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 MRMOIRS 
 
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 FOUR DECADES 
 
 YORK, UPPER CANADA. 
 
 lEENUY S|KA1)J)IN(J, D.I). 
 
 AITIIIIII OF " liilMiMil iiK mil," 111, 
 
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 TO l{(>NT(» : 
 HUNTKI!. ItOSIO ft r().Ml''ANY. l'i:lNTi:i!S 
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 OK TIIK I'OjrK DKCADKS oK 
 
 YORK, UrrEK CANADA. 
 
 IIY TIIK HKV. HKyilV Si-.tlHilM;, l> l> 
 
 INTHODIMTION. 
 
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 CMAITKU I. 
 
 OlUKCr AND MKTIIOl) Ol' THK \V(»UK. 
 
 u^r^'}.*''. AM aUiiit to iimkL' ii rfcmd of cfUiiii uioiiioiis of Toit.iito 
 ^^il'My. Imfoio it was iiicoipyiatea as iv rity. I fnii.loy tlio ttiriii 
 
 iiiBiiioirs, Ik'civusi' 
 
 ]'^i^". "i<>"« liistoiy of the' 
 m that I 
 
 
 not profcHM to pn'sciit licrcii coiit'm- 
 fiom till! (lay of its roiiixiiition. All 
 
 a,„ ,il,l,. to )lo, is t!R jtrodiict! Nclcctioiis IVoiii siicli iiotifcs 
 
 i- of tlif place anil its inliabitants as I may tliscovcr in tlio U'w 
 conteinpot-anuous (locuuivnts that aro nxtant. 
 
 In 17!)3, oi» the northern bank of the hay theretofore known as (he liay 
 of Toronto, the site of a towi^ intended' to he made the .apital of Ppper 
 Canada was selected, "and the name ol; York was prospectively ),'iven to 
 it At the wuno time the Bay of Toronto ' hecam'e the Hay of York, and 
 the HHrroundin^ township the Township of York, l-reviously, for some 
 *tinie, it lia.1. Uirough some caprice in the Surveyor-Ken.'rals ollice, home 
 the name of Duhlin; at which periml Scarl.oro..f,'h, from a like cause, 
 was Glasgow, Darlington Bristol, and Whithy Norwich. 
 
 t)n the 0th of March, 1»34, the name York, as applied to tjm town 
 projected in' 1793, and act.ially hegtfti to he built in 17!l+. was ifsplaced 
 by the appellation " Toronto." Thus the aniials of th.. town known an 
 York, lT|)i>er Canada, comprise the events of four decades. Accordim,rly 
 thi.s is the division of my narrative which I have adopted: I set fT.rth 
 brief memoirs of persons ami incidents at York during the succes.sive 
 
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 ,„,.i.,.|s I7!)l IHOV 1H()1 IHll, IsU lh-i», IN'.'4 1h:»4. •"«• «'"i?"t 
 
 • York on.« tho vhM Ht.^oii h. Uonup.. H.ilnin, l.». li.i.l »r. vKMvuvr of .it 
 
 |..uHt fo.nti.u.sfo.n 1....I.I.V.1 vr,n.. It is u.. .„.ll.-Mlic f"'* tlu.t tl». K... 
 
 ,,..,o, S.v....m .li..l thnv ,.,. II..- Ml. of Kt.l.......y. A K •-•! 1. Our Ippo.- 
 
 (•ttiuMli.... Voik wa».il will l.c.«efn.l...t.i.. ' i..t"..l ..r.l"r " ... eo...|.....son. 
 
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 ClIAPTlvK 11. 
 
 ntKVK.rs iiisn.uY .m- ihe Hiir; ov voi.k thk muihatokv 
 
 CIIAIIAI TKIt ol Tin: NAMK Al'I'l.ll.r. I<> IT. 
 
 ^•^r. «i'ill iii.i.fiii' that the tipiKlliUioi. ■Toronto" I.um l.fvi. iiiit<ia- 
 lo.y. Ill l'!':» >t w.iH ui'i'Hc.l faiHitiuily t" H'" loi'il'ty "•> 
 wl.icl. tin- i..f,soi.t City of To...f.t.. Hliui.ls, n.i.l li.e l..i.l.ou. of 
 . il.o pivsciit city was tM|i.ally well known m ll..- HAy "f To- 
 ronto. But one Imn.iic.l an.l H«ventc-c... y.aiK earli.-.-, tl..-sc nan.oH, 
 w.ilt.n picoiHoly .i.s w.! w.ite the... now. I.oIoi.k.mI to loc.iliti.'M. 
 not on tl.i- short- of Lako Onta.io, l...t to .i .v-ion ahout forty n.ili-H 
 farther no.tl.,lyinK'betw.-4,n the waU-rs of lJlo.K:cHt«r or Malc)...Mla«h U..y 
 onLak.- Huron antl tJiow of Liiki-Siii.coi-. , » 
 
 Th.m i!» a dc-.-.|.atch of tho Mar.,..i.s .jo Dunonville, (Jovornor-Oontiral of 
 C'.i«a.la", to the i^overninent of Lo.lis XlV., .lat-.l l(i.S(l, w. have tl... wor.l 
 c-n.ploycl in tim relation. In the .lu^patol. ref.-rre.l to, it i« recoi..n.enilea 
 that tw., n.ilitaiy po.it. sl.ouhl he est.il.liHl.e.l to jiuar.l the two ent.ances 
 to Lake Huron; one ot its southern end on the st.ait theie; and tl 3 
 other at the upper or northern end, at " the I'.m by Toronto." Both posts 
 m-vo intended to bar the way against the English fur-traders, who would 
 pe>-si»t in penetrating to Michiliu.ackinac by the.se routes, against the will 
 of the Canadian authorities. The po.-,fc on the stniit at the so.^l.ern end 
 of Lake Huron was forthwith established. It was known as Fort St. 
 Joseph and its site afterwards l.ecan.o tliat of the American Fort Oratiot. 
 But tho order f6r tho post at the upper or eastern end. ay- tho Pas.s by 
 Toronto." was temporarily cj^unternuin.led. as we are told i|/i a dijspatch of 
 Denonville's, dated 1C»7. / . . 
 
 The intended site of the fofV at "the Pa.s8 by Toronto n.oy/ be 
 gathered from a map accompanying Lahontan's Letter>^, some of^hem 
 
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 rininsvip I'Asr am> i-hkskst. m 
 
 writti'ii lit lliiw |iitMo<l. Oil lliii limp it fort in fiiiiN|)idioiiH|y iiiiirki'il, 
 iKil fnr from lli<' Nitc of tlu' picMi'iil, I'l'iii'litii^iiiiKrin', iim nii^koIi'iI Id \h- 
 liiiilt tlit'i'o, not Niiii|ily Hs n Utt- to tin' Kii;;liMli, luit »n a Imlwiirk n^'iiiiiit « 
 tlio IroijiioiM iiivndiTN, now tliivikti.'iiiii^ ^ii' verv i-xiitli>iu*i' of tlii< colotiv 
 of Nnw Fiiiiu'i'. Ill till' li'ltiT wliicli iilliidcM til llic iim|>, tin' |)ro|i<w('H 
 fort In .h'ftrrilM'il an Ixiii;; " nt tljit iiioiitli of llii' lluy nf Toroiitu ii|miii 
 Lnkt' IJiiron;" ami tliin in tlio luvihiT'fiivi'ii at full li'iiutli mi llio iiia|i 
 |o (iloiicfHti'r anil MiitclicilnHh llav : " llaio ilc Toronto" In IIih iiihii 
 tU'i', what !)unoiivilli> inoaiit liy " tlic I'iinn at '{'oroiito, tlir ollii-r rinl of 
 Lako lliirun," In ili'tcriiiiiitMl witii (;ri'at ci-rtainty. On lli« maiiiu ninp, 
 wliii'li, no iloiilit ri'intxliii'i's I'urlii^r liuqn in tlif po's'^'ssimi of iIh- iiiitlior- 
 itii'M at (/iioIk'c, our l^ikn Hiiiico*) In Lako Toronto, lunl tlii< liiilian.s 
 in)ialiitin)r itN,Mlior<>H ari< tliu Toroiitoj^iioronoim, tlio Toronto nations; that 
 in, tht> lliiroiiH, or VVyamlotM, as wo hIhiII ticri'aCtt'r liarn, (Sa^anl in liix 
 Griinil Voi/oiii- <Ih i>'i i/h iltn II iiriDiK^ writi'n tho wopI IIoiianilati<s.) It 
 Ia tliiiH pruvcil that in KISti-t), tlui ilat«!H of DcnonvillcH ilcNpatrlu's iiinl 
 LahuntanH lutturs anti map, tho name Toronto was lar;;t'ly iilcntilioil 
 with the environs of the prcKeii't Lake Siincoi"; while, at the MJiiiie period, 
 no Htich nuiiie is applied to any locality on the nIioi'i's of l>ake Ontario in 
 any known map or docunient, printed or maniiHeri|>t lieriiuiti Moll, 
 also, in hix larjre map dated I7^<>, and liaMed on the hest aiit,horilieM of 
 the period, uses the local nomenclature just indicated. 
 
 A. few yuarH later, thu wattir-commiinicalion easfward, IxitweiMi Lake 
 
 ^-Sinicoe and Jjako Ontario, l»y way of tlio rivers <.>toimh(M> and Trent, is 
 
 marked on luaps as " Toronto river;" while the lliimhcr, a Hnu of coiii- 
 
 nuiitieation southward lictween Lakes Simeou and Ontario, Js designated 
 
 by exactly the saini! title. ^ 
 
 llccallinjf now what has just been narrated, that MatclK'dftsh Hay was 
 also " Bay of* Toronto," wo can account for tlio language ^f the mops 
 only by supposing that there was an important interior district generally 
 known as the Toronto region, to and fiiiiii which these water-eominuni- 
 ^ cations wore reganlod as highwaySj on the west, north-went, east and 
 south respectively. 
 
 After a further lapse of time, a change takes place in the wording ()f 
 the maps. The name Toronto vanishc!^ froui the environs of Lake 
 Sinicoe, and appears attached to a locality on Lake Ontario, the spot to 
 which it still adheres. The cliango can be explained thus : the large 
 Huron or Wyandot popiiiation, which had given rise to the expression 
 Toronto, was now dispersed by the incursions of tlie Iroquois, and tlie 
 country rendered comparatively a desert. The region was, theref(ire, no 
 
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 lontfiir roKiirti-fl to «« in .v<'«in l.yK«mi>, ninl '-«• III" wor.l Toronto, hb 
 
 n|i|(lli'il til it, illo|i|M'il nut of limv 
 
 Tlni MiMii on Uki> < tnturio wliicli tliiw l.y wmio Imppy fortiinf inwivi-.l 
 
 till, till , lift-l U'H lonK • w.-ll-fr.M|iu.«t.'.|' liui.linK plwe for trii.liMK nii'l 
 
 liiinliiiu |M»rtiim wlu-n .hi tli.ir w»y to tllo forim-r iKipiiloiw Tiironto 
 iliMtrii't. 
 
 Tim n»in" Toronto wbh tliim jK<ri).tiiati!<l ; *n.l iilthoiiKli <urioiwly f»l»<l 
 
 t.i Ih' lo^t nuain for awliilr, ami iiKaiii to U r vcr.'.j, it poiitiniii'H to thin 
 
 .Ii.y, nil iippolJHtion not willioiit .JiiUimtion, full of iii.'iiiorifi loi.m'ctwl 
 with itH ciirlicr iiw!, »n.l HiiKKcutivo of llm rli,.,|ii..r«'.| »nteci«l«i)l» of tho 
 li«-nlity wliifU it nt premM»t <l<>nit(iMUMt, 
 
 ' * 
 
 ('UMTKR III. 
 
 IMCKVIors IIISTOItV OF TirK HITE OK VOKK (coNTINUKI)). 
 
 .KICATION Ol' TIIK NAMK AI'I'IIKII TO TMK LOCAMTY. 
 
 HKINI 
 
 f.S to llir xiKniUciition of tli.' term " Toronto "—ono very ti.-HnUo 
 
 tnt.lition wliicli Iiiim conii' ilown to un, is that it in " plnio of 
 
 nicetiiit,'"— plfti'u of concourMo, or ronih'7.vo«iH. That thin in K 
 
 near approxiiuatioii to the sohho qf tlw i-xprfiMHiofi may Imi 
 
 Yl^i K»tluTf.i thuH : (Jahr.it'l Sa^unl, a Fraeu'iwan iiiiHsionary, who 
 
 ■'"''^ w.llectcl luM information in the niij,'lil)oiirhoo<l of Uku Siiiicoo, 
 
 just liofort' till- tiiiio of Denonviili-H .hmpatclum, f,MV('H in hU " Dictionary 
 
 of the Huron LanKuaKc" pul.lisho.l at I'aris in l(i32,thi) word "Toronton" 
 
 a« signifyiiiK' in French " iMiaui-oup," in Ki«liHli " much, or plenty ;" aiiU 
 
 the instance of its use which ho a.l.ls hIiowh that it was applied to men 
 
 ,aM well as thmfts; thus: "Toronton H. *bouyo '•— ho killed many S. 
 
 — Sonnontouans or Seneca IrotiuoiB, wo will H\ippoHC. 
 
 The word " Toronton " proliably firsit struck tho ear of voyageurs and 
 tra-h^rs, uttered with ener>?y hy their Huron Ruitles and companions when 
 on their way to tho interior Huron country, repeated again and again, 
 to denote the \>yi^i populousness of that region. The sonorous tenii 
 would 1k5 caught up by tho French and converted by them into a local 
 nanus. It served tt) denoti! to them lA oft il y a beaucoup tU ge.w—a. 
 place where numerous allied and well-disposed tribes <lid congrcKate. 
 
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 I'MIT ASI> /•WKWK.vr 
 
 I i>r»M.rvi' ill lilt' Kri'doli I'tlt-r '•' M •''• l»<l«'t'r>"* »•• Mii|ii ILi^imh, iit 
 Di'lmit, III I7ill, tin- i'xiin>«iiiii " U.ftiici>ii|i <li' imtiniii*," wliii.li wcni'. l«i 
 IriUisUli- "Toioiiliin " <ii> wi'll, »<*,•>{ In hI.iiiik' to livll^iii ImiuNx ' < Mi 
 l.iii n i»iinimi'<' i|u il > «v»it Imhiiioi(|i ilf imtioii.* li vnlri' iiiil<', \ ijiii mi 
 nvait |iriiiitl>i il« |>illii^i''." 
 
 A m<foii<l ad^itioiml iiitii|ii<lttti<)ii of llio tiiiii Toronto miiHt now lii> » 
 
 notirt'tl ; " tivcH rliini} ont of tin' wnlrr." \Vlu>ii in lit nr«' of i'vimiIh 
 
 tin) naiiiK Toronto wiw tiniiHfi'iriil, iv* wi> l4v *''''"• '^''""' ''"' ''*'*'' 
 Minifor ii-xion t^ tlic r^pot to wliirli it ix now ii|>|ili«i|, (I fmii i.-.l ns.' n 
 l>liinc« in hoiiihI to i^olmwk Woi-.l hiivinif stoni.' niirh Hrnsi' n» thnt jittt 
 intiiiiiitf<|, led iM-rxoiiM n<'<|iiniiitfil witji tlm Molmwk iliiilcit (o iniiiKim' iin 
 nlliiMton In llii« wonl to Uit« (K'niiiMiJii in front of Torontct, with it^* ilwiirf 
 Iri'i'H An Mci-n ftt A ilistiinci- on tlm livkc lint iill tliin wiii inanifisily ii^ 
 nftoHlioi'iKlit, iinil iiiow RiicHnwork. Iik« ho nniny otiir r ••x|iliiimtionM of 
 Inilinn wonU o(l't<iv<l iii l>y iiittTpn'tii-H iukI otlu-rt, i'<<|HTiiilly liy llio*- 
 fMiniliar only with ono of llii> ii>»tri;,'iiinl iihmIom of »|).-<hIi^ 
 
 „()mi ohtuirvfttion must Ik> lulilr.l in r('K»r<l to the original full forHi of 
 thn word TDnmio Th*- wonl Toronto, a-*'''wi> now Imvc it, in ollirial 
 
 docuiiU'lltM dated nearly two hnndn-d yeiii-i hack, m lis to have Hiifft'ivd 
 
 a li»s« at Uitli fiidH. Not only lia^s^a liiial ii dro|i|M'd ott', lint an initial o ^ 
 liAH diHa|>|)oAr<-d. In Sjigard, Iwsidc-; tlio inntancK aliviidy «iv<ii of To!v,»ir* 
 ton in till) HeiiHo of l»<nicoiii>. wi) have " Otoron^fiii " alto, with exactly thr 
 kiiiih! iiuMUiin;(, as in tlio cxiircHMion " O-toroWoii dii<hi'nf.|iioy .IVn 
 iiiailKu. iH-ancoup : " I eat much of it. " Onentaiyiik," a iiainr applied to 
 Lake, Siiiicof. prcMcrvcd in- l>. \V. Smyth's (la/Vteer, I7!l!l, proluilily 
 HJioWH traces of the lottses at the iM';,'iiinin|u' -and omN^f the present word 
 Toronto. lii't oHon Ui taken to represent the nasal scfyrid so often heard 
 at the liojjinniiif,' of Indian wonls, and let the ox/, at IN' end stiind for 
 the nasiirsonml heard with eipial frecpiency in that place, and we virtu- 
 ally have (Itoronton under a disjjnise. In the word Niagara, it may 
 be remomhored, as in Toronto, nji initial Indian o has heen dropped oil. 
 .The word wa.s formerly Uiiia;,'am. In like manner ('hipi)«\vay used to U? 
 Otchipway, which it has a;,mia iH-eoiiie. In Alexamler I letup's " Travels," 
 ^ TosHalon river, running,' into Lako Huron, is the Otesnalon. So CljoiiC- 
 ,"guon, at the month of the Oswego river, i.s in the .fusiiit Relations " Ocli- 
 oii^iTuen," whore doiilitles.s we have the full form of " ( )swego " itself, from 
 which the Ji at the end haw been dropped, as in Tonmto. To conclude: 
 our Consccon, in I'rince Kdward ( Joujity, ought, 1 am informed, to ho writ- 
 ten Oconsocon. Some utterly baseles.s ami iinhisforical interpretations of 
 " Toronto" circulated by writeni of* liooks of travels and othern, are the 
 
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 A 
 
 MEMORIAL VOLUME. 
 
 foU6wing. In his " Subaltern's Furlough," Lieutenant Coko makes it to 
 bo a corrupt form, in some way. of the French Ron^k d'eau:"U is ho 
 called from the circular bay upon whose margin the town is built." Sir 
 Richard Bonnycastlo, in his "Canada in 1841." will have it to I* "the 
 name, as it is suppose.!, of the Italian otKcer of engineers who built 
 the fort, there being no wonl of this kind in any Indian language 
 now understood in Canada." Lossing, in his " Field-Book of the War of 
 1812" accepting probably the «uess of some interpreter unac.,uainted 
 with any dialect but his own. says that the word is correctly " Taron- 
 tah-Trees in the water." and "so," he asserts, "the French called the 
 fort when they built it." 
 
 \'t' 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 PREVIOUS HISTORY OF THE SITE OF YORK (CONTINUE!)). FORT 
 
 ROUILLE. 
 
 [he name Toronto-^with greater propriety, probably, if written 
 at full length " Otoronto "—found a resting place at last, as we 
 have already learned, at the locality which still retains it. 
 _ More specifically, it became affixed to a French trading-post 
 established on the spot in 174», the proper official designation of 
 f^ which was Fort Rouilltf. so named in compliment to Antoine Louis 
 RouiUfe Count de Jouy. French Colonial Minister, 1749-54. In popular 
 language Fort RouilM' came to be Fort Toronto, that is to say, the fort at 
 Toronto; and as time went on, the" popular expression appeared on the 
 maps while the official title of the station was almost forgotten. 
 
 This Fort Toronto-correctly speaking Fort Rouill^was the budding 
 of which conspicuous traces continued to be visible down to 1878, whep 
 the ground was levelled forthe purposes of the Toronto Industrial Asso- 
 ciation. The spot, with its grass-grown hillocks and shallow trenches, 
 shewing the lines of the cedar pickets, was familiarly spoken of and de- 
 scribed in the topographical books as "The Old French Fo^." The 
 establishment itaelf was burned in 1759 by order of the French Com- 
 mander-in-dhief. as we shall presently learn. 
 
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 TORONTO: PAST AND PRKaKNT. 
 
 ft ha8 beun Htalud by some writerx, by Oanicau for uxaiiiplu, that Fort 
 Toronto wax a structuru of Htoiie : but this wa-s not no. Wu havi' purtiuu- 
 lara of tho fort from various sourcuH. It was simply a stockailud, wooden 
 atore-liouse, with quartet's for a keepor and a few regular soldiers. Tho 
 rule of tho Governor-General, who gave the order for tho erection of 
 a fort here, M. de la Galissoni^ro, waa brief. The building of tlio fort was 
 accomplished by his successor, the Mttr([uis do la Jon(|ui6i'e. It was ex- 
 pected to intercept the Indian trade which was being drawn to the 
 English |)08t across the lake, at Choudguen (Ocho»idguen, Oswegon, Os- 
 wego). Persons interested in the trading-posts at Fort Fron enac^and 
 Niagara demurred to the establishment of the fort at Toronto , but the 
 authorities overruled the objections. In 1752, the Abbd Pic(|uet visited 
 Fort Toronto. He found there, he says, " good bread and good wine, and 
 everything requisite for the trade ; while they were in want of these 
 things at all tho other posts." According to the Abbd, some of the Missis- 
 sagas expressed their sorrow to hiin hero that the French liad only estab- 
 lished a canteen at Toronto, and not a church. 
 
 The situation and dimensioW of tho fort at Joronto are given with a 
 good deal of minuteness by M. Pouchpt, the \mt French commandant at 
 Fort Niagara, in his " Memoir upon thc.Wjar injiorth America, 1755-GO." 
 " The Fort of Toronto," he says, " is at, the end of the bay (i. e., the west 
 end) upon the side which is quite elevated and cov6fed-with flat i-ock, 
 Vessels cannot approach within cannionshot. .Thi.s fort or post," ho con- 
 tinues, " Was a square of about thirty toises oii a side, externally with 
 flanks of fifteen feet. The curtains formed the building!^ of the fort. It* 
 was very well built, piece upon piece ; but was only dseful for trade. A 
 league west of the fort is the mouth of the Toro(ito river, which is of 
 considerable size. This river communicates with Lake Huron by a por- 
 tage of fifteen leagues, and is frequented by the Indians who come front 
 the north." 
 
 In 1732 war was in active progress between England and France. The 
 keeper of the solitary fort at Toronto .was full of anxiety. He was con- 
 vinced that the English were stirring up the Indians to destroy his post. 
 " The store-keeper «t Toronto," M. de Longueuil reports in 1752, " writes 
 to M. de VerchSres, commandant at Fort Frontenac, that some trustworthy 
 Indians had assured him that the Salteaux (the Otchipways of the Hault, 
 the same in fact as the Mississagas) had dispersed them.selves round the 
 head of Lake Ontario ; and seeing himself surrounded by them, he doubts 
 not but they have some evil design on his fort. There is no doubt," M. 
 de Longueuil continues, " but 'tis the English who are inducing the Indiana 
 
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 MEMORIAL VilLUMS. 
 
 to (IcHtroy the French, and that they would give a gootl deal to get the 
 savages to destroy Fort Toronto; on account of thi; essentiul injury it does 
 tiieir trade at <!hou('guen (Oswego)." 
 
 The i«ee()er had good groUn<ls for his ahirUi. In M'tl tlie fort lit fo- 
 ronto wiis the scene of a pioi wliieli M. Poucliot, coniiiiandant at Niagara, 
 Was tlio" means of frustratirty. It aiipears from M. Pou'chot's narrative 
 (i. 82), that a contingent of Mississagas, to the numlM!r of ninety, procoej- 
 ing to Montreal to assist tlie^French, conceived thi- idea of pillaging Fort 
 Toronto as they pasHed, notwithstunding that it lielongcd to their friends.^ 
 Tlie hriindy known to l)u stored 4iway suinowliere within its palisiides was 
 the temptation. M. Var ren, the keeiM,>r, and ten men umler M. de Noyelle, 
 were the only pei^sons within the fort. M. de Noyelle, we are told, was 
 secretly apprised of the plot hy a French domestic. He sent a canoe 
 with two men across the hike to Niagara to 11 Pouchot in command 
 there. M. Pouchot at once desjiatched M. de la Fert<j, captain of Sarre, 
 and M. de Pinsun, an otticor of Beam, with sixty-one mien, each having a 
 swivel gun at tlie bow of his bateau. They reached Toronto at four o'clock 
 in the evening of the next <lay. They found the Indians enaimpcd near 
 the fort, and passing in front of them saluted their wigwams with *' artil* 
 lery and musket balls," but fired only into the air, as M. Pouchot had 
 given orders. The Indians were immediately summoned to attend a 
 councils They were greatly astonished at the adventure, M. Pouchot 
 tells us, and " confessed everything : they ha<l had false news delivered to 
 them they said, to the effect that the English had beaten the French.. 
 . But the true reason of their action," M. Pouchot adds, "was that they felt 
 themselves in force, and could get plenty of brandy for nothing." 
 
 In 1738, Fort Frontenac was captured by the English under Colonel Brad- 
 street. M. de Vaudreuil, Governor-General, the second of that name, gave 
 ordei-s that should the enemy appear at Toronto, the buildings there 
 should be burned, and that the men stationed there should retire- to Ni- 
 agara. In 1759 M. de Vaudreuil surajnoned down troops from the Illinois 
 and from Deffiit to protect Fort "Niagara, in case it should be besieged by 
 the English, and for a like purpose "I have sent orders to Toronto," he 
 says, " to collect the Misiussagas there, and other nations, and to dispatch 
 them over to Niagara." Doubtless on this occasion Fort Toronto was 
 burned, and its contents and military guard transported to'Niagara, which 
 itself, after a formal siege by Sir William Johnson, was surrendered July 
 20th, 1739. 
 
 In 17C0 the site of Fort Toronto was visited and reported on by Major 
 Rogers. He has left a narrative of his movements. On the 13th of 
 
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 TORONTO: PAST ASt> PRESSNT. 
 
 
 
 ScpteinlMjr lio stiirtcd from Montreal with two liundroil llaiij^ors in tiftven 
 wlialdjoatH. After (lescribiiijj the Hevcral nt«gcs of the journey up to - 
 almut what is now I'ort Hoj)e, hJH approach to Toi'ontt) \h thus nariatetl : 
 "The wind Beinf? fair, tho 30tli of Septoujljer (170<)) we eniliarked at 
 the first (lawn of day, and witli the assistance of Huils and oars, made 
 f,'reftt way on a south-west course, and in the evening reached the river 
 Toronto {i.e., the Hund>cr), having run seventy miles. ... Tliere was a 
 tract of about three hundred acres of cleared ground round the place 
 whore formerly tlio French had a fort tliat was allied Fort Toronto. The 
 soil here," ho observes, " is principally clay. The deer arei oxtremcly 
 plenty in this country. Some In<liaai were hunting at the mouth of 
 the river, who ran into the Woods at oin- approach, very" much frightened. 
 They came in^ however, in the morning, and testified their jby at the 
 news of our success again.st the French. They told us' wo could eitsily 
 accomplish our journey from ihence to Detroit in eight days; that when 
 the French traded at that place the Indians used to come with their 
 peltry from Michilimackinac down the river Toronfjy ; that the portage 
 wa-s but twenty miles from that to a riv^r falling into Lake Huron 
 (Holland river, Lake Siincoe and the Severn consideivVl as one stream.)^ 
 ... I think Toronto," Major Rogers adds, " a most convenient place for 
 a factory (a tra<Ung-post) ; and that from thence we may easily settle the 
 north side of*^ Lake Erie. We. left Toronto on the 1st of October, steer- 
 ing south, right across the wcsCend of Lake Ontario. At dark we arrivetl 
 at the south shore, five miles west of Fort Niagara, some of our boats 
 having now become exceeding leaky and dangerous." In 17()7, Sir Wil- 
 liam Johnson, in an otKcial report on Indian affairs, stated to the Earl of 
 Shelburne that experienced traders would have ' willingly given one 
 thoustind ]K)unds for the monopoly of the trade with the Indians at B\)rt 
 Toronto for one season. 
 
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 MJSMOKIAL VOLUME. • 
 
 writes : 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 ■w 
 
 I'ltKVlOUS IIISTOHY OF THE KITE 01' YOKK (coNTINrEl)). THE SITE 
 SUUVEYED. YOUK I'KOJECTEI). ^ 
 
 I ROM tlio |)erii)(l of tlio coiKiuest of Canadn onward, tho cxpres- 
 dion " Toronto," im denoting' tlic lociility wlicro- tlic old French 
 trading-post, Toronto, liad Htood, was very familiar aiiion;^ 
 all wlio liad any occasion ti) viHit tlie Hpnt, or to speak of it. 
 In 17iS8, Mr. t'ollins, deputy Hiirvcyor-genwal of the Province 
 of tjuelwc, in a report presented to Lord DorclieHtor, tliiin 
 "The Imrliour of Toronto is capacious, safe, and wcU ^lieitcred." 
 Shrewd inhuhrtants at Quebeu liad their eye on tliis region. In 1701, 
 Lord Dorchester, we are told by Mr. CollinH, " was pleased to order one 
 thousand acres of land to be laid out at Toronto for M. Ilwheblave ; and 
 seven hundred acres each to Captain Lijoree and Captain Houchette, at the 
 same place." Tho OJ'der was never carried into eHect. I'TpiHir l/'anatla 
 WHS organized, and Lord DorchestiT had no longer any ]>owcr to make 
 grants of land there. * 
 
 On the fine map of the Province <« <juebec constructed by Major Hol- 
 land, an officer of engineers, tho peninsula in front of the present Tor- 
 onto is marked " Prcsfju'isle, Toronto ; " what we now Call Huinber Iwiy, is 
 " Toronto bay; " tihd a triangular tract on the bank eastward is " Tor- 
 onto ;" meaning, douljtless, the comparatively cleared space round the old 
 trading-post. * --,» ■ 
 
 In 17!)1, thfe' distinguished early provincial land surveyor, Augu.stus 
 Jones, of whom we shall hear more, surveyed the whole of tht north 
 shore of Lake Ontario, and his termini of exploration are "Toronto and 
 the Trent, head of Bay of Quintd," when laying off the conceSsioAs. In 
 passing, he takes note (fK^ pond (probably ^frenchman's Bay), commonly 
 called, he says, 'Vbblow the Highlands ; " " this," he remarks, " is the first 
 harbour for boatsSfrom ■ Toronto bay." September 15th, 1791, Augustus 
 Jones makes an entry : " Went from Toronto to the river of Credit ; 
 high winds preVented us from going farther. 16th. From the river of 
 Credit, went to the Forty Mile creek, and called that distance fi-om the 
 fort,. I suppose." On the 17th he reaches Newark, and dischai^es his 
 men. In 1792, he is engaged in surveying again, back of what is now 
 
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 Tt)H()NTO: FAST AND PRUSKSf. 
 
 11 
 
 
 HuinlHjr liay ; and w<! liiivo liiin n<'tiiij?, .Inly 2i'n(l, tliut, lio viuiw iutohh 
 " iin Indian looti»itli Icailinj; to Lake la Clin (on; of Uit! names of Ii«ki^ . 
 Sinicoo tlnrinn tlio Kruncli |H'iio(l), near a pond' of St. Jolin'N or Toronto, 
 creek," /.<■. tlm Hnnilier. St. Joint's nu-ant a piiniitivu inn at tho month 
 of the Humlxji- kept l)y a landlord of tjiat nanio. In April in tlio follov- 
 (ng year, 17!tU, An;;ustns Jones is at Nia]i;ara, makinj,' roady for anotlier 
 jonrnoy to Toronto. Bnt now lio will bo in attt-ndanco on tlio Liou- 
 tcnant-Oovurnor, Colonel SimciM!, wlio is K'oinj,' Inm.solf to make a jiersonal • 
 inHiJocUon of tlio locality. At one o'clock on Thursday, May 2nd, the party 
 Hot off On Thursday, the !»th, thtiy iiro at yt. John's, havinjj coasted 
 round the head of the lake. On that day Augustus Jones makes the fol- 
 fowing entry in his Journal: — " Went into Toronto hay, antl ()r(K!i!eded 
 up the creek that empties in through the marsh, alxmt h'vo miles, to see a 
 mill seat." Tlie stream thus examined had no name; hut it evidently was 
 our Don. 
 
 In tho (Jazetle of May Uth, 1793, puhlished at Newark (Niagara), V|re 
 have a fuller notice of the (Jovornor's excursion to Toronto. It was an 
 expedition of great moment. A site for tho now capitid of Upi>er<!anada 
 was to be selected. On the 5th of tho preceding April, the^ Governor 
 had written to Major-Ocheral Alured Clarkei fl,t Quebec in the following 
 strain: — " Many 'American oHicers give it Cs their opinion that Niagara, 
 ■ie. the Fort, should be attacked ; and Detroit must fall of coui-so. I hope 
 by this autumn to shew the fallacy of that reasoning, by opening a safe 
 and exiwditious comniunication to La Trenche," ».<'. the modern Canadian 
 Thames. " But on this subject I reserve myself," ho adds, " until I have 
 visited Toronto." The Gazette of May 0th mentions tho setting out of. 
 the pai'ty, of which, as wo have alrea<ly It^arned, Augustus Jones ^¥a.s 
 one : " On ThuiT<day last. May •2nd, his Excellency the Lieutonont-Ciov- 
 ernor, accompanied by several military gentlemen, set out in l)oats for 
 Toronto, round the head of Lake Ontario by Burlington Bay." The Giizette 
 then adds: "In thq evening H. M. vessels, tho Cnhhvell and Bufilo, 
 sailed for the same place." The Onoudago was already tlierc with its 
 commanded, Joseph Bouchette, engaged in the memorable first survey of 
 the harliour so graphically described by him. I transcribe the pa.s.sage, 
 although it is well known alreaily to all rcatlers of Canadian history :— = 
 
 " It fell to my lot," Bouchette writes, in his " British Dominions in 
 North America," i.89, " to make the fii-st survey of York harbour in 17!»3. 
 Lieut-Governor the late Geneml Simcoo, who then resided at Navy Hall; 
 Niagara, having formed extensive plans for the improvement of tho 
 colony, had resolved upon laying the foujidations of a provincial capital. 
 
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 MtHlfoHlAL VOLUMK. 
 
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 I wan Bt t)iBt i>t'ii<Hl in tliu nnval Hcrvico of tiro Inkt-H, nml tlio wirVey of 
 Toronto (York) HarlHHir whh ontruMtcd hy Ins Excollency to' my |icrfonii- 
 aiic»', 1 Htill (liHtinctly reroltect iIks n«taiiH;<l nn\m-i wliicli tlu' cnimtry 
 cxliil)itc(l wlicii fifHt 1 cntcml tlio l)L'niitiful haMiii, wliicli tliiiH iMcainu 
 the sfono of my early liydrof^'iapliifal oimralions. Dt-nsc and trackk-ss 
 foiestH lined the margin of thc' hike, anil rejected tlietr inverted imngen 
 in it.s glassy Hurfaee. The wanih'ring savage had constrncted his epheuie- 
 i-al haliitation Inineatli tlieir liixnrinnt foliage, tJic group then consisting 
 (tf two families of Mississnglla, and the hay and noighlK)uring marshes 
 were the liitherto nninvaded haunts of inunense eoveys of wihl fowl. In- 
 deed, they were so ahuiidant as in sonio lueasum to annoy us during the 
 niglit." 
 
 Ijieutenant-Oovcrnor Simco(» was alwent from Niagara on the occasion 
 of this his first visit to Toronto until May I3tii. Jiis return is announced 
 in the Gazette thus: " On Monday (May Kith), altout 2 o'clock, the Lieu- 
 tenant-Governor and suite arri\cd at Navy Flail from Toronto. ^ They 
 returned in boats round the lake." 
 
 V 
 
 tr 
 
 CHAPTER VI. ^ 
 
 1793 — VOUK, STILL ONLY IN IDKA, OK ON I'AI'EK. 
 
 H^^t FTKR the personal inspection hy the Governor o*thc site of 
 thu proposed capital, the name of York, instead" of Toronto, 
 logins to appear. The new name was exi)ectea to yield i)!ca- 
 suro to King George III., as ft was given in lionour of his 
 second son, the Duke of York, now cojning inl^o notice ns a mili- 
 j. ^J tary commander on the continent of Europe. For a time, we have, 
 in letters and other documents, the exp es-sion "Toronto, now York," 
 or " York, late Toronto." In a despatch <!o General Clarke at Quebec, of 
 May 31st, the Lieutenant-Oovemor writes: "It is with" great pleasure 
 that I offer to you some observations on the military strength and naval 
 convenience of Toronto, now York, whi^h I propose immediately to occupy. 
 I lately examined the harbour, accompanied by such officers, naval and 
 military, as I thought most competent to give me assistance thereon, and 
 
 
 
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 TOKONTOt PAtiT ANI> VliKSKttT. 
 
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 upon ininuU) invcfltif^ntion, I found it to Ih>, witliout (*oiii|iiu-'moii, tint inoNt 
 proper ttituation for an nixotml, in ovi-ry <>xtvnt of tlm word, timt I'lm Ik 
 mot with in IIiIh IVovincii." 
 
 Tlin (;lii 
 
 York 
 
 ; 
 
 f nanin from Toronto 
 
 10 OiiMlti's a imiclamation on tlii' hOIi- 
 
 hiin^o 
 had hoped to find in <ono o 
 
 joct; but no Huch doeumont is tliero. On Wt'dnendfty, tho 2Mtli of May, 
 17!(;i, tho Ht'cond Heiwion of tho first I'arliamcnt of Upper Canada b«';,'an 
 at Niagara. On tho 9tli of tho folliiwing July it terminated. Tlioro is 
 no aliuHioh in i\w opening or closing H|H'ec1i to tho works alM)ut to Ihi 
 updortakon on tlie northiiHido of tho lake. Hut wo niaysuppos<! that the 
 minils of tho moinlierH ana. other iniluential pt'rsons wero made familiai- 
 with tlio Governors Intentions ini tho course of friendly communications 
 constantly had witlt him. 
 
 Inkmediatuly after tho 0th, stops btigan to ho taken pre|))<i;atory totlio 
 contemplated removal of the govornmeirt from Niagafw. Troopii^ore 
 tninsiMjrted across to the north side of tho lako, " A. few days ago," re- 
 ports tho Gazdie of August 1, 1703, " the Fii-st Division of Her Majesty's 
 Corps of Queen's Rangers loft Queonston for Toronto, now York, and 
 procoodotl in Itatteaux roun<l tho head of tho I.iako Ontario hy Burlington 
 Bay. And shortly afterwards another division })f tho wmto regiment 
 sailed in the King's vessels, tlio Onomligo and Calthivll, for tho same 
 place." It is evident that the CJoVenior, as he expresso<l himself to (Jene- 
 ral Clarke, is about "immediately to occupy" tlie site that sconu-d to him 
 so eligible for an arsenal and strong miiitiiry post. 
 
 Having sent forward two divisions of the regiment wliose name is so ' 
 closely associated with his own, to bo a body-guard to n^ceive him on' 
 his own arrival, and to be otherwise usefully employed, he himself em- 
 barks for the same spot. "On Monday evening" (this would be July 
 '20th, 1793,) tho GuzdfKilt^t namet^J^nforms ns, ' His Kxcellency the 
 Lieut.-flovernor left Navy Kull, and embarkeil on Umnl His Majesty's 
 schooner, the il/(«««im*/rt, which sailed innnediatoly with a favouCabie galo 
 for York, with the remainder of tho Queen's Ilangors." 
 
 We !<hould be glad to have minute particulars of oach'day's proceedings 
 immediately after the anival of this considenible force, naval and military, 
 at York. But on this subject wo are left for an interval without precise 
 information. We mil»t 8up|M)se the llangers busily engaged in establish- 
 ing themselves under canvas about tlio grassy knoll «m which the gar- 
 rison buildings wore afterwards erected. We must imagine them land- 
 ing storo8*nd cannon and other munitions of ♦'ar from the sliips; land- 
 ing and unpacking tlje numerous parts and appurtenances of tho famous 
 
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 MKUOnlAI. VOI.l'MK. 
 
 canvaf* Jioiimo, wliicll tho (•ov<Tnor liail |>ur«lmMi!(l in Kii^IaixI for.tlia 
 nri'oiiiiiKNlHt.iiMi of liiiii.s<'|l' nml liis fAiiiily, wluii Captain ( 'ooK'n ciroctM won) 
 Nold tlioro.- 'I hut I'clt'linitcil navigator had <'Hiimi'<I it to Im< (yntrivoil for 
 liiN own UHO while i'n},'aK<'<l on hiM Hclentitic <ix]>o<litionH. It/niuKt hav<« 
 Uieii a pavnion of coriHiilfiahlo iliincnNioiiM, iinil wan dotilAJoHH planttxl 
 with consiilcmlilc care liy tiu- ttoldicrN and othtft-s. It, wan lit«rall) tho 
 I'nutorlum of tho camp; the OuncmlV hvadipmiterN ; only unlike pnif- 
 toiiiiniM of o|<l, it was uiovniile, niid niado of peri^halile niaterialM. To 
 quote Houehette's Well known words onee metro: " IIIn Kxcolleney inhal»- 
 itod durinfr tho sunnner and throii}(h tlie wintor a canvaM hoiiso, whieh he 
 inipurted fxpresHly for the occaMion ; liut frail as was itH Hulmtance, it waH 
 
 rendered exceedinf^Iy e fortahie, anti Moon W-vanio an dtHtingiiished for 
 
 tlie Kocial and nrhaiie hospitality of ItN venerated and gracionH hast.aH for 
 the p«>culinrity of its Htructure." Wo ean conceive, too, all hands, Hailoin 
 an well aHsoldierH, Itimy in openin>,' («Htwards throufjli the wtHxIs a path 
 thatnhoid(i he more renjKJctjihlo and nioro practicable for all |)urposoH than 
 a mere trail, to that far-east ^portion of the shoro where the town plot .van 
 ^oing t^lie laid out. • 
 
 Towards tlie close of Aujjiist news of i^ striking nature from the outer 
 world, from the far Kuropcan Kiwt, reached the camp at York. It was 
 known that hostilities were in pro^jress between the allied forces of 
 Kurope and the armies of revolutionary Franco. Intelligence now came 
 that the English contingent on the continent had ccmtribiited materially 
 to a success over the Fiiiich in Flanders on the 23rd of May. Now, this 
 contingent of ](),0()0 men was under tho Duke of York, the King's son. 
 A happy thought strikes tho Governor. What could bo Iwtter, njore appro- 
 priate, or more politic, than to celebrate the event in a demonstrative 
 manner on a sjwt which hail just licen named after that prince ? 
 
 Accordingly, on tho 2()th of August, the following General Order was 
 issued :— " York, Upper Canada, 2()th August, 1793. His Excellency the 
 Lieutenant-Governor having received information of the success of His 
 Majesty's arms under His Koyal, Highness tho Duke of York, by^ which 
 Holland ha.s been saved fi-om the invasion of the French armies, and it 
 'apjiearing that tl\o combined forces have been successful in dislodgiag their 
 enemies from an "Ibntrcncheil camp supposed to bo iuiprognablo, from 
 which the most important consequences may l)c expected, and in which 
 arduous attempt the Duke/of York and His Majesty's troops supported 
 the national glory ; it is His Excellency's orders that on the raising of 
 tho Union Flag at 12 o'clock to-morrow, a Royal salute of twenty-one 
 guns is to be fired, to be answered by the shipping in the harbour, in 
 
 W 
 
-• 
 
 / 
 
 TOHONTO: PAST ASIt PHK^tiST. 
 
 15 
 
 ^ 
 
 r«<H|M'<'t to Kin Itoyiil HlffhiH'HM, ami in i-oiiu'iKuiioralioii of tlm niiiniii^ 
 tlilM liarlNxii' from \m Kn^liHh t.itli!. Y^irk K. H. liitllolitkUjN, Major of 
 llrij{a«li!." 
 
 'niiiruniiiiiKiipof tho Union Kla« «t noon, on tlm 27tli of AiiKust, I7!»:», 
 anil tlm nuliituM tlmt inuimilialcly iiftur Im'kihi to nfVdrlM-riito tliron^'li tlii< 
 imi>{hliourin>j[ Holitary wikmIh, ami roll far down ami ncrons tiu-Hilvi'ry Hur- 
 fa<-ii of Ijako OnUirio, may Ihi taki^n, lut donhtluMH tlicy wcru ilcNij{ni!il to U-, 
 for tlm formal inaii«iiration of tlu^ Uppor (^iinailian York, tlioii^h it Inul 
 oxiNtcnoo aH yot only in tlm iiloa of itn projector, oi as ron^'lily »kftflit!.l 
 out for him on pnp<r, |M'rliupn l>y tlm hand of AujfuntnM .loncM. 
 , The nijoicinj,' at York ovnr tlm triiimph of tlm ItritiMti arnm provt-d 
 to b« Monmwhat prcmaturi). TIk- hii(co.sm which attundo.l tL« limt o|H>ra- 
 tions of tlm lloyal Duke did not contiiino to crown Iuh cHortN. Hut the 
 report of the honimix rendered him in thix remote corner of the ),dolH! 
 would, imverthoiosM, U) very jTratcfnl to the f.itherly heart of the Kinj;. 
 
 Or) tlm Saturday after tho royal Halutes the Hrst meeting of tlm 
 FiXecutive Council over held at York t(M»k placo in the (iarri.ion, in tlm 
 canvaft house, iw we miiy stippoHo. Tlm wordn of the late Mr. U't; who 
 xearcluid tlm records at Ottawa for rtio oui this iK)int, are as follow.— 
 "Tlm first Council held at (iiirri.son, YorkJato Torolito (once more), at 
 which Fiiouterumt-Uovernor Sinuoo wa« prestint, Was on Saturday 3rd 
 Aufrust, 17!)M." It was continugd, Mr Lvc stated, to tlm following ."ith of 
 Septundxir, when tlm Oovcrrnnent retit^mHl to Navy Mall. 
 
 Tlm followinji winter, liowciver, 17!i.;»j*, was passed l>y the Governor 
 and his family at York. Boimlmtte spewtcs of his inhaliitiuf; tin; canvas 
 house "through tlm winter." In the following,' Fclnimry tlm Governor 
 writes to Mr. Secretary Dundas in I.K)ndon , and, after his now i)rolonKcd 
 cxpe^^ence, ho speaks of the newly estahlished jxist thus glowingly : 
 "York," ho says, "is the most important and defensible situation in Upjier 
 Canada, or that I have seen in North Anmrica. I have, Sir, formerly 
 entered into a detail of tho advantages of this arsenal of f^ako Onta,rio. 
 An interval of Indian land, six-and-thirty miles, divides this settlenmnt 
 from Burlington Bay, where that of Niagara comnmncos. Tlm comnnmi- 
 cation with Lake Huron is very easy, in Hve or six days, and will in all 
 respects be of tho most essential inii>ortaiu:o." 
 
 In the ummorandaof Augustus Jones, wo nmet with tho expression " the 
 town of York " for tho first tinm. On tho ;{rd of August, 17»3, Im writes, 
 " Waited on his Excellency in Council ; and went with him to look at tho 
 situation of tlm town of York." All that is to hn .seen is .still, we ob- 
 serve, only its situation or site. After this the^utendod capital is more 
 
 -==V^ 
 
 ■, / 
 
Id 
 
 MKMOHUl. voir MM. 
 
 ►It*. 
 
 11 ' 
 
 ljrfii.«mlly allmleil to. On Uio llth of HttpU-mUir, Mr. TalU)t, •ftirwunU 
 ,411(1 raiiioiiFt (;<)l<>ru!l Talliitt, ii niviiilMT of tint Oovt-riiorii m\U\ pinyfiilly 
 J rcfiTH to tlui iii'w iiliUw, ill n, lutttir to Ihh friftiil Coloitil MiKt-c, nl NiaKiyrn, 
 •IiiUmI At Vorlc : " Th«r«! in a moitt iiiaKni(ic<>nt city luiiloiit which in to l« 
 lH'j{iin in tho HpriiiK." Mr. S.*r«itory Jarvin Imil ftlna.ly rather hiimor- 
 oiinly writttin to a friutul, of tho (lovfriiord «;x|K'<litioa from Niajfars, 
 iH'foro it waft a((!oiii|i|iHhi<<|, w a. tour iii Hearcii of a city. "Our Amwiii- 
 hly," ho naiil, "aru U) moot on tho 12th of next month, an<l a motley 
 crow thoy aro. Aflor tho Amtefiibly Ih pruroj^iinl, tho (^olonul ami IiIn 
 Huitu ((. **. thu Liout.-(Jovomor) ftns to ^o to Toronto a city-huntiiif;. I 
 ho|M. th«y will l»! Jtiiwnwful." Mr. Talhot, in tho letter just mcntionoit, 
 givcH \vs Homo iilea of tho .lincomfortH of ciimp-lifo at York at thi.s |K!ri<Ml. 
 "Col.Himcoo and tho (juooti'N lUn^urN nro i>ncjimiN!<l hero," he tollH(.'olonel 
 McKeo, "ami an* |.ro|iarlnt{ hutx for the wint«!r." Mr. Tiilhot haii recently 
 Ihou .|imrtere(l with liin regiment at tho FallH of tho Miami; a wild 
 region douhtloHn; but lie writoH; "Tho foot of tho llapidn [i.,:, of tho 
 Miami rivurj, is (piite London to thiHHpot. Howovur, I fear it will he my 
 fate to IMWw Honio moiitliH hero." 
 
