Picturesque Quebec : a sequel to Quebec past and present Part 12

MR. CHAIRMAN, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:

"The event which we intend commemorating this evening, is one at peculiar interest to us as Canadians, and more especially so to us as Quebecers, the narrow, I may say, the providential escape of the whole Province from foreign subjugation one century ago. It is less a chapter of Canadian annals I purpose to read to you this night, than some minute details little known, and gleaned from the journals left by eye witnesses of the thrilling hand to hand fight which took place a few hundred yards from where you sit, under our walls, on the 31st December, 1775, between Col. Arnold's New England soldiery and our own garrison.

Possibly, you may not all realize the critical position of the city on that memorable morning. Next day, a Sunday, ushered in the new year.

Think you there was much "visiting," much festivity, on that new year's day? alas! though victory crowned our banner, there was mourning in too many Canadian homes; we, too, had to bury our dead.

Let us take a rapid glimpse of what had proceeded the a.s.sault.

Two formidable parties, under experienced leaders, in execution of the campaign planned by George Washington and our former Deputy Post Master General, the able Benjamin Franklin, had united under the walls of Quebec. Both leaders intimately knew its highways and by-ways.

Brigadier General Richard Montgomery, before settling near New York, had held a lieutenant's commission in His Britannic Majesty's 17th Foot, had taken part in the war of the conquest, in 1759, and had visited Quebec. Col. Benedict Arnold, attracted by the fame of our Norman horses, had more than once been in the city with the object of trading in them.

Benedict Arnold was indeed a daring commander. His successful journey through trackless forests between Cambridge and Quebec--his descent in boats through rivers choked with ice, and through dangerous rapids; the cold, hunger and exposure endured by himself and his soldiers, were feats of endurance of which any nation might justly feel proud.

Major-General Sir James Carmichael Smyth, a high authority on such matters, says of this winter campaign: "It is, perhaps, one of the most wonderful instances of perseverance and spirit upon record." So much for the endurance and bravery of our foes. I am compelled to pa.s.s unnoticed many important incidents of the campaign in order to reach sooner the main facts.

What was the real state of the Colony on that identical 31st December, one hundred years ago? Why, it was simply desperate. The wave of invasion had surged over our border. Fort after fort, city after city, had capitulated--Ticonderoga, Crown Point, Fort St. John, Fort Chambly, Montreal, Sorel, Three Rivers. Montgomery with his victorious bands had borne everything before him like a tornado. The Canadian peasantry dreaded the very sight of warriors who must be ball-proof, as they were supposed, by a curious mistake, to be "incased in plate- iron," _vetus de tole_, instead _de toile_. [54] The red [54a] and black flag of successful rebellion floated over the suburbs of Quebec.

Morgan's and Humphries' riflemen were thundering at the very gates of the city, those dear old walls--(loud applause)--which some Vandals are longing to demolish, alone kept away the wolf.

Levi, Sillery, Ste Foye, Lorette, Charlesbourg, the Island of Orleans, Beauport and every inch of British territory around the city were in possession of the invaders, every house in the suburbs sheltered an enemy--every bush in the country might conceal a deadly foe. Treachery stalked within the camp--disaffection was busy inside and outside of the walls. At first many of the citizens, English as well as French, seemed disinclined to take part in the great family quarrel which had originated at Boston--the British of New England pitted against the British of Canada. The confusion of ideas and opinions must at first have been great. Several old British officers who had served in the wars of the conquest of Canada, had turned their swords against their old messmates--their brothers-in-arms--amongst others, Richard Montgomery, Moses Hazen and Donald Campbell. Quebec, denuded of its regulars, had indeed a most gloomy prospect to look upon. No soldiers to man her walls except her citizens unaccustomed to warfare--no succour to expect from England till the following spring--scantiness of provisions and a terrified peasantry who had not the power, often no desire, to penetrate into the beleaguered city during winter.

Were not these trying times for our worthy sires?

Such was the posture of affairs, when to the general joy, our gallant Governor Guy Carleton, returned and rejoined his dauntless little army at Quebec, having succeeded, thanks to Captain Bouchette and other brave men, in eluding the vigilance of the enemy in possession of Three Rivers, Sorel and Montreal. Turn over the records of those days and yon will see the importance our fathers attached to the results of the Sault-au-Matelot and Pres-de-Ville engagements.

