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'^rsvf 
 
 Mft>t.'Mt) MM MK .I'tTK 
 
M 
 
 BIoaRAPHY 
 
 OF THK 
 
 HOI. ¥. H. MERRITT, M. P., 
 
 w 
 
 LINCOLN, DISTRICT OF NIAGARA, 
 
 INCLDDIKO AH ACCOUHT Oy ITEIl 
 
 ORIGIN, PROGRESS AND COMPIoETION OF SOME OF THE 
 MOST IMPORTANT PUBUC WORKS IN CANADA. 
 
 COmriLKD PRINCIPAJXY PROM HU 
 
 ORIGINAL DIARY AND CORRESPONDENCE, 
 
 -•<«^<^;o«- 
 
 B'Z' J. 30. I^BRrtlXX. 
 
 CT. CATHARINES: 
 
 » 8. LliAVKNWOBTH, BOOK AND JOB PBIKTINQ B8TA3HSHMBMT. 
 
 1875. 
 
A/'ArA^/^/y/' ;t^(^ 
 
 
/ 
 
 Entered according to Act of Parliament of Canada, 1876, by J. P. Mekritt, in the 
 Office of the Minister of Agriculture. 
 
h-^r- 
 
PREFA CE. 
 
 It is not without many luisK'ivings tLat the fbllowini; pages are now 
 Hubiuitted to the peojile ofCanadu. Althougli we cannot but hope that to the 
 student of ^' our country's history, they nuiy in sonie respects be foutid inte- 
 resting, and to the general public, entertaining, us an attempt to pourtray 
 the numerous characters in which a public man, lising among his fellows, 
 may find himself placed during his, role as an actor in connection with 
 the events of hi time. Yet the position of the Biographer, as a near rela- 
 tive, may, in many instances be coustrueu into that of an egotist, wliere 
 nothing of the kind was intended. 
 
 . For this reason, and to the beat of our ability in endeavouring to aink 
 the individuality of relationship, we have sought only to place the cha- 
 racter of our subject in the position, we have every reason to think, it 
 should occupy, i. e., as a sincere and ardent lover of his country, and a 
 statesman, as far as his limited abilities pern:itteii. 
 
 As a country, the position of Canada is a peculiar one, with all the 
 adjuncts of a great nation, with resources unbounded, and the necessary 
 intelligence to use them, it cannot be denied that it has not kept pace 
 with other sections of the same family on this continent, nor acquired the 
 respect which after 100 years o^ endeavour, it should now command. We 
 believe this to be no mere idle assertion, anil although it i.s not our pro- 
 vince to investigate the cause, yet if .ve can in the following pages shew 
 that there Avas one at least who loved his country and longed for its pros- 
 perity, our work will not be in vain. 
 
 That our subject during a long and eventful career, tried to place liis own 
 country and its interests, always first in every consideration, will bo found 
 amply illustrated within, and although iron! time honoured traditii)ns he 
 loved Britain with a Briton's love, yet he loved Canada more, nor was his 
 devotion a mere sentiment, as in no instance can we find that he ever 
 was willing to place liis own land in a secondary position to any other ; liy 
 a tiifling transposition of the sentence we might justly say with Macauley 
 in his eulogy on the illustrious Pitt, that he loved Canada, "as an Athenian 
 loved the city of the violet crown-— as a Roman loved the ' JJaxiina rerum 
 Eoma: " 
 
// 
 
 II. 
 
 TLe liiuited space at our disposal disbarred us froui giving more than a 
 synopsis of tho leading political and local events, with wliicL our subject 
 was connected ; still we ti-ust that sutticient matter is given to incite the 
 investigator to trace rtvents onward to their ond. Wo have copiously 
 used the opinions ot" the press, and although at this date it may sefm strange 
 that a local newspapei (the St. Catharines Juurnal) t'urnished most ot" the 
 items, yet it must be remembered that in the times we write of, this paper 
 did its duty as a public exponent, a task which has latterly fallen to the 
 tlaily papers of the large cities. We have entered fully into the question 
 of Public Works, not entirely because our siibject was engaged with 
 tho,se of his time, but for the reason that in all matters honestly intended to 
 foster and encourage trade, he found them the source of a nation's greatness. 
 
 Such were the ideas of our subject, and it will be seen that in almost 
 every instance of trouble, he was prepared with some resource to counteract 
 any evils \/hich might fall on the laud through mistaken statesmanship, or 
 ungenerous legislation. 
 
 That errors may have crept in, and umbrage be expressed for many 
 statements, we fully expect, and as ordinary mortals are hardly responsible, 
 or expected to be perfect in these matters, we claim tlie benetit of the saying 
 that to err is human. 
 
 Fault may be found with the minuteness of some, and the apparent 
 slightness of other matters. In this we are convinced that it will lequire 
 the experience of another generation to fully appieciate the soundness of 
 Mr. Merritt's views. 
 
 In local matters we have been as particular as the circumstances would 
 admit, and forebore bringing up issues at ajiy time unpleasant, but would 
 ask the reader to mark well the change of public sentiment which actuated 
 the friends of our subject in assisting him in those schemes, which benefitted 
 not only his own locality but the country at large. This change is apparent 
 in the appreciation in which his responsibility was held by the CJovei-nment 
 in the early days of the Welland Canal, and the reverse in a similar enter- 
 prise, the W. R. R., at a later date. 
 
 To the critic we may state that no efforts have been made to rendei' 
 the work attractive by sensationalism, or introduce the finer arts known to 
 those who write for elfect. We have simply endeavoured to give the bio- 
 graphy of a plain man, in as plain a manner as we could, and if we have 
 succeeded in doing so our utmost expectations will be accomplished. 
 
 We thankfully acknowledge the obligations we are undei' to numerous 
 friends for their advice and assistance in compiling these pages. 
 
 J. P. M. 
 Sx. Catharinbs, 1876. 
 
iiore than a 
 our subject 
 iueiti-' the 
 re copiously 
 Weill strange 
 most of the 
 it; this paper 
 ['alien to the 
 the ejuestion 
 iH'aKe<i with 
 ly intended to 
 n's greatness, 
 hat in almost 
 to counteract 
 esiuanship, or 
 
 sed tbi- many 
 ly respouaible, 
 t of the saying 
 
 the apparent 
 will require 
 soundness of 
 
 [stances would 
 lit, but would 
 ■hich actuated 
 lick benefitted 
 ;e is apparent 
 Government 
 Isimilav enter- 
 
 ide to render 
 Lrts known to 
 
 I give the bio- 
 
 II if we have 
 lisbed. 
 
 to numerous 
 
 t P. M. 
 
 TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
 
 Projenitors American Loyalists 
 
 fIrand-Katiier anil two eldest flee to New Vork 
 
 Removal to U.C. 
 
 Settlers on Niagara Peninsula, 
 
 Chihlhood and Schooldays of our subject 
 
 To Lower Canada 
 
 ■'■ Quebec 
 
 " Halifax 
 
 " St. George, Bermuda, returns to New York 
 
 " St. .lolin, N. B, at School 
 
 Keturns home by New York 
 
 Store kpej)ing and Farming . . . = 
 
 1812. 
 
 Paob. 
 
 War 
 
 Detroit 
 
 Queenston 
 
 Results of First Campaign 
 
 Reverses at Ni'igara 
 
 Stoney Creek 
 
 Beaver Dams 
 
 Indian Engagement with U. S. Ti'oops outside of Niagara 
 
 Goes to Montreal , 
 
 Blockade of Niagara 
 
 Second Retreat 
 
 Advance — Memories of the Gore District 
 
 Burning of Niagara 
 
 Burning of Buffalo- Sickness 
 
 Disaster at Chippawa 
 
 7. 
 
 8. 
 
 9. 
 10. 
 11. 
 12. 
 13. 
 li. 
 15. 
 
 16, 17, 18. 
 
 19. 
 
 .. .. 20. 
 
 21. 
 
 ... 22,23. 
 24. 
 
 Skirmishing 
 
 Lundy's Lane 
 
 Prisoner 
 
 Marriage 
 
 Prendergast Family 
 
 Settled down at St. Catharines .. .. 
 
 Discovery of Salt 
 
 Extended business 
 
 Surveyed Canal 
 
 A Yankee, Canadian and Scotch Doctor . . . . , 
 
 " Golden Age " local — Change of names — Slavery 
 
 25. 
 26. 
 27. 
 28. 
 29. 
 30. 
 31. 
 32. 
 33. 
 34. 
 36. 
 36. 
 37. 
 
 39. 
 
 40. 
 .. 41. 
 42, 43. 
 
 45. 
 46, 49, 
 
// 
 
 w. 
 
 Pao«. 
 
 Anxiety — (!liri.stio.'is --(!aiiiil tlioii^Hiis -Ho[»c ijul ilespoiulftiicy 50. 
 
 Htnail lj();^inuiii„'s Inwiiitl tliouglits 51, ^'2. 
 
 Get ii|) a .subscription 53. 
 
 Apptial to (Juvtuiuii- Maitlaml and Sii-. J. Harvt^y 
 
 CliHwitt'.s route — Local jisaloiisit^s 
 
 Mtititiii;^ (H)iiven«(l aj'pointf^tl agent 
 
 Miturc'l plans -Kncoiiragtinient 
 
 Visit Works (, 'I Kiiti »!an.:i! 
 
 Company Incorporated 
 
 Pndiminaries -Kaniily afl'hctions 
 
 Wintfa- journeying to (^uol sc- -First .tlOOO 
 
 To New York in Fall-Mr Yates — Brocks >FonniTient 
 
 Turning the first . sod of Welland Tanal Speech 
 
 Old Church — State of the Country 
 
 Provincial Assesments 
 
 54. 
 65. 
 
 56. 
 57. 
 
 5*. 
 
 (^0- 
 
 59. 
 -61. 
 
 62. 
 
 63—67—68. 
 
 69-70. 
 
 71. 
 
 182o. 
 
 Work progreflsini^ 
 
 At Bar of House 
 
 Report- Bishop StrHchaii -Opposition in Nia(,'ara 
 
 To New York — Enlarged Canal »Stock taken 
 
 St. Lawreics Route Surveyed 
 
 At York for Amendment of Charter 
 
 71. 
 72. 
 73. 
 74. 
 75. 
 76. 
 
 1826. 
 
 St. Catharines " Joi'RNAl " Started . . .. 
 
 Honorable settlement of Merritt and Ingeisolls business 
 
 Establisment of Mail routes 
 
 Albany — Governors visit — Burlington Bay Canal .... 
 
 Removal of residence 
 
 St. Catharines Landmarks 
 
 Report . . 
 
 Rideau Canal commenced 
 
 78. 
 79. 
 80. 
 81. 
 82. 
 83. 
 84. 
 
 1827. 
 
 ,£25,000 granted %o Welland Canal 
 Offices removed to St. Catharines 
 
 " Feeder ' 
 
 Grand River 
 
 85 
 86. 
 87 
 86. 
 
 1828. 
 
 For England 
 Accident on returning 
 
 Proceedings 
 
 Deep Cut disasters 
 
 89 to 109. 
 
 no. 
 
 111. 
 112. 
 
Pao«. 
 
 icy 50. 
 
 51. V2. 
 
 53. 
 
 64. 
 
 65. 
 
 56. 
 
 57. 
 
 58. 
 
 59. 
 
 60—61. 
 
 62. 
 
 63—67—68. 
 
 69-70. 
 71. 
 
 T. 
 
 71. 
 72. 
 
 74. 
 75. 
 
 76. 
 
 77. 
 78. 
 79. 
 80. 
 81. 
 82. 
 83. 
 84. 
 
 85 
 86. 
 87 
 86. 
 
 89 to 109. 
 
 no. 
 
 111. 
 112. 
 
 Politics — Land lisputes 
 
 Fortifying Canada '.' 
 
 Policy tending the trade 
 DepartnrP of Govprnor Maitland 
 
 Paoi. 
 113. 
 114. 
 116. 
 116 
 
 1829. 
 
 Opposition from Radicals 
 Visit and de.scription of Canal 
 Oranthani Academy 
 Oovernors vinit <fec 
 
 Coinpletionof Canai --First vesgel' through' 
 The Roll ot Honor 
 
 118—119- 
 
 117. 
 120. 
 121. 
 122. 
 123—124. 
 125. 
 
 1830. 
 
 LobbyinK in the House for Loan to Canal 
 Article on improvement of St. Lawrence 
 (ATinl not opened nntill July 
 Welland Canal Company turned Forwarders 
 
 126. 
 126. 
 127. 
 128. 
 
 1831 
 
 Lobb) ir M-;*h J B. Yates 
 Milling with O. Phelps 
 
 .... 129, 
 130-131. 
 
 1832. 
 
 New Customs Office 
 
 W. L. AlacKenzie re-elected 
 
 P.nii^'rjition —Cholera 
 
 Elected to Haldirnand &c 
 
 Bill against imprisonment for debt 
 
 Canada Co— Grand River 
 
 1833. 
 
 Parliament business 
 
 House opened 1 at June 
 
 W. L. Mackenzie '" 
 
 Relief of^S ^«^^.^^-f— P''l«ion.f MacKen.ie ' 
 Keliet of Mennonites andQuakers 
 
 132. 
 133.. 
 
 134. 
 
 185—187. 
 
 138. 
 
 ... 139. 
 
 140—142. 
 
 14:^. 
 
 144. 
 
 144. 
 
 1834 
 
 Welland Canal breaks occurred 
 il-nd of Legi.sliture 
 MacKenzie IMayor of Toronto 
 Choice of a Loyalist Parliament 
 92 J resolutions in Lower Canada 
 
 146. 
 146. 
 147. 
 148. 
 149. 
 
// 
 
 f5f%:2 
 
 VI, 
 
 1835. 
 
 Radical House — Compariaons 
 
 Knglisli Gfliitlomen to St. Catharines 
 
 Mo Keiizie examines Canal accounts 
 
 Resolutions on the State of the Province — Mr. Merritt .ind the 
 
 to c;any them to F^ngland 
 
 [jord Duihaiiis report obviates going to England 
 
 Act p.M ying Stockholders in Canal 
 
 Newspaper discussion on the appointment to England .... . . 
 
 Private ditto 
 
 S|)eech favorable to Report 
 
 Preparing to get the best advantages for his Country 
 
 Rents his Mill 
 
 Correspondence with J. Nelson in L. C, and various otherB in U, 
 
 Speech at Rainham 
 
 New (iovernor - T^arliament oj-ened 3rd December 
 
 Pjoniises places of importance to Canadians of talent 
 
 Sympathy vvith banished Canadians 
 
 Paok. 
 
 . . 151. 
 
 . 156. 
 
 . 157. 
 
 Speaker 
 195. 
 
 196. 
 197. 
 
 Commissioners High and Low 
 Attended House 
 Writing of Governor 
 
 199. 
 
 200. 
 (( 
 
 C. 20l' 
 
 II . 
 
 202. 
 203. 
 204. 
 206. 
 206. 
 207. 
 
 1836. 
 
 Jn House — Mr. Hinckf? 
 Grand River ... . 
 Death of Mr. Yates 
 Address to Electors 
 House 
 
 158—160. 
 
 161. 
 162—163. 
 
 164. 
 
 165. 
 
 1837—8. 
 
 General Matters 
 
 Moneta ry Crisis 
 
 Gov»«'nois Policy 
 
 MacKenzie tried for defamation 
 
 Rebellion , . ... 
 
 Important Letter to Lord Durham 
 
 166—167—168-169—170 
 
 171 
 
 172 
 
 173 
 
 174 :o 186 
 
 186 
 
 1839. 
 
 Important Trade diverted by Hudson Bay Co 
 
 State of the Country 
 
 Governor at St. Catharines --Mr.Merritt's views 
 The Legislare - -Remarks in PrivateJournal 
 
 The Sole Business — State of Province 
 
 House met — Notice injudiciously given, and Mr. 
 for address 
 
 190. 
 193. 
 
 Merritt in Committee 
 
▼w. 
 
 Page. 
 
 ... 151. 
 
 . . 156. 
 
 . .. 157. 
 
 Speakfir 
 
 !95. 
 
 196. 
 197. 
 
 199. 
 
 200. 
 
 <( 
 
 r. C. 20L 
 
 202. 
 203. 
 204. 
 206. 
 206. 
 207. 
 
 58—160. 
 
 161. 
 62—163. 
 
 164. 
 
 165. 
 
 69—170 
 171 
 172 
 173 
 
 ^4 to 186 
 186 
 
 190. 
 198. 
 
 )mniittee 
 
 1840. 
 
 Presidentof Canal— After thi tie years absence 
 
 Favorable report from his old Constituencv, not an opposinc voice 
 
 Why fnends were not forthcoming to complete ihe work 
 
 Still Jinds time to write 
 
 Death of our pastor— Queenston Heights Union 
 
 P'^'oular anxiety— About Parliament "" 
 
 Union Act unfa\oi able to Canada 
 
 Visit of Go.eruor Via 
 
 Board of Works 'V.'.." "..'.'. ' 
 
 ChoseL by Kefo"m Convention 
 
 Correspondence with the author and H. 11. KillalV 
 
 1841. 
 
 Christmas Holidays 
 
 Refugees 
 
 Jarvis and Baldwin 
 
 A. Morse on Elections 
 
 Robert F. '"Jouriay ^nd result of Elections ...." 
 
 Congratulatory letters 
 
 Consolidated Union 
 
 Canal and C;and River opened 
 
 Domestic 
 
 Parlian.ent opened at Kingston .. , _/ 
 
 Nine days debate o.i speech 
 
 Canal stockholders to be paid ' 
 
 Residts of first Session satisfactory 
 To New York 
 
 Co-operation of Eastern Provinces 
 Lett'-rsfiom IMr. Holmes and Dr. Prendergast 
 Chief Justice Robinson 
 Rev. R. Blacow 
 
 Page. 
 211. 
 212. 
 212. 
 213. 
 215. 
 217. 
 
 —219 
 
 223. 
 223. 
 
 224. 
 
 225—226. 
 
 227. 
 
 228. 
 
 -231. 
 
 232. 
 
 -235. 
 
 236. 
 
 237. 
 
 230- 
 
 233— 
 
 184r^ 
 
 Departure for England 
 
 Correspondence with Members of Imperial Parliament ' 
 
 To Cambridge 
 
 " Paris : nd Bonn 
 
 " Scotland and Ireland . ' . 
 
 Home 
 
 Letter to George Adams. President Agri- ultural ' Society 
 Disturbance on Canal 
 Il(»uso met 
 
 Special (Jommittee on Finance 
 
 Passes (h.wn <' Lost Channel " Rapid's on Ht. Lawrence 
 
 Home anans 
 
 238. 
 239. 
 
 240. 
 241. 
 -'42. 
 242. 
 2^3—244. 
 245. 
 
 246. 
 
 247. 
 248. 
 249—250. 
 251. 
 252. 
 253. 
 254. 
 255. 
 256. 
 257. 
 258. 
 
// 
 
 Till. 
 
 1.843. 
 
 Page. 
 
 Death of Mother 259. 
 
 Appointed Coinmisioner for Lunatic Aslyum .. 260. 
 
 Governor and other distinguished visitors to Canal 261. 
 
 Letter to son in Bonn .. 262 — 263. 
 
 On removal of seat of Government 264. 
 
 Resignation of Reform Ministry 265. 
 
 Oflfer of Inspector Generalship refused 265. 
 
 1844. 
 
 Chairman of Bible Society 268 — 269 
 
 Uncertainty as to party 270—271—272 
 
 Partial adherence to the Draper administration ... 273 
 
 Confusion in Governmeut departments ... ... 274 — 275- 
 
 L^tter to Draper 
 
 " from Duke of Wellington on Welland Canal 
 
 Suspension Bridge thought of ... 
 
 Inspector Generalship again declined and given to VV, B. Robinson 
 
 -276 
 277 
 278 
 279 
 280 
 
 1845. 
 
 Death of Mrs. Prtndergast — Parliament in Session 281 
 
 Refers to loss in Mill business .... 282 
 
 Ap})ointed Commisioner of Inteicolonial to England — Did not accept 283 
 
 Niagara and Detroit Railroad 
 
 Visits Boston and N»w Yo>'k for Railroad 
 
 Great Western opposes ... 
 
 Local enterprise for R. R. .... 
 
 Tugs on St. Lawrence 
 
 284 
 285 
 286 
 
 287 
 288 
 
 1846. 
 
 Railroads 
 
 Canal enlargement ... 291- 
 
 Great Western and Southern R. R. Controversey 
 
 Refusal to extend Charter 
 
 Disastroufi results prognosticated — change of Imperial Policy 
 
 Retires from business — Reciprocity 
 
 U. C. Municipal Bill ... " 
 
 A.pplication for Government employment 
 
 Great Western Railway ... 308 — 309 — 310 311 
 
 Fii-st Provincial Exhibition .. 
 
 289. 
 
 -292. 
 
 293. 
 
 294. 
 295. 
 305. 
 306. 
 3U7. 
 -312. 
 313. 
 
IZ. 
 
 Page. 
 259. 
 260. 
 261. 
 —263. 
 264. 
 265. 
 265. 
 
 1847. 
 
 Urges Free Trade with U. S. 
 
 Lord Elgin Arrives 
 
 Intel colonial Railroad— Meeting for relief of Irish Famine. 
 
 £le< ^ric Telegraph 
 
 Trav'eliing 
 
 rt ...... 
 
 <)|)ening of Parliament 
 
 Meeting in St. Catharines .... 
 
 Fami 1 y affairs 
 
 Reciprocity Correspondence 
 
 Page 
 3U. 
 315. 
 316. 
 317. 
 318. 
 319. 
 330. 
 321. 
 322. 
 
 -269- 
 -272- 
 273- 
 -276- 
 277- 
 278- 
 279. 
 280. 
 
 1848. 
 
 L. J. Papineau 
 
 Journey to Montreal 
 
 Proceeding.s in Parliament 
 
 Change of Ministry 
 
 Letter to the Premier 
 
 Home journey 
 
 f iiossed Suspension Bridge in a basket 
 
 Invited to Washington 
 
 Death of Dr. Prendergast ... 
 
 At Washington 
 
 J. F. Crampton 
 
 Too hasty about repining 
 
 To Chicago-^ Called to Government 
 
 Cause sof entering Governujent 
 
 Services on lieciprocity Measure 
 
 iveciprocity retarded by the then member 
 
 Hostile threats by Conservative press 
 
 They are in favor of our subject 
 
 Extracts from Private Journal 
 
 Detaling usual Offiical Routine 
 
 D. B. Sullivans plan for Emigrants 
 
 Letter home 
 
 NoticBS passing down a schooner for Europe 
 
 His measures on Loan Fund now taken up 
 
 *' Journal " takes an opposing view 
 
 Hinoks' plan of Finance 
 
 Remarks on ditto and summary 
 
 323 
 324 
 325 
 326 
 .337—328 
 ...329 
 
 330 
 331 
 383—333 
 33i 
 335 
 
 336 
 337 
 
 338 
 339 
 340 
 341 
 
 342 
 343. 
 344 
 
 S45_346 
 
 (I 
 
 347 
 
 1849. 
 
 ^ Opening of Parliament 
 
 Oovei-nors Speech 
 
 Reciprocity resolution by Papineau 
 
 " Journal " on act passed 6th March 
 
 34f 
 34& 
 
 349. 
 
 350. 
 
/.' 
 
 1 
 
 z. 
 
 Letter or. proceedings in Parliament 
 Tugs to bo built 
 
 W. L. Mackenzie returns 
 
 Caricatures published 
 
 Parliament Hovse burnt 
 
 Paob. 
 350 
 
 (< 
 
 350 
 .352. 
 
 1850. 
 
 Meeting at St. Cathariaes, &c 353 
 
 Occupation after (^lose of Session 354 
 
 Visit of Family at Saratoga 355 
 
 Issue of Government Bills 358 
 
 To 'Vashington 360 
 
 Spea :s of Journey Home — 
 
 •' " to Mayville 361 
 
 Halifax 362 
 
 Oovernor, <fec., at the Falls 363 
 
 Annexation Manifesto 365 
 
 Remarks on do. 368 
 
 Grovernor in Toronto 369 
 
 Keeping House in Toronto 370 
 
 House Met 371 
 
 To the Electors 3734 
 
 Opening of Canal 376 
 
 Chief Commissioner 376 
 
 Unsatisfactory to L. C. Members 385 
 
 Christmas at home 386 
 
 1851. 
 
 Letter to Wm. H. Merritt, Jun., 387 
 
 Opening of the Town Hall 388 
 
 Improvements on Oak hill 389 
 
 Merrittsville Road 390 
 
 Pioneer Propeller 391 
 
 Speech Explaining his Resignation 392 
 
 Scheme for Union 395 
 
 Canal Tolls 396 
 
 Election — Letters on Sepai'ate Schools 397 
 
 1852. 
 
 Increased Canal Business Require Increased Facilities 399 
 
 Reformers Exultant 400 
 
 Temperance 401 
 
 1853. 
 
 Reciprocity Measure 403 
 
 Welland Railway 404 
 
 Brock's Monument — Corner Stone 406 
 
1854. 
 
 Reciprocity Treaty Signed, aud Electiou .... -^Ina 
 
 bpeech— Explanation ... ^"^ 
 
 Money for Russian War '^' ^^"^ 
 
 Zot'ertin "^ ^''^''''''^'^^^^' -^ Sale of Cle.-gy Reserves '. '. .' .* \ '. [ [ tu 
 412 
 
 1855—6. 
 
 The Adjournment 
 
 Suspension Bridge Opened ^]^ 
 
 War did not Benefit us ". '. *7 
 
 As Chairmau of Finance Committee f !? 
 
 Free Trade with West Indies ^ 
 
 Railroad to Toronto opened ^^^ 
 
 To England to procure stock for W. R. r'. ' ' ..".".".'.'".'.' l\l 
 
 1857. 
 
 Large Outlay for Improrements in St. Catharines .... 4.9 
 
 J^mancial Depression _^ 
 
 To England again in behalf of W. B.. E^. ..'.'.'.[. [[[[[ ^^^ 
 
 1858. 
 
 Son William to England on R. R. Bnsiness 43] 
 
 i)welluig destroyed jto 
 
 4.^^ 
 
 1859. 
 
 Fourth and last Visit to England .... .„, 
 
 Historical Digression *^^ 
 
 Financial Difficulties . . *^* 
 
 Position taken by the St.Cathai-ine. Council in the" R.' R.' Interest 426 
 
 1860. 
 
 Returned home last time. . . 
 
 Death of second Son . '*^^ 
 
 Health failing .■■.'.■ *2< 
 
 Moved in the New House ...............[[ « 
 
 1861. 
 
 Attended Parliament 
 
 428 
 
 1862. 
 Mr. Merritt's Death, near Cornwall . . ^on 
 
// 
 

 
// 
 
INTRODUCTORY 
 
 The subject of the following Memoirs is desceiuled from u loa.-,' lino of 
 the early settlers on this Continent, who from various motives wore letl to 
 traverse the broad Atlantic, and seek a home in the yet unbroken forests 
 of a land which is now considered by many as the centre of civilization 
 and advancement. In looking back on the past history of those hardy 
 pioneers, the careful observer must see that the lirst settlers of this 
 country were men of no ordinary coi rage and endurance : they required to 
 to be fully in possession of all these ennobling gifts with which natunj hafl 
 endowe(' her children, and at the same time to bo posscssetl of no ordinary 
 share of that intelligence, whiclj at all times enables the cultivated man to 
 subdue the forces over which the untaught mind has no control. It may 
 be a question for philosophers to decide whether an ordinaiy training would 
 enable a man, suddenly transposed from luxury and refinement into the soli- 
 tudes of an unbroken wilderness, to find the wherewith to sustain life, without 
 the aids of other faculties and endowment; ssuch as an inborn couiage or 
 stamina which fe^ired no dangers, and a determined resolve, well kept, to 
 accept the situation as found, and make the best of it in the face of all 
 drawbacks. Of such material we believe the early settlei-s of the Western 
 plantations and colonies of Great Britain were formed, and we have good 
 reasons for thinking that the blood of those " iron men," wlio, from the 
 days of Richard the Lion to Oliver the Protector, had never shimnod 
 danger, still coui-sed with a lively glow through the veins of those hardy 
 settlers who first attempted the diillcult task of making the wilderness 
 blossom as the rose, and converting the mighty productions of an unknown 
 world into the most necessary wants of niankijul. Amongst the long roll 
 of these old adventurers wo find that the paternal ancestors of our subject 
 played no unimportant part. 
 
/> 
 
U I OO II A I^H Y 
 
 OK THL 
 
 HON. \\\ H. MERRinV^M.P. 
 
 -««}««0 
 
 i 
 
 Wii.MAM llAMii.iON Mi:imrrr's ^'mndfulher, TboniaH Merritt, like th« 
 i-oflt of his kiiiilrcil, rcsiiltvl upon a farm between BetlforJ and Ix)ng Island 
 Sound, two miles fioiii ilir 'atter place, and called in these days "Mile End," 
 from a mile sijuan.' uf land being j^ranted to an anceator of his, for survey- 
 ing at an early date the ('ounty of Westchester, of -which it Ik the extreme 
 limit south-east from New Ytirk State. Ileing the oldest of thre<i orphan 
 children, he oociij)ied the acknowledged position of gvnirdian, but was unable 
 to divert the rest of the fanjily from the new opinions :uul parties which 
 resulted in the Revolution in later years. 
 
 Tlioiii.'is Merritt, the oldest son, was sent early to school, he l>eing 
 dftstined for tlu medical profosaion, and was in due time transferred to 
 llarvi:rd (.!ollege, the nearest institution for pursuing the higher studios of 
 his intended cai'cer; but the troubles of the times soon put an end to all 
 peaceful avocations, and following the military traditions of the fainily, (hia 
 maternal gi-andfatlier having held a commisvion as Capt;vin under George II.. 
 in the Conquest of Canada,) ho entered the Ropiment of .Simcoe's " Queen's 
 Rangers," as a Coronet. In the moving of the division to the South in 1779, 
 ho fell in love with and married Miss !Mai'y Hamilton, of South (Carolina. 
 On the return of the division, they resided in New York, whore the corps 
 were disbanded ; l)ut not choosing to make that place their homo, they went 
 to St. John, N. 15., having lost their Invit-born before setting out on their 
 joui'uey. A short stay in the cold climate of New I'runswiek forced thoui 
 to try the Carolinas again, — not however till misfortune visitod them in the 
 loss of another child. These troubles, with other ditUculties, decidcnl them 
 on moving once more, v.hen they settled near the ohl family homestead on 
 King Street in Bedford, where the birth of a son and daughter occurred, the 
 former — the suViject of thi.s Memoir- being boin on the 3rd of July, 179.3. 
 They there movc<l to New York, where they resided a short time until their 
 final move to Tipper Canada. • ^h. 
 
n 
 
 Aft<M' th<i Hcpariition hivfl rommoncocl l>y thi> RojiiIiHtH protest inp ngainfli 
 tlii> IJattln of Ii(<xin;,'t.on, IiIm fiitlirr was luroHto'l, tried Ity somo of tlin WliigH 
 of WcbtchrslcM-, iiiiil liart'ly cscaiKd dcatli for liis ojiininii.s. His own family 
 rcinaiiiod jji tho old liou.sc, but ho and tlio two oldost kohh osrapod over thn 
 lino into tlio loyal part luiyond, wli«'n» llm two latter cntiMrd tlio army. 
 TliiH locality lias Ioujl; boon tho (ifM of ()\n roinanc(! writci- under the title 
 of the "(lebaialile j;roiiii(l." In order to jirevent the enli.stment of the 
 rojnainin^ Kons, of whom thero were tive, Mrs. Alerritt dcstroyeil tho family 
 reeord. The oxcitei.innt, howovei', waa too grout for her to cnduro, and who 
 diod before tho Ilovolution was over. 
 
 On the prochiimiiii; of peace, and permiH.sion b('inL,';j;lven to tho loyali.sts 
 to roLnrii and oeciipy their lato homes, Shid)ael M<'rritt, the second Ron, 
 j-etnriier|, and wliih; lod^'in;,' opjiosite to hi.s wife'.s family residenee, he wa.s 
 Hiirprised by an or;,'ani/,cd liand ol" Wlii/^s, iiiid shot. The ne.xt oldest Hon, 
 David, with his father, was allowed as a ^'Q',\.i favour to give his dead 
 boily decent burial, and then havijig no other refuge they loft (he country 
 und sailed with other persecuted loyalists like themselves, in 17)^3, (o the 
 Province of New lirunswiek. 
 
 His maternal ancestors were descended from the early settler.s <tf Ncnv 
 I'liigland. i\w home of the Puritans, liis great grandfather, C'apt. Purdy, 
 took an active. j)art in tlm French wai-s, as well as tlie ISIerritts. Thus he, 
 with tlio other loyalists, had at least the satisfaction when forced to leave 
 their homes, of settlini; in a section of countrv -wilderness thou'di it misrht 
 b(! called -which was dear to them as being mainly won by the gallantry of 
 thoir ancestors, who in years gone by, had wi-ested the land from its French 
 jtossessora. When there, the father, Thomas Merritt, did not receive any 
 land or otliei- lemuncration fo)- his hjst property in tlio Colony, but was 
 compelled to follow the occupation of fishing, which perhaps in the end 
 afforded him a better return, as the land there was anything but fertile ; 
 and where he died in the year 1S21. 
 
 The pifK'lamation of his old ('olouel Simcoo. offering settlers favourable 
 inducemenis in tho Province of Upper Canada, caused ]\Ir. Merritt to visit 
 Niagivra, the capital of the Province, and so favourable wjis his reception by 
 the Govern(»r, who promised him lands in an eligible jiart of the country, 
 that in the following year (179G) he moved with his family to the Province 
 of Upper Canada, his rnuto being facilitated by tlie imjtrovements of the 
 Mohawk Kiver at ('ohoes and Little Falls, lately completed, rendering the 
 navigation contin\io\is. Tiicii- progress was for the mcst jiart through a 
 wilderness, the Indians still having possession of Western New York, 
 under llie protection of the Pritish. Leaving the sloop at Albany, a 
 batteau.x carried them up (he Mohawk ; from thence by a short portage to 
 Wood Creek, they descended into Lake Ontario at Oswego. The British 
 ofHeer in cliai-ge of (liat post kindly permitted the passage of their goods 
 
dttf 
 
 V 
 
 'V 
 
 testing ngainHt. 
 of tljo Whigrt 
 lis own fjiniily 
 •a|)(Mi over tho 
 ml tlio iirmy. 
 mdiM- tho iitlo 
 stnicnt of tlif> 
 y«Ml tlio fiiinily 
 iiihirc, uml slin 
 
 ;o th(» loyuli.sts 
 )<• sooond son, 
 •lenco, he wiis 
 pxt oiliest Hon, 
 ;,'iv(' IiIk (load 
 ft (lie country 
 17.^3, (o thf 
 
 ttlors of Now 
 , (\])l. Punly, 
 its. ThuH 1)0, 
 orcod to loavo 
 ion.i,di it might 
 10, giillaiitry of 
 oiM its French 
 )t receive! any 
 loiiy, hut was 
 )H in the end 
 ig but fertile ; 
 
 Ts fav()uriihh> 
 
 on-itt to visit 
 
 s reception l>y 
 
 the country, 
 
 the Province 
 
 nionts of tho 
 
 rendering the 
 
 \vt through a 
 
 1 Now York, 
 
 at Albany, a 
 
 rt [)Oi"tago to 
 
 The British 
 
 of their goods 
 
 ^ 
 
 froo of duty to Niagira, whnro thoy arrivod Rafoly aft(u* a h -ig and tinwoino 
 voyage. The lands of tho Niagara District having been all taken up by 
 tho men of ihithu-'H llangors a force which had rcndereil most iinpoi-Uint 
 HiTviccw to the (irown in ft)riiier <hiyM-and th<> frontier being settlod, Mr. 
 Morritt, not wishing to croaa to tlie other side; of the lako to York, whom 
 tho Hoat of Government had just boon ronioved, and wliere lie must roHido 
 in order to take advantage of tho (loverninent grants, hn lii'wt purehiuted 
 liot N(». I.'i, in tliM '1th Ooncession, but sliortly afterwards he removed to 
 l/)t No. 20, in the .value Concc8.sion, a more (digiblo sj»oi, it being situate on 
 the Twelve Mile Oeok. 
 
 Horo, within a few miles of the base of tho moujiUiin, .iiul close by 
 the bright waters of Old Ontario, on the ba.iks of the broad and delightful 
 estuary of the "Twelve," surrounded l>y tho towering giants of tlie forest- - 
 the oaks, the walnuts, and the lonlly pine.s W(>re the tirst eaily improssions 
 of the new land conveyed to tho youthful mind of the suliject of this 
 .Momoir. 
 
 As i)reviously stated, the lifn and haljits of a pioneer is one which calls 
 
 into full phiy at all times the entire janvers of both mind and body: t<> 
 supj)lant the mighty monarchs of the virgin .soil for the more u.sefuJ'amJ 
 necc8.sary grains and roots, rctjuired for the <laily fare ; to build ; to fenco ; 
 and to prepare for tlie coming rigours of a Canadian winter, arc tiisks which 
 leave the Jirst settlers but little leisure to bestow on outside aflairs, so that 
 tho early Uf^ of lur subject must have been one of active indu.stry, helping 
 his parents in the cultivati(m of the the farm, and doing his daily part 
 towards tlio comforts of the house. 
 
 It has been remarked that every one wlio has made a luinio for being a 
 friend to manlcin')., liius sho\vii a coiTCsponding devotion to his parents and 
 family : in fact, tho self-denying practices of the oni;, becomes a .school for 
 the practice of the other, and without which, a man can never persistently 
 perform the j<^le of a bcniefactor. One of the most trying family duties in 
 winter is the starting of tlie morning fires : Hamilton j)erfornied this duty, 
 always rising tho first in the morning. In the absence of Bcrvants, Mrs. 
 Merritt set the ciamplo. A party of friends would often droji in upon the 
 family, when there would bo i.o helj) in tln^ house ; Mi's. Merritt would then 
 take tho position of cook, and, with the assistance of the children, i)reparo 
 <liniier for the visitors, to which, after changing tho attire, tliey would sit 
 down, she with her husband, wlio liad occupied the guests in the meantime, 
 wholly unconscious of (hcso ]>roceedings. 
 
 An incident which Mr. Merritt n.se<l to relate, shewed the lino feelings 
 of the children towards eacii other. Himself and his eldest sister, f Caroline, 
 wero one day picking cherries at Colonel Tenbroeck's. She was standing on 
 an extremity of a limb of the tree, along which, against her most anxious 
 .admonitions, he pei-sisted in going. The result was, the limb broke and 
 
both (^rno to the gi-ound ; lio wiw nuinjuro<l, but slic, iift^r ascertaining 
 his safety, ami a-skin;?, "Aro you lini-f?" fiiintod away, much to the horror 
 of IFamilton, who Ixsliovcil a dreadful cahimity hiul liajjpeued. 
 
 Ono favourite occupation of liis was taking the grain to the mill, his 
 oarliest oxpwlition in this capacity being on his fifth birthday, and was in 
 company with the servant girl, to Servos' Mill, near Niagara. His father, 
 when with hiui in the iiold, would oft(!n got the fanneix when going on this 
 errand, to let him perform that service for them, while they would assist at 
 hoeing until his return. Thoma.s', on the Twelve Mile t/roek, was the mill 
 generally j)atronized. 
 
 At one time, Jas. Dittorick was overtaken while pui-suing the route and 
 a race occurred on the road, which was full of stumps, whereby the latter 
 received a severe fall over ono of them. 
 
 nie time wiia not pa.ssed, however, without mental improvement, as ho 
 attended the log school-house at the "Conici-s," situated near his subsequent 
 residence. 
 
 In 180G he was sent to Burlington, at the head of the lake, and hero 
 he attended Mr. ('/OokeroH's sclnol, where ho received mathematical instruc- 
 tion, field surveying, etc., etc. Being an only son, his indulgent father, 
 wishing to make him an efiicient hoi-seman, presented him with a fine pony, 
 on which he could make extensive expeditions around the head of the Bay, 
 from which the f(!W main roads in those days radiated from each side of the 
 Lake, — east iicross to Ijake Erie, and we^st to Ijake St. Clair. Tliis practice, 
 besides adding to his health, givve vigour to body and mini, which wr^s not 
 without being severely tested in his expeditions with the " light horse," half 
 a dozen years aft(T, when his extensive knowledge of the country and his 
 skill as a dashing cavalry officer, was of the greatest importance to the cause 
 of the Crown. The holidays, e>speoially Sundays, v.ero well spc.'nt with his 
 fellow-student", sons of tho Hon. Mr. Halt, of whose hospitable domicile ho 
 entertained mmy pleasing recollections. 
 
 Soon after this, his teacher, Mr. Cockerell, removed to Niagara, doubtess 
 exjiecting a higher reuiuneralion for his .services, as that town was compara- 
 tivt-ly large, and contained a number of government ollici.-ils. 
 
 His father at that time was Sheriil' of tho District, and frequently in 
 Niagara, so that the removal of the teacher was a pleasing change to them 
 all. Here he finished his home education, xmder the <lirection of Mr. 
 Cockerell, ana the Kev. John Burns, a Presbyterian clergyman, wlio was a 
 highly gifted and talontoil man. This was all the classical knowledge ho 
 over attained, which afterwards was absorbotl by tho practical and useful 
 routine of active life. 
 
 At Niagara he saw a great deal more of society than either at liurliugton 
 or home, llie military gentlemen stationed there were u fine rfct of follows, 
 who always strove to make their presence agreeable, and funiisheil a vast 
 
 J 
 
•,-.^'»">-s?!r^s^ 
 
 vsccrtaining 
 ) the horror 
 
 he mill, his 
 and was in 
 His father, 
 )ing on this 
 lid asaist at 
 ras tho mill 
 
 e route and 
 Y the latter 
 
 uont, as ho 
 subsequent 
 
 , and hero 
 
 cal instruc- 
 
 ;ent father, 
 
 a fine pony, 
 
 of tho Buy, 
 
 side of tho 
 
 lis practice, 
 
 ch WiS not 
 
 lorso," half 
 
 ry and his 
 
 ,0 tho cause 
 
 t with his 
 
 omicile ho 
 
 a, doubtess 
 compara- 
 
 juently in 
 U;n to them 
 11 of Mr. 
 v.lio was a 
 wlcdgo he 
 uid useful 
 
 Uirliugton 
 of follows, 
 ed a vast 
 
 fund of variod ontcrtainmentB, so that time passed over very ploasantly. Aj> 
 Bocioty incr<!aso<l at Niagara, it also (extended to his own neighbourhood on 
 tho banks of tho *' Twelve." Numbers of his father's old companioiis-in- 
 ai'ms during tho llovolutionaiy War located themselves around that plivce. 
 Tho ofEcors of " Butler's Rangers" had drawn their lands in this vicinity. 
 Paulding, Tonbroock, Tuniey, and others, who oft in tho fierce din of battle 
 had made their opponents quail, were his immediate neighbours, so that his 
 father and family soon became reconciled, as their prospects brightonod, and 
 tho dark shadows of former years vanished from their path, and tho pleasing 
 Tisions of devoted loyalty in days gone by wero about to bo realized in a 
 new land, far away from the once happy homos of ancestors and kindred. 
 
 At tho age of 15, wishing him to see a little more of the outside world, 
 and hearing that his imclo Nehemiah, from N(;w Brunswick, was at the port 
 of Quelwc with his vessel, he was fitted out and sent to that city. Ho 
 fortunately had the companionship of Col. John Clark and Mr. Jas. Secord 
 during part of his journey. At Niagara, they found a schooner bounii for 
 KingKton, commanded by (Jaj)t. .Simpson. The an-angements for the voyage 
 were soon made, and in due time they reached tliat place. They had 
 now got upwards of 200 miles on their way, and finding some batteaux 
 which wero proceeding to Montreal, they transfeired themK(^lve,s and luggage 
 to those old-fashioned but useful modes of conveyance. 'J'ravolling in those 
 days was a very tedious affair und required a large stock of patience, to 
 which, however, from custom they wore well-used : at all evcmts, it gave him 
 leisure to survey and admire the most beautiful sceneiy of the Ljike of tho 
 Thousand Isles, and those wonders of tourists from ov<!ry clime, the Rapids 
 of tho St. Lawrence River. 
 
 When they reached Montreal, they were greatly pleased at finding so 
 fine a city, for even in those days IMontreal was a busy place during the 
 summer season, lie fortunately met with Mr. Clark, of the firm of ('lark 
 h Street, merchants. Mr. C entertained him very kindly, and told him 
 that ho had scon his Uncle Nehemiah at Quebec with his ship tho " Lord 
 ShfJ/iekl," which waa then loading with fiour for St. Croix, in Uio West 
 Indies. 
 
 Having romainotl in Montreal a few days, ho bade adieu to his 
 friends and companions, and took jiiu^sage in a schooner, which, in a short 
 time, landed him at Three Rivcru, a disUince of !)0 miles from Montreal. 
 Uoro he was hospitably ontertiiiried by some of his father's friends in tho 
 Fort. Being then but 15 years of age, and of an ardent und sanguine 
 temperament, he enjoyed his trip amiuingly. After surveying this old 
 hifltoric spot and seeing (ho R. C. (.athedral, he prepared for his departure. 
 Ilia object being to reach his undo before he left Quebec. So finding thtire 
 ▼OB no veesel going down by the river, ho hired a caleeho, r.nd was virivea 
 ike rest of tho distajicc along tlio Uuik of the St. Ijvwrenco. 
 
/> 
 
 10 
 
 The country on the route was well sottlod ; and BaptLste tho driver waa 
 rus communicativfi as drivers ufsually aro ; so tlio timo and distance flew past 
 quickly till tlioy an lAod at the ancient city of Quolxx;. lUHiuixang his 
 driver to return, he went down to the wharf and found his uncle, who gave 
 hiru a cordial weloonie. Our youthful ti-avell(;r was soon in deep converse 
 with his nowly-found relative, to whom he told all tho news of tho groat 
 and new country in tho West, of the largo lakes, of tho Niagaia Falls, and 
 particularly of his father and family at tlieir homestead on tho " Twelve." 
 The lu-ight and intelligent youtli soon became a gi'eat favourite with 
 his uncle, who, wliilst they remained in (Quebec, took him to s^e all tho 
 wonders of that cpiaint old city, with its churches, hospitals, barnicks and 
 fortifications, including tho aid Castle of St. Louis, and famoxis Plains of 
 AViraham, where nearly 50 years before, the illustrious warriors of England 
 and France, under Wolfe and AFontcalm, had struggled for the prize of 
 half a continent. His romantic niind was delighted with his rambles 
 around this historic jdace. Jle visited the ruins of the Old French 
 Fvvt, of which scarcely a vestige remained. Strangers strolled round to 
 examine the foundation walls, where occasionally might be found amongst 
 the rubbish an old bottle or other drinking utensil, from- which perhaps 
 the Boldiers of Ja Belle Fi-ance in days gone by had (puifTed their favourite 
 wine. 
 
 His uncle hml j)rocured him on his arrival a complete suit of sailor's 
 clothes, so that Hamilton in liis uniform no doubt felt proud of the "Blue 
 Jacket," which in tliose days of desperate naval engagements, was the pride 
 of the British sailor. 
 
 The vessel having completed her cargo, in a f(!w days all was ready, 
 and they bade good-bye to Quebec with its pleasing memories, and were 
 soon speeding down the noble river with a tine breeze and an ebb tide. Tho 
 really tine scenery of the Lower St. Lawrence, with its towering capes, its 
 lofty range of l.rfiurentian mountains, the numerous beautiful islands which 
 dotted tlie surface of tiie broad river, the shoals of white pori'oi.-e.-J and 
 flying tish, hail all attractiont} for our hero, which delighted him beyond 
 measure. 
 
 Whilst on tho voyage, he made himself acqjuiinted with the names of tho 
 roi>os and the mysteries of sailing, and occasionally doing some writing for 
 his uncle, who ent(^rtained him with descriptions of tho French settlements 
 (in the shores which they passed. 
 
 They cast anchor of!' the Island of Bie, and liere they spent a day 
 iu enjoying themselves. All along the coast of Bimouski and Givape, it is 
 wild and romantic, with mountainous sceneiy and sea fowl in abundance. 
 l>eaving tho Island of Anticosti on their loft, and the groat Bay of 
 Chaleurs on their right, they made into the open (Julf which aeparatod 
 Nova Scotia from Cape Breton. Hero Mr. Merritt lirst experienced tho 
 
■■I: 
 
 11 
 
 horrors of swi-sicknesa, which no doubt dlspelle<i much of tho romance of 
 ocean life from his youtliful mind. Th« calm v.-aters wliich ancci'fvlod on 
 reaching tho Gut of (Janso soon niadf him well, and were huoIi at to iniprotw 
 him favourably with iidand navigation, — a decisive step in after life. 
 Happily, they all arrived safe at Halifax, ufti'r a pleasant trip, which ho 
 often looked back to and Hpoke of in after yeans. This was the tinio of tho 
 war with France, so tliat Halifax wtis full of life and bustle. 
 
 Hero he had an opportunity of seeing for the fir.st time tho nobh* ahip.s 
 of war which England kept on this staticm. Tins king's naval yaid waa an 
 extensive })laco then, being supplied with every kind of stores for tho grovt 
 "Wooden Walls" which lay at anchor in the l>ay. a.s this was the most 
 important foreign station that the British possessed, and wjia the cajutal of 
 JJritish North America. 
 
 As his uncle's ship wa:< about to sail for S. Croi.x under convoy of the 
 frigate Lc Epervler, an event occurred which had a future influence on hb« 
 whole life. Capt. Nickoll, whom his uncle brought from Quebec, had 
 contracted the fatal ha])it of drinking to suoh excess that at times ho was 
 not tnistworthy ; so that instead of Mr. Merritt accompanying his relative 
 home to New Brunswick, his nncl,> determined that he should bo his 3Uj)or- 
 cargo for the voyage, with full powers to carry out his instructions. 
 
 The Lord t^heffieki had a general cargo of lumber, flour, itc, 8uite<l to 
 the West Indian market, and the season being well advanced, they were 
 anxious to get away from Halifax ; but a."? thoy were about leaving tlie 
 harbour, three of their ninn were im]>ressed for Her IVIajesty's service, and 
 tivken away from thorn ; but through his uncle's influence they woi-o soon 
 restored, and proceeded on their voyage. 
 
 This voyage was in every sen-se a most unsucce.ssful one, as a suc- 
 cession of Bovcrc gales caused the shi{) to spring a leak, so that they 
 were compelled to part with theii- deck load of lumber, and to bear up for 
 Charleston; but moderat- weather induced them to alter their course towards 
 the Bermudas, a:id they arrived at the Island of St. (,Jcorg(!, after battling 
 with the elements for over five weeks. On entering tho hail.'our, thoy wore 
 nearly lost by mistaking the channel ; but a negro pilot, Conung on board, 
 brought them safely in, where tliey anchored after a most i)eiilous voyage. 
 'ITic Caj)t!iin, Mr Laing, Mr. ^lerritt and Mr. Hamilton wont ashore, glad 
 t.o bo safe on terra jirma ;i;;ain. Whilst they were seeing after the refitting of 
 their vessel at St. (leorgn, one of those violent hurricaiices which aro so 
 j)revalent in the Wtst Indies and aro usually so destructive to life and 
 property, suddcidy arose, and such was tho violence of thf! storm that the 
 .ship parted her (;abl(>s, and was drive:; on to u danger in the harbour, known 
 as tho " Forks." Capt. Alwood reported his v.'ssel, and obtained a.=».>ii.stanci» 
 in getting her off and mooring her at S'lcldon lc Oooirich's wharf, whort^ 
 they prepand to^ uiilcaJ. A survey by the authoriti'^.'i w&.'i lield upon 
 
n 
 
 12 
 
 tho ship, when it was found that fho was so badly Ktraincd and damaged a.s 
 to bo j>ronouiicod unseawoi thy, so that sho wjus dismantled and sold by 
 auction ; ccrt,unly not a very favourablo beginning for our young supercargo, 
 who 80 far liad rogularly kept a log-book of his voyago, and put t<j a practical 
 trial tho theory of navigation which ho learned from his old twiclicr, Mr. 
 Cockrell, at Burlington, a few years before. Fortunately, Mr. Merritfs 
 uncle had coiTcspondents hero ; so thoy wanted for nothing, but spent their 
 time on tho Island in enjoying tho beautiful climate for which the Bermudas 
 aro famous, and seeing overj-thing worthy of notice. 
 
 Thoy were compelled to stjiy hero for six weeks, until finding a vessel 
 bound for New York, they engaged passages at $50 each, and left St. Georg(. 
 on the 23rd of D(!combor, 1808. On the 31.st of Decemb.M-, they had the 
 ploasuro of sighting tho Jersey shore between New York and Philadelphia- • 
 a remarkably quick passage, and finally reached Newport, Long Island, 
 having only boon 12 days on the voyago. Arriving at New York, ho 
 fortunately found a vessel called tho Union (Capt. White), bound for St. 
 John, N. B., for which port they sailed on the ITHh of January, 1809, and 
 experienced a very rough passage, which can be better undtn-stood by those 
 who know what a voyago across this particular part of the Atlantic is in 
 this season, at a very low teniperatun!, wh(>n every cloud of spray, and 
 every dash of foam which t)io ship oncountei-s is inst^intly converted into 
 solid ice. The perils of this const are at all timos very seiious, but (loubly bo 
 in winter, when every rope and block is held by the iron gj'asj) of the Frost 
 King, and tho crew so benumbed that exertion is no easy task. On ono 
 occasion the vessel came ne.-ir beinji oaught in the fatal embi-aco of tho 
 breakers which lash with awful g;-andeur upon this rugg(!d and rock-bound 
 coast ; but by the ni -vcy of Providence, thoy .♦brtv.ately escaped shipwreck, 
 and at length sigliti-il Partiiugo Island light -house, at tlio mouth of tho 
 harbour of St. Joliii. Tho captain and Mr. Merritt got ashore, and obtaiuod 
 a boat and crossed the river to St. John, where ho lost no time in hastening 
 to his uncle's, and relating his adventure.^. 
 
 Hia friends were all delighted to mo(!t him, an I show him everji-hing 
 worth seeing in tlie country. During his stiiy hero, he continued his 
 oducation at a good English school, which was well patronized. On tho 
 13th of March, his uncle sailed for E:gland, leaving him with the family 
 during his al)sence. 
 
 8t. John w;is founded by tlie American Loyalists at the time of the 
 Revolutionary War, and was a refuge for them — Mr. Merritfs gi-and- 
 fathcr and uncles among the number. It stands on a rocky peninsula, 
 at the mouth of the River St. John, contivincd houses built of wood, and 
 had a largo and extensive commerce. Mr. Merritt's father, gi-andfathw. 
 and part of his family emignitod here in 1783. 
 
 I 
 t 
 
f 
 
 Ig 
 
 1 
 
 
 f 
 
 1 
 I 
 
 13 
 
 HtTo lio sturiifd r»ook keeping, and aho made furthpr (iflvaJKc;j in 
 navigation, surveying, algebra and Ijiitin. On the Cth of June he entered 
 college. Mr. Molxjud taught him trigonometry, and other sciences suited 
 to an enquiiing mind. 
 
 Kt. Joliji wiis a busy tov/n and a capital place for a young man to gain 
 an insi^^lit into buaincsa. The fctir and bustle of a large seaport is always 
 favoiirabii! for observing the many road.s there are to fame and fortune, by 
 indnnti-y and j ier.se veifuioe. Mr. Merritt hud an ojipoilunity of being 
 introduced into tho society of the ladies, who in tliat locality were fame<l 
 for tlioir goovl looks, good humour, and social habits. On reference to hia 
 memorandum book, wo find stated his impressionfj as a youth ; — "Tlio ladieu 
 " arc numerous here, very handsome, fi'e.«h, brisk, rosy and delicate, fond of 
 " o)it-i!oo:' c.NorciHe ; in fine weather tho .streets are full of them ; gl id to Bee 
 '• young fellows of an evening to ehat Avith, as beaux are somewhat rcarco." 
 As a specimen of tho manner in which Mr. IMeiriit occupied hia time, wo 
 extract tho following from his well-kept diaiy : — 
 
 " April oO. — Heavy snow-.storm ; spoiled the lad; s' promenade. 
 
 " May 1. — Herrings begin to make their ap) icai?,nee, 
 
 " lOLh.— -Went to grandfatlu I's to see them cure and pack fhsh. 
 
 '* llth. — Commenced practical surveying. 
 
 '•■ 14th.— Went to grandfather'^ to see tho process of catching fish ; very 
 cold ; glad to get to bed early, so benumbed. 
 
 " inth. — Great many ve.s.scls arrived. 
 
 " 17th. — To tho fishing grounds ; got 12 hogsheads at one haul. 
 
 " 2lKt. — To church the third time since arrival. 
 
 " 23rd. — Morr.ing at college ; ai'ternoon to Jlr. Mclx)ud's for algebra. 
 
 "Juno 5th. — Wrote a nuniber of letters to old friend.s in Canada- 
 father, motlier, sister, John Clark, Johnson, Builrr, Mr. Jarvia, Mr. Secord, 
 (fcc; all .sent to Frederick town to go by niet;sengor. 
 
 " 24th. — Packet from Englaml arrivcil. Ifeard of ITnclo Nehemiah'.s 
 safe arrival there ; ho only obtained .£1,000 for his brig, fyurd S/icJ/icUl, and 
 damaged cargo ; groat loss to him. Went t) talco lunar ob.«ervationH ul 
 Partridge Island ; came on foggy ; nothing done. 
 
 " 25th. — Ivainy and dreary ; wish to be homo again. 
 
 " 27th. -Went to a quilting bee- very agreeable. 
 
 " 29th. --Received a letter from father, dated May 15th, so that there 
 was only a week's ditlenmee betwet^n it and the letter from England— lattt^r 
 dated 9th May. 
 
 '' July ;3rd.- Birthday; sixteen yeara of age. 
 
 '' 8th. — Went sti-awberrying with a nice party- lotfi of fine young girls ; 
 very delightful. 
 
 '' 22nd.- To church. Confirmed by the Bishop of Nova Scotia; abou< 
 100 candidates; two-thirds of them females. 
 
 " 24th, ---Uncle Nehemiah arriveil from England, soon after which con 
 eluded to retuiri to Niagara ; spent time plea.santly until departure." 
 
 Havinsr taken leave of his relations and all kind friends in St. John and 
 its vicinitv. Mr. Merritt mado arrangements to return home, we think, in 
 
/t 
 
 H 
 
 OcUibcr. Thoir vessel Avas latlen with plaster, find after fo.vrting along the 
 shori', and t:.';ing refugo \i\ somo b.'irbour every night, until a galo at last 
 , Hprinj^ing u|>, they were driven aahoro on Martha's Vineyard, an island 
 lyin;,' off tVio ooast of Massachusetts. Hero they had to remain until they 
 found a sniuU schooner, bound for New York, which freed them from their 
 involuntary imprisonment. They reached " Shrogg's Neck " in Long Island 
 Sound, where another detention occurred, so that he shipped on a small 
 ' Bk>op which took him to the old homestead, then called liyram, now Port- 
 chestcr, where ho remaine<l for .several days with his Uncle and Aunt 
 Lyons. They were much pleased with the account of Iiis adventures, and 
 agreed with liim that, in the m.ijority of cases, ocean romances arc highly 
 coloured. 
 
 From this old soiit of his family ho went to Now York, where he 
 remained a few days to ianuso himself There were then no steamers on 
 the mighty Jludscn Kivcr, and travellers had to take their chance in any 
 trailing sloop or boat going to Albany, at which place ho ariived in due 
 time. There purchiusing a horse, Lo rode to Uatavia, through the Cherry 
 Valley turnpike, and from thenco on to ]jewiston, where ho cros86<i 
 the Niagara Kivcr by the feiry, and rode home to hi.s father's residence on 
 the "Twelve." lie arrived home just in time to eat his Christmas dinner, 
 and enjoy the festivities of the holiday season, which was then well kept, 
 much to the gratification of his pai-ents at his safe return, and of his many 
 fiiends who were delighted with his numerous adventures and miraculous 
 
 escapes. 
 
 * ♦ ■ # * # * * 
 
 Tho timo had now arrived for Mr. Merritt to turn his attention to the 
 more sober affairs of life, and being of an active mind, ho was deter- 
 mined not to remain long idle. A thriving village was then sjiringing up 
 near his home, — a store having been started diiring his absence, which 
 seemed to bo well patronized. Ho thought there was a good opening for a 
 more general store, as the farmers were continually wanting something, and 
 ha<l no time to go a groat distiince to obtain supplies. So ho entered into 
 partnership with Mr. Chishohn, who kept the store alluded to, and had an 
 appropriate building. Having good recommendations tho supplies wore 
 obtained from Montreal, which then was tho general mart for tho wliolo 
 country, and has continued so since. Money was very scarce, and business 
 ■was almost entirely carried on by trade or barter. They received all kinds 
 of farming produce in oxcliauge for their goods,— ashes, pork, staves, honey, 
 hides, lumber, and fruit, — which they shipped to ^Montreal in payment of 
 their purchases there. Hero ho found the advantage of a good system of 
 book-keeping, for there Avere so many intricate accounts, that tho utmost 
 care was required to kcop affairs straight. In fact, Mr. Merritt always 
 thought that the failures in those days was principally for want of a good 
 knowledge of book-kw^ping. 
 
g along tho 
 5alo ftt last 
 I, an island 
 
 until they 
 t from their 
 jong Island 
 on a small 
 
 now Port- 
 
 and Aunt 
 intuies, and 
 
 are highly 
 
 , where he 
 itearaors on 
 ,nco in any 
 vod in duo 
 tho CheiTy 
 
 he cros8e<l 
 esidonco on 
 mas dinner, 
 I well kept, 
 of his many 
 
 miraculous 
 
 ;iou to tho 
 
 was deter- 
 
 ringing up 
 
 nee, which 
 
 ening for a 
 
 ething, and 
 
 itcred into 
 
 nd had an 
 
 )plies wore 
 
 tho whole 
 
 id business 
 
 :1 all kinds 
 
 ves, honey, 
 
 )aynieut of 
 
 system of 
 
 ;ho utmost 
 
 itt always 
 
 of a good 
 
 15 
 
 Mr. Merriit continued in business with Mr. Chiiiholin until a aiiort 
 time lK3fore the war broke out, when ho sold the iuterost he had in the 
 business, and went on the homestead farm, which reijuirotl his attention, fts 
 his father's time was wholly taken up with tho duties of his office as Sheriff. 
 Ho Wits now ill his nineteenth year, and drawing towards manhood. Tliero 
 might also ha\ been another inducement, as ho became warmly attuche<i 
 *0 an amiable young lady, Miss Prendergast, whoso family were located in 
 the vicinity. The business of a country store waa too contracteil for his 
 ideas. lie required the open air, tho verdant tioldd and nature's book to 
 carry out to perfection the ideas which were then germinating in his fertile 
 brain. 
 
 lie therefore resolved to turn agriculturist, and began farming on a 
 most extensive scale ; so that with his father's 200 acres of land, he rcnUxl 
 the adjoining farm, belonging to an Englishman, Mr. k!amuel Wood, in the 
 Commissariat Office, whoso occupation, like that of his (Mr. Morritt's) 
 fatlier, took him from hoin(\ With the procvi <Is of l,is share (f llio l;iti> 
 mercantile business, ho purcl.'ased teams, lior.ses, cattle, an<l a com])lete stock 
 of farming implements sufficient for both farms, and in a short time ho had 
 nearly 200 acres of land under cultivation, — nearly 120 in grain alone, — 
 besides roots and other supplies for horsos and catthi, and everything that a 
 family stood in need of ; also two orchards, which suppliotl a largo quantity 
 of fruits. This occupation ho found conduced gioatly to his healtli and 
 spirits, and many of his operations and darling schemes in after life were 
 planned, like those of the Romans, beneatli tho shade of trees and m the 
 groen pastures. 
 
 But everything is unstable in this uncertain world, as ho found by 
 experience tho following year, when tho war-cloud burst on his peaceful 
 neighbourhood, and compelled him to exchange the ploughshare for the 
 sword which his fathers had wielded in years gone by. 
 
 ■ ' # ■ # #■ ' # ' * ♦ * 
 
 The stream of Time pursues its ceaseless course, and tho Whigs and 
 tLeir descendants of the Ivevolution had become a nation; and in extending 
 their territory thoy came in contact with men of a .similar origin, tho sub- 
 jects of (Jreat Britain in tho Provinces. Tho Colonists also frequently 
 visited the Western Counties of New Yoi-k, — "going back to tho Colony " 
 as they called if. Twenty-tivo years passed in mutual services, and friendly 
 intercourse had nearly obliterated the ill feelings engendered by tho Revolu- 
 tion. War was waged at a distance, but newspa|)ers were few and wore long 
 on the ror.to to tho back settlements, and uncertain of arrival. Some of 
 thoso in tho interioi-, like jMr. Merritt, had visited tho sea-board, and 
 thus came in contact with actual war ; but to tho great body of the settlers, 
 war was a distant and uninteresting theme. The discussions regarding the 
 trado on tho higli Sea, brought on a coldness in the regions of tho great. 
 
/> 
 
 16 
 
 liiikoa, and nn ombargo waa put on thoir ciomniorco, which Icxl them to 
 lUiticipati) that war mi'jht roacli tlioir peaceful honuvs. A Militia Act of 43 
 BOctionH waa piuaod on tho mooting of Parliamont on tlio IGth of March, 
 1808 ; and not too Hoon, as Hubsoriuent cvciit^s will show. Mr. Morritt ha^l 
 roceiviHl a comii.Lssion of Ensign, and a T^ioutt^nancy just beforti tho war 
 
 bn>ko out. 
 
 War was announcini about tlio anniversary of tlio Battlo of BunJror'rt 
 ITill, on tho 19th of Juno, and Mas known hero on tho 27th of tlio samo 
 month. An cxproHs waH .sontto tho (Jovcrnorat York, who arrived at Nia- 
 gara tho noxt «lay. "On the 29th" wiya Mr. Merritt, " I had tho honor of 
 •' l>oing presontiid to him ; on tho 30th I had an order to repair to Chippawa 
 " with 20 men, and place iny.st-lf under the commaml of Col. Clark, of tho 
 •' 2nd liincoln Militia. Hero 1 found 20 more, over whom with my 20, I 
 •' was phuicd in commaiul. We were moatly cnf,'aged in patrolling up tho 
 •'banks of tho river, exp(>('ling an attack, eapocially on tho ni'^dit of tho 4th 
 •■ of July." 
 
 Tlu> IJufTalo (Jazcttf, itoticed COO Voluuteens on tho frontier at tho 
 oommcucomot\t of tho war. On the ."Oth June, it .said: '* Iniminlijvtoly 
 '•■ on a ropoi-t of a declaration of war, tho militia in tho neighbourhood of 
 •' tho lines were ordered out. Tho ammunition and aniui dei)o.sitod at 
 ■' Canandaigua wero dospatohod for ihcir use at 15!;>.ck Tvock." 
 
 Tjio following oxtmct from Mr. Merritt'a printtMl journal of tho war, 
 gives a vivid description of tho feeling during these stirring timoa : — 
 
 " The flank companies, and all corps took a prido in doing their duty, 
 which was v(*ry severe, i\.a wo were in momeulaiy exixH'tatioTi of an attack. 
 Patrols were kept up with little intermission along tlie whole lino from 
 Fort Cicorge to Fort Erie. Those olT duty wero on fatigue : notwithatanding 
 which they im[)roved rapidly in their iliaciplino. IJatterios wero erected 
 ou {>very eligible positii)n on i.\\» \i\w.». ^ Tho greatest jiossiblo cixortions 
 were making for a vigorous roKisfcance, uiuhu" the eyo of our commander, 
 wiio was continually on tho move, visiting ovcrv |M)st. This continued 
 until tho 20th." 
 
 IVFr. Moiritt has said that riiling along tlu^ Niagar.i lliver from CJhippawa 
 to the ferry, lirst suggested tho idea of a canal to his mind ; and it is but 
 rea.sonablo to stipposo that while on duty his thoughts and eyes would bo 
 mainly towards the flowing river, on whose opposite bank wero mustere<l 
 tho invading horde : and sometimes in fancv thev would ascend the slusrjjish 
 waters of the Chippawa, when an imaginary channel would be made to the 
 aourcea of the Beaverdams, where thought would connect with those dwoll- 
 iiig on tho Ten Mile Creek, or, perhaps, down tho " Twelve," on whoso 
 banks stood tho ripened grain now falling to decay for want of tending. 
 
 Tlio circumstance.s of Mr. Morritt receiving a medal for the taking of 
 Detroit, when ho was not at that place until tho following day, requiroa 
 explanation at length, and as it aftbrd.s an inatiiuco of the extremely small 
 
I 
 
 Iwl them to 
 itia Act of 43 
 ^th of March, 
 
 ftforritt had 
 foro tho war 
 
 ^ of TJunJror'H 
 
 of tho sanio 
 
 rrivcd nt Nia- 
 
 tho honor of 
 
 to (Jhij)pawa 
 
 darlc, of tho 
 
 ith my 20, I 
 
 oiling up tho 
 
 ht of tho 4th 
 
 intioi- ut tho 
 Inimwlmtoly 
 ibotirhood of 
 (ioix)sitod at 
 
 of tho war 
 
 ica : — 
 
 tlioir duty, 
 ;^f an attack, 
 lo lino from 
 vithHtanding 
 vero erected 
 lo (exertions 
 commander, 
 us oontinuod 
 
 tn Chippawa 
 id it is but 
 !3 would bo 
 fo mustered 
 tho sluggish 
 nado to the 
 those dwell - 
 " on whoso 
 tending. 
 3 taking of 
 ly, requiroH 
 smely small 
 
 17 
 
 inoauH by which great rennltH wore attained in our renmrkable Ktrugglo, will 
 not bo without interest to the reiuler. 
 
 At this time, ljy a fortunate ooxiurrence, the order given to tho force oji 
 tike north we.st(!rn IVontier to act on the oHonsivo, w.w, before tho counter 
 ord(!r nirived, carried out by Lieut. RobertH, who, with hin garri.son of 
 iavalids from tho Tenth Royals, stationed at tit. Joseph.H, and Ids allies — 
 the servants of the Northwest Company, and their Jndiaas - in all number- 
 ing over 1000 men, with two ])i(!('('s of iirlillery, embiuked from St. Joseph.s, 
 on the morning of the l()th of duly, and arrived at tlie KorL of Mackinaw 
 the ne.\t day, wliicli pla;;o they promptly invested ; and aft<u' a short 
 parley, the States forces there surrendered themselves as prisoners of war. 
 This most important event open' I tl'.e alliiinee with the North-west and our 
 Indian allies, and re inltcv.i in the capture of tlie v/'iole Mtat,()S torritoiy west 
 and north- wt'st of the Alaum'X!, and svi fir south as til. LouIh. 
 
 (leneni! Rrock, tho I'resiilont, or liie;it.-(Jjvornor ivt tho olR :jr is now 
 termed, had on hit arrival, to make use of tho material at ha:ul : liis Ktiperiors 
 in Raglaud, uiiitlil? (> aTtrd hi»o any ol^oel•:^ or men, and Hir (Jeorgo 
 Prevost being vinwiiiln;,', i,i liiv) iiii •. iLain state of aflairs, t<} risk any of hi.s 
 forces above Kingston. Of his Attorney-rioneral ho ma lo a milit;iry 
 Lieutenant, succwxled by his clerk, Kir tl. U. Robinson, also a militiaman, 
 ami not of age ; another of his militjiry family Wivs R. Nicholl, Commissary 
 (a merchant), and J. Clark, of tlu) -Ith Lincoln Militia ; T. Merritt, formerly 
 Cornet in Simcoe's Rangers, his Commander of Cavalry, Tho g'j.utlemeu 
 mentioned being all intimately known, it is not to bo wondered at that 
 placed (US he was, a situation should bo given to a youth just turned 
 19, who had displayed some zeal for his country, and that he should 
 receive a medal when tho .service was pei-foimoJ, t?i'> .same as the veteran 
 Col. Proctor. 
 
 Tlie cami)aign of Napoleon against Russia made the Government of the 
 United States more compliant with the views of tiie democrats witii regard 
 to tho expansion in America. The concpiest of Spanish America was 
 for the preiient postponed. Tho arrival of the Wasp shxjp of war with 
 tho s{x*cial onvoy, afforarxl the signal for commencing tho war, which was 
 declared, as was noticed, on tho 17tli of June, 1812. 
 
 A t;dent<;d writer in tho United Stiites lately, says, in his Biogx'aphy of 
 President Harrison : — " Even before tho deolai-ation of war, Kentucky had 
 " made railitaxy preparations for the expected campaign. Tho Governor 
 " hiul organized ten regiments of volunteers, and Ohio had boon eciually 
 •' active." 
 
 Governor Meigs was requeated to call for troops to assemble at Dayton, 
 Oliio, in April. Next month, throe regiments were assembled under 
 Brigixdier-General Hull, of tho United States Army. On the Ist of June, 
 the army commeaced its m uvli : it preceded the dejlavatioa of war, and 2D 
 
 ii\ 
 
h 
 
 W 
 
 18 ^ 
 
 dayH was conHiiKirotl onoiigli for it to |>h».h from tlioOliin to ilic vulloys of t]i« 
 Sfc, Tjawroiifp. The namo <jioun(l in |»nrt was piissoil tin- vvar hoforo uiulcr 
 Harrison, mikI tonniiiatod \\s tlio siicccssful Iiniinii liattio of Ti|>ito<'nnop, on 
 tlio WaWasli. "Fn inarcliiiii,' tliioiigli a wildt rncss," saysHnll. " iiitMii(iral)Io 
 •' for siiva,;,"' Imilmrity, it will Im^ imi)os.sil)lo to rcpiosH the feelings of indigna- 
 '' tion, and wliich the spirit of an indignant people^ can no longer endure." 
 At Urbana they wei-o joined Ity the 4tli Kcgiuient, stationed iIkmc. under )i 
 triumphal arch decorated with the mottoes of TijipecaJioe, »t'c. I'as.sing tho 
 •watershed, they leachcd Mnumeo near the close <>f the nmiitli. Hull's army, 
 for fear of ainlmsh. desjate of example in similar e.\pcdi(i(ins through an 
 Indian country, had left the Indian //■«//, and tiie season heing rainy, tliey 
 wore diitaii'.ed on tlnMnaich. md liter-ally ''stu"k in tiie uind." which the 
 Indians 1)\ their c.\[ierieiire tVoni tirne inuueinoriiil li:id leai-ucd to avoid. 
 'J'his circunistaiieo found him (tn his ai'rival at tho lake stripped of his 
 hor.ses. wagijons, kc, tor want of wliich ln^ made use of a couple of 
 seliooui'is lying at t.liM mouth of the river, and in crossing it, he was first 
 made iic(|uainr,ed l>y a di'Sp.itcli, uilli the di'clarat ion ot' war. and notified to 
 he on "his guard.'' IFpto this time (he expedition, tliough large, bore 
 th" a,j)p,'araiie,,! of au Imlian invasion, and only to Hjip(!arances I'eaping the 
 fruits of Harrison's vicioiy of the Ttli of Novendter la.st, on tlu' Wabash. 
 This 0()idd n )w no more be maintained, ami the sule object of the camiiaign 
 • -the compiest of (laiuida must now 'pe i)uldished. St. (icorge, the nnlitia 
 offieei". ha\iug receive<l an order tu act oidy on the defensisc. alone pi'cvcuted 
 JTuH's advance being opposed, as inti-iiigenct! of the war had reached him 
 before it did the States (ieueral, who anived at Detroit on tlie oth of July. 
 ICis \e^scl the (!iii/ii.(/ii was taken by a party uniler the command of 
 <.!aj>t. Ibx'hellc, of Andierstburgh. .After a week's delay, the (loneral 
 crossed llie riv» r. and entrenched himsi'lf at Sandwich, nearly o]>posite ; 
 front wliicli Ik' sent, out .si'\eral expeditions. f>ne of them reaching t<» 
 Delaware. 
 
 Colonel Proctor, who, a'cording to ^Morgan, lanl brought over the Ust 
 Regiment a f(?w years previous, was not with the detachment opposite 
 Detroit on the declaration of war, and the control of atTairs was thrown 
 into the hands of the Militia-Colonel St. G'eorge, who froni the surprise or 
 other real oV)stiiietions. oould not eommnnieate with the Governor until 
 the SOtli. 
 
 (E.VTHACT F1!0.M ]\Ilt. MEKltnV.S JoUItNAL.) 
 
 " Infornnition arrived on that day (the 20th), which changed our front, 
 and lessened tlin necessity of watchfuhu^ss here. I got leave to visit ray 
 home on the ' TVelvo,' which was tho first leave of absence I had since the 
 beginning of the war, although a number of tho Sedentary Militia had been 
 allowed to go home and gather in their crops. On arriving, I found mine 
 destroyed, except a small portion, which had been saved l)y an old iKjnsioner, 
 under mother's directions. In fact, tho war had put an end to my future 
 
 % 
 
 I 
 
\ illIt>VS of tllH 
 
 Ix'foro uiulor 
 l|>|i('ciiii()(*, on 
 
 " lIKMlKHablo 
 
 5s of iiidigna- 
 
 iger onduro.'' 
 
 \\('Vi\ miller n 
 
 I 'as,' in;,' tlio 
 
 Hull's iiijiiy, 
 i (lirouvjli art 
 ,' laiiiy. tlioy 
 ." wliiitli iJic 
 »'il to avoid, 
 ilipcd «)f liis 
 a ('(iui>l(i of 
 
 III' was first 
 1(1 iiotitifd to 
 I largo. l)oro 
 i rcaj)iiii,' tlif 
 tli»' Wabasli. 
 Ii" canijiaigii 
 lio Fiiilitiii 
 110 prevented 
 veaolioil iiini 
 
 ."itli of July, 
 idniinund of 
 I- CJenrral 
 
 y opjjo.site ; 
 cacliin!.'' to 
 
 ■er the 41 .st 
 lit oi)posite 
 NviLs thrown 
 surpriso or 
 n-iior until 
 
 1 our front, 
 o visit my 
 d since the 
 a had been 
 bund mine 
 l)ensiouer, 
 n\y future 
 
 10 
 
 fiinniiicc openition.s, and I never workod u diiy at tlmt ocu'Upiition ag.tin. I 
 had not arrived niany liour.s, when I was followed hy my fatlier and six men, 
 with an order from (Jeneral Uroek to proceed to Delaware, alous; the llivor 
 ThamoH without tlelay, and keep open the eonimunieation with Aiiiherst- 
 hurjLj. Ho achlod, 'I am well pleased with your e.xertiou.^. and wish you to 
 see more active .service.' I immediately piepai'(><l for tlepartiire, and went 
 oil' the samo afternoon. ()n tlie followiiifj day I arrived at Oxforii. {\>\. 
 IJostwick WHS there with the militia who had just assemliled. I li(;ard of 
 Mr. Watson heing at Delaware with !<• or ] 'J un>u. I pushed cui with the 
 design of surprising; him. A few miles hefui-e I arrived at the place, 1. fell 
 in with Mr. Till'any, wlio appi'ised mo of his beinj,' at Allen's, with a nunil)er 
 of men well ai'iiied ; likewise tliat the country would all Join him. I sent 
 back to('ol. IJoslwick for a few of his men. 1 took po.ssessionofahou.se 
 about six miles from Allen's, and called ourselves Yankees ; the peopio 
 diseovercd their .sentiments to us, so I inado a dozen of them prisoners, 
 detained all but one until the morning. AVlieii Col. jtostwick arrived, we 
 took two of the party, moved un and .suriounded old Allen's hou.se, but 
 Watson had made his escape; W(! took Allen ami the tN\o prisoners with us, 
 and rt;tuiiiod to Oxford, i loft a .sergeant and four men there : heard of 
 Major t'hambers. of the Ust Regiment ap])roacli : met him at Hurford, he 
 did not retard my return to b'ort ({eorge with tht; jirlsonei's. (.)ii arriving, 
 [ found that Oen. I>rock had sailed for Vork. I followed him in a boat, 
 and reported niy.self. He was well jdea.sed with my proceedings, and .sent 
 me back with a detachment of L*i-' men, I was too well satisiied with my 
 command, to he long on the jourjiey. Major Chamber's \\as ar, O.xfoid, with 
 •1(1 Keguhirs and lOO .^^iIitia"." 
 
 On the road they woi-e detained by (.'ol. Talbot, and did not. reach Detroit 
 until the day after the occupation was made. Jt is unueces.sary to detail 
 the incidents of this action .so cnulitable to all engaged on our side. 
 
 Mr. !Merritt remained here, foraging for the troops until the 7th of Sep- 
 tember, when he returned to Niagara, which he reached in (nght ilays, 
 they being in expectation of an attack on that frontier. Whilst at Detroit, 
 he wrote a letter to his alhanced, detailing these events in full. 
 
 Im the Trnflalo (hm'.lti' o{ Sejjtember the Sth, an account isgisen of the 
 meetuig of the County of Niagara, at Dutl'alo, and of the appointment of a 
 Committee of Safety. A import that Ci-and Island (the Indian reserve) had 
 l^oen taken by the British, hrought out the Indians undei- I'ed Jacket, and 
 from the same paper of the "J'.tth of Sejitember wt; extract: — 
 
 " Aliout 140 warriors of the Seneca Nation from the Alleghany ilivei-, 
 arrived in town la.st week, and are encamiied near, moi-e being expocte<l 
 from difi'erent i)arts. Several Councils were lield. Yesterday they per- 
 formed a war dance iii the streets, itc." 
 
 General Brock h:id i-eturned to the Niagara i'rontier with his force; and 
 the West being comparatively safe, ho hastened to make every disposition 
 for defence, as the arnii.stice was near ended. Mr. Merritt was stationed 
 at Fort t; eorge duiiug the bombai-dment that succeeded the armistice. No 
 ca.sualtie3 oecuj-red, although the troopers, with their horses, were quartered 
 in an exposed situation on the bank of the river. 
 
 -hi 
 
/ 
 
 20 
 
 Karly on tho moniin^ of tho 13th of Octobrr, 1812, (Jononil Itrock, 
 whoBo hra<l((uiirt«'i*s wen' at B'ort CU-orfjo, rowivcvl a (li^patcii hy omi of tluv 
 (Iru^^ooriH wlio wrro patiol!i;if^ tho river, to tin; cHoL't tliiit {.Im eiii'my had 
 lai\(lt!d lit Quoonston, in i-ousiiliTiiblc fon-o, midcr the Militia-(Joiii>ral Van 
 llciuiillcr. (loiuuiil lliuck, witJj liiw iimncdiato rtall', li;i.:t(iiiiMl to tho soono 
 of action, leaving tho availahlo icservcs at Niafjani to follow ; nmon;^ tho 
 fiifit of th«'Ko to arrive wero tlio cavalry uiuler tho oonunniKl of Major Mor- 
 ritt. To their surj>riKo and clu^jrin, they mot a lunnher of Kti'a!.'<,'lers from 
 tho militia, who, when asked \vhy tiny were iM.'haviii:,' iu tin's manner, 
 replied that they oidy followed tlio exanijilo of (ho r('p,adar.M, whom thoy 
 hiul l)Oatou in Ihoir retreat, llninours weio now v.l.isjMred about of tho 
 death of tho (ioneral, who had been reported only wounded. 
 
 Tho following extract from Air. M(!rvitt'H printed jovirnal will explain 
 Hubsei[uent events: — 
 
 "TiiM nti'ii',';;l(;rs haviii,c; eoll<>eted at nurhain'.s, (tibout a ni'lo distant on 
 tho Nia;^ara road), (ient-ral Sir It. II. Sheatl'e, havin;.,' a.'^Humed eonuuand, 
 Major Menitt's dragoons wero ordei-nd to advance. The.se, with tho Indianii 
 under Captains I'rant, Norton, and Keri', kept the onony on the heights 
 which they Jiad flr.st oeenpied, and so allowed (len. Sheaflo to form in their 
 vrtir. So near were the pickets stationed that whilst waiting for tho action to 
 connnenee, I\!r. Merritt and the IT. S. oilker eommanding e.\rhange<l nhottf 
 in uui'llo fashion, emh taking a Jlreloek from their men, who had been 
 carrying on a fnsiladc^ on tlieir own account." 
 
 It is unneces-siiry to detail the ])articulars of this memorable battle, in 
 which, although tho nuinliers wiw Hmall on both widoH compareil with other 
 actiouK, yet tho spirit and bravory evincfld by the militia during the combat 
 was fiuoh as to show (heir iirm re>;olvo to defend their .soil. And tho 
 action has since been Uioked upon as the Bunker Hill of Canada. 
 
 Major Merritt, holding the position of commandor of tho militia cavalry 
 of Uppt'i- Caiiad.i, was deputed by CJen. Sheaffe to receive the Bword.i of 
 tho ono'.ny, which was done by riding along the column and placing thorn 
 on his saddhi-bow, making cpiito a largo load. Son\o of the.se weapons 
 remain in the family to Uu; present day. Mr. Merritt remained with 
 L..; troops palioliiug tho river dining the rest of the campaign, with the 
 exception of a week's absence on tho L*Oth of November, to the Detroit 
 frontier, on a confidential mi.ssion from (Jon. She^iftb to Col. Proctor, Tho 
 only thing notublo during this expedition was tho crossing on tho ico of 
 tho River Thames— the first of tho season. Mr. INIerritt was st^xtionod at 
 Fort Erie during tho demonstrations of (Jen. Smith, of the 17. S. i-egular 
 army, who, since tho defeat of Yau Rensallcr of tho militia had taken 
 the command of tho frontier. 
 
 During the winter of 1812-13, important changers were made in tho 
 organization of the forces on tho Niagara frontier. Volunteer regimonts 
 were fomied to serve during tho war, amongst whom Colonel Robin-sou and 
 
 1 
 
 > 
 
21 
 
 noriil IJrock, 
 »y out) of llu» 
 » eiu'iny had 
 Policial Van 
 ti) tlm soene 
 ; iiiuoii;^ tli(» 
 f Major Mor- 
 iti;.'<,'lcrH fi-om 
 tlii.H iii:inner, 
 . wlioiii tlioy 
 ulumt of thii 
 
 will pxplaiu 
 
 lo dintrmt on 
 'il comrnimJ, 
 It tli'j liidi-ina 
 1 thu lieifjliLs 
 form in theii' 
 tho action to 
 ■hancfod Hhotu 
 lio had been 
 
 )\e battlo, in 
 d Avith other 
 tlie combat 
 il. And tho 
 la. 
 
 ilitia cavalry 
 10 Hword.i of 
 )lacing thom 
 eso weapons 
 niaintxl with 
 ign, with tho 
 
 tho Detroit 
 'roctor. Tho 
 )n tho ico of 
 
 stiitionotl at 
 IT. S. rejifular 
 a had taken 
 
 made in tho 
 ;er reginiontf 
 \obin.sou and 
 
 othrrs diHtin<,Miishn«l thfmvilvc.^. Tho militia w.^rc! .still liable to bo callvl 
 for duty at any m:)in.''nr.. Tlio r)ilo\vin;.( j:jra;»hio lottfc, t/) thn fiami> party 
 at l)>!troit, \\-ritliMi by .Mr. M<'rrilt at tliis timn, k.1u'\v.< prv-tty cloarly tli(! 
 K.tato of all'aii-s, and i]\v ficlin;;^ of tlifi juvtjjlo in tlii.s Koction, on his niturn 
 froMi Kiiigiton, w!iit!ii»r h > In 1 b u.i d •.^^^at ;h.i I for r.Mnfort;(Mn ntn : — 
 
 "Nl,\f:.u-.A, K.O.nniry, IHI.'V 
 
 '• I liavo not brcM a nioj'.th in tlio huiho placo siiir-o last 
 
 .luno. I liavi' now rctiirui'.i from Kin;^Hl<jn; my Hitnation ia i(otIi honorablo 
 and biorativr. Our winter has been piui.sed ,t,'aily; wt- luwl a splendid as,sornbly 
 liUit niglit, ^'ivtii by('(jl. Mycr:-', comniaudin;,' otlloer hero. A I'.riiiadn of TtO 
 and (ill Hlni'.'liH, with sUires and trooj/H, from Ixjwcr ('ai.ada, arrives hero 
 wcokly. Every exertion has Insen made for onr defence. Tlio coldewt 
 weatlier has never deliiyiMl oni" v/orkmiin. You would l>n astonislie<l to Rfo 
 the alterations which have tal:en phii',« on thn lines nincf! you left here. 
 Niai^ani lias been battered pretty well. The Yankees endeavored to set it on 
 fire, but tlie activity of the inhal)itaiits dis.si'.iipointed them, th»i ('ourt llou.so 
 Ix'irig the only biiiMing l)Ur:ii-d, so far. I wish the ensiiinf,' Sprin;,' wius over, 
 -not that 1 dread the event, as T iK'lieve we will always be victorious, with 
 the help of < lol ; but I .i^rievc to think of so many brave fellow.s losiu'^ 
 their lives to no purpo.^(^, except gratifyini,' the ambition of Mr. Madixiui or 
 l5onaj>arte. Cieneral \Vinchcster and staff ntill remain (>pj>asite. W»! Hont 
 over SOO jirisoners attain yesterday. All has l,(H)n very <[uieL here for somo 
 time pa.st. I'lvery family have moved back, i.M anticij)atiou of a coming strug- 
 ^'lo. So far, 1 have liad the jilea.suro of Feeing all our oxertioiss crowned 
 V. itli Hucce:- !. 'i'hero are tvto families in ev(.'ry houhi> at tho 'Twelve,' and 
 two families are occu]iying your former residence on the 'Ten.' All tho 
 young men tVom that j>lace are in a picked company. Jame-i j)ittrick has 
 distingui.she.l himself, .lames Turmsy liiiii been down. Most of th<i young 
 men hen^ think themselves vtiterans, h.-iving be<'n so fortunate in every en 
 cDuntiir with the enomy. With regard to the female jiartof the community, 
 on tlm alarm, the ]ilaco will be filled witli women — every one coming to hoo 
 if tlie objc'i't (;f their aireotion was safe. 1 .am Horry to say we have hxst 
 .•^OHK! very valnabh^ men — more by sickness than by the sword. (!ol. John- 
 win amrihomas ] hitler I inentionod in niy hist." 
 
 Mr. Merritt, in hi.s journal.!, glvr.-; us the fo!lo\vi;ig incidf rils coucerning 
 tho Hwond invasion of the Niagara frontier :-- 
 
 "On the L'.")th of F(^bruary, I retiit'd from the service and went homo 
 to tlie 'Twelve,' and while there, I received a note from Lieut.-Col. H;u-vey, 
 Major Olegg, and other oiricors, asking me to raise a troop of horse, whicli 
 duty, after a peiiod of two or three weeks at honie, I uiiilertook. In H 
 days I liad 42 naik and tile enlisted. On tlie 'Joth of March, they were in 
 orders, and stationwl en the Niagara Ttiver, where we saw the entuny wero 
 collecting in for.-*'. We \.er(» ap]>rehensi\ c of im att;iek, tho en(!my having 
 command of tlu^ lake. On tlu> L'Oth of Ajiril the militia were calliKl out, 
 liaving benm reinforced I'V some of the Gleng.uTys, Newfoundlands and 
 Kings. A week later the attack was made on York, a place comj)arativolf 
 undefended, where tho I-:>giHlatiiro had but lati-ly iiri.sen, and wliero but 
 three days previously the 1/oyal and Patriotic Society h.-id held a meeting 
 tor the pur])oso of appropri:vting suraa of money to thost; who laul Xh^'h 
 U-reft of friends in the tlefi.-noe of the c<juntry. 
 
/ 
 
 "Oil 1(1'' 'Ai'imi- ot fhu L'lKli <■! .\|iiil. I nus ili'initcd hv I'l ij^ailici iicu. 
 N'ituM'iit (" ti'iti;; (liiWM all the IidjiIh from I!iii'liti,L;t')ii, \\ liicli ashh iii'crini 
 |ilis|n'i| ill 111 lioiii'^. 'rill' ciii'iiiy witli tJicir (Ici'l. itLiii'IkmI (o Toi't. y'lt^Mni. 
 I"'i»in tliiK liiiit' till llii- 'J7(li May, tvciy inaii nmih (iirin'il out, al. two n'rlork 
 ill (hr niuriiiiii,'. aixl ri'inaiiMMl iimlrr anus, Sonic in*<ii were (wdvo iii<,'lit.H 
 ill MK'ci.sHioii oil iriiard. Oiir stiiiiil lorcc was j'uniH'd inlo (luce <li\ isioiis : 
 Col. INIycrs witli ' K iii^js,' and (wo comiiaiiii'.s of tiiilitia. dffcndrtl tlio !ak<* 
 rniiHl (o (Im> l''oiir .Mile (Vrck. < 'ol. Ilat\(<v, willi (lifft' roiii|iaiiii'K of Ncw- 
 I'lnindlaiids and lliri'o coiniianir^i ol ( Hi'ii^^ai ryw, oni' ronipaiiy of tli«' Mst, 
 one conipaiiy of tlic I Kli, iind two ol' miliiia. w|i tlir livcr To (^iH-riiKtoii. 
 (U'w. N'iiii'cnt. witli (lie I'.ltli |{i\ninii'nt., and militia in mir of Fort (Jkoiwc^ 
 U) H<it us uccasioii iiii;,dit i i>«|niii'. ( 'ol. I lar\ cy and inyHplf rodo np and down 
 (III' rivt-r diiriiiL; (In' ni_i,'li(, ainl .slrpt at. day. On (lio 'J.'idi (lie <>n(Miiy coin 
 nicnccd ojn'rat ion.s liy (■aiiiioiiadiii;^ l'"or(, < ■coi';;c, wliicli (licy lairiicd. I''oi 
 waii( of aiiiiiiiiiii( ion w c witc nnalijc (,, return (licir (lie. On tlio L'Ttli, at 
 4 in (lir morniii;,'. tlicy wi'ic discovcrctl iimlci- co\cr of a (liick fofj. 'Ilicy 
 commcnccil (o land liy !• ,\. !\l. < *nr iii;litaiid left divisionn were obliged to 
 fall hack on (lie reserve, wliieli, niiiiilierinj^ but H()(l men, wfire forced U> retire. 
 
 " .After findiii!,' (lie boa(H commanded by ( 'onimodore Uarclay, avIio w<m'(' 
 a( Twenty Mil(> Creek, witli (he li;,dit <'oni]i:iny of tlie Kim^'s, !in<l ordering 
 (lie troops down, I returned wi(li tliem as far as ' Sliiiiman's,' where j was 
 mot by a mo.s.sa^'o, and ordeiod to ;;<> (,<) DeCew's, (o wliicli place (lie army 
 bad retrea(ed. I.'einaiiiiiij,' all iiij,dit, I took (be party tbroii^di tlie wood,-i. 
 ;irriviiiy tlierc iic\| morniiii,' at It o'clock on (be "jNtli May. 
 
 "'riiis day (lie militia were distiandcd, and (be j!<>^'ulars marclcd to 
 (Irini^by, on (be w av (o linrlin.i,'(on lleiirlds, Marly on (be 'JUtli I n>lnnied 
 to (be 'I'wehe, a( Sliipmaii's, w bere (be iMiemy bad its advance j^iiardH. 1 
 remained at my fatber's until iiiidni,i,dit, wbeii I returned t.o(lrimHby toreport. 
 ll«>re I w.'is ordereil (o remaiii witli (be troops and a few militia nntil 
 drivcti off by (b(' cnem\, 'riieir appearance next day was witli a (la.i,' of 
 (riioo. sliordy followed tiy a par(y wliose forco cansed me to retreat, (o Stony 
 Creek, on (be ls( of Jnne, I )\irin;,j' (be next week we bud si'vcial skii niisbos, 
 in wliicli ! lost .some of my men." 
 
 As it is not our intention to enter upon a ;,'cncral bistory ol' (lie ,v,ir fnrtbei 
 (bail is ncccss.ary to brieilv sbow llie events wliicli our Kiibjcct was eii'^a^cd 
 ill. otbeiwije we could ,L;i\c a prominent place to tlic creditable ent^a^emcnt 
 Jit Hrown>tow 11, on (be "Jlst of .liinuai y, an 1 at (be KImi- IJaisin, wlierc our 
 troops niub'r Troctor i^aiiied a decisive victor\ over (be eiii'iuy. .\lso (be 
 i,'Hllan( comluct of tlic liowcr Canailians in kcepiii;.; at bay an overwlielmin;L^ 
 Con-o from (ho Cbamplain Distrid. Wo will (berefore I'ollow Mr. Merrit( 
 through the remaiiiiii^' cvcnls of the war, iiy ;,'ivinf4 copious exdwts from 
 his joiiMials and otber impoilaid documents r«'lalinif (o the Kiibje<'(. Ifow 
 cvrr, v.H the i\'^\\\ at "Stony Creek '' was to a great extent (be (iirning point 
 of this year's campaign, and i(s results most im]iortaiit upon the (ben present 
 welfare of the Niagai'a frontier, wc consider (but our work would lie incom- 
 plete without fliis vory important eiigagrinent. 
 
 After tb<» <iu'niy bad siicoee(lt!il in obtaining u foothold on tb«) Niagara 
 pruinsula. it seemed to all the rcsidcids of th i( loeality, (bat the policy tlion 
 
ailii'i ('f]]. 
 as iii'i'nni 
 •t K'«y;ani. 
 wo o'clock 
 
 divisions : 
 (1 tin- !iik<» 
 
 liK of N(^W- 
 
 tli.' Mat, 
 f,^ 1 1 cm stun, 
 lit (JfMirf^r, 
 I mill down 
 !n«iny coin 
 iiird. Kor 
 lie 'JTIli, at 
 fo«. TlK'y 
 ■ oliligcd to 
 I'd (,o retire. 
 
 •, Avlio \VC1«' 
 nd ordciinjij 
 here I was 
 •c tlic juniy 
 til"' woodrt, 
 
 niitri'lii'd (o 
 h I ictiinn-d 
 
 },'iiiu(Im. 1 
 liv toi"|iort. 
 
 ilitin until 
 h ii (la- <»t 
 
 ;it to Stony 
 
 sl<iinii.slic's, 
 
 ,v,ir ttirtli"') 
 Alls cn^a^cd 
 cn;4a;icmcMt 
 1, wlirn- our 
 Mm. tic 
 CI wiiciinin;^ 
 Mr. .McM-itt 
 ;(iacts IVoni 
 jcct. How 
 rninf; iioint 
 Iicii present 
 lie inconi- 
 
 iie Niagara 
 jiolicy then 
 
 .i? 
 
 tii<is( Hiiiiarcnt wa-^ (Im; idi'indmiiii;' it" tliis Keehini i.t' (Jin ■hiihIin I-p i\y. ('ate. 
 'I'lic militia, wlio \vei<' |iic|iaied t.o rcKixt tlie invader ;iiid eontfPt cv(iy iri'li 
 of llie wav, wrie |plaiiiiv I )ld tliat ••tliey nii;^lit ;^o liorne if fliey c}i(;Ke." ho 
 that the |ii'<iH|ie t inld out to those dwelliM;^ in the loealily, and also serrin^ 
 tlieii- rounti V with a ;,'enuine /eal, .va^ anything,' hut iileasin^;. NundicrK oj" 
 (lieiii wrfi- men 111' taniihr, or had (■■.nneelion in the neii^hhourho'id, ho that if 
 niiuifcs no streteji otilp' ima^dnai iun to I'jiney I lie I'eeliti;,"! of tho-*e (ri"M 
 who had already hy their ai'diious wat;<diinyK alon;,' the ni;,':4ed Imnks 
 ot the Niaijaia river, liy their ira^cKHant devotion to military ride and disci- 
 iiliii". Hiid liV their uiidaiinttHJ couraj^e and jiluck in tuinin;( a d' I'eat itit^) a 
 >icloivon the Hl«'e|i aee|i\iticH of tjiieenston Hci<,dit><, when flcir stiihlioiii 
 \alour alone had tor a lime sav"d tlir rountiy fV'iin th- hoiiois of m 
 iiivatlin;,' foe, anddiiv ■n li,ed< the tide of war over the Idui" water-* of thu 
 iniehty slreaiii, ]i?cservin;,' lor iJritain, who.se. name they oidy know hv tradi- 
 tion, a continent which in lat^- year.s has Ikmmi di^nitied hy a ro\al laurcftle, 
 with the >,i^ni(ieant words of "the true North." No wondei- that tJiey 
 muriiMireil ^t ilif order t i " j/o home if they eho.se," instt-.ad nf lii^htin;^ iJio 
 
 eiieiiiN, ulcMi llies w c'intident, and felt well ahh- to li"a' liim as tlioy'd 
 
 tjorie li^fire. Witli heart hnrninj^ feelings no dotdit. .Mr. .Merritt at tliis tini'i 
 |icnned iho folhiwin;^ wonls in lii.s journal ; "I felt in a siid dilenirna- tlin 
 "thouditof ahaiidiiniri'.' the I'onntiv. and leavin:; everythirc' that was near 
 "and dear to nie, wa^ nio^t distres.'-.inL; ; Mtillinore .so, the iinhaiijiy .'■atuation 
 "of iiiv faiiiilv, whom we left totally un|ii'ite.'te |. ,M y fatlcr kuowin;^ (.iif> 
 " iieiills III' would he ! uhjc ;t to if Ic ieni;uiiei|, d"'eiiiiiiic ] to f.illo-.s t'j.' arniv, 
 " I'oi' nil' tliere was no alternative, nr I slioiM c'ut.iinly hive remain" 1 heljind 
 
 '•tojirotect my mother and sisters." ^ 
 
 This was no solitary ca".c of devotion, as many mrlitinmeii in tho 
 district followed the .anny. in their retreat ti 15 irliiiLttoii, laioyod np liy tlm 
 liojK' that !i stand mi;,dit still he mad" witjiin iii.' limits of tie- .il | |)istrict. 
 During this re'rcat, Mr. .M"r;itt with Ids (li'a'^o m-, k"|it ili" r : i of the 
 I m . coveiTd, and hy his knowlodL!;e of tlm country was well informed of 
 the whcrcahuuts of tin' advancing,' foe, aIthou;|,di tho duty was an ardi'.us oic, 
 as the men were witliout rest or sleep for six or eij/htdavri. 
 
 Wlicit .Mr. Merritt rca,ehei| llui lin^jton, a leHef was Kent to tl." r«Mir in 
 !i is place ; here lie met hissister, Mr-. ( lordon. and h"r hushaiid. wJkj was 
 ^tatiollod in Dinidas. and for a hiief .spae" wa.-, in ^.'ood i|>ia,rters. 
 
 On the '»th and Citii of .liine, tic e lemy kept pressin;,' on, and drov« iti 
 the pickets of till' rear ;;iiard as fai as Aikin.m's. On th" Gtii .Mi. Merritt 
 diiHHl with Mr. (ojrdon, in l)undas, and on Jiis return to (juaitersat I»ur- 
 Iin<,'ton, was ordereil to fall in with the m.iin liody at IJaniard's, wlirrc the 
 troops were furme<l in line of hattl •, e.xpcctin;^ th'i euieiny every inonieiit. 
 .\ reconnoisance hy t\d. Harvey and Coronet MeKftnney, )(.'ve4ilfd tlie fiu,'t, 
 that the enem\ W"rc i iicainpcd for the lii^^ht at Stony ('icca. and that 
 
/ 
 
 24 
 
 tliey Lud a party of 1 ,500 mm on tho Lake slioiv. On the nituvn of the 
 party fcraetinio near uii(lni<;ljt, wl.cn Mr. Menitt and a number of oflicers, 
 ■were lying on iLogiaf-H fat-t asltcp, aMiggCblion was made cither by Coronet 
 JlcKonney or Mr. Groigo, an Ensign in tbo Militia, that it would bo a 
 good id(a to aitack llio (nnny in tlnir c my, and pi cl ably huijinKo Ihcm 
 beforo daylight shewed tlio real Ktate of their niiinbers. Col. Ilarvoy 
 approved of tho plan, and p»ropo.se.d it to (jleneral Vincent, who after a littlo 
 deliberation proceeded to cfiny it into eflwt, nmeh to tho joy of all who 
 left their liomes a few dayB ago in giief and .sadness of heai-t. 
 
 In tho dead silence cf a waim summer's night, tlio order to advance 
 wa.sqnietly given, and never wcro preparations for a deadly gi-apple with an 
 invading foe more heartily rocoivcd. It ha.^ been tndy ami eloquently said 
 tluit the l)attlo of Stony Crook wa.s neither a Wate-rloo noi- an Inkermann, 
 but, that the i.^sues at ttakc for tlio men of tho Niagaia peninsula wcro, every- 
 thing equal, !vs inq)ortant in thoir results as tho succok.s of the most dearly 
 won field that over tho conquerora j-ested uj)on. 
 
 Mr. Merritt in his journal of tho war, gives tho following account of this 
 important fight; — • 
 
 " The order came to movo forward; wo had to march six miles before 
 wo cauK^ \\p to their i)ieket.s; our force eonsisU'd of oidy 500 men, witii one 
 tield pioeo in the rear, which was of no nianncr of u.so. All my hopes 
 <lepend<(l u] c^n this bold enterprise, for liad we not attacked tliCin they 
 would have advanced tl'.o next mojning, anil in all ]>robal)ility we .should 
 have ri-tired without risking r.:i iic-tien, ius cur foieo was not one-third of 
 tlieirs. Proctor and tho whoIf> v.pper countiy would l.avo fallen. 
 
 " On our iinival at Davi.s's we heard a rejiort of a gr.n ficmi their 
 picket ; the detachn'.cnt baUfnl, formed into s-ections, and tl.o loading was 
 drawn from each gun. 'i'jie light ccmj.anies of the 4'Jth Ivings were in ad- 
 vaiiCO ; (len Vincent and t.lail'at ihe 1 ead of the column in their rear. I 
 wa.^ attached to l:iin for tho night. The enemy were (ucanqied on (Jagn's 
 field.'f, in a very advnntageoua position ; 2,000 of their men wen; on the hill 
 to tho right of ih.c road, and HOO in a lano on the loft, in advance of their 
 artillei'v, v.-hi(;h was situated on a hill diiectly in front of the road that our 
 troops i:Uist come ; their |/iokot.i nearly a h.alf mile in atlvance, also in tho 
 woods. Tiieso \\{) madf; pridoncra, without giving alarm. On oui* entering 
 the cle.i.uig we were fired on by tho sorond picket, who were more alert. 
 'Hie 500 on our k-ffc were t'lo first that were discovered. 
 
 "(Jin. N'inciul oidered a charge, and our men set u]) a tremendous 
 shout, whii Ii co;:tinuod iilong the whole line, and wa.'i the eaus ; of throwing 
 the cneuiy into tlie grimtest disorder and conftision imaginably. Our two 
 light ccnipanies of tho -IDth routed the 500 befoie the main binly liad time 
 to com'> iqi. (V)ronet Ceorge was by my side, and told nu^ tho fight wa»s 
 over, aiul the vietoiy ours. 
 
 "I liapiieue<l to cast my eyos around, and diocovered tho fiies of the main 
 lioily, whicli I shewed him. Col. Harvey and the ofliici-s were nsing every 
 exertion to get the men fcrmiMl, wh.eu the eiieniy oj)ened a most trenumdou-'j 
 fire on u.s fron) the liill, and likewL-^e opened frum their guns on tho opposito 
 sidn. Our me»i were dispersed in every direction ; and hail not Colonel 
 
rntuni of the 
 bor of ofiiocis, 
 or by ("oronet 
 it would 1)0 a 
 huijuii-o them 
 Cul. Ifarvoy 
 ) iift-er a little 
 oy of all who 
 
 ir to advance 
 applo with an 
 loquontly said 
 
 I lukorniann, 
 a wcro, eveiy- 
 3 most dearly 
 
 ccoutit of this 
 
 iiulcs lioforo 
 inen, with ono 
 Ul my hojx'S 
 d thoin thoy 
 ity wo r,hould 
 
 ono third of 
 en. 
 
 II iVdiu their 
 loiulinjf wafl 
 ;s wcro in ad- 
 thoir iviir. I 
 
 ed on (Jiif:fn'H 
 r(: on the hill 
 aiioo of thoir 
 road that our 
 "f, also in tho 
 our oiitoring 
 
 more alort. 
 
 . (ronipndouH 
 ! i>f throwing 
 y. Our two 
 odv had timo 
 
 1 ho light wa.s 
 
 's «)f the main 
 
 n.sing every 
 t tiTincndou.'! 
 
 1 tho ()}»j)OHito 
 not Colonel 
 
 Pondorletho, with 30 men, rharg'-d and caj)t\ircHl their guns, we should havo 
 been coiupletcly defe.iloJ. I iirVfr hoard no rapid a discharge of musketry; 
 the hill wiiH a oontitiual Hiioot of lire. Ilowciver, after c.-ipturing their artil- 
 lery and botii their general.s, they thought j)roper to retreat fi'oin tho field. 
 At the app >araii;'e of d.'iylight we foUuwed tiiciir example, fearing that when 
 they di.iCdv I ;-('d our force they would renew tho attack. 
 
 ''After v,-o left tho field, t'ol. TIarvey desired me to return, and if poe- 
 Bible find 'InJ. (Jen. Vincent, suppo.sed to bn either dead or wounded. Not 
 thinking of the enemy, I was challengfHl l)y a sentry under old Ciago's hou.se. 
 I was on tho point of surreudering, as my pistols wore both in my hol.stors," 
 when I adopted the Ktriitagom of eiupiiring 'who plac('<l him thei(i1' and 
 rode up to him. lie, by my blue military coat, took me for one of Iuh 
 own i)arty, and answered 'his Captain, who had just gone into tho houao 
 witli a party of men.' I thm empiinMl if he h.ad found llie I'ritish (Jenoral, 
 and pull'>d out my pistol, which luade him drop his gun. At that moment 
 a man without any gun ran down the hill ; T calle<l iiim ; he came, when J 
 had the good fortune t(» .secure both, and bring tln.-ni otf. This Ktratagom 
 had micceeded once bt-fore, or I slioiild not havo thought of it." 
 
 TliO enomy retreated next morning, followed l>y droves of Indians ami 
 militia, who on hearing of the light gathered from all pai-ts. ]\tr. Merritt wan 
 rejoiced to get back once inert' to tlie old homestead on the "Twelve," although 
 luH outpost had only iinivcil at tli<' Twenty Mile Creek. The ordinary ex- 
 citement of outpost duty seem.s to havo had a charm for him at this time, 
 as he volunteered to keeptlie advance of the army, tMid in conse(pn'nco ran 
 Hovcre risks of Ixang eitlier killed or nnule prisoner; in fact hi.s energy and 
 activity, coupled with his intimates knowledge of the country, made him so 
 obnoxious to the enemy that tlu'y sevrral times tried to eireet the capture 
 of him and his Huiall pai ty, but without success. On tlio L'lth June, Col. 
 lioastler and about G'JO of thi; eiiomy endeavoured to take them, but got 
 caught at the r>eiver<hiii'.f^ and had the moi-tification of bring defeated anil 
 inatle prisoners, with hi:>\\lK.le force, e.\i-ept six men who < scajied. Mr. 
 Mi'rritt's jiarty formed the escort, who took tho jjrisoncrs to lujail ipiarters 
 on the " Kuriy." 
 
 The duty at tliis time v/as v.tv harra.ssing, as it included neaily every • 
 tiling that outjto.sts are cngagcfl in. At one time f;'«'ling the lines of tho 
 opposing force, or learning the when'abouts of their scouting jiartie.t ; and at 
 ttthers, hunting the country fur forty i>r tifty miles round, after necnted spias ; 
 KO that, taken on the whol<^ V(>ry little time was giv(>ii for rest or relaxation. 
 
 The head (piaiters of the iirmy lijui now moved on to tlie "'I'welvo;" 
 Oen. Vincent taking up Ids (juartersat Squire Adam.s' homchtead. On the 
 '2'Mh, an ahirm came that the w hoh; Sfsites army wore ajrain .advaneiiii'. whioJi 
 caused y.v. M. to bo sent off to ascertain the truth, which wan, that thoy 
 h;ul never left tlieir entrenchment,s. On tho 1st of July, the advance wa-i 
 puhhed on to St. David.^. On the 2nd, l>cing at the "Twelve," Mr. M. wa/» 
 pr«v-ft«ted to Major (Ifti. Do IJottenburgh, who had arrived to tako comraamJ 
 
/ 
 
 2G 
 
 o( the mriiy, as well .'iH b( iiig I'rosidciit of tlio I'rovinco. Mr. M Sh.vb, 
 " He liMiiirbt w it I him a mtv jjK'al iiaiiir, so we (^xportcil ho would do 
 wiiiidciK. lit i'iu'i lin did iiotliiuf^. " 
 
 'Vhv. ',Wd wits his birth day — ho hoiii^' twenty years old which hia friondK 
 at the "Twt'lvtt" i olohiated with a fuio dinner |ir«'|),vrod by liis uiothor. TliP 
 ■•idvainc was thou .it tho Ei^lit Mile ( 'nHsk ; niid Mr. M. being sent witli a 
 (Ing of trwee, was math' prisoner liy .i Majoi- Forsyth, who detftined him for 
 a ft'w l.oniii, iind ueated him nnd liis piirty in a most rascally manner ; wliicli 
 bt^ing ropresented to the States (ieneral, I >earlturn, dimniHed the Major. 
 He was aftoiwards killed at « >dell Town, I^. (\, by u skirmi.shitig party. A 
 number of Indians now arrived from the west, and were received by their 
 dusky conipanion- with the rirmy, in grand Ktyle. 
 
 On tho 6tli, Mr. M. wan scut down to CasKell ("horns, near Niagara, in 
 company with Cnjitain Hamilton, Jaivis, MoKenny and Mall, to find .some 
 mtHHeiiie which wrvs bmied there. \VliiIst on this expedition, thev had a 
 slight skirmish >sitli some States dragoons, without any result. Next dav 
 th<»y prv'cnreil a vaggon. hail tlie chest dug up and sent ofl". Whilst at 
 breakfast, in Squire 1'. Hall's, a light commenced between the Indians \inder 
 < 'ai>tain Norton ;ind < 'hief lUackbii'd, and about 'IdO of tho States Fnfantry. 
 Into this tight .Mr. Merritt and his j'arty wom reluctantly drawn; but by 
 their example. th(> indiamj liecame master of the field ; the enemy's loss 
 'icing .'">() in killed and taken ]>risoners. Mr. Merritt suy.s: " For this rocontro 
 I was " montion(\l in geuerid (U'ders. and got inoi'tM-redil than I deseived, 
 "as I was drawn into it against my will. ... I was rather flattered 
 " by this mark of distinction, c(Uiscious the service had been well performed.' 
 The Indians wero very troublesonn' in the neiifhbonrhood whore they 
 encamped by the 'I'lii. am! Mr. Merrill removed to that station with the beat 
 part of his troo|>. which kept them in c'.u'ck, and undei- better discipline. 
 Tho Iiead (juarters were now removed to St. Davids, with tho army at the 
 Four Mile Creek, i.nd the adv;uice a mile fiuther tm, in entrenched jio-sitions. 
 po that the old ground was nearly all reg'dned. Whilst here, Mr. Meiritt 
 says "he had very little to do exci'pt taking tea with the ladies." JTore he 
 was taken sick for a few days, but soon recovered. On the 20th a troop of 
 the llUh Light Dragoons arrived, and Mr. Meiiitt obtained perniis.siou to 
 go to Montreal to bring u)) the long promised appointments for his troop, 
 the men of which were by tliis time nearly naked. The saddles and bridles 
 were in a bad state, nud the men wore made c(>mplete "post boys" of; still 
 they did their duty in the mo.st patient nninnor, although they were often 
 sadly abused an<l overworked. Having obtained letters from Col. Harvey 
 and others to Col. Baynes, the Adjutant Con., on the 128th Mr. Merritt left the 
 Twj'lve, c^i rontf for Montreal, on horse-back ; atul accompanied by liis servant, 
 I'.e i.rrived in Kingston on the 'Jnd of August, and hero met another troop 
 of tho null Dragoons on their way up. He jireseuled his letters to the 
 
 -St 
 
woiihl do 
 
 his friondN 
 ther. 'Pile 
 lit witli a 
 h1 him for 
 ler; whidi 
 he Major, 
 pnrty. A 
 d by their 
 
 iugura, in 
 find solium 
 ifl}' had a 
 Next day 
 Wliilst at 
 aiis under 
 Itifjuiti-y. 
 n ; hut })y 
 'niy'H losrt 
 s recoDtro 
 
 flatten '(I 
 orincd.' 
 1 Pi 1(1 thpy 
 tho bt'st 
 iHcipline. 
 y at the 
 ositinuB, 
 Meiritt 
 I Tore he 
 troop of 
 iasiou to 
 is ti-ooj), 
 
 )iidlo8 
 of; still 
 re often 
 Haivey 
 t left the 
 servant, 
 er troop 
 
 to the 
 
 Adjutant (ion., wlio kindly received him : he was also preHcnted to Sir (Jeo. 
 i'revost and other distinic<iished individualH; hut on ap|><yinj^ for theajipoint- 
 merits for his troop, ho was iiiforiiied tliat the removal of the IHth Ite;,'ulais 
 lad done away with tlu^ nceessity of I iif'ir services, and that had it not been 
 for Mr. .Moiritt's personal e.xertions, tlie troop would have been dislianded ; 
 further, that tho war could not possibly last six months lon^'cr. Tiiese 
 rem-.rks so annoyed Mr. Merritt that he immodiately t(!ndered his resij^jnation, 
 which, liowcver. was iu)t acco]>ted. Me acknowledges th<' fiiendsbip of 
 ^fajor Fulton upon this occaHion. 
 
 Ife then proceeded on (« Montreal ; but his oi)iiiion of the Conimandei in- 
 Chief was not quite so favcurabh" as foimerly : in fact he learned for the 
 first time that there irtis a prejudice against the militia by military men, 
 which was getting to be very annoying to the inhabitants. He found that 
 he was a particular favourite when on ]iaiti«Milar ser vice, but ///'t< being over, 
 he was forgotton. 
 
 [n Montreal he waited on Sir it. ii. SheafVe, and ('apt. Koring, ids 
 Aidecamp, who from old acquaijitaiice f^ake treateil him kindly and did every- 
 thing in (heir power for him. He procured clothing for his men, but 
 eould not get the other appoiiitnients, as they ha<l not arrive<l at Quebec. 
 He sjtcnt three weeks in Montreal, and ha<l the pleasurt» of finding that his 
 friends in the I'ppcn' Province had full eicdit for everything they had done in 
 defence of the country, and was pleasud in finding that the llegulars liad 
 not obtained all the glory. Mr. Meiritt aniveil in Kingston on his way 
 home, on the 2!^th of August. 
 
 A trip uji the Lake at this time partook of no small share of general 
 excitement, as ]Mr. ru'oomheail, an Kiiglish gentleman, who accoinpaiiied 
 Mr. Merritt to Upper Canada, for the purpose; (^f .seeing Niagara Falln, must 
 have found out. K.Ktraot from Jom-nal: — 
 
 '•After an infinite deal of trouble, 1 obtained a Iioat at Kingston, and 
 left there in the first part of September, in company with two other boats. In 
 passing l^res(pie Isle, I heard a cannonading between the two fleets. It 
 was a ninning fight from thefienesef! llaibor to Kingston. On th<; loth, early 
 in tht» morning, i left Smith's (Jrrek with a fair win<l ; diHcoNcred two sails 
 ahead; fearing they might be tho enemy, 1 prudently put back to the (,'reek; 
 I took a boat and reconnoitred and found them to b(> enemies — I retuined 
 liiid landeil everything from the boats, one of which had a ijuantity of sptvie 
 for the ConinuHsariat. We drew nji our forces at the mouth uftlie ('reek 
 (consisting of 20 men with 12 muskets only.) 
 
 "I sent expresses in all directions for the militia; the vessels (aine 
 ojtposite to us an<l laid of?' for some time, but did not think )iri)p<'r to land. 
 Nothing jparticuhir occurred during the r<'mainder of tin* pa^sage to the 
 Twelve Mile (.'n^ek, w here wo arrived on the iJOth of Septeinbt i-. " 
 
 During his absence his family were very ill, but were reco\eiihg wlnn 
 lie arrived. A iiaval engagement also occurred ou tlie Lake o]iposite the 
 entrance to the "Twelve."' where, on tho 4th of August, Sir James Yeo 
 
 [ I 
 
 •11 
 
28 
 
 bore down on part of tlio oneiny's lloct, and captured two of them, another 
 hhlp uj)S(5t, au'l went to Ui<^ bottom witli all handu, an«l tho roniaindor 08<"n.po<l 
 to li harboiir. Wlu.ii Mr. Morritt arrived from In-low, ho found the 
 proKp<;ct v(!ry gloon;y; llioanny was sickly and diHpiritod ; mjiny wcro desert- 
 ing ; jioarly all tho Indians I'.ad gone. His own truoj) w;'..s in a moat 
 wrokhcd «tato. 
 
 If ho liafl not foared that liin motives tiii^'ht have been niisinterpro- 
 t«d, he would liavc roKJgTied, an act ■whioirno doubt would havo l>een justified 
 under tho citouiiistanpos, as tho duty was both onerous and fatigueing, and 
 the i-ewai'd, nothing — hardly tho thanks of his superiors in tho regular army. 
 IIowev<;r, his feelings arose with tho genond depression, and lie turned his 
 v/holo attention to his trooj), which rapidly improved, both men and hoi-sos; 
 in fact his deterniinution of rwoiving justice or leavir.g tlio Bervico proved 
 of tho grwitfist advantage, as his men received eveiy allovt-anco that wius 
 evt<>ndod t(» tlio I'Jth llogulars. He discai'ded tlu^ inipcrfect Iiorses in his 
 troop, and like ji, pi'udcnt and Jiigncious olTioor, re funii^-bcd his stud at tho 
 cxpouse of the enemy, by making an occasional furay where ItJiUit expected, 
 and carrying off their berst Jiorscs. 
 
 A geneml movement of the cnomy from tlio Niagara frontier down to 
 Sackett's Harbour, or nither liower Canada, cause*! CJencral Do Hotton- 
 burgh luid suite, with Col. Hru-vey, to go to Kingston. Tlioy were followed 
 by the -19th and KiltJi Vviltigeurs, and GlengaiTy I/ght Infantry llegiments, 
 which materially diminiilicd the strengtli of our force, and made many feel 
 unexsy at tlio weak .state of tho army. 
 
 Ccuftrid Yinceufc wa« left in command witJi part of the 100th ricgiracnt, 
 King's Iluyal.", one; coiupauy of tho SOth and one or two comj)anie-i of tilen- 
 garrys. Tlii.! small force ki'.pt (Jcnaral Hoott, with about l.UUO U. 8. regu- 
 lars anil a good force of militia, closely bloc-kadovl within tlio prooincts of 
 Fort (.Jen-go nu'l Niagara town. 
 
 t)ri tin 7th of Septombor, ths-y made it:i attack on the outlying pickets 
 I'n thofw.iiiiji rf.jul, wlio fuliowed anil drov o iIk-tii into the iMnnaon. On 
 return'iii;.-', llicy found our forci", when a Icngthly skinuish occun-od, and 
 (••cntinued witliout intermission until evening, when eacli ]>arty withdrew. 
 Tho loss v. .13 IriHiiig. Ca>1. Murray, who commanded the rear guard, behave<l 
 in a most gallant manner, l^-om that time forward ]Mr. Meiritt courtetl his 
 friendship more than any otlier officer in the army. 
 
 In the beginning of Oi;tober, Mr. Merritt's brother-in-law Mr. Coi-don, 
 left tho "Twelvo" for Ihulington, in a boat, containing his wife find family. 
 On nearing tho Forty Milo Creek, they encountxjred a violent storm, and 
 were nearly drowned. They were accom[)!mie<l b\' a younger sister of Mr. 
 Merrltt'a \s ho was ill at tho time. Tho severity of tlie voyage, and tho 
 welting she got, brought her to tlio verge of th« grave. 
 
 On tlio 7th and 8th of Octol)er Mr. M(>rritt got two days Iwivo of alwence, 
 
 i 
 
20 
 
 em, anothftr 
 
 I found tlie 
 wcro desert- 
 in a moat 
 
 niisinterpro- 
 teen justified 
 igueing, aud 
 Dgular army. 
 B turned IiIb 
 and lioiuos; 
 •vice provod 
 
 CO tllUt WiUS 
 
 orst'H in hia 
 
 stud at the 
 
 mt expoctod, 
 
 ici" down to 
 Do Itotton- 
 'ero followod 
 r lleginientH, 
 .le 111 liny foci 
 
 I llogimont, 
 
 iio>! of Glen- 
 
 J. S. regu- 
 
 iraoiricts of 
 
 ;ig pickets 
 rihou. On 
 cunxid, antl 
 withdrow. 
 I, iKihnvcil 
 court(Ml his 
 
 JTt 
 
 ^Ir. Coi-don, 
 and family. 
 Btorui, and 
 sLer of Mr. 
 gti, and tho 
 
 of al)senc«, 
 
 to go up to soe hor, cxjiocting to find lior a coi-jwo; but to bis nurpriso and 
 pl-rasuro, c.n lii.-i arrival lio found li<-r much better. 
 
 On tho morniag of tho i)th, whou preparing to return, ho hear.l from 
 Captain Ilcrtvliy that tho wholo urniy wuh on tho retreat to liurlington. 
 It secniB that ( n the ('th (Jcncral Vincent licard of Pnwtor'H defeat, and 
 fearing (Jenora! Harrison would follow up his victory on tho Thaniofi, and 
 got po^.sossioii of Burlington Height^^, he destroyed all hi ; fitoroa, but left a 
 large quantity of flour, part of which fell into the hand.s of tho enemy. 
 
 Mr. IMerritt Wius a.'sloni.'died, and rodo back iv.\ Ikst as pos;jibh), 1f> find 
 c 'orything in confusion, and tho men Bcattt^red in all directions; bo mot 
 tbo advance guard at the Fifteen Mib Creek. His father detonninod to 
 follow tho army ; but Ix-'ing very ill, after much persuasion ho con,sautod to 
 remain at home. The trials of his family were very Hovore at tlii.s impor 
 tant time, a" Mr. Mcixitt'ii Journal Khows:— - 
 
 "There wa.s no help to bo had, for everything rnmair.od exposed in tho 
 houF;o for tho liif t marauding party to plunder, whidi T v.as eertaiu vvou''.l 
 be done. ■Nliria rctiinujd and slaye.i with iny iV.liicr, ij'.jtli'.'r and bi.st v at 
 tho Forty Mile Creek, moi'o dead than alive. Caroline, her husband, and 
 two children at IJurlingtoii, all sick, and myself on the way wheitivor 
 fortune clioae to bear me. 8uch another scene I hope never to witness again. 
 There wa.s not a dry cheek to b^^ hoen in [larting with the good people, as 
 they were confident wo muat be off, this being tho second time." 
 
 Mr. Mcrritt loft home at 10 o'clock at night, and marched as far aa 
 Couse's in a heavy rain; ho breakfasted at Mr. Nellas's, with hia mother, 
 who wiLS nearly out of her senses ; his invalid hiater he found fast recover- 
 ing. Ifo arrived at IJurlington, and from there was sent to Dundas. Hero 
 ho heard from Yin fatlier, to whom tho States troops under Col. Chapin had 
 bohaved very well. A traitor named Wilcox had the management of tho 
 civil olliccjj of the districts. Mr. Menitt and some of his friends would 
 •xicasionally ride as far as tho Forty Mile Creek to see t'-e huiies, and wore 
 nearly taken prisonoi-s one evening when returning. Cn the 10th or 12th 
 of November ho was sent to Fort George with a flag of truce, and if po.ssiblo 
 to find out tho strength of tho enemy, and ostalilish a correspondence, so 
 that information could be got of their movements. On arriving at t}*.-) 
 Fort, ho heard that his father had been mitde prisoner by tho traitor Wil- 
 cox. This circumstance so enraged Mr. Merritttliat in his Journal ho tolls 
 ua of "having taken many a long and weary ride, i:i the lonely hours of tho 
 night, in hope of catching Wilcox and making an example of him, and all 
 triutors," of whom it appears there were not a few i n the district. Ho was co.n • 
 duct<>d blindfold to General Hanison's quart^>rs, and was treated with every 
 attention by the States General, who sent across tho river for Mr. Merritt's 
 father, and promised to send him homo in a day or two. 
 
 A report having reached General Vincent that tho fleet on I>ake Erie 
 was driven ashore at Point Albino, bo despatched Mr. Merritt across the 
 
/ 
 
 !| 
 
 80 
 
 country U> asceituin tlu; tnitli. ami tlcstroy tlir tlcft Hoonor than lot them 
 fall into the liaiidHof the tuit'iny. After riding forsevenil days in niiserablo 
 woathei , and over roads aluiust iinpasfyibU', )io found tho report to bo 
 false. AVliilo hpie, he licard that the lU'ct on I/uke Ontario was in the samo 
 predicament, whioh made hiiu hasten back, as the report if true, was far 
 more important than tlie other. 
 
 Wliilsi (111 the ret\irn l)aek a strange afl'air ooen rod, whereby he and C!or- 
 onet jycKonny, his bosom friend, were near shootin,!,' each other in the dark- 
 ness, they having mistalcen each othei' for one of the. enemy's pickets. 
 
 Afr. Moritt icmained some tinn* in JJnndas, and believed that his leadei-.s 
 had given up tht^ idea of retaking the countiy. The ohl town of Dnnda.-;, 
 peacefully reposing at the lase of tlie mount;iin, was a pleasant jdaco to 
 live in dining these stirring times, containing a nund>e)' of the oldest and 
 most resp(H'table fan\ili»'H then settled in the district, whose hospitality wa.s 
 proverbial, and whose liouses weic always ii|ieji to the loyal defentlers of 
 the ooiintry. Jt is not to be wonthMt-il at that the oMicers <piarterod at 
 JJurlington, )iaid (jceasioiiiil visits to (lie old valley city, where the kindly 
 greetings and jdeasaut smiles of the fair ,se\ gave a coi-dial welcome to tho 
 war-worn soldiers, and lightened theii- troubles with the fashionabh' amuse- 
 ments of the times. 
 
 On the eveninf; of the 1st of l)tiem))er, 1S1,'5, wli^-n the iiiro\irs of a 
 Canadian winter was felt without, and the sound of the merry .sleigh-bells 
 tinkled over the frozen roads, which then wound with devious twistings 
 through the ])artly cleared fuicsts. whose silence was uiibr<dven save by tho 
 \-oice of the solitary owl or the harsh bark of the jirowliug wolf,— a large and 
 select party was a.s.sem))led at the hou.se of Ali.>s (Jooley, where, for tho 
 evening, were gathered the bravo and the fair of the old di.strict. (»lad 
 music, the dance, and haiii>y song of other days soon chased the short hours 
 nway. No doubt luit that the oft-tohl tale was told again, and the pleasing 
 iccollections of other days were again repeated, to atld t(.» the joys of the 
 night -wdien suddeidy the harmony of the meeting was disturbed by the 
 loud knock of an orderly dragoon, who came to summon the otKcers there 
 assembled, from the tests of lov(*to the Hterner duties of war, as orders hatl 
 been issued for the army once more to assume the aggre.ssive, and march 
 immediately. The i)artiug good-by and the .secret .squeeze were .soon given. 
 At midnight i\[r. Merritt and and hi « troop were on their way to the 
 Forty Mile Cieek. where they an ived by day-break, taking several prison- 
 ers. They soon pushed their outposts to the Twelve. Mr. Merritt procured 
 40 or .')0 sh'igha, and on the morning of the Dth proceeded to Ball's Mills, 
 lomled a number of them with flour, and sent them back to the main body ; 
 with the others, he pushed on to tlie Twelve, and brought oft" liis father 
 who was ill, and several others?, heside.s what valuables he could from his 
 house, as (he enemy in Ihei- retreat threatened to b\n'n the houses. On 
 
 
 I 
 
.5 
 
 I lot them 
 
 I nmer.iblo 
 »oit to be 
 n the samo 
 lie, vras far 
 
 le ami ( 'or- 
 
 II the dark- 
 le (its. 
 
 his leadei-s 
 uf Dimdas, 
 it pUvco to 
 oldest and 
 litulity was 
 icfeiidors of 
 nart(!rcd at 
 
 tho kindly 
 cH)ine to the 
 ihh^ anuise- 
 
 [ii;o\irs of a 
 sleigh-V)ells 
 
 twistings 
 
 ve by tho 
 
 a large and 
 
 e, for tho 
 ict. (J lad 
 
 lort hours 
 le pleasing 
 oys uf the 
 jed by tho 
 leers there 
 orders had 
 \ud inarch 
 oou given, 
 way to thi' 
 sral prison- 
 tt procured 
 [all's Mills, 
 |nain body ; 
 
 liis father 
 from his 
 
 buses. Ou 
 
 M 
 
 informing (*ol. Murray of his exfiedition, li.« wu^ .>-o'. <iti) repriniandt-d. 
 iSoon after, a flag of truce made its ajijieunmc'. Mr. Mcmtt rode ovei- 
 to me<?t it, and received a letter ft)r (Jenenil Vincent. l>y a jiidiciuurt 
 iUTani'ement of his small force, ho made the be.iiers of the Hag belitnn that 
 the whole army waH advancing, and tho greatrr pai-t of it at tlie 'I'svr] vn, 
 whereas the advance was only at the ''Twenty. 
 
 .l>urii\g tho night lie di.sfoveicd by the glare, that the town of Niagara 
 was on fire, whicli caused the whole foi-ce to niovf on. as tliey knew Iho 
 (Miemv were in a hurry to gel out of tho counti'v. (V.l. .Muii'mt and jmrt of 
 th'' I'.'t'a dragoons soon came up, and they iid\iitiied near the bnrning town. 
 When a sad sight preaented itself, as tho following e.\tiact from his .Journal 
 il'-scribes;. - 
 
 ••Nothiiig but li -aps of coals, iind liic streets full ot tuiiuiuro tiuit liio 
 inhabitants were t'<)rtunat(i enough to get out of their houses, met the eve in 
 tdl directions. Mr. (Jordou's house, my old ijuarter.". wms the only one left 
 standing. The garrison was aliandone<l. Mmiy tents left standing, tho 
 barracks and wood-work nearly consumed. \Vo weie very appre]iensi\ e 
 that a mine was left for our desl ruction : a musket cartridge burst ujxui 
 our ascending tho cavalier bastion. Each took it for a n\atc)i ton concealed 
 mine, and gave our lives up for a rise in the air, foi-tunately our fears were. 
 
 groundless 1 returuiul to the llev. .Mr. Addison's, almost famished 
 
 with cold aiul hunger, and had a good sleep. (.)u tlie 12th tlu! whole army 
 were on the move from Burlington Heights. Tho general stuff, and a cap- 
 tain j>roceded to Fort F^ric, and nuule some prisonejs." 
 
 Niagara was in ruins I Of the ouco stirring little town the hop<^ ajid 
 pride of the surrounding settlers — little remaine<l save a lieajt of smoulderini; 
 ashes. The small satisfaction it atforded the invaders was bitterlv felt ajid 
 auijdy revenged by the bold and .succe.ssful njovement which occurred in a 
 few days afterwards, when Bufl'alo Hhareil the .same fate at the li,ands of our 
 t roops. 
 
 Colonel Murray had now ri^solved tu cari'y the war oscr the li()rdcr, and 
 [ireparatitms were immediately made to transport the troops acro.^s, and 
 attack Fort Niagara. Mr. Merritt was busily employed getting teams to 
 convey the boats down fnuu Burlington. He also crossed the river with u 
 llag of truce, and canu^ near [lershing, in his conveyance, (a. snudl punt) which 
 was drawn into a whirlpool, and almost swamjied. 
 
 On the arrival of (jronerals Drummond and Riall, and Col. Harvoy, the 
 attack was post[ioned until Captain Kirby arrived from lUirlington, with 
 the boats, which were soon brought down to the FourMilo Creek, and from 
 there drawn to Wilsons (the place sleeted for the embarkation ) unforeseen 
 dithculties prevented their crossing, although the men were cui tho Hj)ot 
 waiting erery night. Tho excitement pervading all ranks arose to fevisr 
 height. The cold and j)iercing winds whicli at that season of the year swept 
 over the mighty lakes and barren hills, failed to damp the ardour of these 
 aieti who were burning with indignation to rais<) their Hag upon the enemy's 
 
 ! )i 
 
soil, and M ith blotxl aud lire avcngo the destruction of Niac,'ani, and wipo 
 out tho insulLs whic'.i thoy had twice sufforod from thu invsidiji;,' foo. 
 
 Eaor/^y imd activity waa tho order of tlio day ; every man waa doing 
 his sharo to forward tlio jirojiarationn for attack, and conuucnce pervaded 
 all Ui':" rani;;!. UnforLuiiatcly for our suljtict, tlie vioh'^L excrcixo and hard 
 •work, both montally and iiliysically, wliidi he had und«'rgo.io (hiring tho 
 past few dayH, brought on a Bovero iUne.ss, and to his bitter inortilicaiion ho 
 was taken liomo in a sleigh by his fatlier, dangerously ill, just at tbo time 
 when ho was to have crossed tho Niagara lliver witli C-'olonnI Murray, and 
 l)arti(!ipiito in tlie honour of witnrssing its ca[)turi\ Although absent soix'ly 
 against his wish, still his services v/ere nob forgotten, as the following ox- 
 tract will slunv :-— 
 
 " On Saturday niglit thoy crossed ovo)-, aud were crowned with kuccokb. 
 TIiIh was another of my most unfortunate iriilitury events; as 1 Jiad been em- 
 ployed in all the other movements aud honourably mentioned, and now 
 deprived of sharing in the most glorious affair that happened in tho Upjwr 
 rrovi;i-;e. (jii\)t. .Kir!\'.' v,'a:< p;U'ti(".'.!ar!y and diM'-rvoilly mentioned in tho 
 public. d.!St>atches. Colonel "Nlurray, however, entitled nu; uad my troop to 
 a share of the prize money of tho place, for our services.'' 
 
 After a sharp contest, Buffalo was eaj)tured and burnod, in retaliation 
 for Niagara ; and our subject, though still coutined to tho house, had tlio 
 pleasure of hearing that for the present the country was rid of all its ene- 
 mies, (.roneral Druminond left for Kingston, with tho satisfaction of 
 knowing that things "were nioro prosperous than when ho assumed command. 
 
 Lieut. Ingorsoll and Coronet McKenny wore sent to Quebec with their 
 priaonei's, Col. Chapin and Capt. Leonanl, Avho connnandotl Fort Niagara. 
 And thus terminated the C'ampaign of 1813, vhich from every point of 
 view retlects no discredit upon our aiius. 
 
 Service in the Campaign of 1814. 
 
 When Mr. Jlerritt recovered, tho army was in winter quartern, and 
 everything was quiet along tho frontier. Repairing to Quooustou, whoro 
 his troops -were (piartered, he found that they had l>een totally neglected. 
 Aud there was no immeiliato occasion for tlieij- .servicea, ho obtained leuvo to 
 change their quarter to the " Twelve," so tliut he could bo as near a.s possible 
 to his command. Ho soon got everj'thing in good order, recruited more men, 
 and found horses, so that when Ingersoll and McKcnny returned from Que- 
 bec, at the end of February, they found a bettor state of affairs, and a eonff- 
 donee, which had not been felt hitherto existijig amongst the army and peoi)le. 
 
 He was then ordered to Fort Ueorgf^, and got stables up and th(^ men 
 comfortably (juartered. On tho 1st of Juno he sent McKonny to Ix)ng Point 
 ajid Burlington, to relieve Lieut. Ingersoll, whom ho sent up six weeks 
 previously, with 16 men, to t^i patrol this section of tho country, as an 
 attack was expected at that place, which might poLssbly enable tho onomy 
 to i>enetrate as far ae Burlington. 
 
33 
 
 On the tliiicl day of July Im arrived at Unit importnnt jioriod of life 
 wlion youth is supjiosed to liavi; UHTiftMl into full iiiiudiood ; hui! in hoTior of 
 liis iittiiiuiny inajority, his |niiMits at tlic' homcHttad on thf 'I'wclvc pii']iiirod 
 n grand dinner, to wliich a 1,iil;<' nuiiil)(>r of frionds wrve invited. At four 
 o'clock, when just sitting d(jwii to dine, a (hagoon ai rived in hot liaste, with 
 iutelligenco that the enemy liad ian(h!d at Foit Erie. The anniverHary, it ia 
 nefnUess to say, was eelelinitij<l without the onlijiary aflei' dinner 
 oratory, and in a lew moments 31 r. Meiritt was (juickly spuninj; on to 
 Fort George, where he iouiid everything in activity, and all the troojjs which 
 could lie spared rnjiidly fileing ollun the road to Chippawa. Jle went in the 
 aftcu-noon, with the intention of remaiiung, liut was sent on to Col. Stewart 
 who eouunamled at Fort («eoi-ge, as it was e.\poet<'d that the* enemy's fleet 
 would attack on the lake shore. 1 )uring his iihsiiice ati eiigiigeinent took 
 ])laco at Chippawa, in which although successful, the enemy, sufl'end more 
 than our peopl(^ The following renmrke on this battle, from Mr. .Merritt's 
 Journal are well worthy of notice: — 
 
 "It certainly is a very delicate thing to censure a coimnanding oflicer, 
 particularly one so jiopniar and hraxe as (ieneral iiiall, still, in this case, ho 
 acted ha-stily, iicithei- did he empli-y all the means in his jiower. lie sent 
 nway the l.st Utiginu^nt of militia in the morjiing, who were the best Hankers 
 in the country. The Kl.Srd Ilegiment wei'e laying at liurlin-^tou, S(iO 
 strong, which could have been down in two days. There were likewise all 
 the militia of the country, which, when asHombleil, would have ensured buc- 
 ce.ss. Had they attacked us in the entrenchment, they would have fought 
 to a great disadvantage. 1 came up in the evening after the action, with a 
 party of the troo]); every house was tilled with the wounded; 1 stop])ed 
 at Street's, and sjjent a very unpleasant night; mjiny of the otHcers were 
 lying wounded, groaning with pain. Such wat) the residt of the battle of 
 Chijipawa." 
 
 On the 7th, preparations being made for a retreat to Fort f reorge, Mi'. 
 Merritt rode over to his father's, and had the iiio«t valuable things removed 
 to Burlington, as he belived that the country woidd be again exposed to the 
 enemy. On his return h(^ met the Indians '.rho had decamjH'd fi'om the 
 army, and wei'e robl)iug the farm-yarda and country atores. 31 r. Merritt 
 was sent next morning from Foi-t Ocorgo to the "Twelve," with 15 of his 
 troop to watch the movements of the enemy — it not being certain at this 
 time whethtn- their object was Durlington or Fort George. Jn either case 
 Mr. Merritt was to retire on JJurlington, aftei' comniuincating with Fort 
 George. His father sent away all the stock from the farm, and went to J5ur- 
 lington, but his mother could not be persuaded to leave the old house, as 
 by this time ahe got to be well used to invasions. 
 
 ;Mr. Merritt says, "The country was never more destitute than at this 
 " time, a.s all the militia had retired to Burlington, taking their stock with 
 " thorn, and forced to leave their families totally unjjroteeted." 
 
 i 
 
 I 
 
34 # 
 
 Mr. M<M'ril( w r. sml f'l |!rr!in;.;tii;i, (u < rdi'i' iluwn ('i.|i.iirl i-'r.ill, vnIih 
 liihl tiMKiMiililcil m!I tli>' iiiililiii >'!' lltt* riiiialrv , I inliiiiiH, I'u , I lc iilnniiil lint 
 next iiutnii|i).j iirici' t\ lii\r«l iiml rupiil ri.lf, liasiiin in;rtiiii|ii;.'.||nl llir jiuiiiicy 
 (if iii'Mi'lv lull liuuitr •! mill's in iiiiii< ami omt liull' lioiii:. 
 
 TIk' pr«'Hi>mv' (i!'Uii> iuvailiii'j; army wan iiumk .'.I'vir.-ty (',.li |,y |||,, |„'n|.l(>, 
 oil tliirt nci-'asion t!iaii on tli > iircvi'His niics, as tiny serin (o liavc ailopli'd n 
 ptilify ••(■ iiilimitlaliitu tnwaiils the iiilialiilanlM, wjil'li liisL was mIidvvii liy 
 tlicir icI'iiMal to ijivf till' Ix'ilir i nl" ihc uiilit i.imru svho wcic Kiilclul. <'lii|p 
 |tMwa, Id lliiMi- t'l ii'iitlH t't>i' (icn III liiuial : aii>i iiIim liy liu> MyattMnalic maiiin'i- 
 il» wllicll (llKV |iluil'llM'<'(l till' piTlllr. rvctl (lie I'llii^ili s, (iffvi I'Vtiiili';- mn\ill.|(\ 
 
 J'lxtiai't I'lom Mr. Mi'n-iK'.s .l>Miiiial 
 
 "Tlio ('iiPtiiy's maraddiu^- pai-ty li.'nl iml. r';icli<'i| iIm- 'i'wcivc y«'t, t'nr 
 lii'atiii;.,' a |mrty was llicrc, tlicy (iiuhiilily imaniiicil il wmihi lie, urNiimd I'mro, 
 M> fur 111 ail\ati<v' of liiirliiiL;ti>ii. I'liiL «>l' tim ( ilciii^iiriv s jiirivcd iiiKJcr 
 ( '.•(|>(aiii Kil;'.( lilil'oii, formerly of (lie l!)t li, wlio liad ko ^iilliUilly distiii:;iii.,Iied 
 himself heretofore at Heaver h.iiii.i. thiili,. |,'»|li ||ii< l«i iteifimenl of 
 liiililia were stationed nl flu Tea Mile ( 'reil;, I'.n.wn';, ; ili<' Itli IJe>;iiiieiil, 
 a! Ilutt's; two others III the i'.eaver hams. 'I'lie miiiliir were dnilv .shir- 
 misliiii:.; ami drivimj in Slates' |iarli'>>. wlio wei(« |pliiiideriii',' every house 
 thev eoiih! !j;« t. al. ; tli<\ve\eii ]iliiiidei<'d women of every t him,' they juid. 
 'rii»> two last w,ii,'i,'oiis w«'re taken hy voiiii!,' li.ill, with a. party who were 
 earryin^j; oif soft soap, after eleariie;- the house of evi'i\ thiii-^. The lie- 
 wildered families were olilij^ed tohuvi- llieir homes ami plaeo (,liem;;elve,s 
 under the proiertioii of the army." 
 
 .\s on pi'ex ions oeeusioiis. M r. M<'rri( t had his full shai e ol' out post dul ' 
 varied h_\ an oeeasioiial skirmish with the enemy. .Miinili ilO ol' the nio-t 
 robust and deti-rmiiu' 1 men in the militiii, mostly olliceis, of uhoni our .suli- 
 joet was one, \dliuileeied as a eoips of oht-ervation, under command of ('ant, 
 FitzdiM'on, Part of their amnsemi'iit, was to haiiif on the skirts of the; 
 ononiy, and ann.n thorn hy wveiy jiossiMe means. 'I'iiey spent a week at 
 tlii.'i e\i'itin„' \\ or!:, and nsmil'y had live or six skiriuishe,, daily, hut willi- 
 out any results wor;h mentioning;, unlil tlair party, froiii various <'aiises, 
 wore nvliK'Oil to 11. wlien ihey aliaiidoned tiii.s mode of warfare I'orthe uKu-e 
 roijuiiir duties of their corps. Mi', ^l. al.s) joined a similar juirly umlei- 
 I'ol. l)runuiioud, of tlie lOltli tJei,iiin'nt, witli similar resulis. Whoii, n . 
 oeiviiiL; intKlliijence of the eiu'iny movin;;- from C^iiieenston, (hey prepan^d for 
 storner woik, as suhsequeiit events e\t:;id(d from Mr. *!.'« journal will v:.o 
 plain : — 
 
 " The army was put in motion at S o'eloek, and J arrived with part uf 
 iiiv trooji lit l.uudy'K I-ane, at o o'clock, of July l!;")t!i, 181 I. Col. I'ier.sou 
 with tlio Light Brigade ai living shortly after. We proceeded on as far as 
 I'.ridiiewater. A ft-w drauoons weio sent on to the Falls to reconnoitre the 
 camp at ('hi[ipawa. At S o'clock we I'ell hack on Luniiay's Lane, leaving- 
 an advanced ])icket at 3Irs. Wilson'.s : hut at h o'clock tlie enemy •was uh- 
 served advancing'. Shortly after, tlu'Vihove in onr advance ))ick{tK. Tlio 
 mlitiii and Lii,'iit r.rii,':ijlj v.ero ordered to retreat, as thi; main aimy wero 
 
:»r» 
 
 ill, \\\\" 
 
 I ni'tl 111" 
 jiiiirni-y 
 
 (' |i('n|il(», 
 
 (Imili'il IV 
 luiwii liy 
 III, ('liip 
 • imiiniiT 
 innsiililo. 
 
 y««l, I'nr 
 iiiu* I'ni'cn, 
 ('(1 umltT 
 iii;;in.-li<'il 
 ifiiiirni <»r 
 I!('s';iiiu-iil- 
 •lily sl<ir- 
 civ Ikmiso 
 lll'ry liM'l- 
 who sn'io 
 
 'I'lii^ Ix'- 
 Iii>iii;.('lv»'S 
 
 poHl <lul; , 
 
 t'llO lllOht 
 
 til our sub- 
 liifCaui. 
 
 ts i>r tiio 
 
 l.ut willi- 
 
 ir (Ik- iiioro 
 
 ily umlfr 
 
 Wliou, i( - 
 
 ren:\r(Ml foi" 
 
 III will ex- 
 
 1, ii I'mt of 
 )!. I'icrsoii 
 a as fur as 
 
 M.nllro llitl 
 
 ii,', h'aviii;; 
 .i\ was i>li- 
 lk( ts. Thtj 
 i my wcio 
 
 Hcvcml niilc'n i'l (lie ••<'iir of '^Mt'i'iiHluii iiiii| St. JJiiviils. (uncial I >i hiiiiih.ikI 
 III living', iiril< i'>'<l liiitiii Imik, iiml iriiul.i iliHjMiiitioii Cur ;,'iviii;,' Imltlf ; tlio 
 ( !|i>ri','iii'rvH iuhI itii<ii|)i»i'iit('(| milifia, 70U Mtrunj;, iot'»>ivtt| IImi (In.t fiif in 
 till' wiiddw, two liuiiilnil yanlH in a(l\ utic»i ; two kix |i(aiii(lcrH \v«to pluccil 
 iii'iir tli'^ < 'liiMi'Ii, nil MM fiiiidcuco. Tilt' St.li IJt<;,'iiii('nl, TiOO Htrniijf, with a 
 ili'lalcliini'iit of tlio \hi Knyiil HciiIn, iIiiiI, iiiiiiiit'iil. itnivcd, mid wt'io |iiiK'f(l 
 in tlio iciir I'l" IIh' j^iiiia ; my im-ii on tlic lij^lit, willi (hiiith Id jnin tlin lUtli 
 (III iIh' Itt't, ill (.^iiifnistnu Ivund. 'I'lir I'iM'iiiy, on uii|irniicJiiii>( tlio lii'ld, fiic'l 
 oil' (i» tliK ri'^dif and it'ft., rxiKni'l In i lii> lin- of l!i(( two field |(ii'r«'H, which 
 did litilc «'xi'i'uli.iii, Amid (t a ;^n!lin^,' lire from tlw ( Jicir^'aiiyM iind militia, 
 tlir («tiaiay adviMi''i>d n|i Id Hk^ ^iins ulinoHt nii|ii;r<'ri vrd, wIm ii a nioNt •^'iilliiiit 
 r.MiHlaiii'i- was ma't" liy our ini'ii. 'I'li'" mlilliTy ihdii wcrt" fxpnwd to liolli 
 our (ii'cand (lial of l.lic I'lii'iny ; al I iiLitli, tla-y were under (Ik- necfi-irtity of 
 li'iivini; tlii'ir ;;iniM, wliii'li fur u inoaii'iit wrm in |ioKHi'HHioii of Lin- <'in'niy. 
 Tin' <lrai;oiins on llm left, ninlt-f Majni' Lisle, rdiiMlcd an far as MmMy IImii, 
 oiii' and a half iiiiI'M. Tho I'lirmy's rii.'|it ontlliinkcd ii.s ; and ii coiiipany, 
 Kliortly fnllowi'd Ity a r<",:iiin>nt . j^mL |ioN,;i',HHiMii <\' t||M road l«'',\vi-on tlif diii- 
 •,'uo!iH and dm lint' in rriail,. Majta' (Jciii'ial lli.dl receiving,' a sf.tn-e waiinl 
 in till' sliouldcr, wuh t.ikrii |iii.soniT, iflnriiiii;,' liy Ilit> road with ('.ipluin 
 IjoriO'.,', A. I >.' '., I<i (IcntMal I 'runiiii'aid. and inaiiy other tdlictirrf. Attliirt 
 tiiiii' it wa t i,'t'tliii;^ liaik, ho ihut it vr.as iuiposHiMM t'l ilisctjvr frionilH from 
 encmii'H at twenty van's dislaneo. Tliu tiist if^^iiiient of militia, under 
 iMajoi- I'ohinHtiii, comitit; up at this monitMit, imuie a ilispt^Kition tif eliar^iii;.', 
 in hop<\M of retakiii;,' Major ( Ji'IhumI Kiall. I wuh sfiit to eommMiiitiito liia 
 intention |.o the troop.s tm the iiill to on)' riylit. On my rtiturn to Join my 
 tifiop, I went rather too much tt) the ri;^dit, fallini,' in with the erioinvH 2HtIi 
 i'e;,dmeiit. It wa-; impoHsihle to make mi CHeape, as I wan eouiph;t»'lv sur- 
 roiindtvl. A fow momtuitH after, liiiii„' eoriimenced from our men on tlio 
 hill, ("aptain Clarke was taken priKoner marly at the sami' time. I wan 
 taken prisonei- hy hIx fellows whtt -were .'tkulkin;^ from the fire which then 
 ra!j;ed with threat fury. This put an fiid lo my expeditions and observation.H 
 of what was pro(;oediji'< in our mililaiy ari-aii;,'ements. .My fivoiirite horse, 
 ilydcr .\!]y, w;is id.';o taken. < 'u pussin^' l'\>rsyth'.';, on luv \vav to ea|»- 
 tivity, ! heard the liro reiiewi-d, as the Idth had just arrivcti, who drovfi tho 
 enemy eonipletely off the held, leaviie.^ us victors. Tioops n-'ver eoiild liavo 
 lieh;*ve,d with ,','reat"i' '•oolncss and hiavery than our.-,. Tir'V fom/ht aLTainst, 
 live times tle-ir immh-rs ; the ;,'ii'ater part of the army waH six miloB in tlu) 
 rear when tin- ii'tion commeiu'ed. We were.;. it that nii;ht tt) Si-hlosser, as 
 prisoiir!?!, It i.'i mii.iinc ; Major < it iifral Kiall, wtaindetl. Captiun \jjy\n<j, 
 Mtdit-an, N.d!i,', (ioio, \\ ushbourne; I.ieuts. \'fii:le, Fraizer, Iloliins, AVaHft^ 
 (^•uariei' .Mastei-s iiiiiu and Caini-), Knsi<.ii K iloonif and ( 'apt.iin \V. \\. 
 iderritt of l!,o i!ra,L(oi>n.'. ^V^) were ji>iii.'d iu tin- inorninu' by Captain 
 Ih'ov.ii, Lieut, ('iiue, ami Lamont, lOnsiirn Lever ami .M<>nt>^r,jnii>i'y, who 
 v, ,re taken iu tin! last part of tin- aetioii - makiiiL,' in all, [',) oliiixrs and 1 I iJ 
 privates taken piisim(»rs." 
 
 "The ,t,'nMiter |):irt t)f t!ie oHieers uoro takiii l>v mistakiiif,' tlie enornv 
 for friends, in Oonsetpif^net^ of the dai'kness <.f the ni^^dit. We whii- kept oiit 
 all night arouml a tire ; tents tvmld not i)e jirovitltMl until ui'.xt morniji:.'. Wtt 
 were all mueli fatiguetl ; many had bt-en for sevt-ral nights witliout sleep, 
 AV(> were mareheil under a strong e.seurt to iJiiHitlo, 'J 1 miles, so that on our 
 arrival we wciu comi)ietely woi'n out. '.flie oilictr who luid charge of us, £ 
 
3Q 
 
 cannot sj.oak iiuich in f;iV(>r of. We were sent to Pomeroy's Inn, whore we 
 procured n good sujipor, and took a very coinfortablo nap on the tables." 
 
 "Tlio following day tliov woro parol d for Greeid)iish, in tlio interior of 
 Massacluisotts, and their yniird dismisj;!cd. Tt is not do»?niod necpssary to 
 give tlio particuhuTi of the nuum.-'r in which o\n- suUjnc.. passed his time 
 whilst a pri.HomM- of war, althonifji hi-i well-kejit journal is l)()th interesting 
 and anuisin;f on that point, as the few extracts hero f,'iven will show : — 
 
 "Aui'-iist 2Stli. If' avy rain all ilny ; spent the afternoon with Captain 
 Daw.son ; party in tlie oveninLi ; heard many anecdotes, particularly of Mrs. 
 Norton's aifairs. Croeic rosj very high, carried off the cotton manufactory 
 at Adamstowu." 
 
 ''■ 21)th. Took a long ride in lli:^. nioriiin<4 with Mr. Howe of the Navy ; 
 visited Mr. Mills, the waggon niiiker ; crii'ket in the nfternoon ; received an 
 answer to the letter I v.-rot:> to .Aiajor M^'lville, on the 27th. Mr. Foster 
 bi-onght a report fi'om Pittsfi;;!!! of I/ord Hill havins^ taken possession of 
 Washington ; to celebrate the ewut, v,e liad a dinner partv which lasted 
 till 1-2 o'clock." 
 
 " Wept. 0th. Took a long ride ; ])laye'l I)ilUards, and strolled ahout, read, 
 and at last drowned my Ciur;i in tho ar;.is of Morpheus, &.C.. ikc." 
 
 " 2:'ird. Wet, coM, i-ainy w;'ather ; wmt to chur!']i. Elilers Ler- 
 law a)id JiOiieh h-^ld forth to a large congregation ; a nmnber of beautiful 
 |!:irls there. This day two months I had tlic misfortune to be made prisoner, 
 
 As tho foregoing is a BanijAo, f.hev>-ing how time was passed by all the 
 otlicers, wo will conelmlo this chapter by staling that Mr. IMerritt was de- 
 tained a prisoner of war for about eight months, wlien tho pnsoners got 
 their froedoni by tho closing of tlie wa:-, an 1 he reached home about the end 
 of March, 1815. 
 
 We cannot clo.so this brief sketch of Llio war of 1812 without noticing 
 the ini[>ortaut results which often spring from such causes, so that a race of 
 peoi)le who in a measure felt only a temporary estrangement, should have 
 by this act completed in eveiy respect a s.ijiaration which has now led to the 
 establishment of distinct foi-ms of government tantamount to nationality ; 
 B[)rnug from a common stock, and sp.;aklng the same language, yet 
 liaving laws and traditions us wide apart as the old countries of Europe. 
 Whatever might have been the feelings of the old U. E. Tories in Canada 
 to their Wing opponents on the other side, of the line, the attemjit of the 
 latter, in the v.ar of 1812, to complete the compao.st of the Northern part of 
 tho continent, and absorb their old oppionents, aroustid a spirit of successful 
 oj)position that led to a detining of Ijoundarles, v. hicli in a short time culmina- 
 ted in the laying of the foundation for a new nation, which under proper 
 guidance will eventually it is hoped take no unimportant position amongst 
 the nations of the earth, and conclusively prove that however weak or un- 
 prepared for a struggle a country may be, tho designs of an all-dispensing 
 Providence cannot bo set aside, and that tho Croat Disjtoser of men and 
 things may i)lace a limit to the ideas and actions of ti:e most aggressive. 
 
37 
 
 The reader who has patiently followed the course of this narrative, can 
 liardiy fail to have romaiked the extraoidiuaiy activity and the energetic 
 disposition which characterized our subject in eveiytiiini,' which ho atteni{)t- 
 ed to accumplish. Few nieu seem to have appreciated 1 lie important valuo 
 of time more than he did; hence, in a few days altei- the proclamation of 
 peace, and his consequent liberation, we find him at the home of his atlian- 
 cied Miss Catharine Pi-endergast, in Mayville, N. Y. Str.te. 
 
 The marriage took jdacB on the 13th Cif March, 1815. So we may 
 fairly state tliat he, at least, lost no time in exchanging the lionds of warfcr 
 those of matrimony. The aimable young lady whom for the future becomes 
 the sharer alike of his joya and troubles, was the daughter of Doctor 
 Prendergast of Jfayville, N. Y., a gentleman of consideiable means, an 
 influential member of the N. Y. Legislature, and an individual highly 
 esteemed by all who know him. His father was a native of Waterfoid, 
 Ireland, and a professional ship-builder. He came to St. Johns, Xewfound- 
 land, in the early part of the la.st century, and carried o;i business there for 
 a time ; from thence he moved to New York, and married Mahitable Wing, 
 daughter of Jedediah Wing, of Duchess County, wheie the Doctor was born 
 in 17G4. In 17GG he was charged with being implicated in some local re- 
 bellion, and judged by the severe code of those day;;, he was sentenced to 
 death, but was fviUy rej)rieved by his gracious Majesty, (Jrorge the Third. 
 He then moved to Pittstown, near Bennington; from here a nuiiil>cr of people 
 started to the South-West, with the intentidu df c. lionizing Tennesp.e. 
 Amongst them was the Doctor, and others of his family. The climate of tlio 
 South did not agree with their health, so he returned in the fiili of ISO.'), 
 and decided on settling in Canada. In descending the mountaiu ii";irl)o- 
 Cews, the light carriage used by the ohl peijile broke duwii, which 
 caused them to locate in the vicinity, till near the breaking out of the war of 
 1812, wlum they returned to the States, and resided at Mayville. It Wiia 
 during their stay in Canada that ]Mr. Aferritt tirst bvH'ame avquaintcd with 
 the lady whom we havti now introduced as his wife. After spcudiug part 
 of the honeymoon at the home of his bride, they Ic.do adieu to their affec- 
 tionate parents, and came on to thcii- f-iture I'esidcncc on the " Twelve.'' 
 The joui'uey was made on horseback, it being the most couveni(>nt mode of 
 travelling in those days. They arrived at l»uHalo, whi,-Ii v.-as licing I'ebuilt, 
 and crossing the river at I'dack Itock, were soon at the home of their old 
 friends, where, it is needless to say, they received « hearty welcome. In a 
 few months afterwards, Mr. Merritt having occaaion to visit hcnd (juarters 
 at Quebec, in reference to some un.settled military ir.atti is. left his wife at 
 her father's in Mayville, and returning to Niagaiv., he .sailed from that 
 j)lace, ami arrived at the ancient ca|>ital on the (Ithof d;iiy. Having finished 
 his bubiness, he left Quebec on the llth of the same iii"!itli, in a steamboat 
 ciuwded with passengers, an ongst whom was his old friend Cul. Clarko. 
 
 If 
 
 i! 
 
 '' Fi 
 
38 
 
 This was about tlio time when stoani iiavij^ation v/as introduced upon our 
 waters. A rfif9i'euco to his journal describes the trip to MdUtroal : — 
 
 " Stopped to wood up at Tlirofi lUvors. We unfurtuiiatfdy ^^roundod 
 5it Sond. This boat makt-s the round trip, botwcn t^tuobce and Montreal 
 in ;i weolc. There is iinothor boat on tiie line, making two iiassagesj a week. 
 We could not <j;et off from Horel, by anyfixertion, until the othorbuat tamo 
 ulon:^'. We had the utmost diiiioulty in ^.toniming the current, owing to 
 tills, r.ltliough due in the evening, we had to remain on board all night." 
 
 The rates of travelling in those days nv.int liavo kept niany would-be 
 pleasure-seekers and tourists at home, as the journal gives the following ex- 
 penses of the ti-i]). " Niagara to Montreal, £•"). 2. (i, N. Y. ("y ; Monti'eal 
 "(to Quebec, by steam boat,) £3. 0. 0. Quebec to Montreal, £■]. 10. and ex- 
 "ponsos, 12s. Gd. Steamboat on Lake Chaniplain to Burlington, Vermont, 
 " £1. 0. 0. From Albany to New Yoik, in a stoandjoat bearing the classic 
 "name of ' The Cur of Neptune,' ^7 GO." 
 
 1\\ ?donti-eal Mr. M. made a number of puicliases to be sent up by the 
 fir.st " brigade of boats," under the charge of Mr. Nelles. Leaving iNIontreal, 
 he crossed the river to Longeuil, and from thence, via .stage and boat to 
 Albany, where he remained a short time, and then proceeded to New York 
 by steamboat, the passage occupying 14 hours. In New York he learned 
 that his uncle Nehemiah from New Brunswick had l)een there but a fort- 
 night |.reviously. He also purchased goods to the amount of $1,700, which 
 he forwarded on to Canada ; and having obtained an agency to transact 
 some busiaiiss there, ho took his (U^pai'ture, and arrived in Buffalo in about 
 eight days, having tra\eled most of the journey liy stage. Sending his trunk 
 on to Niagara in charge of Sir. Stocking, he proceeded on horseback to the 
 rasideiice of his father-in-law at Cliatau<p'.(', wht»re his wife was then ...opping. 
 He remained a fortnight at this delightful spot, and left for Niagara, where 
 he found his goods had arrived safe tViun New York. The late war having 
 completely cleared oil" n(>arly all tin; merchandise in the countiy, Mr. 
 Merritt ju'.igod that a first rate opportunity presented itself for a merchant 
 to comnieiar- business. He accordingly purchased l*.') acres of land at 
 oliiM!!;;in ( "orners," for which he paid .'?()L'5, and forthwith commenced to 
 build a Luge house, pai't of which he intended for a dwelling, and the re- 
 mainder for a .store ; and it being situated on the main road tVom Niagara, 
 was in a g)od location, and became a pleasing addition to the risnig settle- 
 ment. Afterwards it was converted into an hotel, known as the 
 '* St. ('atharines House," an<l was eventually burned down. 
 
 During the time las building was going on he opened part of his goods 
 at Niagara, ami .some at Qiuu'nston, that being the ])rincipa1 rendejn-ous for 
 fur and other traders. He nl.so took some to the naval station on the (Ji-and 
 lUvei'. At all of those places he found a ready .sale for his stock, and soon 
 created a Iarg(> and profitable business. 
 
39 
 
 From Qneon^ton lie op^ne 1 a corresnoiilenoe '.vitli IMes.vs. Tinvnsenvl it 
 Co., of Oh%v>*.'0, ill rnfcroiice to tho price of patent salt, dflivornti at <,|\1'''0t.s- 
 toii. From Niagara l)o wrotii t<> Mfssi-s. Vnn Winkle S: Co., telliiicj tlinii 
 tliat he had opened tlio IjooIch mIiii'Ii he puvolmsed from theiii, for ^vliich he 
 hoped to ]\n\- } a >'eady sal', so tliat in tlie i'iill ho niii^ht jiiw them another 
 order. 'J'here w:)rc no books for sale in the country then ; so that to Mr. 
 Merritt ])eli)ngs the credit of ln-ing the pioneer dissenmator of kninvled«i;e — 
 in fact the iirst book-neller in this part of the Province. He also oi)enet> a 
 land a'^'cncy. which was very mnch needed at that time. 
 
 Wh"n in New Yoi'k he madi' tlie acipiaintance of IMr. Druce, n iri-aiul- 
 son to Divid llamsay, who had been hft by will 1,400 acres of land, one 
 lot of which was locate I four miles from York, uow ToroiiCo ; in tho.se 
 tran.sactions there was a large correspondence. 
 
 There being no paf,t-oliice at Queenston, communication with tlie States 
 was very exjiensive. Mr. Merritt has left a memorandum which shews tln^ 
 expense incurred in forwarding a letter to his correspondent in Xt-w York, 
 viz: — " Ferry, and sundry other ex])enses ^•hich had to be borne before I 
 could mail my lett<M-, four dollars." Canadian postage was also expensive, 
 and conveyance siow. And as to cominnnication with J]ngland, letters 
 could oialy be interchanged once or twice a year. 
 
 In tho fi\ll of the year he went to INlayville, and returned v/ith Mrs. 
 Merritt to Niagara, where they resided witli his father, the SheritI", who 
 now lived there, as tho old homestead on the "Twelve," liaving been verv 
 much used during the war, needed repairs. 
 
 In February, IS IT), ho proceeded to York, where he had business with 
 the authorities, relative to his claims ; and having .satisfactorily settli'd with 
 t'lem, return"d borne, where he had some conversation with Mr. Thomas 
 Adams, relai e to a mill-site on his pro))ertv. 
 
 ]\ir. Adams built the fir.st tavein, in 1707, which ]i(> aft.M-wards sold to 
 Mv. lUitler. and he to Paul Shi|unan. hence the earl »- name of the settle- 
 in(>nt, " Hliipnian's Corner's," ai.d Kt. Paul street naw. 
 
 The ju-operty )>urchased by Mi-. Adams was part of the Hamilton estate, 
 wliich was ultimately sold t(j dili'crcnt indi\i-.lu;ds. ( ):i the mill-site whicli 
 Mr. Merritt was in treaty for, stood a small sawinill. almost worn out, 
 bciii'' erected veais a''o by ^Ir. Thoinaa ^Merritt. Thomas Adams and ( 'aleb 
 IMulkens. In about a month thi> bargain was concluded, and Mr. Merritt 
 agreed to pay oil' the incumbrance to the Hamilton estate, and 61, '>()() to the 
 then ju'oprietors. This purchase con.sisted of the mill privilege and about 
 r»() acres of land. The document relating to the purchase is dated r\rarch 
 -7, ISIG. Th> builder with whom ho oontracte I to er 'ct his store fail-d bv 
 fore tinishing the job ; and it was ultimat<dy completed by Mr. Paifiis Wright. 
 
 Before the house was ready, Mrs. Merrit;. again visited her f;iuiily in 
 Alayville, accompanied by her husband, who afterwarils rcuirii-d to sijper- 
 
 4 
 
 m 
 
 i 
 
40 
 
 intrnd liis luisincHH. Tlio Riiw-niill lie roimircd in kucIi a iiiaiincM' nn in sooti 
 lifivi^ it ill ^'0(1(1 nuiniiiijj <ii<l(<r; and witli tli<> lumboi' wliicli lio cut lin lo- 
 Imilt the griHt mill. TJii.s f'ullv ocoiH)i<«d liis tiiiio until tlio fall, wlitm IiIh 
 ht)Us(> waN in rondinoss forcccivi' MrH. MoniLt, wlio rctiinicd from Mayvilln, 
 escortt'd liy li(>r fa(li(>r, Dr. I'lmdcrir'VHt. 
 
 Willi tlio cxfi'ption of tlio actual uccossnrioH of lift', tlit'io i.s no aiticlo 
 iiK^ro indis|)t>nuiil)le to innnhind than salt. It has hcon jooulaily rciiiarkod, 
 that " wore it not ftr salt, pork and (lour, tho foroKts of Aincrini would still hn 
 Hlandiiii^, and tlu^ land uns(>ttli'<l." How tni(> tho forctfoin;,' may ho. wo will 
 not say ; hut it ran hardly he deniiMl that salt is a necossary ])arti('uhr.ly 
 iiulis|u'n,sahlo to tho sctthMs in a new country, and a strady supply of thin 
 ooiiiniodity is always a souivo of anxioty to a;irioulturali8tH and otliors at a 
 distjiiuv from tho sealmard. Iji early days tho inhahitants of this district 
 had to import thoir salt from tho cast, which, owinji; to tho iir perfect modo , 
 of transportation, rendered that, article a costly commodity. It is known 
 that wild animals will travel vast tracts of ciiuntry in search of this relish, 
 and tli<< Indiiins always found thoir best door and other animals in tho 
 vicinity of thoso briny rills, familiarly known as "salt licks," which aro 
 occasionally to bo found in ditToront parts of tho country. 
 
 Tn 17i).'^, CJovernor Simcoo folt tho want of havin-^ a homo supply so 
 much that ho ostablished works on a small scale at one of those licks, in 
 /pai't of the District now known as tho Townshiii of Louth. 
 
 As the works iit dnoiuhii^a incroasinl, salt booauu) conijiarativt^ly cheap,, 
 and these works were abandoned. But durini,' tho war of 181'J tho scarcity 
 Mas HO <;i-.>at th.it each one was allowed to boil his own salt at the ({overn- 
 nicnt works. Jt was worth from $H) to .i^lf) per bushel, and very .scarco 
 at tlies(> enormous prices. One of these salt springs were on Mr. IVIoiritt's 
 property, on tho Tw(>lvo. Anioni>;st his other undertakings h»> had tho 
 spring cleaned up and propeily curbed; and in August, 18l(i, ho com- 
 menced to manufacture salt by simply boiling tho water from the natural 
 spring. Afterwards he increased the works, as thc! following extract from 
 a letter written to Mrs. Merritt in May ville will shew :--" The lower .spring 
 " I have takon in liaiul, and stopped out the fresh water entirely; and will 
 "commeiico drilling through tho rock this week." 
 
 h\ the saino letter h(> mentions tho withdrawal of his stock from tho 
 (Jrand iJiver. the naval e.>tablislimont at that place being about to bo re- 
 moved. 
 
 TJie salt work.s soon became in a flourishing state. We find the follow- 
 ing entry in his journal :— " Loaded 50 barrels of salt on schooner Industry^ 
 for Poit Hope." kc. 
 
 Mr. Merritt also built a pot-ashery. 8o that at this period it must bo 
 evident to the reader that his time was fully occupie.1 with trade and im- 
 provements. 
 
41 
 
 AftfT the war of |S| 2, Sfvcnil nf iIk^ oflicfi-H who liad l.-cii •■ii;^H;;fMl 
 therein scttleil nroiirul llii'^ plilco. ClmrltH lii;;<'isoll, one of ii family of 
 nirly H<'ttl<TH wlio licM ii lar^'c tiMct of IhikI in Oxfnnl, took ii jjfroiit fiincy to 
 tha iKM^'lilioiirliood of the " 'I'wdvt-," wlierc li<! built n lionse, himI soon afttT- 
 wanlH ciittdHMl into ])mtnpiMlii|t wit ii Mr. Mf-nitt— to whoso Hooond aiater, 
 Maria, \u^ was maniiMl on tho bih of ScptiMiilicr, ISKi. 
 
 Mr. Morritt now icmoNrd tli(! n'lnaiinliT of hin wtockH from tlie Htorcs 
 at Nia^rara and '.^u'cnHton, and thfy c.arri.'d on an «',\t('iisiv(i liuHincHH in tho 
 liovisc Mr. IngnrHoll l.nilt. Mi'. M. in tlm nn-antinio convcrtin;,' liiti own 
 building,' into a dwelling liouHo. Mr. M. liad <,'ood laiHincKH coiint-xioiiH in 
 Moiitrml with (Jirard, (iilli-Hpio iV- Co., and FoiHytli, HifhardKon ik Co. — 
 from wiioni tlioy rocoived largo HupidicH of goods. 'I'hcir biiHiiuiSH waa car- 
 ried on for thr(!o ycNirs ; but from ovor-trading and bad (h-bts it waH wound 
 u|» at tho (>nd of IHID, and Mr. IngoiKoll r.'tiirnod to Oxford, iji proccsH 
 of timo tho doiioioncy was all |)aid ; tho moiohantH with whom thoy «loalt 
 testifying to tho honourable oharaotorH of MoHHrs. Menitt iV Ingi-rsoil. 
 
 Mr. Morritt also OHtaliliHhod a distillory, whioh ho oariied on upon a 
 Bmall soalo, it being imjxmsiiile with a limited ca[)itiil to do an oxtonsivo 
 business the proceedH going to Hati.sfy for tho goods of tho iirin. 
 
 In tho autumn of this year iMrs. Meiiitt was conllned with her first- 
 born, which they nanuHl Thomas, after his grandfather. 
 
 1817. This year was noticeable for tho meiuis taUm to divert tho tide 
 of emigration moving from tho Mritish islands to tho United States, towards 
 Canada. The pi-ospect of a peiiiianent peace with tlu! State's, and tho fact 
 of tho ISritish (iovcinmiojit oireringfree, pas.sagos, and a grant of land, induced 
 many to leavo the country of their bii tli, and try for their fortunes in tlio 
 "forests of Canada," as this (country was then considered. Among thesM 
 was the famous Robert (iourlay, whose advent into tho colony was trumi)oted 
 by a grand .scheme of peopleing the waste lands by his tfMiantry ami families 
 in Scotland. Tho e\ent was f<'lebrfiti'd by demonstrations of tlie inhabitimtH. 
 At one of th(i.S(!, (a ball lield at Sliipmaii's,) where ho was, ho was partner 
 to Mrs. MfM-ritt at tho Urst H(it of country dances. 
 
 The deferred payment of wai- lo.sses, by liarrowing the minds of the 
 population, all'orded a most favouring c(jndition for operations. Ho 
 soon set to work to sow the secsils of encpiiry, by calling jaiblic meet- 
 ings to brood over imaginary wiongs. Jjusiness was neglected to listen 
 to his speeches. Many happy homos were r«'nder(!d mis»;rable by the intro- 
 duction of }»oliticH, which caused neglect and misfortune to ensue to those 
 who might have been better occupied in attending to their farms and stock, 
 iusteatl of endeavouring to realize visionai'V schemes which time and jierso" 
 verance in their individual pursuits alone; could acicompli.sh. No doubt there 
 were many things lemiss in the colony, among them the <lolay in settling war 
 losses, which men hardly yet free from the ravages of war, would feel 
 
 ! 
 
42 
 
 keenlv ; lnit still, we (juestion if raiupiiiit .T.;il;i(ion by iiny nuniV.or of Ktni^- 
 gling scttlf>!-s, wLo iavariubly liavt! tlicir luiinis full at home, could ])vocuro 
 a ri'incily, and least of all for an individual wiioso Lusineis;- wrui liuvl agonl, 
 and whu oxpoi.-tod to draw hu';;^ tracts, wlicu tlicir war losses wore to l)e made 
 out of lands. }Ia;>i»ily t!ipr« was wiKdom ononj'Li in tlie coiuitry to neo 
 through th(! toii-adva;iocd scliPines of Mr. (.'ourlay, and^put ii check to thciii 
 by sending hitii out ov" the country. Asa .statistitian. he has ilonv; a sorvico 
 by giving us a true estimate of the country at the time. 
 
 During th*- wet seiison, the new saw mill cut a large <juantii';y of lumber, 
 ))artof wliich Mr. Merritt, on the anjiroach of settled weather, conveyed by 
 raft to XiagiVi'a, also >ending flour and aslies by schooner to Kingston. 
 To thoso intimate witli Ijim in after life, some of the incidents that oc- 
 enred in youth would iippear sti-ange and uncharacteristic ; but the change 
 was produced by a mature ealcuhition. ( )!ie of these inoidcTits the author 
 has often lusard him relate, to )»oint the moral of forbearance and the folly 
 of contesting by force with the unreasonable and sui-ly ; — 
 
 His raft of staves was in jeoparday dui-ing a storm ; and a limiberman 
 not helping r.s ordered, angred liim so, tliat he raised a handspike towards 
 him, which, dodging, the man closed ; and wore it not for one of the other 
 hands knocking down his assailant, Mr. Meri'itt would probably have got 
 the worst of it. 
 
 Tn the summer of 18I(^ he went to Montreal on general business, but 
 owing to the approa-'liing tinui^ial ci'isis referred to, cash was very .scarce, 
 so that lie git a low priv- foi- his coinmoditi'^s, nnd tlie Vmsinei^s prospects 
 appeared had. as tliis country was l)?innnin-r to fen] the etfects of the groat 
 monetary crisis whidi wns about troubling England. 
 
 This year 7\\r. I^Ierritt derided upon putting to use an idea wliich lie 
 quietly conceived y^ais bof-ire, lint always kept j-rnminent in his active 
 brain, end wliii-ji ultimately resulted in one of the niost gi^;'antic and im- 
 portant j.ublic works on tlds contin"nt. A scarcity of v,-,ater foi' liis mill 
 supply o^cur'^], and was a'we.vs uncertain iv, warm weather ; so he lielieved 
 a rem''dy foi- t!iis could be fouml liy havin;^- a cojumunication with the 
 Ohippawa iliver. Calmly weighing the stupendious re.sults wliich might 
 yet accrue f.'om the a m . lie det'rmineil to make a rough survey of the ground. 
 There V)eii;g no regrdar levelling instiii ncnt at hand, he borrowed a water 
 level from iVlr. Becket. who k^nt a small mil! at the "Short Hills." With 
 this instrujuent, and aceompanied by Mr. Keefer, I)e Cev,-, and other 
 neighbours, they started on their tour of survt ying. They commenced 
 at the south branch of the Twelve Mile Cj-eek, now Ai'dubim/fi, which is 
 about 3') feet above its exit into l^ake Ontario — IVom thence they ran their 
 line for a distance of two niiles, due south, to the Cliippawa; .and upon 
 reckoning up tlie result of thiir .survey, they found that the dividing ridge 
 or heiglit of laud was ab )ut thirty feet above the lovols. This was the 
 
43 
 
 fli-.st survey of tho V/clland Cfinal ma-lo, and of tlio losults wliicli Imvo 
 siiico traiis])ir(Hl, few uvo uiiM;'(juaiiitcil. It is, liowmti', ju-oixn- to state timt 
 owing to tliH im|ieifc'i't inshMnuculs wiili vliidi tlicy couuiinttd llio Kurvev, 
 tliey made a nii..take of 30 feet ; tho actual iieiglit \K'm^ afterwards provoil 
 to he 60. 
 
 In this simjile and apj)arently uDprolitablo act, vo have tlie best ilhistni- 
 tion i)ossil>h> of tlio jjvedomiiiant seiilimeiit of Mr. Meri'itt's mind, that great 
 residts may flow fi'oiii the most trivial ailairs. This survey, althouiili very 
 defective, was sullicient to 7)im-e i/ic vicniiiain ; as it drew attention to tho 
 question, and set jieoplo toconsitler and talk over the matter, more especially 
 as Mr. IMerritt had ex})ressed his firm convietiou that the conneetion between 
 the lakes could be cai'i-ied out by means of a canal. The long. ])ent-up, 
 and treasuj-ed idea now burst foith, lehdinL^ vigour and will towaius its ac- 
 cumplishment. IVIr. Merritt drew up a meuioiial to the Legislature, to which 
 the names of all the influential settlers were attached, asking for an api)ro- 
 priation to be made for a correct sur\-(>v. This lumourable bodv then con- 
 sisted of twenty membeis, and on the question of the memorialists being ])ut, 
 thirteen of them voted that the stim of ,£2,000 be given for a survey of the 
 route, as well as that of the St. Lawrence. So it will be seen that the simple 
 act of a few early settlers laid the foundations for the greatest water ways 
 in the world. 
 
 In interesting the Legislatuie, ^Ir. Merritt gained a grand point, and 
 after his dei>arture, he left the plan and papers with Col. Burwell, who toek 
 gi-eat interest in the idea. Sir IVregrino Maitland was then administrator 
 of the Government, and having ti.xed his residence at Stamfoi'd, not far 
 from the projected route, was a firm '"vieiul and sup])orter of the canal. 
 For the present Mr. Merrilt was, hov/over. doomed to disappointment, as tho 
 Government Engineer, M'r. Chewitt. siirv«nvd a route \'ov a canal I'O miles 
 long, in a diflcrent part of the country, liy commencing at the Grand ItivcM", 
 and passing through Caid)ro', Caistor, Gainsboro', and Clinton, iis asununit ; 
 thenco descending towards the Twenty Jlile Creek, and proceeding westerly, 
 Jiaralell with Lake (~)ntario, and terminating in r>urlington Bay. The 
 whole afiair was as absurd as it w:is expen.^ive, and hap[iily l)ore no com- 
 paiifion with Mr. I\territt'h route, wliich was only L\S miles Ion,-;. Nothing 
 further was done by the (Government in IHIS, as the available funds were 
 wasted upon Chewitt's ini|)racticable survey ; but llr. Merritt mana;4e<l to 
 obtain data, which enabled him to judge of the probable co.st of his route. 
 So the subject was i)ostponediu cou.se(iueuce of other troubles in his private 
 all'aira. 
 
 On the 2:5rd of July, in this year, the first steamboat was put upo.i 
 Lake Ei'ie,— previous to this, tlu^ \M'<Axw of the W(>st mad.^ its way to N. 
 Y. State as In st it could in sailing ve.^sels. This part of Canada. aUhou.;!. 
 
 nsmg raj.idly, was yet in its infancy, and the time had not arrived to c^ 
 
 om- 
 
44 
 
 peto for tlio wostorii canying tnulo. Such wa« tho roport of tlin com- 
 missioimrs wJio rci (timiK'iided tlm hiilijoot tu Ixs ljiou;j;Iit Imfoio tLo lloiae 
 tlovci-amput, " trusting tiuit tlicy might IWI tlisposod to oju;ii tho n-suurcoa 
 of tho country." 
 
 Our suhjcct wtts iiulofatipvhli' and porHOvorviug, but there ih a limit to 
 nil things : and hy having too nuu'h bu.siue.ss on haiid, tho tirm «if Morritt it 
 IngcraoU b.H-anio ttMnpurary iiiHolvont. and was torminated by iNl r. Ingorsoll 
 going out, as hcrotoforo ataUtil. 
 
 Mislortuaos randy conio singly, as thoir favourite child Thoniiw, thoir 
 first-born, was sraldod to doatli in tho bogiiiuiiig of tho yoar, and thoir little 
 daughter was also laid in tho grave ero tho soason ended, so tJiat tho almost 
 heart-brokou parents had thoir share of tho bitter cup, but were calm and 
 resigned, auil meekly boweil to tiio ruling of an all-wiso Providence, although 
 at tho time it wixa a sore trial, coupled as it was with tho deningemonts of 
 their mercantile aHaii's, and the depi-eciatiou of business in general. 
 
 At this time ho had a largo stock of lumber on hand, but could obtain 
 no money for it. lu business, tliey had tmisted tho farmers largely, but 
 could get no return from them till after tho harvest, and even then produce 
 was so low as to bo unprotitable ; wheat being only worth from 40 to 50 cts. 
 per bushel in tho C^ueenston market. 
 
 However, being a man of determination, lie bore bravely up, and luckly 
 at this time his Uncle Nehomiah from St.Johns, N.B., made his appearance 
 and liberally helped him, so that he was enabled to save his jiroperty, and 
 bring his atfairs into a better state. He gave his mill as collatei'al to one 
 of his Montreal meivhants, for money due. On the fourth of February, 
 1820, his father, Thouias Mevrilt, resigned the shrievalty of tho district, 
 which office he honourably held fur 17 years. The j)Osition of Sheriflf' is 
 never a very desirable one, and in a country where but little money is .stirring 
 and hard times seemed to be considered as a settled fact, the duties ))er- 
 taiuing to tho office, are. to a sensitive mind annoying ; and I\Ir. Merritt 
 beii^g a humane man, always felt a delicacy in j)usliing defaidtera, or in 
 .■nforcing the sentence of the court, where, from the state of society then 
 prevailing, eacli neighbour knew of tho other's troubles. Complaints of 
 delay in forcing executions, reached head quarters, and tlien reverted back 
 on him as the cause — so that wo are not surprised that tho Sheriff, sooner, 
 than continue in office at this time, sought to be relieved of tlie duties thereof, 
 and felt j)leased, after a respectal)le career, to retire into private life, still 
 retaining his appointment of Commissioner of Woods and Forests, and his 
 half pay which he received for consiilerable military service in " Simcoe's 
 Rangeis," during the Revolutionary War. He was considered by all who 
 knew him as an honourable, biavo, and determined officer. And having 
 always taken a deep interest in his son's prosi)erity, he now disfjosed of his 
 homestead, a fine property of 200 acres, for the bum of §0,000, out of which 
 
V 
 
 46 
 
 lid lihorally aasistoil our siil»joct to canml his ()}tlij,'atinnH ami r(»n»'W his 
 former strn','i;l<\ Tlio purohastu", Mr. Job Northrop, hotter known as tht> 
 "Commodoro," wuh a groat afiiuisition to tho iM'iLjhl)oiirhooil. aud his Kcttliiii; 
 horo was thn prolixin to othfMS roniini^, so that in a short tinio a niiinlior of 
 rcspactahlo ami wealthy sottliM's c'athcnMl in, who all lived on tho inont friondly 
 tonns with naoh otlan*. A Dr. Ilowi^;on spont tho winter of I'^ID-'JO hero, 
 and ke|>t his oOieo at Paul Shipnian's Hotel. Ho appeared to have boon a 
 njan of Inoan^, and piai-tised hnt littlo at his [)i'of»'SHi')n, Hpomlinp; mo.st of 
 his tini(* in visitinfj nionml tho noiyhhouihood, whero Ids Kooioty was much 
 approciatod. On returning to Knudan<l he puhlished th(! resiilt of hia oli- 
 serviitions in a ijjooil-aized volume, for the information of those intending to 
 emigrate, the sidistanco of wiiich was that tho conntrv was unfit f(U' a jii'O- 
 fo.ssional ni;in of gooil education, wlio o.\[)Octod to nuike an income hy th>! 
 praotico of his jirofession. 
 
 One little incident connoetfid with ^Ir. IMorritt's family, from whom ho 
 
 I'cctuved unhounded hospitality, lie does not rcdate ; and as the doctor's hook 
 
 is prol)al)ly out of print ami his visit f(a';;otten liy this time, we take th(^ 
 
 liberty of referring to it. In April, an excursiijii to sou a theatrical j)er- 
 
 formance at Niagara, was improvised. 'I'he party consisted of JNli.ss ISIorritt, 
 
 Misii r.aker, and tho doctor. Tho turn-cait was a ))urely lural one. Di-essrd 
 
 in Spring attiro, with white jiants of une.xceptional blanchetrio, lie drove 
 
 up to Mr. Merritt's house. Tho vehiclo consisted of a ono lioryo waggon, 
 
 impoited froin tho Eastovu States, and which Isad probably donegotjd soi-vice, 
 
 for tho Fraus and IMyhneers in their first emigration from the Moliawk Valley 
 
 after the lievolution. Having but oiie seat, a chaii- had to b'; juit in foi- tho 
 
 doctor, whoso first essay showed that tho safety of tho ladies dojtended more 
 
 on tlio gentleness of the horse tlian the skill of the drivijr. Things went on 
 
 smoothly until their i-etniai, when an extra "I'ut" in tho last mile of tlio swamp 
 
 caused a separation of the vehicle, leaving tho driver and ladies in the road, 
 
 and considerably dimming the lustre of tho doctor's snowy unmentionables, 
 
 and dotraciting from his skill as a navigator. l''ortunately no sei-ious injurv 
 
 hajipenod to the party, who walked on to tho "Ton," when; all was adjusted, 
 
 aud they arrixed home in safety, enjoying a hearty laugh at the iloctor's 
 
 mishap, and added anotlier item to the day's amnsmienfs. 
 
 On the opening of navigation, Mi: ISrerritt slii]iped 300 baiTols of llour 
 to (ieorge Davis, directing that the proceeds should bo handed over to 
 Forsyth, Pachardson, tt Co., so that by steaily pei'S(;vprance, ho ultimately 
 overcame all tho ditllcultics. The greater part of this year lie was engaged 
 in boring the middle salt spring, so as to establish his manufacture of that 
 article on a profitable basis. At last ho succeeded, and having ei*ected a 
 building, coppers for boiling the water wei'e obtained, and a salt comjtany 
 afterwards formed, so as to find more capital. Dr. Chase, lately arrived from 
 the States, took a prominent part in the concern, and being a good chemist, 
 
 m 
 
 % 
 
 ' [ 
 
40 
 
 tlirv stidii \\('\•^^ alilc to immiIih'i- m Imtti'f Mi'ticli', wliirli, Cor !i liiii" rcliii'iUMl. m.^ 
 wli.'ii lir.st lidili'd, afiiir pnilil ; luitpvciitutilly it Iiiid t.> Ixi iilpiiml(,iu'(l, hh tln-y 
 c'OuM iii)t siiccesHt'iiUy ^oiiijicto \vi(li (!u' ljii;4f iiiiiiuifiict(»ri"M nf llit) IJiiitivl 
 Stttt(>H, will) »-.'.iioit<'il <;r('!it (|U!iii(ilii'-t to Ciiimtla, iiiul hoM it very clu(a|>. 
 
 P('<)]>1(^ lit tliis Morioil liiul in; ciiiiso to j^'iinnldd (Hi iif'ouiit of trixiitioii. 
 Ily tlio Astiossiiioiit li(»li fortlioTownsIiipordiaiiMiiiiii, wli( rrlii "Sliipiiiaii'.s 
 (.'oruors" was sitimlctl, 2'.)'i ixn-s^jris woiv asscsnivl for property to tlio valiio 
 of.t'NS. 1. L'., and fur Mciiil.cr of rarliaiM.-iit, .17. I"-!. •'''., niakiiig in all, in 
 cuvroiicy, Sii^L'. 72. which is only «!?l i^ ■* for each hoiisfholdri-. So that 
 alth()ii;;h produce was low in prii'c, wliil p(>opl(; were tliriviii",'. Flour Hcnt to 
 Montreal sold for $') 7r>, from which deduct $1 20 for exixnisos, would ntiil 
 leave $i .'»(» for the market pi'ice at that time. 
 
 On till) IsL of .luue in thi.s year, another son was !>oni. and tho ,i,'rief 
 ouca«ioncd by the less of the previous childitMi was <.,'i"eat!y le.SHoned hy tlio 
 prnseiie(» of this one, whom they named Jododiali, after a kind lioarted 
 5,'randfal.aei-, dedediah rrundcr.j.is.t. 
 
 The titore, wliieh was cKwed since l\I.i'. lnger.suir.s dcpiii tiirc, was a^cain 
 oponed, and Dr. C'haso opened a <hni;,' store in connoctitm willi tho huHiness, 
 so that tho cone -rn liad an ii l.liLion to its now inereasin;; trade, l)y supplying 
 dru,ij;s, as well as all otlier kinds of ^joods, which lie got from Jlantroal. In 
 this fre.sh openiiii,', his father-indaw, nr.lVendergast, and his uncle Nehemiah 
 handsomely contributed to his assistance!, and a want sadly felt since tho 
 eloaingof theold business, was relieved, to the satisfa'.-tion of the neii^ddjour- 
 hood and the large farming conun unity wliich were Hettlcd for numy inile.s 
 around. Tho busines.s prcspered boyond Ids most sanguine expcctrttions, and 
 the daik doud.s wlncli erstwlnlo thrcatonod tlie prosperity of this most re- 
 solutt> and energetic man, now .seennnl broken, and tlie tlioughtH of hotter 
 (hiys dispelled the sorrows of tlio past, and instilled new lifo and energy into 
 his aotions, so that hope, tho fountain of all .joyH, was again lirmly lixed in 
 his mind, and he became as it wore a new man. 
 
 Crime was scarcely known in the disti'ictat this period. Pvaroly had tlio 
 mngir,tratos to deal with iuiything more .serious than potty assaults. Tho 
 pfople fi'lt Hoouro in their dwidlings, snd vt-ry few took the precaution of 
 bolting or barring their doors .-it night, llnrmony an<l good will seemed to 
 prevail all round, and this may bo termed the "golden ago" of the settle- 
 )uent. Places of worshiji M'ore few, as the I'ummunity were scattered over a 
 large spat-e. Dr. llowison says that "Churches were a rarity in tho land." 
 In the whole Niagara Di.strict ho found but two bidonging to th3 Eytablish- 
 mont. Others were 50, 100, and 200 mihis apart. ^Marriages were per- 
 formed by the m;igistrate.s, as iu the States. At "Shipman's," ho says, ho 
 followed tho crowd mto a church where the service was Presbyterian. The 
 clergyman was dressed in a showy blue coat, white pantaloons, top boots and 
 spurs. There was no more decorum than if it wens in an inn. They had a 
 
47 
 
 lliitoiind (lii,iiool<it for iinisioncc()iii|tr.ii.viiig ii Ji; inn, aCt'.r wl.icli tln< n'iii|.iii)v 
 (lisi>«'rs<(l. Tlici.! wcif many iMulIioiHm^ wlm uk t. two or liirro limes a 
 wiH'I; at t'lirli otiicr's Luiim's. TImtc whs ii liuildinpc < ri'ittd iiciii- pint of .Mi\ 
 Mcnitt's |ii(iii«M-ty for thost? wlio bcloii/ifd to tlic! Kstalilislicd Cliun-lj, and si 
 parcel of p'-mnd adjniniuLf fur u Imiyiiij; plari'. I'm- many yi'ars tli(! iJtvd. 
 Mr. AddiHOM of Nia^/arn, wlio (nine frofu Kn^dand in (lovt^nior Simcnc's tiuu!, 
 was till- only flcrj^jyinaii of tlir ( 'Inirrdi (.f Kji;,dand in llm ,\iR;;ara l)iHtri(.t. 
 lie ilid duty at tjuicuston, Sl.ipman'it, ami tlm '• Koity." 'i'lit! IJcvd. 
 ycntlrninii I'iiptizfid Ml'. Mfrrilt and lii.s (ddi'i' (•lnldr''n, and ri';,'i,'.lercd tJie 
 samo in tlio n'>,'i.stry wliicli i.s .slill pir.scrvcd in tlr.; Niaj^aia ('luiirli. Still, 
 it must not Im a.ssumc<l tliat a lack of rflij,'iouM frclin/.; t xistcil in tho coni- 
 rnunity,aH in (ivi-iy lioUM-a, I5i!.l(^and otiicr liooks oi'dtivotion CMuld bi- fount', 
 wliicli cnaKlcd thu liwads of families to a.ssenddt) tlieii' Ijou.scliold.^ and join in 
 family worsiiip. JCacli farm nhu posscs.sed its own Imi'yinx j.luce, a luindicr 
 of such (n'iiif,' still usni foj- tli.'.t puiitost- at tint piescnt time. 
 
