Picturesque Quebec : a sequel to Quebec past and present Part 68

[19] Montgomery's House is now a much frequented stand for the sale of cigars, candies, newspapers, &c., to tourists.

[20] William Brown, uncle to the Neilsons, was a Scotchman from Philadelphia, who had been induced to print a journal in Quebec from the representations and information he had collected from William Laing, a Quebec merchant tailor, whom he had met in Scotland.

[21] Twenty-four years in advance of the _London Times_, founded in 1778, but twelve years after the _Halifax Gazette_, published in Halifax, N.S., in March, 1762, by one John Bushnell.

[22] The first books printed in Quebec were:-- "Catechisme Montagnais," 1767.

"Lettre sur la Ville de Quebec," 1774.

"Cantique de Ma.r.s.eilles," 1776.

In Montreal:-- "Reglement de la Confrerie de l'Adoration Perpetuelle du Saint Sacrement et de la Bonne Mort," _Mesplet & Berger_, 1776.

"Jonathan and David, a tragedy, a book of 40 pages," _Mesplet & Berger_, 1776.

"Officium Sacerdotum," _Mesplet & Berger_, 1777.

--(_Montreal Prize Questions in Canadian History_.)

[23] The mode of consulting a Roman lawyer was this: the lawyer was placed on an elevated seat, the client, coming up to him said _Licet consulere?_ The lawyer answered, _consule_. The matter was then proposed, and an answer returned very shortly, thus: _Quaero an existimes_, vel, _id jus est, nec ne? Secundum ea, quae proponuntur, existimo, placet, puto._-- (_Adams' Roman Antiquities_, 201.)

Lawyers gave their opinions either by word of mouth or in writing, commonly without any reasons annexed, but not always.

The lawyers of these days do not, as a rule, see their clients quite so early in the morning as those of Rome did.

Agricolam laudat juris legumque peritus Sub galli cantum, consultor ubi ostia pulsat.

Romae dulce diu fuit et solemne, reclusa Mane domo vigilare, clienti promere jura.

[24] La Hontan, I., 21 (Ed. 1705). In some editions the above is expressed in different language--(From Parkman's _Old Regime_, p. 270.)

[25] It lines a s.p.a.ce in rear, on which the Imperial Government erected, for the British troops in garrison, the Military Hospital. Since 1872, it is used as a temporary Court House, in lieu of the old Court House, built in 1814, and destroyed by fire in 1871. A high wall to the south-east, encloses a lofty eminence surmounted by a flagstaff--the _Mont Carmel_ mentioned by La Potherie, Charlevoix and other old writers. The French had a _Cavalier_ here. A little Eden of flowers, adjacent to the residence of the member for the County of Quebec, Hon. Adolphe P. Caron, Minister of Militia, and son of the late Lieutenant-Governor, Hon. R. E. Caron, now enlivens this eminence. On the same side of the street, about one hundred feet to the east, facing Parloir street, still exists a high-peaked old tenement, to which a livery stable is attached. This house is said to occupy the site on which, in 1759 stood the dwelling of Dr. Arnoux, Jr., the French surgeon under whose roof the gallant Montcalm was brought about noon, on his way from the lost battle of the Plains.

[26] Smith's _History of Canada_, Vol. II, p. 92. _Diary of Siege of_ 1776. _Lit. and Hist. Society Pub., fourth series_, p. 9.

[27] In accepting the _Chateau St. Louis_ as the spot where Montcalm expired, we still wish to leave the question an open one. Did Montcalm expire at the _Chateau_, under Dr. Arnoux's roof, at the General Hospital, as averred by Capt. John Knox, or, possibly, under his own roof on the ramparts, near Hope Gate? This point is not yet cleared up. See disquisition in _Alb.u.m du Touriste_ "Ou est mort Montcalm?"

[28] On the 9th July, 1755, De Beaujeu won this brilliant victory.

[29] The 8th July, 1758, has been rendered famous by Montcalm and his regulars and Canadian militia at Carillon.

