Pere Masse were discovered, and with whom originated the idea of
erecting this monument.
The ground upon which the monument stands was given by Mr. Henry
Lemesurier: and Mr. R. R. Dobell has nobly assisted Messrs. Laverdiere and
Casgrain in carrying out the project.
The monument is plain but elegant, and altogether about 20 feet high. It
is of cut-stone, with four marble tablets surmounted by a marble cross.
One of the tablets bears the following inscription:
The Inhabitants of Sillery
Have erected this Monument to the Memory of
PERE ENNEMOND MASSE, S.J.,
First Missionary in Canada,
Buried in 1646,
In the Church of Saint Michel,
On the Domain of Saint Joseph of Sillery.
On another tablet was inscribed:
The Church of Saint Michel,
Which formerly stood on this spot,
Was built by
The Commander of Sillery,
Founder (in 1637) of the St. Joseph Domain.
The ceremony throughout was of a most interesting character, serving to
mark an important event in the history of Canada.
[201] The Plains of Abraham. Notes, original and selected, by Lt. Col.
Beatson, Royal Engineers - Gibraltar: Printed at the Garrison Library
Press, 1858. This volume is very rare.
[202] Donation du 10 Octobre, 1648, et du 1er Fevrier, 1652, par Adrien
Duchesne a Abraham Martin, de 30 arpents de terre.
Concession du 16 Mai, 1650, par la Compagnie de la Nouvelle France, de 12
arpents de terre a Abraham Martin.
Vente du 1er Juillet, 1667, aux Dames Ursuline de Quebec, par les
heritiers d'Abraham Martin, d'un terrain contenant 32 arpents en
superficie.
[203] A creature of Bigot, Capt. DeVergor, on the 13th of September, 1759,
after allowing his militia men to return home on leave, was in charge of
the post at Wolfefield, where Wolfe ascended after taking the Captain
prisoner; this was the key to the position. Ferland and other writers have
imputed treason to DeVergor.
[204] "MONTCALM EN CANADA."
In a work published at Tournai, in 1861, par un ancien missionnaire, at
page 193, Pere Martin notices the discrepancies between the various
writers whom he had consulted. "It is difficult at the present day, to
decide with certainty as to the numbers of the two armies who met on the
Plains of Abraham; ancient writers are no more in accord than modern. Here
are some of the estimates:
FRENCH. ENGLISH.
L'Intendant Bigot,....................... 3,500 3 to 4,000
Montreuil, Major General,................ ... 4,500
Doreil, Commissaire,..................... 3,000 6,000
Colonel Fraser,.......................... 5,000 4,000
(Sullivan says the forces were equal, but that Wolfe's soldiers were
disciplined veterans, and that the half of Montcalm's were militia and
Indians.)
Hawkins,................................. 5,000 4,800
Bancroft,................................ 5,000 5,000
Garneau,................................. 4,500 8,000
Beatson,................................. 7,500 4,828
Dussieux,................................ 4,500 5,000
The estimates given by Garneau, of the English, and by Lt. Col.
