Quebec under two flags : a brief history of the city from its foundation until the present time

Front matter

I

Qviebec Under Two Flags

An editio?i of this work will be published in French under the title :

Contents

Page

Dedication to the Earl and Countess of Minto - - - - - vii

Note IX

Chapter II 1663-1690

TRACY — TALON — CARIGNAN REGIMENT — PRONTENAC AND THE INTENDANT — POPULATION OP QUEBEC — CLERGY — CONVENTS — SIEGE OP QUEBEC BY PHIPS — CHATKAU ST. LOUIS — NOTABLE FAMILIES IN QUEBEC

The year 1665 opened auspiciously in Quebec. First, there was the arrival of four companies of the Carignan Regiment, comprising between twelve and thirteen hundred men. Then came the Governor de Courcelles, and the Intendant Talon, with eight companies of soldiers in their train, and, later, two hundred and twelve persons of title or fortune. In a single year the population of New France had doubled, and it was evident that the mother country was beginning to manifest a deeper interest in her possessions. The character and ability of the men in authority at this time were of a high standard. The Governor and the Intendant were each unusually gifted men, and competent to administer the affairs of the colony, while the Marquis de Tracy, who had been named Lieutenant General of the King in America, was an able administrator, a brave soldier, and a scholar. The annalist of the Hotel Dieu, in describing the character of these three men, says : — " They were of prepossessing appearance, of great intelligence and prudence, and were eminently fitted to convey a proper idea of royal power and majesty." It is not surprising, therefore, to find that under the guidance of these three men, the government of the country was established upon a sound basis, and that Quebec entered upon an era of prosperity.

Talon undoubtedly contributed more than any other Intendant towards the progress of New France. He honestly endeavoured to promote the welfare of the people. He placed himself at the head of every movement in the direction of the public good ; caused the land to be cleared ; encouraged the cultivation of flax ; built a tannery and a brewery ; and endeavoured to maintain friendly relations with the West Indies. He was particularly zealous in promoting the cause of education, and nothing afforded him greater pleasure than to be present at the public examinations of the pupils of the Jesuits, and to take part in philosophical discussions. Talon served his country as Intendant for five years — from 1665 to 1668, and from 1670 to 1672. At the time of his arrival in Quebec the population of the colony was 3215, and in 1672, it was almost twice that number. In the year 1670, nearly seven hundred births were registered, and the people were becoming more and more attached to their new homes. Great regret was shown when the Intendant left the shores of New France. " M. Talon is leaving ", wrote Mere Marie de 1' Incarnation, " and returns to France, to the sorrow and loss of all Canada, for since he has been here in his capacity of Intendant the country has prospered more than at any time since the French have inhabited it."

Jacques Duchesneau was appointed to succeed Talon. His commission invested him with the title of President of the Sovereign Council, an office which had hitherto been filled by the Governor. Louis de Buade, Comte de Frontenac, a man of dominant spirit, was the Governor of New France at this time, and in the natural progress of events interminable disputes arose between the Governor and the Intendant touching questions of precedence, which disturbed the harmony of the government. For a long time there had been a difference of opinion between Frontenac and Monseigneur de Laval, regarding the sale of intoxicants to the Indians, and as Duchesneau supported the action of the Bishop, the relations between the Governor and the Intendant became even more strained. Frontenac seized every opportunity to show his resentment until, for the sake of preserving internal peace, the Government of France ordered the recall of both the Governor and the Intendant in the year 1682. This act was most unfortunate for the colony, for at the time the Iroquois were assuming a war like attitude towards the inhab-

QUKBEC UNDKR TWO FL,AGS it ants, and no one was more able to suppress these savage tribes than Front enac.

I^ef ebvre de la Barre was named Governor of New France, and de Meulle succeeded Duchesneau as Intendant. The Governor was old, and utterly unfit to lead an army against such wily foes as the Iroquois. Nevertheless, he made hasty preparations and led his men to the attack, but neither he nor his troops won glory in the campaign. At the end of the year, de la Barre was replaced by the Marquis de Denonville, a man of great courage, His intentions towards the colony were good, but in carrying out the instructions of the King, he adopted a severe policy in dealing with the Indians. The horrible massacre of Machine was one of the unforeseen consequences of Denonville' s administration.

