Chapter XXIX: Appendix: See p. 4 (2)

"The poorly expressed request, for fifteen hundred colonists to take the place of those who had joined the army, remained unanswered--unattended to. Though at the very time the Huguenots solicited as a favour permission to settle in the New World, where they promised to live peaceably under the shadow of their country's flag--which they could not cease to love--it was just when they were denied a request, which had it been granted would have saved Canada and permanently secured it to France. But Colbert's influence," says Garneau, "at Court had fallen away; he was on his death- bed. So long as he was in power he had protected the Calvinists, who had ceased to disturb France and who then were enriching it. His death which took place in 1684, handed them over to the tender mercy of the Chancellor Le Tellier and of the fierce Louvois. The _dragonnades_ swept over the protestant strongholds, awful heralds of the revocation of the edict of Nantes. The king, said a celebrated writer, exhibited his power by humbling the Pope and by crushing the Huguenots. He wished the unification of the Church and of France--the hobby of the great men of the day, presided over by Bossuet. Madame de Maintenon, a converted Calvinist, and who had secretly become his wife (1685) encouraged him in this design and suggested to him the cruel scheme of tearing away children from their parents, to bring them up in the Roman Catholic faith. The vexatious confiscations, the galleys, the torture of the wheel, the gibbet,--all were successively but unsuccessfully resorted to as a means to convert them. The unhappy Protestants' sole aim was to escape from the band which tortured them, in vain were they prohibited from quitting the kingdom, and those who aided them in their flight sent to the galleys--five hundred thousand escaped to Holland, to Germany, to England, and to the English colonies in America. They carried thither their wealth, their industry, and after such a separation--ill blood and thirst for revenge, which subsequently cost their native country very dear. William III, who more than once charged the French troops at the heads of French regiments, and Roman Catholic and Huguenot regiments, were seen, when recognising one another on the battle-field, to rush on one another with their bayonets, with an onslaught more ferocious than soldiers of different nationalities exhibit to one another. How advantageous would not have been an emigration, strong in numbers and composed of men, wealthy, enlightened, peaceful, laborious, such as the Huguenots were--to people the shores of the St. Lawrence, or the fertile plains of the West? At least, they would not have borne to foreign lands the secret of French manufactures, and taught other nations to produce goods which they were in the habit of going and procuring in the ports of France. A fatal policy sacrificed these advantages to the selfish views of a party--armed by the alliance of the spiritual and temporal power with an authority, which denied the breath of life to conscience as well as to intellect. 'If you and yours are not converted, before such a day, the king's authority will ensure your conversion,' thus wrote Bossuet to the dissenters. We repeat it, had this policy not been resorted to, we should not be reduced, we Canadians, to defend every foot of ground, our language, our laws, and our nationality, against an invading hostile sea. How will pardon be granted to fanaticism, for the anguish and suffering inflicted on a whole people, whose fate has been rendered so painful, so arduous--whose future has been so grievously jeopardized.

"Louis XIV, who had myriads of dragoons to butcher the Protestants, and who by his own fault was losing half a million of his subjects--the monarch who dictated to Europe, could only spare two hundred soldiers to send to Quebec, to protect a country four times larger than France, a country which embraced Hudson's Bay, Acadia, Canada, a large portion of Maine, of Vermont, New York, and the whole Mississippi valley"-- _Garneau's History of Canada_, (Vol. I. p. 492-96--1st edition.)

[See page 107.]

_VENERABLE MOTHER OF THE INCARNATION._

"In one of the many works which the philosopher of Chelsea has given to the world, we find the assertion of a great truth that history is but the biography of leading men. The poet of Cambridge also tells us that the lives of the great are so many models, and that as they have left their footprints on the sands of time, so may we by following their noble example render our lives illustrious. These reflections of the philosopher and poet extend no doubt to those of the fairer sex, in whom exalted virtue was manifested, and whose devotion in the pursuit of noble deeds awakens the spirit of emulation in all hearts. From the earliest period of time heroic women have appeared. The mother of the Maccabees, the mother of the Gracchi, the grand prophetesses whose actions are recorded in that sublimest of books, the Bible--these and many others adorn the pages of history, whether sacred or profane, and afford living, ever-present proofs, that the pathway of glory and honour may be pursued by even the weaker members of the human race.

In Canada, youthful though her record may be, there have appeared actresses on the great stage of humanity, whose virtues appeal for admiration, whose nobility of soul provokes general reverence, and whose impress upon the future destinies of the country is of a more profound nature than may be imagined at first sight.

Foremost among such heroic women, may be regarded the foundress of the Ursuline Convent in Quebec, the Venerable Mother Mary of the Incarnation. Gifted by nature, burning with zeal for the welfare of souls, imbued with the greatest confidence in the mercies of a bountiful Creator, she fully realized the great idea of Blessed Angela de Merici, that the preservation of the world from innumerable evils, largely depended upon the correct training of youth. Born in sunny France, she braved the dangers of the deep, so that on our virgin soil she might plant the pure, untainted flag of Christian education; and, now that the Province of Quebec has emerged from the lowliness of its early condition--now that the settlers by the banks of the St. Lawrence have become a great people, with a literature all their own, rich in its very youthful exuberance, with their language preserved, and the free exercise of their religion guaranteed no less by the faithful adherence to treaty obligations, than by their own hardy devotion, we can calmly review the past, and gratefully acknowledge the blessings bestowed on the country through the instrumentality of that lady who founded that holy sisterhood in our midst, which daily labours to honour the Intelligence of God, by the cultivation of intellectual graces. Few, indeed, are the families in Quebec which have not experienced the value of the Ursuline community in our city. One of the crowns of womanhood is gained in Christian education--an education which falls upon the soil of the soul, like freshening dew, and adorns the heart and mind with the flowers of virtue. Hence the life of the Venerable Mother Mary should be carefully studied and pondered over; hence her deeds should be proclaimed and her saintly legacies preserved, and therefore, it is, that the writer humbly calls attention to a new work, written by a daughter of Erin, written lovingly and sweetly in the quiet precincts of the Ursuline Convent, Blackrock, Cork, and in which may be found the story of the devoted French woman, whose name is now inseparably linked with that of Canada, told in chaste language worthy alike of the virtuous theme, and of the ability which marks the narration. The earlier days of the French Colony are depicted therein; and with an accuracy no less commendable than useful. In fact the book is eminently a readable one, the object of the publication being to extend the knowledge which all of us ought to possess of one whose life glorified God, and whose advent to our shores was a very benediction."

