et trav.iiUo autant qu'il sera eu
" son pouvoir a bien 6tablir l'autorit6 de la compagnie dans le dit pays;" etc.(v)
§ 358.— It was not till after Talon's arrival, as has already been observed
{sup-d, § 343), that the first step was taken towards giving effect to the grant in
Canada, — by its enregistration here.
§ 359.— Having taken this first step and apparently not done much more,
Talon-in tiie same despatch of 1665, Oct. 4, which has been cited (suprd,
§341), — wrote home, remonstratively, thus:
'' Quoique par la r6ponse(«,) que je donna au 4e. article de mon instruction, vous puissiez
" b.en connaure s.l est avantagcu, au roi de c^.'er A la compagnie la propricto de ce grand
pays aveo le droit do pouiToIr au gouvernement, ou de conserver Fun et I'autre d S M _
•■ je m'exphquo sur le motif qui a pu la porter d faire cette cession d la dite compa-nie •" et
" je dis, que sil a ete d'augmealer les profits pour lui donner d'autant plus de moycns' do
" souteuir sea prem.Ores depenses, augmenter le nombre de ses vaisseaujc. et faire un grand
" commerce ut.le 4 son etat, sans avoir pour objet retendue des habitations de ce pays et la
" mult.pl,cat.on de ses colons, il est a mon sens plus utile au roi de laisser d la dite cumoa-
-guie cette piopneta sans auoune reserve; mais, si elle [o'est-d-dire S. M] a regarde ce
" pays comme un beau plan, dans lequel on pent former un grand royaume, et fonder une
" monarchic ou du moins un 6tat fort considerable, je ne puis me persuader qu'elle reussisse
" dans son dessein, laissant en d'autrcs mains que les sienncs, la seigneurie, la propriety des
" terres, la nommation aux cures et adjoints, meme le commerce qui fkit I'dme de I'fitabUsse-
" ment qu'elle pretend.
■' Co que j'ai vu jusqu'ici depuis mon arriv^e, m'a bien persuade ce que j'arance ; puisque
depu.s que les ageos de la compagnie ont fait entendre qu'ollo ne souffrirait auoune liberty
I
v) MSS. Doc. Que. Hist Soc, Igt aeries, VoL 1, p. 88.
MThe other despatch h.re referred to . «otgireu; nor any further indication of if
t«n<'r, tliaa the extract m the text affonlk.
181
« de commerce non .eulement aux Fransoi« qui avoient coutume de pas^jr en ce pay, pour
le tnmsport des marchandises de France, n^ais memo a«^ propres habitans du tan.dl
ju^udeurd,apu.erle droit do faire veuir pour leur com,Je des den eTdu rot me
desquellcs .1, se servent tant pour lour B«b.i«tance quo pour fairo la traito avco 17^.
J' On a mis la compngnie en possession, non seulement des droits honorifiquos ct de sei-
gneurie, mais encore do tous ceux qui rendent quolqu'utilito
E e se [fi,nde 1] pour cela des termes de ,a concession qui le lui donue privativemcnt a tou^'
"L^'T^ V ^'■'*'"""° '' ''' ""^'^ 'J"" '« ">' '"''* '•"""^ P»r "non instruction par
lesqucsaM mecommandod-cxciterlesditshabitansauoommerL,neswTd u a^'troD
je fendra. taut que jo pourrai les cl.oses en balance, pour nour ir quelqu e J ■ luce d^
" IZlsT^: 'r '" ''''T ''"^ ^° *""^^ abattus,lju.qu-4 ce <^.o dL ^ SVo
chaine S. M. me boU m.eux e,pl,qu6e de ses intentions sur ce sujet, sur lequel je m'otcudrai
" davantage dans mes premieres depechea." («) ^ ' Jt- "' ueuurai
• ^ f^—J^''^ ,"*'^"^' J'^^e^^'-. ^■«'-e i» g>-«at part combated, the year follow-
ing, by a despatch of the great Colbert (y) under date of 1606, April 5- in
v.h,ch, replying either to the above passage, or to the corresponding passage of
Talon 8 other despatch there mentioned, or to both,-that minister thus wrote :-
" L'autre raisonncment que vous faitea sur rabandonnenient que le roi a fait du pays d la
" Compagmo des ludes Oecidentales, et les inconv^^nicnU que vous en nppr b ndTptut
^t^ auss. combattu par une raison qui est capable, el^e seule, de dEr.:;!'
autres que vous apportez au contraire; c'est que nous avons vu par experience que eette
^lome n-est tomb^e daus I'^at lunguissant ou elle a dto jusques ici, qL paree ^ue Pa
c.enne comp^me 6tait trop faible, et parce que cette meme compagufe vi ensure aban-
donnde entro les mains des habitans (.) ; et si vous ^udiez bien ce qui sW pa s .ur ee
fa.t M, vous demeurerez d'accord que ces deux causes ont produit la desertion des ane ens
CO ons, et empecb6 que d'autres ne s'y soient alios 6tablir, comme ils auroicut fait aasTrl
ment, s. une compagn.e puissante comme coIleKii les avoit soutenu,
'II est constant que vous aurez tr„uv6 de graudes difficulto. dans les commencemens et
Ce nest pas dans ces seules precautions que le roi veut Wner les moyens de faire sub-
" ooLtion Z r "Tl7 T"""": '^""''"'•^"^ P"' '" P'«'-^^« -^ «— 'le sa
coDces..on, et ,u .1 auro.t et6 m^me plus avantageux de la lui laissc', parcequ'il est 4
i
(*) iMSS. Dou. Que. Hist. Soc, Ist Series, Vol. 1, pp. 52—54.
(y) M.SS. Doc. Que. Hist. Soc., Ist Series, Vol 1, pp. 81-85."
x2/ By the coDtraa vi laio, — Sujird, §202.
•I
m
183
" crnindre quo par le moyen de la traite, les habitar-s ne Jome«rent nne bonne partie d»
"l .. r r:i''' *" """ 1"« «'"» "'^voiont pas la liberW de la faire iineroient
n6ccs8itd9 do s'oppliquer & bien culti'vor len™ terres
'• ^°"'7;'\f «»' P''^t'<=«"^'-«'"*nt foud« Bur la mauvaise administration des agens et oom-
•< la lTh?*T * . ' '" '""P'^"'' «"■• '«« •■"^'"nces que jo lui en ai faite«. en a accord^
_ la 1 bert6 pour cctte annfie mdi.stinclementd toutes sortes de personnes ; quoiqu'n soit fort
.. L If"""-?'? "" part-ouliers n'enverront de France que les marchandises et denr^es sur
peutetre les plus n6cessa.reB,_outre que par ce moyen le. eastors dtant en differentes
mams, il est certain que le debit s'en fera d vil prix."
Proceeding then to another subject, the Minister answers a question which
lalon had raised, as to the right of the Company to certain dues-" /« g«ar< sar
les castors et le dixihnesur les <yrtffnaux,"-origim\\y imposed (it would seem)
by the communauU d^haUtans upon themselves, to meet their liability to defray
he charges of the local government of the country, under their contract with
Tin.?^ ^f f '"^ ^'■""'' ^'' *^' P"''"'^'^^ "^ ^^^ <'"'-l'-«de {suprd, § 202)
m 1045 These dues, he says, have been rightly made over to the new Com-
pany; the King having no claim(a) to them,-nor yet any claim whatever
upon any mines that should be worked in the country.
After which follow these two paragraphs; the one, an evidence of the same
disposition to seek revenue from Canada which showed itself in the instructions
o Gauclais {suprd, § 328) three years before ; the other, the only further reference
mat 1 hnd m this correspondence, to the matter of land ownership in Canada.
" a'uf ITf •/' ^f'°'\f'^^°^^ ^ oonsid^rer quo comme par les nouveaux ^tablissements
" ZZt^r 1 augmentation du nombre des colons, la traite augmentera aussi d«
ma. quelle suppleedequelque ehose aux extraordinaire8,-conyenant d^jdde faire ud
_ funds annuel de 2000 livres pour subvenir aux parties inopin^es.et mime que si leroi forme
^ que que enlrcpnse dans l.quelle son propre avantage et celui du pays se rencontrent teale-
ment, de fournir aux frais qu'il sera nlces^aire de faire.
., " ^,'','"^'"« '■»'^°'' qui f^it conseryer a la compagnie te droit du quart sur fes castors, qui
" ^ « A '"'"" ""'^^""^ ^ ''°"' determiner sur I'incertitude oil vous 6tfez de faire toutes lea
mteoda lons au nom de la oompagnie, et de prooMer d la confection du papier terrier, sur
la requ to de son agent g6n6ral."
To ca ry out ^ro tanto the views of this despatch, there was sent with it an
Arr8t o; the Conseil d^Etat, dated three days later ; by which the King, in con-
siderati. 1 of the voluntary waiver by the Company, of its trading monopoly to
the «xt€r t above indicated, and on condition of its assuming the charges of local
gnvernu, ..it which the contract of 1645 had cast upon the /*a6*to««,-formalIy
made ov, , to it these dues upon peltry, with the monopoly of the " traite de
" Tadmf.nac reservee"(b)
•' i?t„Tt ' "^? "°"'^'^^ •' ^'""'^^' "'"^^ ^"« *°"^ '*« ^""-e^ P-'y^ de sa conce..ion
en tout , ...gneune et propri6t6, no s'en 6tant reserve que la souverainet6," etc.
(6)Ln,,^OED.,4% Vol. 1, pp. 4S etseq.; 8% Vol. 1, pp. 60 et seg.
etjufltici; to the company.
183
§ 361.— Under date of the same year 1666, (registered Sept. 16.) there has
been preserved in the archives of the Con^r^P Superieur, another document^
which throws some further light on this .:, v .t of the imperfect action had, to
give effect to the grant made to the Company of the West Indies.
