"It Would Be Futile To Attempt To Give An Accurate Picture Of The
Appearance Of Montreal Or Quebec At That Distant Date, And A
Description Pretending To Accuracy Would Not Be Possible Without The
Collation Of More Ancient Records Than Are Easily Obtainable By One
Person.
The names of some of the streets, as Notre Dame, St. Paul and
St. Antoine in Montreal, and St. John's, Fabrique, St. Peter and
others in Quebec, are still unchanged.
Villages near these towns, such
as Ste. Foye, Beauport, Charlesbourg, Sault aux Recollets, St. Denis,
Ste. Therese, etc., are also frequently mentioned in the old
Gazettes. Detroit and Niagara were places of considerable
importance, and St. Johns, Chambly, Berthier, L'Assomption, L'Acadie
and other places were much more influential communities in comparison
with the population of the country than they are to-day. The
authorities at Quebec and Montreal were not wanting in endeavors to
keep these cities clean, to judge, at least, by the published
'regulations for the police.' Every householder was obliged to put the
Scotch proverbs in force, and keep clean and 'free from filth, mud,
dirt, rubbish straw or hay' one-half of the street opposite his own
house The 'cleanings' were to be deposited on the beach, as they still
are in portions of Montreal and Quebec which border on the river.
Treasure-trove in the shape of stray hogs could be kept by the finder
twenty-four hours after the event, if no claim had been made in the
meantime, and if the owner declared himself in person or through the
bellman, he had to pay 10s. before he could have his pork restored.
Five shillings was the penalty for a stray horse.
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