IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (^.^-3) ^^ f/^ ids 7i 1.0 I.I 1.25 i^ IIIM ~ 1^ 1^ 12.5 2.2 1.8 1.4 II 1.6 y] ^/# / V /> M '/ Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 '*^'^%^'^i>;^ ^ ^^^ ^ k^ % CIHM/ICMH Microfiche Series. CIHM/ICMH Collection de Microfiches. Canadian Institute for Historical ^': croreproductions / Institut Canadian de microreproductions historiques iV © 1985 Tachnical and Bibliographic Notas/Notes tachniquas at bibliographiquas The Institute has attempted to obtain the bast original copy available for filming. Features of this copy which may be bibliographically unique, which may alter any of the images in the reproduction, or which may significantly change the usual method of filming, are checked below. D D D D D D D D D Coloured covers/ Couverture de couleur Covers damaged/ Couverture endommag^e Covers restored and/or laminated/ Couverture restauria et/ou pelliculAe Cover title missing/ Le titre de couverture manque Coloured maps/ - Cartes gdographiquas en couleur Coloured ink (i.e. other than blue or black)/ Encre de couleur (i.e. autre que bleue ou noire) Coloured plates and/or illustrations/ Planches et/ou illustrations en couleur Bound with other material/ Ralii avac d'autras documents Tight binding may cause shadows or distortion along interior margin/ Lareliure serrie peut causer de I'ombre ou de la distorsion le long de la marge intdrieure Blank leaves added during restoration may appear within the text. Whenever possible, these have been omitted from filming/ II se peut que cert&tnes pages blanches ajoutias lors d'une restauration apparaissent dans le texte, mais, lorsque cela itait possible, ces pages n'ont pas it6 fiimias. L'Institut a microfilm^ la meilleur exemplaire qu'il lui a M possible de se procurer. Las details de cet exemplaire qui sont peut-dtre uniques du point de vue bibliographique, qui peuvent modifier une image reproduite, ou qui peuvent exiger una modification dans la mithode normale de filmage sont indiqu6s ci-dessous. n~| Coloured pages/ D D D n Pages de couleur Pages damaged/ Pages endommagdas Pages restored and/oi Pages restaur^es et/ou peiliculies Pages discoloured, stained or foxei Pages ddcolories, tachet^es ou piqu^es Pages detached/ Pages d^tachies Showthrough/ Transparence I — I Pages damaged/ r~~| Pages restored and/or laminated/ I I Pages discoloured, stained or foxed/ I I Pages detached/ r~7] Showthrough/ 8 O f s o Quality of print varies/ Quality indgale He ('impression Uicludes supplementary material/ Comprend du materiel supplementaire Only edition available/ Seule Edition disponible Pages wholly or partially obscured by errata slips, tissues, etc., have been refilmed to ensure the best possible image/ Les pages totalement ou partieilement obscurcies par un feuillet d'errata, une pelure, etc., ont dt^ filmdes A nouveau de faqon d obtenir la meilleure image possible. T 8 T VI IV d ei b( ri re nr El Additional comments:/ Commentaires supplimentaires; V»-, ious pagings. Wrinkled pages may film slightly out of focus. This item is filmed at the reduction ratio checked below/ Ce document est filmd au taux de reduction indl^uA ci-dessous. 10X 14X 1CX 22X 26X 30X y 12X 16X 20X 24X 28X 32X The copy filmed here has been reproduced thanks to the generosity of: Bibiiothdque nationale du Quebec L'exempiaire filmA fut reproduit grAce h la g6n6rosit6 de: Bibliothdque nationale du Qu6be The images appearing here are the best quality possible considering the condition and legibility of the original copy and in keeping with the filrr.lrg contract specifications. Original copies In printed paper covers are filmed beginning with the front cover and ending on the last page with a printed or illustrated Impres- sion, or the back cover when appropriate. All other original copies are filmed beginning on the first page with a printed or illustrated impres- sion, and ending on the last paqe with a printed or illustrated impression. The last recorded frame on each microfiche shall "contain the symbol -^ (meaning "CON- TINUED"), or the symbol V (meaning "END"), whichever applies. IVIaps, plates, charts, etc., may be filmed at different reduction ratios. Those too large to be entirely included in one exposure are filmed beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to right and top to bottom, as many frames as required. The following diagrams illustrate the method: Les images suivantes ont 6t6 reproduites avec le plus grand soin, compte tenu de la condition et de la nettetd de rexemplaire film6, et en conformit6 avec les conditions du contrat de fllmage. Les exempiaires originaux dont la couverture en papier est Imprim6e sont film6s en commen^ant par le premier plat et en terminant soit par la dernidre page qui comporte une empreinte d'impression ou d'iiiustration, soit par le second plat, salon Je cas. Tous Ias autres exempiaires originaux sont filmds p .ommenpant par la premidre page qui comporte une empreinte d'impression ou d'iiiustration et en terminant par la dernidre page qui <:omporte une telle empreinte. Un des symboies suivants apparaftra sur la dernidre image de cheque microfiche, seion le cas: le symboie — ^ signlfie "A SUIVRE", le symbols V signlfie "FIN". Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent dtre filmte d des taux de reduction diff6rents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour §tre reproduit en un seul ciich6. ii est film6 A partir He i'angle sup6rieur gauche, de gauche d drolte, et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images ndcessaire. Les diagrammes suivants iliustrent la m6thode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 ^U i|IJIflP.lipiHUiW|.U ,nvtt ■r h' 'Tcir -4 y 1^ @ © .^- s .\\V ® \Lf\(BA S/^,, OoS TORY AN® ]PM.iESIS:^^T STATE 0:F TJHIIS ISI^iX^'jn: AK SCTTV ©? o mi(BWW2.:mm.ji /"i ^ ^ i?55 1^ br' 53 o: '3< ^ vy (tO liiy .. ^-^''"■■■■•"■^CT'iarmwMMW i i wrnm i tl r^.:A:m- imLiiim«i W^WB^I^PI ■*— "!«l^iP»« OMV -r^ B ^ i i i «.»v ,« ;i .•«s-*. IIOCHELAGA DEPICTA : OR, A NEW PICTURE OF MONTREAL, EMBRACING THE EARLY HISTORY AND PRESENT STATE OF THE CITY AND ISLAND OF MONTREAL ; llltifltratrt) iis 0umetoufi • • » • • • 'V-i MONTREAL: PUBLISHED BY R. W. 8. MAPS47, NOTRE DAME STREET. WDCCCXLVI. •-y*?^- ^^"f^mi^v^mmtm ,#^ M \ • I* • .' • " .♦»• .»■* « • • • o • » • .« * ' •• , i . , > . >• ••» • ••» • • ■ • t t * • « <. •,'• ' ,••••1 « * • • • • » ^Ic^lOA r^ B.Q.R. no: aoiatt •j PREFACE TO THE ADDENDA. / The numerous and rapid improvements which have taken place in the City since the first publication of ** The Picture of Montreal," are such as to ren- der that work, as it M'as then issued, but a very im- prfect delineation of the present state and appear* ance of the Capital of British America. Such being the case, the Publisher of the present edition of the work was induced to collect and arrange a brief description of the various Public Buildings that have been since erected, or are now in progress, and also to add some valuable information in the shape of Tables and Guides, together with a New Map of the City, all of which will be found very con\ snient by strangers and visiters. The price of the work has also been reduced one- half, and when to this it is added, that it may be con- sidered a perfect Picture of, and Guide to Montreal, the Publisher ventures to hope that the work will meet with a liberal share of public patronage. Montreal, May, 1846. 3324(> ^MllbaittM^^lMt^iM* •^flpV^^nnywil li>i -- r w- I t ADDENDA NEW WESLEYAN CHURCH, GREAT ST. JAMES STREET. This spacious and beautiful edifice, situated in one of the best streets, and in the very heart of the city, is justly considered one of the greatest architectural or- naments of Montreal, and is not surpassed on the North American Continent. I. is vested in trustees for the use of the ministers in connection with, and appointed by, the British Con- ference of Wesleyan ItL^thodists, and is a standing monument of the we .1 and liberality of the society by whom it has been erected. The size of the church NEW WBI6LBYAN CHURCH. is, in outside measurement, 1 1 1 i feet by 73. The style throughout is of the florid Gothic architecture of the I4th century, and every part is in admirable keep- ing. The front presents a gable to the street, divided into three compartments, separated by massive but- tresses with water-tables and mouldings, the whole surmounted with two lofty pinnacles, terminating in beautifully carved finials. Three Gothic doors, sur- mounted with mouldings and finials, open into a spa- cious lobby, and a large window, twenty-eight feet high, with one on each side of smaller dimension^*, complete the front of the building ; the muUions and tracery of the centre window being eminently beau- tiful. The arrang'iment of the interior is unique and novel. The gallery is a perfect but irregular oval ; the organ gallery, being the smallest part, occupies the space over the entrance lobby, so that the whole of the interior is available for the accommodation of the congregation. The larger end of the gallery con- tains a tier of pews, thirteen in number ; and between the lower and upper floor of the gallery, at this end, three vestries are suspended, most conveniently acces- sible from the rear of the church. The lower part of the church is beautifully fitted up, the centre pews are uniformly lined with crimson damask, and nearly twice the usual width. The aisles and communion are carpeted with Brussels carpeting of a rich Gothic pattern. The pulpit de- serves special notice ; it is large and square, six feet by eight in size, and is made of the finest Spanish mahogany, beautifully carved in Gothic style, with projecting buttresses and carved finials of a very su- ' 'J n ' ' 1 }n TRINITY EPISCOPAL CHURCn. 7 perior character. From the pulpit a perfect view is obtained of every accessible corner of the entire building ; and underneath the pulpit is a convenient vestry or robing-room for the minister. In the basement story of the church is a spacious school-room, with five class-rooms or vestries adjoin- ing. The whole premises have been erected at a cost of not less than $50,000. The same trustees are erecting a new church in Griffintown (in lieu of the one lately destroyed by fire) from a design by the same architect, G. L. Dickinson, Esq. It is also in the Gothic style, surmounted by a tower, and is thought by many to be equal, if not su- perior to that we have described. They also have tinished and opened, during the past year, one in the Grecian style of architecture, in th*? Quebec Suburbs ; the size of the two latter being 85 by 60 feet. The number of communicants in the Wesleyan So- ciety, in Montreal, is about 800, and the regular con- gregation not less than 3000. I TRINITY EPISCOPAL CHAPEL, ST. PAUL STREET. This very elegant Chapel, which was built at tho sole expense of the late Major Christie, is in the Gothic style of architecture. Its size is 75 bv 44 feet, and it is capable of seating about 800 persons. The interior is chastely and appropriately fitted up, and is generally much admired. The present incumbent is the Rev. Mark Willoughby, and the assistant Minister the Rev. D. B. Parnther. The Chapel was opened for Public Worship in 1840. 8 ST. GEORGE S EPISCOPAL CHAPEL. ST. GEORGE'S EPISCOPAL CHAPEL, ST. JOSEPH STREET. This is a very neat building, designed after the style prevalent in England in the I3th century, designated by Britten the sacred architecture of the second era. The interior is fitted up in a very chaste and elegant manner, the altar piece especially, being generally considered jieculiarly elegant and appropriate, as are also the Communion Table and chairs. The size of the Chapel is 100 feet by 56 feet, and it will seat over 1000 person The present Pastor is the Rev. W. T. Leach. It was opened in 1844, and was erected under the superintendence of W. Footner, Esq., Archi- tect, at a cost of about £2100. \ } h s ii 1 n ST. Thomas's episcopal chapel. 9 I ST. ANN'S EPISCOPAL CHAPEL, GRIFFINTOWN, Is a design in the same style as St. George's, but of less pretension, havii ^ no tower, the west entrance con- sists of a lofty gable flanked by buttresses and surmount- od l)y an octagon turret, from which rises a spire 80 feet high. The interior is arranged in a very convenient manner, and the seats are partly free. The size is 100 feet by 55 feet, and it is calculated to seat about 1200 persons. The Church was erected under the superintendence of Mr. Footner, at a cost of about j£l400, and was opened in 1845. 1- ST. THOMAS'S EPISCOPAL CHAPEL, ST. MARY STREET. This building, which was designed in a Severe Greek Style, and which has been very much altered and add. cd to, is the property of Thomas Molson, Esquire, by whom it was erected and endowed. It is of very chaste character as regards the original, but the additional works, as the Galleries, Tower, and Spire, &;c., have destroyed the simplicity of the design, and given to it an anomalous appearance at variance with good taste. The interior is well fitted up, there is a handsome P'lpit, the base of which forms the Altar Tal)let, with the decalogue, &;c., inscribed in gold. The old English writing on conspicuous parts of the Church is here very happily restored, and on all sides may be seen beautifully selected texts from the Bible, blend- ing very well with the chaste ornament of the Chapel. The Rev. Mr. Bancroft is the present officiating mini.ster of this Chapel. / 10 FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH. FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH. RADIGOND STREET. This Church, which is under the pastoral care of the Rev. II. Wilkes, is in the Anglo-Italian style of Architecture. The length, including the projection of the base of the tower, is 89 feet, and the width 65 feet. The tower, above the roof of the Church, is o» an Octangular form, ornamented with eight Doric Columns, and its entire height is 160 feet. The Church is calculated to seat ovc 1000 persons, and was erected under the supervisio^ of John Wells, Esq., Architect. It is expected to be opened for public ser- vice early in the present summer, 1846. UNITARIAN CHUBCH. 11 1 is o' )oric The and Esq., : ser. SECOND CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, GOSFORD STREET. This Church, which was also erected from designs {furnished by Mr. Wells, is in the pure Grecian stylo )f Architecture. The length of the building, includ. Ing the Portico, is 78 feet ; the width 50 feet, and the leight from the pavement to the apex of the pediment )pposite the centre of the front, is 50 feet. The Por- tico has six Ionic Columns 26 feet 6 inches in height. i'he Church is under the charge of the Rev. Doctor Carruthers, and is calculated to seat 900 persons. It iras opened in 1845. I, UNITARIAN CHURCH, LAOAUCHETIERE STREET. The length of this building is 56 feet, including a r|Portico of six Gi an Doric Columns, and the width 48 feet. The height of the Columns is 18 feet 6 12 ST. rATKICK S < lirH< II. inches, and the entire liei<^lit of the front lioni the imvement toth(5 upex of the j)e«liinent is 1:3 feet. The Church will seat about .'300 persons, and is under the pastoral care of the Rev. VV. Cordi.er. It was opened in iMo. JSr. PATRICK'S (IRISH ROMAN CATHOLIC) CHURCH. LAGAUCHETIERE STREET. This large and imposing edifice is built in the Cothic style of Architecture of the 15th century. It stands upon a very commanding site, and will, when finished, be one of the mos* striking objects visible ui)on approaching the city. I THR NEW MARKET. 13 The extreme length is 240 feet, the breadth 90 feet, and the height of the spire will be 225 feet. The interioc Is to be f Ued up in a very superior manner, uiid it is estimifed that there will be sufficient room to seat about 7000 persons. It is expected to be opened for public worship during the present, or early in the ensuing year. THE NEW MARKET, ST. PAUL STREET. This nr.agnificent pile of building, which is purely (irecian Doric in style, and built entirely of stone, is erected on the river bank, occupying the space between St. Paul and Commissioners Streets, upon which for- merly stood the Masonic Hall, Theatre, and some buildings ot the early French times. Premiums hav- ing been offered for designs for the work, numerou.s very handsome ones were submitted ; and the one trom which the building has been erected, which is by Mr. Footncr, was finally selected. After the contracts were entered into, and the excavations commenced, it was ascertained that the ground was not sufficient to support the intended structure. It was, therefore, on B I f0 it 14 THE NEW MARKET. the recomirendation of the architsct, ordered that an artificial foundation of concrete should be prepared : this the architect caused to be done in such a satisfac- tory manner that no settling down has been ob- served. The lower portion of the building, fronting on Com- missioners Street, will be appropriated for a Fruit and Vegetable Market, Pork Market, Poultry and Egg Market, Grain Market, and Skin Market. The second, or St. Paul Street floor, wdl be entirely appropriated to the Butcher's or Meat Market, excepting the wings, which are to be used for the Police Establishment, and residence of the Clerk of the Market. The centre will be used as a vestibule, and approach by two grand staircases to a circular gallery, and from them to the halls, each of which with their ante-rooms are 230 feet long ; from the gallery there is a further ascent to a lofty circular hall and dome, forty-eight feet in diameter. The hall, lighted by 16 largo circular-headed windows, will command one ofthe best views to be obtained in the city or its environs. Surmounting the dome is a circular temple or belvidere, raised on a stylobate, with eight Corinthian columns, with appropriate entablatures. The whole of the roof and dome is covered with fine tin. The two grand porticos, one on St. Paul and the other on Commissioners Street, are of fine proportions, from the Propylea at Athens : the indented or porticos in antis at the east and west ends, are from the same example. The whole of the columns are of cast- metal and fluted. Upon the whole, travellers will seek in vain for a more magnificent, chaste, substantial, and convenient Market, combining as it does all necessary requirements without useless ornament. I'ARUAMLNT HOUSE. 15 ?g sary ;* PARLIAMENT HOUSE, lOHMKKLY ST. ANn's MARKET. Upon the rcinoval of the seat •)f Government from Kingston to Montreal, it l)ecame necessary to providr a suhable l)uil(ling for the nneetings of the Legislative Council and Assembly. The St. Ann's Market being considered the most eligible edifice for that purpose then in existence, was accordingly leased by th(5 cor- poration to the Government, and such alterations have- been made as to render It, upon the whole, a tolerably commodious Parliament House. The lower story is occupied in the centre by a pub- lic hall, and corridors running the entire length of the building, and fifteen feet wide, upon each side of which are the offices of the various clerks to the Council and Assembly, and also the Committee and refreshment rooms. The next story is occupied in the centre by a lobby and refreshment rooms, and the rooms devoted to the post-office, and Sergeant at Arms. In the east wing is the Chamber of the Legislative Council, which is 66 by 45 feet, and is very handsomely fitted up. The space open to the public will seat from two to three hundred ladies, and about as many gentlemen can find room to stand. Immediately in rear of the Council Chamber are the rooms of the speaker, and clerk of the council, and also the wardrobe ; behind those, the extremity of this wing is devoted to the Library of the Council, which is 37 by 45 feet. In the west wing is the Chamber of the Legislative Assembly, the size of which is 90 by 45 leet. The galleries, which are open to the public, will seat about 500 persons ; and there is also a small spac* i' 16 CITY BANK. reserved exclusively for ladies, in Iroiit of that on the right side, the corresponding space on the left side being occupied by the reporters for the press. Be- hind the chair, on each side, are spaces reserved for members of the Council ; and the extreme vilest end of this wing is devoted to the rooms" of the speaker and clerk, the wardrobe and the smoking room. The furniture and decorations of the Assembly Chamber are in very good taste, and it is now lighted up with the bude light, the same as the English House of Commons. The Library of the Assembly is in the third story, directly above the lobby and refreshment rooms. The alterations made in this building to render it suitable for its present use, were carried out under the directions of George Brown, Esq., architect, and it is generally admitted that they are all that could be ex- pected, considering the basis to which he was re- stricted. CITY BANK, PLACE d'aRMES. This convenient and elegant edifice, which was BANK OP BRITISH NORTH AMERICA. 17 erected under the superintendence of Messrs. M'Far- lane and Brown, Architects, is in the Grecian style of architecture. The lengfh fronting on the square is 70 foet, with two wing walls of 15 feet each. The depth of 50 feet, and the height of the front froni the pavement, is 48 feet. Its erection has added very much to tho appearance of the Place D'Armcs, which will be still farther increased when the New Mon- treal Bank, which adjoins it, is completed. It was opened for public use in 1845. -D. BANK OF BRITISH NORTH AMERICA, GREAT ST. JAMES STREET. The front of this building consists of three divisions, or members in height ; a Rustic Basement, a central portion of one story faced with a series of eight | co- lumns of the Grecian Doric order — 12 feet 6 inches high, with bold Entablature. The central portion of the upper two stories is faced with a series of 4 Ionic f columns 24 feet high, with pilasters, and crowned with a bold entablature and pediment. The height is le COMMERCIAL BANK< 50 feet from the pavement ; the building is 72 foot fiont, 61 feet deep ; it was opened to the public in 1844. The architect who superintended the building, was Mr. G. L. Dickinson. BANK OF MONTREAL, PLACE d'aRMES. The order of architecture adopted for this Bank (which is now in course of erection), is the Corin- thian. The front will have a portico of 6 columns 40 feet in height, the entire height, from the pavement to the apex of the pediment of the portico, being 63 feet 6 inches. The length is 93 feet fronting on the Place D'Armes, and the depth 63 feet. The design was furnished by Mr. Wells, and the building if ex- pected to be completed in 1847. COMMERCIAL BANK, GREAT ST. JAMES STREET. This commodious and eleganl building, which ad- joins the Odd Fellows' Hall, is a good specimen ol the CANADA BAPTIST COLLEGE. 19 (irer.ian Doric style of architecture ; it was opened in 1845. MONTREAL INSURANCE COMPANY AND PR^^WIDENT AND SAVINGS' BANK, GREAT ST. JAMES STREET. This building, which occupies the site of the old Wesloyan chapel, is in the Grecian style of architec- ture, with Doric fluted columns. The lower story fronting on Great St. James Street, is divided into two handsome shops, in rear of which are the apartments used for the Savings' Bank. The upper stories are appropriated to the Insurance Company. It was opened in April, 1846. CANADA BAPTIST COLLEGE. The first stone of this building, which was designed by J. H. Springle, Esq., architect, was laid on the 7th of May, 1845, by John Try, Esq., (a liberal con- tributor towards its erection,) and it will be completed in the month of August, of the present year (1846) ; it 20 CANADA BAPTIST COLLEGE. is situated in the Western part of St. Antoine Suburb, on one of the most commanding sites in that vicinity, and will be seen to great advantage from all the South eastern parts of the city. The building is 120 feet long, and 57 feet wide, (exclusive of the portico which projects 13 fi-et, and is recessed into the build- ing 3 feet 6 inches,) it is 4 stories high, including the basement story. The principal front is finished with Ionic pilasters, 6 of which are insulated and form the portico. The windows and doors of the principal story are finished with pilasters, trusses, and cornices, and all the other windov^'s with plain pilasters. On the principal floor is the College Hall, 52 x 25, and 14 feet 6 inches high, with Library, class rooms, and complete suites of apartments for the Principal of the College. The basement contains the College dining room, 36 >^ 20, with kitchens, laundries, bath rooms, and every other convenience of the most complete description. The second and third stories contain separate studies, and bed-rooms for 32 students, with additional bed-rooms for visitors. The whole cost of the building, exclusive of the ground, will be £7,000, and will be defrayed by voluntary contribution. This College is erected for the education of young men for the Christian ministry, in the Baptist Deno- mination, and for general education. Rev. J. M. Cramp, A. M., President, and Professor of Theology, Ecclesiastical History, and Moral Science. Rev. F. Bosworth, A. M., Professor of Oriental Languages, Classical Literature, and Natural Sci- ence. is- -Ji rji OUl» FELLOWS HALL. 21 MONTREAL HIGH SCHOOL, LAGAUCIIETIERE STREET. This edifice, which has been recently built under the direction of Jolin Ostell, Esq., Architect, is another pr ' of the rapid strides of improvement in the City. The want of a school where the higher branches of education should be taught had been long felt and admitted, when about two years since, a number of gentlemen united their efforts to procure the establish- ment of such an institution. In carrying out their views they were fortunate enough to secure the services of the Rev. G. F. Simp- son, the Rector of the School, and several able assis- tants, and the result has been such as to meet the ex- pectations of its most sanguine friends. The length of the building (which is in the Domestic, approaching to the Tudor style of architecture) is 180 feet, and the depth 60 feet; the Lecture and Examination Hall is 60 feet square, and there are accommodations for between three and four hundred pupils. The session is divided into two terms, viz., from the third Monday in August to Christmas, and from Christmas to the second Satur- day in July. The yearly payments for pupils in the higher branches is £10, and for those in the prepara- tory branches £6. ODD FELLOWS' H ALL, GREAT ST. JAMES STREET. This building, which was erected from designs furnished by Messrs. M'Farlane and Brown, Architects, is in the Grecian style of architecture. The lower story ft-onting on Great St. James Street is divided into handsome shops. On the next floor is the Ball 22 DONEOANl's NKW IIOTKL. Room, which is 65 by 34 loot, and ir> foot Mffh, and also two smaller rooms. Tho third story is dividod into three supper rooms, and the upper one is appropriated lor the Odd Fellows' Hall, whicli is 05 by 25 feet, beautifully and appropriately fitted up. The building altogether is highly creditable to the Society whoso name it bears, and may be justly considered an orna- ment to the City. It was opened in 1845. pul H. Bril Dal mei it DONEGANI'S NEW HOTEL, OOKNER OF NOTRE DAME AND B0N8EC0URS STREETS. This sj/londid building, which has just been opened by Mr. J. 31. Oonegani, is situated on the corner of Notre Dame and Bonsecours streets, one of the most pleasant and eligible sites in the city. Its accommo- dations are not surpassed by any Hotel upon the Ame- rican continent, and in point of extent, it is equal, if not superior, to the celebrated " Astor House" in New ?upei York. '"^i DALEY S HOTEL. 2i\ DALEY'S HOTEL, FORMERLY RASCO'S, ST. PAUL STREET. This house, which is so well known to the travelling public, has recently passed into the hands of Mr. J. H. Daley, who is favorably known as the host of the British North Amo'"*"an Hotel, at Kingston. Mr. Daley has made, or •' ibout making, many improve- ments in the house, which, when finished, will render it equal to any other establishment in the city. The other principal Hotels in the city arc, Adelphi Hotel, (W. R. Orr,) Place D'Armes. Commercial Hotel, (W. C. Moore,)Commissionors St. Exchange Coflee House, (M. J. Doolittle,) St. Paul St. Fellers' Hotel, (E. Fellers,) 231 St. Paul Street. Gould's Hotel, (Gould,) College Street. Grant's Hotel, (John Grant,) St. Henry Street. King's Arms, (John Mack,) St. Charles Street. Orr's Hotel, (J. Orr,) 90 Notre Dame Street. Ottawa Hotel, (G. Hall,) Great St. James Str.-et. Sword's Hotel, (M. O'Neil,) 2 St. Vincent Street. ;Tetu's Hotel, (Tetu,) Great St. James Street. Victoria Hotel, (S. L. Lynch,) Place D' Amies. 21. STANDS FOR CABS, CALECIIES, iVtC. 'UOMJi)U liiiiojiip ■{(II q.iHH 'HiioHjad M M CO ■« o o o >a n wo M ^ ^ ff» M M M o o o o n (e ■SUOM.IUl DM J, ; o w ■««> 0> Oc) 'U()M.i,nt "o" c-'S '^ I (O 9> O O O i~ >. Ui ■o 1> n > it i-t k. •n a >n o r. «-* W-* s , i; b 3 3 o< O u m j: '/I 3 tM ;/i o •UOBJJtl pMIOjIip pit i|>"M _^ ^( ^ ^1 CK O O O © o o 'KlIOKJOU iKIilJJ, •uiiOHjad (N «C O O OW 1^ w (^ oo >- 3 ^ > U « 3 .. O 7J ^ 3 4^ 'uusjad Ititioiiip -pu l|.>Il',^ 'suosjod QD O O O (00(0 o o o (0 0(0 e» C<5 M 8uos.i3d Niotoo 0(0 ^''^iL ', nebcin \ N«« 'uoajvid I "W^® ouo MO (O (» rri — C4 CO O (O .. o boc • • • K'3 : ■ I 2 as 5 !* 5.2.2'" (J ._ .. a B to * t: .3 ■ iH • a m O u a k. u'S Su,'/3H 3 O v >. u <" 4> . " a •■* 1 "S <-• ►, '/I I, * « S 3 "^ '»1 •- CaL o cu= If •a .a<^ «.- Uj I L«8 OJ ■5 .*- o -— O L^ k- 3 !^ 5x> o i. - „ui 3 -, C M o ** ^2 a 4> 3 a a 09 5" a «i 611 _^ -i^ CO at; .^*i =: »st3 •- £ o « " a ss ^ ■-• K o w I aj O O e •* ii~ "To- °s -^ t/l k- t2 *! M * i; 2 " I 2 « ® gja a r- 3 CJ W •'^ 5 •=" S « .„^ a a a !!: « rt OS M 015 60 - '-"'^ 3 c 2 u a •J a 'S "o D.a 09 O 0) *" a) -2 « a o a.2 4) J as .-.■- ^ u ^ ■^ ^ '^ QJ O -3 ^ S — U '^o (u a a o « A-O 4) o ^ u S 3 >^ u (j.a 4) 4> "^ •-• : 1: '^ 2 o « lis a a a .2 "." ■>■>'> to TS "C •-•C< CO STANDS FOR CABS, CALECHES, &c. No. 1. — McGill Street, from south-east corner of Great St. James Street to Grey Nuns Street. No. 2. — Dulhousio Square, from the vvieket gatp leading into the Barracks, north-east termination of St. Paul Street, to the street leadinjf down to Artillery Barracks. No. 3. — Comniissionera Street, from the New Market to St. Joseph Street. No. 4 — South.east side of Custom House Square. No. 5. — Craig Street, from St. Gabriel Street to St. Antoino Street. No. 6. — The south-east side of Papincau Square. >>> -^ iia i'S/f hi -> Boi Cli ''^. Ch Cil :| Cil ('it fiv CIr CIc .'7." Col Coi 1 Cm A Col :•, Coi (iUlDE TO PUBLIC OFFICES IN THE CITY. ♦25 B .•o 00 O C ■>•> P'p'P into tho niic street to Si. lAntoino OUIDE TO PUBLIC OFFICES IN THE CITY. Ailjulaiit Gcncrnl of the Forces, (58, St. Lewis Street. Adjutant (iiMieral of Militia, 62, Notio Dumc Street. Aiturncyp General, U. and L. Canada, Government House. Jlanaek Master, Water Street, near the Harracks. Bankrupt dnnt, Court Flonse, Notre; Dame Street. IJiiard of WorkH, '1.5, Notre Dame Street. Cliiif Kiiirineer l'"ire Dopartment, City IlalU Cliiif I.I' Polieo, Foot of tlie New Market. I'ily Surveyor, City Hall, Notre Dame Slrcct- City Treasurer, Ciiy Hall, Notre Damo Street, ('ity Clerk, City Hall, Notre Dame Street, (avil Secretary, <]iovernmcnt House, Notre Dame Street. Clerk of Crown in Chancery, 60, Notre Dame Street. Clerk of the Peace, Court House, Notre Dai in Street. Collector of Customs, C'uRtom House, St. Paul Street. Coiuniissary General, .'iS, Notre Dame Street. Conunissioner of Police, Court House. Commissioner of Customs, Government House. Commissioners for improving the Harbour of Montreal, Commis- sioners Street, near Custom House Square. Coroner of the District, Auldjo's Buildings, St. Paul Street County Registrar, 34, Little St. James Street. Crown Lands Commissioner, 55, Notre Dame Street. District Inspector of Licences, 15, St. Alexander Street. Emigrant Agent, Commissioners Street, facing Steamboat Wharf. Engineer Department, Stewart's Buildings, St. Mary Street. Executive Council, Government House. Harbour Master, Commissioners Streett near Custom House Square. Indian Department, Government House and corner of Hospital and St. John Streets. Inspector General of Public Accounts, Government House. Inspector of Weights and Measures, 56, M'Gdl Street. Inspector General of Hospitals, 4, Cornwall Terrace. Inspector of Anatomy, City Hall, Notre Dame Street. Inspectors of Pot and Pearl Ashes, College Street. Inspector of J^lour, 28, St. Joseph Street. Mayor of the City, City Hall, Notre Dame Street. Military Secretary, Dalhousie Square. Ordnance Department, Water, near St. Claude Street. Post Office, 15, Groat St. James Street. Printers io the Queen, St. Thcrcse Street. Prothonotary, Court House, Notre Dumo Street. Provincial Secretary, Government House. Provincial Registrar, Government House. Aiuarter Master General, Durham Place, St. Lewis Street. Receiver General, Govt. House, Notre Dame St., left wiug. 1 26 U0UTE8 AND DISTANCES FUOM MONTREAL. Sheriff, Court House, Notre Damo Street. SiipL-rintcndoDt of Education, corner Noire Dame and St. Clan- dins Streets. Town Major, 03, St. Lewis Street. Translator of Laws, 60, Notre Dame Street. Turnpike Trustees, Commissioners Street, near Custom House Square. Trinity Houee, Commissioners Street, nearCu.'tom House Square. Wharfinger, 67, Commissioners Street. STATISTICS OF THE CITY OF MONTREAL, ACCORDING TO THE CENSUS OF 1844. Total Population 44,093 French Canadians 19,041 British Canadians 8,SG.3 English Irish and Scotch 15,468 United States and other places 721 Proprietors of Property 1,607 Houses Inliabitcd 6,iJ52 Estimated Population (1846) 50,000 pr an ill' ROUTES & DISTANCES FROM MONTREAL. Montreal to Quebec 180 Miles, by Steamboat I: '{ TO CANADA WEST. Miles. Montreal to Lachine 9 by Stage Lachine to Cascades 24 by Steamboat Cascades to Coteau du Lac 16 by Stage Coteau du Lac to Cornwall 41 by Steamboat Cornwall to Dickinson's Landing, (Canal) 12 by Steamboat Dickinson's Landing to_Kingston 110 by Steamboat Kingston to Cobourg..." 110 by Steamboat Cobourg to Port Hope .... 7 by .Steamboat Port Hope to Toronto 60 by Steamboat Toronto to Hamilton 45 by Steamboat Toronto to Niagara 35 by Steamboat Niagara to the Falls 14 by Stage ROUTK TO BOSTON OU NEW'-VORK. 27 The completion of the St. Lawrence Canals will probably cause the entire distance between Kingston and Montreal to be performed in Steam boats, commenc- ing with the present season, 1846. OTTAWA ROUTE, Miles. Lach'ne to Carillon 50 by Steamboat Carillon to Grcnville 12 by Stage Grcnville to Bytown 60 by Steamboat Bytown to Kingston 120 by Steamboat From Montreal to the Caledonia Springs. ...77 Miles by Steamboat and Stage. ROUTE TO BOSTON OR NEW- YORK. Miles. Montreal to Laprairie ., 9 by Steamboat Laprairie to St. Johns 15 by Railroad St. Johns to Burlington 75 by Steamboat Burlington to Whitehall 75 by Steamboat WhitehalPo Albany 7? by Stage Whitehall to Saratoga 39 by Stage Saratoga to Troy 31 by Railroad Troy to Albany 6 by Stage or B Albany to New- York 160 by Steamboat Bnrlington to Boston 212 by Stage J. C. BECKET, PRINTER. TO HIS EXCELLENCY / SIR JOHN COLBORNE, K.G.C. &c. &c. GOVERNOR-GENERAL OP BRITISH NORTH AMERICA, TO "WHOSE WISE, EQUITABLE, AND PROMPT ADMINISTRATION, IN A SEASON OF PECUI.IAR OANGEB, THE PROVINCE OF LOWER CANADA IS UNDER CHEAT AND LASTING OBLIGATIONS, C8i0 l^^olume 18, WITH PERMISSION, MOST RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED, Br HIS OSLJOED AND OBEDIENT SERVANT, W. GREIG. Montreal, Itt June, BEAL, } , 1839. 5 i 9^mi vma PREFACE. I\ a conversation with n»y friond, the Publisher, on th(^ former and present state of Canada, he suggested the idea of tlie following work, and requested me to under- take it. I did not then see the possibility of doing so ; but afterwards a temporary cessation of part of my ministerial duties, afforded me an increase of leisure, and enabled me to comply with his wish. Desirous of looking more particularly into the history of my adoj)ted country, the researches I had occasion to make for this purpose were attended with much interest and gratiti- catiou to me. I marked, as was natural, wiih uu»re attention than when, at a diiiumce from the spot, I read the accounts as matters of general inforniati«ui, the events and circumstances connected with the discovery, accpii- sition, and advancement of this important part of the British dominions. But in committing the resnlt to writing, even on the limited scale which the plan of this work allows — rather, perhaps, the more so on account of that limitation. — I found more difficulty than I at first expected. The minor points of the history were in different accounts so discordant, that with my natural aversion to uncertainty, and perhaps a too fastidious desire to reconcile what will not admit of agreement, 1 was often longer, and more perplexed, in adjusting these PREFACE. points than those who have not employed themselves in similar pursuits would readily imagine. The main facts, however, are sufficiently well at^ested ; and of these I have endeavoured to embody as many as my range would allow in the slight sketch I have given of the introductory history. In obtaining the Topographical information, many hours were sometimes spent in seeking for that which a few minutes would suffice to put into writing ; not from any unwillingness on the part of those who had information to give, but from the very nature of .he case. The gentlemen to whom enquiries were directed, are entitled to my own thi^iks, and those of the Publisher, for the courtesy and readiness with which those enquiries were answered. At first, it was intended to present to each a distinct acknowledgment; but the number has so increased, that it is hoped they will accept this general expression of obligation. It is natural for every man of ordinary curiosity and discernment, when he comes into a new country, and especially if he mean to reside in it, to desire to know something of its past and present state ; and a portion of his time may be lawfully employed in gratifying this desire. The knowledge thus obtained, is capable of being applied to various useful purposes ; and more so by the Christian than by any other person. He may often see the finger of God in controlling events, where others discern nothing but the operations of natural causes, or the developements of human agency and design. N. B. Montreal, June 1, 1839. i^^^B t ■iilH o h t V PREFACE. Tlie appearance of the work has been delayed beyond the time mentioned in tiie original prospectus, by causes over which the Publisher had no control ; but the delay has been rather serviceable than otherwise, by increasing the accuracy of the descriptions, and afibrding an op- portunity of sketching the history of the two Rebellions. In every first attempt of this kind, it is almost in- evitable that defects and inaccuracies should occur. Both tlie Editor and the Publisher will, therefore, be obliged by such hints as shall contribute to the improve- ment of the work in a new edition. w. I I: 1 -' ill \fi rawwHWWWWiwww w i Mni.. mw ja.mjniiw, CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. Page Discoveries of Columbus and other Navigators — Arrival of Jacques Cartier at Ilochelaga. CHAPTER ir. Primitive Condition of Hochelaga — Name changed to " Mount Royal".— Company of One Hundred Partners — Canada taken by the English, 1629— Restored, 1632. CHAPTER III. Settlement of the Island of Montreal — Maissonneuve, Governor — Ville Marie founded — Canada becomes a Royal Govern- ment — Remarkable Earthquake — West India Company — Marriage encouraged. 21 3d ^ CHAPTER IV. 50 Gove\ \ment settled — Contests between the French and English — Artifices of De Rat ( Kondearoukj — Continued Hostilities- Successive Governors. K CONTENTS. CHAPTER V. Page 57 Capture of Quebec by General Wolfe — Surrender of Montreal and all the Canadas — Montreal twice injured by fire — Bigot. CHAPTER VI. 71 Improvements in the Colony — Attack on Mr. Walker-— Quebec Act — American War — Montreal taken — Extraordinary Phenomenon — Riot — Cholera — List of Governors. CHAPTER VII. 86 Topographical description — District — County — and City- Parish Church of Ville Marie, or Cathedral of Notre Dame — Christ Church — Bonsecours Church — Scotch Church, St. Gabriel Street. CHAPTER Vin. • 111 Methodist Chapels — Jews^ Synagogue — American Presbyterian Church — Congregational Church — Scotch Secession Church — St. Andrew's Church — St. Paul's Church — Baptist Church. CHAPTER IX. 122 T/ie Priests' Farm — The Bishop's Church — Recollet Church — General Hospital — St. Anns Market — National School. CHAPTER X. 137 Grey Nunnery — Congregational Nunnery — Hotel Dieu Nun- nery — The Seminary — The College — British and Canadian School — Hotels — News Room — Theatre Royal — Nelson's Monument. CONTENTS. CHAPTER XT. Page 158 The Court House — Old Gaol — New Gaol — Barrackt — Government House — IVater Works — Champ de Mars — New Market — Banks — Custom House. CHAPTER XII. Ui8 Natural History Society — Montreal Library — M* Gill College — M^Tavish's House — View from the Haymarket — Hocheluga Chapel — St. Helens Island — Ship Yard — Rope Manufac' tory—The Police Force. CHAPTER XIII. 182 Orphan Asylum— Ladies' Benevolent Society — Bible Society — Tract Society — Sunday School Union — Temperance Society — Baptist Missionary Society — French Canadian Missionary Society — Mechanics' Institution — Gas Works — Trade and Commerce — Lachine Canal. CHAPTER XIV. 204 lEducation and Literature — Concluding Remarks on Improve- ments and Desiderata, Geology, Business, Agriculture, and the Cemeteries. APPENDIX. 223 ^Brief Account of the Rebelliotis in Lower Canada in 1837—6, and 1839i — American Antiquities — Notes and Corrections. w 10. 14. LIST OF PLATES. 1. View of the City from the Canal Frontispiece. 2. M'Tavish's Monument Vignette on Title Page. 3. Modern Plan of Montreal End of Volume. 4. Ancient Plan Opposite page 91 5. View of the City in 1803 92 6. Church of Notre Dame 95 7. Scotch Church, Bonsecours Church, English Episco- pal Church 101 8. Wesleyan Chapels and Jews' Synagogue Ill 9. American Presbyterian Church, Congregational Chapel, and Scotch Secession Church 113 10. St. Paul's Church, St. Andrew's Church, Baptist Chapel 119 11. Priests' Farm, Bishop's Church, Recollet Church.... 122 12. General Hospital, St. Ann's Market, National School 124 13. Grey Nunnery, Congregational Nunnery, Chapel of Hotel Dieu 137 14. The College, The Seminary, The British and Cana- dian School 146 (15. Rasco's Hotel, News Room, Theatre Royal 160 fl6. Nelson's Monument and the New Market 153 17. Court House, New Gaol, Old Gaol 159 [18. Barracks, Government House, Water Works 162 [19. Champ de Mars 164 120. Bank of Montreal, City Bank, New Custom House. 185 121. View from the Mountain 174 [22. View from the Haymarket 175 [23. View from St. Helen's Island 176 iff w .Wm wwi w i *w' -»i 111 I : I I m DI T th ne ar ex im se ot "F w] w] es Pl av va lis th HOCHELAGA DEPICTA. CHAPTER I. DISCOVERIES OP COLUMBUS, AND OTHER NAVIGATORS. ARRIVAL OF JACQUES CARTIER AT HOCHELAGA. There is in man a natural propensity to enquire into the origin of every thing with which he has any con- nection, — to trace the rise and progress of each discovery, art, and invention, by which the cu'cle of knowledge is extended, or the happiness of nations and individuals increased. In accordance with this almost universal sentiment, the first of any series of events is usually an object of peculiar interest, and their gradual evolution, up to a certain point, scarcely less so. Thus, standing where we may, watching the tide of human afikirs, while the onward prospect encourages hope and animates exertion, the retrospective view yields another kind of pleasure nearly as intense, and perhaps equally beneficial and satisfactory. Nor is this insatiable curiosity, on other grounds, a vain or useless feeling. The history of the past is often useful to illustrate the present, and regulate plans for the future. Even the failures wliich have attended the Al. m..J>im 10 DISCOVERIES OP COLUMBUS, "" ii investigations and projects of men are so many beacons to warn us against danger and error, and guide with more safety our movements and enquiries. Whatever idea is formed of history, whether, with the late Mr. Fox, we consider it as simply " telling the tale of other times," or, in conformity with the more magnificent designation of earlier writers, view it as " philosophy teaching by example," the study of it is not less rational than entertaining, nor less instructive than delightful. That the discovery of the New World should have (treated an imusual sensation in the Old, is amongst the most natural of all consequences. Yet, after the first surprise and curiosity had subsided, and the extravagant expectations that prevailed had been disappointed, the interest of these distant regions was for a time so diminished in Europe as to occasion surprise to us, who know to what a degree of importance the Western World has arisen, and can observe the bearing of its interests upon the destinies of the other quarters of the globe. But little more than three centm-ies have elapsed since the spot on which we are now writing, and the City whose history we are about to describe, was totally unknown to the rest of the world. It was just in the situation, with respect to the Eastern hemisphere, which Virgil assigns to the now famed inhabitants of our " father land,'' in local reference to the shores of Italy : ET PENITUS TOTO DIVISOS ORBE BEITTANNOS.