confronting
separate adversaries, found himself engaged with allied forces which
were ready to attack or defend at every point. It could not have been
otherwise. Quebec was a small place, and the three belligerents were
brought into the closest official contact by {64} their duties as
members of the Sovereign Council.

It is worthy of remark that each of the contestants, Frontenac, Laval,
and Duchesneau, has his partisans among the historians of the present
day. All modern writers agree that Canada suffered grievously from
these disputes, but a difference of opinion at once arises when an
attempt is made to distribute the blame. The fact is that characters
separately strong and useful often make an unfortunate combination.
Compared with Laval and Frontenac, Duchesneau was not a strong
character, but he possessed qualifications which might have enabled him
in less stormy times to fill the office of intendant with tolerable
credit. It was his misfortune that circumstances forced him into the
thankless position of being a henchman to the bishop and a drag upon
the governor.

Everything which Duchesneau did gave Frontenac annoyance--the more so
as the intendant came armed with very considerable powers. During the
first three years of Frontenac's administration the governor, in the
absence of an intendant, had lorded it over the colony with a larger
freedom from restraint than was normal under the French {65} colonial
system. Apparently Colbert was not satisfied with the result. It may
be that he feared the vigour which Frontenac displayed in taking the
initiative; or the quarrel with Perrot may have created a bad
impression at Versailles; or it may have been considered that the less
Frontenac had to do with the routine of business, the more the colony
would thrive. Possibly Colbert only sought to define anew the
relations which ought to exist between governor and intendant.
Whatever the motive, Duchesneau's instructions gave him a degree of
authority which proved galling to the governor.

Within three weeks from the date of Duchesneau's arrival the fight had
begun (September 23, 1675). In its earliest phase it concerned the
right to preside at meetings of the Sovereign Council. For three years
Frontenac, 'high and puissant seigneur,' had conducted proceedings as a
matter of course. Duchesneau now asked him to retire from this
position, producing as warrant his commission which stated that he
should preside