[30] Louis Honore Frechette, born at the town of Levis, opposite to Quebec--went through a cla.s.sical course at the Quebec Seminary--studied for the Bar, recently member of parliament for his native county, Levis, under the present Judge for the Kamouraska District, Hon. Henri Taschereau. Represented his native county of Levis in the Commons Parliament from 1873 to 1878. His poetical effusions were published, at Quebec, in 1863, in a small volume, int.i.tuled "Mes Loisirs"; in 1877, a more extensive collection was published under the t.i.tle of "Pele-Mele." He was awarded in 1880, by the _Academie Francaise_ of Paris, the _Grand Prix Monthyon_, 2,000 francs. In April, 1881, Queen's College conferred on Mr.

Frechette the degree of Doctor of Laws, and McGill University also made him an LL.D. Since his marriage in Montreal to Mdlle. Beaudry, the poet resides in that city.

[31] A magnificent banquet had just previously been given to Mr.

Frechette.

[32] The greatest of French Canada's poets died at St. Malo, France, in June 1880, an exile--and fugitive from Justice.

[33] Parkman's _Old Regime_, p. 192.

[34] Bouchette--_Topography of Lower Canada_, 1815.

[35] "There were in that forte and habitation thereof four bra.s.se pieces each weighing about 150 lbs. weight, another piece of bra.s.se ordinance weighing eighty lbs. weight, five iron boxes of shot, for the five bra.s.se pieces of ordinance; two small iron pieces of ordinances weighing each eight cwt. six murderers with their double boxes or chargers, one small piece of ordinance weighing about eighty lbs., forty-five small iron bullets for the service of the aforesaid; five bra.s.se pieces, six iron bullets for the service of the aforesaid, twenty-six bra.s.se-pieces weighing only three lbs. each, thirty or forty lbs. of gunpowder all belonging to M. de Caen, of Dieppe; about thirty lbs. of mettle belonging to the French King; thirteen whole and one broken musket, a harquebush, two large harquebueses five or six foote longe, a piece belonging to the Kinge; five or six thousand leaden bulletts, plate and bars of lead belonging, sixty corselletts whereof two are compleat and pistoll proof; two great bra.s.se pieces weighing eighty lbs., one pavilion to lodge about twenty men belonging to the Kinge, a smith's fordge with appurtenances, all necessaries for a carpenter, all appurtenances of iron work for a windmill; a handmill to grind corn; a bra.s.s bell belonging to the said merchants, and about 2,500 to 3,000 beaver skins in the magazines, and some cases of knives and the forte belonging to the Kinge, and the habitations and houses then belonging to the said merchants were all left standing. * * * * *

"That there were not any victualls or ordinance, sustenance for men in the said forte at the time of taking it, the men in the same having lived by the s.p.a.ce of two months before upon nothing but rootes." (THE CONQUEST OF CANADA, 1629, by _Kirke_, p. 76-7.)

[36] A detailed account of the picturesque interview between Count de Frontenac and Sir Wm. Phipps' envoy in 1690, will be found in _Quebec Past and Present_, p. 122.

[37] This sketch of the old Chateau in 1804, now forms part of the historical alb.u.m of the writer, through the kindness of Mr. Parkman.

[38] "_Toronto of Old_," H. Scadding, D.D., Toronto, 1873, p. 122-3.

[39] The name of Lennox in 1819, was indeed a familiar one in the highways and byways of old Stadacona. There were three brothers, we are told, sons of the Duke; Lord Charles, Lord William Pitt, Lord Arthur Lennox; more than one of them are said to have had a hand in some of the practical jokes so much to the fancy of Quebec military men, barristers, &c, in 1819, some of whom still survive, demure grandfathers, at present.

[40] John Galt, novelist, dramatist, historian, the genial author of "Lawrie Todd," "Annals of the Parish," "The Laird," "Stanley Buxton," "The Radical," "Eben Erskine," "The Stolen Child," "Majolo," "Omen,"

"Kathelun," "Ringan Gilhaize," "Spaewife," "Sir Andrew Wylie," "Provost,"

"Entail," "Steamboat," "The Life of Byron," and other works. Born at Irvine, in Ayrshire, on the 2nd May, 1779, died at Greenock, 11th April, 1839. He came to Canada in 1827, as Secretary to the Canada Land Company, which he had originated, and one of the five Commissioners (Colonel c.o.c.kburn, Sir John Harvey, John Galt, Mr. McGillivray and Mr. Davidson) named by England for the valuation of the Province of Upper Canada. This remarkable man was the founder of Galt, G.o.derich, Guelph, and other western cities, and was the father of three sons, John, Thomas and Sir Alexander Tilloch, the last at present our _charge d'affaires_ in London.