* As both the Parent State and the rising Colony have been in circumstances of equal obscurity in past, though * It is not improbable, as sOmA cHtics have Bugg^ested, that the poet had in his eye the notion that Britain was onc6 united to the Continent, and had been separated from it by some convulsion of nature ; but the fact of its compara- tive obscurity in ancient times is sufficiently prominent to justify the allusion in that sense of the expression. AND OTHER NAVIGATORS. 11 (lifFerent ages, it may not be presumptuous, and it \s certainly not unpatriotic, to indulge the hope that the latter may emulate the former in deeds of excellence and glory, and both long unite their energies for the benefit of the world. It has been affirmed that he who discovered America was not in quest of new lands, but only purposed to explore a new way to lands already known. To what extent both these ideas were entertained distinctly in the mind of Columbus, it is not easy now to determine with precision ; but that it was one main object of his pursuit to discover, by sailing westward, a shorter, or at least an easier and more uninterrupted, passage to the rich countries known by the name of the East Indies, will not admit of a doubt. The long and tedious journeys over land to the tropical regions rendered it very desirable, if it could be realized, to obtain a readier access to the trade which, even at that time, had enriched several of the commercial nations of Europe. Columbus was born about the middle of the fifteenth century, and entered early, as a navigator, into the service of the Portuguese, who were most actively engaged in mercantile and commercial pursuits. The spirit of discovery wliich had been some time in operation, led Columbus, during his frequent voyages, to reflect upon the possibility of reaching the Eastern World by a different route from any that had been taken, and, after many enquiries and much study, even to suppose that by sailing westerly he should more readily approach the farther boundary of the country wliich he sought, than by any other course. Filled with this idea, and desuous also of distinguishing himself by the discovery of other lands which his meditation and researches led him to expect in his passage, he applied for aid, in the first place, to the Senate of his own a2 12 DISCOVERIES OP COLUMBUS, % country, Genoa ; but without success. His next appli- cation was to the court of Portugal, with no better result. On the part of the King it was followed by a breach of good faith ; for w hile he rejected the proposal of Columbus, he meanly endeavoured to supplant him^ in the object of it by sending out an expedition of his own, which, however, returned without making any discovery. His final resort was to Spain, then under the separate Government of Ferdinand of Arragon, and Isabella of Castile. The King refused to counten- ance the design, but Her Majesty, more wise and liberal, after several years delay, consented to patronize it, furnishing the means for accomplishing the yoyage from her own treasury, and actually selling her jewels to supply the deficiency of the national resources ; thus associating her own name with that of Columbus in the imperishable glory of this memorable expedition. Our own country, however, has some claim to a share of this honour ; for Columbus having sent his brother Bartholomew to England, to interest the King, Henry VII., in favour of his plan, that sjigacious monarch, having examined his proposal and approved it, entered into an agreement with Bartholomew, in 1488, to carry it into execution ; but Columbus himself was then in treaty with Isabella, and four years afterwards, when he was just upon the point of relinquishing all hopes from that quarter, and renewing Ids application to England, Isabella decided in his favour. On Friday, the 3d of August, 1492, Columbus sailed from Palos, a port of Andalusia in Spain ; and on the 12th of October, to his unspeakable gratification, he made his first discovery in the New World. This was one of the Bahama Islands, called by the natives Guanahaui, named by Columbus St. Salvador, and afterwards Cat Island by the English, He landed the AND OTHER NAVIGATORS. 13 samo day, took possession of the island in the name of the Spanish Sovereigns, and assumed the titles of Admiral and Viceroy, which had been assigned to him before he sailed from Europe. Leaving the island after a few days examination, he passed on to another a few leagues distant, where he landed on the 16th, and named it Conception. On the 17th he reached another, which he called Ferdinanda: in modern maps it is named Exuma. Pursuing his voy.age, he discovered the island called by the natives Samoet, by Columbus Isabella, and by more recent navigators Long Island. After cruising some time among the Bahamas, he discovered on the 24th of November the important island of Cuba, and, on the 5th of December, Hispaniola or St. Domingo, now called Hayti. Here he built a fortress, and leaving thirty-nine men in possession of it, he sailed for Spain tui the 4th of January, 1493 ; arrived, after a stormy and dangerous voyage, at the mouth of the Tagus on the 14th of March, and at mid-day on the 15 th, entered the harbour of Palos, whence he had sailed the preceding year ; " having taken not quite seven months and a half to accomplish this most momentous of all maritime enterprizes." He wfis received at Court, whither he was accompanied by six of the native Indians he had brought with him, with all the honour and admiration which such splendid discoveries naturally called forth ; and, what was still more gratifying to him, an order was immediately given for a second exi)edition on a larger scale than the former. On the 25th of September, 1493, he sailed from the bay of Cadiz, and steering fiu-ther south than in the former voyage, he fell in with what are now called the Caribbee or Leeward Islands. After visiting several of these, he spent some time in regulating affairs at the places he formerly discovered, and returned to Spain in 1496. A third and a fourth A3 ' -i -^ 14 DISCOVERIES OF COLUMBUS, voyage were afterwards undertaken, in which Columbus made various other discoveries ; in tlie former the island of Trini'lad, and the adjacent coast of South America^ which he saw for the first time in 1498 ; and in the latter, which commenced in 1502, a considerable part of the northern coast of the same continent. It is remarkable that, from the commencement to the end of his illustrious career, Columbus tenaciously adhered to the opinion that the lands he had discovered were either parts of the Eastern World he was in pursuit of, or were in some way connected with it ; or that, by sailing among them and branching oflP as appearances might suggest, he should ultimately discover a passage to the object of a desire so long and so fondly cherished. So completely had this idea taken posses- sion of his mind, that no labours or disappointments were sufficient to dislodge it. Had it not been for this mistake, it is reasonable to believe he would have been even more successftil than he was, and have left less for other navigators to accomplish. In consequence of this notion, the countries which he had found were called The Indies by Ferdinand and Isabella in their ratifica- tion of the powers granted to Columbus ; and though the error has been detected the name has been retained, . the appellation of West Indies continues to be given > the country, and that of Indians to its aboriginal inhabitants. The true passage to the East Indies by the Cape of Good Hope was ascertained, in 1498, by Vasco de Gama, in the service of the Portuguese. But although Columbus found not all he sought, the grandeur of his conceptions, and the skill and persever- ance he displayed in the execution of them, have placed him upon the highest pinnacle of nautical fame ; and though, intent upon nobler objects, he gave not his own name the world he revealed to others, the gratitude AND OTHER NAVIGATORS. 15 and admiration of mankind will not suffer his true honour to be lost, bi;t whenever they think upon America, will call to mind the name of its discoverer with feelings of reverence and affection. "While the Spaniards were thus actively engaged in the research after new countries, the English were not inattentive to tlie progress of maritime discovery. Henry the Seventh, who, it has been stated, gave the first encouragement to the plans of Columbus, issued a commission to John Cabot and his son Sebastian, natives of Italy, to engage in the then favourite pursuit of a North-west passage to the East. The continent of North America was one of the fruits of this expedition. The adventurers discovered Newfoundland early in June, 1497, and, after exploring a part of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, they took a westerly course, and then proceeded to coast the main land as far as latitude 67° 6(y north. The following year they returned to England. The date usually assigned for the discovery of Canada is April 5, 1499. In 1502 Hugh ElUott and Thomas Ashurst, merchants of Bristol, obtained a patent from Henry to establish Colonies in the countries recently discovered by Cabot. In the following reign, Henry VIII. fitted out another expedition, which sailed in 1527, but was not attended with any important discoveries. About this period some individuals in France turned their attention to these new countries, and we have accounts of their fishing for Cod on the Banks of Newfoundland, and along the sea-coast of Canada, in the beginning of the century. About the year 1506, a Frenchman, named Jean Denys, drew a map of the Gulf of St. Lawrence ; and two years after, Thomas Aubert, a sliip-master of Dieppe, carried over to France some of the natives of Canada. But it was not until ■'. "f! • 16 DISCOVERIES OF COLUMBUS. jiii i:i P! 4 1523, in tlie reign of Francis I., that any thing on an extensive scale was undertaken by this nation, or patronized by its Government. In that year the enter- prising monarch just named sent four ships under the command of Verazzano, a Florentine, to prosecute discoveries in this country. Of his first voyage no particulars are known. He undertook a second in the following year, with one ship only, in which h(j is said to have explored a great part of the coast of the present United States, and of British North America. A third expedition is spoken of by some historians, in which Verazzano is stated to have been massacred with all his crew by the natives ; but the greater probability is, that he left the service of the King of France when that monarch was a prisoner in the hands of his great rival Chai'les V., of Spain, and that he spent his latter years in his native land.* The success of the French having excited tlie jealousy of the Kings of Spain and Portugal, to whom the Pope, in acccordance with the ecclesiastical maxims of those days, had confirmed the possession of America, Francis, not acknowledging this right to exclude him from a share, and facetiously remarking that he " would fain see the article in father Adam's will, which bequeathes that vast inheritance to them," resolved not to be deterred from prosecuting his discoveries. Verazzano had given to the countries lie had visited the name of New France, La Nouvelle France, an • See the evidence on this point in Hawkins's Picture c^f Quebec. We take »5 the opportunity of referring with pleasure to this well-written and meritor- ious work. The writer has taken great and laudable pains to investigate and compare authorities, and has often succeeded in his attempts to reconcile or correct the contradictoi y accounts that have descended to us of early voyages to the Western World. If we might suggest what appears to us would be an improvement in this interesting volume, we would recommend a differ- ent arrangement, in some places, of excellent materials most skilfully and judiciously prepared. So much talent is but rarely shewn in works of this nature. Il ARRIVAL OF JACQUES GARTIER. 17 appellation which afterwards comprehended the Canadas. [Philippe f Bacchus, visited by )onnacona ; )ur for his t. Croix, in visited by his attend- ntry. The ch occupied stands. y of the country 92, the Parisian al Family, and orable crueltie* The discoveries hitherto made by Cartier, numerous and surprising as they were, so far from satisfying' his ambition, served only to excite his desire for still greater achievements. Stadacona, aa it did not bound his curiosity, so neither did it limit his progress. Having learned, while here, that there existed a place of much ^greater importance, at a considerable distance up the ; Great River of Canada, he determined to advance in I pursuit of it. Neither the lateness of the season, nor the representations of those about him, could divert him from his object, and he commenced his voyage in the Hermerillon, with two long boats, provisions, and ammunition. The scenery on both sides of the river I delighted him with its beauty, and the natives cheerfiilly ffiupplied him with what they could procure to supply ' *s necessities. The chief of the district at Hochelai, low the Richlieu, paid him a visit, and presented to him cliild of his own, about seven years of age. At Lake t. Peter, the party were obliged, by the shallowness f the water, and their ignorance of the deeper channel, leave the pinnace, and betake themselves to their oats. On the second of October, 1533, they effected a anding about six miles from the town, below the ^current of St. Mary. Here they were met by more ^han a thousand of the natives, who received them with very demonstration of joy and hospitality. Cartier eturned these civilities by distributing among the eople such small presents as the taste or the fancy of ese simple children of nature taught them to value. he next day, having obtained the services of three atives as liis guides, Cartier, with a number of his own en, entered for the first time the Indian village of ochelaga,* the germ or nucleus of the present city of * Part of the river was also distin^pushed by this name, — Bometimes, and erhapg originally, spelled and pronounced Hoshblaoa. 20 ARRIVAL OF JACQUES CARTIER. Montreal. After a short stay among these hospitable strangers, he returned to his boats, and proceeded on his passage back to winter at St. Croix. i. !l i I CHAPTER II. PRIMITIVE CONDITION OF HOCHELAGA NAME CHANG- ED TO " MOUNT royal" — COMPANY OF ONE HUN- DRED PARTNERS — CANADA TAKEN BY THE ENGLISH, 1629— RESTORED, 1632. The present inhabitants of this city would find it as difficult to recognise its " local habitation" as its " name" from the following description of its ancient state. The way to the village was through large fields of Indian com. Its outline was circular ; and it was encompassed by three separate rows of palisades, or rather picket fences, one within the other, well secured and put together. A single entrance was left in this rude fortification, but was guarded with pikes and stakes, and every precaution taken against siege or attack. The cabins or lodges of the inhabitants, about fifty in number, were constructed in the form of a tunnel, each fifty feet in length by fifteen in breadth. They were formed of wood covered with bark. Above the doors of these houses, as well as along the outer rows of palisades, ran a gallery; ascended by ladders, where stones and other missiles were ranged in order for the defence of the place. Each house contained several chambers, and the whole were so arranged as to enclose an open court yard, where the fire was made. The inhabitants belonged to the Huron tribe, and appear to Bl -^^ 22 CARTIER. m N l! " ■ "lii' 1:1 - ' i: i-'l i Imvo been more civilised than their neighbours. Being devoted to husbandry and fishing, they seldom wandered from their station. They received the Frenchmen with courtesy, feasted them after the manner of their tribe, and presents were reciprocally exchanged. The sight of the Europeans strut;k them with astonishment : their fire-arms, their trumpets, their dress, their long beards (fiishiouiible in th.at age), were all sources of wonder and conjecture to the natives. They constantly interro- gated their guests, who on their part were also desirous <»f learning all tliey could; but as neither party could understand the language of the other, and as they could oidy converse through the medium of signs, very little information w.is received or imparted. Cartier appears to have been regarded by these simple people as a being of superior order, capable, at hvist, of curing diseases at his pleasure ; for, diu'ing his stay, he was surprised to see the chief of the village brought towards him, and who, pointing to his limbs, testified by signs that he suffered pain of some kind, and Avished to be healed. The gesticulations of the chief were imitated by his attendants, and presently afterward a number of other persons were brought in, who were either ill, or decrepid from old age. Touched by tliis display of confiding simplicity, Cartier did what he could to soothe their minds, and, as the Cathohc historians relate, filled Mitli holy fervour, recited as devoutly as possible the opening passage of the Gospel according to St. John. He then made the .>ign of the cross upon the sick, distributed chaplets and images of the Agnus Dei amongst them, impressing them with the belief that these things had much healing virtue. By the same authority >ve are informed that, though he l 24 CARTIER. II SI \m I ill to his boats, and even assisted such of his men as they perceived to be fatigued with their march, by carrying them upon their shoulders ; appearing to be grieved with the shortness of their stay, and following their course along the banks of the river. On the 11th of October they rejoined theu* companions at St. Croix, were again visited by Donnacona, and returned the visit at Stadacona, about three miles distant from their port. The inhabitants appeared docile and tractable, and their houses well stored with every tiling necessary for the approaching season. Cartier and liis companions, however, suffered much in their retreat, for, being unaccustomed to the rigours of a Canadian winter, and but scantily supplied with proper food and clothing, they were nearly all attacked by the scurvy, and twenty- five of their number died. Being advised to use a decoction of the spruce fir (Pinus Canadensisjy since well-known as a powerful anti -scorbutic, they complied with the advice, and soon recovered their health. Cartier, beginning to entertain some suspicion of the Indians, by the arrival of some young hunters of the tribe, " lusty and strong men" whom he had not seen before, seized Donnacona, the interpreters, and two of the chief inhabitants, whom, with a few other natives, he cai'ried with liim on his retiu-n to France the ensuing spring. Though the common people of France were but little elated with the result of this expedition, attaching but a slight value to a country which yielded no abundance of gold and silver, the representations of Cartier, supported and confirmed by the testimony of Donnacona, who had frequent interviews with the King, and aided by the good sense of several persons about the Court, had such an effect, that he determined upon sending him out on a third voyage. Fran9oi8 de la 1'^ ROBERVAL. 25 Roque, Lord of Roberval, a gentleman of Picardy, intent upon gain and discovery, was appointed to the command of the expedition, under the titles of Viceroy and Lieutenant of Canada, &c. ; and Cartier, as pilot, was placed second in command, with the title of Captain General. Roberval, who undertook to equip two additional ships at his o\vn expense, not being ready at the time appointed, Cartier sailed without him on the 23d of May, 1541, with five vessels, and full powers to make discoveries and settlements in Canada. Roberval did not follow him till the next year, 1542, when he sailed from Rochelle on 16th of April, with three large vessels, having on board two hundred persons, as settlers, both men and women, among whom were several gentlemen of quality. This combined expedi- tion did not yield much either of knowledge or of success to the French in Canada. The accounts indeed of these voyages are inconsistent and unsatisfactory. It seems, however, pretty certain, that, though Cartier, on his return to St. Croix, was kindly received and appar- ently welcomed by the nsitives, he soon found reason to suspect that they were averse to any further intercourse with the French, and to their settlement in the country. This might ai'ise, as it probably did, from their learning on enquiry that Donnacona was dead, and that the other natives would not return, and fron. ..leir fear, not an unreasonable one, that others would in like manner be torn by force from their native soil. Feeling uncomfortable in liis position, he removed a few leagues fju-ther up the river St. Lawrence, where ne laid up three of his ships, and sent the other two back to France, with letters to the King. He ordered two forts to bt^ built, one at the bottom of the clift^ and the other on the point above : the latter he named Charlesbourg Royal. Leaving the Viscount de Beaupre in command, he b3 ih\ iS: ■''!:i."B'i' ae CARTIER — ROBERVAL. "" il I, I I mv' 'I II i proceeded to visit the Saults or Rapids above Hochelaga. On his way he left two boys with his friend the chief of Hochelai, for the purpose of learning the language. The Saults, which are now called the Sault St. Louis, he was unable to pass in his boats. He found the inhabitants friendly, received from them provisions, and exchanged presents with them; but could not divest himself of the fears and suspicions which had arisen in his mind, and for which he found afterwards additional reasons. He passed the winter at Cap Rouge, where he had erected the fort above named. As he had received no tidings of Roberval, he resolved to return to France ; and on his passage, putting into St. John's, Newfoundland, he met the Viceroy with provisions and new settlers. He endeavoured in vain to persuade Cartier to remain in Canada. To avoid an open quarrel, the latter weighed anchor in the night and proceeded on his homeward voyage. This is to be regretted, as, with the assistance of Roberval, he might have strengthened his position in the country, and probably effected a permanent settlement. Cartier made no subsequent voyage to Canada ; but died soon after his return to France, having sacrificed his fortune in the cause of discovery. Roberval, notwithstanding his discouragements, proceeded to the station which Cartier had left, where he endeavoured to secure him- self and his new settlers by enlarging the fortifications. Having passed the winter here, he left thirty men in the fort, and proceeded to explore the province of Saguenay ; but the particulars of the expedition are not known. He returned to France in 1543, and for six years took no further interest in Canada, being engaged in the service of his patron Francis I., in liis war with the Emperor Charles V. On the death of the French King, he resumed his former career, and associating DE LA ROCHE. 27 with himself liis brotlier Achille, a brave warrior, named by Francig Le Gendarme d'Annibalj he embarked again fur Canada in 1549; with a numerous train of enterprising young men. They were never heard of afterwards, the whole being supposed to have perished at sea. By this misfortune all hopes of supporting an establishment in Canada were for a time destroyed ; and during fifty years no measures were taken for succouring the descendants of the few French settlers who had remiiined in the country. Toward the end of that period, in 1598, the Marquis de la Roche, a native of Brittany, was appointed by Henry IV., of France, his Lieutenant General in Canada. His commission is the first that makes pro- vision for partitioning the discovered lands into Seigniories and Fiefs, to be held under the feudal tenure, and as a compensation, when required, for military service in the field. Having resolved to examine the country, before cai'rying out many settlers, he only brought with liim about sixty persons, some of them of ruined fortunes, and others convicts taken from the prisons. He landed forty on Sable Island, a place then totally unfit for colonization. He next recon- noitered the neighbouring coast of Acadia, now called Nova Scotia, and having collected all the information he deemed necessary, he returned to France, being prevented by tempestuous weather from taking back the persons he left on Sable Island. Seven years of continued suffering had reduced the number of these poor creatures to twelve, when a vessel sent to their relief took them back to France just as they were resigning themselves to despair. The King had the curiosity to see them in their wild dress of skins as they landed, and presented each of them with fifty crov/ns and full pardon. The captain had robbed them of I 28 CHAUVIN — DE CHATTE — DEMONTS. ;i' ;„ ia !i : ' several valuable skins, which they recovered, by law, with damages. La Rode "-^ not destined to repeat his voyage, for his private m.^ifortunes detained him in France, where he fell a victim to disappointment and chagrin, soon after his return. In the year 1600 Henry granted to M. Chauvin, a naval officer, a commission for an exclusive trade with Canada, and other powers similar to those of La Roche. He was joined by Pontgrave, a skilful navigator and merchant of St. Malo. They made two profitable voyages to Tadoussac, near the mouth of the river Saguenay, where they carried on an extensive trade of furs with the Indians, who gladly bartered their most valuable skins for mere trifles. Chauvin died in 1603, and was succeeded by De Chatte or Chaste, Governor of Dieppe, who founded a company of merchants at Rouen, in order to establish the trade on a liberal and efficient scale. Dying soon afterwards, without having himself visited Canada, Pierre du Guast, Sieur Demonts, an officer in the court of France, was appointed to succeed him, with a commission of greater extent than had before been granted, entitling him to authority from Virginia to the Esquimaux River, or from latitude 40° to 54°, and empowering liim to grant lands between latitude 40° and 46°. He was of the reformed religion, and was allowed the free exercise of it for himself and his friends, but prohibited from establishing any other tlian the Catholic worship among the native inhabitants. This gentleman and his predecessor Dc Chatte, though they had not opportunities of doing much for Canada, by their personal services, contributed very effectually to its future prosperity, by their successive appointment of the celebrated Samuel Champlain to a share in the enterprize. He was a native of Saintonge, and acquired, by tluree years service in the West Indies, as a Captaiii CHAMPLAIN — FOUNDATION OP QUEBEC. 29 in the Navy, a reputation for bravery and skill. His personal qualities, his fine talents, his comprehensive views, animated by energy and patriotism, peculiarly fitted him tor the office to which he was appointed ; and enabled him, after many years of inefllectual efl'ort on the part of those who went before him, to place the affairs of the colony in a more prosperous condition than had been previously kno>vn. He first sailed with Pontgrave in 1603, and, leaving their vessels at Tadoussac, they ascended in a lighter boat as tar as Sault St. Louis. The situation of Quebec even then appeared to him a most eligible site for a future colony ; but he did not visit the Indian settlement of Hochelaga, which appears to have dwindled from the comparative importance it possessed when visited by Cartier in 1535, to a place of no moment ; indeed, according to another account, =' the village of Hochelaga was now no more."* Dements returned to France in 1605 ; but was, in consequence of complaints and representations from persons concerned in the Fisheries, who stated that he interfered with their occupation, deprived of the com- mission wliich had been granted him for ten years. In 1607 it was renewed to him for one year, dm'ing which F ontgrave was despatched to Tadoussac, and Champlain, with a commission of Lieutenant under Dements, sailed for the express purpose of establishing a settlement on the St. Lawrence, above 1 adoussac. As he ascended the river, he carefully examined the shores, and at length fixed upon a spot near the Indian village, Stadacona, where, on the third day of July, 1608, he laid the foundation of the present city of Quebec, one year after the settlement of Jamestown in Virghua was ' 1 I \f ,^S' ' :4^ :^r :i m * Jpffery'a History of French Dominioiu ia America. Fol. 1760, m yi^ «'■ f-, II I 30 CHAMPLAIN — INDIAN TUIHES. founded by Captain Newport, and one hiindrod and sixteon years from tlie dissfincry of America by Cohimbus. Ilut^ were soon erected, a store lionse built, lands cleared and sown with wheat and rye, and a few gardens made, to ascertain th(» (piality of t\w soil, wliicli proved to bo excellent. In these wise and prudent measures Champlain had in view not merely tl»e hit jiiSts of a petty trade, but also the establislnnent of a prospennis colony and extensive empire in the Western World. In a subsecpuMit mejusure, however, ho acted not with his usual sagaiuty, and brought upon the country a large train of disastrous consecpiences. The infant establishment soon attracted the curiosity of vai'ious tribes of Indians. The Mountaiiu^ers, who inhabited the lower pjut of the St. Lawrence, — the Algonquins, who occupied its shores from Qu>.oec to Montreal, — the Hurons, whose principal residence was on LiUve Huron, — ami other less considerable tribes, — who were all engaged in war with the Iro(][uois, solicited and obtained the assistance of the French. Champlain, without reflecting upon the mischief he was introducing, not only supplied them with fire-arms, and instructed them in their use, but even joined them in their wars against the powerful Iroquois or Five Nations. In this thoughtless manner began the ruinous contests between the French settlers and the Iroquois, who soon obtained the support of the English and Dutch colonists ; and continued their predatory and cruel warfare w^ith little intermission, notwithstanding the conciliatory eftbrts of the Jesuits, for nearly a century, until the final subjugation of Canada by Great Britain, in the year 1760. Having passed the winter in his new settlement, Champlain ascended the river as early in the spring of 1609 as the weather would permit, for the purpose of PUR TRADE — RECOLLETS. 81 and oxploring tim Intcirior <>f tlio country of wlii(;h lie had tiikcn posHOSHion. Ho wan both dolightod and aKton- isliod witli what ho Haw, oh ho advatu^od, of tho hoauty and fortuity of tho r(>^i(MiM he viMiU'd : h(! dis(;ovored tho beautiful Lak(! which has evc'r sin(!(» bortu '-'s name ; ho returned to Quebec in the autunni ; and, ii'aving tho settlemtHit under tho conmmnd of Pi(Tre Chauvin, ho sailed for Franco, wh(?ro In^ was well rec(»iv(Hl by the king, who was pleas(»d with the prospect of advantageH to be expect<'d frcnn the lUiw establishni(>nt. (/atiada Wius heiKti^forth iiu^iudi'd in the gen(;ral appiillation of New Frauce, whicli had alri^ady been given to tho other Freuiih possessions in North Ameri(!a. The following year, IGIO, ho returned to (lauada, accon»j)anied by Portgrave, who was <;liarg<>d with tho improvement of tho Fur trade, while Champlain was to attend to the geni^ral affairs of the cohniy. As an example of very 82 DE CAENS — JESUITS — COMPANY OF 100. by protecting the settlement from the attacks of the Indians, or supplying the wants of the settlers ; and was, on account of its negligence in these essential points, deprived of its charter, which was transferred to two brothers of the name of De Caen. Champlain having erected a temporary fort on the site of the Castle of St. Lewis, in 1621, rebuilt it of stone and fortified it in 1624 ; and, as soon as it was finished, again visited France to obtain succours. The Duke de Ventadour, Henry de Levi, having purchased the Viceroyalty from his uncle the Duke de Moutmorenci, and being very desirous of converting the Indians to the Catholic faith, sent over with Champlain three Jesuits and two lay brothers, men of exemplary cha- racter, to accomplish this great object. They joined the RecoUets, already at Quebec. The Caens directed their cliief attention to the Fur trade, but being Hugue- nots, and therefore of a different religion from the Duke, and not likely to favour his mea* — es, the Cardinal Richelieu, Prime Minister of Louis XIII., revoked the privileges that had been granted to them, and encou- raged the formation of a comnany to be composed of a great number of men of property and credit. A charter was granted to them in 1627, under the title of " The Company of One Hundred Partners" or Asso- ciates. The Company engaged, first, to transport emigrants, artificers, and farmers to Canada, to the number of sixteen thousand, — to lodge and feed them during three years, and ultimately to locate them on farms cleared to a certain extent, and to fui-nish them with wheat for sowing; secondly, that the emigrants should be native Frenchmen and Catholics, and that no stranger or heretic should be introduced into the country ; thirdly, to support three priests in each settlement during the first fifteen years of its existence. Richelieu's scheme. 83 In return for these services the king made over to the Company the whole of New France and Florida, with power to appoint judges, build fortresses, cast cannon, confer titles, and take what steps they might think proper for the protection of the colony, and the fostering of commerce ; giving them at the same time the complete monopoly of the fur trade. The Company were allowed to import and export all kinds of merchandise and other commodities, free of duty ; and gentlemen, both clergy and laity, were invited to a share in the concern, which they readily accepted, till the number of partners was completed. This was a favourite scheme of Richelieu's ; and Charlevoix, who describes it at length, speaks of it in terms of great applause, as calculated, had it been strictly adhered to and wisely executed, to render New France the most powerful colony of America. The combination of clergy in tliis new association gave it decidedly a religious character; and on this account it has been stated that the primary object of the Company was the conversion of the Indians to the Catholic faith, and the secondary an extension of the fur trade and of commerce generally, and the discovery of a passage to China. The plan of improvement, thus determined upon, met with a temporary interruption, and was tlu-eatened with utter destruction, by the breaking out of a war between France and England in 1628, which in the following year transferred the possession of Canada from the former to the latter power. Charles I. gave to David Kertk, a French refugee, a commission authorizing and commanding him to conquer Canada, in consequence of which, after some offensive operations at Tadoussac, he appeared with his squadron before Quebec, and summoned it to surrender; but he was answered in so spuited a manner, that he judged it Gl j.fi n .1 :B' 34 CANADA TAKEN — ^DEATH OP CUAMPLAIN. prudent to retire. The following year, 1629> his two brothers, Louis and Thomas, with a superior armament, were more successful, and the capital of New France, with all its dependencies, fell into the hands of the English ; but so little value did they set upon their new acquisitions that they readily restored them to France at the peace of St. Germain en Laye on the 29th of March, 1632. Ohamplain had been takei> prisoner and conveyed to France, but he returned to Canada, and resumed his government of it, in 1633. He continued to administer the affairs of the colony with singular prudence, resolution, and courage, until 1635, when he died, after a residence of nearly thirty years, in Quebec, leaving beliind him a name highly honoured and res- pected by al? parties. The French historians represent him as a man of superior tilents, and of upriglit inten- tions ; active, enterprising, and vigilant ; and cherishing so warm a zeal for the propagation of religion, that it was a common saying witls him, — " that the salvation of one soul was of more value than the conquest of an empire." With all the advantages, however, which France enjoyed for colonization, under the direction of so wise a man, so tardy was the progress of her affairs in this quarter of the world, that at the period of which we are writing, the whole of her available possessions in Canada consisted of the fort of Quebec, surrounded by some inconsiderable houses, and barracks for the soldiers, a few huts on the Island of Montreal, as many at Tadoussac, and at other places on the St. Lawrence used as trading and fishing posts, and a settlement, just commenced, at Tlu-ee Rivers. CHAPTER III. SETTLEMENT OP THE ISLAND OP MONTREAL — MAI- SONNEUVE, GOVERNOR — CANADA BECOMES A ROYAL GOVERNMENT — REMARKABLE E A RTHQU AKE — WEST INDIA COMPANY. It has been stated, in the preceding Chapter, that several Priests from France had arrived, and were settled at Quebec, for the purpose of propagating the Roman Catholic religion among the Indians in the colony ; and though several of them returned to their native land on the cession of the country to the English, they came back to Canada when the French had regained possession of it, for the purpose of resuming their labours. By these first missionaries it was soon perceived that the occupation and defence of the Island of Montreal, was an object of the greatest importance, rendered indeed imperative, if they wished to retain their authority in the Island, by the wars of the Iroquois ; but the Company were unwilling to second their views in this respect. It fell, therefore, to the lot of private individuals to accomplish this design. Several persons in France, powerful from their connections and full of religious zeal, formed themselves into a Society consisting of thuty-five members, for the purpose of colonizing the Island. It was proposed that a French g2 1 Klill II I : If '■: ! ■ 1 m I, !i 36 SITE CHOSEN. village should be established, and be well fortified to resist a sudden irruption of the natives ; that the poorer class of emigrants should there find an asylum and employment, and the rest of the Island be occupied by such friendly tribes of Indians as had embraced Christ- ianity, or wished to receive religious instruction ; and it was hoped that in time the sons of the forest might become accustomed to civilized life, and subsist by cultivating the earth. The greater part of the Island had been granted to Messrs. Charrier and Le Royer ; but whether disposed of by them, or forfeited, to the Crown does not appear from any official record that has been preserved.* The king, however, ceded the whole of it, in 1640, to the association, who took formal possession of it at the conclusion of a grand mass which was celebrated on the occasion in a tent. The following year M. de Maisonneuve, one of the associates, brought out several families from France, and was appointed Governor of the Island. On the 17th of May, 1642, the spot destined for the city was consecrated by the Superior of the Jesuits, who also dedicated a small chapel, hastily constructed, in which he deposited the host. This ceremony had been preceded, three months before, by a similar one in Paris, where all the associates went together to the chm:ch of Notre Dame ; those of them who were priests officiated, and all of them supplicated the " Queen of Angels" to take the Island uiider her protection. The ceremony, at Montreal, was celebrated on the 15th of August, the day observed by the Romish Chm'ch in honour of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary ; a great number both of French and Indians were present, and nothing was omitted which it was supposed would give to the natives • Bouchette, VILLE MARIE, OR MONTREAL, FOUNDED. 37 a lofty idea of the Christian religion. Thus, " a few houses," as Bouchette observes, " built close together in the year 1640, on the site of the Indian viL'age of Hochelaga, was the commencement of the city of Montreal, or, as it was first named, Ville Marie." On the evening of this memorable day, Maisonneuve visited the Mountain. Two old Indians who accom- panied him, having conducted him to the summit, told him that they belonged to the nation which had formerly occupied the country he beheld. " We were," said they, " a numerous people, and all the hills which you see to the East and to the South were peopled by us. The Hurons drove from thence our ancestors, some of whom took refuge with the Abenaquis, some with the Iroquois, and some remained with their conquerors." The Governor urged the old men to invite their brethren to return to their hunting grounds, assuring them that they should want for nothing, and that he would protect them from every attack of their enemies. They promised to do so ; but it does not appear that they were successful. This incident, in conjunction with the prospect before and around him, might well awaken feelings of no ordinary interest in the bosom of the Governor. The unbounded tract that opened itself to his view, discovered to him dark, thick, and deep forests, whose height alone was a proof of their antiquity. Numberless large rivers came down from a considerable distance to water these immense regions. Every thing in this rude part of the New "World appeared grand and sublime. Nature here displayed such luxuriancy and majesty as commanded veneration ; and a thousand wild graces far more striking than the artificial beauties of European climates. In the year 1644, the whole of this beautiful domain became the property of the St. Sulpicians at Paris, and c3 mi m UBS- [. BT* 38 TOWN FORTIFIED. Nil lilrl was by them afterwards conveyed to the Seminary of the same order at Montreal, in whose possession it still remains. The circumstances attending the foundation of the new settlement were thus far encouraging ; and not- withstanding its exposure on all sides to the inroads of the bold, crafty, and revengeful Iroquois, it daily improved in commerce and magnitude ; and many years elapsed before any serious thoughts were entertained of fortifying it. The European inhabitants were so accustomed to place confidence in their own bravery and militai'y skill, that it was difficult for them to be convinced of the necessity of enclosing the town with a strong and durable defence ; and their comparative poverty rendered them less able to erect a fortification than to display their courage in the field. The Iroquois, perceiving the defenceless state of the place, and, above all, envious of its growing importance, renewed their attacks with increasing vigour and frequency ; so that the new inhabitants of Montreal were at last persuaded of the necessity of guarding themselves against the often meditated surprises of their enemies. An order to enclose the town was 'therefore given by the Cheva- lier de Calliers, brother to the celebrated statesman of Ryswick. At first, and for nearly forty years afterwards, this barrier consisted of only slight palisades surmounted by a bastion, and a defective redoubt built on a little hill in the centre of the town, which served as a bulwark, and which was terminated by a small square. But so simple a defence, not promising to the town and its inhabitants that security which was so essential to their prosperity and happiness, it was afterwards encompassed with the more powerful safe- guard of a wall of masonry, not very substantial, however, but only sufficient to overawe the numerous FORTIFICATIONS — FUR TRADE. 