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THE
QUEBEC DIRECTORY
AND
STRANGER'S GUIDE,
TO THE
mTE & iii[^itm®H§.
'
1844-5.
BY ALFRED HAWKINS,
CAREFULLY COREECTED ^T THE PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS k OFPICES,
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1 ,1
QUEBEC:
1844.
Entered accurdinp; to an Act of the Provincial Parliament in the
year One tiiousaind eight hundred and Fobty-four by Al-
fred Hawkins, in the Ollice of the Registrar ol the Province of
Canada.
V ::.' y o .5
Ill tlic
Aj.-
ice of
I
' 1 1
^■2L^c5
VIII
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
Strangers Guide to the City and Environs 183
Sketch of the City — its ancient appearance ^c,. . 184 190
The Citadel— Cape Diamond, 191 194
Fortilications within the City — its extent — Gates,
Ramparts — parade ground &c., 194 200
Relivli<
has just commenced Inisiness in that lino. TJie ^Iaxsion.
Boarding House, i)lcasantly situated near the Gran*!
Battery is kept by Mil. IIoloate. There are also seve-
ral Taverns and l)oardinu' Houses, where tlie public cau
find aecomnKxlation according to their taste iind mtaiis.
In the Lowei' Town will b(^ found several large Hotels.
The Ottawa, kept by Mr. Uichard ^Ieiuam, is situa-
ted in Sault au Matelot Street and accommodates u
large number of l)usiness m(>n ehieflv connected with tin
extensive and growing timber trade of the Port. TIk
LoNDOX Coffee House, in the Cul de Sac, is aii
extensive establishment kept by Mil. McLeax. Tin.'
Globe Hotel in St. Peter Street, bv Mil. Millek.
And the St. Lawrexce, by Mrs. Proudly in the sam(
Street, oiler a choice of residence to tlie stranger. Ii.
this part of the town also, will bo found several Tavern'-
and Boarding Houses,
Convenient Cabs and Caleches will be found on tlic
arrival of the Boats to convoy visitors to their respective
Hotels, porters from -whieh will be generally in atten-
dance.
The principal Seat of British dominion in America,
cannot be approached by the intelligent stranger with-
out emotions of respect and admiration. It is situated
on the north-west side of the great River St. Lawrence
in latitude (Wolfe & Montcalm's Monument) bv Meridian
Altitude 46° 48' 30'" N. and Longitude West of Greenwich
71° 17' OO''— There stands Quebec, formerly the Seat of
the French Empire in the West ; purchased for England
by the blood of the heroic Wolfe.
I
. 1 (I
AND ITS ENVIRONS.
185
A oomniodious harbor, which can allbrd sate an-
chorage for several fleets — a inagniticont river whose
banivs arc seciirod hy sfteep Clitls — a position on a lofty
rock, which hid-j defiance to external violence, together
with extraordinary boanty of .scenery, are some of the
natural a I
! I
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STR.\NGER*S GUIDE TO QUEBEC
ing the highest elevation of Csk])0 Diamond, that he is
standing upon the margin of the primeval and intermi-
nable forest, extending from a narrow selvage of civili-
zation to the arctic regions, he will admit that the posi-
tion of Quebec is unique in itself, and that in natural
sublimity it stands, as to the cities of the Continent,
iniri vailed and alone.
The settlement of colonies has always been a subject
of deep historical interest and research. Their success-
ful establishment has, indeed, been attended with tlie
happiest results to mankind. By them new worlds
have been peopled — languages perpetuated — commerce
extended, and the art of navigation brought to its pre-
sent state of perfection. The blessings of true religion
have been communicated to man, redeemed from his sa-
vage state ; while cities and turretted walls have sup-
planted the solitude of the desert and the forest, or ta-
ken the place of the primitive caves and wigwams of
the aboriginal inhabitants. By colonies the face of the
earth has been cultivated, and the produce of the soil
rendered the means of subsistence and social happiness.
The principal design of the French settlements in
Canada, — after the trade in peltry had proved sufficient-
ly attractive to the associated merchants of France, to
induce thorn to maintain their property in the country
— was evidently to propagate the Christian religion as
professed by the founders of Quebec, to tamo and civi-
li: . ^he heathen and to bring him to the worship of the
true God. It was a common saying of Chaj^iplain,
" That the salvation of one soul was of more value than
the conquest of an empire V The next object was of a
more mundane and political complexion, namely, to ac-
quire a preponderance on the American continent hv
means of their priesthood, — and through the influence
which gratitude for their services had procured them
among the Indian tribes, to whos^ temporal and spiritu*
:M
AND ITS ENVIRONS.
187
M
al wants they had rendered themselves nearly equally
necessary, and whose affections they left no means un-
attempted to engage and retain.
This policy, long acted upon, influenced every part
of their system. It extended even to the character of
the earliest edifices w^hich they erected in this country.
Tlie only permanent buiklings were those devoted to the
purposes of war and religion. The irregularity of the
lines of the dillerent streets in Quebec is attributable to
tlio same remote cause. Any one who examines the site
of the city will perceive at once, that the greater por-
tion of the area was occupied from the first by its public
buildings. To show this more clearly, let us take a brief
survey of the ancient city. ^
The space occupied by the buildings of the ancient
Fort, afterwards the Castle of St. Lewis, was very ex-
tensive, reaching from Prescott-Gate to the commence-
ment of the acclivity of Cape Diamond, and including
the large open space where Wolfe & Montcalm's mo-
nument now stands. Formerly there were no
houses between the Castle and the Cape, and St. Lewis
Street was a military road. Immediately in front of the
Castle was an esplanade or open space, still called the
Place d'ArmeSf on one side of wdiich stood the Church
and Convent of the RecoUet Monks. The buildings,
with the garden, occuj)ied the whole site on which stand
the Court House and the English Cathedral. They
possessed the entire area between St. Anne and St.
Lewis Streets, and gave the modern name of Garden
Street. Not far from the corner of the Place d'Armes,
in St. Anne Street, there stands within the precincts of
the Church close, a venerable tree, the last relic of those
which once shaded the R^coUet Fathers — a touching
monument of olden time — perhaps* the last tenant of
the primeval forest. Under this tree or on its site, tra-
dition relates that Champlain pitched his tent on land-
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188
stranger's guide to QUEBEC
N
ing and taking possession of his new domain. Here ho
lived until the habitation, which he was building near
the brink of the rock, was ready for the reception of
his little band. In the rear of the Recollet Church, at
a short distance from it, was the Ursuline Convent, still
occupyhig with its garden a considerable space enclosed
within St. Anne, St. Lewis and St. Ursule Streets.
Beyond the latter were the ancient ramparts of the
city. St. Anne Street divided the possessions of the
Ursuline Nuns from those of the Jesuits. The Col-
lege of the latter stood in a considerable square, now
the market-place ; and was surrounded by a garden,
planted with lofty and umbrageous trees, extending from
St. Anne to St. John Streets. The French Cathedral,
occupying one side of this square, and its attached buil-
dings covered a space reaching to Fort Street, and was
divided from the Place cl' Amies by a road, which was af-
terwards Buade Street. At the descent into Mountain
Street, the buildings belonging to the French Cathedi'al
communicated with the site occupied by the Bishops's
Palace and gardens, reaching to the edge of the rock.
The ancient Palace is said to be equal to many similar
establishments in France. From the French Cathedral
to the Grand Battery, the site is covered with the buil-
dings and garden of iha Seminary, bounded also by
Hope Street, formerly Ste. Famille Street, and St.
George's Street. The Seminary garden overlooks the
Lower Town, near the place formerly called the Sault-
au-Matelot- At a short distance from it are the grounds
belonging to the Hotel Dieu, which extend along the
summit of the cliff from Hope-Gate, and are bounded
irregularly by Palace Street and Couillard Street. The
different buildings above enumerated with their spacious
gardens, added to flie sites occupied by the magazines,
and other government buildings, together with the spa-
ces reserved for military purposes, occupied nearly the
AND ITS ENVIRONS.
189
r 1
whole of the level ground within the ramparts. It is
evident, therefore, that the early inhabitants had no al-
ternative ; and were compelled to build in directions
leading from one of these public buildings to another,
or around their precincts. Those who came to settle in
Quebec were, doubtless, attracted by the neighborhood
of the different churches, and the protection afforded by
the Fort. They erected their small and temporary ha-
bitations as near as possible to the convents, whence, in
times of scarcity or sickness they received support and
medical aid. Hence the winding and irregular charac-
ter of some of the smaller streets, particularly of those
in the vicinity of the Hotel Dieu and Ursuline Con-
vent.
The nature of the ground, or rather rock, on which
the city is built, effectually prevented any regularity of
design. The most level site was the easiest and cheap-
est — strait lines were disregarded in comparison with
present convenience — consequently, a house was built
only where level foundation could best be found ; and
those places wdiich were rugged and precipitous were
left unoccupied, until some one, more enterprising or
with better means, overcame the difficulty, and succeed-
ed in establishing his edifice. During the first fifty
years after the foundation in 1608, the houses were ex-
tremely small, mean and poorly furnished ; partly from
want of means, and partly from fear of the Iroquois,
whose incursions kept the inhabitants in constant dread,
and prevented any expense being incurred in these par-
ticulars. Little, however, sufficed for the first colonists :
all they required was shelter and warmth during the
winter. The summer was passed chiefly in the open
air. As an example of the want of furniture and con-
veniences in the old habitations, it may be mentioned
that when the Hospitalieres arrived in Quebec in 1639,
for the purpose of founding the Hotel Dieu, they were
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stranger's guide to QUEBEC
lodged in a house belonging to the company of Mer-
chants, lent to them by the Chevalier de Montmagny,
who succeeded ChamplaiN in the government. The
house is, indeed, described as having -four rooms and two
closets ; but the only furniture in it for the accommoda-
tion of these ladies was a rude kind of table made of
boards, and two benclies of the same material ! The
absence of architectural embellishments must always bo
lamented ; but a sufficient apology for the want of sym-
metry in the buildings of Quebec, may be found in
the peculiar circumstances of the early settlers, and the
subsequent history of the colony.
The river St. Lawrence, which flows majestically be-
fore the town, is one of the greatest, most noble and
beautiful of rivers ; and at the same time, the furthest
navigable for vessels of a large size, of any in the uni-
verse. From its m.outh in the Gulf of St. Lawrence to
the harbor of Quebec is three hundred and sixty miles ;
and vessels from Europe ascend to Montreal, w^hich is
one hundred and eighty miles higher up its course. A
precipice of naked rugged rock, nearly three hundred
feet high, divides the Upper from the Lower Town.
