The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-11-13
Our Quebec Correspondence.

QUEBEC, Nov. 4, 1853.
Visu to st. Pierre, one of the Back Parishes-St
Fancis-Statistics of the County Of L'Lslet-
Berthier-Singular Encroaehment Of the st. La,c-
rence-Early Visits Of the Missionaries-St.
VaLlier-St. Michaels-Hal4a6ie Paintings
Beaumont.
On the morning after my arrival at st. Thomas
hired caeshe and visited st. Pierre, parish sua
ted about six miles in the rear. 1t was delightful
drive, being for some distance along the right bank
Of the river Da Sud, the road passing over several
bills OF considerable magnitude, and commanding an
extensive prospect Of the surrounding country which
appeared to be all cultivated after the French Cana
dian fashion. ST. Pierre i, a neat village, and ap-
peared to be place of considerable business. At
St. Francis, the next parish there is convent The
cure, whom it my desire to see, was absent; but
] was shown through the church by student of st.
Annes College. 1t contains several very fine paint.
ings-one or two evidently Of great antiquity, and
the productions Of first rate masters. There is q
group, consisting Of two well executed statues Of our
Saviour being baptsed by st. John, carved by
French Canadian peasant belonging TO the parish.
returned to st. Thomas during the forenoon, and
Immediately started for Berther nine miles distant
the nearest village in the county of Bellechasse.
The population of the county of L'Islet which /
Vi
Canadians not Of French origin, eighty.Hve natives
Of England and Whles, thirty nine from Ireland ten
from Scotland, none from the United States, four
from other countries, and Is 664 of French origin.
OF these 1886 belong to the Church of Rome, thur.
teen to that of England ten are Presbyterians, and
there are fytw0 Of other creeds but no Methodists
or Baptists. The quantity of wheat raised in the
county last year was 81 9l2 bushels ofbarey 1887;
rye, 1928; peas, 1926; and OF potatoes 1855
bushels.
When reached the inn at Berthier, being rather
fatigued, asked for some refreshment not exactly
consonaDt with the Maine L quor law, which prompt
~ made its appearance in the shape OF bottle of
Jamaica with remnant Of its contents This is the
name universally given to ardent spirits. was not
q little amused, however, on looking out of the
window, Immediately afterwards, on peceiving by
the gn that the house WAS licensed temperance
hotel The fact is, while the priests strictly forbid
Ierso who keep houses Of entertainment from sell
ing ardent spirits to any of their people they allow
them to furnish it to travellers who may desire it.
The church at Berthier is close to the river at
least half mile from the village, which is situated
under and above ridge of high land, which was
evidently at former period the boundary of the
st. Lawrence On inquiriDg Of the priest why the
church was SO isolated was informed that the land
extended ct the time aud subsequent to its erection
across what is at present wide bay and that the
original village was then in the neighbour GOD Of
the church; but the continual washing away of the
aud bad compelled the inhabitants to remove their
houses to where they are now placed The church
Is small, with small priest, Mr.. Bonenfant and
small altar, but is very handsome and is perfect
by0n OF its kind
On leaving Barthier the road ascends, and you
come in sight of the island oil Orleans, the white
houses Of which, being in profile at dis
taDce have the appearance OF vessels clustered to
getler. walk OF four miles and half brought
me 20 the church at st. Waller, from which TO that
Of st. Michaefs the next village, is another -four
niles and bali, being the only exception to the
general distance between parish churches Of less
than bine miles unless it be Cape st. Ignaee.
n a
| tie cure, the Rev. Narcisse Beaubien, found q
very intelligent and agreeable gentleman, speaking
/ the English language fuently. Here again
found the church situated near the river and was
informed by him that the reason why this position
was so generally chosen, was that the missionaries
usually visited the lower parts Of the ST. Lawrence
in canoes, before the country was settled, who col
lected the Indians together ut the river side and
at the places where they usually stopped churches
were erected.
Afier remaining about an hour with the reverend
gentleman and partaking Of his hospitality, walked
4 on to st. Michaes, Of which parish the Rev. Mr..
\ Forier is curate. He was stationed for some time
at Prince Edward Island, is man Of much activity
and energy, ard speaks English with perfect ease
and correttness. lie took much pleasure in sho wing
me his church, and in explaining the subjects OF
very valuable paintings which it contains, list
Of which be has recorded, and of which be gave me
the following notice.: They are the Crucifxion, by
Romabelly; Flsgellation by Cbale; the Death Of st.
Clara, by Murillo 81. Bruno, by Philip de Cham.
payne; Death Of the Blessed Virgin Mary by Fouley;
st. HieroDymes, by Boucher; ST. Augustine, by Luis
de BoloqDe, and the Nativity, by Corregglo These
paintings had been brought from Italy by Bonaparte
and subsoquer tv purchased and sent out from
France They are all very f,e; the most striking,
however, was the death Of st: Clara.
The church az st. Michsels ia one hur dred and
thirty years old that at ST. Weller is one hundred
and thirty three. The number of young persons
educated at the former rlace annually Ia one hue
| dred and twenty two males and one hundred and