Your very devoted servant,
E. A., Cardinal Taschereau,
Archbishop of Quebec.
To L. G. Baillairgé, Esq., Advocate.
The Hon. Mr. Fabre, who published this letter in the Paris-Canada, a newspaper which is printed at Paris, adds:
Mr. Baillairgé belongs to one of the most genuine French families of Canada. The high distinction by which he has just been honoured is the worthy reward of his generous act, and an acknowledgement of the exalted sentiments by which he has been guided.
Cardinal Taschereau’s letter was followed by his “Pastoral Letter” of the 8th of December, 1886, respecting the Laval University, and alluding to the chair founded in that institution by Mr. Baillairgé. On the 18th of May, 1887, his Holiness the Pope Leo XIII., nominates Mr. Baillairgé “Chevalier-Commandeur of the illustrious order of St. Gregory the Great,” by Apostolical Letters-patent of the same date. These Letters-patent were presented by order of his Eminence Cardinal Taschereau to Mr. Baillairgé, by Monseigneur Légaré, the Grand Vicaire, and by Monseigneur Marois, secretary of his eminence, acting as his special delegates on this occasion. His Eminence Cardinal Simeoni, chief of the Propaganda, is said to have contributed to this nomination. The uniform and insignia of a Chevalier-Commandeur is as follows:—Uniform—A dark blue, long-tailed dress-coat, with silver embroidery of laurel leaves, and silver buttons on the front; collar, facings, and the lower portion on the back, also embroidered with silver; long white chamois pantaloons, with a silver band on the sides; small black boots; black cocked hat with short black spiral plumes and silver clasp. Insignia:—Maltese cross of gold with a circular medallion at the centre, containing the miniature of Gregory the Great; gold-hilted sword at the side, etc. In 1887 a statue of the Saviour was presented by Mr. Baillairgé to the Grey Nuns of Quebec. It was blessed by his Eminence Cardinal Taschereau, and placed on the summit of the tower above the main entrance of the Grey Nuns’ Church, on the 18th of September of the same year. The statue is about fifteen feet in height, is plated on the outside with gilded sheet lead, and weighs about 4,000 lbs. It was sculptured by Mr. Jobin, an artist of the old capital.
Dionne, Narcisse Eutrope, S.B., M.D., Quebec, Co-Editor of Le Courrier du Canada, was born at St. Denis, county of Kamouraska, province of Quebec, on the 18th of May, 1848, from the marriage of Narcisse Dionne and Elizabeth Bouchard. Dr. Dionne received his education at the College of Ste. Anne de Lapocatière, and after completing his classical course, studied theology two years at the Grand Seminary of Quebec, returned to Ste. Anne for another year, and completed his theological studies at Levis College. He then chose the medical profession, and for that purpose entered Laval University, where he graduated M.D., in 1873, and removed to Stanfold, county of Arthabaska, and practised his profession in that place until 1875. Then he removed to Quebec, where he found a wider field, not only in regard to his profession, but to follow his inclinations to literary pursuits. He has lived in that city ever since. In 1876, the Cercle Catholique, of which he was one of the founders, was established in the city of Quebec, and he was elected on the board of directors and librarian, a position he held until the year 1883; he was then elected vice-president, and still holds that position. He was also one of the founders of the “Presse Associée de la province de Quebec,” with other journalists of the city of Quebec. This association was incorporated by an act of the legislature of Quebec, in 1883. Dr. Dionne has been acting secretary of the society since its foundation, and took a most prominent part in the reception accorded the Canadian Press Association, on the occasion of the latter body’s excursion to the Saguenay in 1883. In token of their gratitude, the Ontario pressmen gave him a splendid gift in recognition of the courtesies extended them. In August, 1886, he was also elected secretary to the Quebec Conservative Club, and in January, 1887, was appointed to the same position, which he filled during the Federal elections of the 22nd of February, of the same year. Dr. Dionne holds a high rank among the littérateurs of his native province, the first work which brought him to prominence being a pamphlet, published in 1880, intituled, “Le Tombeau de Champlain.” The year previous, his Excellency the Count de Premio-Real, consul-general of Spain in Canada, had offered two prizes for the best essay on a series of questions relating to Canadian history, and Mr. Dionne was the winner of both. In 1881, he published a pamphlet on agricultural societies, and then-value to the farmers, intituled, “Les Cercles Agricoles dans la Province de Québec,” and delivered many lectures throughout the province on that important subject. In 1882 appeared the report of the excursion of the Canadian Press Association to the United States, Manitoba, and the North-West, also due to Dr. Dionne’s pen; and still later, in 1883 he published the report of the French-Canadian convention, held at Windsor, county of Essex. As a political writer, the doctor is in the foremost rank of the Conservative journalists of the province, having been editor-in-chief of Le Courier du Canada, a daily paper published in Quebec, from April, 1880, until the 1st of February, 1884. He also filled the same position on the staff of Le Journal de Québec, from February to May, 1886. On the 22nd of February, 1887, he resumed the duties of co-editor to Le Courier du Canada, a position which he still holds. The first editors of the latter newspaper had been Dr. J. C. Taché, deputy minister to the department of Agriculture, and Sir Hector Langevin. In addition to his medical practice and journalistic duties, Dr. Dionne was chief license inspector under the Federal Act of parliament, from the 19th February, 1884, until December, 1885; and visiting physician to the Quebec Marine Hospital since the 17th February, 1882. In 1885, he visited New Orleans, during the World’s Exposition. He is corresponding member of the Institut-Canadien, of Ottawa; L’Union Catholique, Mauritius Island; and titulary member of the Académie des Muses Santonnes, France. He was married on the 13th of October, 1873, to Marie Laure Bouchard, second daughter of the late Pierre Victor Bouchard, of her Majesty’s customs, Quebec, and Julie Huot. He has issue ten children, five sons and five daughters.