The British Associations visit to Montreal, 1884: Letters | Page 7

views I
would certainly circulate it." Of course, I could not argue with a man
well armed at all points for attack (as these infidels generally are),
though they are weak enough at defence, their explanations of life's
mysteries being as unsatisfactory and vague as that of any ignorant

Bible woman; and so when others joined us I gave way, and he said as
a _crusher_--"I see you are a very sincere and conscientious lady, but
you are very fanatical." I replied, as my parting shot, "Well, of course,
I cannot do justice to my cause, but at any rate you have nothing to
offer _me_; convince me and others, if you can, that we are wrong (and
thank God we have a noble army on our side), what have you to give us
in the place of our beliefs? Nothing! a mere negation." He
answered--"What have you to give me?" "Oh," I replied, "a mere
_nothing, only_ peace and power for holiness now and a glorious hope
for the future, and so (shaking hands) good bye." I could scarcely speak
to him for crying, for it was so painful to hear his words about our
Blessed Saviour. After our discussion on prayer in the back cabin, a
young man who was there and who was sitting near me while I was
writing to you, began to talk it over. "Well," I said, "the best answer to
those objections about prayer that I know, is to try it, and then I am
sure no arguments will then shake your confidence that there is a God
who heareth and answereth prayer." It is like our Lord's cure of the
blind man. "How did He do it?" they ask, and ask in vain for any
explanation which could be understood, but the man says "I don't know,
but whereas I was blind, now I see," and the Pharisees beat themselves
to pieces against that rock. You may imagine I went to my berth
heartily tired after the excitement of this long day.
_Monday, 25th._--I got up at six and rushed on deck, and with a lovely
clear sky and shining sun and a brisk breeze, I found we were steaming
along the river St. Lawrence. We devoured with our eyes the beautiful
views on each side, mountains of blue and violet, wooded to their
summits, and Canadian villages nestling at their feet on the banks of
the river, with glittering spires of blanche for every seven miles, like
tall milestones, and then we reached the entrance to Quebec, which is
indeed magnificent! the splendid water-way, with the fine position of
Quebec, makes it a grand sight, and I was not disappointed; and the
clear and brilliant morning sunshine showed us all to perfection. Then
came such a scene of hurry and confusion,--but we were favored:
Captain R. Stephenson, the Governor-General's A.D.C., who had been
our fellow passenger, received instructions from him, and we were
conveyed in a police steamboat to the other side--to the Citadel; there
was also a letter from Lord Lansdowne to John, asking him and E---

and any of his party to breakfast, brought by Captain Streatfield,
another A.D.C. Our maids and luggage were left in charge of the police
at their wharf station. On reaching the wharf a carriage conveyed us to
the Citadel,--such a drive, up the side of a house! over a great many
boulders. A curious old town is Quebec--thoroughly like a French town,
with French spoken everywhere, and French dirt and air of poverty and
untidiness, as in the remoter and older towns of France.
Lord and Lady Lansdowne received us most kindly, and besides there
was Lady Florence Anson (her niece, who is engaged to Captain
Streatfield), Lady Melgund, whose husband is away in Ottawa looking
after canoe men for Egypt, and a young Mr. Anson, A.D.C. After
seeing the view from the balcony--a splendid panorama of Quebec and
the river St. Lawrence, with its tributary St. Charles, and the
surrounding country backed by blue mountains, we went in to our
second breakfast, and much we enjoyed our tea. Lord Lansdowne sat
next me and was very pleasant. Afterwards he asked John and E--- and
me and the boys to dine, apologising for not asking us all to sleep there,
on the grounds of not having room, which is true enough, for the house
is not large. I thought it best to decline for myself and two sons, as I
was going with them for the night to this place (Mr. Dobell's), four
miles away. Then came a Secretary of the Local Committee to discuss
arrangements with John, and alter the programme somewhat for next
Friday and Saturday, when we are expected to revisit Quebec.
John is much afraid that the long-list of engagements will