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Maps, plates, charts, etc., may be filmed at different reduction ratios. Those too large to be entirely included in one exposure are filmed beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to right and top to bottom, as many frames as required. The following diagrams illustrate the method: Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent dtre film^s d des taux de reduction diff6rents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour §tre reproduit en un seul cliche, il est filmd d partir de Tangle sup6rieur gauche, de gauche d droite, et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images n6ces»saire. Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la methods. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 /CURIOSITIES OF CANADIAN LITERATURE.) MR. J. P. TARDIVEL'S **BJRIDGE OF SIGHS." " wad some power the giftie gie us ' To see ouivel?.* as ithcrs !sot' iis'." Scotii.ah Bard. PHILOLOGICAL STUDIES, INSCRIBED WIT no IT PEnMISSION, TO THE Al'THOU Of the Brochure ** Borrowed and Stolen Feathers." Mr. Tardivei Judged by English and other writers. CHAP. I. A Daniel Come to Judgment. , TUB AUTHOll OF "BORROWED AND STOLEtT FEATHERS." ( Written for the Morning Chronicle, 2^lh November, 187ff.) Criticiam, as an art, may be praotiaed either with groat advantazo or great detriment to a national literatuia. In comparatively young countries, like Canada, where literary material is not over abundant, nor romariiable for variety, great care should be taken to avoid the encouragement of a spirit hostile to literary enterprise in any of its legitimate departmoQts. Few inlu£;triou3 and talented authors can bo expected in any young, strugglin? community like ours, the vast majority of the members of which must davote all their time and abilities to the dry, practicul work of winning a bare subsistence. With us the necessary, the indispensable occupations must needs absorb by far tho greater portion of our energies ; yet our moral aod intelleotual interests demand as much attention as wo can spare to so rcftning and enlightening a pursuit as literature— a word of comprehensive meaning. Even of the small number who possess the tasto, time and information qr",ltfying them for authorship, bat few can be expected to appear in tho character ot originality In ona sense, indeed, no historian — however fertile and brilliant -can lay claim to this quality, since he mainly deals with materials, in tho shape of memoirs, antiquities and ancient or modern records of all sorts the products of the most varied intellects, digesting, combining and arranging them in tho manner thought most suitable for his purpose. Now the men who quarry and hew tha dtS'erent stones of an edifice are as iadisponsable as the workmen wbo place thorn in their designed positions, thus carrying out the architect's most skilful and symmetrical nians. Each set docs use- ful work, being mataally complementary and helpful. Mr. LeMoino, tho author of TAe Chrouiclet of the Su Laiereitce, as an antiquarian, explorer end chronicler, has done a great deal to rescue many of our early legends and historical episodes from oblivion, and to make the life, manners and circumstances of Canadians of the olden, and even of later times, better known and appreciated than was otherwise possible. Tourists ttom all lands, and writers on Canadian and American history, biographers and UttSrateurt of every class have acknowledged the value of tho materials so abun- dantly garnered in his sketch-books. Now, this gentleman, while not pluming him- self upon wonderful originality, has undeniably rendered good service to Canadian letters. His compilations present the best points and beauties, practical and fanciful, of many works inaocossible to the general reader. It would, therefore, appear any- thing but generous to applaud bitter, spiteful attacks on this author. These remarks are suggested by the brochure "Borrowed and (stolen Feathers ; or a QIance through Mr. J. M. LeMoine's latest work — Tho Chronicles of the St. Lawrence," by J. P. Tardivel. The critic displays characlerigtic, innate modesty and the spirit pervad- ing his pamphlet, in a passage on page 7, as follows : — "The Oazetle, the Mercury, and tho Canadian Monthli/ having more than exhausted all that is to be s.aid in favor of tho Chrouiclcn, I deem it meet that the public should be shown tho other side of the medal, as tho French say. And as no one seems inclined to perform this rather Uelicato operation, I, who am accustomed to the frowns and sullen looks of irato authors, take upon myself the ungrateful task." How arrogant and Eclf-s''fficient I '-One accustomed to the frowns and sullen looks of irate authors I" Why, ^Eolus. from "t - native land of storms" happily described by Virgil, could not have boasted a more trying and hardening experience than this 1 No wonder this critic is merciless ; Peregrine Pickle being hu:i ane by comparison, and ancient Pistol, modesty itself 1 Surely, "the giant's strength" should be wielded with mercy, and "not as a giant's," particularly in the case of an opponent or victim deemed so insigni Scant. But severe critics have always suffered the consequences of their inhumanity and inordinate conceit. A masterly English