JAMES JOSEPH GAHAN.

Quebec, 27th January, 1881.

We copy the following from the _Quebec Gazette_, 10th October, 1793:--

THE VARIATION OF THE NEEDLE AT QUEBEC.

"For the information of the curious, the particular benefit of Land Surveyors, and safety of seafaring people, please to insert in your _Gazette_, that from critical observation on the variation of the needle at Quebec, it is found to be on the decrease, or in other words to be again returning to the Eastward,--a proof of which is, that in 1785, when the Meridian line on Abraham's Plains was ascertained by me, the variation was found to be 12 degrees, 35 minutes West; whereas at present the variation is no more than 12 degrees, 5 minutes West, having in the space of eight years diminished half a degree.

I am sir,

Your most obedient humble servant.

(Signed,) SAMUEL HOLLAND.

Quebec, 8th October, 1793.

How do matters now stand, Commander Ashe?

"VARIATION OF THE NEEDLE AT QUEBEC."

(_To the Editor of the Morning Chronicle._)

DEAR SIR,--"For the information of the curious, the particular benefit of Land Surveyors, and safety of sea-faring people," I will endeavor to explain how our compass variation stands.

With regard to the reprint from the _Quebec Gazette_ of 1793, in the Chronicle of the 23rd instant, in which Major Samuel Holland observes that he had passed our Maximum Westerly Variation, it is very likely that such was the case, as I find that Major Sabine in 1818, found the Variation for London to be 24° 30' West, and in 1822 to have retrograded to 24° 12': this was not only the case in England, but all over Europe where observations were taken, so that there is no doubt that the same disturbing influence was affecting the needle here in 1793. Whatever that influence is, it must shortly alter. Major Samuel Holland's observations have affected us in the opposite direction, for in 1860 Captain Bayfield found the variation for Quebec to be 15° 45' West, with an annual increase of 5', which would give the present variation as about 17° 0' West. This agrees very closely with observations taken here last November for deviation, which with range of only 7° 30', gave a mean result of 17° 3' 9" West. I am, &c,

E. D. ASHE, Commander R. N.

Observatory, Quebec, Feb. 23rd, 1876.

_OUR CITY BELLS--THEIR NAMES._

1st. Bell, Louise; 2nd, Olivier Geneviève; 3rd, Pierre Marie; 4th, Marie- Joseph-Louise-Marguerite; 5th, Jean-Olivier, &c.

"Now, on the gentle breath of morn,
Once more I hear that _chiming_ bell,
As onward, slow, each note is borne,
Like echo's lingering, last farewell."
(_The Evening Bells_, of the General Hospitals:
by ADAM KIDD.--1829.)

"Quebec Bells are an institution of the present and of the past:" so says every Tourist. To the weary and drowsy traveller, steeped at dawn in that "sweet restorer, balmy sleep," under the silent eaves of the St. Louis or Stadacona hotel, this is one of the features of our city life, at times unwelcome. We once heard a hardened old tourist savagely exclaim, "Preserve me against the silvery voice of Quebec Evening _Belles_, I rather like your early Morning Bells." Another tourist, however, in one of our periodicals closes a lament over Quebec "Bell Ringing," with the caustic enquiry "Should not Bell Bingers be punished?"

Being more cosmopolitan in our tastes, we like the music of our City Bells in the dewy morn, without fearing the merry tones of our City _Belles_, when the silent shades of evening lends them its witchery. There is certainly as much variety in the names as there is in the chimes of our Quebec Bells.

Though the Bells of the "ancient capital" are famous in history and song, Quebec cannot boast of any such monsters of sound as the "Gros Bourdon" of Montreal--weighing 29,400 lbs., dating from 1847, "the largest bell in America." The R. C. Cathedral in the upper town, raised in 1874, by His Holiness, Pius IX to the high position of _Basilica Minor_, the only one on the continent--owns two bells of antique origin; the Parish Register traces as follows, their birth and christening. "1774--9th October. The Churchwardens return thanks to His Lordship Jean 0. Briand, Bishop, for the present he made of the big bell, which, exclusive of its clapper, weighs 3,255 lbs. Name, LOUISE, by Messieur Montgolfier, _Grand Vicaire_, and Mdlle de Léry, representing its Matron. Blessed by Monsigneur Louis Masriacheau D'Esgley, coadjutor."

"1778. 28th July. Christening of the bells by M. Noel Voyer, on the 22nd July. Blessed by _Sa Grandeur_, Monseigneur Briand; the first weigh 1,625 lbs.--named OLIVIER GENEVIÈVE--Godfather, _Sa Grandeur_, with Madame Chanazard wife of M Berthelot 7 yards of white damask given as a (christening) dress. The second, was called PIERRE MARIE, by M. Panet, Judge of the Court, and his wife Marie Anne Rottot; said bell weighing 1,268 lbs."

A halo of poetry hovers over some of our bells. About 1829, Adam Kidd, a son of song, hailing from Spencer Wood,--a friend of the Laird of the Manor--Hon. H M Percival, wrote some graceful lines on the _Church Bells_ of the General Hospital Convent. This poem was published at the _Herald_ and _New Gazette_ office, in Montreal. In 1830, with the _Huron Chief_, and other poems by Kidd, and by him inscribed to Tom Moore, "the most popular, most powerful and most patriotic poet of the nineteenth century, whose magic numbers have vibrated to the heart of nations," says the Dedication.

A delightful volume has recently been put forth by a Ursuline Nun, entitled "GLIMPSES OF THE MONASTERY," in which the holy memories of the cloister blend with exquisite bits of word painting; we find in it a glowing sketch of the Convent Bells, and of the objects and scenery, surrounding the "Little World" of the Ursulines. "Marriage Bells" are of course left out.

The writer therein alludes to that short-lived bell of Madame de la Peltrie, melted in the memorable fire of the 31st December, 1650, which the pious lady used to toll, to call "the Neophytes to the waters of baptism, or the newly made Christians to Holy Mass."

(_See page 113._)

(_From "Trifles from my Diary."_)

"_GENERAL WOLFE'S STATUE," CORNER PALACE STREET_

BY THE AUTHOR OF "MAPLE LEAVES."