39 US tribes of Indians whose jealous attention had been drawn towards the place, or to guard against any sudden attack which they might be disposed to make upon it. This wall was fifteen feet high, with battlements ; having six or seven gates, large and small. Being thus enclosed and defended, the inhabitants soon began to pursue their different avocations with a spirit, a confidence, and an alacrity which excited sanguine expectations of the future prosperity of the settlement. Nor were these expectations disappointed. The fur trade was the first which the Europeans carried on in Canada. It was begun and regularly est^iblished at the French colony at Tadoussac, a port situated thirty leagues below Quebec. The town of Three Rivers became a second mart for this trafiic ; but in process of time the iur trade centered almost entirely in Montreal, to which place almost all the inhabitants carried their furs, and exchanged them for European merchandise. The skins were brought in canoes, which began their movements in June each year. The number of Indians who resorted to the city increased, as the reports of those who visited it extended the knowledge of what was doing there. The account of the reception they had met with, the sight of the things they had received in exchange for their goods, all contributed to increase this trafiic; so that whenever they returned with a fresh supply of furs, a new nation or tribe generally came with them. Thus, by degrees, a kind of fair was opened, to which the several tribes of the continent resorted. The fair was held annually from the begin- ning of June till the latter end of August. Many solemnities were observed, at which the Governor assisted, and guards were placed to preserve good order among such a concourse of difierent savage nations, all of whom were extremely fond of spirituous liquor8> and l! '1 J 1*1 'I '1 a' m- p fflr 40 PRICE OF COMMODITIES. when intoxicated committed great excesses. Whatever benefits, in the way of trade, these natives of the woods derived from their connection with Montreal, the introduction of the use of ardent spirits among them is an evil which they have had abundant reason to deplore. In a journal kept by the Jesuits, of the afiairs of the colony, there is an account of the price of commodities, which affords some points of comparison that may be interesting to the reader. It is stated that wood for fuel was this year, 1647, publicly sold : the price was one shilling and three pence, Halifax currency, per cord. The price of bread was fixed at seven pence halfpenny for a loaf of six pounds weight. The price of labour was one shilling and three pence per day, exclusive of board and lodging. A servant's wages were, by the year, four pounds three shillings and four pence, and a pair of shoes. Eels were sold in the market for one farthing per hundred : 40,000 had been taken that year from August to November. While the French settlements were improving in Canada, those of England on the eastern shores of America were also making progress; and a union seemed desirable to prevent that rivalry, or moderate the efiects of it, which is almost sure to take place between nations so contiguously situated and engaged in a similar pm'suit. The French Governor, M. de D'Aillebout, in 1648, proposed to the New England colonies an alliance between them and the French, one object of which was an engagement to assist each other, when necessary, in making war against the Five Nations. However desirous the English colonies might have been, on other accounts, to form such an alliance, the condition respecting the Indians was not acceptable to them, and the negotiation was broken off. Of what efiects this union, had it taken place, would have been tht Bi iiii IMPROVEMENTS. 41 productive, it is impossible to conjecture ; but it is evident that the failure of the proposition must have had an important bearing upon the events which followed, first in the continued rivalry of the two nations, then ir the frequent wars between them, and lastly in the subjugation of the whole country to the power of Britain. The prosperity of the City and Island of Montreal continued to increase. As early as the year 1657, a large part of tliis property, even at that period valuable, was cleared and settled, under the direction of the Abbe Quetus, who had arrived from France, with authority from the Seminary in Paris for that and other purposes essentially connected with the welfare of the Province. Among other important services, he founded the Seminary of St. Sulpice at Montreal for the conversion of the Indians, and for promoting the settlement of the whole domain. As soon as the members of the order residing here had taken possession of their property, they forwarded the design of establishing a hospital for the sick, in which they were assisted by munificent donations from several persons in France. In 1662, the Seminary was enlarged by further endowments, for the purpose of providing a sufficient number of young men for the priesthood, and of supplying the new parishes with cures. The Company of One Hundred Partners, though attentive to their own interests in rigidly guarding their monopoly and all its exclusive privileges, had been all along regardless of the general welfare of the colony. Applications to them in favour of public improvements were, for the most part, treated with neglect. At length, in 1663, the proceedings of the Company had become so obnoxious, that the king of France, Louis XIV., under the direction of the great Colbert, then bis 4S EXTnAORDINARY EARTHQUAKE. m\ H. Prime Minister, decided upon the immediate resumption of his rights, and erected Canada into a Royal govern- ment, with civil authority and jurisdiction, according to the laws and usages of the Mother Country. This change from an ecclesiastical mission to a temporal government was followed by the happiest effects in the dvil regulation and military protection of the colony, and in the rapid extension of agriculture and commerce. This was an eventfid year to Canada. In the early part of it an earthquake, attended with some extraordi- nary circumstances, is recorded to have happened here. Some of the accounts, indeed, are presented in a manner so exaggerated, as to give it the appearance of a supernatural phenomenon, and have naturally induced some persons to doubt the truth of the narration. The following description, though sufficiently singular and striking, is far less extravagant than some others yet extant. It is taken from a manuscript in the Jesuits* College at Quebec. " On the fifth of February, 1663, about half past five o'clock in the evening, a great rushing noise was heard throughout the whole extent of Canada. This noise caused the people to run out of their houses into the streets, as if their habitations had been on fire ; but instead of flames or smoke, they were surprised to see the walls reeling backwards and forwards, and the stones moving, as if they were detached from each other. The bells sounded by the repeated shocks. The roofs of the buildings bent down, first on one side and then on the other. The timbers, rafters, and planks, cracked. The earth trembled violently, and caused the stakes of the palisades and palings to dance, in a manner that would have been incredible had we not actually seen it in many places. It was at this moment every one ran out of doors. Then were to be seen EARTHQUAKE. 43 ! I ent animals flying in every direction, children crying and screaming in the streets ; men and women, seized with afiright, stood horror-struck with the dreadful scene before them, unable to move, and ignorant where to fly for refuge from the tottering walls and trembling earth, wliich threatened every instant to crush them to death, or sink them into a profound and unmeasurable abyss. Some threw themselves on their knees in the snow, crossing their breasts and calling on their saints to relieve them frcm the dangers with which they were sm-rounded. Others passed the rest of tliis dreadful night in prayer ; for the earthquake ceased not, but continued at short intervals, with a certain undulating impulse, resembling the waves of the ocean ; and the same qualmish senssitions, or sickness at the stomach, was felt during the shocks, as is experienced in a vessel at sea. " The violence of the earthquake was greatest in the forests, where it appeared as if there was a battle raging between the trees ; for not only their branches were destroyed, but even their trunks are said to have been detached from their places, and dashed against each other with inconceivable violence and confusion — so much so, that the Indians, in their figurative manner of speaking, declared that all the forests were drunk. The war also seemed to be carried on between the mountains, some of which were torn from their beds and tlurown upon others, leaving immense chasms in the places from whence they had issued, and the very trees with which they were covered sunk down, leaving only their tops above the surface of the earth ; others were completely overturned, their branches buried in the earth, and the roots only remained above ground. During this general wreck of nature, the ice, upwards of six feet thick, was rent and thrown up in large I af In m i ^^^Sge^ggBKia-3i™a?je vmwi^i 44 EARTHQUAKE. IN M pieces, and from the openings, in many parts, there issued thick clouds of smoke, or fountains of dirt and sand, which spouted up to a very considerable height. The springs were either choked up, or impregnated with sulphur — many rivers were totally lost ; others were diverted from their course, and their waters entirely corrupted. Some of them became yellow, others red, and the great river of St. Lawrence appea: erJ entirely white, as far down as Tadoussac. This extraordinary phenor;'«^'^on must astonish those who know the size of the river, and the immense body of water in various parts, which must have required such an abundance of matter to whiten it. They write from Montreal, that, during the earthquake, they plainly saw the stakes of the picketing or palisades jump up as if they had been dancing ; and that of two doors in the same room, one opened and the other shut of their own accord ; that the cliimneys and tops of the houses bent like branches of trees agitated with the wind ; that when they went to walk, they felt the earth following them, and rising at every step they took, sometimes sticking against the soles of their feet and other things in a very forcible and surprising manner. " From Three Rivers they write, that the first shock was the most violent, and commenced with a noise resembling thunder. The houses were agitated in the same manner as the tops of trees dui'ing a tempest, with a TiOise as if fire was crackling in the garrets. The shock lasted 'lalf an hour, or rather better, though its greatest force was properly not more than a quarter of an hour ; and we believe there was not a single shock which did nv>t cause the earth to open either more or less. " As for the rest, we have remarked that, though this earthquake continued almost without intermission, yet I EARTHQUAKE. 45 I shock noise in the with The fh its her of shock >re or l:h this yet it was not always of an equal violence. Sometimes it was like the pitching of a large vessel which dragged heavily at her anchors ; and it was this motion which occasioned many to have a giddiness in their heads, and qualmishness at their stomachs. At other times the motion was hurried and irregular, creating sudden jerks, some of which were extremely violent ; but the most common was a slight tremulous motion, which occurred frequently with little noise. Many of the French inhabitants and Indians, who were eye-witnesses to the scene, state that a great way up the river of Trois Rivieres, about eighteen miles below Quebec, the hills which bordered the river on either side, and which were of a prodigious height, were torn from their foundations, and plunged into the river, causing it to change its course, and spread itself over a large tract of land recently cleared; the broken earth mixed with the waters, md for several months changed the colour of the great river St. Lawrence, into which that of Trois Rivieres disembogues itself In the course of this violent convulsion of nature, lakes appeared where none ever existed before: mountains were overthrown, swallowed up by the gaping, or precipitated into adjacent rivers, leaving in their places frightful chasms or level plains ; falls and rapids were changed into gentle streaias, and gentle streams into falls and rapids. Rivers in many parts of the country sought other beds, or total, disappeared. The earth and the mountains were entirely split and rent in innumerable places, creating chasms and precipices whose depths have never yet been ascertained. Such devastation was also occasioned in the woods, that more than a thousand acres in om* (^ignbourhood were completely overturned ; and where but a short time before nothing met' the eye •^ ^ae immense forest of trees, now were to bo seen d1 l; 'I fir I; !■ i I !f! ?n : i, !' I" 1, 46 EARTHQUAKE. extensive cleared lands, apparently cut up by the plough. " At Tadoussac (about 150 miles below Quebec on the north side) the eflfect of the earthquate was not less violent than in other places ; and such a heavy shower of volcanic ashes fell in that neighbourhood, particularly in the river St. Lawrence, that the waters were as violently agitated as during a tempest. Near St. Paul's ba^' (about 50 miles below Quebec on the north side), a mountain about a quarter of a league in circum- ference, situated on the shore of the St. Lawrence, was precipitated into the river, but, as if it had only made a plunge, it rose from the bottom and became a small island, forming with the shore a convenient harbour, well bheltered from all winds. Lower down the river, towards Point Alouettes, an entire forest of considerable extent was loosened from the main bank, and slid into the river St. Lawrence, where the trees took fresh root. " There are three circumstances, however, which have rendered this extraordinary earthquake particularly remarkable : the first is its duration, it having continued from February to August, that is to say, more than six months almost without intermission 1 It is true, the shocks were not always equally violent. In several places, as towards the mountains behind Quebec, the thundering noise and trembling motion continued successively for a considerable time. In others, as towards Tadoussac, the shock continued generally for two or three days at a time with much violence. " The second circumstance relates to tl»e extent of this earthquake, which we believe was universal tlu'oughout the whole of New France, for we learn that it was felt from L'Isle Persee and Oaspe, which are situated at thv^ mouth of the St. Lawrence, to beyond Montreal, a J also in New England, Acadia, and other places more WEST INDIA COMPANY. 47 remote. As far as it has come to our knowledge, this earthquake extended more than 600 miles in length, and about 800 in breadth. Hence 180,000 square miles of land were convulsed in the same day, and at the same moment. " The third circumstance, which appears the most remarkable of all, regards the extraordinary protection of Divine Providence which has been extended to us and our habitations ; for we have seen near us the lai'ge openings and chasms which the earthquake occasioned, and the prodigious extent of country which has either been totally lost or hideously convulsed, without our losing either man, woman, or child, or even having a hair of their heads touched."* Perhaps to the majority of readers the most singular part of this account may appear to be the unusual length of time during which the earthquake, with occasional interruptions, continued. Upon the whole, however, as here stated, it is not more incredible than many facts upon record in the history of the world, which, resting upon testimony not more complete, have i een admitted without hesitation. Besides, there are geological phenomena, and appearances in the physical aspect of the country, which render it probable that such events have actually occurred. The afiairs of the colony were, for a time, embar- rassed, and its prosperity checked, by its union, in 1664, to the other territories of the French West India Company, which thus became possessed of Canada, Acadia, and Newfoundland, conceded to them en Seigneurie, to be governed by the laws and ordinances > 1 :'fl 5 ■]. i 1% * See Montgomery Martin'a Hutory(tfthe Britith Coloniet,Vo\. III. pa. 9: a very valuable and instructive work, recently published in five large volumes, 8vo., full of interesting details respecting the British Colonial possessions in every part of the world. d2 r-1»iiMHM..«^«M.- 48 SEIGNIORIES. — SUPPLY OF WIVES. of the empire. The Company held this territory for ten years, when, finding themselves unable to manage the complicated objects of their charter, they resigned it to the Crown. In the interim, however, some improve- ments were effected; for the Indians having made peace with the French in 1668, the inhabitants began to extend their settlements and cultivate their new lands. The officers and soldiers employed in the preceding wars had grants of land made to them : to the former were given Seigniories, according to their rank; and this will account for the French names which they bear to this day. A free trade had also been granted; and from all these favourable circum- stances arose a great increase to the prosperity of the colony. The number of men, however, greatly ex- ceeded that of the women ; and the government took a method to supply the deficiency, at which some of our readers will smile. Several hundred females were seiit from France to Canada ; and on their arrival, an advertisement was published to let the people of the country know that a supply had been sent over, and that " such as had the means of supporting a wife should have their choice. The collection consisted of tall, short, fair, brown, fat, and lean. The notification had been made but a few days, when so great was the demand, that in less than fifteen days the whole of the females were disposed of. As soon as the marriage ceremony had taken place, the Governor General distributed oxen, cows, hogs, fowls, salted beef, and i.ome money, to the married people."^ In order still fiu'ther to encourage the settlement of the colony, and to promote marriage among the people, the king of France proposed certain bounties to be paid. On the * Smith's History of Canada, vol, I. page 56. MARRIAGE ENCOURAGED. 49 marriage of males of the age of twenty and wider, and females of the age of sixteen and under, the king ordered a present of twenty-five livres in each case ; and a pension of three hundred livres to be annually paid to parents having ten children bom in wedlock, and four hundred livres to such as had twelve. To the same end, His Majesty directed that a pecuniary fine should be imposed upon such parents as did not marry their children before the ages above mentioned.^ * lb. vol. I. page 59. I I iind of the d3 •I. Uf.¥' lir •■•]! CHAPTER IV. GOVERNMENT SETTLED — CONTESTS BETWEEN THE FRENCH AND ENGLISH — PERFIDY OF LE RAT. As on the final resumption of the government of Canada, by the Crown of France, a Governor, Council, and Judges were established on a more permanent and effectual plan than heretofore, by the appointment and authority of the king himself, the affairs of the colony thence assumed a national character, and must be treated more in connection with political parties and events. The progress of colonization on the eastern shores of the continent, especially in New England and New York, naturally produced a collision in matters of trade, and not seldom occasioned political jealousy between the two powers most intimately concerned in them. The province of New York originally belonged to the Dutch, from whom it had received the names of New Holland and New Belgia. The English having acquu'ed possession of it in 1664, were desirous of turning their acquisition to the best account, and with this view they sought and obtained by degrees a large portion of the fur trade. Many of the Indians brought their skins to New York, where they sold at a higher price than in the French colony ; and the English, of rge rht lier ish, a HOSTILITIES. 51 either afraid of the encroachments of the French, or desirous of extending their own territories, or more prohahly influenced by both these considerations, sought every opportunity of gaining tie alliance of the Indians. After many attempts, and frequent disappointments and changes, they at length succeeded in gaining the Iro- quois or Five Nations to their interest. These restless and turbulent tribes were often made serviceable to the interests of the English, whom they assisted in repress- ing the incursions of the French, who had often shown a desire to weaken or expel them as rivals, and in extending their commerce. Between the English and the French colonies, contiguously situated as they were upon the same continent, and whose parent-states were often at war, it was inevitable that occasions of discord should arise, and that more active hostilities should often take place. During these contentions, prolonged through the greater part of a century, many deeds of valour were performed, many sufferings were endured, many cruelties were committed, and many incidents occurred, which, in an extended history of Canada, would require to be narrated at length, but which, in a topographical work like that now before the reader, can only be occasionally alluded to or described, as they bear upon the subject immediately in view. As the French settlement increased in extent and rose in power, it assumed offensive operations on the New England frontier. The jealousy of the British colonists was roused, and both parties, aided alternately or partially by the Indians, carried on a destructive and harassing border warfare. In 1674 the whole French population, including converted Indians, did not exceed eight thousand ; but, by the aid of their native allies, whom they were more expert in conciliating, thoy for many years maintained their position, and even gained '> 62 LE RAT (kONDEAROUK). upon their less skilful but persevering neighbours. The Hurons and other powerful tribes on this side the St. Lawrence were generally in alliance with the Canadians, as the French settlers now began to be called, and were often persuaded to take a part in their martial operations, whether offensive or defensive ; but sometimes they suffered from the jealousy or the treachery of these untamed and irregular allies, of which the following is an instance. The French had often made attacks upon the Iroquois, as allies of the English, and were in their turn often annoyed by them. At length, both parties desired peace, and a treaty was set on foot for this purpose, when an extraordinary character appeared among the Indians of the Huron tnbe, possessing talents of no common order, and equally distinguished for cunning and perfidy. His name was Kondearouk, but was more familiarly known in the history of those times by the title of Le Rat. As chief of the Michillimakinac Hurons, he was dis- pleased that the French Governor- General, Denonville, should attempt to make peace with the Iroquois without consulting the Hurons his allies, and therefore deter- mined to put an end to the negotiation. With this view he marched with a chosen band towards Oataracuoy, now Kingston, where he learned that the Governor- General was waiting at Montreal for the ambassadors and hostages to conclude the treaty, and was told that it was the desire of the French that they might pass unmolested. Disregarding this wish, he lay in ambush for them, killed some of them, and made others prisoners. When charged with having violated good faith, by taking captive an ambassador, he affected surprise, and pretended that the French had authorized him to do so. Then releasing all his prisoners, except one whom he kept, as he feigned, in Uea of one of his men who had LE RAT — CRUELTIES. 58 been killed, he proceeded with his prisoner to Michilli- makinac, where he so represented matters as to induce the French commandant to put the unhappy man to death. His next step was to set at liberty an old Iroquois, who had been some time a prisoner at that place, enjoining him to return to his own countrymen, and acquaint them that while the French were amusing the natives with sham negotiations, they were daily putting them to death. This master-piece of dissimu- lation had the desired effect, by furnishing the Iroquois with a plausible pretext for breaking off the treaty. Not satisfied with this result of his treachery, Le Rat urged his countrymen, and even stimulated the Iroquois to aid him in an attack upon Montreal: the colonists were taken by surprise, a thousand of them slain, and the houses, crops, and cattle on the Island destroyed. Such exercises of severity were not, however, in those turbulent times, confined to the people called " savages,** but were occasionally resorted to even by the more civilized inhabitants of Canada. The French, having received reinforcements from Europe, sent a strong force in February, 1690, to Schenectaday, who massacred the greater part of the Indians residing there ; and are said to have perpetuated such cruelties upon those whom they took prisoners, as one is very unwilling to believe.* This massacre had the effect of inducing the Iroquois and other nations to become more closely attached to the English ; and the French were compelled to act on the defensive, and keep within their own territory. They had, however, erected several forts on the St. Lawrence, and in other parts; and given various indications of a hostile design ; and the English at Albany were at first so much alarmed, that I ■ ^! j ■ I'll] ^ IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) A / 5r ^ «^/^ A 1.0 I.I If: ilM Hf 1^ III 2.0 1^ 1.25 1.8 U 11.6 Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 56 CONTESTS. deed excited the strongest feeling both in England, and through British America, and contributed to hasten the downfal of the French dominion in Canada. CHAPTER V. CAPTURE OF QUEBEC BY GENERAL WOLFE — SUR- RENDER OF MONTREAL AND ALL THE CANADAS MONTREAL TWICE INJURED BY FIRE — ^BIGOT. The year 1759 is, and ever will be, memorable in the annals of this Colony. The French, perceiving that the English were hi earnest in their designs upon (/anada, sent strong reinforcements to their garrisons. The campaign opened with great vigour. Canada was to be invaded at three different points under Generals of high talent. The forces intended to act against Quebec were under the command of the heroic General Wolfe, who had taken Fort Louisburg and subdued the Island of Cape Breton the preceding year. Wolfe's army, amounting to about 8000 men, was conveyed to the vicinity of Quebec by a fleet of vessels of war and transports commanded by Admiral Saunders, and landed in two divisions on the Isle of Orleans the 27th of June. The French commander, Montcalm, made vigorous preparations for defence. He arranged his army of about 12,000 men, between the river of St. Charles and the Falls of Montmorenci, to oppose the landing of the British forces, which, in their attack upon his entrenchments, were repulsed. Wolfe at first doubted from this failure whether any thing could be £ 1 i< ' ■ j 58 CAPTURE OF QUEBEC. I 111 i "I I efFected in the present season ; bnt afterwards, rousing his brave and ardent spirit, and calling a council of war, he resolved upon the bold and hazardous enterprise of ascending the heights of Abraham, and attacking the city in that direction. The plan was executed with admirable skill and determination. The» result is well known : the chiefs on both sides fell, and left behind them honourable names. Wolfe died on the field of battle, in the arms of victory ; and Montcalm in the city, to which he had been carried, thankful that he should not live to see the surrender of the place. The battle on the Plains of Abraham was fought on the 13th of September, 1759 ; and five days aftei wards, on the 1 8th, Quebec surrendered to the British arms. The details of this memorable exploit belong to the history of that city,* but the glory of it will remain to distant ages, and every Briton especially, on looking back to the Ministry which projected and the General who achieved it, will reflect with delight i ' That Chatham's language was ~ni « mother tongue, And Wolfe's great name compatriot with his own." In the following spring the French army which had been collected in the neighbourhood of Moitreal, under the command of the Chevalier de Levi;, marched to Quebec for the purpose of attacking and regaining it ; but without success. A reinforcement from England arrived just in time to save the city ; and de Levi broke up his camp, and retired with precipitation towards Montreal. Vaudreuil, the Governor, finding the whole of the Canadas in danger, determined to take his last stand on behalf of French dominion, in this city ; and * The principal of these events are giren with lirely interest and effect, by the competent puntries ; that the communities of Nuns should be preserved in their constitution and privileges, should continue to observe their rules, be exempted from lodging any military, and not be interrupted in their religious exercises, for which purpose safeguard sliould be given them, if desired ; that all the communities and all the priests should preserve their moveables, the property and revenues of the seig- niories, and all other estates which they possessed in the Colony, of what nature soever they might be, and the same estates should be preserved in their privileges, rights, honom's and exemptions ; that all classes should preserve the entire peaceable property and possession of their goods, nwveable and immoveable, merchandizes, furs, and other effects ; that the archives of the Supreme Council of Quebec, and of the whole royal jurisdiction of the country, should remain in the Colony ; and that care should be taken that none of the Indiana should insult any of the subjects of the French King. The form of takmg possession was as follows. The capitulation having been signed at break of day, the troops marched into the town in the following order — 1st. A twelve pounder, with a flag, and a detachment of the Royal Artillery, commanded by Colonel Haldi- 2. Grenadiers of the line, by Colonel Massey ; man 3. Light Infantry, by Colonel Amherst ; each party preceded by a band of music. The eldest Ensign in General Amherst's army attended to receive the colours OF MONTREAL. 61 of the French regiments. Having thus obtained peace- able possession of this important city, and brought the war in Canada to a happy termination, the General on tlie next day, tlie 9th of September, issued the following General Orders, wliich, as they formed the first public document promulgated in the name of Great Britain over her newly acquired territories, cannot fail to bo perused with interest, and are worthy of being preserved in a sketch of Canadian history :— • " Camp before Montreal, September 9, 1760. Parole^ — King Georoe> — and Canada. The General sees, with infinite pleasure, the success that has crowned the indefatigable efforts of His Majesty's troops and faithful subjects in America. The Marquis de Vaudreuil has capitulated ; the troops of France in Canada have laid down their arms, and are not to serve during the war ; the whole country submits to the dominion of Great Britain. The Jiree armies are entitled to the General's thanks on this occasion ; and he assures them that he will take the opportunity of acquainting His Majesty with the zeal and bravery which has always been exerted by the officers and soldiers of the regulars and provincial troops, and also by his faitlifiil Indian allies. The General is confident, that when the troops are informed that the country is the King's, they will not disgrace themselves by the least appeai'ance of in-^ humanity, or by unsoldier-like behaviour, in taking any plunder, more especially as the Canadians become now good subjects, and will feel the good effect of His Majesty's protection." On a review of this expedition, which brought such an immense accession of territory and of power to £3 62 SURRENDER Bfii J,:.'-''-'' Britain, it is singularly delightiiil to reflect upon the comparatively slight efFosion of blood and destruction of life which attended its progress. Montreal, the last important post, we have seen surrendered without a blow. The humanity with which General Amherst treated the conquered, both French and Indians, added a high lustre to his conquest ; and Sir William Johnson deserves to be spoken of in terms of equal commendation, with reference to the scenes in which he was engaged. At the time of its surrender, Montreal was well peopled : it was of an oblong form, smTOunded by a wall, flanked with eleven redoubts which served instead of bastions. The ditch was about eight feet deep, and of a proportionable breadth, but dry ; it had also a fort or citadel, the batteries of which commanded the streets of the town from one end to the other. The plan of the city, as it existed in 1758, while in possession of the French, and which we have copied and reduced from one published at the time, will shew these particulars very distinctly. It should be recollected, however, that Vaudreuil made some additions to the fortification in the prospect of an attack by the British forces. The town itself was divided into two parts, the upper and the lower. In the lower, the merchants and men of business generally resided ; and here also were the place of arms, the royal magazines, and the Nunnery Hospital. The principal buildings, however, were in the Upper Town, such as the palace of the Governor, the houses of the chief officers, the Convent of the RecoUets, the Jesuits' Church and Seminary, the Free School, and the Parish Church. The Recollets were numerous, and their buildings spacious. The house of the Jesuits was magnificent, and their church well-built, though their seminary was but small. Several private houses in Montreal, even at this time, made a noble OF MONTREAL. 68 appearance, and the Grovemor's palace was a large fine building. The neighbourhood of the city contained many elegant villas ; and all the known regetables of Europe were cultivated in the gi^dens attached to them. By the terms of capitulation, which, under all the circumstances, were favourable to the conquered, not only the city and Island of Montreal, but the whole of the French possessions on the North American continent were surrendered to the British crown. The war between the two nations continued till the year 1763, when, by the treaty of peace concluded at Paris on the 10th of February, all these territories were formally ceded to Great Britain, much to the immediate benefit of the French inhabitants, and the improvement of the Colony at large. While the negotiations, which issued in this treaty, were pending, an instance of malignant sagacity, which deserves to be recorded here, was displayed by the French minister, the Duke de Choiseul. The idea of relinqtushing Canada was by no means palatable to the body of the people. The discontent at length rose to such a height that it reached the throne; and the political opponents of the Duke in the cabinet did not fail to press it upon the Royal attention. The King sent for his Minister to remonstrate with him on the subject. The wily statesman, who looked far below the surface; and weU understock the principles of human action, addressed his Majesty to the following efiect :— " We have now, Sire, but the one province of Canada* on the whole continent of America ; and the charge of maintaining it against such powerful neighbours as the English will not only exceed its value to us, but will * The torm vna then used in a more extended sense than it Is nonr. m\ 64 choisbul's saoagity. :', •• ]■'; ir ': '{I I I! i h\i'\\^-i i Bii f ■ ' tr «vn Ay \> open a door of perpetual hostility with England ; whereas, ceding it at once to his Britannic Majesty will prevent these inconveniences, and find constant employ- ment for the British nation. Fo^, give me leave to tell you, Sire, that if the English ministry had as much wisdom as they ought to have, they would almost pay your Majesty a subsidy to retain it. Their colonies are now all flourishing, and will speedily be all insolent. They want the protection of the Mother Country no longer than while Canada is ours. They have for several years manifested a strong inclination for independence, and will assert that independence the moment a foreign enemy is removed from their back. The provinces, particularly of Ncav England, cherish a deep abhorrence to Monarchial government. My advice, therefore. Sire, most humbly is, that the English mastifi^ may have full liberty to worry one another. So long »9 Canada belongs to your Majesty, so long the British colonies ^vill be dutiful to their Sovereign, because they will stand in need of his protection. But remove the want of that protection, and you remove their obedience instantly ; from powerful friends, you turn them into most formidable enemies, of England, and rescue all Europe from the dictation of that power." The counsel was taken ; and how far the main part of the prediction has been verified, need not here be told. The interval between the capture ot Montreal, and the formal surrender of all the French possessions in America to the British crown, was employed by General Amherst in securing his conquests, and improving the condition of the inhabitants. He establisned a milit iry government for the preservation of tranquillity, and divided the country into three districts, — Quebec, Three Rivers, and Montreal, placing General Gage at the head of the last. Within these districts he establislied (< ADDRESS ON DEATH OF OEOROB II. 65 Rereral courts of justice, which were approred hy the King, and remained in force till peace was restored and civil government established. If ever there was a people that had reason to rejoice in a change of masters, the French Canadians were that people. The conquest was a blessing to them. Under their former rulers — or rather owners, for they were despotically governed— they suffered much and enjoyed little. Peculation and fraud in the revenue enriched the few at the expense of the many. The feudal law was oppressive and degrading ; the criminal code was vague in its provi- sions, and capricious in its administration. Under the English Government some of these evils were at onoe removed or mitigated ; and the people in general were gratified with the change. To shew their sense of the benefits resulting from it, even at an early period, it may be sufficient to quote the address which was presented to the Governor on the death of George the Second, towards the close of the year 1760. All the French in Canada, of any distinction, went into mourning on the occasion. " The Address of the Officers of the Militia, AND the Merchants of Montreal, to GENE- RAL GAGE, Governor of that place. " Cruel destiny then has cut short the glorious days of so great and magnanimous a Monarch. We are come to pour out our grief into the paternal bosom of your Excellency ; the sole tribute of gratitude of a people who will never cease to exult in the mildness and moderation of their new masters. The General who conquered us has treated us more like victors than vanquished ; and has left us a pi ecious pledge [the meaning of Gage, in French] by name and deed of his I ri i>" I ' ^ 66 REGULATIONS. goodness to us. What acknowledgments arc we not bound to make for so many favours I They shall be for ever engraved on our hearts in indelible characters. We entreat your Excellency to continue to us the honour of your protection. Wo will endeavour to deserve it by our zeal, and the earnest prayers we shall ofior up to the Almighty Being for your health and preservation." The cession of Canada by the ta-eaty of Paris early in 1763, and the announcement of peace in the colonies in the spring of that year, were followed by a proclamation issued in October from His Britannic Majesty, erecting four new civil governments in the ne vly-acquired territories, viz., those of Quebec, East Florida, West Florida, and Granada ; and in November General Murray was appointed Captain General and Governor in Chief of the Province of Quebec, though the commis- sion was not received and published in the Colony till the month of August the following year. By these means His Majesty declared his intention to assimilate the laws and government of the whole Province to those of the other American colonies and provinces already under His Majesty's Government, as far as could be done consistently with the conveyance and preservation of property. The liberties of the new subjects were thus far secured by the adoption, as far as practicablr, of English laws, both civil and criminal : — and things remained in this state until the passing of the Quebec Act in 1774, when some changes took place in the former branch, or civil department of the laws, relative to the tenure and conveyance of property, in compliance with the wishes of the French inhabitants. Indeed, the anxiety of the British Government to promote the advantages of its new subjects, was so marked, that it is scarcely an exaggeration to affirm, as an able writer 1 1 FIRE. 67 has done, that " previous history affords no example of such forbearance and generosity on the part of the conquerors towards the conquered — forming such a new era in civilized warfare that an admiring world admitted the claim of Great Britain to the glory of conquering a people less from views of ambition, and the security of her other colonies, than from tlie hope of improving their situation, and endowing them with the privileges of free men."* Both the city and the island of Montreal partook of the benefits to which a return of peace, and improved institutions, were directly favourable ; yet not without some checks and interruptions. On Saturday the 18th of May, 1765, a fire broke out in the city, which in a few hours destroyed 108 houses and reduced 215 families to the greatest distress. A very interesting pamphlet, drawn up by a benevolent individual, was printed in London on this occasion, and circulated freely in behalf of the suffeiers. 4. considerable sum was raised in England, and forwarded towards their relief. The first title of the pamphlet is The Case of the Canadians at Montreal distressed by Fire ; and underaeath it, in a Vignette, a neat portrait of His Majesty George III., who contributed £500. The second title is Motives for a Subscription towards the relief of the sufferers at Montreal" in Canada by a dreadful fire^ &c. &c. These motives are presented in a great variety of forms, and urged with much benevolent importunity. It appears from an account attested by His Excellency the Hon. ,. ames Murray, Governor of the Province, that the loss amounted to more than one hundred and sixteen thousand pounds currency, equal to £87,580 sterling, and comprehended the followip" particulars : * Political Annala of Canada : quoted in Martin. %\ 66 FIRE. ■4 1 1ll' .' y 'f. Value in buildings, from a aunrey made on oath by Masons and Carpenters £31980 In Merchandise 54718 6 9 In Furniture and Apparel 2520112 6 In Cash, Plate, and Bills 48U 3 Currency £116773 18 6 Sterling £87560 8 10 The pamphlet states, as " worthy of very honorable notice, that these people were so tender of what they evidenced on oath, that great numbers declared, some time after, that they found their loss to be considerably greater than the account they had sworn to." The parts ravaged by the fire, and the extent of distress it occasioned, may be seen from the following statement :— In St. Fran9ois Street were burnt out 54 femiliee. St. Paul Street, separating the Upper Town from the Lower 87 In the Market Place 26 Hospital Street 1 St. Louis Street 15 St. Eloix Street 6 St. Sacrament Street 6 St. Nicholas Street 1 St. Ann Street 1 St. Ann Suburbs 10 Grey Sisters' Hospital, Suburbs and hausea nearest. 8 In all 215famiUee. It was computed that, by this destructive fire, one fourth part of the city was consumed, and about one third part in value. The population of Montreal at this period was about seven thousand. The fire broke out in the house of one of the British inhabitants, named FIRE. 69 Mnilies. u, one It one it this te out lamed Levingston, and wag occasioned by hot ashes carried into the garret to make soap. The want of engines and the prevalence of a very high wind were favourable to the spreading of the conflagration, which was only stopped at last by pulling down a part of the Hospital Lea Soeurs in Notre Dame Street, and some houses near it. By inspecting the plan of the city as it stood before the conquest, it will be perceived that the Hospital General of the Grei/ Nuns was without the wall, and separated from it by a rivulet (now covered) ; yet the wind was 80 strong and the flames so fierce, that several houses near it were destroyed. " Scarce was the sword well sheathed," it is aftectingly remarked, " and the widow's tears dried up, when this conflagration happened. Under their former Governors... these people had experienced numerous calamities... They dreaded the same hard fate from us, but they were agreeably sui-prised by a dififerent rule of conduct."