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.
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