The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-02-21
Oar Quebec Correspondence.

QUEBEC Jan. %, 1862.
Qnetec, rs Hasbor and Fo1tifcQtioas-Mo Monuments
10 Wolte and Montcaim- -Grare and EpitQph oj
Montcafm- h1ontgomGy--Polic Regulations
Military Preparations and Dcteaces- Scenery
Charitable and Educatioam husttutioas-Nrn-
nelieS, &c.
cannot leave the capital of Canada without briefly
describing place well worthy the attention OF the
tourist, but which many visiters quit she province
without seeing, being conented with glimpse of the
magnificent Falls Of Niagara II is the most ancient
city in North America the first establishment having
been made in zoos, when the fort of Quebec was
erected. The population, which in 1880 was accord
ing to Bouchette so 900 souls, has not much in
creased since that time and is at present according
to the last census returns only AZ 050. The basin
which forms the harbor before Quebec, is safe and
spacious, and is sufficiently large to contain one
hundred sail of the line. The depth of water is
twenty EIGHT fathoms, and the spring tides rise
twentythree or twenty-fcur feet = the neap tides
seventeen or eighteen feet. 1t is situated some four
hundred miles from the ocean, Notwithstanding which
it is crowded during the summer months with fleets
from Europe, which load with timber for the English
market.
The promontory on which Quebec is situated is
ioiLSu W tHc LuNlcuSt anu CU CIdTieS, ana Is
the termination Of ridge of land about mile in
width, which runs from east to west. Cape Dia-
mond, across and under which Quebec is situated,
rises almost perpendcularly three hundred and forty
five feet above the river upon which is fertilization
as strong as military science and art could render it,
and which could be held after the other approaches
and even the city, were in possession of the enemy
On nearing Quebec as the river is descended, you
pass Wolfes Cove, where the expedition landed-the
troops composing which ascended under cover of
night the precptous heights around it, and the fol-
lowing day fought the battle on the Plains of Abra-
ham, which resulted in the success of the British
arms, and led ultimately to the cesson by France of
the province of Canada; and in which both the
generals who commanded fell mortaly wounded
the one expiring in the arms of victory, and the
other borne down by defeat column was erected
by the late Earl of Dalhousie, when Governor-Cen
eral of Canada, in what is called the Governors
Garden, near the old castle of ST. Louis to CONNIE
morate the memory of both those heroes, having on
one side the word :" Montcalm,' and on the other
"Wolle;' and in front is an inscription describing
by whom the monument was erected.
On the Plains Of Abraham, about mile from
st. Louis gate, at short distance from the
road, another monument was erected in 1882 to re.
place one which had been previously placed on the
spot where Wolfe died, by Lord Aylmer surmounting
rock on which the dying General breathed his last
but which as is stated on the inscription had been
much mutated, as | understand, by persons who
had visited the field and anxious to carry away
with them some fragment of so interesting a relic
The present monument is plain column
about twenty feet high surmOunted by helmet and
sword and was erected by the officers of the garr-
son, when Sir Benjamin D'Urban commanded, with
merely the following inscripton:-TIere Wolfe died
victorious, Sept Is, 1852" His remains were after
wards, believe, conveyed to England, where suit
able monument was placed in Westminster Abbey
There exists DreVAnV Instrumentation IN fho
disposal OF the remains of Montcalm, it having been
enormously stated, even in historical account of
Quebec, which is in general accurate, that the body
was inferred in the chapel of the Ursune convent in
an opening scooped out by bombshell which had per
forated the very fitting sepuchre it must be ad
mtted for soldier had recently an opportunity Of
ascertaining what is thefact from the Vicar General
who has charge of the convent and whose statement
may be relied upon for its correctness He told me he
had always felt much interest in the subject and some
years since instituted inquiry with reference to the
popular tradition; and from conversations held q
number of years since, with old inhabitants OF Que
bee, and, in particular, with nun in the con-
vent, who remembered the battle, and recollected
seeing the corpse of the gallant French officer
carried into the chapel, accompanied by a few Off
GERS and had an opportunity of looking into the
grave, which she ascertained was dug in the
ordinary manner. The Vicar General himself
subsequently examined the roof of the building, and
ascertained from the direction the shot must have
taken after passing through it, that not one of them
could have fallen on the spot where the remains
inferred, in which opinion he was subsequently
confirmed on examining the grave, which he found
to be an ordinary one, and where no other portion
than the head of the remains of ofMontcam was found.
This he carefully preserved and deposited in his
apartments, secured in glass case and which he
kindly showed me; it is that of an apparently small
man, whose chronological Developments am not
sufficient of an adept to detect.
suitable epitaph was prepared in France, and a
pass was obtained from Mr.. Pitt, when Prime Minis
ter, for the vessel which was to convey it to Canada,
but which was unfortunately lost at sea- The fol-
lowing inscription, however, has been placed on the
chapel OF which obtained a copy from my reverend
friend--