 Ono otlKsr mention of tlTo camp at York in AuguMtUH JonoHH journal Ih 
 noticottblo: " Wont to Camp," hu writes, on tho Ut of Heptom»K!r, 17!).'J: 
 "atU'ndcd I'rayoi-H." Wo thuH incidentally loom that the good (Jovemor 
 did not neglect in IiIh camp tho recognition of Almighty Ood, whoso iUHtru- 
 ment ho tt,-«iuredly wa« in tho implanting of KngtiNh civilization lioro in 
 17l»3. Tho Chief Brant was for » time Kxiged in thi.s camp; and Colonel 
 Butler, the identical otKcor whoao name won ojwooiateil with his in " Oor- 
 trude of Wyoming." AuguMtus Joncn mentionH tho arrival of thoHO two 
 pei-Honages during IiIm own .>*Uy at York. Mr. Jones was despatched from 
 York on professional duty to Niagara on tho (Jth of November; but he 
 is ordered to be back in January. Ho is th«n to track out and clear, 
 through tho prinioval forest, » practicable route from York to Lakes 
 Simcoe and Huron. This route had been a*4ady jwrsonally explored by 
 tho indefatigable Governor, ucconm^ied by a party of officers, in Octol)er, 
 17'J3. It was quickly seen^ylmn that this would be in the future a 
 most important highway of connneroo between the two great hikes, 
 Ontario and Huron. Mr. Jones inserts a memorandum that while remain- 
 ing at York, the men under him had been employed in " making a road 
 from the camp to Toronto Old Fort." 
 
 
 ^- 
 
 -»<►« 
 
 ►if*. 
 
 As, 
 
 Vi: 
 
 1: 
 
i- 
 
 TOHONTit I'AHT AND tHUMMNr 
 
 17 
 
 Ihe Jiist Jccabc. 
 
 1794 1804. 
 
 / 
 
 4 
 
 CHAITKU L 
 
 YOKK DNDKII THK TUTKI,A«JK OK tiOVKUNOU MIMCOK, |M)\VN TO 1796. 
 
 FKW yuain Niiii-ii w« rightly i'«Kar(li><i th» foiiniling <»f Now 
 WuHtiniiiNUir, in HritiHli ( 'uliiinltin, aM an ovoiit of j{n*iit iiitur- 
 CHt, iiiilutatiiiK, an it ciini«|iicu<iuNl y iliil, an iiii|K)rtaiit mlvanco «f 
 KnKliHh civilizati-oii into rvmumH of th« Barth liithorto wholly 
 undnvfloiwcl and Havaj^u. Witli tlio Nanio fn.jlin>{, at a laUn- |MTio<l 
 wo l«hold Winni|M>K,in M*nito»«, |)roi..tt«)«l, an<l Mpriii^fing iuMtontly 
 into vigorous life. An incident of n parallel .liariict.r t<. the ori^^ination 
 of theM) placuH wan thu founding of York. L'pjM-r (.'anada, ir. 17l»4. It waH, 
 »t iho time, tho eHtabliHhniunt of an .-ntiroly now (iontro of inHuimco and 
 power in the domain of Havagery. AccompliHhed, licjwovor, in jfreat olwou- 
 rity, and while th6 atUmtion of men in j{oneral vjraN turned to Htirriliig 
 event* taking plaue olMiwhore In the world at th<| moment, it wax lung 
 iKsforo the imporUnce and Hlfeliiflcancu of the founding of thix York w ue 
 «de<tuately recogniwMl. Itn growth, too, at uptime ^j^hen (riinHit from point 
 to point waH beset with every cohceiviiMo (iirticuttV, an<l whon the migra- 
 tion 'of the European |»eoplc8 to the went had <jnly licgun. was, wluu 
 compared with that of new commuriitieH in the^ prcHont day, far f Jom 
 rapid. ] 
 
 The precise ftite chosen fo> the original town-plot of York HIIh modem 
 beholders with astonishment, It was towards the extreme east of the 
 bay, commanding, indeed, a good wutor prospect t«)WBrdfl the west ; but 
 low in situation, and Hanked and biicked by a/i oxtcnsive marsh. This 
 physical circumstence, however, did not discor^bort the purchasers of lots 
 in the proposed town. Some were even enthusiastic in their views of 
 the marsh. Mr. D. W. Smyth, in his Gazette^, writes :— " The river Don 
 empties itself into the hariK)ur a little above «ie town, running through a 
 
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 iimmh whiflh. wh«n .lralnB.1, wUI «ir..nl »MKiiil1ful •«<! ftrtil* m*^!"*"* 
 TW»< hiw •Intmly »«i<n .•Ifr^-U.U In » '•mull .J«Kr««*. whwH ^tJII "•• 
 •louWt iinc<Hinij{i' fiirtliT iiUimi|.U " ThU mfani, iit «ll lik.^li<\»HKl. t.) a 
 work .•..mui..n.«.l \>y Mr. Ju»ti<-« Ifcmllim In Uii» .|"»«-tw, which f»il«Hl of 
 / < lU ku«U».l^ ..».j«l. AK^in. Mr D, W, Bm^th. in anothrr |.I»C', wriUni ; 
 • Th.i Kfouwl which hM »w«n |»r»imriia for tho (lovrnun-nl IIouim." h« 
 iiu<«n>«ihn PiirliaiiM'iit Bull.linilr " U »llu»U..I \mtmm<n lh« city •imI Uib 
 rlv«r Don. in » iKwuUftil nfHit ; wiil lU vicinity wi>li ■.«il««l f'»r K»nl«n« nn.l 
 » park Th<« mkn hi* Urm'. thn w)il Bjrollcnt. mwl w»tflH!<l by v»ri..im 
 »trM»Mm." H<»t.m •»»h^i4M« .l«riv«l frtMii Uw Fun-tonnlry of KnKl/ini| Iwl 
 to tho l<lek lh»t tln< in»r<ih coul.l bo <lr«in««l. »n.l m.nvert4«l into mellow ; 
 hut th« ch«nM!t.<r of Ih.. in*rnh in th« prcw^nt cawi, con«iiitinj{ of ii niMw of 
 thNUin^ voK«Uli«>n, wiot not w.»ll conniderfld ; nor iU (Hiiw, » ■l"«Ki>«h 
 eroek pMiiin|{ into • li»n(Jlocki«.l |ii«!o of w*t«T, A«hhri.lK.»'n U«y. Ixforx 
 (Indinn nn exit in thi« hnilH.ur of Yortaj^t tho wholo I.Kullty inuHt 
 h«v« worn >n <m(our«Kin« l<Kik whilolW^HurroumlinK forest ninwinea 
 ■ X Intiict. Mr. Hnijith mmaki* of tho firtn Otk* h«n«bout to »« »een; iM)mo of 
 whiciv ft.lorn"<t lU nwrKin of tho »»y at Vork .lown to a lat.- period. 
 ' in wldition to oaks, " Wack and whit.)," Aununtiw Jono«. in liiit primi- 
 tive flehl-noteaof tho vogoUtion olworvod along hero, nameit alno "pino. 
 IwHH-wood. hickory, maple, liooch i»v\ wh" Ho alHO mot with " haael-nnt 
 bottoms " and " haisel flaU." Near what in now the HtimU'r he noticwl n 
 '>'■ birch bmih." 
 
 W By March (1th, 1 7»4. building mat«rialn wQuJd ho ncen lying about, at 
 piJinU, fow and fir Iwtwocn, along tho as yet warcely dintinguiHhablc 
 'King Street : hewn loga and lH)amH,nawn Hcantling an<l plank, with ' 
 of cleft (ihinglcH, drawn thoro over tho HiMjjr from ^''8 iwveral nha 
 the atyoinibg woo«Ih. whero, by the hol|) oWfroail-axe, adzu, and w 
 ' Huch objectM were prepared ; a feW hoapn of lake-dhore stone or s 
 ( /ffaco liouWe«*"t<> "W '« foundations, and a fow bricks for the chimneys from 
 ■^ • lonciy kiln not far off, in tho groumls probably of tho expected " Palace," 
 ''*"-" ' ieh wo shftU «H)rt hoar. Clay suited to such a purpose was plentifully 
 aiid iin a very few weeks aft«'r tho (ith, Mr. W. Smith, or 
 o<i»,^nii^^j|rH X^J^HH^M fco the precise individual there is some dia- 
 piJ^^^H^^Lyf^ emplol'bd in "raising" the first house in York. 
 OtlJt«^Bi<||^ol1(owed ffi^uo course : Mr. Small's house for one, a 
 bui^l^^^l^ls still in eiflwRl^f improved and enlarge<l, at tho south- 
 east ewii^r or^King Street and Berkeley Street. An old contemporary 
 pla;i, which shows Mr. Small's house here, shows also the roadway, which 
 at tWs |)oint veers slightly to the north, marked " Road to Quebec," with 
 
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 roKoym> I" Am Atm hhmmmt. 
 
 Ml krrow lnili<»ltn|f llie tllr«(>ti(iii. Ttiun, limn, tint " incint 
 city," of which, M h»vin|{ twtmi " liihl o^l," Mr. T»n)<i« whiM* Ji 
 (Johtiinl MfK«« In ihn |iivc<<liiiK *ul><uin, luiw m^tuitNy U*gM 
 vinililnan)! |wl|«l>l<i nnlHy ^ 
 
 ' Thn (own plot, m i|i«llmiil •( thU UitM, wm » ieom|i*i!( l^^e |Miimll( 
 lN)iin<l«Hl on Ihn wi'nt Ity Omtrgfi^ HtrtH-K, «n thn «Mt hjf OklMm Htr««i«<. /m 
 th« north hy UiichiKw Htr««(, mmI on th<u mouIIi hy I'ftlMW HtrM<l- »t" i^^^^ 
 thttiitlll r«t«ln th«ir ori^inftl nNiR»«. Tlio loynl, lAoiiarrhiMl rh«r»t^ 
 th<i (JovKnior ii|>|MwrM in iMMrty «v«ry oiin of lliciui wtnift ii«itH<<«, 
 in tha tuinu'M |{ivi<n ti> othfM* ntr^tit, m w«tl hn in thx imiiii; •«! thn 
 itMlf. Th« iimin tlioniiighfWrn wUh KinK Htnivt; thoiioxt Htrmtt 
 to it un tilt) north wm lUikti Htrwt , th« Ntrout north of tUmi, Diirh 
 HtrMt. Tli« hotintlary vr«Htw»i-(l whv C)««>rKu Htftct ; thu next Ntrtuit |Nti 
 l«l t«> th«t,oiiMtwiiril, WMM Knnicricli HtsriNtt.wntl th<« ntnxtl foll«>wint( '''*'*^ ^' 
 Caroline HtrM^t, y^hilit Iho on<< MUcxiHuMnK tlmt wm I'rinri'ii Hltivot. Thu 
 ntnivt running itvrth nntl iwiuth ww Ontario Ntri'<>t. (looi^u Hircut Imh. 
 the name of (KiorKO Vriiic<' of WaloM, ntWrwanlN ( IcorKi- 1 V f.'arolino Htn-ut 
 coniiiii'nioratvd U\» wife, thu unfortutwtu I'aroliiiu of HniiiMwiek. liukt< 
 Htrent alluded to the Duki* of Yorki^ I )m!hfNa Htruet to hi* w1ft>, and 
 t'rcdurick Htrotit wkn iliMtin)(uiNhiMl hy h'm Christian name. 'I'Iik )(t'iit>ral 
 name, l'rinci>N Htrct't, waN a coinpntlinniita'*' foiiipliniunt to tlif otlu r royal 
 princeM, without H|M'i'ify in^' th<<ni. OnlaHlB Htri'ot indiuatttd the track which 
 doul)tli-HM from timo iiiimumorial M down to the ranoo-landin^ ncaroNt to 
 thi) " Carrying-placu" on the IhIkimI WIiiiWi the Hiimll craft lunising up and 
 down the lake and tradinf; at Yi»rk wiHi wont t4i Ut Iift4>d ai-rowi tlut 
 narrow nuck of land Ihuru. I'iiIhc* StralM wim no Ntyluil U'cautu it wan 
 oxpocled to Im) the via micni to thu " Faliii! of Oovornmcnt," to N)H>ak in 
 French style ; i <•., the pubUt; IxiildinKH, fair I'arliauiOntary and other pur- 
 jKHkiH, to which in fact it did leail, <h)wn to 1824; ^'^ 
 
 How the Liuutenanl-OovoniorhiniNolfwwH employed during a |M)rtion of 
 thia month of March, rendered evcr-meiliori^le aH the era from which the 
 forty yean* of York took their Htart, we (jiiUber from a contemiKirary map 
 w)>ich iacxtant.and from which I once had nniupportunity of nmkin^ a tran- 
 script of a number of written memoranda. TIiih mitp waa drawn to Hhuw 
 the track of the Lieutcnant-Oovoriior in thvaevornl exploratory ox|H!di- 
 ditionx in which he was pcntonally engaged (during hiH adminintrHtion of 
 Upper Canada. l)urin}{ the Mpring of 1704, he was niakin({ a flying visit 
 all t^e way to the upper of the two Miami rivorM, from York. Tl)[0 record 
 oa the map in brief and Himple. Thu hardship and toil and risk incitired 
 must have been formi^ablo. Red dotted lines mark the line of traffl ; 
 
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 20 
 
 UBMORUl VOiatiB. 
 
 and tho memorandum in the margin Ih m followH : — " Lieutenant-Governor 
 Simcoe'K route from York to the Tliames ; down that river in canoett U> 
 Detroit ; from thence to tho MiamiiT, to build the fort Lprd Dorchester 
 ordered to be built. Left Yorlc March l»th, 1794; got to Detroit April 
 3rd ; returned by Lake Erie and Niagara to York, May oth, 1704." 
 
 Down to the year 179Gr a portion of every Hummer waw Btill passed at 
 his old quarters at Navy Hall, Niagara, the Provincial Parliament contin- 
 uing to assemble there until accommodation for them shoMld be |>rOvided 
 at York. 
 
 That preparations were being made at York during the summer of 
 1704 for the erection of the public buildings, we learn from an advertise- 
 ment in the Oazette of July 10th in that year. It is remarkably brief, and 
 runs as follows : — " Wanted— Carpenters for the Public Buildings to be 
 erected at York. Applications to be made to John McQill, Esq., at York, 
 or to Mr. Allan MacNab, at Navy Hall." This Mr. Allan MaicNab was the 
 father of the gentleman who afterwards became widely known throughout 
 Canada as Sir Allan MacNab. 
 
 In 1705, the French Duke dc la Rochefoucauld-Liancourt visited Upper 
 Canada from Philadelphia. He was hospitably entertained for eighteen 
 days at Navy Hall, Niagara. Collecting information for the volumes of 
 travels which he afterwards published, he took the trouble to ^end two 
 young friends, who were accompanying him, over to York, as reporters ; 
 having been assured that it was really not worth his while to go there in 
 person. M. de Petit-Thouara and M. Quillemard, the gentlemen thus 
 employed, brought back word that there had as yet been erected at 
 " Yorck "—80 the name reads throughout the nari-ative— only twelve 
 houses. " They stand on the bay near the river Don." There was a block 
 house on each side of the entrance to the harbour. The barracks, occupied 
 by the governor's regiment, stood near the lake, two miles from the town. 
 " In a cirpumference of one hundred and fifty miles, the Indians are the 
 only neighbours of Yornk.' They belong to the tribe of the Mississagas." 
 
 The Duke informs his readers that York -was intended by the Governor 
 to be the centre of the naval force on Lake Ontario. Only four gunboats 
 are at present on tlie lake ; two of. which are constantly employed in 
 transporting merchandize. The other two, which alone are fit to carry 
 troopts and guns, and have oars and sails, are lying under cover until an 
 occasion occurs to convert them to their intended purpose. It is the 
 Governor's intention to build ten similar gunboats on Lake Ontario, and 
 ten on Lake Erie. " The shiprcarpenters employed," he says, " reside in 
 the United States, and return home every winter." 
 
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 Y^«; ^,„. ^* 
 
-•^H 
 
 TORONTO.- PAST ASD PRSSENT. 
 
 81 
 
 1 
 
 C^- 
 
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 vy 
 
 'nJ 
 
 A little further on he reiiiarka that York is an unliualthy plaeo, and 
 will long remain ho,''" from the nature of the ground which separates the 
 bay from the lake." And next the Duke ventures to say, rather sweep- 
 ingly, of the inhabitants of York, that "they do not possess the fairest 
 character." Such is the very diiect way in which the Duke is made to 
 speak by his translator, H. Neuman, in the (|uarto edition of the "Travels," 
 published in London in 1799, and in most books on York those are usu- 
 - ally quoted as the Duke's words. .What the Duke really said, having refer- 
 ence of course to rumours broughtover by MM. do Petit-Thouars and Ouil- 
 lemard, was : " Les habitans n'y sont pas, dit-on, de la meilleure usp^ce " — 
 words not quite so harsh. (See the Paris edition, " An vii de U Rcpub- 
 liquo," tome ii., p. 112.) The head and front of the offending of the persons 
 alluded to, who were, in fact, rather settlers on Yonge Street than " habi' 
 tans" of the town of York, consisted,, with the Duke, in th^ir having 
 abandoned the Pulteney settlement in the Oenesee country across the 
 lake, and transferred themselves to Upper Canada.' The Duke specially 
 mentions as the leader of these deserters " le nommd Berczy " — in Neu- 
 man, " the noted Berczy " — as then 'resident at York. For the action of 
 Mr. Berczy and his German friends satisfactory reason could probably be 
 .found. Mr. Berczy, and his son after him, both became men of much con- 
 sideration in Upper Canada. In my quotations from Liancourt I have 
 corrected the orthography''of Mr. Berczy's name. From indistinctness in 
 the Duke's handwriting, it was printed "Batzy" in the French edition. 
 From the same fault in the handwriting of H. Neuman it appeared as 
 "Baty" in th.e English^ translation. In both cases, readers of Liancourt's 
 " Travels " may have been mystified. 
 
 In 1796 other works of a public nature, besides the Government build- 
 ings, wore in progress at York. I have a warrant before me. dated in Junc^ 
 from the Lieptenant-Governor to Mr. McGill, Commissioner of Stores, 
 authorizing him "to supply from time to time from the government stores 
 such quantities of rum as may be required to be given to the men (Queen's 
 Bangers) employed on the wharf and cai|[al at York." A landing pier was 
 being constructed at the garrison, and a navigable opening made into the 
 Garrison creek. In an old map, store-houses, afterwards converted into a 
 military h()spital, are seen up this creek. And Mr. D. W. Sniyth, in the 
 OazetUer, informs us that the Garrison ifereek, " l)eing ii*![)roved with 
 sluices, affords an easy access for boats to go up to t])e stores." At this 
 time we also have Oxen advertised for in the Gazette, as wanted in con- 
 nection with the canal at York. Mr. D. W. Smyth likewise suggests a 
 work which was too bold to Be attempted in 179G. He says a small 
 
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22 
 
 MEMORIAL VOLVUB. 
 
 creek in tlio neighbourhmxl — (was it the rivulet ip the cemetery ravine ?) 
 — may, by means of a short dai^ be thrown into all the streets of its 
 town. " 
 
 The opening up of the great northern road, known throughout its 
 whole length as Yonge Street, was a matter of no slight moment to the 
 ti-ade and general interests of York. This was ett'ected, in a rough way, 
 as has already been once intimntcd, by Augustus Jones and his men. Un 
 the 4th '(lay of January, 179C, ho began the formal survey of the route, 
 and the o|>ening, as he writes, of " a cart-road from the harbour of York 
 to Lake Simcoe." On Saturday, the 20th of February, the work was. 
 completed. The entry in the energetic surveyor's Journal on that day 
 is: "Went to the Garrison, York, and waited on His Excellency, the 
 Governor ; and informed him that Yonge Street is o|>ened from York to 
 the Pine Fort Landing, Lake Simcoe." The name "Yonge Street," it may 
 be well to add, was so named in lionourof Sir George Yonge, Se<;retary at 
 War, 1782-1794. He died at Hampton Court, Sept. 26tli, 1812, nged 80 • 
 when the baronetage which his had inherited became extinct. . 
 
 One structure erected by Governor Simcoe himself, at or near York 
 remained a visible r(!minder of his former presence, down to 1829. This 
 was the building known as Castle Frank, on a steep declivity overlook- 
 ing the valley of the Don, Its site was a few yards outside the northern 
 boundary of St. James's cemetery. Portions of a Well-engineered bridle- 
 road leading out to it from York can still be traced. The building, sim- 
 ply a summer-house of logs, carefully hewn and neatly fitted together, 
 and then weather-boarded, was a private undertaking of the Governor's, 
 on land belonging nominally to his young son, Frank. It was never 
 permanently occupied by the Governor or his family ; but pleasant ex- 
 cursions were repeatedly made to it while in course of erection and after- 
 wards, in boats up tlie Don, as well as by the bridle-road. 
 
 The little stream which is still to be heard pleasantly gurgling down in 
 the deep ravine of the cemetery, was " Castle Frank brook." The build- 
 ing was destroyed by fire in 1829. On a plan of the vicinity of York 
 made by the Americans when in occupation of the place. Castle Frank is 
 conspicuomly marked. That buckwheat had been sown in the clearing 
 round Castle Frank in 179() we have curious evidence. Mr. George 
 Playter, in a letter written from his house on the Don, on the site of the 
 residence now known as Drumsnab, thus addresses Mr. McGill, Com- 
 missioner of Stores, in the peculi8ir^_phrascology of the religious society 
 of which he was at that time a member : — " River Don, Sept. 24, 1790. 
 Respected Friend,-^If the buckwheat that is growing at Castle Frank 
 
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rntF^mm 
 
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 11 
 
 TOHONTO. FAST AND PHESBNT. 
 
 2:) 
 
 \h to 1)6 d|9pc^I of, I Hhall ho willing to buy it. It will bv ri|>u in a few 
 (layn ; anA 'ff» thou art going from homo, it may Huit to havu it securctl 
 l^pfore thou retunut, or it will be lost. Bo pleafted to Hontl anHwer l)y the 
 hearer, Sergeant Lydan. I am thine, respectfully, etc., Oeorge Playtt-r." 
 Mr. PlayUjr had also aided in " sledding " from Isaiah Skinner's mill some 
 of the lumber used in. the construction of the chateau, as all may con- 
 clude from another characterfstic letter addressed to Mr. McOill, which 
 reads thus: — " Respecte<I Friend, — Kergeant Lydan informs mo thou art 
 desirous I should sled some Iwards from Skinner's mill to Ca.stle Frank. 
 If I do, thou must pay mo one quarter of a dollar for every hundred feet 
 not exceeding one inch thick, which I may sled, as it is the customary 
 price ; and really it is worth it. I am thine to serve, etc., Oeorga Playtor." 
 A pleasant reference to this Castle Frank occurs in a letter written by 
 Mr. Russell at Niagara ib Mr. McX^ill at York, in Dccemlwr, 17!H). "I 
 hope," says Mr. Russell, "that tho ladies may bo able to enjoy the charm- 
 ipg carioling which you must hftve^j[Hi_y;our Bay, and up the Yonge 
 Street road, and to the HuiirtJei% arid up the Don to Ca.Htlc Frank, where 
 an early dinner must be picturesque and delightful." And here Mr! 
 Russell's expressive " carioling," which ha.s quite gone out of u.se among 
 us, suggests a remark on the history of the term which has n^ universally 
 taken its place. At the time of Mr. Russell's writing, "sleigh " and "sleigh- 
 ing," thus written, had not come fully into vogue. Major Rogers always 
 writes "slay;" and in a MS. letter of Mr. Rus.seirs, I olwerve "slaying" 
 was first written by him ; but the wonl is there corrected to "sleighing." 
 Had the good old English surname '^Sleigh" anything to do with the 
 gradual transformation of "sfey" to "sleigh ?" Brougham, Stanhope and . 
 Buggy, we know, are proper names applied to vel>icles. It was soon felt 
 throughout this continent thaf^L' sledge," at all events, badly expressed the 
 French traineau or cariole ; and that " sledging" was quit« inappropriate 
 |br locomotion on the ice or snow in swift, smoothly-gliding vehicles. 
 "Sled," which was slightly better than "sledge," became appropriated to 
 the plaything of boys, or to a cumbrous apj^ratus on runners used by 
 lumbermen and farmers. 
 
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 24 
 
 MUMOHIAL VOLVUa. 
 
 CHAPTKU 
 
 II. 
 
 YOllK UNDEK THE TUTELA(!E OF I'KESIDENT IIIISSELL, 
 DOWN TO 1800. 
 
 f N ItIJC, Lieutenant-Governor Siincoe waa rakher abruptly tranH- 
 ferrcd from Upper Canada to a post in the West Indies. Im- 
 portant duty was a-ssighetl liira in or about St. Domingo. It 
 is'believftd that the United States authorities tjuietly communi- 
 cated to the Homft Government complaints of the bearing of his 
 V policy in this Province, and in regard to the surrounding Indian 
 
 tribe-s, on the relations l)etween the two countries. The Governor waa 
 frank, a.s wo learn from Liancourt's narrative, in discovering his ideas and 
 
 plans. 
 
 The conversations of the Duke on his return to Philadelphia, followed 
 soon by his work, may have drawn particular attention to Governor Simcofe. 
 General Simcoe, as we shall remember, hnd been actively and conspicu- 
 ously engaged in the war of the Revolution, and the soreness occasioned 
 by the conflict had not quite passed away. He was very outspoken 
 sometimes in regard to the en?my of only a few years before. To a friend 
 hlb had expre8.sed the conviction that "an army of 10,000 men and a good 
 nkvy could knock the Unit«d States into a nonentity." He did not be- 
 lilve in the permanence of the Union. The revolted territory might yet 
 oni day be under the sway of Great Britain. Even the contrast pre- 
 seited by the hajyur and dignified state of things which would speedily 
 fharacterize Upper Cftnada, would, he thought, in time put many in the 
 United Statfes oatof conceit with the republican system. Meanwhile it 
 was expedient thiat the country should be put an^^kept in a gooJ state <• 
 of defence. The! naval and military arWment along the frontier should 
 be efficient. 
 
 More than five years had elapsed since the Governor's appointment ; 
 and, according to a later rule, a translation to another sphere was to be 
 expected. In many points of view, however, in the case of the first 
 founder and organizer of the Province, a second term of ofiBce was very 
 desirable. So that-the. changd was more or less of a surprise to all con- 
 
 cemed. 
 
 In the piyclamation dated September 11th, 1796, issued by his tempo- 
 rary successor, Mr. Russell, the Governor's departure waa set forth simply 
 
 
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mmm^imm 
 
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 J 
 
 TUROIfTO: PAST ANU PRBSBNT. 
 
 Sfi 
 
 SH conncquent on a royal loavu of abtitiiice, thus: — " WhcreaH bin Mcwt 
 Uracioiia MajcHly hax Vwuii pleased t^) grant liit royal leave of iilmoiiee to 
 IiIh Kxcollency Major-Uoneral Simcoe, Lieutenant-Uovernur and Com- 
 mander-in-Chief of tliist Province," therefore, the Huimime power had now 
 devolved on him, Peter Ruasell. The lost Parliament presided over by 
 Oovernor Siincoe was prorogued by liim at Newark, or Niagara, on the 
 8rd of JunQ, 1796. He had probably looked forward with pride to meet' 
 ing the same body in the following year at York, where the Public Build- 
 ings were in progress. But^this was not to be. Uovornor Sinicoo may 
 have been mistaken in his anticipationd of tin) future of the United States ; 
 but he was statesmanlike and comprehensive in his views. He belio,ved 
 that he was laying the foundation, if not of a nation, of a great and ijn- 
 portant commuDity. A letter of his addressed *to Sir Joseph Banks, 
 January 8th, 1791, before leaving England fof Canada, displays so well 
 what he hoped to effect in the vast wilderne8.s which he was about to pene- 
 trate, that I will venture to transcribe some paragraphs from it. It will 
 be seen that the founder of York, Upper Canada, wias a' man of enlight- 
 ened mind, and that wo at this day actually partake in many particulars 
 of advantages which he consciously designed and pre-arranged that the 
 inhabitants of this capital and the peoplq of Up|>cr Canada generally 
 ' should enjoy. ' ^ 
 
 " The liberality of your character, the high station you fill, and the pub- 
 lic principles which I apprehend that you entertain, leave upon my mind 
 no hesitation in communicating to you, confidentially, my views g{ the ob- 
 ject which irresistibly impeb me to undertake this species of banishment, 
 in hopes that](QUJvill see its magnitude, and, ifi con.se<iencfa, aiTord your ut- 
 most support to the undertaking." In this chivalrous strain he speaks 
 of the undying regret which he feels for the loss of the revolted colonics, and 
 of the hope which he cherishes of being able to Iielp forward a peaceful re- 
 conciliation between them and the mother country. " I am one ^f those," he 
 says, " who know all the consequence of our late American dominions, and do 
 not attempt to hide from myself the impending calamity, in c&so of future 
 war; because neither in Council, nor in the Field, did 1 contribute to their 
 dismemberment. I would die by more than Indian torture to restore my 
 King and his Family to their just inheritance, and to give my Country 
 that fair and natural accession of Power which a union with their Bre- 
 thren could not fail to bestow and render permanent. Though a Soldier, 
 it is not by arms that I hope for the result. It is volenten in populos 
 only that such a renewal of ffrnpire can be desirable to his Majesty ; and 
 I think even now, (though I hold that the last supine five years, and 
 
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H i l l '" I .* I III jik mmmiim^l!l$ 
 
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 26 
 
 ilKMOHJAL VOLUMK. 
 
 ovory hour tlfat the Qovernment is deferrod detracta from our fair hflpe«) 
 —even now, thifi event may take place." He next speakM of the physical 
 , situation of the proposed Province, and of the spot within it which he 
 wa» Intending to select as its capital. At this time, what afterwards 
 becod'e London was before his mind's eye,- and the caj>ita,rs name was to 
 be " Oeorgina." We can see how caref ally heliad been studying hi^ maps 
 before setting out. BW the purpose of commoree, union, or power, he 
 says, " I profwse that the site of the Colony should be in that great Penin- 
 sulA between the lakes Huron, Erie and Ontario, a spot destined by 'llkture 
 sooner or later t<» govern the Interior world. I moan to establfsh a capi- 
 tal in the very heart of that country, upon the River La Tranche, which is 
 navigable for batteaux, 150 miles, and near to where the Grand Biver 
 which falls into Erie, an(J others that communici^te with Huron and On- 
 tario, almost interlock. The capital I mean to call Georgina ; and am to 
 settle in its vicinity Loyalists who are now in Connecticut, provided that 
 Government approve of the system. . . NoW, ^r, not to trespass on 
 your time " he continues, " you will see how highly important it will be 
 that this Colony (which I mean to shew forth with all the advantages of 
 British protection, as a better Government that the U. S. can possibly ob- 
 tain) should in its very foundations provide for every assistance that can 
 possibly be procured fpr the Arts and Scienc/es, and for every embellish- 
 n>ent that hereafter may decorate and attract notice, and may point it out ' 
 to the neighbouring States an a superior, more happy, and more polished 
 form of government. I would not in its infancy have a hut, nor in its ma- 
 turity a palace, built without this design." He thus speaks of a Public 
 Library, of a kind of Royal Society, and of a College, which he hopes in 
 
 time to establish!— ''My friend, the Marquis of B , has suggested that 
 
 Government ought to allow' me a sum of money to be laid out for a Public 
 Library, to be composed of such books as might be useful to th^ Colony. 
 He instanced the Encyclopcedia, extracts from which might occasionally 
 be published in the newspapers. It is possible private donations might 
 be obtained, and that it would become an object of Rtiyal muniBcence. If 
 'any Botanical arrangement couldtake place [this would especially appeal 
 to the sympathies of Sir Joseph,] I conceive it mi^ht be highly useful, and 
 might lead tothe introduction of some commodities in that Countrj', which 
 Great Britain niw procures from other nations. Hemp and Flax should 
 be encouraged by Romulus." He regards himself, we see, as the founder 
 of a state, as a Romulus." As to hemp, for a series of years, its cultiva- 
 tion was expected to be a source of much wealth to Upper Canada, the 
 navy of Great Britain incessantly re(iuiring rope. " In the literary way. 
 
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 TOBOt/TO. PAST AND PNKSKNT 
 
 27 
 
 ftV/O 
 
 I should bo ^lUy lay," ho wiyH, " the foundation of «onie Society that, I 
 truBt, iiiiKht heresftei conduce to the extension of Science. Schools have 
 been' shamefully neglected ; a College of a highcr,«ft8H woul.l be en»- 
 nently useful, and would give a tone of principles snd of manners that 
 would be of inOnite support to Oovomment." Finally. I subjoin a list of 
 books, of which I possess a copy, conUined in three cases forwarded to 
 Navy Hall, in 1793, "for the use of His Excellency the Lieutenant-Oover- 
 nor." I Uke them to be, in part, at least, contributions from Sir Joseph 
 Banks and other friends to intellectual progress in Upper Canada, in re- 
 sponse to the suggestion in the letter above quote.l. Among them is the 
 
 very Encyclopwdia which the Maniuis of B named as likely to prove 
 
 useful I Uke these books to Ixi the first germs of a Public Library in 
 Upper Canada. They were pvobibly a jwrtion of the spoil, when the 
 Parliament Building at York was sacked in 1813. The collection referretl 
 to consisted of the following solid works: Encyclopiwdia, thirty-five 
 volumes; DAnvilles Atlas ; Johnson's Dictionary, m volum^ lolio ; 
 Universal History,- sixty volumes; Receipte. Public AccounU, three 
 volumes ; Cook's last voyage, four volumes ; Voyage to Now South Wales ; 
 Palladio, five volumes ; Hanbury on Planting and Gardening, two vol- 
 umes ; Rutherford's Natural Philosophy, two volumes ; Postlethwayto on 
 the .Deity, two volumes ; Anderson on Commerce, six volumes > Camp- 
 bell's Political Survey, two volumes; Guthrie's CJeography, six vokinies; 
 Bomare's Dictionnair« et Histoire Naturelle, six volumes ; CampbcU's Lives 
 of the Admirals, four volumes; Cary's English Atlas; Husbandry of the 
 Midland, York and Norfolk Counties, six volumes. 
 
 Mr. Peter Russell was holding the reins of power in Upper Canada 
 
 when Parliament met for the first time at^Tork. That was on the fii-st 
 
 day of June, 1797. The summons to the members ran in the usual way ; 
 
 nominally ds coming from the King himself, George III. And now for 
 
 the first time we have the Upper Canadian York spoken of in old 
 
 feudal fashion as a Royal Town; as " Our Town of York." The King 
 
 ^ (through Mr. Russell) •■• convokes, and by these presents enjoins yon, 
 
 and each of you, tha^t ort the fiht day of Jiine, in the year of Our Lord 
 
 one thousand seven hundred and ninety-seven, you do meet Us in Our 
 
 Provincial Parliament, in Our Town of York, .for the actuM dispatch of 
 
 i Public Business, and to teke into consideration the state and welfare of 
 
 Our Province of Upper Canada, and therein to do as may seem necessary." 
 
 Mr. RusseU succeeded to the administration by virtue of his being the 
 
 senior member of the Executive Council. He was a retired officer who 
 
 liad*een on the staff of Sir Henry Clinton, as secretary, during the war 
 
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 28 
 
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 UMMOMAl VOLUMK. 
 
 of the Rovolution. Hiii portrait, whiR)i is t6 Iw M««n in tlio colluction a^ 
 th<! proHont Oovvrnment liouso, nIiuwh liiin to havu been a Rrave, 
 tliou((htful-loolcing, portly peraonage, Hoinewhat of the mould of (Jeorge 
 Washington. 
 
 The projects of Oovemor Simcou fell into abeyance, ami the advance 
 of the Province received a check. The prospeclH of York, for the 
 inonient,'becamo gloomy. It was thought that now, probably, after all, 
 the seat of govomment would not be removed tltither. Newark might 
 retain it, or it might Iw trannferred to Kingston. 
 
 On the sul^oct of the capital, however, the decision of the first gover- 
 nor was adhered to. The buildings for the acconmiodation of the legisla- 
 ture Were proceeded with. For several weeks in succession the following 
 advertisement i^ppears in the Qatftte: "Wanted immediately, for the 
 Public Buildings at York, Carpenters. To such as are well qualified and 
 industrious, good encouragement will bo given, ))y applying to Captain 
 A. Graham, or to the sMbsoriberj John McQill, Commissioner of Stores, 
 etc. York, July 23rd, 179G." These buildings cAisisted Of modest Halls 
 of brick, one for each of the legislatiw) bodies. They were intended to 
 bo ultimately wings of a more imposing central structure. In the mean- 
 time a covered colonnade unitcid the two edifices. Here, in Juno, 1797, 
 Mr. Uiissell met the second Provincial Parliament in ita second session. 
 In the previous December he had been sugge^ing, from Niagara to 
 friends at York, that 'preparations should be made for the reception of 
 the members of Pi^liament. ' '4 As the Legislature is to meet at York," 
 he says, " the I's^ of June, it becomes absolutely necessary that provision 
 shall bo made for their reception, without Ibes of time. You will there- 
 fore be pleased to apprize the inhabit^^ of the town that twenty-five 
 gentlemen will want lodgings and board jj^ffMag the session ; which may 
 possibly induce them to fit up their houses, and lay in provisions to 
 accommodate them." He refers to the detached wings of the intended 
 Government or Parliament House jue^ 'spoken of, and says thi^t " these 
 at any rate must be got ready, the one for the Legi^tive Council, the 
 other for the Assembly." The bars and tables and other articles of 
 furniture already in use at Niagara for legislative purpose's, he will 
 direct to be sent over. "The house appropriated for the Legislative 
 Council," he adds, " can be occasionally used as a Council Chamber." 
 
 During the course of Mr. Russell's suggestions of qii^es of meeting the 
 expected increase in the population at York, Governor Simcqi^s canvas 
 house comes once more into view. It was left standing at Yoric, but 
 unoccupied, and requiring repairs. One half of it bight be removed 
 
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 TOHONTO: PAHT ANU PRKSKNT. 
 
 <lin- I 
 
 
 down U) th« town, Mr. RuimwII thinkii. " to \m iimhI thoro for giving .lin 
 nern in. to the inoniW« of tli« two IIoiiw^h ; l.iit it ininlit b»i found 
 ohoai^r and mom coinmo«liou» to put up a Ujirtporary buil.linn for tliiit 
 purpone. to coiwist of l^anl* which mijjlit Iw uhc.I aR^in." Hhouiil 
 the canvan \w\xm not thuii be utiliwiil, li« will offer it. with Major 
 Smith's perniiiMtion. aw " «iuarteni for the Chief Juntico (Elinniuy) and lii»i 
 friend, the Rev. Mr. Ratldiiih." (('hlef JuHti.«<)8j{oodii liotl Inw-n promoted 
 to the Ohiif-JuBticoHhip of Imviw CJMna«la ) Mr. UuhhoII niwikn of (.'hiof 
 JuHtiou Klmsley a» a man of buninesa and meth<Hl, who will not 
 •ubiiiit to idle procrastinationH ; and ho (Mr. K.) " treinblim " for a corUin 
 official at York «rho " ouj^ht to nmke haHto to j{«t tho Counpil-l)ook for- 
 ward ; but it Htill hangn in much tho miiio Bituation as when you left 
 It." JAt. Elnwley. it may Ikj mentioned hertf. although tho fact did not 
 hapfwn unUI 1798, built a family residence in York, which Hulwe<iu«ntly 
 became, as in duo course we Hhall learn, the Oovernment House, or 
 Lieutenant-aovomor's residence, for Upiwr Canada. In the year junt 
 named, Mr. Elmsley signs k receipt, now iMjforo me. to John Mc(Ull, 
 (Commissary of Stores of War, etc., for Her Majesty's force, "for the 
 following articles, aupplio<l to him out of the said stores, by order of 
 Mr. President Russell, which articles he obliges himself to replace by 
 others of equal cjuality and (piantity whenever the same shall Im de- 
 manded : sixteen thousand 20 dy. (twenty-penny) nails, fort^-five 
 ^thousand dy. nails, twenty-one pounds spikes, .wvonteen and a half 
 thousand 20 dy. brads. foi;]ty-ftve and a half thousand 2 <ly. brads, thirty- 
 one and a half thousand 3 dy. brads, forty-three thousand 4 dy. brads, 
 forty -four thousand G dy. brads, four jugs linseed, one runlet, two hundred 
 twenty-and four pounds white lead, three pick-axes, six mattocks, two 
 spiides, fouf boxes fifteen by ten gla.s8," etc. 
 
 The Government Offices were now transferred permanently to York. 
 It was not, however, -until November .'ith, 1707. that Mr. Russell himself 
 took up his abo<le there, in a house of his own, situatcil at the south-east 
 comer of Princes Street and Palace Street ; a building known by the 
 romantic title of Russell Abbey in later times, when tKjcupied by the 
 family of Dr. W. W. Bahlwin. 
 
 Among measures pa-sscd in the Parliament nt York during Mr. Russell's 
 term of office were acts for securing titles to land, and for supplying the 
 want of enrolment of deeds of bargain and sale, The certain prospedtivo 
 good value of land in Upper Canada began now to l« realized, ^"'1 a 
 .strong pa.ssion for its acquisition had been roused. Great pressure was 
 brought to bear on the Government to legalize claims of every sort, oven 
 
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 MMMOHIA 
 
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 iHVUM. 
 
 tilt) iiioNt niylliiciil. Mr. Hiinim>II (li<l Iiin boHt .in Ooiincil to mwure Junt 
 k-({iMlittiun 1)11 tliiH Kubjuct. tVrUiii iiifiiiuniiulA l<'ft l»y liiin fiimiHh iin 
 with Hoiiit) (Iraiiiatid mcuiioh »t the Kxocutivii Council Hoard at York A 
 guntlo paiutagu of arnw now ami then occurrwl Iwtwiwn hiniytilf |biI Iho 
 Chief JuHticv. On i)n<MKcaMi<in tho Chief |>rojKwwl tfiat " CorJ^-nt<m " 
 Hhouhl have tho fortwi of DcuiIh, undiT curtain circuiimtanecH. ■a^.f^ioulil 
 withhold the Royal Aittout to Huch a invaMuru, ovun If it Mhouth piMH ))oth 
 HouMVH of Parliainunt," n»|tlitMl tho PrcMident. "And aH ho (tho(,*^lo/) wum 
 pluaaed to chatKC ub all with cunnttiractingtho o|Mtration of an Act of Par'. 
 lianu-nt, I doxired hiin to wiy in what particular. I had Uh'w ({uilty of'Ho 
 f(ruat an offcncu? Ho vaid he <lid not moan nu«, or aliiidoAo any (Nirt ofniy 
 contluct." On DceoniUjr (itl>, hiH ontry Im: "Confirmed all the reconunonda- 
 tioutt of the CoinnfltU»o (of Council), oxcopt that for a d<'od in Mr. Farrand'M ■ 
 nanio, for 10,(MK) acrtw. Which I nnMt on(|uii:^iMV." '^ tumod out that 
 thiH rocoinniondation wmh Uiki'd Ity tho Chi«3rJniHlp!. Tho ontry on 
 tlif 8th i» : " Conftmiod tho ordor to Fftri-and for Ift.AOa acnm ; " with the 
 note added : " wiid to bo purchaHtMl by Iriin for tho acconiniodation of tho 
 Chief JuHtit-o, who infonnod nio that Capt. Pilkin^ton |>aiil hint for liU 
 houHo with thiH land." Another |>otitipn proHontod waH^iiM^^nTfortuHnto. 
 " July 5. A jwtition w proHcnted from Mr. Street, praying; that a cleed 
 nuiy iiwuo for a very conHiderablo quantity of land for tho purihaHo of 
 which from the original grantoes ho produced vouchonj " Mr. RuhhoH'h 
 nnswerliow waH, that there wao a commiHsion appointed to Hottlo hucIi 
 niftttent; "an<l, that conNonting to petitionH of this nature was Hanctioning 
 tho accuniuliition of land in the jwrsonH of individualn, which wo wore 
 oi-dered by His Majesty 'h inntructionf) to do all in our power to prevent. 
 However, I told tho Board (nddre-ssing myself to tlw Chief JuHtice,) 
 that if it ha(f any particular wish to Hervo Mr. Ktreot, I xhould rea<lily 
 concur with their detol-mination. The Chief answered that he had 
 no particular wish for his -part ; but it was his decided opinion that 
 when bona jide purcbaHes appear to have been made, the fiosticHHion 
 of the .land aOght to be aecui-ed to the purchaHer. The petition was then 
 referred to the commission." On March 7th, he, in Council,, orders 
 the U. E. li&t of tho Western District claimants of land to be sent back, 
 as several names were found in it not entitled to the privilege. Mr. 
 Russell, it appears, was still Rocoiver-Gencral, ami his current accounts 
 were audited as aforetime by the Executive Council. While this was ' 
 being done, February 9th, the Chief Justice objected to a warrant 
 k being issued by him to pay tho Attorney-General for travelling expenses 
 in the Home and Western circuits, as he did not go the latter. " I told 
 
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 TOHONTO: tABT ANU PHMHNT. 
 
 81 
 
 him U) not* IiIh obj«tctU>n «t Hifl fo6t of th« (WMiintn. nnd I nhoiild enW ufK»n 
 
 tho AtU>ni«iy-<>ener»l to refuml Uid nioiiKy I <lfl<tm«l. in ll «ntiin<', 
 
 thiit li« iihould bu Mnt f«»r U> mmIkii hin rrMoiw for CHlliiiK h|k.h iii» for 
 thiH a>«i«Un«<i Thh (JhW .rii<ttic<' rtnH#»r«!.l ; ' I iiitint p»r<loi» him' if In- 
 (Itxlinwl arKuing tli.i in*tt«r with tlio AtU>rtn«y-Uoiit ml' I t..l.l liini that 
 I owrUinly would not »lh>w any argiiinK at that lloanl Tho AtU.rnoy 
 waN to aiu^ttr i|m(ntionn ami ww'm» rfOHonti. On tlio Attorni-y'it arrival I 
 told hini that Wm charR" for tln» WchUmii < 'irruit wh» ol.jt-ctod to. im \w 
 <iid not attend that circuit. Ho arotwom that lii> ha«l att4inde«l thu Honin 
 Circuit, and hud ongagod a barristnr to ro that of th« We!il*rn. who<w 
 ox|Kin»o» h<f Hhould hohjl hininolf anKWorablc for ; l.ut oth.«r Rvmation* 
 having prev«ntt>d Mr. Hi^rt from acconi|>anyinK tlio .Iu.Iki- on thiH 
 circuit, Mr. IUm-, the clurk ol, tho P«ac«». (who had U'vh long ninco fni- 
 |K)wero<l hy tho govoriior to ac^ counnol for tho King in tho alnonco of 
 ^ H. M. Law HorvantH.) had acted fov hini, iind wm, of courm<, t<» U» paiil 
 by him. With thiH annwor ho left^tho nccount»i Uifon- tho Hoard." 
 
 Ah yot momUirn of Parliamont roc\)^od no pay for attomlancc A land 
 grant to their wivoH in'liou thereof Wati suggo«t«<H. Wo have tho ontry : 
 "July Int. 1797. Rocetvod from thO. C1>iof JuHtico five potitioiin, wiiieh 
 ht! n^uoHted my iHirmiiwion to- cover by (KM) ncros to tho wivoH of 
 mombcru of Parliftmont." Tho I'rcBidont a.l<l8, "I oxprowmd my doiibtn in, 
 annwor, that tho piinciple of 8uch,a donation wah proper; an it might oxt^t* 
 alarm in tho iHioplo that their roproHontalivcH wuro nimut ,to Ihj, briU4 by 
 Govommont." Tho proponnl nconw to havo dronMiil. A year or »4rtlaU'V 
 an allowance was ordered to members, to bo rained by local a«&4,<HMnunt. 
 
 We may detect in tho discuHHiora at the Council Board a littlo tomiior 
 and techincM now and then ManifoMtation.s of this HOrt /wore surfe to 
 occur in sucli a limited cirelo an was that of the high otti/fcialH of York. 
 No wonder that, in accordaneo with tlie traditional conveAtionalitieH of 
 the time, duels should occwwnal'y bappon, on very frivolous grounds tcK). 
 Thus, tho opening of 1800 was sadly signalized by tlfe death of tho 
 ^ttorney-aeneml, referred to a few lines back, in a/ duel with Mr. 
 
 Small. 
 
 Other measures, besides such as rolate<l to land, engagfed the attention 
 , of the legislature nt York .luring Mr. Russiell's administration. Wo have 
 Acts passed for " tho securing the Province agaiiist the King's enemies," 
 and for the regulation of the mifitia ; for the incor|M)ration of a Law 
 Society; for the promotion of trade with the United States, by land and 
 inknd navigation ; for the esJWjJishraent of ferries ; and for the increase 
 of revenue by licenses to sell wintf Twid s f irits. 
 
