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Tour of Inspection
Undertaken by Le Sieur De La Roque
“Tour of Inspection undertaken by le Sieur de la Roque, King’s
Surveyor, by order of M. le Compte de Raymond, Chevalier, Seigneur
d’Oye, la Cour and other places; Brigadier General; His Majesty’s
Lieutenant of the Towns and Castles of Angoulême; Governor and
Commandant of Isles Royale, St. Jean and others and their
dependencies.
This tour through all the ports, harbours, creeks, rivers and to all
places in Isle Royale, generally, where there are settlers, was
commenced on the fifth of February, 1752.
This said fifth day of February, 1752, we, Joseph de la Roque, in
consequence of orders and instructions given to us by M. le Compte
de Raymond, left the town of Louisbourg, the capital of Isle Royale,
at one o’clock in the afternoon, in rainy weather, and at four
o’clock in the evening of the same day arrived at the dwelling of
the Sr. Pierre Boisseau, situate on the road to Miré, two leagues
from Louisbourg.........”
From here, de la Roque went on to the Bay of Gaburus, the
Barachois de Bellefeuille, the Harbour of Fourché, the Barachois de
la Grande Framboise, the Barachois de la Petite Framboise, St.
Esprit, the Bay of L’Ardoise, and into Port Toulouse eight days
later - 13 Feb 1752.
“.........Left L’Ardoise on the 13th and arrived Port Toulouse on
the same day, the distance between the two points being estimated at
two leagues........Port Toulouse is situated to the right as you
enter the little channel. The mouth is formed by the pointe à Coste,
on the lands of Isle Royale, and the Cap de la Ronde, on the isles
Madame. The port extends three leagues running east and west. The
breadth varies at divers points but is estimated to average from 150
to 200 toises. Vessels of 250 tons could not pass on account of two
shoals that are in the centre of the said channel and it would take
good seamanship to work small vesels through.
Port Toulouse is formed by the Pointe à Coste and the Pointe de la
Briquerie which are reckoned to lie north-west and south-east, and
to be three quarters of a league apart. There is one channel which
the King’s vessels of 30 to 36 pieces of cannon could enter, but it
is winding and it is necessary to buoy the course on port and
starboard in order that vessels may pass up the middle of the
channel without fear of coming to grief. It is a pity that this port
is not pracitcable to vessels of all kinds; it presents a charming
perspective and could be easily fortified, but it would be
impossible to prevent an enemy effecting the landing of troops
without the construction of several forts at the various points
suitable for that purpose, between the Pointe de l’ancienne
Intendance and the rivière à Tillard. On this rivière Tillard, in
the creek de la Briquerie defense is everywhere quite easy, and
without being visible from the present settlement. When near the
land one estimates that la Briquerie is a good league from the
settlement, and the rivière à Tillard three-quarters of a league.
Vessels of 100 ton can enter and find shelter in this river, secure
from winds from all points generally. The basin is not very large
but is well adapted for sheltering ships. The settlers of Port
Toulouse beach their boats and schooners here for the winter. It is
the only spot that is concealed from observation from the King’s
Post. From Pointe à Coste to the King’s Post there lies a sand bank
which leaves a small space between it and the land on the north side
where the Post stands and berween this sandbank and the land on the
northside, there is an arm running inland from the east for about a
good half league. It is just as easy to effect a landing in this
spot as in the preceeding. The land of l’ancienne Briquerie is found
to be stony and not capable of producing marketable stuff. Half a
league east-south-east from Port Toulouse lies Grande Grave. It is
bordered by Pointe Pinet on the east and Pointe à Coste on the West.
The entrance lies north-east by south-west. Vessels can find
anchorage here and shelter from the winds from almost every point,
only those blowing off shore being dangerous. They anchor in five to
six fathoms of water. Two reefs lie opposite to pointe à Coste. They
are visible at low water and left on the starboard beam as one
enters. At the far end of the creek there is a barachois running a
good quarter of a league inland in a north-westerly direction. All
this section is covered with a mixed timber.”
Note: All spelling and punctuation in the above document is as it
appears in the original transcription.
Copyright © June 2004, All Rights Reserved
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