For more than twenty-five years, the 31st December, 1775, was annually commemorated, generally by a club dinner given at Ferguson's Hotel, (Freemasons' Hall?) or at some other hotel of note--sometimes a Chateau ball was added by the Governor of the Province. In 1778, we find in the old _Quebec Gazette_, a grand _fete champetre_, given by Lady Maria Carleton and her gallant partner Sir Guy, at the Red House, a fashionable rustic Hostelry, kept by Alex. Menut, the prince of Canadian _Soyers_ of those days, who had been _Maitre d'Hotel_ to General Murray, and selected that year by Their Excellencies. It stood on the Little River road, (the land is now owned by Mr. Tozer) about two miles from Quebec. It reads thus in the _Gazette_ of 8th January, 1778:

Quebec, 8th January, 1778._

"Yesterday, seventh night, being the anniversary of the victory obtained over the Rebels in their attack upon this City in the year 1775, a most elegant Ball and Supper were given at Menut's Tavern by the Gentlemen who served in the Garrison during that Memorable Winter.

The Company, consisting of upwards of two hundred and thirty Ladies and Gentlemen, made a grand and brilliant appearance, and nothing but mirth and good humour reigned all night long. About half-past six, His Excellency, Sir Guy Carleton, Knight of the Bath, our worthy Governor and Successful General, dressed in the militia uniform, (which added l.u.s.tre to the Ribbon and Star) as were also all the gentlemen of that corps who served under him during the siege, entered the a.s.sembly room accompanied by Lady Maria, &c., &c., and the Ball was soon opened by her Ladyship and the Honorable Henry Caldwell, Lieutenant Colonel Commandant of the British Militia. The dancing continued until half- past twelve, when the Ladies were conducted into the supper room, where Mr. Menut exhibited fresh proofs of that superior excellence in the _culinary_ art he so justly claims above his Peers.... The company in general broke up about four in the morning, highly satisfied with their entertainment and in perfect good humour with one another. May that disposition prevail until the next and every succeeding 31st of December, and may each return of that glorious day (the event of which was not only the preservation of this garrison; but of the whole Province) be commemorated with the same spirit and unanimity in grateful remembrance of our happy deliverance from the snares of the enemy, and with grateful acknowledgements of those blessings of peace and tranquility of Government and Laws we now enjoy in consequence of that day's success."

The _Gazette_ of the following year carefully chronicles the gathering of the Veterans of 1775.--"Thursday last being the anniversary of the 31st December, a Day which will be ever famous in the annals of this country for the defeat of Faction and Rebellion, the same was observed with the utmost festivity In the evening a ball and cold Collation was given by the gentlemen who composed the Garrison in the winter of 1775, to His Excellency and a numerous and brilliant a.s.sembly of Ladies and Gentlemen, the satisfaction every one felt in Commemorating so Glorious an event, strongly appeared by the joy which was visible in every contenance."

In 1790, according to the _Quebec Herald_, the annual dinner was held at the _Merchant's Coffee House_, by about 30 survivors of the Veterans, who agreed to meet twice a year, instead of once, their joviality apparently increasing with their age.

In 1794, [55] the _Gazette_ acquaints us that the Anniversary Dinner was to be held at Ferguson's Hotel, on the 6th May. [56] We find both nationalities fraternising in these loyal demonstrations. M.

DeBonne (afterwards Judge DeBonne) taking his place next to loyal John Coffin, of Pres-de-Ville fame, and probably Simon Fraser and the Hon.

Hugh Finlay, will join Lieutenant Dambourges and Col Dupre, in toasting King George III. under the approving eye of Lt. Col.

Caldwell, Wolfe's Deputy Quarter-Master General. Col. Caldwell, lived to a green old age, and expired in this city in 1810. Our esteemed fellow-citizen, Errol Boyd Lindsay, remembers him well, and in front of whom I stand, a stalwart Volunteer of 1837, Col. Gugy, is now relating how when a lad he once dined with Col. Caldwell, some seventy years ago, at Belmont, amidst excellent cheer.

The _Quebec Gazette_ teems with loyal English and French songs of 1775, for a quarter of a century, and for more than twenty-five years the anniversary banquet, ball or dinner was religiously kept up.

But we must hie away from these "junketings"--these festive boards, which our loyal ancestors seem to have infinitely enjoyed. We must hie away the long wished for "snow storm," the signal of attack has come.

'Tis five o'clock before dawn. Hark to the rattle of the alarm drum.

Hark! Hark to the tolling of every city bell (and you know Quebec bells are numerous) louder! louder even than the voice of the easterly storm. To ARMS! To ARMS! resounds in the Market Place--the _Place d'Armes_--and in the streets of our slumbering city.