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 (IKNKIIAI. IIIINTKK AT YOIIK.'V. ||K INBTITHTKH A ■■I'lll.lC MAHKKT 
 TIIKIIK IN IHOU.— DIKK iW KKNT AT YOUK IN TIIK HAMK YKAU. 
 
 it ' • 
 
 \ HKN 0«)vi«rni»r Riinco« wm wilh<tr»wn, tli ITSft, the gbvern- 
 
 iiiunt of thn I'ar<>nt HtAto h«<l oiiough to oooupy iU atten- 
 tion near lioino. It wnn in that year tRat Napoleon Bona- 
 |inrt« n|iiM)ariHl on thu wcne," Ntartlin^ thu world l)y hit 
 t9\t niiiitary micceMHitN in Itnly. Throughout Kuropn thoris wnii diHtrupN 
 ! Ub of nations with purploxity. What wondur that little ofTectivo heed 
 Nhould tie ininivdiatt-ly givtin to tho wantn of an infant volony ho ruuiote, 
 NO inMgniflci^nt, ait I'pp«>r Canada f Huwovor, a Nucceiwor to the Lieut- 
 unant-Oovemor waw at length found in thu penwr. of Liuutenant'deneral 
 I'utvr Hunter, a gontloinnt of a hkottiMh family miatwl at Auchtehird, in 
 Perthshire. Of lii^j)ruvious life and of the theatre uf his military nchievu- 
 nientA I can And no rvc:ord. tf^^m-ive^i at York August 17th, 1700, and 
 occupied ((uarteni in the gnrrison. His reply to the address of the in- 
 habitants On this ipccanion was as follows : '"Uentlonien : Nothing that is 
 in my power shall be wanting to contribute to the happinese snd welfare 
 of tliiH colony." .The brevity of the re8{)onHe was characteristic. Uov- 
 ernor Hunter waa a man of keen discernment, (|uick temper, and strong 
 wifl. He wrote to a friend in I^ondon just after his arrival, " I was 
 much gratified," he said, " by my reception in Upper Canada. All the 
 members of the Executive Council are goo<l men. Kut I can sue," hu 
 adds, " that your friend P. R. is an avaricious one." Hunter's pluinness 
 of speech then appears, in a conKdential remark on P. B. " So far as de-i 
 pended upon him, he would grant land to the dull and all his family as 
 good loyalists, if they would oiily |lay the foes." A remark to be taken 
 with many grains of allowance. In 'the case of a list of alleged U. E. 
 claims, Mr. Russell was, as we have seen, very usreful. 
 
 While at Quebec, General Hunter was already meditating reforms in the 
 Upper ProvinccfJ Colonel Shank writes from on board the La Topaze, of 
 Quebec, on his way to England from York, that " it is probable CReneral 
 Hunter may appoint to the auditor-generalship another i>erson, aA the 
 odice of receiver-general and it are incompatible." Colonel Shank fur<|/her 
 advises his friend thus : " Shew every attention in your power to Oenei 
 
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 Iluntor »n<l hi* hmkly." OMoiftK civil an<l iiiiliUry, mm)ii liwrnml Ui 
 rUiiiI In MkluUry ftw« of auvurnor llunUir. In Iha puMin il«<|Mirtiii«'n(a 
 Umni warn krrcKntC" (>' ImnliM-wi Kxlr» lioiiniiif »U«<tnUn«) tpfKiBr Ui 
 h*ve l*«n rt-quired. Wo irail in it Ua:*lh of IW»3 : " Noti«o i» ln'n>l»y 
 Kivun tlmt rvKuUr tU«n<liinc« for th« traniMctitm o( th« pulilin l>uiiin«miiif 
 tho Provinc« will in futiira lie Kiyon at tint ortlce of tlio H<'creti»ry of tli« 
 Pnivincs. tli« Kmiciitlva Council ortlcn, »ii<l tho Surveyor Ut'oeral'ii offlc« 
 every dsy In tli« yotr (HumUyM, Onoil Friday and OlirintmaN I)»y ot(\jf 
 oxoipUid), from Urn in the morning till thrwi in the AflqriuMin, nnd fn)iu , 
 Ave o'clock in tho aftonnnm until «evtt« In tlw «venin)( By onkr of tlw 
 LittUt-dovenior : Jwut-n (Jleon. HocrBtnry." Tho imprint on tho fourth 
 |Mig« of tho Uintttt in: " York : printud hy Onlw of Hin Kxc«llonoy Um- 
 urMi Hunt»!r," ''Wo hear thai Min Kx<vllency luw ordurwl th« PiirliiiHwnt 
 to uioot on thi) 2«th in»t*lit. for the itbtual doHpatch of liH»iii«nii." in the 
 laoKuaKo of thu OatelU of May lUth, IHOl. 
 
 It wan to'CJovurnor liuntur that York wan IndtiliUid for tho llrnl 
 '• Weekly Hu»»lic Oiten Markut " for tho Halo of cutllo, -thoop, poultry, nnd 
 othc^troviHionM, goo«hi and merchandize. It canio into c)(H>riiti<>n liy Pro- 
 uliiniation on the ftth of Novemlier, iMO:!. Kour acroH and^a hulf of land 
 were aot apart for market puriioHoit. Tho pi-u««nt St. Lawrence Market 
 occupiew a part of tho eaHtcrn portion of thin ailotuiont. 
 
 Inconvenience having ariHon from an iiiMuflli'lont supply of profeHwional 
 men <pialiWe<l to carry on the work of the Courts, the Lieutui1ant-(ilover- 
 nor wan empowered l>y Pailiamenl to authoriwi |m))-homh wI(o nhoitld Ih) 
 found pom|ietent fbt- nuch a pur|)OH« to prnctiHo, iiotwilliMtantling the ah- 
 ■onco of legal training. By Proclamiition in I H0:», (lovernor Hunter 
 wcortlingly denignated Dr. W. W. Bahlwin, of York, William Dicknon, of 
 NiAgani, and li'Arcy Boultcm. of Au«u»»t.i (nim of tlio ji^ge), and John 
 Powell, of York (father of Uio Mayor), as fit And proper porshrw to pnictiite 
 tho profesiiort of tho Uw, and act. an advocates in tho courts, after having 
 been duly examined by tho Chief Justice. Having sprung. Minerva-like, 
 at once into being, in full professional maturity, without |'as»ing through 
 any of the usual puny stiiges, those gentlemen were afterwaitU sometimes 
 alluded to by leM favoured brethren of tho rate aa the " heavcn-doscenJod" 
 barristers. ;, 
 
 York waa visited in 1803 by tho Duko of Kcnt.^ While there his quar- 
 ters wore at Oakhill, tho residence of Oenoriil ifiucas Siiaw. Tho Duko 
 had paid a visit to Canada once before. Btiinjj at Halifax as Conunnnd- 
 er-in-chicf of tho Forces, he made an excursifo to the Fulls of Niagara, 
 on which occasion ho *vaa entertained by Ooverndt Simcoeat Navy Hall. 
 
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 UEMOHIAL VOLVMB. 
 
 A private letter of the period, written at the Town of Niagara, mentiuna 
 the Dulco's (lepartpre from that place, rather unceruinoniously, not to 
 8ay cynically. " The Prince left us this morning," (Sept 17th, 1792) the 
 writer says, " for Quebec, to the great joy of all parties. The town was 
 most.t>rilliantly illuminated last evening in honour of His Royal Highness. 
 Candles are so scarce a commodity that I did not follow the example of 
 my neighbours." ^.^^ 
 
 At the close of the year 1803, as I learn from a paper of statistics col- 
 lected by Mr. W. L. Mackenzie, the aggregate value of property in'the 
 town of York w&s £14,871, and the annual tax levied on the inhabitants 
 by the magistrates of the County in Quarter Sessioa'r wad £G2. The 
 area enclosed by the town plot was 420 acres. The population consisted 
 of 456 persons. . 
 
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 TOROKTO. PAST ASD PRESENT. 
 
 86 
 
 1804-1814. 
 
 / 
 
 CHAPTER L 
 
 8T JAMES'S CHUBCH BmVr.^MB. StXt'S 8CH00L.-F0U^mEK^ 
 OF THE 8CH00NBR " 8PEEDV."-DEATH OF GOVERNOK HUNTER. 
 -SUPPLIES OF YORK.-MUNICIPAL ARRANGEMENTS. 
 
 The beginning of the Second Decadeof York waa m»ked by 
 ^ the completion and occupation of the eccle.ia«trcal bu.ld.ng 
 which.seventy years later, developed into ithe noble cathedral- 
 s' church of St. James, which now adorns Toronto. In 1803. a 
 „.oven,ent began, in the usual timid and doubting ^l' ^^l 
 erection of a church edifice by subscrtpt.ons •^^''f^'^^'^^'J*^^ 
 ants. After many meetings, and much discus^on as t«^-*;^-^^^ 
 the building-whether it should be of stone, bnck, or wood-wood was 
 finaUy^-^edupon. The amount to which the committee fas ^hnut 
 itself in its engagement was eight hundred pounds; but. m the first m- 
 sune it wi to expend no more than six hundred pound .,f the sum 
 IS^ and paid into the hands of the treasurers. t«g.ther w.th the 
 l^yltrmigTt be-allowed by the British Government^hould amount 
 
 'T^'ilain bam-like structure of framed t-ber. forty ^t by fi^. 
 
 standi/ east and west, was the outcome. Chief Just.ce Llmsley. Mr. 
 
 t:^^:. McOiU. Dr. Maculay. Mr. Chewett. and 'J-;-^-^:^ 
 ' Mr Allan and Mr. Duncan Cameron, were the committee, with the cler 
 
 ^^ lev. 0. Okill Stuart. The secreU.^ U> the conun^ee^ 
 Mr A Macdonell. At the raising of the building a company of men from 
 Se ^rril by order of Colonel Sheatfe. the commandant, gave ass.st.nce^ 
 M .Crierwards Archdeacon Stuart of King.U>n was the ^nj 
 the Rev Dr J.Stuart, clergyman at Kingston. 1788-1811 Mr. Stuart 
 had^ently been ap,K,inted «--ionary at York. Previously d.v.ne 
 
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 9 
 
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 MEMORIAL VOLUME. 
 
 service had occasionally been conducted in the north public building, 
 near the mouth pf the Don, chiefly by a laymim, Mr. Cooper. The Rev. 
 ■ Mr. Raddish, the friend of Chief Justice Elmsley, a dimly-seen figure^ 
 among the dramatis peri^once of primitive York, had disappeared from 
 the scene. He probably did not take kindly to the generally rough con- 
 dition of things in Upper Canada at the time. It was not until 1810 
 that the stumps were cleared away about the west front of the church, 
 where the entrance was, and a portion of the church lot fenced in. The 
 cost of the former service was £3 ISs. ; of the latter, f I 58., for the five 
 hundred rails required. 
 
 According to the theory of the period, not universally allowed however, 
 this was the parish church of the place, and at the annual " Town Meet- 
 ings" for municipal purposes, a church-warden was appointed on the part 
 of the people for several years, and one by the incumbent of the church. 
 At the town meeting, March 2nd, 1807, " D'Arcy Boulton, Solicitor-Gen- 
 eral," was appointed church-warden by Mr. Stuart. This town meeting 
 was held at "Gilbert's Tavern," but the proper title of the hostelry was 
 the " Toronto Coft'ee House," ns appears from Mr. Gilbert'*" advertisement 
 in the Oazette, in which he informs his guests that he has recently moved 
 across from the " Yellow House at Niagara." The ecclesiastical building 
 completed in 1804 is usually spoken of in contemporary documents as " the 
 church at York." The style and title of " St. James's Church " may not have 
 been assumed until after the enlargement and renovation of the building 
 in 1818. Mr. M. Smith, in his "Geographical View" of Upper Canada, 
 published at Philadelphia in 1813, strips off all illusions in his account of 
 York, by simply describing this church as a " Meeting house for Episcopa- 
 lians." Subsequently, in 1807, Mr. Stuart, the incumbent of " the church 
 at York," became also master of the Home District school in that town. 
 His School Journal, or Day-book, now before me, opens with the statement 
 that " an' Act was passed into a Law by the Legislature of the Province 
 of Upper Canada, to establish Public Schools in each and every District 
 of the Province. His Excellency Governor Gore, through Major Hal ton, 
 his secretary, was pleased to appoint me teacher of the District School in 
 York in the Home District ; the letter dated the 16th of April, 1807." 
 On June 1st, the school opened. Thq terms appear to have been four 
 dollars a quarter, with six York shillings for proportion of wood in the 
 winter months. Daughters as well as sons out of most of thh well-to-do 
 families at York were admitted at the school, 1807-1811 ; but towards 
 the latter date the young ladies, I think, somewhat fell off. In addition 
 to otheri|>rthy citizens the following appear " in accompt " in Mr. Stuart's 
 
 *-»«»i Ldl i_» ,J>ik'^ • 
 
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 •''SiK.-:i«mf'!!'ffXS!>>mi. 
 
r.Tf'y*'^''*^' -Vi--« "H^; a -T^PSJT - -y,«,giyw 
 
 -^^s^-s;^^^ 
 
 ipia5P!f^"»»iw>'y"^"*' 
 
 TORONTO: PAHT AND PKSSBNT. 
 
 37 
 
 book " for tuition and instriiotion " to their mna and daughters: William 
 Jarvis for his son William, and his daughters Hannah, Eliza Anno and 
 Maria ; Stephen Jarvis for his sons George and William ; Thomas Ridout 
 for his son John and his daughter Mary; William Stanton for his sons 
 Robert and William, and his daughters Charlotte and Margaret Anne ; 
 John Small for his sons James, Edward and Charles ; D'ArCy Boulton 
 for his sons James, Oeorge and Charles ; William Chew^tt for. his son 
 Alexander ; Allan MacNab fi)r his son Allan ; D. I. P. Gray for his sons 
 John, Robert and James ; Alexander Macdonell for his sons Peter and 
 Angus ; Miles Macdonell for his son Donald ; Edward Hartiiey for his 
 son Edwaid ; John Detlor for his son George H ; Joseph Cawthra for 
 his son William ; Dr. Glennon for his sons Barney, Henry and Marshall. 
 I But to return to 1804. In that year a gloom was cast over tlie whole 
 
 community of York by the loss of the Government schooner, the Upmli/, 
 on Lake Ontario, with all on board. The worn-out, unseaworthy craft 
 foundered off Presqu'Isle, near the carrying place of the Trent, during the 
 night of October 8-9th. In addition to the commander, Captain Paxton, 
 ^ and crew, there perishe^ on this occasion Judge Cochrane. Solicitor-Gen- 
 
 ^ eral Gray, Mr. Angus Macdonell, Sheriff of York, Mr. Fish, the liigh-baitiffl 
 
 and an Indian prisoner named Ogetonicut, about to be tried at Pres(|u'Isle 
 _• for the murder of John Sharp; two interpreter. Cowan and Ruggles, 
 
 several witnesses, Mr. John Stegman, land surveyor, and Mr. Jacob Herch- 
 mer, merchant of York ; in all thirty-nine persons. All were more or less 
 I well known at York. Nine wives were made widows, and manychil- 
 
 j dren fatherless, by the disaster. Mr. Weekes, barrister, whose duty also 
 
 I called him to Presqu'Isle, at this time prudently decided to ride thither 
 
 j on horseback, in preference to going by boat, and so his life was saved. 
 
 ' This Mr. Weekes, who succeeded the Mr^ A. Macdonell lost on this occasion 
 
 i as representative in Parliament for Durham and Siracoe and the East Rid- 
 
 ing of York, was killed in 180G, in a duel, at Niagara. The Mr. Herchmer 
 above mentioned was advertising in |he Gazette of August 27th, 1801, 
 |. for Ginseng. He offered two shillings. New York currency, for dried, and 
 
 1 i one shilling for green. 
 
 I SociiBty at York again received a shock in the following year. Tidings 
 
 ; suddenly arrived that the Lieutenant-Governor, General Hunter, had died 
 
 I / at Quebec (August 2l8t,180.'>). Being Commander-in>Chief of the Forces, 
 I / as well as Lieutenant-Governor, he was often called away from the capital 
 to visit the military posts. A kind^of standing commission of regency 
 had been appointed to act during his absence, consisting of Mr. Ruasell, 
 Chief Justice Elmsley, and General Maeaa Shaw; and aa substitute 
 
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 38 
 
 MJtMORlAL VOLVMB. 
 
 "^01 any or either ofthein, Mr. McOill. A. letter from Major Oree;<, at 
 liiebec, to a friend at York, states the cause of death: v" Ho ImW for 
 some time weakened himself too much by a low regimen, which prevented 
 thA disease (gout) getting into the extremities as formerly." Oovernor 
 Hunter met Parliament four tinR's at York. Among the measures passed 
 by his sanction were Acts for the more equal representation of the Commons 
 of the Province; for making Cornwall, Johnstjown, Newcastle, York, 
 Niagam, Queenstown, Port Erie, Turkey Point, Amherstburgh and Sand- 
 wich, ports of entry, with Collectors of Customs, " who are to have 
 fifty per tent, on the dutiei, until, the same amounts to £100; and then, no 
 •moi-e;" fir preventing the sale of spirituous liquors and strong waters 
 among tho\ Moravian Indians settled on the Thames; for the pay of the 
 officers of the Legislative Council and House of Assembly ; for allowing, 
 'teo shiUingsWr day to inembers of Parliament, to be levied by local assess- 
 ment ; for reVuIating the curing, packing and inspecting of beef and pork ; 
 and for the encouragement of the growth of 'Cemp. . . 
 
 General Hunter wad buried at Quebec. In the English ^hedral there 
 a mural, tablet is seen, placed to his memory by his brother. No pbrtrait 
 has as yet been discovered of Governor Hunter, though diligent inquiries 
 and search h8ve\been instituted, to add to the series at Government 
 House, Toronto. 
 
 Some glimpses oAdemand and supply in'Vespect of house-keeping and 
 family requirenjentsVn York, at the beginning-of its Second Decade, are 
 llj^orded by such notices as the following^ in the Gazette of that period. 
 Th6 primitive practice of barter and payment in kind still, as we shall see, 
 to some extent prevailed. On the 8th of November, 1804, Mr. Quetton St., 
 George closes an adverti^mej^ of his merchandize at York, with the N.B. 
 that lie " will take^n payment. Furs, Flour, Butter and Cheese, provided 
 the fleur he in barrels, we]I\packed and of good quality." The very ipiscel- 
 laneous sort of goods offered by Mr. St. Geoi^e, and of course expected 'to 
 be asked for "by the" peoplA of York, runs as follows : " Hats, liquors, 
 crockery and glass-ware, wihdonr-glass, nails, iron and steel, .harnesses, 
 collars, cart saddles, bridles, hbrse-bells, girths, long-reins, chalk, wl^iten- 
 ing, pipe-clay, cui+y-combs, flints, verroiliont cod-lines, fishing-lines, bed- 
 cord, sheetnron, snuff, hair-poAder and starch, coppinr kettles, iron pots, 
 padlocks aiid locks, ham&ers, pound^pinSi basket-salt, noyeaux, ratafia, 
 putty, pipes, coffee, brimstone, smWhing-irons, double stoves, ready-made 
 carpets, rose blankets, eat-gut, blilck corduroy, black everlasting, black] 
 bOmbazeen, silk bandana handkerchiefs, black} blue and white satib ribbon; 
 nanrow do., blfick, bide and whfle China do., narfow do., white edging', 
 
 4- 
 
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 •■'■Tlirtlri 
 
 

 TOROHTO: FAST AUD PRBaKifT. 
 
 39 « 
 
 men's cravaU, black and green gauze, plaiq musUn, mtulin and linen 
 cambrick, cainbrick shawlH with fringe, do. embroidered, elegant nilk 
 ^lawls, Italian silk, black lutestring, green satin, long lawn, table clotliH, 
 calicoes, green canvas for blindH, black ailk handkerchiefs, men'H and 
 women's white worsted stockings, women's b)ack and blue do., ladies' silk 
 gloves, cotton do., East- India sugar, candlewick, rtwin, alum, copperas, 
 young Hyspn and green teas, olives, anchovies,, capers, patent yellow, 
 weavers' reeds, isinglass, pearl barley, sago, slay-whips." On the 17th of 
 the following May, another of Mr. St. George's advertisements appears, 
 eijually diversified with innunxerable additions of other goods^ including 
 wines, spices, jewellery, cutlery, books. And in another, I notice shoes 
 and slippers of every kind, and gai-den seeds in groat variety ; also, pot- 
 ash kettles, with the offer to receive pot and pearl-ash in [)ayment. 
 
 Mr. Cameron, publisher of the York Qazette in March, 1809,.addresse8 
 " country subscribers who are in arrears for the Gazette and advertise- 
 menl^ mstirted by desire," and requests of them " to .leave, if convenient 
 to th6m, the amount 'in any grain advertised to be purbhased •by Mr. St. 
 (Jfc6i^, at the places he proposes to receive grain in the country ; a docu- 
 ment from the miller or person iri chai^ge of the mill wi)l oblige the sub- 
 scriber : J. Cameron." • , 
 
 On the 3rd of June, 1805, the two bakers, Francois Balcour, and F. Ma- 
 rian, notify the public of York that, "on account of the present scarcity of 
 Floilr, they are under the disagreeable necessity of raising their Bread to 
 eighteen-peye, New York currency, per loaf; not being a.ble to afford' it 
 for less after this dat^." Iij, the Qazette of Septembei- 28th, 1805, Mr. 
 Robert Henderson, brewer at York, makes the following announcement : 
 "Brewing business. The subscriber informs {lis customers and the Public 
 ingeneral, that he has commenced Brewing for-the season ; and is now. 
 ready to deliver Strong and Table Beetijiii barNls and half- barrels of good 
 quality; and intends to begin brewing his I^eeping Ale for the ensuing 
 summer, in the co^wree <?fc6cxt^onth ; ^d pledges himself that more atten- 
 tion than ever shSTbe paid to the quality of Kis Keeping Beer." Germane 
 to all this is l^r. Daniel Tiers's very Johi i-Bull-like advertisement, several 
 tiqies repeated in 1808: " Beef Steak and Beer Housef The subscriber 
 informs his friends and the public that 
 tainment, next door east of Mr. Hunt's, 
 
 le has opened a House of Enter- 
 where his friends will be served 
 
 V witE victualling in good order, onjihe sh irtest notice, and at a cheap rate. 
 
 He will furnish the best strong beer at 
 
 per quart, if drank in his house, and I wo shillings and six-pence New 
 
 York currency per gallon, if taken out. 
 
 ^^tr- 
 
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 7 
 
 eight- pence Nfcw York currency 
 
 As he intends to keep ^ constant 
 
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 Hupply of racked Iwor, with a view not to injure the health of hiii cua- 
 toiiiorH, and for which he will have to pay caah, the very proflts at which 
 he oHors to sell will put it out of his power to give credit, and he hopes 
 none will be asked. N. B. — He will immediately have entertainment for 
 man and horHe." 
 
 The Town and Parish officerH, plccted at the linnual Town Meeting held 
 at Stoyell's Inn, York, on the 3rd of March, 180C, given in the Oazette of 
 March 8th, were as follows :— "Ely Playter, town clerk ; John Detlor and 
 Ely Playter^, assessors ; TKonias Mosley, collector ; Robert Hendenwn, 
 town Warden ; Puncan Cameron, church-warden, appointed by the>Rov. 
 Mr. Stuart. Overseehj of Highways and Fence-viewer^-Benjamin Mos- 
 ley, from Scadding's Bridge to Scarborough line ; George Castner, from 
 Bay Hoad to Don Mills ; Thomas Hamilton, from the East part of the. 
 Town of York to the Don Bridge; Eliphalet Hale, for the West part of 
 the Town of York to the Qalrison ; Benjamin Dav|s, for the Humber 
 Road; Jesse Ketchum^ from No. 1 to half the B,ig Creek bridge on 
 Yonge Street ; William Marsh, junior, from half, the Big Crebk Bridge 
 |o No; 17 on do.; Abraham Johnson, from No. 16 to No. 25- on do. ; 
 William Jones for the West end, and George W. Post for the East end, 
 of Scarborough; Levi Devines for the North part, and Joseph Ogden 
 for the South part, of Etobicoke ; John Barry for the Mil! or Upper Road 
 in do, Pound-keejiers— Isaac Collombes for the Town of York ;., William 
 , Marsh foif Yonge Street ; Jacob DeLong for the Humber ; Ahdrtiw 
 . Thompson, senior, for Scarborough ; Daniel Stuar,t for Etobicoke^ Agreed 
 by a majority of the inhabitants that hogs shall run at largeTn the coun- 
 try. Fences to be five feet high, with stakes and riders, and no more than 
 a space of four inches between the rails, to the height of , three feet of the 
 same." 
 
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 TOSONTO: PAST AND PRBSSJiT. 
 
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 I 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 COMMODOBK GKAN.t'h PKESIDENCY. 
 
 AT Y(»KK^ 
 
 -nati;rai- i'himwohhy 
 
 ^R. ALEXANDER QRANT. whoi by an understood «>tation ia 
 the Executive Council, now becamo temporary governor. Was 
 an interesting character. Hitherto military officers had been 
 at the head of affairs. A sailor now took the helm. Mr. 
 Grant had been at sea.in hia youth : first, in the merchant service! 
 ^ and then in a man-of-war, as, midshipman. In 1737 a Highland 
 regiment v^as being raised for service in America, and he received a com- 
 mission in it. Ho now came under the command of QeHeral Aniherst 
 afterwards'Lord Amhei-st When the expedition against Canada moved 
 northwards, ships were required on the lakes for transport. Mr. Grant, 
 M having naval experience, was put in command of a sloop of sixteen 
 guns. • He thenceforward Cbntinue'd to be connected with the naval ser- ' 
 vice, and was generally spoken of in Canada as Commodore Grant He. 
 -died in 1813 at his old farm at Grape Point, above Detroit, leaving an 
 only son. Colonel Grant, of finxskville. Mr. Joseph Woods, some time 
 M,P. for Kent, and Mr. Robert Woods, Q.C., of Chatham, were grandsons! 
 When there existed in Upper Canadi such high officials as Lieutenants' 
 of Counties, Mr. Grant was Lieutenant of the County of Essex. I do not 
 observe thatan^ local names on the map of Ontario have been derived 
 from the comihodore. 
 
 , During the short administration of Mr. Grant, a very creditable mea- 
 sure which, it is pleasant to think, originated with him. wis passed by 
 the Paritamtiit at York. Thq^odern zeal for the initiation of Canadian 
 youth in natural sciences was thereby anticipated by at least fifty years. 
 Ob the 3rd of March, 1806. the sum of .four hundred pounds was voted 
 for the purchase of "certain Apparatus for the promotion of science." 
 The preamble of the Act set forth in naive sty.le that " if is of importance 
 to the welfare',of this Province that the rising gen,eration may be fur- 
 nished with the means of such instruction as may render them useful 
 ineipbers of theiiommunity." The apparatus was to cohsist of " a collec- 
 tion of instruments suitable and proper for illustwting the principles of 
 
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 48 
 
 MKUOHIAL VOLVMB. 
 
 Natural I'liiloHupliy, ( Ifo^^raphy, AHtronoiny, and the MaUiematin." T)ui 
 0<)vern(i<- waJ« oiiipowert'd " to doponit the wid iiiHtruniontH, utidur certain 
 conditiunn, in tlie handH of Home penwn onipl<>ydil in the education of youth 
 in thiH province, in order that they may be an useful bh tlie state of the pro- 
 vince will permit." Th)8 laiit provision of th*- Act may have lieen inspired 
 froni (Cornwall, It ia certain that these inHtrument^ were in the custody 
 of Dr. Strachan after his removal from Cornwall to the head-mastership 
 of the District School at York ; And, doubtless, many other persons in 
 UpjKT CaiiiiHa, twHides the present writer^ Deceived from tltcse very instru- 
 nicntM, when deposited Jn that institution, their first impressions of an 
 air-pump, an elcctcicaJ^jMKifiniio, and the ivarious ingenious contrivances 
 for illustrating the laws of motion, the elasticity of bodies, the e<iual 
 velocity of light and heavy sulxitances falling in a vacuum, and so on. To 
 anticipate for a moment : a Gazette of the year 1818 had in its columns 
 the following advertisement : — " Natural Philosophy-— The subscriber 
 intends to deliver a course of popular lectures on Natural Philosophy, to 
 commence on Tuesday the 17th inst., at 7 o'clock p.m., should a number 
 of Auditors come forward to form K clabs. Tickets of admission for the 
 tfouna (price Two Guineas) may be had of William Allan, Esq., Dr. Home, 
 or at the School-house. The surplus, if any, after defraying the current 
 expenses, to bo laid out in painting the District School. John Strachan, 
 York, 3rd of February, 1818." It was at that period, probably, that means 
 were supplied for giving to the exterior of the District School-house that 
 memorable azure hue which caused it to he so familiarly spoken of for 
 long years afterwards as " the old Blue School," by those who had once 
 .occupied — and helped to carve— the benches within its walls. The win- 
 dow-frames and cAner-finishings of the 'building wore painted white. 
 The church, just across the road, was painted inexiactly the same hues. 
 The debris of this historical collection of philosophical instruments may 
 still he viewed at Upper Canada College. It may be adQed> that in the 
 Memoir of Dr. Straclian,,by the late Bisb<ip Bethune, it is stated that, at 
 one time, he was about to be appointed/demonstnitor for the eminent Dr. 
 Brown, when delivering his lectures as Professor of Natural Philosophy in 
 the University of Glasgow. 
 
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 TORONTO: PAST AND PHMUKNT. 
 
 43 
 
 •t 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 OpVKItNOfl UOKE AUItlVCH.— ADUKKHHKH UF WKLCOMK.— IIK MKK'Iti 
 \ ' I'AKLIAMKNT AT VOKK. 
 
 iN 'l^tMi, Quvenior Huiitcr'H HUCcvNMor in lliu Lioutcnaut-Oovur- 
 nurahip of U|>|i«r Canada an'ive<l. KxtracU from corrvH|M)n(i- 
 cnco of the porio<l will iiiHpire inoru inlunml in llui uvcnU of 
 tlio (lay at York anU eUewlivru in thu Frovinvu than a iiiuro 
 narrative. Tho Uazette^Tind other printeil ilocuniontM willalxo 
 * furniHli some incidentH. 
 
 Captain Qreon, late inilitnny Hecrutary t<i Onvumor Hunter, writcH from 
 Quebec to hb friend Mr. Mcaill, at York, 2Gth of May, IHOG, thuH : "You 
 will have heani that Mr. Francis Uoie, Lieuten^tnt-Uovcrnor of Bernuida, 
 is appointed to Upper Canada ; but we havw at* yet no Commander-in- 
 Chief named." Then, on the 7th of July, he writes a^^in ; iind after treatingi* 
 of some other things,'ho adds: " Although late, I must not omit to men- 
 tion hastily that the Lieutenant-Qoyernor's baggage arrived this forenoon 
 in the^brig Unicom, from Bennuda : himHelf was to take his passage to 
 Halifax in the Triton frigate, from whence, how he may come to Quebec 
 I cannot say."' On the 14th, howeyer, Captain Green's words arc : " I have 
 to anilounce to you the arrival here of Lieutenant-Governor and Mrs. 
 ,Gore, and a Major Halton, his secretary, on the 12th instant, from Halifax, 
 in the Driver sloop-of-war. They landed at one o'clock, yesterday, under 
 a salute of thirteen guns, from each of the men-of-war, and from the guns 
 of the Grand Battery." He then adds two items which he knew wptffd 
 interest the fashionable circle at York : " They have no childhjn," he 
 remarks ; " Mrs. Gore is a relation of Lord Fitzwilliam, one of theb,M inistry 
 in England, and of the Lieutenant-Governor of Halifax." Qn the 11th of 
 ' July he writes to his friend McGill thus: " I have by the last post in- 
 formed you of the arrival of the Lieutenant-Uovernor, since which I have 
 hada greal deal of confidential communicaticn/With him, during which I 
 took an opportunity of recommending yoiijmd our friend Scott in the 
 wannest terms ; and you*will find yoursCTves with him in the same situii- 
 tion precisely as with Governor Hunter, whose system of administration 
 he seems perfecily inclined to follow in all respects. From appearance, T 
 think you will all ^ very happy with him. His manners 'are so well-bred 
 
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 MKMOHIAL VOLVMK. 
 
 an<l c-nnili(l that you iniiiit liko liiiii." Hn tlicii it);nin, for tho lioneflt of th« 
 ladioH atYurk,a(l(]H«oiiiuil«iiiM of infuniiatiuit; iiiul we^otaKlimpM) of tho 
 Govornor'H wifu and Iter Nutroiinilinga : " If you ami Mm. McOill are fond 
 of inonkcyn, marnioMttM, p«;t-<lo((Nanil catn, you will mK)n havu a (hiu linpor- 
 ttttion of thoHt> HpuciuH from iicrmudii. Mrn. Oort!,'-' Iiu rouiarkN, "appeara 
 further advanced in a({e than tho LioutunantUowrnor Hho ia a chatty, V 
 well-brt'd woman." Then, on tho 31»t, tho departure of the now Governor 
 for the Upper Province ixannounceil : V LiouU-nant-Uovernor (lore having 
 lefl Lachino this morning, you will prolmbly receive thiM letter by hiu 
 arrival. Pray give my In'Ht respecta to the t'hicf," (Chief Justice Hcott}, 
 ho continues, "and tell him I should have dropped him a lino to-day aUo, 
 had I anything to say, except that wo cannot learn a Myllable of Mr. Chief 
 Justice Allcock's movements': they are slow for certain." In his letter by 
 tha next mail. Captain (Ji-ech taken for granteil that the new Governor has 
 arrived at York, and he anticipates tho happy influence of his "amiable 
 manners" on atfaira in U|>por Canada generally. " Of coumo, I may con- 
 gratulate you," ho says, "on the safe arrival of your Lieutenant-Governor, 
 whoso amiable manners will, I think, conciliate the various |K)int-i thajt 
 have hitherto been in opposition, to that cordiality which must ever reign 
 in societies well regulate^. IIow ha|)^py should I be to hear such were 
 the eftectfl of the first acts of his administration." In Se|Weinber, in reply 
 to a communication from York, Captain Green writes : "it gives me very 
 sincere satisfaction to find that the Lieutenant-Governor is so well liked. 
 I trust he will put the axe at once to the root of the tree of <liHcord and 
 anarchy, which lately has raised its head amongst you ; that done, you 
 will sfficued well and prosper." TW allusicms will be pre.sently explained. 
 
 Addresses of welcome in tho usual strain came in from all quarters on » 
 Governor Gore's arrival at York. Among them was one from the inha- 
 bitants of the Quaker settlement, on Yonge Street, given in the Odzette. 
 They salute him as " Francis Gore, Governor of-tJpper Canada;" and among 
 other tilings they say, " Wo are concerned for thy welfare and the prospe- 
 rity of I the Province ;. hoping thy adroinistrati9n may be such as to be a 
 terror to the evil-minded, and a pleasure to them that do .well. Then will 
 the Province flourish under thy direction, whij^ islhe earnest desire and 
 prayer o(^ thy sincere friends." The memorandum is added: "This address 
 was read ^nd approved in Yonge Street monthly meeting, held the eigh- 
 teenth dayW the ninth month, 1806 : Natlianiel Pearson, clerk ; Timothy 
 Rogers and\Ai|)os Armitage, delegtU«8." ^ 
 
 On the 2iid of February, 1807, Governor Gore met the Parliament at 
 
 York, and on the 10th of the following March he prorogued it, after assent- 
 
 
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 TtlROSTO: PAST ANU PHKaKNT. 
 
 4A 
 
 ing to twelve Aet«, on« of whinli pnivi(li<<l for ft piihlie achnol In iNich of 
 the flight <li*trictM, with XKM) a year foi^tho iiinalnr. The appliftiirfn for 
 TicCMlonn 6f atftto weni still homely at Yoik. On the <lay l«<for« th« |>n>- 
 "^rogation we h«v« the (lovernor writing to Mr Mcdill for Iho loan of hin 
 carriage. " My dear Mir," hif'iiayR, " t am ratliur at a hwM for a conveyance 
 to the Hoiiiw tti -morrow. \ nhall therefore l« very much oliligi'il to you, 
 to lend nie your liorm) an<l chair to-niorniw morning " A pro|M>r vijliirle 
 for the Uovernor't uae wa« aftvrwarilH imported l>y way of New York/ - 
 
 
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 , CHAl'TKK IV. 
 
 TIIK I'OWKIW AT YOKK \VT }A\i.V. INtWKHS KLSKWIIKHK.r- BK.\» TION. - 
 .ll'DOK TIIOK»'K,~~A LltiUTUOUHK HLILT ON (HUKAI.TAK I'OINT. 
 
 OVKRNOR GORE had expected to carry on the adminifitra- 
 tipn of Upper Canada prueisuly on tlie linew udoptu<l hy 
 Qovernor Hunter. But during Conjmodore Urant'H rule, a 
 reaction against Governor Hunter's high-handedncHH had set 
 in throughout the country A cimMitutional opposition party 
 waa everywhere forming, the significance of which Governor 
 Ooro and most of the meml'erB of his Government were slow to see. ^ The 
 .i^hird estate of the community of Upper Canada, the farmers, ^rtisaos 
 and pthers, had beeotne numerous, powerful, and intelligent, and were 
 disposed to sjMsak out.' As in wther quarters t>f the world, the fmit and 
 second estates had fallen into the habit of regarding the third estaile as sim- 
 ' ply existing for the supply of nands nivl revenue, lli^ third estate now 
 demanded more control over the funds which they, by ^e sweat of their 
 brows, were chiefly instrumental in raising. Many now settlers in the 
 country and transient visitors espoused the popular side ; and even in the 
 official ranks, especially jj the case of several functionaries lately ap- 
 pointed, champions of tlii third estate began to appear. Among tl^eso 
 were Mr. Justice Thorpe, Mr. Sheriff Willcoeks, and'Mr, Surveyor-General 
 
 Wyatt ° V 
 
 In reply to an address from the Grand JuT^ISFMiho London District in 
 \ 1806, the new Judge, Mr. Thorpe, made tliQ, following curious and caustic 
 
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 r«iii«rkii, h»v1nK n<f«ron<-« iiwnifeiitly to th«« l«t« LiniiUuianl-UnVitrnor llun< 
 ter Aiiil 111* ruli< : " Tli« ftrt uf KovttniinK iit « <litflctilt Ncit)ii«4<. Knowloili^ in 
 not inaUnotivo, •ml tlio i\my» uf InNpinitltMi havn |MMeil miny Thenifore, 
 when tli«re WM m-ithor Uli-nt, •■ilu<«tion, liiloniifttion, iMrttvjnn iiiaiiiiKni, in 
 tliu Ai|iriiniNlrati(tii, lilllo coulil U »x|M'ct«il, nii4 niithint(lwa.s |)ru<lu<-i<ii. 
 Hut th«ns i* «u nitiiiinto point of tUtpn'Miiun, bn wuli m of Dilution, Inini 
 wli(inc« ktl hiiiniin iitTaint nntiimlly advanM or recwln. , Thvptforii, propor- 
 tiunktu to yuur ilfprt'wiion, wii nmy oxjxfct your profln-wi'' in ]iruM|Nirity 
 will «ttvMU« with ktJCulvnUul vskicity." Tlw (IrMul Juryiiail )t|h)ki)ti 
 aftprovingly of th« faut timt the nuw (>ov«ni(»r '(^Iaiu) wan • civilian. 
 Juilgo TItoriM) coinciiluN, and proceoiU tliUN :— " I nIiaII lay iHtforu thit (iov- 
 ernor ovt-rything yon doHiri! ; ami I lmv% not tlio Hli(;hU)iit tlonht liut that 
 I iiliall tiiHl in him nuch power of mini!, nuch political ac(|uiruinent« aitii 
 official hahita, and Nuch ^inmI <liN|ioHitionN, aw aru Httttd to make an inlkn^ 
 provinco a purniamint Htatc, Wiwlthy and |K>wurrul, alwunding in I>(«hm- 
 ihgH to th« inhaliitantM, and no valuattio to that groat Kinpire t'roni which 
 we receive everything eNtiniahle, and to which we are anxiouM to make 
 the most grateful return." 
 
 The striking portrait which way be iteen in Uovemnieftt Houw) onableN 
 UM to undentand Oovomor (lore. We have IwforR uh evidently a typical 
 gentleniHn of the latvi' Georgian era; a " counterffltt presentment," a* it 
 ' might eiwily be imagined, of the Prince Rog«nt htmaelf ; one likely to b« 
 lieloved by friendH and boon companiona for hisi good-natured geniality ; 
 but not a |)eraona(ge in whom we ahouid expect to find HtateamanMhip of • 
 modem philoHophie otder. 
 
 The popular party aind ite ndvocates really meant no ill to Kngland or 
 the crown of England. All they denirod waM to Hecure the recognition of 
 individual rightft. and tlie reality of the constitution of which tlvey had 
 the Hhadow. The Oovemor.and his friendii, however, would not suifer 
 any criticiitm on their meaaureoi. Every exprewiion of diwiatiafaction was 
 set down as diHufiection, ti*aiion, rebellion. Mr. Willcocks ud Mr Wyatt 
 were Hpeedily removed from office, and Judge Thorpe wa«/ diHpos^d of not 
 long afterwards. There is this to \mi Raid apologetically for the authori- 
 ties at York, that tliey were simply following the example of their betters 
 in the old country. The relation^ of Gov'ernors and governed in Upper 
 Canada were- similar to those which, for the most part, at the time sub- 
 sisted at home and throughout Europe ; and the improvement of thoae 
 i-elationx had only just begun there its Well as here. 
 
 Inta letter written to Mr. McOill from Kingston, when on his way to 
 Mo MHM^ w« have a sample ^ the strong language which the Uovemor 
 
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 TUHUNTt). FAAT A Sit tHMKNt. 
 
 47 
 
 WW wont to m«ka um of j,K^»i«|y |M.rb«p«, l.iit not th« Icm in,liNor**tly. 
 In r.v»nl to ttm ()|.|><Mlllon of th« .l»y W, Imv« in il... httl«r hinU, 
 lnci<l«nUlly, of th« horrun of tli« piMiwKn IwtWMn York «n<l K\n^Um ; 
 hinU iilm> of Mmtn of thn (•iviliisiiiK prowwoH whirh thii (lovynor .<ii|NMt«t| 
 to MO a<lo|>to.| by the ju.lgwi in tho mvursi diHtriet- of tlio proviiic... wlion 
 on circuit. 
 
 " W« MTivtHi here ywter.l.y.' wriUw the (Jovcrnor. " aftor « |m^K« of 
 forty -elj{ht hoiin. Mn.. (Jor« Nutli-r*! v.-ry miuh from Hicknww. an.i th^ 
 KMtknt major (Hulton) wm n.w giving up tho Khoet. Aa f«r nxym\f.A 
 WM nov«r mor.. hi«rty in my lif... I r..r„iv«.l n,o«t <^\nt»n^ wtUfmrtipn In 
 fln.liftg that our ^.k).! en.l worthy frioixl th.. (?hi.f Jii,ti.t. (S,,ott>hiwl ^ot 
 on vrny w«ll ; that at N,.woa«tle tho jury wm r.<Npo*tol,|«. ,n.| approve.1 of 
 th«Mi judge ; nr.e oificr wortf l^ing uttnn..! n.Hpe<"tlug tliat M«crAhi« inonHt^T 
 Who would (luhige tho |.rovin«») with hl.Hj,!." JJ,iH, „f coiirm,. waM Wijl- 
 cocka. who. after having Imon d«prived of tht. Hl.ri«valty- of the Homo 
 DUlrict. hA.1 audaciouHly Hot up. in KU» vory y«ar 1807, an Oprnmition 
 qownpaiwr. the Upim- CawuU Guardian, or Frefmann Jonrml. tho 
 Uviiih oirculati<m of which i« pronently rel«rre.l to. "At Kinjp.lon' the 
 (lovemor nyn. "everything wont off sh might have l*een «xi)eftod. well 
 tho aiiof ^nterUining a party of al^jut forty at dinner ; and report nayH 
 he phod thorn well with tho TuHcan gnijw. A nuink-r of tho roUil i>Hpt>ni 
 wcr«i di8tribuU.d to |K)i8o«i the uiindM of the ,K,oplo." he olwervw " hut I 
 'ho|«. without offepf . . The ohjoot of Mr. T '» /emiw'ionH" (Mr. T.'iH 
 Judge Thor|«. and hi* emi«Mion» would 1m. Um cW^h to jurioH and hin 
 Hpecches in the Hou«o and elaowherts) "ap|>ear to heX> |H,rMuade the |teople 
 to turn every gtuitleman out of tho IIoiiho of AmltuUy. However," the 
 qov^mor a.ld8. " ke«p your tom|)er wilii the rv,Lu, I btHeech you I 
 >hall reprewmt everything at St JameH*." U, hoa-hiuartorH in London 
 An.r there acoonlingly, everything waH ho effectually 'liepi^.Hented. that in 
 ^he York O.M««<, of the following October tlio/u waM authority for the 
 following paragraphs:-" HiH Miyenty'n plea.^,/ has bocn^cived by the 
 Yeutenatit-Qovemor to Huapend Mr. Thorpe from the offic^f -judge in 
 JWer Canada; and meaHureH are to Iw takw. for ap|H)inting amicce«wr 
 Th^Hecretory of Sute han also signified to the Ueutenant^UoveWhjr HiT^ 
 Maj^y's approbation of hiH having sunpende*! Mr. Wyatt fronUhir^co 
 of SuWeyor-Qcneml of LandH in this province." ^ ^ 
 
 SomV noticas of material progress at York, In which (lovemor Qoro v 
 exhibiteiU laudable interest, must now bo givoii. In 1X07 Ihe Blue Hill 
 •op Yonge Street, just north of York. wa» l)eing^«ut down ^ndma-le more 
 passable foil teams coming into the town. " A numl)er of public.spirite<l 
 
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 UBUORIAL VOLUha. 
 
 persons," the York Oa^eMii reports, "collected on last Saturday to cut 
 down the hill on Frank's creek (Castle Frank Brook, which here crosses 
 Yonge Street), and while thus engaged, they were agreeably surprised by 
 a messenger from the Lieutenant-Qovernor, bringing with him a donation 
 of fifty dollars towards the work." For acts like this the Governor was 
 pleasantly famous. ,; 
 
 In 1803, £1,600 had been voted by Parliament for roa!ds and bridges in 
 the province. In 1809, tenders were asked for in the York Oazetle from 
 "any jwrson or persons disposed to contract for building a bridge oyer 
 the Low Lands adjoining the Don Bridge." This resulted in the high- 
 raised tressel bridge which preceded the existing solid e'qibankment. 
 
 In 1800 we have reference made to a Float over the mouth of the 
 Don. The Gazette admonishes tjie public not to make use of it for heavy 
 draught It was simply intended ag an accommodation to equestrians 
 and pedestrians who desired to take recreation on the Island. In 1806, 
 tenders were advertised for from persons wh6 wouU contract " to open 
 the road between York and the Head of the Lake." In 1804 an adver- 
 tisement of the same tenor had appeared. Possibly two different routes 
 were referred to.. ^ 
 
 In 1809 the House of Assembly provided in the estimates for a Light- 
 house on Gibraltar Point, at York. Accordingly, in that year we have 
 the Governor crossing over to fix upon the best situation for such a struc- 
 ture. Major Halton writes hurriedly to Mr. McGill at:''eight o'clock in 
 the morning: " The Lieutenant-Governor is going over to Gibraltar Point 
 to examine where it may be most advisable to build a Lighthouse." Mr. 
 McGill is to send the keys of the King's store-houses at the Point imme- 
 diately, as His Excellency wants, when over there, to look into them. 
 " We expect to be back again about one o'clock."— Curiously, . while 
 Governor of the Bfermudas, Mr. Gore had been instrumental in the erection 
 "of the first impoi-tant lighthou.se in that group of islets. The Lighthouse 
 at Gibraltar Point, which yet casts afar its bright beapns over bay and 
 lake, duri^ig the season of navigation, thus becomes not only a reminder 
 ' of a quondam notable ruler of Upper Canada, but also a link of associa- 
 tion to the thoughtful and imaginative, between thp now much-fre- 
 quented, wave-washed, sandy precinct where it stands, and Shakspeare's 
 "still-vex'd Bermoothes." 
 
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 TORONTO: PAST AND PRSSBNT. 
 
 49 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 nEATIl OK PRESIDENT RU88ELI,. — MAJOR-(iENERAL RROC^K. — DR. 
 8TRACHAN KEMOVEH TO YORK. 
 
 N incident not to be pansed over, iii the annals of York/in 
 1808, is the death of ex-President Russell, An extended ac- 
 count of the funeral is given in the York Oasetle of Oetol)er 
 8th, 1808. Governor Oore was pre«entf , Mr. Russell's large 
 accumulation of property patwed to his maiden sister, Miss 
 •^^ Elizabeth Russell, and from her, a few years later, mainly to Dr. 
 William Warren Baldwin. In 1806, Mr. Russell was endeavouring to 
 dispose of two of his slaves. The following very plain, unvarnished kind 
 of advertisement meets the eye in several successive numbers of the 
 Gazette in that year : " To be sold, A Black Woman, named Peggy, aged' 
 about forty, and a Black boy, her son, named Jupiter, 'aged about fifteen 
 years, both of them the property of the subscriber. The woman is a 
 tolerable cook and washerwoman, and perfectly understands making soap 
 and candles. The boy is tall, and strong of his age ; and has been em- 
 ployed in country business, but brought up principally as a house servant. 
 They are each of them servants for life. The price for the woman is one 
 hundred and fifty dollars ; for the boy two hundred dollars, payable in 
 th(|^ years, with interest from the day of sale, and to be properly sccure<I 
 by bond, etc. But one-fourth less will bo taken in ready money. York, 
 Feb. 19, 1806. Peter Russell." 
 
 Not until twenty-five years after the 9th of July, 1793, diathe system 
 
 of slavery legally expire at York and else\rhere.in Upper Canada. Mr. 
 