Olim truncus eram ficulnus, inutile lignum,
Cum faber, incertus scamnum faceretne Priapum
Maluit esse Deum.
Horace, Sat I. 8.

Henry Ward Beecher begins an amusing sketch of our city with the words, "Queer old Quebec,--of all the cities on the Continent of America, the quaintest." He concludes his humorous picture by expressing the wish that it may remain so without being disturbed by the new-fangled notions of the day. Some one has observed that its walls, streets, public places, churches and old monasteries, with the legends of three centuries clinging to them, give you, when you enter under its massive gates, hoary with age, [344] the idea of an "old curiosity shop," or, as the name Henry Ward Beecher well expresses it, "a picture book, turning over a new leaf at each street." It is not then surprising that the inhabitants should have resorted not only to the pen of the historian to preserve evergreen and fragrant the historical ivy which clings to its battlements, but even to that cheap process, in use in other countries, to immortalize heroes-- signboards and statues--a process recommended by high authority. We read in that curiously interesting book, "History of Signboards--"

"The Greeks honored their great men and successful commanders by erecting statues to them; the Romans rewarded their popular favorites with triumphal entries and ovations; modern nations make the portraits of their celebrities serve as signs for public-houses:

Vernon, the Butcher Cumberland, Wolfe, Hawke,
Prince Ferdinand, Granby, Burgoyne, Keppel, Howe,
Evil and good have had their tithe of talk,
And filled their signpost then, like Wellesley now."

If Wolfe served as a signboard recently in Britain, he has filled the same office now close on a century in Canada, and still continues to do so. He has defied wind and weather ever since the day when the Cholette Brothers affixed to the house at the north-west corner of St. John and Palace streets a rough statue of the gallant young soldier in the year 1771, with one arm extended in the attitude of command, and pointing to the Falls of Montmorency.

Nor has Mr. de Gaspé, the author of the "Canadians of Old," thought it beneath his pen to indite an able disquisition on its origin, brimful of wealth for our antiquaries and a great deal more practical in its bearings than even Jonathan Oldbuck's great Essay on Castrametation. A Three Rivers antiquarian had attempted to establish that it was Ives Cholette who had been the sculptor of the statue in question, but our old friend (through the church registers--and through ancient and irrefutable records) showed it could neither be Ives Cholette, aged, in 1771, 10 years, nor his younger brother Hyacinthe, aged then but 8 years, who had designed this great work of art, but Cholette of another ilk. [345]

In these halycon days of old Quebec, free from municipal taxes, Fenian scares and labor strikes, when the practical joker [346] and _mauvais sujets_, bent on a lark, would occasionally take possession, after night-fall, of some of the chief city thoroughfares, and organize a masquerade, battering unmercifully with their heavy lanterns. Captain Pinguet's _hommes de guêt_,--the night patrol--long before Lord Durham's blue-coated "peelers" were thought of, the historic statue would disappear sometimes for days together; and after having headed a noisy procession, decorated with _bonnet rouge_ and one of those antique camloteen cloaks which our forefathers used to rejoice in, it would be found in the morning grotesquely propped up, either in the centre of the old Upper Town market, or in the old Picote cemetery in Couillard street [347], in that fanciful costume (a three-storied _sombrero_, with eye-glass and _dudeen_) which rendered so _piquant_ some of the former vignettes on the Union Bank notes. I can yet recall as one of the most stirring memories of my childhood, the concern, nay, vexation, of Quebecers generally when the "General" was missing on the 16th July, 1838, from his sacred niche in Palace street, and was subsequently triumphantly replaced by the grateful citizens,--rejuvenated, repainted, revarnished, with the best materials Halifax could furnish, the "General" having been brought there by the youngsters of the "Inconstant" frigate, Captain Pring, from Quebec. It would appear the roystering middies, having sacrificed copiously to the rosy god, after rising from a masonic dinner in the Albion Hotel, in Palace street, had noticed the "General" by the pale moonlight, looking very seedy, and considering that a sea voyage would set him up, had carried him on board. The General was driven down in a calèche by Colvin of St. Louis street--a carter--through Palace Gate, standing erect; the sentry presenting arms, as if he were saluting the officer of the night. He was safely introduced through a port-hole, the seaman of the watch, shaking his head knowingly, saying--"One of our swells pretty tight, I guess." From Halifax "General Wolfe" sailed for Bermuda--thence to Portsmouth, at both of which places he was jauntily set up as a signboard; a short time after he was re-shipped to Halifax, packed in a box, with his extended arm sawn off lying by his side. Fearing, however, the anger of the Quebec authorities, the "General" was painted afresh and returned by the "Unicorn" steamer, "Cape Douglas," which plied between the Lower Ports,--with the "Inconstants'" best regards to their Quebec friends, and best wishes for the General's health and safety.

The following extract from the journal of the venerable Jas. Thompson, the last survivor of Wolfe's army, who expired at the ripe age of 98 years--in 1830, throws light on this matter. This anecdote was reduced to writing, and by request forwarded by him to His Excellency the Earl of Dalhousie, through his A.D.C. and brother Col. Ramsay. "We had a loyal fellow in Quebec, one George Hipps, a butcher, who owned that house at the corner of Palace and John streets, still called 'Wolfe's Corner,' and as it happened to have a niche, probably for the figure of a saint, [348] he was very anxious to fill it up, and he thought he could have nothing better than a statue of General Wolfe; but he did not know how to set about getting one. At last he found out two French sculptors, who were brothers--of the name of Cholette, and asked me if I thought I could direct them how to make a likeness of the General in wood. I said I would, at all events, undertake it, and accordingly the Cholettes tried to imitate several sketches I gave them; but they made but a poor job of it after all; for the front face is no likeness at all, and the profile is all that they could hit upon. The body gives but a poor idea of the General, who was tall and straight as a rush. So that after my best endeavors to describe his person, and I knew it well, for which purpose I attended every day at their workshop which was in that house in St. Louis street where the Misses Napier are now (1828) residing, [349] and which is somewhat retired from the line of the street, the shop itself being on the projecting wing--I say that we made but a poor "General Wolfe" of it. It has been several times--the house being only one storey high--pulled down by mischievous persons and broken, and as often repaired by the several owners of the house; and, much to their credit be it spoken, it still keeps its ground, and I hope it will do so until the monument is finished. [350]

"I suppose that the original parts of the statue must be as rotten as a pear and would be mouldered away if it was not for their being kept so bedaubed with paint."

