Picturesque Quebec : a sequel to Quebec past and present Part 75

[237] A fairy plot of a flower garden was laid out near the edge of the cliff to the north-east, with a Chinese PaG.o.da enclosing the trunk of a large tree at one side, and a tiny Grecian temple at the other.

[238] Probably the four-gun battery mentioned in the account of the Battle of the Plains. We also find in a diary of the siege operations on the same day, "A mortar and some l8-pounders were carried to Samos, three quarters of a league from the town. Batteries were erected there, which fired before night on the man-of-war that had come to anchor opposite, _L'Ance du Foulon_, which was forced to sheer off."

[239] "Who can visit the sylvan abode, sacred to the repose of the departed without noticing one tomb in particular in the enclosure of Wm.

Price, Esq. we allude to that of Sir Edmund Head's gifted son? The troubled waters of the St. Maurice and the quiet grave at Sillery recall as in a vision, not only the generous open-hearted boy, who perished in one and sleeps in the other, but they tell us also of the direct line of a good old family cut off--a good name pa.s.sing away, or if preserved at all, preserved only on a tombstone."--_Notman's British Americans_.

[240] The late Bishop is the author of a collection of poems known as the _Songs of the Wilderness_, many of the subjects therein having been furnished in the course of his apostolic labours in the Red River settlement.

[241] The following is the extract from the _True Witness_ referred to: "In the reign of George II, the see of York falling vacant, His Majesty being at a loss for a fit person to appoint to the exalted situation, asked the opinion of the Rev. Dr. Mountain, who had raised himself by his remarkable facetious temper to the See of Durham. The Dr.

wittily replied. 'Hadst thou faith, thou wouldst say to this mountain (at the same time laying his hand on his breast) be removed and cast into the sea (see).' His Majesty laughed heartily, and forthwith conferred the preferment on the facetious doctor."

[242] "En 1865, les Iroquois furieux d'avoir vu manquer l'effet de leurs propositions faites aux Hurons, firent des incursions dans la colonie et jusqu'au bas de Quebec. Au mois de mai, on plantait le ble d'Inde dans les environs de Quebec; un frere Jesuite avait voulu engager les Algonquins a faire la garde chacun leur tour et pour leur donner l'exemple, le bon Frere avait voulu etre la premiere sentinelle. Il s'etait donc avance en explorant dans les bois (c'etait dans le voisinage de la propriete actuelle de M. le Juge Caron, sur le Chemin du Cap Rouge), tout a coup le Frere recut deux coups de feu qui l'etendirent a terre grievement blesse, et en meme temps deux Iroquois, sortant d'un taillis, l'a.s.sommerent et lui enleverent la chevelure. (Cours d'histoire de l'abbe Ferland a l'Universite Laval). Page 4, _Journal de l'Instruction Publique_, pour Janvier, 1865."

[243] The Hon. Wm. Sheppard, then President of the Literary and Historical Society of Quebec. Lady Dalhousie had presented to this Society, founded by her husband in 1824, her herbarium (see Vol. I _Transactions_, Literary and Historical Society, page 255).

[244] For anything good in this short sketch of our Wild Flowers, the reader is indebted to Mr. S. S. Sturton, whose paper on the _Wild Flowers of Quebec_ was our guide.--J. M. L.

[245] Mr. Wheeler is a younger brother of J. Talboys Wheeler, the eminent writer on the cla.s.sics, but better known latterly as the Historian of India.

[246] The History of Emily Montague, by Mrs. Brooke, London, 1769.

[247] It has been excessively difficult to procure even one copy of this now old book, the edition being out of print more than sixty years ago.

The _Literary and Historical Society_ of Quebec, is indebted to Edwin King Esq., Post Office Inspector, Montreal, for the only copy I ever saw.