 Secretary Jarvis, Mr. Splicitor-General Gray, and others at York had 
 
 slaves. A " body-servant," who; went down with Mr. Gray in the Speedy 
 
 waa a negro slave. 
 
 A nieraorial of Mr. Russetl remains on the map of Ontario in the name 
 of the County of Russell. Admir&l Baldwin's villa to the north of 
 Toronto was originally known as Russell Hill, and Mr. Russell's farm on 
 the north side of Queen Street, a little west of Beverley Street, was 
 " Peter's field," and the present " Peter " street led up to it. The block 
 on which Upper Canada College is built is "Russell Square," on a plan 
 
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 MSMOHIAL VOLUME. 
 
 dated prior to 179!). Mr. llussoU belonged to an Irish branch" of ^ the 
 Bedford Hutwells, but ho appears to have studied in England, and at 
 the University of Cambridge. His copy of Beletot'B Didionnaire Portaiif 
 de i'lngenieur, printed at Paris in 1755, now in my poWssion, has in his 
 own handwriting the following inscription : " E. Libris Petri Russell, Cant. 
 Alumn. Divi Johannis," implying that was a " Johnian," i.e., a member of 
 St. John's College ih Cambridge. He was a man, it may beaddedj of scien- 
 tific tendencies. He formed a large rainoralogicnl collection. An isolated 
 building on his premises at the comer of Princes and Palace Streets wa,s 
 fitted up a.s ^ regular chemical laboratory ; and so assiduous was he in 
 the researches and experiments carried on there in complete solitude, 
 that, as in Roger BapcTn's case aforetime, a soup^on of devotion to magic 
 and necromancy was actually attached to him in the minds of some. 
 
 In Governor Gore's speech at York at the opening of Parliament in 
 1809 was the following ominous passage : " Hitherto we have enjoyed 
 nquillity, plenty and i)eace. How long it may please the Supreme 
 
 ulerof Nations thus to favour us is wisely concealed from our view. 
 But under such circumstances it becomes us to prepare ourselves to meet 
 every event, and to evince by our zeal and loyalty that we know the 
 value of our constitution, and are worthy of the name of British subjects." 
 Storms and tempests had been raging throughout the political atmos- 
 phere over the whole of Europe ever since 1783. Now a black thunder 
 cloud detached from that quarter seemed moving towards Upper Canada. 
 Under Napoleon's instigatiftn, Mr. Madi.son's government in the United 
 States, at this juncture, conceived the idea of becoming possessed of the 
 wliole of the North American Continent, restoring, perhaps, for a season 
 at least, the Frencli portion of Canplik to the protectorate of Fi-ance. 
 Now was the time ! England's hands were fully employed. Pretexts of 
 quarrel with England were therefore eagerly seized, in 8|<jte of Emjland's 
 earnest efforts to remain at peace with her near kith and kin. Governor 
 Gore was not a fighting man. In 1811 leave of absence from his province 
 was granted him ; an4, after closing the session -at York for that year, 
 he withdrew with his good JEtminble lady arfd her menagerie of pets to 
 England, where they arrived safely at Torquay on the 11th of December, 
 
 1811: 
 
 Major-^General Brock now appears on the scene. Jusfbefore the de- 
 parture of 'the Gores from York, Major-Qeperal Brock spent some days 
 with them very pleasantly. He thus writes to his brother in Guernsey 
 from Fort George : " I returned recently," he says, " from York, the Api- 
 tal of the Province, where I passed ten days with the Governor, as gen-., 
 
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 TORONTO: PAST AND PRKSBNT. 
 
 61 ■ 
 
 erous imd honest a twing a» evor exiHted. Hia lady," ho procccdH to say, 
 "is perfectly w^ll-bred an<l very agreeabre. 1 found ample recompense in 
 their society for the inconvenience of travelling over the worst roads I 
 over met with." He mentions a particular which would Iw oC spMial in- 
 terest to a Guernsey man. "The Oovemor," he says, "was forinorly 
 quartered with flio 44th in Ouornsoy, and recollects vividly the society 
 of those days." 
 
 In all his letters. Brock spoke in the most friendly manner pf Governor- 
 Gore.* In a despatch to Sir George Provost, successor to Sir James ( Vaig, 
 ho refers the new Govemor-in-chief to former eommunications of Gover- 
 nor Gore to his predoces.sor. f* a " correct view of the temper and com- 
 position of the militia and Inflians." He sjieaks of the fact that Goveraor 
 ■ Gore had "revived the Glengarry Fencibles." He also lauds the " strict 
 economy which {Jovonior Gore eoi».>tantly iKJstowed on the expenditure 
 of the pyhlic money." Brock, it appears, once crossed the lake from 
 Niagara to York in a canoe, with Governor Gore. Wo find him de- 
 murring to an item of £20 in an accourtt, asTiis share of the expense of 
 the expedition. As it had been undertaken in the way of duty, he thinks 
 it is a fair "public charge." *^ i 
 
 The removal of the Rev. T)r. John Strachan from Cornwall to York, in 
 18i2, is an occurrence memorable in the annals of that place, and of 
 Upiicr Canada generally. General Brock, wishing to have at the head 
 -df ecclesiasticiilafrairs in the capiud of the Province a man of spirit, of 
 force, and of good business capacity and habits, exertcil himself to effect 
 tho settlement of Dr. Strachan in York. The mettle of the new-comer 
 was soon put to the test. Throughout the three years' war, Df . Strachan'.s 
 whole energies were devoted fo rousing and sustaining the courage of tho 
 people, and to the aid and sustenance of the wounded, the sick, and tho 
 captured* More than once was he in peril of his life, while interposing in 
 defence of fellow-townsmen against plunder at tho hands of the .soldiery in 
 pos.se8sion. The subsequently famous "Loyal and Patriotic Society of Up- 
 pcr<.'anada" was organized chiefly through his influence. This association 
 guaranteed provision for the widows and orphans of the mUitia, for tlio 
 wounded and maimed, and for those who sufl'eied total loss of home a.M 
 effects in tho war. It also proposed to distinguish marked acts of cour- 
 ageous conduct by the "presentation of a medal— » portion of its plan not • 
 .carried into efTect, from the difficulty ultimately experienced in deciding 
 who should be recipients ; although the medal was de.sigjied and .struck. 
 
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 - • CHArXEK VI. ■ 
 
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 WAB DECLARED BY THE UNITED STATES.— CANADA INVADED.— 
 brock's PROMPt ACTION AT YORK, AT LONG POINT,' AT AMHEH8T- 
 BURO, AT DETROIT. — RETVRNS.TO YORK. — FALLS WHILE ' REPEL- 
 LING A- SECOND INVASION. • 
 
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 ^NERAL brock met Parliameutf twl<* al York; firetJuBC be- 
 fore the declaration of war; and again, in a special .session, 
 immediately after the declaration. ^ His speeches on these occa- ' 
 sions, and the proclamations issued under his authority, iiad a„ 
 pciwarful effect. His vi^as a ch^tacter which created confidence" 
 and^Ued forth enthusiasm. ' • 
 
 '' ' "Even to the dullest peuant in hU c%iDp 
 
 Huipiritlentafiiv." , 
 
 iJero are moving words, addressed to the House in his last speech : 
 \Wben in^^ed by an enemy whose avowed object is the entire conquest 
 of the Province, the voice of loyalty, as well as of interest, calls alopd to 
 every person, in the sphere in which he is placed, to defend "his country. 
 Our militia have.heard that voice, and have obeyed: thejr have evinced 
 in the promptitude and loyalty of their conduct that they are worthy of 
 the king whom they serve, and of the institutions which they enjoy ; and 
 it affords me particular satisffCction in that, while I address you as legis- 
 lators, I speak to mchlWho, in the 'day of danger, will be ready to assist, 
 not only with thoir counsel, but withiJieir arms." And again : " We are 
 en|aged in an awful and eventful contest." By unanimity and despatch 
 in our councils, and by vigour in our operations, we may teach the enemy 
 this lesson, that a country defended by free men, enthusiastically devoted • 
 to £he cause of their king and constitution, can never be conquered." In 
 the counter- proclamation to that of the invader, Hull, is a stem and 
 whojesome admonition to any >ho might waver in their allegiance : 
 " Every iganndian freeholder is by deliberate choice bound bv^the most 
 solemn oaths to defend the monarchy as well as his own property. To 
 shrink from that engagement is a treason not to be foi^vea Let no 
 man* suppose that if, in this unexpected struggle. His Majesty's arms 
 
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 rOilCWTO.' PAHT AND PHBSJIifT. 
 
 63 
 
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 , shouM-lH) coiiVpellod to yield to an ovorwholmiiig fprco, tlio PrOviiico will » 
 be nventuaTly abandonod. The ende^nxl retatlonM of itH first Bettlero, the 
 intrinHio value of its A>iimiurco, and the pretenflions of itM.itoworful rival 
 (Franco) to reiwswjiw the ^CdnaOftH, ant plvjlges that no puiico will be eii- 
 tablished between Hie Uni(#d States aqil C<^eftt Britain and Ireli^nd, of 
 which the restoration of these -provinoos ducH not^unke the most promi- 
 nent condition." '■ ' ''.,,' 
 
 When the certainty of hostilities, fttst' became kn^wn, Ui<m>ral Brock 
 
 was at York. Within a ibw hours, two companies of the ^IsOtegiment, 
 
 ' then in_g»rrison here, were des|>at(?hod in b&ats to Kort Cieorgo ; whither 
 
 * also, after he had held a;Uoun«il^nd issued a summons for « HjHici^ sos 
 
 siohof the I%islature, he himsdf ropairtd, crOsHing the 'lake in ant)pon 
 
 boat, ac6om|)a^|ied % his^e-de-caflap, Captein tilegg. 
 
 Some months before thedoclaratioin of war, BrcHjk had formed hJH plan's 
 
 for the defence ofUppecCahatlii.' -Thus he wrote from York to 'Colonel 
 
 Btiynes, AdjjJtant-General at Quebec, February-the 12th : " t set out' with ' 
 
 ^ .declaring piy full conviction that unless Detroit ahd Michilimackinac l;p 
 
 j(' both in ojir possession immediately at 4tiecommencement of hostilities, not' 
 
 ' poly the,di8t(lct;^ol Amheretburg, btft m(»t probably the whole country 
 
 \ *•''"■ M Kington, must^ be ^wwu^ted. How ireceiMiry, therefore, to pro-' ' 
 
 vide effectually '^the^means of their capture." , " 
 • ■ ^ In ^ccoFd^rice wiith th^se tactic^ on the 2eth of June hq sends oVders td 
 .^v Captain: Roberts, of the.lOlh Royal Veteran Battalion, in command at 
 Fort St. Joseph, to possess hiti»self of J«ijjhilimackinac; a Service bravely 
 'performed on the I7th oLJtiljf. Jive days previous to that date, namely, 
 on the 12th o<^ July, Qeneral^ullhad crossed with *2>500 men, at Sand- 
 wiohC ©jc'pecting an instant submission on the part of the inhabitants. 
 Of Idnel Proctorfof the 4l8t Rcginient-, was sent forward tb reinfpi-ce and 
 take command at Amherstbut^, the post now especially threatened. *nd 
 the assurance Vas circulated that Brock himself woijld followimmediately.'^ 
 All this, together with the almost complete absence of any signs of wel- 
 come, bjpught it to pass that JJy iU 8th. of August the invading forees 
 .were withdrawn £6 their-p^n side of th^river. ' 
 
 .. On the »5th 0f August, Brock, in person, starts from York for Amherst^ 
 burg, aceompanied by on« hundred volunteers'lrom the militia of the York 
 ^rriion. He proce^ now, not by Niagara, but by Burlington Bay, and 
 along' the old Grand Rivey Portage to Lohg Point. Here was the rendez- 
 vous of a moderate force', consisting of thiee hundred men, regulara and' 
 militia. Embarking in boats; they pushed westward, nnder tlie lee of the ^ 
 north shore of ^ke Erie. O4 the 12th, they are off Point aux Pins. On 
 
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 MKtlOHlAh VOLUilB. 
 
 Uio 13th, tiiey an* at tlioir (iestinrftioiv Hero Homo IndlanH, umlor Tofain- 
 Hch, joi^tlioin. Tho enemy liaving lutiicd, the capture of Iiin Htrongliold 
 at Detroit itnleciiled on and planned. On the Kitli tho nsHuult takoH place, 
 and the result onNues qf a Hiirrcnder of Hull and his whole force'. -^^ 
 
 Of all gala days liithcrto witnessed at York.ilie 17th of Aufjiist, 1812. 
 was tho most bright and exhilaratinjr. On that day Brook arrived there 
 after his great .success. Only nineteen d^ys ^a*l elapsed since his closing 
 speech to the- Parliament. Probably no salute from the garrison hailed 
 his approach on the occasion. The article of powder was too precious, 
 and too essential for real uses, to be idly wasted. Tho omission was made 
 good a few weeks later, when the To'Wer-guns of I.«ndon were fired in 
 honour of his exploit. All York felt precisely as Mr. Justice Powell wrote 
 to Brock on the spur of the moment : " I shall hardly sleep 'until I have 
 tlie satisfaction of hearing particulars of the wonderful excursion, for it 
 C\ must n?t bo called a cam|»ign. Tho veni, nidi, itici is again the faithful 
 1 i-e|)ort. Your good fortune in one instanceis singular r for if vour zeal 
 had licen thwaited by such adverse winils as f ftquentVocc"'" on the lake, 
 the acmistice might have intercepted your career. That it ^id not, I 
 heartily thank God, and pray that nothing may occur to dan»p the entire 
 satisfaction of yourself and family in the glory so well oamo(i|." ■ , 
 
 The contrast deprecated by Jutlge Powell was, alas! dcstiiied kooii to 
 follow. If the 27th of August was the most joyous day, the^lSth of the 
 next Octobet was the saddest over yet experienced at' York. On "that 
 (lay seliooners and sloops were entferi^g the harbour, their decks swarming 
 with the ninchundredandfifty prisoners of war taken at QuejBnston; but' ^ 
 bringing also the altogether staggering intelligence tliat Brock, thoOgh '^ 
 victorious, had fallen. " Push on the York vol unteert ! " had been the last 
 order on his lips, followed, after receiving the fatal shot, by the request 
 th^t no notice should be taken of his fall, le.st the advance, which was in ' 
 vigorous progi-ess, should be checked. Thjp revulsion from a state of,' \ 
 . elation to one of extreme deprcs-sion in the public iniiid at York and 
 . throughout Canada is left to the imagination. ■ 
 
 What was finely said by tho Quebec Gazette of Brock, and the public ' 
 feeling at Quebec on tho occasion of his full, was true to the l^r also at 
 York : " His long residence in the province, and particularly in this place, 
 made him in habits and 'good offices almost a citizen ; and his frankness] 
 conciliatory disposition, and elevated demeanour, an estimable one. The 
 expressions of regiet, as general as he was known, and not Uttered by 
 friends and acquaintance only, but by every gi-adation of class, not only 
 by grown persons, but young children, are the test of hi^ work. Such, 
 
 
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 fifi 
 
 .too, IN the only eulonium wortliy of tlu' )foiH\ an<l hiJfc'i), ami tlio eitizoiiM 
 
 of Qiiuliee havo, wiUi Holoiau oiuotionn, ]>ronounco<l it on l>i«i niumoiy." 
 
 ,The (liHtiniruiH)iO(l wordn, too, of Earl Biitltiirxt to Mir (lijort»e Provost, 
 
 written of tho iinpriiwiion ma<li' in Kn^^land l>y tlio Iosh just HUMtaincil, will 
 
 oxpresH what all fult anfl thought atTYork : " This would ha*-*- 'iM-rn »utli- 
 
 ciont to cloud a victory of uiuch j^n-ater iiuportanco. \l\» MajtiHty 
 
 has loHt in hiiu not only an ahio and uivritoriouH oHiccr, hut ono also who, 
 
 in the exorcino of his functions of provisional Lioutenant-tJovurnor, <lis- 
 
 playcxl qualities adniirahly a<laptc>d to awo the disloyal, to ruconcilo thu 
 
 \ wavering, and to aninuitu thu ^'ruat niasH of thi! inhabitftnts «^iimt suc- 
 
 f ceHsivo attempts of tho enemy to invade tho province, in the Iiwt of whiih 
 
 ho unhappily fell, too prodigal of that life of which his eminent services 
 
 Ji^(J taught His to understand the viiliic." 
 
 The giUiter loss, of course, for the moment overshadowed all the lesser 
 ones arising out 9f 'the engiigoraent on (Jueenstou Heights, which indi- 
 viduals and families wore called to deplore iit York and elsewhere. 
 Among these, in particulnr, tho fall of the youthful Attomoy-Genoral of 
 
 Acting OS 
 a lioutcnant- 
 colpncl of the Canadian militia, he received his death woun<l by the side 
 of BnJCk on Queonston Heights. " Ho fell," as in tho standard Memoir 
 of Brock it is stated, "while gallantly ehiirging, with the hereditary cou- 
 rage of his race, up tlic hill, with one hundred and ninety men, chiefly of 
 tl>e York Volunteers, by,which charge the enemy was compelled to sp'ike 
 the IK-pounder and the battery tKere ; and' his inejnory will be cherished 
 as long as courage anil de^votion are reverenced in tho province." His mor-, 
 tal remains repose by tho sido of ,Brock under the noble monument at 
 Quc^nston. Mr. Attorney-General Mac<lDnell was a member nf tlio Scoto- 
 Canailian family of that naipe long ostablishetl at York. 
 
 Among uieso, in panicuiiir, uio laii w wie jfouiiuui «.i,wiiii;jf 
 the" proviAo, John Macdonoll, deeply aflectod, a wide circle, 
 provincial 'ide.-do-camp to the General, in his capacity of a 
 
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 HUkPIl 
 
 AUTHORmES AT YOKK TAKEN IVY HUltPRI8e.-4-TMK PLACE CAP- 
 TURED «V A UNITED STATES AKMED KOHOB.— EVACUATED. — RE- 
 VISITED FOR A DAY. 
 
 • ■■ _■■■ „, ; ^ •; _ _ - •. ' ■ , . 
 
 ^HK ni'wt romnrkablo epiHMlo in the whole of the forty yeimi' 
 hiatory of York, Upper Canadii, occurre<l in 1813. On tlio 
 fla(;-Htafr of itn garrison no longer waved thtD enHJgn of Great 
 Britain. The 8tar-8pangle<l banner of the Unitwl Stated was 
 seen flonting in ite place. Fot- an interval of eleven days the 
 fj town was in tl»fe occupaiion of an nnne<l foree from that nuarter. 
 Dl)Ving the winter of 1812-13 an expedition had been fitted out at Sac- 
 kott's Harbour by General Dearborn, having in view the capture of Fort 
 George, whicl) was now the key of the communication bjitwecn lakes On- 
 tario and Erie ; but in passing, York was to be visited, and such military 
 and naval ator&s as should l>c found.there were to bo removed or destroyed. 
 Tlig authorities at York and their superiors at, QuelniC were to a eon- 
 Si(/erable extent caught ni4>ping. General Dearborn and Commodore 
 Chaunfey were up and stirring too early in the season fbr them. The 
 American commanders probably knew muClTmore of the defences along 
 the Upper Canada border than the Canadian authorities knew of the pre- 
 parations apd plans of the authorities at Sackett's Harbour and Washing- 
 ton. Joseph Bouchetta, in a note to his " British Dominions " (i. 89), thus 
 bemoans thp failure of an admonition offered by himself: — " The defence- 
 d^ss situation of York, the mode Of its capture, and the destruction of the 
 large ship there on the stocks, w«re but too prophetically demonstrated 
 in myreport to headquarters in Lower Canada, on my return from a re- 
 sponsible mission to the capital of the Upper Province in the early i»rt 
 of 'April. Indeed the", communication of the result of the reconnoitring 
 operations, and the intelligence of the successful invasion of York, and' 
 the firing of the new ship 'by the enemy, were", received almost simultane- 
 ously." , • 
 "On the 27th of February, 1813, General Sheaffe, the now provisional-gov- 
 ernor of Upper Canada, met a Parliament al Tjork. " He proceeded to the 
 Qovemmeyit BiiUdings," a contemporary paper informs us, " accompai&ied ^ 
 
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 TOHOilTO: PAST AND 
 
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 87 
 
 by a iniriMiMiiM auito." In view of tho uvoiiIn which oc(Mim><l within « few 
 wckiIcK, we rw^ Momo mmlon^on in, tho iipeoch witli ii utrong m,>niit> of tlit« 
 fiitU«%r of wliat iM MoinutiniuH contalnvi] in nucIi priMliictioitM. <Jvn«ral 
 . Bhetjlfu thuK i^ouuratulatKil the Huuto on tliu riMultM of the lant OAinpai^n. 
 '* The enemy Iirh l>cen foiled |n re|wate(i attemptn at invaxiun ; tliruo uf 
 hid anniefl^ have iM'cu'NiirronilorL'tl, or coiNplutuly il*>fuatitil ; ini|)ortant fur- 
 tresflufl have boon wreHtud from him." ." You wjll Ivarn witli gruat NatiM- 
 f faction " he iMf(>rm.>4 tlio Houmo, " that the moat vigorouH nieaHurcH; have 
 ' been adop^d under the direction of ttiu ( !onnuandcr of tho KorcvN, an<l are 
 - now in operation, to atronglnen the Provincial Marino, and' to proHerve the 
 superiority on t)fe lalcoM, do oH^iitial to tFie wifoty of tine Provitic«>." The' 
 reference wa8 to tlie roc<At arrival of Sir Jainox Yooat KirtgMton, to ax- 
 minie the- naval c^muian^f tho Inltos, an<l>tho energetic HtepH proiioHed to 
 bo taken inimediatory for fitting, n^miing, and |iroparinf^ a Hoot for active 
 Horvico. It waM in truth tU.'H threatened promptitude of tho now commo- 
 dore that had ex|>editod Doarliom'ii movomenta. General Sheaffe likewise 
 
 < Jinnouncted to tho Hoiihc that from tho high Hense untortiiined of the itcr- 
 
 viceH of that able and gallant oificor, tlte lato Major-Ooneral Brock, the ' 
 Prineo Regent, in the nauie of hiH Majexty, had been ploiwcd to aMHociato 
 him, immediSftely after tho capture at Detroit, " to tho Bfont Honourable 
 Military Order of the- Bath." 
 
 In tlie following month, March, Sir George I'revoat,. the Commander in^ 
 Chief of .the ITorceH, .was himHolf on a tour of iniipection extending to 
 Foii Eirie. He received iuldrewos fVom tho Houses of Piirliamoot, then 
 in sowtion.and from othora. His rfeply to "the magistratcN and other In- 
 habitants of the town of York," istlateil " G^vernuioht House, York, Up|)er 
 
 < Canada, March 3rd, 4813." In it occurs the following passage : " Not only 
 Jniy duty, but^llpPKpress commands qf his Royal Highness tho Prince Re- 
 gent, govern, my conduct in regulating and improving thoHe\objocts which 
 
 . excite yqur apprubatidn, artd in expressing the high respect I entei tain of 
 the gallant and patrioti<i behaviour of your militia,, 1 express the sonti- 
 mchta of your Hovoreigh and of youj^^fellow-subjects throughout his Ma- 
 
 « jesty's Empire, yho ivdmire and applaud the exertions oi a free, bravo, and 
 loyal people, manfully contending to^jproserve for tnemsolvoH and their 
 children the fostering protection of e^ virtuous, wise, and powerful state." 
 A part of his response to the Commons House run ihus : " In pursuing a 
 line of conduct which you are pleased to consider beneficial to the best in- 
 terests of this portion of his Majasty's dominions, I aiii acting in oliedi- 
 ... "ence to the express commands of his/ Royal Highness the Prince Regent, 
 whose etolicitude foi; the wclfar&and' preservation of the loyal iuid bfayo 
 
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 itultjoctM ,in If |i|Hif CanncU cAiin<^ t<lu<|uately bo met by any oxoiUonii on 
 my part, without the x«i»Iouh co-opttratiori of the jntoplu of thii pmvinco, 
 chttereti by tho voito and example of thoir repruaeytativaa, and iiupportod 
 by the inriueilvu of the Almighty Piap<M«r of Kventa." 
 
 Towanlrf the end of April, the flotilla, conMi»ting of tun armed veweU 
 carrying Hfty gunH, pro|)arod at HackottM Ha'riiour to umini in the rwluo- 
 tion of Kort Oeor^, tiet nail, under Commodore Chauiicey, for that fort, 
 and on the S7th it win oH' York. The inhablUntH and iiuthoritieH, civil, 
 military and naval, were, au I have intimated, taken by aurpriae, Th« 
 number of men on lioanl thete veHaeln, including the crowa, in fiaid to hav« 
 amounted to between two thouHand five hundred and three UioUHand 
 men. 
 
 A landing woh etfeotud to the weot of the Hite of the old French. fort 
 Toronto, juot where the indentation of Humlwr bay begins. Aftor.over- 
 comin^ a Htubliom .reniHtance front audi regukn*, militia and Indianit aa 
 could Iw hjirrledly aHsemblcd, the hotttile . force In-'gun to march eatttward, 
 towards the town. They had reached the westeni outworks of the garri- 
 son, when the magazine, situated close by, exploded, killing Brigadier 
 General Pike, >frho was in command of that portion of the force which had 
 landed, and many others. General ShenflTe, the commandant at York, drew 
 off the few regtilars which happened to bo in the garrisoiv there, and which 
 suffered severely on that occasion, tpwafds the road which led'to Kings- 
 ton. His regular force before the engagement consisted of the Hth Regi- 
 ment, two wcak^ompanics of the NeWfoundliind regiment, and forty of 
 the Glengarry riflemen. ' Th^ militia had amounted to two hundred and 
 twenty men. A band of forty Indians ha<l assisted in opposing the land- 
 ing. The fenced in grave of one of these, who had licen shot in a tree on- 
 this occasion, was long a marked object at York, l>y the wayside in the 
 Woods on the rise now known as Clover Hill, The officers in command of 
 the militia were left by General Sheaffe to make what terms they, could 
 with the invatlers. Colonel Chewett, Major Allan, and Lieutenant Gou- 
 v«reau, of the Provincial Marino, on the part of the iuhabitantv, and 
 Cplonel Mitchell, Major Connor, Major King and Lieutenant Elliott, on 
 the i>art of the assailants, were the names subscribed to the Articles of 
 Capitulation. < " ■- ^ 
 
 The town suffered less than m°tght have been expected from the occupa^^ 
 tion. Private property was for the most part respected. Some building 
 were bume<l by accident. Some were flredby reckless chai-acters, who could 
 not be called to account. The two Mifttialls of Parliament, together with 
 the Clerk's offices adjoining, and the libiury and papers deposited there, 
 
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 Wern <lwitroy««l. When in the followiiiK y«»«r the City of WMhinRton 
 WM talcen, ftii<l the <;iipit(il-buildj|n)(N fiml, tho (tfptUro of Y^ttlt kikI tho 
 deetrueiionof the H»ilH of Parliament there w«re clttnl m KrounilN of jun- 
 tiflution for Moh •<ttii. 
 
 In • l»tter of Chief Juntice H<N)tt'*, tUtwl at Yoric, April »(>lh, I HI. 'I, 
 he (gratefully aoknowleilgoM on Iwhajpuf ^c inaKintrateii of York, " the hii- 
 m/uifl attention which 0«ner*l I)earlH)ni had jwid Ut th« pn>Meiit nitiHition 
 of Ita inhabitants, by piintuing a lino of conduct mi coiidiiciVo to tli« pr<v 
 teetion of a number of individualH, and ho honourable to himnelf." A |itf 
 tlon of the public atoren which croifld nc)t lie put on \mhin\ tho Hpi-t wan 
 given to the inhabitanU. The flour and other proviHtonn wore didtributml 
 to thoHe in want, in the town and in tho f;^rrison. One nrmnd vewul wiw « 
 capture«l in tho l»ay ; and » government veiwol «n tho Htockn, only jiar- 
 tially conHtruotcd, wait destroyed. Qcneral Hheaffo'd l>angago ami private 
 pafiers were captured. A mutiical Hnuff-box of his wtoiim to have given 
 much pleiwure to the American officem. Itetweon Dr. 8traehan and 
 General IHi^'^ni a iM!cne seouw to have occurred on the ocoaHion of Dr. 
 Ktmdian'M delivering the articloH of capitulation into tho hand* of the 
 AmcAoan commander. Hero ia a put of tho memorandum left by Dr. 
 Htrachan of the interview. " I rccpicst to know whether ho will pnnili) 
 tho officoFH and nion, and I demand' leave to tak«i away our nick and 
 wounded. He treats mo with great liarHlincNa ; tolls inc we had given a 
 falHo return of officers; told me to keep off, and not to follow him, for ho 
 had businomi ^ more importance to atteiul to." 
 
 York contianedi in ^hia condition of /umiliation for aliout eleven days. 
 On the Nth of May, the flotilla, havini accomi)li8hed it« miwion, moved 
 out of tho harbour, and pamoAl acrowl towardH Fort Niagara. At Four 
 Mile Creek, to the east of that fort, the forcoH im lioard were landed, It 
 then returned to Sackett'H Harlmur with the HjwilH of V<irk,and to bring 
 up further reinforcements for tho intended attack on Fort George. 
 
 After the capture and the evacuation, the post of York waH not alian- 
 doned by tho military authoriticH. In July, 1813, General Vincent sent 
 (lown in haate from his entrcnchmentH on Burlington HcightH to York for 
 help. He was about to be attacked now, not from the direction of 
 Niagara, as was throatt^ncd previous to the affair of Sttmy Cieek, but 
 from tho northern end of Burlington Beach, whore anAmeriean force was 
 pro|Mwing to land. Colonel BatlcrBbyslashetl up from York with some 
 guns and a few men, through woods, ravines, and momB.se\ whore scarcely "^ 
 a bridle jiath existed. The intelligence that this reinforcement had 
 reached General Vincent from York wan the cause of Commodore Chaun- 
 
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 My'i MCon<l vUil to that pluo. HailiiiK fniin HiirliiiKt^iri ll«aoh, mtUit 
 tokinit (in iMMinl th« mmi whom hi< \\tA lN<||iin to IaiuI thoro, with thn 
 inU'tition of ntiirniini^ liitrlin|{t<)n HeiKhtn fnim th*l ({imrUN', hu {MMtMl 
 with nil hMt4> down to York, atut )lMflinli*rkml nn kniMd forcn un<l«r tho 
 CMiiuimnd of ( 'oloiiol Hcott. Tht-y r«in«inMl, hownvir, only onn day ; 
 iHit diirini^ that tinm they hiimtNl the iMrrni'kM aiul pnhbie atorn-houMut, 
 and i'arri«d away with th«in a numlier of cannon and hoats, tOK^thar iHtl) 
 Mhot, *hol|M, and otiior manitiona of war. An flxpioring anti forafpng 
 expedition up the Kiver Don waa now und«rtikk»n. Oaatle Frank waa 
 0XMnined, but not injured. From itii name, and th« erroneoua inipriHtaion 
 that it ha<l l>e«n tlio nmid«ni-« of a former Ijeutuntatit Oovnrnor, it waa 
 probaliiy iuia|{in«4l to b<i a atructun* of aonie tni[H>rtanco. Un the Ameri- 
 CM plana iUuatrative of tlie capture of York, ( laatlu Frank ia very conapi- 
 cuoualy marked. 
 
 „ At tho moment of Uieir viait to York, the fleet of Hir Jamea Yuo niuat 
 have been very near to the eaatward ; it is t;ertain tlial within a day or 
 two lie, with hia veaatila of war, and abundant auppliea for Oimeral 
 Vincent, waa at the very M|K)t at Burlington Beach where Chauncey had 
 landed hia men on the Slat of July. On fhat Slat, the Montreal llentld 
 reconla Hir Jnmea Yeo nailing from KingNton. In view of the manifoat 
 proximity of the two fleeta, the HertUd remarka : " A naval Iwttle may 
 momentarily Ite ImAed for, aa interuating to Upper Canada aa the fighta of 
 Mycale and Halamii were to Athena," However, no do<-iaivo engagement 
 followed. On each aide, the aliipa were ao all-important for maintaining 
 tho communicationa, that great caution waa olmerved by tho Heeta. Wu 
 have a caaual note of their movomenta again in a Herald of Auguat 14th. 
 '■We underatand that C<miiiKHlore Yeo waa ott" York'on the 8th inatant, 
 and that hia rival waa under the guna at Fort George (aince May 27th in 
 tne handa of the Americana). Nothing from Kingaton later than tho 
 Ijpth." It waa to tho ahelter of tho Niagam river that C'liauncey retire<] 
 aller the aecond viait to York. Nevertheleaa, on tlie llUh of Auguat, he 
 waa again at Sackett'a HlrlMur. The Herald of Auguat 21at reports: 
 'I Chauncey arrived at SackotVa Harbour on the evening of the 13th ; and 
 Jailed on the 18th, He waa aeen about four or five milea above Kingaton. 
 [/'ommodore Yeo waa at the head of the lake near Four Mile Creek. It 
 vaa expected there would aoon be another naval engagement." To the 
 
 opular imagination of the United States the capture of York waa made 
 loom large. In S. 0. Qoodrich'a Pictorial Hiatory of America (p. 7t>0), 
 Ithe illustration reprcaenting the death of/Qeneral Pike ahowa York in the 
 jlbackground as a compact, solidly built town, with many church steeples 
 
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 Tilt) Autumn of tNt5 immmhI t(l<x>iuiiy with\he inlmbit»nl« of t>i«i twlet* 
 »hI York. Thair mimU, how«t»«f, would \m «h<H<r«d in IWenilmr liy 
 IliKiniro that fort (leorgn h*<l tioen ali*nilon«il l>y llio «n«niy knit 
 pit'il hy HritiNh tnmp*. At tho Muin tlmo^nir Hym|MilliiiiN would 
 ily NtirriHl for tht^ir fellow-cituntryinnn MHNtiwftrk. Annctuni- 
 y rttprolpftUitl Dtm coniiiiittiol liy ()(>n«<riiUpp^liiru un hi* rotircniflnt 
 fnjin Fort (l«or|[«. Tliu kiljoining villiigi< ^PTowHrk) WM tl«tliU-ri»t«ly 
 llrnd, ami the wtiliidf its popuUtion ruwlerod honiolititN (iM»t MuHttrlng 
 (tnnuod, the winter li«in){ unumially M'voro, iind tint ^rounir coVerud deep 
 with wiow. To tlioHu «t York whiii nii((ht cliancu, on thu ni((lit of thti 
 13th iif Deeeliilwr, to diruct thuir kttontion wiutliward, thu ((low from thu 
 llnniiA of the Imrnin;; Newark would b«i vinililtt. Iinniodintvly aftctr tho 
 rooocuiMition of t'ort Geol){u by (lolciuil Murray, a MurpriMt wax planneil 
 fiMr tho fortreNN on the oppo«ita hank of the river. Thin wan vHeiitcd- 
 on the night of the 10th of Dno-ndier, and the fort wiu cnptun-d. Mc- 
 Clure'14 diwtruction of Newark wan Nwiftly foUgwol hy |iaihful retali- 
 ation*— YoungHtoWn, lii'wiMton, Black Rock and HuffiiltrWingNuocBimively 
 altackod and HrtMl hy arinml ItodieH diM|)atfhod for the purpowo from the 
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 1814-1824 
 
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 CHAPTER I. 
 
 I>AV8 OF PEUPI^EXITY AT YORK.— PRESIDENT DRUMMOND (AFTERWARDS SIR 
 
 oord«5n) meets parliament therk— re-ouoanization of a MARIUrr 
 
 AT YORK.— PEACE DECLARED, DECEMBER 24TII, 1814, BUT NOT KNOWN 
 AT YORK UNTIL TOWARDS THE END OF THE FOLLOWING FEBRUARY.— * 
 A MONUMENT TO SIR ISAAC BROCK DECREED.— SOME WAR PHICE-LIHTS 
 AND POETRY.— DEVELOPMENT OF YORK WESTWARD, 
 
 HROUGHOUT the rest of this thirty months' war, as in 
 
 round terms we may style it, York was not again molested 
 
 from without. But its internal life was troubled enough. 
 
 The remnants of its population that still contrived to abide 
 
 there were beset with countless cares. Like the inhabitants of 
 
 Constantinople, in the notable old four-word couplet : 
 
 7 " Pertnrbabanlup CoiutantinopoUhuii ^ 
 ^ ' / \ Innumenbilibus Mllioiludinibiu." 
 
 Now a success would for a moment elate them. Then anxieties 
 would rack them foflhe fat« of relations and friends and acquaintances. 
 Notr a disaster would be repocftd, as at Fort Erie and Chippawa 1n 
 July, and Plattsburg in S^tjinber, sending down their spirits to- , 
 wai-ds UNO, with the double /w^ht of shame and a painful concern 
 for kith and kin. All hearts, llowever, leaped up with a renewed con- 
 fidence when certain intelligeiice came of the arrival at Quebec of an 
 instalment of reinforcements to the extent of 18,000 troops straight from 
 Bordeaux. Set free by a cessation of liostilitics" on the other side of 
 the Atlantic, it was seen that England, "the Titaness bearing on her 
 shoulders the load, well nigh not to be borne, of the too-vast orb of her 
 fate," was now about to put forth her strength here, as for so many years 
 
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 she had been doing whh such con«tency in Europe and elHCwhere. Thu 
 iHnue was not any longer (fouUful, nor could it lie far off. 
 
 The coiuinunity of '^k was now and then enlivened and encouraged 
 by the preoence of the galUnt and very liandsonie Lieutenant-( i«n- 
 eral Drunimond, the not unworthy occui«int of BrtHk» post of President 
 <.f the'Province and Coiuinander of the Fprccs. General Druiumond, at a 
 later period SirOordon Drummond, n»et Parliament there on the ISth of 
 
 February, 1814. 
 
 Uncomfortable tinier are indicated by,»onie of the ActH passe.l during 
 this session. We haVe among them meaHun-s for the trial and punish- 
 ment of high treason and misprision of high treason ; for securing and 
 detaining persons suspecte*! of treasonable adherence to the eniiny ; for 
 vesting in the Crown the estates of aliens— that is, of, persons who, as 
 AJnited Empire fugitives to Upper Canada, in 17H4. had drawn land there, 
 but who nevertheless, in some instances, when flio^war Ixjgan, ha<l 
 gone back to the territory whlih they ha.l formerly abandoned. It 
 was found that certain clauses in Acts passed in the reigns of Anne and 
 George II., by the English Parliament, were a bar to the pwper handling 
 of traitors in tlp^r Canada. These clauses allowed forfeiture of inherit- 
 ance for treason to come to an end earlier than was at first decree<l: 
 namely, before the decease of " the Pretender t« His Majesty's Crown," 
 and before the decease of his eUlest son, and of " all and every other son or 
 8WW." " Said provisions in said two several Acts contained shall lie, and 
 the wime are, hereby repealed." So spake the Legislature at York, Mareh 
 14th, 1814; and the forfeiture of inheritance for treason wa.s ncconlingly 
 still in full force in Upper Canada. 
 
 One Act, expressly local, f6r the benefit of York, was pajised in this 
 
 session. Governor Hunter, as will l>e rememlwred, had onlered a public 
 
 Weekly market f^^ork in 1803. But something supplementary, with 
 
 authority of PaJPent, was now required. The Commi.ssio ners o f^ the 
 
 Peace in the Home District were "authorized and emixiweredTo tiKU|)on 
 
 andestablish some convenient place in ^he Town of York,as /market, where 
 
 k butcherV^meat; butter, eggs, poultry, fish and vegetables sjiall be ex|K>se.l 
 
 to sale, and to appoint such days and hours for that purpoay»nd to make 
 
 such other orders and regulations relative thereto as theySflhall deem 
 
 , exp^ient." Governor Hunter's proclamation, in 1803, had sdi aWt a field 
 
 *- of five-and-a-half acitss for marlck purposes. The CommiatjionVs of the 
 
 Pbacewere now to concentrate niafket operations at a certaifc point ; 
 
 namely, a market building. Fines for breaches of the regulatioi\s were 
 
 fixed, and the funds accruing from such tines were to. go, "one^ioiety 
 
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 MKUORIAL VOlVMM. 
 
 thereof to the informeif, and the other moiety to the use of his Majesty, 
 hislieira and successors, for the public uiies of this Province, "and to wan Is 
 the support of the Government thereof." A relic of the old W(jrld tradi- 
 tional custom "Appeared iii th6 enactment, that, " all orders, rules and 
 regulations towards the said market sliall be affixed at the dqors of the 
 church and! court house of the said Town of York." A practice, a« I 
 imagine, no* very long maintained; at least so far as" the Church of 
 York" was concerned. 
 
 On the 2*th of Dscemtwr, 18U, the Treaty of Peace between Great 
 Britain and -the United State* was signed at Ghent Had there been an 
 Atlantic cable then, hostilities of course would at on<5« have ceased. As it 
 was, the promulgation of the fact did not take place on this continent 
 with certainly" until^towards the ehd of the following February ; so that 
 there was time for the failure at New Orleaas, January Sth, and for the 
 success of the Endymion, Captain Hope, 50 guns, 340 men, January l.'itli, 
 over the") Pre*itfen<, Commodore Decatur, 63 gun8j^525 men. 
 5 General Drummond met Parliamentagain at York onthe Ist of February, 
 181.5. The signing of the Treaty of Ghejxt had not yet^ftl^announced. 
 In his speech General J^rummond alludes to the paao^j^ra^ ha<l been 
 established in- Europe; and he observes that it wonitd have given him 
 * pecujjiar satysfaction if it .had b^i^ in his power to say that the like bless- 
 ing was extended over eveiy pafrt of the British Empire. But in this 
 Province the war was not at' in end. " We have still a moai arduous 
 contest to continue." He tlierefore advises that the Habeas Corpus Act 
 ,*8hbuld remain stiSpended. In the number of the Montreal Htni^0hr 
 March- 4th» 1815, which contains Presid^^it Drummond's speech, appears 
 Madison'ii Mussage to Congress, announcing the conclusion of peace. 
 The measures passed by the Parliament at York now began-to shew a 
 ; community seflMing down after a great disturbance. We have provision 
 made for persons disabled in the war, and for the widows and children of 
 persons slain in the service, of hia-Majesty. We have £6,000 granted to his 
 Majesty for the uses of the incorporated militia of the Province, namely : 
 six montlis' pay to the officers, non-<a>mmissioned officers and privates of 
 the incoiporated militia; the net pay of the officers, non-commissioned 
 officers and privates of the line attached to the incorporated militia ; six 
 months' pay to thie officers, non-commissioned officers and privates of the 
 incorporated militia artille^ In the same Act, I observe th'at the siim of : 
 one hundred guineas was granted to the Speaker of the House of Assem- 
 bly, " to purchase a sword to be presented to Colonel Bobinsontlf^ oi the 
 incorporated militia." 4N>0'>u>»b"^ is decreed to Sir Isaac Brock. One 
 
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 thousand iwunds are allotted to this purpose. The preamble sets forth 
 how, while " contending at the head of a small body of rcguliweJjjjuiiiLftwJ 
 militia, against a very superior force, he devoted his most valuable life." 
 We have an Act to affoni relief to barristern, attorneys and students-at- 
 law, in respect of irregularity in their enrolment in the books of the Law 
 Society, arising out of the War. The measure is justitiud by tlus statement 
 ^that "the glorious and honourable defence of this Province in- the war 
 with "the United States of America hath necessarily called from their 
 usual occupations and professions most of the inhabitants of the said 
 Province, and among them very many barristers^ stiidents-nt-lrtw, attor- 
 neys, articled clerks of attorneys within the same, whereby the regular 
 meetings of the Benchers of the Law Society being for many terms past 
 intertiiptedj several young gentlemen have been prevented from making 
 due application for admission on the book* as students-at-law, and several 
 students-at-law have in like manner been prevented froiij being duly 
 called to the bar, to their manifest and great injury." By this legislation, 
 ^the young scions of many families in York would be advantageously 
 affected. Then we have new enactments about rates ahd assessments; 
 ' about hemp ; about the incorporation of " Tlie* Midland District School 
 Society for the education of the Poor ;" arid several other matters of import- 
 ance.. '. . ■ . ,, • ■;„■.' 
 'i'oydiir sentiment at York in regard to the war during its progress alM 
 at ifc close, and the popular feeling on >var prices, ijaper^uMimf, statute 
 labour and other matters may bo gathered from Cani«r«l^^pH^^c for 
 1815; published at York. Paragraphs on such subjects asyLh^^^P named 
 are scattered about throughout the book. Here are some specimens. " The 
 ;• warmight be called Madison's Patent NWitrum. For to our House of Assem- 
 bly it has been a kindly emetic. To our country, a gently sweating catbar- 
 ti^j One threw up two traitors. The other threw otf some ; and -by the way 
 of appendix, hung up some. A sedative will be prescribed sh^ld further 
 symptoms require." " We hive held our own against powerful odds. Our 
 defenders are heroes, and ably commanded. Should the continuance of 
 war lead to another campiugn, may our heroes be sown broadcast; not 
 dibbled on*ur soil!" "The incorporated militilK now called by some the 
 King's Canadian Legion, was taught the rudiments of war by the gallant 
 , Cobnel Robinson, their late commander. They have done ample justice 
 to his instruction;. and by their bravery, good conduct, and steady discip- 
 ~ line, have eqilalled the best veteran battalions. They are now commanded 
 by Colonel Kcrby.a brave and meritoribus officer." " The issuers of paper 
 ' change are entitled to thanks from the public for the great accommoda- 
 
 I / 
 
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 t. 
 
 
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 -i>;niii'y)^iiiY'-tittiii-''' 
 
 ■/ 
 
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 y'L 
 
 ff6 
 
 MSMOKIAL VOLVMB. 
 
 tion such change att'jrds, Thoy miglit render tlio liccoiniWbdation more* 
 extensive, were they to emit a pro|)ortiori!ite number of I»alf-p6nny biila." 
 Mr. Cameron wishes the puJJic to ocjtchange Bome of their paper money for 
 his almanac. He says — ' ' * 
 
 " Ya who would mend thera wHtohed times 
 And morkli of tlfc atie, 
 Come buy > book— hair (ull of rbymee, 
 
 Al three pence l^ork per page. W 
 
 " It would be money well laid out, 
 
 So plenty money U ;, "^i 
 
 Paper fur paper U fair trade : itn 
 
 go laid poor Richard.— ^lu." 
 
 It is hinted that the prevailing system of keeping the York roada in . 
 order wiis a bad one. " Let the statute labour of the Home DisU-iet be 
 compoun.led for. Purchase two pair of oxen, and hire six men for the 
 milder months of the year. Six times the quantity of road-repairs would 
 be made annually ; and made in season." The excessive cost of some arti- 
 cles is thus noted : " York supernatural prices cunnsnt. Turnips, one dollar, 
 per bushel. Potatoes, long, at two ditto. Salt, twenty ditto. Butter, per 
 pound, on3 ditto. Indifferent bread, one shilHng, New York currency, per 
 ditto. Conscience a contraband article. Mechanic much wanted about 
 the printing office. Oiie paper mill. One tin-smith. One trumpeter, and' 
 one expert bellows-mender." 
 
 A Uriff, not saUrical. of prices deemed by the mftgistrates at Quarter^ 
 Sessions fair apd equitable, to be paid by the military authorities at York " 
 in 1814 for provisions ran as follows:— flour per barrel. £3 lOs, ; wheat 
 per bushel. lOs. ; peas per bushel. 7s. Gd. ; barley aiid rye. tlio same ; oats 
 per bushel. .53. ; hay iM5r ton, £.>; straw, £3 ; beef on foot, jier cwt. £2 5s. > 
 slaughtered, par lb. TJd. ; pork, salted. |)er barrel. £7 lOs.; carcass.! Jd. ; 
 mutton per lb.. 9d. ; veal, 8d. ; butter, la. .Id. ; bread p«r loaf of 4 lb.. Is. «d. 
 
 Other doggerel of the period besides Mr. Cameron's might be cited. Here 
 ia one stanza of a sjng from the columns of the Montreal IhralA, supposed 
 to be addres.sed by " the Royal Canadian Regiment." to tlie invaders from 
 the United States :— 
 
 , " Our airea took the country when Wolfe did command ;. 
 
 Though Brock yon have murdered, we w.r keep all our land. - 
 
 We will make you repent of lo heinoui a deed ; 
 
 The Royal Canadiana will make your heart bleed, , 
 
 We will cook in molaaaea your pumpkina and pork, 
 
 For the booty of Dearborn and plunder of York. 
 
 We will conquer our foe», and treid on their toea, ' 
 
 With God aave the King, and M luck to hia foea," ejo, «t«. ;' 
 
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 TORONTO: PAST AND MHagNT. 
 
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 ^Aiibt- x>f liou»e8'*went of New Street, it., the (nodom J»rvi» Stwt, 
 . . buHt before the breaking out of tlic war, dntwn up from memory by Wr. 
 Beikie, foi^crly clerk of tjw Kxucutiveaiul LogiHlativctVunciK will ot-rve 
 to »hew the uxi«nsion of York far l>oyon«l its original limitx, prior to 1812, 
 It was probably ti>a«le about the year'lh»3, as it names occupnnta at about 
 that pefio.1 of two or three of the houses referreil ta U Hxus tho situa- 
 tion o^ tho alxhlo of Hcveml of tho firnt nettlem at York, ^nd of one or two 
 of the buildings first used for public purposes. Mn Bbikie, it will Iw seen, 
 Hometimes seta down the name of tho in-<iwellur fin- tho house indicated ; 
 aa in his own case, and that of his nei^'hbour.Mr. Crookshank. 
 
