Not many years back the 'small circular space' which Mr. Wilson bound himself to hold sacred and inviolable and which contained two neat marble slabs with the names of Messrs. Holland, senior and junior, and other members of the family engraved on them, was inclosed within a substantial stone wall to which access was had through an iron gate, the walls were covered with inscriptions and with the initials of those who had visited a spot to which the fatal issue of a deadly encounter lent all the interest of a romance. Nothing now is visible except the foundation, which is still distinct: the monument stones have disappeared, the wall has been razed to the ground, some modern Vandal or a descendant of the Ostrogoths [275] (for amongst all civilized nations, the repose of the dead is sacred) has laid violent hands on them! When Mr. Wilson sold Holland farm in 1843 he made no stipulation about the graves of the Hollands, he took no care that what he had agreed to hold inviolable should continue to be so held.
The tragical occurrence connected with the Holland Tree is much out of the ordinary run of events, it seems very like the plot of a sensation novel—a dark tale redolent with love, jealousy and revenge. Two men stood, some sixty years ago, in mortal combat, not under the Holland Tree, as it has generally been believed but near Windmill Point, Point St Charles, at Montreal, one of them Ensign Samuel Holland, of the 60th Regiment, the other was Capt Shoedde. The encounter, it was expected would be a deadly one in those duelling days blood alone could wipe out an insult. Old Major Holland, on bidding adieu to his son is reported to have said, "Samuel, my boy, here are weapons which my loved friend General Wolfe, presented me on the day of his death. Use them, to keep the old family name without stain." Of this memorable affair W. H. Henderson, Esq., of Hemison, has kindly furnished me with the following details.
'The duel originated from some, it was considered, unjustifiable suspicions on the part of Capt. Shoedde of his (Holland's) intimacy with Mrs. Shoedde so palpably unfounded that young Holland applied to his father as to whether in honour he was bound to take notice of the matter. The Major replied by forwarding by post his pistols. Ensign Holland was mortally wounded at the first shot, but in his agony rose on his knees and levelled his pistol, aiming for Capt. Shoedde's heart, who received the ball in his arm laid over his breast.'
Mr. Holland was conveyed to the Merchants Coffee House, in the small lane, near the river side, called Capital street, where he expired in great pain. The battalion in which this gentleman served was at that time, commanded by Major Patrick Murray, a relative of the British General of Quebec fame, with whom I became very intimate in the years 1808 and 1809. Major Murray's account of the duel agreed with the general report prevalent in 1799 in Montreal. Murray thought that the challenge had been given by young Holland and not by Shoedde. Murray subsequently married sold his commission, and purchased the seignory of Argenteuil. At that time Sir George Prevost was also a Major In the 60th Regiment of 1790, whilst Murray's commission dated of 1784. Sir George gave Murray in 1812 a colonel's commission in the militia, who raised the corps of lawyers in Montreal known, as styled by the humorous old man, "as The Devil s Own."
A SCANDAL OF THE LAST CENTURY.
One of the young Hollands had also been a party to a scandalum magnum, which created much gossip amongst our grandfathers, about the time H.R.H the Duke of Kent was at Quebec.
At a regimental mess dinner a handsome young fellow, having, in these days of hard swearing and hard drinking, exceeded in wine, was convicted of being a lady in disguise, attending as the guest of young Holland, and whose sex was unknown to young Holland.
This lady, whom all Quebec knew as Mr. Nesbitt, turned out to be a
Miss Neville, left for England, and was eventually married to Sir J.
C—-, brother of Lord F——, a British nobleman.
One of the Nestors of the present generation, Col. J. Sewell, has related to me the circumstances as he heard them in his youth from the lips of a man of veracity and honour—Hon. W. Smith, son of Chief Justice Smith.
Here are his own words:—"Hon. Mr. Smith told me that Mr. Nesbitt, alias Miss Neville, was dining at a mess dinner of the 24th Grenadiers at the Jesuits' Barracks, upper Town market place—Having sacrificed too freely to the rosy god, an officer of the 24th, Mr. Broadstreet, I think, helped him to the balcony … when having to lean on his supporter, Mr. Broadstreet became confident Nesbitt was a girl in disguise. Nesbitt drove out after dinner to Holland House and Broadstreet told the joke all round. Nesbitt hearing of it, sent him, next day, a challenge for originating such a report.