[287] Would this river be the Lairet or the St. Charles? We like to give every circumstance calculated to throw light thereon: writers seem to agree that Jacques Cartier, wintered in the St. Charles, as Champlain says, in his edition of 1632, on the Jesuits' property—it may, however, have been a few acres to the east or west of the spot generally indicated.

[288] "Le Capitaine fit renforcer le Fort tout a l'entour de gros fosses, larges, et profonds avec porte a pont-levis et renforts de rangs ou pans de bois au contraire des premiers. Et fut ordonne pour le guet de la nuit.... cinquante hommes a quatre quarts, et a chacun changement des dits quarts les trompettes sonnantes; ce qui fut fait selon la dite ordonnance."—Voyage de Jacques Cartier, page 52.

[289] It is evident that the Beauport entrenchments were to be on a vast scale In those days of corvees and forced labor, when it was merely necessary to command de par le roi, it was easy to bring together large bodies of men. "M. de Montcalm arrive a Quebec (from Montreal), commanda tout le monde pour travailler a des retrenchements qui furent traces vers une paroisse nominee Beauport. Comme il pensait que ces ouvrages ne seraient pas en etat avant l'arrivee des vaisseaux anglais, ce qui pourrait etre d'un jour a l'autre, il envoya un ordre a M. de Levis, qui etait a Montreal, de commander, generallement, tous les hommes de ce gouvernement a de descendre a Quebec, et qu'on avait besoin d'un coup de main. Il envoya a cet egard des ordres precis et conformes, dans tontes les paroisses, qui mirent tout le monde en mouvement." (Memoirs sur les affaires du Canada, 1749-1760.) Finally, Vaudreuil decided that Montreal would furnish 1,500 men only for this service.

[290] This bake-house appears to have been somewhere at the foot of Abraham's Hill.

[291] It crossed the St Charles a little higher than the Marine Hospital, exactly at the foot of Crown Street.

[292] A small bridge supported on masonry has since been built on this spot, exactly across the main road, at Brown's mills, Beauport.

[293] The Great River. Such was the name the Lorette Huron Indians pressed Hon. Mr. Panet to take when they elected him their honorary chief.

[294] A famous Chasseur of Lake St. Charles.

[295] Robert Buchanan's fine lines describe well the sudden coming of winter:

"Then, with a gust, Old Winter tumbled shrieking from the hills, His white Hair flowing in the wind."

[296] Emma Duchesnay, wife of Robt. LeMoine, Esq., Ottawa, was the last born there.

[297] Beauport Church, it is said, was built on this Fief du Buisson.

[298] "Une chandelle faite avec la graisse d'un pendu."

[299] Le mot chirurgien—qui etait la profession de Gifart, se presente naturellement, mais l'article manque....Oh! le C, si c'etait un R? plus de doute l'affaire serait claire.

[300] NOTE.—In a parliamentary Document of 1852, it is stated to have been conceded on 15th January, 1634.

[301] By an ordinance of the Special Council, obtained through Sir Poulet Thompson, in the troublous times of 1838-41, these gentlemen made safe their well-beloved charter.

[302] Mr. Ryland, writing to Sir James Craig under date 22nd August, 1810, thus describes his interview with the Ministers of State, the Earl of Liverpool, Lord Bathurst, Mr. Percival, Mr. Peel, Lord Camden, the Marquis of Wellesey, &c "On entering the room I found it was a meeting of the Cabinet Ministers, eight in number, Lord Liverpool desired me to take a seat between him and Mr. Percival.... I then repeated an observation I had made in my first interview with Lord Liverpool, concerning Bedard in particular as the leader of the anti-government party, who has now so committed himself as to render it impossible he be employed....

"H. W. RYLAND."

(Christie's History of Canada.)

[303] MR. RYLAND TO SIR J. H. CRAIG, K.B.

London, 14th August, 1810.