The residence of the Governor and his family was at the Chateau St. Louis, but apartments were set aside therein for the deliberations of the Sovereign Council. The affairs of the colony had now assumed sufficient importance to demand a separate building for the use of the Council. To facilitate the public service de Meulle proposed to purchase the old brewery erected by Talon, and convert it into a palace for the Intendant, with accommodation for the Sovereign Council. The situation of this building was advantageous. It was near the shores of the St. Charles and the St. Lawrence and only a short distance from the Upper Town, and there were suitable grounds adjoining for gardens which could be purchased from Talon.

It is more than two hundred years ago since the brewery was converted into a palace. The palace in its turn has long since disappeared, and the building is again occupied as a brewery. About this time de Meulle returned to France and was replaced by Jean Bochard de Champigny.

On the fifth of August, 1682, nearly all the I^ower Town was destroyed by fire. According to a chronicle of the day 1 ' more riches were destroyed during that sad night, than the whole of Canada possessed eight years later. ' '

On the 15th of October, 1689, the boom of cannon and the fire of musketry announced the arrival of the Count de Frontenac, who for the second time had been appointed Governor of New France. At eight o'clock in the evening a torchlight procession was formed headed by members of the Sovereign Council and prominent citizens, to conduct the Governor to his residence. The city was illuminated and all the religious and civil corporations assembled to give an enthusiastic welcome to Frontenac. At this time the lower town had recovered from the disastrous effects of the fire ; the houses had been rebuilt, and a notable addition was the little church afterwards called Notre-Dame de la Victoire, which was now complete.

Twelve months passed under Frontenac' s regime without the occurence of any noteworthy event. The Governor was still vigorous, his orders were obeyed, his word was respected, and he enjoyed the confidence of the people.

But New France was not yet to enjoy the blessings of a lasting peace. Early in the month of October disquieting rumors reached Quebec. An Abenakis Indian arrived in the city with the intelligence that an English fleet had laid waste the habitations of Port- Royal in Acadia, and was now sailing towards the St. Lawrence to besiege Quebec. The intelligence was confirmed on the 7th of October by Simon Soumande, sieur de Cananville. Days of despair and anxiety followed the reception of this news, but on the 16th of the month the suspense was relieved by the appearance of the British ships, under Admiral Phips off the Island of Orleans.

Frontenac, bold, fearless as ever, preserved a war like attitude, and sent a defiant answer to the British officer who demanded his surrender. Phips commenced the siege in earnest, but Frontenac, with a show of strength which he did not really possess, was able to overawe the enemy, and soon he had the satisfaction of seeing the British ships retreat, leaving a few pieces of artillery upon the Beauport shore. In two weeks the city had regained its normal condition, and the voice of weeping gave place to a song of praise. The Te Deum was sung in the Cathedral, and an image of the Blessed Virgin was carried in procession to the four churches in the Upper Town. At night a fire was lit upon the heights of Quebec which could be seen from Charlesbourg and from Beauport, as a sign of public rejoicing. In commemoration of the victory over Phips, the little church in the Lower Town was dedicated to Notre-Dame de la Victoire, and the ladies fulfilled their vows by making a pilgrimage to its sancluary.

Wonderful progress had been made in the city since the death of Champlain. Martin, Couillard, Nicolet, Marsolet, Bourdon, Morin, were no more, but their families were still represented. The offspring of these hardy settlers could already count their grandchildren.

The population had also been increased by a steady tide of immigration, which commenced in the days of Talon. From the regiment of Carignan many officers and soldiers of worth had chosen New France as their home. Some of the officers were of noble families, and by forming alliances with the middle classes had given an elegance of manner to Quebec society, besides having had the effect of preserving the purity of the French language. Father Charlevoix during his visit to the capital of New France in 1720, wrote that the French spoken by the Canadians was remarkably pure and that no accent was noticeable.

