It Dates
Back To 1823, When His Excellency, George Ramsay, Earl Of Dalhousie,
Assisted By The Late Dr. John Charlton Fisher, LL.D., And Ex-Editor Of The
New York Albion, Successfully Matured A Long Meditated Plan To Promote
The Study Of History And Of Literature.
The Literary and Historical
Society held its first meeting in the Chateau St. Louis.
It is curious
to glance over the list of names in its charter. [52] It contained the
leading men on the Bench, in the professions, and in the city. In 1832 the
library and museum occupied a large room in the Union building facing the
Ring. From thence they were transferred to the upper story of the
Parliament Buildings, on Mountain Hill, where a portion of both was
destroyed by the conflagration which burnt down the stately cut-stone
edifice in 1854, with the stone of which in 1860, the Champlain Market
Hall was built. What was saved of the library and museum was transferred
to apartments in St Louis street, then owned by the late George Henderson,
J.P. [53] The next removal, about 1860, brought the institution to Masonic
Hall, corner of Garden and St. Louis streets. Here, also, the fire-fiend
assailed the treasures of knowledge and specimens of natural history, of
the society, which, with its household gods, flitted down to a suite of
rooms above the savings bank apartments in St. John Street, from whence,
about 1870, it issued to become an annual tenant in the north wing of the
Morrin College, where it has flourished ever since.
In the protracted and chequered existence of this pioneer among Canadian
literary associations, one day, above all others is likely from the
preparations - pageant and speeches which marked it, to be long remembered
among Quebecers as a red letter day in the annals of the society. The
celebration in December, 1875 of the centennial of the repulse of
Brigadier General Richard Montgomery and Colonel Benedict Arnold, who, at
dawn on the 31st December, 1775, attempted to take the old fortress by
storm. The first, with a number of his followers, met with his death at
Pres-de-Ville, in Champlain street; the other was carried wounded in the
knee, to the General Hospital, St. Roch's suburbs, whilst 427 of his
command were taken prisoners of war and incarcerated until September
following in the Quebec Seminary, the Recollet Convent and the Dauphin
Prison, since destroyed, but then existing, a little north of St. John's
Gate, inside. The worthy commander of the "B" Battery, Lieut.-Col. T. B.
Strange, R.A., then stationed at the Citadel of Quebec, having consented to
narrate the incidents which marked the attack of Brigadier General Richard
Montgomery at Pres-de-Ville (which we reserve for another page,) the
description of Col. Benedict Arnold's assault on the Sault-au-Matelot
barriers, was, left to ourselves. We subjoin a portion of the address
delivered by us at this memorable centenary. It embodies an important
incident of Quebec history:
ARNOLD'S ASSAULT ON SAULT-AU-MATELOT BARRIERS.
MR. CHAIRMAN, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:
"The event which we intend commemorating this evening, is one at
peculiar interest to us as Canadians, and more especially so to us as
Quebecers, the narrow, I may say, the providential escape of the whole
Province from foreign subjugation one century ago. It is less a
chapter of Canadian annals I purpose to read to you this night, than
some minute details little known, and gleaned from the journals left
by eye witnesses of the thrilling hand to hand fight which took place
a few hundred yards from where you sit, under our walls, on the 31st
December, 1775, between Col. Arnold's New England soldiery and our own
garrison.
Possibly, you may not all realize the critical position of the city on
that memorable morning. Next day, a Sunday, ushered in the new year.
Think you there was much "visiting," much festivity, on that new
year's day? alas! though victory crowned our banner, there was
mourning in too many Canadian homes; we, too, had to bury our dead.
Let us take a rapid glimpse of what had proceeded the assault.
Two formidable parties, under experienced leaders, in execution of the
campaign planned by George Washington and our former Deputy Post
Master General, the able Benjamin Franklin, had united under the walls
of Quebec. Both leaders intimately knew its highways and by-ways.
Brigadier General Richard Montgomery, before settling near New York,
had held a lieutenant's commission in His Britannic Majesty's 17th
Foot, had taken part in the war of the conquest, in 1759, and had
visited Quebec. Col. Benedict Arnold, attracted by the fame of our
Norman horses, had more than once been in the city with the object of
trading in them.
Benedict Arnold was indeed a daring commander. His successful journey
through trackless forests between Cambridge and Quebec - his descent in
boats through rivers choked with ice, and through dangerous rapids;
the cold, hunger and exposure endured by himself and his soldiers,
were feats of endurance of which any nation might justly feel proud.
Major-General Sir James Carmichael Smyth, a high authority on such
matters, says of this winter campaign: "It is, perhaps, one of the
most wonderful instances of perseverance and spirit upon record." So
much for the endurance and bravery of our foes. I am compelled to pass
unnoticed many important incidents of the campaign in order to reach
sooner the main facts.
What was the real state of the Colony on that identical 31st December,
one hundred years ago? Why, it was simply desperate. The wave of
invasion had surged over our border. Fort after fort, city after city,
had capitulated - Ticonderoga, Crown Point, Fort St. John, Fort
Chambly, Montreal, Sorel, Three Rivers. Montgomery with his victorious
bands had borne everything before him like a tornado. The Canadian
peasantry dreaded the very sight of warriors who must be ball-proof,
as they were supposed, by a curious mistake, to be "incased in plate-
iron," vetus de tole, instead de toile.
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