Le courrier du livre, 1 novembre 1899, Novembre

Vol.IV.November —1890 - Novembre No 43 LE COURRIER DU LIVRE CANADIANA : PUBLISHED MONTHLY j PUBLIE MENSUELLEMENT in 5 EN FRENCH AND ENGLISH , ANGLAIS ET EN FRANÇAIS / s - • - — CANADIAN HISTORY, ARCHÆO- ^ HISTOIRE, ARCHEOLOGIE, LOGY, BIBLIOGRAPHY, : BIBLIOGRAPHIE, NUMISMATI-NUMISMATIC, PHILATELY QUE, PHILATELIE ET GENE-AND GENEALOGY ALOGIE CANADIENNES SUBSCRIPTION : ABONNEMENT : Canada & TJnited States, Canada et Etats - Unis, $2.00 per year $2.00 par année Postal Union.10 shillings ; Union Postale.12 francs ) Invariably payable in advance 4 Invariablement payable d'avance QUÉBEC RAOUL RENAULT Directeur-propriétaire 1899 CMKOUSTTSUY) Per Year ! $1.50.December Number! 25c.66 To save time is to lengthen life.99 Contains in One Alphabet, Author, Title and Subject Indexes to Books of the Year The December number describes about 5,000 books, (15,000 entries) and is indispensable to any person interested in books.For complete information and sample pages send your name.Published by Morris & Wilson, Minneapolis, Minn.VENDRE 50 YEARS EXPERIENCE Trade Marks Designs Copyrights &c.MIGUET, 22, QUAI D’ORLEANS, PARIS Relation de ce qui s’est passé en la Nouvelle-France, en l’année 1634, envoyée au R.P.provincial de la Cie de Jésus, en la province de France, par le P.Paul Le Jeune, de la même Compagnie Supérieur de la résidence de Rebec, P.S.Cra- Anvone sending a sketch and description may ulckly ascertain our opinion free whether an quickly ascertain our opinion free whether an invention is probably patentable.Communications strictly confidential.Handbook on Patents sent free.Oldest agency for securing patents.snt iree.uiaest, agency iur securing parents.Patents taken through Munn & Co.receive special notice, without charge, In the Scientific American A handsomely illustrated weekly.Largest cir.culation of any scientific Journal.Terms.$3 a year ; four months, $1.Sold by all newsdealers.v ~ year , iotir itiuiitiAB» oviv* uj an iicwDucaiDiBi moisy, 1635.Couv.vélin, MUtyty £ Qq>36 I Broadway, New York exempl.complet, un peu fatl- Branch Office.626 F St., Washington.D.C.gué. SIR ÉTIENNE-PASCAL TACHÉ Député Adjudant-Général du ier juillet 1846 au 30 juin 1848 Ministre de la milice du 30 mars 1864 au 30 juillet 1865 ' t THE LOYALTY OF THE FRGNCff-CANADIANS Those who were there behaved themselves so loyally that their heirs to this day are honoured for their sake__Froissart.J TIE outburst of fanatism which has lately characterised JL some of the English press of this country, because of our disagreement with our fellow-countrymen on the Transvaal question, has prompted me to pick up, from the English historians at home and abroad, the following appreciations of French-Canadian patriotism and loyalty.Some of the English papers of this country, blinded by their ignorance of history and their hatred for Freneh-Canadians, have entered iuto a misleading campaign of racial prejudices .against the people of the Province of Quebec.All the insults a hysteric brain can imagine, all the false pretenses that could be invoked with a seeming truthfulness, have been set forth.Of the brutal insults I will not speak, nor will I try to refute them ; but I want to demonstrate, by quotations from English authors, that the Freneh-Canadians have been and are still loyal to the British crown.Fortunately, we know too well the straight-forward character of the English people and the manner with which they appreciate the Freneh-Canadians, to pay too much attention to the brutal attacks of some journalists, and to hold every one responsible for their utterances, as most of them repudiate the vile slanderers as we repudiate our hotheaded journalists and politicians.All these utterances ought to be taken for what they are worth, cam grano salis.It is not necessary for us to participate with England’s quarrels over gold and diamond mines, it is not necessary foins to approve of England’s colonial policy in Africa.We -—-:- Lk Courrier du Livre, Vol.IV, No 4.3.14 218 LE COURRIER DU LIVRE can be loyal without partaking the noisy enthusiasm of our fellow-countrymen in this particular question of the Transvaal.We can he loyal and disagree with the majority on the question at issue.Are we not at liberty to express our opinion on a war which is considered, even by a great many Britishers of high standing, as a grave mistake, to say the least ?Are we obliged to approve of the advisability of sending our soldiers to contribute in the defence of Great Britain’s-colonies when nothing in the treaty of 1763 and in our constitution of 1867 provides for it?