 At tlas period lie paid off tlio Lalaiict; iluo on tli(! rear lialsci; of lof;; IC, 17, 
 18, and 1!), piirts of the Hamilton estate, wiucli was covered with pine and 
 oak, situated neai' ins own ndll, the piiee heiny c\\ per ai;re. Owin^' to the 
 increase of population in the iieii.;h!)our!iood, hotiicd t) induce Jii.s father-in- 
 law, tlie doctor, to como and .settle in Canada ii^'ain, latt on account of that 
 •fentleuiau having a hw^c. nml lucrative huHine.ss in Mayville, Jie was com- 
 n«'lled, -we l>ollevo reluctantly, to decline the invitation. Shortly aftei-. 
 wirds the doctor, Ix-int,' in New ^'ork, neojotiatetl some hills for Mr. Merritt, 
 and with the .proceeds, {)urchased for ivady cash, a hu'i^^e <iuantity of -^'oods, 
 8uital)le',to the Canadian market. Thti venture tiU'ned out a very successful 
 one, as Mr. Merritt was soon afterwards enabled to purchase Isack hi.s mill 
 property, which he previously had given ati collateral to his Montreal 
 creditors. 
 
 Whilst tlir..-; cnp;a;;ed, his iinele William an I cousin Thomas had each 
 diMwn lands, and w( re prospei'in:^ favourably. At this time, in writing to 
 his uncle in New Brunswick ho explains all his allaii's, and looks hoi'efully 
 foi-v/ard to coming prcsperity. His amiable disposition and st(;rling integ- 
 rilv .secured him a nxunber of good fi-ionds and corres]»c:ndcnts, w!;o were 
 always anxious to so've liiifi. Anion-st tiiem were Absolom Shade, of 
 (iait, an CiU'ly and prosperous settler, *"rom iJulfalo; Mr. Salsbury of same 
 plac((, John McCauley, (leorge Kidout, and others. Ceoi-ge Davis, of Mont- 
 real, was liis jnincipal agent for disj)osing of his llour, ashes, ite. 
 
 Some troul'le seems to have ari.sen at this time between him and his 
 old neighbour Mi'. Adam.s, in consequence of the erectiim by th(! latter of 
 one of those fruitful soun-es of litigation known as raill-dams, in cicse prox- 
 imity to Mr. M.'s mill, and on the same stream, thereby preventing tlie 
 waste water of Mr. M.'s mill from escaping. To make matter.s wor.se, 
 some of Mr. Adams' timi)er had been cut by Mr. Merritt's men, who over- 
 
 .1 
 
48 
 
 roachotl tlin liomuliiry, ho Unit it whh a Ion;,' linn; lid'oni tlm tiinlLfr WiiM 
 >i<)ttIo<l. Tiiiif »'v«»iitiiiilly reooiifiloil tlawt olil iVicndH, uml thoy ri'tiiaiiind 
 U8 Hitcli loll;,' ufttTwanls. 
 
 I)r. William (". dliuro proved ii ^ihh] l>iisin<'NH man ; and tJi<^ Halt 
 WKiks licini; in "]>oiiitii»n, Mr. M. \vi?<)ti' to Iuh frit-nd Mr. VV. Kerr, 
 of Wi'ilin'^tnn Si|iiar(', who liad niarriod into tlio Jlra-nt family, anil was a 
 mcnnher of Parlianu-nt, ri-lativt^ t<» tlu) lionnty wliiidi was nmlcihtoud lo l)(> 
 ofl<Mi'd for thoHnceossful production of snlt. Itcccivin;:; a favotnalii<Minsw(!r, 
 lie |iror(ifdf>d to Y(»rk, in Koliniary, IKlil, tli(> lionsn bi.'in,'^ thru in Kessioii. 
 Ifr cnconntcnd a fearful snowstorm on tlio journey, ami on liis arrival 
 jtn'stnitt'd liis memorial tlirou;,'li .Mr. Kimi- ; Kut owin^' to a ilcliatc tlu'n .ijoinj,' 
 on iijum the marria^'e art, it was docidt'd to postpone matters for tlio 
 proHcsnt. 
 
 Duiinj,' his stay in Y»)i'k a petition was presented to tlio Homo Covoni- 
 nient askin:,' fnr a half pay ;,Tant to tlio olli<'ers of tlio incorpivatcd militia 
 who had di;<tin:.^nif-he(l themselves duiin,;,' tlm war of lSi2, he with others, 
 put in their claims — as tho f^enoral ojiinion sefancd to he that tlio reipie.st 
 was only a matter of justien to those who had I'isked overythin^L,' in a i|nari'td 
 whieh in reality thoy were not interested in. The memorial was duly for- 
 warded to the {^)lonial Seert'taiy, and that was the last <!ver heard of it ; as 
 the ^'entlenuMi in Dowjiinsj; street thought that as the Jlritish Ciovcrnment 
 had, after tho llovohition, given liberal grants of lands to the U. K. Loyal- 
 ists, it was the duty of their desrendants to defend tho same ; although it 
 might with truth he said that instead of the lands enriching the U. K. liOy- 
 alists, the case was reversed, as had it not l)een for their sttM'ling devotion 
 to the Crown, during the tirst ju'riod, JJritain would have had very little 
 la. ids on this continent to give away; and their descendants, tho militia of 
 Canada, certainly lent a willing hand towards ])reser\ i;ig what they did get, 
 as well as these vast tracts of country wliich eventually enriched English 
 corporations, as in tho case of tlie Canada, the Hudson I'ay and other Coiii- 
 jiunies. 
 
 Whilst in Toronto, ho was cordially received and kindly entertained hy 
 Sir Peregrine Maitland and his aimablo latly, who was a daughter of the 
 Duke of Richmond, and much esteemed for he* many fine qualities. 
 
 Al)Out this time we find that a now set of luimes are beginning to bo 
 used in reference to the ditTereut localilies. Thus wc have " Sliipman's/' 
 "The Corners," or the "Twelve," which all alluded to the same place, now 
 changed into " Saint Catharines" — done, we have every reason to believe, 
 by ]\lr. Merritt, out of compliment to his wife, as his correspondence to her 
 at ]\rayville, N. Y. was usually dated as such. Other places in the district 
 followed the cxample,and tho "Ten," '-Twehe,"' "Twenty," "Thirty," "Forty," 
 itc. — places which received their names from a supposed distance from tho 
 Niagara River — now became Homer, St. Catharinos, Jordan, ic. 
 
49 
 
 5<till, to Wn liist<»rioa!ly acciii-nti), (lio niimo "Ht. ('iithnrinon" priv-fvJfxl 
 
 ft!! of Uk^ho, ll»lviIl^' l»«>«Mi miiiiod rm itH fii-Kt Rnrvt-v in 1H()I>, nftor Mth 
 
 Cathiiiiiio Huiiiilton, tlio wnrtliy consort of l!uli««rt Ifiiiiiilton, lately 
 
 (IncoiiHod. Y«!t, th« naniH wuh nimly or <'V(;r uh»mI until Idr. Morritt fnt^^nvi 
 
 into l)UHinoHH oxtouMivoly ; as in a Ifitter dattiil, " Ht. OathaiinoH, May 2Uh, 
 
 IHin," ho writ»w; --"TIk! villaf,'o will <lo orodit to itH favr>iijit(» saint whoso 
 
 nanio it lioarH. Tim iiiillH must do rrodit to its Kaiiit wJio in n\\\\ on t-artli.' 
 
 Wo think his lir.st !«ii:sin<«KH leltor, datod St. ('atliarinoH, wuh uftor this tinm. 
 
 1)S'J2. Aftor tiio UHunl ('hristinas foHtivitioB, Mrs. Mr-rritt, with h«»r 
 
 riiild, paid thoir wintor's visit t<i Mayville - hfin;^ drivon thfro by Hankfl, 
 
 tlio hirod iMiin, who clainiuil to Im a son of Sir Joshua's. Soon afterward^', 
 
 Mr. Mcnitt joined her, and aftor a niontli's stjiy, thoy roturncd, jiussinj,' tlio 
 
 ('anadian boundary on tho ico, over tho Iak(^ No Hoonor hud ho nrrivod 
 
 homo, than ho found it nucossary to rotiaco his slops, as his fatlioi' liad ho 
 
 romo partly involved by tho failure of the *^ Xidi/iira Spurfntor," a [ia[)er 
 
 publisluMl thoro sinrJi 1^17, and predecessor of " T/ie d'hiimr," edited 
 
 hv Mr. Amos Mcdvonny. The typn mid oilier plant were purehasod from 
 
 Mr. Salsbury of IjiiU'tlo, to which phuM* our suhje<-t had to pi, in lolVironco 
 
 to a settlement of tho aU'airs, and afterwards to York, on tho same busine.sfl, 
 
 return i n;j; fdjout tho 1 7th <if iMurch, having .sati-tfactorily settled tho trouble. 
 
 111! did nit make his usual journwy to Montreal this soaso[i, but \\\.i 
 
 partner, Dr. Chase, went, and suceeednd very well in his purcha.ses, also 
 
 ahewinghis general knowledge of gooda s\iited to tho market. 
 
 Another new resident, and vary desirable accpiisition to tlie rising 
 settlement, now airived in tho person of Doctor I'eiidh-, a gentleman of 
 very ploasing manners, who wus much lespected by tho people 
 
 Crime, though of raro ooouronce, happened souietimes. Mr. Morritt 
 mentions of having to send a negro to jail for stealing a ijiiantity of hi.s salt. 
 Negro slavery had been long abolished in Canada : yet, in the State of 
 Now York slaves wore still kept and sold as, a letter written at tliis 
 time by Mrs. Merritt to her mother in Mayville, contains the following 
 allusion to what hius since been termed the " jieculiar institution:" 
 
 '•12th April, ]K22. 
 ■' You don't .say whether you intend bringing Nan, (a favourite slave.) 
 I would bo loth to sell her, without it is her chcnce. Let her know every 
 circumstance that will atteml hor on coming liore, A'c." 
 
 On the .'ith of July, 1822, their second son, William Hamilton, waa 
 born, aiul aftor all the family having the usual autumnal fevers, then so pre- 
 valent in these parts, Mrs. Merritt and the children returned to Chataufiuo, 
 being escorted there by Mr. John Chase, a young lawyer, and a brother of 
 the Doctor's. They readied there on tho 22nd of October. This was a 
 jTotracted visit, and was the occasion of many letters from Mr. Morritt, 
 
 iii 
 
r.o 
 
 wliirh givivK wa nil iiisi^lit into liis itl(<MH hihI pliinM at litis liiliTchMiig {i«>iiotl, 
 wh««t» (hno!(,m»l Hulijoi't liAtl Hjjaiii onpigvd IiiH Hllciilion. 
 
 'V\u\ AutuiiMt <>r (lit< )('nr Imil Icrii \iiuimiiilly ImistcK uh, ii mhm )Hi« n ot 
 honvv KtuniiH Mowing f(ir ixmly tlirm^ wooks, Ikhii llio souili wr^l. Stiuio 
 v<\sH«<ls w«r(» loHt on Uio InkcH; and lio \vui« in ii Icvt r of linxicly, wni(inf( llio 
 lurival of tlioir goodw, to tlio viilnt* of $ I ,(•(>(». l''o!lniiiit('ly, tlio vrsHil 
 won(l\«'n'(l Uio Hloini. and lUiiTod, J.liongli in ii I'jtltnid condition. i'lii.H 
 \v;i.s a gn>ut roliof not only to liim, Imt to llio wliolo m<tll»'nn"nt — na (lio 
 loos of a genoral nirgo m tlicao daya %\iin .i v<My HninoH niMllcr to liic con;- 
 inunity. 
 
 Tlic ('liviKtnms timo was Kept, in j^'iand old st,yli'. IxMn;:; « cdntinniil 
 ronnd ol' i\'sli\iti(>s; balls, parlii'N, ulri-^li rides, soi 'in 1 visit innj. luikfV ^liootin^, 
 A'O. Ii\ lact it stvHood as if (lii> aniMcnl day:*of tho \'nIo i)n<l tin' Holly woro 
 n»vivod in (lie wostorn woods) as almost tnrry tcltlor krpt oju ii lion»(>, 
 with a \N;uin wilccnK' to all coniriw. and a Kindly tlioui;Iit towanls his 
 pcvn'Of n(>ij\lil)onf. A _u;iv»nd dinner wjin "'jTcn l>y ( 'nninuKlnn' N'Mlliiop, |,> 
 wlvioli alliiionds were invitmi. Ilarnnmy and i'otd \\ill pnvailrd ll,ri'n;^li 
 out.. 'I'he silk, tin' poor, and nnfortunati' wi-ic Kii>k<d al'lei-. as wero all 
 t>lao v.l»o couM plead tlislres.^. 'Ihe little Clmreli v .is adoitu'd, liavinj^ re- 
 ceived a piv.uMit from tlio nishop towards its afeoni|ilislinnnl. 
 
 Hnwinesa wtws fair, altlioni^li nioiu'y wa^^ \ ery'" ^■^aree, .md Imrtev Iho 
 »tV<>ptotl nu'dinni i>f eoniineree. A ureal <piantity of pmk eliaiiijod liuinis in 
 this way. Wlieat wa.s oidy wortli lifty cents in specie, .so lliat. a j:;o(id profit 
 was nnvde on Ihnw, wliieli wa^ cliiclly exported to tlic lower pr<ivinces, in 
 IS'i'J. N(nv I'runswick ali>ne takin-f I •">.()IH) h.arrels. .\ consideraMe anionnl, 
 of wheat was pnrcli;n-ed I'V Imvers I'roin the States, wliiili assisteil (o.snpply 
 the nmcli netnled circnlatini» nuvlinin. 'i'lie sleif^liinii; was ^oc.il, and a laigo 
 amonnt of out. door work done. 
 
 On a Snntlay nn>rniM,L,', jii.st at the elo.se of tho winter, tin- little t'lmreli 
 was ahno^t hi rned dt>wn, ' 'vini; cai-',dit nn t'l' asi'il time l>i'''(,rc ti*^ 
 service coinn.ciuuHl. IW greal. oxeitions, tho small coni;rej,'ation, who wer« 
 just gathering, m'aiuiged to Siwe it., wliich was fortuhate, a.s it answered tln> 
 pnrjKisc until a new omi wji-s hiiilt. 
 
 At this time, Mr. Mcrritt presented the Mt•tho(^i^t.'^ villi a lot (.fLionnd 
 en which tliey could hnild, for the n.'^o of their congregation. 
 
 Diir;i\g tho winter, on hif« return from ChatiiutpH'. wlnro one of his 
 
 chih^ren had broken a leg, he thus writos: - 
 
 •'Saturday , Ul'nd VoU., I8'j.'t. 
 
 " As 1 paase:! i"!ridgowater on my ride from lUack Kock, thinking of 
 rell'fi (!.tnal, brought up the idea again." 
 
 Whatever may have been liis tbo«£ht.i during tie S;t»irday of that lonely 
 
61 
 
 wintor'a li'l'' nloiij^ Uio bmikH of tlm Niiij^iini Itiver, lliiH Ih hII wd know : 
 V«<l, wf linve nmHoti lu lif«linvit, Unit i(lnu4 vnIiIcIi fiiHt (iiif^iriatdd diirin^r liiu 
 huiiiH (if Hdliliii V out |"ihI (Inly, over lli<» miiiih- [KiIIi diiiiiif^ I ho wur of I HI 2, 
 worn now inaliii'oti, ami ilotilitltwt, willi llio cncoiiuij^iii/,' Iio|hh oHi-nKi \iy a 
 (lociidfMif |i(>iico, lio, |>rrli(i|tH, forowiw the fu(>ir(* iifiCdiiiiiliHhtiicnt of IiJh d«'ni^'ri. 
 
 IIi"t nii'iMoiiiii<la III. IIiIm (itiic r<'vi'iilH lo iih, in many <'af;cH, liin inmortt, 
 tliouf^lits ; and on nsionally wo meet willi |iaHHa|i;<'H alioiindin;^ wilh I, ho nioiit, 
 wuif^Mini) ho|ii<ii, and iil olhi ik, n di'M|iond<'n<y cnliroly novo| In hi'i (•n<T;j;ot,i(i 
 «:liara«:tor. Slill, wIkii lh<> nhilo of lh(< coiinLiy jh coiniKiicd wilh Kimiliu* 
 HoctionH in llio SialoM, wo aro nol »<in jiiii cd thai. Mr. Mori ill, hlionld di'|ilor(> 
 llio hu'k of iMioi'^^y (whiliitod I lit(iii;;hoMt. iho land; and |i('i'lia|iH UHk 
 wlioliiof no lii;,di«'i' a'*iiiiaiion(i Ihan IIuiko of a, viila;.;o iiKicliunt Khoiild nof; 
 |i() williin liiH icarli. AitlioiiLdi a. modcial-o |ir'()H|ioril.y W!i;i felt, in hin 
 in'i^dilioin iiociil, yol, laiididiy H|ii!il. iiit', lliiiifjjH wit<! at a i^latid hUII outKido. 
 Doiditioss, Iho iMii'toM wliicli afructod hini i'l ali'oidiMJ in (ho cxanijiio of 
 n tfrritory siniilaily niliialod at l.lm ihtmomI, tiino, an IhiK wct.ion of UiR 
 country wasi as i-tolalod in all niatlfrii of intcrcoarMO and tlf. nuanM of tranHit, 
 HH waH Maiiilolia, on itn fnundinj^ an a provinco. Wo havo noon thin in tho 
 tinio and mcMtis of lian!;il, for t.lio n(H'(M<sury waiitn of I. ho p ■o|i|<', ijio low 
 prill' of llicir prodiirts, ami the idrnosi rntir.) want of Hpo«-i(v Aiitli(!ritii! re- 
 turns sliovv, liiat for tho 'lOycai-H pr<'vioiiM, thorc had lioon only an inr.n;n,s(! of 
 ID faniilicH in I ho 'I'dwuship of ( Iranl.hani. 'I'ho war had a. [lorrnanojit 
 clVcct. and llio Ktiniidiia of I'.ritisli ^old, after ten ycarH, liad, at i'M »toppiiij,r, 
 jt'fl Iho valuo of land Ich:; ihaji licforo. Ail thc:,o <'ircinnHtanr<'H corrdiinrrd 
 tv) pn'Stiil an nnra\(Miralilo improKRion on iIk^ mind of a }outi;( and om-rj^ctic 
 man wiili a ri.sin;; family — vvhilHt acTOSH tin' Ixird'^r ovc.rythin;^ was rovoiwtd. 
 Tho stir and Imstlf^of tho threat I'lri; ( 'anal, then i.',<nii'^ on tho rioiKo of 
 
 whose lilantin;( and cxiavatini^ could almost Ixj licard on our own frontier 
 
 shewed that these piiipie were fully alivo to Uio jfroat waidH of tho country 
 and wore lit sul'iei Is lor a conleinplal ivo triind sucli us lii.'!. So that wo 
 often tliink it ^lranL'|' that at ihi: Lime lie so Hlr-a.lfaHtly rcsi^tod iTjo 
 ^■olicitalionH sent to him from Lia fat! i r in law, who was a monduir of ' lio 
 New Voik Le;,'i.slature, as wi^ll aH Imk many fiiimlH in Ihe StatciM, to leave a 
 loantry ho devoid of enterprise, a.nd li(M-oine a citizen of tlioyounj,' and riHiny 
 Uepulilic. I'.ut the spirit which, in ISI'J, led him and Iuh (;»»nnlrymen to 
 feel that they had a cmuilry worth look irif,' after, now Hpurrcd liim on to 
 the dooibion, that now, if ovoi-, ( ianada uiuht awaken to the itiiprirtanco of 
 her <,'i(Mit natural a<lvantai^<'.-!, or for(!ver fall li.ick I) -fon* Icsr moro entornrisin'' 
 noinhbours. Wo believo, under thoHc- circuitiHtaMdeM, Ik; formed his r<;Molv<!3 
 never afterwards to l»o diaturbod. Durinj^ thin HeaHon wu luivo rousoa to 
 think tluit all tho pliikmophy whicli he, was mimtor of, was l)rou<:;ht to bear 
 luatudying his own positiou. In writing to Mrs. Mtsrritt, ho says: 
 
' 1 |ii«\i' li.>(>i» iM \y.\\ M|)irilH niii>'<< inv ntnin liom ( 'liii(nui|ih' I think 
 twnci mi>ii' HO 111 ii>v \\\'i\ I \vrili> niiu'li, iniil I'liiiilov m\'<i>ll mirununllv \n 
 UOM10 (liinjjB, \n\{ slill I't'ol II v.iiil " 
 
 " I lia\«< (he i'!\tn]» imn li -iI.I.m.I pi (.-i-l m i .•iini.i nf llii> ullii'i'., wliciij 
 I k<><';> :\ ijooil (iiv. lUiil wnl.-dll '.I oi lit 1' M 
 
 I'hiM |i|:\ri\ w liirli ;tt'li'r\\ iiiil'. luvami' cli(> ('iniiil < MVii'<<. wnn \\ Ikmi' Mr. 
 M»M'li(( till! Iu< I'tnulC IminiIIi'hm. :vI)iI « Km s-lhlftti-'l m( (Iii> I'lli-K nl' (Im> 
 ]v>»rliiMr. to tlio lolf i>l' tlii> liiill, wiiii'li wn.i ('('ii\i i Inl itHn n dmiii^ inom 
 wluMi tl»o j»lui<.> l(Oi'iui\i' !U» l\ol*>l '|'l\(> l\nnMi>. lnMii", \M>11 Kiiowii itH n liivi'in, 
 stood on ll\o \\\aA 1o;>i1im>j; to NijicKru. iiml tlio mill I'Mciny tin' t^diocnHlnii 
 rv>:»il, i>l" \\ lui'li SliipniiniN \\:\n {\\o iMiniM' nii llu' npjiniilr tiiil»>, lurtluM ilnwii 
 NvrtH tli<» r|.«mo, ami in v^'iw. llii> lilMo t'lnir.'li hIu'miU Mpokcn ol 
 In ono \<l" his Icl (iM"< (his '-ptin'.', lie p.'IVh 
 
 " \V<> h;n<' tmnpiKod tho ron.j thton.jh th.> vilhii-o Mr Aihllnnn 
 |M'Oj»i'hi>(J li»!'l ><t\n<l;t\ H.'ivi* v-toind jinil ncn) i-d' Il>i' Iii\ih'Im nl" (hiur. 
 Vho \\\'\\\\ h:<\i> not l>(><»n iitlo on.> lnnir. ii:i\ of ni!,jht. wh^n the wnlof nt'i'vow 
 'rh<>sj«lt "-OfUs arc thnm; Ix'tlci than omt tloo.i Milr:i n< »"■ I per |i;iin'l. 
 'V\\o liistiUiM-v lUiikin;; iiH jjiiUons pcM il,\\ 
 
 In <M>hM' to !\i\o iUi iih'rt o|" lhi> iinpro\ i-miinli* Mlri'iulv nindr m tlin 
 Mlh»'*<\ \\ (^ nu'jht nnMition <h:ii ho hiol Imililin.';* {'>>v linn^rll' ainl llmno in 
 hiH (MUplovnirnt. vi/ : (iwcllin^ hotiso, (.niMil l;ons<> nclininin;, t'oopofH* 
 lion.s<> !»\i«l sl(op, l>lK^■k^»nlitI^•^ honso anil sliop, wall woiks, aii<l two honHOM 
 ;ii|joimns». snw n<\ll. jrnNt null. >listill<'v\ . and a nninluM (ilothrr slrni-tnri'H, 
 NUt'h iUS Ivuns. stHl»loH, sho<ls. Ac Also, I'lvo ilwcllini; lionHcH, occnpiod ro 
 rtVijHvM i \ ol \ In Hr (Miaso. Honry Mottloli(>rf;i r. olork ('hailos. hirod nuiit ; 
 tJiUson, sorvH)\t . .lossio, and .lohji th* Indian . hosidi'H (Mnployin;.r uhont Ttt) 
 |MM"sons on his ditVoront outc'rprisws. 
 
 Am<>n!;ljiH many on:;paij^'inonts. he in'x.'i lost sii,,di( of his dailmij projool 
 tho canal 
 
 Roforvinj; to Ids joiirnal for tho no\i Sunday, wi- tnid il wrillrn in a 
 jkvuliarly solemn tono. and coniliidiiii; as follows 
 
 "M«T 1 ohviviMvMlio truth. I piny most (ii'\i)tcdly that my Ihoiij^hlM 
 n».>iv Ix* ol\rtsti' and jn<)u;«, and that our lloaxiMily Kalhcr will ondosv mo with 
 wLsdom." 
 
 Ajpun. at'tor r<»onninjj to Iiis family aflairK 
 
 "O Ixwl ! my ho.irt ovortlow.-< with ijratitndo whou ! rodtvton (In'poaoo 
 of mind and h.ippiniv^s I onj<\v by liaTimi; .so worthy a i-onsort. (alluding to 
 Mr. Williams, uiinistor. l.atoly diM-ca-sod.^ M.ay 1 rofmiu IVom ovorgixiiig 
 an imfavoumldo opinion of a follow mortal lioroaftor." 
 
 In ln« lottor. tho tollowinij Sunday, aft«<r nvov.ntini^ tho civil and ro 
 lijjious news of th«» \ ill;\c;o, ho says ; 
 
r.:» 
 
 llio 
 
 irii)iM"t 
 
 " TIlO WHti'lH 111 llic ' 'lll|i|i''\M» will liKiimsii (|h\ "Twrlvo" III I / (1 vArc, 
 
 Ao.' 
 
 My lliniH'xl MhIimiImv. '.' 'h'I Mum |i, Im lni'l, willi JiIh fiirfiils, millici' nil y 
 niiitiiiMl liiM |)laii, HI) III in liiiM ImhI'iihI iiiit'liiiir m Slii|iiiiHii'!< lioUl Anil. 
 Iin HHy« 
 
 " It in my ili'IrfM iniiril mil, nl |)i<<'<twil In |iiirf!ii(< t.hf (.li)C(l 'triKJiiv 
 
 'I'liiH MHH>)inj/. Ill ii'iilily, WHH (lio (fiiiiiriPiirpHieiil of til" ''Himl, u|tli<>ii|{li 
 Ml, M»>iriU rnloiH in \i mh f<p|lowN : 
 
 " A( IliK I 'liii^^iiii Siitnnlnv, iiolliiii)^ wiim wfledfd MuhI, of rrn-H liavn 
 
 iiMiKW niiiiilii 'I'liov luiiiKil. ((iiiiiiihIioikI liny fnofimiiH Ifryond tlifir 'luily 
 conrniiH. 'I'lii'y tiro roiiiriil of Kollll^ iiiiii>/i!iiiiy «vil, hihI do no*, dwrll on 
 tlio |iiililic ^ood. r Mill, and lio|in will lif, wine moiij^li rvi-i h> I»m nvtmo Ui 
 piiMii' iMi«>1iii>/M. Iliivn iiMVor ytii b«'»»ii iiiiy ^ood miw froni (li'in. WV 
 /niri', /loirri'i'r, tli'lrriniin'il iiii. Ituvinij llw {jrounil. Hiirri i/nl , ami i/itliiv/ ihr 
 lioiiih /niiti I'vrni fn'rumi firliii/ on thv rnnlv, i(r " 
 
 And ufl.i'r r<'voilin;Mii the luinilv imd iiiiHin»H?i diflinilticK w lncli Imd 
 |i|i>viuiih| V diM'l'liMl lilH 111 lout inn Cioin lliui oliiint, lie MuyH ; 
 
 " My mind i'l h<» wliully nc'riiincd, iimif with lMinin''hM Hiid worldly 
 iiiiitt.riM, iImiii divini^; iiiid I Ihimi^ miiIiIiiiio kIimh tliiil dritw iih nt'iii out Mak«'i, 
 irt oxrliidrd I piiiy, IriHiii" will I'CMHordfd irif in ^lln«ti||l«^, |o iiMviifj ifioi'i 
 Htiirdy (,o LliKiii iiiidllml I iiifiy r«'"'ivi' I ln' ono lliinjj; ii«M'd('iil W*i ' iirifiot 
 |MiHHilily. in lliin lioiildi-Knint' woiM, ciijoy ||m< lili'MHiii/'M ^.^ivn m-., v.illiout 
 t',\|)<>i ifMiriii^ mi;il'orliinr " 
 
 (til llii> '.''id iiC Ajiiil, Ik wiilif", Hiiyiii^, ■ Unit lie luiji In, in in Ni{if(»iiii 
 fur H wi>o!< " In. Ill llic Vlli, In llic liitli W'liilsf lnMc, 11 !• iil.j/ii|dion wu- 
 t>|u>ni'i|, Iji jili'd liy Ml 'I'lioniiiH ("hi k, for tin- |mii |#osc of iiii.<iiiig fiindK {«i 
 oiiiploy nil iiiM|||(Mr to tiiiiki I HiMvry of llu- niriiil lu.inci.iuU ly iiff< fwardn, 
 uol,wilJiHlundin>.( (lie I'l i;.,liiriii Ktiitn .(ftl.r rond.s, (ind j.'fin lidly, dim^i' «ttld»j 
 wcntlicr, wn liiifl liiin ul Mimk IhiIit, in ronrinino \\illi a Mr 'I il>! d*, .i 
 civil (•ii/^inri'f, who wah iIm'Ii mii v'^yiii',' u loiiln lor u cu,;!,! iiionnd lli<' I'uIIh, 
 nil till' SliitcM mkIi", (.If wlinli II rli'iiifi Ind liri-n |;il,rl\ ;i|ijiii''.d for, irom (.lui 
 lii'l^iHliidifo. Mr. Tililcls (oiild not Icii^n IiIh cii^iirriiif nt iiidil \\ic Ttli of 
 May, wlirii, (Inn, in <'oiii|i|iny v.itli Mr Miriilt, l;«* went ovrr liiK tout*', 
 iiiid iiiTiiii^i'd III)- |<ltiti, wliji li vMm Moil.i'd oiil., iitid iiintrd in I h<- Nia^'Miii 
 (/A'ff^cr wi(,Ii tin iiddrcHM to Imii l'io\ irici-K, .July liitli An iirtiiU- in i\i»- 
 wnno |ia|i('r, diil,i'(| A|nil i'Jtii, I ■'^l^.i, «»iyH: 
 
 " A siiKHcri|>tioii lias Ix-im n|ifiicd liiif al Hi- la^t mcihoiih. foi ()/»■ |njrp<rf<^ 
 of raisiiiLj nioni'v for siiivcyin;; and takiii;,' tlm ]<vil of lln' land Ijint^ }<*• 
 Iwi'cii (lie < 'lii|)|nv\a liivi-r iind llic ti<jin.s(. t-lnarn l<;idiii^ into \,nkc 
 OiiUirio — ^witli a si<w of coniK-itiii'^' (hose wat<iH, tlat tli»:y may l>f'COin« 
 iiavii^'iililc foi' lioiitH. Wi' iiir li.'ipjiy to Hfc (lie nainiK of our most n+j^X'c- 
 lubli^ and inlliiiMitial inlialiilaiils at the licad of liio list, and (ruHt it will U) 
 libwnilly HU|»|ioi-t*'d. 'I'lii* nilmcripdon |iiij>t'i- viil la-W-ft with MrCrcKiks, 
 It is olivioiis a lioat uavigiitiun would lie iinuiiMliatidy idietU'd U'wt'«n [jike 
 
54 
 
 Krin and l,jil<(» ()i\tari(>, i>\(v»pt Mm piU'h of tlio niounlnin, wliidi run I'o 
 oasily ascoiidiMl or doHCcnilcd l>y iiu'aiiH of railwavH, at a Hni:ill cnik-mmv In 
 a month or so, wo liopr (o pnhlisli (Iio irport, of (lio rni;ini>.M« on (liis in 
 tort^stino; sul)j<>ct." 
 
 'I'lio lioats m11ii<1(>(1 <o Ihm-o W(<n> of li;j;lit ilr.uiylit,. Tlio /uif/ranr, wh'wU 
 coasted tlu> lako, and willi wliii'Ii passajfos were inside l>y (lie rapids, on tlio 
 St. l,a\vrt>n<MV 'riio.:i< ,)„ (liat part of tlie I'lrie canal, now iinislied, (wliieli 
 wo see, Mr. l\l(\iritt (lion,i;lit afterwards to pureliase) were of ^li^lllly lar;.;er 
 dim<M»sions, ami a nil or tianiway liad l)een i>niU. by the oM l''i< neli (raderH, 
 at I/Owiston, a l)iiniln>d years previoiiH. 
 
 I li;\< he w;is entirely nnpossessed with (he idea of speculation, or a 
 desiro to enhaneo tho vaino of his own property, will he seen fiDni 
 the followinu; Ie(ter written to (he Hon. W. nieUson, a( NinLTaia, ami dated 
 ir)th of May in (lii:» year, n'la(ive to his jiroiualy. lots 17 and IS. 
 
 "^o^l have talion hack the lands of other p(<ople in Ihis plae<>, and have 
 oflen'd it (o (liein at nun-h less than tlH> oiinnal price. I hiivw paid to (ho 
 osl vl ' nearly ."?4,()0(), for property not. wortli the half of it. I will relin 
 quisl; (he land, two hoii.si»s, a liaiii and shed 1 have bniK, and pay yon the 
 ball . -e of the interest ttc." 
 
 t'u the ISth of May, he drew np a menuM-ial to Sir Peregrine Maitland, 
 on the finhject, whon>in hi^ shewnd his Excellency the many advanta;j;ea his 
 nnite possa><8ed over the one heniofore mentioned as havini; heen siirv(>yed 
 by Mr. C^liewitt. The (Jovonu)r was then livini,' at. Stamford Park, and 
 i\1r. Merritt handed his miMiiorial to Col. Cotlin, the Secretary, accoinpaniod 
 with a slioi-t ex|>lanatory note, wherein he says : 
 
 " I'aii'losed, ! |d.ici> in your hands a i'oni;h ontline t>f tln^ proposed canal, 
 from the month of the Twelvt* Milt> Creek to tlii^ I'iver Wclland, which will 
 ofleot The juncliitn of I.;ikes Miie and Ontario i>y boat navigation. ilavin^i; 
 been r(>pi'at(>dly ovt>r ev(>ry t'oot of ground on tlii> proposed rout<\ I shall l»t) 
 linpjn', at any time, to have fnrlher oommunioatiun with yonr Kxcellonry, 
 on this very important .snbjoct," 
 
 On the iMth oC May. l.e aisi) viote to his old friend and eoni])anioa in 
 arms, Sir John Harvey, who was commander of the forces at Qnehoc, 
 stating his object and plans, and callini^his attention, in a military point of 
 ■view, to the fact, that in case o\' another war with the I'nited States, tho 
 facilities it W()uld alford f'or the transjiortation of troopa and mnnitions of 
 war, between tho Lakes, and endin«]j as follows : 
 
 " ()ur commissioners wonld never survey or level tho ronte, alh>;:jing it 
 wad too near the frontier, — oonsonuently wo wore ol'iged to em])loy on© 
 oui"selve3, and endeavonr by similar exertions on onr [)art, to prevent the 
 States people fi»>m taking all the frontier for themselves. T can bring every 
 ])art of this r )ute forcibly to yonr recollection. It commei\ces 1t> mil«^s >ip 
 the Chippewa, passes Do (\>w's, (the honse we retreated toon th(> first night 
 after wo weru beaten from Fort Oeorge,) and terminates at the Twelve Mil« 
 Ci-eek, (the placo our boats landed generally, during the war.) <tc." 
 
Allhon!,'li Mf. ( 'liPwittH roiit'i wiis .mirviyi'd nndrr lliow pro! n'lilitioii, 
 li(\iii;; loniltxl HO fur iiiliiml, wh Uiiiik Mi". Mfriitt, nnver Inilicvol lliat in 
 caHf) of inviision, tlio^fdifiiiy ruiild fvcr hold tlui fiontior lon^ ••tunij^li t<> 
 Tiiako Jitiy iiraclinil hkc (if (lie rimnl iiiojcctnd hy liiiiiRtdf «h «'V«'|i(h in tli« 
 war Hliownd (liul. tJiw fi('(ni|iiil,ii,»ti df our noil \>y thu foo waH alvvnyn u Hoiirro 
 of iiiorti rofil iiiiKasiii 'hh to IJkmm tliiin to oi/rHclvcH. 'I'lioro vvnK iilso lUioMirr 
 Kl.iiinilfiiil. in tlio matter, iih Uio V,v\i' (Inniil was fiiHt approaoliin;^ ilH ronrm; 
 tioiiwil.il liio |,ak<', Ko tliat a fivoiualdi- opporl unity would iirc^Hciil, it^olf 
 to pxporifiircd conlraftorH and woiknuii wlio W(»idd lio tlicn out, of oinjdny 
 n)"iil, to coniM in iiii 1 iindorlako wurkn on oiii' canal, iia a Hul)HO(jiiMnt inn/or 
 of Mr. MtMritt's niwntioiiH, 
 
 At lliis liiiio LIm! (•Iicc^rin;^ nowH (to miitiy, wlu) liad waitod lonj^ anil 
 |ta.tii)nlJy,) was lii'iini, lJiat> tlin Utinoivcr f lonnrai Jiad powcnn from I/)rd 
 l'>atliurnt to draw lor X'<t<l,()t)() (d-r,, (owardn drfrayiri!:^ (Iio Iokhoh in tlio lato 
 war. Tlio an.4]iii'ioiiH nvinl wan liailod with Katinfaotion, iw many of tho 
 jifoplo liad huiflVriiil Rcv^rcly in liiat. ntru^j^h'. Major MctrittH Iohsch alono 
 won* ostinial.od n.l,llio lar;,'cHiim of.l'l.o^* I , of which, with otherH, hcrecoivod 
 nl)otit oiio fomlli. 
 
 1 1 must not 1k' suppon-d that th(! time licforo tho oporiin^ of tho l;«if^H 
 lature was pasm'd in idloncsB, as we, know that a luimltoi' of important 
 affairs in coniifction with tlio cause required his unrcmittiiif^ attention. 
 Thus WH (Ind tho editor of the (,'b'atirr dehiye*! the notice of the meetinj^ hfild 
 at Heaver Dams until the day it was to \)i- lield, viz: 'JHtli .Tuiir, and ac 
 coinjianied the same with some, romarks in favour of tht; Nia;.;ara, or rather, 
 tho Qneoiislon route, which were calcvdated to «auHo 1dm Kome uneasiiiRfw, 
 lest liy a conflict of l(i<'al jcHlonKii-s entirely foroi;:jn t,o the main object, ihn 
 affair t-houM have fallen throu</li. TIk! article in <pM!Stion ^^avo riso to 
 nnotli(>r from Mr. Merritt, and is the, fiist hearing,' Ids si;,'nature, dated oth 
 of July; and after ,','oinfj; over the arguments in favour of tho route t]irou;.h 
 the 1'welve Mih* Creek, ho Miys : 
 
 " Wo aio confiih nt no private coTiipany can complete a canal on any 
 other I'out'-, the same method, viz: a private snrv<?y is open to examination. 
 If you will show us a better one hetween thi.s time and the noxt stission of 
 Parliament. tLe samn coni|>any we aro now endeavouring to form, will join 
 you. Until tliis is done, do not prejudice our exertions, <tc." 
 
 Thus it will 1)0 seen, that although lie M'as, as we hare Khewn, firmly 
 impressed with the idea of his own jtrojection boinp tlio shortest, cheajjcst, 
 and most feasihle, (which subsequent result.^ liavo fully liorne out,) —yet, 
 being thoroughly convinced of the urgent nocossity of a canal in any fonn, 
 between tho lakes, we find that he, Booner than have none, is ■willing to re- 
 linquish the credit justly due to him, in order that tho country at large 
 might be benefitted. And we think, in expressing himself as he did on the 
 occasion, that he shewed a ypirit of <lisinterostednc88 which few men would 
 
 it 
 I 
 .1 
 
 iil 
 
 i! 
 
56 
 
 liHve thousht of, aftfr tho ciicumstjinces recounted in tlio earlier pageH of 
 this memoir. It ia an oiwy task for men to suggest iinprovements and d«- 
 vise Hcliemes when ilio preliminary parts of the work are laid before them, 
 but we always find that innovators and critioB are tlie first to shrink from 
 tho dinienlties wliicli surround the bold man who proposes any new idea, 
 with the perspicuity, and we may almost say the spirit of prophecy that 
 possessed our subject at this time. And although we might fill a few pages 
 in describing tho local jealousies and petty troubles wliich should have li»en 
 forgotten in the one grand national object, we think it better to refrain from 
 noticing the ridiculous attempts to thwart liis endeavours at this critical 
 time, and will therefore pursue the narrative as it goes. 
 
 On the *J8tli of Juno, a meeting of the residents, called by an advertise- 
 ment in The GUamer, a week previous, was held at MctUolland's, at the 
 BcAver Dams. It was patronized by only two gentlemen from the frontier, 
 Me^rs. Clark and Dickson. On tho motion of Mr. Woodruf!', Mr. Merritt 
 wajs appointed (heir :'-gent, to carry out their j»lanR. Mr. (Jeorge Keefer 
 waa chairman of the meeting. 
 
 ifune 28th. — An juhlress w;is pre^sonted by Mr. Merritt, which was 
 swjcopted ; and it, with Mr. Tibbet's leport, was ordered to be printed and 
 circ\date(l as generally as possible. As for exjienses, Mr. Merritt had to bear 
 all. The small meeting, though attended by wealthy men, contributed 
 nothing. The documents were accompanied by a note ; — 
 
 "Hoping you will insert it in your jmper gratis ; and any favourablo 
 remark you may mako will bo duly appieciatod, etc." 
 
 (Signed,) "W. H. Meruitt, Agent." 
 
 The object of this address is plainly stated, also that the six months 
 notice, for the incorj)oration was advertised, noticing that tho engineering 
 facilities fur our route, so long advocated, was now confirmed by a professional 
 engineer. 
 
 "The extraordinary exertions wliicli our neij,:hbours liave made for the 
 improvement of their country, point out to tlio.so wJio wish well to us, 
 the necessity which exists for similar exertions — foi", unless eome efTort-s 
 le steadily resoi-ted to, we must lose our trade." 
 
 "The prairie country of the far west not yet being settled. 
 
 " It is a melancholy subject to reflect upon — the immense tracts of fine 
 timl)ered hind, which, for want of facilities, aie at present wholly unpro- 
 <luctive. From this circumstance, much of their hewn timber, staves, and 
 other descriptions of lumber, although in constant demand at Quebec, for tho 
 supply of our West Indian colonies, are not forthcoming." 
 
 Aft«4' this, he notices the favourable state of the soil and climate for 
 ftgricidture, but to render this valuable, he liranches out : 
 
 "It i.s necessaiy to the farmer that he .shi)>dd po.«isess the means, not 
 only of shipment, but of converting his produce into a fit state for uee. 
 Mesjiis. Clark ii. Street's mill at the Falls, from Long I'oint, on the shorefl of 
 
67 
 
 l>ako Erio, rouinl to Dundaw. fit tho iipppr end of I.ako <)nt.aii<>, (and hr 
 nii^ht }iiiV(« cxU'iidcd it to an illiinitiililf distiinop tlicncr,) is t!ic cnly mill 
 |K)BH«)H8ing laciliticH to carry on a iinircliarital)le bnsintKB. " 
 
 ]Io lets tlio Canadian public know, liowovor, " If a snfficient dc^o*^ of 
 jniblic spirit should not bt; found in tlie two Provinces, to conijiiete so great 
 and noble an object, others will be appealetl to." 
 
 Wliilo writing bin scliemo to Governors and Commanders, he correapondw 
 with his old business agent in Montreal, to whicli this is the answer : 
 
 " I ai.i most happy indeed to learn that the canal from the " Twelve " 
 to Chippewa, as laid down l)y you, is at length likfdy to take eire(!t so soon. 
 The undertaking is trifling indeed compared with tlie results, wliich, in my 
 opinion, may be looked for from suidi a work. I have^very littl»( doubt that 
 such a scheme would meet with liberal support in the way of taking up 
 stock from the inhabitants here — and 1 shall certainly feel gratified in 
 lending it every assistance in my power. (jEOROE Davis." 
 
 On the 4th of July a practical meeting was held at St. Catharines, 
 and a petition was drawn up for pre.sentatioii to tho Legislatuie, for 
 an act to form a ('on)j)any with i)owerH to cut and build a canalj 
 after Mr. Merritt's projection. 
 
 On the 17th of July, Mr. Merritt was instructed to visit Lockport, and 
 examine tho works on the Krie Canal, and obtain information, Ac. In his 
 diary at this time, he expre.'-Res his admiratimi of the energy of the jieople iu 
 pushing this great work ahead, ami almost enthusiastically exclaims ; 
 " An enterprising people can efVect wonders ! " 
 
 llio following extracts relating to his journey and general impresHions 
 will also be found interesting: — 
 
 "18th July to '27th, no stir in fjewiston, or appearam^e of business. 
 
 "19th. — lj<'l"t, for Jiockport. A.s rough a road as can well be travelled; 
 i)roke a waggon bolt. Jjockport bids fair to become! a large and llourishing 
 city. Tho e.-mal pi-ogresses as fast as it can, from tho slow progress of 
 blasting the rock. Mr. Roberts, the head engineer, gave me a<'ertiliicateof 
 etiiciency for Mr. Tib'.)its. Observe no intemperance, and much cordiality, 
 directions given in a mild unassuming manner. 
 
 " Ixjft for lloohestor in stage; arrived at 1 o'clock. 
 
 "Monday tJlst entered on board Montezuma packut, made a minute sur- 
 vey of freight Itoat, »l'c. 
 
 "Tharo is no impediment whatever in our plan ; the com-.se of this canal 
 and all f have CLnvorsed with confirms me iu this opinion ; an advantage 
 will be derived for l.egining early, as many of the contractxjra being out of 
 work will have all theii' trxjls on haml and prepared to commence immediately; 
 the boats on this ininal will be ready to pass over, and with the lciA.st enter- 
 prise we will do tho greatest part of tho buainess. Tho St. liawronce is the 
 natural outlet for iheir staple produce; every merchant in (Jenesee County 
 now send their ashes to Montreal, itc. Mrmo.- " See Mr. Tibbits, or head 
 engineer, about jiice per yard for excavating, ttc." 
 
58 
 
 Tl»o ciroular ulliiilt'I to was ordcrod to hi> sent to ;ihiiost <>vorv jhmhoii of 
 inlliu'iirc ill tho I'rov iiicf, aii'l to every Post-inn.stPr, witli Mi. Tildtit's rojKji t 
 on tho ciuml. Sulisciiptiou lists were also Kent, with an appeal b&Hod <»n 
 patriotic trroiiiids, re<|uestiii^ tlie |)arlieH (o he.eoine ai^'eiits townnls the enter 
 Jirisrt. 'J'hey wero iil^o went to l,(jwer ( 'aiiiida ; and notices (n Mr. (leori^n 
 Davis, of Montreal, as being the aj:jont for that Provinee. So. we lind that 
 durinjif this period, he had written llie ononnonsly l:irj,'e ii\imher of oii'- thou 
 amid hitters on the suhjeet of th(> e.in.il. .\iid, as various articles from his 
 pen appear from tinn^ (o time in Tin' (r'/raiirr, with tlu^ circulars and fitlier 
 niattcis alUided (o, all slunv (hat the pi'oject was then fully committed to 
 tho pul>lic attention and crilicism. 
 
 After his i-etiiiii from visitiii',' the works on the Krie Canal, and attcndiiifj 
 for a time to hi.s private all'air.s. we iitid him visitin,i; Niagaia, tlie county 
 KCat and local capital, on legal Itusim^ss, on or about th>' 10th of September, 
 and tlie usual advertising notices in reference to the eaiial rcappeai-s in 77ie 
 (ll'dinr. lie then lca\es f>i' ^'ork. for tlie purpoNe, wp pre.>^iimi\ of att<'nding 
 to the time honoured custom of "lobbying" (ho (raiial bill through tho 
 House ; as, pn viously, we find that he was very anxious, and not without 
 some misgivings as to tho action of the A8.semiily on the bill. 
 
 Four days after the opening of ParliauKint, Mrs. Morritt wrltoH, IfHh 
 November ; 
 
 "11 set out ti-day f->r York, on the canal business. Jle is de 
 
 birous to do all he possibly can, Ac." 
 
 On tho 1 Itii of November, 1S'J3, the Parlinment oponoil. and the Ciover- 
 nor. Sir P. MrJtland, in his speeeh, told the House that many important 
 measures rclativ;> to internal imimivenn'nts would be brought forward, tto. 
 
 (hi th« U»th day of January, 1824, the Act j.assed. incorporalitig 
 Messrs. (iPorge Keet'er, Thomas Merritt. (Jeorgo Adams, William Chisholin, 
 Joseph Stnitli, Pan! Sli'pma!i, ]iA\\\ l">ecew. William Hamilton MeiaiH, and 
 others, as a c ompa'iy Lobe known as liie •' \\'ella'id Canal (Vimpany," with 
 a capital of /!i/7;/ ilioiisawl poioi Is, divide;! into shares of £1.!. 10 each, Ac. 
 Very little op|>osition was ollered to the bill, as UKist intelligent men now 
 saw the noi'essity of somo bettei- means of communication across the ponin 
 sula ; anil the luci 1 mannei' in which our subject explained his project con- 
 viuced most men of its prac ii-abilitv. 
 
 On the 1st of January, 1 S24, in a long letter to the editor of 7Vw Ol^nner, 
 he notices the pa.ssago of tli' bill through b(jth Houses, and ends by comj)li- 
 inenting Niagara harbour f.ir a terminus. 
 
 On the llth of iFanuary, h« writes to Doctor Proadorgast : 
 
 "There are some important measures taking jtlace in this country, in 
 which T am likely to be an actor ; ami am tlierefoie anxioua to see you, to 
 profit by your advice, Ac." 
 
1 5tb 
 
 de- 
 
 Aii'l nft'r cift.iiliiij; liis idpMS on tin- "<!»'P[i <'iit " rontK, lio hi\m : 
 
 " Tlioro Ih to lift Hn(itli«-r rut to tin- (liiiiid l{iv<r, wliii li will oprn Uio 
 wliolo wcstfiii country at once. A'C. ''"^ * W'f iiittiud Hcndin;,' an 
 ii<,'fnt to MontiBiil sliortly." 
 
 Tlio mind of our siihjcct was now pariiiilly rcliovcMl, and his imxt olijoct 
 wftH to iiwlui't! capitaliitH to tako up tli" stork, an an'aii- wliirdi wa« not 
 acconiplis^K'd without nn rnoi iiious anionnt. of h.ud work i>u>\ piinsuasion ; 
 an tho Kccrct lay in the fa<t of" llii> pipvcrty of thn npp<^r country, aftt>r tho 
 tryin;,' linancial crisis thoy had undcr^jono. I'Vw in the I.owcr Provinco had 
 bulllciont surplus funds to invest in what nii;j;lit |)Ossildy 1)(> an un]irofif,aMo 
 hpi'cuhitinn. Mr. Merritt was well awjiro of these t!iin;,'s, iirid theicforo in- 
 Kteftd of iinniodiately invitin;^ capitalists to cnnio forward, he puhlished tb« 
 comprehensive article alreedy noticed, minutely descrihiiij^ tin; wliolo 
 ftOkir, its prospects, difriculticH Ac; in fa<t jilacin;,' the inatter in ko jila'n a 
 li<,dit that the most uneducated ctadd uniler.>taii<l th" (piestien. This was 
 woU circulated thiough the (i/''iiiiir, and (jIIk rv. ise, ;,nd cauKc d tlie (picstiou 
 to be discussed from ovory point of view. 
 
 On the .'{0th of January, I'^lil, a larire ami iidliicntiid mfctinj,' wns Indd 
 in Nia;,'ara, ami a committee of seven was furnied ituler the power (^f tho 
 Act, who were to ox(>rt themselves in their various localities to obtain sub- 
 scril)ers for tho slock. A rosolutioji was also passed, author i/in;.,' Mr. M(m-- 
 ritt to proceed to Lower Canada, and induce tie int'^rests of Montreal and 
 Quebec to oo operate. The meetinj^ sejtarat('<l in harmony, a cinumstanoo 
 Mr. Morritt hardly e.xpocted ; as already lo'al j'-alousies were ciopping out 
 which altiiou<,di ]iremat'irc, were to be foared at this •imo. 
 
 Mrs. Merritt writes to her friends ; — 
 
 "St. ratharines, Jan. 10, 1824. 
 
 * * * " If.'imilton is so much taken up with his i.'re!it e.ina,! 
 
 scheme, that lie cannot yo at jtreseni,, t!i(<u Ji he snys he s!io\dd bo jdejised 
 to do so, and I will not ^'o witliout him. He I; !,'ettin'4 over head and cars 
 in public business, as if he hail not enouj,di of his own to attend to. It 
 app(>ars he has lieen writing a hjiiL,' jiiece in the (Ih-.tmr about the eana'. 
 and will soon have to jjo ami attend putilic mRetin.(s, et-. There is talk of 
 sendiu'^' him U) tho I e;rislature ne.xt s(!ssion. All the talk is about the canal. 
 I have wiitten this h'tter while a Canal Commissioner was talkim^ to nio ; 
 for we were both in a hurry, ho expectim,' Ifanulton's comint;, and I expf)ct 
 injj the post, lie is just in fro?n Nia^rara. where he says the people are 
 encpiirini,' ' if this route was practicable.' Oh, says he, ' Ye mu.st subscribe 
 liberally, it will be the making of your country.' They say ' Yos, if you 
 vnll/iWh it to Niagara."' 
 
 On tho 8th of Ft^bruary, Mr. Merritt and family exporionoed a moat 
 melancholy and lieart-rending shock. Mrs. Clordon, liis eldest sister, and 
 her daughter, aj^ed l.'> years, in company with a Miss Stephens, were cnxw- 
 
 ' t 
 
 m 
 
i llUIW 
 
 CO 
 
 ing in tho f»<rry fnuii Qiioonsdm to l-owiMtnn, wIkmi a liir;;» pinrn nf llontin^' 
 ice wii.'i ilrivtM) hv liit^ (ovfv of IIk^ t.'\iri(-iit it/^aiiisl llm lioiit, (■ii|mi/.iii;r it, liiiii 
 throwiii;^ tilt* IiuHhk uikI f«'rn ii\im iiilo dm ni|iiil rivn ; (lii-y iiiami>,'i*<i to 
 cling (4) it us |()nfi( as tiicy cmild, Imt MisM SlitpliouM uuii tlio cliiM himhi 
 Hank, iiKvrr <(• In' Ncni iigaiii. A hcow |iasNiii;,' ni {ho time (nok oH' MrH. 
 Utirdon ami tli«> man, whuiii (hov t'onvryi'il to tin- shorr ; ami alllioiiL;li mndi- 
 cul assistaniv^ waH proniptly iit luind, Mi'h. (!. f>x|)in>d, throu^li cold and itx- 
 liAiiHtion, Imt tlic man rocovi'iod. Ilrr hody was convoytMl to St. (-allia 
 lincK, for intfiiniMit in the family Imrial iilac««. SIio waH i'. Ii«r .'K<rd yt'iir, 
 Hiid lici' I0S.S wan ko«>nly felt, not only l)y Ium' disconsolatn IniHliand, who 
 wiw diiv«Mi almo.st to dislraction, Imt by tlic Nnudl c'onim>inity who Indd 
 hor in liij;h ostrom for hor many nobh* i|ualilicalionH. 
 
 StM)n aftorwardH ourhnltjtvt went to York, on liiK way to Qnol«H\ Thcire 
 ho met with his first cnfonraponnMit l>y the lloi\. ,1. 11, iMinn, llet-fivor 
 ttonernl, proniising to take stoi-k in tho canal, and also aj^'iooinj^ t<» aciHipt 
 the |>r«'sid«>noy of tho nt'w comiiany. I'l-oniiscH won- also nuuhs liy Mi". Ito- 
 I'inson, aftorwanls ("hit'f J uslioc, and many others of inllvH-ni'tv llo thon 
 UK)V(\d t>jistward l>y stago, stopping; at every plaee and calling on th<^ leading 
 nuMi, explaining his project, leaving his hooks iin<l eiivnlars, and invariably 
 gettinjj fail- promises iVom all. At Kinystim ho had an interview with 
 M(>«si"8. Ilagannan, Markland it MeAnley.and also with Commodore Harry; 
 In (Jananoqne he sn.v the McDonalds, who had large mill.H ihvro ; in Proii- 
 rott he left circnhtrs with rwlhi I'lint, K»i\.; from tlntnco hi> travelled in a 
 Ktjige sleigh to Cornwall, and afteiwards in a carioh^ to Montreal a long 
 and dreary journey, rendered worse by beiii;; don(^ in mid-winter ; and yet 
 ho had really not received an actual subscription on tho route. Althongii 
 promises were })lenty, thev all acted with cantion. In Montreal, lu! stop})od 
 ftt the Kxcliange Motel, and innno>liately called a !m'eting of the morchaniM, 
 pave lK>oks and papers to Messrs. Uat^'s & Davis, who underlt>uk to cunviuw 
 tho city. 
 
 Oiiriug the whole of this journey ho was very careful to keep Ids friends 
 adriiJed of his proceedings One of his letters to Mr.«. Merritt, written from 
 Quebec, the furthest point «»f his niLssion, is here iuserted, und will afford a 
 fauiple of idl the rest : 
 
 "Quebec, March 14, 1824. 
 
 " T cannot say T am any nearer the day of dcp:irture than before ; by what I 
 pee, it appears necessary I should remain until 1 get all the stock taken up that 
 is to be exjtected from this place. They will do nothing after I leave, and it 
 would bo rather foreign to leave tlie business half done, now I am on the sp«jt, 
 1 have the satisfaction to say that I will succeed in my object, although it is 
 ►low. hard work: everybody wishes the undertaking well, but when it coiuea to 
 the needfull, they keep their hands from paper. The business was tuken up 
 
f)I 
 
 wnniilv 1»,V "'.V "I'l riictnl, llio I |oii»iral»lo .Iiuihm Irvm , lin i«tlni only (^'ctitloim'n 
 lliiil I lifivc yil. iiirl with, tliiil lias HU|i|i()rlrc| mr in llm liiiMinit.'iH hh tlii'jr mii^lit 
 to li.ivo dune." 
 
 "W II. MiKIUTT." 
 On ilio 4tli of M;irrli lio nnivml lil TliroM IJivwiM, ami llii'iico to (.^nolmo. 
 MiTi> Ihi wiiH i'oc*<i\i<i| in tlic kiiidi^hl miinnci llr ullcn<l«)i| llic iiroru^fil.jon 
 of riirli.'inicnt., utnl iIuhmI witli Mr. Iivimv lie Ii;ul n\\ intftvicw willi llio 
 CliiiiriiiiUi <if llio lii)ui'<l (if Tiwl*", wliii ciillcl n, nioolin^' to liKl«<n to IiIh vIowm. 
 Ilo iiImo |uiiil lii« ruHports lo l,<ii(l I )alliii'n.ic, tin' < luvci tioj-. 'I'lic fullowini» 
 (liiy tli« iii(<«Liiij( wiiM lii'lij, liniii;^ iildy o|iimh«<| \<y lint lion Mr. Irvinn , arnJ 
 tlw firtt llnnuintil ;iri(///i/'< win Hulisriil»( .1. In C^ntlnc Mr Mi-rril.t nuulo a 
 iiiiml ;:i of good frirnnln, wlmli aflriwiirds piivrd tlni way loi furtln-r hijc 
 
 (»n till' .^niH'' dav, li'> tidln tis "lii« iitt<Midcd (dnin-li, ;ind liiaid uii <x<'m| 
 li'iil srrrnnii iVofn l)r Mill,';." In nil I'i.s intinontiidu un inviirialdy fiinl 
 wliivt tdinrcli lir uUcnd' d nii IIk- Snldiat.li <lays, (In- i,iiii,i' of (})•■ minislcr. .V(v; 
 S.I tliJiL alMioiiLjIi liu ::ily (iii;;i;;id i'l svork.'i nf i^'ciim.d ul,ili!,y, \w wu.s nuvor 
 iMiniimlfwl of tlio lioina;^<i dnc to liin < 'nalor, I liron^jli wIhls'* fiiNonr aji no 
 lid ii<'kno\vl<'d;^<'s huccjish to Im poHsildo. 
 
 On tilt' Killi Iio ridicd on l,ord I >,illio\i.Hi(i H}'ain, wli<i Kcrivid Idm witJi 
 rv(>rv hindln«HH ; aino promising' to hrin;,' Inn H(lnnic lifloKi ilc ll-imo ao- 
 (lioritica, nH 11 is I'^ctdlrncy was very favoiiraljly iniprcHud willi Mr. Mor 
 ritt'H idnaH. Utrn Im> ;4ot a fiioular |<rint('c| in I'roiicli, U>r tin; liciicdt of 
 tlio.so Canadians who did not ninlcrsland our laiijj;ua;,'<', liopin;^ to int(!r^^Kt 
 tht'ni nnioji;; tlu^ rwt in thn opening oi a wator pa,sKaf,'n to th«* Frumdi ('una 
 diali SI ttlonientH op|)OHit«i Dotroit. 
 
 Ilo then Inft for Montreal, wlnwo ii<^ foniiii \*-\\ ]ittl<> had tpi-cn dunr' in 
 his alisonctv On tlif 2(1111 In- returned Ity way of New WurV State, callin;,' 
 at Troy for i\w pnrpoH • of Kccin;^ |)o Witt (Minton. thn ori^dnatoi' of tho 
 MridCanrtl. Thc! pxpt-nsfw of tho ronnd triji am ro about y\M). JlMoon 
 sidorcd the journey a ,sui!<'c.ssful one, as he lu-d <^ni ,^5(),()()0 Huljsorihwl 
 towards tlio work; and now felt so .san;,'uine of ultimate success, that he in. 
 s^^rt^'d an advertisement in tho paper, s^atinj,' that Mr. Clowes, the Kngino(<r, 
 was then cinployod in taking Wnels of the route, so that any peracni desi- 
 nius of oontraetini^' for the work could exanune tlie groun<l prior to tlio loth 
 May. when lit* supposed tho Company would lie, in a position (o reoeivo 
 proposals, as he was an. kIuus to commence work on the W'elland Canal iin 
 noon as possible. 
 
 On the IDtli of May following:;, the adj()urn"d meeting' was held at 
 Niagara for the election of directors under thn Act. All were present except 
 Mr. Dunn. They decidcil to postpone their operation.s until the entire 
 sto<.'k was suhsci-ibed for, and estimates j;iven of the whole route, that of tbo 
 
 , I 
 
(>2 
 
 (irAiid Kivnr inoluiiod. Iti ronniutntiii^ on tlioso piuomHlingH, The dUaiirr of 
 May 2'Jntl khvh ; ** This ia an it ou^lit to \m." 
 
 Oil till! iJtli of Juiit), a inoctiti^ of tlio DiroctoiN \vii,s Iwld in Slii|iinaii'N 
 Ilotv^l, St. CjitliiirinPs, when (l('(ir;,'o Kcrl'iT, of 'riiorolil. was t'lpclod I'nmi- 
 doiit, iuHti'sid of tlio Hon. il. II. Diiiiii, wlio.so dutittH iit |ii'('8<>iit a.s lici^piviM- 
 (■(UUTul did not jicnnit liiin to dt-voto tlio ntvtvs.smy tinu* to tin< pniti'ipriho. 
 
 In.hdy, tlio Mossix Clowes, from a new niiivey,jL,'iivo in llicir ii-port of tlif^ 
 routo, and probaldi! cxpondittiro. Land owncr.s alon^ tlio lino wen- appoulod 
 to for frco j^iants of tlio land n)(|uired, as was tlio »!a.so on llm I'liio (;anal. 
 
 In August, tliof^iMitual olprtion occupiod tlioir attontion livci candidates 
 Wini; in tlio fiold for Lincoln. Col. Jolm Clmk, of I,ontli, icccivod tlio 
 inoHt votes for Ids Uidiii;^, lio being niuro rcspcctod and popui.ii tlmn nnv 
 of tho others. 
 
 An (m;i of tjcncral hopo and |irospi'rily .si i«iiin| to iiuvo lio;^'ni\, and tlio 
 nuccHsitics of coniiniMvo rcj^aincd ; ns Ili(« nH)sL evident sij^us i>f activity was 
 witncsseil on t>very hand. 'I'lie count ly w;is rapidly elemiiii; up -new hou.ses 
 liein^ linilt, new di'-tric's op.'iicil for s"MI leini-iil,. 300 vessf.-Is had IrfL 
 Quebec for JJritish and forei;;?i ports; and in this y<'iu- tlu; larj;est vessel in 
 the world was succo.s,sfulIy l,niii(lieil in tiiat city her diinonaioiis beiivir .*{()(> 
 ft. lonj,', fiO ft. wide, I'D ft. deep. ;uid drawing '20 ft. of water when loaded. 
 She was iiained C^nhiiiihuK, ami was cap«liIo of carrying i<,(lOO (mis of timber. 
 
 X few Kiiglish Members of rHilianient vihited the i-onntry this year, on 
 ft tonr of observation. They wore- Mr. Wortley, Hon. Mr. Stanley, and 
 Mr. Dennison— -alHnfluential men in Kngland. 
 
 Mr. Morritt was kept busy with the salt and other works, as well ;is Hr. 
 Chase, in tho store. Somo of Lis friends had wished him to oiler him.self for 
 Parliament, but ho respectfully ileclined, thinking lie had enough on his 
 hands at that tinu* to keep liim occupied. 
 
 A .stiiamer wa.s building it Black Rock in anticipation of wulir comniuni 
 cation v.ith the lower lakes. 
 
 In family aiTair.s lie iiionlio:is hisciliildri n as urow Ing. 
 
 Mr. (rordoii had ercci,ed a nice iiionuuieut to t,ho iiiomor} oi" Lis Jute wifii 
 and daughter, and Miss Stephens. 
 
 So far, all a]>i>Iicalions t'oi- t.he lu'ces^arv cnpilal to imiM the canal was 
 made only to tho Canadian people, but as we have seen that the money of- 
 fered at homo boro but a small proportion towards the amount refjuirod, a 
 mooting of the Canal Bo;ird was convened on tho 0th of S'^jilember, and it 
 was doomed advisable to exteud th«ir operations to wealthier commuuities 
 outside. Under these circumstances an appropriation was made, and Mr. 
 Morritt was rofiuested to go to New V'ork, then as now tho great money 
 coutro of Amerie^a. If e left on the 17th and arrived there on the 24th, 
 having made what was then consivleroil a lomarkably <piick trip. 
 
c,:\ 
 
 on his 
 
 IH.1 was 
 
 i)\w.y of- 
 
 linnl, n 
 
 and it 
 
 lunitit'H 
 
 iul Mr. 
 
 mont y 
 
 In Nfw \'..ik W(( find tliM minm cnor^^y diHjiliiyod by our Hiilijoct, nfl ho 
 HUOWMMlcd in intcrostini,' il. 1>. YiiteH, Kh(|., in tli« prcijrct, 'I'liiit ;,'<intl«)inan 
 wiiu ufUw'Wiii'dH littciinir a warm HU|>|)(ni<T «>f tlm ciinsc, imiiK'diiitfly tiikinir ' 
 up 1?'5(), ()()(» woitli i»r tlin Htdck, us well iiH Mr. AM'icd llovoy, who took 
 $10,0(10 worth. 
 
 Tho editor of tlio Xitin Yurh Spvclator, ihm un inlhicniiai ni^whjuipnr, 
 »ftrr calling attention to Mr. Mrrritt'» iiroHcnt'o tht-ri', noliring reports from 
 Canadiiin iiapcTS for tlio paHtycur, A'c, HayH; 
 
 " 'I'ho phmsanfl piH)ti'cH we have at Icn^'th Hfrn. .*rin,OnO whm Hiil>H('ril't«(l 
 in this city nn Satnrday last. We (ton;;ralulatn o\ir iViend.s in that conntry 
 on tho prospect of iMiprovonientH liefoie them, 'i'lie whole Hcheme or projnet 
 iip|>ears well di'si','n()i|, and Ii.-im he.en carriecl on with a dcpi'c i»f fn< ij/y ipiitn 
 iinusn.'d in that ^country, and we sincerely wi.sh it may lio cariicd on witli 
 the name spirit until oompleted." 
 
 Also notices tlu! nioetin;; to Ikj Ik Id at I'tii-a (Hi thp L'Olh, and 
 ll>M luster (lU \\w 'J;5rd, ile. 
 
 After what ho ealls .v " iiinst .sni-'eensrul minHJon {.%y heyinl his «'Xpec- 
 talion.s," li-' nlniiiijd on the l.Sth (if October, Cuming by way of Clia'.aufpm, 
 where Mrs, Merritt was staying dnriii;^ her eonlirienn^nt. Owing to this, 
 and having to meet with coritriictors. tV\, he was delayod longer than ho ex- 
 pectisd, and dtM(ply rogrotteii not being honir ii. titno to fussist in the removal 
 of the remains of thf^ heroii^ Jirock U) the moiuiment croetod on tiueonston 
 Ifeights, by and at theexpeusp of a grateful ))eoj»lo. 
 
 On the ir)th of Novend)er, cimtr.icts were taken by resjionsildo men for 
 comph'ting the canal from the I'hippewa to tho eiitcanec? of the Twelvo Milo 
 ('reek ; and ou tho .'{0th day of Novemlier, IN.M, an interesting gathering 
 ef about *J00 persons, took place at a flat near the head of one of the branche.'i 
 of the " Twelve," for the jiurposc of witnessing the important < ( rcumny of 
 " 'I'lirning the first sod of the WeUand Canal." The ojit>rations were under 
 the directions of Mr. Hall, and Mr. Clowes the engineer. 
 
 •Mr. Mertitt niade tl'o following speech on the occasion, which liettrr 
 explains the nianagenieia of the enterprise than any matter at our ili.spo.sul r 
 
 "Having l)een appointed an agent by the President and Diroctor.H of tho 
 VV'clland (..'anal Company to manage tlm affairs for the time being, they have 
 honored nie with nn opiiurtnnity of acldrerfiing yon at this time, and J as.snre 
 you that nothing could atiurd me great':- satisfaction, was J not con.sciou.s, 
 from want of ability, and not being ii tho habit of public speaking, I sJiall 
 fall far short of (hiing common Justice to the occasion. We an; a.sscmblcd 
 here this day for tho [)urpose of removing the tir.st ei>rth from a canal which 
 will, with the least, and !)>' the shortest distance, connect the greatest extent 
 of inland waters, in the whole world; and it gives mo peculiar ])!easuro to 
 find the line of this canal has Vieen located in this neighborhood, the inhab- 
 itants of which have turned out on nil occasions with a zeal and alacrity 
 worthy of the undertaking. Their homes have been open at all times, and i,> 
 
 t 
 
wiM'o ;iwiiro <it' llio iiiiiural lacilitios of tlie i.)iiti\ tlio Hiiiinlr (act (if tiiiil.iii;^ so 
 yi'iit ;iii cxlciit of wtttrrs nt so Iritliii.,' ,'iii <^\|M>ns<* would lie u Hiillicictit iii 
 
 6i 
 
 iJicir jH>it<i>iial o\o!tio;iH we an< ^Tciitly iiKlobUid for i(,H Hpoody noiritiionco 
 inonl,. ^'oll iirn now. i^cntloiucii, jilioiil icM-oivini.; (lie jiiwl, and woll rrmril.od 
 rewinds for your liin»* .'ind lin.s|iilalit y. Tliti lirs(, !it(,(iin|it lliHl was tiimlo to 
 lovdl iluH routo wius in |H|,H. A nuHitin^ was liold at. tlio Horivnr Divtns, a 
 |da.ii diawM out., and a pclilion Hciit to tlio li<<;^i;daluro, pMjUf.sliug tlmj 
 would KiMid all oii;,nii(vr to ft,\|p|oin tin* I'outo. Ilsadvaiila;j;('.s wtMd not at that 
 linio fully roni|iroli(Mid(Ml, and our r(U|un.st was not atttwidiMJ to. 
 
 In ISIS tli(> L«Vr,''^lii'"'''' i'l'l"'*^!"'"''*'"''' "■"'"" <>' "i'»H('y tocxpioro tluM'ountry 
 hctwccn liakoH lOrio and ( >idaiio. ('oniini.ssioiuTH wi^ro a|>|ioint(Ml, to wliom 
 w»> a|i|ili('d, stilt iu;j; tlio natural a<lvanta^('H oftlic route, and r(i(|u<vst(id it 
 HJiould 1)0 oxpl.M'oil, 'I'liry considered it too invir (lio iVontier, and wo woro 
 ayain disa|i|"oiiited; I S I'.t. Ilavint; taileil in our applieatiotis. we were seiisililo 
 if wo did not make une of jjreat personal exertion we could iievi'r Krini,' tlio 
 «ul)jeet properly liefoni t!ie pulilic. We wer(( fully aware of tlie supjioHod 
 ina>;nitude of the iindertakiiii; ; we were Hensilije that the jicr.sonal inliireHt 
 of the capita!, ami taliMit of tlu^ <iistiict were a^'aiiist lis, and that we had 
 no co-operatit>ii to (^x[>eet from them, which tlio result fully proved. Kvery 
 attempt li.'is hreii mad(> to ijet thi.s |)roj ct taken ii]> hy ahle h.iiids, hut not 
 one individual in the pf(uin(H> of extensive capital, or in any hii^h ollicial 
 stat.ioii li.i.> I'.lveii it. til.' hM.-.t assistanre. e\v',eptiii,!4 tlm lion, dolm II. |)unn. 
 He came forward at an early day, and haa i;iv(Mi us his steady and w.irmest 
 support. At I he same time we wore conscious it' disinteresied eapilalist.s 
 
 le simple fact ( 
 <* would lie a 
 du.-*(Miient. t"or them to endiark in it. We thcrolore deterniiiied to depend 
 on otiiors no lo!iif«r, Imt apply our own slmulder.s to the wheel, and not 
 ahout it in ^ood earnest. A siih.scription j>ap -r was m;;dc out at the April 
 ■U'ssioii, I'^^J.'J, a small sum of money raised, an enj^ie^i-r employed, and a 
 roport of the saiiio laid before the puMic mi tin lOlh of May. An 
 Act of incorpuniti(Ui was olttaincd at the next sittini,' of the l.e^'islature in 
 Kehrii.iry IS'JI. Suhscriptions were made at Quebiic and this place in May 
 followinij to the amount of near '$5t),t)(ll). It waBo-.ir intention at that tiino 
 to follow it up imm(>dialely. and commence the work at this point in Juno 
 hust. However, as some gentlemen in this Di.stricl, who where wholly itiiH 
 informed ro.sp»>etitii( th-- situation of the route, thou.ht proper to write be 
 low, stiiliiii; the whole scheme to be entirely visionarv, and w(»uld most 
 pn biibly result in a total loss to t.lip siiliHcrilierH, we wore under the nooossity 
 I uispendimj; ojierations until survey.s and reports w«(ro obtained by diller 
 lilt OKgineers; which have already been published, and have given |iorfoct 
 satiafacti./ii. We tlimi sent to New York and obtained the aid rerpiired 
 to cover tii>', tirst estimates, and h.ive iiov/ )>iit this part of thi? line under 
 caiitract, as was the original design. Wo have had diiricuUies and prejiidice.s 
 to contend with, but not as many as were apprehended ; and taking every 
 tliiii!,' into ■.•"nsiderati(m, wo have commenced as soon as could reasonably 
 be expeotoil. A report having been roeently circulated that the stockholderH 
 in t^>uebec refuse to juiy the amount of their subscriptions, we })eg leave to 
 read an extract of .a p.iper rccived from the ('oiu'.tittee in (Jueliec, through 
 our agents, ]\Ios.sra. Irvine, McNougi t ik (Jo., mldreHsod to the President, 
 (Jworge Keefer l']s<). ;- - " Sir, at a general meeting of the Sl.()ckh<jldorrt 
 resident in the Di.st'ict of tjiiobec, held on Monday la.st, the reports, letter 
 and documents received from vou and Mr. Merritt wero submitted, and tho 
 
f.f. 
 
 wliolo l^)^v*^;;;rl>i^,t aati'<f!i'!l ion. Tln' ^''iior.i! moctiii;;^ Im vinf» fvorj coiifulnurA 
 ill tint jud.i^riMUi'. (liHcnitifiii, aii'l prii'lcut iiMii;i;,'(!r(n'iil of ifn; I hiwtotT: in 
 n )iiilui:iiii;? tlif! /;()ii()r;il coiicftrJiH of tli"> VVfilliunl (!;miil ( !i)iri(>;iny, hh woll m 
 in 111") (vvtiiMinical cxiK'ndilin'c of (In- fiiii'ls coiiliflcl t,(» (hfir diiifti'tn, }i)iv« 
 withdr.iwii (in! i" ;l i iit.ions lirr< t,(>|i)r<- (liniixfit' ihm-cs ;iU'v. 'I'ln; lt\vtH-Uir% 
 ncdd not tuilrrt.i'ii juid dmlit <A' llrf din; )i;iym';iiL hy (!if Stock liold^n.^. 
 'I'liny mtiiitiiiii tliis hot only with n, vi.'w nf HitisfyiiiL' tfio |Mil)li<;, hut moro 
 
 OS 
 
 no 
 
 |)o<"iiilly tlifj ODiitravtur.-i, iiM wn wIhIi tliciii to rt't.iin I'.vi-ry c'i)ii(id('in!i! in tl 
 Dir'i'itorn, and to niHt asKiii(«l of tlio jmrKdiud fnifiliiifnt of onr ('h^'!i;^»;rricrit4i 
 in Qur'.l);!(t of tlio inslahncnt't wlicn (•■•illcd for, t! cir doiilitM in tl.o (!X(Hidi(!ncy 
 and udviiid.i4(i". of I'n: iMidtirtakinx l^'in;^' <|iii(t) rc.tnov»i<| ; and an altc.'vlj 
 Ktato I, in tlHMutogrity of your nianii;.:«'inciit tlicn' rest witli itjipli'-it ndiaiicd." 
 'rii(;r(! still roniainH altont S'.'Ml.ddO lo Im Hnli.'cniifil to fill no (Ik; )i.nionrit */ 
 our rapital. Il was tins wisli of tlio Directors to liavr 1;! 1 00, (100 taken np in 
 tliii |irovinv'r.H, and .■:'.'")0,00() chcwliore, that wu ini-dit have a /^rcati-r int«:n>Ht 
 in a \V(nl; wliicii no malcriidly conci'rn.s n'l. Wo liopo an'I trust cvorj 
 
 !ariM"r aim 
 
 inlialii(ant w ii Inn (lie iiiflm-nft' of (liin (wiiuil will iiiakn thr 
 
 111 
 
 f.lvcM int'irnstiid in tin* nndrrtakiii'.^, liy Hulxrihiii;,' for rn.ire or h'ss idiarv.i. 
 
 It will 1)'. a |ti!i'uliai' r,;iliKfac(ion In yon, onn ;riid all, I > ;,*o lo vonr own 
 11 ills ami iii;(cliiin<ry cvryUtiii/j you tjikc (o tlifin, lifsidf.nyour 'OLNfuifn' n, 
 will lio j liiii,' money in yoiirown |ioikcts. \Vf; wl:<li (.'ii:( t.to-'k (,o licroinu 
 ;,'i'in'r,tl, and you uiiiy nly if you let tliii ojijiurliinity pass, you will Imvn 
 riMSoii to n\u;ret it. Tln-rc! is not tlw least doiiiit hut it will ho t!ie nm.st 
 
 prolit.a!)! 
 
 lipJion of s(o(dc. Tins i.-: the opinion of jil.nnr.t every intell. 
 
 ^eiiL man v. lio lias j.;i\'en liiniself the tiMiiMe tiiorouihiy to e.xaniine th«» 
 jjulije.et J. It. ^'al-eH, \>\., has (aken fti.ek (o the vain"'- of $:;J0,()00, Mr. 
 Alfn>d llovey S|(),000. 'I'licse <,'eiit|emen have in) inlt-re.-t in tin; countrr 
 wh.itover ; Init havo (iiken il for no o'Jier ohjeet (.haii the retii/iis (Iny ai» 
 hi'ie.iller to receivo. ( !ent hnien this rinial, from it* p'-enlcn arid most 
 
 fj 
 
 ivonv.i 
 
 l.)le : ituatioti, will he the unMiis of < lejttiu'' within ilndf, oi \,\ its owr 
 
 erootion, ii .i,'rea(,(!r ainonut of Iranspoiliition th;ni will puy the intenjit i>f 
 the (capital (^xjcnded, over and ahov() t!ie tian.sit it v. ill liiav.- fr' m I/ik.» 
 
 Mrie, an I tli« proiit 
 
 o: I 
 
 ts hvdraulio .situation. It is w(dl known (o von tlij,t 
 
 (he hanks ol the lliv. r Well.ind and the (irand lliver a'oonnd with an r.imohi 
 iiie.'ihan.stihio KUpply of pino (imher, now nsele.'iss, whieh v/ill he (loat^-d 
 down tfi our ostaltlishmentf;, converted into lumher. ami ( ran; ported to (l.o 
 enlnincc! of the .\n:rii<-an caiiid .it Ton-wiiiida, where i;, mu.^t ever find a 
 
 i'on.-.tant iuid 
 
 (Iv d 
 
 emand, as their 
 
 hoi'd* 
 
 ers n:>.' (iestidiU- < 
 
 .f tl 
 
 le artiele 
 
 Tlieie are likewise imiiortant i|uari ies of the |ture.»t wldte (.'ypMim, or planter, 
 on the hordtuaof the (! land Kiv(>r, whieli will soon l)eeomeupif)(i!alile i.rtieln 
 of eomniereo. Staves i-aii he conveyed from ihenee to l-!tke Ontario for $'j 
 or ."$!< pi r KjOO. All tin- piDdiicf; from the mo;:t remot<- (ownnhipK of that 
 river and N\(ist of it, wliitdi now ijoe.s to iiurlin;r(<.n, will come throueh tl 
 
 IiM 
 
 Ciinnl 
 
 he traiihi 
 
 t of th 
 
 loso articles, and many more too numerous to mention, 
 will ho created hy its eiTctioJi, hcsides thousands of hairels of llour, width 
 will 1)0 d.vawM frtun the sill roundin<; ei.untry to it.s mills. Uy • nti'iin;^ tlio 
 
 ili<l 
 
 raw a 
 
 mouth of the({rand Kivcr om- month < arlicr very Sprin 
 
 tin.' uarlv tr-msil iVom llio .Ameiican sliore, c\en sliould they i iin tl 
 
 II 
 
 lifir 
 
 own canal a;.j;.Hiii at lonawatida. I his h an a<ivanta;:;e of the ^/reatost iui 
 portaiioe, ami oiii; wliicli this will ever leUiin, as nature ha'i |diict'd Much a 
 hrtrrior to tin- entranci' a'. UuHUlo, hy tlw ico, thai with all lli.-ir entoqjri*»» 
 
 ^1 
 
mmm 
 
 66 
 
 hikI ir»j[j;t«niiil V llioy will iicniM' Ito iililo (,o (ivcicoiim' it,, fii rjisf' it. ulimiM 
 hiin'uftcr 1><( losnul cNiwIii'iif, \>y Uio rrotl.ioii of (hic Idrlc willi ii ('mir fool 
 lift. lit. l''<)r(, l''ii'iii Of W'jtl.rrloo, iiinl iiiiiUiii;; ii low |)iilli on iJio Nin;.;!iiii or 
 (Uiippawii riviMM, wliii'li cnii I'O !u'i'om|iliNlnMl al ii mikiII cniicmso, vcmioIh can 
 Im> towoil ol" any hurl lion froiii liiiko I'liio l,o I, nko Ontario. 'I'liin prniMila it< 
 wholly (ir»!!lil,ii!u of a situation lor livois, llial. can ('\<'n l>o considcird nior^ 
 rantili', l.lio r.ills ol" Nia;,'ai;i o\0(>pl.otl. 'i'iiis canal having,' llio Niii,L(aiii lor 
 its Av'ilcr at (Im roiniui^nciMiionl, will aflon'; Lin- 1 "st ami iniwi iniincrouH Hit- 
 nations for niachiiiory, \villiii\ lln> .satno (liMlMiiro in America; wet. ordry, 
 -vviinii »»r colli, we always liavo tlic sann* almndanl aii<l htcady NUpply of water. 
 ^vllicll will l>i>aili'rna(cly mad" use of wit lion t any dctiiiiMMit. I(» lraiis|iorlal.on, 
 until its torminatioM in Kidvc ( )nlario. 'llic very idea, of tlioso conteiii|ilalcd 
 improvements lias a tendency to evliilni.ite onr spirits. Instead of icmaiii 
 iiiij in tliis dull, siipiiu) slate, in wlii<'li we have Ik en for yiais jiast, we will 
 tninijlo in the linstle and aelivo scones of hiisinesH; onr coniinoditieH will ho 
 eiih;uiC(>d in value, and a u;eneral tide of prospei-'ly will lie witnessed on the 
 whole liin» .and sniroiMidin^ <'onntry. In ^;horl, /gentlemen, \v<* are sitnated 
 Ml a C(mniry tavoured with (>vi^ry advaiitai,'(>, hitli in .soil, (ilimntcMUul Hiliift- 
 tion : ils n soni'cs only remain to he Know n to draw men of capital anion^^st 
 ns; and we trust, now impro\cnients ha\<' <"(ininienced, it. will iiurease, and 
 thai wi> may w ilu. ss tiie same spirit of ent.ei'prise here, wliitili onr niij,diluniiH, 
 the .American:, possess in so eminent a ilegree. \\'<> have now slated tjio 
 local advan(;ij;>s of this canal, and tlio rea.sonahle expectation we havo to 
 think it will hccoiivo a jirotitahle siuM-ulatioii to the shaicholderH. You may 
 think wi» are ha/.ardini( a hold assertion ; Imt I v<iily helieve it to Ikj a« 
 j;reut a /;ri,'/(i/'(i/ ol'ject to the Provnce as the I'lrie ('.•mal to the Slatoof Noiv 
 York. 'I'lu'y have ajipropriated ;J=8,lH)0,l)t)t( for the purpose of eonnct^ting 
 l,ak<< Krie with the Hudson Kiver or the Ocean, we will ell'ect the same 
 i)hi(>ot for one liiVielh port of the mom-y, and \\ill reajt e(|ual if nut superior 
 advantages hy the Welland. This canal is tli(>commenoemeiit of a simi- 
 lar un»h rtakirit;; it isthe nmst important link i»i that cliain of communica- 
 ti<>n we hope to see ctlectcd within t!u\'e years. \V<' renuive the onlj 
 natural harrier of importance- tho Falls of Ni«i,'ara. The rajdds lietwc<Mi 
 Troscott and I .achine comm.intls the next consideration. If the suhjeot i» 
 properly heforo the [,»\i,'islalurc of the twii I'rovinces this winter it «an he 
 »«uniueuc«'d the year toUovvinL'. There is not hinj,' novel, new or intricate Iti 
 the uuilertakiiii;, or the m.'lliod to hv» jiursued. Let us only follow the plan 
 adopted hy that colchiated and onli^jhtened statesman, l)o \\'ilt Clinton, 
 and it will sut'cectl without t-.xinj,' the country on« fartliin<;. ]f they »"iii 
 mako a canal 1^00 miles without taxation, T trust we can do thi^samo for OO 
 miles hy foHowini:; similar means. When wp oontemplat«^ tli« natural aci- 
 vft-ntas^cs we possess over the Americans in our vvator communication, it ti 
 aj^tonishing to to think of the ajiathy md indilleronco tliat has hitherto pre- 
 vailed amongst us on this .'^•iihject. If wo impiire tlm cause, nine tenths of 
 118 would hlauw the ( uivonnnent. There never was a more prroneou.s idev 
 We nie ever inclined to move the harden from ojfr shoulders, and we can only 
 blame ourselves. Nor ought wo to suppose <mr Governors are ah imuiediatft- 
 ly iiitorest^id in any i)art or porvion of the country, as the inliahitants who 
 uro living on the spot. If you were a-sked in what hranch of the I^egiBlatur* 
 should those meji-surei emanat*, you would readily^ miswer, tb» hr&ncb com- 
 jH>.-*etl of the Couiuioui! ; Uiey »r« K<eut froin umongfct us j their iQt«>reet ie ourm 
 
tllH of 
 
 u only 
 
 ts -who 
 slftiur* 
 com- 
 
 67 
 
 ^nd if w»' do iiut. firnl cxerlioii lunotii^ llicm, \v1i«t<' iiri' W(i (o l(p<il< f(,r iti Slr'>w 
 nio II iiiciiHtiii' (.lial liiiM |>;l^'^.^•ll (lijil. Imily lor (lio iin|irnv« iii< iil of llif coniidy, 
 and yoii will (iiid it Iiiih icccivcd tlio coik ui icik c !'ii<l iaiiiti(.ii of tliij ollur 
 lirmi(OirH. It in It. r;»io ncciirroiK'r (liat. inrjiMiii'i of ;.'r<!it i/iilioi iil iiriprovc 
 iin'iit, oriKiimto IVoiii tJic Hdiiiiiiihliiilioii of tlio (lovniiiiM'iiL. I(, wiis nol, ( li»> 
 (lovrnior of New York who first rocoiniin'inlcd llic ICi i<! ( 'luifd, il was liroii^liL 
 forward liy flic |M<iplc, wlio were tlii^ iiio^t, indiif (oil. 'I'lio HyulMii oi' jlaii 
 wiiH iiialiirud liy Mr. Cliiilon in an iiirly day, and (lio ar;(, finally |iann( d m 
 I HI 7, dm in^' llio adininiKfration of Oovcrnor 'ronipkini^. I nicnlion lina 
 ('iri'niiiHl;i,ii('i' more |)arliciilai'l y as a most. nnfouiid<-d idea is inlci tiiim-d not 
 oidy iimioiil; oiii'iu'Isom ImiI, in t.lit! Dniti-d Stairs, tljat llio oaii.so of our nr-j^di 
 j^cncti and inat,(,cnl,iort to t,li«) inipiovniKwil, of tlio ('oiinlry ori;^inat^H in iln-, 
 (lOVcinnn'iiLof lliccoluiiy.aiul lian a ti^ndoncy to pre \ cut (n!o|il'' of <:a,|iit/iil froni 
 miikiiiLj it. tlioir rcsidi'iico. W'r sliall .>;oon Ix'^^in t<j rculi/o tin; lionidil, iniH 
 in!( from llio American ciuial ; (liis will cn-at" a compf ti!,i<'ii l»otw«-fn t lio 
 rival niaikfts NcwYork and Monliral or (,>ii< lice and lin a gciu-nil liomfit, 
 to tlio wliol(! coniitiy aliovo ns. All tli*! |irodii(:i' from tlio Amtriiun Hido 
 will Ix! cariicd down tlio St. Lnwronro, foi' wt! will Jiavo nearly the name 
 advantages in tiannit iih heretofore. It will lie, the mejuis of tho moio e.loi-e 
 ly unitint,' the intcircHts of tla^two I'rovineeM and ino'easiii",' this charaeter 
 and repiitatinn of I r(;onntiy ahroail 'i'lie hireeLoih iia\ c rea;ion to lje|i(v«r 
 th«y hav(» heen fortunate in ohtainin^ contractoiH every way quulified for 
 the' nnderlakiii;,' ; and it is to he hoped in your future elioii:e you will Kilei^t 
 men of inle;^iity and perseveranei*, wiio will eariy on the work as !-a|'idly a,H 
 under existinj^ circnm.stant'eM it has eoinnHiiei d, that, tiny may command 
 the piTlcct. eiiiifidcnci! of the eonlracloiH, and lie .so fdrtimute, im t.o oftain 
 contractorH wild will he entitled to the conlidenee of th'ir meii. In t.hat. 
 ouHP ovory lirancli will harmonize, and thoie will he no dillicndty in complot 
 iii;^ the all important underta.kin;^. 'fh.it it may has(! a Hpeedy and smicf.iiH- 
 ful torniination, is tlu; most ardent vvi.sh of the Wtilland (Janal Oomjiany." 
 
 Mr. llall then dolivorod into tho hands of (J'to. Keefer, KHtp, l*r(fHid»jnt 
 of th« Hoard of DiroctorH, a Kj)a<h<, addresKinj^ him a.s fullowH: 
 
 "Mr. President, I lic,;^ loavH.to present you with this Hpiulo, fortli'\iair 
 pose of r(!rnovin^ the first earth from tlie Wellnnd Oanal." 
 
 Mr. Keefer, on taking the upadc said: 
 
 "(lentlemcn. it i.s with |ileasn!i- that f reiiio\c ;iii: tii'st earth fium the, 
 Welland Canal, and ardently hope the work may eouliniie iinint''rniptod 
 until the wliolo is comph.ted." 
 
 'I'ho rent of the ^(!ntlouu;n tlem proiuicded in rotation to reinovn eueh his 
 shovelful of eailh ; when a nhoit and appropiiate address was deliwrcd hy 
 John (Jlark, Khci., M. 1*. P., stutinj^ that he would Kup|i<irt the inl«-rests of 
 
 tho V/elland (Janal, both in an out of l^irliatiiiint, with all his influcncf. 
 
 After tliroe choer.s, the company adjouined to liie Inn, v^luiua very ;,'fM'(| 
 di'xner was Horved hy Mr. lieadj^cnley, to thirty four genth'nien. (Jeo. Kee 
 fpr Ksq., wid John Clark, Esq,, did th« honors of tlie tuhle. After the cloth 
 ^aa removed, toastfl wero prop08o<l and unanimously carriotl, wJien the com 
 pany Mparatf'd about dupk, highly pIcMwwHl with the triuiHaction of tiie day. 
 1i « « » 
 
 M 
 
 J 
 
65 
 
 It is l)ut an act of juRtiw to tho people of St. Catliftrines, to fay, that 
 they turned out au'l gave their ready asaistaiico, as well as those on th« 
 mountiun, to tho eiitorpri.so. Mr. Henry Mitthiber^er, (noticed before) who 
 wiiH living at the tiino with Mr. Merritt, has Idmily allowed access to hiK 
 journal. Tiii-s journal i.^ very coniploto in I'ogard to canal matters, having 
 au account of the first meeting on tho 22nd March, \S'2',\. 
 
 " May 0. Messrs. Monitt and Chisholm went to Queenstun U< bring up 
 the engineer- -tliey were engaged on the deep cut. 
 
 "8th. — Mr. Merritt and j)arty down the niomita''; to Camidiell'.s, nnd 
 then rotui'ued lioine. 'i'he opinion of the engiuoer is \ ;y favourable so far. 
 We intend proeticding to thi'Iako to-morrow. « 
 
 " Dth.- Went to Pete<' llykert's to get a few hiin^is to attend thein. 
 StiU'tftd for Canipbell's afttsr a rain. Made Iho best of the v/ay down to 
 Mr. Adani.s' saw mill, levelling all tho way down, when all hands disperstwl 
 c.xc'pt Mr. MtM-ritt aud the engineer, who followed him to the Jjake." 
 * # * * 
 
 Things wc!-o not adjUKted to the i-atisfaction of the frontier people 
 yet, as tli" f lilowing proceedings exLrarle 1 friui the (I'lurnrr, terminating 
 lOfh 1.)i!eei;ibtn-, will .'^hevv- : 
 
 " A meeting was a Ivcrtise 1 on tli<^ 20th Novvnil'Cr. A very n :-])ectiiblo 
 numltcr convencvl. (701) shares,— $-^r),4r»0, were sribtcribed.) Holmes, 
 Ura'dcen ridge, George Kecfer, and 'J'homas liutler were the principal i)er- 
 tonagen. 'J'he route was not to, be <lecided ujitil after the new dircctoi'a 
 were chosen. MviMw person pre.^ent was disposed to lake shares, pro- 
 > ide<l it should terminate ;.t tiiO NiaL^ura river. A number was taken that 
 evening, and 100 ju>;t day. Aft> i re.solutiims, meeting ailjourned r.jitil 
 l.st l\'.'eni!)er, when a manager was appointed, iiml niuiM stock taken." 
 
 8th December. Another, in MJiich was < ..r lished the grant of right of 
 T. »iy uf hind ('U tlic route. 
 
 Doc'mbe.r 11th.- The Cfetucr'.v commetita were of the opinion that all 
 vof<s -Is drawing flora 7 to \'^. ft. of water, couid load at Niagara Win uld 
 tiodicr continue an article of exjiort. of which tlicre was no doubt, it 
 eould be leaded or uidoatled in line or fjiil weather : 
 
 '■ It must a[i|iear Xo the pulili'.-, ih^w \\\nu {]■.' nutter is brougld I efr.rc 
 them, ir, was a strangi- plact* that was contemj)lated, at tho mouth of tho 
 Twelve Mile Creek." 
 
 Shortly after, a meeting was hehl as St. Catharines, at which the saain 
 <pi -ries were prejiosed to engineer Clews that were jtrepo.sed to engineer 
 Hall by the Niagara one and were answered eipially to their satis- 
 faciiun. The (Hh resolution was in strong language, and it, with tho 
 othei- iloeumeiits was eiivulated to tlie stockholders. 
 
 /,'< <(ih\'(l, We forbear noticing the mean, unmanly, insinuation hold out 
 by the Niagara committee in the clow of their communtoation, being con- 
 vuuus it will DKM'twith the contempt it mcrit,s. 
 
 S. Wood, (..'hairman. 
 
 O. RyKi.itT, Secretary. 
 
6'J 
 
 all 
 
 M 
 il 
 
 ( re 
 
 ■Am 11 
 
 ,vit. 
 
 Ihiriiig tho \vinU>r aft<>r tlie coiiimiincoinent of tho cai';il, Mr. Mt i rilt 
 romaiiiod Jihout lioiiif, fre(iiiciit!y visiting tlio woiks at Alhiiiburi^h. 
 
 Mi-s. MiM-ritt luul tho cliildniii did uot anivo from ChatiiiKiun in 
 December, so that they wcro not all together aijaii\ at CLri.stmns. lli.s 
 ftiixiety was relieved by having diapo.sed of half cf tho suit workn to an 
 Knglislnnan named Clowsi, wlio undertook the .superintendence, which f;et,hiif» 
 at libcriy to inu'suo lii.s avocation on (lie canal, as that woik henccl'c ith 
 would re(juii'e his attention during it.s progress. 
 
 At this period of our history, it may not be unprofitable, after the 
 lapso of half a century, to revert lack to other important evcntt;, and in 
 a brief way enrpiiro into tho moral wcliare of the people whom we arenow 
 writing about, particularly that portion of their history relating to (.'hurcJi 
 matters. 'i'lie general observations made by Do(;tor (.'annilf in hi.-! 
 " Settlement of Upper Canada," is as aj)plicablo to tho peoi)le of this 
 district as to any other. 
 
 "The circumstances of tho settlers in Upper Canada worn not such as 
 would conduce to the growtlj of n^ligion and morality. A j)art fioni the ed'ect 
 uix)n them resulting from aeixil wai", an<l b.-ing lirivcn away from heme, 
 isolated in a wilderness far removed IVom civilization — thert) were circum- 
 stances inimical to the observance of religious duties. 'I'he earnest eoittest 
 for life, tlie daily struggle for food, and ii:i,ne especially the ab.'-eiite of 
 ministers of tho gospel, all eombinid to create a feeling of apathy and in- 
 diireronee,if not a looneness of morals." 
 
 From the habit of emigrating, the statistics alre;idy given, shew that tie 
 iiicrease uj) to this,time was but ."^mail, and the evidence of there being a 
 church built on tho " Twelve," (over a cpiarter of a century previou.s to this 
 time 18'25) and a congregation gathered thereto, and inaiutuinod without 
 the supervision of a regular pastor, shews tliat the feelings ef I'ynl'n, which 
 first drove (hose p(!0jtle to the wilderness, was also tinctured v.ith deep 
 religious convictions. We find amongst tho oaily records of the KotUenirnt, 
 tliat on the 1 7th of February, ITOo, a list of sulsvribers is made out, with 
 the amouu+a given by oath, tow.nrds building a church. There are 41 niiniea 
 app<.>ndod to this old document, and amounts varying from £20. 10.fi, N. Y. 
 currency, which was given by ^fnjor Ditterick, intersporsinl v.'ith £10. 
 from Mr. John Hainer, and £12 from Mr. J. Dackhoi.se, to t!i') snrill 
 Bum of l);.'.— in all, j^/,v7./J subsoribnd — is oiiered for it.« aceomp'.ii-hmo t 
 
 Tho original document is headed " Ap[)ointment to tho Church at 3'. 
 Catharines, with their respective sums next to their name»." No hint ia 
 given why this name is used, furtlier than tho fact that Cutharino Hutter, 
 the wife of their revered leader, had died tl^ree yraia before — 1793. .A 
 plan of tho church acet^npanies the document, shewing it to lave had one 
 doscn liouble pows, 7 ft. .\ i, surroundo'! Vv an ahsle A ft. wide, wlach en- 
 cii-sed 8 single pews, 15.3 ^ '^ht * *^ ^ gallory ou three hide* — and without 
 
70 
 
 Etee[)lo or belfry. The building bein^ the modpst size of 30 ft. x 34, and 
 ligJitod by. moans of four circular topped v/indowH. 
 
 Oil tho 24fch of Jiinnary, I7iJ8, wo find that thoy got a doed for four 
 acres of land from Mr. R. Hamilton, and that in tho year IHIO, Mr 
 Ditterick and T. Adams, oar|)ont(Ma, havo an account for making fo.ir circular 
 windows -also bills for lumbor, &c., amounting to £'^0, N. Y. currency, 
 by I^KW(!ll Ma^hows. 
 
 On tho 25th of March, 18(1, wo find Chisholm and Morritfc credited 
 with £25.10.7, and afterwards, Thomas Mcrritt, father cf our subject, with 
 tho hand.somo sum of £■>■>. Again, wo find: — "At a meeting of the 
 trustees of tho (Uuuch of St. Catharines, called by request of the inhabitants, 
 on Saturday, 3rd July, 1819, signed by W. 11. Mei-ritt, E.sq., Secretary, tho 
 following trustees were present, viz : — George Adams, Jacob Ditterick, 
 Thomas Mcrritt, and Paul Shipnuvn. The following resolutions are adopted: 
 Tliat tho trustees are requested and authorized to fence tho buiying ground 
 an<l church, to be appraised as to value hereafter, by disintcrestefl parties 
 chosen by tho trustees. Owners of pews to be notified to come forward and 
 make their payments before the Ist October — also, that we petition tho 
 Bishop of Quebec to Bond out a pious clergyman, we paying him £50 
 currency per year, Jind provide him with a respectable pai-son ago house, &c." 
 The repairs here mentioned were rendered necessary for the reason that 
 during tho war the cluirch was often used for an hospital, and that the fences 
 and other parts were burne<l or otherwise destroyed. Wc also find that 
 Mr. Leoming j<roachod on Sunday morning; and that on August 25th, Mr. 
 r»ethuiio " gave a sermon ;" and that on tho first Sunday in tho month, in 
 tho afternoon, Mr. Stuart was throtigh here, and visited without preaching. 
 In Mr. Mittlebergor's journal we afterwards find *^ < following: — 
 
 "Juno Ist, 1823.— Went to church and read tho responses. Captain 
 Morritt road prayers, and Mr. Thomas Morritt gave a lengthy discourse, <kc." 
 
 Thus we find that our subject was not unmindful of his duties as » 
 (!hristian, and when by his oftbi-fs on the canal, a large and prosperous popula- 
 tion gathered in, by whose aid tho old stiu "ture which had served its pur- 
 pose so well, was replaced by a building of grander proportions, surrounded 
 by its fellows in a better locality, we can imagine his feelings when reverting 
 to other days gono bye. In his latter days he did not take an active part in 
 church matters, and as hi.^ entire efforts followed the bent of his peculiar 
 talents, he took a more Catholic view of many things — so that it cannot 
 but occur to the observer that tho dli'octiou of liis aims were moi'e for tho 
 benefit of his country and its people. 
 
 Boforo again resuming our account of the progress of the canal, we think 
 that a brief view of the statistics of the Province will not bo out of place, 
 aa they servo to give an idea of the state of our prosperity : or, to uae a 
 
m 
 
 71 
 
 merchsintilo phraao, "what wo woro rated at" dO yoair. a,':;o. In tha 
 "York Alnmnac ami Roy»l (^'ahindar of Upper Canada, for the year 182r)," 
 pnlilislicd by Cliarlos Fotlierg'll, EKq., printer to tli« Kinij'o Most Kxccllent 
 Majosty, we find a ,i;v<'at dcnl of useful inforinatioM, and a comparison bu 
 tweoii tlion and now may not bo uninteresting to thuL'o v.ho liavo not 
 watched tho inarch of ovonts : — 
 
 The ProTince beini; ilivided into twelve dis-triota, wo find that tho 
 Eastern is Tallied at £182,1)90 — the assessment at £7()l!.'J,2, and tho rato 
 1 penny. The Ottawa, £1 1.0. .'5.1). Johnstown, £187,;588. If-. (5. I'-athursfc, 
 £85,0'ir).7.0. Midhxnd, £:i()(),470, rate 1 penny. Newcaf<tIo, §1 15,91 1. 10. 
 Homo, £231,2^4.7, rate 1 penny. Town of York, £!V.\.']78, rato 1 penny. 
 Gore, £170,104, rato 1 penny. Nia<,'ara, £2.')r),Or)2.1.l7. London, £20i), 
 824, rate I penny. Western, £429.2.10, rate 1 penny, j^iving a grand 
 totiil of £1,909,074.13. 11, with an average rate of aa.sessment of one penny 
 in the pound, not, wo think, by any means, a " Groariivj Tax." 
 
 1 8 2 5. 
 
 A letter dated r2th January, with a long statement of the canal pro- 
 ceedings, and recounting Iiis loneliness, was sent to Mr.M. Merritt: 
 
 " I am solibs. Eat at Chaeo'.s, and sleep in tho office. Tho house is shut 
 up, and looks likv, a monivstery. Canal meetings have bcon hold bore and 
 at Niagara." 
 
 " I leave this early for tho Tunnel. We arc getting on well, as tha 
 weather is favourable. I attend one or two days in tko w( ok. W. Chaca 
 sends a shop up the first sleighing. It is near 12 o'clock, my usual bed- 
 time." 
 
 He was not destined to see them this wiutor. 
 
 He writes, January 30th: — 
 
 " We have been delayed in getting our shaft down for ?,omv, time, and 
 there are iudicat'ons of tho abandijnment of the tunnel scheme." 
 " Writa by candle light, and going to tunnel again." 
 
 The winter, so far, luid been remarkably mild, so that for want of sleighing 
 he was compelled to relinquish iiis usual vihit to Mayville. On the'3rd of 
 February ho left for York in a single sleigh. And in writing fiom there to 
 hix father in-law, February 13, shows his opinion of this work: 
 
 " I have labored under a disadv.'i.ntage, not having any per.sons of capital 
 for suppoit. llowevoi-, tho company ap[)oint(>d me before l left home with 
 power to act as I thought proper. I havo consecpiently cluingod the whoio 
 scheme or system of our canal. Tho stoekholdecs in New York writ* 
 constantly to keep in view sloop navigation." 
 
 liri. 
 
"TUK CoMMISSIoNKUS \lM'()INTi:i> BY Till'. floVKUNMKNT fnr intoilial iir. 
 provcmciits, laid cut asovnn foot ciiiiiil from (liiiiul llivi r to lUiiIiiiglou, una 
 my f^oat aim luts Ikhmi to turn tlicir attontiou to thin ixuticular routo for 
 hlooj» navi-^ation." 
 
 " Ah tltoy do not understand, or soarcr-ly liav<^ an idea of oannllng, it in 
 fihRoIi'.tcly nc(H.'ssary I sJiould remain at tlio ell)o\v of tlK) meml)er9 until 
 tho husinctis is coniplftcHl." 
 
 " r mot tliem all lii-ro, suhmittod my plaiiH, and t'lioy liavo given their 
 ontiro approliation. 'I'hc only thing that romains to l»c done, is to got tlw 
 a-H oxt^wided, and a loan." 
 
 " My arguments are, liy making a sloop n:i\ igat ion largo enough to admit 
 any v(^«sel on l.aho Mrie, wo will draw tlio transit to New York through 
 our camil ; a.i a \ cs-scl can sail from any point on I^iko Krio to Obwogo, at 
 onoo." 
 
 "'Hion comes tho oomparixon of <li."-tances and piices, leaving $iV 50 per 
 ton in favor of the Canada route." 
 
 (y'losing the sul'jetjt with this suhlime sentiment: " I am nen.'-ible it 
 will not f)e m.s pi-ditahle for L'O or '.)() years, »n the; other. J)ut it will be 
 a greaUr jiublic g(>o<l." 
 
 in another Ii'lt.r of l.'Uh Fohruary, ho .says: 
 
 "Tlio canal is lilco monoy- hard to get, and hard to keep." 
 
 To wi-ite leltii-s to his friends, or to address audiences on tlio line (,f the 
 
 •iinal, Mr. Meriitt Id!, an easier matter than .'■peaking to the House. 
 
 On r)th Mar» h he writes Mr.s. Merritt : 
 
 ''Councillor Steward was heard at tho bar of the IIoupc, in favour of 
 Ni.igani. 1 in reply, in favour of the Twelve Milo Creek. It was my first 
 a! tempt to expn's.s my Hentiments before so formal a tribunal. I was con^ 
 winced no person can speak well without practice, which I never ha<l ; but 
 Tn;uio up my mind not to !il< embarraf.sed. T must confess, for the first 
 Rcntenoc^ or two, 1 wascion.sideiaidy a-itated. llowcvir, they sav J acciuitted 
 myself bettor tlian the. lawyer." 
 
 "Noticing sonK; of tho members, tho Attornoy-Coi\orai and Dr. Rolph 
 c<;lipsed the V hole. Tiiey are on (>])posit<' sides of tho IFousc. They aro 
 both classically educat.'id, with extraordinary talent, and display more of tho 
 elegancies of language than I ever heard." 
 
 Among his frit tula in high places at York, none took a warmer interest 
 and did all lio co-.ild to assist aiid cncoui-age him, t])an Dr. Straohan, tlieii a 
 moaiber of the rx'gi..lativo Council ; not alone with his valuable pat'-onage, but 
 giving him the advantages of his extensive! and matunnl exptaien ;. 
 
 Wo see tlio first iTport drawn up during the long detention at Vovk, 
 under the Doctor's eye take« a :nore comprelicnsive view of tlio enlarged 
 naTig;\tion, than any heretofore. 
 
 The following is extractt-d from a pamphlet for the interest of tho 
 iBtoftkLoliIen.. in 1(S52: 
 
 bill 
 
 14fJ 
 
 oft 
 
 tJje 
 
 J 
 
 on t 
 
 who 
 
 Twel 
 
7.1 
 
 " An ablo Report, which wiw published l)y order of Iho I'cajfl of 
 Dircfton^, at tho clow of tho yoiir, is iivpniiil-iil lioreto, in ordnrto I'liow that 
 tho comprehensive views tiioi\ rnt<;rtaii)(Ml, arc now roulizcd, as v.cil tin tiio 
 ruiason why tho private Stock was not Lhon Kuliscrihcd, and tho great lots 
 tlm Sharoholdcis wort! HulijocLod tu iu ooiiscijuonco. 
 
 Tlio present Ijord Bishop of Toronto, Dr. Straclmii, who v.afj then a iricni' 
 ber of tb« Iie;ri8lative Oounoil, took a warm interest in tliis nuv;niliL'eut 
 undert;iking, from tlie fust, and did all that wim in his power to lUi^isL and 
 omxjurai^e thoso wlio wcro labourin.( f> r its iiccomplii.hiueut. 
 
 As early as 1823, when the work was iu its infancy, bitterly opposed 
 by Home, and distrusttid and thouj^ht liditly of I)y otliers, ho ilrov/ np a 
 [uvpcK' setting forth the inostirnablo advantages it nnist jiroduce to tho coni- 
 morcc and a'^-iculttiro of tho country, and urging its acconii)lishmcnt by every 
 rfToi-t, and at whatever cot,t. Tho Directors, purlaking those sentiments 
 •vik] opinions, wore liappy to introduce, with his permission, his elo(punit ap- 
 peal int<^) their lleport ; and tho paper I liavo last referred to, with tlie ex- 
 ception of such passage^s as relat<j to the details of the Company's jirocecdinga 
 ooniains Dr. Strachan's fiontimcnts and hi.s early views of tho chanictcr and 
 objocts of this great work, in Ins own language. They are introduced here 
 fi-om a conviction that it will be no l()ss gratifying to the venerable Prt-late 
 than to his many friends, Jis well as inteiosting to tho public, to ob.serve how 
 clearly he predicted, when tho comj)any was Htrnggling with its greatest 
 difficulties, tho inevitable progresjj and kikjocss of the noble work they were 
 engaged in, and the .s])!en(iid results it must produce throu^'hout a country 
 which forms a largo portion of tlie globe. When lie rcrnarks, in language 
 which many at tho time may have thought nxfcravagant, tliat the Welland 
 C:uxal will, in tim.i, yield only in Im])orti\nce to tho Canal which may here- 
 afU'r unit(! tlio Pacific witli the Atlantic ocean, through Uio Ththmus of 
 Darien, it is interesting to reflect, that ho was then ontemplating a work 
 which, after a iatei-val of twenty-six j'^ears, wo now find engaging tho at- 
 tontion of tho business world on both continents." 
 
 April 10th. — "After having been here eight weeks, and tho bill nearly 
 through, had to leave foi- Niagara to attend a meeting of dii-ectoi-s; when 
 a repotii was .stmt over by ]\Ir. Ifall, that the botfom of tlio Lake, opposite 
 the mouth of the Twelve was hard rock, and coiild not bo niado into a 
 harbour." 
 
 He surv(;ye«l tho harbour, and went back to his post iu time to see tho 
 bill triuraj)hantly ])as30<l. 
 
 A meeting was held at Vork, iirmediatoly on tho rising of tho housA, 
 14tl» A])ril, and as itturue<l out, was too cautiouh in reserving a largo jiortion 
 of the st< :ck for England, wliich wo will see, was an untortunato resolve fi;r 
 tlie immediate and easy completion of the canal. 
 
 A very able document, b'wring evidence of being prepared by Mr. Yates 
 on tho 17th of May, 1820, i:i favour of this locality, wa.s sent to tlio Poard. 
 who appear to have 1h;ou then c nsidering the routes 
 
 On tho 10th of May, a paper with Mr. Hall's i-ej>ort, ininn"cal to tho 
 Twelve i-outo, was got up to Ikj circulated among}.t all the Ehardi eiders. 
 
 : .J 
 

 74 
 
 44 pora(>nB rnproBOiiting 170 shares, on which £18. la. hail h«en paid, 
 principally from Niagura, withiiruw thoiriiainoR liotweou 1 1th May and 12th 
 July, in coriHetjiienco of the alteration of tho routo ; 10 from othor cauuea, 
 rr presenting 43 Hhares. 
 
 .)uno Stii. A lottor from Mr. Morritt, on IiIh rnttirn from Nnw York, on 
 lK>ani Htoamcr l/lica, to Dr. J. I'rci.Mlergast, dolaila the concurring ovenUi. 
 
 •' [ am ploased to have tho satisfaction to acquaint you, that I havo 
 BUCceo(lo<l thus far in ovory particular. Our hoanl of directors being fully 
 awaro of the magnitude of tho Hum wo hud to rai.so, dotsrminod, that beforo 
 wo eiitored into any contracts, tho mon«y should bo procured. With this 
 riow, I was sunt to Montroal and Quobcc, having to take in Now York on 
 my return. $"00,000 was apportioned for Now York, and a like aura for 
 Uppor and l/jwcr Canada. Tlio remaining $400,000 in London." 
 
 "Tho New Yorkers, my old Htockholders, took at once f 300,000, and 
 tho whole wotdd havo been inunediately Kubscribcd in that plac«. If all ia 
 well, 1 shall reach homo on tho 12th, so aa, on the Ist of July, to let out tho 
 greaLor pait of tho canal on the enlarged plan." 
 
 A letf/Cr from Mrs. Merritt, who wrote shortly before, to her friend* in 
 Chat&ucpie, 4th July, says: 
 
 " The people began to flock here on Thursday, the greater part from tho 
 othor side. Private families had to open their doors. About 200 strangers. 
 15ut 00 proposals given in. They all went off like a fog, and by sunnet, 
 yestenlay, there was not a stranger iu tho place, except Mr. Dunn and Mr. 
 Boulton." 
 
 In tho midst of all this bustle, tho inn-keeper, who had served tho public 
 BO long, passed away. 
 
 " Our old neighbour Paul Shipman died 25th June. Mr. Eastman 
 preached his funeral sermon." 
 
 Mr. Merritt, in a letter to Dr. Prondergast, in reference to the St. 
 
 Ijawr»;nc« Ca'tals, says : 
 
 " Arrangements are making for a canal fj-om Pretcott to INTontreal, of tho 
 flame dlmoiKsions as our own, which will add very much to the value of tho 
 Provirice, as woU as increase tho bubiness in ouv canal. I have no doubt it 
 will bo completed in 5 years from this time." 
 
 Tho Niagara oi)position seema to have been put out, by relieving them f){ 
 the paying up of their stock, and we find them co-operating in •tarting 
 another canal, — tho St. Lawrence one. 
 
 From the (7/ertuer of September 24th, 1825 : 
 
 " At a respectable meeting of the inhabitanta of tho district of Niagara, 
 asBombhid at the Niagara Hotel on the r)th September, for the purpose of 
 taking into con.sideration, and adopting measures to obtain an immediate 
 ■urvey of tho River St. Lawrence. 
 
 " Tho Hon. Mr. Clark was called to the chair. 
 
 " William Hamilton Merritt, ICsquire, oiiiciatod as Secretary. 
 
 , 
 
 with 
 
75 
 
 "WliPii it Tras rfianlvoti, Tliut tliis mcctiriK Imvinj;; long witnc«««d 
 the vtixatioii, dtilay, and heavy o.\|K'nHf) attou'liii;;,' tli«* iiavijjatii.n of tha 
 Ht. Lawrciico, hntwcfii Montn-al ami VicHnott, and In-int,' hatisfiftl Uiat a 
 imiiect canal mivin;ali<)ii can Ijo niado IkiIwcch tliosM places, ut a nio<!iMat« 
 oxpensc, cotnjtanMl with tho ohjoct of tht) undertaking -do iTconiiuond ft 
 8uh8('i-i))tit)M to la', opcufd ininiodiatcly, in hoth I'rovinros, for thii jiurpoM 
 of rmiployin',' a sciontitlt! and piactical on;,'iiiocr or (Mii,'inocrs, tocxpIuD tli U, 
 and niako out an OKtiinato of tho exponso of constnu:tinj< a oanal aloii;; th« 
 hanks of thn St. Kawroncn, or olhorwisf^. as inav ])rov<iniost t'li.,'il)lo, — in ordar 
 that tlu? aamo may l»u laid hofore llio iiOjiislatiirc of the two province*., »i 
 kh© next session of thoir re.spcctivo hfgishition.s." 
 
 York, Kopfc. 'J'jth.- -A hotter to Mr. Morritt from tlnur solicitor, on the 
 «ve of luH doparture for England, for auhscnhprs tc tho stock alluded to above, 
 in allusion to the «xpou.so of con.struoting a canal down tho St. Lawrencu, says: 
 
 " I havo crot a favourahlo account of the Petit nation Fiver, which head* 
 •bout five or .six miles hack of Pn^seott, down which, I think, a canal can \i« 
 made : this should lie exaujined. The place i>f conimencenient should he, in 
 my opinion, above Prescott, anil up that to Petit nation, or else froua 
 Johnstown." 
 
 H. J. UOUI.TOH. 
 
 It will 1)0 Hoen from the foregoing that Mr. Mcrritt looked on this great 
 undertaking in a different way from many of his intimate friend.s. llis wa« 
 no potty schenio intended only to benefit a particular locality, llis broad 
 and expansive views penetrated beyond his own profit ; as he well and 
 truly reasoned that the noble St. Jiawrence, then, it might be .said, flowing 
 alrao.st idly into the ocean, was not phiced there by the Clreat Maker for niftro 
 ornament, but would eventually, become tributary to the powers of clover 
 men, and be the broad pathway to bear thegohlen products of the great Weat 
 to the millions of toilers, whoso voices were raised in Europe for tho cry of 
 cheap bread. Could thoi?o merchants in MOntreal but .see tho results whicJi 
 hia idea brought about, and the change whicli they wrought on their suc- 
 eessors, what a wondei-ful picture would be presented to their imagination ; 
 to behold a mere trading town gradually assume gigantic proportions, its 
 streets lined with stately warehouses, and its docks become tho pride of » 
 country, noble merchant-men and floating .steam palaces thronging its har- 
 bour, ready to carry to the ends of the earth the great staples so bounti- 
 fully bestowed by nature on the boundless acres of the far we.st. 
 
 It is not our intention at present to enter into Mr. Merritt's connectioa 
 with the improvement of the St. liawrence, sutlice to say that he sncceedod 
 in getting the work oonimenoed ; as hy the aid of tho funds raised at the 
 Niagara meeting, Mr. CHowes and Mr. George Rykert were enabled to bo 
 «ent down, and make a survey of the River banks, which act was tho'be 
 ginning of those great works afterwards undertaken to open a water way 
 round the rapids. 
 
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76 
 
 Jt is not to bo concsaloil that the St. Lawrcncs canals had for a number 
 of years a formiflablo competition in the Ottawa (.nnal. Tlie British Govfirn- 
 nont this winter dosiriiig tho work for military purjtoRoa, offered tho P"ovinco 
 a loan of £70,0i)0 stoj'ling if thoy would uadartako the work. It is a matter 
 of history that tliey oom])h'ted this work, tlio Kideau'Canal, at their own ex- 
 |>onsc, thus postponing tho improvement of the St. I awrencc river, to which 
 the attention of cv.r Parliament was continnouhly directed, and keeping 
 bat^k tho profits which tho projectors of the Wellund Canal naturally ex- 
 pected from the extensicm of their solicmc. 
 
 A letter from his friend, Dr. llolph, dated Charlottville, 2'2nd October, 
 contains the following compliments to our subJ3ct : 
 
 "Tlie mania for tho improvement of navigation may bo trace<l to you. 
 11»at is some apology for reipiesting you to use your influence in sending 
 Mr. Clews to survey the canal at Jx)ng Point. J. IloLrn." 
 
 2Gth October.- -The Board, at their hist meeting in St. Catharines, hav- 
 ing let the excavation from tho Welland liiver to Outiirio, gave to Messrs. 
 Beach, Ward, Ilovey and Phelps the contiuct for the wooden loci s and 
 waste weirs at .£.')5U per lock. At the same meeting Messrs. Bejich and 
 Keefer were awarded a grant of the free use of the surplus water from tb« 
 first weir for a flour mill of four run of stone, to bo ready on the opening 
 of the canal. 
 
 1 7th November. — Mr. Merritt left in stage for York. House met tho 
 8amo day. The ball is opened. 
 
 Nov. 22nd, the place of meeting for tho Board was changed to Voik, 
 «wiug to a majority of tho directors residing there. 
 
 2:Jrd November. -An article appearwl, signed "A Friend to Internal 
 Improvements." 
 
 Noticing tho variovis subjects of the potitionoi-s against tho canal, one 
 against the new route, that the levels would prouuce sickness. 
 
 "I have beim here four or five week.'?. IVtitioned for loan of $100,000 
 and romi.ssion of duties for canal uses, and anu'ndnient of act, so as to como 
 liown iJick's Creek instead of tho 'J'welve." 
 
 Among other opponents as petitioners, one individual, James Gordon, 
 Mr. M.'s brother-in-law, petitioncvl to have the WJute changed, an<l sug- 
 gested a line ni^arly in tho new cut, across from Shaver's direct to the 
 mouth of tho creek, in.steail of coming round by St. Catharines. Tho 
 ground of tho petition, was, from the delay for o\»taining tlie stock in Eng- 
 Uuid ; whereas, tho stock was not obtained at all: an<l the !? 100,000 now 
 was, in a business point of view, unusually large foi he assetts of the 
 •ompany. 
 
 lie idludes to the ripoits on tl.oso pi-oceotlings, of which 350 copies have 
 boon printed. Alludes to the scarcity, and moneUry depression, us caus- 
 ing tho failun; to get sU ok in England. 
 
77 
 
 TLo liarvest'tluH year was an abundant one, and ii gtmcrai iJoa of im- 
 prov jraent acenied to pervade all cle -ses ; business was good throufjhout 
 tlie country ; work on the caniil xvaa going on rapidly ; six Luiulred labour- 
 ers we'-o employed, and nioi-o wanted. It wjus expected that the whole l>u» 
 would be under contract by S|>ring. The marked change along the 
 route was wonderful. Where the foi-est stood a short time ago, was now 
 a scene of life and bustle. The sharp rattle of the axes hewing and carving 
 their way through the old woods ; the unceasing liammering of the pick on 
 the clayey banks, and occasionally the ci-;i>;h of a falling tree, iiiingliiig with 
 loud gunpowder ex])!osions M-hen a blast was discharged, nil hut a charm to 
 the woik which none enjoyed more than oui- subject, whoso busy bnua 
 found ample swing ; now at onr^ place, now at another, superintending, 
 watching, settling disputes, arranging details. In fact, if ever man had his 
 "hands full," Mr. ]M. at this time lial his. Oie hundred dwcllitigs wcrw 
 on the summit, occupied by mechanics, labourers, tailors, shoe-mak(!rs, store 
 keepers and others. 
 
 At the entrance of the Twelve Mile Creek, the witrks on the haibour 
 wer<? iiuuigurated ' y the erection of a inimber of shanties, matei'ial colleetod 
 A'c, for the extensive works required at that place. 
 
 t ■ 
 
 i !; 
 
 lO 
 
 1 8 2 G . 
 
 One of tlie important events whicli oecured during the year, wwi 
 the active part our subject took towards establihhing a newsjiaper, ihe/irtil 
 in St. Catharines, and the T/oua^/cst of ((crcii now being printed in th« 
 Trovince. Tn his account book we find the fullowing entry, dated Dec. 19, 
 
 Paid Proctor A Swift's account. 
 
 For Hiram Leavenworth's tyi)e : 
 Postage, ink, and juipej- : 
 
 40..'-.0. 
 
 $104.'i;v 
 
 He was not forgetful of the A-aluable aid a goo(J pujier would bo towanU 
 Ids canal scheme, as well as the benefiUs it v.ould confer on the locality - 
 although to Niagara belong.s the credit of having established the fiiTst ikws- 
 jiajser in the Province. "^I'his sheet was calleil the " rjipcr ('(imuln <i<ui'He," 
 and wivs started in 1 793, and continued to be sujipoi-ted in the district until 
 the Parliament moved to York, w hence it was tranaferreil. Another j)aper 
 w;u» started by the notorious Joe Wilcox, and again after the war of 181:^, 
 was su(;ceeded by tlie " Sjiccfator,' already nmntioned in c<;nnection with 
 Mr. Thomas Merritt's tinancial dJ'hculties. The '• Spntatin-" was eventually 
 .suec/eeded by the " Glea}Kr" which, so far, had been the organ on c*nal uiif"aiT». 
 
 . I 
 
78 
 
 One great objoct Mr. Morrittliad in viewwhcn he assisted in establislnn<' 
 the newspaper iu St. (.'atharines entitled tlie ^^ Farmer' s Journal, ami Wf /land 
 Canal Intelligencer, was to circuhite general useful information around tho 
 country. In the address to th« public, it states : — "Our j)rincipal objsct 
 will bo to publish a correct and accurate statement, from tim« to time of all 
 interesting and im))ortant matters relative to the Welland Canal, which is 
 now rapidly progressing under the most fiivourable auspices: to endeavour to 
 ih« utmost of our limited talent, to draw the public attention to 
 the splendid plans now in embryo, for the improvement of general navigation 
 iu this colony : to awaken a spirit of inquiry and enterjtriao in regard to 
 canala and other improvements of vital importance to our ])rosperity and 
 happiness : and to develope by every proper means, the various lesourcea of 
 thin fertile land wo live in." 
 
 This paper, ushered into tho world in tho most unpretending manner 
 was emiii'nitly successful. It Mas well printed — so accurate, that an error 
 was very feldom detected, either iu spelling or dictation. It was Mr. 
 Leavenworth's })rido to be considered tho best printer in the country. It 
 fully maintained its credit, and supplied the farmers with every information 
 collected from the most rtiliabk sources. 
 
 Wo have, bo far, refrained from mentioning 8omo of the petty 
 Blanders with which our subject was assailed during his earlier struggle! 
 towards the accomplishment of this great national work, and would not refer 
 to them now, were it not to show that in tbe midst of all his trouble and 
 excitement, ho was not forgetful of any of his honest and honourable 
 obligation!. It will be remembered that some years previously, the failure 
 of his business, when in partnership with Mr. IngersoU, left him heavily 
 involved to parties with whom he done business, in Montreal ; and tho 
 following letters received from his old creditors, conclusively shews that 
 neithtn- the thoughts of dishonesty nor pecuniai-y aggrandizement jjossessed 
 him at ar.y period duriiig his connection with tho cp.nal; for, if at any time 
 of his indeutification with this work, he needed jroperty or motwy, it was 
 at this period, — when every fair resort was tri«;d to obtain funds for tlie 
 aocomplishmcnt of tho undertaking: 
 
 " Montreal, Ai)ril Cth, 182G. 
 
 " Dkar Sib :— Your letter of the 22nd contained a deed of 100 acres of 
 liuid in Zorra, and we had previously received deeds for 400 acres. We 
 therefore enclose your bond, and in doing bo, we feel it is incumbent on us 
 to say, that this voluntary act on your part, is highly creditable to you, and 
 assures us that if you continue to be successful, which we sincerely hope will 
 be the case, the remaining part of the promises conveyed to us in your letter 
 of March 2-lilk, will in due time be fulfillod. 
 
 Yours truly, 
 "W. H. Merritt Gillisitk, MorfAT. *-. Oa" 
 
79 
 
 " Montreal, 8th May, 1826. 
 " Dear Sir: — "Wc duly rcceirol your favour of tho 16th March, with 
 (leod for 400 acres in lllonheim, which we accept of in full .satisfaction of 
 the deduction made (rom our claim on the late firm of Ingersoll «t l^Iorritt, 
 
 PoitSYTil &, Co." 
 W. H. Merritt. 
 
 it is necessary to state that the most of these lands were granted to Mr. 
 Merritt's family for services in tho Revolutionary war. Mr. T. Merritt re- 
 ceiving as Lis share, 2,000 acres. Tlie lands had by this time so increased 
 in value that they were considered an equivalent for a cash aniount. 
 
 Mr. Clowes remained in Montreal, and obtained occupation from th« 
 Covemment, as wo see by a letter from Major Ilillier, Governor's Secretaiy, 
 to the Welland Canal Board. Mr. Rykert returned, and found employment 
 in sur/eyiug the lands for right of way. Tho St. I/awronco survey was not 
 entirely abandoned, as tho work was continued by Mr. Clowos and others. 
 Mr. Merritt at this time was in receipt of a communication relative to a canal 
 from tho Bay of Fuiidy to the St. Lawronco. I'^ngineers were em})Ioyed to 
 examine this route also. As a sample of the public tone at this time, tho 
 following article from the Canadian Freeman is worth noticing : 
 
 '* For our part, wo would wisli to see canals intersecting ovory part of 
 this Province : and as the few entei-prising individuals who are embarked 
 in the Welland Canal line have commenced this good work, wo hope it will 
 Ve continued." 
 
 During February the work was pushed on with great energy, aa tho 
 aeaeon was fav'ourable. 
 
 After seeing the amended act fairly under way, Mr. Merritt returned 
 to attend to the prosecution of tho canal businoes. Tho circumstances of 
 the Board having their meetings in York, rendered his stay a short on*. 
 Before setting out however, ho makes a careful memorandum of details 
 necessary for their information. From one before ua headed for the fir»t 
 meeting in February, we extra:^t : 
 
 "Tlieroaro 27 2 acres in tho doep cut — consisting of over \\ million* 
 of yardu of excavating. It will coBt 23 mills per yard, laid at the shortoet 
 distance — equal to £G4,000." 
 
 Memorandum : 
 
 •' Speak to Vice-PreKident Allen on the mail-ntage routes. And, 
 touching on a very delicate- sulyect, V>y which powerful patrons might bo 
 ■ eaiily propitiated or offended — to decide on the names of varioua placea on 
 ibo oanal." f 
 
 At this meeting which he attended, it won resolved that not any part of 
 tb« loan of £25,000 cuuld be touched, according to tt'> act — and that 25 
 ]Mr oont be raised from the present aubscribers. In order to accompliah thia, 
 •b4 I« make pereonal explanations to the skareholdora, ho Mi o«t in ilv« 
 
 'i ): I 
 L 
 
 i ■ 
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 1 t * 
 

 80 
 
 mid lie of February for New York, travolling by stjige. Ho arrived tlicro 
 ou tlio '2 ; 8t, whon it was a^reo;l to pay 8 f>or cent a month of tho stock sub- 
 Bcribcil, in order to carry on tho works as rapidly as [wssiblo. 
 
 On (.he 3rd of April, the annual election of the Directors took plaoo 
 at St. CathariuGS. Col. J. Clark and Hon. J. B. Robinson were appointed, 
 and shortly aftorwArd.s (May 9th) Mr. Merritt paid a visit to Albany, and 
 procured documents and plaiii'. cT tho Erie Canal. In an interview which 
 be had at ihia time with the Governor, De Witt Clinton, that <,'entlema!\ 
 made tho following remark to Mr. Merritt, which, we think, was highly com 
 plimenlary to our subject: "You have physical advantages on yourt^ide, but 
 you want rasu of enterprise, like yoursbolf, to carry them through." 
 
 On the Otli of May, II. I'l, the Lieutoaant Governor, and several uireo- 
 tors visited Uic works ni\ the carnal, — and the Govprnor cxpresticd his 
 high gratifuation at tho progress of tlio works. As an instance of the im- 
 provement t!ic canal was making ou its s;urroundinj<ip, welind an advertise- 
 ment in t/io "JovrrMl" of May '3vt\, oft'ering 50 vill:i;;o loUs for sale in tli« 
 flourishing village of St. Catharines. 
 
 On tho 7Lh of Jutie, we see a notice that Mr. Chace, Mr. M.'s successor 
 in the salt works, hud made marked iniT)rovement in that line ; and amon"^8t 
 other things liad lilted up a bathing establishment, where hot or cold t-^alt 
 water baths could I)e obtainetl, Avhich it was believed would be of <'re,'it 
 benciit to invalids, and would eventually become a jmblic re.->ort as famous 
 'M tho S[)aa of Europe. 
 
 On the 2'Jnd, an imjjortant meeting was helil in York, to devise ways 
 and means for earring on the work, and Mr. Yates was instructed to procure 
 II K.an of .-C'MI.OOO or .C40,000 in New York. 
 
 On the l.st of July, the opening of tho Burlington Bay (!anal, in pro- 
 senco of the Lieutenant Governor and fust dignitaries of the country, iws 
 place. The Governor passed tlirough in an open boat, an<l w.ir, receivo^l 
 at fcihermau's wluuf by a guard of honoui-, under Col. Crooks, and two Begi- 
 meuts of tho Gore Militia, attendod by tho Band of the 70th Iletrlment from 
 York. Thi3 was tiie first public celebration t^) comnuimorate the openinc 
 of any public work in this province soon to bo followed by others of far 
 greater nuignitude. A steamboat was also running from Bufl'alo to 
 (!ai{)powa. 
 
 Mr. Merritt's apjilieation for mail accommodation ot\ the line of tho 
 canal lunv begins to come into operation ; and wo notice tJie advei-tisemonts 
 of letters from tiie Thorold P. (.)., J. K^'fer, Msq., P. M. From thence to 
 St. Ciatharines a semi- weekly mail was ciirried, and proved a great boon to 
 the people. 
 
 in August, the arbitrators who were to settle tho vexed (pu'stion of the 
 valuation of th« land on the route wens appointed. 
 
 
 u 
 
 ..u£*k4'.-. .;-.;.. -LA*i.i J *..■*.> 
 
81 
 
 Mr. Merritt's memorauilum tor 20tL Jiiiio, states tliut he visited 
 every person whop.e lantls wero wunteil on the route, and received tlieir 
 offei-s for a settlement. Yet, afterwards, tliero were many di.ssatisHed at 
 havinj^ tlio canal pass through their farms, iind tliey liehl a meeting at 
 HeaverdaniH, favouring the route by the Twenty Mile (^cek, Niagara, or 
 any other place but that along the " Twelve,'' The arbitration was held in 
 tlie old tShipmau Tavern, then kept by a man named Jakes — and for a montlt 
 or two duiing the warm season, this place was the scene of much excitement. 
 
 There were 27 cases in dis[)ute. The award for Mr. Merritt and his 
 father was j£tJOO for 7 or 8 acres of hind and tJie mills. As respects their 
 t)ther lands, to the amount of U^ 'icres, the advantages of the canal were 
 eijuivaleut to tlie lauds proposed to be taken. Of the twenty-five arbitratoi-s 
 appointed to try the casiis, but one is now living, Mr. Ifenry M'.ttleberger, 
 of St. Catharinet), whose wann intei-est in this undertaking wo have noticed 
 in extracts from liis journal. The land ivotually arbitrated on amounted to 
 323 acres in all. 
 
 Two of the coi.tractoif), Hovey and Ward, had given up their contract for 
 the ileep cut. After this peiiod nearly all local o[>position ceased. 
 
 In other parts of (^'anada, things were beginning to move. Two steamers 
 rsere placed on the Ottawa and Lachine route, and six moi'o were plying 
 on Lakes Ontario and Erie. Tlie works on the canal v/ere often visited by 
 the curious, and a mania for canalling seemed to possess the people. Mr. 
 Menitt was daily in receipt of lettei-s from diflerent part* of the country, 
 about various canal schemes, itc. On the 27th of October, the Board met 
 at the " Deep Out." Mr. Yates inspected the whole line, having previously 
 obtained £25,000 in Now York. In their report of this meeting, the 
 following minute appeals :— -" Tha Directois have gi*e.it pleaaui-e on this 
 occasion in expressing their full approbation to those wliose attentions have 
 been lunremitting, etc." 
 
 Owing t^) the numerous gatherings which canal matters |)roduceil in this 
 locality, Mr. Men-itl determined du moving from his old residence ; and as 
 it was more from necessity than choice, ho advertise<l his dwelling for a 
 tavern, which was accepted by Luther Dyer, whose practice in this business 
 in Bufialo, made him a suitable tenant. The mail stages already alluded to, 
 of which this 1,'acamo the station, W(>ie owneil and managed by K. W. Ste- 
 phenson, from the san\o place. 
 
 Our subject and his family removed on the lOth of November to his 
 father's residence, now the cottage at Springbank, where he remained until 
 the completion of his own "Oak Tlill Mansion,"- on the canal bank, three 
 years afterwards. 
 
 The census of the town taken at this time, gave the place 400 inhabitants. 
 Our recollections are that a considerable village then existed. The opposite 
 
 hi 
 
 I > 
 
 ! t 
 
82 
 
 side of St. Paul Stivct, heyoiul Climn-'M, was oiviipicd by Koach'd hat aliop, 
 tF. F. Mittltilit;ii;»'r, watolmiuker, Uirlianl Kilziccralirs atoir. now occiijiit'd 
 by tin- T'ntt.i's |)riiiti!i:i ollic^a ; iMcKoiiiiy's rosi'lciict", Valo it NVaUi's' tin 
 rthop, Saiub'fson'h blnc|<,smith shop, <InMi villi's ^Toot.TV, and wiciuw St'iait'.s 
 reMulcufc, tt,'nnii>atin<j; with "l»i'4 " J. Wri^^ht's tavt;ni. Oji tho othor hith?, 
 Hkidiiig tlu! |iiii(!M btiyoiid Shi|iniaii"H l>!nii, w;i-. W.ud's .saddk'iy, Captain 
 Dittoric-k'a liotcl and butcher alio)), I'llias A<lai)is. FuiTst, Dr. Moorp's, and 
 thf (thnins. On Ontario street, Ionian Parsons' poltoiy. FJufiis \N'iii;lit ; 
 x\ndurHon'.s, Tlionias M-niitL's and (ioorge Adan.s's beyond ; o))posiltt Wits 
 old Mrs. Lawn-nci', Mrs. Shipman, witli whom rcsitU'd K. W. Stt-phon.son 
 rtud fjiniily; and liis hist ujoiuories wcrt' the cxciivatious going on in tlio f^nt.ss 
 l)lot fronting the church, for the site of liic large frame l)uilding known jih tho 
 M(!rchant':> lUock, in whioli afterwards wa.'i tlio W'eliand Car.nl Otfici-, and 
 rioavenworth's printing olllce. 
 
 Of all the new coiitors t-i .St. CatliMiiiics, ('oinniodoi't> Xortlmiti was tli'> 
 greate.st aeipusitiou to the plii.ce, in hi? osvn |»icnli;i,r Hue. Jle with Mi^. 
 N. and an only daughter, Elizabeth, coming lipre in iSJl. The ConiTnodori' 
 being employed in the Uoliviau ser\ ice, made occasional cj iiises in tho (inlf 
 of Mexico, and at each time of his return to St. (^itharines, Mas in possv<;s 
 aiou of a rospectal)le .share of tiio "'needfid." Privatoer, biicea)ieeror cummo 
 dor«, his roh' among us a'hs to s}>eiid nioney. Mis turn-outs wejv tho l>es|, 
 his dinners the (incst, and his social «iualitie.s nu!">nuded, of which fl. < 
 author has often been a recipioiit. 
 
 One eircuiustance about liim wo ramcinber. wliilo residing at wh.!'; 
 l>ccanie afterwards th" Merchant's Ifot.el. 'J'he hoists which the ( 'omniodorii 
 used in his family carriage, became restive and ran off down the 12 mil » 
 hill, and when the animals and the deby'iM uf the vehich! weie recovf red aiid 
 liroiight back, he ordored them away, saying ho neve]' wovdd drive them 
 again. It was no matter of surprise that tho voirKde was given to tin? tinder, 
 as on a former occa.sion wo have known him to hand his daughter a bill 
 for jdaying a tune on the i>iano for tho aniusoment of hi.s guests. When 
 the dam at the haibour had converted the IL' mile oeek into a m'niaturc 
 lake, and the works there being an object of attracticm, the author has fre- 
 tfueutly witne.ssed the spirited style of the (Commodore's turn-out on the ice. 
 
 Th(! way of conducting Municipal ek»ctions in those days were not as 
 exciting as at present, and the only addres.s we can lind to the electors of 
 (Trautham, is one headed "Self Nomination," and signed by Job Northrop • 
 promising faithfully to fuUil the im[)ortant duties of Pathmaster, should th« 
 free .and indepemlent olectoi's clioose him for that position. 
 
 The same individual, p/eviously wishing to have tlie fourth conceasioii 
 opened along his propei-ty, aaked the nmgisti-ates to fissendde at the* 
 "Oornerrt," whence, after a s<.H«ial glass, and discuaying the road (question, 
 
 ■■Mi 
 
83 
 
 <li\>vo them ovnr tliP locality, wlifii no fiirtlifr ceroinony was iKHvJefi, ami the 
 magiHtrnte-H declfirctl thp roatl opfU. 
 
 Tho Coininodoic fin<liii.( tlif cxcitumtMit iiflfonli'il l»y thn prospoct of tiio 
 i4)»otMly •;))»'iiiux ot" tlio c.iiial, Hiilliciciit in(luc«;JiK'iit to remain iu'n*, !iilv»?rtia«(l 
 liis tiinn, oonuKoiienl hiiilding tho liouse now owunil Ity .John L. Kuiiney, 
 ihovcmI one of hi.i oiit-hoiises up for a stoi-n, staifccil a fijrwanlinx company, of 
 which the kfiel of tho pioneer vessol was laid, just holow the site of his uhvv 
 iMsidniice. 
 
 Th(i holidays woi*.- speju by Mv. Mfrritt in his attendmioc at the Board 
 in York, a Hnal nit ,vtin>' foi' tho voar beiny hehl there on tlif L'8tJi iKveniber. 
 
 ()i\ tlie 'M)t\i of November was hold tlie Hi-st annual celebration to (;oin- 
 momorate tho aiMiiversary of the canal. A piddic dinner was held in tlio 
 hotel, wliicli was imnnn-ously attended. Speeches were made, loyal and 
 patriotic toasts were tliunk, and tin- event honourtMl in :i style whicli would 
 do credit to nion; modern assemblie.s. Tlie ,/oiirunl of Dec. IH'2C>, in refer- 
 ring to the denionstratioTi Hays :— 
 
 * * * " Notvvithstandin;; all those discotira^'ements, it 
 
 has buen prosocntcil witli untiriii^ viijouf, and tin- .success which has attend<wl 
 the ellbrts of tho little l>!ind of pati-iots in the cau.se of their ••ounfciy's wul- 
 far(f, wlio plaiuied and matured the scheme, nmst bw unexpected and aston- 
 i.HliijiLj to tluMMselves : a.nd ultliouirh it is a sa<l aniioyancf n» n f''W. yet, it will 
 undoubtedly i!veiitualJy greatly I'tulound to the credit and hon(.r of all (con- 
 cerned, a.H well as the Pi'Ovinoe at lar;:;e." 
 
 The Annual RepDrt of tlie Canal Convpany, dated ISth December, lH2t), 
 ntdtes: 
 
 ■ inongst otiier items, ihi-y are j,fr!(t;cfid to the ( lovernmeiit for their 
 gra.i. .)f l."),OiM) acres of land in Waintleet, lyin^' nn both sides of the canal 
 e.xfcf ■'!. to the trrand Iliver. Al.so, that up to this time a lump sum of 
 $2^ /,../("> h.id bf'cn spent on the work.N, for wliicli tlie followint,' results are 
 givftii : The tirst st-ctiou whicli conimeiicfd at the Wfllaiid Iliver. (now Port 
 llobiiLSOu) was comjdeted, to the extent of '.V.) chains, with t<jw-path, and 
 water let in, and ja-esentoil a fair s|ieciineu of the work when linishod. 
 ll^])war<is of one and a half million of cubic yards of earth had lieen removed, 
 and ten miles of the canal tinished. The greater part of the timber for 
 locks, and material, was got out, and in readiness for use. and several of 
 the contractors were already (MMisidcrably ahead of their contract work, 
 owing to the extraordinar}'^ zeal with which the contractors pushed on tho 
 undertaking. .*(},<)00 in claims for land h:id been paid. £00,000 would 
 yet be nniuired to fini.sh the deep cut." 
 
 On the .")th of December, Parliament assembled, and in. the (lovernor's 
 speech, referring to the Welland ('anal, ]>laces it second to the Rideau, 
 hut .saying in its commendation : • 
 
 "Although we owe it to the enterpri.se of private individuals, I most 
 strongly rccouimend it to your favour and protection." 
 
 This was not a mere comiiliment, as the Governor had alway.s person.<»Ily 
 taken a warm interest in tho progre,ss of the Welland Oanal. 
 
 m 
 
84 
 
 A noting' vory op|iiiitiino rirciiin.itanco also occurod at this tirnf, in tho 
 I'ac't that it was now known by a (lispatch from ("ol. Hillier, tiiat tho Im 
 |K*iial (lovonnncnt luwl given a grant to tho WeUand Canal Conijiauy, of 
 £10,000 sterling. 
 
 At this time, our old friend Dr. Beadle went to York, and succeeded in getting 
 the contract for twenty years, to convey the mails from Qucenston to Sandwich, 
 which proved a profitable undertaking, and which was known for many years 
 afterwards as being under the conduct of W. A. Stephenson. A Mr. Wilkin- 
 son, who left for Brantford, was a partner. 
 
 On the 14th of September, in this year, occurred an event which caused a 
 profound sensation throughout this country and tlio United Stjitcs. The facts 
 known at this time wore, that an individual known as Col. W. Morgan, a citizen 
 of the .States, hud written a book purporting to be an expose of Freemasonry, 
 and shortly afterwards the author suddenly disappeared. The newspapers at 
 the time were full of stories, somo of them very sensational in reference to 
 Jlorgan ; and it was even stateil that one of the Brants of Wellington S((aare, 
 and several other prominent Masons in Canada and the United States had con- 
 pired, jmd captured Morgan, confined him in N. Y. State, on a trumped up 
 charge, and afterwards conveyed him to Fort Niagara, from whence they tran- 
 sported him out into the lake and drowned him. It is needless to say that the 
 >;entlenien charged with tlie connnission of tho crime strenuously denied the 
 i nplication. The results however were that two strong parties sprung up, 
 known as Masoiis and Anti-Masons. To the latter side our subject became 
 allied, and ever afterwards he was known to be opposed to secret societies^ 
 under every form and guise. 
 
 Aitumg tlie genenil transactions of this period, was tlie re-establishraent of 
 the Cnlnniol Advocate, by Mi'. Wni. Lyon McKenzie, it having boon stopped 
 by tlirowing all his type inta the bay. He collected $1,500 jus damages. 
 
 As Ottawa has heeoino an important place as the seat of ffovornment 
 for united (.■aniula, the ceremony for the cominMicing of the Kideau Canal, 
 will })e given. 
 
 On tho U4th of September, Ix)rd Dalhousie and suit arrived at tho 
 iMiaiuliere, proceeded to P. Wright's, Ksq.j when, on the '27th, accompanied 
 by (Japtiiiu By, ami<lst a large concourse of gentlemen from the surroun- 
 ding settlements, laid tho foundation stone, jus commencement of the 
 Bideau Canal. After the ceremony of laying the foundation stone was 
 completed, his lordship, lady and suit dej)art«d in a barge rowed by 
 fourteen oarsmen, cm their return to Quebec. 
 
 November 1st. - -It ia stated in the Montreal Ikmli that £20,000,000 
 h.-^d aiipropriuted for fortifications in Canada. 
 
 A party of enginewrs, im the general plan of fortificttion, was sent bo 
 snrvey the Chutaiigue. 
 
 they, 
 
m 
 
 i>y 
 
 bo 
 
 As noticed, the II()U!<o iiiot, iiiiil I\Ir. Morritt, not now in the Hoard of 
 Maiiiifrer."!, whose duly made it iieeossary thMt his jireseiice should mostly he 
 on the works, h.ad liowover to visit York, and attend the Hoard mectiiiu;s and 
 other husine.«> in the interest of the CompMny. The loss of his friend and 
 :idviser Arclideacon Straeh'in, whose interest in the rising i^eneralion had eaused 
 lii-* titmporary iibsciice to Isn^laml, in order to raise funds lor the fnundiiii; of 
 a I'niversity, was more than made up by the prosencc of the Honourable J. B. 
 ^.\TKs, of Chittcnanjio, N. Y., who resided in York, and atteniled tlic House. 
 A petition havin<; been pri'sented by the Wellaml Canal Co. for the (roveru- 
 ment's assistance, askintr them to take a part in the undertakin;^. and one from 
 Niajjjara askinjj; for a I/itcnil cu — ;i committee was appointed to investijrate the 
 subjects. Mr. Yates addressed a letter to Arch. McLean, the chairman of this 
 committee, and also gave his verbal testimony before the same, in wliieh ho 
 uivcs a calculation that the work will pay interest by carryinjr the products at 
 SI r)0 per ton, for r)(>,0(l(» Canadian.^ — and that the Oswego Canal, now under 
 way, would be the means of aceomodatinj^ many more from the other side, 
 Ijosides adding to the value of vessel property, by .giving tliem two or more 
 lakes to navigate. The ideas of Mr. Yctes were based upon known estimates 
 in connection with the Erie Canal, and so convincing to the committee were 
 they, that they recommended I'arliament to take stock in the canal to the 
 amount of $200,000; but still, from the unreasonable condition of the arrange- 
 ment, it amounted to nothing more than a loan, as the company were bound to 
 jiay interest on the same, as well as the previous sum advancet*. 
 
 18 2 7. 
 
 At the termination of the session on the 13th February, a meeting of 
 the Directors was bold, and a resolution was passed authorizing Mr. Merritt 
 to proceed to Quebec, for which £125 was voted, with a petition from the 
 Hoard to the Parliament of liower Canada, praying that tl.at body would assist 
 the Company by becoming subscribers, as it would be an equal benefit to the 
 ports in their I'rovince. Another resolution commisioned him, in conjunction 
 with Mr. Yates, if unsuccessful, to have the balance procured in New York. 
 
 Arriving in Quebec on the 23rd of February, he spent the time intervening 
 until the opening of the House on the 2nd of March, seeing the different 
 members of the Ciovcrnmont, and explaining tlie prospects and progress of the 
 Company's works. In this interval he writes hon)e : 
 
 " I have been introduced to most of the members. Every person says it 
 is a loss of time to say one word to Jean Uaptiste, as he will not give ujs a 
 dollar. I, however, have strong ho])es, and one week will determine the 
 measure, &c." 
 
 He also was the bearer of a dispatch from Sir P. Maitland to Lord Halhousic, 
 
 the Governor and Chief, at Quebec, on the same subject — which His Excellency 
 laid before the House by message. A bill was immediately brought before 
 the House, authorizing a grant of £25,000, which was passed through all it* 
 
 I 
 
 If 
 
86 
 
 brnncJu'H, Mr. Mcrritt arrivcl homo, by way of Albany, on tlic ll>th Murch, 
 inuklii^ tlie most fXjKiditiouH and huccesrtf'ul jyurney in t'ouuection with tiie 
 Ciiuiil yet rocttnli'd. 
 
 In tlio annual met'tin;^', wliich was hold at St. Catharines ou 2nd April, 
 the Hon. Ci)l. WoIIh toolc tlio place of Vice-rroHident Allen, and .1. H. Boultod' 
 that of Mr. W. H. Morritt, who whh now aotin;^ as Ajiont. Several nioetingB 
 were afterwardn hold alon^ the liii>', and at one of them it was resolved : that 
 the otticc! of the ('ompatiy be removed to St, Calh'irine.s, and that JamcH Hlack 
 be appointed resident seeretary — salary X,2iH). And tliat an oflice be built 
 here for the agent, secretary, and engineer, by ettntract — 3Ir. Merritt agreeing 
 to pay for the same at any time they may clioose to relinijuish it. 
 
 In tlie Spring of 1H27, a letter from Mrs. MfMiitt, sayK : 
 
 " There liavo been a gr««it many people heio. Kvery house is n-owdMl 
 with two or more families. IJnilding is- going on." 
 
 Mr. <jonh)n left, finally, with bis son — the only rcMuaining menibei of 
 his family, after twenty years so-jonrn in this country. Tlx^y returned to 
 Kdiiiburgli, where his soii .lame« received a finished education for the 
 medical profession ; passing a creditable «>xaininBtion at tlie exjiense of his 
 health, which ultimately caused liis premature death, at Paris, in 1830, 
 much regretted bv his friends in St. (^itbarincs and elsewhere. Mr. Crordon 
 afterwards lived in lA)nd()n, where he died in 184 0. 
 
 The [loople of Fontbill are perhaps not aware of the importiuice their 
 jjosition once hehl in the thoughts of the counti-y's iiilers at this tiine. 
 
 On the 25tli of July, R. H. Bonnycastle, R. N. ( -ommander at Kingston., 
 writes to Mr. Moiritt : 
 
 " r have stiggested to the Home (JovernnuMit tlie practicability of a 
 canal from yours t<j the Short Hills, either liy ISaJI's \ alley to SJeckitt'h 
 Mills, or, above the Deep (Jut." 
 
 Beginning late in the season, under the enej-gctic direction of the con- 
 tractor, Mr. (). S. Phelps, the works on the deep cut liad been ]iuslied on 
 with unexampli'd spewl. '['he wet weather setting in fjuly, it wa.s aban 
 (loned for the s(^asoii. 
 
 <)i») of the institutions .seemingly necessary on the works, was an indi- 
 vidual who tigui-es amongst others as the " grog-man." We are not aware 
 tliat in the.se days of buasted enlightentnent such a phrase ever occurs in 
 tlie reports or estimates of any great public work ; but as tlu^ word fre- 
 (luently a])[)rars on the old pay-list of the canal, we conclude that the un- 
 ])rocedented amount of work daily accomplished was in .sonu) nuiasure stlin- 
 ulatfM] by this inii>ortant personage. 
 
 Against the opinion of the President ami Directors, Mi'. Meiritt advc- 
 caUid strongly the undertaking of the canal directly to Port [Maitland. 
 This idea coming before the present one was finish* d, caused some commo^ 
 
 II 
 
87 
 
 tioii '» tiio lioiu.J, but \s&H 11 fdrtiiiiatt' mutt*-!-, as witliout it tlie ciinal 
 would tiiive to W al>arulouwl, owiaj; to ilic iiiiiiiy laml sHjih which oci'ui«'<l 
 ill the <ln<)j> tut iu th«? in*xt fall. 
 
 Mr. MenlttH ur!.'uiut>iit for the f«'t'd<'r iiuw iv, tlint <(jiiun<!; in at our «'iul 
 there, will Ite a fall the whole way,- -uk, by throwin;^ u ilaiii over the 
 Chippewa, we e,oi have dfep water We have plated our towiiifj path 
 above the surface for this purpose. As tiiis deepeiiiuj,' is not Iik«'ly to take 
 piaee for yeurs : it is not advisable to publish it niiw, liy eu<'ouni<i;iuju' v»>nhel« 
 U) be built Avith a hirju'cr drauj^lit than eij,'ht feet." 
 
 Oil the 1 lith of Septeiiilier. notices were j'iveii for i:ine miles exca\atioii, 
 bfitwetui the forks of t!ie SVellaiid and I'ldail (.'reek to lie liuished by the 
 1st of October, 1H2S. The eoutruct was taken by Moiisoii, Simpson. Si < 'o., 
 on the ;<rd of October, w lio advertised for 1,000 hands, which were readily 
 supplied from the deep cut works, now idle. Tlie idea of this work e.\ten<le.d 
 lieyond the Welland, oi- scheme of connecting the two lakes- as histhou^ditR 
 wer«; now turned to another scheme, viz: the imjudveinent of the (irand 
 IMver, which he commenced l»y openiu;.' a eorrespondenct! with the leading 
 men of the section of country about to be benefitted. This eorrespoudeuce, 
 which we have in ou: possession, shewB that Mr. Merritt wiwhed to be fully 
 in possession of all facts of intei-est in refereiwe to the country affected. A 
 series of leadiuj^ (juestious on trade, jiroductions, aj,'riculture, A'c.. ite., were 
 jti'oposed to b.' answered, and from which a reliable data could be j^ot, were 
 expected. Also, reiiuestiny them t^i raise subscriptions to have the route 
 regularly surveyed, as was the case with the ]>lans of the Welland and St. 
 IjHwreiice. 
 
 Tlie progress of the St. Lawreuoe extension durinj,' this year is given iu 
 the report of Messrs. l-lowes it Hykert, to the (Joveriior, in whose service 
 Ml'. Clowes, as intimated, had been since the 9th of June. These jtlans in- 
 < luded two sizes for the canal— four, and eight feet ; and after giving the 
 engineering particulars of oach route to the J.. (,'. line, lu^sxims up by saying 
 that it is highly gratifying to state, for the information of His Excellency 
 and others, that the advantages for the canalization of tlie St. Lawrence, 
 far exceeded our most sanguine expectati<jns. And although making this 
 statement, we see by a letter to Mr. .Mr^rritt from King.ston, (hited .SOth of 
 January, he had left the St. Lawrence. The report eoidaintid in several 
 jriaces favourable notii es of tlie J*ideau ('anal. Mr. Clowes had found 
 emjdoyinent ?uore profitable than that of his early patrons in Niagara, 
 iu tiie rival project of tlie ( Htawa. 
 
 In Mr. Meiritt's projierty, alluded t« in church matters, was left a space 
 ftn an eddcational establishment ; and ou A}iril li5th. a geaeral meeting was 
 held in St. Oatliarines, for the piii-jiose of building an academy, ou it, 
 which was attended by the leading gentry cf the neighbourhood. Pr. 
 
 f1: 
 
 m 
 
 ! ' 1 
 
 ] 
 
 ' ii 
 
 H 
 
 Ml 
 
8S 
 
 ■'^■iii 
 
 IJraUd ocnijiied tlu^cliair, iiii:l Ht'ury Mittlel).'r-or, Hsij., acted jus s<>crotary — 
 wlicii, a Kuildiiij,' to cost 84,000 was ugiverl u))on, to ho paid for by !;haros 
 of .^10 (>af''li. Si, ;').")() wa.s snbsoribed outli'' sjiot, and a i'(;miiiittt'o formed to 
 collect (lie lialancc. The l)iiildiiig was the iirst suiicvioi- iiistituiioii of 
 h'ariiiii!» in tliis inivt of tlio Pioviuce, ])iY'u?eding the Dislic^p's College at 
 Toronto, for which h(^ oUtained from the (Joviniinn'nt assistance to" tlio. 
 amount of 100,000 acres of land. 
 
 A meeting iu Brantford was advertised in the d'orc (!<r^:iip, on tlie l.')th 
 December, and was well attended ; Mr. Morritt making his oxjdanation.s in 
 reference to the Grand River imjirovements. 
 
 Without waiting, hftwever, for action to b(,' takcju on this, and the 
 season being late, he sent nj) !Mr. Cusack as enuineer to survey the i-oute. 
 
 A letter, from Mr. Gi'aut, of Aucaster, on the Ifith of Oct'iber, adv'ocates 
 that the survey should extend to Gait, A'C. 
 
 On the 8th of October, a lettei- was recei^e(l from Mr. Whitehead of 
 Buiford. in which he states : 
 
 "1 feel sanguine in the improvements of the Grand lliver idea, after 
 the plan suggested by you. A few inllueiitial individuals that I have con- 
 versed with, are desirous to undei-take it. but want to know what is the 
 e.\i»ense fm- levelling and surveying a route from where tiie Wolland ('anal 
 enters the (irand Ihver, to Ihantford." 
 
 '* I will immediately set u]i a subscription to defray jn-eliminary ex- 
 )»wnses." 
 
 And in anolhei- letter, he says : 
 
 " 1 have not be en as successful iu raising money as I anticipated, Arc." 
 
 Wo are not aware that any mo]u\v was raised at tjiis time, but Mr. 
 
 ( Jusack the engineer died soon afterwards, and we find tlic following amongst 
 
 INIr. ]\rorritt's nicmorandas, from his widow : 
 
 " Mr«. (/usack has re(]iu»stod me to apply to you for tlie ainount duo to 
 her late husband for surveying the Giand Iviver." 
 
 A lou't hater from J. D. Noi-ton, Black Bock, Mas also leceived this 
 yeai', relative to the disposal of Gyjisuni, shewing how oxteusivo wei-e his 
 jdans for the developement of the rosourses of the country. 
 
 A letter was received from the Presideiit on the 124th of December, in 
 wjiich ho says : 
 
 ■' r hope you will have everytliing ready for the llepoit V»y the time 1 
 write you to come over : it shall be as soon as Mr. Peter Bobinson makcH 
 liis appearance. We can do nothing till he comes." 
 
 On returning from Brantfcrd, Mi*. Merritt met with a very seriovis 
 Accident, caused by the upsetting of the coach in which he was travelling, 
 i)etween St. Catharines and Haniilt<}n. The shock ho received was 
 auliicient to confine him to his bed for some -lays, and from which he did 
 Jiot recover l»efdre his Journey to England, whii^h was undertaken soon aft#r. 
 
89 
 
 ] S 2 ,8 . 
 
 On till? 12tli of J;i?iuirv, 1S2S, a tiio'.>tin,' o])p()«eil i > t!i," j):-oj>ji'\l ( JraU'l 
 Risoi" roiuti, was liold in AnciistiT ; tlu^ Mt-a ciitLM'taiin'il liy tliust' ])rcs(iit. 
 l)eiiig, that a canal fro. i tliu*^ river to llaiiiiltnn. aii.l even from llw licail 
 wateis of tlio Thames, -would be the eorreet thin;^'. Twelve lung resolution:-! 
 wero passed, and it afterwai'ds beinj; found that the summit cutting' on the 
 proposiul I'oute would be one hundred fe(>t, and deeper than the dee}> cat 
 on the tho Welland ('anal, the idea was abandoned, and %ve believe never 
 afterwardp meutioneJ —at least if IVlr. ('aiireol'sKcheme nni^lit be considered 
 a similai" one. 
 
 As the whole work on the canal is now under way, it wa.s found 
 absolutely necessary to raise more funds. The Italance still on hand 
 amounted to .£."i9,00#, and it was found that more than doubh^ that sum 
 would be required to finish the work. An ellbrt was to be made again to 
 obtain tlie $l'()0,()00 re.served for England. 
 
 During the series of Board meetin,;s held in York, commeiaing on the 
 
 "J 1st of January, that on the Hth Fel)ruary contains a financial htaten)ent 
 from Mr. Merritt, by wliicli he says : 
 
 "No embarrassment for want of funds will ' i; felt until the 1st of 
 August, before whii-h time some inoai s must lie divi.sed t« obtain ij.")(),000 
 for the remainder of tho season.'' 
 
 lie also proposed five diflererit schemes towards laising this anunuit : — 
 1st. — To enlarge tho capital another £l<)0,0()(). "Jnd. — To endeavoui' to st»ll 
 stock, or efieet a loan in the United States. .'5rd. — To send an airent to 
 iCnglaud to obtain the one nintli jirt^mised on the eidarged capital. 4th.- - 
 To endeavour to sell stock there, oth. -t)r endeavour to ailect a loan. 
 
 The Board were at the end of their invent inn. To (udarge the capital at 
 present was a useless measure, as the New Vork stockholders having iin- 
 ])lied, nothing more coidd be expected from that ipiarfcer. JJut another trial 
 was to be made, and the agent once nioi-e. with discretionary powers. was sent 
 down to see if money could bo obtained. Tho st-nding to Kngland was tlio 
 l;ust thing, but who was to be the andiassador ? Mr. Meri'itt's readiness to 
 do anything for the canal, they knew. 'j'o a Colonist, a fr-./' trip to the 
 old country is the great object of his life. He always looka to going /lonif, 
 aiul a jiolicy that will culminate of b{>ing eommissioned there, is considered 
 worthy of a life's energy. 
 
 But it Wiis hardly ex]>r>(«ted that Mr. MtMiilt would und(;i-take the ta.^k. 
 Fnmi the expressions of surprise, after his success, by the Pntsident : '' Indi- 
 vidually, I must thank you for the success of your mhssion, which /.v lUDte 
 than I erjKCteiJ." Had not evmy envoy faih>d. already : and liad they not 
 
 I ' 
 
 i i 
 
 I i ; 
 
 iH 
 
 i!|' 
 
90 
 
 agon Is in F]n;,'Iand of ;,T('at wrtaitli und aluir.st luiiiotiiidiMl iufkuMic; wit.h 
 tlif! Hfiriitj (ioverntii'!Ut in ( iinadiaii iitlairs, wliilc Mr. Meritt, witK uU l,i8 
 zciil for tiie cuiiiil, wa.s witlioiit infiiuuice to raise tlic iieccHKury f'lindR. 
 
 W« will not say what infiuoiioe this natural fnoliug may liav«; had for 
 our suhjcct, on this his tiist voyaLff'. fn the alisfiico of any tc^stiniony Uy 
 the i-ontrary, we niusteall it a " self ajUJointinent." 
 
 We know he refused a lucrative connnission ataiiothtn- tiuie, and alwayH 
 avoided trips for pleasure. 
 
 Under these circurnstaiK-es, Mr. Merritt a;L;iiin visited the Unit(>d St.iitcs, 
 jroiiig by way of Kinjrston an<l Sackett's hiirhour to Philadel|>hia, where, 
 consulting S. (Jirard, he retui-ned to New York. While thero, he stjiyod 
 with Mr. Yiites, and inducted that genth.-inau to beconio security for $40,000 
 - -Kuftifient to carry on tlie work for a time. Not being able to accomplish 
 tlie full object of liis mission in New York, and aftei- waiting until the last 
 moment, he hnally dec-ided to go pcisonally to Kngland and his journey 
 thence, with his observatiojis, successes, itc, will b<; found in his journal 
 and correspondence, which is lieie coj-ied. 
 
 " Left home on Tuesday, the 2()th day of February, 1S2S, in a sleigh — 
 thi snow Jiaving fallen the day beforf^ Paid Mi'. Btevenson $2, instea<l of 
 $1.50, the regular fare to 8t(tney (!re.ek. From thence, went inanother 
 sleigh over the Ixiach to Ho[)kius ; thence, same night, to Corey's. My side 
 extremely painful at times : sudden thumps of the sleigh, almost in- 
 sup}K)rtable." 
 
 " 27th. — Into York at 10 o'clock. It havi'ig laiued hard during the 
 night, most of the snow disappeared. Called on Attorney-General, Major 
 Hill, Dunn (t Bolton. Met in the evening at Mi-. Orew's. No business 
 transacted, or }»r(!paratious made." 
 
 " i?8th, 'J'hursdrty.—(^uite unwell yesterday and to-day, from eftect« of 
 my u|iset. ProcunHl from Major Hill a letter to ("ommodore Barrie. Made 
 other preparations to leave in the morning : and ha\ t! the necessary pa])erH, 
 (not now prejiared,) sent on by Mr. Proudfoot. He leaves fo)- I'inglaiui on 
 Monday, which gives me a few (hiys longer in America, to make an atteinfit 
 to liitluf get the inonev bv loan, or dispose of the stock." 
 
 " L'Uth, Friday. Left York at 2 o'clock, with J. .lones, P. xMciJill, and 
 J. (Jeorge. Went 40 miles; the sleighing passable, snow having fallen tin; 
 day previous." 
 
 " 1st March, Saturday. Travelled to Moyer's Creek, about SO miles. 
 My si<le improving daily." 
 
 " Sunday, L^nd March. Went to Hath. 40 miles, to breakfast. Arriveil 
 in Kingst(.)n about one or two o'clock ' 
 
 "Monday, IJrd. Called early on Commodore Hany ; nnide every 
 arrangement with him. Saw Captain r.oniiycaslle and |jieut(M)nnt-C()lonel 
 Smiih. lloyal Lngineeip. Left Kingston at half-past thr«!e. Crossed to 
 Navy or (irand iKland with a sleigli and horses. More snow 3 est -day. 
 This island is seven miles long. Kiom thence, crossed ^o (Jravelly Point 
 in a boat. Sometimes boat drawn on ice, and soim times in water ; being 
 iieitiitr one thing or tin) other. Crostiiug, Linnl Major-deneral Paniediot, 
 
 
ifi 
 
 91 
 
 Avlio was in tlie town Kcliifii,' shcfip, to c-arry /rui out to Tirowrisvillf! foi .4'.'. 
 lie wjiK a thorough UniviTsalist, au-l Jackson xniui. Luckily anivod u few 
 minutes l>«fore the staij;f;. which catno from Saokott's harbour. 
 
 "Sunday, 4th -(!ot in, and reaclit'd Htioa. 
 
 " Mon<lay,r)th. — Arrived at AHiaiiy: !sto|)|)e(l at tli<^ hottd oj»j;o.sit«; Skin- 
 ner's. 
 
 "Tuoisday. (!th — ('alifd on Messrs. Youn^, Sfynioni-. Hank, W'illkson, 
 (to., <t(-. Took |)as'.afj;c on boaid st»>antboHt at four o'clock- -very niucfi 
 crowded. A poor unfortunate ttenthMnan died on hoard ; <lie passen<;e».s 
 playing canis, all unconcerned, (as nio.-t of us g'Mierally are in this world 
 at the Husfoitunes of others.) 
 
 "7th.- Arrived at New York at e,it(ht. Stop]>ed at the Franklin 
 Hot<d on Jiroadway. 15reakfasted, and then went with Mr. Yates to liis 
 residence, 112 Greenwich Street. Mr. Mills, the en/^ineer, whom 1 met 
 oftcHi before, came from Utica with me. Tlie pain in side iniprovin;.^ daily. 
 
 " !Sth. — Left New York in the lhii(Mi Liiu^, for Philadeljihia. at hulf- 
 pawt t«;n, for the purpose of interesting Mr. (Jerard In our jtroject if jK)ssi- 
 bie. Steamboat to Brunswick— a delightful excursion. St^iges through 
 New Jersey to Trenton, I'S miles, where we .-jlept. 
 
 "Sunday, !<th ]\Iai'ch. After a good night's nwt, embarkt'd on board 
 the Trenton st^'aniboat for Philadelphia, wh«tre we arri\('d at ehiven o'clock, 
 after another pleasant .sail on tlie Delawaie, whit-h divides the two Ktat«3s. 
 Examined the water works cm the Schuylkill, which are the most perfect of 
 the kind in America. Am preposseissinl rather against than in favour of thft 
 place, which falls far short of my anticipations. 
 
 "Monday, lOth.- Called on J. H. Kobinsoji, Ksq., tlie IJritish ('onsul, 
 and wrot<' a letter to Mr. (Jerard, explaining the object, to which he puts 
 Ids \vU) at once ; in conse(|uonce of winch we returned to N(!w York. Em- 
 burked at twelve o'clock in steamboat, and aii'ived iu New York at eleven, 
 tlu; following morning. 
 
 "'i'ue^sday, 1 1th Made niy first ajiplication to Prim vt Co., who rejecte*! 
 it at once — " would hav(> nothing to do with it." 
 
 "Wednesday, lL!th. ('ailed a meeting of .stockholders, who were plejisfwl 
 with the situation of the w<.»rk. Messrs. Yates and M.elntyre caiiu^ forward 
 and not oidy agreed to pay up the i-einaing shares, but ndNance .*1(),()()0 
 more, to be replaced in Kngland liy letter u> Mr. Merritt. 
 
 "Thursdav. l.'ith. Called on Jacob Astor, a (Jrrmaii, who thinks well 
 of it. 
 
 "Friday, lUh. -Madea number of att(!mpt*i in vajious (piarters. but 
 with verv little .succes.s. 
 
 "Saturday, l.'ith.- -Having made ajiplication to a noted Frenchnui c 
 (lernifiii and (.Quaker — closed with a Jew, agent of liothcliild. to whom f 
 addi-(!ssed the following letter : 
 Messrs. Phinii»s d- ( 'o. 
 
 (lENTLKMKS : 
 
 "You will tiotice Vty looking over the map of the Lnite<l Stiit^js an<l 
 Canada, that the Welland (.'anal, the |)lans and prolihss of which were shewn 
 you this <iay. unites Lakes Krie and < aitario, by shir» navigatieui, thereby 
 connecting the greatest extent «if navigable waters in the world, in the 
 shorttist lUstaiice, aiid with the least exttense. I am prejtared to prove, and 
 any person in the city knowing the geography of that country, will inform 
 
 . .;!f 
 
 ■ !! 
 
 » ' I 1 
 
92 
 
 yoii of tlirsnnic, that tlin Ohio Canal, wliicli fOU!i(>ct.s that rivev with Erie, will 
 bring id! tho ])ro(hiots of tlic country, nhovc St. liouis, to Lako Erii^ ; which 
 Lake will also receivf tlip products of Michigan, that juirt of Ponsylvania 
 und Now York honlcring, and the western ]>artof ('anada. Fiuther, when 
 tlie products of that wi^st 'ra country arc afloat on Like Ei'in, they will ]).iss 
 through the) Wellan.l (Unal if destined (Utiior for this or the Montreal 
 market. As von .suggested, 1 will call on Messrs. llowland it Co. in London ; 
 and I will thank you to foi-ward thei'o whatever inforiiiation you may tliiidc 
 lit on th-.' subje -t. Tiiere lias hcen tixpr-ndcdou this work .S7()i),0l)M. There 
 remains only .•? 100,000 to be taken up — but you have not time to decide on 
 this before the packet sails. " "W. H. M." 
 
 "Sunday, l(ith March. — Left New York. Sundav is a day mariners 
 appear to select for ])uttiiig to sea. ^t haj)])ened however to fall, in our case, 
 on the regular day for sailing. The ^ 'ori'/<i, Cajit. Tiiu;olm, is the good shiji 
 in which 1 am at }iresent. Thei-e are four lady passengers — Mrs. and INIl-.s 
 -Ruse, Miss Meyers, and the captain's wife. Nine gentlemen — Mr. Proudfoot, 
 .and Mr. Cameron, from Canada ; Mr. AYalker, from Sarnia: llecse, of Liver- 
 pool ; Mr. Cluin, of Nashville; Mr. Ireland, anil three ot!iers for England. 
 We had a fair wind on leaving the harboui', a\)Out eleven o'clock. IJisciuvrged 
 the pilot off S.uidy Hook, at one ; and in the evening was out of sight of 
 land. Passe, I ii great number of shij)s at anchor, ju.st arrived, and some 
 .still underway and beating up. About four, observed a ship 'heaving to,' 
 for purf)jse of sp^.uikiug us : bore down. Shs wanted to enquire what 'land- 
 a-head.' Proved to be a shij) from the Sandwich Islands, Pacitic Ocean. 
 One cannot but sympathize in the gool feelings and joy a sailor must ex- 
 perieujj iu siglit of land, aft?r a voyage of two or three years from his native 
 land. She was bound for Nantucket, la len wMth oil — ^where she must have 
 arrived tlie n;)xt day, as th? wind shifted to the eastward. 
 
 '•On Monday and Tuesday, 17th and 18th, a heavy blow from N. E. 
 All the passengers except three quite sick. 
 
 "On Wedn;^sday and Tliui-.sday, 19th and '20th, wind dead ahead. 
 
 " Friday, :21st, '.\ P.M. — \Ye had come into Lat. 37. 4 : 5. — -Cro.ssing the 
 Gulf Stream at (i : 7. — Put about, and found ourselves in the middle of it, by 
 an obsei-vation on Thursday afternoon. 
 
 " Saturday, 2llnd.- — -Aljout i.'iO miles from New York. Last night the 
 wind shifted at thwo o'clock : iu the morning. \>\<iw luird. and raijied. Wind, 
 N. by E. — )urcours(^E S. E. A heavy ln-ad .s."-.'!. Sliip goilig at S^ knots. 
 The sea aj>pears delightful, although we are tossing at u great rate. Many 
 sick. Myself not well. 
 
 '•Sunday, 2;}rd March — The vind continues favtmrable. Still a heavy 
 sea ; but on the whole, ])leasant. 
 
 "Monday, 21th. — 'Fhe wind hauled around somewhat u'.. favourably last 
 night. Rain again this morning. Studding .sails displayed, as yesteiday. 
 
 " Tue.sdiy, 2")th. — Commenced overluuiling papers. Calm last night, 
 and this day. Yesterday, was in liat. -10.21. Ijong. 49.25. Dull sailing, 
 although pleasant weather. 
 
 "Wednesday, 2(ith. — Had a li^iht breeze from the southward. Increased, 
 and hauled arontid to the west. The sea smooth, and the weather iiiM). 
 Ship going at the rate of !iine knots. All in good he-iklth and .spirits. 
 
 " Thunsday, 27th. — The wind continues fair. Have made lapid ju-ogi'esH 
 for the last 24 hours. We commenced |daying whist last night : this with 
 
 th 
 
. 'f 
 
 93 
 
 reading or writing, form.i tho only uniusemeufc, or means of occupyinc; tinip. 
 Lat. 39, long. 43. — wbidi brings us on tho European map, or eastern lialfof 
 tho Atlantio. 
 
 liofore cloising tl;'^ 'uap of America, he casts a retroHpcctive glance over 
 its expansive territory, .sj)ying out its facilities for water communication to 
 the seaboard, and theuoe to the old world. 
 
 Memorandum — The distances and prices of freight from tho commence- 
 ment of the Ohio Canal at Hciota in Ohio, by the Mi.ssi.ssip})! to New York, 
 3,800 miles, ^I'J per ton, in 27 days. To Lake Erie, 1)40 miles, for^l'Ji in 
 18 days. 
 
 Thus it will bo seen that tho exports can be made v, ith a similar expense 
 in two-thirds of tho time. The merchandiso for the suj.'ply of this soutlieru 
 country was brought, before any canal was built, by land from Philadelphia. 
 
 There is a prospect, that as far down as C^iiro, and up the tributaries, the 
 Ohio included, up tho Alleghany ^Mountains, must bo su])plied by the lakes 
 of the west of coui-se. 
 
 I received much valuable information of tho southern country from my 
 fellow-pa.sseugers. One of the a<lvantages of tho iiorthoru route, is the 
 salubrity of the climate. When the St. Lawrence canal is finished this ad- 
 vantage, as well ;ui chea[»nesH of freight, will bo in favour of tnat route. 
 
 " Friday, '?.Sih. — As we are about approaching England, the geography 
 of which I undei-stand very imperfectly, I have conmienced this day in ex- 
 amining the map, and the principal situation of towns in (Jreat Britain. 
 Thj tirst land we are likely to a[)[)ioach is Ireland, which is situated on the 
 left of tho Channel. Capo Clear apjiears tho point generally noticed. 
 Our course is up St. George's Channel, passing Cork, Wexford, itc. This 
 la.st place, with ^Millford Haven, oi)posite, on the .south side of the .sea which 
 divides or sepaniten Ireland from England. 
 
 " Did not sleep one hour la.st night, or tho night before. Was tpiite un- 
 well yesterday, but feel much bettei- to-day. The pain iu my side i.s lest;eri- 
 ing very nu;ch. After dinner we were called on deck to aeo two *^ wafer- 
 spouts," to the north. It was blowing fresh, and occa.sionally .s<pially. 
 'Hiero was nothing remaikable in their ap})earance Tiiore than tho appearance 
 of a thick dense mist rising from tho oce^ui to a cloud, and moving along 
 in a body in tho diioution of the wi)id, from west to east. Tho mate pro- 
 nounced it a " loaterr.povl" and said that ho saw one in tho P.'icitic Ocean 
 which took up empty bArrels to a great height. However, this proved no- 
 tiling more or less than a piussing cloud of mist, a.s we ireiiuently see on land. 
 
 " Saturday, 2'Jth. — We passed a iianpie tliis day, standing to the ea.stward 
 — the weather very rough, and perhatis we were 80 or lUO yards a()art : the 
 sight is cheering and plea.sant ; altlicnigh there would be no possibility of 
 boarding each other. All cheerful and pleasant. The wind tair. Going 
 ftt the rate of nine or ten knots an hour. llemend)ered Saturday night at sea." 
 
 "Sunday, 30th. -This is tho 14th day, or one fortnight since we left 
 New York. We ha^ e been most highly favoured with fair winds and fine 
 weather, for which wc should bo grateful ttj tho A'luighty. The weather 
 iifcild, but wet. Wind still fair. I-'it. 47, Long. 20. 
 
 !! 
 
[H 
 
 m 
 
 m 
 
 '•T\iP»ilay, April 1st. — Pashod tlio n!)in " Iinhin-Ifooif," of Hostoii. Six 
 tlavHoiit from I^-ivorpool, bouiul for Now York. Jlopoi-t the " Fhridn " all 
 woll. By tlii.^, titling^ w'M vPiich Iioiik', \ trust, of our siifoty thuy far. 
 
 " Wi'iiiK'sday, liinl A|)ril.— No oli.sfTvatioii yf'.>itcri:lay. Tlic wind lulled 
 cjilin. Caiiu) on from the eastward with a gentle lireexuand some rain. All 
 tlie |Kisseii'j;er,s in ^i-eat glee, expectinj; a fj'.vourahlf aud sliovt vuy„.(fo. Thi.i 
 Homewhat dampens their spii'its. We hav' reasoii to he satisred for the 
 long continuance of favourahln weather and fair wind this year, and ahouhl 
 not e.xpeet at this .se.'i.->oii its continwanio throii;.jhoiit tho voyage. No observa- 
 tion ye.sterday oi" to-day. Tho east winds same eold and un|)leasant. 
 
 '' Thursday, o Ai)ril. — Tho wind still eontiinies froin the eastwanl very 
 light, and no ap])eara.noeH of a change. We are driven fur to the northward 
 of our course, heading towiuds N(n-wa.y ahout L'oO oi- 'M\() miles from \,\w 
 westeiJi (;<»ast of Ireland. 
 
 " ' Zimmermans's .I.i)vers,' and ' (Jaiter'fs Travels,' form a ['art ofou" 
 library, and ' |{. Hale's Travels.' 
 
 " Friday, 4th Tl'.is day o'f>tained an observation : find ourselves in Lit 
 
 f>2. ."»(>. Tj'mg. 1'), and .some minutes directly oppo,sit<' tho town of Jjimerick, 
 on the Shanmrn. Quito calm. Still have made no ilirect progre.ss for t.ho 
 last three days. 
 
 "April .'>th.- — Clear. ISO ndles from Cape (!lear. Wind fair. 
 
 '•Sund:iy, (ith. — Call.'td up at o, to see C.ipe (.lear lighthouse, when witliin 
 l."» miles, pas.sing at a Ha.fe distance the furthest rock on the reef of tho 
 Cape. We bore tovrards land. This [lart nf the coast is mountainous. 
 ]li'lade Kinsule head, near where the Alhion was wj-eeked. Wo came ohiso 
 enough to see tlie given fieldii, which were enclosed with stone fe)iee.s. Tii.^ 
 J'hnerald isle, at this pait of the coast, does not prescMit the vi\id grandeur 
 whi(.h 1 expected. It M'as with no little feeling of [)h;a,siire my eyi>>j ga/wi 
 on the land of my ancestors : and the <Hnintry to me presented a similar ap- 
 j)ea\'anee to that of tho East rivei-, wliicli was tlie home of my ancestors 
 in America." 
 
 He eloses Sunday with ]ii()us i-eJloctions and grateful e.\]>ressi(ms towards 
 the Almighty, that He has thus rendere<l the voyage .so wife and pleasant. 
 
 Tho i>assage was not yet over, but tho many dangers of the Irish Sea 
 was yet to be encountered, more thati now for the lack of .steam. J^ut 
 great precautions were taken dm-ing the voyage. 
 
 His observations in the city of Liveri)Ool may be ]iassed, as the imi)rovo- 
 ments there have made it another place since then. But tho journe-,' ujt to 
 London we will learn from a letter to Dr. J. Prendergast : 
 
 1\> J)i>r/,or Jededlah I'voiderynff. 
 
 liONDON, 4th May, 1828. 
 My Dear Sir : 
 
 I have taken a few moments this morning to give you a detail of this 
 to tlie, wondei-ful coiu»try. 
 
 1 was prepared to meet great splendours and extreme mi.sery. 1 have 
 found everything so different from what T o.vjiected. From Liverpool iw 
 Jiondon, '2().S njiles, [ rode on the outside of a coach-- - passed a number of 
 manufiicturing towns— examined every place as far as my e^^ would roach; 
 
 \'f 
 
 ii 
 
95 
 
 *iw jiDlliiii'^ Iiiil. |)('iu:»', |»I(Mity jfiMxl lniiii>»ur, ;uiil iu)t a!i ilniivMciil wlio Itsul 
 not good flotliii)!:; .•iiul hIuh's. .Met verv tVw tra/ellt'is, excfpt in n>;u;l;pH. 
 The wln)l« ooitiitry, with soiuf cxfi'ptioii.s, IwK) 'i:;s to nobli'Tnen, ami ex- 
 t«)isivi> i)n)jirirt(M*s. Tlu'rc is not oiie y:u'il oft- tli not (Miltiviitoil, to nil 
 a|>i)i?iuunct', as wdl a-; our ganlcus ; (>\('nn)unil lie salt works, wliich wo 
 jtiirtHOil. TliH pooplc an? iinluhti^ou-, to a «iei;rfi». a^ni takiii;,' all things into 
 ^•onsldoration, porliaps tor tlii.s country no better systtMn can be atlopteu t'or 
 tlic "UviMioii of pioporty- although it would never answer for Aniei»ea. I 
 wiia ten tlays in Lonrlon Iwfore F met a drunken person. Them is le«rf of 
 thi» vii-e in tlu' pojiulation of I ,")00,()l)i) pe-dple in this eity than in oiu' of 
 ouv iutelliL,'ont villa.;4:es. I was jtrej'ared to meet reserve in the extreme, 
 nutl even iiisolenc(.>, ami was advised not to appear as ii stranger. I havo 
 found ('very dispositioii to be eonuinmieative and in(juisiti\ e, in some oa.sea 
 oxcedin;^ any Jonathan [ ever met with ; and when 1 mentioned l)eini^ a 
 strangiM', which 1 alwayft "vave as my a)>ology for ini|iiisitiveness, \ -.vns 
 treated witli double attention. 'I'he eapaeity of ji man, here, is oontin.ed to 
 his [tartioulai' Icislnoss or dnty, '.vholly uidike o\n- [lopuhitioii. You euii ob- 
 tain no infonnafcion o!\ anv local subjeet with whieh thev are not ent:airod. 
 I have scarcely heard an oath in the whole country. (Meaidiness uu«l neat- 
 ness in ovpry cottage is remarkably eonsjiionous. Noticed bnt oni^ wind.)w 
 not cleaned, iVrc My opinion of the I'-'-iti-li (lovernnieiit is, that tlio 
 Ministry manage, all the home coueerns, their colonies, und pay attention ^ 
 to f'M'cign relations. To ))reserve wUnt th(ry havM is ijuite sutlicient, and i 
 the stibj;^cfc of their most anxious attention. Hverything is diviiled into dc 
 paifcnnMits. The colonial office ha'j our business, with that of otlier colonios 
 The members of Parliament appear to be the greatest fags. They have th^^ 
 uiuot uj'duous lal)ours to ]»erfoi'ni. It is tlifv v,'!io govern the kIiigdo:ii. 
 There is .-in investigation going on in Parliament re.sjiecting the (bivei-.i- 
 menf of Canada. I iiolievi' their unexamj'led success is owing to a Hxe.d 
 inde, to adopt a nieasure, and decide upon it from princi[)li' ahuie. Tlio 
 public oliices are open from one \iti!l five, dniiy. ]Meas\n'e is indisjiensiblo 
 with them good living i^ the grearest. ci.juyiu(Mit. Hinner hvsts from 
 twolvo untilltwt), itc." 
 
 "ith.—Hont Dr. Prondergast a letter. 
 
 5tli. (Sdlcil ujion Clian(;elloi-, who appointed Tues<lay. Ib'tunied and 
 
 wrote, letters to the (^llicials, separately. 
 6th.' — N(j inteiview. 
 7th.— Ditto. 
 8th.— Ditto. 
 
 9th. — t'alled daily, and am put oil' on some pretence oi' other, either real 
 or imaginaiT, all the same to me. Wrote home of my success thus far, by 
 ('ameron, who was returning home by next packet. 
 
 1 1th. Snn<lay. --Attended Sidmoutli (,'hapel and Magdalene Asylum. 
 12th.--(.'all(vl upon Chancellor. Put oil" till next day. 
 l;Uh."-\Vent back, and wrote ^Ir. (ioidborne, Huskinson, and Hay, 
 stating the necessities of the Company ; and on account of Mr Cnmeron's de- 
 parture, ui-ging an immeiliato decisuni. At hftlf-pa.*»t tive this aftoruoon, I 
 receired a letter from Mi-. (Joulboi-ne. 
 
 1 Ith. — Which 1 Rent immediately to Mr. Cameron, along with Iett;<>r.H 
 t.o Mr. Dunn and Yates, who fortunately received them before the Hjiiling 
 of tho imoket. 
 
 Hi 
 
00 
 
 ISth, — Drew out a Htatemont of t}ie progress of tho canal, and after n 
 miinber ofattein})tH succeeded in getting it inserted in th« TiincH." 
 
 In referencn to tliis entry, wo think the cii'cunistancoa connected there- 
 with worth relating, as oui- subject used to tell repeatedly a rather laugh- 
 able anecdote on the same. 
 
 It seeuis that Mr. Meriitt alwaya had a great opinion of the power of tho 
 prees,-— but particularly ho when in England, where the ThtiPH, then as now, 
 wjis the leading organ of public ojiinion. He repeatedly sought an inter- 
 view with tho editer, for tho purpowe of explaining his scheme, but was 
 alway.s i)ut oil' with the excuse of " heiiiy too Luki/ ju^t now." At last ho 
 tleterniined to bring the matter to a crisis — and when the usnal answer waa 
 given, our Hubject replied by stating that ho could describe tho whole affair 
 in Jim minntes. The editor immediately pulled out his watch, saying, 
 " Now, as you are a man of business, I will give you that time." Mr. M. 
 at once drew his maj) from his pocket, and spreading it before the editor, 
 in a short and concLse manner exclaimed : 
 
 " Here is Lake P]rie — here is the Falls of Niagara — this is Lake Ontario 
 — and this, th(i iSt. Lawrence, and the Atlantic : and lure is the route of 
 the great Welland Canal." 
 
 Immediately closing the map, and ending the interview. The astonish- 
 ment of tho editor may bo better imagined than described. Yet, in the 
 next issue of the paper the article appeared, and had a marked effect upon 
 the success of hia scheme, as evinced by a niraber of congratulatory letters 
 afterwards received. 
 
 17th.— Visited Mr. Bliss, a legal and literary gentleman, of the Inner 
 Temple, who took stock, and helped by correcting and assisting in the pub- 
 lications for the English public. 
 
 ISth. — At Church at Jlolhoiii, with Mr. Sabine and aimable family. 
 
 l!)th to 21st. — Spent in printing and correcting the statement. 
 
 22nd. — Went to the Epsom races : was pleased with all but the gambling. 
 
 2:h-d, 24th, 2r)th.— Writing letters. 
 
 2t)th.— -Visited his frieiuls Major Crlegg and (len. Vincent. 
 
 The remainder of this month was spent in calling on the notabilities of 
 Tx)ndon, both in and out of Parliament, and distributing his pamphlets, ex- 
 plaiui'.g his scheme, «fcc. — when an unexpected occurence happened, which 
 was likely to impede his negotiations with the Government — namely, a 
 change of ministry, which occured on the 28th of Ma}'. 
 
 June 8th. — Wrote to Mr. McQueen, editor of the GUimjo-w Courier. 1 
 had no satisfaction at calling at the Colonial Office. 
 
 9th. — ('ailed on Mi'. (Irant, who promised a.ssistance. 
 
 Hth. — Wrote to the President of the C'anal Co. Made an excursion 
 to St. All)ana, to an agricultural show. The fields crowded with labourers, 
 women, and children, busy making hay. A beautiful red lilly in the fields 
 took my attention. St. Albans is a y)lace of great antiquity. Tho abbey 
 is one of the largest in England. The borough sends two members to 
 Parliament. Lord Verulam has an e.state close by. Returned in a Leeds 
 
 Ea 
 
5)7 
 
 coaoh. TluK is the Uiiiil Lime, 1 have |iasw(l (vou\ 8t. Albuiis to Lojuloii, 
 cacli tiuK.' by u new roiid. 
 
 Juno Kith. — Il»iturncd, exjieotinj^ the Wulhiml (Janal Imsiuoss to be 
 brought before tho liouse. Paid half-a-crowu for u seat in the j^allory 
 There are six or ('ijj;}it rejtorUjrs hero, busily engaged in taking notes. 
 
 18th. — (Jailed ou the Chancellors. Still in susix'n.sc. 
 
 lOtli. — Went into the city. Saw a representation of the battle of 
 Waterloo, <.»f whidi this is the anniversary. 
 
 21st.- To Mill Hill. 
 
 23rd. — Ileturned to London. Wrote to the Chaneellov after seeing tli© 
 Attoi-ney-Cteucii-al's letter. 
 
