QUEBEC. 557 



The historic fortress of Quebec may be said to be 

 located at the head of the sea estuary of the St. 

 Lawrence, where it stands like a lion in the path to 

 bar the way to all intruders. The position is remark- 

 able both for its enormous natural strength (in conse- 

 quence of which it has been sometimes termed the 

 Gibraltar of North America) and also for its singular 

 beauty. From its summit where the frowning battle- 

 ments of the renowned citadel overlook the river from 

 an eminence of some 320 feet, splendid views of forest 

 and river scenery are obtainable, and we feel sure that 

 those who have been privileged to contemplate their 

 unrivalled grandeur will always treasure in their memory 

 the recollection of Quebec, as one of the fairest and 

 most striking scenes that the traveller's eye can meet 

 with. 



Nor is Quebec less great in its historical than in its 

 scenic interest, for it was here, as we know, that the 

 issues of the great struggle between Great Britain and 

 France for the Empire of the West were finally decided. 

 We trust therefore we shall not be considered either 

 too tedious or discursive if we venture to invite our 

 reader to accompany us in spirit to the ramparts of 

 Quebec in order to take a brief survey of the surround- 

 ings. For this purpose we are supposed to pause for 

 a few moments, looking down from the citadel upon 

 the great river, whose mighty flood bathes the base 

 of the cliff upon which the fortress is perched, which 

 here forms an immense headland rising abruptly out 

 of the swirling waters just at the juncture of the river 

 St. Charles with the St. Lawrence, greatly narrowing 

 the tideway of the last-named river at this point, so 

 that its stream is here but little more than half a mile 