Instead of giving you my views on the attack, I shall summon from the silent, the meditative past, one of the stirring actors in this thrilling encounter, an intrepid and youthful Volunteer, under Arnold, then aged seventeen years, John Joseph Henry. He will tell you how his countrymen attacked us:

"It was not," says Judge Henry, "until the night of the 31st December, 1775, that such kind of weather ensued as was considered favorable for the a.s.sault. The fore part of the night was admirably enlightened by a luminous moon. Many of us, officers as well as privates, had dispersed in various directions among the farm and tippling houses of the vicinity. We well knew the signal for rallying. This was no other than a "snow storm." About 12 o'clock, P.M., the heaven was overcast. We repaired to quarters.

By 2 o'clock we were accoutred and began our march. The storm was outrageous, and the cold wind extremely biting. In this northern country the snow is blown horizontally into the faces of the travellers on most occasions--this was our case.

When we came to Craig's house, near Palace Gate, a horrible roar of cannon took place, and a ringing of all the bells of the city, which are very numerous, and of all sizes. Arnold, leading the forlorn hope, advanced, perhaps, one hundred yards, before the main body. After these followed Lamb's artillerists. Morgan's company led in the secondary part of the column of infantry.

Smith's followed, headed by Steele, the Captain from particular causes being absent. Hendrick's company succeeded and the eastern men so far as known to me, followed in due order. The snow was deeper than in the fields, because of the nature of the ground.

The path made by Arnold, Lamb, and Morgan was almost imperceptible, because of the falling snow. Covering the locks of our guns, with the lappets of our coats, holding down our heads (for it was impossible to bear up our faces against the imperious storm of wind and snow), we ran, along the foot of the hill in single file. Along the first of our run, from Palace Gate, for several hundred paces, there stood a range of insulated buildings, which seemed to be store-houses, we pa.s.sed these quickly in single file, pretty wide apart. The interstices were from thirty to fifty yards. In these intervals, we received a tremendous fire of musketry from the ramparts above us. Here we lost some brave men, when powerless to return the salutes we received, as the enemy was covered by his impregnable defences. They were even sightless to us, we could see nothing but the blaze from the muzzles of their muskets.

A number of vessels of various sizes lay along the beach, moored by their hawsers or cables to the houses. Pa.s.sing after my leader, Lieutenant Steele, at a great rate, one of those ropes took me under the chin, and cast me head long down, a declivity of at least fifteen feet. The place appeared to be either a dry-dock or a saw-pit. My descent was terrible, gun and all was involved in a great depth of snow. Most unluckily, however, one of my knees received a violent contusion on a piece of scraggy ice, which was covered by the snow. On like occasions, we can scarcely expect, in the hurry of attack, that our intimates should attend to any other than their own concern. Mine went from me, regardless of my fate.

Scrambling out of the cavity, without a.s.sistance, divesting my person and gun of the snow, and limping into the line, I attempted to a.s.sume a station and preserve it. These were none of my friends--they knew me not. I had not gone twenty yards, in my hobbling gait, before I was thrown out, and compelled to await the arrival of a chasm in the line, when a new place might be obtained. Men in affairs such as this, seem in the main, to lose the compa.s.sionate feeling, and are averse from being dislodged from their original stations. We proceeded rapidly, exposed to a long line of fire from the garrison, for now we were unprotected by any buildings. The fire had slackened in a small degree. The enemy had been partly called off to resist the General, and strengthen the party opposed to Arnold in our front. Now we saw Colonel Arnold returning, wounded in the leg, and supported by two gentlemen; a parson, Spring, was one, and, in my belief, a Mr.

Ogden, the other. Arnold called on the troops, in a cheering voice, as we pa.s.sed, urging us forward, yet it was observable among the soldiery, with whom it was my misfortune to be now placed, that the Colonel's retiring damped their spirits. A cant term "We are sold," was repeatedly heard in many parts throughout the line. Thus proceeding, enfiladed by an animated but lessened fire, we came to the first barrier, where Arnold had been wounded in the onset. This contest had lasted but a few minutes, and was somewhat severe, but the energy of our men prevailed. The embrasures were entered when the enemy were discharging their guns. The guard, consisting of thirty persons, were, either taken or fled, leaving their arms behind them. At this time it was discovered that our guns were useless, because of the dampness.

