Your humble servant,
Sr. St. Alexis de St. Joseph.
*SEQUEL TO OLD CONGREGATIONAL CONVENT.*
FRIDAY, October 10, 1890.
I have just returned from a very pleasant visit (my first) to Villa
Maria, the Maison Mère of the old Convent of the Congregation,
forty-seven years ago at the foot of Mountain Hill, Quebec.
Taking the St. Catherine street cars as far as the Post-Office, at the
toll-gate you enter an omnibus (at certain hours) which takes you, for
the moderate sum of five cents, to the gate leading into the grounds of
Villa Maria, the first educational establishment of the Congregation de
Nôtre Dame, formerly Moncklands.
The approach on the Côte St. Antoine Road is beautiful, especially at
this season, when the trees surrounding the various pretty homes to some
of our Montreal gentry are just taking on their autumn tints. At one
residence especially I noticed the leaves of every color, from varied
green and red, pale pink, and deep crimson. One small house especially
attracted my attention, that of Maxime St. Germain—a real old-fashioned
humble country stone cottage, with the cross standing, a rendezvous in
old time for prayer when churches were few and far between.
It was told me that this Maxime St. Germain, from a humble habitant, by
the rise of the value of his property, has risen to great wealth, though
still living in his humble way, and with his wife and brother still
occupy the old homestead.
To make one understand the beauty of Moncklands, you must pay it a
personal visit, and, in default of that, I cannot do better than copy a
page of its prospectus. I can only say that I was utterly charmed even
during my hurried visit.
The view is so lovely from the front. The parlors so tastefully, even
elegantly, furnished, with a fine library in one of them, every token of
refinement, and the spirit of order prevails with a carefulness of
detail which must conduce to the comfort of its inmates.
"In this Institution for Young Ladies will be found all the advantages,
comfort, etc., in harmony with its pre-eminence among the various houses
of this Order.
In point of situation, salubrity, and picturesque scenery, Villa Maria
is unrivalled; the grounds are extensive, and comprise a delightful
grove and a lovely little lake, with gondolas, for the healthful
amusement of the pupils.
The house, which was formerly the residence of the Governor-General of
Canada, is fitted up in a style of comfort and in a degree of elegance
not surpassed by any establishment of the kind. French being the
language of the Institution, the pupils possess rare facilities for
acquiring a thorough and practical knowledge of this language. French
conversation is compulsory, and enters into the competition for the
highest honors. The course in the English language is thorough and
complete.
The Governor-General of the Dominion of Canada has graciously given this
institution a magnificent medal, to be awarded for general proficiency.
Hon. Ed. Murphy, Montreal, a valuable microscope, to the young lady who
excels in natural history.
Mrs. Ed. Murphy, a magnificent gold medal, for excellence in the art of
house-keeping.
The Countess de Beaujeu, a rich gold medal, to the young lady who excels
in French conversation.
The Lieutenant-Governor of the Province of Quebec, a medal for universal
history.
The Rev. L. Collin, Sup. S. S. S., a gold medal for literature.
The Rev. J. Marechal, a gold medal for religious instruction.
The Hon. P. J. O. Chauveau, ex-minister of Education, a gold medal for
composition.
The Rev. Mother Sup. General, a gold medal for excellence in deportment.
J. J. McElhone, Esq., of Washington, a gold medal for phonography and
type-writing.
J. M. McGirr, Esq., Ont., a gold medal for mathematics.
Awarded by an artist, a gold lyre, for proficiency in music.
*ST. LOUIS HOTEL.*
I have just returned from Quebec, and must record one of the most
pleasurable incidents of that visit, namely, my meeting accidentally an
old acquaintance, the handsome Miss Bouchette, now Lady Shea, and her
gifted husband, Sir Ambrose Shea. The pleasure of a prolonged interview
with the latter, and I must say an hour’s conversation with him, is an
education. He has the happy gift of conveying so much information in
such easy flowing language, words seem to come specially to express his
meaning; you learn so much while apparently only chatting. Truly may
the Bahamas bless the day when he went there, and evolved from the
noxious weed they complained of (Sisal Fibre) an industry which will be
its grand prosperity. Already the importance of this great branch of
commerce has been so great that he has, in view of Canadian interests,
come on a visit to Ottawa, to effect, if possible, a divergence of the
trade to Canada instead of permitting our American Cousins to reap all
the profits. He showed me a plait of fibre about two feet long or more,
so delicate yet so strong. There is no doubt it will produce a rival to
the famous manilla rope, and so facile of handling, it may yet be used
for the manufacture of linen and other articles, for it needs very
little preparation for use, and that of the simplest kind.