Note.--Officers of H.B.M. frigate "Inconstant," Capt. Pring: 1st Lieut. Hope; Lieutenants and other officers,--Sinclair, Erskine, Curtis, Connolly, Dunbar, McCreight, Sharpe, Stevens, Hankey, Shore, Barnard, West, Tonge, Prevost, Amphlett, Haggard, Tottenham, Maxfield, Paget, Kerr, Herbert, Jones, Montgomery. Mr. James was purser. L. de Tessier Prevost is now high in command, having distinguished himself in the Indian seas, capturing pirates: West and others are admirals, (1870).

[_See page 197_.]

_2 Sept_, 1796. VENTE D'UNE NEGRESSE PAR FRANCIS BELLET A TH. LEE

Pardevant le Notaire Public en la Province du Bas Canada, résidant à St- Denis sur la rivière et comté Richelieu, soussigné et témoins enfin nommés, fut présent Messire Louis Payet prêtre, Curé de la paroisse de St- Antoine au nord de la rivière Richelieu, lequel a constitué pour son procureur spécial M. François Bellet, capitaine de bâtiment, résidant en la ville de Québec, pour vendre pour et au nom du dit constituant et à son plus grand avantage qu'il pourra faire, une négresse d'environ trente et une années, appelée Rose, appartenant au dit constituant par achat devant M. J. Pierre Gautier, notaire à Montréal, en date du mois mars 1795, dont il s'oblige remettre l'expédition si besoin est à la première Réquisition, pour le prix et somme que le dit procureur en trouvera du reçu donner toute quittance valable et raisonable, approuvant d'avance comme alors, tout ce que ce dit procureur aura fait concernant la dite vente, ce fut ainsi fait et passé à St-Denis, étude du notaire soussigné, l'an mil sept cent quatre-vingt seize le deux de septembre avant midi présence des Srs. Charles Gariépy et Jean-Baptiste Gosselin au dit lieu, témoins à ce appellé, qui ont signé avec Messire Louis Payet et notaire soussigné, ainsi signé Charles Gariépy, Jean-Bte. Gosselin, L. Payet, Chs. Michaud Nre. Pc. à la minute des présentes demeurée en la Garde et possession du dit notaire soussigné.

CHS. MICHAUD.
Nre. Pc.

Par devant les notaires publics en la province du Bas Canada résidens à Québec soussignés.

Fut présent M. Francis Bellet demeurant en sa maison, rue sous le Fort, en cette ville, lequel en vertu de la procuration ci-dessus et précédentes pages reconnaît et déclare avoir vendu et vendre à M. Thomas Lee du dit Québec, la nommée Rose, négresse, dénommée et désignée en la dite obligation, pour prix et somme de cinq cents livres de vingt sols et de la lui délivrer incessement le dit Sieur acquéreur déclarant la connaître et l'accepter, et a payé les dites cinq cents livres au dit Sieur vendeur en billet de la dite somme, ordre du dit sieur Bellet, lequel acquitté, la présente vente le sera aussi, Québec, neuvième septembre en l'office de M. Dumas, Notaire, l'an mil sept cent quatre-vingt seize et ont signé, lecture faite avec les dits notaires

FRANCOIS BELLET
THOMAS LEE.
CHS. VOYER,
N. Public.
A. DUMAS.
Not. Pub.

[_See page_ 200.]

THE ICE-SHOVE. APRIL, 1874

WHOLESALE DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY--A SAD SPECTACLE

"At the very moment of its departure, and when the entire city was rejoicing in the longed-for event--at the very time when the glad news was flashing over the wires to Montreal and the West, that Nature's barrier to the uninterrupted navigation of the St. Lawrence was so slowly floating away--we regret to say that the ice-bridge of 1874 was making itself memorable yesterday to Quebec in a shape more formidable than its perverse tenacity or its injurious effects upon trade. It was rioting in a perfect orgie of destruction, crushing man's handwork in its passage like so much frail glass in the grasp of a giant. At 3.20 p.m., when the glad announcement passed from mouth to mouth that the ice was moving, it began its destructive work. The scene was at Blais Booms and the immediate neighborhood, where the Government steamers _Napoleon III_ and _Druid_, the Gulf Ports steamers _Georgia_, _Miramichi_ and _Hadji_ and a large number of tug steamers and other craft belonging to the St. Lawrence Tow Boat Company and other parties were in winter quarters and have been in the habit of so doing for years on account of the superior facilities and safety offered by the place. Nearly a hundred craft of all kinds, steamers, ships, schooners, and barges, were here congregated, moored in many instances together and extending over a line of nearly 300 yards. The floating ice as it came down, struck the outside craft--a sailing vessel, we believe--driving it against its neighbor, the _Georgia_, and then hurrying both of them against the others, jamming them against each other and against the wharves in inextricable confusion and causing a tremendous amount of damage, if not irreparable loss. Some were stove in, filled with water and sunk, only leaving their bows or masts above water to mark where they had gone down, while others disappeared from view altogether. Fortunately no lives were lost. The loss and damage to property cannot fall far short, we believe, of a million of dollars. The following is a summary of the accident:

Government steamer _Napoleon III_ driven against the Mariner's Chapel wharf had her side completely stove in; full of water and almost keeled over, very badly damaged, and will cost a heavy sum to repair. She had steam up at the time, but could not move out. Broke her cables and lost her anchors.

Gulf Ports steamer _Georgia_--Hole stove in her side; hold, full of water. Damage easily repaired.

Gulf Ports SS. _Hadji_--Singular to say, though the boat was in the very middle of the confused mass, it received no damage worth mentioning.

Gulf Ports SS. _Miramichi_--very slightly damaged. Will be extricated to-day and proceed to her wharf, to sail for below on Tuesday next.

Government steamer "Druid,"--on her beam ends, slightly damaged.

Steamboat "Napoleon,"--keeled over,

Steamboat "Mersey,"--on her side.

Steamboat "Canada,"--sunk.

Steamboat "Beaver,"--sunk, completely disappeared.

Steamboat "Castor"--disappeared.

Steamboat "Rival"--badly damaged.

Steamboat "Shannon,"--badly damaged.

Steamboat "Rescue,"--sunk, lies under the bows of the "Miramichi."

Steamboat "Conqueror No. 1,"--badly damaged.