This document is a Beguile submitted by le Barroys, the ai^ent general of the
Company, to Messrs. de Tracy, de Courcelles and Talon, with their notes of reply
in the margm. It presents 31 heads of demand ona variety of subject., of very
different degrees of practical importance,_which are answered in a variety of
wap, and by no means always in a sense such as the spirit of the Company's
mu decriauon would have required. The King had begun (with the full con-
ent of the Company, and rather to oblige it than himself, as he told Talon in his
nstruct,ons,-,„;^,i § 3o1) by naming those three officers himself, instead of
akmg them upon the Company's nomination, as the UdU provided. And
however much, notwithstanding the irregular mode of their selection, they may
yet have been in a certain theoretical sense the Company's servants, they by no
means acted as so being. > j ;• "«
The first demand, which was simply for the abstract recognition of the Com-
any 9 nght as "Seigneurs des pays denommis en FidU de S. M., pour enjouir
en toutepropr,it6 etjustiee, ainsi que de tons autres droits d eux concedes par
le dtt idit,— was of necessity answered by the word " Bon "
oZt ZZ^'J^'"}; f'^'.^ "P '^^^ demand, by the requirement that the
officers of the Canserl Superieur should be commissioned upon nomination by
the Company, and that other judges and officers should be " etabli^' by the
Company, received no answer.-Special demands made (Nos. 19 to 22) as to the
miferior judicia establishment at Quebec, were met with evasive answers.-Thal
made for the like establishment at Three Rivers (No, 23), and that for the com-
miMioning of all notaries, huissiers and serffents by the Company (No. 24), were
caUemtnd-"^^' "^'"^ ^°"*''''*^ "^ *^' ^'""'"'^ '"''^' °^ *^' ^''^ ^^ *^" P^«°""
" 18.-Que la dite compagnie soit mise en possession et jouissanoe des droiU scigneuriaux
et de tous les autres qui lui sout conc6d63 par le dit 6dit "— ""gneunaux
-was thus evaded; de Courcelles throwing over the matter-mainly to Talon
secondarily to de Tracy : '
" Mens, rintendwit prendra. s'il lui plait, d'examiner cet article. En se conformant aux
•.ntent,onsdeS.M.,ilparoitrortjUBtedefairecequie.tdemand.par.otart;rrqu^"
Mo s. de Tracy aura agr^ableje travaillerai 4 fai^ tourner lea droL seigDe...ux au profit
de U compagn.e. quand monsieur I'inte.dant U pourra ou qu'U lui plair. a> oommeUre '
Th« twenty-fiftl, bad reference to the papier terrier, alluded to in the concluding
words of the extract just mad. of Colbert's despatch ; and was in these words :_
« ZT^T^'^^"^'"'" *""" """"""^ »~'*^°'"- l'«f«"d«''teoi» faitaunomdela dite com-
pagn.e; et que les avcuxetd^,«nbrements, meme le., fois et hw^ages soient rendus au
g^n^ral de 1. dite c^npagn.e; *t «^ue pour cot ,ir,t es titres concemant les concessions
.Hi
(c)Ei
' * ' ■°^->ipp -"ff-^J-.a , vol. I, pp. 61 el ten.
184
r^t de la compagnio .eulo, o'e.t & ello do le cKStermioer '' ' ''^°' '^^ '""^-
§ 302.— The only other documents that I Imve been able fn fin^ i^ •
do httle ,„o.-e than confirm a,. ir,f..ences to be drawn from the foregotg ^
(<0 It admits of suggestion, peiliaps, that Talon's eiffnati,r« nf th.. • . ,
J> import his acqnieaeence. on'roJti'on. i„ de CoZl T^ Ht e^^^^^^^^^ ""^*"
does not seem to mu to be its meaning De Ooiirn«)io. ,„/• T/i ' ''°^e7er,
note .,f Ms own idea Talon .g:Z Js'ZTrXZfel'T^^^^^ Tl '"'If "
look into and act upon thereafter. If he had meant 2,1^ "^.""', "»"«"' ^"^ l^""Relf to
randum by way of statement of his own vie. '^°'*' '' ^'°"" ''^^^ '^'^''^'^ '^ '-«'°<'-
From his despatches and Colbert's answer ahovp nnnt»J -, i ^,. . .
adTcrseljr to the Company with the mi„rf^'r ^ ' ^ "'^ "''" '"" ^"^ '"■«"'''«
2:.^^.t.ha^bLint-::r^:;^:i=;=i-^^^
name,astiesedemandsrequiredLthesl^ouWba e done'' Eve Jr? " ! ^r""^''
terrier shows it to have remained an unfinished worrd^wn to TeVf^^^
despatch of Frontenac, infrd, 8 362.) when Talon had l7ff fi * ' ^? .'"'""' ^'•"^
neverto have been eompliisoLy^ItfLT^^^^
no g^nt eUher by Talon or by Bouteroue. in the Company'. Ue.i 7Zt ' ^"'
th« »n!l ^^^^^PP-'^'-'S "'« interpretation here set upon these answers to be wrong and
the answers to have meant assent, the case is not alteroH Ti,. <• * "'""«' "^ wrong, and
I8S
2nrf/y._The grants of IniuJ made tlircjrl, thj, neri,.rl «,l.! i i
require fuller exannnation hereafter (in/rd, JSg 3a7 c/lr tin ' i T
say, that thoy wero of two classes -tlio Greater rlrT"^ ' ''""f"""^'' ''«''« ^
•nd eontaiuing vcy slight .uenVon'o? Z^^J^^;:^ Z^:^'^^^ "T
nono at all.^-ttna a smaller number made bv ITc ""^.''"^•J « ''-■"'"^nHlIy
right, ana afterwards recognised for vaHd byi. kI; '"' "^''' "' ''' "'^'^
And 3n%._Tho following extract from a despatch by Frontena. to ♦),„
Minister, under date of 1C7.3, November 10 M I,,.- • ^ , ''"'*^"'^« *» tho
certain grants of the former o these two .la'se ^ ^" ""'".;' "'■"^™° '^
issued by Talon about a year previl-!. " "'~'"' "^'" °' ^^•'"^'' '^^ ^^^
;; autre, personnoa d. p,„s o^nsU^rM^^^ ^rTS'^^J^'T - . '""'"' *'
" «ons; pnrceque les ayant touteB accord^.., „„ „ . ^ ** ''"""'^' '''""* '^"''«<"'-
" confirmation de S. M. dans un an san nf. , » " ''•"' "'"" '"•'■'^"•=''"'' ''''^^" P''^"'''-" '»
" qui m-a oblige do Se ^ZTt^^Z!'^ "V"'" ^"' '*= '^P'--'-t. C'c.t ce
" pour no point .ionner d atteut au.7t o, t T' '"T^' "' "^"^ ^''"■' •'"-^'''- -■«'^^-
" qui lui donnait permission do le f •; tt .rolirf'" '''*"'° ^'"^'""^ '•"■•'•'^' ''^ -"-"
" qui sent auBsi partes par mee instrucwl ^ ' '° '""' '■'«"^' '"^"'■"™'-''' '^ <=«•«
" donn. la propri.t^ir^'sfM;:, "d:7a ol ''""' "" ''''^"*^ ''"« -"' -'-'-
« presque suivi en aucun ar« lo ia M Irs do T acrn'"" •'^"^^ """'1"" "'"^'"^ ^'^
" J'ormis dans la percoption des droits !: I,. ^ f """''""" ^" ^°' q"' !'"■>' «"ivi,
" le roi entend. commo U v a bionTi ^ ''" °" '*'" " '""J""™ '"i'"^' ^ P"'-<=«q"o «
no.,,.., ....™ .„ ,„ „,, .,, ,„,,„„ of .ke^eistrjnL';.!::
to, acootding to the orfmar, .enso of lj,e words u«.d in II, In ,„„ „,,ii„,Ur
lad boon t,.,lri (notwithstanding ,h. absolufnei o i J:„,di„„r.^ "t ™«
. n,.,e ,«.t.g,.nt,— pl.»ibl. ,h„„ rf „g.„„, „, ,„ J/it" ,"' ""'»
0) MSS. Doc. Qcb.Hkt. Soo., 2nd Scries, Vol. 2, pp. 801, 2.
IMAGE EVALUATION
TEST TARGET (MT-3)
1.0
I.I
■^lli 12.5
■so "^" ■■■
12.2
M mil 2.0
IL25 i 1.4
ill
1.6
Sciences
Corporation
23 WEST MAIN STREET
WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580
(716)872-4303
#
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186
Although even in that ca.sc, and though pushed no further, the argument
wou d Lave been a strained and unsound one; because the clear and prec ,e
mterp et t,on, by he mere fact of the parties not having acted up to tha. Jse
And mo.t surely the argument could have had no show of appJcation to Z'
other grant., than simply the one grant so supposed not to havTbeen act^d out'.
affLTrf "! *lT ^""'l "° ""' '"' ^''° ''"P"f«'=' ^'^^^""^n of tl^i« Charter
affect d sveral others of ,ts provisions,-the sense of which, equally with tla
ti eltr "' '""^^' ^"^ '^^^"' controversy,-more' bj far'than it iS
named ats three highest ofHcei-s for Canada. (Suprd, § 357 ) ^
In the cleat-est terms, by its Charter, it had the unrestricted nomination of all
Its judical officers; the members of the Conseil Supirieur alleTavinno taS
com,„.,,ons from the Crown after such nominatl. But t , S' chtf
officers ,n the country, having once been named by the King dnf by the
bents m the country ; and in 16G0, its demands to that end were still onLTn
part g..„ted, and in part answered evasily, or not at all. X^a, ^ ^f "
Its commercial monopoly, except as to the fisheries, was for 40 y ars To have
been unhm.ted So Talon admitted, and Colbert. But here, th re'w s^who
itisf :t '^trMi''- t' '' °^"T-f "^•^"'^'' ""^ ^'"'- warmly trth
colonist side. The Minister, even while supporting its pretension on nnlWiV.
single particular. (5M;>,-«i, § 302.) ^ ""' '" "
mauersth? n"" f ''' ''"' '""•^"'"■'^' '' ^^ "^" '^^ '" '^»"-^ ^« «« "-7 other
matters) the Charter was not acted up to,--thero wis vpf nf a,,,- ,„*. n •
like an assimilation of its quality to theL^tee-rii^X :^^^^^^^
of non-feudal law. The King used no phrase of qualification in spfakinlof the
w^ hTo" 7 " ^T\': ''.' ''"'"'""^ ^*"^^''' § '''^ ' 'T^'- --onstraL, still
^.th no phrase of qualification, against the policy of ceding to a Company "/«
other hands than the King's (.uprd, § 359); Colbert in his reply, and the Kin.
hetrnToTr"';"^ T"- '"' ^''^ ^'^^ "™« "^^^"- ^^ qualilation, allude t^
7r ■ •'" r' ^'"^'■'^' § '"'• "°*^^ '^ ^- *) 5 F^o"*^"''" follows in^he same
Btyle,call.ng,tthearrl/by which theKing"a.ai.a«..>Wo««^^a;,ro^^^^^^^^^^^
187
-cepay, AMe^rs d» la compagnier and which had simply not had effect given
I o tZ; ;.^ ^ ; '«nguago all, indicative of no possibilify of misappreheSi n
as to what the grant was perfectly well known by every one to have meant
Coll^rt even told Talon (,«..., § 360) that he s Jno doubt as to the ;sTi e oJ
the Cor^pany's demand tlu . ah .rants shor.. be made, and the redactiou of the
f £ T rr.TT f ""'^' ■*" •'' ""•""• ^^ '^''''°" ^'d "ot yi^l'l '''« point, it was
r^^ere ly that he took the r sk of disregarding, at once the Edit^ and the Minis-
ter s h,nt as to what ought to have been done in obedience to it. The result
proved hn . to have been safe in his calculations. He knew his weight, and the
influences (of jealousy, courtierly timidity, and otherwise) that were at' work at
Court, and with the Company, to place matters, with the aid of delay, substan-
tially at h,s own d,sposal. Trooally enough, among other pretexts, he availed
himse.f more or less of the peculianty of the terms of the grant, already more
vhan once referred to {suprd, § 352, etc.), according to which an inde^nite re-
mainder of the territory granted was presumably to revert to the Crown in 40
years. It may have been, that there was a disposition to view the Company
somewhat in the light as suggested by Frontenac's despatch, of an ^^engagiste}
or ^^sergneur uUler(f) though the term, of its grant made it vastly more ; and
in r ractice it was treated as if it had not been by anv means so much. But at
leas thus much ,s certain. Every one knew and admitted that in law accord-
ing to Its grant, the Company owned all the lands thereby covered, and could
ell or grant them to whom it would, and as it would ; and that by law the Z r
^.m.. was required to be made in its interest, and might therefore with pd? ct
propriety be madeintsname,-under reserve, perkaps,oi the contin^eneylf a
lapsing of all unsettled territory to the Crown at or after the end of the%0 years!