It is reasonable to suppose that similar conditions prevailed in Quebec during the second regime of Frontenac, since the leading families were still living in the days of Charlevoix, and there had been little immigration since the death of Frontenac, to counteract the tendency of the times. A glance at the parish registers shows that the number of births was sufficient to account for the increase in the population, and it is a fact worthy of note at this time, that one may turn over page after page, recording the entries for several months without finding the notice of a single burial.

The population of Quebec at this time was 1,500, while that of the whole of the colony was about 10,000. The peculiar advantages offered by the country to those who were tempted to seek adventure or fortune, probably accounted for the small number who settled down to a quiet life in Quebec. Under the vigorous policy of Talon, commerce had received an impetus which was steadily developed by his successors. Regular intercourse had been established between New France and the West Indies, Madeira, and several countries of America. An association of Fur Traders had been formed by Quebec merchants, the most prominent of whom were Pachot, Hazeur and Macart. Cod fishing was another industry which proved remunerative, and the fisheries of the St. Lawrence yielded a substantial revenue. One of the most wealthy merchants was d' Amours, who owned large fisheries at Matane. The land, too, was well adapted for agricultural purposes, and the forests abounded in valuable timber. Canada, with its numerous and varied resources, was beginning to be known as a land worthy of possession, and already England was looking towards it with covetous eyes. The British had endeavoured to capture the prize in 1690, and again in 171 1, when Walker's powerful fleet was destroyed before it entered the channel, but the time for separation from France had not yet come.

Quebec was the seat of Government for the colony, and also the residence of the Governor, the Intendant and the officers of state, of the members of the Sovereign Council, and the petty officers of the courts. The two other courts in Quebec were the Court of Pre vote and the Admiralty Court. The professions were well represented by Doctors, Notaries and Architects.

The Sovereign Council which was charged with the administration of the affairs of the colony, was composed of the Governor, the Bishop, the Intendant and several councillors, all residing in Quebec. The dean, or first councillor, in 1690, was L,ouis Rouer de Villeray, a man highly regarded, especially by the Bishop, to whom he was devoted. " He was one of those," wrote Frontenac, " who without wearing the garb of the Jesuits, had nevertheless taken their vows. ' ' Among the other councillors of note we find the name of Nicolas Dupont, sieur de Neuville and Mathieu d' Amours, sieur de Chauffours, the father of a large family all of whom married well.

It is interesting to note that of the five councillors present at the first meeting of the Sovereign Council lield in the year 1663, four were still members in the year 1690, namely Villeray, d' Amours and Ruette d'Auteuil. The fourth member was le Gardeur de Tilly, the father of the illustrious family bearing the titles of Repentigny, de Beauvais, de l'lsle, and de Courtemanche. Charles Denis de Vitre, a fifth councillor, was one of the children of Simon Denis, sieur de la Trinite. Paul Denis, sieur de Saint-Simon, was provost Marshal, an office which had been established in 1667. The court presided over by Denis was under the jurisdiction of the Marshal of France, and was really a military court. The rank of ' ' Prevost ' ' was equal to that of sheriff in the present day.

The notable families in Quebec at this time included Ruette d' Auteuil, solicitor general to the King ; Claude de Bermen, judge and civil lieutenant ; Charles de Monseignat, secretary to Frontenac, to whom we are indebted for a detailed account of the military operations of 1690 ; Pierre Becart, sieur de Grand ville, who was taken prisoner by the English whilst engaging the fleet under Phips, George Regnard du Plessis, Treasurer of the Marine ; Paul Dupuis, seigneur of Goose Island, and King's procureur for the Prev6te : Michel Le Neuf , sieur de la Valliere et de Beaubassin ; Jean-Baptiste Couillard de l'Espinay, lieutenant of the Admiralty ; Charles- Gaspard Piot de T Angloiserie, King's lieutenant and chevalier de St. Louis ; Rene Chartier de Lotbiniere, lieutenant of the Prev6te ; Francois Prevost, major and commanding officer of the Chateau St. Louis ; Gervais Beaudoin, physician of the Ursulines ; Timothe Roussel, physician of the H6tel-Dieu, etc., etc. The merchant class was represented by Charles Perthuis, Charles Aubert de la Chesnaye, Francois Hazeur, Denis Riverin, Francois Viennay-Pachot, Guillaume Bouthier, Jean Sebille, Nicolas Volant, Jean Gobin, Pierre T£tu du Tilly, Raymond du Bosc, Simon Soumande, Charles Macart

