he old _Regime_ in New France. It is a
long one-storied structure, originally red-tiled, with graceful, sloping
roof, double rows of peaked, dormer windows, huge chimneys and the
unpolished architecture of the period.

Among the many historical buildings of America, none have been the scene
of more thrilling events, a long line of interesting associations being
connected with the now quiet old Chateau, looking in its peaceful old
age as out of keeping with its modern surroundings as would an ancient
vellum missal, mellowed for centuries in a monkish cell, appear among
some of the ephemeral literature of to-day.

A brilliant line of viceroys have here held rule, and within its walls
things momentous in the country's annals have been enacted. During its
checkered experience no less than three distinct _Regimes_ have followed
each other, French, British and American. In an old document still to be
found among the archives of the Seminary of St. Sulpice, it is recorded
that the land on which it stands was ceded to the Governor of Montreal
in the year 1660, just eighteen years after Maisonneuve, its founder,
planted the silken Fleur-de-Lys of France on the shores of the savage
Redman, and one hundred years before the tri-cross of England floated
for the first time from the ramparts.

Somewhere about the year 1700 a portion of this land was acquired by
Claude de Ramezay, Sieur de la Gesse, Bois Fleurent and Monnoir, in
France, and Governor of Three Rivers, and this house built.

De Ramezay was of an old Franco-Scottish family, being descended by
_Thimothy_, his father, from one Sir John Ramsay, a Scotchman, who, with
others of his compatriots, went over to France in the 16th century. He
may have joined an army raised for the French wars, or may have formed
part of a bridal train similar to the gay retinue of the fair Princess
Mary, who went from the dark fells and misty lochs of the land of the
Royal Stuarts to be the loveliest queen who ever sat on the throne of
_la belle France_. De Ramezay was the father of thirteen children, by
his wife, Mademoiselle Denys de la Ronde, a sister of Mesdames Thomas
Tarieu de La Naudiere de La Perade, d'Ailleboust d'Argenteuil, Chartier
de Lotbiniere and Aubert de la Chenage, the same family out of whom came
the celebrated de Jumonville, so well known in connection with the
unfortunate circumstances of Fort Necessity. The original of the
marriage contract is still preserved in the records