[41] See _Quebec, Past and Present_, page 454.

[42] For full particulars about St Andrew's Church, see "_Quebec, Past and Present_," pages 404-5.

[43] Adam, the oldest; John lost at sea on his voyage to England, in the fall of 1775; and Matthew, who, later on, we think was a partner in the old firm of Lymburner & Crawford, came to his end, in a melancholy manner at the Falls of Montmorency, about 1823. Were they all brothers? we cannot say. Adam and John were.

[44] Mrs. Widow Arch. Campbell closed her long career at Quebec, in November, 1880.

[45] John Sewell, Capt. in 49th (Brock's Regiment), and Lt-Col. Volunteers in 1837.

William Smith Sewell; late Sheriff of Quebec, died 1st June, 1866.

Edmund Willoughby Sewell, Clerk in Holy Orders.

Robert Sh.o.r.e Milnes Sewell, Advocate, died 9th May, 1834.

Maria May Livingstone Sewell, widow of Major Henry Temple, 15th Regiment, died at Quebec in April, 1881.

Henrietta Sewell, wife of Rev. Dr. Frs. J. Lundy, died 17th Nov. 1847.

Henry Doyle Sewell, Clerk in Holy Orders.

James Arthur Sewell, M.D., Professor at Laval University.

Montague Charles Sewell, died 28th February, 1859.

Charlotte DeQuincy Sewell, died 31st December, 1826.

f.a.n.n.y Georgina Sewell, wife of Capt. Trevor Davenport, 1st "Royals."

Eliza Janet Sewell, wife of John Ross, Esq., died 8th May, 1875.

Algernon Robinson Sewell, Lt.-Col. 15th Regiment, died 10th January, 1875.

[46] Histoire de Marie de l'Incarnation, par l'Abbe H. R. Casgrain.

[47] The old homestead, successively owned by Messrs. Timothy H. Dunn and Joseph Shehyn, M.P.P., and now by Mr. J. O. Vallieres, was erected in 1812 for Capt. Benjamin LeMoine, Canadian Militia, the writer's father.

[48] A detailed sketch of this great educational inst.i.tution, descriptive of its origin and const.i.tution, galleries of paintings, museum, library etc., appears at page 361 of "Quebec, Past and Present," to which the reader is referred. We purpose to note the changes which have taken place since the publication of that work only.

[49] In 1808, among other notabilities on the _Rue des Pauvres_, we find that, as appears by a notarial deed of transfer, in the Woolsey estate, before J. Plante, N.P., 28th March, 1808, a grand old relic of the Canadian _n.o.blesse_, la Baronne de Longueuil, the widow of the late Captain David Alexander Grant, of the 94th regiment--to whom she had been united in wedlock at Quebec, on the 7th May, 1781. She then dwelt there in a house belonging to her husband's uncle, the Honorable William Grant (who had died at Quebec in 1805), though her usual abode was on the picturesque family property--on the Island of St. Helen, opposite Montreal. This island was purchased by the Imperial authorities for military purposes about 1815. The dignified, accomplished and queenly old Baronne expired at Montreal on the 7th February, 1841, aged 86 years. Her grandson, Charles Colmore Grant, of London England, now bears the t.i.tle of Baron de Longueuil, in virtue of the gracious recognition of our Sovereign, as set forth in the London (Royal) _Gazette_ of the 4th December, 1880, and Canada _Gazette_ of the 21st January, 1881.

[50] The following was composed by the late Hon J. Sewell, Chief Justice of Lower Canada:--

ADDRESS

_Spoken at the Opening of the Quebec Royal Theatre, February_ 15, 1832.