A schooner, owned by Mr. Kennedy, of Gaspé, laden with provisions, and which was detained here last fall, was also sunk and lies near the "Georgia." In addition two of Mr. H. H. Hall's blocks or piers were completely carried away by the crushing weight of the ice."--(Quebec Budget.)

[_See page 317_.]

_THE PISTOLS AND SASH OF GENERAL WOLFE_, 1759.

(_To the Editor of the Morning Chronicle_.)

DEAR SIR,--Would you allow me to supply in your columns additional information on an incident relating to the siege of Quebec in 1759. By the following documents, which come to me with every guarantee of reliability in the writer, it would appear that the gallant General Wolfe, before expiring on the Plains of Abraham, on the 13th of Sept, 1759, bequeathed his pistols and sash to one of the surgeons who attended him. Dr. Elihu or Edward Tudor was a Welshman, born in 1733. He graduated at Yale College, 1750, joined the English army in 1755, was present at the taking of Quebec, and left the service about 1767, receiving a pension and grant of land from the English Government. These relics are now in the possession of Dr. Tudor's grand daughter, Mrs. Strong, at Monkton, awaiting farther particulars.

I remain, Dear Sir,

Yours, &c.

J. M. LeMoine.

_STATE OF VERMONT_,

SENATE CHAMBER,

MONKTON, April 26th, 1875.

J. M. LeMoine, Esq., Literary and Historical Society, Quebec.

SIR,--Please find enclosed statement of Mrs. Strong relative to the pistols and sash of Gen. Wolfe. You will undoubtedly remember that I wrote to you last winter, and that you answered asking for something more authentic. Consequently I drew up a set of questions, leaving after each question space for answer. Now I return them to you. There is no question in the minds of people here about the facts as stated by Mrs. Strong. The authority of the matter is as established here as that Mr. Harrower is proprietor of Gen. Montgomery's sabre. I should be very happy to receive one of the books that are being prepared of that era in the history of Quebec.

I have the honor, sir, of being at your service, G. E. SMITH.

STRONG AND MIDDLEBROOKE,

VERGENNES, Vt., 1875.

Dr. Elihu or Edward was descended from Owen Tudor, who came from Wales with the Puritans, was born 1733, graduated at Yale College 1750, joined the army 1755, was at the taking of Quebec and the Havana; about 1767; he was discharged and returned to his native place; he received a pension during his life, and also a grant of land from the English Government.

The above statement is made by C. W. Strong, of the above firm.

C. E. SMITH

Will Mrs. Strong please answer the following questions:--

What is your maiden name?--Sarah Tudor.

What was your father's name in full and profession?--Edward Tudor, educated at Philadelphia as Physician, Surgeon and Dentist.

What was your grandfather's name and profession?--Elihu Tudor, Physician and Surgeon,--generally wrote it _Edward_, as he disliked the name of _Elihu_.

When and where was he born?--Feb. 1733, Windsor, Conn.

When and where did he die?--East Windsor, Conn., 1826.

Was he Surgeon on Gen. Wolfe's staff's at Quebec in 1759?--He was.

How do you know that your grandfather Tudor attended upon Gen. Wolfe when he was wounded on the 13th Sept., 1759, at Quebec?--I have often heard my grand father relate the circumstances and other interesting reminiscences of the General.

What is the history or tradition as you have it that Gen. Wolfe gave your grandfather his pistols?--The history he (my grandfather) gave was only, that they were given him at the death of Gen. Wolfe.

Describe them--They are rifle breech-loaders, London maker, Flint Locks, silver mounted, with English coat of arms on butt; the sash was cut up; Dr. Strong has a piece; it is stained.

Have you them in your possession?--My son, Dr. Edward Strong, of Crown Point, N. Y., has them.

Have you the sash worn by Surgeon Tudor at the time the General was killed?--The sash was three yards long, Crimson silk. It was Gen. Wolfe's sash given to my grandfather.

What is said of stains of blood upon it from the wound that caused Wolfe's death?--It was rent with the shot, and stained with his blood.

MRS. SARAH TUDOR STRONG.

_THE POST OFFICE.

"In a recent issue of the _Journal des Trois Rivières_ appeared a somewhat interesting paper on the Canadian postal system. From this paper we learn that on the cession of this country to Great Britain a regular mail courier was established between the cities of Montreal and Quebec. The celebrated Benjamin Franklin was the Deputy Postmaster General for the English colonies from 1750 to 1774. In 1776 this functionary, while giving evidence before a committee of the British Parliament, stated that, as a rule, the mail courier kept the route by the water highways, seldom penetrating into the interior. From his evidence, also, we learn that the mail communication between Quebec and Montreal was not more frequent than once a month. For not having established intermediate post-offices between the two towns, Franklin alleged the great distance between the settlers on the banks of the St. Lawrence, the isolation of the Canadian villages, and the excessive difficulty of intercommunication in his day. The fact is, however, that Benjamin Franklin was a great enemy to Canadian prosperity, and always looked with aversion upon the people of the newly-acquired colony. In 1774, war having broken out between the mother-country and the English colonies, Franklin was deprived of his office, and Mr. Hugh Finlay, a subordinate of the great republican philosopher, was appointed Deputy Postmaster General for Canada. Mr. Finlay had been given great proofs of capacity under the previous _régime_, and being a man of very high character and probity, he was armed with large discretionary powers to put the mail system of Canada on a better footing, and to make its operations more extended and regular. Until 1790, there were added but two intermediate post-offices between Quebec and Montreal; in the year following, offices were opened at Three Rivers and Berthier. Every month, however, a mail messenger was sent by way of Halifax to England. At this date the local mail betwixt Quebec and Halifax was bi-weekly in summer, and once a week in winter; the local mail between Quebec and Montreal had increased to twice a week. In 1800, Mr. Hugh Finlay was succeeded in office by Mr. George Heriot. This gentleman, being also commissioned as Deputy Postmaster General for New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, as well as for the two Canadas, had to oversee the service throughout all these provinces and to visit them from time to time. In the four first years of his administration he opened but one new post-office in Lower Canada, and five in the Upper Province. Matters progressed slowly enough until 1816, when Mr. David Sutherland succeeded Mr. Heriot. In 1817 be opened six additional offices of delivery in Lower Canada which made the total number of offices in operation thirteen. Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island were placed under the management of independent offices, and in that year the mails were still expedited but weekly to New Brunswick. In 1824, Mr. Sutherland was succeeded by Mr. Thomas Allen Stayner, and it was in this year that New Brunswick was endowed with an independent postal department. Mr. Stayner administered his important office for the space of twenty- seven years, with great zeal and giving entire satisfaction to the public. He greatly increased the number of local offices, and inaugurated many of the reforms which have since developed into that vast and safe system of communication with which our people are so familiar. On the 6th of April, 1851, the Canadian Mail Department was transferred from the Imperial to Provincial control, the first Postmaster General being the Hon. John Morris. Some idea of the progress made from 1760 to 1851, a period of ninety years, may be obtained by contrasting the department under Benjamin Franklin and that over which Mr. Morris was called to preside. The courier, who made monthly journeys on horseback between the military posts of Quebec and Montreal, and whose safe arrival at either of those then distant cities would no doubt cause the utmost satisfaction to the King's lieges, male and female, had been replaced by the steamboat and soon would be by the railway; and the two primitive post offices of Canada had expanded into a network of 601 local offices, transmitting among them letters to the number of 2,132,000 annually. In 1861 these figures had attained to 1775 offices, and the number of letters transmitted to 9,400,000; in addition to a weekly line of ocean mail steamers to Europe, over 1200 miles of railway doing mail service from one end of Canada to the other, and a magnificent network of telegraphic wire supplementing the postal system. What the number of offices and of letters carried may have been for the last year ending July 1867, when the postal systems of the Dominion were again placed under one head, we have not at hand, but we may state that during the official term of Hon. Mr. Langevin, now Secretary of State, the revenue from this source attained almost $900,000.