the RovallT' TT'^!' ^""' '' "'""'•^ '^' ^"" P^^^'''^^' performance of
S lf7 A "' '* '^' ''""' *'™^' '^^' ^^'^ '"«'' be repeated, that among
Us las. ac s done in pursuance of the rights vested in n by that con ract, were !
number o grants of land, of most sweeping style,-.grants of landed proper y in
he argest sense, i words can be phrased to bear suth senso,-which gra^^f o
far ftom being at al questioned, were all expressly declared good by tL in Iru-
ment under which the King resun^.-d its Charter.
or ms (.«,,*, |3) «, Ic t]„ C.nrii„B Soigaio,'. liolJfng „,l„,i„, ji,,,,, „„,. „, „ '
I
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188
^ § 307.-Thc next extant piece of evidence, to be noto«l, as to the land-rrant-
ing projects of those times, is to be found in certain -Projets de Me.lcment- "
drafted ev.dently by Talon, signed (without date) by de Tracy and himself, and
ordered for en registration at a .aeeting of the Conseil Supirieur held in 1667
(January 24 , at which de Courceiles, the Bishop and five other Councillors, the
g nt general of he Company not being one of them, w.re also present,-";our
itreolservisseloneurforrnc et tenc.r autant ,ue la nece.Jle re.LrSZ
thit :biectrt r '''''"T: T '^^'^''''^ P^-dure and some other subjects
this sub ect St ken up, and dealt with, in two parts ; first, with reference to the
lour,aJes winch it was suggested should be formed at th King's exp .■ near
Quebec ; and secondly, with reference to nny othe. that shouM be forled ds
where, at othercost than the King's. .
The first part of this project(/t)°reads thus :—
"vantf-"""'^' "l"" "" P"""-* ''-«'" voisin.^0 do Quebec, pouflLaisonsi
" Et pour parler dans sop. ordre des villa-'os A former nonr l,.a i,„i>i.„.- j
"families qui seront envnyfes nar 8 \i . M ^ habitations dos nouvellcs
" pr49 de Ouob«e il f-nfT ^ «• M- "i-'^^ nyo.r reconnu qu'il import* de les planter
mmmwMMM
villages et les Lameaux selon I'exigence du terrain. ^'
" n faut pareillemeut arreter qu'anris avoir rpvorvA .Una -„. i,
:nr;:^iJ:X'^a~z~
" voix. soit par I'exemple de leur application au t aS ISlT "T' ?' '^ T
" .avetier et antres, il serTtrr pr nosL '^.''^^^.^-S'^dea, comme clmrpentier, majon.
" bourg. toutos les borndtssres' tan^d la ^^T " 'f"?' '^^ "^"^ ^''°' ^°^"^ -
" rhomme. se trouve pour U Zr^d: celni ^Z^^^"^ '°^^'"-' ^' ^^'^^^ =»«
" wt^ercl^ltTerbl^aTelr"^ f'^ ''' '"''-'' ^"' ^^^^ ^""« -
" des snjets qui en seront gratifii' '°""' ''^' diff^rentes, selon la difference
■• cat re,ue, ne pouvant se di^l let i e do rl^^^^^^^^ ^V', ^'f ^^'^'^
" sionE futures leurs services d S M «n!f * » • • , ' '^"P" ^' '^''"' '«** "^C""
" les terres qu'ils ddfrich ront 4 ce te 1 rr ^ ^ 1 """"" inconvenient de leur donner
" oe les sorL pas ^^^iT^lZZ^,;^'::^'-^ '^''''''
"vent etablir par leur seul travail il faut ,"""'"" P'*-'*"'; «' P^'^q^'l^ "« se pen-
(g) LniTS w 0«D., 4°. Vol. 2, pp. 128 et seg. ; 8», Vol. 2, pp. 28 el uq
raSi St Ztf i-:;;::' '"'^-'^ ^'^^ ^^^-'^^ '- ^««^' ^^ ^^^ -'»i«t-. »« to tbe prep.
189
'• a '1 „h r^Vr """'• '' "^^ '"'"' P^y"''" ^"""'^ '''" 2 P'««-™ "P«nts deterr,
q.. 8 nbatt,x,nt ct brflleront. quoique pour leur eompte et A lour profit, le,, obli-^eant don
pa.Hcront de trance m, sans que pour ce il leur en suit rien pay6 Pur cet exp^^dient oa
eur fournU es mo.ens de se fuire un foods de sub.istance poJ^Huvor, et „ n X e j".
terres pour les families que le roi semblo vouloir t-tablir A s-Td^pens • • ^
" on S n u r','"*"7,*" ''""P"S"^' ''"-'J"'"« -" commandos, dc I'autre. i'bonncur don.
o d, ,,e„en les eoncessionsnelesengngeoientsuffisammentalarecevoir; a Jonlapeut
st.puK.r dans les contrnts qui leur seront passfi-i. '^
" d^^M^^' "'■ r'T?- Pf ?!'', '"''" '" ''P""'^ ^""'^^^ P°"' '■""■""• '« commencement
deshab.ta uns parlabatt,. du boiMucul.ure ct somence de2arpeDts de terrc, I'avaucc do
•'QeTImrnTr r '"•"'"■ " P^"^ '--'■^^-'l cleLnder en premier lu
" la u turnt 1 , " '"" '"•""'• ''"'"^■''"' "^" ' "'P^^"* *" '^""' '^^ '-"J'^ '- fruits de
la eulture t de la semence qu. aura 6te con^Iee 4 la terre. ils en cul.ivent 2 nutres dans les
3 ou 4 annees Bu.vantes celle de leur arrivie, pour „e leur pas demander ce rempl en en
d^s la prem.ere ou la seconde. ce qui les divertiroit trop de l'am61ioratiou de leur babi a
on dans un temps auquel elles ont besoin de toute leur application pour leur donner X
bbssemen duquel depend celui de toute la famiile ; et pour le bOnefieeVllcs r 21 pa
la once.s,on de la tene.-au lieu de eens. surcens. censives ou autre! redevan qu em
o qu.l auraaauut la.e de 10 ans,-qui eommeucera sou noviciat dans uce g.rnison des
f ts..ansqu.lpu,ssepracndreautreBoldequecellede.a.ub.istance.oucelleq:.iluipoui^^^
etre ordonnce par -es etats de S. M. durant le service quil rend.a. Cette obligLon n' u"!
pesquenen4celIequ„nv6ritablesujetapportcaumondoavecsanaissance^ai.ilsrbe
que lor.q„e ee te cond.tion est stipulfie. elle est moins rude quan.i elle est elig.'.e. queZl-
" Comme dans toute cette distribution, il n'est rien r6serv6 au profit de la Compagnie deg
Indes Oecdentales, que S. M. vout bien g.atifier de ravantago' uo donne en easT eil e
dro.tdese.gneur.e,_ou les habitations releveront im,..5diateme„t d'elle, et en ce c la
haute, moy..nne et basse justice pourra lui etre attribuee, avee le droit de luds et ven'es
' sa s „es et ame.„les. ct m^e un cens Ifiger, s'il est jugo A propos,-ou si S. M. eJfmnnt'
qu.l .o.t plus avantageux pour ello davoir pour vnssaux des offl iers de s. t ^up s 1
aient sur les roturiers la seigneurie utile et domaniale, elle pent creer en leu IZ nJel
ques dro.,s de cens ou de censives peu considerables, qui soient plutot des marquefd h nnet
'que des revenus ut.les. et leur aceorder la moyenne et basse Justice, se r^^ser'vant la Zte
.. vatl f ? ? ". ""•'°'"" """""'"'' ^^^ ^^'^ "" ' '1-''}"- "«<=-- croes pour la co„ r
vation des droits de seigneur suzerain ou dominantisslme."
The second part of the project immediately follows, in these worjs.-fewer,
and (to say the least) less intelligible :—
'• Les articles pr^c^-dens ne traitant que de droits d 6tablir dans les hamenux. villages et
bourgades que S. M. fa t o„ fera former A ses d^pens. pour etre distribuc. „ux pa'uvre
am 1 es quelle enverra de Prance etdont elle pretend peuplerle Canada, ouqu'elievoudra
d stnbuer aux sohla s qui voudront s'y habituer. il est tr^.-A-propo, d'examiner A quels titre!
et sous queues conditions on distribue.a des terres. et on fera des concessions, aux Jarticulierl
311? '"b " ^'t-f'-PJoyer leurs soinsAla eulture du Canada, foLant tx
mcmcs dos hameaux, des villages ou bourgades
" ZraTtS'"'!.''' T-""" P^'^^P' 'I"' '•"b':"i^snnco et la fid<:.lit6 dOes au prince souffrent
plutot alteration dans les pays de Votat eloignes que dans les voisins de Vantorite souvernine
^ dent princpa ement en la personne du pi-inoe et y ayant plus dc force et de ■. eitu q en
toutautre,Uestde la prudence depreveuir.dansrctablissementderetatuaissantduCaJada
ml
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190
"toutes leBftchcusca revolution, qui pourroient le rendre de monanshique, «ri,toera.ique ou
dfimocrafque, ou b.en, par une puissance et autorit6 balancees entre leg sujets, le par Jer en
iespurtjcs ut donner lieu dun d6memb.cmcnt tel que la France a vu paJ l-erectLdes sou-
TeraineteB dans les royaumes de S.i3.ons, d'0rl6ans, oomt6s de Champagne et autres."
§ 3G8.-In connexion with this document, should be re. J another which bears
date of the same day, and has been printed by Government as found in the
archives at Paris, in the winter of 1852-3.
It is printed(0 under the heading of <'^^<ra«7 rfw Projetde Riglemmt fait par
MM de Tracy el Talon pour la Justice et la distribution des Terresdu
Canada;" and is in the following words :
.. :!Z!:£'S^t "-'''' '" """''' -' '- «---- '^^^ «* ^ ^i-. -ec leur,
" Qu'il soit fait uno Ordonnance qui enjoigne d tous habitants et d tous Grangers possd-
dant des terres, de declarer ee qa'ils poss^dent, soit ea flef d'hommage Itae goltd^hnr!