 *" SUtement shewing tho mimhor of houses and other buildjng^, not 
 including Urns, stitbles, root-houses and the like, which wore built Iwfore 
 tho late wur, in that part of tho town of York bdunite<1 on the east by^ 
 „ New Street, and on the west by Peter Street, * 
 
 " Front Street.-1. Mr. C'rookshiink ; 2. Mr. Beikie; 3. Kckorlin, a <lis. 
 khargcd soldier of l)e Watteville's regiment, built by John Endicott, of 
 Yonge Street; 4.. Mr. Justice Powell ; 5. Miy^Iagerjnan (modern occupant), 
 built by Win. Weekes, Eifq ; 0. Count Joseph do Puisaye, hjirnt 27th of 
 April; 7. Mr.Markland (modern occupant), built by Mr. President Uus.sell; 
 ,' 8." Mr. Juiitice Sherwood ^modern occupant), built by Mr. ScotC' ^ 
 
 " Market Street.— [. Rilcy (modern occupant), built by Hugh McLoap,; 
 
 2. aoVernment House, formerly Khmley House ; .'I Mf. Cartwright, now 
 ^ Colonel Foster's office (modern use) ; 4. Harraek Ma.sl»r Hartney (mmlern 
 
 -occupant), built by.thp Hon. James Baby; ,5. K.\ocutivo Council oflicf.and 
 Surveyoi^Oenenil's oific** (modero use), built by th* Hon. Rvburt Hamilton, . 
 , of Qu^nston ; «. Johiy Ross, '^jBJt removed ; 7. Mr. < 'hewetl ; H. Mr: Mercer 
 (modern occupant), built by^Ptander Macn'ab.who was killed at tho 
 battle of Waterloo; 9. North-enst corneir/op]K>sitc to Mr. Mercer's ; JO. 
 North-w^t corner, built by TJiiomas Jobbit, u (discharged soldier from the 
 ^Queen's Rangers; 11. Mr. Beiczy, since removed; 12. Nicludas dinger, 
 j-jklacksniith ; 13. Mr. Baby (Uter occupan^, built by David' Burn*. 
 14. Angus Cullf|hie M[aodoneU, JSmi, burnt by accident in tho tifne 
 of the, war; J.'>. ^^M|Pfe'Ot"'^ "lauKHtSf- hoii ||gH^ sito the southeast 
 corner of tile Markef^uare, now a tavfern. • WHf ' ,4Mh ^ 
 
 " King Street.— 1. A small House, sOutH' of Colo^Toster's (prow^ resi/ 
 dent) ;^ 2. Hugh Carfrae, a ijischarged. sergeant fnyn the q4m;s Itangera ; 
 
 3. Jose'ph Dennis (later occupant), built by Monsieur QucBlPft., George ; 
 
 4. Jordan Post, junior, ah oioigrapt settler,- 5. Williani Knott, a di.scliAi^d 
 soldier of the Quoen'-* Ilnngera ; 0, A carp«nter's shop," east of William' 
 Knott's, built by Mr. Duggan ; T. John Dennis (fiprth-east cor*^r of Yong^ 
 
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.^atunmrn 
 
 
 '^1^ ^ and'HUtg Stre&6), Hhipwright fioi^i^dod 
 vl fioHiwick, an ciiii(^nt Hettlur, S.^The Onol, hii 
 tii^opftl t'liurt^, Mirice repairod, Ktol e|:U»rgt><J ; 11,: 
 u|tfTi,<bi>rnt ]^'<||ecidMp^in t\t tiin(E/^«rtho war.' 
 
 he VVidiiWj Caldwell (pr«»6nt 
 •'^ » 'iBftiTTr iii.jMiiiM.":i lii. ■ -JL'-U ^'' ^'^''"^ ^^un>, an ei4i^^n|nt 
 L \^ ^''^^iP^pVii^?nK|fflP (/(iaipant), built by 
 
 JuAti0(> 'Robin«on (ntitdern occuj 
 l'., 2. &lr Chewetl's serVant, Johl| 
 WdnMltji 4. Mni.'i'Jitnnagan, fr()fii Y4»ng«| 
 by ilr. Ifefcfer ; 6. Mr. Colin Drtunniond/ 
 ^ ^\f ^ ' ''^ijlijftt'KireM^^^ot il building of any kind througtiiou 
 ' . %'^^''*'*'™')*'Rty os«ifled by Jotitiua Lcoch, lately the QsKi 
 
 "WSCAPlTULAriOf: 
 
 •ii ■ ..•»!(>• . 
 
 MSM%.iAL yoimf. 
 
 ^ ^ront«i8tnset ^ |, <• 
 Market ^reet V - 
 
 KingBtiFt %V' 
 Newgate Stree^i .~ 
 
 Hospital ^truet' - 
 
 Lot Stre^i 
 
 , 44buildingiD^'i i ,i 
 
 Th^>figures are not Jarge, l)ut wc have in them a fairft foref^dci|vf\i% of 
 
 . <w . * (wkat was to Jvappcn in' th/ future ^xpanHi^n of Y6rk. The ffiil% \q{ its 
 
 \ ' ^''4.'' progru8.s was already, like that of Empire, w>e8tward. The tendency, 
 
 . '^ * ' , among oftiGiaIit» and fasKionables, at all eventa, bcscame 'soon apparent, to 
 
 Jl^ * ' forsake the hank» of t^ie low, slow-'paccd Btream, near the nkouthof %hich 
 
 V^ ' the town lirst sprani^ into being, and to preaa ' 
 
 -^ of the ampler and more animated riv^, which now. in 1884, begin 
 
 bounds to the development in that dlMection.- lp>ere is this 
 * * however, th£t although some of the i^as that governetl the i 
 ' ' L of York have, bf^en o^^derably departed from, and g 
 ' status have Wen ifqHkne by numerous localities^ ; 
 \ has come to ptas i^^flWptntime that, even in parts, (it 
 be most ine{igil>la iiv respect of beauty of -i^enery and" 
 t^bre 19,11(1/1; a square rood of the ^reat area over 
 has spread, that is not now discovered to ()e of high 
 
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 ^l^iBPF' 
 
 TORONTO.: PAST AND PRSSSNT. 
 
 «!> 
 
 important purpose in the economy of a 
 with a pecuniary value which woui<l havj 
 dumi) witli amazement. 
 
 The number of buildings in York 
 Boucholte, in hi<4 " Topographical Di 
 the population 2,500. 
 
 n ^P*i'' 
 
 0U8 community, anil inVe^ited 
 Htnick the priiuitiyu inhabitantH 
 
 pci, in 1H15, as given by JiAieph 
 ttion," p|>. U(»n, GQ8, was 3()0,un<l 
 
 ( 
 
 CHAPTEl: II. 
 
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 . •;../■...> 
 
 (lOVERMOR aORK'S RETURN TO YORK.^WHAT UK I)IO KOR l*PI'ER CANADA 
 WHILE ABSENT.T-COMMERCE REVIVINQ AT ¥ORJ{.— ME^HURES RKI.ATINU 
 TO YORK PASSED IN SESSION Oa»iMO.—8E8.SION QF IHI7 ABRUI*-ni,V 
 CLOSED.— GOVERNqa,«0RE bEPARTS FOR ENGLAND. 
 
 H£N peace was proclaimed, Mf. Uore wa.s still nominally 
 Lieutenant-Governor of Upper Canada. Sir (Jeorgo Murray, 
 it id said, was appointed to be his Hucccssor, but on the 
 escape of Napoleon from Elba Sir George preferred to con- 
 tinue in active service at home. Governor Gore, it appears, was 
 willing to return to his old post. His faithful aide^e-camp, Major 
 Hal ton, was jwepared to accompany him. The latter .write."* from London 
 to a friend at York, April 24th, 18 1): " It, will give you and Mrs. G. a 
 very sincere pleasure to learn that the Governor, Mnt. Gore and myself, 
 expect to set off for York about tlie beginning of July. They are Iwth 
 , better than they have been for some time, having derived considerable , 
 ^'benefit from a short visit to Cheltenham." 
 
 One work of considerable importance to Upper Canada, performed by 
 
 Oovemor,^ore, while On leave in England during the critical years, 1812- 
 
 I'3-l'^||wa8 ^ sMjjerVi^on of the publftatipn of a fine map of the country. 
 
 ■- It Ih^ the titife, "A njjjipi'^he located districts in the Province of UppeV 
 
 Canada." and w^ issued by W. Fad^n, geogii;apher to His Majesty, and to 
 
 His Royal Higlbe^ thp Princ6 Regent, Charing Cross. It is a beautifully 
 
 ijj^xteutied nua|^44 % 47 inches iiv size,<ia»«l «t w«a H^ng » stendard authority 
 
 for the'g^ograpny of jthe'couptiy. A " Top<^phical Description of 
 
 - Uppe^llS|ltna4a andtf rbvincial aa!:etteer,"«ifO issued under the auspices^f 
 
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 C. 
 
 70 
 
 MMMORIAL VOLVUB. 
 
 Uovernor Oore, accuiii{)anieil thiB map. Another itervice |R'rforined by 
 the Governor waa ilio pnttnotion of HuliacriptionH in London for the 
 relief of the wounded in Upper Canada, aiwl the wives nnd children of th« 
 klain. His name comes next alter those of the Dukes of Kent an<l Norlhi- 
 uniberland, at the head of the Committee; and liis sirtiscriptioii is the 
 same as that of thi two dukes, namely, one hundred guineas. The nam^ 
 of Francis Niilhaniel Burton, Lieutenant-Oovemor of lx)wer Canada, apv 
 j)ear.s for the itame sum. Several wealtliy merchauta of Montreal gave each 
 two hundred guineas. Governor 'Gore also superintended the execution 
 of u H edal in goltl and silver in Lon(loiJ>intended to be conferred by the 
 Loyal and Patriotic Society for distinguished service rendered to the 
 country. The mediils were never distributed, chieHy from a dittfculty in 
 (li'termining.who should lie the recipients. By a resolution of the Society, 
 they were subsequently defaced by the hammer of Paul Bishop, black- 
 smith, Caroline strei-t, to the numlwr of CI in goKl and 348 in silver ; und 
 were then sold as bullion fora'little over £3!)3; whiclj, with a further 
 large balance to the credit of the Society, went towards the erection of 
 the General Hospital at York, formerly situated on John Street The 
 device on the obverse of this mednl was very elaborate, and is thus do- 
 Hcribe<l: " A strait lietween two lakes; on the ^orth side a Beaver ^||mb- 
 lem of peaceful industry), the anuient armorial bearing of Canadff (n 
 the back ground an -English Lion slumbering. On the south side of the 
 strait, the American Eiigle planing in the air, as if checked from seizing 
 the beaver by th& presence of the Lion : .the superscription-: ■ Uppkr 
 Canada I'HKSEUVED." A siiecimcn of this medalis excessively rare. It 
 is figured in Lossing's "Field Book of the War,"*p. 10(J.5, 
 
 On the 2r)th of September Governor Gore \h back again amid familiar 
 surroundings at York — the place of course looking somewhat the ifoiHo for 
 the two visitations which it had received from the enemy. He hail n cor- 
 dial welcome, and all the honoura due to his rank, being saluted, as Bie York 
 Qazetteoi the day tells us, by His Majesty's ship Afonlrfdl, and byitlie gar- 
 rison. The following familiar York names ap|>ear ai>pendcd to thc^ address 
 which was presented to him :— Thomas Scott, C. J., W. Dummer^ PpweU, 
 John Sli-achan, D, D., John McGill, John Beikie. Grant Powell, ^WlBiam, ^ 
 Chewett, H. Lee, Sanmel Smith, W. Claus, Benjamin Gale, D. Cam«j,ron«* 
 D.Boulton, Jr., George Ridout,Andrdw Mercer, Thomas RidLut,]^). J'^^is^ 
 S. Jarvis, John Small, W. Allan, J. Givins, E. MacMahon, J. &arlet, S.^? 
 Heward, Thomas Hamilton, C. Baynes, John Dennis, Pat. Hartray, ^n 
 Cameron, K W McBride, Jordan Post, Jr., W. Knott, Jr., LevijBigdow, 
 John Haysj T. B. Johnson, Lardner Boawick, John Burke, Johp Jordan, 
 
 , i 
 
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 •t 
 
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■;■• ^i-- 
 
 
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 ToRoynn Past anu phbbkst. 
 
 71, 
 
 W. Siiiitli, 8r:, W. Smitli, Jr, .1 Cawthra. John Hinith, Alexnixlvr 
 Lo(((jo, Jordan Po»t, Sr., ^n<lrow O'tfeefc, H liUinwIen, John Muivhmoii," 
 TliumaH Daioy, Kw-k BonHon, A. McNnhli, Jt'Idwartl Wri;{Kt; Jolin Kvaiw, 
 W. LawrunSeu, Thouia» Dug||»ii, C)i>orgu Dif^gnn, Bui^ainin (.'osmiuh, l')i|ili|i 
 K linger ami Sheriff Ititli^t. , ■ . 
 
 TheOovernniunt HouHe, iiiUiaUKi hear thb garriiiun, having Ixtcn runiivro<l 
 uninhabiUblo by tho oxploMionof tiiu niaga/ino, new ijuartont fur the Lieii- 
 tenant-Qovemor wore provided. KlniHJuy Houw, liuilt-fur liin own umo by 
 Chief JiMtice EhnHley, promoted to the Chiof JuxtiucHht]) of Lowht Canadn 
 in 1802, waH secured for the pur|)OHe — thu niannion aftcrwardH Hiiccewivi-ly 
 occupied by Sir Purogrino Maitlahd, Sir John CoUwrne and Hir FranciH 
 Head, on the Hito of the pr«*«ont Uovernniont House. . ,. 
 
 Trade and coinniercuat York IxigMTfti^.i^vive and extend. Mr. Qiictton 
 Ht (Jeorge, the principal^ inerchant/lhero, nfhuunces at the cIohc of Itfl* ■ 
 that he liatt ta^;^ into eo-partnemhip Mr. JinUix QueHnul ami Mr. Jolin S. 
 Baldwin. Hu alHo, in the Montru/l Ilemld, reqtieMbMM||.who are indebted 
 to him to make their |>«ynienjbt without delay, a^BHii'|WeH to make a 
 voyage to Europe in the courije of tlxf next Hummor. "^ • 
 
 In ISl.l (Augtist 15th), Mr. Qoofge Monro, afterwards for many yearn a 
 leading merchant, joined his brother JiJin at York ; lioth of tliein acting 
 at tirMt aH agentM, and then as co-jMirtnor» of Mr. Young, of Niagara; and 
 tinally operating i;ide[yndehtiy, and amaMting a considerable fortune at* 
 York. . , . • 
 
 Governor Gore met Parliament at York, for the-firat time after his return, 
 on the (Jth of February, IHIO. In bin Hpoech he refers to the eOiiduet of 
 the people' of Up|)ert!ana<la during tho war. " The gallant* defence of the 
 colony by ita own militia," he mtyn, " HHjdbM|S||urinj|( tlie enrly jiart of 
 the war by a very small ]>ortion of hiM N^Py^Pregular forces, hiM uc- 
 quii'ed t6 it a high distinction for loyalty ailtd bravery. The obstinate con- 
 tention with successive armies of invaders, and their ultimate discomfiture, 
 had not failed to attract the notice of tho world, an<l gives to this Province , 
 an importance in^ublic opinion wtiich it becomes us to niAintain." 
 
 One of the measure passed in this Parliament.was the granting to his 
 Majesty, out of " hunnblc apd very limited revenues," as the preamble of 
 the Act expressed it, of £2,.iO<) per annum, towards the supi)ort of the 
 Civil Government of the Province, in token of gratitude for tlie " pow- 
 erful means which his Majesty sent for our defence during the late war 
 with the United State? df America." " 
 
 Though still " humblt and very limited," the revenue was beginning to - 
 be respectable. The following sums Were voted this session; — ^^£24,000 
 
 ■ ! 
 
 
 %< 
 
'«.. " ' 
 
 
 m S : tS1Pt m, 
 
 MKMokuL VOLVMM. 
 
 n . , 
 
 for ifmh aiul bi idgiw ; CO.WK) f<»r «Wllro?irn^!^T><^ I ^fi** fpr flie pur- , 
 ctilUH) of iHKikii for thfl t'lirliniiiont Librkr)', which had bven pilU^iul during 
 Um i^u|wti()n of the toWR ; jC,5()<) |i«r ftnnum for ». |iK)vinciHLii){rnt in 
 Ion; a naUry of Wvo Nhillingii a day for ii proviiioiai aid<)-«le-caiii|i. 
 ^,, •— -J|% ( lovornor Uoru'n t«nuru of ottiq*. 
 
 fft'o Prince ^gtint waH nioroover •<t<ireMN>d by the Huiim foi'peniiiM- 
 ^Toji to (jiv« the Huni of £rt,(M)0 to the Ouvernor himnolf, for the purchaitc 
 of a wrvi(\of plate. They are iiiiprewied, they nay, Marvli 25th, with a 
 k * lively Henwe of hin flrni, upri){ht and iilteral aihniniittration, and hin uncciM- 
 " in^ attention to the individiml and t^vneral intereHtt of the colony during 
 . his abHonc^jlK They theri'forv iinaninioualy paM a Bill appropriatinj; the miin 
 naiiic<l to^the pur[ioHu indicated. Thif Hill for the Hervice of pliite to 
 « (Jovftrnor (Bore Itec-anie faniouH at York fnd throughout Upper Cflnn<la,jJ^ 
 Governor (Jore'H Silver Spoon Bill. The people, as dJHtinguiiihed from thollr 
 nominal rMpreNentativek, " naw through the affair," Mr. Qourlay, a tthurt ■ 
 Si^ time afterw%<l!t rcinark.i, " hut thought it Inrnt to coniole themstelves with 
 „ a laugh* The Vt^tt had precedent for iU action in the Parliament of Lower 
 ( Canada, which had not long before Voted X5,(KK) sterling to Sir Qeorge 
 Prevodt for a " tai^e nervile of plitto." " -4 
 
 The Parliftnieht in the follipyiK >«>»r (1817) mot at York on the ith of ' 
 February. Among other meit8ureH,'!i»n Act was ((used establishing a 
 " police," /. «■., inuuMuiMl Hell^veminttii^to the Tow^^of York. By it the 
 magistrates were M^ptod'^imn reg'ulaTOg the price of any article of pro- 
 vision, other than raead; and it waa provided in the same Act that " the 
 beach and carriage way in front of the Town of York, frodu Russell'&'ereek - 
 M^ii^^ "' ^"^^ ^^■•"ct jitfi W| B rd, should l>ej|kcn poA colored as^a part 
 yTof the said Town.^anJ ^l)e 8ubje<;t to thCwigulatioBS oflhe Police!" * . 
 'ITie session proved a short one. After ymenvu^ pjileral Af t«, onof^lKhem^ 
 
 ^ 
 
 iriiig th« current year.jdS^ 
 
 ^e whore, to take into coQ- 
 
 This*lmplie<l, according to 
 
 )f several bivnmg questions, 
 
 Land-grants to Ullitia men, 
 
 ■nftking good the expense of. the Civil Ser 
 
 IJouse had resolved itself into a ogMJdttee ^ 
 
 ■idemtion " the present state of t^^^Hyii 
 L^ the iifteen days' notice given, a sBossb 
 '^flmmTgration, Crown and Clergy 'If^sefves," ^ , 
 
 6lc. Some progresai was ma<le in the consideration of these matters, when, 
 ^ of a sudden, without any p^vvious. intimation, at 11 o'clock, a. m., April 
 
 the 7th, binore the minutes of the pijeceding^day had been road, a message 
 
 l^as received from the Lieutenant-Oovernor, rciquiring the attendance of 
 ' the House at the bar cflT the Legisla(iive Council. On repairing thither in 
 
 obedience io the summons, they weije informed, iri a curt speech, that they 
 
 had been cngi^ed in their labours/ sjifficiently long for the present session, 
 
 ■*; 
 
 «^ 
 
11 
 
 i'fll 
 
 
 TORONTO. PABT AND PHtaKNT. 
 
 7» 
 
 ani) th»t they wero now Ri Itberty to rotum to tlbir hoiuM. -They tiia- 
 
 punetj ACCordiiiKly, •ft«r cauaiiiK ,«nlriuH to Imt iiiaiIo in tho Journal of thtt 
 
 houM of the ruaoluiionii mioptwl, and of thoao whink wura tNwt|ione<J whun 
 
 their proceodingN wuro put a Rto|> to' in th«i manner <ieacrilN><l. 
 
 mk Thu truth wan that a number of thu otHcial {lemonngpH at York had 
 
 ■Hnrushe<l to tho Uovemor, tili«<l with alann at tho uncuromonioUM way in 
 
 .^ which tho (Jommona wt-ro licginninK to liamlie thi> (luoxtitym Iwforo thom. 
 
 Too much indc|Mtii<leiico wan beinj; uxhibiUHl. Tho Exmulivo wero Iwing 
 
 virtually conaured. UoVumor doro'ii •xelaiiiation on the oMMion liecam* 
 
 proverbial : " I will Rcnd tho rancaU about their buiiinom !" And it in uid 
 
 • that had it not been for tho inter|MMition of Chief JuHticol'oWi-ll ho would 
 
 have proceeded at tho inatant, iu plain drOM an ho waa, to put the throat 
 
 into oxvcution. Dulay waM adviiH'd until at IcaHt thu next morning, 
 
 Uovornor Oore had prece<lont for hia proceeding, not only in (.'romwoll, 
 
 % ■> but in Sir JiMiioa Craig, the Qovemor-Oeneral hituMelf, who on the 1.1th of 
 
 . May, 1800, diamiHaeil the Parliament of liowor Canada, in an almoMt 
 
 ,' ^ ,. . ■ ■ equally abrupt manner, after giving tho members u Movere acolding. 
 
 The names of the mi^o^^y who appeared to bo moving forward, an a 
 phalanx, to carry the offensive roaolutions, wore aw followa : — Macdonoll, 
 McMartin, Cameron, JonoM, Howard, Caaoy, Robinaon, NirllcH, Secord, 
 Nicholl, Burwell, McCormick, Cornwall ; of the minority, valiant con- 
 tenders against the rising tide of change, which was jumI al>out to 
 inundate tlioCanadiU: Vankoughnet, (Jhrysler, Fraser, Cotter, NcNabb, 
 Swayae, Clench. 
 I A mouth after thia scene, ||^^rnor Gore ImuIo adieu to Ifork, not 
 7^ to return. He deteruiine<l ta pjiiiitfl to Kngland, and make inj)er- 
 A'son his own representationx M^^pptatu of the Province" Nforo the 
 ^.authorities in London, whose aif'. mIio believed, he had. His friends at 
 York now once more rallied round him. In their address, they remark 
 on tho wisdom of the measures by wliich he had preserved the Province 
 to be a truly British colony, i. e., by putting a stop to the inHux of settlers 
 from tho United States, an<l the solicitude with which ho had watched 
 over tho welfare of his Majesty's subjects, and cherished their " sentiments 
 of loyalty to the best of kings, by which alone thia colony can be a valu- 
 ajile appendage to the Crown, ur an agreeable place of residence for 
 British subjects." Though convinced that he would idways continue the 
 friend and protector of Upper Canada, they could not forego the jtleasing 
 ex{)ectation of his return ; and while their best wishes attended him and 
 his family on their journey, they sincerely prayed that that expectation 
 -^ might not be disappointed. Although Governor Gore did not return, as 
 
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 MMMOUAL WOIMMM. 
 
 Win trimiln at York r.>ii.lly hoiH-.l ho ♦rould. he WM long, in « Mn«ll w*y, 
 K jxiWW Imhinil thi« t;li»ir of tlm (\>l<mUI lllnlitl<<r in I,<imli»n, 
 
 My iinnalii of York for thu y«»r IH17 woohl porh»|Ni U li"l<l inoom- 
 pluUi ware I to omit all allunlun to a tlual which took pUca in that year, 
 with fa^kl nMult to on« of th« partiea. Tha principalii in th« affair (Mr. 
 Jarvii.an.l Mr Ridoul who full), wonr young men, the latter lieing •till in 
 hlM teenH. The cauteof (|uarrel. a* no oft«!n in audi caa4>», wan trivial. The 
 dataila, which cxi^t in print, lire ao tmtl that one feela no in.iHnation to 
 reprotiuco thorn The aceno «>f tho duel waa a aolitary fl«l<l on the Kimaluy 
 proiKirty, in the neiKhU)urh<»o.l of Clover Hill, on the weat aide of YonKe 
 Btrvut. The date of the iacitlent waa July 17th, IH17. 
 
 I 
 
 CHAPTKR III. 
 
 VKKHIDKNT SMfTH.— HOIIKliT IJOUHLAY. - r,oni) HKI.KIIIK. "-(lirRfM 
 AT YUUK KNLAJKiKI). 
 
 N the departure of Governor Oore, occurred the brief adniinia* 
 tration of Mr. President Smitli. Ho mot the Parliament at 
 York only once. " Our Legislature met On the 5th instant," 
 writen Mr. McGill, at York, February 8th, 1818. to hiH friend 
 Mr.(^rookHh8nk.al»eont at New York. " What will bo done cannot 
 yet bo known. Contrary to UHUal custom, Colonel Smith gave hia 
 dinner yealorday at the Qovemntent House, which could not be ready on 
 Thursday. It was much more comfortable than I \lid expect. Every 
 thing went ofl' very well. I left them at 9 o'clock." Mr. McGill then names 
 tho Governor newly-appointed. '< Sir Peregrine Maitland is certainly 
 to be our Lieutenant-Goyemor. He is at present on tho staff" on ttie con- 
 tinent. Licutonant-Oovomor Gore," the writer adds, " helii tho Govern- 
 ment till tho «th of laat month." In the samQ letter wo have welcome 
 eviilenco of a long peace in prospect. Mr. McGill proposes to purchase for 
 his friend the timber of a Block -house, about to l>e pulled <lown on Colonel 
 Shank's property, on the brow of tho high bank overlooking the stream in 
 Gorevale. It was to be<Bold by auction, February I7th. 1818. " A» you 
 speak of building a barn," Mr. McGill writea, " I shall endeavour to attend 
 
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 Aiitl iiarvliMw M ■iii(ltci*iiH>y, hImhiKI fl ifii i%t « low |irii<i< If ii punliaiut U 
 iimKi, Vox (t,»io iiitin in tl«rK« «( Mr ( 'nK)k4lmnk'ii Un<l, wrat nitla of thi< 
 iiKxIern Ikthunt Htr«at) can unMily Iwiil it ov0r^<^lh« iiloigW|»K,in kihhI (o 
 your f»rin," 
 
 During Mr.Hiiiilh'n l.ri«f niign. » mitMurn wm |mmm«nI tuiicliiiiK thuoliKi, 
 liiniy of iMiriHiiiN lo \m ruturniMl to lh« Uotum of AaMtwhly Hnitttforwiihl 
 " No jwrnon or \mnt)iM. of what roiiititi4iii Ho«<v«r, h»vinK Uh<h n kutujiiU 
 rOTiilmit ill uny coMiitry, jiol U-iiiK iimlvr hin MnJiMty'N rjovoriiimiit, or 
 who nhall Iwve taken tht> (wth of All«|{i«nv« U> tny «»tlior atet<> or |Kiwi«r. 
 nIihI! lie oli((ilili) Ui Ui propowtl, fhomin, of uIiicUmI an d-ruprom-nUtivii or 
 r«|iroKcnt«ti%t'H ol' any city, oouiity. riilintf, or Ihiroujjh, or otlmr [iImii of 
 »ny dem!ri|itlon. iiO* or hervfcftur, wiulinK » ru|>rBi«<iit»tivu or rBjir«ii«nt«- 
 tiyi-it U) tho Hoiiwi of Aiwomlily of thin IWinoe, until mirli (wrHon of 
 panooN Nhall have runiawi in thin Pnivincirior ami .luring tlm N|iac» of 
 Hovtinyoam. next beforo tliu flection; alao, hucIi |M)r«4)ii inuHt Ut {MMMMiweil 
 of an entitU* in fe« Hiin|ile in tliin IVoviiicc, uniniMimlK'niJ, to tliu aNNONMNi 
 value of eighty pouiuU. "• Thin wan to prnvont aiiihitiouti itiiniii{rantH from 
 the United HtaUsa obtaining th« Hooi- of tho Hoiiiw too noon. It will Im 
 wen that an apprentic«shtp of iwvon yean* whm necemary liofom a jiwt 
 view of the Mitu§tioflf (n Upjier Canatla^uNmnttial for a higinlator. coulil Iw 
 aci|uir()df»-' ' 
 
 IWring theadniiniNtration of Mr. Smith, Mr Goiirlay. a .Scottin|i gentlov 
 man, Arrived in the country. -His intention wan t«i Imy land i»nd miftUv 
 liko any other emigrant from tlie BritiHli InlandH. Hin attention waN 
 quickly arrcitted hy the prevailing liiethodH of working tile aovcminont 
 of the Country. Having lieen an eanuwt advocate of ri'form liefore^leav - 
 ing hiN native land, he ooulil not now remain iNwiiivo and nilent. WiMhing 
 to promote immigration in an intellig«int way, he hail pn«,viouHly intondc.l. 
 And ho now ojienly proposed, ^cia'ulfttu in the Hritiuli iHiaiidM » Innik 
 I of trUHtworthy HUtiiitiiM relaUng to Upj^jr Ciirtada. To provide hijiimit 
 with Huch RtatiiiticM, he afldreiued.a circular to the chairinet^ <if t)^e Uiwn- 
 ship boards, asking thom to call ihectinijH and procure frOili the aNNombled 
 inhabitants replies t<i a nunilier of .■jcnsiblo (|ueric« which hj; forwnrded to 
 them. MeetingH vein held nccoWingly in rgany plac«!s, apd ntplies fur- 
 nished, which Mr. Oourlay, like fn experienced statistician, proceeded to 
 analyse and^ tabulate. • 
 
 The executive authorities liecame alanne<l. Mootings for such pur|)oses 
 convened at the instance of private individuals werte dangerous. Under 
 a provision in an obsolete law, Gourlay was arrested aittl grdored to leave 
 the coatitrf i and, bocauae he did not go, he was imiirisoricii This jiopu- 
 
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 MEMORIAL roiMMB. 
 
 lar hero waa never a^prorainent figure at York. He operated chiefly 
 from Queenaton, St. David'H and NiA^ra. In the laxt tiamed place he 
 lay in the common gaol for Home time, and hiH health liecauie Borjpualy 
 ■nipained. ; ,. • . , -;. 
 
 The three bulky volumen Which Mr. Oourlay piibliHhed in England un °« 
 his return thither are a curioun farrago of matter relating to Upper 
 Canada, out of which, by the aid of 'a vciy full index, a va}t amount of . 
 information can be drawn. Th*!! work ia entitletl " A Statistical Account 
 of Upptfr Canada, compiled with a view tcKagrarid Hchenio of Kmigra- 
 tion.'' • He 'cnlkrgeH'jfi these volumes again ami .again on his wrongs ; and 
 indulges his not unnatural resentment agniuHt many individuals. Heal-' 
 ways speaks with bittem<>sa of York, identifying the place with the 
 executive authoriti4>.<< resident there. His proceedings, however, he flat- 
 tered himself, ha(l a salnUry effiHct nn the behaviour to new coin^fs in\ho 
 land-grantihg ottices at York. "' I fluttered the Volsci at Corioli,'" he 
 says ; i. f., at York ; " and in less than two months it was observed by tli * 
 cimntry, and,' I .^ trust, is still remi^nbered, • that a goodly reforttf'itirM 
 brought about. J'cople having buKinesM at ilie land-oflice were attended 
 to;° and afterwards the emigrants had something like civility shewn to 
 them."- ■. , . .%■'"■ r^;'',' ■• " 
 
 •- One pities the a^>y of earlj'. martyrs in the |>opu lar cause. The execu- 
 tive power which tlivy assailed was, for the moment, too strong (or tlirro, 
 and t|[iey went to the v^all. But their ))rinciples have triumphed, <and, 
 . through their sufferings, modem Caria(liai).H> enjoy their heritage of free- 
 ' dom Wyatt, Thorpe, Jkcksfin 'and Oourlny were men of superior ability, 
 education, and insight ;*hut iiwthe r<Aros|K-ct we can see that they o(;ca- 
 sionally were wanting in judgment and tact.-) \ 
 
 The name of the Karl of Selkirk, founder of the Red Kivc.r settlement, 
 Va-s familiar to the inhabitants of York in IHIM. The Knrl was another \ 
 persoAi^e connected with tl'io histor)' of eatly (^'nnadian advancement, ' 
 wh9 met with injustice through the narrowness of view prevalent' at ' 
 the fieriixl in oflicial quarters. In a fauir.iis cas<; tried in tic Court-house 
 j|t York, in 18iH, -before Cliief Justice Powell, the«^ F^rl, thdugh hot 
 peraonally in court, brought, through" his attorney, ch&rge/i of "high 
 treason, murder, robbery and conspiracy " against a nuiiiWr of pengiiis 
 brought down from the North-West Country, The intricacies of the 
 case need not here be j^t forth. They can lie learned by kny one^'in- 
 terested, fronv the " Report of Procectlings Connected with the Disputes 
 between the Earl of Selkirk and the North- Wij^t Company^ the Assizea 
 held St York, in Upper Canada, OcUAer, 181H, fi-om Minir^pSlCtajbp^ in,^ 
 
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 WQROSTO: FAST AMD PHESBtlT. 
 
 77 
 
 Court;" printed by B. McMillan, Bow ittrcot, ^'ovcnt Qanlcii, Lumlon, IHI'J. 
 The priflonura wore aci]uitted, ami actiontt for faUe iinpriHoninent w^ro 
 
 , broitght against ^«i Vat^ and vcrdii-tH rotiirncil against liiin, with ruinoiiM 
 
 ** dainageH. The li^l waa a philanthropic enthuHiaxt ; and IiIm t^henicN for 
 the colonization dT the North- Went wore distjiMtcfiil to tho/^orth-Wi-Ht 
 
 . Fur Company of Montreal, who found Hirong ^ymp^hixera among p<>r- 
 
 ' Honal frienda at York. The Ear)''waH(ieclnrcd a dangor/iuH innovator, 
 who, by introducing agriculture at the \iv<\ Kivcr, would dijjlve away the 
 bufTalo, and npo^l the tnulv in fun*. Mr. John A^. Duncan, of OlaHgow, in 
 hitt " TmvelH through part of the UniU^d ^tcH and ^niida^ in ININ anil 
 1HI9," publiiihed at OloHgow, in two voluaius, in 1828, ti'lls iih how ho 
 touched at York while thiH trial chanced to be g(>ing on. Ho brings the 
 condition of the town, at 'the moment, graphically U'fore n^s. ^ranxcrilto- 
 Home pasHages from hi.s narrative. lU was iiaM.siiig ilown t4) KingHton 
 
 . from Niagara in a xchoonor. " I had inwiideiT to drHcinliark and spend a 
 day or two at York, but the town wai» m complet»)ly fillyd A'ith retliiinerN 
 of the two rival fur companies that I could nntobtaifk lo<lgings. ,A trial' 
 
 'wati nliout to take pliic#, of some individuals' in tijie employment of 'the 
 
 North-West Company, on atlegetl Autragcit of wmw of I..ord/)S«(lkirfe>', 
 
 jwopk, and each ^rty had mustered a host of agents and vffyageurs t«> 
 
 8up|)0rt by their evidence the cause of. their masters, The ap|)earance of 
 
 ^ork on thia occasion strongly suggested what is rolate<l of' Edinburgh, 
 
 w)(kn the rival Itaronsand their followings usetlto l)eard the uionai'vh mP^ 
 
 .'his ciu)itnl ; and when the bmwls of haircivilizi'd mountaineers cndan-^, • 
 ■gered the lives'of the citizens. A very trifling eollisiim U'tweeu tvN) of 
 these canoemen might ha>t> been no It-ss perilous to the iidiabitants of 
 York ; for in the remote rrginns from which they come', no law is known 
 but that.of the club, or the kfiife, and no. Higlj^nd clans cr)uld hold each 
 
 > other more at feud than the couiiwnies do teach otlipr, I'rolmbly f loai 
 little by failing to olttain liMlgings at York, for'afU-r tumbling aboQt for 
 an hour t lielievc that I U;ft little unvisititl cxoept the gu'risoii, Tlin 
 ^g(wn consists of one street lying jmndlel to tin- lake, antnif the l)C<tin- 
 nihg^ of two or three m6re at right angles to \i.^ I saw only orif church, 
 which hiyl been Very much out of re|)air, but someworknien were cin- 
 
 ".ployed in putting gla<A into tbe wintlows." ■<■, . ♦ 
 
 • Mr. Duncan, in the extract just given, made a note of tln> Jpict that . 
 "the church "^at York was gieatly out of rei>aii', withou. having lH>en 
 made aware of the caUse, pn>bably, of its dilapidation. He ix'cor<ls, how- 
 ever, the iuU'resting circumstance thjit, even a*l he wa.s passing alonij' in • 
 his brief-stroll thrDugb the town;^«VDO wofl&men were employed ii) |iift- ' 
 
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 MEMORIAL VOL CM M. 
 
 ting n\atin into thu windows., Vury Ho«>n aftvr Ifr. Dui)can'H vinit, the 
 qliuri-li iihdorwcitt a Uiorougli reHtoration, while at tho winie time it was 
 enlarged and rendered every way more eccleHiastical in apiNjartince. It 
 WHM through the enurgy ot the Kev. Dr. .Strat'han that. thiw change waH 
 effected- The Uuildlng waH put up, a8 has already been nalratcHl. >» 
 1803, thriMigli the exertion» of the firiit pant6r, Mr. .Stuart. During the 
 uccuiMtion ((f York by the enemy, it ha<l suffered injury and pillage iif 
 cffectd at.the hands of the wddiery. It had also lioen Converteil into a 
 tem|X)rary huHpital for the m'uk and wounded, and had been uho9 likowix^ 
 as a place of-|rehfral awembly for many onlinary purpoHe»5. The riis- 
 toiii^ry mce^ingH of the Ix>yal and Patribtie Society are noticed in their 
 rejHjrt is having been " holden in the church at York." ' ■ ^x^~l 
 
 Dr. Htraclian's additions to the building Were on the south jirnd north 
 sides. The positioh of the building was nUMle now to be, as \t were, 
 north and south, altlioug|^ in tlie interior the old arrangement cotvtinuod 
 of liaving the chancel toward the e%Ht. A steeple and \)ell turret were 
 also added at the southern end, through which, lielow, |iassed the princi- 
 ''iml entrance. The former entrance, on the west side, wim<, nevertheless, 
 not closed, but reserved for the use of tho troop.H, the ffttik and file of, 
 rich had seats along the whole of the west side. At th^ head of tho ' 
 wh<are on entering one would expect- to see the chancel, was n ])ew 
 of st<^te for" the .Lieutonojlt-Qovcrnor and his family. This pew was 
 provided v^ith a flat' tcsiter-like canopy over, it, under which, sgspended 
 on the wall, was, the Royal C()at ()f Arras; To its right was a ])ew for 
 n>eml)er8 of Parliament. On its left sat the military oflipcrs and (iover- 
 nor's aides-de-camp. Around tho north, west and south sides ran a broad 
 
 Dr. Striichan escaped calamity throughout the war ; biit a misfortune 
 liefell him just after its close. Ona Sunday, in 1815, while ho was abt^nt 
 on duty, his house was totally destroyed by fire. Happily the library was 
 saved. This accident led to the erection, not long afterwards, of tho fine 
 brick mansion known for many years sultsequently as the Palace. The 
 h^pitality dispcQsed there, habitiially and iteriodically, ((uito matched in 
 pleasant dignity and splendour that of Government House, i^Kjmy of the' 
 other rather nuuierups family houses in York that " entertained."* 
 .' When the enlargement of tho church was completed, Dr. Strachan,cn- 
 gaged in a literary enterprise. He undertctjk the ed.it6rship of a monthly 
 jteritNlical entitled the Chrintian Remnier^ It was iHsuc<l by Mr. Cieorgo 
 DawsoHi bookseller, Yoi:k, and was printed with handsome type jjm good 
 paper of a large size. The prospectus set fcirth that, " Whilo it shfill be 
 
 wdHch 
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 TQBONTO: PA»T AtlU fRMHBNT. 
 
 79 
 
 tho'6l.j.«t of this Jouiml to record imporiant rodgi.nw oventH iii goneral, 
 particular r«ganl will be jpei.l to thoHo which relate to the Prot.'Htaiit 
 (niiirch." The charge for the ii«4{«wino #fcn twelve nhilli»»jpi ami wx- 
 jwriciupiJr annum. It continuwl to appear for tw« yeant. 
 
 It is to iH! nddeirthat in the Ht)ring of the wrae year. 181H. in which 
 theEiigliBh church wan enlarged, the flmt Wesleyan place of worship 
 waaWliltat York—a |>Uin. matter-of-fact, white woo-len \'di«co. forty 
 feet wpiare. The p<»iti<>n was a little to the west of what fiinow Jor- 
 <Un street Its northenv gal.le face<l King Street, in which direction was 
 the entri|»ce. Within, Uio old-fashioned Anglican dhutcli custom pre- 
 vailed of making the sexes sit sejiaratc -a practice derivud from ancient; 
 Oriental and Jewish us*!. On the east side sat the men, on the west side 
 the women. A few years lat.r the s«iuare building assumed an ol)long 
 shape, l.y the addition of twelve feet at one of its enik * 
 
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 i;iTArTER IV. 
 
 HIU I'KHKCItlilir'M.Vrri.Al.'l* \J Y«MtK 
 
 TWO I'AUI.l.VMKNTS AT VoltK 
 .N IHlH.- I»l{. II. t'|lH0UN'K. — M». KtTHKIWII.U A I.AI NCU. - 
 IIANK .IN^i;|■^|j(t'rK^>.4^MKI»I^AI. PltACTlTlOSKIlS. 
 NVJfWiii T.— MElMllANts AT YllUK. 
 
 VIKW'S »'»l' YttllK- 
 
 N due time Sir Pc^hLiio liaitland arrived at York. After . 
 
 CKMH|blO f 
 
 MianiPNH^e 
 
 thttttoneral feuropeaiWmeif 1815, military officers of high 
 rarir begiA to be proyideil for by appointments in the colo- 
 ni(^; Thus it fell out that Canada, in 1«IH, rfcoeived Sir 
 Piregrino Maitland for its ruler, He had served in the Peninsula, 
 iiiid at Waterloo he had commnnde«l " the first British brigade H>f 
 U.0 Fimt Division. «)nsistiiig of the second and third l«tti.U.**8 of the 
 Firtit Foot Guards." Qi» the 9th of October, 1818, he h4d marri«.l 
 Sarah, secoijd drfughtei- of Charles, , f^rth_ Duke of Richmond and 
 Lennox, a la.ly of gijj^t grace and l»au*^, who somewhat precipitated tfie 
 union by a romaiMc flight to the genoml's .luarters. tvom her fathers 
 hofise, whjlc riiident in Paris. There was furthermore an association of 
 poetr^ connected with th«<n. Both had been present at that ball which 
 
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 Byron has iiiiule hi8torit»l, ^ivon by Ih^iuvhtm af Richmond at Bri»- 
 itols, whureat the hioveiiient of Uiu French army which brought wn tliiu 
 criHir of Waterloo firut bccaino known, Hotli, withqirt doubt, had been 
 more than mere iineGtatom of the BCeno : — 
 
 "Ah! then.and there WM burrying to *iitl fra, ^. '■ . 
 
 Ai"I K>thering tewni,.and bre«thiDgi of dutreM/' *, 
 And cheeki alt palei which but an huiir agii 
 
 Bluthed «t the pruae o( their y»n loTalmcMi; ' 
 And there were lud^en-partidge, luth M pniM ' -■* „ 
 
 « ' . The life from out; jrot|og h»*rta, and chiOung tixhi , 
 
 Which ne'er might be repeated; who could gurtM 
 
 If ever more ahoiild niMt thitae mutual ejrea, 
 - tttnca upon night w iweet taoh awful mom could riae' " 
 
 Sir I'oretfrino was a pictiire8<(ue peniona^^— tall and Htately, of bmI, 
 pt'riHivo aspectj and .veiy reserved in manner. In tbe year^Bftet-hlM ap- 
 pogrtment to ltJp|)cr Canada, he was followed by his father-in-law, the 
 Duke, Mtnt oui as Governor-in-C'hief. The. Duke, very soon after his ar- 
 rival in Canada, paid a viitit to his daiifghtei and Iter huNltand til York 
 From York tWey took an excureion together to Lake Hur^m, Ijy way of 
 Lake Simcoo jtnd i'eni'tanguishene, extending their tour aH far as Drunt- 
 mond's iHlanu. ■ , • . 
 
 Public aflfaimifi the Ufjpor Province seem tp have required special atteit> 
 ti.;n i' 1S18. Two scssjpns of Parlianiep't in one year took place. At 
 the unusual i>er\od bf 0(^ljer 4e Ho^ise met at York, after I'Asiiidcnt 
 Smith'H prorogatioh iivthe -pr^Mng karcli. On the ^h of November 
 a moasure jwssed originating in Gpurlay'M agitation, which 'had recently 
 begun. The Executive party in the House contiuttud strong. It was 
 decreed by thisAct^tobe illsg^l tohokl meetings " purporting to r^prooejat 
 the iieople„or anjf description of the people, under the pretence ofdellbor- 
 **^»PB l^>)^«fyi^ters of public concern, or of prejwring »tni presenting 
 petUrptJSjIlplaints, remonstrances and declarations, and other addresses 
 ta the'<piiig, or & lioth, or cither of the Houses of (the Britiah) Parfiameiit, 
 for alteration of matters es^blished by law , or redress of alleged grier- 
 anc^Ss in Church or State ," and any^qne having anything to dr> with such 
 mcjotings was W be held "guilty of high misdemeanor." AUw of tiahih 
 sound wjwr also passed about the frfrfeited esUtt's of " rebeh and traitors 
 and alien>»," the proceed** of whicli, when Isold, wer^ to make gjood the ■ 
 war losses of the loyal. The Krst-naiued statute %^ repealpChwifljin a 
 few months after its enactment. "^ L/ v - 
 
 But before advanting further with the legislatiop ^t York during this 
 portion of the «te of Sit Peregrine Maitlftnd, itwiU be well to p^uC* 
 
 
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 81 
 
 iKHiM|.«HtiW^ i«icul«>nth t(i ai)i) uUwt tlie ptM« fnmi -^llxcyat ^HiO to 1823, 
 itM gl«sp«<f fri>ii) <»ial«!>u|>*M°ui} <l<Hiuiii4tnt«. ■ In iHid iuiuU'ht foi- m-w . 
 Mrktit l>Miliut^sat-^<>iic iv;f> awkol fctr m thi) C/uivUr (May 2.Uh, IM20). 
 «il<iJn the Min<> I>a})^r hHml<ftiiMft Htiltwriptton!^ M'e recimletl fi-om MtwHnt, .. 
 i:H<i3(«II, ^eai^ Ki<^t'lmta, J(>m-|iIi Sht«|4irtl nml utham, t<twiirilM the nx|H!nM<- 
 tif ttfiMHirtju;.* ^^uttmuQ 'iM>(<iK>l at Votk In 1-NiO th««I-<<>jfal an<l I'atrintic 
 Sueioty Arc wimlutft VI' ^*^ nfl>^iV> At 4( moi'tiri^'liulil n^ain'"intho 
 fjitrrch ati York/' it xvaH dei ^itoili, Jw htt« Vn>n)n iiitiiiv»t6<l aliV-Hily, to du- "* ^ 
 vutc II ^iirpltiH, (if jC^HMt in flit- liiintU of tho society to thq 'f^iinding.of ^ „ 
 ,(K^ncriil Hi»spit«t M Voik ^n < voot of,lf*20, loif^ n'niomliuruilat Y«>rk, . 
 WAH IU< UuiicU of a HcluKmei Th<\liiothiis, Ijuilt fur Mr. Oatc'M and 
 uthcix No 1ai(iu>i liml tiikt^i;) {)l«c)> thci'v for a unifUH-r of yuan {trcviouHly. 
 B«i}i>>{> SIoMndiiii itf <i\\* liiV> waw ivvKfnt at V'urk in [(|2(); holding' ,fi 
 i'lsitntion !)f lii>» t iHjjy thwii*. and a conliiMiiition AjjricuJtur^l'interfMlM 
 ' Wt'io ftis6 nol<>vciloiik»*d nt Vo;rtc' ht this (lerKvl On tlio 7tl» of~ Nfay, 
 1>l;|y, th^O in a 4)ii^{f> i«hiiw, and {irizex of difU'i-oiit ^raduH an- (liNirilMi^ud^C, 
 nniler tlie jutHmiwH^if tUt) Agriqiiltnral Sfeirty foruiftl in IHl^^. l)r..R»C. 
 Home wiw Ht'crctary to>'tljc.s(»i:u'ty At tins time 1)¥ Hornu wits King's ' 
 Yruiter at Yoik He «t>L>ciunu' invMvcil in IH2f in a diHicuity witli tlio 
 fl'arUktHfnt on account of imiM'ifuctKinH in tlfu ruJiM-t of ParliainonUry 
 'il«bate>i wliicli Jii- iiad allowed to apimar in tliu eoliiiniut M the (inzftU. 
 On l)cin^ suiniiionu<l to tho bur of tlio Houho, |)r liorhu 'sMtutr in ux^la- 
 nation that the nqtoH of thu rtobUes were not taken 'l)y hihiHelf, but 
 furniithiMl to Kim by a ' {Hy ^ tn^ Wfi alwed Francis Collins." Dr. Horiio olR-red 
 every np)i)l«)gy, and Hubiuittuil' himself to tht' pleaHurQ.orthe Hoi.ihq. Ho -, 
 was viiiitioiK'd by tho S'lx.'aker tl\at for thu fliUiio lie would be held' 
 ruHponsiblf fljr tlie ct)rrt't'tiies.s of the reports in the UazfHi. The Attor- 
 ney -(jleneral wao for obliging Di^orne t(> j^nwirt i() his next issue th'e 
 "following jiaragraph : ''J''rom Jg|r incomiHjtonce or negligorieo of our 
 ivportL-r, the debates_^ ofytho House 'of AasufnMy irwefted. in the IbmI, 
 *'niiinber„.of Uiis \\a.\»iY wore so t|npei-fe*;t and imtr«4y rP|Hrrt<Ml thi|b 
 ■ dependence chu Uiplacoft in tliQir aecuriicy.''* ,;;But this was not prei 
 
 In the year f«)llowing the roiimhiand to tlje King's printer— iiaiiiel 
 1822-^lMiilefl FotfwrgiU's lifcn'b Ukea the |Sl8co of that of R* U, Hdrno, i 
 "the iniprintof the (r^«;e<^0 - AttacheiS '^ t&o (/«tW/»-. Mr. Ffttjiergill.'pu 
 Ushe^l ^-journal of his 9wn,.erititlod-;F/M!lFe4;^if ^fieipishr, the first^ nuiulier 
 of Which is d«tc(l Yorlc, April U^th, 1I|I22- Besideslargjs exjl»:aict8 f rom th* 
 English new4MiperH,;£h«lK^X'^^/£^t«/fr cpi¥t«if>od> great dual of jj seel- 
 lent . reading-, o|i ViVJpcis connected with litenktuito s,nd nAt^iral ii|St<iry. 
 It is pbHui'vailile'U&f tHu">t^tiutra #u now j'tt^nWd/ili lioUler aDtlindre 
 
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 roMtuMft ty|Hi>, wiUi yritU- niMWiOH Iwlweon tliu Iiiivm In IHi.'V, liowuwr, a 
 yetitrfi(fk('M ]ilwi« U>lhe fonncr mora oIjmcupu aiii( conik'nMvd ntyUi , ami 
 "<i1io |)riritni|{ jh viteoitUMl at lltif Chfunklf offlci>, KingtU^n, rp|K>t Pitna«la, 
 % Jaiiiivf ]J»ofiu'iMi|0. i)r Homo n>ceivoil nn aii|><>intiuc>iitsin the Hank 
 -of U|)|)0jr.{(|!!ana4i< with whivli inMlitutioii ln» nainu wan lu|^||; Aw«gciHM 
 ^hu loK^Mlatiott at Yi>rk in Kir Poit>)^iiiu Maitlaitd's timu e|ii)>nice<l 
 
 ,' ' nttiu«run'N. uieaMiir^i* A Ifrvat public impuriani'u rohcofniiig Ihu o|iujHn){ 
 ojT Jl^tU^riiii) cfHUHKiifK'atiottx l)/)ani) and watvr, tlio adiuinistmtion (tf juMui)jC 
 th« n'jjulall<m or<-<(MuniurciH) inifii'uurMO mtli tliu t'nito<) Htntef', tiho cur<s 
 renr^r (.'diiea(;u>n, anjil mt on. Uut it in iny |H-oyinoe to mto hont chivfly 
 tli(> iMlints «i(|iich liijl nilatiqif tp york, or atf(«t«<l Yorli^nro ^r .Iom rb* 
 luotcly, ' , * ^ , " * 
 
 One nf lliat'ActM \A IK20 ,ihciv«mt(l tli« reiircwntatinn'of the ('(imtti<>tt'r 
 
 III till) Hi'ttM! oCiAHNtttuUy. Tlii> pii|!mnUI(> iliim (^ypUim tJiu ut'ceNiiity'°fi<r 
 
 fUm iHMHjato: " WKerciih fruiu tiilb nfiA iocnNwe i>f the |io|>uIaUon in tliU* 
 
 proviiifib' itli(i re()tt^nlitti|L>n thoi'<'o(' ip tli« Onnmoiui ll'buive i>f Atweoilit}' 
 
 iaUot'ined tfio liMiitotl" Countiot w)»cro tliny^k^d reiiehod n |x>(>ulaiioti 
 
 of 4,1)00 Were 9uw ^ httve twn itit>mlH>)-h. ^oitiiH Whert> Qitartii;r Hei«iom 
 
 'wctn lit'l Jt ty}iidii vimtwinii a oht- thouHgnd Houiln, were to Im^ a (tfio xnciutwr. 
 
