ower over
the immense domain extending from the Gulf of St. Lawrence along the
shores of the noble river and down the course of the Mississippi to its
outlet below New Orleans.

The banner which first streamed from the battlements of Quebec was
displayed from a line of forts which protected the settlements
throughout this vast extent of country. The Council Chamber of the
Castle was the scene of many a midnight vigil, many a long deliberation
and deep-laid project, to free the continent from the intrusion of the
ancient rivals of France and assert her supremacy. Here also was
rendered, with all its ancient forms, the fealty and homage of the
_noblesse_ and military retainers, who held possessions under the Crown,
a feudal service suited to those early times, and which is still
performed by the peers at the coronation of our kings in Westminster
Abbey."

[Illustration: Frontenac]

Among the many dramatic scenes of which it was the theatre, no
occurrence was more remarkable than an event which happened in the year
1690, when "Castle St. Louis had assumed an appearance worthy of the
Governor-General, who then made it the seat of the Royal Government, the
dignified Count de Frontenac, a nobleman of great talents, long service
and extreme pride, and who is considered one of the most illustrious of
the early French rulers." The story is, that Sir William Phipps, an
English admiral, arriving with his fleet in the harbour, and believing
the city to be in a defenceless condition, thought he might capture it
by surprise. An officer was sent ashore with a flag of truce. He was met
half way by a French major and his men, who, placing a bandage over the
intruder's eyes, conducted him by a circuitous route to the Castle,
having recourse on the way to various stratagems, such as making small
bodies of soldiers cross and re-cross his path, to give him the
impression of the presence of a strong force. On arriving at the Castle,
his surprise we are told was extreme on finding himself in the presence
of the Governor-General, the Intendant and the Bishop, with a large
staff of French officers, uniformed in full regimentals, drawn up in the
centre of the great hall ready to receive him.

The British officer immediately handed to Frontenac a written demand for
an unconditional surrender, in the name of the new Sovereigns, William
and Mary, whom Protestant England had crowned instead of the dethroned
and Catholic James. Taking his watch