The latter, embracing the foot of the precipice, and
skirting the base of the promontory to a considerable
extent on both sides, is the mart of foreign trade and
and the principal place of business. It is built on
ground made partly by excavations from the rock, or re-
deemed from the water ; and contains numerous and
convenient wharfs and store houses, for the accommoda-
tion of trade and navigation. The channel before the
town is rapid — its breadth is about eleven hundred and
thirty four yards. The depth of the river opposite the
city is about thirty fathoms and good anchorage is every
where to be found. The Upper Town presents the pic-
turesque appearance of a fortified city — whose houses
rise gradually above each other in the form of an am-
ii-\
AND ITS ENVIRONS.
191
phitheatre— embellished and diversified by large build-
ings and lofty spires, pouring a flood of light and splen-
dor from their bright tinned roofs.
THE CITADEL.
On the extreme left, on the highest point of the pro-
montory, is Cape Diamond, rising three hundred and
lifty feet above the level of the river, and terminating
towards the east in a round tower, whence is displayed
the national standard of England. Immediately in the
rear is the cavalier and telegraph, and adjoining may be
soen the saluting battery. The fortress on Ca^jo Dia-
mond, or Citadel of Quebec, is a formidable combina-
tion of powerful works ; and >vhile it is admitted that
there is no similar military work on this continent, it
has been considered second to few of the most celebra-
ted fortresses of Europe. It has frequently been called
the Gibraltar of America ; and it is, indeed, worthy
of the great nation, whose fame and enduring renown
are reflected in this chef d'wuvre of nature and of art —
constructed at the expense of Great Britian for our de-
fence — at once a monument of her own powder, and a
pledge of protection to one of the most valuable, al-
though remote, possessions of the British Crown! Que-
bec is one of the strongest and most distinguished of
those " military posts," which are alluded to in the
following beautiful passage from a speech pronoun-
ced by the Honorable Daniel Webstkr in the Senate
of the United States, which we extract as peculiarly
applicable to our subject; and as deriving weight and
interest from the splendid talents and long established
fame of the eloquent orator. Mr. Webster eloquently
describes Great Britain as " a power to which, for pur-
poses of foreign conquest and subjugation, Rome, in the
height of her glory, is not to be compared; a power
which has dotted over the surface of the whole glob©
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192
stranger's guide to QUEBEC
t;
with her possessions and military posts, whose morning
drum-beat, following the sun, and keeping company with
the hours, circles the earth daily with one continuous
and unbroken strain of the martial airs of England."
And truly, when we look to our own country, what just
cause of pride and dignity do we behold! The halcyon
days of peace have long returned — the temple of Janus
is, for ever closed — yet, when the storm of war was at
the higliest, never did the eagle wing of England soar
more loftily, never did her star beam in brighter splen-
dor ! Then, amid the ruin and the wreck of demoraliz-
ed nations, she stood forth the firm and generous pilot —
when others slept, and were worn out with their woe,
she ever watched at the giddy helm — ^lier greatness grew
with the madness of the gale — her swiftness hung on
the wings of the storm — her proud pendants floated
aloft — her course was steady — lier track was secure ;
and she still pointed to that beacon where peace and
salvation showed their hallowed, but expiring flame !
Cape Diamond is composed of dark colored slate, in
which are found perfectly limpid quartz ci'ystals, in veins,
along with crystalized carbonate of lime. From these
crystals, which are certainly extremely beautiful, and
sparkle like diamonds, came the name it bears. Profes-
sor Sillimax considers the prevailing rock to be of
transition formation, from the circumstance of the region
on the other side of the St. Lawrence being decidedly
of that class. The works upon the summit are nearly
complete, according to the most approved laws of forti-
fication ; and will richly repay the visits of those who
are admitted to examine them, both as to external beau-
ty and interior excellence. The approach to the Cita-
del, which is nearly two hundred feet higher than the
ground on which the Upper Town is situated, is by a
winding road made through the acclivity of the Glacis,
',1
ANT) ITS ENVIRONS.
193
from St. Lewis Gate, and commanded every -where by
the guns of the different bastions. This loads into the
outward ditch of the ravelin, and thence into the princi-
}3al ditch of the work, built upon both sides with walls
of solid masonry, and extending along the whole cir-
cumference of the Citadel on the land and ciry sides.
The main entrance is through a massive gate of admira-
ble construction, called Dalhousie-Gate. Within the
arch gate are the Main-Guard rooms, for a detachment
;md an officer, who are relieved every day ; and in front
of it is a spacious area, — used as a parade ground, — or
rather an enlargement of the ditch formed by the retir-
ing angles and face of the bastion. This is a splendid
work, presenting a most august appearance, and combin-
ing strength and symmetry wi^'. all the modern im-
provements in the art of fortification. It is named
Dalhousie-Gate and Bastion, in honor of a distin-
guished nobleman and gallant officer. Lieutenant Gene-
ral the Earl of Dalhousie, G. C. B. who succeeded
the Duke of Richmond, as Governor in Chief of these
Provinces, in 1820. In the face of this Bastion are loop-
holes for the fire of musquetry from within : on the top
are embrasures for the cannon. The loopholes serve
also for the admission of air and light into the casema-
ted barracks within for the troops composing the garri-
son. They are commodious and well adapted both for
comfort and safety, being well ventilated, and proof
against fire and missiles of every description. These bar-
racks are at present occupied by the 2nd Bat. of the 60th
(King's Royal Rifles,) commanded by Lieut. Colonel
Cockburn. On the top of Dalhousie Bastion is an ex-
tensive covered way, or broad gravel walk, with em-
brasures for mounting cannon, commanding every part of
the ditch and glacis, and every avenue of approach to the
citadel. From this elevated spot is obtained a delightful
view of the surrounding scenery and the harbor — the
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stranger's guide to QUEBEC
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whole forming a panorama that has been pronounced
by competent judges not inferior in beauty to the cele-
brated Bay of Naples. An equally magnificent view is ;
also commanded from the summit of the cavalier, on
which stands the telegraph, at the eastern extremity of
the Citadel ; as well as from the observatory on its wes-
tern point towards the Plains of Abraham. Within
the Citadel are the various magazines, storehouses, and
other buildings required for the accommodation of a nu-
merous garrison ; and immediately overhanging the pre-
cipice to the south, in a most picturesque situation look-
ing perpendicularly downwards on the river, stands a
beautiful row of buildings with a paved terrace in front,
built of cut stone, and containing the mess rooms and
barracks for the officers — their stables and spacious kit-
chens. The roof of this building is covered with bright
tin, and from its elevated site, it is a beautiful and con-
spicuous object from Lorette and the road to Lake St.
Charles. ■ -*< ■
Exclusive of the space within the Citadel, whose
works occupy about forty acres, the fortifications are
continued all round that portion of the city which is
termed the Upper Town. They consist of bastions,
connected by lofty curtains of solid masonry, and ram-
parts from twenty-five to thirty feet in height and about
the same in thickness, bristling with heavy cannon —
round towers, loopholed walls, and massive gates, recur-
ring at certain distances in the circumference. On the
summit of the ramparts from Cape Diamond to the Ar-
tillery Barracks near Palace-Gate, is a broad covered
way, or walk, used as a place of recreation by the inhabi-
tants, and commanding a most agreeable view of the
fertile country towards the west. This passes over the
top of St. John's, and St. Lewis- Gate, where there is
stationed a Serjeant's guard. Above St. John's-Gate,
at the end of the Street of that name, devoted entirely
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AND ITS ENVIRONS.
195
to business, there is at sun- set one of the most beautiful
views imaginable. The River St Charles gamboling, as
it were, in the rays of the departing luminary, the light
still lingering on the spires of Lorette and Charles-
bourg, until it fades away beyond the lofty mountains
of BoNiioMME and Tsounonthuan, present an evening
scene of gorgeous and surpassing splendor.
The city being defended on the land side by its ram-
parts, is protected on the other sides by a lofty wall and
parapet, based upon the elift' and commencing near the
River St. Charles at the Artillery Barracks. These form
a very extensive range of buildings ; the part within the
Artillery- Gate being occupied as barracks by the Officers
and men' of that distinguished corps, with a garden and
mess-room. They are much admired for their apparent
comfort and neatness, presenting altogether a verv agree-
able aspect. The part without the gate is used as ma-
gazines, store-houses, and offices for the Ordnance De-
partment. These buildings w^re erected by the French
before 1750, on the site of others which had formerly
stood there. They are of stone, tw^o stories high, well
secured against fire ; and are nearly six hundred feet in
length, by about forty in depth. Until lately several
apartments on the Upper story were occupied as an ar-
moury ; and between 30 and 40 thousand stands of arms
of different descriptions were there arranged in a beautiful
and imposing manner. These have been removed to the
Citadel, as their more appropriate place of deposit.
Immediately adjoining the Artillery Barracks, and
connecting the works on the left with their continuation
along the St. Charles, stands Palace-Gate, having a
guard-house attached on the right. This has lately been
rebuilt, and is the most classical and beautiful of the five
gates of Quebec. Though perfectly strong for all pur-
poses of defence, it has a light and airy appearance, not
unlike in design the gates of Pompeii. It stands at the
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nortliern extremity of a broad and well proportioned
street, called Palace-Street, from the circumstance that
it led to the Intendant's house or palace, which formerly
stood on the beach of tlic St. Charles outside the gate, on
the site of the present Queen's wood yard. This building
was destroyed during the siege by the American troop!i
under General Arnold, in 1775.
From Palace- Gate the fortifications are continued
along the brow of the cliff overlooking the mouth of the
St. Charles, until they reach Hope-Gate, a distance of
three hundred yards. A broad and level walk divides
the outward wall from the possessions of the community'
of the Hotel Dieu. The wall near Hope-Gate and
guard-house is looj)holed for musquetry ; and aU the ap-
proaches are commanded by the works, which here pre-
sent a lofty and formidable appearance, projecting over
the rugged cliff. On the St. Charles side, midway be-
tween it and the gate, a very picturesque view of the
rock and the works may be obtained. At Hope-Gate
commences the graii(.'ss of tho ascent, heavy
huitlicns nvo (ionvovod up tho hill with coinparativoeaso,
hy the hanly little liorsos of Noruiau breed, generally
cmploved l>v tlie carters.