 2tth.— Was summoned before the ("'antida Committee. [Mr. Alerrit's 
 evidence tlirows .so much light on the eommereiiil and politiial interests of 
 the province at the time;, though at the exjiense of a souiewhat hingthy 
 <li|^ession, that we insert it in full.] 
 
 , ' I 
 
 Eidracf. from .Ii>'port o/ S"Jecl CoininUlf" on f/i-: CltiU Gomnnmitt of Cunfufd. 
 
 Arc you a native of Upper Canada?---! am. 
 ti proprietor in that Province? — Yc.^j. 
 
 To what causes do you attribute the difTTonce in the value oflimd in Upper 
 Canada and in the State of New York ? — The jaincipal cause is in the present 
 boundary Hue or division of the country, which excludes u.^ from tlio advan- 
 tages we should derive by participating in the commercial weillh of the country, 
 and enabling us to improve its internal conmninications. Lands in Upper 
 Canada are not one-fourth of the value they are in the State of New York, and 
 real property not one-tenth. 
 
 To what particular districts of country do you filludc? — 1 allude to the 
 whole extent of bath province.*, with the exciptiou of ITjO miles on the St. 
 Lawrence in Upper Canada, between the boundary lino and Kingston ; in this 
 distance we pos.sess e({ud advantages in our interna! conmninications, and 
 property is equally valuable on cither side, accordinn' to its local situation. 
 
 Will you point out some ](articular part of l^])pcr Canada to which your 
 observations »'ipply? — From Ivingston upward ; particularly on Luke Erie, or 
 above tlie Niagara River. 
 
 In what way docs the wani- of a sea-port tmvn aff'ct tl'.e valu'; of land in 
 Upper Canada? — Py excluding us i'rom any participation in its wealth. The 
 capital of all countries centres in its cities; for in.stance, the wealth of the State 
 of New York centres in the city of Now York, and the wealth of Upper Canada 
 centres in Montreal : they bring a portion of that wealth back I'rom New York 
 to improve the country, by building mills, making roads, canals, kc, &o., in 
 conse((uence of which, together with the cheapness, facili:y. and regularity in 
 their conunnnications, they cm en)p!oy capital once a ?nonth during the navi- 
 gable part of the year, in converting grain into flour, and sending it to nuirket. 
 Wheat always brings a better pric' with them, although tin' niarlict may be 
 better with us at Montreal than with them at New York : this has a tendency 
 to make property more valuable, and to change hands readily ; whereas, with 
 us there is not a single instance of a Montreal or Lower Canada merchant ever 
 expending a farthing in I'pper Canada. It i.s true that thny posseas large 
 tracts of land in tliat Province, which they have b -cu under the necessity of 
 taking in payments of bad debts, but never lay out 1<. in iiuproviOj^ them for 
 
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IS 
 
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 98 
 
 the Rcnoral advantage of the country. We have not live flourini; uiilU which 
 can be considered mercantile within sixty inihis of tlio Niajiiira frontier, while 
 the Stntca people have upwards oi' fifty ; the <onsc(|U('nce is, while wheat always 
 coMimanda cash with thctn, it can only be bartered with us, and instead of oneo 
 a month, we cannot employ capital in purehasin<x jyrain to make a remittance 
 oftoner than once a year. I'roperty is merely noiuinal, it euiinot be turned 
 into money. We think iy jtossesniuif n sui-j)nr(, we would impiove the interior: 
 make it an ohjcci for indiviJinifs to invest monri/, rieate hiisiiiess, produce nn 
 entire choiige, ond p/urr ourselves in full ns tjood a situnti « as our nriijhitoiirs. 
 
 If a merchant ill Montreal had capital to dispose of, and had an opportunity, 
 uf eniplovinp it advaiitaireously in I'pper Canada, would he be prevented from 
 doinf;^ so by the circumstance of the territory lyinu under a different jurisdic- 
 tion ? — No ; but we know Upper Canada is not now in a situation to have capi- 
 tal advantageously anployed, and we tliink it m ver will as long as that un- 
 natural territorial line o.\ist>. Almost every British merchant, I'or years past, 
 liaH been dis.satisfiod with the country ; and a great portion of the capital ac- 
 cumulated in i^lontreal has been sent either to this country or the United 
 States. Wc hope to place it in a situation to induce the inhabitants to look 
 forward with a view of making Canada their permanent residence, and produce 
 <t favourable change even in this feeling. 
 
 Is it solely with the view to the probable return of capital into the country 
 that is amassed at Montreal that you reconuneud this nieasure, or is it with a 
 view to any commercial object? — It is with a view to the yfueral interests of 
 the eonntrtf in ever)/ respect, the ftcersf<ion of hot h eajiifal and credit, that port 
 would give us, would enable us at once to set ahimt the improvement of the 
 St. LdWrenr, In/ fjUnw'ng the exnmjde of the State of JVew York. Within 
 three years wc would itiake <i sea-roast of all those upper lakes, and possosn 
 nearly the same natural advantages over the U. iS. people, in our access to the 
 ocean, wc did before the conipletiou of their canal, relieve ourselves from paying a 
 tax of £4. 10s. sterling per ton on all our imports, £1. 4s. on our exports: save 
 the country from £100,000 to £200,000 per annum ; matciially promote the 
 agricultural and conimereiul interest of that country, as well as the mercantile, 
 manufacturing and shipping: interest of this, and etdianee the value of all 
 property fully e(|ual to what it now is in the state of New York. 
 
 Then your complaint is that the Assembly of Lower Canada does not im- 
 prove Montreal as you would improve it ?— Our complaint is not with respect 
 to the city of Montreal, but the whole country ; the improving of one part will 
 benefit the remainder; they have only one general interest. 
 
 Is your complaint, then, that the Assembly of Lower Canada does not 
 meet you in improving the navigation of the St. Lawrence between Montreal 
 and your limits ? — When we see a neighbouring state, without the aid of any 
 revenue from foreign commerce, or duties on imports of any description for ita 
 own use, connect Lake Eric w'th the Hudson, from Buffalo, Lake Ontario 
 from Oswego, and I^ake Champlain from White Hall, by canals ; to construct 
 which they had to ascend high summits and surmount the most formidable 
 obstacles ; while the natural outlets of all those lakes are in the St. Lawrence, 
 and could have been connected with the ocean in Canada by a steam-boat or 
 ship canal, for one-fourth of the money it required to construct their boat- 
 canals, we have reason to think there has been at least a very great want of 
 attention to the subject. At the same time I have much satisfaction ir 
 stating that the L^islaturc of Lower Canada contributed to the connection 
 
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If VI 
 
 v^f 1 ako» Eric and Ontario by tukin^ .itock to the lunount of 'J5,0()0I. in tha 
 Wo 'linid Caniil Company, and manifcHtcd at the time tht; best dispuhitton t( 
 promote any useful improvopient, and many individual members jiinec then 
 liiive xprosscd their readincsH to assist in tho improvement of the h't. J^aw- 
 riii.ce, althouf^h it is not reasonable to suppose on general prineiplcs tho people 
 of Lower (Canada can feel tho same interest in improving? the country above 
 thorn as those who have to pay, for every barrel of flour they send to Montreal, 
 onr-thlrd of its vuluo for freipht, and on our heavy and most useful articles 
 from Montreal, onn-half the amount of its cost. I will mention a case in point 
 to prove this. Every member from the city of New Vork opposed the, appro- 
 priation of money for tho construction of the Erie canal; it was carried by the 
 influence and number of the western members, who felt the sumo interest in 
 tho undertaking; we do in this ; and although it \m.\ proved e(|ually beneficial 
 to the city, they would not have had a canal to this day if the state hud beeu 
 divided or separated a."} we are in Upper and Lower (^mada above Mont- 
 TCal. 
 
 How can u line which only separates two jurisdictions prove .such an insur- 
 mountable barrier to tho wealth of I'pper (Jauada ?--The reason is simply this : 
 Upper Canada cannot participate in the comnicrcial wealth and advantages 
 of a sea-port. It is the same as it would be in the state of New York if there 
 was a line drawn across the state above Albany, and it was laid out into two 
 separate states; tho upper could not participate in the wealth of New York, 
 and W(»nld remain poor. The main cause of tliu prosperity of that state Is in 
 having capital returned I'rotu the city, and the liogislature po.s.sessing power to 
 oommand the ensdit and capital of the whole for the nuitual benelit So satis- 
 fied are they that their boundaries could not be bettered, that with all their 
 propensity to change and to try experiments, no man ever dreams of cutting 
 tho state into two parts ; they change the constitution; cut up into counties, 
 and create nn many new ()fficos as they can, but, the natural boundaries of the 
 state remain untouched, although their population is about 2,000,000. Every 
 state in tho union, where an angle can by possibility be run to the ocean, pos- 
 sesses a sea -port; and it 80 happens that the money to eflf.>ct the intern;d im- 
 j)rovcments in those states is always provided in those very cities from internal 
 resources. When we see two countries lying side by .>ide, as the western part 
 of the state of New Vork and Upper Canada, posvsessing cfpial advantages in 
 soil and climate, and tind the one increase in the most a.stonisliing manner while 
 theolher, comparatively speaking, remains stationary, our attention is naturally 
 drawn to discover the true cause. The whole country, within near 800 miles 
 of the Niagara river, 4G years since was a perfect wilderness. Our side of the 
 Niagara frontier settled and improved full as fast as theirs until the late war, 
 since which their rapid increase has taken place. They borrowed 9,000,000 of 
 dollars on the credit of their state, constructed their canal, added 100,000,000 
 of dollara to the state by the increase iu the value of property. The tolls now 
 pay the interest of thcmoney, and will redeem the principal in a few years. It 
 is impossible to conceive the effect opening those communications produces in 
 ft new country unlcs.H they arc witnessed. This is the true cause of their pros- 
 perity, which they could not have effected without the aid of the city of New 
 York ; and I maintain we only want the city of Montreal to enable us t,o produce 
 similar results ob a much greater and more beneficial scale. 
 
 Do you contemplate as necessary for the attainment of that object the 
 uaion of the two provinnas, or do you think that your object would bo suffioieat- 
 
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c 
 
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 |<f?|j|i: 
 
 i?iii 
 
 TOO 
 
 ly nttiiincd, if tho division of Tipper Cnnnda wcro to extend as low n» Montrojil?" 
 • — 1 think that wonld bo sufficient without a union. 
 
 Do you coneeive thatsueh a division would answer all the purposes of com- 
 nicrcial intercourse, and ^^ould be more advantageous than an incorporation of 
 the two provinees into one? — I think that ultiniatoly a union would be more 
 advantageous, but we would avoid all the ditlieultioH that the people of Upper 
 Canada anticipate if a union was to take place; they think they would be under 
 llio influence, ofa majority in Lower Canada. 
 
 Would it be pos>iblo to make such a geogrnphiea] division of tho provinces by 
 running a line down the river Ottawa, and then pa.ssing south and west of Mon- 
 treal, fio as to include in tho upper province none of the seigncurics of the 
 lower province ? — Xo ; it would not : tliore are four or live small seigncurie,-: 
 lotwtcn Montreal and th(! present boundary line. 
 
 ISnpiHjsing a similar line were rnu from La Prairie, on the other side, totlxi 
 liver Kicholieu; are there any Heigncuries .«outh and west of such u line? — Yes, 
 there are four or tivo. 
 
 Ih not a great proportion of the English population in Lower Canada 
 included in the town and j-oigniory or inlaud of Montreal? — Yes. 
 
 Do you conceive that a majority of the jtroperty an 1 wealth of the town 
 of Montreal is in the hands of the English orof the French Canadians? — The 
 numbers are in favnr of the French, but I should think the commercial pro- 
 perty is in favor uf the i'lncrlish. 
 
 Were not the whole of the seigncurial rights of Montreal in tho hands 
 of the seminary? — Yes, 1 understand they were, but the Government had a 
 claim to tlitm. 
 
 Are you aware that tho Ciovemmcnt have come to an agreement by which 
 they have in their power those original seigniourial rights, with the intention 
 of making a mutation of the tenure? — No, I was not aware that they had. 
 
 Would the v.'oninie'-(!i-d objeet of t!io Upper Province bo answered by an- 
 nexing jMontreal to it? — Yes. 
 
 in what way can goods be carried to ^lontrral ? — Any vessel of 400 tons 
 enn g>) direct from this to Montreal; and, as 1 bclbre mentioned, although the 
 distance is .'{,2IH) miles, the freight is only £1 2s. (Jd. per ton ; whereas tho 
 next 400 miles it is £0 12s. Dd. 
 
 r>o you think, if you had the town of ^Montreal as a port of entry, you 
 would be abi ^ to control your own imports and levy your own duties? — Yes, 
 without any rt'ifiicnlty. 
 
 Without interfering in any manner with tho province of Lower Canada? — 
 Yes; the inhabitants of each country should be allowed to purchase freely in 
 the other. 
 
 Supposing a ve.s.ael bound for Upper Canada were to pass through the St. 
 Lawrence, and no duties were to be collected on her at Quebec, would it not 
 be possible for her, in her pat^age up the St. Lawrence, to smuggle those goods 
 into Lower Canada for consumption there? — They could not smuggle into 
 Lower Canada between Quebec and Montreal with any greater facility than 
 they can now smuggle between Quebec and Autieosti. There is no smuggling 
 now, that I am aware of; and it would be much against the interest of this 
 country, as yvell a.-? (Lanada, to put on such high duties as would tempt smug- 
 gling. We are not, and should not be put on a footing, or considered, as two 
 foreign nations with separate interests. A manifesto, or clearance, is put on 
 
 VI 
 
101 
 
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 bonnl tho vi's«Hel in tliis oouutry ; tlicy would cuter at Quebtoorat Monlreul, 
 hi they ploascil. 
 
 Do you ohjpct to tlio arr!Uij,i'inont that has beon mude with rognrd to the 
 tllvi.sioii of the duties between tiic upper aud lower jirovince \ — No: I do not 
 think the <livisiori of duties iuiportaiit: it is of very little consequence to tlio 
 general prosperity of the country, whether u few pnuiidx, more or IcBa, are 
 paid either to Jjower or Upper Canada ; their ji;eneral interest is, or rather 
 should be, tlio same, I am warranted in my opinion respccjting tlie effeet of 
 dutic;^ by witnessinj; their proeecdinj^s in the State of New Vork, from which 
 I draw my reference!*. She derives no partieular advantaj^e from tlie revenuo 
 of her imports; tliey are exclusively under the control of the general govern- 
 ment; still, she is enabled to appropriate large sums annually for edueulion ; 
 pays her civil list, and nceomplishes the most extensivo internal improvement, 
 witliout any aid from the general government; while we, with a revenue of 
 £900,000 per annum, cannot pay even our civil list. Tlie])rineipid object aud 
 flie'greatest advantage the provinces will derive by the accession of Montreal to 
 Upper Canada, is, that by placing the internal wealth of the country nt her 
 own dispo.sal, she will be enabled to appropriate .i portion of that wealth in tho 
 improvement of the interior, and make the country rich enough to defray its 
 own internal expenses, and not depend wholly on taxing British eommerco for 
 every local purpose. 
 
 Do you aj»preben(l that there would be any serious objection, on the 
 part of the French Canadians of Montreal, to 1)0 transfernui to the uj)pcr 
 province? — I cannot say. My own opinion is, if they iiud an opportunity 
 to compare their pres( ut situation, with the udvuntagps tliey nnist derivo 
 by the change, they would not; and J know that evoiy man in Upper ('.anada 
 would he in favour of it. 
 
 Do you think it woubl be just to introduce among that po)>ulation a now 
 law, with all its incidents'! — 1 do not see the necessity fur altering tho law 
 as it at present stands. The French law, I have no doubt, would be gradually 
 Altered, as changes might seem advantageous. Tf the aci-ession takes place, 
 they would rapidly become English, if we can jiulge from the result at Now 
 Orleans : and as this state of things, from our local situation must take place, 
 r think it just ami politic to i)ring it about us soou as possible, that we may 
 bo one jieople. 
 
 It has been stated by some of tho witnesses before this Committee, that 
 it would be easy in practice to establish such a system of custom-house regu- 
 lations, at the present point of division between the two provinces, as to 
 enable the inhaljitants of Uppei- (.^inada to impose what taxes they pleaso 
 uiKfU goods coming into that pi'ovinee, and to levy them without any ilanger 
 •of smuggling from tho lower |)rovince, in case of any variation of duty be- 
 tween the two provinces ; is it your o])iuion that ibat would be a [iracticable 
 arrangement! — No: I think it (juite impracticabb\ 
 
 Will you state why you think so ! — There are mar.y reason.s. If a temp- 
 tation was offered for smuggling, it could not be resisted : for instance, in 
 the winter the country is covered with suow, and they could go into Upper 
 Canada whenever they ]ileased : they might enter in various ways, by boats, 
 sleighs, waggons, »fec., as they formerly smuggled between the United States 
 and Canada. 
 
 What is the extent of tho frontier, between Upper aud Lower Canada, 
 throughout which smuggling might be carried on ! — M.any milew, from St. 
 
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102 
 
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 7l?giK, opftoslte Cornwall, noar the whole length of li-akn St. Francis, thonc« 
 along the houndary to the river Uttjiwa, and sootiall the line of tJiut river. 
 
 Supposing Montntal was the port of entry in the upper province, what 
 would prevent smuggling from the upjjcr province into tlic lower province t 
 -There, would he no neciissity for that. The inhaljitants of Lower Canada 
 might go and buy from the port of Montreal, and the inhal)itants of Upper 
 Ciuiada might go and ')uy from the port of Quebec, the same im they do now. 
 Tliey pay no duty on ero.ssing the line between Montreal and Upper Caniula. 
 
 Supposing an ino<piality of (hity in the two provinces, and that no 
 article wimo t>^ })Ay a le,ss (luty in Upj)er Canada than it jiaid in Ix)wer 
 Canada, what woiild there b« to present that article from being smuggled 
 into Ijovrcr Canada in oonsecpienee of that inferiority of duty ? — If either 
 province were iinjiolitic enough to ptit a higher duty on any one article than 
 wa.s paid in the other provinces, the consequence would be that everybody 
 would go and buy in the jilace where it was the lowest : but, as T have be- 
 fore mentioned, there .'^ilioiild be no second duty after goods are once landed, 
 either at the port of Quebec or Montreal. 
 
 Supposing that l^ower Canada inipose«l a duty on rran, and that the 
 Upju'r Province imposed no duty n})on rum, wo'dd it not be the interest of 
 the inhaliitants of the Lower Provinci^ to buy their rum in Montreal, and 
 to lanng it into consumption in tlio Lower Province 1 — It would. 
 
 Do you suppose it possible that there shouhl be different .scales of duties 
 in the two (Panadas under any circumstances?— 1 do not. The duties at 
 present an; regulated by thi> Trade Acts ; and if a much higher duty on any 
 one article were imposed, it would nrove injurious to ourselves as well as to 
 the grower or maiuifactujer. For ii-istanc(i, rum, coti'ee, sugar, to our West 
 India colonies, who receive our Hour in exchange, and on goods to the 
 mauufiictnier here. The cheapc r these can be introduofnl into Canada, the 
 jnore witll be disposc^l of, and w(( will obtain a much greater revenue fix)m 
 tower dutiofi than from high ones. If Lower and Upper (Janada wen; two 
 distinct <;onntrif,s, with separate interests, like the United States and Can- 
 ada, some restrictive measun>,s, in crossing the boundary line, would be 
 n4Kws.sary ; a.s tlu^y are, it is nt)t. 
 
 You are aware that by the schednle of the Tradf; Act in 1824 and 1825 
 various duties were imposed upon articles which ndght be imported from 
 the United States into the two (^madas : do you conceive that in Upon 
 CWmda th(! payment of those duties is avoided in con-seipience of the difH- 
 culty of preventing smuggling? — Not iii genei*al ; there may be some articles 
 smuggled in consequence of the duties u|ton them being too high, but in 
 gen-.'ral they are not. 
 
 Mention the articles vi|>on which yo\i conceive smuggling Xa* take place. 
 — T cannot mention any pf.rticular articles. 
 
 Are you of opinion tliat, in conseipience of the nature of the frontier 
 between the Ignited States and Upptu- (.'anada, itnevtu- would be practicable 
 to enforce the payment of duties upon articles which can be afforded cheaper 
 from the United States to Uj per Canada thtu) from England, including the 
 expense of freight ?- No. I think not; if you place a higher duty upon 
 articles from the United States than will pay the exfiense of risk, they will 
 Biuxiggle them in, and it will lie- impossible to prevent it. For iustiince, the- 
 
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103 
 
 vhole (if ITftpt-r ('utuwlrt was Hiippliifd with trti tVom tlic I'liitcd Status l)p- 
 fore the India Coinptitiy sfut thoir ships tu C^iiflnH; diruct, ultlioiti,di the 
 ;^viticle was prohibited altoj^ethei-. Now thu tahh's are turned, the U. S. peo- 
 ple will be supplied thvouj(li Canada with Biitish nuinufaoturos, because 
 we take less duty than they do ; tju^y will suniifi^le one hundrod to one 
 ruore than we do. The JJritish manufactures will be sent in by the St. 
 Lawrence, and if w(j improve the facilities they will be carried io the re- 
 motest part of Upper ('anada, and they will be smuggled in great tjuaiititieH 
 Inlto the United Stiites along that line. 
 
 What is the law that prevails with respect to[)er,sonal property in Upper 
 G'anada '! — ITie .same as here. 
 
 Does it differ in any way from tlie administration of the law, us to per- 
 sonal property in I;Ower Canada? — 1 am not .•ii'ipiaiated witJi ili i a»lu'inis- 
 tration of the law in Lower Canada. 
 
 Is there, or is there not, any difterence with respt.H.-t to tlie law of personal 
 property in Upper Canada and in liower Canada? — I cannot sav. 
 
 (^an you inform the Committee how I'ar the Englisli law of descent 
 prevails in Upper ( 'anada ? has it been moditied by local statute ? —ft lias 
 not ; a bill was passed in the Lower House, but not in the Up[)er. 
 
 (■an you iidbrm the Conuuittee of the modification which that bill pro- 
 pose<l ^ -[t was making a certain distribution of the property when a poj-son 
 died intestate, but I do not know exactly what the division was. 
 
 With respect to the law of raoi-tgage in that c(.>lony, can you state jire- 
 cisely how that law stands l- -A mortgage is given as h security ^j)on 
 property: any person can forechwci it and stdl it. 
 
 Is money, in point of fact, lent upon the secuiity of mortgage? — It is. 
 
 Is there a general system of registration ?- Yes, the registration is very 
 simple : each county has ii ivgistry oflice ; if a person wants to buy property 
 Le goes i«ul ]>ays la. Od. aiul he finds iunncdiately whether it is incund)erttd 
 or not ; for if the person had incund)eted it and not registered it, the person 
 who bought it and registered it would hold it. 
 
 Then all mortgages must be registered iu order to l)e eti'ectuai ;' ^'e.s, 
 everything afVwting the conveyance of huul. 
 
 Is that system found tow well ?- It is universally appro\<'il of; 
 there is not a person in the cou y that does not feel the advantage of it. 
 
 Do you know in what form marriage settlements aic drawn ( — There 
 are no marriage settleir.ents there that 1 know of: it is very seldom that 
 any thing of the kind is entereil into. 
 
 Js there any system of ent;iil of jtropei-ty '/— No. 
 
 How do they provide for widows ? -They get o!ie third at the death of 
 the husband ; they are entitled to dower according to the Knglish law. 
 
 Do they get one-third both of all tlm original landed jjroiierty of the 
 husband, and of all after acquired land '( — Of all ho has at the time of his 
 death ; if he sells any pioperty, she bars her dower on the deed. 
 
 Can you state what is the prevailing practice in willing? is it the prac- 
 tice to make an eldest son as it is called, or to leave the property eijuiilly 
 distributed ? That depciiids altogether upon the wish of the person. 
 
 Have yon known instances of both '?-~Xo ; if a pei.son does not wish to 
 divide his property, he does iiot make a w ill, because it then goes to his 
 cldefit eou. 
 
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104 
 
 Wlucli is tho iiun-e frequent ocourrenco of the two 1 — The geneial prac 
 tico is to rn!ii<o wills. 
 
 Do you conceive that tho Ainerioau setth'rH who have settled in Upper- 
 Canada are attached to the laws of Upper Canada, or that thoy have u 
 ])rofovonco for the laws of the United States? — I think they are decidedly 
 attached to the laws oi Upper Canada, which are vei-y similar to those of 
 the Uniteil States. The inhabitant.s of Ui)j)or Canada are iHoro attached to 
 the present form of government than they are to that of the United States. 
 They gavo the most convincing proof of it by their conduct during the late 
 war, at tho commtmcement of which there was but one regiment of regu- 
 laa soldiers on the whole frontier between Kingston and Sandwich. 
 The couutiy wa': repeatedly invaded during the year, and to its inhabitants 
 as then convpoM'd, is its defence during that period principally to be ascribed. 
 Those people wer<! admitted into Canada on the most liberal princij^les be- 
 fore the war, and the most impolitic and injuiious measure the Covernment 
 of this country ever adoj)ted was in excluding thcMu since. Many people, 
 to my certain knowledge, sold their pro|>eity in the state of New York, 
 where they were dissatislied with paying he.avy taxes for the support of 
 what they conceiveti an unjust war, with a view of settling in Upjier ('an- 
 adfi, came to the frontier, found a restriction, and proceeded on with their 
 capital to the state of » )hio, to the unexampled increase of that state. We 
 most jnaterially contrilaite to the very great injury of Upper Canada, and 
 the deprcciatiou in value of property. The U. S. people are the most useful 
 and enterprising people which can settle a new country ; and their principle 
 is to defend the country they live in, not the one of their birth, and many 
 who had not settled in Canada one year were as faithful to it as any native. 
 
 However loyal the general chararter of the American settlers might have 
 been, were there not some excej)tions ! — Yes : there were a few ; but full ii3 
 many among I'luropeans, in proportion to their number. 
 
 Are you a native of Upper Canada 1 — I am not a native of it. My 
 father was an Ami-rican loyalist, and I hapjiened to be born in the State of 
 New York ; but 1 have lived suica childhood in Upper Canada, and my 
 feelings are wholly Canadian. 
 
 Do you consider it to be the jrrevailing wish of the Upjter Canadians to 
 remain connected Avith this country 1 — Yea : there never was a country 
 more happily sitinited than Upjier Canada in her connection with this 
 country. From her soil, climate, and situation, she must be wholly agri- 
 cultui'al : you receive her produce on more favourable terms than tho pro 
 duce of the U. States ; we receive your manufactuies on paying a moderatt* 
 duty of about two and a half per cent, while they are now ]mying a duty 
 fi-om lifty to one hundred — conse(piently, we must obtain our supplies at a 
 cheaper rate. Every person will not only see, but feel this advantage; to 
 that, by securing our interest, you have the best guarantee of our attachment 
 and connection. We are are naturally rivals to tho U. S. people ; we grow 
 the same articles, seek the best markets, and endeavour to draw the pro- 
 ducts of each other through our difl'erent communications. The only thing 
 we require, as bcfoie stated, to place Upper (Canada in the most enviable 
 .situation, is unrestricted immigration, an uninterrupted communication to 
 tho occAU, and the possession of a commercial [)ort. 
 
 riulependeutly of tho a<^;iJiRi<,'<:is tliey derive from the trade of this 
 country, do you conceive it to bo their wisli to contiiiuo a province of this 
 
105 
 
 I'ountvy ! — Yp« : tho only nioiwin-o udoptod by our( Jovcnimont, tluvt J know 
 of, which jravo general dissatisfactioii, was in placiiii; vestrictiDii on riiii;;;ra- 
 tion* The reason I heai'd assignod i\>v this nioasure, ininiediatcly at'ttM- l\u^ 
 war, wlien it toi)k place, was that thu adnii.s.sion of Auicri'-au settlors wt)i!lil 
 hy a moans of (iis.sonunatinL( (k'niocratioal i>nni;iplcs, althotii,di no evil Inul 
 arisen from those who canio b-^foi-e the wai' ; on the contrary, they proved 
 '?(]ually zealouH in its (hifenoe. If, in truth, their form of Government is 
 better adapted for our country, it is (piite impossibh-, froTii our continual in- 
 tercourse with them, to prevent oui' iiuhihin^f those principles; aiid any 
 attempt to prevent it conveys an admission that we thijik it the best, uml 
 does far more injury than service. That portion of the inhabitants of the 
 United States who would settle in Canada, would gi\ea deeided jurlVrcnco 
 to our (xovernment, and would make the best subjects and .settlers, uyion 
 the same i»rinciple, and for tln> same cau-e, ihat the great nutjority of 
 English, Scotch, and Irish who settle in America l>ecouie the must violent 
 democrats in that country ; for neither i)arty would go and settle under any 
 government without In'ing predisposed in its favoin-. The only ditlrrenco 
 in the form of govennnent in the State of New York and Ujijier ('anada, 
 consists in the ap})ointment of Governor, Upper House, or Legisl;iti\e 
 (youncil, and INIagisti'ates : the former, with us, is apppointed by thf Crown, 
 <lnring pleasure, the Upper House for life, (independent of both (.'rown and 
 people,) Magistrates, itc, by the executive : our parish uthcers elected by the 
 people. They, in New York, elect the wliole, ami in this only do v.'i' diflcr. 
 Wo have the full benelit of their democi-acy without its attendant evils. 
 They are continually electioneering and changing every olKcer in the state, 
 from a Governor to a constnble; constitution and all. In a late change in 
 their constitution, they adopted 'universal suffrage' .is it is termed, p.-iying 
 no regard to property. This is found on trial to create nuich dissatisfaction 
 among themaelve.s. A man in oltiee being dependent on po])ular favoui-, 
 (if he wishes to retain his .situr.tion,) makes it a study to ]ilsa.se the majority, 
 right or wrong, and cannot act independently. Many of tlnni tVel th<i 
 etfect of this, and we see it; and I am sen.sible but few, if any, in ('anadn. 
 desire a change. Therefore, indejiendent of onr interests, which is tlie 
 governing motive, we have good reasun to be satisfied with our t'uiin of 
 (iovernment. 
 
 Then you think it the prevailing wish not to make the (Jovernment 
 more democratic than it is at pre.sent >. 1 do. 
 
 Have you any I'eason to believe that persons of dillcrent reliijiou- j>er- 
 sua.sions are in the habit of confonning to tho woi-.ship of the Church of 
 England when churclies are built and clergymen provided /- -I do nut think 
 they are ; 1 do not think they lik(^ the form of it generally ; my reason is, 
 that there are more of other persuasions than of the ('hurch of Knghind. 
 
 What persuiision do you b.dong toyDurs.'lf ? -I belong to tli.> < 'hurch of 
 Kngland. 
 
 Do you happen to know liow many niemi)erR of the As,sembly in Upp(»r 
 (>anada are members of the church of England I I do not. 
 
 Are the churches fully attendeil, as fai- as you know ( \n some plaoeH 
 they are ; it depends altogethei- upon the situation of them. 
 
 Are you acipiaintod with the Act by the nanu? of the Sedition Act? Yes. 
 
 l->o you know the history of that ^ ct ? — It was an Act pa.ssed a long 
 time ago, during the tro\ibles in Ireland, in order to prevent Irishmen who 
 
 ^!||| 
 
 ' ' ■ 'I 
 
 ! :*: 
 
 1 1 
 
IOC 
 
 lill 
 
 inight \n; comdwcA to •'iitcitain daii^'oroais principJcK from comiiijc,' into tht 
 country ; thw cmly iiistanct! I know of its ever bcinj,' iu!t«'(l upon was in th«' 
 case of Mr. (tonrlay. 
 
 What are the; powMTS ti.'at it yiv^'s / — It j^ves power to a coinniissioncr 
 of th<! (Jourt of Kinji's l^cucli to onlor a person out of tlie eonntry : if 1 ^'o 
 and take an oatli that I holieve that such a person lias not taken tl)e oatli 
 of alle,t,'ianc(' within a c;ej-tain tinie, ami tliat he is a (hm^'crous jnan, the 
 coniMiissionei- orchis tlie person out of the e«iuntry ; if he does not choote to 
 go, lie is then eontined. 
 
 Fs there no appeal? -No. Mr. ( louriay is a case in point: he was 
 bnlercd to leave the coui*try ; he would not f^o, and was put in gsiol. 
 
 Has the House of Assembly re|ieatedly jtasseii hills to do away with 
 that Act? —It has. 
 
 Have, th<n heen eonstantly rejected hy the liegii4ative Council 1 — They 
 haxe. 
 
 [t is tiien in existence at this moment i — It is. 
 
 Do you happen to know by what majorities in the Hotise of A.SHemhIy 
 those hills were carried'! --'riiey were carried almost unanimously in th»? 
 House of Asnemhly. 
 
 Hji-s it not been for some time p;ist the first bill that the Houst) of 
 
 Assembly passed before it ]irocee(led Lo other business? A^'s. 
 
 Do you know upon what principle the liCgislative ('ouncil refused to 
 rep(*al the Bill ] — [ have heard the Bill wais rejected becatise they conceived 
 Tio evil had arisen from the existenc<^ of the Act. and they did not conceive 
 it necessiiry to repeal it. Hit in my opinion, it woulil be a good thing if it 
 was done away with. It is a useless law, and gives needless diissatisfaetion. 
 
 Do you follow any j>rofession in Canada? - Nt). f do not. 
 
 Do you hold any situation under the Covernment ? N«)thiug but an 
 honorary one. I am a (Commissioner of the Peace. 
 
 Are you a holdei- of land in Upper Canada ?- 1 am. 
 
 You state; that a law was made for jireventing Irish from coming into 
 Upper Canada, is there any ]>rejudice at this monuint against the introduc- 
 tion of Irish emmigrant'i ( — ()ji the contrary, tliey conceive it very beneticia'. 
 
 Ik it the general opinion in Up{)er Canada, that their interests and their 
 resourses would be; materially advMuced by the increase of their jKipulation? 
 — (*ertainly, the interests and resourses of X'pper Canada would be matorially 
 advanced by the increase of ))opulation. 
 
 Do you think the Legislatuie of Upper Canada would be piepared to 
 concur in any measure for the introduction of po[iulation into that country? 
 - 1 think they would, but it would dep<'nd upon what footing their con- 
 currence was reipiired, they could not contribute money just now, if their 
 natural situation is improved in the way I llav(^ mentioned, they will be abl«> 
 lo assist in any thing. 
 
 Do you think that if they had the means of assisting i;!)ey would be dis- 
 posed to assist in it? Yes: if we are placed in the situation that the hUxU) 
 of New York is, by possessing a port of our own, we will be enabfcd t«) 
 contribute to any measure for the atlvancenient of the country. 
 
 What [)art of Uf iper Canada do you reside in?^— In the district of Niagara. 
 
 Do you know anything of the udmiuifitration of justice there ?^YeB, 
 
107 
 
 In it in a respectahlr «t«to, or Ik it diejijiftrove'l of'/---Jt is in a rospec- 
 table ijtate. 
 
 Are they satisfitMl with the constitution of the liegiHhitive (.'onnoil, an 
 it at present exists f- They are, so far a.s I liave any knowlcdfie. It would 
 be better if they ai)pointed, in the I^igishitive Council, men more generally 
 distributed over the province, instead of so great proportion beinj? resident 
 at York, as it M-ould add more weight to the body ; and I think late apj»oint- 
 luenLs have been more distant. They were at an early day. 
 
 Arc you at all acquainted with the disputes now going on in that I'rovince, 
 respecting the clergy reserves? — I am not particularly acquainted with thcai. 
 I know the situation of the clergy reserves, and the way they are hold. 
 
 Are they satisfied with the etnistitution of the clergy coijxniiUcm? 'j'lifne 
 thiit do not belong to the Church of f:ngland arc not. 'I'he Church of 
 .Scotland W(;nt to get a share of the property, and if they vrere t<:) gei it, 
 a»id it were only between those two churches', j think tlie p(>uple in general 
 would be more dissatisfied than they are now, bex^ause all the otlier de- 
 nominations would lay claim to it. 
 
 What is the prevailing religions beli<'f in tlio Upper Province '{ — They 
 are divided among a number ; I think the ;^^ethodiHts are the prevailing 
 ofiinion, and I think they have done more good than any others. 
 
 bo you mcun the Wttsleyan Methudists ? They are of the .same faith., 
 but belonging to a conference established in the state <if New York ; they 
 came into tliat country when it was very new. 
 
 Do they connect themselves at all with the (^JhurcJi of Kngland ?— No, 
 f.hey .'U'e quite se|>«irate. 
 
 Are tlieir ministers generally Americans or Knglishnieu ? — They are 
 divided ; there are u number of lJpj)er Canadians ainong them. 
 
 Is the improvement of the country materially retarded by the manner in 
 which the clergy rcse"\es have been laid out? Yes; their being .scp.irated and 
 distributed through the country proves injurious to the settlement of the re- 
 mainder, as they do not equally contribute to the genenU improvement. 
 
 Do you think it would be pos.sible to sell any large portion of the clergy re- 
 serves in the course of a few years? — I think it would, if the country was 
 properly improved ; but in the present fSituation of that country it is impossible 
 to Sell land at any thing like its real value : and to this subject 1 am particularly 
 desirous to draw the attention of the Committee, to show the relative value of 
 property in Upper Canada compared with the State of ^icw York, and the 
 price of land in the two countries. 
 
 i!7th.- -Received a letter from Canada, stating that they have a greater 
 force employed than in former years His Majesty had, on the l;?th of 
 May, decided upon making us a loan ; which circumstance was notified by 
 Mr. (Cameron. Since the change of the ministry on the 28th, the (Jhaneellor 
 of the Kxchequer has been so much engaged, that it has not yet been brought 
 before the Iwuse. 
 
 "July Mrd. — -I am this day 36 ycju-s of age, and think I feel as I shotild, 
 gmt*!ful for Vieing preserved so long. 
 
 " Wrote a letter to the Chancellor. 
 
 "Attetuled a meeting at the Freemason's Tavern, to raise money for the 
 Thames Tunnel. The Pukes of Cambridge and Wellington wi re present 
 
 ; ti 
 
 VM 
 
='i 
 
 Mlill 
 
 108 
 
 — great <;nt!iii«iiism manifested. I considor the compliment* paid to tho 
 Duko <jf Wcllin<,'ton rather fiilHOTiie and ill-timed. Good feeling liowovor 
 pro vailed, and much money Hub.seribed. 
 
 " Gtli. — Visited Riclnnond and Twiekeidiam. The visitors primipaliy 
 foi-ftigiun-H. liichmond in a beautiful place, famous witli us for tho song, 
 "Tho TiMSH of Richmond Hill." It consists of a large park. Tlie deer re- 
 iiemblH mil- calves, well fed on milk. Kew gardens consi.st of very 
 exteusiv(! IJoyal (iomains. Neivr \>y is Zion House, the residence of th'> 
 Duke of Nortlnind)erland, said to have three hundred and sixt^'-tive windows. 
 
 " July 7th. — Visited <ho British Museum, and was plea.sed with thw ex- 
 hibition of l)irds in particular. 
 
 " In the evening attended Parliament. If eard a most interesting debate 
 (to me) oil the fortirication of Canada, and the IJideau (Janal. 
 
 " 1 Ith. Attended the debate on the Budget. The a[)))roj)riation for tho 
 Wellund Canal passim] unanimously. 
 
 " 12th. — (Called upon the Chancellor, and left with Jiim a blank pow^or 
 of attorney to be tilled up. 
 
 1; " 14th.— Called u])on my ohl fri(>nd Ry*'r.son, also upon Mt. R!iie.>. Pro- 
 cured a letter of oi-edit for "£10,()0() ; and another to Yates A IMcIntyre for 
 a similar amount. Wrote to President of ('anal Company, also to Mr. 
 Rlaek, tlm Clerk, ofthe.se proceedings. 
 
 "l.^tli. — Walking with Mr. (Jrantand Mr. dale, when the latter was 
 robbed of his gold watch by a pick-pocket. 
 
 " IGtli.-— Went to witness Mr. (iurney's steam coach in operation. 
 
 "l!)th. — At Brompton to see a coach which was propelled by gas. Tf 
 tlii-t pi-in(;i:)le is |)i'acticable, the power created will be cheaper tlian steam, 
 and .supersede all others. 
 
 '• 20th — Sunday. — Heard Mr. Trvine the celebrated Scotch Divine. 
 His attitu'le and gestures not graceful. He preached from the single word 
 " (!!n'ist." II.-: is odd and eccentric, but ])ossessea great talent, particularly 
 in the int'-rprefcatiou of tlioso mysteries to which he appeared to turn hi.< 
 attention." 
 
 vVfti'r a inimber of business transactions, unnece.s.S!iry to be recorded, 
 we a;^aiii revert to his diary. 
 
 "26th. - Vi.sited tho Museum of the East India House. 
 
 "2'.>th. Mr. Loitan took sonw shares. No other house interested in 
 Canada took any shares yet but his. 
 
 "August 2nd. — Visited the Bazaar in Oxford street, where tho trunk of 
 the large Walnut tree which I liave frequently seen while growing in all 
 its n;i.tive majesty on the banks of Silver Creek, Lake Erie. It is hero 
 comparati'.ely unnoticed, although at home it was the attraction of every 
 traveller. Saw McPlierson, just from Canada, who re]>orts a wot season 
 there. 
 
 " ;]rd. To Westminster Abbey. 
 
 " 4th. -Had a long interview with Sir George Murray. 
 
 '• .'")th. With Mr. Fja3thope, of the Canada Conipany'a Office. 
 
 " loth. — Heard an extempoi-aneous sermon in Bow Street ('hui-oh. 
 
 " IGtli.-- At the Treasury and Solicitors — prepared for home. 
 
 " 17th. — ^In the morning at St. James' Church. 
 
 Al 
 
109 
 
 • 
 
 " 18Ui. — To tin; Tn-nsuiT at 1 1 o'clock. Cot the aj^iccrnK'nt rxcciittMl, 
 and made v.vorj necoKsary arrangtmient for the pnyinent of the X'50,()0(). 
 L'alhid on Sir Goorgo Murray, with whom I left a letttT for tlie l)ukc of 
 Wellington, ho jtrornising to hoc and speak with him on my uHaiis. Left 
 ( ity at half-[)ast 1 in tlio Manchester coach "Telegraph" for St. Alijans. At 
 haif-past 9 took an outside seat for Birmingham in " Grey H<mnd." 
 
 " IDth. — Visitodthe manufactviring (tstablishnients, and at '2 left in th« 
 Warrington coach. Sto[)jiod at lUhton, and examined the iron works. 
 Was surprised at the wearying service of tlio women, wJio were em])loye(l in 
 making brick, carrying and loading coul, ttc. The ajipeaianoe of those 
 works and furrkaces gives a better idea ftf the power of (!reat J'.ritain than 
 all the foriiiications, garrisons, and ships tliat we see. Slept a coiiple of 
 hcnivs, and jumped in the royal mail coach for Manchester. Fouiul at War- 
 rina;ton tlu't .seats wero all engaged. Paid two sovereigns to a tJermau 
 wouum for lier seat. Tins appearanco of the eountiy at night i:s ^iniilav to 
 tlie aurora in America — pointed Hashes of light, and the luiid glare of tho 
 blast furnaces which border the niad, has a strange and stiivtling ellect. 
 
 " 'JOtli Arrived in Manchester at half})ast wven. Went to bed for 
 tv«<) or three hour.s, and aftfu-wards visited the ditferent manufactoi-iew in 
 tiiG city. Left for Fjiverpool at half-past six. 
 
 "li"rd.- Visited Duke of Uridgewater's e;inal. and ilirou-.di an extensive 
 fait establishment. Examined tlie locks on the Huucorii canal, and roturued 
 to Liverpool at eleven o'clock. 
 
 "Sunday 2 Itli-- Attended divine service at an Asyhira for the lilind, 
 where the service was chanted. A A'(n-y interesting scene. 
 
 2r)th — Visited tlie great pottery, and afterwards went on Itoard a lln.ssian 
 ship from Ai'chaugel, 820 tons burthen. The sailorK' l^read is rye, of a dark 
 colour. Also a Dutch gallot of 130 tons. Tho Captain v.as accompiiuied 
 by his wife. Visited an enormous distillery, which pays an excise (hity of 
 £500 per day. 
 
 2C.th. -xiftcr seeing all the Kic^hts, tnibarked on board the packet 
 Kapolson. Tiie day was fine. Wind E. Scene exeei-dingly anin;ated, as 
 in company with a great numlier of ve.ssel.s, wo passed down tlie, Mersey. 
 Nearly IfiO sail, all liead of us. In a few vniuutes the ^uj)eriority of our 
 vessel was manifested, as we passed one after the other of them ; and at 
 hust we formed the centre of a semicircle, which reminded mo of tlie jKisition 
 of tho French ami Spanish fleets at Traf;Jgar. Amongst or.r jassengers 
 were four t'aruidians, two Hamiltons, ar I Grant. 
 
 29lh. - -Passed Cape Clear. Weather tine. 
 
 Tho voyage homo was accomplished without any unusual occurrence, 
 ntid occupied his time by writing out a memorandum for the Legislatures of 
 LTpi>er and Lower Canada, in reference to the project of the St. riivwrenoe 
 Canals. 
 
 Monday Sept. 2Uh. — Siglited laiul, and pilot came on board about 
 seven miles from Sandy Ilook. They an'ived in New York the same evening. 
 And our subject in his journal does not forget to record Ids gratitude t« 
 the Ahuighty, for Hir protection during the voyage. 
 
 ii 
 
 ( , 
 
 1 ; 
 
 ■ ; 
 
 
1^1 
 
 ^f 
 
 no 
 
 In a Ipttwr, diitod from Brookport 4tli Oi,>tolH»r, to Dr. P.,*li« says : . 
 
 " I loft N. Y. on Sunday, (two days after landing) and travelled in « 
 atago. Near (loddosburgh, on Tuesday afternoon, we were upset, causing 
 the breaking of my thigh bono in two places, one in the thinner part of 
 the limb, six inches above the knee, and the second, four inches higlier. 
 Tho Syracuse doctor who set it, says it is in the most favourable position. 
 I date this from a lime boat near the heading of this letter. 1 liave written 
 Mrs. M. Wo were detained two or three days this side of Palmyra, owing 
 to a break in the canal. 1 am la.shed up as effectvuilly as a man iii a straight 
 jacket. This has been a damper. Still, I have a good ap])etite, and in good 
 spirits. T have be<;n visited, during my detention, by your brother John, 
 who has given me the news. I have many things to write about, but a.s my 
 right knee i ins my only desk, you may judge by the scrawl, that the ac- 
 comodation . not very suitable. Young Mr. (leorge Keefer happening to 
 hear of my nceident while at Rochester, }iu.s come down, for which I feel 
 thankful, with the other." 
 
 Vours truly, 
 
 , WiLMAM Hamilton Mkbeitt. 
 
 In answer to his lett^^-r, Mrs. Mei-ritt immediately started ofl", and met 
 him at HUurk Rock, where he arrived on Tuesdny the 7th. In her letter to 
 ln»r mother, she says : - 
 
 " I never saw Hamilton look so well in my life." 
 
 At eight o'clock next morning, he was renvoved into a large I»oa», and 
 they passed down the river to tho mouth of tho Ohipfiewa, where tliey ar- 
 i-i ved at twelve o'clock, arul i)assing up that river to within three niilo.i of the 
 canal, he was met by a delegation of horsemen, and a large ntunber on 
 f(.x)t, who brought him to his home in St. ('atharines. amidst the most joyous 
 demonstration of his many friends. The village was illuniinat<;d at night, 
 and the contin\U'd rattle of small arms which greeted liis arrival, strongly 
 resembled some of the older tlays on the l>»nks of the Niagam River. 
 
 Dufinghis absence in England, tlu; age)it, clerk, engineer, and contractor 
 hi-d been very active in their respective departments. The engineer, writing 
 to Mr. Merritt on tho 7th of Aj)ril, .says : — 
 
 " I shall not leave the line. Be a-ssurod that I feel tiie imi)ortanoe of 
 being here more than when you were present." 
 
 Although, from the length of time oui- subject w-w absent, some impedi- 
 ments had occured. 
 
 Thompson & C!o. commenced the deep cut on the 'ifith April, and liavo 
 now a heavy force on. Mr. Pheli)3 commenced on the 10th. There never 
 was a finer time. Every part of the line is in motion. Three sections 
 are finished. The locks are progressing. Tow-path going on. A heavy 
 gale pnMluced no damage to our piers at the harbour. The excavatioiw at 
 tlio Chippewa end will »il l>e done by the 20tJj of tii'iH month. 
 
 Al 
 
in 
 
 With rognnl to tin* oihitv improvciiitMit.s, tbo flitch is l)oiiii,' n\;t(io tlirotigh 
 thtt inai-Hli, but otbor oixTatioiiH in tiiat qimrtci" nie sus|imi(lo<l Thw »>stiuittto.<i 
 up to Hie 1st of April iiro S'^O.OOO. 
 
 Krom the advunocHl jiosition tliw workH lia<l now uhmuiiuhI, a new fiuitui-H 
 in i(Mii()vinjj the earth by scows m'hs i^oufi into by tlitt contractors on tho 
 deep cot, whereby they ih»posite(l the stn-plus earth along the l)ank.s of tliH 
 Welland River, in order t<<> ii^akc a tow-patJi, which means wan found very 
 convenient. 
 
 Abont this tinie, the ('hnrch iilready spoken of, h;ul nct-ived itft first 
 refular miniattir, in the person of ;i Mr. Parkin, ilo came from ('hand)ly i)i 
 liOWrti- ("Janada, ami scons to have Itecu well liked by tln^ little conijre{,'ation, 
 who always kept the (Jhurch well lilled. 
 
 On A)»ril the !Hh, the annual election of ilir"ctors is noticed, and Mr. 
 .Mcrritt was «;hosen ai one <lurijii( liis aVisence, and the other nienibei-s wrre 
 re-ele<.'ted. 
 
 Mr. liolton left, during tlie season, for Newfoinulland, and Col. .1. Clark, 
 was the .secietary and acting- agent iluring tlio absoicc of Mr. Mturitl. On 
 the "iDtli of April, (-oininodoro Northr(»p's vcs.sel, the '• Wt'llanil CfuKil," wa^ 
 launched — and cm the !)th of Alay, the ("ommodure invited His H.vcellency, 
 the Jjientenant (lovernor, and the board of dii-ectors to a gi-jiinl spread on 
 hoard. They sailetl from St. <.^ithaiines to Port l^alhovi.«ic. niiich to the 
 "vatitication of tho nuiltitudos who crowded the banks of tlie canal. TIim 
 vessel let": afterwards for Kingston, with l,(i(lO bbls. of flour, thus being t.lio 
 pioneer fron> the cunitl. 
 
 A menagerie and circus from the States made its apite/tiiirice this \i>i\v, 
 lilniH sliewing that tho village was i-apidly becoming known to tho onisido 
 world. 
 
 A daily stage to PnilValo was intuiginiited on the L'Hth Hay, in this yeiw, 
 Mr. Stephenson being one of the coni]»any in St. ('athaiines. 
 
 The election of members for the tenth Pariianient was more llian usually 
 lively, in this dititrict Mr. Merriit was again uurulnated, wijich showed tho 
 good will of his friends towards him. 
 
 Among the e.xtraordinary canal projects of this year, was one for forming 
 ;\ continuous canal from r»idlalo to l>etroit, along tho lake shore. Yet, as 
 tho tendency of public opinion, we see an article in the paju-is of tin's time, 
 4th June, headed "J'ailroads r.v. (,'anals," .showing tlutt tho pul)lic woro now 
 "rowing tirod of the numerous schenxes of water comuuinication, and that 
 their thou"ht.s were beginning to turn to other means of titvnaportation. 
 
 Kighteon months had elapsed «ince the last census of the villag« was 
 taken, and now th«y retvirned a population of (lOO — increase of 200. 
 
 By the adyertisenients in the paper, we see a marked chang«5 in tho 
 biLiinfiaw entei-priao ; among iluun, one coime<ited with tho e.xpectod opening 
 
 I . 
 
 ! 
 
 \\\ 
 
,.:i'i 
 
 112 
 
 of the ainai v.is a forwai dinq; scheim', by MoHHrK. MuiiKoii A' (.'o. "Wo. Ke«; Di-. 
 ♦ 'liiW (ulvcrth«^fi .'?,0()() l))i8li»'ls ot'Hult, iit t)() c«!nt8 per biibhcl. 
 
 Tho (Icatli of Di! Witt (Jlinton, at tlu! early age of 08, was tlio sultject of 
 u groat (leal of ii('W.s])U])er talk, KUggeKtionti for a jmblic moiuuriont by the 
 citiz(!iis of N. Y., arul tc'stiiiionials to his family, «tf. A bill waH bioiiglit in 
 t(» the Ijfgislatiire at Alliaiiy, to grant to his children the Kiim of $10,000, 
 but was thrown out on the third reading, tJiercby shewing that giuierous 
 gratitude to a great and good man, arc as rare in R((jiublicH aw in other itlaeeH. 
 
 'Jlie monnniont to tho illustriouH (ieiieral J'rock, ei'ccted by the Canuilian 
 militia, from whom a penny HubKeriptiou wasi-iiised, was this year eonipleted. 
 'riiii gives evidiUUH! of the gratitude and ajipreoiation of the IJjijjer 
 Caii.idiiuis. 
 
 l()th .Sej)tenibei*.^ — Mr, Dlaek, in iiobnowJedging remittances, gives a. sad 
 account of the sickness on the canal ; 
 
 " J. hiinont to say, there is little |n'os|ieet of finishing tlie canal this f;dl, 
 although six vve;;k?t ago wo hud good reason to belIe\A it would have b(vin 
 liiiislied. There has not ben a groat du'.d done in the marsh. Not a person 
 Kick there, wliere it was nu)Ht expected. Mr. Yates' negotiation failed. 
 Boulton was sent to New York, :ind got acce[itances of )i?24,00(), from what 
 yoi\ unght g't in Kngland. .Half of it was negotiatod at the Bank of Upj-et 
 (.''anada, for a (ionsideration, which, witli i?oiiltou's charges, makes it a \\ot:v 
 as!ii>^tance. Tho engineer and contractor ni'O at loger-heads." 
 
 During his Siicknoss, Mr. Merritt received many answers to his qtiestions 
 ill reference to the St. Lawrence Canals, viz: from Mr. Macaulay of Kingston, 
 Mr.Wliitiag ofPre.scott, and Mr Jon is Jones, from llrockvillo. And, in re- 
 ference to his Grand lliver scheme, from iMr. Whitehead, and several otheiH. 
 Also, letters 01 commissoration from the President of the (^inal, Mr. Dunn, 
 J. B. Vatos, Peter Kobinson, (.'harle.s Small, *Vo. During the worat period 
 of his illness, the new.s of the tieri<)\is sli[is iu thi; deep cut svin, luought tci 
 
 hiru. 
 
 It mu.-t not bo supposed that the oidy didieulty experienced up to this 
 
 time lay in the task of gctiing the immey to carry on the works. In the 
 
 d<'ep cut, a ssries of most disastrous and annoying land .slips occurred, 
 
 caused by the (iuick-Siiii<l and the great wei,i,dit of the banks, but which were 
 
 of so serious a nature as to imperil the future prospect of the work. Few 
 
 can have any idea of the annoyance caused br these slides ; and in the 
 
 {•resout inslanoe tho management were almost driven to <ic.';peration to 
 
 overcome them. Other pj.rts of the canal were either finished or rapidly 
 
 approaeliing completion ; but the deep cut was the Hidncon on which the 
 
 whole energy of the ali'air required concentration. Under the circwm.stan- 
 
 ces a further digging out of tho cut was itot to be thought of. iSo tlie ideu.s 
 
 of our subject were directly tinned to the utility of his extension of the 
 
 Canal to l^ake Eiie by jneans of a feeder or cut to Port Maithuul, which by 
 
 its higher iuvel and more certain supply of water, would keep a depth in 
 
ll.T 
 
 the (Ipep cut more than •ulllcient fur all future casualties on that unfortu- 
 
 Qftte Bpot. 
 
 On the 14th Novfrnber, he writos to Mr. Phpljis, oonti-actor, as follows : 
 
 " Send me Mrord l)y Mr. Clark, particularly, whother there is anr indi- 
 cation of a new slip. Whother you intend timbering through your slip, and 
 what time you think it will tako." 
 
 A meeting of the dirootora was also called to consider the nuitt«ir, and 
 after sundry ])ropositionH to remedy the evil, it was decided to leave it in tho 
 hands of Mr. Merritt, who at once commenced uiK)n pushing the work on the 
 feeder from tho (irand Iliver; although it may easily lie inferred that at thii 
 particular time tho ]>osition of our .subject was .such as to severely try a 
 bohler man. The accounts coming in from tho deep cut, where hundred* of 
 thousands of dollars hatl already l>oen spent — the utter impossibility of deal- 
 ing with (piick-sand iu such a i)lace, added to the troulde of a fractured 
 limb, with occasioual fever, are diBcuuragementa which can bo bettor ima- 
 gined than described. 
 
 Mr. Geddes, a leading engineer on tho Erie Canal, was also sent for to 
 
 consult with Mr. Barrett on the grave matter, and Mr. Uarrett writes : 
 
 " I have travelled thnnigh the deep cut. Judge CJoddes left the upper 
 end of the feeder and has been to the mouth of tlie Crand Kiver, and ex- 
 amined it for a harl)our. Shall go through from Mar.sliviilo to St. Catharines 
 with him. My deep cut levels to the bank near Coulter's shanty, givo 
 14 feet above the (Miippowa, or 22 feet for deep cut. Tliis level we can 
 sustain throughout." 
 
 As the general affairs of a country are at any time interesting, wo hope 
 that a slight digression will be pardoned, in order that a passing glance 
 may be taken at impoitant events now transpiring, which, to a great extent 
 affected the future welfare of this country. It is not our object to enter into 
 British politics, yet it is necessary, since they, in coniuiun with other Kurc- 
 pean maratime nations, consider their possessions as held for their peculiar 
 benefit, and are not decided on what their peculiar beuetits are, it is neces- 
 sary to givo a comprehen.sive view of the whole field. 
 
 The European policy, undertaken by the Congress of Verona in 1822, 
 had changed Kngland'a j)olicy in America, making it agree with President 
 Munroe's doctrine regarding the possessions of Spain in this country, and 
 strongly fortifying their own. 
 
 The causes of Revolution are often le.os under the sui-face than the actors 
 in them are willing to acknowledge, iu our case being directly o)i the surface. 
 It is strange, when there was such an abundance in America, that avidity 
 for land should be one of the most potent causes for disturbance. The 
 French wars, succeeded by the Berolution, had this object. Gourlay 
 found an almost universal support by joining the people against Governor 
 Simcoe's monopolies of the crown grants, and Mr. McKenzie's importance 
 from opposing the Canada Company's purchase of tho same. 
 
 ;i 
 
114 
 
 i 
 
 .1? 
 
 The object rtj)j)oar8 to bavo hoen to ftitabli.sh a. lino of foi-tifications ulony the 
 froutiwr to iiiHcouni}^o omi;,'rutioii from tho SUitcs : to iiiuko thfi lui'scnt in- 
 Iiabitanta uuhsiu'viont to th«)ir iiiton(«t.s, and to porpotuutc them, by shij jing 
 thoir suriilurtpopuhition to Ujipor Canada. 
 
 Sir Caiujicliaol Smith hail been deputed by the Government, of which 
 the Duke of Wollin<,'tou was a member, as British CouimisKioner, to examine 
 and report upon the military state of tlie I'rovincoB, reported very favourably 
 on tho canal enterprise, and especially the harbour at tho entrance of the 
 "Twelve," which would admit vessels drawing 12 feet of water, audassucli, 
 •qual to Niagarp as a naval entrance. Ho also recommended the re- 
 establishing of Port I\laitland at the mouth of the Grand Kiver, whicli iind 
 been abandoned and dismantled at tho close of tho war, and the fleet Rank. 
 He also laid out the wites of two forts on tho lands lately j)Uichaf<ed by the 
 Goverumant, at tho Short-hills — one to bo called Wellington Heightji, and 
 tho other Fort St. George. 
 
 Tho long voxe<l question of the boundaries having lately been settled. 
 Th« British Government wore particularly liberal in giving up a fortresfj 
 on Lake Champlain, on our side of the lino, and also paying tliem 
 $1,204,000, said to V)o by ardent Democrats claims for depredations com 
 mittcd in tho taking and burning of Wa.shingtuu by Lord Howe; the claims 
 being smoothed oyer as a general charge for negro slaves who escaj)ed at this 
 time; although, strange to say, no ofl-set was asked for or allowed for the 
 burning of Niagara, or the numerous depredations committed on our people 
 during the same war: tho whole afl'air strongly resembling the Geneva Ar- 
 bitration of later years. The answer of Lord I'athurst to tlie address of the 
 previous House, to remit duties or disliabilities on contractors, labourei's 
 and others, into the Province, was construed into an opposition to the Im- 
 perial policy : 
 
 " I have laid l)efoi'e the King the Address of tlie House of As-sembly of 
 Upper Canada, piaying that His Majesty would 1)0 graciously ])leased to 
 promote the settlement of tho Province, by ofVering encouragement to emi- 
 gration from the Tluitcd States. I am commanded to acrpiaint you that 
 His Majesty will be always ready to give any encouragement to the cidtiva- 
 tion of the waste lands — but is assured of the loyalty of the people of the 
 Province, and of their paramount attachment to Great Britain. That he 
 is convinced that the House would see with extreme regret, the adoi)tion of 
 any system "which could interfere v/ith tho measures now in contem{)latiou 
 for the encouragement of emigration from His Majesty's United Kingdom 
 of Great Britain to Upper Canada." 
 
 The Canada Company's notice, signed by Mr. Gait, at York, to squatters 
 to vacate their lands, appeared about this time, shewing that already the 
 interests of English monopolists were beginning to clash with the best 
 interests of the country, as expressed by the resolutions from the last 
 Parliament, favouring emigi-iation from the United States ; this had 
 
 Al 
 
it. 
 
 IIT) 
 
 been tlie case for tlio lust lialf contniT, ciiuBiiig the 8ottlf>mcnt of tlie countrr 
 by a lojal ami oiitoi-|nisin|,' class from tho other aide, to whom ahnoHt all the 
 cnteritriso was diu). This j>()licy was iittoinptoil to be changed on tho pas- 
 siiyt) of the Uct'onu lUIl ; and Col. lly and muuy other cii^^dnseriug officors 
 called homo, but not soon onou;,'h to av(>rt tho Robollion. A cohlnesK 
 in tho colony towards the parent state grow up, an<l Mackenzie's rebellion 
 was tho necessary conseiiuenc* of those proceedings. ]\Ir. \V. Jj. McKenzie 
 was a man of groat intellect and iintiring energy. That temporaniont should 
 aflTcct inon in weighing the burthen of their grievancos, is exemplified in a 
 striking manner by the contrast of the way the subject was taken up by these 
 two individuals. Mr. Merritt, whoso family had lo,st all in the ti'Ouble«, and 
 who w«re therefore cntith'd to tho waste lands, in intimate connection and 
 fiiendship with their agents, and using tlie company in Englaiul to transact 
 their busine.ss, while Mr. McKenzie kept up an eight years .struggle of war 
 to tho knife with what he considered an unjust monojioly. The lesson of 
 hasty decisions could be answered hy asking, " Which of the two Las the 
 claim of being tho greatest benefactor to hia country 1 " 
 
 His journey to England, irresj>ective of tho business connected therewith, 
 formed a new epoch in tho life of our subject. The interrogation ho under- 
 wont before tho Committee of tho House of Commons on tho leading .sub- 
 jects of Colonial policy, l)rought his attention to politics, from a position 
 where he could more readily form an opinion than in his native country. 
 Being now of an age when one is supposed to be well able to discriminate, 
 wo have reason to believe that ideas which afterwards developed themselves 
 in the political economist and politician, which resulted in advocating Earl 
 Grey's sliding scale in favour of Colonial products, and when Sir R. Peel 
 took off this advantage, in the advocacy of Reciprocity ; and again, when 
 Responsible GoTernment proved a failure, in advocating a Confederation ; 
 which will be seen as our work progresses. 
 
 One of the important events occurring at this time was tho departure 
 of the two Governors, Lord Dalliousie and Sir P. Maitland, both of whom 
 were a lone time in the countrv, and were firm friends towartl Mr. Merritt 
 aiid the Wclland Canal. Lord Dalhousie had left befcre Mr. IVlerritt's 
 arrival, and passed him on tho ocean. His Lordship's term of office in this 
 country had lasted eight yeara, wliich were very eventful ones in the his- 
 t(jry of Canada. He was awarded with the Governorship of India, where, 
 in his Imperial Palace at Calcutta, under entirely opposite circumstances, 
 surrounded by Mahometan and Hindoo princes, he possibly l)ut seldom 
 thought of his friends in America or their aflairs, but such was not the case 
 with them ; Port Dalhousie, one of tho termini of the Welland Canal, was 
 named after him, in gratitude for his exertions in their behalf. 
 
 The Lieut.-Governor, who left soon after, was more identified with tho 
 works, and as such wc think a short notica of him will not be out of 2ilace 
 
116 
 
 m 
 
 m 
 
 I 
 
 
 ■u 
 
 • 
 
 in these pages. In the journal of that time we find the following notice of 
 His Excellency's departure : " On Satui-day last, 25th Oct., a deputation 
 *' from the inhabitants of the village and vicinity, consisting of Messrs. 
 " Geo. Ketfer, Jno. Clark and J. Barrett, waiteil on His Excellency at his 
 " lodge at Stamford Park, and presented to him an address on the occa- 
 " sion of his departure from this Province," in which they say : "Among 
 " tho many public works commenced during the administration of your 
 " Excellency for the improvement of the Province, tho Welland Canal, now 
 " drawing towards its completion, will afford a lasting monument to your 
 ** Excellency's zeal ; and to your Excellency's favorable recommendation 
 " are they indebted for the means of its accomplishment." To which 
 he replied: "I receive with great satisfaction this address from the 
 " inhabitants of the village of St. Catharines. It has afforded me sin- 
 " cere pleasure to witness the great works suggested by an individual of 
 " your village, so prosperously advancing. It has not wanted my hearty 
 " recommendations, wliicli I hope the recent assistance of His Majesty's 
 " Government will render certain of completion. Allow me to assure you 
 " that my removal to a more extended command will not impair the intex'est 
 " I lake in your welfare, nor be sull'ered to obliterate tho kindness and 
 " attention I've received during my residence in vour vicinitv.' 
 
 We also see notices of the militia being out at this unusual .season, which 
 was no doubt for the purpose of forming a guard of honoi", and paying their 
 rfepects to His Excellency. A letter from Geo. ^Manners, British Consul 
 at Boston, dated Dec. 9th, gives an account of his departure for his new 
 Government in Nova Scotia. He says : "At S p.m. on the 25th I saw 
 " (hem on board the Chcbucto. I assure you tiiat I shook their hands with 
 " the greatest regret," etc. Sir P. Maitland took kis departure, with 
 his high-born dame, after a sojourn of eight years. He had the finest 
 appreciation of the beauties of our natural scenery of any of the Governors 
 who had heretofore enjoyed the appointment, differing from his kinsman, the 
 Governor of tho Ionian Isles, called " Sultan Maitland." He built a house 
 and laid out grounds on the brow of tho mouniain, jicar the Falls of Ni- 
 agara, visiting the people in their wild isolation. Tho author has heard 
 from one of the.se, the daughter of Col. Turney, near DeCew Falls, that the 
 Governor would often &ur[iriso them with a visit, and ccmpliment the 
 hostess by saying he preferred their little falls to Niagara. lie used to 
 visit the canal frequently, bringing his guests to see the works thereon, in 
 ■wliich he appeared to take a deep interest. He was hospitable, often in- 
 viting the ex-Sherilf to liis entertainments. He served a term in Nova 
 Scotia, and then to the Cape, whore the Kaffir war terminateil his duties 
 as Governor. Tho author came across his path while travelling in 1843, 
 «njoying his characteristic aestotic puisuits at liausanne, in Switzerland. 
 The item circulated in the jiapcrs that Sir P. Maitland had called some of 
 
117 
 
 the townsliii>s after his lii'ly's lap dogs in of small momont, as ho hail no 
 doubt diiiiculty in nmking names, from the fact that during tho first year 
 of his adnuuistrrttion, in I81IO, twelve new townships were laid out. A 
 letter was received by T. Merritt, Sr., then Surveyor of Woods and Forests, 
 asking j)ermission for the Crown right of timber for townshijis bearing the 
 names "Artimesia," " Mariposa," "Zone," "Zero" "Java," "Dawn," 
 "Rama," "Mara," "Sol," "Ops," "Olden," " Oso ' 
 
 I 
 
 I 
 
 ■ii 
 
 1 829. 
 
 After being confined to the house for about two montiiS, our subject at 
 last was sufliciontly recovered to take an* active part in tho works, and on 
 tho I'lth December we find that ho drove down to the harbor to look at 
 improvements there, and shortly afterwards, on the 1st January, he at- 
 tended tho meeting of the Board at York, bringing with him tho reports of 
 Messrs. Geddess and Barrett. They were adopted, and wo fin<l that, with 
 the additions now i)roposod, the expense would be £90,000. Mr. Merritt 
 Avas instructed to let out the necessary contracts immediately, which he did, 
 and returned towards the end of the month, after enjoyin„' the hospitality 
 Ci' the Governor, Mr. Bolton, etc. The Parliament opened on the 9th, and 
 Lieutenant-Governor, Sir John Colborm*, in his s}ieech mentioned the 
 improvements in the Gore and Niagara Districts. As thi.s Pailiameut was 
 the one in which our subject may be said to have received the most ojiposi- 
 tion, it is worth stating that it was a decidedly radical one, or, more pro])erly 
 speaking, a nationality in Assembly, approaching more to the views of tho 
 Lower Canadian House tJian any of the previous ones. It consisted of 48 
 members, of Avhom 4 were natives of Ireland, C of Scotland, 7 of England, 13 
 of Canada, 3 of other British Colonies, and IT) of the United States. Among 
 this number were W. L. McKenzie, Mr. Bidwcll, Jno. Wih;on, Dr. Kolph, 
 Capt. INIathews, and other men who afterward participated in tho unsuc- 
 cessful rebellion with their feliow nialcont«nts in Lower Canada. After 
 the meeting of the Board, ^Ir. Morritt remained in York until beyond the 
 middle of the mcmth. In a letter to Mrs. Merritt ho says (10th Jan.): "I 
 " dined with His ?]xcellency last week, Dunn, Allan and Boulton, and de- 
 " clined all other engagements." On his return to St. Catharines he writes 
 
 to Dr. P (10th Feb.) as follows: "The whole line was put under con- 
 
 " tract on tho 3lRt of January, and is now in e.xecution. I hope wo will 
 " be in a position to open it by June, at which time I trust you will be 
 "here. We have formed a ci>ui]>any which undertakes to convey jiroduce 
 "from the Grand lliver to Lake Ontario for 20 cents per baVrel for Hour 
 " — grain in proportion — and 10 cents from the upper end of the Deep Cut 
 " to the lake. It is intended to connect with a coui2)any in Cleveland, 
 

 "^ > 
 
 118 
 
 " Ohio, who will guarantee conveyance to the commencement of our canal 
 " at a fixed price. Another company will be at Oswego to transport to 
 " New York." 
 
 After his trip home, Mr. Me>.*ritt proceeded to York, and attended at the 
 rising of the Parliament, where the Act giving the Canal Company the 
 necessary rights on the new route was passed and received the Royal assent. 
 This was an important affair, as the route wont through the lands of the 
 Government at the mouths of the Chippewa and Grand Rivers. He was not 
 so successful, however, in lobbying a bill through the House having refer- 
 ence to the Academy and laying out of the roads in the village, as the 
 Ul)per House refused the measure after its passage through the Lower. 
 This action may in some measure be traced to the fact that the Bishops or 
 U. C. College had just been started in York, and it was thought that one 
 institution was sufficient at the time. The Act of Incorporation for the 
 Grantham Academy, however, passed both Houses the following se.ssion. 
 Acts were passed at the previous one for the building of lighthouses on 
 Lakes Erie and Ontario, showing that the country was beginning to feel 
 the effects which the contemplated opening of the Canal would have on the 
 trade of the Lakes. As an indication of the rising of the ill-feeling between 
 the Government and the popular branch of the Legislature, we may men- 
 tion that at this session .33 bills were tlu'own out from the Upper House, 
 and only 25 were passed. 
 
 Arriving home, he started, on the 23rd, up the line, terminated by the 
 Grand River, and afterwanls returned to York on financial affairs. 
 
 On the 24th of March, Mrs. Merritt writes a most intere,sting letter to 
 her parents, wherein she graphically describes the adventures of a sleighing 
 party, of whom she was one, who went from St. Catharines to the Grand 
 River. Proceeding by the Deep Cut seven miles up to the Chippewa, where 
 they found the piers sunk for the aqueduct, and then travelling four or 
 five miles through a thinly settled country to Marsh ville, they met some 
 friends, amongst them a cousin. This place was the headquarters of the 
 Engineer on the Feeder. After dining, they proceeded in a straight course 
 for ten miles through the marsh, ]>assing occasionally a few shanties, where 
 peo)«lewere at work digging. The road was uloiiu- the embankment made 
 by the ditch. She expresses surprise at the licMltliincss of the i)0'iple, and 
 associales it with the fact of the water liein',' impiv jiiturd w itii tamarac. 
 At kli'^ end of the marsh, near the site of l^uunvili.% there were a li>df dozen 
 of iitmsc'^. The coiitrnctov. Simpson, and M r. ('aim I iiud a store. A;s the 
 acconimo(hition there \^as insutlioicnt for tlieir paiiv, they drove down to 
 the mouth of the river, n«>w Port Maitland, where, finding good aeconimo- 
 dation and huge fires in the inn, after their long riilo they enjoyed them 
 selves after the usual manner of the times in the back woods. Stopping all 
 night, in the morning they observed on the oi)[)osito side of tho river a few 
 
 IK 
 
 M!i 
 
119 
 
 wliitewashed huilciinga, which were used for the naval establiahment. The 
 (lay being fine, and the air and sky clear, they could distinctly see the farms 
 and woods on the other side of the lake. They then proceeded five or six 
 miles up the river, and returned through Canboro' by way of the Twenty 
 Mile Creek, much pleased with their winter's drive through the woods. 
 
 At the election of Directors at St. Catharines, April 0, at which Mr. Yates 
 was present, a new foature was the election of Messrs. Ljiflerty and Dixon 
 as Government representixtives at the Board. On the Gth and 7th of May, 
 the Directors \'isited +he line, and inspected the Grand River dam. Owing to 
 the fact of the original site at the mouth being objected to be the military 
 authorities, they were compelled to move it about four and a half miles up 
 the river to its jiresent position at Dunnviile. Contracts for the job were 
 entered into with "Mr. Wilkinson and others for the completion of the work 
 "by the middle of July, for the sum of £12, .500. On the 8th the Directors 
 met in St. Catharines and confirmed these proceedings. 
 
 Shortly afterwards Mr. Merritt accompanied his wife and two sons to 
 Mayville, where he remained a few days and returned by steamboat to Buf- 
 falo, and thence to St. Catharines. On the 12th of June he writes from Thorold 
 to Mrs. M. : "As I have no particular inducement to go home, I generally 
 " remain over night where the nece^ities of the works find mo, though my 
 " occupation is chiefly on the upper end. The brush dam over the Grand 
 " River is getting on well ; by present appearances it will bo finished next 
 " month." The vessel called the Wclland Canal, owned by Commodore 
 Northrop, kept on her usual trips, but from the numerous allusions we find 
 made to her and her gallant owner we are led to the conclusion that in 
 many respects .she answered the purpose of a yacht, in which his friends 
 enjoyed themselves with an occasional cruise on tlie cool waters of Ontario, 
 and no doubt partook largely of the commander's hospitality, as we find, in 
 a letter from Mr. M., dated June 30, that "his father had just returned 
 *' from a trip to Prescott with the Commodore." About Ihis time St. Cath- 
 ariuos was visited by the Lieutenant-Governor, who, in company with Mr. 
 [Merritt, inspected the works on the Grand River. He describes Sir John 
 Colborne as a very hard rider, having started from St. C. at 6 o'clock in 
 the morning, they reaching the dam at 3 p.m., returning the next day, so 
 that our subject, although well accustomed to be on horseback, found his 
 match in the old veteran from Badajos. 
 
 On the 15th of July he writ^^s from Marshville, wliere Ids lieadquarters 
 now are, describing the state of the works, and telling Mrs. M. that he is 
 sleeping in a room oif the ofiice, on a bed 3^ feet wide, with very little of 
 the comforte of life, as food is scarce and some necessaries nofc to b« had, 
 and his daily journey over the woiks aniounts to 28 miles. He says: " 1 
 •'had the pleasure of escorting Mrs. "Wilkinson, the contractor's wife, over 
 "the dam on the Grand River," so we presume that at this date that work 
 
 1 
 
 , ■ f 
 
 it: 
 
 
 
 
 ■ \^ 
 
120 
 
 m 
 
 
 1 
 
 i 
 
 was finished. Having in the interim visited Mrs. M. at Mayville, we find 
 that on tho l.st of August ho writes as follows from Marshville : " On 
 " Saturday T readied this phice. Sunday, up ihe Grand IJiver, and re- 
 " turned to Burgars" (now Wellaud). " Monday, to Loclcport on canal 
 " Vtusiness. Tuesday, to St. Catharines, and on Wednesday .started for 
 " York in steamboat from Niagara, and returned on Thui-sday to St. C, 
 " and then went up the line," where he is on Friday. In those few lines 
 we have a tolerably fair idea of tho amount of labor which our subject 
 accomplished, and it was often a source of astonishment to the author, who 
 accompanied him during part of the journeys mentioned, how he wa.s cTer 
 able to stand up against the strain whicJi he wa.s then subjected to 
 and we can only account for it from the fact of tlie iron constitution 
 and indomitable will with which he was possessed. The management 
 of an ordinary business is a severe sti ain on the most of men, but when we 
 consider th« manifold duties which he was required to perform, the ever- 
 rising current of difficulties against which he had to stem, and the nuuier* 
 ous vexatious questions arising from unforeseen eventualities, financial 
 affairs, workmen's disputes, sickness, and, what was even worse, the oppo- 
 sition of many who should have been friends, it seems almost impossible 
 that he could have borne up against them. Along the line of the works 
 on the feeder the fever and ague was raging ; strong men were wasted to 
 skeletons, and the general feeling of despondency and discontent wliich all 
 those vicisitudes bring in their train was felt in the ranks of the workmen 
 who were there employed ; to stii* them u]i, and to cheer forward the work, 
 was a duty which devolved on hiin, and few who now read these pages can 
 form any idea of the pain and annoyance which a sensitive mind like his 
 often felt under the circumstances. The season had been a dry one, and 
 consequently the miasma from tho stirred uj) earth was more severe in this 
 section than usual ; so sevp*'e 1 ad it Iteen tliat the work was delayed in con- 
 sequence. On the 2Uh of August he writes from St. Catharines: "From 
 " the sickness on the Grand River we M'ill be detained getting the waters 
 " through until about the middle of the next month." Again, on the 7th 
 of Sei»tember .• " I am ptill in very bad health ; the fever has not left me 
 " entirely, but I think I am mending." 
 
 The works were now apjtroaching completion, and from -the financial 
 statement exhiliited at York on the 2nd of July Ave find that tho Directrra 
 were in a tight jdace for want of money. Every resource had been tried 
 to keep up the supply ; the plant used on the deep cut was sold, as well as 
 all unrequired tools, and yet more was wanted ; in fret, the actual state of 
 the finance."! showed that they were in the pi>ssession of £58.5 in cash 
 after passing the yearly estimates ; tludr other assets wore jirincipaliy in 
 paper, and in promises which might not be redeemed. Eesolutions were 
 passed appointing Mr. Dunn, Mr. Robinson and Mr. Merritt to a.sk the 
 
M 
 
 Hi 
 
 121 
 
 Governor in person to guarantee a loan of £10,000, also to draw oti the 
 Directorti of the Canada Coini)any, wlio had promised to take Ktock, and to 
 apply to the Bank of ITpper (.'anada with ample security for an advance to 
 cover the estimates for August. C)n the 2-4th uf September the 15uard met 
 at Niagara, and it was there resolved " tliat the President, Directors 
 " and Agent do hereby agree to save, defend and bear liarmless the Lieu- 
 " tenant-Governor of this Province of and frora uU personal riak and re- 
 " aponsibility for making the advance mentioned at the previous meeting." 
 Where tire rest of the money was to come from they were in doubt, but 
 the following letter from H. J. Bolton to Mr. Memtt shows that the Di- 
 rectors' responsibility was not unanimous : 
 
 " York, 4th Sept. 
 " With regard to the money arrangements which you speak of as hav- 
 ing been made, I am quite in the dai-k." 
 
 On the 21 at of September Mr. Allan, President of the Bank cf Upper 
 Canada, writes : "I did all I could to advise the Bank Company to advance 
 "the £6,000 on the security agreed upon, but I fear eircumstances will 
 "prevent its being done." On the 2r)th J. H. Dunn writes: "I did hope 
 " no more money would be required until the water was through, but ex- 
 " pect when that takes i)lace we shall have no ditliculty in obtaining a loan 
 " — at least through the medium of Sir John — for £10,000. I made you 
 " an advance. Come over." On the 28th Mr. Yates, in answer to an 
 application, advocates for the Company to issue bank bills, as the laat 
 resort, at this time the water was let in, and, notified by Mr. INIerritt. 3Ir. 
 Gordon, from Amhcrstburgh, writes in answer : " It would be a mo.st 
 " gratifying spectacle for the inhabitants of Ainherstburgh to see a vessel 
 "from Lake Ontario." November 12th, Chief Justice Robinson says : '•! 
 " fear the very severe frosts may bo troublesome to you, still a schooner 
 " must be passed through." 
 
 On Monday, the 14th September, in this year, was opened for th.e tirst 
 time, the Grantham Academy, which for the future was destined to become 
 the seat of superior education for the Niagara district. When the Gover- 
 nor was in St. Catharines, on 22nd June, he visited the building, and ex- 
 pressed himself highly gratiticd with its appearance; and sincerely hoped 
 that the institutioi: would become a popular and successful one, as the college 
 opposite the Government House in York had just that month been ten- 
 dered for. 
 
 One of the great events of this year was performed by an individual 
 named Samuel Patch, who, by jumping into the water under the Niagara 
 Falls, and escaping unhurt, earned himself a name ever afterwanls in 
 American history. The same nmn terminated his jumping and life together 
 sliortly afterwards in endeavouring to perform a similar feat at the Genesee 
 Falls, near Rochester. Others, who were fond of excitement, got up a 
 
 I 
 
 ' ! 1 
 
 iiii 
 
 ! : 
 

 m 
 
 M 
 
 
 122 
 
 grand exhibition at the Falls, and finished the attractions of the day by 
 letting an old schooner, containing a number of animals, drift over the 
 " Horse Shoe." The journals of the time (Oct. 7th) were filled with ac- 
 counts of the event, which, wo are told, passed oflfmuch to the satisfaction 
 of the counties., spectators. 
 
 Another of the events was the establishing of a total abstinence society 
 at Thorold, under the management of Mr. George Keefer, Mr. Barrett, and 
 ultimately enlarged by Mr. Phelps, who may be said to have been, by his 
 zeal and influence, the father of Temperance in this neighbourhood. 
 
 After a sickness of six weeks, and a consequent abser.ce, he writes in 
 his journal: "On the 3rd of October it was fully determined to let the 
 " water into the Canal, but owing to the settling of the dam at G, R. it had 
 " to be deferred until the damage was rcpaii-ed." On the 4th, he writes : 
 *• Sunday — Returned to dam. All han<ls at work raising the banks. Found 
 << every job bo deficient that I had the water stopjied at Broad Creek. Went 
 " through with the engineers, and took a roiigli estimate of what was re- 
 ■" (juired." The Canal was now tented fur the first time, and it was found 
 that, owing to the hurry in which the contractors went on with their work, 
 several of the levels were not correct. From this and other circumstances 
 the opening of the canal was postponed for a month or six weeks. 
 
 Now we find him, when others in his position would have })een despond- 
 ent, making out estimates for a through extension of the line to Gravelly 
 Bay, now Port Colborne, so that, with all the drawbacks at this critical time, 
 we have reason to think that from the beginning his ideas were to mature 
 this scheme by degrees. 
 
 On the 7th of October, in company with two officers from the naval 
 station at Port Maitland, he passed down the feeder in a boat from Broad 
 Creek to Marshville. From the 22nd to the 29th he was in York, raising 
 funds, and succeeded to the amount of £3,000, and returned to Niagara in 
 the steamer Alciope. Whilst in Toronto, it was arrangunl that the opening 
 and celebration of the canal should take j)lace on the 24th ult., and after 
 his return the time was fully occupied in getting down the water, making 
 arningements for the celebration, and in close correspondence with vessel 
 owners in Oswego, Buflfalo and elsewhere. On the 14th of November two 
 scows wore sent from the deep cut to the Grand River. On the 17th the 
 prospects were so good that ^Ir. Black was sent to Niagara and York, to 
 see after vessels, which wore procured. Invitations were issued to the 
 Lieutenant-Governor, and tlie officers of the 71st regiment, in Toronto, 
 which wore accepted ; their fine band was engaged for the occasion ; 
 and colons, guns, ammunition, etc., were procured. The locks and 
 embankm«»*f5 were inspected and found safe, so that all was in readiness 
 for the grand demonetratiou. 
 
 Bufc the icy baud of winter interposed, keen frost set in, old Boreas 
 
 Al 
 
I 
 
 123 
 
 in 
 
 assumed control on Lake Ontario, The departm-e of the Directors from 
 York was delayed, owing to the storm; and at last, after maturely weighing 
 the difficulty, it was decided to delay the public opening until the ensuing 
 spring, much to the annoyance of our subject, who had everything prepared. 
 
 The storm abating on the 26th, tlie schooner 7?. //. Boughlan, of Youngs- 
 town, N. Y., arrived at Port Dalhousie to pass the canal, and on the fol- 
 lowing day, the Annie <L' Jane, from York, for the same purpose. Tlie 
 weather again became mild, and, notwithstandin,; the absence of the Presi- 
 dent, Mr. Merritt decided to carry out a part of the progmmme, at least, 
 by sailing through the canal. The journal of tliis date says : 
 
 "On Friday, the 27th November, 1829, the inhabitants of this village 
 and its vicinity were highly gratified at seeing, moonKl in the basin oppo- 
 site, the schooner li. 11. Bouyhton, Capt. Pheatt, and tlie schooner Annie <£• 
 Jane, Capt. J. Voller, which vessels were destined to make the first voyage 
 through the canal from Lake Ontario to Lake Erie. The Annie d' Jane 
 I)a8sed by, displaying a number of flags, ensigns and pendants, also a 
 beautiful silk flag with the words "The King, God bless Him !" imprinted in 
 gold letters, sunuounied by the Crown, ex-ected on her bow, and took her 
 station in the lead." The banks of the ^anal were crowded with people, 
 and the enthusiam displayed on the occasion testified that those who 
 witnessed the display were now fully satisfied as to the prospects of the 
 great work which had so long occupied their attention. 
 
 The vessels arrived safe in Buffalo on the 2nd of December, and 
 were received with a salute, returning the next day to the canal, which 
 they passed down in safety, and with good despatch. 
 
 In a letter from Chippewa, dated the 30th of November, to Mrs. 
 M., he says: — "We liave arrived this far in safety. The first evening 
 " we lay in the level above Thomas Kerr's ; got on most nobly. On Satur- 
 " day we ascended the mountsiin with ease and facility, after which we had 
 " much trouble in breaking through the ice, and had a detention of some 
 " hours at the first lock on the deep cut by a chip getting under the gate ; 
 " got into the deep cut after sundown. Sunday : had much difficulty in 
 "getting through deep cut, owing to the timber and ice; passed the other 
 " two locks, and grounded on a bar, where, being Sunday, we remained 
 " all day. Monday, — got off at 9 o'clock a.m., and towed down to this 
 " place against a heavy head wind, snow, etc. However, on the whole we 
 " Lave been successful, and have tested to my satisfaction that a vessel will 
 " pass on the canal in twenty-four hours. We leave for Buffalo in the 
 " morning, and will return in a few days." The Buftalo Rejyublican, in an 
 extra, thus mentions their arrival : 
 
 "The First Vesski.s fkom Lake Ohtario. — To the suqmse of the 
 citizens of Buffalo and Black Bock, the lake schooners Ann ((• Jane, of 
 York, U. C, and Ji. H. Boutjhton, of Youngstown, arrivet^ in our harbr . 
 
 ''1 
 il 
 
 ■'ill 
 
 \ 
 
 ■'it 
 
 ;]i il 
 
 m 
 
•'ill 
 
 m 
 
 
 124 
 
 on Wednesdiiy last, liftviiif; on board the entorprising projector of tlie Wel- 
 land Canal, Williaui Hamilton Mt-rritt, with a company of gcnfclomon (whose . 
 names the subjoined certificates disclose). The British vessel led the van. 
 The locks wore passed on the .'^(Ith of Novemhor, just five years from the 
 commencement of the imjiortant work. Tlie question is not, wliether this 
 work will increase or diminish the receipts of the Erie canal ; wo trust that 
 we possess too much nationaf pride to complain of the success of even a 
 rival work, began by our tieighbois before ours was completed. Its pro- 
 gress to its termination is flattering, and the news we now conununi- 
 cato, that of the passitge (>/' vexnefti /ram hikt to lake, must be cheering indeed 
 to the stockholders and gratifying to the inhabitants of Upper Canada. 
 
 " Both vessels passed into the Black Rock basin through the sloop-lock, 
 and were saluted by the atenmhoat If eny-i/ Clai/, and cheei-ed by the citizens. 
 On their arrival in our harbor, they were met with bursts of applause, and 
 honored by discharges of artillery from the Terrace. The gentlemen pas- 
 sengers then repaired to the Eagle tavern, where they were greeted by 
 many of our villagers, who called to shake the hands of the navigators of 
 the Deep Cut. 
 
 " The passage of the first vessels was to have taken effect, by a notifica- 
 tion ">f the W. C. C. Directors, 24th nit., but, owing to storms and unfavor- 
 able .tate of the weather, was postponed. The zeal of the projector and 
 persevering agent, could not be satisfied with a "postponement on account 
 of the weather," so he, and the gentlemen who accomi)anied him, made the 
 attempt; and, after cutting ice, in some places three inche.s thick ; ascending 
 thirty-two locks, at the mountain; passing the deepest of all "cuts;" lucking 
 down into the Welland River ; sailing down that river and touching at 
 Chippewa ; stemming the strong and 1)road current of the Niagara ; and, 
 finally, the Black Rock harbor, which has been blauied beyond measure, 
 opened its arms and gave the 'tars from Ontario' a glorious hug. 
 
 " The success of our neighbors may give an impetus to our national or 
 state governments, or a body corporate, in making a canal or railway from 
 the Niagara river at Schlos.ser to the same river at I^ewiston. 
 
 " Truly, the bold features of the enterprizes of the New World throw 
 those of the Old far in the shade." 
 
 On Christmas day, after the family dinner with his father, now at E. S. 
 Adams', Mr. Merritt left for York, to attend the meeting, and make his 
 
 report. 
 
 The Welland Canal was now an accomplished fact. The artificial wed- 
 ding of the great lakes of the west and north, with'the waters of the Ontario, 
 and eventually with the St. Lawrence and the ocean, was complete ; and 
 the pathway which opened its extended gates to the great commerce of the 
 eastern world, who.se pioneers were to carry civilization and intelligence on 
 their course, was at last gone over, and pronounced a success. Although in 
 Lis memoranda at the time we find no particular allusion to the im})ortant 
 event, yet we have reason to believe that beneath the placid exterior, there 
 burned a manly glow of pride and exultation, on the accomplishment of 
 his design, which had made him the instrument of good to his felloAv- 
 creaturca, and a feeling of deep thankfulness to the Great Disposer of all 
 
 I 
 
 \\im 
 
f 
 
 125 
 
 things, on whose aid he thus, all his life, steadfastly relied, and in whose 
 words of encouragonioiit he fixed his eternal hope, that the praise and the 
 glory was given to, we have no doul)t. And now, when wo see the almost 
 stupendious results which sprung from his primal idea of a navigable canal, 
 we cannot but think, in all his dilliculties and manifold troubles at the time, 
 a more than human strtMiyth of both body and mind sustained him through- 
 out. As well as Mr. Alorritt, there were others to credit, and although our 
 special business lies with him, yet amengst the warm supj)orters and un- 
 Hinching friends whicli ho had at this time, there were none perhaps who 
 remained so steadfast to him as J. B. Yates, Esq., of Chattemvngo, N. Y. 
 With money, advice, energy and inOuence, he assisted our subject more, we 
 think, from a firm belief in the practicability of his ideas than from any great 
 returns which he might immediately get therefrom. Others we might men- 
 tion, and where corporate aid was required it cannot be forgotten that 
 the gentlemen in Yoi*k known as the Family (^'ompact were able and 
 patriotic a.ssistants toward the scheme. Foremost on the roll stand the 
 late Lord Bishop of Toronto, Dr. Strachan . J. B. Robinson, Chief Justice ; 
 Mr. Diinn, and numerous others; and lust, though in eti(piette first, weie 
 Lord Dalhousie and Sir Peregrine Maitland, whose names, with the others 
 it is hoped will bo forever identiiied with the realization of the whilum 
 dreamer, W. H. Merritt, and the Welland Canal. 
 
 1830. 
 
 He stayed at York all winter, as many affairs c(jnnected with the cantil 
 required lus attention, and his juesence on the sjjot was neces.sary. While 
 here, a number of meetings of the Dii'ectors was held, and .some verv im- 
 portant measures suggested and inaugiiratod. Amongst them was the 
 
 extension to Port Colborne — the race and acqueduct to St. Catharines 
 
 also the usual petition to the Legislature for moi-e funds, as the work 
 was only opened, to enable to pay off their liabilities and perfect its con- 
 struction On the 9th of January he writes to Dr. P- : "I have been 
 
 " here for some time attending the Legislature, from whom we Jiope to get 
 " another $100,000 to enable us to finish the canal as it should be. You 
 " are aware of the expense attending such operations after they are Dro- 
 *' nounced finished." 
 
 About the 18th he returned to St. Catharines, in conse«juence of Mrs. 
 Merritt's illness, who, since lier confinement and return from Chatauque, 
 had been in very delicate health. Next week he went back to York, to 
 attend a meeting of the Board on the 1st of Fel)ruary. On the 7th he 
 writes: "The decision whether we will get assistance or not, and in what 
 " way, will be discu3.sed to-morrow." Again, on the 27th : " I have been 
 
 M\ 
 
 ;*■: 
 
 ii!:!'l^ 
 
 :l 
 
126 
 
 
 ■*|- 
 
 I 
 
 ■■:* 
 
 *' in constant oxpootation of a termination of tho qucHtion from daj to day 
 " and from week to week. The bill has boon rojiortod, and vro get the 
 " money unshackled." 
 
 Havin<' now conclusively astabliahod tho first oanal iu Canada, our sub- 
 ject found HulUciont time to agitate the question of tho worka on the 8t. 
 Lawrence. This scheme, which was a part of his original plan, although 
 kept in abeyance during the prognsss of tho \Vellau<l, was neveithelesa 
 always considered by him as a part of tho grand chain which, to make the 
 water comniunicatiou of the countiy of any worth to tho peoplo, would have 
 to be finished. Ho was not a man who propounded his plans in one great 
 undertaking, believing that in a new and comparatively poor country like 
 Canada things must bo done by degrees, and consequently his approaches 
 to these works were made in a spirit of caution which often eceins at vari- 
 ance with his known habits. Occasionally, during the progress of the 
 Welland wo find an odd article in the pajiers of the time referring to the 
 St. Lawrence, again a survey, and at other times a personal remark thereto. 
 Thus the minds of the country were gradually prepared, and the way to a 
 certain extent pave I for works which it would require large sums to accom- 
 plish. Hence we find on the 20th of January, 1830, a long and very im- 
 portant article in the York Freeman on the necessity of a boat canal from 
 Montreal to Prescott, with vfluable data, etc., like its first survey five 
 years previous, showing that his ideas at the time were identical with those 
 first proposed on the Welland, but which, like that, should result in a work 
 of far greater magnitude. 
 
 On the 7th March he again writes to Mrs. Merritt from York as follows: 
 " The Bill authoiizing a loan of £25,000, passed on Friday night about t) 
 o'clock, (the day previous to the prorogation.) Never in the course of my 
 life had I so unpleasant, tiresome, and dilUcult a job. I have experienced 
 the eft'ects of hope deferred in its fullest extent, and feel grateful for its suc- 
 cess • and not the least for its relieving hundreds from misery and want, 
 whose just claims this loan enables us to satisfy." 
 
 The Grantham Academy, noticed as opened last year, held on the 26th of 
 February, the first examination. After the usual exercises, in a programme 
 in-inted at the time, we find the names of some who have since been leading 
 actors in our country's aifairs. Professional men — men of business. Nearly 
 all have left their marks. Some, alas ' have gone out of the annals of our 
 country. But owing to the want of encouragements hereafter shewn to the 
 natives, many of them, like it is at present, have been compelled to benefit 
 outsiders with talents and energy that have been improved here, in which 
 they covild be ill-spared in the land of their bii'th. 
 
 He returned home on the 1 2th of March, and his time was occupied with 
 the usual office business, and in settling up with contractors and others. 
 
 Mr. Barrett, their engineer, now left the canal, in the care of his able 
 
127 
 
 lussistiint, Mr. Keofor, who had been brought up from childhood on the 
 work, and went down to mako iinother Burvev on tho St. Lawrence. 
 
 On the 7th of May, ^Ir. .Min'ritb wa.s at Tiako Eric, •xumining thi- dif- 
 ferent hayH from which to schfct a harhour for the extension. 
 
 On the lOtli lie left for Now York, aitd returned by Oswego, after a 
 fortnight's ab.sence.. 
 
 Canal boats wore established to run between Port Robinson and Dunn- 
 ville three times per week, which continued on the route under tne command 
 of Mr. J3roadman. lie was succeeded by IMr. John Alessinore, who for 
 many yftars afterwards carried on the business. 
 
 Arrangements were also made for having a steam-boat to nm between 
 Hamilton and Queenston, calling regularly at Port Dalhousie. 
 
 Fuur large barges, laden with l,tt()0 barrels of flour, were brought down 
 from the Orand River, and carried through the caiud. 
 
 On the letting in of tho water, a celebration in honour of tho opening 
 took place at Beverley (now Port Robinson.) A large number were present. 
 The chair was occupied by Mr. Merritt, and a harmonious evening was spent 
 — rather a numerous party, as four hundred are chronicled as the guests. 
 
 The people of Oswego, then, more than now, evinced a warm interest in the 
 welfare of tho canal ; and, we are therefore not surprised to find that the 
 Report on tho Canal for 1829, was extensively circulated by the merchants 
 of that place amongst their friends in the lake States. A letter from a 
 gentlemen there, to Mr. Merritt, dated March 2nd, gives an idea of the pre- 
 vailing sentiment : — " We send you a copy of the Welland Canal Report, 
 " (which was reprinted.) We have commenced a general circulation of it, 
 "and shall do it thoroughly, for we look to the Welland Canal as ouu maix 
 
 " STAY, BOTH AS KEGAUDS THE GROWTH OF THIS VILLAGE, AND OUR OWK 
 " BUSINESS." 
 
 The time of the election of Canal Directors was now changed to the 1st 
 of June, as that was found a more convenient season now that the work was in 
 operation. At this meeting Messrs. Dunn, Allen, Bolton, A. H. McDonald 
 and Mr. Merritt were chosen, Mr. Keefer retiring at his own request, and 
 with the conscious feeling of having always stood well by the canal. The 
 Directors chosen by the Government were Messrs. Lafferty and Dixon, both 
 frontier men, but not particularly friendly to the Welland Canal. Mr. 
 Dixon afterward resigned, and was replaced by Mr. R. Randall. After 
 Mr. Barrett's depai-ture, his place was ably filled by Mr. Goo. Keefer, 
 assisted by S. Keefer. 
 
 After numerous drawbacks in connection with the water supplies, the 
 canal was at last, by the month of July, got in working order but M-as not 
 much used till the fall trade, when we find by a letter to Di\ Prendergast, 
 that a brisk trade was doing. 
 
 In order to show who wore the pioneers in navigating the canal, we 
 
f^il 
 
 128 
 
 miijlit statu that in August of tliiH yoar the Lieutonant-Governor, Sir John 
 CuUiorno, iiispectod the canal in a Uovei-nment vessel under command of 
 Lieutenant Jones, R. N. The schooner Krie, 11 tons, Capt. Bocjuet, from 
 (.'leveland, bound for Youngntown in ballast, was the iLrst to pass down 
 from Tiuke Erie. Mt^ssi-s. (!an»p k Koniicdy l)rou^ht down several rafts of 
 stavf's from the fJraiul Kivei'. Messrs. Norton it Bliss, from the same 
 <juarter, took 150,000 feet of lumber to Bufl'alo and Lockpurt, etc. 
 
 About this time the news of the death <jf Iving (J«orge the Fourth 
 arrived. The Journal of that date was i)rinted in deep mourning. Shortly 
 afterward the exciting news of the French revolution came, and furniKhed 
 the press with ample theories to speculate upon. A proclamation from the 
 flovernor was i.ssued dissolving the Parliament in coiLwcjuence of the 
 King's death, and ordering a new election to bo held on the 18th October — 
 also proclaiming tliat his Majesty William the Fouiih was now the Sover- 
 eign, etc. 
 
 The regidations for the navigation and numagement of the canal were 
 now published in a form containing I'J clauses. That tlie machinery was 
 in fair working order is shown from the following item, taken from the 
 York Courier at this time : 
 
 " Welland Canal. — We have ju.st been informed by Capt. Finney, of 
 the soiioduer ('harks <f' Ainiif, that he left, this port on the 15th inst. for 
 Buffalo via the canal, through the wliole linn of which he j)assed in less than 
 24 hours. Capt. Finney, from the reports lie had heard to its disparage- 
 ment, ex[)ected to have nuit with some di'awl)acks in the passage through, 
 but was agreeably surprised to iind none. The Captain is contident that 
 tlie canal will fulfil all that its promoters promised. He left Bulliilo with 
 a load of pig iron and castings on the 2'2nd, and arrived here on the L'Oth, 
 making a sjilendid passage." 
 
 Oil the 21st of August a grand diuiier was held in Oswego in honor of 
 the success of the work, and ^Mr. Merritt's health was drank amidst most 
 unbounded api)lauso. 
 
 3[r. Yates, who had bpcn to England, was back in time to be present at 
 a meeting of the Board on the 2Gth Oct., when ho offered to purchase the 
 hydraulic privileges on the line of the canal, for the sum of $100,000, which 
 was accepted. The extension of the line direct to Port Colborne was also 
 decided upon. To accomplish this object, and to build store-houses, furnish 
 boats, ifec, as the company were partly compelled to become their own for- 
 warders, a further sum of $200,000 was found necessary; and it was at once 
 decided to again petition the Legislature on the subject. After a great 
 deal of negotiating by Mr. Yates, Mr. Merritt, and other.s, the i-esult was 
 that the G-overnment, on their next meeting, acquiesced in terms which 
 will be exjdaiubd as the work progi-esses. 
 
 During this jv'^ar 3Irs. Merritt was very ill, and they also experienced 
 the loss of their last child, a daughter, who died on the 19th of September. 
 
129 
 
 Mi'H. M. wnH not convaleHcont until the cold weather set in, nncl was not 
 jicrfectly rcHtored to honltli before Christmas. 
 
 ■ i,n 
 
 183 1. 
 
 Tho new Parliament mot on the Gth of January, and the Governor in 
 his .speech alluded to the iuipoitant iim>i ovumenta being made in our in- 
 l.ind water conimunication.s, and atfmitted their HUCcosHful operations, 
 tliough still favoring the military work to the Kideau. 
 
 Shortly afterwards Mr. Merrittand Mr. Yates left St. Catharines for York, 
 to press tho necessities of the Wellaud upon the Government. 
 
 As this, under the present circumstances, was the last loan asked from 
 the Goverament, and the composition of the House being Conservative, 
 wiio viewed the question from a patriotic staud])oint comj)ared with tho 
 former or radical House, little dilHeulty was experienced in getting tho 
 bill pas.sed, yet the money was granted under circumstances which involved 
 our subject, whose property was all in tho country, and Mr. Yate.s, with 
 his nephew, A. Y. McDonald, from Cornwall, to so large an amount as to 
 render its success neces.sary for their jirivate interests. They were respon- 
 sible for one-half the principal of 81(J(),000, and the intere.st of the whole, 
 amounting to .fl 0,000 per year, payable in London. Although the Provin- 
 cial debentures were given on their })ei'sonal secui'ity, tho money could not 
 be used for any other purpose than the canal extension to Lake Erie. Whilst 
 in York, Mr. M. prepared and got printed a circular for distribution amongst 
 the members, wherein he urges strongly the immediate undeiiaking of 
 the works on the St. Lawrence. By a careful and elaborate expose of data 
 respecting our commercial prospects, he proves tho advantivges which pro 
 ducers, merchants and consumers would derive from improving the river 
 route ; and although his speculations were based on the prospects of an 
 enoiTnous increase in the trade of the St. Liiwrence, yet the facts are there 
 shown that a ton weight of mercliandise from Liverpool to jMontreal, 3,000 
 miles, cost the importer thirteen shillings, whilst the cost of transpoi*tir^ 
 the same from Montreal to Prescott, a distance of 12() miles, reached the 
 high figure oi four pounds, so that to tho.so yet further west the charges on 
 articles imported by way of the St. Lawrence were simply prohibitory; an<l 
 we are not less pleased to see that in summing up his able arguments tho 
 following patriotic language is used : 
 
 "It is a reproach upon the intelligence and enterprise of the countiy 
 that this improvement was not commenced long .since. It should not 1 o 
 <lelayed another yejir. If the present House cannot comprehend the supeii* 
 ority of a ship navigation, or do not feel satisfied that the present populr.* 
 
\ i .11 . 
 
 $i 
 
 llli;| 
 
 130 
 
 tion of the weRtern country demands it, there should be no hesitation in 
 appropriatinj^ £50,000 for a boat canal. The tolls will pay the interest 
 and redeem the j)rincipal without ever being felt." 
 
 Among the proceedings of Parliament that had an ultimate interest to 
 our subject, was the contested election for Haldimand, Mr. Brant i)rot('sting 
 against the return of Mr. Warren for that county. Mr. ^\'arren still re- 
 tained the seat when he was cai-ried oflf by the cholera epidemic, and also 
 his opponent, when Mr. Merritt was elected to lill the vacancy. 
 
 A bill was also brought in by the ^i^olicitor-General to prohibit Orange 
 processions, but was ineffectual, as many bloody riots can testify ; so that at 
 this time we see the evils of Old Country feuds beginning to awaken legis- 
 lation. Mr. McKenzie, though in a minority, kept the Hoxise active 
 by his resolutions on the Chaplaincy ; and the debates on this question fill 
 many pages of the papers of the day. The official returns of the population 
 of Ui»per Canada for 1830 were kid before the House, showing that there 
 wei-e 211,187 persons in the Province — about the same ninnber as the 
 city of New York contained. Having obtained the Government sanction, 
 tendera were immediately asked for, to complete the canal to the lake. 
 The debentures were negotiated by Mr. Yates, and the money obtained 
 from the Bank of the United States at the terms required ; and on the 
 meeting of the Directors in St. Catharines, on the 2ud of June, the con- 
 tracts were let to different parties, amongst whom wo notice the new 
 but now well known names of the Boyles and Bradleys. Improved 
 arrangements for the management of the canal were also made at this 
 meeting — their entire affairs thus devolving upon !Mr. Merritt. Attention 
 and vigilance being the qualities necessary, competent assistants were re- 
 (juired ; and from the items relative to shii)ping, which wo find in the dif- 
 ferent Journals of the day, we think iilso the canal was kept tolerablv well 
 employed — as well as such a new work could be expected to be. 
 
 In June, Mr. Keefer was instructed to make a correct sui'voy of the 
 boundaries of the canal, and Mr. Barrett, who had returned from his jMont- 
 real survey, was appointed engineer over the new works. Mr. Merritt 
 also visited the dififerent i)orts and places along Lake Ei'ie in reference to 
 the quantity of grain likely to be shipped in the fall, and had comi)leted 
 a dry dock near the lake, being the first in the country, for repairing 
 vessels. 
 
 One of the enterprises of this year was the opening of the grist mill, 
 now known as the " Red Mill," in St. Catharines, which was owned by Mr, 
 Oliver Phelps and W. H. Merritt. 
 
 "For the first time in our histoi-y," says the Buffalo Journal of the lOtli 
 '•August, "the rapids of the Niagara were overcome by the power of steam. 
 " The steamer W. Peacock, on Wednesday last, towed a schooner of GO tons 
 
131 
 
 " from Port Robinson to Buffalo, in 3 lira. 50 inin." The usual manner at this 
 time, was by towing the vessels along the Niagara river, and also by the 
 use of windlasses placed at the ra})ida. When the vessels were heavily 
 laden, the ascension liad often to be delayed until a strong breeze from tlie 
 north came, which helped them to stem the current, esjtecially at Fort 
 Erie. "We see by the Canal Report that there was yet a large business 
 done by way of the portage between Queenstou and Fort Erie — yet> 
 although the canal was in its infancy, it at once was given the preference 
 over this mode of transit, as a comparison of the year's traffic shews there 
 was more than half the valuable merchandise conveyed by canal: " By the 
 " canal— 30,000 barrels of flour. By land— 1 1 ,000 barrels of Hour. By 
 "canal— 210,000 bushels of wheat. By land— G,500. Over 1,000,000 ft. 
 "of lumber paf«ed through the canal, and only 2,000 ft. went by land," so 
 that already it may be said that the close of the portage, after over a 
 century's use, was sealed, by its more powerful and cheaper rival. 
 
 The work on the Lake Erie route progi'essed but slowly, through a 
 scarcity of haiuls, although liberal inducements were held out. The want 
 of canal lers was sadly felt. Advertisements were inserted in the pajters, 
 calling for hands ; and althougli a uunjber of emigrants were daily arriving 
 from Europe, yet, the prosjjects of becoming producei-s, and getting a good 
 price through forwarding facilities, and lands being yet cheap, diverted 
 many to agriculture. 
 
 In August, Mr. Merritt, Mrs. Merritt, and the author, paid a visit to 
 the old family residence at Byroni, on Long Island Sound. Meeting there 
 others of the family fi-om New Brunswick, this joui-ney, like others at the same 
 time, was accom})lished partly by stage, canal and steamboat, and was re- 
 markable only for a part of it being gone over on a railway, one of the first 
 then completed in America. This road ran from Albany to Schenectady, 
 and at the time of our visit, had stationary engiuos for pulling tie cars up 
 tlio grades. The cars, or rather coaches, were drawn by horses, on the 
 plateau between. The rails were of wood, covered with a b;Mul of iron. 
 And in all its extensions, for 10 or 12 years, our recollections of the trip are 
 still as being full of adventure, by land and water, i)articulurly on the rail- 
 road. We returned by way of (Oswego, on the 20th of September. 
 
 About this time Mr. Merritt formed a project for the puri»ose of establish- 
 ing a Bank in St. Catharines, as, owing to the largely increa.sed business 
 now tranMi)iring in the old district, principally through the canal operations, 
 tlie want of a local monetiiry institution was felt in the vicinity. On the 1st 
 of (Jctober, a meeting was held, which was presided over by Mr. Merritt, 
 and Mr. H. Mittleberger acted as secretary. Messrs. Alexander McDonald, 
 W. H. Merritt, Robt. E. Burns, I. T. Bowery, H. Mittleberger, James 
 Little, and George Rykert, were appointed to draw up a petition foundeil 
 
\\m 
 
 nm 
 
 132 
 
 upon the resolutions of the meeting, and to ai)i)ly to tlie Legislature for a 
 chaiter. 
 
 The Parliament met on the 17th of November. The House was con- 
 gratulated on the prosperous state of the coimtry, and the rapid advance- 
 ments making in its every quarter, especially its water communications, 
 which were principally in the upper countiy. The petition already alluded 
 +0 in reference to the establishing of the Bank was presented by Mr. John 
 Clark, and a bill for the same purpose was brought before the House, but 
 was not carried this session. 
 
 Owing to the new poi-ts of entry which were ci*eated by the opening of 
 the canal, considerable patronage was now in the hands of the Government 
 in the appointment of customs officers, etc. It is but natural and reason- 
 able to suppose that the influence of our subject on these matters would be 
 regarded, especially as he had been entrusted with the Company's patronage, 
 and as a consequence the collectorship of customs at the new harbor of Port 
 Colborne was asked for from the Governor by Mr. Merritt for his old friend 
 and companion Col. John Clark, M.P. We think that there are few who 
 are aware of the part our suV)ject took in the Welland Canal inception and 
 accomplishment, but will admit that he at least should have liberty to 
 solicit a favor for a tried friend. Yet such was not the case ; and, as is 
 usual when Government officers are wanted, a claimant appeared upon the 
 stage whose only connection with the canal lay in his being an agent fur 
 subsci'ibcrs at a distance who held £4,000 stock in the work, without any 
 further influence than 'jeing a military gentleman from home and a friend 
 of Sir John Colborne, Hearing that IVIr. Merritt had retpiested that jMr. 
 Clark should get the appointment, this officer takes our subject to task in 
 the following manner: «' * * * If you furnish me with authority to witli- 
 " draw your application for Mr. Clark, I shall let the matter rest as it is. 
 " If not, 1 .shall consider it my duty to see the Governor immediately, and 
 "give my own explanations of the whole transaction. I fear not for the 
 " result, if I choose to exert myself about the appointment." 
 
 m 
 
 11-11 
 
 1832. 
 
 As this may be said to have been a period of revolts, the good people of 
 Ul)per Canada were likely to be furnished with one on a small scale. 
 
 The re-election of Mr. Mackenzie, who had been expelled from the late 
 House, occured on the 2nd of January, in this year, anudst great demon- 
 strations at the chainu'j. He was placed on the platform of a large sleigh 
 owned by Mr. Montgomery. They pasfied the Government and Parliament 
 Houses, followed by a large concourse of peoi)le carrying flags, «S:c., on which 
 
133 
 
 Wiis coiisi)icuou.s the motto : " Liberty of the Press." Another was. "King 
 William IV. and Reform." — " Bidvrell, and tlie glorious minority," ito. 
 
 Daring the Spring, Mr. Mackenzie went to England with a petition 
 signed by 18,000 peofjle, asking for the recall of the Governor, tlie dissolu' 
 tion of the House, itc. The storm was dissipated for the present by political 
 meetings ; but the disputes then engendered, fomented by injudicious di)-- 
 tribution of official patronage, eventually grew to more impoi"tj\nce than 
 even many of its chief actors supposed it would. Mr. Mackenzie was again 
 expelled, and declared ineligible to sit in the existing Assembly, but was 
 elected after the House was prorogued. 
 
 Among the acts for the extension of navigation introduced this session, 
 was one entitled " A Joint Stock Company, to improve the navigation of 
 the Grand River." 
 
 The attention of our subject at this time was also occupied i'l getting 
 the canal in repair for the opening of navigation. Owing to tlie action of 
 the severe frosts, considerable damage was done to the work, bv shifting 
 sands and sHpping in of the banks, all of which he caused to bo pv:t in order. 
 By the 1st of May the water was let in, navigation opened, and a brisk 
 trade was going on. The store-houses on the Grand River were tilled with 
 produce from (Jleveland, as the communication in that quarter was acces- 
 sible from the lake, whilst the Niagara river was yet blocked with ieo. 
 
 During this period of excitement, we are not aware that Mr. M. rritt 
 stayed in the provincial capital, but devoted his wliole attention to the 
 progress and interests of the Welland Canal. 
 
 By his memoranda dated 1 8th February, we see that he has the whole 
 scheme of the Grand River Navigation Co. maturcil ; and at the meeting 
 held imdcr the provisions of the Incorporation Act, obtained the last session 
 of Parliament, he i)r()posed the same. We see by the report of this meoting, 
 on the 27th of February, that his iil.>as were adopted, and a conipany 
 formed to carry out the scheme — whicli consisted of dams, locks, and other 
 necessaries, to extend the navigation to Gait. The capital was ii^r)0,000, 
 divided into proportional shares. 
 
 The Canada Company luid not taken any interest, after all their pro- 
 testations in favor of the Wei laud. We see from their letters that they looked 
 at the Grand River in the same light. For this reason the extension further 
 
 than the rapids below Brantford was no longer entertained. 
 
 "March 20th, 18.32. 
 
 " It will be out of my power to attend your meeting, nor will Mr. 
 Dunlop be able to attend, either. He is now on his way to Lake Huron, 
 At the same time, tlun' are willing to re.'eive the advantages of the works. 
 
 " We are now makiu'^ arrangements for the conveyance of emigrants 
 against the 0[)3ning of navig.ition, and you will oblige by informing me 
 what m-jans you have of carrying them through the Welland Canal, rate of 
 passage, rate of baggage, etc. J. Jones, Cum, C. Co. 
 
U.i 
 
 i 
 
 134 
 
 lu answer : 
 
 " The forwarders are Northrop «fe Smith, who carry emigrants for 2? 6d. 
 per head, and Cd. per cwt. for baggage." 
 
 About 50,000 emigrants from the British Islands arrived in Canada, 
 principally owing to the change which the passing of the Reform Bill in 
 England had wrought on that country, although the Canada Company 
 claimed the credit of diverting them to this country, through their agents 
 in England. 
 
 Another survey of the Grand River was undertaken, as the following 
 letter from Mr. Emery indicates : 
 
 "Two Miles above Davis's, 11th May, 1832. 
 
 *' Dear Sir, — We have levelled from Highflyer's to this place, and find 
 the rise in the water from Highflyer's to below Davis's dam 11^ feet. At 
 Davis's dam the water is 2.64, which makes the surface in the dam 13.89 
 feet above Highflyer's. I do not see any objection in making Davis's dam 
 the first dam, and from that make a cut to Highflyer's. The cutting is 
 exceedingly favorable by making two locks. We shall get up as far as you 
 required us to-night ; then we shall i)roceed to making our estimate for 
 damming the river, and Cushman can inform you concerning the plaster bed.s 
 
 •' Mr. James Davis has been exceedingly kind. We stayed with him 
 and he rendered us all the assistance we have required of them. Other 
 influential j)ei*son3 here take very little interest in the improvement of the 
 river. 
 
 " Yours, truly, Wm. K. Emery." 
 
 "To W. H. Merritt, Esq." 
 
 As previously mentioned, a great difliculty was experienced in getting 
 a suflieient number of men to make the works on the Lake Erie extension 
 go on, as was desired. But now, the ominous tidings of another and more 
 frightful obstructor was hoard — and the alarming stories of its ravages in 
 the old world were wafted to the new, so that those who felt immunity from 
 the pests engendered in the confined cities of the Eastern Hemisphere, be- 
 came alarmed on hearing of the arrival of Asiatic cholera on the Western 
 continent. Following in the track of the great tide of emigration now reaching 
 our shores, it appeared almost simultaneously in New York, Quebec, and 
 otHfer cities on the sea-board. In a short time, its dire presence was felt — 
 almost as far westward as civilization had reached ; and in almost every 
 town and hamlet, it carried its victims to the grave. On the canal it 
 raged with great violence, falling like a thunderbolt among the workmen 
 and others. Strong men and women wore stricken down, to expire in its 
 agonizing grasp, and as each new name was added to the death roll a dread, 
 soon resulting in a panic, took place, which in a short time left the whilom 
 busy scene almost as quiet as the lone woods near by. A few only re- 
 mained — those, probably, who could not leave, or whose philosophy was 
 stronger than their fears. Its eflfects were serious to all, as its appalling 
 pre.sence cast a shadow and gloom over the country. During its prevalence 
 
135 
 
 in this quarter, Mrs. Merritt ami the family went to Mayville, where its 
 influence was but little felt, but our subject reniaineJ at his post, anl by 
 care on his part he providentially es ;apeil. 
 
 " Mabshville, Welland Canal, Sunday, 21st July, 1832. 
 "My Dear Catherine: — 
 
 "On Monday last, I breakfasted at Mi-s. Bennett's, Grand River, on the 
 same kind of fish the boys and I cau'^ht at Chautauque lately. 
 
 '• Left the dam on Monday, at 1 o'clock ; went to Crreabel's. Heard that 
 the cholera had commenced its mvages that day at Gravelly Bay — three 
 deaths. Went on to the Bay that evening, and found Coonrod, a contractor, 
 ^the man who married Miss Shaw,) with a man by the name of Henry, 
 working on the lock, and one Ross, a labourer, at the same place, was dead, 
 and taken only that morning. Tl r.'c or four others were considered dan 
 gerous. One only has since died, the others recovered. 
 
 "On Tuesday, went through the line with Mr. Lewis, and as no new cases 
 occured that day, the men generally resumed their work. 
 
 "Slept at Holmes,' Deep Cut. That night Lewis was taken : in the 
 morning, (Wednesday) sent to St. Catharines, for Drs. Cross; and Converse, 
 who was lip at Gravelly Bay. Lewis was very much alarmed, and 
 I could not leave hira until Cross arrived about 2 o'clock ; Mr. Fuller had 
 bled him, and I gave him two pills of opium ; he got better immediately, 
 and is now well. Returned to Gravelly Bay that night, to quiet the minds 
 of the men respecting Mr. Lewis, We found all who got medical aid 
 and were bled, recovered ; as it was chiefly among the intemperate. Had 
 hopes of continuing the work, but on reaching Gravelly Bay, found Dr. 
 Ellis and Mrs. Boles had taken it. Remained there until 12 o'clock, 
 Thursday, and left for Dam with a determination to let every one take theu- 
 own course — stopping the sale of liquor, and providing doctors on the spot. 
 
 " Friday — went to Nelles' settlement. Saturday — returned to Dunnville, 
 and have got this far to breakfast ; am on my way to St. Catharines, where I 
 have not yet been. I thank God that I am in good health, and will take 
 every j)ossible care of myself. Should the disease continue, I will go over 
 to JVlayvillo next week : if not, will remain until the middle of August. 
 
 " With ray host wishes and prayers for your safety, 
 
 " I remain your affectionate husband, 
 
 "W. H. Merritt." 
 On the approach of cold weather it gradually disappeared, and by degrees 
 tliose who fled on its approach returned, and things soon asenmed their 
 wonted appearance. 
 
 On the 29th of September a fine schooner of HO tons was successfully 
 launched at St. Catharines. This vessel was built by Russell Armington 
 for a company ; and as a compliment to our subject, was named the W. If. 
 Merritt, a name which, we believe, is held by one on the canal to the pre- 
 sent day. 
 
 The following from Mr. Merritt's journal, among similar items, is in- 
 serted to show that the scarcity of tlie circulating medium wes compensated 
 hy the low price of labor. This transaction represents the one-half value 
 of the old red mill, now called the Phcenix. 
 
 : ! 
 
136 
 
 m 
 
 mr 
 
 " 5th August, 1832. — Sold Mr. Phelps my proportion in the Grist IMill, 
 at £1,125." 
 
 Our .siiV»ject having for several .sessions represented the County of Hal- 
 dimand during its early history, we insert a few items of interest prior to 
 its separation from the County of Lincoln : 
 
 The Six Nations Indians possessed six miles of land on each side of the 
 Grand River, from a grant by Gov. Haldimand, in 1784, the boundaries of 
 which were confii-med by the Land Board of tiie District of Nassau in 1791. 
 Some of these lands were in process of being sold by the Indian Department 
 for the benefit of the Indians. They also became stockholders in the navi- 
 gation improvement. The Government still retained the river mouth. Mr. 
 Dixon owned Sherwood forest and swamp. 
 
 Mr. Smith, sheriff of Western District, obtained from Government 
 for his services, in procuring the rights of the North West Co., at Fort 
 William, the year after the Avar, the Township ot Moulton. Some diffi- 
 culties, induced him to obtain the legal services of D'Arcy Boulton. 
 Mr. B. afterwards appears as owner. From him, Mr. Oliver Phelps pur- 
 chased the three west lots of 150 acres each. These are where the village of 
 Dunnville now stands. ]Mr. P. built Davis' grist and saw mill ; the material 
 foi" which was the first freight on the feeder. Mr. St. John, yet living at 
 St. Catharines, and Orson Phelps, (Mr. P.'s oldest son,) conducted the busi- 
 ness. This property was shortly afterwai'ds sold to Messrs. Street and 
 Merritt. 
 
 The dispute relative to the representation of Haldimand, before referred 
 to, was settled by both the member and the protestor dying with the cho- 
 lera, ami thereby leaWng the riding vacant. A very respectable requinition 
 from the electors was presented to Mr. Merritt, recjuesting him to ofler 
 himself as a candidate. At the urgent request of his friends, and particu- 
 larl}' of Mr. Yates, who told him he could benefit the canal and Gi'aud River 
 prospects better by being in the House, he accepted the nomination. His 
 opponent, Mr. DeCew, was a man of great respectability and local influence. 
 But the material benefits which our subject was the means of developing in 
 the locality, particularly to those settlers beyond the river, who, previous 
 to the building of the dam and other works had very imperfect means of 
 communication with the back country during the summer months, enabled 
 him to carry the election, which commenced on 30th Oct., and tei'minatwl on 
 the 2nd of November. 
 
 During the election he was ably assisted by his old comrade, Col. J- 
 Clarke, and Mr. Randall. The following letter from the Colonel gives a 
 good idea of how the contest went in Haldimand at that time. Writing 
 to Mr. Martel, deputy post-master at St. Catharines, the electric telegraph 
 being undreampt of, he says : 
 
! '( 
 
 137 
 
 (t * 
 
 * * The ball opened yesterday at 10 o'clock. Mr. Merritt, Mr. 
 DeCew, C. Richardson and W. J. Kerr are candidates. The latter is 
 strenuously opposed to Mr. M. There has been much speechifyiag, and 
 much villifying, on the occasion, and very little to the purpose u.iloss from 
 Mr. Merritt. DeCew is strongly supported by Mr. Thorbum, W. and R. 
 Woodruff, and A. Brown, all for the frontier interest. Mr. M. keeps up 
 liis spirits, and shows himself superior as a jtublic man. His management 
 gains him fnends. Since I have been here I have seen much change in his 
 favor. He will receive the suffrages of the honest yeomanry of the county, 
 as the Hoovens, Griobels, etc. The Opposition are much out at !Mr. Ran- 
 dall and myself. We were told we had better be in our seats at York. 
 All I hope is that when we go we shall have Mr. Men-itt along with us." 
 
 When the result was known, the most unbounded enthusiasm was dis- 
 played along the canal, and the people of St. Catharines gave way to expres- 
 sions of good feeling on a scale of grandeur surpi-ising for the times. We 
 see by tlie Jouinuil that an illumination took place, and all the parapher- 
 nalia of genei-al rejoicings were indulged in. 
 
 The Parliament opened on the 31st of October, and Mr. Merritt, 
 immediately after his return, proceeded to York ard took his seat. He 
 was soon afterwards placed upon the Finance Committee. One of the first 
 acts during this session was to ask for a select committee to inquire into 
 the management of the affairs of the Welland Canal, thereby answering 
 the inuendoes whicli had been hurled against him by Tslv. McKonzie and 
 other opponents to that, great work, and is in keeping with the general 
 tenor of his acts. We also find that his maiden speech was one in favor 
 of a motion, moved l)y Mr. Frasier, whicli strongly urged a free trade in 
 grain and cattle coming in from the States, as the following will show : 
 
 " Fealbt's, St. John Street., 
 
 " 10th November, 1832. 
 " My Dear C.:— 
 
 " My friends hero appear to be highly gratified with my election, and I 
 assure you my situation is far more comfortable to my own feelings — I now 
 feel a degree of independence in being on an equulity with those, who before 
 could say what they pleased without my having a chance of replying — the 
 situation is new, but I do not feel that embarrassment I expected. I have 
 already broken tlie ice. The first day I took my seat, made two motions and 
 one speech on admission of articles, duty free from U. S. 
 
 "William H. Merritt." 
 
 During this session he strongly advocated the bill, which in some shape 
 or another had been before the House for several .sessions, for the abolition 
 of impj'isonment for debt, and his speech thereon was considered a very 
 convincing one, as the outrages committed under the license to imjirison 
 were of the most gi'ievous kinds. In his I'emarks he stigmatized the law 
 as a relic of barbarism, and although, ho said, the lawyers would not like 
 the proposed change, yet the interests of humanity, common sense and 
 
i 
 
 138 
 
 reason were in favor of it. He mentioned numerous cases of false arrests, 
 sliowiug the abuso of the law ; that it was also the cause of crime and per- 
 jury ; that, in nine cases out of ten, it proved ineffectua] to recover tlie 
 amount claimed. He narrated a long list of cases which came to his own 
 knowledge, wherein per-sons were immured in prison at the instance of a 
 lawyer — many times his clerk ; where many of the parties did not owe any 
 one ; where exhorbitant bills of costs were tacked on ; and that, on the 
 whole, there was no satisfaction to the creditor, as the expensive machinery 
 of the law required all that could be wrung from both plaintiff and de- 
 fendant to satisfy the costs; and concluded an eloquent speech by stating 
 that the law was in antagonism with justice ; was abhorred by Turks and 
 infidels, who thereby foi-med a low opinion of men who called themselves 
 Cliristians ; and was only a lever of tyranny in the hands of a fraternity 
 wliose only thoughts were the filling of their own purses. Although the 
 bill did not become law by receiving the royal assent at this lime, yet the 
 discussion on it had such an eSect that the sensibilities of the leading ad- 
 vocates were turned, and the evils then complained of were suffered to sink 
 into oblivion, regretted by none save the most hardened in the pro- 
 fession. 
 
 Whilst the House was in session he found time to write and publish a 
 
 I^amphlet on the inland navigation of the Canadian Provinces, wherein 1 e 
 shows the manifold advantages which the country would gain by an exten- 
 sive system of canal navigation. In it ho urged tko abolition of the bound- 
 ary line between Upper and Lower Canada. It contained suggestions of 
 the greatest importance to this growing country. The pamphlet was signed 
 *'A Projector," and its effects were such that a commission was ajipointed 
 to investigate the subject. It was conij)osed of Messrs. Morris, Robinson, 
 Solicitor-Genei-al, Attorney-General, Merritt, 8amson and Chisholni, of 
 which he was appointed chairman, who duiing the session made extensive 
 in(iuiry, and gathered a large amount of information on the subject, which 
 led to a bill being brought into the House and passed, whereby the sum of 
 £10,000 was granted towards the proposed St. Lawrence canals, showing 
 that the spirit of enterprise which commenced in uniting Lakes Erie an<l 
 Ontario was now preparing to overcome tiie hitherto inaccessible rapids 
 of the St. Lawrence, and opt i the way to Montreal and the ocean without 
 waiting for the co-operation of the people from Lower Canada. 
 
 An application was made by the Welland Canal Company for a loan of 
 j£25,000, on which Mr. Merritt in a letter soys: "This week the Welland 
 *' Canal question will come up, but there a)ii»ears little chance of success. 
 " Our Bank bill will not pass the Upper House. The Salt Works incor- 
 " poration has passed." 
 
 An application was also made from the Welland Canal to the Parlia- 
 ment of Lower Canada for a loan, but was coolly received, so that the com- 
 
 panl 
 rem 
 
 not 
 
 Prej 
 
 spirl 
 
 of 
 
130 
 
 pany were for the present compelled to look to other sources for the funds 
 required to complete the work to Port Colbome. 
 
 Up to this dato the total expenditure on the canal had been £316,000. 
 
 1833. 
 
 As the experience and confeBsions of a now member of Parliament do 
 not often come under the eyes of the public, the following letter to Dr. 
 Prendergast may be interesting, as it better explains the feelings and the 
 spirit in which Mi*. Merritt entered Parliament than anything we can give : 
 
 "York, Sth January, 1833. 
 
 « # # # After my return from Chatauque, I was solicited by a 
 deputation from the inhabitants of the county of Ilaldimand to stand for a 
 candidate. I consulted Mi"s. ]M. on the subject, who, with her usual good 
 sense, as-sented, conceiving that a ))art of my time woidd be retpnred hero 
 on account of the canal. I succeeded against a violent opposition, and came 
 in as what we term a Tory member. I was immediately selected on the 
 most important committees, an>l have applied myself industriously to the 
 different subjects. The greatest difficulty I experienced was in speaking. 
 I was forced to break the ice, the lirst day I took my seat, on the subject 
 of duties on goods from the United States passing our waters, and it hap- 
 pened, fortunately, to be one I underetood. The only questions in which 
 I take an interest are, improving our water communication, abolishing im- 
 prisonment for debt, extending the jurisdiction of our magistrates, and 
 annexing Montreal to this Province, so that we may obtain a i)ort of entry. 
 On the second and third items I have had the misfortune to contend against 
 the lawyers ; we have seven in the House, most of whom, directly or indi- 
 rectly, oppose tho.se measures, and you are aware that they are no feeble 
 opponents in any Legislature. It is my intention, as soon as the Welland 
 Canal question gets disposed of, to leave this business ; and, although it is 
 much pleasiinter to be hi the House than waiting in attendance, I finil 
 legislation so tedious that T am heartily tired cf it, and if 1 remain in the 
 same way of thinking I will never return again." 
 
 The following letter to Mr. T. Merritt, Senior, will give an insight into 
 pacliamentary affairs at this period : 
 
 "York, 7th January, 1833. 
 
 " Respfxted Sir, — The House frequently opens without a quorum. 
 The hon. member for Haldimand styles us a lazy lot. Altogether, I must 
 say a gx-eat deal has not as yet emanated from their united wisdom : it will 
 come, I suppose, by and by. My.self Jind the hon. member for Haldimand 
 are all ready and at bi-eakfast by 9 o'clock every morning. We enter the 
 House before or at 10. The working members go in oonmiittee and take 
 their seats in the hall to bring forward measures or debiite. About 1, a 
 lunch is set at our quarters, which the messenger keeps in readiness for us, 
 adding a glass of beer, when we go on with our work until 6, when we 
 proceed to our quartei-s, next door to Chief Justice's. Beer, whiskey or 
 wine, as you like, for dinner. Generally retire to a well furnished sitting 
 room, the member for Haldimand i)reparing matter for the House. He is 
 well, but wearing himself out for Upper Canada. 
 
 ! ') 
 
m: 
 
 ||||l;i 
 
 
 140 
 
 "15th. — Mr. Mcrritt niiylit have been one of the St. I^wrcnce com- 
 iiussionor.s, but dccliiu'd tho honor." 
 
 "Ah rogiirda the Wo'.hnd Canal, I cannot bring myself to think that 
 this, the mo.st oulightenod Pi'.rlianitMit in the annals of Upper Canada, will 
 abandon so great a work botbi-o it is Ir ought fairly into existence. Wo 
 liave been voting away money for the imj)rovement of ourselves and the 
 country, and among the many thousands wliat do you think we have liad 
 the magnanimity to vote ? — £7,500 to tlie Welland Canal — not half of 
 what is recpiirod. We will take it, and trust our private means for the 
 residue. J. Clakk." 
 
 During the session he was identified with the War Losses Bill, the 
 Grand River Improvement Act, and several other imi>ortant measures, 
 which occupied the House until its adjournment, 3rd of February. 
 
 The foreshadowing of the fate of the company appeared, strangely 
 
 enough at this time, in a communication to the merchants of New York : 
 
 "Alhaxy, February 12, 1833. 
 "Did not know what to answer. If I shall bo ro(juired to make any 
 further sacrifice, it would at least be proper th.at the full proposition should 
 be known. Your continued suggestion for a .sale, or rather an offer to sell, 
 to the Government, is ])articularly painful to me. * * We have every 
 reason to chei-ish a confident hope of full success. * * a year or two 
 more will prostrate all o])j>osition, and remove the delusion of the [lublic. 
 If I shall prove to be dolu(l(Hl myself, [ hope at least to satisfy my friends 
 that the loss of my prrperty, if fairly lost, will not distress my (piiet. 
 
 " J. B. Yates." 
 
 "The Welland Canal will most probably pass fi-om the hand.'s of indi- 
 viduals into that of the Government, negotiations between the parties 
 having, it is believed, already taken place. An Old Merchant." 
 
 The pecuniary difiiculties Avere very gi-eat at this time. Almost every 
 thing in the shape of property tl).oy possessed was mortgaged. The Bank 
 of Upper Canada refused them any more credit, much to the mortification 
 of the Director.s, who in reality considered the Bank under an obligation 
 to the comjiany. 
 
 During the attendance at the Legislature, the business of the canal was 
 not neglected. 
 
 A rather sharj) corres[iondence occurred between the President and the 
 Agent, which re.sulted in their both tendering their resignations. 
 
 " 1. St February, 1833. 
 
 " I have no objection at all to the arrangement proposed by you, and 
 will join with those named, bearing a share of my part of it. This vdW 
 relieve me from the Bank engagement, of course, which I shall be most 
 liappy to see off the Bank books, as the sole engagement for that sum of 
 money, anil secures my name as a creditor to the large amount. 
 
 " Your.s, truly, John H. Dunn." 
 
 " P.S. — This will also settle my advance of £250, of which I .stand in 
 want, as well as yours, if you cau make it convenient before vou leave 
 York. * J. H. D." 
 
141 
 
 " YoKK, fith February, 1833. 
 " Deak Siu, — You havo my perfect concurrence to do anything you 
 |il('nse. What J intemled to do I have, in conHe<|uonce, of your letter, 
 withhold. I sliall not put n»y name to any instrument whatever which 
 iiiiiy make me liable to pay what I cannot, and perhapH may involve me. 
 You may think as you like ; I havo my own oi)inion, wliicli shall guido me. 
 
 " I am, Sir, yours, obediently, John }f. DrxN." 
 
 • 
 
 "YoKK, 7th February, 1833. 
 
 " Mv Dear Sir, — The course I intended when I became respoi.sible 
 for a loan to pay oti" the debts duo to the Welland Canal contractors, was 
 proci.sely what I was willing to do — that I would give my bond for njy pro- 
 jiortion of .£12,000, but not be liable for the whole amount. Ths-re is no 
 person who can lament the situation of the contractors more than I do, and 
 if I could I would afford them relief. I cannot agi-ee with you, however, 
 tliiit there can be any discredit to the Welland Caiiul Company. The con- 
 tnictors from the commencement have had a full knowledge of the com- 
 pany's art'airs, and have been told, for guarding theu» against diHicultie.i 
 which might occur in the progress of the work. W(j have, more from 
 aijcident than good fortune, been able to sustain good faitJi. You nnist 
 remember that you have laid the case and our em}>arrassuients before Par- 
 liament, who havo more interest in the canal and its benefit to the I'olony 
 tliaii the sliareholdors. If discredit fall upon the company, and cortaiidy 
 it will, lot it fall on those who deserve it. I ct^rtainly cannot hazard to 
 iiiuintain the credit of the Welland Canal Company, a property which does 
 ii'jt belong to me. 
 
 " I felt grieved at your note of yesterday, and think you misundei-stood 
 me, or I did not fully explain my intention regarding the extent of my 
 security, but I did mean exactly wliat I was willing yesterda}' to perform. 
 We have been engaged tcgether in a work perhaps the most arduous and 
 embarrassing that ever was undertaken in any country. Anotlier such I 
 would not have anything to do with for the whole value of the Province. 
 My good wishes towards you are unabatiMl, and the good fooling you so 
 kindly express toward myself and Mrs. Dunn I fully reoipi'ocate ; and allow 
 1110 to close by hoping that the friondship which has ever fxistod between 
 us may not be imi)aired by a moment's anger on either side, and that we 
 mutually look upon each other as friends, whether as canalors or indi- 
 viduals. Sincerely yours, John H. Du\x." 
 
 "York, 12th February, 1833. 
 " Mv Dear Sir, — I am particularly engaged this evening, as Mr. JMc- 
 Donald is here. You can have a Board without me, competent to transact 
 uuy business. I have so mucli labor to perform for the Province this year 
 ill 'my own office, that it will be wholly out of my power to leave York. 
 It is therefore my intention to withdraw from the canal, and cannot under 
 any circumstances incur further responsibility on account of the canal. It 
 is therefore unnecessary, under the circumstances, for me to attend. 
 
 "Yours, truly, J. H. Dunn," 
 
 A meeting of the Board was held in York on the 13th of February, and 
 tlie sul)ject of raising money to pay ofl' the debts owing on the canal, to tlie 
 
i I m 
 
 it>W 
 
 i m 
 
 
 142 
 
 amount of .£11,000, was discussed. Owing to tl>o Government holding a 
 mortgage on tlio hydraulic works, the Company did not receive auy benefit 
 from tlio money paid by Mr. Yates for the same, but now they agreed to 
 relintjuish the mortgage to the company, on their giving a bond and pledg- 
 ing themselves to spend the same in paying off the minor debts, etc. In 
 tliis meeting Mr. Merritt informed the company that the work was com- 
 pleted, and, finding his duty to liis constituents would ba neglected, ho 
 tlierefore tendered his resignation, wliich was not, liowever, accepted at this 
 time. Another ineeting was lield in St. Catharines on the 18th of Feb- 
 ruary, wlien the resignation of Mr, Dunn as President was tendered, but 
 not accepted at this time. 
 
 Tlie next mooting was at St. Catharines, 27th of February, but for want 
 of attendance it was resolved that Capt. Creightou and Ceorgo Keefcr be 
 summoned forthwith by a special messtniger. When, at the ailjourned meet- 
 ing, it was resolved that a communication be made to the commissioners 
 ai)pointed by the Legislature of the necessity that one of them should give 
 his personal attendance. The 1st of June meeting after that consisted of 
 but four members. 
 
 Although the House at its last session did not grant the company^the 
 loan asked for, yet the Govei'nment, for the first time since the inception 
 of the canal, took up the balance of the unsold stock, to the amount of 
 £7,500, and three commissioners, viz., A. Slade, J. McAuley and W. B. 
 ]\obiuson, were appointed to superintend the division of the same, by this 
 means they were enabled to push on the work to Gravelly Bay, so that by 
 Juno the first vessel — the schooner Matilda, from Oakville — passed through 
 to Cleveland by Port Colborne. 
 
 Under the circumstances, Mr. Merritt was authorized to pi'oceed to 
 York with a statement of their affairs, and lay the .same before the Gover- 
 nor ; also, to make application there or elsewhere, as he thought fit. In 
 the midst of this dilemma, IMr. J. B. Yates again came forward, and laised 
 them sufficient money to finish the new harbor at Port Colborne, which 
 was now declared a port of entry, and by permission named after the 
 Lieutenant-Governor, Sir John Colborne. 
 
 The regular annual meeting of the Canal Board was held at St. Catha- 
 rines on the 5th of June, and our subject, who had previously tendered his 
 resignation as agent, was now, at the election of Directois, chosen as one of 
 them. When the election of the executive was proceeded with, Mr. Merritt 
 was chosen President and Alex. McDonnell, Esq., Vice-President. 
 
 The following item is inserted to show the value of village property at 
 this time. Through the absence of paper currency these figures represent 
 a greater value than at the present day: 
 
 " 22iid April, 1833.— Mr. Phelps bought half of the North side on Lake 
 Road to Niagara, (now Niagara Street) at $75 per acre." 
 
143 
 
 On tho Gtli of Juno, I'nteH of toll were settled upon, and armngonionts 
 miiiU* for Imildiny a liglithouHO at Tort Colbornt', and also fur putting down 
 autither i>i«'r at tliat placo. Mr«. Merritt, in returning from Cliatauquo, 
 passed through Port Colliorno, acconiprniod by her family, and thus t!e- 
 s?ril»e8 her visit to that locality : " At the stone bridge which crosses tl.e 
 "canal we met Mr. Gn^bel," (who, with Mr. Hoover, was the leader of tl.e 
 Mennonites in this section, and a strong supporter of Mr. Mon'itt) " who 
 " invited us to go u]) and spend a night at his house. We walked from the 
 •• bridge up to the bay, 1 J miles. There we met T. Merritt and Mr. Kan- 
 " (lall. There was a vessel coming into the lock, some boats, etc. The 
 " gi'onnd here is all marsh on both sides of the canal. There is a small 
 •' riilge, with one white house and a store, and some shanties. We accepted 
 •' Mr. (irebel's invitation to his home, promising to see the Sugar Loaf. The 
 '' road is very jileasaiit up there fo" four miles, winding through the trees, 
 " with the hill on the left, and a large marsh or pond, three miles long and 
 •'about one broad, on our right. We tried to count the eagles' nests in 
 " the tops of the trees ; there were six or seven of them. !Mr. P. and J. 
 •' went to the top of the Loaf, but the leaves were too thick to have a good 
 " view. * * On Thursday morning we took another road to tho Ijridge. 
 " Saw several vessels jtass, and a small steamboat, which makes a trip 
 " round from Buflalodown to Chippewa and up the marsh every second day." 
 
 That the canal wa.9 now rapidly coming into public use is seen from a 
 statement published in the Journal, showing that from the 1st to the 20th 
 of Jime in this year, 34 vessels had passed up the canal and 20 went down, 
 and in the following month 219 schooners, 1 38 boats and scows, and 30 rafts, 
 loaded with produce of all de.scri; tions. 
 
 Mr. W. L. McKensiie, who had been in London for more than a year, 
 returned to Canada in August. While there he had interviews with ]\Ir. 
 Stanley, Mi'. Poulette Thompson, and others, in reference to the colonial 
 (liiH?ulties. Ho was enthusiastically received on his arrival at York. 
 
 A time-honored institution lost its usefulness about this time, thougli 
 called in exercise at the breaking out of hostilities. It was the Court of 
 Quarter Sessions, or Board of Magistrates, held for this district at Niagara, 
 which had existed from the first settlement of the country, and wa-s com- 
 posed of the leading men. It now gave place to what was known as the 
 Court of Requests, having a smaller territory but a more extended jurisdic- 
 tion, and was in that sense the germ of our present expensive and inefficient 
 rtuuiicipal system. 
 
 For the first time since the opening of the canal a serious break occurred 
 at lock 2, the four gates of which were carried away by a schooner on the 
 night of the 5th of September. No spare gates being ready, navigation was 
 suspended for a week, and Mr. Merritt in a letter mentions that, owing to 
 
Hi 
 
 the urgency of the case, he had again commenced to give his personal atten- 
 tion to the canal until matters were placed in a better shape. 
 
 As it may be interesting to the members •£ tlie Loyal Canadian Society, 
 ■we find that in the early part of October, arrangements were made in 
 Hamilton to celebrate the glorious battle of Queenston by a dinner, to take 
 place on the 14th of October, (the 13th being Sunday,) the Hon. James 
 Crooks consenting to preside on the occasion. 
 
 On the 7th of October, died at his residence in St. Catharines, our oM 
 friend Job Northrop, deeply lamented by the village community as a mo.st 
 "enerous and warm-hearted man — sincere in his actions, and beloved by all 
 who knew him. 
 
 After superintending the repairs, and attending to other duties on the 
 canal Mr. Merritt now prepared to attend his place in the Legislature, 
 which oi)ened on the 19th of November. One of his first acts was to intro- 
 duce a Bill having for its object the relief of those religious sects known 
 
 as Mennonites and Quakers, who, previoiis to the passing of this Act, la- 
 boured under serious disabilities. 
 
 Notwithstanding the fact that William Lyon McKenzie's last e.xpulsioii 
 from the House was disapproved of by the Imperial Government, and that 
 two of his most active apponents, Messrs. Bolton and Hagarman, werti 
 dc'iirived of their otlioes, as a conciliatoiy proceeding ; yet, it was a})parent 
 that at the opening of this Session, Mi-. Mackenzie wished to become of 
 more importance, having l)een agai-. returned for the County of York, prc- 
 seJited himself in the House for the purpose of taking his seat. He was ac- 
 comiianicd by a large body of his supportovs, who tilled the bar and galleries, 
 and durin<' the debate which arose in reference to his admission, behaved in 
 a most boisterous manner, by alternately cheering anfl hissing the speakers 
 
 expressing like or dislike. The intimidation was carried to such a i)itch, 
 
 that the sj)eaker ordered the House to be cleared of all outsidei-s; and on 
 the vote being taken for McKenzie's admission, a majority of four was found 
 against him : McKenzie's organ, the " I'or/c Adi'ucatr," bitterly attacked our 
 subject for his vote on this occasion, and the language used towards Mr. 
 Merritt was uncalled for, yet failed to influence him in the smallest degree, 
 as his conduct to Mr. Mackenzie on all occasions was such that we believe 
 he felt more incUned to pity him than anything else. Mr. Merritt's speech 
 on this occasion shows conclusively that although he was inclined to be gen- 
 erous to a fault, yet he still retained suthcient respect for his character as 
 a member not to permit himself to be bullied l>y faction. He said " he had 
 come down to the House yesterday to vote that Mr. Mackenzie should takf 
 his seat, but his conduct would have induced him to vote him out of the 
 Asaemblv, even if he had been a sworn member. Had not his supporters 
 assumed the character of a mob — hissing down one set of men, and crying 
 
 the 
 
 1834 
 
 nor. 
 
145 
 
 up another. He was disgusted -vritli the disgraceful scen«, and their conduct 
 brought back to liis memory the worst days of Revolutionary France, <tc." 
 
 Owing to the bad roads, he was compelled to remain in York during 
 the Christmas holidays, and in a letter written home on the Ist of January 
 1834, he says, " he spent the day with Mr, Yate«, in calling on the Gover- 
 nor, and some of the gentry of York." 
 
 In the Legislature he introduced Bills on the subject of mantaining the 
 poor, and on emigration, besides moving for a committee to onquiie into 
 the law of arrest in civil cases. 
 
 1834. 
 
 After the holidays, the business of the Legislature was carried ou as 
 usrial. The work commenced in the House was not very important, con- 
 sisting principally of private legislation. Amongst the (juestions brought 
 forward, was another petition from the Welland Canal Company, for a grant 
 of £25,000, to enable them to pay ofTsoniP of tht'ir iufWbtedness. From the 
 able manner in which our subject advocated the claims of the Company, in 
 the House, he made a numl)er of friends therein : many of w^hum were now, 
 perhaps for the first time, convinced that tliis canal Avas not a mere jirivatd 
 speculation, but a work upon which vhe country could look with pride, and 
 one which, in after years, would become a monument to the perseverance of 
 its supporters. A long and warm debate on the (piestion occured, and finally 
 emerged into the idea of the rrovernment purchasing the entire work from 
 the Company. The results were, that the cai)ital stock was permitted to 1 o 
 increased to .£250,000, and the Government subscribed towards the same 
 the sum of £50,000, thereby enabling the Directors to pay oft' mimerous 
 small debts, anil also put the canal in good working order. As previously 
 noticed, after Mr. Merritt gave up the duties of agent, and wa.s appointed 
 PretAdent of the Company, the same vigilance was not dis])Iayed in the 
 maiiagenient of tiie work as was observed il . • ag his direct superinten- 
 dence. Several delays occurred, ai I not a Tow breaks in locks and banks, 
 airtady told that a work of this kind reqiiired the earnest attention of an in- 
 terested man. He, after what had transjtired, took charge of the works 
 personally, as we see by the following letter to Doctor Prendergast : 
 
 St. Catharines, March 1 7th, 1834. 
 " I have again turned my [larticular attention towards the canal. They 
 have given me a salary of $1,600 per year, as president, and full control of 
 the works." 
 
m 
 
 • 
 
 In a man's family letters, we see tlic motives of las actions more than in 
 his publications, speeches, or votes. We have seen from tlvse letters, that 
 Mr. Merritt disliked the contracted role of an M. P. P., j-.tl would ratlior 
 get rid of the Wclland Canal. He argued that the direction of the canal, now 
 that it had passed by its many windings from lake to lake, thou"h its 
 having the Erie for a feeder, was only a matter of time ; the work could 
 be carried on by any man of moderate attention to his business. Yet, the 
 disasters in carrying away four lock gates, for which no aderjuate provision 
 had been made, with the settling and caving in of work laid in frostv wea- 
 ther, showed i»lainly enough to all interested in the w^ork, that the same at- 
 tsntion was nece.ssary for keeping it up as had started it. Mr. Merritt 
 had not let pass, while in the company's service, opportunities for private 
 advancemant by investing in both the terminus at Port C'olborne and 
 Dwnnville, and natural instincts would be excited to imj)rove them for his 
 rising family. ' 
 
 We hare assumed that duty and honor were the key note of all his trans- 
 actions. The Canal Board by both pu1)lic and private accounts, depended iipon 
 the lobbying process, (another name for begging from the Government,) for 
 means to pay its obligations ; and wc have seen, direct or implied, that ho 
 had been the promi)ter in inducing stockholders and conti-actors to go on 
 with it. For a man with but half his conscientiousness, this must have been 
 fraught with uneasiness, and we cannot wonder that he enibi-aced the first op- 
 portunity that occured last year, of gracefully retiring fj'om it. 
 
 At this time, a sermon from his respected j)astor at York, fell in to avid 
 weight to the public side of the balance. 
 
 " Sunday, 2nd JMarch, 1834. 
 " My Dviar Catherine : 
 
 "I have this day heard a mrst oMcellent practicable sermon from Arch- 
 deacon Strachan, fiom the following text: 'To him that hath, .shall be given; 
 and from him that hath not, eveutliat which he liiith .shall be taken uwav.' 
 H'J api)!ied it to the various pursuits of life. Those wliom the Almighty 
 had favoured with any peculiar talent, rose to eminence, was entrusted l.>v 
 his fellow men with the coutrul and dii'ection of their jjroperty ; and if a 
 man of industry, application, and honesty, he would continue to increase, bv 
 commanding the respect and confidence of his fellow men, as well as Divine 
 favour. Urged strongly the absolute neces.^ity of per.sevoring in those 
 qualities ; and the moment he dejtarted from them, and gave himself up to 
 sensual and worldly gratification, the Divine favour, as well as the confidence 
 of men, would be taken from him, and the text in that case would assuredly 
 bo verified. 
 
 " By a steady perseverance, and close attention to them, I have baen re- 
 markably favoured this .session in carrying through the House those measures 
 in which I have felt an interest." 
 
 Noticing his return from his parliament.-iry duties, and canal matters : — ■ 
 
 " I am interested in the Grand River navigation, and would remove 
 tlierC- I have purchased one half of 200 acres at Gravelly Bay, but will 
 
 i'l III 
 
I ' 
 
 147 
 
 make no tlecision till I see you. It is an important subject — not so nuicli 
 in ft pecuuiaiy point of view, as with inudcuce, we need be under no 
 ai)ijrelienMion from that score, but for our family." 
 
 During tlie session, he also obtained from the Government increased 
 postal facility on the route of the canal, so that Port Kobinson, Lyon's 
 Creek, and Port Colborne wet-e given Post Offices, which was a great con- 
 venience to the settlers who lived there. To his untiring exeitions are tlie 
 people of Dunnville and the country lying beyond the Grand lviver,indebtetl ; 
 by a great deal of perseverence, he succeeded in getting a grant of £1,500 
 from the Government, with which to construct a g(.)od bridge over the Chand 
 Kiver, on the foundation used for the dam at Dunnville, and a large grant for 
 roads. 80 that, with his parliamentary and other labours, we assume that 
 his time was well occupied during this long session, which lasted nearly live 
 months. He also had the satisfaction of s((eing £350,000 granted towards 
 the works now in progress on the St. Lawrence Canals — which were to be 
 built with stone locks of large capacity, etc. 
 
 During this winter he corresponded with INlr. W. Allan and ^fr. 
 Kidout on the subject of a branch Bank in St. Catharines. His ideas on 
 the subject of Banking were, we know, opposed to private corporations, 
 believing that the profits derived from such undertakings should belong to 
 the country, and a general Provincial Institution established to contrt)! the 
 monetary aflUirs. But in this instance lie was prepared to do liic best for 
 liis locality, and strongly tried to have a Branch from the Bank of L'j)per 
 Canada established here ; without success, however, }irincii»ally owing to 
 the facts that a Branch was established in Niagara, and afterwards through 
 Mr. Street's influence, in Chippawa ; and also in consequence of a larg<i 
 jtortion of the stock being owned by frontier men, who were naturally fav 01- 
 able to it. 
 
 On the Gtli of ]\fairh in this year, tlic nourishing little town of Wik It- 
 cuine, by act of Parliair.ent, a city; taking for its future name the beautiful 
 Indian word " Tokonto," having for its tirst Chief Magistrate, Mr. Williaiu 
 Lyon ]\IcKenzie. The author visited the caj>ital, and .spent a short tiuio 
 attending the debates, and in the society of the lialf-dozcn nu'iid)ers who 
 lodged there ; he was })ai'ticularly struck with the contrast of their grave 
 demeanour in the House, and their hearty unbending, oven to jocularity, 
 out of it. He was listener during the discussion of that question to many 
 remarks on the ambitious aspirations of muddy Little York. Now tliJit the 
 prospects of an improved communication with the ocean ])resented itself, 
 the mind of our subject turned upon the jiossibility of having free markets 
 for the grain of Western Canada, in the harbouis of the British islands ; 
 and in consequence thereof he busied him.self to bring about an understand- 
 ing with the Imperial Government, whereby the grain duties might be abo- 
 lished in the United Kingdom, so that our farmers could enter their maiket 
 
 iM 
 
148 
 
 on the siiinc footing as those from Scotland, Ireland, or other parts of the 
 British Empire. The address frame' I iu the spirit of these ideas passed the 
 Assembly by a large majority. 
 
 During the long session there were many applications for his influence 
 for }»oth public and private interests, for his o^Yn and other countries, for 
 roads, bridges, and Post Ottices — and one for fi\ e years protection for a 
 glass company, by Samuel Wood, of Grantham. 
 
 A letter, with subscription list, was received from the Kevcrend E. 
 Crcen, of Niagara, soliciting his influence in building an Ej)iHcopal 
 Church near the C4ernian Lutheran Church, at Thorold. An ai»plication 
 WAS then made to the Bishop, and the following shews the views of Dr. 
 Strachan on the request. Extract from the Very i-{everend Archdeacon 
 
 Strachan : 
 
 " YoKK, 21st February 1834. 
 "Dear Sir: 
 
 " I am of opinion that the members of our church have a light to have 
 the ministration of religion afforded them gratis, as in England, from the 
 cleigy reserves. And, were the friends of the church to e.vert themselves, 
 as they ought to y\o, the hypocrites and infldels who seek to approj)riato 
 the lands to other purpo.scs," would soon be defeated." 
 
 " Yours truly, 
 ♦' To W. H. Mehkitt, M. P. '• John Strachan." 
 
 . The session of Parliament, which clo.sed its labors on the Oth of March, 
 was a remarkable one in numy respects, as it may be said to liave been the 
 last Parliament where the Loyalist element, devoted with a single eye to the 
 interests of the country, were assembled. Numerous are the cases which 
 serve to show, at this time, that a jiublic spirit, and a feeling of true loyalty 
 to the land of their birth and the British Crown, animated them on all oc- 
 casions; where the country at large was likely Vie he benolittetl. they voted 
 liberally. To many it may .'^eem stningf, when rea<liiig of the lai-ge sums then 
 devoted to improvements and jmblic woiks, that other ideas stiould encourage 
 the Government in such an expense; and iu all probability Mr. ]\Ioriitt or 
 Mr. Yates might have talked or written for yt-ars, without accomjtlishing 
 anything. But when we see the appropriations springing up from tens to 
 liandveds of thousands of pounds, wc are apt to conclude that a n«w spirit 
 ■was infused into the rulers of the country ; and that things, owing to a 
 general jieriodof prosperity, an accumulation of internal wealth, and an 
 extraordinary influx of emigrants with suftlcient means to possess and cul- 
 tivate the new hinds — all combined to make the Government think that 
 the tiuie had now arrived when public improvements nuist be pushed on ; 
 and that the gioAving wants of the countiy rcijuired a wider and bolder 
 policy to keep pace with the demands of the time. 
 
 The important question of the Wellaml Canal becoming public property, 
 ■was long and earnestly discussed during this session ; and after a debato 
 
 i 
 
U9 
 
 ig.< 
 
 which occupied four days, tho motion of Mr. Robinson, tliat th« works be 
 come the jn-operty of the country, was carried by a majority of oxi:. Thus 
 were the cherished ideas of Mr. Mci-ritt, wlio always looked upon the oanal 
 as a great national work, first recognized by the Parliament of the country : 
 and althougli tho Government did not actually asanme the work until eight 
 years afterwards, when all ojtposition to the measure had ceased, and when 
 its practicability for all commercial purposes were fully tested and acknow- 
 ledged — yet the (juestion was laiil open for the consideration of the people ; 
 and had it not been for tho troubles which afterwards ensueil, might hare 
 been sooner accomplished to the benefit of all concerned. 
 
 During Februaiy of this year, the first seriou.s public agitation, which 
 afterwards rcsultinl in a rel>ellion which drew Upper Canada into its wake, 
 ocoured in Quebec, by the presentation of the historic id/ipfi/-two resolutions 
 to the Parliament of that Province by M. Papineau. A great deal of ex- 
 citement was manifested in the Upper Province, and it b«ing previous to a 
 general election, the newspapers of the time were full of si)eculations on th<' 
 effect those resolutions would have on tho country at large. The rcsolutiona 
 passed the Lower Canada House on the 12th of February, and ^Ir. Morin 
 was afterwards deputed to jirocced with them to England, and lay thorn be- 
 fore the Imperial Government. 
 
 In the early i)art of May ^Ir. INI. left home to attend a nif« ting at Nel- 
 les's settlement, on the Grand River, as the works on that si'ction were not 
 prospering as well as tlesired. In the month of Afiril he had ofi'ered through 
 the new.spapers a reward of $100 for the best model of a lock and dam for 
 the Grand River, the pattern to be .shewn at this meeting. 
 
 At a meeting of the New Court of Requests, held in Niagara the early 
 part of July, Mr. Merritt was unanimously chosen Chairman of the Court. 
 
 As one of the results of the Canal, and his visit uj) the (iraud J'.iver, wft 
 may mention, that at this time we find that a lavgi' schooner is nearly 
 finished, and a steamboat on the stocks at Dunn\ il!e --airi that the works 
 for tho improvement of the Grand River are now fairly underway. 
 
 in August, a slight panic was felt, from the fact that the cholera had 
 again appeared: although its eflects were felt for a short time in Q\iebec anil 
 Montreal, yet, fortunattdy, the smaller towns throughout the interioi", did 
 not suffer to any remarkable extent. ]\Ir. ^Nferritt's time was kept fully oc- 
 cupied, during the reces.s, with the canal, where several breaks occureil ; and 
 owing to the great increase in the traHic, it required t'le most careful atten- 
 tion to keep up the confidence of .shipping, as the canal was now apparently 
 taxed sometimes cmmi btsyond the capacity of its wooden locks. The con- 
 tracts for the woi'k -ju the St. Lawi-once Canals, with stone locks, were now 
 given out, and the prospects of busy times for some years, is noticed in the 
 journals of that time. The turning of the first sod took place on the lOth 
 or 12th of AuguBt. 
 

 l.-)0 
 
 Early in tlio season jNIr. Mcrritt wont, as notioerl, to tlio fti-and River, 
 to attend a mootin;^ at Nellis' settlement, (now York.) This niooting was 
 hckl for tiic purpose of re-organizing the Grand River Iniprovouient Co'y., 
 as the pi'evious qtticers and directors of that (Jonipany had failed to accom- 
 plish anything of real benefit. Tho old oHicers were replaced by the follow- 
 ing gentlemen, viz : James Winnett, President, — W. H. Merritt. S. Street, 
 T>. Thompson, and W. Richardson, Directors. A new subscription list was 
 opened, and capital stock about £50,000 sul>scribed; our subjc^ct alone tak- 
 ing one thonsaml shares, of .^25 each, in the undertaking, besides taking 
 for his relations and friends 1,400 more shares, viz ; N. Merritt, N. B., 
 1,000, Henry Yates, 200, and A. Mclntyre, 200. 
 
 Two other enter[)rises occupied his attention this year, viz: the erecting 
 of tlie large stone grist mills at Port Colborno and kSt. Catharines ; tho 
 former being a steam mill, owned by our subject and his friends, under the 
 management of Mr. Slate ; and since purciiased, with a largo amount of 
 ])roperty, by the Government, when the enlargement of the canal took i)lace. 
 The mill at St. Catharines was his own i)ro[»crty, autl was of great benefit 
 to the town, and country adjacent, both as a c\istom and manufacturing in- 
 stitution. 
 
 About the midtWe of September, tho writs for a new election in tho 
 Province were issued. In Haldimand, Mr. Merritt was opposed by Hill, 
 I'itch, and C. INIeKenzie, but was returned by the handsomo majoi-ity of 53 
 votes. In Lincoln, Mr. Geo. Rykert was elected over his Radical opponent. 
 Darling. ]Mr. IMerrittgavo Mr. Rykert a strong supi)ort on this occasion, 
 liaving assisted him during his canvass, as long as he i)0s.sibly could. The 
 result of the elections were, however, favourable to the Radical party — and 
 during the interim before the opening of the House, many were the specu- 
 lations an<l opinions indulged in, as to iis effects upon the country. 
 
 The important di.scovery of coal, was made in the State of Ohio, during 
 this year ; and it was expected that the canal, and the country generally^ 
 would be greatly benefitted by the same. 
 
 In November, Sir J. Colborno visited the works on the Grand River 
 and was pleased with the great progress made in that section. 
 
 A letter to Mrs. Proudergast, discloses the state of feeling of our subject, 
 on the close of this year's business : 
 
 "St. Cathakines, November 23rd, 1834. 
 " Dear Mother : 
 
 "The Welland (Jaual has dosed for the season, and I hope to have more 
 liosure than heretofore. 
 
 "The boys are all gi-owing finely : they appear to possess full as great 
 capacity as we can expect at their age. They are learning the higher branches 
 of education, getting on well, and appear desirous to please. I trust you 
 will find a great improvement in their manners also. Wo have a good 
 school near us, so that we possess the double advantage of having them at 
 home. 1 renuiin at home until after the holidays, so that mc only want your 
 
 ii 
 
151 
 
 auil fatlicr Prontlpi'f,'astV; scciety to venilcr uh as comforluble as falls to tl.f» 
 l(.t (if iuuDau I'ciii^js. His hfin;,' witli tlio boys, after a few vccks. would 
 impart great satisfaclioii aiul instruction to thow, ami would he equally 
 pliMsiu'^' to liini. Wo keop a pair of horses, siut,'ln and doulilo sleiL;!), and 
 liave every convenienco wa iieed to make us comfortable. For my own 
 pait, I am so thorou;j;!ily satisfied we are so much better otT, and every way 
 liajipier than we ilest-rve, tliat my only melancholy reHvction is, at times, 
 that it will not continue — l>nfc tliis train of feeding I endeavour to check, 
 and placo my dojendanco wholly on the All-wiso and just Providence, who 
 alone sends us that i)eace of mind that I think we all realize, and feel most 
 grateful t(j Ilim for permitting us to ])0ssess. Wo have been over to 
 spend the day with father and inotlier. He is feeble, but better. Mother 
 in good health. 
 
 Believe me, 
 
 !My dear mother, 
 
 Faitlifully and dutifully yours, 
 
 \V. IIasJ&i.ton MnKKlTT."' 
 
 In the Re[)ort of the Company, dated December 24tli, 183-1-, we .see 
 that work was well advanced, four locks being finished, und a great deal ot 
 the other obstructions overcome. 
 
 1835. 
 
 On the 15 th of January, the new House of Parliament opened ; and on 
 tl:e lOtli, the Speaker, Mr. Bidwell, was elected. Tlie Governor's speech 
 on the occasion was a tame one, when the protestations of the party in power 
 is considered. 
 
 ;Mr. 3Ierritt went to Toronto, by way of the Gi-and Eiver and Hajniltou. 
 On arriving in that city at neon, on the 1 3th, ho attended a caucus of 
 the friend.-s of impi-ovcnient, ani in writing, says: " Parliamentary proceed- 
 " ings have commenced, — and although we have lost tlio appointment of 
 " Speaker, yet I tiiink we will have a good House;" but on 8th Feb. he says : 
 "I am engaged in drawing up a report for a Provincial Bank, and the 
 " scheme is making quite a .stir amongst our bankers. I would have gone 
 " homo, but the roads are intolerable. We still have nothing to do for 
 ^' eight or ten days yet. Tlie House is doing no good, and I doubt whether 
 " they are likely to." Being desirous of further facilities for ihe transmis.sion 
 of mail matters in his owu riding, as well as other sections on the canal 
 and frontier, lie corresponded with the Imperial Deputy Po.st-master General 
 at Quebec, and received the following : — " Believing that Poet Offices are 
 '• much wanted in the section of country pointed out by you, shall take up 
 " the subjects of your recommendations, and endeavour to carry them into 
 'effect." 
 
152 
 
 During this comparative cessation of public measures in the House, 
 work was going on in an adjoining committee room, considering grievances 
 that -were now necessary to be removed before any real progress could be 
 made ; though the wrongs of the country were hidden from the notice of the 
 public by th« mass of grievances discussed, some of them being the most 
 Conservative institutions in the country — as the organizidion of the Episco- 
 j)al body, and Government patronage. 
 
 The waves of agitation which commenced in Lower Canada, and whose 
 •ccasional ripples were barely noticed in the Western Province, had now 
 set in with increasing force ; and in spite of the endeavours of the more 
 modei'ute, here, its advance could not be stopped, until, like the others, 
 it had spont its vigour on the strands of loyalty, and relapsed to its former 
 bed. Under these circumstances, the present Parliament may well be 
 said to have been a boisterous one. Mr. Mackenzie, who v/as returned 
 for on© of the ridings of York, took his seat in the new House, and 
 soon after its opening, his influence was felt — and day after day, his rest- 
 less sj)irit became more turbulent. Basing his arguiaents on the celebrated 
 letter of Joseph Hume, on Independence, he, for tlie jieriod of three and 
 one half hours, oocufiied the time and attention of the House ; but did not 
 succeed in having any action taken thereon, so that the mention of it is 
 hardly found in the Parliamentary journals of the day. Following soon 
 after, by the appointment of his Grievance Committee, wherein was raked 
 up a mass of evidence, in many cases condemnatory of every institution in 
 the Province, shewing a grave state of affairs. Yet from the composition 
 of the committee, and m many known cases, the distorted state of the evi- 
 dence, the report presented by tho.se gentlemen, although a valuable histori- 
 cal document, must not be taken as all truth, nor yet the perfection of fair 
 dealing. Tlie published rejiort of this committee is a master-piece of Par- 
 liamentary book work, going into the most minute details on every subject, 
 and fully bearing out Mackenzie's rei)utation as a keen and cai-eful critic. 
 The few specimens which follow, will give an idea of this extraox-dinary pro- 
 duction. 
 
 That the document had its birth in a private personal feeling of 
 Mr. Mackenzie's, there can hardly remain a <loubt ; and from a careful re- 
 view of the state of the country, at the commencement of this agitation, we 
 have no hesitation in believing that the Province of Upper Canada was in 
 a very prosperous state ; and if comparisons are worth anything, the rapid 
 rate at which improvements and settlepients were going on, up to this time, 
 has hardly had, all things considered, a parallel since. Great public works 
 had been comjileted, and others were advancing; the country was rapidly set- 
 tling, and numerous schemes were in consideratioH for other useful projects^ 
 
 A list of the private bills which were to be brought before this sitting, 
 is in our possession, and those who fancy that men of 1835 were slow, will 
 
153 
 
 think to the coul'*ary, on reading the following Parb amentary bill of fare, 
 viz: — A bridge over tlie Grand River. A harbour av Giimsby. A lock at 
 Cornwall. Continuation of Yonge Strewt to Holland liiinding. A harbour 
 at DufEn's Creek. A canal between Lakes Huron and Sinicoo. Lands 
 towards the St. Lawrence Canals. A feeder to the Rideau Canal. Im- 
 provement on the River Lin. A Bank in Hamilton. A wharf in Haldi- 
 mand. Improving the River Scugog. A boat canal from the Grand River 
 to the Thames. A grant for the Desjardin's Canal. A canal across the 
 Toronto peninsula. A railway or canal from Toronto to Lake Simcoe. 
 Improving the navigation of the Ottawa. A railway fi-oin Port Stanley to 
 St. Thomas, London, and Goderich. Water works in Toronto. A bridge 
 over the Welland River. A railway from Hamilton to Port Dover. A 
 harbour at Goderieh. A street railway in Hamilton. Navigation of the 
 River Trent. A canal aci'oss Wolfe Island at Kingston. A Wesleyan 
 Academy at Cobourg. So that we here behold evidences of prosperity and 
 advancement not often suii)aKse(l in older communities. 
 
 On the r)th of February tliey met, Mr. William Lyon Mackenzie in the 
 chair. He commenced by interrogating the Governor's Secretiiry, Lieutenant 
 Col. Rowen, and he v/as recpiired to give answers to more than Hfty 
 interrogations on public aflairs, which his duty, as contidential Secretary to 
 the Governor, forced him frequently to reply, " It is not in my powei- to 
 answer that question." 
 
 After him, the member for Middlesex, whose incarceration in London 
 prison for three or four months next year, need not necessarily vitiate his 
 testimony of what occured in liis own riding. 
 
 " Are not the grants to a conijtany of speculators residing in Europe, an 
 " improper transfer of the properties of the Government 1 " 
 
 Answer. — " I have alw^ays thought the Canada Company one of the 
 "greatest curses saddled upon the Province." 
 
 " Ought not the revenues arising from these lands, to have been applied 
 " to the liquidation of war loss claims'? " " Ye.s." 
 
 " Have not the Assembly, by its liberal grants in aid of inland navigation, 
 roads, itc, given to the public lands their greatly incrcafSed value ?" "^'es." 
 
 Mr. Dunlop inten-ogated. 
 
 " What was the original value of shares in the Canada Com]iany 1 " 
 
 Answer. — "£100; £17. 10s. paid in: value of stock is more than double." 
 
 The Canada Company was chartered for raising the funds tb pay war 
 losses. Also considers the St. Lawrence Canals unnecessary. 
 
 169. Would it not be desirable that the Clergy and Crown Reserve.?, and 
 all reservations of land, otherwi,so than for education, were disposed of for 
 public purposes, under the control of the Legislature? — I do not think so, for 
 I think the Legislature have shown themselves utterly incapable of managing 
 their own matters, as witness the Welland and St. Lawrence Canals. I con- 
 sider the St. Lawrence Canal not necessary in the present state of the country. 
 
 Colonel A. G. W.. G. VAN EGMOND, lioss, Ilulkt Tp. Huron Tract, 
 called in aiul examined. 
 
^fiiifi' 
 
 m 
 
 m 
 
 wm 
 
 ir)' 
 
 201. What price diJ tlic Coiiip.iDy pay for the Huron tract? — About 
 two shillings and ttjnpcncii half-poiiny pm- acre, sixteen ycsurs credit, without 
 interest, and £18,0(10 .--terling, allowed olT to improve their own land, which I 
 believe would be e([ual to about one .shilling sterling; por acre. 
 
 202. What a:e they spelling the lands for?— Fronj 12n. Gd. to IS-". 9J. 
 per acre. 
 
 20!^. What is the extent of the tract? — They got ono million two hundred 
 thousand acrce, from which one hundred tiiousand were deducted for a swamp. 
 
 20-1. How lon;^ have you been settled in the Ilurou Tract? — ^Six years 
 this Christmr.s. I am the oldest settlor in that tract. 
 
 205. Have the company taken proper moans to encourage and promote 
 the scttlcnient of the tract? — For the first year, in Goderieh alone; since then 
 they have taken no pain."? to assist the settler.^. Last year, there was a 
 steamboat employed to brinp: settlors from Detroit to Goderieh. Instead of 
 attending to tliat they went several time.^ on pleasure trips up Lake Huron, 
 once for three weeks or so at a time. l>y that trip the .settlement lost (JO 
 Scotch families. From tlie best iiil'ormatidn T c;in obtain, we lost from 250 
 to 300 fimilies, who clii(Hy settled in Michigan and, the other states, bccau.«o 
 the Company neg'cctod thoni. 
 
 200. Are the agents to tlie Company ki!j*l to the settlers ? No: they are, 
 with the exception of Mr. Wilson, very arbitrary ; tiiey are very tyrannical. 
 I speak of the agents residing on the tract. 
 
 207. What magistrates and Court of lie((uest Commissioners have you ? — 
 Charles I'rior, Jno. Brewster, and Captain Dunlop. They do just what they 
 please. There are nineteen Townships in the Huron Tract, and only these 
 three ^lagistrates. 
 
 208. Have the Compiny any road in the tract? — Yes, one from Wilniot to 
 Goderieh, and one from Vandorsburg to London vill ige. These roads extend 
 upwards of ninety mile-*, and will cost about £17,000, which is allowed them 
 out of the purchase money. The Conip my hare also laid out about £5000 
 for Grist and Saw Mills. 
 
 200. Ha\e any !^Lttl(■rs been ojrctod from their firms? — Yes, they are 
 scared out of the tract and ejected without any I'orm of law or justice. .^Iany 
 pcr.-ons have boon driven out of the Territory; there is no o.her law there, 
 e.\copt what the Couipany's servants make. We must be very polite to the 
 Auents. 
 
 210. Are the Company empowered to impose on settlers such terms as 
 they please? — Yes. they are. 
 
 2n. Is there any difficulty in getting titles of letters of occupation? — 
 They have sometimes to wait u little, but tiiey get them. Public lands sell in 
 the United States at Cs. and 3d. per acre, and are likely to be brought down to 
 3s. 9d. 
 
 212. *Do the Company tiikc large sums out of the country? — Their profits 
 in 1833, were £28,0li0, sterling, alter paying all expenses. The ^tockholers 
 chiefly reside in England. 
 
 213. Do the European working settlers express themselves satisfied? — 
 Dissatisificd in the hiiihcst degree, from whatever fjuarter they come. 
 
 214. Are there any schools? — One in Goderieh. The Company do not 
 now support any other school that I know of. 
 
 215. Is money plenty? — Perhaps as much so as in any other place. Mr. 
 Taylor keeps a private Bank, and issues notes from one dollar to a pound — 
 they circulate among us, 
 
155 
 
 9J. 
 
 216. In case Huron shouUl be formed into a county, where woulJ bo the 
 best pollinj^ plnccs? — One at Godoricb, and one at the pliico where the big 
 ThanicH IJivcr crosses the Huron lload, about tlilrty-three miles from Ooderieh. 
 
 217. Where do the ma^i.-itrates lay out tlio monies they rccuivo lor wild 
 land taxes? — I do not know. 
 
 218. What is the established religion in your Tract? — There arc no 
 ministers of religion of any kind in tho Tract, nor is tliere any militia. 
 
 219. Whit is the population of the Tract or country ? — Ui'port says 2,000. 
 
 220. How do the Company pay for the work they p^et done ? — For the 
 first live years they paid two-thirds of the labor in land, at 7s. Gd. (which cost 
 tljem not nuieh more than one shilling an acre) and one tliird in money. 
 
 Dn. STKACHANm/Av/tM; 
 
 543. Docs not a vast annual additional expense fdl upor tho Province, 
 owing to tlie continual rejection of bills of a general cliaraeter, sent up by tho 
 House of Assembly, rejected in the Legislative Council, and again introduced, 
 debated and sent up by the House of Assembly ? — I bi'g leave to state that tho 
 Legislative Council reject no bill without good reasoiH, and th'it body has 
 always appeared to me to have undo tlie good of tho Province nuicli more its 
 study than the House of Assembly, and need fear no comparison in true 
 patriotism, wisdom and ability. 
 
 545. Would not the British Constitutional system, by which the head of 
 the government is obliged to chcosc his councillors and principal officers from 
 among men possessing the confidence of the popular branch of the Legisl.ature, 
 be more suitable to the wants and wishes of Hie country, if adopted in Upper 
 Canada, than the present irresponsible mode of government. I do not believe 
 the government is an irresponsible one ; the rest of the i[uestion is too vague to 
 admit of a definite answer. 
 
 54(5. In what way is the government of this colony responsible to public 
 opinion, as expressed by the representatives of the people in Parliament? — 
 I could not answer that question otherwise than by saying, that tho govern- 
 nifiit is quite as responsible as any other government. 
 
 547. [The witness is shewn ihe Post Office Return, and asked] What 
 mode would you reccoinend for tho bjttor governiujiit of the Post Office, and 
 for allowing the controul thereof to the Colony ? — I have not given the subject 
 consideration. 
 
 550. Do you think Lieutenant Clovernors, of themselves, possess sufficient 
 knowledge of the inhabitants of the several districts to enable them to select 
 judicious persons as justices of the peace? — Certainly I do, for they have the 
 best sources of information, and are quite independent. 
 
 Beyond tlie samples given, Ve have grievances of olHcials of all grades, 
 ministers of all sects, complaints to the Grovernor, and with liLs sharp replies. 
 The evidence contains accusations of a Catholic Priest against his Bi.shop, 
 supported by correspondence; and as tho tes' iniony principally terminates two 
 or three years back, most of the grievances appear to have been iniported from 
 home. It contains a sad interest however, as a little over two years after, 
 the chairman and members were incarcerated, banished, and some of the 
 witnesses even suffering the extreme penalty of the law in hanging. And 
 we may well imagine, showing its progress it was untastofiil, and that tho 
 
w%. 
 
 15G 
 
 itenin, liowever niiiniatiiig to tlio actorH, yet in a <1oz»mi letters during tills 
 session, from oirr subject, have a clause of " notliing doing." 
 
 Mr. M. returnod from Toronto on the lOth April, and made preparatioa 
 for the early opening of the camil. The old steaniar ('itroline, which had 
 previously plied on th(! canal between Port Kobinson and Buffalo, being 
 found too much worn for the service, was ropainjd in St. Cathaiines, and 
 renderod more powerful. Two other boats were placed on the route from 
 Buflalo to Chip|)awa. An effort was also made to place a fa.st steamer on 
 the lower lake l)etween Port Dalliousie and Toronto, Init failed througli the 
 opposition from Niagara. Tlu; (Jrand Kiver Company oflennl tlio use of 
 their route to passenger steamers, free from toll, so that every inducement 
 was held out to make the transit as rapid and commodious as possible. 
 
 A large and respectable class of emigrants came to this country during 
 the summer ; amongst those who chose 8t. Catharines for their home, was 
 Mr. Taylor the father of our present eminent brewer. This gentleman, in 
 connexion with Messis. Truscott k Green, of Toronto, first started the 
 Farmers' Bank, which for a timti was a great benefit to the country in sup- 
 plying the wanted circulation. He afterwards went into the brewery 
 business, in partnership with Mr. Bate, who had previously purchased the 
 business carried on here, by Messrs. Garrison ifc Little. Tln^y removed the 
 works to the site they now occu]iy, near the old distillcrv grounds owned 
 by our subjtict twenty years jirevious, and at pi-esent extensively carried on 
 by Messrs. Taylor it Bate, botii .sun.s of tlie forniei- gentlemen. 
 
 Among the new comers whoso appearance requires notice, as being iden- 
 tified Avith the improvement of the place, was a widow lady named Myers, 
 from London, related to Charles Rolls. The family taught drawing lessons, 
 and the works of her son Hopner still decorate some of our oldest drawing- 
 rooms. 
 
 St. Catharines was much noted at this period for being a haven of refuge 
 for the numerous runaway slaves who escaped from their southern task- 
 masters. In July of this year a daring attempt was made to kidnap a num- 
 ber of them over the line ; and those engaged in this nefarious business 
 succeeded in bringing off a man named Stanford, with his wife and child. 
 On the fact becoming known, a large number of the coloured people arotmd 
 turned out and pursued the would-be captors ; overtaking them near Buf- 
 falo, and bringing them back, as well as two ruffians of their own coloux-, 
 who assisted in the kidnapping — one of these was sent to the Penitentiary 
 for five years, the others got clear. 
 
 Since the departui-e of the last incumbent, the church had been presided 
 oxer by the Rev. Mr. Clark. He came in company with Rev. Dr. Mack ; 
 these gentlemen, with others, were sent out by the Society for the Promo- 
 tion of Christian knowledge. 
 
 Mell 
 
 roriil 
 
 Acul 
 
 demi 
 
 pleti 
 
 an ii 
 
 pliai 
 
 dosci 
 
 of tl 
 
157 
 
 The old Episcopal Church of St. CatharinflH having hoen Hold to thrt 
 Methodints, ou Monday the 27111 of July, waa laid, with Masonic honours, thd 
 rornor-atone of the now Episcopal Cluirch, on what was then known as 
 Academy Street, in St. C'athai iues. The afl'air was the occasion of a grand 
 (Icmonstration in the village, and the huilding erected, though long in com- 
 pletion, was for nuiny years considered one of tho finest in the district, and 
 an important ornani'Mit to the plai ». The now church was nuJMr'd in com- 
 pliment to (Jcorge Adams, Esip, if not the oldest, from tho niiinhur of his 
 descendants who attended there, was entitled to be consiilered the ])atriarch 
 of the society. 
 
 On the canal Mr. iSIerritt cau.sed improvements to ho made. A number 
 of imperfect locks were thoroughly repaire«l, and the tow-path and other ac- 
 cessories were put in good order; so that all the racpiirenunitH of the time 
 were fairly met by tho company — and the tratUc passed on .satisfactory. 
 
 Navigation being closed, the usual Anniversary celebrating the compln- 
 tion of tho canal was held at the St. Catharines House on the ;}Uth of No- 
 vember, with a great amount of enthusiasm and good will. TJut occur- 
 rences transpired in the mean time that called another meeting, not (piite 
 80 peaceful in its demonstration. The occasion of this had been that 
 during this yej r Mr. Mackenzie was apiwinted one of the Canal Board, 
 on behalf of the Government. He spent the entire Autumn in looking 
 over the books of the company, and we regret to state, that whilst enjoyiu" 
 the friendship and hospitality of our subject, he .so far forgot his ))osi ion, 
 and transcended the limits of propriety, as to obtain his (Mr Merritt's) private 
 memoranda, and afterwards publish the same in his genei-al charges against 
 the olHcials of the Welland Canal. At this nucting Mr. Meri-itt observed 
 that Mackenzie had directed his attacks against others, indeed ; Ijut he had 
 no doubt the whole Wiv. intended for him. Akhough the eiiors he men- 
 tioned are too small and unimportant to be taken notice of, yet we ini'dit 
 say, that there are few undertakings at that, or the present time, of any 
 iinjiortance, where every interest had to be wielded to the best po.ssible 
 purpose, which will bear the same scrutiny as what wo now teini "the 
 secret .service of the Welland Canal, and Mr. Merritt's connection therewith." 
 
 The unusual emigration to the Prairie States, and tho slioitn.'ss of the 
 crops, changed the course of shipments ; so that we sec a coi:;, ^nnieat of 
 grain arrived this fall, in Queliec, from Hull, and wo lieu, of a cargo of 500 
 barrels of tiour sold at Chicago, for .?9 per barrel. 
 
 Tho last day of the year has an ai-ticle on the entire opposition between 
 the Parent Government and Lower Canada. The Governnunt had sent 
 out a Commission with the new Governor, to settle the dilliculties. Tiieir 
 Parliament had met a fortnight before, and were given the unconditional 
 management of their funtls. But their first act was to donate from them a 
 salary to an agent to proceed again to England, although their former agent 
 
153 
 
 had buen sajjorsedod by tlie Co'.ninission. Tlie Constitutionalists, composed 
 of the En,:^Iisli inliabitants of Montreal, raised a rifle corps iminbering'.SUO 
 men, and though hoc acknowhjilged by thi; Ooveniineut, oUered th('__first 
 sorious resistance to the national nioveinont. 
 
 18 3 6. 
 
 The ITonsc opened on Jainuiry 14th. Tlie Oovernor in his spoecli iiotiood 
 the falling of our securities in Kng]aTid,an(l other checks to progress tln-ougli 
 the stand taken l)y the Lower (/'anailians. TIk! subject of the war losses 
 -was bi'ought into it, by an ofl'or from the Imperial (jovcrnment of £;3G,()(lU 
 if the Canadians would pay .£:iO,000. 
 
 (3n the 21st of January, Mr. Merritt rose in the 1 louse to answer the 
 charges brought against the canal management by Mr. INlackenzie, and his 
 spetich on that occasion is a suflieiciut (evidence that the agitating nu^mber 
 had for once met his match. We need oidy state that the posi*'.<,a in whieh 
 he places Mr. Mackenzie is neithei' flatteiing to that genthtman, nor credit- 
 able to his backers in the House. Those from the frontier, we have already 
 shown, were, from the beginning, op[)Osed to the canal. 
 
 On the 21st of January the new (jtovernor. Sir Fi-ancis I'ond Head, late 
 Poor Law (yommissioner from Kngland, accomp iuIimI by his son and Mr. 
 Josci»h, a clei-k in tlie Colonial (JJhi-e, drovi; up to the St. Catharines 
 1 louse, and tix^k up lodgings for the night. An opportunity so favourable 
 for the disjday of the people's loyalty was not neglected. So an add.ress was 
 jH'eacnted next morning before leaving foi- Toronto. They wisely eschewed 
 all political intent, and congratulated ills I'jxcellency on his arrival in the 
 most ]irosperous part (.f the I'lovinee, hoping that this jtrosperity would 
 still bo continueil under his adnijiistiatiou, .v sati.-.fit':tory answin' was 
 returned, adding as a favoi'alde au_'ury that this lirst addre.ss was altogether 
 unconnected with jiolitics. He arrived in Toronto on the L'iith, and enter- 
 ed at once into the administration of the Government; SirJ.John Collxjrne 
 taking his leave. 
 
 'i'here are b<it few (..'oliur.il Governors whose biography will pay the 
 trouble of searching out, ; i those f(!W fnjm their huigthy stay, identilied 
 with American history. Sir John Colborne is one of them, who.se admiii- 
 istidtion led to a revolution in ( 'anal.i , and then with extended authority 
 the military power of Great J Britain ci'ushed it out. Tho.se who were wit- 
 nesses of the improvements, both social and educational, ar(^ willing, how- 
 ever, to give him cicdit for theii- g<Kjd intentions towards the people over 
 whoso inton sts he was api)ointed to superintend. 
 
 (.)n the li7th, coninjenced the labours of the Co.nmissiyn apnointed to 
 investigata the charges of Mr. Mackenzie against the olHcers of the Welland 
 
 ■■V.'A\v(V.j»." 
 
ir)9 
 
 f'iiniil Company. Tliuir ropoil forms one of tlic largest voluiiicH of tlofu- 
 nioiits on a 8ubi(!ct of ]irovinciiil intt^rest. Its cost to tho country in tliat 
 !ii,'lit was but tl)0 siniiU sum of £20,000. It Ikih Ix.'on of cs.sential usi- in 
 this l)iograi>Iiy in obtaining correct and rcliablo data of our public iinjirovo- 
 
 mcnts. 
 
 "Toronto, 17tli April, 183G. 
 '' My dear Catherine : 
 
 " I would not have wrote you this day, if I returned ininiediatt'ly at the 
 close of the sessit))!, which will be closed on Wednesday next, but as I ex|)e(.'t 
 to remain here a few days lungf^i', until Satunlay, drop you a few lines to 
 account for it, — and when on the subject, wisli you to write to your Pa cv 
 Ma, mentioning that the Committee* lias reported cm the Welland Canal 
 iillaii'. The farce has ended. An<l aft 'r being tiied by our cneniifS, \ve 
 iiave been uccpiitted with credit. Even my political oj)ponents expressed 
 t'.icir astonishment. The editoi-of the 'foj-res/xunfinif und Ai/rnctifi;' w)'ote 
 ii'.c a letter on the subject, and everything has ended as satisfactory as T 
 (i.idd desire. l!ut it is no gratification to mo personally. My hope is that 
 ;,'reat good will arise from it to the undertaking itself. Wo have piissed a 
 liill through our House, which, if carried into etl'cct, will satisfy me v/ell for 
 tlie loss of this entire wintei-. 
 
 I am, your faithfid husband, 
 
 William Hamilton Mekiutt.'' 
 
 The author of the"]iife of Mackenzie" iiu'utions a luiinber of gi-ave 
 cliarges in connection with the rnanageuient of the AVelland Canal, and 
 liases tht^ir correctness on a private letter v.iit jsn Ity Fi-ancis Hincks to 
 Mr. Mackenzie, at the time. As ii samph) of this authoiitv, we extract 
 llie following from this letter, viz: * ■^- * * " T now repeat, and am 
 willing (() stake tny character on the truth of it, — that for several years 
 tli'vare fidl of i'alsk and rn rrnoi's (;ntrios — so much so, that if / wtin on 
 Oath, / n»il'l hanlbj say ioh'Uh<'r J Ulievc there are vim-e true than falM 
 
 Ml', licslie, in liis introduction to liis father-in law's lif«, savs ; " In the 
 "private documents in my jKjssession, I found much that had never seen 
 " tlie light." We can hai-<l!y say for this extract that " th(* use I have made 
 " of the.sH do(Miments, will, I presume, not l»e regarded as ir/nnnn'aiifii/." 
 Nor, will the plea that ho had never been in Canada till several vears after 
 the rebellion, excuse it. Mr. Ifineks' evidence lieforc* a Parliamentary 
 ComniitcH', consisting of ten or more pages, was to be had — which, for the 
 Kake of th(i gentlemen with whom oiir subject had miu-h intimate connecjtion 
 it is oin- unpl(!a.sant duty to correct, by a short extract from the .said evidence : 
 
 "(/'an you, from the manner in which tlui IJooks of the Company have 
 "been kept, imputi* fraud to any one connected therewith 1" 
 
 Answkk. — "I Lave already stated that J rra/li/ do itot think that n,nj 
 " FKAUDULKNT INTKNT i'du attach itself to any individual connected with the 
 " Books of the CoiiijMHiy." 
 
 i I 
 
160 
 
 ''My Dear Sir: "Toronto, Gth March, 1836. 
 
 " I have delayed writing you for some time, in hopes of having closed my 
 present concerns here — but as this is not likely to take ))lace for some time, 
 will delay no longer. You are avifare the House of Assembly appointed Wm. 
 Lyon Mackenzie, a violent and unprincipled jmrty man, one of our Directox's 
 last year. This man, for certain party ])uri)oses, j)urchased a paper called 
 * I'he Wel/aiid ('(uial,' making sundry charges against the management of 
 the Company, but principally aimed at unjxelf. At the opening of our 
 present L'^gislature, I called for an investigation; giving in my remarks a 
 brief statement of his proceedings. A committee has been appointed, con- 
 sisting of seven memljers, six of whom are of his party, and fivt his ptTsoual 
 fiiends. He also has a decided majority in tin; House, which, of course was 
 the cause of obtaining a committee of his pai-ty. Now, as you are well 
 aware of the 'jt'..stire ' which partisans or party men generally .award to 
 their opponents, you uiay readily infer what chance we have of a fair and 
 impartial investigation : add to this every person -vho has or may entertain 
 any personal prejudice or ill-will against any officers of the Company, or 
 against my>>elf, respecting any transaction relating to the Company or my 
 ])rivate business, fur the last thirteen years it is ))r()duced, and we have had 
 transactions with some f/tonsui/da during that })eriod, all of which gives our 
 adversaiy such a manifest advantage, that our proceedings must have been 
 rather more than Inuuan to escape censure, and to subserve every possible 
 circumstance he has preferred — thirty-two separate and distinct charges. 
 Nevertheless, I am sanguine we will refute every one of them, but it requires 
 great diligence, ivseandi. and much troubl'?, and after all, no gratiticatiou, 
 and no useful jiurpuse gained when ended, even should our management meet 
 with every apiirobation. Uut .so it is, we are lnought into it, and must re- 
 si.st. I mi'iition this circumstance to sIkav that you are not alone in diffi 
 culries ovei' which you could have no control, and which no hvnnan prudence 
 could avert. However, I assure you I feel more anxiety and ai)pi"ehension 
 <in your aH'airs than my own, inasmuch as you have ai'rived at that time of 
 life wheji rest and quietness should be your I'cward. Whereas, I am still in 
 the meridian of life, and feel every inclination to call all my faculties int(j 
 action to resist the most heartless persecution 1 have yet met with." 
 
 '' I remain, your atiectionate son, W. H.\.Mii;roN' Mkriutt." 
 
 The old church in St. CatharLiies, after forty years usefulness, was com- 
 pletely destroyed by tire, as we see by a letter from Mr. Mittleberger to 
 our s\ibject, at this time. It runs thus : 
 <'Dear Sir: " St. C.\thakines, r)th March. 
 