iritio has said : " 'Tis hard to fay if greater wi^nt of skill Appear in writing or in judging ill." '•Let suoh teach others who themselves excel, And censure freely, who have written well," I M j'l It is impos.sibIo to glnnoo, even hastily, at this hypercritical production of Mr. TarUivol's without seeing how much he miglit be improved by laying to heart the moral of the above lines, lie commits the very faults ascribed to Mr. LeMoine, such IIS 'Gallicanisnis," reduntlancy, tautology, inelegance, etc. ; and yet the former is understood to talto a particular pleasure in searching out real or supposed defects, minute however they may be, in the worljs and stylo of our most promising French Canadian authors, I'litr'nittres, MM. Faucher aad Marmotte. In lieu of oven such trifling provocations, he is said to "invent" mistakes for the pleasure of knocking them down in the fashion of the old "Aunt Sally" sport, st attractive to bumptious youths at holidays gathering!, ij^uroly a boasted son of Jhio, whom hia friends sneak of as "a belter Knglisili tlian French scholar," should prove above such petty uovices in his self-imposed task of clarifying tiie jiarallel streams of French and Eng- lish literature, in the Province of Quebec. lie has shown no sense of the truth of the proverb touching tlio duty of those who live in the frailest of glass houses, as may bo further jjrovon by arcl'eronco to Le Jonruul d': Quebec, of the 18th and 21st iii;;tant. In those remarks I do not apologise for literary thefts on the part of ftnybou/;nor, in protesting against acerb criticisms do I undertake to bo Mr. LeMoine\.' champion. In the compass of a paper like the present I can mention only some of tho mis- takes, faults of grammar, bad stylo, etc., to be found in "Borrowed and .Stolon Fo'ithers." I shall, however, conclusively show that with Mr. Tardivel, correction like charity ''should begin at home." Passing over, in what is designed as a plain preface or introduction, tho after-dinner rhetorical flourish — "this Canada of ours,*' — I find "public prints'* introduced as an "invention." I have always understood "the ))rinting press" was invented, and that "prints" meant cotton goods ; but his "inventions" are neither understood nor valued. Afterwards Mr. Tardivel speaks of "gaining access tn tho outside world;" a very vague, mystifying region, perhaps. Ho meaus j)robably tho moon, as tho nearest "outside world," and most suitable to his mental condition. Should hf undertake a journey to that orb, I will wish him heartily ton vnyaije, as perhaps others will too. In an other sentence appears a specimen of those "(Jallicisms." so frequent in this pamphlet, anJ which Mr. Tardivel, finds objectionable in Mr. LcMoinc. "IIo did not give himself tho trouble" etc., ar.d further on appears tho following imitation of Western wit and profundity : 'A man, even if ho ii tho editor of a newspajjor, has a jierfoct right to be stupid if he sees fit." Ill w could a man be stupid if born clever ? What has "right" to do with it? And why bad grammar? Tho author of such "smart" sayings will never need to feign dullness, his "right" t» appear in such a character "there is none to dispute." A subsequent sentence contains tho assertion "this is digression ;" tho indefinite article "a" should not have boon so uncharitably crowded out. Liking sound better than sense, Mr. Tardivel remarks at tho foot of page 5 : "Perhaps Mr. LoMoino hesitated a moment ere he resolved to hurl his death dealing thunderbolt at the head of the ill-stared («iV) Chapin, thus allowing the wretched man to escape over tho dark river and depriving tho world of a priceless treatise on plagiarism." It would bo instructive to learn how Mr. LoMoino could "hurl a thunderbolt" without tho necessary opportunity — and how could Chapin be "wretched" by an "annihilction" never experienced? .Then again he writes of "fulsome, almost nauseating praise bestowed in the Chrouiclcn of the St. Lawrence, exciting his curiosity." I cannot conceive that anything "fulsome or nauseating" could "excite curiosity," except in a chemist or village gossip. At the 18th line of the same paragraph thoro is a reference to writers "^n tho rei/ions of tho Ij'iwcr St. Lawrence," which is a rather amusing classification. Mr. Tardivel also thinks that as to certain defect' ho has discovered in The Chrnn{elen "none but tho blindest of criiics could have failed to perceive them," and "no one possessing the genius of tho English language" could have written them. How much of this may be applicable to Mr. Tardivel I leave to my readers. At page 20, "Ignorance of things most elementary" should be written "ignorance of elementary things." Thoautbo- ia wrong when he repioaohes Mr. LeMoine with having been the first to use the n 'uos of countries as adjectivca. A glance at the advertisements of any of the English p ,ors in this city will show his error. At page 29, Mr. Tardivel tells Mr. LoMoino that he should have written "a good pair of heols," instead of "a pair of heels," whilst both are mistaken— "a clean pair of heels," is in true slang parlance. "Faro-bank advertisements" are alluded to at page .31 : tho law does not countenance gambling concerns, and therefore such advertisements are never seen. On page 7 will bo found a new