Quebec. 1 1 1 



On the 1 6th of Otfober 1690, Quebec 

 was befieged by the Englifh general William 

 Phips 9 who was obliged to retire a few days 

 after with great lofs. The Englifh have 

 tried feveral times to repair their lofies, but 

 the river St. Lawrence has always been a 

 very good defence for this country. An 

 enemy, and one that is not acquainted with 

 this river, cannot go upwards in it, without 

 being ruined; for in the neighbourhood of 

 Quebec^ it abounds with hidden rocks, and 

 has ftrong currents in fome places, which 

 oblige the (hips to make many windings. 



THE name of Quebec it is laid is derived 

 from a Norman word, on account of its 

 fituation on a neck or point of land. For 

 when one comes up in the river by f Ifle 

 d'Orkans y that part of the river St. Law- 

 rence does not come in fight, which lies 

 above the town, and it appears as if the 

 river St. Charles which lies juft before, was 

 a continuation of the St. Lawrence. But 

 on advancing further the true courfe of the 

 river comes within fight, and has at firft a 

 great fimilarity to the mouth of a river or 

 a great bay. This has given occafion to a 

 failor, who faw it unexpectedly, to cry out 

 in his provincial dialect <$ue bee *, that is, 

 what a point of land! and from hence it is 



thought 



* Meaning Qiel bee. 