Having thus made the circuit of the iortitlcations, it is
necessarv to notice the ditlenint harracks an ,!
AND ITS ENVIRONS.
205
with a mutual exchange of gfood offices and prayers."
On the 21st October, 1686, on the Fete of St. Ur-
sula, and during the performance of High Mass, the
Convent caught fire, and was a secoiid time burned to
the ground, without any conjecture as to the manner in
which the accident originated. Nothing was saved from
the rapidity of the flames, neither provisions or linen, or
any other clothing than that in use at the time. Once
more the Ursulines took refuge with the Hospitalieres,
who received them as kindly as before, to the number
of twenty-fiv ; and they again remained for the space
of three weeks under the roof of the Hotel Dieu, receiv-
ing every possible mark of attention and commisseration
from that Community. In the mean time, such was the
utiUty of this Institution, that every one took an interest
in tlie reparation of the disaster. The Governor and
the Intendant, the Jesuits and other communities all
contributed by every means in their power ] The rebuild-
ing of the Convent was soon commenced ; and a small
house was hastily constructed, in which they passed the
winter, all the necessary furniture and utensils having
been generously supplied by the Hospitalieres. It was
singular, that on the very day on which the Ursulines
left the Hotel Dieu, accompanied, as a mark of respect
and friendship, by the Superior and one or two of the
Nuns Hospitalieres, the latter w ere near being reduced
to the same extremity as that from which they had re-
lieved the Ursulines. One of the Hospitalieres, who had
returned much fatigued, after passing the day in assisting
the Ursulines to establish themselves in their temporary
residence, fell asleep in her cell, leaving a candle burn-
ing in the socket, which soon communicated to the fur-
niture. Fortunately, the sister whose duty it was to see
that all was secure before retiring for the night, disco-
vered the accident in time to save the life of the careless
Nun, and probably the whole building from destruction.
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Within the precincts of the Convent lie buried tlio
remains of the gallant Marquis De Montcalm, who was
mortally wounded in the eventful battle of the Plains of
Abraham, 13th September, 1759. A few years ago a
plain marble slab was placed in the Ursuline Chapel to
the memory of this brave but unfortunate soldier, by
His" Excellency the Lord Aylmer, Governor-in- Chief
of those Provinces. The following is the simple inscrip-
tion upon this sLab :
Honneur
a
Montcalm !
. Le destin en lui derobant
La Victoire,
L'a recompense par
Una Moit Glorieuse !
The community of the Ursulines consists of a Supe-
rior, fifty professed Nuns, and six novices. Their rules
are rigidly exclusive, and their Convent is not open
to public inspection, beyond the Parloir and the Chapel,
It is in its interior neat, well arranged, and tastefully
decorated. The Nuns are devoted to the instruction of
young females in useful knowledge, and ornamental edu-
cation when required ; their school has long been es.
teemed one of the best in the Province. The paintings
executed by themselves are much admired : their em-
broidery and fancy work are sold at high rates. The
proceeds of the skill and labor of those Nuns go to aug-
ment the common stock, and enable them to extend their
usefulness without diminishing the fixed property of
their community.
The Ursuline Chapel contains the following paintings icUch
mtty he examined on application to the Chaplain.
1. Over the Grand Altar, The Birth of Immanuel.
Luke ii, — By Vigneaxi,
AND ITS ENVIRONS.
207
2. Above the Eastern Altar, The Saviour exhibi-
ting his Heart to the Religieiises. — By Le Sueur.
3. Opposite, — The Virgin Mary, and the Young
Child.
4. Redemption of Christians captured by the Alger-
ines. By Restaut,
5. Louis XIII. of France, and the first Royal Gover-
nor of New France, ^t ith a Tablet of the then existing
Bourb*" I Family. An Allegorical Representation of
Canada.
6. In the side Altar, the Communion of St. Jerome,
a copy from DominichiciOf in St. Peter's Church at
Rome.
7. Jesus Christ sitting down at meat in Simon's house
Luke vii. A Painting of high merit and great value. —
By Champagne.
8. The miraculous draught of Fishes. Luke vi. —
By De Dieu.
9. The parable of the wise and the foolish Virgins.
Matt. XXV. — Florence.
10. Full length Portrait of the Saviour, in the atti-
tude of Preaching. — By Champagne,
The Paintings within the Convent are not open to
tlie Public.
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THE SEMINARY OP QUEBEC.
This highly useful and meritorious establishment was
founded and endowed by Monseigneur De Laval de
Montmorency, first Bishop of Canada, in the year 1633.
It was intended at first chiefly as an Ecclesiastical Insti-
tution, with a few young pupils who were educated here
for the ministry. At the extinction of the Jesuit^* Or-
der, the members of the Quebec Seminary, although the
institution was in distressed circumstances, threw open
its doors to the youth of the country generally. Profes-
sorships were established, and all the ordinary branches
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of literature and science began to be taugbt. The buil-
dings were twice burned to the ground, during the lite
of its venerable founder, who had resigned his Bishopric,
and retired to the Seminary ; where he spent the last
twenty years of his useful and pious life ; he died on
the 6th May, 1708.
The authority of the Seminary resides in a Board of
Directors, five or seven in ninnber, one of whom is Supe-
rior, elected triennial! V. The other officers are the Su-
perior's two assistants, the Procurer, a director of the
theological department, or Grand-Seminaire, the two
directors, or rather, the director and princii)al Prefct
des Etudes of the College, and the Steward, Assistant
Procureur. All tliese, except the last, are appointed
yearly by the Board of Directors. Besides the five or
seven directors, there are, or may be, several aggregate
or associate members of the establishment.
The members of the establishment receive no emolu-
ments, they consecrate themselves, gratuitously, to olio
of the most arduous as well as of the most meritorious
works, the education of youtli. All the Institution gua-
rantees to them is '' food and raiment," in sickness and
health, they make no special vows, hence they are at li-
bertv to leave the Institution, whenever health or anv
other important cause requires it. Except the Superior,
the Procurer and Assistant-Prociireur, they are all com-
monly engaged in teaching either divinity or the sci-
ences.
The branches of education taught are chiefly French.
English, Latin, and Greek ; Geography ; Arithmetic ;
ancient and modern History, both sacred and profane ;
Latin poetry ; Belles- Lettres, Rhetoric, and a very ex-
tensive course of Philosophy, which includes Logic, Me-
taphysics, Ethics, Algebra, Geometry, occasionally Conic
Sections, Astronomy, Natural Philosophy, Chemistry,
Architecture, &c. ; to which must be added lessons in
AND ITS ENTIRONS.
209
Natural Hist or}', Mineralogy, Geology, Drawing, Music,
&c.
The annual public exercises are very splendid and in-
teresting, they are attended by crowds of the most res-
pectable citizens.
The commencement or vacation takes place about the
15th August. The pupils return at the expiration of
.six weeks.
The funds of the Seminary hardly suffice for its sup-
port. It has, however, by means of long and strict eco-
nomy, and still more by large sums of money arising
from the sale of property given to the Institution by se-
veral rich individuals in France, previously to the French
Revolution, and partly recovered since the restoration
of the Bourbons, been rebuilt upon a much larger plan,
since 1820.
The Seminary buildings including the Chapel, are di-
vided into four wings, three stories, and in some parts
four stories high. Three of these wings inclose a spa-
cious court, where the pupils spend their hours of recre-
ation. The fourth wing, instead of completing the
square, turns out at the right angles with the central one,
and faces with it a largo and beautiful garden. The lat-
ter is one hundred and seventy yards long and two hun-
dred broad containing seven acres of ground. It faces
the Grand Battery and overlooks the harbor. It includes
several rows of planted fruit trees, lilachs, &c. ; a hocage
of forest trees, and a terrace from which the view of the
basin and the surrounding scenery is most magnificent.
The whole length of the Seminary buildings on three
of its sides is seventy yards. The fourth wing is fifty
yards long. They are in width forty-two feet, except
the old or central wing, which is only thirty feet wide.
The interior is traversed at each story by immense cor-
ridors leading to the halls, dormitories, refectories, class-
es, apartments of the Priests and of the Bishop, who un-
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til the erection of the new Palace is completed, resides
in the Seminary. In the Bishop's antichamer are sus-
pended the portraits of his twelve predecessors.
The Chapel of the Seminary, the vestibule of which
is at the grand entrance to the buildings from the Ca-
thedral and Market Square, contains the best collection
of paintings to be seen in the country, of the French
school and by eminent masters.
1. Th(i Saviour and the Woman of Samaria at Jacob's
Well. John, iv. — Lagrence.
2. The Virgin ministered unto by the Angels, who
are represented as preparing the Linen Cloth for thv;
Child Jesus. — By DeDiett.
3. In the Wing, a large figure of the Saviour on the
Cross, at the moment described by the Evangelist. John
:xix. 30. — By 3Ionet, A smaller figure is suspended on
each side.
4. At the entrance. The Egyptian Hermits in tlie
Solitude of Thcbais. — By Guillot.
5. Next the Wing, The Terror of St. Jerome at tlu'
I'ecoUections of a Vision of the Day of Judgment. — Bi/
D'Hullin.
6. The Ascension of the Lord Jesus. — By the Cham-
jyagnes. - *
7. The Saviour's Sepulchre and Interment. — ByHutin.
8. Above the Altar, The Flight of Joseph to Egypt.
Matt. ii. — By Vanloo.
9. Immediately above. Two Angels. — By LeBrun.
10. The Trance of St. Anthony beholding the Child
Jesus. — By Panocel d'Avignes.
11. The Day of Pentecost. Acts ii. — By the Cham-
pagnes.
12. Peter's deliverance from Prison. Acts xii. — Bi/
Chas.Dela Fosse.
13. At the entrance of the Wing, Another view of
the Hermits of Thebais. — By Gxdllot*
AND ITS ENVIRONS.
211
14. The Baptism of Christ. Matt. iii. — By Claude
Guy Halle, A small figure is also suspended on either
sifle.
lo. St. Jcroiuo Wi'itincf. — By the Champagnes.