* Thankful for the relief afforded to them in this season of distress, the inhabitants cheerfully exerted themselves to rebuild their houses and retrieve their fortunes ; but they had scarcely recovered from their difficulties when they were again assailed by the same terrible visitant. On the 11th of April, 1768, a fire broke out in the stable of one of the suffferers in the late conflagration, in the upper town ; it soon reached the adjoining houses, and raged with incredible fury over that part of the town till five o'clock the next mcrning, when it partially subsided, but not until it had consumed ninety houses, two churches, and a large charity school. The suffierers lost nearly the whole of their effects, either by the fire or by theft. The number thus • Ca*e qfth' Canadians, pa. 34. A copy of th« third edition of this work ii n the Library of the Natural History Society of Montreal ; and the compiler of this volume is indebted to the Society for the loan of it. Fl I Ul . u 70 BIGOT. |J i H J ' reduced to poverty was very great, many of them having been burnt out at the last fire. Another circumstance which, for a time, had an unfavourable effect in checking the prosperity of Canada, was the conduct of Bigot, the Intendant or financier of the King of France : the consequences resulting from it were i^r some years severely felt. Having tlie entire management of the finances of the Colony, he and his dependants had the opportunity, which they eagerly embraced, of plundering the colonists in every direction. The expenses of the civil and military establishments were supported by a paper currency termed Card money. This waf so faithfully redeemed during thirty years, that it enjoyed unlimited credit; and not only enabled Bigot to carry on his system of extortion and peculation, but for a long time to conceal them from th« Court. The French Monarch, by at length dishonouring the bills of exchange drawn by the Intendant to whom he had granted unlimited power, involved in ruin not only those who held this particular species of property, but also those who possessed any other paper currency, amounting, it is suid, at the conquest, to four millions sterling. For this the unfortunate holders received only four per cent, of the original value. But better days were in reserve for Canada. tiliiit !l Ji!''i^ CHAPTER VI. IMPROVEMENTS — ATTACK ON MR. WALKER — QUEBEC ACT — AMERICAN WAR MONTREAL TAKEN — EX- TRAORDINARY PHENOMENON — CHOLERA. II life'l: !| M The confirmation of Great Britain in the possession of Canada by the peace of 1763, gave an impulse to com- mercial enterprise ; and by the influx of British settlers and British capital, the Colony received an accession of wealth and energy, small indeed, at first, but which, gradually increasing, gave in time a new character to the population. Trade was encouraged, both domestic and with the Mother Country ; new lands were cleared, the capabilities of the country more extensively explored, and advances made in the improvement of political in- stitutions, particularly in the administration of justice in cri..iinal cases. The Canadian inhabitants began to en- joy a liberty they had never tasted before ; and the British were careful to preserve here the liberty they had enjoyed at home. Montreal had its share in the general and increasing prosperity. On the 6th of December, 1764, an occurrence took place which not only created a great sensation here, but engaged the attention of the Government in Britain. Mr. Thomas Walker, a Justice of the Peace in this city, ¥2 f Ml •I 72 OUTRAGE ON MR. WALKER. 1 ISi having, in the discharge of his official duty, exposed liim- self to the displeasure of an officer in the army who hod been engaged in a dispute about lodgings, was violently attacked in his own house on the evening of that day. A party of pers ms in disguise entered the house ; and Mr. Walker, on rising from his chair, received a wound in his forehead from a broad-sword. Attempting ta reach lus bed-chamber, where his arms were deposited^ he was attacked by five or six of the ruffians, and was 80 severely wounded and bruised that he sank down into a chair. On recovering himself a little, he struck at two of the party^ but was soon overpowered by the rest, who not only attempted to throw him upon the fire, but Avounded him severely on the head, which felled him to the ground ; and while he was in that situation one of the ruffians, kne< Mng down, cut off a part of liis right ear, and endeavoui ' to cut his throat, which Mr. Walker prevented by his struggles. In consequence of this outrage the whole Province was tlu*own into the greatest possible alarm. The inhabitants of Montreal went armed in the streets, and " never went to dinner or to their homes without pistols before them." So lively was the apprehension of danger from the military, that whenever a soldier entered a shop to purchase au article, a pistol lying ready on the counter was present- ed at him, to prevent liis committing outrage. As soon as this horrid assault was known in England, the King issued a proclamation, dated 29th March, 1765, offering a reward of one hundred guineas for the apprehension and conviction of any person concerned in the offence. The Governor of the Province, also, offered a reward of two hundred guineas, and Mr, Walker liimself an additional one of one hundred guineas. Several per- sons were apprehended on susjjicion of being concerned in this assault, truly called in tlie letter from the Secre- QUEBEC ACT. 73 tary of State to the Governor of the Province, " su Ji treatment as is a disgrace to all government ;" some were tried and acquitted ; but none who were actually engaged in the transiiction were apprehended, or, at least, convicted of the crime. At length, however, public confidence was restored, the pursuits of com- merce and industry were extended, and the general state of society improved. By a proclamation issued on the 7th of October, 1763, the King of England had declared that " all the inhabi- tants of the Province, and all others resorting to it, might confide in his Royal protection for enjoying the benefit of the laws of England." These were in gene- ral operation for some years, from that time ; but it was not till the year 1774, that the first Act of Parlia- ment was passed in relation to Canada. By this Act, among other matters, a provision was made for the better government of this part of the British dominions, and vesting the authority in a Governor, aided by a Council of not less than seventeen persons, and not exceeding twenty-three, who had power to frame ordi- nances, but not to levy taxes except for making public roads, and erecting a few local structures. By this Act the English criminal law was preserved, but it was ordained that in " all matters of controversy relative to property and civil rights, resort should be had to the rule and decision of the laws of Canada," except with regard to " lands which had been or should be granted in free and common soccage." The power of the Roman Catholic clergy to enforce the payment of tithes from the members of that church, was restored by this Act : from the time of the conquest it had been left optional. Nothing particularly afiecting the city of Montreal occurred for several years : its inhabitants continued Fa ^"ff'^TT? "T^ 74 AMERICAN "v/aR- Vi' t© increase and to prosper. At lerigth the American revolutionary war broke out. Thf tirst general Con- gress of what are now the United States was held at Philadelphia on Monday the 5th of September, 1774. Having in vain endeavoured to prevail upon the Ca- nadians to join them in their opposition to the British Government, they determined to invade the country. After obtaining possession of Ticonderoga, Crown Point, and St. John's, the Provincial forces advanced towards Montreal. A somewhat ridiculous attempt was made upon, or rather projected against, the city. An adventurer named Ethan Allen, who, without any Commission from Congress, had a principal share in the capture of the forts, was afterwards, under the assumed title of Colonel, desirous to signalize his prowess, and raise himself into importance, by surprising Mon- treal. He undertook this rash enterprise at the head of a small party, without the knowledge of the Com- mander-in-Chief, or the assistance which he might have procured from others. On the 25th of November, 1775, being met at some distance from the town by the Militia under the command of English Officers, and supported by the few regulars who were in the place, he was, as he might have foreseen, defeated and taken prisoner, with nearly forty of his party. Allen and his fellow-prisoners were sent to England, but were some time afterwards remanded back to America. Mont- gomery, however, the General appointed by the Con- gress, was more successful. He had a considerable force, while there were but few British troops in Cana- da, and the principal part of them had been engaged in the defence of St. John's. General Cai'leton, with the force he was able to collect, had been repulsed at Longueuil, so that when Montgomery advanced upon Montreal, he had only to take possession of the city, PROSPERITY OP MONTREAL. 75 which he did on the 13th of November, the naval forue in the rivtr being surrendered into his hands, and General Prescott, with the volunteers and soldiers who had taken refuge on board, becoming prisoners of war. Montgomery having found plenty of woollen manufac- tives in Montreal, took the opportunity of new-clothing his troops, who had suffered excessively from the seve- rity of the climate, the badness of the roads, and the want of suitable clothing. Montgomery was after- wards kiUed in an unsuccessful attack upon Quebec. In the month of May the following year, 1776, reinforce- ments having arrived from Britain, under General Bur- goyne, the Provincial troops abandoned the city and island of Montreal, which remained without interruption during the remainder of the war. The tranquil state of Montreal for some years pre- vious to the peace with the United States in 1783, and the acti . lly that prevailed afterwards, were favouraUe to the interest of the city, which from that period has been gradually increasing both in extent and importance. An interval of thirty-six years of security was well im- proved ; agriculture was extended ; trade, in all its departments, flourished with a rapidity before unexam- pled ; the Fur trade, especially, which always found its safest and most valuable depot in Montreal, was resum- ed with a spirit and enterprise of the most promising characters, and an influx of emigration to the city and the surrounding country, took place, which was truly astonishing. At the commencement of this period the whole population of Canada scarcely exceeded ninety thousand souls ; but within five years afterwards, about 1780, the amount was nearly double ; and the population of Montreal was augmented in at least an equal ratio. The King's Proclamation after taking possession '^f Canada, and his Commission to the Governor, were tor K#' •>< flfl ■.I Ill iii«aij)Nnii^)^i 76 VISIT OP PRINCE WIH.IAM HENRY. i" •everal years the only guides for the political regula- tion of the Colony. The Quebec Act, as has been observed, was passed in 1774 : its object was declared to be " for making more effectual provision for the govern- ment of Quebec," then including the whole of Canada. After several years trial, this Act was found to be, in many respects, inapplicable to the present state of the Province, and failed therefore to give satisfaction to the inhabitants. A plan better suited to existing circum- stances, and intended to be as nearly analogous to the British Constitution as the case would admit, engaged the attention of the Ministry at home, and issued in the Act of 179l> which has continued in operation ever since. By this Act the Colony was divided into the two Provinces of Upper and Lower Canada, and a Legislature established in each. In pm'suance or the provisions of this Act, the first Provincial Parliament of Lower Canada met at Quebec on the 17th of Decem- ber, 1792, and sat till the 9th of May following. The House of Assembly then consisted of fifteen English and thirty-five Canadian Members. The session was distinguished by great decorum and moderation through the whole of the proceedings. The debate on the Quebec Bill in the English House of Commons was remarkable, as being the occasion on which a friendship of fire and twenty years between Mr. Burke and Mr. Fox, was broken up by a ditference of political senti- ment. His late Majesty King William IV. visited Canada in the year 1787. He was then in command of the Pegobsus, 28 guns, one of the squadron under the com- mand of Commodore Sawyer. He landed at Quebec on the 14th of August ; and on the 8th of September made his entrance into Montreal, where, as Prince William Henry, he was received and entertained with n Ir. WAR WITH THE STATES. 77 all the honours due to his illustrious rank. On hit return, having landed and passed some time at Sorel, he sanctioned the alteration of the name of that Tillage to his own, William Henry. On the 10th of October he sailed from Quebec in his own ship. In the year 1812, war was declared by the United States against Great Britain, and Canada was threatened witli inrasion. Several of the inhabitants of Quebec and Montreal were disposed to flee ; but being roused to action by the Governor, Sir George Prerost, and the people at large, a general stand was made in defence of the country. All chisses acted nobly on the occasion. Montreal was twice in danger ; once in November, 1812, when the American General Wilkinson had brought his troops as far down as Presccttt, with scarcely any British force to oppose him ; but having wasted some time in delay, the troops from above advanced upon him, and the militia from below were again ena- bled to assemble. In the following spring the same General, at tlie head of more than 3,000 men, entered Lower Canada, on the western shore of Lake Champ- lain ; but being repulsed at La CoUe Mill, by Major Handcock, with an iriferior force, he retired to the United States, and closed his military career. Had the city been taken, in either of these attempts, the whole of Canada would have been in danger. Peace was con- cluded on the 24th of December, 1814, and proclaimed at Washington and Quebec in February and March of the following year. Tiie inhabitants of Montreal once more laid aside their martial implements and habits for the more congenial pursuits of industry >ind commerce. A remarkable natural phenomenon, attended with no small degree of terror to many, occurred at Montreal in the year 1819. The account of it attracted so much attention, even in Europe, as to be made the subject «f .! 'I* 78 EXTRAORDINARY llllil an elaborate Essay read before the Plinian Society of Edinburgh. On Sunday the 8th of November, dense black clouds were diffused over the atmosphere, and there fell from them a heavy shower of rain, which, after it had been allowed for some time to rest, was found to hav« deposited a substance, which to the eye, the taste, and the smell, presented the resemblance of com- mon soot. The sky, during the morning, occasionally displayed a slight greenish tint, and the sun, through the haze which surrounded it, appeared of an unusually bright pink colour. Before evening, the weather cleared up, and the next day was frosty. On Tuesday the 9th a weighty vapour descended from a thick stratum of clouds that seemed progressively to deepen in colour and density. This was an awful day : the superstitious were alarmed, and even the thoughtless were struck with a mixture of astonishment and terror, at an appear- ance for which no one could account. At sun-rise the clouds varied in colour, sometimes assuming a greenish hue ; at others, a dark and almost pitchy black. The sun, at that time, appeared of a dingy orange colour, which at moments varied to a blood red, and at others to a dark brown with but a slight degree of luminosity remaining. Towards noon the darkness was so great, that it was found necessary to have candles burning in the Court House, the Banks, and most of the public offices in the city. The gloom alternately increased or diminished, according to the ascendancy of the wind, which, during the day, was very fitful and change- able. The inhabitants began now to express their sur- prise, and indulge their speculations, as to the probable cause of so unusual an appearance. To some it appear- ed likely that a volcano had burst forth in the interior of the Province, and that its smoke, vapour, and ashes were now over the city. Even the Mountain near it, PHEKOMENON. 79 by some travellers stated to be the extinct crater of a volcano, was by many of the credulous supposed to have resumed its operations ; and the city itself at its base appeared about to undergo the fate of Pompeii or Herculaneum. By some an Indian prophecy was quoted to the effect that the island of Montreal would, at some 'period, be destroyed by an earthquake, while the oppo^.,-; 'K: 90 PAHISUES. ti is of vast utility in coiinoctiiig the imvigutiuu above Sault St. Louis with tlio port of Moutroul. Tlio Parish of Point aux Trembles extonl grandour of the French Cuthedral, the spires of other churches and chapels, the spreading mass of habitutions in the suburbs, and the well-built and lofty stores in Commissioner Street, the stranger will be impressed I with a very favourabh; idea of the city he is about to enter. If the entrance be by the Lachine road, a fine view of the city is presented just befor* descending the hill near the Tanneries, or the village of St. Henry; and another on coming along the road from Mile-end, north west of the city. In order to obtain an idea of the comparative magnitude of Montreal at the conquest and at the present time, the plan of the city na it then existed should be examined in connectioit with the modern map : the additional streets, stretching in every direction through the Suburbs of St. Ann, St. Joseph, the Recollets, St. Antoine, St. Lawrence, and Quebeci will shew how the spirit of improvement has corres- ponded with the increasing prosperity of the city. In the commencement of towns and villages, when no specific plan has been previously arranged, houses and other buildings will bo erected where land can be obtained or convenience may dictate, without much regard to regularity or order ; and hence, in towns of any considerable standing, we generally find that the earliest streets are crooked and irregular. This may be seen in St. Paul Street in this city, which, by its contiguity to the river, presents great facilities for trade, and, with the space between it and the wharf, would be occupied in preference by men of business. It contains many excellent houses, which would be seen to more advantage, had the street been wider. It reminds one of some of the central streets in London, but without their fog and smoke. From St. Paul Street, down- wards to the river, was formerly called the lower town, and the rest of the city the upper ; but though in some ,1? ^ ■■.;»ii . ' . p|ii! 1 m \ 1 \ i .. J -y^-, 9f CITY. of the cross streets there is an evident rising in the ground, in others it is scarcely perceptible. The principal streets are airy, and the new ones particularly of a commodious width; some of them running the whole length of the town, nearly parallel to the river, are intersected by others generally at right angles. An Englishman when he enters the city, and in his peram- bulations through nearly the extent of it, is struck with the French names by which nearly the whole formerly, and the greater part now, of the streets are distin- guished: the names of Catholic Saints, or eminent Frenchmen, will meet his eye in abundance. The Rue Notre Dame, extending from the Quebec to the RecoUet Suburbs, is 1344 yards in length, and 30 feet broad. It is in general a handsome street, and contains many of the public buildings. St. James Street, Graig Street, and M'Gill Street, are of still greater width, and when the yet empty spaces in each are filled up W7th elegant houses, they will be ornaments to the town. Should the first be extended in breadth in that part called Little St. James Street, so as to form a line with the other, it would be a noble street ; but should Craig Street be ever lined on both sides with houses like some few that are in it, a still superior street might be formed, in consequence of its more ample width. The spirit of local improvement has long been in active and efficient operation, and betrays no symptoms of languor or decline. Those who knew the city seven years ago, and have not seen it since, were they to visit it now, would be surprised at the change, and be scarcely able to recognise the places with which they were once familiar. Beside a multitude of new and elegant houses, in almost every part of the city and suburbs, large spaces and several streets have been considerably improved. The covering of the creek, or rather ditch. 3en m iptoms seven to yisit parcely once liouses, large lerably ditch, -Ill i^pipaiinuuiifi > \, *'.' t t IMPROVEMENTS — CLIMATE. 93 bn offensive and dangerons nuisance, in Crug Street $ the levelling of M'Gill Street; the improvements in Dalhousie Place, in the French Square, and Notre Dame Street, and of that part of St. Ann Suburbs called Griffin Town, by which a large portion of swampy land lias been raised and made available for building, may be adduced as specimens ; but the par- ticulars will be more fully noticed in their respective places in the following descriptive account. The recent houses are almost universally built of the greyish lime- stone which the vicinity of the mountain affords in abundance ; the fronts of the same material, hewn and squared ; even the new stores and warehouses are finished in the same manner, exhibiting an appearance far more agreeable than those which were constructed of the rough stones, made to fit as far as the mere placing of them could do it, nd their interstices filled up with smaller stories and mortar. Many of the houses are large, handsome, and in modern style, and some of them display great taste in design. The prevalent feature is a union of chasteness and elegance in various proportions, with a commendable absence of all meretricious style and ornament. The best houses, and most of the churches, are covered with plates of tin, a far better material for this purpose than the wooden shingles which are frequently used, and though more expensive in the first cost, are cheaper in the end, beside the advantage of safety from fire when burning flakes from neighbouring houses fall upon the roof. In comparing the climate with that of Quebec, it may be observed that in general the winter is shorter in Montreal, and the cold not so intense. Fahrenheits' thermometer in Quebec has sometimes descended to 31^ degrees below zero, = - 28^ Reaumm*, while in Mon- treal it seldom falls more than 22 degrees below Hi 1 ..'^1 m ' 04 CLIMATE AND SITUATION. fcero, =: - 24 Reaumur. In the latter city also the snow i!$ seldom so deep, or remains so long, as in Quebec. A* to the general state of the weather, it was observed, in the year 1831, that in Montreal there were 65 days of rain, 34 of snow, 168 of fine clear weather, and 98 of cloudy; and the same year at Quebec there were 160 days of rain, 56 of snow, 208 of dry weather, and 16 variable. The favourable situation of Montreal enables her to (ronmiand the trade of a considerable portion of the lower Province, and the greater part of the upper. AVith the United States also, and with Great Britain, an extensive commerce is maintained. Her position, indeed, is such as always to ensure a profitable connec- tion with every part of the continent where business is to be done. By some persons it has been thought, how- ever favourable the situation of Montreal is at present, it would have been better had the city been founded a little lower down the river, so that the difl&culty of ascending the Current St. Mary might have been avoided. Should the original design of tht Lachine Canal ever be carried into eflFect, some advantage might result from unloading vesse^i below the current. The aid of steam navigation, however, by which ships of all burdens may easily be towed up to the city, renders this a consideration of much less importance than it was formerly. '^'•' '"^ -'vu' •: .? r. The civil government of Montreal is administered by Justices of the Peace, who are appointed by the Grovernor of the Province. They are at present forty-six in munber, and have power to make certain assessments for defraying the necessary expenses of the city, and to enact and enforce such bye-laws for its regulation and advantage as are not inconsistent with the statutes of tlie realm. For a short period the municipal afiairs of 1 aw ec. ed, lya md ere ler. to the ►er. an on, ec- s is )W- 3nt, led of ien ine ^ht he aU ers /as by lor in its to nd of of fF ll ||iir;!l|wii|u|i|!ii| '"'iiiii'i »'l'!i.y 4 ^-3 !! ECCLESIASTICAL EDIFICES. the city were managed by a Mayor and Common Council. An Act passed the Provincial Legislature in 1832, forming Montreal into a Corporation, and trans- ferring the authority from the Magistrates to the corporate body ; but in 1836, the Act of Incorporation having expired, the Government again passed into the hands of tlie Justices of the Peace. The city is repre- sented in the Provincial Parliament by four Members, the East and West Wards into which it is divided, returning two each. The period of service in the House of Assembly is four years. Under the Corporation the city and suburbs were distributed into eight wards, for the more convenient arrangement and dispatch of business. These are East and West Wards, the Wards of St. Ann, St. Joseph, St. Ar jme, St. Lawrence, St. Lewis, and St. Mary. Another division of the city may be called the Military, according to which the battalions of militia, which are six in number, are col- lected from the portions of the city or subm-bs in which they reside. .... . . ,. "i :(g(gLESD^iTD(g/^L i©ra(gi PARISH CHURCH OF VILLE MARIE ; OR, CATHEDRAL OF NOTRE DAME. :.'t' The first ecclesiastics ..'ho visited the Western world from Europe were two Jesuits, who were stationed as Missionaries at Port Royal in Acadia, now Nova Scotia, in 1611, under the direction of Pere Coton, and through the encouragement of the Marchioness of Guercheville, h2 ■ti! II I 9^ JESUIT MISSIONARIES — CHURCH a lady of the French Court, zealous to propagate the Catholic faith among the Indians of this continent. But the first who came to Canada were four Recollets, who were brought to Quebec by Champlain, in T"15, with the same design. They were, the Superior of the Mission, and the Fathers Joseph le Caron, Jean D'Olbeau, and Pacifique Duplessis. Thi-ee others, Jesuits, were sent out in 1625, by Henry de Levis, Duke of Ventadour, and three more were added in the following year. In 1636 there were fifteen Jesuit Missionaries in Canada. Those who settled in Quebec, assisted by the Queen of France, the Duchess of Aiguillon, and other benevolent individuals, formed several establishments in that city and the neighbouring country, for religious instruction, the relief of the miserable, especially the sick, and the tuition of the young. Montreal, which was founded in the year 1642, as related in the third chapter, soon became the scene of similar operations. The chapel, which was a slight and hasty structure of wood, was by degrees improved and enlarged as the wants of the ^^opulation required, and was at length succeeded by a more substantial erection of stone, in 1672. This stood in what is now called the French Square, or Place d'ArmeSy and occupied the middle of Notre Dame Street, standing quite across, so fis to divide it into two nearly equal parts, and requiring travellers to pass half round the church to proceed from one part to the other. The belfry and steeple now standing in the square are the only remains of the for- nier church. It was dedicated to the Virgin Mary, to whose protection, according to the usage of the Roman Catholic Church, the city was confided, and on this account received the appellation of Ville Marie. As the inhabitants increased in number, the church, even in its enlarged state, became too small) and the church of I I ■ Of KOTRE DAME. 91 Bonsecours was erected for their accommodation. The city continuing to prosper, especially after the Colony became British, further accommodation was r ^ded ; and in the year 1824, the present magnificent Cathedral was commenced. On the third of September the cor- ner-stone was laid ; and it was so far completed as to admit of being opened for public worship on the fifteenth of July, 1829 ; when high mass was performed by the Bishop of Telmesse, and an oration delivered by the Rev. Mr. Quibler. The greater part of the Canadian Roman Catholic Clergy were present, and the solemnity was attended by Sir James Kempt, Administrator, the Staff, Corporations, and other public bodies, and upwards of eight thousand persons. The edifice is a chaste specimen of the perpendicular style of Gothic architecture in the middle ages. Of this class of buildings, it has no superior on the continent of North America ; and when the plan is completed by the intended terrace along St Joseph Street, and the two lofty towers by which those in the front are to be surmounted, there will be nothing in this part of the world to be compared with it in plain and simple gran- deur. Its only deficiency is an almost total destitution of ornament. The length of the church, from east to west, is 255 feet 6 inches, and its breadth from north to south, 134 feet 6 inches. The height of the flank is 61 feet from the flagging of the terrace to the eaves. There are six towers, so arranged that each flank pre- sents three, and the east and west ends two each. Those on the principal or west front are to be 220 fee^ high. The space between the front towers is 73 feet, by 120 in height, crowned with an embattled parapet. The flanks and east towers are each 115 feet in height. There are five public and three private entrances to the first floor, and four to the galleries, so that an audience h3 1% J)} :ll 98 CHURCH OP of ten thousand persons, the number for which it is seat- ed, may assemble and disperse in a few minutes, with- out disagreeable pressure. The number of pews on the ground floor is 504, in the first gallery 373, and in the second 368 ; total number, 1244. The eastern window at the high altar is 64 feet in height, and 32 in breadth. It is separated by shafts into five compartments, and sub-divided by muUions into 36 divisions. The windows in the flanks consist of one range, and those in the front are finished in the same style as the eastern window. The portal is formed by an arcade, consisting of three arches, each 19 feet by 49 in height. From this arcade are the entrances to the church ; and over it is placed another of the same form in relievo, which connects the towers and piers. Between these are trefoil canopy-headed niches, intended for marble statues. It was a part of the original design to have a promenade between the towers 76 feet by 20, elevated 120 feet above the surface of the Place d'Armes, from which the spectator will have a delight- ful and extensive view of the River St. Lawrence and the surrounding country. The front towers are intend- ed to contain clocks and bells, and to form observato- ries accessible by safe and easy flights of steps. The floor, from the front entrance to the chancel, is a gently inclined plane of three feet in the whole length. There are seven spacious aisles 'in the same direction, and two crossing them at right angles, one of which leads to the flank doors. The pews are raised six inches above the aisles. There are seven chapels, so placed that all are seen from the front entrance. The high altai* is nearly at the extremity of the nave : it is elevated in the chancel 2 feet 6 inches above the floor of the church, and is encompassed on three sides by semi-circular seats for the clergy, &c. The front of m NOTRE DAME. 99 the chancel is open, and is approached by an easy flight of five steps, in the form of a double semi-reverse. The eastern window, high altar, and choir, will be seen from the front door to great advantage, with a perspective view of the side windows, altars, galleries, and the groined ceiling, 80 feet in height. The vaults of the ceiling and galleries are supported in part by a double range of grouped columns, 3 feet 4 inches in diameter : from these spring the groins of the ceiling. The pil- lars are of wood, and painted '.n imitation of clouded Italian or American marble. The hue accords with the ceiling ; but the eflFect, though time may improve it, is too glaring, and is evidently inferior to that which stone pillars would have produced. The facings of the gallery trusses, and the greatest portion of the carpen- ters' work, are painted in imitation of the oak finishings in the Gothic Cathedrals of Europe. The gallery screens are in moveable pannels, and painted a crimson colour : the railing, in front of them, imitates iron, and produces an agreeable effect. There are recesses in the piers, between the windows on the first floor, intended for family monuments, and in the recesses of the windows are placed the confessional screens. Suitable arrangements are made in the interior for all the monuments and paintings that may be wanted ; and at the sides of the high altar are places assigned for twelve large historical paintings, which will occupy an admirable light from their position. The organ is placed in the upper gallery over the front entrance ; the floor in this part is elastic, and the organ projects six feet beyond thQlinf j)lFgttlleries. I'h^ choir scree'i is finished in recessed •seat»foi> the 'clergy. T)ic pulpit and canopy are attached tQ o»e oi |he pillars : the accoss to H. is from the first»/^§ftey j# • Jltj Wseimbles in for>n that in the Gothic Cathedral at Strasburg, in Germany. The high :^ iv I ' 1 • 1 100 CHRIST CHURCH. ftltar is a little in the florid style, and resembles in part that of St. Peter's at Rome. The Eastern window was intended to be filled with stained glass ; but the funds were insufficient. The effect of the present substitute for it is too glaring, and will never be fully corrected until the original design is executed. It was intended to warm the church with heated air, from furnaces placed in apartments under the floor. At present it is heated by stoves. The architect and siiperintendant was Mr. M'Donald ; the master builders Messrs. Lamontagne and St. John, natives of Canada ; Messrs. Redpath and Mackay, masons and stone-cutters, natives of Scotland ; Messrs. Perry and Wetherilt, plasterers, natives of England ; and Mr. Cox, carpenter, native of the State of New York. -^"'^ ^^^ '-'■'■^ * ^^"-::^ A near view of this edifice from the Place d' Armes, of which it forms the Eastern boundary, and more dis- tant views from different points of the ascent to the mountain in various directions, will convey to tlie observer a striking idea of its architectural character and imposing magnitude. CHRIST CHURCH: THE PBOTKSTAMT EPI8COPAI. CHUBCU, IN NOTBE DAME 8TBEET. After the cession of the Canadas to Britain, many of the soldiers, when tbjs troops were disbanded, preferred remaining here,- undo otkers aUracted bty.tne hope of commercipl Bdv^ntage, came over <«• tkis • country, so that in a .fe.w year«^ a congiderable number *of British were foimd .among the > settlers.* Many dP', these were of the Ej[H8copal persuasion, and naturally desired to in '■0 I; CHRIST'S CHURCH (ePISCOFAL) CHRIST CHURCH. lot procure clergymen from home to conduct public wor- ship according to the practice of the Church of England in which they had been educated. The greater portion of these had settled in the towns ; and expressions of their desire baring been forwarded to England, three clergymen were sent out together, and appointed to Quebec, Three Rivers, and Montreal. The Rev. Mr. Delisle, a native of Switzerland, was the first Protestant Episcopal Minister who settled in this city. When he arrived, there was no place of worship, and the people were not sufficiently numerous or affluent to build one t they readily obtained, however, the use of the Recollet . Church at such hours as the society had not occasion to use it. There was then no Protestant Bishop at Que- bec ; and in the year 1789) the Bishop of Nova Scotia came to Canada on a Diocesan visitation. The congre- gation, now much increased, applied to his Lordship for aid ; and soon afterwards obtained from Lord Dorches- ter, the Governor, the Uaie of the church which formerly belonged to the Jesuits' College, and stood near the site of the gaol. Having fitted it up with pews, they attended divine worship in it for the first time, on Sun- day the 20th of December, 1789. The Provinces of Upper and Lower Canada were erected into an Episcopal See in the year 1793. Dr. Jacob Mountain was the first Bishop of Quebec, with power over the whole diocese. A fire broke out in an old building near the church, in the month of June, 1803, which so far injured the church itself as to render it useless for the purposes of worship. A meeting of the congregation was held vrithin a few days, when measures were resorted to which issued in the erection of the present handsome structure ; in the mean time the congregation were accommodated with the use of the Presbyterian Church in St. Gabriel Street. The ■if i ii I H 102 CHRIST CHURCH. Committee appointed were Dr. Mountain, the resident minister, son of the first Bishop of Quebec, — the Hon. James M'Gill, the Hon. Judge Ogden, — J. Frohisher, David Ross, Stephen Sewell, and J. A. Gray, Esqrs. A new church being resolved upon in preference to re- pairing the old, means were taken to raise a fund by the sale of pews and by application to His Majesty, the Archbishop of Canterbury, and the merchants in Lon- don who were interested in the trade of Canada. Two spots of ground were then at liberty ; one the vacant piece which adjoined the gaol, and was occupied as a garden for the Government house ; the other that lot in Notre Dame Street on whicii the old French prison stood for- merly. The latter was preferred, being granted for the purpose by the tlien Lieutenant Governor, Sir Robert Shore Milnes. In addition to this lot the con- gregation purchased from Mr. Guy, for the sum of £500 currency, a strip of ground which ran along the rear of it, so as to admit of access to the church from Little St. James Street. A plan and specification by Mr. Berzey were selected, and a committee to direct the work immediately appointed. The contract was made in January 1805 with Messrs. Joseph Chevalier and Baptist Larochelle for the mason work, Messrs. Isaac Shey and D. Bent for the roof and covering, and Mr. Gilmore to superintend the building, and furnish the cut stone for it. The contractors began to prepare the materials, that the building might be commenced early in the spring. On the 21st day of June, the comer stone was laid with the usual formalities, by the Lord Bishop of Quebec, who came to Montreal for the purpose. Thus, after much effort, some disappoint- ments, and many interruptions, an object of such interest to the Protestant Episcopalians of this place, was put IL d train of accomplishment. CHRIST CHURCH. 103 On a plate which is imbedded in the stune, there is the following inscription : n- " Glory be to God." " Of this sacred Edifice, raised upon Ground granted fur thai purpose by our most Gracious Sovereign George III. by the ;)iou8 exertions of the Protestant inhabitants of tliis City, and dedicated to the service of Ahnighty God according to the establishment of the Church of England, tliis Corner Stone was laid by Jacob Lord Bishop of Quebec, on the 21st day of June, in the year of our Lord, 1805." In a cavity formed in the stone to which the above Plate answers as a cover, there is a ^lass bottle hermet- ically sealed, and containing the following Coins and Medals, together >vith a roll of parchment, bearing an inscription, of which the nndermentioned is a copy. In gold there is a Guinea of George III. bearing date 1792. A half Guinea, same reign, dated 1797. A third do. dated 1799. In silver there are a Shilling of George III. dated 1787. A Sixpence of the same reign, 1787. In copper there are One Penny George III. of 1797 ; a Halfpenny and a Farthing of the same King, dated 1799. Also a Halfpenny of George Prince of Wales, without date. Besides these there are two Medals, the one struck in commemoration of Lord Howe's victory of the 1st of June, 1794 ; and the other for Lord Nelson's defeat of the combined fleets of France and Spain, on the 5th of November, 1805. The inscription on the parchment roll, bears the names of the Building Committee, as follows : " This Building was erected under the direction of the following Gentlemen, being a Committee chosen by the Congregation for that purpose. The Rev. Dr. Mountain, Edward William Gray, Joseph Frobisher, Robert Cruickshanks, John Piatt, David Ross, Stephen Sewell, Esqrs, and Frederick William Ermatinger, Esq. Treasurer." ♦• Montreal, 25th June, 1805." n i- 1.!*': «•• ^i 104 CHRIST CHURCH. The funds hitherto obtained were insufficient to do more than finish the walls and the roof; and no further progress was made for some years. In 1808 the sum of £400 was received from merchants in England ; and in 1810 the Imperial Parliament voted a grant of £4000 " towards finishing the Protestant Parish Church in Montreal" ; but this was not received till 1812, and then with a diminution of nearly £800 currency, owing to a difierence in the rate of exchange during the delay. In the spring of that year the carpenter's work of the inside and the plastering, were undertaken by contract, the former by Mr. John Try, and the latter by Mr. Thomas Phillips. On the 9th day of October, 1814, divine service was first performed in the new church. The organ was erected in 1816. It is a powerful and elegant instrument made by Mr. Thomas Elliot, of London. Its original cost was £1150 sterling, but with the expense of putting it up, and other charges, it cost nearly £1600 currency. The sum was raised by subscription. The following year Dr. Mountain died, and was succeeded by the Rev. John Leeds, who had previously acted as curate. In the year 1817, application was made to the Legis- lature for an Act of Incorporation, but it was rejected. The Prince Regent was then applied to on the subject ; and letters patent, bearing date the 12th of August, 1818, were issued, constituting this church a Pansh Church and Rectory, and electing the Rector, Church- wardens, and other members for the time being, a body corporate for managing its temporal afiairs. The side galleries were erected the following year, being rendered necessary from the number of applicants for seats, owing to the great increase of the Protestant population of the city. Hitherto the church had neither a steeple nor a spire. Liberal ofiers for their erection CHRIST CHURCH. weie made, and both were added the same year, together with a clock, the donation of John Shuter, Esq. The stone work of the steeple was executed by Messrs. Surties and Muckle, and the wood work by Messrs. Clarke and Appleton. The Church is 120 feet in length, by 80 in width, exclusive of the recess for the altar, which is 12 feet in depth by 40 in width. The windows are 14 feet in height, topped with a semi-circular arch with 3^ feet nave — and 7 feet wide. The side walls are about 30 feet high. It is entered by three doors corresponding with the three passages which run along the body of the chur-^h from the entrance to the altar at the opposite end. The building recedes from the street, and is separated from it by a dwarf stone wall, surmounted by a handsome iron railing, with three neatly ornamented gates. The front is ornamented with pilasters support- ing a cornice and pediment of the Doric order of architecture. The tower is of stone, square and lofty, and from the top of it rises an octagonal prismatic spire of wood covered with tin. The height of the whole from the ground to the top is 204 feet. Surrounding the base of the spire on the top of the tower is a neat iron railing, which forms the front of a gallery or bal- cony, from whence there is an extensive view over the whole city and circumjacent country. On the top Ls a handsome vane with an iron rod tastefully formed in open work, and cross pieces indicating the four cardinal points. Of the interior, simplicity and neatness are the pre- vailing features, and where any ornament is introduced, it is in perfect unison with the style of architecture, and harmonizes with the rest. The pews are painted white, and capped with cherry wood — with the numbers neatly gilt on the doors. The side galleries are supported by I 1 •4' i f (V- ill 106 MONUMENTAL TABLETS the main columns, and the organ gallery at the end in which the choir sits, is supported by columns of the Corinthian order, very well executed. The pulpit is neat, and of a fanciful design, with a circular front : it is supported upon six columns of the Corinthian order, and ascended by two flights of circular stairs, meeting in a platform in the rear of it. The ceiling is divided into three compartments ; the centre one of which is a segment of a circle supported on three columns and two pilasters on each side, tiiirty-one feet in height. These are of the Corinthian order to correspond with the otliers, with their capitals and entablatures elegantly enriched — the capitals are cut in wood and the entabla- tures of stucco. In the circular ceiling are three handsome centre pieces of foliage work, .12 feet in diameter, each formed of stucco. The flat or level compartments of the ceilings on each side are supported by cross beams from column to column, and from these to the side walls this part is also relieved by pannels, and the soflits of these are supported on the side walls by rich freizes of elegant design and workmanship in stucco. The tout ensemble is, upon the whole, well adjusted, with every attention to durability, correctness in design, and elegance of execution. In the year 1818, the Rev. Mr. Leeds removed to Brockville, on exchanging with the Rev. John Bethune, D. D., who is the present Rector of Christ Church, having for his assistant the Rev. D. Robertson. The Rev. J. Ramsay is the minister of Hochelaga Chapel. MONUMENTAL TABLETS in Chbist Chubch. To the Hon. Richabd Cabtwbight, Member of the Legislative Council of Upper Canada. Died 27th July, 1815, aged 57. IN CHRIST CHURCH. 