In the year 1851, the system of cheap postage was tried in Canada, the rate being reduced from an average one of fifteen cents to a uniform rate of five cents for prepaid and seven cents for unpaid letters. In the following year this reform resulted in doubling the number of letters carried, with the reduction of only one-third of the previous revenue; and in a short time the receipts not only increased to the former figure but greatly exceeded it. Under the new system we expect this reform in the charge for postage will be greatly extended."--(_Quebec Mercury_.)

[_See page 263._]

_MONUMENT OF THE VICTIMS OF 1837-'38_

"_L'Ordre_ newspaper announces the completion of the monument in the Côte des Neiges Cemetery to the memory of the victims of 1837-38. It required many efforts and great energy to bring to a completion a work which had unhappily encountered many difficulties. For some months, furnished with sums collected either by a special or general subscription, or the proceeds of concerts and pleasure excursions, the Committee applied themselves to the work, and on Sunday they went to take possession from Mr. T. Fahrland, architect, and Mr. L. Hughes, the constructor of the monument. The inauguration will take place next summer.

Situated on the highest elevation of the Cemetery, this monument commands the vast resting place of the dead. It is of octagonal shape, 55 feet in height, the pyramid reposing on a base of 80 by 90 feet. The architecture, stern and grand, strikes the beholder at a distance, and his admiration will not cease as he approaches. On the four sides of the base white marble tablets are set, having neatly engraved on them these inscriptions (in French):

On the first stone, facing the road, we read:

To the
Political Victims
of
1837-1838.
Religious Souvenir
The 92 Resolutions adopted by the Assembly of Lower Canada,
March 1st, 1834
Subsidies refused by the Assembly of Lower Canada, Feb 23rd, 1836.
Lord Gosford
Disposes of the Public Money notwithstanding the refusal to grant it.
This religious and historical monument has been erected under the auspices
of the _Institut Canadien_ in 1858.

L. HUGHES, T. FAHRLAND,
Contractor. Architect

On the second stone:

BATTLES OF ST. DENIS AND ST. CHARLES,
23rd and 25th Nov., 1837.

Charles Ovide Perrault, Advocate, M.P.P.

Charles St. Germain Benjamin Bouthillier Olivier L'Escaut
François Dufaux Romain dit Mandeville Joseph Comeau
André Mandeville Moïse Pariseau Henri Chaume
Eusèbe Phaneuf Pascal Delisle Louis Dauphinais
Pierre Minet Marie Anne Martel Gabriel Lusignan
Joseph Dudevoir Amable Hébert Toussaint Paquet
Antoine Amiot J. Bte. Hébert Marc Jeannotte
J. Bte. Patenaude Toussaint Loiselle François Dubuc
Cléophas Bourgeois François Dumaine Hypolite Sénécal-Lamoureux
Pierre Emery-Coderre,
And eleven other victims not identified.

On the third stone, facing the city:

EXECUTED AT MONTREAL;
By the order of the Court Martial.
The 21st December, 1838,
Joseph Narcisse Cardinal, Notary, M. P. P.
Joseph Duquet, Student at Law.
The 18th January, 1839:
François Marie Thomas Chevalier de Lorimier, Notary.
François Nicholas, Teacher, Amable Daunais, Farmer.
Pierre Rémi Narbonne, Painter. Charles Hendelang, Soldier.

And on the fourth side we read:

BATTLE OF ST. EUSTACHE,
15th December, 1837:

Jean Olivier Cherrier, M.D.
(His ashes repose here.)

Joseph Payette Amable Lauzon Alexis Lachance
J. B. L. Lanze Jean Morin Joseph Leduc
Nazaire Filion Jean Doré Eustache Lafleur
Séraphine Doré Joseph Guitard Augustin Doré
François Dubé Pierre Dabeau Pierre Gatien
J. Gauthier dit Larouche Joseph Bonviette J. B. Lebrun
J. B. Campeau J. B. Toupin Louis Robert dit Faché

Their remains as well as those of several other persons, not identified, rest in the cemeteries of St. Eustache and Ste. Scholastique.

Engagement at Odelltown,
_November_, 1838;

To the Number of Victims found:
BOYER, LANCTÔT.
Of St. Philippe.

It is a holy and salutary thought, to pray for the dead:
M. LII, Ch. 12, v. 46.

The fine monument has cost $3,000 to $4,000, and many efforts were required to realize this sum. The execution does great credit to Messrs. Fehrland and Hughes. The names of the committee who contributed to produce this result, are as follows: Dr. Coderre, chairman; Mr. R. Trudeau, treasurer; Mr. C. O. Perrault, secretary; Messrs. L. A. Dessaulles, Henry Lacroix, A. H. Morin, Joseph Doutre, N. Bourbonnière and Gonzalve Doutre."--(_Quebec Mercury_.)