16. Tlie Wise Men of the K:ist adoring the Saviour.
Matt. ii. — By Bourieu,
A very beautiful a]).artmont, adorned witli modern
Lmic columns, is the congregation hall, or interior Cha-
pel of the Students. The Library contains about 9000
volumes. In the Philosophical Cabinet are to be seen a
very valuable collection of instruments, which is rapidly
increasing : a number of antirpiities, and Indian utensils,
a small mineralogical cabinet, composed at Paris under
the direction of the celebrated Abbe Haiiy, some geolo-
gical specimens, fossils, petrifactions, &c., numerous spe-
cimens of the precious and other ores from South Ame-
rica, shells, insects, and an imitation of the falls of Ni-
agara.
THE GENERAL HOSPITAL.
Previously to the foundation of the General Hospi,
TAL, there had been established at Quebec since 1688-
an office for the relief of the poor, Bureau des Pauvres,
to which every colonist and community was bound to
furnish an annual sum, to be expended under the man-
agement of Trustees. The revenue of this office amount-
el to tTro thousand livres a year, which were sufficient
at that ^ime to relieve the helpless poor, and to prevent
mendicity, which was not tolerated. The country par-
ishes in the same manner provided for the maintenance
of their poor. The Bishop, having undertaken to relieve
the city from the support of its helpless and infirm poor,
obtained the junction of these funds with the revenue of
his o^vn foundation ; and the trustees of the Bureau des
Pauwes, were chosen also administrators of the General
Hospital,
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The foundation was at first under the charge of tlio
sisters of the congregation ; but afterwards, in 1692, not
without great objection on their part, it was i)laeed un-
der the care of the HosjntaliereSf receiving from the com-
munity of the Hotel Dieu its Superior, and in all twelve
professed Nuns. In 1701, the Nuns of the Generaf^
Hospital wei'o made a separate and independent com-
munity, and are so at the pnvsent day.
Tlie General Hospital is at present a Nunnery,
governed by a Superior, having about 50 professed
Nuns, a few No\'iees and Postulantes. The whole ap-
l)earanee, both external and internal, of this Hosjutal is
regular and pleasing ; while the general arrangement
and economy are highly creditable to the institution. Its
front is two hundred and twenty-eight feet long, its form
nearly square. The main building • is thirty three feet
deep, but on tlie south-west side, a range of one hundred
and thirty-feet in breadth.
The Chapel is veiy neat, and has a gallery communi-
cating with the Hospital, for the use of the indigent siek.
A separate house is appropriated to the reception of tlie
insane, the Province, however, requires an establishment
on a larger scale for these unfortunates.
The means of the General Hospital, from its unre-
stricted character, have been found inadequate to defray
the expenses of the establishment, and the deficiency is
occasionally supplied by grants from the Provincial Par-
liament. The Nuns are distinguished for the manufacture
of Church ornaments, and for their skill in gilding. The
produce of the sale of these works becomes part of the
general fund of the Institution.
THE hotel dieu.
In 1636, the Duchesse d'Aiguillon, niece to the fa-
mous Cardinal De Richelieu, resolved to found an
Potel Dieu in Quebec at her own expense. She was
1
AND ITS ENVIRONS.
213
however, liberally assisted by her relative ; an«l during
their joint lives, they continued to testify their kindness
and affection towards the foundation.
The Chapel was consecrated on tlio 16th March 104(1,
an occasion of great joy to the little community, which
consisted at this time of only five professed Nuns, a
Chaplain, four boarders, a female domestic and seven
laboring men. During tliis year they successively ad-
ministered relief to forty six natives of l^'ance, and one
hundred and twenty savages, some of whom remained
five and six months in the Hospital. The i)resent edi-
fice is a substantial and capacious building, tliree stories
high, standing between Palace-Gate and J lope- Gate.
Every medical care and diUcato attend: ncc is hero
gratuitously afforded to the afflicted poor by the reli-
dous communitv.
The Church is simple and plain, It-ving a ^ew ,'aint-
ings which may bo seen on proper applica; >n to the
Chaplain. Tlirco or four pictures are sta od to be ori-
ginals, as the
1. The Nativity of Christ. Luke ii.- -By Stella.
2. The Virgin and Child. — By Coypel.
3. The Vision of St. Thcrese. — By Manageat. ^
4. St. Bruneau wrapt in meditation. — By Le Sueur.
In the Chaplain's Room, The Martyrdom of two
Priests, Broba?uf, and a young Missionary,. Lallemand.
This Painting merits notice, as illustrative of the perils
and sufferings of the original European settlers of Ca-
nada.
In the winter of the y^^v 1649, the Indians assailed
the Chapel of the Jesuit M-^ onariesat Three Rivers.
The Society at that period numbered seven members.
Two made their escape, one of whom was subsequently
found in the woods cr vagealed in a devotional attitude,
and the other was diiscovered prostrate, frozen on the ice
of one of the rivers.
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The«priest Daniel and his brother were shot, as they
fled out of the Chapel then in flames. Another of the
fraternity namelation to remove the present and er«ct
a larger edifice in the sanio place.
They have also a smaller Chapel in St. Lewis Sub-
urbs, called the " Centenary Chapel."
There are three Sabbath Schools connected with these
Chapels, and the numbur of children attending each,
with the attention they give to the instruction with
which they are furnished, alibrd much encou^ agemcnt to
those by whom they are conducted.
THE PARLIAMENT HOUSE.
Is situated near Prescott Gate, on the site of the an-
cient Palace of the French Bishop, and commands an
extensive prospect towards the north, with a delightful
view of the basin, and of Pointe Levi.
The Literary and Historical Society occupy extensive
apartments in this building, which with its Museum is
open to the public daily, from .1 to 3, p. m.
The Quebec Library Association, and the Mechanics*
InstUnte have also commodious apartments within the
building.
THE COURT HOUSE.
This edifice is built of <;jrey stone, plain and sub-
stantial, standing within an area inclosed by an iron
railing, and is one hundred and thirty six-feet long, by
forty-four feet broad. The roof, like that of most of
the public buildings, is covered with tin. The approach
from St. Lewis Street is by a double flight of stone steps
leading to an arcade, or vestibule ; from which are pas-
sages leading to the rooms below, and wide staircases to
the Courts above. Immediately in front of the lower
story, and facing the arcade, is the chamber in which
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the Court of Quarter Sessions is held. On tlio
right are the Police Office, the Justices* Room, uiid
Grand Jury Room. On the left, the OtHces of the Pro-
thonotary of the Court of Queen's Bench. On the upper
floor is the Court op Queen's Bench, fitted up in an ap-
propriate manner, with a gallery for spectators. luinio-
diately behind the Bench, as in the Quarter Sessiouis'
Room, are the Imperial Arms. To the left of tlio
Court of Queen's Bench, are the Judges' Chambers,
and the Court of Appeals ; and on the riglit, the Vice-
Admiralty Officfi, and the Advocate's Wardrobe. The
Court of Vice-Admiralty is generally lield in the
Quarter Sessions' Room. In the basement are kept tlie
the records of the Courts.
the jail.
The present Jail was erected during the administration
of Sir James Craig, and was first occupied in 1814. The
cost, to the amount of £15000, was defrayed by a vote
of the Legislature. It is one hundred and sixty-feet in
length, by sixty-eight feet in breadth. Behind it, in a
separate building, is the House of Correction for fe-
males ; and between the two is the court yard (5^ the
prison, in part of which the inmates are allowed to take
exercise uiuler certain regulations.
MONTCALM HOUSE.
A little to the west of Hope-Gate, within the Fortifi-
cations, and immediately adjoining the termination of
the garden wall of the Hotel- Dieu, looking towards
the north-east, stands the building once inhabited by
the brave Marquis de Montcalm. It is now divided
into three private residences. The entrance appears ori-
ginally to have been through a court yard in the rear ;
and as the walls of the building next to the fortifications
are very thick, and the foundations massive, it is very
AND ITS ENVIRONS.
22;
probable that it was once intended for defence on the
side looking to the basin.
It is at present no otherwise remarkable than as having
been the residence of the French General, whose fame
the battle of the Plains of Abraham has perpetuated in
tlie same scroll with that of his successful and lamented
antagonist.
THE MARINE AND EMIGRANT HOSPITAL.
This building, is situated not far from the General
Hospital, on the Bank of the Little Hivcr St. Charles;
and nearly opposite to the spot where Jacquks Cautiku
first wintered in 1815. The names of the visiting Physi-
cians &c. will be found in page 110.
EXPEDITION OF 17o9.
By the common consent of the world, Quebec is for
ever identified with the renown of the two great nations
who contended for its possession ; and the history of this
period will always be referred to as equally interesting,
attractive and important. The varied incidents of tlio
expedition — the arrival before the town — the attack of
the fire-ships — the fruitless engagement at Montmorenci
the bombardment from Point-Levi — the landing under
the heights of Abraham — the battle of the Plains — the
death of two heroic leaders — the surrender — the subse-
quent fight at Sillery — the siege by the French — and
the arrival of the English fleet, form a series of spirit-
stirring events, which possess the mind of the reader
with the eager interest of vicissitude, as they in turn de-
velope the great game of war, played by the most skilful
liands, and for the noblest stake ! The scone of this he-
roic drama, the actors, and the event will be for ever
memorable. The tale has been handed down by various
writers — but to do justice to the narration it requires
the pen of Wolfe himself.
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We can imac^ino tlio feelings with whicli Wolfe, hav-
ing safely landed hi.s army on the '^Ttli Juno, near tho
Church of St. Laurent, on the hl*i of Orleai^d, — whore
they encamped in one line, abor'* • .\\-<.j from the shore —
])rocecded t(3 the west end of the Island to reconnoitre
the position r)f the enemy. It must bo confessed that
the view he then beheld was most magnilicent and impo-
sing. Amidst the native beauty of the scenery, the French
army presented its formidable front, extending along tlie
slooi)ing ground upon the north shore, and occupying tiie
heights of Boauport from (Quebec on the right, to the
cascades of Montmorenci on the left. The village of
Beauport rose in the centre, among the battalions of old
France — the right rested upon the St. Charles, with the
beautiful villaue of Cliarlesbourg in its roar — the left ex-
tended to tho chasm at the Falls. The whole front wa?!
entrenched, and protected from the English cannon —
while all accessible points along the shore wore occupied
.and defended by batteries, and by every mcnns which
the science of war provides. 15eyond the right, a bridge
had been thrown over the River St. Charles, in order to
communicate with the town and garrison. This was pro-
tected by tctcs du pont and strong works at each end, as
well as by two batteries, of eight guns each, mounted
upon hulks, >unk in the channel. The enthusiastic spirit
of Wolfe must have comprehended all the strength of
this position, and all the glory of surmounting it, nor
could his gentle and highly cultivated mind have been
insensible to the extreme beauty of the scene, the tran-
quillity of which his operations were so innnediately to
disturb.