107 In Memory of the Hon. John Richardson, Merchant, Member of the Executive and Legitdative Councils of the Province ; a native of Portsoy, N. B., born 1776; Died in this country on the 18th of May, 1831. Erected by his Widow and Family. A wing of the General Hospital, bearing his name, has been erected to his memory, By his fellow-citizens and friends, both in Canada and Great Britain. To the Memory of the Rev. Brook Bridges Stevens, Chaplain to the Forces, and Evening Lecturer in the Episcopal Church. By his exertions the Protestant Episcopal Church at Lachine was erected. His remains are deposited beneath the Altar there. Died 13th May, 1834, aged 46. Erected by the Congregation of the Church. ti.< To Mary Grant, wife of John Forsyth, Esq. of Montreal, Merchant ; A native of Quebec. Died there 30th July, 1818, aged 41 years. Erected by her Husband. To Lieutenant-Colonel Gordon, Commanding First Battalion of the First Royal Scots Regiment of Foot. Died 24th Sept. 1814, by a wound received from the Enemy at Fort Erie, on 17th of the same month. Erected by the Officers of the Battalion. To Margaret Hatt, wife of John Jamieson, Esq. Died at Savannah, in Georgia, 16th January, 1835, aged 24. I 2 n 108 CHURCH OF NOTRE DAME DE BON-SECOURS. To AitNE Gut, wife of Samuel Wentworth Monk, Esq, one of the Prothonotaries of the Court of King's Bench, District of Montreal. Died 13th August, 1834, aged 35. THE CHURCH OP NOTRE DAME DE BON-SECOURS, IN ST. FAUL STBEETr The foundation of this Church was laid, in 1658, by the celebrated Sceur Marguerite Bourgeois, who in- tended to found here the Nunnery of the Congregation ; but, meeting with some obstacles, she visited France, whence she returned the following year with several young persons to educate, and proceeded to establish the Nunnery where it now stands, in Notre Dame Street. Some years afterwards, she was induced by the following circumstances to undertake the completion of the church. In her second visit to France in 1671, to obtain Letters patent for her institution, she was di- rected to the house of M. Pierre Chevrier, Baron de Fancamp, Priest, one of the first proprietors of the Island of Montreal, then resident in Paris. He had in his possession a small image of the Virgin, reputed to be endowed with miraculous virtue, brought by some other Priests, also associates of the company, from among the relics of their Chateau, where it had been preserved and honoured for at least a century. It was desired that this image should be removed to Montreal, and a chapel built for its reception. This, Sceur Bour- geois undertook to perform, and on her return, bringing with her the image, the inhabitants of Montreal with great zeal entered into her design. A solemn proces- sion was made on the 29th of June, 1673, to liiy the THE SCOTCH CHURCH, ST. GABRIEL STREET. 109 f principal stones of the edifice, which was finished in 1675, and mass performed on the day of Assumption, August 15th. This was the first church built of stone in the Island of Montreal, the new Parish Church, then in progress, not being quite finished, when the Church of Bon-secours was opened. In 1754, it was consumed by fire, and not rebuilt tiU 1771, when its re-erection was resumed, and completed on the 30th ff June, 1773. It continued to belong ta the Sisters of the Congre- gation, till it was disposed of, some years since, to the Fabrique of the parish ; and is now used in connection with the Roman Catholic establishment in this city. THE SCOTCH CHURCH, ST. GABRIKL STREET. 1 1 :':■ This Church and Congregation are connected with the Established Church of Scotland. When the Churcli was built, and for several years afterwards, it was the only one in this Fr> vdnce m connection with that Esta- blishment, there being no building then erected in Quebec for the Members of that Church residing tlie.c It was, in consequence, called the Scotch Church, the Protestant Presbyterian Church, or the Presbyterian Churcli of Montreal ; but for some time past, since two others have sprung up in this city, it is known by the name of the St. Gabriel Street Church.* Before it was built, the Congregation assembled in the Recollet Church. The ground on which it stands^ was purchased fronv the late Mr^ Hypolite Hertel^ with the exception of 41 * Extracted fmca the Church-book, by favour of the Coramittao: 1 3 ! THE SCOTCH CHURCH, ST. GABRIEL STREET. twelve feet in breadth, which was granted by Govern- ment from the Champ de Mars, in 1792. The Church was built the same year, by Messrs. Telfer and M'Intosh, Masons. Its size is 60 feet by 48, and it will seat 750 persons. A part of it is assigned to the use of the troops, when any Scotch Regiments ai'e quartered here. The bell in the steeple of this Church is said to be " the first Protestant bell sounded in Canada." On opening the Church, in 1792, the pulpit was occupied by the Rev. John Young, from Schenectady, the first Minister, who remained with the Congregation till 1802, when he was succeeded by the Rev. J. Somerville, who held the ofl&ce twenty years, resigning it in 1822, on an annual allowance from the Church and Congregation. The Rev. Henry Esson became his assistant in 1817, and his successor when he retired. The Rev. Edward Black was chosen assistant to Mr. Esson, and remained in that office eleven years, when •he left St. Gabriel Street, in 1833, and afterwards occupied the Church built for him in St. Helen Street. I I \ "n". Of/ -IjT- WO I: ' ! 1 (ti iili-f. jf m ik' iM 11^ 'l" •1 ^f^.■7 : • ■■■■' .V "c:.' *. / >• ■• • ■>' 1 1 *• » . » • CHAPTER VIII. , .;:;fv'r^' -■''■•'.■■' ..• ', 'V'' '' ">'■■ ^J -r : ECCLESIASTICAL EDIFICES, CONTINUED METHODIST CHAPELS JEWS* SYNAGOGUE — AMERICAN PRESBY- TERIAN CHURCH CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH SCOTCH SECESSION CHURCH — ST. ANDREW's CHURCH — ST. Paul's church — baptist chapel. BRITISH WESLEYAN METHODISTS. The Wesleyan Methodists have three Chapels in Montreal. The first occupied by them was erected in 1809> and was situated in St. Joseph Street, with a house adjoining for the resident Minister. This build- ing is at present occupied as an Exchange, and News Room. '• i The original Chapel being found too small, a lot of ground was purchased in St. James Street, on which the present elegant building was erected in 1821. It is of cut stone, and the architecture of the Grecian Doric order, with a portico corresponding. It is galleried all round, and has a fine organ. The basement story is spacious, and is appropriated to the Sunday School. It is justly considered as one of the most beautifiil edifices of the kind in the city, and has a convenient house adjoining, for the resident Minister, called the Mission House. The late Daniel Fisher,. Esq. was a munificent contributor to the erection of the building, and the Trustees have placed a neat monument in the Chapel to his memory, and " as a tribute of respect to departed m * I 112 jews' synagogue. worth." The Chapel will seat about 1000 persons, and the cost of the erection was £5,500. Another Chapel, built and occupied by the Wesleyan denomination, is situated in the St. Ann Suburbs. It is a neat stone building, erected in 1 833, with a basement story for a School. It will seat 450 persons. The third Chapel occupied by the Wesleyans h situated in the Quebec Suburbs, and will seat about 300 persons. Connected with these Chapels are six Schools, in which from 500 to 600 children receive weekly in- struction. The resident Ministers at this time are, the Rev.. R. L. Lusher, and the Rev. J. P. Hetherington.. JEWS' SYNAGOGUE. ) The Synagogue, situated at the upper end of Chen- neville Street, St. Lawrence Suburbs, is a fine specimen of the Egyptian style of architecture. The front is of cut stone, and adorned with a handsome portico with two columns. The interior of the building is remark- ably neat, fitted up with benches, which are occupied by the male part of the congregation. The gallery is supported by four handsome pillars, and is assigned to the female part of the congregation : the whole taste- fully painted throughout. Opposite to this, also in the Egyptian style, is a very beautiful mahogany Ark, over which are placed the Teif Commandments, in Hebrew characters, cut m white marble. The expense of the building vma raised by private subscription, principally amongst persons professing JudaiMu in this city» The largest dmiatiou was- givea 18, and fsleyani . Iti» semenlt ^ans is ; about )ols, in kly in- e Rev.- Chen- tecimen it is of with emark- ccupied llery is ned to taste- in the k, over lebrew private )fes8ing givea congr£gationa:. chapel. SCOTCH SECESSION CHAPEL AMERICAN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. liar by the late Mrs. Francis Michaels, of this city, amount' ing to £575 currency. This Synagogue is the only one in British North America. AMERICAN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, ST. JAHES 8TBEET. 1* l1 The American Presbyterian Congregation was or- ganised in December, 1822. The individuals who com- posed it were originally members of the St. Andrew's Congregation. Feeling themselves aggrieved by cer- tain measures there pursued, they seceded, and formed themselves into a body, with a name significant of their national origin. For a considerable time, the Congre- gation thus formed was destitute of any house for public worship, and of course subject to great expense a«id inconvenience, in procuring temporary accommodations- After some delay, a piece of ground, advantageously situated, was procured, and the corner stone of the present edifice was laid in June, 1825. In the winter of 1826 the stated religious services of the Sabbath were commenced within the walls of the new building, although it was in a very unfinished state. While struggling with the expense incident to the- erection of so large an edifice, the Congregation had procured the services of a young clergyman of great piety and talent, the Rev. Joseph S. Christmas. He remained with them until June, 1828, having been then Pastor four years. He was then compelled, by the state of his health, to resign his pastoral charge. After an interval of more than a year, the present Pastor, Rev. G. W. Perkins, commenced his services, md was regularly installed in the month of May, 1830.. H ■■ ■ ■ ■» "J W ^lW i UPIM 114 CONGREGATIONAL, OR The Congregation, originally small and often dimin- ished by emigrations from the city, has yet greatly increased, and is now one of the largest Protestant Congregations in Montreal. For some years past, the Sabbath Schools connected ^^^*^\^ this Congregation, and taught by its members, have contained nearly 500 pupils. At present there is a Free School connected with this Church, which gives gratuitous instruction to a large number of children. It was sustained for two years at an expense of One Thousand Dollars, by members of the Congregation ; but now receives aid from Government. CONGREGATIONAL, or INDEPENDENT CHURCH, ST. MAURICE STBEET. rm The Congregational cause began in this city in the year 1831. The Rev. Richard Miles, recently in connection with the London Missionary Society, in South <\frica, arrived in Montreal from England in September of that year. He found several members of this denomination without a Church or Minister of the order they preferred, and desirous of attempting the formation of a Church and Congi'egation in accordance with their principles. At their solicitation, he com- menced his public ministry on the first Sabbath of October, in a School-room hired for the purpose. Soon thereafter, a larger and more commodious Room in the Mansion House, College Street, was obtained and fitted up to accommodate an increasing Congregation. On the 6th July, 1832, fifteen individuals, including the Minister, the whole of whom had been members in I INDEPENDENT CHURCH. 115 good standing of Congregational Churches, formed themselves into a Church of Christ, after unanimously and solemnly adopting the following Declarations as the basis of their union and fellowship : " 1. TVe, regarding each other as brethiun and sisters in the Lord, do hereby form ourselves into a Christian Church of the Congregational or Peedobaptist order, professing the doctrines of faith in unison with those contained in the Assembly's Shorter Catechism, and usually denominated Calvi istic. " 2. We do hereby resolve, in the strength of Divine grace, to walk with each other as a Christian Church in all the Command- ments and Ordinances of the Lord." The need of a more suitable and permanent edifice for public worship was early felt, and measures were adopted to supply it. After much effort and self- denial on the part of the infant cause, a suitable piece of ground was purchased in St. Maurice Street, at a heavy expense, and arrangements were made to proceed with the work. The foundation stone was laid in the month of July, 1834, and the building was finished and opened for public worship on the second Sabbath of February, 1835. It is an exceedingly neat and well finished structure, having an elegant portico of the Doric order, and appropriate iron railing in front. The interior is at once comfortable and elegant, seating about 400, without galleries. There is a large School-room underneath, in which the usual Week Evening Services are held, and where a School of about 1 00 children assemble on the Lord's Day. The whole building, above and be- low, is lighted h gas. The cost was £1700. In August, 1835, the Rev. R. Miles announced his intention to resign the pastoral charge of the Church, and to proceed to a Missionary station in the country. In October, the Rev. H. Wilkes, A. M., of Edinburgh, Hi :M 1 I 1 '. !1 Ii 116 SCOTCH SECESSION CHURCH. was invited to recross the Atlantic, and take the oversight of the Church. Early in the year 1836, the Colonial Missionary Society, in connection with the Congregational Union of England and Wales, was formed ; and, being desirous of obtaining the services of a competent individual to act as their Corresponding Agent in the Canadas, Mr. "Wilkes accepted this ap- pointment, and also complied with the call of the Church. He arrived with his family in August, 1836 ; and having spent some time in a journey through Upper Canada, on the business of the Colonial Mission, he commenced his stated labours in Montreal on the first Sabbath in October, 1836. Mr. Wilkes is the present Clergyman. The Church is connected with the Congregational Union for Lower Canada, which consists at present of thirteen Churches and Ministers. The Congregational Union of Upper Canada con°' '^ of ten Churches and Ministers. These bodies are in correspondence with the several Congregational Unions in Great Britain. SCOTCH SECESSION CHURCH, *H LAGAUCHETIERE STBE£T, ST. liAWBENCE SCBUBBS. Many of the Emigrants from Scotland, connected with the Secession Church in that country, when writing to their friends at home complained of the religious destitution in which they felt themselves here, and feeling still an attachment to the Church in which they had been educated, requested that some Ministers of that communion might be sent out. At length the United Associate Syrwd undertook a mission to the Canadas, and in 1832 sent out several Missionaries. All proceeded to Upper Canada, except SCOTCH SECESSION CHURCH. 117 the Rev. Mr. Robertson, who remained in Montreal, where he designed to form a church. His prospects of success were encouraging, but aft ^ 134 GENERAL HOSPITAL. SCALE OF PATIENTS, FOR SEVERAL YEARS. In door. Out door. Tear ending May 1, 1826 601 591 772 556 451 797 1830 1909 1296 769 1C29 , 1152 To Oct. 1, 1838 561 — 1827. — 1828. — 1829. — 1830. — 1831. — 1832. — 1833. — 1834. — 1835. — 1836. — 1837. 682 381 491 319 440 782 2452 1650 1072 819 635 1528 377 ' PRESENT RULES OF THE INSTITUTION. Every person who has contributed to the erection of the Hospital, or who shall hereafter contribute to its fund £25 Currency, and an An'iual Subsci iption for life of £3 Currency, is constituted a Life Governor. Annual Governors are eligible on contributing a sum under £%£>, and not less than £10, and an annual payment thereto of £2 or more. There are at present forty-four Governors, includ- ing those annually elected : they meet every quarter for the trans- action of business. Two Governors are appointed weelily to visit the Hospital, and report upon its condition. The Committee of IManagirment, elected from among the Gover- nors, meet weekly (on Friday) to audit, inspect, and approve of all accounts, in order to their liquidation, and report, through the Secretary of the Corporation, a statement of all their transactions, to each quarterly meeting of the Governors. They have charge of the property of the Corporation, and are empowered to enforce all necessary attention to economy, cleanliness, &c. The Medical Officers are eight in number, and visit the Hospital in rotation every two months ; — under ordinary circumstances, opce a day. Their services are gratuitous. The Medical Officers fcrm a Board, called the "Medical Board of the Montreal General Hospital." Its duty is to superintend the Medical Department, and examine and report upon the qualifications of individuals applying for the appointments of House Physician, House Surgeon, Apothe- cary, Clerks, Dressers, &c. he all and ins the- OBNERAL HOSPITAL. 135 Every Governor and Medical Officer of the Hospital, and the Clergymen belonging to the congregations of this city, may recom- mend patients for admission into the Hospital, subject to the approval of the attenditig Physician or Surgeon. Such persons as are unable to pay for their maintenance are received as paupers. Such as can afford it, pay a sum not less than five shillings per week : the persons recommending patients under these circumstances, are responsible for the payment. Women in advanced stages of pregnancy are inadmissible. Insane and incurable diseased are not admissible : all other com- plaints are. The out-door patients receive medicines and advice without i;efer- ence to the nature of their diseases. Students can attend the practice of the Hospital on the payment of two Guineas for one year. For a further cum of two Guineas the ticket is made perpetual. No Student is eligible to a dressership unless he has studied for 18 months with some medical practitioner, and attended the Hospital six mouths at least. He will require to be approved of by the Medical Board, before he can be admiUed to that office. The Medical Board consists of — Wni. Robertson, M.D., A. F. Holmes, M.D., Physicians and Surgeons extraordinary ; J. Stephenson, M.D., T. Brunefiu, M.D., A. Hall, M.D., G. W. Campbell, M.D., J. Crawford, M.D., and S. Sewell, M.D. Apothecary, J. R. Dick. Two marble tablets, one to the memory of Dr. Cald- well, and the other to that of Mr. Leodel, are in the vestibule of the Hospital. This building is one of the principal ornaments of the city. Seen from various points of view, it it a striking and elegant object, independently of the pleasing ideas which its design cannot fail to suggest to the bene volt :it mind. Its situation, too, is highly favourable ; and probably if all the ground in the vicinity had been vacant, a more eligible spot could not have been selected. Near enough to the crowded part of the city, to be easily accessible, it has yet the advantages of a rising ground, pure air, and pleasant prospects in every direction. i I ■:,,, at,' 136 NATIONAL SCHOOL. NATIONAL SCHOOL, IN BON8ECOUB8 8TBEET. This institution is under the patronage of the Mont- real District Committee of the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, It was founded in the year 1816, and consists of two departments, the male and the female. There are separate Committees for the respec- tive departments. All who contribute lis. 8d. annually to the funds of the DistHct Committee are entitled to act as visitors. The building is pkun, but neat and extensive, and well adapted to it:" pux^se. In addition to the School and Committee rooms, there are apart- meniwS for the master and mistress : these offices are at present held by Mr. and Mrs. RoUet. The number of boys in the school is 36 French and 120 English — average attendance about 100 ; of girls 20 French and 84 English — average attendance about 70. [ont- jting year dthe spec- ually id to , and lition ipart- ire at )er of iisli— and fm Il 'I It chapk: HOTEL :j:ei; :i/-;TrERy, )' ll CHAPTER X. GREY NUNNERY — CONGREGATIONAL NUNNERY — HOTEL DIEU NUNNERY THE SEMINARY THE COLLE«E BRITISH AND CANADIAN SCHOOL HOTELS NEWS ROOM — THEATRE ROYAL — NELSON's MONUMENT. GREY NUNNERY; Or GENERAL HOSPITAL of the CHARITABLE SISTERS. When Louis the Fourteenth, in 1692, had granted, by letters patent, to the Bishop of Quebec, the Gover- nor, and their successors, power to establish General Hospitals and other similar institutions, for the relief of the sick and a^ed poor in different parts of the <»untry, several laymen, citizens of Montreal, at the head of whom was M. Charron, a native of Normandy, deter- mined to establish such an hospital in this city. They accordingly signified their intention to ti. 3 proper autho- rities, and under letters patent especially granted to themselves in 1692, proceeded to found and endow a General Hospital in Montreal, upon the same plan as that which was then building in Quebec, and determined to devote their time and fortunes to this benevolent purpose. Their design was encouraged by the gentle- men of the Seminary, who made extensive donations enjiefet en roiurej and granted also, free of all charges, 1 1 i i rill ->.»>■■ 138 ftREY NUNNERY. rents, and seigniorial dues, that extensive lot near the town gate on which the hospital now stands, with only this proviso, that if, at any future time, the said hos- pital should cease to exist, the whole premises should then revert to the Ecclesiastics of the Seminary of Montreal. The citizens in general, wliose circumstan- ces enabled thcnn to render aid, contributed liberally to this purpose, and the hospital was soon erected and put into operation. The objects of this institution were to provide an assylum for lame, superannuated, and infirm persons, where they could be lodged and fed, and have dill their wants supplied, and likewise a refuge for orphan chil- dren who were left in destitiite circumstances, where they could be employed in work suitable to their ages, put in the way of learning some trade, and receive such an education as would enable them to become valuable members of the community. The direction of the hos- pital and the management of its revenues were vested in the . foimders and their successors, but under the superintendance of the administrators in chief, who were to have the right of selling and transferring any part of the fixed property. Under the wise and prudent direction of M. Charron, the first superior, the institution made rapid progress in prosperity and importance ; new powers were given to the managers of the establishment, under the title of the Freres Charrons, partieularly one to erect within their precincts such manufactories as they might think needful for the employment of the poor ; and several purchases of real estate were made in the vicinity of Montreal, among which may be mentioned that at Pointe St. Charles, in 1693. The revenues arising from the estates were, however, at that time, very trifling, and the institution soon fell OREY NUNNERY. 139 into difficulties, and was obliged to restrict its admis- sions. After the death of M. Charron, his successor proved to be a man ill qualified to direct the aflairs of the establishment, and many of the brotherhood with- drew from it, till only two or thre»3 friars were left. On examination, it was found that the hospital was more than two thousand pounds in debt. The whole was transferred, therefore, into the hands of the seigniors administrators, in 1747 ; and by them soon afterwards committed to the care of a Society of Ladies, under the superintendance of Madame Youville. This excellent lady was the daughter of Christopher Duffort, Esq., a native of Breton, and Captain of a troop of Cavalry in tliat Colony, and of Miss Gauthier of Varennes. Miss Duffort, who had married in early life a Canadian gen- tleman, M. Fran'yois de Youville, was left a widow at 28 years of age. She retired from the world, and devoted herself to acts of charity and other religious duties. With a competent fortune fi'ora her patrimo- nial estate, she possessed also a dignity of person, a modesty of deportment, an accomplished taste, a lively wit tempered with great solidity of judgment, which gave her much influence among those who knew her, and enabled her to gratify extensively her benevolent desires. Meeting with some other ladies, whose minds were congenial with her own, they agreed, in 1737, to unite in works of charity, to live by their own industry, and place their revenues in one common fund. They procured a habitation in t! *? city, where they all resided, taking with them six aged and infirm persons for whom they provided. Having adopted rules for their mutual government, they bound themselves by vows as religious recluses, and ii-revocably devoted t'lemselves to the service of the poor, Madame Youville being recognised as the Superior of the community. 140 OHEY NUNNERY. On the surrender of the hospital by the Freres Char- rons, M. Louis de Normand, Vicar- General of the diocese of Quebec, Seignior of Montreal, and President of the Seminary, pointed out Madame Youville and her asso- ciates as very proper persons to take charge of the institution. The excellent conduct, and great benevo- lence of these ladies, had long been the theme of remark and admiration. To them the Seigniors and principal administrators of the hospital, had recourse, and imme- diately confided its management to their care. It was most readily, and even joyfully, undertaken, in the month of August, 1747, when they were only nine in number. Having taken an inventory of all the property belonging to the hospital, they took possession of it, accompanied by nine poor persons who had formerly been under their care, and four others whom they found there. The Freres, as has been stated, had left the hospital in debt. Tliis debt Madame Youville engaged to dis- charge, either from her own private funds, or from such charitable donations as she might obtain, on condition that she should be judicially appointed manager of the institution. Her name, and those of her colleagues, were inserted in the deed passed between her and the administrators, and a copy of it transmitted to the Court of France. The king, in council, confirmed and enlarged these arrangements, by letters patent dated the 3d of June, 1753. By these Madame Youville and her asso- ciates were duly installed, and legally authorized to establish this community, with ite internal regulations, under the surveillance of the Bit that time a farm upon it, as at present ; and a short time afterwards the whole seigniory of Chateauguay was likewiie bought for the institution, partly by Madame Youville and one of the other ladies. But this and other property in the neigh- bourhood of Montreal did not, till recently, yield much revenue to the support of the hospital. Grants from the legislature have enabled the Society to extend it^i bounty to a greater number of lunatics and foundlings. Yet notwithstanding the aid they have received, it de- serves to be recorded, to the honour of these benevo- lent ladies, that to their industry, economy, and good management, is to be ascribed the continued and increas- ing prosperity of an institution, which has been of incal- culable benefit, and has relieved the Province from a number of necessitous and infirm individuals, who, with- out such a refuge, must have been a burden on society, while they dragged out their existence in a miserable condition. A yearly allowance was made by the French Govern- ment to this hospital, which was paid for many years after the colony became British ; but at the revolution it ceased, until the restoration of the Bourbon family to the throne, when, on application to the Court, all arrears were paid, both prhicipal and interest. From this and CONORiiJOATlOVAL NUNNERY. 143 Other sources a sum has been obtained, by means of which very material additio.;K have recently been n^ade to the buildings of the institution. Of the scale on which this establishment is now con- <1 acted, some judgment r.iay be formed from the fact, that at least one hundred and sixty individuals are resident within its walls, and maintained by its resources, besides servants and attendants whose wages amount to a considerable sum. BLACK NUxVNERY; Or CONVENT OF LA CONUBEOATION DB NOTRE DAME, Was founded by the celebrated Marguerite Bourgeois, who commenced the undertaking in the year 1659, with some young ladies she had brought from France. The front of the Nunnei y is in Notre Dame Street, where it extei ds 234 feet, and its depth along St. John Baptist Street, is 433 feet. Beside the principal edifice for the residence of the members and pupils, the Nun- nery contains a chapel, numerous detached buildings, and a large garden. Recently, a high wall, which ran along Notre Dame Street, has been taken down, and a range of very elegant shops and houses, all of cut stone, and uniform design, has been erected. The Congrega- tion is composed of a Superior and sixty sisters. The object of the institution is female instruction in its differ- ent branches ; and the greater part of the members are employed in the work of tuition and training. Boarders are taken into the house on moderate terms, and receive a careful education. From this establishment some of tlie sisters are sent as n-' ionaries to different parts of the district, for the pur^ jse of opening and conducting schools in parishes remote from the convent. m2 ^IHhz 'i I ^K. \ * H' iB^H 144 CONGREGATIONAL NUNNERY. The pious and benevolent foundress of this institution was boiTi at Troyes, in France, on the 15th of April, 1620, and was brought to this country in September, i.u5d, by M. Maison-neuve, the Governor of the Island of Montreal, who had been revisiting France. On her arrival m this city, she commenced those labours for the instruction of young females, both of Indian and French origin, which she continued vnth much success for many years, and which, amidst many difficulties, enabled her to establish the Nunnery of the Congregation. Her design was approved by the priest of the parish, and by the Governor, who gave her the choice of any ground that was then unoccupied. She selected the spot on which the Church of Bonsecours now stands, and laid there the foundation of a chapel, in the year 1658 ; but the Abbe Quelus, who had come out to establish the Seminary of the Sulpicians, not being acquainted with her excellencies, and looking upon her design as an interference with his department and plan, he forbade her to proceed. Yielding instant obedience to him as her superior, she desisted, and returned to France for the purpose of obtaining the direction and authority of the Government. In this object she succeeded, and met also with much encowagement from the congregation to which she belonged, and other individuals, in France. In the following year she returned to Ville Marie, bringing with her, for instruction in her proposed Semin- ary, several young females who had been entrusted to her care. Finding the timber and other materials which she had collected for the Chapel of Bonsecours, either removed or rendered useless, she sought for another spot on which to execute her design, now become more es^tensive from the encouragement she had received. An ofier of some out-houses near the place where the Nunnery now stands, induced her to commence her f HOTEL DIEU NUNNBRT. 145 establ'shment there ; and in subsequent years, other grants, both of land and money, fresh arrivals of young females from France, the countenance of the authorities both there and in Canada, and lastly the issuing of Letters Patent from the King, placed the institution upon a solid basis, and secured at once both its perma- nency and its extension. The benevolent foundress had the pleasure, for many years, of witnessing its growing prosperity, and of contributing to that prosperity by her own unwearied exertions. At length, full of days and honoiurs, she died on the 12th of January, 1700, in the 80th year of her age. The black dress worn by the sisters of the Congrega- tion has given to the establishment the colloquial title we have prefixed, while by many it is denominated the Congregational Nunnery, from the fact of its being conducted by the " sisters," for the benefit of the " daughters" of the Conoreoation Je Notre Dame. , ,^j THE HOTEL DIEU NUNNERY, IN ST. JOSEPH, AND ST. PAVL STREETS. This was the first of the Religious bouses formed iu Montreal, and was commenced within two )'ears after the first occupation of the city by the Sulpicians. It was founded in 1644, by Madame de Bouillon, for tne reception of the sick and diseased poor oi boih sexes. It extends, in St. Paul Street 324 feet in front, and 468 feet in depth in St. Joseph Street. It is conducted by a Superior and tiiirty-six Nuns. Under the French Gk>vemment, it was formerly supplied with medicines and many other necessaries ; the funds for maintMuing the charity are principally derived from th;) rent of m3 M 146 SEMINARY OF ST. SULPICE. lands, assisted occasionally by grants from the Provin- cial Parliament. The establishment includes a hospital* a convent, and a chmrch, with a large garden, a cattle* yard, out-buildings, and a cemetery. It has furnished for many years a refuge for the miserable, and help for tb'* «ick, to whose comfort the sisters devote themselves with most praiseworthy benevolence. There is an air of neatness and convenience about all the buildings belonging to this charitable institution. Before the establishment of the Montreal General Hospital, in 1822, this was the only place to which the afflicted poor of various descriptions could be sent for relief. The front of the church is in St. Paul Street : it is of stone, has four pilasters of the Tuscan order, surmounted by a triangular pediment and cross, as represented in the plate. ■V^^ V- SEMINARY OF ST. SULPICE, IN NOTBE DABIE 8TB££T. ■ >i-. This establishment is one of the oldest connected with the Roman Catholic Church in Montreal. It was founded about the year 1657, by the Abbe Quelus, who liad recently arrived from France with a commission from the St. Sulpiciaiis at Paris, to superintend the settlement and cultivation of the island, and especially to found an institution on a plan similar to their own. The Seminary is the d elling-house of those members of the Sulpician family who are occupied in parochial :^ THE NEW rOLLEOE. 147 occupies three sides of a square, 132 feet long Lf 90 deep, with spacious gardens and ground attached, extending 342 feet hi Notre Dame Street, and 444 along St. Fran9ois Xavier Stieet. Connected with it is a school for junior pupils on the opposite side of Notre Dame Street, which is conducted by Les Frire* des ecoles ChretienneSi and contains about 300 children. The Seminary has also established a number of schools in different parts of the parish for a similar purpose. THE NEW COLLEGE, Or PETIT SEMINAIBE. This institution is situated in the RecoUet Suburbs, not far from M'GiU Street, and very near what was called the Little River, but which is now almost entirely arched over. The building was erected a few years ago, by the Seminary of St. Sulpice, at an expense of more than £10,000, for the purpose of rendering their plan of education as extensive as possible. The College is a handsome and capacious edifice : the body of it is 210 feet in length, by 45 broad, having at each end a wing that runs at right angles 1 86 feet by nearly 45. The arrangements have been made with every attention to convenience, utility, and salubrity, consisting of resi- dences for the princijml, professors, and masters ; a chapel, airy dormitories, and apartments for the senior and junior classes, refectories, and every domestic office. The grounds attached to the College are ample, both for gardens and places of exercise ; and the whole is surrounded bv a high wall, except the immediate front of the build j, which is separated by palisades on a parapet from College Street. The director, M. Roque, and the chief professors, are distinguished for eminence in li I 148 THE BRITISH AN1> CANADIAN SCHOOL. literature, and skill and activity in the art of instruction. A moderate annual stipend is ptud v^ith eacii of the pupils. The College was originally built for 120 resi- dent pupils. Alterations were made about three years agO) which rendered it capable of receiving 160 pupils. The number of resident pupils now varies from 130 to 150, and of non-resident pupils from 100 to 130. They are received young ; as early as ten or eleven years of age : the regular course of study lasts eight years. Besides the principal, there are in the College four professors and eight tutors. i -\ THE BRITISH AND CANADIAN SCHOOL, IN LAOAUCHETIEBE STREET. The British and Canadian School Society was insti- tuted on the 21st of September, 1822, for the purpose of promoting the education of the labeuring classes of the people of every religious persuasion. Its objects Were, first, to maintain a School On an extensive scale to educate children, and, secondly, to train up and qualify young persons of both sjxes to supply well- instructed teachers to such of the inhabitants of Canada as shall be desirous of establishing Schools on the British system. The success ■. SI i.? Methodists 30 ' 11 , 196 79 Total 275 This number has been for several years pretty well kept up ; but at present it is not so great, as, since the troub^":' commenced, several of the Canadian children have not continued to attend. The contributions also, it is to be lamented, have in some measure fallen off. It is most desirable that this excellent institution should be encouraged, and enabled to extend its beneficial influence among the rising gene- ration. Mr. Minchall is the master of the boys', and Mrs. Bendall the governess of the girls' School. ST. ANN'S MARKET Owes its origin to the public spirit of several of our citizens owning property in the neighbourhood, who have invested capital to the amount of nearly £15,000 in its erection. Messrs. Wells and Thompson furnished the plan. It extends 342 feet in length, and is two stories igh. I , y .V ' ' 150 RASCO^S HOTKL. It is built entirely of cut stone, and is a very handsome edifice. In the centre, for about forty-six feet in length, the building is fifty-eight feet wide ; the remainder being only fifty feet. The stalls are arranged to the east and west of the centre building, with a passage direct from one end of the market to the other. Fifty feet are reserved at the eastern end for poultry and vegetables, and an equal space at the western end for fish. The remainder for butcher meat is divided into thirty-two commodious and distinct stalls. A fine large hall is in the second story, in the centre part of the building, forty-six feet in height, fifty-eight in width, and forty- six in length. Proper accommodation is afibrded around the building to market gardeners and dealers in grain. The creek or " Little River," which runs under the market, exactly in the centre, has been tunnelled over ; and to the right and left of the tunnel, cellars have been consU'uci^ed seven feet in height. The butchers' stalls, we may add, are twelve feet high, and are elevated above the level of the street a few feet, to which elegant flights of steps ailbrd an easy ascent. Porticoes have been erected at each end of the building, thus maintain- ing the truly chaste and architectural character of the design. iS.^ %•■ ll'A' aJf RASCO'S HOTEL, ' IN ST. PAUL STKEET. This is the largest Hotel in the city : it can accom- modate 150 guests. On its site formerly stood the palace of Mons. Vaudreuil, Governor- General. The hotel is formed of two large separate buildings erected at the expense of £9840 : the furniture in them cost £3300. Itwasopenedonthefirstof May, 1836. The om- the The cted cost The RASCOS HOTEL. NEWS ROOM. ifS m SHi^' f D-n^ir. Dol ^i-^! .u !N4, EXCHANGE HOTEL, ETC. 141 enterprising conductor formerly occupied the splendid building next the Theatre Royal, known as the Masonic Hall, which was destroyed by fire on the 24th of April, 1833. The alarm was given while company were assembling for a Soiree Musicalej and in a few minutes the whole was in flames, producing a scene of awful grand eur and desolation scarcely paralleled in the history of Montreal. The celebrated Captain Back had been residing in the hotel, and had just sent forward the greater part of his baggage and scientific instruments, preparatory to his own removal to Lachine that evening, in his way to the Northern Regions ; so that, though most of the property in the house was consumed, he had chiefly to regret the loss of his only available barometer. The parts of the building that escaped the flames have remained a solitary ruin ever since. EXCHANGE HOTEL, IN ST. PAUL STBEET, Formerly Goodenough's, kept afterwards by Cady & Doolittle, has been established about forty years, and can furnish accommodation for seventy guests. COMMERCIAL HOTEL, IN ST. PAUL STBEET, Kept by Mr. Baker, has been established thirty-five years, and will accommodate seventy guests. OTTAWA HOTEL, IN M'gUiJO STBEET, Has been established about fifteen years, is conducted by Mr. Hall, and will accommodate forty gurats. 152 ORR's hotel — NEWS ROOM — THEATRE ROYAL. ORR'S HOTEL, IN MOTBB DAME STREET, Has been established six years, in the house formerly the residence of the Hon. J. Richardson. It contains accommodations for forty guests. There are several other hotels of a minor class, s< \e of them very respectable, and well adapted for comfort. All of them are so constructed as to be able to accom- modate a greater number of guests in cases of urgency. ; NEWS ROOM, '^ ' IN 8T. JOSEPH STREET. The News Room and Exchange was established A. D. 1821, in a neat stone building, originally erected for, and used as, the Methodist Chapel, in St. Joseph Street. The spacious room on the ground floor, well lighted and kM>nvenientIy furnished for the purpose, is abundantly supplied with newspapers from the United Kingdom — its Colonies — these Provinces — the United States, &c. &c. By the merchants in particular and the public generally, it is well supported by annual sub- scriptions. Strangers are admitted on the recommen- dation of subscribers. , ; ;, THEATRE RO Y AL, IN ST. PAUL STREET. .'^i^V The Theatre, at the eastern extremity of this street, was built in 1825, by subscription, the late Hon. John Molson being the principal shareholder. The original cost was about £6000. The late Mr. Forbes was the Street, J John [iginal IS the M/ ■';V lil\ \" r- bei t - r " ir tfv -^f nelson's monument. 153 architect. It has a neat front, with a portico of the Doric order. The whole is now the property of John Molson, Esq. Not only dramatic entertainments are performed here, but other public exhibitions are made when a large audience is expected. NELSON'S MONUMENT, IN NOTBE DAME STREET. Intelligence of the death of this illustrious commander arrived in Montreal in the winter of 1805-6, and the inhabitants of the city, eager to testify their sense of his merit, immediately commenced a subscription for the erection of a monument to his memory. The required amount was speedily raised. A Committee of five was chosen among the subscribers, and these gentlemen, in conjunction with Sir Alexander M*Kenzie, Tliomas Forsyth, and John Gillespie, Esqrs., then in London, proceeded without delay to carry the measure into effect. The Magistrates of the city having obtained from the Governor-in-Chief, Sir J. Craig, a piece of ground for general improvement, granted a portion of it at the upper end of the New Market-place, as a site for the intended column. The foundation stone was laid on the 17th of August, 1809- I" the first cut stone at the east corner of the base, a plate of lead was deposited, bearing the following inscription : " In memory of the Right Honourable Admiral Lord Viscount NeliMn, Duke of Bronte, who terminated his career of naval glory in the memorable battle of Trafalgar, on the 21st of October, 1805, this Monumental Pillar was erected, by a subscription of the inhabi- tants of Montreal, whereof the Hon. Sir John Johnston, Knight and Baronet, the Hon. James Monk, Chief Justice of Montreal, John Kichardson, John Ogilvie, and Louis Chaboillcz, Esquires, were a N 1 . ■; ■IP II r( t i li 154 NELSON S MONUMENT. Committee appointed for carrying it into execution, and the same wa!