" mage simple, arri^re-fief, ou roture, par denombrementet aveu enZeSr d la rl
" desIndesOccidentales.donnant les conditions et clauses porLes narZl r. ^°"'P"S''^«
;; puisse et,.e connu si les seigneurs dominan.s r^o^^SS^Z:^::^^^
leur ont 6i6 donnas par les seigneurs suzerains ou dominantissimes, au prdjud eel IdrolL
de souveratnete -si eux-memes distribuaut les terres de leur fief d^minLtd u^s J J^^^^^
" onl!7 '^''T!" f •=^''™«°"' °'' d^nombrement, sc fasse avec plus d'exactitude.-que les
eop.es des contrats des concessions soient foumie. aux personnes denommfies dans les
Ordonnances qui seront d cet effet affich6es partout oil besoin est
"Par la il sera connu ce qu'on pr6tend avoir dt6 dietribud de terres en Canada, ce aui en a
' 6t6 trava. le et mis en valeur, ce qui en reste ' ,,tnbuer de celles qui sont comlddrnJ
situdes; SI les concess.onnaires ont Batisfait aux clauses mises dans\urs eontrseZ
tu s lis n-ont pas empeehd ou retardd par leur negligence rdtablissement du ^11
" nor rr-: :r iiC r^e: ru: r ^
" veuUtre inform, du changement qu-.C^ei ^ tZ:^^^^^ °^ ^« ^^
— "que pour dvitertoute confusion et donner auroimipnnrfoifo • ,
;; ments qui se feront tons les ans en Canad. iS :Zr^ZZT::::Zt:r
" concession particuli^re ou g^ndrale, au nom de la Oomn.Jnin at, VI ., """""^
-" au profit de laqueUe il sera incessamment travaiUd d la confection d'un papier terrier."
§ 369.-It is sufficiently apparent, from the style of this latter document thai
It IS not, properly speaking, an extract from any Projet de Re.lement, as d'rawn
up by de Tracy and Talon,-but an extract from a^r^a. drawn up in FranceTn
the office of the Minister, for the purpose of exhibiting to tho Minister or Hie
King, or to both, the tenor of the recommendations of the Canadian authoriH.!
as to some such matter. vanaaian authorities
Nor yet, so far as internal evidence goes, can one very well suppose it a pricis
of any recommendations of de Tracy and Talon, as the heading of it would
(i) Doo. Seign., Vol. 4, p. 6.
191
cell.. b/«., e:X1*t.'Th r;';.:';rir*J"'^"'' "'"^«"'-
paragraph, wWro Iho Co-„„,„„ I .j ■ , '"'.'"'«'''''' «"»"gl' i even tie closiu,
elsewhere and at oti.er cost than the Ki J'! ! , , ^ ''"' "'^ settlement
pretensions, for the Kind's tree clief ol '~ J f *°' '^'''^^ «" '^°"«'^*>"g
-S«;;eV.W to bo at all abl to h t „r.o! f ' Mr t, ''" "^'"'"^ '^^ '"'^ ^"'-"^
-•g^^iry any opinion as to whi h' e;Terrn;:S''^'i,r: ""r"' '' ''''''' '«
Company could not there be stated Sin ^''?r'^'°" «"d ""ghtsof the
matter unintelligible; and lev col „!?> f ^ ^i ^''^T ""^''"»^ '''« ^I-l*^
ing it all in cont';ovWsy Tdon c nl • co ,t "''"'^'■"^' "'''°"' '»-'-
But the last sentence of thi W^^^^^^ ' ^^ "^^ '''''' ''« ^•''«'^«-
for a mutilated first sentence of a dil" / Tl ""'"''' ''"^"''^' '' ^^^ '«ten
tion as to the best .«; c aUelt ^T ^^ I'T ' '^'"■^^ °' ''"^ '"^^« 'l"-
undertaken by private enterprise alnf J""^'"' f^^^^^^^^^n in Canada, if
undertake it as so regulaC ' ^''''^' '"'^"''"^ P"^«t<^ "'t-I-rise to
T>ot enreg,-ster or record it he;e P ob^K , ?"''" " °""'' '^"^ "' '^^^ ^'^^
i"g to usage in such cases, he and they ^^^^^^^ t ^'" ""', '--• ^--<1-
and de Courcelles. ^ '^'' '""''""' T'^^' ^^ t^^^* sent by do Tracy
these couoter-stntemeni and "/«>'" r?' °^ '^' '^'''^' ^'«*°"«''' ^--^ty, are full of
official correspondence on IZZl^TT^'T ' -t"'"^ «" "^^^-'^ ^^^'^ o'
Bishop, but often with officials and ot£ „ „o° "^ T'' '"' '"'''""''■ ^""^"^ant and
torycon,munica,ions addressed to the Sister I^ "T, T''"''- '^'"^'"'^^ "^ '^^'''^a.
everybody, lay and clerical, however amuil in '°'^'^''"'' {''"- "» ^"''"ers. about almost
be perhaps under a system of pr LeTaZi LT" /l' ''*""'' "'"' '^"^^^^ """vida.
Often must l.vemysti.ed the iisterLtrZrX^:^^^^^^^^^^
I
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192
) ^. ^.VrT"'""'" P^"J«ct-that is to Bay Iho first part of it, for tho second must
bo hold for lost-merits some consideration. *
^a^i.-llkboyade,, as proposed for settlement at the Kind's expense wem
be as near Quebec as possible, to consist of from 20 to 50 lol o '40 a' I
eacl.,-that ,.s to say, uere to be of an extent of fron. 800 to 2000 nrpent" and
were to bo as nearly round or square as might be. ^ ' ^
In those, he proposed to briga.le the settlers expected to be sent o„f ih.,
by the ,„g, with as much reference as possible fo their cZt, as to C
men ot the more necessary trades in each A,,,! ;« ^ 1 ^1 fe '"-'"» 10 nave
lished son.esettlers who had wt ."ii hoco t ! T^^"" ""' *° '' ^«'"^-
to and teachers of the new con.ers. '''' '"'''''^^ ^ u ux /uvernans, asexamples
The terms to bo offered to the different classes of settlers in the.n /,
were to be dillerent. "'°'^*^ bourgadcs
required m return, in the course of the next ."J or 4 years to -l o V,'
for r>ew.comers, without further pay. It vk ent hit t "' "^""'^
these men should cease to be su^elt io Z:::^ ^^^^T^ T
The other or volunteer class of vlcnx Mvernans could not be forced into these
terms Bu :t was argued that they could be induced to agree to hem h/ on
s.deration of release from the other onerous dues conmionlv ^uZ
U was propose accordingly to bind them to the san.e servi by 1 aid of
concession-wh.ch they, certainly, were to receive ^
To the new comers, it was proposed in the first place to give at first 2 ..m.nf^
ready for cultivation and sown, together with some supply^orfood For
they were to be bound to .Hke cultivation of 2 arpentVi.^ tbe nt^; 3 o V^t'
without pay,-and further, instead of the various dues otherwise attacl i ^
concessions in the country, ("«« Ueu de ecus, surccns, caui.es ou au^Vc-
^^vances, qiCcmportcnt avec soi les concemons de cc pays-) they were fn r .
each his eldest son, from the age of 16, to niilitary'se^^^a ma n na^^c
only, or for such pay as government should please to give. ^^''^""enance
§ 373.-S0 far however, the rights proposed to be reserved, were all in favor of
he lung; while the ands on which they were to be secured had been Tnted
to the tompany,(/ by it. Charter. The question recurred, therefore -a" to
what should be the Company's rights upon them. And his que ion vs
answered by the suggestion of on e or other of two alternatives. (;«)
(/) It is manifest that Tulon contemplated the foundin<r nf ts««n a„. ; "T"^
bad not passed into private hands. ° ° bourgades upon land that
{m) Bot}, of them, very much in the spirit of wlmt was nroh«Wv n,.„ ♦ k t. . .
The Crown that .s to say. disposing of the property for the Company ; but letTfi- tl e c' m
pany take to itself ao much of the reserved "UirccL'^ as was mor' JperallyvSaUe
second must
190
On the one hand, the grants might depend directiv of H,« r
case it would have for its profits the L L If °"P""^'--^" «''!ch
(-^;......)andtheLj:::--L-^^
a like light cens, (" gud.ue drIiXcenVll '^ ^"'° ""''' '''« ««"'ers
It should be added, however, though the dli ' '"'"" '" '^' ^'>^^P^^7-
light ce.. would ha; carried'wirt come^^^^^^^^^ T ""' P"'"*' '^«' » '«
rf« also, as a source of profit to such vLsX '' '""''^' '"''^ '"«^-
§ 374.— Talon, then, and his collea^vues whilo nrr^n. • •
matter of alleged special favor and in onwT ^ T ^^ '" °"' ^'•««th, (as
of obligations! dear land for tl e C™ wiH '?' " ""''■°" ''' '''^ ^^^o^"
son to military service rorlsslTZT^^^^^^^^^^^
settlors from the onerous dues ordb "rily ll f' ''''"" ^'"^^^ ^'' ^'^^^^
breath suggested that they sho d a^ Ce t "« Tr''^"'-^'' '^« "«^t
casual dues incident thereto and aH „ laH M ^ ^ ." ''^^'^ "^' ^''^ "'^ ^u"
either to the Company, or re pJlVr i I^'".^^
it. ThetwosuggLiL.iti::::::'^,;:^^^^^ l^oldlngunder
they ; if one remembers the fact that thTr^ t^ '"consistent. Nor were
- covering the sur-cens, ren::l^:^:Z^^:iZ:V7: «"^ '^ --
consideration of a ffrant) was nat„r„llJ i '^™^^'"'^«' tl^^t formed the fixed
burH.„.„Mc<,„ji,|<,'„, cold not t,° " ■"«'' """«»<' ""Jt
b.v. been kept «p, S„, hi "I\! ^^ '""? ""I*""' "> "y P'"^ ««en(
•bowed .0 .™„L.t n„l^. "" ■"" P'"™""S -'"" '"■> «r,n. .bat he „s.d'
JerL7pf^e';rr;:x:ti:c''"^'"'"'^ '•'' ™"" "■•>«».
it. v«s,,l.,Jl. a „„J ' ,' °«;' '° "" <'»'"P"J' «' to Ji'We between ft and
is weu ..;„. .0 b:rnTvr.;;:;ir '™'"" '"^ "«"'-"«'''
eboald bave .el etod and ltd T. ,Z ^ *™" '° """ "'"»" I-" '«"»»i
N
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194
burthens of the Custom, those of tho justice mgneuriah among the number and
to some others of a special kind that were by no means light. '
So far as is known, thoir plan was never more than a plan. How far the
hourgadcs formed near Quebec under Talon's supervision, were founded upon this
model, or upon other terms, is not known. The tenor of the plan is not how-
ever, for this, any the less of an indication as to what the notions of the aco were
as to the way in which such matters should be dealt with
If Talon or his colleagues had ever heard or thought ofa plan of colonisation
by tnist-holding Seigniors, who.o mevitable obligation it should be to grant away
their laud uncleared,-on fixed terms, far easier than by this real plan were heli
for specially avorabIe,-to every applicant who should deoiand t,_this, their
real plan, at least has no likeness to it.
