fented by Messrs. Raudot, to the French CHA P. Ministers, as early as the Year 1706, and IV. their repeated Applications from that time to the Year 1713. Thefe Gentlemen never ceased reprefenting to the Court the indifpenfable Neceffity of making a folid Establishment in the Ifland of Cape Breton; if it was intended that the Colonies of New France fhould ever turn to any Account.

dot.

THE Memorialifts fet out, by fuppo- Memorial af fing and faying, that the Principal, and M. Rau almost only View People had in settling at Canada, was the Fur-trade; especially that of the Beaver: But, fay they, it ought to have been forefeen, that either the Beaver would, in time, be quite exhausted; or, by its Quantity, it would become too common : And confequently, a Colony of that Importance, could not long be fupported by it. In effect, it has fallen into the latter of these Inconveniencies and the Abundance of Beaver, has ruined the Trade of it. If, on the other hand, this had not happened; but there had always been a fufficient Demand for thofe Furs; then the other Inconveni

ency

CHAP. ency muft have followed; namely, that IV. the Species of Beaver had been quite destroyed. Befides this Dilemma; the very hunting of thofe Animals, and running about the Woods and Lakes after them, was the ruin of the Inhabitants; who thereby fell into a Vagabond, idle Courfe of Life; from which it is difficult ever to reclaim them, and bring them to the more laborious Task of clearing and cultivating the Lands.

About 31500%. Sterling.

In the mean time, the King expends every Year in the Colony of Canada 100000 Crowns. The Furs amount to 280000 Livres ; the Penfions, which the King gives to particular People, and the Revenues which the Bishop and the Seminaries have in France amount to 50000 Livres; which, altogether, make a Fund of about 630000 Livres, upon which the whole Commerce of New France turns. It is evident, that fuch an infignificant Sum is not fufficient to maintain from 20 to 25000 Souls; and to furnish them with what they are obliged to have from France.

FROM

FROM hence, and from the Failure in Price of the Beaver, it has happened that all the ready Money of Canada has been fent to France for Goods from thence: Infomuch, that at a certain time, there was not, in all this Country, above a Thousand Crowns in Money: Which Defect was fupplied, though with many Inconveniencies, by Paper Money. To remedy these Evils, and to render the Colony more flourishing, the People here might enrich themselves with the Product of the Country, if they were put into a proper Method. This Product might be made to confift in Salt Meats, Mafts, Planks, Timber for building, Pitch and Tar, Oyl of Whales, Porpoifes, &c. in Cod Fish, Hemp and Flax: To which might be added Iron and Copper. The Difficulty of doing this, confifts in two things; First to find a Confumption or Demand for these Commodities; and Secondly, to reduce the Wages of Work of all kinds. This latter Difficulty arifes from the Idlenes before mentioned of the Inhabitants, and from the Dearness of Goods in France. The Method, thereK fore,

CHAP. IV.

CHAP. fore, is to employ every Individual acIV. cording to his Trade or Capacity; and to enable every one to fubfift, by lowering

the Price of Goods. In order to this, it is neceffary to find them a Place, whither they may conveniently, and at fmall charges, carry the above mentioned Com

modities, and take thofe of France, The French which they want. By that means, they propofe Cape would fave a Part of the Freight upon the Breton, as a Middle Place One, as well as the other: And this Part for depofiting of the Inhabitants, who either ftarve in Idleness, or run about the Woods in quest

Goods be

tween France, and their

America.

of Game, would be employed in NavigaColonies in tion. It may be objected, that this Method would take from France a Part of its Profit upon its Goods. But we anfwer, that it would by no means have that Effect; because the Freight which the Inhabitants of New France would hereby fave, would immediately be returned to the Old, by the greater Confumption of its Goods. For Example; thofe who are now idle, and have no other Covering but the Skins of wild Beasts, would then wear the Manufactures of France. A fitter Place for the executing of this De

fign,

fign, could not be found, than the Island CH A P, of CAPE BRETON, IV.

LET it not be faid, that if this Inland is fupplied from Canada with a Part of those Goods, which it must otherwise have had from France, it is fo much taken off from the latter: For, in the first place, the Answer made to the foregoing Objection, is likewise an Answer to this; fince the Profit hereby made by Canada, will always return to the Kingdom of France: For New France can never do, without many Sorts of Goods from the Old. Secondly, It would be no Difadvantage to France, if it did not export fo much Corn, and other Provifions; fince the cheaper they are in the Country, the more Workmen it would have for its Manufactures.

THIS Inland is fituated in fuch a manner, that it naturally forms a Magazine, or Staple, between the Old and New France. It can furnish the first with CodFifh, Oils, Coals, Plafter, Timber, &c. of its own Growth and Product. It will furnish to New France the Goods of the Old at a much cheaper Rate, and fave K 2 the