THE ST. MAURICE FORGES. 79 
in the stream I have above mentioned, to work the wheels of the projected forges, and 
can also judge whether it would not be practicable to bring the other streams in the 
neighborhood, such as Ruisseau d’Hertel, to increase the quantity of water. The chief 
miner, who is here, assures me that this can be easily and successfully done. It is 
certain that if these forges are once established, many advantages will result to the 
colony: excellent iron will be manufactured there, and the consumption of fuel will help 
materially in the clearing of the forest land. Moreover, many men will be employed at 
the works, and a market will thus be afforded for the surplus provisions which we have 
at our disposal.” 
There appears to have been a deed of donation of the seigniory, on January 19th, 
1683, from Dame Jeanne Jalope to her son Michel Poulin, in which he also undertakes 
certain obligations towards his brothers and sisters. Andon April 30th, 1683, there is a 
discharge from Jean Baptiste Poulin de Courval, one of the brothers. 
In 1681, the Marquis de Denonville thus writes to the French Government :—‘ I am 
convinced that there is a very fine iron mine in the vicinity of Trois Riviéres, where a 
forge could be profitably worked. I wish I had a man here who could plan the construc- 
tion of an establishment of that kind; it would be of great use to his Majesty the King and 
the whole colony. M. Vallon can inform you, my lord, how M. de Colbert has tested the 
quality of the ore, and with favorable results. I have sent a small quantity to M. Arnoul, 
who can give you an account of it. There is a large stream in the vicinity of the mine.” 
The French Government were evidently unwilling to act on the suggestions of their offi- 
cials in Canada on the subject of iron mines; for five years later de Denonville again sent 
a despatch, dated November 18th, 1686, as follows :—“ I have this year again had the iron 
mine near Trois Rivières thoroughly examined. I am convinced that there is a much 
larger quantity of that metal than the colony requires. The great desideratum is the dis- 
covery of a stream or water-power which can be used in winter, and with a view to 
this, we require an able, experienced man who could see what could be done for the 
establishment. Last year I sent a sample of this iron to France, and the iron-workers, who 
found it of good quality and percentage, wish to have fifteen or twenty barrels to give it a 
thorough trial as to quality: it would be well to satisfy them on this point next year. If 
our Northern Company should succeed, there would be no difficulty in accomplishing this 
desirable object.” On November 28th, 1690, there is a deed of discharge from François 
le Maistre de la Morille, who married Mdlle. Poulin, the sister. Pierre Poulin a son of 
Michel Poulin, on April 4th, 1725, made acte de foi et hommage, the feudal acknowledgment 
of his tenure, to the governor at the Castle of St. Louis, in Quebec, for himself and his 
brothers, for the fief and seigniory of St. Maurice. 
On April 5th, 1725, l’aveu et denombrement, the acknowledgment and survey, or census, 
of the seigniory was made. The King does not seem to have granted the mining rights 
along with the land, for he gave a license to work the mines, to Francheville, on March 
22nd, 1780. 
A company was formed on January 16th, 1733, consisting of Francheville, Peter 
Poulin, Gamelin, and Cugnet, for working the mines, and forges seem to have been put 
up; but Francheville died, and the enterprise having proved unsuccessful, his widow, 
with Poulin, Gamelin and Cugnet, on October 23rd, 1735, surrendered the forges and the 
rights of working the mines to the Crown. 