§ 377.-.The despatch home, about the holders of existing land-grants the
papier-terner, etc., remains for examination. s «■ , luo
§ 3'78.-Its authors proposed the immediate completion of a;,a;„Vr.ferr;.r, in
hemeresto he Company; every land-holder to be required b^ OrJon.Z
declare all the terms of his title, to furnish a copy of it. and (apparently,-
tt IttTht rrin";'. "^" '' '-'' ''-' ^"^'^ ^'- - ^^ ^^■•«) '0 ^"^i-o
If they had thought of the ArrSt of 1603, as having gone into operation, and
so escheated all unclea^ grants, they had need to have been particularly ,2l
on this point For not ing could have been more important than a kn'oll g
of what grants were still in force, and what not. Certainly, their tone as to it
imports no such issue.
§ 379.-Over and above the satisfaction of what may be called statistical curio-
sity, they professed a desire to ascertain :
l*</y.-Whethe. the Seigniors holding immediately of the Company (for all
the inuendoes of this despatch are favorable to the Company's pretensions a
grantee of the country) had not got rights conferred upon them by their title
deeds, of such a kind as trenched upon the sovereign rights of the Crown
2rf;y.-Whether, in granting arriire fe/s, they had not assumed to ionvey
nghts of such kind. '
3rf/y.-Whether the grantees, generally, had or had not satisfied thecondiUons
of the contracts under which they held.
And 4<A^y.-Whether they had not by their negligence prevented or retarded
the settlement of the country. -""ucu
§ SSO.-The first and second of these questions had special and exclusive
reference to grantees en fief. The third and fourth referred to them, apparently
in common with other grantees. » rr j'l
§ 381.-It will be seen presently (in/rd, §§ 398 ./ ,eg.), that from the time of
the surrender of the Charter of the Company of New France to this date, hardly
any grants enjief had been made by or for either the Crown or the Company of
the West Indies, m Canada. So that these questions, so far as they related to
ie number, and
How far the
ndod upon this
in is not, how-
)f the ago were
of colonisation
to grant away
[ilau were hold
it, — this, their
id-grants, the
ner-terricr, in
f OrdoHuance
apparently, —
is) to indicate
peration, and
ularly precise
a knowledge
■ tone as to it
tistical curio-
ipany (for all
iretensions as
)y their title-
I!rown.
id to convey
lie conditions
I or retarded
nd exclusive
, apparently,
; the time of
date, hardly
Company of
■ related to
195
New FrTnce ""'' '"''° "^'""'^ "'"'°" exclusively to those of the Company of
§ 382.-Tho8e (unrevoked, of course) were referred to, not as grants of a
somotlung less than property, but as grants of so large a property-of so much
more than a mere property,-,^ to warrant the representatives of the Crown in
on apprehonsu.n lest the prerogatives of the Crown should be found to be pre-
judiced by them. Even the grants made under them en aniirc M it las
apprehended, might be liable to the same suspicion.
In those days, and for long afterwanlH, grants were not placed of record as
they were made, in the public archives, or elsewhere where their tenor could
be ascertamecl by the authorities. So that the authors of this despatch had
not at hand the means of getting all the information that they wanted But
as we have seen from the grants of that time still extant, they wore not wron^
as to their general notion of the tenor of these grants.
§383.-Astoall the grants made, without exception, they wanted also to
ascei^in whether or not the grantees had complied with 'the c'ondUiois o 1
grant , -and whether or not, by negligence in the premises, they had retarded
the settlement of the country. . / au reiarucu
Why so,-upon the theory now broached, of all the uncleared grants having
been revoked in 1003 ? ^ "u>ing
No one thought of such theory then. On the contrary, it was felt that in
order to a revocation, there must be shown to have been a failure to comply
wi h the essential conditions of the grant,-or such other misconduct as on
public grounds might be held equivalent thereto. The writers of this despatch
may have had some ulterior plan of escheat in view ; but they first had to come
at their facts, to warrant it,-indeed, to enable them to put into words what it
was to be.
§ 384.-Besides this papier-terrier work, and this Ordomance required in
order to it they proposed another step,-also significant as to the style of
thought of that day. '
To avoid confusion, and keep the King well inform. 1 „tall that was passinjr
they proposed to ordain-what? That the Company and the holders under it m
fief, or any of them, should be compelled to make sub-grants on such and such
terms, and to keep the King's officers advised thereof j On the anti-sei-niorial
theory of a trust for land-distribution, this should have been their plan. °
Instead of which, it was precisely the reverse. Neither the Company, nor yet
any Seignior under it, was to bo suffered to make a grant, unless with leave of
the King s officers ! All such grants, to be valid, were to be verified, ratified by
the Kmfs representative, and registered in the Company's archives.
§ 385.-IS it suggested, that these Seigniors were therefore not veritable pro-
prietors, but mere holders subject to an arbitrary veto of a Kin<.'s officer ?
The answer is obvious,-that a proposal by one or more servants of the Crown
in Canada made to a higher servant of the Crown at home, for an act of mani-
fest interference with proprietary right, shows no real legal limitation of such
• I
106
rifff.t.-.Evcn if It hn.l been acto.J upon, by d.e Us.ie of tl.o propo«o.l Ordonnance
t n.ay bo a ,..o.st,o„ wl.tlu-r «.,d. log„l ,i„.it.aion would hi rc.ulto. rhe
BgRrieved propnctorH wonid have bad tlu-ir rec:.,.r.o by onp«,iti„„ f„ '
«.s.ra,io„ and (failin, ,bat) by n.„on.tr«nco „nd litlgaLT^Hd . u Id
H oner or la... „ „,..t l.avo boon got rid of.-If acted on by nLo R.1 o.do
res S^lt'c ""' ' ' "T"'" '•'"' «'"''' '^'^'" "-'"''o" would' t'
resulted Ibo Company's r>gl.t« would bavo been, in practico a littlo uZl
encroac od upon than tboy wore before; and otiier sL^; : J i '^ru h
tr;;vere ' ''^"" ""'"^^'^^■^' "^ '"^^' ^^''"''' ''- '-^--' I'-i^Tat
15..1 in fact, we know tbat neither of these courses was taken. No such Or.
<hnr,unce was reg.stored, or (for anything that appears) so much a. draft I No
sud. order of the K.ng was ever set up, as pretended to be put in force.
fav! ' 7Z' rV'^' '■"■'"'*' '"^ ''' "•'"" ■*' ''''°^^« «'«t 'J- ido'^ found no
^^o ; that b.., pobcj- of curtailment of proprietary right was not a.lop/ 1
and th,s, not s,n,p|y from over-sight, but because being suggested it wis dd
not to be the policy that should bo adopted. ^
8 380.-StiII further,-tho fact remains, that so far as is known, the rest of
these suggestions shared what certainly was the fato of this
that et ect, ,n terms of th,s despatch, is extant. No procedure followed for
retrenchment o Se.gniorial rights dangerous to the King's prerogative, nor o
the enforcenaent of clauses of titles, nor for punishment of remissness of grantees
Iho Crown was not so anxious to give its ofticers enormous power, in CanadI'
asthose officers were to get them. A Canadian Seignior's powers might bo
ome restraint on a Governor or Intendant ; and the Crown might som^.tim
rather hko such restn.nt to exist, than otherwise. Absolute governments do no
always want agents that are too absolute. The whole system was one of dt
trust of everybody; Governor, Intendant, Bishop, checking each other check
|ng other people, and meant to be suitably held' in check\y othe po^lt
In thjs ve.,-mstance. Talon and his colleagues were at croi purpo^ t
Canadmn Se.gmors, a good many of thom,-and among other , the religious
§ 387.-That such was the fate of these projects, is further shown by the next
do uments m order of date, bearing upon this subject, that remain to us To
arrive at them, wo pass over a few yeai's.
16--, Aprd 7, from Colbert's instructions addressed in the King's name to the
Count Frontenac, with his commission as Governor :—
" Le dit Sr. do Frontenac doit exciter par tons moyens possibles !«« Hifa hoU-, . ,
■;coltu .etau d.frichement des terre,; ft c o.me rLgner;ritbttit:st:\n:;
(o) Vide tuprd, § 8V0,Note {k).
I OrdnnnancCf
usultoil. The
1 to iu enro-
rid (if it. And
Koyiil order,
jlil not liiivo
» littlo more
ripflits, much
•ociHely what
No aiich Or-
ilrafteil. No
rce.
oa found no
adoptotl,—
it was held
, the rest of
ilonnanre to
)Ilowod, for
ive, nor for
jf grantees,
in Canada,
might bo
sometimes
3nta do not
•m of dia-
ei', clieck-
people.(o)
>8e3. The
religious
were only
■ the next
us. To
r date of
fie to the
litaos d la
I les unes
m
character. Fro ^a^ w J t 7 ' to dT'^h 'r' r"""'""*'''^ ""'' "'"I-'tive
cesaively told to try lo do ^ *' "^^"""'^ ""^ '^"'«" '-'I l>'-> -uc
Juno 4,(y) which is alw,,,.. .u i • .1 ^'^««<''' « Ata/, under date of lOT'?.
same igr.oring of its real purport 1003,-and with the
up'::;::; itVi:u^;::it r:r';rr"^^"' ^-" '' '^ ^--^."ot
That heading styles " " 2^T]! 7 v ;ead>ng given to it, it is said to bo.
'•ontoC:r;::rirdt:rCnnri^
" pay., le^quollos ib n-oat pu dc-fr her T ctl . . '""" '" '°''^' ''^ "^'^'•e'' J" dit
•• «>o<le le, autrca habitans du d pit et „ 10 i" " "" ^""J^' -S'endue.-co qui incom.