_FINE FOR DUELLING GIVEN TO BUREAU DES PAUVRES._

(Sentence du Conseil Souverain du Samedy, septième avril 1691.)

(Extrait par T. P. Bédard, archiviste provincial--Québec.)

Le Conseil assemblé ou estoient;

Monsieur le gouverneur et Monsieur l'intendant

Maistres Louis Rouer de Villeray, primier conseiller -+
" Mathieu Damours Deschampen |
" Nicolas Dupont de Neuville + Conseillers
" Jean Baptiste Depeiras |
" Charles Denys de Vitray -+

Et François de la Magdeleine Ruette d'Auteil, procureur général du Roy.

Veu par le Conseil le procès criminel extraordinairement fait et instruit à la requête du procureur général du Roy, demandeur et accusateur allencontre de Pierre de Noyan et Guillaume de Lorimier, capitaine dans le détachement de la marine que sa majesté entretient en ce pays, défendeurs et accusés. Information faite contre les dits accusés, les 25, 27 et 28 février dernier, décrets d'ajournement personel allencontre deux donné le cinq mars ensuivant; exploits de signification faite à leur auberge le neuvième ensuivant; autres exploits de signification faite au quartier où est la compagnie du dit de Lorimier le 16 ensuivant, et en la ville des 3 R. au domicile du dit de Noyan quartier de sa compagnie du 15 du mesme mois, arrest du 27 ensuivant rendu sur requête du dit de Lorimier, certificat du chirurgien major du dit détachement sur réquisitoire du dit procureur général, le dit arrest portant que le dit sieur Noyan seroit incessamment interrogé, et ensuite le dit sieur de Lorimier en son domicile où le conseiller commissaire se transportera à cet effet. Interrogatoires des dits de Noyan et de Lorimier du 29 du dit mois, contenant leurs reconnaissances, confessions et dénégations. Conclusions du dit procureur général, ouy le rapport de Mtre. Jean Baptiste Peiras conseiller et tout considéré. Le conseil a déclaré et déclare les dits de Noyan et de Lorimier deument atteints et convaincus de s'estre querellés et battus sur le champ, l'épée à la main, et s'estre entreblessés. Pourquoy les a condamnés et condamne à aumosner chacun la somme de cinquante livres, aplicable moytié à l'Hostel Dieu de cette ville, et l'autre au bureau des pauvres d'icelle, et aux dépens du procès à taxer par le conseiller raporteur; deffenses à eux de récidiver, sous telle peine qu'il apartiendra.

(Signé) Bochart Champigny, Depeiras.

_MEMORABILIA.

Jacques Cartier landed on the banks of the Saint Charles .. Sept. 14, 1535 Quebec founded by Samuel de Champlain ..................... July 3, 1608 Arrival of the Franciscan Friars (Récollets, Denis Jamay, Jean Dolbeau, Joseph LeCaron) at Tadousac, in the ship St. Etienne, Capt. Pontgravé .................................. May 25, 1615 First Mass said in the Lower Town Chapel, by Father Dolbeau. June 26, 1615 Fort St. Louis built at Quebec ............................ 1620-4 Arrival of the First Jesuits .............................. 1625 Quebec surrendered to Admiral Kirk ........................ 1629 Quebec returned to the French ............................. 1633 Death of Champlain the first Governor ..................... Dec. 25, 1635 Settlement formed at Sillery .............................. 1637 A Royal Government formed at Quebec ....................... 1663 Quebec unsuccessfully besieged by Admiral Phipps .......... 1690 Count de Frontenac died ................................... Nov. 28, 1698 Sir Hovenden Walker's armada shipwrecked on Egg Island .... Aug. 23, 1711 Battle of the Plains of Abraham ........................... Sept. 13, 1759 Capitulation of Quebec .................................... Sept. 18, 1759 Battle of Ste. Foye--a French Victory ..................... April 28, 1760 Canada ceded by treaty to England ......................... Feb. 10, 1763 Blockade of Quebec by Generals Montgomery and Arnold ...... Nov. 10, 1775 Death of General Richard Montgomery ....................... Dec. 31, 1775 Retreat of Americans from Quebec .......................... May 6, 1776 Division of Canada into Upper and Lower Canada ............ 1791 First Cholera, (3,500 deaths) ............................. 1832 Second do. 2,500 " ................................. 1834 Destruction by fire of Château St. Louis .................. Jan. 23, 1834 Insurrection in Canada .................................... 1837 Second Insurrection ....................................... 1838 Union of the two Provinces in one ......................... 1841 Great Fire in St. Roch's suburb ........................... May 28, 1845 " " in St. John " ............................. June 28, 1845 Dominion of Canada formed ................................. July 1, 1867 Departure of English troops ............................... 1870-1 Second Centenary of Foundation of Bishopric of Quebec by Monseigneur Laval Oct. 1, 1674, ........................... 1874 Centenary of Repulse of Arnold and Montgomery before Quebec, on 31st Dec., 1775 ................................ Dec. 31, 1875 Dufferin Plans of City embellishment, promulgated Christmas day 1875 Departure of the Earl of Dufferin ......................... Oct. 18, 1878 Arrival of the Marquis of Lorne and Princess Louise ....... June 4, 1879 Dufferin Terrace named by " " ........... July 9, 1879 " City Gates--St. Lewis and Kent founded ........... 1879

_DEATH SENTENCES CARRIED INTO EFFECT AT THE QUEBEC GAOL FROM THE YEAR_ 1814 _to_ 1876, _INCLUSIVE.

a-PRISONER'S NAME AND DESCRIPTION b-COMMITTED WHEN AND HOW, BY WHAT AUTHORITY AND FOR WHAT CAUSE c-RECOMMITTED, WHEN, HOW, BY WHAT AUTHORITY, AND FOR WHAT CAUSE d-REMARKS

1

a-PATRICK MURPHY, an Irishman, in height, 5 feet, 8 inches, fair complexion, sandy hair, and blue eyes, and mark in the head.

b-On the 5th of March, 1814, by warrant from Henry Blackstone, (Coroner Blackstone was a son of the celebrated English Jurist, Sir Wm Blackstone), Coroner for the District of Quebec, for the wilful murder of Marie Anne Dussault, of the Parish of Les Ecuriels, on the 1st of March, 1814.

c-On the 6th of May, 1814 by order of the Court of Oyer and Terminer and General Gaol Delivery, being on this day convicted of wilful murder of Marie Anne Dussault, and on 9th of May, 1814, by further order of the Court of Oyer and Terminer and General Gaol Delivery, being on this day attained, sentenced to be hanged on Friday, the 20th of May.

d-Executed on Friday, the 20th May, 1814.

