Sir James Gave A Splendid
Breakfast Al Fresco At This Place In 1809 To All The Principal
Inhabitants Of Quebec, And The Following Day He Allowed His Servants And
Their Acquaintances To Partake Of A Similar Entertainment At His
Expense." - (Lambert's Travels, 1808, P. 310.)
Spencer Wood has ever been a favourite resort for our Governors - Sir James
Craig - Lord Elgin - Sir Edmund Walker Head - Lord Monk - Lord Lisgar, and
Lord Dufferin on his arrival in 1872, none prized it so highly, none
rendered it more attractive than the Earl of Elgin.
Of his fetes
champetres, recherches dinners, chateau balls, a pleasant remembrance
still lingers in the memory of many Quebecers and others. Several
circumstances added to the charms and comfort of Spencer Wood in his day.
On one side of St. Louis Road stood the gubernatorial residence, on the
opposite side at Thornhill, dwelt the Prime Minister, Sir Francis Hincks.
Over the vice-regal "walnuts and wine," how many knotty state questions
have been discussed, how many despatches settled, how many political
points adjusted in the stormy days which saw the abolition of the
Seignioral Tenure and Clergy Reserves. At one of his brilliant
postprandial speeches, - Lord Elgin was much happier at this style of
oratory than his successor, Sir Edmund Head, - the noble Earl is reported
to have said, alluding to Spencer Wood, "Not only would I spend here the
rest of my life, but after my death, I should like my bones to rest in
this beautiful spot;" and still China and India had other scenes, other
triumphs, and his Sovereign, other rewards for the successful statesman.
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