Lettres patentes en forme d'edit, portant establissement d'une Compagnie de Commerce, sous le nom de Compagnie d'Occident

Claims Supported by This Source

1. Issued in Paris in August 1717. Preamble: Since Antoine Crozat has surrendered the exclusive commercial rights to Louisiana obtained by letters patent of September 1712 (accepted by a decree of the Council of State on August 23 of the same year), and the contract with Aubert, Neret, and Gayot for Canadian beavers expires at the end of the year, a company shall be established to support the commerce of both colonies (f3–f4).
2. Article 1: A commercial company shall be established under the name "Company of the West (Compagnie d'Occident)," in which subjects of all ranks and corporate bodies may invest without prejudice to their noble status (f4).
3. Article 2: The company alone is granted the privilege for 25 years from the day of registration to conduct commerce in Louisiana and to receive beaver pelts from Canada from January 1, 1718, to the end of December 1742 (f4–f5).
4. Article 5: The lands, coasts, ports, and islands of Louisiana are granted in perpetuity to the company, with the King reserving only fealty and homage, and a golden crown weighing 30 marcs upon each accession of a new King to the throne (f5).

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