66 CANADIAN GUIDE BOOK. embouchures of the Etchemin and Chaudiere pouring in their tribute of waters. At Pointe aux Puisscaux the road leads down to Sillcry Core. The view from this point would afford an excellent composi tion for the brush of the landscape-painter. Before reaching the ascent to the villa of the late Mr. Macnider is an old stone house, formerly inhabited by the heroine of “ Emily M onlague,” near which are the ruins of what was once a large stone chapel. Such visitants as are unacquainted with this novel will find in it a faithful picture of the manners and condition of the Colonists when Canada first became a British colony. A mile beyond the villa is that of Kilgraston, formerly belonging to the Kev. Dr. Mills, Chaplain to the Garrison. Hence the Tourist, instead of returning by a road conducting through a wood into the St. Louis Road for Quebec, will do better by continu ing his ride to the Church of St. Foy, whence is seen below the St. Charles gliding smoothly through a lovely vale, whose sides rise grad ually to the mountains and are literally covered with habitations. The villages of Lorette and Charlesbourg are conspicuous objects. Before entering the Suburb of St. John, on the banks of the St. Charles stands the General Hospital, designed, as the name implies, for the disabled and sick poor of every description. Charlevoix says that “it is the finest house in Canada, and would be no disparagement to our larg est houses in France; the Fathers Recollets formerly owned the ground on which it stands. M. de St. Vallier, Bishop of Quebec, removed them into the city, bought their settlements, and expended one hundred thousand crowns in building, furniture, and founda tions.” The first ecclesiastics in Canada were Recollets, four in number, brought out by Champlain in 1615. Their original habita tion, consisting of a small lodge and seminary, was on the spot where the General Hospital now stand. It was commenced before 1620. In 1690 the Recollets were induced to remove to grounds where the Episcopal Church now stands. This founda tion was at first under the charge of the Sisters of the Congre gation, but in 1692 under that of the Hospilalieres or Nuns of the Hotel Dieu ; from which community it received its Superior and twelve professed Nuns. In 1701 the Nuns of the General Hospital were made a separate and independent community. At