A QUERTER OF A CENTURY OF PROGRESS and Denis Roberge. The parish registers of 1690 contain many important entries. On the 21st of November the marriage is recorded of Philippe Rigaud de Vaudreuil to I,ouise Elizabeth de Joybert, daughter of Pierre de Joybert, sieur de Marsan. Mademoiselle de Joybert was born in Fort Gemsek, on the River St. John, New Brunswick, where her father was in command. After her removal to Quebec she entered the Ursuline Convent as a pupil, at the same time as Mile de Brisay , the daughter of the Marquis Denonville. The Marquise de Vaudreuil was a lady of remarkable beauty, and greatly beloved by the people of Quebec for her many acts of kindness. In later years she had the honor of instructing the grand children of the King of France. Mile de Brisay de Denonville, also a pupil of the Ursulines, became a Carmelite nun after the return of her family to France.

The clergy of Quebec were composed of religious and secular priests. Of the sixty who remained in Quebec, only two were Canadians. The priests attached to the Seminary exercised, for the most part, the duties of cures in the country.

The College of the Jesuits had been established for over half a century. The faculty was composed of fifteen members, and a course of study was prescribed which gave prominence to mathematics and physical science. The young Canadian, therefore, received a practical education which specially qualified him for the duties of his station.

The second body of teachers was the Recollet

Fathers, who resided at the convent of Notre Dame des Anges, upon the shores of the St. Charles.

In the Ursuline Convent many changes had taken place. 1 None of the first members were living in 1690. The Community was composed at this time of twenty-four professed nuns and six novices, all of whom were of the best families.

In the Hotel Dieu, one of the nuns who had seen the foundation of the Hospital, in 1639, was still living. Her name was Mere Marie Forestier de St. Bonaventure, and at this time she had been a nun for sixty-six years. Her death occurred eight years later. There were twetny- three professed nuns and one novice in the Hotel Dieu in 1690.

The little Hospital of the Poor, in charge of the Sisters of the Congregation, was situated in the Upper Town. Its affairs were managed by a committee of laymen. The General Hospital founded in 1693 by Monseigneur de Saint Vallier, continued the work of the Sisters of the Congregation.

At the time of the arrival of Frontenac the Chateau St. Louis and the walls of the fort were in a ruinous condition. In 1693 the Governor rebuilt the fort, and constructed a redoubt, which he named Cape Diamond Redoubt. In 1694 the Chateau was demolished and a new building with a second story was erected upon the old foundations, with the addition of a wing. The large wing which is shown upon some of the plans was not constructed until 1723. From this date until the cession of the country to England, only slight repairs were made to the Chateau, but much money had been expended upon the walls, as will be seen in the chapter devoted to the fortifications.

The first Fort St. Louis was constructed by Champlain in 1620, and inhabited by him from 1628 to 1629, and from 1633 to 1635. The first Chateau St. Louis was built by Montmagny and afterwards inhabited by the Governors D'Ailleboust, Lauzon, D'Argenson, D'Avaugour, de Mesy, de Courcelles, Frontenac, de la Barre, Denonville, and was demolished by Frontenac during his second term of office. The second Chateau was inhabited by Frontenac, Callieres, Vaudreuil, Beauharnois, la Galissonniere, Jonquiere, Duquesne, and Vaudreuil- Cavagnal.

The first Marquis de Vaudreuil, Callieres, Frontenac, and Jonquiere died in the Chateau, and were buried in the Recollet Church.

After the fire in 1796 the remains of the former Governors were translated to the Cathedral. The remains of Governor de Mesy, who also died in the Chateau were deposited in the cemetery of the poor, belonging to the Hotel- Dieu, in accordance with the wish expressed by him shortly before he died.

