They would let nobody else sell to the King; and
thus a grinding monopoly was established, to the great profit of those
who held it.[549]
[Footnote 547: _Proces de Bigot, Cadet, et autres, Memoire pour Messire
Francois Bigot_. Compare _Memoires sur le Canada_, 1749-1760.]
[Footnote 548: _Bigot au Ministre, 8 Oct. 1749._]
[Footnote 549: _Proces de Bigot, Cadet, et autres. Memoire sur les
Fraudes commises dans la Colonie._ Compare _Memoires sur le Canada,
1749-1760_.]
Under the name of a trader named Claverie, Bigot, some time before the
war, set up a warehouse on land belonging to the King and not far from
his own palace. Here the goods shipped from Bordeaux were collected, to
be sold in retail to the citizens, and in wholesale to favored merchants
and the King. This establishment was popularly known as La Friponne, at
Montreal, which was leagued with that of Quebec, and received goods from
it.
Bigot and his accomplices invented many other profitable frauds. Thus he
was charged with the disposal of the large quantity of furs belonging to
his master, which it was his duty to sell at public auction, after due
notice, to the highest bidder. Instead of this, he sold them privately
at a low price to his own confederates. It was also his duty to provide
transportation for troops, artillery, provisions, and stores, in which
he made good profit by letting to the King, at high prices, boats or
vessels which he had himself bought or hired for the purpose.
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