A look at the writings of Robert Sellar, founder of The Gleaner

In the most recent edition of Au fil du temps, published by the Société d’histoire et de généalogie de Salaberry, is an article by André LaRose in which he takes an extensive look at the writings of Robert Sellar, who founded The Gleaner 155 years ago. The article, entitled Robert Sellar et l’histoire du District of Beauharnois  dwells specifically on this Scottish immigrant's historical writing which is collected in a 584 page book titled The History of the County of Huntingdon and of the Seigniories of Chateauguay and Beauharnois. This book was republished in 1963, and again in 1975 in honour of Huntingdon's 150th anniversary. It was then published once more in 1995 by the Chateauguay Valley Historical Society (CVHS). "Here is a work that is still read and consulted to this day which is why it and its author should be made known to the French speaking public," writes André LaRose. Among other things, LaRose deals with the recognition achieved by Sellar's work which no doubt constitutes an historic reference point for the Haut-Saint-Laurent. He also talks about the author who founded The Gleaner in Toronto in 1868. He describes the kind of man Robert Sellar was and his political views, which were contrary to the aspirations of the French Canadian Patriotes. "Sellar's history is more than just a simple tribute to the Chateauguay Valley pioneers; it is an appeal for the legitimacy of the Anglo-Protestant presence in rural Quebec, even though he could already see signs that this presence was in decline," writes LaRose. The journal Au fil du temps is for sale at Librairie Boyer in Valleyfield, or from the SHGS, at 80, rue Saint-Thomas, Salaberry-de-Valleyfield.