[jONEs] OLD CHURCH SILVER IN CANADA 147 



The natural question arises, how came the silver spoon and fork 

 into the possession of the Convent. The answer is that after nearly 

 fifty years of separation from her family in New England, Mother 

 Esther Wheelwright, as she then was, was visited at the convent by 

 nephew. Major Wheelwright, who placed in her hands in the name of 

 her family a gift of a silver fork, spoon and goblet.^ The spoon and 

 fork, engraved with the W^heelwright arms, have survived the storms 

 and perils of time, but the goblet could not be traced. 



The spoon and fork are of French workmanship — an ascription 

 which is made on the authority of the marks stamped upon them. 

 But a curious and interesting fact was revealed by the writer's examina- 

 tion of these interesting relics, namely, in the discovery of another 

 maker's mark upon them — the mark of Jacob Hurd of Boston, Mas- 

 sachussetts (1702-58), a prolific silversmith and the maker of many 

 vessels for churches in New England.^ 



A pair of silver candlesticks,^ which was presented to the Church 

 of the convent by Lady Carleton, wife of the Governor of Canada, 

 have disappeared. 



The Hôtel Dieu Convent and Hospital founded in 1639 by the 

 Duchess of Aiguillon the friend of St. Vincent de Paul and niece of 

 Richelieu, was once famous for its artistic and historic treasures; but 

 many of these perished in the great fire of 1755. Subsequent losses 

 have also been chronicled. A French 17th century clock made in 

 Paris and fitted in a long wooden case by a Quebec carpenter in the 

 18th century, was exchanged by the authorities of the Hôtel Dieu 

 some few years ago, and was bought by the present writer in Quebec. 

 A silver bust, enshrining the skull of Jean de Brébeuf, the Jesuit 

 missionary, and the bones of his fellow-martyr, escaped the observa- 

 tion of the writer in the chapel of the Hôtel Dieu. 



The church of Indian Lorette is conspicuous for its possession of 

 several important objects and beautiful vestments. These comprise 

 a small 17th century reliquary, set with crystals, which is associated 

 with Chartres; a pair of ewers with tray; four beautiful French vases 

 in the style of Louis XV; a large French sanctuary lamp dating from 

 the end of the 17th century; and two silver statuettes of St. Joseph 

 and the Blessed Virgin. To this inventory may be added: six French 

 tripod candlesticks and a crucifix of early 18th century; and a pair 

 of French plain octagonal candlesticks of domestic rather than ecclesi- 

 astical character, which are marked with an unknown maker's mark, 



^ Glimpses of the Monastery; Scenes from the History of the UrsuUnes of Quebec, 

 2nd Edition, 1897, p. 308. 



^ The Old Silver of American Churches, by E. Alfred Jones, 1913. 

 3 Glimpses of the Monastery, etc., p. 312. 