The French army was composed of about thirteen
thousand men, six battalions of which were regulars, and
the remainder well disciplined Canadian Militia, witli
some cavahy and Indians. The right was under the
command of Brigadier General tho Baron do St. Ours,
/
AND ITS ENVIRONS.
227
the centre of Brigadier General De Sonezort^uos, and tln^
left of M. Ilorbin. Tlie garrison was eonii )\nded by M.
L)e Uamozay.
Although the Fleet had safely arrived at thr place of
disembarkation, no sooner were tin; troops on .shore than
it met with one of those storms of wind and rain whieh
are fre([uent in the River St. Lawrence. The hurricane
was of such violence as to do great danuige to the trans-
ports and boats of the fleet, by tiieir driving on board
each other.
It being absolutely necessary for the combined opera-
tions of the two services, that the English sIkjuKI possess
tlie command of the basin. General MoncktoV, second
in command, was detached on the night of the 29tli,
with four battalions, with orders to land at Beaumont,
and to clear the south shore from that village to Point
L(3vi, which post he was to occupy and fortify — a duty
which he accom})lished Avith little opposition. Here he
erected batteries and works, the remains of which may
be traced at the present day. In the meantime Colonel
Guy Carleton, afterwards Lord Dorcliester, establishey
ch guard
Vergor,
enabled
he boats
division
under Brigadier General Townsiiend, which arrived
and landed in like good order. General Wolfe was
with the first divii>ion, and he was one of the first on
shore. On seeing the difficulty of ascending the preci-
pice, he observed in a fimiiliar strain to Captain Donald
McDonald, a very gallant officer of Eraser's Highlan-
ders, who commanded the advanced guard of the light
infantry: — "I don't believe thei'o is any possibility of
getting up; but you must do your endeavor."
The exultation of Wolfe on thus finding himself,
with scarcely any loss, on the heights of ABiiAiiAAr, may
easily be conceived. After more than two months of so-
licitude, the object of his long and anxious wishes was
before him — his only remaining liope was that Montcalm
would give him battle — of the result he entertained no
doubt. The hour of triumph so long sought for, so ea-
gerly expected, was at hand — he was determined that
day to decide the supremacy of England or France, in
America, before the walls of her most important fortress
THE battle of the plains of ABRAHAM — DEATH
OP WOLFE AND MONTC.iLM. •
Any one who visits the celebrated Plains of Abraham,
the scene of this glorious fight — equally rich in natural
beauty and historic recoll(>ctions — will admit that no site
could be found better adapted for displaying the evolu-
tions of military skill and discipline, or the exertion of
physical force and determined valor. The battle-ground
presents almost a level surface from the brink of the St.
Lawrence, to the St. Foy road. The Grand AlUe, or
road to Cape Rouge, running i)arallel to that of St. Foy,
passes through its centre. That road w\as commanded
by a field redoubt, a four gun battery on the Englisli
left, which was captured by the light infantr}-, as men-
tioned in General Townshend's letter. The remains
of this battery are distinctly seen near to the present
1
vl
h\
232
stranger's guide to QUEBEC
li^'
si. ; /
race-stand. There were also two other reJouhts,
one upon the rising ground, in the rear of Mr. C.
Campbell's house — the death scene of Wolfe — and the
other towards the St. Foy road, which it was intended
to command. On the site of the country seat called
Marchmont, at present the residence of Major General
Sir James Hope, K. C. B., there was also a small redoubt
commanding the inti'enched path leading to the Cove.
This was taken possession of by the advanced guard of
the light infantry, innned lately on ascending the heights.
At the period of the battle, the plains were without fen-
ces or enclosures, and extended to the walls to the St.
Lewis side. The surface was dotted over with bushes,
and the woods on either flank were more dense than at
present, affording shelter to the French and Indian
marksmen.
In order to understand the relative position of the two
armies, if a lino be drawn to the St. Lawrence from the
General Hospital, it will give nearly the front of the
French army at ten o'clock, after Montcalm had deploy-
ed it into line. His right reached beyond the St. Foy
road, Avhere he made dispositions to turn the left of the
Englisli. Another parallel line somewhat in advance of
Mr. C. G. Stewart's house on the St. Foy road, will give
the front of the British army, before Wolfe charged at
the head of the grenadiers of the 22nd, 40th, and 45th re-
giments, who had acquired the honorable title of the
Louisbourg Grenadiers, from having been distinguished
at the capture of that place, under his own command, in
1758. To meet the attempt o^' Montcalm to turn the
British left, General Townshend formed the 15th regi-
ment en potenccj or presenting a double front. Tlie light
infantry were in rear of the left, and the reserve was pla-
ced near the right, formed in eight subdivisions, a good
distance apart.
The English had been about four hours in possession
i
r I
f-
A!fD ITS EXVIR0K3.
233
of the Plains, and were completely prepared to receive
tliem, when the French advanced with great resolution.
They approached obliquely by tlic loft, having marched
from Beauport that morning. On being f«^rmed, they
commenced the attack with orroat vivacitvand animation,
firing by platoons. It was observed, however, tluit their
fire was irregular and inotlectivo, whereas that of the
English was so well diret'tod and maintained, as to tln'ow
the French into immediate confusion. It must be stated,
that although the French army was more numerous, it
was principally composed of colonial troops, who did not
support the regular forces as tirndy as was expected of
them. Montcalm on his doatli 1)ed, expressed himself
bitterly in this respect. Tlio English troops, on the con-
trary, were nearly all regulars of approved courage, well
officered and under perfect discipline. The grenadiers
burned to revenge their defeat at Montniorenci, and
it was at their head that Wolfe, Avith great milita-
ry tact placed liimself at the conuncucement of the ac-
tion.
About e«g*ht o'clock, some sailors had succeeded in
dragging up tlie precipice a light six-pounder, which, al-
though the only gun used by the Englisli in the action,
being remarkably well served, played witli great success
on the centre cc>l'nnn as it advanced, and more than once
compelled the enemy to change the disposition of his
forces. The French had two field ])ieces in the action.
The despatches mentu)n a remarkable proof of coolness
and presence of mind, on ihe part of troops who had no
hopes but in victory, no chance of safety but in beating
the enemy, for had they been defeated, re-embarkation
would have been impracticable. The English were or-
dered to reserve their fire until the French were witliin
forty V '.? as. They observed these orders most strictly,
bearing with patience the incessant fire of the Canadians
and Indians, It is also stated that Wolfe ordered
J
f ;
^ if
234:
stranger's guide to QUEBEC
the men to locad with an additional huUet, which did
great execution.
The two general" animated with equal spirit, met each
other at the head of their respective troops where the
battle was most severe. Montcalm w^as on the left of
the French, at the head of the regiments of Langmdoc,
Beame, and Guienne, — Wolfe on tlie riglit of tlie En-
glish, at the head of the 28th, and the Louisburg Gre-
nadiers. Here the greatest exertions were made under
the eyes of the leaders, the action in the centre and left
was comparatively a skirmish. The severest fighting took
place between the right of the race-stand and the Mt r-
telle towers. The rapidity and effect c" the English fiio
having thrown the French into confusion, orders were
given, even before the smoke cleared away, to cluirge
with the bayonet. Wolfe exposiiig himself at the head
of the battalions, was singled out by some Canadiini
marksmen on the enemy's left, and Iiad already received
a slight wound in the wrist. Regardless of t'ais, and un-
willing to dispirit his troops, he folded a handkercheif
round his arn^., and putting himself at the head of tlie
grenadiers, led them on to the charge, which was ooni-
pletely successful. It was bought however with the life
of their heroic leader. He was struck with a second ball
in the groin, but still pressed on, and just as the enemy
were about to give way, he received a third ball in his
breast and fell mortally wounded. Dear, indeed was the
price of a victory purchased by the death of W' r.pE, of
a hero, whose uncommon merit was soareely known and
appreciated by his country, before a premature fate remo-
ved him for ever from her service.
He met, however, a glorious death in the moment of
victory — .i victory which in deciding the fate of Canada,
commanded the applause of the world, ,and classed
WOLIE among tlie n\ost celebrated Generals of ancient
and modern times. Happily, ho survived his wound
ell did
&c cacli
TC the
left of
giiedoc,
le En-
g Gre-
( under
md left
ig tool;
le Miv-
lisli fii
rs were
ciiargo
iie head
anadiimi
•ceeived
find nn-
korcheif
1 of the
as ocni-
tlie life
ond ball
enemv
,11 in his
was the
<>T.FE, of
>wn and
e remo-
mont of
Janada,
classed
ancient
wound
AND ITS ENVIRONS.
235
long enough to learn the success of the day. • When the
fatal ball took effect, his principal care was, that ho
should not be seen to fall. — " Support me," — said he to
an officer near him, — " let not my brave soldi* rs see me
drop. The day is ours, keep it!" He was then carried
a little way to tlie rear, where he requested water to be
brought from a neighboring well to quench his thirst. —
The charge still continued, when the otHcer — on whoso
shoulder, as he sat down for the purpose, the dying hero
leaned — exclaiming, "They run! they run!" — "Who
run?" asked the gallant Wolfe, with some emotion. —
The officer replied, — " The enemy, Sir : they give way
every where !" " What ?" said he, " do they run al-
ready? Pray, one of you go to Colonel Burton, and
tell him to march Webb's regiment witli all speed down
to St. Charles River, to cut off the retreat of ijie fugi-
tives from the bridge. — Now, God be praised, I die
HAPPY !" So saying the youthfid hero breathed his last,
lie reflected that ho had done his duty, and he knew
that he should live for ever in the memory of a grateful
country. His expiring moments were cheered with the
British shout of victorv.
Such w\is the death of Wolfe upon the plains of
Abraham, at the early age of thirty-two years ! It has
been well observed, that "death more glorious and it-
tended with circumstances more picturesque and interest-
ing, is no where to be found in the annals of history."