"Dear Sir,—I yesterday had the honor to dine with the Earl of Liverpool at Coombe Wood; the party consisted of His Lordship, Lady Liverpool, Lord and Lady Bathurst, Lord Ashley and his sister, I believe, Sir Joseph and Lady Banks, Mr. Peel the Under-Secretary of State, and a lady whose name I do not recollect.

I had some conversation with Mr. Peel, before dinner, concerning the state of things in Canada, and I was mortified to find that he had but an imperfect idea of the subject....

He told me that he had read Lord Granville's despatch of October, 1789, to Lord Dorchester, which I had recommended to his attention, and he seemed to think a re-union of the Provinces a desirable object....

H. W. RYLAND."

(Christie's History of Canada.)

[304] In 1871, Mr. John Henderson Galbraith expired at Mount Lilac, leaving to his widow his beautiful country-seat, on which he had expended some $25,000. The foundry or machine shop was closed, and under the intelligent care of Miss Elizabeth Galbraith, Mount Lilac continues to produce each summer ambrosial fruit and exquisite flowers.

[305] Originally a brewery owned by Intendant Talon, and sold to the French King, in 1686 for 15,000 ecus. Later on the Intendant's Palace, in magnificence rivalled the Chateau St. Louis.

[306] Kahir-Koubat "a meandering stream" Ahatsistari's house (formerly "Poplar Grove," the homestead of L. T. McPherson, Esq.), on the north bank of the St. Charles, was called Kahir-Koubat by N. Monpetit. Here formerly dwelt, we are told, Col. De Salaberry, the hero of Chateauguay, until 1814.

[307] Beyond the unmistakable vestiges of its having been of early French construction, there is nothing known of the origin under French rule, of Bigot's little Chateau. History is replete with details about his peculations and final punishment in the Bastile of France; possibly the legends in prose and in verse, which mantle round the time-worn rein, have no other foundation than the fictions of the poet and the novelist. Thanks to Amedee Papineau, W. Kirby, Jos. Mannette, Beaumanoir, Bigot's Chateau, is now immortalized in song.

[308] Ahatsistari, such the name of the former great Huron warrior, which Mr. Montpetit was allowed to assume when recently elected Honorary Chief of the Council of Sachems, possibly for the service rendered to the tribe as their historiographer.

[309] The French named the Wyandats, Hurons, from their style of wearing their hair—erect and thrown back, giving their head, says the Historian Ferland, the appearance of a boar's head, "une hure de sanglier."

[310] The Dutch called them Maquas; the English, Mohawks, probably from the name of the river Mohawk which flows into the Hudson.

[311] The Mission of St. Joseph, composed of 400 Huron families, was suddenly attacked by the Iroquois on the 4th July, 1648.

[213] St. Ignace was surprised and taken on 16th March, 1649.

[313] Ste. Marie mission-house was given to the flames by the Jesuits themselves on 15th May, 1649.

[314] St Jean was ravaged on 7th December, 1649.

[315] This parish was called after the celebrated Church of Santa Casa, of Loretto, in Italy. The Huron Missionary, Father Chaumonot, had arranged their huts around the church, which he had erected in imitation of the Loretto Chapel in Italy, where he had seen a vision of angels.

[316] A census of the settlement taken on 19th January, 1879, exhibits the population as composed of 326 souls, divided as follows:—Adult Males, 94; Adult Females, 137; Boys, 49; Girls, 56. Total, 336. 143 males to 193 females; bachelors must have been at a premium in the settlement. We understood that a complete history of the tribe is now in course of preparation by the Rev. Prosper Vincent, a son of Chief Vincent.

[317] An excellent sketch in French has been published of Tahourenche and his tribe, in the Opinion Publique, under the nom de plume of Ahatsistari, which we think ourselves warranted in crediting to the elegant pen of A. N. Montpetit, one of their honorary Chiefs.

