ulte] historical LITERATURE OF QUEBEC 271 



disease prevailing at Bay Saint Paul. A volume devoted to " La Sainte 

 Famille " came out of the press of Mesplet in 1T87. 



A large book printed in London, 1784, but written by a Canadian, 

 has a special history in the events of those days. The author, Pierre 

 Ducalvet, was just out of the hands of Governor Haldimand when he 

 issued his " Appel à la Justice," which is a criticism of the administra- 

 tion of the colony, rather personal, somewhat excessive also, but an in- 

 valuable record of certain facts connected with the state of Canada during 

 the American Eevolution. 



In 1788 Mesplet launched La Gazette Littéraire at the request of a 

 certain number of Montreal gentlemen. The same year, James Tanswell 

 started Le Courrier de Québec, but only issued two numbers of that 

 publication. 



A public library was opened at Quebec in 1785, and was a far more 

 sei-ious undertaking, for it kept well for a long period of years. There 

 was decidedly a movement towards thi-ee or four branches of studies 

 since peace had been restored to the country. Dramatic associations ex- 

 isted in Montreal and Quebec. They played Molière and some light 

 comedies of the time of Louis XV. The man who seems to have in- 

 spired principally these efforts was Joseph Quesnel, a jioet, a musician, 

 and a person of good society. His comedy. Colas et Colinette, became the 

 great attraction of the day in Montreal (1700), whilst the people of 

 Quebec boasted of a troop of amateurs who could not be surjDassed in any 

 colon}", as they believed. His Eoyal Highness the Duke of Kent, accom- 

 panied by lieutenant-governors Clarke and Simcoe attended the perform- 

 ance of la comtesse d'Lscarbagna and le Médecin malgré lui in Quebec, 

 on the 18th February, 1792. The Prince had arrived there during the 

 previous summer and felt quite at home amongst the livel}- Quebecers. 

 He was present at the banquet given on the 20th December, 1701, to cele- 

 brate the granting of a new political constitution to Canada, and, as a 

 matter of course, he heard several songs composed for the occasion, in- 

 cluding two specially pi'epared to welcome him, and which MM. Eaby 

 ai7d Amiot rendered in a most happy manner. 



There was a spii'it of literature in the air. Canadian pamphlets could 

 be seen in the hands of many who had never experienced that sort 

 of pleasure before. Papiers sur V Angleterre referred to the administration 

 of the United Kingdom, and such reading was apropos of our new con- 

 stitution. A long letter from Bishop Bailly upon the necessity of a 

 university gave rise to discussion and meditation. L'ancienne et la 

 nouvelle constitution du Canada is another commentary of a political im- 

 portance, but indicating also that the Canadians were able to express 

 their ideas before the world. La nouvelle constitution de France followed 

 the above, and the whole province roused to listen to this display of 

 opinions. To crown the whole came Le Magasin de Québec, a repertory 

 of literature and science. The Quebec Gazette also modified its old dull 



