priests of the seminary had taken their pupils to St. Michel, near Sillery, to a country house which belonged to them.  About one in the afternoon fire broke out in the seminary buildings.  The inhabitants hastened up from all directions to the spot and attempted with the greatest energy to stay the progress of the flames.  Idle efforts!  The larger and the smaller seminary, the priests’ house, the chapel barely completed, were all consumed, with the exception of some furniture and a little plate and tapestry.  The cathedral was saved, thanks to the efforts of the state engineer, M. Levasseur de Nere, who succeeded in cutting off the communication of the sacred temple with the buildings in flames.  Mgr. de Laval, confined then to a bed of pain, avoided death by escaping half-clad; he accepted for a few days, together with the priests of the seminary, the generous hospitality offered them by the Jesuit Fathers.  In order not to be too long a burden to their hosts, they caused to be prepared for their lodgment the episcopal palace which had been begun by Mgr. de Saint-Vallier.  They removed there on December 4th following.  The scholars had been divided between the episcopal palace and the house of the Jesuits.  “The prelate,” says Sister Juchereau, “bore this affliction with perfect submission to the will of God, without uttering any complaint.  It must have been, however, the more grievous to him since it was he who had planned and erected the seminary, since he was its father and founder, and since he saw ruined in one day the fruit of his labour of many years.”  Thanks to the generosity of the king, who granted aid to the extent of four thousand francs, it was possible to begin rebuilding at once.  But the trials of the priests were not yet over.  “On the first day of October, 1705,” relate the annals of the Ursulines, “the priests of the seminary were afflicted by a second fire through the fault of a carpenter who was preparing some boards in one end of the new building.  While smoking he let fall in a room full of shavings some sparks from his pipe.  The fire being kindled, it consumed in less than an hour all the upper storeys.  Only those which were vaulted were preserved.  The priests estimate that they have lost more in this second fire than in the first.  They are lodged below, waiting till Providence furnishes them with the means to restore their building.  The Jesuit Fathers have acted this time with the same charity and cordiality as on the former occasion.  Mgr.  L’Ancien[10] and M. Petit have lived nearly two months in their infirmary.  This rest has been very profitable to Monseigneur, for he has come forth from it quite rejuvenated.  May the Lord grant that he be preserved a long time yet for the glory of God and the good of Canada!”