Chapter III

VAUDREUII, — WRKCK OF BRITISH FLEET — BISHOP I^AVAIv AND HIS SUCCESSOR — THE SEMINARY OF QUEBEC — THE RECOIvLETS AND THE JESUITS — DESCRIPTIONS OP QUEBEC — CHARLEVOIX — KAL-M — POPULATION OP QUEBEC — ITS STREETS AND INHABITANTS

Frontenac lived eight years after the siege of Quebec by Phips. His two most formidable adversaries, the English and the Iroquois, continued hostilities, although repulsed on every side. During these years the French, who were ever on the alert, had frequent opportunities to display their valour. L,e Moine de Bienville, Vuault de Varennes, fought bravely and checked the progress of the invaders. The expeditions of the sieurs de Mantet, de Courtemanche and de la Noue against the Agniers inspired the English with a salutary dread. But when Frontenac died he had not wholly succeeded in taming the ferocious Iroquois.

Hector de Callieres, Frontenac's successor, was at the head of affairs for only four years — from 1699 to 1703, — and there is nothing of particular interest to record. The historian Ferland says that he left behind him the reputation of having been an excellent general, an honest man and a true friend of the country in which he had spent the greater portion of his life.

In 1705 the Marquis Philippe de Vaudreuil assumed the Government of the country in the presence of three Intendants : — Beauharnois, who was leaving office, and the joint Intendants, Jacques Raudot, and his son Antoine, who were entering upon their duties. It was during Vaudreuil' s administration, in the year 171 1, that the fleet under Admiral Walker was wrecked off Egg Island, on its way to besiege Quebec. This terrible disaster, so unfortunate for the enemy, had the effect of arousing the inhabitants to consider their unprotected position. During the following year a subscription of fifty thousand ecus was raised by the people to surround the town with a wall. The inhabitants had suggested a similar course some time before, but M. de Beaucourt pretended that it would be far better for the citizens to sharpen their swords.

Like all his predecessors, Vaudreuil had constantly to make provisions to withstand the assaults of the Indians. In this difficult task he displayed much zeal. He was a man of valour and was respected by the Indians, and his irreproachable conduct and untiring energy made his name dear to the Canadians. There were few events of an unfortunate nature during his adminisiration. Vaudreuil died in the Chateau St. Louis on the ioth of October, 1725.

The death of Monseigneur de Laval in 1706, deprived New France of one of her most illustrious figures. For many years the noble and saintly prelate had been unable to fulfill the active duties of his office which he had resigned to Monseigneur de Saint Vallier, but he had never ceased to take a deep interest in the spiritual welfare of the colony, so that his life was a useful one until its close. We have seen that, shortly after his arrival in Quebec, Monseigneur de Laval had undertaken the construction of two seminaries, but it was not until 1 698 that the stone building was complete which served as a residence for the ecclesiastics and the pupils under their charge. On the 6th of October, 1688, the doors of the Little Seminary were thrown open to the youth of the colony. There were sixty pupils admitted during the first year. The boys of the Seminary wore a costume similar to that worn to-day, namely, a blue coat with a sash. The pupils who were destined for the priest-hood, served in the choir of the Cathedral. They wore under their surplice a red cassock, with a camail of the same material. On the 25th of November, 1701, the Little Seminary, which had cost the Bishop so much labour, was destroyed by fire. It was rebuilt without delay, but within the space of four years it was again consumed by the flames. This time, however, the citizens came to the assistance of the Bishop, and at the time of his death he had the consolation of seeing the completion of a new building which was to last for many years.

It would require many chapters to recount all the good deeds of Monseigneur de L^aval, or to give a just estimate of his noble work. When he first undertook the direction of the spiritual affairs of the colony, the Church in Canada was in its infancy and without any form of organization. It was an exceedingly difficult task, but he brought to the work he had undertaken both energy and ability. It required a firm hand to establish authority in a new country where discipline was unknown, and where extraordinary powers were perforce given to individuals that would not even have been suggested under more settled conditions. In the pursuance of his policy Mgr. de L,aval naturally came into conflict with various elements of opposition, and in consequence, even to this day, there are those who have not hesitated to censure the line of action which the Bishop followed. However, the impartial historian, with the light which is now thrown upon the history of the times, a light which has compelled even the most conservative to revise their judgment both of men and of events, must admit that Mgr. de Laval was the one man who could successfully establish the Church in Canada, and the perfection of the organization which he left at his death, is sufficient justification of his numerous acts.

