Picturesque Quebec : a sequel to Quebec past and present by Sir J. M. (James MacPherson) Le Moine
page 26 of 875 (02%)
page 26 of 875 (02%)
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the Queen's rampart, on the citadel of Quebec, the eye sweeps over a
greater diversity of landscape than is probably to be found in any one spot in the universe. Blue mountain, far-stretching river, foaming cascade, the white sails of ocean ships, the black trunks of many- sized guns, the pointed roofs, the white village nestling amidst its fields of green, the great isle in mid-channel, the many shades of colour from deep blue pine-wood to yellowing corn-field--in what other spot on the earth's broad bosom lie grouped together in a single glance so many of these "things of beauty" which the eye loves to feast on and to place in memory as joys for ever?" (_The Great Lone Land._) Let us complete this mosaic of descriptions and literary gems, borrowed from English, French and American writers, by a sparkling _tableau_ of the historic memories of Quebec, traced by a French Canadian _litterateur_, the Honourable P. J. O. Chauveau:-- "History is everywhere--around us, beneath us; from the depths of yonder valleys, from the top of that mountain, history rises up and presents itself to our notice, exclaiming: 'Behold me!' "Beneath us, among the capricious meanders of the River St. Charles, the Cahir-Coubat of Jacques Cartier, is the very place where he first planted the cross and held his first conference with the _Seigneur Donnacona_. Here, very near to us, beneath a venerable elm tree, which, with much regret, we saw cut down, tradition states that Champlain first raised his tent. From the very spot on which we now stand, Count de Frontenac returned to Admiral Phipps that proud answer, as he said, _from the mouth of his cannon_, which will always remain recorded by history. Under these ramparts are spread the |
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