storekeeper, the local commissary, and the inspector must set their names as vouchers to the list, and finally Bigot must sign it.[553] But precautions were useless where all were leagued to rob the King.  It appeared on Cadet’s trial that by gifts of wine, brandy, or money he had bribed the officers, both civil and military, at all the principal forts to attest the truth of accounts in which the supplies furnished by him were set at more than twice their true amount.  Of the many frauds charged against him there was one peculiarly odious.  Large numbers of refugee Acadians were to be supplied with rations to keep them alive.  Instead of wholesome food, mouldered and unsalable salt cod was sent them, and paid for by the King at inordinate prices.[554] It was but one of many heartless outrages practised by Canadian officials on this unhappy people.

[Footnote 551:  Proces de Bigot, Cadet, et autres, Requete du Procureur-General, 19 Dec. 1761.]

[Footnote 552:  Proces de Bigot, Cadet, et autres, Memoire pour Messire Francois Bigot.]

[Footnote 553:  Memoire sur le Canada (Archives Nationales).]

[Footnote 554:  Memoires sur le Canada, 1749-1760.]

Cadet told the Intendant that the inhabitants were hoarding their grain, and got an order from him requiring them to sell it at a low fixed price, on pain of having it seized.  Thus nearly the whole fell into his hands.  Famine ensued; and he then sold it at a great profit, partly to the King, and partly to its first owners.  Another of his devices was to sell provisions to the King which, being sent to the outlying forts, were falsely reported as consumed; on which he sold them to the King a second time.  Not without reason does a writer of the time exclaim:  “This is the land of abuses, ignorance, prejudice, and all that is monstrous in government.  Peculation, monopoly, and plunder have become a bottomless abyss."[555]

[Footnote 555:  Considerations sur l’Etat present du Canada.]

The command of a fort brought such opportunities of making money that, according to Bougainville, the mere prospect of appointment to it for the usual term of three years was thought enough for a young man to marry upon.  It was a favor in the gift of the Governor, who was accused of sharing the profits.  These came partly from the fur-trade, and still more from frauds of various kinds.  For example, a requisition was made for supplies as gifts to the Indians in order to keep them friendly or send them on the war-path; and their number was put many times above the truth in order to get more goods, which the commandant and his confederates then bartered for furs on their own account, instead of giving them as presents.  “And,” says a contemporary, addressing the Colonial Minister, “those who treat the savages so basely are officers of the King, depositaries of his authority, ministers of that Great Onontio whom they call their father."[556] At the post of Green Bay, the partisan officer Marin, and Rigaud, the Governor’s brother, made in a short time a profit of three hundred and twelve thousand francs.[557] “Why is it,” asks Bougainville, “that of all which the King sends to the Indians two thirds are stolen, and the rest sold to them instead of being given?"[558]