The Recollets resumed their labors in 1670 and took up their abode in their former convent of Notre

Dame des Anges, which had been entirely rebuilt. The Jesuits College was still the great centre of education and many priests and laymen of distinction had been trained within its walls. When the Abbe de Saint Vallier came to Quebec in 1686 he found the organization of the various institutions highly satisfactory, and he said that if he could continue the good work carried on by the Bishop he would deem himself happy.

Monseigneur de Saint Vallier presided over the building of the church in the IyOwer Town in 1688, and founded the General Hospital at his own cost. The Bishop's Palace at the top of Mountain Hill was built during his residence in Quebec. Several of the mandements which he composed are read in our churches even to this day. Four synods were held during his term of office. The first in Quebec, on the 9th of November, 1690 ; the second at Montreal, on the 10th and nth of March, 1694 ; the third in Quebec, on the 27th of February, 1698 ; and the fourth in Quebec, on the 8th of October, 1700.

Mgr. de Saint- Vallier was an able administrator, and his episcopacy exceeded in duration the terms of any of his successors. He died at the General Hospital on the evening of the 25th of December, 1728, surrounded by his beloved nuns, to whom he left this recommendation, worthy of his noble heart : " My daughters, forget me after my death, but do not forget my poor. ' ' The last wish of the dying prelate was only half fulfilled, because the Hospitaliers could not forget their generous founder. As to the poor, it is the mission of their lives to care for them, and the entire population of Quebec ever since the days of the good Bishop have always been willing to bear witness to their devotion to the cause they have espoused.

On his first arrival at Quebec, in 1672, the Count de Frontenac wrote to the Minister in France : —

' ' Nothing seemed so beautiful and magnificent to me as the site of the town of Quebec, which could not be better placed even were it some day to become the capital of a great empire. But it seems to me that hitherto a great error has been committed in allowing the houses to be built according to the whim of indivi- • duals and without any order, because in establishments such as this which may some day become very considerable, one should, it seems to me, think not only of the present condition in which one lives but also of that which may come. ' '

Frontenac therefore insisted that the streets should follow regular lines, especially in the Upper Town where the lack of symmetry was most noticeable. He gave his own name to Buade street, and when Charlevoix came to Quebec fifty years later, he found the streets following regular lines, and the names which they then bore have been scrupulously handed down to our own times. Charlevoix was not less impressed than Frontenac by the magnificent situation of Quebec. He wrote : —

' ' I am going to say something about Quebec. All the descriptions that I have read are so imperfedl, that I am sure you will be pleased to receive a true picture of the Capital of New France. It deserves to be better known, if only for the singularity of its

QUKBKC AFTER ONK HUNDRED Y^ARS

situation. It is the only town in the world that can boast of a harbour in fresh water at one hundred and twenty leagues from the sea, and capable of containing one hundred ships, and it is situated near the most navigable river in the world."

Peter Kalm, in his "Travels," gives this interesting description of the city :

' ' The shores of the river become more sloping as " you come nearer to Quebec. To the northward " appears a high ridge of mountains. About two ' ' French miles and a half from Quebec the river "becomes very narrow, the shores being within the ' ' reach of a musket shot from each other. The country " on both sides was sloping, hilly, covered with trees, ' ' and had many small rocks ; the shore was stony. " About 4 o'clock in the afternoon we happily arrived " at Quebec. The city does not appear till one is " close to it, the prospect being intercepted by a high ' ' mountain on the south side. However, part of ' ' the fortifications appear at a good distance, being "situated on the same mountain. As soon as the " soldiers who were with us saw Quebec, they called ' * out, that all those who had not been there before " should be ducked, if they did not pay something to ' ' release themselves. This custom even the Governor " General of Canada is obliged to submit to, on his "first journey to Montreal. We did not care when ' ' we came in sight of this town to be exempted from " this old custom, which is very advantageous to the " rowers as it enables them to spend a very merry ' ' evening on their arrival at Quebec, after their trou- ' 1 blesome labour.