 "In cons<'(|uence of a [irotracted meeting being held in our old church la-st 
 last night by the Canadian Wesleyan Society, we are dejn'ived of it alto 
 getlier. It is not known exactly how the tire occuivd, but thi! presumption 
 is that it was occasioned either by the stove jiipe, or more probably, by an 
 accidental candel spark, about the pew of (i. Adams. 
 
 "The iiiain object of this, is to ask whether you and Mr. Clark, as Trustee.^ 
 of the Ci-antham Academy, have any objecticms to our using the upper part 
 of the building for the performance of divine service, until the new Church 
 is completed ? Yours faithfully, H. MiTTl.KBERGKil." 
 
 '•To William Hamilton Merritt, Ksq., 
 
 M. P. P., Toronto, Out." 
 
161 
 
 Very little useful legislation was effected this session, (except a motion, 
 wliicli was moved by Mr. Park, in the House, that the sum of £r)0,000 be 
 appropriated for roads and bridges, which was carried almost unanimously,) 
 iilthough it was remarkable for a great amount of free, not to say treasonable 
 speech, which resulted in the stopj)age of the usual supplies to sup|)ort 
 the Government. A motion was also made to pay William Lyon Mackenzie 
 ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS for his semices as Government director of the 
 Welland Canal; and although pressed with all the \igo\u\'which hi)>ii/e/f 
 and his friends possessed in the House, still, failed to pass. Mr. Merritt 
 was at home during part of the session, preparing his communications to 
 luoet the accusations of Mr. Mackenzie. 
 
 The House adjourned on the 20th of April. 
 
 On the 28th of May, the Governor dissolved the House and ordered a 
 new election, the writs to be returned on the Kith of July. Among (he 
 improvements we notice a fine steamer, the IlaUimmul, was launched at 
 Dunnville, for the express purpose of plying on the Grand River. 
 
 The Niagara District Mutual Insurance Co. was also started in St. Ca 
 liarines on the 18th of May, in this year. And the subject of opening a 
 direct communication with the Junction, afterwards incorporated under the 
 name of Merrittville, with other improvements of a similar nature was 
 discussed. The Government had b^sen very liberal in its appropriation l)y 
 macadamizing the .stiigo road ; but the financial depression and political 
 disturbance that followed, put a stop to all local imjirovements. 
 
 The su))joct of a through line of railway from the Niagara to the Dftroit 
 River, had for sonie time occupied the attention of the people on om* West- 
 ern frontier, and on the 1st of June in tliis year, a lai-ge and inrluential 
 meeting vv'as held at Sandwich, presided over by the late Col. John Prince 
 Tlie ordinary organization was completed, and stock books were opened 
 tlirougliout the country, those for the Niagara district being placed in the 
 bauds of Mr. Mei-ritt. 
 
 The Haldimand election resulted in IVIr. Merritt being again successful, 
 altlioughNie was strongly opposed by Mr. Davis, a local gentleman, and 
 professing to be of the same political party jus our subject. 
 
 The election occun-ed on the 1st of July, 1836, and the author, who was 
 jirosent, has for remembrance a gathering which, for riot and drunkenness, 
 though his own village could get up no tame display, exceeded everything 
 he hatl ever seen before, and challenges the world to beat the Grand River 
 rearers in their peculiar line. 
 
 Things looked pretty dark for the first day or two. The roads were bad, 
 and the farmers disinclined to come out. But when Scpiire Evans, after a 
 great deal of coquetting, cast his vote for Davis, the Dutch came out in 
 troops, and the day was ouv«. A celebration had been indulged in on the 
 return of the victor at St. Catharines, Mr. George Rykert. On Monday, it 
 
162 
 
 •WHS ascertained that Mr. William Hamilton Merritt had been elected 
 for the County of Haldinmud, by a handsome majority. Accordingly, 
 in the evening tin; usual demonstration of joy was enacted, kept tip by a jmblic 
 dinner, on Tuesday, for both of the members. 
 
 Whilst political strife was e.xciting the ))eople of Western Canada, 
 wo have, at this stage of our biography, to record the death of an American 
 citizen, who in reality was more to this co\intry than many jxttriota who 
 aspired to that dignified title. On the lOth of July in this year, 
 J. 1>. Yatks, Esq., died at his residence in Chittenango, N. Y. , and as the 
 deceased and our subject, in connection with the Welland Canal and other 
 im}>ortant works, were on more tlian intimate terms, we proj)Ose to enter 
 briefly into an account of this gentleman. Descended from a highly resi)ec- 
 table family who inhabited the Valley of the Mohawk, his father being an 
 ollicer with the rank of Colonel in the continental army, during the llevolu- 
 tion, connected by the ties of kindred to the.se good old loyalists the Butlers 
 of the Rangers, and others. Mr. Yates was brought up with all the ac- 
 quirements of a well-to-do citizen. At the early age of eighteen he graduated 
 at Union College, and afterwards ai)i)lied liimself to the study of the law, 
 in which he was subsequently distinguished. In 1812 he held the i)osit'.on 
 of a Captain of Militia, under General Wade Hampton, and during a part 
 of the war he was actively engaged on the Niagara frontier, and was after- 
 wards appointed aid-ile-comp to the Governor of New York State, with the 
 i-ank of " Colonel." In the fourteenth Congress he was elected for Scoharie 
 and Schenectady, and was afterwards a})pointed Government manager of tlie 
 New York State lotteries, also the Judge of Madison County (.'ourt, and 
 afterwards Chief Justice, together with being member of the Legi.slature 
 of his native State, which position he held at the time of his death. In his 
 regular visits to his relatives the Butlers, near St. Catharines, and through 
 perhaps Dr. Prendergast, he became acquainted with our .subject, and, 
 as already mentioned, when the Welland Canal scheme was first pro})Osed 
 by Mr. Merritt, Mr. Yates was the principal cajntalist, who advanced a 
 large jwrtion of tlie necessary lunds. His expansive views at once giasjjcd 
 the magnitude of the work, and principally by his advice its enlargement was 
 decided upon. 1\\ its numei-ous phases he was aliomja its friend, and his con- 
 fidence in our subject was manifiested on every occasion where a great work 
 was pi'ojected and funds required. It is unnecessary to be individous, yet 
 we think, that were it not for the assistiince of Mr. Yates, the success of the 
 canal, at this time, would hardly be accoinplished ; and his death was deeply 
 regretted by all the well-wishers of the enterprise. One of the principal 
 streets of St. Catliarincs now bears his honoured name, and the following 
 lines from the Chittenango llerakl truly describes the character of this great 
 and good man : — 
 
 inte 
 
 offi 
 
 sive 
 
 pow 
 
 ofh 
 
 wer( 
 
 even 
 
 his 
 
 jireh 
 
 ]iu1l 
 
1G3 
 
 " In contemplating the character of Mr. Yates, we tind high moral and 
 intelloctual worth most harmonioiislj' blended. Possessing naturally a mind 
 of fine texture and liigh order, it had been adorned and cultivated by exten- 
 sive literary and professional attainments. These he brought to bear with 
 power on erery department of life. As a public man, he shone in the lustre 
 of his native character in every statioix of honour, trust, and influence, which 
 were conferred upon Kim. Prompt, decisive, energetic, and persevering, 
 even at the sacrifice of health and personal comfort, in the performance of 
 his public functions. His views and plans were of an enlarged and com- 
 prehensive nature, beyond the scope of ordinary intellect. But, while in 
 ]>ublic ^ife he shone with lustre, in jirivate he gleamed with V)rilliancy. By 
 liis s\ ior intellectual and moral attainments, by his urbanity of manners, 
 by the overflowing benevolence of his soul, by his amiability of disposition, 
 lie was pre-eminently fitted to gain the affection and secure the confidence 
 and respect of all who knew him. Universally beloved and esteemed, not 
 through the eflect which wealth or honour produces, but as the necessary 
 and invariable result of the private virtues of his character. Every one 
 was his friend, and his praises dropped from the lips of all." 
 
 August 4th. — The project for erecting a chain Suspenwion Bridge ovei' 
 the Niagara River, at Queenston, had been set on foot. "The bridge," adds 
 the Journal, " will have the largest span of any in the world of the stime kind." 
 
 September IStli. — The Governor, after an extensive tour of the Province, 
 north and east, proceeded to St.Catharines from York, via Niagara," whence," 
 says the St. Catharines JourtKif, " after staying all night, departed on hoi-se- 
 hack, with his son and secretary, Mr. Meiritt and others, up the line to 
 Port Colborne,^thence to Marshville and Dunnville. The Governor and suite 
 then proceeded to Sandwich, and returned by London, Brantford, and 
 Hamilton. 
 
 October 13th. — Lower Canada troubles, at the termination of the T^egis- 
 ive Assembly, shews that further parley would be worse than useless. The 
 King's ministers must either knuckle to Lower Canada, or they must exercise 
 the strong arm of the law. 
 
 The Montreal Gazette says, " A Legislative union is now inevitable." 
 The author visited Quebec at the opening of the session, where he had 
 the satisfaction of a personal interview with the distinguished L. S 
 Papinoau, speaker, and most influential leader in the House. 
 
 Mr. Merritt addi-essed the electors of Haldiriand, in October, after his 
 third contest — noticing the great prosperity of the neighbouring republic, 
 and especially New York, since the completion of the Erie Canal : this was 
 effected by the Government borroNving the funi]^ necessary to finish the canal ; 
 and that credit had been procured, carrying out the expansion ol businei-s 
 necessai-y to its full use. 
 
 After complimenting the liberality of the Legislature in voting £300,000 
 for the improvements in the St. Liiwrence, he says : " Your county per- 
 haps, has been more benefitted than auj other i>ortion of the Province." 
 
164 
 
 The following is extracted from Mr. Mcnritt's aiMross "to the frechold- 
 eis of the County of Huldiinanil," on the absorbing topic of i)olitic8 : 
 
 "The Government of the State of New York beiiiLj administered by 
 a Democracy, this is, by many, considered the bestada| trdtoa new country, 
 and their prosperity is ascribed to that cause ; but this ar;:,'umeut is falla- 
 cious. If the Government was the true cause, it wmiUl not only be our 
 duty, but our individual interest, as well as the interest of our posterity, to 
 \ise every peaceable and legitimate means to bring about that form of Gov- 
 ernment, which producers such beneficial eli'ects. But by extending our views 
 to Gn^at Britain, the delusion vanishes, since we perceive tliat similar effects 
 ai"e produced in the mother country. In England and Scotland, you will 
 find the cheapest and best articles. They excel the different Ijranches of 
 business in America, in the .same ratio that they excel us. The. form of 
 Govermnent, therefore, not being the cau.se, we must look for some other 
 ]irinoii)le of action ; which is none other than an extetuled xi/xtem of jniMic 
 credit. In England, a merchant, mechanic, or operator, can carry on as ex- 
 tensive a business on £4 capital, as in this province on illUU — the command 
 of cai»itiil in business being nearly efpial to the po.ssession of it. 
 
 " In America, £*) will command .£100, and this is the real and true cause 
 why different branches of business can be conducted with greater certainty 
 and protit, on the other .side, than with us. The practical o)>eration of each 
 separate branch of business could be easily pointed out, through every stage; 
 but two or three instances are sufficient to elucidate the subject. 
 
 " The extensive system of credit, so successfully adopted in New Yoi k, en- 
 ables a wholesale mercliant in that city to com maud ready money, with 
 which he can purchase goods at the cheapest rate in the manufactuiing 
 towus of Britain. The same si/stem has established si)lendiil lines of packets, 
 to convey them at regular an(l stated i)eriods, with the greatest facility and 
 expedition, across the Atlantic. The same sijstem gives him time to realize 
 the ])roceeds before payment of duties. I'he name system provides the 
 Western or country trader witli ready money to pay fur them, which thus 
 enables the importer to make quick returns, whereW he transacts an ex- 
 tensive business with a very limited capital. 
 
 '•All I reipiire for my fellow countrymen is a fair trial. I^et our LegLs- 
 latnrearou.se from tlie torpor which lias subdued tht-m heretofore. '<et 
 them bring into action the public ci'edit of the province — obtain a sea-purt, 
 and establish a Bank immediately, to rej)resent the entire wealth of Upper 
 Canada ; and lend us as much money as we require, on the best security. 
 If we do not in three years, .show more enteri)rise, greater industry, and 
 more euei-gy, than the citizens of the state of New-York, or any other state 
 — fi>rever brand us as an inferior race of mortals^ — but not uu il after thd 
 trial is made. 
 
 " To the present Legislature, we may look with confidence for the adop- 
 tion of bold and energetic measures, so as to retrive this province from the 
 incubus which lias for many years retarded its prosperity. All are aware 
 of its necessity ; and if another session passes over without effecting the de- 
 sideratum required, no one will feel a greater disai)pointnient than 
 
 "Your obedient servant, 
 "October, 1836. " WM. HAMILTON MERRITT." 
 
 That, and the next one ])assed without it ; and then came the Rebellion. 
 October 29th. — A meeting was held at Thorold, for the purjiose of pe- 
 
1C5 
 
 titiouiiig Piuliiiineut for the removal of the County buildings from Niagara 
 to a more apjjropriate place. 
 
 On the same tlay, a meeting of the young men of St. Catharines was 
 calleil, for the purjiose of forming a debating society, in which Pelton, Emery, 
 Lewis, and the author, appear as a committee to draft a constitution and by- 
 laws. As this i)receeded the Athenreum, and was the first attempt of the 
 kind, it must be i»ut down as the inception of literary and other associations 
 of tliis place, and father of the Mechanic's Institute. 
 
 During the Summer, several surveys were made on the canal by Mr. 
 Miicaulay, the President, who also belonged to the Royal Engineers, and by 
 Messrs. Baird and Killaly, of the Irish Board of Works. 
 
 The name of James R. Benson appears among the Mutual Insurance 
 oiti eel's. 
 
 The Report of the Canal Board appeared on the 4th of November, 
 giving a favourable statement of the year's business. 
 
 Mr. Merritt set out in the stage, on the 5th of November, to attend the 
 Hou.se. 
 
 November 8th. — Tlie House opened the first session of the thirteenth 
 Parliament, 7th year, William IV., Sir F. Head, Governor. In his speech 
 he said : 
 
 " As regards the duties of my station in the legislature, it is my inten- 
 tion, as long as tliey may be conlided to me, to occupy myself to the best of 
 my i.bility, in the internal improvement of the country ; in the impartial 
 administration of justice, and in maintaining unsullied the commercial integ- 
 rity of the Province." 
 
 The House organized under Archibald McLean, speaker, and returned 
 a favourable reply to the Governor's address. 
 
 9th Noveiubcr. — Mr. Mertitt gave notice of a Provincial B mk schema, 
 whoso profits for ten years were to be loaned for finishing the public works. 
 He also brought in a measure to regulate the expenditure of district funds. 
 
 The preliminaries in an entirely new House, occupied much of the 
 time, and a pereonal exhibition of the Canal being neoes.sary, within the 
 fortnight, we find him back again. From Mrs. Merritt's journal we read : — 
 
 "Mr. Merritt got home about 9 o'clock at night. Left again at daylight, 
 with a party of gentlemen for Port Dalhousie : returned at 10, but never 
 sut down, and started for Gravelly Fiy." 
 
 This inspection occui)ied him for the rest of this month. On his return, 
 tlie contested election of William Lyon Mackenzie, with others, occupied 
 tlie attention of the House, and not much was done till the Christmas 
 holidays. 
 
 On the 29th, appeared the Report of the Select Committee on the Welland 
 Canal, which reported the arrangement with the stockholders, ultimately adop- 
 ted — that when the receipts amounted to £50,000 per annum, the Government 
 should pay six per cent, interest upon the stock : from the date of paym int, 
 
166 
 
 the revenue from the canal in 1852 was £50,000— when the stockholdor3 re- 
 ceived the whole of the principal and back interest. 
 
 November 28th. — The Welland Canal Company hold its last celebration 
 coalescing with the St. Andrew's Club. E. W. Stephenson, Thomas Cibson, 
 A. K. Boomer, stewards. Col. Clark presiding and z-etiring in favour of 
 the Engineer, Hall, president of the St. Andrew's. 
 
 December 28th. — The Grrantham Academy was advertised to be sold by 
 the Sheriff, to weather off financial difficulties ; but the catastrophe was for 
 this time averted by the stockholders satisfying the judgment, and stoppirg 
 any further expense, by handing the use of it and entire management over to 
 Mr. Thompson, in consideration of his keeping therein a .school for classical 
 and commercial instruction. 
 
 Mr. Van Bureau elected President of the United States. 
 
 Mr. Mei'ritt left with his second .son, who was a student of the Upper 
 Canada College since Easter ; fro'u whose journal we (^uote : — 
 
 " At Christmas, Pa, with the other members took a holiday. Several 
 went home with us. It was a royal time — cold to excess. Mnt our large 
 cloaks, and high spirits (at least, mine) kept off the cold." 
 
 His further account describing the holidays, we reluctantly omit. They 
 were terminated by returning to Toronto by stage. 
 
 » 
 
 1837. 
 
 Mr. Mcrritt, in noticing his trip to Toronto, says : 
 
 " We had an expeditious, but cold trip. An accident occurcd on our ar- 
 rival : turning down Bay street the sleigh upset, by which one of my ribs was 
 injured. 
 
 " On the 4th attended the House. 
 
 "9th. — Not as well as usual, having a cold added to my damaged side. 
 I hope the ensuing week will bring forward some measure in which I do take 
 on interest." 
 
 He also orders that the young members of his family, during the evenings 
 when not engaged at their own studies, teach the domestics — adding, it would 
 be of more service than their wages : a very little time will offoct it. 
 
 After the 16th, side better. No more mention of the up set, except on 2.3rd. 
 
 " I have entirely recovered. Tell your Ma her dream is partly verified. 
 There is effectual aid granted to the V7eiland Canal of nearly $1,000,000." 
 
 On this grant, his old friend Chief Justice Robinson, writes: 
 
 " I have very great satisfaction in congratulating you upon the liberal and 
 decisive measures which the Legislature have at length adopted. It is of great 
 consequence that the grant now made by the Legislature, should be judiciously 
 applied ; and it is no less due to the stockholders than to yourself, that your 
 name should continue to be associated with the work, at least, until all difficulties 
 
10 
 
 >l 
 
 are removed, lie is well acquainted with the interests af the work, whicli, 
 perhaps, none of the New York stockholders, sinca ihodjath of Mr.Yates, were." 
 
 He writefl, on the 3rd of April : 
 
 " I apprehend great difficulty will bo found in raisin;^ raonoy to carry iiit("> 
 effect tlie act passed lust session. If you are not a director of the c mal, I 
 should hope tlie Doard will offer you the appointment of superintendent. If 
 they do not, however, one of the Government directors, Mr. J. Wilson, 
 should resign." 
 
 The Report of the Select Connnittee on t!ie subject of " Trade and Com- 
 merce," with its appendages, would form a respectable pamphlet, carefully 
 prepared. It compares the former advantages of the St. Lawrence? saying, 
 " up to 1820, our products and property commanded higher prices than similar 
 articles and property on the opposite side of the frontier." Showing th it ad- 
 vantages would again arise, under a judicious Legislature, when the St. Law- 
 rence c.mals were Qnished. 
 
 "The antagonism of the Lower Canada Legislature, is shewn by an act this 
 Spring, subjecting our trade to an inquisitional examination ; and it was so 
 absurd in its provisions, that it could never be carried into operation. 
 
 "Tlicy charge SI for e.aoh boat, and the declaration at Coteau De Lac, which 
 is similar to that, entering from the sea: — Name of vessel, and master: num- 
 ber, and country : destination, &c: account of lading: number: (juantity ; 
 quality : consignment, including the particu! .r marks and bulk unbrokou 
 since loading. 
 
 Then the distribution of the revenue coll.t't /d being ac^irliiu ti the 
 cumber of the popubition, which, being less than iiower Canada, was as 7 to 8, 
 the product of Upper Cinada. To remedy ;dl this, they recommended an 
 address to petition the Imperi;il (lovornment for a sea-port. They also bring the 
 subject nearer home, by pniying for the reform of their restricted tariff, with a 
 hint tliat it would be better for both parties to leave the regulations of their 
 commerce to the local assembly. The continuance of these restrictions 
 on our trade, has a tendencv to create mischief, by enabling persons to name 
 articles prohibited by Imperial Act, and subject to higher duties when im- 
 ported from other ports. 
 
 " We also pray for the admi.ssion of our products in Great Britain free. 
 "February 15th, 1837. W. H. ME lllUTT, Chairman." 
 
 During this Session, a number of important bill.s were passed through 
 the House, anl a large share of IjOgislatiou was seemingly bestowed upon the 
 Welland Canal. Acting on the series of resolutions whieh the ('oinnMtt«>o 
 Lad brought before the House, a bill was brought in for the puivhase of tlio 
 canal by the country, which passed through the House without much opposi- 
 tion. By this Act, the piivate stockholders were not bought out ; but tho 
 several loans of the Province to the conij)any, were converted into stock, 
 and a further sum of £J4.''),()00 subscribed by tiie Government. Arrange- 
 ments wore also >nade towanls paying tlie com[)any's debts, proviiUng for 
 the construction of enlarged stone locks, ifec, &c. So that at last, we find 
 that the utility of this work is fully recognized. By this measure the direc- 
 tion of the works was vested ia the Government, they having a majority at 
 
 1 . 
 
168 
 
 all moetiiigfl of the Board. The Bill for the CHtaMiahment of a Provincial 
 Bank, wliioh was hroiiglit in by cur Hubject, and, wc think very well managed 
 and explained by him, failed to pasH, although a majority of " one " wa.n 
 only recorded against it on the journals of the HouHe. He occupied tlie 
 important positions of Chairman of the Committee on Trade and Commerce, 
 and also Chairman of the Committee for the improvement of the St. Law 
 rence, during this session, in which he strongly urged upon the Government 
 the advisability of pushing on those works. 
 
 Mr. Merritt, as usual, when he felt his measure secure, delayed not for 
 the formal closing of the House, but set out at 5 o'clock on B'riday evening, 
 arriving home at 3 o'clock, P. M. next (ky. 
 
 After the closing of the House, he attended to his usual business en 
 the canal, whore, from recent legislation, strenuous efforts were put forward 
 to accomplish the extensive repairs required, before the opening of navigation, 
 going through the lino by the feeder, 12th March. 
 
 In his memoranda of 21st March, we find a scheme whereby the original 
 canal stockholders should bo participants in the increa.sed income to be de- 
 rived from the new canal, they paying their fair share of the expenses. He 
 also urges the necessity of supplying the enlarged work with water direct 
 from Lake Erie, as he seems to have some doubts as to the cajtacity of the 
 feeder to fully meet the requirements of the enlarged locks, &c. 
 
 Mr. Merritt also endeavoured to get the Government to jjurchase and con- 
 trol the Grand River Navigation Company's works, but failed to do so, in 
 consequence of wliich his heavy interest in that undertaking became worth- 
 less, and has never since its being finished, realized a cent. 
 
 As mentioned before, he had become, along with Mr. Yates and McDonnell, 
 personally responsible for the funds which were required to complete the 
 canal to Lake Erie ; and the conduct of the House in this instance, reflects 
 the highest honour upon their patriotism, as it presents a striking contrast 
 with their political opponents in the last House ; but to get action from the 
 Government was still 'm be effected. 
 
 At the annual election of the canal Board this year, we find that Mr. 
 Merritt's name is not in the direction. This was a rather under-handed 
 attempt to "sack " him from the Board, wjiich was solely the cause of his 
 declining to serve, as the following memoranda of his own will show : — 
 
 '• April 3rd. — The election took place for directors for the private share 
 holders. Captain Eccles showed me a letter from Creigliton, naming 
 McDonald or Butler lor directors. This gentleman had been to New York 
 for some days, and had returned, keeping everything secret until this 
 morning I have no reason to complain of the decision of the Stockholders, 
 bat, my conduct heretofore has never warranted this secret, suspicious, 
 distrustful pioceeding. I had 88 votes on the old proxies, and there were 
 only 66 against me. However I declined exercising my power, and allowed 
 the election to terminate as the New York shareholders wish, <kc." 
 
169 
 
 Ah already iiitimiitcd, new dirpctorH wore olocted into the CaTml Hoard, 
 and the occurrcuce wiw the cauw of conHiilerablo j»ei-Honal annoyance to Mr. 
 Merritt, who wiw fully convinced that means outsidi^ of the onlinary course 
 were re8orte<l to, in order that thiw act Hhould bo accoinpliMhed. That the 
 proxys of the New York stockliolderH should bo given to Mr. Eocles, soonia 
 strange; and can only be accounted for, either through uiis-HtatomentH on the 
 one wide, or a lack of knowledge on the other. No doubt, liopes had risen 
 among the Niagara people, from a large grant of the canal of the liwtHe.snion, 
 that the termination might be changed to their own town. How far our 
 ideaH on this point may be correct, the following corresi)ondcnce will shew : — • 
 
 "AuuNY, April 14th, 1S37. 
 " Pear 8ir :— 
 
 " I received, three days ago, when nuicli indisposed, your letter of the 
 4th instant. I am yet unwf^ll, but will no longer delay answrniig you. 
 
 "Some time in tlie latter oml of February, C^ipt. Kccles, of Upper Canada, 
 called on me, in relation to the Weliand Cannl, and the act of your Legis- 
 lature concerning it, which had just pa.'^sod. He .stated that lie was on his 
 way to New York, to consult the stockholders there, and procvire their assent 
 to, or acceptance of the law ; anil he informed um that Captain Creighton 
 wa« then in or near New Yoik. 1 static! that 1 could not then say or do 
 anything in tte business, but that I would acipiiesce in any mea-sures that 
 Mr. Heniy Yates and (Jharles Yates might agree on. Captain Eccles im- 
 mediately proceeded to New York, and very soon thereafter, I received your 
 letter of the 21st February, and presuming it might have intluence on their 
 deliberations in New York, I sent a copy of it l)y the next jmst to Mr. 
 Henry Yates. Some time afterwards, Captain Eccles returned, with powers 
 executed by my friends in New York, to vote for ilirectoi*s at the next elec- 
 tion, which I executed also, as a matter of course. I gave the nuitter but 
 little consideration, my wife at the time being dangerously ill, and I do not 
 now recollect who was named as our proxy. 
 
 " It appears from your letter that you are impressed with the i«lea that 
 your character has been assailed by some one to us. I can assure you thai 
 it w^as not done to me. Caj)taiu Eccles informed me that it was in con- 
 templation to change the route of the eastern end of the canal, as I think, 
 from the foot of the summit to the mouth of the Niagara River, «fec. 
 
 " lam, dear sir, with sincere respect, your most obtnlient, servant, 
 "To William Hamilton Meruitt, Esq. A. W. McINTYUE." 
 
 Although the ordinary course for him to have taken under the circum- 
 stances, would have been to have looked after his own interest, yet, from 
 his memoranda, we find that he is acting with all ilie eneigy iit his dispo.fal 
 to secure the interests of the private shareholders as well. On 3rd Apiil, he 
 writes to secretary Joseph, on the subject of relieving himself and friends 
 of their private responsibilities, and the answer he nceived thereto was t uit 
 and unsatisfactory ; yet, stating that the Governor would see him pei- 
 sonally, on the subject. Accordingly, on the 2"Jnd of April, he went to 
 Toronto, but received no satisfaction. On the 28th, the Board met, an<l 
 apI>ointed Mr. Macaulay, of Toronto, as President of the Comjiany. Mr. 
 
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 170 
 
 Merritt accompanied the new Board over the line, to Dunnville, where 
 he left them, and proceeded to Seneca, where the annua' meeting of the 
 (t. R. N. Co. was to be hehl on the Ist of May. At this meeting he de- 
 clined re-election as a director, on the grounds of living so far from tlie work. 
 On the 8th of May, he again visited Toronto, (the Board having again 
 in a measure established their head-cpiarters in that city,) but failed to 
 oVjtain any answer from them on the subject of a money advance. 
 
 Although the Legislature had, at their last session, provided ample moans 
 for large im[)rovpmpi:ts, and paying off the obligations of the company, yet 
 we find that with the novel management of the canal, procrastination was 
 undoubtedly the order of the day ; and no action was taken in tiie matter 
 until the monetary crisis of this year set in ; when, with the premonitory 
 synn)toms of rebellion, and state of general confusion prevailing, it was at 
 that time almost impossible to obtain the necessary funds : hence, Mv. 
 Merritt remarks : — 
 
 " The evil of procrastination on a work of this magnitude, importance, 
 and utility, cannot be foreseen. Before leaving Toronto, (at the close of 
 the session) I had written the Governor, rerpiestins,'; him to issue the deben- 
 tures to the old directors, before the election of the new ones, that their 
 obligations might be provided for, and they be relieved from their resjtonKi- 
 bilities. I had made arrangements with the Bank, in a way that £20,000 
 cash was secured on those debentures. I also in-ge(i Mr. Josejth, on the day 
 of election. On the 10th of April the panic had occurred, owing to 
 failuies in England, when no money couhl be obtainetl. The same procias- 
 tination has prevented the piers at Port Colborne and Grand Biv(T, from 
 being repaired, and also the lock at Dunnville. Everything remains in 
 a state of suspense." . ' ' 
 
 And after nmntioning the names of eleven professed engineers, and as 
 many commissioners, who had examined and reported on the canal, since the 
 beginning, as well as the annual reports of the Company, since 1824, he asks : 
 
 " Whence the necessity of creating further delay, by employing more 
 engineers and commissioners ] " 
 
 Small as well as large interests were affected by procrastination. 
 
 Cayuga, 10th May, 18*^7. 
 " Dkar Sir :— • 
 
 "I am retpiestcd by John Norton and J. J. Lymburner, to inform yor 
 that the contractor for building a bridge over Norton's Creek, has commenced 
 the work, 'and according to his agreement with the commissioners, will re- 
 quire an advance of money very soon. Will you have the goodness there- 
 fore, to order the money granted for building said bridge, to be forwanled 
 to the care of Mr. St. John, Dunnville, that the work may not be delayed 
 for want of funds. 
 
 The inhabitants of this part of the country must feel under gi*eat ol)liga- 
 tions to you, for enabling them to get britlges erected over Nor'„on s and 
 Tunis' (Greeks. I am respectfullv. dear sir, 
 
 " Your vcrv obedient servant, ROBERT HAYTI BRUCE." 
 
 •< To W. H. Meukitt, Esq., M. P. P., St. Catharines." 
 
171 
 
 where 
 
 inco, IMr. 
 
 18*^7. 
 
 ;tV " 
 
 As a matter of vit..l necessity that their attention slioiiUl be bestowed 
 on the subject, on the 25th of May he visited the city of New York, and 
 induced tlie executore of the hito J. B. Yates to come witli him to St. Catha- 
 ai'ines, where a better understaixding was obtained regarding their trust by 
 these gentlemen, who after their jjcrsonal inspection of the aflairs (^f the 
 estate in Canada, handed over its management entirely into the hands of 
 Mr. Merritt and Mr. McDonnell, with instructions to close up the aflair 
 immediately. 
 
 However, on the 10th of Juae, an extra session of the Honse was 
 held, in consequence of the monetary crisis which had reached and was 
 impoverishing this counti'y. The Bank of Upper Canada experienced 
 a heavy pressure, in the sliapo of " a run," and the stagnation of business, 
 ■md general depreciation of property, &c., was severely felt by all classes, 
 iuul was a genuine premium to the stock of the conspirators, who were 
 now rapidly bringing their scheme of Annexation to a crisis. 
 
 The Govei'umont obtained a measure for raising the value of tho Eng- 
 lish .shilling to 2-5 cts.; and they thus succeeded in preserving some of tlie 
 currency in the country, without resorting to the su.spension of specie pay- 
 ments. Mr. Merritt after the session again proceeded to the U . S.^seaboard. 
 
 While in New York Mr. Merritt interested himself in iiaving a favor- 
 able sample of our flour displayed in that market. Ho writes : 
 
 " New York, 4th October, 1837. 
 " Mr. J. Bowery, 
 
 "Sir : — You will request Mr. Stevenson to consign to Richard Irvin, l*Jo. 
 98 Front Street, New York, one hundred barrels of best superfine flour. It 
 is intended to give the flour a character, and to give the two markets a fair 
 te.st. From enquiry, I And the duty will be, per barrel, 871 cts. ; Freight, 
 7-5 cts. ; from Oswego to New York C2c.; commLs.sion, 2-^c.=21 ; cartage, 
 cooperage, storage and inspection, | ct. 6ic., ikc, 12.^=.^1.9G. Deduct 
 (lifl't.rence in excliango 3 per ct. on price of bbl. ii?S. 50=250.; total, .'?1.71. 
 Value with you ^0.79. If sohl on wharf here, theise 12^ cts. will be gained. 
 The true diflerenco in this and the Montreal maiket at present, admitting 
 tlie charges eijual, is, for duty, less 3 per cent, exchange, 87 J cts.; making 
 precisely tive sliiliings York. Whenever the market here sh(>ws that dif- 
 ference, it is our interest to send to this port. 
 
 " Yours trulv, 
 
 "W. HAMILTON MERRITT." 
 
 The following letters shew what was the result of the trust, and per- 
 ha[)s regarding tho personal security of .$200,000 alluded to : 
 
 " To the Ca-shier of the Bank of Upper Canada. 
 
 "Sir: — You will please deliver to William Hamilton Merritt, E.sq,, 
 the debentures lodged in your hands, on aecou lit of the Hydraulic Conip;iny. 
 
 " Dated at S«-. Catharines, September 13th, 1837. 
 
 "W. K. FULLER, 
 
 " Exfcutur anil TruMef of the EMate of 
 
 " Jediah Criohton, "J. B. Yates, d«itis 
 
 •A. McDoXNEL." 
 
172 
 
 He having met with a patisfactory answer to liis mission, returned to 
 Canada; and applying to Sir Francis Bond Head, received tlie following: 
 
 " Govemvient I/oune, 
 
 "Toronto, 23rd October, 1837. 
 
 " Sir : — His Excellency, the Lieutenant-Governor, has had nnder ccii- 
 sideration your Memorial of the IDth October, inst., addressed to His Excel- 
 lency in Council, and in substance, requesting, that the amount due to you hv 
 the Welland Canal Company should be paid in debentures, at the rate for 
 which they have been disposed of to othei-s; or, if required, at five percent. 
 l)remium. 
 
 " You state, as your reason for making this request, that you had come 
 under engagements to furnish the debentures, -ind that you had incurred ex- 
 pense and lo.ss of time in the negotiation of them. 
 
 "His Excellency, in answer, desires me to say, that upon the jjassageof 
 the Act of the Provincial Parliament, authorizing the issue of debentuies 
 j)ayablo in England, His Exc^;llency was most anxious that the olject of tlit- 
 Legislature, namely, the raising of money to carry on the public works, 
 .should be carried into ell'ect, anil that with this sole view, dei)entures were 
 sold at the highest rate that could be oljtained for them, in the Prcjvince, 
 that is to say. at par, no higher amount having bei ii otlered. 
 
 "Since this sale of debentures, information from England has shewn, that 
 in Loudon the confidence in the credit c^f the Province had become sufficiently 
 restored to give ri.se to an opinion that debentures could bo safely remitted 
 and drawn against, immediately, with the expectation of a ready sale of the 
 secni'ities, which opinion woulil not have been warranted by the previous 
 intelligence, at to the state of the money market. 
 
 " The imi)roved value of the debentures, not producing, as might have 
 beeii expected, higher tenders within the Province, tlie Government was 
 forced to consider whether it might not be more advantageous to dispose uf 
 the securities in London, v s the Provincial demand did not seem .sufficient 
 to ensure the sale of the debentures at their current value. 
 
 "This course has been adopted with respect to the whole sum pi-^poseJ 
 to be expended for the Welland Canal, during the current year. 
 
 " His Excellency being dr.sirous that the debts of the canal should be im- 
 mediately discharged, and that no further imj)ediment should be found in 
 tlie way of that im])ortant work, desires me to say, that while on tlie one 
 liaml the public faith would have jn-evented him from authorizing the pay- 
 ment of a Provincial debt, in securities not equal to the legal currency of 
 the Province — on the other, he does not feel that the public interest permits 
 him to direct such payment in a medium more valuable. He has felt tluit 
 simple payment in the currency in which the debt was contracted, was tlie 
 only safe and just method of dischargiiig juiVdic engagements, and in fact, 
 the only one which the law authorized. 
 
 "His ExcelU^ncy regrets tliat a disappointment on the part of the Bank, 
 in not being permitted to ^legdtiate del enturt's at par, has caused you in 
 eonvcnience and ex])eiise ; but he cannot jiermit private engagements I'l 
 (lisiippointments arising from them, to interfere with the unift)rm course 
 wliii'li he has felt liimself bound to follow, namely, the discharge of the 
 public liabilities in the currency which the Legislature of the Province Ims 
 seen tit to .sanction, and in no other. 
 
173 
 
 "Arningements have been made, as above stated, with the least pos.sible 
 <lplay, to enable the Welland Canal Company to dischai7,'e the debt to voii : 
 and His Excellency has every reason to believe that the amount is furth- 
 coming, when you see fit to apply for it. 
 
 " I have the honour to be, Sir, 
 
 " Your most obedient humble servant, 
 
 "J. JOSEPH. 
 "To William Hamilton Mkrritt, Esq., 
 " St. Catharines." 
 
 The following trial of slander against one of the officers of the Canal 
 Company is from Charles Lindsay's Life of Mackenzie : — 
 
 "The trial came oft' at Niagara, on the 12tli October, 1837, before Mr. 
 Justice Macaulay and a special jury. In accoi'dance with his usual practice, 
 in such cases, Mr. Mackenzie undertook his own defence ; his Solicitor Mr. 
 Price, making occasional suggestions as to the examination of witnesses. 
 Mr. R. E. I3urns and Mr. Holland Macdonald, of St. Catharines, were 
 counsel for the Plaintiff", Beaton. 
 
 "Mr. Miickeazie, before the suit \vas commenced, admitted in writing to 
 the plaintiffs attorney the authorship of the alleged libel, and contident of 
 tlie truth of his statements he had challenged much higher game than Boi'tou 
 to make his allegations subject of judicial investigation. What JNIr. Mac- 
 kenzie did say was : 'If Mr. Merritt and his friends choose to co a step 
 farther, and place all my numbers before a jury of the country, and assert 
 tliat they are imtrue and publislied from unjustifiable motives and foi- im- 
 proper purposes, there also will I meet them ; the whole bar of Upper Canada 
 Whig and Tory, is at their service: the Judges are not said to be prejudiced 
 ill my favor, nor the Sheriff, and as to the proofs of authorship and publica- 
 tion, I will deliver on demand coi)ies of the several numbers, each endorsed 
 liy my own signature, to any person Mr. Merritt's attorney may name." 
 
 The Judge allowed the whole of the papers to be brougnt into Court 
 and thus permitted IMr. Mackenzie to accuse our subject before a Nia-'ara 
 audience, to whom he had every reason to believe his accusations would not 
 lie distiisteful. Mr. Merritt attended the trial, which terminated in a ver- 
 dict in favor of his friend, Mr. Beeton. 
 
 Tlie St. Catharines Journal of November 23rd, a fortnight before the 
 (leiuonstration back of Toronto, says : 
 
 " We understand that the young men in the neighbourhood of Lyon's 
 Creek, and the Chippawa, under plea of opi)osing a draft, have su]ipIiod 
 themselves with rides, and are frequently seen training." 
 
 After a long lectuie, it concludes with a more i»ractical warning : 
 
 " At any rate, we are quite satisfied that the first u.se of the.se rifles in 
 opposing the necessary act of the Government, would elevdte their owners 
 full as high in the eye of the public, as they now stand in tlieir own 
 estimation." 
 
 Extract frouj Mr. Merritt, junior's, journal : 
 
 " We heard much of disaffection beginning to manifest itself atnong the 
 people of Yonge Street, to which we gave little attention. It was none of 
 our business ; why should we 1 When the last company of military left us, 
 we wore at the college gate, seeing their departure, and gave Mackenzie (who 
 
174 
 
 followed to see them cleai-) a very hearty liiizza. He very j>olitely bowe<l 
 to us, iuul passed on. I felt at the time a sort of dread for the man, for 
 •which 1 could not explain. 
 
 "In December the rebellion broke upon us most tinexpectedly. The night 
 before, we had heard of jtreparations being made, but considered the actual 
 event a thing far off. The ringing of the alarm bells tliat awoke some 
 of the bovH, was considered merely a lark of the jtorter. In tl»e morning, 
 however, the full force of the reality came uj)on us most startling. We got 
 freed from college by it, and perhaps were not very nnich grieved at the event. 
 
 " How astonishingly it effectiul Mr. Thomas Kefsfer, who, though in bed 
 from a flesh wound which I gave hii- in sp(»rt with a horse-whip vhe niglit 
 before, and quite unable, as heaffiimed, to attend college, found his sinews 
 80 strengthened, that lu. was up and well able to rui. as soon as any of us. 
 
 "It was a curious sight to behold ! Guards of civilians hanging about the 
 Oov'Bi'nment House ! The shops all closed ! People hurrying silently in all 
 directions, some with arms, aiul some witliout. And there, at the Town 
 Hull, where were assembled the cannon, with torches ready to be liglited, 
 and the arms distributed. Melancholy exhibited in every countenance. 
 All was new and Strang*^ ! Nothing was done that day, but various move- 
 ments took place in the town. Bt^i-acading the streets, and tilling liouse.s 
 with men. All was exciting. It was indei'd a change, agreeable from our 
 dull business at college. This was something like life ! We had often read 
 in history of rebellions — -war- — but had never experienced the feeling of the 
 immediate presence of conflict ! Of a real state of things when human life 
 is held at a very cheap rate. Next day, by going too near where the rebels 
 were stationed, we were taken prisoners. AVliile in durance, I saw a .sentry 
 aim his rifle at a ))erson who was running away, but the action seemed so 
 commonplace, so business-like, so suiteil to the time and place, that we took 
 little warning from it, but sleeked away ourselves in like manner. 
 
 " On Tuesday, as college was entirely broken u]), we asked permission 
 to go liome, and obtained it. Fortunately for us, a steamer left that night 
 for Hamilton, in which we took })assage, namely, Jas. Ingersoll and Thomas 
 Keefer. Arrived in the morning, and took stage immediately. ]Jut on ac- 
 count of the badness of the roads, did not reach the termination of our jour- 
 ney until three o'clock next morning.." 
 
 Monday, 4th December, 1837. — McKenzie and his forces appeared in 
 the vicinity of Toronto, which gave rise to the most alarming reports. 
 
 Mrs. Merritt's journal says : — 
 
 "Tuesday, 5th December. — In the morning we were talking of the troubles 
 in Lower Canada, little dreaming of their being so near our own doors. In 
 the afternoon heard that Toronto was taken. The report was, however, 
 shortly afterwards contradicted. 
 
 " Wednesday, Gth. — Mr.Merritt went up to J\)C " Short Hills," hearing 
 of meetings thei-e. Saw their chairman Mr. Brady, from whom he learned 
 they were all of one mind for reform, but wished it bro\ight about in a peace- 
 able way — and that they had no intention of taking up arms. 
 
 "Thursday, 7th.— J. P. went down in company with the troop, who in- 
 tended going to Toi'onto. In the evening, the boys who were at U. C. 
 College, returned by Hamilton, gave us the account of the rebels being driven 
 back, with killed, and prisoners, and that the place was crowded with militia, 
 and were more in need of provisions than men. 
 
175 
 
 " On the same Rvening, some scouts made a reconnoisance to tlie "Short 
 Hills," and brought in two j»risoners,whom thoy found armed. Notwithstand 
 iiig the protestations given to Mr. Merritt formerly, tliat there were uo 
 armed gathtrings intended, as it was considered impolitic.to i)roceed rigour - 
 ously at present, tliey wei e relea-sed. 
 
 " Friday, 8th. — Our cavahy, conipo.se(l of the young men of this village, 
 have tliis instant returned from Niagara, galloping round and liurrahing at 
 fcvory street corner. 
 
 "On Mr. Meriitt's return, be had prepared to leave tlie ensuing day, 
 with one hundred men, for Toronto — but on liearing that it was re- 
 limed, and filled with the militia, he turned his attention to .sending supplies. 
 There is a vessel, tlie " Jennie Woud," laden with beef, pork, and Hour, reaily 
 to go from this place. 
 
 •■ Sunday moi'uing. — The soldiers were aroused fi'om a sound sleej), by 
 orders for every one to go to the lines— that there weie five liundred coming 
 over. All got oft" by 7. The excitement is on the increase, and may end in 
 more bloodshed. 
 
 *' O ! what a Sunday we spent. The boys liave been busy in mahin'j 
 cartridges and running bulleLs. What will another week bring forth fc;r 
 our poor di.stressed countiy 1 " 
 
 A lumber of the magistrat vs being gathered at Niagara, it was considered 
 advisable to assemble, and use their magisterial authority for the preservation 
 oi'the peace and safety of the commmity. Yet mo.st alarm prevailed in the coun- 
 try. The training and assembling of armed bunds, similar to wh;it had occurred 
 at Toronto, in the interior of the district, f.)ruicd adecpiate occ ision tor these 
 alarms. Mr. Merritt was appointed chairman. And leaving tlie tDop to the 
 guidance of his lieutenant, entere:\ heartily into his magisterial duties. Many 
 persons were arrested by the patrollers and scouts ; these were at once dis- 
 missed, after due examination, and no person was incarcerated for his radictd or 
 even republican opinions. This policy gave Mr. Jlerritt great popularity among 
 the crest-fallen end defeated radicals, especially when contrasted with the 
 severity with which they were treated in other places, as Hamilton, London, and 
 Toronto. 
 
 The alarm had reached and aroused the furthest stiition, among his re- 
 mote constituency, as the following spirited offer will testify : — 
 
 "Cayuga, December 8tli, 1837. 
 " William Hamilton Merritt, Esq., 
 
 " Dear Sik :— 
 
 " 1 have a meeting at Windecker's tavern, and have 55 volunteers ready 
 to march at a moment's notice, whenever their services may bo re«piiretl at 
 anyplace in the province. Please give me directions, and I will maivh im- 
 mediately." Yours truly, 
 
 "JOHN CROCKER." 
 
 Mr. Merritt had taken an insurance agency from the St. Lawrence 
 Marine Company. But a notice in a business letter fi'om the agent, contains 
 an item for a su]>position that in this time of turmoil, it was not satisfactorily 
 attended to: — 
 
 ^'^>^: 
 
176 
 
 •'PiiEscoTT, 15th Dec. 1837. 
 
 " Sir :— 
 
 * * * * " As you have so much other business to attend to, 
 
 I think it would bo well to ajuwint J. T. Bowery as a<,'ent in your place." 
 
 " Yours truly 
 
 "A. JONES, 
 
 « Secretary." 
 
 Two days after Mackenzie's effecting his escape, his old friend the Engi- 
 neer, writes : 
 
 " Lock rouT, Wednesday, 13th December, 1837. 
 " William Hamilton Merritt, Esq., 
 " Dkak Sik: — 
 
 " T have just hoard this evening that William Lyon Mackenzie had de- 
 livered himself last evening to a large auditMico, having obtained the 
 theati-e for the purpose, in Buffalo. His object is evident, but I have not 
 heard the result. Probably he endeavoured to .stir up their pure minds by 
 wav of remembrance. There are always enough to li.sten on such occasions, 
 whether it is a history of real evils, or the images that till a madman's l»min. 
 News came also that ho was to a isit this place to-morrow, but I antici|)ate 
 that he will nuiet with dlsaj)[)oiutment. I do not believe that there is a man 
 so weak as to be intluenced to participate with him. The impression is 
 general here, that they have taken up arms for their love of revolt, or to get 
 the advance of events that may hai)pen. 
 
 "I am, with much esteem, 
 
 " Your oV)edient servant, 
 
 "A. BARRETT." 
 
 The attraction of Canada soil had drawn him to Navy Island, the occu- 
 ifation of which by his Buffalo band was doubtless the matter cf importanc 
 which "reciuired their utmost ingenuity to meet." 
 
 "Chippawa, Saturday, IGth December, 1837. 
 « William Hamilton Merritt, Esq., 
 " Deau Sin : — 
 
 " If you can come over to-night. Col. Cameron desires me to say he would 
 be nuich obliged. Matters of importance have occurred, which require our 
 
 utmost ingenuity to meet. 
 
 " I am, yours truly, 
 
 "WILLIAM KINOSMILL." 
 
 Another extract from Mr. Merritt's journal of Sunday, 17th, says : — 
 " H. received information to go to Chippawa. Mackenzie & Co. is on Navy 
 Island Fhowing their presence by firing on a boat. He left at 4 o'clock in the 
 momio'g. ThdTG was but 40, but they would have done what they could to 
 prevent a landing. He rode the whole night, up and down, from Black Rock 
 Ferry above, to Fort Erie, considering that the most available part. Drums 
 and fifes were going all night opposite. J. P. with his company of Horse 
 there in the afternoon, and returned next day." 
 
 A communication from the Chief shows how our proceedings were looked 
 on from the capitol : 
 
1 
 
 I I 
 
 "Toronto, 27th December, 18:]7. 
 " W. IT. Mcnitt, Esq. 
 
 '' My Dkar Sir : — My brother has been most laboriously and incessantly 
 occupied here, in assistini^ the Commissioners in inve8tii;:itinL: the cases of 
 pri;-oiiers. His extensive knowledge of the people of the very pirt of the country 
 where this abominable insurrection was hatched, has enabled him to bj most 
 useful to the Government on the one hand, and to the persons charged, and 
 their unfortunate families, on the other. I believe there is a strong fooling of 
 gratitude on the part u{' many of these poor people, for tiie trouble he has taken 
 to see that they were not too harshly dealt with. It was so strongly urged upon 
 him to visit that part of the country, and particularly l>y the inhabitants them- 
 selves, that he could not decline. 1 expect liim back to-day. 
 
 " As the Legislature meets to-morrow, 1 dare say you will not be absent 
 long, if ftt all ; and I have therefore little encouragement to write at any length, 
 as I hope so .soon to see you. 
 
 " What is now taking place on our frontier has not surprised me half so 
 much as the events in my own neighbourhood. From tlie moment it was made 
 evident, as it has been in most Xii' the .States of the union, that the most terrible 
 outrages against the laws are beyond the control of their (jrovernment ; when- 
 ever large bodie.-? of people favor them — from that time the probability of such 
 an occurrence as the present, has never been absent from my mind. It is clear 
 that a natioii with only a standing army of 5,000 men, scattered over a country 
 as large as Europe, is not to be depended on for preventing 20,000 of their 
 people from rushing into tliis Province, to join in the work of confusion, wlion- 
 cver they may fancy they sec an opening. 
 
 " From the instant the slightest demonstration was made at Buffalo, I 
 thought it of infinitely more consequence than anything that had yet hap- 
 poncd. And if it had depended on me, I would have, with 50 of the Koy::l 
 Artillery, and a regiment of the line, hastened to the spot with all possible ex- 
 pedition, and have militia added to them as fust as they could be assembled. 
 
 " If this should get ahead, we shall have serious times yot, and let what may 
 come of this, unless the British Government act now like a great nation, and 
 establish such defences on our frontier as will speak plainly that they mean to 
 keep the country, we may make up our minds that we shall have no peace or 
 security in Upper Canada. 
 
 " I have a good deal to say to you on this subject, when we meet. It does 
 astonish me, tliat no American officer of high standing, Scott, Worth, or Gaines, 
 for instance, should liave been sent instantly to the frontier from Washington, 
 to see that thfir laws wore enforced. I can hardly think but that the inter- 
 position of such a power as of the Governor of the State, on the spot, would 
 fail of being effoctual. Their militia should be called out, and stationed on 
 the frontier, so as effectually to cut of!" communication with the island. By a 
 prompt measure of this kind, the rebels would be caught in a trap, and must 
 (surrender at discretion. Sooner or later our neighbours must give us serious 
 trouble . The present affair I hope and believe, may yet be controlled before 
 matters become much worse. 
 
 " Yours sincerely, » 
 
 "J. B. ROBINSON." 
 
 Oar subject did not enter into any of the military proceedings of the times, 
 
 but rather discountenanced them. From his previous experience of 
 
 actual conflict, he always designated Mackenzie's attempted revolition and 
 
178 
 
 llic invusinn of syniputhizers and brigands nftorwards, as the " Monkkv- 
 Wah." Wc will close with noticing that Mr. Morritt spent the end of the year 
 between home and Niagara, at the IJoard of MagiHtratos trying the prisoners; 
 vr at least ac(juitting thcin, and as alludcfj to, and on the threatened frontier. 
 The following odrrcRpondence will explain some of the circumstances altendin" 
 the occupation of Navy Island, in which our subject was interested. 
 
 (.'hristiuas. — H. and the boys on the lines. The iiexi day he and Lr. 
 Boadlc scut on commission to Butfalo* 
 
 '• Ik KKAi.o, 28th December, 18;J7. ' 
 " Doctor .1. I'rcndergast. 
 
 " iMv Dear Sir:— I came over yesterday to see your Marshal Mr. <jarrow, 
 Avho was sent for the purpose of putting your luws into execution, and prevent 
 individuals arming, and carrying on a war again>t us —but l.e acknowledged 
 Very candidly his doubts whether tlie cisil autiiorilios can carry the law into 
 execution. We will therefore have to deiiend on ourselves. We have a lar^c 
 iiiree of militia, about IJ,()()0 men on the iiiu'. Kxptct two regiments of tioops, 
 -4th and o2nd, up in a few days. The rebellion is put down most effectually 
 in Upper and Lower C;inada, and we have liothing more to fear I'rom internal 
 fctrife. •• Vuurs \"e., 
 
 '• W. II. MEIIKITT." 
 
 '• BrFi'ALo, 2itth December, 1837. 
 " Hon. William Hamilton Merritt, M. JM*. 
 
 'IIkad Quartkhs, Cmi'PAWA. 
 "Sir: I'erniit me to iritroduce to your ac(iuaintanee, Judge McLean, 
 (if tlii.« e'ty. who goes to Chippawu with a message to Colonel McNab, itr. 
 
 •'1 am, viiur obedient servant. 
 
 " IJ. W. KOUKllS." 
 
 '• December 30th, 1837. 
 •• To Merritt, Kykcrt, or any other Magistrate : 
 
 •• 8ia : -The bearer of this informs me he has a Durham boat 70 ft. long. 
 lit for .serviqe, but he has no means of getting her liere. Will you be plea.^ed to 
 afford everv jissistar.ee in your power Inwards having her forward' d here with- 
 out delay, as il is most material for Her Majesty's service that wo should have 
 her. I ain, sir, your most (ibedient servant, 
 
 "ANDKLW DREW. 
 
 "Capt. Koyal Navy." 
 
 Mrs. 3Iorritt's journal, as well as that of her son, is full of incidents 
 
 during the outbreak. 
 
 But wc forbear givi.ig further extracts. 
 
 3 8 3 8. 
 
 " St. Catharines, 9th January, 1838. 
 
 " My Dear, Parents : — W. H. Merritt went to Toronto last week, a.s 
 the Parliament is in session. He only stayed two days. Said he could 
 he more useful in this quarter, at the present. He left yesterday for the 
 frontier. ^- -i*^- 
 
17'J 
 
 Mr. Merritt, wlio liad been atteiuHiig in liis jihu-e at the Paili.iiiioiit in 
 Toronto, on liRaring that the ininihor of the Canadian refujjpos and «yn»pa- 
 thizcrs from thn States wlio had takon, still held Navy Lsland, re- 
 tuniod hotni\ and in Imh cajiacity an a ina<,'i.stratc, in conjunctiDn witii Col. 
 McNab, wii(j coiniuaiuk'd tlio Militia, |»ruco(!d'd to anaii^'o nu^asurcs for tlio 
 defence of tko frontier, and the fxpvdHion of the invaders. Our subject had 
 been engaged in arrangenunits for a coniuiissary su]»iily, and providing 
 boats for the contemplated atta<'k on the islaud. A nunilter of boats were 
 collected, and many of them drawn over land by ox-teains, from the canal to 
 the Niagr "a Kivei-. A council was held, in which he volunteered, with tho 
 Militia, to attack the island, but the argument that this wuiihl cause a loss of 
 valuable lives, and the fact of the I'nited States authorities juoving in tho 
 matter, decided them not to niakt; an immediate assault. Demonstrations 
 were set on foot by (AjI. Drew and his naval vohmteers, by sail- 
 ing round the island, and isolating them from their base of supplies, and also 
 destroying their steam ferry the " ('(irnlinr." This was considered enough 
 for the present. The duty on the fi-ontier was severe, as a nuud)er of the 
 Militia died through sickness, brought on Iiy ex])08ure, itc. Three men 
 were killed by cannon shot from the island, 'ihe 2nd Cavalry Troop from 
 St. Catharines did good service. A comj)any of lU'gulars aftei-wai-ds ar- 
 riving, a number of the ^lilitia were relieved from duty, and allowed to 
 roturn home. Thi'ough the enei'gy dis|ilaye<l en both sides of the Niagara 
 frontier, the defence ceased by the middle ot .iunuary, and the invaders 
 (k'cani[)ed, moving westward. 
 
 A general movement of troops and change of high officials occurred. 
 Lord Cossford left by the ^leppepediac ^load and Halifax. The 34th regi- 
 ment started on the 17th January, for Quclur. The 71st Highlanders 
 arrived in February. There werr, with tho reinforcements at this time, 
 abo\it 10,000 Regulars. 
 
 A letter to the Governor on the question of passing through the States 
 from Mr. Merritt, elictits the following rej)ly. 
 
 Febnary. 
 
 " My Dear Sir : — Yon must lie well aware that the ])ubHc always know 
 my plans before I know them myself, and this is really the case in the i; 
 stance to which you kindly allude, for I have not yet had time to think whioi. 
 way I had better return, and until I liear that Sir Ceorge Arthur has actu- 
 ally arrived, 1 think it is useless to form any ])Ian which should of course V>e 
 influenced by the existing circumstances, at the moment of my depai'ture. 
 
 " If it shoidd be advisable to go the roiite you propose, I will immedi- 
 ately communicate with you on the siibject, and in the meanwhile beg to 
 thank you for your obliging note. Yours very faithfully, 
 
 "F. B. HEAD." 
 
 The author visited the Capital during this session, and stopped at Per- 
 ry's boarding house. Being in the vicinity of the Parliament, it was occu- 
 
ISO 
 
 ))!<'(! \iy tho in ^;iil> Ts, of wlium li« rciiuMiiltcrs CoIdju'I nnrwcll, ('t>lvilli», 
 Akkinaa ami Sludo. TIichu won* t)f all sliadfs of iii)litifs. A ^rvtit dcul of 
 warinth was (ixprcssoil. Amtnij,' the iiumhIku-h, Col. Priuco was particiilarly 
 (h^iiioiiHtiMtivc, liaviii;^ (Undarod ho would oxeoiito tho iK-xt invadcrK ofom- 
 country, which throat Ik* carriod into execution at tho oud of tliis year. 
 
 ( )iir suhjoot, in tho moan tinio, attondiut^ to his dutios in tho Houso. At 
 tho Olid of th" Hossion, Sir V. Jiond I load icturnod to England, and was 
 Kuccoodod l>y Sir ({o()rgo Arthur, 
 
 On tlio Ctth day of March th») Houso closed, passing eighty-two jjills, 
 nearly half of which won) rojoctod iu tho Uit[i(M' House. 
 
 Amongst the many who were arre.stod for particij)ation in tho lato roh'>l- 
 lion, wore twt> men named Fiount ami Mattlu'ws. Thoy were sontenced to 
 1)0 hung. Petitions for their reprieve* were got \ip, containing 10,0(10 namo.-s, 
 moi'o or less; those from Jlaldimand and Niagara were hrouglit ovei- to 
 Toronto by Mr. Merritt, and presented to the Governor — we insert one — 
 but without ellect, a8 thoy were afterwards executed. 
 
 7'n /lis Kxi'i'lhiiL'jj, Sir (I'ciinji: Arthur, LiiuitciKdit Ctorerjwr of (h<' /'m- 
 riiice v/" Cjipcr CatKula, Mafor (jiucnU cumin tivHinj J/is Mnjiffti/s 
 ftirces (herein, Knight Coininander 0/ (he L'oj/(if Uanovarinn ilidphi: 
 OrJrr. 
 " May it ploa.se Your Excellency — 
 
 •• We tho undorsi;;ne.d Sliorill", jNIagistratos, Eo])rescntatives, and Free- 
 holders of tho District, of Niagara, beg leave to congratulate your Kxcelloii- 
 cy on assuming the govornmeut of this province, at the same time tlioy deep- 
 ly sympathize with ycmr Exc:'llency on being called u])on, at so early a peri- 
 od, to excerciso tho lloyal porogative, on those who have justly foi'foited 
 their lives, by committing the most aggravating oU'euHe recognized bv our 
 law. 
 
 '• The Almighty, in his intinite mercy, was ])leascd to preserve the ('api- 
 tal of this ProvMice, and permit his Majesty's subjects promptly to supprcs-i 
 tho la.st rebellion with tiie loss of but one individual. 
 
 "That mercy which is consi(h*rod the most noble attribute of the lloyal 
 porogative, is now vested iu you and if your Excellency entertain the opin- 
 ion, that it can be exorcised with eipial eii'ect for tho public good, by bani.^li- 
 ing beyond the seas, those individuals who arc or msiy be condemned to 
 death, your Excellency may fool assured, this act of clemency and mercy, 
 ■will meet the most cordial apju'obation of tho undersigned, who most sin- 
 cerely pray your Excellency may, by the wisdom of your councils and 
 government, be enabled to contribute to the prosperity of this rising 
 Province. 
 
 "Thomas Merritt, Ex-Sheriff, &J. P., 
 - "Alkxaxdeu Hamilton, Sheriff N. D., 
 
 "W. Hamilton Merritt, M. P. P. & J. P., 
 " Geo. Pvvkert, M. P. P. & J. P., 
 
 " H. MiTTLEBERGER, J. P., 
 
 " E. Adams, J. P., 
 
 " Richard Woodruff, M. P. P., 
 
 " David Thokuurn, M. P. P. 
 
isi 
 
 Tho following Inttor ^iv(>s n xHiiipHo of f»'«ling iu the Fiower Provincps, 
 after the oxcitonioiit in tho Unitoil SiatcH, by the (U'structiou of tlie Hteuuiei- 
 '• CaroUne." 
 
 " fti>i'crunifnt Ifouni', 
 
 " KllKI>Klll(KTuN', Ftil). 2lHt, 18;J8. 
 •■'8ik:— 
 
 "(Jroat (fVfiits have occurri'd in tho Cainula^ siiicM I have l)t>('ii tlio re- 
 <i|tit'iit of a Iftti-r tVoiu you. This Proviuoo is hiijul to n titan. Jt is ho ob- 
 vioimly contrary to tlio interests of Knglund and the Unitetl Statt^s, to go to 
 WAV with t'acli otlifc-r, tliat I cannot bring myself to entertain th(^ sliglitost 
 a]»|iiclu;iision on tiiat head. You's, ii:c. J. JlAilVEY." 
 
 hui'ing this period of military excitement, there was more done in the 
 Honse than passing laws for treasonabh^ ottendcrs. l$ut so entirely 
 diiinged was the legislation of tin; day, that it was considered politic l)y 
 the Military Engineer and President of the Welhind (.'anal, that no more 
 outlay should b(« made in that direction, but sliould, we suppose, be devoted 
 to fortifying and military defences, at least for more immediate necessity. 
 
 It was late in the season boforn tho rej)ort of tho Directors, for tht* jtre- 
 cee.ling year, was imljlished. A letter of sympathy from liis friend. 
 Chief Justice Jones, at the gloomy prospect of the fate of tho stoppage of 
 our juihlic works, enclosed the following : 
 
 "ToKOXTO, nth March, 1838. 
 " To the Honounible Mr. C'hicf Justice Jones: 
 "My Dkau Jfi)(;E : — 
 '• You will have seen by the Report of the Welland Canal Commissioners, 
 Imw it is made to appear that an average loss (if £14, (Mil) per annum has 
 beui sustained by the Province, since the period when, according to the 
 ll"l>ort of the Directors at that time, the canal was completed. In this 
 sum, no account is taken of the interest paid for loans madt^ by the public, 
 to take np their amount of stock ; neither is a:'.y mention made of the fact 
 that about £20,OoO of inU-rest (or more) is due to the Jiritish (Jovernment. 
 
 " It is ([\iit" crtaiii that within tht; next seven years, the greater ])art 
 of tlie present locks will require to be renewed, at what cost, the Re[)ort of 
 M'.'ssrs. Baird and Killaly will shew. It will, iij fact, be at a charge of not 
 l.•^s than £20 0,000. The harbours of Port Dalhousie and Port Coll)ornB 
 will also require a very considerable outlay, whether the project of Me.ssrs. 
 P) lird and Killaly be exeoited or not ; but that i)roject would be of such 
 manifest advantage to the Province, even without a canal, that I cannot but 
 hope that it will be carr'.ed into effect. 
 
 " Assuming that .£280,000 will be sufHcient to put the canal in a state 
 of perfection, equal to any that can be attained by a similar work, there 
 must always be a large item of expenditure in the shape of repairs — towing 
 paths, swing-bridges, gates, and uredging, to wit. 
 
 " TTp to the present period, the receipts of all kinds have average<l very 
 little more than £.'3,000 per annum, the greater part of which is derive<l from 
 toll on goods from Amej'ica to American ports. 
 
 " If at any future peric<l, the trade should so increase as to make the 
 construction of a canal on the American side a profitable sjjeculatiou, such 
 
182 
 
 canal will lio fortbwitli iiiailo. It is, ir. fact, already in contoniplation, and 
 tlie Aniorican ftovoi-innont lias pxpondod larf^e sums in procuring preli/ninaiy 
 re])Orts and ostiinates for such an undertaking. 
 
 "Nearly all the trade from Am*»rica to American ports, would pass 
 tliro>\gli tlieir canal, when constructed, rather than oui-.s. We might count 
 on the jirst threi^ or four weeks of S')ring. and no more. But the heaviest 
 shipiuents of goods upward.s, is in the Autumn. 
 
 "I can see no reason, therefore, An- assuming that wo are going, for any 
 lengch, or even for a short ti'ue, to enjoy tlu? hfiiefit of the incivased trade 
 which may ultimately l)e carcieid on l)etween the two lakes. In the mean 
 time, it is certain, that if we com]>lete tlio canal, wo shall sin;: not 
 £1 4, ()()(), as 1 said in mv report, l»nt £in, ()(»() at least, per annum, toj;ether 
 with the interest on nil the money already expemled. P'or what period we 
 muHt sustain such loss, it i.s, ofcour.se, impossible to foresee ; I think, pro- 
 bably, aboit sev(>n years, when the canal may. if comphited, begin to pay 
 its expenses, and some |)ortion of the interest on the Provincial loans. 
 These are not very flattering prosi)ect3, 'tis true, but I do not wi."?!! to induce 
 any bidief in others, in whieh 1 do not myself participate. If the Province 
 can allord to go on with this work with such littlti hop(; of advantage there- 
 from, in a pecuniary jioint of view, I should be the last person in it to say or 
 do aught whiidi could have the effect of deterring our financial rulers ; because 
 I believe that, until we become a ))ortion of the Republic (which I hope 
 not to see) this line of water communication i.s essential to the defence of 
 our Niagara fi-ontier. I have no intention of refusing my services, so long 
 as th"y may bo rcipiinvl, in carryiui,' out the views of the Legi.slatiu-e, nor 
 am I ini!lin<id to adunt that because I liavs a clear conception of the ruin- 
 ous exp;mdituro to be incurnnl, I .should fail to use my best endeavours to 
 keep that expenditure at a minnium. 
 
 "Believe me, verv trulv voms, 
 
 " J.MACAULAY. 
 
 "Remakks ok the Rei'out ok thk DiHKCToiis or TJiK Wklland Canal Co. 
 
 i-oR 1837. 
 "This Rep.ort states, that there is a great increase of tonnage, although 
 the tolls have fallen .short of the tvi'o preceding yctars. Names £1,(100 in 
 th(( single ai'ticle of nunvhandist;, and admits that but for the comnu'rcial 
 ditlicultics, tlu! tolls would have exceeded any preceding year. It then 
 states the average annual ex])enditure at ^21,039. 8. 'J. And the average 
 anutunt of tolls at ,£•), !)!)!). 0. (i. Shewing an average iinnual loss of £1 1,0 40. 
 2. 3 ; in confirmation of which, it is a.s.serted that tiie canal can be maintained 
 only at this saci-ifice, and concludes by recommending the abandoi>ment of 
 the work. The most superficial ob.server will at onco perceive the erroneous 
 data in which tho.se ccuiclusions have bet^n formed. 1st. — The annual ex- 
 penditure of a work which was not finished, is assumed at £21,03!). When 
 after the completion, repairs will not cost much ovor the interest on the 
 principal of the same jtei'iod last year. 2nd. — The average; amount of tolls 
 ifec, is assunvcil at £l,i)'J'J. 0. 0. for five years )>ast. This data suji])oses the 
 work must reced(! f »r uve years to coma. T think in 1832 the tolls were 
 not over £300. I have no doubt, if the work goes on, that in fire years 
 from thi.s time, the toll will be £r)0,000, in jjlace of £4,U'J9. 6. (). The aban- 
 doniinmt would bo as justifiable on public grounds, as Huicide in a ])rivate 
 individual, is the opinion of W, JI. MKKRITT.' 
 
 M 
 
183 4 
 
 "St. Cathauinks, Maivii IS, l.H3>S. 
 
 ' To Dll. J. PuKNOEnCAST. 
 
 ''Mv l),:\n Siu : J{aviii:i; returnod from tlio L'^gislaturo :ib.):it .i \\\h>Ic 
 since, I wil' give you a Ijiicfsiu'voy of our [)roociHliu;j;s. My last Icttt-r was 
 (lireeued from IViflalo, ainl as an attack was tlun, ami sometimt^ aftoiwanl. 
 daily expi'ctHil on Navy Tslanil, F did not j^'o to Toi'onto until t!:t' l.")tli oi' 
 January. I was then apiMjinted (,'hairman of tlu.' Finanuti Ctimmilttt'e. and 
 was closely oui^ai^od diiriu;^ the wintjr. Some useful nuMsurcs \vci • pass- 
 ed, and a numhci- of resolutions on the union of the Provinr^'s, wliich I 
 drew up, and a m.ijority of the it )us^^ was for sendin.; m;^ as a ( "ninuiission- 
 erto '"ai^jland, but I declined. We want but one Legislature in thes.j Pro- 
 vinces, and I ti'ust that obji'Ct will bo effected. 
 
 " \V(! have no apprehension of a war with the Uuiteil States, and the 
 rabble who have given us s> much troubh' has been gener.illy disjterseil. 
 Great ehani(es will uinjuoUidiably take place here, and I trust for our bi-n- 
 efit. I intend applying myself to milling. Will have six I'un of stone 
 vcadv this week. 
 
 "W. If. M.' 
 
 " T have lost a vessel, containing 4,000 bushf-ls of wheat, five niih^s 
 from the (traiid lliver. The men came oil", and when the wind changt'd, 
 sho drifted out int I the la'v". This wheat at a value of lis per bushel, 
 would liavt^ amouiit''d to over j$<),0ltO." 
 
 Tlieell'oct of our reljelliou in Kngland, was t'; ' iiringing in liy L >i-d fins- 
 sell, and the passage of a bill through thelnipeii.d Parliament, ! > a.iiiul the 
 con.stitution of Lower Canada for six yeai's, and appointing (Hlth i>f,lauu- 
 ary,) Karl Durham ( Jovernor < ieneral and High ConimissiomM'. 
 
 Wi' have given biog)';t|jhii'S of ( iovt'rnoi's of long residence in the coun- 
 try, but this one, whoso residence on the soil of Upper Canada was but a 
 few days, had the greatest inHuence, perhaps, of any who ever visited u;-. 
 Of gi-eat connection being the son-in-law of Earl (!ray, he had attained a high 
 station of influence, but unfortunately for his usefulness in this monarch- 
 ical colony, his pnlities were low. 
 
 Lord Durham had been an ultra reformer, from the time he took his 
 seat in the House of (Vnnmons, in the 22ud year of his age, as Mr. liambton. 
 He is now iii his IGth year. 
 
 The Tini'S roui irks, "If his L>rdshiii giv.vs satisfa.!ti.)n, he must plfa-^" 
 Joseph Hume and Mr. Crote, "Com multis alias "' of that description, as well 
 as Lord Melbouiiie and John Ivussell, who are (iepemU'nt on Josejth and 
 (!rot(i, for their existence as ministers." 
 
 Tt was rather an unfortunate state of affairs that great ])olitical changes 
 will be nuide through this influence, but the colonist of native origin has the 
 satisfaction of kn cvin^', if there be any satisfa.-tiou iii the fact, that be they 
 whig or tory, it is all the same to him. 
 
 28th May. — Lord Durham arrived at Quebec, and issued his proclama- 
 tion, calling on the co-operation of the lionest and conscientious reformers, 
 for amelioration of defective iuititutions, and says : — 
 
* 184 
 
 "They will receive from mo that assistauco and oncourageniPiit that 
 their patriotiKni has a right to conimaiid." 
 
 Ill answer to this, Mr. jNIerritt. considering tliat his attention to the 
 iiifasun.'S for thu sotthunciit i)f the country was tho most iinjiortant sr.hjt'ct 
 tu whicli ho couhi at present devotti his time, visited the ( Joveruor at Quel'cc, 
 and left with him the resnlts uf his experience in a memorial, a copy of which 
 is before us. This correspondence waa renewed later in the season, and as 
 it throws liglit on the circumstancs of Mr. Merritt's having adopted l^ord 
 I^urham's report, we see that much accords with, if it is not incorpo- 
 rated in lli.i Iiordshi|>'s Jieport, whicli was puMislied in f^ondou the 
 ensuing January. We give an extract of tlie first one. 
 
 " Albion Hotel, Quehec, May oO, 1838. 
 " CiiAS. Eri.LKii, Secretary. ' > ^ > 
 
 "Sir : — Chance having brought me to this j)laco on the arrival of His 
 Excellency, tho Earl of Durham, Gov. Gen., and having read with great 
 satisfaction his proclamation of yesterday, I availed myself of the invitation 
 therein contained, and felt it my duty to call the attention of His Excellen- 
 cy to one subject — and one only — which embraces the vital interest and fu- 
 ture welfare of these provinces, viz : The union of T^^pper and Lower Canada. 
 '•The State of New York is governed by one united Legislature, with a 
 population of two millions of people, and lays siile by side with the Pro- 
 vinces of Tpper j'.nd Lower Canada, which have three-quarters of a million 
 inhabitants, and is governed by two distinct Legislatures. It atlbrds a most 
 striking illustration of the practical etiects of the two systems. 
 
 " A niiiti'd Lnji.^ldtun' has completed the most gigantic improv(>ments 
 uniting Lakes Erie and Chaniplain, both being tributaries of the St. Law- 
 lence, with tlie Hudson, and diverted the greater part of the trade of the 
 Western country from its natural channel, and the seajiorts of ^lontreal 
 and (.Quebec, to New York. While a dirii/cd Lnji.-^Uttiire possessing every 
 natural ad> antage, with the most magnlficient water communication in tho 
 world, has not, up to the present moment, finished any one imi»rovemeut. 
 
 " Tliose general assertions, the truth of which can be prov(>d to a demon- 
 stration, is quite suthcient to elicit impiiry, %vhich is the only object in 
 presenting th(>m. The only efl'ectual remedy is a union, all other measures 
 ai-e of .>-ei'ondary consideration. Establish one common interest and our 
 exertion will 1m) directed to one conunon object. Upper Canadians, Lower 
 Canadians, English, Irish, and foreigners, will unite in improving our situ- 
 ation, and making a pro.s[)erous country of Canada, it will allay all 
 jiarty feeling and restore a proper spirit. Lower Canadians may at first 
 oiipose the mciisure. The citizens of New York opposed the commencement 
 of the Erie Canal, but when they perceived their inteiest promoted by the 
 measure, they i-eadily came into the spirit of it, and so with the Canadians. 
 
 " By adopting this measure, His Plxcellency may truly say, he has laid 
 the fouiulation of a sy.stem of governnunt which will determine, whethei' 
 the arii\al of your Excellency on our shores is to promote our future 
 jiiospeiity foralltimeto come, or confirm our remaining many years in 
 the same state of apathy in which you will find us. 
 
 "His ExcKLLiCNcv, LoRi) Dlhham. " I have th.e honor to be 
 " Most respectfully, your Exctdleney'.s obed't, 
 
 " W. HAMILTON MEEKITT, M. P. P." 
 
185 
 
 The political and finaDciul troubles had put a stop to the work on the new 
 Kpiticopal Church. The conirrogatinn had been forced to occupy the Academy 
 since the destruction of the old one. This Spring a irrcat deal of correspon Jcuee 
 between "Old Hundred" aid " Amicus, " a friend to the completion of the 
 ('liurch and "Flagranj" r(.suli"d in an action at the Kahttr Uieeting, tliat pro- 
 duced tiie UiUch needed improviincut. 
 
 The sea.son of navigation liaviiig oix-ned, he visited Clevcdiind, on hi.s 
 own private business. Whilst in the .States, he tocdi every o])poitunity of 
 giving information in refen^nce to the canal. On bis return, be went to 
 (.Quebec and met tlio new Governor-General, tlie Earl of Durbam. 
 
 On returning from Quebec, ho again started for C'levoland. On resting 
 at Cbijipawa, lie was informed by his obi friend (\)\. C'nmmings, that a r«- 
 jiort had arrived of a numlx-r of mini having crossed the river, and were 
 secreted in tbo woods; and the following deposition wa.s made : 
 
 '• XlAOAHA DiSTKKT. | 
 TO WIT. / 
 
 "Tliomas Darling, of Grantham, appeared befon> me, W. Hamilton Mer- 
 ritt, one of Her Majesty's .Justices of tlm Peace in and for the afore.said Dis- 
 trict, and dei)OseH, that on Saturday evening, the Kith of June, he heard 
 John l^urger, of Pelbam say that 10(10 men had crttssed tberivei-, undoubt- 
 edly they were radicals, and wcie soiiiewbci'e eonoealed, pl.-ue not described. 
 Also heard Jacob Kussell say on Sunday the 17th inst., that be bad infur- 
 luation irum some person fi-om tlie United States, (name unknown) that a 
 luunber were secr»!ted in the Short Hills, and ilejionent i(elieves tl>ei'e are 
 men secreted in that neighborhood ; but in (jrder to more clearly ascri'tain 
 tiu' fact, will go and obtain furtboi- infoi-mation, and either bring the parties 
 ailbrding the same before me oi- .s(nne otJjer of His Majesty's Justices of the 
 Peace, on this day Monday, or give such information as he may have obtain- 
 ed ami the facts u'ore clearly asc<'rtaiiied. 
 
 ".Monday morning, 1(» o'clock, lOtb June, l!^3H. 
 
 W. H. MEKlllTT, J. P." 
 
 As already nurnerou.s similar stories, to the injury tf trade, had 
 been circidated, lie disbelieved it, but ottered bis seivices to fuitber 
 iiivfsrigate the matter. The offer not being encouraged, he ]>roceeded on 
 bis way to Clevcdand. F'ortunatelj, it iras .w, as the ruir.otir. in a few days^ 
 was found to be true. A body of men being in possession of the " Sboit 
 Hills," in a strong j)()sition. However, a detachment of " Lancers " were 
 sent from the Falls, and were attacketl l)y this party on tb(^ ns Jiniug of the 
 I'./'th of June. On the news reacliing St. Catharines, the " Lancers " weio 
 re-inforcrd by tlu; Sedentary Troop of Cavali-y, who, together, succeeded in 
 routing the invaders from their ramp, and making a mimlier of prisoners. 
 The wounded were recovered, and taken to the Fulls. A general scouring 
 of the section then took place, when nearly all the disatfecteil found in arms 
 were arrested, and taken to Niagara Moreau, tlie lender of the party, was 
 hung. 
 
1 so 
 
 Mr. Killiily liMil lict 11 n)>|»<)iii<(>il resilient (Mi^^iiH'cr, ir»tli May. AHsislcd 
 \>y Mr. HohiiKsoii .tiiil d'corj^c ('oM-ndv, lu' iiiM|)<M't«Ml tlic (Irniid Kivt-r, fin 
 the |uir|)osi> of the ( !<« (>;iniieiit huyiii;,' oiil llie ('nin|miiy. lie re|i()rlc<| o;i 
 it l(>(h Nitveiiilier. Aller (he umikI iiimiiiii eleclion of (iireedirs of (lie 
 (Jraiiil Hivj'r Nnviufilinn ('oinp.'inv, Mr. Merritt hiul heeii ii|i|ioiii(e(| |ii(".i 
 <hM\t tli<' preeediiiLj year; fiiid in his report to (he (loverinent, a;<r«'ed to tlie 
 s,il(>, !)ii Ix'half iif (heoonipiiiy, iihout the miiiie time. 
 
 <<'e(). l'r(>sfi)(( WHS appointed Hecretiiry of the r.'m;il, Ist Noveiiiher, and 
 Me now .sei> iiis naiiu* to (hensnal ii Ivin'tisements (or (he ekM-lion of the stock 
 holders. Il( niitintKvl in the (Mii|doyin(>nt of thi> ({overnnieni, on the cudiI. 
 us seerotary and payinastiM-. (ill hi.s deiHvi.si-, twelve years aftiMwards. 
 
 <*ne iinndred and (liirty ves,'-i(ds pas.sed (hroni,di the <'ana.l in on(> nionlli. 
 
 In .Inly. \'].\r\ |)iii'hain ariivi>d in (his section, and visited the Falls, 
 wh(>i(> a series of i,'rand reviews, fetes. A-c.. w<M(> hold. 
 
 Me ri'in.iiiied t'oii!- days, dniinj; which was ladd a sham ii;,'ht hetvvi'cii 
 the .'Uth llii,'!d,tndeis and tlu> olhei- corps on this frontier, in their National 
 oostnnie; all which, added to (ho natiiral attractions, cansed an nnnsnal xi\\]\ 
 onn;j;of Tnited States visitors. 
 
 Lord Dariiain returned liy the river and lake. In tlaj fall dispatches 
 :irnv»>d di.sannnllint; some of his Lordship's acts, cansint; him to resign. 
 
 (K'tolit'i- 1 I til. The people of St. Catharines presented an luldress to 
 l.v>rd l>nrhani on hisr(>iurn to Kn!;land. 
 
 iMr. Merritt took occassion of stMidiuLj liy tV'lonel (Mark, the special 
 agent appointed (o carry it. 
 
 'riie followiiii.'^ io Karl l>',irhani, from our suhjcct. shows (hat a seii'^e 
 of tlit> iniptntiince iMimected with the mission of His Lordsliip. not the en- 
 cvmragement pcrson.-illy received, induced a renewal of t ho correspondence. 
 
 7^1 t/it /iKf'it llo,ioin\ihl<\ JoJiu (iiorijr, K.i"/ nf Jhir/idni, (I'ltr'niorC'iitnil 
 oj British Sorth Aiiwriai, ^(^^'., i(c., lOc. 
 •• ^"^h I,oRn:~ St. Catiiauinks, Oct. 5. 
 
 " It was not my intention to have addressed you on the future <{ov(>rn- 
 nient «>f these colonies, fnnn a conviction that (he plan recommended hy the 
 ojiposition, to the pr*'seut ministry in Kiij,'land. and which .ippears to lu; ad- 
 hered to by your K.vcelleucy, does not alTord the best uunuis of obtaining 
 the in(\>rmati(Mi you dt>sire. 
 
 " The clause propo.sed by Lord John Russell, composing a council to he 
 selected from the body of the people, to advise on the formation of a consti- 
 tution for thoir fut\ne <jrovprnment. would have ])rovod at least satisfaetory. 
 as their por-sonal interest in p\ cry measure proposed wouhl have secured tho 
 coutidoiice of their constituents, ami if they erred, their motives would have 
 becji duly appreciated. 
 
 " Hv the amendment proposinl by Sir Robert Peel, that clause wa.s un- 
 happily ex})un«i;pd. and a system of goveruiuant is now to be jiroposed hy 
 your Excellencv. aided bv such information as vou mav glaau from otlicial 
 ^ources, imparted by indivi<luals vvlio, with the best po.ssible intentions, have 
 
187 
 
 iKit IiikI an o|t|)(»(l.iinity of riiin^^lin^ with tlip poojilt^, hfiiiiii),' tlipiimintiiiioiiiB, 
 iiikI iic<|tiiriii;^' Hiidi |iiit(ticiil iiiCoriiiiUioii iih to tMiiiltNi tlii'iii to form a <'oi ii-it 
 jiiil^'mciil, on iiiiuiy imMiMmrH wliicli ancot oiii iiiti'ionli. 
 
 " N'oiir Kxccllciicy rriiiy now and tlmn icniivo a Mtra;^<^lin^ (vinnniinica- 
 tion from individiialH, jfivin;^ an o|iinioii on Honn^ alistrai-t Hulfjrrt wliicli tli'-y 
 niii,dit vnry, cliiiniM-, or nlmiidon on tlii" first Honiid olijucti.ni Itcini^ otl'cri-d ; 
 liut a full, f\tH\ iind optni diHciisMion of all tli<^ ivri,'nnn'ntH, y;A» anij run, on 
 cacii Hoparato Hidijcct, from |ira(;ti('al nn-n, who poHwmH th» (*)nrid<ni«! of a 
 grciit majority of tlm inimhitantM, yonr Mxcfdh-ncy cainiot |iosh<>hh. 
 
 " It is rninoinod that (ho mnv cotiHtitntion which yonr Kxn-lhinry )<ro- 
 poscH to rocoinnicnd f<»i' onr fntnrr' j,'ovcriitiifnt, will (in imhh yonr Kxc<'JI<!n<'y 
 slionid roniain, of wliicli I never mitrrtained a doiilit,) lie proinnlf^atcd ii<-Kt 
 iiioiilh , and as yon iiHsiimo (ho ontiro rcMpoiiMihility of the frieiimirr-, it \-i 
 iiatnral yon shonlil adhere (o yonr lirwt iiiipresHions ; niid tliiH cons-ideration, 
 and this alone, inilMi'i'i nut to aildress your lordshi]! on the unhject ; and al- 
 llMint(li (he nieaiis whieh have liei-n inhtpted to olitain the iie<'eHsary inroriiin- 
 tioii on so im|ioi(aiit a (pie.'.tioii are at variance with my iiid;,'ineiit, Iain not 
 inHensildo of the anxiety vonr l']\crl|eiiey must fer| in atloptin;,' sncli aHycleiii 
 as will insure the peaco and prosperity of these provinces, |inrticiihirly as 
 your Ciiture fame must he mat"iially allectiMl hy tie- wisdom oftlie nieasiiroH 
 you may recoiiiiiii'iid. i thorernro take it fur j,'rante(l, lliou;,di not a;^'reeing 
 to every aiiii'iidiiKMit, that a f ( w su;,';,'estions from an individual whose only 
 oliject is an ardc^il desire to promote tlu^ fiitnnj welfaro of his fullow-uountry- 
 incn, may not he consich-red intrusive. 
 
 "'I'lie iii'st act. of yonr I'lxcellenrv, was issuing,' a pro'lamjition, nmh-r date 
 of May last, in which y<»n state yon wish for inloi-mation. This expresHion 
 inspired a (h-j^ree of confKhiiK^e thronLjhont tlie (Panadas, umon^ all classes, 
 for all I'eid the ncct ssit.y of this <'liani,'e. 
 
 " The f^'rand (h^sideratnm is to maktHhis chaii;^'e ell'ectual when made, 
 and to (his sniiject the attention of yonr Mxceilenry is partteulurly diifcteil. 
 
 " Kraniin;,' a constitntion for the fntur*^ ^oviM-nment of a oonntry situa- 
 ted as these I'rovinees are, may he cnnsi<|ered u most ditlienlt ami eom]ilex 
 measure. I?nt when we have the governments of ( Jieat I>ritain, the I'niled 
 Statey, and tin* ihitish Nortli American I'rovinec^s for onr ;j;uir|e, it ean 
 only HMpiire a tlioroU},di and c(a-re<'t knowled;^'e of the practical operation of 
 their diderent systems, to fraiin" a ci.nst itutioii wliicli will place those I'ro- 
 \incesinthe situation which your Kxeellericy has promised. 
 
 " We find, after tliP experience of centuries, Kiii,dand, Scotland, [i-e!and. 
 and their d(^pend«ncies, with nearly thirty millions of jioople, eoiiipj-isin;( 
 tlilVerent races- with a diversity of creed, and ap|ian)"tly separate interests, 
 concentrated and comliined for the mutual mid ;.,'einual interest of all, in 
 iiiiii viiiti'ii IjfijislHtiiri'.. 'J'he uid)oun<led prosperity and othar advantat,'es 
 those three kinjjjdotns poswHs over most other nations, is l)y the host autlM»rity 
 entirely attrihuted to their forming our, uiKlioiilni state, or this conceutra- 
 liun of power. 
 
 " Wo find the United States, from the oircnnistanee of their haring been 
 ()ri<,'inally Provinces, similar in « i\K<^vf^\ to the prosent l5ritiKh Provinces, 
 formed into a numhar of state l.^^jislatnres, who aL{ain appoint one jjoneral 
 Congress for the ^rovernment of the wlade. The local hijnndarifts of those 
 spates wore established with as minch wisdom as human ingenuity at the 
 time posses.sod. Still, jealousies and contradictions are daily developing in 
 
iss 
 
 iimiiy |>i\rlM oCtliMl <'\lot\nivo utiinn, ami ulllioii^li tliriiKi-tu'rnl pri)M|inity is 
 ji'linilli'il, lli«« ri'siilt ol" )1h> cvpi'ii'iiciit, iifd"!' ii (Iimihk |Mi|iiiIii(iim, invumoH 
 tMinMi'-licil. is liy iii> iiiouhh certain. \V«> liiiil in UiiliMli Nmtli Aiiicricn. 
 K('|inr;i(<' l<'i<iNla(ui("« <«HlaMi;ilu>il. t>acli one liavii>^ a ilircit niiiiiiiiinii-atii'ti 
 Milli a liraiwli of (lir irnTi'iinnoiil in |i'iis.;liniil. at tlic licail nf wliii'li lui iinli 
 xuliial is (V'liii tiino In (itac a|i|ioiii(i«il, ralltMi a i'd/onin/ Sim turij, wlio, in 
 fai'f. is (lt(» jjfitvoinnii'ul hCimhIi dl" ihimo ProriiiccH, us all iiinlnii'tionH In miii 
 (ioviMUitiH (wliiili an» ooiisiddird law) (>iiiunat(< rniiii liini. 
 
 " Tlic t'onsrihition was dcsitjncil (o assininlalo as near as |ira('(icalili> to 
 t'lttt <'t(li(' nnilln'i('<aiti(rv (i»<'tMisis( ofdnci'Hi'itaiatnand iliHiintI, InantlioH, 
 oaoli possi'ssini; Hicir dih> weij^lil,. 
 
 " A( (Ih' |«Mind wlii'n il was (Irsi I'aiiicd into o|HTaliiii\, (1m< I'roviiiro 
 
 was iliinlv s(>ttli' 
 
 mW 
 
 |irr.s(iMs |tiisst'ssint^ s\ilhi'n>nl inii'iii 
 
 Hi 
 
 ileili 
 
 ^('Uv'o rosidi'd in ToiiMilo, and (lie most. Huitahlo |u>rH(Mis wcn< (Ihmi 
 to r.in\iti>s»> lli(' f'xc.Mitnc and l(\!,'islalivi« cnnncils iVnni llial (own. 
 
 »mc<' 
 
 hai 
 
 >i'niid, vi'i'v srrrat clianiri's liavo (akt>n iiImi'c in (lio sitnatinn 
 
 o\ 
 
 th- r 
 
 itiviiu'(>. anil many ''cndcniiMi ol intcilfrcncc and vvci.idil it'snn" m 
 
 t '.u> dilVcriMit dislrii'Is. «lio jmsscss tlicii- ilnc Iti.-al wcitjlit, in llii'ir localities 
 " l'iu> <nics(ion ot a res|M>nsilile c\ecnli\e y;overiiinent !ias nf lad' lieeu 
 fally disonsscil. and llie administration of Sir |''iancis Hoinl Head. altliou',rIi 
 it sncoi>cde<l for a time, lias placed tlic Colonial Olliee in a most nni,'iacioiis 
 liulit. iiinl wliat must iillimatolv oeciipv tlie most iiiipo|nilar |osilion, liv <!<> 
 oiariii'; fliev wcii> not rcsjumsiidc* to the people, and coiild not l»e made \<< 
 i." so in a Colonial Covornmcnt, 
 
 " Auil as it' to prove inconteslaMv lotliis i'rovinee, lliat tli<>y conld ex 
 
 »MMSI' 
 
 tl-.at p 
 
 lower to llie iniiiiy ot' its inlialiilanls, lli(< Mxcciil ive pivortinieiit 
 iindcr flic same administration, c.aitraiv lo liie expressi-d opinion of the in- 
 habitaiits. fi-o;u all ipiarlers. and ontiarv to the exiirossed opinion of tlicir 
 veprcs(Mita'l\ cs in tlie llonse of Assend'ly, ]a>rsisled in cariyiiii; into eH'ct 
 a measure, with' regard to .iprrif ti.ii/iih'iifs, wliii'li almost aiiiii 
 
 Idlati 
 
 \hi 
 
 trad 
 
 e, commerce 
 
 llld 
 
 credit ot till' coniitrv. 
 
 •' Tiiis pr.actieal test ereatid tlie most ijeneial discontent, and had the 
 otVect of producing more ad\ oc.vtes a .jaiiist the Colonial piiwers, than all 
 th;> aixiiniiNits e\er hefore a<l\ I'leed. , 
 
 •• The l-cuislativc Coiun'ii do not possess thi> eetilidcncc of the cotintry. 
 Thire ;ire luiii<nir;d>le pxce)>tioll^, hut 1 spcnk oi' them as one hrimeli of iI.l' 
 C^vcnuhent. Mjiny hehl i>t1ices, Miid apjicnr to possess a separate and distiiut 
 interest from the hody ot' the peejile. llcau'c, the Ciovenior, the Kxiaitivc 
 I'oiincil, and the l.ejrislatiTe (\)uiu'il are ooiisiilercd as one branch, in contra 
 d'.stiiiotion to thp Hcmicc of Ci>iiini<M!s. 
 
 '•If a durahle siiuiTnnunt is formed for the-e eolonies. it must lie inore 
 popular in its oonstitulion : and to work well, oaeli of the three Itranehe.s niuj^t 
 
 posse,<s Its s parate and uu.--" wc!:rht. 
 
 Tl 
 
 lis e:\n 
 
 only he effected hy the Kxeciitivo 
 
 i'ounoil Willi; eoinpe<ted of iinlividu:ils from dilTcrent parts of tlie I'rovinco. 
 wht» may he called upon to iidviseon any imiiortaiit (jiustioii whieli relates to 
 the ironeral oiMnnuinity, whciiorer the tiovornor thinks proper. 
 
 " The other branch fhculd bo fscloeted from individuals from dilVercnt 
 {itstricts. at least one from etich. the remainder pro rain with their population, 
 and should not hold any office under the I'rovinei.d lioTemmcnt. 
 
 ■• I can see no i:ond reason why the same prinoiplos which predominate in 
 the Goyornuiont of Great Ikitaii, if iutroJueod hero, would not produce the 
 
1H9 
 
 PHiiKM ITicIf* ; nnd .'iltli<pii;^li I <ln Hot ii|i|ii<ivr (ifflin olcotivo priiK^iplo liciii;; in 
 lrii(in('i'<l ill till' ^l'|^i^lalivt• ('(iiincil, (ijiiidoiir (•(UiifM'lH mi! to Miiy tliat, n LTd/it 
 iiDijiiiity "'' III"' |H<n|il(' vviiiilil ('(•(•! Iictlcr HiliHlii'd if at. IciHt a jiart, waH ciiotril 
 t'liim ill"' ilill'tTi'iil iliMlrictH, 
 
 " It in ri'|Hii led tliat ydiir lOxcrllciicy lia'* l.il;<'ti an '•TtciiHivcari'l cui |iicln n 
 sivc vi«!\v (if "Mir ( JuvciiiMMiil, luiiiH'ly a iini'irMirall tlicrnlinr IJritiHJi I'niviiKw. 
 Tliix iiic'iKiit'iMM ituikin;^' tluMiKiMr, faviiural)!)' iiiiprrKHiiin, tin; ihod- il. va diM- 
 cUHM'd, aiMJ iryiiir l']x('rll''iicy caiMinly I'llrct, tliia one iilijrct, imivcrH.d sat- 
 iNl'acliiai would iit unci', and (Hi Uk; (inl.«t't, hi; Mlaiii|iid on tin; iiicaHiirr, 'I'lic 
 im|)iiilaiirc nl' wliicli, n-iulrrH it uocoHHHnry that itn vn\'.<'Xn Hhouhl ho wll <;)ii- 
 sidcird, in all th<'ir hfarin(:;H. 
 
 "A uiiinn 111' I '|iprr ami linwi'i' (/V'mi.hI.i would lie (wiually witinCarfory fo 
 ||ii> inlialiilaiil'4 of this I'loviurr, |inividi'<| ii |irrpiiui|i'raui;<! win i^ivfii to tlm 
 inliahilaiitM id' Hrilish oiiiiin. 'I'ft tliiH proji'cf, ohji-otioiiH an; nr^iul hy thi' in 
 lialiilantHid' liowcr Caiiad I, lln'jiistirc (d' which it Ik iisidrsH to at pn-Hirit di-< 
 
 cuss. 
 
 " Till' Mirasurc propoHi'd hy your Kxiinllmfy, to unit(! all tli'! IVovinricfl, r<! - 
 
 iiiovrs lliosc oliji clioMs. Till' only (|nrslioti Cordi^^iMisHion tln'ii is - win ihir flu; 
 
 i'ruviiici's rould lir hcst ;_'ov:rni'd hy a united l<(';i;islitur", as in I'litiin, or 
 
 I'roviiicial or Statu Ic^islatun', with a finrral (lovnriiiniiiut or Coii;^r<;Hn, hh in 
 
 the I'nitrd Stati's. 
 
 " 'i'ln' nnitcxatinii III' il si'ii port, III I 'ppcr ( 'iiiimiIh in ailinil trd to ln' ah- 
 
 Holiili'lv iKM'csKiii'y l>y all pai'lifH, and I'Vfn l,liii< (•liaii;.^' alone wonhl l.f- nnt- 
 
 isfartory t<» the inhalutanlH of I'ppi r Canada. 
 
 "On llio piiii'lical opi'iation or llnul n:Hnlt of this rpicKtion, will t!if 
 
 liihiri'lanio ol" yoiir I'lxi'i'lli'iii'y i'<'Ht. 'I'o insnro it Ixiyond the poHHiiiility of 
 
 il'ir.iil or cavil, llic fiilowin;; sinipli' nii'llii! i is most ri'Sp«!('tfnlly nuliniitlfcj. 
 " In caso y<»ui' i'lM'idh'ni'y roiiMiil'TH fnithrr dolay ininc('i'f;Haiv', a/id in- 
 
 trndH rcfuiniiicndiii;,' iiroiisliliition at onri', for Iho appidv.il of tin; Iniporial 
 I'arlia.nicnt, di'ridi' on ono lii'/^'inlaturo for- ihi^ whoh', and a repiial of our 
 
 local li"4i';hilnri's, and ndii'vc uh from the iinncccs.saiy expense of niaintain- 
 
 iiif^ useless and powerlcus ( {oveininiMits ; (thoeivil list of thi.s I'l'ovince uloii", 
 
 cxceediii},' £.5(1,000 per aiiiiiini.) 
 
 " \i>\\v I'Acellciicy will lie asHured tlif? inlialiitantn are firmly attaehed 
 tot!iM i'lritisli cons! it ut ion, as now eHtalilished, and desire no elian;,'f'. Tli'; 
 unliiased opinion of the |)eop|e can lie ascf-rtained oidy hy those wIk) u.sho- 
 
 (■i!ili' willi them, to whom they freidy communicate: and if I am to takri iho 
 opinion of those with whom I havc! conversed, in two or three dist.riets, 1 
 do not 111 lieve that there is one out of one hundred satisfied with thr; pre.s- 
 ciit (lovernment of this Province, an now a<lmini;;tei-ed. 
 
 " And i'iivtli(M', they never will ho satisfied until those Provinces licootnf! 
 oiHially as desirable a, placo of residence as the; L'nited States. 'J'his is in 
 the power of yom- i'lxcellency to effect, and oven make it inons .so, }>y con- 
 centrating the powor in one liC^^islature, without which it will he in vain 
 to make further exptn'imonts in the land-;^rantin^' ihipaitmcnt, to encoiira;(<) 
 extensive emigration. Tho attempt has heen mad(! a^^aiii and a;,'ain I Homo 
 thirty thousand souls came out for two or three years in .succession, tliifM*- 
 fourlhs of which, at least, and many think nine-tonths, found their way to 
 the l'nited States. And whatever ommigrat ion may hereafter he made, we 
 will continue to he only a mere thoroughfare to that country." 
 
l!)0 
 
 Afffr piTln^MM r^xi'ollom'v hii ni'i'«niiU of flip »'«»inini>n«liil n<lv»lll^.n^0N of 
 tlnM)i>u;Mn»»vii(K M»n)i<H, from ll\i»ii' linviiv; Monpin In itinl iiii|ii'itvi<in<iiil.f4 cnii 
 )\is(in,v; (liiMt) witl\ (lio inti'i i«<i . (In' Ixlloi (oi inut.ili'H IImin 
 
 " WliiU N huiuiliiUiuj; •"piM'Im'lo I'oi iiM iliion tliiK mIiiU> hI' IImiij^m |iii'nfiil, 
 wlioM «'i<\>tn»Ht«'tl «i(li (li«« |ui>m>iil Mitunliiiii ol l'|i|ini itml l<<iw«i|' ( 'iiiiiiiln, 
 wIum-*' wo iM't' rww |nit>li(' xmmK in iiIm>>iuu'i<. |iiili|h- • i cilil niiiiiliil.tlcil, 
 jin>|>i'rtv vi»lu«l(>sM, 1(11(1 iim only ImpK iff^l m..; on tli«i cnutMiipliiloil cliiiii^n 
 III o»ir p«i>MOi\t hvhUiu. 
 
 " '|'li<» oiuiso wlii>'l\ l\!>n oNtt'iiNiMv |iro(Iii.'»>(l lliin i'oh(immI '\h (|iim In |||,' 
 \\\\ i>.ion ol" I'own iu om I .I'lMMliihin'M nl I |i|n-i miil I.owim ( 'mimlu. 
 " I liior lilt' lioiKMii lo l>i<. niy I. (till, 
 " N o\ir iuohI oIumIkmiI Ncrxniil, 
 
 •WILLIAM IIAMII.ION MKinillT 
 "St v'lUlumiH"., lh<ln>t ol' NinjvMiu, 
 
 " I poi 1 « 'iinoiiii. " 
 
 Tliis WrtN N\toornlf»l l»v oilui eoinmmiu'iilionN. j-lviiij; Mm Kx»'«<IIrii(v ilir 
 \s*M>hN of liiN long I'vi-^incs^ iiihl I I'lviMlaliM" cvjicriiMicc. wliii-li Iiiim< nlrnidv 
 Ixvnslimxn (o soiuo rvU'iit \\\ ('His woiK. hikI will lio fnr(ln-r oxlultilcil 
 tlwrins; (1\<' swlininistrulions llinl wfic Mppoiii!.>>I t.i.'uriv owl l.onl I )iiiliiinrs 
 Moliov. Wo 0!U\not lm( rr.^^Mnnon.l Sn l^'inuris lli'iiil's iiiuiii(i\i> in iiiinwrr 
 with tUo iv|>orl. ;» < liioN liodi lonn ini|nirl;inl iloiiiiiK'nlN in our ("iiiuiilinn 
 liistvM'v. ;\n>l ;uv l>.>l!i tolx' l"> in.l in tin' I .oi',iNlnli\ t< |(roct>o(lin_i;N nf IH.'lK. 
 
 Siv .John ('oll'ovnr onloicil into tl\e inlininisluilioii of llic < oivcriiiiioiil. 
 
 A j>uvlann<!ion >.*( unmosly Ikmii-^ issnod on lli«» 'J?inl of Octnhor, \\y 
 Sir <;oovg«» Aitlniv. was sn.-crrilo.l liy s\ <',ill of (li(> niilitin, 
 
 1 .oiil l^nrhinn'K oonciliiUoiv s|v>i>,lii»« |i:i<l no clfoi'l ii|ion Ow ifvulnl ion 
 ists. «ho still ortiJ'irti on llirir I'lols t\> (ooihl n /tt/iii!i/ii' /inf, n( ii soir 
 ilist;\iu^ on tlu« othor si«lo of tl\r liTor, 
 
 NovtMulvr ITtli. An atlnok on Tirsootl. follownl hj one iit Windsor. 
 \(\\l\ Nonio iloswitovv Inirnings ulouj; iIk> frniiti«»r, woroull llu' llo^tilo or niili- 
 t«vv ilomonstn^tions »»»vomplisli»vl. 
 
 'I'luMivuMos thrttworo r<M\t'v\(>vl in tlio tiill, iiiv (lins notii'cd l>y onr siili- 
 itvt in i« lottor to Pi- rivn«lt»ruast ; 
 
 "St. ('.•.tuauinks. Not. IStli. IS.'^S. 
 
 • My Pkak K.VVHKK :- ♦ * * >f; Yon will havo li«'artl, lirforo this 
 »v,"*ohos you. Trtvious aivoinit.'j of tlu» rtMiow.il of lioNlilitios, hotli in l^pprr and 
 l.owor <.\»iirtda. 'V\u truth is, tln> oountry is in u bad stato. inasinnoli a.s all 
 business is iu a iiiannor suspiMidod, and I foar it may nMnain so for a year 
 ov t*o. but T\o pei"sou nrod boundiM'rtny a|>j>roli«»iision .hr to the r»'siilt. 'I'lit^ 
 outlnvak in l.owor I'auada is ■witliout ooiiorrt, nioiioy, luatorial or mou. In 
 Upjvr O.-iiiada an att^iok lias boon uiadeat .lobnstown. bolow Prrsoott, by 
 two or th'.V6 hunditsl nion, who havr boon all killod or tnkrn. and wo have 
 no ro«s\Mi to npprohoiui uny danjjor from th« attaok« of any hrijjands of this 
 doscviptiou : my only fo.ir is thoy will ombioil tlio nations in a war, if so. it 
 will bo a givat evil, and the pros{>ority of both countrios will bo not only 
 greatly imj>e<U\l. but most seriously injurod. 
 
I '.'I 
 
 " IlmiiHr «iiVN w « III III- iiiMii|r,| \,y MDiiiK iiivi>iii>|i> \,,i\ i'mm (lie hi. 
 
 1.11(11(0 mIiiii.', t.lmt iiiiiiH'ruiiM mi-i-liiiKM iii»< lii>M, imhI h |iii|/(. f,„,•,^ coiiimi/ 
 tVniii ^1il■lli^llll Id liKwiHttiii, lull I (III iiul. Iiclidvft il,. 
 
 " Hclii'Vii iiii«, iiHi'dinniilcIv v<'iii'< 
 
 " vy. n \Mii;ioN MKii'idrr- 
 
 I »««ii'iiiIpM /XllilMii el' lli« iImv, nlif'ililijr lliii (|r|i|PMwif.li rif ) |,«. |,i|,„,^ 
 WMti "liuwii ill III" ilnni'HNff of l.lit |iii|iiilnliiiti i,f lliiriiillon, |||i.|, iiiii,il,f„i|,j, 
 .\,'.\\'?. TJ.ti tlrnciiMr, ^ 
 
 'I'liK milling liiiMiiimm, in whirl r iiiilii(.c|, wuh liii^jfly iiil,iii<Ml,o(| |ihi| 
 
 iiiiw lnMiimoiHi <'\h«'iiiii viMiriil i in | mi Inn I Iniiin'li nf oiii niiiniif'iiil,iii"H, ilml l\(r 
 Mi'i I ill. Iiii'l iiitoinlv I Hliililiiiliiil II |iin|ll,il.|(. IiimI" ill Ni'w Vr)il<, wlicn., |,y 
 ill.- riii|.i«i im it V of \\m (Iiitir, il. ^iiiin-il n .ri.,,.! tiiiiniv 'I'liin y,.„|. |,,. (|r.ri.|(.,| 
 ii|ii.ii III ill I'lii lli«r r<<l«>n<liii;^' liin Iriulc, iiii'l I'liii.niinxii.iii'il Mr. < 'ovcnli y, jii-i 
 oli'iU. wli iWMi Kiiin;;l..i Mii;iliiinl. I.o vinil, lii»i I'l inniln, |,it (,ir.,|- /'.hk iJiunHiinil 
 Iimiii'Im I'liiHiiln in lln' l<iv(<r|Miiil inuikrl, wlii. Ii n.ili' wmt Miion ••irr-cl,iv|, i,ui\ 
 Hlii|ini(<nlH ninliniKMJ willi viiiyin;^ Mntu^i-HH, ii|. h. liiw iliM|i.iiiMl nl' Iii»i mhIIh. 
 
 'I'lic linlli I II"' '•iiitiil, iliii III!; lilt" iiiiiiiiiHi l.iiMi?icHH, Hlifiwnl nii in«-i'«<fiHf 
 
 ..riii'iulv lillv |i.>i '••'III., nllli'pii;;li Miirmiliiy. I,li.' I'l «••;) |,.||i' .,| 1 1,.. |;,„,i,| |,„,|_ 
 III liiH liinl ro|M»il. I'lir llm ynn- |H:I7, mUi'inl 11..' i<l>iiii>|iiniiii nl ..r i|i,. r.„ini| 
 liy I, ho ( J.ivoriimcnl., mm In* <liil tiul, l.hink il, wniilij r\^,\- |(|.,vc h j.,iyin^' ii, 
 \rst,iu('nl.. llM iini'i'fviii llii'< vmi' wn't im (l-iiilil, i^rfnil.ly (liic Id t.ii«« cici IJuiih 
 ininh' liy M V. MiNi'ill, wiio, wIhImI dm liii pri vnh' Iiiihiip«,.. ji, (,|,(. Sfdi,,..,^ vv.i-i 
 fdliliniliillv li'lii.n ill'.; niijcrli.niH h>, ;ilii| ml v ii>'iil,ili;^' |,|.(« ".M|i('ii(||»it,v ol' fiii; 
 n.iilo. When III. luiiii" II'", an Im-I'dih, nM'ilcii liiiii'.i-ir with l!i.' (iiiiJioi itic^ 
 ill powrr, II) liiivn us iniirli lciii''ii<y nln^w n an |i'i(i!;il.|c to tl.c i.iiMifioiM mii 
 fjiiiijcij mm wliii wi-rn imw Iji"^' i" •'!"" |'ii.H<>iiH, fui pui Licijciljon in tho 
 iiivaMloiiM; mill wo liiivn ifiistdii lo lirliiivo l.liaf, liiKrlliiilH in this «liic«!ti*jii 
 was nol. wliiilly iiii!ui.'c('sr<riil, an iiiiiiir«inii'i mwH ciin liuti fy ; iiinl liaiiiKJinn'i.t, 
 WHS, ill iiioHt CiiHim, Hiilmlitiil.cil Cni- ••n|ii(.iil |>niiiMliin»Mil.. Sdium caw-M nf hiui 
 ishiiiont, (if Liiwor ( "lUiniliiiiiH U> l?Miiiiiihi., iinL with tln^ <li;«i|-).ioviil of {\i<- 
 (Viloiiial S(>cit'>t.iiiy in liondon ; ami liiii«l Dm IiamconKidMin;,' hiw jiiiiH<li<;ti«<ii 
 iiil(>rrni(!il with, inHi^^mMJ, luid n-tiinm<l Ut Kii;,'lami. 
 
 A HBcnit Hocirly waw at wmk in tho lliiitcul HtatfH, and Mr. M<Mritt aiirl 
 his rricmlHuii tlm otiicr sido, dcHiring jHMicd, caiiwd IIh-mi to pay too litth; 
 KlUMitioii to llirir macliiiiationH, as tho Col lowing,' (^(jnoHi.oiidonf'f) will hIiov. 
 
 " (I'ovcrnmeid JIouhi; 'Jitli I)of;ofnl)or, 1838, 
 
 " .My DnAK Siu : 
 
 " 1 havo to iioknowlodgo tho loooipt of your two favourn, date«l .'JOtli ult., 
 anil loth iiint., wliidi camo to;,'otlifr on I 1th in.Htadt ; hut siiifo that tiim*, 
 tli« piosHuro of tliity has Ixmmi suoli, that I havo found it inijuacticublfe to 
 iuiswor tlieiii at an i-ailior date than tho proHcnt. 
 
 for 
 O 
 
 ir»»(:i i;ilT7iii (vufni '•ki.-^-- -. — -.— ^ 
 
 '■ I roLTot to obnorvo, that you havo takon tli»! rf-rnaikH rontainod in my 
 rmor lottor, in a Honso foifUf,Mi to that w hich was intended to ho conv!;yo(i. 
 will" to tho incrodulity which prevailed with many good and zealouH hub- 
 
 jocts, respocting tho ext«nt and danger of the conspiracy whicli had been 
 
Ill -J 
 
 foniii'il witliiii llii' Ami>riciiii l»niiiiliirv, Mini wliirli tlicv tli<l not In sitiid' to 
 avow tli*< i-nll \i|ioii tlic coitiilrv, w liicli I lie l.iriiti'iiiiiit ( iovri-imi' coiisiiliicd 
 it iii'foshiirv ti> iiiiiko, was not cvi'iywlinn ic'crivt il in tln» spirit wliicli tlic 
 iictdiil crisis (lid most iMTliiiiily ii'i|uiii>. Tlu' injiirv llmwilonc w. s iiiuiiiCtKl, 
 mill lu\(l il not lii'cii for tln< iiii rv'ftii' foiirsc imumii'iI liy tin* ' lovciimirnt, 
 ti»it{lit Imvo lici'K irrcimralili'. I tlH'rclor do nut. tliiiik yon cuiild liiivf unv 
 ^'roiiiid oi" i"( iii|ilainl , or of otl'ciifc, if in iiddiCNsiiiL; you as a ■.'•'iillcinuii nl' 
 a|>|>ro\('d loyalty and zeal, I poiiitt'd out llic evil conMMHirnci ,s ol' laisinj; 
 donltts ill tlio pulilic mind rrs|icctiii;,' iIh- iicrcssity of tin* foinsc a(ln|pt((l iiv 
 tlu> (!o\('niiinMil. I''t'\v now rcniain in tin- ronntry wjio do not admit lliai 
 tlii» iiitrllit;<Mici> olitaincd liy tin' < Jovcrnincnt i'('s|H<('lin!^' tlic plots oC tlic A iin' 
 rican liri;,'aiids ami Canadian I'oriim'i'H, was Niii^jiilai ly corn'i't. and irrcivi'd 
 at so «"arly ii |ii'riod as to cnaldf His l'l\i«llcncy to tinstiatc llic plans i;<i<i 
 for suipiisinu; sonu" impoiiant pianls on tlic IViiiiticr. It is to iic liopi'd 
 \(ai also liavo ln't'ii conviiu'cd on this |ioinl liy iccnl octui ifnccs. 
 
 " I haxf laid I'd'orc Sin (Iiumuji: Auihi u li-.th ycnr Idlers, iis wcU as 
 till' eoniiuunieations you rt'ecivfd iVoni Mr. SlaiK wcallirr of t 'Icseland, and 
 Mr. ( "ro.Uer ot" C>sw(>i,'(). Tliosi" two gentlemen proiialdy liold a plaic anioiii,' 
 the more rt'sp(>ctal>Ie ot .\merieaii eili/i'iis, mid inordinary times and rir- 
 eumstanees, 1 should not hesitate with y<ai to iitlaeh implicit credit to tlieir 
 divlaratioiis. At present, their statements are to he received with exti'i'nie 
 caution and jealously. N'othini,' need lie added (o my foinier ohservalioiiH 
 upon the letter of Mr. Starkweather. ( M' Mr. Crocker's, it need only lie re- 
 marked, that it eoulains declarations which no one e.in credit, who knows 
 tliat the plots ot" the iiinti/iinj vifijaboiuh were sent to no iiihaliilant ot' 
 (tswet;o. Mr. Crocker rtiay perhaps not he a sworn hunter, l>ut the teiiour 
 ot' his letter shews that ho is not uurriendly to tlieii' |>rojects. 
 
 •' All n-llectinu men will, like yourself, eoncui- with His lOxcelleucy in 
 (leprociitiui: a war, although all may not he eipially sauLruine in tlu-ir hopes 
 that the existini; violent spirit within the American lines may ever lie siih- 
 ilned without a national collision. 
 
 "His Kxcelleucv desires nu> to say. that he considers the views you 
 have exiucssed respcctiiii; the draftiii'j; of militia men for actual .ser\ ice, de- 
 serve great nttentiim. You can have no idea of the troulde which has hcen 
 occasioned to Sir (Icor^e Artluir liy the lUH'cssity of a sudden call iipcn t\u' 
 militia, t'or tV.e prott>ction of the Province, and tlie dilticulty of wieldiin,' a 
 force hitherto so much overlooked as respects organization and discipline. 
 
 " 1 am now to ii'tuni you the two letters you Mere so i;nod a.s lo send 
 for ]icrus,il ; altliouiili you intimate that these are the last you will thus ti'aiis- 
 mit, you will doubtless continue to conimunii-ate any that you may considei' 
 useful to the CJovernment. 
 
 " 1 lun, 
 
 " AIv dear sir, 
 
 *' Your's very truly, 
 
 " J. MACAULAY." 
 
 To show that this caution Avas not witliout its evils, tlirough the 
 
 reports of the Governor's agents, the high rewards given to informers, 
 
 caused a great many among the oldest and most respectable families to be 
 
 viewed with suspicion. Amorg tliese were Col. Nellis and our subject. 
 
 The year closed with the prospect of anything but a speedy settling down 
 
 ( 
 
1 D.'J 
 
 to |)iNirnfiil piirNiiits. 'I'lir iiiilitiii wnv. Hiill iiinlcr (iniiH. Tli«» |if()|(lM wf>r« 
 <»('ttiiiji UMoil to tlif iiiilitiiiv |>it»|VMMii)ii, mill (In- ;4l(uiiiiiH tniilitiini of tlmir 
 iincKHtoiH prowoHH iM tin* last war' mailc tin-in, cMiicciiilly the youii^, not 
 avofHo to tli<M-oiilli(-l. Tin* |>a|M'rH on Itotli h'u\vh inltli'd tu tln> lluiin*, hy 
 oxa^j^cratcd icportH of hordcr ontiuf^nH. 
 
 To hhow thn injiii-y tloin- tin- I'loviini' l>y ilivtirtinx tin* fur tnnlc tliroiij{li 
 irinlHon'H I'.ay tin* last <|iiiii't('r of a (^t-iitiiiy, tln-ir valin- wan tliirt y»iar 
 L'-';"»(>,(H»(), nil that \v<<i« it'i|iiiitM| in tliis coiintiy li;nl tu In- it«piir(;liaHti<l 
 froni tin) coiiipaiiy'H stoio.s in London. 
 
 18 3 9. 
 
 'i'ln* Holiday 'h were spiMit witli lln' family at Iikiim- ; diiiini,' at his 
 fatln-i's on ( 'hristnniH, a social party was In-ld at lii.s plaic Ni-w Voar'H day. 
 
 On tin' .".1(1 In- l<*ft for llaMiniainl, on a vi.sit to Ids lonstitin-ntH, and 
 aiTanj^in;,' tin- Inisinnss of tin- (Jraml iJivi-i- Navi;,'ation Co. 'I'lnMf liad licttn 
 no n*|ioit pMlili.sln'd for fonr yrars. Tin* principln ohjiict of lln* luffscnt 
 visit was tin* ;,'('tlin!.,' out of astatcnn-nt foi- tin' next liCj^islatnii*. Tlif report 
 was dated lUtli January, at Seneca. It was tin* wann- as tin- Weliand 
 Canid, vi/: Tliattho (Joveimnent should, in failure of iis.siHtanci*, a.ssuin(! 
 (i\vin'ishi|i of the whoh* work. 
 
 Mrs. Mei-ritt f^ives sonn* items peculiar to this tinn' of troulile ami anx- 
 iety, in a l(*tter to her nmther, Mrs. I* , dated the Dili of January. 
 
 " At New ^'eal■'s a lar^'C family party dined here, the hoys wei'e all 
 life and animation. New Vttar's Kvi*, K — and ('. A wei'o Iierc*, tlmy Hat 
 \\\> till 2 o'clock, and took their cannon out to the street, and tired it twice, 
 it was heard at tin* fiirtla!!' (siid of the villa;,'e. Most p(*|-.sons knew what it 
 in(*ant, thouLjh sonio were frij.,ditened. Mrs. R — told ine tliatshe thought 
 it was a signal that tin* rebels had conn*. 
 
 "II. got lK)nio from hi.s tour to Kraiitfoi'd and Haldimaiid on Wediios- 
 day evening. l\o says times through the country appear gloomy and di.s- 
 couraging. Sonn* of the farm(;i's .say they don't intend to do mudi ; if the 
 fences fall down they Avill put them up, Imt will not split a rail to make 
 new ones. There is no emigration into the country, ami still .some going 
 out. H. says the country is luinisd foi- years to come. We don't see it 
 in tliis (puvrter or any where on the lines, for in truth it's jtretty well Hlleil 
 up with troo))S, but in the hack townsliips, from Oxford to ^lahlen, and 
 on tlie Hi vor 8t. Lawrence. Some talk pretty strong of war with the United 
 States. H. is often drawing comparisons of the ditl'erence of prosperity and 
 improvement of the two countries. 
 
 "Governor Arthur hasjust gone to Maiden to see the state of the country. 
 H, says he hope.s the roads will all break up, so he may ju.st.see what roads 
 we have. 
 
194 
 
 On hiH rotuin from hiH military iiiNpoction, extending uh fur us Miild«'n> 
 Sir (Jeorgo Arthur i»iihh('<1 Ht. ("athnriiiOH on thn 22inl to tlio Niagara 
 frontier, ri'turuiii;^ tilt! L'.'Jnl. Shortly after, ^fr. ISIoiritt addressed a series 
 of lettois at the (tovernor's re(|nest, to him, on tho finaneial all'airs of tlie 
 Province. They an^ similar Ut those a<ldress(Ml to "the High Commissinner, 
 Lord Durham, and consiHt of seven, dated from the 10th to the IHth, which 
 may ho summaricMl as follows : 
 
 " >ray it please your Kxeellency, with a hope yotir Excellency may 
 hav«' an oppoitunity of ilevotirij,' a small portion of your time to the civil 
 alhiirs of the Province, which yo\ir callinj^ of the Legislatiire Hcems to indi 
 cato, and in compliance with yonr personal rc<pu'st, 1 will devote a portien 
 of my time diiiinL; the present week, in pointinj,' out the prominent causes 
 which have produced the present unprecedented depression, and in fUf:},'est- 
 ing foi- your consideration, such measures as are likely to aflbrd the most 
 sjioedy ndirf. 
 
 Ist. I.S a rcHume of his financhil attts in which In; had been engaj,'ed as 
 member. 2nd. Atlvocatin;^ public credit for })ublic works. 3rd. Pritish 
 trade on the St. l/iwrence rivaled liy Mississi])pi. tth and Hth. Adnutting 
 our f,nain free of duty to (Jreat Hritian. (ith and Tth. Foi- union, and for the 
 ri<,dit to initiate acts of trade. C'losinf(. " My remai-kH are not intended to 
 lit! either personal or political, they are directed against onr ]tresent system, 
 under which the wisdom of Solomon conld not nuiko this a pros])erous 
 country. ^ W. H. M." 
 
 A f(!W days before leavin;( for the Lei^islature, jNfr. INIerritt, as was his 
 custom, wrote thnvn the subjects most necessary for attention during the 
 session. This memorandum is dated 'JOth February. The giving notice of 
 empiirii.,- into the state of the Province, was a chief subject for Legislation. 
 
 On the 27th of February, Parliament opentMl, and in tho Governor's 
 speech, I'cference, in a congratulatory manner, was made on the suppi-ession 
 of the rebellion ; and hopes expressed that trade wouhl again resume its 
 ordinary cour.se as heretofore, in peace and harmony. 
 
 Notice was given on the first day, (2 Uh,) for a committee of the House, 
 on the state of the-Province, for Wednesday 28th ; and Mr. Merritt with Mi'. 
 Robinson were api)ointed a committee to draft an address to iiis Excellency^ 
 respecting the resignation of the Earl of Durham. 
 
 March 2nd. For Committee on Finance ho got the"most ballots. On 
 the 14th the Finance Committee reported, and 2U0^copies ordered. 
 
 March 23rd. Three resolutions on the state of the Province were 
 brought in by the committee — 11 to 35, for a union, and sending agents to 
 England. The amendment to dissolve the House was lost by 11 to 33. It 
 is melancholy to i-ecord that an amendment not to di.senfranchise the French 
 Canadians of their national rights was defeated by a large'majority. 
 
 On the 24tli it was re.solved that the Engli.sh shouldbe the language in 
 the united Legislature. 
 
 The 14th resolution was that the Si^eaker, Sir A. McNab and Mr. Merritt, 
 member for Haldimand, be commissioned to proceed to* England to repre- 
 
105 
 
 sent tlio r«'Koliit*oiis, and advooato tliciii Wfore th«* Tiiiperial Pailiatnont. 
 1(»00 copies of tli(! llcjiort wtMo printcil. Tliis rt'purt was sent to tlio LfgiH- 
 lativo (y'ounril for co-operation. 
 
 To add to tlic complications, th« acts of sympathizers in tlie States taking 
 part with our malcontents in ('anada, was copied in the eastern section. 
 On the 24th of Janiuiry, a military expedition from AFainc had marched 
 into and taken possession of the disputed territory hetween MainiMind New 
 Brunswick. This loused the war discu.ssion ouoe more ; l»ut the evil wuH 
 averted by forbearance, and surrondoring the greater part of the territory in 
 disjtute. 
 
 An address had been passed in the litter jMirt of ^rarcli, reriecting on the 
 conduct of the aggresion of the State authorities of Maine, and was as follows: 
 
 "That this House would be alike wanting in giatitude and patriotism, 
 were we to hesitate U) assure the gallant New Hrunswiirker's that, however, 
 we should regret a war with the United Stat(!s, wo nevertheless pledge 
 ourselv(!S that should such a result procee<l from th(^ conduct of Maine on 
 this occasion, that we will HUp|)ort, maintain and deftnid the rights, itc, 
 with our energies and our lives, and to infoiin Sir John Harvev thereof. 
 
 "A. McNAB, Sl'KAKEK." 
 
 On the 1st of .Vpril a u'iw oommittoo was struck on the state of the 
 Province, particularly concerning the foreign invasion. Prince, Sherwood, 
 Chisholm and Robinson were members. 
 
 About tlie same time appeared the report of Lord Dui'ham's administia- 
 tion in the provinces, and this, without the action of, or of course, appro- 
 bation of the Imperial Parliament. The entire proceeding was against the 
 popularity of his lordship, and the coldness of his associates, so worked on 
 his sensitive nature, that passing into retircMnent, he sliortly afterwards 
 sickened and died. 
 
 On the 9th of April appeared the Report oi the Select (Jonuuitte on 
 Finance, of which Mr. Merritt was chairman. It gave a most favourable 
 account of the increase of the revenues, now ecpialliug one million of dollars. 
 They recommended that without a(Ming any more burdens on the people, this 
 sum be judiciously a}»plied to improving our navigation, so as to become a 
 revenue to the country, and prevent ever thereafter the imposition of more 
 taxes. The management of the canal appears to have been left in the same 
 hands, and little doing except preliminaries. 
 
 The Governor in answer to an address from the House for information 
 froi.i the Colonial Office, on the subject of union, made the following reply: 
 
 " I have received no communications on the subject, except a copy of the 
 Report from the Earl of Durham, which has just reached me, anil which I 
 readily place in your hands." 
 
 " We think it just to give the opinion of the President of the Canal, 
 after another year's experience on the subject of improvements, and allow- 
 ing his extended pi-actical and patriotic view of the Union. 
 
196 
 
 " ToHONTO, Febuary 20th, 1839. 
 '" !My Dkar Sir: — I bog to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of 
 the 18th inst., ami to say tliat I lia\e duly laid before the Lieutenant Gov- 
 ernor, all the j)aperT which you have recently trannniitted for His Excellen- 
 cy's consideration, and whi<'h I .sliall endeavor at my tirst leisure moments 
 to obtain an oj)[)ortunity of reading. 
 
 " We agree generally, with respect to the importance of impi-oving tlie 
 many great advantages of our country, and the necessity of promoting the 
 increase of our trade and intercourse with the Mother C'ountiT, and with 
 foreign states. On all these points, too, I derive great profit from the infor- 
 mation which you are continually ac'cumumulating. 
 
 "My remedy is to add to Upper Canadiall of the lowei- province, except 
 the north bank of the S. Lawrence, from Argenteuil, eastward, and the 
 Districts of Quebec and (rai-po, which are alien in almost every respect to 
 ■us. We should then have a noble Upper Province, and a seaport, and if 
 wo could not then manage our own affairs under a discreet metropolitan 
 supervision, we should, in some measure deserve the anarchy that would be 
 in store for us. " " Yours faithfullv, 
 
 " J. MACAULAY." 
 
 The following shows an important act, being a tardy remuneration by 
 tlic Legislature for a public enterprise : 
 
 Circular to the wiijiiuil Hh'.irehuhh'rs in the IVeflinn/ Canal Co. 
 
 ToHONTO, U. C, Gth May, 1839. 
 Sir: — ^ly object in making this communication is to prevent the 
 original shareholders from disi)osing of their Stock under its true value. 
 
 An act has this day passed the Commons House of Assembly })y a veiy 
 large maji rity, authorizing the Uovernm<,'nB to purchase ct the private 
 sliareholders in the Welland Canal, aiul there is no reason to suppose it wilt 
 not meet the concuirence of the the other branches of the Legislature 
 iiuthorizing the Goverment to jiurchase. The terms are as follows : 
 
 "1st. The Provincial Government is authorized to issue debentures in the 
 usual manner, payable in twenty years, foi' the amount of stock held l)y each 
 individual, bearing interest at 2 per cent, for the tirst year, 3 per cent, for 
 the si'cond year, and so on thereafter. 
 
 " It further jirovides, that so soon as the sum of £30,000 pei- r nnum is 
 i-oceivod from tolls, each shareholder shall Ik; entitled to receive the amount 
 of their back interest, since the dates of their resi)ective subscrijitions were 
 paid in -the interest on these ilebentures is secured l)y the income to be 
 derived from the work. 
 
 " I cannot refrain from expressing the gratification I feel in being cn- 
 sibled to announce to the original subsoribers, that they will ultimately 1)0 
 paid principle and interest o) their investment, in a work, which for mag- 
 nitude and utility, cannot be surpassed on the continent of Aiuerica, and 
 ■for the construction of which the public is indebted to their earl j^nterprisc. 
 
 " I have the honor to be, Sir, 
 
 " Your obedient servant, 
 
 " W. H. MERRITT." 
 A change had occurred inimical to the decision of the House, regard- 
 ing the delegates to England The upi)er House had returned the bill, sub- 
 stitutinir J. B. Robertson for Mr. Merritt. A discussion arose in the House 
 
197 
 
 u tlu> 
 eacli 
 iwt. for 
 
 o 
 
 ill, sub- 
 House 
 
 on its reconsideration. Neither ^Mr. Merritt, Robertson, oi- Sir Allan luul 
 the opportunity of representing the wishes of their country to the British 
 people, before the Imperial Parliament. Tlie following correspondence iind 
 article from the St. Catharines JimraaJ, will tend to explain the circum- 
 stances of this change, not altogetlier indicative of the very consistent views 
 of some of the members of the House. 
 
 " Mr. Merritt, as ho himself asserts, was nover a party mm, yet we 
 ourselves, were under the impression that prior, and at the cointnencment 
 of Ills Legislative course, he was sonifiwhat too strongly tinctured with 
 principles at variance with tlie peace, prospf^rity and good government of 
 this colony, — we mean Toryism ^although we were, and still arc unable 
 to name a solitary public or private act, that could justify such a suspicion- 
 It miist have arisen from his conn;jtion wltli, and sup,)Oit of, the 
 Episcopal Church in this place. Wo have watched his })rocyedings in the 
 r^ygislature, and have ever found him the constant advocate of measures 
 which he himself considered of beneticial inijiortance to the Government, 
 and the unilinching and independent suppressor of all svich as ha I a con- 
 trary tendency. 
 
 " Happily for the peace of the Government, Loid Durham's mission to 
 Canada has formed a rallying point, around which are assembled those 
 who embraced the interests embodied in the Repoit, anil i-esulutely deter- 
 mined to enforce its adoption, and by having a responsible government, 
 with constitutional ]»rinciples relieve the Province from impending ruin. 
 " Nothing more conclusively shows the narrow, envi-jus and spiteful 
 character of the Hagerman cUque, than their sjjiteful cond i ■\. \\\ relation t> 
 .sending a commis.sion to England. It is well known that Mr. Merritt and the 
 S{)eaker were appointed by the House to this important mission, to which 
 the Legislative Council refu.sed to assent ; but, by way of amendment to the 
 Assembly's bill, they sti-uck out the name of ^Ir. Merritt, and on their j>art 
 added the name of Mr. Robertson, now in P^nglaud, and return t he bill to 
 the House for their adoption, who on this occasion very justly as.seited 
 their dignity, ;; for the insult offered them, in the person of ^Ir. Merritt' 
 literally kickec t the I'ill altogether. 
 
 " Such has ueen, and such will be, the thanks which every one may 
 expect who pursues such an independent course.'' 
 
 Mrs. Meri'itt notices wliy the Commissionei"s were not sent : 
 
 " H — came over on the 20th of April for a short timr^, and gave as a 
 reason for not sending commissioners, that tlie Ctovernment for the colonies 
 were to be settled in the British Parliament about Easter, and they coulil 
 not arrive in time to be of any use." 
 
 His son William in the same epistle, refers it moie directly to the report. 
 
 " Since the arrival of Lord Durham's report Pa will not go to England, 
 as th-at corresi)onds .so much with their views and wishes." 
 
 "Government House, Toronto, 4th May, 18.39. 
 " Mv Dear Sir: — With reference to a re.">;it c )nv(u'sation at the 
 Private Secretary's office, between a member of the House of Assembly and 
 a gentleman provisionally in the service of the Governiuent, which has, 
 unfortunately, become a matter of notoriety, and in wlticii \oui- name was 
 
198 
 
 particularly introduced. I assure you that I have not heard of it without a 
 degree of regret, which has l)een considerably lightened l)y a consideration of 
 the place where it haiipened to occur. 
 
 " I have the honor to he, my dear sir, 
 
 " Yours very faithfully, 
 To W.M. H. Mehhitt, E.sq. . " GEO. W. ARTHUR." 
 
 " Rowsell's, Monday morning, Toronto, May Gth, 1839. 
 
 " Mv Dear Sir : — I have boon informed that a remark I made in the 
 course of private conver-sation, with reference to your having been sent as 
 an agent to England, has been brought forwai'd, with much aggravation 
 and in a most unaccountable manner, within the walls of the House of 
 Assembly. I therefore deem it due to myself to let you really know what 
 I did .say ; and, when I have briefly done so, I think you will agiee with 
 me in saying that the freedom of sjteech, in a British Legislature, was never 
 more arbitrarily and unjustly exercised than when it was used, on the 
 occasion to which I allude, for the purpose of blasting my prospects in 
 j>ublic life. 
 
 " While talking one day, at the Government Office, with Colonel Chis- 
 holm, the member for Halton, I believe I remarked to him — (I say believe, 
 because I have no distinct recollection of .so trifling and casual a matter) 
 that you were not a fit person to represent the British inhabitants of Upper 
 Canada, in any mission to England, because you were so American and 
 Democratic in your opinions. These might not have been the preci.se words, 
 but such, I am sure, must have lieen their exact tendency, for such is the 
 opinion I have ever entertained of you in your political character. 
 
 "After the pei-soual kindness I have experienced at your hands, I deeply 
 regret that any fair renuxnd of mine — which obviously was never meant to 
 be repeated to you, and which, according to the rules of society, never ought 
 to have been conveyed to you— should have been magnified into .such a 
 grave and ridiculous importance, or, if such has been the ctuse, should have 
 caused you a n\oment's annoyance. 
 
 " As a public man, you will readily concede that you are public proper- 
 ty. You have long been prominently before the public, and whenever I 
 have joined in any conversation, of which you were the subject for the 
 moment, I have never failed, while remarking on what I conceived to be 
 your Democratic bias on politics, to render my humble testimony to your 
 domestic worth, your charity, and your hou.sehold virtues, and to your 
 2>ractical loyalty as exhibited during the last war. 
 
 "Believe me .still, my dear sir, 
 
 " Yours very sincerely, 
 '' To W. H Merritt, M. P. P. JOHN KENT." 
 
 In Mr. Merritt's speech, on the last day of the session, upon the discus- 
 sion of this (juestioUjin the Canadian House, May 11th, he say.s, in advo- 
 cacy of the views embodied in Lord Durham's report : 
 
 " The plan recommended by Lord Durham is briefiy this : 
 " 1st. To remove the Colonial office from Downing Street, London, to 
 this si<le of the Atlantic — to transfer the power now vested in the Colo- 
 nial Minister to the (Jovernor. 2. Tiie Governor to represent sovereigl^ty, 
 to bear the same relation to the peoj>le of Canada that the Queen doe.s to 
 the peojilc of England. 3rd. To select for his advisers men at the head of 
 
199 
 
 our Pioviiiciiil Dd));irtnient. 4tli. To retain their places no longer than 
 they arid supported l)y the Legislature. 
 
 " This is no Repu'ilican or elective institution. Here is no upsetting 
 the fouuihitions of society among us ; there is no turning men out of office, 
 from one end of tlie country to the other, iiTcspeotive of the manner in which 
 they discharge their duties ; here is the simple application of the tried 
 j)rinciplcs of the British Constitution in a British Province ; intelligent, 
 j)atriotic and loyal, and worthy of all the civil rights, as they possess the 
 intellectual and moral atti-ibutes of Britons. 
 
 '* Tiio only objection, that any but a Kopublican and Democrat can 
 argue against it is, that it would render this Province independent." 
 
 He also argues that the personelk of the Ministry would be a matter of 
 iudirterence to Britain, and it would ensure men of the first ability in the 
 country, and would remove all distinction of origin. The Governor stands 
 bone fide as the representative of Royalty — the sacred emblem of power, 
 the supreme administrator of the laws, and he will be placed also above 
 the order of the Imi)erial Minister. 
 
 " 3rd. Lord Durham's remedy will remove all danger of separation, and 
 will be an etiectual prevention against the introduction of Democratic or 
 Republican principles among the inhabitants. Give us the full benefits 
 of the British Constitution and we will become the admiration and envy 
 of the United States, an 1 retain what they do not possess — a strong execu- 
 tive gover.:ment. 
 
 " But I will at all times adhere to those measures that will secure the 
 peace, and promote the prosperity of Upper Canada." 
 
 The desertion Mr. Merritt had experienced from his friends, worked 
 upon liis feelings. There was a field of honorable distinction open, and in 
 which he had evidently set his mind, for by being made a representative 
 to England, right or wrong, concieved that he would be of great benefit to 
 his country, and he had the unpleasantness to experience that while engaged 
 iu the material improvement of the country, he got their support ; but when 
 attempting to rai.se himself out of the party role they had placed him in, 
 trying to advance himself and his countrymen politically, by representing 
 them at the British Court, he felt by this act, that it was their opinion " he 
 had better stay at liome." 
 
 His first object on returning was to get clear of the entanglement of 
 private busine.ss. He intimates this late in Juno, in one of his familiar let- 
 ters to his fatliei*-in-law, and that he will perpetuate his views by bringing 
 uj) one of his sons thereto. 
 
 " It is my intention to get out of active busine.ss. William H. Merritt, 
 Jr., I trust will at leasst make a .statesn)an." 
 
 For this purpose, and partly to advance his political scheme, he visits 
 the Lowei- Province. 
 
 He was accomjianied by the son alluded to, whom, on reaehing Albany 
 on their return, lie gave introductions to visit his friends at Byrom, near 
 
200 
 
 New York. This was partly a reward for studious condvict, and a prepa- 
 ration for the serious study of the hiw, for which he hiul passed, according 
 to the Chancellor, the best exannnation. 
 
 On his return he completed his arrangements of leasing the mills ; and 
 the following advertisement appeared in the August number of the Jourmil: 
 
 "All business in connection with the Welland Canal Mills will hereafter 
 be conducted by J. INlittleberger & Co. Signed, W. H. Merritt." 
 
 The first use he made of his leisure was to address a letter on public 
 affairs to Mr. Nelson, member of the Executive Committee, in Lower Canada. 
 It appears in the ilournal of the l.^th, and is prefaced by a paragraph from 
 the Toronto Examiner: 
 
 " The admirable speech delivered by Mr. Merritt in favor of Responsi- 
 ble Government has been copied into several of the Lower Canadian jour- 
 nals, and has been reviewed at considerable length in the Quebec Gazette.^' 
 
 Mr. Nelson accuses Mr. Mei-ritt of asking the Government of Britain to 
 give millions for improvements, and in defence of the country, to a body 
 against whom they would have no security. Mr. Merritt controverts that 
 by the exami)le of the two public works. 
 
 " The management of the Rideau Canal is under some power of England, 
 to wl n those in charge here are responsible. The Welland has been un- 
 der the direction of those interested in the Province, the result, the people 
 of Upper Canada for the one have to pay an advance of from 5^ to 100 
 j)er cent, from Kingston to Montreal ; while on the other, the freight from 
 Detroit to Kingston is only what it was from Chijipawa to Queenston, in 
 old times." 
 
 With regard to the formation of a House of Lords, for which the Coun- 
 cillor accuses Canada of having no adecpiate nuiterial, he says, " We possess 
 " men of equal intelligence and wealth, compared to the |)opulation and 
 " wealth of the country, and to those with whom they Iiave to come in con- 
 " tju;t, as the people of England, compared to the population and wealth of 
 " that kingdom, and to the individuals with whom they have to come in 
 " contact." 
 
 The Canadas take six million dollars of Britisli manuf^icturos — half of 
 which is paid by English expenditure in this country — and closes by re- 
 marking : "Wo require an eijual or greater concentration of power than the 
 union of England, Scotland, Ireland have produced — like the State of 
 New York — that we may utilize the advantages of our position." 
 
 The evil of the unquiet and uncertain state of the country was .'itill 
 going on, for, in the .Awrnrt^ of 11th July wo i-eml : — "Emigration from 
 Upper Canada to the Western States is going on very rapidly." A corres- 
 ])ondent in the London District writes, " that nearly half the poi)ulation of 
 that district intend emigrating. The Toronto Examiner is of opinion that 
 the Upper Province will lose one-fifth of its population by emigration to the 
 Western States. 
 
201 
 
 Public meetings were now being held in various parts of the country; 
 some, as in Brockville, were the occasion of a riot. The following letter 
 relates to an important meeting held in Hamilton : — 
 
 " Your views res)iecfeing co'-nniittees, addresses, and union of Beformers, 
 coincide entirely with our own ; and we are busy organizing local commit- 
 tees. I beg you to understand I should have avoided calling together public 
 meetings had the choice rested with me, but the Reformers are at present 
 a straggling flock, and act without concert. I should be glad to hear tliat 
 you have determined upon a snug meeting in Toronto of a few of the lead- 
 ing Reformers of the Province, men of influence and character, who shouhl 
 determine on a plan for the guidance of the districts. 
 
 " E. Cartwriuht Thomas." 
 
 In September, a large and influential meeting was held at Niagara, the 
 County town, and still the most imi)Oi'tant place in the di.strict, to take into 
 consideration the state of the country, and Lord Durham's report thereon. 
 Mr. Merritt prepared a resolution (which he inti'oduced by a speech) "That 
 this meeting fully concur in the union, and a government according to the 
 model of Great Britain." Passed unanimously. 
 
 This initiation of the new reform in the old borough, was carried on by 
 circular. Similar meetings were held in other sections. 
 
 Some of tlie coadjutors for the work of reconstructing their country is 
 indicated in the following list of correspondents : — July 15. — E. Cartwright, 
 Thomas, Hamilton. Aug. 10.— Peter Perry, Whitby. 12— Hon. D Fer- 
 gusson, Woodhill, Nelson. 24. — A. Manahan, Montreal. G. H. Detlor, 
 Brighton. 27th.— J. H. Boulton. 28th.— Francis Hiiicks. 23d.— Tlios. 
 McKay. October 19. — A. D. Robling, Napanee. Richarsdon, Sandwich. 
 G. Tiffany, Hamilton. Nov. 18.— J. W. Powell, Townsend. Nov. 5.— 
 Attorney General Spence. August 12. — O. R. Gowan. Aug. 27th. — J. 
 Lockhart, Niagara. Sept. 12. — Cooper, Rainham. Sept. 4th. — Dr. Jarold, 
 Dunnville. 30. — D. ThorVtum, Queenston. Joseph Clarke, Haldimand. 
 
 Mr. Merritt, just befoi-e the meeting of Parliament, delivered his views 
 to his constituents at a public meeting of the freeholders at T, linl.am. A 
 letter from one of them, an Orangeman, gives his views and that of his fel- 
 lows on the great question of the day: — 
 
 " I am a Briton, and consequently dissent from the .sentiment e.\j)res.sed 
 in your speech. We want, my friends, a total change in the laws of the Pro- 
 viTK-e. We require the choosing of our own rulers, and to get rid of for- 
 oigii thmldom, and this shall before long be the case, and must be the case." 
 
 On Lord Durham's departure, the vejjort he had made on the country, 
 was 80 agreeable to the views of the respect^ible portion of the people, that 
 after a year of administration by Sir John Colborne, further delay 
 was considered impolitic ; and a member of the Imperial Ministry, Sir P. 
 Thompson, was sent to carry them out. 
 
202 
 
 On tlio lOtIi of Octolx'i- iii»i)0!u-f'(l tlio iiroclnination of tlit» i cw Govpinor- 
 Cleiienil, Hon. P. Tlioniitsou. He airivt'd at Toronto on the 2()tli of Nov. 
 
 Mr. I\Jerritt, pi-eviou.s to tlie opening of the Hou.se, went over aiul vi.sited 
 the Governor. 
 
 3rcl of Deceniljei". — House met. 
 
 Steam communication witli the colony was promised in the Governor's 
 tipeccli, together with ah.stract of reforms. 
 
 The character of the new Governor is given in " Sketche.'- of the 1 3tli 
 Parliament," by Krinensis, a fellow countrymen, said to be the J. Kent 
 noticed in Sir George Arthur's employment : 
 
 '• The Eight Hon. C. P. Thompson, Governor General of the North 
 American Provinces, had long Ix'cn an enemy to the Canadian tindwr 
 trade, and an advocate for those measures which the great body of the peo- 
 ]ile repudiate. He was considered one of the mo.st thoi-ough-going Ivadicals 
 in the Cabinet — a man of great ///^cs.w, and a true reader of cliaracter. As 
 u commercial financier he .stands almost unrivalled. It was thought tliut he 
 might prove tiie most proper per.son to win from the Canadians an expres- 
 sion of confidence, and he has proved himself well calculated for the task. 
 In his per.sonal address he is mild and art'able, ready of approach and free of 
 conversation. Opposed to his line of politics, and convinced that his mi.ssiou 
 to Canada will be [)roductive of no good, if not of absolute evil, I nni.st give 
 him the talent of consummatt^ management ; he has hitherto succeeded so 
 as to carry idl his measures, and it is most unaccountable by what almost 
 magic influence he cajoled some members intj a desertion of previously eii- 
 tertainetl opinions." 
 
 Tho author, then attending his studies in the Provincial Capitol, who 
 liad conu; o\ er with the members, wrote home his observations on the new 
 Governor : — 
 
 " Saw the House ojjened ; it was (piite a grand aflair, filled with ladies 
 and gentlemen. Governor Thomp.son, a man of slight stature, in a blue 
 dre.ss coat, breast auii skirt covered with gold lace, was surrounded l)y his 
 suite, which, with Sir George Artiiur, Lieutenant Governor's suite, nuule 
 an imposing spectacle. The Governor read his spetch in a very afi'ected 
 cockney tone." 
 
 "A despatch from Lord John Pussell, which was in the papers a few 
 days ago, made a practical commencenumt of the new .system of llesponsi- 
 ble Government. The peroration of the despatch is as follows : 
 
 'The Queen's Government have no desire to thwart the representative 
 u.s.send»lies of British North America in their mea.sures of reform and iiii- 
 j)rovement. They have no wish to make those provinces the resource tor 
 patronage at home. They are earnestly intent on giving to the talent auJ 
 character of leading per.>ons in the colonies, advantages similar to tho.se 
 which talent and chai'acter, employed in the public service of the United 
 Kingdom, obtain. ' 
 
 The Toronto livarJian of 18th December remarks : — ''Almost the only 
 " topic of discussion in Parliament the last eight days, and the principal 
 "topic of general conversation has been the union of the Provinces. The 
 
203 
 
 " poMitioii of tlic puvtios is uovpI and soinctinifs ainusint,'. ^ffssrs. Mpiiitt, 
 "Aiikniim, Koliiu.son, Park, il-c, lieatlcd l)y the Solicitor ( Jcnoral for th« 
 " (Jovcrnincnt party, and Mfssrs. (t. H. IJouIton, Rattjin, Miirncy, Oanible, 
 " Cartwri^dit, &c., in oppoHition — tlie lattor making attacks on the Gover- 
 "nor, and some of tlieui talking strongly of sejiaration." IIci ailds, " that 
 '• for tyros this first assailnuMit of Responsible Government in the ITouso 
 " may he considered satisfactory." 
 
 Says the St. Catharines Jonrndl :—'^ Mr. Merritt made one of his host 
 "speeches — advocating the nnion of the Pi-ovinces ; that it would add 
 " 1,000,000 British to the j)opulation at once, and thus niake tlie reforms 
 "that were advocated, j)OHHihle, hy such an accession of the Anglo-Saxon 
 "element in the Asscmhly." 
 
 An interru[)tion to the general direction of legislation was attempted hy 
 the introduction of the measures of the symj)athizers into the House, but 
 which acted only as an amusing diversion to more important debates. 
 
 On the 10th of December, Mr. Boulton brought in a bill to disipialif}' 
 certain persons from being candidates, or ^•oting at elections. Mr. Merritt 
 considering the imputation it inferred, as questioning the loyalty of the 
 people, moved to give it the six months hoist. Mr. Cartwright said there 
 were lodges in several di.striets. It was sworn before liim that there was 
 one in St. Catharines. Mr. Parks, — -"There are none in the London dis- 
 trict." Mr. Cartwright believed there were nu)re there than anv other dis- 
 trict in the country. Information was received by the Government last 
 i.iglit that an attack was to be made on the Niagara District. Thomas H. 
 was the head of the lodge in St. Catharines. Mr. Merritt ilenicd that any 
 lodge could exist in St. Catharines. Mi\ Sherwood replied as iiaving heard 
 ualer oath that the Hunters posse.ssed a written statement over hi« signa- 
 ture :— '' As »i)o:\ as you c )iivince me you are strong enough to effect any- 
 thing in Upper Canada, I will take command of you." Mr. M. .said it was 
 wholly untrue. [Loud cries of Hear, hear, from all paits of the House.] 
 He had received no such communication or jtroiMjsition cither verbally, Ijy 
 writing, by signs, or in a y other way or shape whatever, conseipiently he 
 could lave returned no Sitch answer. 
 
 The Journal in an article of over a column on this debate .says : — "Early 
 " in the j»ast season the Clnnrh and Star began to foretell invasions, and to 
 '■ jtromulgate that the Durhamites were in league with the ' Patriots ' to 
 "overthrow the Govenunent. Thev next proclaimed that Hunter's lod"^es 
 "were being establishecl in various districts of the Province, and that the 
 "various meetings held there weie in aid of the ' Patriot' cause; one of 
 "them, the Stitr, stated 'on correct information,' that overtures had been 
 " made to Mr. Merritt, to take command of the biigands in their next in- 
 " va,sion. ^Vhat answer did he give them ? ]f Mr. Merritt is guilty of 
 '' the charges preferred against him, let liim be not only expelled, but [uit 
 
2in 
 
 " ni)On liis trial for treason ; aiul if lie is innocent, let the guilt rest wLero 
 " it shonlil, ujton liis accusers." 
 
 We liavo nqticed the measures of our subject to avoid prosecutions in 
 his own district, and to have initi<(ated the sentences uf his fellow-country- 
 nien deluded into overt acts of rehellion. Among the 885 persons wlio 
 underwent trial, imprisonment, execution and banishment, whoso fate drove 
 tens of thousands from their native soil, was Bonjamiii Wait, living 
 now in one of the Western States ; he was banished to Van Dieman's Land. 
 His heroic wife, now numbered with the dead, determined on leaving her 
 residence in Lockport, and imploring his release at the foot of the throne. 
 In Wait's narrative, page 273, we find tlie following: 
 
 "Here I left my dear child, and commenced operations by collecting, 
 among my husbiind's accjuuintances, oertifiontes of his foinier good character. 
 I went to Haldimand, wlieie we had last resided, and obtained a great 
 number of most respectal>le testimonials, which were ratified by the signa- 
 ttu'e of Wm. H. ]\Ierritt, Es(j., the wortliy and distinguished mend)er of 
 Parliament for that constituency, who seemed not a little ustonished that I 
 should have conceivetl the idea of going to England, considering the circum- 
 stances in wliich I was placed, though he readily and most kindly gave mo 
 letters of introduction and recommendation to othcial characters in England, 
 with one to Richard Irvin, Estp, of this city, containing, as I afterwards 
 learned to my advantage, a check on that gentleman for twenty dollars, 
 whicli was most gi-atefully accej)ted, and will, with Mr. IMerritt's corres- 
 ponding kindness, be remembered with that deep sense of gratitude so emi- 
 nently due." 
 
 " Sir John Franklin, the Governor of Van Dieman's Land, has sjKiken 
 to me, (one of the prisoners,) of having received communications from Wni. 
 H. Merritt, E.scj., and has written him, in re|dy, that he would grant nie 
 every indulgence, consistent with his duty, as Clovernor. I certainly feel 
 thankful to liim, but mon; so to Mr. Mei-ritt, to whom I beg you will ten- 
 der the best wi.shes of a sincerely grateful heart." 
 
 In the House Mr. Merritt had drawn up a scries of I'esolutions on the 
 state of the country, for transmission to England; and himself and Sir Allan 
 McNab were dej)uted to lay the .same before the Imperial Covernment. 
 But before this was consunnnated, the appointment of a new Governor (Hon. 
 P. Thompson) h;id oci;urred, who came fully empowered to bring about the 
 much needed refornnitiou. In a volumniors correspondence, he gave his 
 experience on the political state of the country, and its commercial relations 
 as a colony. A brief summary of his views may here be stated. They may 
 be seen in one important particular to differ from the Governor, Ids prede- 
 cessor, and the Imperial Ministry who sent them ; namely, in the race, na- 
 tion or people wlio were to hokl olHco to carry out ReHponsiV)le Govern- 
 ment ; and, as a natural consequence, in whose interests the Government 
 should be carried out. In the one instivnce it was natives of the country, 
 or tnoso unequivocally identified therewith. With the Ini[»erial party. 
 otKcers who would advocate primarily the interests of Great Britain. 
 
205 
 
 a ffreat 
 
 " Instca'l of liavina; moasuros eniaiiate from the Ilouif' (Joverninont, who 
 neccsMiirily Iviiow i)ut little of tlio British -Anu'ricaii jw^ople, such meaHures 
 «houlcl 1)0 initiated here, by the intelligent portion of tlie community, ami 
 tlien submitted to the (JovernnTent for ooncurroiice. * # ♦ They all 
 tiliunld l»e iiiiited iiiidei- one (Jovernment. ^- ■'•' * Should this not be 
 jiracticable froju the many conflicting treaty clainiH and interests in liOwer 
 (Canada? Montreal should be at once annexed to ITppf.i- Canada, in order 
 that *liat Province might have a sea-port undei- their own control. 
 
 lu Sir liol)ert Peel's speech on Canadian afl'airs, June 5 : 
 
 " They (the iJritish Govornment) had but one object in view. They 
 did not wish to make the g(*vernmeiit oftiio Provinces the means of obtain- 
 ing any paltry lu'cuniaiy advantages, and they might say to the Canadians, 
 wo mean to make you a British Colony, and subject to our Dominion, (huar- 
 liwir) but wo will take care of this, that we will not make ourselves respon- 
 silile to def(!ud you fiom foreign enemies, and then allow us to bo constantly 
 threatened and opposi^d V»y you. 
 
 The lengthy au.l exhaustive report of 3'yO pages, on (Janadian affairs, 
 commences l)y o!)servations on Lower ( 'anada, but extends to all the Pro- 
 vinces, and says: "The real struggle is iu)t one of principle, but of races. 
 The report is intelligilile, while the distinction is between French and En 
 glish, but between English and American it is certainly confounded, and 
 witli considei-able ditliculty we can come at His JiOrdship's real views. It 
 is liopf'd we do him no injustice in saying that for English he moans Euro- 
 pean born, and not the English speaking people of tlie Provinces. 
 
 Earl Durham in the pamphlet of his icpoii, recommends the necessity 
 of adjusting the constitutional (piestions intlie North American Provinces. 
 
 "J needed no personal observations to convince me there were evils. I 
 found in all these a foiin of government neaily the i-anie, and interests, 
 ft'clingfi, and habits, in common. The North American Provinces already 
 contained one and a half million jieople, besides the vast po[iulation these fer- 
 tile lands are destined to support." 
 
 Oblivious that this pojuilation w ere here from attachment to the British 
 cause, and entitled to the security and the enjoyment of it for their families, 
 lie changes the obligation. 
 
 "The count"} which has founded and maintained these colonics, may 
 justly expect its compensation in turning their una]tj)ropriated resources to 
 the account of its redundant ])opulation, they are the rightful patrimony of 
 the English people;" and going on to show the policy of getting new .set- 
 tloi-s: — "These advantages may yet be seemed to your Majesty's subject.s. 
 and a connection secured by the link of kindred origin, and may continue 
 to bind to the P>ritish Empire the am])le territt)ries of its North Americiiu 
 Provinces, and the large and flourishing population by which they will be 
 assuredly filled. " 
 
 "If I should have miscalculated the |>roportion in which the friends and 
 enemies of British connectioiv may meet in the united Legislature one year 
 of emigration would redress the balance." It would have to bo greater 
 than any that has taken place yet, as not a third of European birth aat 
 iu the last Upper Canada Legislature. 
 
20G 
 
 " It iH Ity a Houiul Hyhtem of colonization, tliat wo can nnuler tluw ex- 
 tensivo regions availahln for the- hcnufit of tlui Piritisli ]i«'oiilt'. 
 
 '* [ ontcrtain no (loul)t ati to the nulittiuil clittnicler, it iniixt bu that nf lln', 
 lirilish Kiiij)lrr, that wliich innst ho |)r»'ch)niinant over the whole North 
 American continent. 
 
 " The |ir(!(loniintint fct^lin;,' of the Kngliwh was that of devoted attaciiriient 
 to the Mother Coinitry. 
 
 "The ])rotentions of the Frendi Canadians to tiie exclusive possession of 
 T.ower (!anada, would (lel)ar a yet larger population of Upper t'aiuida and 
 the townships fioui access to tho ocean." 
 
 "The experiment of keeping colonies, and governing them well ought at 
 least to hav(5 atrial, er<^ we abandon forever the vast dominion, which iiiight 
 supply tin! wants of onr surplus population, and raise* u|) millions of fresh 
 consumers for our manufactures, and producers of a supply -for our wants. 
 
 Recommending the municipal institutions to this end, he says : 
 
 " Tho true principle of linnting populai- j)ower, is that of apportionment 
 of it in many dilferent depositories, and gn'atly multiplying the mnnher of 
 municipal hotlies." 
 
 We will close with tho extract, which is alik« applicable to British 
 North America. 
 
 " The amazing i)rosperity of the United States, is owing to the un- 
 limited supply of fertile land, which maintains succeeding generations in 
 an undiminished alHuence of fertile soil." 
 
 With regard to the premature i)ublication of Lord Durham's Report, 
 subsecjuent events have proved it to have been injurious in the Provinces. 
 Hasty legislation might have been calculated, from its universal resultn 
 elsewhere, to have i)een injurious, hi this case, the position of the country, 
 with a subdued nationality, were of such a delicate nature, that extraoidinary 
 attention .shouhl have been taken, so that no feelings of repiisal, founded on 
 national antagoiusm, might mar the work of our future union. But the 
 enthusiasm of the people here, on the publication of the report, showing 
 tho way of immediately getting out of their dirticnlties, prevented them al- 
 lowing tlio time that was noce.s.sary for maturing tho contemplated union of 
 Upper and Lower Canada, and throwing away the consummation of tlie plan 
 contemplated at home, by altering the map of Canada, so as to annex the 
 Island of Montreal, and make the St. Lawrence to i(s mouth, the boundary 
 between the Canadas, so that a union of all the British-speaking people 
 of the Provinces might hereafter be effected without altering their auton- 
 omy. 
 
 That his view was opposed to the advancement of tho country oculd 
 not for a moment be denied by the loyal natives of British origin, whatever 
 justice there might liavc been in it towards the French. The impolicy of 
 this distinction is proved by concurring events. There was then, as now 
 majority of native inhabitants in the country, and in Upper Canada our in 
 crease was doubling in ten years. By our last census the rate of increase is 
 
 \\ 
 
207 
 
 only douhliii;,' in sixty yoarH, TIio rate of our ncij,'lihorH' iuoroaso \h doiibliuLf 
 every twoiity-live years, thereforu tho Hecurity from our (rncroaohinir nci>'h- 
 Iior IS »'V('ry year niore jeoponlizcd. 
 
 Tlio author was iu tlio Ifousn on tlio Saturday of tho lirst wook of tie 
 H'-ssioii, when the (Jovoriioi's dHspatoh, which contaiiicMl a iiiiiii.st<'rial pn - 
 t,'r!iimn(', was l)rou;:,dit dowu. It waH evident tho nn^inlu'rs Iiatl to deal with 
 siihjoi'tH witli whicli tlu^y had hitherto lieen unac<|uainted. 
 
 " l.'Uh I)"o. — liast ovenin;^ attended a very animated debate on tho 
 l^iion ; will continue perhaps a week ; and it may be the last (piestion 
 iM'foi-e the present Ilnnse, as there is talk of a dissolution. 'I'his was tho 
 tlni'at, Imld over tho House, if they refused to pass tlie reforms proposeil 
 liy the Ministiy. 
 
 We give our subject's ojdnion of the n(^w (rovernor : 
 
 "DearC — Tarn much pleased with tlie Governor (Jencral; I think 
 
 liini a statesman. Have ilitu'd with him twice ; no meat or ve<'etable8 
 
 till c;uri(>d round ; dessert tho same ; wine carrii-d round a few times, when 
 all rctiroil to drawing-room, where lie had somt'thint,' to say to each one 
 present." 
 
 The St. Catharines party, tin; ^lessrs. Boomer inclmled, returned in 
 an open wagon, tlie ground being well frozen, and all spent the holidays with 
 tho usual fellowship and good feeling. 
 
 1S40. 
 
 The last session of the last Parliament for Upper Canada, closed on 
 Ft'bruary 10th, and very little work had been accomplished, owing partly 
 to tho fact of the important constitutional changes likely to occur, and also 
 to the unsettled state of affairs generally. 
 
 With regard to the surreudin- of the Constitution of Ui»per and Lower 
 Canada, retjuired by the Imi»erial (government previous to passing the Act 
 of the union of the Provinces, iu 1840, it is an error to say there was any- 
 tliing in it of the natui-e of a compact or treaty between the Canadians and 
 British. 
 
 The right of the French Canadians to have any voice was denied, and 
 the semblance of a treaty was only alfoi.'ded to English Canadians ; and 
 wliat was the ecjuivalent offered thoai for surrendering the power of the 
 I'ln'se 1 The casual and territorial revenue, which one would think, 
 viewing the sjicrilices Britain had made elsewhere for a national object, she 
 would readily have granted to a country that had made so beneticial a diver- 
 sion for the revenue of the St. Lawrence, which was to \v\y for the improve- 
 ment thereof. 
 
>« 
 
 'f 
 
 208 
 
 Thoro ai»poaro(l then, us now, a nervousnosH with men in jiowor of uc- 
 knowlt><l<^ing tliut thoro were any except the lato eniigiants, who wore not 
 rebtils to l^ritain in tho two Canailus. 
 
 Sir F. B. Htjatl, in a narrative oppoHetl to tlio uspprsions in Lonl Dur- 
 ham's Report of the loyal Cuiiadian.s, appears not ^o have a correct idea ol 
 our peoplo, or his view was distorLeil l)y patriotism, and says, " that oui 
 "interests are to he suhsorvieiit to the British empire, of which this colony 
 " is but an atom." 
 
 If the late House had refused to take the grave responsibility, allowed 
 a convention to bt' called, or even a new election, which, happening just 
 after the- Durham meetings, the electors were siilliciently enlightened, theic, 
 woidd have been respect for the act; but for a Conservative House remain- 
 ing over an extra term, to barter the only safeguard to the liberty of their 
 country, is one which leaves their conduct open to the imputation of subser- 
 viency, self-interest oi' inattention. 
 
 Our subject retunuMl immedi.itely afttr the holidays, and gave atten- 
 tion to the me.isages of the Ciovernor sent down to tlie JIoum- iVom time 
 to time, meant to nuiture a bill for the Impeiial JjCgislature. He also 
 wrote extensively to the Governor General, giving him his views on the plan 
 for a Provincial Government, but to which his secretary, Mr. Murdock 
 sent ii brief reply, saying that /i^' had read them. 
 
 While thus eiignged, a word of cncouragenioiit ifs received from the sea- 
 board, showing that one hope actuated all loyal Americans, however di>taut 
 their abode. 
 
 " Halipax, N. S., Jan. 9, 1840. 
 " Dear Sir : — 
 
 " Permit me to addre s you as a member of the great party who, with these 
 Colonics, arc laboring to introduce the .«ound principles of the Bjitisb Consti- 
 tution ; and you may i'ecl assured we feel a deep sympathy in the success of 
 your exertions. Your obedient servant, 
 
 " GEO. N. YOUNG." 
 
 The Act making the salaries of the judiciary independent of the people, any 
 more than that of the J^xccutive, had not yet been enacted , and Mr. Merritt 
 congratulated 3Ir. B. on the promotion of a fellow countryman into the office 
 of Solicitor General. 
 
 " Toronto, 3rd March, 1840. • 
 " Dear Sir :— 
 
 " The receipt of your letter of the 27th ult. has afforded me much satis- 
 faction, as conveying the assurance which I understand it to do, that under 
 the peculiar circumstances in which I was placed I had done right in accepting 
 office from the Governor General. 
 
 '< It is, as you say, most important to have in the new Parliament men 
 devoted to this great principle, and resolved to carry it out with modera tiou 
 and firumess. The other elections will, as you remark, require to be attended 
 to as early as possible, after the division of counties is known. 
 
 " I remain yours, &c., ROBT. BALDWIN." 
 
209 
 
 In the inulHt of liis luost engHging piihlio diitioH, the atlvancpment of 
 his family w/ih never lost sight of, if coiiHiileiing tho roln of HtnteHinau in- 
 tendod for him, W. H. M., Jr., tliiH was oonihiiiing hoth. Tlie inten- 
 tion in exetnpliliud in liiH familiar letters : 
 
 "ToHOVTO, l-2th Janniiry, 1B40. 
 " Mv Db.vh Hoy : — It is my intention to have a consultation with Mr. 
 Boulton tliis weisk rospoctini^ your oomini; over. Mr. McKyos thinks you 
 hinl hotter roiii;iin wliore you are, and oontine yourself to roadin;; for a year 
 or two — but will not object. Much depends with yoiirseK. Your future 
 success can only he ensured hy dili;^ence ami attention. As regards tho 
 last, may I eutpiire wlu'ther you ever thought of semling mo a coj)y of 
 the letters I marked in tlie letter hook and left on the side hoards, rehiting 
 to the Wtdhmd Canal — and which you were to have sent the Wednesday 
 after I loft you. I also expected a description of your l)all from Thomas, 
 and of the tlieatres from you, hut writing apjtears a serious task to you 
 all. There is very little before tlie House, and I don't think anything of 
 cunsecjuence will pass the Legislature this season, e.Kcept tho Union. 
 
 "Truly afl'ectionato father, 
 
 "W. HAMILTON M EH KITT." 
 "Mr. William Hamilton Mekiutt, Junior." 
 
 '•Toronto, 12th January, 1840. 
 " My Dear Oatiif.rinr — The Clergy Reserve (juestion is now under 
 discussion, and when disposed of we will soon be dismissed. We have had 
 amcotinj' of tho board of directors of the (rrainl River Navii;ation ('om- 
 p«uy, and am in hopsis of i)rocuring money to Kiiish that work. After this 
 is done, my present intention is not to interfere with any further public im- 
 jtroveineut. Mr. Retimne jtreached to-day in the (Jathedral. It is a 
 splendid church, but altogether too large. Remember nie to all friends, 
 nm\ believe me, as ever, 
 
 " Your all'i'ctionato Imsband, 
 
 "W. HAMILTON MERRITT." 
 Our svibject sometimes absented himself froni the House for more con- 
 centration of thought. The author visited him while thus occupied. Ho 
 was busily engaged drawing up the St.Lawrence Canal report, having gone 
 home to his lodging for more (juiet. 
 
 iV memoir, copied from a statistical report, notices our dependence fon 
 supplies, as most of our trade was with England. The value of British 
 manufactures consumed in the year before the rebellion in British North 
 America exceeded that of the exportations to all Europe, being 31s. 6d. per 
 liead — nearly double the rate of that to the United .States — carried in 
 1,273 British vessels ; 75 only being by others. 
 
 Returned home, being now relieved from legislative duties till again 
 called upon to resume them by the voice of tho people in another election, 
 Mr. Merritt's journal of March 4th shows how watchful and attentive 
 he was of the progress of his country towards liberty, and of the pro- 
 ceedings of those in authority ; 
 
210 
 
 '• Mr. Yduii;; wiotf on iiHolutionH 3*1 Fi'luuiuy, haying Sir Colin ('amp- 
 licll, tlie (lovernor, aitfd on tlu* (h'SpHtcli of .'Ust Au^uRt: *! filiiill lie glad 
 to Uarn tlial you lia\o tliouglit it »'X|i('(licnt to give HcatH in it to koiik' of 
 th*< leading men in tin* AsMnddy.' Contract tliiti (tin; nunK.randnni adds) 
 witli 11h' dis|ia(( li of Kith ()<t<dier, and wiio can donlit tin* decision of tins 
 HoniP (Juvernnient. 'J Ids tests the point; \v(> will seer if it Ih to he eon- 
 ceded." 
 
 "IIamkax, Ftlinniry, 1840. 
 " 1>!'.AU Sir T adilressed you a few weciks ago calling your attttntion 
 to the series of letters then a|i|>earing in the lialiiii.x iVurdsmtia)! upon ic- 
 ponsllde (lovernnient and the lienrtitofa Kedeial I'nion. ( )ui- Ilou.se have 
 lust week (liscussednt large the ( 'onstitutional |irinci|ile of " l{es|tonsiltility," 
 and have j)assed a series of resolutions deelaiiug tlu-ir want of conlldeiice 
 in the jiresent Kxeetitive Couni-il of the Province. 'i'hey wailed on Mon- 
 day last in a body on His lOxeellency with these resolutions, and I refer 
 you to the XordKCofltDi of this date for the deliates and proceedings. 
 
 " In my last hotter several of my friends hen; think I have lelated a dis- 
 tinction which relievos the (juestion of rcf.sponsiliilify of )nuch jtractieal 
 ditliculty. 
 
 " Yours very truly, 
 
 "CJKO. N. YOUNG." 
 "Touo.NTo, :U\ March, 1810. 
 " I)r.AK Sill 'Pile receipt of your letter vt' the 27th ultimo has nllorded 
 me inueli satisfaction, as conveying the assurance which J undeistand it to 
 «}n, that under thepeiidiar ciicumstance."i in which I was placed 1 iiad done 
 right in accepting ollice from the Oovernor (SentMal. 
 
 " J do most e» rtaiidy adiiere to the princijdo of the advisers of the 
 (Vown lieing selected from tJiose who possess the conlidenco of Parliament, 
 and hxdc to it us th(> only means of .secui-ing the connection with tlie 
 Mother Country, to whitdi I am sinceiely attaclie<l. 
 
 " It is, us you say, most important to liave in the new Parliament men 
 devoti'd to this great principle and resolved to carry it out with motleratiou 
 and tirnniess. 
 
 "The other oh'ctions will, as you remark, reijuire to ho attended tons 
 early iia possihlt- aftei' tin; division of counties is known. 
 
 " 1 remain faithfully yours, 
 
 " HUBERT BALDWIN. 
 "W. II. Mi-.uuiTT, KsQ., M. P." 
 
 Our suliject was again a) "pointed a director on the canal, and elected 
 
 jtresident of the same, where his energy was once more felt. 
 
 A congratulatory letter from the old presidi'iit shows at a glance the 
 
 changed state of atlairs : 
 
 "TouoNTo, 11th April, 1840. 
 " My Dkah Sih — T am truly glad that you have heen again elected tlio 
 President of the Canal, to which you may claim the consideration of being 
 its father. I expect very soon to get some tidings from London on the 
 suhject of the .€15,000. I wrote in February last I should not hesitate to 
 proceed to England, but I am only waiting the commands of the Govcrn- 
 meut. I am sure it will require my presence there. I asked at the requcKt 
 of the Legislature hist year for permission to go to England for their beuetit, 
 
211 
 
 ])ut I was told Unit wlioii HIh Ex(!()II< ncy Haw tlin iiwcssity, In* would HfMul 
 iiK*. I tliiiik iiftry this tli.'it I could not ask Itnivo, li'.it w.iit for ordoiH, 
 wliioh I am ready and willing to olj«y. • 
 
 " Youth very truly, 
 
 ".JOHN l[. DUNN.'* 
 
 Homo of tlio now oniooi'H wora afraid of im lurtakiiig too niviich : 
 
 "CitowN Lands On-wK, IHtli April, 1840. 
 "My Dkau Sill — I ant in u'Mn\>t of your privates note of tlio liUh 
 instant. Von niuKt ))(> awai(! tlmt liowcvcr I niny disiif,'r<'ti with y«)U 
 rcHjH'cting otlicr great iniprovcincniH, I am a most ardent well wisJier to tlio 
 Welland. I am oMiged to you for your notts, and will attend to its con- 
 tents, Ko far as I have powor and opportunity. 
 
 " YourH moHt truly, 
 
 "H. W. SIM.LIVAN. 
 " W. H. Mkiuutt, E<(|., St. CatharinoH." 
 
 With i-iigai'il to Mr. Wilson's disinisHal from tlio Wclland Cinal, tho 
 Journai of "J.'Jd A|)ril sayn : 
 
 " What is his oHence ! Ifu votod for Mr. M«*rritt instead of Mr. Mc- 
 Cauley." 
 
 It tlion givoH a rotroHpcvstivo glance over tluH transaction : 
 
 " When it was known that Hir K. H')ad had doolin-jd tho re-appointmont 
 of Mr. Merrittto a situation which Im had held so long, and to which tho 
 pul)li(; thought he \ as so justly entith^d, oui" citi/.'ins assemlded spontano- 
 ously, raised funds Ity voluntary sul)scrij)tion, and s(Mit a memorial to I lis 
 Kxcclhiucy, stating in tho strongest terms the injustice done to Mr. Mer- 
 ritt, and expressing tln>ir i\'nir, that the sime eiieigy au<l perst^verance 
 which Iri, 1 previously heiui exercised in tho pros(tci!tioii of this great und(!r- 
 taking woidd not continue) to 1m! a provailing characteristic in tho operati .mis 
 of those! placed in charge of tho work. Tliroe years have- pa.SHed away an<l 
 wo an; as we wore." 
 
 The Governor's answer to Mr. Merritt gives another and more reliable 
 reason for tho change. 
 
 "GOVKKNMKNT IlousK, ToiiovTO, 24th A)»rii, 1H40. 
 
 " My Dkau 8ih — Your lette^r marked " confidential," of tlio 24th inst., 
 1 received last night. Pray allow me to l»<!g tluit you will dispossess your 
 mind of any uncomfortal)l«! feeling of a poi-soual nature! as reigarels the ap- 
 pointiiient of Mr. (Jayle)y in place of Mr. Wilson. To Mr. Wilson I make 
 no e)l)je)ction beyond his we!ll-known elesire te) carry e)n tho Works u|)on tho 
 Wellaud (Janal upon a scale of expe!nso which, under the circumstances of 
 this country, 1 shouhi consider, atprevsont, epiite) impre)]K'r. The whole pei- 
 cuniary elitliculties of the Province the (lovernor-CJesne'ral has takesn in hainl 
 with a view to extricate it from its jtresciit embarras-sme-nt, anel thereiforej I 
 feicl it to bo an obligation upon me to keep matters as much as po.ssiblo in 
 Hutu quo. 
 
 " I Lave the honor to remain, my deuir Hir, 
 
 " Your obedient servant, 
 
 " GEO. ARTHUR." 
 
m 
 
 212 
 
 "DuKDURN, April 19th, 1840. 
 " " My Dear Merritt — Ycur letter of yefiterday astonished ine not a 
 little. Mr. Willf-on has been bndly ii.sed. But the f,ufKtion i.s, what is to 
 be done — if I can do anything, I am ready and willing. Perhapa yon 
 had better see him on your way up, and we will consult. If the Government 
 has done wrong, they oiight to give some oneof the Directors a hint to resign 
 and re-instate Mr. Willson. Let me know the day before you come, that 
 I may be at home to meet you. We will make out tlie ticket for the G. 
 R. N. Co'y. Shall I secure proxys ? 
 
 " Yours truly, 
 
 "ALLAN N. MAC NAB." 
 The following from one of his supporters shows how our subject was es- 
 timated in his constituency : — 
 
 " MouLTON, April I'Tth, 1840. 
 " Sir — I acknowledge the roccij.t of yours of the 28th Maicli, also of 
 the St. Catharines Juvrntil. I have also done my best to niuke your sen- 
 timents known, and I am jiroud to say, as far as my knowledge extends, 
 that I believe there will not be an opposing voice, but a unanimous call in 
 your favor at the next election. 
 
 " I am, sir, your humble servant, 
 
 " WM. EGARS." 
 " Wm. Merritt Esq., M. P. P." 
 The first resolution of the Board, April 8, was that the President, Engi- 
 neer and Suj)erintendent examine the canal throughout, j)revious to its 
 opening for business. 
 
 This investigation was followed by applications for assistance that were 
 not considered equally necessary by his correspondents. 
 
 Not waiting for these letters, Mr. Merritt went down to Quebec. On 
 his way the following letterj^ was written by him to Mr. Killaly, whose 
 knowledge of the work and influence with the Governor made his recom- 
 mendation of consequence : 
 
 " Kingston, 13th May, 1840. 
 " My Dear Sir — I will thank you to give me a letter to the Governor- 
 General stating — 
 
 " 1st. The necessity of commencing the reconstruction of pier at mouth of 
 Gi-and River, immediately, foi- the convenience of the canal service, 
 
 " 2d. The benefit the service would derive by constructing the lock at 
 Dunville large enough to admit steamers in peace as well as war — without 
 it protections must be confined below the dam — as a steamer could not 
 make the interior. Consefjuences of further delay may be sejious — or 
 anything further you may suggest. Truly youi-s, 
 
 " W. H. MERRITT." 
 "Government House, Montreal, 9th May, 1840. 
 " Sir — Your letter of the 23d ultimo, and the accompanying report, 
 have been submitted to the Governor General, and I am commanded by 
 Hia Excellency to say that, not being at present in the immediate adminis- 
 tration of the Government of Upper Canada, he must refer you for a 
 more particular reply to your application to the Lieutenant Governor, who 
 ia now charged with that duty. 
 
213 
 
 "At the same time, aa the public works of U[)pei- Canada, as well as 
 the financial condition of that province, have engaijed his recent serious 
 att3ntion, bith dirin^ hisi al:niiistr.itioii of the Gr)vern;nint thore and 
 Hince, His E'ccallency dirscts me to say that he sliould feel great diffioulty 
 in giving any authority for the issue of so larg-3 a sun of debanturas as 
 that for which you ai)ply. 
 
 " By the terms of the Union, as proposed to Parliament, the debt of 
 Upper Canada is to be borne by the United Province, and the amount of 
 that debt hiui been stated, so far as it could be ascertained at the time, when 
 the rej)ort of the Legislature was transmitted homo. To increase that 
 debt now, except under the most absolute necessity, would, in his opinion, 
 be im[)roper, and he never hesitated to declare to all who applied to him, as 
 well foi; the Welland Canal as for any other public work in the province, 
 that fwch was his view of the case. That until arrangements would finally 
 be made for settling the finances, now, as you are well aware, involved 
 far beyond the means even of supplying the interest of the debt, these 
 works, however important, would not i)roceed, and that the only exi)endi- 
 tiire which he would consider justifiable under the circumstances was such 
 as might be indispensable for the fulfilment of engagements, or the 2)reven- 
 tion of serious-! injury by dilapidations. 
 
 " In order to ascertain the extent to whicli this nece.ssity miglit amount, 
 His Excellency directed a survey to be made of various public woi-ks in 
 progress in the Province, but with regard to the Welland Canal he was led 
 to believe by the director that what was required merely to effect this 
 purpose would be svxpplied by the tolls and property at the disposal of the 
 canal company itself. If this should not be the case, then tj that extent, 
 but to that extent only, would an outlay bo recommended. 
 
 " Whilst His Excellency, therefore, takes a deep interist in the ulti- 
 mate improvement of tl)at great channel of communication, ami is most 
 anxious to see the time when the work n)ay proceed, he cannot depart in its 
 favor from the principle which he has laid down, and the justice of which 
 seemed to be generally admitted and felt. * 
 
 " I have the honor to be, sir, vour obedient servant, 
 
 "T. W. C.'MURUOCK, Chief Secretary. 
 "W. H. Merritt, Esq., St. Catherine's, U. C" 
 
 Government House, Toronto, 11th May, 1 840. 
 
 Dear Sir — I return you the report on the Welland Canal, an d as I 
 am not to be moved to Siinction any expenditure \ipon any work w hatever 
 until the existing debt of the Province is placed on a sound footing, and 
 additional funds provided on desirable terms, you cannot l)e wrong in sub- 
 mitting, as you wLsh to do, the whole case to the Governor-Ceneral, to whom 
 1 have very briefly written on the subject. Of the work itself I cannot 
 hesitate to rep sat what I have fro(iU'Mitly personally said to you, that I 
 consider it m>re important khan any other undertaking — that I have not a 
 doubt it will give a m jst liberal return for any reasonable outlay in making 
 it a permanent work — to the full extent, in lead, which I reported to the 
 Secretary of Stiite, £25,000, and th.it an iu'r^isiu^ in3)m3 — vnd having, 
 last year, examined all the locks, I am of tlia opinion that it is of great 
 consequence that no nure money sliould hi sunk in repiirin^ t!ie present 
 locks than in unavoidable in order to koijp open tin com n micatiou. 
 
 " I beg to remain, sir, yours very sincerely, 
 Wm. Merritt, Esq. 
 
 CJEO. ARTHUR 
 
214 
 
 He retunuMl on the 28th witli a more successful answer to his requ isi- 
 tion for fiiiuls for the necessary improvements than these letters received 
 during his absence would indicate. 
 
 " St. Cathakines, 23d June, 1840. 
 
 " Mv Deak Cathakine^ — On Monday, after you lefL this, I went over 
 to Toronto witli William, and returned the day after. The money lias 
 been at length procured, and the board, wliich assembled yesterday, lias 
 consented to pioceed with the jiermanent woik. On Friday I meet the 
 board at the Grand Kiver, and take a turn through Haldimand the week 
 after, so that I shall bo very little at home for the coming fortniglit. 
 
 " Your affectionate husband, 
 
 " W. HAMILTON MERRITT." 
 
 In June, pre})aration3 were made for the enlargement, material col- 
 lected, <fec., under his supervision. The head olHce of the works was at St. 
 Catharines, as formerly, and the engineering staff was comj)Osed of Captain 
 Macaulay, R. E.; Hamilton Killaly,. Assistant ; Mr. Coventry, Clerk ; Mr. 
 Prescott, Secretai-y and Treasui-er. 
 
 While apparently attending to no higher occupation than his canal af- 
 fairs tilt following letters passed, showing that our subject was not forgetful 
 of the more extended business in law and other reforms that would occupy 
 them in the future united Parliament. The publication of the act was in 
 daily expectation and politicians moving. 
 
 '♦ Tuesday Morning, July 7th, 1840. 
 " Mv Dear Father — I was surprised to see that you have written so 
 many letters as an " Upj»er Canadian," as you have been iitm home so 
 much, and the articles have a))peared in such quick succes.sion. The editor 
 pays a tacit compliment to the importance of their contents Ity occupying 
 so much of liis editorial in contradicting their statenients, as the editors 
 scarcely ever make long comments on communications from anonymous cor- 
 respondei:ts, if they notice them at all. Mr. La Fontaine is now in Toionto, 
 the Patriot says, canvassiiig for the t^peaker's chair in the United Assembly, 
 and abuse's him most unmercifully. The laces will cc mmence to-monow. 
 I shall endeavor to go one day, as there are some of the fastest horses from 
 Canada and the States. I have finished Chitty's pleading, and will read 
 next Tidd's jiractico. Have just conimenced to read the history of France 
 in French, and as Mr. DelaHaye has the Code de Napoleon in French, also 
 I think I will read it, as you have always appeared anxious to become ac- 
 quainted with this system of laws. 
 
 " Your afiectionate and dutifid son, 
 
 " W. H. MERRITT." 
 
 " St. Catharines, July 9th, 1840. 
 
 "Mv Dear Sox — The editor of the Montreal 6Vf;:e^/<? does not under- 
 stand the subject, ai,d ctnldits himself with as-seriions and misrej)resenta- 
 tions. Hcwever the obj«'tt must be attained, the ini))rovement of so noble 
 a river cannot riniain neglected much longer. I am hap])y to find you re- 
 verting to your studies, and shall be glad to liear you mention from time 
 to time the books which have last occupied your attention. Chitty's 
 
 plead 
 
 and t 
 
215 
 
 ])loa(lings and Tidd's practice is a commencement, and tlie Histoiyof Fmnce 
 and tlie Code Naiiolcon will jnuve intcrcstinji;. I have 1 een anxiius to 
 find the code on civil law pointing out the nifthod of collecting small debts, 
 with costs, etc. I have seen the general maxims or | riiiciples on which the 
 code is founded. I wish you would .send me a coj)y of your ex] er.ditures, 
 and I will, on seeing the saine, send what money you require. A strict 
 account must be kept and proni|)tly furni.shed that we may enter it in our 
 cash account. Truly adoctioiiatelv vonr.s, 
 
 " W. HAMILTON MERRITT. 
 
 "I am also happy to hear you intend to improve in your writing, to do 
 wliich, good pons, ink and paper are desirable." 
 
 The following is the record of an occurrence that cast a gloom over the 
 whole «omuuinity, and occurred while tl.o author and tlie Rev. James 
 Clark were crossing the canal to Port Dalhousie. It is from Mrs. Merritt's 
 journal of July 12 : 
 
 " We know not wliat a d,iy will brin':^ forth. At 11 o'clock attended 
 Divine service fur the sacoud tim? in our new church, and listened to our 
 aged and beloved minister as at other time-*, little dreamiii.j it was the last 
 time we should enjoy that privilege. Tliat very afternoon he met with an 
 accident that caused his death the following Tuesday. Why we should be 
 visited with so afflicting, so awful a dispensation without doubt we shall 
 know here ifter. It is our duty to submit, and, oh, may this sad bereave- 
 ment be sanctified to the good of our, his Hock's souls, and also to his dis- 
 tressed family." 
 
 On the 23rd of July an important meeting, presided over by 8ir A. 
 ^McNab, was held at Queenston Heights, for the purpose of rel)uilding the 
 monument to Sir Isaac Brock, which an outlaw, named Ben. Lett, had 
 blown up since the reballion times. Mr. Alerritt at this meeting made 
 an eloquent and stirring speech, recounting in glowing words the battle, 
 the first a'.id consecpiently the most important of tlie war of 1812, with 
 which, being on the spot, he was familiar. 
 
 A subscription list was opened, and the noble shaft which now crowns* 
 those historic heights and does silent honor to the illustrious departed, 
 attests the success of the undertaking. 
 
 It is worthy of note that the table used by the Secretary of the meet- 
 in •, was the one used by Governor Simcoe, when he held court in old Niag- 
 ara, nearly a half a century previous, and was lent by Mr. Woodrvitt" of St. 
 Davids, for the occasion. 
 
 Sliortly after, the news of the passage of the Union Bill was received : 
 
 Dear Father— You have no doubt h'^ard the (to you) gratifying intel- 
 ligence of the passage of the Union Bill. The St. (r*^ )rge brought the 
 first news a few hours since. No papers have as yet arrived. It is not 
 well received here, particularly the inform ition that Montreal is to be the 
 seat of Oovernment. It is thouglit, however, that it is v\n-n supposition 
 as to its i)osition. Your atlcctionate and dutiful son, 
 
 "W.'H. MERRITT." 
 
'■'•11 
 
 216 
 
 We read of a person divested of a limb feeling the pains incident there- 
 to ; something of the kind must, in the absence of a Legislature and on the 
 passing of the Imperial Act, have disturbed the body politic. 
 
 The St. Catharines Journal, on the new consolidation of Canada pays : — 
 " Much of our future welfare is as a jieople connected with its administra- 
 tion iinder a wise, {)rudent and Liberal Governor General. If the people do 
 their duty to themselves and their posteritj", it may work well ; on the con- 
 trary, much mischief and vexation may occur, and instead of proving a 
 blessing, we may tiud ourselves in a retrogradive position. As the country 
 increasos in material numbers and wealth, the more ];ower and weight our 
 representatives will obtain in the councils of the colony." 
 
 Electioneering plans were formed, as if a Parliament were about to 
 meet with the ensuing winter. 
 
 The following is from the advocate whose long experience in the prac 
 
 tice of law in Canada, and from whose forensic skill our subject had bled 
 
 profusely, and whose talents, in the opinion of those out of the pi-ofession, 
 
 might be turned to the advancement of the country in the coming 
 
 struggle : 
 
 " Toronto, July 10, 1840. 
 
 "My Dear Sir — Yours of 4th in.st. came duly to hand. I appi-ehend 
 there is no doubt but that Toronto will return two members, and I have no 
 doubt that I could be returned with certainty, ifthe Eeformerswill as a party 
 heartily give me theirsupport, and I think it would be well if you wouldcome 
 over and be one of a select meeting to di.vcuss and organize the matter. 
 Widmer has spoken to »ie, and Baldwin himself will give his support,but 
 it must be brought about, not by soliciting support, which might be 
 construed by some as evincing an anxiety on my jiart to attain some ulte- 
 rior object for myself. They can't undeistand a man coming forward on 
 ])ublic grounds, and therefore a suspicion would at once be created by my 
 showing an anxiety about it, and consequently those who are anxious that 1 
 should be returned must get up a requisition to which of course I can re- 
 spond. Committees should then be formed and all would go regularly on. 
 There are many modeiate men of the Tory side who would vote for me as 
 a man in whose loyalty they would confide, and who would trust to my 
 judgment and the large stake I have in the town to do nothing that would 
 endanger the peace of the country, and thus I would get Pujiportfrom many 
 who would prefer me as a man of property and experience to other candi- 
 dates not having the same hold upon them. Write and tay what you think. 
 
 " Yours truly, B ." 
 
 "Toronto, 10 July, 1840. 
 
 Dear Sir — I believe as you do, that Mr. P- is sincere in tlie 
 
 opinions he has avowed, and thinks that it would be an object to have hini 
 returned by the reform interest to the next Parliament. In this ©pinion 
 
 Mr. H , I am satisfied, participates as well as seme other refoimers 
 
 here, but there is, as I have told Mr. l- himself, a very great general 
 
 distrust of him — in fact so much so that I have had complaint made against 
 me fur having I ecu understood to Lave expressed the foregoing opinions, 
 and have been cautioned that it will aflTect my election if I appear promi- 
 
217 
 
 nently desirous of his return. I have been anxiovis that there should bf^ 
 a meeting of a few of tlie Reform i)arty here to consider the suV»ject, but no 
 one seems willing to entertain it until it is ascertained with certainty that 
 the city is to have a second member, and whether the election is to be by a 
 joint vote or by wards. Mr. Dunn and D. Widmer also have been s]>oken 
 of, and if either of them would stand, I am satisfied there would be no 
 chance for any other persons. 
 
 " Believe me, vours truly, 
 
 " R. W. BALDWIN." 
 
 "Toronto, 15 J ily, 1840. 
 "My Dear Sir — I was much pleased to find by your let* ar that your 
 canvas in Haldimand had been so successful, as I feared tlir Mr. Thomas' 
 address might have caused a diversion. T do trust there w' . be no further 
 opposition, and that you will stick to Haldimand. 1 fea: iiuch that your 
 coming forward for Lincoln, which has been announ. , d, would cause 
 trouble and perhaps a split among our party, which is not strong enough to 
 bear anything of the kind. I get credit for being one of the extremes, but 
 I assure you I have to bear a good deal of abuse, and unmerited suspi- 
 cion, because I do not go far enough. When I was over in Queenstown 
 and St. Davids with Mi. La Fontane, Mr. Thorburn heard Mr. Woodruft' 
 denouncing my course as highly improper, and there are plenty here to 
 say the same thing. I do not mind this, however. I am determined to act 
 widi all who will in good faith support the Liberal party. I care not by 
 what name it is called. I am not disposed either to rjuan-el with such men 
 as Mr. Hari'ison, who stops short of our views and who will not yet identify 
 themselves, with our party. We must accept a few such men, but as few 
 as possible. They will probably, if we act with temper and judgment, form 
 
 right in the lead. You know how unpopular Mr. B is 2}frso7ially, 
 
 and how suspicious peo|)le generally are of his |)rinciples. I had a letter 
 yesterday fi-om Mr. I.A Fontane, and he mentioned having heard from you. 
 He writes in good spirits and says his friends are well satisfied with his 
 report of the feelings towards them here. There is a very excellent article 
 in Le Camufien, edited by Mr. Parent, of Quebec. It declares that they 
 must abandon all idea of nationality, and jirepare gradually to become 
 identified with the people about them. I shall translate and copy it. 
 
 " Believe me, dear sir, yours very truly. 
 
 "Toronto, 25th August, 1840. 
 " My Dear Sir — I have been so much occuiiied in one way and another 
 that I have not been able to snatch half an hour to answer your two let- 
 ters. You will have seen by the papers that my business has been partly 
 political, and I must say the further I advance the more disgusted I get 
 with the factious c induct of the Corporation or Tory [tai-ty here. They 
 oppose responsible government, and say we are a colony and must submit 
 to the final authority and decision of the Home Government, but when the 
 Home Government api)oint a Governor (Thompson) of politics diflfering 
 from their own, they denounce his policy and do all they can to return an 
 oj)position member to defeat his views. This would be quite right for 
 vesponsibles to do, their desire being to carry out their own j)olicy without 
 reference to the Government at home ; but when they i)rofess to submit to 
 the Government at hojie and to d'fer theirs to the judgment of the Sec re- 
 
)l*fS 
 
 :il8 
 
 m 
 
 tary of State, T cannot understand liow they can oppose the Governor 
 sent from lionie. Tlio truth is, us lung us the (Jovennnent at Homo con- 
 sults their wishes and looks through their eyes, it is quite right to bo loyal 
 and do as you are bid from homo ; but let the Home Oovernment be 
 changed and got into other hands, and thou wo hear a great deal about 
 respect for the Homo Government and nee a great deal of party virulent 
 opposition to it. My idea is that the Govei-nmont here should be conduct- 
 eil according t,o our wants and wishes and in harmony with the dominant 
 l)arty for tho time being, and quito independent of party politics in Eng- 
 land. Changes of Ministry there should have no influence upon our affairs 
 here. At a meeting tho other night I acquiesced in a dej)utation waiting 
 upon Dunn to otl'er foi- th« town, to which he is to give an answer in a day 
 or two. If he does not come forward I shall be put in nomination ; but 
 lie was, and I tliink corri'ctly, considered to be the most popular man in 
 the city, and therefore ho was named. 
 