« erected under the direction of William Gilinore, 8tone-cutter und mason, from designs obtained from Mitchell, an architect in London 17th August, 1609." The monument is built of the best gray compact lime- stone, the Gemeiner Kalkstein of the German inineral- o|:rists, which is found in the neighbourhood, and possesses all the requisites for dressing well, and being exceedingly durable. The ornaments are of the artificial stone invented by Coade and Sealy of London, and wore executed by them in a style most honourable to their skill. The base or pedestal is squat e, about six and a half feet broad on each side, and about ten and a half feet in height from the ground. From the top of this a circular shaft or coliunn rises fifty feet in height, and about five in diameter. It is of the Doric order, and finished with mouldings of the same description of stone. On the top of the pillar a square tablet is i)laced, and the whole is surmounted with a statue of the hero whose death it commemorates, eight feet in height, but appearing to a spectator on the ground of the ordinary size. The likeness is well preserved, and the attitude judiciously chosen. The face is directed towari--- n '^^tBw ■ . . , . ■!...- ^Jlt-"-1f; % m [ 1 J f IH^'' , ' :'. ■ t:'"''im«)ii*'»:a 'JlKiyi'^ ||U|M|^J^Lu j^^'l^m.. IP 'Kfi ^41 -.: uZ^ ■ ■ ^{,m ' E^^WmiS ■ ..^^.r- \m'- ?""■■ wfr^':'-'^' w» ^KZ i^'^'viHil ^t- -vifsai-s" • .-.l-j»"»«»— ''"**' JBSSpri! :: - ■iHIHil BARRACKS. GOVERNMENT HOUSE. '■♦^•(/••'■•'-'-"T^ ' i ;■ WATER WORkS. 163 WATER WORKS, IR irOTBE DAME STREET. The city of Montreal, and the parts thereto adjacent, are supplied with water under an act of Parliament of the year 1801. The old company under the manage- ment of Thomas Schiefelin and others, laid out a very large sum of money in order to supply the city by wooden pipes from a source in rear of the mountain, but owing to the scanty supply of water and the pipes bursting constantly, they could not proceed in their ope- rations. In the year 1819, the company sold its charter to the late Thomas Porteous, Esq^ and others, who took up all the wooden pipes, and relaid iron conduits of 4 inches bore, which lasted up to the year 1832. The works were then purchased by the present company of proprietors, who have laid out considerable sums of money in improving them. The main conduits now laid down through the principal parts of the city are of iron of 10 and 4 inches bore, and the other parts are laid down with lead and iron pipes of dimensions in pro- portion. There are now upwards of 1 1 miles of main conduits laid down. The water is forced by a steam engine of 14 horse power, from the river St. Lawrence up into two cisterns in a building in Notre Dame Street, containing a quarter of a million of gallons. Montreal is better supplied with water than any other city on this continent, with the exception of Philadelphia. From the commencement of these works up to the present time, the sum of nearly £70,000 has been ex- pended by the several companies. M. J. Hays, Esq., is the manager of the works. Those who have no wells, and are not supplied by the water-works, are served by water-carriers from the river* ■ i I 164 CHAMP DE MARS — KEW MARKET. THE CHAMP DE MARS Was originally a small field not well adapted for military exercise, and very slightly entitled to the name that was given to it. Within a few years it has been made level, and very much extended, so as to form a space of 227 yards by 1 14. It is now an excellent parade, as well as an agreeable promenade for the inhabitants of the city. From this spot there is a fin^ view of the well- cultivated grounds, beautiful orchards, and country- houses towards the mountain. Our view is taken in a different direction from near the N. W. angle. THE NEW MARKET. The old market-place, where the Custom-house now stands, being found too small, a new site was rendered indispensable. The present market, occupying the ground on which stood the College founded by Sieur Charron, but destroyed by fire many years back, is 36 yards wide, and reaches from Notre Dame Street to St. Paul Street. In the middle of the space are ranges of stalls for butchers, covered in by a roof supported on wooden pillars. Great care is taken to enforce the regulations to insure cleanliness, and the good condition of the meat oflijred for sale. On the two principal market days — Tuesday and Friday — in each week, the Kiiarket is well supplied with every necessary and almost every luxury for the table, in great abundance, both animal and vegetable. On other days, too, articles can be procured, though the supply is not equally abundant. The produce of the upper part of the district is almost wholly brought hither for sale, and some from the United States, especially fish from Boston in the ^ I! 'j|' i^^ ^^1 r I n m^wmm^^^^^f^^ 1 !•) CUSTOM HOUS'E BANK OF MONTREAL — CITY BANK. 165 ■■^m winter. At the upper end of this market is erected the monumental column in honour of Nelson, as described at page 153 ; and opposite to this is the military guard- room. At the lower end, near the river, is the Figb Market. , , ^ .. BANK OF MONTREAL, IN QT. JAMES STREET, "Was first chartered in 1817, with a capital of £250,000 ; and re-chartered in 1837, with a capital of £500,000. The building originally occupied by this company was destroyed by fire in 1820. The present edifice was erected at an expense of more than eleven thousand pounds. It is a large and elegant building of cut stone, ornamented in four compartments with emblematical devices of Agriculture, Manufactures, Arts, and Com- merce, executed in bas-relief. The portico is of the Doric order. The Hon. Peter M'Gill is President, and the Hon. Joseph Masson, Vice-President of this Institution. The days of discount are Tuesday and Friday. CITY BANK, ST. PAUL STBEET. This Bank was opened on the 1st of November, 1833, with a capital of £200,000, and chartered in April, 1838. It occupies a handsome building near the south-west end of the street. A handsome portico, supported by fluted Tuscan pillars, has been added since our plate was engraved. The President is John Frothingham, Esq. ; and the Vice-President, Alexander MiUar, Esq. Days of discount Monday and Thursday. v-K i ■hi I i iv- 166 people's bank, etc. PEOPLE'S BANK, or BANQUE du PEUPLE, IN ST. FBANCOIS XAVIEB STBEET, Was opened on the 11th of July, 1835. The Presi- dent is L. M. Viger, Esq.; and the Vice-President J. DeWitt, Esq. Days of discount, Tuesday and Friday. i\ BANK OF BRITISH NORTH AMERICA. MONTREAL BRANCH, — IN ST. JAMES STBEET. This Bank was opened on the 8th of March, 1837, under the control of Austin Cuvillier, Albert Furniss, and James Ferrier, Esquires. Days of discount, Wednesday and Saturday. ' BANK OF UPPER CANADA, t AGENCY OF, IN ST. JAMES STREET^ Commenced on the 1st of September, 1838. It is conducted by Joseph Wenham, Esq., as manager for the Upper Canada Bank. CUSTOM HOUSE, BETWEEN ST. PAUL STREET AND THE BIVEB. The business of the Customs was, till lately, transacted in a building situated in Capitol Street. This being found inconvenient, a new custom-house was erected on the site of the old market. It is of the Tuscan order, from a design by Mr. Ostell. The building was commenced in 1836, and opened for business in 1833. It has its CUSTOM HOUSE. 167 A " Long Room," not yet occupied, excellent vaults, and every other requisite office, well fitted up, and adapted for a greater extent of business than the port at present supplies. Its size is 60 leet by 45, French ; and the expense of its erection was £4500. It is one of the few buildings that have been completed without exceed- ing the estimate. The hall below is ornamented with fluted Doric pillars, which support the floor of the next story. The east front, next the river, has a handsome portico, supported by four stone pillars, and is rusticated to half its height. Both fronts are surmounted by tri- angular pediments. When the buildings which inter- cept the view from Commissioner Street are removed, the Custom House will appear to great advantage. Some idea may be formed of the amount of business done herei in the Customs, from the following state- ment : — Promn. Dutiet. Croum Dutiet rear*. VeueU. Tonru^t. Currency. Sterling, 1831 80 19.085 £24,646 5 9 £4,492 19 3 1832 117 27,704 46,848 6 11 10,«49 18 2 The amount of Duties will, of course, vary with circumstances each season : subsequent years have not been equally productive of revenue with 1832. < • o2 •-= .';^"> ( I CHAPTER XII. NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY — MONTREAL LIBRARY — M'GILL COLLEGE — M'TAVISH's HOUSE — VIEW FROM the hay market — hochelaoa chapel — st. Helen's island — ship yard — rope manufactory — the police force. ! NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, LITTLE ST. JAMES STREET. The origin and object of this laudable Society, which was founded in 1827, are thus clearly stated in the First Annual Report, delivered by the Committee of Manage- ment, on the 26th of May, 1828 : " It is now only twelve months since a few gentlemen, casually met together, proposed the establishment of this Socisty. They were not unaware of the difficulties they would have to encounter. In all communities, the persons who devote themselves to scientific pur- suits, are few. In communities such as this, where wealth is comt paratively little, where no opulent endowments take off the necessity of attention to securing a livelihood, and where in consequence the attention is directed into channels, very different from those of scientific research, not many ccnld be expected to join in assisthig the Society by their personal exfrtions, however pleased they might be to see it arise. Anticipating, therefore, but a small list of mem- bers, and aware also that at different times, associations had been formed for literary purposes, which had gradually been dissolved, the founders of the Society saw the necessity of a bond of union independent of the personal characters of the first members, — 9 NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 169 Tisible sign of the existence and utility of the Institution, and around which the members might at all times rally. With a view, then, to afford this bond, to prevent the tendency to dissolution, the pro- posers of the Natural History Society resolved to found a Museum, an institution which experience has proved to have great power in calling the attention to scientific pursuits, and the want of which was forcibly felt by several members, who looked back upon the causes which in their younger days retarded their own improve- ment. But the mere collection of the productions of nature would leave the design of the Society imperfect without the possession of books, that treat of such objects. They are mutually dependent on each other. One without the other leaves the work half done, but both connected give the greatest facilities for instruction which can be afforded. In addition therefore to the possession of a Museum, it was one of the first objects of the Society to secure a library of books on Science in general. On these principles, and with thes« views, The Natural History Society was established." Whatever serves innocently to occupy the mind is in itself a benefit, as it keeps the rational powers in healthy action, and may aflbrd occasional relief from the severer pursuits of business or labour ; but when researches like those of Natural History, which discover so many evidences of the wisdom and goodness of the Almighty, occupy the leisure of any considerable portion of the community, greater advantages still may be expected to result from such an employment of the faculties. A laudable curiosity is gratified, an elegant pursuit en- couraged, useful knowledge increased, a habit of obser- vation and arrangement promoted, the social principle exercised, and fresh motives presented to admire tl»t» Creator in his wonderful works. The design met with general approbation among those who were most able to support it. Numbers of gentlemen desirous of exciting a taste for scientific pursuits and of promoting the extension of knowledge, enrolled their names a . Converse, nnd has been severd years in constant and successful operation. These works were established in 1825, on a smaller scale than that on which they are conducted at present. Every description of cordage is manufac- tured here, on a patent method, by appropriate mn- clunery. The quantity of hemp consumed is from 150 to 250 tons annually, employing from thirty-six to fifty hands. The sale of the cordage manufactured, is gene- rally in Quebec and the Upper Province. The walk is 1 200 feet in length, the greater part (900 feet) two «tories l^gh, a^d another portioti three stories. A new «tone building has just been erected, to contain a st^am* engine, giving motion to all the patent machinery for the manufacture of the different kinds of cordage, with additional apparatus for making ship blocks. The hemp used in these works is Russian, imported from En^and. Various attempts have been made to introduce and encourage the growth of hemp in the Canadas, but hitherto without success. The soil and climate, in the opinion of good judges, appear to be well adapted to the cultivation of this article. The failure has been attributed to the mode in which encourage- ment has been offered. Every farmer who has raised any quantity of hemp, whether small or large, has been left to prepare it himself for the market, and as this is a process to which the growers were unaccustomed, it P 2 •■ti' '- K' ' ; ' ■ ji 'H R '1 1 ■ 1 i B L 180 THE POLICE FORCE. was scarcely ever performed well ; and so great a variety was found as to quality and dressing in the different parcels sold, that it was found impossible to work them together. It has been suggested, as a mode of over- coming this difficulty, that Government, or a company, should furnish seed to such of the farmers as would und* rtake to sow it, and, when raised, buy the hemp from them in the stalk ; that buildings should be erected in convenient places, to which the farmers might carry their produce, and in which the cleaning and dressing should be performed, so that the preparation should be uniform, and the article rendered fit for immediate manufacture in the Colony. The method formerly employed by Government was attended with great ex- pense, and productive of small benefit ; a' d even that has ceased ; whereas the plan now proposed would not only ensure a saleable and uniform article, but would probably induce the farmer to devote a portion of his land every year to its cultivation. Mr. Biiss, in his work on the Trade,, Industry^ and Resources of CaU' ada, observes, " it has been for sometime a subject of regret that attempts to introduce the culture of hemp in Canada, were not made or prosecuted with better success ;*' and that by the repeal of a law by which Colonial hemp was admitted free into Britain, " a net revenue of many thousands was abandoned,** while " about one million yearly continues to be given to foreigners for what we might well begin to produce for ourselves." THE POLICE FORCE. This Force was organized in consequence of an or-, dinance issued during the administration of the Earl of Durham, on the 28tH of June, 1838. It consists of THE POLICE FORCE. 181 102 privates, four mounted patroles, six Serjeants, and six corporals, under the command of four officers, viz., Capt. Alexander Comeau and Lieut. Worth, for divi- sion A, and Capt. William Brown and Lieut. William Suter, for division B. The superint ient is Mr. P. Leclere. The day duty commences at 7, A. M. and ends at 6, P. M. Every man is on duty every three hours in winter, and six hours in summer. Night duty commences at 6, P. M, and ends al 6, A. M. The time of relief in winter is governed by the weather, at the discretion of the officer on duty: in summer, every four hours duty relieves. The expense is borne by the Civil Home Government, and amounts to at least six thousand pounds per annum. A book of admirable Regulations has been published for the guidance of the police, and all its operations are scrupulously conducted in accordance with them. The jurisdiction of the police extends throughout the city, suburbs, harbour, and island of Montreal, together with the parishes of Laprairie de la Magdelaine, Lon- gueuil, Boucherville, Varennes, Repentigny, Lachenaie, St. Vincent de Paul, St. Martin, and Isle Perrot, The numerous apprehensions which the Police have effected shew the necessity of such a force, while it may be hoped that its future exercise, in conjunction with the eflbrts that are making to promote temperance and good morals, will contribute to the peace and good order of the city and its environs. m *•!( p 3 nl m i '! J' 'i CHAPTER XIII. ORPHAN ASYLUM — LADIES* BENEVOLENT SOCIETY — BIBLE SOCIETY — TRACT SOCIETY — SUNDAY SCHOOL UNION TEMPERANCE SOCIETY — ^BAPTIST MISSION- ARY SOCIETY FRENCH CANADIAN MISSIONARY SOCIETY — mechanics' INSTITUTION — GAS WORKS — TRADE AND COMMERCE LACHINE CANAL. THE PROTESTANT ORPHAN ASYLUM, IN ST. ANTOINE STREKT. " Upon the dissolution of the Female Benevolent Society, in February, 1822, the officers and members of that institution consigned their orphan proteges^ and their flourishing little school, to the care and mainte- nance of the Protestant churches in this city. The Rector of the English Episcopal, and the Ministers of the two Presbyterian churches, accepted the charge."* A house was taken in St. Louis Suburbs, and two rooms in it fitted up as school rooms, that the boys and girls might be taught separately. The officers of the Society consist of a first and second Directress, a Treasurer, Secretary, and Committee of management. Every > From the Minute-Book of the Society. m THE ORPHAN ASYLUM. 183 lady who contributes annually £1 58. is eligible to office. A meeting of the officers is held at the bouse of the institution on the first Monday in every month, to receive applications for admission, and attend to the general concerns of the establishment. Two members of the Committee in rotation take the monthly superin- tendance ; they visit twice a week, and submit their report to the General Board of Directresses at eacii monthly meeting. Children of all Protestant denominations are admitted into the asylum, but are afterwards brought up in the principles of the Church of England, uniformly attend- ing the Episcopal place of worship and Sunday Schools. For ten years after its establishment, the wants of the community required that the asylum should receive both orphans and children whose surviving parent was unable to provide for them. But many disadvantages attended the arrangement ; and upon the establishment of a Ladies* Benevolent Society for the support of widows and fatherless children, the directresses were happy to limit their inmates to orphans solely. They previously found that the good intentions of the Society were frustrated by the improper interference of the parents ; and frequently after comfortable situations had been provided for the children, the ill-judging parents would insist on removing them, to the manifest injury of the Society who sc placed them. At present each individual who selects a child from the asylum is required to sign a legal indenture in duplicate, by which he is bound to provide for the suitable maintenance, instruc- tion, &c. of the child, to infovm the directresses once every year of the condition and welfare of the child, and at the expiration of the term of service to provide him or her with a new and proper suit of clothes. A certificate is also required Arom the clergyman, or some V\ i ■I *\ ili tJ. m I 184 THE ORPHAN ASYLUM. well-known individual, of the respectability and religion^ character of the person to whom the child is to be en- trusted. They are not sutfered to leave the asylum before the age of eight or nine } ears, except in cases where they are to be adopted into respectable families, which frequently happens. The si'perintendant and matron instruct the orphans in the rudiments of a reli- gious and useful English education ; and the girls, in addition to plain needle work, are early taught to share in all the domestic duties of the establishment. The average income of the Society, derived from annual subscriptions, donations, legacies, and Legislative grants, is about £275. The expenditure, of course, will vary with the number of children, and other circumstances. The admissions for the first six years, viz., from 1822 to 1827 inclusive, were 110 ; in the following years, to 1838, they were, 3, 8, 17, 16, 42, 11, 26, 7, 14, 10, respectively. The highest numbers belong to the years of cholera— 1832 and 1834. In the Report for 1837, it is remarked that this " charity has, by the munificence of the public, — yielded the comforts of a humble, but happy home, to 264 children, of whom 238 have been provided for, the greater proportion with respectable farmers in the coun- try, from whence the ladies frequently have the satis- faction of receiving favourable accounts, both of their spiritual and temporal welfare ; many a;e adopted into religious families ; and several restored to their friends-" Ofiicers of the institution— Mrs. Duncan Fisher, 1st Directress; Mrs. J. Macdonnell, 2d Directress; Mrs. Ross, Treasurer; Mrs.M'Cord, Secretaiy; Dr.Arnoldi, jun., attending Physician. There is something very consolatory and delightful to a benevolent mind in the thought, that the exertions of the Societies mentioned in Uiis and the following ladies' benevolent society. 185 article have been so well supported by the inhabitants of Montreal, so wisely made and sustained by the Ladies engaged in the management, and so beneficial to the unfortunate objects for whose sake these " labours of love" were undertaken. LADIES' BENEVOLENT SOCIETY. This institution originated in the year 1 832, after th« first visitation of cholera in this city, and had for its object the relief of the widows and orphans left destitute by that awful pestilence. The number of its inmates was increased by the re- turn of that malady in 1834. Since that period de&ti- tute widows and orphans have been received from time to time, as its funds would permit. These ftmds are derived from voluntary contributions, annual subscrip- tions, and occasional Legislative votes. The number of persons benefitted by this institution since its formation, up to the 2d of July, 1838, is as follows : — Persons admitted.., , m*m m*.*.**'.* ^^^ Assisted out qF doors , 320 Placed out ,. ...••••• 76 Restored to friends, ,.... 208 Total 1204 Deaths ,,, 36 Great care is taken, and a judicious plan adopted, ta place out the orphans when of sufficient age, as appren-. tices, with respectable farmers in the country, or with tradesmen in the towns. Their moral and religious training in a point never lost sight of in these engage- m III 186 MONTREAL BIBLE SOCIETY. ments. Many have thus been provided with comforta- ble homes, and the means of future settlement. The average annual receipts, for six years, amount to £601 9 If ; and the expenditure to £559 14 8. Of the whole amount of the six years, viz., £3608 14 10^, the sum of £500 has been received from the Provincial Legislature, leaving a balance of £3108 14 10^, raised flolely from the voluntary contributions of the charitable within the city of Montreal, to this object alone. The Government, under the Earl of Durham, having caused enquiry to be made relative to this excellent charity, it may be hoped that further aid may be extended to it, to . enable it, in coming years, to enlarge the sphere of its benevolent operations. Our present kind-hearted Gov- ernor, we are persuaded, will not suffer this and other kindred institutions to languish for want of any support which he may have it in his power to render to them. Of this Society, Mrs. Richardson is the 1st Direc- tress { Mrs. Ogden, the 2d ; Mrs. Stephenson, Treasu- rer J Mrs. W. J. Coit, Secretary ; and Prs» Stephen- son and Hall, attending t^hysipi^ns, MONTREAL BIBLE SOCIETY, AUXIl^IABV TO THE BRITISH AND FORPIGN PIBL£ SOCIETY. Among the various benevolent institutions of the present day, those which are engaged in the circulation of the Bible " M'ithout note or comment," are among the most useful and unexceptionable. Here is common ground, on which all Christians may unite to promote the honour of God and the highest happiness of man : the very idea of such a union is delightful. The Montreal Society, Auxiliary to the Parent Soci- etj^ ip London, was formed on the ^8th day of August, fvv v^ RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY. 187 in the year 1820, by a few zealous friends of tho gospel. Its commencement, though not splendid, was encourag- ing ; and by perseverance in the good work its support- ers had the pleasure of seeing it gradually increase in energy and usefulness. During the last year its issues and cash receipts have been greater than in any preced- ing period. After distributing the Scriptures, for many years, in the city, among the emigrants, in the immediate neighbourhood, and wherever application was made for them, the Committee resolved, " with reliance on God, and in co-operation with other Christians, as speed- ily as possible, to place a copy of the Bible, by sale or gift, in every family in the Province willing to purchase or receive it." This noble resolution was fully confirmed by the Society, and is now in the progress of accom- plishment. Several Branch Societies and Associations are in connection with this Auxiliary. RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY, AUXILIABT TO THE BELIGIOUS TBACT SOCIETY Of LOND02T. A Society for the same object, and with the same title, was formed in Montreal several years since ; but not being adequately supported, it became extinct. In the year 1836, a small number of friends to this mode of doing good, associated for the purpose of establishing a new one. The design succeeded ; and the Society thus formed has been doubling its issues every year since its formation. Much good has already resulted from its efibrts, which have been materially aided and extended by the Young Men's Tract Society, a promising institution carried on with much zeal and pru- dence. The Loan Tract Society, more recently esta- blished, has the same object in view, but, superadded to 188 SUNDAY SCHOOL UNION, ETC. it, a systematic attempt to excite generally throughout the city, a greater attention to the concerns of religion. SUNDAY SCHOOL UNION. The objects of this association are to promote tlie establishment of Sabbath Schools, wherever it is deemed practicable throughout the Colony, and to encourage and strengthen those already in existence. The Society is composed of members of various denominations of Chnstians ; and with a desire to promote union and fellowship among the followers of Christ, it is agreed that the Committee shall consist of the ministers and members from each of the Evangelical Protestant deno- minations of the city. A Society very similar to this was in being some years since ; and during its existence was the cause of much good ; but through various circumstances it expired. The new Society has been actively engaged in pursuance of its laudable design ; an agent has been appointed who, after visiting various parts of the Province, went to the United States, and ultimately to England, from all which places he received encouraging aid. Many new schools have been opened in different settlements, and others have been enabled to extend their operations. Mr. James Court is the Treasurer of this Society ; and Mr. Henry Lyman and Mr. J. C. Becket, the Secretaries. TEMPERANCE SOCIETY. The increasing prevalence of drunkenness, and the a^'fdl consequences thence arising, have induced a general desire among the sober and the virtuous part TEMPERANCE SOCIETY. 189 of the community, to stay the progress of so fearful an evil. Temperance Societies have been formed, with this express view, both in Europe and America ; and have been productive of the happiest effects. Thousands of drunkards have been reclaimed from their destructive habits. A Society for the " Promotion of Temperance" was formed in this city on the 9th of .June, 1828, at the suggestion of the Rev. J. S. Christmas : the declaration was against the use of distilled spirits only. The Young MeH*s Temperance Society was formed on the 29th November, 1831. The two were afterwards united. On the 27th of February, 1834, an executive Commit* tee was appointed by a convention then held, which continued to act till the formation of the Montreal Society for the Promotion ofTemperancei on the 22d of October, 1835. This Society had the two pledges of — abstinence from ardent spirits, and total abstinence from all intoxicating liquors. On the 1st of September, 1 837, the Society was re-modelled on the total abstinence principle alone, under the name of the Montreal Tem^ perance Society. The Canada Temperance Advo- cate was first published on the 1st of May, 1835, and is now in its 5th volume. It is issued monthly, at the low rate of Is. ^ annum for each copy delivered in town, or Is. 8d., if sent by mail into the country. It is edited with ability, and contains in its successive numbers much important matter relative to the great reformation which it is the object of the Society to accomplish. Public meetings for the purpose of hearing addresses in its favour are held at least monthly. The Society has an Agent employed in circulating its publications ; calling attention to and explaining its object ; endeavouring to persuade those who are unhap- pily under the debilitating and demoralizing power of intemperate indulgence, to consider their danger, and g I 'fi ii 190 BAPTIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY. renounce a habit so inconsistent with the dictates of reason, and so derogatory to the dignity of human nature ; and in any other way that may present itself to <;heck the prevalence of so monstrous an evil as that against which the eflPorts of the Society are directed. The pledge subscribed by the members, is as follows : " We, the undersigned, do agree, that we will not use intoxicating liquors as a beverage, nor traffic in them ; that we will not provide them as an article of entertainment, or for persons in our employ- ment ; and that in all suitable ways we will discountenance their use throughout the community." \ THE CANADA BAPTIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY Was formed to co-operate with a Society established in London in 1836, for the purpose of propagating the Gospel in the destitute parts of Canada. It is well known to all who have paid attention to the religious state of this Colony, that a want of the means of spiritual instruction prevails in many places, to a lamentable degree. To supply this want is the object of the Societies above mentioned : ministers and missionaries have been employed to as great an extent as the means of the Societies would allow ; and a Collegiate Institu- tion has been commenced, under the able superintendence of the Rev. Dr. Davies. Seven students have already entered, and are preparing for the work of the ministry in these Provinces. There can be no doubt that these institutions, if M'ell supported, may have an important bearing upon the future welfare of Canada ; and it is, therefore, most eai'nestly to be desired that such eff*' ' 'e support as they need may be afforded to them. The great success which has attended the efforts of '■•-li'^l' FRENCH CANADIAN MISSIONARV SOCIETY. liil Ml this denomination of Christians in the missions to the East and West Indies, and other parts of the world, gives encouragement to hope that similar efibrts in this Cclony will conduce equally to the spread of Christianity and civilization — and, in conjunction with those of other Christians, have a happy eftcct in raising the standard of moral feeling and action, as well as in answering iie higher purposes for which the Gospel was revealed. The attention of the people generally appears to be increasingly alive to this interesting subject. Every one knows how common it is to read of dis- turbances in Ireland, and it deserves to be known, that, '* wherever our English missionaries have gone to preacii tlie Gospel, and where Irish Scripture-readers have been employed, there has been no disturbance, when in other districts the soldiers have found great difficulty in quelling the riots." This simple tiact, even in the absence of higher considerations, is more than sufficient to justify the utmost activity in disseminating Christian knowledge. FRENCH CANADIAN MISSIONARY SOCIETY. From a conviction that the French Canadians are, at the present time, in a more favourable attitude for the reception of the Gospel than they have ever been, the founders and supporters of this Society have been desirous of taking advantage of this circumstance, for the purpose of making known the Gospel among them. It is ascertained that the desire of the French habitans for a liberal and Christian education is increasing daily, and that many of them are determined to secure the advantages of it for themselves and their families. The object of the Society, exclusively, is to provide means q2 I 192 MECHANICS INSTITUTION. for preaching and otherwise disseminating the truths of Christianity among the inhabitants of Canada using the French language. The plan embraces the employment of Ministers, Teachers, Book-venders, and Scripture readers, (whose native language is French) — the esta- blishment and support of schools and places of worship — and the distribution of the Holy Scriptures and other suitable books. The Constitution of the Society is liberal and truly catholic, embracing all classes of Evangelical Christians, and excluding all sectarian peculiarities. , THE MECHANICS' INSTITUTION. Associations of persons with a view to the benefit of the working classes. Have, in many parts of Britain, been undertaken with spirit, and been productive of much good, Undw proper management, they are well adapted to promote not only the mental improvement, but the moral benefit of those in whose behalf they are undertaken. By inducing those who would otherwise spend their earnings at the tavern, to pay some attention to the improvement of their minds, and by placing within their reach the means of becoming acquainted with the principles of their art, and of gaining otherwise useful knowledge, a great advantage is conferred upon them. The institute of this city was founded after the model of those at home ; the greater part of its mem- bers being artizans, by whom its afiairs were chiefly conducted. It commenced in 1828, and for several years was carried on with much harmony and success. An interruption of its meetings occurred about three years since, and was followed by the two winters of insurrec- tion, which effectually precluded all other topics than those which related to self-defence. In addition to the OAS WORKS — TRADE AND COMMERCE. 193 ordinary exercises allotted to the hours of meeting*, lectures on the principles of Mechanics, and Natural Philosophy, were occasionally delivered by Mr. Skakel, whose valuable collection of apparatus, and familiar knowledge of the subject, enabled him to render them highly interesting and instructive. It were to be wished that, on the establishment of tranquillity amongst us, the operations of this useful Society may be resumed, as it is capable, in many respects, of being made con- ducive to the improvement of a valuable class of our citizens in habits and intelligence. Apparatus and books, to the value of one hundred and fifty pounds, remain, ready for use, in the care of its officers. THE GAS WORKS Are situated at the Cross, about one mile from the city. They were begun in 1836, and some shops were lighted on the 23d of November, 1837. The cost of building, works, pipes, &c., is about £15,000. Mr. Armstrong was the projector. The stotsk is in a few hands only, E. A. Furniss, Esq., being the principal holder and manager. The proprietors were incorporated by an. Act of the Provincial Legislature, in April, 1836. The service pipes and lamps have been ready for some time, and only wait for an advance of money from the city to put them into effectual operation^ TRADE AND COMMERCE. We have more than once alluded to the favourable situation of this city for the purposes of Trade, both foreign and domestic, it is to this circunustauce that 194 TRADE AND COMMERCE. it« growth and prosperity must be traced ; for as it is not the permanent seat of Government, and has but few extensive manufactories to support it, its ccntinued increase must depend upon the trade it can command. Placed at the head of the navigation of the St. Lawrence for sea-going vessels, it has ever been, and must con- tinue, an important place of commerce. Even if the magnificent idea should ever be realized of forming a channel for ships mp to Lake Huron, it must still secure a large share of commercial activity. There is an immense back country to be supplied with foreign productions through it, and should that territory, as is probable, become more thickly settled, and the state of agi-icultiu-e be improved, an augmented demand of com- modities will ai'ise from that quarter, and greater supplies of home produce be conveyed to the city. Montreal was once the emporium of the fur trade, which is now carried on directly between Red River settlement, Hudson's Bay, and England. The delays and inconvenience of river navigation between this city and Quebec are now overcome by steamboats, which for the power of their engines, speed, and accommoda- tions for passengers, as well as their utility in towing large vessels, are scarcely to be surpassed. Formerly much time was lost by vessels from sea, and it was no unusual thing for them to be detained for weeks at the foot of the Current St. Mary, by the want of a favour- able win*! to bring them up to the town. A serious Lar to the increase of shipping continues to exist in the intricacy and shallowness of the ship channel in Lake St. Peter. Were this removed — and means have been recently \'aken to ascertain the practicability of it by a Commission of Survey — and were the " culling" of timber rendered easily practicable by some simple method, there can be no doubt th&t much, of the timber ip^VlMIW)] TRADE AND COMMERCE. 193 % trade of Quebec would be transferred to this port. Large quantities of timber pass down in rafts in front of the city, which could be more speedily, safely, and cheaply transported direct from this place in a ship's hold, if no impediment to navigation remained in the Lake. The position of Montreal with regard to the United States is very favourable also to the extension of com- merce in that quarter. The facilities of transport to Laprairie, and thence on the railroad to St. John's, and onward by water to New York, render the conveyance of goods both easy and expeditious, so that the produce of Canada may be disposed of in the States, and other articles needed here readily forwarded from that country. Thus an intercourse, mutually profitable, may be pre- served, and Montreal afford a convenient depot of mer* handise for both parties. The spirit and enterprise of the principal merchants, and of the trading community generally, if aided by the Local Government, cannot fail to render this an increasingly prosperous and flom-ishing city. It is not many years since a New York traveller, on landing from a batteau which bi'ought him from Laprairie, thus expressed himself : — " The approach to Montreal conveyed no prepossessing idea of the enter- prise of its municipality ; ships, brigs, and steamboats^ lay on the margin of the river at the foot of a hill ; no loR^ 'ine of wharves, bi"lt of the substantial free stone of wuich there is abundance in the neighbourhood^ affording security to vessels and profit to owners ; the commercial haven looked a£ ragged and as muddy as he shores of Nieu Ncderlandt when !;he Gu^de Vrow first mrde uer appearance off the battery." Now, if he were to repeat his visit, he would be ccnstra'ned to make \ different report, and find himself able to s-ep on shore without more trouble than in walking acro.a( a room. ',1 r i^r- 196 TRADE AND COMMERCE. The *' island," then nearly useless, is now united by an isthmus to the shore, and forms a most convenient landing place. The line of beautiful evA substantial wharfs that now border the magnificent St. Lawrence in front of the town, was begun in 1832, when Montreal became a Port of Entry. The funds were granted by the Pro- vincial Parliament, and the works carried on under the direction of Commissioners appointed by Government, who rendered their services gratuitously in this and other measures for the improvement of the city. After a few years* interruption, the works were resumed in the summer of last year, in consequence of additional grants by Government, and are now advancing towards the Lachine Canal, where they will terminate in that direction. When they are completed, the harbour of Montreal will be one of the best, if it be not indeed superior to every other, in North America. Commerce, then, in its various branches, has been, is, and must be, an object of primary attention to the inhabitants of this city ; and if the fostering care of the Home and Provincial Governments be extended to it, by the enactment of wholesom** regulations, and the encouragement of useiiil public works, there will be every reason to expect a progressive advancement in the scr'le of importance and utility. The increase of population in the city, as nearly as can now be ascertained, will be shewn by the following statement : Population of the city in 1800 9000 — __ __ 1825 22^000 «« — — 1831 27,297 To these numbers must be added the inhabitants of the parish without the city. These, in 1831, amounted to 4486 Making the whole population 31,783 fw^ TRADE ANjl> commerce. 197 No census has been taken since the year last men- tioned ; and that is thought not to have been made very correctly, being more probably under than above the actual number of residents in the city and parish. From a comparison of various accounts, and modes of estimat- ing, it is probable that the number at present is about tliirty-five thousand. The state of commerce for some years back will appear from the following scale of Vessels and their Tonnage which arrived at Montreal : In 1832 arrived 117 Vessels with a Tonnage of 27,713 1833 137 30,864 1834 89 20,105 1835 108 22,729 1836 93 22,133 1837 91 82,668 1838 63 15,760 Of these vessels and their cargoes, by far the greater part were from England and Scotland. A few arrive every year from Halifax in Nova Sco*' i, and other British ports in North America, and sorretimes cargoes of grain, &c. from other ports in Europ j. A statement of the Imports in the year 1837, and of the Exports of the two preceding years, will give an idea of the nature and extent of the foreign commerce of this city: Declared value op Goods imported into the Port op Montreal, direct from Sea, in the year ending the 5th of January, 1837. From the United Kingdom, Dry Goods, BritiHh manufacture and produce.. £1,211,391 12 1 Refi.ied Sugar 19,091 16 6 British Spirits 884 8 7 Playing Cards 636 1 Salt 20 Total value of British manufacture , ...£1,241,933 18 2 I ! f fi|-«V»'H*i"W^" 198 TRADE AND COMMERCE. Total value of British manufacture £1,241,933 18 2 Value of Foreign Dry Goods 64,064 6 3 Value of Liquors, Sugar, Tea, and other Gro- ceries, Foreign and Colonial 85,865 9 9 Total value of imports from the United Kingdom. £1,39 1,854 14 2 From British North American Colonies. Dry Gooils and Colonial produce, except Gro- ceries £2,740 13 2 Liquors, Sugar, and other Groceries, &c., Foreign and Colonial production 25,222 14 4 £27,963 7 6 From the United States of America. Dry Goods Tobacco, Sugar, Molasses, &c. £206 6 1 6671 11 £5877 16 2 £6630 5 8 14,023 10 2 £20,643 16 10 Total value of imports (Sterling) £1,446,239 13 8 From other Foreign States. Dry Goods and Grain , Liquors, Tea, and other Groceries Statement qf the Principal Articlet expoitedhy Sea at the Port qf Montreal, in the years 1831 and 1836. Lard, kegs ....... Beef, barrels Do half do Pork, barrels Do half do Oil — Seal, PAsks . . .. Onions, barrels .... Oil Cake, pieces.. .. Do. tons .... Oars — Ash Staves, puncheon .. Do Standard . . Do Barrel Do Ends Timber— Axh, tons. . D') Birch, do.. 183». 