The Marquis Charles de Beauharnois had become governor. His
brother Claude had taken part in the exploration of the Mississippi.
The governor favored the project of the Western Sea. Perhaps Russia's
activity gave edge to the governor's zest; but he promised De la
Verendrye the court's patronage and prestige. This was not money.
France would not advance the enthusiast one sou, but granted him a
monopoly of the fur trade in the countries which he might discover.
The winter of 1731-1732 was spent by De la Verendrye as the guest of
the governor at Chateau St. Louis, arranging with merchants to furnish
goods for trade; and on May 19 the agreement was signed. By a lucky
coincidence, the same winter that M. de la Verendrye had come down to
Quebec, there had arrived from the Mississippi fort, his nephew,
Christopher Dufrost, Sieur de la Jemmeraie, who had commanded the Sioux
post and been prisoner among the Indians. So M. de la Verendrye chose
Jemmeraie for lieutenant.
And now the explorer was back at Michilimackinac, on the way to the
accomplishment of the daring ambition of his life. The trip from
Montreal had fatigued the _voyageurs_. Brandy flowed at the lake post
freely as at a modern mining camp. The explorer kept military
discipline over his men. They received no pay which could be
squandered away on liquor. Discontent grew rife. Taking Father
Messaiger, the Jesuit, as chaplain, M. de la Verendrye ordered his
grumbling _voyageurs_ to their canoes, and, passing through the Straits
of the Sault, headed his fleet once more for the Western Sea.
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