— 161 — 



I can well recall the curious interest this time-worn 

 pile excited, in the ardent minds of a bevy of blue-coated 

 seminary pupils in 1843, — of whom I was one, — when 

 our Eeverend Professor, one bright Thursday morning, 

 led us through the forest-paths to see the ruins of Cha- 

 teau-Bigot ; — how, one and all, we ruthlessly invaded the 

 subterranean passages and cellars of the Chateau, to 

 carry away relics and trophies of a distant past ; how 

 one of the tallest stepped triumphantly to the front and 

 exhibited " the big toe joint, " as he styled it, " of the 

 luckless Caroline, poisoned by the lawful spouse of the 

 French intendant." We only found out some years 

 afterwards that the Intendant had never been married, 

 and that this portion of Mr. Amedee Papineau's stirring- 

 legend was unsubstantial, like the " baseless fabric of 

 a dream." What would this have signified then had we 

 known it ? We were prepared to believe the wildest 

 legend that mortal could have fabricated about the 

 mysterious ruins. Twenty years after, I revisited 

 these desolate halls. All-devouring time had pressed 

 hard on them ; but as I gave a full narrative of this 

 visit in the first series of my Maple Leaves, in 1863, 

 I shall not repeat it. 



History tells that several Quebec ladies took refuge 

 at this Chateau during the bombardment, in 1759 ; 

 and when Arnold held the environs of the city during 

 the winter of 1775-76, we also are informed that some 

 merchants of note sought there an asylum for their 

 loyalty to " Farmer " George. 



It is within the portals of Beaumanoir that several 

 of the most thrilling scenes in Mr. Marmette's novel 

 are supposed to have taken place. A worthy veteran of 

 noble birth, M. de Eochebrune, had died in Quebec, 

 through neglect and hunger, on the very steps of Bigot's 

 luxurious palace, then facing the St. Charles, leaving 

 an only daughter, as virtuous as she was beautiful. 



One day whilst returning through the fields (where 

 St. Eochs has since been built) from visiting a nun in 

 Jl 



