Extract from the Literary and Historical Society of Quebec's Proceedings Regarding the Monument to Champlain and Dufferin City Improvements to Quebec

 

By James MacPherson LeMoine

 

[Published by the Literary and Historical Society of Quebec in Transactions, New Series, No. 14 (1880)]

 

"Extract from proceedings at a general monthly meeting of the Society, held on 9th April, 1879, touching the erection of a statue or monument to Samuel de Champlain, the founder of Quebec, and also in relation to a representation to be made to the City Council with regard to the Dufferin city improvements."

 

At the general monthly meeting, held 9th April, 1879, in the rooms of the Literary and Historical Society, the President, J. M. LeMoine, Esq., introduced in the following terms, the project of erecting a monument or statue to the founder of the city, Samuel de Champlain: —"Gentlemen, I am, I think, merely echoing the sentiments of the four hundred members of this society, I might perhaps add — of all Quebec — in pressing on your attention the propriety of commemorating by some outward sign — let me say the word at once — by a suitable monument or statue in one of our public places — the name of the illustrious founder of our city, Samuel de Champlain. As a discoverer, a geographer, an undaunted leader, a man of letters, a Christian gentleman, the father and first Governor of Quebec, must ever live in American history. Revered and immortal will be his name! Close on thirty years of his adventurous; career was spent cither at the "habitation de Kebec" in the Lower Town, or high on the frowning cliffs of old Stadacona, where stood his castle, the famous Château, St. Louis. To enlist your sympathy in this patriotic cause, I need only mention the subject. At the present moment, our younger sister city, Montreal, founded in 1642, thirty-four years later than Quebec, is taking the necessary steps, with the aid of citizens of all origins, to have erected within two years, a monument and statue to its valiant founder, Paul Chomedey de Maisonneuve. It is time Quebecers should wake up also to a sense of duty, the pleasant duty of keeping green and fragrant the memory of its venerated first Governor; and; if it be the province of any society in particular by its connection with history, to favor any such project, 1 think the pleasing task by right belongs to the Literary and Historical Society of Quebec. "Without wishing for the present to commit the Society to any special plan, to any outlay whatever, I should like to see my proposition of record in our minutes."

 

Moved by Dr. Boswell, seconded by James Stevenson, Esq., and

 

Resolved, — "That the Society approves of the suggestion contained in the above."

 

Moved by W. Hossack, Esq., seconded by Roderick McLeod, Esq., and

 

Resolved, — "That it is the opinion of this Society that the memory of Champlain or Frontenac should be perpetuated in connection with the Dufferin Terrace by placing the name of one of them upon one of the kiosks to be erected there, and that a respectful representation be made to the City Council to this effect."

 

(Signed,) J. M. LEMOINE,

President.

 

A. ROBERTSON,

C. Secretary,