1836. Ashes— Pot, bris 18,901 17,120 Do Pearl, do 4,765 8,656 Apples, do Biscuit, do 352 36 223 104 201 Do bag^s 6 Do cwt 15 Butter, kegs Do firkins 51 193 12 __ Candles, boxes 239 42 Furs and Skins, pkgs.. 56 25 Flour, barrels 20,918 26,107 Do half do 3 Peas, minots 4,170 144 Do casks 61 6 Wheat, minots 65,255 49 Pats, do 920 500 183.5. IBS'!. 63 31 693 389 165 20 1,003 174 26 79 387 16 1 1,649 — 18 84 3,422 2,178 24«.997 237,H1 164,065 171,424 14,275 9,360 — 139 52 4i 67 "^ TRADE AND COMMERCE. 199 Statement (if the Principal Articles exported by Sea at the Port qf Montreal, in the years 1835 and 1836. — continued. i 9 9 7 6 6 1 11 Timber, Elm, tons.. .. Do Oak, do.. .. Do Pine, do.. .. Do Butter Nut, do Do Maple, do Do Hickory, do Boards, pieces Deals Do Ends Do Planks Handspikes Spars Soap, boxes Do half do 1835. 858 792 1,628 5 16 40 a,965 19,277 306 4,126 7,034 12 90 5 1836. I 576 569 3,103 1 49,993 1,337 6,737 2 Starch, boxes Tobacco, Leaf, hhds . . Wax, Bees', barrels . . Brandy, Canada manu- facture, pipes 52 1835. 100 9 3 Do do hhds. Do do quarter casks . . Geneva do hhds Whiskey, do. puns . . Brandy, foreign, hhds.. Wine, pipes . . , Do hhd Do quarter casks . . Do cases 75 12 2 19 6 47 1 27 24 1836. 100 10 By the Lacliine Canal much business is done with Upper Canada, and some with the United States, as tlie following Table will shew : statement of the Principal Jrt'vles imported into Montreal, by the Lachine Canal, in the years 1834, 1835, and 18 J. Ashes, barrels Beef, Butter, keg's.. Biscuit, bags.. Do cwt.. Barley, bushel Flour, barrels. Oats, bushels.. Pork, barrels. Peas, bushels. Starch, boxes. Tobacco, hhds Wheat, bushel Whisky, pipes Do puns.. Do barrels Do casks.. Do hhds.. Hams, tierces. Do loose . Live Hoffs.... Indian Com, bushels .... Lard, barrels. Do kegs. . . 9438 23 1446 438 38 1956 102017 672 755 14551 175 353 291726 2 8 502 32 a 1 ""96 793 1731 931 191 Total 1834. 11169 954 1637 438 38 1956 20169 122186 — I 672 22519 23274 14551 175 353 333 292059 2 8 509 32 2 79 365 78 355 2852 659 491 1691 1835. U. C. U. S 1392 491 1691 10004 12a'> 719 686 97269 931 370 558 536 31572 1 11 930 22 1 8 348 118 1 155 Total 1835. 4055 14059 936 936 82 4 1317 723 686 6807:104076, 1232 8 1 508 1377 121 63 370, 558 544 31572 1 11 937 22 1 8 508 1725 118 62 63 1511 306 1836. U. C. U. S 11668 943 1894 12637 162726 1550 11978 14725 657 1059 51810 ! 52 I 2153 142 63 8 103 69 223 Total 1836. 2579; 14247 92 1035 11 1908 1710 12637 7598 170324 1550 13688 14725 657 1059 51810 52 1 618 2153 142 63 9 72i 224 NoTB.— U. C. denotes that from Upper Canada, and U. S. from the United states. f\ I [i (r 200 LACHINE CANAL. Great quantities of merchandise are sent from Mont- real to Upper Canada by the same Canal : the transport upwards amounted in the year 1835 to nearly 16,000 tons, and in 1836 to nearly 14,000. The opening of the navigation in the spring is a cir- cumstance of much importance here ; and after the severity of the winter is over, is looked forward to with much interest. The foUowing table exhibits a statement of the different periods, in the last ten years, at which the ice broke up in front of the city, at which the first steamboat arrived in the harbour, and at which the first vessel from sea came into port. Ice broke Steam-boat 1st Vessel at Yeart. opposite Montreal. arrived Montreal in Harbour, from Sea. 1829 8th April ... 16th April.. 15th May... 1830 1st April ... 8th April... nth May... 1831 30th March 10th April.. 26th April.. 1832 16th April.. 28th April.. Uth May... 1833 2d April .... 11th April.. 13th May... 1834 30th March 10th ApriL. 9th May.... 1835 8th April ... 20th April.. 13th May... 1836 23rd April.. 2nd May ... Uth May... 1837 11th April.. 23rd April.. 4th May.... 1838 9th April... 23rd April.. 3rd May.... 1839 9th April... 16th April.. 10th May... THE LACHINE CANAL. So early were some of the intelligent inhabitants of the province convinced of the numerous advantages that would result to internal navigation and commerce from a Canal that should unite Montreal with Lachine, that it became an object of desire even before the pass- ing of the Constitutional Act in 1791> In the first LACHINE CANAL. 201 Provincial Parliament under that act, which commenced its session in December, 1792, a bill to effect that object was proposed by one of the Members for Montreal. The bill did not pass, because the undertaking was then considered beyond the pecuniary means of the province. The matter, therefore, slept for some years. In 1815, during the war with the United States, the expense of conveying the Government stores brought the subject under the consideration of the Governor, who sent a message to the Assembly in favour of the measure, and the sum of £25,000 was voted to assist in its execution, with an Act of the Legislature to give it effect. Peace soon following, nothing more was done except taking a few levels. In 1819, a petition from several persons in Montreal desirous of undertaking the work at their own expense, was presented to the Legislature, requesting aid and authority for that purpose. A bill was accordingly passed in April, authorizing subscriptions to the extent of £150,000 currency, at the rate of £50 a share, and erecting the subscribers into a joint stock company. This plan was afterwards aban- doned, and the work was undertaken by the Province, on the conditions that the subscribers should relinquish their rights on receiving back the money they had advanced on their shares, and that, on the contribution of £10,000 by the Government, all stores and effects belonging to His Majesty should pass through the canal free of toll. An act of the Legislature having passed to this effect in 1821, the work was commenced on the 17th of July in that year, and completed in 1825. The route originally proposed was along the beach of the St. Lawrence at Lachine till the commencement of the turnpike road, then by the foot of the Cote bt. Paul, continuwsg till it arrived at a point between the St. Joseph and St. Antoine Suburbs, when the route was to R 202 LACHINB CANAL. f >ik out and diverge, one branch to cross the St. Law- rence and Quebec Suburbs, and enter the river below the King's Naval Store at the foot of the Current St. Mary, while the other branch was to enter above the harbour near the Ship Yard. The former branch was for the present abandoned, from insufficiency of moans ; and the latter route, owing to some difficulties, wiis altered so as to bring its mouth near the wind- mills. The Canal is 28 feet wide at the bottom, and 48 at tlie water line, with five feet depth of water throughout, and 1 8 inches from the water line to the level of the towing path There are in the whole six locks, each one hundred feet ii length, and twenty feet of opening, with an entire fall of forty-two feet, and a regulating lock at either end. The workmanship of these locks, and the various stone bridges along the route, are all of masonry of a superior and most substantial character, creditable to the builders, to the country, and to the whole undertaking : the bridges at the extremities are elegant as well as durable. This Canal, at the time of its formation, was greater as to breadth, depth of water, and length and breadth of locks, than any similar work in Great Britain, with the exception of the Cale- # •' £.0 Wp ^ ^ ■\ 206 EDUCATION AND LITERATURE. tuition in the families of the more wealthy inhabitants. It is no small consolation for persons about to settle here, to know that they can readily obtain instruction for their children in almost every department that they may desire. The Royal Institution for the Advancement of Learning was projected about the year 1801, and an act of the Legislature was passed in its favour. In 1813 it was incorporated by a Royal Charter. Its object is distinctly announced in Its title ; and, for the purpose of attaining it, encouragement has been given to die establishment of schools in different parts of the Province, and support afforded in other instances to schools already formed. The Principal of the institution is the Lord Bishop of Quebec ; and the trustees consist of several official persons in both Provinces, with other gentlemen residing in the Lower. Grants have been made to the Royal Grammar School, and the National School in this city, and to the Royal Grammar School at Quebec. The Literature of a newly settled country is necessa- rily of slow growth, and generally very limited in extent. The persons who form the community are induced to colonize by motives not very congenial with a desire for reading and study. Nor are the other circumstances of a new or a rising colony often more favourable to mental cultivation. The physical necessities of our nature must first bo supplied : Literature and refine- ment come afterward. The column must be raised, and probably be sometime in use, before the thought occurs of placing an ornamented capital upon it. But little temptation to au'i/horship is presented in so rude a ttate of society. It appears that the art of printing was not known, at any rate not practised, in the colony, until after it came into the hands of the British. It was EDUCATION AND LITERATURE. 207 introduced in the year 1764, by William Brown and Thomas Gilmore, who issued the first number of the Quebec Gazette on the 21st of June. This paper was projected in Philadelphia the year before. Gilmore went to England to procure types, and Brown to Quebec, " with a Prospectus of the Gazette, to obtain subscribers, and make the necessary arrangements for commercing business in ihe spring. The subscription list then amounted to about 150, half of whom were Canadians. The tardy establishment of the press in Canada, and the quarter from whence it was first intro- duced, are facts than which none can be more strongly illustrative of the genius of the government and people of Ci^nada, and of the then British Colonies in North America. Canada had been longer settled than any of them : its population was then probably nearly as numerous as that of Pennsylvania, yet the first printing establishment for Canada was projected and cai'ried into effect from that Colony.*" It has been observed that " the newspaper is the Literature of Americaf." The observation is nearly as true now as when it was first made ; since, whatever improvement in literary taste and the publication of books, may have taken place in the United States, this Colony can scarcely be said to have emerged from the condition implied in the remark. There have been at difi^erent times attempts made to establish periodical of a more literary cast in this country, but none of i .^m can be said to have completely succeeded. A very respectable monthly journal was commenced in 1823, under the title of The Canadian Magazine : it reached the twenty-fourth number, and was discontinued in 1825, for want of adequate support. Perhaps the plan was of • Smith*! Caazda, Vol. II., p». 8. t Ward's Spring qf Life. 1834. I ^ : i *,.j; i '^•j 1 '> h :.. i 208 EDUCATION AND LITERATURE. rather toe ambitious a character for the then state of the Province. Though some of the articles were trifling, many were of a high order ; the work was well edited, and certainly deserved more support than it received. The Canadian Review made its first appearance in July, 1824, and continued to be published at intervals till September 1826, when the fifth and last number appeared. Both works contain much information relative to Canada ; and to both, especially the former, the editor of this volume has been frequently indebted. Each number of the Magazine contai.ied about 96 pages ; the numbers of the Review were PiOre than twice as large, containing each 2-^0 pages or more — a scale too exten- sive then for the wants of the reading public in Canada. Other periodicals of a smaller size, and more moderate pretensions, have since been attempted. The only monthly publications now issuing froui the Montreal press, are The Literary Garland, in Royal 8vo, 48 pages — an agreeable melange to the lovers of light reading, very likely to remunerate the publisher ; — the Canada Baptist Magazine, a religious periodical of 24 pages each number •> — and the Temperance Advocate. The newspapers published in this city are, in general, edited with ability, and mai:ntain with considerable point and pertinacity their distirguishing political views and sentiments. The Montreal Gazette is issued three times a week ; and, being published by the Queen's printer, may be considered as the Government paper. It is distinguished by the copiousness of its intelligence, particularly on local and domestic subjects ; and is of a more literary cast than the others, which are almost exclusively devoted to business and politics. The Montreal Herald, of tory politics, is published daily from the 1st of May to the first of November; and three times a week during the remainder of the year. CONCLUDING REMARKS. 209 There is also an edition for the country, in which most of the advertisements are omitted, published twice a week; and a Weekly Abstract for £urope. The Morning Courier is also a daily paper to the same extent as the Herald, with an edition for the country, issued twice a week. It is the advocate of whig prin- ciples. VAmi du Peuple appears in French, twice a week. The Montreal Transcript is published three times a week. Beside the periodicals, a few separate volumes have made their appearance in Montreal, chiefly on poetical subjects. Some, however, are on Theology ; and several sermons and addresses have been printed within the last ten years. Two treatises on Agriculture, by Mr. Evans, of Cote St. Paul, contain many valuable observations, which, if reduced to practice by the habitans generally, would conduce to the improved cultivation of the Lower Province. CONCLUDING REMARKS. The number and variety of objects which present themselves successively before the mind, while taking an excursive survey of any considerable place, have a tendency to dissipate or weaken the power of attention, and render it necesf -iry for the writer to pause awhile, and then to lookback, and see what has been accomplished or attempted. In the course of enquiry undertaken for the compilation of this volume, it has happened that some topics have been brought to light which, had they been noticed sooner, would have had appropriate places assigned to them in the preceding chapters ; and others have claimed a passing notice, while yet they could not be dealt with as matters requiring separate description. Of such miscellaneous remarks as subjects of this nature I l|> 210 CONCLUDING REMARKS. have suggested, the conclusion of this chapter will be composed. The state of society, whether viewed in classes, or in the aggregate, or as composed of individuals, and whether it be considered in its social, its civil, or its moral characteristics, will always be regarded as worthy of serious attention. Fronv the manner in which the country was at first settled, and in which the population of this city has since been formed, two things were naturally to be expected, first, that the majority of inhabitants would for a long time continue to be French ano Roman Catholics, and in the second place, that the nuinber of British would be continually increasing, so as gradually to bring the two races nearer to an equality. This is precisely the case at present, and is likely to be more so if such public measures be adopted as will call forth and reward the enterprise and energy ready to act and extend themselves wherever there is any promise of success. In every large community there must be a great diversity of talent and condition, restricting the intercourse, in a great degree, to particular classes, without much admixture with individuals of other classes. Whether the privileges of caste are more jealously maintained, and tLa lines of demarcation more distinctly drawn, in Montreal, than in other cities of equal magni« lade, it may not be possible absolutely to determine, though suggestions have been made to the effect of shewing its probability. Certain it is, that the citizens of Montreal are distinguished by one feature which is highly honom'able to them, standing out as it does in pleasing and strong relief — and that is, a habit of active benevolence. Perhaps there is no place where, in proportion to the number and wealth of the inhabitants, more has been done to relieve the wretched and support the weak by deeds of real charity, than in this city — and CONCLUDING REMARKS. 211 this, not by thoughtless and indiscriminate profusion* but in the exercise of calm, cautious, and pains-taking administration. Some illustrations of this fact the preceding pages will have exhibited ; and it may be right to mention here (no opportunity having occurred before) on the authority of Nathaniel Gould, Esq. of London, a warm and steady friend to Canada, that " the Montreal Emigrant Society, during the last year (1832), forwarded to their destination, or otherwise relieved, 10,744 of these poor creatures, at an expense of £2,126 114. Too much praise cannot be bestowed on the exertions of those pure philanthropists, who, during a season of such distress and danger, gave up their time, money, and health to so worthy a purpose." Sketchy pa. 5. That the principle is neither dormant, nor diminished in vigour, more recent and continued acts of a similar character most satisfactorily prove. Long may it be ere it shall decline — or rather, may it never cease to distinguish the inhabitants of Montreal till there shall be no misery that benevolence can relieve. From the testimony of those who knew the city fifteen or twenty years since, it appears that its moral condition has very much improved within that period : profane- ness, intoxication, and disturbance, were much more prevalent in the former part of it than afterward. The amendment, however, has not been uninterruptedly progressive ; for in the last year or two an evident relaxation in the public morals has taken place ; a counteracting influence has been opposing the tendency to improvement. The passions drawn forth by the rebellion have disturbed the repose of many ; and military habits and pursuits have not only diverted them from their regular course of action, but have introduced a martial and unsettled spirit which has operated unfavourably upon a large portion of the community. nil i ill: 212 CONGLUDINO REMARKS. It is to be regretted that many of the regular troops are, from time to time, seen reeling in the streets, to the interruption of that good order, which their services in other respects are so efficient in promoting ; and that intemperance has increased among the volunteers since they have received pay. i .•-■"■ ■ • \ Both in Quebec and Montreal the windows in many of the old stores and shops are small, not larger than those of ordinary dwelling-houses, very little calculated for display, and not giving indications of the extensive depositories of goods that may be found wkhin. The modem shops, however, are much better furnished with windows, giving every facility for the exposure of articles intended for sale. A very great number of the recent shops are elegantly, and some of them splendidly, fitted up. Perhaps there is scarcely in any part of tlie commercial world, either in Europe or America, a more superb or exquisitely finished room, for its size, than the shop of Mr. M'Donald at the corner of Place d'Armes and Notre Dame Street. It forms the principal orna- ment in a block called Muir's Buildings, a recent erection, which is itself an ornanicnt to the spot on which it stands, in one of the most public places of the city. The iron shutters which were nearly universal when the houses were built of wood, and of which strangers were in the habit of complaining as giving to some parts of the city the gloom of a prison, have either been ex- changed for wooden ones in the new stone houses, or succeeded by pannelled shutters of a lighter and more elegant construction than the primitive ones. Liberty has also been given to many of the puddles which used to tarry in the streets, to make their way through drains prepared for their escape to a distance where their noxious qualities are either neutralized, or rendered .!i S CONCLUDING REMARKS. 218 harmless to the inhabitants. It is pleasing to witness the progress of reform iu these matters, though more tardy in general than the wants and wishes of the public would require. Notwithstanding the great and numerous improvements which have long been going on, nnd are now proceeding, there still remain some things calling for an alteration, and susceptible of it. Among the evils yet unremedied, stands foremost the state of the streets and roads, which in dry weather are covered with dust, and in rainy with mud, to an enormous and very incon- venient degree. When the roads are dusty, and the wind blows briskly, — no unusual occurrence — the effect is distressingly annoying. So much pulverized lime-stone ss is then necessarily swallowed, cannot fail to produce some injury to the general health, and the mortar that is formed in the eyes by the union of their moisture with the powdered lime, must be pernicious to those delicate organs. The difficulty is, to find, and apply, a remedy. The general £*nd frequent application of water by machines constructed for the purpose of sprinkling the roads, as is done in London and other great cities, would palliate or lessen the evil. But some change might be made in the materials of the roads themselves. The amount of traffic in every direction through the city and suburbs, will necessarily produce and raise up large quantities of dust, whatever may be the materials of which the roads are made. But it is evident that the harder and less friable these materials are, the greater will be the freedom fr-^m annoyance. It may be worthy of consideration, then, whether some improvement might not be effected in this particular. The lime-stone ordinarily used in making roads here, is easily broken and pulverized, and will endure but little wear before it becomes offensive. There is a harder species — ^per- haps more than one species — of granite, to be met with s it-^ ii' 214 CONCLUDING REMARKS. in the neighbourhood of the city, which would probably answer much bette;* for roads than the substance now employed. It would require more labour in its prepa- ration. Yet with the successive application of heat and cold water, the large stones might be split, and after- wards broken with hammers into pieces of a proper size ; and the longer duration of the material when laid down, by the removal in part of the pernicious evils which now prevail, would more than repay the additional labour and expense of preparing the harder stone. Another method of improving the roads has been sug- gested — that of paving them with wood ; an experiment which has been tried in some other places, and succeeded, even on carriage roads. The side walks which have been made of this material in some of the streets, are a decided improvement, and are hailed by the inhabitants as a great addition to their accommodation. Far superior will they prove to the rough and uncomfortable pavements, formed of stones of all sizes, shapes, and positions, which stretch their " weary length" through some parts of the suburbs, and even of the city. Of really ^oo<^ stone pavements, so agreeable to pedestrians, the north side of Place d'Armes, and the walk in front of the Catholic Cathedral, are excellent specimens. If good pavement;s be essential to the convenience of a city, illumination by night is not less so. In this res- pect Montreal has, for the last three years, been lamentably deficient. Under the old system of lighting, the oil lamps, though not very brilliant, did yet suffice to shew the pathway to the observant traveller ; but now on every dark night, tiie danger ^f collision and of falling is imminent and perpetual. This danger has been increased by the very means which are intended ultimately to remove it : the opening of the ground in various places to lay down the mains and other pipe^ CONCLUDING REMARKS. 215 connected with the Gas-works, has occasioned much iinevenness where the places are filled in again ; and generally some parts or other are left open in the progress of the work. The shops here and there illuminated by gas, do something towards guiding the steps of the traveller by night ; but when they are closed, all is darkness. Through some cause or other, the funds of the city are at present inadequate to meet the demands of the Company for a general lighting. It cannot be supposed that many more dark winters will elapse before some means will be found to replenish the treasury, and give to the inhabitants of this city a benefit with which many towns of inferior consequence have long been familiar. The hill on the west, in the rear of the city, though somewhat unaptly dignified with the title of Tlie Moun- tain, is in reality a most interesting object. It is seen finely rising from the city, with its graceful and well defined outline. Its summit is almost entirely covered with trees, which, though not of large growth from the shallowness of the soil there, give a softened and cheorful appearance to the scene. The sides of it present numerous beautiful spots, several of which the wealthier citizens have selected as the sites of elegant and retired dwelling^, from which the views of the city, and adjacent country both sides the " mighty river," ai-e exceedingly on delightful ; whili; its base and more gentle risings are covered with farms, and gardens, and hundreds of acres of most productive orchards, abounding with trees which bear fruit of the finest quality. The eastern side of the mountain appears to be better adapted, both by soil and situation, for the growth and perfection of certain kinds of fruit tlan almost any other place in either Province. The apples, in particular, are of (lie 83 216 CONCLUDING REMARKS. choicest sorts and richest flavour : among them may he noticed, Pomme de Neige^ Pomme Grigy BourrasMy and FameusC' The Geological character of the Province Itas not been by any means adequately investigated ; but from what is known, we may presume that a rich harvest of discovery is in reserve, to reward the talent and industry of some future explorer. For our knowledge of the geology of the Island of Montreal, we are indebted to Dr. Bigsby, of New York, from whose paper in the Annals of the New York Lyceum of Natural History y an abridged view is here presented. The environs of Montreal abound in geological facts of great value. The lowest rock is a trap, of a kind unique in the Canadas. By its peculiar composition, which includes all the ingredients of granite, and by its associations, it illus- trates in a beautiful manner the affinity existing between the formation of which it is a member, and the primitive class in general. The nearest kindred rock is found in the mountain of Chambly, sixteen miles distant. The extended trappose ramifications which it has prqjectecl into the superincumbent horizjontal layers of limerstone, without injury or displacement accruing to them, are very remarkable. The lime-stone and its organic re-^ mains, numerous and sometimes new ar.;! rare, are unchanged, although in contact with, imbedded in, and even impregnating the trap. A very compound trap constitutes the largest part of Montreal Hill, and appears in great quantity in the plains on its south. The trap supports, ^nd traverses in direct contact, a conchiferous lime-nstone, which floors nearly the whole island : at a distance from the hill it probably repts on quartzose conglomerate, or sand-stone. The trap may be said to consist chiefly of crystalline hornblende, l^gely mixed ^ith quartz, CONCLUDING REMARKS. 217 feldspar, mica, and augite. Except wher.; it assumes the form of dykes or veins, a? is common in the plain about the hill, it is massive and usually much weathered. On the summit of the hill, and sometimes elsewhere, it rises above the vegetation in naked flatfish moimds, closely compacted, and seldom exceeding five yards in diameter. In the small ruinous ledges and clifi^, it is fissured perpendicularly, and rent by cold into large cuboid blocks. The varieties are very numerous, but may all he derived from four principal forms, running into each other without apparent order, and occupying indiscrim- inately all levels. The Jirst consists of promiscuously aggregated, shining, black prisms of hornblende, from half an inch to three inches long, sometimes pure ; and so mutually compressed as almost to disappear; but more frequently white or ferruginous masses of glassy feldspar and quartz, mixed in various proportions, are inteiposef'., so as to give the who. a strong resemblance to sienite. Cubic iron pyrites is common, and spicular iron ore in confused crystallization, as a coating. This form is met with on the summit cf the east division of the hill, above M'Tavish's tomb, on the middle of its nor% and west flanks, and the greater part of Mount Trafalgar, especially the lower. On the north east declivity, near the west road to St. Catharine, the crystals of hornblende arrange themselves in continuous lines or bands, from a sixth to half an inch thick, and sometimes several feet long ; with occasional cross rents. They are parted by a mixture of quartz and feldspar, forming, of course, similar bands, but white. This curious structure is m^^'e remarkable as occurring among rocks otherwise disor " rly ; and seems to indicate that the mass has consoliv ^ted during motion. The second form exists in most parts of the hill, and in the rout« of s3 ("Ml 1^* 218 CONCLUDING REMARKS. the Lachine Canal, and is well marked in the low cliff above M'Tavish's tomb. It is black, or brownish black, opaque, homogeneous, rather fine grained, with blunt edges. It yields a grey streak readily to steel. Its specific gravity is that of trap rocks generally. It is sometimes dotted with crystals of white glassy feldspar, which having increavident that a spirit of disaffection and contempt of the laws had spread itself far and ride among the people. On the 16th of November, warrants w«re issned, slhA rewards offered, for the apprehension of twenty-six individuals charged with High Treason, of whom all were of French origin, except one ; eight were Mem- bers of the Provincial Parliament, and the greater isart of the whdle number were in the higher dasses of society. Eight of them were committed to prison at the time ; but all the others who resided ;n town made their «scape. Two of them resided at St. John's, and one at St. Athanase, and the warrants for their apprehension were entrusted to a peace officer, who, accompanied by a body of the Royal Montreal Cavalry, proceeded to execute them, by way of Longueuil and Chambly. Demaray and Davignou were ai'rested at St. John's, and the party were returning to Montreal with them by the same route. When wttMn about two miles of Longueuil, the Cavalry and peace officer in charge of the prisoners, were intercepted by a large body of armed peasantry, who fired upon them from their houses, from behind the fences, and from a barn which bordered the road, and compelled them to abandon their prisoners. Several of the Cavalry were wounded, and their horses injured, by the fire of the insurg'^nts. These partial successes infused fresh vigour into the rebels, and led them to suppose that no force could withstand them. Notice of the rescue having been conveyed to Montreal, it was deemed advisable tu X2 228 GENERAL RISING. re-inforco the garrison at Chambly. Colonel Wetherall was, therefore, ordered with his battalion to that place, by way of Longueuil, accompanied by Major Jaekso.. of the Artillery with two six pounders, a detachment of the Montreal Cavalry under Captain David, and civil officers to re-capture the prisoners. At Longueuil they found all the houses closed, but the inhabitants at home ; and for several miles beyond the case was the same. Several armed bands were met by Captain David and his party, but they fled on a nearer approach. Six individuals were apprehended with arms in their hands. About 300 men took a position about a mile from Chambly for the purpose of resisting the Cavalry ; but at the approach of the advanced guard of the Royals, they fled in all directions, and the Cavalry succeeded in capturing some of them. The whole country appeared to be in arms. On the 20tli of November, intelligence was received that T. S. Brown had collected a large force at the village of St. Charles on the river Richelieu, which he was proceeding to fortify, and that Papineau, O'Cal- laghan, and Wolfred Nelson were concerned in these measures. Warrants had been issued for their appre- hension ; and the civil authorities applied to the Commander of the Forces for aid in securing them. On the 23d a body of troops under Colonel Gore embarked on board the steamer St. George for Sorel, where they landed in the evening. At ten o'clock they marched towards St. Denis, intending to attack the force at that place, and then move on rlapidly to assist Colonel Wetherall of the Royal Regiment in his attack upon St. Charles. The march was a terrible one, in conse* quence of a heavy rain, and the muddiness of the roads. They did not reach St. Denis till after day-light. An ^ttfick was commenced ; several rebels were killed ; but DEFEAT OF REBELS AT ST. CHARLES. 229 finding it impossible to dislodge some of the rebels from a large stone house from which they were firing, and his men being exhausted by the fatigues of the pre- ced'ng night and day the Colonel retreated upon Sor^I, where, after much suffering, the party arrived on the morning of the 24th. Strong bodies of armed peasantry were/ seen in various places along the line of march. Colonel Wetherall had received orders to attack St. Charles at the same time that the other forces were to be engaged at St. Denis. For this purpose he left Chambly on the 22d, but the roads were so bad, that his troops were not able to reach the place till noon of the 25th. The houses along the route were deserted, the bridges broken down, barricades erected, and every precaution taken against an attack. Halting to recon- noitre. Colonel Wetherall observed that two guns commanded the road, and he therefore resolved to altack by deploying to the right. The troops were saluted with a loud cheer from the stockade, and a constant fire was kept up by the rebels from the opposite bank of the river. When he had approached within two hundred and fifty yards from the works, he took up a position with the hope that a display of his force would induce some change among the infatuated people. They, however, opened a heavy fire, which was returned. He then advanced nearer to the works, but finding the defenders obstinate, he stormed and carried them, burn- ing every building within the stockade, except Mr. Debartzch's house which was extinguished, and occu- pied, by the troops. The afFalr occupied about an hour. The slaughter was great on the side of the rebels, but slight on that of the troops. Several prisoners were taken, from one of whom Colonel Weth^all learned that Brown had assumed the rank of General, and actually commanded, for a short time ;, but that soon t3 230 RETURN OF THE TROOPS. after the firing began, he galloped to the rear under pretence of bringing up re-inforcemcnts, but was no more seen. Papineau, Drolet, and others crossed the river to St. Marc, on the arrival of the troops before St. Charles. On the whole, the means and preparations of the rebels were more formidable than many persons had supposed ; and had not the rebellion been chec ,d at this point, the consequences to the country would have been dreadful. Having thus captured St. Charles, and dispersed the insurgents, who are said to have k, mounted at this place to fifteen hundred fighting men, the Colonel determined to attack a considerable body of the rebels collected for the purpose of cutting off his retreat to Chambly ; and on the morning of the 28th, he discovered them in a well-chosen position, and under the protec- tion of an abcattis. They fled, however, as soon as he had formed to attack, leaving their two guns behind them. On the 30th of November, Colonel Wetherall, and the whole of the troops under his command, landed from the steamboat Victoria from Laprairie, bringing with them twenty-five prisoners taken on the march to Chambly and at St. Charles, together with the pole and cap of liberty, which had been raised at the latter place. The troops, upon landing, were heartily and enthusias- tically cheered by the people on the wharf, who escorted them to their quarters with shouts of applause. During these operations on the Richelieu, and before authentic intelligence arrived respecting them, the ?tate of the public mind in this city was such as cannot easily be described. Every heart was anxious, and every coun- tenance betrayed the emotion. The ordinary concerns of life were, now, minor considerations, and gave way to the all-engrossing topic. When the news arrived, on the afternoon of Sunday 26th of November, the joy with which it was welcomed, was extreme : there is no VOLUNTEERS ORGANIZED. 231 doubt that the lives and fortunes of thousands of the loyal inhabitants depended, in a great measure, on the success or failure of this solitary expedition. Happily, the result was favourable, and the rebellion in that quarter was so far crushed, as to set the minds of the loy:d at rest for the present, and excite their hopes for the i^iture. While these operations were going on, a laudable spirit of loyalty and zeal was displayed by many of the citizens of Quebec and Montreal, as well as by the inhabitants of the Townships and other parts nduct, however, was such as to reflect the greatest credit both upon officers and men, all of whom evinced the best possible disposi- tion, and by their zeal, courage, and activity, afforded ample evidence that the city had been safe in their keeping. With the return of the troops from the County of the Lake of the Two Mountains, the military operations connected with the first rebellion in Lower Canada may be said to have terminated, except so far as it was necessary to keep different parties in motion to guard against surprise, and to check irruptions which were sometimes threatened, and at others attempted, from the United States, of refugee rebels and those who were inclined to join them. During the remainder of the winter, and the spring of 1838, various prisoners of greater or less distinction, who had been engaged in the insurrection, were from time to time apprehended and brought to Montreal. The transactions which took place in Upper Canada, during the period of which we have been treating, though of an equally important character, do not properly beLug to our narrative. In the course of the summer and autumn of 1838, rumours were circulated^ and surmises formed, that another rising of the disaflfected was in progress, or at least in agitation. An unusual run upon the banks, in the demand for cash on the part of the habitans who had notes in their possession, with various murmurings and other symptoms, gave sign that all was not at rest The " sympathy," as it was termed, shewn to u2 240 MURDER OP MR. WALKER. ,1 |i the insurgents by many of the inhabitants of the border States, kept alive the expectation. Early in October, if not before, many facts were in the knowledge of the Governor-in-Chief and the Commander of the Forces, which called for increasing vigilance, and justified active preparation. The lenient measures which had been adopted with regard to several of those who had been apprehended for their share in the first rebellion, instead of being followed by a g^atefiil return of allegiance, were, in many instances, construed into fear, and abused to the purposes of renewed aggression and tumult. These seditious movements were, for the most part, con- fined to the south side of the St. Lawrence ; the country above St. Eustache and its neighbourhood remaining perfectly quiet, whatever might have been the hints or threats of individuals. On Friday the 2d of November information was received of a preliminary meeting of a few of the Iead« ing rebels and refugees, to be held that evening at the residence of Gagnon, about six miles from 6t. John's. A party of soldiers, with a magistrate, were sent to apprehend them. Seven were taken, and among them the son of Gagnon, but the father was not to be found. They were all armed. A few other arrests were made at St. John's ; and all the prisoners afterwards brought to Montreal. On Satiu-day the 8d, at La Tortu, about eight mires above Laprairie, a number of rebels attacked the scattered loyalists in that quarter, and two respect- able farmers, named Walker and Vitrey, were so cruelly treated, that the fbrmer died of his wounds, and the other with difficulty survived. As many of the loyal inhabitants as were able made their escape to the city. A party of Hussars went off from Laprairie to attack the insurgents, who fled at their approach. The same day, a strong party mustered At St. Charles, with an BBAUHARN0I8 — CAUOHNAWAOA* 241 intention to join with others lower down the Richelieu, in an attempt upon Sorel, which, however, was not made. In Beauharnois a more extensive rising took place on the same evening, when a large party succeeded in surprising the loyalists of the village, and made prisoners of Messrs. Ellice(sonof the Seignieur), Brown, Ross, Norman, and Dr. Surveyor. During the day the steamer took over four pieces of Artillery to Laprairie, for St. John's. At night an attempt was made to bum the boat, by conveying combustibles into the berths ; but no material damage was done. The detaining of the Artillery was probably the means of saving the boat, if not the village, as an attack was meditated. While the inhabitants of the Indian village of Caugh- nawaga were at worship on Sunday morning, the 4th, a party of rebels surrounded the church, upon which the Indians immediately turned out, and the Chief, setting an example promptly followed by all, raised the war- whoopi seized the rebel next him and wrested from him his musket. The others, being panic-struck, were made prisoners to the number of 64, and brought into Mont- real. Just after the conclusion of the morning service, the alarm became general throughout the city ; at least 2000 of the volunteers rushed to arms, though they had not met since the spring, and were so stationed as to g^ard all the passes into the town, none being allowed to proceed without giving a satisfactory answer to the challenge. On the same day a proclamation of martial law was made by the Administrator of the Glovernment ; and so intent upon mischief did the various bodies of insurgents appear, that it was deemed advisable, for several weeks, to keep the city in. the best possible state of defence, and to bum lights in the windows after the day had closed. Several persons residing in the city, who wwfr suspected of treasonable or rebellious designs. 242 STEAMER HENRY BROUGHAM SEIZED. ;.y. >vere taken np and imprisoned ; and for several days in succession many were apprehended in different parts of the district. , '■ a * > The rebels appear to have congregated in the greatest number at the villages of Napierville and Chateauguay. In the former place some thousands had collected, imprisoned the loyal inhabitants, quartered themselves at their houses, and made free with every thing they could find. In Chateauguay they indulged themselves freely in eating and drinking ; but the report of the war-whoop, and the expectation of the Indians from Caughnawaga, had very much disconcerted them. Colonel Cathcart with his dragoons, scoured the country to a considerable distance round Chambly, and cleared it of rebel forces : several villages were deserted, and the houses of the most noted rebels reduced to ashes. The country began to put on a most desolate appearance, through the folly of those who in wickedness had con- ceived a plan which in weakness they had undertaken to execute. The steamer Henry Brougham, on arriving at the wharf at Beauharnois, on the morning of the 4th, was taken possession of by the rebels, and all the passengers, twenty-one in number, secured. They were confined in the house of Mr. Quintal, the Cure, who was also a prisoner. The following Saturday, a force of regulars and volunteers arriving, they were set at liberty. The mail bag was on board the boat, but, by the good management of Captain Whipple, was kept out of sight, until the boat was regained for its owners. In the course of the week Sir John Colborne, with a sufficient body of forces, crossed the river to proceed to Napier- ville, for the purpose of dislodging the rebels, and delivering," their captives ; but on entering the village on Saturday they found that the rebels, to the number REBELS DEFEATED. 