commodity introduced in the shape of a "biased praise," which "has no more the right," etc. This sentence has nearly as many faults as words; Gallic-sms, pleonasms, etc., being liberally strewn through it. Its writer should have explained "biased praise," if ho is not fonder of and given more to "biased blame." In tho next paragraph ho speaks of three journals having '^niore than exhausted all that is to be said on the subject." To use Mr. Xftrdivel's own words : "That (sic) is one of those things which surpass }f Mr. frt the BUch Inor U Bfecfd. french such Ickinjj itioiia Hctids petty Eng- Jth of |C8, II !4 2lKt [ft «.f Mr. the ken of mortal man" (alile "Horrowed, et<'.," jmgt 2S). At pngo M Mr. Tnnlivol writes : '-For loose, careloss and unfjrainiuntii'al sonton ea c liommoml (-.iV) iiio lo ihu Vhruniclm, thoy are as "Thick as autumnal liinves that strew Iho brooks In Vallambrosii." * It may be a strange coincidence, but when I i^ad these linos, I felt like substi- tuting for "iho Chronicle?," "IJorrowod and Stolen l-'oathors." Further on, in this pamphlet such literary weeds orop out as the following: — "I talio upon niysolt" for "undertake;" "to bo perforinod by the unlucky reader," instead of "Id the unliicliy reodor," 0(0. Alsoon page 7, "how can thoy (tho public) choose if tlicy are continu- ally misled by rcviowors of now books who indiscriminately laud to tbo skies every work that comes under their notice?" What a blessing to have so pure a writer guiding one's judgment, and stSyiiig ono's pockets in the purchase of new books, air. Tardive' himso'f "would have shown more respect for Latin grammar" if lie had written ^•l; iUhh ullm instead of xiic. At pages l(i, 18, 1!) and 1!0 may bo found such literary gems as "This is how," "l,ot ua now behold," "riots himself deliberately," "Let us now gaze," etc., etc. P^lsowhere wo have tho wrong words for synonyms, "paraphrase" for "parody," &o. "The 'elip])ings' of wliich Mr. LoMoine's book is composed can bo divided into three categories;" "classitiod" would bo better tlinn "divided." I find also "showing up" Air. LoMoino in a "now light" for "new character." "I might continue my strictures on 'Borrowed and Stolen Feathers' ad infuiiliim, but enough has been snid, I fancy." To uso one of this critic's misriuntations as applied to Mr. LeJIoine's errors, Ic Jm n'en vnut pus la chamhllc. Corneille says in Le Menteiir, "if jc.n SV. vuiit jian la chiiitdelle, cela Ni: jxiii/ pag In pii'iir, lex /'niin qu'onferaii, Et le jcii, caiiimr uii ilit, u'lii vaut /i(tn lin chaniltllin," Mr. Tardivel i-i scarcely more fortunate when ho quotes poetry. The introduction to Part I, of "Borrowed and Stolen Feathers" begins with a selection from one of La Fontaine's wittiest fables ; in the last verse a word of a different number of syllables is sjbstitut- od for tho original, tlius changing tho whole metre. If Mr. Tardivel'.-i memory is faulty, he should not trust to it. It is hardly fair to treat in such a manner the great French fabulist, making him appear a poor versifier. If ho were a member of Ln SoMiU d' Admiral inn Miitiiflle I might understand Mr. Tardivol's object in misquoting him. Tho critic of The CluoniclcH nf thu St. Lawrence writes : II eat aisez th' rjeals il dcu.r piedn eoiiime liii, (Jiii XI' pnreiit miivent den di'itduilUi d'lu'jiairtx, In the original tho last verse reads :•- Et que Von KoywiK pltijiaiifx. A strange inference from an alleged remark of the late Charles Lover, to tho effect that there is gomo incompatibility between genius and the mastery of sc eral languages is introduced into Mr. Tardivel's hvuvhure to help m iightou a.w\ recora- inend it. The author has not the penetration oor wit to see the noveiisi's real point — in fact lacking the fulcrum of adequate perception to work tho lever— or labors in vain at tho wrong end. But why enumerate other blunders and literary eyesores, such as tho use of ctntretimpa for "mistake," "true honey," etc ? Wiiat is false honey ? Tho critic's imagination has carried him into tho "wa.v" or the mud, and left him in it floundering, where, in tho hope of this predicament proving instructive nnd disciplinary I shall leave him for the present. In conclusion I would remark that as literary men in Canada are not sufficiently rewarded and otherwise en- couraged, under existing circumstances it appears as short-sighted as it is ungener- ous to aggravate their difliculties, by detracting from their real merits nnd disparag- ing their well-earned fame. Ere I draw these lines to an end I must, in fairness and injustice to Mr. Tardivel, add that "Borrowed and Stolen Feathers" is not without its merits ; there is humor and skill displayed in some passages, and with moro study and less conceit tho writer of them may yet make his mark in the annals of our literature. Quebec, Novombor 28, ISTi-'. TIMOTHY TICKLER. e I! (From MorniDg Chronicle, St'd Dectmhar, 1878.) To THE Eiutob: Sin —An article signed " Timothy Titkler," in this morniog'a Chroniclk, hai drawn my attention to "Borrowed and Stolen Teatherir," in which Mr. J. P. Tardivel recently appeared before the public. I have carefully read the hrorhure alluded to, and I winh, if your space mn allow, to offer a few remarks in addition to those already published by "Timothy