; pour s> habituer. ce qui «ant eXl ^1^'; ''""''"!'"••=' ^""'^<"» "^^ P-seat
pay^, et d I'applicatioa qu'ollo a bion vou u d~ ? ^ c'""'""' ''•' ^- "' !>«"■• '« dit
e. colonie. qui y ,„„t Iblie,, attendu 'jifnT/o tl'v "" '' '""''''' PO"'" augmenter
" grando Vendue des dito, concessions ctdelltibtZ '""'"?' '"■* ' *""■'« J^" '» ^rop
•• Aquoi 6tant nficossairo depourvoir S M ,S ' P'"P"«'«irea d'icelles:-
-"que par le siour Talon, oonsedler en L "", '"" "'"''"' •* *'^^'""'" "' «>-doanu-
;; finances au dit pay, i, sera Vi u 'dlL.- ~^^^ T'"^' '<> '^ J-"-- P'-Iioe et
--/'ddes au. priueipaux habitan du d t ^ 'd ' nol'T '" '" ''"'""" '"^ '--
asUee du dit pays qu-ellescontioDuentsur lew! f ^ ' '^^'^'"'^ "" ■""'« "«■">«»
' nombre de personnes et de bestial proprs e^ Ij 717 '' "" '^'"^""^ '^^ '«--• d^
" d'icellos,^n coas6quenee de laq^elfed^c arati 7 "^ ' •*.!* T""'^ '' "" dofricbe^eat
'oono^d.:.es auparavant les 10 derSes an " f""';. ^' '"""''"' '''°'-' ^'^
::»^-e.o^>eurfo;re;it::reZ;:r:t'^^^^^^^^^^
cour supfirieure, 8. M. lui attribuant pour cTt ^kt Z,?"" '"'?°'"'' «"»">« Ju^e-nents de
-" ordonne en outre 8. M. que le dit sfeur Ta onT , ■""■ J""«<«'=«°'» «' connaissanco ;
•' au dit pays, et aux offlciers du el! ituZfr'?*" f "'"''"'^* «^°^"'' Po"-- S- M.
W M33. Boo. Q„^ H„,. So,, ,., a„,.^ VoL I, p. 2,s.
(?) Edits kt Obd., 4°. Vol 1 nr. «n ./ „. „
• ' "'• *' PP- «^ ■' "I- ■' 8*. Vol 1, pp. 70 et .ej.
1
198
§ 390 -Unlike that of 1663, this Arrit was enregistered in Canada,-in the
Septembor next following its date.
But it would be a great mistake to infer from this, that it was therefore other-
wise >;arried into effect.
§ 391.— Had it been so, however, what would have been its effect ?
Not ..n escheat de piano of the half of every concession of older date than
166- ; but the preparation by Talon of a statement in exact detail, as to the
quality and extent of the holding of every grantee in the country, and the nnm-
ber of persons and of cattle upon each,-con.equently upon which statement
there should follow a certam measure of escheat.
Was even this consequent measure of escheat to follow, certainbj?
The words of the ArrSt, a. above .given, seem to say so. They read, that the
half of every grant made before 10G2 shall be escheated. But hero, the words
o an Arr^t of 1675, which will presently hav. to be noticed, and which other!
TrZeZiZs^-'^'^' "-'' ''' - --' '-^ --'^ ^'- - —
labourab^e, ou enpris, sera retranehSo des conoossions, et donate au. partiouliers qui se
prdsonteront pour les cultiver et les defricher." pirnouiiers qui se
It is evident, that the words here printed in Italics have been left out of the
Arm of 1672, by a mere error of a copyist. The escheat could not have been
meant to fall on any cleared or meadow land.
But was it even meant to attach to the tilf of all other land, de piano,
and absolutely? '
If so why was it that the ArrSt went on to provide for Ordonnances of a
quasi-judical character, by Talon, in order to the giving of effect to each such
e8cheat,-and for execution to bo granted upon such Ordonnances notwith-
standmg opposition or appeal ?
The Arret was neither more nor less than a public instruction and authorisa-
tion, addressed and granted to Talon, to ascertain the state of all these holdin<^
and thereupon to enforce escheat within a certain limit, summarily, but yet by
a procedure that was to be held for judicial ; and as to which, notwithstanding
the order for instant execution, there must have lain an appeal, or right of petition
in the nature of appeal, to the King's Courts at home, or to himself throUh his
ministers at home. °
Not an arpent was or could be escheated under this ArrSt, unless after due
preparation of this detailed statement by Talon, and under judgment by him
duly predicated thereon. j ^
K ^^^■"^''r T"'"' "'' *™°' °^ '""'^ '*''»*'^™^"* '•« ^^^'''g «^er been made
by Talon. On the contrary, as wo shall see hereafter, the order to make
precisely this same statement had to be repeated in 1675 to Duchesneau, his suc-
cessor,— and by him it Lad not been obeyed until 1679.
nada, — in the
erefore other-
ct?
er date timn
til, as to the
ind the num-
ch statement
ead, that the
'0, the words
vhich other-
t was meant.
t 6t6 conc^iMa
'iv(f) en terret
ioulierg qui ao
out of the
t have been
I, de piano,
inances of a
' each 8uch
?» notwith-
1 authorisa-
le holdings,
mt yet by
thstanding
; of petition
lirough his
1 after due
nt by him
been made
to make
u, his suo-
199
Of course, there remains also no trace of one such judgment. Indeed till »ft«r
.hestatementshouldhavebeen drawn, nosuchjudgLnLhKn^^^^^^^^^^^^
could have been put into the form of words requidte to give it a show of confer
m, y to the ArrSt. But even apart from this, and further.lithou refrence to he
fa t of there bemg no judgment of any sort, producible, f;r escheat ofLTfthe^^^
anywhere to trace out,_I can state that I nowhere so much as find a trace of
there havmg ever been effected as to any one of them, any such .tduZ o
extent as was here threatened, whether with or without such judgment
rri!?f ■~^°"'": *' ^! ""^ ''*°^' *^'* '''""'^ ^« ^'"='^«»ted under this Arrgt the
order therem contamed was express, that they should be granted to new settler
on cond.t,on of entire clearance within the next 4 years,'I.nder Xf nu %
of the grant on failure so to clear. ^ ^
Within the two months next following the enregistration of this Arrgt, Talon,
"s name Z P.^-^'W/f « «^ grants,-being all the grants extanl unde
h.s name,-a!l of them m fief, -4. in Acadie and 60 in Car , -none of them
reatmg any such escheat as preparatory thereto,- and none o. them conta nilg
th s n^oss,ble cond.t.on, under which alone this Arrit had authorised his "^
grant of any escheated land.
They could not, therefore, have been grants of such escheated land.-Talon
could not have got up his statoment. and rendered his judgnaents in the time.
And ,f he could,-if the grants had fallen within the purvitwofthe Arrgt L
could not so have ignored all its provisions in the making of them.
§ 393 -For, the supposition is inadmissible, of Talon's having in this matter
fx::u[erxr ^ ^"^^ '--' '''-'---'''^ ^^-^^ ^ ^«''^- ^« ^^ "-
The day before this Arrgt was en«,gistered, be had enregistered here the
fZ fr-^f "'• "^''"^ '"™' ''' '- <iMngui.l.oa servfcesin Canad^^ a
Baron and erectmg a property of his near Quebec into a barony. Within the
year he returned to France, still in high favor; and within three years, he wa^
made a Count, and h.s barony near Quebec a county.-still by way o furthe^
reward for these services. ^ way oi mrtner
He knew what his real orders were, and must have obeyed them to his mas-
^rssat. action. The despatch or despatches that conveyed them aTe not exZt
bu probably enough, they were moulded upon those of 1665. (Supr^, | 337 )'
rat n"f ;. ""^ ^"'' T' '^^^ '^""' '" -b«'--' ^^ -n old draft of dec a-
ration of the same year. {Suprd, § 341.) u.» u yi uwia
abl! ^^'riJ^' 7 T' ""^ ^^^'^'' •* ^"^^ ^" '^^ '^°'' '^' inference is unavoid-
toite, that Its tru e object and intontion was simply to add to the ostensible
(r) Vide infrd, §§ 405 et teq.
I
<!
200
•T
au hority and influence of the King's servant,, over the people of the countrv
m tae matter of the settlement of their lands,-an authority and influence "S
were to be exercised with a largo discretion, subject to iJir^^^ZZ^^
and according to circumstances as they should arise. ^ ^ '
J 395.-In another important respect also, this Arr^t resembled its predeces-
It makes no distinction of the crants en iSef fr«™ ♦!
7S^T^ and but one. i/m^ ^olir^L^r sS. ''^'^^Z
be foi; " ''''• "° ^""^ '' " '^^'''^'^ '' ^ "fidii-comnu sei,neurial " is to
§ 397.--The non-revocation of the grants of our First Period thus established
I pass to the terms of the grants of this Second Period established.
These grant3.-speaking first of the granU en fief made in the name either
of the King or of the Company-may be most conveniently classe^i thus :-
Those issued prior to the creation of the Company of the West Indies.
of lis TraZ " ""' '"" *'* '"^ *^ '^''^ ^^«" ^^- --^ the bulk
The Talon grants, of 1672.
Frontenac's grants, of 1673 and 1674.
The Company's grants, of the same two years.
_^ And lastly, one by the King himself, in 1671, ..gistered here the year follow-
" en toute proprifit^—
'"y
of the country,
nfluence which
D by despatch,
id its predeces-
censive. One
The holders
jrc threatened
teurial " is to
IS established,
name either
'. thus : —
iidies.
ed the bulk
year follow-
der of tha
'ompany of
sspectively,
r an appa-
tion of an
Common.
ur ont est^
made by
nd231);
its of the
20-
§ 400.-The other was of the Seigniory of Champlain, to an Offieer of the
army, captam of the garrison of Three Rivers, and in express consideration of
his services,— m these words :—
-"avons M et conc4d6. donnons et concfidons par ce. pr&entee. 4 • * en conddfiration
tiZmf r ""':: ; '• ""• t " '" p^^^- •=' ^"'" -"«"- ^« rendre jZ ;!"
" esTe re a r ^"^ r{" ^T'^ '"""' ' P'"*"''" * * ^" ^ "«"« «>« P^^^deur dans
les terres, la dite Rivi6re Champlain mitoyenne aveo • •
-•; pour jouir de la diteestendue de terre et de tout le compri. en icelle.tant en bois pr6z
«nv,6res,rmsseaux.lac«, isles, islets, et g^nfiralement de L le conte;u entre le dUel'
. mo?n "". . * : " '^"'^ ""P"'^*'' ''^^•' '''•°'' «»« '-'« -g'-^-ie et just ce ban te
«rsCior:xit^^^^^^^ -' — ^« p->- ^-
'^;;tl!:2:::;St:^:^^^ ^- '^ ^^^ • • P- ^ --- -ortl.
^"^'illr' '" IT,'^"''' ^ "^"^ **"" P°''*' P" "° "^"^ •'"""""go '■■&« ^ chaque mutation de
"possesseur,** la porteraauConseilSouveraind Quebec- "Muon ae
8.-" avec le revenu d'une ann6e, selon la Coutume de la prtvost4 et yicomt6 de Paris »
-Equivalent, therefore, to the shorter lay grants by the Company of New
^ZZl r 'Ti '^''' ^*"^'""' § '''>' '^' «««''»"«*'°" '« i original
^tl2'^T^"J^ °''''" ^"""' -«»>^'»g-"ot from the use of the words
0^ rLt'oitt;rt:^""^' ^" ^^^"^ ^^^ ^^'^^ --^^ ^«' ^-^-^"^
§401._Between these and the Talon grants, I can ascertain as issued in
no:e1;Zi::r ^^"^ '-'^'^ ^^^-^ ^'''-' taO., 5, ^S.a, 52 and fSS) ;
§ 402._Three only of these (Titles 51, 52 and fSS) are extant ; and they may
Frhaps rather be called location tickets, or promi/es of gran^ than acZ
grants; more especially as three of the subsequent formal TaL grants evidetly
embody them. They were thus worded :— eviaenuy
No. 61.-By de Couroelle.-" J-ay accords au • • la terre qui est entre • * avec I'isle dea
« Is T '! ''''''' r't '" '" """^ <=°"---' P°- 7 t-vailler incessammentletutt
Jfo. 62^-Bj same -"Nous avons accord^ une concession au • • de 20 arpens eur le
« atx fntenLt da? r """^•""«"' «* '" -«"«* en valeur. suivant et conform^meut
aux intentions du roy, et aux mesmes clauses et conditions."
