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細節
BIGOT, François (1703-ca 1777). Mémoire pour Messire François Bigot, ci-devant Intendant de Justice, Police, Finance & Marine en Canada, Accusé: Contre Monsieur le Procureur-Général du Roi en la Commission, Accusateur. Paris: P. Al. le Prieur, 1763.
2 parts in one volume, 4o (252 x 196 mm). (Second part with tear crossing text on Y1 and small hole in the first gathering catching a few letters, some occasional pale browning.) Contemporary French calf-backed marbled boards (rebacked preserving original spine).
"VERY RARE, AND OF THE HIGHEST HISTORICAL INTEREST" -- Sabin
FIRST EDITION OF THIS EXCEEDINGLY SCARCE TITLE, one of only about 50 copies according to Lande. Prior to his arrival in New France, Bigot had already been accused of fraudulent practices at Louisbourg which contributed to the downfall of the fort. Powerful associates nonetheless secured him the post of Intendant of New France. He arrived in Quebec in 1748 and quickly began embezzling funds for the benefit of himself and his allies. Under his direction, the colony was reduced to bankruptcy and his corrupt governance is responsible in large part for the fall of New France to the British. After Quebec was captured in 1759, Bigot returned to France, was imprisoned for nearly a year, forced to make restitution and finally banished. The date of his death in Switzerland is uncertain.
The text here recounts the trial of Bigot and 54 others for fraudulent practices, and stands as Bigot's defense against all accusers. Bigot, Péan, Varin, the Marquis of Vaudreuil and the commander of Acadia, M. de Boishébert, misappropriated funds intended for the purchase of the troops' provision during the Seven Years' War. The text extensively details the supplies and services of the war, outlining Bigot's responsibilities for the financial accounts of military forts (and trading posts) many thousands of miles away.
A brief topographical description of the region begins part one, describing the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Quebec, Montreal, Lake Champlain, Lakes Ontario and Erie, and Niagara. Details of colonial forts, and Bigot's governance over them, include sections on Carillon (Fort Ticonderoga), Fort William (Fort Georges or S. Sacrement), Belle-Rivière, Baie des Puants (now Green Bay, Wisconsin), Fort de la Présentation (now Ogdensburg, NY), Fort du Quesne. Relations with the Miami, Illinois and Sioux Indians are further discussed. The second part outlines the Intendant's right to trade by sea, his fur trading interests in Forts Kingston, Toronto, Niagara and Hudson's Bay. Provided are accounts of the expenses incurred in supplying them with food, military supplies, trade silver for the Indians and Bigot's financial interests in the vessels Colibri, the Saint-Maudet, the Critique, the Étoile du Nord.
The present book is EXTREMELY SCARCE: no complete copy has appeared at auction since 1919 when Huntington acquired the De Puy copy at Anderson (a copy of part one only appeared at auction, Montreal, 27 November 1969). NUC locates 8 copies. Lande, quoting Francis Edwards, notes: "This work on Canadian affairs is of great rarity and of historical interest. It was compiled by Bigot to defend himself against accusations of malpractice and no more than 50 copies were printed. It is rarely found complete [i.e. often lacking the "Suite de la second partie", as at Harvard]" (Lande 5203). JCB I:1342; Sabin 38696 and 47528 (corrected title; "very rare, and of the highest historical interest"); Staton & Tremaine/TPL 358.
2 parts in one volume, 4o (252 x 196 mm). (Second part with tear crossing text on Y1 and small hole in the first gathering catching a few letters, some occasional pale browning.) Contemporary French calf-backed marbled boards (rebacked preserving original spine).
"VERY RARE, AND OF THE HIGHEST HISTORICAL INTEREST" -- Sabin
FIRST EDITION OF THIS EXCEEDINGLY SCARCE TITLE, one of only about 50 copies according to Lande. Prior to his arrival in New France, Bigot had already been accused of fraudulent practices at Louisbourg which contributed to the downfall of the fort. Powerful associates nonetheless secured him the post of Intendant of New France. He arrived in Quebec in 1748 and quickly began embezzling funds for the benefit of himself and his allies. Under his direction, the colony was reduced to bankruptcy and his corrupt governance is responsible in large part for the fall of New France to the British. After Quebec was captured in 1759, Bigot returned to France, was imprisoned for nearly a year, forced to make restitution and finally banished. The date of his death in Switzerland is uncertain.
The text here recounts the trial of Bigot and 54 others for fraudulent practices, and stands as Bigot's defense against all accusers. Bigot, Péan, Varin, the Marquis of Vaudreuil and the commander of Acadia, M. de Boishébert, misappropriated funds intended for the purchase of the troops' provision during the Seven Years' War. The text extensively details the supplies and services of the war, outlining Bigot's responsibilities for the financial accounts of military forts (and trading posts) many thousands of miles away.
A brief topographical description of the region begins part one, describing the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Quebec, Montreal, Lake Champlain, Lakes Ontario and Erie, and Niagara. Details of colonial forts, and Bigot's governance over them, include sections on Carillon (Fort Ticonderoga), Fort William (Fort Georges or S. Sacrement), Belle-Rivière, Baie des Puants (now Green Bay, Wisconsin), Fort de la Présentation (now Ogdensburg, NY), Fort du Quesne. Relations with the Miami, Illinois and Sioux Indians are further discussed. The second part outlines the Intendant's right to trade by sea, his fur trading interests in Forts Kingston, Toronto, Niagara and Hudson's Bay. Provided are accounts of the expenses incurred in supplying them with food, military supplies, trade silver for the Indians and Bigot's financial interests in the vessels Colibri, the Saint-Maudet, the Critique, the Étoile du Nord.
The present book is EXTREMELY SCARCE: no complete copy has appeared at auction since 1919 when Huntington acquired the De Puy copy at Anderson (a copy of part one only appeared at auction, Montreal, 27 November 1969). NUC locates 8 copies. Lande, quoting Francis Edwards, notes: "This work on Canadian affairs is of great rarity and of historical interest. It was compiled by Bigot to defend himself against accusations of malpractice and no more than 50 copies were printed. It is rarely found complete [i.e. often lacking the "Suite de la second partie", as at Harvard]" (Lande 5203). JCB I:1342; Sabin 38696 and 47528 (corrected title; "very rare, and of the highest historical interest"); Staton & Tremaine/TPL 358.