Tickle-." Mr. Tardivel strives to prove that the greater portion of the "Chronloles of the St Lawrence " is a mass of unscrupulous plagiarisms, and that the remainder, Mr. LoMoine's own, is written in very bad English. The first charge, that of plagiarism, will bo best loft to Mr. LeMcino himself; but I may remark that his task will not be by any means difficult, if all the ccses brought forward by Mr. Tardivel can bo as easily disposed of as the one which (on page 16) ho terms the most revolting and impudent of all. Itconsists of six paragraphs, at page 210, translated from M. I'Abbd Casgrain. under the heading in small capitals, <• A Canadian (Jottagk." The whole is between inverted commas; but two of these have also boon placed at the end of the first paragraph, probably through an oversight of tlio compositor. Yot those two commas de. trup aro sufficient for Mr. Tardivel's purpose I I'' this acting in good faith 7 Is this oonsistunt with his assertions that ho is " not personally interested in the matter," that what ho has undertaken is a " painful duty," an " ungrateful task," and that he undortokes it only because " no one seems inclined to undertake the rather delicate operation." The second charge against Mr. LeMoine, that of inelegant and faulty English, is one in which Mr. Tardivel seems to take particular pleasure. ll\s forte is evident- ly his knowledge of the Queen's English, ai.d, in fact, his remarkable command of it has been mentioned in several of the French papers. It may therefore seem strange that, not only do errors exist in Mr. Tardivel's pamphlet, but, ho himself commits every fault which he consuros in Mr. LeMoine's book. Mr. Tardivel considers that enclosing scntenscs within inverted commas, without giving tho name uf the author, is not a sufficient acknowledgment As this rule should also apply in his own case, he will, perhaps, favor the public with the names of the au- thors of two of his quotations, i. e. : " Do unto others as you would that they should do unto you " nnd " The pen is mightier than the sword." He also suggests that tho latter quotation should be ^laraphrniied as follows : " A pair of scissors are more ser- viceable than a quill," A pair of scissors are ! ! " I deem it meet that the public should bo shown the other side of tho medal, as the French say." Do the French say " that the public should etc."? Mr. Tardivel's introduction, forty-four lines long, contains at least twenty-five grammatical and other errors. I shall be happy to point them out to him, unless ho can got some of his friends, once more, to Jii:lp him to take the paiim to find them out. " There is no law," he says, " which proacribcsy'o^^i'*!,.." liut is there not one which proscribes the \ise cf such a word ? Ue has an idea that walls are adorned with Aaiirfbillg. and also, probably, that " woefully " (with an 0,) "cooly" (with ono I,) " illstared " (with one r,) and " blano" (for blank) are models of orthography. " There is not even an inverted comma to show that they aro borrowed." Will Mr. Tardivel explain how ho would show a quotation by an inverted comma? The motto for part II of his brochure is " Loam to write well or not to write at all." — Dryden. Is he sure tliat this was written by Dryden ? lie believes that Mr. LeMoine is tho first writer who has used names of countries adjectively. Has he never met such expressions as, for instance, Norway Pine, Tur- key Rhubarb, or China Asters ? Elsewhere he says, " the proposition which the unwary might deduct from tho premises." Why not say deduce ? Again, he says that Mr. LeMoine is a eopioiii tramtUitnr. To say wrecked crews instead of shipwrecked crews, he considers ridiculous. On that point, let him, for once, consult a dictionary. '•In a paper published recently in tho Onnadinn Mitnthhj Mr. LeMoine speaks of heef mocnueinn !" And so he does in the "Chronicles," page 258, and why should he not ? Is the expression not English ? He quotes " Thick as autumnal leaves thnt strew the brooks in Vallambrosa." Instead of" strew " Milton wrote "strow," a word of which Mr. Tardivel has perhaps never heard. Moreover, as to the aptness of the quotation, can ho state for a fact that the trees in Vallambrosa are ■aolpincHf Mr. LeMoine writes : " Paspebiao, with its roadstead running out to a point in the Bay," and and Mr. Tardivel thereupon remarks that "he undoubtedly meant to say hf;r,dlap4." I do not think he did, for it is a eandbar, ivnd not a headland. hai Irdivel led to, those of the Mr. llOlf; CCSOH feh (on pba, piUls, 'theso Irslght iivol'8 that is n "no mnita On the last page Mr. Tardivol writes :— "lie U a poor though xlavinh trannlulor." I)o«i he think it strange that a man should be poor notwithstanrlint; his buing slaviNh ? Ik he unabie to associate, in his mind, poverty witli ilavishness Y At page HO lie makoi this strange requefit — " Iloconimcnd me for loocc, fftrelfCR and ungrammatical isuutoncos." Uo actaally bogs to be oinployod nx a writer uf lnul English I I Commend me, however, to Mr. Tftrdivcl, for "Ioojp, enrolejs ami uiignunmi.tii'iil nentenoes,' and for antiquated, pretenll(.UH und misapplied wurdti,sori)e of whioh 1 exhibit in the following sentence ; '' I opine " that 'sundry " examples which have been given " ancnt " what Mr. J. P. Tardive! " knowetli " in "matters literary," will " determine him " to get rid of the " impression erroneouR " that ho " possesses the genius of the Kngiisli Ion- {;uago," or that his " ken " of English is such ns to ozouse him for " little rookiii);'' whether ho " says hia say " in a manner that "shocks " " even tin uneducated Eu^i- lish car." Yours truly, J, P. IIKII TKlk'KI.. Quebec, November 29, 1879. isar. r. *m ■X'AxrdJ.'