 " B." 
 " W. H. Mkiuutt, Esq., St. Catharines." 
 
 The synopsis of the Imperial Act has in it most important articles, as 
 follows : It is entitled 
 
 An Act to re-unite the provinces of Upper and Lower Canada, and for 
 the Government of Canada. 
 
 Six;. 4. — Only a subject eligible for a Legislative Councillor to be sum- 
 moned by the (.u)V(?rnor. 
 
 y — (Unernors to ajjpoii't their Speaker. 
 
 2ri— Ho ji))points time and place of election. 
 
 I5''- — Oath — 1 (!o sincerely pn)mise anil swear that I will be faithful 
 and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Victoria, as lawful Queen 
 of Great J^ritaiu and Jreland and of the Province of Canada, dej.'fnilant on 
 and bi'loHjimj tuthi: mid United Kingdom, and that I will defend her to 
 the utmost of my power. 
 
 •"'- — Tiiat out of the consolidated revenue fund of the Pi-ovince of 
 Canada there shall be payable in every year to Her Majesty, .£'45,000 for 
 Governor, Lieutenant (ioveruor, I Chief Justice, 4 Provincial Judges, 10 
 Council of iiower Canada, 1 Chief Justice of Montreal, W Provincial 
 Judgt%s, 10 Juilges ; pensioners, etc., .£20,000; Civil Secretary, Pi'ovinciul 
 Secretary, Receiver General, Inspector General, Executive Council, Board 
 of Works, etc., the.so cost, .§300,000. 
 
 53 — Tiie independent civil and judicial list. 
 
 54 — Sunender the territorial and casual revenue belonging to the 
 Crown, three-llftlis to consolidated revenue till five years after the demise 
 of Her ]\lajesty. 
 
 50 — Fust charge on the duties, expense of collection ; second, the in- 
 terest on public debt; third, the clergy ; fourth, civil list, £45,000: fifth, 
 judicature, £30,000; sixth, old accounts. 
 
 57 — Tnat it is not lawful for the Legislature to originate or pass any 
 vote, resolution or biil of appropriation except by a message of the Gov- 
 ernor. 
 
 tJO — Labrador, from St. Johns, to be taken from Newfoundland and 
 annexed to Quebec. 
 
 Two more unim])ortant sections finish the list. 
 
219 
 
 We do not wish, in pasHing through the acts of Miiiistors, to ohlitcmte any 
 good intentions towards this distant i»ortioii of Her jNlajesty's possessions, 
 nor is it our business to undertake to write a political history further than 
 to relate the connection of our sulycct thereto ; hut the clauses of the 
 Ui\ion Act quoted above show that in surrendering their jjower to stop 
 the supplies and to originate important bills, ministers had legislated so 
 ii8 to place tlie i)eople and CJovernment of Canada entirely under their 
 power, and the history of our Government, detailed in this biography, 
 shows that our subject, with other fellow-countrymen, ceasing to have the 
 power to originate bills or to have any power over the money granted, left 
 the Government in the hands of the Ministry, who always represented Im- 
 pei'ial interests, so that the British Government, being res}>onsiblo for all 
 the acts, l)y this act, adioitly M'orded, nuide it to appear tho responsiliility 
 as belonging to the j)eople of Canada. 
 
 The gradual weaning fron; some of hift canal imi)rovements is shown 
 ill a letter to the author at Toronto from Ht. Catharines dated Aug. 17th. 
 This had taken up a good deal of his time, as he had visited the Grand 
 River every month since the opening of navigation: 
 
 " My Dear Son — T returned from the Grand River on Friday. The 
 improvements will l)e finished all well this week, and I hope to be tliere- 
 after relieved from further attention to that object." 
 
 H. K., in a long and contiilential letter, notifies liini of the departure 
 
 of the Governor (General from Montreal for the West, and remarks that 
 
 ho took a wide range in the Eastern Provinces, being upon the Vermont 
 
 frontier. 
 
 " MoXTRKAL. l.'Uh July, 1840. 
 
 " Mv Deak Sir — The Governor told me that immediately, on his retuin 
 from Halifax, he would go west. He niav be here the latter end ot this 
 
 week. 
 
 H. K." 
 
 "Montreal, 14th August, 1840. 
 " Mv Dear Sir — I received your letter here on our arrival from a 
 tour in the eastern townships. The Governor General desii-es me to in- 
 form you that it is his intention to leave this for Ujtper Canada on Tues- 
 day next, and that he expects to b? at St. (.'athariui^s on Thursd.iy or Fri- 
 day, and that he proposes to stay at Niagara for a few days after that. Any 
 arrangements, therefoi-e, which you may desire to make could be made at 
 tliat time. 
 
 " Believe me, my dear sir, very faithfully yours, 
 
 "T. W. C. MURDGOK. 
 " W. H. Merritt, Esq." 
 
 In August, the Governor Goneral, Sir P. Thom])son, visited this 
 neighborhood, and was entertained by the ]>eople of St. Cathai-ines with a 
 public breakfast. He afterwanls went up the canal in company with our 
 subject, and left for the west at Port Colborne, in a government steamer. 
 
U|' 
 
 220 
 
 "St. Catjiarines, AuKust 30, 1840. 
 
 "My Dear Thoma.s — Wo had tho (tovonior (tciu-ral at St(*j)lienHon'K 
 yeHterday iiiorninj^. There was <juite a reH|i<Tt«l>l(i luiinhcr nu-t him and 
 I (resented an adilroKH. Your father aacomjuinied him and Kin*- to Port Col - 
 home. Father HavH he (the Governor (Jeneral) \h very nincli pleased with 
 tlie canal. Your afl'ectionate mother, 
 
 "C. M." 
 
 Tlie changes in the constitution had now i*endered a now election neces- 
 sary, ard a convention beiuf; liehl at St. Catliarines, cotnjtoscMl of delegates 
 of the advocates of the union, from different townHhijts, and they being 
 pleased with Mr. Merritt's course therein, ofi'ered liim the rei»resentation 
 of the county, which after consideration, believing they fully rei)resent«'d 
 tlie majority of tlie people of the county, he accepted. He afterwards paid a 
 visit to his old constituency in Haldimand, and delivered his farew ell address. 
 
 There was not at this time great concord in the Governor's liouse- 
 liold, as tlie following from the former engineer of the Welland, and now 
 promoted to the presidency of the Board of Works, will show : 
 
 " Board of Works, 20th October, 1840. 
 
 " Mv Dear Sir — I do not wonder at the mortification you express 
 respecting your affairs in the Welland, but I cannot understand at all how 
 matters are now going on. If I understand aright stones are being got 
 out and prepared, but in what system, and without an aim to what class of 
 work or specification ? Because it may be very easy to, as it were, 
 strengthen the justice of the extravagant estimate by the rate of what is 
 now doing. 
 
 " I never heard of the letter sent the Welland Board, by order of the 
 Governoj-, to furnish, him with an estimate, and presuming (at least I fear) 
 it was suggested to him to do so through the late Military Secretary, 
 
 Major Hall, prompted probaV)ly either by or iome of the corps, 
 
 who are very clannisli, and will bear each other out, if it be possible. Hall 
 has left, for which I am not sorry. 
 
 " Tell Richard Boyle his petition was referred to me, and that I strong- 
 ly urged his claim upon the favorable consideration of His Exaellency this 
 day, and that he will shortly be settled with. 
 
 " Faithfully yours, 
 
 " H. H. KILLALY." 
 
 " Office of Board of Works, Nov. 6th. 
 " Mv Dear Sir — Not to permit our correspondence to drop, I take up 
 my pen, although I have little to say. The Council is and has been sit- 
 ting these two days closely. They are now hard at work at the Registry 
 Bill, which I believe to be a most excellent one, and cleverly drawn up — 
 rather long, but it is said unavoidably so. The sitting, it is generally su])- 
 posed, will last about a fortnight, and I have I'eason to believe that no time 
 will be lost in bringing the Union into play and holding the elections. It 
 is generally represented to His Excellency that a reaction against the Ex- 
 ecutive may take place if longer delayed. My opinion is so, and I think 
 some of the late men started upon supposed Government interest and in- 
 fluence, will not contrive to keep that influence in good odour with the 
 
221 
 
 people. NeilHon, you obsorvo, i.i Iminincring awny. He \h doing much 
 iniHohiof — not ntopping at any thing to work liiH ontlH. Among othfin, he 
 is getting up little losrt timn rolxjllion against the Hleigh ordinanco, which, 
 throJigh him, ciiuHeH great excitement just now. 
 
 " All the otiioial and private letters from the foreign de|iai-tment unani- 
 nioiisly concur in stating all fear of war is over. Thank (rod ! 
 
 " The Colonel's estimate and Hpecilioation affords nnich amusement to 
 all the ofliuers of his corps 1 meet with. They all concur in saying he 
 knows nothing of practice, and that some trcwiti.ses |mblished by him in 
 his more immediate department some time ago are laughed at hy ofticers. 
 You can do nothing except through the liegislature. The Governor Gen- 
 eral will not sanction any expenditure or del)t until then. Wilson's "tax- 
 ation without representation" may have confirmed him in this. 
 
 " You have, you may dej)end on it, .several and active friends, who have 
 bellowed sutKcieiitly u|)on " Meri-itt'a sjwjculation, extravagance, chimerical 
 ideas," etc. They are all above iii your city. 
 
 " With esteem, faithfully yours, 
 
 "JI. H. KILLAl.Y." 
 
 " Okkic'e of the Post Office Commission, Montkeal, Nov. I'J. 
 " Sill — I have to request that you will furnish mo, for the information 
 of the Post OlHoe Commissioners, with the least po.ssible dtday, a return of 
 your pay and emoluments as Post Master at St. Catharines for the year 
 ending ."ith July last, distinguishini; therein the various sources from which 
 your income has been derived. You will please al.so to state, under the 
 head of observations, what expense.^' you have actually incurred, during the 
 same period, for clerk hire, orfice rent, etc. 
 
 " The Commissioners desire to bo further informed whether you rcu 
 larly ailbrd your personal services to the tluties of the olHce, or whether 
 the management devolves u\)on an assistant. 
 
 " I have the honor to be, sir, your most obedient servant, 
 
 "CHHIST. UUNKIN." 
 
 Our subject, in reply to the above comnuiuication, sent the information 
 required, which was as follows : 
 
 " I allow the clerk the entire percentage of this office, wliich is £r)3 
 Gs. li'ld. ; he pays office rent ecpial to £G 5s. Od. ; tire wood, £2 10s. Od. ; 
 net proceeds, £4-4 lis. 3|d. I have the benefit of frankii.^' my private let- 
 ters, and attend at the office when recjuired to answer any conimuuications, 
 making up returns, »kc. ; but the daily management devolves on the assist- 
 ant, who is at this moment William Copeland." 
 
 October 20. — A strong protest, signed by several who have since 
 borne prominent situations in Canada, against the Act of Union, appeared 
 at this time, these dissentients being mostly in the Lower Province. 
 
 The views of Mr. Merritt's siipporters in his own county with regard 
 to his (jualitications for their representative may be gathered from this re- 
 port of the convention, taken from the Journal of December 31, 1840 : 
 
 " That, as it was generally understood that the services of Mr. Merritfc 
 or Mr. Thorburn would be required, the committee lost no time in waiting 
 on these gentlemen. Mr. Merritt having, at their unanimous solicitation, 
 
222 
 
 jirorniHt'd to acoodt^ to tlicir wisIicH, provided th«* l.ittcr did not, ftiid tlie 
 latter runninj,' for the South Kidin^', we have the haitpiiiess to congratulate 
 you u))ou Mr. Morritt'n accoptHnce of tlio noniinn.tiuu. 
 
 " Kellow Hul»jectH — As we are now apj)roaehiiiL; a nioht iuiportnnt crisis 
 in our }iolitical atl'airH, it bccoineH our duty to phice liefore you a few con- 
 .sideratiouH wliicii liave iniiuenced us in Helectinjj Mr. Merritt as the mont 
 fitting,' candidate. 
 
 " It will 1)0 tiio duty of the timt United LegiHlature to eHtaldish such a 
 system of Guvonunent a-s will restore confidence and tnuuiuility to the 
 c<»untry, and insure our future jiciico and conHei|uent prosperity ; and deeply 
 inipresssd with the lielief that ih'V Majesty's Kuljjoets in ('anada are entitled 
 to the same political privile^'es as are enjoyed by their fellow nuhjects at 
 hotno, and at the same time most anxiovis that the connection with oiu" 
 fatherland should be perpetuated, we have solicited one known to entertain 
 enlarged and liberal views of Constitutional Government." 
 
 The princijiles of the British Constitution were not as well undei-stood 
 hero as at homo. An instance is given in the jiassage of the Reform Hill 
 to illustrate its practice there. The committee then continues : 
 
 " B^'fore the appearance of Lord Durham's report, many worthy men 
 believed we were already in possession of the British Constitution — since, 
 they now assert we cannot have the British Constitution while a colony of 
 the British Empire. 
 
 " It is most surprising that any portion of our fellow subjects can be 
 found advocating a syst.em that ilid produce discontent iii the old colonies. 
 
 " The committee conscientiously believe that the British Government 
 desire to make the people of Canada happy !t»id contented. Tliat British 
 statesmen can have no motive or interest in withholding from us the 
 beneficial effects produced Ijy the practical working of their own constitu- 
 tion. That the system reconnnended by Lord Durham's report would se- 
 cure us all we desire — the management of our internal aflairs. That such 
 a politic and liberal comiession would form the strongest of all possible ties 
 by which we would be attached to the Government and Empire of Great 
 Britjiin. 
 
 " Being composed of King, Lords and Commons, neither of them could 
 carry on the government without the co-operation of tho other. If any 
 has the most power it is tlie people's branch, for they })ossess the [)ower to 
 withhold annually the su iplies. 
 
 " To secure these inestimable blessings, therefore, your committee would 
 recommend tho selection of Mr. Merritt as their representative for Up- 
 per Canada in the United Parliaatient." 
 
 As the committee acknowledged ignorance on the subject, a gi-eat deal 
 of confidence was necessarily reposed in our subject, which he recipro- 
 cated, we believe, and felt, therefore, the weight of the responsibility. 
 
 That he did not forgot his family interests, the following letter to the 
 autlior will show : 
 
 "St. Catharines, 7th December, 1840. 
 " My Dkar Son — Yours of the 1st instant directed to me, and one of 
 the 3d instant to Thomas, requesting him to send you $20, is at hand, and 
 the amount is herewith enclosed. You request more correspondence from 
 
not, and tlie 
 congnitulut(^ 
 
 jiortnnt cri8is 
 
 u u few con- 
 
 t tiH the muHt 
 
 iiltliHli such ii 
 iiility to tlie 
 ; and deeply 
 a art' cntitli'ti 
 V Hultjects ut 
 ion with our 
 
 I to tiitt'itain 
 
 II undorstoo'l 
 
 I Reform 15111 
 
 H : 
 
 woitliy men 
 iiition — since, 
 le a colony of 
 
 hjects can he 
 
 e old colonies. 
 
 Government 
 
 Til at British 
 
 from us tiie 
 
 own constitu- 
 
 jort would se- 
 
 •8. That such 
 
 II possible ties 
 ipire of Great 
 
 of them could 
 ther. If any 
 i the power to 
 
 nmittee would 
 tatire for Up- 
 
 t, a gi-eat deal 
 ■h he recipio- 
 nsibility. 
 g letter to the 
 
 mber, 1840. 
 ue, and one of 
 1 at hand, and 
 pondence from 
 
 223 
 
 home, but yoii do not provoke it by writinif many or lonj^' letters rourself 
 although it would appear you ha<i, not only mon^ leisure, but tliat it would 
 be more Kcrvieeablo to you, by pnietiHing wlnit you will in ftfter life have 
 much to do, if well and useful in any sphere of life. 
 
 " Mr. Atkin.son preaehed two .sermons on Sunday, and aIthoui,'li very 
 stormy, they were well attended. He in getting a very lai-go congiegation 
 and 1 pray may do us all much good. 
 
 " You anticipate Much pie isure in spentling the holidays at home. I 
 hope it may be realized. The season is so boisterous that unlesa the duv 
 is fair do not come over in the steamer. Yon can select a good dfty and 
 get a wagon in Niagara — there is generally some down fr»)m tlu- country. 
 I will thank Mr. Grasette to give you a description of the lots in the deed 
 sent for his son, together with thf! name, so that I may have them wrote 
 \iy William on parchment. I will write William on the morrow. 
 
 " Your atlectionate father, 
 
 "W. HAMILTON MERIUTT. 
 " Mr. J. P. MF.nuiTT." 
 
 "Board ok Works, 7th December, 1810. 
 
 "Mv Dear Sir— T have just had yours of the 2Gth ultimo. The same 
 post brought me a letter from Mv. Adams, enclosing one of your addresses 
 to the electors, which I have not yet read, as Mr. Murdock got hohl of it 
 and brought it over to the Governor, from whom I have not yet got it. 
 
 " t)ur Special Commission is doing very little — travels at snail's pace. 
 I have just heard the E.\.ecutivo Council has been summonad. I think 
 but little time will be lost now in declaring the Union. You will see by 
 the papers that all idea of Quebec being the seat of Government is aban- 
 doned. This place is, also. I believe it will ultimately end in Kingston. 
 
 " I am glad to see by your letter that Hall is making an estimate, so 
 that your nuitters will be fully prepared against the meeting of the Legis- 
 lature. I have not seen anything further of Mr. Mauley's docum«>nt8. 
 Those sent to us are merely throe plans of hi.s lino and location of locks. 
 
 " Yours faithfully, 
 
 "H. H. KILLALY. 
 " W. H. Merrht, Esq." 
 
 Messrs. Merritt and Rykert generally acted together and voted uni- 
 formly in the direction of improvements, even up to the la.st acts of the 
 last Parliament, whose act in surrendering the Constitution we have found 
 it necessary to condemn. They voted with the forty-three for the Union, 
 including the jiermanent judicisU list. The difference increased during the 
 canvass, and the election turned on the Union and " responsible" govern- 
 ment. Concord returned when the latter left the electoral contest. Mr. 
 Rykert turned his attention to local affairs, while Mr. Merritt attemptetl 
 to carry out the interests of the country in Parliament, with what succe.sa 
 remaining pages will show. In the meantime, the contest was carried on 
 through the columns of the Journal and Constitutionalist in an internecine 
 paper war. 
 
224 
 
 1841. 
 
 An anomaly in tlie history of Canada — no Parliament had been called 
 before the holidays, and our sulyect hid the leisure to enjoy them in the 
 bosom of hia family. The following epistle gives in homely atyle the occu- 
 pations he and they were engaged in : 
 
 " St. Catharines, 3d January 1841. 
 
 "Mv Dear Mot'IER— Christmas and the New Year holidays, with all 
 their m<>ri'y making and social greetings are past. The custom of gentle- 
 men making calls on the first day of the year is practised here pretty gen- 
 erally. Many who liave no communication the rest of the year will on 
 that day call at each other's hoiKses and take a bit of cake with the lady. 
 
 The young men made great reckoning on paying Miss A a visit, aa 
 
 they remembered how bountifully they were regaled there last year with 
 hot cotfee, etc, and they fared quite as well this year, by the account our 
 boys gave. We allowed William lo have a party Tuesday evening, and it 
 was pretty well utttMided. Uncle Elias, Aunt iSusaii and Dr. Chase were 
 among the young folks. 
 
 " Oar new chuj-ch looked very neat on Christmas day — the pillars 
 wound with evergreens, and festoons in front of the gallery; but best of 
 all, we have a good faithful clergyman a'.:d a large and attentive congre- 
 gation. Only the family dined with us, as Mrs. M. said some years ago she 
 would never give another dinner on Christmas; she thinks it is not a 
 proper day. 
 
 " Your aflectionate daughter, 
 
 "C. M." 
 
 The wail of mourning for the rebellion had not yet died out in the land, 
 and while most are enjo3'ingthe season in the society of family and friends, 
 some have to pass it in solitude, sorrowing for those banished to the farthest 
 extremity of the habitable globe : 
 
 "Bertie, January 12th, 1841. 
 
 " Dear Sir — I have just been informed that you have received a letter 
 from Sir John Franklin, of Van Dieman's Land, saying that the liberty 
 of the island had been granted to Mr. Wait, and my inten.se anxiety to 
 know the truth of this pleasii.g intelligence induces me to trouble you 
 with this note. I have recently received a letter from Mr. Wait, which is 
 rather encouraging, in which he speaks most highly of the country, wishing 
 nie to come out, if possible, and Mr. Roberts, the gentleman to whom him- 
 .self and Mr. Chandler were assigned on landing in that country, has also 
 written to me, holding out inducements for me there, saying that from a 
 knowleilge of my exertions for my husband, whom he respects from acquain- 
 tance, he is disposed to render me services on my landing in that country, 
 aiid that I may rest assured of a comfortable and happy home. This was 
 indeed unexpected, though I was aware of every influence being exerted on 
 my behalf by my friends in E^igland, and fain would I go could I see the 
 possibility of my doing so, but this I must leave to Him who is able to pro- 
 vide. I fear the time is distant when I shall be permitted to lay my case 
 befora the United Legislature, as the Governor General seems disposed to 
 
225 
 
 withhold that privilege. I am stopping at Mr. S. McAfee's, where I hare 
 a school three miles below Fort Erie, from which post office a line will 
 reach me, should you kindly oblige 
 
 " Your most grateful servant, 
 
 "MARIA WAIT. 
 "W. H. Merbitt, Esq." 
 
 " St. Johks, N. S., April 30, 1841. 
 
 " Dear Sir — While I have to mourn the loss of a kind husband, I am 
 at the same time doomed to waste my strength in endeavoring to procure a 
 living for the large family of little ones which he has been doomed to leave 
 me. I have been led to these reflections in order to impress you with the 
 conviction that it is through necessity that I make this appeal to you, hop- 
 ing that you will exercise your influence in a liCgislative capacity, and, per- 
 adventure, procure the return of my husband to the bosom of his family ; 
 and in so doing you will infinitely oblige 
 
 *' Your humble servant, 
 
 "ELIZA CHANDLER. 
 " W. H. Merritt, Esq." 
 
 The past year was a remarkable one in many ways. Extraordinary 
 powers were placed in the hands of the Governor. The seat of government 
 was changed to Kingston, and in accordance with his promise to the Cana 
 dian people, that steam communication with Europe would be established 
 by the Imperial Government, it resulted in a contract being given to Mr» 
 Cunard ; but instead of being a real benefit to Canada, it was the reverse, 
 as the vessels only stopped at Halifax, and alternately went on to Boston 
 and New York, thereby benefitting the Erie Canal, and the commerce of 
 the United States, and diverting our own from its natural outlets by the 
 lakes and St. Lawrence, to the ocean. 
 
 The annual report of the canal, under Mr. Merritt's presidency, was 
 published, and showed a promising statement. The traffic had materially 
 increased, the tolls rising to the large sum of $80,000 during the year, with 
 a bright f)rospect ahead. The results of the past season put a damper on 
 those wJio opposed the canal, and all now looked forward to the grand im- 
 provements as calculated to place this work far in advance of its previous 
 position. 
 
 "St. Catharines, 28th January, 1841. 
 " My Dear Sir — I beg leave to enclose you for the information of His 
 Excellency the Governor General a copy of the report of the Welland 
 Canal Company for 1840. This document proves that the amount of stock 
 and loans held and made by the Provincial Government of Upper Canada 
 prior to 1837 did not exceed £209,000 sterling. Secondly — That in con- 
 sideration of the interest on X50,000 sterling, the British Government are 
 secured by a Provincial statute to the free transit of the canal for all 
 Government stores, and that the one-ninth of the cost of the canal, which 
 it was the intention of the Ministry at that time to grant, has been re- 
 served. Thirdly — That the work has been constructed at a less cost than 
 any similar work in America of equal magnitude. That its progfes-sivo 
 
226 
 
 income has exceeded the amount set down by it.s most sanguine promotei-s. 
 That a revenue of only „£25,650 for an average of three years will not 
 only pay the interest on loans since 1837 — six per cent, dividend on pri- 
 vate shares — but the interest on a future outlay of .£400,000. 
 
 " With this favorable result you may imagine my deep regret in being 
 compelled to announce that another year has p;ussod away and the canal not 
 one hour nearer its completion than when placed under the control of the 
 Executive Government of Upper Canada in \S'M. I feel this disappoint- 
 ment the more keenly from a conscioutmess the money could have been ob- 
 tained, the feeder to (rrand River widened and the material prepared foi* 
 one-half the locks by the opening of the ensuing navigation, out of th'* 
 resources of the canal itself, had the Executive continued that counte- 
 nance which has ever boon reposed in my judgment by the private share- 
 holders. With a hope that the Union will take phic>> in time to put 
 the work under efficient management, 
 
 " I am, sir, yours, <kc., 
 
 "W\ HAMILTON MERRITT. 
 
 "T. W. C. Mlrdock." 
 
 "BoAHD OF Works, 3d February, 1841. 
 
 " My Dkar Sir — I go to Kingston in the morning to prepare for the 
 meeting if the Legislature. I am ordered to be ready by the 1st of May. 
 This takes the bull liy the horns, that place being fixed by the authorities 
 at home and here as the proper site permanently. The Governor is certainly 
 right at once to get there and sot the question at rest. Going to Toronto 
 for a soa.son or two would only keej) up the agitation of this question, as 
 wo'l as bolster up tlu^ hopes of the party now expiring. 
 
 " The Council expect to rise on Saturday, but I don't think they can 
 until Tuesday. The proclamation will follow itintaatii): Harri' on and 
 Draper are down here. Tlie French ai-e exerting themselves m.ich, but 
 quietly. 
 
 " Faithfully yours, 
 
 "H. H. KILLALY." 
 
 Among the items of etigineering and political gossip, from his Irish, and 
 consoipiently, animated correspondence, the really imitortant measure of 
 adajiting the scresv for projmlsiou is here foreshadowed : 
 
 Kingston, 9tli February, 184L 
 
 ♦' Mv Dkar Sir — I have just had yours of the 2l)th ultimo. You ask 
 what has become of me 1 Why, I have written you two letters lately, in 
 which I mentioned all my proceedings with respect to being here busily en- 
 gaged in preparing for the meeting of the 1 jegislaturo early in May. The 
 London election, I have reason to know, will be on the 1st of March, the 
 county about the 7th, and all the others at the same time. 
 
 " You see the re{)ort is short enough, but on the whole very satisfac- 
 tory — in fact nothing more can be said. I believe I stated to you that I 
 got Lord Sydenham to write to the Admiralty for olUoial information of the 
 practical results of the various trials and improvements making for some 
 time back in that department and the Post OHice, as to the jjowers of the 
 Screw driven vessels. Slioulil it be found to answer, beyond all doubt 1 
 conceive it settles the question of our scale of locks here at once, as one of 
 24 or 20 feet wide will permit a steamer to pass through of the capacity and 
 
227 
 
 oil ask 
 toly, ill 
 isilv eii- 
 
 •ch, the 
 
 satisfac- 
 tliiit 1 
 n\ of the 
 or soiac 
 sof the 
 doubt 1 
 IS one of 
 ,city and 
 
 tonnage of tlie Groat Britain. I should like very much to see Mr. Hall's 
 maps. I got a copy of the proclamation the day before yesterday, but I 
 have not yet heard of its being officially received. It is dated the Sth, and 
 and proclaims 'That on and after the 10th instant, the provinces are unit- 
 ed, &,c.' 
 
 " Yours faithfully and with esteem, 
 
 "H. H. KILLALY. 
 
 " Marks has at last come out here. The Admiralty say he must resign 
 liis situation if elected. I think Forsyth will get in for this place. Barkus 
 has resigned. Cartright, I am told, will not come in, but tliis is questioned. 
 1 left Draper and Harrison in Montreal." 
 
 As a record of the links of the . improvements in the communication 
 to the sea-boai'd, the following items concerning the Chambley Canal will 
 not be entirely out of place : 
 
 " St. John's, L. C, 12th February, 1841. 
 '* Dear Sir — The Commissioners of this canal have been singularly un- 
 fortunate in its prosecution and management. A series of disasters of one 
 kind or other has attended them from the beginning. They at first got into 
 difficulty with the contractors, who took the work too low, and although 
 they were allowed for a good many extras, they still have an unsettled 
 claim against ihe Commission of some £20,000, which although in a course 
 of prosecution will never be paid. They next got at loggerheads with their 
 engineer. Their work was left in an unfinished state, after expending all 
 their money. They made an attempt to recommence it in 1839, and ap- 
 plied for my services to superintend it ; but after making up the estimate, 
 plana, specifications, ttc, they were unsuccessful in obtaining funds, and of 
 course I left theiu. Ijast year thoy were more fortunate, for they succeeded 
 in obtaining a pai-t of the amount, and the work was recommenced under 
 Mr. Baird, who unfortunately became deranged, and got everything in a 
 most awful state of confusion, and although upwards of £8,000 was spent 
 (luring the last season, I do not think the work is a bit farther advanced 
 than when I made the estimate in 1839. If their present engineer retains 
 his senses in putting tilings in order and doing what has been undone, he 
 may consider himself most fortunate. It is my intention, however, to do 
 the best I can, and hope I may be so fortunate as to see this work com- 
 pleted. With kind rememln-ances to Mrs. Merritt and family, 
 
 '' I remain very truly yours, " G. KEEFER." 
 
 "Toronto, 11th February, 1841. 
 
 " My Dkak Sir — I was absent at Tyondenagha on duty when your let- 
 ter of tlie 2Gth January reached this office. I have laid it before the 
 (lovernor. The surrender of the land from Green's to Brantford Bridge 
 letpiires consideration, and should not bo done hastily. That it is highly 
 importiiut to Brantford to have the canal continued to that place 1 admit. 
 Mr. Wilkes' plan of doing it from the Indian monies would never meet 
 with th(» sanction of the Indians, and I think it will recpiire great manage- 
 ment to induce them to contribute in any manner to it. 
 
 "The Lieutenant Governor, on the 8th instant, directed me to include 
 my name in the list of directors for the ensuing year, to represent the In- 
 dian stock, and I have written to Mr. Jackson to transfer in my name the 
 uuniber of shares necessary to qualify me for the office. 
 
228 
 
 *' I shall be most happy to co-operate iu anything which may make the 
 stock productive. I know Mr. Wilkes in making great exertions to get t'te 
 control of the direction, and I have bean told has divided a few shares of 
 stock into many parts, to command a majority of votes. 
 
 " Whatever course is adopted in reference to the continuing of the work 
 io Brantford, none should be rashly entered upon, and I have been directed 
 to make myself master of the subject before assenting to any proposition. 
 
 " Believe me, my dear sir, yours very faithfully, 
 
 " S. P. JARVIS." i 
 
 The necessity of keeping a connected record of the events of this very 
 important period in the history of our subject in the items of intelligence 
 conveyed by his various correspondents necessitates occasionally going 
 over the same field. In the present letter, the information of when the 
 elections would probably be held has already been conveyed authoritatively 
 from head-quarters. 
 
 "Toronto, 18th February, 1841. 
 
 "My DearSir — I havejust received your note of the 16th. With respect 
 to Norfolk, a difficulty has arisen not anticipated, and which might have 
 very seriously embarrassed the party. As it is, however, 1 tlo not think 
 it will signify. I have a requisition from Lennox and Haddington, one is 
 coming from Hastings, another from the North Riding of York, and they 
 •re getting up another from the Enst Riding of Halton. I am not yet de- 
 cided as to the one which I ought to accept. Mr. Mcintosh has greatly 
 offended his constituents by offering to retire. By the latest information 
 tliat I have, the arrangement was to have the elections on the 8th and 15th 
 Mai'ch. On tho former for the towns and on the latter for the counties. 
 
 •' Believe me yours truly, 
 
 "ROBT. BALDWIN.". 
 
 The following mode of influencing men of a foreign nationality, and 
 other electioneering items of that day, may not bo without their instruc- 
 tion to present aspirants for political honors. The character of being a 
 " plain man" will go a great ways with men who are straightforward in 
 their dealings, as the Dutch Menonesse of Clinton proverbially were : 
 
 " Beamsville, February 18. 
 
 " Dear Sir — I received your note, and beg to ac(iuaint you that I have 
 used every endeavor to obtain the informatiou you required, but I found it 
 quite impossible to acquire a correct and accurate list. However, I feel 
 quite confident that you will get a majority of voters. Some few of the 
 Dutch who live near Patterson will vote for llykert, but the great majority 
 of this class of citizens will vote for you. Several Dutchmen told me 
 that they felt convinced that Rykert could not obtain a dozen out of their 
 Dumber. Many will not vote at all. 
 
 " Patterson has turned out to assess a month earlier than usual, and 
 may infiuence their miuds somewhat, but, I think, not to any extent. Should 
 you happen to be in their neighborhood, call upon them and use them after 
 their own fashion. I will just mention that many of them like you and will 
 vote for you because they think you what they call in their homely fasliion a plain 
 man. This I mention by way ot a hint, as it goes a great way with them. 
 
229 
 
 iuai. and 
 
 Should 
 
 icm after 
 
 and will 
 
 I win continue to exert myself, as usual, as much as possible, and should any* 
 thing turn up I will send you word. 
 
 " I will say no more, but shall be happy at any time to further your views 
 ID any way you may point out. 
 
 " Yours sincerely, 
 
 "W G. DICKINSON." 
 
 " Smithvillb, 8th March, 1841. 
 " My Dear Sib — I forward to you the proceedings of the committee at 
 the last meeting, and have to regret that I cannot attend the hustings at 
 present, on account of one of my children being very sick. I employed or 
 opent two days in following up the " great Chronicle," with good effect. This 
 part of Grimsby remains untainted. Every committee man in this section 
 has been awake. Mr. Rykert has conducted himself in a manner truly as- 
 toniiihiDg. We hope to bid him farewell. 
 
 " I am, sir, trilty in haste, 
 
 " ABISHAI MORSE. 
 "Wm. H. Mrrritt, Esq." 
 
 " N. B. — Our friends are coming down by loads. "A. M." 
 
 At a meeting of the Committee for Townships at Beamsville on Monday, 
 let, March, 1841, it was 
 
 " Eetiolved — That this committee add to its number a.M follows : 
 
 " Caistor— Henry Miller, Andrew Gregory, Hiram Lymbourne, Josiah 
 Nclfion, Peter Simmons, Paul Horton. 
 
 " Gainsborough — Wm. J. Stuart, Bobert Comfort, Gilbert Lane, Thomas 
 Eohins, Ab. Crow, Luke Cavers, Alex. Garner, Wm. 0. Eastman, Jacob Ken- 
 nedy, Wm. Gardner. 
 
 " Grimsby — Peter Buckbee, John Harris. John D. Bearaer, George 
 Adams, John Ness, R. C. Griffin, D. Wolverton, D, Palmer, Wm. Merritt, 
 
 " Clinton — Daniel Smith, Daniel Freeland, Isaac Teeter, Nathan Gilmore, 
 John Buchner, Dr. Dickinson, Philip Gregory, Adam Adair. 
 
 " Louth — Wm. Adams, Adam Brown, Wm. Purdy, Isaac Overholt, 
 Ben. Gould, Geo. E. Reed. 
 
 " Grantham— John Gilliland, Pat. McClinchy, Ab. Hosteter, John Darby, 
 Deacon Smith. 
 
 "2. That a part of this committee attend at the hu.sting8 as follows : For 
 Caistor — James Tisdale, John Merritt. Gainsborough — Thomas Hardy, 
 John Page. Grimsby — Henry Smith, David Palmer, D. Wolverton, F. A. 
 Morse, by request of Mr. Merritt. Clinton — Rowly Kilboru, Tim Hixon. 
 Louth — B. Gregory, Isaac Overholt. Graatham — All. 
 
 " 3, That the members of the committee at St. Catharines are hereby 
 authorized to send teams to the members of the township committees 
 reepectively, who are r equired to give the address of those persons that will 
 support the election of Mr. Merritt, and this committee will use every exer- 
 tion to effect that object." 
 
 We have mentioned the name of Robert Gourlay in the earlier part of 
 this work, and we have shown that he was supported by our subject at no 
 little sacrifice. Subsequent events will show him to be still a warm friend 
 and advocate, but his views of infringing the rights of the British subject 
 were unappreciated by the mass of the electors, and though the local press 
 
230 
 
 had been crowded by hia narratives for months previous, be failed, for want 
 of a personal canvass, to be nominated as a candidate for the United Parlia- 
 ment. The following remarkable document on the subject of the election 
 was written by him : 
 
 " Indiana, U. S., February 2G, 1841. 
 " To W. II. Mei-ritt awl G. Rykert, Esquires : 
 
 " Gentlemen — I am to make to you an extraordinary request ; but one 
 compliance with which will do you the highest honor. I ask you to relin- 
 quish for the present your desire to represent in Parliament the North Rid- 
 ing of Lincoln and exert yourselves in getting me elected. My address to 
 the electors was published prior to yours. You, therefore, oppose me ; not I 
 you. But your opposition has in no way altered my mode of action. I 
 never meant to canvas for votes or contend with any individual. My mcau- 
 iug was to give the mhabit.intl of Niagara district an opportunity to do me 
 justice, and that in the most noble manner. This is what I mean, and it will 
 bo in your power to explain my meaning to all, which I cannot do, confined 
 as I am by sickness. On the 4th of May, 1818, I became tho»6orvaut of 
 the people of Niagara district, and to please them, drafted an address tto the 
 Prince Regent, which, after being submitted for months to the inspection of 
 the people of Upper Canada, was by them universally admired and adopted, 
 engrossed and despatched to England for presentation by Lord Erskinc. 
 Had that address been sustained, the Province would assuredly long ere now 
 have been the most enviable spot on the habitable globe. 
 
 " Gentlemen — Should you lay aside hostility to each other, and go forth 
 to nominate me — should electors thus cheered on to unanimity, appoint me 
 as their representative in the Parliament of Canada, who wonld not applaud 
 your conduct, and what would you lose by it ? Comparatively nothing ; for 
 after one session I would vacate my seat, and leave you to contend for the 
 remaining honor. For myself, I want only an opportunity to plead against 
 wrong, and thus have a chance of regaining my rights and my property, with 
 a home in b'cotland. 
 
 " 1 have caused the records of 1818 to be reprinted, that all may be well 
 understood. A generation has grown up since then, and many have come 
 from distant parts who, without these records, may be incredulous. These, 
 with your good will, are sufficient, and even my presence at the hustings may 
 be dispensed with, should ill-health continue, or other circumstances hold me 
 at a distance. 
 
 " I am, gentlemen, in all sincerity yours, Ac, 
 
 "ROBERT F. GOURLAY." 
 The election for the North Riding of Lincoln, came off on the 9th of 
 March. In Mr, Merritt's speech, wo find a eulogy on the late lamented 
 Earl of Durham, to the adoption of whose report on the state of the Pro- 
 vince by the Imperial Government, we ov/ed the present hopeful state 
 of the Province. Many of the suggestions in the report were made by our 
 subject, but required an influential man like the Earl, to carry them out in 
 England. 
 
 The result was his election by a largo majority over his old associate, 
 Mr. Rykert, who was opposed to the scheme of the Earl. 
 
231 
 
 The prominent members returned at this election were — Morris, who 
 succeeded Gowan, for Leeds; II. Smith from Fontinac ; Baldwin and M«r- 
 ney, Hastinjrs; Harrison, Kent; I'rice and Baldwin, York; Morritt and 
 Thorburn, Lincoln; David Thomson, Ilaldimand ; Alan McNab, Ilamilton ; 
 F. Hincks, Oxford, and T. Parke, Middlesex. 
 
 We have dwelt more on this election than any other, because of its im- 
 portant result. The national feeling was the paramount element of Lower 
 Canada in opposition, exceeding that of sect, many of the contests at the 
 election being between Irish and French. Riots and loss of life occuirod in 
 the election of Caleb Hopkins, John Gilchrist, Dunn and Buchanan, la 
 D. M. Armstrong's election at Berthior seven were killed. 
 
 The very natural desire to celebrate their liard-earned victory at the 
 hustings is evinced by the party who bad suffered so much by implication, 
 if not co-operation in the rebellion. Farther on, we will have to give some 
 of the wire-pulling that prevented their success from producing the fruits 
 they HO ardently anticipated. 
 
 "Hamilton, 3Iarch 27. 
 
 "My Dear Sir— Many of the leading members of our party have had 
 it in contemplation for some time past to commemorate the Parliamentary 
 return of a majority of Liberal candidates by giving a reform banquet at 
 this place iu the course of the ensuing month — say on or about the 15th 
 proximo. 
 
 " We propose to invite as special guests Messrs. Dunn, Baldwin and 
 Harrison, Buchanan, Small, Price, Hincks and any other Liberal member 
 whose residence at Toronto would enable him to attend, David Thorburn, D. 
 Thompson, yourself and our three county members. We anticipate being 
 able to accommodate from 250 to 300 persons in our Town Hall, and pledge 
 ourselves to do the thing in good style, if we obtain the concurrence of our 
 proposed guests. A festival at Hamilton will not prevent similar demonstra- 
 tions at Toronto or other places, if desired ; but we think it particularly de- 
 sirable to hold one here- firstly, because we can do so without fear of Oranga 
 rioting, and, secondly, because, as Fergusson says, it would be under the very 
 nose of Sir Alan McNab, who is one of the few "compact" ?nembcrs sent to 
 Parliament. We think the meeting of great importance, both to the Govern- 
 ment and lleform party, because the social union of the present Liberal 
 administration with the Reform members of the neighborhood would indicate 
 a union of political sentiment, the exhibition of which would tend beyond 
 all things to seal the fate of our political enemies and place us in a firm and 
 distinguished position. 
 
 "I have been instructed by a committee to address you on this subject, 
 and shall be glad to hear that you are disposed to accede to our invitation. 
 I may state that our arrangements are not sufficiently formed to enable us to 
 give them publicity ; but the parties connected with them are — The Hon. 
 Adam Fergusson, the Dundas reformers, Wilks and Moyle (of Brantford, 
 I believe), Ferrie, Young, Tiffany, Stinson and all in this place, and the 
 neighboring farmers have in many instances promised their support. 
 
232 
 
 " Do me the favor to answer this at your earliest convenience. I shall 
 endeavor to communicate with Mr. Thorburn and Mr. Thomson and , the To- 
 ronto gentlemen bj this night's post. 
 
 " I am, dear sir, very faithfully yours, 
 
 "E. C. THOMAS: 
 "W. H. Mkrritt, Esq." 
 
 The patrouago of the canal, with other public measures, by the new 
 arrangements centres in Govornment. Tiie President of the Board of 
 Works and Councillor is now dictator of the position, vice Councillor and 
 Secretary McCauley. 
 
 Kingston, 9th April, 1841. 
 
 " Yours of the 25th was forwarded to m« here. I am about to leave for 
 Montreal where I will be for ten days, after which I return here, I am very 
 anxious to sec Hall's plans. I saw your engineer in Toronto for a moment. 
 He appeared chagrined. I also saw Dr. Hamilton, who said, " The engineer 
 had given up a good deal of his expensive notions." I was sounded as to his 
 being again elected president. I said, of course, he should instantly vacate 
 his office. This did not appear to go. I fear an attempt was made to oust 
 Kecfer. Has this been so, and what is the result? I am very anxious to 
 know, but I heard in such a manner that I could not hint it to you with- 
 out breach of trust. Write to me and inform me sure, 
 
 •' Yours with esteem, very truly, 
 
 "H. H. KILLALY." 
 
 Immediately after the election contest our subject began with all his 
 sanguine and energetic disposition to smooth the way for a real union with 
 pur French fellow-subjects, by corresponding with the leading politicians . 
 
 The following is from an ardent Canadian — though not the one who 
 engaged in the rebellion : 
 
 " QuEBKC, 27th April 1841. 
 
 " My Dear Sir — Your letter of the 15th instant only reached me yester- 
 day. I shall, of course, consider it as ' private and confidential.' 
 
 " The members elected in this part of the country, as disapproving of 
 the Reunion Act, will adhere to the principles of the circular to the electors, 
 of which I enclose a copy. They do not, as you will see by that circular, 
 pronounce absolutely in favor of the repeal of the Union, but on its repeal or 
 amcndt ent, so as to do away with the injustice done to the late Province of 
 Lower Janada. They may put on record the refusal of the majority of the 
 people of Lower Canada to give their consent to the Reunion Act, and their 
 representatives, I conceive, will readily concur with the representatives of Up- 
 per Canada in any amendments to the act which may tend to make it more 
 consistent with justice to both provinces, and for the maintenance of the rights 
 of the representative body and the acknowledged liberties of British sub- 
 jects, without distinction of national origin, religious belief, place of birth or 
 residence. They will, besides, I have no doubt, readily concur in such 
 measures as may tend to secure an able and impartial administration of jus- 
 tice, and a faithful discharge of the duties of all executive officers, and a 
 proper system of responsibility and accountability. The facilitating the 
 settlement of the Crown lands, the freedom of industry and the improvement 
 of the great channels of commercial communication, will have their decided 
 
233 
 
 gapport, without any partiality to parlioufar tntcronts or loealities ; keeping 
 always in view the meanH of the country, and the obligation of not ioTolving 
 onrBeWes or our poRtcrity in extravagant projects and Bpeculationn, such a» 
 are bringing 80 many difficulties on our southern neighbors. With respect tO' 
 education it must be facilitated to all alike, without distinction. Religious 
 BocieticB must support themsolves, there must be no interference with their 
 peculiar privileges, and allowing no power by the one over the other. In so 
 far as the consent and co-op iration of the British Oovornmcnt is concerned, 
 I should conceive that many goo*! and useful laws, advantageous to both por- 
 tions of Canada, will be more readily obtained by the representative body 
 of a million and a quarter of souls than could be obtained by thorn when 
 divided. You and I have, I believe, always differed in opinion on the ques- 
 tion of uniting the Provinces; and we probably will continue so to diflFer. 
 The project originated in a desire to place the persons and property of the 
 subject at the mercy of the office-holders and their connections ; and it bears 
 marks of being completed in that design. The sacrifices that the assembling 
 of a representative body to treat of the common interest of a people extend- 
 ed over upwanis of twelve hundred miles of territory, different in language, 
 laws, religion, institutions, climate and circumstances, the manner in which 
 the revenue of the country has been appropriated without its consent, and the 
 Assembly bound down, leaves us only a mockery of free government and of 
 the British Constitution, which could not last in England, and still less in 
 North America. I have no doubt, however, that even this sham representa- 
 tion of the country will enable men who have a permanent interest in it, to 
 eome to a better understanding with one another, for the common advantage, 
 and will in replacing the population in a condition likely to remain in connec- 
 tion with the British Empire, and consistently with the allegiance which we 
 all owe to the British Crown. 
 
 "I speak of what I believe are the views of the representatives of Lower 
 Canada — those who disapprove of the Reunion Act. I have had no consulta- 
 tion with any of thera, but I am not apprehensive of any mistake. They 
 ask justice for their constituents, the common rights of British subjects, and 
 are ready to promote for all the other inhabitants of the Province what they 
 ask for themselves, On pari!icular questions, they will be ready to form their 
 conclusions indifferently to all parties or private interests. I can have no ob- 
 jection that these views should be known to everyone. 
 
 " I remain, very respectfully, your obedient and humble servant, 
 
 "J. NEILSON." 
 
 The following is from one who retired from the jiublic arena for the 
 
 position of collector at Port Colborne, whose kindness of disposition and 
 
 Kuavity of manner, characteristic of the Irish gentleman, endeared him tu 
 
 all with whom he came in contact : 
 
 "London, April 2lRt, I84L 
 "My Dear Sir — Yours of the 9th in.stant reached me in good time, 
 and my only excuse for not answering it immediately is that I did not kBOW 
 how. One of ths questions you allude to is so very important and extensive 
 in its connections — coupled with the tortuous deceit that long, scheming heads 
 in and out of the House of Assembly will bring to bear on it, even putting 
 on the garments of angels of light — that I find I am utterly incapable of giv- 
 ing my views in the short compass of a letter, or, indeed, of placing them cor- 
 rectly and fully on paper at all. The first question you allude to — that of 
 
234 
 
 tipeaker--with the friends of responsible government there can be no two 
 opinions. The Ass'^mbly should stamp its character indelibly by their choico 
 of a Speaker, iDciudingulso the consideration that if not a Lower Canadian, 
 he should bo a person iu whom that portion of our fellow subjects have CTcry 
 confidence, in order to show them that the reforuiors of Upper Canada have 
 every disposition to respect their feelings, and treat tlunn in that friendly, fair 
 way that alone can make the Union any way palatable to them. * ♦ j 
 have uo personal acquaintance with the men returned from the Lower Province. 
 
 " I am, my dear sir, is esteem, truly yours, 
 
 "THOMAS PARKE." 
 
 " AMKiiiASDUKon, May 3d, 1841. 
 
 " My Dear Sir — Yours of the 10th ultimo was duly received. I 
 agree with you that the success of our new aduiiiiistratioii must dejnsnd 
 upon the wisdom of the measures they iulvocate, ami it is all importiuit 
 that wo agree with them, if wo can do so without sacriiico of principle, and 
 I trust we shall iu no ciuto be called upon to do so in order to agree with 
 them. I very much dread the civil list (piestion, aiul I fear the Tories will 
 endeavor to drive us into that ground if they can. Should they do so, 1 
 think our bettor plan would be to endeavor to evade it, till we give thH 
 new CWstitution a fair trial, as it is an exporimout, and if we go to mend- 
 ing it before we try it, should it j)rc)ve a failure w(i may have ourselves to 
 blame for it. We have a most diHicult task before us. I expect an atteuipt 
 will l)«i iiiiide to got us into a scjuabble with the Governor (jeneral respect- 
 ing .some of the elections iu sonic! part of the Province. IJotli Tories and 
 Republicans would glory in getting us into difficulti(^s of that kind, but 1 
 think our earthly .salvation depends on our agreeing with His Excellency. 
 As it re.si)ects the Speaker, I agree also with you that if we can get a man 
 who can sj>e!:k both languages it would be j>r(!f('iable, and if we could get 
 a Lower ('anadian who would answer the puqiose it would, perhaj).s, Iw 
 the means of conciliating them, ami certainly they deserve some considera- 
 tion. I intend being in town on Monday (svening, und ho\)ti to see you and 
 many other frioiuL on Tuesday, the day preii^ous to the assembling. 
 
 "I remain yours truly, 
 
 "J. ROBLIN." 
 
 ^ " Hamilton, May 4th, 1841. 
 
 '♦My Dkar Sir — Your favor of the lOth ultimo is before me, and its 
 rej>ly has been postponed to the pre.sent time from unavoidable circuai- 
 stiinccs. 
 
 " You do me th« honor to ask me if I think ' that the present Pro- 
 vincial Ministry will feel it necessary to consult the representatives of the 
 people, witli a view of ascertaining in what manner certain questions will 
 or should he disposed of. I ajiprehend that the Ministry have no alter- 
 native l)ut to do so, unless — ^which 1 am reluctant to believe possible— 
 they place .'iucli great contidence in the venality or apathy of tlie Parlin- 
 ment and the people as to apprehend no purcessful opjiosition to themselves 
 by a selfish and despotic .system of government. 
 
 " Your qiiery appears to refer })articularly to the civil litst, and the 
 propriety of amending the Union Act, and you say that you >::ive been 
 asked, ' Can the ju-inciples of the jRritish Constitutic n be maintained with- 
 out having the jx-wcr of granting supplies vefcted in the represeutativa 
 
no two 
 
 if choice 
 
 'atiadian, 
 
 ivo every 
 
 laila havu 
 
 i<lly, fair 
 
 * I 
 
 'roviDCo. 
 
 It 
 
 235 
 
 liianch of the Lej;i«Iaturi», and what in Hiihstitutod as an e(iiuval«>ut T 
 TliiH i8, incicod, a difficult iju^Htion -^)ne on which I must ofFur an o|)iiuoii 
 with great ditlidoiico, and would rather that my Koutinuuits wero rccciv(Mi 
 as liumblo suggestions than aa tlie dcliborato feelings of a matured judg- 
 niont. I am continually struck with the inaccuracy of the asstation that a 
 colony enjoys in all respects ' tlie image and transciipt' of the jtareiit .State, 
 and the present question offers an additional proof of the inaccuracy, 
 
 " We have the written pledge of the Imperial Parliament that wo shall 
 1)6 ruled henceforth by men j)ossesHing the confidence of the people, and 
 that the acts of Government sliall be in acconlance with the wishes of the 
 people's representatives. To break this pledge would be, in my opinion, 
 to deprive us of a constitutional right, and would in fact — if 1 might so 
 say — extinguish the Constitution. lJej)end upon it, if the people of 
 Canada are true so themselves, no Ministry and no (lovernment «iiire alter 
 one iota of this recorded pledge. So w ieketl a step will soon be atten)pted; 
 aiid, though I acknowledge the inferiority of the machinery ff colonial to 
 that of imperial representation, I arn satisfied that honesty on the |)art of 
 our repre.sentatives, and energy and wisdom on that of ourselves, will al- 
 way.s secure to us the full measures of practical responsible or self Ciovern- 
 nient. I think, moreover, that the question of a civil list has been, to a 
 certain extent, constitutionally disposed of by the respective Provinces, in- 
 asmuch as the Upper Canada Jjegislatui-e and the Lower Canada (Jovern- 
 meut (such as it was) have determined that a sufKcient civil list should be 
 g. anted for the life of the present Sovert'ign. I say disposed of to a certain 
 extent, but I by no means imply theiefrom that the amount of the civil Mst 
 lia.«s been constitutionally determined uj)on, nor do I yet know by what 
 right the Tmperi.il Parlianu-nt has saw tit to fix that .sum at ,£7r),()(iO per 
 annum. It may be too much — it may be too little ; but, be this uh it 
 may, I doubt the power of the Imperial Legislature to define the sum at 
 all. The people of Canada stand pledged to the grant of a huflicient civil 
 list ; they have yet, I conceive, to determine the amount of that civil list, 
 and, as an independent member of the Legislature, I should C(jnceive it 
 to be my duty to consider maturely this branch of the .subject, and to in- 
 sist upon the right of the House to grant as nnich, oi" as little, as in its 
 wisdom may be considered sufficient for the payment of the several salaries 
 of the Crown. This will probably be the great bone of contention in the 
 ensuing session, and it will be a question legitimately the province of the 
 House to determine. I hope it may be approached in a conceding, yet 
 firm and manly spirit, and that neither factious opposition or venal hu}>- 
 missioii may be displayed upon it. 
 
 "With respect to the clauses of the Union Act generally, I cannot 
 think it politic to attempt to disturb them at present. They have been 
 assented to by the Imperial ParliameTit after a temi)erate anil patient dis- 
 cussion of the whole ([uestion, and, though .some of the olau.ses are highly 
 objectionable, I am convinced that the bill, as a wh<de, is the l)est that 
 could be obtained at present from a Parliament in which the balance of 
 power rests so broadly in favor of an anti- Liberal aristocracy. We must 
 give tha bill a fair trial, after which such claust;s as are proved to afl'ect us 
 injuriously or unfairly may with reason and justice bo protested against. 
 
 "My great fear respecting the well-doing of the country arises from the 
 discussion in the Reform ranks. It cannot be doubted that tliero are 
 
■■■ 
 
 236 
 
 utany who pnjfnsH thorrtiielvea to be ReformerH, who are ready to bo the 
 wilHn;^ tools of any (iovorninont. On the other hand, there are not a few 
 haHty and Hin|>ici(m8 tempera who will create discord where firraneH8 and 
 moderation would answer a better purjM)Be ; and a^ain, there are those wlio 
 will bo cont<nited with nothing short of Republican institutions : but these, 
 1 am willing to bolievo, are now very few. 
 
 " But I am writing more than you will care to read, therefore shall only 
 sidd that T shall at all times find pleasure in receiving your sentiments on 
 political cpiestions, and shall readily afford you in return my humble and 
 imperfect ideas of tlie same. 
 
 " I am, dear sir, faithfully yours, 
 
 "E. C. THOMAS." 
 "Toronto, 6th April, 1841. 
 
 "Mv Dear Sir — T beg to congratulate you on the result of the North 
 Lincoln election. ♦ # * The Speakership will be 
 
 the first (jue^tiou before the House, and I tliink that there can be no 
 second opinidm that a Reformer should be placed in the chair. You have 
 heard, no doubt, that Mofl'att is spoken of, and is said to be the Govern- 
 ment candidate. The latter is doubtful. I presume feehjrs are put forth. 
 McNab, of course, is in the field, and, without nianagemout, may run bet- 
 ter than we now think. He is a canny fellow, and will try to gain the 
 anti-Union party in Lower Canada. How, then, must we manage 1 I 
 think one of our Reform party in this Province, or else a moderate anti- 
 Unionist below, must be the man. You will observe that anti- Unionist is 
 a most .incorrect name. They are opposed to the details and not to the 
 principle of the bill. The advantages in favor of the latter are, of course, 
 his speaking both languages, which could be urged in favor of Moflatt. 
 The only men I can think of are Austin Cuvilier or yourself. I know 
 not what your views are on the subject, but I think you must see that we 
 must be a good deal governed by our frieude below. I think we should 
 try and get them to act with us from the outset. Pray, write me confi- 
 deutially your views on these subjects, and believe me 
 
 " Yours very truly, 
 
 " W. H. Merritt, Esq." 
 
 Tlie canal was opened on the 30th April, fifteen or twenty vessels be- 
 ing collected waiting for passage. 
 
 On the fourth of May, the launch of the Chief Justice Robinson took 
 place at Shickeluna's ship yard. 
 
 A flaming notice of the opening of tlie salt water baths, with a chemi- 
 cal analysis of the contents, was published on June 1st, by C. W. Hellems. 
 
 Sixth Annual Report of the G. R. N. Co., approved at the meeting of the 
 stockholders, presided over V)y D. Thompson, M. P., at Simcoe, May 4, closes 
 with this notice of the improvements : 
 
 " It is understood a steamer will ply daily from Buffalo to Port Robinson 
 this season, from whence a packet boat will run t<} Dunnville, and a steam 
 tug thence to Cayuga. A number stand ready to complete it to Bunnel's 
 liiinding. A regular line of boats or scows front Port Dalhojisie would 
 soon find employment in the transit of all the merchandise destined for 
 consumption west of Brantford. W. H. H." 
 
237 
 
 l>o the 
 lot a few 
 less and 
 lose who 
 lit these. 
 
 In one of hiH familiar letters to his futher-in-law, among other liiatttnn 
 regarding his family, occurs this uHtiinate of the capaliiliticH of one of tho 
 family, whom ho fondly hoped would bo his Hucccssor in the reform of th« 
 higher l)rancheH of legal jurisprudence : 
 
 Dr. P : William has selected tho law, and as I have lieretoforo mentioned, 
 my aim is to make him a statesman, as he poHsesseH rare ability for hiij 
 years, and a judgment, which, if he continues to improve, without being 
 led into dissipation and vice, will place him among tho highest rank ot' 
 competitors. I have been so long sutisHeil of this, that I leave his pursuits 
 and studies wholly to hini.self. 1 find in figures and book-keeping a degree 
 of promptness and facility far exceeding anything I over |>osKeKsed. He 
 commenced learning French with Mr. De I^iHaye. Within a year 
 he has become a finished French scholar, speaks and pronounces the pure 
 Parisian, and reads and writes the language with ease. In December 1 had 
 a German to teach him. He ha.s already made great progress. He atteudit 
 his oflico hours regularly, and a])plieH himself to his studies before and after. 
 He says in another year— after he is master of French, German, and per- 
 haps Spanish and Italian — that he will apply himself to law exclusively for 
 two years, and place himself at the top of his profession. He shall have 
 every facility from me. No expense shall be spared to forward his studies. 
 
 Perhaps I may be in a delusion, as every father views his children with a 
 partial feeling, but it is a dtikusion which aflords me hap])ine.ss to indulge in, 
 and I am growing day by day more interested in his welfare. W. H. M. 
 
 A Kingston papor notices tht* arrival of the Government ofiicials at 
 Kingston. They are composed of the Hon. H. Killaly, President of the 
 Board of Works ; Colonel Forbes, Commander of the Forces ; Colonel 
 Mackenzie Frazer, Deputy Adjudant General of Militia; Hon. John Mc- 
 Caulcy, Inspector General ; A. V. Hawk, Emigration Agent. His Excel- 
 lency was still detained at Montreal by an attack of gout. 
 , This was soon followed by a notice of the meeting of Parliament, which 
 took place on the ir)th of June. The Gazette of the day previous con- 
 tained one or two additions to the Cabinet, and a VvAt of twenty-four Legiji 
 lative Councillors, noticeable for the paucity of French- etjual to four, and 
 the number of Scotch — indicated by the prefix "Mac." 
 
 The Governor's speech notices McCloud's continued imprisonment, and 
 tho measures taken by the Government to procure his release. It uoticeH 
 a reduction of postage across the Atlantic; the guaiantee of the Imperial 
 credit for one and a half millions sterling, the multijdieation of municipal 
 institutions, and the extension of education by means of common schools, 
 and closes thus : " The determination which I am also empowered to stato 
 on the part of the Govei-nment, to devote annually a large sum for the dej 
 fence of the Province, and the fixed determination that the North Ameri- 
 can Pi'ovinces shall be maintained at all hazards ; also that Her Majesty 'tt 
 Government are pleased to assist in facilitating the passage of the emigrant 
 from the port at which he h landed to the place where his labor may be 
 made available." 
 
/. 
 
 
 238 /'- 
 
 On the op'^ning of the House of Parliament, one of our subjwt's 
 firht acts was to second the motion, wliich was made by Mr. Cuvilier, 
 that Mr. Morin should be the Speaker of the new House, thei-eby paying a 
 compliment to his fellow subjects from Lower Canada. He also advo- 
 cated a measure, having for its object, the maintainanco of the poor, by the 
 inhabitiiiits of each township. He also brought on again his plan for a 
 National Bank, in which he pleaded for the interests of the people, that the 
 profitf of banking, which had now reached over $2,000,000, might be made 
 of use to the country, in public works, instead of going into the pockets of 
 private individuals. The bill was again defeated by a small majority, and 
 he never afterwards sought to revive it. He also advocated an Alien bill, 
 whereby five years residence in the Province constituted citizenship, and 
 Buccossfully carried it by a large majority. He again drew the attention of 
 the House to the question of the inland navigation. 
 
 In a debate on the speech, which lasted for nine days, Mr. Merritt was 
 " surprised at what he had heard (from Mr. Draper.) To retain office with 
 a majority of the House against them, was persisting in managing the 
 country contrary to the wishes of it. This would be only a protrac- 
 tion of the injury, and he hoped that Ministers would state ejqjressly 
 whether that is to be the system of Lord Sydenham or not." 
 
 Mr. Draper cloii^ed the debate by saying that they would resign if oji- 
 posed b^ a majority. 
 
 One of his constituent's opinions on these proceedings is as follows : 
 
 "Saint Davids, June 28th, 1841. 
 
 " My Dear Sib — I again take the liberty of addressing you a few 
 lines, that you may understand that your friends ai'e thinking and feeiing 
 anxious to know the result of the session. 
 
 "Your proceedings so far, I tliink, have given pietty general satisfaction 
 to all parties. I see you have drawn the Attorney General out. You were 
 right. It was mysterious. Why not come out at onoe. I >?are not a cop- 
 per for his professions, let us see what his actions will be on all matters of 
 importance. It may be policy for him and the Governor General, if they 
 do not me;in right, to mystify ; but I hope that is not the ciuse. You must 
 be on the alert. Your country is watching you, and I trust they will 
 have no reason to complain. I am sorry to see the Keformers disagree 
 on small points. The question about an adjournment, I think, was 
 not worth debating on. It tended to weaken the i»arty. To try the real- 
 ity of the men, the question must bo something that the country has more 
 interest in. The news here is, that after carrying your amendments to His 
 Excellency's speech, he sent for you the same night. The next morning 
 Vou brought in other amendments to do away with your former ones. I 
 hardly credited that. We only receive the news weekly. I may be far 
 behind the proceedings of the day. Give His Excellency all the assist- 
 ance you can, but guard the rights and privileges of the people. Try and 
 make this a strong and happy country as it was formerly. All that is 
 wanted is that liberality that every Government ought to brstow on its 
 
niVjjoct's 
 Juvilier, 
 >aying a 
 lo advo- 
 by the 
 for a 
 that the 
 be made 
 jkets of 
 ty, and 
 ien bill, 
 lip, and 
 'ntion of 
 
 239 
 
 subjects. I am aware this is your feeling, and I hope that should you 
 not accomplish that, you will not fetter the Province with your consent. 
 I hope Mr. Baldwin will still bo the leader of the party. Let me hear 
 from you soon. 
 
 *' Your obedient, humble servant, 
 
 "RICHARD WOODRUFF. 
 '• W. H. Merritt, Esq., Kingston." 
 
 On the 7th July, Mr. Merritt published a letter to the stockholders of 
 the Welland Canal, stating that the Royal assent had been given to the 
 act, which we have already detailed, for purchasing from the stockholders 
 by the Government, .showing the advantage of the measure and calling for 
 iicquiescence thereto. 
 
 A reprint of the report of the CoSimittee on the Bank Bill, dated 
 April 1 3th, 1835, was given in the Journal of April 29th. It takes up seven 
 or eight columns, with another of editorial in its favour ; but failing to 
 become a Government measure, much to the disappointment of our subject 
 and friends, the country was deprived of the profits of banking. 
 
 Mr. Hincks brought in a bill to abolish the Usury Law, which we can- 
 not but think, though of temporary protit, as tending not a little to the 
 periodical depression of trade and the failure of individuals. 
 
 The resignation of the Hon. R. Baldwin, at this period, revived for a 
 time, the old animosities, and our subject in an able speech, pointed out the 
 advisability of quietly proceeding with bu.siness, rather than waste time 
 in stirring up unpleasant discussions. His advice seems to liave been 
 lulopted, as a better feeling .soon prevailed. Some of the best measures of 
 the government he permitted to pass unchallenged, but the measures of 
 granting large sums all over the country, on plank roads, and other politi- 
 cal favoi's, he bitterly attacked, and succeeded in beating the Government 
 on the question. His anxiety to have the Cornwall canal opened caused a 
 giant of a million and a half dollars to be given towards that object. 
 
 'Hie pi'oceedings of the House terminated on the 19th Sei)t., by Lord 
 Sydenham being thrown from his horse, from which accident he never ral- 
 lied. After his burial the members returned home. 
 
 Mr. Merritt proceeded to New York, and had an irterview with the 
 stockholders regarding the best disposition of their property, and a liberal 
 offer being made to our subject, he agreed, on communing with liis familv 
 10 undertake to do their business for them in London, the great monetary 
 centre. 
 
 The remaining incidents of this year were the attempt about the 28th 
 October, to blow up the Big Level lock at Thorold, and the release of Mc- 
 (.'loud from his long imprisonment. 
 
 The Journal has again turned to the mild direction of the faithful 
 and scrupiilously correct editor and printer, Hiram Leavenworth, and 
 
240 
 
 though we do not see so many political articles on Church and State m 
 during Mr. Sears' occupancy of the editorial chair, yet the course of eventu 
 is sufficiently depicted in its pages to present " the mould and figure of the 
 times." 
 
 News was received, headed very important, that the Queen had given 
 birth to a Princess ; that St. Jean D'Acre was captured ; the Chinese war 
 still p'-ogressing; the States' people were succeeding in Texas, and that our 
 ■own fellow-subject, Alexander McCloud, was still a tenant of Lockport jail 
 for participating in the Carolina affair. 
 
 As a sign of the insecurity of the times, especially in the matter of 
 horse property, we notice the formation of a " vigilance society," com 
 posed of John Gilliland, J. Wright, Alexander Wilson, Joseph Godfrey 
 Samuel Hill, Thomas Oxbury, H. Mittolberger, Wm. Chase, Sam. Harris 
 John Soper, John Clark, A. K. Boomer, J. Clendanning and D. P. Hainee, 
 
 Mr. Merritt issued an address to the freeholders of the county of Lin 
 <5oln, dated September 23d, which .says : " Gentlemen — The first session of 
 the fii-st United Parliament has closed, £45,000 being granted to the com- 
 mon schools and £1,500,000 for connecting our inland waters with the 
 Atlantic. Lower Canadian members are entitled to your gratitude, for to 
 their noble and disinterested conduct are we indebted for ready access to 
 the sea. Notwith.standing the heavy debt they have already a.s8umed, 
 and the very great disproportion of expenditure in this section, they 
 voted to a man for the completing of the Wellandand St. Lawrence canala, 
 Eighty-eight bills have passed, but fifteen, including the Municipal Bill, 
 reserved. Confidence has been eHtablished., the prosperity of Canada com- 
 menced, and the stability of the Union being cemented by the harmony 
 And good feeling which prevailed among the members from the difier«nt 
 part of the Union." 
 
 The result of the first session's work was satisfactory to most of the in 
 habitants, including the distant members on the sea-board, who vied with 
 their fellow British Americans on the borders of the St. Lawrence as being 
 the originators of colonial independence. In this we think they were mi»- 
 taken. 
 
 The report which contained the principles on which our future govern- 
 ment was to be carried on, but for. the results of which, neither our subject 
 nor any native of this country is in the slightest degree responsible, " wu 
 subversive of the existing institutioDs of the colony and as much a revolution 
 aH if the rebels themselves had succeeded. 
 
 It was followed by the annexation manifesto in 1859, on the return 
 of Mr. McKenzie, which our subject had also an influence in putting down 
 The result of this policy on his future usefulness, will appear as we proceed 
 
 One object for diminishing power was multiplying its depositories; and 
 
241 
 
 municipiil institutions were not giving the coloi.iea the management of their 
 own affiiirs, but rather tended to reconcile them to an administration 
 entirely opposed to British American interests. 
 
 Towards the end of the year the elections for municipal conncillors 
 occnpied the columns of the newspapei-s. The Journal says : " There are 
 twenty -eight Councillors for Niagara district — quite a snuill Parliament in 
 its way." This was about the n\imber of townships, the expense of 
 which at the time was £3,447. The number of councillors and the ex- 
 penses have about increased in equal proiiortions. The question will siig- 
 I'ost itself — have the advanta-'es been commensurate with the cost ? They 
 assembled under the leadership of Mr. Thorburn, Mr. llykert taking an 
 active part in the representation of Grantham. 
 
 The appropriation being adequate, work was at once commencetl on the 
 canal, numerous stone cutters, masons, and laborers employed. Mr. Merritt, 
 as usual, was elated with the proposed improvements, which proceeded tri- 
 muidiantlv to the final success of his scheme. He was in dailv communi- 
 cation with all parts of the work, and gave it his unceasing attention while 
 in the neighbt)rhood. 
 
 During the year 1841 a large portion of his time had been spent in superin- 
 tending the works on the Canal, ])articularly along the Feeder — which was 
 intended to be enlarged to the full size of the Canal, so that vessels pass- 
 intr thi'ou"h it dining the time that the works were L'oint' on at Port Colborno 
 would not obstruct the passage in that direction. And on the setting in of 
 winter he made preparations to leave for England on imj)ortant business 
 connected with finance, politics, free ti-ade, the negotiation of Government 
 debentures, ttc, as well as to mako arrangements towards placing hia 
 sons, the author and William, in the ' ^niversity. 
 
 « Albany, October 12, 1841. 
 " ]\Iv Dr.An Sox — You exprejised a desire to visit Enghind with me, on 
 my leaving home, and on reflection, as this is most probably the last time I 
 may ever have an opportunity to cross the Atlantic, I have decided that 
 vou and your brother may accompany me. 
 
 "^Y. H. MERRITT." 
 
 Our subject, as well as his correspondents, considered it of the utmost 
 imi)ortance — now that the disposition -t' the luveuue was all uiider ono 
 Legislature — that the public in Lower Canada should be acquainted with 
 tl'.e benefit the improvements of the navigation of thd 8t. Lawrence in West- 
 ern Canada would bo to the country at large, ns well as the all-absorbing 
 subject of local self-government in which the American colonics were equally 
 interested. 
 
 Previous to departing he received the following from his friends James 
 Holmes and Jose])!! Howe, who had been visiting there the same autumn • 
 
imn 
 
 242 
 
 "Halifax, Oct. 7, 1811. 
 " My Dear Sir — I received your favor of the Ifstli September a few 
 days ago, and wa.s glad to find that you were well sati.siied with tlie results 
 of the session. I have watched the procet'dings narrinvly, iiiid have been, 
 on tlie whole, most ])leased and gratilied with what has been done and .said, 
 always exco))ting the weakness and twaddle with wliicli the cam))aign was 
 opened • ^^ * -i= There need be no fears of Executive responsi- 
 bility. You would liave liad it in full perfection, had you ever mustered a 
 majority to beat the d'overruacnt and with coinmou. j)rincijjl('.s and union to 
 form another. Here, nobody dreams of the old stalking liorse of a minority 
 government — the thing is ab.surd, and the few who cliui; to the idea are re- 
 garded as old^Waterloo soldiers, or some dreamers of times gone past. Mrs. 
 Howe begs me to present Jier respects, and thank you for all your attention. 
 I am right glad to find tliat tlie great 8t. Lawrence river improvtsments are 
 to be vigorously dealt with. You deserve gi'eat credit 'iov your jiersever- 
 ance, and I trust will reap some profit as well as honor by your exertions. 
 With best respects to all friends, believe me, 
 
 " Yours truly, 
 
 "JOSEPH HOWE. 
 " W. Hamilton Meuuitt." 
 
 "]MoxTREAL, 23d November, 18-41. 
 
 " Dear Sir — I received your letter, dated the 8th inst., only a few days 
 since. Where it has been in the meantime I cannot say. The communi- 
 cation for publication, enclosed in it, you will find in the Herald, which is 
 the pai)er enjoying most influence and the greatest circulation here. I shall 
 j>robably follow it up by publishing your *' Keport," and by observations. 
 If you have any to send me 1 shall be able to get insertion for them in tlie 
 lleraU or some other joui-nal. (Jan you send uie any back numViers of the 
 St. Catharines Journal ^\\i\iAi contain ob.servations on your great object^ 
 If you can, do so, as it is a difficult thing to write with effect about what one 
 really umler.stands but little. I am. 
 
 " Yours very cordially, 
 
 "JAMES HOLMES. 
 " Hamiltox INIerritt, Esq., St. Catharines." 
 
 The following he received from his father-in-law in answer to his letter 
 
 regarding the education of his son William, which we commend to the study 
 
 of our embryo politicians of the present day ; 
 
 Mayville, December 14th, 1841. 
 My Dear Sir: — I received yours of the 12th of October, dated at 
 Albany, in which you ob.scrvcd you were about to go to England on busi- 
 ness of the stockholders of the Welland Canal. 
 
 " So you wish William to ])0ssess a knowledge of politics and legislation, 
 as well as law. Politics and legislation are only to be obtained by tlio 
 society of politicians, and in the legislative haU. The laws of particular 
 goveriniients and national law are tiiught in seminaries of leaining, and con- 
 stitute a branch of learning wliicli is very nec(5ir.sary to (pudify a man for ii 
 politician and for tlie legislative hall. But still tli** great fle*ld for that study 
 is not ill seminaries C{f learning, but is obtained by the knowledge acquireil 
 
243 
 
 l)y the study of the interests of nations, and tliat partioidarly of our own 
 And neighboring countries. Tliose interests will !e fuund to be and ought 
 to be the governing viotives to all action between nations. It would be no 
 (litHcult matter to form laws in conformity with those interests if the legis- 
 lative body would act in concert. But here you are met by a thousantl sec- 
 tional and i)ersonal interests, clashing with tlie interests of the government 
 or state, and nine tinu's o>it of ten the.se interests are mei-e pretenses to cover 
 some selfish design, and for this cause it becomes more difficult to discover 
 and unveil the motives of these men than to discover and manage the inter- 
 ests of government. The subject of politics and legislation, and the im- 
 proper motives of men in oi)position — their intrigues and designs, which 
 would subvert the ends of all fair legislation, I might have omitted, these 
 being superfluous to inform one who requii'es no light on these subjects. 
 
 " With sentiments of great regard, 
 " Yours, 
 
 " JP:DEDIAH PKENDERG AST. 
 " W. Hamilton Merritt." 
 
 Mr. M. wi'Oto to the Chief Justice, who had just returned from England 
 for an introduction to some of his influential friends there. The "Chief" 
 makes this an opportunity to read him a lecture not to take advantage of the 
 Canal stockholders, and closes, with regard to Lord Stanley : " I should 
 not feel it agreeable to address him except officially." Our subject demands 
 explanations, whence appeiu-s the following. Without saying that persons 
 ill public employment should not occasiomdiy enter into stock-jobbing, it is 
 to Ije wished that the standaid of public morality and honor was ei-ected on 
 a sinular level in these days : 
 
 "TouoxTO, Dec. 7, 1841. 
 "My Dear Sir : — I have jvist received your letter of yesterday. You 
 do not mention on what day you intend setting out ; and I am therefore 
 doubtful whether this will reach you or not. I lose no time, however, in 
 writing to you, because I am aiixious that there should be no misunder- 
 standing between us on the subject to which it chiefly relates. There can 
 bo few persons, if any, who have; had a bt^tter opjiortunity than I have had 
 til judge of your conduct aiul motives in regard to the Welland Canal, and 
 I need not tell you that I have never looked upon you as actuated by any 
 other than the best motives in giving up, as you have done, the greater pai't 
 of your life to the promotion of that work. I fully belitsve you to have been 
 disinterested in all the eftbi-ts you have made to forward it, and you are well 
 aware that I have on many occasions publicly borne my testinu)ny to that 
 effect, when I found your motives antl character unjustly attacked ; and in 
 private I have done so thousands of times when you, of course, liave known 
 nothing of it. jNIy opinion in that res[)ect is not in tlu; slightest degree 
 changed. That you have always done all you could to guard the interest of 
 the absent stockholders is quite well known to me, and I did and do sincerely 
 trust that you will continue to act in the same manner towards them, by 
 making them aware of the situation in which they really now stand. I 
 confes.sed that hope in my letter, and it was the persuasion of my mind that 
 But, I will be quite candid with you, and state precisely what 
 
 you would. 
 
244 
 
 I mi'ant by wiitiii<ij as I did. Nobody had said one word to inc about your 
 visit to England, or tlio probable object of it. No one had given the remot- 
 est hint to nio that they sus|K!eted you were bent upon any speculation con- 
 nected witli the ('anal ; but 1 <lo know that lately some persons have beconio 
 alive to the real value of tho Welland (.'anal stock, while the assurances 
 which the act liolds out of future advantaj,'(^H, and that .stock has been bou;,'lit 
 ni> at a good specidation. I am well awan; that the debentures are to open 
 for the actual amount of each person's stock at par, bearing interest as the 
 act provides, but what 1 feel anxious about is that the English stockholders 
 should be put on their guard and made Ui reflect that the debentures will 
 be really worth much more than (lu'ir accruing amount by the certainty tho 
 act atl'ords of the biu'k interest being ullimately paid. If you think they 
 are sure of coming to tlu^ knowledge of this, without any jtains Ix'ing taken 
 to explain it, 1 think you are mistaken, because 1 know that within a fort- 
 night stock has been sold here at jiar, which of course involves a needless 
 loss of all the back interest. Tiiis has made nu^ ajipichend that if smh a 
 speculation coidd be carrieil on here, upon the spot wliere the best meaus nt' 
 infornuition oxi.st, it is more likely that the same thing could be dont> with 
 the stockholders in Kngland, and f should be extremely sorry to hear that 
 such men as I\lr. I'.lacow, after having lost the use of their money for years, 
 should be induced hastily to accept an oiler which, veiy probably, before this 
 time has been mail" to them, and which precludes all pos<ibility of their 
 being ev(>r indemniliiMl for what np to this tiiiK^ they have lo.st. 1 hoped 
 that your going homo migiit ]>revent this, and so I sai<l in my letter. At 
 the same tinu' 1 confi'.ss it diil occur to me as possible, though I did not think 
 it jn'obable, that you might make an offer for tho stock of any who might 
 choo.^e to sell and might acquire it, and 1 should have deeply regretted if 
 you had erred in judgment so much as to do it, liecause though you might 
 have considtri'd tht; traiusaction iu no way blamable, it would have rcceivcti 
 the worst constiuction. I felt that it would be taken as a confirmation ut' 
 what I had luard marjy times slated to your prejudice, and what you well 
 know 1 have again and again contradicted, staking my own reputation upon 
 tho purity of your motives. Anything of that kinil, however openly you 
 might hav(> acted, would with mankind iu general have wholly destroyod 
 the claim which you now have to be regarded as the person who has prac- 
 tically conferred the most important benefit upon this country. If yuu 
 took it that I had heard one word said about your having any such inten- 
 tion yon are wholly in error. You are equally in ei-ror if you supposed that 
 I believed that to be your object. On the contrary 1 really did lioj)e, as I 
 said, that your visit to England would be made to answer exactly the oppo- 
 site ]iurpose. But, I freely confess a fear crossed me that you might fall 
 into an error, and I meant that my letter should in some mea.sure have the 
 effect it has had, though I did not think you would take it exactly iu the 
 sense you have done. 
 
 " As to my own trifling amount of stock, I should always have disposed 
 of it at par from the time of my becoming a Judge, because every now and 
 then something was coming up in th.e court iu which I presitled and in whi vli 
 the Company were more or less concerned, although the interest was too 
 minute to be talked of. I neeil not tell you that we live in an ill-natured 
 world, and I should always have been better plea.s«.\l at being free, as I 
 
245 
 
 oiu:;Iit to }»o, of ivll diivot ]>0(MiiHiirv iiitiM-cst in the Ooin])iUiy. Ah kg )n as I 
 Wiis told of a poison wlio w.mld trivii £21)0 for mv stock I did not lii-sitato 
 to piirt with it. J'lit I shall nt^vcn- ftMd hjss intorest in th(i woik than I ha\o 
 dou«, nor tako less pleasure iu seeing those who have sujuiorlcd it satisfac- 
 torily rewarded. 
 
 " I am, my (hiar sir, 
 
 " Yours very truly, 
 
 "JOirN 15. R0BIN80N." 
 
 No people on earth understood the btjsiness (<f stock-jol)l)inf/ better tlian 
 the jieople of En^^land, and those from whom Mr. Aferritt had olitained stix-k, 
 witli one or two e.\oe[)tions, were hankers and eapitulists of tins lirst stand- 
 ing iu tlie City of London, tlie Minister of Liverpool Ijoing an exception. 
 
 There was more danger that the holders in Quebec and New York would 
 fail (o get the advantage of the Imperial guarantee, than the British shave- 
 hulders. 
 
 Fortunately at this period the following letter wns r.iceivod in reply to 
 
 (ln^ Judge's sunnises: 
 
 " LivKiU'ooL, No. 2r> Nile Street, Nov. 17, 1811. 
 " Mv Dr.vk Sik :— T liave had the pleasur^i and satisfaetion of receiving 
 your gratifying letter of the :27th inst., stating, as it does, that tlie i)roperty 
 HO long cinbarktMl by the private shareholders in the Wellanrl Canal, and for 
 years cousideri^l iu so much jeopardy, will at length belrtMlcemod. and still 
 more gratifying tliat I may so sodu have the |il(Msure of sfMiing you and your 
 sons in Liverpool. Your intimation, too, of a future bDuusfor the hazard 
 they in:'urred in lending their aiil to so noble a work, whicli must ultimately 
 prove of such imnunise b,uit!tit to the Province, bfsspeaks a c(jntinuauce of 
 those liberal feelings you havt; always manifested in their behalf. 
 
 "I trust our new ^Finistry will give every encouragement to emigration, 
 as nothing would so essentially conduce to the wtdfare of the eo\intry. It 
 would at once I'edieve us from the; burden of our pool- rates, and soon form 
 an outlet for all our manufactures. Tn fact, it would make us independent 
 of the whole world. Wo could get all we want from our own T'^donies, and 
 supply them with everything needful for themselves, and thus form a bond 
 of union that would be mutually beneficial. 
 
 " Believe me, my dear sir, 
 
 " Veiy sincerely your.q, 
 
 "RICHAIID BLACOW." 
 
 Before leaving St. Catharines, his fellow-townsmen waited upon him, and 
 offered him a public dinner, which, owing to the short time at his dispo.sal, 
 he was compelled to decline. He left on the 27th December, after spending 
 the Christmas at his father's, and joined his sons in New York. 
 
mmm 
 
 24G 
 
 saELi 
 
 1842. 
 
 Tlioy onihiirkod on tlic 20th Jiimiaiy, in tlio good sliip " CfolmnlmH," for 
 Liverpool, \vli(>ro tlicy iirri\ od afti i a favorahlo trip of t\voiity-om> days, land- 
 ing on the 11th F(0)iuury, and jiut up at tho CJrociau llutol. Thoy s])fnt 
 a few days in Liveriwol, socing tho gi-oat docks and other wonders. Here 
 he left his sons to amuse th(!niselves, and procecnlod to London. Ho occu- 
 pied his old (juartors, No. 19 l"5ury Sircet, where in 1828 ho was a fellow- 
 lodger with Thomas Moore, the poet, the house being a great resort for 
 Lritish American travelleis. 
 
 He soon had tho pleasi;ro of meeting Mr. Gordon, his brother-in-law, 
 in whose care ho jilaced Ids sons, as his own time would be fully occupied. 
 
 Whilst on shipboard he matured a number of communications to Lord 
 Stanley, then Colonial Secretary, on the subject of admitting Canadian pro- 
 duce into England duty free. In these letters ho fully explained the in- 
 justice done to Canada in this matter, by tfixing tho industry of a people 
 who were striving to extend her tn)pire, whilst they at the .same time were 
 receiving the bulk of their goods from the production of the parent State. 
 
 He also visited many of his old associates, Messrs. Gladstone, Goul- 
 borne, Smith, Buller, Pomberton, Bosanquet, Cubett and others, to whom 
 was imparted a great deal of information in reference to Canada, and also 
 attended some of the public entertainments, one in particular, held in the 
 London Tavern, at which we find that he made a speech. 
 
 He attended the Imperial Parliament, which assembled on the 3rd inst. 
 
 The following is some of the correspondence from otficials, and Members 
 
 of Parliament : 
 
 "Whitehall, Feb. 15. 
 
 " Sir : — I am directed by Mr. Wm. E. Gladstone to acknowledge the re- 
 ceii)t of your note this morning, and to thank you for the opportunity which 
 you offer him of ascertaining your opinion on the subject of his Resolutions 
 respecting the duty on the importation of corn into Canada. Mr. Glad- 
 stone will be at liberty to see you to-morrow, the 16th inst., at three o'clock. 
 
 " I am, sir, 
 
 " Your obedient servant, 
 
 " RAWSON W. RAWSON. 
 " W. Hamilton Merritt, Esq." 
 
 " Downing Street, Feb. 18, 1842. 
 " Sir : — In reply to your letter of the 17th, I am desired by the Chan- 
 cellor of the Exchequer to state that he will be happy to see you on Monday 
 next at one o'clock. I am, sir, 
 
 " Your very obedient servant, 
 
 " RAW^SON W. RAWSON. 
 " W. H. Merritt, Esq." 
 
147 
 
 "No. DCiiAi'Ki, Stk. ;;t, Bcl^'r.ivc Sciiiarc, Fell. 10, 1S42. 
 
 " Sm : — iruviuf^ been iiifortiKnl by Mr. (J. Franks and by Mr. (lillHspie 
 that you aro Hpecially iIlt('r(^st<'(l on btilialf of (Canada in thrs (|iu!stion relat- 
 iiii,' to tlio fi'c(' adinission of C!olonial j,'rain into tlie liritisli markets, it 
 would give mo much pleasure to see you pn^vious to my motion in the 
 House of Commons for a reduction of the duty t(j one shilling per (piarter. 
 I am almost always at honu^ till about two o'clock, and if convenient to you 
 to call bef(n(! that hour 1 shall feel very much ol)li<'ed by vour allowinj' mo 
 to see you at No. l> L'hap(d street, or J will call upon you on any day you 
 may appoint lietween the hours of fouf and fiv(! o'clock in the afternoon. 
 
 "Jf you liavc any nKMuoranda, Avliich \ou think tend to eluciihite the 
 .subject, or if any point speedily suggests itself to you as wortliy of notice, I 
 shall bo very glad to give them my best attention. 
 
 " 1 have the honor to be, 
 
 " Vour obetli(fnt servant, 
 
 "WILLIAM T. O'liUIEN. 
 "W. H. Mekritt, Esq." 
 
 " Mr. Gladstone moved for imposing a duty upon Colonial produce, which 
 %vent into (effect, and Mr. O'Brien's amendii'.ent was lost. 
 
 " WiiiTKHALL, Feb. 22, 18 12. 
 " SiK : — I am directed by Mr. Wm. E. Ulatlstone to acknowledge with 
 his best thanks your letter of the I8th inst., upon the subject of the proposed 
 measure for regulating the trade of the Colonies, as it all'ects Canadian 
 iiituresta. I am, sir, 
 
 " Your obedient servant, 
 
 " llAWSON. W. RAWSON. 
 " W. H. Mekritt, Esq." 
 
 " Downing Street, Feb. 25, 1842. 
 " Sir : I am directed by Lord Stanley to acknowledge the receipt of the 
 letters which ynu addressed to his Lordship on the 21st inst., respecting the 
 expelioncy of allowing Canadian corn to be imported into this country duty 
 frue, and to convey to you his lordship's thanks for those communications. 
 " I have the honor to be, sir, 
 
 " Your n.ost obedient humble servant. 
 
 "G. W. HOPE. 
 " W. Hamilton Merritt, Esq." 
 
 "Whitehall, March 1, 1842. 
 "Sirs: Mr. Wui. E. Gladstone presents his compliments to Mr. Merritt and 
 Mr. Williams, and has the honor to acquaint them, in reply to their note of 
 this morning, that it is not intended to propo.se any duty upon the importa- 
 tion of wheat into Canada. " Yours respectfully, 
 
 " W. E. GLADSTONE. 
 " W. II. Merritt and Mr. Williams, Esq's." 
 
 " Downing Street, March 3rd, 1842. 
 " SlR:~ I am directed by Lord Stanley to acknowledge the receipt of your 
 letter of the 22d ult., and to thank you for the information conveyed to him 
 by that and your other communications. 
 
 " With respect to the intentions of Her Majesty's Government on the sub- 
 ject of the trade in corn both from the United States into Canada, and from 
 
218 
 
 C*»niulii to (Iroiit Hritiiiii, Lord Sliuiloy dosircs mo to Htftto tliat, ntW the din- 
 cuhhIoiis wliioli liavo ivot'ntly takfii j)la(!o in tlit! IIoiiho of ('oihihomh, lio IW'Ih 
 it uiuieci'SHary to oiittT into details, but iH liappy to bo ublo to rol'or to tlioso 
 disciiHsions, as sliowini; that it is from no indisp.)sitioM to promoto to tlio utmost 
 of tbeir ability to do so, consistently with othor considcratioiiH, tho intorosts of 
 Canada, that Her IMajcsty's (iovornim-nt must docliiio at present to acreedo to 
 the proposal of an unrostricted importation of corn from thence to(ireat liritain. 
 
 *' I have tli(^ honor to be, sir, 
 
 " Your most obedient servant, 
 
 "(J. W. HOPE. 
 " W. II. Mkuritt, Esq." 
 
 After leaving tho matter for tlio consideration of tho Ministry, ho at lonytli 
 found time to attend to his sons. 
 
 Ou thi> Sill of INIareh he wt<nt to ( ■aMiI)rid.i;(! University, where he placed 
 hin son Jododiah. Boinn; furnished with hitters of introduction, ho was iii- 
 vitoil by tho Society of Ftdlows, and din(«d with tho sinco colobratod Dr. 
 Colenzo ami INFr. Paloy, and tho magnates of St. Jolin's Colleg<'. 
 
 " London, March •_'(), IftfJ. 
 " Mv Dk.MI Catiiauink :-- Your alfcctionate and most admirable letter 
 of thetith February reached mo this day. iMr. Gordon will enclose it on Mon- 
 day, as I leave in the moininn' to join \Yilliam at Paris. I went to Cam- 
 bridge on tho 7th with Jedediah, expecting he would obtain an entraneo ne.Kt 
 October. He was examined in (Jroek, Latin, Algebra, and Arithmetic — 
 pas.sed, obtained a eertiiieaU!, procure<l iiis cap and gown and dincid in the Hall 
 tho same day, by which be has gained a term. Mention this to tho Rev. Mr. 
 Atkinson, and say to Mr. A. if my means will admit he shall have the silver 
 service. T have been pricing at a nMnd)er ol" pl;ic(>s, but the price is much the 
 same. 1 go over lor the purpose of .seeing William properly settled, and will 
 bo absent about a fortnight. W ith regard to business, everything is getting 
 on as well as 1 anticipated. Tin' (Jovernment have overlooked the Colonies 
 in tlieir great conunercial and financial transactions, and all parties interested in 
 tho Colonics here, which are, however, few, appear dissatisfied. For my own 
 part, I feel that the basis has been laid for our future prosperity, and expect 
 before tho close of another session to .see the produces of Canada admitted into 
 the ports of the mother country free from duty. Sir Allan MeNab 
 called on me last night, lie came over in the Oxlbrd packet, by way of Que- 
 bec. I'oston and New Y'ork. Give my love to all our relatives and friends, 
 particularly father and mother, who 1 hope may be spared to meet us again 
 in this world. W'c arc all hastening through it; and I cannot but remark 
 how changed my feelings arc since 1828 — fourteen years. Then, I had an 
 inclination to see everything; now, I would not give a straw to see anything. 
 I have not been inside of a theatre or s\riat one penny in sight .seeing. I'cr- 
 haps I may luive uktj curiosity in Paris, as everything will bo new. Mr. 
 Gordon spends the evening with me generally when 1 don't dine out. Charles 
 Morritt accompanies me to France. 
 
 " I'our affectionate husband, 
 
 "\V. HAMLLTON MERRITT." 
 
 He sent liis son William oil to Paris, in order to observe a little of the 
 grandeur of this gayest of cities, whore ho afterwai'd? joined him. From 
 
240 
 
 I'iuis tlioy procooilod to Htrasltonr:^, thein'c to llcidnllxT^, when* In- ImW 
 iiitnuluotioiiH, ami llionnt to Hoiin in \vlio-tf< Hj)l(»niliil iiniviM'sity ho [tliu'«"l 
 hi.sHoii — ami ivtiinu'd to liondoii. 
 
 " No. <) I{i:ilY Sthkk.T, St. .lamcH, Apiil Ki, I HI'.'. 
 
 '• My Demi Sox : Ilavin;; arrivi'd tliis (!V('iiiii;^. I t.iki' tlio c iilifst fipjior- 
 tuiiity to L'ivi; you a liiifruiitliiic ol' my pnxiociliiif^H siiio»! my lant luttcr. At'icr 
 Icaviiif^ this, in company with Cli'irlt's MiMritt. had a jdc.i.snit sail down the 
 Thami'8, ciUHscd the; Chaiiiii-l, and arrivi'il nt I{iuloii;:;ii(r the .sauK! d.iy, or hy 
 ton o'clock at iii>;ht. In one day and niu;lit arrival hy djlii^nnci! to \':\rU, pass- 
 im; thniu;;h a country (Jcvoid (d' interest. On my arrival in I'arJH, I hid 
 Slime diHicnity in findin;; William'.s hotel, in conHCi|neM<!(! of liin iieLdif^'Uico in 
 rorinin^ ids letters, rcadin:; Motel Farcnt, widcli was unknown or did n 't cxi-it, 
 (I notice this as a hint for yonrsell") Al'ter fin lin;; the hot 1, I found he h id 
 I'liinineneed his studies with a Frcicli toichur; .sent for him, and sp jiit ftuiWO'k 
 in selectiiijj; a suitalile pbiei; for him to return to, h ivini; muht up my mind to 
 accompany liim to (jicrm my. lie will live in tin; family ofa I'nd'essor id' L'lW, 
 l''raricois (,'oipulle, at 1;{I( francs por month, and be undiir the direction of Mr. 
 |).;strcus. Avocat, a la ('our Royal, No. ('» Place Dmptiine, who will i^iv. liim 
 lessons or direct his studii's in the civil law. I will li in.' Wd'i im's journ il for 
 your perusal, to which 1 refer for a description of Paris. Passed the prov- 
 inces of ChampaiL'-iu!,. Ijoi'raine, and .Vlsae.!, tln<iu.,di a heiutiful comitry, hut 
 hetween J'aris .'ind the first the country is sterile and hc.irs the appearance of 
 poverty. On Tuesday, the 5th inst., le't Paris in a dili^'cncc for Strishnurg 
 on the llhine, a place imted for its (J ithe Iral or Minster, said to he one of 
 the noblest (Jothic edilices in Kiirope, with the hit^hest spire; in the woild, 171 
 feet above the puvoment, 140 feet hitrhcr thiui .St. Paul's and 21 fiet hii:her 
 than the ;:rcat pyranad in i']L:ypt. Imoiu Strasbonr;;- we descended the llhine, 
 pas.iing Spires, Worms, and mniy .ancient towns, until we readied Mayc^nci;, 
 thence took a railroad to Frankfort. On our arrival found there wis no uni- 
 versity and no |.l u'e suitable, therefore procured letter.-, iiir Fleidelbiru'. but 
 nieetin^' wi;h the J! 'v. .Mr. II:irvt:y, was recomnundeJ by hi n and other Ivi^'- 
 lish ;.a'ntlemeu to lir.st visit Bonn, the University where Princi) Albert received 
 his education. Followed their advice and arrived there wit'i )Ut lettiTs or in- 
 troduction from any person, cKoept a note from a I'riend of .Mr. Harvey's to a 
 Professor Sumner, who he onco met by chance. Keturned to Miycnce, thence 
 down the Uhine to 15'inn, which part embraces the mo-t piiituresipie scenery 
 on that celebrated river, but I will not attempt a descrij)tion but refer you to 
 " Murray's Hand Hook " for a brief and <:ood account. You will make your- 
 self familiar with those places before yon see tiieni. Found no <lit!iculty on my 
 arrival. Doctor Sumner, Professor of Theoloi:y, a Protestant minister, was 
 extremely kind, as all the (Jerman t,'Oiitlemen we met were, and in two d.iys 
 -succeeded in plaoini; William with the f miily of Alfred Nicolovious, Professor 
 of Law. lie married a lady from IjtM'lin, neither of whom can speak En'.dish. 
 He has only two small children, and consented to take him in consideration of 
 nis beini,' a i'orei-^ner and unprotected. The expense will be £80 per year. 
 Althons^h a strict examination is instituted before a native is admitted, no ox- 
 lunination is necessary for a forcit^ner. At 18 he enters this University, has 
 free access to the library and the benefit of lectures on every science, and they 
 have the most eminent men in Prussia at the head of each, so say Eiiju'lish resi- 
 dents. If u young mau desires to learn lie will h:vve every opj»ortunity ; if not, 
 
tlicy will iKtt ln' urpd. Tlit; stmliiits livo wlioro they |ilfaHC. I thoui^lit it 
 iiuwt !nivisiil>ln to jihict' William first in (JiTiiinny, bwauHu I sliouM It'cl better 
 siitii^fioil ill Huciiii; tlit- jtoopK' willi wlimu lio wmiM rt'sido iit hotii pliKics. A 
 (ifrtiiaii is II HC'ioiidaiy cuiisidcriitioii, by loaniiiii; it lirst lie will siioncr fbr^Mit 
 it tluiii Kri'iKili, which will bt; tho most icwiitly iiiipriissod on liis iiiciiiory. J!o 
 will coimiu'iici! his I'lX'iicli li'ssons us Sfxtii n» lie ouii spoak tli»! (iitriiiaii and un- 
 derstand it ; and 1 wish to make his stay in Paris as shitrt as possiblo. litd't 
 liiin on Tuisday last, and returned by way of (!olo;z;no, Aix lia (Jhapellc, liiet^e, 
 Brussels, (liioiit, Hru;j;es and Ostoiid, alter visitin;^ Waterloi. It is my inten- 
 tion to pay you a visit bel'ore 1 leave, whieli cannot be before the iHtli of May, 
 and we will (hen consult respecting a tour throULch that country, fiie ensuing 
 year, during your long vacation. If I can afford it I will give you tlio oppor- 
 tunity, as it will not only be iiighly iiiterestiiig, but beneficial to your health. 
 Hy tliat time William will thoroughly undorstand French, I'jiglish, and (Jer- 
 man, and ho has a great iinxiety to visit Switzerland. Some gentlemen are 
 much in the iiabit of travelling on loot, particularly Knglislimen. T came 
 (ivir with a young officer ol' tht^ sr)th, who travelled through Bavaria, Switz- 
 erland, and Italy, with two others, one a German ; was absent three months 
 and only expended .i'25, and a i>art of tlie way took diligence and visited 
 theatres and ])ublic places. At the same time 1 found travelling (juite as dear 
 there or more so than in America. With a hope of hearing from you shortly 
 
 " I remain, 
 
 " Your affectionate father, 
 
 «'W. HAMILTON MEKRITT." 
 
 On bis return to London lu« first l)UHine88 wa8 witli tho Ministry, as 
 will be Hcen by this note : 
 
 "WniTKnAi.i,,May 17, 1812. 
 
 " Sir : — I ani directed by Mr. W. E. (Jhulstone to ucknowledgo the 
 receipt of your letter of yesterday, upon the subject of the jiroposed clau.se 
 in the British PussessiouH Trade Bill, by which the free importation of 
 certain articles for tho use of the Fisheries is permitted. 
 
 " The Government is sensiV)le that objections may lie against the system 
 of exemptions, but as it has f(jund them established in this instance in favor 
 of a particular branch of industry, it does not feel itself justified in inter- 
 fering with thom. I am, sir, 
 
 " Your obedient servant, 
 
 "KAWSON W. KAWSON. 
 
 " W. Hamilton Mekuitt." 
 
 The following appeared in tho Jotirmd of the 1 4th of April, being in 
 time to reach our subject before his mission was clo.sed. To realize the grati- 
 fication and encouragetnent this was likely to supply, we must consider Mr. 
 Merritt was without a Croverninent appointment. His appeals for adequate 
 introduction, necessary to smooth the way for the self-appointed envoy, were 
 but partially ro.spouded to, and serious discourag(unents thrown in his way 
 during its progress : 
 
 " We have been favored with a communication from Mr. Merritt, now 
 in TiOndon. This indefatigable friend of his country is at the present mo- 
 ment laboring hard at the seat of the Imperial Government for the welfare 
 of Canada. 
 
251 
 
 "Stfixily <o <li(i princi|iIi'H of nifoiiii mid fit'i* tiwlo, Iif is lioMiii:,' on tlio 
 " pvcii tenor of IiiH way," ami will, no doiilit, pcrKovitro in his liin<liii>l<' nndiT- 
 takin'^'K hu lon^ uh \w rontiniutH in pnhlii; lifi\ 
 
 "Tin) country in ^'<'n(^iiil, and St. ('atharinfH in jiartioulivr, fii'f dccjily 
 ind<)l)t«d to liis entT^y and lt";,'iHlativ(i wisdom. 
 
 " It iH (Imoiitly to Im wihIukI tluit liiH vulnalilo lifo may 'oo Ki>Hr««d to lio 
 an incii'iiHin:; lilcsRiiij^ to tlio |irovinc(<, ttnil Mint wlii-n his fncf shall ho iii,'ain 
 tinned towards hi.s kindre<I and this western world he may he favored with 
 L,'entl(» ^aloa and propitions skies as tlm meaiiH of ooiidtictinj.; him in saltity 
 to tlio HOPUOH most dear to his Innirt." 
 
 ITe then imnuMliiitcdy ohtained the royal Hanetion to the Nia;.;(ua 
 histriot IJank Oliartcn-, hnt failed in tho most important part, hccause a 
 douhh) rcsponsihility had Iteen inserted in their charter, viz., ohliiin- 
 inj; Htockhohlers in tho liank. JIo iil.so oommnnicated with tho leading 
 ciipitalistH with niforcnco to tho dobenturos, which ho deposited with <ilyn, 
 Mills (k Co., from whom ho rocoivod anthority to draw upon them for the 
 amount, wliich answcn-nd hh woll as their actual Halo in this caho. 
 
 " No. 6 liuKY Stkket, St. James, May 10, 1812. 
 "(Jkntlkmen: — The Provincial Iie;,'islatur(W)f United (!ana<la, during 
 tlioir last .se.ssion, authorized tins purchase of tho privato shares held in tho 
 Welland Canal Company by issuing debentures, ])ayable in twenty years 
 at the otlico of tho Hoceivor (J-^sneral in C'aniida, it an int'-rcst of two ])or 
 cent, for tho first two years, throe;, four, five and six per cent, up to the sixth 
 year, and thoroaftor at tho same rate. Tho Receiver General will nnike 
 tliHso bonds out for any amount recpiired, and remit the interest to any 
 lious(! in Lomlon iit tho usual rate of exchange. I am authorized to dis- 
 jioso of about .£70,(»()() in the.so bonds. 
 
 " I will thiink you to inform mo if you will make an ofTer for these 
 liond.s, if iu)t, what you think they would command in this market if a sale 
 was forced of tho same, and in what manner you would recommend them 
 to be altered, and on what terms you would dispose of them when so 
 altered. 
 
 " I am, gentlemen, 
 
 " Your obedient .servant, 
 
 " W H. M." 
 
 From tho metropolis tho proceeded to Cambridge, and the summer 
 iiolidays permitting, proceeded with the author on an extended tcjur through 
 Scotland, England, and Ireland, In Scotland they visited the Court of 
 General Sessions, which took the place of tb». old Parliament, and lieard the 
 colebrated Dr. Chalmers deliver an able adWross on the Kirk Secession, 
 afterwards the Free Church, which was then exciting the [joople of 
 Scotland. After seeing Edinburgh and its ancient monuments they went 
 by rail to Glasgow, where thoy visited the manufactories of that rising city, 
 and from thence by steamboat to Belfast, and though late in May, in passing 
 D nnbarton and the Highlands, they observed the hills covered with snow ; 
 ahio seeing Ailsa Craig and tho many seaside beauties of North Britain. 
 
^ili 
 
 , 252 
 
 As Anioiiciiiis, tlioy were surin'iswl at tlio long cvoiiing twilight, w]iiol> 
 always hcmmiih stiuiigo to tlio visitor IVotn luoro SoiitlifM-ri coimtrios. They 
 found liclfiist a largci and ))i()S]>(!n)US t-'ity, ami whilst thcro tlniy called on 
 the fVicinds of jNlr. lioonici-, hoforo incntionod as oonnoclod with I\Ir. I\l.V 
 family; also, tho Chirks, at Annngh. Wishing to soo the inhabitants, of 
 ■whom ho had seen so much on the Canal, he visited a number of the cot - 
 tagors, and took notf's of tlunr circumstanccK and position in life. Going 
 Koiithw'.rd thfy visitcul l)rogh(Mla, and travollod through the* romantic and 
 liistoric (;ountry of tiio lioyno, and linally r(iachi;d J)uldin aftor a very agi-ee- 
 able jouriun'. T!i(!y]»ut up at an hotol in Sackvillo Street, and sjient a few 
 days in visiting the principal sights, including the old University of Trinity 
 Colh^go, where many of his Canadian Irish friends had graduated ; »I.o, St. 
 Patrick's (/'athedral. They wei'o veiy nnu'h ])le!is(!d, and hospitably enter- 
 tained, and on leaving by steamei' foi" JiivcM'pool were delighted with the 
 tiublinie srerKjry of Dublin J>ay and th<'. ',v icklow Mountains. Arriving in 
 Liv(!rp(Mil, in (inic to t-aUt' the mail s((';;nishi|>, " Creat Ib'itaiii," which was 
 going to New \'ork, leaving his son to return to ( ';tnil)riil^e, lie took pass- 
 ag<s home, and arrived Mile in twenty days, which was considered a wonder- 
 ful fast pas.sage at tlie time. 
 
 On his arrival at New ^'oi-k, the first lunvs h(» le-ai'd was of th(j ileath of 
 his uncle and early ]>atron, Nehemiah MfM-rItt, Ksip, of St. .Johns, X. B. 
 After a hasty interview with his New York friends who were interested in 
 tlie linancial ol>j(*ct of his mis.sio!i, in^ left at oikh) for St. .Johns. 
 
 During his absence another new < Jovernor, Sir (Inu'ii'S Bagot, the tiftli 
 in as many yeai-s, iiad aiiived in the country, followed Ity a special envoy, 
 li'ird Asliiiurton, wlio caiue to settle the boundary ipmstion. 
 
 The Canal had opened on the 18th of A|'i'il.nn<l wo notice that for the 
 first time a steam vessel jiad pass'vl througii the Canal to ()sW(!go, and one 
 froiu St. Thomas to AlonLreal, although thci Cornwall Canal wa-< not yet 
 (piite eoMipleted This was looked Upon as a great feat and augured well 
 for till future. 
 
 'i.e death of his umde was not the ruily sad event which awaited him, 
 as h<^ al.so h- aid that his veiierabh^ and respcct(Ml father had also passed 
 away at the i'i|><5 ohl agis of eighty two. Although in apparent good health 
 wh(m our sulijeet left, yet, after a short illness lu^ died on the I'Jth of May, 
 highly este(Mneil l>y all, and deeply regi-etted. His memoirs were drawn 
 up by Mr. (loorgo Coventry, and deposited with those of other eai'ly settlers 
 in the archives of the Province. 
 
 As our subject was daily expected back from ihiglaud, w(5 tind in the 
 Jonnud ui' ,]uiu' ;$() that steps w(!re immediately taken arid an influential 
 committee of his fellow townsmen apfiointed for the purpose of making him 
 a hamlsouia present, as u nuirk of their apiueciation of his conduct. And 
 
253 
 
 |<iiig hiui 
 
 Ann 
 
 altlioii^li Hovonil of his political opponoiits inrlustiiouKly circulated tlio story 
 tliat the afTair was got u}) l»y his own family, it is ncc'illcss to adil that it 
 was groiindloss, and in acoorda'too with liis fixnd ideas on tho duty of a 
 public man, ho firndy yot tliankfiiljy refusud to he tho recipient of any 
 testimonial. 
 
 Inimediatcly after liis return home, there api>eared a letter to George 
 Adams, President of the Agricultural Society, in which he says : 
 
 " SiK : — From the distinguished situation which you have long ludd in 
 this District, you ippear to he th(i most direct and appropriate channel through 
 which any comiiiunication to tlie public on any sulfject r(;lating to tliat 
 Ijrauch of industi-y can be made." 
 
 In this familiar c he notices the various addresses 
 
 to the Imperial Parliament for an adcfjuatc protection against foreign pro- 
 ducts, when Ouio are admitted without duty; and if wc cannot, on tlicso terms, 
 •sufficiently compete with foreigners, w(.' have no right to C(»rnj)lain. It is both 
 unreasonable and unjust to rocjuire our fellow subjects in liritain to impose 
 any duty or (ho articles they consume for our benefit. He then relates tho 
 history of the measure in an address to the Legislature, fifth March, 18IM, p. 
 149 of this work. 
 
 lie (juott the speech in the Imperial Parliament, bearing on the subject, 
 by 8ir Robert Peel, that Canada must be treated as an integral part of tho 
 liritish empire. That to accomplish this desirable object, they should remove 
 all duties in Britain of tho growth of Camida, and all duties on any article 
 manufactured in Britain; and extei'd the coasting M-f. le in the remotest part 
 of Canada. 
 
 He advises patience with the Home (lovernnient desirous of imposing any 
 duty on our products lor the purpose of revenue : as the eilect will be to give 
 the Canadian grower the full benefit of the market of the mother country us 
 well as our own. 
 
 If our readers can reni'Miilier (be remarks made on page ll'J, tliey will 
 find bow persistently he pursued this sultjeet, and also see that during his 
 lat(! visit he pressed the subject on tho Imperial (/overnnunt in sueii a man- 
 ner as to evoke fiom Sir K. Peel the remark, " ihat < anaila nnist in effeet 
 be treated as though sho was an integral part of tlu; empir(>," as well a dis- 
 patch lieiu" receivcid by tho (Jovernor, wiiich stated " that if our (Govern- 
 ment would repeal all duties on liritish goods, and impost} a reasonable 
 duty on all foreign importations, that tho products of Cana<la shall bo allowed 
 to enter tho l»orts of (Jreat Prilaiii du(y free." In con)menting on this, bis 
 ojiponent, the Niagara Cfirunirlf says : " For ihis happy result wu are to a 
 coubiderable e.vtent in<lebti-d to the exertions in England of Mr. W. II. 
 Merritt." Tho text of tho (Jolonial Customs bill was published on the 2I.st 
 of July, as follows : Wheat from the Statca wa.i admitted free to Canada, 
 
254 
 
 unil <'aniuli;in Hour \v;is rcihicod iu two .sliilliii^'.s oiil^' in lOiigliuul. So tliat 
 i\u'. liiiliiiK'o HnvM to this country was iil)out ;?4,()()(l,()(l() pci- aiiiiuin, iind 
 coutiiuuMl witli iuficiising |)i'osiierity to (Jaimdii lor nciuly (iv(^ ycins, until 
 Kui^liuul oiicnttl licr iniirki'ts diroct to the; Unit«!d Statrn. 
 
 During- tli<^ alKicucc of Mr. M. in England ;i di.sjMtcli was roi-civcMl from 
 til*' lioino (joviM-nnumt hy Sir (J. JSagot, ropudiating tlio jn'iiuiijdo of appro 
 priating any of tlin puhlio funds for building roads ami biidgcs. Tin- poli 
 tical opponents of our sulijfict chiirgod liini with bcsing concerned in this 
 matter, which ho most indignantly denied, directly or indin^ctly, ailirniiiitr 
 that in his corresjMJivdenco with Loid Stanley, or othei- ministeis, he never 
 expresse<l an opinion on the sultject, or that it was ever (!V(?n allu(l«;d to. 
 
 l*revi(jus to the calling of the JiCgisiature, on the 8th of Septeinher 
 soMu^ changes were made in th(( (Jovei'imu-nt, and amongst them was the 
 appointment of Mr. V. ffincks as Inspector (^tiueral. This g(!ntlemou had 
 previously successfully fdhsd tin; situation of political editor to the Exinidnp.r 
 newspaper, and had gained such pojuilarity that he virtually stepped from 
 the sanctum to the Council. 
 
 "J. S. ( 'aitwright, to whom the? position of Soliisitoi' ({enei'al foi' Canada 
 West has just Iteen otiercd Wv His Kxcejleiicy, has declined accepting it. 
 
 " In ansNvei' tw liis (picstion wheth(0' Mr. Ifincks was to lie made Inspec- 
 tor Ceuei-al and have a seat in the (!(»uncil, the Clovernor (Jem^ral replied in 
 the atlirmative."--./o»r//fA/, June ••. 
 
 After a sliort breathing tini" he was again in harness, and his first duty 
 was to look at his old friend, the ( !anal, \\\\ which ho accompanied Mr. Kil- 
 laly. During his al)sence 'li^^UW emigrants, principally from IrHland, had 
 arrived in Canada, and a goodly number of these* fouml employment upon 
 the works on the (!anal. The old faction tights were n-newed again in the 
 new country, and the glories of Cork and Connaught wei-e as loudly vaunted 
 arouiul the shanty fires as they ever iiad lasen in the Teniiisula under Wel- 
 lington in past years. Uroken heads and sometimes worse was often the 
 order of the day, and it became a serious matter to the contractors and others 
 to devise means wherein' this continual turmoil could be slipped. Whiskey, 
 of course, wasihe [uimary cause. 'I'he iihsa suggested and carried out by 
 our subject, was that of separating the " rival clansnum " and placing them 
 at dillerent divisions on the route. This, although in the main successful, 
 did not always fully accomplish a cuie, as the vivacity of the Hibernians 
 was often rais<>d to such a jtitch that they either fought for the fun of thing, 
 or, to use an Irish expression, " were growing rusty for a batin'." 
 
 On the 1st of August, going to Toronto, ho visited the new (Governor, by 
 whom he was well received. From Toronto he wont westward, visiting his 
 sister, Mrs. Ingorsoll, and othons, around Oxfoi'd, returning by Paris, Dundas^ 
 Flamborough, aixd other adjacent places, calling on many of his old ac- 
 ipuiintancos on the route. 
 
;j;) 
 
 old ac- 
 
 A^^fiia, on liis an'ival lioiiic, lui was nn-t l)y a mimliiT of visitors from 
 the Htatos wiio caiiit) to rco tint (!aiml. To tlioso lioactcil tho part of a cicc- 
 roiic, showing them all lln; objocts worthy of noto on tho Canal ami in tht^ 
 vicinity. 
 
 This Hcasoii was romarkablo for very riotous comliujt on tlic part of tho 
 laliorcr.s on the ('anal cnlar^'cninnt. So H(M'ions (li<l the matter hcuomc tiiat 
 tlu! woll fliisposcil pcophi of St. Catharines came forward in iargt; nuinlxirsto 
 l)(! sworn in as spcc^ial constahhis for tiio prt^servation of the poace. On tho 
 ass()nd)lin;,' of the Hoard of Magistrattis a nnmlter of resolutions wore passed, 
 f^iving siillicient power to the people to suppre.ss any demonstration of a 
 I'iotouM tendency. 
 
 Tlie following stfitoMiont, in our subject's own hand writing, dated St. Ca- 
 tharines, August 17, was prcsontod to His E.Kcellency : 
 
 " In eonso(|uenoc of public works being generally advertis'd, infornrition 
 h.is been pid)lished that the works <in the canal W(!ri! to be pn)ee::(leil with ini- 
 ni(;(Iiately. In the early jiart ol' the season a nundxT of canallers asseinttled 
 ailing the line. iJy Hie 1st of duly it becwne (fvident that greater nuiid)crs 
 h.'id arrived th.in euulil be employed on the work. It weuld bo neeifs.sary to 
 employ military lo pr.ivent any .serious breaches of the pe;i(;e. AecorditiLrh ou 
 the otii iipplieafions were made by the ^Varden, David Thorburn, to Ills Kx- 
 cellency, to station some of tl? ■ military on the line, !md to s(;ii 1 ;i Unv .stands 
 ol'iirms for the militi.i. A reply was received on th(! lolh, from the Secretary, 
 .Muidoek, refusing the ajiplicMtion. In the <!iirly part of August tlu! numbers 
 had inere.i.sed from l,.5()l) to 2,0iM) men. Arraii^rements had beiai matured 
 by this time to employ ;i part of those who had th(; largest families, amounting 
 to about f)!)') or (lOO. The.se were attacked by the unemployed, and I'oiced to 
 desist. Under the.se circumslanc(!S the migistrates met and renewed the ap- 
 plication for the assistanc: of nulit.iry to fli(! Colonel commanding at Ni gara, 
 Init with the samir results. Today th(! canallers asscanbled, and had' broken 
 into the contractors' stores, taking off flour ami jiork. This was succeeded by 
 the breaking in and robbing of mills at St. Catharimis." 
 
 Peace was restoied by the united action of the citizens and magistrates. 
 All opposition in the society being merged in tho presence of n common danger. 
 Mr. KykiMt and our subject, the former presiding, in the meeting of magis- 
 trates. Special constables were sworn in, armed and organized to preserve the 
 
 pCJlCC. 
 
 On tlu! liStli of August he le.ft for Kingston, where wo think bo re- 
 nniine<l until tho opening of the House on the Hth of September. 
 
 Sept. 8tli, Jloiist; ni<!t. I Ith -A want of eonlidtsnei! is movc^d in' Mi', 
 lialdwin. There was a Lower Canada advocatt; who led tho Lower Cana- 
 dian wing, with whom Mr. I>aldwin appears to have had a treaty oHensivi; 
 and defensive regarding tin; ollieial appointments The .speech was agreed 
 in by all l)ut live, and the business of tins country proc(;ede(l. 
 
 liOtli. — Tho debate on a duty on States wheat was carried on — Mi". 
 Hincks and our subject on ojiposito sides. 
 
 On tlm Sth Octol)er appears the repoit of the Special Committee to 
 
25G 
 
 wliicli w,is rcfeiTi'd tlic iictitioii of tlif North AnKiican Colonial Socifty in 
 Louilon — of the Muiiicijiiil (Joiiiicil District of Niagara, and tho Kcverul dis- 
 jiatelK's on iuiiiortation of wlicat and flour — tivo resolutions accompanied. 
 
 " I'liat tho dcsirublo oliject of (.*aiiada being treated as tliougji slie were 
 an integral i)art of the empire, can only he obtained by removing all duties 
 from its ])ro(hicts. 
 
 "'i'lif J^cgishitive Assembly will take the earliest opportunity as soon us 
 the tinances of tho Province will admit of recommending the removal of iill 
 duties on the manufactures of tlic M(jth'r Country. 
 
 "That they have every coniidmcc, when the leading public works are 
 finished, that the revenue from foi-eign commerce and tolls will enable the 
 Provincial («ov(!rnment to recommenil this. 
 
 "WiM. li. MERRirr, Chairiuan." 
 
 With this end in view, and for economy, he firings in a motion for the 
 exhiliition of the public accounts, with what immediate success the present 
 aiiswer from the leader of the Government will show. 
 
 " DlFFlELD, Oct. 11th, 1842. 
 
 Mv DkakSih: — You have a motion standing over from yesterday respect- 
 ing the ])ublic accounts, which I trust you will consent to let it lie over until 
 next session. I have not had tiiiu! to look over the njotion which, from its 
 variety of details, it would be embarrassing to give an opinion on without 
 much more time for consideration than can now he applied to it. f trust I 
 need not assur(> you that the present udministrtition have every desire to plnce 
 the accounts of the public income and expenditure before the country in that 
 shape best adapted to afiord the fullest informati on these importnnt subjects. 
 Neither need 1 assure you of our desire to meet every suggestion coming 
 from you as one coming from a IViond. We at the same time are not pre- 
 pared just now to assiiit to your motion, though we will give it every consid- 
 eration during the recess with a view to act upon your suggestions as far as 
 practicable. Believe me, yours truly, 
 
 EGBERT BALDWIN. 
 
 As, we infer, the result nf his interview with tho Colonial Secretary 
 when in London, a despatch was received from the Imperial Government 
 during tho intei'im, stating that if the Colonial Legislature wished to have 
 free trade with l^ritain they would coincide with the propo.sal. Gu the de- 
 flate which arose uj)on this im|iortaiit (piestion it is i-eniarkable that tiie 
 men who in reality re}ii'csented the early settlers of both Cjijier and Lower 
 Canada were in favor of the measure, while its chief opjionents were those 
 who had udt been many years settled in the countiy. The residt was tliiit 
 owing to the strange compositicm of tlu* House, this measure, so vital to tlie 
 inteiest of this new aiul ju-oduetive country, which would have made Canada 
 the envy of its neighbors, was put off until the next session. Very little 
 w(irk was done aft«'rwards, and the House closed on the 12th of Gctobei'. 
 
 The Hoard of Works, estafilished fiy S, P. Thompson, had effected luimer 
 oiis improvements, whi<;h wen^ highly gratifying to our .subject, particuhirly 
 those on the Ottawa for facilitating tlie transport of timlior. 
 
257 
 
 iociety in 
 veral lUs- 
 piiniod. 
 
 slic won-! 
 all duties 
 
 as soon iis 
 ;)valof:''l 
 
 woi'ks arc 
 juablt; llie 
 
 'luiirnian." 
 
 ion for the 
 ],(• prebent 
 
 h, 1842. 
 ;ay respect - 
 c over until 
 li, from its 
 on without 
 
 I trust I 
 lire to place 
 ntry in that 
 int su])jocts. 
 tion coming 
 ire not pre- 
 
 cry consid- 
 as far as 
 
 J)\VIN. 
 
 St-'crctary 
 !ov(nTiiv.05it 
 cd to liavo 
 On tilt de- 
 (' that the 
 mid Lower 
 were those 
 t was that 
 ,ital to the 
 ado Canada 
 \-ery littlr 
 Octolier. 
 •tod nunier 
 Viirticuhiily 
 
 Tlic principal act of the pri-vious short session liad been the report of the 
 Coinniittee on free trade with Kiif;land, of which our suhjict was Chairnian. 
 It appeared to tend to draw closer the eonneetion cd' natural interest between 
 the Colony and the Mother Country, and on wiiieh a lengthy .speech is reported, 
 
 Mr. Menitt had entered into the system of ])arty government, like 
 everything else, with great energy, olferiug the interest of his .seat to tlii^ 
 Premier. 
 
 After the eloso of the Tfou.se lie proeeedeil to ^Montreal on jiublic busi- 
 ness, and n^turned home on tjio Itli of NovtMiibcr. Taking tiie opportunity 
 of pcr.sonally inspecting thi! works for the improvement of the St. L'iwienci3 
 River, pa.ssingin an open boat, (an account of whieli is mysteriously alludjl to) 
 determined tlic feasibility of tiic lost channel. Its success was heralded in 
 the other conimunicution. 
 
 "CoHNW.VM,, November 9th, 1S42. 
 
 " Dear Sib: — -I was much disappointed when I learned that you had passed 
 through Cornwall ou your return home from your late t.)ur to Beanharnois, 
 without aifording me an opportunity to see you, p:u'tieularlv as you g.ivc me 
 to understand that you would make a stop here (d' at least a tew linurs. 
 
 " To my disappointment, I iiave now to add my surprise and extreme regret 
 that at your suggestion in accompanying you to Hungry Hay, I have elYei-ted 
 nothing but a eonlirmation of u desire on my part, which some imj^uted to 
 uie at Kingston, during tlie late session of Parliament, o annoy and oppose 
 the IJoard of Works. Mr. John 8. Macdonald, the Member from (!lemi.iiTy, 
 iiifiirmed nie sonn; five or si.x days ago tliat you had exjiressed yourself to Mr. 
 Moffat, in Montreal, quite satisfied from your recent examinatiou that the 
 Channel at Hungry Bay i.rii3 all that jou could wish it to be, but that you 
 dared not give expression to tiiat opinion at the time of making the examina- 
 tion for fear of being thrown overboard from the lioat in which wo cro.ssed. 
 This la.iguage is .so unlik(! what T have always seen in you, and what I wouM 
 slill expect, that I an slow to believe it; yet at the same time 1. cannot re- 
 train from remarking that after consulting mo cunjithndlalh/ as yi>H dH on 
 more occasions than one whilst at Kingston on this subject, I thought I hr.d 
 convinced you of sincerity at le.ast in the statements which I made, however 
 tar my judgment may have differed I'rom yours in the matter, 
 
 ■'Then again your opinion, as given ((uite iVeely, both on Clark's Island and 
 au'ain at Mcl'herson's Point, in reference to the .shoals and badness of the 
 Channel was as strong and pcinted as any opinion that I have or shall ad- 
 vance for this reason. 1 must repeat my disbelief that you could have made 
 the alleged stateuK'nls to Mr. Mcffat, although Mr. McDonald ,says he iiad it 
 from Mr. Killaly as coming from .Mr. Molfat. 
 
 " If what you said to me whil.st in the boat was through fear of being ill- 
 treated by me or those who aeeompanied us (which I cannot for a moment 
 believe), why not on the first opportunity that offerei] after the danger was 
 jiiist, communicate to me your real opinion, for which I have always had the 
 lii|^die.st respect, particularly on canalliag. ]iut you will, I feel persuaded, 
 attribute to proper motives the feeling.^ which dict'ited the addressing to you 
 this letter, and under the circumstances I think you will allow was not uncalled 
 
 'or. 
 
 " If I have misunderstood you ia whai, you said in rejorence to the Chau- 
 
'ins 
 
 tiel umU^' coii.-idiT.ilior', ami if my stiitciiionJs ni;i<lc t,o jnii <!finfi(UHilia]iy tin 
 woll as in my cvi(|(;iicc hcinn; tin; ( ■ommiltnu arc; not liorno out, I hope you 
 will do me the juhiicc to inform mo wlinrc tlio (li.scrcpany II'-m. 
 
 " I remain, doar hir, ytur vorj obedient seiv.mt, S. Y. C'lIESLKY'." 
 
 " KiNOHTON, .'5oth Nov. 
 
 " My Dkar Silt : T have the pleasure to announce to you that the ///V///- 
 /rtw(/e/' arrivi (1 hen; yesterday. SIk! ran tiie rapids in great Mtyle. She 
 leaves to-morrow, and will ru?i (Icar down to the (!ot(!au. Have you seen 
 NIL'oit'n C'd-jtiif lie hii.s a very loni; artiiile for an Anifirican paper as to the 
 absurdity of our fini-hirii: and enlar^riii<r the St. li.uvrenee naviL'ation. "It 
 Weijihs mueh with many." Vou (iiiiiht to take llie subjccrt up ; it i-t altogether 
 again.st your doctrine. ,\ylwiii vvas just now talking,' of it, and aay.s it has 
 made a {j;reat impriH.Kion. Faithfully yours, in hasti'. 
 
 '• II. II.KILLALY." 
 
 All iiiioiiyiiiuiiM IcU(iijf IMli I icci'iiiher, from wlioni it is easy to ima 
 j^ino, and whose ar/.,'uiiH'iits it is uniieeessary to rcH-apitulatc, to lion. ,J. 
 Nelson, M. 1'. P., CKinliafs t lie olijci't.ioHs to iiii|irovin:,' tli(! St. Lawn;iie<!, as 
 8tate<l ill the States pajn r alltidcii to. 
 
 As Ml. .Merritt'.s le„ishitiv(M'iiga).,'eiiieiitH did not pi'event his Iteing at 
 liumo on the holidays, we licro make an («xtiaet from Mr. .McMiitt's .Journal . 
 
 "20th Dee. — Thomas lias Ipccii assLstiiiir to decioratc our eliureh for 
 Christmns. Mr. M uiray, tho Kn<,dish lOpiseopai eler;i[ynian, of Lewi.ston, 
 and <latigliter, spciiL the wim'U witii ns. 
 
 " I Wits \efy l)usy all the work mukiiif;' prepaiatioiis for (.'hristmas. The 
 eliureh was very full, ('liristnias coniiii;.,' on Sunday. Mr. A. ;4av<! us a 
 ;^ond diseour.'-:!', as Im always docs (in this occasion. When th(! church was 
 half over, who should eonu; in i>\il LCiandma, with my own najther. When 
 leadiiiif her f(U w,u'<l, how often li.ive I tlmu^dit very likcdy it was the last time. 
 
 " .Monday, 2()tli. The family .iiid conueetions dined with us. When 
 tho cloth was removed, II. jn-oposcd tht; memory of him who was with us 
 lust Christmas, our father and i'ricnd. 
 
 " J7th. — Had a .sleigh-rid;; to the Kails, a\iiii 17 in eomjiany. As nsmd 
 with so lii\!.(! a parly, there was some noli paired to suit. T. took in his 
 earria-c S. luLjersoll, and (!. .\. Alex. Stiachan and .Miss A. Hopes Mr. 
 Kissoek and '!'. Kcefer took no ofi'euce at tint refusin;,' to let Mi.ss A. go, and 
 atthelast permitting it. Iieiidc/.vou.seil at tin; Pavillion. W^; promeiiadi-d, 
 ehat'ted, and partook of sandwiclics, cakt! and wine, while Miss A. of our 
 jiaily alternately witli a huly there, playecl on the piano. JiCaving the 
 young peoph; (Mijoying a d;inci% we leturned by 'I'hoi'old, where W(( saw tho 
 men at work — tiiey residi! in shanties, along tlus side of the mountain." 
 
 On till! Kith, in company with Mr. Killaly, he again inspected the works, 
 which were now going on with a large force of mi;n busily (Uigaged. 
 
 The year had been a I'omarkable one fur having an abundant harvest 
 throughout the world, and produce of evtuy description was very low in 
 price, yet the great public works going on in Canada proved a boon to the 
 farmers, as they found a homo market for all their surplus products. Yet 
 oui" subject was a loser, from being Hocurity to the milling buniness before 
 alluded to, and in which he was a silent partiuir. 
 
250 
 
 1 8 1 3 . 
 
 Ill .huiuiii'v lli(! pldasiii;^ iiiUllii^'ciK-e arii\>:(l IVmih I']ii;;lniiil tli;it lln- 
 <l»^l)iMitiii'<!,s which our .siil>i(M!t had h'l't with Messrs. l'(iiisiiM(|iirL \Vfr«f suld, 
 with all (iX|Ktlis(',s, at oiid per cent,. iiii(iei' par. We doulit if an event like 
 this has siiico ocourrwl in tlie I'ai^^'li.sh mkhk^v niarlcet. ^ /^ ,n~-ijt j 
 
 On tho 27th of" Kehruary anoth(M- new («<nornoi', Sir 'liLwtrtH^ Metcalf 
 arrive(l. Alth()wi,'h w<! holieve ho was a sinci^rely ifood man, vet we think, 
 his Ion;,' rosithMico of thirty-four years in the i'last Indies an<l three years 
 ill tlaniaiea were not thu .sc-hools to nithtir lit him jthysicilly or mentally \o 
 manage parties in (.'unada. 
 
 Wti copy the followin^i; brief notices fi'oni tho Hn;^lish Culoni'til (I'Kzetln, 
 of January 2.'$ril, resptjctin;,' liord iMetcalf's appointment: 
 
 "Sir (!. ISlc'tealf has neithei' tiio aristocratic connections, nor the jiarty 
 claims, nor the parliamentary inlluence. wliich aiu comiminly the title to 
 ollices cnferrin.; the, \ icerir^jal power and dignity. i'arly e.xi^^oiieies and the 
 agi'eeahle e.xerci.sci of pa,tn)nai,'e, are eipially set at nou ,dit in fii.Vfa- of peai'e 
 and g(;oil <,'()ve,rnineiit for a <list,ant [»rovinc(!." 
 
 Ai;d concliuh's a list of ;j;oo(l(pialities l»y sayini^ that "he po-i-ies.ses a love 
 of justice, souudue-is of ju(li;inent, a'ld unswerving liniiue,-:!-;, wi en his mind 
 is made up." 
 
 iti the House of Commons, March 1(1, during the d-jhile uiioii the (Queen's 
 sitoech, Jjord Stanley said : 
 
 " And I do not hesitate to say that, hi'.;hly as I vidiu; Canada, and impor- 
 tant as I think it for this country, that .sjic .-hoiild hav<; tlie control of tlntsi' 
 ij;reat coloni(!S in North .Snairican. Vet from the day that w<! shall cease to 
 hold Ca-.iada by the atlection and ^iiod will ni the ^^reater [lart of the inhabit- 
 aiitrt, I sh- 11 cea.sc to desire to maintain it." 
 
 In tlio same debate, Ijovd Uussell noes farther, and speaks a.s follows: 
 " My opinion is, that your ladd upon (/'anada ou.Ldit, in tint first in.>;taneo; 
 to depend upon your ;_dviri;r to them a constitutional iiovnuaieht, by which 
 the interests and aflections of the peoph- of Canada may be so re;.iulatcil as to 
 lirevcnt the jirobability of any wish ari.-ing on tla:ir part to separate from t!u-< 
 country. " 
 
 Ihil, to become better aeijuaiiited with t!i(^ |»e(<ple and tlu! eoiinliy, a 
 long recess waH inaiutaiuf-d l»f*for(! he ciiHed his Parliament to assemldei 
 and we believe him to liave l)een active in his endeavoiirs to eondni t his 
 j,'overnment by giving' an e(pial I'epre.sentatiim to the nationalities of which 
 Canada in conij»ose(l. 
 
 On the 'Jlstof Mareli .M;'. .Mercitt sulfercid another allliction in the 
 <loatli of his motlior, aged 82, to whom much was dnt; i' >r In-ingiug up a 
 lai'i,'e family in a n(!W and ahnost unsettlwd land, and instilling her (diihli-en 
 with proper notions of duty to thftir Creator and country. Shewasagreat 
 favorite witli the rest of hoi' husband's family, and, as «, mark of esteem 
 lier brotlior-in-law, Nohcniiah, had pi'cvious to liis deatli left u bcjiiesst of 
 
2fi0 
 
 .t^)(}0 for ii iiioininiont in whi<'li Ik r iinrno as well as hor liuslmmrK was to 
 lif! (•oiniiiciiK'ratcil. Tlio stoin^ (Hi which tUit ii)scri|>ii()ii is r«'('ni(h'<l was 
 hrouj^iit fVoiii Ui(! (ihl family hninostnad in W'oHtchcslcr, N. V'., antl lunv 
 forms tlio tahlfit in tlin front of the towor of tiio Kpi.soopal Cliurr-h in S(. 
 Catliarincs. This (tliinch hail been linishod just httforo tlio occupancy of 
 Mr. Atkinson, undor whoso i!))l(', and (tonHistont administration tin- con- 
 gro;(a(ion had lai'.i^ttly incrcasiMl, rontlrrin;^ an addition totlic Itwildinj^ ncccs- 
 Hary; and o\ir sul»jr»ct, on whom the ftxcnaition of this trust icstcd, devoted 
 it to the ]»ur|)OKo of this ('nlarL,'cm<'nt. 
 
 On the apiti'oach oi' tine weather new survc^ys wcire made for the e.xtr'ii- 
 Kion of the St. Lawrence « 'aiials to Montreal, and tlu; route of tlio iJeanhar- 
 I'oi.s section was d(H!ided to he on tlie south Hido of the St. Fiawreiicci, whicji, 
 for ])olitical ,.ur|ioses, was a wise decision, liavinjf in vi(!W the ultimate con- 
 nexion of the maritinn^ provinces in a straiglit liiu; from the np[iei' country, 
 therehy unitint^ all the I'litisli America;? people, aii act which suhseipieni 
 events have home out to he the Ix'st and wisest for this country. 
 
 '{'he n(rw woi'ks on tin; ("anal, aIthou;,di pushed forward with <,'reat vi<,for, 
 did not materially interfen! witli the ti-allic, as tlie route ]iy Port Maitlaml 
 was (sxtensively used, and w(^ find that durinjj; this y<'iir a iuijuIhu' of Swed- 
 ish, NorweL,dan, ami (Ji-rman ennf,'rants passed through tlie C-anal ett route 
 for the far West, being the jiioneei's to those ]>opnlous ami thriving di.s- 
 tricts whiidi now occupy tlu; thcMi almost unknown lands of Wisconsin and 
 f llinois. 
 
 Mr. Merritt arriv(!(l honu! from Kingston, on the 20tli May, wher(! he 
 had an interview with tlie Clovernor and I'oard of Works, and entei'o<l 
 immediately info the consideration of his own affairs in connection with 
 th(! mill. This with ^rr. .M . had gnnt responsihility— .£25,000 to tho 
 ^I(nitr<'al lirm for stocking the mill. And he writes to his son to this ott'ect : 
 
 " Mi's. .M. .saj's : 7th- FT. to Toronto on mill hiisiness. 12th- Retni'ued 
 from Str(!et's on business. Air. M(!rritt and John Mittleberger are engaged 
 talking ; I wonder what the uso can bo after the injury is donel Mx-. IMcr- 
 ritt return(!d from Toronto, where he had been tliiit(!en days. With sou 
 Thomas to Uncle William Mcrritt's. Thc^y told us the report there and at 
 Lewiston was that W. H. Merritt and Geo. Adams had 'broke all to smash.' " 
 
 About midsummer ho received a comtnunication from tlio (iovernnieut> 
 in nsferenco to the establishment of a Provincial Lunatic Asylum, wheraiii 
 ho was deputed to nuike e.xtensivc in((uiries, and collect information in tho 
 United States in reference to the sul)ject, He visited New York, Boston, 
 Utica and various other i)lacea; and in Utica gleaned a large amotint of in- 
 formation from hi.s fri(!nd, Doctor Brigham, who had charge oft' > Asylum 
 there. From tho exjiorieiice gained, ho prepared an able repoit,. id traii.s- 
 mitted the same to the Provincial Secretary. 
 
 During this journoy of in.spcction he was ficcompanied by Mrs. Merritt, 
 from whose journal wo copy : 
 
2G1 
 
 ** We arose Mondiy, l()t,Ii July, .«t 4 o'clock, and to(»k a cup ofcofrti!; and 
 with soil 'riimiias for drivcir, arrivod at Nia;^ura at H, in lime tor stiMiin-r 
 (jiiten, to Toronto. Tlieri; was sinootli water, and a littli; rain Cull duriiijj; tlie 
 «ail. Passed \\w. (Hiiif J imlin' iwuX St. Liiinrniin;. Oonver.si'd witli Mrs. (Jil- 
 lospie, ol'dalt, and witli lier three eliildren ; she is very chatty and |>leusaiit. 
 Toronto at 12; sloppcid at North Anicriein llottd ; drove to IM-Dlmsor I'olter's, 
 when, after an liour, einie haek hy (^'oll»^j:;e Avi'iinc and Mr. (Jra.ssett'B, and 
 hack in ti-ne i'or tea, and drove to steamer St. /.iiiorinirn at 8 ; cros.sed to ()s- 
 wef^o; went on board a canal boat at 7, sat on deck till !), when we ;<ot lodi^od 
 three tier hif^h ; up and dressed at 2. At Syracuse to ik anotiicr eanal packet 
 to Chittenanyro landin;', where we drove to Mrs. Yates', wlio received us with 
 •.'real demonstration, shewin}^ us tlirou;;h the ;,'rounds, flowers, plants, f^reen- 
 liouse, all surround. -d by a well cut hed,^e. After tita Mrs. Y. escorted us to 
 .'itation. I!tie,i at half-past U; stayed two days ^ <iur friend's home. Started 
 for New York by Albany , arrived at 8 o'clock 2kh July ; put up at the Astor 
 House. After .seeing tin; siix'its, went to visit Col. Arnol 1, at i'crth Amhoy. 
 lstofAu;^ust found us at Hjston, per steamboat down Jjon;^ Island Sound, 
 and railroad ; thenee we returned to Utie i, where we visited the Asylum, 
 reaching hom»! ISth August, after a month's travel. 
 
 Soon aft«rwiirds lie, was notilied by thcf Secretary that the fJovnriior- 
 (li'inTiil inteiidod to make u tour to the westta'ii .section of the I'l-ovinee, 
 lad would call at St. Catharine!) to sim; the (Jaiiil, for which he eau.sod ample 
 lirejiurations to b(Mn;i,d(^ for his rcHTptioii. 'i'ho (Jovcrnoi- anavtid on the 
 lllth September, by couch from Ifamilton, provi(l<;d l)y Mr. D. P. llayncs. 
 lie was received by si dtiputation at the St. (Jathariims House, jirul after 
 breakfast was escorted up the canal ii ratln-r (lilHciiIt route to travel, in 
 conse<[nouee of the ci:hir;,'emeMt f,'oiu;,' on. Mr. M"nit,fc however ;,'uiile(l the 
 party ill safoty. Leaving the (Mual, he th"n took his dnpurtiu'o for tip- 
 Falls ; and aftei' a shoi-l, slay, left for Kiu<^ston, the thou Proviii(;ial capitol. 
 
 As was usual at this .season, a number of <listin^uished stran;rcrs visite 
 
 tlic Falls ; amonij them was Profes.sor Potter, oi" L tad >n University, now ol 
 
 Kiu'z's ('((llegc, Toronto, and liis lady, }i;ranild iiiihtcr of .M.-. N-lK's. -Mrs, 
 
 Merritt'.s Journal of 24th says: 
 
 ''Prof, anil Mrs. Potter came on Friday, from the Fdls. We talked of 
 (.'ainbridiic, they both haviufr resided there. Mrs. P. pointed to m my wdl- 
 known places in the views of ('ambriiljc. After dinner our in ui too'c th iin on 
 to (Jrimsby, to visit Mrs. Potter's relatiojis." 
 
 < >n the 28tli of September the House nu!t, and a i.-onriiltLiv, was ajtp'jiuted 
 to consider tlic quesLion of eoh>niaI free trad<f. Our subjoctwis on this 
 committee, and wns eariicstly in favor of tlui (jlij^-el, as lie. i)eli(!V(!(l that a 
 free iiitcreoiir.sc in all commcr.'ial i raiisacticHiH between t\u\ dill" -n^iit eoloni'-s 
 would nniLerially tend to tln^ir consolidation, but although various .sugges- 
 tions were offered, nothing was done at this time. 
 
 Among the nunuM-ous corresponden's, thei'c arc ni'inbcrs of Larliane'ut 
 ill and oiit of the ({ovormucut with letters to his family. Sonu' of them, 
 are Jiere inserted. 
 
202 
 
 111 w'riLinj( lu liis son AVilliam lio ur;,'cii(ly iiii|ii'<'MS('s ii|tuii liiiii tlin 
 iiecoHsity of nmkiiijt; liimscit' |irulicii'iit in (Im! Kr('in;h laii;,'iiiig(', a« tlio poli* 
 ticiil appoaninon of tlio tiiii'i jtoinlid Lo a piiniiauont Parliainont in Moii- 
 f real, a.ii<l llir iiciirial iisci of Ixttli llio Kn'^'Ii.sli and Fronoli lan^ua^'* s tlieicin. 
 l[t) alno says tliat ho far, tlid (JovonmuMit lias licon conductod npon his fav- 
 orito tiioory, viz., rcspousihility l,o tli(» pcojih^ [(ovcrncd, from which system 
 he s(U!Mis to ha\<' had tho ;.,'i'cati'st i',\]i('('(ations. 
 
 '■ llorsK OK AssK.MitLV, Oct. 7, 184:5. 
 
 "Mv l>i:Ait Sox : Yours of tin' l.'^th of ,\n;|nst, from Zurinh, was re 
 ciiivcd l)y thd last pacUr't -this ufocs hy tho " Acadia," v,dii<'h h-avc's nM the 
 loth, Vonr mother copied yoiii- Icttei- .md sent it to nw.. >Slin leaves foi- 
 Mayville to-morrow, with all your letters, views, hooks, it(!., wdnch, witli 
 tlioH(! of your hi-otlier, will l)e a rich ti'cat (,o your remaining,' <{ranil-par6ntH. 
 
 " If your lirotlifM-'s health is i-est.orfid by fi'avelliiii,', we will rejoice, and, 
 I ti'iist, feel grateful. II iviuL,' written k(j fully in my last letUsr, I will eon- 
 lino myself to /jfivin;^' you a hrief narrative of passing events liere. 
 
 " 'I'lie (Jovernmeut is <-nniheleil on my favorite theory — responsihility 
 lo tho people f^ovt-i'ia'd. Tiic Weliand and St. Luwrence (Janals will he 
 finished (»n your nturn, the resources of tle^ country fully developed, the 
 comuK'i'ce with the niothei- (•odnlry phe'cd on a perfect system, hy the re- 
 moval of duties on the eouimoditirs of each when eiiti-rin;^' the othei', and 
 1 trust the pros])erity of your native country estahlished on a yternifinent 
 hasis. The seat of (Jovernment will he rtMiioved to Montreal. The (pn'stion 
 is to 1)<! h;ft to the dei'ision of the liegislature,and a majoi'ity will he aj^'.iinst 
 Ul)per Canada that was, hence the impoi'taiic(! of youi- lujing enabled to 
 sprak in French ; if you succeed in speaking' with facility, it will, in ciisi^ 
 you hecome, a puhlic man, he of <,'ri;at adv'anta:,'(i, and ;j;ive you a decided 
 jn-efereiice over your fellows. The session is expected to last some throe 
 months, and T hope to hear from you a;,'ain whi'e here, in aiiswin- to this. 
 
 "Th(!.Jury Law, Division Coui'ts, iMuiiici[)al (Councils, Education liill, 
 and many other acts, will be repealeil and amend(Ml; and I hope to live to 
 see tins day when you will hrinir in a gemsral system, or code of laws, 
 .adaptcid to ( lanada, on soim; uniform system. At present we have two sets, 
 the civil law for Lowr-r, and common, for llpi)cr Camilla. J dare say Mi: 
 I'apineau can and will point out tin; altcsrations made in France since tlanr 
 adoption in Canada some c(!nturics ajjfo, and I should lik(! to hear if he thinks 
 tho.se alt(!rations important, (u- a better system than the existing one in 
 Lower Canada. The StattJ of Louisiana has a Cixle peculiar to itself, origi- 
 nating with Mr. Livingston, ami vei-y highly spoken of by Jjord Durham, 
 
 " Your ad'ectionate father, 
 
 " W. HAMLLTON MEllRITT." 
 
 A large poition of our subject's time was occupied in corresponding with 
 his friends in t^W parts. He wrote and received long letters from iiis son 
 William, who was pursuing his studies at IJonn. The subject of & new code 
 of laws for Canada was earnestly distaisscd, and the po.ssibility of introduc- 
 ing into the country tho simple and inexpensiva Code Na])oleon hintetl at, 
 as one of the mean.s which might arlvance and consolidate tho distant {)arts of 
 the country. He earnestly urges his Kons to closely attend to their studies) 
 
2 1 IP. 
 
 as tim proHpoct of tlitir hocotiiin;,' useful in IIkmi- iiiiti\i' luml \s<)iil(l n!- 
 (|iiiro tlKMuiniPNt Ui<)u;^lits of ulilo infii hikI i ii vol vi^h ideas on all s<iJ'.i('etH 
 whioli Wduld I)' l> Ml •liiiial to tlio coiiiiUy, iiml lii-l|. lu iiii;r«as« its yri'iitnoHH. 
 
 " IfoiTHK OK AsSKMItl.Y, No\ . 11, I S I 3. 
 
 " My DiCAli Son : 'I'lif (JovcriiiiH'iit ?ii"s.si'ii;^fr Icuvi's in l!ii' rnnniiii;^ 
 for llo.stoii, ami I liavc takfu up u ftnv in niiciils wliilo sittiii;;,' on a «'i)iiimit- 
 t(»n to iiiv('sti;,'at(' tlio inniiinr of dispo iiii;^ of In li.iii lands, to !,dvt) you a short 
 sk«>t(!li of pasHJiig oocurn-iici-H. .Mfssis. Dunn, Haiirum, Morin/PlioiniMon, 
 '('liorl)urn and niywlf coiiiposo tlio fonnnitto". danif.s iiitdc, lvs(|., ( 'apts^. 
 Kurt- and darvis, with many others, all of whom lire known to you, 
 are lun-e as evidenre. Messis. Onnii and Thompson are fniioiis, and wliilt^ 
 they aro deluitiii;,', I am Ki-iihhliiii,'. An a Idicss lo the (Jneen, pr.iyiiiL,' for 
 a rfjmoval of the scut of ({overnnii'nt to Montr'al, i,'oes to lMiL,'liiud l»y this 
 paek(^t. Shonld the pv-tition he ;;rinted, and yon heconi'^ a h';.;is!ator, your 
 Freneli will (M)ni!>ine utility with aviompiislnnent. A hill has hecu intro- 
 diieed iilleriii;,' the .Municipal Councils Act, the School Act, the Kxeise and 
 Duties, JiirispriideiKie of Lower < 'aii.ida, du y liill, amcndiie.,' Nia-ara i)is- 
 tii(!t IJaiik Charter, which we hope lo ^fct into ouci'utioii, and I trnstthat 
 yon may at some future day liecome its solieitfjr. 
 
 Our pr.^so it (Jov 'rnor (lOiKiral is popular, and a Ljood man. I hopo you 
 havo seen his letter to the Uritish Amhas.sador, which I enclosed to I). I)aly, 
 Hanker, Paris. It will i,'ive you an opportunity of seeinj< state <(randeur, or 
 tli(^ splendor with which our diploiiiac-y is surround'-d in Miirope, to talk 
 ahout lier(!after. It is all the ^'(lod it will ilo. I will send yoii a paper 
 coiitainini,' th(! dehattts on the .seat of (lovernment hy this packet. Tho 
 Jiieiid»(!i'H of the lIp|)(M- llousc!, or- a pail of them, left in dudgeon. Mr. 
 Harrison, Secretary West, has resii,'iied, and lo.ses a salary of .CI.-"() per 
 yar. We have a hill to amend the act for yraiitin^ de'tentiires to tho 
 private shareholders in the Welland Canal Company, whii-li I hope will ho- 
 aouxc a law. If. so, it may take me over the .Atlantic! once more. Another 
 month will decide. I will write you the result in due time. We are ahout 
 a|)plyin;^ for a p(a't td' entry and a warehousing;- |iort, which will aild very 
 (■oiiHi<h'r;d)ly to your small estate in St. ( 'alhaiiiies. The Wcllaud and St. 
 Lawronoo (Jaiials are, getting on well. Within two years all our cyinmuiii- 
 cutions will he opened. 
 
 "If you re(;oJlect, at the last (deetion I assured my constituents that the 
 British (jrovenunniit intendt'd to carry out the system of res'ionsihility to 
 tlio people gov(U-ned, and assii,'iied the i-ea.son why ; also, that the first fruits 
 of the union would bo opiuiing all our communications to the oeeau, and, 
 thirdly, that tho agricultural interests would he promoted. It so ha])pon3 
 that my predictions liavc^ hecui cari-ied out to tla^ V(U-y lettei-. AUhou.;li we 
 owe much to Lord Syd<uiliam, he nev(!r intended to concede respon.sihln 
 government. J)uring tho first H.^don in IS 11, if yon recollect, tho Houso 
 passed a seri(>s of resolutions, declaring that hen^after the practical opeiatioii 
 of our Provincial (Government should Ik; assimilated as nearly as pos^ildo 
 to tho cons itutiim of tins mother country, and the K.xoaitivo Council should 
 command the conlidenco of the Ifouse of Assemhly. Sir Charles IJagot 
 came out, d 'termined not toadheri^to that |U'inciple, liut in the first session 
 of 1842 wai compidlcd to ado]jt it. and call Me.ssis. Lafontaim;, l»aldwin, 
 and Morin, to his Council, or dissolve tlie Houso of As.somhly. Sir Charles 
 
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 264 
 
 Metcalfe came out, under the same impression, but has no alternative. Our 
 Council is therefore composed of Baldwin, l>unn, and Daly, in addition to 
 those heforc named. Harrison having resigned, that oHice is abolished. 
 The completion of the Canals is also secured, and the trouble I took to im- 
 press on the mind of JiOrd Stanley the impoitance o"" admitting oir j)roduce 
 into the ports ot Great Britain without duty, has been fu'ly compensiited. 
 Coj)ies of those letters have been jmblished and most extensively circulated 
 in this Province, and admitted by all to contain sound principles and useful 
 information. It is gratifying to find so nnich has been done in so short a 
 time ; but much more re({uires to be accomplished. Our system of judica- 
 ture is expensive. Our numicipal institutions do not yet work well, in con- 
 sequence of attemi>ting to create two ojjposing j)owers in the same district, 
 the one, the magistrates appointed by the Executive Government, and the 
 councillors, elected by the people. 
 
 " Your atl'ectionate father, 
 
 "W. HAMILTON MERRITT." 
 
 During the session ho strongly advocated that the proceeds derived from 
 the sale of Indian lands should be set aj)art solely for the use of the abori- 
 gines, and when on the committeo for this purpose he earnestly insisted on 
 the same course being pursued towards these people. 
 
 One of the acts of the new Parliament was the establishment of our Com- 
 mon School system, which was placed under the charge of the Kev. E. By- 
 erson. 
 
 The system so far has i)i-oved in many respects unsatisfactory, owing to 
 i-eligious controversy ])roducing sej)erato schools. A very exj)ensive system 
 of management, besides creating the fallacious idea that as men progressed 
 in wea'.th they should still, among other communistic doctrines, compel the 
 State to pay for the edujation of their children, instead of doing it them- 
 selves. 
 
 Mr. ^Icrritt made a lengthy ppocch on the removal of the scat of Govern, 
 ment, taking the opporianity of going o/or the who'j h story. His •' attention 
 to the subject of the lluion was first directed, from contrasting the relative pros- 
 perity of the adjacent State of Kew York as early as 1822, since which no op' 
 portunity tending to bring it about hud been neglected. It was with the view 
 of having a seaport for his Province of I'ppcr Canada that, before a committee 
 of the House of Commons in England, six years after, the annexation of Mont- 
 real was advocated. He addressed this letter to the Colonial Secretary, Sir 
 George Murray : 
 
 ' At present a majority of the itdiabitants of both Upper and Lower Canada 
 are averse to the Union ; the former for fear of being controlled by the French. 
 * * * On 'he other hand, by the annexation of a sea- 
 
 port to Upper Canada and the improvement ol' tlie St. Jiawrence, commerce 
 will be extended, population doubled, the value of property increased, so that 
 both would soon realize tlic wisdom of the measure, ami not only become recon- 
 ciled to it, but solicit a reunion.' 
 
265 
 
 Canada 
 
 e French. 
 
 of a sca- 
 
 ;oiuiucrcc 
 
 so tli:il 
 no rccou- 
 
 After rending th) foregoing, Mr. Merritt continued : 
 
 " T'-irco of the most di^•tingui&hed members of this Home, including the 
 honorable the 8peaker, were then in liondon ; and although the measure was 
 opposed, the object has since been off.cted to tlie fullest extent. Tiie first 
 fruits of the session (and he hoped we should never forget that we were indebted 
 to their Lower Canada friends for it,) was to secure a passage to the ocean. 
 Up to the present moment the union had been gaining ground. Tiiis had been 
 brought about with the seat of Government in Upper Canada. Why, then, 
 by attempting a change, endanger it ?" 
 
 At the termination of the session ;i break-up occurred in the ministry 
 in con.sequenee of which the House was hastily adjourned. 
 
 A new ministry being in progress of formation, the office of Keceiver 
 (Jeneral wa.s offered to Mr. Merritt, but believing tluit iu his present position 
 as committed to the B.ildwin-Lxfoutaino ministry, and as expecting to be 
 Inspector of the Canals, lie coukl be of more use to the country, he de- 
 clined the honor, although strongly jiressed by Mr. Harrison to accept it, 
 this gentleman refa ingto rejoin the Cabinet unless our subjt;ot came iu also. 
 
 He writes from the House of Assembly, Kingston, Dec. 1st : 
 
 " My Dear C : We are all in confusion here, the result of which 
 
 you will hear in a day or two. I have quite recovered ; (a previous letter 
 notices his being indisposed;) but will not return before the holidays, even 
 were the House adjourned. W. H. M." 
 
 Fnm the same place, Dec. 7: — "From present appearances the House wi.^ 
 be prorogued this week." With some notices of their legislation in the inter- 
 cf^ts of the canal stockholders, enclosing remittances, he adds: ''(Jive our 
 friends the usual Christmas dinner, whether I am with you or not. W. H . M ." 
 
 The seat of Government debate was succeeded by the resignation of the 
 Ministry. This news was conveyed iu a postsi-ript to the Jounud of Nov. 
 30th : " We have received a h'tter from IVIr. ^I. conlirming the resignation 
 uf all the Cabinet except Mr. Daly." A sul).se(jueut number contains an 
 aiticle fromthe ))en of Mr. Wakeliehl, from wliich we copy the following: 
 
 "The union of the two Canadas has brought under the control of one 
 Lcgisbiture two nations so to speak, which widely diller in origin, language, 
 liws, customs, and haliits of thought. li"gislation must I)) eairied on i)i a 
 f"diT;il principle. Of this the late ( 'anadian Ministry appears luncr to havo 
 liiid any clear view, or even a glimpse. Tiiey had the inconeolvable folly 
 to depend upon the Lower Camida majority as a means of carrying tlirough 
 Parliament measures for Upper Canada— tiie As.sessnient J'ill of Upj>er 
 Ciinadaand the University Dili. Tills letter was Mr. Daldwin's own, ami a 
 great favorite. He would probably have been com;>elleil to w itlidraw it on 
 tlie Alondav after the Suudav on which he resi^nied." 
 
 After im])uting this act to •'lio p'M'sonal vanity of the Miuist-M-, he 
 cjntinues . 
 
 "I cannot doubt, however, that ^Messrs. liahhvin nu'l Lafontainc lad 
 arranged to get ujjou bad terms with the Governor some time licfore this. 
 No Ciovernor of a colony, most assuredly, ever carried out the principles of 
 
■'""■■^f 
 
 200 
 
 resi>on,sililo govoniincnt so An- as Sir Chnrles has done in Canada, nor was 
 f-vcr licf'un! in any colony a |irovincial ailniinistration wliicli, wliilo tliey 
 jiossessod on the one liand tin' (■(intidfncc (jf tlic icprcsfntative hody, ciijuyed 
 on tlie other ho nun-li executive jiowei- — had their own way so entirely in 
 their capaeity of ministers, as the said \j. and I>. Adniinihtnition. Yet it 
 ajipearr hy all accounts that the two leaders wore not content with such 
 unusual jtower, hut also wanted to play the part of niaHtifl's over the (iov- 
 ernoi-, representing Sir C'harle., as an old Indian, disliking free institu- 
 tions, closing with the i ■.coni[»etency of its leaders the tiue cause of the 
 dowid'all of the government." 
 
 But what the public and consequently the papers did not know, was that 
 overtures had been made to Mr. Merritt to enter tV.e governnicnt. His Ex- 
 cellency's long experience in tlie administration of government over diverse 
 natioMalities iiuUiced him to perceive there was a people in this country whom 
 it would be politic as well as just, to have represented. He would have a na- 
 tional, not a Hincks-Wakefield any more than a Baldwin-L.ifontaine Cabinet. 
 
 And it was a rea.sonable inference that the one who had made the first com- 
 munic.-.tion to render profitable that interchange through the colony to the 
 Mother Country was the one to complete it; and we think this feeling was par- 
 ticipated in by the inhabitants, as well as His Excellency and the ndnistry at 
 home. But the inherent evils of our constitution favoring monopoly, and 
 putting party above country, rendered it abortive. 
 
 Viewing the want of co-operation among liis Reform associates in his 
 selieme for retrenchment, wliich he had experienced, his confidence in tiie 
 necessity of party must have been strong to refuse such an api)eal as tins : 
 
 " Kingston, Jan. T), 1S44. 
 
 " Mv Dear Sir : — It is with great regret that I have ]terused yours of 
 the 3(lth ult. You nnist be sensil)le that however strong my desire to be a 
 party to a refoi'in of that duralile and sid»stantial character of which we 
 spoke, without some one who understands the sul'jfct well, and has skill to 
 develop and enei'gy to jiursue it, there is no chance of my ever being able 
 to bring it about. 1 know no one who to the necessary qualities adils the 
 necessary knowledge but yourself, and I should regret more than 1 can ex- 
 press the want of your assistance in this matter. Never was there an occa- 
 sion more favorable than the present, or more deserving the andntion of a 
 well-wisher of his country. We are now, I think, safe in Eastern Canada 
 — at least, so I am led to believe, not merely by persons here, but by those 
 from whom I hear in ^Imitreal and Quebec. With i/unr aid and that of 
 tho.se others on wliom you are aware I rely, it docs appear to me we can 
 command a successful iss\ie, and this I say notwithstiinding some threaten- 
 ings in the jjolitical atmosphere about Toronto. 
 
 " I hope to be in Toronto for two or three days about the 14th or l-">th 
 inst. Pray write to me there, and say that you will not desert the good cause. 
 
 " Youra faithfully, 
 
 " W. Hamilton Mkkuitt." " W. 'if. DRAPER. 
 
 Added to this he was appealed to in a long communication from his coun- 
 trym m, E, Rycrson, which being marked " private and confidential " prevents 
 our giving it in full. 
 
267 
 
 Though not enabled to accept of office, he pleads for the contiim nice ol" 
 his old associate in the cnnal, now a quarter of a century in the Receiver- 
 General's cffieo. Q'he following is the reply : 
 
 " GovpiiNMENT House, Dec. 30, 1843. 
 
 " My Dkak Sin ; — I jiad not the ploiisuro of nreiving yuur note on the 
 subject of the Kecoiver tu'iiL'nil'.s ulllce until tiMiipurjiry iirnini,'t'nuMits had 
 been made for relieving ^Ir. Dunn, (lia-stcned at his own r(M|uest), until a 
 jicrnianont successor can be appoiuti-d. The ( iovcrnoi-ticneral, li(.\vi'ver, 
 desires nie to oiWiV you liis tlianks for the suj;Kc.-ti()n, hoping that your ap- 
 prehension for the effect that the change might have on the credit of the 
 Provineo may ]»i-ove grouudles«. I trust we sliall suon .see you back again, 
 and I am, mv dear sir, Yours very truly, 
 
 " W. Hamilton- Meukitt." ' " J. 11 !(}( JIXSOM. 
 
 The ./unriKii of Decemljer 28, IS 13, closes the proprietoi-ship of 31 r. 
 Leavenworth for Mi-. J. ITolmo.s. A vahvlictoiy of a column contaihs the 
 following : " Nearly seventeen years have we toiled to cater for the piildic 
 ta.ste." What that catering should l)e ln^ defines. " Canada is now in a 
 condition to act a ]iromiii(Mit part in North America. Nations, likf indi- 
 viduals, mu.st be the architects of their own fortunes, and eolouios, ri^iing 
 into kingdoms and empires, cannot attain the highest point which civiliza- 
 tion can reach M'ithout a strict regard to the ])i'inciples of justice, tht^ culti- 
 vation of the moral virtues, and a watchful jealousy of pulilic liberty.'' 
 
 A new engineer, Mr. Power, was appointed on the Canal, and on tin* 
 return of our subject he accompanied this gentleman over the entire route. 
 
 The organ of each party was now started. The Xatli-e CanaJIfin, edited 
 by iMiijor I\ichard.son, says, it is to be i.ssucd in January. 1844, advocating tho 
 invaded rights and privileges of the native inhabitants of the country. The 
 Pilot in Montreal, by Francis Hincks ; and the (i'/of><\ i\\ Toronto, by Ocorgc 
 Brown, appeared in the Spring, and far outstretched, especially the latter, all 
 competitors. 
 
 A dispatch was received by D. B. Vigor, the new President of the 
 Council, on December 15, ordering the release of five (Janadians, wIkj had. 
 been transported to New South Wales for [lolitical oH'eiices. 
 
 18 4 4. 
 
 Although busily engaged in his temporal matters, we lind that lie wa."; 
 not forgetful of other and more important affairs, hence \. e see that at this 
 time he takes an active part in the deliberations of a missionary meeting 
 which was held here. A very good speech delivered by liim on tho occa-sion 
 is fully reported, wherein he expresses a spirit of thankfulness and a liopeful 
 Tiew of our social and political positions, dmwing some fine comparLsouw 
 between the present and the past. 
 
268 
 
 " My Fkiends — I am sure you all feel with me deeply gratefijl in beiu^i 
 pennittt'<l to assemble ouce more to commemorate the anniversary of this 
 most usoful and iutenisting society. 
 
 " Every sucectHling year more clearly and more fully developes the object 
 which this, as well as all otlKfi- similar institutions, are df.'signed tonccomplisii. 
 
 '■ Even the most absurd ideas, which the ordinary mind, that only looks 
 at the surface, supposes to be n^tarding, is tending to accelerate the event. 
 
 " The old prediction that this world would be annihilated has been again 
 revived duinng the past year, and many have gone s-o far as to predict the 
 very day. Tliis is not singular ; many wi.ser and better men in all ages have 
 fallen into the same error. FrtHii my » arliest childhood iny mind has been 
 Hrmly impressed with the belief that instead of this world being destroyed, 
 that its inhabitants were destined at .some jieriod to realize the blessings 
 ])romised by the Almighty and enjoy a perfect millenium. 
 
 " I cannot refi-ain from availing myself of this opportunity to endeavor 
 to impre.s.s on the minds of motliers the great im|)ortvnce of directing 
 the early att(Uition of their ollsjiring to reading the Bible, and explain those 
 priaoiples which every intelligent mind should fully comprehend. One pious 
 :., •tlierwilldo more good in her generation than a score of fatlieri^ in hastening 
 this event. Make a cliild once believe tluit j)eace must reign en earth — 
 tiiat man will regard his fellow man as his brother — and you arm that child 
 through life against ei'ror. When he hears a ftdlow-man ]tn>dict the end of 
 tiuie, or witnesses signs and wondtu's in the heavens or convulsions of natur(\ 
 his miuil is not disturbed- -he has not yet witnes.sed the millenium. When 
 he hears a minister of that religion which is founded on love and peare to 
 all mankind, rail againsf, his fellow-niun, or nny other sect or society what- 
 ever, he will fall back and still hear the voice of that pious mother, 
 and Siiy to himself, tliat man does not b;'liove in the millejiiuni. 
 
 " Have we po,sitiv(! evidence that this time is approaching ] Since my 
 arrival to the age of manhood every obsiirvation made on ineu and passing 
 events tends the more linnly to convince my reason of the certainty of this 
 prediction b»ing fullilled. Aye, T can trace it step by step in small matters 
 as well as great matters — from my earliest recollection in tliis veiy neigh- 
 borhood. 
 
 " W^liat was the state of society among us forty years since 1 At eveiy 
 bee, evtMT nn'litin training. v\ m at our dances, swearing, cursing, qvuirrel- 
 liu;,', fighting, biting, ami even gouging, w.is of common occurrence. It 
 was sanctioned !e/ the publie opinion of the day. Let nu^ ask you if such 
 revolting setMies would lie t'llerated by jiublic opinion now. Let us extend 
 o;ir views. Look into t!ie |>;i^t history of Eui'ope, tht> original formation of 
 governments, their gr:id;ial inipi-ovenH'iit from iyranny — when men were 
 made the willing instruments i>f men — to constitiitiomd freedom, where tin- 
 tyranny of no mni can e.\ist. U:)wl)n.j;is it since governments waged war, 
 one with another, on the most frivolous orasions, taxing tlieii- subjects, 
 desji.itiug countries, and inflicting scenes of niistny on tin' human race, the 
 bare idea of which makes the stoutest heart shudder. Look at the present 
 day. The injst impoi-tant matters are settled in thos.> very governments 
 by reference to other powers — -simply by arbitration, in the same manner 
 that every right-nnnded ujan should settle his ditferenoes with his neighbor, 
 ins -ad of r)rcing him into law. 
 
 " I mention tlu)se facts to prove that civilization has during my short 
 
269 
 
 Ufi' iidvaucod witli rapid strides, and this civilization will luing about tlx- 
 iiiillcniviin. 
 
 " Ijt't us now examine what visildo means are in oponition to ensure 
 this d«'sii-at)lo event. Hvery element is at work, all apiiai-ently se|)arate and 
 distinct, but all conibinin;jf to produce and ensure the oliject. Thi^ mo.-l 
 [irominent is education. Without general intelligence it is impossible to 
 comprehend those great objects which will best promote our individual in- 
 tercut. Next is temperance. Experience has proved that this Society has 
 (lone more to promote virtue and lessen vice since its establishment than 
 any other a.ssociation of men. Every religious society of every name and 
 creed, JJible .societies, missionary .societies, abolition of slavery, legislation, 
 arts, science, commerce, all, in their own partictdar sphere, ditluse intelli- 
 gence, enlarge tla^ mind, and hasten this event. There is anoth(>r and all 
 powerful element at work, which has during the jiast year attained a degree 
 of importance, and is likely to produce results that few of us can compre- 
 hend. I allude to the principle of free trade. We see in a recent article 
 in the Timen that £;')0,00(> per year is subscrilied to advocate the anti-corn 
 law league ; that one, two, three, four, and live hundred po\inds sterling is 
 paid by individuals. Their ostensible object is to remove the duty on human 
 food ; but their onwi.rd course will not stop there. It will extend to every 
 article consumed by man, and what must bo the result. Dej)rive govern- 
 ments of the revenue they derive from indirect taxation, and standing armies 
 will disappear. Nation will not L-e armed against nation. The very cause 
 of sti'ife, of hatreil, and of war, will cease to exist, and peace will be estab- 
 lished on earth. 
 
 "The next question is: When are wo to look for this liap])y period T 
 Judging from past experience — our only guide for the future— we iind the 
 Almighty brings about His own wise purposes by natural means. The pio- 
 i;ress of civilization must necessarily be slow. Tf we draw just comparisons 
 between the inhabitants of diiferent countries it yives a most 'doomv and 
 disheartening result. When T find the inhabitants of my own country, the 
 cultivators of the soil, at least one century in advance of some parts of 
 E\iroi)e, then I see we are not warranted in looking for it in our day or 
 V'oneratiou. Nev««rtheless, it will assui-edly be realized by our ])ostcrity — it 
 will b(( for them to realize the blessings which are in store for mankinii. 
 No feelings of bigotry, intolerance, or exclusivene.ss will embitter their 
 luinds. All that remains for us is individually and collectively to hasten 
 the event by every means within our power. Let us connnence now. Thi.s 
 is one of the elements in eflecting that great work. Jt caiuiot be etlected 
 by faith alone. We nuist show by our works that wo are really in earnest, 
 and to this particular object I now beg to direct your attention. 
 
 " I am indebted to our excellent friend, Mr. Par.sons, for the report of 
 last year, which I have read with attention, and commend it to those who 
 have not had a similar opportunity. In the meantime 1 will call your at- 
 tention to a few slun-t extracts, which contain the most interesting and 
 I'leasing information." 
 
 From the importance of Bible teaching during the generation of peace 
 succeeding a warlike age, he hastily anticipates the advantages arising frem 
 the institutions during an ago of perce. 
 
 Having a high regard for Mr. Thomas Stveet, ho writes him a letter 
 of advice, on accepting a municipal situation, to which the following is a repl\ • 
 
270 
 
 " FallMim-s, ("liii.i.awn, Jan. 22, 1S44. 
 
 " My Dkar Sir : — I tliank you for yourfriciully ami (lisiutfrostpd letter. 
 I accept it in tho spirit in wliich it was written, and shall en<l(>av<)r to profit 
 })y your <,'<)(n| a^^vi(•(^ F iMitt-rtain no ultra opinion in politics, anil sbill 
 ever bi; rfady to advanco to tlio host of my ability the gt^neral interests of 
 the inhabitants ot this District, without reference to party or j>olitical con- 
 sideiiitions. I iun, of course, as every other inhabitant of the Province 
 oufjht to l)e, a staunch supporter of the British (Jrown, an admirer of British 
 laws and institutions, and naturally jealous at any attempt to le.s.sen or 
 weaken the authority of the (iovernment by unreasonable demands, or the 
 followiii;,' up a system of executive policy entirely at variance and incon- 
 sistent with what 1 undiu'stand to be Ker Majesty's prerogative as exercised 
 in this Province through her legal representative. 
 
 " I am and always iiave been anxious that the inhaV»itants of the coim- 
 try should have their fair share and influence in all matters in whidi they 
 are direetly or pt^r.soIlally interested, but when that influence is employed in 
 such a iiumner as to endanger other and superior rights, then 1 think thi- 
 time has arrived when it beco nes every man entertaining the o))ini()ns that 
 
 ^- further encf)uragement. 1 shall en- 
 discharge my duty in .such a way as 
 rf [ fail, it will not be from the 
 .in any apathy or inattention on my 
 
 d advice alw.ivs in view, and will not fail to act 
 
 STKEET. 
 
 I do to r«'joic*( at a check being 
 deavor while in the ])i.strict ( 
 to ifive Katisfaction to mv c 
 want of good will to serve th. 
 part. 
 
 " I shall keep your good 
 upon it in all cases in which 1 can conveniently do so. 
 
 " Believe me. wiy dear si)-, 
 
 " Very ti'uly vours, 
 
 "THOMAS C;. 
 "W. H. MKRi:nT." 
 
 The Jiiiirnii/, of JIarcdi 15, iiftcr copying a rumour by the Kingston Xeu:.^, 
 that Mr. Thorburn would retire for Mr. Harrison, says: " The Sfain^nifoi, not 
 to be outdone by the Xt n-.s, observes, that among other members of Parliament, 
 Mr. M. has given in his adhesion to the present .system, and will supjiort tho 
 new administration. Being in the h;d)it of iilmost daily intcrcour.so with Mr. 
 M., and having enjoye 1 uninterruptedly for many years his confidence upou 
 all public matters, we may naturally be presumed to have as intimate an ac- 
 (|uaint;incc as the Statct<maii. Mr. M, is not the man to conceal from his 
 friends his views upon matters of public policy ; and when ,so great a change 
 conies over him as thiit mentioned above, it will be promulgated through a 
 channel entitling it to .some degree of credit." 
 
 The correspondence here given shows that with all the private friendship 
 displayed towards his fellow townsman, he had not made matters of state his 
 daily subject of conversation, and that he is still writing to the Ministry, say- 
 ing that if certain measures were adopted he would join them. 
 
 '•Toronto, March 24, 1844. 
 
 "Siu:- T have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your fa\'or of 
 the inth inst,, in which, I am glad to find, his Excellency apjn-oves of the 
 principle of the plan submitted for his consideration, altliough I regret to 
 licar that he entertains doubts as to the practicability of the proposed reduc- 
 
271 
 
 lions. TIk! wliolc oltjiH't of my, T fear, ti'ilioiis ('oniMiuiiii'iitinn, was to |>ro- 
 duci' siK'li pruitf, l)asLHl on praotical ami ito.sitivc i-i-snlts alicatly rcaliznl, as 
 I li(tp«'<l would have reinovod all douhts us to tho f<*«siliiiity ot' tlic plan. 
 WitlnMit roMiovin;,' thostt doultts, and cslab'.i.sldnt; confidence in tlif I'csidt 
 as well as tlu! plan sultniittod for altfrinj^ it, any attempt to .securo it wo\ild 
 lie usele.ss. I endeavoi'nd to imprcs.s on the mind of his K.\n'!leney a fact 
 .scMuni l)rou!,'Iit under the considei'ation of ii ({oveiuor l)y his Coiincil: — 
 That the ;i,'ross revenue of (.!anaila iimounted to fjOO.OOd ; that the yro.s.s 
 revenue of the State of Now York Wiis Imt .fOL',n7.") ; that we had resources 
 from four distinct and separate ohjects whidi they hail not, amouiitin>( to 
 (ihout .ii34'J,li.'{r) : that by adoptin:,' tlu! sunui system of finance as thev 
 adapted the wholw of that money wouhl he saved. 
 
 " I find iniiny men hi<,ddy intelligent on yeneral siibjects reinarkahly 
 deficient in comprehendini,' tinancial matters. They i,<,'noraiitly class finance 
 and republicanism toj^t^ther. They assert that the cause of the expendituro 
 •ill the State of New Yt)rk bcuiig so low is the eH'ect of the .systtun of a re- 
 publican i;overnmeiit. This [ deny lit fi>fo. i/)W salaries, f admit, is in 
 must cases the efi'ect of a repiililicaii administration, but I deny that repub- 
 licanism afiects the dill'erent departments or l)ranches of a yoverument. 
 Thi'V have as many departments as we, but they have better laws and rules to 
 rc;,'ulate them, and 1 teel as satislii; 1 as of any event not reali/.ed tiiat we 
 only re<juire financial experience and talent to ei^ii'ct the savin:.f named. »• 
 
 " I am, mv dear sir, vouis verv trulv, 
 
 <■' W. ilAMIl/roN .MKIUMTT." 
 
 "St. (.'.vriiAiuNKs, April L*(i, 1S44. 
 - ; — I have the honor to enclose herewith an al)>ti'act of the details 
 of tin a'oposed reductions, (tint items are not transcrilmil, but will i)e found 
 ill tl. 'ledules referred to, lettered and iiumbenMl, in p!W)lii- a'-coiints of 
 184:",) .IS required by your letter of the 1-Jth of Ararch, and prijiiiiseil in my 
 last from Toronto. 
 
 " From the hurried manner in which [ have maile thos(> extracts, having' 
 been detained by other atlairs until the jtresent week, jierfeet accuracy must 
 not be looked for. A minute detail can be arriveil at only by a i-iyid iu- 
 vostiijatiou of the ditferent departments. A yeuoral outline of the proposed 
 reformation is all I can feel warranted in recommendiiii,'. If it is oonsiilered 
 of suilicieut importance to make fui'tlier investigation, competent heads could 
 soon mature, ])repare, and recommend a simph." and elhcieiit system for tin; 
 cousideratiou of his Excellency. 
 
 " Their attention wouhl first be directed to the Provincial (Governments, 
 the number of departments considered necessary, and their r(!Si)ective duties 
 
 clearlv defined. 
 
 "The present system of laud grautini^ dej)artments is a reproach to any 
 Government, inasnmch astlKMv is not a sutHcient sum of money i-eceived for 
 the sale of land to pay for stationery, and all the olH -ers of the (h-partment 
 ure paid from duties derived from customs, and could be contrasted with a 
 .system which pays all expenses for about five to ten per ce-nt. out of 
 the proceeds of the'land, and a permanent fund created with the remaining 
 ninety per cent, for the education of our youth for all time hereafter. 
 
 "The real and true value of each separate fund would be shown by itself, 
 ill place of being mystitied and mixed up so as not to lie understood, with- 
 
■272 
 
 (jBift 
 
 out <^nMit liibor ami loss nf tiiiio, cvpii liy tlioso wlio lulministfrfil tlif (lovcni- 
 iiiont. 
 
 "Tlio |)i'(!H(«nt nu'tliod of oollcc-tiiigaiul «'Xi)OiHlinif thiMlistrict rcvrniH', to 
 wliidi r liavf ii(i(, allii(l(>(l, cdiild also lie coiitrasU-d with tln^ oik* |>ro|ii).sf(l. 
 " (.'(;rtaiii <,'ciitk'iiit'ii, as magistratt's, asscinlil« oiim in tlirco inontJis 
 Thoy appoint one trcasurcn', ono clork of the peace, aiul re^'iilato the piiot'^ of 
 tincH. 
 
 A Hocend power is cn'ated liy electing c(;rtain disti'ict comiciilors, 
 who name one clerk — Hanie duty as clerk of the i)eaco — two auditors, ami 
 one Kiii'veyor. There is one inspector to collect the revenue fi'oni stills 
 inns, shoi>s, iVc, making returns to Inspector Uuneral of ("ustoins, and wlio 
 grants licenses to auctioneers, making returns as above. Another set of 
 otUcers codect marria^^e licenses ami return tla* same to the Provincial 
 Secretary. The Siierill'makcs returns of other lines to the Inspector (Jeneral. 
 The district taxes are levieil and collected by assessors and collectors ai)- 
 pointed at each town meeting, and ]>aid to the Treasurer. * 
 
 Jt is evident this divei-sity of power and responsibility is unnecessarv 
 inconvenient, and could bo contiasted with a simple system winch woiilil 
 bo recommend(id, not to its advantage, containing one inspector in each dis- 
 trict, who would re]iort din-ct to the Inspector (!(*neral as well as to the 
 district authority, thus establishing a nnitual check for }irovincial and dis- 
 tinct funds, by which a prompt collection woido be insured, and but one set 
 of oHicers re(pured for collecting the extra provincial revenue, and another 
 for district revenue. 
 
 " Tlu! main object to be effected is to relieve the inhabitants from taxa- 
 tion. The adjoining States of Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, and Indiana are 
 largely in debt, without any exti-aneous resources. The apprehension of 
 direct taxation ultimately, to pay this debt, directed emigration last year to 
 the territ( ry of Wisconsin, where no taxa*ion is in expectancv. (,'anada 
 has greater resources than any pcn-tion of America, and can bo relieved 
 from all taxation unless imposed by the districts themselves for some local 
 improven O'lt. I et it be generally known that the indirect resources of 
 this country are ample to relieve the inhabitants from all apprehension of 
 direct taxes ; that the j)i'oceeds of all the waste lands of the Crown aro ai)- 
 propriatid to create a sinking fund for the education of youth and no other 
 purpose, 1 n 1 few can predict the consc(juences which it would produce. The 
 very idea wo(dd go farther to command ca})ital and emigration, and insure 
 the riipid and steady prosperity of the country than any other measure yet 
 proposed. With these few brief remarks I will clo.se, with a hope that Uio 
 short time at my command will claim indulgence for not explaining the 
 matter more fidly and ably. 
 
 " I have the honor to be, your obedient servant, 
 
 " W^ H. MERRITT. 
 
 He further showed his appreciation by joining, in a semi official capacity, 
 the administratioa of public works. 
 
 "KiNosTON, May 8, 1844. 
 
 " As you have, fi-om the comments of the Boaril of Work.s, expressed a 
 strong desire to avail yourself of my local knowledge and experience in con- 
 ducting the public works in Canada, the time has now arrived when it can 
 be done mutually beneticial to the jjublic as well as myself. 
 
273 
 
 (Jovcni- 
 
 • 'linc, to 
 
 ir()|iOHf<(l. 
 
 riioiitlis 
 
 prirt^ uf 
 
 mrilliiis, 
 .iiVH, ami 
 III stills, 
 ainl will) 
 
 ■!• Sl't of 
 
 roviiiciiil 
 (IfMicral. 
 I'tor.s ap- 
 
 lOft'ssaiy 
 •li would 
 (jaoli (lis- 
 
 IS to tJK! 
 
 and dis- 
 it one ,sft 
 1 another 
 
 •oni taxr.- 
 liana aro 
 
 nsioii of 
 
 t year to 
 
 Canada 
 
 relieved 
 jnio local 
 oui'ces of 
 
 nsion of 
 n aro aj)- 
 
 no other 
 ice. The 
 
 id insure 
 asure j-et 
 
 that the 
 iiiiiig the 
 
 RITT. 
 
 capacity, 
 
 1844. 
 pressed a 
 lo in con- 
 len it can 
 
 " Thn ronioval of thnsoat of Govorniiinnt from Upp^r Canada 1 1 Mo'itroal 
 will j^nmtly incroasn tin iaooiivcnieiuM* uln>:idy oxporien • mI, the powers h '\nx 
 couoontrated at ho ;(reat a distaiK'o from tlie sp it where it in'ist li(» exeroist.vl. 
 
 "The reincily proposed, as the cunt'-niMlate 1 alteration in the Aet cm- 
 iiot bo attained for hoiii ' tiiir), is to ajipoint, nud-'r the present II ) ir 1, s Jine 
 [lersoii to siipcrinteM 1 all th(i w.)i-ks west of th.- Nia'jfir.i Riv.-r. 
 
 "Ill the first p!a"e, this p.iition, altlidiiu'li most reiiioM" frn:i Montreal, 
 is the most important, iiiasnineli as the entire trad- of th ■ whole Province 
 uiyeiids on the ipiantity we may divert from the wesiciM eou'itiy, whi 'h of 
 itsidf is siitlieicnt to oeenpy the entire alte!>ti.)i> of oi:" mind. 
 
 " The d>ity of this snj) 'i-visioii can b;* clearly d 'tin • 1, and the j)03sibility 
 of collision on it avoided. The pn;,dneers continue to rejairt, esti- 
 iiiite, and pay contractors, as heri'tofori', on all contr.e-ts heretjfure ent'-r,- 1 
 i'lto, bnt every now matter or unforeseen obstacle arising, to b-^ referre i to 
 r!ie individual on the spot, and a r(!,^'ul,ir I'eport mi 1 ^ thereon, as-ii,gnin;; th" 
 li-asons for or a;,'!iinst, for the approval or rojojtiua of the JJ jaivl, a r.'^'ord of 
 which will be entered into a bjok, to bo kept for the piirpos", on'JO in eacli 
 month. 
 
 " The money now paid wet^kly to the banks by the colleclors, a state- 
 ment of which is furiiisheil the Receiver (jenoral. should be returned monthly 
 to that otHce I»y each colhictor, and thence to the Inspector General, as wt-U 
 as the Board of Works. The object is w secure a check from the local in- 
 f'trmation recpiired, which cannot exist nnder the jiresent system. 
 
 " This duty should also extend to the Clraiid River invitation, with a 
 view of devising means to finish that work to Hrantford ; to the (Jueeiiston 
 and (irimsby road, and thence to Hamilton — to bring forward a bill and 
 piopose means to finish that work also. 
 
 " The economy of this .arrangement will be tested by ex| iMice — the 
 increase of revenue, which will not be less tlini £'_'.'), 00(1 tliis year, jKiid to 
 the public chest, over and above charges, hydraulic rents, itc. The s.iving 
 of expenditure in j)oliee, law eo.sts, postage, and other items, will in the 
 aggregati; form no inconsideraltle sum. 
 
 " The convenience of an immediate refei'ence will lie Jiiyhlv satisfaetorv. 
 The books removed by tlu; late Inspector (Jeneral siiould be returned at 
 niice, as the gn^atest inconvcnienee is experienced almost daily for want of 
 it'ferring to matters there reconled, and can refer to no other public mattei- 
 than the Welland Canal. There can be no possible advantage to the public 
 service by removing those books to Montreal. The stock books are of no 
 consequence, now that every shareholder, except two or three, are settled in 
 * 'anada. 
 
 " You are aware that I liave spent almost my entire time since IS.TG in 
 affording such information as was lequired, gratuitously. That inuirina- 
 tion has been considered serviceable on many occasions. i\Iy circumstances 
 arc now altered. I can no longer allbrd to lose my time. Tt cannot bo 
 f'inployed .so usefully for the public, or agreeably to myself in anv other 
 situation, ai^d as far as regards individual claims, if those works are reallv 
 useful or beneficial to the Province, it will lie conceded with one accord 
 tlnoughout the land that I am personally entitled to consideration ; therefore, 
 if you think the public interest will be promoted by this arrangement, it 
 iiiay be carried into operation immediately. Truly yours, 
 
 "Hon. H. H. Kill.\lv. W. HAMILTON MERRITT. 
 
274 
 
 Tli(> ffiilifS sliow tliiil llif ;,M('uti.st (((iirii.sioii was tlif i(>nlt of I,((r(| 
 
 Syilriiliain's iin'aii;,'ciiiciii, uiul liaviii;^ tlir wlnilc of tin- |iiililii' works i-on- 
 
 (luutoil liy oiH' oHicr, iiu<l tint licail olliocr not iiKlfpfiidcnL kI' tlic i-liaiiyo of 
 
 Ministry. 
 
 K I NiisToN , ^! ay D 1 , I s 1 1 . 
 
 " M\ i>KAi: Sii: : I a:ii in rt'cri|it this il.iv of ytt'iis of tin' i'.iili. | 
 liavc not li'-anl one syll.ilili- sjicf V'MI went of our prMjioscd ai'iMii;(i'incnt. 
 J havt' asU'-d two or I'nrc tiiufs, iiulci'd, |in'<sci! it as iiuicli as I coiilil, Imt 
 ' C'liuM 'lt» iinlliiu^' until tin' Conn 'il, witli |)i-aiii r, (1< lilu-rat.'H on it, itc.,' 
 is tin' answer, 
 
 " Kvcry thin;,' is as ynn Irft it. Ilaiiison i^ down a;.;;iin. Imi' \ ly ill — 
 tliP .Sana- iiinmi' of his takin.:,' ollicc 
 
 " Slli'l'Wood is ht'l'c. jn-'uxiirj, \ an tnhl, the < Ii)\ 'lll'i;' In ajijidnt his 
 Conn^'il lii'foi'i' he i,'iirs ilown. oiIki- . ise In- is t.)li' vi>it"d l.y tlic diiffid 
 indi'.,'nalion of //m /'"/•^/. 
 
 "41' i>< \\ri)n;;;all topsyturvy, (iod knnw s s\ Lcif i! will cinl. I will 
 writi' Villi wlaii anytliin^ o^'cni-s. 
 
 " Faitlifnllv viuns. 
 ^ "li. II. KILl.AI.V. 
 
 '• W. I i.NMii.roN .Mi:iiiii rr." 
 
 <'.MoNTi!i:.\i., .Inly .'5, iSj I. 
 
 *' y\\ l):;\i;Sii! : 1 li:m Jn.^l icccivcd yn.ir mtv wi'lcDnn' irtlfp. Since 
 I wintc to yiiu last I have mil. Iirard imc word on the snlijcrt, alllii)ni,di I 
 liavc seen 1 1 i'^'^ins.m daily and have )>rt'ssi'i| him on it. I will m;d<e it a 
 jioint lo sec him ihis day and lri\c it at nni'c lixcd. The |irinci|i|f I)rin<j; 
 adojit.'d. ! eannnt eonciivr what slniis tin' carrying ont of i«. As to the 
 points : 
 
 " 1st- -Letter of inlr>liii'tinn. iV''. Il shall he dune the monient I have 
 llig.i^insou's autli(ii'ity, ntlieiaMy oi' dtherwise. 
 
 " 'Jnd -I will see to the a]i|iiiintmen(. 
 
 " .ii'd Wilkin.SdM left this t'ei' the W'elland two days a-'o, and I have 
 not ti.e slightest a|i|ire|ii>nsion t.^it his work will li'' the cause of delnv. 
 
 "Ilh W'elland Honk shall he done. 
 
 ** I am glad to hear jioor Power is reeovering. .\ll kinds of rumors. 
 J>raiieran(| Sherwood are here. 'Die report priueipally is that Daly goes 
 ont. This I think will lie, as he has been told often enough that he is the 
 olista-le an I stumlding hloek to the foi-mation of any .Ministry. Then that 
 tlio greater part of the ComiivM are to be iiower Canadians, who will be 
 assisted by till! ('ons(>rvatives, and thus beat what are called tho Heformors. 
 
 '• I. trust such an attempt as this will not b(t made. I do not believe 
 liatoiitaine will accept without, jiahlwin, and I do not bcliovt! l>aldwin will 
 throw otf his [larty, and without them I do not believe any Jliiustry can be 
 formed to last. 
 
 " J canio down the Kapids all night's ride for once, but as a channel of 
 trado I I ! This will, F have no doubt, be abinidant [iroof of tin* wisdom and 
 truth of the old saying, ' The pitcher whii^Ii goes often to the widl is broken 
 at last.' 
 
 '• llav*' yon seen how Wakeliehl liginvs ? £7.oO() for working out the 
 s.dc of the j)ro|ieity ; I'lL*,."'^"' f'"" working out the Canal ! Waeivdid thi.s 
 goto? And I suppose as much if he got thi' Company formed. 
 
275 
 
 " W«? arc ^(•ttiii^ on ;,'nmtlly all iiloti;,' tlif .St. Liiwicii i-. Wv will pusH 
 
 liiats t'tifou'li td n MiiIiuniDis in .fiiiu' next. We will lie in a vnv n 1 
 
 w ly yn :ill tlnHttlnirs IImm si'iisou. 
 
 " Vours with t'sti't'iii, fiiitliriillv. 
 
 " II. II. KII,I-.\LV. 
 " W. II. Mi'ititnr." 
 
 Tlit> t'uliowiii ' iii'licutus Ui(! n(iui!ilv iiscil : — 
 
 "TOIIONTO, .\lU'. IX, i'^M. 
 " M .• I)i:\ii Silt: -.\s yon aiv M)W Maini'.,'"!' of tin; Wi'ljaml ('anal, I 
 liMjijy ri will ui'u;fiin lli" liack 'liti'lii'^, t'sjurially tliat fivtiii Mroail (.'I'l'i-U to 
 Afarslnillc, iiuilli of tin? ('anal. 
 
 " v.. MIS faitlitnllv, 
 
 '• II. l!i)||.T(»N. 
 '•\V. II. M I ; It I! ITT." 
 
 Tlii-i is i'(.|ii,.il in .Air. .AI'nTitl's Iriiiilwritiii.;, ullnil •■« to the jiriiieipil 
 luerii^uro ho eff'ctdl, vi/,., securing ii boau.s to tht; cuntractoiv^ (or going on with 
 «nd opening tlii.v work: 
 
 "Sir: — From tlm intt'r"st yon have lythcrto tik mi in this ciinso, w'*>, tho 
 contni.'tims for i!oin;ili'ting the locks lit'twticii TIioroM aii'l Si. Cithariin^s, 
 havo taken tin; lilicrfyto rcipu'st yon to rcjnvsciit the sif.uatioii of" this woi'k 
 to th»' Hoard. , 
 
 "< )nr contracts o.\|iir(! on the 1st Xovcni'icr n"xt. Tiio I) larij, and tlif. 
 puiilio t'xpcot those l((,"ks to lie linished and ill I'eadiiiess iiei'oro thi' ojtcning 
 <>!' the navigation in \>^['k 'l'\i>- past Winter has lieen in )st nnt'avorablo for 
 proem ing th(^ dtdivery of stone; sve ai'c jiressed for money; wages for labor 
 have inereased; provisions, and also tic material which is indispeiisable for 
 the W;rks; and ii", iiv nunsnal exertion, we are enal)led to fnlti! the |)nl>- 
 lic expeotution, it must lead to inei-eased expense. 
 
 "N'iverthehis.s, fetdiiig the iinpoilauee of iicetingthe \ i"ws of the IJoard, 
 and rcU-'ving tlie pnldic, not only from the expense of ke-ping np tin; old 
 lucks another yi^ar, l)iit of insiiriin,' an inereasi! of toll, we will push tic win-k 
 with i vigor heretofore nnexa npled. if a rea.o:iaMe e,iieoniM,'e neiit is lieM 
 oat for tlie same, an I will engage to siirm cmt .ill ditli ■nlty. and have it in 
 readin "-s by the 1st April. 
 
 Yours, ■ 
 
 The following is yiv. M 'rritt's nionurandu'ii of proc;.';'din^s oii the n 'W 
 work:— • 
 
 "Cjiiiineucod ^fondav 22\u\ Jnlv, answcrcl .Mr. Hah-v's letter and iiut 
 myself in conimnnication with tlu^ Chairman of the Pioard of Works. 
 