« fain e Uw'^lTl?:r.r °''"^^ ^^P^^^*"'^ ^« ^leur • * qu'estant cbarg6 da
M:rers;lx;luS^ro^^'^ ^"^^^^^
§ 403.-The other two are merely referred to in subsequent grants as written
promises,_tbe one by Taion,-the other by Bouteroue, durbg ^Lrilteiv^
b/Sd!n^^refei^^:i'''?t*r '"^* '"" -%ag«nt; but only an or.onnance
nil
'! i
I
202
between Talon's two terms of service as Intendant.
unlike the above.
Probably, they were not
g 404 -Indeed, it is probable that a considerable number of other grants were
first made m something like this form,-or, one might say, with something like
uus want of form. °
§ 405.-Of the Talon titles, of the months of October and November 1672
-one (i\o. 116) was a mere location ticket, covered-apparently with an ms-
mentation— by an after grant ; and thus worded :—
«' Certiffions d tona qu'il appartiendra. que nous avons permis au • . de faire travniUer sur
" i Ts M 7 '" :^ 1 '^ '"" '^ P"'"'"'''"^' "^^°"-' • • ' •« *""' -""z le boa pl^!
Bir de S. M., de .nquelle il sera tenu prendro la confirmation des presentes."
§ 406 -Another (No. 68) was of the little Isle au H6ron, near the Island of
Montreal. The grantee, it is recited, had obtained from the Seminary of St
Sulpice, by that time proprietors of the Seigniory of Montreal, a grant opposite
this island, together with a droit depeche in the St. Lawrence opposite his grant •
but doubting the right of the Seminary to grant such pSche, he had prayed for
It from Talon together with this island, and the picks thereto appertaining.
Talon, ,n consideration of his services, granted him the island as ^ fief sans jus-
ttce mth ^.pgche, and (evading the question of his right under the Seminary
grant) so far as need might be, (" en taut que besoin seroit,") the pSche opposite
Uiat grant, also,_the whole, under no other condition than the render of Vbi et
hommaffe, and the payment of the r./«/of the Vexin Francois.
8 Z'~lr ^^'\f ' '^' '' ""'^ '°> ^''' '^Sr^^^ '» Acadie.
show of ;■;:;• ^'''"? "'' '°' '^ '^''^ (^°- '^^ ^^«« °^^« ^he text of some
show of anti-seigmorial argument, before this Court.
It reads thus :
— • lequel, comme bon et fidel suiet et serviteur Ha S Vf »- •» •
" le tout et se retirer en France quei elwrtrieXL 1 """^ """' '''""'°''""
possession de toute la concession qui appartenoit au dit def-
(0 Vide suprd ' % 212 tt »ej.
(m) In 1684.- Hj^rd, §216.
;hey were not
ir grants were
ometLing liko
ember, 1672,
with an aug-
e trnvniller eur
bz le bon plai-
t
the Island of
Binary of St
rant opposite
ite his grant ;
d prayed for
appertaining.
fief sans jui-
be Seminary
iche opposite
iderof/otet
iext of some
r, Sr. de Mar-
m du deffunct
. Jean depuis
il n'a pu jus-
is («) la plus
iti, et Biesiue
& abandonner
roient osurpS
tignon auroit
it au dit def-
20S
« funct. qui contenoit plus de 60 lieues de front • • . de laquellc luy expoeant se pourroit dire
propridtaire, so.t qu'on le rcgardast comme cr^ancier ou commo h^ritier A cause de sa
femme. fille du dit deffunot,-maiB ayant appris que le roy efltoit en droict de rentrer eo
toutcB les terres conoedfieB auparavant leg 10 dernifirea ann^es faute de lea avoir habitudes
« et mises en valeur, il Be seroit retir6 pardevcrs nouH, d ce qu'il nous plust luy conc^der le
tout ou partie dcs ditcs terres, —
.. r"/.'"*'""* ^^ '°' """'■^ inccBsnmment en valeur en les cnUivant,-et particulii^rement
^ dy fttire porter qo8ntit<5 debestianx de touteespOce dent il pourroit avee le temps Becourir,
^ non seulement ce pays, niais encore les Wes AntiUeP et autree lieux de I'obiiisennce de S.
M„-mesme d'y establir lea pccbea sddentaires de n^jrucs et autrea poissons que la coste
" produit, — '
~" «° q"»i i' eap^roit d'autant plus rilufsir. qu'il ddsiroit associer aveo luy quelques
iranyoia accommodea, desquels il avoit pnroUe,—
— " a quoi ayant 6gard • • avons donnC'," etc.
From all this preamble there was extracted the fragment of a sentence which
represents the grantee in his petitioner-quality, as "«yan< appris que le roy
^'^' esioit en droict de rentrer en toutes les terres concedees ovparavant les 10 der-
" niires annees faute de les avoir kabituees et mises en valeur ; " and these words,
—with the fact of the grant having been made to this party out of the larger
grant formerly made to la Tour, and by him not improved,— were pressed into
service, as somehow confirming the doctrine that the seigniorial grants on this
continent passed something less than a property in the land granted.
§ 409.— But what was this preamble, and what were the facts as to this grant,
that such inference should be drawn from them?
De Martignon, a son-in-law and creditor (on his own showing) of la Tour,
who in his life time had held large grants in Acadie from the old Company, had
his projects for the raising of cattle for export, and the establishing of fisheries,
m Acadie, within his late father-in-law's old limits. La Tour, it will be remem-
bered, had been violently dispossessed byCharnisay, under royal warrant ; then,
after Charnisay's death, had been confirmed in his rights by like warrant, and
by marriage had put himself into possession of Charnisay's estate as well as of
his own. Then again, under Court authority, le Borgne had sought to dis-
possess him ; and while the struggle was going on between them,— no one of all
these successive rivals having ever seriously set himself to make any settlement
m the country except only for the carrying on of the fur trade,— the English
had driven ihem out, and from 1664 to 1666 had pretty much held the territory
in their own hands.
Under such circumstances, de Martignon could notsafelv have trusted to the la
Tour title8,_if his claim through them had been ever so good ; and he even
failed by his petition to show that it was good. He called himself a son-in-law
and a creditor of a ruined man, whose rights while living had all been matter of
dispute; not the only creditor, one may be sure; and presumably, not the
husband of a sole heiress.
He petitioned, accordingly, for a new grant; and we have in this preamble a
recital of h,s petition.-his own way of putting his case. He had to name la
Tour and his grants, by way of basing upon them his own claim ; and he had to
represent la Tour's grants as escheated or open to escheat,-for, to have called
204
them
f 1 f
i'.i-
grants in full force, and indefeasible, would have been to h«r l.ia
§ 410.-In direct contradiction, however, by the w»v t« f],n .• ,
the old Company's uncleared <.r«nf« » ^ "^e way, to the assumption that
recital, even i? taL to t etrwlM ' T^^ '^ *'° ^'■"'^ °^ ''''' *»>■«
tignon's petition am tti g ti ;:d ' "Jd V T "^^. "T"^- ^« ^^
.ing fort™"!' ''if"' <^ «.">• '"" ""> •!•?• '«•", ™ .horter ..ill .
Th<, other t.o '• ?*''™y'-"«'<' B™»'«i ""l" a/..(i. ot««,y g,«i;
J', ^^ei^e granted With a^Msto, woyenne e/ 6<Mse, only.
uie I'ci:^,"* 1« Tu :!!■ 'f r ^'"" '"" "■*• '- •*-%
i I
the!e'\fl7rf '-T/™,"^ .^*^°" ''"''' °^ '^^ °'^' '"^ S8 in number; and of
inese, 56 are pnnted,— leav ng only 2 (Nos 112o and +i ifl«\ ^f i .
Of thpsfi i^fi fifUo o^ "> ^y^os. ii^a and fl 16a), of unknown tenor.
«»v nf , ' ^"^ ^'''"^^y^'' •'"*''"*' ^'t^<'"t limitation of grade -that ia to
say, of every degree ; the remaining 22 conveyed no^^tc.
I! S-
Lis own claim
>. Of course,
ell any other ;
y other claim-
ich challenge,
> twist such a
e time, meant
g cause,
iuraption that
of 1C63, this
le. De Mar-
)lea to admit
a have seen.
sued the day
h the excel-
stablishment
snt supply of
horter still ;
I and to be
^rontenac to
• object, the
\er (Tautant
e date, was
igues by 6,
y grade,
square, res-
luffioiently
hem to be
r ; and of
•wn tenor,
■that is to
205
cers of the Carignan-8ali6res re^m „t h r'the foHo"' " "T"''""^ '' '^'
and there some slight verbal varTance :(.)- ^•'"""'^"g P'-eainble,-with here
" de la foy et la publication de iL g L rlrdo n' " ^' "T*"' ""^ "* P'^W"''""
"de faire coauoiatro au, parties de a terr 7- l/^
« Bociable, la gn.ndeur do son nom et lal'e de s ar.J'" '" """^"^ '^^'^ '^<'---
— " et nayant pas estimfi qu'il v en eut ,l„ .,1 "™*»'—
"geus capablesde la bien remplif par ,eu« 4^^,^'"?,^"' ''^ composer cette colo.ie de
" terres. do la soutenir par une viZ L^ I'Z 1 ^T fP^"""""" ' '* «"''-« ^<^
" quel.es e,.e pourroit es'tre exposrZL sutTenl"!! '""''" '' ''' '^''"'^-^ "'-•
- le r,;il:::cZl7:^:: r'^^ -^^ -'- ^^^'« ->^. ««-« <Je ses troupes dans
" liT- pttT2r:S^^^^^^^ ^* PT '^-'"^ •'e a M.. voulant bien so
" forces,- ^"'' '' seigneuries d'une estendue proportionnee d leur.
