CHAPTER IV. 



1675-1682. 



FRONTENAC AND DUCHESNEAU. 



Frontenac receives a Colleague. — He opposes the Clergy. — 

 Disputes in the Council. — Royal Intervention. — Frontenac 

 rebuked. — Fresh Outbreaks. — Charges and Countercharges. 



— The Dispute grows hot. — Duchesneau condemned and 

 Frontenac warned. — The Quarrel continues. — The King 

 loses Patience. — More Accusations. — Factions and Feuds. 



— A Side Quarrel. — The King threatens. — Frontenac de- 

 nounces the Priests. — The Governor and the Intendant 

 recalled. — Qualities of Frontenac. 



While writing to Frontenac in terms of studied 

 mildness, the king and Colbert took measures to 

 curb his power. In the absence of the bishop, the 

 appointment and removal of councillors had rested 

 wholly with the governor ; and hence the council 

 had been docile under his will. It was now or- 

 dained that the councillors should be appointed by 

 the king himself. 1 This was not the only change. 

 Since the departure of the intendant Talon, his 

 office had been vacant ; and Frontenac was left to 

 rule alone. This seems to have been an experi- 

 ment on the part of his masters at Versailles, who, 

 knowing the peculiarities of his temper, were 

 perhaps willing to try the effect of leaving him 

 without a colleague. The experiment had not 



1 Edits et Ordonnances, I. 84. 