 '• Notilied M -ssrs. Pow.dl and Prescott tli.at '^ had acjcpti'd the situation, 
 also ^Ir. Burford the contractor. 
 
 "It ;ippe.ir.s to bo in )st desira'il(> to .secnrR t.lc completion of the harb )nr.^ 
 aid tjio iu;w locks so as to open the navig.ition on 1st April wxt on tin* 
 oulargcd scab*. 
 
 '■Consulted Pago as to increasiii-' the nnm'terof men, wa^t(' Wiirs must 
 !'■■ put Uiuler contract, lock gates in readiicss it'.-. 
 
 " Wednesday, lil. Ascertained from Mr. Bernard tliat ho was willing to 
 render Mr. Tiioinpson every assistance after completion of his lucks, wljicli 
 Would take three nrniths more. 
 
276 
 
 "i 
 
 'Signs of fmtlier disturlianco among tlie men appearcil on Siiiinay. 
 
 ■ AHoertainccl from Collier in case we fail to complete the new line, the 
 state of locks on the old line, and what will be tlie expense of jjroparing tl.om, 
 for a few months, for spring navigation, 2 locks at Allanldirgh tu Ik- renovKl 
 and extended, aqueduct to be repaired ; this is all that is neces.-ary. 
 
 "With regaid to the sajJiily from Grand River level in place of Lake 
 Erie, the Clrand lliver dam should be maiie perfectly tight at once, raise all 
 the embankments, inchuling Port Colborne, from Dunnville to Allanburgh. 
 
 " Monday, 29th. Examined with Mr. Powers the line of canal, in- 
 spected gates, waste weirs, etc. 
 
 "To Caimichael T. French, to get another machine immediately. 
 
 "Friday, Aug. 1. Passed \\\> tl.e line with Kev. Mr. McDcnoufh, a r. um- 
 ber of men having met previously at Thorold and made threats. Called on 
 most of the contractors, enquired into the assaults said to have been commit- 
 ted, remained several days, is.si;ec! a warrant, no per.sou appealed to convict, 
 the prisoner dismissed, inferred no danger. 
 
 "Sept. 13. The most unexampled activity continues on this work, 
 seven locks are all eady finished between this and Thciold, twelve others will 
 be finished by the end of the month, -leaving only a few courses on four to 
 complete the whole twenty-three. 800,000 tolls to 1st Augu.st. 
 
 " rtetuiuing to the f^ubjcct of the Ministry, he addresses the' Premier : 
 
 "St. Catharixe.s, Aug. 14, 1844. 
 
 " Mv Deak Sir : — leaving been unpleasantly hairassed by those inter- 
 ininaVde law suits, \\itli some few indispensaljle canal matters, not a moment 
 since my last has lieen left to devote to those of public policy. An- 
 other and ])riiici[ial reason for the delay arose from the confident assertions 
 of those arriving from Montreal that the ISlinistry had been formed, which, 
 as far as either you or myself were concerned, would have rendered any sug- 
 gestions useless. However, from your letter in June, I had no reason to 
 suppose any hasty decision woi.ld be had. In reviewing the .situation of 
 our country we must not niisunder.stand the existing state of j)ublic feeling. 
 A statesman will then decide, if adverse, Avhether he has reasonable grounds, 
 from any measure tl at he has matured, that he can change' that feeling — 
 and that, too, in Mitiicient time to meet the Legislature, ensure a majoiity, 
 and conduct l.is Government in accordance with the priuciiiles now fully 
 admitted. 
 
 "Piefcrring to j ast transactions, or attempting to adduce a single reason 
 to prove who was right cr wrong, or what measure should or should not 
 have been adopted, would lie a waste of time. Matters and things should 
 be taken as we find them. Whatever change may have taken place in pub- 
 lic o])inion or feeling in Lower Canada, it' is generally supi)osed that in 
 Upper Canada it has been in fiivor of the Ministiy. If so, what is to be 
 gained by calling the ])iesent House together! Will it not rather prouuoe 
 irritation, widen the breach (if possible), and do nuich harm. 
 
 " This position being admitted, the only chance of iiroducing a change is 
 by a di.ssolution, and procuring the return of other memliers, although if in 
 truth no change has actually taken |»l.ice in piddic feeling, the same result 
 must follow. Whatever effect appointing a commission to investigate and 
 recommend a change in our financial .sys^^^em wouhl heretofore have produced, 
 so fully are men's iiiinds engrossed with one idea— the apprehension of 
 losing responsible Government, and tliat his Excellency is opposed to the 
 
277 
 
 principle, an I the late ISIiiiistry in favor of it, tint ni\v m maas ire liowever 
 lienetijial will di\XM't thiMu; an i any niaH attempting to oontravort it will, in 
 most constituencies, k'S3 tlii^ii- conti lauis. 
 
 " If this bi) a corrp.t statement of public feeling, what is the ramely ? 
 No statesman can ro^omin^nl a daviation from this principle, therof)re a 
 mijority in tlie represent itivo branch must b.) sec ired. \Vj tinl that <lirti- 
 cuities, appearing insurmountable, have been removed, and what has been, 
 can again be effected. 
 
 " In looking back a few years, we find, in the adjoining country, the 
 jiopulation in a state cf civil war. All attempts at conciliation had failed. 
 One master mind, Henry Clay, proposed a com[)romise. His celebrated 
 A-t produced a magical etfjct, trau'iuillity was restored, and he is now 
 about reaping his reward. 
 
 " During the administration of Lord Sydenham, circumstances placed 
 vou in the most res[)onHiljle and conspicuous situation in tlie Government. 
 You found the House of Assembly, before even proceeding to business, de- 
 termined on having a clear and distinct avowal of the principle on which 
 the (Tovernmeut was hereafter to be conducted. Contrary to your own 
 feelings and judgment you con.S'Mited, restored tranipiillity, and l)y means 
 of that concession conducted the Government against, or without eitlier Mr. 
 Balhvin or the leaders of that large and compact body of Lower Canadians 
 being in the Government. 
 
 " Circurastances placed you in a similar situation during the administra- 
 tion of Sir Charles JBagot. You then felt it necessary to bring that party 
 iu:o power, and to effect which you resigned tlu; honor and emoluments of 
 office, and again i-estored harmony. Circumstances have for the third time 
 placed you in a similar although far more delicate position. Tf you can again 
 restore harmony, if you feel satistieil that a majority couM be secured, unless 
 ^lessrs. L.ifontaine and Baldwin are restored, which was your tirst impres- 
 sion, you deserve a civic crown, and will .assuredly reap your reward. I 
 a;n aware of the dithoilty which must at every stage meet you in atterM})tiug 
 it. If his Excellency would listen to any arrangement, the obstacle would 
 vanish in a moment. Could furnish a letter disavowi)ig any intention, ex- 
 plaining away misapprehension, making all discrepancies satisfactory. 
 Tlie whole affair would iilow over within ten days. Let u-i. divested of all 
 [(crsonal feeling, take an enlarged and statesmanlike view of this question. 
 S ifjp He those s,'jntle!n3n vest jr.J 1, and suppose, (which T do not bdieve) they 
 wi-ro to .show the least vanity, or exult in the event, how long wimld it last 
 on this side of the Atlantic I Their capacity is to be testeil by the success 
 of their measures, and there must be a speedy change. Sir Cliai'les wi uld 
 thus [trove his adherence to tht; principles he has advocated, and wo\dd be- 
 come the most popr.lar governor that ever ruled a colony. What effect 
 would it pi'oduce in England? Not the slightest to his di.Nidvautage. The 
 Government and the people there look oidy to the result ; they can know 
 nothing of details, and care less. Reliexe them from trouble, establish 
 eonteutment, and tliey ai'e satisfied. Sir Chai'les would hi' consideicil, and 
 ju.itly, too, a statesman, who, with the most discordant materials, placed 
 himself above all personal feeling, and will leave the country in perfect 
 harmony and in the most jtrosperous condition. Believe me, T entertain 
 the .strongest personal feeling for the Governor General, and on this account, 
 apart from the desire of witnessing harmony among my countrymen, aiu 
 extremely desirous he should return to England crowned with success. 
 
 rl 
 
■ '■mmm 
 
 278 
 
 " There are many, I am aware, who take a narrow view of public mea- 
 MU'Cs, and rather than not carry a point wonhl never concede an iota. 
 Judging from tlic past, this is not your chai'acter, neither is it tliat of the 
 (iovernor Generah All I can add in conclusion is, that if you think it 
 necessary and feasible, I woidd lie most ''^r '^v Xo be instrumental in any 
 way you may p<jiut out in bringing itibout. j fully concur in the opinions. 
 exj)ressed in your last, which induced me to pen the above. 
 
 " Verv truly yours, 
 
 -'W. HAMILTON MEllRITT. 
 
 " Hon. W. H. Drapeu." 
 
 Journal, Aug. 30: "A Ministry at last, it is said in a P. S. to the Pi/of ^ 
 the use of the last nann^ in the list places it in the category of rumours." 
 This was Mr. M., Tnsjiectoi- General. The author, who was a passeng'T 
 on the JiriUinnid, heard this rumour, while stopping a few hours in Halifax. 
 
 When the Government assumed the control of tlie ("anal, Mr. iSFerritt 
 wrote to his Grace the Duke of Wellington, informing him of she act, and 
 t Uing him that the smn originally subscribed V)y him towards the Ganal 
 would now l)e repaid, with intert st. At the same time he reminded his 
 Cfrace of the circumstances of his tii-st signing for the old stock, which was 
 done as an example to others in liondon, and our subject now politely hinted 
 that if he would transfer th.e amount to the Grantham Academy, which 
 much needed it, the name of the institution would be changed to that of 
 Wellington. By means, not necessary to explain here, either Chief Justice 
 Kobinscn or the Bishop of Toronto had made a prior apjdication, and the 
 result was that the money was bestowed for the founding of the Wellhigton 
 Scholarship in King's College, Toronto. 
 
 " Walmer Castlk, Sept. 28, 1844. 
 
 " Sir : — I received in due time the letter which you were so kind as to 
 address me on the 20th of February last, on the subject of the stock held by 
 me in the Welland Canal, and your suggestion as to its disposition. 
 
 " Having corresponded with Chief Justice Rolnnson on the same subject, 
 he has remitted to me another letter from you to liimself, dated the lOt.h of 
 July, and the act of the Legislature by which the Grantham Academy wr>s 
 incorporated. 
 
 " Upon the whole, however, it has occurred to me that the most suitable 
 disposition which I could make of the stock belonging to me in the Welland 
 Canal, was to authorize tin; sale of it, and with the proceeds thei'cof to foiinii 
 a scholarship in the Ki" g's College, I^pj.er Canada. T have given direc- 
 tions and authority accordingly to Mr. Chief Justice Bobinson. 
 
 " I avail myself of this opportunity of returning you my thanks for 
 drawing my attention to the interest wliich I had in the Welland Canal. 
 " 1 have the honor to be, sir, 
 
 '' Your most obedient humble servant, 
 
 " WELLINGTON". 
 " W. Hamilton Mkuritt, St. Catharines." 
 
 It will not bo out of place to introduce an incident, though unwit- 
 tingly, with which the author was connected. 
 
270 
 
 Thero woro ffw inon of his time iiioro capalile of taking hold of uii idea 
 ;iiul working it to a pi'ai-tical (.'onclusion tlian our .suhject, as the following 
 siinjilc though important naiTutive will illustrate. We have already meu- 
 tioned two of liis sons, the authoi' and William, Iteing left at European univer- 
 sities to conH)lete their education. We may therefore state that it was eu.> 
 toTuaiy for Mr. IMcrritt to tak<' an occasional lioliday, and convey his family 
 into the country, tlierel)v resting his mind as well as hodv, and uatheving 
 fi-esh energies for each forthcoming event. A favoiite resort of his was vn 
 or near the hanks of the Niagara Kiver, near where the town of C'lift(.n (then 
 called Elgin) now stands. At no period of the year did he enjoy this trip 
 iietter than when (jur hcautiful Indian Summer first set in and lic^'an to 
 iidorn the foliaire with wliicli the biinks of this ri\('r is covered, lendii>vf an 
 enchantment to tlie sctniery, wliicli, to he thoroughly appre;ii:t( il, nm>t ho 
 observed at this timo. Going oil" from 8t. Catharines for tlils purpose with 
 the members of his family, ms we may suppose, he called at the Post Oliico 
 before going, and received a package from Eurojic which he cai'i'icd along with 
 liim to read at his leisure thei-e. On arri\ ing tlicre, tlie usual picnic 
 arrangements were made, and the ainiual simple feast was spread, after 
 wliicli, when peace and quietness pervaded the party, tlio foreign lett-r 
 was produced, and proved to be from the travellers, who w<'re then visiting 
 Fribourg in Switzerland. Amongst th*^ many wonders of the strange land 
 of Tell, it told thtur parents of a wonderful suspension bridge which they 
 had seen spanning the River Sarren in the midst of n mountainous country. 
 A full description of it followed — its length, its height, and the manner of 
 its construction were all minutely detailed. [Mrs. M. remarked: "I wonder 
 if a suspension bridge could not be made to span this river."] So strongly 
 (lid the remark impress the niin I of our subject that the idea at onco 
 occurred to him of the possibility of spanning the mighty Niagara with just 
 sudi a bridge. Soon afterwards a consultation with engineers followe'l. 
 Laughed at by some, and favored by others, still the idea grew, and the 
 ultimate result is a bridge across this river, not such as described at Sarre: f 
 but one of a magnitude surpassing all others, of which we will have reason 
 to speak hereafter. 
 
 The autlior on his return, was sent up witli S. Woodrulf, Engineer, to 
 ascertain the shortest line for a suspension bridge across the NJaganu 
 
 On the 2.'?rd of September, Parliament was dis.solved, and preparations 
 at once made for a new election. !Mr. liykert opposed our suliject, but he 
 was again returne(l by laO majoiity. 
 
 On Friday, l-^th October occuiTod one of the severest storms experienced 
 on Lake Erie. The piers of Port Colborne, among'other ports were partially 
 destroyed. But the focus of the storm appeared to concentrate on Buf- 
 falo, where the loss of .*200,000 worth <>( property, and iiO or 10 lives 
 attested to its destructive power.i. 
 
230 
 
 It Wiis succeeded, ut tlio end of the month, hy a snow storm, and Airs. 
 Merritt noticed that on the Tuesday of the election, Mr. M. attended in a 
 slcirjh. 
 
 On the 1 2th of Xovt'nibov,onhis farm near Port (Jolhorno, died the cousin 
 of our subject, known on the oaual, from itii commencement, as an honc-^t 
 and popular contractor. The fevers in the Cranberry Marsh, no doubt, 
 laid the foundation of ill-health. Ifud he remained on his faim near St. 
 Catharines it might not have occurred. 
 
 On the 2Sthof November the '^ouseoponcd, andagain the ofFerof Inspector 
 Genoral in the new ]Ministry was made to IVIr. Merritt, wjiich he declined. 
 It was then gi\en to 3Ir. W. 15. Ivol)in.son, who had been Suj)erintendent 
 of the Welland Canal; Mr. ^Merritt having taken liis place on the same, as he 
 believed that by so doing he would, under the circumstanees, be of more 
 use to the country. 
 
 In December he renewed his measure of retrenchment, and published an 
 elaborate view of the resources of Canada, conij)aring tliem with the State 
 of New York, wherein he showed that with a larger revenue our e.rpaifiei' 
 were in excess of theirs, and what was required of our Administration, and 
 strongly urging retrenchment — the present Ministry, any more than the oh', 
 not agreeing with him on those (juestions, which he showed would relieve 
 the people from direct taxation. This was one of his reasons for declining 
 the proli'ered seat in the Cabinet. This publication of his views, however, 
 resulted in the Government adopting his policy, and his being called into 
 the jNIinistry four years afterwards. 
 
 Commencing this session a protest against hiselection was sent in, in conse- 
 (pience of his Government engagement on the Canal. It was tried in the 
 House, but having i)i'oved that he ilid not receive a salary for this service, 
 however much he neeiled it, the protest was (juashcd. 
 
 The following extracts, copied from the election trials, show that Mr. 
 Merritt had more honor than [irotit and no little risk in his connection 
 with the Draper administration. II. II. Killaly interrogated : 
 
 "A salary of .£500 per annum liaviiig been attaciied to the otllce men- 
 tioned in your letter to Mr. Secretary Daily, and Mr. iSIerritt liaving accejit- 
 cd the same, do you know wliy the same or any portion thereof was not 
 drawn by Mr. Merritt ? I cannot tell, it was never applied for. 
 
 "I conceived a larger j)ortiou of the business to be performed by Mr. 
 Merritt was more connected witli tlie Inspector General's department, but 
 that he did discharge some of the duties of the Board of Works under the 
 appointment in ipiestiou." 
 
 ml 
 
281 
 
 1845. 
 
 During his attoiuluuce at tlio sossiou in Montroul, lit! wus reqiiested liy 
 tl.'j Mercantile Library Assuuiatiuu of that city to deliver an address on 
 '• TLo Trade and Commerce of Canada." His lecture was well attendei', 
 and the sentiments enunciated wai'inly received, acconii)aiiiod by a vote of 
 .thanks at the close. The following is a familiar letter to Mrs. M.: 
 
 " I am living as (juietly as po.ssible with Mr. Barrett. INIrs. B. is making 
 i!ie as comfortable as she can , cotibe every day at dinner, have not drank 
 twj glasses of strong water since my arrival in Montreal, and wine only 
 t\vi..e. 
 
 " February 8th. 'J'o the author — I presume the article to which you 
 refei- on the Hnance of France is in Thiers' ilistory, as I am not a nioment cut 
 of tlie House, have no time to examine. I regn^t exccedini,dy, however, that 
 I did not bring all the publications sent by Dr. King, including the school 
 iiiaJ:ter. What has become of all my pamphlets J" 
 
 Mrs. Prendergast died at St. Catharines on the 1st day of robruary. 
 A letter to his bereaved father-indaw from the Li'gislaturo, March 3.1 
 containing messages of sympathy closes with his own pursuits : — 
 
 " My habits have become so sedentary, T shall (God willing) retire from 
 {'ublic life in a very few years. I am jireparing a measure of moment, viz: 
 the appropriation of all oui- waste lands to create a fund to supjiort common 
 .'■'-•Louis, and establish distrivt libravies throughout the province. The plan 
 is alluded to in my pamiddct, which appears to be well spoken of in all p:ul.s 
 of the pi-ovince, excejjt among officials." 
 
 Daring tin's so.ssion St. Catharines was incorporated into a town, to the 
 gii-at satisfaction of the inhabitants, who expected imiKutant results, whicli 
 wi.ie only accompanieil with an expense by them often afterwards regretted. 
 
 He also took an active part on the Crown Lands Committee, and re- 
 commended their Ijoing the monetary l>asis of our Common School systeip, 
 instead of their being 8up[)orted by annual tax as at present. 
 
 "CioVEKXMKNT lloL'SE, March 13, 184'). 
 
 " ]\rv Dkak Sir, — -T have had the pleasure of communicating your note 
 I I the Governor (ieneral, and I am desired to assure you that His Exc( 1- 
 ii n y is fully sensible of the great labour and pains that you have bestowed 
 ii[Hm the very important (picstion as to the future disposal of th(> WMste 
 lands of the Crown. His Excellency coiu'eived that your [iroposition was 
 uiicicr the consideration of the Executive ('ouncil, fi-om your lieing in con:- 
 niM.nication with some of its nu-mbers ; but he will again call tiieir atten- 
 ti'iii to it, I am, dear Sir, 
 
 " Vcurs faithfullv, 
 " Hon. W. H. Mkkiutt, M. P. P. j'. M. HIGGINSON." 
 
 'I'liat the value of the sei vices of our subject as a working nu?niber, 
 tli'Ugh in a tory House is evinced by the number and im[iortance of tli(> com- 
 niittees he was on. , 
 
Ajifil 3. f'oiiiiiiittoo on crown lands vci)ort, W. IT. Merritt, elmiinian. 
 
 A Icttor wiiK rcccMvcil (Imt at tlio closi- of tlic Lc^'islattiro lie wouM 
 Jno(!t^[l■.s. Merritt in I'.rooklyu. While liorc, tlu' folluwinj', ;Voin the iuithur 
 announced thtur liaving arrived : 
 
 •' I hii\f ainiiscd myself wliilo in New York hy htokiiii,' u|> Anieiicau 
 iinlicniities, and wa« h-d in my search iiuti-c particularly into ol)sorvinu; tho 
 locality of our ancestors in the iKughltourhood, all'ording i.ot only tho la;i- 
 t"iry and trials of the old times, hut casting tho cliarm of |ierKonal intf>reht. 
 over tlie early history of the settlers in fact rcn<lcriiig our own the ri,srs 
 and progress of the American democracy." 
 
 Mr. ^leri'itt, writing from ?doiitrcal to Mrs. Merritt on his travcN, en 
 2nd Api'il, closes ;,.s follows : 
 
 "The session has ended, 1 fear, without doing as much a« we shonld 
 t'or the good of our fellows, hut prospects are cheering nevertheles.s. As 
 you arc no jiolitician, I have nothing anuising to communicate. It was my 
 intention to have returned liy way of Alhany to meet you, hut the roads 
 are so intolorahly had that I am compi^lled to go up river. 
 
 " 12th. Not getting a steamer, have gom> u|) hy land, as far as Toronto ; 
 was two nights in an o[)en wagon, and the last in a snow .stum." 
 
 With regard to the suit in which he was engaged, a letter of March ■^, 
 from his son Tlioiinis, who was in company with Mr. Jas. R. Benson, says': 
 " We have heard the unpleasant result of the partnershii) in Toronto." 
 Tliis decision of Chief Jiistice Robinson, involving our subject in uU the 
 losses of J. Mittlelterger it Co., renders it necessary for him to hurry home. 
 and make prepurrtion for a lo.ss of all his property ; and on his return, in 
 the middle of April, his firist business was to Mayville, where Dr. rrendei- 
 gast promised him all the assistance he might retpiire. 
 
 May 1. Appears for the last time, after nineteen years, our subject's 
 name to the list of advertised letters, and that of the author for nearly as 
 long a period, signals these items in the Jovrixd. 
 
 2l)tfi. Letter to G. P. llidout on ditl'erential duties. 
 
 On the 29th of INlarch the House being prorouge<l, Mr. i\[. i-eturned ; 
 and soon afterwards, on tlie tenth of May. the works on the new Canal 
 were successfully completed and the water let in, bringing on the route a 
 large and noble-looking class of vessels and propellers, which carried niuii- 
 bers of emigrants to the Western States. 
 
 In answer to an invitation to witness the o])ening of the new canal 
 on the 21st of ^fay Mr. IJurwell, an old friend of our subject, wrote to 
 Mr. Merritt a letter of congj'atnlation on the successful results of his long 
 and unwearied canal agitation. He also enclosed an old document, drawn 
 by Mr. Merritt twenty-seven years previously, and left with Mi'. Rurwei', 
 when a member of Parliament, wherein our subject showed hi.i original plan 
 of a canal, and modestly asked for a grant from the country to assist the 
 surveys. This survey is related at large in the earlier pages of this book; 
 
283 
 
 Mr. ^Mcrritt'H id^ii of tlio great SuKji(Minion lirid^c Intd liy tliis tiiuo 
 ;iiriv»i(l at tniiturity. A cli.-iitti' was ti) lie olitsiiiicil, stork sul>scril>(Ml, and 
 [ircpanitioiis made fur its (•oimncncenu'iit. 
 
 Ht) writ(!S, Jmifi 2iid, a loiiif jettor to Mr. Kidmit oii tln^ advaiita','*;:-* of 
 lu'viiig tu,iL,'s (111 the St. Lawrence, a criticism uf which \h iiuticed in tlio 
 JonnKil of . I line 12: 
 
 Tlio editor of the F],mmhin'\\A'^ iinhilLfcd us wiili live (•oluiiiiiH of criticism 
 on Mr. IVIerritt's hotter. We confess an inaliility of disciivcriii^ any ar^'ii- 
 iiient wliatever, and our fiine docs not admit of Icii'^tliy ic'plii'H to 
 iiirre verl)a^<', and it was only answered l)y our .suliject wh'-n reilerat<-d ill 
 Kiancis Ifiiick's jiaper, t!ie /V/<»^ 
 
 III .Fiini' a coniiiany was formed in Montreal to liiiihl a railway to con- 
 nect itwitli Portland. Afr. (ieorge Motlat was the Prfsiilcnt, and through 
 liim £.300 was offered to Mr. Merritt if ho would visit I'^urope an<l endeavor 
 to sell tlio Company's .stock. Our siiKject acce{)te<l the offfr conditionally^ 
 ;\iid received letters of intro<liiction from the Governor to the (Jolonial 
 Secretory, l»ut afterwards cfmld not agree with thr views of the Company, 
 and reliiKjuished the nii.ssion, which was then undertaken hy "Slv. (Jalt. 
 The Huccoss of this gentleman in FiUgl.ind induced Sir Allan McXah and 
 Mr. Widdor, of the CanadaC'o., to start on a similar one in connt>ction with 
 tlie(!roat Wostorn Jlailway iiroject. They were not succeHsfiil at tLi.s time, 
 80 the .scheme had to re.st for a few years longer. 
 
 "St. Catharines, Jnnc 10, 1845. 
 
 " Mv Dear Sir: — The committee, to whom the management of tlie 
 St. Tjawrence and Atlantic Uailroad is entnisted, have requested me to pro- 
 ceed forthwith to Knglaiid. I have as.scmtt'd. provided the Provincial (Jov- 
 I'lument will recommend certain changes, which are indispensahle, and can 
 lie better exftlained in a personal interview. I havc! this day written to- 
 Mr. Higgin.son on the ijuhject, and only await his reply to proceed direct to 
 Montreal. 
 
 " The Drawback Bill, which removes all duty on articles passing through 
 tie United State.s for Canadian consiimiition, is not at present adapted to 
 the trade, but no doubt will be amended next year. If in addition to this 
 iliey removed the duty on our products, which we must look for, whatw(;uiil 
 have been the sitnation of our trade this year \ They would command onr 
 ontiro exports. Yon have now the ball at your foot, and if the Provincial 
 • iovernmeut have not already made all the communications necessary, you 
 have still an opportunity to do ,so, and net only presi^rve our present trade, 
 liut greatly increase it ; and I feel quite .satisfied the f mperial Government 
 will not only sanction any measure necessary to presei-ve our present trade, 
 liut enable you to become pnipari-il to inerease it, on th" coinpletion of our 
 I'liblic work.s. It requires no Imperial legislation. A .flight change in the 
 Provincial Act would efTect the obje.'t. , 
 " I am, my dear sir, 
 
 " Yonr obedient servant, 
 " Ho.N. W. H. Drai'ER. W. HAMILTON MP:UUrn\ 
 
284 
 
 A proposition to form a coiniuiiiy to vnn a line in coinifctiun with 
 tli<' States, from (^hieonstou to Hamilton, wuh now iir.st mootctl. 
 
 Tlie Boauliai-nois Canal, a <^nin<l work, being also opened, Mr. Merritt, 
 liad a long correKpondonce with tlio Government in regard to the estahli.'-h- 
 meiit of an extensive tug system for the Lakes and the River 8t. Lawrem-i'. 
 
 Wo have already noticed that a charter had been granted in 18.'5() for n 
 railroad fiom the Niagara to the Detroit River, in which our subject wa.'s 
 interested. Owing to tlie troubled state of the country no action was taken 
 in the mattei-, and at this period the time of the charter had nearly expired. 
 Mr. Merritt thought it a fitting opportunity to attempt to revive the .scheme, 
 and conseijucntly (i[M'ned a eoiivspondencc with some of the leading capital- 
 ists in JJoston. fleeting with encouragement, he made a personal visi^ 
 explained the scheme, and was agreeably surprised to find the leading capi- 
 talists there in perfect accord. The stock was instantly taken up, and iri- 
 lluential contractors, who were also large stockholders, agreed to finish the 
 work Avithin the time and before the expiration of tlie cliarter. It would, 
 however, seem that things which are easily obtained are not so a])"; to be 
 successful, and our subject, who had bettn promised support in getting a re. 
 newal of the charter by his political friends, now advised a d(day, which 
 I'loved fiital to the .sclieme, as it stoj)i)eil the railroad develepiiieiit of Ca- 
 n.uhi another decade, and then not on a rational or conse(jiieiitly remune- 
 rative jilan. The next Parliament oflered a violent opposition, from distant 
 q\iarters ott' the line north of l^ake Ontario and Jjower CiUiaila. Tlie cajii- 
 talists alluded to at once invested their money in the South Shore route, a 
 line which from the start took the lead and has since continued to keeji 
 it, rendering its Canadian rivals, which came later into the Held, unprotit- 
 able speculations to -til interested. 
 
 "The opposition to ^Ir. Merritt's railroad scheme exhibits itself thti--, 
 in the Toronto t'obmist of July 3rd :— ' Mr. W. H. Merritt, M. P. P., has 
 been for some time ] ast in the United States, ami from the contents of u 
 jMintei.l pamphlet entitled ' Sundry J3ocumeiits relative to the Niagara ami 
 Dotroit Railroad,' we learn that Mr. Merritt's intliience in New York, Bos- 
 ton and other places is being used to forward that undertaking. The Nia- 
 gara and Detroit Railway will be es.s<'ntia!ly a work, if carried out, for the 
 hrnvjtt of Aiiirrlraii tracehu:-t, olfei'ing no particular advantage to the Province 
 through which it will pass, but the great disadvantage that it will be along 
 the line of an extended frontier, without protection, and entirely at the 
 mercy of our neighbours. Mr. ^[erritt takes good care to point out, when 
 addressing at lilaek Rock the committee from Albany, that the charter is 
 liberal, Mr. Merritt knew the parties he was addressing. If they take 
 up tlie work with the characteristic spirit and energy of the Yankees, when 
 tliere i.s not only a fair prospect, but a [iroximate certainty of its being good 
 stock, till rj is no doubt but they will manage to carry it out speeilily to 
 completion. The agency of ^Ir. ^lei'ritt, who is very well known among^* 
 them, is no trifling stimulant to immediate action. The attention of our 
 Toronto and Sarnia Road ought to be at once directed to this matter." 
 
285 
 
 "WlieiviiH it lias beon rfprfsenU'd to tlio iinilfrsi;,'iu'il, Jiv an Aot inror- 
 lioiating tlio Nia;,'ara and Detroit Kivor Railroad ('(tnipany, l)a.ss<'d by tlie 
 Provincial Legislature in 18;{(), to whicli ahoiit £7, '»(•() of stork was Hub- 
 s/riVio I, tlinrtois diosen, an instalment paid in, the route surveyeil, and 
 jilans and reports extensively ciroulated — that in oonnnon with all similar 
 works, in consefpunico of the distin-l)"d state of the Province in l!^'}7, this 
 waH also suspended, hut lias a,;^ain been renuwed with a fair prosjtcct of suo- 
 
 ceSR. 
 
 " This Act, which will exj)ire on the 20th April next, authoi-izes tho 
 construction of eitlufr a wooden or iron railway. The first can belaid in 
 time to secure the charter, but the shareholders prefer constructing an iron 
 r.iil of the most durable description ; to effect which, an extension of two 
 years, and a revenue of £2r)0,00() will be recpiired. As it is important tin- 
 sliareholders should ascertain as early as possible whether any objection is 
 likely to be nunle to their api)lication, and as no pi-ecedent within our 
 knowdedge exists where a similar application has l>een refused, we will 
 cheeifidly suppurt the same. 
 
 " John Bruce, j're.sident ; Jo.seph Wood, E. Ermatinger, James f 'uni- 
 niings, J. \V. Powell, and Wni. Hamilton 3Ierritt and Kolland Macdoufdd 
 ga^•e their assurance." 
 
 Extract from Mr. M.'s private journal, in tin; interest of a railroad 
 across our peninsula to New York, for which he set out 1st July : 
 
 " July 1 2th. Met C. C. Trowbridge of Detroit, called on Jacob Riddle, 
 presi<lent of the New York and Albany Railroad, Garden (J. llowland, presi- 
 dent of the Utica Railroad, Davis, Brooks and Co., Sedani and S.ige, W. B. 
 A stor. 
 
 " 21st, The last day in New York. Met with ^fr. Fisk, ])resident of 
 the Long Island Railroad, and James J. Shipman, the engineer, wdio con- 
 structed it at a cost of i?8,r)00 a mile, he tiiinks as good a road, similarly 
 situated, can be made for 87,500 a mile. 
 
 ".Some of the names in Boston, with wliom we transacted l)usiness, wore 
 the Hon. Ujorge Biiss of Sitringfield, president of the Western Railway, 
 Joseph Quincy, Thayer and Bro., Francis Young, A. Gilmour, W. F. Wihl, 
 A. Lawrence. Before leaving Boston, wrote to Mr. Power to ascertain tlie 
 width of the Niagara River, having ascertained that that of Fiei'nurg, 
 tiy Challey of Lyons, was 981 feet long, 22 wide, 181 high above the water. 
 Tlie one on the Mersey is 580 feet long, 25 wide, 130 above the water. 
 
 "Boston, July 24, 1845. 
 • Wm. Hamilton Merritt, Esq., 
 
 " My Dear i^ir : — I have examined your plans and estimates for a rail- 
 road from Buftalo to Detroit, and such is my opinion of the jtroject that I 
 shall be hapjiy to take two hundred shares in the stock. 
 
 " I do this because it establishes a direct line of communication Vietween 
 New England and Chicago ; because it increases the value of every railroad 
 lietween Boston and Buflalo ; because it unites us with our brethren in Ca- 
 nada in a common interest and a common olyect ; and becau.se I have no 
 doubt of its being an excellent investment. This last reason, like a lady's 
 postscript, I presume you will think the most weighty consideration. But 
 I can assure you it is secondary to the desire I feel, in common wHh my 
 fellow citizens, of uniting in closer bonds the kindre<l nations on the two 
 sides of the St. Lawrence, Niagara and Detroit. These communications 
 
28G 
 
 \sill Vjiini,' us togf'tlici', niid T cannot doiilit as wc know one anotlicr nioro 
 W(> shall like one onotluT In'tt"-)'. 
 
 "P. S. — ^Ii-. IMiss, tli(! Pri'sitlcnt of the \V«>storn I'ailvoad, autl.'orisos 
 111*' to Hulisfviln' lor two Inuiilii'd sliarcs on liis account. 
 
 '• 1 am vcrv i<'s|M'otrnllv vnurs, 
 
 "JOSJAir QUINCY." 
 
 " Montlay Aii'.'. IS. Ai'iivi-d liuiiic, nict f V>1. Prince, and airanircd a plan. 
 1st. To ajijioint sonic person to olitain a pledge of support and increa.se of 
 capital, and e.Ktend the time of completion to unite with Hamilton peo|i!f, 
 appointed next Monday to meet tie' diiectoi-s of the Hamilton road. 
 \\'licther they unite with us or not, Cul. Prince was to call a meetiii;^ of 
 ].)irt'ctors, which I am to atteml witji full powers. Open liooks forth 
 ■with, i>ay Is. 'M. per share to secure an en^'ineei- tJ estulilish a line and 
 ■where the junction must he made, write to J. Stanton to send power of at- 
 torney for diiectors to .save time, item, interest we have in St. Catharines 
 and Hamilton mad. 
 
 '•Tuesday I'.'th. Mr. Slater has a.-certained the width of the Kiairaia 
 river to he ll-'O only. Olitain the ii;j;lit of land, and an a't of the I.ej,'i^- 
 latui'e of New York State as well as Canada, to construot th(3 .same, with 
 the riijht of extending' raili-oail t > intei',sect any yiven point, to any railroad 
 now or licreaft r to In- maih'. Tii(> present ohj.'ct is mainly to unite Man- 
 chester as far up as ('hij'pawa, reaching the town of Niagara via St. Davids, 
 -west to St. Catharines and Haiiiilt< n. 
 
 "Idonday, 2'itli. Visited Hamihou to meet directors of (Ireat Western 
 Kai'.way. A resolution was projxwed hy 31 r. 'I'ithtny wliicii did not .suit 
 us. Next day, Tuesday '_'7th, I proposed the followiiiM;- 
 
 "Thursday Au^aist I'Ttli. I proposed the dii'cctoi's of the (Ireat West- 
 ern Kailway unite tlieii interests with the Niagara and Detroit River Rail- 
 wav. on the following terms:- - 
 
 '•First, that a line he run to a point, wh<'r<' they diverge to JIamilton 
 and ButValo by the .shortest and nmst direct route. That in case the above 
 be aci'«^<?d to, subseiiption books shall lie o]iene<l inimciliately at Deti'oit. 
 Canada, the terminus of the trieat Western Uoad, in the States and Boston, 
 Sir A. McNab ap]irised of the amount, the rL'iuainder to be obtained l>y him 
 to finish both, estimated at S.*»,0()((,()OU. 
 
 "ChKAT WkSTKKX RAIMiOAl) Ol'KK'K, ) 
 Hamilton, liSth August, 18},'). j 
 "W. H. 3Ii:i(UiTT. K.sip, St. Catliarines :— 
 
 " SiH,— 1 am instructed liy the Poard of Dii'ectors for the (ii'cat West- 
 ern Kailroad Company to con.munieate to you the follo-vving i-esohitioii 
 ado}»ted by them at tl.eir meeting this day, which they liope will prove 
 satisfaetcn-y to the stockholders and others interested in the " Niagara and 
 Detroit Ifivers Kailroad Company : 
 
 " y.''>eZ'V(/, That the termination of the Great We.stern Railroad on the 
 Niagara River shall be at or near Fort Erie, and that the point of intersec- 
 tion between that branch and the main trunk from Hamilton to Windsor 
 .shall be at such place as on proper investigation will be found most con- 
 ducive to tlie interests of the stockholders. 
 
 (Signed,) "G. S. TIFFANY, Chairman." 
 
 '' I have the honor th be your most obedient servant, 
 
 "J. P. GIRKISON, Secretary." 
 
287 
 
 "St. rATirAiiixi:,s A«ig. 31, IStn. 
 "To .1. V. (liLiusoN, Hmj., Sfc'y (Jiviit W.'strni I!. It. Co.: 
 
 " Dfjir Sir, -I (Iflayml reply in;,' to your conimiiiiiiMt ion of the 2.'*tli 
 iiii-tiiiit until lu'iiiiny fioni Mr. TiHiiiiy, whose letter reuolieil me l»y lust jiosi" 
 
 a. I 
 
 il oi\ly r fleets tlie comlition of tin; Directors of the (J. W. |{. ( 
 " The Ke.soliition |iro|>os('il did not, in my jiidLmient, eh'iuly and fully 
 nice the intenliou of tiie partieH. I therefore prop(»s<(l the followin;^ : 
 
 " /,'':i(ih'f<l, Tliiit tlie Directors of tlie (Ireat Western ll.iilroad Company 
 a;;r>'<' to unite their interests with the Niagara and Dntr(»it Kivers ItaiJroad 
 Company on the following' ttu-nis : First, that a lint* he run from Detroit 
 to a jioMit where they call divci't,'o to Hamilton and Ihitl'aloon the shorte.st 
 and h st I'oute. That in ea.se the ahove he ai^reed to, we will join. 
 
 " My rejusoUH for preferriuLJ the latter, is, that it places the two compa- 
 nies o:i precisely the same footing,'. Without this rel•o^'lliti(»n, any attempt 
 at n"j,'otiation would l)i) idle. It also clearly expres.ses the ohjetrt and in- 
 l.n'i)n of diveriiiiif^ as soon as practicahle from Detroit which will he in 
 tlie vicinity of Ilui-ford (as we suppose) and the stock will he suh.scrilied 
 
 wi 
 
 ;!i tl 
 
 lis view 
 
 1 am, ilear sir, vours, li:^ 
 
 WM. II. .MKKIM'IT 
 
 A map was ifot out showing their line to run from Toronto to Saruia 
 
 ojlowcd iiv se\x'ral 
 
 int'.i.soctcid liy tlie (liviat Westei'ii at (iaelpli. Tliis was f 
 meeting's in Toi'outo and Hamilton, and liy tia' .sendiiiji,' of V. Widiler and 
 l<ir A. MacNah, as It 'fore alluded to, to England hy steamci' of lillh Aug., 
 in t!."ir joint 'iutoro.st, which, unfortuiiat"ly for all conccrui'd. they succeed- 
 ed, not in getting stock, but in stopping .Mr. .Mi rritt's sch'-me, for wliich the 
 stuck Iiad already hcen providf^l. 
 
 Mr. Merritt and his friemls were not inactive as we see hy an ai'ticle 
 from t;i<^ St. Thomas Sl.nu<hirJ, of Octolier 2nd : 
 
 A;i intimation li.is ln'i-n sent hv Mr. .Merritt lliat the stocl 
 
 l\ can he pro- 
 cured lor the continuation of the Niai;ai'a and D.tioir, Kailroad, and reipu'st- 
 ing tliat the inlialntants on and near tlie I'oad should petition for a renewal 
 of the charter, all to he sent to the meeting at Sandwich on the I'lith inst." 
 
 This meetijig took place at Sandwich, an<l was succeeded hy others. The 
 Jiiih'uiJ of 7tli Novendjer says : 
 
 '• A railroad meeting took place at Port Coll»oi-ne, at which Lachla:. 
 Hell a)i'l .Mr. r.irks made spcuiclies, insisting on tlm necessity (jf ix'titiouing 
 for a railroad charter and the taking of stock." 
 
 The following is th(i reply to ^Ir. Hincks' sti'ictures regarding his j»nl - 
 lications : 
 
 "St. C.xTiiAiMNr.s, Docemhcr 17th, 184"). 
 '■ To '.It-: KilUor of tlu' >'f. ('iifh'irim's Joiiriinl \ 
 
 '• Sir: My attention has been (liricte(l to an article in tlie Mtudrenl. /'i/of, 
 of tliC 'Jml, on the subject of the St Tiawreiice Canals, which, for gross 
 absurdity and misrepresentation, has .seklom been eijualled. The Kditor 
 asserts that .some scheme, the honor" of originating which is attributed to 
 aie, has been proposed by the Hoard of Trade in .Monti-eal- -"the professed 
 object of which is to reiliin; the cost o/jhrivardlixj, a scheme just as tantali- 
 iiing to the public (should have been forwarders) as the one for getting an 
 uicrcased i^rant for common .schools." 
 
288 
 
 " Tlio nditor of tli(< l*ilnt may continue to niiHloiul apartion of tin' iniMii; 
 f ( r a tinu' lu> niav niakt" tlifni liclicvc tlmt rontiimin;,' to wnstc the piililic 
 liiiids, iiisti>i»il of t'.ciiiiiiL; a |icr|M'tiial fund out of tin' iinicrcd.s tlicn-of for 
 ^'(lucatinn their cliiliiien, is /'er lluir bfii<Jil tliiit eontinuiu^' the |.r(seiit 
 ex«»rl)itant ]tnceH for transportation, and l>aninhinK coinnieiTe finni nnr 
 waters is for lln'n' hrmjil. lie has lieen consistent in opposini,' this iiiipiii\e- 
 luent siiiee his liist appearance in the l,i'i,'islative Assendtly, in JStl. ( Mic 
 million of pounds has lieen expended, and no tolls will lie leceiveil m \t 
 year to pa V the interest on this capital. lie will witness the <leui'th his |.i n 
 iia.-t heen lent to create, lie will proniamce the canals a failure ridi' iile 
 the follv of tlioso who advocated them, and exult in the fidlilment of iiis 
 iiredictions ; hut the day of retrilaition will cimie the line tlii'ou<ir|i,,nt, 
 (how(!Ver tardy) vill h<' completed the existiii;,' iiiculpt'.s on the c(ininnrc<> 
 of an entire country will h'? romovod the savin:,' in the cost of transit, iiiid 
 extension of commerce will he visilde to all. and the pulili>' will then re.ili/.e 
 the wisilom of the measure proposeil." 
 
 Another on the same sidijcct follows: 
 
 ''St. Catiiahinks, Dec. 22, IM.". 
 
 •i.^jii — The importance and nece.s.sity of constrnctini,' a continuous tow ii!>' 
 path, or providiii;.^ a steaui p,)wer in li<Mi thereof, can only ho rtialized hy 
 con I rand III/ thp, cjectn proihiceil on different public works wlioro tlioy arc. pro- 
 riilnl, ami where they (ire nut. 
 
 " First, witness the Wclland Canal, connectinj,' Lakes Hrie and Ontario— 
 from the (iiand liiver, 40 miles, on which a towii.^: path is provided, aiul 
 throufili which, with the aid of one ])air of horses, a vessel can pass at tlio 
 expense of our /la/j'/iriini/Jor a harnhifjloirr, and not exceeding' one s7i!//iii</ 
 fir a ton of!/ooJ». On the Erie (.'anal — .'Mid mih^s from Tiulfalo to Alhaiiv — 
 the change last ^oason was nlnr-pcna' per barrel. On the St. Jiawrence— 
 I'M) to 'IW miles, from Proscott or Kiiiijston to Montreal the oliari,'e was 
 one-shillin«^' and ninc-ponce, or including; insurance, two s/tif/iiajs per ItarrrJ, 
 (tolls not included in either.) Thus we see the j,'rower in ITppor Car.ada is 
 Kuhjoct to an additional chartie of at least one shilling and six-p<'nce on {■% crv 
 ton of merchandize consumoil. 
 
 " As certain as like causes jtroduce like effects, hy supplying' the entire 
 line with this continuous connection, this exorbitant tax would he remov»'(l; 
 Init in order to leave no i)retence for misunderstanding, J will proceed to 
 i)oiut out more in detail, the causes which have pi-oduoed those excessive 
 prices. 
 
 "First, control of canal under monopoli/. Su])jiose tlie CJovevnment, or 
 a company, were to construct a railroad between given points, and were to 
 permit one or two individuals to build or control the Kxiomotive engine or 
 steam power, the one being dependent on the othei- for jiassing the road, 
 they might as well give the whole. You would think the managers insane. 
 Stiil, this is precisely the case with tlie St. Lawrence canals. The forwarders 
 have the control of them as effectually as if they were constructed with their 
 own capital. They are a powerful and wealthy body, and have managed 
 to concentrate that power and wealth by a combination, which, from its re- 
 sults, proves they understood their own interests much better than those 
 entrusted with the management of the canal did those of tho })ublic." 
 
2R9 
 
 Tlic Governor liiirrii;il lioiiic, the victim of a ii\ort(il inalndy, regrettetl and 
 rcopoctcd for hi« many virtue*. 
 
 18 4 6. 
 
 TliiH year of war fiiininn, as woll as niilrouil iu)iii|>ctltion, waHOiio frniii^ht 
 with f,'i«)at j<;()]>ar(ly to tlin iK'riuaiicnt wdll liciii;,' of tlio coiiiitry, and con- 
 soiiuontly (liK|)layin<( an unusual amount of atlioitiicHH and imergy for tlio 
 M'proHontativcs of tlui |M'o|tl«\ 
 
 A period of [jrosju'rity iiad for Hoino timo oxiHtod among our rural i)Oj)U- 
 lation, and aH it waH traood diroctly to tho favourablo ito.sitiou of tliuir pro- 
 ducts in tho motlicr country, aided l»y tho ahwuico of most of tho dinaf- 
 fectcd, tho j»niH|)(>ctH of a ipcucoaldc Colo.iial connection for an undctcrminod 
 period were hopefully indulged liy our suhject. 
 
 Tho greatest discpiiot anticipated, was a peaceful rivalry with our indo- 
 pendent but not more prosporous neighbors in the carrying of our mutually 
 increasing productions. lint the news transmitted from Ixindon (tho capi- 
 tal of tiie IJritish empire and monetary centre of the globe,) was that of 
 panic and uncertainty, produced piimarily by the failure of the jiotatocrop, 
 aided by war in Fndia and Now Zealand, with tho prospect of ono iu Amer- 
 ica, from the disputed boundary on its far off Pacific border. 
 
 ]?eturning to tho record of current events, we see in a private letter to 
 Mr. Draper, at the close of the year'x work for which he was expressly 
 connnissioned to see completed throughout, dated January 1st — he says : 
 
 "Otdy two locks will bo necessary to pass the largo class of ve.s.sels, 
 on finding they woidd not be done in November, I wvnt down expressly to 
 insure the oidy nu^thod hfft, a winter's job. There still is timo, but I have 
 lost all hope of having them finished. 
 
 licgarding the unfinished work on the canal already alluded to, ho 
 receives the following cheering intelligenco : 
 
 "January 24, 184G. 
 
 " Mv Dear Sir : — You v.ill be glad to learn that at tho eleventh hour 
 the work of enlaigement is ordered by the Committee, The Government 
 have agreed to advance tho sum — not to exceed .£2,500. I was truly sick 
 'jf the whole business. The beaiefits wero-admii/ted ; but tho (piestion as to 
 whether they would not advance tho paltry sum or was about to deprive 
 the country of them. 
 
 " Yours faithfully, 
 
 " W. Hamilton Merritt. H. H. KILLALY." 
 
 We copy the following to show how our railroad stocks were fii-st re- 
 ceived on tho London Stock Exchange, and how near to gambling the modo 
 in which business was there conducted. 
 
JUO 
 
 From the, l.ondon Tlmtw : 
 
 "Much piiiiHO liiiH l)(»oii l)(mt(»wt<(I ill I.Ik^ (;ity on a (rominuiy ontitloil 
 * Tim (Jrciit. WcihUmii of ('iiniula,' wliicli in iilioiit. to wind u|> its iidiiii-.s, iiM'! 
 projHwcm to nttin-ii to tlin Hulmfiili<MS tlio wliolo lunount rcccivt-d in pronii 
 umH. TliJH (UM'tiiinly IooUh woll, l>ut hoiiio, at IdaHt, of tlni piirtioH intoroHtoil 
 tAk(^ H ilili'iTt^nt view of lUv niuttiir, as will appear hy tlio annoxtnl lonjarkM 
 of a corrtNitondtint : 
 
 " In i:onstM[nencn :;r Kiicli names as Hudson, M. 1'., Masteiiniin, (/'liaplin, 
 MoHH and otlini-H *Mptally inlluential, i was teniptod to <<ni)>ai-k in thii (iroat 
 
 West 
 
 i>rn o 
 
 f ( 
 
 lunula 
 
 Hail 
 
 way. 
 
 'I'lio cN^veii ilireetors take the tiO.OOO sliaies 
 
 thuniselves (oii;^lit tliey not to pitive having paid the deposit () anil then 
 iHHiU) them to tht> pnltlic at a pieniiuin of £'d lOn. I lielieye, intleed, that 
 only the personal fricMids of the diinctufs ;j;ot. (hem at, this piiee. Happen 
 in^ to know two eases of a di lector sent I in;,' his putienlar friemls lifly shan-s 
 OHcli, unasked for at this pri(;u, .£<'( U^s. premium. 1 1 told net what the 
 director thought of them, and I purchased .SOO shares al I.', pr.'iiiimn. 'Phis 
 was the lirst or second day of their liciii;,' me,i(ioned in ilie market, and I 
 am j^rieved to say my example induced friends to take 7l>'l more, they pay- 
 
 lu^i; •> pr<'iuium 
 
 panic 
 
 lilies, and down tiimiihi the ('anadians ii 
 
 almost a few hours. lUit now comes my j^'iound for complaint. 'The dirtM- 
 tors havo issued but .'ill.OUO of the ()(»,(»(»(», haviii;,' in reserve ;{(»,(H)() for 
 
 which they eoniuit lind a market, and it is ('ertain that, they will ;^et rid ol' 
 no more iii .'{J premium. In this dilemma, it is said, they intend to ;;ive 
 hack .CI I .'»s. premium on eac!' share ; and when complainin;^ to one yes 
 terday of not having at least '2^ hack, I was told I ouj,dit to consider my- 
 Helf lucky at only losiu,!^' .C'JOK liy thn shares, and that the directors were 
 laihavin;.,' most i^emu'ously. lie added as a reason why tlmy cimld not ;,fivi! 
 back the i?^ premium, tliat they had ,i,dven It), 110(1 shares to the ' hou.so' — 
 a hrihe, in fact, to the stock brokers for piidiii;.,' the concern. I consider 
 this dishiuiest ; the pul)lic were tohi (hat ;<,', premium was the <uily price 
 tlioy could be obtaint^d a(, and it' was on this supposition t.liat. i and others 
 purchased them. If the panic ha<l not occurreil, they would have pocktsted 
 |;17r),(MHI.' 
 
 "They aro still in hopes of;;ettin:,' a renewal of the cliarter for the Mertie 
 ami Sandsvicli Koail, as the foliowiii:^' letters from his r>ulf.do and VVind.soi- 
 t'orrespondenls. with the enj:;ineer's report show." 
 
 I'lTK.M.o, .laiiiiary Dtli, iS|(i. 
 "AI V |)k.\I! Sill : ..'ud<;e W'aldcii called on nil last \ve(d{ with your note tu 
 him, <lated December .{1st, in which you reipiest iiie to procure and forward 
 t^) you th«^ sub.scriptimis to (he stock of the N. and D. 11. |{. I{. Company. 
 1 enclose you heritall hitherto made in (his i-ity. 1 liav.i written to .luili,'t) 
 Whitthwiy of Uoehost»^r, iii whoso hands 1 nn lersfeaml is tho Hubscription 
 liNt for (hat .section, and on i(s r(M'eip(, will .send it (o you. I am not aware 
 of any other subscription actually made f<ir the road in the Stato.-i, if any art! 
 
 l>i 
 
 oeun'd, I will also forwaril them as soon as receiv<^4. 
 
 I not 
 
 ice your reipiest for subsciiptions hh riq 
 
 i)idlv 
 
 as 
 
 iios.sible. On 
 
 thiH subject, I havt^ communicated with .ludj,'e Walden repi^atedly, Mr. (loe, 
 Opion 1,00 and others, who all a^^ree that no attainable, or ofl'eotual oHorl 
 can be made at present for tln^ objoc^t, and ther«'foro any attempt had better 
 he postponed until .some futuro contin^^oncie.s have boon Hottlod. Thoy wish, 
 
201 
 
 "1. To wait lor llm reiiow.il of tlio cliartcr by your Puliiimunt, anJ hco 
 'whiit arc itH comlitioiifl. 
 
 " li. To r(!(!(!iv<! iIh- report of tint Hurvcy niid cstimnto for tlio route. 
 
 "3. 'I'lifi HCttloiJKitit of tlio t(!iii|)oriiry tt;^itiitii)ii of tlio ()r(';^oti <|U(!stion. 
 
 "1. Tilt! t(!niporii;y itn'si^un- oC tht* inoiit-y iii.irk<'t, wliioli iti iliis St.ito is 
 always cloHo III ill irt H(!ii,Moii I'rom tlu; iioi^rssity of Mmk r'ltoitH hnin;;; iiruli!, 
 ami (wihIi (tf oourso boiiii^ dull, otus w;ih of hIiowiii^ an l:irj^<! iwhoIm on hariJ M 
 posHihlo. 
 
 " Wci <!ori(i(l((iitly look for tlu; rc.ili/atioii of all thcMn ooritinftoiicicH within 
 ♦ho ciiHuinf.'; <iO or IM) diiyn, wlii'ii a ui'.vr issue (viii hi! iiiiiil(! Ixifori! tlu! public, 
 and wo r:i\\ <^<t before; tlicm willi (M)iilidi!iit!t! of hu(!(;(!Hs. Many u'entlcMnt;!! |tli!d,ri: 
 io int! a fair subscription. It will bo hw.w that but lew of our wealthy inctt 
 iippoar on thu paper, and some of thoni say they will lar^'ely increase their 
 Hubseri|ilion. I do not tliink it advisable to exliibit the within list as th it of 
 Hull'alo, as I am (urlaiii that it may be increased by several tinies it,s amount 
 when the pro])cr time arrives. 
 
 " I noti(;e tht; sever(! ehetrk to tin; Hamilton ro i<l, and it would seem that it 
 liiust prove ii permanent one, if llie st;it(;ment i liavi; se(!n is to be rtilii'd on. 
 If ytm hiive any prucise reliable information on the subj(;ct 1 would like to re- 
 ceive it. 
 
 " I siiw Mr. Wallace, ye.slerday, on his return from the West, who rtiportH 
 a very favorable proirress. 
 
 " I have not a shallow of doubt as to the nuc(!Oss of this projeet, and any 
 and every thinj; 1 can do to I'orwanl it shall be done. We move slowly and 
 cautiously in Hnll'alo, but a satisfaelory amount, I am eon(idi;rit, will bo sub- 
 Hcribed heri! on the renewal of the charter. 
 
 " Till! route alon^^ the Southtirn shore of hike. lOrie, to which you allude, is 
 one that cannot be (!ommenccd for y(!irs, nor till lon;^ after the (Janidi road is 
 i'uWj established and has a(!i|uired its full |e^'itimate business, which it will 
 thorcafter bt! able to n-tain, 
 
 " 1 be^' to remain, very tiaily yours, 
 
 "U." !.. AIJ.KN." 
 
 " I1(»N. W. II.V.MM.TdN MkIUIIT'I'." 
 
 " Wl.MKSoit, .January II, 1810. 
 " Dear Slii : — I have the pie 'e herewith to enclosi! you one hundred 
 ^crip (Certificates for 'ISO share.-i eai,.i, and numbered from 2'M to ;51J(j inclu.sive. 
 Al.so a copy of the ri!solutions 
 
 " 1 Hhull .send u copy to each Director inimediaiely, niid a copy of the reso- 
 lution for till! meeting.' to Mr. ihakc, in St. 'J'homas, witli a rcjnest that he 
 will have it in.se rtcd in the St. Thomas newsjiapiir. 
 
 " 1 shall .send a copy of resolution for the meeting: to Simcoe. 
 " The returns come in slowly and poor, in fact they have no money. Chut- 
 liani cannot be prevailed on to taki! a sinirle share. 
 
 " 1 send this to Detroit this afternoon, and ho|ie it will not be delayed long. 
 " 1 remain, diiar sir, yours truly, 
 
 " KOHKKT MEUCLll, Secretary. 
 " Wm. Hamilton Mekkitt, Esq. 
 
 Wai.I'oi.i:, January L'Oth, 1«IG. 
 "Hon. W. Hamii.tdn' MKiiurn : 1)i:aii Siu, Since commeneing our 
 survey of the N. uiid 1). II. K. II., uur time has been chi<'(ly oeetipied in 
 getting a topograjdiy of the country by riuiniuL,' raudoju lines, and taking 
 
292 
 
 «<i' 
 
 levels. Ajt( r crossiiii/ the (Irmul Ji'inr, / soon ilisrovercil tlmt it loan vmch 
 easier to draw lony stnilij/it /iiies v)i jxiper, f/iati to find suitdhle, (jround to run 
 thin upon. I liavt- now lixed ii]ioii tlie iDealion ol" (»ir routci helweeii tlio 
 (imiul Iviver aiui W Cstiiiinstt r, and lniv»( iuKtnieted two |(aili(;H to stake it 
 out, and capy '*■ level over it as (juiek as ]iosHil)!(\ One jiarty eoniinences 
 this iiiuniinj.j on the west, haidv of < )tter ( "reek, and the* otlier will eoni- 
 ineneo to-morrow on tht^ cast hank of the (Jrand Ixiver ; and the moment 
 they meet, 1 will he prepared (o make a profiln and esdmato of the line, 
 the tiuH' is very limited. 
 
 "This lin(> passes thionj^h the town of Norwich, and will intersi-et tlio 
 plank road hetvveen London and St. 'riiomas, soniewliere near h m. stakes. J 
 have also run a lino tSaut/i, as far West as Simcoe, and will extend it to St. 
 Thomas, as it is necessary to have at least tioo, in order to «)I>tii.in the right 
 of way. 
 
 "You have of course heard from Mr. Ixoss ; J am in ho|)es of meeting 
 him to-day at l)nnnville. I would have wiitten sooner had anything of ini- 
 portanc<> occurn'd. I heard iVom the conti'actors a few days ago ; the.y aro 
 ready to execute ail the papers. 
 
 " My contidcnce in (he siu'ctiss t)f this grand woi'k increase's e\(irv day. 
 Yours of the 'JTtli 1 'ecemliei' was received, and the instructions it coiitaineii 
 will bo attended to. 
 
 "Respectfully your obedient servant, 
 
 "WJLI.IAM WALl.vVCE." 
 
 ^The Queen's speech on (he optiiing of the Parliament of Creat I'ritain, 
 on the 'Jl'nd of January, in the; pn-nionition of expected scarcity, espi^cially 
 in Ireland, recommends the reduction of duties on articles of food. 
 
 T\w J'Juropatii 7V»i(',s' .says, "Sir Robert Peel, England's powerful and 
 brilliant ^linisti>r, has dcvi'lojud his future commercial i)oliey — free trade." 
 
 The Governor's .speech, after noticing his pernuinent appointment as 
 successor to tlu^ late lauient(>d (!ovei-nor (icneral, says, " 1 should not under 
 any circumstances have directi'tl your early attiMitiou to the consideration 
 of the militia law, but the unaltered state of the negotiations which havo 
 been for .some tinui jia.st carried on betw(>en the Imperial (tovernment and 
 the United States, reiulers it innterative upon me to press more immedi- 
 ately upon your consideration the necessity of a rctu-ganization of that arm 
 of tiio public det'ence. 1 feel the nu>st uubonnded contidenco that the loy- 
 alty and patriotisn\ of every class of Her Majesty's subjects in Canada will 
 bo conspicuous as they have been heretofore." 
 
 Mr. !M. went to Montreal by Troy through New York State, and owing 
 to the very heavy f'jiUs of snow, was 8 days on the joui-my. Very im]>ortaut 
 business was to be done <luring the session. C>ur subject moved for a I'cturn 
 shewing the state of the Provincial revenue in an iti'mized^manncr, but did 
 not succeed in obtaining the object of his desire, as few Governments wish 
 to expose the details of their financial proceedings. A new Militia 15111 
 was brought in, on which he expressed a preference for the old law of 1808, 
 inaugurateil under the immortal Prock, whereby flauk companies here al- 
 
293 
 
 way« ki'pt ciirolkMl iiiiil tniiiK-tl for an fiM<M';,'t^iiry, tli(!n'l)y foiiiiiiig an activo 
 f()rc(^, ready at any tiino to tako tho licsid, and form a nillyini,' l)<>dy for tlio 
 ro.st. Tlio vvisdoni of tliiw selicnio was w<fll trioil in IHl'J, wlicn nearly tl.e 
 ontiro Militia forc(» waH roady to tako Uio Held in drfcncf" of tiicii- c mntry 
 in from I 'i to 21 hours after tli(! detdaration of war, as aln^ady stated in 
 theHO jiaf,'eH. 
 
 Kvery olfort was still made to lirocuro a re-eliarter for tle'ir r.iili'oud. 
 
 " AuiANV, Ai-ril y, ISK)." 
 " Dkaii Sill :- r liavn just arrived liern on my way tf) lioston. Innue- 
 diiitely after i-e(;eivini,' your letter of flie .'iOtli of Marrli, I went lo .Mount 
 Morris, jj^ot, six of tin- eon tractors tosi^^n tlie explanation mentioned in your 
 letttM", and it will 1)(' Hi;j;ne(l hy all the otluirs wIkmi I return hrre from 
 I'ostoii. 
 
 " Kvery day's ex|ierienee shows the importance ijf making,' eaeh new link 
 in tlio chain of railroads which is str(!tc;hin;.( from the Atlantic to the Pacific 
 as direct as possible ; and, to make a raiir'oad throu'^h t 'anada one link ill 
 this chain, the very i)est location nuist )»e maile. 
 
 " Truly vours, in haste, 
 
 "NVILLIA.M WAIJ.ACK." 
 " Hon. W. II. Mkukitt." 
 
 April IS. The important news was rectuved, that ''the House has 
 refused to (ixtend the charter of the I). Si N. II. 11." 
 
 The followin;,' ci)rresi)ondenco after the division of tlie Legislature lia<l 
 put an end to iMr. Mei'ritt/s project of havini^ a direct route through ('ana- 
 da, to connect with United Stati-s railroads, toJvvhi(;li those for the particu- 
 lar convenienc.) of (Jan.ida shouM act as liranches. They rtsfu.sod througli 
 the inter(!st of United States capital ; and that a road througli central 
 ('anada should he laiilt, and that the agency of l>iitis)i capital he a<lopted. 
 
 "Detroit, May G, 18 IG. 
 
 " My Dear Sir: — As I iirlicitcd to you in my letter som,; time atro on 
 the suhject of the Northern Railroad, the project has now received its <|uictus. 
 It was yesterday vetoed by the Exccutiv*!, und up jn tlie hill's going bick to 
 the Hous-^ and Senate, it was rij"''ted by both V)y a very lar^'e inijority. So 
 there will bo, as I said, no Port Hiiroa Railroad at prcicnt to connect with 
 I'ort Sariiia and the middle of Lake Michigan, 
 
 " D is a mittcr of derision here that such representations a.s arc said to 
 have been made before the Cinadian committee, by Americans, to the effect 
 that the Americans did not care where the Canada road ran to, or whether it 
 was level or not, and would in cithiT case e(iually connnind the American 
 travel, should have the least weight attached to them. If such statements were 
 made by Americans, it is very certain they wore persona not only who spoke 
 without knowledge, but wdiose opinions are not asked by .\mcricans thoni><elves 
 on such subjects. The fact is, that the level road is the only one wliieh can 
 deter competition. Whether this hn'ol road was the one first contemplated, or 
 whether it resulted in such a modification of the Wistern by branches a.s to 
 make a level line from one point to the other at the extremities, is not so 
 material. Hut tliis is(|uite material : that the central line road would not put 
 boats on the Lake against the level road, but they would put boats on agaiust 
 
294 
 
 a road which had to ascend a mountain or a part of a mountain ; and what is- 
 more, thty know they can keep them there. And what the Central road 
 would do, the Jiiike combination wuuld do. 
 
 " It seems to be thought that all the travel from American sources would 
 be equally secured in Ciinad'v by one road as anoiher. But there arc thes-e 
 two (litTcrenccs. One, that there are now boats on the Lake that can rua 
 through in 18 hours, and nothing; but a rapid transit over a level road can 
 divert people from such boats. The other is, tliat if people are coaxed into 
 Canada by the consciousness that they can <j;o through in the shortest time, 
 if tlunj pli'dsi', tlicy don't care so much about it after they are got in, but scat- 
 ter and spread off into other routes ; because, like Falstaif, they know there is 
 no ''compulsidn." The very same people who would in,sen^•ibly (iud them- 
 selves on Ijake Ontario and St. Lawrence in one case, would, in the other, 
 never take the first step to cross the line. 
 
 " However, when people have tarried a little longer at Jericho they will 
 find their beards longer. Experience makes every body pay, not only for 
 knowing too little, but for knowing too murh, 
 
 " Your friend, 
 
 "E. A. BRENT. 
 
 '•Wm. II. Hamilton, Esq." 
 
 The Parliament had opened on the 21st ]\Iarch, under the new Governor, 
 Lord Catheart, a gentleman whose chief (pialitieations lay in being a thoiongh 
 military niun. 
 
 The news of tlie j)rocee(lings in England, miri'ored by the Queen's 
 speech and that of the membevs, especial] v of Sir Itobert Peel, was the sub 
 ject of newspaper articles on this .side. One of them, in the INIontreal Wit- 
 ness, writes in favor of the measure on the gi-ounds of phihintliropy, and 
 say.s, " that the Colonists ought not to put up tlieir snmll claim against tho 
 great good that was to ensue from free trade witli all mankind." But wlien 
 the message from the Oovernment, < -nciating in plain tei'ms that tlie eain- 
 in<'S of the Colonists sliouhl be sub.scrvicnt, or of seeondarv eoiisideration 
 to the dwellers in liritain, it was receiveil with astonishment, not unnuxed 
 with a lively apprehension for the future well-being of the country. 
 
 The message was received, and was acquiesced in in an extraordinary 
 manner, and answi'r sent on the opening day ; Mr. Baldwin, showing his 
 ])ronqitness to create conciliatory feeling, said " that he viewed with pleasure 
 this disposition on the part of Oreat JJritain to protect the interests of her 
 colonies." 
 
 jVIr. Merritt, on his ai-rival, took the first opportunity of moving an ad- 
 dress respecting the tSt. Lawrence canals, to ex[)resshi8 appreciation of tho 
 situation, and tlu! duty left to representatives, saying, "and now that tho 
 Colony was entirely left to its own I'esources, it was the duty of tho Legis- 
 lature to endeavour to reduce tlie price of transportation." 
 
 A letter was published in the Montreal Cazette from a leading shipowner 
 iu Britain, dated 1-th December, 1645. '■''' 
 
 * 
 
 * * 
 
 * 
 
295 
 
 "The privilege we claim for trade tD Canada slionlil also in couuuou 
 justice be extended to her other colonies. They would tend to attach our 
 colonial brethren still nioie strongly to the mothor country, the juouarchy 
 and our glorious constitution, and gain the assurance that our colonies wcro 
 recognized as integn^l jiortions of the British Empire, whilst at the same 
 time, we should virtually establish free trad(> in corn with the western States, 
 and tluis neutralize their protective tariff by a flank movement, and calling 
 forth in fact (to use the words of the lamented Canning) " a new world into 
 existence," for such Upper Canada may yet be considered. 
 
 On the 20th of April a judicious statement ap])eared in the Jourmil: 
 " The most important business transaction of the Assembly last week re- 
 lates to the transit and manufiicture in Bond of American wheat." 
 
 The Parliament seems to bo attending to matters generally of a local 
 nature or of minor importance, and the country manifests but little interest 
 in the proceedings. 
 
 The next Journal, of May, contains Mr. Merritt's speech, and a leader 
 in favour of it, he copies from the Exdiniun; who opposes these views, 
 and ends with the obser\ ing of the .si)eech, " it is too lai'ge to be digi'stcd 
 all at once." 
 
 Monday, May 4, 18-46. 
 
 Our subject having prepared himself for the new policy, brought for 
 ward a series of resolutions, which he prefaced by the following speech : 
 
 Mr. Merritt, in moving the resolutions on the subject of agricultural pro- 
 tection, said : The rci-olutious which will be submitted for the consideratiouof 
 this house, are designed to counteract t! o cflVct which the recent change in the 
 commercial policy of Britain is likely to produce : no subject of greater im- 
 portance is likely to occupy the attentidii of the Legislative Assembly during 
 the present session ; I trust, therefore, the house will indulge me with more 
 time thiin usual, to bring the subject fully before them, particularly as no 
 measure hns yet been proposed to meet the altered circumstances of the country. 
 
 It is true, the bon. Inspector General has gained great applause, by hid 
 exposition of the finances and revenue. I feel much .satisfaction in congratu- 
 lating him on his promi.se of future usefulness — for few, with his Parliamen- 
 tary experience, could have done so well. At the same time, I must couiesa I 
 have been disappointed to find a measure, which, above all others, most mter- 
 osts the inhabitants of Canada, wholly overlooked : a measure which, brought 
 forth one of the most able and poweriul speeches ever produced by any states- 
 man, in any age, or in any country. In which every conflicting interest was fully 
 cauvaf^scd and balanced one against another, and the advantages so clearly pomt- 
 ed out that jiiejudice and interest gave way to reason and intelligence, one 
 which occupied twelve nights' debate, against which the agriculturalists of 
 Eiigand cannot feel a deeper interest than the a;jriculturalists of Canada. 
 
 Except a war with the llnited k:?tatrs of America, no event could 
 have created greater apprehension in the minds of the agricultural population 
 of Upper Canada than this unexpected change in the commercial policy of 
 Great Britain. This apprehension arises from the fact that : since 1842, when 
 wheat and flour was admitted at a nominal duty in the ports of Britain, they 
 have been in a state of unprecedented prosperity — their products yield a fair 
 
296 
 
 profit— a stimulus had been given to industry — the culture of whc.U h.iil been 
 extended — cajntal IVooly invoated,and property increased in value, they realisivi 
 those ndvantagos and f'olt content. Ask any farmer to what cause he attributcl 
 this iiicroafcd price for wheat ; his reply will be protection. Although in P]ii^ 
 land a dillorencc of opinion u) ay exist between tlie landowner, farmer and la- 
 bourer, on this subject, no difference of opinion can exist here, as the three 
 arc united in one. Notwithstandin.,' this union of interest anionjj; the popula- 
 tion, there is a n arked dift'erenee in its representation in the councils of the 
 province. There the agricultural interest predominates, here it fi.id.s a tard^- 
 advocate ; still, 1 can liardly believe there is a single menihor who will not 
 admit that, under the existing system, the agriculturalists in Canada owe the 
 present pro.spcrity wholly to protection. 
 
 I desire not to be misunderstood I do not allude to the alleged protection 
 imposed by the colonial duty on articles passing through our inland waters to 
 distant markets. I allude to tlu! protection they received in the markets of 
 Britain — this protection will soon bo withdrawn ; what equivalent or what 
 compensation is proposed to the agriculturists in Canada in lieu thereof] It 
 is to mo unaccountable, to witness the apathy which prevails here on this sub 
 jcct. On the first announcement, in the part of the country I represent, an 
 immediate change in the minds of all was apparent; buildings were suspended 
 and property decreased in value, to an extent no other circumstance would have 
 j)roduced, and you may rely upon it that all who hold a stake in the pro.sperity 
 of Canada are now looking to the Legislature for some remedy. It is my inten- 
 tion to go back to the time when this protection was first promulgated, and follow 
 up every movement relating to it, that it may be fully understood. In the 
 first place, what says Sir 11. Peel: "I am not prepared to select that great 
 interest, connected with the agriculture of this country, and call upon them to 
 resign protection, unprepared at the same time to call on other protected iu- 
 iuterests to make the same sacrifice." The protection withdrawn from the 
 agricultural interests was, duty on cattle, provisions, corn, othor grains, and 
 various articles, the reduction on wheat to cease in th"0c years. The 
 equivalents ibr this reduction were : The removal of all duty on the raw mate- 
 rial except timber. Cotton manufactures, calico prints, now subject to a duty 
 of 10 per cent — to be free. Cotton made up to protect the industry of the 
 country, now 20 per cent — reduced to 10 per cent. Woollen and linen goods 
 made up, now 2(» to 10. IMetals, 15 to 10. Brocade, earthenware, carriages, 
 now 20 to 10. Silks, 30 to 15. 10 per cent to be the maximum, lie also 
 makes other arrangements afi'ecting the interests of other parts of the com- 
 munity, but which will materially benefit that interest in whose welfare the 
 country is so deeply interested, which are thus enumerated: First — The great- 
 est burden which is justly complained of by the agriculturalists, is the rate 
 levied on highways, which is reduced from 6d. and 9d. on the pound to l^d. 
 and 3d. Second — The law of settlement, which will relieve agriculturo from 
 an oppressive burden, besides injustice on the labouring man. (Amount of 
 this reduction not stated.) Third — The encouragement of agricultural indus- 
 try, by the government loaning money on the security of land, for draining and 
 improving the same, which will devclope agricultural improvement throughout 
 the country. Fourth — Charges of expenses of prosecution now paid from local 
 rates, to be borne altogether from the Treasury, estimated for England and 
 Ireland at £117,000. Fifth — In Ireland the whole expense of the police 
 force is borne by the land, hereafter by the Treasury. Sixth — One-half of 
 the medical relief sustained by poor laws, by the Treasury, in England and 
 
iit ha<l boon 
 hey roalisoii 
 attributeil 
 ugh in Bliig- 
 luer anj lu- 
 as the three 
 the popula- 
 iiciln of the 
 i.itls a tard^' 
 vho will not 
 ida owe the 
 
 d protection 
 d waters to 
 markets of 
 !nt or what 
 hereof] It 
 on this sub 
 ■oproscnt, an 
 e suspended 
 ! would have 
 le prosperity 
 , is my iiiten- 
 d, and follow 
 od. In the 
 ; that great 
 pon them to 
 )rotocted in- 
 n from the 
 grains, and 
 oars. The 
 le raw mate- 
 ct to a duty 
 ustry of the 
 linen goods 
 re, earriagcs, 
 n. Ho also 
 of the com- 
 welfare the 
 —The great- 
 is the rate 
 and to l^d. 
 iilturo from 
 Amount of 
 tural indus- 
 iraining and 
 throughout 
 d from local 
 n gland and 
 f tha police 
 One-half of 
 England and 
 
 297 
 
 Scotland, £l 15,000, and expense of prisons in Scotland £12,000. Seventh — 
 Education of youth in work-liouses, ostim:itod at £30,000; poor law auditors 
 £15,000. On being asked, what would be the whole amount of tliose various 
 charges? he replied, the estimate upon the consolidated fund was £530,00'), 
 Thus wo have a clear, practic il and substantial e(|uivaleiit f(»r the agricultural 
 int« rest, althougli it was considered ina(Ie(|nato and so admitti'd . 'I'hc removal 
 of import duties on tlie articles they rei|uire for consumptiDii, the removal of 
 taxes and other buidens from land. It is to be reirretted tliat the agricultural 
 interest of Canada (lid not occupy some smill portion of his comprehensive 
 mind ; if it had, all duties on our products wduM have been repealed when ad- 
 mitted into the markets of IJritain. 
 
 Wc find in the speech of Flis Excellency the (Jovernor Oenoral a mo^t 
 appropriate allusion to tliis impfu'tant cha?igc, from which the country is 
 led to believe that their claim to protection is admitted, and will not ultimately 
 be overlooked. A iVw days after we find, in a despatch from the Colonial 
 Secretary, ,'5rd March last, tlie policy which her .Majesty's governm:!nt recom- 
 mended for the Provincial Legislature. After an assurance that the interests 
 of Canada liave occupied the place to which they were ju.stly entitled on this 
 important subject, he states, " With regard to corn, 1 have mueli satisfa(!tion 
 in reflecting, that if Canada will have to enter into con)pctition with the West- 
 ern States of AnuM'ica, and to engage in this rivalry, when no longer covered 
 by any protective duty, at least bhe will not be called to make the effort with- 
 out some advantages on her side, among wliich I view her light taxation." 
 
 It is by no means surprising tliat the Colonial Secretary .should fill into this 
 common error. It is but reasonable to suppose that a government, with a reve- 
 nue exceeding £400,000 from imports, should 1 e in a position to relieve its in- 
 habitants from every other description of taxation ; bu* so far from this bcinir the 
 case, not only are the local taxes in Upper Canada higher than in the Western 
 States, but the people possess many advantages whieli we do not. The Cana- 
 dian farmer is subject to high duties on all American manufactures, as well as 
 on tea, coffee, and many foreign articles, from which tlie Western farmer is 
 exempt. It may be said as an offset, that the latter pays higher prices for 
 wool, fine fabrics, and hardware, and those articles on wliich a high duty is 
 imposed, for the sujipcrt of their Federal (iovernment, and for the iirotection 
 of their manufactures. But whether it arises from an evisioi of the duty, 
 facilities in obtainintj supplies, quick returns, small profits, or whatever ciuso, 
 those articles are sold as cheap there as hr e, or so near it that you cannot 
 discover any material difference. Of the truth of this, e cry m ^reliant in Mont- 
 real must rest satisfied what amount of liritish manufactures are consumed 
 in Vermont, where no impediments exist for smuLrgling. The same result is 
 experienced on the borders of the St. Lawrence, Niagara and Detroit rivers, 
 as every member of this house well knows. 
 
 Another advantage pointed out is " the assistance Canada has roceived from 
 British credit for internal communications, and tin; means of carriage without 
 transhipments by the St. Lawrence, which cannot be iiad by way of the Erie 
 canal,"' From the same cause, the Colonial Secretary has fallen into the same 
 error. Who could be made to beli.eve at a distance that one of the most mag- 
 nificent navigations that any country, either in Europe or America can boast 
 of, should, through neglect or mismanagement, increase instead of cheapen 
 transportation 1 Such, be it known, is at Ibis moment the situation on the St. 
 Lawrence Canal. 
 
 The Colonial Secretary thinks the price of transit from Montreal to 
 
2D8 
 
 (irriit Hrit tin will l»c nn clu'iip an from Now York. Tlio hiiiik! opinion 
 iH t J!prrsH(><l I»v our InHpootor (Jciiciiil, iiltlion^'li iit tliiH niomfiit, tlio oliar^^n on 
 tt liMircl uC ilour In In. <i(l. from tlio rurtnir, iind In. ('iii. IVoni llio letter. It in 
 Mippo.icd Hull tlio inort'iiHt'd dcinmul for Aniorioiiii i»rodii(;t« in nritiiin will 
 luivc !i (cndcnoy to inoit'iisc llio pric(> from New York, and llins njuidizi" I'rriylit, 
 li<'(\v<'«'n (lie (wo pnrlH , lint it is (|nt'slionfilil(' wlutlirr tlic intiii'iisr ol' Hliippiru'; 
 will not korp p;u<(< with lliis dcniMnd. 
 
 It is iir}:n<'d, on tlio ollur Imnd. by tlio InspiM'tor (JcnorMi, (lifit tlic ^router 
 tlir stocks at (purine, tin" nioii' vcss' Is will conn" ont, and thus clii'Mpi-n tlii> 
 fiviglit by oonipotition, I c linridc in tlio view taken l»y llio Attorney (Jonc- 
 ral on lii.t nnliji^i't. iMcrcase yonr inipml trade: tlii>< will i^ive IVeiiijlits Iiotli 
 Wliys ai I lessen prices ; ImiI under any eireninstanees, I have my appiehenMioim 
 tho lVoi,i;lits will not he roduceil IVoni llii,«< tn Ifrilain as low as iVoni New 
 York. 
 
 Let us IK w refer to the measures inlrodueeil hy the provineial ;^overnment. 
 The first was a Inll hy the Attorney (ieneral, e(|uali7,ini^ taxos in proportion to 
 the value of lantl. leaviuLtlhe hnrden to ho sustained hy land, lid — Uy the In 
 hpeotor (ieneral. to impo.si'. a d\ily id' Lid. per i^alhai on whisky. This tax is 
 nl.«o homo by tho tjrower, nnd plaoed on hud. Its ohjeet is to relieve tlioHUV- 
 oral distriet revenues from (he e\|iense of the adniinis(r!i(ioii of justice, nnd 
 
 placii\j;' i( on (he provincial reveiuK 
 
 The cHeet is this: Instejid (d' boil 
 
 taxed directly as usual in each district in Westorn Canada, and p'lyiuf^ tho 
 money into th(> dis(ric( (rc;isury, (he money will he paid in(i> the pniviinMMl 
 troa.><ury, ;ind the (ax paid out of (he oo.'irfic t^rain in the atiuw, dis(rio( ; i( im- 
 poses an addidoiiiil (ax on the mower in Lower Canada, it is tru(\ but it alFords 
 no relief ti> thi>i:rower in l'p|)er Caiiaila - it is merely payini:; out of one pnoket 
 instead of the other. I should have been ^ra(ilie(l to Iind soino |)ro])ositiiiii 
 fiU" tho reduction (d' internal taxes, duties on imports, and the public expendi- 
 ture worthy of notice — some incisuro to save our rcm;iinini; public land, ami 
 creatiiis;- a fund (herefrom (o oduca(o (ho risiiiji:; |ii;enoratioii ; some measuro (o 
 rdiovo (he burden on l;md, ;ind apportion our taxes more .siiil.ihly on other 
 property, or soino 0(juiv.'ilent to tho agi ioultur.'il interest ; .soim! iiKS'isuro or 
 soiuo attempt to meet the ij,roat change to which this country must shortly ho 
 subjoot. 
 
 Tho disp.itch, prayine; for a rcmov.al of tho Ih. per ((uartcr duty 
 
 on 
 
 wl.c;it, urain, pulse. <' 
 
 A'c., is well ,'is tar as it u'dcs ; hut it should have oxtcaidcd 
 
 to all jModu. ts. The measure di>si;j,iied (o benelit (he mercantile, o;n'ryin'.C''ni J 
 shijipinp: interests for the next thrco years, is tho removal of tho throe shillinf^s 
 
 per ijuartor on wheat pas.^ii 
 
 th 
 
 rou^li our waters to distant oimntries ; as 
 
 thii 
 
 rill so ,'*oon become iiiepcrative, it is to he regretted the .aet will no( come into 
 imiuodiato operation. Tho r.ipid inoroase, and oxtent of tho groat wostorn 
 oouiitiy has been well ami (riily dcj'ciibed by (ho Inspecttir Ceneral; it is a 
 prize worth ciai(cndiii;;' for, ;tml one which we c;in scouru by .adopting the 
 pro]>cr remedy; but we liavo iiitellii^ent, active rivals, who arc not to bo m<'t 
 by li'ttinii' everything; take its course, as heretofore. Sir, it is {)loasini^ for mo 
 to witness tho striking; chaiiL^e which has come over tho minds of those who 
 fbruiorly opposed tho construct ioi of tho St. Jjuwrcnco Canal ; now hut ono 
 feelinc; is entertained respectinj:; it ; on that work alone rests .all your hopes of 
 eouimandiny; this trade. ^Vh;lt would have been your prospects if it had not 
 been constructed on the enlarged .s<wlo, or bad it bovin suspended under Lord 
 Sydenham's administrtitioii, and the remainder of our duties to create a mil- 
 liou and a half stiuandered away for what is called iuiproveiuciits, without an 
 
299 
 
 (xiK'ctnlion of (iny rclurn v/liiilevcr ? In DKOoinltrT lust., I pndoavnurcil to 
 drnw tlio iitfftitioti uf Mi() f^oTcniinetit ntid tln! pulilid to fliin wnrk, hy iimkiti^ 
 a cdinimriHoti dl' tlm o1hii(j;(>h iiiiidc l»y IrtrwardcrH on tlio Krio (Iiinul rmin iJiif- 
 I'lilo to Alli.iiiy, prior to •July, IHir», on wliicli ii Imrrcl ol' flour wmb convcyud 
 ;i(i»l inilcH lor !M., wlicn 1h. !»d. per liiirnd wiis rli.in^'-d Cor IHo mili'H from 
 Kini,'Hl(in to Montrciil (IoIIh huI. iiioliidcd uu ritlnrj TIk; lion, f.lic IrHpi-i-tor 
 (icnf-rid, on llic trun purtinjin HyHtiiU'., lurnH tlioHi! fi^^un^H at^dnKt iw., miyn it 
 ffiiiiid Inid the pnlijio lo lii'lif vi' llic IoHh wcro f(|n!d on hotli roiitcM, linn in- 
 (•ri'Msiiif,' llic prim III' fVcjfrlildii till! St, ijawn-nri! over tlin Kri<! (jiinaj. IIa<l 
 lie ri'ad that letter, lio wouNI find it Rtat«« lliat tlin i^ovorritnent an; not only 
 •li [irivfil of all I (ill, Imt Mie iiioiiih oCniiHJn^ a icvenMi- - tln' lurward'TN di^c'iirf- 
 iii;; till! St. iiawrcnec river vvitliout poyinent of toll, and ascending the llideau, 
 not hiavitig uh inueli an would pny tli(! loek tenderH. I hIiouM not have alluded 
 til (liiH, exci'pt ('(ir the piirpo.se ol' repi'lliii;^ a charj^e wlii(!h wa,4 not warriiiited. 
 
 I am not hurpri.sed at the j:;overiinieiit expn!SHin^ homio I'eelin;^ on this .milijeat ; 
 hceauso their itiattontion or ne^jleet has nulij<;ete<l the entire ooniineroc of 
 Canada to a ni(js| oppressive and unneeeSH-ny tax durin;^ the. eoniin;^ se.aHon. 
 Sir, it is unn('ee.-,.sary to (-ntiir into any ealeul itions to prove the St. I<awren(;<! 
 will he a clioaper conveyanei! than by tlu! Krio (!anal, heoauw! all thoKO ealcu- 
 hilinns depen<l upon eireuniHlaiiee.s lieyond our (iontrol ; fur inHt;itie(!, if you 
 leuiid your ealeulatioii,s on the. ^ov(!rnnient of New York keepint^ up liii/her 
 Idll.H, to pay tJHi inter(!Ht on their canal debt, vou will iiiid by the coniptroller'H 
 nport ol' l.SIC, that the debt croated for public iinproveinentH was iis:!1,:',:il),(».'{r» 
 
 III ISII, ii was rediieed Id 'Jit, 7 1 i'., 1^05 
 
 In IStO, on Isf .January, to 17,'Jl(;,lia 
 
 While our e;in!i| (Irbt is rapidly inereasin;.', we will also find that in lH4r>, 
 while, the toil on the i'lrie Canal iiierejwd *l!i;),Kl)H, the toll on the Welland 
 Canal, deercased about ^L'O, ()()((. 'j'o what eaur^c is this extraonlinary r(\sult 
 U> be attriliiited ? The Inspeetor (ieneral says, " to the. fluetuation (d' trade," 
 why has this trade fliietuatrd all one way, loavin;^ the St. Jjawronet! and .seek- 
 ing: the Hudson ? lie will find the true, cause to be a vi^^'ilant, int.elli;i;erit 
 |M rsonal siipfriiiteiidcnoe on the one part, and a total nei^loot, arising from an 
 iiiipraetieable system of inaiiaf^ement on the. otlii'r the oni! le.Hsenin;.' prices of 
 iiii;;hl, the other iiiereasini^r if. 'rhidu^lioul the world the prices of frei;.;lit 
 flic u,ovi riicfl by one rule — tli(! larf^er the bo ly of water, lon;^(!r the voya;,;c and 
 l.iij^'er the canal, withdut traiisbipinent, the cheaper tlie price of I'reiL'ht. - 
 Cnnipare the tlimensions of the iiaviiration on the St. liawrence with tiie Krie 
 <'mial with this rule, a<linit both works to rciduee tlie toll to tin! lowe.nt mini- 
 Ilium, which will ultimately take pbice, and no fierson can doubt, which mu<t 
 I'lnve, under eijnal mana^emeiit, the cheapest route. 'I'lu! In.spec^lor <»en(!ral 
 iiilers, from the .statement of prio(!S of wheat in the IJaltic, produced by Sir 
 bobert I'eel in IKJU, when he first commiricfjd redueiiiL' protectinii; duties, 
 lliat the Canadi'.n ;,a'ower can suec(!H.-fully compete with tli'; j^rower on the 
 continent of J'luropc, aj^ainst cheaper labour and cbca|>cr froi<^bts. ft apprars, 
 liDWever, from the returns of exports «i' breadstulTs from tlie fnited Slate.'*, 
 not over three per cent of tin; (iiitirc (|uantity reaches the in-irket.s of Britain; 
 
 II these Ktatemcnts be true, and Americans from tb(;ir more .southern ports can- 
 not sucees,'<fully (!ompete with them, it is doubtful if the Canadian, from the 
 iiii're distant markets, witb othtjr impediments, can. IJut a<lmittiri'^ the Can- 
 'iJa grower can successfully compete with the European, and that the marketa 
 fl Hritain will insure a fair jirice for wheat, he will still have to compete with 
 'lie Aujcrican yrowcr on Lis border, this is the only competition wo have to 
 
300 
 
 fcnr, iinil no Hnntnl ronsoti lias IxM'ti iissii^iicil wliy tlio prices of prndiKM' will not 
 1)0 liijjlior ill till' lliiiti'd Sliiti's lliaii in Caiiatln. 'I'lio ri'coiit lotli'is pubiislitiil 
 by Isaac Itiiclianan on this suliji-ct lnv»> Immmi citlicr pissed over umiotioed, or 
 treated willi lidieule. lie recomiiieiids ulilainiii'^ IVee aeeess for our pnidiK-ts 
 into till' iiiaikels iil" tli(» I 'idled States, l'eean''e, in lii-4 jud;^iiiiMit, tlu! New 
 York market will oU'er n liii,dier price tlmii llie Knulisti iiiirket : in lliis opinion 
 I fully coiienr, slionid tlie L,'io\ver in ('inida imt obtain as liii^h a price lor lii-i 
 ]>roiluets as t lie grower in t lie W.cstern States. The conseiiiieiKU! antieipati'd 
 by Mr. Hnelianan are not to he disrcu'irded. We only difVer in the means to 
 olitain access to the markets id' the I'nited States, Mr. Ilnehanaii reeoniineiid-i 
 the imposition id hi^h dnlies, to force them to tidmil mir products. This 
 would he inipraeticahle, but. by drawint: their trade thrnnv;h mir chaniiel.s as Inn,' 
 us wo can, they will be induced to reinovo restrictions to regain or iiKToasu their 
 trade. 
 
 It ri'i|uires no ri'j;urcs or calculations to prove whiidi will b- tlio Sc«t 
 market. Alter ISIS, the western rarmerwill have access to two, the Canadian 
 but one, assumim: (he limiti>d dem.'ind for the Montreal market will h • irovcriii.'il 
 by the prices in Kntiland. This adv;ml.'ti:e will ^ivc the .\iiieiicaii miller and 
 inendiant the entire command of the wheat tr.ide (except for our limited con- 
 suni]ttion) of t!e western states. What lulluws? On the one side cipital 
 will be lively invested, and every descrijition id' property increased in valui', 
 while, on the other side, everythiiii^ will remain stationary, if not retroj;radinL,', 
 nnd a]>Mthy and dissatisfaction will piev.dl. This is no mere assertion; the 
 same was witnessed in 1S'15, "M't ; ;ind examine the journals of I'pper Oaiiaih 
 during that period, you will find the efforts then made to ()btaiii access to the 
 markets of' the I'niti'd States. A pelitioii. numerously signed, was forwarded 
 to Congress, praying for .adn.i.ssion of our products, 'i'he state of the mar- 
 kets, no doubt, was one id' the ruling causes which led the inhabitants of 
 I'pjH'r I'anad.i to open rebellion and a resort to ;irms in 1SI57. If no reiiieilj 
 is provided, the same cause will again exist in 18 lit. Let us then apply our 
 minds to the application (A' a remcily. (Vm we adopt the American policy - 
 oncour.age manufactures by iirotecling home market — to consume the ])rodiu'ls 
 of our soil'/ No, we eonnot ; and why'/ First, an advo'i'se interest would iui- 
 mcdiiitely arise between the mother country and the colony, which would inev- 
 itably produoo sejiaration in the shortest possilile time ; and secondly, the ex- 
 tent oi' boundary and ficilities olh'red for smuggling, renders it imjiracticahlii, 
 Sir Kohert I 'eel very, justly ob.serves, that high duties, called protection, is a 
 false reliance, a delu^'.on on the part of the labourer, and a clear loss to the 
 revenue; both are robttd by the suiug^ler. llous.'siii l*aris will guarantee 
 the delivery cd'mods in London for fifteen per cent. If. with their numerous 
 excise, coast guards, and cruisers, goods can be smuggled their at fifteen por 
 cent., they can here for one half — seven and a h.df per cent. No person can 
 be induced to embark capital in manufactures in Canada, under the expectation, 
 that any duty, however high it may ap])ear. will protect biin from competition 
 in the same aitiele from the I'liited States. It is evident, Mr. S|ieaker. 
 that if protection be withdrawn in the markets of ]>ritaiu, it is imiiractiealile 
 in Canada ; we have no means of enfoiving it, wo are powerless. Wo have, 
 then, but ono other course open to us ; that is, the Vemoval of all restrictions 
 on eonimevoe, the aijrrieultural interest may then safelv relv on the increase 
 of that commerce to create a population, and tlioreby en.sure a homo mar- 
 ket for the jiroduetions of the soil — as well as obtaining everything then 
 consumed at the lowest prices. This policy fairly carried out, will prove 
 
:joi 
 
 ;i HOMiul. iiiliiiMliIc I'l'iiii'fly, und will not. only ^{ivc iiii iiiii|il(i (!<|niviilcMt, to tJio 
 ii^i iriiltiiialiHl (if ('iiiiiiilii, liiit pliicx liiiii iit a fur iirllcr iMiHilioii iJian tJio 
 t'.ii'iiKM- ill tlio WttHldi'ii tStat«!H. To attiiiii thin t^!i(l, it iH prup'iWMl to Hiilmiit 
 (lie roljfivviii;^ ii-HuliilioiiH; 
 
 1, /,'tsi)/i'ii/, 'I'liiit, in iiil(i|itiii;^' tilt! |ii-iii('i|)li; I'ciiiijiiiK'iiili'il in IId- iImh- 
 |i;it(|i of tlio (!oloniiil SM'ii'tiiry of llin 'Anl Ftilini.try liiHt, in which wn uro 
 iissuii'd, "Tliiit it iH tim ilfKirt- of lli r MiijfMly's ( iovcrnnicnt, that tliotiiulo 
 (tt CiiMiiiIii may, fii. nil ixh/hvIh, a|>|»i(ia(li an nearly to |n'rlrct fitfMioni an tho 
 (lf.s(ri|ilionH of tho inhiiltiUmtH, and tho oxi^'cncios of the iniKlic rovcniuj 
 tJK'ro, may |icrmi(," it iH joht and loaHonalilo that (ivciy (txintiny ifHtrir;tioii 
 (III tho Iradr of ( 'anada hhoiild lio rcniovod. 
 
 2. /I'isiilii'il, 'I'iial, under tho oxiKtinj^ (loloniul policy of (iicat liritain, 
 lliiH provinco Iuih nmhutakon tho constnu^tion of |iiililii; works of ^roat ina^- 
 iiitmlc, for which a Iar;,'o dcht Iiiih Ihimi incurred, and that its itmncnt ii^jri. 
 cultural proHperity is chiclly attiilmtalile to tlii! prulcciioii its pi'oducts havo 
 recoivod hiiico tho reduction of <hitics on wlunit and Hour in 1>(|,'{, in tho 
 iimrkcitH of tho mother country. 
 
 ;{. /uxdircd, That, folly appreciatin<^ tho adviinta;,'eH this provinco 
 oii^ht to |)OHHeHK, o\M'r the Western States of Ameri(;a, inaHiiiiKth as the citi- 
 zoiiH of thoso HtiitoH pay duti((H on imports for tho Hiipport of th(( Federal 
 (loveinmcnt of tlio Unit.eil StatoH, while tin; iiiiialiitantH of Canada are not 
 Miliject to any Himilar duties for tli(^ support of the llritish (Government, 
 ncverthtdoHH, from our preHiiut fiHcal Hystf^ii and oxiHtinj^ rf;Htnctif)ns oti 
 loiMiiierce, and other causes, they arcs not realized, iiul there is reason to 
 iilp|irelienil the contemplated chanj^e in the coiiiinercial poli(;y of (ireat. Hri- 
 tiiiu, will coiifei' Htill f,'r(!at(!r advantaf^(!H on thocitizouH of tho Unitod StatoH, 
 than on th(^ inhahitants of ('anada. 
 
 •t. Jii'Kolrril, 'i'hat, iiiiiHmuch as it is jiroposcsd to relievo commeire and 
 extend an ('(piivahuit to tho a^'riciiltiiralists, in IJi-itain by a redin^lion of 
 iiii|iort duties on all ai'tiides consunicd, }»y iciiiovin^' vai'ioiis hurdens on 
 land and liy jiroviding for tho pncoura;:,'m(!nt of a;,'ricultiiral industry, hy 
 iiicniis of loans raised on tins credit of ^^overiimtrnt to im]irovo tho same, tho 
 ui,'riculturalists in Canada havo re -son to Ijoliovo that Her Majesty's ^'ovoru- 
 iiiciit will readily extend a similar o(piival(Mit to them for the protection 
 iibout to he withdrawn. 
 
 T). Ifcsolvcd, — That an hiimbhi address b(! jiresented to Hor Majosty, 
 prayinj,' that she will 1m^ pleased to admit all articles, the {growth and pro- 
 iliR'c of Canada, into the markets of the mother country, froo from duty. 
 
 C. ALso, — Tliat slio will bo pleased to recommend, to tho Imperial Par- 
 liiuiu'nt, that all imj>erial acts relating to duties on tho imports, revenuo 
 ;ui(l trade of Canaibi, may be nipealeil, and luir commerce i'eli(;ved from all 
 restrictions exceitt what may bo injjjosed by th(! provincial Jjcgislatuie. 
 
 7. A/^io, — That Her Majesty may bo jdeased to open a negotiation with 
 tlic government of the United States for th»! ]»urpose of obtaining access for 
 the products of Canada into the mai-ki^ts of that country on tho same ttirms 
 that American products ai'e to be admitted into the markets of Britain and 
 Canada. 
 
 8. Also, — That the Rivtir St. Lawrence from Lake Ontario to the Ocean, 
 may be opened to all nations, subject to no greater restrictions than now 
 exi.st in passing through the Welland Canal around the Falls of Niagara, 
 
302 
 
 in order tliat rv revenue from tolls may he ensiircd to ropay the cost of the 
 conHtniction of the canals connecting thos*" waters: 
 
 The first resolution requires no coinnient ; the truth of the second will 
 nlso he admitted. The third drawH the attention of the government of Great 
 IJritain, our jirovincial government, and the country to a fjvct, which no 
 ■quil)l)ling, no soj)]iiKtry, can control, and no man can deny. Tbe atlvanta^cs 
 we are entith-d to, as a colony, have n(>verl)een fully roali/.cd. Never iiav- 
 ing been left to our own resources, thn necessity for a rigid examination into 
 our actual position never occurred ; that time has now arrived wlien a thor- 
 ough investigation cannot fail tt) prove lieneticial, and give a proper ami 
 correct tone to public ojiinion. 
 
 Suppose a separation to take jilace, and this ])roviiice to he united with 
 the American States, what advantages would we gain ? We would, in the 
 first place, not only> Ix* conn>idled to sun-ender all our jiublic land, but 
 become subject to a lieavy duty on imports; for what? for tlie ])rotection 
 of the federal government: and in addition, we wouM have to support our 
 provincial government without the aid of either of those resources. Thf 
 government of (Jreat ]*>ritain extends that prot<'ction to us at this moment, 
 without exacting our land, duty on impoits, or any tax whatever, but merely 
 for the extension of her trade and commerce. 
 
 To illustrate this contrast more fully and more strikingly, sujjpose 
 the government of Clreat Jiritain had appointL'ti lier own oUicers of custom, 
 collected all duties on the articles we consunmd, and remmitted the amount 
 to her treasury ; precisely in the same mannwr as the siinie revenue is col- 
 lected in the (lill'erent states by the United States government, and paiil in 
 to her treasury. And sujtpo.sing a despatch from the Colonial Secretary stat- 
 ing that Her Majesty's government had with Irawn all jirotection in thf 
 markets of Dritain on our jn-oducts ; but, as an ecjuivalent, she has rejiealeil 
 nil duties on our imports, withdrawn all her ollicers of customs, and thus 
 enabled our farnu-rs to obtain every article they consume at the cheape.st 
 rate, not only placing them in as favourable a jwsition as the farnu-r in the 
 ■western states, but wholly relieving them from the tax to tlie federal govern- 
 ment ; and, in addition thereto, the government of (ireat Britain will con- 
 tinue to perform the same duties as the gt)vernment of the United States. 
 Would n )t iho announcement of such a despatch, conferring so great a boon, 
 make any farmer in Canada feel he had received a full compensation for the 
 protection withdrawn. 
 
 Now all Ills can be brought about. It is in the power of the pro- 
 vincial government, and a heavy responsibility rests with them if they 
 do not avail themselves of this oj)portuidty. 
 
 4. The advantages hero referred to arc more fully pointed out in my 
 remarks on Sir R. Peel's speech. 
 
 5. This resolution is in accoi'danco with the principle by whicli I have 
 been governed for many yeurs. Since tlie removal of all duties between 
 tliis and the mother countiy in 1842, 1 have advocated placing discriminating 
 duties on our imports from foreign ports, as an eqiuvalent for the jirotection 
 our products received in the markets of Britsiin. However, as this ])rotection 
 will be withdrawn, it is but reasonable we should urge Her Majesty's gov- 
 ernment to concede to the jtroductions of Canada what she recommends the 
 home government to concede to other countries. The principal articles will 
 be butter, cheese, hops, &c., but it is not so much the amount of the duty 
 
808 
 
 cost of the 
 
 ( second will 
 lont of Oreiit 
 ct, wl'icli no 
 ic atlvantiij^es 
 Never liav- 
 inination into 
 
 wlu'U 11 tlioi- 
 
 t jiroper uml 
 
 le tmited witli 
 wouM, in tlik? 
 )\\c land, l)Ut 
 ;he ])rotpotion 
 ,() Hupport our 
 n)mr«'.s. The 
 ; this moment, 
 ei', bnt merely 
 
 ingly, siqipose 
 ors of custom, 
 eel the anK)ui\t 
 ■evenno is col- 
 iit, and l>!ii<l i" 
 Secretary stat- 
 itection in the 
 le has reiiealfd 
 bonis, and thus 
 the ehea))i'st 
 
 fanner in the 
 'ederal govern- 
 
 •itain will con- 
 United States. 
 
 ) i^n-eat a boon. 
 
 isation for the 
 
 ,'fr of the \>vo- 
 them if they 
 
 11 ted out in my 
 
 which I have 
 uties between 
 discriminating 
 
 the protection 
 this protection 
 Majesty's gov- 
 ecommends the 
 pal articles will 
 uit of the duty 
 
 or the extent of the trade on those articles for which we contend, as for the 
 [irinciple. 
 
 When the primo minister declared as early as 181*2, that Canada, for 
 all purpoBes of ti'ade, showhl be considered as if she were an integral part 
 of the empire, wo should not, in 1845, be placed on the same footing na 
 foreigners. 
 
 G. Tiiis resolution pmys for the repeal of all imp(>rial acts relating to 
 tlie nsvenue or commerce of Canada ; 't does not includt? the navigation 
 laws of Hritiin, because, as colonists, they confer eipial advantages on us ; 
 the interchange of our |»roducts for her mainifactures will be continued in 
 our vessels : it api)lies particularly to the imperial act, Hth and Gth Victoria, 
 cap. 4'.), i)a.sHed in J\dy, '4l', *or regulating the Ihitish pos.se^sions abroad ; 
 it will remove existing discrimination duties, and the bonding system which 
 subjects all articles from foreign parts to an additional duty, which is directly 
 contrary to the spirit and bearing of the late despatch, and the late com- 
 mercial policy of (Jreat Britain. 
 
 7. I am sensible, I\lr. Speaker, that many men of sound judgment 
 entertain the opinion that if a free intercour.se were opened with the United 
 States, on the same; terms as lietween the citizens of tin' ditl'enuit states, 
 that it would lead to a .separation from the mother country ; this opinion 
 was expressed in the address of the North American Colonial a.ssociatiun in 
 January last. They apinehended a change in tiie .sentiments of the colon- 
 ists, if no preference in the markets of the nmther country, in case they are 
 oilered a free interchange of coninujdities with the United States. 1 enter- 
 tain the very opposite opiuiun. A change in the .sentiments of the colonists 
 can only arise, in their liiung deprived of this free intercour.se. In support 
 of tliis position, which is highly important to understand, I will assign but 
 one reason : a farmer values liis market l)y compai'ative not renninerating 
 prices; if equal on l)oth sides of the boundary, and wheat came to 2s. Gd., he 
 would re.st satisfied, but not if he received 4s. 4d and the Anu-rican farmer 
 4s. t)d. jier bushel. This inecpiaiity may not lead to tin; same result as in 
 '37, but it will produce a .strong inclination to favour a part of the United 
 States. f)n the contrary, were our products adtnitteil into their markets, no 
 diti'erence in i)rice would lio visible ; the Canada farnu'r at all times would 
 he placed on an equal footing in all respects, with the Western farmer. 
 This is all the favour he asks ; still he will be jdaced on a much bettei' foot- 
 ing — always bearing in mind that lu! will be relieved fr(jni the imj)ort duty 
 to which they are subject ; and so far fi-om feeling any desire to change his 
 political situation, he Avould realize the advantages he possessed, and resist 
 any political change. 
 
 After obtaining all that the government of Britain can gi-ant, or all we 
 ask for in this address, nuich still remains to be done to meet the altered 
 circumstances in which the coimtry will shortly be phiced. The Provincial 
 Cabinet need be under no apprehension ; though their jilaces may be cov- 
 eted by othens, no half measures will nuset this crisis. If ever ability and 
 attention was required, it is at this moment. Hereafter Canada nuist rely 
 on its own resources, extravagance, uuist be checked, economy practised, 
 and the expenses of the Provincial Government reiluced, and its resources 
 now wasted and negected must be preserved and developed. 
 
 We insert (regi-etting the want of room for more) a pai-t of the despatch 
 in answer to the address, the subject of theec resolutious. The fiction of law, 
 
304 
 
 Tuakiii<^ tlio QiU'dii roHponKiMe for tin; act dojuiving Ikt siihjfcis in ('aiia<la 
 of n.'iMUiicratiDii fur tlicir iinliiHtry, was never ho f,'Iai'itiL,' as tho jireseMt. 
 
 " Duwiiiii},' St., JuiH* .'{rd. 
 "With r('K|ioct to that jiortion of the a(hlr<'KS wliieli prnyH Her .Mnjesty'H 
 f,'Overiinient to invitfi the (Jovernnieiit of the niiited States to estalilish an 
 ei|iialitv of trade, lietweeii the doniains of (he Ue]tul)li(; ami thi^ Itritisli 
 North Aniericau (■olonieH, I ain eommanded to instn ct your LordsIii|i to 
 assuiiie to the AHSonihly, tliat Her Majesty will reaflil" cause; directions to 
 he j;iven to the minister in Washinfjfton to avail hiniscdf of the euriiivst suit- 
 ahle opportunity to press this important siihject on tlit) notico of that (Jov- 
 • •rinnent, and that it will not'allord Her Majesty's the most sincere satisfac- 
 tion, if any comnuinication Nvhich nniy hereafter he held for this purpose, 
 shall liave tlio oflbct whicli is desired by hor faithful oomnioiis of Canada." 
 
 Tho important mineral discoveries, whicli liave since convortcid thc^ ste- 
 rile fcliores and islands of liake Superior into wealthy locations, were now 
 heconiing talked of, and ca|iitalists were invited to assist in (h'velopini,' tlu; 
 hidden treasureH of this almost unknown section of country. 
 
 To assist in the work, he purchaseil 400 shaics in the Lake Superior 
 Copper Mining Oom]iany, hut havin;.; no idea of permanently connecting 
 himself with the undertaking, hi! disi)os(Ml of them afterwards. 
 
 As till! duty on liooks interfered with tho liusiness of hookselliuL,', ie- 
 whii'h the author was eui^ayed, he represents his views on the suliject. 
 
 From the Chief Superintendent : — "'Price of Irish national h<»()ks can 
 he impoited from Ireland am) sold at nnich hiss price. 
 
 liegislativo A.SK(!nd>ly, April K!. — "I should \h'. most happy to remove 
 duty on hooks, as (Ui all other artich^-s, as you will liiid shortly, hut it will 
 take some time. 
 
 The much talked of project of a canal, .connecting Lakes lluroii and 
 Superior found great favour, and ho earnestly urged its conunonce- 
 ment hy our (Jovernment, as it \»ould materially assist in developing the 
 mines of the North-West. Tho Governujcnt, however, thought the scheiao 
 premature, and tho result was that the j;eople of the L^nited States completed 
 a canal on thi-ir side of tho river, a jiroceeding in no ways creditable to our 
 (Jovernment, some of whom it was then said were not averse to letting 
 Uncle Sam control the route, which was liable to the worked to the disad- 
 vantage of Canada, as was seen during tho troubles in Manitoba. 
 
 Juno 1st. — Mr. Morritt brought up his resolutions on the subject of 
 Trade and ('ommerco. Mr. Haldwin ajipears now to have received light, 
 and says ho was afraid that the r-nv policy of England woidd have a moat 
 injurious eifect u]>on Canada, hut li(! trusted he might be mistaken. 
 
 Mr. Caley looked upon this resolution as bring an interference with tho 
 sovereignty of (U-eat Britain, and as holding out a threat that if she did 
 take off till! protection from our produce, we were pi-eparcd to cast off her 
 soveivignty. Mr. Couchon oj»posed it — referred to a select coiumittee. 
 
305 
 
 ; ill ('aiiiula 
 
 i.> :?nl. 
 M- .Majesty's 
 r-KtiililiKli im 
 tlic I'l-itisli 
 /hiIkIiI]) to 
 ircctioiiK to 
 I'urlifwt Kuit- 
 F tlint (!ov- 
 loro Hutisfiic- 
 lis |iur|M)K<', 
 of CJaiiadii. " 
 
 t(!(l the Hto- 
 K, v.cro now 
 ■olupiiii^ tlio 
 
 ko Sii]>(M'i()r 
 • coiim;cting 
 
 okHfllin;^, in 
 
 uiKjcct. 
 
 I l)<>()kH can 
 
 ly to remove 
 hut it will 
 
 Jliii'oii and 
 conimeuce- 
 eloping tlit> 
 the scluMHO 
 OS compU'tt'il 
 table to our 
 10 to lettin;,' 
 o the lUsad- 
 
 iiiia 
 11 
 
 subjei.'t of 
 I'ived light, 
 have a nioHt 
 
 Irn. 
 
 ice with the. 
 , il' siie did 
 cast oil' her 
 iiiiiittee. 
 
 At the eoiiiincnceiiieiit of the s -ssioii he ilecided upon retiring fr-dn 
 Ijiisiiiass, and (ievotiiii,' himself to the all'airs of tlio uouutry ; in eonsetjuence 
 of'whi(di he (lisjioseij of his larLfe milliii;^ interests to his sonTlnjmas. DoiiWt- 
 liHH he then thought that in order ,.0 eariy out liis matured idi'ason the (jues- 
 tiou of Reciprocal Trad<;, that the tiino at liis disposal would bo fully occupied- 
 
 ( )ui- subject fust brought Ixd'ore thf House his schemn fur our alterp<l 
 loliitions, and heralded foith a Cominereial Itecipi-ocity ^vitli the United 
 Stat(;s. As tli(! hitherto almost oxolusivo trathi between (Jreat Britain 
 and her colonies was now aiuogaled by the repeal of the Mnglish Corn l-awH, 
 and all countries placed on the same levid, tlH'i(djy encouraging tlie commerco 
 of a powerful foreign rival lik(* the United States, at the expense of a weak, 
 struggling colony, Mr. Meiritt believed tlmt when stdfish statesmanship 
 ignored the colonial trade r(dations, ami virtually gave a bid for the best 
 lUrttomer under any circumstances, that the duty of the colonists was plainly 
 to uiftke the best bargains thoy could with their nearest noighbour.H. 
 
 The novtdty of the idea created some sensation, liut mature deliberation 
 vonvinced many that tlm measure would uitimately be adopted. 
 
 The Imperial Act taking oil' the dutie.s on |irovisionH in Kngland was 
 not an ordinary bill. It was jue reversing the practice of the kingdom, 
 which heretofore was encouraging "ships, colonies and eominerce ;" and 
 that had been the policy since the (•ominonwealth, and by which Kngland 
 liud bcconm a great maritime nation ; it had established her power to an 
 unexampled extent, exci'cdiiyr the nations among the ancients, rnd Portu- 
 ^'al, Spain, Holland or h'tanc'c iuimng the moderns nmny of her possosidous 
 b4>ing the spoils of v ar from these! States. She was imw trying the experi- 
 ment of pi'cserving her maritime suprenuicy by the abundance of the " sin- 
 ews of Will'," and the [tower of liei' na\y, without any adjuncts from the 
 iielp of the colonies, which ha<l ijeen hei- traditional policy for two centuries, 
 i^ir 11. IVel and Mr. (Gladstone may have calculated the oostH, and found 
 the cash balance in their fivour, l>ut it was with a ilitVeicnt summation to 
 the loyal colonists who weigluMl this report. They had adhered to the [lolicy 
 uf a Uiuted Kmpire, of which an ocean wa.'? not to bo the boundary. 
 
 Our subject was pi-ihaps tin' most alive to the measure. He esjiecially 
 >l<'])recal/(,'d the haste in which it win hurried through, both in lOngland and 
 ill the Provincial legislature ; ours seemed even to luujuiesce before the 
 iJiirticulars arrived or the Act passed- to acnuiescc in a<lvance to all the 
 luinihtry might propose. His writings, speeches, and wc suppoKO conversa- 
 lion with his fellow passengers during the journey down, had nil been on 
 (nir sujierior advantages as colonies over the 1 'niteil Statws. What m\ist 
 have been his disa|ipointment to lind the tables turned, and to find the ad- 
 \antuges in the markcit of the mother country handed over to brotlier Jona 
 ilian without a deniami for a corresponding benefit (!) 
 
Tht> following, iin extract fioin the <,}ik('1i's sitcrcli, of January 22nd, 
 givoK notioo of clianj:;es by wliidi ilio industry of tho j)rovinooN need l)o no 
 l<)n{j;cr diHtinguiKliod, and hor aj^jrobation to tli<* nieanure rak-idatod to ox- 
 tond fonuiKMic iuid to .stinuilatc doin.'stii- skill and industry, liy tlic ropcal 
 of jiroliiliitory ami tlic relaxation of |iro(rcti\ f duti(!s : 
 
 " T rwoimntMid you to take into your t-arlicst (•onsidfratioii w ln-tlicr th*< 
 l>rinciples on wliicli you liavc acted may not with adviinta<,'o lio yot mon* 
 extensively Mpplied to make sueli fnrtlu r reductions as may tend to insure 
 the contiiuiancc of the i,'r<'at Iwnctits to which 1 iiave advertecl, and to 
 stren/^'then tlie honds of amity with forei;,'n lowers." 
 
 Following this policy, which it i^ unnecessary to s;iy throiinh the I'ritish 
 constitution was tliat of tlic M inisti r, and not l lie (^>iieen's iiidi\ idual s(Miti- 
 ments, th<^ T'rcniicr. Sii' IjMii.'i't I'cd, says : 
 
 "Wearied with cur Ion:;- and unavailing,' etlorts to enter into a satis 
 factory commercial treaty with othei- nations, we have resolved ;it leni,'th U) 
 Corisi(/t our own intercs/s. And yon uiay depend up )ii it. whatever may be 
 the imn)e(li;ite etl'cct. our c\ami>lc will l>c idtiiiiatcly t'nlliiw cil." 
 
 Ami (o >.!i(i\v whom he was tryiii:,' to inthienoe by this amiable doctrimo 
 th(Mcpoi(cr adtls, '• Here the Kight lion. I'aronet tpiotcd a passagcMVoni 
 a report of .1//-. U'ulkn; S^cnfm'// n)i'/ 'frrnsi'rrr cf //ir Cii/i'l Sf'ifrs." 
 
 Let us take a review ot' the .state ci' the country, and of tiie char.icter of 
 the re|n'esentatives !o whom were (Mitr\istcd its destinies at this ev(Mitful 
 period. W'r see thai the natui-al abinidauce of our productive .soil had pro- 
 duced prosperity, and with it an inditl'erence to'the acts of the (iovernment. 
 
 'I'he incrt'a.se of the inunigrants of IS.'U- .'52, who would from a.ssociation 
 be inclintul to view favourably a policy that would ja'ovide cheap bread for 
 those to whom, foi- all thev knew, they were related by the ties of blood 
 retui-ncd as memlicis men of similar views, as Killaly, llincks, I'arks, 
 Col. .lohn Pi'ince, Dr. Dunloji. instead of N'on I'.gmont. |)urand. (Jibson. 
 J^uncomlfc, and Mackenzie. 
 
 We have seen the Bull'alo and l) 'troit line vctocil. the best scheme, as 
 is ju'jved by the Ail' Lino constructed since. IJy the following report in 
 the coniluct of siniihir enterprises we catch a faint glimpse of their design, 
 matured into a finished }>olicy since :" The re]iort for extending tho 
 (treat Western to Toronto, and a letter from ( ietn-ge Hudson that the Act 
 gf incorporation might be granted to tlieni, weie fiivonrably received. 
 
 The F'rench members voted, if not in sympathy, at least acquiesced in 
 their views when I'pper Canada measures weie to be decided, as seen in the 
 amendment to the Municipal bill fca' Up|>er Canada cairied through thi.s 
 session, allowed by the government as a bid for popularity ; namely, tho 
 election of the wardens, treasurers, clerks, and sui-veyors, .and to be alloweii 
 pay for their services. 
 
 Mr. Draper moved an act to indemnify certain publh; oHicers and othei;) 
 
307 
 
 who may not liiivc takfii tin' oath \>y hiw rf(|uin'(l, followed \iy a Httlo 
 Nceno in the I louse when Speukcr raiiincau's back Halary was ^'ranted, 
 wlicii the ]Iou. iMr. Moiin was allowed to take the Speaker's eliair for tlie 
 ocoasioii. 
 
 At tho o|ii'niiii,', March 'JllUi, Attorney (Jeiieral I)rji|)ei- had laid on the 
 table inijioitant despatches, dated al»out seventeen days befor(>. 
 
 Jlis K.Kcellency finisnes his address to tholfousej 2(>th March, with tho 
 foHowin!,' oracular lines : — 
 
 " The last intellij^ence from tho motli«r country indicates a most im- 
 portant chani,'e in the (^ommei'cial |»oIi(,'y of tho empire. 
 
 " Until we have a fuller exposition of the piojected scheme, which a few 
 days will probably brin^' us, it would b<^ jireiiiature to anticipate that tlip 
 claims of this province to a Just measure of protection, has lieen overlooked." 
 
 Tin; following despatch from iMr. ( Madstone, which arrived after the 
 clcsci of the ll(nise, conveyinj,' the; decision of the Imperial I'arliament 
 closed thr- discussion, as fai" as any legal enactments could be gaim^l in any 
 of the colonies : ^ 
 
 " l)ow.\iN(; Stkkkt, .June ;?rd, IStO. 
 
 " The interests of Canada have occupied the jtlace to which they aro 
 justly entitled in tluMleliberations <jf Jier Majestj's government npon the 
 important subject of (changes in the IJritish Corn l>aw and upon others." 
 
 " After noticing the failurt? of Heciprocity 'i'reatie.s with foi-eign powers, 
 ;iud their determination to have free trade, should th(! government of the 
 I'nited States continue to maintain the scale t)f imj)ort dutirs now in forc(? 
 upon its frontiers, Ifer Majesty's (Jovernnient will vi(>w with regret a policy 
 irijuriotis to Canada ; Imt they will rellcct witli satisfaction on the pre\'alence 
 nflaws more favourable to commertteon the ( 'anadian side, and will anticipate 
 t'lniM these laws both a direct benelit to the public 'ind trade of the |>rovince, 
 i: '1 a fui'ther advaiitag*' which a constant example will atl'ord to them ;" etc. 
 
 With a reference to the despatch, three columns l<>ug, lie c<)ncludes : — 
 
 "Hor Majesty's (lovernmeiit have not fell themselves at lilcrty to advise 
 Her Majesty to i)ass by the aihlrcss of the Canadiaji Assembly with a biief, 
 ui' mere forma! answer, for which they are well assui'ed may be anticipated 
 tlic most candid cinisideration even of arguments ojtposed to their own ; nor 
 can she recognize in this view any distinction between her neareiand more 
 urnote subjects, or between the moi'e or less jiowerful." I'>ut with strange 
 inconsisttuicy adds: - Kspecially whei: they tend to impiove the comlition 
 of the most numerous and the least opulent class of her people.' liut, see- 
 ing that this was not argument, he closes with something more like reality:— 
 " it would be a source of the greatest pain to Her .Majesty's (Jovernment 
 that the connection between this country and Canada deriveil its vitjility 
 trMtii the exchange of commercial [>referonces, if so it would suggest the ideu 
 Miat the connection had reached the legitimate term of its existence, but it 
 ifsts uj)oii common traditions and resemblances." 
 
 At the close, our subject's hojies of benefiting the country, after an 
 
 eight years' struggle through colonial legislation being sudilenly destroye<I, 
 
 ' •' makes an application for government employment to ministei' Hraper, 
 
808 
 
 in a note from Donegana's Hotel, June 10th, the day after the House closed, 
 he alludes to his losses iu business, and says: — ^"It is necessary I should 
 devote my time to some useful object." He goes into a longWieucd detail 
 of the scheme by which the navigation of the St. Liiwrcucc luiglit be com- 
 pleted by next year : 
 
 " If it is considered my attention to this object would promote the public 
 interest, I would cheerfully devote my time to it ; having no great personal 
 interest, my only motive is to see this work madt^ useful. I care not who 
 are the engineers oi' contractors on the different works. No time is to bn 
 lost, however; and if I do not hear from you during the day, I shall con 
 sider the Government do not think the effbit necessary." 
 
 "W. H. MERRTTT." 
 
 His apj)lication not meeting with a I'esponse, and receiving on the sanio 
 day a commission from the Great Western, he was induced agiiin to turn 
 his attention to railroad enterpri/.es, with what loss to his private fortune, 
 and benefit to the public, it will be the business of this memoir hereafter to 
 
 relate. . 
 
 "MoNTKKAL, June 10, 1840. 
 " Dear Sir : — The shareholders in England are willing a few shares of 
 stock should 1)0 subscribed in the United States, and as you hove hithertc 
 obtained stock there f>)r other objects, you may ilis)»ose of 4,000 shares at 
 £25, equal to £100, 000, to be expended between Niagara and Hamilton ; 
 and in case a company of responsible contractors will undertake to complete 
 this part of the roail, for a fair remunerating price, to be apj)roved of by 
 Mr. Young or any othtu- competent engineer in the employment of the 
 Company, you will pl(>ase receive the proposal, which the Board, I have no 
 doubt, will san<'tion. 
 
 " 1 I'emaiu, dear sir, yours faithfully, 
 
 " ALLAN N. ISrACNAl), Prcs. G. W. R. Com., 
 "JAR. r.. EWART. Diiector. 
 "\V.M. H. Mr.inuTT, Es(,." 
 
 On his return fioni Parliament he visited the States, in the interest ut" 
 the Great Western Road, making a slight detour to visit his fathei'-in-law 
 at his residence in iVLiyville. This letter gives a jjartial account of his 
 mission on behalf of the CJreat Western Railway, on which he departe<l 
 soon after reaching his home ; as was not unfrequent on those occasion.^, 
 especially during the warm weather, his health lu'cded the necessary relax- 
 ation ; in the present instance ho was suffering under an attack of the pre 
 
 vailing fever. 
 
 "l-ncA, July 20, 184(). 
 "My Dk.vr Sir: — We arrived at Butlalo on Tuesday in good time, i 
 was not so well in Buffalo, and, after reaching Rochestei* in tho cars, was 
 obliged to leave them and take a ))acket boat on the canal to this place, 
 where I remained under the direction of J)r. Peckham three or four days, 
 wlien I again came round ; in the meantime was enabled to attend to my 
 business, which was meeting certain contractors for our railroad, and Mr. 
 Young, tho civil engineer. On the (Jth inst. finished, made a long visi^, 
 
309 
 
 jvnd iirepared to return. On Montlay the l;'>th Sir AlliUi McNah, and one 
 of the Directors of tlie (Jreat We.stcrn road, came out and wislied ino to go 
 OB to Boston to meet an lOnglisli engineer, who had arrived on his way to 
 C'anada to ie|)(jrt on tlie road ; con.seijuently I loft on Monday for l?oston. 
 Arrived at Boston at oVloclc on Tuesihiy, after sleeping from 10 to 4 at 
 Springfit'ld. Finished our husiness that day, left on Wednesday, and ar- 
 rived by the Long Island Railroad at 10 o'clock the same evening. .Fin- 
 ished my business in New York next day, (Thur.sday,) and in the eVoning 
 left in steamer. Remained in Troy and vicinity until 1 on Friday, aud 
 arrived here in the same evening ; remain Saturday and Sunday, and leave 
 in the morning for Canada. 
 
 " Youi-s affectionately, 
 
 "WM. HAMILTON MERRITT." 
 
 "Utica, July 7, 1840. 
 
 "Sill : — I hasten to enclose you » jiroposal from a numb(M' of influen- 
 tial and responsible contractors for the completion of the railroad frovft tho 
 Niagara River to Hamilton, and as much more of the line as will, after 
 [iroper stirvey.s and estimates, amount to ,£100,000, with the oj)inion of W. 
 0. Young, Esq., civil engineer, to whom reference was made, that the 
 jirices are roiv-sonable an<l proper ; also a sul)Sci'ij)tion list for the stock, to 
 the amount of £100,000 in the Great Western Railroad ('ompany, by the 
 same parties. 
 
 " Those contractors ai-e not only responsible, but on enquiry you will 
 find they combine influence, intelligence, and great practical experience. 
 They are all ])roj)erly organized, possess ample means to commence the dif- 
 ferent sections, and break grouiul the moment your specifications of the 
 work are in readiness, aud the ground or line marked out. I'rusting it may 
 ensure the early comj)letion of the work, and referring you to my private 
 letter for further particulars, 
 
 " I have the honor to be, sir, your ob't serv't, 
 
 "W. H. MKRR1T1\ 
 
 "Sib Allkx N. McNab." 
 
 [private.] 
 
 "Utica, July 7, 1846. 
 
 " Mv l)iv\ii Siij AiJ.AN : — Li the absence of all information respecting 
 your movemeuLs, 1 enclose a copy of the jtrojiosal and documents accompa- 
 Jiying the same ; the original I take back with me to b(i aildressed to you* 
 from St. Catharines to Hamilton, or any place you may direct, or forward 
 them to London ; a.so the copy of agreement, which has been used only as 
 directed, and the opinion of the meml)ers of the Legislative Committee. 
 
 " Notwithstanding the few days which hasintervened since the receipt 
 of your documents, on the ^Hth ult., everything has been accomplished 
 which was designed, aud T have no doubt the result will prove satisfactory. 
 An appoint.nent was made with the most influential contractors to meet 
 Mr. Young an<l inystdf, to whom reference was made, then; on the 3d iu.si., 
 the earliest day the distance they' resided would admit. Representatives 
 from thr(>e difierent companies attended, ditlerent [)roposaIs were submitted 
 for his (Mr. Young's) approval, and rejected. At length, after much time 
 and attention on his part, one was made which he considered etiuitable and 
 just, and on the evening of the fith it was decided upon and sigiu'd. Per- 
 haps a better selection of contractors could not be made. Daniel Carmi- 
 
310 
 
 chael, of Urooklvn, N. Y., lias 1)0(mi for many yt-ars tli<^ Icadinj,' man in tin: 
 firm of Carmioliacl, Fairbanks & Co., (th(i lattcM- now in Prussia,) inventors 
 ami manai^ors of jtowcrfiil macliincH for excavating earth, ono now in use 
 on the (leej) cut, Welland Canal, where I had an opportunity of witnessin<r 
 the management of Mr. C. in iliilerent kinds of work with it. He 1ms 
 been em|)loyed ou most of the railroads from New Hampshire to Mary- 
 land, lie will giv.i his personal attention to this line, and I feel confident a 
 more comjietent perscm could nt)t have been select(!d. His company aie 
 composed of men of jiroperty — they take one-fourth." 
 
 "SK(;oNn Lkttkk— July 8. 
 
 " ;Mv Dkah Rih At.i.AN : You api>ear(>d desirous lo obtain the opinions 
 of the dillerent railroad companies here respecting tiie route, and value of 
 the work, oftlu? (Jreat Western. No doubt the strongest exprcs.sions of 
 opinion coiild be procured from every Company I'ast of Hochester, it neces- 
 sary, although 1 have not had th(^ timo or been in a sitiuition to see the diro< - 
 tors of eitlier s-inei' leaving St. Cathai'ines. 
 
 " With rcigard to the facilities olVered in constructing this road : In the 
 earliest settl'Miieiit (jf this part of the country, roads wtu-e first opened in tli'' 
 mo.st natural and most direct situations from point to point. The JUdge 
 road from Kocha.ster to Lewiston was considered the best in Anu-rica. It 
 was on table land, on same levid to Ifiimilton and thence to Dc^troit. 15(! 
 fore 1S:]7 this v. as tlu; only route traveled; thirty stages per day passed 
 through to Detroit. This i-oute is now oj)enod on aln\ost a dead level, via 
 Lockport, to Lewiston and Queenstcm, where deviating frf)m Lock}Hjrt to the 
 b'all.s, to coud.iue the ailvant.iges (tll'cicd by th;it point of attraction, as well 
 as the connection of l>ufi'alo by the present railroad. 
 
 " Two routes oiler from the Falls -above and below the mountain. The 
 first li(W most direct for J)etroit ; the latt.M- passes tiie nuist extensive man- 
 ufacturing location in tin; western part of America, (the Welland Can.il) ; 
 passes througli imini'i'ous villages, aiid branching fi'om Hamilton to^ lo 
 ronto. The Western road through Chatham, Delawaiv, iiondon, IJrantford. 
 to Hamilton, will take as many way pjussengers and some more way 
 freight than any one of the roads nameil; connecting Stony Creek, (Jrnusby, 
 IJeamsville, Jordan, St. Catharines, and the great manufacturing towns 
 which must spring up on the Wellaml Canal, to the Falls there can bt; 
 little doubt in this b>it the way pas.sengers and freight will pay for 
 
 ^ost of construction. These routes will be determined from the combiiuxi 
 advantages each possess. 
 
 "Again, suppose the road on the north side of Lake l'>rie, to intersect the 
 ('Iroat Westei-n on oi- about London, was made ; it would not only succtws- 
 fuUy compete with the south side of Tiake Erie, and draw far more travel 
 over the western i>art of the Great Western than it would take from it on 
 the East. I do not consider the (Janada Southern road will aifect it, terini 
 nato where it may. The southern po|»ulation being inconsiilei-able, travellers 
 are more likely to pass over tiiis than to travel on the other. 
 
 "With regard to other railro.id routes : Notwithstanding a charter was 
 obtained last session to incor])orate a railroad company to connect Albany 
 with New York by the Hudson, there is no doubt the New York and Erie 
 Ilailroad will be contimu'd to Huflalo and Dunkirk, and in due course ot 
 time on the .south side of Lake? Erie. l>ut supposing it made, tin; travel 
 from Boston and New York, via Alliany, will go over tho (Jreat Westeru. 
 
■?A\ 
 
 livu in th« 
 
 inventors 
 
 )\v in use 
 
 vitn«'Hsing 
 
 llo lias 
 
 to ^Isiry- 
 onruU'nt a 
 iiipany aio 
 
 July 8. 
 t; opinions 
 1 viihio of 
 rossions of 
 v, if nocoH- 
 , the direc- 
 
 ;ul -. In tbe 
 (cnod in tho 
 The iUdge 
 inerica. It 
 vtroit. Be- 
 any passtMl 
 \ lin-el, via 
 kpoi't totho 
 ;ion, as well 
 
 ntain. Tlic 
 
 cnsive niati- 
 
 nil Cianal) ; 
 
 Iton to To 
 
 Brantfonl, 
 
 move way 
 
 <, (Iriiiishy, 
 
 I'ing towiiH 
 
 icve can \n) 
 
 ,vill pay fov 
 
 i. conibinoii 
 
 |nt(n-sect the, 
 julv snoeosH- 
 Iniore travel 
 ]• from it on 
 let it, tenni- 
 lo, travellers 
 
 IcV.arter was 
 loot Albany 
 }k and Erio 
 [c course of 
 I, th(! travel 
 It Westoru. 
 
 " It is well to nieation all tliost^ routes and place them fairly ljefor<' the 
 stockholders, although there is not any imme(liiite ])rosp('ct of their l)i)iiig 
 ooustriicted. 1 have i-onsisteiitly held to my original opini(jns respt-cting 
 the construction of railroads through the peninsula of Canada, running lat- 
 terly with those lakes. I ha\e never ent<'rtained a douljt that a railroad 
 on tin) south side of < )nlario will yield a ui )•>„ prjiti'i!-. i'lv js tui Mit.T hi.-j 
 opinion isgroundly wholly on the extent of country ('(jnuet-tt'd, which is 
 \ine(juall(Ml in eitli(>r Kurope or America, and (In- facilities presented in the 
 foniuition of the country lo connect it. 
 
 /. '• DiNDriiN-, Aug. .">, 1810. 
 
 "Mv l)r.A)! Sill : I have written to Mr. Young tiiis morning, i did 
 not receive your Ictti-i' till after my retiirn la^t iiight fi'om Toronto. F am 
 much j)le,ascd with your succe.is, and hope to meet you in [Joston. I leave 
 hereon tin- ioth for IJoston en route for Kngland. I think tlitit you had 
 better receive proposals foi' .lunlher 81 <)(),()()() of shur.'s. 
 
 "Our accounts IVom I'lngland are good, and 1 have gi'cat hopes that we 
 will commence this fall. 
 
 *'■ Yo\ir-! trulv. 
 
 •' .VLL.W N. .M( XAI!." 
 
 " INIv l)i;.\i{ Siii : 
 Mr. Milh'r has anlved 
 
 1 am sadly disapl>iiinted at ntit meeting you here, 
 he is with Ml-. Younu. I shall take them with mo 
 to Jioston, where you must follow in the morninir. TiH'my is with me. It 
 is all important wr should meet. 
 
 •' IVulv. 
 
 " " AI,1..\N X. McXAT.." 
 
 The interview occuri'cl as related on the l.'Uh. -Mr. Mi-.'ritt returiKid 
 
 to the sceiu- of o|i( rations, and Sir Allan lanbarkcd on hi^ railroad mission. 
 
 While thus engaged he writi-s : 
 
 •'.•'. St. -l.VMKS Pl.A( i;, [.(..NDUN. S. pt. 10, lS|t;. 
 
 "Mv Deak Mkhiutt: 1 did not receive youi' lettei' with the petition 
 to Her Majesty, and papeis connected with the Suspension Bridge, for some 
 days after 1 should have, in the usual course of post, receiv»>il them. I im- 
 mediately transmitted them, with your letter, to thti Colonial Secretaiy, Vtnt 
 I am not yet informed that any d'-ierminatinn has been come to. 1 shall 
 1.0 abh^ to let you know by the; next mail. 1 am getting on famou.^ly with 
 the railwiiy inatters, and I am sure we will eomnien«(^ vei-y slioi'tly — Jiy the 
 next mail I think all will be com]»leted, wlien 1 will write ron. 
 
 "J am soiry to observe that my friends in Hamilton are under tlu; iin- 
 [iression that you have availed yourself of the opportunity allbriled you, by 
 being engaged to assist and watch the interests of the (Jreat \Yestern Rail- 
 way, to endeavor to iiidnce Mr. Miller to take your part of the line from 
 lUifialo to Detroit- -so injurious to the liest interests of Canada. F regret 
 this on many accounts, particularly as T assumed .some resjionsibility in the 
 inatLer of your appointment. F trust they are mistaki-n, and that you will 
 bo able to convinces them that such was not the case. I will write you by 
 uext mail. You will set; all the news. N'our new (.>overnor-(.Jeneral will 
 uot go out, T undei'stand, till X'ovember. 
 
 •' Yours tridy, 
 
 "ALLAN N. McNAli." 
 
312 
 
 MONTIIKAL, Sept. lf», 184«. 
 " My Dkar S[r :— I hoarlily rojoicc at liouriiif,' of your diflicultios being 
 Jill at an end. Yon can now turn the enerj^ies of your iniml .satisfactorily 
 to important public nuitters. T »u\ told Miller, tlit; EngliKli engineer, who 
 wa.s sent c»ut l)y the proposed English stockiiolders. (without Sir A.'s know 
 lodge), to judge of the line, country statistics, tte., lias rej»orted that before 
 ten years this country will be connected with the States, that he could not 
 recoininend the investment of any money in the (Ireat Western oonscMjuently, 
 and that in such an evtsnt the Bertie and i^ctroit Railway was the only ono 
 that could succeed. Very faithfully yours, 
 
 " W. ir. Mkkhitt. " H. Ji. KILLALY. 
 
 Tiie liigh prico of provisions in the old country had made business good 
 for the niiUers liere. On the 11th S('))tember ^Irs. Merritt writes to her 
 father : " For the month past Thomas has been in Ohio j»urchasing whe^t. 
 H. was up last week. He engagcsd a vessel on his return this morning, to 
 go to Sandusky for Thomas's wheat ; and J. P. started for Cleveland ou 
 Tuesday, to take money, or rather Bills of E.xchange, to purchase more. 
 
 The following brief correspondence clo.ses the discussion n^garding the 
 most prolitabie line of railway that had yet been oll'ered to capitalists on 
 ( -anadian soil : — 
 
 Black IUxk, Nov. 27, 1846. 
 
 " Dear Sir : — -Will you be so kind as to inform me of the prospects re- 
 lating to the renewal of the charter of the Niagara and Detroit River Rail- 
 road at your next .session of Parliament. The Central Kailroad of Michi- 
 gan is now in the hands of a ))rivate corj)oration, who are progressing in 
 the most thorough manner with its completion to Lake Michigan, and o" 
 its completion, the benefits to accrue to the N. tfe D. R. K. R., if constructed, 
 would be immense. 
 
 " 1 trust that the project is not abandoned by its Canadian friends. 
 Were it in the power ^' the Americans in this State to do anything, the 
 effort wotilil be made insiu.itlv, and scarce a moment would be lost — were a 
 charter in existt^nce — to commence the prosecution of the work. Will you 
 be so kind as to inform me what are the prospects, and wliether you intend 
 resuming your elVorts at the next session of Parliament 1 What did Sir 
 Allan McNab do in his late visit to P^uglaiid touching the Hamilton road ? 
 Your early reply will much oblige 
 
 " Your friend and obe.lient servant, 
 
 "LOUIS F^. ALLAN. 
 
 "W. H. Merritt." 
 " Dkar Sir 
 
 "Dktroit, Nov. 21, 1846. 
 -You have no doubt heard that our Central Raih'oad has 
 passed into the hands of the Eastern ca|iitali.sts. I had the j)le.'isure of a 
 day from Judge Jones when he was last at the Assizes at Windsor, and was 
 happy to hear him say that the Canada road would in some form be made 
 without much delay. 
 
 " If business takes me through your part of the country, rest assured I 
 shall try to call upon you. 
 
 " Respectfully and truly ymirs, 
 
 <' W. H. Merritt. ' ' C. SMOLIDCJB." 
 
313 
 
 III OctolxM' lio uttomled tlio first Provincial Kxhiltition, whioli wus held 
 iit Toronto, and was ))l«mH»!d to find the proofs of an intelli<,'f'nt and thriving 
 coinniiinity so well displayed ; although not nimh of an aj^ricnlturalist, he 
 t<x)k a lively inti^rest in all pertaining thereto, as ]ie felt that his country 
 possessed all the essentials of soil and climate needed to inakc^ it powerful 
 and prosperous. At tlu^ diiuu^r, which followed, he made an intei-esting 
 speech on the changes which he had witnessed from the time when his 
 father first settled in the new land. 
 
 A petition had Ihm'w presented oursidyect from Mr. Devcaux, a friend of 
 Mr. Merritt's, asking for an act of incorporation foi- a Suspension IJridge 
 aoro.ss the Niagara Hiver. This was (contemporary with a similar mea.sure 
 in the Legislature of New York. Although it passed through our Parlia- 
 ment, the Royal assent was not given until next year, wlien every prej)ara- 
 tion had been made for going on with the w(>rk. Mr. Elliott, civil engi- 
 neer was engaged to superintend the same. 
 
 " DUNDUHN, Nov. 27, 1816. 
 
 " My Dkak MiiiuuTT : — J have received a reply to the petition you sent 
 me for the tjuoen, praying iior assent to the Suspension Bridge Bill, in 
 which the Colonial S(ccrctary says " that Her Majesty having lieen advised 
 to assent to the Bill, the necessary measures will be taken at the next Coun- 
 cil for giving effect to that decision." 1 have succeeded in all the other 
 matters in the most satisfactory manner. 
 
 " Yours truly, 
 
 "ALLAN N. McNAB." 
 
 J 8 4 7 . 
 
 The year opened with great demonsirations of sympatliv for their famine 
 Kiricken fcllow-suhjects in Ireland. Oui- subject did luit lose sight <jf the in- 
 terests of the agriculturists here, and to show, in pamphlets and s])eeclies, the 
 danger of a principle, by which the interos,tsof the colonists would be, while 
 the connection la.sted, subservient to Biitish interests. 
 
 In relation to one of the agricultural meetings, the Eronnniist of I'Y-bru- 
 ary 4th says :— " We notice a public meeting in the Niagara District. Of its 
 paternity we presume there can be no doubt it bears the impress of the hand 
 of the member who represents the section of the couutrv whisre the meeting 
 wa« held. It may be considered as an embodiment of the views which that 
 centleman expressed on the floor of the House in his speech in which he 
 entered into great lengths into the ways and means of the colony." 
 
 The following from the Conservative candidate who opposed our j^ubjeot at 
 the next election, shows the unanimity of views hold by both pirtic^ at that 
 time : — 
 
:!ii 
 
 •' lioKTii, JaiiUMiy 1m(, 1847. 
 "My Dr.Aii Mu. Mkuiutt, I ciillcd ut your Ikiuso on WfdiKisday uiorn- 
 inp week lor tlic report as I stated to you 1 would, liut found you liad uotyrf, 
 returned, iMr. Hoouier however <i',\\o. it lue, wdiieli I to((k to NiM<:;ara and iiiad^! 
 the I'ollowiu!;' nrran^cinj'nts for its printint:; and di^triliutiori, that is to say, 
 that 2<MI eopies lie |irint((l in hand hills, one eo|iy of whieh to he iniuxMliateiy 
 (lirft of this week) 8ent to entli district {'(uneillor to l^e u.^d at Iht; town 
 inoetinj,', remaining' eejms in he e(|ually dislrihulMl at next s«ssioii of the 
 eourieil i'oi' uy<'. ol' town.-hips, and (laeli editor to i:ive oin; <:ratuitous insi'itiun 
 in their respective jiapors. I hope the ahove will he satisfactory to you. I 
 ref^ret that Mdniund>on could not liav<' had it in tine. With kind regards t'. 
 
 Mrs. Ml iritt and family. 
 
 1 remain very truly yours, 
 
 "JAM MS W. (). ('I..\1U\. 
 
 W 
 
 Mi uu 11" 
 
 'i"he ./o/n'//<*/ of 'I'hnrsday, Ki'ltniiiry II, |S17, says:— 
 
 "The stale of politieid i|iiietnde which has for soom^ months presiiihid 
 ill the proN'inee, (a ijoietmh^ induced liy the ideii that im amendment or 
 chiui;,'e co\ild take place in I'luvinei.il allairs, Wefnre the arrival of th(! new 
 io|ii'esentati\e of royalty,) may now l)(^ expeelcd to conn! to an end. Tie" 
 
 If 
 
 I'eply wliicli His I'i.vccllcncv nnnic 
 
 Ih 
 
 .h 
 
 .M. 
 
 onheal addre.vs will 'dve leal 
 
 jdeasnie to tKc friends of tlio.se jirineiplcs of government wdiich ol)tain in 
 th(! mother ( onnliy, and who re^^ard the inte;{i-ity of the empire as the lirsv 
 arti(d(; of their polilical creed. It is ii inattei' of I'c^'ret that His K.xcelleney 
 slionld, on his arrival, lind a disor''ani/,ed catiinet, whiidi has violattid all 
 
 tl 
 
 i()S(^ nsa'^es, rci^arded as sacred in imperial pra(!li(;e 
 
 It 
 
 is h(i|ie(l tha! 
 ' .Ministrv aiei 
 
 liord \']\<i\i\ will at oiiec perceive the feehle (diaracter of tl 
 the ^(^Ljislature, and as Hpee<lily as possible make an appeal to the peopj. 
 Tin' preparations for such an f^veiit, inakiiii;' l)y nnnieiDiis ctinslstnencic, 
 jioiiit (o such a eouiso as ]iop\ilar and t;xpctlieut." 
 
 To trio Mditor of the N 
 
 nv'-di 
 
 ;i ( liriiiiir/i :- 
 
 St. CvriiAHiNKs, April, 1H17. 
 
 Sin, — The report of the atfiiciiltinal meetin;;- in this district iirst a|)- 
 
 out 
 
 p<>ar»Ml ill your journal in No\cnd>er last, in which an entire clianj^e in 
 coiiiiuereiiil policy was urirc^d with a viev,- of phicini; the )i;j;ricultural on an 
 e«pial footing!: witli ,iiiy otlier existinij; interest in Canada, as well as on an 
 e<pnd font in;,' with the ai,n'iculturalisls of (lie Western Slates. It also rtHM.ni- 
 uiendeil the adoption of such ineusuresas would attain thefullowin<(ohjects: — 
 " First,— 'I'iic i'rci- admission of all the pitjduels of Canada into the mar- 
 kets of Britain. Second, "Tho i'ree admi.ssion of all the products of Canada 
 into tiie niarkels of the United States. Thirtl,^ — Tin; e(|ualiziition of oui 
 
 n- dirci't taxes. 
 
 intei'i 
 
 ports as soon as priicticahle, 
 
 And fourth,- The removal of all duties on iin- 
 
 Kach of these seiiarate aiu 
 
 listinct measures 
 
 hftvo heen Itoforo the )>uhlic foi- some months, they have bcdi att(;ndtd to 
 in <^eneral terms liy dill'erent editors, hut not u sinL,d(! n'iison or argunien' 
 has yet lieeu iidvaneed against any. 
 
 "The attainineut of the ohjects advocated in that re[K)rt ar(>, in my 
 judgement, e,s,s(Mitial to tln^ preservation of this province as a colony ut 
 (Jreat ISritaiii, as widl as to the prosperity of its inhal)itants. 
 
 "W. II. MErvUlTT." 
 
315 
 
 1847. 
 .sdiiy inorii- 
 
 llllil lint yet 
 ru iind tii!iil<; 
 t is to Huy, 
 iinin<:ili:ituly 
 nt llif (own 
 .«Kioii of tliu 
 us iiisi^itiori 
 to you. I 
 1 it'^anl.s Uj 
 
 !LAiav. 
 
 lis |>r('V!iil(!il 
 
 ICIulllKMlt 01' 
 
 of thi' u»^w 
 
 I I'IhI. 'ill" 
 
 ill u''^*' '■''"! 
 'h olilaiii in 
 o as t!i(! lirsv 
 .« FiXccllciiDy 
 
 violattiil 11.1! 
 
 liopod tlial 
 linistry aii'l 
 • llic jicuiil'. 
 list sUiciic it's, 
 
 >i'il. 1SI7. 
 ict, lirsl ii|) 
 inline ill our 
 
 lural on an 
 "11 as oil an 
 
 itlso i'(!(;(.iii- 
 m olijoots:-- 
 uto tlio mar- 
 Is of Canada 
 it ion of our 
 ilirs on iiii- 
 R't nit'ii.siiri'S 
 
 attrr.diil fo 
 ))• argunii'ii' 
 
 .u'(s in my 
 a colony ol' 
 
 linuTT." 
 
 "St. C.vtii.vki.nkh, Wki-i.and C.vnai., Kcliruary r.tli, 1817. 
 "Sill, — I hu\i> tlio l)(iiiorto.»*uhuiit lor thcooiisidfraiioii (d" His Kxccilfncy tlic 
 (t ovornor (loiicrJil, tin- enclosed letter from the Hritisli Minister at W:isliiiij,Mon, 
 \vlii»di rejiitts to the ;idn.i.-sioii id' tla; products id" (.'aiiada into llie port.-i of the 
 the United States without duty, a measure in my judjremoiit, (d' far more iii»- 
 jHirtanee than any other to whii'li piiMie opinion h.-is heeii diverted. I'lider 
 
 tl 
 
 ii.s impression 
 
 I aihl 
 
 !'( .-sell 
 
 two J 
 
 rivate letters to the rro\iiieial Secret; 
 
 ry 
 
 here iii'f^iii<; the; Provincial (iovcriimont to send on to Washington .some privati 
 U'<Mitlemaii to the difl'erent eliairinen of eoiniiiilli'cs and niemhers of ( 'oiiL're.s-s 
 
 ho jio.s.M'Ss influence to represent tlu! justice and advantages 
 
 it would confer 
 
 on them to admit our products, and to draw the (listiiicti(>n, which is by no 
 means understood there, hetween ('aiiadi.an produetsand Hrili^h nianufaeluros, 
 Id show liie protection party we only i'e(|uirc the loriiier to he coiL^uined in their 
 iiiarkc.ts, not the latter. 
 
 " Mr. I'.iekeiili.'iin's letter is in reply to an emi'iiry respectini;; tin; actual 
 .Htute of the negotiation, it confirms my previous apprehi;nsioiis, the JO.xecutivo 
 there, foarint; the opposition of (Jont^re-s, will not press the suhj';ct, the Protec- 
 tionists do not understand the <listiiii'tion, they tliink it ;i free tradt; measup! 
 which will introduce maniil'actures from l']iii;land, whereas we only re(|uii'e tin; 
 introduction ol' the products of (Janadii, say ^jniin, provisions and iniiiher. 
 Thest! aiticdes tln-y will send hoth to Britain and hen- tree ; no ]iersori on the 
 spot will take? suflieicnt int(M'est in it to explain it, the .sessiin will piss over, 
 nothing will he di lie, time will ulide on unlill a lad liarvest in America or an 
 ahiind.'int one in J'jirope, when the price (d" hre.-id-st nil's in rnited States will 
 he higher than in Canada, tlat duty will meet us, dihsatisfaction follows, and 
 we will realize the evil, after the time has passed away to ensure the reineily. 
 
 >Vh 
 
 Fceliii';' that I li;.ve dene my duty in usiim my i-xeitioii- in my huinhln 
 
 ere !o avert it. 
 
 I have the honor to he vour oln dieut .•-(•rvaiit, 
 
 •'\V.' llAMILfo.N .MKIIRITT 
 
 On tli(! filli of r'eltniarv, iiOrd lOliiiii arrived in ('aii.id.i hv wav of I'lo.s- 
 
 1 a maniHi 
 
 ton, and was received in IMontreal it 
 of s<^ distiii^iiishi'd a statr^sniaii. 
 
 As we have iiieiil ioiHjd, a;,'ri('ull oral meet iiit,' 
 
 1, 
 
 'llltini; t 
 
 le a 
 
 liteeedentH 
 
 'S Wrvt' he 
 
 I' 
 
 irni'Mpall}' in ine 
 
 Nia^^'ara District, on the <|uestioii of lii'ciprocity. TreN iuiis to the (ijieidng 
 'tf the session oni" snlijf.'ct appears to lia\i hecu in (■xlensive laua'cspe'iideni^i 
 with nnnierous inHiiential per.sons at Washington. TIic result of it was, 
 that ,Mr. W. Hunt (d' Loekport, laid the niittlep h-forc ( 'on>i;ress in Deeem- 
 l>er (d" last year, and it was r('S(dve<l, "'that the ('oniniilti'e on Com- 
 inercc bo instructed to ('ii(|uii'e into the expcdifiiey <d" estiiWlishiie^' .i lt"ei- 
 [irocity hetween the Ihiited States and tie; Province of Canada, with a 
 
 view 
 
 to tl 
 
 w. adini.ssion o 
 
 f th 
 
 products o 
 
 f eidi 
 
 •r coiintiie.s to the p 
 
 )its of th( 
 
 other on a footing; of eijuality." Mr. Aleiritt spoke; to the Adndiiistrator 
 on the subject, explainin;i^ the advantages the country would derive from 
 tlio measun;, tind suggested that soini! competent person siiouhl 1j(! «leputod 
 to visit Washington. TIh! .\dniini.strator received the couuiiunieation 
 without action ; hut on the arrival of Lord Elgin our .subject again reverted 
 to the nnittor, and his i-epresentation was duly attended to, as ho received 
 
310 
 
 lotterH of introiiiictidii to tlio llnt'iHli KiiibiiKHy at Wiishiii^'tDn, iiml all »)|p 
 |iortuMitii'M wi'i'' adurtli'd iiim to purHUK tin) olijnct in view. Ahout tlii.i 
 |ioiiocl lie sci'iii.H to liiivc l)ioiiclM!il tlm railio'id coiiiiiiiiiiiciitioii in liiH (•orr(\s 
 [•oiidiinct! with iiis old IVitiud Sir Jolin llarv(*y, \slio was now (lovfiiior of 
 Nova Scotiii. Kioni tilt! stinin;,' tiiuc.H of I8I*J a wnini rrifnilsliip cxistod 
 Imtwccn Sii- .lolm and nm- sulij 'ft, and Ids Kxci'llcncy may liosaid to have 
 boon as tliiii-ou<,ddy Canadian in i'oclini^ as if to tlin manor liorn. Tlic 
 nulijt^ct of tlm railway from Halifax t(» (^U'ltcc, in which Mr. M. took u 
 d('(^|» interest, was warndy nrj,'cd hy Sir John, and in his s|KH>rh to the 
 I'aiiianiont of Nova Scotia, he makes the followin;,' patriotic, and we nu<jht 
 say almost prophetic rennuks: " Tlu^ period at, and the circiimstAnceH under 
 which we iiifct, atlords me the opportunity of leconiniemlin^' to your con- 
 tinued attention an undertakini^ second in its importance to uonv which 
 has ((ver en^'at,'ed the notice of any Colonial I.eyislatnre in any jiortinn of 
 the r.iitish l)(inuni(ins. I allude to the jirojected railroad hetween Halifax 
 and Quehec, which will constitute the most importairt link in that j,'real 
 chain of conimuni,'ation, which may he destined at no ri'mote period to 
 connect the Atlantic with the I'acilic ocean, and to conduct to a Hritisli 
 seapoit, from those unto which it is now forced, that vast stream of trade, 
 not only of our own w«!ster'i possessions, l»ut of the i-idi and ex'tensivc 
 grain growing tlistricts of ill North America." 
 
 The alarmini' news of ti 
 
 il.l 
 
 eriilile surlerin''s o 
 
 H'( 
 
 th 
 
 l»eo|»|e III 
 
 Ireland 
 .Mie and fanune 
 
 had \)\ this time rt'ached Canada, and the dread stoi'V of plai,' 
 was soon told throui,di the land. In St. Cath:lrin(^s our suhj(u;t at once 
 I'onvencMl a meeting,' of t lie people, at which he presided as chairman, and 
 in a plain statement of fact, told the sti ry of the distress of their fellow- 
 b(nn<,'s in the old land. An inlluenlial committee; was aj»i»oint(!d, and a 
 liandsome sum sul)S(iil)e(l, which was soon forwarded to the suffering people. 
 An act wliicli was accomplished generally liy the other comndttces through- 
 out the country. 
 
 The demanil for l)ri'adstuils hy the peoj le in lOngland caused an enor- 
 mous tra<le on the canals iis many as forty laden vessels and barges passing 
 down the (Join wall Canal in a day, causing a marked change in that hith- 
 erto dull locality. 
 
 One of the lirst acts of the (iovornmont was in assuming the control of 
 our postal system, thus (Kiing away with one of Mr. Mclveiizie's greatest 
 grievances; the lirst I'ostmaster (li-neral being tin; Jlon. James Morris, of 
 Broekviil", who was subse(juently connected liy marriage with our subject. 
 
 Mrs. Mcrritt Siiys, 12th January: — "They have got the telegraph under 
 w;iy from Quccn.^ton to 'J'oMiito, and will soon have it to Hufialo. Of town 
 injprovcnicut-, ;hey have the reservoir linisluHl, and the water brought in ; 
 the logs ;ire now being laid to the nndn street, where there will be a cistcru 
 kept full fc.r the •onvenienee of the iiihabit.ints, and in case of fire. The ex- 
 penses of t.)wn, iiiil .ding water works, £1,348 for the last year." 
 
;ji7 
 
 Tlif t»'l(';,'rii|iliic connni-tion Itotwoon QuooiiHtnii aii<l St. C'litluiiiiics wuh 
 complotnil this wiuHoii. On tlic 1 '.Hh Miuvli, from llnmilti>ii, ii fvw day^ 
 aftor Mr. Mi-iiitt rccoivnd, us uii »)|)('iiii)<;, a <lcHj»atch ovrr tlio wires. 
 
 Tlio utility ni' tln' 'rt'l(';.;rai>li waH soon hcoh l>y Mi-. Mcrritt, and In- iin 
 in<«liat«'ly made arraiii,'('tiii'iit.s for oxtcndiii;,' its uscIuIiicns aloiii; tlif lijio of 
 ihi; canal, and liad a hraiicli lini< Ixiilt from Port Dallionsic to I'ort ( 'oUioriH-, 
 wliioli was of ^'roat advantage) to tlin slii|iniaHt«'rs ami otlins. 
 
 Mr. Mcrritt left lor tlic Lp^isliituro, accoiiipnnitd by \m spou.Hc ; they an 
 usu;d took the route throui^li the States, via Oswego, Stopping at lltioa, 
 there wa.s aildcd to the party a relative of Mth. Mcrritt'.s. The following from 
 her diary gives an account of the voyage: — 
 
 " We left hoiiic Urith IM.iy, Mr. Mcrritt to attend to Ium liCgi.'-lative duties 
 in Montreal, and I in search of liealtli, with Frances to visit her lather in 
 IJtica, came to Quccnston in our own carriage, waited an hour, when James 
 took us and t)ur trunks to the boat, and we were soon ferried down to steamer 
 .St. Jiawrence. Mr. Karweil met u.s with an nnilirelia ;is it wa.s raining. Mr.". 
 Karwell kept her berth. There were about half a dozen ladies in the cabin, 
 Due of thcin went out about 9 to examine the indication of the weather, and 
 observed that it was moonlight, (juite still, and we had nothing to fear. Heard 
 passengers going in and out at Koclicstcr. 1 got up at 12 and opened my 
 •stateroom window, the air was warm and b dmy, but while endeavouring to get 
 the benelit of it the wiinl brcc/ed up, and I had to close the window again; 
 slept untill about !>, when felt the ve.s.scl rocking, as my berth was cro.ssway.s 
 1 was obliged to ri.se and hold on to the tabh!s and chairs. I managed to look 
 out, it appeared to be a steady l)low ami no danger apprchcmU^d, so I went to 
 bed and slept soundly till arrival at Oswego, took breakfast at VVelland Hotel, 
 and went on board canal packet for Syracu.se. The Oswego Canal was full of 
 boats, had a pleasant sail, though too cool to be on deck. 
 
 " May 'Jlith, arrived at Syracuse at 1, should have taken c.ir.s, only they 
 did not start till six and we would be too late getting into Utica. Mr. Merritt 
 here left us and hired a carriage that took him to Chatenango ; he came on 
 board the packet again at ten. After Lreakfast, went on deck to have a view 
 of the beautiful .scenery in that part of the county. Mr. and Mrs. Furwcll 
 pointed out every place of interest to us. She was in high spirits getting homo, 
 alter her journey to Hamilton. 
 
 " Cousin Clark came on board and took us to his house. Mr. and Mrs. 
 Craft returning from Cooperstown in the afternoon came down for u.s and 
 we walked up with them. Called at .Mr. Farwell's, the least wo could do 
 alter their pressing invitation to go home with them. 
 
 " On 27th Mr. Merritt went on to Albany by cars, Mrs. Craft and I fol- 
 lowed the next day (Sat.) under the the protection of Mr. Munson. In 
 Albany the flrst per.son I saw on stepping out wa.s Mr. Merritt, who was 
 waiting for us. Stopped to tea at. the splendid Delevan House, went up 
 to Troy in a crowded stage or omnibus, spent part of the evening in the 
 public parlour till fatigued by the company, then retired to our rooms. 
 The pattering of a beautiful fountain in the inner court .served to soothe 
 us, also to give an appearance of coolness and variety in a plot of grass 
 and trees. 
 
^1^ 
 
 318 
 
 "Sundiiy, 150th, — Mr. Mcriitt took us to tlio Presbyterian Church. 
 Kov'd. Mr. liurinau preached from a fiin<,^uhir text I'roiu Ecclcs. 9th chapter, 
 40th verse, ' For a livhig do<^r is better tlian a dead lion'. He was however, an 
 eloquent preacher and made a mo.st excellent fsernion. 
 
 " Lel't Troy at 3 o'clock in a horse car for JMechanicsville, 115 miles; as 
 we passed leisurely alon^' the west side of the Hudson lliver I had a good 
 view of Lansini^'burgh, my native town ; the Diamond Rock, one mile back on 
 the hill, where with my youn<,n\st aunt I once picked up diamonds or rather 
 crystals. The road runs alon<r the river's bank to Waterfurd, one mile, wlicre 
 I have so often taken a walk with anotlicr, and with little -:irls, and in after 
 years, when ^oin-:' to school in Albany, with aunt Minerva and other young la- 
 dies and gentlemen. I could not discover the slightest change; there was old 
 Cornelius Ijansing's high board fence with the fruit trees waving above it now 
 as then, that looked so tempting to mo in childhood. At Meehanicsville we 
 wore hurried out of the cars and on board the the packet-boat. There were 
 three ready to start, and I supposed the huri'y was occasioned by each wishing 
 to be first, but wa.s a little startled on entering the cabin to see a respectable 
 hxiking woman with a liabe in her arms and a little girl about six years 
 old who afterwards jiroved to be the family of the captain, crying and wring- 
 ing her hands, uttering incomprelionsible articulations, such as, 'I know ho 
 will be killed. T wish T could get ashore, (>h! dear,' and tie like. The 
 boat was rushing on until the water rolled over the towing path ; 
 this was covered with men helping us on : one of the women screamed, ' they 
 liave cut the tow rope', but the boat still went on pulled by tlie men. again 
 they have cut the rope ; we h id 2 lines and six horses. After a while the 
 rope was mended and we pushed far ahead ot the other boat which had 1) 
 horses ; this they called opposition. Tt ajipeared that the captain had .served 
 the company for l."5 or It years, now he had got a boat and set u}» for him- 
 self and that the company were determined to run him off: such a scene I 
 was never in before, and hope I m ly never be auain. 
 
 " The scenery along the Hudson is most beautiful. We passed Stillwater ; 
 (I once cros.sed the river at Stillwater with my pa.) Next place of interest is 
 Burmese Heights, and the old breastworks where IJurgoine surrendered his 
 army. I*assed Fort Fidwards and l'\)rt Ann in the night; arrived at White- 
 hall early in the nior.iini; ; breakfasted ai\d went on board the steamboat IJur- 
 ]in"ton, which left at 10 o'clock. This is the best conducted boat lever was 
 in ; she had lost one of her wheels, and performed the journey with the other. 
 At Whitehall the s^eenery is most picture.«(|ue — mountains on every side. The 
 river is so crooked that there is one place called the letter 8 ; bays, islands, 
 inlets "■roves, and every variety produced by the combination of land and 
 
 water. 
 
 " At length that noted place in history, Ticonderoga, came in view. I 
 Lrazcd and admired, and endeavored to rec dl some of the fearful accounts I 
 liad heard in that wonderful place in years gone by — the most prominent w:w 
 that of Ethen Allen. I had often heard my father relate the anecdote of his 
 capturing the place with about RO men ; he <lenianded the Hritish to surrender ; 
 
 they asked by what authority. He replied. ' By authority of ," we will 
 
 not (|Uote his impious threat, ' and the Continental Congress.' 
 
 '• There is Mount Independence, Mount Hope, Mount Defiance. There 
 •were ruins of fortifications at Crown Point, and Chimney Point. The boat 
 pissed quite near two pretty little islands ; they appeared so lonely and beau- 
 tiful amidst the waste of waters that I gazed at them as long as they were 
 
319 
 
 visible, A lady fold me thoy were called the 'Two Sisters,' And there is the 
 ' Four Brothers,' not so pretty, but larjjer. 
 
 "About 12 o'clock the boat stopped for the night at Chaniplainc, or as it is 
 now called Rouse's Point. Breakfasted at St. John's, and proceeded by 
 railway to Jjapraire. The country is almost a dead level, with very 
 few trees. There are roads crossing our track every few miles, studded 
 with low French houses of a \-ery luiiforin appearance, small gardens and 
 f-ome few fruit trees in blossom. The land is all laid out in large long fields, 
 with seldom a tree or a shrub to be seen; indeed the only object to break the 
 monotony of perfect sameness is three mountaitis in the distance, the largest I 
 am told is the famous cross mountain of old. 
 
 " Arriving at Lapraire it rained, and we crowded on board the stoara ferry 
 for Montreal, !) miles. Arriving at this famous city, we came directly to 
 Doneganii's. I having a cold, li!t Mrs. Cr.il'ts and Mrs. Merritt go to (] 
 o'clock dinner. I take a day in their absence to write up the details of our 
 journey." 
 
 On the 2(1 of June, i.ord Elgin opened hi.s tirst Puiliainciit, and in liis 
 svieei'h mentioned rceiprocity ; I'eitei-atcMl the proniises of Loid Svdcnliam, 
 I'V stating that tlio Iniperiiil Government were sui-veyiiig a I'ailway from 
 Halifax to Quebec, and had subsidizcfl ste;ini comiiiiniication to the, same 
 piacf. The Hon. Peter 3Ie(Jill was cIkwm Sjicakcr of the Legislative 
 ( ouncil, and Sir Allan McNab to tlii' same position in the ('(Unnions. 
 
 The author vi.iited the capitid at the opening of the House. The (iov- 
 onor d(>livtied his speech in a clear, decided tone, and it was received, 
 not without approbation, th(*iigli the ministry was not pupulin-. nr one likelv 
 to carry a working majoiaty in the lioiiNe. ()ii his ioiu'iie\ , and al.so at 
 Montreal, he was witness of tin- distress of the fi'\fr stricken emigrants, 
 who liUed the ims.sagt! boats and .sheds. 
 
 In the answer to the Sj)oech, our sul)ject took an exliaustivi' re\iew os 
 :I e commerce of the country, and trusted that bold iUid energetic measures 
 w luld be brought forwai'd to encouragi; the same ; also impressing upon 
 '!,<> Hou.se the necessity of carefully ^'•anulng cmmv item ol' th<' pul)lic ser- 
 vice, as the strange incidents, iu eonnexiim with the sale uf ei-own lauds, 
 -i:Owed that during the ])ast twenty years ten millions of aci-es of land had 
 : '■'•n puix'hased from the Indians, and vast (juautities sold, aiul yet the 
 r.'asury was not a farthing richer. lveci[»rocity was again discussed, and 
 •.'..e feeling towards its accornidishment increased. 
 
 " St. C.VTiiARrNEs, Gth July, 18i7. 
 •• Sir, — I herewith enclose you copies of llesolutions pa,s,s''d and unani- 
 :;jjMsly adopted at a public meeting held here last night : Mr. llykcrt having 
 I'ccn called to the Chair, and myself appointed Secretary. 
 
 " Your obed't serv't, BA11NAUI> FOLEY. " 
 
 •Wm. IlA.Mii/ro.N Merr'TT, Esq., M. p. 1'., Montreal. 
 
 " Moved by A. C. Hamilton, .seconded by R. M. Clement : — /'rsnfo'i/, 
 -liat this meeting has learned with alarm that a bill to revive the charter of 
 he Niagara and Detroit Rivers Railroad Co. has pa.sscd a second reading in 
 
i-'IVi-JHiJlHl" 
 
 :iL'o 
 
 (Itc IjCi'JHliilivo Ahs<miiIi1_v, ,'is (IiIh iiii'i'liii^ Im ul" ii|iitii(iii lluif if mucIi i'IuiiIci 
 uliiill |i;ms inlti ii l.'iw, will McrimiMly injure llic |)i(iN|iri ily nl" (lie rroviiico, |»y 
 ilivcrtinu; I'lum ilw iMiials iind Liiko Ont.iriit n iimiinn fil'dic (r.idc nl'tlii' WchI, 
 cm Sliids, iiixl In ili'l.i\iii^ fur iiiniy yi>iiiH tlic ('((iislnicl imi nl' ,i I'lnvindi.'tl 
 !ino ol' r.iilw.iy Innn NVinilsur jiiul Siiniiu Id iM(iiitri'!il. 
 
 " M.iv.'.i liy >lr, W . AlKiiismi. NiM-ditdiMJ '>y ('m|iI. 'roiicli 'J. I,'rs,<lr,,l, That, 
 in OiiHO h\w\\ mini sluxiM In- in.nli', it wnnlil, hy iliviMlim; m |iiii(i(»ii <i!' hiicIi 
 lr;i(l(', (IiMMCMSc llic rcMimi' wliifli "llici wii-ic would :icrriii' ii|inii ll.c WclJMtid 
 :ii\d Si |,;i\vri'iic(« C'iiimIs, 
 
 " Moved by Mr. V. M«'(inir(<. Hcoiided liy Mr, l> IV IJiiyiu'H: .'I. A'- 
 .•.i)/rt./, TliJil ill llii' |)re,-<("nl sl'ile dl' llie piilijie ddil, iiiid cuiisiderin^ lliiil ;i 
 Ijirm' pcrlioii (»!' il li;i,'< Ix't'ii iiicuircd in cuiiMlnu'liii:' siiid r(in;d*<, il wimld ||,> 
 imwiso to siuH'liiMi iiiiy mcI hIm'Ii niii'lil ini|iiir Ilic ii'vcmiiM lo ln> di'riv(d 
 InMii tlii'iu, 
 
 ' Moved liy l>r, ( Jiiodnrm, .'-eeonded hy .l;ieiil) ll;iiner i I'lMilml, 'V\\\\ 
 llie loule l,duMi »ip by ihc (litMl Wi'mIimm ll.'iiliiiad Co , IVoni llie pniiMiHeil ,sil^ 
 
 ol llie SM>piMi,^ii>n 
 
 Uiid. 
 
 e on 
 
 llie Niae.'ira Kiver. pa,'i.>>in;^ llirnn!;li Si, Calli,! 
 
 vine.s. Ilanullon, and all llie priiieipal lnwiis in tlie we.^liiii pari (d" llie I'r, 
 vinee is one whnli, while il will ilevelope llie re-toiirecs ol" Ihe t,<iiiiilry in llie 
 highe.vl deiviee. will also allovd laeililies lor llie iiilereoiir,se hel ween llie Iwo 
 sect ion.-* of llie I'niled Slaliv^ in an iMjual or i^realer dei^ree llian llie NiiiL^jii'i 
 :u\d Pelroit Kiver.s Hailroad. 
 
 "Moved by K, W . Sti'plieii,^on, seeonded by .lames lloyd : 5. /iisn/rrif 
 Thai a piMilioii lo His Mseelleney llie (Jovernor (leneral, and also the Hon 
 llie lieiiisl.ilivt* Conneil be iVanied, enibodyin!', llie lorejidin;; re.solnlions, and 
 Ihat Messrs, Hainiltou, Huriis, Clenieiil, Hoelor (loodniaii and Alkinson he .a 
 ooiumillee lo dral'l ino same. 
 
 " i'he pelilioiis were here inlrodneed :iiid read by Ihe Seerelarv, lirayiiii^, 
 llio I.O!:isl.ilivi> Conneil not to pass the bill, and to His l<lxeelleney not to <^ive 
 his assent tlu-rt^to. The petitions will be lorwarded to Monlre.il as soon n.^ 
 siu;natiires ean be obt.ained. 
 
 " Moved by l>r, (Mia. e, seeoiided by Alva Ditlriek : I'l. I!, s,<h;,l. That, tli.< 
 petition luiw read lu' .•idoptnl and eirenl.ated lor .-nhseriplion, and forwarded 
 
 lo tiie ^ea 
 
 t of (Jovv'rnment wilhont del.iy, 
 
 "Moved by 11. M. Clement, .seeonded by doliii Copeland : 7. /usofrftf, 
 That Wni. Hamilton Merrill, Km]., onrrepie.vent.ative in th(> House (d' A.sseiii 
 blv, bo ivi|nesled to lend his aid in defeatim;' Ihe application for said renew:ii 
 bill. 
 
 '■ Moved by IViniard h'olcy. seeiMided by K. M. Clenienl : S. I'rudliYd, 
 That the Chairman o( the meetini: do roiiucsl Sir All.in McNab and ollici 
 directors of tho It roat Western Uailway Co, in Montreal, to comimiiiicalc to 
 W. H. Merritt, Ksij,, M. 1'. 1'.. whether it is th(> intention of the Couipaii/ 
 to adoiU the line of road laid down throu!::h St. Catharines. 
 
 "UAUNAUP KOLKY. Soorot.irv. 
 
 (JKO, KYKKUT, (Miairman. 
 
 The Hoiisi' was prorogued mi the L'Olh -Inly, al'ter a short and iiiaotivo 
 sHVision. On Mr. Monitt's rotiini homo, he proetvdod to Mayvillo, wIumc 
 ho sjHMit :i short timo in roeuiuM-ating his tired .system and preparing for th<^ 
 
 ooinint: ovonts m connexion wi 
 
 th tl 
 
 le irroa 
 
 t sel 
 
 ionics w hieli were now 
 
 bof 
 
 01" 
 
 tlie people ol Canada, and in whidi ho was partienlarly intoresteil. 
 
.121 
 
 ■li t'luiilci 
 ■oviiit'o, l»y 
 ' tli.> WohI, 
 I'riiviiu'i'i 
 
 h;ul, Tliiil. 
 
 Ill III' Hlli'll 
 ... W.'llllll.l 
 
 s: :i. />•• 
 
 wnuld 1)1' 
 ,/,v,/. Thai 
 
 •(ipnsoil Nit'" 
 
 SI. CmIIi.i 
 il" ll\<« 1*10 
 Milrv i" 111'' 
 
 IMMI i\w tVf'l 
 
 till" Niiii^aia 
 
 M) till" lion 
 ilulioiis, ami 
 ikiiisoii \w ;k 
 
 my, pi-iiyini; 
 
 • iiul 1(1 };ivi> 
 
 as soon ».•« 
 
 ,/. Tlial 111.- 
 id t'lirwardi'tl 
 
 I,. /;,,s'(i/r.'./, 
 :f of Asm-Ill 
 h.iid ronow;i! 
 
 I> ami otlicr 
 
 liminiciito to 
 li.' (Vuniian/ 
 
 hiaininn. 
 
 ml inai'ti/' 
 
 |vill(>. whlMV 
 
 krinu; for tli*^ 
 
 now Itofofo 
 
 A t IIh> I'loHo of l.lio I'l'iiviiK ill! I'lxliiliiridii in ilnuiilton, l.hi>i yi>iir, l,onl 
 Mlj{in TiMilnl Ml,. ( 'nllnTincH ami a. purtioii of Uio (;aiiiil, nri I l.licii wnnL on 
 lo tln> I''iill:i, fiMiii lln'iici' n<hn iiiii;,' I.d Moiit.iciil in llio '((cinoii- " ( '/irrit/ct$.'' 
 A iii«<i>liii;.^ of Mi(t;;(< iiili'i<"it,i>(| in llm inillin^ iiit.oroxt WHd ciilh-d \>y Mr. M., 
 KMil llio i|ii<>hI ion cf lt<<i'i|tro<'il,y wiiH fully ilJMiMiHHod, iinii loHiiltoil in a loltf>r 
 lii'in/^ Hcnl, |,o t.lio Agri<-iilliiial mihI Arlii ANtiociation of tlio piovinco, iir;;iu^ 
 K iiiiiininioiiii iii'lion on llii.'i fiiilijcil iniioiif^Kl the tniuiufi(oli.ir'iii^ intor«?HtM, ua 
 it iiaij licon ditiit- liy lli<- fii'iiiorH. 
 
 W«i think llio fullowinj^ litici lo Mm (uUh'I in law, lolatint,' to tlir- iifFaiiH 
 of trim I'limily, inny not ho rnnHiiJori d irii'volant. It wii'i tli'i lii,<t ((/inniiini- 
 
 calion, and tlioy novor 'net a;(iiin in I.Iiim vvoijd lo KyMipatliiHo with ono an' 
 oIIk'i'h Min'icHMOH and diHii|i|ioiiil inrntH, ; 
 
 "St. ('ATilAUiNir.H, ^fov.•Ill^.<•^ li7th, |H47. 
 
 "Mv hivMi I''aiiii;u, Ah tho Hwasion in noar <l(wiiiL(, it may Im Hati.ifac- 
 Uiry for yon to hoar of our |>riM'i'C(!iiiL,'M dniini^ tho yrar. 
 
 " .lodoihal'. ronliniios I'l-adiii;^, ^aiiiin;^ inrormation, and attoiidin^ to hia 
 i'ost OtliiK, IjotH, l5iiildiiij,'M, itc. and onjoyH f^ood lioalth, 
 
 "William lia:( hi<oii n-adini^ clo.'icly .Hini'i' hin r<-tiirn, lia.H ri-j^ainod hin 
 health and |ia.i!(cd. Ho in now a HarriHtor and Attornoy, a.nd i.i now ready 
 lor |irid'es.Mional iniHinoMH. Ilo will contiiim' however, a fow inontliH longer 
 III Toronto, to |icri'ei;t hitiiHolf in praetieo, after whieh I think it prolnil 
 
 lie will coiiimom-o here 
 
 II 
 
 o iH imlsiiiL; ii|) a Hiiiall lilnary, am 
 
 d will 
 
 ilO 
 
 IIH KOOM 
 
 :v\ he fan, mud for four or live hiimlied dollaiH worth of liookH to liondrm, 
 of latent re|iiirlH and Klaiidard \voii>s, to eommeneo on (;i|iial tiwinH with hin 
 (•oiu|K'titorH. 
 
 "Thomas ha:t eiil.i-red lulo llH^,illesM an deejilv an is |iriident fm so y>i\iu^ 
 a III m. I |i' eniitinnes with UeiiHon, in Ih" liardwari! hiinirioHH. Tlniir oo- 
 |iai tner.shiji eiidi-d hiMt year, hot Ihey are. Iil;ely to eijiitiiiuo in the triillii g 
 
 ; fiir jtrolil.H. They hiiilt two veHHej.s IhmI year, tho 
 
 oii'ine 
 
 iiKl ant mah 
 
 Wilhuiil, whirh taken 'J |(I0 iil.lx. ol' Hour, ,S'/ '"•hUiii'l, (named after I.I,.' Iniihler) 
 i-ai;.;o ;t,()()() hld.H., the (irst eo.st U'J.OOO, thu cleared .CI, 1)00 diiiin- the Hea 
 will ; th<i Hiid coHt £l*,'JO(), a line '. essid, l»nt (•oiiiiii;^ out hit*.!, Iiuh not done, 
 iiiiK'h. I n addil ion, Neliemi.ih .Menil |. |i;is l)iiilt a iitio thri;o inaHted .'i(diooner, 
 wliieji tiny m.iiia!,'!', cost .i;.'i,.'")0(», ami has <'lenrel .C!H)0 oi' j^.'WiOO, (hiring 
 till' season so tiny ar;- lar^'ely in t,|u! .shi|i|tin;.^ ImHinens, whii;ii, ctjnnectod 
 with tho mills, i-i [iroliti'ililo thus far. ThoinaH iiiaiia'.,'(t,i tlif) iiiillH, all tho 
 liiiiiiicial and hanking,' hu.siness, and a.ppears to po.-iS<;s;-t tin; mind and indiiK- 
 try HO iiidi.spiMisilil'! for any pi-rsoii who (iiitors un the rnanai^emiint of ko ex 
 toiisivii a transaction. 
 
 " Ilo has .sDV'eii riiiiH in .stone .Mill, is hiiihliiii,' aiKith'.r with thr«:(;, and 
 .'V .stone .store house in front leadiiii; to \}\v. canal. TIichcj orfictionH will 
 luil ho completo until March next, when lio will havo ono uf tht) host pro 
 [HrtieH of tlie kind in the; provinc*!. His criMlit in Montreal, New York, 
 and horo. stands amoii'^' tin) first, so' that he ha.s ovory advantage, and, if 
 I'ludent, is likely to succeed. 
 
 " Mrs. Merritt, I ■un happy to say, has ^'reatly iinpruvetl in Ler health, 
 
 I if you will come out, wo will send for you to spend ("hristinas with us, 
 
 nd you l»a(^k, wo will .ill ho then togothur, an I I think you would 
 
 atu 
 
 aiKl Hi 
 
 i;iijoy yovireclf for a tiuic at least. 
 
:v22 
 
 "Wi> mo dlidiil li,\vin'; n nmv ("hvlioii, .'iiul I inny nit"'" ^'Hor. JmiI. noi 
 miilo c.orliiiii. 
 
 " All W(>11, Hihl imlliiii^ iii>\v lliiil wiil iiiltMTsI von. 
 
 " Iv.'MiK'iiilx'r iiiii li> all i>nr idiilivos nml iVinul INmcim-K- iinij fmiiily, nm 
 *nrv i^'liiil ill Invir lliiil Dnvitl lioiimns is willi ynii, liii|i(i he will ruiitintio, 
 with my prayiM!. for your IhviIiIi tiixl li;i|>|>iin>SH, 
 
 " I fim. iiiv tlcir nil', M'vy ii'iilv voiiif., 
 
 " w, iiAMii/i'oN Mi:Ki;irr" 
 
 ".1. rnrNi'DiKJAsr, Kstj.. M l>" 
 
 \ i 
 
 .1 8 1 S . 
 
 Till* I'iiiliJiiniMit w.is ilis-cti \ I'll, mill IIk' wiitH fm (lin I'lrcliuii woir* 
 rot.urniilil<> on tin" "..'Itli o!" .I.iuti.'iry. On Hi" Ii>ili our siilijivt. w.iii 
 again olix-loij )>y ii niajoi-i(\ kI" .'Uii. .\?< ciiHtoM.iry, li' in:i !<• n himiiviIi, 
 wlmrciu wore nih oi'.ittvl llii' ii'-nii icfonnM waiitiwl, \i/,. A law lo 
 romiiKl tlii< liis|ioi"tor (IchimmI to jtultlisli tlw I'tililif AfcoiiiitH ; rrorrodn 
 of pulilic i.iuls (o l>i' n|)pro|iiiati>il in ii siiiUin;^ fund for I] lui-al ioniil )>ur|»(in(w, 
 lvi<i'i[>roi"i(y, HanKini,' Sysloni, A caual at (ln' Siiull St. Marie, At. 
 
 Am this yi<ar Mr. Mi-rrill outiT^'d tli ■ (Iiuimumi miI un Ut llir now Ilnform 
 (xdniiniHtratiou oallod by Lord Kli^in, al'lor the old loadors, dononiinatiKl tlio 
 IVildwin liil'oiit liuo (iDvornin -nt, wo will contiuuo to j^ivo oxtoiidod oxtrnnl^ 
 from his privato journal-^. 
 
 Tho I'orni'nt tlirouuliiut tho ci inilry oooauiinod liy the alH'«;.,'i»(,ion of llio 
 tVun L'lws hogau ta .sottlo down, mid a ui.irk»)l for our Kurplus j>roducl.H 
 in tho Uniiod SUiUvs was now soiii;lil for. 
 
 Mr Wotouhill writo.s from Nelson, Koltruary 7tli. IRI'^, on the niilijoil 
 of appoint in;j; an ai;iMit to ol)i4iin lli'oiproriiy lVi>m the Suited Stat^oH ; 
 
 •• I know no one except youis(>h' in imv way eoinpel(<nt. to llin task, 
 or fvU' wlios(> s(<rvioos we eonid e\|i'>et to olilaiu the desired lioon. As Var 
 liameni nioets so soon, it would l>e inipoKsihlo for you to f,'o, aw it will hn 
 noooN-^ary you should ho in Montreal, and indeed \our ser\ iees in lht\ coniini); 
 HO.ssiou will bo iudispiMisal'lo as many of the inemlicrs sci-m (o have a liap|»v 
 i<;;uoranoo of the <lotails of all inerountilo moasurcis, hBsid««s your Jir(|uaintaiioo 
 witli (lie trade whioh exists, or ratht>r ouyht to exist lp{>tw(<on tliis colony 
 MUil the Initi'd States is muoh greater than that of any other momhor of 
 (ho House." 
 
 Washington Hunt writ<\s his opinions from Washington, J<'oh'y5, 184S ; 
 
 "Wc have treaty stipulations with Hovoral count rieH, by wliieli thoj Rri> 
 t<) oocupy the attoutien of the most favotired nati<ms in re.-tpoct to oomnioroo 
 
 We shall report a bill nxtonding th»» 
 draw-back .sys(om to (^anadian wheat manufaoturod in tiio States and thiin 
 oxpi)rtod, wo will make your wlu'at as valuable a.s our own in (ho Amwi 
 can mark et.s. .... We would rocoivo all Caaadun 
 productions including manufacturns. free of duty." 
 
.'123 
 
 Mr, Morritt trior! t.o (»nt, li'm apiif)iii(.iii"iil, i^i Wiisliiiii^luri Hiiii''ti(»ii^<| Uj 
 M rniitiy of (,ln> iii(liicMit,iiiI liodidH in f Jaiimla hh jutHHihlf, ,!•; I,-- Imd tm oxjmct- 
 'itioM of liiiviti^ liiH ini'tsioii mi(lioriz"i| hy l.lio OuvrntidPiit, 
 
 <Jr(>. IN'rcival Kiiloiit wiitoH an I'mfiiiliiiit 'I'oroiilo Ituaifl of Tnui'", .Ian, 
 ■J2n<I. IHIH: - 
 
 " At. a gHrxM-al iiioni.ir)^' of tho Toronto Moaril of 'I'ladd lliat took 
 plaoM lani, ovciiiii!^, your ("oiniriiiiiii'iilioo iiti'l<*rw('iit coiiHi'li'nilioii, iiti'l t.lin 
 itn|Mirlari(U) of tliii Hnli)<"i'(, iilludi'il (,o v* an uii;iiiiriioiiKly admiltrd, and your 
 vahial)lo itiHtrumcntality in tlio niatUir rli(M»rfwliy acknow|(>d;^c(i." 
 
 Oil Mandi .Trd, tlioro Ih n Uiujj; lotUii frurn tlio Hwrotary of Af^riniltiiral 
 AHBociiilion, r.ayiri;^ tliat Hinoo tlin (JovcrrjfiKMit, liad takori it. uji, i,li*'y would 
 not Hriid ail M;^<Mifc to Wa.Hliiti;;l.oT), 
 
 M0K.HIH. iJroTiHoii and Croakor writo from O.hwc/^o, Miu'li UlHt,, IKIK 
 
 " 'I'licro liaH Immmi i\ report nia<lo and liill ititiodiufd in ('hujs^vvhh in favor 
 of allowing whoat to l»o itnporUid and (»x|iort<Ml iri Hour under \)t'\n-.ni[irn, 
 tho H.'itrio HH flniiv, hut tluil. I'.iil donH not j(o ho fur an to |iroprm(i free tra'In 
 in broad Htidlri, l>ul 1(!hvcm that for ()\tr reKpec^tivc /^|)^■f•l nmetitH to cd'oct 
 iniflnr A IJfM^ipronily arran>,'(!in«'nt, wliirh we liopn may I'f <nftct,"d at no 
 dintant day." 
 
 Tlio antlioi'H n<'(piaint.'vnc« witli tlic illiiHtrifniK iJarindi in jiiitriot, l/oniM 
 •J. rapinwm, wliile an cxilo in Paris, waH r'newcd, wIjci-,-, winctioned \>j 
 
 liid MitdHtry. 
 
 dialed I( 
 
 )f loyalty to the Ii 
 
 l()HH(»nH 
 
 «»»d tln^ir old (MJUHtitution ; the reHponsililo gf)vernrn"nt. in Mk. colon ie.H lio 
 liad no coididoiice in. 'i'liiw \\{-.w was mutund l»y t^xperi' rice, cnxmu'^ him 
 in hi.s latter yearH, to lie for onnexation, and tol'iiil*' the ahsof ption of hit 
 l)(dov«vl (Janada in the IJnitt'd SlateH. 
 
 Tln^ Montreal /'ilid of VVedrnwlay, .l.m'y .')tli, l><\f^, remarkH on Mr 
 I'apineau'H addroHH to liiH con.stituontH : 
 
 " Mr. l'ai>inoau, it is <le<)ply U> hr re;:jrritt4'd, Ikih, after mattire consider 
 /ition, ai'rived at the i-onviclion that the pre.H'-nt (:(»riKtitiition is wholly in 
 fliilVicient to Hf^cnre tin* ld"Ksin;^.s of a liheial and rf\sj)(uisil»|e (lovci-nnient to 
 llio (!ana(lian people, looking,' to tlu) |)aHt history of the eonntry, ami to tho 
 i-ondui't of former f^(tvei-noiK. He i.s firmly jiersnadeil, iind we are (piit« 
 I'roo to admit that ho hjus Home ground for his opinion, that KesponHihlo 
 'Jov(Tnrn(ait will not lie honestly admini.stered in tlic oolonies. He apjirfv 
 heads thiit Downing StifK-.t interferenee will still he persev(n;d in, find that 
 the (lovcrnor will he fetteied hy insf ructions which will wh<illy nnllify tho 
 infliionce of his own constituti'inal advisers and C(f Pailiament. 
 
 "Admitting as we «lo, and as our political friends Iiavo cvnr done,, thai 
 t,ho {last history of the province affords V(!ry ample grounds for Mr. Papi 
 miviu'h approhonsions, yot wo regret that ho shouM dedino joining with tlm 
 liberal party in making tlm attempt to work under tho pre.sent constitution, 
 and in endeavoring with them to obtain such amendments in the Act of 
 Union as a reganl to the; jiublio welfare may flictate. While, however, Mr. 
 i'upinoau has frankly stated the grounds'in which he deeinH it inex poieot 
 tihat ho should take atiy ])art in public affairs under jiresent circumstances, 
 
 jreciates the hone.st exertioos 
 
 ily gratif\ 
 
 ippi 
 
324 
 
 of thos(< wlio havo moro faith than hiiiiHolf in tlio sincnity of tli<» fruporiftl 
 (lovornmoub, as wi'll jus in tlio |»ra(!tical>ilil.y of obtainin;^' a nvlroHM of ^riot- 
 anofiH uii'lcr tlin cxintin;^ constitution. Mr. I'apiiuvm not only roconunrnds 
 that tho liltcral cMiidi latci.-; hIioiiM Ixi sujipoiti^d, but wo havo boon a.ssurod 
 on un(k)ul)t()(l autliority that Ik^ Ih dooidedly of ojiinion that no agitation 
 for constitiilional (ihau'iji's should takophico until another fair trial had boon 
 giv(Wi to (lu^ TnijK'iial authoiitics." 
 
 Extracts from private journal : — - ' . 
 
 "Tufsday, February Iflth, 1848, 6:30 A. M. 
 
 " T/t'ft St. Oat]iaiin((s for Montn-al in caniai^o by ir;utiiIt.on, arrivini; at 
 Toronto Hanio evening, oaiitHl on Proudfoot a,Md liidout, trathsacUvl hoiuo 
 money affairs and left at half past eleven, with Mr. Hamilton and Col. Prino© 
 arrived at (^obourg at 10 at night, the moon Khon(^ in its full brightneBR, 
 there was no snow - as mild a winter has not bijen w itnessed in the memory 
 of man. On Tuesday brcKkfasted at i?ellevillo, at Kingston by nine in the 
 evening, and slept at Preseott Friday, there was .some snow at this part of 
 the route, thenoe to ( 'oteau dii l^ie at 11. P. M., where we slept. Sunday, 
 SepttMubtr lUth. Arrived at Montn^al at 7. P. M., putting up at Donegana'a 
 Hotel, same ;is la.'-t year. Monday ealled on the Hon. K. Paldwin, 
 and i)resented my letter and statement of the fiiuuioes of Canada compared 
 ■with theses j)revii.us to the union, and the state of Ntnv York at present. 
 ('J'uesday.) l)id banking business for T. U. Merritt, and wrot*' letters. (Wed- 
 nesday 'I'M) Cail(«d on the directors of the ( !reat Western. (Thursday 'i-lth) 
 (,'alled on Mr. William (iunn, cashier of Montreal Fank. My son William, 
 whom 1 left at Toronto, airived. ('JTith) Attended to Suspension Bridge 
 business, transit rring shares to Stiiyiier, Willianiton, Fradburn, etc. 
 
 "Attended l(ous<', the Covernor (Jeneral comes down, commands the 
 attention of the Fegi' lative Aiscmbly, they walk up to the bar of the Legisla- 
 tive Council, the Speaker <if which iid'oi'nis them that he will not comnmnicato 
 the objects tor which he has assembled them until they choose a Speaker, 
 that he wiil meet them on Monday at 2 o'clock to communicate the object 
 for which tiiev are summoned. Thns ends Friday and Satunlav in idlo 
 ceremjny in the \>\,ico of prolitable busiiness. 
 
 "Mr. Morin was elccte 1 Speaker, 5 to It) against Sir Allan McNab. 
 Saturday, iMith. — liecoived the annual repoit of the commivsioner^ of th» 
 canal fund ; this is follow(^d by four pages of Mr. Merritt's journal, C(.)ntaiu- 
 ing analysis. 
 
 " Feiiniary 27lh. Attended the Chiist's ( 'hurch with Killaly. Munday, 
 28th. ■-(-)cenoied with the CuAcruor's speech, which, wiih election notices, 
 occupied this day. T wrote three business letters. 2'Jth.- - Hovi.sn occnpied 
 with Emigration LUll <luring theday, repoi'ted resolutions. 20th. — Hincks' 
 election, ami the Peauhurnois occupied iintil 5 in the morning. 
 