“ Had there been, said very appropriately a French-Cana-dian paper recently, to engage us to cherish the character and institutions of Great Britain, but the amability of those who write in the Montreal Star, the Toronto JSJews and the Hamilton Spectator, our affection would have been very small indeed.Had there been, since the cession, only the incoherent writings of that yellow press to fill us with admiration for the work accomplished by the Anglo-Saxon race all over the world, our admiration would not be exhu-berant.Had there been, to lighten the English yoke on our shoulders, but the confidence and deference inspired by the scribblers of the three papers quoted, it is long since we would have shaken off Great Britain’s yoke.Had we been obliged to appreciate the English people and their uncontested valor by those three giddy-brained writers or their m imitators, we would have expressed to them years ago the the deepness and extent of our contempt.” (1) Whenever the British crown has been endangered in this country, we have materially proved our loyalty and patrio- (1) La Semaine Commerciale, October 27. LE COURRIER DU LIVRE 219 tisro, and in such instances as the American invasion of 1775, the war of 1812-1815, the Fenian raid of 1866, the Rebellion of 1885, the French-Canadians have cheerfully taken up arms to defend the British rights which were also their rights in this country.The proofs of these assertions are to he found in all the works relating to Canadian history, embracing the above memorable epochs of our history.I could find enough quotations to fill in two hundred pages of this magazine, hut I shall restrain myself to such quotations as will best illustrate the subject I have ventured to treat.When the Continental Congress sent a flattering address to the Canadians, inviting them to send delegates, they did not pay any attention to it.“ Although, says Tuttle, the passing of the Quebec Act was most distasteful to the British colonists in Canada,— who had expected the royal promise of a legislative assembly to be fulfilled,—and greatly incensed the Americans, it proved wholly satisfactory to the French inhabitants of Quebec.” (1).And speaking of the address of the Continental Congress, he says : “ This address fell perfectly flat ; very few of the French ever saw or heard of it, and but few of those that did paid any attention to it.” (2) After the surrender of Montreal to Montgomery, the inhabitants were treated “with the utmost kindness” by the Americans, and circulars were issued engaging them to join (1) Tuttle's History of the Dominion of Canada, Vol.I, p.301.(2) Tuttle's History of the Dominion of Canada, Yol.I, p.302. 220 LE COURRIER DU LIVRE the cause of the colonists.“ But, says Tuttle, the clergy exerted their power in favor of the Bristish.” (1) At the attack of Quebec by the Americans, out of the 1800 soldiers who took part in the defence, 542 were Freneh-Canadians under the command of Colonel Dupre, besides the 350 volunteers, picked up in the Laurentian parishes by M.de Beaujeu.The catholic bishop in 1775 issued seveial mandements to engage the Freneh-Canadians to he' loyal to England, and his recommendations have been obeyed by the immense majority.When the Colonists of the United States were fomenting revolution, we the Freneh-Canadians of New France, only fifteen years after our conquest by British arms, wo were recruting volunteers in our ranks and forming independent battalions to defend our new mother-country.Our hearts were still bleeding with the misfortunes of the late war ; we were however true to our new allegiance and did even more than we were bound to do.But the war of 1812-1815 gave us another opportunity of proving our loyalty and patriotism and the history of this war is wide-opened to all those who wish to cast a glance at its'glorious pages.“ The war of 1812, says Coffin, was no Canadian quarrel.It was forced upon the Canadian people, and fought upon Canadian soil, to gratify the antipathies of two nations, too like to be loving.True it is, the Britains Canadians of the West did not belie their descent, and shared, without stint, in the weakness and the strength of the British character ; nor can it be denied, that the French population of the East (1) Tuttle’s History of the Dominion of Canada, Vol.I, p.305. LE COURRIER DU LIVRE 221 woke up to the fight with the gay and gallant spirit of their chivalrous forefathers.” (1) “ The Americans counted on a large disaffection amongst the French-Canadians, and expected they would seize the opportunity to sever their connection with Great Britain ; but for the second time they were deceived, and learned that they did understand French-Canadiau character.At the first call the Canadians sprong readily and cheerfully to arms, and fought side by side with the British during the three years that followed, showing as much gallantry, and proving that the old stock of French militarv settlers had not deere- •/ O nerated either in courage or military skill, nor in their love of their King and country.” (2).