^rel. THE SECRETARY OP THE MUTUAL ADMIRATION SOCIETY. (To the Editor of the Morniiuj Chronicle, Uth Dece'iiher, 1878.) SiH, — A short time ago, )' saw in the Canadien the first part of a cnrnptr rvndu of a meeting of the Mutual Admiration Society. A second intitalmont wiis ]iromi.sed, but has not yet been published. In the meantime, I must, to use Mr. Tardivol's own natiro slang, '-say my say." In the above nrttclo, Mr. Tardivol states that the Society had been called together to pass judgment on a critici«ini by Timothy Tickler, which was published in the CiiROMCLKof the Friday previous. After a careful examination of the criticism in question, I must admit that I failed to discover therein the errors attributed to it by the Committee of the Mutual Admiration Society. On reading the first few lines of this report I was struck by the peculiarity of its style ; it roacmblod in every respect somo of Mr. Tardivel'H productions that I had read in the Canadien some time previous, and I was astoni!« Tribord d Babord for the purpose nl' correcting his own wilful misrepresentations. But without going so far back, I will give proof enough of Timothy's charge in the report I am now reviewing. To begin by the following : — (I translate.) "lie, (Timothy Tickler) assorts i\\a,t print n mean oxi.Y cotton goods." This is a poor attempt to deceive. Mr. Tardivol had written in ' Borrowed and Stolen Feathers" that "publio prints were invented." Timothy Tickler affirmed that the "printing press was invented," and that prints meant cotton goods. The first part of this sontcnoe, as Mr. Tardivel would say, "is passed over entirely unheeded;" in the second he invents the word only, in order "lo knock it down again." Then to come to the pronoun the;/ as applied to "the public." Every one who reads "Borrowed and Stolen Feathers" will see at once that Timothy's parenthesis (the public) is merely explanatory. He cited only part of the sentence ; 'the public' is in the unquoted portion of the phrase. Now as regards the con- junction IF. Let any one ]>erus(> the paragraph alluded to and it will bo found that Mr. Tardivel has shown a woful disregard of Murray, whom he so freely quotes. It is as follows : — "If Mr. Editor choose to place Mr. LeMoino above the rest of mankind, if to him it seem preferable that the reading publio be lei astray (why not say should be Ini astray) then, of course, we have only to bow our heads in hnmble submission A men even if he is tho Editor of a newspaper has a perfect right to be stupid if ho sees i.t." Why tho subjunctive mood in one case and the indicative in tho other 7 And where does Timotliy Tickler say, that if always requires tlio subjunctive ? My opinion is that Mr. Tardivel used both moods in the hope that he would agree with Murray in one sentence at least. Then Mr. Secretary says, that " To give himself the troxibh" is puro English, and in support thereof, that «« donutr le troulh is a v,> i i «M.,»i»f.il Anallo/.m " Hera he "Invents" ft tranilatlon ! j)r«iic/.y, «« «/o»i«ier rf# U J'hnMnxtho oxproDsion which ho badly render, into Eo, -.h La Rochefoucwld wrote • "Iimait pei-ionne »« 8'kst donxk la J'i:ink U'Sieiiilrt «( de eondmrt ten eiprit uiii«( low ,j„'it}>onrruit alhr." And LaFontaine, '■ Ti-avuillex, pnEXKZ de i,a pkixk C'i«f Icfoudu r/iii manque l' moiiii." Another of Timothy's sentenoei criticised : "It is impossible to glance ernn hastily, through this liypcroriiical jiroduction of Mr. Tardivol's without seeing iiow iniich'ho luiKlit 'upcrlii'icoth Xorembcr, 1878.) To THE Editor: Dear Sir, — In turning over the pages of a pamplilet, recently issued in English against Mr. J. M. LeMtiine, the appreciation of which I shall leave to others, I notice that my name is included amongst those of the writers wliom Mr. LeMoine would Irive pirated in the "most revolting and impudent" man- ner. For what concerns me, I hasten to enter uiy protest against such an assertion, le.^t my silence ."hould lie construed into an approval. I liave not only no reproach to make to Mr. IjcMoine, as to the mode with which he dealt with my writings, hut J esteem myself happy, in liaving Itieen enabled to contrilute to a portion of the undeniable good his works have done. Despite certain incorrections of style, I am of opinion that thei is not another Canadian writer, who lias done so much to make known to tlio Eng- lish-speaking population of this country and of the United States, our his- torical traditions, and that, always in a friendly manner. Quite familiar with the English idiom, 'deeply read in Canadian story and connected by family ties and social intercourse with l)0th nationalities^ more than any other writer, he lias been tlie sympathetic and connecting link between the two races. I cannot help but admiring the perseverance and patriotism, which, during the last twenty years, in the rare hours of leisure, left by incej^sant duties, have actuated his eftbrts to popularize our annals amidst a class of rr-iders, previously indifferent or host-le. It is gratifying to me to testify to him my share of gratitude, and in saying this mucli'l am merely echofng the eonti- ments of all those of iny brother litterutwm, whom I have here consulted i)u this point, L'Abbk II. R, C.