[73] The Basilica Minor, Or Roman Catholic Parish Church, Built In 1647, Restored After The Siege Of 1759, Was Consecrated By Bishop Laval On The 18th July, 1666, Under The Name Of The Church Of The Immaculate Conception.

It is the oldest church in North America.

Its length is 216 feet by 108 in breadth, and is capable of containing a congregation of 4,000 persons. "It originated in a gift, in 1644, on the part of Couillard and Guillemette Hebert, his wife, of 80 perches of land in superficies, for a parish church, on condition on the part of the Fabrique, or church authorities, that they would furnish a pew in perpetuity in said church for them and their successors, on their paying them a sum of 30 livres, tournois, at each mutation. The Church was begun in 1644 and 1645, on this spot, out of collections made in the years 1643 and 1644 together, until the price for which were sold 1,270 beaver skins - worth about 8,000 livres - was given by the Quebec merchants. The partners of the India Company presented the church with a bell." - Histoire abregee de l'Eglise de Quebec.

[74] The Indian Fort (Fort des Hurons) was built to protect the unfortunate Hurons who, after the butchery of 1648-49, had sought refuge at Quebec. It is conspicuous on an old plan of Quebec of 1660, republished by Abbe Faillon. It stood on the northern slope of Dufferin Terrace, on the side to the east of the present Post Office, south-east of the Roman Catholic Parish Church.

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