2

a-JAMES WELSH, an Irishman, in height, 5 feet, 10 inches, dark complexion, black hair, and brown eyes, and no nose.

b-On the 27th of December, 1814, by virtue of a warrant from Henry Blackstone, Esq., Coroner for the district of Quebec, charged with the wilful murder of Robert Stephens.

c-On the 16th May, 1815, by order of the Court of Oyer and Terminer and General Gaol Delivery, held for the District of Quebec, being on this day convicted of murder, and further ordered by the same court attained, sentenced to be executed on the 18th of May.

d-On the 18th of May, 1815, executed, according to his sentence.

3 4

a-GABRIEL MIRON,
*CHARLES ALARIE,
*THOMAS THOMAS
+THOS CHAMBERLAIN,
+_JAMES MARTIN_,
+JOHN CALLOW.

b-On the 12th day of September, 1818, by John Fletcher, Esq., charged before me with suspicion of having feloniously stolen from on board a vessel in the harbour of Quebec, several chests of Tea of the value of one hundred pounds, sterling, of the goods and chattels of James Owen.

c-*On the 30th of September, 1818, by the Court of Oyer and Terminer, for stealing to the value of forty shillings in a vessel on a navigable river, sentenced to death. Suspended in consequence of former sentence of death.

d-*On the 23rd Oct., 1818, sentence put in execution. +Delivered by the September Court, 1818.

5

a-JOHN MULKAHEY

b-On the 3rd day of July, 1821, by A. Caron, Esq., charged with suspicion of felony and murder.

c-On the 5th of July, by H. Blackstone, Esq., Coroner, charged with the wilful murder of Moses McAllister, at the parish of St. Michel, in the county of Hertford.

c-On the 29th of September, by the Court of King's Bench, convicted of murder. Sentence: That he be taken to the place from whence be came, and that he be taken from thence, on Wednesday, the 26th day of September instant, to the place of execution, and he be then hanged by the neck 'till he be dead; and that his body, when dead, be taken down and dissected and anatomised.

Respited till the 5th Oct, 1821.

The above sentence of the court executed on the 5th October, 1821.

6

a-WILLIAM POUNDER, an Irishman; aged 28, height, 5 feet, 6 inches; sallow complexion.

b-On the 31st of May, 1823, by virtue of a warrant from T. Fletcher, Esq., charged with suspicion of felony and murder.

c-On the 7th of June, 1823, by order of H. Blackstone, Esq., Coroner, and sentenced to be hanged by the neck until he be dead.

d-Executed on the 10th Oct., 1823 Body given to Dr Fargues.

7

a-JOHN HART, a Nova Scotian, aged 34, height 5 feet, 9 inches, dark complexion.

b-On the 7th of October, 1825, by virtue of a warrant from N. D'Estimauville, Esq., charged with suspicion of larceny.

c-March term (1826) Six months' imprisonment, and to be whipt, May 6, between 10 and 12, in the market-place.

d-On the 14th of Jan, 1826, escaped, and was re taken on the 17th, charged with another offence, for which he was condemned and executed 10th November, 1826.

8

a-JOHN BTE MONARQUE, a Canadian, aged [sic]

b-On the 29th of September, 1826, by virtue of a warrant from J. F. Taschereau, Esq., charged with suspicion of burglary.

c-March term Sentenced to be hanged at Pointe Levi, on the 24th April, 1827.

d-Sentence carried into execution on the 24th April, 1827.

9 10

a-BENJAMIN JOHNSON,
ROBERT MESSENGER

b-On the 12th of November, 1826, by virtue of a warrant from T. A. Young, Esq., charged with suspicion of burglary.

c-March term. Sentenced to be hanged on the 21st of April, 1827.

d-Sentence executed.

11

a-PIERRE DUCHARME,
+MICHAEL MORNEAU,
+JOHN DOHARTY, _alias_ John Dougherty

b-On the 15th of September, 1828, by virtue of a warrant from A. G. Chenet and J. G. Boisseau, Esqrs., charged with stealing a quantity of merchandize from Jacques Oliva, of St. Thomas.

c-Sentenced to be hanged by the neck, on the 24th October next ensuing, by the Court of King's Bench, September term, 1828.

+18th of October, 1828, ordered for transportation.

d-24th Oct, 1828, sentence carried into execution.

12

a-J. M. DESJARDINS

b-On the 13th of June, 1829, by virtue of a warrant from R. Christie, Esq., charged with suspicion of burglary.

c-By the Court of King's Bench September term, 1829, sentenced to be executed on the 31st day of October, 1829.

d-Sentence carried into execution.

13

a-FRS. MALOUIN, _dit_ FRS. Marois _dit_ Frs. Lafaye, a Canadian.

b-On the 23rd August, 1829, by virtue of a warrant from R. Harrower, Esq., charged with murder.

c-26th August, François Malouin _dit_ Marios _dit_ Lafaye, recommitted for murder under coroner's inquest.

Court of King's Bench, September term, 1829, sentence of death on 30th September, 1829.

d-Sentence carried into execution.

14

a-WILL SHUTER

b-On the 14th of January, 1824, by virtue of a warrant from J. J. Reny, Esq., charged with inflicting a gunshot wound on Living Lane.

c-By Court of King's Bench, March term, 1834. Sentence, death.

d-4th April, 1834, sentence carried into execution.

15

a-EDWARD DEVELIN, _alias_ Harvicker

b-On the 30th of November, 1835, by virtue of a warrant from the Coroner, charged with murder.

c-By Court of King's Bench, March term, 1836. Sentence, death.

d-8th April, 1836, executed pursuant to sentence.

16

a-JOHN MEEHAN, an Irishman, aged 22

b-On the 12th of Sept., 1863, by virtue of a warrant from C. E. Panet, charged with murder.

c-Convicted January term, 1864, Queen's Bench. Sentenced to be executed on Friday, the 22nd of March, 1864, between the hours of 10 and 11 o'clock A.M.

d-Sentence carried into execution

QUEBEC GAOL, February 7, 1877.

_QUEBEC GOLF CLUB._