[318] Probably the same as alluded to in a quaint old engraving, presented us by John Neilson, Esq., P.L.S., a son of the Hon. John Neilson, himself an honorary Chief of the Lorette Hurons. Under the portrait of Chief Nicholas is printed "Nicholas Vincent Isawanhoni," principal Christian chief and Captain of the Huron Indians, established at La Jeune Lorette, near Quebec, habited in the costume of his country, as when presented to his Majesty George IV. on the 7th of April, 1826, with three other chiefs of his nation, by Generals Brock and Carpenter; the chief bears in his hand the wampum or collar, on which is marked the tomahawk given by his late Majesty George III. The gold medal on his neck was the gift of his Majesty on this presentation.

"They were accompanied and introduced into England on the 14th December, 1824, by Mr. W. Cooper, who though an Englishman, they state to be a chief of their nation, and better known to them as chief Tourhaunchi."

N.B.—It may be well to say that from the earliest times the Lorette Indians have been in the habit of electing as "Honorary Chiefs" Quebecers of note, who may have rendered service to the tribe. A large oil painting is now in the possession of William D. Campbell, Esq., of Quebec, exhibiting the installation as a Chief, in 1837, of the late Robert Symes, J.P., of Quebec.

[319] Ononthio means the Great Mountain, the name the Indians gave Governor de Montmagny and his successors.

[320] The 8 is pronounced oui.

[321] May, 1675, Louis XIV and Colbert granted Monsieur le Comte Talon, Intendant, the Seigniory des Islets, "together with those three neighboring villages to us belonging the first called Bourg Royal, the second Bourg La Reine, the third, Bourg Talon, subsequently changed into the Barony of Orsainville."—(Ferland, Vol. II p 59.)

[322] I am happy to be able to throw some additional light on the early times of this mysterious ruin, which has much perplexed Quebec antiquaries. 'Tis probable this stately mansion was built by the great Intendant Talon as the baronial chateau, permitted by his grant, (see Seignorial Documents, 1852,—page 444 and 488) according to which he was empowered to establish gaols, "a four-post gibbet, a post with an iron collar on which his arms should be engraved." Of all this redoubtable feudal pomp there are no vestiges now extant. How the chateau fared from Talon's time to Bigot's, remains a mystery.

After the conquest, the land came by purchase into the possession of the Stewart family, lately represented by Charles Grey Stewart—a most interesting and lengthy letter from Charles Stewart, describing the winter months spent in the Hermitage in 1775-6, whilst Arnold held for Congress the environs of Quebec, will be given hereafter, Mr. Wm. Crawford the late owner of the land and ruins, having kindly allowed me the use of his title deeds. I find therein stated "Charles Stewart, avocat et notaire demeurant a Quebec, proprietaire du fief de Grand Pre, autrefois dit De la Mistanguenne ou Mont Plaisir, a la Canardiere par acte de vente du 26 Juin 1780, devant Jean Antoine Panet, N.P., concede a titre de cens et rentes seigneuriales ... a Monsieur Jean Lees, le Jeune, Simon Fraser, le Jeune, et William Wilson, negotiant en cette ville, 10 arpents de front situes dans le fief Grand Pre ou Mont Plaisir a la Canardiere an lieu nomme la Montagne on l'Hermitage, prenant d'un bout, vers le sud aux terres de Joseph Bedard, et Jean Baptiste Le Roux dit Cardinal, et allant en profondeur vers le nord quatorze arpents ou environ, jusqu'a la vieille cloture du verger, icelui verger compris en la presente concession et vente, les dix arpents de front joignant du cote du sud-ouest ou fief de la Trinite, appartenant au Seminaire, et du cote du nord-ouest a la terre de Jean Chattereau, ensemble la maison a deux etages, une grange et un etable en bois, construits sur les dits dix arpents."

[Translation.]