This wonderful plant suddenly sprung into prominent notice. It is a
weed particularly fertile in the Bahamas. It grows about two feet high,
and the fibre is the length of the plant, and when extracted by the
simple process of pressing out, and then wet and dried in the sun, looks
exactly like horse hair, and so strong one could not break even four
threads twined together. This Sisal Fibre is creating such a sensation
now. I need say nothing further on the subject, only wish Sir Ambrose
and his wife a pleasant trip, and thank Mr. Russell for the particular
courtesy I received from him. But when will you fail to receive
attention at the St. Louis! From mine host down to the humblest bell
boy, all are so watchful for your comfort, so civil in their demeanor,
it is a pleasure to put up there.
*THE QUEBEC BANK, QUEBEC.*
On a recent visit to Quebec I was shown by the present courteous and
able manager, James Stevenson, Esq., a notice he had written in the
_Shareholder_, February 22, 1884, and there is so much of interest in it
for the public, I transmit the valuable information it contains to you,
my friends. Mr. Stevenson had directed my attention to this article, as
he had therein so kindly noticed my dear father, the late Charles
Gethings:—
The Quebec Bank, with the exception of the Bank of Montreal, is the
oldest bank in the Dominion. On the 9th July, 1818, merchants, and
others interested in the establishment of a bank in the city of Quebec,
held a meeting at the Exchange, and drafted articles of association. The
document is headed, "Articles of Association of the Quebec Bank," and
consists of twenty-five sections. No. 3 provides that, for the good
management of the bank, there shall be thirteen directors; No. 6, that
there shall be no recourse upon the separate property of any
shareholder. Other sections severally provide for the issue of notes;
the calling-up of the capital, which is to be £75,000; the term of the
bank’s existence; and its dissolution. The bank is now in its
sixty-seventh year. Distinguished men, legislators, lawyers and
merchants have served on the directorate. During the term of its
existence it has been exposed to severe financial storms; it has
weathered them all, preserved its capital intact, and has paid several
millions in the shape of dividends.
At the first meeting of the shareholders, which was held on the 7th
September, 1818, the following gentlemen were elected to serve on the
board of directors, namely, John W. Woolsey, Thomas White, J. McCallum,
John Jones, Charles Smith, Louis Massue, Jean Langevin, Henry Black, Ph.
Aubert de Gaspé, W. G. Sheppard, John Goudie, Etienne Lagreux, and
Benjamin Tremain. Mr. Woolsey was elected president, and Mr. White,
vice-president; and the Board engaged the services of Noah Freer, as
cashier. Mr. Freer held a commission as captain in the army; he had
seen service, and had been military secretary to Sir George Prevost,
during the war of 1812. Steady-going merchants may have shrugged their
shoulders and questioned the wisdom and propriety of appointing a
soldier to such a position; but Captain Freer took kindly to the
business of civil life. He was accurate, precise, and methodical in all
he did; and a courteous gentleman in his intercourse with the public.
The customers of the bank were men of high standing—including the
leading officials of the capital, namely, the Governor-General, the
Bishop, the Commander-in-Chief, legislators and lawyers, in addition to
the regular commercial clientele. Holograph cheques of all its
principal customers since 1818 have been carefully preserved in the
bank, a review of which is almost as interesting as a cursory perusal of
the annals of the city.
That able jurist, the late Honorable Andrew Stuart, was appointed legal
adviser; and he appears on several occasions to have steadied the
directors, and guided them into a course of safety.
In the absence of an "Act of Incorporation," the shareholders no doubt
incurred unlimited liability to the depositors and share-holders; but
application was made to Parliament for a charter, and an "Act of
Incorporation," extending the existence of the bank to 1831, was passed
in 1819. This Act received the Royal assent of George IV. on the 16th
September, 1822. At the expiration of the term, the charter was
renewed, and extended to the 1st August, 1836; and, by a subsequent Act,
to the same date in 1837. That year constitutional government was
suspended in consequence of the disturbed state of the Province; and all
the powers and privileges of the bank expired by the effluxion of the
time limited by the Act of Incorporation. The directors were at a loss
what course to pursue under the circumstances. They thought seriously
of winding up the bank. In 1838 the government of the country was
vested in Sir John Colborne, as Administrator, and a special council
held in the city of Montreal. The same year, the Habeas Corpus Act was
suspended, and an ordinance was passed authorizing the incorporated,
chartered, and other banks in the Province to suspend the redemption of
their notes in specie till the 1st of June, 1839—limiting the
circulation of each bank to the amount of its capital stock actually
paid up. It was further enacted that all specie then held by the bank
should be retained, and should not be sold, excepting to Her Majesty’s
Government.
