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Un des symboles suivants apparaitra sur la derniire image de cheque microfiche, selon ie cas: le symbols — ► signifie "A SUIVRE". le symbols V signifie "FIN". Maps, plates, charts, etc., may be filmed at different reduction ratios. Those too large to be entirely included in one exposure are f'med 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 Atre film6s A des taux de reduction diffArents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour Atre reproduit en un seul ciichA, il est filmA A partir de Tangle supArieur gauche, de gauche A droite, et de haut en has, en prenant le nombre d'images nAcessaire. Les diagrammes suivants illustrent ia mAthode. 1 2 3 12 3 4 5 6 NICOLET NicoLET, March 29th, i8i^2^ Looking down the longr vista of the 'last, Nicolet is one of the places most deeply im- printed on my memory. Mrs. Cresse, an old playmate of my father's (Charles Gcthings), lived here, and when about ten years of age I here frequently passed holiday time. She was a Miss Van Courtland, daughter of a military friend of my grandfather's, Captain James Gethings of the original lOOth Regiment. I married early, and never returned to Nicolet for forty-five years, though often desirous of so- doing. Why did I not ? for the simple reason that I did not know how to get here except by some roundabout way via Three Rivers. And that I write this document is due to the fact that I am desirous of bringing before your notice, 7/ot ofily this beautiful little town, hut the way to- reach it, for most eminently is it fitted for a delightful summer resort, and also as a suitable site for enterprise and paying industries. I had not seen it for forty-five years, when NICOLE!. last summer old memories so strongly drew me here that I Iiad to come. I expected only to see the old college and an old acquaintance, the daughter-in-law of my dear friend, Mrs. Cresse, whose husband in my early days was seigneur here, and whose son married Mademoiselle de .Lozeau (now Mad. Pacaud), still living, and- looking younger than I do, although twenty years older, — so much for Nicolet air. It was .pouring when I arrived last year on a few hours visit, but the sad downfall could not hide the 'wonderful beauty of this place. Situated on the tbanks of the river like Kamouraska, it excels it much in that it possesses most beautiful old trees that fringe its roadside, and also that it is garnished with some really stately edifices — a ■grand college, convents. Normal School and several really very handsome private resid- ences. Here is also a bank, a branch of the Ville Marie of Montreal, lumber establishments ■owned by Messrs. Ball, McCaffrey, Tourville and O'Shaughnessy, and in the village a fine resid- ence constructed and occupied by Louis Caron, the architect of all these fine constructions. Near the college are the elegant houses of Mr. JLeCompte, Dr. DeSaulniers. Mr. Ball, and N ICO LET. in course of erection a fine house by Dr. Mc- Caffrey; Mr. Papillon, a fine photographer. A comfortable though very unpretentious little hotel, Rochette, close to the college, gives you all necessary comfort. And now how to get to this little elysium. If from Quebec, just step on the Grand Trunk Railroad cars at Levis as far and showing a firearm asked him if he thought he could get it repaired in Canada. " I think so,'* answered Mr. Brun; " in fact, 1*11 engage to repair it myself." "But are you sure you can doit .^"que- ried the military man. " This pistol belongs to NtCOLEl. the Duke of Kent, and he values it particularly, as it was a gift to him from the Duke of Kdinburgh, his godfather." "I think I can satisfy you as to my being able to do it," answered Mr. Biun ; " if you look here you will see my name, this I made myself in the Okl Country." These facts coming to the ears of the Duke of Kent caused him to make acquaintance with Mr. Brun.and re- sulted in the Duke's influence procuring the ap- pointment for him of the position of.irmourcr I think to the forces. Among the old pictures shown me by Mrs. Thornton are four plates showing the commen- cing of and continuation of the storm that de- stroyed His Majesty's ship '* Ramellies." This memorable hurricane terminated in a thun- der storm ; the lightning struck the already disabled and water-logged vessel, and in the fourth plate we see it burning. If not mis- taken, the Marquis of Lome's father was at one time connected with this vessel. Many small old colored prints, some curious fruit plates, etc., and a quilt made of silk more than a hundred years old. I have just seen it, the colours as bright as if lately made. I must observe cu passant