The snow which lodged in our fleecy coats was melted by the warmth of our bodies. Thence came that disaster. Many of the party, knowing the circ.u.mstance, threw aside their own, and seized the British arms. These were not only elegant, but were such as befitted the hand of a real soldier. It was said, that ten thousand stand of such arms had been received from England, in the previous summer, for arming the Canadian militia. These people were loath to bear them in opposition to our rights. From the first barrier to the second, there was a circular course along the sides of houses, and partly through a street, probably of three hundred yards or more. This second barrier was erected across and near the mouth of a narrow street, adjacent to the foot of the hill, which opened into a larger, leading soon into the main body of the Lower Town. Here it was, that the most serious contention took place: this became the bone of strife. The admirable Montgomery, by this time, (though it was unknown to us) was no more; yet, we expected momentarily to join him. The firing on that side of the fortress ceased, his division fell under the command of a Colonel Campbell, of the New York line, a worthless chief, who retreated, without making an effort, in pursuance of the general's original plans. The inevitable consequence was, that the whole of the forces on that side of the city, and those who were opposed to the dastardly persons employed to make the false attacks, embodied and came down to oppose our division. Here was sharp-shooting. We were on the disadvantageous side of the barrier, for such a purpose. Confined in a narrow street, hardly more than twenty feet wide, and on the lower ground, scarcely a ball, well aimed or otherwise, but must take effect upon us.

Morgan, Hendricks, Steele, Humphrey's, and a crowd of every cla.s.s of the army, had gathered into the narrow pa.s.s, attempting to surmount the barrier, which was about twelve or more feet high, and so strongly constructed, that nothing but artillery, could effectuate its destruction. There was a construction, fifteen or twenty yards within the barrier, upon a rising grounde, the cannon of which much overtopped the height of the barrier, hence, we were a.s.sailed by grape shot in abundance. This erection we called the platform. Again, within the barrier, and close into it, were two ranges of musketeers, armed with musket and bayonet, ready to receive those who might venture the dangerous leap. Add to all this, that the enemy occupied the upper chambers of the houses, in the interior of the barrier, on both sides of the street, from the windows of which we became fair marks. The enemy, having the advantage of the ground in front, a vast superiority of numbers, dry and better arms, gave them an irresistible power, in so narrow a s.p.a.ce. Humphreys, upon a mound, which was speedily erected, attended by many brave men, attempted to scale the barrier, but was compelled to retreat, by the formidable phalanx of bayonets within, and the weight of fire from the platform and the buildings. Morgan, brave to temerity, stormed and raged; Hendricks, Steele, Nichols, Humphreys, equally brave, were sedate, though under a tremendous fire. The platform, which was within our view, was evacuated by the accuracy of our fire, and few persons dared venture there again. Now it was, that the necessity of occupancy of the houses, on our side of the barrier, became apparent. Orders were given by Morgan to that effect. We entered.

This was near day-light. The houses were a shelter, from which we might fire with much accuracy. Yet, even here, some valuable lives were lost. Hendricks, when aiming his rifle at some prominent person, died by a straggling ball through his heart. He staggered a few feet backwards, and fell upon a bed, where he instantly expired. He was an ornament of our little society. The amiable Humphreys died by a like kind of wound, but it was in the street, before we entered the buildings. Many other brave men fell at this place; among these were Lieutenant Cooper, of Connecticut, and perhaps fifty or sixty noncommissioned officers and privates. The wounded were numerous, and many of them dangerously so. Captain Lamb, of the York artillerists; had nearly one-half of his face carried away, by a grape or canister shot. My friend Steele lost three of his fingers, as he was presenting his gun to fire; Captain Hubbard and Lieutenant Fisdle, were all among the wounded.

When we reflect upon the whole of the dangers of this barricade, and the formidable force that came to annoy us, it is a matter of surprise that so many should escape death and wounding as did. All hope of success having vanished, a retreat was contemplated, but hesitation, uncertainty, and a la.s.situde of mind, which generally takes place in the affairs of men, when we fail in a project, upon which we have attached much expectation, now followed. The moment was foolishly lost, when such a movement might have been made with tolerable success. Captain Laws, at the head of two hundred men, issuing from Palace Gate, most fairly and handsomely cooped us up.

