The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-07-18


Aoral and prtuous Character of that People
Aieges Of Quetec-Fo,t lfcations- Sights Worth
Seetng-Ihe NInneries, Seminaries and Hospi-
tats-FaHs Of Moatmorenci-Indian Village at
Lorate.
The writer of Hawkins Picture of Quebec" has
devoted much time and attention to determining the
e'ymology Of the words Canada and Quebec--the
Indian nume of which was Stidacona-who proves
very satisfactorily, that the former was derived
from the Iroquois word Kannata, signfying COL
lection of huts," and that the latter ia Norman
word, resembling the Indian word couoat the river
st. Charles, which empties iuto the basin OF the ST.
Lawrence, at Quebec being called by the natives ia
the time of Champlain, owing to its serpentine
course, "cabir coubat" 1t is to be regretted, how
ever, that the Indian name, Stadacona" was not
retained.
The Earl OF Belmont, who was then Governor Of
New York, estimated the French inhabitants of Ca
NADIA in 1898, including soldiers, at between three
and four thousand souls aud the number OF Indians
whom they could command, at one thousand. At
present, the number OF French Canadians in the
province, according to the census returns Of 1862,
was 695 745 ; and if the notices of marriage which
Ieelery Sunday published in the parish church of St.
Rock may he considered us TIA, upon which to prei
cate judgment OF what is taking place elsewhere in
the dtpar Inen OF men the French population mus
be rapidly on the -productveness, III this
rep, Ct, being one OF the concomtants OF poverty
aid humble station. or course. cannot say the
same with reference t. the land which they occupy
tie iabltans having impoverished it by an i'm provi
Dent aid wretched system OF husbandry, until, from
being an exporter Vt wheat, enough is not at presen
raised in Lower Canada for the support Of its nha5i
taIts
While abiding to marriage, am naturally led to
bestow thought on the Canadian women; and the
stranger who visits Quebec must not expect to find
hpHU % urpsa taI Iaf fbnua oIn and
smoke dried race, who have breatied heated air
during twothirds OF the year, in which winter may
be said to prevail, when their houses, by means Of
double windows and overheated stoves, are kept in
toleraby hot until the bloom Of health has forsaken
their cheeks, and their countenances have become
wan and iallow. No such thing. Occasionally to
be sure, the pretty brunette may be met WITH but as
general thing, the females possess the ford com
plexon of the Anglo Saxon race, set off by pair of
lustous black eyes, that must make desperate work
among the Canadian lords Of the creation. Then
they have all the joyousuess of disposition, and
sprghtliness and viyacity OF mind belonging to the
country from which they derive their origin; and
happier creature is no where to be found than q
Ftanco- Canad,fn, whether male or female, all Of
whom are strictly attentive to their religious duties,
living peaceable and moral life conforming to the
rules OF their church with the conviction that their
due observance will lead to happiness hereafter and
throwing care, "lpke hysic, to the dogs"
Our Gallo neighbors IN this province, intermarry,
with few exceptions among themselves, and there
fore the bloom on the cheek of the female, is not
the suit Of ntermixture of races nor do they de-
rive it from their fathers-for like the Jews the male
portion OF the hdbitans are geaeraly speaking, in
ferior in appearance to the other; it comes waited
probably on the icy winds of the north is fostered
by the healthfuness incident to the elevated posi-
ton OF the country or it may be part Of the patr
moDy Of their common mother, Eve cherished and
perpetuated by virtuOus and unblemished life,
whose pOssessOr "sinks to rest with q cOntented
mind, and when she awakes, she awakes with q
SMILE"
Quebec has prominent place in American his
tory, from the attempts that were made with more
or less success to wrest it from the dominion of
France; and subsequently, from the desperate at
tempt made during the American revolution, to
seize tor nation about springing into existence
In 1923, when Champlain governed Canada, Quebec
was taken by an expedition under Sir David Kertch
and his two brothers, and was held till $685. when
A. was ..A."'-- - rance. In 1890, Sir william
Phipps sailed from Boston with force that was
considered adequate to the capture Of Quebec. in
which, had he arrived three days sooner, he would
have succeeded; but who had to abandon the enter
prise after summonng the place to surrender, owing
to the lateness OF the season. and the preparations
that had been made by the Count Froninac, during
his detention in the river, arising from adverse
winds, and the ignorance Of his pilots.
In May, 1853, force, destined to capture Quebec,
consisting OF $500 men, left Sandy Hook, and on
the 18th Of September following was fought the bat
tie OF the Plains of Abraham, in which both the
commanding Generals-Wolie and Montcalm-fe
in the service of their country the result Of which
was the poss session OF Quebec, and ultimately the
surrender Of the immense territory held by France,
ard bounded only by the country north Of the St
Lawrence and the Mississippi on the south.
10 I775, General Arnold, with about eleven hun
dred men, left Boston the middle of September on
the 22d embarked on the Kennebec river: and.
at Point Levi, opposite Quebec; and the l4th Of
November succeeded in landing at Wofe's Cove, in
the Of the city from whence he crossed over to
the St. Roch suburbs and established himself from
he E0vr uaarx uhare ha hud Iapd 70 tho
Marine Hospital, on the bank Of the st. Charles.
Central Montgomery, who had taken the fort of st.
John, hear Lake Cbamplan and to whom Mont, cal
had subsequently surrendered, arrived at tie unoer
side Of the town. the river on t,e mr.; ~ Ral
cember and on the 3lst, the ,vo Generals nv
combined attack from tbc lower town, uttempted to
storm the city. The death eg Montgomery. who
tell at narrow rass directly under Cape Diamond,
where ooead Is placed on the cliff designating the
spot, ynlch may be seen from the deck Of the pass
iLg steamer; and the capture of portion Of Ar
holds command, led to the abandonment Of the at
tempt, ard ultimately to the retreat of the American
army, on the fourth Of May following in consequence
OF the approach of renforcements from England
The notifications at Quebec must have oeen won
derfuly enlarged and strengthened as every person
will perceive who has visited it, and which shall
now briefly describe This fortress stands at the
termination Of cliff extending from Cape Ronge,
about six miles distant on the summit Of which,
known as Cape Diamond is the citadel, whose works
occupy about forty acres the approach to which,
says Hawkins, in his" Picture OF Quebec, to whom
am indebted for description Of the Notifications
around the upper town, is nearly two hundred feet
above it, and is reached by q winding road made
through the declivty of the gacis from st. Lewis
gate and commanded every where by the guns of the
different bastions' There is no difficulty in obtain
ing admttance; an application made by any respect
able stranger, at the Town Majors Once, in Ann
street, at the barrack gate being promptly answered
by pass for the party, which serves, however, only
for the day ON which it shall have been obtained.
1t is needless almost to remark, that from so
elevated point there is most extensive and varied
prospect: the ships on the river the opposite shore,
with Point Levi and the village extending beyond it,
the wharves and houses it were, beneath the feet
Of the spectator /; and the more distant valley Of
Beauf IT. and THAI of the meaudering St Charles on
the left with the intervening upper town, its towers
and steeples and public buildings, form coup deH
rarely elsewhere to be equalled and no where ex-
celled
The Notifications are continued all round the
upper town. they consist" says Hawkins, "ef