His extraordinary qualities, and singular f.ite, have af-
forded a fruitful theme of panegyric to the historian and
the poet, to the present day. How they were apprecia-
ted by his gallant companions in arms, may be learned
by the subjoined extract from a letter written after tlie
battle by General, afterwards Marquess, Townsiiend, to
one of his friends in England : — " I am not ashamed to
own to you, that my heart does not exult in the midst
of this success, I have lost but a friend in General
r
)i
<• 1
■ (
¥
23G
STRiiNOER*S GUIDE TO QUEBEC
I. 'I «
i
I 'f "
'if
f]
Wolfe. Our country has lost a sure support, and u
perpetual honour. If tho world were sons>iblo at how
dear a price wo have purmased Quebec in his death, it
would damp the public joy. Our best consolation is,
that providence seemed not to promise tliat ho should
remain long among us. lie was himself sensible of the
weakness of his constitution, and determined to crowd
into a few years, actions that would have adorned length
of life." The fecHng and affecting manner in which
Wolfe is spoken of in this letter, and its elegance of
expression, confer equal honor upon the head and heart
of the accomplished writer.
The spot consecrated by the fall of General Wolfe,
in the charge made by the grenadiers upon the left of
the PVench line, will to the latest day be visited with
deep intersst and emotion.
A few years ago His Excellency Lord Aylmer, then
Governor in Cliicf, caused a small pillar to be erected
on the spot with the following inscription :
here died
WOLFE
VICTORIOUS.
This memorial has been sadly mutilated, we trust how-
ever, ere long, it will give place to a more enduring
memento, such as an iron pillar cast from some of the old
cannon,
Montcalm received his futal wound in the front rank
of the French left, and died at 5 o'clock on the morning
of the 14th Sei)tember, he was buried in an excavation
made by the bursting of a shell within the precincts of
the Ursuline Convent, a fit resting place for the remains
of a man \vho died fighting for the honor and defence of
his country.
The following regiments shared the glories of the day :
—namely, the 15th, 28th, 35th, 43rd,' 47th, 48th, 58th,
b'
AXD ITS EJTVIRONa.
237
GOth, 2nd and 3rd Battallions 78th Frasor*s Ilighlandors,
and the Grenadiers of tlie 22nd, 40th, and 45tli. Total
of all ranks, including General Officers, 4826, of whom
6L were killed, and 603 wounded. The French force,
including Militia, amounted to 7520.
The remains of Wolfe were conveyed to England for
interment, with all honor and respect, on board the
Royal William, of 84 guns. On the 17th November,
the body was landed at Portsmouth. During the solem-
nity, all the honors that could be paid to the memory of
a gallant officer were rendered to the remains of Wolfe.
The corps was privately interred at Greenwich on the
20th*.
* During our residence in England, in 1841, superintending the
engraving of the PUm of the Battle, we were politely permitted by
the surviving branch of the family to visit the vault, which is under
the parish Cnurch of Greenwich. It was with feelings which we
cannot describe, that we placed the key in the door, (over which
is inj?cribed on a marble slab, " The Family Vault of Major Gen-
eral James Wolfe^ IToi),") disclosing to us the resting place of that
illustrious Hero. We were accompanied by a few friends, and two old
veteran seamen of Greenwich Hospital who solicited permission.
Upwards of Tourscore years had passed away since the memorable
victory and glorious death. The vault exhibited to us three colHus,
that of the Father, the Mother, and the Son : — we gently wiped the
dust from the Coffin plate> and found the following unpretending
iuscrJption thereon : —
Major General
J A M E S W O L F E,
Aged 32 Years. '
On the centre Coffin is the following inscription : —
Mrs.
HENRIETTA WOLFE,
Died 26th Septr.
1764,
Aged 60 Years.
On the Coffin to the left is the following :—
The Honble.
Lieutenant Genl*
E D W A R D W O L P E,
Died March 26th,
1769,
Aged 74 Te«rf .
i \
238
STRANGEU'S GUIDE TO QUEDEC
' 1
The news of the fnilurc of "^Volfc at ^lontnioronoi,
roacliccl England on the morning of t-lio 10th October,
it was made known to the public in an extraordinary
Gazette of tliat date, und caused a general gloom.
The satisfaction witli Avliich they received the glorious
accoinits of victory brouglit by Colonel Hale, on the
same evening with the publication of tlie Ga/ette, may
be well imagined. A day of ]>nbHc thanksgiving was set
apart, by authority, for tlie signal ^access of His Majes-
ty's arms. The House op C\):mmoxs addressed Ills
Majesty to erect a national monument to the memory
of Wolfe, in Westminster Abbey, which was carried
into eftect, and to this day remains an object of patriotic
interest and exultation.
Our limits will not permit us at ])resent to extend this
interesting subject ; but we will endeavor to do ir justice
in our second edition of the " Picture op Quebec,
WITH IIiSTOiucAL Recollections.'' His Excellenxy
the Right Honorabli: Shi Charles Metcalfe, has
been pleased to extend his i)atronage and liberal support
towards the undertaking ; and it shall be o\n* care and
pride to render it worthy the distinguished honor of his
name.
In the year 1 827, during the administration of the
late Earl of Dalhousie, that patriotic nobleman proposed
the erection of a monument in Quebec to the memory of
Wolfe and Montc.vlm. A subscription was set on foot,
about seven hinidred pounds were collected, and the li-
berality of the noble carl supplied the deficiency, This
memorial in honor of the two Military Chiefs, stands in
The vault was in perfect order and no appearance of decay could be
observed on the Coffins, save the ravages of the moth. Not a word
was spoken, and all stood uncovered. Before retiring we placed a
wreath of laurt^S upon the Coffin, and deposited in the vault a copy
of the Quebec Mercury, of 21st November, 1839, containing a list
of subscribsrs to our engraving commemorating the glorious victory
and death* , ,
AND ITS ENVIRONS.
230
:)i'onci,
;tobcr,
ilinarv
lorious
on tho
?, niav
kvas sot
VIajks-
3(1 Ills
leniory
carried
itriotic
rndtliib
justice
UEBEO,
LLEXCY
jFE, lias
Hipport
are and
r of his
1 of the
I'oposed
moiy of
)n foot,
I the li-
This
ianda in
r could be
)t a word
placed a
lit a copy
ling a list
118 victory
the Government Garden, on the west auhoWes Carrihes
Street, and is a (ionspiiMioiis object from tlie River. The
Garden is open to the public, and alVords a deli«,d\tful
promenade. The Hands of tlio two di.stiiiufuished Hci^n-
ments now in the Garrison, are politely permitted co en-
liven the scene, durhig at least, two evenin memorable' in the an-
nals of the Province. (Quebec is remarkable among North
American cities for having been fiv(» times invested
by regular forces ; — First, in IGlM), when, in the
infancy of the Colony, it f<'U into the hands of the En-
glish, — in 1G90, after its iral ca])abilities for defence
had been improved l>y the art of fortification, when it
successfully resisted th(.' attack of Sir William Piiii'ps,
— in 17^0, when, after the battle of the Plains of Abra-
ham, it was once more won by England, — in 17G0, wiien
having been maintained during the winter, it was unsuc-
cessfully besieged by do Levi ; — and lastly, in 177o,
when after having been stormed without success — after
having sustained a siege and bh^ckade of six months du-
ration — the enemy was compelled to abandon his camp
in despair. Since that time no hostile banner has been
displayed before its walls ; and so long as it is defended
by a garrison, loyal and resolute to do their duty — so
long as England maintains the glory of her Navy, Que-
bec may bid defiance to external attack and foreign vio-
lence. May the '•' time honored" standard of Great Bri-
tain for ever wave from the battlements that crown this
renowned fortress.
On the 17th September, 1775, Brigadier General
Richard Montgomery who had formerly been in the Bri-
tish service, appeared at the head of an army, before the
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stranger's guide to QUEBEC
11
If i;
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Fort of St. Johns, Avhich, after a gallant defence, surren-
dered on the 3rd November, the garrison marching out
with the honors of war. [Montreal, which was entirely
defenceless, capitulated on the 12th November ; and Ge-
neral Carleton, conceiving it of the utmost importance
to reach Quebec, the only place capable of defence, pass-
ed, through the American force stationed at Sorel, during
the night in a canoe with muffled paddles ; and arrived
in Quebec on the 19th, to the great joy of the garrison
and loyal inhabitants, who placed every confidence in his
well known courage and ability.
An expedition of a singulrr and daring character had
been successfully prosecuted against Quebec from the
New England States, by a route which was little known,
and generally considered impracticable. The expedition
was headed by Colonel Arnold, an officer in the service
of the Congress ; who with two regiments, amounting to
about eleven hundred men, left Boston about the middle
of September J and undertook to penetrate through the
wilderness to Point L^vi, by the means of the Rivers
Kennebec and Chaudierc.
After passing thirty-t\^o days in the wilderness, they
arrived on the 4th November at the first settlement, call-
ed Sertigan, twenty five leagues from Quebec, where
they obtained all kinds of provisions. On the 9th, Col-
onel Arnold arrived at Pointe L^vi, where he remained
twenty-four hours before it was known at Quebec ; and
whence it was extremely fortunate that all the small craft
and canoes had been removed by order of the ofiicer
commanding the garrison. On the 13th, late in the
evening, they embarked in thirty-four canoes, and very
early in the morning of the 14th, he succeeded in land-
ing five hundred men at Wolfe's Cove, without being
discovered from the Lizard and Hunter, ships of war. —
The first operation was to take possession of what had
been General Murray's house on the St. Foy Road, and
AND ITS ENVIRONS.
241
of the General Hospital. They also placed guards upon
all the roads, in order to prevent the garrison from ob-
taining supplies from the country.
The small force of Arnold prevented any attempt be-
ing made towards the reduction of the fortress until after
the arrival of Montgomery from Montreal, who took the
command on the 1st December, and established his head
quarters at Holland House. Arnold is said to have oc-
cupied a house near Scott's Bridge.
The arrival of the Governor on the 19 th November
had infused the best spirit among the inhabitants of Que-
bec. On the 1st December, the motley garrison a-
mounted to eighteen hundred men — all, however, full,
of zeal in the cause of their King and country, and well
supplied with provision for eight months. They were
under the immediate command of Colonel Allan Maclean,
of the 84:th Regiment or Royal Emigrants, composed
principally of those of the gallant Fraser's Highlanders,
who had settled in Canada.
STATEMENT OF THE GARRISON, 1st DECEMBER, 1775.
70 Royal Fusileeis, or 7th Regiment. '
230 Royal Emigrants, or 84th Regiment.
22 Royal Artillery.
330 British Militia, under Lt. Col. Caldwell.
543 Canadians, under Colonel Dupre.
400 Seamen under ('aptains Hamilton and Mackenzie.
\ 50 Masters and Mates.