Tradition recalls that Mrs. Brooks the novelist, was the wife of a military Chaplain, stationed in Quebec in 1766. [248] The vinery contains the following new varieties, etc:--Black Alicante Foster's Seedling, White, Muscat Hamburg, Lady Downs, Golden Hamburg, also the common Black Hamburg, Joslyn St. Albans, Muscat of Alexandria, Sweet Water, Black St.

Peter's, &c., &c. The conservatory is stocked with seventy Camellia j.a.ponica of the newest varieties, twenty varieties of choice Azelias; Chorozemas, Heaths, Epacris, Dillwynia, Eriostemon, Acacias, Geraniums, Fuchias, with a large collection of creeping plants, &c.

[249] William Smith was second son of Chief Justice William Smith, of Quebec, born on 7th February, 1769, educated at Kensington Grammar School, London, and came to Canada with his father in 1786. He was appointed, soon after, Clerk of the Provincial Parliament, and subsequently Master in Chancery of the Province of Lower Canada, and, in 1814, was appointed by Earl Bathurst a member of the Executive Council. He was the author of the first English "History of Canada, from its first discovery to the year 1791," a standard work in two volumes. He died at Quebec, 17th December, 1847.

William Smith married Susan, who died at Quebec, 26th Jan, 1819, daughter of Admiral Charles Webber, of the County of Hampshire, England, by whom he left five children:

1. William Breudenell Smith, late Colonel of the 15th Regt., (now of London.)

2. Charles Webber Smith, of London, married Anna Chelworth, and died in 1879, without issue.

3. Emily Ann Smith, married the Rev. Geo., son of General Mackie, late Governor of St. Lucia, and left issue Rev. Dr. Mackie, was for years the Rector of the Anglican Cathedral at Quebec.

4. Louisa Janet Smith, married her cousin Robert Smith, son of Chief Justice Sewell.

5. Caroline Susanna Smith, married Henry, son of Andrew Stuart, M. P., Quebec.--_Magazine of American Hist._, _June_ 1881.

[250] A plan drawn by Jeremiah McCarthy, P. L. S., dated 1802, shows what was the Smith estate on St. Louis Street, in the early part of the century.

[251] _CHIEF JUSTICE WILLIAM SMITH._

(1728-1793.)

Chief Justice William Smith was the eldest son of William Smith, who was a member of His Majesty's Council, and afterwards Judge of the King's Bench for the State of New York. He was born at New York, 18th June, 1728. In his youth, he was sent to a grammar school, and afterwards to Yale College, Connecticut, where he greatly distinguished himself by his learning. He was an excellent Greek and Hebrew scholar, and a thorough mathematician. He was appointed Chief Justice of New York, 24th April, 1780. At the breaking out of the rebellion in 1775, he was a staunch Loyalist, and left New York in the same vessel with the King's troops and Sir Guy Carleton, and landed at Plymouth, 16th January, 1784. As A reward for his loyalty, he was made Chief Justice of Lower Canada, 1st September, 1785, and came to Canada in the Frigate "Thistle" of 28 guns, with Lord Dorchester, the Governor-General of Canada, landing at Quebec, 23rd October, 1786. Chief Justice Smith was the author of the "History of the Province of New York, from the first settlement to the year 1732." He married, 3d November, 1752, Janet, daughter of James Livingstone, Esq., of New York, and died at Quebec, 6th December, 1793. His Royal Highness, Prince Edward, fourth son of King George III, with a numerous train of friends, followed the remains to the grave from his late dwelling on St.

Louis street. He owned the land on which his son-in-law, Chief Justice Sewell, subsequently built his mansion, down, he the lot (inclusive) on which stood his dwelling, and where his son the Hon. William Smith, died in 1847. It is now the property of sheriff Chs. Alleyn.

[252] The Quebec Library a.s.sociation founded by Lord Dorchester at Quebec in 1779.

[253] An accurate and interesting account of the hardships and sufferings of the band of heroes who traversed the wilderness in the campaign against Quebec 1775, by John Joseph Henry, Esq., late President of the Second Judicial District of Pennsylvania--Lancaster, printed by William Greer 1812.

