Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1854-02-08
The Destruction Of the Parliament House

Few buildings on this continent possess greater
charms for the antquary and the than the
Parliament House at Quebec, which, as we learn
by telegraph. was destroyed yesterday morning by
FIRE. 1t was situated on the FIRST clearance made
by Champlain in sos, and some of the stones of
The foundation were used to constructth the fort he
built there protection against the Indians!-
Soon sfterwar's S. finding more appropriate site
on u more lofty portion of the heights of Quebec,
the military authorities abandoned it, and the site
was taken by the chutch, aud the Bishops palace
erected thereon. portion of the palace stood
yesterday morning. ltwas magnificent building
Tor the place and the age. Though unfuisLed.-
French travellers s.ate that it compared feyorably
with Bishops palaces IN France. From private
reasons however, The earlier prelates made but
little use of it; the celebrated bishop de Laval
lived IN the seminary, and Bishop de Saint Waller
tooS up lbs abode in the general hospital.
When the Intendanrs palace was hulnt in n 3,
lntendant Begon transferred his penates to the
Bishops Palace. AT. the conquest, the building
anu It's SlteweIe preserved by the Roman Cntiio-
lc Church,, aud some eccleSias,ice occupied il till
IN 1871. the FIRST constitution granted to the
province OF Lower Canada The Bishops palace
was then taken as house of meeung for the
Legislative Council and A. semby, and an annual
grant OF $1,000 was paid TO the b shop forthe use
thereof The change OF occupants led 10 change
of name, and the old familiar title '"P aaiss lie
PEveque," gradually dropped into oblivion. Until
1888 the parliament House, as it was called
during this century, was the scene of allthe par
llamentary debates and conflicts which illustrate
the history Of Lower Canada. In these walls 1t
was that Louis Joseph Pipineau gained his fame:
that The two StuarlS-Jamesi and Audrew-earned
the regulations which now hallows their memory.
lu 1886, the chateau, which was the residence
oil the Governors, was burnt. The Parliament
House, being the only pubic building IN the city
that was not occupied by troops, was appropriated
10 The use of the Governors; It was from thence
that Lord Durham launched his thunderbolts, u nd
IL its halls that lie welded his b'ief despotic sway.
From 1888, when the constitution was suspended
and the Parliament of Lower Canada abolished,
10 1882, when the Parliament of The united Prov
lnce OF Canada was convened at Quebec, the
Patl'ament House enjoyed fourteen years of iguo
Die rep Sc. TWAS the refuge of city cou1ciIlors,
municipal officers and variety OF eml-public
semipr:vate institutions, Tor which il served the
purpose of sort of founding hospital.
In 1852, the seat OF the Canadian government
being nnsfe'red 10 Quebec, extensive repllrs
wete made 10 tie Parliament House. A new
taIcade had been elected ti.uny years previous 1t
an expense Of $4,000, on this occasion, much
larger sum was expended in completing the south
efn wing, and fitting up the building for the recep-
lion oil the two houses OF Parliament. Competent
Judges paid high compliments 10 the architect on
The completion OF his task. The legislative coun-
Gil Chamber was pronounced to be the finest hall
oil the kind on tins continent, not excepting the.
Senate ut W ashlngton. The librury was especi.
ally ;dlniretl. MIR. Faribanit had spen, twelve
months III Europe IN purchasing q collection OF
works 10 replace those burnt the fire at Montreal
in 1919; aud no expense had been spared to make
II CHI ice and complete. Tue collection of works
on The history OF Canada, it IS believed, is unri.
vailed
The building-for nothing of the old save
the walls were preserved-was opened in 1852
1t has thus serve,lth public some eighteen months
It has been expected that the Canadian Parlia-
ment would assemble soon as Lord Eigin return
ed in the spring. The destruction oil the building
in which they we're to have met will probably
interfere with the opening of the session and as
Parliament House. may necessitate fresh removal
of the seat OF government. as