 "March 2nd — ()n privilege, llir.cks, Do Witt and C;imeron took their 
 Beats. (3rd) Amendment of the speech, a tedious debate ensued thereon, 
 which occupied this day. Received a t;'h>graj»!iic communication from Mr. 
 Wallace, of the Southern Railroad, answered in writing that it could not 
 bo carried. 
 
 " Saturday, Ith.- -First meeting was held in the Speaker's room on tiio 
 subject of aid to the ditierent i-ailroads ; he jn poses to guarantee a loan of 
 i'C)00,000 for the Portland Railroad, and what may be required for the 
 dreat Western. I subiuitted, in opposition, the terms of laet year'ii report. 
 
326 
 
 if ^rioT 
 iiiin<"n(lH 
 lussunnl 
 Imitation 
 liiui boon 
 
 A. M. 
 
 t(«l Homo 
 )1. Piino« 
 iii,'lilncHB, 
 (» luf'iiiory 
 in(* in the 
 in part of 
 
 Hiiiiday, 
 )(im\Hiina'H 
 
 lUltlwin, 
 
 coiuj)aro«l 
 it pi't'srni. 
 iK. (Wod- 
 sihiy 24 th) 
 ,ti William, 
 ion Uridine 
 
 etc. 
 
 lllliUulrt t)io 
 
 he lA'.i^iKla 
 
 niiiiunicato 
 
 I Sijoaker, 
 
 thi' ohjccb 
 
 iiv ill i'llo 
 
 u iMcNiil'- 
 
 liic'is of thtt 
 
 i»l, coutivia- 
 
 Mumlay. 
 
 lion notices, 
 
 \in: ooru['i<'<l 
 
 IlinokH' 
 
 took ibcir 
 fjil thorooii, 
 li from Mr. 
 
 cuuUl not 
 
 |o()in on the 
 \c a loan of 
 led for tVie 
 I'M-'ii rt'port. 
 
 " I li(>ard l)y t<»l('pp'ii|ih from Mr. Oopoland, of thn diMninn of Dr. rr<>ii(lor- 
 jTftHt. Al)oiit tht> sii 111(1 tiine aiiolh< r ilist iii;^ui.shod man, .lohn t^niiicy Athiinii 
 wan calh'd to his last account. 
 
 " Wodni'Hday, 15. -Mr. , havin;.^ olijuclcil to ])roro<jfatioii yog- 
 
 t«nLiy. a caucus was held this ovcni/i^' and a L,'ciifral asxcnt f,'iv<"n to havo 
 evory measures to the direction of tlio niiiiislry. I>rou;jlit in rocijirocal rcso- 
 lutioim tliis day. 'I'iiiirsday, lOth. -Urged the ass(!ut of the, ministry to 
 tho measure wliich was \inavailin;^. 
 
 " IMaii |)ro|)oscd for rai.sin^j moni>y for further public improvenjcnt in 
 Canada. On tho Ist of April, 1847, I'Lirl (Jrey, thoC'oIonial Secretary Heiula 
 ad(!Spatch to the Marl of I'^^I.Ljin, C}ov«>rnor (Jeneral on the snliject of eiiii<;ra- 
 tion, recommending,' him to su^j,'est Kom<! plan to j)romote that oliject, pro- 
 mising to propose to Parliament, wlio would not ht^ hIow to .sanction tbo 
 cnij)lovment of the jioouniary resources of the country in the furtherance 
 of Kuch on ol)jeet. See, jouraah, jxtyc. lOJf. 
 
 "' The first considm-ation is to provide employment to tho emigrant >.n\ 
 his arrival, to enahhs him to earn his living without remaining a burden to 
 tbo Ini]>crial or I'rovincial (Jovernment. This emi he most r'n'ectually ac- 
 complished by constructing luiblic works. 'j"he .second consideration is in 
 vrhat manner tho capital can be furnished with the leant expense for tho 
 mutual advantage, of both countries. 
 
 " 1 1 appears tliat ( Ji'cafc Jiritain lirst became interested in encouraging 
 tho niovenmont of emigration to Canada, that the Provincial (*overnniMnt 
 fuel interesUnl in the coustrut'tion of various pu!>lic woi .ks. Th<} (iovern- 
 mcnt of (Ireat llritain have t'le command f»f any sum of money on their 
 credit, and the (iovernment of Canada lands, valued at £1,432,118, G-7th9 
 at their disposal. Thi.s capital they ])uipo.se laying aside, or appropriating 
 for a common school fund, the interest of which is to be expended for that 
 purpose only. 
 
 "To render the most certain and (fftectual aid to emigration, and creat© 
 Uiis school fund in the shortest po.ssiblo time, it is propos(;d on thtj inti- 
 mations of the despatch referred to, to furnish the nKums, to negotiate a 
 loan of £2, nOO, ()()() at once, to be advanced by the 7'ritish Government, at 
 K per cent interest, to bo repaid out of the procecids of lan<l. The money to 
 bo drawn for as required for the prosecution of those works which will re- 
 pay interest of G^ per cent. The lands to be [iliMlged by an a'^t of Parliament 
 for its re])ayal, and to be applied for no other object. 'J'he op.'nition would bo 
 tliuH : — The ca))ital the public now hohl invested in land would be converted 
 iato money, i^nd, Tho capital then held in money would b ) invested in 
 railroads and other improvements, which would repay an interest. 'Jlii-i 
 interest would create a fund for common .schools and i!istri(;t libraries. Tjth, 
 This fund would not only be the means of creating employment for tho emi- 
 grant, but provide education for the children for all time to come." 
 
 In the interim he was occupied in i)roparing tho subjects already liinted 
 at in his add-esa to his constituents. 
 
 Our subject supported Mr. Baldwin's motions of No Confidence, which 
 c«rried by a majority of 34. Tiie ITouse immediately adjourned, pending 
 6he arrangomentH of the new Ministry. Although ho agreed with Mr. 
 Baldwin in the iuefHoioncy of tho old Ministry, yet he had grave doubts at 
 to whether the incoming ono would ba better, as he writes : — " I very much 
 
326 
 
 (■■• 
 
 fear tho cahinot sclectod will not adopt tho moans tl»o country rcquirog — we 
 Lavo sovcn lawyers, and four of tlieui from Montnial, lowing Malcolm Cam- 
 eron to roproHunt tho liu.siness intt^rost of Uppor (/'atiada." 
 
 "Monday, March 0th -Tho Houso waited on IHs Kxccllency at twelv* 
 o'clock. JMinistors inform Ifoiiso tlioy held their places \intil others are 
 appointed. Tuesday, 7th — Brouf^ht intho petition of Brock Palmer, Clin- 
 ton ; Pjiilip Wi.smcr, Clinton ; John (?all, Crantham. Wednesday, 8th— 
 Nothing new or doing. New ministry forming. Thursday, Dth. Not yot 
 com[)l(^te. Nothing done in the House except numerous ])etiti.)nH against 
 sitting members. lOth— -i\Ir. Holmes moves an adjournment. Ministry 
 not yet formed. Ono fortnight ])as.sed away since session and nothing done. 
 Saturday, 11th Ministry announced by the /'Hot newspaper: — Mr. Sulli- 
 van, a lawyer, I'rovincial Secretary ; Mr. Lafonto, a lawyer, Attorney 
 Coneral, L. C; Mr. JJaldwin, a lawyer, Attorney Oenoral ; Mr. jilake, a 
 lavyycr, Solicitor Ccncial ; Mr. Alwin, a lawyer. Solicitor General ; Mr. 
 Price, a lawyer, Coi.imissioncr Crown F.and ; Mr. Caron, a lawyer. Speaker 
 Fiegislativc Council ; I\Ir. Leslie, merchant, President Council ; Mr. Hincks, 
 printei-. Inspector General ; Mr. L. M. Viger, banker. Receiver General ; 
 Mr. Tache, doctor, (,'ommissioner J^oard of Works ; Mr. ^lalcolm Ciuneron, 
 merchant, Assi.slaiit Commissioner Board of V/ork.s. In all twelve mem- 
 bers, .seven Lower Canada, live Upper Canada. T \c.vy much fear the 
 Cabinet selected will not adopt tho measures tho country recpiiiv. Besides 
 seven lawyers, neither of whom profess to understand anything about tho 
 finances of the country, wo have four gentlemen from Montreal, Messrs. 
 li<>sli(«, Vigor, lliiicks, and Dr. Tache, leaving Malcolm Cameron to rep- 
 resent the busine.'^s of lJpj)er Canada, or say United Canada. 
 
 " If those dt^partments were filled by individuals selected from or by the 
 people, would tlie above choice bts made 1 
 
 " One of the evils of the jire.seut .system appears to be the composition 
 of tho Government. Some half a dozen individuals select tho Governmont. 
 Fitness for tho situation is not looked for, it is tho hope of strengthening » 
 party. I have, fiom the first session, Lad niy ndsgiving as to the proper 
 working of the system. 
 
 "Sunday, 12tli.— Reada most pathetic talc of Irish life, 'Tho Poor 
 School Boy,' the scntimcmts in which are instructive, well told, aiul not 
 likely to be read witJDut emotion. 
 
 "Monday, loth — Presented petitions from the District Councils for a 
 law to pass the Macadam Road through Jordan, when made. For repeal- 
 ing llth, Geo. 4, Cap. 20 and IJil, Wm. 4th, Cap. 45, of conferring power 
 on the District Council tc provide forthe Insane and destitute. Complain- 
 ing of the injurious eflects of 9th Vict. Cap. 2, Act 5, imposing 2d per gallon 
 on spirits distilhui in Canada. 
 
 Tuesday, 14th — Presented petitions of Suspension Bridge and to roduc« 
 capital. Committee on Railroads formed." 
 
 In order to give tho Ministry an opportunity to mature their plana, tixo 
 Governor prorogued the House on tho 23rd March. 
 
 Our subject then addressed tho Premier with the greatest fearlessnoM 
 and entire sincerity, though always with tho respect due to statiouB, either 
 imperial or colonial. 
 
to ro(luM» 
 
 32V 
 
 "MoNTREAr,, Mirch llth, 1848. 
 
 " My DKAR Sir, — 1 uwc you an apuIo;rjr tor my priiiiinluri' iiute oCyo^jtor 
 day, it arose Croin the inforiiiation couvoyed to mo by iiiutiiil tVioiuls, in your 
 coiifuiciiee. You are wtll :i\vare it \v:is my iiiti'iition to retire iVoiu public lifo 
 bci'ore liircriii;^ as a cnndidite, from a eoiivietinii ihat my opitiitjiH or rxortions 
 uudor any chan;:;e in tlie present position of parties were not likely to prove 
 seiviccablc to Canada. Your letter iii<hio;d mo to cbaii:;e tiiat opinion ; from 
 that time my attention ha.s been ag.iin devoted to the mean.s of plaein;^ ihc 
 finance.s of Canada in as favourable a po.-rition a.s tho!*e of our rivals in Now 
 York, the frovernmetit of wliieh in 18GG, will be free from debt, the inhubitanti 
 from taxeh. and coinmcroc from toll, 
 
 " This idea would have bren ridiculed at first by tho?c who have not tha 
 application to oxainine and understand it. Any person venturinu; to orit^inato 
 any measure eireetin<r jjjreat and important ehan;,'es in any branch of our politi- 
 cal or linaneial policy must expect t) encounter iiinoranee and preju liee ; but 
 if the measure is truly sound, of which I liavo fully sati-fied my own mind, 
 they would .'oon be led to acknowledire the opinion of an individii.al who has 
 originated more meat-urcs wliieh have since been carrivd into su-'cchsful opera- 
 tion than any other pcr^:on in Upper Canada, was entitled to consideration. 
 Those meaMires, in the confusion of political diicussiftii. may Inve escaped your 
 mind. 1 will thend'ore allude merely to the followinij; : — 
 
 " In 181)2, the (Irst notice 1 ever made was for the con.strui.'tion of tho ship 
 canal to connict the navij^nble waters ol'the St. Tjawrence. It was thtMi ridi- 
 culed ; and although from imtompetency, misnianau^eiueiit aU'I » '^lect not com- 
 plete, public (ipiiuon acknowledj^es the wisdom of the uica.suro. Tha wealth it 
 will create for Can; da cannot be e>timated. 
 
 " In 18:]i}. The repeal of duties in IJril lin on tlio exports of Caiada was 
 originated by an addres.-; — the attempt to obt^dn thi.s boon, a;^iin.st the agri- 
 cultural interest of the mother country was then con^•idered wholly unworthy 
 of notice. A pcr-onul interview with Ijorl Stanley in ISl'J procured iti 
 adoption in the same year. The wealth created to the entire province may bu 
 realized by the increasiMl price of '2s. 4Ad. pun- hhl. of flour to tho grower. 
 
 " In 18i}r), I brought in the first bill to make the interest piyable on de- 
 bentures in England. 
 
 " In IS'JG, drew up a report reeommondinii the application to ijreat Britain 
 for Imperial credit, which was rcit-rated by Sir Oeorgo Arthur and eonsum- 
 mated by Lord SydeidKim in 18-41. About the same time an address was 
 moved pra\ing for the power of ori'j;inatin.f bills to increase or diminish cus- 
 tom duties here. It was objeetcl to by i^Ir. I'oulette Thompson, then President 
 of tho Bo ird of Trade. In 1810 in a personal interview, lie admitted he did 
 not understand it, wrote his despatch (!).{) which no doubt induced Lord Jjha 
 llutscll to pr(jpopc the Biitis!> Po^s ssions Act. 
 
 " I admit 1 have been sitrnally successful in my opposition to various moa 
 sures — the Board of Works Bill — under which the waste of public money has- 
 been unprecedented ; clam'e to limit the expenditure of increased revenue, to 
 the payment of the debt for which it was created, in which you voted with mo ; 
 and all tho.se measures, roads, brid;j;es. &c., which will not repay an interest, 
 bad and will hive my opposition. . It is nions';r.)us to borrow capital, spend it, 
 and not provide the means to pay the interest at any future day. 
 
 " These leading monetary and tin.incial measures is proof t!ie subject has 
 Been consideration. It was my intention to render you eSectual a.ssistance in 
 working out your system, the success of which, in my judgment, depends 
 
328 
 
 wholly on tlio .ihilily nnd indu-itrv of (ho inon solocto.l for tho mnvv^'Mniiil of 
 oaoli sc|»;iriito di'p.irtiiKMit. Tlio oi'|tiirtunify h is i^oiio by, nnl I htpii thoso 
 flclccli'd in:iy provt' bi'ttoi rjirililiod fur thiMr f^in'i'r.il diiliiH. Tiio (ill iiU of an 
 individuil incmh.r iiro powt rios.s ; I cui thorid'oro Itn of no mirviiio in oiijjcr 
 nidiiij; tho Adiiiiiiiftr.ition or prom ttini: any <;niiil loading njuHuros ; and on 
 tho contrary I i"'>'l •♦ » ^rroit rclii't'. No p.vMini try considor.it'u)!! cniM ihon 
 iiiduoc mo to a('i'i'])t it. 
 
 " Having (loininoncod .1 now l\uli ini nit, how 'vor, [ am doairom to turn 
 my attonli(»n to tlio only olijco.t ii\ wlii'-h I am nowlik'Iy to provo (Hofnl ; tliat 
 Ih, (ditaiiiiiiL:; tho ndmis.><ii)u of Canadian pnxhicis into tho m irkitts of tlio Uni- 
 ted StatcH for consumption, froo from duty. Whoat is now noar HO o(!nt« per 
 bushol hii^hor on tho .\mori(Mn sido than in Canada, how Ioiil:; that will ooii- 
 (inuo til give ^<.ltisfaotion you may woll inia^ino, thorofi;ro tlio prosoiit adminis- 
 tration aro inlorcstod in romovin;j; tho catiso. Your aid will h^r most usoful, 
 and 1 would ho |;lad (0 Iftavo this in a fow lays t > olToot it if praotio able, should 
 it moot your approval. 
 
 << Very truly yours, 
 "W. TIA.Mll/rON MIOIIRITT." 
 
 " Hon. II. Halpwin." 
 
 t "Hal an intorvinw vith His Kxoolloncy, who j^.ivo ino a lottor of 
 introduction to John F. Crainpton, Char;^o l)',\tl'iir.s of tho Uritisli Kni- 
 baasv, Washiir^'ton. As no nii'.isuro was liktdyto pass, ! madn uj» my mind 
 to loavo on Sal unlay. 
 
 ''Tuosday, 17th.- Copy of a loiUir onclosod this day from Lord i'^jlgin 
 to (^harjjfo i)'.\Hairs namod aliovo. 
 
 " liord ICI;in prosoiits his oomplimonts to Mr. Crampton, andbopfHto bo 
 ponnittod to introduoo to him tho boaror of this lott<M-, .Mr. Morritt, who \n 
 now on a visit to tin Unitod Statos. l^Ir. Morritt is an inllmMiiaal momhor 
 of tho Canadian !<oi:;islaiivt> Assombiy, and takes an ospnoial iiitorost in tho 
 OBtablishmont of ('(juality of tra lo botwcou Cjinada and tho United Stat«i8. 
 On this snlijoct, .should you bo disjuisod to convorso with him, ho will prob- 
 ably bo ablo to allbrd useful intoruiation. 
 
 " Ei.GjN it Kincardine. 
 •' Monlroal. If.th March, IStS." 
 
 " Sattirday. ISth ]\laroh. — Lnft tho Hou:^o at 4 o'clock, with Imvo. 
 Wrote Eston Crampton, ¥. b'ullor, about Cassolls. 
 
 " Sunday, 19th. — .Vttomlod Christ (■hurcb. Mr. Adamson preached. 
 
 "Monday, 20th. — Wrote Yates, Crafts, J. .Tones, Stamford; Grenville, 
 Tborold ; Fillmore, Albany ; D. Tliorburn the .samo. 
 
 " The first s(>ssion of 1818 was i)rovogued on Thursday, tho 23rd inat., 
 four days after my departure. ha\ in;; been assembled since tho 2r)th March, 
 about one minth. durin;.; which ei_:^htoen bills were passed ; only ono, (for 
 insp?.-Hing of fliur, an 1 assirailatin » it to the Amorioati standard,) is of any 
 eomn'.Mjial iucoresfc. Tho Eni:^raUo!i Bill, one of goiioral interest, and the 
 only one alluded to in tho Governor's speech in proro:.iuing tho House. 
 Tho objects alluded to in tho oponin::^ spciooh are again prolonged until after 
 tho recess, when our attention will h?. directed to various measures for de- 
 veloping the resources of the province, and promoting tho social well boing 
 of its inhabitantvS — a most tardy process, iinprecedontod for e.xtravagance. 
 It is to be bo]ied the mea:^ures alluded to will give the satisfaction antici- 
 pated by the change of administration. 
 
329 
 
 vibli K'ftve. 
 
 "Arrived in town Smiilnv 'JHtli, afti-rii \vo(^V of hIow pro;(ro«H. Att<iiul«<l 
 OlinKlH (Mmicli hikI St. .laiiicH' ( 'iitlnulral." 
 
 Ho rotunw'd lioiiin via tlio States, iiiul croHsod ovor tlie livi^r in a ItaHkot, 
 which WiiH tlii'Miudi' (if convovuiioo UHo<i in tlio ercrtion of llio N(>w SnH|»(in« 
 Hion Ilrids,''*, Uin works nf which wtiiM imw Icin;^ riijiidly imdiod on. 'I'iifl 
 pnition in cr.t.s.nin;^ wms a novol om^ as th" n-ll-u'tions lik'dy to ■iriso on ho- 
 nrj; Hii'^j) (nd(»d in a frail vchiclo at .sn'-h an (inorni')ns ln<i;,'Iit, and in snoh a 
 Bituation, cin ho licLtcr inia.LfiiK'd than dcHcribiid. 
 
 "Monday, 'J7th. Iw-tunKMl to St. Catharines. 
 
 "Tuf^sday, L'Hth. Arran;L,'od Itnsinoss for an early departuro for (JliAtaii- 
 quo (in (lie morrow. 
 
 "Wednesday, "JUlli -licft aM) o'ejock witli Dr. Ciiase's hor,S(! and bn^'ijy. 
 Mr. W. CojKiiand and Oswald acconijianicd ine to tho site of tin* Suspen 
 n'nm l'rid;^'e. Mrt Charles Mlliot, I0>(|., contrarbn-, wif(i and two children, 
 who had jnst cro.sscd in a. eradht nnder a sini^h^ calile 1] ineh diarnet(!r, 
 (3() Htrands.) I uent over with Copdand and our ba^i,'a ;,'(>, ; examined tho 
 groTinil and woik in pro^Mrss. 
 
 " The iniprission on my mind wan tliitvi-ry little work hid y.'t h !l'ii d>n(i. 
 A inceliii^; Wiis calh'd f(ir Friday. Wrote Mr. Street on my arrival at IJuf- 
 faln, that the 10 percent, should be cdled in, as nifpiirel by tho Kn/ii>o(!rs, 
 and tniiiithly meeliims, (d' (Ik; Uiird hell Inrod'tor. Wrote .NIr. Klliot to pni- 
 paro monthly e,s(im itos, that the H i ird niiy procM'J with refill irly and uu- 
 dcrntundin^dy in oallitifi: in their estimates. 
 
 " Wroto to I.x w Hunt, us well as abov(>, to writo mo if my pn^Honco 
 would b(! of any service'. ]\Ir. Charles Klliot's d(>.seription of the two |)luns 
 for Suspension llrid^'e: j\ee|ei-'s S eabh^s ; Mr. lOlliot's 1 (i ea'oh'S. KfHifer'a 
 24 foot wide ; IOIIiot'.s 28 foet wl le. Knefor's wa.!,'on Htra;,".,do rail ; Klliot'a 
 two Kfiparato tracks. K. Snpporte.l t,rinmi)hal ar(di(\s ; 11. - IsolnltMl col- 
 umns. K.- -Cables fast(Mi(i(l in vc^lical walls ; K -W^ithout chani,'i! in tho 
 diroution ooutianod, same slant, stiffennd by How's ])atetit truss al))V(i and 
 bolow tho door -other longitudinal i^drders. The fastenin;,' and the floor in 
 the only dilluroiiee I can at present jyjrceivo. 
 
 '• My ideas, after cro>j.siir.? tho river in th« cradlo, Inva biO.i con.4iderably 
 ehanj^ed. Tiie facilities which the wire c d)l(! af^)rd^ for foot p i.sscni^ors will 
 in a sh,)rt time di^pimsc with ferries at the Falls and Q i;!i)nstr,n. Th ; ch«:ip- 
 noss ol' those construction -i is too j^rnt a teinptitio i to disp ana with tlieni 
 from (loat Island to the Can idi an side; and ono of tho priiicipil sources of 
 profit, namely, foot passenp;ers, will be r.:dueel. In nn' jud_'incnt the eirlj 
 eonstruction of the railway in oniieotion witli the bridge is iali>p:;nsab!e, and 
 requires tho action of the first meeting to prepare the clo(2iiiuonts, at least to 
 carry it into effect. 
 
 " A road bridi^n will also be constructed at Queenston, without doubt, to 
 dcficend both ways, on the same plan, and at onedialf the expense. The sim- 
 plicity, cheapness and .security of this contrivance for taking over any burden 
 is strikingly apparent." 
 
 He remained home but a short tinif, during which ho roceivod tho fol- 
 lowing letters from Washington, which induced him, after the arrang(*morit 
 of Bome necessary family conceni.s, to rf.pair thither : 
 
330 
 
 " \V.\suiN(a'(»N, Maivh L':»tli, I84a 
 
 " Hill, -I liavo tlij Iiouour tj iioknuwlcd:,'*) tlir rtn-olpt of your inLtor of 
 tbo I7tli inst,., iuciosiiiLj tt lottoi- of introduction from ifis Kxciollojiry tbu 
 Karl of Kl'j;in. 
 
 " In reply t > ynir iui|iiiry, I Iusd no tiiiii in .st;itiii;j; t ) yoii, tliiit I hIkjuIiI 
 feol ni\ich ^r.itifuvl, hIiouIiI it Im couvonieiit to you to visit Wiisliiu'^tou, to 
 ooiifiM- witli y(Mi iijioii til" rtultj<H't of tlioijosir.'il o jiiiiliz iti'>n of iluLics hotwocu 
 Ciiuada iiud Lliu Uuitod States; and I cannot donhl tliat yuuc prcHimoo 
 woidd vory tnuoli torul to udvanco tliu olyoct Hor Majnsty's (tovcrnmoni 
 ImviJ in view. 
 
 "Tliis sulijiict, wliieli waa hroui^dit under the considi'ration of tlio IJni 
 tml Status (jrovcrninfMit l)y jNIr. I'akeniiani last year, lias not been lost si'dii 
 of hy mo; and I liad lately a conversation ujii)ii it with Mr. Secretarv 
 Walker, and witli Mr. l)ix,of New York; liotli th<;se,:,'entlenien are fnvour 
 alily disposol t'» tlio nioasuH! ; and Mr. Walker jironiisod inj to briii» it 
 under tlui consideration of tlie Caliinot forthwith. 
 
 " It would <;ivo mo Ljn.'at pleasure, however, to put you in comn)unii\'\ 
 tion witli Mr. Walker upon tlie .su!)ject ; as well as with .such of the ineni 
 bor.s of (Jon,'ross as it would hi^ im[iortant to liavo corr.vjtly infornnid witli 
 re;^ard to tli.! practical clfo-t of tiie m )asuro. Your supi-rior kuowle l:^o of 
 tho loualitie-;, and of tlio diitails of tlii; u)attor, in wliich I necessaiily feel 
 myself dolioiont, would t'liabh! u-j to ovorcoiuo niu'h of tins dillioultv 
 which ill ly aris'i I'imih a misapprehension of the triio bcaiin" of tho ca.ie bv 
 the mcinliors of the prote^^tionist parly in (■ijU'^ross. 
 
 "I have tho lionor to be, sir, 
 
 '' Your most obedient uuil hu)nblt> .'crvnnt, 
 
 "JoriN F. fltAMPTOW." 
 "Hon. W. If. Meiiuitt, M. P. P" 
 
 •'WAairiNcroN, March LTxh, 1818. 
 
 " My drai! siK,— Tt is not to bo expected that Coni^resa will niako an/ 
 material change in our revenue laws this session, yet I believe you can du 
 miu'h jfood by coniiuLj here, and if my oi)init)n is t)f any avail, let mo advise 
 vou to come on and spend some time with us. You can impart informaliou 
 t') members of Congress which may bo of great utility hereafter, wlum a 
 moro favourable time for legislation shall arri\o. At present, tho subject 
 19 somewhat in alnivanee, awaiting negotiations ; the present u<'gotiatiou 
 does not embrace tho object'} you have in view ; but I think you can do 
 mucli to enlarge its sco])(% by making fi-ee communications to our Secrotarj 
 of State. 
 
 " Aside from those public reason.s, permit mo to add tliat it will alTorJ 
 rao great pleasured pei'.Miually. to see you hero and to show you how legiala- 
 tion is conducted in our ' federal city.' 
 
 " With great i-egard, your's truly, 
 
 " W. ilUNT," 
 
 " W. Hamilton MERurrr, Esq." 
 
 Postponing tho Bridge matters, which had not been progressing in a 
 sa*^.isfactory manner, owing to Ins already too long but necessary abaence, 
 he soon joined Mrs. Merritt in Mayville, where he remained for throa 
 weeks in assisting to settle the estate of bis father-in-law, Dr. P. 
 
331 
 
 Ah noticod, Mr. M. lind left on K«b*y, IT), to bo prt'HfMit iit ihv opouin!^ of 
 th(< IfouHo oil tlio 2r)Lli ; suoii jifttT liis (If^partiirf, Mrs. Morritt rocoivod tho 
 M!i(l HOWS of tho Horii)\jH illiioss oi' lidf iii,'oil fatlior, Dr. Pn'ii(lor;^iist, wlio wan 
 cquiilly tlio tVii'ii'l lUi'l ii Ivirtcr of our sulijoct ; hIii! iinnir>(liiiti'ly Htfirtod with 
 liur Hoii William to tho fiiiiiily rosidciioo in MayviUo, mid urrivod in tiino to 
 bo nreaont at tho cvIhIm of his illiujss. llo was oonsidorod coiivuloscont, and 
 tho author replacing his hrothor in uttondanco, ho ralli(>d for a tinio, hut at 
 length quietly dopartod on the hist day of Kohruaiy, at tho j^ood old ago of 
 f5'2--a most ost'X'MKid citiziMi, ami an hoiurst man. [lis reniains wore interred 
 with tho.so of his paronts, in tho family burying ground on tho bordcra of 
 Ui(» l>nautirul J.ako ('hataucpia. A handsomo monumont was crofted to his 
 memory by his solo ofls[)ring, Mrs. RFerritt. It was dosignod and nuulo by 
 Mr. Barron of St. Catharinos, and was in jiyramidal form, being composed 
 of a largo piece of limi'stoue, taken from tho site of his early (Canadian reni- 
 ilt'uco on tho slope of the hill near Thorold. 
 
 " Died, in Mayville, March 1st, Hon. Jcdediali Prcnd.-rg'ist M. J)., nged Sii 
 ycar.s, a venerable, .scietititic, and interesting man, universilly beloved for hit 
 virtues, and adinind lor his talents. After com[)letiiig his cli!-.^ie:il educa- 
 tion in Diiclu'.'^s County, his native place, he studied physic and ^u^gery and 
 bocame (iiiiiicnt in his profi.ssion. He delighted in the study fif philosophy, 
 and his powerful mind enidjjed him to master every suhji ct with ease. IIo 
 vi(!\vcd tiie Deity with honume and adnuration, as tho source of life and joy, 
 and Christianity as an emanation fiom Heaven, to ble.ss the world. 
 
 " At the request of Do Witt Clinton he wrote several articles on the gcol- 
 n^'y of this p irt of the state, wliieh tli.il distinguished fJovernor published, .is 
 containing much useful iuforimition to the public. Allhough too fond ol' study 
 and retirenient to take much interest in party politics, ho consented to bo a 
 representative and Senator in this State, and discharged his duty with (idelity 
 nnd honor. For many years past he h;is ri;tired from the busy woild. enjoying 
 '^ otuini cnm di;jnit(it<!" inxmA 1'^ himself in visiting his farms and devoting 
 most of his lime to his f;ivorito studies. His conversational powers were ro- 
 iiKokidjIe, and as he perfectly retained his mental i'neulties, he delighted and 
 instructed his friends to tho cud of his long and hap])y life. i^Iis knowlcdga 
 was .«o practical and extensive th;it they felt themselv(;s honored in his presenoo, 
 and thut they were made wiser, better, atid hippier by his uniiversation. Na- 
 ture however at last became exhausted, and allhough surrounded with all th.it 
 contributed to his enjoyment, he wished and prayed for rest, like a wearied 
 traveller. He died suddenly and easily as if falling asleep, with his eyes rest- 
 ing on the glories of immortality. His friends and acrpi lintances deeply feci 
 their loss, and will always remember him as one of Nature's Nobleman." — 
 From We.s/Jiclfl Men.sciiji'/r. 
 
 The subject of the above obituary was well known to many of our old roei- 
 dents, having practised in this neighborhood prior to the war. He left boi 
 one child, the wife of our subject.' 
 
 Tho letters received from Mr. Crainpton, the minister at WashingtoH, 
 and Mr. Hunt, stating that he would bo happy to have further romrnaai 
 cations with him on tho subject of Reciprocity. 
 
3:^2 
 
 llo tli(Mi left for Washington, wlicii- lie arrived in tliccnd of April, ami 
 romainoil tli(ir<> on lni.sinoss contioctotl with tlic tr ^:i(y until tlio niiddlo of 
 May. 
 
 Mr. MiM lilt's nu'tliod of conduct ini,' tin- n!'i:jotiatioTis wliilc at Wasliing- 
 tou is i^ivcii in llic followinij extracts and letters : 
 
 " Wasiiincton, I'.NrrKi) Statics, iMay, ISIH. 
 " I(Ou:) <Ji!i:v, Col. Secy. itc. ikc. 
 "Mv Lord,— 
 
 * ' # ;|; * ^ # ;f: * 
 
 '' The liisl. olijiH't to wliicli I Ik'i,' to call your altentiitn is the hill now 
 Sllhrnitted t > the House nf l{('|)ri'sentati\('s, a ^'•f\<y ol which lias hco en- 
 cht.sed hy the lat.est steauiei' ti* Lord I'ahnerslon, and s\ill of (;oni.st» he 
 hroui;Iil under Viiur notice. The only remedy or means to hasten the [leiiod 
 f'ltrth' inhahitauls of Canadu to realize the advanta';es of this hill is to 
 nulliori/e (he (Jovernoi- (ieneral of the ('anadian l,e;^islature to sanction it 
 at once, wldiout tluMlelay o!' seudiie,' to iOnijland, for which you \\ill your- 
 Hclf recei\e an application, thron:,di the projier clianiu'l. 1 takt.i this to ho 
 a matter of inurse, as (he Canadian Legislature adilressed the Ciovi-runnMit 
 to negotiate lor an (Mpiaii/ation of (hities, and they authoriziu'.; the nego- 
 tiation, the priu.'ijial tlierolori' is sanctioned. 
 
 "The second ineasiiro relales to the repeal of the Navy laws. 1 hejj; to 
 oiiclo.se a copy of a letter addi'cssed tt) Lord Kl_;j;in. The remedy is simply 
 to HcHuii-e in any licaty with (lie United States the ri;;ht of coasting; for 
 IJritish and Canadian vi>ssels on the American coast. And the third is tL* 
 removal of all imixut duties. 
 
 ■■ 1 liave the honor to l)c, my Lord, 
 
 '" With vei-y lii'^di consideration, your oli(Mlient servant, 
 
 " W^L lL\MlLT<>N MKKIII'IT." 
 
 (Mi^Mo. OK Pii-cirKoc iTV r.ii.h.) 
 
 " 1st. -Address, iL'th ^^lv, IS It;. 
 
 " L'lnl. Instruction from Lord Aherdeen, .June ISth 
 
 Anded. 
 
 >\\[. \\\ l>cceml)'r of same year the application was mailo-- and //wri 
 
 ■1th. In 1SI7 IJecipi'ocity resolutions were iulroducod, «'irect ['.rodacod. 
 
 "Hth. 'I'he petition to C.mi,'ress in ISIS. 
 
 " (Uh.- Ihll introduced similar to tliis in .Xpril. 
 
 "7th. .\pprehensions e.\is| |i'(>m rcct.nt discussions that il may not pass. 
 
 Sth 
 
 C.ll 
 
 mot concur in that ojunum. 
 
 I place more lelianco (Ui the intelli;;('nce and justice of tlie niemhors. 
 TluMiovoinimnit of (!reat Ihitain have remov(>d tlio duty on their 
 
 productM. 
 
 " Thi> Proviii'ial (!oveinnient of Cam\da have roduci'd the duty on their 
 nninufactuies. 
 
 " They ai-e interestod in our products. 
 
 "Wasiiincton, 251)1 April, IS-IR. 
 (CoNi'ii»i:N'riAi..) 
 "Sir. The acoompaiiyini,' lei tcrs from Jacob Keefer and James 15. IJenfion 
 1<Vk]s., Messrs. l?oomer mid Uanney, ('n;,'ajj;ed in inillini^, trade and shippinj;;, 
 it) a coned rcpresiuitation of tho existing i>ul)lic feeling in Upper Canada 
 
3:^3 
 
 \pril, ami 
 miihllo of 
 
 Waaliiug- 
 
 IStH. 
 
 I l)ill \U)\f 
 
 (!()UI'S« 1)0 
 lllC |lOI'i(Hl 
 
 l)ill is to 
 -auction il 
 will your- 
 
 tliis to lio 
 ivrriiiinnit 
 
 the nv'^o- 
 
 I \n'<; to 
 • is j-iin|)ly 
 lastini; t'lr 
 Lliinl in lli4 
 
 vant, 
 
 turiT." 
 
 ami //u;rt 
 I'.roiluood. 
 
 Y not jtrtss. 
 
 n('inl)or«, 
 on their 
 
 \ on their 
 
 IS48. 
 
 I!. IJtMiBon 
 
 sliipiiiiif^, 
 
 |r (.'anadii 
 
 I 
 
 finion,!,' I'ajiitalists, wlu) (ctd tlu; inmiodiato cflVcts of tlio fxistiiir; rcsJiii-l 
 and it is a trun iu'lii-atioii of what must prevail jinionL,'st all classi's in <l 
 eourso of time, if not ii;imovim1, as oi'ilainlj as causes 
 natural ctrccts. 
 
 lon.M. 
 
 uo 
 
 ill 
 
 will [iroilucf' tiicir 
 
 7'lii.s information is dcsij/ncd for tlui //i 
 
 Hill', (iorcniintnit cxidusivclv, 
 
 with a Iiojx' it may imhuM! thcni to prosH tlm nmasurc, without further Iosh 
 if titue. fender no circunislanci-s should tin- attention of the Amtriran 
 
 (i(ii»:riii)U'.,}i lie directed to tin* sti'ikin^C advantai'es which tl 
 
 ley now possess, 
 
 politically, hy oreatinj,^ dissatisfactiou in Canada from the iiH'(piality <if pii<'('H 
 
 our products, 
 comnuMii- 
 
 tur allhouijh it is their true intei'est. coniineicially to adndt 
 H(>in(( tnay favor other views ai\d entertain ohjections. My next 
 cation will bo conliiUMl to reasons for inducing them to adopt tho m 
 
 " I have the honour to !)(>, sir, 
 
 easuro. 
 
 JohnF'. ('uAMrros, Ksr 
 
 I'our oluHlii'iit servant, 
 "W. HAMILTON MKUIiJ'JT, 
 
 notu 
 
 ui 
 
 S(h May. — Anioiij; tho (..'on;:rossionhl procoediiii;- wo have tho pleasure of 
 iii^' the introduction of a measure to the House, for a reciprocal \'r\\> ad- 
 
 ission of (,'ai.adiau and Amoricau products of a certain class — a counterpart 
 to the resolution introducod to tho Assembly in June of last year, by tho 
 nicmhcr for this county, but which was not adopted. We tru-t tho Provin- 
 cial (jovcrnmcnt, by currcsp(»iidiiig with the l?ritish minister at Washiii"l 
 is taking caro that tho measure be urged upon the authorities there. It 
 of ii.ore vital importance to Canada, although but little noticed, thin a red 
 
 on. 
 
 IS one 
 
 ress 
 
 e! a 
 
 11 oti 
 
 ler "rncvanecs w 
 
 Tl 
 
 hieh the most discontented eould enumerate, 
 bill was read twice, and leforred to a cotmnittee of tho whol'. 
 
 "July 6th.— Ucturi fd by (Jravelly li.y. Directed Mr. Parker to .sell 
 lots until the navigatiuii on the e.inal was opened. 
 
 Duncan ilcFarland, K^p, is to siiid down a st.itenieiit of tln' amount 
 
 10 
 
 no 
 
 paid Holland Maedonald, and to settle steamboat <.'ui\>tiu<- account as 
 
 <oon a.s 
 
 hisi 
 
 onuer clei 
 
 k ret 
 
 urns. 
 
 « 
 
 Friday, 7th. — Vi.-ited liockp.-rt. to isee Lot CI irke, K.>(p Had a h 
 
 g 
 
 interview, until near 1(1 o'chpck. 11' turned on Saturday, Sth. Met Mr 
 Street. 1 was otherwise detained until night before reaching St. Catharines. 
 
 " Tuesday, llth. — Mr. Klliot proposes in case ho assented to make a car- 
 ri.ige bridge: l.>-t, to have all aeeounts pass-t d upon the principle of the Com- 
 pany being liable to pay the entire outlay. 'Jiul, Mr. Kllh't'.s estate to bo 
 relieved from liability in case of his dcatli. .'!rd, Tho funds of brid_'<! to bo 
 ;!ppli(d lor no other purpose. The capital on ('anadi sid ' to be reduced t<> 
 6lt)U,(KMI. Whereupon i. us President of the Canada Coinpany , i^uhmitted 
 the toUowing letter : — 
 
 " Sill,- In reply to yours of the Hit'; inst., ciMiiplaining tint the lioard 
 had not made provision to meet your li.ibilities, I have nuri ly to refer you to 
 the following statement, which shews the Company have advanced $.'},741 . 
 
 Btatcint'nt as 
 
 ibll 
 
 owim. 
 
 '1 ho lanuu; 
 
 iLTe 
 
 and spirit of yi ur various letters pre chide any fnrtlu*r 
 riply. Having refusid to furnish the Hoard with a detailed statennnt of the 
 cost of the bridge, to enable them to judge of its monthly progrtVs. From tho 
 high price paid lor material ; the increased cost of work, mglect in its exeeu 
 tioii, with the exorbitant demands ukmIo on tho IJoard, tt.ey have with great 
 rehu'taucc been oouipcUtd to withdraw tlie coi fidence tbcy formerly reposed 
 
334 
 
 1q you; and in order to protect the interests of the shareholders, they feel it 
 their duty to use every means in their power to place the bridge in charge of 
 another Engineer. 
 
 " The Board thought it advisable to defer any action until after the next 
 meeting. The two Presidents are to attend the 1st Monday in Augu.st, at 
 the Cataract House, to examine the minutes, etc, 
 
 " Up to the ir)th attended to lay own private afraiv.=<. Wrote the In- 
 npoctor (General on subject of Canal. This evening's post brought the wel- 
 come news of the passage of the Jlecipvocity Bill in the House of Represen- 
 tatives. Sunday. — Heard Mr. Atkinson preach. All week engaged in 
 private aflairs. Sunday, Mr. Shankland ol!iciated. 29th — Went to To- 
 ronto to see Mr. Ridout. Mr. Atkinson did duty on Sunday. 
 
 " Monday, 31st. — Attended Suspension Bridge meeting. August 1st. 
 Returned. On the 4th made i)reparation for an excursion to Chicago. 
 Sunday — Heard the new organ, its first performaJice ; 31st verse of the 
 •33rd Psabn chant. [ Here follows a prayer, coucheil in language similar to 
 what we have quoterl l)ef()re, not infreipicnt in these memoraiida wherj 
 anything important or unusual occurred.] 
 
 «' Washington, July 11th, 1848. 
 
 " My Dkah Sik, — I have just received a despatch from lAJvd Palmerst^n 
 acknowledging the receipt of my des])atch of May last, which you will recol- 
 lect I lead U* you reoountiiig tht^ ste[>s we had taken to bring forward tlif^ 
 
 * Equ-ilization of Duties Bill'; and Lord Palmerston directs iiie, in contpli 
 ance with a reipiest fiom Lorti Crey, to whom he communicated my des- 
 patch, to procure and transmit to his (Lord Palmerston's) otttco, ' a copy of 
 ' the evidence which W. H. Merritt is stated in your (my) despatch to have 
 
 * furnished to the Comtnitteo of Commerce in the Senate and JTouse of Re 
 •■ prt'sentatives.' J di<l not, I tind on referring to my despateh, say that 
 you bad 'given evidence' and been formally exHmine<l by the Conmiitteos, 
 but only that 'the correct information whieli your presence in Washington 
 ' had enabled you to impart to those committees had gone far to remove 
 ' any apprehension which might have been felt in some quarters as to the 
 ' efiect of the proposed measure upon the markets of the Northern States of 
 tho Union.' 
 
 "This information the colonial office I presume wish to obtain ; but as I did 
 not understantl that it was taken d"wn by the committees or printed, I pre 
 Hume I shall be enabled to procure it from th(;m ; 1 have not yet enquired 
 of them, but intend to do so to-day. I write to you, however, at once, in 
 order that if the information you communicated to the committees wiis not 
 taken down in writing you may yourself be good enough t(; furnish me with 
 the substance of it. 
 
 " 1 have had frequent conversations on the subject of the the bill with 
 Mr. Griiniell, Mr. Dix and Mr. W. Hunt, and the hitter a-ssured me that 
 the bill would be taken up and passed last wet>k. Mr. Crinnell told nie 
 the only gymptom of opposition to it he had met with in any cpiarter was 
 from Mr. Bradbury, tho Senator from Maine ; but that he hoped to get over 
 tiiia — it related only to lumber. Would it not be better to throw tho luiu 
 ber overboard for the present rather than risk or delay the passage of tho 
 bill V " Believe me, dear sir, 
 
 " Your's very sincerely, 
 • W. H. Mkuiutt Esq., M. P. P." JOHN F. CRAMPTON" 
 
 X 
 
Ihcy feel it 
 iQ charge of 
 
 tcr the nexV 
 August, at 
 
 rote the In- 
 ;ht the wol- 
 )f Reprosen- 
 
 cngciged in 
 ^ent to To- 
 August 1st. 
 
 to Chicago, 
 vorso of thf 
 ;(', Kiiuilar to 
 randu wheu 
 
 th, 1848. 
 I Palmerst^n 
 ou will recol- 
 
 forward thf 
 o, in com pi i 
 itt'd my dcs- 
 !e, ' a copy of 
 latch to have 
 louse of Re 
 tch, say tliat 
 
 (Jomniitteos, 
 
 Washington 
 to remove 
 
 r-s as to the 
 in States of 
 
 but as I did 
 int(;d, 1 pro 
 •ft onquinKJ 
 
 at once, in 
 tees wiiH not 
 nish me with 
 
 ic bill with 
 red me that 
 Huell told ni<? 
 • piarter was 
 d to get over 
 ow tho luui 
 Issage of the 
 
 .MPTON" 
 
 335 
 
 House of REPnrsENTATivEs, July 12, 1840. 
 " Mv Dear Sib, — The Canada Rocipjocity Bill lia.s just i)as,sed tho 
 Tlotise, almost unanimously. There was a show of opposition, hut we 
 promptly put it down. The Rill may pas.s the Senate in a day or two, 
 C-onsider it settled. I would .send this by telegriij)h, l.ut the diMirence in 
 only a day or two, and I presume you will see it announced in the Ruffl^lo 
 papera as soon as a sj)ecial despatch could reach you." 
 
 '' (In great haste.) 
 
 " Believe me \oui'!« truly, 
 
 '• W. HUNT." 
 " Ho>. W. Hamilton Merritt." 
 
 Tlje St. Catharines Jouriuil extra July ]r>th, H, P. M. nivs : — 
 
 " Reoiprocitv Bill. — Wm. Hamilton Merritt, M. P. P. for the county 
 of Lincoln, has just rocnived letters from tho Hon. Wiishiiiucton Hunt, Chair- 
 man of the Committee of Coinmeioo, and the H(m. Joaejdi (Jrinnell, announc- 
 ing its passing the House of Roprcsentatives on tho 12tli inst. * ♦ * 
 Contemplate the elTect which i-enioving all existing nistriotions would 
 produce on the commerce and wealth of Canada. 
 
 " Situated on a direct line between Great iiritain, w heie capital, manu- 
 tactures, and a dense jinpulation has been increasing for ages, and jui inland 
 ''Oivst exceeding 4,000 mihw above the Falls of Niagiira, capable of contain- 
 ing a population of many millions, with a soil and climate producing the 
 fruits of the earth in great abundance, who will ventur«> to pn-dict tho ex- 
 tent of the oxohangos between these two countries — tlie profit »-• be n-alized 
 l»y individuals --tli<' reveniic to br> derivtil IVom tolls by the ( Jovci-ument — 
 the number of emigrants ])as,->ing through, oi- \\\p prosperity and wealth cre- 
 ated. 
 
 " To ensure this trad'', our Canals inu^t be linish'^d tu admit the pas.sage 
 •)f a vessel to or from Lake Erie to the Ocean, drawing at le.ist nine feet 
 six inches of water, after which, from Mny until October the major part of 
 Uie commerce of the Western States will pass through i\ is ehanne! : for the 
 remainder of the sea.son tho trade of Canada will seek Atl.intic ports through 
 tho United States, thus securing to the inhabitants of ench all the natunii 
 advantaircs that either could possess were the\ under the same (Jovern- 
 inont. 
 
 "We heartily congratulate the country on the jiassing of thhs Bill, and 
 trust that no delay will occur to retard or defeat the cheering prospect it 
 Iiolds forth." 
 
 During the Snmuior he was busily oi-oupied in connexion with the large 
 
 Suspension Bridge. 
 
 "Monday, August 7th. — Left home for Chicago, via Falls and BufTalo. 
 To Cleveland in 16 hours; to Detroit, thein in steamer Sidtdtia to Chicago. 
 Here he received a letter from jMontreal^ which induced him to retrace IiIh 
 steps, leaving the completion of the wheat |iurcha.se,'» down the Illinois river 
 w the author, who had accompanied liini thither. 
 
 In the Autumn he wont for the lirst time to Chicago, which 
 vk'rta now fast becoming an important grain centre Hii companion 
 from Detroit westward, btjsides the author was a Mr. Htinson from Hamiltou. 
 
33G y 
 
 On arii\ing in Chicago, Mr. Stinsoii uttcmled Keverul of th«i great liuid 
 aalea of tho school commissioners then going on in that town. Ife, being 
 without funds and wishing to speculate, requested our subject to introduce 
 Lim to the commissioners, which ho did with pleasure. Mr. Stinson's ajiec- 
 ulations on this occasion, as is well known, resulted very successfully, whilst 
 tho.se of our subject were, owing to tlie high price of j)rouuce, the revei-se. 
 
 At this time there were neither Telegraphs, Eaihoads, or Banks in tho 
 State of Illinois, he travelled through tho country in a buggy, and pari 
 of the time on tho river by steamer and tho canal by boat. 
 
 Arriving at St. Catharines, the memo, continues: — "Friday, 8th, ra- 
 ceived a telegram to repair to Montreal. 9th — Arranged business, and 
 wrote answers to my letters. lOtli — Heard an e.xcellent sermon from Mr. 
 Atkinson on kee])ing the Sabbath day. Monday, 11th — Drove down to 
 Niagara with son Thomas; cros.sed over in steamer Mcujnet, and arrived at 
 Kingston on the'UlHh, next day; and left in Passpoi't at 7. 13th — Arrived 
 at Coteau, and Montreal at 10 o'clock. 
 
 " Wrote liidout on subject of currency : Widmere on the subject of tha 
 Western country. Thur-sihiy, 14th — Having been otlered the situation of 
 President of the Council yesterday, took until this day to consider of it. 
 Having no knowledge of the duties, and no inclination to confine my.self to 
 mere olUcial routine, determined to decline it ; but Messrs. Lafontaiue, 
 Bullivan and Baldwin assuring me it was a situation which would give m» 
 the best opportunity of bringing my views biifore the (Jovernment, and in 
 which J could rendi>r more essential service than having the immeiliate 
 charge of any single department, 1 addressed Mr. Lafontaiue the following 
 letter :-- 
 
 "MuNTREAL, Sept. 14th, 1848. 
 
 <' Sir, — Your encjuiry whether in case His Excellency oll'ered mo tha 
 situation of President of the Council, 1 would accept it, was wholly unox- 
 pecteil. However, after mature consideration, 1 have deciiled to acce{)t it, 
 as you have bon in possession of tho measures I have advocated, viz : tha 
 creating of a perpetual fund from the proceetls of the public lands, for tho 
 suppoi't of connnon schools, establishment of district libi'aries, itc, I con- 
 sider it eipiivalent to accepting those meaoures by the Government. 
 
 w. H. MiaiRi'n\'' 
 
 "To Hon. UoHKUT JJ.vldwin." 
 After his return from tho West, the conimunlcudon \n' received was 
 that liis name was on^the list of Ministers, in the capacity of President of 
 the Council. He immetliatoly left for Montreal, ami alter a long interview 
 wherein his ideas on the geneial policy of the country were agreed to. ho 
 decided upon accepting the oliice, and immediately returned to his constitu- 
 oucy for re-election, which was appointed for October lith, and in this cum 
 he received the support of both parties, and returned withoiit opposition. 
 Previous ko his departure for tho seat of government, his constitiuMits pie- 
 Bcnted him with a congratulatory address, to which he replieil in Htting 
 terms, expressing unbounded hope in his country's future destiny. His 
 journey to the West had impressed him with the future prospects of ihow 
 
337 
 
 boundless pvairina wliicli were now rapidly coming nndor tlio control of malt. 
 With almost jirophetic langua,<(t', lie professed tliey would see the time when 
 the prothictiuiis of this vast (•(juntry would s<"V(>rely tax the capacity of the 
 most ( xtensivo means of outlet to the seaboiinl for tlie rich aud proiluctivo 
 crops of cereals aud cattle, which tho land wouhl proihice. Under the in- 
 tluenco of those ideas, he iirst tliought of the scheme for transportation, 
 which lie afterwards, when Minister of Public Works, projjosed to tht iiiitry. 
 
 We consider it advisable to notice the affairs that pi-eceded at greater 
 length, so as to explain the cause of our subject's entering tht! government; 
 and when there, the patience ami [lerseverance in which he directed ihe 
 aHairs of the council during the peculiaily exciting pcii(n| nf our liistory. 
 
 Mr. Baldwin, immediately at the conclusion nf the dfctiuu ctmtest, sends 
 Mr. Meiiitt a party luissile i-eipiiring his adhereuce, whetiier Mr. M.'s mea- 
 sui-es were brought in or not. Our subject, in his I'eply, plainlv tells Mr. 
 B. that no other plea than acts for the improvement of (.'aiiuda, will keep 
 his adherence to Mr. li. 
 
 11th July, Mr. H. writes again, and appears anxious to engage Mr. M., 
 by a counuission in the Univensity, which hud tho rccnuimendation of a 
 liVjeral remuueiation from the college funds. 
 
 Mr. M.'s ab.st'uce to the West prevented his answering imnuidiately, 
 and before his I'eturn a more responsible office was tendereil. 
 
 The Montreal IJemld, in a communication from Washington dated iJ^th 
 May, on the subject of Reciprocity in Congress :— 
 
 " Dear Sir, — I wrote you fiom N. Y., which I left on Saturday last 
 and reached this city on Tuesday, where I found our friend Merritt, who 
 has been doing g(H)d service." (Ulo.ses all with "thanks to Meri'itt.") 
 
 An article in the Glvbi', 1st June, says : — "Should tlu? bill pass, Mr. 
 Merritt will have earned the thanks of his (,'anadian fellow-countrymen." 
 
 The notices of this nii.ssion were not i-ontintHl to Canadian pa])ers, for thw 
 circumstances of his being iu Washington in a semi-diplomatic cajiacity was 
 noticed in the United States papers as well. 
 
 Mr. Cameron writes, Montreal, Junt; 'J, 1848 : — 
 
 "Young, llniack and Tobin have in-cn lu'ic from Halifax, they are for 
 tree trade — and if the Congress [)as.ses your Hill, it will he met here with- 
 out delay; and it is now clear that the navigation law will be alioli.shed." 
 
 Mr. llincks vvritess fiom the capital to our sulijcct, iTtii July: — 
 " Messrs. Sullivan and Lafontaine have gone to Washington, and will, I 
 liupc, arrangi! satisfactorily about bringing the new act into force. We shall 
 uut shrink from the responsibility of an order in Council. The administia- 
 tion has alreaily done all that it could." 
 
 Kxtract from the Montreal Cuurier, August 3rd, 1848: — 
 " Two of the Executive (xovernment are now out of town. Mr. Sullivan 
 and Lafontaine are at Washington, whither they have proceeded on some 
 business connected with our mercantile relations with the L'nited States." 
 
338 
 
 Hamilton, August 14, 1848. 
 " I am desired to assure you of tlie high souse the Board of Trade has of 
 your great and valuable st^rvices in bringing alxjut the Reciprocity Act. 
 Every exertion must bu made, by petition and otherwise, to have its pro- 
 mulgation of the free navigation of the 8t. liawrence pass in Britain. " 
 
 " J. S. BROADCiAST." 
 The St. Catharines Journal says :— 
 
 " The U. S. Congre.ss has iLsen witlieut passing tlio Reciprocity Bill, 
 and which only re<piired its final reading in the Senate." 
 
 The Toronto Colunist, Aug. .'51, LS48, says: --" We have had several 
 deputations to Washington ; the lust was that of the Provincial Secretary, 
 and Mr. Lafontaine. 
 
 " The (Jovernment at VVa.shington is remarkal)ly accessal)le, but it in 
 already agreed on there, that the jtrico which (Amada shall pay for the 
 United States market, will be taken in in.stalments, amounting in the 
 aggnsgate to the ultimate incorporation with the States uiulei- one Federal 
 Government. This is no secret, it is perfectly understood on l)oth sides. 
 
 " Free Trade, it will be seen, is doing its work. The urgency of Lord 
 Elgin's huiguage is portentious ; it is full of significance ; and now that tlie 
 Navigation Ijaws are not to Ixi repealed this session, we may expect, on the 
 part of the aniiexers and the Montreal free traders, something in the shape 
 of physical foi'ce demonstrati(jns. This is <juit<^ in unisoii with the [trogres^ 
 of the age, and by no means imfashionable at the present moment, in more 
 places than Canada." 
 
 Contiauation of remarks from the press, on the failure of the Reciprocity 
 Treaty, and appointment of our subject to the office of President of the 
 Council : — 
 
 In Sept. the Sjjectdtor says :— " Wo failed to secure the measure by our 
 anxiety to etfeet it. We wonder how the oidy way in which a free com- 
 merce in the nattiral ])roductions common to both countries has been .sought, 
 was by negotiation in Washington, commenced by Mr. Pakenham and 
 continued by Mr. Crampton. It did not a}»pear by the debates in the 
 Imperial Parliament on the free trade measures, nor by those in the Pro- 
 vincial Parliament, on the i)respnt Customs bill, that any member thought 
 of them as inducements for the Americans, admitting our products duty free. 
 "Mr. Merritt's i>resence in the Executive Council, is no doubt regarded 
 as an atpiisition by his colleagues, and he may yet prove to be the chief of 
 the party. 
 
 " He goes into office under the greatest resi)onsibility, because of the 
 large expectations which are entertjiined from him ; his advent to ofhce is 
 hailed by his constituents and admirers as a pledge that those measures ad- 
 vocated by him, and now apjjroved of by so many, are about to be acted on 
 by the Government. 
 
 " The ' word of promise' must not be kept to the ear, and broken to the 
 hope. The time has fully come, when the great interests of this colony 
 must not any longer be sacrificed, either to party prejudice, or party interest. 
 Our present constitution gives us the power to originate, and legislate, on 
 those great measures which are now agitated among us, and the people look 
 for, and expect, that the present Government will be true to their principles 
 and declarations of pre-emiueut love of Canada." 
 
^J^^J^ 
 
 339 
 
 The Journal says : — 
 
 " The SfteHalor will plonso hold tlu^ gontlenian Ik^ niciitions clear of any 
 rosj)niisil)ility for what ajijioai's in those colmnns, except ovcc his own 
 signaturt!- we have not seen him foi' ahoiit twe nionthH." 
 
 "IIkwakd dk Mi'.KlT. — Th»f appointment of the Hon. W. (I. MeiiiM (o the 
 Presidency of tho (Jouncil, is emphatriirally 'the reward of meiit.' All' 
 parties nnist therefore concur in the appointment, however irreconcilahle it 
 may appear to some persons, that in rewarding merit the condition sliouid 
 he, that Mr. W. K. Merritt should he necessitateil to sit at the same i!(i;iril as 
 his tpiondam, foul and iinscrupulous assailant, Francis Jlincks. j'ut \\v shall 
 indeed wonder, if iMi'. Merritt does not manage, in tiie posiliim lie li.is 
 attained, to make his own out of Mr. Jiincks, and every other mcnilier' nf 
 the (Jouncil. Thiuo are queer things ahead. — ('uloiilst. 
 
 Ono of th(! causes of the call of o>ir sidjject to the (iovernment, w.as 
 a consciousness in tho dispensing powei-, whether that may he in Kngland 
 or here, that tho people wore dissatisfied with the neglect of their interest 
 — oneof these tho neglect to repeal tho Navigation Law. .\ meeting in .Mont- 
 real is noticed in tho Junrutd, on June *J"Jnd. 
 
 Th<^ sp(!echi'S were vi^-y interesting, and fully e.\.(!mplilied the henedts 
 which the; province may dtjiive from her Viust canals — not only from the 
 business that will be furnished throughout tlit; length of tla province, but 
 from the fact that such a revenue would arise from tolls as '• would pa\- the 
 expense of tho Provincial Government, and leave a considerai)le ludance. 
 
 The duties could then 1)0 entircsly abolished, and the Custom llnu.se beiu"- 
 done away with, goods for consumption, or for wearing couhl be brought in 
 free from any tax. This is a consummation for whicii our [leople cannot but 
 earnestly wish; a freedom of export dutie.s — the trouble and annoyance arising 
 from their collection, and that great temptation to crime in the shape of 
 false invoices, swearing, and smuggling. We are thankful to JNIr. (ilass 
 for the statement above, and believe it will not nnich longei' be regarded as 
 one of Mr. Moiritt's " ciotches." 
 
 The following is the oath of secrecy taken Ijy nu'inbers of tlm (Jovern- 
 nient ; and as there is no disposition to impair the (.Queen's a\ithority, lor 
 the pro.spiirity of her Canadian subjects, we feel no hesitation in <'ontituiing 
 the extracts from Mr. Merritt's private journal and corres}»ondenii', although 
 some of tho items may bo construed into disclosures of secrets of State. 
 
 "TllK Oath OK THK MK.MHEU.S Ol' TIIK CoilNCIFi : I, , will serve 
 
 Her Majesty truly and faitiifully in the place of Her Council in this Her 
 Majesty's Province of Canada ; I will keej» close and secret all such mattt^rs 
 as shall be treated, debated, and resolved on, in Kxecutive Council, with- 
 out publishing or disclosing the same or any part thereof, by word, writing, 
 or any otherwise, to any person out of the same Council, but to such only 
 as lue. of tlie Council ; and yet if any matter so propounded, treated and de- 
 bated in any sucJi Kxecutivo (Jouncil, shall touch any |>articular p(;rson, 
 sworn of the same Council, upon any such matter as shall in anywise con- 
 cern Lis loyalty and tidelity to tho (jueen's Majesty, 1 will in no wise open 
 
340 
 
 the same to him, but keep it secret, aH f would from any person, until the 
 Queen's Majfcsty's pleasure be known in that behalf. I will, in all tliinfjs, to 
 be movtstl, treated and debated in any such Kxecutive Council, faithfully, 
 honestly, and truly declare my mind and ojiinion to the honor and benelit 
 of the Queen's Majesty, and the good of Her subjei tv, witliout partiality or 
 exception of jiersons, in no wise forbearing so to do from any manner of re- 
 spect, favour, love, need, displeasure, or dread of any person or persons 
 whatsoever. In general 1 will bo vigilant, diligent and circumspect in all 
 my doings, touching the Queen's Maje.sty's afliiirs ; all whicdi matters and 
 things I will faithfully observe and ket'i), as a good (Councillor ought to do, 
 to the utmost of my jiowiM', will, and discretion. So help me God." 
 
 " Was sworn in on the 15th of Septeml>er, returned to St. Catharines, 
 and as .soon as the writs could be made out, a new election took place. 
 Having resigned as member, was re-elected on the (itb October, left St. Catli 
 arine.s on the 1 1th, Wednesday, and arrived in Montreal on Saturday morn- 
 ing, the 14th inst. 
 
 " Took lodgings at Donegana's, atteiuled Council to ob.serve the routine, 
 before assuming the duty. Addressed a letter to the Conunissioner of Public 
 Works, a co])y of which is in my private lettei' book, drawing their attention 
 to certain jiarts of the Erie Canal re|)orts, and pre.sented them with a fidl 
 Dei of canal docunjents, expressing a hope it would be useful in their forth 
 coming report. 'Jnd, Referred the lettei- of Fiancis Hall, Esq. Ibd, And 
 transferred the letter of Mr. Scott, of the Boanl of Woiks depaitment, to 
 the Provincial Secretary. 4th, Private letters from J. Prince, M. P. for 
 Sandwich. 
 
 " Monday, 16tli October, 1848. This day assumed the duties of my 
 oliice as the President of the Committee of the Executive Council of the 
 Province of Canada, not President of the Council, as generally supposed, 
 inasmuch as on the final pas.sage of a measure the (rovernor presides. 
 
 " Tuesday, 17th, — Examineil the various ilocuments with Mr. Joseph to 
 submit to the Council on the morr«w, also .saw applications with Mr. Lee. 
 Devoted the remainder of the day until half past 5 in preparing a com 
 mercial statement. 
 
 " Wednesday, 18th, — The Council assembled at lialf past ten, disposed 
 of the business submitted for their consideration, which were presented for 
 the examination of His Excellency who referred to the Board for any infoi' 
 uiation on any given point. 
 
 "Thursday, 19th, — Devoted this day to the i)rei)aration of the comment 
 and statement on land. Wrote Crampton and Yates to send the inforniii- 
 tion sought for respecting customs, and Dix respecting Reciprocal Bill, 
 Dunsconjbe for quantity and amount of impoi-ts. 
 
 " Friday, 20th, — Examined the various documents to be presented to 
 the Council on the morrow, and devoteil the few moments to be spiued 
 after secnng all applicants to the Government, to the pre])aration of my report. 
 
 " Saturday, 21st, — Spent this day in council, after examining Doctor 
 Ryersou's bill on the amendment of the Common School Act, very little 
 done, except the ordinary routine businoas, on which 1 oontem[)late suggest 
 ing an improvement, lecpiiring each department to make out their owr. 
 reports. Received Thos. R. Merritt's note from Mr. McNought." 
 
341 
 
 Our stihj®*'*' ^8" "f*t l*^"o rliKoovfiring, after p. Lpring into the Council, 
 whoso operations wore heretoforo only judgof! hy thoir icsult and those too 
 tVo(|Uf'iitly eliruiiirk'd »?"/., that Iniporinl subjects wore 'pjiven for tlie rlis- 
 ruHsion of tho (!ouncil, and imtil theyjwcro disposed of, those devoted to 
 Colonial affairs wore left in abeyance, Mr. Merritt persevered in tho hope 
 that something could be made oiit of them and thou;,di protection had been 
 withdrawn by the upturning of the colonial policy; yet that something 
 for Canada could be gaineil out of an extended cniigration and the loan of 
 an Imperial credit. With this view, withfhow much patience, if Ti()t at the 
 entire exhaustion of their own, our readers will see, Im wad('d through 
 Minister Sullivan's memorial for the transplanting of the famishing Irish to 
 farms in Canada, or the scheme for supporting pensioners here, of a similar 
 d(^sign. 
 
 " K \\. Sullivan's hotter of the 10th .June last, to the Right Rev. thw 
 (■atholic Lord Bishop, in a reply to a memoiial which I have not 
 seen, develops a scheme for the settlement and disposal of public lands, 
 which is. First, — To make a free grant of !)() acres to evt^ry actual settler 
 (No. .'}) and the right to occupy loO acres adjoining on payment of Is per 
 acre in land scrip, obtain a deed on dearing If! acres of the 50, and 15 
 acres au<l payment of the 150 (in No Kt,) To rnake a lot of L'OO, which if 
 scrip is 50 per ct. discount, will reduce the land to 2s. per acre, or £15. 
 
 *' The Government on their |iart, to place an agent in tho settlement, 
 to plac(> each settler on his lot; whether his passage is paiil, nnd furnished 
 with provision does not appear. 
 
 " To cicai- a road to this settlement, to lay out leading loads through it, 
 and to employ a surveyor to lay out side-lines (see 4, 5, 8.) No (estimate is 
 made of the expenses of surveying — of clearing those roads- of maintainiu"' 
 an agent — of finding those emigrants — ol paying their c(mveyance to the 
 land — of maintaining roads, bridges «fec., after being made. 
 
 " No. 11 — Does not regard Crown Lands as sources of revenue — still— - 
 
 " No. 12 — Recognizes that principle. 
 
 " No. l;i — Points out the real end which has exist(^<i in giving huge 
 tracts of land to individuals, at the .same time points out the true n-medy to 
 counteract its injurious effects — taxation. 
 
 " No. 14 — Points out the fact that real obstacles to settlement has here- 
 tofore existed, but does not assign the true cause, which is the neglect, mis- 
 management and interference of Government since war of 1812. 
 
 "No. 15- Alludes to £20,000 which the Provincial (Jovcu-nment 
 thought it right to contribute to the (fxpenses of emigration. How, when 
 or where this grant was made does not appear. 
 
 "Tlu^ liritish Possessions Act, 2ud clause, 809 Viot., Cap. 93, relates 
 to free ports, anil foreign vessels not applicable to [lassing vessels. 
 
 " Sunday, 22nd, — Atteuiled Trinity Church, heard an extemporaneotis 
 s(M-mon from Kev'd Mr. Campbell, not well arrangiid. Wrote Mrs. Merritt, 
 .1., W. H., andT. 
 
 No apology is, we are sure, required for the insertion of tho following 
 epistle, as it details better than aught else the ultimate pursuits of our subject: 
 
342 
 
 "22imI Oftol.."!-, 1848. 
 
 "ArvDKAit rATiiiMirNi: : Siii.c writiii.,' yoii Inst Sim. lay F iii<-), (i,.|i. 
 
 Kv.iiis j^uMi;; into climL-li ; ho was a r>ii;,'a<liHr in ISli', w'l i | swivnl 
 
 with ill Mia). (•;i.iii|>ai;,'ii. ami I have iittl seen liiin .since lie rccdifiiizcd iniij 
 Kt(>|i|uM| iMc in tin- .sliict. I liavn nn't with aiiolhcr old fViciid ; lir roiii 
 niamlfil a vessel calieil (lie Wovr \ hd afterwanls i-aiiii' out as ('ulnniiil 
 (JoveriKii's Secretary. He will iiiako an iiiH|)ectiuii tour llii(Mii;li Canada 
 when he will call on ymi ; tluwi art! all I liavo seen. I have iidt iiaid a 
 .siiiule visit, and i'\|pcct not to for a. niontli. 
 
 " I am lieiit on diM'iatin;,' ^'rcat olian,i,'('s, and until they ai(^ iiiaLiired hy 
 nie and iliscusseil liy the Council, and de(!id(u| on by tlie (lovernor, I niiist 
 lie cut iielv occiMiicd hv them. 'I'lie situation of this Truvince is disconra-dn-' 
 
 " 'riicre is no in<luccment lor my remaiiiin;,' u sin;,d(> day lon^t •■ than to 
 acconiplish (he oiiject I have in vi((W. 
 
 On the -iltli lie says, " i rise at H, oi- as .soon as I can ;,fet a (ire ; after 
 lireakCast (ake a shoit walk ; yo to my duty at half past nine, and remain 
 till f), or after ; take a shor( walk and diim at (i ; at 7 a;;ain eoinmenee, and 
 coidiime till ((•, or II. It will lake me at least Id days to |ire|iaie (he 
 measures I have on hand. 
 
 "A ;,'reat de.i!;ree of responsibility is expected from William II. by the 
 mercantile and agricultural interest. 
 
 " \ have plenty of assistant! to copy, but tiie arraiiLjement devolves 
 wliolly on niy.self. 'i'wo days ar(» taken up in council, passim,' the time in 
 seeing peopl(! and talkintj; over thi'ir business, so that the night is t'le only 
 time Ici't for rellection. 
 
 " Monday, L'."{rd, Answered several lett(M'H, (scse letti^r book.) omitleij 
 sending. I. I )econ .ij^l ; (^ver compiling measures ;ind tables in which I liii<j 
 great dilliculty. 
 
 "'ruesd.iy, I'ltli, Wrote Croigh ton on snliject of Hydraulic ( 'onci.-iii, 
 (examining tables. 
 
 " Wednesday, lir»tli, Council <lay for a iiuml>er of cases (see tlie .scroll 
 book.) 'I'lie entire day occniiied, ami only from 7 to 10 at night, for com 
 piling tables. 
 
 " Thursdjiy, 2<)th, Made progress in tables, Mr. Ifensleigh in the (juan 
 tity of imports, T>t\gly comnuinoed the entire e.xpenditvn'e under lioanl of 
 Works, in amounts paid before the Union for unproductive property. 
 
 " Kriday. I'Tth, Kxamine(l the various documents rohiting to the meas- 
 ures under consideration, during this day. 
 
 " Saturday, 'JSth, (Council day, very little business transacted, occupied 
 the entire day. 
 
 "Sunday, 29th, — Attended Methodi.st chapel a dull day. 
 
 " Monday, ."SOtli, Wrote Notman respecting Darling's letters. Kemaiii- 
 der of the day preparing tables. 
 
 "Tuesday, ."Hst, - Wrote (Jreight(ni and Kston, and devoted remainder 
 of tlie day in preparing and arranging my jirograninie. 
 
 "Wednesday, 1st Nov., — Fete ohli</(ite,s — no Council — a full day's work. 
 "Thursday, L'nd,^ — Preparing tallies as a reference. 
 
 " Friday, IJrd,- Succeeded this day in closing up one measure relating 
 to the public lands, and enclosed it to His Excellency for his pcM-iisal. 
 
 "Saturday, 4th, — A (.'ouncil was summoned this day, in consequence of 
 a committal and sentence of death for rajie, for which the man was .sentenced 
 
343 
 
 14 yoiirH in Ponitontiary ; I think tho piiniHhmont oxcoHHive, but lio niaj 
 bo panlonod (*ro this fctinn has fxpirod. 
 
 "Sunday, 5th, — liainy day att('ii(h>d Trinity. 
 
 "Monday, 'Ith, -Wiotd several l('tt,(irK, family, I'irc. Continue (Miniiiiiiiif^ 
 moaHunis and tablos. 
 
 "Tuesday, 7th, -Same omploymfiut from 9 until 10 or 1 1 at ni;,dit, ox- 
 co|>t I hour dinner. 
 
 "Wednesday, 8th, Council, verj little huHinesH. 
 
 "Thursday, Dth, Kxainined tlu; Ulue I?o()k this day, and read Major 
 liohinson's report on the Halifax and (^luslHiC lailway, a well written (h)OU- 
 m(tnt. 
 
 " Kriday, 10th, —Yesterday finislied tho entire subject on hand. 
 
 " Prof,'i'amnie eontainin^' a seiies of tables, shewiuii the nresent state of 
 the Provineiid finances, with explanatory remarks. 
 
 " 2 refcu's to the resourcea of tho Province and the remedy. 
 " A. No. 3.- Memoir on Agriculture, (!omnierce and Manufact\ire with 
 !i Hill, itc, Ac, ifec. 
 
 " B. No. 4. Debt on finance with i'>ill, Ac, Ac, Ac 
 "C No. f). On sale and application of the PuV)lic Fiands, with Hill, Ac. 
 Those were first sent in f(jr tlit; examination of His Kxcellency, on their 
 return, will provide copies. 
 
 " Examined the opinion of the Committee of Customs, on report of th(i 
 4th Septendnsr, 1^40, which states, that ridinj^ oHicers were recomnu'n<l(,'(l 
 on the Welland (!anal to prevent smugj^ling, thou^di it is against the fifcneral 
 policy of the empire to admit American vessels to pass the St. iiawreuce. 
 
 " In th(^ letter to the Lords of the Conunittee of Privy Council for Trade, 
 to James Stephen, Kscp, 1 1th March, '47, is the following leinai'k : - 
 
 " Smuggling into (^anada can oidy be prevented by the adoj)tion of a 
 moderate scale of Customs duties, and not by increased otti<'iiil supervi.sioa ; 
 think smuggling here coujmon into the C S., from tlie moderate tiiritl" in 
 force in (!anada. " l>. LEF'EVHK." 
 
 "Friday, lOth November, 1848, The despatch f)f Lord Crey, March 
 19th, '47, says :" Permission may be granted to Anusrican vessels as a 
 favor, not as a right. 
 
 " Saturday, 1 1th, -Schnoner A/V///, drawing 5 fcft H indies, arrived, first 
 vessel from Lake Krie, on her way to Europe, deceived box from home, 
 sent in bill for creating sinking fund, which fiiushes the measures iclating 
 to Commeice, Kinaiice and Pidilic iiauds. 
 
 "Mr. Todd is furnishing the cost of Public Works })rior to the uiuon, 
 on such works as will pay in Upper and in I..ower ( 'anada. 'Che balance 
 is the real debt of the respective provinces, which must be addefl to tlu^ like 
 expenditure since the union. Th«;n, make a statement of the relative 
 amount of duties collected in each country since the union. 
 
 " Next, shew the expenses in collection and net aniounts since the union. 
 
 "Sunday, 12th,— Attended Trinity. 
 " KHh and 14th,— Compiling Tables. 
 " Wednesday, and pai-t of yesterday, — Council. 
 
 " IGth, 17th, 1 8th, -Devoted tho entire time in the examination of 
 revenue to create a sinking fund. 
 
 "Sunday, 19th,— Attended Trinity. 
 
 "20th, 21st, 22nd,— Meeting of Council. 23rd, 24th, 25th,— Another 
 
344 
 
 wfok liiis piiKsfd over. On Kri'lay my nioasiiras wpro rUsciisRoil .unl post- 
 poin'il iiiilil .Moiiil.iy next; have hfcn icaily fm it wfi-k |iiist, ; iiutliin;,' iimtf 
 rial ofciintMl <liiiiii;f tlic week; oiflimiry I'oiitiiic of liusiiiraH oj little inonu'iil. 
 
 " Moii.liiy. 'JTtii, Met tills Jiiy, liiiil it liiii^ ilisnissiDii. imt iilto^'cHioi- 
 Siiti.srfii'tiiiy; t'sliil'iisliiiiL,' ii sinkiii;,' I'iiikI, iiii<l ii|)|iin|iriiitiii;,' tin- jintcpeils of 
 tln' |nil)lii' jiiiiils for cfi'iitiiiL; ii tiiiiil for foimiioii scliools liits liccn ii'jrwtil to 
 liMf tlif fiitiiro joiiii is ill jilicyiiiift'. 
 
 " Tiirndiiy, L'Stli, Wrotf si'Vt.Miil IcUci-.s in reply. 
 
 " Wediit'sdiiy, L'fMli, Couiioil all day on various suhjeets of littli) worth. 
 
 " 'riiursdiiy. ."lOlli, lliid n luiii; ooiifci-t'iii'c witli liis|«'ctor (o'lifral, tio- 
 tiiing dclfrnHiifd. 
 
 " Kridny, ist hccciiilicr, (Vtiiiicil on Wrij,'lit',s !i|i|iliiMtion foe [nircliasn 
 of lii.s .slides at (lie ( 'jiaiidiere, liytowii. 
 
 " Sittwi-day, 'Jiid, Saw Mr. hiddwiii, who eoiicurs with |iriiici[iln of 
 clause liiiiitiii;^ the (txecutivo to the expemiitin'e of a eortiiin amount. 
 
 " On Kridiiy, held ii Ion;,' einift'ioneo with Mis Kxcelleiicy, whoreijuires 
 II nitMiiorandum of, or rather stateiiient, shewing' 
 
 " Ist, Cost or amount yet r(!(|uired to (inisli the St.Lawroncoand Wel- 
 land Canals. 
 
 "2nd, — The amount of annual expenses thereon. 
 
 "3rd, — Amount of ;iniiUiil repairing'. 
 
 " 4tli, -Kstimate of th(! tolls, to show the jtrohiilile not amoiiut to crwate 
 t\ sinkinii ("iiiid. for whieli a stiitement must he )rdered from Keofer, who in 
 the niti-aiitinie will prepare the .same. 
 
 "Wrott> I )ix and 'I'homas, and examined the stattiment of expense of 
 Trinitv House, and sidaries paid throughout the provineo preparing \>y Todd. 
 Very little progress. 
 
 " 3rd, Sunday, Attended Trinity. Ith. Monday. 
 
 " otli, Tuesday, Head letter from the Hon. d. .A. Dix, recommending 
 my going to Wiishingtou, to alford (explanations. (lov. in fjivour of the 
 measure, hut the Council did not appear willing to dispense with my ser^'iceis. 
 
 " nth, Wedm^sday, Sul)ject di.scu.s.sed iimong others. 
 
 "Thursday, 7th, Wrote Joseph (irinnell and cnclo.sfMl printed copy of 
 Navigation Act, Lord Grey's reply to Sir K. Head, N. l\., rt^fusing the 
 prayer of jietition to Icjive th(^ present Navigation jjiiws as they stand ; 
 and tlm report of tlie Montreal Board of Tnulo, recommending |tiH)tection." 
 
 Tins year, which was succeeded by the burning of tlu; Parliament House 
 by a nujb, the estidtlisliinent of a political league, closing by the annexa- 
 tion manifesto, was comiilicattMl by the opposing views on the interests of 
 the eountrv taken by the press. The following leader from the Jounud, 
 which had been considered heretofore as at least according with Mr. iMer- 
 ritt'K views, censuring the resolutions of the Montreal meeting, ii.ses argii- 
 momts in direct opposition to the jiolitical principles of our subject. While 
 opi>osin<' the Montreal rioters, pi-ofessed the prosperity of Canadians alone to 
 be the object of our legislation. 
 
 Jounud continued : 
 
 " A itroposition to the British (Jovernnient in the sliiipe of a memorial to 
 the Queen to tax the jioor of Enghind (is. a biirrel on tlour, lor the sake of 
 this colonv. So this projiosition is the only thing to save this colony to 
 
345 
 
 1 iiml iH)8t- 
 liiny niftto- 
 If moment, 
 iiltiii^ftlifr 
 irocopils (»f 
 a"rHfil ti», 
 
 id I)' svortli. 
 Itiienil, Tui- 
 
 >r pun'lmso 
 
 iniiiciplii of 
 
 oiint. 
 
 ■ho icijiiin'S 
 
 CO and Wel- 
 
 iiit to I'l-cmto 
 fifor, who in 
 
 ('X)>ons(i of 
 i]vji ^y 'l"o<M. 
 
 Miimt'ixhun 
 our of the 
 ly SLT^'iceH. 
 
 ittnl copy of 
 
 •fiisiiiL^ iho 
 icy stautl ; 
 .rott^ction." 
 
 lliMlt Housf! 
 le anncxK- 
 
 intorcsts of 
 IV JoiiriKil, 
 1 Mr. iMci 
 
 , nses argil - 
 
 ^ct. 
 
 Whilf 
 
 iins alono to 
 
 iioMioriiil to 
 the sake of 
 HI colony to 
 
 England ; thi» is the sheet anchor, to keep ua in connection with the Mother 
 ('ountry. If the Mother will not consent to starve some thousands of her 
 children at home, to enrich a few hundred at a distance, the Litter will reJM'l." 
 
 " Kxamined a memorandum of the Hon. B. T^. Sullivan, on ( 'ol. Tidlock's 
 pliiii fur the foruiiition of a corps of militaiy l«liourers in the colonies, for 
 the purpo.se of coiiHidering hew far that scheme could apply to Canada. 
 AfttM' a few oh.servations, stating :--- 
 
 " Tliiit the reads in the settled part of Canada are not beyond the ahility 
 (»f the peo{tle to make. 
 
 "That railroads in the tl. S. are constructed with ciipitiil frnm their 
 cities. 
 • " 1st, That, their protective system has accumulated that capital. 
 
 "That no part of it seeks investment in Canada. 
 
 "That capital made in Canada for profits on trade, is .spent in Kngland 
 liy the merehatits who lealized it. 
 
 "Til, it the wheat tly in ISHO was one cause of depression, which is now 
 removed. 
 
 " L'nd,- That the tariiF is hi;;h in the United States and low in Canada. 
 
 " .'?rd. That direct taxation for the sujiport oi' the State (lovernnuMit 
 are comparatively high in the U. 8. 
 
 " That th<! whole direct tax :.i Canada is apjdicable to internal impi-ove- 
 Uient, kv.^ kv., kc. 
 
 " Friday, Hth, — Mr. Sullivan's memo, continued. 
 
 " My derluctions from the foregoitig facts are as follows : 
 
 " 1st, There is an absence of capital in private hands, applicable to en- 
 terprises involving large expendittire. 
 
 " lin<l, There is gijod reason why this province should Iiy means of its 
 large disposai)le public revenue, have eiideavounMl to compensate, foi- the 
 want of capital in private hands. 
 
 " .'bd, .Money expended by the I,egislatnie in the way of inv(>s(nirnt, 
 is not ex|iendiMl, wiili the close and sole view to immediate protitable return, 
 always found in private investments. 
 
 " It h, -The money ex}tended has been of vast general benefit to \\m\ 
 prestMit condition and future prospects of the co\intry. 
 
 " ath, The money expended has not produced a leturn of money to the 
 public chest, and the outlay has beiMi, and is likel}' to be for a consideral)le 
 pei'iod a burden upon the piiblic revenue. 
 
 " lith,- -The public reveiun? is atile without smdi return to meet the inte- 
 rest upon the public ilebt, and in turn to pay the iirinci])]e. 
 
 " 7th, — This (in be done without any serious burden upon the people, 
 and upon a scale of duties very low in comparison with tho.se of tht! T'nited 
 States, witli which country the best, conijiarison can be made 
 
 " Hth,^ — The income from the Public Works, notwitlistaiding that it has 
 bci'n injuriously aflected liy the depression in commercial ;,();iirs, i-aused by 
 the change in the comnu^rcial policy of England, is still on the increa.se; the 
 amount of revenue is also necessarily increasing with the population, and 
 as tlu) province never has l)een in the receipt of large income from the pub- 
 lic works, and as the debt was incurred upon the provisi<jn of other 
 means of payment, even the indefinite postponement of protitabh" icturns 
 to the treasury from the public works, cannot produce additional embairas- 
 ment. 
 
"nppapai 
 
 " !)(li, If llif Miilicipiilion of (liosc wlio jmc IIh' IicsI jii<l;,'i's of ilio liiid.i 
 in Ciiimtlii, should 1m> cncii in part rciili/cd, tin* |iiil>li<- works \vill,liy tlicso 
 r(*turn.s. |iliu!(! tin' provinct' in n. stato of ^^roiit financial i)roHp(»rity. 
 
 " lOtli, Hut tim tinio liaH not yi^l coiiui, uiul on tlic contriiry, tho (Jov- 
 (^rnnuMl( is inncli pcrpldxcd to lind tlic nipi'ftl niu'cssai'j foi* i\\o i-onipjotion 
 (if tlir works in progress, and it is inipossil)ln t,o proomd witliont liorrowin^ 
 on some tci iiis or otluT. 
 
 " 1 Itli, 'I'lic Mnionnt rcipiircd to l»o borrowed conld with ahsoliito sn,f»v 
 ty 1m' added to (,h(> |>nlilic' dcht, luit it wonid not aid in any scIkmiii,; for tho 
 promotion of cini^^raiiun. 
 
 " lu>conini(Mids a. loan to ho circctcMl on Ihe credit of t,lin piililic revenup, 
 on the eondilioii tliat the niiiniei|tal eonmuls will impose a direet tax to pay 
 tho intereHt in ease the pnldie works prove insuHieient ; tlii! other rncom- 
 niendatioiis are all eontintjent. 
 
 "This doennuMit. is well expressod as all Mr. Sullivan's \ iews are, hut 
 it is founde<l on the most «rron*«)us principles, or (ffiiii., a mistaken aHsiinip- 
 tion of opinion for facts, viz. : 
 
 " I. That (he protective svsicm in th« U.S. has accumulated capital in 
 tho cities, wlien it is notorious this capital has luien acipiired hy connnerco. 
 
 "2. That taxes are hii,dier in the Uniti>d States th Ji in Canad.a. A 
 moat erroneous opinion, .ind calculat(Ml to mislead hoth the Home and Pro- 
 vincial ( !ov(>rnnient.s. Ulue iiook says wi' have no direct, taxeti in (ianada. 
 
 " No. 7. piViife ID. Sann" error, that no part of the capital made in tlip 
 V. S, is invested in ('ana la, and (hat capital formerlv made hei-e was spciiit 
 in I'lnsland (altlioui,di not, of late yi"ars) is true, hut, the (rue cause why ('a 
 na<la- lias not heen a far more prosjxM'ous countrv is not assijjfned. 
 
 "|)educ(ion No. 'J, )>. IS. If fairly inti>rpret('d would <;ive the trnerea.son. 
 
 "The revenvu' from im|iorts fron\ ISII to IS|7 averai^ed l'.'{.'51 ,.'?SS : this 
 would command at (iperccn(. interest, a capital of l'."),r»23,l 3IJ. Had this 
 capital h(H>n expended in puhlic works, it, would 1ia\e producecl individia 
 capital: that it h.as not heen, is the fai;lt of the (ioveiiimeut and not of tlio 
 p(>o|ile. 
 
 "The rem -dy suir.^ested is employing' capital, by the district councils. 
 
 "This document was evinently wiitten in haste. 
 
 " The puhlic works in Canada are not equal in amoun( of expenditure 
 to N. V. 
 
 '• Mr. Ilincks follows wi(li a memo. 80i;iewhat similar,ex tpt in tin* j)lan 
 proposed for promotiuj; emigration, whii-h is nu)re tangible, as it propose,^ 
 borrowing; money. 
 
 " it may fairly 1 uA that tho pro\ine(> has redeemeil a ileht duo for 
 land claims of I'-ij;.,. [)0. 
 
 " .\ sintj;ular infatuation e.Nists <>n (hose suhjec(s. 
 
 " .MthoMLlli the duty on iniji;;ris are hii^her in Canada than in (he IFni- 
 tt>d States .MtiiouLjh the local taxes are liii^her in l'p|)er Canada than in 
 New ^'ork .\nd althouiih tlicy heic expended over ;?"U),()()0,t)00 in public 
 woi'ks, double the amount of ('uiada. 
 
 " They persist, although we have revenues from land ami revenues fioia 
 customs, which ihey do not possess, to seek for houw other cause to iccouut 
 for our backwanlncss ainl our depression. 
 
 " Saturday, mil, Sunday, lOth, Rain. 
 
 ** Moudny 11th. — Amonti. License Fund, Dth Vict. Cap. 65, pasaed 1846, 
 
34Y 
 
 tnio wHsoii. 
 
 wliirli ii|)|)n>|iria(,((.s ti) (lie 'roiimto < Jr'iifiJil lloKpitnl, Kiii^Htoii llospiLiI, 
 
 Tnlnlidi lloilHc ol' IliilllstiT, K illL^sloll I l|ili;,'clll Sick , Mild llic n|i|i(M- < 'lllliulfl 
 l,iiii:ilj(' Asyliiiii, (,li(< MiniiiijL(n Scrvicr l''iiiiil. Kx<'n|it, tlir hist, IIkwc Hp- 
 |ii-o|>riiiliiiiis iirn |i:ii-tiiil mikI iiiijiist. 
 
 " Mr. Will. Ilfill, ( '(ilh'cttir (»f ('iistdius siif,'j;('KiH : 
 
 " riiiit a cliiiisc^ should In' iii.st>rtiM| in ilm (Iiistoins At^t, to ii.scrit;iin thu 
 vahm of iiii|i(iiis and t'\|ioi'ts. That. (.lie. vidiK^ of all urtich-.s for which n 
 clcaiaiico i.s in(|iiin'i| should Ixt iiuidc on oath, as well as iiii|iorts. 
 
 '■ 'That cvciy declaration .should lie niailc by the ])riiici|ial and not, his 
 clerk, and tliat. ;,'oods for iindeisaliie may l»e forfeited, and that all a|i|)iaise- 
 iiientH should takc! |ilac(^ at, tli(* ports fii'st entered. 
 
 " That the principh- oliject of coinl>iniii;; the a<l\.iloriiiii iliity, with the 
 specific on cert;, in arti<'leH, is Ui ol»l, ii the value, which may he elfected hy 
 liie other mode. 
 
 " He has reporfcil already on the reduction of certain ollices of Ciistoiu.s, 
 and would approve of one to a district with surveyors at ditl'ereiit ports. 
 
 " Another feature in (Miiiiliiiiiii;; the T) per ot. advalorum as on tea, is tlio 
 additional revenue, and check as to valih 
 
 " Tlu^ iiKiiiio. on the. suhject of the IJalifa.x and (^ueliec railroad proposes 
 iiicreasinj,' the duty on our tiinhei' from Is. to 7s. (iil. per loail, assiimiiii^ that 
 the existini; duty on forei^'ii timlier will he withdrawn. This is ,ui unusual 
 ami extraordiiiarv projMisition, oiiiin^ from us. 
 
 "'I'liesday, ll'th, Wednesday, I .'UJi, Thursday, lltli. Friday, ITitli,— 
 KxaminiiiL; accounts lt(^ y\dministratioii of justice in IT. (!. under IstWm. 
 Ilh, Cap. I .'5, passed in 1 1^:}| , amounted to l*f>, .")(»(). This wts called the 
 cverlastiiii,' Salary Hill. 
 
 nnder'Tth Wm. 1th, cap. "J,! 837, .C2,r)ll(» more ; in IH:V.), )?:},()00 more ; 
 ill IS |(i, the cxpeiiditiire incnsised for administration of justice! .CI I),()0(> ; 
 .iflei which the I'nion .Act was introduced, since \vhi(;h it, has increased to 
 upwards of .CriO.OOO. 
 
 "IC.Ih, 17th, ISth, I'.Mh, -JOth. Th.- ('(■••incil postponed the consid(^ra- 
 tioii of Keefer'.s report until Saturday, with a .seeiuiiiL; disinclination to en- 
 ter into it without first obtainiuf,' money. 
 
 " "J 1st, 'JL'nd, Kiifere(l into the <u(iisideratioii of einii,Matioii, and will 
 not recommend eharteriii;,' any boats, or coii^eyin;^ |ia.s.swimers. 
 
 "Saturday, 2.'5rd, Sitting from 7 to Id. 
 
 " Siiiiilay, ( 'old unwell. 
 
 '•Monday, 'jr)th, Chi istmas, tliiied wiili Keefer. 
 
 "'i'liesday, L'Oth, Sat at night re\ it-wing llincks' plan of linance. 
 
 "The plan proposed by the I iis|»ector (leiieral for bnnowing nioii'-y iii 
 I'liigland is : 
 
 " Isl, To involve no i'\|iense to the !'>rit isli < Io\eriiment for eniii;r;,(ion. 
 
 '• 'Jiid, To enable Municipal Councils to liorrow and to inipo.se taxes 
 for local objects. 
 
 '' ',\vi\ To make loans from I'lnglisli capitalists, or th- I'.ritisii (lovern- 
 iiicnt for larger works. 
 
 " Itli, To pay the interest and repay the principle b\ .i ^jM•cili,• appro- 
 priation uf the proceeds of the Crown iiandsor School Fund. 
 
 "fith. To borrow ,i:i,r>0(l,(K)tl at I per ct. on thecivdit <.f Uie Imperial 
 (iuvernmeiit, and loan it at <i per ct. The diU'eiiiice of i;.'{ll,<MMl to bo xo- 
 peiidcil in promoting emigration, or colonization. 
 
I 
 
 348 
 
 "This scheme will defea.t fche object 1 ba<l in view most etfoctually, anrl 
 will nevor be carried into operation. 
 
 "The last sitting:; of the Coiumittea of the Executive (Council on Saturday, 
 DecembfT .'JOtli, 1S4^. 
 
 '"Tlif most imjiorlant measure was decided upon, that has ever occu- 
 pied tlieirjittention, or that of any [)roceding Council, since tiio discovery 
 of ( -anada, viz. : 
 
 " Tlie liiud claims are to be cancelled in one year, all public lands to be 
 appropriated, and the proceeds applied for the ci'eation of a (,"o:nmon School 
 fund,^intil the s>an reached £1,000,000, and 1,000,000 of acres of the 
 best land in Huron tract, or elsewhere to be reserv<id for this e.xp.ess object, 
 (not to b(^ exchanged for scrip.) Thus a fund will be provitled for educa- 
 ting the entire po|iulatiou of Canada, greater than any other Covernnient 
 in [iroportion to its j)oj>ulation, |)ossesses the VjeneHcial effects of which few 
 can realize. 
 
 " If possil)le, limit the claims, hereafter to be allowed, an<l name a spe- 
 cial commission to investigate them, of which T should like to be the chair- 
 man." 
 
 The transactions of the Council being .secret, we mv made aware of their 
 particular business, lint presume that in conse{pience of the many measin-es 
 rerpiiring attention, that they were fully em))loyed. Our subject remained 
 in Monti-eal during the Winter. This yeai- had been a remarkable one, dis- 
 tinguish(!d particularly so in Europe ; beginning with the Revolution in 
 France, the tide of trouble spi-ead nearly over all Eiirope. The Pope was 
 compelle<l to fly from {-{onio ; Austria was in a ferment on account of Hun- 
 gary, which was brought to our notice by the appearance on this continent 
 of Louis Kossuth, who by his ehxiuence aroused almost universal sympathy. 
 Prussia was disturbed with internal disorder. The wave of dissention had 
 reached liritain, Ireland had its little uprising, and it refpiiied the energies 
 of jjonl Pahnerston to keep the trouble alway;, within bounds. In Canada, 
 the ell'ects were felt in the .sha))e of a large (^migration, and the people here 
 were stimulated to umhu-takti numy reforms. On the 14th December the 
 British Minister signed the postal arrangenuMit with the United States, 
 which was the means of greatly reducing the postal late.s to Europe. 
 
 . 18 4 9. 
 
 In January, Mr. Merritt writes :--" We have Iwen busily engagt^d in 
 the Council, mahiriug nu^asures of in)portance during the holidays; dijicil 
 with His Excelh'iicy, met with the witty and talent<>d Lord Mark Korr, 
 Colonel Prince, Mr. Egerton and othei-s." 
 
 Parliament opened on th(> ISth .laniuiry. The speech, which sIkhiM 
 contain a synopsis of tlic great preparati(ms, was looked for an.viously; and 
 we have reason to think that the presence of our subject in the Ministry 
 was viewed with satisfaction, as it was felt that ho represented views, con- 
 
349 
 
 sonant with the national policy of Canada.. Tlio moasuros enunciated in 
 the Govt'i-nor's speech were — A general amnesty to political otienders ; the 
 assimilation of the laws of both Provinces ; Regulation of the Municijialities; 
 University Reform ; Intercolonial Railway and completion of St. Lawrence 
 ('anals ; a Sinking Fund ; the balance of the Crown Lands to form a fund 
 for educational purposes. 
 
 The following was the termination of Ifis Excellency's speech ; and that 
 the f|uestion of Reform we have seen so laboriously pressed upon their atten- 
 tion, did not occupy the fir.?t place in tlie addre.is, caused something akin to 
 despair appeared to settle on the capital. This, connected with the temporiz- 
 ing measures pursued by the former Government in favour of the avowed 
 enemies of the British rule, brought on the unlawful attack that deprived the 
 Parliament of their House, the country of its archives, and the chief commer- 
 cial city from being hereafter the capital of Canada. 
 
 '• Covkunuk's SiMOKcii : I shall not fail to make any exertions, which 
 the intere.sts of the })ublic wealth will permit, to reduce the expenditure of 
 the Kmigration Department to the scab; of the years preceding 1847, when 
 a passenger tax, consiih'i'ably les.s onurous than the one now levied, with 
 the occasional addition of a small grant from the public treasury, sutliced 
 to cover it. 
 
 " I would further recommend for your consideration, the expediency of 
 selling a part of the pultlic domain, in onh'i- that the revenue deiived from 
 the sales thereof, may form a fund, tho interest of which shall be applied 
 for the siipptH't of Common Schools. It may probably be deemed advisable 
 to authoi'ize the Covernment to lavest the capital arising from this .souice, 
 either in the stocks of tho Province, or in that of .some of the provincial 
 railways - the construction of which has Vjeen sanctioned liy Parliament. 
 
 " In the po.ssession of a revenue derived from .so many independent 
 sources, and exempt fi'om numerous charges that weigh heavily on the 
 resources of other communities, Canada enjoys great and singular advantages." 
 
 We in.sert an incident innnediately after the opening of the FTou.se, of the 
 great Ijower Canada Reformer, who had at last consented to represent one of 
 the constituencies by whom he had been elected, in the Halls of Legislation. 
 
 " January 22nd. — In the debate on His Excellency's speech, Hon. L. J. 
 I'upincau moved in amendment, that the consideration of the speech should be 
 debated in the whole House in order that perfect liberty iu discu.ssion might be 
 allowed. The amendment was only supported by five members. 
 
 Tn Kebnmry, our subject urged before a comiuittee of the House, his 
 Keeiproeity mea.surt;. w hich being an Imperial one, was outside the provincial 
 administration. 
 
 Feb. Ihd, — The House was resolved into a committee of the whole, upou 
 Mr. Mcrritt'8 Reciprocity resolution and was ushered in by a speech. Among 
 the speakers ii» its favour was Mr. Papineau. It was opposed by Mr. Smith 
 of Frontenac, l)(!vi[jnon and Lajfrijife, The other speakers in the opposition 
 in its new dep'ituie of extreme partyship, are sumiuurized in the Juumul of 
 Feb. 8. 
 
350 
 
 " Will Sherwood, the Hotspur of liis party, or the gallant Sir Allan, or 
 the ' fine old English (Jontleuian' or any of the rest of thcsi! modern Rip-van 
 Winkles, undertake to convince tiie farniint;; population ol' Oanada West, that, 
 thoir conclusion is not the hest? Ves they will ; any thing in order to dhtaiii 
 the loaves and fishes. They have succeeded so well in hanibodzlini: tlie wortliy 
 lieges of Canada so long, and so profitably for themselves, tliat tlicty don't de- 
 spair of succeeding, even in this plan. As to the proposition of appearing 
 before England in the character oi" a pauper, and re(|uesting lior to pay our 
 debts, it is a miserable subterfuge, and would be assuming a position in tlic 
 eyes of the nations, not at all creditable to ourselves. England has a right 
 to every farthing of money she has advanced to promote" and eom))leteour pub- 
 lic works ; I'orasmueh as she did not promise to always tax the I'ood ol" the poor, 
 in order for us to pay our debts. 
 
 " There are measures now before the House, of v.'vst importance to the 
 people; and we trust that the Ministry will shew their determinaLi(jn to im- 
 prove our circumstances, by a fearless legislation on tiicse ijuestions. 
 
 " As to Sir Allan's insinuation, respecting the necessity ol" appisaling to the 
 people beiore the bill to extend the representation be legislated on, it is a mere 
 ruse, and only an attempt to throw dust in the eyes of the constituents, hop- 
 ing in the mean time that the chapter of accidents would do more for his party 
 than they are likely to obtain in a fair iought field, if this question was one 
 infringing on the rights and privileges of tlic people, then indeed would it be 
 the duty of the Administration to appeal to the people ; but when it proj)oses 
 to extend the rights and enlarge the powers of the jieople, in depriving no 
 class of any rights previously possessed, why appeal?" 
 
 Altliough 111! the members of our Goverumeut and a nnijority in 
 the Honso were in favour of it, it ended in tln^ metrsnre being ctirricd onlv 
 after a hnig and ttMlious diplomatie debate between the two (Jovernnients, 
 and was passed through the Hou.se on the 0th Mareli ; also Mr. M.'s measure 
 for facilitating traile on the St. Jiawnnice, by means of tugs — the Board of 
 Works ordering three .steamers to bo built immediately for this jturpo.so. 
 
 W. H. Merritt, Jr., writes to his brother, in rather a humorous styh? : 
 
 " Montreal, Feb'y Ith, IMH). 
 
 " Dkau Tom, TIk; (Jovernoi- (not the general one) directs nio to enclose 
 you the aeiiompanying letter from Mr. Iligney of New York, to all'ord you 
 Home eulightenmcmt on the humorous .subject of freights. I siiall have some- 
 thing to <1() lu'ic for a fortnight at least. The Uovernor is really too busy 
 to answer half his letters, and I am undertaking to bring up arrears. 
 
 " It is snowing i)i fine, stylo at this moment ; tho weatlusr is cold and 
 wintry. The IJeciproeity resolution will be brought up iifxt Kriday, l)ut 
 it is a <|uestion whether pa.ssing it lune will be of any advaiitjige now, from 
 the reception the measure has met with in tlni United States. 
 
 '' There is i\w prospect of a coin)Ie. of balls next week. Diinier.s are 
 however, all the rago. Tell Mama I will write a long letter to h«i- in a few- 
 days. 
 
 "Montreal is at this moment very lively in sleighing and pa)ties, but 
 quite down in evcny relation of busini-ss ; ot co>'.r.se the meeting of P;irlia- 
 inent has lirought together a great number of peoplt>, and J amdailv nmetim,' 
 the most unexpected acquaintances. * "'' * The night before last, 
 
351 
 
 • 
 
 we liad an interesting debate on tlie Reciprocity resolutions. Tt lasted from 
 eight o'clock until one, and brouirht out a general expression of the views of 
 the House. The niajorily of the members arc not only in favor of Recipro- 
 city, but thorough free traders. 
 
 " I shall endeavour to get the (Jovernor to take walks ocea.^^ionally; it will 
 be a difficidt matter, for he will nevtsr do anything without an object, and that 
 of health, he considers too remote without being connected with occupation." 
 
 Soon after, a measure was liiought into thc^ House by Mr. Lafontaine 
 for cttlenient of the Rcbollion Lo.ssesin Lowwi' ('iinada. It was supported 
 by Oil subject in consequence of its liaving l>een dfteniiiiicil npon liefore he 
 entered the (jlov(irnment ; and thcirfijre, although not in sympathy 
 with the nmasur«', yet lu! iteliined that he should ncHM^s.sarily be |)rfpai'ed 
 to concede' sonu'thing, and all in order to accoMiplish others which were of 
 pai'amount ini])oi'tauc<', particularly Reciprocity. 
 
 In eonse(pu5ncf( of Lord KIgin as.scntiiig to tlio Rebellion TiOS.ses J?ill, 
 a violent ferment took place in Montreal among the adherents of the oppo- 
 sition. Meetings were held, and n .-:'>bitions of a decided eharactcr were 
 .adopted ; this was countenanced l)y the leaders, until the excited mob took 
 tli«; matter into their own Lauds, and proceeded without opposition in car- 
 rying out violent measures, terminating in the l)urning of the Parliament 
 l)uildings. These extracts are given to account in sonu) measure for these 
 outrageous and violent [troceedings. 
 
 The following is from Lindsay's Life of William Lyon Mackenzie: "The 
 (Janadian (jovi'ramont, in LSJ'J, originated a measure for a e<)niplete am- 
 nesty of all otftuices arising out of the events of 18.'}7-H. Mackeii/,it> had 
 for some tinu* been the. last c^xih;. Ft passed unanimously in both Hiui.siis, 
 and, in the namo ol' tlw; (.^uci'n, I^ord Klgin, as (Jovernor (Jciuiral, gave it 
 the Royal assent on the 1st of February, lS4iJ. While in Montreal, he 
 visited the liOgislative liltrary, in his light as ex im-ndicr. ('ol. Prince, 
 a mtMul)er of the House, went uj) to h' .1 and di'mauded to see the ticket of 
 the member by whom the ex-member was introduced ; oi', said he with em- 
 pliasis, ' I will kick you down stairs if you don't leave this moment.'" 
 
 Mr. JNhickenzie was aftei'wards introduced to the library by a V(dunteer 
 member, Ffon. HandHeld Macdonald, with whom he had no pi-evio\is jiersonal 
 uc(iuainiance. 
 
 A story is told that when Mr. Mac(h)nald returned to (llengary, his 
 Highland constituents t-oiuplaiued of his suspicious civilities to a pardoned 
 rebel ; and that Mr. Macdonald, who is entirely destitute of the objectiona- 
 Iile clannishness ascribed to some of hi.s countrymen, I'cplied, "Do you think 
 I would .sec an Engiisliman kick a Scotchman, and not interfere f 
 
 In a letter to Dr. Barker, of Kingston, written only seven days after 
 the occurrence, (!ol. Prince saitl, " F acted on the impulse* of the moment ; 
 and 1 tell you camlidly, that had I known then what you and Chisholm 
 have since informed lue of, he might have enjoyed his studios in our library 
 as long as lie |)lertsed, without any interruptioli from me." 
 
 M^fUm 
 
352 
 
 'I'lio liKstility (o tlio ox-iiuiinlior, ami liis iUTPptuiicn aftorwaivls, o;m lie 
 (•.stiiUHtt'd liy the folluwinx fxtractH from tlic mitlior Itt'foic (jiiotrd, (lie loi 
 iiiHi- of which hail only tiicii nci'Ii )hi' light. 
 
 'The t'<ili<)wiiiir (loininuuit was |ii-iiil)!(l and distrilxiiol in haiitl hill tuiin 
 ten (layH Iteforc i\\i' outlncak i)f ",\'J : 
 
 " InDKI'RNDKNCIK. 
 
 "TlifM-ii have licfii iiiiH'U'tMi strikes for iiidopciidi'inf from Kuro|)»'aii 
 lyraiiny on the contiui-nt, of Aniciica. They wnio ;ill suct;ijssful ! Tho 
 Torii's, thfit'rorc, hy hclpin;,' ns will Ih>I|) lln'niHclvfs " * * ='• 
 
 ImIii tiiiry 'Aii\, Mr. Mackcn/it.' addrt'ssi'd a ronimunicalion to K:i]\ (Iruv 
 at tin- ( 'olonial olljcc, lontaininj? souu) I'oinarkaldo confessions. Kroin this 
 ooinninnic.ilion w(> i|not<' the lollowing extrat'ts : 
 
 " A oonrst^ of careful observation, during the last ele\eii yi'ars, has fully 
 satislied n.e, that, had the violent movements in which I and many others 
 were eni;agi'd on liotli sides of thr Niagara, proved successful, that success 
 would have dee|)ly injured the people of Canada, whom i ihm helii'snl I 
 was serving at gr"at risks ; that it would have deprived millions, perhaps, 
 of our own countrymen in Kuropt^ of a home <ui this continent, e.\cept upon 
 conditions, (hough many hundreds of thousands have l>e('n C(Uistrained tu 
 accept them, luit are of jin exceedingly onerous and degrading character. 
 
 " There is not a living man on this continent who more sincerely desires 
 that Hritish government in ( 'anada may long continue, uiul give a home and 
 a welcome to thc^ old countrymen than myself. 
 
 "'riie i-esult is, not a desin^ to use pt)wer and inllmaice here, hut 
 ladp if I can, and all I can, the couuti-y of my birth." 
 
 The meeting held at St. Catharines, 2()th February, ga\e a stimulus to the 
 pictorial art of a iMr. Osborn, then a rare event, and the action of the meet- 
 ing, with the likenesse.s of the principal characters, was graphically delineated 
 Among them was Mr. John McMullen, afterwards the compiler of Krench Ca- 
 nadian and Kngli,-h History. He gives a very biief notice iudei i' the close 
 of that History: — " Some rioting occurred at publio meetings got up to vote ou 
 addresses, &c." 
 
 We make the following extracts from the journal of our subject : — 
 
 "April 2r>tli, -The Governor came down 4o-day and assented to bills. 
 
 '" In consecjuence ol the remonstrances of the Montreal merchants, induced 
 by the arrival of two vessels, the bill to increase the taritt", and the ludenuiity 
 Bill was also introduced. 
 
 •' This last produced a riotous lissault ujX)n the members, and the destruc- 
 tion of the House. The riot lasted till liSth. The subjoct oi' the change of 
 the seal of the (jovernment postponed tor the present. 
 
 " May oOth,— House closed. 
 
 '•3lst — Wrote Mr. Duuscombe, to present report by 15th prox. on public 
 roads, 
 
 "June 2nd, Obtained an order in Council to obtain confirmation by 
 Board of Works. 
 
 " 4th, — Put iu minutes on subject of public lands." 
 
363 
 
 I l.ill lonii 
 
 Wo in«(M't tli() following lottcr from oiio of liis froiitior coiiKtitiiciitK, 
 sliowiii^ wliiit was tii<'ii i(>(|uir(Ml l»y liis Jiarty : 
 
 " hfin- Sir, Yoii say to iim in your iiii.sw<^r iliiii ' Doctoi- KyciHon, nor 
 any oUkm- ollicc lioltlcr, lias not liy you liciwi givtui a tliiiuf,'lit t.liat oflict;- 
 lioldin;; is a small IxMu^fih in your niiinl.' So it is in tliH detail, Imt not so 
 in tim luyids of (IcparlnM-nts a dcpartuK'nt wliich can more or less inllimncc 
 tlio mintis of tlio whole of the rising gt^imration. * * + 
 
 'M)ur party, if they think iieeeHsary, can stir u|) thti Provinco from one 
 end to the othtu', liy a whirlwind, ac<;oni|)ani(Ml hy Hashes of lightning, iuid 
 roaring of thunder. Had the Heformers as well as the ( 'onservatives an 
 ind<t|ienden<'e or annexation programme ( " 
 
 The following to the author shuwH Mr. JVl.'s vit^ws on the great events 
 of the day very plainly : — 
 
 " MoNTiiEAi,, 7lh May. 
 
 "My Dear Son, — TIk; country is in an utisottlcd stato, and the msult 
 time alone will d(!tcnniue. The Governor (Jener.d will, I trust, he sustained 
 for adhering to the eotistitutioii, whether the partieular measure was right or 
 wrong. The tiuie has arrived when we should support that principle ; and 
 any elifinges which may take place will, 1 ho[)e, be in that direction. The country 
 will no douht he placed in embarrassment, and its trade gnsatly retarded. 
 Uhanges will take place, and that too, rapidly; but all may, by judicious mana^e- 
 nient, be turned to good account. Kvery st»!p will lead to more lib(!ral mea- 
 Huros. 
 
 " From all 1 have seen and from the experience of legislation gained in thirty 
 years, 1 find events will take; their natural course — you cannot hasten or retard 
 them. 1 would therefore advise my sons, at the same time that they advocate 
 their opinions, not to take .so prominent a part as to lose thiiir invalii.ihle time 
 as 1 have done. L<!t me know the general or different opinions entertained at 
 this moment on our present situation and prospects. With a hope of hearing 
 from you soon, I remain your affectionate father, 
 
 "WM. HAMILTON MEKIUTT." 
 
 "J. P. Meruitt, Ksq." 
 
 May 17th, 1849. — Among the various meetings held at St. Catharines 
 regarding the petition to the Home Government for the recall of the Governor, 
 (who had sign<!d the Rebellion IjOSScs liill and dissolution of the Hou.se,) one 
 amounting to an attempt to burn the Governor ( Jencral and Cabinet in elfigy. 
 These were attended by an amateur Editor of the JdhvikiI who.se spicy, 
 independent and well written articl s, in strange opposition and support 
 to our subject, caused the following from Mr. Uolland Macdonald : — 
 
 " Time was, when the St. Catharines Jonnuil had one .•solitary virtue, he 
 said, that was a negative one, it did no harm. We have already noticed the 
 violent party stand this paper had .'issumed, going so far as to taunt the ( 'on- 
 servative party ibr not raising an opposition candidate, at i;he unaniuious elec- 
 tion of Mr. Merritt." 
 
 The proceedings of the House are thus sunmiarized by the Juurnal: 
 " June 7th, — Parliament has at last been prorogued, after a session of un- 
 u»ual, and singular productiveness of new acts. The session just concludad 
 
 W 
 
864 
 
 lasted four months and a half, a little longer than the one of '44-5, but passed 
 oae-third more billH th;n) tho latter. What interest the Imperial Government 
 has in sonif ol' these, it is difficult to imagine. 
 
 " That they will eventually receive the royal assent we believe, but it is to 
 be wished that the practice was yet fur.,her narrowed. 
 
 " VV^i have been pleased to observe the tendency manif(!sted towards the 
 enactment of general measures, as for instance, the one authorizing joint stock 
 companies for the construction of roads, ikc, and thus to relievo individuals 
 and the public of the cost ot applying for and passing separate acts for every 
 trifling improvement. There is still abundant room for acts of a similar cha- 
 racter, and we hope to see them brought up." 
 
 We quote further from the Juuntal, on the measures of the government: — 
 
 "The Hon. W. U. iVlKiiRrxT. — We are pleased to see that the principle 
 of creating a noble endowment for our Public Schools, from the public lands 
 of the Province, is incorporated in a bill now progressing in the House. This 
 act of legislation should be hailed by the country, as th(i very best of the ses- 
 sion, and certainly, one that W'll transmit Mr. Merritt's name to posterity, as 
 the best I'riend of the Province." 
 
 The House closed on .'50th May, after a s;tormy sessloo. The cholera was 
 threatening, members of Government leaving. Our subject was deputed by 
 the Council to obtain the money voted, in New York, Boston or elsewhere, and 
 also to obtain the final answer, if |i(isHilile, of the Cabinet at Washington on tiie 
 Krciprocity Treaty. 
 
 W"(! rtwiime Mr. Merritt's private journal of proceedings after the close 
 of the House. 
 
 "4th June. — Ist, Recommended the discontinuance of any names 
 hereafter on the U. E. Militia, or any other land lists. 
 
 "2nd — The discontinuance of the payment of postage after the lat Octo- 
 ber next. 
 
 " .3rd — The re-establishment of settlement duties as in 1818. 
 
 " 4tli-— The manner of furnishing the statements of land sold, cash re- 
 ceived, expenses on account of each .separate fund, as well as the number 
 of acres exchanged for hmd rights. 
 
 5th — The system of surveys in future, if not attended to, a minute to 
 be made out, an<J submitted, with all the facts prepared in accompanying 
 document. 1 employed my time in preparing statements until Monday 
 evening, 11th June." 
 
 He set out Thursday I2tli June, and met by appointment friends in Sara- 
 toga. After two days stay at this watering place, Mr. M. started for Al- 
 bany, where he received the attention of Governor Hunt and family. 
 
 Oil Monday 18th he left for Boston, where, after a morning's interview 
 with the diplomatists and capitalists, including A. Lawrence, Minister to Eng- 
 land, he went to New York. 
 
 While pa.ssing through New York, Mr. Merritt sent a letter to his son 
 wh«, with his party, partly for pleasure, partly for business, had returned to 
 Utica. 
 
SB5 
 
 " I have some reason for supposing a loan may be efFocted at Washington 
 with Corcoran, Briggs & Co." 
 
 He reached Washington on Friday 22nd, -ind resided with Mr. Cranipton 
 for the week. 
 
 Wo agaip. insort an oxtraet fi'otn IVTrw. M.'a journal, recounting a visit 
 over tho saiu" ground. When it is considorod that F]ast('in Now Vork was 
 the home of most of tho early sottlors of English Canada, oxoniplifiod by 
 the familiar saying, of, when going there, as going to tho Colony, the space 
 thus occupied will lianlly bo considered too groat. 
 
 "From St. Catharines to Saratoga, 9th June, 1849. 
 
 "Started, after a three days notice, to meet Mr. Morritt at .Sara- 
 toga for tho jjurpose of accompanying him to the city of Washington, 1 
 did not require much time for preparation, as I had anticipated the journey 
 all the fore part of winter, and was as well preparnl t\)v it as I could he. 
 
 " Ferried over to Lewiston. At 4 o'clock wt'ut on board of steamer 
 Ontario — Mrs. Adams, son William and I ; jdeasant afterjioon ; the lake 
 smooth as a mirror, had I the jien of a ready writ<;i-, T might pourtiay.a 
 sketch of a biief hap}»y period, elated by hope, after a winter .spent -but f 
 will not say how — and uU the month of April in sickness ; but it was all 
 forgot for the time, in the pleasure anticipated of meeting my hu.sband and 
 journeying witli him^interchange of thought — admiring new scenes, unin- 
 terrupted for a while, with the cares incident to this life. I slept well, and 
 never knew when the boat went up to Rochester landing. 
 
 " Sunday morning breakfasted at the Welland House, Oswego. Went 
 in a coach on a plank njad to Rome, 6 P. M. There was ono chatty lady 
 whose husband had gone to California ; 1 forgot to nuuitiou another on board 
 the steamer, whose husband had also gone there ; he was a physician, e.xpect- 
 ed he would be absent two yeais. (Jfteu when speaking of him the teais 
 would start to her eyes. Both were quite intcnesting women. What a pity 
 men who have so unsett ed a disposition should ever marry, take pool- women 
 from comfortable homes, ])ei-hai)s, and all the endearments of eaily atiection, 
 and leave them to struggle alone through the world. On the other hand 
 there was one unfortunate woman in the coach who was leaving iier husband 
 and children from abusive treatment; 1 lent Yi^'V my shawl. 
 
 "Utica, seven o'clock P. M., on the morning of the 1 1th at nine o'clock 
 left in cars foi' Saratoga, and arrived there in the middle of the afternoon ; 
 cousin Martin went with us to see the High Rock Spring. 1 thought if I 
 could see that object I shoidd know the locality of the place. Idiad visited it 
 when eleven years old, in company with my father and aunt Mary. I had 
 nearly a perfect recollection of the place, the hole appears laiger, very likely 
 it has worn by letting down the tin cup for forty-four years. 
 
 " We became acquainted with Mr. and Mrs. Hani'lton of New Vork, 
 Mr. and Mrs. Chamber.s and Mrs Thomas of Boston, Mr.s. Lanuir of Brook- 
 lyn, «fec. Mrs. Prendergast expres.sed great anxiety for Mr. Merritt's arrival 
 every time the cars came in, and would say to me, ' why how do you bear it 
 so composedly'? H' Martin don't come when 1 expect him, I am almost dis 
 tracted.' i said I supposed it was because she had a greater regard foi' her 
 husband than I had for mine. 
 
366 
 
 " Wetlucisday, lltli, — After dinner Win. and Lydia got each a carriage 
 and we went to Saratoga i^ake, fotir niiles, a pleasant drive and a very plea- 
 sant placti wIkmi you get tli(!ro. Aunt and Lydia took Mrs. Lamar and lior 
 childr(^n in tiieii' carriage ; we had Mr.s. Chaniher.s' grandson with us, Mrs. 
 (J.'h i»arty had Iteen to the lake that morning. 
 
 " While then* we were told the man at the lake hou.se had died suddenly 
 the evening hefon* at the village, 
 
 " W(( returnctd about 1 o'clock, and found that Mr. Merritt had arrived 
 Hoon aftei- we left for the lake. He had found and taken poss(ission of 
 our parlour. I expcu-ted to see him changed, hut not .so much ; he was so 
 pale and care-worn ; still, I was to(i haj»py in beholding him after so long an 
 absence. 
 
 " Ijydia came in in aliout half an hour, she had not heard of his coming, 
 she said she hati hopc^l to witness a sccnie, and lier surprise and vexation was 
 visible ; I laughed to .see her disappointuuint. 
 
 " 14th,— Mr. Merritt, Mrs. Adams and i took a stroll to see the old 
 part of Sai'atoga village, ft appears much as T recollect it, the old tavern 
 we Htop|)ed at and a house opposite with a verandah. 
 
 "The Hock Spring has no house over it as then, but there is on(^ near 
 by, where a woman attends to vi.sitors, says she i)ays a large sum in rent, and 
 barely makes a living, 
 
 •' We tlu'U passed down the ravine calling at the difiorent springs and 
 tasting the water at Hamilton sjn'ing, and one called lodimi, [ don't remem- 
 ber all tliii names. \V(! next went to the circular railroad, and took a ride- 
 William acting as engineer and conductor. It is situated in a dense forest, 
 
 very agretnibh^ amusement on a hot day ; met there witli a Mrs. 
 
 and son, who, Mr. Mejritt intijduced to u.s ; he had met with them in 
 Montreal, where she had been for lier daughter at school. 
 
 " Friday, loth, — Mr. Merritt left unexpectedly on the 9 oclock train 
 for Albany. 
 
 " Howevei- I spent the time until two with my poor afflicted aunt who 
 in all probability 1 will never .see again in this world. Cousin Martin and 
 Mr. Hamilton accompanied us to the depot at two, and wo, Mrs. A., Wm. 
 and 1 wtne soon oti". We passed the familiar town of iJalstown, and through 
 a fertile country to Troy, had a view of my native village Lansingbui-gh, the 
 islands, whore 1 and the young people had paddled to in a skifi", and the 
 
 bank of the river to Waterford, where Sallj'^ J , I and others had often 
 
 strolled. We had a thunder shower on the way which cooled and refreshed 
 
 the air. 
 
 " Stopped a short time at the Troy House long enough however to rea- 
 lize many scenes and changes. Piatt Titus, the fon.ier owner, his delicate 
 wife, (ma's cousin) and their children. Took stage to Albany, excellent 
 road. A young woman told us that there had been two cases of Cholera 
 in Saratoga ; the man I inontioned, and a waiter at Congress Hall. The 
 Drs, did not call it Cholera. We arrived at Congress Hall, Albany, at dusk, 
 Mr. Merritt was there, and assisted us out of the carriage. The house ap- 
 peared like some fairy spot, all the different rooms so brilliantly lighted 
 
 with gas. 
 
 "Saturday, loth, — Walked about and went shopping in Broadway. 
 Went up to return Mrs. Gov. Hunt's call. 
 
ition wiiH 
 
 m 
 
 T Imvo to note our wiilkH in Alltiiny, on the hill Ht'ckini; tor tliw 
 old rpsidf'nctiH of fJoor/^o Tompkins and Mlood;,'Of)d Jenkins S:r. Tin*y 
 appoiir far nioro coinfortidtlo with their spacious j;rouiids and lofty shruli- 
 horynow than tluui, and hoautiful airy parks an; in fnmt of the State Flouso. 
 (/'on^ress Hall is horderod hy many spacious houses, and at some points tlm 
 v'ww of Troy, and tho distant hills and villaj^tis W(Me maj^niticcnt. I enjoyed 
 tho scono and that Sunday afternoon far more than any part of my journey, 
 and why? \ participated in tnem with my husband not once alloyed hy the 
 thou^^ht that on tho morrow wo would commence another loni,' s(«paration. 
 
 "Sunday, 17th — Accompanied Mr. and Mrs. Hunt to cliuich. In tho 
 eveninj^, had a consultation whetluM- wo shouhl accompany Mr. Merritt to 
 Washinji;ton, or whether I should ^'o and Mis. \. and William I'eturn home. 
 
 " Monday, 18th, — Mr. M. said that T coidd meet him at New York, 
 but every body wuh leaving the city on account of sickness. I did not fear 
 tJikinj; the Cholera in one jylaoo more than anothei-. FiSperjally in tiavelling. 
 Isaiil his hwalth was not good, and 1 objected to hisgoing alone ; that I might 
 be of use in case he w.vs sick. But he remarked he couM hin ly on faster 
 without me, T could go to Utica and have a longei- visit with my cousin 
 and then wo would go home together. I saw how it was, and re.solvc.,1 to 
 return. It was indeed a disappointment, and unexp<>ct(Ml, although I try to 
 be pr<!paved for all events. I had come a long way, spent a great deal of 
 money, had been led to antici|)ato this journey to Washington ever since he 
 wont from homo last fall. I thought we would have a (piiet time for a tt^te-a- 
 teto before tho bustle of meeting incjui.sitive neighbours, in the hundretis of 
 miles we would travel together, and now, was about to |tart without having 
 travelled one — No ! not one individual mile together. 
 
 " 18th, — Mr. Merritt left at ti o'clock for Fioston. We went shopping 
 and spent the tinu^ rambling about; Started when the *J o'clock train cauK! in; 
 three cars of Gc-rman <mugrants wei-e attached. Thtsy had only ai-rivtxl at 
 N. Y. the day before. It was said that in three or four days they woulil be 
 on their land in Wisconsin, so rapidly were they hurried on, it was anuising 
 to see them, drink and lave in the water, at the fountain in St. Johnsvillo. 
 
 " Arrived at Utica at 7 o'clock, walked up to Mr. Craft's, he came in 
 shortly after. They were glad to see us. 
 
 "Tuesday, 19th. —Passed in making mutual imiuirios and in rest and 
 arrangements. Wrote home. 
 
 " VVednesday, 20th, — -William got a carriage? and we went to Trenton 
 Falls, fourteen miles, Mrs. A-- accompanied. Plank roads most of the way 
 and many places worthy of observation. At Trenton, we .soon .sal lied out to, see 
 the wonders. Cousin Jane walked across the woods to a refreshment room. 
 I did not decide on making the tour of the I'all.s, thinking that it wotdd l»e 
 too fatiguing on so hot a «hiy; but 1 soon found l must go down the long 
 stairs to see anything ; so down 1 vt^ntured first into th(> d(M)p ravine, and 
 then walked uj) the margin of th<? stream. There are three falls ; in one place 
 a bridge is thrown across the stream to allow visitors to (sross; they havt; a bet- 
 ter view by going on tho other side, but they must return to th(! bridge. Ft is 
 fearful pa.ssing .some points of yocks ; one where C .. Thorn's little daughter 
 was lost, and a young lady at another time. There is a foot path made, and 
 chains put up to hold by. I could not <lei)end on the chains however, as I saw 
 that two staples had been drawn out. The livei- lashes and foams at those 
 points, and if a poor inquisitive .mortal should slip he is gone. At length 
 
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358 
 
 by climbing steep acclivities, stepping on stones to avoid the wet, under a 
 hot sun, with an occasional breeze blowing up the ravine, we passed the 
 three falls, and looking up to a considerable height, saw cousin Jane quietly- 
 sitting on a bench, outside the said refreshment room, where, after ascending 
 another flight of stairs, wo joined her and partook of some lemonade. As- 
 cending anothe»- part of the hill we ha<l a cool sliady walk of three-quarters 
 of a mile, with birds singing over head, back to the hotel. After dinner 
 all went uj> stairs for rest, and to get cool if possible. Ciarriages coming 
 and going all the time, many stay several days. Rode home in the cool of 
 the afternoon. 
 
 '" Thursday, 21st, — Visitors received, rested after their departure. 
 
 "Friday, 22nd, — Received a letter from Mr. Merritt at N. Y.,on 20th. 
 He was to reach Washington on 21st, and thought only to be there a day 
 or two, which would bring it to 23d, and allowing two or three days fo.i him 
 to come to Utica, say 26th. As he had got on so rapidly and in good health, 
 T began to take courage, and we considered it not to be out of the way, 
 knowing he would be anxious to get homci, and we did not venture on taking 
 any excursions after the 26th that would take us a day from Utica. 
 
 " In the evening we called to see Mrs. Grisley. 
 
 "Saturday, 23rd, — Mi's. Kellog invited us to tea, spent the evening till 
 half past nine, 
 
 " 24th, — Aconiftanied Mr. and Mrs. Crafts to Dutch Reform church, Mr. 
 Wood preached. Wyley is the name of their minister — Rain — Mr. Crafts 
 sent a cariiage for us. After dinner I took a short nap. I felt ill, but was no 
 doubt better for going out, the rest of the afternoon. I supposed they had all 
 gone to church, and wondered if the servants were left with the care of the 
 house, but Miss Crafts had been lying down in her room. I read a while 
 by the window and was dressed and (piite refreshed when they all came in. 
 
 " 25th, ^ — Returned some calls in the morning. Mrs. Thomas showed us 
 her fine garden ; the strawberries were just ripening. She is a perfect lady 
 and lovely in her age. A young lady was making a bouquet foi\Mrs. Coop- 
 er's party. A pretty contrast to the matron. 
 
 " Went into Mr. Walcot's gai'den, he has a great many fine strawberries, 
 he picked a few and gave us, he had some tine roses. 
 
 " Mrs. Hurlburt confined to her room with Rheumatism. We spent 
 the evening at Mrs. Kellogg's. She is the person I went with to N. Y. in 
 April, 1845." 
 
 Mr. Merritt did not arrive, but in place sent a letter that he could not 
 meet them. He had a message that would detain him, and then to go to 
 Montreal immediately. 
 
 One of the first and necessary acts of the Government hiul been the issue 
 of Government debentures based on the accruing revenue of the current 
 year, in sv\ch small sums as that they might form a circulating medium. 
 
 This sch(!me ha<l been tried l>y the Welland Canal (Jompany, before the 
 rebellion, and the most favourite one with our subject, approaching the Pro- 
 vincial Bank scheme, where the Government would be the bankers, but 
 now, any more than then, were circumstances in the country favourable to 
 their passing as currency, being in this instance from 2 to 3 pev cent, discount. 
 
359 
 
 The Inspector General was sent to England, while our subject tried the 
 Sta+^^8, to raise the necessary funds. As the inspector was from the old 
 country, a quasi-political mission was annexed. 
 
 Our subject, although personally and publicly respected in many of the bor- 
 der states, particularly New York, where his intimate knowledge of its people, 
 their trade and commerce, gained him from his own people the sobri- 
 quet of the " Hon. member from New York." Yet, commercially speaking, 
 he was their greatest stumbling block, as he became a strong rival to them in 
 the competition for the now increasing carrying trade of the wi^st. 
 
 " Friday, 22nd June, — Arrived in Washington at 10 uV-lock, stop})ed at 
 WiUard's. 
 
 " Saturday, 23rd, — Removed to Mr. Crampton's. IVIy hrst object was 
 to see Corcoran and Briggs, and then J. M. (Jlayton, Secretary of State, 
 which I (lid. The latter recommended my making out a statement in writ- 
 ing, in detail, on the subject of our commercial intercourse. 
 
 "I made out a financial statement for Corcoran, Briggs & Co., who had 
 not the remotes idea Canada stoc cs would be taken in tlie Now York mar- 
 ket, and memorandum which was with Mr. Crampton's official note, enclo- 
 sing the siime, presented on Monday the 25th June, in the evening. 
 
 "Tuesday, 26th, — Had commenced the statement promised of the receipts 
 and expenditures of the different U. S. Custom establish meats on the Cana- 
 dian frontier, which James McClery of the Treasury Department proniLsed 
 should be finished by him in a day or two. 
 
 " In return, I have promised a copy of our ))nblic accounts to be enclosed 
 to the care of McClintock Young, Chief Clerk, Treasury department. 
 
 " Wednesday, 27th, — After visiting Mr. Ewing, of Ohio, Secretary de- 
 partment of the Interior, and Mr. ('orwin. Post-master fJeueral, and Mr. 
 Nesbeth and L. L. Tiernay, Daniel Webster, who I met on Saturday and 
 is decidedly in favour of the measure. Called on the Secretary of State, 
 who, 1 learn, had sent in his reply to Mr. Crampton's note. 
 
 "I expressed my regret at the decision the Cabinet had come to, gave a 
 verbal statement of the existing trade and its capability. The Government 
 requested me to place those statements in writing also, which I did on my 
 return, and sent in without a copy, 
 
 Thursday, 28t'fi, — Mr. Crampton and I i-eceived notes to tlie Secretary of 
 State's rooms, Prv^sident Filmore of the United States i)residing. 
 
 " The Secretary then proposed to IMr. Cramj)ton and niysclf, that if the 
 Hritisli (Tovernment would authorize him to include the surrtMidcr of tlio 
 fisheries, they would at once open a negotiation and conclude a treaty. That 
 the only reason why they did not make the proj)osal, was a direct refu.sal 
 of Lord Palmerston to open a treaty in the subject, which had been proposed 
 by Mr. Bancroft last year. This ended, in mutual regret, our interview 
 with the President-; and in my extremity, the onl}' course open to the 
 Provincial (tovernment of Canada. Mr. Clayton recommended <lelay un 
 til the decision of Congrei^s and the Imperial (Toveriiment was had 
 on the subject of Fisheries, anil recommended my remaining a few ilays to 
 talk the matter over. He promised to call the Cabinet again on the mor- 
 row, to reconsider the only point we urged — viz. an official note, to stats 
 
 1 1 
 
360 
 
 
 clearly and explicitly that in case the Imperial Parliament wo\il(l relinquish 
 or treat on the tisheries, they would extonil reciprocity to all the colonies. 
 
 " Stime cveuinLC sent a note that Tabinet couKl not at present enter into 
 any stipulation on that subject. 
 
 "Thni-sday, 29tli, — Calleil at tiic land otHcc, and procured information 
 from Mr. Younj,'. 
 
 " Hetlections on this transaction. As tin- as his appearance and address 
 went, I was ]dea«ed with the President. Hut he did not enter intx) busineBS 
 like President Pclk. Nor do *lie present Cabinet like the last. 
 
 "The j)r(>sent Cabinet ar»' in doubtK, whether the n'inoval o{' duty oti tlie 
 natural productimis of Caiuwla, will jiot briny the protectors of the 
 manufactured article into oi'ium. They also doubt the etfect of the re- 
 mo\ i.iu: of duties by GriMit Britain, on the opinion of the people — as that 
 was (lone for the int*'rcst of home maiud'actnres. 
 
 "Tiie Cabinet reiterates, in answer to the Imperial proposal, made as 
 early as in .Tan'y, lS4t'). Three years and a half no treaty will be ent(Med itito. 
 
 •' Such is the apathy of the pvd)lic mind respei ting Canada, tiiat it cannot 
 be roused. The Cabinet or the peo})le knew very little about the country, 
 or the 8t. Ijawrence, less than .'}() years past; and they appear to attach 
 very 'ittle importance to our navigation, our canals, or our trade. The 
 next congress are as likely to pass the bill as not, if attended to. In 
 Washington, Hronsoi of Oswego is the man — or they may reject it on the 
 most tritling pretence. 
 
 "The Provincial tTOvernnuMit have done every thing in tlieir jiower. They 
 appealed to the Imperial Government in 1840. Pas.vMl the bill discriminating 
 duti(>s in It^lT. My mi.ssion was here in liSlS. Pa.ssed a bill i-emoving all 
 duties on United States products this year. 
 
 "It now rests wholly with our mother countiy ; if she will not move, the 
 Canadas are lost, and the other colonies will soon follow. If the duty is 
 imi)ose<l on the United States productions, eijual to those imposed on 
 Canada's, it will insure the pas.sage of a bill here immediately. And if 
 she will abandon the tisluM-ies, reci|)rocity may be gained hereafter. 
 
 " Sunday, 1st July, — RtMuained over at Baltimore, went to chin-ch with 
 Mrs. M.'s cousin. ISIr. Williams. 
 
 " Monday 2nd, — Arrived in New York at 9 o'clock in the evening, wea- 
 ther cooler. 
 
 '< Tuesday, I^rd, — My bii-thday, TKi years since 1 79.'?. Engaged in prepar- 
 ing statements, sent them to several capitali:its including Corcoran and liriggs. 
 
 " ()th duly,- -Received a letter from the latter, authorizing ."?ll'r),00() to 
 be tiiken in their nanu\ 
 
 " Mr. Bidwell introduced me to Caleb C. Halsted, president of Maidiat- 
 tan Bank, and took a lively interest in the negotiations, as well as the pres- 
 ent position, of the country. Left same night. 
 
 "July 7th, — Had an interview with Thurlow Weed Escjuire, editor of 
 the Albany Evening Jourual, must send him a statenu>nt of the revenue — 
 he is the most influential man of the party. 
 
 " Write the Hon. W. H. Wilmot, Attorney Ceneral Seward, A Hron- 
 son, and send copies of Mss. to the difl'erent colonies forthwith. Wrote 
 Ilincks, recommended him to Lord Palnierston. Js it noceasiiry to send a 
 copy to him alsol 
 
361 
 
 roliiiquisli 
 t^ colonies, 
 enter into 
 
 iforination 
 
 ml aiMreas 
 to ImsineBH 
 
 hity ou the 
 rs of the 
 
 of tlie re 
 le — as that 
 
 al, luiule as 
 ntered into. 
 lat it cannot 
 he country, 
 r to attach 
 traae. The 
 l(.(l to. In 
 ct it on the 
 
 )0\ver. They 
 ^criminating 
 •enioving all 
 
 )t move, the 
 
 the duty is 
 
 iiniiosed on 
 
 ly. And if 
 
 lev. 
 
 mrch with 
 lonijig, wea- 
 ld in prepar- 
 land Hriggs. 
 
 ;i2r),ooo to 
 
 lof Manhat- 
 ]astliein-es- 
 
 |e, editor of 
 revenvie — 
 
 ll, A Bron- 
 
 Ih. Wrote 
 
 to send a 
 
 "July Sth, — Attended church, and at 4 went to Whitehall. 
 
 " Moiiday July nth. - Arriv(>d at Montreal at tive o'clock. Spent till 
 the lilst July in otlicial Imsiiiess, pending Mr. lliucks' I'eturn from England, 
 which was estinnited at six weeks." 
 
 Oa liis return from Washington he remained at. Montreal for a few 
 days, and then proceeded on his way home, via Brock ville. 
 
 " Left Montreal LM.st. for St. Catharines, at lU o'ch)ck. Called and ex- 
 amined the dilferejit cuts, and wrote from thence, recomuiending tlu» wall- 
 ing of B. antl L. cut at once. 
 
 " Sunday. 2L'nd duly. Spent the day at Brockville. 
 
 " Monday. L'3rd, Wrott> Price to remind him of the orders to discon- 
 tinue the insertion of land claims. ( 'ol. Tache and Reefer on suhjivt of canals. 
 
 "Tuesday, 24th,~Kemained over at Toronto o\w day, wrote His Ex- 
 cellency and i>aldwin. 
 
 " Wednesday, iTtth, — Arrived at Port Dalhousie at 12 o'clock. 
 
 " Thursday, *J<»tli, — Spent the day at home. Declined the prolVer of a 
 public <linner. 
 
 " Friday, 27th,— Attended a picnic at the whirlpool. Visited the Sus- 
 pension Bridge. 
 
 "Saturday, 2Stli,- Quiet, not well. 
 
 " Monday,- 1 ndisposed. 
 
 "Tuesday, ;?()th,— Attended to uj business. Felt the effects of close 
 confmenn>nt for nine months without exercise, which nnist in future bo 
 avoided. 
 
 " Monday, nth August, — Wrote Mr. Baldwin and His Excellency the 
 Governor Genei-al »mi the subject of Reciprocity, not pres.sing my return." 
 
 Mr. Merritt continued still under the weather, as we see in his memo, 
 of 11th. Attendeil very little l>usiness, either |irivate or public till he re- 
 ceived a telegraph despatch to return to Montreal. 
 
 "Wednesday, 15th, — lioft home for Niagara, and reached Toronto at 4 
 o'clock Thursday. Reached Kingston Friday vnorning. 
 
 '* Saturday, 18th, -R»\iched Montreal in tht> UKU-ning. running the La- 
 chine Rapids. Met council ; Oapt^iin Wetherall antici{)ates an outbreak, 
 say two or three thousjind can be armed to oj)pose the civil force. IHme 
 will test the accuracy of this statenuMit, not credible." 
 
 At the capital he found that (piiet was far from being rest<ired, tho dis. 
 turbance b»>ing augmented by the ill-siiceess of their delega-ses. 
 
 The conventions and the deputations of the malcontents sent home, 
 not meeting with the success anticipated. Were succetnled by riots in the 
 capital, which are thus briefly alluded to in the I'roriHrNtlu^t August Ist : 
 
 " Sir A MacNab and Mr. Cayley, the late Inspector (!eneral are doing 
 all they can to prevent it, and nvo busy in th(> ignoble a*tempt of misrepre- 
 senting the country, and trying to make the British (Jovernmentand people 
 liclieve that we are on the eve of a rebellion, citing the uinuly acts of tlnMr 
 own party, which they were largely guilty of fomenting, in proof «)f their 
 i»ssertions. Have either of theiu done anything else during their preuent 
 visit to England f 
 
r 
 
 I 
 
 362 
 
 "Friday, 24th August, — nontinued on the corporation transactions, not 
 worth recording. Trancjiiillity partially restored. 
 
 "Saturday 19th, 20th, 2lst, 22nd, -Engaged in the discussion of cor- 
 poration btisiness. The arrests had caused assemblages, the attack on La- 
 fontaine's house and the death of one of the inoh created an excitement, tu- 
 mult aud incendiarism was th<i cf)nse(juence, everything in confusion. PuV)- 
 iic duties neglected, nothing doing. The iNIayor at length called upon the 
 citizens to do their duty and maintain peace. I cannot feel an interest in 
 those transactions. 
 
 "The minute from the Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick requires 
 an answer. 
 
 " Saturday, 25th, ^Had a full council except Col. Tache, who hoard of 
 the death ofliis brother ; Attorney General Baldwin arrived. Conference 
 to Halifax dciterminc^d on. Hon. Fj. H. Lafontaine and myself apj)oiiited, 
 and a (h^cision resolved to determine whither and when to remove the seat 
 of Government on our return." 
 
 A Conference of the different Provincial Governments being about to 
 be held in Halifax, for the discussion of the Recipi-ocity (juestion, he left 
 in company with the Hon. Mr. Lafontaine for that city, going by way of the 
 ChamV)ly Canal and Burlington, and thence to Boston. 
 
 " Sunday, 20th, -Attended Christ (Jhurch. Left Montreal at 3 o'clock, 
 knowing the boat would leave St Johns at 2 o'clock, it would give me an 
 opportunity of seeing the River Chanibly Canal and counti'y. 
 
 " Monday, 27th, — Reached Mott's Inn at 9 o'clock, passed through a 
 beautiful country, the crops good, the weather was mild, and pleasant seen 
 ery was delightfiil. ('ailed on the Cure of Chambly, Mr Metot. The boat 
 having left St. Johns to B. 2.'>, 1 remained until Monday 2 o'clock, arrived 
 at Burlington at 9 o'clock, took Vermont Central to Windsor, lib mile.s, 
 ;U0 miles to Boston, 9 hours." 
 
 Here they took the Mail Steamer for Halifax, at which place they ar- 
 rived on the ."^Lst August. During the journey he prepared a statement of 
 the diffei-ent matters affected by the Treaty which he had been matui'ing for 
 a long period. It rerpiired delicate management, as conciliatory measin-es 
 affecting England, the United States, and the several American Provinces 
 had all to be attended to, besides the very itnportant matter of the fisheries, 
 which were held in such regard by the people of the Maritime Provinces. 
 
 1 1 is related, by way of anecdote, that so absorbed was our subject with 
 this mattei", that, tluring the passage from Boston to HaUfax, the vessel 
 (the Illhflr)ii(f) struck on a rock during a dense fog. and when considerable 
 excitement appeared to be manifested V)y all on board, Mr. Merritt, who 
 was busily engaged writing, seemed to pay no attention to tlie matter, un- 
 til roused to a sense of their position by Mr. Lafontaine, who .seemed to 
 think that something serious had happened. He, however, declined to leave 
 the cabin, declaring th.at the prospects were as good there as outside during 
 the fog and disturbance. 
 
36.'} 
 
 nsactions, not 
 
 ission of cor- 
 ttack on La- 
 ccitonipnt, tu- 
 fusion. PuV)- 
 ilocl upon the 
 in interest in 
 
 iwick requii'PR 
 
 who heard of 
 
 (Jonferenco 
 
 elf appointed, 
 
 move the seat 
 
 •oing about to 
 lestion, he left 
 r by way of the 
 
 3al at 3 o'clock, 
 Id give me an 
 
 <sed thi'ough a 
 
 \ ])leasant seen- 
 
 tot. The l)oat 
 
 'clock, arrived 
 
 or, 115 miles, 
 
 place they ar- 
 a statement of 
 In maturing for 
 litory measures 
 ican Provinces 
 ^f the fisheries, 
 le Provinces. 
 Iir subject with 
 Ifax, the vessel 
 |n considerable 
 Merritt, who 
 he matter, un- 
 'ho seemed to 
 tclined to leave 
 outside during 
 
 On arriving in Halifax, his first act was to visit his old friend Sir John 
 Harvey, the Governor, l)y whom he was warmly received. 
 
 The conference terminatetl after three days discussion, by refusal of the 
 Maritime Provinces to recommend the Imperial (Tovernment to open the 
 fisheries to the U. S. ; but a resolution was passed, recommending Britain 
 to open negotiations for a Reci[>rocity between all the American Colonies 
 and the States. Our subif3ct did not consider that the conference effected 
 anything. 
 
 Ho then decided upon endeavouring to obtain Reciprocity on the basis 
 of the old proposition, which was neglected to be confirmed by the U. S. 
 Senate. They left in the Steamer Nimjnrd., on the 5th September, 
 and arrived in New Ycrk on the 7th; fiom thence he wrote to Mr. Cramp, 
 ton detailing his operations, and afterwards went to New P>edford, for the 
 purpose of seeing Mr. (irinnell on the subject. He then went to Boston 
 again, and held a short conference with Mr. Lawrence, the new ambass^'alor 
 to England ; but a- this gentleman was opposed tt) the idea in toto, the 
 matter ended for the present ; and five years of Imperial and ( 'olonial diplo- 
 macy to obtain it was necessary. He returiKHl home by way of Springfield 
 and Syracuse, where he attenderl the State Fair, and arrived in Montreal 
 on the 16th. On the de))arture of the Commission, com{)Osing so large a 
 proportion of his working Cabinet, Lord Elgin took advantage of the oppor- 
 tunity to spend witli his family a few weeks ii. the vicinity of Niagara Falls. 
 Consequently he sV)on afterwards made a tour westward, visiting all the 
 chief cities and towns on the route. 
 
 As anything concerning the great Niagara, its winding shores and pic- 
 turesque islands is interesting to the public, we insert the following to the 
 President of the Council after his return from Washington : — 
 
 "Falls, July 20th, 1840. 
 
 'My Dear Sir, — 1 hope that yon are not losing sight of the Island for 
 mc. I want it much this summer, that 1 may go to work in clearing out the 
 dead wood. Pray let me know what prospect I have of getting it, and on 
 what terms. What can I do with (loveninient about the Eric and Ontario 
 Railroad, and how shall I proceed. Yours, &c. 
 
 " THOS. C. STREET." 
 
 " Hon. W. H. Mkrritt." 
 
 At the council held soon after his retuin, the Cabinet discussed the 
 most eligible arrangements for the seat of government. But on account 
 of the (rovernor's absence, no definite decision coiild be arrived at. 
 
 Mr. Merritt left on the 2Gth to join His Excellency, and went as far 
 as Brantford, and soon after (29th) arrived home. It is noteworthy that 
 oil account of the political opposition exhibited in the convention of dele- 
 gates, termed "the League" held at Kingston the previous month, none of the 
 Cabinet visited the Provincial Exhibition now held in that place. 
 
364 
 
 Tim ./(iiinifi/ notices liis arrival as follows : — 
 
 " The lion. W. [I. Mcrritt has returned for a few days to St, Catharinea. 
 Wo find liini heartily and honestly enga<^ed in endoavourinj^ to make Canada 
 the most prospcjrons poition of the Anieriean continent. We perfcc*'y under- 
 stand his poli(^y for the acconiplishnient of thia desirable object, and wc are 
 (juite satisfied that it is perfectly practicable. 
 
 At home iio wrote Mr. (Jobden, Sir II. Po(d and other Eiif^lish statesmen, 
 and also to Ijord Klf^jin, who was Ht(j|tpin;j; at Drummondvilh^ His oorres- 
 pondon(U! at this time on Reciprocity was very large. I^ejtorts about the 
 moving of tlic! (iovernment thipartmeut to Toronto, inueh to the annoyance 
 of the Monti'oalers. 
 
 The Journal notices the presentation of an address to Ilcr Majesty's 
 representative, which was most graciously received. 
 
 Whilst the (lovernor was at the Falls, Mr. Merritt, on behalf 
 of the peo))lo of St. Catharines, invited him to visit the f'anal, and 
 paifeak(5 of a })ul)lic dinner, which was accei)ted and passed off very harmo- 
 niously. 
 
 His Excdlency expressing a wish to have a meeting of the Cabinet at 
 Toronto, the Pnnsid.mt of the (vouneil iiotifi(!d Cou; cillors Taeho, liafontaine, 
 Cameron, Carron, Blake and Robinson to meet there on tho 11th. This 
 was followed by one at the Falls on the l.'^th. (Kthis ho notices in a letter 
 to Mrs. Merritt, who, with tho author, had been spending a month at May- 
 ville in search of health : — 
 
 " Dear C. — This )tlace no long«M- apptjars like home, you being absent; 
 in fact I hav<( spent tlu; greater part of the i\\\w in moving about. I am 
 going to attend a meeting at the Falls on the 15th, to determine the location 
 of our seat of Government, which 1 hope it will be at Toronto, when 1 shall 
 make arrangements whereby wo may spend the winter together." 
 
 We have hinted that the Governor's visit, in part political, as well us 
 his other acts of administration, was viewed with disapprobation by the 
 opposition. Their plans being matured, and now organized, through 
 tho machinery of a convention of deh^gates from tho peo[)lo, wo insert the 
 following to show liow these proceedings were viewed by tho Government 
 press : — 
 
 Journal, October 4. 
 
 "Tlu! Governoi- General's tour continues to be most popular. Now and 
 then a growl from tho Tories leniind us tliat there is not unanimity. This 
 we do not expect, but wo would exi)ect, at least that party feelings would 
 be merged in th<« boasted loyalty of these men, and that instead of 
 confounding the first l>ranch of the Gov(>rnment with the second and third, 
 they would recognize in the (Jovernor Gen«4al the representative of tho 
 Queen. 
 
 " The ' ignorant and ' rebellious' Irish have shown more constitutional dis- 
 cernment and feeling, than our constitutionally well-bred torics of Canada. 
 
365 
 
 "Mr. Macauley says, the statute book of England contains laws in reference 
 to Ireland that are a ' proverb of infamy' throughout the world. Yet those 
 men (the Irish) do not think of insulting Ilor Majosty by reproaching her 
 with these statutes. They do not dream of insulting her person because of 
 the acts of her Ministry. Tiieydi.scriminato between the Queen and her Cabinet. 
 
 " Why not our Tory desperadoes do the same 1 liel no man suppose that 
 it originates in ignorance ; nothing of the kind. They know well enough that 
 Lord Elgin could do nothing but what he did, but they play a desperate game, 
 and arc willing to run all hazards, only to get rid of the prc^sont (Jovernor ( Jen'l." 
 
 Also, to shew how wide-rpread and serious was the excitement caused by 
 our anomalous colonial position, wc copy the following from the resolutions of 
 the New Uruuswick Colonial Association : — 
 
 " A meeting was recently held at St. Johns for the purpose of considering 
 the present deplorable state of the province, and for devising measures of relief. 
 It was therefore resolved — That if it be compatible with the general interests 
 of Great Britain that these colonies should hav(! protection in her distant, and 
 their only market ; it is but justice that she should find for them other mar- 
 kets on reciprocal terms, where proximity or other advantages would enable 
 them to maintain a trade by which their existence as Hritish Colonies may be 
 continued." 
 
 We give this document of the Annoxation Muiiifesto to show the object 
 nought, vi/ : — the chango of allogiaueo. It was opposed by our subjoct, 
 though containing many of the reforms in o\ir Colonial CJovernmout advo- 
 cated by hiuj. We are led to believe that a few nialeonteuts took advan- 
 tuge 'je disturbed, not to say revolutionary, tendency of tlu* times, to 
 
 carry t' lir plan of forming this country into a rejiublic, and se(^k absorption 
 into tl' .'ighboring States. Their organ, the Iiidipviuliint, had but ashoit- 
 lived existence. 
 
 "October 18, '49. 
 
 " Annextion Manifesto : — The nun»l)er and magnitude of tlin t^vils that 
 utHiet our country, and the universal and increasing depiession of its material 
 interests, call upon all j)ersons animated by a sinein-e desire foi- its welfarti, 
 to combine for tho purpo.se of enquiry and preparation, with a view to the 
 adoption of such remedies aa a matni-o, and dispa.ssionate investigation, may 
 suggest. 
 
 " Belonging to all parties, origins and creeds, but yet agreed u])on the ad- 
 vantage of cooperation for tlie [>erforuiance of common iluty to ourst^ves and 
 our country, growing out of conunon nec(;ssity, wo have consented in view 
 of a brighter and happier future, to mt^rge in oblivion all past difleienccs, 
 of wliatover character, or attributed to any source!. In apix'aling to our 
 fullow colonists to unite with us in this our most needful duty, we solemnly 
 conjure them, as they desire a successful issue and the W(;]fare of their 
 country, to enter upon the task, at this momentous crisis, in the same 
 fraternal spirit. 
 
 " The reversal of the ancient policy of Great Britain, whereby .sho with- 
 drew from the colonies their wonted protection in h»;r markets, has produced 
 the most disastrous effects upon Canada. In surveying tho actual condition 
 of the country, what but iiiiu or rapid decay meets the eye ? 
 
366 
 
 ( 
 
 "Our Provincial Government and Civic Corporations embarrassed; our 
 bankin;^ and othor sdcurities groatly (loprociated ; oui- mochanical and agri- 
 cultural iiit(!rostH uliko unproHpnrous; real estate scarcely saleable upon any 
 terms; our unrivalled rivers, lakes, and canals, almost unused, whilst com- 
 merce abandons our shores ; the circulating capital amassed undei' u more 
 favourable system, is dissipattsd with none from any (piarter to replace it. 
 
 "When other countries are the applicants crippled therefore and checkeil 
 in the full career of j)rivate and i)ublic ontorprise, this possession of the 
 British (/'rown, oui- country stands before the world in humiliating contrast, 
 with its immediate neighbours exhibiting every symptom of a nation fast 
 sinking to decay. 
 
 " With superii.bundant water power and cheap labour especially in lower 
 Canada, we have yet no dcjmestic manufactures ; nor the most sanguine, 
 unless under altered circumstances, anticijmte the home growth, or advent 
 hvm foreign parts, of either capital or enterprise to embark in this grout 
 source of national wealth. Our institutions, unhappily, have not that iiii 
 press of permanence which can alone impart .security, and inspire confidence 
 and the Canadian market is too limited to tempt the foreign capitalist, whilst 
 the adjoining states are covered with a network of thriving railways, Cana- 
 da has but throe lines, which altogether, scarcely excijed fifty miles in length, 
 and the stock in two of which is held at a ilepreciation of from 50 to 80 per 
 cent, a fatal symptom of the torpor overspreading the land. Our present 
 form of provincial government is cumbrous, and .so expensive as to be ill 
 suited to the circumstance of the country ; and the necessary references it 
 demands to a distant government, imperfectly acquainted with Canadian 
 affairs, and somewhat indifferent to our interests is anomalous and irksome, 
 yet in the event of a rupture between two of the most powerful nations of 
 the v/orld, Canada would become the battle tield, and the sufferer, however 
 little her interests might be involved in the case of quariel or the issue of 
 the contest. 
 
 " The bitter animosities of j)olitical parties and factions in Canada after 
 leading to violence and upon one occasion to civil war seems not to hava 
 been abated with time, nor is tliei-e at the present moment any prospect of 
 diminution or aceomodation the aspect of parties become daily, more thieat- 
 ing towards each other and under our existing institutions and relations. 
 Little hope is disceruiible of a peceful and prosperous admistrations of our 
 affairs, but ditticulties will to all appearance accumulate until government be- 
 comes impractical, in this view of our position any course which may promise 
 to efface existing party distinctions and place entirely new issues before the 
 people, nnist be fraught with undeniable advantages. Among the statesmen 
 of the mother country, among the sagacious observers of the neighboring re- 
 public — in Canada and in all Britiijh North American Colonies — amongst all 
 classes there is a strong prevading conviction, that a political revolution 
 in this co\intry is at hand. Such forboding cannot readily be dispelled, 
 and they, have moreover a tendency to realize the events to which they 
 point. 
 
 " In the meanwhile, serious injury results to Canada from the effect of 
 this anticipation upon the more desirable claim of settlers, who naturally 
 prefer a country under fixed and permanent forms of government to one in 
 a state of transition. Having thus advei-ted to some of the causes of our 
 
367 
 
 ban'assed ; our 
 iiical and agri- 
 iiible u])on any 
 (I, whilst com 
 undtT u nioio 
 to replace it. 
 vo and checked 
 ^session of the 
 iating contrast, 
 f a nation fast 
 
 Bciallyin lower 
 nioHt sanguine, 
 )wth, or advent 
 a in this groat 
 le not that ini 
 j)ire confidence ; 
 apitalist, wliilst 
 railways, Cana- 
 jniles in length, 
 oni r)0 to 80 per 
 1. Our present 
 ive as to be ill 
 A-y references it 
 
 with Canadian 
 )us and irksome, 
 rerful nations of 
 .ifforer, however 
 
 or the issue of 
 
 n Canada after 
 ms not to havtj 
 iiiy prospect of 
 y, more thieat- 
 
 and relations, 
 strations of our 
 ijovernniant be- 
 lch may promise 
 isnes before the 
 g the statesmen 
 neighboring re- 
 es — amongst all 
 tical revolution 
 y be dispelled, 
 
 to which they 
 
 ji the effect of 
 
 who naturally 
 
 Iment to one in 
 
 causes of our 
 
 present evils, we would (lonsidor how far the lomedies ordinarily pioposed 
 posse.ss Mound and rational inducements to justify their adoption. 1st. The 
 revival of [»i)teotion in the nmrkots of the united kingilom. This, if attain- 
 able in a sntlicient degree, and guaranteed for a long period, would amelio- 
 rate the condition of nniny of our chief interests ; iiut th(> |)oli(y of the em- 
 pire forbids the anticipation. Kesides, it would be but a partial remedy. 
 The millions of the mother eountrv tUmand cheap food ; and a second clianno 
 "rom protection to frets trade, would eumjdete that ruin whiih it has done 
 much to achieve. 
 
 " L'nd. The jirotoetion of home manufactures.- - Althouifh this might 
 
 encourage the growth of the manufacturing interests in Canada, yet w'thout 
 access to the United Sta. ^s market, there would not be sulHcient expansion 
 of that interest, from the v. ant of consumers, to work any ic>sult that could 
 he admitted as a 'njiaedy' for the numerous evils of which wo complain. 
 
 "3. A Federal Union of the British American Provinces. 
 
 "The advantages claimed foi' that airangement are free trade between 
 llie ditlV'rent, ju-ovinces, ami a diminished goveinmentul e.xpenditure. Thu 
 attainments ol' the latter object would be pr<jbl<;matieal, anil the benelits 
 anticipated from the former might be secured by legislation under our ex- 
 isting .system. 
 
 " The markets of our sister provinces would not benetit our trade in tim- 
 ber, for they have a surplus of that article in their own forests ; and their 
 dennind for agricultural products would be too limited to absorb our means 
 of su|)ply. Nor could Canada expect any encouragement to her manufac- 
 turing industry from those quarters. A Federal Union therefore would be 
 no remedy. 
 
 " 4. The iudependauce of tlie British North American Coi^jnies as a 
 Federal Republic. 
 
 " And having regard to the powerful confederacy of States conte-minous 
 to itself. The needful military defences would be too costly to render inde- 
 pendence a boon, whilst it would not answer any im .e than a Federal 
 Union." 
 
 Annexation was the only remedy proposed by the manifesto : and of 
 coiD'se it could not be enteitained by oui' subject. 
 
 Jouruul, July 26th. 
 
 " In the eastern portion of this colony, the commercial and the wealthy 
 influence of the League goes for Annexation ; anothi;r portion for Independ- 
 ence ; but these go 'to restore the spirit of our outraged constitution. ' That 
 is, in other word.s, to destroy Responsible Government; and this they have 
 the impudence to call ' restoring the spirit of our outraged constitution.' 
 
 A letter from Inspectui- (ieu. Hinks to an electoi' on the annexation 
 manifesto appeared in the papers. 
 
 " I refer to the [)roposition that has been formally madt; to the people of 
 Canada, to consider the expediency of seeking a change in their political 
 condition. I believe that I am warranted in a.sserting that, setting aside 
 those questions which our own Parliament has full power to settle, the sin- 
 gle cause of discontent among our people at this moment springs from the 
 restrictions imposed by the United States on the admi.ssion of our staple 
 products into her markets. I have had an opportunity since my return 
 from England of conversing with persons acquainted with public opinion, 
 
368 
 
 in variouH jtartH of Uppor fJauadii, and all sooinod to a^n-oe that tlio inoon- 
 Hiderato cry for annexation would !)« at oni'o Htillod hy tho tmtaldiHliuiunt 
 of nHnpronil frco trade witli tlm United HtatoH." 
 
 Mr. ItinckH (duvorly hits tho |)rinci|ial roaHon of disitontent wiiich pro- 
 duced tlie above ManifoHto. 
 
 The following,' in from the KMimiiwr, evuhuitly undt^r (Jov't influence: — 
 
 "TiiK Annkxation M()Vi:mknt.— Ah a matter of hiw, it niimt lte(h)ul)t- 
 ful whether tliey could coiistitutionally l»e (h^prived of th<< ri^ht of the peti- 
 tion in thiH case, extraordinary aH is i\w oliject of their [tetition. 
 
 " The annexation adviwates have not told us at what rate of valuation 
 we ar(i to jiay for the fixtures to which .John I'ull has a <:laini. 
 
 " Not so with soiiKi d(H(p seated canker that preys upon the vitals of the 
 coniniercial and agricultural coiuiuiniity. The denial of recipnuiity by the 
 Americans is likely to keej) alive a movtnnout orifjinated in the bitter feel 
 in^H of political defeat. 
 
 "The only (piestion at tho pre.sont moment connected with thesid)ject of 
 reciprocity is by what means can we wring from Amcsricans what selfishness 
 has denied us '{ If we cannot coax, can we not, by sv)me indirect process, 
 coorco'? We think so, if England will take the matter in hand. Sho could 
 retaliate otlo(;tually witliout returning to the protective system." 
 
 In an article against the annexation movement, Journal, of Nov. 1, says : 
 
 " Quoting the remarks in Mr. Merritt's speech in page MOO of this book, 
 wherein he says, if no remedy is applied, the diHsatisfaction of "M will show 
 itself again in '49. 
 
 "Any disinterested person comparing these remarks in 184G, with the re- 
 sult in 1849, must admit that events turned out with unusual precision." 
 
 " There is one more advantage implied in the policy of Mr. Merritt, it 
 would remove the uncertainty that hangs on the minds of men as to our polit- 
 ical relations. A country to be satisfied must be prosperou.s. MaLe Canada 
 prosperous and you don't hear one word about annexation. This we believe 
 can only be accomplished by a bold, comprehensive policy, such as that espoused 
 by the Hon. W. H. Merritt. 
 
 As the time for tho Governor's moving to tho new cai)ital approached, 
 the privacy which had characterized his visit, tho present season, to Niagara, 
 was abandoned, but not so much as to i>rove^t strictures on what is called 
 his parsimonious proceedings. Lady Elgin had a reception for ladies; and in 
 this excited time, tho circumstanco of keeping hor gloves on, according to 
 the rules of Court etiquette, was taken notice of, the paucity of any gi-eat 
 amount of public entertainments, in contrast to tho Earl of Durham at tho 
 samo place ton yeai-s previous, was also noticed ; however there was a great 
 Bceiio of activity in the little village of Drummondville, in the chief hotel 
 of which the court was held, while the Governor resided there, and a corres- 
 ponding depression was felt after he left. 
 
 The succeeding entries in his private journal are: — 
 
 *' Attended Council from Monday until Saturday 20th at Drummond- 
 ville. Spent till Tuesday 1st November, at St. Catharinof. 
 
Uv. l>ittor tVol- 
 
 rccision. 
 
 " K<vt'lv»'il ;i t«'l«';^i!im U> iitti'iul ut 'I'DrDUtv)." 
 
 'rhtiui; lif svrili'w 'Jiul Di'ociiiIhm": — 
 
 " I>i:au ('atiikimnk. f h.uc tiiknu »iii(U't«'is in Qm't-u Stint, twudmxs 
 fVoiii ('limcli. D.u ill Hiiys li" has Mpciit t"JtM'<ir liis liinilldid, Mr. I'.'iUor, 
 uli'eiuly. lit' Nvill lit- in ifiiiliin'ss ((» icri^ivr yuu in thr laiirsi- of tin- vmm4'. 
 Vou tMitor 11 liall, <lra\vinj,'-rt»iini «iii v\<^\a, and ilinimj-nxiiu on K-ft, anil uiy 
 ollicH! liciiiml ; Mlr('|>in).' rooms up Htiiirs, nitli span- i'ikimih, tor we will li.ivn 
 tVit'nils otrasiunaily. 
 
 Tij tho autlior he si-nilH liis iiiMtniotiuuH, Ih'v. Anl : - 
 
 " li( t tlic <'ln'Hnut mart! be well tak»'n ruro of. Have tin* linrnvsH i»'|>iur- 
 (mI. Vou will soiul her ami tlic \va:,'on, KuhlU' and l.ri«l!«', a -^ooil lialt«'r and 
 all Lit clolliin^. I Khali havo tho «tabh"H ready thi.-^ wu-k, with hay and 
 uatH." 
 
 'Ha'si) iuHtruetions w<m !■ iinalituid I'V : 
 
 •' If ojxMi and liuf I svill cxjicft you, it' not you will o('i-ouiv;i' ih-ler \ our 
 visit till afti'r C.'hri.stnias.' 
 
 'rhiHliajijicnod, and .Mr. M. <ani<f o\t'r to spend the li«)lidays. Thoy cr»>K8«Ml 
 the lake with their ueccs'^ary eU'eets tV>r a winter','* Hojourri. tlie day after 
 ( !hri.stnias. 
 
 Deet'ndiir "JS. 
 
 '' We have to iliidui<le at this u.'^ually hapjiy season, the suddcit and 
 unexpected doniise of (}eor;.(e. Proseott Ks(|., s«»i!n!t)iry and tivasuror of the 
 Welbiml Caual olliee, who retained his hi}:;hly reHponsibh' poKfc dnriuji; all 
 llie changes sinee his appointment hefom the rei>illiou ; a proof that 
 ( loverninent appreciated the elKeient and faitliful disehar^'e of his iliities. 
 
 A journey up the line, on business ronnected with tin; otlice, a fortni},'lit 
 b'foiv, brouijht on a severe eold, which acting on a constitution already 
 iiji|)air(!d Ity ollicial conlini^ment, caused his sudden and lamented death.'' 
 
 The Suspension l?ridge h:id been •ponr<l for carriaj.';^' tiavel. and already 
 sliewed its success by pay inn' a hiiiidsomc dividend. 
 
 1 8 5 . 
 
 t Drummond- 
 
 \Ve make use of .Mrs. ^[erritt's journal for details of the late Winter's 
 
 proweilings. 
 
 " We came over to Toronto, Fri<lay, did some shopping' : saw a St. (,'u- 
 ihai'ines friend, now a resident here. 
 
 " New Year's day was observed by the gentlemen calling, a great many 
 i»f whom took advantage of the custom and piosented thi'mselves. 
 
 " The next week of our sojourn was oocuj>ie<l in receiving the calls nf 
 uur old friends in tho city, among whom are His (Jrace, the Ijord Bishop, 
 .Mr. and Mrs. Kobinson, the INIirfises lialdwin and 3IiKs Striu;hau. 
 
 •' On Monday it rained; tho conse^pience was, we liatl to drive in uiud. 
 We called on the Bishop next day. 
 
.-^TO 
 
 "Took in l''i:iiicc:i, ( M is. .1 . 1h;l;''1 ioll) iVnm Iicr lionrding ni'lmol, ;im<I went 
 wiUi tlio ]»!irty U) hi'i> onr til'l St.. (\itlMiii)i's frii>ii<l, Mih. l-'itzLiciald, ntnl 
 iliiu;;h*.rr, Mrs. Hiiyci. 
 
 " N<>\t, <liiy, Sniidiy, l.'il), iiHtMiloil (Ik^ ( 'ntlHMlr.il, \s Ikmc a stnui/^'cr 
 priMu^litiil. At.t<Mi<loil M(M!i<iiii,sl iiii'cliiifj;, )ic(>(>ii\)iiiiii(Mi Uy Mrs. Wooil, Mr. 
 Moiriti.'s (H)iiMJii, wlio liiiil lal.cn Ira with un. 
 
 " Artor ilri\ in;; I''. Id scliool, rrl uviumI |i> mii' liMlnrjn^. MiH. lvo))iiiH(iri 
 caII<mI. 
 
 •" I'.Hli, l)i(i\i', in cninii.iny willi Mr.\ V. and Iht dMn:,dit»'r, (roinitrU 
 of St ( 'ndinrincs) ad'ai as Hon I'lid;^;*' 
 
 • ITith, W'niiii, \vi(h oi-i'a.sinnal rain, wliicli did mil prcvrnt ns dii\iri;,' 
 iirniiiid lliK sti'dolH of (lie town. Mr. M. M''roin|ianvin}». 
 
 " I7(li, Mr. M. out. dir.in;; witli iW i>i.slio)>. 
 
 " ISlIi. Mr. S. Knt-rcr and wii'c ariiviMl. 
 
 "|y(li. TIn' .-iun n>s(< lliit nmrnin;; idi ar : the ■ ccnnd time sini'c in\' 
 (•(fijiin;^ IifMi'. 
 
 •• ■J',)t.I\ Mr. (!r:H.sc(i ]ir('a<:licd. .\ n.iM- si'r\ io'. (Innif^di it was a wet day, 
 Mr. M. mid 1 rode uiil to tlii' A.^ylinii. 
 
 " '*!»(., .\f.;a(ii rain. Miss .larviw In-rc. We calli'd (in Mr. CaincroM 
 and S(.r.i'-h.in, antl dined witli tlii' W'iddors, 
 
 "'J'ind, ncci'ixcd a wtdcoinn lidlcr from niv old fiiend, Mih. Ilawloy, 
 
 who i.s 1<(M 
 
 •pill": 
 
 ihe 1 
 
 1()\ISIV 
 
 •■ 'J.'trd, Sun shinin;4 to (hiy. Went, .shoppinj^'. Had thi- carria.^'c, up. 
 uud wnnt. t.o moot Mr. M. I'^dainiod Mr.s. Kidout's and HoiiiiiHoa's fallv. 
 
 ■•jlth, 'I'd ( 'ooo'-il < 'hanilx'i- for Mi. M. 'ro;.M't/liMr to wharf, oxprct 
 in^ .son William, who, however, diti not emniv Took a turn in ( !()Iloi,'<'. 
 Avonuo, ,\t, a i|nartei- lieforo so von, .set out in our earria;.;<^ for I'jhnslie 
 Home, to dine wit.h the <Jovernov and ('onnlei,;; ; tin- dinner nvcr and 
 all l>y half jiasl It). 
 
 '''J.")t!i, '!'ook a h>n;; walk wil.ji Mrs. K. to thi' new ho,s|iital, 
 .soup kilehen , a very ;;ood ariinjremeni. 
 
 "■Jtitii, Not ii|t till UK William eame ovej, i|uarlei- t.o one. 
 
 aw 
 
 ■-'7lh, Snowi 
 
 d all 
 
 " 'iStJi, Mr. Meriitt and \\'. « roi.e until three, when .Mr. M. was .sent 
 
 l( 
 
 Tlii.s is the t"cMirth time h* 
 
 has attempted to write, \sheii Ik had hoeii 
 
 int.Mrru|) 
 
 ted. 
 
 l!'.U.li, Willinn retwrmd lioim>. 
 
 •• l,st, Calliufi; witJi Mrs. \\. 
 
 '• iJnd, Sp(<n( Sunday in iloors. 
 
 " ;5rd, Iveiu'ivisl a letter iVom Thoinais in London, he having croHti'd 
 tho AilMUlie in Hw<>ml)or. 
 
 ""lUi. Mayor l*'oley, from St. ( 'alharinos, who had liren ehoson this 
 your, (!)il!od -.ind l)rou;;ht a \(<lU'r from Hon Willi ni. 
 
 "r)t,li, Sponl. the evonin;; with Mrn. Hiiyos. 
 
 "titJi, Hrovo out. nUIiiiK at tho oHice, and lirin^in^' homo .Mr. McMTitt 
 i<t iliniuti. 
 
 •' 7ll\, Snowed, wliirh tluMi tu.mMJ into rain. 
 
 " 8(,h, Mayor Koley eallod hofore hi.s roturn ; toitruhlofl liiin witli a 
 li^tt/«<r hojutv 
 
 • ',»Ui, Ivain all day. Mr. M. attompto<l to stay hero, and wa.i Ht'iil 
 
 A 
 
Mr. M.-rrilt 
 
 371 
 
 for .\« UHu.i!. I liavK riM<f(ivo(l no tiiliii.LjH nf .1., wlio, nftiT we loft, liad 
 ii;ou(> to Miiyvillo, l)y wav of Dmiiivillo, on lioiw* l)ack. 
 
 " 101,1), WalKtd !,.> clniii-li. 'I'lic caniaLjtMoad." iillinud. < )in- |)ow in ho 
 fur baok, wo couM po), In ar Mm sorinnn ; llinrcfofo tlin ).jn;aioKt. KuliHlUoiinn 
 w:ut in tin- inaycr.s, wliirli wo know. A I. a <|iiaitfr to i, drovoont, an far •!« 
 tlio ooim-Lury, ami tool; a vii-w of l.lio |iicl,nii'H(|Ho river Don, on wlioso lank 
 if- JH sitaiatoii. < >n our nl.nrn alxnit nine, w lio .slionlil aiipi-ar lnit, .lodiali. 
 Ko havin;^ conn^ lonnd (lio lioad of (iio lake, on lior.sc liark 
 
 IIUi, !Jrfakfa.slcd ai, S (liis Miornin^ ; onr \isiia,I linn' '.>. Wonf. 
 
 ill .1., to Yorkvi!I(> \ 
 
 o i-all ii|>i>n 
 
 Mr. M 
 
 ornttH cou.sin 
 
 fr 
 
 >ni 
 
 St. .lolnih 
 
 " ( )n tlio llJtIi, I'Viiii'-fs and .1., ai'C()ni[i.inio(i l>y Mrs. K., attended t!io 
 (Jovcrpor's IJall. 
 
 "Mr. MfM'ritt .sto|-|«,>d licrn all day. In tlic afternoon mir dri vo rxtcnd 
 od to tin- kin;,''.s wli.'irf l!c(iii'nin;i[, tdok .l.'.s liorHo, wliiih was frosli, iind 
 d-iiL,',i;od Mr. M.ont. I'"im! .sh^ii^liin;^ on tin- I'my. 
 
 " 'I'lio wook wiiH .s|Muit in visits and drives. 
 
 ''Tim eliivrfnl i()ni|iany of Mi'. S. K eefc'r, and liis atnialde. lady, \\ lio 
 filivytid eMpiisitoly, witli tlie visits of friends, niade tlie wiiiti'i' pass a^jrooaUly. 
 
 " riie steaianr <iros.sod pretty r<^;.;)ilarly to Nia.L^ara." 
 
 IHtli, Tli(( Hiitlior started foi- Imnie in a snow storm. 
 1'lio samo dilllenKy eontiinied to indnce (lie l*r(sident of tlu^Conneil 
 t<<> loavo liiH oooiipation in order in (.'ike the nei'essary exercise, and t'lie 
 rrtoinoranda iu»te.* and tallies of li;^ures also sliow witli w liat indnst.i'y lie 
 p'iiswod Ilia ahsorliin;; measure ol Itiitreiulinmnt. 
 Mrs, Morritt'.H journal continues ; 
 
 '' VV'e left tlie caiiital, with its ;^aiely, i>n "J-'ilh Maieli; and iieie proph' 
 :i..sk liow I like Tonmt.o : my ans\v(M' is, \{'v\ well ; and why / lUx-anse my 
 (^n*<liand is tlieio. Still Mr. M. is entirely de.voted to his pnhlie Inisiness. 
 .\ml 1 must roeoncih^ my self to it as well as 1 eaii. Scrililile, icrililile. 
 a.il tlie time; I wonder lie does not lose his senses. 
 
 "lie says tlint ho will lirin^ alioiit Ketreiieliment , or have the (lovern 
 raoiit. I don'l know whieh I oii;^ht. t,o wish (or most. 
 
 '''riioiiius, who L(ol, home from Mnj^dand on (he '_'S|h, :iiid onr liKle family 
 M,;-". oiiee more a»*emMed, around our own fireside, and my liear(. wits filh'd 
 with eratitmh? (<» (he ^iver of every liiessiiiL;. 
 
 "Mr. M., who had n^tiiriied to 'i'oronto the day after tin- i.'Wh, rrtiirnfl 
 to St. ('atliarineK a^ain and sjient Sunday. 
 
 '' r»th May, Mr. M. home In attend his election, linvini,' ret;i;^ned 
 hirt poHitioii jvh I'msident of the ('o\ni(!il. lio spoke to (he peo]»le tor two 
 •loiWH and ii half, then ntturned toToi'ont. Next day I'arliainont i>p(^ned.'' 
 
 Previous to Mu- opcMiiiifj; <»f the House at Toronto, Mr. M(uritt was called 
 lijMHi (,.) take the oflide of ( 'ommissioner of l*ulili<' Works, a position vvhicli 
 wim Miori) suitalile to his tastes and ideas than tin; one he Indd, iis he now 
 wjiH pliKM^I where he could ur^<i and carry out moamireH of real hc,n(>(it (41 
 thn country. lie w;i.i re elei-tiMl liy acclaiiintion, and returned to his 
 Cjtuwi iu till) ('ouiioil. 
 
 W(! suhjoin tl»f) followiny Unuling extrin-ts from tlin .Hpoech of our suh 
 
.172 
 
 JMi I «iM (Ilis tu'i'it' ion, <.i liMW Ills ^v'IhtmI \i« WW. oil llio.-c iJMlly il'Hi<rliir,( 
 in\("«ti<'t\s, \N liii'li 111 liis I'^t niiiil ion wnr nl" nrciid'i iiii|i<>i'ltiii<'i' (n (lie I'lninir v, 
 tliMU IIk' luaiix otliri' (liviitl iiiiiltriH \>liu'li uti ti[<it tl llir tiiiii ol <!,«' {•«<it-!<> 
 iiM.I I'm liiiiiiiMil 111 this |>i'i inil, 
 
 " ( JiMilliMiicii 'I'lirro nil' (\'\\ unn iimn' (or ( iiiiiiii llmii iii\..( IC in rctuiu 
 
 III' lit ni\ <i|i|><iiii'tit'^. 
 
 iiiU Jilt' ronli'lfiii'r ut' iii\ (Vicinl 
 
 lllil I lie tin I'l 111 111 
 
 "I'liis is tlic (ilVi tiuu- \i'n li.ivc IimnTt'il inc. Ii\ i rdn niii': iiic ns \u\\\ ii 
 
 Iht ; lull tluM is tin' liisl ( inn 
 
 I 
 
 liiiM' ii|iiu>iil<'i| t.i \(iii iiH II Minister n 
 
 .1 i\u 
 
 tiovcriiiin'iil. Ilillii'il" llm inli'ui-l vnslnciil, Init now i'M'I \ iimn, (n tn 
 
 ( Jiispi' ti) Sivinlw i' li, 
 
 r.', |. 
 
 Ill) III 
 
 ti'i'i'-t ill tin' r<'?-iil( I'l' this rlcctinii. 
 
 It 
 
 is in>l ni\ inlcnl imi, ^^t'litlcniin. In udrini't tn runrMil flic jiti-'int 
 
 t.dc ot" imlilii' iVciiii' 
 
 I w us (rinlt' II'. \\ I'll sill i;.|ii li in iii\ nw n iniinl. Iicfdii 
 
 in'i'0|i|iii;.; oil i I'l', tliul i listen I islai't ion |iri'\ iiilnd in. iillrr t lir <n«ni n'mrf. nt la.'-t 
 vi'iir liml in'tniilly tuiviii jlin 
 origin . tli 
 
 III' ciuisi" I'l t Ills ilisi'olltrlil IS lint ol' icntil 
 
 ,si'i''ls v\ c'ln 
 
 lllli'il 
 
 1m r. 
 
 I'l' till' pii'i'iit iinininist I .i' Inn nun 
 
 into powiT 
 
 ll IS to I.I' iiUnliuli'il III till' I'liioii Alt r( ISM, 
 
 .1 III 
 
 I'lniiii;!' ill '111' t'oionnil |>oln \ ol tlrnil r.iilnin in l^'■UI. 'I'lir (iist did nn 
 
 ostiildish !i sni 
 
 m ion 
 
 t .'lii'i'K 
 t 
 
 on (lir i'\|iriiiii( iilr o|" llin piildu' inoiirv ; tluli 
 iiioiK'V liills i'loin indi\ idii.-il nn inliiri ut 
 
 ti'lTinu till' I'oWiT vi OIlMlUlllI 
 
 Piuliiiini'iit to l!io I'Ar.'iitivi' ('oiinril. Iins |irii\i'd a lailiui'. 'I'lic piililir 
 dt'lit liii-lu'cn iiiiTi inisl. nndi r llin )Mi.si'nt. svstcni. lo iilmnl ,l.'l,tl(i(i,(»(l(V 
 < 'ustoiiis dill it's liiiM' li'i I; iinnnsi'd iVoiii I'.'. t<> IJ,', |Hr cnil. m/ luili'itm 
 on drv p'oiis. and on oilier aitii'li's ot' i'onsuin|>tioM iiiiii'ii liii^lirr. I''\cisn 
 
 duties iia\<< lui'u cstaidisln 
 
 aiii 
 
 I inli'iii'il tiiM's iMci'i'iiscil to till' aiiioiiiit nl 
 
 iU lo.'V.Nt Xr>t>0, 0(1(1 pnr \rai, w lncii. in addition to llin dnlil, cnnlnicti'd, lias 
 ;>lso liciMi r\|'<ndi'd (i'mi'I'I tor llir oiiliiuny cniichsi's of" tlic ( Jo\ «'rniin lit ) 
 on iinprodiiiM i\ «' woiKs, and ollur olijci'is \ ioldini,' no ii'tm n. Iciixiii;; (lie 
 intiTost lo I'c paid tVoin ( 'usloins, thus Kitpiuu n|> liij,di lalesand di\«rtiii;; 
 liado into other I'haniiels. 
 
 "No (JoM'i ninent in t'anadii can retain the (oiitidenie o(" tin' coiintiv, 
 that tloi's not ell'eot a tree inti'r»'haiiue of inndiiee and eoiiiniotlitieN. Hit;li 
 triVM's and low prii'i's caniiot eo exist with eoiitenlineiil in thi^. or any eoiinti v. 
 Tin* Anulo Saxon raee would not listen (oexenses; their eons(.aiitl\ leeiir 
 
 e we not as proN|ierous as our iieiifhliours ?' 'I'd 
 
 nnir t'l'v w I 
 
 11 I.e. 'Whv av 
 
 this ijiie'-iuMi the (Jox irnnient musi^ixea |irai'tieal iind satistHeti'ry Hoiutie 
 
 " From these remarks you will oliser\i', that I have Keen |ire|iared to 
 witness depression and dissatiKfaetion. It was the iiie\ itaMe cU'eetK ol' thf 
 {H>liov ivud system pursued. '■- * f; -f: * 
 
 " Whatever dilVereiii-es ot' opinion nia\ exist, a.s to tin' disti'il.utioii of (lie 
 piXHVods ot" the < lercy IJeserve tuinl. \ (.ur eliildreii w ill lie iudel.tcd (k> (lie 
 foivsiirlit ofthe l,oi\"> liishop of Toronto t'or its preset vat io,\. \N"hat would 
 have luvii the disposition ot'tliis i"iuid. had it heeii plaeeil uinler (lie contrel 
 ot' tho Vt\>viticial l.eijislature ":* I'lnler our juvst iuid present HVHtems, rjol 
 an aoro would have l»tH»u preserved. While otiier ptihlie men in this j.;eiip 
 ration, to whom the management ot" ;<.").(ll)(l, 1)0(1 of ueres of land iuive inrii 
 rmritsted. liave allowed altuost the entire capital to he s<niaini«ixHl. 
 t\iw>\ eh thebi&bop'sinflueiii'e this portion of it has been priwrvod. [ am well 
 .-.w'aiv o( the state of puMie t'eoliiiir on the .suhjeet of the distribution of tJii* 
 Uesei \«.'s. hui 1 cntvi tain no doubt that tlu-v, and all other uu-ustirt k uod^r a 
 
r,r.\ 
 
 •lit >r M,n »iil wl) ) III . ■' l,!i ' III III I 'I'urMil. m|* th'ii ij.vn id int. •.vill In* i.^l.l liil 
 in HiVM'- i iiii'i* Willi tin- vii'w.< ul' II iiiij'iiilv 1)1' till' |ii'>»jili' , lull I iiiuiiil,,i.iii 
 I i,il l,ll"V .■il'i' l!l.i);^i'l.li'M- II .vi'oiiilin-y (•■l||,^|l|l•|■;ll inn riiiii|i i? ml tn nl.lii'l- unit 
 Vi-fTi wliii'Ii iiivdivi' irir I'liliiri) priirn iiml |ii (niii'iil.v. 
 
 " I li.iv.' Inn; Ih'imi Mill i-ilinil, ),li:il, 1)111 < '|i r:;y l!"bt"ivcn, I ' iii vfiMJIv, ' '<il 
 1 'i,n> iMil ('niiiiiiiHi t^i'liMul iiirpl; I. Ill III' cull vi'ri.i'il inlu r;i]iil;il iiiii|ili- 
 
 1 >i Ui iiMhii'-l ion III' II It lili'M I IVihii III!" "Wi'l 1)1' till' |iiii. iiji-i- t,i» tlio 
 
 oblinr, iin I tlnil I iim on I l|i< stiiini' nnliii':;uil i|i ni'ii inn ' ii > on i Kliip i'iiiiiiIm. 
 
 "M.iMi'i 'I Is 1 "I'lT l'ii|., I'l 1 .(iii'i-f I) llin ll .11 i| .if Wi;rl( 'i, li I 1 III I'lii n 
 .«('.,aI.«miii'iiI. nil (In' iiii'ii'MMi'il WnMlnni I.imiIc. lui-i'il hh llic iininli"i' ol' t.oiiK 
 )>i..uiiiu; I'roni Imkn I'lrii' In liijn \v,it'>f, tlirnn^li l.lin l'',t if <'iin il, wliidi ;.;ivcK 
 iia '|t"lii:il iiH-MM-.i' nt" 'J ! ji'T i'"nl. II yi'iir, rMnini"n''.iii:,' iil I:!l,'i7l tnn.-i in 
 H:!S, ,ini| ■•inliii;,' Willi V'i'.l.ti.i'.l in I K IH. 
 
 " [''iniii SMI vi'V.H iilfi'iiilv III, nil', il, ii|i|i Mrs llnil ii lafi- I'liiuinnl ciin lif 
 ( iVi'iMi'il in iliMioiiiliiiv, liii' ii\i'i. Ii\ imnnuii:; ii I'l'W nliril.in I inin, willioiil/ 
 I'lHiin,; ll .sill;;]!' r.iii.i!, ;il, 11 mnilciiil • cxiii'ii,-;!', nl'tiT wliirli tli<' Si,. I,ii wiiiiiri- 
 will l)i> (lie liivti. iiiiil rlii'iijtrsi, iiii\ i;;iil inn kiinsvn in l.lin unijil. A vivkhiI 
 >vill l.liKii puH.i ilnwii rriiiii liiki' Oiiiniiii In M'liil iimI, (liii'.vin;^ l,"n ffi-l, of 
 w kl.iT, II ili,tl,.miM' nt' ii,Mily two liuiiili't'il niilivs. in twmily I'nnr linnr.i, mnl 
 ri'l.nni tjimnijli tin' iMil.s m ciiniils liy sliick \viit<T iiii\ i^juLinii. 'I'lii.-i will 
 I .^rttoi'i' tlii> iciiiK.' nalnrnl nh iinl,iin'-< wliirli \nii pn^-i 'hmhiI li.^foi-n IKJ'J, uml 
 I .'-llnic till' Ijinii' l-i'ljilivi- |il nK|i<'i it V Nnll I lii'ii riijnsi'il. 
 
 .Annllirr link of liii t ;^'r<'ji.( cliaiii. is I li" rnnn"i't inn nf l/ikcM llnron unW 
 f-^iipnrinr, nil tlii'-iiiii" ilinii'ininii-t. ll n"jnii<v-t !)iii oiif ln:k , lunl a slinit 
 
 I'lUial, nil tin- S.illlt Sir. .Malic 
 
 " I > 'I'pi'iiili.; Iiiiki- Si. I'i'tiT Iini'inviii',' llif Ollawii, (iini cniiiU'i'liti'^ tlic 
 lliyor Si. .Inliii, N'l'W l'.inn,swick , v.illi lli^ .Mii'liiwu.skii. 
 
 " Wi" It '.If o\' t ll'- nii"v,i!ii|)l" 1 in',r<'iiMc nl" canuLs, lailiniul i, iiiiii nllii'i mi 
 |irnvi>niniilr.-i ii llic I'ar Wi'.sl tlii' lii^li |»iii'n of \v■l;^(!.>^, mnl <;nnKtant. llow 
 of (iiiiiLJi'alioii. Wlial i.s tlic can ic ' Wliat lin.s l>n)n;^lit tli" Oliio, liniiatia 
 !\mI i'liiiMLjn Cisials inin o|)iTal,inn at ho narly a <lay ( ami wliat at thin mo 
 ni'Mit an; tlic mh'iii-i ••iii|ilnyc(l in cnniH'ftiii;,' the Wi.siroiiHin ami l''nx Itivf-rK 
 t.) rii iki! a ii,ivi;4al)li' rnniinuni'M; inn frnni I'lairji! (In ( 'liii-ii, nn tln' .Mi.sHJH 
 k'ppi ti> (ii('(!ii I>a,y, nn l/a!ci' Mirlii;; in. J'lih.'lr hiii.ln iravi- tlio iiii)ii'tiiH, 
 uiiil witliiii a i'l'w v'vir^ lias tniinvl a \vilil"i iin.is intn a t!iiil;lv |»n|inlati!il 
 country, •'' •'■ ■*■ * ■ ••= 
 
 " .'\iilinii .(ll tin- (•li>ni"nU mIiJcIi Ii iv(' prmlniM-il ili.Hsali.sfaction arn lin 
 ynriil tin- cnn'rn! n\' tlir |iicM'nl .\'linini.^iral inn, liny will still lur ))<-I(l 
 iiirtjinn.silili'. Nn ( Invcrnnn'iit, it niatt'-is nnt wlin the iiuli'.i'lnal.s aif wlii<;li 
 (.>iu|in,<<) it, oi" iVoni wliat party tlicy arc sclcctcil, can '.^ivc .sati.^factinii, iin 
 loHH Canaik-i is as prn.spcrnn.'^ ai llic cnimtry nn tin- ntln-r siilc of tlu; houii 
 (I'lrj. Tliat in llic test, ami tin- only tent in wliidi piilili^' conliil'Ticc will 
 I') coiitinncil or witlnlrawn. If proof wci'c i-cipiircd in .support of thi.s 
 .s'^AliOmciit, it is only icccssary to rcfi-r to th'; late a'lniiniHtratioii. Tlicy 
 w Ml"! pliiiM'd in pnwci- Icimiihc tliti picccdiii'^ one iii<| not tjivc nati.sfactioii. 
 Tho pniHcnl were liroiiiLjlit into power hccan.^c tlic la.st were e<pially iiuhik; 
 liiwsfiil. Tlie Haine fate awaits tlie present Ministry, as certainly as day 
 *iiii5(VMsil:-i ni;;Iit, unless measures are adopted i*> secure our future prosperity. 
 It w>is itn- tlii;^ ohjc-ct that 1 accepted tlie drud;^ery of olTiCf, and it i-i by 
 sljiH tt-tit only Uiat 1 sliul! claim your cnrifidcuce in futury. 
 
374 
 
 I 
 
 " I OotilrNM, );i'iit!<>i,ii'n. I luxl nil nlinirl in view in ii<'t<r>|i(j|i^ )l,i< Hifcun 
 tii'ii Ilaviii); ItiHMi Olio ut till' ciirlitwl nilvoi'dtcH in rotiiKtctiii^ our I'nwt 
 iul Mill \v:il<'rn willi iho (mi'mm. I iVrl n MtniiiLr itiliMcsl in mriiif^ I.Im<iii liiiiHlnK; 
 on II m-iilc I'tMiiiiH nHiirii(«< willi ( licir t'\(i>ii( . n( lli(> i>ai licnl |iusMili|i' inuiiHtut 
 »'t»iirul«'nt lli;it tlii'ir Mit'ci r^ will In; I'vci-cil ilii- i>\|ii>((»ili(»i(N (•(' (In- nuiHi. »n,ii> 
 miiiic." 
 
 Tlio juililir.il |utsitioii (if (iiir '^uliji'i't :ilioiit iJiin lime, spcium riUlicr |n>culiar, 
 wlu'u il is nMiu'iiiltort'il (li.-il, wliiil iniiy I"' o;ill(<(l Htr'u'i pirly lin«<H wcr.- <lrnwri 
 ln<(\vooii 111!' '• Ium" mill' ■' oiil'^.' Still, jitililioiilly S|i»<!ikin>^, we C.il U> linii in 
 Mr. MniiltV cum'it, as a JD^inlator m |uililit' man, any act liavin;,' (or it* 
 olijoiM (lu> nitTc as^^islaiu'i' nT t ulidcal views, lor llu- atlvain>cniriil dC liin iVicmJH, 
 on till" vMiidaiy liis iiKvis wen exclusively iialioiial, ami in wli ilever inannor 
 ho may liave eh;ini;eil sides with his |uililieal as,s(ieia(es, we lliink our rciMliTN oap 
 arrivo a( no oilier eonehi^ion than that llie sole ami only intorcNt ]\v, \vn{ in 
 view, wa.s in eiuleaviniriiij; to raise his enuntry, eoinmereially to tho Hum<> iM»hi 
 linn as others who were rajMilly pro;:;rossin!; in things neodCiil to ii j^jrcat nation 
 The ojiiuioM ot' an eloi'lor, who wa-t a lrei|iM>iil e.)n'r,s|>(in'lenl of v\r 
 RVihjoet, is lu'io instutcil. 
 