that Mrs. Thornton's grand father, Mr. Colombe, lived MCOLE'l, » to Ihc age of 102 years, and then did not die of old age but of charbon, after an illness of onl}- two hours. The first house she lived in in Nicolet is still the solid stone house occupied b\- a librarian near the Villc Marie Bank, and second house from the river. Mrs. T. still resides with her three daughters in the comfortable cottage they have owned and lived in for 36 years. The old lady points with pride to various old prints and engravings, some 1 50 years old, which would rejoice the heart of an amateur of antiquities. And then, to my surprise, shows me a photograpl*. " Do you know whose portrait that is .' " asks Mrs. T. " Why," I answer, " that is the sim of my own first cousin, Lieut- C. F., whose mother w-as my father's sister." " Yes ; and, wonderful to relate," continues the old lady, " 1 kn<'w that baby's great grandmother before her marriage, thou^^h I have never seen her since, and I got that portrait because her grandson is married to a connection of mine." And now of Nicolet proper. Its seminary originally was but a simple school in 1 80 1, founded b\' the will of Mr. Brassard, cure of Nicolet, and transformed into a classical col- lege by Mgr. Dinant, bishop of Quebec. But its \\\ N ICO LET. real founder and originator was Monseigneur I. O. Plessis, who in 1806 bought from the latter this growing college which hnd passed unex- pectedly into strangers' hands. It was considerably enlarged in 18 13 by this distinguished prelate, whose generosity was un- bounded towards this house of education which he desired to establish on a large basis. With this object he solicited and obtained letters patent of incorporation from his Britannic Majesty on the loth of Dec, 1821. The actual buildings now extant were commenced in 1827 at the txpcnse^ in great part, of Bishops Panet and Signay, who succeeded each other in the see of Quebec. The new seminar}' opened in 1.S31. Its prin- cipal building is 309 feet long and 38 wide, two wings 180 feet by 43, and two upper flats. It is situated on the banks of the Nicolct river^ two miles from the borders of Lake Stj Peter, and is surrounded by large t^ardens and grounds agreeable and salubrious. It has always been directed by the secular clergy, presided over by the Biihop of Quebec, then by the Bishop of Three Rivers, and now •by the present Bishop of Nicolet. The Grey Nuns have here a tine new Hospital NiCOLET. called the Hotel Dieu ; at the former one died the Rev. Mr. Paradis, who had collected quite- a large sum in Europe and presented it to this establishment. This gentleman is, I think, the same one who accompanied my husband to the Vatican, and enabled him to obtain a private audience with His Holiness, the late Pope Pius the Ninth. Commercial Academy » Facing the river is the fine commercial aca- demy of Saint Jean Baptiste, fjunded by Mgr. Gravel, and directed by the Brothers of the Christian Doctrine. Also facing the river is the splendid Convent of the Order of Sisters of the Assumption, for the education of young girls, founded in St. Gregoire in 1853, transferred to Nicoletin 1872' and this new convent built in 1886. The old church of Nicolet is still in existence. It is toa small for the population, but the walls are sO' thick that it is almost impossible to destroy them, and it will, I presume, later be repaired for further use. I also here met Mr. H. A. Chillas, whom I found to be a descendant of one of our old respected, citizens of Quebec, viz., the late John Chillas. « NICOLE! . Mr. Chillas has been a resident of Nicolet for the last 58 years — his attention having been drawn to Nicolet by the British American Land Company, who were then building extensive wharves at Port St. Francis, with the intention of making that place the outlet for their Eastern Township lands, and to locate a town at the port ; but on account of its unfavorable position^ being low land, and subject to inundation in the spring of the year, and the company reserv- ing all the most advantageous lots for building on, the project of the company eventually fell through. Port St. PVancis is situated about 4I miles on the' north or St. Lawrence side of the town of Nicolet. Amongst the first projected railroads in the province of Quebec was a line trom Sherbrooke (through the company's lands) to Port St. P'rancis, but which was nipped in the bud by the action of the G.T.R. Mr. Chillas was for many years an active member for the advancement and progress of Nicolet. lie was appointed commissioner of small courts in 1836, which commission he still holds, and probably the oldest commission in the province of