Henry, according to the preface written by his daughter, was born Nov. 4th 1758, at Lancaster, Pennsylvania. In the fall of 1775--being then 17 years of age, he joined a regiment of men raised in Lancaster Co. for the purpose of joining Arnold, who at that time was stationed in Boston. His book is addressed to "my dear children" and a.s.sures them "upon the honour of a gentleman and an honest man, that every word here related, to the best of his recollection and belief is literally true." He with an officer and seven men were dispatched in advance of the army "for the purpose of ascertaining and marking the paths which were used by the Indians at the numerous places in the wilderness towards the head of the river Kennebec, and also to ascertain the course of the river Chaudiere." Each day's proceedings are carefully noted, and are really highly interesting, showing the great privations they had to endure.

[254] The remains of this old French chapel were recently discovered, (the site belongs to R. R. Dobell & Co.) and a small monument erected to Father Ma.s.se who was interred there in 1646.

[255] "7th September, 1759.--Fine warm weather, Admiral Holmes' squadron weighed early this morning. At six o'clock we doubled the mouth of the Chaudiere, which is near half a mile over; and at eight we came to anchor off Cap Rouge. Here is a s.p.a.cious cove, into which the river St. Michael disembogues, and within the mouth of it are the enemy's floating batteries. A large body of the enemy is well entrenched round the cove, (which is of circular form) as if jealous of a descent in those parts; they appear very numerous, and may amount to about one thousand six hundred men, besides their cavalry, who are cloathed in blue, and mounted on neat horses of different colours; they seem very alert, parading and counter marching between the woods on the heights in their rear, and their breastworks, in order to make their number show to the greater advantage.

The lands all around us are high and commanding, which gave the enemy an opportunity of popping at our ships, this morning, as we tacked in working up."--_Knox's Journal, Siege of Quebec_, 1759, vol. ii., page 56.

[256] _AN EARL ON FOX-HUNTING._

The Earl of Winchelsea and Nottingham addressed the following letter to the _Pall Mall Gazette_, in May 1870:--Sir,--The fox is tolerated, nay preserved (under the penalty of conventional ostracism against his slayers,) because he is the only animal with whose intellect man may measure himself upon equal terms without an overwhelming sense of the odds in his favour. The lion, the elephant, the ibex, the chamois, and the red deer are beasts of chase falling before man, but the fox alone can cope with him in point of intellect and sagacity, and put him to all his shifts. It is this ingredient in fox-hunting--viz: the consciousness of having to do with a foe worthy of him, which brings men of all ages, sorts, kinds, intellects, characters, and professions to the covert side, uniting together occasionally as odd an a.s.semblage as ever went into the ark. No man, when he puts on his top-boots in the morning, can say whether he may not be about to a.s.sist at a run which may live in story like the Billesdon Coplow or the Trojan War, and of which it shall be sufficient, not only to the fortunate sportsman himself but to his descendants of the third and fourth generation, to say--he was there!

Villiers, Cholmondeley, and Forester made such sharp play, Not omitting Germaine, never seen till to-day: Had you jug'd of these four by the trim of their pace At Bib'ry you'd thought they had been riding a race.

_Billesdon Coplow_.

"Their fame lives still. But what, O ye sentimentalists! would ye prepare both for fox and fox-hunter? If the fox was not regarded as the only animal possessed of these talents and capabilities, he must shortly rank as a sneaking little robber of hen-roosts, the foe of the good wife and gamekeeper, and become as extinct as a dodo. Were the fox himself consulted, I am sure that he would prefer to this ign.o.ble fate the present pleasant life which he is in the habit of leading upon the sole condition of putting forth all his talent and dying game when wanted."

[257] I am indebted for a deal of information contained in this communication to McPherson LeMoyne, Esq., Seigneur of Crane Island, P.Q., and lately President of the Montreal Club for the _protection of fish and game_.