“ In 1812, the Catholic church in Canada was under the guidance of the Rev.Joseph Octave Plessis, Bishop of Quebec.This able Ecclesiastic was contemporaiy with the treatv which ceded Canada to England.He was a native of Montreal, born in 1763.He became Bishop of Quebec in 1806.Ilis services, in the protection of his church, and in the promotion of the best interests of his people were most honorable ; but, among them all, none do greater credit to the heart and head than his constant adherence to the British Crown.” (3) Mgr Plessis issued several mandements which were read in every church of the diocese and which did much to pervade, encourage and embolden the French-Canadians.(4) French-Canadians enlisted cheerfully under the command of officers of their nationality and a great number of them took an active part in this war.(1) Coflin.1812; the War and its Moral: A Canadian Chronicle, pp.21-22.(2) Tuttle’s History of the Dominion of Canada, Vol.I, p.350.(3) Coffin.1812 ; The War and its Moral, p.184.(4; Vide Mandements des Evêques de Québec, Vol.II. LE COURRIER DU LIVRE 222 Under the following title : “ The Voltigeurs,” the Quebec Gazette, April, 1812, and after it the Montreal Canadian Courant of the 4th of May, had the following remarks respecting the formation of the Voltigeurs: “ This corps now forming under the command of Major De Salaberry is completing with a dispatch worthy of the ancient warlike spirit of the country.Capt.Perrault’s company was filled up in 48 hours, and was yesterday passed by His Excellency the Governor ; and the companies of Captain’s Duchesnay, Panet and L’Ecuyer, have now nearly their compliment.The young men move in solid columns towards the enlisting officers, with an expression of countenance not to be mistaken.The Canadians are awmkening from the repose of an age secured to them by good government and virtuous habits.Their anger is fresh—the object of their preparation simple and distinct.They are to defend their King, known to them only b}7 acts of kindness, and a native country long since made sacred by the exploits of their forefathers.” They did not fight only at the battle of Chateauguay, but some of them are to be seen in nearly all the engagements, in Ontario as wrell as in Quebec.Coffin will tell us how they behaved.“ But upon this, the 3rd, (3rd July, 1812), a gallant feat was performed by Lieut.Rolette, a plucky little French Canadian from Quebec.He was lieutenant in the Provincial Marine.He was out in a boat with eight men, when he saw a vessel approach under American colours.He went right along side, and boarded, and found himself among American uniforms.Without a wrord, he put a sentry on the arm-chest, one on the companion ladder, and one at the wheel, and then gave loud orders to shoot any man resisting.The Americans knew nothing of the declaration of the wrar. LE COURRIER DU LIVRE 223 Independent of the crew there was on board a guard of thirty-three soldiers.Shortly recovering from their surprise, the Americans, remarking the number, began to cast ugly glances at their captors ; but it so chanced that the vessel was close oft* a wind mill on the Canada shore, around which had been thrown up a breastwork of logs, which give it a a military look.Rolette, with presence of mind, ordered the helmsman, in loud tones, to put the vessel under the guns of the battery.This had its effect for the moment.Fortunately a batteau came down the river at this time, with men and an officer, and enabled him to secure the prize.She proved to be Cayuga Packet, containing Hull’s military chest, extra baggage, military and medical stores, and all the correspondence of the army.“ This exploit of Rolette’s was of great value to Brock when he arrived on the 13th of August.” (1) “ But I promised you a story about Rolette.He came up to me on the ice, and said he was very sick—that he had a racking headache.I recommended him to return.The brave little Frenchman turned upon me as if I had insulted him.He was detailed to take charge of a gun, he said ; to go back would be eternal disgrace.Look here, said he, producing a heavy Bandana handkerchief, tie this tight round my head.I rolled it up thick, and did so.‘ I am better already,’ he remarked, and pushed on.After the action he came to me.‘ That handkerchief,’ said he, ‘saved my life ; look here’ ; and in the folds of the handkerchief was a musket-ball, which had partly cut through the silk, and had flattened, one side of it, on his skull.That cranium of his must have been substantial.It was all swollen and blackened where the ball had struck.He was in front of our line in the centre, and had been wounded by our own men.” (2) (1) Reynolds quoted by Coffin, pp.201-202.