Report to serve as instructions to sieur Marquis de Beauharnois, governor and lieutenant-general of Nouvelle-France, 7 May 1726.
His Majesty is confident that the Sieur Marquis de Beauharnois chosen to be Governor and his Lieutenant general in nouvelle france has all of the qualities required to govern vast countries and the various peoples under His care.
The savage inhabitants of these nations require his foresight and constant attention so that they may live in peace, and in order to prevent other Nations from Europe who have settled on the same continent from penetrating this territory and establishing trade activities up to now the domain of france, he must be firm in maintaining what is in the possession of france against those neighbours who have long wished to encroach.
It is essential that to this firmness be joined kindness and justice, and selflessness in governing the French inhabitants in the Colony, who are more inclined to escape to the woods, and live there as do the savage Nations, than to cultivate their lands and settle there.
In order to succeed in all of these affairs he must have as foremost objective, and this is the one to which his Majesty wishes him to apply himself the utmost, to firmly implant religion by which will be granted blessings from Above, without which there can be no hoped-for Success; His Majesty wishes Sieur Marquis de Beauharnois to make particular use of his authority by whatever means he has in his power to have God Served throughout The Colony, and to Spread the Christian religion to all Savages;
His Majesty wishes him to maintain strong ties with the Sieur Bishop of Quebec, that he provide him with assistance and protection in all of his functions and that he contribute with all of his might to all aspects of the spiritual good of the Colony without going beyond the limits of his functions nor taking any initiative without the participation of the said Sieur Bishop; he will be all the more able to contribute together with him to the spiritual good of the Colony as the said Sieur Bishop is of exemplary piety and Will be quite at ease to act in concert with a Governor well disposed toward all that has to do with the worship of God; he will however ensure that the said Sieur Bishop not use his Ecclesiastical authority Beyond proper limits; if he attempts to do so, He will use whatever means necessary to stop him, and will report on such things to his Majesty in order for appropriate action to be taken.
Next to the issue of serving God, the principal occupation of Sieur Marquis de Beauharnois must be to maintain in the people a natural respect and love for His Majesty in obeying the Governors and abiding by the Laws, for which he will have no difficulty because of the natural disposition of the French to Fulfil such obligations, and as His Majesty expects that he will gain the esteem of His subjects in the whole of his Government, he will Know to instruct them of their duties, by the confidence that he will establish among them.
His Majesty recommends that he maintain strong contact with Sieur du Puy Intendant, and has instructed them in a separate dispatch of the functions that pertain to them individually, and as one.
His Majesty does not deem it necessary to advise him that in his leading role within the Conseil, he must be content with using reason and never authority in leading the officers to have their voices heard.
If the justice that he wishes to impart to all inhabitants of Canada is a principal method for providing them with the rewards and peace required to maintain this Colony, the increase in Trade is another just as important, as such he must focus his efforts on making it flourish by whatever favourable means; Establishing settlers is a foremost method for gaining the loyalty of subjects in Canada, and for increasing the wealth of the Colony; it is essential that he promote them through his authority and that he provide those who undertake this venture with the assistance that he is able to provide. [...]