Many of the men, aware of the consequences, and all our Indians and Canadians (except Natanis [57] and another,) escaped across the ice, which covered the Bay of St. Charles, before the arrival of Captain Laws. This was a dangerous and desperate adventure, but worth while the undertaking, in avoidance of our subsequent sufferings. Its desperateness consisted in running two miles across shoal ice, thrown up by the high tides of this lat.i.tude-- and its danger, in the meeting with air holes, deceptively covered by the bed of snow. Speaking circ.u.mspectly, yet it must be admitted conjecturally, it seems to me, that in the whole of the attack, of commissioned officers, we had six killed, five wounded, and of non-commissioned and privates, at least one hundred and fifty killed, and fifty or sixty wounded. Of the enemy, many were killed and many more wounded, comparatively, than on our side, taking into view the disadvantages we laboured under; and that but two occasions happened when we could return their fire, that is, at the first and second barriers. Neither the American account of this affair, as published by Congress, nor that of Sir Guy Carleton, admit the loss of either side to be so great as it really was, in my estimation * * * * * as to the British, on the platform they were fair objects to us. They were soon driven thence by the acuteness of our shooting. * * * *

Perhaps there never was a body of men a.s.sociated, who better understood the use and manner of employing a rifle, than our corps; while by this time of the attack, they had their guns in good order. When we took possession of the houses, we had a great range. Our opportunities to kill, were enlarged. Within one hundred yards, every man must die. The British however were at home--they could easily drag their dead out of sight, and bear their wounded to the Hospital. It was the reverse with us. Captain Prentis, who commanded the provost guards, would tell me of seven or eight killed, and fifteen or twenty wounded; opposed to this the sentries, (who were generally Irishmen, that guarded us with much simplicity, if not honesty,) frequently admitted of forty or fifty killed, and many more wounded. The latter a.s.sertions accorded with my opinion. The reasons for this belief are these: when the dead, on the following days, were transported on the carioles which pa.s.sed our habitation for deposition in the "dead house," we observed many bodies, of which none of us had any knowledge; and again when our wounded were returned to us from the hospital, they uniformly spoke of being surrounded there, in its many characters, by many of the wounded of the enemy. To the great honor of General Carleton, they were all, whether friends or enemies, treated with like attention."

The Continentals of Brigadier-General Montgomery had settled on the following plan of attack:--Col Livingston, with his three hundred Canadians and Major Brown, was to simulate an attack on the western portion of the walls--Montgomery to come from Holland House down by Wolfe's Cove, creep along the narrow path close to the St. Lawrence and meet Arnold on his way from the General Hospital at the foot of Mountain Hill, and then ascend to Upper Town.

The brilliant _fete litteraire_ held by the Literary and Historical Society to commemorate the event was thus noticed in the _Morning Chronicle_ of Dec 30th, 1875:

_THE LITERARY AND HISTORICAL SOCIETY'S CENTENARY FeTE._

It would be hardly possible to imagine a more graceful or unique gathering than that which a.s.sembled in the rooms of the Literary and Historical Society last evening, for the purpose of celebrating with all possible _eclat_ that gloriously memorable event, the repulse of the troops commanded by General Richard Montgomery, of the American Army, whilom officer of the 17th Regiment of Infantry in the service of his Britannic Majesty George III, who on the bl.u.s.terous wintry morning of the 31st December, 1775, attempted an a.s.sault upon the redoubts and fortifications which at that time did the duty of our present Citadel, and whose intrepidity was rewarded with a soldier's death, and his want of success formed the nucleus of the power which is so firmly established in this Royal Canada of ours to day.

The arrangements made by the Society for the reception of their unusually numerous guests and the decorations of the various apartments, were all that could be wished--commodious and tasteful. In the entrance hall the Royal standard floated, and there the B. Battery Band was placed. Turning up the left hand flight of steps the visitor --pa.s.sing the large cla.s.s room of Morrin College, transformed for the nonce into s.p.a.cious refreshment buffets--was ushered into the lecture room, from the galleries of which flags of many nations and many colours were drooping. The raised dais, occupied during the delivery of the addresses by James Stevenson, Esq., Senior Vice-President, L. & H. Society, in the chair; Lieut.-Col. Bland Strange, R. S. M.

