36 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 



(leneral of Canada at Belmont Manor; the next, at Charlesbourg, mak- 

 ing the romantic echoes of Chateau-Bigot ring again with old English 

 cheer and loyal toasts to " George the King " ! or else installing a 

 ''■ Baron " at the Union Hotel, Place d'Armes, — and flinging down to the 

 landlord, as Lambert says " 250 guineas for the entertainment." Ah ! 

 where are now the choice spirits of that comparatively modern day, the 

 rank and fashion, who used to go and sip claret or ice cream with Sir 

 James Craig at Powell Place (Spencer Wood). Where gone the Muirs, 

 Paynters, Munros, Mathew Bells, de Lanaudières, Lymburners, Smiths, 

 Finlays, Caldwells, Percevais, Jonathan Sewells, Uniackes. Alas! like 

 the glories of Belmont, departed — living in the chambers of memory 

 only. 



This estate, which until lately, consisted of two hundred and fifty 

 acres, was conceded, in 1649, by the Jesuit Fathers to M. Godfroy ; it ex- 

 tended from the line of the Grande Allée to the Bijou wood. In 1670, 

 it passed over to the famous Intendant Talon. Shortly after the 

 conquest it was occupied by Chief Justice Gregory. In 1765, it was sold 

 for £500 by David Ames of Montreal to General James Murray. 



We find that one of the first operations of General Montgomery, 

 in 1775, was' to take forcible possession of '' General Murray^s 

 house on St. Foy road f later on, the property came into the possession 

 of Col. Caldwell. 



In the memory of Quebecers, Belmont manor must remain more 

 particularly connected with the Caldwell family — three generations of 

 which occupied it-s spacious halls, and where the Colonel expired, in 

 1810. 



Belmont manor is situated on the St. Foy road, on its north side, 

 at the end of a long avenue of majestic trees, distant three miles from 

 Quebec. The original mansion which was burnt down in 1798, was re- 

 built by the Colonel, in 1800, on plans furnished by an engineer oflBcer 

 of the name of Brabazon. Col. Caldwell's gracious hospitality drew 

 round his board some of the best known men in Quebec of the time, such 

 as the gallant General Brock, John Coltman, Williaan Coltman, the 

 Hales, Foy, Haldimand, Dr. Beeby, of Powell Place, J. Lester, John 

 Blackwood. 



In 1810, Col. Caldwell's son John, accepted the succession, with its 

 liabilities, then unknown — occupied, in summer, a handsome residence 

 in the Seigniory of Lauzon, and was appointed Eeceiver-G«neral to suc- 

 ceed his father in 1812. 



In 1817, Belmont was sold to the Hon. J. Irvine, M.P.P. In 1833, 

 the property reverted to Sir Henry Caldwell, son of (Sir) John Cald- 

 well — Sir John continued to live at the magnificent summer residence 