Political disturbances having been quelled, trade revived, and all
thought of winding up the bank was abandoned. To supply the absence of
silver, the bank, in addition to its ordinary issue, issued notes of
15d., or 30 sous, and 2s. 6d., or 3 francs; and the several banks struck
off a copper currency for the convenience of the public. The suspension
of specie payments lasted three years.
In the absence of Parliamentary authority for the existence of the bank,
the directors we readvised to apply for a royal charter, and Captain
Freer, the cashier, was deputed to proceed to England, for the purpose
of communicating with the Home Government on the subject. Captain Freer
was well received by the authorities, and every assistance was rendered
to him in furtherance of the object of his mission. A royal charter was
granted with authority to apply to Parliament for a renewal as soon as
constitutional government should be restored; at the same time the
authorized capital of the bank was increased to £100,000.
Several changes had taken place in the personnel at the Direction since
1818. In 1823, Mr. W. Sheppard was elected president; in 1832, Mr.
Charles Smith; in 1838, Mr. John Fraser; and in 1842, Mr. James Gibb.
In 1852 Captain Freer retired from the service of the bank upon a
pension, having held office for thirty-four years. In 1848 Sir N. F.
Belleau was elected a director. He has since been a constant member of
the Board, and punctual in his attendance, even while he held the office
of Lieutenant-Governor of the Province of Quebec. On the death of the
Honorable Andrew Stuart, the Honorable Henry Black was appointed legal
adviser; and on his assuming the duties of Judge of the Vice-Admiralty
Court, he was succeeded by the Honorable George O. Stuart, the present
Judge of the same Court. J. C. Vannovous, Q.C., held the office till
his death, and was succeeded by the present legal advisers of the bank,
Messrs. Andrews, Caron & Andrews.
Mr. Charles Gethings, a man of inflexible integrity of character, was
appointed to fill the office of cashier, vacated by the retirement of
Captain Freer, and under his management, and the careful supervision of
the president, Mr. Gibb, who was rarely absent from the office, the bank
continued to pay its dividends, namely, in 1853 at the rate of 7 per
cent. per annum: in 1854, 7 per cent.; 1855, 7 per cent.; 1856, 7 per
cent.; 1857, 6½ per cent.; 1858, 6 per cent.; 1859, 6½ per cent.; 1860,
7½.
In 1860 the president, one of the oldest and most esteemed merchants in
the city, died, deeply regretted by the whole community, and Mr. W. H.
Anderson, the vice-president, was elected president in his place. The
following year Mr. Gethings, the cashier, retired upon a pension; and
Mr. William Dunn, a gentleman well qualified to fill an important place
in any bank, was appointed his successor. The bank, under his
management, continued to pay dividends, namely, in 1861, 8 per cent;
1862, 8 per cent.; 1863, 7½ per cent.; 1864, 7 per cent.
In 1864 Mr. David Douglas Young, a leading and highly esteemed merchant,
who had served several years on the directorate, was elected president.
Mr. Dunn, the cashier, retired soon after his appointment, and was
succeeded by the present general manager, Mr. James Stevenson, in
December, 1864.
Since the death of Mr. Young, which happened in 1869, the Honorable
James G. Ross has been president of the bank, and Mr. William Withall,
vice-president.
Such, in brief, is the history of this old institution, the doors of
which were opened for business in 1818, in a small house in
Sault-au-Matelot Street. Some years afterwards, a portion of a
commodious building erected by the Quebec Fire Insurance Company, in
Peter Street, was occupied by the bank. But in 1863 the directors
resolved to have a building of their own, and they purchased from Mr. H.
Atkinson the site upon which the present handsome banking house is
built. A certain historical interest attaches to almost every spot and
locality in Quebec; and to none more so than to that very site. There,
on a cold stormy December morning, in 1775, when the simultaneous
assault on Quebec was made by Montgomery and Arnold, stood a small body
of resolute men, ready to sacrifice their lives in defence of the city.
While the life of Montgomery was ebbing away with the flow of his blood
at Cape Diamond, Arnold was advancing, with a comparatively formidable
force, from St. Roch’s, upon Sault-au-Matelot, a little lane not over
twelve feet wide, opposite the site of the bank. It is not too much to
say that the fate of Canada, as a dependency of Great Britain, hung upon
the issue of the impending contest in the lane. The struggle was a
desperate one.