Bouchette, Esq., Dr. Boswell, Vice-Presidents, J. M. LeMoine, Esq., and Commander Ashe, R.N., ex-Presidents, was flanked on either side with the blue and silver banners of St. Andrew's Society, bearing the arms and escutcheon of Scotia, and their proud motto "_Nemo me impune lascessit_." Bunting and fresh spruce foliage gave an air of freshness to all the adornable parts of the room. Immediately opposite the lectern, which was illuminated with wax candles, placed in last century candlesticks, and attached to the gallery railings, was a fine collection of Lochaber axes, cl.u.s.tered around a genuine wooden Gaelic shield studded with polished k.n.o.bs of glittering bra.s.s. Long before the hour of eight the company had increased to such an extent that the room was crowded to the doors, but not inconveniently as the ventilation was unexceptionable. With accustomed punctuality, James Stevenson, Esq., acting in the absence of the President, opened the meeting with some highly appropriate remarks relative to the historical value of the subjects about to be discussed and summarising very succinctly the events immediately previous to the beleaguering of the fortress city. He alluded in stirring terms to the devotion which had been manifested by the British and French defenders, who resolved rather to be buried in the ruins than surrender the city. He stated that he thought it especially meet and proper that the Literary and Historical Society here should have taken up the matter and dealt with it in this way. He alluded in eulogistic terms to the capability of the gentlemen about to address them and, after regretting the unavoidable absence of Lt-Col. Coffin, a lineal descendant of an officer present, formally introduced the first speaker, Lieutenant- Colonel Strange, commandant of Quebec Garrison, and Dominion Inspector of Artillery. This gallant officer, who on rising was received with loud and hearty cheering by the audience, plunged with characteristic military brevity _in medias res_, simply remarking, at the outset, that he, in such a position, was but a rear rank man, while Colonel Coffin would have been a front-ranker; but his soldierly duty was to fill that position in the absence of him to whom the task would have been officially a.s.signed. The subject which formed a distinct section of the major topic of the evening was then taken up. Inasmuch as it is our intention, and we believe that of the Society, to reproduce faithfully in pamphlet form the graphic, interesting and detailed word-pictures of the ever memorable events of the 31st December, 1775, as given by the learned and competent gentlemen who addressed the meeting, it suffices to say in the present brief notice of the proceedings that Colonel Strange exhaustively treated that portion which referred to the attack and defence at Pres-de-Ville--the place in the vicinity of which now stands the extensive wharves of the Allan Company. Many incidents of the siege, utterly unknown to ordinary readers of history were recalled last night, and many things that have hitherto been dubious, or apparently unaccountable explained away. The story of the finding of the snow-covered and hard-frozen corpse of the unfortunate General and his Aide-de-Camp, was told with much pathos, as were details of his burial. The references to descendants of then existing families still residents in Quebec, were extremely interesting, because many were among the audience. At the conclusion of Colonel Strange's admirable resume, and some further pointed remarks from the Chairman, Mr. J. M. LeMoine, who is _par excellence_ and _par a.s.siduite_ our Quebec historian, whose life has been mainly devoted to compilation of antiquarian data touching the walls, the streets, the relics, the families, the very Flora, and Fauna of our cherished Stadacona--commenced his erudite and amusing sketches of the day, taken from the stand point of the enemy's headquarters, and the fray in the Sault-au-Matelot. Interspersing in his own well digested statement of events, he chose the best authenticated accounts from contemporaneous partic.i.p.ants, British, French Canadian and American, proving that the record as presented by Col. Strange and himself last night, was a "plain unvarnished truthful tale," a reliable mirror in which was faithfully reflected all that was historically interesting as affecting Quebec in the Campaign of 1775-6. When Mr. LeMoine had terminated his address, which was of considerable length, Mr. Stevenson concluded this portion of the proceedings with a most eulogistic and deserved recognition of the devotion which the two gentlemen who had read during the evening had shewn in preparing their respective papers, and a vote of thanks to them was heartily and unanimously accorded. He also made reference to the topic of the day, the restoration and embellishment of our oft- besieged, city, gracefully attributing honour where it was due, first and foremost to His Excellency the Governor-General, Earl of Dufferin, at whose instigation the plans had been prepared; secondly, to His Worship the Mayor, Owen Murphy, Esq., (who was present), for his untiring exertions and valuable a.s.sistance in developing, maturing and preparing the way for an early completion of said designs, which are to make Quebec a splendid architectural example of the deformed, transformed; thirdly, to the hearty co-operation of the public, aided in their views by the enterprise of the proprietor of the _Morning Chronicle_, who had prepared the splendid ill.u.s.trations of these improvements, thereby reflecting infinite credit upon himself. After a few other remarks the ladies and gentlemen were invited to inspect the library, which for the rest of the evening was the centre of attraction. The _coup d'oeil_, when once one had fairly entered into this beautifully designed, permanent focus of intellectual wealth, around whose walls were ranged the imperishable memorials of nearly all of man's genius that has been thought worthy of preservation, was striking and memorable. As in the lecture room, those emblems, which are our symbolical as well as actual rallying points in all times of trouble or war, draped and covered the book shelves which contain the essence of almost all that human intelligence, human thought, human wit, man's invention and ingenuity has as yet brought to light. Here, historian and poet, geographer and engineer, humorist and preacher, dramatist and theologian, are congregated, serving in the one great cause of public instruction and the expansion of the limitless ramifications which exist in the ever growing tree of knowledge. The student and literateur, the bibliophile and dilletante novel reader, the most frequent visitors here last night were replaced by groups of fair women and patriotic men a.s.sembled to commemorate an event which had a marked effect upon the history of this continent in this nineteenth century, which will expire a few hours after these lines meet the reader's eyes. In lieu of study and thought, the attention of the throng was attracted to the splendid stand of arms reaching from floor to ceiling, and which was as it were defended by the Dominion standard that fell in long festoons behind. In the centre of a diamond-shaped figure, made up of scores of sabres pointing inwards, was a large glittering star of silvery steel bayonets. In chronological order were pink and gilt tablets, containing each one the names of the Lieutenant-Governors of Canada, commencing with Carleton, in 1775, and proceeding through the n.o.ble list, which includes Haldimand, Dorchester, Dalhousie, Gosford, Colborne, Durham, Sydenham, Bagot, Cathcart, Elgin, Head, Monk, Lisgar, down to the present glorious epoch, when this prosperous country is vice-regally and right royally presided over by Lord Dufferin, in the year of grace, 1875--on the opposite side of the room, under a similar spiky coronet of bristling steel, was hung the sword of the dead and vanquished, but honoured and revered hero, the trusty blade which only left Montgomery's hands, when in his death- throes he 'like a soldier fell,' and the pitiless snow became his winding-sheet. On a table below this interesting and valuable historic relic, now in possession, as an heirloom, of J. Thompson Harrower, Esq., of this city, was exhibited the full uniform of an artillery officer of the year 1775. Several quaint old sketches and paintings were placed around the Library, which, with the Museum, was converted for the time into an extempore conversazione hall, and while the melodies of the 'B' Battery band were wafted hither and thither through the building, the dames and cavaliers gossiped pleasantly over their tea or coffee and delicacies provided by the members for the guests, and declared, with much show of reason, that the Literary and Historical Society's centennial entertainment was a red-letter day in the annals of that learned and well-deserving body."