249 of two thousand, had evacuated the place about two hours before, and that about the same number had previously ji^one off, many of them having thrown away their arms. A few days before this, Dr. Cote, with about 400 men, made an attack upon some loyalists at Lacolle Old Steam Mill, which ended in the complete route of the assailants, who lost their only six pounder, 250 stand of arms, eight prisoners, eleven killed and several wounded. The object of Cote was to open a commu- nication between the Lines and Napierville. Dr. Nelson, with a force of one thousand men, advanced upon Odelltown, where hv. attacked about 200 of the volunteers under the command of Colonel Taylor. This small force, from Odelltown church, and with the aid of the gun taken at Lacolle, kept up such a fire upon the rebels, that, after an action of about two hours and a half, they were obliged to retreat, leaving fifty dead, and carrying off several wounded. This gallant behaviour of the volunteers obtained the highest praise from the Commanding Officer. On the 10th of November, part of the 71st Regiment, with upwards of one thousand Glen^ary men, took Beauharnois, and rescued all the prisoners, with the exception of those who had been removed. On Sunday the 11th, a pleasing sensation was created in town by the arrival of Mr. EUice, and various other gentlemen who had been seized by the rebels. It appears that, after their capture at Beauharnois, they were, as was supposed here, conveyed to Chateauguay, where they were confined in a room, from which day-light was excluded, but they were allowed to have candles burn- ing. They were weU treated by the Cure and the nun8> who were allowed to send them vhat they needed. On Saturday, they were placed in carts, for the purpose, as they believed, of being conveyed to Napierville, and 844 PRISONERS SECURED. had reached La Pigeonniere, in the Seigniory of St. George, when their escort, hearing of the evacuation of Napierville, left them and fied. They were allowed to proceed in the same carts to Laprairie, and were even advised which road to take, as the safest. They reached Laprairie about two o'clock in the morning, and Montreal about ten. This new rebellion being thus promptly suppressed in the short space of ten days, attention was now engaged with the numerous prisoners that were secured at the different posts of disturbance, and with vI^^Hlantly looking ;ifter suspected persons and places. Ninety-one prison- ers taken at Napierville were brought in on the I3th, and on the same day twenty others from Lachine, having been taken in arms at Chateauguay — some of them persons in respectable life. Forty others were brought in from ihe direction of Laprairie, on the 15th. Meantime volunteers, in various quarters, were on the alert to detect the least suspicious movement in their respective neighbourhoods, and, in conjunction with the regulars, to maintain the peace thus far restored. Intel- ligence having been received of a descent upon Prescott in Upper Canada, by a party of about four hundred men from the States, Colonel Wetherall left tovm on the 14th, with a sufficient force to resist the unprovoked aggression. Among the prisoners taken at Odelltown, was a French officer, named Charles Hindenlang. This man, afijiir his apprehension, put forth a document, in which he attemped to vindicate himself, and to cast imputations upon those who employed him. In some measure his statement was credited, and for a time divided the opin- ions of many as to the plans, and strength, and intentions of the rebels ; but his trial and subsequent conduct placed his character and professions In their true light. COURT MARTIAL APPOINTED. 844 A General Court Martial was appointed for the trial of the rebel prisoners. It met for the first time on Monday the 19th of November, in the Court House. The following Officers composed the Court: M(^or General John Clitherow, President Lieut-Col. Sir John R. Eustace, 2(1 Batt Grenadier Guards. Lieut-Col. Henry W. Barnard, do. do. Lieut-CoL William Grierson, I5th Regiment Lieut-Cul. James Craufoed, 2d Batt Grenadier Guards. Major Samdel Dilman Pritchard, Major of Brigade. Major Henry Townsend, 24tb Regiment Major Arthur W. Biaos, 7th Hussars, Captain William Thornton, 2d Batt Grenadier Guards. Captain William B. Smith, 15th Regiment Captain Robert March, 24th Regiment Captain Henry A. Kerr, 2d Battalion, Royal Regiment. Captain August js Cox, 2d Battalion, Grenadier Guards. Certain the Hon. Georoe Cadoqam, Grenadier Guards. Captain Hugh A. B. Mxtchf , 4flk do, " All of whom, or the said Major General John Olitherotr, President, together vvitli any twelve or more of the said last men- tioned persons and officers, may constitute the said General Court Martial." Captain Muller, of the Royal Regiment, was ap- pointed Deputy Judge Advocate, to be assisted by Professional Gentlemen. The Court Martial, thus constituted and appointed, immediately entered upon its arduous and responsible duties. The public expectation, however, from the ill effiscts of last year's clemency, out-ran the proceedings of the court, and, after waiting awhile, the people began to be suspicious that nothing effectual would be done against those who had occasioned so much misery, and who would probably, if no severe check were given, repeat their deeds of violence. On the 20th of November orders were issued that, instep of burnmg lights in the windojws, as had been 246 ARMS POUND — TRIALS. done since the first alarm on the 4th, " every housekeeper in the town and suburbs, shall keep two candles ready tc be lighted at the first signal of the sound of a drum or bell." Meantime the ardour of the British inhabi- tants increased, for the maintenance of their loyalty and the preservation of their lives and privileges — the volunteer corps were augmented — and the whole of this force put upon full pay, and rendered as efliective as possible, so that, notwithstanding the occasional drafts from among the regulars to repress the incursions from the United States into the Upper Province, the city, after the first moment of alarm, was felt to be in a complete state of defence. Large quantities of arms and ammunition, either taken from the rebels, or found secreted for their use, were brought in from time to time ; and there can be no doubt that these were obtained either by purchase from the neighbouring States, or by donation from persons residing there, ill-affected to the interests of Canada. On the 29th and 30th of Novem- ber nearly a hundred rebels from Napierville and Beauharnois were brought in as prisoners. The Hon. D. Mondelet, and Charles D. Day, Esq., having been appointed Judge Advocates in conjunction with Captain MuUer, the Court Martial commenced the trial of the twelve following prisoners on Wednesday the 28th of November : — Joseph Narcisse Cardinal, Joseph Duquette, Joseph L'Ecuyer, Jean Louis Thibert, Jean Marie Thibert, Leandre Ducharme, Joseph Guimond, Louis Guerin, Edouard Therien, Antoine Cote, Maurice Lepailleur, Louis Lesiege. After a patient and impartial investigation, in which the prisoners had the benefit of able advocates, two of them, Edouard Therien and Louis Lesiege, were acquitted, the other ten were found guilty, and condemned to death, and two of them, J. N. Cardinal and J. Duquette were executed ■^M INCURSION FROM THE STATES. 247 to on Friday the 2il8t of December. They were both implicated in the rebellion of last year, and derived but little wisdom from the lenity then shown to them. The discontented inhabitants of Canada were not the only persons who disturbed its peace. Certain restless spirits beyond the lines, atfecting to " sympathize" with those who enjoyed as much liberty as themselves, but really bent upon cruelty or plunder, made incursions at their pleasure, but sometimes to their disappointment and sorrow. We have already referred to one invasion of this sort, chiefly, indeed, under Canadian leaders, and to others commanded by Americans : the following occurred on Sunday, Dec. 30th, at Beech Ridge on the Province line, Rouville. About two o'clock in the morning a band of American ruffians from Alburg, to the number of fifteen or twanty, armed with muskets and swords, came across the line about half a mile, and broke open the house of a loyalist of the name of Gibson. The terrified family awoke from their sleep, and saw the glare of their barn on fire. Gibson leaped from a window, and fled, without putting on his clothes. The wife, and family of five children, the oldest not thirteen and the youngest an infant, were ordered to depart. The poor woman prayed for time to throw some clothes on the children and herself ; but they were driven out with imprecations, and the house fired. The night had been tempestuous, and the thermometer ranged between ten and eighteen degrees below zero. The mother with her babe in her arms and her shivering little ones by her side, all without shoes and nearly without clothes, was compelled to drag herself through the snow, drifted as it was, three quarters of a mile before she could find a shelter. The unfeeling wretches then proceeded to the next house, occupied by Isaac Johnson, a loydi^t, with two daughters, ordered the inmates to leave it, and 248 TRIAL OP REBELS. then set fire to it and the barns. They vioited some other places which they served in like manner, and then made good their retreat to Vermont. The barns which contiuned the whole grain produce of the farmers, Bad all the other buildings, were a heap of smouldering ruins before sun-rise. In the course of the winter and spring other similar incursions were made upon the border by unprincipled men, so that a residence there became both precarious and painful, though not always attended with circumstances of so horrible a description. The trials still proceeded ; and on the 1 8th of January five other rebels were executed over the front gateway at the New Gaol ; viz. P. J. Decoigne, engaged at Napierville, and Jacques Robert, two brothers of the name of Sanguinet, and P. Hamelin, concerned in the murder of Mr. Walker, at La Tortu. The gallows had been removed to a more public situation to convince the habitans of the reality of the executions, for on that point they appear to have been previously incredulous. Decoigne, who was a Notary, delivered an address on the scaffold before he suffered, to the effect that they were all convinced of the enormity of their crimes, the justice of their fate, and the folly of neglecting " the good instructions that had been given them." Last year several persons suspected of being engaged in the murder of Narcisse Chartrand, underwent their trial in the Criminal Court ; but, although the evidence against them was most clear and decisive, they were acquitted, in the face of it, by a Canadian jury. Two of them, Francois Nicolas and Amable Daunais, profited so little by their former escape as to engage in the second rebellion, and, being brought to trial and don- victed, were, with three others, executed at Montreal, on the 5th of February. The first of these three, Charles Hindenlang, was a native of France, and had Confession of hindenlano and nicolas. 249 Vm boon un officer in tho French service. Ho was taken in the fight ut Odulitown, whore ho hud exercised com- mund over u part of tho insurgents. After his committal, he made a confession tending to vindicate himself and criminate his associates, but to which he gave the lie in his speech on tho scafibld. In his affidavit he had declared that the cause in which ho had embarked was a bad one, and tho men with whom he had been asso- ciated, villains ; adding that, if he were liberated, he would use every exertion to uphc.d the Government, and to bring under its power those with whom he had acted. Yet now, with his dying breath, he applauds the very revolt he had pretended to condemn — and says it was a good cause. He denied the right of the Government to put him to aeath, and concluded by exclaiming " Vive la Lioerte I" using the words in a sense which his previous remarks made but too evident. Nicolas, on tho other hand, deprecated the cause in which he had been engiiged, confessed that it was begun and maintained by the ardour of young men, to whom their parents had neglected to give instruction, or who, perhaps, had it not in their power to instruct them. He admitted that he had led a bad life, and had deserved long ago to die — declared the error of his ways, and exhorted his countrymen to avoid his end. In a written document, drawn up by himself in French, he says, — " I recommend to all who have been blinded like me, either by promises or by hopes of gain, to look more closely to it, and to consider well that we have been the instru- ments of ambitious persons who had not the fear of God before their eyes. I enireat all to take warning from me. Although certainly I cannot do otherwise than say that we need reform in this country, yet must you wait until Grod lends his aid, and points out with hb all-powerful finger, to those who are to accomplish V It • \ 250 REFLECTIONS. ?•. t.i them, the time and the means. I have seen the time when I was proud to be a British subject, and I had great reason — and it is only since *' latic spirits have represented to me things in a different point of view that I have become disaffected towards my Government. Fathers and mothers, who bring up children... extinguish in their young hearts any possible animosity that may there exist against persons of a different country, or of a different creed." Happy indeed would it be if such prudent counsel were universally received and acted upon by our deluded fellow-subjects. The other two who suffered on this occasion, Chevalier de Lorimier, and Pierre Remi Narbonne, were deeply engaged in the rebellion. These were the last executions that have taken place under the recent convictions; our humane Governor having deemed it safe to gratify the kindness of his heart in tempering judgment with mercy, and to com- mute the sentences of death in other instaui^es for punishments less sevc.e. The sudden and violent extinction of human life, even for purposes of justice, and the conservation of the public peace, is a matter of such awful import, that every benevolent person will rejoice whenever it can safely be dispensed with. Th? danger in the present case is, that the act of clemency may be misunderstod and abused by those in whose favour it is exerted. Ignorant and uninstructed as the great mass of the French people unquestionably are, they are easily misled by designing men, and as easily persuaded to ascribe the exercise of mercy to motives just the opposite of those in which it originated. From the experience of the preceding year, it would seem that persons engaged in rebellion, possess not any very nice sense of honour, gratitude, or moral obligation in any shape. Some instances of the contrary may have s CRUELTY AT Caldwell's manor. 251 appeared ; and had they been more numerous, and formed the rule instead of the exception, we should have contemplated with more unmingled satisfaction, ;he amnesty already indulged in, and even the extension of it to a much greater number. A deed of cruelty, as horrid as any that took place during the rebellion, was perpetrated on the night of Saturday the 2d of February. A party of about twenty came in from the American side, with blackened faces, and armed. They proceeded to the third concession in Caldwell's Manor, which is a considerable distance from the boundary line, to the house of a man living there in peace with his family. They stabbed him through and through with a bayonet, and used such violence with the weapon, after the wounds were inflicted, that they wrenched the bayonet from off the musket to which it was attached. They also inflicted three bayonet wounds (On the son, a fine young man, one through his thigh, lOne through Ms leg, and pother through his body and shoulder blade. The father soon died of his wounds, and the son suffered dreadfully. The villains then deli- berately packed up the man's fiirniture upon their sleighs, «et fire to the buildings, and absconded. On first enter- ing the house, they locked up all the females of the family in a room by themselves ; and, after setting fire to the house, left them there to be burned to death. They were unable to release themselves, and it was not till the arrival of neighbours that they were rescued, and the fire extinguished. This border warfare is the most annoying, and, under all the circumstances, the most unjustifiable, of all the modes which the insurrection has assumed, or been connected with. On the 6th of May Benjamin Mott, of Alburgh, Vermont, was found guilty of Treason at LacoUe by the Court Martial, and sentenced to death. With thig 1 v2 252 RELIEF TO SUFFERERS, ETC. trial the Court finished its labours, after a session of five months and a half, during which one hundred and ten prisoners had been tried; — twelve executed, nine ac- quitted, and the remainder, now in gaol, under sentence of death. These eighty-nine will probably not sufiev the extreme penalty of the law. As a relief to the painful details above given, it is matter of consolation to record that the case of the wives and families of those brave men who fell at Odelltown, Lacolle, and other places, in defence of their country, drew forth the sympathy of then* companions in arms ; and numerous contributions were made, both among the regulars and the vohinteers, to relieve their necessi- ties, and private individuals were also forward to mitigate, as far as possible, the sorrows of those whose friends had suffered m the common cause. Thus far hare we been enabled to trace the progress and defeat of the second attempt to change the Govern- ment, and overturn the Constitution of this land, by means as unjustifiable as they were uncalled for. That grievances existed need not be denied ; but there were other and far better modes of removing them than the criminal ones which were resorted to. Whatever may in justice and equity be granted as to the ground of complaint, there is much truth in the folio-wing remarks of an American writer. They were written and pubn lished several years ago ; and though the language of rebellion was not then distinctly uttered, the author saw that the elements of discord were in motion : — " The Ck-» nadians," said he, " by the original treaty of Quebec, and by subsequent laws, have secured to themselves greater privileges than the people of the United States possess, even in the government of their own creation and adoption ; and yet there is always a settled opposition to certain acts of the Crovernpaeot dffectin^ \oca\ objects^. \ FRENCH AND BRITISH INFLUENCE. 253 There is always a jealousy, a suspicion, and distrust of the Mother Country. Hence the judicious projects of tiie British Government for the benefit of Canada, meet opposition from the Colonial Legislature ; and such is the apprehension that their religion, language, laws, and ancient customs may be abrogated by the gradual en- croachments of British influence, that they are content to retrograde in civilization and the arts, rather than yield one atom of custom or power." What has trans- pired, we have painfully witnessed. What the future will disclose, who can tell, or conjecture ? When the Earl of Durham, soon after his arrival last year, with powers more ample than were ever granted to any previous Governor, issued his declaration of impartiality, and announced his intention to regard all classes without distinction, and adjust as far as possible their respective cl^ms, many persons thought, at least they hoped, that rebellion and discontent would cease. Nor was this an unreasonable expectation ; but it was disappointed. The resignation and departure of his Lordship might have had some efTeot upon the malcon- tents, as well as others ; but it must have been slight in relation to the former; as the second outbreak had commenced before he could have proceeded many miles down the river-r-and must have been planned and arranged before he had thought of leaving Canada. The conclusion suggested by experience is, that, as honesty is the best policy, and the most direct way is generally the best, it will be no longer safe or wise to hide from ourselves the necessity, now more than ever imperative, that Canada must not only be, but appear to be, a decidedly British Colony. As it belongs to Britain, British influence must predominate ; but it must be exercised justly and kindly for the encouragement and benefit of all. v3 254 AMERICAN ANTIQUITIES. Should it please Providence to restore harmony to this long agitated counti.'y, and endows our " Senators with wisdom" to enact such laws as are suited to its state, and place its various interests on a good founda- tion, we shall have every reason to look for not only a continuance, but an increase of prosperity. The amazing natural advantages of the country, if duly improved, would yield an ample return ; and furnish not only to its present inhabitants, but to millions more, a comfortable home and subsistence ; and contribute largely to the diffusion of happiness through the empire. The parent state, kindly and wisely cherishing this part of her colonial family, would meet not only with a return of warm affection, but a large accession to her strength, dignity, and importance. Amid this general improve- ment, of which it is rational to indulge the hope, the city of Montreal will have its full share of benefit. Its admirable location, the spirit and enterprise of its inhabi- tants, the increase among them of intelligence and moral worth, unite in cherishing the expectation that Montreal may attain a yet higher station among the cities of the western world. AMERICAN ANTIQUITIES. Under this or similar titles the attention of the public has of late been frequently called to the consideration of various objects, in difterent parts of this continent, which seem to indicate that it has been occupied by a race very different from any which are now known to inhabit it. In the opinion of some who have examined these matters, the tribes of Indians which were found here by Columbus and subsequent travellers, were preceded by a people far more advanced in civilization and science, T^Vi ANTIQUE RUINS. 255 the remains of whose power and skill have from time to time been brought to light. The ruins of forts and citieS) under the present surface of the country, mounds and tumuli above it, together with utensils and curiosi- ties of various kinds which have been dug up at different places, are supposed to shew that the arts were practised here, to a great extent, at periods antecedent to the generally supposed origin of American history. The idea has been plausibly supported that some parts, at least, of this continent were known to certain inhabitants of Europe, more particularly the Norwegians and the Danes, before they were discovered by the great navi- gator to whom the honour has for ages been assigned ; not, however, to the disparagement of Columbus, for it is admitted that, whatever might have been known forjnerly, in his time the knowledge was lost, and the western hemisphere was again absolutely a terra intiognita. Whatever portion of truth there may be in any or all of these conjectures, and whatever share fancy may have had in their formation, the enquiry has at length assumed a shape which entitles it, at least, to respectful con- sideration. About six years since, a volume appeared in the State of New York, with the follovnng title — " American Antiquities, and Discoveries in the West : being an Exhibition of the Evidence that an ancient population of partially civilized nations, differing entirely from those of the present Indians, peopled America many centuries before its discovery by Columbus; and en- quiries into their origin ; with a copious description of many of their stupendous works, now in ruins, with conjectures concerning what may have become of them. Compiled from Travels, authentic sources, and the researches of Antiquarian Societies. By Josiah 3 .' oovery of America by the Northmen, but without entering into any statement of circumstances or of evi- dence; and their unexplained opinions consequently appear to be the offspring of predilection. The only mode of convincing the literary world of a fact, is to publish the documents which prove it. This ta8k.Mfi«s undertaken in the present instance by M . Rafn allpe, and he had advanced half way towards the completion of his work, when the Royal Society of Northern Antiquaries, of which he is the secretary, resolved to take the publication of it off^ his hands. We have here the original Icelandic text, with the various readings or even the different versions of the MSS., accompanied by translations in Danish and Latin ; in this part of his task the editor has had the invaluable assistance of the learned Icelanders, Finn Magnusen and Sweinbiom Egilsson. He has himself added ccpious notes, with geographical and historical disquisitions. The learning and critical sagacity of Rafh, Finn Magnusen, and the other eminent scholars who have lent their aid in preparing this volume of American Antiquities for the press, appear to us to have effectually prevented any objections that might be raised against the genuineness of the pieces entering into the collection ; and to confine the question respecting the early dis- covery of America simply to the discussion of the meaning and intrinsic merits of the evidence. Erik the Red, with whom our narrative begins, GREENLAND. 273 appears to have been conspicuous even among Northmen for turbulence of spirit and love of adventure. He wasi twice obliged to change his residence in Iceland owing to feuds with his neighbours, in which he committed homicide. In his new abode on the western shores of the island he was equally unfortunate, and became in- volved in disputes with a powerful individual named Thorgest ; in consequence of which, bei'.ig arraigned before the Thing, or Assembly, convened at Thorsness, toiid knowing probably that his enemy's adherents out- numbered his own, he felt that he had no chance of escape but in quitting the island. He lay some time in concealment, while his foes sought him on all the rocks along the shore, and, his preparations being completed, he embarked (in 983) with a few resolute followers, and stood out to sea from the Sna^fellsyokel, a towering promontory pointing directly to the west. His friends Thorbiorn, Eyolf, and Styr, accompanied him beyond the rocks. In taking leave of them he announced his intention of looking for Gunbiorn's rocks, as some islets were called which had been discovered in the western seas a short time before, and the situation of which geographers have never been able to conjecture : it is not improbable that they were the islands near the southern extremity of Greenland. The conspicuous feature of the first land made by him, was a glacier (Sneefellsyokel) to which he gave the name of Blaserk, or Blackrock : he then sailed southwards, until he at length arrived at a habitable shore where he spent the winter. During two summers he explored the newly discovered country, to which he gave the flattering name of Greenland, in order that its designation might en- courage men to settle in it ; and in the course of the third summer he returned to Iceland according to promise, to acquaint his friends with his success. He 274 biarnf/s rOYAOE. remained there but one winter, during which time, after a renewal of his quarrel with Thorgest, a reconciliation was effected between them ; and in the following sum- mer he returned to settle in Greenland. Of five and thirty vessels which set sail with him from Iceland, only fourteen reached their destination ; of the remainder some were lost, and others driven back by the winds. One of the companions of Erik was Heriulf, whose ion, Biarne, at the time of the migration to Greenland, was abluent on a trading voyage to Norway. Surprised, on his return to Iceland, to find his family all gone, he determined at once to follow them, and, as he expressed it, to spend his winter, as he had been always used to do, at his father's fire-side. In this he uttered the characteristic sentiments of the north, where the length and severity of winter give double value to the comforts of home and social intimacy, and where domestic attachments seem to gain strength from the rigour of the season. He set sail accordingly, though unacquainted with the Greenland sea, and for many days was driven by tempestuous north winds, accompanied by thick fogs, he knew not whither. At length, when the weather cleared up, he saw a land moderately elevated and overgrown with wood. As this did not correspond with the description he had received of Greenland, he left it to larboard ; and standing out to sea, in two days more again descried land lower than the former, but like it covered with wood. He then continued hia course with a south-west wind, and after three days descried an island, the lofty shores of which were beset by icebergs, or, as it should perhaps be understood, covered with glaciers. Bearing away from this island, and sailing for four days with fresh gales, he arrived at Heriulfsnes in Greenland, where his father was settled. There is no reason to doubt that the well-wooded land first LIEF 8 VOYAGE. 275 descried by Biarne was some, we shall not at present venture to describe wliat, part of the American conti- nent, which thus appears to have been discovered by the Northmen as early as 986. The discovery of the continent was, in fact, by a natural accident, made con- temporaneously with the col 'zation of Greenland. A few years later, when Erik, Earl of Norway, heard Biarne relate the incidents of his voyage, he expressed his surprise and dissatisfaction at the absence of any endeavour to examine the newly discovered country. The earl's comments, when carried to Greenland, did not fail to operate at once on the adventurous spirit of the colonists. Lief, the son of Erik the Red, bought Biarne's vessel, and in the year 1000 proceeded on a voyage of discovery towards the south-west. He first came to the island of snow-clad mountains, formerly seen by Biarne, and went on shore with some of his companions to examine. There was no herbage of any kind upon it, but a bare and rugged plain of slate (hella) extended from the feet of the glaciers down to the sea- side. Hence they gave to this country the name of Helluland. Continuing their voyage, they next arrived at a low coast thickly covered with wood, and having hillocks or banks of w^,ite sand near the shore. Thin country they called Markland, or Woodland. They then stood out to sea and sailed for two days before they again made land, when, passing between an island and the main, which here stretched out eastwards so as to form a long peninsula, they held their course westward along the shores of the latter, where they observed that a great extent of ground was left dry at ebb-*''''*. They explored in their small boat a river which issued from a lake, and being pleased with the appearance of the country, they brought their vessel up into the lake when the tide rose, and moored her in it. x2 276 LIEP'S-BOOTHS — VINLAND. They proceeded forthwith to erect themselves some temporary log-huts, which, as soon as they had made up their minds to M'inter in the place, they enlarged into comfortable houses, and called them Liefs-booths ; a name which recurs frequently in the Scandinavian history of the discovery of America. It happened one day that they missed one of their companions, a Suderman, that is, a Southern or German, named Tyrker, an old servant and favourite of Liefs. A party was immediately despatched into the woods in quest of him. After some time spent in search, he was seen staggering towards his friends with an air of ex- travagant joy, and having first accosted them in German, much to their surprise, he at length went on to acquaint them in staggering accents with the fact that he had been feasting on grapes. It must be confessed that the northern historian, in describing a German inebriated by eating wild grapes, drew too much on his imagina- tion ; yet the amount of fictior ' this instance does not exceed what may be allowed for as the inevitable colouring of facts preserved by tradition ; and indeed the anecdote regarding Tyrker, if closely examined, will be found to furnish strong evidence of the genuine- ness of the narrative. The circumstance so carefully related, that the finder of the grapes was a Southern, in whose native country the vine abounded, and who was consequently well acquainted with that fruit, cannot fail to suggest to the reader how unlikely it is that such exotic productions should have presented themselves to the imagination of Icelanders in the twelfth century, or that grapes and vines should adorn regions in the fancy of that people who voluntarily settled on the frozen shores of Greenland. To the country in which the vines were discovered Lief gave the name of Vinland, and freighting his vessel with grapes and timber he returned thorwald's voyage. 277 homeward in the following' spring'. When near the coast of Greenland he saw a party of shipwrecked people on a rock : they were fifteen in all, including Thorer, the chief, and his wife, Gudrida. Lief took them on board and conveyed them to Greenland, and from this circumstance he obtained the appellation of the Lucky or Fortunate. The account which Lief gave of his winter's sojourn in Vinland was calculated to incite others to visit that country ; and his brother Thorwald borrowed his vessel for this purpose, under the engagement that he would first convey to Greenland the property which Thore., when shipwrecked, had left upon the rock. This being efiected, he sailed for Vinland, and arrived without accident at Liefs-booths. He spent the first winter in fishing. The following spring (1003) he sent a party southwards, to examine the coasts; they were absent for some months, and reported on their return, that the country explored by them was everywhere extremely beautiful, the woods extending down to within a short distance of the fine sandy beach which formed the shore. They saw no signs of human beings, except a wooden shed (literally in the language of the Icelandic historians, a corn-shed or granary) on one of the numerous islands near the coast. In the following year (1004) Thorwald sailed eastward from Liefs-booths, and then went northward past a remarkable headland which enclosed a bay, and was opposite to another headland. Here, driven by a tempest into shoal water, the vessel struck and injuied her keel ; the damage was soon repaired, and Thorwald ordered the broken keel to be erected on the headland, which he named from the circumstance KialarneSy or Keel- Point. They came soon after to a promontory covered with wood, where, for the first time, they saw some of the natives. There were three z8 ,i 278 KARLSEFNE. canoes drawn up on the shore, near each of which were three Skraellings, as the northern writers call the Esquimaux. Of the nine natives they murdered eight, but found themselves in a short time surrounded by a great multitude, hastening from pM sides to avenge the death of their fellows. The Northmen beat them off, but Thorwald received a mortal wound in the combat. His admiration of the woody pron::,ntory where he had expressed a wish to abide, then seemed to him prophetic ; and as he expired he told his companions to bury him on the shore of the headland, and planting a cross over his grave, to call the place Krossanes, or Cross Point. They returned to Greenland in 1005. In the spring of the following year, Thorstein, third SOD of Erik, accompanied by his wife Gudrida, set sail with the intention of bringing home his brother Thor- wald's body ; but after being tossed about the whole summer by adverse winds, he regained Greenland at the beginning of winter, without having even seen Vinland, and died soon after. The circumstances of Thorstein's death are related by the Icelandic historians at ample length, and with much simplicity and pathos. The year 1006 was rendered memorable in Green- land by the arrival of two vessels from Iceland, one of which was commanded by ThorJBnn, better known by the auspicious designation of Karlsefne ; that is to say, having the materials of a man, or, promising great things. The chief person in the other vessel was Biarne, the son of Grimolf. Karlsefne was a rich and powerful man, of a distinguished family, and traced hii descent from some who were in those days called kings, but must not be ranged in the same line with the crowned heads of mod«rn times. We do not think there are many who will feel in- clined to dispute the truth of the history. It ha« HELLULAND — MARKLAND — TINLAND. 279 ) throughout the substance and the colour of reality. Nothing can be more plain, natural, or rivid ; and it \a even, in some respects, remarkably circumstantial. Lief 's voyage offers us no nautical details. He went in search of the countries described by Biarne; and retracing the course of the latter, he, as well as all those who followed him, found three lands which he named Helluland, Markland, and Vinland. The fact that those three lands, of slate, of wood, and of the vine» always occurred in succession to the explorers from Greenland who commenced their voyage in a southward course, leave us, we repeat,, no room to doubt that the regions so designated were respectively the projecting lands of Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, and New Eng- land about Massachusetts. The nature and aspect of these countries are in perfect accordance with the des- criptions of those discovered by the Northmen. In Newfoundland we find the bare rocks and ice of Helluland ; and in the depressed, well- wooded shores of Nova Scotia, we have no difficulty in recognising the Markland of the Northmen. As to Vinland we are not called upon to acknowledge its identity with the coast of Massachusetts merely on the evidence of such general resemblance. The narrative of Thorwald's voyage furnishes us with some particulars respecting it of a very unequivocal and cogent kind. His explora- tions of the coast from Liefs-booths appear to have been directed towards the east and west. He himself sailed eastwards, we are told, along the coast, and then turned northwards (at point Malabar) round the land which proved to be a peninsula (Nauset), enclosing a bay (Cape Cod Bay). Within this bay he anchored at the mouth of a river flowing from east to west (Pamot River). The point (Cape Cod) terminating the peninsula, and named by him Kialarnes, was opposite to another head- 280 NORTHMEN IN AMERICA. land oil the main (Gurnet Point), which was covered with trees, and appeared to him eminently beautiful ; a description that suits well with the peninsula at Ply- mouth, as may be collected from the names of the places on its coast, High-Pines ' Ledge and Green-Harbour. The details of Thorwald's voyage along the coast, east- wards and then northwards till he rounded a headland enclosing a bay and found a river running westwards, all square exactly with the coast of Cape Cod Peninsula, and with no other spot in the New World on which conjecture can plausibly fasten. In the same region also we find the Furthurstrand, that is, the Marvellous or Portentous. Strand. How appositely this designation might be applied to the sandy plains near Cape Cod, will be evident from the descriptions of them by a modem writer, Hitchcock, on the Geology of Massa- chusetts. We must not be supposed to undervalue the Collec- tion of Northern Antiquities because we find in it some manifestations of an excessive antiquarian zeal. It contains enough to prove that the American continent was known to the Northmen at the beginning of the eleventh century ; and we frankly avow that it appears to us to contain much also, which, whatever be its pretensions, proves nothing at all. The discovery of Vinland, however, was not made in an obscui^i;^ age. It may have been preceded by many remarkable voyages in the west, and we do not venture to deny positively that the stories of the Limerick merchants respecting the Northmen carried to Great Ireland and the Whiteman's Land, may have had their foundation in some very early transatlantic discoveries. . Still further it must be observed that the discovery of Vinland was not a transient event, no sooner past than forgotten. As it was thought likely to prove I ■ ; COLUMBUS IN ICELAND. 281 advantageous, the family of Erik the Red with whom it commenced, persevered in promoting it for some years. They had a share in all th discovery of e Columbus. y the bulk of expected to IS in anywise ry imperfect navigator to t the slightest acknowledg- hmen. The s across the jr prefigured sandinavians. »nce between the different which led to replete with lich the most se unexpect- ch led those ind, through nt distances vard in his le coast of )y corapari- who with so far the apparently mr.st ever ord. The n or object, n ; that of to opeiate ( I ■•' \, •; Jl NOTES AND CORRECTIONS. 23 29 41 12 73 27 100 10 174 22 92. View < Pakge 12, line 13, rcarf Voyage Cartier was induced Quelus, character, Mr. O'Dunald; Physiology. View of the City in 1803. On the right is shewn the artiticial hill which wn thrown up for the defence of the city. It is distinguished by barracks and a flag. Its position was the open space in front of Dalhousie Square ; and it remained several years after the view was talcen. 97. The Bonsecoura Church was not originally built for public accommodation, though afterwards allotted to it. The history of its erection will be found on pp. 108, 9. 153. Nelson's Monument. The wooden building behind the Pedestal has been removed since the plate wa» engraved. View from the Haymarhet. A wooden paling has been run across from the market to the rear of the Chapel since the view was taken. Ship Yard. The vessels enumerated in this artida were not all built in the same yard, but in severaL Mr. Munn's yard was on the south of the city toward the mouth of the Lachine Canal ; the ground is now occupied by warehouses and stores. Beyond the lower end of the city, near the Current St. Mary, there are three ship yards. The nearest is that belonging to B&tt I^cgaE, Esq.. of , London, and occupied by Mr. J6hnsui> ; an j from; w^i«h> 'tfi^ 'ste^er Lady Colbome was recently launched. ^ '. T,hc second is knovtn or Youn^'^ Ship Yard It belongs to Forsyth & Co., ui.d is o<;cupieJ by M'llar & C* This is tha yard of which Shay & MtrriU " tO!>Jc powj^ion" in — 176. — 178 284 NOTES AND CORRECTIONS. '|. 1829, and in which Mr. M. built the ressels described in the paragraph. The third yard is still lower down ' the river, and was'formerly occupied by Mr. Farring- dou : it belongs to various individuals, being com- posed of the points of several farms which meet at that place. There is also a yard on the other side of , ■ . the Lathine Canal, where barges and other small craft are built for the forwarders ; and one farther up the Canal, on this side, at Whipple & Co.'s store, for the same purpose. Page 218, 10. Dr. Bigsby, an English gentleman, was attached to the British Commission for determining the bound- ■■•:*. , . ary between the United States and the British possessions, in 1824. — - 223, etc. In drawing up the Sketch of the First Rebellion, recourse was had to the summary which appeared originally in the Montreal Gazette, — ^ 215. The River. A striking feature in this majestic stream, independently of its magnitude, has always been the theme of just admiration. The Ottawa joins the St. Lawrence at the Cascades, by the Isle Ferrot, and henceforward they unite their streams. But though > ; they flow in company, each preserves its indepen- .;,..;/ . ' dence, as though it scorned to merge its characteristic qualities in those of its companion. This distinction (''■■^ ." t ' ^ maintained as low down as Three Rivers, ninety . . './ . miles beyond Montreal. The line of distinction is very clearly marked throughout nearly the whole distance. At Lake St. Peter it becomes somewhat obscure, and is lost in the tide waters that approach the town of Three Rivers. At any of the openings from Notre Dame Street in this city, or from any ? elevated part of the shore, the spectator may discern ( :> the beautiful green tinge of the St. Lawrence on the farther side, and the purpleish brown of the Ottawa on tbe half of the i;iver nearest>tu him. ,t * a <■ ~ Tlttili:ET> BY CAMPBEI.L AND BECUST. i Tessela described is still lower down I by Mr. Farring- uals, being com- Ds which meet at t the other side of and other small ; and one farther pie & Co.'s store, I, was attached to ning the bound- and the British First Rebellion, which appeared majestic stream, always been the awa joins the St. Isle Perrot, and as. But though >ves its indepen- its characteristic This distinction e Rivers, ninety of distinction ia early the whole comes somewhat irs that approach f of the openings ity, or from any itor may discern Lawrence on the 1 of the Ottawa QQ. BT.