 Ill tliin act |)t)6\iHiii;i m ^nad<! for tlio re|>itii<(^n,l«ti<in in ]'arlian»>nt of tho 
 
 I'rovincial tTniventity Wli< fwvcr a iiiiut itiity or a'MiiiiinAry of h»r(iia|^ 
 
 }n this proviiioo Hliall'' ^ ui^ni74>tl iwid in o|H)mtK(ii, in LHitifonnity t>> 
 
 the rvnloi and Ht&tdtrt of Hiiiiili^k' mHlitutit)ns irt (ir^-at BrititHi. it nIi^II 
 
 ' be reffrcwnteit by enu moniU'r 'i )io ini«t uf laiut appHidant to tiueii - 
 
 ttiHvenuiy M to f» ih-elartHl (ly proclamation An iiuk-|iendent town oi' towiv* 
 
 uliip 'file vutertf uro to W tliosv wtio liavi' a ri^'ht to votf in thv Con* 
 
 'yMstion'>>f a Untvurnitx ' Itt hm speeeti to I'arliaiuvnl, Kehraary Sfnd^ 
 
 IH:!I, fSir feri'^riiir Maitland iilliidiol to tlie increuo in tlitt ropnAtenta- 
 
 "ijtittt ami to tKe ParUaiiiPiit l>uili|if^ lately erLM:ted ' 1 oatitiot ileily . 
 
 myiiejf tlio ^tuaiiare/ h(^ said, * of noticinj; (m a gniiiywg fru^t of our 
 
 geniTul athanc-onient thu acTuHkion of iiufnWra whieh haii taken place in 
 
 your riiiijKictive bodicK . niui 1 ,£«>it)rra|\ilati} yoi) m tlip im{>rovi>d at-eoili- 
 
 mofJaitioB wliioh tItiH lintidittK a|(inlH totthp dixeiiargu ofyoiif important 
 
 dutioit" The jiraiiU foritio n hinldin^' of ilu> Pftrliainont HViumo at York 
 
 ^Itad lieon made iti. tltf Hciitiidn of Ihl'o. TIm) »uta of il.'M mts vot4-tl for 
 
 'tHc puriwHc, with £157 IOm, fur tjfe- pUmi. At''tlni MUiie ttmu tlio wiui of 
 
 • £A^ 1 U. w«M not aaide for the pui«biM*<! o^oopiniof Journala of the Houno, 
 to lt)>tace thow? destroyed by fire ih the war/ , 
 
 ' fn-l/il2} W0 have Acts for the preN^^vautm, Hi doer i^nd tajibon 4n 
 nsgard to Milmoa It' i^all not jbe lawful for any j^^thoiI ^i peratAu at Apy 
 
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 TORONTO VAST AND PREHRNT. 
 
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 tfiHe lojUk*, «atcli or kill in any manner in tlio Homo Diiitrict, l>iiitrii-t(if 
 N«w<MuOti« or district of (lflr<>, any iwlmon or Halnien-fry noti'cr tho 
 
 : iiiMUth of any rivt^r or crook iilon^ tho Hlioro of Uiko 'Ontario than two 
 
 .buixifnHl y*nl», or within fifty yani** up tho mouth of any siich rivor or 
 
 OiN>(t]jt: At tho-<7ixMlit, tlio iliHtanco u|>, Hay two humlriHl yanlH. Ami noth- 
 
 ' kfg in t1»^,:Aet wnM to 1hi conHtruuil to ^^KU'ni) to Imliann, who were to 
 
 , yiftilth aH tliun'toforo, when ami whoro thoy ploitNt'il, cxcoijit within unu hun- 
 
 l/fli'vtl yanlMiifii mUi or mill <lam, Iiy <)r<) or torcltlittht. 
 ,, Y Ih.tKoyoiir IM^I tho lt<mian Catliolic con^rogation at York aro author- 
 
 -■i:\lKA by Act tcnlispoHo nf a lot at tho ci)rHPr of (JpoVgo and Duke Htn^otH, 
 i! jtlhl to purohaMn with ttio prot^otla lami in a more oliKihlo HJtuntion in or 
 
 ;» ^i^iar tho town of York afori'saiil, "for Iho umo ami ' ucconimo<litti<in of a 
 
 Kum^n (?atlioli(;con);re)^ti(m in tho Maid town of York ami itM vioinity." 
 
 tThe'tniHtooH of tho'H4^(l land woro the Hon. JnimtH Hahy, tho llf>v. Alox- 
 
 amior MaoUmell, and John Humll, Kh<|. 'rhe Kite of tho proHont Konian 
 
 OaUiulio Ht. I'aul'H and itH Hurroumiiri^rii wiim thuM tuoured. 
 
 At tho m'Nttion of Isi] waH promulf^titcd th*> Royal AHMont to tho Act 
 paiwefi in iHliiforthe inHtiti^ton of a Biink, to Ikl Htylol tho Bank of 
 Upper (.'anada. The preamtilo xotH forth tliat it would Ut "conducivo to 
 tho proxperily and tho advancom<-iit of commerro and a^icidture," to 
 have anch an inKtitution in Upper ( 'auMla. TFie namon attacho<l to tlio 
 potiiion for inooqM>ration, and inrhrdo4 at^uirdinf^ly in tho Act as 
 monitiDHi of tho now " l)ody cMirponito and jwlitir," aro tho fi^llow- 
 ing:— WifUam Allan, llobcrt (Miarlos Homo, John Scarldtt, Franciii 
 Juckfton, Witliam Warron Baldwin. Alojumder Log)^, 'I'honuM Ridout, 
 Hamuli Ridout, D'Arcy Botilton, junior. William iB. RohinRon, JamcH 
 Ma«ttull|iy, Duncan ( 'nmoron, Guy (I Wtxitf, Kohort Anderaon, John S. Bahl- 
 *in. "rtio stock was not to oxccod "£3(X),(MM). It wa« to op««n when tho 
 depoHit ummuitt>d to X20,<)0<). The Oovvrnmont might subHoril)e for 2,()0<) 
 sharoH. It waa to be nituated at tho aoitt of govcmmoht of thotKproviniH). 
 Tho iiintitutiou apparontly might oxpiro in " tho year of our Lonl ono 
 thousand eight hundred and forty-eight." Tho bank did not ronto into 
 o|)oration before 18:22. The de{ioMit waH then reduced to .£10,()0<>. hi 
 Wvl'A it was agHin, rcduoed to £M,<IO(), and tho capital wax made £(ilK),(|00. 
 For nearly half acentury tho Bank of Upjier t^anada did good service tO: 
 tho country an<l to individnalfi. It then l)ccame ondmrniRwd. It h*el 
 burdeneil itaolf with unxaleable lands taken in scourity. All tho knowing 
 ones withdrew" in time. Tho fats' usual in huoIi cascH overtook tb« hind- 
 ihoat in INGO. Jn 1821, when tho tmnk was still only in ponm, tho cau- 
 tions Mr Mc<lill expressed his doulitn.aM to the necessity of any bank at 
 
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 MBUOHIAL VOI.VMK. 
 
 all R^ York. "It in not yot McqrtaimnI," he writon to h friitn<l, "whether 
 th^ are Hufliuiont iiuliHcrit)on« to tho ( Ippur Caiuula B«nk to cominonue 
 q{>erationii. My own opinion im that it will Ui a lo<«in(( ItunincM, tliou|;h I 
 nave Iwon (lm);(;c(l into sulmcrihin); more than waH porhapn prudent. I 
 ' rually nannot m>« what ^mxI buHinoHM n liank can <lo horo. 'l'\w liOwer 
 Cannda Hank, t am told, htm nut Iwon aide to \vxy a <liyidend for th(t lant 
 y«ar, owing to ImkI dcbtM." 
 
 But to pnHit'od with tho Ici^inlation »f tin- period. ~~-^" — 
 
 In. IH22 wu have further «*nactniunti« alxiiit hemp. Thnxi hundred 
 {wundH worth of mnelifn<-ry in to b« purchaKud and set up in the province 
 Ui prepare hemp for cx|>ortation, and tifty poundn per annum for three 
 yearn to keep the machinery in orders In 1H23, Max waHiuldiul tuhenip. 
 
 An Act in thiH year, 1H22, ap|K>int<i truateen to the will of Williani 
 WeekeK, late of York, EHCpiire. He had left projtvrty for the founding of 
 , an " Academy for the education of youth." The Rev. John Sirnchan, l>.l>., 
 John Beverley Uoltinnon, Khc|., and Henry J4)hn Boulton, Vm\., wen- ap- 
 .pointed trUHtecH tu carry into eH'uct Uhh will. Mr. WeekeH, of whom we 
 have already heanl, wax killed inn duel at Niagara. I fail to Nnd nuI>- 
 He<|]ieut traccH of thiH be^iueHt. In 1H22 the magiMtratoK at Quarter 
 SemionN were authorized U> rtiNtrain the rniuiing at large of jwino in tho 
 towna of York, Niagara, Sandwich, Amherathurg and KingMton. 
 
 Ho late aH 1N23, we have legtitlatirm in reference to "tythe«i" in Upp*T 
 Cauadn. It wan fuareil that the clergy were gciiug to awtert a right to 
 "tythea," notwithfttanding that already, at the preamble of the Act refer; 
 . red to dodareN, " Hi.s Majettty liaH licen pleiwt'd to reserve for the Hupfiort 
 of a IVotcHtant clergy in.thio province one-Heventh of all landH granteif 
 therein." It wax important to tho well-being of the colony that all 
 doubta on thin point should be removed. It wax therefore enactud that 
 " no tythea Hhall lie claimed, demanded or received by any eccleHiaHtical 
 |>arHon, rector or vicar of the Protestant Church within the province, 
 any law, cuMtom or uwige to the conljflary notwithittanding." 
 
 In 1H23 we have a cut or navigable canal through Burlington Beach 
 authorixe<l ; also an Act Tor the '' better preservation of tho Herring 
 Fishery at the outlet of Burlington Bay." It should no longer lie lawful 
 for any fienion or penons to take or catch, or attempt to take or catch, by 
 *' setting or ilrawing «ny net or notM, weir or woirs, seine or seines, any 
 hjerring at the outlet of Burlingt<m liay, or within two hundred yard*) 
 of thenaid outlet on the shore on Lake Ontario, lietwcen Septeudier 1st and 
 January 1st, inclusive, in each an<l every year, at any other ilays and 
 times than Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesilays, Thuntdays and Fridays." v ' 
 
 
 
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 Ti>HoSV(t: I'AHT ASl> rHKMKNT. 
 
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 III IH2fl An Aft WW* inwm-rt lo |inivii|«i for tlic im'ction <»f i» n»«l «iul 
 Court Hotiw ill «n<l for tlu- Hoiii« Uintrict. Tlw iii»«wlr»t«« iii«y lM.t-n>w 
 £40<N) for tlu^ purixmc. \Uf an Act " t»» n-Ktmin tli«< MwllinK of Uvr, »1«, 
 ciilvr, and oth<ir liipiorH, not Hpiritnoiw, in vrrUin townn aii'l villfcjp'H in' - 
 tlpiwr CanmU." 'f''" ""utl""' "' ri'Mtriction prii|H»N<'<| wan tho ii«m> of 
 licvnmiH. " Moneys |>ai<l for lifcnw* to U- |>tti<l t«» tlio llofvivi-r-O.-iifCaJ, 
 AQil accoiintwl Utr tlirou«li tint Lonl ('oiiiiiiiHNioii.-rM of Iiin MiijcHtyn 
 Tn-iuiury, for tin? tirtii! U-injf, in niich nwiiiur ami foriii hh lii» MajoMy 
 mIibII W KniciouKJy plt'iutod to ili««cl " 
 
 |)f.rin)( thiM jiurititl tw<^ ii»*«m>H wt<r<> aU> \)n»>unl rc},'ulfttiiiK pnutition- 
 crti of pliyHJc ami HiirK"'0' • ''"^ rcniiicnt practilit»nvr» Wfoiv .lanimry l»t. 
 IHl:.', woro »!Xuiujtt«,il frulll tlio itMiuin'iui-ntM of tlu'Hi* Ai-tM. Some iiicijiral 
 in«n, overniuii<ora1>lo »t Vitrk. are in a i-ontomporary «.(:<•/^• naiiif.l nx 
 cuniiiiiHHionorH to carry uiit cirtain onartniPntM in oiil> of tliiw stntiitoH : - 
 " JaincH Macaulay, late iK-ptity te«pi»cU>r of HospitjilH ; fliriNtoplicr VVi.l-« 
 nior, lijto SurKfon to His Majeaty's Vmtm , Williiini I,yonH. S.irK«Mm 
 lo Hit* Maj.-Hty'M FoiwH ; ^^.^H«rt Kerr. Murj?tMm to tli.- In.lian lV|>aitiiient ; . - 
 Wiiliawi Wartt'ii Halilwin.M D., (Jmnt Powell, lain HurjjjBon to llic In- 
 
 P()r|)or»tc«l Hatti^||i of Militia" ' Jf'' 
 
 Thus wori- oiinp limcH at Y(irkj at. tlio t-lo'i.' t^i^tliiiil lUiath'. It 
 
 ix woU that |K!ople«f)ul(l In- holfM'.l toseu th«iii»flviTH'.ii«ioimlly nx o^.tMN 
 
 Mou tlieiii. Th.)*^mnci' tiavoller. Mr Dmuan. (urniHhwl uh with a \^m<^ 
 
 '■ Kliiiipso ol Voik. aH the plato ntriick him in lHl», Another trav.^l.r.'^ - , , 
 
 «tol too. like Mr. Duncan, n<)iJtict«H Y.irk foi' U'' in lHi:», in his "Sk.l.hi>H 
 
 of Uppt-r Canada, DonieHtic, Local ami Cliaracti-iiMtic." |>rinR>«l »t F;«liii- 
 
 \A\t^>\\, 3r.l etlilljjn in 1H2:». Th«- pictun- may not he Ihitti-iinn, hut it 
 
 nwltern littli) noW. He tiixt tIewriliuH in graphic teniiK IiIm journ.-y 
 
 up from Kiiijf«t«igt on iKHiril the nUjamor AV..H><;i»u<'. "Tho m),'ht pmve.l 
 
 dark and unploa«'»iit; a ho«t of threatening fhwdn o»>spured tlie hitherto 
 
 Hpijtietw MkyI while a dreary blaat careered ah)n},' thu lake, and math" itH 
 
 i waters noisy and X"»'"d«nt. Notwithstandin},' the <larkness, 1 continued 
 
 * to walk (he deek^jfc^Mear iiiidniKhf; wy step* Isiiij,' Kui-lei^ hy the iriv- 
 
 jjular light shed' hy tihe sliowers of glowini,' sparks that flashe.l in rapid 
 
 'Hucceissipn fwin the iluo. aji.l were whirle<l aloft in every direction. At 
 
 last it U'gan to rain, and I retired to my l)crt1i,. . (In the 
 
 im»nriiig),wefortunaUi|y had a strong ll/reew, directly astern, which soon 
 hroiit/h t iDL.in sii,dit of Vork." Persons still live who well leiiiemU-r the 
 eaiiier F»-on^'»(»i'. To ,^ueh Mr. Howisoii's account of the 
 interest : " The Fnmtnmr is tho larj,'est, steaiiil">«t irt 
 jsone hundred anil ^veujt,y-om feet long, and thirty- 
 
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 t-rcaMCH tho 
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 of Mr. lIuwiMon'M 
 
 two foot wi<lo. Hlu' Im miven hiin<lni<l »ii<l forty toiw bunion, nmi t\v%wn 
 only eiKhl foot muter when hwiUxl. Two |«<lilli' wIh-oIh, <>*ch liUut ^orty 
 fi'ot in ciffuniforuncc, ini|K'l lii«r iliroii(;li tlio w»ti<r, llor lonjjtli » i«0|p-(i«t 
 that Nho anNWon vury Mlnwly to thi<.h<-lni ; luit I unihirMtitnil ithii WA>t hiiilt 
 of thu <liniMwions Thave iitai«<l, ^at nhu iniitht covor throo w-aA, anil tliiiM 
 In- pn-vi>iit«il fnmi pitching violently in iHtiHti-roiix wonthor. Wlit-n tho 
 wipd Ih favouralili', tlic funiUnnv HaiU nint- knotn an hour with owmr " 
 Mr. yowinon'H ntay in York v(lv^ very hriuf. Ho Im Ii-mm (tiri-innHtAntial than 
 Mr. t)MncAn in IiIm m-coiin^ lunl IiIh xkuicli U \>y no nirani r<my huqii. 
 "Thii liind nil roiiml tho harlHiur an<l U-himl thu towii iH low, Hwiuiipy, 
 ami apparently of inferior (piality ; and it (M)I|UI not U> i'a>tily tlreinod, an 
 it lion alinoHt on n li'V<-l with tlii> turfaco of thu lake. Tho town, in which 
 thero ari< Moniu ^ocxl Iiouhch, ciintainA nlNnil :i,<K)ll ii)haliit«ntN. Thoru in 
 it.s'inininliiittt vii-inlty, ami thiw ciiiciunHlanm in- 
 uiiNaninuHH of its Aitimtiou. Tho trnih' of York m 
 i>H itit prcMcnt |M>piilation an<l utagnitiKlo cnMroly 
 ((ovcrnniont ; for it i;* «hmtitiit<' of every natural 
 t i(f aj;<HMl hailH)ur." To account for tUe hriof ntay 
 iw-triivi«llers at York, it in to Ikj recalfisl that Nia- 
 frara wam hUII tho principal port of the wuMt<!rn |)ortion of thu lako, wheru 
 tho trade and tnUHi- of tho UKmt thickly jiooplfd p«rt of Up|H'r Canada 
 were carne«l on. NiaKarn would thuH ho tho destination of nioHt of them. 
 
 The trade ot York mijfht Ik-, m .Mr. llowiHim wi-ote, very tritlin;,'. ly" 
 amounted, nevertheloMH, to i|uit« n». much, probaldy, m any mtionnl mani 
 taking' into J-onMiderHtion tho circuniNtancet* and history of tho place, 
 ought to have <>xp«'cted, A nuiiil>er ot; ii.erchantM wore doinj^ liuHinewt at 
 the time at York ; not unproti,Uhly, l»^iiay i>o prcftuuted. At a dato n 
 little earlier than ihat at which we have arrived, tho followin|,{ individualx 
 or iirniH took out the onlinary licenco for the haIo of Hpirituoun liapiorM in 
 thoir reBpectivo htoreB — at York, or in the Hiuuo District: — William 
 Allan, Potor MncdouKal, NVoo<l iV AnderMon, Jamex Nation k^ Co., I>aniu| 
 HnioRe, Alexander l/'jfjjo, Heniy Drean, John Carfiae, H, McfK. Murchj- 
 aon,TI>OM. Carfrae, Mctiiuncx A; .MontKonierie, ll'-Himlt^m, junr., Klward 
 batvH, Suljivan & Suttenhury, ThonUM .Stev/ns, Younfj k M<mrf>, Petor 
 ItobinMon, Peter Patenwn, Oeorjfe lUifffpixii Dennis Fitxgeral'l, William 
 Suiith,Quottvn .St..Ueor({0 Ac < '(> , Oeorgi) F/^tcr. 
 
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 HtXUrofiU ANII rOHK, ALTKIINATE HKMIIIKNClW UKTIIKOOV^IRNOH. — Vl>4| TOKH. 
 - tfi'KKI'll TO I'AHI.IAMKNT AT VOflK. -"('OI.UKIAt. A|lV«KATf." AT yl'KKNS- 
 Tuil AJII» VOMK— ITM milTull. ;|>aHI.UMKNTIIOVHI! At V«»MK lUrilMKIt.— 
 I^A.TAI.IMtr'H NOTII'KOI.' VultK.- (ANAIlA I'DMI'ANV AT VoHK— Ml^. tlAl.T 
 /irilKUK. HTEAJI-FAlKt:T"tA.NAlJA"ANU<'AI'rAW ItHH WII»H..N. rIMIII.JM 
 / ruTIIKmill.l,. "roLoMAI. AIIViMATIt" VHiMi IHtSTIlUVKK,.- IJIl. IHhl.ol'. 
 
 / — C'AITAIN IIAHIVIIAM.. . 
 
 IK I'KUKOKINK ami Uly HArali MnUlttiid pmmmI a.H littl.- of 
 
 ^ ^ .-m ^''"''' ''""' '*" |»»>«»il'K' *' Voik. 'i'lifir fuvuiirilu (ilairu of hIhxIk 
 
 K't^M^ wan Staiiiforil CHiUkc, near the villnmi of .Staiiif^inl^ tliroo 
 
 vSjjiT *^ iiiiloH nortli-wvHt of the Fall» of NiaKiini 'nm Iio(im> waM luiill 
 
 .J liy.Sir IVruttrine hiinittjlf, aM a traiii|iiil retreat from |iiililic lihui- 
 
 
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 ' H« Scipii), to Iho •<i(t CumH-ui ihors 
 lUtiriiiK, luted jiijr li« never kiiaw Iwrore." 
 
 Tint iiitcrinr of the cotta^^ wa« liniHlivil, hm to iUt doorM; iloor frHincH ami 
 window n-cemwM, with thu Hoinhru hiaek walnut of the ooiintcy, ami homio 
 of thf rouinM wort- wainiH;ottv<l fii»ni ll(M)r to ceiling with tint Mauiu winhI, 
 The Hite eoniniandud extunHivu vit-WH. At thti" niimu^nt thu Ntvady 
 thiimlvr of the neighbouring cataract, Hubdumi and lulling, ^itiut living 
 luiHuri'ly liittenud to, York it»clf, thirty niiluH and more away, acrotM thu 
 wAtvra of tho lake, could, umler thu |tropt>r Htn]o.s|)liuric ronditionx, !« 
 diHiinetly aocn. Around wiih a graml undulating |i«rk, of many acres, 
 wherein Uiu finuiit and moHt picturowiue trevH of the natural foreHt hud 
 been carefully pretiurvcd. 
 
 Here tho even tenor of the Liuutenant-Qovernor'H life was varied oeca- 
 Hionally by the prettunco of a diHtingUiHlHxl viHitor fri>m I<]iiglnnd, on IiIn 
 tour through thu United Statu* and Canada. , In lh20 he was aummonud 
 
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 ig urituiially mvhit, i 
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 iruct thoir attoiilMtii n 
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 iiwny for n few uiontlis to (iiieliec, to iindcitnkc tlic tomiiomiy aillniniH- 
 tiiitioii <»f till! j,'i!noial giivcriiiiiont of Cuimilii. Tlii' ow'iiHioii was tln< <lf- 
 cviisf of Ills fallioi-iii-law, the Uiiku, two yoars licfoic liis (,'ucst at York, 
 wlio, it will 1)0 liMnciulii'ifil, was liitti'ii by a tuiiie fox jinil died from 
 liy(lioi)lioliia. Dmin;,' Sir lVr('},'rine'« aliHcnce, Mr. Siiiitli was again ad- 
 iiiinittiatoi- ill Uinur ("aiiada. (hi the anival at (,Jnelte(?]*of tlie Karl of 
 Dalhousie, the new (iovcriior-Ucncnil, Sir Tcroyrine letiirned. 
 
 For a sliort time in 1S:J4 the society of Mi'. Stanley, afterwards bettor 
 known as Karl of Derby, was enjoyed at Vork. Ho was then membiT for, 
 StOekbridye. Tworfither nicinbers of the Iiiipeiial rarlianielit were trav- 
 elling with him— Mr. DenisOn, M 1'. for Newcastle (afterwards the Speak- 
 er,), .jiunl Mr. Stuart-Wortley, M.I', for liossiney in Cornwall, afterwards 
 !.,ord Whariiclitre. In the aiituimi of 1824 thest^ gentlemen nccompaiiied 
 Sir Peregrine Maitland to Montreal and Qiieboe. The (Jovornor's suite 
 on this occasion consisted of Lord Arthur Lennox, Mr. Majtland, Colonels 
 Foster, Lightfoot, Collin and Talbot. 
 
 A fi.'W sentences from one of Sir Peregrine's speeches to the Tjcgislature 
 will illustrate the (Jovernor's tlieory and that of the Executive party gen- 
 erally, at the perioil, of the relation of the ruler of a colony to the King's 
 subjects and their rejiresentatives in that colony. The (iovernor's func- 
 tion was to attend to what, acc(;rdiiig to his juilgmcnt, ought to be done 
 to "promote the real welfare of the colony." The Legislative Council 
 and Hou.so' of Assembly were there; but they were simply advisory 
 bodies, in ease their assistance .should be reipiired. -In the nieantiiue, the 
 (loyernor wa.s to be the best judge; and lie was responsible solely to the 
 Sovereign. After oxiiorting the two branches of the Legislature to " con- 
 cur in promoting the interest of true religion, and in improving all those 
 nieaiis which can add to the instruction, convenience or happiness of the 
 jieoiile, and not to' overlook tliose which tend to increitso the wealth and 
 power of the country," Sir Peregrine rather loftily observes : " I know 
 you have ditticultios to encounter in the exei-cise of your important func- 
 tions, from which I am hajipily exempt. But I am confident your zeal 
 for the public interest will surmount them; and the impression that such 
 difficulties exist will render you more worthy of your country's applau.se. 
 Connected only with this Province in the di.scharge of my public duty, I 
 can have neither party prejudice, nor local attachinents, nor personal in- 
 terests to overcome. My interests more naturally lead me to fulfil the 
 wishes and expectations of my Sovereign, which I shall best do by a 
 faithful pei-forniance of my duty in promoting as much as possible the ' 
 real welfare of this Province." To this portion of the Governor's speech 
 
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 till! Assciiil.ly, uciiuifsciii;,'ly in simiiil, Imt iiot, witiioiit ii slii<lit Niispirinu 
 orHiircasm, ivplios: "We invdcoply wii.silpl.! of tin- iMil>oituni'r of tliimf 
 I'liiictioiis with which we mo cntiustuil, aiultlmt tlair fxi-ivisc is altcii(h'il 
 witii (litlieultiiH fioin whicli Ykiu- Kxcollt'iuy. huiiij,' only comuHtt"! with 
 tliis I'loviiico ill tiic cjisfhai<,'(! of your puMic «hity, is liappily exi-iiipt. 
 To Ihiisi; (liHicHltioH, where thfiC is room lor their existence, we cannot 
 (laro t<f assure ourselves tliat we are entirely superior; still leSs can we 
 ventun- to lioiie that the iin|)ression of their existoiicO iiiay not suhjeet t". 
 int|)utatii>n aiiil rniseonst ruction our niottt unl>iaMsecl and disintereste.l ae- 
 tioiis; hiit the eontidence Your Kxeellcncy is ^doased to express in our 
 zoal for the pul.lie };ood will aninmtc us to surmount whatever ol)sta(des 
 may present thtynselvoH to the faitliful discliar^'e of our duty." That is 
 to say, they are conscious oC purity of motivt> and ivetitude\f aim, and 
 they have decided to ;,'o strai;,'ht on ; hut it is not improhftl.le that in 
 some i(uarturs tlicy will be deemed and called factious. 
 
 Hut rest and (Juiotness were not in store for Sir Pere^rrino Maitland. 
 A thorn in his side, and in the .side of many another wlio would rather 
 
 ^ liave heen let alone, was prepared in the person (»f Mr. William Lyon 
 Mackenzie, who now comes on the scene. Mr. Miu-kenzie was a perfervid 
 Scot, Mot yet. much more than thirty years of ajje, who had l)een im- 
 pelled to enter im the career of politics^ not from. necessity, for he had 
 already fairly succeeded in .several other lines of life, hut .solely l.y a strong 
 conviction that everything wasyoing wrong in the management of public 
 affairs in Upper Canada. The tire was first kindled within him probably 
 as a result of the Uourlay agitation, and at lengtU it burst irrepressibly 
 forth, first in speech, and then in the form'of;^$?inted journal, which he 
 resolved to make the organ of cpinmuiiioa^i between hfmself an»l the 
 whole counnunity.' He was a man in great\ine«wure self-taught; of the 
 school and temper, as of the race and creecl, of. lt<ibert' Burns; a reailer 
 and thinker from boyhood ; with clear intellect, tenaAous memory, and 
 ready command of all his faculties, and with a considerable insight ii)to 
 history and political economy.-vHis journal was /ntitleil the Colydiifl 
 Adcoeate. It appeared first on .tJie IStlfof Ma^, hS24, at tiuo<;n.ston. 
 ItSv&s printed, however, on thiTopposite .side- y^ the river, at Lewi.ston, 
 for convenience and economy. In the AiJroeit/c he proceeded to criticise 
 in all sincere earnestness the Executiyo an'd^^he party of the Executive, 
 in Upper and Lowfcr Canada. 
 
 ♦ The year 18:J4 is to be marked in the an/mis of York as that in which 
 the Colonial Ailcocatc was removed thither from Queeiiston. What 
 could be expected but that storms woi/ld brew abjut a paper and an 
 
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 90 
 
 MEMORIAL VOLUME. 
 
 etlitor wlio hoial(le<l Uu-ir npproach in hucIi tciiiiH w tlicso (in the >iiinilK!r 
 for Juno lOtli, 1S2V): " Not to jjain the wealth of tlie Imlies wonlil I now 
 nriufje to till! fungiisos that 1 have hclield in thi« country ,'wlio are more 
 nuinerous and more pestilential in the town of York thiu'i tins niarshoH 
 and (|ua<;uiireH with which it is environed." When he s|)eaks of York 
 he does so in the tone of mi out-sider of the <hi-y. Kvcrywlierc throu^jhout 
 Canada it was common at tlntt period to liear abuse heaped upon York, for 
 it was thei'e, as many averred, they had felt, or fancied they had felt 
 
 "The oppreMor'« wrong, the pniud m»n's contumely, 
 
 *► — , the law's delay, 
 
 ^' The imolonoe of oHice, — and the<ipums 
 
 I- That i)atient merit of the unworthy takes." • 
 
 After becoming domiciled there, without batinj,' anything in his fervour 
 against abuses, Mr. Macl|en//n;'s estimate of York became more just. 
 
 Among those who were as public characters unceremoniously' passed 
 under review in the Advomte, there were not a few perfervid Scots like 
 himself; but doggedly Tixed in views exactly, the opposite of -his own. 
 Tliese men he de8cribed-*s " unfortunate in their political education, who 
 •.•>■■ therefore have a natural lUlian^e with the enemies of mankind in every 
 
 part of the world." In thdic circumstances, tht' feeling towards the new- 
 comer soon began to be vq^ bitter in numerous quarters. ' " , v 
 
 The Lieutenafit-Governor himself was )v Scottish scfldier, of higli, aris- 
 tocratic, exclusive, ideas. Strictui'es on his proceedings from such a source 
 : would, when they cea.sed to be despised, become very exasperaling. 
 
 And of this jiersonage, Mackenzie had ventured to declare in print, in the, 
 first numl)er of his jiaper, that liis life whs chieHy passed in tfirttversing 
 the lake from York to Queenston, and from Queenston to York^ (that is 
 to say, to and from the cottage at Stamford), like the Vicar of Wakefield 
 from the brown bed to the blue, and from the blue bed to the brown ; who 
 knew, he rather* )fiumorously adds, our wants, (.«., Upper Canada's wants, 
 7^ - " 0.S he gained a knowledge of the lulUr of the day^^fey report ; in the one 
 ca.se, by the Niagara gun, and in the other by the Gazette essay upon 
 .stupor and inactivity." 
 
 When the corner-atone of Brock's monument on Queenston Heights 
 was laid (Oct. 13th, 1824), among many other things enchised in the her- 
 metically sealed bottle placed in the cavity by the commissioners, Dick- 
 son, Clark, and Nichol, thfere was a copy of the first nunjb^r of the Colo- 
 nial Advocate. On Sir Peregrine's return from an official tour in the 
 eastern pai-t of the province, he gave instant orders that the foundation 
 
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 TORONTO: PAST Atfh PHKSKST. 
 
 !M 
 
 of tli« iiioiiiiinciil, now rt'n<<liin(j n. \w\<^i of fourtfoii fi't't, mIiouM Ih- iliijj 
 into, and llio otlonHivu ilocMiincnt roniovciL whicli was doiiu liy Mr. Cliirk, 
 ono of the conimiftHioni'i'H, ami Mr. Hall,. tlit> arcliitcct or fn|.;i'tu>iT. Tlio 
 editor of tl).e Adrociiti', not a wli't al)a.sluMl^ prcwnted liimsolf on tire nj)ot 
 when tlio oponition was completed, and claimed n.s Ium property tlie ninn- 
 
 , lier of the ^l(/i'W(i/c which iiad lieen extracted, together with a eej-tain 
 otter Hk in which had envulpped the lK)ttl(\ Hw siiliseijiientl-y pr(>|)OHed to 
 (lopoHit tluH identical eopy of the lirht nunilM'r of the Adi'tuulf luul the 
 otter Hkin in the'Uritish MiiHcuitjpw historical relics. One other incident 
 at York in 1824 nuist now IW^ceorded, On ('liristnia?* eve in that 
 year tlio Parliament Biiil<li>^, creeUjd five years iK'fo^o, of w]bi<'h *ht> 
 inhabitants had become proivl, were destroyed by lire. Tho (ieneral Hos- 
 pital building, recently erv-cted, west of Jolin Street, but not yet put to 
 its intended u.so, was hastily fitted up for legislative purposes, and tempo- 
 rarily occupied by tho Parliament. 
 
 On tho ISth of January, 182-'), 8ir Peregrine Maitland met the Purlia- 
 
 - mcnjt at York, in this building. The session lasted until the l.'lth of April. 
 Afli^g tho measures pa.sse(UwaH ono authorizing tho magistnites (if the 
 Home Distric.t to raise X2,000 additional to fini.sh tho Oaol and Court 
 
 s House at Yofk ; and anot4ier requiring the justices of tho peace in every 
 tpWn wlielfe policty arrangements existed, including York,(!very two weeks 
 to " a-sstzo and fix tho-prico of broad " in that to^n ; and the clerk of the 
 market was fo " atiix a notice thereof in some con.spicuou.s place in the 
 market-house." 
 
 Chronologically, Mr. Edward Allen Tallnit's account of York given in 
 his "Five Years' Residence in tho Canadas," will be in place here. Tra- 
 veller'H narratives have already enabled us to contemplate York at seve- 
 ml sta^e.s of its progress. X Here wo have it again depicted to us, as it 
 appeared to a stranger in 1825. "Though York is the capital of an 
 extensive colony,' it would in Europe be considered but a village. Its 
 « defenceless situation, which CAnnotbe much improved, rendei-s it of little 
 importance in time of war. . . . Tho garrison is about a mile west of 
 tho town, and consists of a barrack for tho troops, a residence for the com- 
 manding officer, a battery and two block-houses which are intended for 
 tho protection of the harbour. In the year 17D3 there was only one wig- 
 wam on the site of this town. It now contains one thousand throp hun- 
 dred and thirty -six inhabitants, and about two hundred and fifty houses, 
 many of which exhibit a very neat appearance. Tho public Imildings are 
 a Protestant Episcopal Church, a Roman CathoHc chapel, a Presbyterian 
 and Methodist meeting-house, the Hospital, the Parliament~House, and tho 
 
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 MKMOHIAL VOLVMK. 
 
 I'ONHjcnco of till) Liuutctnant-Ouvt^rnor. 'I'lic Kpiscopul Churcli jh a {>lairi 
 titiiber building, of tuluralil«; Hi/.o, with a Hniall Htcople of tlio Haiiio iiiateriul. 
 The Uoiiiaii Catholic chapol, Wliicli iHnot, ji-t coinplrtctl, m a lirick odifico, 
 and intended to Ik; very niiigi\ificunt." TIuh would Ihj the prt-Huiit Itonian 
 Catholic St. Paul'H, on the land purchaxod with the proccodn of the Ipt on 
 tho corner of DuchoHS and Cleorgo Streets ; of which the liiiilderH were 
 MeHHni. Parke and Ewart. The brick-work of the Aouth Hith; exhibited, 
 aa the writer roincnil>orH, a dian)ond-Hha|ied pattern which waa conHiilered 
 curiouH, and which is probably the ornamentation to which Mr. Tnllwt 
 alludes. On the lut^ of March, the Rev. Mr. O'Orady, B.U., preached a Her-' 
 iiion in aid of the fund for the liijiiidation of Che debt on tluH building. 
 In cowicxion with the mention of this eliureh, I Hubjoin an advertiHement 
 which appearHin the Utyalhl ,\irmicd at York, March 14th, 1829, " At a * 
 meeting of the conunitteo for the liquidation of the dobta of the Roman 
 Catholic Chureh of York, held in tho Vestry Room on Monday tho !)ih in- 
 Htant, Lawrence Heyden Ksq., J. P., in the chair, it was unnnimously re- 
 solved: 'ITiat tho Rev. W. J. O'Orady, B.D., is entitled to our warmest 
 gratitude for his energetic and truly Christian a-ppcal on Sunday the 1st 
 instant, in behalf of our Church, when a collection was made amounting 
 to £r>5 Ms. C(/, including donations. The Attornoy-Oencral, X.">; Hon, 
 Thomas Clark, jEV.In. ; Hon. W. Dick.son, £1 ."Jn. ; Coh W. Cfiewctt, U 
 .-)«. ; Rev. Dr. Phillips, 5s. ; C. Widmer, Es(i., M.l).. XI -'m. ; P. DcchI, Esi]., 
 M.D., £1 5«.; John S. Baldwin, Esq., X]^; Capt. 5a^'n, R.N., lOt. ; 
 Rol)crt Baldwin, Esq., lOs. ; l{<>bert Sullivan, K.>i(j., 10«. ; W. R. Prontice, 
 Ew)., XI 58.; A Presbyterian, XI ; Mr. Richard Wabron, 10»*. ; Mr. P. 
 Hartney, .V ; Samuel P. Jarvis, Hs(|., XI 'at. : ' That weihail the liberality 
 which our Protestant and dissenting brethren manifested on this inter- 
 e.sting occasion as a certain prelude to fuuire concord among all classes 
 of the community ; That the SoKcitor General, W. W. Baldwin, Esq., 
 M.P., Simon Washburn, and James Fitz Gibbon, Et<(|uires, are justly 
 entitled to our best thanks for having acted as coKcht<>rs. York, 9th 
 March, 1829." Mr. Talbot's language will recall the fact that it was still 
 the day of small things, in respect of architectural magnificence, with 
 all denominations at York in 1825., "The Parliament House erected 
 in 1820 (the news of its destruction /had not yet reached Mr. 'Talbot) 
 is a large and convenient brick building, finished off in the plainest 
 possible manner. The York 'Haspital is the most extensive public build- 
 ing in the province, and its external appearance is very re.sjwctable. The 
 house in which the Lieutenant-Governor resides is built of wood; and 
 though by no means contemptible, is much inferior to some private houses 
 
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 TOHOKTO. PAST AKD PKKSgXT. 1)3 
 
 in the. tow,,, ,«»r,icula.ly to thHt of tl... Ho..oun.I. , Av,....„l.l.. 1„. 
 
 «i.«c. »„, Mnny of tho U. ,„ui . lov.T.n.K-nt o«ioo,s l.avo 1 ' 
 
 -«tH .„ an., al.ut the tow,. ; a,.,!, with ..w .x...,ption. U ;" ;^ , r 
 wocl. ai..J a«8,„„o a n,o.t iMviti„K' .w,Hrt 3 «i'i i-mlt of 
 
 inception ; when tho house., of the setUc,-s we,e for / *"' ^ "* '" '"^^ 
 
 ■n-sano by hos^ of^ conten^po^ries in other plaL ^ ^ '^*-"""'' 
 
 In 1826, the Canada Land Companv whJrh l.„v .'J. ,1 1 
 
 .powerful^, „^^i„ U.d„„,i..„l,,::"' ,^^1,„"^7 Z 
 K'-iMoi iwj {m2>erio m botli provinces r.no»i 1 i " 
 
 party ,t was classed among the irrievances A n„,f ♦ i- • 
 
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 Mr. (iait was iiol Hiiiroiixl, l«y tlii' Hoard in Loiulon, to rciimitl in 
 Canada vcvy li>n({, Imt lonj,' Vnoti;,'li lo stiirt ihti I.aiul ('(inipany j)n a 
 cftnxtr wliit'li liaH piovod of |,nTat iidvantaj,'*! to Canada. Mis diitioH 
 nM|nji'i!d his pri'si-nvc <liit>Hy in tlio Huron tiTritory, whtMo lie I wiw 
 instrumental in founding,' (itiolpli imd (!<Mli!ri<'li, Iln liadAil.so a ri*i- 
 dcnco afterwards on Hurliiif»ton Hcij,'hlH, .wluTcto ho resofjj'd.j Hut 
 while staying in York, during; the winter of IM27, lie lioth()Uj{ht hlnisolf 
 of giving an entertainment on a H<tt»d scale to the whole society if tho 
 placn, with a view to atlordinj,' pleasure to the inhabitants, and eoijciliat- 
 inf,' their ),'ood-will for the Company. The iika took hhapu^n the f*nn of 
 a fancy hull, which continued memorahle for years in the aiinaisofl York. 
 I^ady Mary Willis diil the lionours of the evening; for Mr. (Jalt,l whoso 
 family hud not yet arrived from Kn^jlaitd. Lady Mary, dauKl>tt'r|of the 
 Karl of Strathmore, waH the wife of Mr. Justice AVillis, a fjentleman lately 
 apjM)intod to the Bench of Upper (.'anado. / 
 
 I'articulai-s of this fancy hall are accessilde m print. The sflL'no was 
 Franks' Hotel, at the south-west corner gf the present Collwrne Street 
 and Market Sipiare ; the day, the 31sf1-)ecemlK)r, 1827. The hostess of 
 the evening peinopated Mary, (^ueen of Scots. Judge Willis hi|uxelf ap' 
 pearud, for a Hhoii time during the entertainment, as the CoiintenH of 
 Desmond, aged one hundred years. 
 
 Mr. Gait was recalled, and mtumed to England tn 1S28. The comforts 
 and conVienienccH of lif« affordtlJl by inns^gjt York and elsewhere in Upper 
 Canada at this period were very poor. Mr. Oalt, in his " Autobiography," 
 thus describes the beat hotel in York : " It was a mean two-story liouse ; 
 and being constnieted of wood,.ever^ noiso in it resounded from roof to 
 foundation. The landlord, however, did all ii! his power to mitigate the 
 afflictionK with which sOch a domicile wis quaking, to one accustomed to 
 (|uiet." The misery of his quarters at York clung to the recollection of Mr. 
 (»alt. Later, when detained in bad health at Dover, he declared Dover 
 dismal, but not so dismal as York. " Every one" he writes, " who has ever 
 beeil at Dover, knows thot it is one of the vilest hypochondriac places 
 on the face of the earth, except York, in Upper Canada, when he hiis 
 been there one day." He afterwards expressed regret at having " kept 
 aloof from many who might have lightened the cores which afterwards 
 became intolerable." He adds a rough memorandum of visits of ceremony 
 paid him while at York. It embraces some familiar names : " Major Hillier, 
 a Judge, the Solicitor-General, the Chief Justice, the Attorney-General, 
 Mr. D. Boulton, Mr. George Hamilton, M.P.P., the Speaker; Mr. Kolph and 
 two gentlemen, the Inspector-General, the Surveyor-General, Colonel Fitz 
 
 irm 
 
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 TDHONln. PAST AS It fUSUKST. 
 
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 (iil)l>oii, Jiiil^c Koulton, ('ii|itniii llrowu, an ulliicr of t))(< (^irirtnn, a |^uii> 
 tli'iiiaii (I iKjliovo/Dr. Halilwiii), IIkj Moiiounililu 'I' Dk-kHiin, ( 'oIoih'I T. 
 ('lark. Johik Itraiit, tlic Imliaii Chief, <liiii'il with mo iiin' ihiy iil tint Cdmi- 
 iiiiHiionoi-M' iiK'Hs, unit I ilim-il aI Dr. Strachiiii'M. I wft.s kindly iiMkcil twLi'i', 
 Itiil f«lt iiiyHolf tf)/> unwell ti) j;t>. He ali«o honpitahly invited i\w to conie 
 to liin lioUHu in the ovenin^', lint I wan iilway.s (ihlijjed to ^^l^ to lied 'I'he 
 Att<)nM!y-(K'norarn wa-tthc! only invitation I did not acc«|>t, for I wan then 
 vory ill." 
 
 'y\w Majpr Ilitlier, at tlm ht'a<l of Mr. (Jalt's lint, wan (he (lovernorH 
 military Mocrutary. His form and mnrinor are well hit otf in one of Mae- 
 kun/.iu'n "HketcheH of Canada." A niCRsa);)! to' thu Hoiwo from this liieu- 
 tenant-Oovernor Im annonnced l>y throe loud kncK'ks at the door, and 
 then — , 
 
 " Kntcr Miiior Hilliur, a neat little gentleman, in full military uniform, 
 with sword, sash, and epaulutUis, who n'lakes tw<> awfully profound oU'i- 
 sances at the liar \ is half inclined to make two more as he luissus the stove- 
 pipe; and when ho gets before the H|)eiiker's chair, I^)rd Atterhury s reply 
 to the Karl of Itochuster, ' Yours to the centre, my Lord,' is well imitated 
 by two bows, so very low, no very long, and ,to very solemn, as almost to 
 Hay, ' Yours to the antipodes, Mr. Speaker." 
 