"Charles Stewart, advocate and notary, residing at Quebec, proprietor of the Fief Grand Pre, formerly styled De la Mistanguenne or Mont Plaisir, at the Canardiere, by deed of sale, bearing date the 26th June, 1780, before Jean Ant. Panet, N.P., conceded a titre de cens et rentes Seigneuriales ... to Mr. Jean Lees, junior, Simon Fraser, junior, and William Wilson, merchants of this city, ten arpents, in front, situated in the Fief Grand Pre, or Montplaisir, at the Canardiere, at the place named The Mountain or the Hermitage, beginning on one side, towards the south, at the lands of Joseph Bedard and Jean Baptiste LeRoux dit Cardinal, and running in the depth towards the north, fourteen arpents or thereabouts, to the old orchard fence—said orchard included in this concession and deed of sale, the ten arpents in part joining towards the north-west, to the Fief de la Trinite belonging to the (Quebec) Seminary, and on the north-east side joining the land of Jean Chattereau, together with the two-story house, barn, wooden stable, built on the said ten arpents."

The property was resold the 12th August, 1805, by John Lees, et al., to Charles Stewart, Esq., Comptroller of Customs, Quebec. It is now owned by Leger Brousseau, Esq.

[323] The fascinating daughter of Lord Clifford, famous in the legendary history of England, as the mistress of Henry II. shortly before his accession to the throne, and the subject of an old ballad. She is said to have been kept by her royal lover in a secret bower at Woodstock, the approaches to which formed a labyrinth so intricate that it could only be discovered by the clew of a silken thread, which the king used for that purpose. Here Queen Eleanor discovered and poisoned her, about 1173.— (Noted names of Fiction, 1175. See also Woodstock—Waverley Novels.)

[324] I am indebted to my late old friend the Abbe Ferland for the following remark: "I visited Chateau Bigot during the summer of 1834. It was in the state described by Mr. Papineau in the interior, the walls were still partly papered. It must not be forgotten that about the beginning of this century a club of Bons-vivant used to meet frequently in the Chateau."

Three celebrated clubs nourished here long before the Stadacona and St. James' Club were thought of. The first was formed in Quebec, about the beginning of this century. It was originally called (after its London prototype) says Lambert, the Beef Steak Club, which name it soon changed for that of the Barons Club. It consisted of twenty-one members, "who are chiefly the principal merchants in the colony, and are styled barons. As the members drop off, their places are filled by knights elect, who are not installed as barons until there is a sufficient number to pay for the entertainment which is given on that occasion." John Lambert, during the winter of 1807, attended one of the banquets of installation, which was given in the Union Hotel (now the Journal de Quebec office, facing the Place d'Armes.) The Hon. Mr. Dunn, the President of the Province, and Administrator, during the absence of Sir Robert S. Milnes, attended as the oldest baron. The Chief Justice and all the principal officers of the government, civil and military, were present. This entertainment cost 250 guineas. "The Barons Club," says W. Henderson, "was a sort of Pitt Club,—all Tories to the back-bone. It was a very select affair—and of no long duration. Among the members, if my memory serves me right, were John Coltman, George Hamilton, Sir John Caldwell, Sir George Pownall, Herman Wistius Byland, George Heriott, (Postmaster and author) Hon. Matthew Bell, Gilbert Ainslie, Angus Shaw." (Notes of W. Henderson.)

The other club went under the appropriate name of "Sober Club,"—lucus a non lucendo perhaps: it flourished about 1811; we believe one of the By-laws enacted that the members were expected to get elevated at least once a year. It seems to be more than likely that it was the Club of Barons, and not the Sober Club, who caroused under the romantic walls of the Hermitage. The third Club flourished at Montreal in 1785 and later, it took the name of the Beaver Club) and was, I believe, composed of old Northwesters.

[325] It is painful to watch the successive inroads perpetrated by sportsmen and idlers on the old Chateau. In 1819, an old Quebecer, Mr. Frederick Wyse, visited it; doors, verandah, windows and everything else was complete. He, too, lost his way in the woods, but found it again without the help of an Indian beauty. It was then known as the haunted house, supposed to contain a deal of French treasure, and called La Maison du Bourg Royal.

[326] Error—he was a bachelor. These unions were not uncommon. We find the Baron de St. Castin marrying Matilda, the daughter of Madocawando—an Indian beauty; he became a famous Indian Chief, helping D'Iberville, in Acadia, and left a numerous progeny of olive colored princesses with eyes like a gazelle's.