_THE JESUITS' CHURCH._

This little church, of which the corner stone was laid by the Marquis de Tracy, "Lieutenant du Roi, dans toutes ses possessions Francaises en Amerique," on 31st May, 1666, existed until 1807. "It is built," says Kalm, "in the form of a cross. It has a round steeple, and is the only church that has a clock." The oldest inhabitant can yet recall, from memory, the spot where it stood, even if we had not the excellent drawing made of it with a half dozen of other Quebec views, by an officer in Wolfe's fleet, Captain Richard Short. It stood on the site recently occupied by the shambles, in the Upper Town, facing the Russell House.

Captain Short's pencil bears again testimony to the exact.i.tude, even in minute things, of Kalm's descriptions: his Quebec horses, harnessed one before the other to carts. You see in front of the church, in Captain Short's sketch, three good sized horses, harnessed one before the other, drawing a heavily laden two-wheeled cart. The church was also used until 1807 as a place of worship for Protestants. Be careful not to confound the Jesuits' Church with the small chapel in the interior of their college (the old Jesuit Barracks) contiguous thereto. This latter chapel had been commenced on the 11th July, 1650. The Seminary Chapel and Ursulines Church, after the destruction by shot and sh.e.l.l, in 1759, of the large Roman Catholic Cathedral, were used for a time as parish churches. From beneath the chief altar of the Jesuits' Church was removed, on the 14th May, 1807, the small leaden box containing the heart of the founder of the Ursulines' Convent, Madame de la Peltrie, previously deposited there in accordance with the terms of her last will.

You can see that the pick-axe and mattock of the "_bande noire_" who robbed our city walls of their stones, and demolished the Jesuits' College and city gates, were busily employed long before 1871.

_THE JESUITS' BARRACKS._

There are few, we will venture to say, who, in their daily walk up or down Fabrique Street, do not miss this h.o.a.ry and familiar land mark, the Jesuits' College. When its removal was recently decreed, for a long time it resisted the united a.s.saults of hammer and pick-axe, and yielded, finally, to the terrific power of dynamite alone.

The Jesuits' College, older than Harvard College, at Boston, takes one back to the dawn of Canadian history. Concerning the venerable inst.i.tution, we translate the following from the French of Mr. T. B.

