THE ENVIRONS OF QUEBEC are, indeed, classic soil, trodden by the footsteps of many of the most remarkable men in American History: Cartier, Champlain, Phipps, d'Iberville, Laval, Frontenac, La Galissonnère, Wolfe, Montcalm, Levis, Amherst, Murray, Guy Carleton, Nelson, Cook, Bougainville, Jervis, Montgomery, Arnold, DeSalaberry, Brock and others. Here, in early times, on the shore of the majestic St. Lawrence, stood the wigwam and canoe of the marauding savage; here, was heard the clang of French sabre and Scotch claymore in deadly encounter--the din of battle on the tented field; here,--but no further--had surged the wave of American invasion; here, have bivouaced on more than one gory battle- field, the gay warrior from the banks of the Seine, the staunch musketeers of Old England, the unerring riflemen of New York, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Another spot calculated to interest us is the vast expanse from the Plains to Cap Rouge, round by Ste. Foye to the city, for which I intend to use its former more general name, Sillery: the ground is not new for us, as its annals and country seats furnished, in 1865, materials for sketches, published that year under the title of _Maple Leaves_. These sketches having long since disappeared from book-stores, at the request of several enlightened patrons, I re-publish from them some selections, with anecdotes and annotations. Several other sites round Quebec--Beauport, Charlesbourg, the Falls of Montmorency and of the Chaudière, Château Bigot, Lorette and its Hurons--will, of necessity, find a resting place in this repertory of Quebec history, which closes a labour of love, the series of works on Canada, commenced by me in 1861. In order to enhance the usefulness of this work, extensive and varied historical matter has been included in the appendix for reference. To my many friends, whose notes and advice have been so freely placed at my disposal, I return my grateful thanks. J. M. LEMOINE. SPENCER GRANGE, December, 1881. CONTENTS CHAPTER I. FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF QUEBEC Quebec as seen by Tourists--Descriptions--by Francis Parkman--M. Sand-- Eliot Warburton--Thoreau--Mrs. Moodie--Charles Dickens--Marmier--Sir Charles Dilke--Henry Ward Beecher--Professor Silliman--Charles Lever-- Capt. Butler--Alfred Hawkins--Hon. P. J. O. Chauveau. CHAPTER II. FOUNDATION OF QUEBEC. Samuel de Champlain--_L'Abitation_--the Dwelling of Champlain--Chief Donaconna--Jacques Cartier's Landing--Interview between Cartier and Donaconna. CHAPTER III. THE ANCIENT CAPITAL. Streets and By-ways of the Old City--Names of Famous Men preserved by Street Names--Dangerous Streets. THE UPPER TOWN.