 " Honest John Will.son, of Wontworth, goes through this ordeal, and sup- 
 ports his part by corresponding inclinations of JtlMklmd, and touchcii of 
 the cocked hat with the hand. The Major hamls t^jBpV'^'*^^''' "'" precious 
 d4»«umentH from his Excellency, and then retires,' afti^ going through the 
 saniti routine pfoows and obeisances." 
 
 The Canaiia ComiAny, as narrated, opened its first office in York in 
 1K20. I now return to incidents., at York in that year. The comple- 
 tion there of the fine Hteam-packut the Vamida, intended to ply belWeen 
 York and Niagara, was an event of no small interest locally. It was built 
 under the immediate superintendence of Captain Hugh Richardson, who 
 sailed and commanded the boat for a series of yeai's. The first trip of the 
 Canada from York to Niagara took place on the 7th pf August, IK2(i. 
 Captain HichardsonVas afterwards Harlwur Master at York, and survived 
 down to 1870. He printed and circulated at an eaily period a treatise on 
 the harbour of York, giving his views of the mode of its origination, and 
 of the ruin which was being effected in it by thj; action of tJie river Don. 
 Ho dedicated it t« the' irthabitants of the Town of ifork, and to the'lVo- 
 vince of Upper Canada. It was an ingenious protluction. Happily, 
 nature itself causing an irruption of Lake Ontario into the harbour, lias 
 undertaken the removal of the baneful deposes of the f)on in a way more 
 
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 uH'uctual tliiiii any of tlidsc niikki-h i'<l l>y ('iipUin Ui<liarclw)n aii<i otln 
 
 t'lirly tl li/iTs (III thu siiliji'ct. ,„^^ I 
 
 III lN2H»Mi. h'oilifij<ill «!»'HMi'il toAm tliu |>uliliNliur of llio olHfiil 'i'k;- 
 (.//.■ anil Wifkhi U'ljinln: Ho lia<l Ih'oii rotiirnud to I'»iiiai|ifnl iim 
 im-iiiU-r lor tliii County of Dmlnun, uli«l li««l vintui<«l to oxpriwH hiiii- 
 Hclf ill tim lIoiwM in mucIi a wuy it* to imply ci\iihiii«i on tim Kxticiitivo. It 
 woiilil liavo Ixiiii a wry nrwt ntrutcii of liU'rality in Sir I'ereKrino 
 Maitlim.l'H (loveiniii.'nl, lui.l tho |>rinter to tlio KiiiK'n Mo^t Kxcellont 
 Mwji'Hty htt'h allow«<l to limiru in tli.i ranks of the ()|>|K)Hitioii with iiii- 
 .|mnity, Mr. FothuiKili waM nccoiilinnly at onco (liHini«!«o<l, ami Mr. Ilolxirt 
 Stanton a|)|«.inte<i in Kin pliico. Mr. Stanton ontitlwl tlm iion otlicial 
 |ia|H(r ttttachf.1 to tho (ittzi-lUr tint f/. A". f.oyalUl, which canio forth at a 
 Inter jioriod an a*HO|iaiato publication, uiider tho naino of 7'A#! Loi/uHhI. 
 Mr. Fothfigill afUMwuids con.lucted for several years a nowspnpor at 
 York, calltMl tho hdlmlliiuL ../ HrUinh Auwiicn. A littlo later he intro- 
 .luLwl a incaHuro in the House of Assenihly for iJie foHterin« by a Iwnus 
 of Agricultural -Societies in every i>art of (ho province, which Ixicanio a 
 law, and k'wvo the (Irst offt'ctual impulse to tho holtlingof fnirs and pulilic 
 ma'rkets for ciittio in tho nioro remote country situations throughout Up- 
 IMjr Canada. Mr. Fothor;,'ill also did niucli for tho promotion of science 
 and literature at York. In conjunction with Dr. llees and Dr. Diinlop, 
 he pnjjected an " lnstituU)of Natural History and Philosophy," oiiil.racinK 
 a Museum with Botanical and Zoological (Jardens attached. Tho scheino, 
 too lK)ld' for the period, fell to tho ground. ' A site, however, for tho pro- 
 posed establishment, was granted by tho Oovemor-in-tJouncil on tho Oar- 
 rison Common. Prior to his cmigmtion to this ^country in December, 
 1823, Mr. Fotlvergill hatl |)ubli8lied in LondonH,n clever and interesting 
 W^ik entitled, "An Essay on tho Philosophy, Study and Use of>Natural 
 History." Ho was afterwards correspondent of the celobnited wmid 
 engraver and naturalist, Thomas Bowick, of Newcastle ; and in Vol. 
 1, p. 09 of tho famous work on "British Birds," '« a woodcut of an 
 Eared or Horned Owl, slated there to have been contributed by Fother- 
 gill, with the romaik : " The stuffed specimen of this rare and curious 
 little bird, ffoin which our figure and description were taken, was sent 
 to tho author by Mr. Charles Fothergill, lato of York," meaning Yirk 
 in England. Tho identical specimen, engraved by Bewick, used to be 
 shown to his friends by Mr. Fothergill when resident in the Canadian 
 York. In July, 1823, he Wa-s proiKwing to undertake a work which would 
 have proved of great assistance to subsequent investigators of Canadian 
 annals, had it been carried into effect, " Tlie Canadian Annual Register, 
 
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 or a VitiW of tlitt lliittory, I'olitirM, LJtvrntiiiK ami (Iniwth of the ( 'aiwiIah 
 ill nil that roiiNtittilHM tlu* Woallli of NatiuiiH." It wni t4i liavx Im><<ii 
 on tlii> pliin of Dotl^Jny'H Aiiniial Itit^iiiUT, iiml it wiin i|i<ilii'it<'i| by aiitici- 
 |iutioii to Hit' i'un'^riiit) Maitlaiul For a tutrirx of y<<nni Mr, KotlitirKill 
 IimikkI tho "York Almaiiao or Koyal t-'aioinlur," a volume of fmlwrntii four 
 ami livo liiiiitlroil |>ax<'H, containiii;; an iiU<-ri!Htiii({anil vi-iy iinuful ".Sket4'li 
 of tlio I'ruMvnt Htatu of ('aiia<la," ami a \^vni ileal of <nirioui« iiiim'ejiaiiooiH 
 iiiatt<<r. 
 
 Tlio inoiileiit of fH2(l, howuvur, that iiioHt Mtirntil tlie euiiiiiiii^ity at 
 York, wuM tliu wilful (leNtriietioii of tliu priww anil tyjw of tho C\ilon'inl 
 Aili'iH-nlf nowHpajHir. A party of younn men, firofeHsinK to l>e aKKrieveil 
 by Houiti po»-MonalitiuH in itH iroluninM, having refert>n(V to their ntlativeM or 
 einployurN, foruilily untoreil tho olHcu on tl'ie Hth of June, in liroiul ilaylight, 
 broki) up the pruMs, ami throw tUe ty|)e into the liay. HeniileM licinK n 
 tlagrant breach of law, tliiN act, iw the event proveil, wa.>t a niont iiii|H)litic 
 anil Hhitrt-HiKlittjil one. liiHtuail of putting a Htop to the criticiNUiH of the 
 CoUmial Advocate, it wa»t thu nieuiiH of iiulutlnitoly per|Mituatiiig tliuiii. 
 The Advm'Mte, it hvuuih, waH at thu inoinunt HUHpomluil, ami woithl prob- 
 ably not have boon iwtuwl again. Damages to tho extent of X026 were 
 awartluil by ajury. That voriliet ra-CHtabliHhoil on a iionnanent footing 
 tho /li/'ikvi^! proHH, bocauHo, tousu tho proprietor')! own wordM, "itenableil 
 inu to (itf'forin my engiigomentn without (liH|)OMiiig of my roal pro|H!rty, 
 ami although it ban (levural times licen my winh to retire fKim tho active 
 (lutieHof thojprcHH inti^4hu quiet path^ of private life, 1 have had a pre- 
 HontimontMnPiilioulil yet Ui able to evince my gratitude to the country 
 which, in WyJPinoHt need, rcHouu<l niu from utter ruin and <le,striiction." 
 The Hcene of this riotous procuuding was tho foot of Frederick Street, at 
 the tfouth-west corner. 'The sutTererH from tho verdict Were tho following: 
 Messrs. ttiby, Sherwood, Lyons, Jarvis, Kichardson, King, Howard and 
 Macdougall. 
 
 A glimp'U) of inanufactMring industry at York, or in ita neighbourhood, 
 at this period, is afforded by a paragraph prepared for tlie ColonuU Advo- 
 cate of August !>th, 1827 : " About three miles out of town, in the bottom 
 of ft deep ravine, watered by the River Don, and bounded also by beautiful 
 and verdant flats, are situated the York paper mill, distillery, and Mr. 
 Shepard's axe-grinding machinery, and Messrs. Hulliwell's largo and ex- 
 tensive brewery. I went out to view these improvements a few days ago," 
 the editor writes, "and returned much gratitied with witnessing the paper- 
 manufacture in active operation ; as also the bold and pleasing scenery on 
 the hanks of the Don." ' Important suggestions are^ thon added : " The 
 
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 riv«r iiii^lilj^- mii<li< riaviKililx, wiUi nriinll i'X|H'n>ii>. up to tli«< lirowiry , 
 ami if tlit< Hiiiroiiiiilln^ ImiiU wchi Iniil out in livi'-nnii lot* all tli)< w»y 
 to town, tliny woiiM it'll to ;;rr<itt lulviiutikKi- " 
 
 An nviiloncn of tliM Nlill i>ontinu)-ii il|'<Mlour, in IM27, in rvmoff imitM of 
 till- Province, of Vork luul tln« otlliMur p<<r><onii;(i.>M r<"»iil<'nt tlmrt*. U fur- 
 niximil liy tlui toniM>rNoni<> of |)r DunlojM "HtAtiMlicHl Nki'lrlitrx of U|>|M>r 
 <'iina<ls." Thi) TallMit iti>ttli>nii<ht on l.iika KrUi, l>r, lhinlo|i infortn't uh, 
 luul lK!((un to flourixli, nnil to Ut rcninrknlilx for jtii Nuporior ngricultum 
 Ami tliu cxni'llitncn of itM roiuU. A'ruiti of Innil N|Mi(*ulatorit fi'oui York to 
 tlwt quArt4>r ae<'<>riliA{(ly t4H>k pliw!« ; Imt Urn |M-on)|4 iin4 Munt rff'ly of 
 Coloui'l TaIIh)! WKN : "Not on*' fo<it of liin<l ilo you ^I't lu-ri'" On thii), 
 wi) Art' t^>lil Ity l>r. jliinlop, wAr wno tlt't'Ui'fil ii|;viu>it him liy tlu' nullior- 
 itiM lit York. Hut TuIIm)! won, liy nuouiH of hJM influeiicn miil p«>riMinttl 
 pr(>NeH(4) occAHioiiiilly in l.omlun, and t-wnpiHl tint control which' wam 
 Ruu^ht to 1)0 uxcrciw-il over hiui IVoni tlu> ciipital. 
 
 Ah a M't-oH' a^aimit tlio unfiiv(ourAl>l« improNHionN ({ivcn of York and 
 itn inhnliitantH liy Monu> writt-tN and tourintH, I mIiaII take an oxtrnct 
 from thp "TrAvcIn in North Ai|uM'icA in thti yearn *IH27 ami IHiH," 
 by thtt (■(■IvbrnttMl-CAptain Ikutit l|all. I )(ivo tli« Oaptain'ti inhort descrip- 
 tion of n ilinncr at a fricndw liiouw at York. HiN viiit took pincu in 
 lHt27. I mIiuuKI like to have given the nanu> ot Captain Halln lumt.' 
 R(>A<lorM now regret the etitpiottu of reticence which travelierH of a 
 former day no HtudiuuHly ol)servfd. "Our dinner," (,'aptain Hall NAyN, 
 " WAA laid un<ler the fly of a U^n^ on the rich green-sward of a <lri>NMcd 
 piece of ground Hlu|>ing gently towardtt the lake. We Hat vn the eattem 
 Hide of the houxe, no that by live o'clock the nhadow fell u(H>n u». The 
 deep ftea-blue Hurfaco of old Ontarlio wah now (|uite Huiooth, for the nu>r- 
 ning brcezt! had fallen. . . . T]ie Air ha<l liecome deliciouNly cool. And 
 more grateful than I cah describe, after the miltry day to which'wn had 
 b«(!n exposed. The wine was plunged into a large vchhcI filled with ice, 
 ' cloRo to the table; but the wat<>r waH cooled iji a goglet, or unlmkod ear- 
 then pitcher 'brought from Kengal." The kind, of home life of which- 
 Captain Hall'M wordn afford uh a glimpHe won going on in many another 
 unpretending domicile at York, at the Mtmo moment. 
 
 Another officer of the Iloyi)l Navy, Lieutenant de Roon, had l)een in 
 York in the preceding year. His stiiy there, however, was only Yor a few 
 hours, and all ho hao to report inMhat " the streot.s are well laid out ; and 
 aft the back country increasefl in bopnlation, thii town promtsefi to be- 
 come a place of great importance. ... We had not time to vinit the 
 QoycmmentaiUmd Parliament Housca, The Legislative Assembly/xfjc i- 
 
 
 
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 ..KMOV.V....K..,.,., .>r.oXH n.NH,:,u.:Nr rMK,.KM.;v 
 
 W .II.H ..„ »cv.,u„t of i.uo,..,,atil.ili,y „f ^„,.,,t.,, ,^. 
 
 IJ;!/ twr,.,.|| hiiMHuh 
 
 ^^'^'i " «.N.,v...l •■ a. .1. f ■ V ■■■"'; " "" '"" ""'"■" "" "'''''■' ''"""''" «»^ 
 
 .; olK, H...OV...1, l-ut •■ NV.m..,,, Kn is r..,,in, ,.,,i,,, V ,X 
 
 . I-- fn..n „ ...on. ,. tl.., , a V,..k. ...ti..« .., .ito.! \ 
 
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 wript coj.y. M.-. Mackii.zio, i.ow- ....ito ott«v i.i liU ,. \ 
 
 ...liH - «it int.., „o... . . .L z vi:::zzz^ 
 
 ntumc.U,..,.„of th„ rc.,,ro..e,.tativc->. of th., ( 'ounty of V.-k 1 . 
 
 -/ . closely p„..k...l ..v....y w.-ok with a„ ..tnun;iinary ...... If , "^ 
 
 I-Iay. cad. one of tf.o.n ....ri..«o„ a .K.litical wriovance, .,.- sL.ti,." h , 
 Hocal .„.provo.,u.,.t i,. York', an.l "ipper Cana.la ....orally' T^s, 
 
 Kc >e..l ...Hto.y o tl.o co..nt.y. a,.., i„ tl... ,aW r.,«.tHof tl « ,„.H.h1 
 
 procctd to .l,.-po.se of ho..h, ...atfrH of narrower U^al into.v^t Tl.« 
 e^I.H..n..nt.,fa certain p.-.-ioUical jonrnal or newi^-ap^ 1^ v.,rk : 
 182D n..,Ht be. recordcl. U ,.a« Hu.vived .11 it. co„te.i.LHeH an.l p ". 
 
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 riv«r iiiit(litj^' niiOlt' ii»vi|;alilii, wiUi Kninll' i*x|M<nMi>, mii) to tli« liri>wi>ry , 
 •ikI if llut Niiii-i)iitiilin({ UmU worn laiil mit in livi'-ncm lntw all Urn way 
 tit ti>wii, lltny wiMilil ii'll to Kiviil iiilvitiitikKc " 
 
 An oviilencti of tli« wtill i'ontinui'<| il|'n<|oi>r, in IN^7, in rtiinr»ti> |Mti't>t of 
 till' I'nivincf, of York iin<l tin- olllAliif pcrxoun^i'-* ri'iiilonl ihi-n*, (« fin- 
 niMliiMl Ity tliti toni' ofHOMif of Dr. |)iuilo|i's "HtntitlicAl .Ski'tdiitM of (I|)|i<'r 
 <'«n«<lB." Thu TiillNit wtttli'ninnt on Ijaka Kriti, Dr l>iinlo|i inforuiH iim, 
 liml iKi^iin to rtoiiriili, nn'l to \m ri'innrkaMo for \ln Nii|i(>rior Ajfriciiltiirn 
 Anil till) I'xntillt'ni'U of IIm roiulN. A rii><li of lnn<l N|M>ciiliitor>t from Vork to 
 that quarter accorililiKly took pliico ; but thu prompt ami bluut n-ply uf 
 ( 'olont'l TaiUit wiiN : "Not on** fmit of liiml do you ((*'t hcriv" On tliii, 
 wu aru toll! I'ly l>r. Hunlop, war wah ili'i-lari'il ii^iiiiiNt liim by tlii^ niitbor- 
 itieii at York. Hut TallMit won, by iiictinM of hit inlbierico iiitil ptTMtniil 
 pn>HeH(>i) iMTANionally in Lon<loti, ami i<Nrn|iu<l tho contit)! which wan 
 AuuKht to bo uxereiw'il over hini fri)ni tlu> ciipital. 
 
 ' Ah A Not-oH" iiKAimit tho unfiiVoiirabli! iuipn-HHionn \(\vvn of York ami 
 itn inhabitantn by houic writvrN Ami tourifitN, I hIiaII tako an oxtnict 
 from tint "TravclH in North AilioricA in tlfti yearn 1H27 ami IH'.'N," 
 by thii cclvbratuil-Captain lianil Hall. I ^ivo tho (^aptain'M Mhort ih'K(<rip- 
 tion of a {Jinticr at a frioml'H IiIouno at York. HiH vixit took placo in 
 1HS7. I Mioulil like to have i^ivun tho nAnio o( Oaptniii HiiII'm hoHt. 
 Rcailon now regret the etiipiutliu of ivticnneo which travullerH of a 
 former day no HtudiouHly observed. "Our dinner," Captain Kail NayH, 
 " wan laid under tho tly of a iAin\ on thu rich ffreen-wward ofadreMNud 
 piece of ground Hlo{)inK gently towards the lake. ,, We Hat on the cnHtom 
 Hidu of the ImuHo, rio that by (Ivu ^'clock thu nhadow full upin u». Tho 
 deep Hca-bluo Hurfaco of old'Ontarlio waH now (|uitu Hinooth, for thu mor- 
 ning brcezu had fallen. . . . T|ie air had lM.>como deliciouHly cool, and 
 inoro grntcful than I cah deHcribe, after tho Hultry day'to which wu IiaiI 
 Imen exposed. Tho wino, wah plunged into a lAfge vesKcl filled with ico, 
 cloRO to the table ; but the water wah cooled i^n a goglet, or unlmked ear- 
 then, pitcher brought from Bengal." Tho k'init, of honie life •of which 
 Captain HaH'm wordH afford Uh a glimpno wan going on in many another 
 unpretending domicile at York, at the nnmu moment. 
 
 Another officer of the Royal Navy, Lieutenant do Rooh, had l)een in 
 York in the preceding year. His Htay there, however, Vras only for a few 
 hours, and all ho han to^port w that " tho Htrocts are well laid out ; and 
 aft the back country increases in foopulation, thin town promtH'eH to l)e- 
 come a place of great importance. ... Wo had not time to viHit the 
 OovommentOil and Parliament HouJHeH, The Legislative Assembly ,/Lieli 
 
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 .!-■ fro... „ .ooM. ... tl.., «,,, «UVo..k,H.,Ui„«„,.l.i. ^^it,.., I . 
 Ins ow., l.a,.d«, shaiKht (unu l.i. I.,ui,., without t!.o i .U..v..,A.. "f . 
 H<Ti,.t copy. M... Mac.k....i., ,„.„., ..it., .^y i,. tie "3 '" 
 
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 r..-t„n.e,l », o,.„ of tl.o .epresentuti v.. of tl... ( ■o„„t, „f y,! , ' '" " 
 
 -«' . I..s..ly p„..k...I evcy w..«k witl. a„ ..xt.ao.-.li..„..y .....h of . i 
 
 nay each one of tl.„.„ ,,aH,.« on a ,.Iiti.„l «ri«vanc... o.. sL^ ,.1 i 
 H.>c-.al .„.pr„vem..,.t i.. York. a„.I Uppe,. C«..ada ......ally' T r^^, 
 
 « ^,<.,.« to thi. situation of ..rtai... ......^'u. ^.t f^^ ^ I 
 
 «« eral h.Hto.y o the country, an.l i„ th. ,aW n,.rtH of tl . ,.H 1 
 Hofor. procee.l.n« witl. Ury notices of public an.l provjei.^ affairs 
 
 e^l.Hhn...tofa ...tain p..,odical jo.,rnal'o.. n.wspap.. ^i : 
 1829 „...t bo .ecord... ,t In. Bu.vivc.i all it. contenlporari^H an I ..^ 
 
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 (lec^HSors at York; except the official Oazetle, and it Houiislics in 1884 
 in full vigour. I refer to the ChriKtian Guardian. This was an early 
 example of a kind of publication which was then only coming into 
 vogue. The Chnstian Guardian had for its aim the promotion of a 
 'special reHgiqus interest, and the supply at the same time to families and 
 households of some knowledge of incidents occurring throughout the 
 world, together with much wholesome reading of a general character. 
 Such an employment of the press is ])lainly le^timato ; and the pnictico 
 of establishing orgAns for the circulation of their views has been adopted 
 among almost all bodies of Christians. 
 
 It is somewhat amusing to observe how this use of a secular engine for 
 the furtherance of religious movements puzzled Dr. Dunlop. In his 
 ^j. ^clever "Statistical Sketches of Upper Canada, by a Backwoodsman," ho 
 indulges in much ill-considered theorizing on the subject, with special re- 
 ference to the then somewhat novel periodical at York. Like many 
 another shrewd ^and gifted man at York, Dr. Dunlop failed to "discern 
 the times " in which he lived and moved. He condemned the new fashion 
 of pressinp; religious considerations on the world in newspaper form as 
 being peculiarly American, and as being, in fact, a species of desecra- 
 tion. " The blasphemous mixture of political and religious dogmas," he 
 ' sententiously observed, " must be pernicious in the extreme to the true 
 interests of Christianity. Pure religion is like pure gold — it cannot be 
 alloyed without being depreciated." The freedom of the press as regarded 
 discussions of matters in Church, as well as in State, which Dr. Dunlop 
 would have approved, was of a very exclusive character. 
 
 Aa to Dr. Dunlop, although a resident of Ooderich rather than Yor^, 
 he was a well-known personage in the latter place. It may accordingly 
 be of interest to be reminded that among the many etchings in Maclise's 
 well-knoyrn " Gallery of Illustrious Literary Characters," one of the best 
 is that which represents Dr. Dunlop. Dr. lifiiginn, editor of " Frazer's 
 Magazine," closes his notice of the Doctor in this " Gallery," in the follow- 
 ing straiii : " Though Toryism were expelled from all the rest of the 
 globe, it would find shelter in the log-house of Dunlop." Dr. Dunlop's 
 personal appearance is jocosely described in the same article, thus: " This 
 '* remarkable biped stands six feet three inches, and measures two feet eight 
 across tlTe shoulders ; the calf is just twenty inches in circumference ; ex 
 pede Hercvlem; the paw would have startled Ali Pacha ; the fur is of the 
 genuine Caledonian redness and roughness, and the hide, from long ex- 
 posure to Eurus and Boreas, has acquired such a firmness of texture that 
 he shaves with a brick-bat."- Dunlop, at the time of Maginn's writing. 
 
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m- 
 
 TORONTO: FAST A SO PRKSENT. 
 
 101 
 
 »*4 
 
 !l 
 
 4V. 
 
 was in TiOndon for a few Wcck^, " to worrj^," Dr. Miiginn Hayn, " Uo<l»ricli 
 and Howick (rninistjers of tlio day) about Honio beastly jinwocdin};;}! of our 
 degraded Oovemment. . . . Farowoll, noble Havage, wild an thy. woodii: 
 When shall we again revel in the rich luxuriance of thy anucdoteH, or siiakc 
 under the Titanic bray of thy laughter >. " 
 
 Some other ahiftings of position' among the dmm<i<iH jiermmii* of Yoi k at 
 this time, consequent on the 'Jamoval" of Judge Willin, will lie Hufficiently 
 indicated, without requiring detailed explanation, by a paragraph or two 
 taken from numbers of the Loyalist in 182!>. Thus, in the number for 
 May 2nd, we read : " Information is received which placex it licyond all 
 doubt that the courtf!%uniucd by this Government in the case of Mr. Jus- 
 tice Willis has receilla tl>c entire approbation of His Majesty's Oovem- 
 ment. The result of the delibei-ation of His Majesty's Council is the remov- 
 
 al of Mr. Willis from oftice. 
 
 understand that after' counsel had Wen 
 
 heard at great length on behalf it Mr. Willis, the King's Council came toan 
 immediate decision, The confidential nature of their report, however, and 
 the time necessary for preparingi it to be submitted for His Majesty's ap- • 
 proval, will account for any apparent delay in making their decision pub- 
 lic." And again, in the number for May 23rd, we have "Law appoint-^ 
 ments. In addition to the information lately received of the retirement of 
 the Hon. Mr. Chief Justice Campbell, and of his seat on the Benc^ W'ng 
 filled by Mr, Attorney -General Robinson,we are informed that the foHpw- 
 ing appointments are to be made : The Hon, J. B. Macaulay, puisne-jud^e ; 
 Mr. Solicitor-General Boulton, to succeed Mr. Robinson, Attorrtey-^Jfjner- 
 al, and Mr. Hagerman to fill the situation of Solicitor-General of the 
 Province." 
 
 The advancement announced in the second of these paragraphs of Attor- 
 ney-General Robinson to the Chief Justiceship of Upper Ganadn, in the 
 room of Chief Justice Campbell, was a fitting crown to a distinguished 
 political career. '^}ir. Robinson's handsome, winning presence, fine personal 
 qualities, and pre-eminent gifto of intellect and eloquence, caused him to 
 be beloved and reverenced by friends and supporters, as well as sincere- 
 ly respected by the rest of the community who did not accept hjs views 
 of State afiairs. 
 
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 102 
 
 MSMOKIAL VOLUME. 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 SIB JOHN COLBOllNE AT YOUK.— LFAilHLATION. — NEW PAHI.IAMENT 
 llUILDimiH. — OHGOOOE HALI,. — Ul'I'EK CANADA t;OLLE(;E. — 
 PKI('E8.-^GAME ANU WILD I'UiEONH. 
 
 IR JOHN COLBORNE wa» another inilitrfry Lieutenant-Go- 
 1^ veinor of Upper Canada ; not uninvested with historical asso- 
 fr -jC—zs c'^^'ions; reproachless in character; nay, given to high and 
 (^^mir® chivalrous aims, in every post to which duty had called him ; 
 (c^ tall, picturesque and soldierly in form ; a general ofWoer, who, like 
 ^'t^ Sir Peregiine Maitland, had held an important command at Water- 
 loo, and previously been distinguished in the Peninsula, In Oleig's " Lives 
 of Eminent British Military Commanders," his name frequently occurs in 
 connection with that of Sir John Moore.'at whose death he was present ; 
 ftnd in Sir William Napier's " History of the War in the Peninsula," the 
 encomium is passed upon him of being "a man of singular talent for war." 
 He bore about with him conspicuous evidence of being one who had 
 known the shock of battle. A mutilated shoulder, and a right arm par- 
 tially disabled, were signs anil seals of heroism, impressed on his person 
 at the storming of Ciudad Rodrigo. 
 
 Sir John Colboroe promised to be an excellent transition Governor for 
 Upper Canada ; being more genial and frank in manner than his prede- 
 cessor ; less disposed to yield himself up implicitly to the traditional local 
 advisers ; and more inclined to recognize popular rights, and respect the 
 freedom of the press. To have thrust upon Jiim their grievances so 
 pointedly as they did, at the very moment of his arrival at York, was im- 
 politic on the part of theneforming party. It was not to be expected that 
 the new Governor would instantly make sweeping changes, or that he 
 would at once, by his acts, pronounce a condemnation on the conduct of 
 the ruler whom he had'^ust Buccefded. The impatience of the party' 
 forced him to take up a position which at first he was not at all disposed 
 to assume. Here is a passage from an address of welcome presented to 
 Sir John Colbome by " His Majesty's dutiful and loyal subjects the inhab- 
 itants of York and its vicinity," but not signed, nevertheless, we may be 
 sure, by a goodly number of those inhabitants : " We cannot conceal from 
 your Excellency, without a sacrifice of candour, that there are many veiy 
 
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 TORONTO: PAST ASD PRESENT. 
 
 103 
 
 X 
 
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 important subjects wliich have deeply aflTected tlio feelings of the people. 
 But we are solicitouff to regnrd the accession of your Excellency to the 
 government of this Province as the commencement of a new era in which 
 your Excellency, above the prevailing influoneos of politicjil disscnsionM. 
 and unhappy advice, will prove our constitutional benefactor, and realize 
 the paternal wishes of our most Gracious Sovereign to ble^w his people 
 with mild, just nml conciliatory principles of aovemment." In a second 
 address, i>re8ented immediately after, they are more explicit. They ask 
 him at once to assemble the Parliament: "Whilst we, the undersigned 
 inhabitants of York and its vicinity, regret extremely that our tirst 
 welcome should be embittered by complaint and prayer; and while it is 
 far from our disposition or intention to call on your Excellency, at the mo- 
 ment of your arrival, to interfere in any manner, with the proceedings of 
 the Courts of Justice, even with the most splendid jirerogative of your 
 office, the administration of judgmfent in mercy, yet feeling otirsel ves dis- 
 regarded and our rights endangered by many late proceedings of the pro- 
 vincial administration; and amongst those proceedings as especially wor- 
 thy of notice on this occasion, by the late arbitrary and unconstitutional 
 removal of a Judge highly and justly esteem^ by us ; by the destruction 
 of one independent press; by a violence almost burglarious, by clerks, 
 relations and dependents of men in. office and power; by the silencing 
 another press by means of uncpjwtitutional security exited of its editor 
 before conviction of any faultfand noW by the virtual suppression of a 
 third independent press y a most severe and disproportionate sentence 
 passed on its editor, F>aneis Collins, on a libel: a sentence fraught with a 
 measure of punishjnfent against the temperance and moderation expressed 
 by the jury wh» convicted him, and against the spirit of the expressive 
 charter of B^tish Rights, that great pledge of safety to the subject ' that 
 no man ^all be fined to his ruin— we, the undersigned, pressed by such 
 griev^ces. entreat that your Excellency will please, as speedily as possi- 
 bly to convene the Provincial Parliament, to whom we may make our 
 ^ ^omplhints ; and by which course your Excellency may, through thai legi- 
 timate and constitutional channel, arrive at the knowledge of the true* " 
 state of the country, a thing not attainable by your Excellency through 
 the advisers of your Excellency's misguided predecessor." 
 
 The Parliament was not instantly a8.sembled ; but about the customary 
 time, viz., on the 8th of January (1829), it met at York. In their Address 
 on the Speech, the Lower House seize on a recommendation contained in 
 it to repeal a certain existing Act "for the better securing the Province 
 against all seditious attempts or desipis to disturb the tranquillitv there-. 
 
 
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 of," and make it a miVyect of congratulation and compliment to the Oov^ 
 ernor: " It nHbnlH uh the higho«t gratiti^ation to n«eive Buch a mark of 
 your Kxccllency'H regard for the conntitutional winhen and feulingti of the 
 people ; and wo Iwg Icnvo humbly to assure your Excellency that nothing, 
 in our opinion, will more happily tend to spread contentment and give an 
 impulse to public spirit and enterprise than the continued manifestation 
 by your Excellepey of the same liberal and enlightened jwlicy." 
 
 The session lasted until the 22nd of March. Twenty-five Acts were 
 iiasscd. In the summary given in the Loy<Uuit newspaper, it is stated 
 that iHisides the passing of these Acts, " addresses to the king were voted, 
 with resolutions on the subject of Francis Collins and the amoval of Mr. 
 Justice Willis." 
 
 At the conclusion of Oiis session, however, the tieutonant-Oovemor 
 had occasion to say: — " I cannot close this session without expressing my 
 regret that the people will derive no immediate advantage from your 
 deliberations on two subjects of primary importance — improvement of 
 public schools, and the measure that should be adopted to ensure good 
 roads and safe bridges throughout the province. In allowing your roads 
 to remain in their present state, the great stimulus to agricultural indus- 
 try is lost." ' ^ 
 
 In reply to a proposal on the ptfrt of the Hou» to qupply funds for the 
 civil list, they were told no money was required fr*m them. " I, thank you 
 for your offer of making a provision for the support of the Civil Qovera- 
 ment," the Qovemor said, " which I should have gladly accepted in his 
 Majesty's name, had not the revenue arising from the statute of the 14th 
 of Geo. III., chapter 88, the appropriation of which for the Public Service 
 is under the control of the crown, appeared quite sufficient to defray the 
 expenses of the current year. An intimation to this. effect was conveyed 
 to you in my reply to one of your addresses early in the present month." 
 The exasperating indifference to the will of tho House Is thus accounted 
 for. It may be added, that in a short time prders were received from 
 England for the liberation' of C^ina,' and the remis^on of the fine of 
 £50 which had been iai^osed. 
 
 In May, 1829, the following advbrtusement appears in the columns of 
 the Loyalist. " Parliament Buildings. — Sealed tenders for erecting build- 
 ings for the Legislature at York will be received on the first Monday of 
 June next Plans, elevations and specifications of the buildings may be 
 seen after the 14tfa day of May next, on application to Qimnt Powell, Esq., 
 from whom further information will be. received." It was thus that the 
 lieutenant-Governor, soon after the close of th« sessioti, proceeded to give 
 
 
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 TOaoNTO: fA8T AMD Pt^UUNT. 
 
 effect to the vot«. of a former PaHiamont in I82(t. which set ai«rt £7 (KM) 
 for new Parliament Buildings. The aencral Ilospltel. where the Parlia- 
 ment had been temporarily accomimxlatcd simo theflro of 1824 was now 
 tt«iuired for it«. proper use. Such wa« the i„ceptio„ of tho Parliament 
 Buildings which in 1884 are still doing duty, but which, it \h to bo 
 hoped, are on tho poiril of teing replaced by others more worthy of the 
 1 rovince, more noble in their aspect, and letter a.lapted to their impor- 
 tant purpose. - "^ 
 
 The LoffaliBt new8,niper informs tho public of the site selected for thO 
 proposed edifice thus : " The Building, i.e.. the new Parliament House, will 
 stand in Simcoe Place, a Square containing six acres ; a very fine situa- 
 tion facmg the Bay, and in front of Government House." On early plans 
 of York this piece of ground is marked "Simcoe Place." In the preced- 
 ing session £230 had been voted for building the Don Bridge, on the 
 Kingston ^d. The intende.1 improvement was now also carried into 
 effect Thi^ was the tubular, covered-in Don Bridge, afterwards'under- 
 mined and carried away by a freshet. 
 
 In the year 1829, the important and conspicuous building known 
 as Osgoode Hall was commenced. The original portion which now 
 began to be visible at the head of York Street was what is at present 
 simply Its eastern wing. This edifice was designed to be the head-quar- 
 ters of the Law Society of Upper Canada, instituted in 1797. and incor- 
 porated in 1822. Ita cost was defrayed out of the funds of the Society. 
 The erection of this building was chiefly promoted and superintended by 
 Dr. W. W.Baldwin, of Spadina House, on S,««lina Hill, a proficient i« 
 the law. as we have already heard, as well as in medicine. The building 
 has ,ts name from Chief Justice Osgoode. the firet legal officer of that runk 
 in U^per Canada. Among the many interesting portraito in oil of high 
 legal functionaries preserved in various parte of this building, there is an 
 excellent One of Chief Justice Osgoode himself, frem whom the Hall has 
 Ite name copied from a portrait taken fnjm life, in the possession of 
 Captain John Kennaway Simcoe. RN.. the present occupant of Wolford, 
 the family seat, in Devonshire, of .the founder of the Upper Canadian 
 York.- Before the erection of the building at the head of York Street 
 sittings of the benchers and examinaUons of law studento took place for 
 a time in the building already spokert of as Russell Abbey. The ordinary 
 appellation of Osgoode Hall among the pojpukce of the neighbourhood 
 was for a long period " Lawyers' Hall" 
 
 The object of the.Law Society of Upper Canada is set forth in'an <■ Act 
 for the better regulating the Practice of the Law," passed at Newark. 
 
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 100 
 
 MSUOMAL HlVUK. 
 
 July 3rd 1797. The then practitionon. in Upper CailiuU wore allowed to 
 form themHelves into a society. " a« well for the eHtebliBhing of order 
 anionj? themselveB aH for the purpose ot securing to the Province and 
 theprofewion a learned and honourable Body, to «««ist their fellow-suh- 
 jectH as occasion may require, ond to support and maintain the const.tn- 
 tion of the said Province." 
 
 When the Parliament assembled again at York, in 1830 (January 8th). 
 a good deal of the popularity of the Lieutenant-Oovemor with the refonn- 
 ing party h«l papsed away. The caution which he had observed, »ct.ng. 
 doubUess. under strict orders from his superiors in London, had tried their 
 patience. In t^eir Address in reply to the opening Si«eoh. the demand 
 was again made for the dismissal of the existing Executive Council. But 
 the aovemorstiU declined to commit himself. The reply to the Address 
 of the Hous^ was : " I thank you for your Address." and that was all. In 
 the curtneife of the words we are not to see suUenness or displeasur*, as 
 would haWbeen indicated in the case of the preceding Governor, but sim- 
 ply a \m of amused reticence on the part of one who waited with curi- 
 osity to see what would happen next. ^ 
 
 Another famous reply of Sir John Colbome's. at a somewhat later 
 period, to a petition presented by a numerous deputation from the coun- 
 try was " Gentlemen. I have received the petition of the inhabitente : — 
 and again, no more ; a reminiscence probably at the moment crossing the 
 ^ mind of the speaker of some troublesome village or town in the Peninsula 
 a few years back. On this occasion, it is said. Government House, at 
 York where the petition was expected to be presented, was put in a state 
 Of strong military defence. That such relations shouldliave come into 
 existence between a ruler of pure andjioble intentions and any portion of 
 the people under his sway, is saddening in the retrospect; at a time, too, 
 when numerous circumstances were concurring to make the country very 
 prosperous. At the opening of a session of Parliament held at York in 
 October. 1832. the Lieutenant-Governor was able to address the Hou«e m 
 terns Uke these :— " The continued immigration, unprecedented as regards 
 the industry and capital transferred to this country from the Parent State, 
 ; is by ite bentfcial influence, bringing the Province rapidly forward, and 
 owning to you the faireat prospects. Your deUberations. therefore, can- 
 not but render this session-^of peculiar importance to the general inter^to 
 of the colony. You will learn with satisfaction that the population has 
 increased not less than a fourth since tte report forwarded for your in- 
 formation last session; that the immigrants, with few exceptions, are 
 fuUy occupiei in the districto in which they are established ; and that the 
 
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 TORONTO: PAST AJiD PBMSBNT. 
 
 107 
 
 extenMivo agricultural improvomenU an.l act.lal cultivation, proiniw Hun. 
 port and an.ployment for our countrymen whom the current of evonuN 
 may m.luco to tix tl.oir abo,le ii> thin part of the Em,.iro.- Neverthelo«H 
 It wa8 a corUin thinK with thow who ha.1 adopt«.l the reforming views" 
 that these circumsUnces of prosperity wore , no pr<.of that tJiere was no- 
 thmg w.ong in the atlministrati^n of affairs. With them it continue,! to • 
 be « certain thing, that until the relations of the few to the many 
 throughout the whole of Cana.la were ma.lo permanently just, there coulil 
 be no ondurmg contentment or real happiness an.ong the ,HH,ple at lan« 
 lot the material prosperity of the country Ik, what it might 
 
 Another monument of the era of SirJoJm Colborne, esUbKshed at 
 York. Bt.ll endures in the institution kn'owrf «a Upper,' Canada College 
 Ihis great Public Scho<.l was brought inU> complete o,M,ration through the 
 instrumentality of\,this Lieutenant-Governor in 1830, Tendew for the 
 erection of the buildings wore a<lvertised tox in tho^LoyalUt of May 2nd 
 m the preceding year, in these words : " Minor College. -Seahjd Tender 
 for erecting a school-ho.we and four dwelling-houses, will bo receive.l on 
 the first Monday of J.me next. Plans, elevations an.l specifications may 
 be seen after the I2rt, instant, on application to the Hon: Qeorgo Mark- 
 land, from, whom further infornwtio^ may be received. York, 1st Ma^. 
 
 In Sir John Colborne's opening speech, on the 8th of January 1829 
 after the remark-" the public schools are ge.,erally increasing, but their 
 present organization seems susceptible of improvement," there occur-, this 
 passage : ■• Measures will be adopted. I hope, to reform the Royal Gram- 
 mar School, and to incprporute it with the Univen,ity recently endowed 
 by h.8 Majesty, and to introduce a system in that seminary that will open 
 to the youth of the Province the means of recoiling a liberal and exten- 
 sive course of instruction. Unceasing ex^ion should be m«# to attnict 
 able masters to this country, where the population beare no proportion to 
 the number of oftices and employments that must necessarily be held by 
 men of education and acquirements, disposed to support the laws and your 
 free institutions." 
 
 In the general form given to the echo of t4,is portion of the Speech on 
 the Address from the Commons, there is a good deal of meaning " We 
 will direct our anxious attention to the state of the public schools" the 
 House of Assembly said, "and consider what improvement* in the 
 present imperfect and unsatisfactory systepi are best calculated to open 
 to the youth of this Province the weans of receiving a liberal and e'x- 
 tensive course of instruction; and we are fully sensible of the vitet im- 
 
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 MMtmiip 
 
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 108 
 
 MUMORUL VOW MM. 
 
 portanco of uncoaNiiiK oxnrttonN to ottract ablo maxtorH to the countlry, 
 wlutru tliu population and wealth Ixiar no pro|M>rtion to tliu number 
 of officoH and oniployniontfi, which ought to Imj hold by niun of uduca- 
 tion and acquirumontH diHpoHod to Hupport tho lawit, and, what wo aiitj 
 highly gratitlod to flml ho favourably inuntioncd by you% Kxcellonoy, Ihu 
 froo inHtitutionH of our country." Hatiru potwlbly lurked in thu expruiwion 
 " ought to bo held." 
 
 When ^ir John Colborne arrivud in Upper ('aniula, he camo HtraightT 
 from (jluornney, and frotih front a tank of educational reform accoinplighed 
 by him in that ialand. He had rendered hia administration there memo- 
 rable by the Buccessful renovation and modemizntion of Eli/al>uth ( 'ollego, 
 a foundation of tlie timefl of Queen Fllizaboth, but fallen to decay. In 
 Upper Canada, a formal univeniity, after tho model of the Englinh uni-^ 
 voniitieg, had been from tho beginning an element in tho polity of tlio 
 country ; but actually to set up and put in motion such a piece ef learned 
 machi(iery seemed hitherto premature. On his aottlement at York, Sir 
 John Colborne soon made up his mind not to push forward into imme- 
 diate existence^' as l>y some he was urged to do, the larger establishment, 
 but to fgund a preliriiinary ftnd preparatory institution, which should meet 
 the immediate educational wants of the cpniQiiunity. Jle obtained tho 
 sanction of the home authorities ; and the substance of a despatch from 
 head-quarters on ^he subject was communicated to the HoUse in the fol- 
 lowing tcrmp, which shew a certain indeiinitenoss, as yet, in regard to the 
 organization and exact aim of the proposed establishment : " The advan- 
 tages that will result from an institution conducted by nine or ton able 
 masters, under whose tuition the youth of the Province could bo prepared 
 for any profession, are indisputable ; and if such a school were perma- 
 nently established, and the charter (of King's College) so modified that 
 any professor shall be eligible for the Council, and that tho students of 
 the college shall have liberty and faculty of taking degrees in the manner 
 that shall hereafter be directed by the statutes and ordinances framed by 
 his Majesty's government, the University must flourish, and prove highly 
 beneficial to the colony." 
 
 By adopting this line of action, Sir John Colborne lost the favour of, 
 some of the customary advisers of Lieutenant-Qovemors in Upper Canada, 
 as seeming to postpone the establishment of the University proper to a very 
 distant day ; but he gained the gratitude of many throughout the country. 
 
 With the necessary modifications, EHizabeth College, Quemsey, was re- 
 produced at York, in the institution which soon becam^ famous iar 
 and wide as Upper Canada College.-'''''^AlBong some it was long fami- 
 
 , .«., .t%. 
 
 
 ^ gA- ,r JAf ^ &^ n\ * '^ 
 
 rl'-^h^^u^ 
 
/ 
 
 TORONTO. PAtfF ASl> PHBSMtlT. 
 
 100 
 
 Ihrily Hpokcn of an tho Minor ('<>1I«K". *i^*> "•■••''ion to tlio IJtiivorilly 
 wliich WAN to Iw ; anii thin wm tint titlu |ilaci>il, m wo liavii wii'ii, at t^io * 
 huaii of tlio oriKinnl Bilv«rlim)iiu-iit for toiulen. Th« l^ynliM nowi(pa|)or 
 rofura to tho iiMt'itution, wliilu yiit in embryo, mi (k)l)H)rn« Collo|{v, a« if to, 
 RUKK**'*^ that nainu for it. 
 
 Thu llttv. Dr. IlarriM, with « Mtnffof iiiantont, for thu inowt |«rt KflcfUHl 
 ill Kiiglanii, wiin nominated hn the head of tliu new iimtitution, and on- 
 triiNtod with thu taHk of itH actual ui)(Kni)sation. Dr. llarriN hiianolf hail 
 k'on higlily diittinguiHhcd at the Univcntity of Cainhridgo, where ho hail 
 beon a Fellow of Clare Hall. Dr. I'hillipH, tho VicO:l*rinrii)iil. wan alxo 
 a (Jamhridgu man, long Mime gradunteil at QuoenH College. He w«m al- 
 ready in the country, at tho head of tho DiHtrict or ROynl Oraiiiumr 
 School at York. Mr. Dade, the mathematical iiiaMtcr, wan, at tho time of 
 hin appointment, a Fellow of Caiuii College, And continued for a huiiiIkt 
 of years Htlll tw retain that honoiirahio diiitinctton. Mr. Mathown, tho 
 first claHHical inaMtor, was a graduate of Pomhroko (Jollege, a lirilliant 
 clooMical Hcholar, and a proficient in Hebrew, having won the Tyrwhitt 
 Hebrew HcholarHhip of tho University; and Mr. Boulton, the itecond 
 clasHical master, a acn of Mr. Justice Boulton, of York, was a gratluate 
 of Quoen's College, Oxford, and for some time engaged in tuition in 
 tho old-endowed Blundell's Schoql, at Tiverton, Devon. Each of tlii'so 
 gentlemen was an acquisition to the community ot York. They wore all 
 of thoni instrumental in inaugurating and fostering in Up|>er Cqnada a 
 species of scholarship which is peculiarly English. " Tlie jar long i-e|^ins 
 tho odour of the wine with which, when new, it was first filled.''^.' To 
 this day thertf lingers here and there in Canada, Up|)er and Lower, 
 some of tho aroma of the old Mossic first supplied to tho country by 
 Dr. Harris and his colleagues. Another gentleman attached to Upper 
 Canada College by Sir John Colbomo was Mr. Druiy, an artist of 
 no ordinary skill, whose paintings in oil of scenery about tho FalU 
 of Niagara and in the White Mountains were held by judges to bo 
 remarkable.^ Mr. Drury did a good deal in the way of cultivating art 
 and artistic matters at York. The same may be said of Mr. J. O. Howard, 
 afterwards the eminent architect at York, whB, although not brought out 
 expressly to undertake duties in Upper Canada College, was attachod to 
 that institution very soon by Sir John Colborne. The French Master 
 was Mr. J. P. do la Haye, of St. Malo, who hail had much experience in 
 schools in England. 
 
 The, plot of ground on which the College buildings were erected had 
 previously been knowi^ga Russell Square. While these were being pre- 
 
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 MMMOMAL VOWMM. 
 
 |«ni<l, thn work of tho Coll«|{o tiej^Mii in tho olil Diiitricl or Royiil Oram- 
 inar Hcliool, wituato, at tho tiiii«, at tim i«(>iitli«rn corner of Man-h ami 
 
 • NelHun Htreotii (to-tlay, l^iiiiltunl ami Jar\'in Htmutu), Init pn-vioimly 
 plaooil in tliu niiil<il>) of tho Nuhool block ile(lnu<l by Church, Ailelaldo, 
 JarviM an<l Hichnioml StrcutH, a buihlin^ itMvlf alrondy nieniorablo to 
 many in U|)|)er C'linaila a« the Mcono of tluiir "iKjyiMli training in the 
 littnt kumiiniortt. For tho |iur|Miw!H of thu now C'ollngo, tlio intoiior of 
 tho olil Ncliiiol waM (livitlotl into, nminn by panolloti partitionN, which 
 roaohod not (|uito to tho' coiling, ono room lioiiiga<«Nigno<t to oach niaHtor. 
 
 ' The roomH of tho Princi|Mil and Matliumatical MaMtor were yup-Htain, m 
 wn« aliio tho Awt\>nibling or I'raycr Hall. In IHHI, tonching Imgan in the 
 now buihling, and thoro tho flntt oxaniination and dintribu'tion of prittm 
 took place. . 
 
