Tomorrow Pauline and I head East to the province of Quebec. I will be particularly interested in visiting the 'Heights of Abraham' where. on September 13th,1759, British forces led by General James Wolfe defeated a French army under The Marquis Montcalm.
I have heard the English version of the battle many times and in 2004 visited the tomb of General Wolfe in Greenwich, London.
On Wednesday I expect to receive the French account from the guides who patrol the old City of Quebec.
No doubt history will be reconstructed but one thing remains unchangeable; the victory belonged to the English.
From that moment on the Canadian story was written in English rather than French.
In 1759, England was experiencing a mighty spiritual awakening under the preaching of George Whitfield and the Wesley Brothers.
Within the space of a decade the waves of this revival burst on Canada's shores and the new bilingualism became the language of the Gospel instead of the rubric of French Catholicism.
To a greater or lesser degree it has continued to this day.
We have James Wolfe to thank for it.
Jubilate.
Ian
P.S. The breakfast bar will be closed for the next ten days!