\Sf!K.uy. QiieUc, 13(h Nov., 1878. 11 lour Ines tUlg Ull Imol prer rent »» (Fi'om the Movniufj Chronicle, Quebec, 19//t Xovember, 1878.) To THE Editor : ' • Sir,— I notice with jileasuro in your eolinniifi the frank and loyal letter of Monsieur I'Ahlie Cas;?rani, one of the most distinjrnifihed of our Frencli Can- adian litterateury. He indijjnantly re])els the churfre uf phij^iarisni in connec- tion with liis own wcn-kfj, made in a certain brochure agaiiiHt Mr. J. M. Le- Moine, his fellow laborer, in illuHtratm<;; the heautiful hi.story of our common country. Permit mc to Ptatc, that when honored liy the Quebec Literarij and Historical Society with the collection of material fur the historical celci.-a^i^in of the defence of our city in 177'), (a task for which I was unprenaret' ,) M .'. LeMoine, with tlic f;enerosity of his character, collected for me and put m .ny hands the material of his own researches, which alone enabled me, a coinpani- live stranger, tre, quaint an 1 liistoi'ic incidents of men renowned for their deeds. For Christian sorvieo and true chivalry As is the Fc])ulchre in stubborn Jewry Of the world's ransom, blessed Mary's Son. All the visitors to the ancient capital who have read Mr. LeMoine's delightful volume "Quehec: Past and Present," must have satisfied tiieni- s'clves that tiiere were in the city many memorials and things of fame of whicii they would have known iinthing without liis friendly guidance. If the stranger, or I sliould say rather, jjilgrim, to Stadacona owes a debt of gratituile to Mr. LeMoine, the lover of the romantic shores of the St. Lawrence from the Island of Orleans to the Island of Anticosti is so much the more indebted to him for his "Chronicles of the St. Lawrence." Person- ally, having been in the habit for many 3'ears past, whenever opportunities presented themselves, of making a trip cither by steamer, sailing vessel or j)iiot boat to the Ijower St. Lawrence, and being now toleral)ly familiar with Its shores and the picturesque villages which fringe its liill sides, I most cordially thank Mr. LeMoine for liis "Chronicles," and must confess that 1 have not, for a long time, read a book with so much interest and pleasure. 1 am not going to write a criticism on the book, neither to dwell on the skill and abilities of one, whose reputation as an antiquary, archaeologist and a scdiolar is as well known in the Province of Quebec as the maple trees are in the autumn for their beautiful and lu.xuriant foliage, when clothed in a '•j)roud prosjjcrity of leaves." But I am going to recommend diligent reading ■if the "Chronicles" to all who liave ever travelled by water from Quebec to the Atlantic, and more particularly so to those who have never seen the thousand nalui'al beauties ami the magnilicent Laurentian mountains, which everywhere j)rescnt themselves to the eye, and so strongl_v appeal to the imagination and the feelings during the trip down the river^ " Perhaps no excursion on this continent can be miide where there is such n variety in the phases of the scenery as that existing between Quebec and the "Gulf Ports." Again, fcir convenience, expeditious and safe transit, the (ruif Steamei'-; Secret and Miramiclu, and the Iliver Steamers Sayucnay, Vnion and St. Lmcrenrc atlbrd everything that can be desired. But the mere trip to and fro, beyond a momentary gratification to the eye, and imparting a liealthful glow to the cheek, and invigorating the bcniv, is not seeing the St. Lawrence in the way to ajipreciate the spirit of Mr. JicMoine's "Chronicles." Tlie rapid passing "in a steamboat the Island of Orleans, Isle-au.x-Coudres, Murray Bay, The Pilgrims, Riviere-ilu-Loup, Tadousac, Bic, llimouski. Metis, Cape Chatte, Capo llcjsier, Gaspc, Perce and other places en route to Pictou, will not enable the tourist to form even a remote idea of the romantic inland scenery, "where scarce a woodman finds a road, and scarce the fislier plies an oar," but where every mile is rather "inagnificentlv nule" or sublime in its grandeur. As a hurried walk round the Louvre an'd the Vatican with an ordinary cicx^rone, or through such glorious fanes as Canterbury, York and AVestmiuster, Gloster, Wdls and Salisbury, accompanied only by the pui)sacrist or veiger, will not let the student or pilgrim, however intelligent or perspicacious he may l)e, grasp the beauties, whether of sculpture, painting or architecture, presented to Jiis view, neither will a temporary halting at tlie wharves or landing places of the ditlerent village'^ enable the vouaoeur to find that i3 "Thero is » pleasure in th« pathless woods, There is a rapture on the lonely shore. There is society where none intrudes," or to find that infinite pleasure in the "Chronicles" which the writer has done in consequence of hia familiarity with the places and the peoples so graphically described by Mr. LeMoine. It is Htrange how wonderfully little our American and Canadian