86 
SHORT NOTES ON PROFESSIONAL SUBJECTS. 
The sorrow which was felt for the melancholy death of Lieut. Baines evoked 
deep expressions of sympathy from the whole community. An extract from 
the “ Quebec Mercury” will serve as an example of the general feeling, viz.— 
“The calamity of the 14th October has culminated in one of those episodes 
which by their grandeur and fatality evoke the extreme chords of human sympathy. 
The mournful death of Lieut. Baines, while it fills us with indescribable awe 
and the lowliest submission to the fiat of an all-wise Providence, excites in the soul 
of every good citizen the loftiest admiration for the grand heroism which led 
through danger and suffering to death. 5 ’ 
The following is an extract from a letter written by Lieut.-Colonel M c Crea, 
Lieut. Baines immediate Commanding Officer:— 
27th Octobek. 
“ I have just returned from the Hospital and brought under God’s will the sad 
news that my deeply to be regretted officer died at 12 o’clock, released from great 
suffering by thus passing quietly away through the gate which we must all follow 
him. No pen can possibly express what we all here feel and how deeply we 
deplore his loss.” 
As a mark of the deep sense entertained of Lieut. Baines’s valuable services 
during this awful fire, and sorrow for his loss, the Mayor of Quebec, Joseph 
Canchon, Esq., by public proclamation, called upon the citizens generally to 
attend his funeral. This request was heartily responded to. 
The funeral was in every respect a public one, and was attended by the staff of 
the Governor-General, the Premier and Ministers of the Government, Members of 
Parliament, Mayor and Corporation of Quebec, and many thousands of the 
citizens, in addition to the Commandant and all the officers of the Garrison, and 
also of the Boyal Navy. The shops were everywhere closed, and all the vessels in 
the harbour had their flags half-mast high. 
Lieut. Baines met a glorious death, for he gave his life to save others, and this 
was the feeling amongst all the residents of Quebec at the time. The General 
Hospital Convent, which was preserved from destruction by Lieut. Baines, contained 
300 inmates, 150 of whom were infirm and helpless. 
A monument has been erected by the citizens of Quebec to Lieut. Baines’ 
memory in Mount Hermon Cemetery, and a sum of money was subscribed by them 
and remitted to his bereaved mother for the purpose of placing a memorial to her 
son in his parish church, or wherever she might think desirable. Mrs Baines made 
choice of a pulpit, which has been erected in Stockwell church, near Brixton, 
Surrey, where Lieut. Baines used to attend. 
Photographs of both these memorials are deposited in the B.A. Institution. 
The Officers of Lieut. Baines’ Brigade have also put up a tablet, in the form of 
a cross, to his memory in the cathedral at Quebec. 
