National Republican., 1873-09-24
NOTES OF TRAVEL.
TOUR IN AND AROUND QUEBEC.

OUR IN AND AROUND QUEBEC.
he ksy Of Canada Described Its An
tiauity and Historic Assoclstiens-
to the Fsrtincatious-A Series of Grand
pansrsmic yiews-The Vista from Dur
ham Terrace-The bay aud Plain. Of
Abraham.
1wdunros me Republican,
After our delicious deieuner at the Restau-
ant du Chlcn dor our driver and guide con.
Keyed us up TO the citadel, where We took |
what has often been called tho most maguia- |
cent view In the world. Quebec Is no ordinary |
or commonplace city; II has not only historic |
fame, but its scenery Is unequaled. II claims |
particular attention as being a strikingly-
unique old place. II is the stronghold Of
Canada, and In reality tho key Of the pro-
vince. Besides all this, 1t carries on trade,
commerce aud manufactures, like other large
communities. II abounds In charities, and
cultivates arts, science and literature. Nor
must l omit to mention that II processes
special regard to the amenities Of social life.
Strength and pcrmanency are visible In every
llutututut. btluhSti " ~
every step by the presence OF these qualities.
The lover OF nature In her grandest and most
rugged, as In her gentlest and most smiling
forms, finds In and around the city an ai,lu-
euco Of sublime and beautiful objects.
1T Is A HISTORIC CITY.
On entering Its walls and wandering over
Its squares and ramparts, wo were put ut
once In communication with the illustrlous
dead. We recalled q long list Of achievements
by daring marines, and Of conflicts by mill
tary heroes, who suffered, blcd and died In
the assault and the defence Of the walls. As
readers Of American history, we feel that we
could now re-rcad the chronicles Of those
achievements and conflicts with tcnfold In
tcrest.
Quebec can never be tame or insipid place.
We know not what discomtorts winter briugs
In this locality; but We could not help think
ing at this pleasant season Of tho yoar that
the city, with few more opportunities for
advancement, might bee ONE one of the great
est cities Of the New World In respect Of
learning, arts, commerce and manufactures.
As II Is, tho man Of science may here study
with peculiar advantage the great forces and
the secret alchemy Of nature. But does not
the present position Of tho entire Dominion
Of Canada point to future national great
| ness of no ordinary magnitude? We GER
tainly sec In this neighboriny country
INLAND SEAS AND NOBLE RIVERS,
which arc already the highways Of vast
aud rapidly increasing commerce. Populous
cities aud Aourishing towns already stud the
margin Of her rivers and the shores Of her
| lakes. Everywhere we see the free aud
happy homes Of her rural population. With
such prospects rs these In view we seem to
hear the voices Of q new nation resounding
from every scene as varied rs 1t Is beautiful.
That Quebec, the second city In the Domin-
ion of Canada, Is styled 'the Gibraltar Of
America" Is due both to Its natural position
and its extensive Notifications. The latter,
from their small beginning 10 1885, when they
originated from the necessity Of protecting
the few inhabitants from the sudden aud &C.
cret attacks Of the Iroquois, have eventually
attained their present vast proportions. The
line Of Notifications inclosing the upper town
and citadel Is nearly three miles In extent.
For nearly two miles, extending from the
south point of the citadel to the artillery bar
racks,
THE FoRTrFICATtoNs
| consist of handsome and massive wall erect
cd on the perpendicular rock, protected by
several batteries Of various strength, placed
at intervals along tho walls, the most formi'
dable being known as the Grand battery, I'M
mediatcly In the rear of the House Of Assem-.
bly, and Seminary garden. This consists Of 4
line of twenty-four S2-pounders and Other
projectilc bearers, which command the basin
However handsome or formidable this bat
terry may be TO the sight Of the tourist, II may
| be well to state that, owing to the great
changes which have Of late been wrought in
the military art, Its shot would he of little
effect except on wooden ships.
Our party assembled TO the citadel by way
of Its northern outworks and approaches.
Passing cluster of barracks on the right,
and the Chambers Presbyterian church on
the left, and turning to tho left on st. Louis
street, we soon reached what had until re-
Gently been the 81. Louis gate. 1t should be
remembered that tho new policy Of the lni-
pcrial Government has recently effected very
great changes with regard to these fortiiica.
tions. In the first place II mas Withdrawn
the troops from the country. Five Of the six
gates belonging to the city walls have been
removed, but these changes will diminish
very little Of the interest OF the tourist I'm.
less Informed Of the fact, he would not bt
aware Of their removal. The remaining forti
hcations are In themselves sight not to bt
seen elsewhere on this continent. All tht
barracks, batteries and bastiOns Of the OLD
cicnt number Of Canadian militia are kept In
charge to preserve the buildings. The Do
minion Of Canada was formed July |, 1867
and the departure Of the English troops tool
place In 1870.
A road turning to the left, Just inside Of tn,
removed St. Louis gate, leads through deep
cntrenched passes, commanded by powerful
batteries, and by the Chain gate, TO the Dal
housie gate of
| THE CITADEL.
l have stated that since tho evacuation o
Canada by the Imperial troops the Citade
has been garrsoned by provincial volunteers
Visitors are usually permitted to pass arount
the walls under the escort Of a soldier. Ar
rlving at the deep and massive Dalhousi,
gate a stalwart soldier was detached to ac
company our party. Ne conducted us along
the circuit and pointed out the most striking
features Of the fortress. The immense forti
ficatlon known Us the Citadel covers forty
acres OF ground, and Is situated on the sum
nit of Cape Diamond, which is said to L,
''tho coldest place In the British empire.
Cape Diamond Is so called from the glittering
crystals found In the vicinity. The view fron
the. most northerly bastion, which contains
an immense Armstrong gun, surpasscs that
from Durham terrace. This Is often pro-
nounced one Of the most magnificent views
In the world. We here stood at an elevation
Of three hundred and Atty feet above the
river, and had view Of surprising beauty.
The panorama here witnessed
ALMOST BAPPLEs DEsCRIPTIoN-
i was so vast and grand and graceful.
Below us were the sinuous streets of the
Lower Town, with Its wharyes projecting far
into the stream. On one side were the lofty,
fortified bluffs OF Point Levi, and on the
other the 81. Charles river, winding away up
/ iso Hoastiui NNtt Whitt
houses of BEAUFORT stretching off TO the vicin-
ity Of the Falls Of Montmorenci, while beyond
were seen the farms of L'Angc Garden, ex-
tending towards the heights Of II. Fcreol.
Vessels Of all classes and sizes were anchored
In the broad basin and the river, and the rich
and verdant Isle Of Orleans lay In mid-strcain
below. Beyond and over all the bold peaks
| of the Laurcntian range, with Cap Tour
mente towering over the river far In the dis
lance. Here was picture such as nature
alone can arrange with her poetic hands and
paint with cver-yarying aspects and colors.
The scenery was so majestic, so tangible and
| so hecting, as the sun illumincd or the clouds
yelled this or that part Of the sumptuous de-
| tails, that we all wished forever to retain
within our mental embrace the almighty and
| lovely creation, and are unwilling TO part
| even with the remembrance of 1t. The
thought must have occurred to us that from
this sky-height all Canadians could learn
more ardently TO love their country and per-
ceive It's bright and glorious future. We
also feasted our eyes on the wondrous beau
ties Of the scene which presented Itself to us
at the western angle Of the citadel, where we
took q position on the Princes stand, indl-
Gated by a stone on which is sculpturcd the
Princes feather.
cannot do better, In this connection, than