tourists, in general, know of the glories which lie concealed here and there, in fact everywhere, en route to the unfashionable regions of Bic, Rimouski, Metis and Oaspe, and it is also strange that poets and artists have not turned for their inspiration and for their pictures to the everlasting hills, the mountain torrents, the secluded valleys, the quiet dells, rivalling in grandeur and beauty those scenes of which such men as Petrarch and salvator Rosa have giveli such wonderful pictures in words and on canvas. It is true there is not the vi id interest attached to the Saguenay or the Metapedia, the Godbout or tlie Restigouche as there is to the Rliine or the Thames, tlie Tiber or the Po. The German Teine and the English Thomson have immortalized their rivers, ami Byron and Rogers have done the same for the Italian rivers, while such artists as Turner and Stanfield, Roberts and Prout have made us familiar with everything worth seeing or reineml)ering from the Orknevs and the Hebrities to tlie Archipelago, front the Isle of Man to Cyprus. Would that such men as Cliurcli and Bierstadt would do for the Lower St. Lawrence wliat they have done for the Andes, Niagara and the Yosemite Valley, the latter destined, through the liberality of the artist, to adorn the walls of the Benaiiih Gibb Art Gallery. There is a field open for Jacobi and Allan Edson. THOS. D. KING. itontreal, August, 1878. {From ihe "Montreal Gazette," Gth Augiist, 1878.) It does not seem long since we had the pleasure' of reviewing in the columns of The Gazette Mr. LeMoine's exceedingly interesting historical work, "Quebec, Past and Present." We now meet him again in a new role, or, at least, with additional functions added to those in which we know him so well. As an historian, an antiquarian and a naturalist he has already rendered services to his native land which cannot be too highly appreciated. We have now to welcome hin\ in the garb of a traveller, or, rather, of one who, having completed his wanderings, sits down to pleasantly recount all tliat he has seen and heard. Mr. LeMoine has not, however, passed beyond the confines of Canada in search of a subject, and those who read, the instructive pages of this, his latest work, will be proud to acknowledge that on Canadian soil and Canadian waters he has found no lack of topics of abundant interest. The book is well named — consisting essentially of "Chronicles of the St. Lawrence," of everything, in fact, that the author could learn, directly or indirectly, of the people, the scenery, the productions and the associations of the shores and islands of the majestic river below Quebec. We are introduced to the author on board the good steamer "Gaspe," as it glides through groups of lovely islands, on its way to the Gulf ports, in Septeml)er, 1871. After a pleasant sail, we are taken ashore at Gaspe, which, we are told by the way, once boastetl of a Governor of its own. It is known that Major Cox held that office in 1775. This fact serves as a starting-point for a long course of multifarious information as to the past and present of the peninsula — its early discovery, its successive settlements, its points of interest, the character, occupation and amusements of its inhabitants. Nothing is omitted, even to the curious changes which, in successive genera* tions, have overtaken the names of places. The towns and villages are minutely described. Douglastown, Mai bale. Port Daniel, rise before us in graphic pen-paintings. We are told strange stories — comic as well as tragic —of the native triws, the Micmacs and the Pasbejiacs When we reach Pointe-au-Maquereau, we are reminded of the terrible shipwreck of the Colborne iu 1838, one of the survivors of which Mr. LeMoine, by a singular I 14 chance, found in a friendly host, who narrated to him his reminiscences of the disaster. Passing througli Pabos, Grand Riverj Cap d'Espoir and otlier localities, we come to Perce, of which Mr. LeMome gives an interesting historical sketch from the time of Jacques Cartier's visit m 1534. The noted rock is viewed from the standpoint of the poet as well as the naturalist, romantic legends being told of it. A chapter is devoted to Sir Hovenden Walker's expedition and the shipwreck of his squadron in 1711. We are then taken to the Magdalen Islands, which are described under various aspects, their commercial value being especially dwelt on. Anticosti is similarly treated, and many thrillin* legends and touching narratives diversify the account. One of the most ihrilling descriptions in the \)o6k is that of the Lazarretto at Tracadie. Probably there are some of our reailers who are not aware that the Oriental plague of leprosy has such fearful illustration in the fair Dominion of Canada. Of late the subject has attracted considerable attention from scientific men. In this sad episode there is one thing esjx^cially pleasing — the heroic self-sacrifice of the missionaries and sisters who minister to the wants of tliose strangely afflicted people. After accompanying Mr. LeMoine to Dalhousie, Campbellton, St. John, N.B., Halifax and Prince Edward Island, we come to the close of the first part of bis admirable work, with minds well stocketl with rare and various knowledge. The second part is called "Lights and Shadows in the Kingdoni