The Portland daily press., 1866-12-28
Remarkable Discovery.

We mentioned some weeks since the fact an
nounced by the Quebec papers, of the discov-
cry of the tomb and remains of the famous
French explorer, Champlain. The circumstan-
ces attending the finding Of these interesting
relics are thus detailed by the Boston Tran
script:
Samuel de Champlain, the noble founder of
Canada, was buried at Quebec two hundred
and thirty years ago, and the place of his in
terment has remained mystery, though it
appears by the records of the time that tomb
was constructed for him in chapel which was
known by his name. The mystery has just
been solved by the indefaligable research of
two ecclesiastics of Quebec, the Able LAYER
diere and Casgrain, both of whom are well
known as accomplished and able investigators
of Can adam history. A most patient and per-
sistent sitting Of ancient records brought them
to the conclusion that the chapel and tomb
must have been in the lower town of Quebec,
at certain point Immediately under the pree-
ipice on which the upper town is built. Ac-
cordipgly they went to the spot in question,
and found that the acqueduct constructed
some ten years ago, h9d apparently destroyed
all traces of the supposed tomb, the chapel
which contained it having long since disap-
peared.
Those familiar with Quebec will remember
the long stairway which descends from Noun
tain Street to Champlain Street. Near the
foot of these stairs was the spot which the two
psychologists had been led to believe was the
site of the tomb. 1t only remained to inquire
of those engaged in building the acqueduct
| whether any such remains had been discov-
| cred in the progress of the work. They went
| to Mr.. O,Donnell, Assistant Engineer of the
Water Works, who had superintendent this
part of the structure. He replied promptly
that an ancient vaulted tomb had been found
at the place in question, containing coffin OF
human bones, and that he was so much struck
with the character of the discovery that he had
| included section of the vault with measure
| ments and other indications concerning it, in
| one of his plans. This plan he found and pro-
duced He conducted MN. Lavardiere and
| Casgrain to the place and showed them what
was still to be seen of the old vault, within
which new one, for the purposes of the aque-
duct, had been made, nearly celebrating the
| inscription on the wall, where, however, some
| of the letters of Champlain's name may still be
| distinguished.
| The bones had been removed Immediately
after the vault was discovered and Mr.. O'Don-
| nell could not tell what had become of them
| 1t appeared, on further inquiry, that they had
| been given to the Able Langevin, the priest OF
! a neighboring parish, well knownin Canada as
the author of several antiquarian and histori-
cal publications. He had placed them in box
and kept them for some time, but afterwards
caused them to be buried, still in the box, in
the Roman Catholic cemetery for unbaptised
infants. He directed the spot to be marked but
this it seems was neglected, for when we last
heard from Quebec, the box had not yet been
| found, though an attempt to that end had been
| made There can be no doubt that the bones
will soon be recovered and that the remains of
the founder of Canada will be bonored with a
monument worthy Of him. cfh