years later, so that the new governor, Count de Frontenac, who arrived in the autumn of 1672, had no one at his side in the Sovereign Council to oppose his views.  This was allowing too free play to the natural despotism of his character.  Louis de Buade, Count de Palluau and de Frontenac, lieutenant-general of the king’s armies, had previously served in Holland under the illustrious Maurice, Prince of Orange, then in France, Italy and Germany, and his merit had gained for him the reputation of a great captain.  The illustrious Turenne entrusted to him the command of the reinforcements sent to Candia when that island was besieged by the Turks.  He had a keen mind, trained by serious study; haughty towards the powerful of this world, he was affable to ordinary people, and thus made for himself numerous enemies, while remaining very popular.  Father Charlevoix has drawn an excellent portrait of him:  “His heart was greater than his birth, his wit lively, penetrating, sound, fertile and highly cultivated:  but he was biased by the most unjust prejudices, and capable of carrying them very far.  He wished to rule alone, and there was nothing he would not do to remove those whom he was afraid of finding in his way.  His worth and ability were equal; no one knew better how to assume over the people whom he governed and with whom he had to deal, that ascendency so necessary to keep them in the paths of duty and respect.  He won when he wished it the friendship of the French and their allies, and never has general treated his enemies with more dignity and nobility.  His views for the aggrandizement of the colony were large and true, but his prejudices sometimes prevented the execution of plans which depended on him....  He justified, in one of the most critical circumstances of his life, the opinion that his ambition and the desire of preserving his authority had more power over him than his zeal for the public good.  The fact is that there is no virtue which does not belie itself when one has allowed a dominant passion to gain the upper hand.  The Count de Frontenac might have been a great prince if Heaven had placed him on the throne, but he had dangerous faults for a subject who is not well persuaded that his glory consists in sacrificing everything to the service of his sovereign and the public utility.”

It was under the administration of Frontenac that the Compagnie des Indes Occidentales, which had accepted in 1663 a portion of the obligations and privileges of the Company of the Cent-Associes, renounced its rights over New France.  Immediately after his arrival he began the construction of Fort Cataraqui; if we are to believe some historians, motives of personal interest guided him in the execution of this enterprise; he thought only, it seems, of founding considerable posts for the fur trade, favouring those traders who would consent to give him a share in their profits.  The work was urged on with energy.  La Salle obtained from the king, thanks to the support of Frontenac, letters patent of nobility, together with the ownership and jurisdiction of the new fort.