P. A. DE GASPE. 



THE LAIRD OF HABERVILLE MANOR. 



" The period through which M. de G-aspe has lived (1786- 

 1871) has been so eventful, and the public occurences of his 

 earlier years, were so brimful of romantic interest that he 

 could hardly fail to be interesting, while pouring out the 

 budget of his recollections, even to listeners on this side of 

 the Atlantic." — London Review, 29 Oct., 1864. 



On a frosty April morning, in 1863, I recollect 

 meeting an erect, dignified, white-haired septuagenarian 

 on the square fronting the Basilica Minor at Quebec. 

 A pleasant greeting mutually exchanged, afforded me 

 the welcome opportunity of complimenting " the 

 youngest of our writers," as Hector Fabre facetiously 

 styles M. P. A. de Gaspe, on his admirable Anciens 

 Canadiens, just published, and in the perusal of which 

 volume, I had revelled the evening previous. It was, 

 seemingly, by a providential dispensation, it occurred 

 to me, that it had been revealed to the genial Seignior 

 of Saint Jean Port- Joly, that at the advanced age of 

 76 years, he was still fresh and buoyant enough in 

 mind to write a book, and that, an uncommonly good 

 one ; though he had never dreamed before of under-, 

 taking such a task. 



Philippe Aubert de Gaspe, born at Quebec, in 1786, 

 was of Norman lineage, a descendant of a wealthy 

 seignior, Charles Aubert de la Chenaye, of Amiens, 

 France, who had settled in this city, in 1655, and died 

 there 10th September, 1702. 