 A curioliH aclvomo criticiHni of t)r. Dunlop'x, on tho flntt appointuiontH 
 at Upper Canada Col logo, wan that thoy woro chiofly C'anibridgo nion. 
 In hiN " HtatiNtical KkctchcH of Upper Canada," alroady (piotod, ho taken 
 tho trouble to Huy : " Tho only objo(!tion (to tho now iuHtitution at York) 
 
 • is that tho majority of tho uiaHtont fro Ctintalm; whorosH it would have 
 been more advifwbh* had thoy l>con Holoctcd from tho more orthodox and 
 gcntlomanly Univerxity." In which remark wo have a record of a fooliuh 
 prejudice on the part of Dr. Dunlop, derived, poMil^y, from JiIh long awo- 
 ciation with writers in DUickxuood and FviiMr.r, among whom tho fixed 
 notion prevailed thai Cambridge was innately Whigginh, and, therefore, 
 not gcntlomanly. 
 
 I come now to notice a charitable l>azaar, hold at York in 1832, 
 under the auspicoH and through...the direct personal action of Lady Col- 
 bome. It claims a place in these annals, as having boon the first ever . 
 seen on a large sc^ale in York. <_ 
 
 The bazaar, oi\ fancy fair for charitable purposes, was probably to a 
 great extent a' novelty, even in England, at the timdl* Tho object of the 
 one now held at York was the relief of orohans and others rendered > 
 desolate by the ravage8M>f the cbolora,^ftf(u other causes. This long re- 
 membered sale took place on the 2nd of Sc|)tember, in one of the large 
 Commissariat storehouses built on the beach near the foot of John Street. 
 An upper' flat was cleared of its contents. The sides of the walls and the 
 beams overhead were decorated with flags and festoons -of bunting. About 
 the floor were placed tables covered with articles contributed by the pro- 
 moters of the ^heme. The entrance to the fiat used was by a gangway 
 leading straight into it ^om the top of the bank overlooking tho beach. 
 One of J^e salutary eflet:ts, and not the least, of this bazaar, was the 
 
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 TOHONTO. f4MT AMD fHIUUUIT. 
 
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 .lr*wi„K t«K«th«r in » kh.lly spirit, if only for » f.,w .Uy« «f»ll H 
 
 lnr;!!z;.'" '^'"'"'^ "•"" "'; '•' "•" -''"""- ••""'''•*' '"«■—' 
 
 ^'•'"•'•"'••'r ""mlM,r of «.*/J/, (U„„iiau Mu!;,r.ine (IH.r,). ,,.,,,. 
 W.0.1 .t York r.,porU of the l«/«r ih». "All th., f«,hi„n.|.|., ..„., ;„„. 
 
 «.. . U.,1, Hto..l . U.,y, .n.. /in . v..ry .l.ort thno .11 U. Jtil wl 
 -1. to rntlmnun. who will/l.,«,> ., tl.« H,.ple of thnir „y.. ih., tl.in«« 
 
 WM thruo hunilrwl nn<l «Wven pound)*." 
 
 Th« current pr«« of Uu^U, pn.luc„ .n.l pn.vi,io,H, nt York, at thi. 
 
 period (January. 18.1.1) n/ay 1. Icrnod fron. tlu, nuu.l.r of SibM 
 
 , M,v,m««j.«t named: |^on.o for Ha.ldlu or waguon. fin toXiO; l.ulk 
 
 »year. £1 10..; .I.eep. ^0-, to l.U; Uof, ,H,r ).un.lr. ,1 ,K.un.N. £1 to £1 A- 
 
 mutton ,.riK,u„d.W. I veal ,K,r ,K.und. U ; pork, jk. hu „d ..undH,' 
 
 U J«. !)./., pork. «lte^, p„r l.undrud ,K,un.l., £1 m.., ,,.„, ^„ ,j 
 . W. ; go^. „. l^,t to 2-. OJ. ; turkey,. 2.. 0,/. to 5. ; duck,, for Jouple! 
 *^ ;^fow H. ^ch. 7K to4^ ; e«KH. ,hu- dozen. 1* M. ■ eho««„. ,«r hundinl 
 XI 5« butter, per p<,uhd, 1-.; milk, per ,p«rt. nd. ; wheat. ,H,r 1.uhI.„|. 
 
 ^. hi ' n^u 7' ^"'" '"'■ '" "''• • '•*'"• '"■• **""''"'• «'•• i '"'li'" corn, pe 
 bushel, 3. U.^ , poUtooH. ,«r bunhel. 2«. M. ■ tumi,., .n-r bunhel. U it ■ 
 
 pew. per bushel. 3.. ; apploK, ,H,r bunhel. 2.. (W. t.. :j«. »,/ • haV ,K,r ton' 
 
 £4 10.. to £.5 10.. ; cordwood. eight feet long, four l.road and f^ur high' 
 
 10..; loaf Bugar. per pound. 7i,/.; muscovado «ugar. i.er pound M- L' 
 
 (bUjck). 3.. U, tea (g^.n). 3.. «.. U, 3-. O.i.; coffee (rai).,.*^!.: ^^ : 
 
 coffbe ground). 1.. U, whinkey. per galla^,, 2,. to 2..Mj bmndy (f^i^icf 
 
 p«rganon.7..to7«^; wine, per gallon. «.. to 15..; Hoap. ,K,r pound 
 
 Od.; ftour. per barrel. £1 to £1 .5«. Dr. Dunlop. in hi« ilrLly often 
 
 quoted ."Htatiat^., SketcheV exp^e^.^ hi, .urU. in 1882. t'hat , 
 
 little game And tUh were offered for sale at York. Hia worda are • " York 
 
 on the banks of a lake. «,d aurrounded by a fo«>st. in. not to H.y "inditter- 
 
 ently aupphed. but positively without, anything like a regular supply of 
 
 fish or game; and when you do. by accident, stumble on a bnice of part- 
 
 ndges. or a couple of wihl ducks, you pay mote for them than you w^mld 
 
 in almost any part of Groat BriUin. London excepted. . I„ fact, unless . 
 
 man .s himself a sportsman, or has friends who an, so. and who send him 
 
 g»me. he may live seven years in York. and. with the exception of an 
 
 occasional haunch or saddle of venison, may never see game on hi. Ubie " 
 
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 MKMOUAU rOUMB. 
 
 \i »,\t\tMkt*, hownvnr, fntiii Diinlnp, ihat njinloriftla for plK^on-pin wi«ra 
 NimiiikimiM v*ry •liun<Unt at York : " AUml) twoiiiiiiiiM<tni'iiK<i," h« wHUni, 
 inlHSI, "a Ntniftm of wild pigitonN Umk ii intu ih«ir KmiIm U* )l/jpiwr 
 York ; akiil for IhrMi or four <liiyii thn townjnwoutitJtMl with on« r(inli(|ii<>ri 
 roll i>f flriwK, m if « Nkinnljih wnni ((uinK on in the ntfuctM. Every |(tt«(, 
 piNtol, muMkt<t, bliinilarburw anil Hn»rm of whalovtr ileitcription. WM put 
 in n>i|uiaition. Thn coiMtahlitii itnti Itollon niai^xtrntttii wt<m on tlm kinrt, 
 Ki^tl oir«ntl«ni without niiiiilirr ware pujlml up; ainont( them wnri) lion- 
 ourabin lunnilien of tha l^neuUv* ahil li«glaktiv« Council*, (7ruwn l«w- 
 y«ni, n!n|M-ct*l)l«, iit»iil oitlMna, and.liint of *ll, tha> Hhnrllf of thn county; 
 till hi lant it WM found that piKoonii, (lying within uaty ahot, ware a 
 temptation too Ntrqmi^ for human vlrtua to withatand, and m* the oonteat 
 waa Kivnn up." "ApntpiM of delica<<lfla at York : C'mitain Hamilton, 
 writing aa " the author of (Jyril Thornton,"' in hia " Men and Manmira In 
 America," uxpreaa«tl hia aurpriw that excellent ice-unanM could \\^^ pro- 
 cure<l tliore in IH.IS. " In paaaing Uirough the •iMUh waa rather aor- 
 priaed," he any a, " to obaerve an affiokt intimating mat ioo-cieama were to 
 l*e ha<l within. The weather Iwing hot, I imtersd, and ftiund the maator 
 of the eataltliabment to bo an Italian. I never ate better ice at Orange'a " 
 ''aome fathlonable reaort In London, probably). Thia Italian waa Franco 
 Koaai, 217 King Htruet Weat Hir and the aignora are well remembered. 
 I. add here an obaervation on certain alleged aporting propenal- 
 iiea at York, made at thla period by Lieutenant Coke, in hia "HuImI- 
 torn'a F^Lpugh." It ia a goo<l example of the aenaeleaa generalixa- 
 tion whlM|^touriata will occaaionally make, from a aolitary, or at all 
 ovnt«, a mrely o<icurring incident which thoy may have chanced to 
 witQMM. " There are no placoa of amiiaement (at York)," the Lieutenant 
 writea, "and the chief diveraion of the youqg men SMttared to conaint in 
 ahooting mooquito haVrka, which hovered ptentifulTPaliout tht; atnteta 
 and upon the margin of the bay of an evehing. Upon theae occaaioiu 
 thea^ortMnen m»ke theb appearance, equipped in ahooting-jacketa and 
 acoortipaiMe^ by ^help.doga, aa if prcjMired for a 12th of Auguat on the 
 moon of P^^l^^tm^" Thu hArmleaa, nay beneficent, night-hawka, ancea- 
 tora of the ti|^ri^^^^tM*'v6f Jthat ipeciea ■till to be heard in the akiea 
 over the '***"%2^||H9M*>'>8Meir'> 9" cockchafen and beetlea, could 
 aoarcely havel^EBMpto|J^ch Li^ti|etiant Coke'a youn^^ men were 
 really in <l"^^wl^ffi>,^^*^<><><}(^'<fy|N« to be found in moat places 
 everywhere roupP^»t^e proper IjjpSI, ^''especially in the evening. 
 Aa to woodcock il YorkV I aubjoin what Major T. W. Magrath aaya in 
 his clever "Authentic Letters from Upper Canada," Dublin, 1^83: "It 
 
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 "0 hU »rrlv»l h..r,.. llml th.. ,ui„«tnr month, *«, thi^ i^Iim tU .nort i« 
 
 «..J«y..l 1|, high imrfoction- „o,/.t tl o,«o.u M\^i^^ th.t U...y U,!,.* 
 
 S'r! .JT*"' ""V" '-'A '"•"""* ^"'-'^ th. ....tharn U»itu.U 
 '...fru««n H|.nn«» »«, Mu/.uit.ul U. th.ir ,„a,„wr ^ .uf-iniM^o A, 
 
 • .|HK-n..m«f th««,.,rt. l/h.y„ know,, Mr (WI.«Ji«w.r.l. of York'to 
 h.v« -hoi. ..I «„« .Uy^^irty hnM,,, .t Chl,,p.w«. .1.^ t« the r.H, of^ 
 Ni.«.« ; .,,.1 I „ .j^ ^,,„ „„ ,.^ f^„, ,^^,^ ^ ^^^^^^ ^^^^^ ^^^^^^ ^^^ 
 
 rrS hT ?'Z' ^'"' *••"" "' '■""''"" »-uo,. ,ny brothp™ pr. 
 forming thair |Mirt<i/With eqii«l nutxmm" " 
 
 /;-•■- 
 
 CHAPTKR IV. 
 
 POLITICAL DIVIHWNH AT VORK.-MACK.I.Z,R'h MP0L„0Ka-4 PROCHHIOM. 
 
 BK vUltetion of A,i»tio cliojera. »lr,,*,|y wenUonwl, cutH a 
 
 ijlooin over th« p«rio,l «t whicli w« h»v« Arrived, for ft time 
 
 It |>»r«lywKl Kenemi humiioaH ami enterpriw ill Yorlr; althouKh 
 
 it m«y h«ve had the benoHcial effoct of turning th. mind, of 
 
 ^ people rwrfaent (her., f. th« n«ce*.ity of or«»ni«.tlon for HmniUry, 
 
 y M for other purpoKeH. A population of nearly ton Ihouaand ha<i 
 
 eongregaUHl together; and nothing worth th., naming had an yot been 
 
 done for the drainage and generat cioanlinew ^f the place 
 
 The la.t three or four yean, of the Fourth i)ec«do of VWk are jOio not 
 pleaMnt to contemplate on account of the dK,ti*ctod con.lition of tli» com- 
 munity, and of tho whoh, country. ari,i„g out of an accumuUtion «f miii- 
 Wtoa on the part of the ruling powom on the »pot and in the Bother 
 Vmniry. The very intimity of the antagoniHm of parties about thiS 
 / Mme. however, gave promlae of the approach of a crisU The main- 
 Uine« o» ,H,pular righti. ^t York and elaowhere were being driven to 
 desperation. The party of the Executive, when defeated in the A«em- 
 Wy. were pretty sure that the measure obnoxiouH to them would be re- 
 
 
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 114 
 
 MEMORIAL VOLUME. 
 
 '\ 
 
 „ ^ -J 
 
 jectcd in the Council. And when, through the general election of 1832, 
 they acquired a majority in the House, they at once tried to make their 
 Successes doubly sure, by decreeing public strictures on their proceedingH 
 to be a criminal infringement of privilege. When Mr. Mackenzie, in his 
 place as ope of the members for the county of York, ventured fearlessly 
 to expose what ho believed to be the viciousness of the banking system 
 lately* introduced at York, he was spccdiy got rid of. . Ingeniously con- 
 trived charges were urgently pressed, and he was expelled (ho House. 
 Re-election followed, of course ; and ro-expu|8ion — a process repeated five 
 times; the removal from the House being more than once by the aid of 
 force. li.'ia not within my province, a.s annalist simply of York, to go 
 very extensively into particulars. As a summary, I subjoin a toast pre- 
 served in Mackenzie's "Sketches," offered at a Typographical Society's 
 meeting at Albany, in 1832. In printers' language, the situation was as 
 follows : — "The Parliament of Upper Canada: a form of squabbled mat- 
 ter, locked up in the chaise of restriction, with the quoins of violence and 
 dissension, whoso capitals are continually falling out." i 
 
 A spectacular phenomenon or pageant in the streets of York, on the 2nd 
 of January, 1832, connected with the troubles of the time, must be men- 
 tioned. It was a demonstration to celebrate the second return of Mr. Mac- 
 kenzie, after expulsioti. I adopt a description given by himself in his 
 " Sketches " : "A pq^eession was formed (at the Red Lion Inn, on Yonge 
 Street — Price's or TienS's, where the hustings were). In front of it was an 
 immense sleigh belonging to Mr. Montgomery, which was drawn by four 
 horses, and carried between twenty and thirty men and two or three High- 
 land pipers. From fifty to one hundred sleighs followed, and between one 
 and two thousand of the inhabitants. The procession passed by the Gov- 
 ernment House, from thence to the Parliament House, thenoo to Mr. Caw- 
 thra's, and then to Mr. Mackenzie's own house, giving cheers at each of 
 these places. One of the most singular curiosities of the day." it is added, 
 " was a little printing-press, placed on one of the sleighs, warmed by a 
 ^furnAce, on which ^^couple of boys continued, while moving through the 
 streets, to strike off their New Year's Address, and throw it to the people. 
 Over the press was hoisted a crimson flag, with the motto, ' The Liberty 
 of the Press.' The mottoes on the other flags were — ' King William IV. 
 and Reform,' — ' Bidwell and the glorious minority,'-;^' 1832, a Good Begin- 
 ning,' — • A Free Press, the Terror of Sycophants.' The proceedings were 
 conducted with general order and sobriety, though with much spirit." It 
 should be stated that, on the apex of Mr. Montgomery's pyramidal sleigh, 
 stood the hero of the day himself, wearing the golden cb^n and medal 
 
 
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 TORONTO: PAST AlfO PRBSKNT. 
 
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 pi-esentcd to him, a few hount previouHly, at the Ued Lion, by hiHcon<iti- 
 tuvnbi. It must bo luldcd, that Miicl<cnzie'H attuinptH about thix tiiiio, 
 hy meanH of newspaper paragrftphi^ and almanac itcniH, to nffuct the mindu 
 of the cOiumon Hohliers of the reffimonts thon in the country, by artfully- 
 contrived appeals to their i-espoctive nationaliticH, with a view to inducing 
 thoni, on an emergency, to disobey their officers and fraternize with the 
 party of reform, WiiH in every way reprehcnHible. 
 
 A day or two after the proccsbif)n, when tlio re-elected memUir had 
 taken his scat, and it was moved that he should \)o re-expelled, the chain 
 and mc(hil came forth to view again ; now in the presence of the atiKoni- 
 blcd Legislature, in a scene which has thus been described : " Mr. Mac- 
 kenzie attempted to convince the House of its error by shewing that it 
 was setting itself in opposition to public opinion ; and jwintiiig, in proof, to 
 the approbation of his constituents, as shewn, both by his' re-election and 
 the gold medal that had been presented to him. He then took out of his 
 pocket the roassive object, and by means of the enormous chain of the same 
 material, 8uspenile(r it round his neck, declaring that he would wear it 
 while he held his seat, if it wei-e only for an hour." Being interrupted in 
 his explanations, and declafed out of order by the Speaker, he withdrew 
 from 'Uh) building in disgust ; when the vote for re-expulsion was taken, 
 with the following result. Yeas, — Messrs. Attomey-Cjeneral, Berczy, 0. 
 ; Boulton, Brown, Burwell, Chisholm, Crooks, T. Elliott, A. Frazer, Jarvis, 
 Jones, Lewis, Ma^on, McMartin, Macnab, Morris, Mount, Robinson, Sam- 
 son, Shade, Solicitor-General, Thompson, VanKOughnet, Warren, John 
 "Willson, W. Wilson, and Werden — 27. ^ Nays, — Messrs. Beardsloy, Bid- 
 well, Buell, Campbell, Clark, Cook, Duncombe, Howard, Ketchum, Lyons, 
 McCall, A. McDonald, D. McDonald, Norton, Perry, Randal, Roblin, Shaver, 
 and White.^19. 
 
 In May, 1832, Mr. Mackenzie was on his way to England, as the dele- 
 gate of a "central committee of the friends of civil and religious liberty," 
 in the county of York and the surrounding districts. He was commis- 
 sioned to bring before the people of Great Britain, in every possible way, 
 the grievances of the people of Upper Canada. The time was held to be 
 propitious for the pur|M)se. A reforming king, William IV., waa on the 
 throne, and the commons of the mother country were ^st about to 
 -« recover their legitimate share in the government by the pa.ssingof a gieas- 
 ure for their better representation in Parliament. What the commomy)f 
 Upper Canada were seeking was to obtain the .same advantage ; the reality 
 of it in addition to the semblance. Hume, Brougham, Ellice, O'Connell, 
 Cobbett, and leaders' of the Liberal party generally, gave the Upper Can- 
 
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, .'_ -t . f-M ' 
 
 116 
 
 UaUORIAL VOLUME. 
 
 lids delegate a friendly receptioa He was liatened to aim) with great 
 consideration by the Colonial Minister, Lord Qoderich. During his 
 absence in England, the ceremony of expUlsioirVras repeated at York, the 
 Attomey-Qeneral and Solicitor-Oeneral, Mr. Boiilton and Mr. Hagerman, 
 taking a prominent part in the proceedings. This gave grave offence ut 
 the Colonial Office, as they had been censured already from that quarter 
 for pronouncing the previous expubions constitutional. They wore ac- 
 cordingly dismissed. The exultation at York among Mr. Mackenzie's 
 friends was, of course, very great ; while in the opposite j-anks all was 
 di8ma:y and irritation, and the York Courier, a Government organ, ven- 
 tured to express itself thus : " The minds of the well-affected begin to be 
 unhinged. They already begin to cast about in their mind's eye for some 
 new state of political existence which shall effectually pat the colony 
 without the pale of British connexion." 
 
 While Mr. Mackenzie was in England, Lord Qoderich resigned the office 
 of Colonial Secretary, and was succeeded by Mr. Stanley. Mr. Boulton 
 and Mr. Hagerman were soon in London themselves. The explanations 
 offered by Mr. Hagerman were considered so satisfactory by Mr. Stanley 
 that he was re-instated as Solicitor-General ;. and although it was not 
 thought expedient that Mr. Boulton should reassume official functions at ' 
 York, he received an appointment in Newfoundland. It now became the 
 turn of the reforming party at York to be angry, and to echo and retail 
 whatever rash things Mr. Hume or others in England might be tempted 
 to writo onjihe occasion, about the "baneful domination of the mother 
 country," so that by the time of Mr. Mackenzie's return to York, iu Au- 
 gust, 1833, the feeling of exasperation on both sides was more intense 
 than ever. - The incidents of this period in the annals of York are painful 
 to read of, and interesting only so far as they were clearly steps in the 
 process whereby the constitution of Canada was made truly, and not in 
 name only, an "image and transcript" of Great Britain; steps in the 
 piXKsess whereby the people of Upper Canada finally obtained what the 
 parent state had itself only recently recovered — a just iiepresentation in 
 the Commons' House, and an Executive responsible to themselves, as thus 
 represented in all matters relating to their own affairs. This, as it now 
 appears, was all that the Reform party of Upper Canada had been aim- 
 ing at, from the days of President Russell to those of Sir John Culbome. 
 
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 TORONTO: PAST AND PSESSNT. 
 
 117- 
 
 ,1. 3. 
 
 CHAPTRK V. 
 
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 YORK VANISHES. — ntKONTO Al'I'^^AKS. 
 
 " Time ii like a (uhioDable boat 
 That ilightly ihakei hia parting guett by the band, 
 And with hia arma oiitatretohed, aa be would fly, 
 Qraspa-in the uumer : weloume ever a/nilei, 
 And farewell goea out aighing. 
 
 — Shakspeakh/: Tr, etml Cit: 
 
 M^ N the meantime the Upper Canadian York, through evil re- 
 port and good, grew and Hpread/oxpanding naturally according 
 to the conditions and laws of /its circumstances. The scenes 
 of its first glories were early ^bandoned. The Park reserved 
 for government purposes, destinetl, as was grandly imagined, to be 
 adorned in the future with depa/tmental buildings, each Hurrounded 
 by its own ornamental grounds, became, for a time, a quarter wholly in- 
 eligible in point of beauty of scenew and salubrity of air. The place of 
 its Halls of Parliament, its Palace M (iovemment, after remaining deso- 
 late for years as an appendage too extensive, was utilized by being made 
 then the site of a prison and gaa/works. The time, however, came when, ^ 
 as has been already stated, not a 8(|uare rood in any part of the great 
 area over which the town thayWus York had spread was not found to be 
 of high utility, for some purpbse or other, in the economy of a numerous 
 community. 
 
 In 1834, York embraced, iti round 'numbers, a population of nearly 10,000 
 souls. 'All the usual trade*, occupations and professions ^led into being 
 by the necessities and caprices of men had developed themselves there. 
 
 Among the industries of ihe place were, for example, the manufacture 
 of paper, of which we /have already once heard, by Messrs. Eastwood & 
 Skinner ; iron foundries and steam-engine manufactories, by Messrs. Shel- 
 den & Butcher and C. Perry ; the manufacture of blue and Polan^'starch, 
 by Benjamin Knott; of candles and soap, by Charles Stotesbury and 
 Peter Freeland ; steam saw-mills for the Manufacture of lumber, by Dr. 
 Robinson, and a wind-mill, built of brick, for the manufacture of flour, by 
 Messrs. Worts & Gooderham, " east of the town, on the Bay-shore." For 
 the promotion of liter^ture'and science, there were the Literary and Philo- 
 sophical Society, formed by Drs. Dunlop and Ree8,and Mr. Fothergill ; the 
 
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 118 
 
 MEMORIAL VOLUME. 
 
 Mcchaniot' Iiistituto, with n. Hinall library, and a Bcheuio for tho diffuMion 
 of UKcful Knowludgo, by mcaiiH of lectuieHyand oxpcrimontH, promoted 
 by Mr. Dunn, Dr. Baldwin, Dr. Rolph, Dr. Dunlop, Mr. Bront, Mr. JarviM, 
 Mr. Ewurti Mr. Worts, Mr. Muswon, and others ; tho library kopf at Mr. 
 Timothy ParHon's, 215 King Street; a Commercial Reading- Room formed 
 by tho oxertionH of Mr. Motlro, Mr. Brent, Mr, N'owbigging, Mr. Carfrao 
 aud otherH ; branchen of th^Religious Tract and Book Society, supported 
 by Mr. Ketchum, Mr. Small, Mr. John Gamble, Edward Goldsmith* Wal- 
 ter Rose, ant} others — the depot of J>ooks being kept at Mr. Robert Cath- 
 cart's general dry goods store, 147 King street. There were also efficient 
 schools, independent of those suj)ported by Government funds; as Mr. 
 Caldicott's, Mr. Stewart's, and Mr. Boyd's ; and Miss Bliss's York Infant 
 School. In regard to art, Messrs. Daly and Howard had aimed to culti- 
 vate the public tjiste by instituting loan exhibitions, and Mr. Tazewell had 
 begun to work in lithography, and to produce a number of Canadian 
 views. As to music and tho drama, both had received attention in private 
 houses at York (traditions exist of private theatricals in good style at 
 Spadina house and the Garrison); but in public they were constrained to 
 put up with very humble quarters in Franks' Wll-room, to which a 
 rather steep and not very steady staircase was made to load on the out- 
 side (not far from the market place), imtil, in about 1832, a Theatre 
 Royal* on the principal street, a few yards west of the modem Jordan 
 Street, was established, under the very respectable management of Mr. 
 J. E. T. C, Vaughan, " formerly of Drury tane Theatre, London." Literary 
 periodicals had been again and again started, though destined, as is usual 
 with such enterprises for a while in young countries, to be short-lived ; 
 as the " Roseharp," edited by Mr. Cawdell ; the " Canadian Magazine," 
 edited by Captain Sibbald, and tho " Canadian Literary Magazine," 
 edited by Mr. Kent. 'Many weekly or bi-weekly newspapers were pub- 
 lished, as Mr. Gumett's Couiier, Mr. Dolton's Patriot, Mr Collins's 
 Cantulian Freeman, of which the reader has heard, Mr, King's Canadian 
 Correspondent, the Ch-istian Guardian, the Colonial Advocate. There 
 was also est4blished a Typographical Society, Joseph H. Lawrence, Presi- 
 dent, and likewise a Masonic Institution, with a hall on Market Lane, 
 Where meetings took plate " on every Thui-sday previous to the full 
 moon." 'Several almanacs, as Fothergiil's Canadian Farmers' Almanac 
 and General Memm-andum Book, Chewett's Upper Canada Alvianac 
 and Astrmiomical Calendar, The Tract Society's Upper Canada Christian 
 Almanac ; and McKenzie's Patrick Swift's New Almanac for the Cana- 
 dian True Blues, with which was incorporated The Constitutional Re- 
 
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 119 
 
 farmer')* Text Book. Books in general litomturo were supplied by Mosars. 
 Lesslie & Sons, "Yorlc, Kingston and Dundas;" also by Mr. Honry 
 Rowsell, in the last year of the fourth doea<lo. Fire departments were 
 also organized ; a fire-engine company, fifty strong, with two fire-engines 
 and seven hundred and fifty feet of hose. " Fjigine-house or fire-men's 
 hall in Church Street ; " and a Hook and Ladder Company for the ex- 
 tinction of fires, in 1834, sixty strong ; captain, Robert Emery ; first 
 lieutenant, Michael P. Emory; second lieutenant, ArchiUld McLellan ; 
 treasurer, William Kotchum ; secreUry, Charles Hunt. A hprse-boat to 
 the Island, propelled by four horses, and named the Sir John of the Pen- 
 insula, was put in operation, and ran about once every day, the fare 
 over ond back being one shilling and threepence. There was a Volunteer 
 Artillery Company (for salutes and so on), fifty strong ; with fifty Stand 
 of Arms and two Field pieces— Thomas Carfrae, jr., capUin ; Silas Buni- 
 ham, first lieutenant; James Leckie, lieutenant and adjutant. 
 
 A Directory had been compiled, George Walton's " York Commer- 
 cial Directory, Street Ouido aqd Register," a duo^lecimo of 10.') pages, 
 in which it was shewn that the population of York, in l«3:j, taken 
 broadly, was eight thousand seven hundred and thirty-ona. The figures 
 were made up thus : of the town proper, 7,473; of Macaulay Town (a 
 kind of unannexed Yorkville of the time, included in the parallelogram 
 bounded by Ijhe mi^ern Queen, Ypage, Edward, and Chestnut Streets), 
 558; of the region from Osgoode Hall, where Macaulay Town ends, to 
 Farr's Brewery, Lot Street, abotit 400; of the region from the east end of 
 King Street to the Don Bridge, taking in all about the Windmill, about 
 300; grand total, 8,731. 
 
 Hitherto the individuals constituting the community of York were all 
 acting in an isolated way. Little was as yet done for the general health, 
 the general comfort, the general convenience and adornment of the place. 
 The regulation of such matters for York was in the hands of the magis- 
 trates of the District at Quarter Sessions. It became, however, every 
 day more .manifest that great advantages would accrue to the town 
 from a magistracy of its own, and a judicious combination of interests 
 ■ among the inhabitants. The selfishness which always fights against 
 a tax which is going to be applied to a public purpose only, for a time 
 stood in the way. But at length, the bulk of the community, how- 
 ever reluctant at irst, became of one mind on these subjects, and agreed 
 to ask Parliament for a charter of incorporation. The proposition 
 was readily entertained ; and in February, 1834, a Bill was intro- 
 duced by Mr. Jarvis, the member for the town, an4 carried successfully 
 
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 120 
 
 UBUORIAL VOLVliE: 
 
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 through the House. On Thursday, the 6th of llarch, 1884, it received the 
 royaf oiwent, and became law. It was an elaborate Act, containing 
 ninety-seven clauses. The preamble set forth that from the rapid in- 
 crease' of the population, comiuorce and wealth of the town of York, a 
 more efficient system of police and municipal government than that now 
 established had become obviously nwe^fary ; therefore it was enacted 
 that the place should be constituted a' Sity, and divided into wards, with 
 two aldermen and two common council-men for each ward, to be elected 
 by tha inhabitants, and a mayor, who should be elected by the aldermen 
 and counoil-noeft from among themselves ; and these were to undertake 
 the management of the affairs of the said city, and the levying of such 
 'moderate tax^as should be found pecessary for improvements and other 
 public purposes. And, because the name of York was common to so many 
 towns and places, it was desirable to designate the capital of the Province 
 by a name wbicl; would better distinguish it, and none appearing more 
 eligible than that by which the site of the existing town was known be- 
 fore the name of York was assigned to it; therefore it was furthermore 
 enacted that all the Inhabitants of the said city and the liberties thereof, 
 should from time to time, and at all times thereafter, continue to bo. 
 one B<)dy Corporate and Politic, in fact and in name, by the name of 
 the City of Toronto. . Power was at the same time given to the Lieu- 
 tenant-Governor to change at his pleasure the title of any other place al- 
 ready havingjiihe name of Toronto to " something else." The neighbour- 
 ing township of Toronto was probably alluded to, which was sometimes 
 spoken of simply o^ Toronto. But no use was made of tlie permission 
 Ihus given. 
 
 Nine days after the passing of the Act (March loth), a proclamation 
 frojijFthe Lieutenant-Governor, Sir John Colbome, appeared in the Oazeite, 
 appointing IHiursday, the 27th of the same month,, for the firpt election of 
 aldermen and common council-men for the several wards. The proclamation 
 wascou«tera|igbed " Robert S. Jameson, Attorney -General." By the third 
 day of the following April the elections had taken place ; and the man 
 ^osen from among themselves, by the elected aldermen and common 
 council-men, to be the first mayor of the city, was Mr. Willian9..Lyon 
 Mackenzie. ^ ' 
 
 Having thus, so far as lay in my power, adduced memoirs of the Upper 
 Canadian York, from the time of its inceptioiKinl793-4 to the day of its 
 passing out of view, lost like the morning star in the splendour of a rising 
 sun, I f^el that my t&sk is ended. Xhe irony of events was curious, in 
 that the man who had undergone so much tribulation, and suffered so 
 
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 TORONTO: PAST ANtt PREHBNT. 
 
 121 
 
 inuch ignominy «t York, 8houl4'*HfliJly have become ita flnt chief magia- 
 trato, when incorporated aa a city : nay more, that lie Hhouid liave shewn 
 JiiniHelf, in that poHition — wliatever may have been hia imprudences in a 
 HubHO(|uont Hta^ of his carver — an able, vigorous and ttensible organiaeer, 
 wlio, with a spice of Oliver Cromwell in bis com|M)Hition, and much of 
 the insight of an Adam Smith into the arcana of social science in his un* 
 durstanding, grappled boldly, an<l, as will l)o allowed on all hands, suc- 
 cessfully, with the great ditticulties of the situation. 
 
 I am aware that the Upper Canadian York which I have sought to 
 save from oblivion was a town which, throughout the whole of the four 
 decades of its existence, met with scant favour in many quarters. 
 
 Visitors of a day, from M. de Petit-Thouars to Lieutenant ('oke, passed 
 their trivial judgments upon it from their monfentary survey. Travellers 
 making the grand tour of the United States and Canada, and purposing, 
 possibly, the publication, on their return homo, of a volume or two of 
 " Ti-avels," would seize the occasion to make shrewd com|iarison8 between 
 York and certain United States towns, such as Biinalo or Rochester — 
 each of later origin than Yprk — to the general diwidvantage of the Upper 
 Canadian^ capital, putting wholly out of view Ae vast 'difference in the 
 circumstances and geographical position of the |ontrasted places. York 
 lay wholly out of the line of the traffic and trad^ developing so actively 
 in the Great West, and backed at the time to the north^f and for that 
 matter to the west and east likewise, by interminable tracts 6f unbroken 
 forest ; so that it was utterly unlikely — nay, wholly impossible-«-that there 
 should be about York, at the periods referred to, the movement, and life, 
 and growth which, as a matter of necessity, were conspiciipus about 
 places situated and circumstanced as Buffalo, Rochester and other places 
 alotig the southern sides of Lakes Ontario and Erie were. ' X*? 
 
 And again, among many classes of Upper Canadians thoniMelv^, York 
 was unmercifully flouted: for example, among those who, in the general 
 advance of the countrj', had Ijccome identified with other thriving centres 
 of business and life in the Province of Upper Canada, and were piqued 
 at having to repair, for the settlement of wery matter of greSt pith and 
 moment to a town so little advanced in point Of civilization beyond their 
 own flourishing home.s — a town, nevertheless, which affected a certain 
 conventional superiority, by virtue of its charactef as the scat of Govern- ■ 
 ment. . 
 
 And again : others, like Robert Gourlay, associating the place wit& 
 abuses which they believed were' rampant in it, heaped curses upon it 
 •loud as well as deep. It was where, as tfiey believed, they themselves 
 
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 MBMOHIAL VOLUMB. 
 
 had penonally oxperionced the iluiolence of oflice and tho law'it delay, 
 and no good thing could comu out of it. 
 
 By meanM and through caultea Huoh aa thewi, there waM Hut up a kind of 
 o^'"™. f^^nt and latent, in runpect of the Upinir ('nna<iian York, wliich 
 bci^uie, in numerous funiiliefl and noighliourhoo<lH, traditional, from de- 
 cade to decade, throughout the period of ita existence. 
 
 Nevcrtholew, prejudices and prepossewiionH to tho contrary notwitli- 
 Htanding, tho Upper Canadian York, to thone whoso lot was cant tlmre, 
 was a town pleasant enough to live in — pleasant enough to pass the days 
 of childhood and youth, of manhood and old age in — a place as plenti- 
 fully supplied as any other with good fatdera, good mothers, and Hoendy 
 households ; with men and women of sterling typo, upright, straightfor- 
 ward, and full of " tho milk of human kindness." 
 
 The real significance of tho Upper (.'anwlian York as a landmark of 
 aggressive advance on the (wirt of English civilization in 1793-4, and the 
 sagacity of its first projector and founder as to its adnpt4il)ility to becomi; 
 in a far future a great emporium of agriculture, merchandise, manufac- 
 tures and learning, and the capital city of a Province tantamount to a 
 State^may now be justly estimated, not through tho off-hand report of a 
 tourist or visitor of an hour, nor from the well-intentioned but crude 
 conclusions of over-hasty doctrinaires of fifty years ago, but from what it 
 has already become, and what it bids fair further to become, hereafter, 
 under its re-assumed, beautiful, and oxproasive name, Toronto. 
 
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 SUPPLEMENTARY CHAPTER 
 
 NOTE ON TIIK KKCKNTIA- DIHCOVEKKO MAP OK TIIK IIAKHOUR 
 I Of TORONTO IN 178H. 
 
 lURINQ the counie of roiMtarcheN made in London, in 18H4, for 
 docuinonto having; a bearinK on the diitpute alwut the l^iind- 
 arioHof the Pmvincoof Ontario, Mr. ThomaH Ho<l({inM, Q. (\, 
 lighted on a curious plan of f^c hariiour of Toronto in 17N8, 
 a copy of which he at once tramntitted to Mr. W. B. McMur- 
 rich, Chairman of the general Semi-Contunnial Committee. ItJN 
 entitled "A plan of the propoNcd Toronto harUnir, with the propoMed 
 Mown and poMt hy the nettloment. '' It in dated Quebec, 5th Dec«<ni- 
 l)er, 178H. It waH execute<l by Captain Gother Mann, of the Royal Kngi- 
 neerH. Along with the plan watt a report by the name officer, Hunt to the 
 Right Hon. Lord Dorchester, Oovomor-Oeneral and Command(ir-ii\-Chicf 
 in British America. The report is dated at Quebec, DeceinUtr Otii, I7H8, 
 Speaking of the harlwur. Captain Mann says: "The hariiour of Toronto is 
 near two miles in length from the entrance on the west to the istlnnus 
 between it and a large niomm on the eastward. The broailth of the 
 entrance is about hulf a mile, but the navigable channel for vesseis 
 is only about 600 yards, having from three to thrce-and-a-half fathoms 
 wat4>r. The north, or main shore, the whole length of the harUiur, is 
 clay bank, from twelve to twenty feet high, ami, rising gradually b<>- 
 hind, ap|iarently good Isnd, and fit for settlement. The Water is rather 
 shoal near this shore, having but o%e fnthoni depth at 100 yards dis- 
 tance, two fathoms at 200 yards distance ; and when I sounded here 
 the waters of the lake were very high. There is a goo<l and safe 
 anchorage everywhere within the harbour, being either soft or .sandy 
 bottom. The soutli shore is composed of a great number of .sand 
 hills and ridges, intersected with swamps and small creeks. It is of 
 une(|ual breadth, from a quarter of a mile to a mile wide across from the 
 harbour to the lake, and runs in length to the eastward five or six miles. 
 Through the middle of the isthmus liefore mentioned, or rather nearer the 
 north shore, is a channel with two fathqms of water, and in the morass 
 there are other channels from one to two fathoms deep. From what has 
 been said it will appear that the harbour of Toronto is capacious, safe and 
 
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 MMMORIAL VOLUME. 
 
 witll ii>ii<lt«rml ; hut the ontmioe tMiing from th« waatward ia a gn«i ilia- 
 ailvanta({o tait, aa tho preyailinK wind U trajn thia ((uarter, and m thia U 
 a fair wind fr<ini*hunc*) down thtt lalcu, of ctiurw* it ia tha^ with which vtta- 
 huIh in gont'ral would taltu thoir dupartura frum tliia piMo ; hut tlmy may 
 fr«4|uently And it ditticult to \ffsi out of the harltuur. Th<i ahoalneaa of thn 
 niirtli Nhoru, aa huforu marked, ia alao <liNa<lvanta^oua aa to erecting 
 wliarvca, i|uaya, »to. In rc((ard Ui tho pjaci! aa a military {xwt, I do not 
 aae any vury atrilcing fuaturua to rucommond it in that view*', hut tho 
 Ifcat aitiiation to occupy for tho purpofMi of protoctin){ thu Hotileuinnt of 
 the hartmur, would, I concoivc, t)c on thu point near theuhtrance thereof." 
 
 Captain Oother Mann \h a wolconui a<ldition to the liat of iioraonH 
 .whoHo writingn throw light on the early hiatory of Toronto. It ia to he 
 oljaerveil that hia namu alao occura at pagu 73 of Mr. Krymner'a Report 
 on Canadian ^jlnvhivua, in connection with a document ruUting to |(hu de- 
 foncoH of jPimada in the direction of Lake Champlain, dated London, 
 Novutplsi^r 23rd, 1791. The Hkotch of the laland and tho aoiindinga in 
 tho ^y, aa given by Captain Mann, are very intorcating, and tho coUrao 
 of t^e Don, delinuatod by him, ahowa, aa atated elsewhere in ihia 
 voluii^o, that the pruAent princi})al outlet of the river waa artiHciairy 
 madu.V ft uacd to l>o known oa the Little Don, and waa undumtood to 
 have boon, in tho origin, aimply a ahallow channel acoop<^out acimtH 
 the narrow bank of aand, aa a ahort cut for fiahermen and dthura 
 deairouH.of nacundtng the Htruam. Tho route of the Indian path or 
 " roa<l toward Lake La Clio," along tho valley of tho Hiimber, ia 
 of grt^at intt^rCHt. Thia path ia repoatttdly mentioned in the notel)ooka 
 of thu pioneer aurvcyor, AuguHtua Jonea. . La Clie ia a corruption of 
 Lac aux Claiua, one of thu acveral well-known namca given from time to 
 tiiiK" to Lake Himcoe, tho earlicat of which, howevur, wna Lake Toronto, 
 aa wo read in a letter of La Salle's, preaorved in Margry's Afem&ireH el 
 D(Mrumen(M, page 115. On the 22nd of Auguat, 1680, La Salle aaya ho 
 waa " at|. l»onl du lac Toronto" (hIc), having travelled thither northwani 
 the day before, from Teioiagon, that ia to aay, the " Portage Landing," near 
 the mouth of the prcaent Humbcr. 
 
 Captaina Mann'a. delineation of the " viowa of the Trading Poat of 
 Toronto " ia of particuli^ value, ^t ^BhewH; the number of the buildinga, 
 great and amall, included within trie paliaade to have been five. The 
 remaina of theao would of courae be quite conapicuoua in 1788, only 
 about twenty-eight yeara after their deatruction by fire, at the bidding 
 of'the French military authoritiea. Tracea of them were plainly viaible 
 down to 1878, when they were finally obliterated by the levelling made 
 
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 rojioiifrD/ rjun ahh pHManr. 
 
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 in pn^pftHiiK tlio Toronto Imluntrial KKhiUlion OrountU for Ihttir |>reM«nt 
 um,'. 
 
 OkptAin Manna town plot U of coiirmt puntly iilt>Kl. For r<>Ki|l*Hty 
 And Miiiplioity it'{ifi({ht In* u plau of thu capital of Utopia or tli» N«<w 
 AtlantiN. Liku th« Nuw J<>riiNal<ioi of llin AiHtcalypM*, "tliu city lieth foiir- 
 Mpiani ;" ami, eviilontly for Ntratt'^ical rMMonit, thti inititiiry xn^nixtr lian 
 riMMtrvMi un uach of itM four Ni<liM a hroail |H)iiin>riinn or eNplana<l<>, novur 
 to Iw violatiMl hy th« plough, or built over. It Im cilrioiM to utiMrrvu in 
 thu Journal of Mr. ('howutt, (/liiof I>ra{iii{htMnian in thu Hntt Hurvuyor< 
 OunuralN ottiiw of lJp|)ur (Jaiiacla, umlvr ilatu of 82n(l of April, \1\M, thu 
 entry made of a plan wuntto hiiu l»y Liuuttinant-dovurnor HiiiictMi, of thu 
 "town and towniihip of Toronto," with an uni|uiry ait U> whvthur it Wan 
 uvur laid out. Thu plan almut which thu query wan put waM .vury pro- 
 liably thu iduntical onu dijicovurutl hy Mr. Ho<l)i(inN. Mr. (Jhuwutt'N reply 
 IN not roconlud j^liut that no Huch town plot whm uvur Hurveyud or laid 
 out \n inanifuHt from tliS abt«unco of all alluMion to nucIi an incidunt in 
 thu notebook of AugUHtuM JonuH, whuru hu HpuakH of tho plan of thu 
 proponed town of York, in 17i)3. 
 
 Am to thu prthography "Toronto," for Toronto, adoptod by ('aptain 
 Mann — it certainly occurn in a fuw inapa an<l docuntunttt; but it in un- 
 quoMtionably uxcuptional and liit«^ Other foriiM appearing oocaHionally 
 wure, as has liuun pointu<l out in thin volume, Toranto and Tiironto. Tliu 
 ayllableH en and an in thum) fonna, it muHt liu rumemburud, wnro pro- 
 nounced in tho French way ; ho that, after all, virtually nothing inoru 
 than thu name Toronto, aa we pronounce it, wuh intumlwl to Ih; repru- 
 aentetl. T\\a normal form of tho woni waa Toronto, aa we auu it in La 
 Ballu'a letter in 1G80. French maim and otticial docuinonta of thu Namu 
 datu and alightly later, show thu aauio c'>rthography, aa e. g., thu map 
 illuatrative of Ijahontan'a Luttera of l(i02. Vaudruuil'a orthography in 
 1718 ia Toronto. Throughout Pouchot's Memoir of tho Lkto War, in 
 1755-60, it ia the aame. In Carver'a Travela, in 1700-8, tijo name 
 ia given (p. 171) aa Toronto, while in the accompanying map it ia 
 carcleaaly engraved Toratito. In Aluxandur Hunry'a Travula, 17(l('-7(), 
 we have Toranto (p. 170), but in a note on the HAmo |>ag(! Toronto 
 ia given aa an (diaa. Like many other writera on (!ana<la aftar thu 
 Engliah occupation. Captain Mann waa probably quite unac<|uaintod 
 with thsv adilrco and hiatory of tho name Toronto. In thu* very paporH- 
 aent out by Mr. Hodgins to Mr. McMurrich, Captain Mann atanda cor- 
 rected. Tho writer of tho despatch No. 58, dated Quubuc, Octobur 24th, 
 1790, requoatingtho Colonial Office «uthoritioa to aund taDwa LDorsl 'eHter 
 
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 (luiMMiK otiinr ilociiiiitinlii) ihi* plan of (Itilhar Mariii'ii, nni|iliiyii lh« Ki<n«r- 
 ^lly nHtiiviNl ri'ii<l«rint( of Um nmiHi ; anil In r l«t«r r«i|iort wrilU'ii tiy 
 ('•pUin Muin hiiiiiwlf, lUttMi (,)nU)lH*r tUU, I70i, vf which mi t'dinwl 
 WM kino fiirwfhltol hy Mr lliMlKina, ih« ortlioifrkphy "TonmU*," lit 
 •<lo|it«*<l An IHiiMtr»liv« uf Uin ftlMfnco of inforiiMlion In n<K»r<l to tho 
 Miiircn an<l hUlory of the n*nHi Toronto, it lufty U- imIiIimI th«t m 
 \mUi «M IH41 wti liavo Hir Richanl HonnymntUi, an offior of tli« lloynl 
 Knginvxra, lik« ('«pt«in Mitnn, n<portinK that thn Frrnvh tnuiinK pimt 
 h«n) w«MK calliHl " Tartinto, Toronto, or Noinu mich naiiiu, fniu't (Sw* it 
 ' U NupiMimNi) tlitt Italian fnKintMtr wIn> Imilt ii." Hir It. lkmny«MiMUM 
 hail |>rolialily ii«vur n<a<l that thin Knmch tnwling-|MMt vipi olficially 
 nainnil Fort Ro«iili($, and that no anKinttur ofllcur of thn nauiti of Toronto 
 mtm uvor hoani of in CaiuMla. 
 
 It In not difficult to WNi why (,Vptain Mann took thu trouhio U» 
 'Nkotch out IiIh imiKinary city of Toronto in llHH. " Ih rf^ard to 
 tho pla(-t) an a military iMwt," ho NayH, " I do not mw any vory Ntrikin({ 
 foatund to rucomniond it in that vi«w ; hut the boMt Mituation to 
 occupy for tho purpow) of protctrtin^ tho HnttK'iiiont of tho harliour w<luld 
 Iw, I c^ncoivo. on tho |)oint ni-ar tho untranco thonH>f." Ho Nkctchod 
 tho'dty'and KUrroundinK wittlemont to nIiuw that hiH Huiwinttud fortifica- 
 tion w*H calculattsd to cover tlio town and Nottiuuiunt in chUe uf an attack 
 from a howtilu lluot. It would Mooni that IkiuchetttD, who Hurvoyui^ tho 
 harbou)r in 1798, waa not aware of Mann'H |>roviuuH aurvoy. Bdn^iette'a 
 ropn!Heintation of tho Poninnuia, which may bo Hcen at p. KH, vol. I, uf hin 
 "Britinh Uominiunii in North Aniurica," ia much nipro niinuto and circum- 
 atantia) than Oothor Mann'a. It may bo addud that up to tho moment of 
 tho diyiiion of the Province of QuuIm!c into two Uuvornmonta, thorn wcro 
 pcraonf at tho'anciunt capital fully awako to tho probability that round 
 ' the aite of the old French trading poat at Toronto a city Would oi)o day 
 apring up. ThuN wo loarq from Auguatua JoneA'a papora th«t M. Rocho- 
 blave, pa|>t. Lajor^t and Captain Bouchotte (father of tho naval officer), 
 had en^oavoured to aecure conai<lerablo grant* of land in that locality ; a 
 projectj fruatrated by the tranafer of tho land-granting power from Lord 
 Dorchoator'a Qovemment, at Qupliec, to tho authoritica of the now Pro- 
 vinco of Upper Canada, at York. 
 
 VI 
 
 
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