THE STORY OF OLD QUEBEC

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXL, Issue 6164, 9 January 1904, Page 7

THE STORY OF OLD QUEBEC

(London Daily Express.) There is no more thrilling chapter in the history of the world than the story of the struggle which for generations centred around the ancient fortress of Quebec and finally resulted in tlie supremacy of British influence over the northern half of the American continent. The story of "Old Quebec" has been told more than once; but it will bear re-telling, and this sumptuous volume, under the joint authorship ol Sir Gilbert Parker and ■Mγ Claude Q. Bryan, forms a fitting accompaniment to the series of stirring romances which Sir Gilbert has woven around the history of French Canada. The scope of tlie work is by no means so limited as its title would imply. "For at least the first hundred years of its existence," the authors remind us, "Quebec was New France, and the story of Quebec in that period is the story of all Canada. The fortress was the heart and soul of French enterprise in the New World. From the Castle of St. Louis, on the summit of Cape Diamond, .went forth mandates, heard and obeyed in distant Louisiana. The monastic, city on the St. Lawrence was the centre of the web of missions which slowly spread from the dark Saquenay to Lake Superior. "The fearful tragedies of Indian warfare had their birth in the early ; policy of Quebec. The fearless voyageurs, whose canoes glided into* unknown waters, ever westward —towards Cathay, as they believed—made Quebec their base of exploration. And as time went on the rock-built stronghold of the north became the nerve centre of that half-century of conflict which left the flag of Britain waving in victory on the Plains of Abraham." The failure of '.he French bid for empire in the new wond was due to two main causes. In the first place, France "attempted too much in scattering her colonists along the two sides of a huge triangle formed by the Mississippi and tffe (St. Lawrence Rivers, while the base formed by the seaboard was held l by an equally virile race thirteen times as numerous. But most important of all, the victory of Hawk© in Quiberon Bay and other British naval successes allowed England to gain command of the sea. Thus, when the critical strugglewas taking place in the middle of the eighteenth century, France, as Burke wrote, "was obliged to sit, the impotent spectator of the ruin of her colonies, without, being able to , send them the slightest succour." In spite of the enormous advantages which the command of the sea gave her, it is doubtful whether Britain would have triumphed over the French in Canada when she did had it- not. been for the genius of Wolfe. With a superior force of French troops, headed by the courageous Montcalm, occupying the heights of -Quebec, the obstacles to successful attack seemed almost insuperable to the English general, on whom the finger of death was already laid. But his greatness triumphed over every difficulty, and he planned the daring night assault on the frowning heights. Its success was complete, and Montcalm taken by surprise. "It was six in the morning as he galloped up the slope of St. Charles and, in utter amazement, gazed upon the scarlet ranks of Britain spread across the plain between himself and 'Bougainville, and nearer to him, on the crest, the white-coated l battalion of Guienne, which the day 'before he had ordered to occupy the very heights where Wolfe now stood. The battle which ensued decided the fate of the. French Empire in America. 'Montcalm's troops were completely routed, but, as at the battle of Trafalgar,' the joy of victory was almost overshadowed by grief at the death of one so beloved by all his countrymen as the British * commander. The closing scenes of Wolfe's life were tragic in the extreme, and, like Nelson, he died in the hour of his supreme triumph. "Early in the action Wolfe had been hit in the wrist foy a bullet, but fie concealed this wound with his handkerchief. A few minutes later, however, as he pressed forward, sword in hand, at the head of the charging Louisbourg Grenadiers, a musket ball struck him in the breast. They bore him, mortally wounded, to the rear. 'It's all over with me,' he murmured: The mist of death was already gathering in his eyes. 'They run; see how they run!' exclaimed Lieutenant Brown, of the Grenadiers, who supported him. 'Who run?' demanded the general, like one roused from sleep. 'The enemy, sir,' responded the subaltern. 'Go, one of you, to Colonel Burton,' returned Wolfe, with an earnestness that retained the spirit of his almost lifeless body; 'tell him to march Webb's regiment down to the St. Charles to cut off their retreat from the, bridge.' Then, overcome at last, he turned on his side and whispered, ''Now, God be praised, I will die in peace.' " Only once again was Quebec destined to undergo a siege, when, in the winter of 1775 the thirteen revolting colonies decided to strike at the Mother 'Country by an attack on Canada. The invaders were led by General Richard Montgomery, who, however, fell in a vain attempt to storm the fortress. Benedict Arnold took up- the a.ttack, and in the spring of 1776 the siege was pressed with increased activity. The position began to look serious for Sir Guy 'Garleton and tha gallant defenders. "As the weeks went by, the anxiety of an ever-threatened attack told heavily on the garrison, and even ihe convalescent were called upon for guard-house duty. A blockade extending over four or five months was exhausting their provisions; and for fuel they were at length reduced to tearing down wooden houses in the suburb of St. Koch. For half a year the Richelieu, Montreal, and Three Rivers, in fact, the whole of Canada, had been virtually in the enemy's hands. Quebec alone remained." Once again the command of the sea was» destined to save Canada to Britain, and the timely arrival of several ships of war put an end to the hopes of the besiegers. Amid the turmoil and strife of generations, Quebec has changed little. "In many respects the Quebec of to-day is the Quebec of yesterday. Time and science have altered its detail; but, viewed from afar, it seems to have altered as little as Heidelberg and Coblenz. Lower Town huddles in artistic chaos at the foot of the sheltering cliff; and, as aforetime, the everhanging fort protrudes its protecting muzzles. Spires and antique minarets, which looked down upon a French settlement struggling with foes in feathers and war paint, still gleam from the towering rock on which their stable , foundations are laid. "Quebec is now;« as it was nearly three centuries ago, a city of churches and.convents. The bells rang then, as now, from morning till night. Gregorian chants streamed out through convent "windows, and the black-robed priest was th© soul of all."

If Aye only loved our friends as ■well before they die as we do afterwards what a beatific world this would be! . For softening the heart an hour's stroll in a graveyard is worth all the sermons that were ever preached.