[327] Melospiza melodia.

[328] Zonotrichia leuchophry.

[329] The Hon. Mr. Dunn, Administrator of the Province in 1807, was the senior baron; Hons. Matthew Bell, John Stewart, Messrs. Muir, Irvine, Lester, McNaught, Grey Stewart, Munro, Finlay, Lymburner, Paynter; these names were doubtless also to be found amongst the Canadian barons; the Hon. Chas. de Lanaudiere, once a general in the Hungarian service, was the only French Canadian member.

[330] Book of Carthon.

[331] From Travellers' Guide Book, 1829.

APPENDIX

[332] See Quebec Past and Present, page 34.

[333] Relation de 1665, p. 25, Journal des Jesuites, 10 juillet 1665.

[334] Lettres de Marie de l'Incarnation, lettre 76e, p. 621.

[335] Archives de la Marine, vol. Canada, T. II, de 1670 a 1676, 20 aout 1670.

[336] Ibid., lettres de Colbert a M. Talon, 11 fevrier 1671.

[337] Relation de 1668, p. 3.

[338] Relation de 1667, p. 3.

[339] Archives de la Marine. Registre des depeches de Colbert pour les Indes, 1671, fol. 18.

[340] Relation de 1672, p. 2.

[341] Archives de la Marine. Registre des depeches, ann. 1674 et 1675. Lettre du 16 mai 1674 a M. de Frontenac.

[342] Memoire pour servir d'Intruction a Monsieur le Comte de Frontenac sur l'Entreprise de la Nouvelle-York, 7 juin 1689.

[343] The names of the Huguenot families who settled New Oxford, as far as ascertained, are as follows—

1 Montee, 1 Bureau l'aine, 1 Jermon, 1 Peter Cante, 1 Jean Maillet, 1 Elle Dupeu, 2 Ober Germon, 2 Jean Martin, 1 Andre Segourne, 1 Jean Milleton, 4 Bertrand De Tuffeau, 3 M. Baurdille, 6 Rene Grignon, M. Germaine, 5 M. Alard, M. Boudinot, Benj. Faneuil, Jean Beaudoin. 1 J. Dupeu,

[344] In 1870, when these lines were penned, the massive gates, hoary with age, were already doomed—a portion of the materials like the stones of Nelson's Abbey were robbed to build up houses near by.

[345] Memoirs de P.A. DeGaspe.

[346] The quips, pranks and bon mots of this jolly corps would fill a small volume. The bar was represented by the witty Chief Justice Valliere, the fun loving Charles Richard Ogden, afterwards Attorney- General, and recently Judge of the Isle of Wight; and the army by a choice spirit of the 71st, Col. Denny.

[347] Market and cemetery have since disappeared.

[348] In this niche, at the time of the conquest, could be seen, just over the door of the house, a statue of St John the Baptist. The inhabitants, fearing that the introduction of so many heretics in Sept., 1769, might subject the saint's statue to slight, had conveyed it to the General Hospital nunnery, where Mr. D. De Gaspe asserts, it is to this day. To fill its place, nothing occurred to the minds of the English, as more suitable, than the wooden image of their young hero, Wolfe. As there is a clause in the title deeds of this property making it incumbent on the owners to maintain constantly in repair "General Wolfe," the "General" it is to be hoped, will continue to flourish for many years yet—the only notable difference being that, by his elevation of late years, he appears closer to heaven than in the days of the Cholette Brothers, and therefore safer from the attacks of practical jokers, middies, &c.

[349] Where the Music Hall, Louis street, has since been erected. The first meeting of the Quebec City Corporation took place about 1834 in the same house which Miss Napier had rented.

[350] Wolfe and Montcalm's monument in process of erection in 1827, was recently restored, thanks to the efforts of Hy. Fry, Esq., and of a few other public-spirited citizens.

THE END