In 1663 Laval founded the Seminary of Quebec, and by this act endeared himself to the priesthood. The King favoured the project, and with his own hand signed the decree which sanctioned the establishment. Laval's heart was in this great educational project, and not only did he secure substantial aid from his friends at home, and from the King himself, but in 1680 he gave to the institution of his creation almost everything he possessed. Included in this gift were his enormous grants of lands, which comprised the Seigniories of the Petite Nation, the Island of Jesus, and Beaupré, all of immense value.
In 1666 Laval consecrated the Parochial Church of Quebec. In 1674 he returned to France, and the height of his ambition became realized. He was named Bishop of Quebec, a suffragan bishop of the Holy See, by a bull of Clement X., dated the first of October. The revenues of the Abbey of Meaubec, in the diocese of Bourges, were added to those of the bishopric of Quebec. The new dignitary, armed with all the power and influence of his office, set out for Canada, and proceeded, on arriving there, to set his house in order. Of course, it was not long before hostilities again broke out between the rival forces of the country. Frontenac was Governor then, and the prime cause of the disturbance was the old brandy trouble. Then honours and precedence were the questions at issue between these two obstinate and high-spirited men. Precedence at church, and precedence at public meetings were fought all over again, and referred to France to the great disgust of the King, who losing all patience at last, wrote a sharp letter to Frontenac, directing him to conform to the practice established at Amiens, and to exact no more.
Laval continued to dispute from time to time with the Home Government concerning the system of movable curés which had been instituted by him. The bishop clung to his method despite all opposition and remonstrance, even setting aside at one time a royal edict on the subject. In the very height of the dispute Laval proceeded to Court, and asked permission to retire from the bishopric he had been so zealous to establish. His plea was ill-health, and the King granted his prayer, appointing in 1688 Saint Vallier as his successor. Laval wished to return to Canada, but this privilege was denied him, and it was not until four years had passed away that he was allowed to come back to the Church he loved so well. Saint Vallier sought by every means in his power to undo Laval's great work. He attacked the Seminary, and attempted to change its whole economy, receiving, however, much opposition from the priests, who were warmly attached to their old prelate. Laval groaned in despair at these attacks on the fabric he had raised, but he had the grim satisfaction of seeing the new bishop fail signally in many of his objects of demolition. Laval at length, wearied and worn, retired to his beloved Seminary, and on the 6th of May, 1708, he died there, at the advanced age of 85, and was buried near the principal altar in the cathedral. The Catholic University of Quebec, which boasts a Royal Charter signed by Queen Victoria, stands as a monument to his fame and name.
JAMES ROBERT GOWAN,
JUDGE OF THE JUDICIAL DISTRICT OF SIMCOE.
Judge Gowan is the only son of the late Henry Hatton Gowan, of Wexford, Ireland, where the subject of this sketch was born on the 22nd of December, 1817. His family emigrated to this country when he was in his fifteenth year, and settled on a farm in the township of Albion, in what is now the county of Peel. The late Mr. Gowan was afterwards appointed Deputy Clerk of the Crown for the county of Simcoe, which position, we believe, he retained until his death in 1863. The son's education would appear to have been somewhat desultory, but he was an apt scholar, and possessed the national fondness for learning. Having chosen the legal profession as his future calling in life, he was articled as a clerk in the office of the late Mr. James Edward Small, of Toronto—a well-known lawyer of his day and generation, who held the post of Solicitor-General in the first Baldwin-Lafontaine Administration, formed in 1842. Young Gowan went through the ordinary routine of study, working hard at his books, and furnishing frequent contributions to the newspapers of the day on a great variety of subjects. He was called to the Bar of Upper Canada in Michaelmas Term, 1839. He at once formed a partnership with Mr. Small, and devoted himself assiduously to the practice of his profession, writing occasional articles on legal and other topics for the press, and building up for himself the reputation of a man whose opinions were of value. Notwithstanding his youth, he displayed remarkable ability as a legal draughtsman and special pleader, and had mastered the cumbrous and elaborate system of pleading then in vogue among the profession. He took a keen interest in the political questions of the day. He was a Reformer, and a disciple of Mr. Baldwin, who held him in high esteem. The partnership with Mr. Small lasted somewhat more than three years, during which period it was that the senior partner accepted office in the Government of the day. As Solicitor-General, a goodly share of patronage must have fallen to the latter's share, and we presume it is to his connection with Mr. Small that Judge Gowan owes his appointment to the position of Judge of the District and Surrogate Courts of the county of Simcoe. His appointment bears date the 17th of January, 1843, and is said to have been made without any solicitation on the part of the recipient. However that may be, it is certain that few better appointments have been made by any Government in this country. Mr. Gowan first took his seat on the Judicial Bench when he was only twenty-five years of age. He has continued to discharge his judicial duties, almost without interruption, from that time to the present, embracing a period of nearly thirty-eight years. During the whole of that time not a single important decision of his, so far as we are aware, has been over-ruled. He enjoys the reputation of being one of the most profound and learned lawyers in the Dominion, and his decisions are regarded with a respect seldom accorded to those of County Court judges.