of Herring and Cod." We begin this voyage with Mr. LeMoine on l)oard the steamer "Secret," on the 5th of June, 1877. As its name indicates, this part is cliiefly taken up with the same places as the former part, to which it is coniplementary. It introduces us, however, to several new scejies, and shows us old ones under new phases. As an account of the extensive "Kingdom" from which it takes its name, as it is at present, it has no ordinary interest and value. Those who would gain an insight, in the pleasantest possible way, into the great wealth of our Laurentian and tributary waters, as well as of the chief Sc3nic and other characteristics of the lower St. Lawrence, could not do better than take the trip with Mr. LeMoine's book in their hands. We can guarantee that they will not be disappomted. "The "Cruise of the Dolphin" is an account of a visit paid by Mr. Le- Moine and a party of friends to the beautifur Church o*" St. Romuald, the Beauport shore, and other places in the environs of oid Quebec interesting from scenery or association. The "Cruise" which was made in the Govern- ment steam launch, on the memorable date, September 13th, last year, is delightfully narrated, and the tourist needs no more pleasant or trustworthy guide in his introduction to the historic scenes of the ancient capital. The "Cruise of the Dolphin" cannot fail to inspire the readers who liave not yet had an opportunity of obtaining Mr. LeMoine's other publications on the same subject with the desire of surrendering themselves vinconditionally to his guidance in a more extended exploration of the historic scenes of our Canadian Gibraltar. Such persons we would recommend to lose nj time in purchasing the author's now standard work, "Quebec, Past and Present," to which we referred at the beginning of this notice The information contained in this excellent work thev will fijid copiously supplemented in the "Tourists' Nott- lK)ok" and the "Album Canadien " The rest of Mr LeMoine's publications are "Legendery lore of the Lower St Lawrence (1862)," "Maple Leaves," (in 'Les Pecheries du Canada (1863)," "Memoire de Montcalm, Vengce (1865)/' "Notes Historiques sur les rues de Quebec (1876)," and "Tableau Svnoi)tique des Oieeaux du Canada (1877)." A new series of "Maple Leaves"" was also published in 1873." (Toronto Meth. Magazine.) ' "No river in the world better deserves to be celebrated in song and ftorv .and historic chronicles than our own noble St. Lawrence. For sublimity of ipcenery, for romantic memories, for historic associations of grandest inspirai ■ ■■ 'M tion, with what cMier r;«-:r pJiall it be compared ? To Mr. LeMoine the writing of these chronicles has been an eminently congenial task. Probably no man living is so thoroughly versed in the ancient lore of French Canada, or is so instinct with enthusiastic love of her heroic past. The old legends which haunt the quaint villages of Lower St. Lawrence and their varied associations of romance or war, are carefully woven into the texture of thet^c chronicles. No tourist amid its picturesque scenery, no student of its heroic history, should be witiiout this interesting and instructive volume." If |e l.s Is {.From the Xew York '•N.iTioN," lUh July, 1878, a Weelh/ Gazeite of Literature and Commerce.) "The Chronicles of the St. Laiprence. By J. M. LeMoine. (Montreal: Dawson Bros ; Rouse's'Point, N. Y.: John W. Lovell. 1878.)— Mr LeMoine i.s well known in Canada and out of it as the author of many works, some liistorical, some relating to natural history, and some to angling. In his four volumes called 'Maple Leaves' he gives a collection of disconnected but e.xceedingly interesting sketches of Canadian history, founded on extensive research and written in the easy and entertaining style which always charac- terizes him. We also have from him two works on Canadian ornithology, 'L'Album Canadien,' 'Notes Historiques sur les Rues de Quel)ec,' 'The Tourist's Note-Book,' 'Quebec : Past and Present,' *Les Pecheries du Canada,' and various other works in Fronrh and English. He writes in either lan- guage with equal facility. The present volume is thoroughly characteristic of his style and mode of treatment. It is divided into two parts ; the first ii sort of itinerary of a voyage from Quebec to the Maritime Provinces, and also of the famous "round trip" to the Saguenay and back. The second part is a series of descriptive and historical sketches of the chief localities of the lower St. Lawrence. The book contains a prodigious amount of information, partly concerning the past and partly the present, sometimes drawn from study and sometimes from observation. The style is off-hand, rapid, and now and then careless ; but as the volume is meant as much for the deck of a steamboat as for the study-table, this can hardly be reckoned a serious blemish. What it most needs is an index of localities With this addition, it would be the pleasantcst and most useful companion for the tourist that it is possible to conceive ; without it, it is a treasury of curious knowledge ratner perplexing from its abundance and variety. Evprything is here — history, legend, anecdote, the fanciful and the practical ; and nothing is wanting but the means of finding them without tremble — that sine qua non of the tourist." L'. \i