35 Marines. '
' 120 Artificers.
-, ■
1800 Total bearing arms.
The siege, or rather the blockade, was maintained
during the whole month of December, although the in-
cidents were few and of little interest. The Americans
were established in every house near the walls, more
particularly in the Suburb of St, Roch, near the Inten-
dant*s Palace. '>^
m;
li
«!!•
242
stranger's guide to QUEBEC
During this anxious period the gentry and inhabitants
of the city bore arms, and cheerfully performed the du-
ties of soldiers. The British Militia were conspicuous
for zeal and loyalty, under the command of Major Henry
Caldwell, who had the Provincial rank of Lieutenant
Colonel. He had served as Deputy Quarter Master
General with the army, under General Wolfe, and had
settled in the Province after the conquest. The Cana-
dian Militia within the town was commanded by Colonel
Le Comte Dupr^, an otBcer of great zeal and ability,
who rendered great services during the whole siege.
General Montgomery, despairing to reduce the place
by a regular siege, resolved on a night attack, in the
hope of either taking it by storm, or of finding the gar-
rison unprepared at some point. In this design he was
encouraged by Arnold, whose local knowledge of Que-
bec was accurate, having been acquired in his frequent
visits for the purpose of buying up Canadian horses. —
The intention of Montgomery soon became known to
the garrison, and General Carleton made exery prepara-
tion to prevent surprise, and to defeat the assault of the
enemy. For several days the Governor, with the offi-
cers and gentlemen, off duty, had taken up their quar-
ters in the R^collet Convent, where they slept in their
clothes. At last, early in the morning of the 31st De-
cember, and during a violent snow storm, Montgomery,
at the head of the New York troops, advanced to the
attack of the Lower Town, from its western extremity,
along a road between the base of Cape Diamond and the
river. Arnold, at the same time, advanced from the Ge-
neral Hospital by way of St. Charles Street. The two
parties were to meet at the lower end of Mountain Street,
and when united were to force Prescott-Gate. Two
feint attacks in the mean time on the side towards the
west, were to distract the attention of the garrison. —
Such is the outline of this daring plan, the obstacles to
AND ITS EKVIRONS.
243
bitants
;he du-
MCUOUS
Henry
itenant
Master
md had
? Cana-
Colonel
ability,
!ge.
le place
in the
the gar-
he was
>f Qiie-
Tequent
orses. —
lown to
jrepara-
It of the
:he offi-
ir quar-
in their
1st De-
gomery,
to the
tremity,
and the
the Ge-
The two
1 Street,
Two
irds the
rison. —
tacles to
*w»
the accomplishment of which do not seem to have enter-
ed into the contemplation of the American officers, who
reckoned too much upon their own fortune and the weak-
ness of the garrison.
When, at the head of seven hundred men, Montgo-
mery had advanced a short distance, he came to a nar-
row defile, with a precipice towards the river on the one
side, and the scarped rock above him on the other. This
place is known by the name of Pres-de-Ville, Here all
further approach to the Lower Town was intercepted,
and commanded by a battery of three pounders placed in
a hangard on the south of the pass. The Post was en-
trusted to D, Captain of Canadian Militia, whose force
consisted of thirty Canadian and eight British Militiamen,
with nine British seamen to work the guns as artillery-
men, under Captain Barnsfare, Master of a transport,
laid up in the harbor during the winter. At day-break,
some of the guard, being on the look out, discovered,
through the imperfect light, a body of troops in full
march from Wolfe's Cove upon the Post. The men
had been kept under arms waiting with the utmost stea-
diness for the attack, which they had reason to expect,
from the reports of deserters ; and in pursuance of judi-
cious arrangements which had been previously concerted,
the enemy was allowed to approach unmolested within
a small distance. They halted at about fifty yards from
the barrier ; and as the guard remained perfectly still, it
was probably concluded that they were not on the alert.
To ascertain this an officer was seen to approach Cj[uite
near to the barrier. After listening a moment or two,
he returned to the body ; and they instantly dashed for-
ward at double quick time to the attack of the post. —
This was what the guard expected j the artillery-men
stood by with lighted matches, and Captain Barnsfare
at the critical moment giving the word, the fire of the
guns and musketry was directed with deadly precision
U
I I
244
stranger's GUrDE TO QUEBEC
I !
1^ i
against tlie head of the advancing column. The conse-
qiienee was a precipitate retreat — the enemy -vvas scatter-
ed in every direction — the groans of the wounded and
of the dying were heard, but nothing certain being
known, the pass continued to be swept by the cannon
and musketry for the space of ten minutes. The enemy
having retired, thirteen bodies were found in the snow,
and Montgomery's Orderly Serjeant desperately wound-
ed, but yet alive, was brought into the guard room. —
On being asked if the General himself had been killed,
the Serjeant evaded the question, by replying, that he
had not seen him for some time, although he could not
but have known the fact. This faithful Serjeant died in
about an hour afterwards. It was not ascertained that
the American General had been killed, until some hours
afterwards, when General Carleton, being anxious to
ascertain the truth, sent an Aidc-de-Camp to the Semi-
nary, to enquire if any of the American officers, then
prisoners, w^ould identify the body. A field officer of
Arnold's division, who had been made prisoner near
Sault-au-Matelot barrier, consenting, accompanied the
Aide-de-Camp to the Pres-de-Ville guard, nud pointed
it out among the other bodies, at the same time pro-
nouncing, in accents of grief, a glowing eulogium on
Montgomery's bravery and w^orth. Besides that of the
General, the bodies of his two Aides-de-Camp were re-
cognized among the slain. The defeat of Montgomery's
force was complete. Colonel Campbell, his second in
command, immediately relinquished the undertaking,
and led back his men wuth the utmost precipitation.
The exact spot where the barrier was erected before
which Montgomery fell, may be described as crossing
the narrow road under the mountain, immediately op-
posite to the west end of a building which stands on the
south, and was formerly occupied as a brewery. The
battery extended to the south, and nearly to the river.
AND ITS ENVIRONS.
245
We have caused an inscription commemorating the event
to be placed upon the opposite rock at Prh-ch-Villc.
Soon after the repulse of the enemy before the post
at Pres-de-VillCf information was given to the officer in
command there, that Arnold's party, from the General
Hospital, advancing along the St. Charles, had captured
the barrier at the Sault-aii-MateJot, and that he intend-
ed an attack upon tliat of Pres-de-Ville, by taking it in
the rear. Immediate preparations were made for the
defence of the Post against such an attack, by turning
some of the guns of an inner barrier towards the town;
and althougli the intelligence proved false, — Arnold hav-
ing been wounded and his division captured, — yet the in-
cident deserves to be commemorated as aftbrding a satis-
factory contradiction to some accounts whidi ha\'o a]»-
l>eared in print, representing the guard at Pres-cle- Ville
as having been paralysed by fear, — the post and barrier
" deserted," — and the fire which killed Montgomery
merely ** accidental." On the contrary, the ci:?umstan-
ces we have related, being authentic, prove that the con-
duct of the Pres-de- Ville guard was firm and collected
in the hour of danger ; and that by their coolness and
steadiness they mainly contributed to the safety of the
city. Both Colonel Maclean and General Carleton ren-
dered every justice to their meritorious behaviour on the
occasion.
In the mean time the attack bv Arnold, on the north
eastern side of the Lower Town, was made with despe-
rate resolution. It was, fortunately, equally unsuccess-
ful, although the contest was more protracted ; and at
one time the city was in no small danger. Arnold led his
men by files along the River St. Charles, until he came
to the Sault-au-Matelot, where there was a barrier with
two guns mounted. It must be understood that St.
Paul's Street did not then exist, the tide coming up
nearly to the base of the rock, and the only path between
'' f\\
240
STRiVNGER*S GUIDE TO QUEBEC
It
the rock and the beach was the narrow alley which now
exists in the rear of St. Paul Street under the precipice
itself. Here the curious visitor will find a jutting rock,
where was the first barrier. The whole of the street
went by the name of Sault-au-Matelot from the most an-
cient times. Arnold took the command of the forlorn
liope, and was leading the attack upon this barrier, when
he received a musket wound in the knee which disabled
liim, and he was carried back to the General Hospital.
His troops, however, persevered, and having soon madi^
themselves masters of the barrier, pressed on through
the narrow street to the attack of the second, near the
eastern extremity of Sault-au-Matelot Street. This was
a battery which protected the ends of the two streets
called St. Peter Street and Sault-au-Matelot , extending,
l)y means of hangards mounted with cannon, from the
rock to the river. The present Custom House, then a
private house, had cannon projecting from the end win-
clows, as had the house at the end of Sault-au-3Iatelot
Street. The enemy took shelter in the houses on each
side, and in the narrow pass leading round the base of
the cliff towards Hope- Gate, where they were secured by
the angle of the rock from the fire of the guns at the bar-
rier. Here the enemy met with a determined resistance,
wliich it was impossible to overcome, and General Car-
leton having ordered a sortie from Palace Gate under
Captain Laws, in order to take them in the rear — and
their rear guard under Captain Dearborn, having already
surrendered — the division of Arnold demanded quarter,
and were brought prisoners to the Upper Town. The
officers were confined in the Seminary. The contest
continued for upwards of two hours, and the bravery of
the assailants was indisputable. Through the freezing
cold, and the pelting of the storm, they maintained the
attack until all hopes of suc^ss was lost, when they sur-
I'endered to a generous enemy, who treated the wounded
and prisoners with humanity.
AND ITS EXVIUOXS.
247
on, from tho
Not wounded.
The Americans lost in the attack about one hundred
killed and wounded, and six officers of Arnold's party,
exclusive of the loss at Prvs de Ville, The British lost
one officer, Lieut. Anderson of tho Royal Navy, and se-
venteen killed and wounded. The following is a state-
ment of the force which surrendered,
1 Lieutenant Colonel
2 Majors,
8 Captains,
15 Lieutenants,
1 Adjutant,
1 Quarter-Master,
4 Volunteers,
350 Rank and File,
44 Officers and Soldiers, wounded.
426 Total surrendered.
By the death of Montgomery the command devolved
upon Arnold, who had received the rank of Brigadier
Oeneral. Li a letter dated, 14th January, 1776, he
complains of the great difficulty he had in keeping his
remaining troops together, so disheartened w ere they by
their disasters on the 31st December.