Bedard. It appeared originally in the _Journal de Quebec_:--

"The recent discovery of human bones at the Jesuit Barracks has excited the curiosity of the public in general, and especially of antiquarians and all interested in historical research. Naturally, the question presents itself--who were the individuals interred where these bones were found, and what was this place of sepulture? An attentive study of the subject leads me to believe that the remains of the three skeletons discovered, with two skulls only, are those of Brother Jean Liegeois, Pere du Quen, and Pere Francois du Peron, deceased at Chambly, and whose mortal remains were sent to Quebec for interment. The spot where the bones were found must have been the site of the chapel built at the same time as the other portions of the Jesuits' College. But inasmuch as the demolition of this more than venerable edifice approaches completion, a sketch of the history of its construction may not be amiss.

"Let us preface by saying, with the learned Abbes Laverdiere and Casgrain, that the residence or the Convent of Notre Dame de la Recouvrance, burnt together with the chapel of the same name in 1640, should not be confounded with the College (turned later on into barracks), the foundations of which were not laid until several years afterwards. The Chapel of Notre Dame de la Recouvrance and the Jesuits' house attached thereto, were situated upon the ground upon which the Anglican Cathedral now stands. In the conflagration of 1640, chapel and residence were destroyed; the registers of Civil Status burnt, and the Jesuits lost all their effects. 'We had gathered together in that house,' writes Father Lejeune, 'as in a little store, all the maintenance and support of our other residences and of our missions. Linen, clothing, and all the other necessaries for twenty- seven persons whom we had among the Hurons, were all ready to be conveyed by water into that distant country.' After this disaster, the Jesuits were sheltered for some time at the Hotel Dieu. In 1637 the Fathers of the Company of Jesus in Canada set forth to the Company of New France that they wished to build a college and a seminary for the instruction of Indian youths, the Hurons dwelling 200 leagues from Quebec having sent them six, with the promise of a larger number, and also for the education of the country, and that, for this purpose, they sought a grant of land. The Company of New France awarded them twelve acres of ground in Quebec to build a seminary, church, residence, &c. This grant was made at a meeting of the Directors of the Company, at the hotel of the celebrated Fouquet, on the 18th March, 1637. It was not, however, until the spring of 1647 that the work of digging the foundations of the College was begun--the first stone being laid on the 12th June. 'The same day,' says the _Journal des Jesuites_, 'was laid the first stone of the foundations of the offices of the main-building of the Quebec house. In 1648, we completed the half of the large main-building, in 1649, our building was completed as regards the exterior masonry and the roof; but the interior had not yet been touched.' In July, 1650, the foundations of the chapel were commenced, and on the 18th October, 1651, it was sufficiently advanced to allow the pupils of the college to receive therein Governor de Lauzon. 'The scholars,' says again the _Journal des Jesuites_, 'received Monsieur the Governor in our new chapel, _latina oratione et versibus gallicis_, &c., &c. The Indians (scholars) danced, when ma.s.s was first celebrated in the chapel.' On the 29th May, 1655, a great misfortune befell the good Fathers. The brother known as Jean Liegeois was treacherously a.s.sa.s.sinated. He was their business man; several times he had crossed over from Canada to France in their interests; he was also their architect, and had superintended the building of the residences at their various missions, as well as the erection of the college. On the day in question, while engaged in the fields near Sillery, seven or eight Agniers (Iroquois) suddenly surrounded him, captured him without resistance, and, put a bullet through his heart, and, adds the _Journal des Jesuites_, one of them scalped him, while another chopped off his head, which they loft upon the spot. On the following day the Algonquins found his body and brought it to Sillery, whence it was conveyed in a boat to Quebec, where it was exposed in the chapel, and, on the 31st May, after the usual offices, 'it was interred at the lower end of the chapel; that is to say, in one of the two sides where the altar of the Congregation des Messieurs is now located.' To understand these last words, it is necessary to explain that nearly two years later, on the 14th February, 1657, Father Poncet founded this congregation; and it was M. de Lauzon-Charny, Master of the Woods and Forests of New France, son of Governor de Lauzon, who was elected Prefect of the first members of the body to the number of twelve. This same M. de Charny had married the daughter of M. Giffard, the first Seigneur of Beauport; but his wife dying two years after that marriage, M. de Charny pa.s.sed over to France, where he entered holy orders, subsequently returning to Canada with Mgr. de Laval, whose grand vicar he became, as well as the first ecclesiastical dignitary, inasmuch as he replaced him at the Conseil Souverain at the period of the difficulties between the Bishop of Petrea and Governor de Mesy.