Quebec, City

1694. The great historical, geographical and poetical dictionary by Louis Moreri.

Quebec, a Town of New France in Canada in Northern America. This Town, which becomes daily more and more flourishing, owes its original to a small number of poor Cottages, and its name to the Mountain whereon 'tis situated; for the Barbarians call the heights or elevations of the Earth Quebec. These Cottages were discovered in 1508, by Thomas Aubert, a Native of Diepe, who brought some of the Salvage Inhabitants into France. In 1608, a great Colony of French being come to settle in Canada, preferr'd this place before all others upon the River of St. Laurence, and laid the Foundations of the Higher and Lower Town of Quebec: For one part of the Colony remain'd on the Banks of the River, and gave a beginning to the Lower Town; the rest seated themselves on the Hill, and changed the Cottages which were there, into good Dwelling-Houses; but the diversity of situation hinder'd not these two places to preserve the name of Quebec. The Houses of the Lower Town are but a few in number, and not so beautifull as those of the Higher, being most of 'em inhabited by Ship-Carpenters and Seamen who live by fishing. Upon the Way which leads from the Lower to the Higher Town, is a fair House built by M. Talon when he was Intendant of Canada. The higher Town is large and well peopled, its Houses fairly built, make very fine Streets, wherein are Shops furnished with all sorts of Merchandises that can be brought from Europe. This Town has been erected into a Bishop's See by Clement X. in 1674, and the Cathedral is consecrated to our Lady. The College is under the Conduct of the Jesuits. There is also the Monastery of the Ursulines, and that of the Religious Hospitallers, who follow the Rule of St. Augustin. The Recolets have their Convent without the Walls of the Town upon a small River called St. Charles. At one end of the Town is the Fort of St. Lewis, surrounded with Walls, and consisting of divers Angles bending in and jetting out, drawn according to the nature of the Ground, and well provided with Cannon. The Governor lives in the midst of this Cittadel. Denys Histoire de l' Amerique.