[273] To A Person Looking From The Main Gate, At Spencer Wood In The Direction Of The South Gable Of

Holland House, exactly in a straight line, no object intervenes except a fir tree which detaches itself on the horizon,

Conspicuous from afar over the plantation which fronts the St. Foye road. That tree is the Holland Tree. Well! what about the Holland Tree? What! you a Quebecer and not to know about the Holland Tree? the duel and the slumberers who have reposed for so many years under its shade!

Oh! but suppose I am not a Quebecer. Tell me about the Holland Tree. Well, walk down from the St. Louis road along Mr. Stuart's new road and we shall see first how the rest of the 'slumberers' has been respected. Hear the words which filial affection dictated to Frederick Braham, John Frederick and Charlotte Holland, when on the 14th July 1827, they executed a deed [274] in favor of Wm. Wilson conveying their interest in their father's estate.

"Provided always and these presents as well as the foregoing deed of sale and conveyance are so made and executed by the said Robert Holland acting as aforesaid (as attorney of the heirs Holland) upon and subject to the express charge and condition that is to say, that the said William Wilson his heirs and assigns shall forever hold sacred and inviolable the small circular space of ground on the said tract or piece of land and premises enclosed with a stone wall and wherein the remains of the late Samuel Holland, Esquire, father of the said vendors and of his son the late Samuel Holland jr., Esq., are interred, and shall and will allow tree ingress and egress at all times to the relatives and friends of the family of the said Samuel Holland for the purpose of viewing the state and condition of the said space of ground and making or causing to be made such repairs to the wall enclosing the same or otherwise providing for the protection of the said remains as they shall see fit."

Not many years back the 'small circular space' which Mr. Wilson bound himself to hold sacred and inviolable and which contained two neat marble slabs with the names of Messrs. Holland, senior and junior, and other members of the family engraved on them, was inclosed within a substantial stone wall to which access was had through an iron gate, the walls were covered with inscriptions and with the initials of those who had visited a spot to which the fatal issue of a deadly encounter lent all the interest of a romance. Nothing now is visible except the foundation, which is still distinct: the monument stones have disappeared, the wall has been razed to the ground, some modern Vandal or a descendant of the Ostrogoths [275] (for amongst all civilized nations, the repose of the dead is sacred) has laid violent hands on them! When Mr. Wilson sold Holland farm in 1843 he made no stipulation about the graves of the Hollands, he took no care that what he had agreed to hold inviolable should continue to be so held.

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