Cannon were fired to
welcome the discoverers, for New France was again on the verge of
bankruptcy from a beaver famine.
A different welcome awaited them at Quebec. D'Argenson, the governor,
was about to leave for France, and nothing had come of the Jesuit
expedition up the Saguenay. He had already sent Couture, for a second
time, overland to find a way to Hudson Bay; but no word had come from
Couture, and the governor's time was up. The explorers had disobeyed
him in leaving without his permission. Their return with a fortune of
pelts was the salvation of the impecunious governor. From 1627 to 1663
five distinct fur companies, organized under the patronage of royalty,
had gone bankrupt in New France.[12] Therefore, it became a loyal
governor to protect his Majesty's interests. Besides, the revenue
collectors could claim one-fourth of all returns in beaver except from
posts farmed expressly for the king. No sooner had Radisson and
Groseillers come home than D'Argenson ordered Groseillers imprisoned.
He then fined the explorers $20,000, to build a fort at Three Rivers,
giving them leave to put their coats-of-arms on the gate; a $30,000
fine was to go to the public treasury of New France; $70,000 worth of
beaver was seized as the tax due the revenue. Of a cargo worth
$300,000 in modern money, Radisson and Groseillers had less than
$20,000 left.[13]
Had D'Argenson and his successors encouraged instead of persecuted the
discoverers, France could have claimed all North America but the narrow
strip of New England on the east and the Spanish settlements on the
south.
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