I« No!,?''" * * ^r *?""" '"!"" ''" '"y «" dfipartir.-
« diff.r!renr rtrriwiir-c ^' "-r ^f ^^^^^^^ -^-''^ « -^^^ ^ «• «• -
" par ordre de 8. M.. et en oTdo "^ ^ Allr " ''"""'' '"^"""^ ''"'" ^ -' P^^
•' vertu du pouvoir par elle A nous ir^ atl," et' """ ""'"" ""^''^ ^^'''P^^^' «"
-t the case of a grantee^ho is i'::;dtCT4:r::eSrt(!^"- "^^
"viinibtirs^?;^^^^^^^^^^^
" force.- '^'^'' '° y '"'"""^ ''''« '«"«« d'une estendue proportio.mce 4 leur
" ^^: IS'l^' ~^"^^ - ^"-'^'- 1- i«ons deS.M..„ous auroit
-" Nous, en vertu du pouvoir a nous donn6 par S. M., avons." etc.
•• Ssavoir faisoos qu'eu vertu du pouvoir a nous donu. par 8. M.. nous avons.- etc.
d. No. 6C] etc. • "'" ^'' ^'''"■'^°' P""' «« O""--- -'Bion particulicre," [c! 4
were so.-Two £ 75 and 7^ ir ". '«"'"'' ^ '"^ *" "''"^" ' ^''°"t'''- P-l"*Wy> they
Salieres. TLe rest ;i toj oZ^^^Zi;'':' "^'""'^ ^'"" *'^"* "^ ^^'^■'-
officers of that regitnent. ^ '"''^ '*^ '"' "PP^"^ <»" '" ^^^^ been to
I (
106
§ 420.— Of the 22 non-justiciary grants, none are made to officers; 6 (being
No9. 93 to 97) have the shorter of the two preambles just given (tuprd, § 418)'
1 (No. 92) briefly gives the services of tbo deceased husband of the grantee, as'
tlie reason of the grant to her; and the remaining 16 (being Nos. 98 to fill
113 and 114) begin without preamble, in the form last above given. '
§ 421.— In 1 of the justiciary grants (Nos. 61, 61, ll, 15, 18, f82 and 91)
and in 1 of the non-justiciary (No. fill), there is expressly declared to be a
considerable nveT{to) or channel (clienail) of a river, comprised within the grant
In 2 cases (Nos. 64 and 69), the precaution was taken of excepting from the
grant a boundary river or chenail. And in another (No. 66) the half of a
boundary river was said to bo granted.
§ 422.-The size of these grants varied greatly, though not nearly so much as
we have seen was the case with the eariier grants ; and the justiciary grants were
generally much larger than the non-justiciary ; most of the former ranging from
1 square league to 6 ; and most of the latter being of less extent than 1 square
league,— sny, from an eighth of a league or less than 900 arpents, upwards
§ 423.— It has been observed {suprd, § 416), that the conditions of these
Talon grants in Canada, and those of the 4 Talon g:ants in Acadio, were suffi-
ciently like to admit of their being all discussed together.
§ 424.— They related to the following points only :
1.— Homage.
2. — Dues to accrue to the Dominant.
S.— Appeals from the grantee's ye<s<tce,— where the grant was a justiciary one.
4.^Residence.
6. — The preservation of timber.
6. — Mines and minerals.
7. — Roads, and
8. — Ratification by the King.
§ 425.— For the Acadian grants, homage was to be rendered, provisionally
and until other order of the King, (^^ par provision teulement, et en attendant que
"jxi'' S. M. il en soil autrement ordonne,'^) at Fort Pentagouet.
The Canadian titles bound the grantee, to render homage at "the " Chateau de
St. Louis de Quebec,"— adding, as a permanent arrangement, ""duquel il rele-
vera."
But with the exception of one title, in Canada, (No. 114,). none of them
explained whether the grant was intended to be held of the Crown or of the
Company. That one title declared the grant in question to be made "ew >/
" mouvant de la Compagnie JHoyale des Indes Occidentales."{x)
{w) Among others, the Nicolet, Rivi6re-0uelle, Masquinongd and Rivi6re-du-Loup en haul.
(x) The silence of the other grants on this point, as we have seen {suprct, Note (e) to § 362,)
led the grantees, or some of them, to claim the right of rendering homage to the Crown
sre; 6 (being
uprd,^ 418)',
le grantee, as
.98 to fill,
I.
[82 and 91),
ired to be a
lin the grant,
ng from the
he half of a
7 80 much as
'• grants were
anging from
ian 1 square
ipwards.
3ns of these
', were suflS-
sticiary one.
rovisionally
tendant que
Ch&teau de
i[ttel il rele-
ne of them
1 or of the
de ^' en fief
loup en haut.
(e) to §362,)
> the Crown
SOT
Cr!wn iTr^^' ^'"^u ''"r ''"'"^ *'" *'""" P"y"^'« "^ '^' I>°'»i''«nt (whether
Crown or Company,) by roference to the Custom of Vexin Francais ~{CT?
say,at^he..V/oryearWevenueoftheent.e/./ateverychI^^^^^
The Canadian titles, on the other hand, read thus :—
2 — """^^Jfoictsetredevanccsaccoustumez, et an dfisir delft Pni,»nn,„ i i
" Ticomt^ de Paris, qui Be« .uivie d cet esga d p.^ Zlln ct e^ IXn . " ''•^f '"'''*^ ''
" ordonn6 par S. M,"— B " par proTiaion ct en attendant qu'il en soit
*i -^"l""' *^«'e''o''«. either hesitating as to whether that rule or the rn)« t
^e Ve.,n Fran.ais had better be adopted,-or wishing to k t g' „t li
be, ,n case of need, to be placed under some other and more availE, T
of taxation or perhaps, like a good minister of financerX en r b S
into the sp.nt of h.s mnster's fiscal instructions, first given to Cauda rLTn^
to himself, acting under both influences. ' °"*^ *^'°
Not that this quasi-suspensive ending of this clause was of any practical im
rtrartlT"";" '"■•'" ^ *^''"^^'^' ^^^'^'^ premises wasevtmade
So hat the grants ,n question remained subject to the dues of the CustZ nP
§ 428.-A. to residence, the clauses gcnetally (j,) md Hes •-
;.ute de ee ..e. n rentr reTS^rp^sr L^^^^^^^^^^^^^
In some instances, these clauses are so drawn as to imply that the ijrantee had
not begun his settlement,— thus :— w »" "-"o grantee Had
4.-«d la charge qu'il Uendra feu et lieu sur ea dlte seigneurie dans I'an,-
sL::Lrg'zrd^t;r:rt.r:^^^ ''--- ««' «^ *»•«
St. Louis had been granted to the cZ^t • f ' , T 1- ^'°"^°"** ""'' "^« Chateau
X^'^^f^rr^^raZT,';^^^^^ - ^-^ ^'^eMhe depen-
Ch^rrm: sSr'" *" ''-' •^^" -'"""■ "" *'>e^et--Uon of the Co.panys
be?o\'J;^lrcl;;7e;tparu^^ ll^ere occur a nu.-
a common form. tL3 hte 'T.1 L T"""^ °":''^ **" •°^"™«- '» -pying f«,m
common form-Only Z more ilJ T ''' ^'"''' "" ""^ **''' ««««> ^° ^^'^ been such
ABsra^cx. I have^f d to inrateThCS' ZZ! n,'"^ "'? '" '''^ '^^^ ^ ^^
S.a.oaxA. DOCCMK.XS as laldtf" Lent " "''" '^ ""^ "'^^"'"^ ^ «>«
areotheiwi^excUAtX^^tri^^^^^^^
i
1
108 ^ .
*
B.— - et qu'il itipulerft dant loi contnit* qu'il /era 4 aes tenanoleri, qu'il. Uroat tenai de
" rtsider dnos I'lin, et tenir feu et lieu nor lea cooceaaiuna qu'il leur aura accord6ea,-«t
" qu'A fttute de ce fairs, il rentrera de ploin droit en poeaeaaion dea ditca terree."
One of the Acadian grants, No. 60, being the largest of them— that to de
Martignon {suprd, g§ 408 tl aeq.), omits these clauses alt<igether. And the
other three vary them from the latter 6f the above forir.3, by stipulating, that on
default, the King (instead of the grantee Seignior) was to re-enter into posses-
sion, — thus : —
4.— "Ootto concession ainay faite A la charge que le dit • • y tiendra feu et lieu dana Pan,—
6.—" qu'il atipulera la mcame clauao dana lea contrata qu'il fera A aea tenanoiera,-et qu'A
" faute de ce faire le roy rentrera de plein droit en posaeaaion dea ditea terrea."
§ 429.— The preservation of timber was provided for by clauses, generally in
the following words : —
6.—" que le dit • * conscrvera lea boia de cbeanea qui ae trouveront aur la terre qu'il ao acra
" r6serv6e pour faire aon principal manoir, —
7.—" mesme qu'il fera la reserve dea dita chcanea dana I'eatendue dea conceaaiona partiou-
" hirca faitea 4 aea t. -anciera, qui aeront proprca d la construction dea vaiaseaux."
§ 430.— And lastly, the three matters of mines, roads, and ratification of grant,
were thus («) disposed of: —
8.—" pareilleraont, qu'il donnora inceaaamment advia au roy pu d la Oompagnie royale dcB
« Indca Occidcntallea, dea rainea, miniirea ou minfiraux, ay aucuna ae trouvent dona I'es-
" tendue du dit fief,—
9.—" et A la charge d'y laisser lea chemina ou passagca ndcesaairea,—
10.-" lo tout sous le bon plaisir do S. M., de laquelle il aera tenu prendre la confirmaUon
" dea prfisentea dana un an du jour d'lcelles."
§ 431.— Frontenac's grants, made between the time of Talon's leavino- the
country in 1072, and the revocation of the Company's Charter in 1674, To far
as ascertained, were 15 in number,— all of them in Canada.
One of these (No. 133a) is not extant.
§ 432.-Seven (Nos. 119, 120, 122, 128, 129, 131 and 134) are grants of
tnflmg augmentations to certain of the Talon grants; and were made, with no
new specification of conditions, upon the terras of such former grants.
§ 433.— Four (Nos. 121, 127, 130 and 133) were justiciary grants, in the
mam analogous to Talon's of the same class; but still, variant from them in
several particulars that require notice.
The preambles are all special. That of No. 121— the grant of Chateauguay
to Lemoino de Longueuil— recites his very distinguished services; and also a
promise of grant made him by de Courcelles. Those of Nos. 127 aud 130 also
recite services and promise. While that of No. 133 recites only a petition by
the grantee.
(s) One or both of the last two conditions being, however, omitted in a few grants ; e. g.,
boU of them, in Nos. 56 aud 57 j the laat but one in Nos. 69 and 60 ; and the last, in No. 118.
Hi
«roat toDui de
accord6«»,— «t
rre»."
— that to do
r. And the
iting, that on
into p088«8-
3U daas ran,—
oieri,— et qu'4
•68."
generally in
e qu'il 86 sera
isions partiou-
iaux."
Dn of grant,
ie royale des
int dona I'es-
confirmation
3aving the
674, 80 far
grants of
e, with no
ts, in the
a them in
iteauguay
ind also a
130 also
3tition by
anta ; e. g,,
a No. 115.