TERCENTENARY OF QUEBEC.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 61, 14 December 1907, Page 2

TERCENTENARY OF QUEBEC.

HISTORICAL SPOTS FOR PUBLIC PARK. DONATION i''ROM THE KING. Received December i;l, 10.47 p.m. Ottawa, December UIn connection with the celebration.,of the tercentenary of Champ m s landing ntVl.ec, K«'W »"J subscribed 100 ■rninca* ("wards Lord Grey's iiioveine.it f ' the purchase of the battlefields round Quebec, including toe Plama of Abraham, with a view to converting tliem into a public park.

Quebec was founded in 1«<»9 '•>' Samuel Champhiin, geographer to the King »f France, on the site of »" »< >«." village railed Slandacomi. In 1020 it came into the hands of tile luiglish, l, nt was restored in V.tti to the trenchtt was fortified in 1000. In that year the English attempted to reconquer it, but suffered a disastrous defeat, and it remained in the possession of the * ranch till 17V) when it fell into the hands of the British, in consequence of Wolfe's famous victory on the Plains of Abraham At that time the population was estimated at 8000 to 9000 The only serious attempt made upon it since the Jiritish possession was lormally ratified in 1703 was by the American revolutionists on December 31, 17(5, when Montgomery, the Amcric.m general, lost his life in the attack. Samuel Chainplain was a trench naval ollicer and maritime explorer. He was born at Brougc about 1570, and dieu in 1035. His exploits in the maritime war against Spain in 1595 attracted the attention of Henry IV., who commissioned him in 1003 to found establishments, in North America. He sailed from Honfleur, and ascended the St. Lawrence to the point where Cartier had stopped in 1535. In a second expedition (1(104-7) he visited the coasts of Acadia (Nova Scotia). In a third voyage (1008) he founded the town of Quebec, and explored Ontario and Chainplain, to the latter of which he gave his • name. In 1020 he was appointed Governor of Canada, with the title of lieutenant-general to Marshal Montmorency, who was named ViceAdmiral of New France. He treated the natives with benevolence, and endeavoured to civilise them. He was compelled to surrender Quebec, which he had fortified, to the English in 1027, when he returned to France, but recovered his command at the peace in 1029.