It lasted several hours; but the repulse was complete; and Arnold,
carried off wounded, retired with the remnant of his force upon the
General Hospital, the head-quarters of the Americans, which they held
till the siege of Quebec was abandoned in the following month of May,
1776.
*HORSE BOATS AND ICE BOATS.*
Near the site of the old convent just described, we used to embark on a
horse boat to cross to Levis in summer, and in winter a canoe, managed
by expert boatmen, who paddled their way through shoal ice, and, on
reaching any large piece, with wonderful strength and skill raised the
canoe and pulled it on the ice as we do a sleigh. These boatmen were so
inured to their work that an accident rarely happened. But there are
records of a whole canoe full of people being swamped. Fortunately a
regular service of ice boats exists in winter now, and with rare
intervals (some extraordinary storm) with as much regularity as the
summer ferry boats.
Some of my young readers may never have seen a horse boat, so I will
tell them they looked like some of the very small steamboats, but the
machinery was put in movement and carried on by horses attached to a
pole in the centre and walking round and round.
Previous to the year 1857 there were no other means of crossing to Levis
but by the canoes, when Capt. Semple chartered a boat, which ran up to
December, as it could only go through floating ice. But an enterprising
gentleman, the recently deceased Mr. Tibbits, talking over the matter
with a young relative of mechanical genius, made out plans for
machinery, had them sent to Montreal, made here and sent on to Quebec,
were fitted up and at once proved successful, and thus in the year 1862
started his passenger boat, "The Arctic," which would cut through the
heaviest ice and became a perfect success. I copy from a newspaper the
following notice of Mr. Tibbits, who died March 26, 1889:
"On Friday last the mortal remains of the late James Tibbits were
committed to their last resting place in Mount Hermon Cemetery. For many
years the deceased was a prominent figure in the mercantile community.
He was a man of great physical and mental energy, and of unbounded
enterprise, always willing to risk in public enterprises the money with
which many of his ventures were crowned. One lasting monument of his
enterprise and ability remains to us in the excellent ferry service we
enjoy with the South Shore. He was the first to demonstrate the
possibility of a steamer cutting its way through the masses of ice which
obstructed the navigation opposite the city during the winter. Like
many others of our enterprising merchants, Mr. Tibbits died poor. Quebec
owes his memory a debt of gratitude, which might well have been slightly
repaid by a public funeral. It is, however, such a long time since Mr.
Tibbits resided in the city, the generation that succeeded are hardly
aware of the services rendered by the deceased. It is not fitting,
however, that they should be lost sight of."
The ferry boats, summer and winter, land you in close proximity to the
railroad, and carriages take you west towards St. David or east to St.
Joseph. After driving up a very steep hill you come to a road branching
off to the west beside which is the little old English Church and
Cemetery, the former being now renewed under the supervision of its
popular pastor, Rev. Mr. Nicholls, grandson of the much-esteemed Bishop
Mountain. Higher up and last is the Roman Catholic parish church, a
monument to the zeal and perseverance of the late Rev. Mr. Dalzeil.
Almost a riot was in the parish when he asked for it to be built of its
present size, but with far-seeing wisdom he insisted, and now it is
crowded to overflowing though two other churches have been built in the
space of the last few years. Levis also possesses a fine college in this
locality. On the summit of the hill called rue des Marchands is a very
handsome and spacious store and residence belonging to Mr. Couture, and
opposite to it is a tiny little building kept in good repair, though
unused, which Mr. Couture tells you with pride is the shop where he
first earned the shillings which were to end by making him a
millionaire. Mr. Edouard Couture carries on the business in the same
place now, but the Hon. Geo. Couture, Senator, sleeps under a handsome
obelisk in Levis Cemetery. The noblest monument that exists to his
memory, however, is the beautiful church, built by money left for that
purpose in his will, adjoining the splendid hospital, built within about
ten years, to which he contributed so largely during his lifetime. One
of the head ladies of the institution (a very old friend, sister-in-law
of our well-known citizen, Hon. P. Casgrain) took me through this
building about a week ago, and I was astonished to find it almost filled
already. The poor, the crippled, old women, young children, have here a
comfortable home, with delightful surroundings, and on a height and with
a view of the Citadel, Quebec.