 " To till K\li(or ol' till- St. C lit hiiri Ill's .loiinml . Siii, (Mi my rct.urn 
 tiMin th<M'lee(ion, I tlioni^lil over Mr. Merritt'.'^ ohsorvations and |iro|>oH 
 lions, toijether with the aiinoiineemenl that a ( 'omniiMsion oC |<]ii<|niry <m 
 tli(> ijreat ijnestion ol' lletii'iielinienl wouM lie formeil as Hoon as raili.'imom 
 a.ssiMuliled, in whieli every salary wouhl ho liron;^lit nmler review. Wail, a 
 hit ; \vi> shall see Nvh<>tlii>r aiiythinL,' more than the eheese jiarini^H and vm 
 dio ends of ollie;- ari> inlendi>d: and ii]ion analy/ini; his speeeh, l.his <im> tnea 
 sure is all that ,it thi> i>it'sent .session is to he ijraiiled. 'I'he HtnmdnoHN o;' 
 Mr. M.s views on the snhjev-t ot' ihe liiijiiicial ditlienlly. I li(> w'.ant. of a niiiii- 
 ket for (.\inada. whieh now stare oiir lo.tn inoiiv;(<rM Inil in Ihe I'aee. Cow <'.ii.n 
 douht . t'ewer still, the neeeAsily ol iiiei'tini; t he ehanj,'(< from loajis li<t th« 
 payment of thi^ deht already a>'>'uinulali>d. Il<> .also ?(taled how lJiin eonhi 
 lie aeeoniplislie I. lie has m'\er douhted the re.soiirees of ( 'anada, atul wor« 
 his views to he aitinl upon, an approach, at least, to that, hannony and prtw 
 pority he desei;^hed mi (lit hi- madi* ; yi't the whole of the |ire,senl discontoiU 
 wruld not he removed if luH'iproeily was att.(iined. 
 
 " Mr. ^ItM'ritt piMposes to pay olV the th<ht with the ('ouncil re\enu»i«. 
 keepinij on tlie import (hities until lS(i(i to p.iy the interest, near or>^^ half 
 the present amount of t^ixatiim. Iti years ahead ; yet. to 1h< free of doht, a: 
 luost iuvy reasonaiile saorilice must he maih*. This is not Kren Traih' ; nov 
 that Kivo Trade is neeossiiry to the colony, or the hapjiiness of the individ 
 ual, and some douht exists if his linancial ahility will he ^nnited, witl< 
 zoal to earry out his \ ii>ws. ii« every year will increase the demand fo; 
 jtssistaiice on jiuldic works." 
 
 We mW. to slunv the straiiLTC and erroiioou.s vievva licld hy the Heformorff 
 of that day about nuinioipal economy and elioi( e of representation ; 
 
 " For the d miitAil principle of carrying; on puhlie hiiildinijH and puhlie 
 xviirks by kxjns to be repaid with interest, inst<'ad of vviiich, <\ich loo;ilit;j. 
 where uionoy is likoly to bo vranted, may inorei^se their rate two *.(r khriw 
 
rnf) 
 
 !N(oiin<ir« 
 
 V■|<ll^^ licCnii' llii' W'lvU in l(i';j;i|ii . IIh'v will (liu < liuvr it I'liii'l iif ili< ir « wn. 
 wiUiout. iiil(«i'"<l; mill wuh ovnry (,'iwiml(i|> in (li« |ir()viri(ti< (j) niim* n Hfria'l 
 'itii|ilnH riiiid. In lii> iri\fM|Mi| iukI tn''tir<l in th" l'i'ovin<'i/il in'cnmnliitr*! 
 il'iik, |n'(i|i<i:4i<il liy Mr M . tin m WKultl IIkmi I»;i a livii i'ii|iiltvl |>r«iilii<'iri^ 
 iiil,f«t(Mt|. (iiislcml III' II liiiM li '(U'iiiij it\|."ri'st,) tn thu iiivi-slinj; loi'iility. 'iihI 
 
 III! M iMinluliiii< Innd lu csixt. t.u «;n'ry unl my iiii|ti'4iv<'iin'iil in the |o( ulitv 
 
 vvliicli iiiny li- (liiMi'j;lit n»<c("iMiu'y. r.H it wmilil lie iit all tinn"i iivaiiiililt', witli 
 |>io[n«r notice |,i» iJn- I'loviiiciiil l'..iuk of {uuw. 
 
 Al'l.(>r II Imii^ viirjilinii (hr Hiiu'' <i|K \ic(l «)ii III! Mill ftfm i\ v/ 
 inoikHUi'CN dl' ini|Mirlaiiri' '.\i'i'w imuiim'ii'iI m liif i-iicirli, i>ii( ilic rdiiiiin ^nn 
 <M>ii;^i'iitiilitli<i| (III itH pi'(isi|ii>i<>iiM r.liitr, mill Ilic Ii^l'Ii |>u!itinn ol iIm irtiiil 
 iiliniuil. Onr Hiiliji'cl niuvi'il lor ii Url n in himiil ( '•niiiiiillit {<> cxiiinih' 
 into nil tli(> i>x|iiMiKi'H ol llin ciniiitiy. Ac . Ilml llx |><<i)|'l«' ini|^lit h««- Ii«<w 
 I. Ill' |Hilili(' inuiii'y wu'i M|>inl. < >n I In' <itli nf'.Jiiii'' IIk- Mini').' ii<ijinii'ii<'<l, mo 
 I. lull tlic <!i)VHniiii iitnl MiinlKii' ot I ',ti liniiiriit nnilil \i>il tlf \V«-lihn(| 
 ('itiml, wliicli liiiil iinrv Ik'i'Ii I'uJIy ('uiii|il<'tci| On Ihr 'i(li tliry ruinr a«irjHi>i 
 till) liiki' in the Sloiinitn Chir/' ./unlin /uifniiKiui On iirnvi!i<; at f^t. < ;itl. 
 liiiintH, (lii'v vvnin |ii«'.Mtiiit<'ti with an ailili<'HH. I In'y |ii('«'(»'<l«'il |<i 'IIkhoM 
 in (•Mtiiii;.v'M, nini llirii ttiuk the Sttaiin r ItriUnna U>v tin' nyl nl lli»' way. 
 ^ll(^ (lay Will a i|cli>^'liiriil (inc. a f^lni imiK HuiiHtiinc It^iuUn^ a clirkriii t^i {\>w 
 Lri[> w I lie 1 1 nil scciikmI to '"njny no well An al'iiiKliiiKc <i[ k ri<^Hlini«-nt« u«iti 
 on hoiu'd, wliittli it in ncodlcKN to Hay wen- well att<»n(lc(l Id At Men itlnrilia 
 M .Hmn|itii<iiis diiinci' was [ir('|iai('il and |iartal<(ii of, and to nay lliat ftill jiiH- 
 tnid WiiH dunn to tlin luilili^ Hjncid a nild In' HiUM'ithion.M. licit; th*- <i()V«T 
 nor loft tlii'in and went Id tlir ["'alln. 
 
 'I'lnt icft of l.lic |»aity |>i(u'ccdcd In (iiaxt-lly H.iy. u !nif, iit ( (m!t(|iiMn» 
 DfiiiMiillii'icnt Initcl iirconiinodHtion I'or siudi a lar!.'c i >ni|>auy, tlicy cnrunipeii 
 ('(M' tlio niijlit, and lunuscd tlicins'dvns with Hon}^M,j(ik»!Ji, and IxiinttroiiK im-r- 
 fiint>nt, stiinnlatud occasionally hy cojiion'i lihation^, mo that inan\' «»-i* 
 di'lt'iiniucil not to " |^'o home till nioiiuii}^." 
 
 At 7 A. M. Ihcy t^niharkcnl I'or hnttilo. where the^. wm«: )>ni.|i(l_f 
 itMjnivod by the Mayor and citizens, n ho tK^ated them uilh uidioiiinlftl iioH 
 |»itality. I'liov retmned to 'loronto on Monday, d<ili_!.(ht«»il wi'li then t.ri|i. 
 It wjiH rtMnurk(;d that tliis »!xcui>ifii ttinhnl vory inal«;rii*lly to harin<>iii/« 
 the l\Mdin:;s cxiating hetwet-n the meml>« »* from rji[»ii ami I/,\\er (iiaa 
 da. afterwards too tuion to he diKturhed. 
 
 The foUowiiiir is froui i\w, Jom nnl ui l.'itli AiiL'U!«t: — 
 
 "The lion W. H. Mcnilt left yesterday Inr Montreal. We wirth him a 
 pleasant journey, luid a sale return. Ilin oHIim' in t'ert;iiiily no hiiieciirt-. 
 
 " The penitlo placo vuibouinh'd coiitideiie(; in him, and f^eem sinnclini'-u fi 
 think that it'thuro ia a grievance, tin he nui.st roMinve it. That it'tho depres»if>n 
 uiuler which trade and connin'rco lay, he dif-jilaccd hy acvif y .and [nnupcrity. Mr. 
 M. must.viny;lo liunded accomplish it : that fveii the " Law's* delay ' iiiiist be har- 
 ried into tiie activity of spwdy jusuia-, by thif im uibtr of the Couucil. 
 
'•'To overv ^-ompliint tlu Ticsidi-'nt kim'iis- lends an oar. and sits ' likr 
 J'ationce ou a monuinont i^milin.: ai, (uici".' (Jiuada has an lioncht and aMe 
 httttosman in the H'hi. \V. H. Morritt." 
 
 Tho first of Autumn, Mr. Morritt propiTod to vi.sit tlK> public work?i. His 
 fir«t direction was Kivcr Trent. 
 
 Tile western and St. Lawroncc iniproviMuents were familiiir to liini from 
 the IVcquoncv of liis visits, but tlii.s northern territory was entirely new ground. 
 
 Jioft Toronto Tuesday, 3rd Sept., in the tnail lino " City of Turo)ito," cajtimn 
 Tfwef. JiSuded at I'ort Hope at 7 o'clock, irero rctirin;; to his apan- 
 inent, na was hi.s cu.stoni, (and leaving' diroction.s for Mr. James jMcGibbnn, 
 tlie Superintend int of thi; fiovernnKMit road to IlicL^ Like, to have nil 
 ready for visiting in the morninpj.) He clo.sod himself in his room and com- 
 iiioneed hi.s bu.«iines.s by inditin;^ letters of en(juiry to IJouchctte, Dewitt and Co., 
 Montreal, Mr. Mcthot and Capt. Bayfield, Quebec, noticing hi.s in tended visit, n:- 
 ()ue.sting them to comuiunicatc with the offioerj?, and be jjrepared to give him 
 information on various flubjects connected with the St. liuwrence improvemcntf;. 
 He wM.s at work again before breakfast, which he had b.irely finished when Mr. 
 McOibbon drove up. He was highly pleased with tlie appearance of Port 
 Hope, and the signs of prosperity in this thriving li-tle port, (all produced by 
 the outlay of (lovernmcnt funds,) in the building of a commodious pier, and con- 
 necting it, by improvements, with the back country. 
 
 A note in Mr. M'smemo. .S'lys: — " Hud I known the position of thi? liar- 
 bour, the corporation would have paid more mo.iey for it." 
 
 Mr. Mcrriit and Mr. McGibbou reached Bewley's landing in time for the 
 steamer on which Mr. M. took passage to I'cterboro', where he remained the 
 rest of the d.ay, listening to and examining claims for damage on account 
 of public iuiproveiucnts. This and the next day until live o'clock, he remained 
 at Peterboro'. Leaving at IS, on his way to IJellcville, lodged at Fosset's 
 Tavern, near Cambleton, reaching the Lake again at dinner time, by Kean's. 
 He gained Crook's llapids by 7 o'clock, P. M., noted ''that this was over a 
 bad road." 
 
 Saturday, Sept. 7th, — Here, taking a hor.io, rode to " Hoaley's Fails," 
 tea miles, Farmon's Hridge three miles. Mud Falls four, and back again to 
 Healey.s Falls, slcopiiig at Mr. Kauney's, .^uperiutendant of the navigation at 
 Lake Scugog. 
 
 Sunday, 8th, — Started aft<n- breakfast, in a light one hor.se wanon, driven bj 
 bi.s host. I'assed Ciusholm's Dam, then to Frankfort, on Cold Water Creek 
 fix miles. Arrived at Belleville at midnight, a distance of 17 miles. 
 
 Monday, !Hh, — Left Bolleville in sioamer, passed the Bay ol' (iuhitc. and 
 arrived at Kingston at 2 o'clock. As this is a port to which letters had been 
 directed, one received front Thomas Koefer determined Mr. M.s direction. 
 
 Mr. Morritt's Journal, ndds : 
 
 m^m 
 
!7T 
 
 ind sits ' likf 
 »ncst and aMe 
 
 ; work^. 11 i< 
 
 to liim from 
 y new crroun'l. 
 •o»^i," captain 
 
 to his apart- 
 GS McGibbon. 
 , to have nil 
 ooin and cnn- 
 owitt and Co., 
 ended visit, r'- 
 l to give him 
 iinprovcmenif;. 
 died when Mr. 
 Mneo of Port, 
 1 produced bv 
 
 pier, and con- 
 
 in of this hiir- 
 
 1 time for flic 
 roni:iined the 
 
 e on account 
 he remained 
 
 d at Fossct's 
 , by Kean's. 
 s was over a 
 
 aloy's Falis," 
 Kick again to 
 navigation at 
 
 on, driven by 
 Water Creek 
 iles. 
 
 Quintc. and 
 ers had boon 
 
 s direction. 
 
 "Took iho StiUos -leini-v '),>'>rw» to Oj;diMisburj;!i, aeeomp.irjied l)y the 
 sentlemunly contr.'set.ir, Mr. Calvin. Saw the store hou.io.s, &(.• , of the 0..;deu.s- 
 bur<;h llaiUvay. 
 
 Took the ("teami^r //)';/; ''?!»</-• r, passini; through the Lon:; Sault, .stoppin* 
 at Ooieau, where a boat had ho-n prepared to pri^s ihroti'^h the rapids. Captain 
 II ixwoll and Thomas Keefor aeeomp;;nied. K.Kiniiiied Split lloek and PrLson 
 Ir='aDd. Neitiier are forniidable obstruetion:^. Thus it appiiars tint this noble 
 river haa already opened a ehannel ofsufhcieiit depth to acimit the i)a.ssai;eof a 
 vefls.d drawing at least eight feet of water from J^ake Ontario to tide wator. 
 
 ' The States steani(T piok<fd u.-? up in Ij'ike St. liouis, landing u.-t in Mont- 
 roi! in the evening. Jieft the applieations lor mill .sites ite. for Mr. K'ofer 
 to invcstigatf. r_ 
 
 '•Thursday, 12th,— Vi>it.-d the Ludiine Cau.d with Mr. T.ourk. 't.v^ 
 
 'Friday, l.'Jth, Vi.Mted Chanibly Canal with Mr. JJow.-n. 
 
 "Saturday, 14th, — l*',.\aniined mill sites, paying a visit to >[ajor Camp- 
 bell, and examined his model farm. 
 
 •• FiUib.trked on board tlie il/.o/J'rt''?/ tor Qiiebtu: nvIicp- I .ivrived at 11 
 o'cWk. Attt'iided KvetiiiigHcrviee .■<.:?(). Was visited l)y Mr. Mt'thot, (.*au- 
 flion lieniit'ux ;ind ]\o.-;s, with Trcrt.suier of the Trinity I'>i)ard. 
 
 "Monday, l*"«th. — Enti-n'd fully int') the subjoi't of thi' ibn-linr- of tnvie 
 ihrongli the St. J.awreneo, in a number of (|U('!ac.s .sulimi'ted to the Trinity 
 P>i .ltd and othei\s. Tlie pnj><>rs for e()nsi(.l(Mation were I .ord Stanley 's dosi»tttcli, 
 li^'th Mnreh '4:5 : lett.-j-s from the .Adinii-alty, t'.ipt. Hoxer, Stb" S.-pt. 1843, 
 nnd IS']), Inly, 1,'sl'i; relative to lin))erial ri'vcnui* oi. the St. Lawronee. 
 M ■. Wilson M. 1'., Sth and l(>th of January, iSHO; runmrk on St. Andrews 
 Rjilwiiy. < 'apt. r>;Mit- l!. V]., IS.'iO ; on th'- inij>ruvenii»nt of St, Jolm.s I'ivei'. 
 Hev. (.'. Chundiili's remarks. 
 
 •• Se}>t. 1 7tli, -Sailed with ra]>t Uox-^r to vi.sit ( JiIinoii''.-< sliipyard at 1' 
 ')''.ioek. Oil TTi'.'sday had an interview with 'i'rinity IJoard, ;it H, ,and 
 Board of Tratle at 2 o'ldoek I'. M. With Mr. Uilniore again ovtu- his e.stab- 
 liBhniPut at '? P. M., said to be tlie large.st })rivate .shij) Iniilding ostablish- 
 rnont in the world. 
 
 •• Wo'lnesday, 18th Si<|ttenib('r, Spent the d,iy in t.ikiiig opinions on 
 th« subject of improving the St. La,wrenee below t^uebec 
 
 *' Find, th.it out of two liundreil and forty eight vi'S.Hels of this iinn, 
 of otO,,}i^7 tons in tdeven years, from "-VJ to '4'.>, oidy two wi-n^ l'>.st, tlie 
 f'arU.on and Pckix at M.inie.nigan Shoals, and Fox I'iver. 
 
 "Visited Mr. Seott's promises at Ca}) Kouge, pa.s^ing one pike and l)aok 
 iinother. (!'onversed witli si'venil gontlenien on ni'eivssary iniprovi'inontw. 
 
 " 20th,- I'jnbaikod on boaiil the steamer l)i)ri>i, bflungiiig to tlio Trin- 
 ity IJoard. 
 
 •' After examining Mr. T'aiton's yard and mills, en-barking in his boAt. 
 V7,«itod thus Wxr, St. Mielmels. live leagin's be! 'w Qni-beo, l'>ert.hier, St. 
 T) oniafl outlet of South River, with Mr. Patton, Senior. Went on shorts at 
 fi'ialet, anehon^l otl" the Pillars. Kaoh of thesd plaecs nsjuiro h.mg piors. 
 
 "Saturday. 21st- -With r>oxer, Ket'ferand Methot, evrttninod i.'origiriai, 
 and received an addre«R, while Mr. Methot examined lvanii>iira.ska. Ar- 
 riwji at Pivlon^ J)u Loupe, 11',) tnile.s Indow t^udur, abo't .s-^vi'ii o'clix^k. 
 Met 1)T Mr. Jomvs, th»- Mayor, who prewented an addn^ssv Much enthu.siaKia. 
 
 "Sept. -2ud, We wero auchored oil" Pa»ieio du liOU|H>, oppositye tl"* 
 
378 
 
 fiiiiiHly Puts, wlnr.' I laii(i<«l in 18(ii>. frmri tij<' F'.ri^' I.crd Shtjfu.hl. foit^-orie 
 jciirs Kiiu'v: Maiiv changes sinco thi .1, nn«l iriiuiy imiif n>u><t take plix«e in ,i 
 like nunil)«u' of yvwrv, t<» oomo. Wa.s shown thr Falls at Hivi«;re <lu I oupc, auil 
 tilt! lioi;;ht of laii<i licyoml. It is only Hixt<^tu rlliK■Haol•08^^ to tliu St. (^liarks 
 IlivLT. iMr. \Viliu«t, whoiri w»' unit coininj,' »K>wn, niontionod tliat }io hivl 
 Mften u boat tVioio, \vhi«!h plind to tht* St. Jolin Kivcr Falls. 'Ilic oxauoi 
 nation j^ivos a most favourahh' imlioation of this route. The «iistauco on 
 tho 'l\MniH(;outa ro\it<\ thirty-six niilt'S. Mailavviiska. tliirty-scvon : in all, fj 
 tho houndaiy of Canada, scvonty tiirt't'. Mi-iuf to (Iroat VwXh, thirty-four. 
 Woodstock, twenty. From Woodst^iok to St. Andrews, ci^ht ; entire <lis- 
 tanco, two hundred and eleven miles, wliere.is Major llewal in 1S;U), made 
 it only two hundred and sixty to C,>uelHH'. WroU^ Tiiomas Iv(Hffer to eoiL>' 
 and Burvt^y this vo\\\a.'. and to the I'residi'nt at St. Andrews, and others, <^a 
 this communication. 
 
 "(Jot under Avay at eleven o'chnk, steered over for the mouth of tia» 
 Saguonay, and left tin; St. [^{iwrtMicc! for the present to examine that river. 
 PasstMl the Trinity, ii mountain 18(i0 feet high, St. Ixiuis Island, and anchor- 
 e«l at (hand Bay, (ili miles up. 
 
 " Monday, 23rd, — Tliis is a most singular smd interesting river, for th» 
 boldness of its H^enery ; hut its advantag<>s must \\v confined to lumber. [; 
 will hardly afford grain enough U) supply the lumbering popvdatioii.' 
 
 " Noti<-ed several loads of hay going to the Prices' establishment, wL« 
 were then shipping lundier t<i New York. 
 
 "2Uh, -licft the Saguenay and anchoreil oil' the lan.ling below, iu u foif 
 
 " 2.0th, -l^junhul afcClrwn Island, saw u St^itea sliip loading deals. TLu 
 cAptiiin working in her hold, who said he found no dilhcidty in i)ilotitig 
 himself. lie thinks fift<^en dnys an average pas.sag(; to Boston. 
 
 "Run down thn!e mih^s, with Mr. Barry, to his mills, pointed out tiio 
 line sur^ eyed for the railroad along the bank of tlie St. Lawrence. 
 
 "Mr. Bcirtrand, seignienr i)reseute<l an address. Went over a good road 
 in tandem to Trois Pistoles. Arrived at dark and slept at Mr. Titus'. 
 
 " Saw an intelligent lumlxu-mjin, wlio was for many years, Cimployed ii» 
 
 " Biver Pist-oles tiikes its rise within a few luindred feet of a lake that 
 flows into Lake Temi.S(!out4i ; Mere a small ditch is cut. and logs from tie 
 St. Johns Biv<'r float into the St. Lawrence. 
 
 " 2(]tli, - Went otf in the morning with a jalot boat to our steamer. 
 (Jot underway, and anchored ofV Barnaby Island about noon. Sent a bo;»; 
 on shore whicli brought olF Dr. Tache M. P. for Kimouski. (Jot undtj 
 '-*'ay again, and ran down olV Metis. 
 
 "The Kempt road leads from Point Aux Senelles near River Metie Vo 
 Itestigonche on Bay of ( 'hahnirs, about 40 leagues. 
 
 " The road from M( tis to Matan about twenty-live ndles on tite ooaft. 
 is designed to promote settlement. No road below Matan. A few settler* 
 on the coast, b»dow Townshiji of St. J>enis, only one settlement. 
 
 "The road lesids bat;k into the country from River du Loupe to Metis. 
 No tavern from River du fA)upe to Rimouski. The mimber of travellers 
 abotit seven hundred in one year. 
 
 " Matan River — ( 'ajit. Baylield remarks,- -'This is a fine river, 33 miles 
 W. \ S. from ('ape C^hatte. Reported to have itt= source iu a lake of ooi»«\ 
 
379 
 
 <l('raV)l<; «limensioii«, Jihout sixty niik-s »li8tniit. [Jcpth of waU'i- over har. 
 four f«et at low, ami tifu^eu f«'Pt at liij,'li ticl«% iliaimcl narrow, bar Hhift><. 
 Inrndo of tho bar, (\\trt»iim Kotwffii two pointM, thirty fathoms wido. is a 
 iiHcfdl jilatM^ for foastiii:,' vossfls. Tht/y ground at ,', tide on a mud bottom, 
 aiuhorai^o in T) fathoms ^ a milo olf. 
 
 " Landed at this plaro. Tho Sfii;nior, ^Fr. Fiiizicr, has a small jL,'nsl 
 mill, and a hnnbcring cstablishincnt of Missrs. Lcniisuritr, forms the buwi 
 ness of tho j»hu'i'. 
 
 " Friday, L'7th, — At about 3 o'clock 1'. M. got under way. with a favour 
 aldo wind and tidf>. on our return, ([uite satislied that no harbour of I'efnge 
 can \h' nuide at any i')i|iense whiclii the trade ean bear or sustain. Also well 
 satisfied that no harbour is not'dod for the safety of any vessel huge or small. 
 'Hie neglect of sounding alone eansesi the numerous wrecks on this coast. 
 (^vp<" or Point Dos Monies ou tho north shore is the point which vosKok 
 should make in or out. 
 
 "Trinity liay ."'i miles below this point forms a sjifc harbour from wfv^ 
 torly winds, and St. Augustine ('ov(^ lA miles above, foi-ms a safe harbor ft)r 
 coasting vessels drawing ten feet of water, from pjisterly winds. 
 
 " Although one week has been oocujiieil since leaving (.Quebec ; it ha-s 
 been time well spent, as far as my judgment is concerned. 
 
 " Little Metis J5ay, 23 miles, is ojien to eastward, and small vessoln can 
 anchor in the stJ'eam at three fathoms m low water. 
 
 "(Irand Metis, five miles, safe anchorage outside until ( )ctobe.r, good 
 all along this coast. 
 
 " 2Hth, Left Dr. Tache, Keefer and Commodore [ioxer. Sounded har- 
 bour at IJarnaby Island. 
 
 "211th, Sunday Ri\'er du Loupe, to north shore. Anchored off Mai Fikjr. 
 
 " 30th,- Reached Isle of Coudro at 3:4.^). 
 
 " 1st October, — (Jot underway and arrived at (Jross Island at 7. 
 
 "2nd, — Visited (.^Miarantine establishment there. 
 
 " 3rd, Thursday, — Amved at Quebec, lettttr from Titl'any, froiri Ww4i- 
 ington. Was not aware of his having left. 
 
 "4th. — Rusily occupied in obtaining information on various j)oints. 
 
 " r)th, — Unwell all day. Left Quebec at T). In 12 hours to Montrwvl. 
 
 " 0th, — Better late in the evening. 
 
 " 7th, — Montreal- Met directors of St. Johns Railroad. 
 
 "8th, — Exauiined lease holders. Want list of rents left with HineU«. 
 
 " yth, Wednesday,— Left in the m iruing at 7:30 for Ottawa. 
 
 " 10th,- -Investigated tolls, collectors, and slide tenders. 
 
 " nth, -Visited (.'hat« Sli-le with Mr. Lyon, M. P. 
 
 " 12th, — Returning, p:i.ssed the Or'-nville f'anal and St. Anns Ixu-k. 
 
 " 13th, Sunday. — Moutree! lleaid Mr. Adamson. 
 
 " 14th and L^)th,- -Kxamined liachine Canal. 
 
 " lOth, — To Beauharnois. 17th,- r)ickinson's Landing. 
 
 " 18th, Farrell's Point. Matilda. lUth, - [^*ft. 20th. At Cornw»!l. 
 22nd— At Dickinson's Landing again. 23 ami 24th,- Chand)ly. ioth, - 
 To Montreal on board freight boat. 20th,- Ogdensburgh. 27th, — A galo. 
 28th, -liochester. 29thv-St: Catharines, via Bri.ige. 3(lth,-- Toronto. 
 3lHt, — (\>uneil met. Nov. 1st, — To St. C'atharint;s. 4th,- -Businesu of 
 Canal with Mr. Killaly. 11th, — Toronto, and finished two reports. 
 
3B0 
 
 Mr. MiuTlLt's report, anrl that of his assistant onifiiu-iM-s, and nthcrs 
 ronn(.«i;toil with liiin. rontainod ill tlif A|i|i('iiili\ to Journal of I8r)l, ooti- 
 sistin;^ of HO pai^tw, aio a history of tlu^ iiiipnjvciiiciits of the wator coni- 
 luuiiii'iitions of th<> coimtrv, up to a date wh(Mi railroads a|i|i(vir to havr 
 .Huoooedi'd ill popular favor i.I! oLl.cr modi's of coiiiuiunicatioii. TIk' f.dlow 
 iag oxtraots arc tho conoludiii;,' portions of tho roport : 
 
 *' Firslli/, 'riic removal oft-very Kar in the I'iverSt. Tiuwren'-c 
 
 ^- Scruiidlj/, Tlie (;onslruc'ti(jii of Iwd '['iii,'-l)oals of the licst and nio.vt 
 poweiful doMi-ription, similar to those now in operation on the Mei-sey, or 
 on the latest improved plan, t(i eost. say l'L*o,(l()0. 'j'iiis outlay will e.nal)i(^ 
 vesHels to make an additional mini her of trips, les.seii the price of fn-i^dit. 
 ruto of inHurano(\ and thereiiy draw a ureatcT ipiantity of jiroduee tlirou;,'li 
 this t;liann(0, yiehl a larger amount of revenue, and amply repay this expen- 
 diture. One half the annual expenses, it is presuiiird, will he paid liy ves 
 sels for towage, the other half from the saving in manauuiueiiL of Ijights. 
 Pilots, Ac. 
 
 •' Tl(ir<ll.if, — The eoiistriiotion of Pieis and Laiidiiij; \\'harls. 
 
 " SkcoM) 1?11AN('II. — In this is eom|>r(diended all those eau.ses whicli 
 oj>erate at pre.st'iil, to render tin? cost of frei'.,dit from New York to Kurojie, 
 so inui'h lower tliaii from Montreal. A hairel of Hour from Lake Krie, eaii 
 ho di^livered at Montreal one .shil!in:,r hiss than ut tli<> poit of New York , 
 I'Ut from Montreal to Liverpool, the freight is three shillings and niiu'penee. 
 a,'ainst one shilling and threepence from New >'ork. leaving one sliillini; 
 and six]ienee [n'v iiarrel in favor of the latter. This on a cargo of ."iOOO hai 
 rub, is ecpial to i,:)?-") for the trip, whh'h the Vessel for New York must 
 receive on her I'eturn cargo, or this ditl'erimct^ in pi'ice l).'tweeu the two 
 ports could not exist. Although it is uiider.Ntood that the ciiitire eost from 
 Quehpf falls on the outward trip, no s.itisiaetory r<'asoii has heeii as.signed 
 why this return freight should bo ne'je.ssarily directed to New York. 
 
 This r(>;)ort is thu.s notioed hy Mr. Joseph iiouret his suecessor in oifire : 
 "The.se papers have heen collected and ju'cjiared hy Mr. Merritt, indi- 
 vidually. The sul)ject.s of which th(\v treat are various, and involve the 
 highest inteiTists of the country ; and the a<loption «>f the projects recom- 
 mended in th(;m would ereat.<' a necessity of adding laig(dy to the e.xi.sting 
 d'i!;t. I''inally, the whole tiiin^ of the oHice, since the.se documoutH have 
 heen transmitted to it, has heen occupied in attending to the arl)itrations 
 on unsettled claims against the I)e|)iirtmeiit, and to the ])reparation of the 
 H«voral Stateineiits a:id Returns rcijuired for tho Legislatui'c. Under such 
 circdinstanoes it {iaiinot he supposed that the present Comniissiouers have 
 liad that full opportunity of investigating ami considering the .several Kuh- 
 jecks, which they .should have, before they would be jiistilitul in making any 
 tinal oi'licial recommendalion thereon ; and their disinclination to do .so, is 
 firthei- iu'jreased, by tinding tho opinions and information dei'ived from the 
 various .sources, and embodied in the documents on which tho conclusions 
 arrivtHl at in the rej)orts are Ijaued, to be in many cases wholly irreooncila- 
 hh) wicJi oaoli other. A oonsid(?rable jiortion of the matter introduced, hav- 
 !«;» reference more immediately to liuancial udains, and such a.s involvo the 
 general commei-cial and inter-pro\ineiul policy of tho country, i.s, in th«^ 
 opiaiyn of the I'ommissiuuers, out of the scojx; of their duties." 
 
 l! n 
 
38 1 
 
 W< have seen that iho Will.uiJ Caniil onlarmMiioiit was no soonor in a S:ifc 
 waj' towards c'om[)lf tioii, tliaii our suhjrct turned hi.s nttontion to thoi^o of the 
 St. Lawrence, and durini,' their c'oui]pletio» we find him inakini; war on tl.e 
 carryini,' iiionojirly, lor their cvorhitant eliarj;i"J. A nionofioly whieli we h.ivo 
 seen, waK defended by Mr. llincks while editor in Moatrt'al, and others^ iu th.it 
 ■•ity and places adjacent. 
 
 The same spirit was displayed in Iii.s idea.s on the Towdxiat and Bar>:e 
 .sy.stcMi, partially adopted by the (loverninont to o.xpedite the traHic on {'una- 
 dian waters. Imt hi.'t .>ehenie in thi> ])artieular reaehed far hoyond our ordin.'iry 
 coneeptionM ; in fact, it exti-ndi'd to the utternio-st points of the St. fiawreticc. 
 lleasonin;.; from the national st.ind point that the people of Canada wore enti- 
 tled to all favour they could Hdrly ^ain ovi-r any rivals. He conceived that 
 the closer to Europe our carryinn tr.ide was extended, the nior»' prolits would 
 accrue to our ])eople eniiatred in it, from the fact that irrain tte. whii-Ii w.as tiini, 
 and is now delivered in .^Iontreal I'or sliipmeiit, uiii^ht as well be broujrht on to 
 depots establit^hed on the (/ulf of St. Lawreiico, whoso waters could be us safely 
 traversed by lis^lit craft, and tow-boats as any of the groat lakes, and the profits 
 which have enriched Kuropean shipowners for the extra two thousand miles 
 of inland naviiration could bo safely niailo by ourselves, ereatini;' at the samo 
 lime, an extra demand for men, vessels and machinery, whitdi could lie sup- 
 plied at homo, instead of goinu into the pockets of tho.se, who, although [ire- 
 pared to draw ample subsidies from the Canadian p;^ople, have Hcarc(dy a native 
 or adopted Canadian employed on their vessels. Hence we think that his coa- 
 lescinu; with the party now in ] ower was m (re for the purpose of assist- 
 ing in developing the ample resources of the country, and endeavouring to 
 shape its wants to the altered re(|uirements of the times than for any simple 
 party motives. 
 
 While Mr. M. was (■ii;i,iiuvd in llio Lower St. Lawreiiee, o|»positi()n wu.s 
 eomiueneed iu tho Ket'orni niiiks, to uecouiit fur whicli we notice au oecnr- 
 euco wiiich transpire'cl in the House liefore his departure. 
 
 It appears to have lu;i^n the fate of this Parliament t'O \>v as.saulted by 
 mobs ; in 'tontrcal, l>eing depiived of their J.egislative Hall; in Torouti), it 
 wa« a combined force of npwH})aper reporters iuid editors, who disturbe*! th« 
 augiist iussombly, olaiuung the right of accommodation in the same hall. 
 
 Petition to Ifouso of Parliament : — 
 
 '' That inasmuch as the whoh^ peojile of the Province cannot be person- 
 ally present at such proceedings of your houorablo House, it is the opinion 
 t)f the uudersigned, that the reporters of the press, in addition to their right 
 t«j be a^lmittofi as a portion of the ijublie, ought also to l)e provided with 
 suitivblo accommodation, so as to be enabled to make known the pioceedingjs 
 of your Honorable House ; and ought furthermore to be pi-otectetl from such 
 annoyance as may prevent or impede the publication of ycur procee<l- 
 
 lU 
 
 gs. 
 
I 
 
 382 
 
 ThiH wius .siifiu'd l)y both tin* MtwHi*H. Itrowii, and at^vornl of tlit» it'Hort«rs 
 on tho Ohihc, HtiilV iiu'l others of the iirint(4\s omft in ToroiiM. 
 
 " (\»l. <iii;'V unth'rtoolc tlio ilcfoiioc of tlic |)rivihf;4t'.s of Parli.unout hy 
 t^iviii'^ iiDliiT of ii 111 ttiiiii ill till* lj';fisliitivt' AsHiniiMy, yt'HtiM'ilay fvoniu;;, 
 to the ciri'itL tliiit iiit'iisiirt'.'i 1)1' taken for thii coinli;,'!! imiiishiiK'nt of (host- 
 ruMorters wlio nhiill not ;^ivo coin-cl iiii'l im|iartiiil reports of tho j)roco«tliiij»>, 
 of t)H! House. 
 
 \N'n ha\i' iiotu'('(i the assiniiptioii of .sitiiie editors to reprtiseiit tiu>ir own 
 vii'ws, as those of th<* pitl)li('. Thero was hnt one other stop to HH8un'.ini( 
 tho jiower to earry out those views. 
 
 The foUowin;^ aro the grounds as enunciated hy the Jtmntnl, and v»»ry 
 soon aeted on hy tiio (lh>l>'' : 
 
 " Wo have heon amused hy the lidiculous .'ii^unionts which we have hitoiy 
 hoard urueil in defoiioe of tiie privik-ge of Parliinncnt as o.xerei.-'ed in reference 
 to tho I'roHs. '• For instanoo tho I'ros.s is divided, liow tiiereforo can it ropre- 
 .sent tlio peenk!." — Tho n\an who uses this arLMunent, forfrets that it apjihcs 
 with just us luuoh force to the nienihers of the llou.-ic as it does to the I'ross. 
 A;;ain, it is asked "when did the peoph; choose the Press to represent them?" 
 We answer, over since tho peoide posses.sed a Press, it has heon their lleprc- 
 scutative. In all the strutri^los of power ii^ainst riirlit, it hus roprosentod them : 
 aye, and in many in.stances successfully too. If the ohjecter means that th*- 
 forniHlities of choosiiiL,' representatives have not been performed ; we a^rce 
 with him, because such foruiJilitios are only ni.'cessiiry in places where a virtual 
 aud u natural connexion do not exist ; hut between tho I'rcss this virtual aud 
 natural connexion ahv;iya exists, and no foriniditios aro ronuircd to give force 
 to it. 
 
 " An nnttgonism has evidently ensued between tho (ilvlif and the lion. 
 W. II. Merritt,on tlu; subject of retrenchment. The minister would rei:ulatc 
 our revenue from customs by public opinion. The organ seems to doubt the 
 •oharacter of tho arbitrator. Now, whether publio opinion would or would not 
 regulate tho matter between the smngi^ler and tho revenue department, the 
 parties being in opposition aud having difTcrent interests. We will not say : 
 but of this we arc quite certain, that when ever public opinion is appealed to. 
 as to whether we shiill raise a revenue from customs, or meet that portion of 
 ' the ways and moans' by direct taxation, public opinion will now be heard to 
 give a preference to the latter. It only requires that public opinion be taken 
 on the subjoot, aud badly a,s tho people may be informed in the seionoo of 
 political economy, it will soon bo pronounced in favour of tho chea{)C.st and 
 most hou(*st way over a rovenne was raised." 
 
 We quote the ibllowing from the 8t. Catharines Journal, E.cam'nw 
 4Sm;., to show that being committed by his speech to his constituents to remaiu 
 only in the Governmeut as long as he could be of service to his country, on 
 the .score of meeting their obligations, and all the measures being'under satis 
 factory progress, and an eijual understanding among his colleagues havisg been 
 established ou all questions save retrenchment (to this, viz :) on tho unnece^sarv 
 extravagance of the Crovernment, the advanced wing of the reform party iusiit- 
 od on his making attack, led bv tlic editors. 
 
From the Exiimiiiu-r. Auij. 15: — 
 
 " Tho lion. W. II. Morritt and tlio ^VoA..— Tho ^V,>/>-, tlio orj,';iM of the 
 Oovornmotit, uttuckn, with uniiccouiitabli' niid iinjustitiuhlc bitti'rm\sn, tho ro- 
 tr'tiohnicnt sclu'iui^ of Mr. Morritt, orio of tho mciiihors of the (iovcriinioiit. 
 
 " Wo Hiiy thut wo cannot accouut for i\\\.f> violent attack upon Mr. .Merritt, 
 unless iiv (i'/i)/)c be the or;j;.in of Mr. lliiK^krt and tho other enemies of retrench 
 mcnt in the (lovernnierjt, and jjerhapn al,-.o to weaken Mr. Merritt'^ inthienoo 
 before ho ujiiy retire from an ad'.nini.Htr:iti'Hi whieli hu.^ Hot itHclf ii^ainnt public 
 opinion." 
 
 3opt. 1!». 
 
 "Tho more wc oxaniinc the propo.sition.s of the lion. VV. II. Merritt, a< 
 -ubtiiittcd to the CDniuiitloo of relrenohnient, tlie more deeply are wo conviuced 
 that they contain the principles which our pidiey must timbrace, in order to 
 make Canada what tiod and nature intond:;d slio .should be. The reduction 
 of cuBtomH duly, j)reparative to its entire removal, is one of Mr. Mcrritt's 
 principles. To this he phdi^ed him.self before hix constituents, and when tliejr 
 i*o»ie to road hi' evidence submitted to the Connniitee of Uetrenchmeut, they 
 will find that he has failhl'ully and honestly kept his promi.so." 
 
 The evils of what is called llesponsible (lOvornmont seonicd at this time 
 to be felt sufficiently by a portion of the people to create a murmur, loud 
 enough to attract the attention of tho I're.ss, It would app.>:ir that there 
 were m.tuy who thouj;ht that the question of responsibility tended more to 
 croato two parties, both under the influence of the parent state, than to dcvcl- 
 ope Canada ; in fact that I'lujjfli.sh interests alone oecu])y the attention of 
 the politicians and would bo office holders, who were rapidly fdling the couutry 
 and driving; out those who.sc feeliuys lay here. 
 
 Under tho circumstances, it is not surpriainy; that tlje.'<o articles should 
 appear in the Journal, Exaviimr, Gl>he, &c. 
 
 The following are the remarks iu tl.i? Jonnm/, rcft;rrod to : 
 
 " That the patronage of any men canductinj; the (jovcrnmcnt of Canada 
 >;hould be bestowed within a narrow coutined circle, cxcludinti therefrom men 
 cither English, Irish or Scotch, becau.se of the accident of birth, is an outra- 
 geous violatiou of justice, and a gross insult ofi'cred to community. In a Bri- 
 tish colony, uo man is entitled to any j)atronai>;e over his fellow citizens, mere- 
 ly because he happens to be boru iu the country. 
 
 " It has acted as an ini-ubus on the country, and has been made the iustru- 
 .nent cf foisting ou the country, men devoid oi' every proper qualification for 
 ihe offices thoy were pitchforked into. " 
 
 Such laugujige can be best understood when we remember that it has 
 resulted iu driving out of the country the bulk of our young men, and fa*<- 
 tfining !i multiplicity of offices, of every conceivable sort, like baruacles on 
 the colony. The same results might have lately occurred in Manitoba, had not 
 Keil's incipient rebclUon brought legislators to their senses, and gave rise to 
 •better terms" for the vietu. Au Americaniam kuown as • Carpet Bagger," 
 Stiy applies to the authors of ^ueh ideas. 
 
f 
 
 t h 
 
 This waH just the n vuth*- (tf uuv h»i1)Jc.:1,'h pulUy. lUiuif; awiroful rocMid 
 of Adam SrnilJi, U>' litilicvtMl (Iim wealth oi" th«» nutious only to (HJiiHiHt iu r«- 
 rmuii'rativ"' tiiu!<r(akiii;,'s, and thc.'-v wtTt- known onl)' to tho«o who had 
 htii".'; rosidi'il in llic routitry. 
 
 Innovatiuti tin;k lh<' jdiuc id' ndVii ni, and UiSk a'tu.ii, hut niuro ik^-tiTitjr 
 |>n;X'uih'd. 'Hi«- h>i « o'" <'•<' uiilitia oi';.':a!ii/.iitioii has hardly btjcn made u|< 
 by tho cxiM iisi\<' voluutftr system. 'Hio I'XpaiiHiun of iiuniojiolicK thu 
 nuilti|'!i(atioii of " rings." 
 
 Ill th'' Iicat iif ««inii(iv«'iHy SKnic t'a'.ts arc di^'^lus^■<l h} cjudi of th<; {.larliei 
 coiM'ci niu;,' t!ii" dUuT tli.it luwhr a IfHH (h'^^icj' of |Kditi»"a! [dt-HMun- piu-kM^d 
 ov<M' in sihiinN'. 'I'ho (ivih attuntliinj; CoUmial j^ovci iiinent at all Iikhj; aio 
 here (douriial, Aptil li(>) glvm pioniiiKMii-c. 
 
 '* 'riio Mnntical (,'ir^'ltc makfsa kuiil (mtcry ai^'ainsl the. 'dlvid*' and ^ov- 
 « rn' inin('l|d<', uiioa whi^di Lord .lohn Kus.sidl is acouwd uf trying' to 'swanif* 
 Caiuuhau iut^l<■st^'. Wti arr much jih-ascHl to si-o tlm Tory jiri'HB at h»Kt 
 como out ill opiKisitiuii to this Mathiavfliaii juactlic, hy which jLjovenmu'uts 
 
 haviMMTtainly intlirtcd tin- |u;r»'at*'Ht amount of political evils 
 
 'I'hi! (I'tiiitli to lie consistent should conic out ai^aiiist the, Oranj^t! SocU'ty, 
 an t.'xotic found to he uiuiuistitulioiial even in tiic idiniale where it origiiiu- 
 
 ted. 
 
 "One of Hill' coti^niporarici* hiht week classiliijs the St. ('atiiaraic8 ./<»((/•,<«/' 
 an ' Miwistcriid' and as 'in the iutorcst ul' Mr. Merritt.' 'I'iiisis not so. Our 
 cours(t is an indcpeiidant one. and our motto is — our party tor tho wmntry. 
 and not our country hir (uir party. The ./uiiriiul is not in the interest of Mr. 
 Merritt in nny sense of the word; it is in the interest of the eout.try, and 
 will always be found advoca int; the real interests <d' Canada, perl'cetly irreHpec- 
 tive of men . It is true we have and do advocate the policy well known as Mr. 
 Merritt's ; but we do so not because it is Mr. Mcrritt's, but beeause wc belitvt; 
 it to he tiic only jiolicy that can make Canada prosperous. 
 
 " JJefore wc had the lumor id' a personal ucijuaintance with Mr. Merritt, 
 Jind before we knew what his jioliey was, we, under the yognomeii of ' Juniuii' 
 put forth the principles embraced in wluit is eail-d Mr. Merritt's polii^y. At 
 that time we had not so much as seen or read Mr. Mcrritt's view. 
 
 " We feel, however, no small degree of pleasure in lindinj; that those viewi* 
 are the views of a mar. so f)crf(!etly honest and patriotic ; A man prepared, 
 at any moment, to resij^n his hij^h and hontmrable position, when he has f-A- 
 Bon to think that he (!..a best serve his country bv retirement. 
 
 " We look now for a bold decisive policy, at the hands of the men In ofSc**. 
 It is true by such a course there, is a risk in the tenure of oflice, but thiti in a 
 wnall evil, conjpured with the advantages which the country must derive from 
 such a course." 
 
 The warning i^iven by our .subject in the spriuji; of '4tJ rcf^'arding the injury 
 
 of the change of the imperial policy was not matured, and eouse<jueutly v*u» 
 uut felt till two years after, iu "48, at already related. 
 
 The movement to bring back the colonial system wae not general, and did 
 not reach the body of tho people through the preiw ; and wLeo it wati taken op 
 it was under our !ty,>-tcui, by the Tory or oppopilion, and plavwd our 8ubje«l, » 
 
3^5 
 
 incmbor ol' tin; (lovcriimnnt, now in tin" .'inomrilonx poHitiori of hciiii; "IcfiMidcr 
 
 )f 1 
 
 III 
 
 per 
 
 ri;il !U! ,s. 
 
 W 
 
 lifii tli(! ciihis was pa.s.scd. In,' was allnwod to s(('|) <1 
 
 OWQ 
 
 from bciiii^ I*r(!sii!i:iit to('lii(ir(J(iiMiiiissii»iii'r, ami tiif;ii retire rroiii tiie Ministry- 
 Tlio J'roiHii,c'hilinl says, on tl;e fiiiancial siil)jei't fliat took llio President, 
 of till) (yonii(!il to tiie Diiit.ed States, fiisiicetor < Jenciiil Ifiin-lss was sr'iit, ti> 
 I'lnj^Iaiid to horrow money. 
 
 " Wlieii tlie |ii('sent (loverniiieiit iMiiie into ])()\ver, tliey found ii heavy 
 delii, ;t i^'i'i-at many most |M('ssiii;( demands, an einpty treasury, no system. 
 
 am 
 
 I the wiioh- of iMir fiscal adiiirs in the most (diaotie confnsir 
 
 III. 
 
 liesKle.s 
 
 which the pnlilie works on tin; St. Iiawrem;e were in itii unfinished stato ; 
 II sum of alioiit .*!."i(ll »,()()() icMjuiied to eoni|ilete them, ami put tiiem in a con 
 «lition to 1)0 passahle. The late Inspector (ieneral had made a fruitless joiir- 
 iifiy to Kn:,dand in the expectation of efleetiii'^ a loan. Thns expired the only 
 hope of the late ( Jovei-ninent to relieve the tinaiiees of the cuiintry, ami to 
 sustain the; puldio credit. The province was without douljt on the iiiiuk of 
 haiikruptcy." 
 
 ./i 
 
 OHl'lK: 
 
 il, Ih 
 
 Lx; 
 
 " Ui;si(iNATION OF TIIK IloN. W. 11. .\1 Kit It ITT. We .see it stated in tl « 
 ditlcrcnt Toronto papers, that the niemlier for this county has ri-si^rned his 
 hituation in (lie ( lovernment ; hut yfst that he will rontiniie to tlischari^c 
 the departmental duties of his ollice. until certain important ad'airs coii- 
 jKMited with the i'xtard of Works he ilisposeil of. The ^7o/;<' alle;^fcs t liecaii.SM 
 to liave arisen out of the Hon. ^'entlemaii's 'tinancial sfdieiiies.' It may 
 h(^ so ; liut we think it un'ikidy. In every part of the country, the activity 
 ill (!V(;ry pursuit and cailini^ -'I'lie eidianced value of e\ery description of 
 SI) with which mouev can lie fihtaiiu'd tor all lei^iliinatt.) 
 
 property — the ea 
 
 }>uri>os( 
 
 :.t, are too W( 
 
 ill understood liV the 
 
 pi'Dpic to admii any se(M);i(i opinion 
 
 anion 
 
 l; them as to the impoi'taiice of tie- minister retaiiiinii his position. 
 That the j ml die. will lie aw ai e .>!' :ill l he f:,r,s of the ca.se lieCore theei 
 
 re tlieensu 
 
 f meetin" of the IjCLjislaturc. -Mi. .M . is now here hni will ntiirn to Tu- 
 
 roiito next week. 
 
 The report of lie- ( 'hief < 'onimi^sioiicr did leil meet the views ot lii.s 
 
 Jiowor (Canadian associates, 
 
 mon 
 
 than did his reirenidiinent scheme, 
 
 the Eii'dish, as the follow in; iters sl-.ow 
 
 •• I'ridav Morniu'', l.'Uh Oec. 
 
 '• My !)r,.\lt Siu, 1 re;,n-et not yet lia\iiii,' received your answer to (!ol. 
 nVdie's oliservations upon the unfair and unjust classification of certain 
 I the pulilic <'\penditure redatiiiK thereto, as made liy Mr. 
 
 uiolic worivs am 
 
 Keofer and emhoilied in your report lately presented 
 
 W! 
 
 leii the suliject was 
 
 la-it wci'k under t-ousidcr.iiioii, you promised 
 
 to ii'ivi' an early answer, 
 
 Will 
 
 oil Ol 
 
 kind eiiou'di to furnish me with it for today's meetin,'. 
 
 Truly your.' 
 
 "Hon. W. II. MKitiMTT. 
 
 I.. II. J.AKoNTAINK 
 
 '• Kl.MOLaKi, 2Sth Dcccmher, 1^50. 
 
 " My Dk.vk Sm, — T forward you to-day my piomised report, vith thf 
 hope that it will ]>lea8«' you, and give a?iy iuforiiiution iieces.sary. My re 
 
3S6 
 
 jKUt is ill I'lcncli, iiiiil liy ii|nilyiii^ to Mr. IjindHay, .Inn., ( 'h'lk <A' llin As.s«m- 
 Itly, and to Mr. HiiiMWortli, on«i of tin* clt-rkK of tin* K.xr(Mitiv(> < '(hmkmI, you 
 
 n i:t>l, in iwo nr tliriM' diiv.s. a iM-antirnl. (iit all cvciit.s as imicli as tl 
 
 i»* 
 
 can yt 
 
 Krcnoli will pt'iniit) translation of tin- wliolc do«'nni(<nt. 
 
 "Of conrHi". I »ix|n'('t tliat tliis report will ho pnldiMliccI anncx<'(l to your 
 own report ; not trom a <l('sir(' to make niyscir conspicuous iM-forc tlin |)nli- 
 lic. hut t'roni a d(Mip do.sirc to il(< ;j;ood to our important hut altandoncd part 
 ot' the country. 
 
 " If yoii have no ol>ie<'tion. 1 will send to the press, a part, of niv st.atis 
 tics, l)ut if you think that smdi a thiuir is anlicipat(Ml, or calculatr'd to ren- 
 der your report, less interesting, lieinn not ho new afterwards, I will ahan- 
 don this id(Mi ^iven to me hy friends. I m ill exp(<ct your answer. Tf Mr. 
 'riuunas Keefer is in 'I'orouto, will you he kind enoiij^h to tell Iiiru that I 
 will answer his letter in a few days; I am so occupied that I hav(' had no 
 lime to make the lari,'e sktdeton map of the south shoi'o that I promised to 
 
 liuu. 
 
 M\ resiHcts to iViends. With esteem I remain 
 
 rnlx vours. 
 
 "d. C. T.VCIIK." 
 'This letter did not arriv«' till two mouths ai't(>r. 
 
 On Mr. Meiiitl'.s resigiiation, the St. Catharines ./o^'//^(f/, J nd January, 
 1851, says ; — 
 
 " It ^Ir. Merritthad ,ii«>od reasons for retiring;, they will keep tlieiu tilltlu) 
 House meets, ami he -^mxcu to the <'ountry iu accordance with ministerial an<l 
 parlianuMitarv etii)Uttee: we arc perfectly satisfied the cause will lie justified 
 liv our lir.'lhrcu oi' the press. 
 
 "'riie slate. uciit is that of a comprelici:siv(> mind occupied with measures, 
 
 as he tliinivs. 
 
 fr;m<dil with ad\antai;es for t his couiitrv, 
 
 " Hut vei iu I heir application siiiituiuded with dilliculties. is not in a 
 mood to create capilal hy either limliii;,' fault with oiiponeiils or jiistifyini,' 
 excrv step he may think rii;;ht iu promoliiiu his vi(>ws." 
 
 The reason of Mr. Meriitl's rcsiiiu.atioii was theactic.ii of the (Jovern- 
 meut on the report of the tir.aiiciat committee, passed I'tlth l)ec<iml>er. pvd» 
 lished •J7th May after. 
 
 I lis measure for economy wa.s not sitch as to produce a i>;roat de<j[roe of en- 
 thusiasm aiuouii the jicople, and when the lea ler-i shewed other and more 
 daz/liuir schemes for immediate profit, Ids measure was refused, and he allowed 
 to retire from any longer participating in the progress of affairs. 
 
 Such is the prospect of the c.in.'-cientinis puhlic man in a colon)-; retire 
 
 fove 
 
 n 
 
 an 
 
 nuMit is the O'llv poMlii n lor one who tries to reconcile loyalty to hi.>- 
 and the people. 
 
 " Mondav. Divemlau- L'.'hd. .Mr. Merritt aiul Mr. Keel'er started fn 
 Toronto iu a snow storm : the roads almost impassahle from snow drifts. Mr. 
 Merritt's servant let".' St. Catharines, to meet him on the way. at which 
 place thev arri\ed next day at four o'clock. 
 
 "Thus. Merritt was ahsent at Washington, and not home at (he Christ- 
 mas gathering." 
 
38T 
 
 18 5 1 
 
 " N»;w Vrin'K Kvc, was flic (Hrcasion of ii s(!i'(Miii<l<i. Mr. and Mrs. Mot- 
 lilt Htjirt»!(l fur tlH> ('a|(ital liy Haiiiiltoii, Und .JaTiiiarY." 
 
 TIm) nai)H( of W. II. M.,.ruii., a|»]K(ai'H for tlm Jirnt tiiiii" anionij i\\v cojiu 
 cillorH of Lliis yoar. Jfin fatlior writ.oH on (lie Miilijpct, : 
 
 [ raiVATK. I 
 
 "ToitoNTO, IMotul.iy, l.^t-lr. 
 
 " Mv Dkak Son, I tlMiik tlmt. your Ma and niynt^lf will Icavd tliJH ot» 
 Friday nnxi. I h(M' liy tlio JonriHif that, yon liavo cointncnfuvl yonr pnltlic 
 oareer ; alMionj^Ii in nn liinnhh^ fiipufity, it in a Htnp, and if yonr uiind 
 indinnH to leading; a |inlili(^ iiftt foi' the iM'Mclit ofyonrfcdlow men, yon ()nf;ltt. 
 to ltd w(dl (iHidilii'tl for tlni duty ; Imt yon will find it no Hinnciirc, no cnHy 
 b«!rtli, and oan only la^ attained l»y nnioinittin<; indnntry and iittdiition, by 
 avoidini^ all .sai'caHiM and oH'uncH, liy niu'oniittilm attfMition and a kind wonJ 
 to all, fi-inndw and oii|ioii<Mits. Von nmst also spend yonr <'V('nin;;;H and 
 most of y<»nr time in stwlying tlio oonHtitntion, laws and I'aiiiainontaiy 
 iisa<^<!H of (Jrejit hritain and tlu' Hnitdd States, as well as all inix-eedin/^n 
 relating to our |)ul»iii' iin|)rov<aii(Mits and works ; and leave all eonvoisa 
 tion on tlie snlijeet of eating and <lrinkiny to those who have no pirticular 
 olijeet in view. If yon makeup your mind to adopt this course, T have 
 sntiic'ient eonlidenee in your jud.;Mient and jM-rseveiaiice to lielieve von will 
 make a useful iind prominent pnldie man. If, mi the eonti'ary, yon think 
 it will oceu|)y too nnidi of your time, or d<,'prive you of that iiidepejidenco 
 <if thonjj;lit and action, which all pnlilie men will he suhjeet to more or less, 
 and thoHe social ojiportniiitiesof the conviviality whi(di you appear to;uijoy ; 
 do not commence it or attempt it heyond a, tempora.ry lor;dity. 
 
 " lledect upon it and make up your mind to the eonr.se yon jirefei-. a.s rny 
 movements will lie guided in a ;;reat measnr(* by yoxir dec^ision in continuing 
 or retirinj^ from public life. 
 
 " In the meantime as you have undeitakeu the duty, I would j^iv(» nn- 
 remittin<^ attention to it, and make yourself master of the state of tho 
 flnancos of the Town at once. 
 
 " Vour airectionat(> Fiither, 
 
 " VV. II. MKKIUTT.-" 
 
 We extract fiom the .Jmin nl in reference to this mattei- : 
 " Mr. M., like thousands in Knylaiul, litis adopted thci le;f:i] jirofession 
 as A ^gentlemanly one, but does not and never has practiced. We entertain 
 a hifih opinion of his taleiils, natural and accpiired ; but it is not to be sup- 
 posed for a Jiunuent that a <,'entl<'man out of pra(;tic(;, and whose forttine is 
 such as to jirecluile the necessity of his ever ]naeticing, will keep up his le;fal 
 r«'ading so as to enable him at all times to explain tin; bearing of every act 
 and every section of an act, that he is un<ler no necessity of knowing." 
 
 A ball was given in the Town Hall, on the oc(;asion of its completion, 
 on the 5th February. It was got up on a scale of magnificene*'. the music 
 being procured in Niagara ; an occurrence unpre(;edent<'tl, und to whii-h the 
 
388 
 
 I 
 
 <)|>j)()sitioii to till' (.'omicil/iloct found umliiJivc. However, tlio iiHiiir, whidi 
 was |iiitr(iiiiz('(l \>y niiiiiy from a (listaiuc, was lii;^lily spokiiii of; and, with 
 tli<i otlu'i- iniprovoiiiuiit.s for tlic. accoiniiuxlatioii of tlit) trav('lliii<( |>ul)lif, 
 iiia.il(! St. ( 'atliariiics to ho rcgarilod as a ]ilaoo of jilcasiirahlo resort. 
 
 'Die Mall, wliicli lias since hoeu tlio seem; of tlie i^roatest variety of 
 t'.xliibitii.iiM, was occupied for a tea-moetim,' a week after the Inill, was 
 attended, anion;; others, i)y llov. K. Ryersoii, Jr., Hon. .1. (!. ('iirrie, and 
 the aiitli"!', aflbriliiii,' to tlu! lMr<,'(; and appreciative asseinlily as much auiuse- 
 nient as the hall. 
 
 The month aftfir, Wni. II. Mtdrilt, Jan., on his cMitoriu^ into the local 
 interests of his native town, invited a ninuhei- of the Council and his fellow- 
 townsmen, to a dinner party at the fajuily residence, among whom were 
 Messrs. Killaly, M(;(Jivern, jMiller, Whan, Taylor, etc. 
 
 Being low done with the trammels of office, our suliject was at liherty 
 to devot<; more attention to his private allairs, still the interest was una- 
 \)ated. 
 
 The following is inserted to siiow that tin; siihject of lieciprooity occu- 
 ]>i<'d him, and that he had a zeal i'nr its |>assing e»[ually hs if ho was still a 
 nicmhrr of tiio (Government. 
 
 '' \Va^iii.n<;to.\, titli l''i'l)riiary, lsr»|. 
 
 My Dk.mi Sii!,- -T have Ikhmi ii'proacliing myself for the last two months 
 with not having sijoner answereil yt)ur lett<'r. One thing I cannot reproach 
 iny.sclf with, vi/., not having seen yt)ur .son, sinc(! he left no address when 
 he called upon tno, and all my exertions to find him on! were in vain. 
 
 "1 do not (piite agree in some of tin" views expressed in your letter, 
 l)iit it is of no use arguing these pijints at such a distance, and hy lettc-r. 
 
 "I hope your measuri; will Ik- cai'ried, hut 1 think it is soiiunvliat douht- 
 ful. The interests of your colony will at all times hi; a matter of great 
 consideration with me, and I sluill he very ha'ipy to see or hear fi'om you ; 
 in the meantime helieve me. 
 
 " .M V ' ir sir, vours verv ii-ul\-. 
 
 -W. 1Ia.mu.ton Mi:iti{iTT.' ' " - H.' 1. llf LWEIl." 
 
 Although our subject was now in t!i" ji i>ilion ol' an indepf'ndant imnii- 
 hcr of the House, yet from the numerous Ictl'.rs rccri\c(l liy him fi'om thoso 
 hcst able to judge of his position, we air incliii'd to think that his retire- 
 ment from the <lovornnient of the country was rcgi-ettel by all those who 
 felt that Canada iilone should l>e the paianioiint object on which to centre 
 the thoughts of her legislators. 
 
 Thus Mr. -McPliersoii, of ."Montreal, writes to a friend, I Itli March 1851 : 
 " Accept tuy thanks for having given me the pcu-usal of Mr. ]\Ierritt's 
 interesting and valuable rei)ort. If his recommeu<lations won; ciWiied out 
 ])romptly, I feel pursuaded the result to the province would be as satisfac- 
 tory and advantageous as he anticipates. 
 
 "T. II. Kkkkku, Esq." 
 
 :j; :[; * 
 
 "D. -M( rilElfSON." 
 
389 
 
 •oia vou : 
 
 Also iv similar letter fi-oiii INlr. Widder, of Toronto, sann' <lato. 
 
 One from Mr. J. Morris, Postmaster Gonnral. 4tli April, l."^'!, Sjivs : — • 
 
 " 1 thank you for your kiinl cons^ratulatioMs on my actiHRsion to ofHcf, 
 and [ assure you it is to me :i luatler of d(M*|) regret that I eaiinot point to 
 you as on(^ of my colleamu's." ^- ''• ^- * 
 
 Mr. W. Patton, of St. 'i'homas, says :— 
 
 " Althoufj;!) your havin<i left the Ministry, (whir-h. i>(Miuit mo to as,suro 
 you, caused univers.il i-e<,'r<'t amon:;st the S.ason i-a^-e in our disti-ict,) it re- 
 ([iiii-ea your watchfulness and experience, would the pai'ty in powei' only 
 liave the good sense to profit hy them !" •'• -•' '^ 
 
 Mr. Merritt remained at home this wintei-, attending to his honut aflairs. 
 He procured an ingenious contr-'vance, called the hydraulic ram, hy which 
 water was su]»plied to Itaths itc, through the hou.se. 
 
 While in Toronto, he euiployed a young Englishman, hy the name 
 of Edward James, a gardener hy profession, who ha<l lately anived fi-oni 
 England, where he had Ixu'ii (employed in the i-oyal gardens, undei- H. R. 
 H. the Duchess of Jvent. Our suhject, on leaving, took him with him to lay 
 out the improvements around his dwelling on Yate Sti'eet, and what is now 
 known as the "side hill." TIk; whole resulting in the Ix^autiful esplanade, 
 which (!ost our suhject several thousand dollars, and adiled materially to 
 the appearance of the grounds, as well as affording a sightly street-walk. 
 
 " Private journal, January 2yth, — Wrote Provincial Secretary respect- 
 ing S. Phelps. Inspector (leufMal, respecting W. Dittiick. 
 
 " Fehruary 17 lieceived report from Dr. 'i'ache, on St. lAawrenco. Dhl 
 not reach me until niy repoit was closed and sent in, ii is therefore referred 
 to in the appendix." 
 
 The previous year, the amended or new Municipal Act came in 
 force. A measure whi(Oi lessened the powtu-s of statesmen, and intro- 
 duce<l an exponsive system of administration, whicdi has led towards an- 
 archy, as there .seeme<l to he no real means of defining their proper powers, 
 and in essence is the Trihal svsteni modernized, thou'di it takes manv vears 
 to den)onstrate it. 
 
 Mr. M., while in Toronto, had recommended patience, yet, after his 
 son and friends had entered into schemes of local imju'ovement, he gave 
 iiis private credit for the completion of one of theui far beyond the line of 
 prudence here inculcated. This httter relates to the Canal and Suspension 
 Bridge road. , 
 
 " Mv Dk.m! Sox,— Yours of 20th Wiis received this day. f am glad to 
 hear your road over the mountain is better made on this side than on the 
 other. If drained well thw road will be useful ; if not, it <;annot last ; drain- 
 age is the i)rinciple; the rest of the work secondary. 
 
 " Until I hear whether Kerr and those holding laud, are willing and 
 satisfied it is their interest to unite in purchasing the governtuent plot, it 
 is useless for me to attemjtt aiding them to help themselves. A great ])ub- 
 
:VM> 
 
 i 
 
 lie luMiolil, will iisHUioilly l)(^ tlir iohiiII/, if llu* pliiii ctni l)C (NirriiMt out, and nil 
 ooiir(ini(>(l iti'iK'liM.nd, iml as itll iiici ho much iilivc U> (M-iiHiirc, imd iin|>iitn 
 in)|ii'o|t(M' iiiotivds, (.liiib I iUii loth to iiiovi; in any iniittiM' in wliirh my oTvn 
 priviiLc intcH'sts niu li»i or in in anyway coiKM^tMU'd, oi- any of my family, how 
 "jvor much LIk' |»uitli(^ may Imi iMMU'litUwl. 
 
 " '['he SuH|>iMisi(iii IJi'idi^c is payinj^ well ; l»ul, roads will not. I am y[lad 
 to iiiiai- tlio tradd is ini'icasin;^ on thn canal; will send you a Htatcintiut of 
 lulls shortly. 
 
 " l,o\(> to Ma. and all relations and IVicnds. 
 
 " N'our all'cctioiiatc father, 
 
 "VV. llAMIi/roX MKKIJITT." 
 
 "W. II. M. .liN " 
 
 The following; is ta.l<(Mi Ironi Jiutiuml, l.'ith A[iril : - 
 
 " lloADS.-- TIk* vast imjM)rtaii(!(M)f )^o')d roads, to a towns |iiosj(erity, 
 will 1k! our i«|>oIo{:;y for ,u;ivinji; to-day, tho nmrnorial of I lie direetois of the 
 St. CathariniiS and IVlerrittsville road, privsenteil to our town council. Tim 
 document is ar;;;unu'ntativ(', Miid ahly drawn u|>, l>y W. II. iM. dun., th«i 
 /oaloiiH I'nvsidtMit of the Board, to whoso nntirintf oxcrtions wo aio iudobted 
 for the enterprise. VVti can v(wy easily suppose that a. feeliiii( of opposition 
 to the prayer of the memorial will exist, as there seems a .strung dibiucliiiu- 
 tioi) oil the part of many to invest in roads." 
 
 " MKiiiurrvii.i.K Uo\n. 
 ■' Tit the Hon.. thr Mii.iiJripid i'lniiiril {>(' Si. CiiJ/Hirlncs : — 
 
 '* 'riio Dii-octorH of tho St. (/atharinos and Merrittville 'rmiipiUe ('om 
 paiiy ai'c happy to inform the Town Council that a riijht to the location of 
 the road in its whole lt^n^ith, will enahle the work to hi- commenced as soon 
 ii8 tho proeurini]f of funds nuulor it practicahle. 
 
 '• Th(> result of the opening; of the (ii'eat Western Hail way past this 
 town, will he to divert tim country trade, on lioth sides of St. Catharines, 
 to the larger markets i>f Hamilton and liullalo, an advaiita-ije admitted to 
 0(jualize prices on the. whole extent of (Country; that is, that the farnmr li\- 
 in<,' nivir any railway station can always take advantai^t^ of the hii-lK^st mar- 
 ket, which is inv.iiialtly in the l.irge.r towns. if this he the case, unle.Sii 
 wo open up to our nK>rchant.s and mochanics the country trade of tho town- 
 •siiips lyii>:j; hack of us. our scoj)e of population will be very limited indeed; 
 ;ind if th- progress and ad\ anciMneiit of tlu^ town heconu^ checked by any 
 such cause, we shall liud t!ios(5 snialler communities which iiiterfero vei-y 
 little with our pi-esent limited i-adius ut" country beconi" formidalde rivals. 
 
 " We secured but ,C !.")()() of privatt' slock, which with tin' XlUOO taken 
 by tliPi corporation is inadcipiate to tinish tho work. 
 
 " The i)irTtors iu-i.' satisfied that it is ijuit.e useless to endeavour to im- 
 ^irosfi the members os the council with the importance, they may simply say 
 iiecossity, of takini; up thiK tpiostion with a detcuinination to cairy it 
 thro\iLj;h. The |»ayni uit of tho interest on the sum of tlinie thousand pounds 
 will .scarcely bt) felt by the iucioasiu^' population of so thinviuLija communi- 
 ty, j)rovided they take stops to keep in that tlirivinj; condition. 
 
 " But if the town is once allowed to fall back ami lose herstatn;t b}' any 
 iieu[l«ct of those whose «luty it is to watch her interest with care, then oven 
 tho present debt would press far m»ro hcasily on [uopL-rty depreciated in 
 \.iiiio, and a dwindling trade, Ac, ifco." 
 
!»1 
 
 AFiiivtli li7, <,^(iO('ii,sl,i)ii .Su.H|M'Msii»ii |{i'iil;^t! WHS !i si'Immiic t'ii\oiiri>i| aint 
 j)romulg.itt)il liy our Hultjoct, iiiid was iii.ui'^iir.itt'd l»y ft <rniiif'- on tliis siili" 
 of th« rivor. It in Imrdly rmcitssary (o uilil, tlint ii ^,'o(i(l stour loail was 
 l»ui!t hy till* j^ovcniiiiciil. jiassiiiL,' tlin>ii,;li St. ( 'at.liai-incs tit (.^lU'ciiHton. 
 
 "Canal oiicnnd liOth. 
 
 " April L".)tli, Visiti'd .Mavvill.. witli Mrs. .M.-rritt in cirriaLCf. 
 
 Wit 
 
 I l)ir(M!ti>rs, at SMspnrisioii 
 
 I'.ri.U 
 
 ami 
 
 iiad 
 
 intcrvK^w with 
 
 lUtlilin, (III making' a railway L'O iVct dm r tlic carriauc l>riii;,'c. Second day 
 to I'.nd.ili), tliird (lav to ( 
 
 lOoiltTii'li s tavern. 
 
 " lAtiirlli day at Silvcn- Cin-U ; liftli witli Mr. I'liacuck at May villi-. 
 " l;<tiirui'd lionic Saturday, Stii May. 
 
 An incidfiit is noti(,'(!d rcj^ar-din;^ tlic occii|iations of this winter in which 
 the assistance of the "weed" was nei'ded. .Mr. .M. took L,'rea(, interest in the 
 untried enterprisi^ of (ittini,' out a steam proiiellor. Thomas, ami Messrs. 
 Kanney ami Uisley maihj the family sitting-room a hall of discussion on all 
 ■tlio (lutails of constiMiction H't'iiy^ on in Mr. Shickliin I's shipyard, Mr. Ilislcy 
 Itoing constrnct,or of an en<,'im) fiom the foundry at Nia^^ara. 
 
 Mrs. ]\|erritt writes, (itii April: 
 
 "I spfMit a happy winter. ha\in;^' all my family home. .Mr. .Meri-itt 
 woidd he en;_,M^,'ed in writing', and myself with the hon.seliold, till three 
 o'clock, when a di-ivc with my husltand, if the weather p(u-mitted. oecn|)ied 
 the rost of the (hiy. Fn th« cvenini.? tlu^y ^(snerally read, smoked and talked 
 by the fire." 
 
 20th,- -The propeller /IrtniJ/'orif, whicli was laiinclied a inontli previous, 
 from y\r. Shickalnna's ship-yard, started to .Montreal. .\h this was the 
 pioneer to tins lari^e (leet of propellers owne<l in and now I'uniiin^^'from this 
 place to tho same destination, we think the inciih'iits ndatini,' to it will not 
 be out of plac<\ 'I'homas and .M r. lianney, accompanied hy Win. and sevi-- 
 ral otiier gentlemen, consisting of Messrs. .\danis, ln;^er.soll, (!pp(dand, ifec, 
 were among the [la.ssengers on Imu' trial trip. The voyage is thus graphically 
 <lesorib(.'il : 
 
 " -MiiNTiti: \i.. Ith June, is.'il. 
 
 "My Dkah .MirniKit, ■ -Vou iid donljt iiavu been an.xious about us, since 
 we left, as our l>oat was new an<l untri(;d. 
 
 "We l(;ft the port at five pi'eci.sely, evirything working e.x(piisltely well; 
 hut about seven our pump, the old machine would not woi'k ; we were 
 oblige,<l to let o(r steam, and make another start at nine, soon after some 
 packing gave away, and tin; man hole of the boiler leaked, an<l we put out 
 the tires, and did not make another start until four or live in the morning, 
 'i'heie was a heavy hree/,(>, and the boat having no headway, rolled SDinc 
 and made both of our engineers sea sick. Mr. Iv(Ml»y took their phu^e, and 
 early Friday morning, we madt! Kingston. From then- we got on wcdl, with 
 the exception of the packing giving way once or twice, and arrived hero 
 Monday morning, laying all night at Cornwall and BeauharnoiH. 
 
i 
 
 f 
 
 :]92 
 
 " TIi»> wcatlii'i- was vory 'i"'" ooiiiiii^ down tlic livor, and our party en 
 joyi'd it vi'i V nnicli, not on«' liciiiir iiniiaticnt at tin- nnnierovis inisfortuneH, 
 as \v<( all knew tlicy were ot" a tritlinj,' nature. 
 
 " Thonuu^liincsry lias liccn ovrliaided, and we doiiot anticipiitoany tiou- 
 lilo in ^'oin:; up. Kvcry <)nc lici-c adniiics tlic Imat; she is <piit(' tlio wond<M- 
 ot" the day ; lior oar;,'o suiprisud tlicni all. VVi; did not loui-h over in tlio 
 passa;i(\ 
 
 " Ki'ci^'lit is now an-ivin;.,' in, and wo will have a t'ull (•iiri,'o fof Toronto 
 and St. Catliarincs. Wo (!.\p(>ct to Icavo to-nionow (ivtiiing, or caily Friday, 
 and to be at Toronto Sunday. Your vej-y aHcrtionatf Son, 
 
 "THOMAS i:. .MKItlMTT." 
 
 On 'th -May tlio last sossion of tlio Parlianioiit was ofioncd ; Mr. M. was 
 ♦liore, in iio cap'icity of a private nionibcr, wlioii, in a Icii^lliy spowdi, lio ;j;ave 
 his reasons for nitirinj^ from the Ministry, which have boen already noticed, as 
 owinij; to a want of agreement on his rctrenclnnent policy. He, without 
 p»ini^ into opposition, still advocates his nuvisuros for the improvement of the 
 country, with, to all appearances, as much satisfaction as before, and le.ss anxiety 
 
 Mr. .Merritt, on the second day, and in answer to the speech, rose and 
 f^aid, "he availed himself of the earliest opportunity to state the jjrounds 
 on which he felt it his duty to retire from the Provincial (Jovernment. 
 He mi^ht state with all sincerity that no per.son ever assumed the respon- 
 sibilities ol" office with hiuher expectations, and no pia'son ever Itift them 
 with greater regret at not having acooniplislied the objects for which he 
 liad undertaken this arduous duty. His expectations of usefulne.ss were 
 formed I'rom a ihorough knowledge of the capabilities and resources of 
 this country, for he was satisfied tliat were these resources developed, and our 
 expenses reduced, Canada might yet become one of the nio.st prosperous por- 
 tions of North America. (Hear.) 
 
 In 181 1 the whole trade of the country bordering the northern and western 
 lakes float id down to the markets of 3Iontreal and Quebec. In a few short 
 years that trade was diverted from those ports to the j)ort oi New York. For- 
 merly the productions of that country were tributary to our great natural 
 water eonununication : now, the productions of Canada arc tributary to their 
 narrow channels. 
 
 The same contrast may be instituted with reference to the agricultural, the 
 manufacturing, the shippintr and other interests. We see one country, with 
 no other revenue than that derived from its internal resources, increasing in 
 population, iti wealth and prosperity, with a rapidity that is unexampled. We 
 see the other, with much greater internal resources, and with double the exter- 
 nal revenue from imports, comparatively retrograding— in using the word retro- 
 grading, he begged it to be understood that he was not comparing Canada now 
 with what she was in bygone years. Compared with the past, Canada h.is in- 
 creased in wealth and population, and it is (|uitc impo.ssiblc that under any sy.s- 
 tciii that s/ie shoiihl not l/trrfuisr. 
 
 To what cau.se is this contrast attributable? The answer is, to the diflFe- 
 rcnce in the financial policy of the two countries. Still there are other causes. 
 He maintained that from 1811 to the Union, and from the Union to the pre- 
 sent day, the principle cause of the dift'crences have been the system of finance 
 established. 
 
303 
 
 At that tiriio wo ci.Jh^imI voiy liulit taxation both in I'ppor and Lr^wcr Ca- 
 nada. Our import duty auiountiil to 2A jxir nrnt. ml rulortni. In that year 
 an addittional tax of 2Jl per cent, wa.s projiosed for the purpose of carrying out 
 improvenients. He moved an amendment, witli the view of appropriating 
 the proceeds of tax to the payment ol the deljt then or thereaft(!r to he con- 
 tracted for the puhiie works; and that amendnujnt was supported by his lion, 
 and hiarned friend th. Attorn -y (leneral, by th(! Hon. Mr. I*ri(!e, and by 14 
 nicinbers. It wa.-i rejected by the majority, the argument a;^ainst it being that 
 we have a lien/HniHiblK (loveriimi-tit. 
 
 It was said " then; was a .system formerly by which mend)ers were able to 
 carry their objects without restraint, but now the (Jovernmcnt is re.'^ponsible 
 for our expenditure. " (llciir, hear.) Well, what has been tlie res[»on.^ibility { 
 The 2i per cent. \\w\\ to be raised was for the purpo.se of eairying out public 
 improvements, and i'or no other. What has been its applicalion ? It ha.s 
 gone to sustain the expenditure of the most I'xpi'.nxirf (/iirii-iiiiiriil that — iu 
 proportion to the population — exlstn In, auij jKvrt of Aintriru,. (Hear, hear.) 
 Tlie check proposed has proved to be inoperative. The sysUMU of which he 
 complained commenecul in 1S41, and was followed up by nearly all parties in 
 the House. He recollected that his lionorable friends, the present Attorney 
 General and the (^)mmissioner ol' Crown Jjands, were rendered the subjects ol' 
 much hostile feeling by voting for the /xn^i ju/r cliecks which he propo.sed ; 
 no lUtffi iiiea luui tlu.ij then of the corraptliuj tetitlmtci/ of thf system. (Hear, 
 hear.) Tn 1844 lie again called attention to the I'act that tlic expcnditTire of 
 our Provincial (Jovernment .sZ/^r th(i Union had been grcat(!f than tlu' expen- 
 ses of the two governments he/ore the Union, and then pronounced tiic system 
 of finance, established under the Union Act, a failure. 
 
 In l84(j, he brought under the notice of the House the effects that might 
 be expected to follow th(! chang(' that had taken place in the colonial policy of 
 Great Britain, and maint.iiiied that that change had entailed upon us an abso- 
 lute necessity for etirtailing our public expenditure. Nevertheless, no step,'* 
 were taken by the then (lovernment. 
 
 In 1847, he again pointed out the operation of the aujcnded (constitution, 
 adopted by the .State ol" New Vork, ami of th(! princii)le of reducing in debt, 
 with a vi(!W to its extinction in IStiH. We had expended a large sum ibr the 
 purpose of gaining tiie western trade, but the plan then adopted by Now York 
 is calculated in a few yens to remove all tolls from their canals, and thus, by 
 diverting trade from tliis country, render our expenditure, in a great measure, 
 unproductive. 
 
 In 1 848, he had the lienor of receiving an intimation that he was called upon 
 to particii)ate in the councils of his country. Hefore ac(;epting the situation, 
 he addres.sed a letter to the head ol' the giivernment, the Hon. Mr. Lafontaine, 
 iu which he (Mr. Merritt) recapitulated his views with regard to the applica- 
 tion of the proceeds of the (^rown liands, for the support of the Common 
 Schools and the establishment of district libraries — the iunnediate completion 
 of our leading communications, and reducing the toll on the St. Lawrence 
 (in up and down freight to the standard of the Welland Canal ; to obtain reci- 
 procity for the natural productions' of Canada and the coasting trade, — in short, 
 that he had advocated the removal of all restrictions on trade, reducing the 
 duties on imports, thereby increasing the revenue from toll. With tliest; 
 changes, and due ccoconiy in the public expenditure, ho entortuiued no doubt 
 
 I 
 HI 
 
I 
 
 ^ 
 
 t 
 
 m 
 
 '^ 
 
 ^ 
 
 I 
 
 that (lie firiancos o( tliis Province could be biouulit into as favorable a position 
 a8 tlioHe of the adjoiiiin-^ (j(»veriinieiit. 
 
 Mc was informed that every opportunity would be oflercd iiini to brinu; 
 thoHO various subjects under the consideration of tli(> (Mivernnient ; tliereforc 
 belicvini^ that connection with the (joveinnient would i^ive liini the best oppnr 
 tuniticH of adi-anciiifj; these views, he acccpt(!d the oiTer ; and he felt bound now, 
 to state that the (Joverninent hail, at all times, attorded him every facility to 
 explain and enforee his o))inions, and conduct in\estiuations arising' out of theiu. 
 
 In 1841), his time was. to a great extent, consumed by his visit to Washing- 
 ton, and subsecjuently to Halifax, with ids learned friend, the Attorney Gene- 
 ral from Jiow.'.r (\aiiada, on the subject of reciprocity. No etricient opportuni- 
 ty for carrying-on hi> investig;itions ])resented itself until vlie (lovernment wa.>, 
 established in Toronto, in .lantiary, lyr)() ;— al'ter tliat, besiiles attending to his 
 duties as lVeside:;t of the Committee of Cnuneil, he had ample opportiinitio. 
 to investigate every source oi" revenue, and every object of ex]ienditure; and 
 in this labour he was incessantly engaged until April, lie then represented 
 to hi.s colleagU(!S that a change; was in his judgment iiecess.iry in the; financial 
 system, and that a very largo reduction must be made. In this they did not 
 concur, nmi his resignation became inevitable. It was proposed however, that 
 the whole subject should be referred to a (inaiico eonnnittee, composed of mem- 
 bers from both sides of the House ; and to that proposition he awedeil. 
 
 After that was settled, he accepted the situation of Chief Commissioner of 
 Public Works, and appealed to his constituents ibr the third time during the 
 present rarli;iiiient. and was re-elected. He then stateil, as nuw, that his col- 
 leagues were not opposed to retrenchment, but had deterndned a;< he then tirst 
 announced to appoint a fina icc e..modttee to be '.omposed of the leading mem- 
 bers of all parties, who would have :m opjiortunity of thoroughly iiivi'stigatin^ 
 and reporting on the subject. (.Mr. Perry, Mr. Bolton of Norfolk, Mr. Hopkins, 
 and .ill those most anxious ior retrenclnnent had been previously named for 
 the Committee.) This jiublic announeeOKMit uave general satisfaction, and the 
 public waited patiently for the result. He had every conlidence in their labours. 
 Now, however, he must express his great reirret at the result of the investigations 
 of that coiiitnitlee. (Hear, hear.) The evidence was reported, it is true, but 
 in a manner that had never come before the public. At the close of the .session, 
 hi.s time was occupied with an examination of the public works, and with en- 
 deavours to ascertain the cause of the liiLih rates of freight and insurance be- 
 tween Quebec and Kiieland, and if possible to discover the re.ison ir/i'/ t/iH trail,' 
 hail h't't. the St. Lainrure in/(f (tone to tin' llmlxoii. His reports on that subject 
 which will no doubt be laid upon the table, will enable the House to judge 
 whether the public is likely to derive any advantauie from that service. Hu- 
 mediatcly after Ids return a minute of council was submitted, in which he 
 could not concur, anil he therefore felt it his duty to tender his resignation. 
 As this Jisinute has been printed and gone to the public, he trusted that his 
 Memorandum which was made at tlie time, eoiitaiiung his reasons for not as- 
 senting to it, will also be laid before the House. In the meantime in the 
 absence of that menior;induni he would brielly allude to the points in which he 
 could not concur. Tlw Jlr.-<t was that in which the Committee (d' Council re- 
 marked that considerable reduction have been made in the salaries of otficers 
 employed in the various jitthlir <fi-/i>(rfhi' nt.>\ (HkI tlmt tliMf. i-'i/K.-tions Jutw bei'): 
 'jetfirathj upi-.-ove.i. Now with regard to the Customs' Dopartmont, ho hold vx 
 
>1u u position 
 
 iin to brin'j; 
 t ; therefbri' 
 J best oppor- 
 bouml hkw. 
 ,• iacility tu 
 out of them. 
 
 to WfishiiiLi- 
 onu'v (irene- 
 it oppurtuiii- 
 I'vnineiit was 
 "luliiii: to Ills 
 |i)iiiitunitiefl. 
 iditurc; iuul 
 rcjircscMitoil 
 tlu; linaiKnal 
 tlu'V dill HOt 
 lowcver, that 
 )S('il of mem- 
 ceJoil. 
 
 iiiiissioner oi' 
 (lurinii? the 
 , tliathis col- 
 lie then lirst 
 eailini;- nioiii- 
 inv('stii:atiii'4 
 Ir. Hopkins, 
 named \'uv 
 )n, and tlic 
 uir labour.>. 
 vostiLiations 
 is true, but 
 the sos.sion, 
 d with en- 
 surance be- 
 n '/ the trail I' 
 that subject 
 so to judur 
 rvico. Ini- 
 n which ho 
 ii'siji'iiation. 
 ted that hii 
 Ibr not as- 
 time in tlie 
 ill which he 
 Council rC' 
 of otlicers 
 lis li((m' hfib 
 he held vx 
 
 395 
 
 his hand a .stafement of tlie amount of revenue dt;i'ivtd li<>ni tliat >ouree lu 
 1810. when wi" leceivnl C2:{;{.4S(; ; the co.st (d" collection bein-i l*ll.7li'>. This 
 WUH beliire the rnion. After the I'nion we added 1IM> per ei-nt. to tlie Cus-^ 
 tonis duties. In ISU, tlu; amount of duties received was I'UM.TT-. the cost <)f 
 collection I'M.*;,?')*). (Hear, hear.) lie did not speak so much of the in- 
 creased duties levied since the Union, iw of the increased cost of collection. 
 2nd,— The committee said ///»>// rv/v nol of o/iininn that tuiff nilriuliiiji'oits 
 (Imihji'. I'Hii. hi; iniiilf in tlir si/sft'ni of (lisfiii.snnj iil />iilj'if hiiidfi. 
 
 In 18-^4, US chairman of a committee, he spent nearly three numths in exa- . 
 niininu' the revenues and e\|H^ndilure eomieeted with our public domain, and 
 he did hope that the late Administralitui wimld have luotiieil by the report. 
 
 He need not detain the House by enlarjiinj,' upon the.se topii;s. No country 
 under heaven posse.s.^'s the natural advanta-jcs of C.inada. All they 
 required was the reduetiim (d' the public c.xiicnditiMv .and the ability to dev<'lopo 
 its natural resources— and apply them in aid of th(( <icneral business of the 
 country. It would uive an impetus tn a-rieiilture, manufactures, atid 
 every branch of trade, increa.sc the value oi" property and every material 
 which constitutes the wealth and insures the prosperity of a (Miuntry. It will 
 etiectuaily stop tlu> cry Ibr anne.vation. N'.i o\w would then want to join the 
 United States, and to incur the expenses which tblluw ennneetion with ihe 
 Federal (jovcrnment, to obtain the benefits which (Jreat Britain extends to us 
 without cost to our.selves. In conclusion, he would only nnrirk that iiiuoh 
 has been said with re;;;ard to his conneetioii with certain parties or individuals. 
 He had no conneetion with any parties whateviir, havin<: felt it his duty to say 
 nothint; until after this public explanation. Th(( only deei.-ion to which he had 
 come with regard to his future was. that lie will support any measures that ho 
 in hisjud-ment are calculated to brim;- about these clianiics, which he deemed 
 absolutely necessary to promote the prosperity of the country. (Hear, hear.) 
 
 The followiiii,' is the seheme for the amt'iidment of the rnion .\»-t, i-om- 
 meiited upon in his speeeli at the openiim of Varlianiont : 
 
 ".")- -/iVw/m/.Timt, in tlie opinion of this H )use. an addr-ss li- presen- 
 ted to Her JMiijesty iiutlioii/.irg the (Jt>venior (Jeiicnil to call a eoiiveiitiou 
 of delegates of the" inh;il)itants of JJ. N. A. to Ih- eoiupused of forty persons 
 to bo elected in pn»]>ortion to population as may ixs praetieiible, one; dele- 
 gate for ")(),()()() people, or thereal)outs- -as for inst.iuce : — 
 
 '' Upper Canada fifteen delegates. 
 
 " 1. --Western District. Township of .\ldl.oi'.). .Mosa. Iv'kford.^i 'anidoe, 
 Mitcalf, A(hdaide. Williams, Lolio, and town <jf Lon<loii- -pop.. .")(.:52.S. 
 
 '■•_'.-- Broek District and Town>liip of I )<.irhesl(>r. North aii.l South 
 West :M in.st(.'r, IXdaware, South wold, Denwicli, Yaiiiiouth- -i>op., 1!),'J;'.I. 
 
 " ;).~Tall.ot District, ami 'fowiiships of ?klalaJiide, Hayhani, Walpole, 
 rtaiiiham. Cayuga Canboio', Dunn, MouUon, Waiidleet, Humbeistuii Ber- 
 tie, Willou.^hl.y, Urowlaiid, Tliorohl, Stamfoid, Nia-ara, (irantliaio, (Jains- 
 borough — Population, r)l,nr,(j, iVc, through tli(^ whoh' jirox iiiei-." 
 
 The subjcet embodicnl in the resolutions ipio'cil aliovc was worthy the 
 attention of Legislators, but till after the Act of Confederation had been 
 ucconiplished by the eoiul)inath)U of the leuchu's of the two parties, and the 
 support of their immediate followcrsj little had been said iu the halls of 
 legifdiitiou ou the subject. 
 
I 
 
 i 
 
 I 
 
 <^ 
 
 t: 
 
 i 
 
 llis n'sijiiiiitiuii WHS lollowcil in .Inly liy .Mr, naldwiii, who l;hv<.' liis tinni 
 I'aniwcll to his ohl ooristituonts in North York ; mid, nf'tiT tho closo of 
 the Lctiislaturo, by tho ('iitiri' Mini»try oxcopt Mr. Iliiu-ks, who now bccanio 
 f'rcniirr, mikI ciilK'il to Iiis Council Dr. liolpli, of '.'57 n'lmtution, Mr. I'ricc 
 Mr. M. ('iiinoron, with iMr. Moriii as leader I'roin \,. (.". 
 
 In .SfptiMidicr, work coniincnccd on the (i. \V. Railway, and was \ ii.;orou.''ly 
 [lushod on, with all tiio appliances and assistance of modern cnj^inroriiiL.'. 
 
 Altliou^di the eleetion tliat was approneliiny was likely (o i)e wurnily 
 eoutestod, yot us soon as Mr. .Merritt had ascertained by the collectors of the 
 Welland Can.-d.thaf the tulls hiid, as according' to his expectation they would, 
 reached to U l.">,(KI(t, the stockholders became entitled to their back interest of 
 six |M!r cent. H*; visited New York to consult Mr. (!. Yates, and other stock- 
 holders there on the means necessary to be used with the Government to draw 
 the snino. 
 
 " VVednesd.iy, IHth October, — licft St. (^atharini's at ten o'clock, via Sns- 
 pen.<ion Hridue. II. id .in interview with .Mr. Street. Slept at Canandaiu;ua. 
 
 " Thursday, Kith.— Slept at I'hittenanyo. 
 
 " Monday. 2((th, — iJy railroad to New York. Stopped at 37 Twenty first 
 Street, with (!iiarles Yates Ks(|., Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. 
 
 " Left at five o'clock, in E. and N. Y. R. 11., 2 Itii Oct. Arrived at Buf- 
 falo same nii^ht or mornin<; at four o'clock." 
 
 In the Fall of this year, the (Jovernor fJeneral, on his return from the j^reat 
 railway celebration, which was held in Boston, and was attended by all the 
 leadini; men of the day, visited the Falls of Niagara, and dined with our sub- 
 ject at St. Catharines. 
 
 The (lovornor was well pleased with their reception in I^o.^ton, and 
 fipoke in hiuh terms of Anierican hospitality, as experienced during his 
 visit. In iicneral matters, the Lircat London Exhibition of this year en!j;ros.sed 
 a great deal of attention. 
 
 This country was also visited by M'lle Jenny Lind, who came out under 
 the patronas';*' of 1*. T. Barnum, the great Yankee showman. 
 
 Jiiines .Jones, an elector who syinpiitliised with our subject in bis efforts 
 to obtain a niurket for Canadian produce, in a letter to the JunniaJ, writes 
 Stamford, 1 1 tli Oct. :— 
 
 "As we are generally agreed upon the important political questions of 
 the day, it is useless to diller on an abstract particular, where all de[)endH 
 upon England ; her recent relief, if not from famine, is froni a scarcity of food 
 for her teeming thousands, atl'onled l)y the United States, will it make her 
 cautioiis in exacting any duty on American breadstuffs. And likely Mr. 
 Clayton spoke correctly in saying England will not levey a taritf on her 
 wheat, itc. 
 
 " If our new ministry do not adopt .stricter views on retrencbmeut (with 
 himself to assist in carrying them out) farewell to the loan system, which 
 will ultimately paralyze all our efforts." 
 
 About this date, the Journal on the School Question says : — 
 
ni»7 
 
 rrivud :it Buf- 
 
 iiic out under 
 
 " It h.'H Ik'Oii uijii'd ;i;;,iiiist this |ii>sitiiiii Tliiit is, ii'.'fiinMt " l''ri'o SclidoU" — ■ 
 lliiit till' Siiiiit' ;ir';iiiii<iits which ait! itihluctM] in their t'avdiir WDuId nttossirily 
 h'ad to thc! coiK-lusinn, that tin- puor havo a liuht to sujiporl IVonitlic jiropcity 
 of thc country. 
 
 " To this aruiniii'iit \vc shall reply on some other oui-asjon, as wo wisli our 
 observations on liiis all important suhjeet to be given in .•'Uuli a way as to avoid 
 prolixity, and to attract attention." 
 
 'I'ho ./iiiiriiii/, ill pii^o ','i')'.\ of this woik, •(ivoH (hii- siib'pMrt praise for thrt 
 SehodI f ndowiueiit. 
 
 This oomplinieiit was no<;;ativod by thin argument for the support of sclioolsby 
 u Hpcolal tax, whieh is t;ntiruly difforeiit from tln! principles of tho bill brought 
 in by Mr. Morritt, as he certainly never could havo conceived the monstrous 
 iojusticii of property owners and capitalists being ta.^ced to supply the largest 
 amount to (uliieati! their ncighb )urs. And an act which is a direct interferpnco 
 with j»a*,ernal rights. On the contrary his principles wore always that the 
 people wore the owners of the wild laiuls, and as such might provide means for 
 an educational fund which his letter on page 'A'iG explains. 
 
 W»! insert our sultjeot'.s auswtM" to an iiillin'utial cln.iLor on .soparato 
 seliool.s, just before the general election : 
 
 "St. ('.\Tii\in\i:s, L'ud I ).•(•.. 1 851. 
 
 "Sir,— T am favoiiied svilh your.iiote of this day, iMMjiiestiiig to be put 
 in po3.s(!.ssion of my decided intention relative to the i-(!]»eiil of the iUth eluuHft 
 of the scliool act. 
 
 " I .stated on Satorday last, it was not my intention todisturb tboclau.so 
 you a!!ude to. 
 
 " At the sani!' tini" yon must not misnnd'T.sland me. or give nic a voto 
 undtir tlie im[)ression that 1. have changed my opinion on the siil)ieet of ap- 
 propriating till* procoeds of all lauds for educ.itioii alike to all, — IJiiivensai 
 (rrammar Schools and ("oinmon Schoo's, and it is still my opinion tbatsepa- 
 r.itn sciiool.s will not work well iii most localities, it is of hfss importance, 
 and there aro jjlaces whore it may prove beneticial. For those reason.s it 
 onglit not to be dishiilied. 
 
 " 1 ha\i' the honor to lie, sir, 
 
 " Your obdlient servant, 
 
 '• D. O'Lk.vky, Es(i." " W.M. irAAl 1 LTOX MKIf \l ITT." 
 
 While oil this subject, we may refer to the measuies f;ir litisrary and 
 social improvement of the town. Page 10.") show.s that measures had been 
 made for mutual improvement, and had been kqit nj) with more or less 
 result till now, under the title of Atheneuin ; it was posses.secKof an historic, 
 literary, and scientitie apparatus through which materials of local bi.story 
 had been acquired and lectures delivered by the members. 
 
 Thc movement in the behalf of the Teinpenince cau.se had i)roducod an 
 institution in which Dr. Cross, who had lectured, took a lively intere.st. 
 
 A requisition to the Mayor, E. W. Steplienson, signed by 3i ratepayers, 
 for a public meeting for the purpose of taking advantage of the Act to 
 
:;i)S 
 
 'i 
 
 (•mwtntizo tlie' cstiiMisliiiii'nt ul' a .Mivliauics' Institute; the Town Hall unoni- 
 <'il ii conunoiliuiis aiiiiitiiicnt, it was agretnl to merge tlieni liotli into one. 
 with the author as president. The result was, lectures delivered bv gentle- 
 men from a distance, and through negotiations with the Ihifl'alo Youn" 
 IMen's Associations for lectm-es from their lists. 
 
 This winter. als(\ the hrst etUcient association for the relief of the poor 
 was founded. 
 
 lu the general i-lec'tion which ensued, otir subject was met by a stroma 
 Kcform opposition in the person of Mr. Morse of Smithville, who was put for- 
 ward by the extreme wiag of the Reform party, but without success. 
 
 December 1st. On the occasion of our subject's addi-e.ssin,^ the electors 
 at the hustings, the whole adjourned into the Town Hall, then used for tlie 
 tirst time for a county [>urp(.sc. 
 
 1 8 5 -2. 
 
 Tiie jmblished returns showed (he incoini' dei'ived from the Welland 
 (^aual to lia\i' reaelii'd the amount at whicli the private shareholders wore 
 entitled to their full interest on the original investment. 
 
 Tn the early part of the year, our subject visited Quebec, on 9th Febru- 
 arv, where the (Ijvernnu'ut was now seated; and although several of the 
 members of the (lovernment were absent in the liOwer Provinces on railway 
 business, yot. after ten wreks spout, ho suocooded in making a .satisfactory 
 
 settlement of tin 
 
 lim : vet the terms of the Act induced him to make a 
 
 further claim tor the old stock holders, which he compile I on his retiu-n, 
 and }>ubli.shed ^oth Atigust, entitled "A lirief Iv'vitnv of the Origin and 
 Progress, l»oing an Historical IJoconl of the W'ollaud (".inal" -in 48 pages. 
 
 The elections over, ho turns his attention to the recovery of the back, 
 interest due on canal stock. 
 
 •' Left St. Catharines Mombiy, I2th Jan'y. Arrived at Quebec on Satur- 
 day, 17th. The Inspector and U'Jcoiver Gciun-al returned on Friday, 23rd. 
 Decided the cjuostiou of amount of iutorest due, on Saturday, 24th. 
 
 " 2i)th. - Made my a]»plication on l)'>half of the shareholders. Sent a 
 letter to tli;' Pi-oviucial Scrotary, in which I a'.;rooil to leave, the details to 
 the Attorney (!enoi-al. .\lso wrote .Attorney (Joiuu'al on the subject of our 
 
 claims. 
 
 i; 
 
 ii'ceiveil their roiMies m duo tmu 
 
 ciui: an 
 
 *' Was tlius occupied till Itlth Foluiiary, when 1 ilc-idod on nial 
 apltlicatiou to the L.'gi.slaturo. IIocoi\od a favourable reply on LMith. 
 
 (iot through business, returiiiny,- by New York, and homo by 1 1th March. 
 
 \Vi' iusort the foUosving chronicle of iin[>rov(un»'iits which occupied om* 
 sul>ject's atd'Htion at this time, vi/ : tlio extension of the faoili(i(>s for na\i- 
 "atinu the W'oUand <'aual : 
 
11 
 
 >ii llall afl'onl- 
 •oth into one. 
 ntnl by jiiMitlf- 
 •iiftalu Youni; 
 
 ief of the poor 
 
 Jt by a stront; 
 
 ho was put for- 
 
 ccess. 
 
 11'.' the electors 
 
 Ml used for the 
 
 1 thf Wellaiul 
 lioklei-s wore 
 
 , oil 9tli Febni 
 several of tlie 
 noes on railway 
 r a satisfactory 
 ill! to make ;i 
 on his return, 
 le Origin ami 
 -in 48 pages, 
 y of the back 
 
 leboe on Satur- 
 'riday, 23r.l 
 -Ith. 
 
 (lers. Sent a 
 the details to 
 ^ulijectof our 
 
 11 inakin 
 oi, -JOth. 
 ; lull Miiivli 
 
 o>'cupied our 
 lilies for iia\ ' 
 
 399 
 
 .\pril 120, Til'. 
 
 "Thk Wkllwd Caxau — Inforantion has been received, wo iindei-sLuiid 
 from the Coinmissioner of Public Works, that it is intetuh'd to construct 
 another towing path along the canal, between this town and Tliorold. This 
 improvement of havint; a towing path on each side of the canal, tog(>tliej- 
 with the use of gas at the locks and brid;,'es. will make this tlie most tini.shed 
 and etliciciit line of navigation in the world." 
 
 After spending the recess in attending to the t'aiial, and his numerous 
 private matters, including the 8n.spension Bridge, besides going with Mks 
 Merritt to May ville, in July. He left for the Parliament to attend its first 
 session at Quebec, on the 16th August. One of his tirst acts this sassion 
 was to jirefer the claims of the veterans of 1812, on the (Jovernment, (which 
 tended to dis[)rove the assertion that in advocating the jireservation of tlio 
 public lands, he was oblivious of their well deserved claims.) It only 
 resulted in obtaining medals for those engaged in 3 battles, viz., OliatAuguay 
 ( "hrysler's Farm, and Detroit. These results did not suit liis ideafii, but were 
 the best which couUl be obtained. It may be remarked that in this matter 
 he was assisted l>y Sir .\. McNal) and other old conipinions of the war. 
 
 The Hon, F. Hincks was now leader of the ITou.se and Govei-miKMit, and 
 the opponent of our subject for power in C'aiiada. 
 
 The statesmanshi)) displayed liy our politicians since the retirement of 
 Mr. M. from the cabinet have not been such as to gain the admiration of 
 cool thinking men. l>eing more of a struggle to hold the reins of powi r 
 than a sincere desire to elevate the country in the eyes of the world. It 
 is tolly to s[)eak of either party, as both Tory and (irit are diar^ed 
 with similar olb'nces. so that it reipiires more than ordinary jierception to 
 tell the ditierenei>. Vet one thing is kiuns n, tliat both have sliewn an e4ir. 
 nest inclination to serv(> Ibitish interests too often at Canada's ex- 
 pense. 
 
 One instance, by referring to page ."»1() Sir J. Harv(>y's speech refers to a 
 jiroject, whidi would have been of immense liem^fit, without a corresponding 
 outlay oi' pulilic money. ( )ur subjcvt's ideas on this matter, p. oL'.">, shews that 
 he fully a{>iu-oved of the scheme whereby the Imperial Government guaran- 
 tees the sum of ,£2,r)0(),000 for the purpose of constructing a railway from 
 Halifax to Quebec. Had this otfer bef>n accepted by tht> C^olonial ^finis- 
 tries, the saving to this enuutry would have been imnien.se ; but what did 
 boasted statesmanship accomplish ( \ delegation of gentlemen goes to 
 Knglami and aotually anauged for a withdrawal of this promise, under- 
 taking to construct the (liand Trunk Railway, and saddles Canada with an 
 nnnecossary debt, and as a reward tor lliis policy, the Hon. F. Hincks 
 received a colonial governorship, and lefi I 'anaJa lietore the results had 
 culniinated in ''u. 
 
400 
 
 'Vhc". Joiirua/ Hixyn: — " Tliat ;it ii |nil)lic (liimci- in IJoi'liii, Mr. JTincks 
 told tlio »'om]»iiiiy that tlio (J. T. U. K. I'nnn Halifax to Saniia luul bcoii 
 fully matured, and tin* woi'k iiii(lt'rtak.'ii liy IJritisli capitalists at tla-ir own 
 risk, for £'.),()0(),0()() stei'lin;^;, and that tlifi altorations in tlio imperial lint- 
 added on i;:),()00,()()() more." 
 
 " It is uothinj; to us what tlie contracts ai'o, or what the main trunk rail- 
 road costs ; all we want is to secure a gocjd road as soon as ]>ossil)le. as the 
 more English capital is expended, the lj(!tter for the country ; and the more 
 the i-oad costs, the better is tlu; security we have for the bonds we exchan<'e 
 July 1 Ith, JonriKif o.xtrncl on the extension of tJie franchise. 
 "The greatest Idunder evtrr made by O'Counell was that of making him- 
 self a party to Catholic Fhnancipatiou by the disfranchisement of the forty 
 shillings freeholders. The government that extends the elective franchise 
 of a country gives the most convincing evidence that statesmen can 'rivo 
 that they are not afraid to trust the people, either with the inter(\sts of their 
 country, or with their own position in its govei-iinumt. The man who "ives 
 a political existence to a large class of citizens who never liefore enjoyed it, 
 at ont-e acts justly, enlists tlm sympathies of the enfranchistsd, and must se- 
 cure the esteem of the entire lieform jiai-ty. Ihit Mr. Ilincks has done 
 this most decidedly and effectually, a)id yet ftn'sooth, men are fuund capable 
 of charging hin\ with liaving done nntliing." 
 
 "That the Tory l)arty should pour out its vials of wrath u|)on Mr. 
 Ilincks, we can perfectly undeistand. for he has pi'ostrated the political power 
 of that party ; but that he should Ite abused by any portion of his own pai-- 
 ty, to which he has given a character iind intluence beyond anything it ever 
 possessed in this countiy is the more siir|irising. 
 
 " Wh'Mi we rcilect >ipon the jmsition occupied by the Reform jtarty, 
 when Mr. ilincks first became its ad'.>)catc. tramjiled on. despised, discoili- 
 fited, witli the foul bran<l of disloyalty and rcliellidn lixcd upon it by its 
 op])Ouents, without any oi'ganization of moral and political foi'ce, its 
 
 j)i'incipal men hung or exjiati-iated, and its enemies in power^ 
 
 when wo look at it now — respected in the province — its distinctive 
 principles all wrought into the constitution of the country, its most ultra 
 measures all proved )>racticable and safe, and its character i-aised u)» to re- 
 spect and conlidence in I'higland, as well as by any foreign govei-nmeiits, xve 
 may well express astonishment that the man wiio has principally effected all 
 this should neviM'theless be abused by some men professing to belong to the 
 Ileform jmrty. This state of things, hov.-ever, admits of explanation on 
 one i)rinciple, and oidy one — personal vanity, sellishness an(l (lisa|)point- 
 ment. We don't hesitate to .say, that no hoiu-'st Kefoiwner can possibly de- 
 sire to see Ml'. Ilincks retire from the Government of the country, though 
 we have no doubt Imt that this is the object aimed at by Ids ti-aducers. 
 
 ' All hiunan iriture till its Litest breath, 
 Finds envy never e(ni(|uereil hut by dentil.' 
 
 " Now w(> speak the sentiments of all Keformers in this part of the 
 country, when we say that a unanimous feeling prevails of desire that the 
 man who has done so much for th(! country and his party, should retain the 
 reins of power in his hands until a fair trial shall liave been given to his 
 measures, and until a stability .shall have been stam|)ed upon them, credit- 
 able to the [larty originating them, and useful to the country." 
 
401 
 
 To Mrs. M., from Quebec, August 29t\u he says : — " You are not enter- 
 tained with politics, I will therofoi-e mention a few instances to your- 
 self and family. First is the waste of time , up to the present moment 
 tL« answer to the (Jovei-noi-'s speech has not ])assed. Dined with tko iiov- 
 ernor General at Spencer Wood last night, succeeded Iiy a hall; the apart- 
 ments fitted up with the greatest splendour. Mr. and Mrs. K. have gone 
 down to the Saguenay, and a numbei- uf members; Mi-. M. and myself have 
 been making an excursion over the citadel, and around ( 'ape Diamond. 
 The scenery is real'y magnificent around Quebec. A great pity there waa 
 not more vessels to make it what it was intended it should one day become, 
 a great empoi-ium for the trade of the west. I ilo not spend all my time 
 in idleness, as I have cut out busine.ss enough, which will come after the 
 Address. 1st, an address to the Home Covernment to procure; Heci]>rocity. 
 2nd, To obtain returns from al4 the Governments of iJ. N. A. of the receipts 
 and expenditures of each separate Government, in order to get an average 
 for the same number of jteople, with a view towards forming a union of the 
 colonies. The order of the day is here, heavy taxes, and usele.ss expenditure. 
 
 "This is a convincing proof that our present system needs amending. 
 It will end in time, but when, it is difticult to point out, we i-equire un en- 
 tire change. , 
 
 "W. H. M." 
 
 A petition w^a.s presented to the House praying for extending the order 
 of Sons of Tempei'ance to effect the passage of a piohibitory liquor law, 
 then popularly termed the Maine Law. It did not amount to anything 
 in a beneficial way, yet from that time we may date tin- annual teuiperance 
 motions brought into Parliament. Our subject, although not a total 
 abstainer, was nevertheless, a gi-eat friend of temperance, and as such 
 was always ready to assist any measure having that for its object. Thufi 
 when the convention met at Fonthill, he was asked to preside, altliough at 
 his election, a few months previous the Temperanct^ oigani/ation of the 
 county had been used in oi)position to his leturn. 'I'he author was present 
 aa a member from St. Catharines. We can not better give his views than 
 by reverting to the occasion. 
 
 Mr. Merritt's speech at Fonthill : — 
 
 After enjoining the strictest order, he said, "They had assembled 
 for the purpose of discussing one of tlu; most impoitant (piestiens of the day, 
 as it was likely, if carried into operation, to produce an entire change in 
 our future intercourse. We must bear in mind that habits once formed 
 are not suddenly abandoned ; it was theiufore to bo ti'eated with [latience, 
 judgment, and great forbearance. 
 
 " It will be asked why the comnuttee of the different .societies selected a 
 person to pi'eside on this occasion who was not a member of auy temperance 
 or any other society; the answer is plain th(» object of this meeting is not 
 to discuss the blessings conferreil by tBui|)erance ; they are admitted by 
 every sane man — it is to adopt the most etlectual mt>asures to increa.se them 
 in the shortest jto.ssible time, and they believe that the .Maine l^aw will 
 effect it, and it was their interest to obtain his a.ssistance. He had on no 
 public occasion expressed an opiiuon on this law, and was therefore bound 
 
402 
 
 I 
 
 to believe tho reliance placed on his support was founded on bis advocating 
 every measure for tiio general benetit ; on that account he felt the more 
 honored by this selection." ;f: * * * * 
 
 20th October our subject indited a lengthy letter to the Chief Commis- 
 sioner of Public Works. Hon. J. Chabot, who had succeeded Hon. J'>hu 
 Young in that otHcej this letter, which was pul^lishcd, contained the views 
 that have been mostly given in other parts of this biogi-aphy as not to 
 require recapitulating. 
 
 10th November, the Cholt-ra having made its appearance in Quebec, 
 the Legislature ailjourned, and our subject, with the other members, went 
 home to enjoy the health of the body and relief of the mind, to return after 
 a few months to better complete the importatit business of legislators. 
 
 A general census of the British eiupire was taken on a most extended scale, 
 which was a part of the exhibition programme, and in which the wealth, progresi 
 and capabilities of Canada was fully shewn. Without entering into the general- 
 ities of the Canadian census, at this time we nmst mention some curious results, 
 by origin, oS the people. Thus, out of a total population of nearly two millions, 
 we find the origins about as follows: — English 95,000, Scotch 90,000, Irish 
 227,000. Natives of English origin 651,000, French 090,000,— which certain- 
 ly shews that more consideration for the claims of the native English should 
 have determined the plans of the statesmen of the day. 
 
 Dec. 14th, Journal,—"' The Hon. Wm. H. Merritt delivered a lecture 
 ou political economy at the Town Hall. He dwelt long on his faTourite 
 theme, water communication, and told his attentive auditory that naviga- 
 tion by vessels of 2,000 tons may yet be accomplished from Lake Superior to 
 the Atlantic." 
 
 Despatches were received on the subject of the imperial guarantee for a 
 railroad to unite together the three provinces. 
 
 " It api)ears tiiat Hon. b\ Hincks, 'lache, and Young hare left, in order 
 to be present at th(! deliljerations of the new provincial legislature. We 
 have no doubt the interests of L'anada will be taken care of by these gentle- 
 men, in any negotiations that may be entered upon." 
 
 The following is from the (jlohe: — 
 
 " A route has been agieed upon which conies within the terms on which 
 Lord Grey oti'ered the assistance of the Imperial guarantee." 
 
 A letter appeared in an English paper from Sir F. B. Head on the coup de 
 etat, approving the course of Louis Napoleon. 
 
 The Journal notices a meeting of the St. Catharines and Merrittsville 
 Turnpike Koad Co., Wm. H. Merritt, Jun., president. 
 
 At this eventful era in its history, when the town was about to take a 
 position among the manuftu;turing centres of the province, by its having the 
 advantage of a new avenue by railroad and bridge to the outward world, the 
 population of St. Catharines was 4,368. 
 
403 
 
 1853. 
 
 The annual meeting of the Wt'sleyan branch INIisaionary Society was 
 held in this town on Monday evening; It was presided over by Hon. W. 
 H. Merritt. The chairman (jpcncd the business of the meeting by tlwell- 
 ing forcibly on the cruelties which had been practiced on the Indians, and 
 enforced the duty of supporting missionaries amongst them. 
 
 His son Thomas was married to Miss Benson, of Peterborough, at the 
 commencement of the year. 
 
 Feb. lat, the Jo7(,rnal had given the views on the Reciprocity bill. 
 
 "The general terms of a treaty agreed upon at Washington by the Brit- 
 ish Minister and the U. S. Governnient was presented by the latter on the 
 1st inst." 
 
 Some further negotiirtion is going on between Mr. Crampton and Mr. 
 Everett. It is to be laid bofore the Senate during the i)reRent session. A 
 further notices of its passage is given in the following item : — 
 
 During the Winter W. H., Jun.. went to Washington on business for 
 our subject, in connection with reciprocity; and in a letter Feb. 2nd, describes 
 a lengthy interview with Messi-s. Crampton, Bidwell, Clayton, Walker, and 
 others, also mentioned despatches being received from the Imperial Govern- 
 ment, suggesting the preliminary steps, advancing the negotiations, as many 
 items of sectional and personal interest had to be looked to from both sides. 
 
 Feb'y 21, set out for Quebec. 
 
 In April, 1853, Mr. M. writes a letter from Quf^bec to the Boston 
 International Jouninl, in which be enters very minutely into the entire 
 matter of Reciprocity, giving such figures and data as completely reveals the 
 immense benefits likely to accrue to both countries from this act. It was 
 remarked at the time that this letter had caused more attention to be paid 
 to the Recipi'ocity question on both sides of the line than the whole of the 
 previous talk and newspaper editorials written on the sulyect. 
 
 In thia yea. weronniltiplied those schemes for local im))rovement under 
 the Act for private companies, which were jicrhaps too grand for the age 
 but which helped vastly to increase the prosperity of the communities that 
 took advantage of them. One, the railroad connecting the lakes, our sub- 
 ject became greatly interested in. 
 
 We have meutione*! the Mazeppa steamer making regidai- trips to To- 
 ronto for a short time, the boat coming up the Canal to Lock No. 2; but 
 the construction of tlie Gratid Trunk R. 11. caused such an incr(>ase in the 
 freight and passengers, the latter averaging 100 per day, that the detention 
 at the port, or lower lock, caused them to be carried down in omnibuses. 
 
-104 
 
 The suocessoa in husincsa lod tlio pooplo of St. Ciitlmriiios to tliink 
 of buildin;,' ii moro ooniniotlious hont, witli a k""'^ ^'^^^'^ ooimmmicating to 
 tho harbouv, which nvoutuully liroii.i,'ht, ahoiifc tho Wolhiiul 15. K. :uul stoain- 
 boat. 
 
 Mr. 'ro\v«'r.s, tlio oUU'st iiiid lirsi (Mif,'iiio biiildci- in Ht. Calliuiincs, fnr- 
 niahf'd Un* cni^incs and machinery to the steamer to ply to Toronto. In 
 reference to this gentlyniaii, it may he mentioned tliat at a pri(»r date lio 
 carried on the iaisiness of iinn foinuh^T in yMhmhurgli, in tlie works estab- 
 lished hy th(^ hite.l. 15. Yates, and afterwanls moved to St. Catharines, 
 where the success of the* " Novelty Iron Works" attested his diaracter as 
 an enteri)risinjj; citizen. 
 
 So far W(> have omitted tn mcntinn amither nst-fnl avenue to the town 
 viz., tho Pelhani road, built several years j)revions by a pi-ivate conii)any, 
 of which W. H. NT., .Fun. was one of the originators, the oiu^ t(t the Port 
 being the only one now roipiired to complete the access from all sides. 
 
 Our subject used his intluciice with the Govei-nment to get the canal 
 enlarged. 
 
 In his correspondence at this time we tind a letter from his son William, 
 who was elected to the council, wherein he encloses our subject a peti- 
 tion with draft of a Bill fiom St. Catharines, to permit the corporation 
 to construct gas an<l watiir works ; the j)ortion referring to tho gas works 
 passed tho ITonse, and the water question was left in abeyance. 
 
 March 8th, a telrgram rctpiiring amendment to the same acknowledged. 
 We also tind, Ajtril 3rd, that he is under the impression that tb(i works 
 constructed by the Grand Hiver Navigation Company will be assumed by 
 the Government, which would be an act of justice to the shareholders in 
 that undertaking, but unfortunately has not yet occnrred. 
 
 On 'J,\iiu\ .Apiil, tho schem(> of the Welland Railway was sutticiently 
 advanced, that in a letter to our subject from his son William, mention is 
 made of him walking over the location as far as Port Dalhousie, and on the 
 Gth of August the re[»i)rt of Mr. Danforth the surveyor of the line was 
 received. 
 
 In May h«« had inti'oduced a Uill foi- the incorporation of tlie Thorold and 
 Port Dalhousie K. K., which, having received the royal assent, was the 
 cause of an enthusiastic me<>ting in the Town Hall for the purpose of raisin*^ 
 stock, itc. The Journal of the day, says : — 
 
 "Tho meeting was unanimous, and determined that the charter obtained 
 by Mr. M, .should not remain a dead letter, »fec." 
 
 14th June, this long .session closed, during which our subject tried to 
 check railroad extravagance, did'ering from former years, when legislators 
 required to be stimulated for puldic improvements. 
 
 The latter part of this session shewed a great degree of activity. Mr. 
 
405 
 
 Hinok's iulminiHtratioii Iwis be«n conipiinHl to VValpoIo'H in KnglamI, which 
 ill many respects was corroct, as the nuinorouH sohernes advanced at this 
 period will attest, all of which was to inchico Knglish oapitr lists to invest 
 in l!)iMadi!iii Kccinitics, a proceedintf which the London Tiniex then said was 
 the "unlj way now to rule the colonics," l)rin;,'inf^ on a reckless extrava- 
 f^ance, which eventually has resulted in dcpicciation of stock, and from 
 their extended power l»rin^in<^ almost every nuuiicipality in the country 
 on the verge of bankruptcy. 
 
 We insert the following from the .loarnul, a!< indicating the opijiion of 
 the press, among the ministerial supporters: — 
 
 "'rHK Skssion. — We are pleased (o see the perseveriiiice of (he (Jovern- 
 ment in oxteniling the elective franchise to persons asst.'ssed as occupants 
 of prop(;rty in towns, cities and villages, to the amount of JC7 lOg., and in 
 the country to £50. This l>ill will Vx! popular, because it is just, and it will 
 give coutid(!nce to the l\cform party, iis in proportion it will increase the 
 electors. 
 
 The first mtjeting to elect the directors of the Port Dalhousie and Tho- 
 rold II. R. was held on the 9tli July, when the following gentlenum were 
 •hosen, viz.- Hon. W. H. M«Mritt, Ueo. Kykert, T. \i. Benson, (". Thelps, 
 W. A. C'hisholm, Mr. T. L. Helliwell was apj)ointed Secretary. 
 
 In Jtily a large meeting of the ratepayeis of St. Cathai'ines was held 
 for the purpose of considering the granting of money to assist in building 
 the Welland R. i\.. Mr. Merritt addressed the mecsting, and explained 
 the prospects of the road ic. Tn the Pall ho pui)lished a lengthy letter, on 
 its advantages to the counties of the Niagara Peninsuhi, and in the mean- 
 time, the necessary surveys were made, and other arrangements entered into 
 for commencing the work at the shortest possible time. 
 
 Jn July we notice the second ariival in Montreal of an ocean steamer, 
 the LaAif EijVniUtn of the St. Lawrence S. S. r*ompany. 
 
 Mr. M. took a trip of a fortnight's duration to the HO\ith shore of liake 
 Erie, embracing (^hatauquo and Erie. 
 
 Owing to the G. T. R. R., a great nundier of English engineers, con- 
 tractors, and others arrived in Canada; amongst them was the great (Jeorge 
 Steph((nson, buibhii- of the Menia l)ridge in W.ales, also Mr. Jackson. 
 They received a grand banquet in Montreal and expressed thenuselves de- 
 lighted with th(i country. 
 
 A letter from Mr. Hincks to our subject at this time, says : — 
 
 " Quebec, 22nd August, '53. 
 " Dkar Sir, -I think it very impoi'tant that you should, if possible, 
 accompany Mr. Stephenson and Mr. Jackson in their westward trip; '\\ is 
 most ira])ortant in every way, that the attention of Mr. S. should be called to 
 the Maiden terminus. 
 
 "F. HINCKS." 
 "W. H. M., M. P." 
 
40(i 
 
 Owinj,' to our Hiibject luiviiig more presMing engagements inside of 
 the Hame week, he could not comply with the request of the Minister. 
 
 It is rcluted tlmt in a conversation between Mr, Stephenson and our sub- 
 ject, the great cii;^inoer of the Menia Bridge gave liis opinion tiiat a wire 
 
 suspension bridge over the Niagara could not be made practical lor railway 
 communication. 
 
 The arrangements for a connection between the (j. W. and Port Dal- 
 housie R. H. (Jouipaiiien seem Lo have been broken up at this time, an affair 
 which altered the plans of the latter company, so that a direct line to Buf- 
 falo, or som» peiat on Lake Erie was to bo built, 'i'he Journal says : — 
 
 "The conduct of the <Ji. W. R. Co. by necessitating a line to Buf- 
 falo will have its proper <;ffect, viz., that of arousing the energies of the 
 municipalities along the projected line. They have now an opportunity to 
 possess a railroad which tlicy must not let slip by, oi- if they do they sac- 
 rifice the interests of one of the most i)roductive and interesting sections of 
 the country." 
 
 During the late session of Parliament our sul)jectat lust succeeded in pro- 
 curing a charter foi- the Niagara District Bank, wliicii was opened for busi- 
 ness on llJth October, the anniversary of the battle of Queenston, under tke 
 management of Mr. Smart, cashiei". 
 
 It will be observed that our subject interested himself during the session 
 last year to procurir some acknowledgment to the suivivors of the war of 
 1812, and succeeded in getting a niedal as already mentioned. A committee 
 known as the *' Monument Committee," was afterwards formed, of which 
 he was secretary. 
 
 Oct. 1 3th. — The long expected day for the realization of an oft-talkecl- 
 of event, had at last arrived, and from before the dawn of a lovely autumn 
 morning might be seen going off from St. Catharines waggon and carriage 
 loads of people to witness the ceremony of laying the foundation stone of 
 the monument which now marks the resting place of the illustrious Brock 
 and his militia on the summit of Queenston Heights. Our subject and 
 Col. John Clark, who had taken an active part in the arrangements, had 
 gone down the evening previous, and had everythiiig ready for the reception 
 of the visitors, who soon came in hundreds from all accessible points. 
 
 The ceremony of laying the stone was performed by tlie Adjutant Gen- 
 eral of Militia, Col. McDonnell, a silver trowel for the pur|)ose being pre- 
 sented to him on behalf of the committee, by Walter H. Dickson, Esq. It 
 is unnecessary to particularize on the occasion ; suffice it to say that on our 
 subject devolved the task of orator for the occasion, when, in a long speech 
 he recapitulated the events of the war of 1812. He was followed by Col. 
 Clark, Col. Tache, and others. 
 
 The names of the IVIonument Building Committee for the occasion were 
 Sir Allan McNab, Hon. W. H. Merritt, T. C. Street, M. P. P., W. Dixon, 
 
M)7 
 
 Chief Justice Robinson, Col. Kurby, Col. (!lark, Col. Hamilton, Col. 
 McDoiii^iiil, Hon. .histioe McLean, Hon. Justice Macaulay, and J. C Kitlout 
 Esq. ; \V. Thomas, architect, J. Woithinyton, builder. 
 
 It is worthy of recording here that before the dispersion of the company 
 an unanimous resolution was passed, declaring the advisability of taking 
 measures to mark the different battle grounds in ('anatla with suitable 
 monuments, a suggestion which we are soriy to state, has not been carried 
 into operation. In another generation some may Ijc entirely forgotten. 
 
 In furtherance of i\m work, on next day our subject, Col. Frazer and 
 Mr. Dines, with the author, visited Stoney Creek, and, with the assistance 
 of informants, who were on the lield bet'ore and during the engagment, laid 
 the sites of the monuments of the battle. 
 
 In November of this year the opening of the G. W. R. occurred, much to 
 the satisfacti(jn of the peojile, although it was far fiom being in a safe or 
 perfect state, as the haste used by the contractors in its completion, was 
 often felt afterwards in the unfinished work on the line. 
 
 People at present have but little idea of the wonderful changes wrought 
 by the railway, froir: the old stage coach with its slow progress, to the fast 
 train, was a grand step, although many of the great expectations then 
 founded, have not been lealized and perhaps never may. 
 
 In the Fall of this year his son William was married, to Miss Morris' 
 daughter of the Hon. Jas. Morris of Brockville. After the wedding ^he 
 happy couph* started on a European tour. 
 
 Ominous tidings of a Emopean war was also hoaid, and the war spirit 
 seemed to soon find many enthusiastic sup[iorti'is in Canada, who, in glow 
 ing terms, recoimted the glories of the British army in the days of yoro. 
 
 The year closed with the news of the naval conflict at 8inope and defeat 
 of the Turks. 
 
 it Gen- 
 pre- 
 . It 
 
 n were 
 Dixon, 
 
 18 5 4. 
 
 One of the first act.'! of this year was the refiisal of the municipalities 
 along the proposed W. R. R. to give any money or take any stock in the 
 work. 
 
 On 1st of January, the fine Parliament buildings with library, <fec., at 
 Quebec, was totally destroyed by fire. 
 
 In IManh of this year, we find the first movement towards establishing 
 a volunteer organization, which afterwards entirely supplanted the old militia, 
 although wo doubt if the results of the movement has paid us good interest 
 on the money spout over its institution, aa we are still without the efficient 
 homo army of '94, '12, or even '37. 
 
I 
 
 408 
 
 On the 2[inl May, LonI El<j;iii liuultid in New York from Kii<^liind, whwro 
 lip hud Hpeiit thu previous Winter. He went on to Wu.shin<j[ton and signed 
 the Reciprocity Treaty, wliiuh liad been so nearly completed by our Hubject 
 seven years befbie. Mr. MeiritB with Mrs. M. were then on a visit to his 
 relative, I\Ir. Williams, at his plantatiou near I'altiinore, and met Lord 
 Klgin in that city ; lie received no utlicial recognition from l^lis Excellency 
 in connection with the signing of the treaty. 
 
 The Parliament oi)ened in tlie Quebec Music^Hall on the 1 3th of June, 
 but was merely a formal atlair, as the Governor at once dissolved the House 
 ufter a week's session. Our subject, having other business to atttend to 
 in the city, did not participate in this miniaturo copy of " much ado about 
 nothing." 
 
 Journal, of June says on the dissolution : — 
 
 "The Minister will now go to the country constitutionally, with a most 
 liberal Clergy Reserves liill, giving to the various municijtalitios of both sec- 
 tions of tlio province their respective j)ortions of the Clergy Keserves to dis- 
 pose of as they would of any other funds now placed at their disjiosal." 
 
 Jomiial — "On Frithiy, 21st, the nomination of a member for this county 
 took place! ill our Town Hall, when the Hon. \V. H. Merritt was proposed; 
 after which G. W. (). Clark, Es(|., was also nominated." 
 
 The new election occurrred en tiie 21st July, when our subject was 
 opposed by Mr. W. O. Clark, over whom he was elected by a large majority. 
 In Mr. M.'s speech he advocated a union of the provinces as usual, and 
 otTered to support a Maine Liquor Law. 
 
 " Mr. Merritt said, there is a time when men are called upon to express 
 themscdves on tiie state of the country, and the renewal of the contract 
 between a member and his constituents affords that opporunity. He 
 thank(Hl tiie peo|)lo for their previous support, and entertained no doubt 
 that he would again be maintained. It was the last time ho sliouhl come 
 before them as a candidate or member, for he did not then know which he 
 was, as, at the eleventh hour, he found a second nomination. * * 
 
 " Our liabilitties are limited to £3,0(10 j)er mile, and we have the first 
 lien on the roads." Referring to the prosperity of Cana<la, Mr. M. attributed 
 it to the high price now obtained for the produce of the soil. 
 
 Our subject was elected, after a slight opposition from the adherents of 
 both parties, ]>erhaps from the intention exjiressed of this being the last 
 time he slioukl ofi'er himself as their re])resentativi\ 
 
 The formal opening of the G. W. R. after a few months trial, was celebra- 
 ted with great t!clat in London; the author was present on the occasion, 
 and was struck at the changes of the permnell of railroad management 
 which had occurred since the turning of the first sod, by Sir A. MacNab, 
 which he witnessed in the same place, seven years previous. The veteran 
 railway advocate was not present, and his absence was scarcely noticed on 
 the occasion. 
 
 i 
 1: 
 
409 
 
 The Cliultii-ft, which had become altnont of anntial occurrence, was very 
 diHUHtroiis to the labotirerH who were still on the railroad. 
 
 Ill SoptcnilM'i' our subject was seriously enj^agod on a jdan having for 
 its ol)ject {,\n: removal of the rapids l)y means of blasting; from cons\dtations 
 which he had with the engineers who accomplished the works at Hurl (late, 
 New York, he believed the sumo means could be succefisfully used here. 
 
 The new Parliament assembled in Quel)ec on the 6th Sept., and the 
 Governor, in his speech, referred to the important measures which would 
 be brought bjfore tlie House ; amongst them was the Heciprocity Treaty 
 with the U. S., the .secularization of the Clergy Reserves in Upper, and itH 
 twin brothel- the Heignorial Tenure in Lower Canada, and the changes the 
 Imperial Parliament had made in the constitution by electing the members 
 of the lJ|)per or Legislative Council. 
 
 Mr. L. V. Sicotte was Speaker, and Sir A. MacNab, President of the 
 Council. 
 
 Owing to the rever.ses su.^tained on the day of election, it v/as found 
 that a chajige in the Ministry woidd take place, and that Mr. Ilincks had 
 turnefl ovei- the charge of the state to Sir A. MacNab, yet strange to say 
 the latter took olHce with a Tory Government to fully carry out the reform 
 and radical measures of the liberal Mr. Hincks. Mutual explanations fol- 
 lowed in speeches from Mr. IMorin, Mr. Hincks, and Mr. INIerritt. 
 
 Mr. M. dill not engage to support the present Ministry. In his speech 
 on the occasion, he remarkeil, " Nothing would cast so great a gloom over 
 Upper Canada as present political events." 10 
 
 " He contended that the double majority system was now introduced, 
 but in such ji way as to give the government of a portion to the minority. 
 
 " He contended that a Hef'orm Administration could be formed out of 
 the menjbers of that House, and that the people would give Sir Allan Mac- 
 Nab no credit for coming in by a conli'ivance to make them govern a niajo- 
 ritv. It is a grave (piestion whether the IJcform jiarly siiould allow Sir 
 Allan to go on with those measures. He thought ho would b«! allowed to 
 go on and carry those measuier, and tlien be turned out. He doubted if 
 this was not a preconcerted sclieme, but would not .say unless he knew it 
 po.sitively. Ho had not left, nor had he intended to leave the party." 
 
 We insert further to show his views, a letter in answer to an inviljitiou 
 of the Reformers of Norfolk to an opposition dinner. i\lr. ^(erritt sends 1 is 
 regrets, a.s was the case when he could do so with propriety, and always 
 when the demonstration was for himself. 
 
 '• Sinicoe was the spot the iirsfc opportunity was otlered foi- commencing 
 my deteiiiiiiiation to adliero to the principles of self-government as an- 
 nounced by Lord Durham. Our present system otters no guarantee that 
 it can be carried into operation, or that the wi.shes oi- interests of the people 
 will be adlKMvd to._,, The constitution was frametl ]»y Lord Durham witliou 
 the knowledge or advici'. of the country ; the burden rests with him as Gov- 
 
410 
 
 I 
 
 r ■[ 
 
 crnor. The rosolutions of 1841 are nuM-ely dei'ljiratory, and wlioUy puwer- 
 lesM, construed a.s the (iovernment of tlie day may dictate. A niujurity of 
 the nieinborh as t-lected have been and uiay be hiieafter pj-rsuaded to 
 support any (roveinnicnt have the powrr of expendin;,' tlic public inoiifv 
 withoot the sanction of, und in direct viohition of acts of Piirliiiincnt, wiiicli 
 has and will continue to be done by any set of men. to wliom that power is 
 entnist('(l, rail rtiern what you will, Heforni or Tory. 
 
 " Entertainin;,' thos(! views, I have lon;( sinc«! niach; up my mind iliat 
 the inhabitants of Canada i-etpiiro a new constitution, one selected l)y tleh^- 
 gates selected from ditl'ercnt pails of the Province ndiipted for our peculiar 
 situation, which the Impel iai (iovernmcnt wouhl readily .sanction. 
 
 " It should provide all nece.ssary char;:;es for the jiayment of our public 
 debt in a few years by creating a sinking fund, dejirive the licgislature of 
 the power of spending a single farthing of the pul>lic money, unless under 
 the act of the Legislature first .saiictioruMl by the branches of the Leo^ishiturc 
 similar to the amended constitution of New York in |K4(i, Ohio, Penn., 
 Michigan. Such a constituticm would ;iH'ord security to property iunl eiisur" 
 the prosperity of Tanada, and when the inhabitants feel the nect-ssity ol' 
 moving for that oVyect they will find a warm supporter in 
 
 " Your obedient seivant, 
 
 "WM.HAMIi/roN MKRRITT." 
 
 It was also remarked on the election of the Speaker, that Mi*. (Jeorge K. 
 Oartier, one of the candidates, was strongly oppo.sed by the Tories in the 
 House, and that .1. A. MacDouald for the first time had now comnuMice 
 the career of a Minister of the Orown; thus we notice the injurious changes 
 which often occur.in a short time. The retiring minister had wt^l! and 
 truly sei'veil Imperial interests. 
 
 The G.T. R. schenuf was .settled, ami his work was aci^ompliyhtid ; so, to 
 use a familial" term, ho now ste|»s down and out. 
 
 It was suggestive to observe that Di'. Rolph, one of the late ministry, 
 had turned round on the Premier, iiut. received such a castigating from the 
 pen of Mr. llincks, as to effectually give h-m i\u'. ijuietus, and plaie him 
 in the oV)scurity in which that gentleman iiad found him. 
 
 Our subject was present and appears to iiavc supported the amalgamation 
 Government in this and their other temporary measures, thoiinh it is remark- 
 ed in the Joiinird ih-At among the various amendments, his for appropriating 
 the Clergy Re.serves to education, had the least sujiport of any in the llou.sc 
 
 A message from the (rovernor was also brounht in In tiic Premier U> 
 unnropriate .£"2t>,(M)l> sterling, to give the lm|ierial (Jovernuicnt as a itflief 
 to the widows and orphans cau.sed by the war. This measure was carried, 
 although ntit without some opposition, amongst whom w.is oui- subject, who 
 considereil it s; direct intorferenco with our position as peo|»li' living under 
 responsible government. 
 
 On 16th November our subject moved an amendment to the general 
 
 ! 
 
411 
 
 li.-'luHl ; so, ti> 
 
 hill to preH«n"ve the Clergy Reserves, for educational purpoHes. whicli wo 
 re;,'rpt to tiinl, wuh lost on a diviHioii. 
 
 On»< of tlie tirst accidents on the G. \V. R. occcnrred at Morritton, or 
 SlahtowM, as it wiis then called, on the fith of July, l»y which snvfii persons 
 ost fhfir lives, 'i'he accident was caused l>y the want of a proper fence 
 alon;^ the road, which allowed some cattle to stray on the track. 
 
 In the Jouriiiit of Au;;. 24th, .ve find tumorous letters on Reciprocity, 
 which had not been nit Died hy the Leyislatiire, addressed to oin* subject 
 from his friends aiul co-workers in the States, one from Hronson an.l Oroker, 
 Oswe^^'o, and one from tJen. liewis ( "a.ss, \Vashin;4ton. In aiiswerin;,' them 
 he predicts another enlargement of the Welland Canal. 
 
 Fn consequence of what we have said respecting the misundc'rstanding 
 with the (x. \V. H. ("o., and the refusal of the other municipalities to give 
 any encouragement to the Welland Railway extension, a meeting was called, 
 and largely attended, in the Town Hall, and an effort was made to have 
 the grunt given liy St. Catharines rescinded ; y>'X the directors, supported 
 by th(! majority, wore of opinion that eventually the road would be built 
 by some company who knew its value "as a connecting link between the 
 lakes. On this meeting the Journal remarks : — 
 
 "We are pleased to see that no opposition exists against the investment 
 on the part of the town in a railroad uniting the Iak«'s ; and the taxpayers 
 only retpiire some evideiuv that the work will be accomplishe<l, and their 
 money not expcmled on a short line that wouhl nevor pay." 
 
 The Victoria Bridge was now connnenced, atul it afforded Mr. M. great 
 pleasure to know that his friend, Mi-. Keefcr, was successfid in having his 
 plan in general foi' the .same adopted. 
 
 A most determined assault on the Churcli ot England heie was made 
 during the previous year, V>y raising a te.st (jue.stion in the civse of the l\ec- 
 tory of St. James, which was put in Chancery, and was the beginning of a 
 quick series of Parliamentary warfare, which njsulted in the abolition of the 
 Clergy Reserves from the time honoied institution, and alienating the clergy 
 property. 
 
 In November the Clergy Reserves Bill passed the House. One of the 
 best moves in the House was a bill brought in by our subject for the estab. 
 lishing of arbitration courts similar to what is known as the Prwihomrm', in 
 France, whereby nmch useless and expensive litigation is avoided, although 
 the Bill was favourably rect ived in the House, yet the lawyer members are 
 said to have actually "killed it with kindness." 
 
 " We see, from time to tinm, threats held «)ut liy .some respectable 
 members (jf the Press, respecting the crusade that is to be waged against 
 RonuuiisMi in this piovinc(! ; the approximate cause of this unexpected 
 crusadt^ is, that tin; Lower (Canadians have assisteil the Reformers of Uppei- 
 Canada in secularizing the Clergy Reserves." — Jounud, November 16th. 
 
412 
 
 Are we not forced, under the incontrovertible argument of facts, to ac- 
 knowledge, after a quarter of a centuiy, the soundness of these prognostics, 
 and, that the crusade has commenced, the facts of Jiistory attest the sound- 
 ness of the principles thej are founded on, that the Church of England ix 
 the bulwark of Pnjtestantism. If this pro[)hpcy has been fultilh'd, and 
 Lower Canada has imposed Catholicism on y\K, (he problem for the ediiiated 
 colonies now is to give the li-berty to the individual, his religious Ixilief 
 included, that was enjoyed under church and state ; for this we nuist reform 
 the Clergy Reserves Act, and restore the rights of holding land to the Epis- 
 copal body. 
 
 It was noticed on page 69 of this work that a church was built here, in 
 which our subjeat's father partici|)ated, and an Episi'opal clergyman iiL St. 
 Marks, Niagara, at a prior date. This was before the celebrated l)ishop, 
 John Tonmto, had emigrated to the country, or had joined the Ei)iscopal 
 body. Rev. J. Stewart, of King.ston, the fathei' of the Archdeacon, came as 
 a missionary with the refugees, and consequently represented the establishnd 
 church ill America, more Jian sulisequent incumbents ai)pointed from the 
 old country, but the history of the church in this country tlates to the acces- 
 sion of William of Orange, in which some of the names, if not the direct an- 
 cestors of our subject, suffered persecution for their faith. 
 
 This a|jpears in the colonial documents. Vol. 3, page 673, describing 
 the events in New York which followed the English Revolution on IGtli 
 August, 1689. 
 
 Depriving the Clergy of Canada of their land, although injudicious :is a 
 measure of staUi, was of ultimate servict* to the Episcopal body, by remov- 
 ing the prejudice among the community which the further possession of this 
 endowment would occasion. 
 
 Mr. Merritt published a pamphlet advocating reciprocity in mamifiic 
 tures, after the principle of the far-famed Zolverin, which was so succ(!SHfiil 
 in North (Jermany, entitled, "Remarks on the Kxtensioii of Reciprocity l>i' 
 tween Canada and the IHiited States, (now Comprised in the (Jrowtii ;ni(i 
 Pioduce of each,) to the Manufactures, Shipping and Coasting, and KsImIi. 
 lishing a (Joniniercial System Ada[>ted to (Tcograiihical Position of Canailii, 
 by VVm. JFamilton Merritt." 
 
 First, the re[iort commences Viy pointing out the causes which diverted 
 the trade of tlm St. Lawrence!; also its diminnLiun with (treat Ibitain, her 
 North American possessions — the West India Ish •, and all other parts of 
 the world. 
 
 ITnder free trade, we have lost all direct foreign intercourse by tlm St 
 Lawrence, and the capital expended in our canals, connecting thai ii\t r, 
 without creating a single cotton, woolen or iron manufactory, a home 
 market, or any other ecpiivalent whatevoi-. 
 
413 
 
 These disastrous results were not caused by the adoi)tion of the principle 
 of free trade, the soundness of which cannot be conti'overted. The name 
 has l)('(!n used wit]io\it its spirit ; free trade without removing customs 
 dut^(^s is a fallacy. The etlect of the policy of the late Sir llobert Peel, not 
 to extort iteciprocity from other countries, was to lessen the price of the pro- 
 ductions of ('anada ono-iifth (the exact amount of the duty imposed) as com- 
 pared with the like articles in the United States. If, therefore, it was the 
 interest of Great Britain to adhere to this policy, it is clear that the princi- 
 jile cannot apply, or that the commercial interest of the United Kins^'dom 
 
 and (Janada are averse to each other. 
 
 Journal, Nov. 29. 
 
 " We give to-day a pamphlet by the Hon. W. H. Mcrritt, including the 
 it'port of the Commiitee on Commerce', on which we alluded in our last 
 nuudier, and beg leave to direct the attention of our readers on section the 
 Itli (»u mfinufactures. By this wdl be seen the great disparity between the 
 iluties imposed by the two countries, and tlif remedy pioposetl, viz., laying 
 the same duti(!s on manufactures hero, as are laid on liy tiie United States. 
 
 " Also a number of lo(;al liills, amongst which was a petition frcjui A)y. T. 
 Mack and others ])raying for a grant of incorporation for a Marine Hospital 
 at St. Catharine.s." 
 
 The House closed on the IHth Dec, after having accomplished a great 
 deal of legislation. The Oiimean struggle still lasted before Sebastopol, 
 and the thrilling news of the desperate engagement at Inckermau had just 
 arrived in time to furnish a fruitful topic for the holidays. 
 
 1855. 
 
 3Ir. Merritt returned home on the adjtjurnment of the House, and the 
 holidays were passed in the usual way, with visitors and othei' amusements. 
 Our subject's health was a little disturbed at this tinm, and rest from 
 the continual bustle of business and jmlitics was much needed. One of his 
 Krst acts was in looking after the W. K. K., and we find him going with 
 the engineer, Mr. Woodruti', to Slab Town to see the location of the line to 
 Port Colborne, going up the mountain. The winter this year was extremely 
 cold, .so that vei-y little progiess was made. 
 
 Journal, Jan. i. 
 
 " Thk AD.ioUKNMKNT.^The Provincial Parliament stands adjourned 
 till tlu! 23rd Feb., and it now renuiins for both parties in the House, as^also 
 for the country to rellect on the past, and form plans for the future. The 
 <)p|iositiou will have time to ch<'W the cud of sweet and bitter meditation, 
 wiiile the party in [lowei- will have time to arrange tiiose measures still in 
 abeyance, some of which are of constitutional importance to the country ; 
 as, tor instance, tht; fonnatioii of the Legislative Council, on a basis more ni 
 keeping with the elective pi'inciple now prominent in all our institutions. 
 
IHI 
 
 Ml 
 
 * * Tliirt can \m the only juHtficution for tlie courso udoptod by tlioHe 
 j^nniloiiKiii wlio lifivo liitcily joiiK^l tlic AdiiiiiiiHtiMtion, at, tlio «^x|)onHo of 
 Ummt piiity. 
 
 Jonriud, Jan. 25. 
 
 " Wo look for a larj^o incrcuHH of (Mhigiiilion to this conntry fui many 
 ycai s to (■omii, of tho vory licst inatiM-ial. It will ho incif-jiHcd mainly hy th(> 
 Know NotI ing, and Native A'nioiicani«ni of tho dnited StatcH. Ilcrt', this 
 (•hi.s.s of iicr.sonsiire iioifoctly ut lionic, they havf* no tinn* to .spend in ordfsr 
 to enjoy and oxorciHo all tho lights of citiz(<nship. Hoie, also, evoiy man 
 is placod on oqnal torinn hcfoio law, a.s it iej;iii(ls religion, and long may it 
 he ho; and wo venture \m .say it will contiinie Lo hti so, nt)twithHtandiug the 
 etfortH made by some few of our public men." 
 
 On the 2()th February he I'lft for t^uebec, going by way of the border 
 States, acroinpaiiied by the author. 
 
 Dining tho adjoui-nuient of the liouso, ijonl KIgin had loft the country, 
 and was suc(!eoded by Sir Kdmund TIead. 
 
 The great Parijj Kxpoaition caused some .stir this yeai-, our subject having 
 in the last year received a commission as one of the delegates from (Jauitda, 
 but which he declined to accept, and the author being anxious to vi.sit Ku- 
 rope, accompanied him to t^uebec, iiiid, through his inlluence, got the com 
 mission, mid leave of abstwice for the pur|>ose ; but on a clo.ser examination 
 of the matter at head (quarters, he found that Canadians had no lair repre- 
 sentations, as, with the exception of Mr. Tache, there were no prominent 
 men on the commiHsion fm her, .so that his auxiety to visit loreign parts 
 cooled, and he decined to use the commission of representing the country. 
 
 in Parliament little was done save passing a iVliliti.i Act, in accordance 
 with the re(piest of Karl (irey's report. 
 
 The greatest activity prevailed in business ciichrs, as everytiiing was 
 now moving at railway speed. Uii the Hth of March, iluring our suiiject's 
 absence, the great Suspension bridge over the Niagara Itivei was opened 
 for railroad tiatlic, the liist train of passtMigers having passcul over insid(! of 
 six niontiis Irom the opening of the (J. VV. l». II. It was well and truly 
 said to be u great undeitaking, reflecting credit on all concerned in its con- 
 struction. 
 
 The subject of water works was brought luifore the people of St . ( 'athiu, 
 vines, and £100 voted for survey of the same. A proposition was also carried 
 by the Council to appropriitti- anoth<>r £25,000 in aid of the \V. R. H. .A 
 $100,000 obtaiiKfil frtini the Municipal lioan Fund having been expended 
 on gas stock and in other local improvements. It explained that unless 
 tho asked-for £25,000 was forthcoming, the sum already .spent on the road 
 would be lost. In conseipieiice of this, a by iaw was submitted to the 
 ptfople , but was negatived by a majority ; the same by hiw was again sub 
 mitted towards the ciul ot the year and pa.ssed. 
 
 The gas works of St, Cutliarines was now in opeiation, and 36 street 
 
 M 
 
I by tlioHe 
 
 XpOllHt! of 
 
 fi)r iiiaiij 
 Illy l>y Uki 
 llcic, tliin 
 I ill order 
 (Vi!ry iiiiiii 
 ►tig iiiiiy it 
 Lin ling the 
 
 Ji«! border 
 
 in (Hiiiutry, 
 
 )('(;t luiviug 
 III (Janadii, 
 I visit Ku- 
 
 t till' colli 
 
 x.'iiiiinatioii 
 lair mpre- 
 iiroiniiicnt 
 
 •oigii parta 
 o uouiitry. 
 locorilance 
 
 thing was 
 
 iSul)JHCt'H 
 
 IS opiMiod 
 iiiHidoof 
 iiiid truly 
 ill its con- 
 st. Ciitlia. 
 so carriwd 
 |{. |{. A 
 •x|)(Mi(hid 
 Ii;it iinh'ss 
 III t.luj road 
 cd to tliH 
 igain aub- 
 
 M't rttretit 
 
 liinipH, iiiid the lighting of tho ciiikiI mid Thorold, added to the uttractionK 
 of the lociilily. Another iiii|(oiljiiit local event was thn ofM^ning of tho 
 HtoplioiiHon House and iniiieriil l)aths, followo<) soon after l>y the VVelland 
 House. < Jreat I'.xertioiis \V(ue iimde to eoni|»h^tt> those iiiiildiiigs, as, siiico 
 the riiilwiiVH were liiiislied, a, great many travdilers stoppod at St. (Vitlia- 
 riiie.s. The mineral waters of this t.own owe tlioir celebrity t,o the fact 
 that iiumeioits cures of long standing ili,seas»is have been eH'ected by tjieii- 
 use. Vov m.'iuy years the niedicimil iisisof the water were iiiiknown beyuiid 
 the locdily, until \V. Ff. Mei'ritt, dun., if^turned IVoiii (1 Miiiaiiv Ilia exiie- 
 rieiicf at I he wati-riii!.; places t.hero cauaed liini to remai k the resemblance 
 tin walei- liDci- Id those; he iiidiieed Col. Stephenson to go on with the hotel, 
 which, Ix'aring his iiaiiie, is now a monument to his enterprise. Since then 
 the grejit establishment of the Spring |]ank has bewn perfecto<l, and as an 
 hotel Mid sanatorium, inider the seientitic managemenf, of |>r. 'I'heophiln;) 
 Mack, M I), has aci|iiiied a repiit.ation nniivalleil on the continent, as 
 every aj.iilianrc which iiiencc can bri»g to thi" aid of the uHIicted may Jje 
 found here. 
 
 ( >n the declaration of war, the Allied Heets in tlie (.'entral Pacific;, sailed 
 to t!«' Siberian coast, and appeared belore lii« Kussian possessions in A.iia, 
 and, after a naval and land engagement, in uliich several se.s.seis weie 
 destroyed, I licy departed, leaving the approaching wintei' to (•omplete the 
 blockade. Towards the i|i);e of the war, another and iiiore numerous expe- 
 dition ueiil over till' same roiitrs and attacked I'etropaulaski, which they 
 biiriifd and afterwards blew up, (hereby destroying for the tinier all UuHsian 
 powei oil the I'acilic. ,\ Iter acc<)niplisliing these feata, the Heets departed, 
 and on the proclamation of peace, the llii.ssians again entered into possession 
 of Ihcii Iciiiioi}. It ma} s'mim beyond the piii |iose of .i work of this kind 
 to mention those matlcrs, but it is done to shew tli.it had (Jreat i'ritain any 
 solicitude, for her American posHes.sioiis, she would have made (Janada a 
 prt!sent of Alaska, and we doubt if at the time any nation would have ipie.s- 
 tioned her right to do so. Since then it has b(;en purcliased by the IJ. S. 
 (iovei'iiiiieiit, and now remains a standing thorn on our most northern boun- 
 dary, and a inonument of I'liitish thought leaaness towards the ultimate 
 inteieits of lier distant dependcmiies. 
 
 hilling this sessson, Im, as chairman of the Finance Committee, opened 
 correspondence wilJi the pro[»er parties in the different 15. A. Colonies, in 
 (biding the West, fndie.s, in lefereiice lo the state of tlit^ir trade. He also 
 published his views on the subject of Intercolonial trade, shew ing the nmiiv 
 advantages Canada niiglil derive from a closer connection with her sinter 
 colonics. 111 iespoii.se lo the ciriMilar, liarl (Jrey, tlie Colonial Minister, 
 expre.s.sed liia dissent, and the matter dr()p|ied, so that we doubt if we are Htiy 
 nearer to the accoinpliahment rif thja idea yet. 
 
416 
 
 In a lottor from Quobeo, bo tliuH exp'-eHses Iiis views on tlic prcsoiit 
 Htato of iiirairH. and couHi<lorinf; tlio oliango brouglit aliout l>y coiift delation, 
 w«' may state that the idotw avii ahiiost proj»h«!tic. 
 
 " 2()tli May -The session lias heeii vor} long and iinsatislactory, and f 
 am pleased to think it near its closi^ 'J'/i<; t'niou loill In: (llsso/ri'il liij'ore 
 fivn V/CW.V, and 1 (pn'stion whetlici-anotluM'stiHsion of Upper Canada iinunliers 
 will evei- sit again." 
 
 From the earn(*st nnmner in which thc^ other colonies entered into onr 
 sultject's ideas on free trade, it would seem to destMve more than a passing 
 notice, and shews that however willing Ureat Britain was to extend her 
 own trade, the imperial Government were not so anxious that the colonies 
 could act in the same manner towsirds one another. We are sorry that Mr. 
 M.'s statements did not turn out as la^ wished, and can only see in this 
 case an unnecessary piece of Imperial acting, assisted hymen in (,'aniida, 
 whose position should have uiade tlnun h;gislate lor Canada //v.v/. We know 
 that oui' subject felt greatly annoyed at the acti<ju of the Government in the 
 matter, and although we occasionally hear something about colonial trade, 
 yet tlm following despatch will convince those Canadian well-wishers that 
 there are other inrtiionces to be ap])ealed to l)efore the ol)j(>(.'t is accomplished. 
 
 The following from the ('olonial Ministei' is cpioted:^ — 
 
 (Circular.) 
 " DowNiNd Strekt, llth Aug., 1855. 
 
 " Sir, — Her Majesty's Government would regard the proposed arrange- 
 ment as very objectionable ; on the giounds, lirst, that it would separate 
 comnnucially, so far as such an arrangemcint is eont;erned, the colonies who 
 entered into it from the rest of the emjtire ; Secondly, that it would be 
 injurious, not only to tin; interest >f the consumers in the colonies, who 
 were a party to tla* airangement, bub to the interests of the producers in 
 every other part of the Empire ; and thirdly, that it would be inconsistent 
 with the Imperial policy of Free Trade. 
 
 " It is th(» earnest desire of Her Majesty's Government to ninintain and 
 extend a course of policy which shall closely unite together by ties of uni 
 tual interest tlii; whoh^ of Hc^r Majesty's (.'olonial Kuipirf; with I he mother 
 countiy. To such a policy any measures tending to forui the colonies int(» 
 separate groups with pcMridiar and exceptional commercial r(>lations, woidd 
 be opposed, and lltM' Majesty's (Jovennnent, therefore, trust that they will 
 not be asked to submit for Her Mnjesty's approval Acts oi' (Ordinances 
 giving effect to measui'es of that chai'iu;tei\ 
 
 •* I have the h(jnor to be, sir, 
 
 " Your most obedient and hundiii' servant, 
 
 "(Signed) WM. MOl.KS\V< )KTH." 
 
 "Sir Edmund Hkad, Governor, tfec, ifcc, Canada." 
 
 On Nov. 'J2nd, the report of W. K. R. Kngineer says : 
 
 " Iron is laid down ; we have gol the right of way to Tlioroid Station, 
 nearly b miles; K^ acres, to St. Cathaiines, co.st S'*^--l, and lU acres more, 
 costing |;lL*Ot>." 
 
 
417 
 Jovmal, Dec. (ith. 
 
 "On tlio comiilolioii of (lie Ruiliojid from Poit, I )iilliouHio. A vote of 
 tlif tii\--|t;i,yt'r.s of tliis town Wiis (;ik('ii, Inst, 'riimsday, coiifirmiiii;- a by-law, 
 jrrantiii;;- £■_'.">,( MM) in nildilioii to t.lic sjiiiic sum, voted somt^ time ago, to 
 build ;i liiilioad and Imy :i lioat, uniliii^' St. Catliariiies with Toronto. 
 Tlitirf is no use now in any })firty i'i"4icttiiii,' this invfstniont on tlio part of 
 tho tax ))a.y('rh thai the work lie |iroinotcd and iinisln'd as soon as possible. 
 The calculatioiis wliifh lia,v»> Imcii submitted, in order to induce men to 
 withhold their opjiositioii, may or may not. lie realized ; but the .sooner the 
 road and boat are put into t)p(<ration tlu^ better. 
 
 JonrvaK Dei'etuber l.'Uh. 
 
 " 'I'he Hon. W H. Merritt'.s |)oliey. The late aniuinciation of Mr. 
 Merritt's policy, urging the extension of Reciprocity to manufacturers, as 
 well as ('Very otht-r thing, does not met^t with the a|tprobati()n of the Pro- 
 vincial Press, as we sei; by our (^changes. By sonu' it is thought imprac- 
 ticable, situated as we are in reference to Great Bi-itain, amX by others shows 
 folly, supposing no such dithi'ulty existed as that jiresentetl by colonial posi- 
 tion. 
 
 "There is, however, an almost united t«!.stimony given in favour of pro- 
 tecting our manid'actuiei-s, and in decrying our present duty of 12i per cent. 
 as amounting to aiiythin",' in the shape of protection." 
 
 In the middle of December, the |{. !!. from Hamilton to Toronto was 
 opened with great ceremonies, and tlio author was pleased to meet Mr. Bidwell 
 of New York, thfic In a letter to onr subject at the time, Mr. Bidwell 
 savs : - " 1 should not lia\e nunc it' I had not, expected to meet the leader 
 of inteinal imjuovenients." This letter refers to the changes observable in 
 all the railroad celebrations, wherein, with the income of British capital, 
 also came new management, totally igiuiring the pioneers of impi'ovements, 
 only t,o be followed by the general suicidal competition of railroads to our 
 water comnninication l>v the St. Lawrence. 
 
 J. 8 5 6 . 
 
 In the formation of the St. ('atharines (*ouncil tiiis year, two rising- 
 young men niaki' their liist appearance, viz.. Mr. .1. <i. Currie and W. 
 McOiverin -Mi-. Bykert and Mcirilt lieing J-JecNes. 
 
 At the meeting of the stock holdeis of the Niagara Histrict Bank, out 
 subject was chosen President. 
 
 Now comes tlif gratifying news of the European <pnet ; the popularity 
 of Walker's tilibusterinii campaign in (Vntial .America is aJ.so on the wane, 
 and tht^ dove of peace appt^ars with the opening .spring, attended with itii 
 usual prosperity. 
 
-lis 
 
 On 2Gth May, a ('lian;j[e of Ministry took place, in consequence of the 
 resignation of Sir Allan MacNab. in .June the railroad to Port Dalhousie 
 was opened. 
 
 The House assembled again in June, when an alteration in the charter 
 of the W. R. R. was askeil for, requesting an extent of capital. An offer 
 was made to transfer the management to the town, as the Council were in- 
 creasing in their opposition to the directors. 
 
 Mi. Merritt l)rought in an A(!t to incorporate the Queenston and St. 
 Catharines Railway Company, but the scheme failed so entirely that they 
 were never able to commence it. 
 
 His labours during the session comprised many useful moves — sue" 
 as a written constitution, and preserving the lands for education. 
 
 The House was prorogued on the 3rd July. Soon afterwards he left 
 for England by way of New York, sailing on the steamer Africa on 24th 
 July. His mission to England was for the purpose of getting stock for the 
 enlargement of the W. R R. and other matters. He arrived safe in Liver 
 [)ool on 3rd August after a rapid [jassage. 
 
 Arriving in London on the 31st, he stopped at his new quarters^, 
 the British (>)ffee House, ('ockspur Street. After attending to the business 
 of his mission, auvl finding some time must elapse before anything could be 
 •lone, he accepted an invitation to visit Wales, and see the great Menia 
 Bridge. His travelling (;om[)anions were Sir Cu.sack and Lady Roney, 
 Messrs. Gait, Ross, Holmes, ami a son of the Hon. R. Baldwin. They also 
 visited the slate quariies at Carnarvon, and the public works at Holy Head, 
 and on retuining he went to see the steamship O'reat £astern, then building, 
 and exjircsiies himself please«l with his trip. 
 
 As an inducement to the PjUglish capitalists, Mr. M. liad truthfully 
 represented to them that the ^or[)oratioti of St. Catharines had taken $200,- 
 000 stock in tlie R. R. The ca}»italists on their part from general principles, 
 took the balance of the stock, which amounted to two-thirds (jf the whole. 
 
 D>ii-ing his stay \u^ visited, on invitation, Mr. Betts, the contractor, also 
 Sir J. Easthope, at his seat in Weybridge. In this manner he passed his 
 time, not without a view to the object of his mission. These gentlemen 
 wei*e of essential service to him, and at a meeting \vith Mr. Dales, the con- 
 tractor, they agi'eed with him to take ten per ceni. of the stock, and finish 
 the road for the capital suV)sciibed, Mi. Benjamin Dales preceding our sub- 
 ject to America on this business. His object being imw accomplished, he 
 prepared to return, and left Liverpool on the 15th October, arriving in St. 
 Catharines on the 2nd November. 
 
 During his absence the fine steamer Wellanrf was burned at her wharf 
 flt Port Dalhousie, involving a serious loss to the owners. 
 
 His return is thus refeiTed to by the Journal, December 1 1th :■ — 
 
■ir.i 
 
 "St. Catharines and Progress. — Mr. M. deserves well of the whole com- 
 munity, for the Kiiccrssfiil t'Horts lie has niado in connection with tlie pro 
 jected road, (^nr four niilfs wmdd not liavi> paid. * * * Wp, h*pe 
 the people will duly ippreciatf^ the .services of Mr. M." 
 
 At the request of the Mechanics' Institud- Ik^ delivered the opening lec- 
 ture for the year, choosing for his snltjoct, "Canada, her Position and Pros- 
 pects." At the close of the month, a public dinner was tendered to him, 
 whick he declined with thanks. 
 
 18 5 7. 
 
 On February 10th, appeared the abstract of the balanc* sheet of 
 the financial state of the town, sliowin',' that the expenditure for IocrI im- 
 provements in I8.'')r» amounted to the enormous sum of i?197,237.'2fi, or nearly 
 half the amount of the whole debt contracted for improvements. The finan- 
 cial crisis occurring in the latter part of this year, rendered economical mea- 
 sures necessary, with what success lliis duty was performed remains to be 
 seen. The members rho.sen wei-e K. S. Adams, T. H. .Merritt. M. Battle, 
 J. G. Currie, Wm. McGiverin, Wui. Davis, R. Collier, P. Marren and F. 
 Stinson. 
 
 Mr. Merritt considered the sup[)lying of coal f«i' the use of Canada would 
 form one of the sources of revenue for the Welinnd Railway, through a short 
 branch at the northern terminus, the altitude would be obtained, suflicient 
 to throw it into the hokls of vessels. 
 
 The House was opened in Toronto on the Iftth Ftjb'y, by Sir K. Head, 
 the new Governor. After the usual speecli, which echoed the remarks of 
 his predecessor, congratulating the House on the Clergy Reserves settlement 
 the Elective Council and the Seignorial Tenure. Important papers wer» 
 laid before the House containing.' de^ptc'eH from F.ngland in reference to 
 the actions of our subject, as Pi\',si(lei!u -ji' the Finance Committee in the 
 matter of intercolonial free trade, already referred to. 
 
 Hon. Mr. Morris, of Brockville, wiites on January Sth. in reference to 
 the pamphlet of last year : — " Vour (|uiel lilt on Hincks was capital. The 
 seed of intercolonial free trade lias taken root in Barbadoes, and do what 
 he may, he cannot now retard its growth." 
 
 A meeting of the Town Council v/as held for the purpose of endeavour- 
 ing to withdraw their stock from the VV. R. H., and di.spose of the same. 
 In striking contrast with ibrincr articles on the subject of this railroad, we 
 quote from the Journul, May 14th ;- "Thure is a fearful day of reckonin;^ 
 «.t hHnd for those who have induced miniicipfclities like ours to become 
 
420 
 
 I 
 
 ^amblors in raili-oiuls. Honest mon will not only have to pay their own 
 liabilities, hut wo f»iar will Imvn to pay thusn of others," (fcc. 
 
 nonimdut on sncli articloH is uiinecesHary, after those quoted from the 
 same journal in favour of tho ropr«sentations usod by our subject in getting 
 the stock taken in England, founded on the former view. 
 
 The loss of tiie steainur We.Uarul, and another difficulty with the G. W. 
 R., whoHf! manamn- refused to allow the line to cross his own en a level, 
 after many thousands of pounds had been expended in that grade, made it 
 ni.'Cfssary for Mi'. Merritt to think of again returning to England for the 
 purposes of putting more stock on the market, as that already subscribed 
 was not sufficient to complete the road. 
 
 By the wishes of the English stockholders, during the session an Act 
 was passed allowing the W. R. R. Co. to increase their stock by $300,000 ; 
 $200,000 was reserved for England and the balance was to be taken in Canada. 
 
 On the Hth August, after hearing our subject's explanations, it was re- 
 solved by the Toronto Board of Trade that that city should take $50,000 
 stock in the W. R. R.; a similar encouiagement was received from other 
 cities interested, which we regret to say lias never been carried out. He 
 set out for a second journey to England soon after. 
 
 In writing from London, ho says that the first Sunday he spent was in 
 a visit to Windsoi', to see his old fiiend Col. Fitzgibbon. 
 
 In the summer the author was sent to prospect the coal regions of Penn- 
 sylvania, and ascertain the nearest point of production, with the intention 
 of effecting a communication with Lake Erie. This point was found to be 
 near the Alleghany, on Tuningwant Run, 100 miles south of Dunkirk. 
 
 Before leaving New York, our subject writes to the author, asking him 
 again to visit the coal mines of Pennsylvania, and gather all the informa- 
 tion possible about the prospect of procuring the coal used in Canada, by 
 way of the Welland R. R. 
 
 The arrangements with the Erie R. R. were made, and other connections 
 about being formed, when the hard times broke them up, and put a stop to 
 fuither proceedings, the Branch alluded to never having been completed. 
 
 On the arrival of our si bject in Ijverpeol, 6th Sept., he writes, saying: — 
 "The news from India is by no means encouraging for my object; spending 
 money to burn gunpowder has a tendency to make it scarce and dear. I 
 will not likely write again until my return." In this he was mistaken, as 
 the state of the money market compelled him to remain in England the 
 entire winter and ensuing Spring. 
 
 Immediately on his arrival, before the close of September, he succeeded 
 in obtaining £3,000 from Dales the contractor, which he remitted to Canada, 
 but too late to prevent the stoppage of the work on the road, which occurred 
 in October. 
 
421 
 
 A meeting of the sliareholdern was held in London, and was attended by 
 SirC. P. Roney and eight otliorH ; after lieariiig his cjLplauntioiiK, they agreed 
 to issue bonds for £20,0(»0, for the progress of the work. On lOth Oct., ha 
 found that Dalea and Co. were unabU' to raise the money to fulfil tlieir con 
 tract. 
 
 He left London for Scotland, and during the journey, btopped at diffe- 
 rent cities, and endeavoured to float bonds. 
 
 In September the first tidings of the approaching financial criaia in the 
 TT. S. had reached Canada, and the alarming utswa that .seven banks had 
 already suspended payment caused an uneasy feeling tliioughout the land. 
 
 In St. Catharines a large sum, far e.KcoH.Iing tlio abilities of the rate- 
 payers, was spent principally in work on St. Paul Street, and the system 
 of borrowing pursued by the Council, afterwards led to many dilHcultiea. 
 
 On the first of November, the people had to regret the death of George 
 Rykert, Esq., the President of the W. R. R., a life-long resideiit of St. 
 Catharines, and one always closely identified with the progress of the town, 
 in many useful acts, politically and otherwise, esteemed by our subject for 
 his many good qualities, and mourned for by a large circle of friends. 
 
 In consequence of his speech to the electors after the dissolution occa- 
 sioned by the defeat of the Hincks the Cabinet, in which ho said it was not 
 his intention to offer again for the constitu^incy, he left the mitter to the 
 decision of his friends, and devoting himsylf entii-ely to the riilway, toak 
 no great interest in the matter. 
 
 Journal, 1 7th December says : — 
 
 " The writs for this county have been received. The nomination will 
 probably take place next Wednesday. We would advise the friends of Mr. 
 Merritt to commence work iramecliately. Those in the western part of 
 the county are holding meetings every night, uud unless tiie friends of hon- 
 esty and consistency work, the representation may be lost to them." 
 
 1 858. 
 
 ken, as 
 ind the 
 
 In March, appeared the town Auditor's report, showing a reduction in 
 the expenditure of over one-half of the former year, and an increase of the 
 debt of $44,039.10. Under ordinary circumstances, this would have been 
 considered a favourable exhibit, all the improvements foi- affording ready 
 access to the town being completed, and at this time paying an encoui-aging 
 amount of interest. But under the circumstances of the times it produced 
 a panic, for which our subject was held responsible, and right or wrong, must 
 provide a remedy ; a view which, considering the sacrafices, he was now 
 making for them and the country at large, was unreasonable in the extreme. 
 
422 
 
 A short titiip incvioiiK tn \Tr. TM' iritt's arrival, a mcftinj? of the town 
 i'Oini(!il wiiK lioll, in wlii. Ii it win orclcrfffl tli.it the Fiiiaiioc (Jominittpp make 
 tlio hrtst terms tliny v.vi witl tln-ii- <'r(3ilitnrs (who wurn .1 . H. Cameron and 
 n'licrs,) and, fuilin^ in thi«, to |mii -liisi- any town |ii(j|»prtv ottered by the 
 !-lherifr. 
 
 Tn Murch h(i n'tiinifd tu Lnndnn, h ivinL( di-ipo-! mI of $17"), 000 worth of 
 hdiids. In Ii0n<lnri, |iri<ir to h:ivinu, hi' altcndcd tlie moeting of the civil 
 engineers with vnimy ol' them, iVoni thr confrcninlity of their pursuits, he had 
 formed an JicciuaintMncc. 
 
 Duriii;; his absenei", another eli'ctinu took [ilace, as noticed in the previous 
 p-ige, and althouL'li opposcxl hy Messrs, Clark mikI Morse, yet he was returned 
 by a majority of 77 over Itoth cnniidates. 
 
 On 21st May, he arrived home, and at once took hia seat in the Parlia- 
 ment, where he was occupied until the iGth August. 
 
 One of the excitements of this session w;is the formiition of a new Canadian 
 Ministry, wliich occurred .ibout the end of July, .•iml Wiis known asthelirowo- 
 Dorion (Jovernment. A straoire politieid I'arce occurred immediately after its 
 formition, which ended its brief existence of one day, and cau.sed Messrs. 
 McDOnald and Cartier to return to office. 
 
 lOth August, W. Merritt, .lun. was sent to lOnuland, to endeavour to sell 
 the reniainiujr stock, $l,0(tn,00O, which was now necessary, owing to the re- 
 sponsibilities undertaken by our subject whilst in England. 
 
 In August 5tli the first and only message received for many years arrived 
 over the Atlantic Telegraph, then considered successfully laid. 
 
 On the lyth of (Sept. the residence of Mr. M. wa^5 destroyed by fire, with 
 a portiou of its contents, the author being the only one of the family at home 
 durinjj the occurence. 
 
 Our subject being interested in doing justice to the American refugees, 
 and to perpetuate tlie memory of llicir parlicij)atiun in the conquest ef Canada, 
 and the subjict of centenary obseivauce.s having favour among the people, 
 it was thought the taking of Niagar.i by Sir Wm. Johnson would be a proper 
 date to commemorate, but was neglected from operations there. 
 
 On 8th Oct. the W. 11. K. was formally opened thrijughout, being honoured 
 with a visit from the (jovernor General. 
 
 Being opposed to a Confederacy -scheme, oursubject, the late session, moved 
 the following as an amendment ta Mr. (jalt's motion relative to a Federal 
 Union: 
 
 " Hon. Mr. JMerritt moved that the following words be added to the 
 said resolution, and that the said committee do also take into consideration 
 the propiiety ol preseiiting uu luinibh- address to Her Majesty, praying tliat 
 Her Majesty will be gracloll^ly pleased to authorize His Excellency the 
 Governor General to direct that titty Delegates be appointed by the British 
 
North Atnerifan Provinces, in Hticli luaiiiier hk If is Rxcf^llenoy iiiuv (iir«>ot, 
 and that tlm niiniluT of r)oU«j(nt»<s !iHsiL,au'il to •acli Provin<'f> hIiuH Im- in 
 proportion to its pi)|iiiliition ; and that tin' Dcjt'c^'ati'.s su iip|Miiiit('d sliall, at 
 the uomniiuid of His Kx'/fdltMicy tho Governor Gcucral, moot in cunveutioii 
 at siioh tiinn and plic^ as his KuuiihMii.'y may d 'siijiu itH for thi? purpose of 
 franiit);^ snt;h a < Jonsbitntion or (Jonstitntions for tlm sii I Provinctnas will, 
 in th) judifmont of th'i said deloijato'S, on luje t) tlui j^oneral \v«lfarH of th« 
 inhuhitiints tli(,'roi)f ; and tha* tln^ proc-cditi'^H of tliw said Oonv-'ntitui shall, 
 by His Exfidlcncv, Im tr.uisniittod to tht* InipHiiiil (Jov*<rum"nt for thy a.iiic- 
 tion of the Imperial Parliament." 
 
 On Nov. -4tli, till! author iittondi'il tlio fi-ntonary fulehratinn it Pitts- 
 liur<:;h, Ponn. 
 
 During the \Vint«r St. i/'atharinos suttficd hts.ivily hy a niinibi'r of disi-i 
 Irons fires feared to be tiiu work ol'ineon liarii's. Tin! nui.st .-^.Tiuiis on,- occurred 
 on the iiUth Jan., when IG stores and other buildin<is were con.-suuied, iiivulviug 
 a loHs of nearly !$ 100,00(1. 
 
 ]Oured 
 
 18 5 9. 
 
 In January of this year Mr. W. MerriU. Jr., returned from Kngland, 
 without aceomplisliin'^ the ot»ject of his mission to his s itisf:icti(in ; yet tlie 
 prospects ii^r l.iC railroad on the openiii;^ of navii:,;ition were j;ood, am] the 
 likelihood of a i;ood trade being done in transhipping grain, as tin! c.ipaeity of 
 the elevatorii) were about 5,000 bushi'ls per hour, which were satisfactorily 
 tested on the 5th of April, when the first vessel was emptied of her Cirirgo. 
 
 Ou the 4th of May the House adjourned, after passing 60 Bills. The 
 legislation was not of a very important eltaracter, as the time of the members 
 was principally taken up with discussion on the (juestion ui' a permanent seat 
 of Government. 
 
 On the 20th of May appeared for the first time the St. ('utharines D.iily 
 Journal, under the proprietorship of Mr. VV. Grant. 
 
 In July of this year, Mons. Blondin visited the Falls of Niagara, and, in 
 presence of assembled thousands, wallLcd aoro.ss the mighty chasm, which 
 divides Canada from the United States, on a eabh.' stretched from side to side. 
 
 On the 10th of August, our subject again Irft tlinadi for Kngland, on 
 business connected with the railroad; this time the authnr acompanied Iiim, 
 They crossed in the S. S. Angio SiLxua from Quebec, meeting her consort whip 
 coming out, in mid ocean. Arriving in Liverpool after a short ptssiire, they 
 at once proceeded to London, where r. M. turned his sole att^Mition to the 
 object of his visit. 
 
 On the IHth October whilst Mr. M. was in England the grand monument 
 to the memory of General Brock was completed, and inaugurated with imposing 
 ceremonies, in the presence of a vast concourse of people. 
 
424 
 
 m 
 
 We deem itnocfssfiry »*• t'lls jn'ri'Ml tn (li^ros.'; Munrwliiit IVoiii our iwirrativo, 
 in order to cull tlic; alltiiitinii (»f' tlio.-io of our readi-rs who tnkt' any intirt'st in 
 tlic curly history of tlu'cumntry to mouu' iiiiporttitit matters conncctt'd therewith. 
 During the adniinislration of liord D.ilhoUMii' in IH'Jt, a noeiety called tin" Lite 
 rary and llisturieal Society of (^iiult ■(! was fiMoidnl and received the patrcuiatie 
 (if succeeding; (iovern(Ms. l"'roiii the [leriod til' the Ifniitii, it hecame tin; appli- 
 cant and receiver of ainiual ;;rants of money from the lie;^islatnre. for the pur 
 poNC of collectin;>; manuscriptH and other doeument.s appertaining to Canadian 
 History. Ah this socitsty was distant from ('pp. r (.'anada, and appeared to 
 identify itself with Fnnrli Canadian History, tin; author, in lHr)S, whilst 
 the Parliament was in Toronto, sneciMMlcd, tlirouLih the iiiHueiiet! id" our sub- 
 ject, in getting copies of historical ilata, (Ixlore not allowed) tint of the (.'nuvn 
 Lands' Office, and the Kegistrar (lenerai's Department and othcrH, regarding 
 the early settlers and tin ir proceeilings. In eonset|ueMce til" this, tin the removal 
 of the Parliament to Quebec, in the same ye.ar a grant of money was left with 
 Mr. Ryerstm, through which a valiialile collection of historical works on Cana- 
 dian History were purchased for the Ntirmal School. 
 
 During the session of the next Parliament, which was helil at (Jjuisbcc, the 
 nuthur circulated a petition praying that the Htnise ;i.Hk tiiat more attention 
 be paid to Upper Canadian history. This {u'tititm was piosented by Mr. Mer- 
 ritt, and, with his usual energy, succeeded in getting a majority of English 
 speaking men)bers oi\ tht? Libr.ary t^•mmittc(^ whitdi henitofon! hail been exclu- 
 sively French. This unexpecteil success led to tiie iiuthor being appointed 
 to look after Upper Canaila ilocum 'nt.ir; history in Knglaiul and elsewhere ; 
 Ibr this purpose, he, (in company with his father,) visited Kngland. 
 
 The author opened a correspoiitlenc'! with tlu^ Coloni.il ( Mlioc, of which the 
 Duko of Newcastle was tin; head, for permissittn tti exanune the colonial docu- 
 ments. While .iwaiting this he attentleil the Mrilisli Museum, London Institu- 
 tion, ike., when, having received permission for that search in the titlicial docu- 
 ments, he procured copyists, and succeeded in giitting transcripts fron» au 
 immense amount of history connected with the early settlement of this country, 
 which, on his return h) Canada, was deptisiteil in the Parliamentary library, 
 and now forms a portion ol' the lO.dtMl Iblit) pages of manuscript known as the 
 Coventry documents, the publications from wliich will be very u.scful tti readers 
 of early history, as they have already been a valuable foundation for historians 
 to work upon. Jt is needless to add that our subject took a lively interest iu 
 this matter, which increased with his declining yeans, and lead him to attend 
 the meeting in Toronto, for establishing a Historical Society two years later. 
 
 After an absence of three nnmtlis, during which he took a look at Paris, 
 the author returned, leaving Mr. M. An instalment of money for the Kail- 
 road, much needed, arrived from England at the same time. 
 
 On the 14th December, a meeting of t he English .shareholders of the W. 
 
425 
 
 R. 11. was ImM in London, at wliidi our suliji-ct waH present, almost overy- 
 tliin^ in connt-ntiun with the niannireint'ht was ilincussi'd, and a pjood frdiii!:: ro- 
 }:;urdin;^ tlio road jin-vailt'd. Mr Mfrritt Jr. was clioscn nianajirur ; our subject also 
 received the thanks ol' tlie directors liu- Mm conduct in conneeti(tn with the same. 
 
 It cannot hut he unplea-aiit for the biographer to record that, after a lilt' 
 spent I'aithl'ullv, we bi'lieve, in the service of his eountry, and particularly so 
 in his native town, liimseH' and family were the subjects cd" financial einburrass- 
 nient. 
 
 |)uriri<r the absence of our subject, his son William ninnaired the affairs of 
 the road, and, for lack >>\' the expected reniitttmccs from Kiiiiland, ha<i a hard 
 struir^le, havinii; to keep the train> L,^>in!:; with his nwu ]trivate funds. How- 
 ever, a lar^e biisinesH was dointi on the road, which helped a little to stem tho 
 current, now snriiintr incessantly anain-st the enterprise. The troubles brought 
 about by the slieritl havinj; levied on our subject's premises, caus^ed Mrs. Merritt 
 and her son to visit Mayvilh;, wliere she disposed of her own property to 
 meet the threatened exceulion. 
 
 We find till! lolluwini; in the .A*«y««/ of Au^. 29th: — . ' 
 
 "At a meetinji; of the town Council, the following communication from Hou. 
 W. 11. IMerritt, now in England, sfntitiLr tint he had been assessed on personal 
 property to the extent of S1",<IU0, which is a trreater amount than he own.s, 
 and is exceeded by his debts" 
 
 The statement was supported by the following; affidavit, viz : — 
 
 " Hiram Slate III' tho town of St, ( 'atliarines, swearsthat he was in the employ 
 of Mr. Merritt, as clerk, at the time the assessment for the present year was 
 taken, and furnished the assessors with a statement of Mr, M.'s personal pro- 
 perty, and that :it the time the said statement was furnished, the debts owed 
 by him exceeded the value of bis entire personal property, and that the same 
 debts ronain unpaid, and further, that the facts as set forth in tim petition of 
 Mr. Merritt, relatinu to the assessment against him, are true in every particular. 
 
 • "HIRAM SLATE." 
 At the same meeting; the i'ollowinji' resolution was passed, viz. 
 
 "Moved by Mr. McGiverin, seconded by Mr. Marren, — that ou the KJth 
 diiy of Auiiust. 1858, this enrporatinn having contracted a loan of tln^ Hon. 
 W. H. Mirritt ibr the sum of .SliH.OUO, payable in fifteen months after date, 
 which matures on the lOth day of Novend)er next, this eorpuration deem it 
 expedient to take the .sense of the ratepayers, whi'ther the corporation shall 
 assume tlu' payment of the said sum, and that the M.iyor be, and is hereby 
 authorized to issue his proelainatinn, namimj: tfie first of (.k-tober next for the 
 takinti' of such vote — Carried.' 
 
 The result of this was that before the time of nieetini: arrived, a petition 
 siizned by Mr. S. D. Woodruff and 85 others was orijzinated, calling a special 
 meeting of the Council for the following reasons, as stated in the petition — 
 
 " Council Ch.\.mber, Sept. 30th. 
 
 "A. special meeting- of the Council was held thiseveidn<r at which the Mayor, 
 Messrs. Battle, Stins<in. Collier, .Marren, McfJiverin, Currie, Douaan and Duuu 
 were present, to consider the following petition ; — 
 
426 
 
 " To the Mayor and Oouncil of the 'I'own of St. Catharines : 
 
 " Gentlfinieu, — We, tht undersignod ratepayers, respectfully submit, in 
 regard to the action about to be taken in reference to the stock held by this 
 town in the Welland Railway, beg that your honourable body will postpone any 
 decision being had, as we believe that the Hon. \V . II. Merritt will dispose of 
 the said stock in the best manner, as may be for tlie interests of the town. 
 Under the circuinstiincos, we feel dispo.sed to allow him to exercise his own 
 judgu>eut in the matter." Signed by S. 1). VVoodruli and 85 others. 
 
 After some discussion on the above, the following resolution, moved by Mr. 
 Mcljiiveriu, and .seconded by Mr. (.oilier, was submitted and carried : — 
 
 " In compliance with a unanimously signed petition of the ratepayers of 
 this municipality, the Council deem it expedient to postpone the vote propo.sed 
 to be taken to-morrow, as to the tinal disposition of the railway stock held by 
 the Hon. W. H. Merritt, with a view of ascertaining whether such stock can 
 be disposed of by Mr. M. while in England. 
 
 At this meeting the resolution was passed, with but one dissenting voice, 
 which was that of Mr. Currie. 
 
 "It was then moved by Mr. Currie in amendment, and seconded by Mr. 
 Dougan, (the mover and seconder being the only persons,) favouring the 
 measure, ' That Mr. Merritt be notified by the clerk that it is not the inten- 
 tion of this Council to re-nurchase the railway stock heretofore transferred by 
 the town to him.' Lost." 
 
 He writes from England at this time, regretting his absence, and wishing 
 he could possibly be home at Christmas, also mentions calling upon young 
 Alfred Rykert, who was then sick in London. The year closed without 
 any important event occurring. 
 
 On the 24th of Nov , to the gratification of many, the first train of cars 
 passed safely over the great Victoria Bridge at Montreal. 
 
 1860. 
 
 The Parliament assembled in Quebec during February, but little was don,, 
 save a motion from George Brown, praying for a dissolution of the Union, and 
 the establishment of some just authority in accordance with the decision of con- 
 vention, a proceeding which strangely verifies the remarks of our subject given 
 in previous pages. 
 
 At the same time our subject was anxiously expected out, and the rail- 
 road matter deterred him from taking passtige on board of the ill-fated steamer 
 Hungarian, which foundered ofi" Cape Sable with all on board. 
 
 Mr. Merritt arrived in March, much to the joy of his family and friends, 
 who almost imagined him lost in one of the ill-fated Canadian 8teani.ships, 
 ot which three had perished within a short jjeriod. On his return he was 
 grieved to find JNLs. Merritt in failing health, the cares imposed on her 
 during his many journeys, added to the lo.ss of her commodious I'esidence 
 
ntins; voice, 
 
 md wishing 
 
 tifflicted her now, at a time, when tlie troublos which migJit, at an earlier 
 period, have been borne with equanimity. 
 
 On tlie 19th of April, our aubject appeared in hia place in Parliament. 
 The session, genorally speaking, had so far been iinimpoiUuit. The st-at (»f 
 Government question, the intended visit of the Prince of Wales, and other 
 matters compiised the legislation. On (Iih (pieKtion of a dissolution 
 of the Union he voted with the forty who weie in its favour, doing so from 
 a firm belief that the Union had been of doubtful henetit to any except the 
 French Canadians. He also endeavoured to obtain (jrovernment aid to the 
 Welland R. R. in their embairassed condition, but failed. This was hi;i 
 last act in the House of A8seml)ly. Tlie House closed on the 19th May. 
 
 On the 19th May, a vessel of 400 tons was launched by L. Schickluna, 
 in St. Catharines, named the Pride of Canada, and, freighted with a valu- 
 able cargo, she sailed direct for England. 
 
 Previous to Mr. Menitt's retuin from t^uebec, his son William, his real 
 representative in private and public ati'airs, was prostrated by a brauiai 
 stroke ; he rallied for a time, on the night when our subject got home, but 
 on the 26th of May, peacefully expired, his death no doubt hastened by his 
 tiuancial troubles, connected with his obligations to the Welland K. R., in 
 which his entire private fortune was involved. 
 
 Of his character as an individual it is unnecessary to speak, suffice it 
 that as churchv.'arden and councillor he was an estimable and enterprising 
 man, was universally acknowledged by the press at this time, and peopla 
 of his native town have givwn repeated testimony of Ids worth. 
 
 The loss of his son had a great effect on Mr. Merritt, whose usually 
 strong constitution seemed now comjdetely upset. In August he went to 
 Quebec to be present with tlie members of Parliament to receive H. R. H., 
 the Prince of Wales. The change for the time assisted to lift the trouble 
 fi-cm his sorely afflicted mind. He also attended the Oswego Board of 
 Trade. After the Prince of Wales left, he visited many places in the West, 
 during a week's absence, on a tour of the lake poi'ts. 
 
 On the 29th of .September, he was elect«>d by acclamation to the Legis- 
 lative Council for this di.strict at AUanburgh. 
 
 Under the superintendence of the author, the ruins ot" his late residence 
 were cleared ofi", and a new mansion built on tne same site, which the 
 family occupied in the Fall of this year. 
 
 The moving and excitement of the time seemed to benefit his health, 
 but the shock his system underwent at the death of his son, aiid the other 
 troubles he was subjected to. at lenuth seemed to tell on his iron constitu- 
 tion, which plainly shewed that a busy anil eventful life, even though 
 devoted to the amelioration of his kind, is not spent without the ordinary 
 penalties attached to humanity. 
 
428 
 
 Mrs. M. also at this tinifi becainr unwell, and for a year before lier demiso 
 was incapable of walking about Mrs. Mei-ritt's mediciil advisers tritMJ 
 the galvanic cure, and on one oci'asiou Mr. M. decided upon the sunn-, but 
 after trying the l)attery, he was seized with paralysis, whi(!li affected his 
 speech, and the use of one arm, from which he never completely lecovered. 
 
 At times our subject felt well enough to take short trips along the canal 
 or railroad, over the scenes of his busier days. 
 
 During this Winter, in a quiet way, our subject advised the establishing 
 of a line of large sized propellers in connection with the W. K. R., an idea 
 which was afterwards put in use, and proved of great advantage. He also 
 advocated the building and equipping of a line of vessels fiom Dunkirk to 
 Port Colborne, for the ]j>irpose of carrying the bituminous coal, which is 
 found in abundance in Pennsylvania. This idea has never been acted upon, 
 and the large business which might be carried on here, is suffered to find 
 other loutes. 
 
 18 6 1. 
 
 Sir E. Head, the Governor, who had gone to England during the Win- 
 ter, returned in March, and soon after called the Parliament together. Mr. 
 M. was present at the o])ening,and took his seat as a Legislative Councillor, 
 for the first tinu'. Whilst in Quebec, our subject opened a correspomlencc 
 with the Board of Tiade of Detroit, and others, in reference to the trade of 
 the St. Lawrence. During this correspondence we find that he goes 
 minutely into all details concerning trade and navigation, and ])roves con- 
 clusively that the only direct and cheap route to the ocean is by the St. Law- 
 rence. 
 
 He also had sevei-al interviews with the Government relative to <leep 
 
 ening the St. Lawrence; and, in fact, it would seem as if his entire thoughts 
 at this time was turned towards those ideas, which he had clung to during 
 his life. During his absence, his afflicted spouse did not improve, and iu 
 one of her letters to our suliject she says : — " Is it possible th.it I am here 
 yet. T have lived through anothc^r long Winter, for what purpose my God 
 only knows. I liope and trust that I will fulfil all his designs towards nie, 
 so that I may finish my course with joy." 
 
 The House closed in June, and after Mr. M. spending a j^lujrt time at 
 home, he decided upon going to see his friends in New Brunswick. He 
 went the entire journey by steamboat via Quebec to St. Johns, where he 
 received a hearty and joyous welcome ; yet his thoughts were homeward, 
 and, after remaining a few days, he returned, coming i)y railroad. On 
 reaching Brockville, he remained for a <liiy to if^st, and then came on to 
 St. Cathai'ines. 
 
jstablisliin<r 
 
 429 
 
 On his return he was gratified to tincl that the railway was doing a good 
 business, and he firmly believed that it would not take long to get over all 
 its troubles. He uftfi'wards went to Quebec and endeavoured to oriranize 
 a company, to be known as the St. Lawrence Navigation (k)., whose vessels 
 wei-e to carry grain from Port Dalhousie to Europe. The otters of aid to 
 this scheme were large, but the death of our sulyect seems to have put an 
 end to it for the pi-esent. In Se|)T,ember he whr visited by his friend. Chief 
 Justice Huliburton, ''Sam Slick" of N. S., who expressed himself delighted 
 witli St. Catharines and its environs. 
 
 The lit'alth of our sul))ect was visibly declining during the year, so that 
 he did not identify himself with local matters beyond the railioad. 
 
 1 86t. 
 
 On the 10th of January, he experienced another sad blow, in the loss 
 of Mrs. Merntt, who died rather suddenly, as she had been out in her car- 
 liage the day previous. She was in the 69th year of her age, and it is un- 
 necessary to say that her death was mourned by a large circle particularly 
 
 the poorer class, whom for many years she had befriended in almost every 
 walk of life. 
 
 The few months which now remained to complete the earthly sphere of 
 our subject were spent in various ways — in close communion with himself, 
 anil in putting his atl'airs in order. At intei\als he employed hiniseli in 
 looking over some workmen under Alexander Boles, whom he had employed 
 a half century before to sink an artesian salt well near his residence, occasion- 
 ally he dictated letters to his Parliamentary friends now on finance, again 
 on trade. With the approach of \\arm weather, hisi .edical advisers recom- 
 mended change of air, and lie decided uj)on going to the sea side. He ar- 
 rived in Port Ho{»e.accomi)anied by his daughter-in-law, Mrs. Wm. Merritt, 
 and faithful secretary, F. Tinmions. There he saw his old friend, and fel- 
 low prisoner of 1814, Capt. Rowe, and also Mr. Coventry. At Brockville 
 he prepared a hong document relative to inland navigation. He then went 
 on to Montreal, where he arii\ed very much worn out, but yet with his 
 mei:tal energy, aiid could Imi'dly be pursuatled from going farther. In 
 Montreal, he called on some friemls, and over-heated himself, which brought 
 on an attack of EiTsij.'jlas in the head ; the doctois gave him to understand 
 that his case was mcurabh;, and advised his speedy return. He was carried 
 on board the steamer Cho.mjnoH, antl on Sunday morning, the 3th July, as 
 that vessel was pas.sing through the canal at Coiiiwall, aWnost within sight 
 of the rapids, which had been his thoughts for a life time, the spirit so long 
 and so actively identified with this noble river, now took its tiight, and W. 
 H. Merritt was numbered with the dead. 
 
ERRATA 
 
 On page 159, for "Mr. Leslie," read, Mr. Lindsay. 
 
 On " 326, for " Mr. Lufonte," read, Mr. Lafontaine. 
 
 On " 11, for " Her Majesty's service," read. His Majesty's Service. 
 
\ 
 
 ty's Service.