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Documents Covering Impeachment of Bienville	9
examine carefully with Sieur d?Artaguette, Commissary of (p. 2) the navy who is going over with you, to whom I am also sending a like abstract of these letters, all the facts that are contained in it and to have all the effects of the said Sieur de Bienville seized if you find proofs that he has been untrue to his trust3 in his functions and that he has appropriated the effects of his Majesty. He also wishes, in case you find him guilty in such a way that you are both convinced of it after having conferred with each other about it, you to have him arrested and to send him to France as a prisoner in keeping with the order that you will find enclosed herewith. But be careful to take this measure only after it has appeared clear to both of you that he deserves this treatment, and not otherwise. It will be necessary for (p. 3) you to send me a memorandum with full details1 of all that you have learned of the conduct of the said Sieur de Bienville, both about the new facts contained in the abstract of the letters of the said Sieur de La Salle as well as about all the points that concern him of which mention is made in his Majesty?s memorandum which has been sent to you, together with the proofs of them that you will be able to obtain. I pray you to act in everything in this matter in concert with Sieur d?Artaguette. You will take care to send back to me his Majesty?s order to arrest the said Sieur de Bienville in case you do not have it executed. I am convinced that you will act in this whole matter in such a way that his Majesty will have reason to be pleased with you and that nothing will prevent you from rendering a faithful (p. 4) and exact account of everything that you will learn about the conduct of the said Sieur de Bienville and of the dependants5 whom he and his brother D ?Iberville had established in this country.
I am,
Sir,
Your very humble and very affec-ionate servant
Pontchartrain.
At Marly, July 23d, 1707.
?The French phrase is qu?l apt prevariquer dans ses functions ?The French phrase is um memoire bien detaill4.
*The French word is creatures.