[258] Chs. Panet, Esq., ex-member for the County of Quebec.

[259] The sanguinary battle of Fontenoy was fought on the 11th May, 1745.

The Duke of c.u.mberland, subsequently surnamed "the butcher," for his brutality at Culloden, commanding the English, &c, the French led by Marechal de Saxe. This defeat, which took place under the eye of Louis XV cost the British 4041, their allies the Hanoverians, 2762 and the Dutch 1541 men. Success continued to attend the French arms at Ghent, Bruges, Oudenarde, and Dendermond, which were captured--(_Lord Mahon_) Wolfe, Murray and Townshend were at Fontenoy. The battle of Lauffeld took place on the 2nd July, 1747, the English commanded by c.u.mberland, the French by Saxe, the chief of the English Cavalry, Sir John Ligonier, being taken prisoner--(_Lord Mahon_). The French victory of Carillon, in which the Militia of Canada bore a conspicuous part, was won near Lake George, 8th July, 1758. The English army, under General Abercrombie, though more numerous, was repulsed with great slaughter.

[260] Chs. Tarieu de Lanaudiere, Knight of St. Louis, commanded a portion of the Canadian Militia at Carillon, and also during the campaign of 1759.

Under the English rule he was Aide de Camp to Sir Guy Carleton--served in 1775, and accompanied the General to England, where George III rewarded him handsomely. He was called to the Legislative Council, and appointed Deputy Postmaster General of Canada.

[261] _Knox's Journal_. Vol. I, p. 179.

[262] The Bureau was at the foot of Mountain Hill, next to (the Old Neptune) _Chronicle_ Office.

[263] For many years, it was the practice to close the gates of Quebec at gun fire (10 p.m.) for carriages, leaving the wicket open only for pedestrians, in the troublous days of 1837-8, the wicket at times was closed.

[264] Mr. Jean Tache, the first owner of the "Old Neptune Inn," and of a poetical turn, wrote the first Canadian poem, int.i.tuled _Tableau de la Mer_.

[265] _History of French Dominion in North and South America_.--Jeffery, London, 1760, page 9.

[266] Montgomery Place, on the Hudson, is now the residence of Mrs. Ed.

Livingston, a country seat of unrivalled beauty.--"It is," says _Downing_, "one of our oldest improved country seats, having been originally the residence of General Montgomery, the hero of Quebec. On the death of his widow, it pa.s.sed into the hands of her brother, Edward Livingston, Esq., the late Minister in France."--page 31.

[267] Major Samuel Holland was also a first rate Engineer. He was, says Abbe Bois, one of the legatees of the late Gen. Wolfe, and died at Quebec, 28th Dec, 1801.

[268] My old friend, the late Wm. Price, Esq., of Wolfe's Field, to whose literary taste and happy memory, I am indebted for several incidents in these pages, and whose written statement I still hold, anent the mysterious stranger could not at the time furnish me with her name, it had escaped his memory, but, as he informed me since he had furnished it to Lady Head, his amiable neighbor of Spenser Wood. (Her name was Neville).

[269] The old Chateau Garden.--This lot, 3 acres, 3 yards, 9-1/2 feet in superficies, was granted to Major Samuel Holland by letters-patent, under the great seal, on the 12th March, 1766, with certain reservations as to the requirements for barracks or fortifications. The Major does not seem to have taken possession of it--but about 1780, General Haldimand having tendered Major Holland the sum of 800 as an indemnity for the use of the land, and the amount being refused, Government took possession of the lot and erected there a five-gun battery. Major Holland died in 1801, and by his will, dated 25th Oct., 1800, bequeathed the property to his wife, Marie Josette Rolet, and his children, John Frederick, Charlotte, Susannah and George Holland, in equal shares.

[270] The original Holland House stood a little behind the present mansion.