such a degree that, far from seeking conciliation, he did nothing but try to persuade the public that his authority surpassed mine.  From the moment of Monsieur de Montcalm’s arrival in this colony, down to that of his death, he did not cease to sacrifice everything to his boundless ambition.  He sowed dissension among the troops, tolerated the most indecent talk against the government, attached to himself the most disreputable persons, used means to corrupt the most virtuous, and, when he could not succeed, became their cruel enemy.  He wanted to be Governor-General.  He privately flattered with favors and promises of patronage every officer of the colony troops who adopted his ideas.  He spared no pains to gain over the people of whatever calling, and persuade them of his attachment; while, either by himself or by means of the troops of the line, he made them bear the most frightful yoke (le joug le plus affreux). He defamed honest people, encouraged insubordination, and closed his eyes to the rapine of his soldiers.”

[Footnote 808:  See Supra, p. 462.]

This letter was written to Vaudreuil’s official superior and confidant, the Minister of the Marine and Colonies.  In another letter, written about the same time to the Minister of War, who held similar relations to his rival, he declares that he “greatly regretted Monsieur de Montcalm."[809]

[Footnote 809:  Vaudreuil au Ministre de la Guerre, 1 Nov. 1759.]

His charges are strange ones from a man who was by turns the patron, advocate, and tool of the official villains who cheated the King and plundered the people.  Bigot, Cadet, and the rest of the harpies that preyed on Canada looked to Vaudreuil for support, and found it.  It was but three or four weeks since he had written to the Court in high eulogy of Bigot and effusive praise of Cadet, coupled with the request that a patent of nobility should be given to that notorious public thief.[810] The corruptions which disgraced his government were rife, not only in the civil administration, but also among the officers of the colony troops, over whom he had complete control.  They did not, as has been seen already, extend to the officers of the line, who were outside the circle of peculation.  It was these who were the habitual associates of Montcalm; and when Vaudreuil charges him with “attaching to himself the most disreputable persons, and using means to corrupt the most virtuous,” the true interpretation of his words is that the former were disreputable because they disliked him (the Governor), and the latter virtuous because they were his partisans.

[Footnote 810:  See Supra, p. 374.]