The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-02-14

QusBEC, feD o. 1894.
The Parliament Houseless-S Seeking for Shelter
The Fnc-Commissionrs Appointed to Inquire
into the Cause Rumors of a Federal Union Of the
Fee Provinces The Inspector Gcseral and the
100000 Job-An Ice Bridge opposite Quebec.
In politics nothing presents itself; things are
in s.at quo-that is to say attacks upon the Miais-
try ia every shape kept up with unabated vigor
and Ministers pursue the even tenor OF their way II
is thought that tey are net anxious to make the call
to the knights ard burgesses for the despatch Of bu
sness and that they will avail themselves of the late
destruction Of the Parliament buildings here further
to postpone the day. On att-that they think OF the
Music Hall for the House Of Assembly. As for the
Legislative Council-as honorable member OF that
body remarked t. me yesterday-they have no
"name, and therefore require no local habitation."
small ON would do for them; and Swords Hotel
on one side, and Judge Car)n's house on the other
would suffice for committee rooms, clerks offices,
&c, &c. There is some talk Of Russell Hotel being
selected. the concert room being large enough for
the commons and the dining room for the lords
But the Commissioner Of Public Works and the In
spec or General to think that the court house.
which has been lately extensively enlarged and re.
dealt out in the City Hall from walch the Conscript
Fathers will have to. retreat Il does not matter
much where they go, for they are really very low in
public estimation
the sad catastrophe alluded to, which has
deprived the ancient Metropolis OF Canada
of its chief ornament architecturally and politi-
cally) and which has added so much to the reputa-
ton of the city for its fires 1t is about the only
thing that We do upon large SCALE The origin of
the re has not yet been ascertained, though com.
mission has been sitting upon inquiry into it for
several days. II began in the left (new) wing ad.
joining the Mountain Hill guardhouse and soon
spread to the main body Of the building, the divs
ion walls being extremely thick. The progress Of
the flames was there arrested for considerable time,
but at last they overcame all resistance and all hone
M vi w
the grand DOME visible by dozen villages was en-
veloped in dense cloud Of smoke, and shortly sank
in body into the flaming mass below; the right
wing was then consumed, and all that remains OF
that substantial and not ineegant building is the
stone work which composes the walls and divisions.
The royal arms upon the FACADE remain untouched
by fire or smoke, and the paintings. Of Her
Majesty and OF Sir Allan McNa b were carried off un
harmed. Nearly all the books OF the library and OF
the Literary and Historical society were saved, but
irseparabe loss has been sustained in the destruc IN
of rare manuscripts and also in pathological aud
other departments of the museum of that society.
There has been great sympathy expressed by sis
ter cities, particularly by those that have buildings
something lnrger than ordinary dwelling houses,
which they wish and therefore think may be at
fitted up for the reception of honorable members
apparently forgetting that in place in Canada can
the Inconvenience sdyerted TO be sooner removed
than in this city. There several very large ed
fices-the Jesuts Barracks, the Music Hal, aud ad
joining houses rs already mentioned and the Bishops
Palace-which might, at 10 great expense, he con,
verted into parliament house. One thing is certain
the metropolitan feeling OF lebec Is very strong and
runor has it that The home government has come to
decision in favor Of the plan OF uniting the proyn
ces, and making, as necessary consequence, Quebec
the capital. AS 1t U.s. it very likely that it will
not cease to be the seat of government until the
piIatlon Of the four years.
The commissioners appointed by the Court OF
Chancery, Carada West, to take Mr.. Hincks' test
mony in the Toronto 10000 job case, commenced
their sittinrs this morning. On the part of Mayor
Bowes, G.. W. Wicksteed and Geo. Irvine, barristors
at law, have been named Us commissioners, and on
the part OF the plaintiff g. o. Stuart Esq, advocate
and James Dean, merchant. The Hon. John Ross,
aud Attorney General West, APPEARS for defendants
and Andrew Stuart, for plaintiffs. TIE commission
merely nat, and in Consequence Of the sitting OF
the Superior Court, Adjourned to the sth inst What
the nature OF the Inspector Generals testimony may
be will not be known until after publication Of the
commission by order Of the court. He is pushing on
the commissioner and apparently very anxious to
have the matter Investigated and brought to con.
clusion.
The Quebeckers are in ecstases. the pont has Ia.
ken, and sleigh was driven over TO Point Levi this
morning-it is one clear sheet In few days IL will
present sight worth seeing making a. il does, a
magnificent promenade and racing Ground and we
xpsc, 70 see spoA 1t few American trotters Z.