When Mère St. Monique asked me to go and visit the Catacombs under the
church, I decidedly objected, but Josephte, as I called her in our
youth, always would have her way, and I am glad she did so here, for I
do not know whether similar places for burial are existent elsewhere in
this country or only a new creation in Canada, but I am glad I went into
them. This seems to be the perfection of burying. Leading me through a
long light passage under the church, we came to a very heavy iron door;
then on its being opened a second appeared with its blank emblems and
death’s head and cross bones, sufficiently indicative of where we were
going. Entering this door Mère St. Monique struck a light, and we found
ourselves in a fire-proof brick chamber and passages. On every side
shelves to hold one coffin. There is only one occupant so far—Mr.
Gingras—but there are places for ninety. The coffin is placed on a
shelf just large enough, then masoned up, and the name put on the
masonry. A great improvement on old-fashioned vaults, as all
possibility of disturbance is precluded and no danger from foul air.
This building is under the High Altar, so to a devout Roman Catholic
much of the feeling of gloom is taken away. A few miles west is St.
David’s Church, a pretty new edifice, and further on at the village of
St. Romuald, St. Romuald’s Church, so filled with choice paintings and
works of art by its late Pastor, the Rev. Mr. Saxe, it has become quite
a worthy show place for our sight-seeing American friends. The Rev. Mr.
Saxe was of such clever wit and genial presence, he exercised great
influence over those with whom he came in contact. I remember saying
how proud his parishioners must be of this lovely little edifice. "They
well may be," he said, "it has hardly cost them anything for all these
works of art. I made the old country, that could afford it, give them,
you know. I travelled in Europe for contributions, and impressed on
each community how necessary it was that each city should give of its
best—something to redound to its own credit, and I got it," the old
gentleman said with a merry twinkle in his eye. So much, my friends,
for tact and a knowledge of human nature.
*BEAUMONT—ST. THOMAS.*
Previous to the year 1853, or thereabouts, there was no railroad below
Quebec, and vehicles were the only means of transport; but when time and
means permit, it is surely the most agreeable of all ways of travelling.
We were frequent visitors at Crane Island, and our downward drive to St.
Thomas, where we took sail boat to cross, were in the habit of stopping
at various way-side houses, not inns, simply neat commodious places
where we were always expected and welcomed, and sure of a meal and bed.
One of these was the Fraser House at Beaumont: it still exists, but
sadly deteriorated, and occupied by a French farmer and family. It is a
very long low house in a very small quiet country village, prettily
situated with a view of the St. Lawrence.
On one occasion my husband and myself drove up to the door. "Welcome!"
(we were frequent visitors) "but it is well you did not come a few days
sooner. Who do you think has just left? Lord and Lady Elgin,"—and I
forget whether she said any children. "Come, and I’ll show you the room
as I arranged it for Lady Elgin." If you have never, my readers, seen a
genuine old-fashioned habitant bedstead, I would almost fail to impress
you with its height; you could not possibly get into it without standing
on a chair, and two of these were placed side by side, taking in one
whole side of a room, with the long white curtains pendant from a rod
attached to the ceiling. I can hardly think of it now without smiling.
Of course, it must have been for the novelty of the thing that Lady
Elgin used it instead of having one brought from Quebec. Perhaps one
gets so tired of formality and grandeur, a change becomes a welcome
relief. We said we had but twenty minutes to stay, and must have lunch
at once. In about ten minutes we had a most delicious fricassee of
chicken in white sauce. On complimenting Mrs. Fraser, she said, "I
learnt how to make that from Lord Elgin’s cook, and was I not smart?
those chickens were running about when you came." That spoilt all,
ah—if she only had not told us? There are numerous pretty villages all
along the south shore. None prettier than that of St. Michel, adjacent
to Beaumont. It much resembles Kamouraska, though much prettier as the
foliage is so lovely.
*ST. MICHEL.*
St. Michel is a delightful summer residence, about fifteen miles from
Quebec, reached directly by steamer every day, or by railroad a few
miles from the village.
We resided there for a couple of years, and then made the acquaintance
of the Rev. Mr. Drolet, who with his mother and sisters tendered us such
kindly hospitality. The Parsonage became to all of us a Maison
Paternelle, for the family all spoke English as well as French, and the
genial curé, a very clever and devoted priest, was in his home an
admirable host. I shall have occasion elsewhere to speak of him. I
will conclude this article with a few verses I found lately, written on
the spur of the moment from the circumstance of one of the ladies nearly
falling through a trap door into the cellar of the dining-room of the
old-fashioned house we then occupied.
*A CHRONICLE OF ST. MICHEL.*