ontio. Other charges are that
the Jesuits meddle in all civil affairs, that their revenues {70} are
enormous in proportion to the poverty of the country, and that they are
bound to domineer at whatever cost.

When we consider how Canada from end to end was affected by these
disputes, we may well feel surprise that Colbert and the king should
have suffered them to rage so long. By 1682 the state of things had
become unbearable. Partisans of Frontenac and Duchesneau attacked each
other in the streets. Duchesneau accused Frontenac of having struck
the young Duchesneau, aged sixteen, and torn the sleeve of his jacket.
He also declared that it was necessary to barricade his house.
Frontenac retorted by saying that these were gross libels. A year
earlier Colbert had placed his son, Seignelay, in charge of the
Colonial Office. With matters at such a pass Seignelay rightly thought
the time had come to take decisive action. Three courses were open to
him. The bishop and the Jesuits he could not recall. But both the
governor and the intendant came within his power. One alternative was
to dismiss Frontenac; another, to dismiss Duchesneau. Seignelay chose
the third course and dismissed them both.

[1] Laval had wished strongly that the see of Quebec should be directly
dependent on the Papacy, and his insistence on this point delayed the
formal creation of the diocese.

[2] The well-known relation of the Jansenist movement to Gallican
liberties was not such that the Gallican party accepted Jansenist
theology. The Jesuits upheld papal infallibility and, in general, the
Ultramontane position. The Jansenists were opposed to the Jesuits, but
Gallicanism was one thing and Jansenist theology another.

[3] On October 26, 1678, a meeting of the leading inhabitants of Canada
was held by royal order at Quebec to consider the rights and wrongs of
the brandy question. A large majority of those present were opposed to
prohibition.

{71}

CHAPTER V

FRONTENAC'S PUBLIC POLICY

As was said long ago, every one has the defects of his qualities. Yet,
in justice to a man of strong character and patriotic aim, the
chronicler should take care that constructive work is given its due
place, for only those who do nothing make no mistakes.

During his first term of office Frontenac had many enemies in the
higher circles of society. His quarrel with Laval was a cause of
scandal to the devout. His deadlock with Duchesneau