L The siege now resumed its former character of a block-
ade, without any event of importance, until the month
of March, when the enemy received reinforcements that
increased their numbers to near two thousand men.
A Council of War was called on the 5th of May,
and it was determined to raise ti; ' siege at once, and to
retire to Montreal.
The following fticts relating to the interment, and
disinterment of the body of General Montgomery may
be relied upon as authentic : —
In the year 1818, a request having' been made to the Gov-
ernor-in-Chief, Sir John Sherbrooke, for leave to disinter the
remains of General Montgomery, in order that they might he
conveyed to New-York, and there re-interred. His Excel-
lency acceded to the request^ which came to him on the part
248
stranger's guide to QUEBEC
of Mrs. Montgomery, the widow of the General. Mr. Thomp-
son gave the following aflidavit of the facts in order to satisfy
the surviving relations and friends of General Montgomery,
that the remains which had been so disinterred after the lapse
of forty-two years by the same hand that has interred them,
were really those of the late Gone?al. Mr. Thompson be-
longed to the army of Wolfe, in 1759.
" I, Jamks Thompson, of the city of Qnehec, in the Pro-
vince of Lower Canada, do testify and declare — that I served
in the capacity of an Assistant Engineer during the siege of
this city, invested during the years 1775 and 1776 by the
American forces under the command of the late Major Gene-
ral Richard Montgomery. That in an attack made by the
American troops under the immediate command of General
MoNTGOMFiuY, in the night of the 31st December, 1775, on
a British post at the southernmost extremity of the city, near
Pres-de-Ville, the General received a mortal wound, and
■with him were killed his two Aides-dc-Camp, McPherson
and Cheeseman, who were found in the morning of the 1st
January, 1776, almost covered with snow. That Mrs.
Prentice who kept an Hotel, at Quebec, and with whom Ge-
neral Montgomery had previously boarded was brought to
view the body, after it was placed in the Guard Room, and
which she recognised by a particular mark which he had on
the side of his head, to be the General's. That the body was
then conveyed to a house, (Gobeit'?,*) by order of Mr. Cra-
mahe, who provided a genteel coffin for the General's body,
wiiich was lined inside with flannel, and outside of it with
black cloth. That in the night of the 4th January, it was
conveyed by me from Gobeit's house, and was interred six
feet in front of the gate, within a wall that surrounded a pow-
der magazine near the ramparts bounding on St. Lewis-Gate.
Thctt the funeral service was performed at the grave by the
Reverend Mr. de Montmolin, then Chaplain of the garrison.
That his two Aides-de-Camp were buiied in their clothes
without any coffins, and that no person was buiied within
twenty-five yards of the General. That I am positive and
can testify and declare, that the coihn of the late General
* Gbbert's house was at the corner of St. Letvis and St. Ursule
streets, opposite the City Hali^ St* Lewis Street*
^
AND ITS ENVIRONS.
240
Montgomery, taken up on the morning of the 16th of tlio
present month of June, 1818, is the identical colfin deposited
by me on the day of his burial, and that the present colIin
contains the remains of the late General. I do lurther testify
and declare that subsequent to the finding of General Mont-
gomery's body, I wore his sword, being lighter than my own,
and on going to the Seminary, where the American olUcers
were lodged, they recognized the sword, which affected them
so much, that numbers of them wept, in consequence of which
I have never worn the sword since.
"Given under my hand, at the city of Quebec, Province
of Lower Canada, 19th June, 1818."
"JAMES THOMPSON.''
The Tourist will find a ploasinj^ drive to the Plains of
Abraham and Carougo ; to the Falls of Montmoronci,
and the Natural Stoj)s ; to Point Levi and the Falls of
the Chaudiere ; to the Falls of La Puce, about 2 miles
beyond Chateau Richer ; the Indian Village of Lorotte ;
Lake St. Charles ; Lake Beauport ; and the Village of
Charlesbourg.
An evening drive through St. John's Gate, along the
St. F'oy Road, will afibrd the visitor a truly magnilieent
view of the vallev of the St. Charles, and its surround-
ing beauties.*
In addition to the commanding view of surrounding
objects from Cape Diamond we must not omit to recom-
mend as deserving particular attention the promenade
on the site of the ancient Castle of St. Louis, known as
the Durham Terrace.
The inhabitants and visitors are frequently afforded
an opportunity of witnessing the sj)lendid scenery of the
St. Lawrence below Quebec. A pleasure trip to Ha Ha
Bay, 60 miles from the mouth of the Saguenay, is de-
servedly becoming a fashionable tour and rendered de-
• A convenient Pocket Plan of the City and Map of the Envi-
rons, [HAWKins'] may be obtained at the principal Hotels and Book
Stores of the City.
250
stranger's OUIDE to QUEBEC
k^^^
m\
i()p
m
lightful l)y the elegant accommotlations of the steamers.
A regular steam communication is also kept up with
Kiver du Loup, a pleasant village and favorite bathing
I)lace, about 112 miles below Quebec: Murray Bay
and other parishes, and also touched on the way by the
steamers.
The New Steam Boat, St. Nicholas, Captain Bazilc
Demers, runs daily from the Market place to St. Nicho-
las, about miles above Quebec : her hours of starting
from the Lower Town are 11, a. m. and 5, p. m. From
St. Nicholas at G, a. m., and 1, p. m., she runs the dis-
tance in about half an hour : an excellent view of
Cai)e Diamond and the scenery in the immediate vici-
nity of Quebec may be enjoyed from on board, between
the hours of 11 and her return to Quebec. The price is
exceedingly moderate, being only 4d. each trip.
From Domcrs Tavern to the Falls of Chaudiere is
a pleasant drive of about half an hour. Another Steamer,
Captain Baker's, also runs from the Market place to the
Mills at St. Nicholas, about 5 miles higher up the river,
at the same moderate price.
We have far exceeded our intended limits, and shall
close with the following highly attractive extract from
the statistical work of the late Colonel Bouchette, for many
years Surveyor General of the Province. " The summer
scenery of the en virons of Quebec may vie in exquisite beau-
ty, variety, magnificence, sublimity, and the naturally har-
monized combination of all these prominent features, with
the most splendid that has yet been portrayed in Europe
or any other part of the world. Towards Beauport, Char-
lesbourg, and Lorette, the view is diversified with every
trait that can render a landscape rich, full, and complete ;
the foreground shows the river St. Charles meandering
for many miles through a rich and fertile valley, embel-
lished by a succession of objects that diffuses an unrival-
AND ITS ENVIRONS,
251
lod aiiiiuation over tho whole seoiio. Th(> throe village^,
witli their respective cluirchcs, and many handsome ile-
taehod houses in tho vicinity, seated on gently risini?
eminences, form so many distinct points of view ; the
intervals between them display many of the most strong-
ly marked specimens of forest scenery, and the surroun-
ding country every where an appearance of fertility and
L?ood cultivation, upon which the eye of tiio spectator
wanders with ceaseless delight. As the prospect recedes
it is still interesting, the land rising in gradations
height over height, having tho interval between succeed-
ing elevations filled up with primeval forests, until the
whole is terminated by a stupendous ridge of mountains,
whoso lofty forms aro dimly seen through the an'ial ex-
panse. The sense of vision is gratified to the utmost,
and tho spectator never fails to turn witli regret from tho
contemplation of what is allowed to bo cue of the most
su])erb views in nature.
**Nor is it on this side only that the attention is ar-
rested; for turning towards the basin, which is about
two miles across, a scone presents itself that is not the
less gratifying for being made a secondary one ; it is on-
livened by tho ever changing variety of ships coming up
to and leaving tho port. On the right hand, Point-
L6vi, with its church and group of white houses, several
other promontories on the same shore clothed with lofty
trees; and tho busy animation attendant on the constant
arvival and departure of ferry-boats; in front, tho wes-
tern end of the beautiful and picturesque Island of Or-
leans, displaying charming and well-cultivated slopes
down almost to the water's odgo, backed by lofty and
thick woods, and every where decorated with neat farm-
houses, present altogether an interesting and agreeable
subject to tho observer. In fine still weather, tho mirage,
or reflects of the difterent objects around the margin,
in all their variety of coloring, are thrown across the un-
252
stbanoer's oiiide to queuec
Ijj
M
ruffled surface of tnc crater with an almost incredible
brilliance. On the Plains of Abraham, from the preci-
pice that overlooks the timber grounds, where an inces-
sant round of activity prevails, the St. Lawrence is seen
rolling its majestic wave, studded with many a sail,
from the stately ship down to the humble fishing-boat ;
the opposite bank, extending up the river, is highly cul-
tivated, and the houses, thickly strewed by the main
road, from this height and distance, have the appear-
ance of an almost uninterrupted village, as far the eye
can reach in that direction. The country to the south-
ward rises by a very gentle ascent, and the whole view,
which is richly embellished by alternations of water,
woodlanc' and cultivation, is bounded by remote and
lofty mountains, softening shade by shade until they
melt into air. Whoever views the environs of Quebec,
with a mind and taste capable of receiving impressions
tlu'ough the medium of the eyes, will acknowledge, that
as a whole, the prospect is grand, harmonious, and mag-
nificent; and that, if taken in detail, every part of it
will please, by a gradual unfolding of its picturesque
beauties,"
THE ENP.
^
M
I^cavlng Quebec for Montreal, a distance of 180
miles, the traveller will pass the following villages on
the north and south banks of the river St. Lawrence.
On the South side, miles from
On the North side, m
lies
Quebec,
from Quebec.
Point Levi
St. Augustin
12
St. Nicholas
12
Pointe aux Trembles
21
St. Antoine
Les Ecureuils, orBelai
re
Ste. Croix
Cap Sante
30
Lotbiniere
Deschambault
45
Deschaiilions
Grondincs
St. Pierre les Becquets
Ste. Anne
60
Becancour
Batiscan
6b
St. Gregoire
90
Champlain
75
Nicolet
99
Cap de Magdeleine
St. Francis
Three Rivers
ro
Yamaska
123
Pointe du Lac
99
Sore I
135
Machiche
Contrecoeur
River du Loup
112
Vercheres
JVlaskinonge
Varennes
165
Bertbier
125
Boiicherville
171
Isle du Pas
t
Lonjrueuil
180
Lanoraie
c
Lavaltrie
St. Sulpice
156
- .1
Repeniigny
Pointe aux Trembles
171
Long Point
Montreal.
180
m
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