"In the long nights of winter,
When the cold north winds blow,"
of the merry gatherings and copious feasts of other days, one is told
of a memorable entertainment at Belmont, given a crowd of friends.
Some assert it was the Belmont anniversary dinner of the battle of Waterloo and bring in of course Blucher, Hougomont! Belle-Alliance and what not. It is, however, more generally believed among the aged, judging from the copious libations and kindly toasts drank, that it partook of a more intimate character and was merely a fête de famille, to commemorate the safe return of sir John Caldwell's only son from Ireland, where he had just completed his collegiate course at Dublin, be that as it may, it unquestionably was meant to solemnise an important family or national event.
As was wont, in those hospitable times, the "landlord's flowing bowl," alas! had been emptied too often. Some of the "Barons of the round table" were in fact preparing for a timely retreat, before the city gates should be closed, [263] the genial host soon put a stop to such a treasonable practice, exclaiming that the sentry would let them pass at any hour, so they need only follow the Commandant, their fellow guest, who of course had the countersign, closing his well timed remarks, by raising his voice and proclaiming in an authoritative tone "no heel taps here," the stately banquet hall re-echoed with cheers "a bumper, a bumper," resounded on all sides, "to the future Sir Harry, who has just completed his Irish education." The future Sir Harry was soon on his legs, and in a voice mellow with old port, youth and fun, responded "Friends, fellow countrymen, brothers, (this last expression was challenged as he was an only son) I am indeed proud of my Dublin education, we have something, however better before us than a disquisition on the excellence of the various systems of continental courses, to be brief, I now challenge any here present to meet me on the classics, astronomy, the cubic root or glass to glass, you have your choice." "Glass to glass," they one and all replied. Toasts, songs, healths of every member of the Royal family, were gone through with amazing zest as time advanced towards the small hours of the morning, the guests, one by one disappeared from the banqueting room, some, alas! under the mahogany, more with the genial commander of the garrison, whilst the stalwart Irish student, still undaunted and meeting the foe, glass to glass—a veritable giant, fresher as he went on.
Old Sir John, a well seasoned diner-out, at last found himself solitary at his end of the table, whilst his son adorned the other end defiantly.
Looking round in dismay and fearing, if he continued the healths, to be unequal to cope with such an intrepid Dublin student, he the last gave up, flinging himself majestically back in his chair, exclaiming "D——n your Irish education!"
HOLLAND FARM.
This estate, which formerly comprised two hundred acres of ground, extending from the brow of the St. Foye heights to St Michael's Chapel on the Samoa or St. Lewis road, possesses considerable interest for the student of Canadian history, both under French and English rule. The original dwelling, a long high-peaked French structure, stood on an eminence closer to the St. Foye road than does the present house. It was built about the year 1740, by a rich Lower Town merchant, Monsieur Jean Taché [264] who resided there after his marriage in 1742 with Mademoiselle Marie Anne Jolliet de Mingan, grand-daughter to the celebrated discoverer of the Mississippi, Louis Jolliet. Monsieur Jean Taché was also Syndic des Marchands, member of the Supreme Council of Quebec, and ancestor to Sir. E. P. Taché. He at one time owned several vessels, but his floating wealth having, during the war of the conquest, become the prize of English cruisers, the St. Peter street Nabob of 1740, as it has since happened to some of his successors in that romantic neighbourhood, —lost his money. Loss of fortune did not, however, imply loss of honour, as old memoirs of that day describe him, "Homme intègre et d'esprit." He had been selected, in the last year of French rule, to go and lay at the foot of the French Throne the grievances of the Canadians. About this time, the St. Foye road was becoming a fashionable resort, Hawkin's Picture of Quebec calls it "The favorite drive of the Canadian Belle before the conquest." This is an interesting period in colonial life, but imperfectly known,—nor will a passage from Jeffery, an old and valued English writer, illustrative of men, manners and amusements in the Colony, when it passed over to the English monarch, be out of place:—
"The number of inhabitants being considerably increased, they pass their time very agreeably. The Governor General, with his household; several of the noblesse of exceeding good families; the officers of the army, who in France are all gentlemen; the Intendant, with a Supreme Council, and the inferior magistrates; the Commissary of the Marine; the Grand Provost; the Grand Hunter; the Grand Master of the Woods and Forests, who has the most extensive jurisdiction in the world; rich merchants, or such as live as if they were so; the bishops and a numerous Seminary; two colleges of Récollets, as many of Jesuits; with three Nunneries; amongst all those yon are at no loss to find agreeable company and the most entertaining conversation. Add to this the diversions of the place, such as the assemblies at the Lady Governess's and Lady Intendant's; parties at cards, or of pleasure, such as in the winter on the ice, in sledges, or in skating; and in the summer in chaises or canoes; also hunting, which it is impossible not to be fond of in a country abounding with plenty of game of all kinds.
"It is remarked of the Canadians that their conversation is enlivened by an air of freedom which is natural and peculiar to them, and that they speak the French in the greatest purity and without the least false accent. There are few rich people in that Colony, though they all live well, are extremely generous and hospitable, keep very good tables, and love to dress very finely…. The Canadians have carried the love of arms, and glory, so natural to their mother country, along with them…. War is not only welcome to them but coveted with extreme ardor." [265]