Quebec, being now over 56 years standing. He was for many years mayor for the NICO] E7. ' i parish of Nicolct and County Council, and was elected a councillor for the town of Nicolet after its incorporation as a town, and for wliicii incorporation, the people of Nicolct are luuch indebted to him for his exertions in superin- tc)Klin£T the passage of the Act of Incorpora- tion through the House of Assembly at Quebec in 1872.; also for obtaining an Act for the erec- tion of booms on the river Nicolet, much to the advantage of our mill owners and lumber men of the town of Nicolet and adjoining parishes. Nicolet before its incorj^oration was a small vil- lage of about eight hundred inhabitants, but which, since iis incorporation, has increased to ncarlv three thousand inhabitants, and instead of a few straggling dilapidated houses has iiow some magnificent convents, college and Friars' school with many other fine buildings, including post and telegraph offices, and an aqueduct which furnishes the town with an ample supply of excellent water. Nicolet*is also the see for the Diocese of Nico- let, with Bishop's palace and cathedral. Mr. Chillas was appointed postmaster in 1840, and after having conducted the same for about 25 years, liad it transferred to his daughter N J CO LET. Miss M. Chillas, who is still postmistress of Nico- let, making a period of over 52 years which Mr. Chillas' family have had charge of the post office. Miss Chillas has also charge of the telegraph office here. The Drummond County Railroad has a sta- tion in the town of N'colet, and its terminus at the mouth of the River Nicolet, from which place they can ship their goods during the sea- son of navigation. The Government have lately dredged the River Nicolet and built an extensive pier out to deep water line, which is of great advantage to the mill owners, lumbermen and to the public in general, and of vast importance to the Drummond County Railroad. With the pre- sent advantages of transport by land and water* and the central position of Nicolet, it is very likely that in the short distance it will become a manufacturing locality. Post Office. The present popular Inspector of Post Offices residing in Three Rivers is also a son of Mr. Chillas. I must not forget to state that Mrs. Thornton has residing with her her three daughters, all in I,' NICOLE! , perfect health ; the eldest is over 70 years of age. Like their mother, they are delightful company, being good conversationalists, and always willing cheerfully to impart humourous or historical re- miniscences from their well-stored memories. Since my visit I have learned with much re- gret of the death of Mad. Proulx, also at an ad- vanced age. She was the mother of that much respected prelate, Rev. Mr. Proulx, director of the college of Nicolet. She was also one of the gracious ladies of the old regime, as delightful in manner as eminent in piety. I extract from the journal of my dear late hus- band the following account of his reception by His Holiness : » EXTRACT. FROM JOURNAL OF THE LATE DR. M. OF ROME, 25TII FEBRUARY, \%^f>. This morning at the extravagantly early hour of six, Petry (^brother of Rev. Mr. Petry of Quebec) and myself got up and dressed full dress, as we were promised to be presented to His Holiness Pope Pius the Ninth. We were to •call for Mr. Paradis at 7, and the audience was expected to be granted at 9 o'clock. So punc- tually at 9 we found ourselves at his lodgings, and shortly after we started for the Palace at N ICO LET. Monte Cavallo, where Monseigneur the Bishop •of Montreal was to meet and present us. After passing through several apartments, and wait- ing in an ante- room for three hours, we were ushered in by the Lord Chamberlain into a room furnished in regal style, and shortly after His Holiness the Pope, attired in a robe of ■white, entered. So suddenly did he appear that the first intimation I had of his presence was the prostration of the Bishop's secretary on his knees, and immediately afterwards the whole of the party followed, including myself, of course. We each in turn advanced and were presented hy the Bishop. His Holiness received us with much courtesy and great suavity of manner. His countenance is very pleasing. He appears about 55 years of age. He spoke to us in French and Spanish for a short time, and the interview was over. I have spent the day chez nous in a literary way, and Messrs. Paradis, Serletti and Appleton have just gone home after spend- ing the day with us. Bishop B our get. The Bishop who presented Mr. Petry and Mr. Macpherson to His Holiness was Monseigneur Ignacc Bourget, Bishop of Montreal, who suc- .' i ■ .i ^.i' "i. f i ?! 11