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W^l^

E^KLl

^Y THE

NOTICES OV TOROOTO.

, „v. m. scii)i>»'«-

. ,.. -,,'_^_''--

W. C. CUKWETT & CO

lecT).

roRONTO:

., KING STREET EAST.

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EARLY NOTICES OF TORONTO.

BY THE EEV. DR. SC ADDING

f.^

-^1

TORONTO:

W. C. CHEWETT & CO., KING STREET EAST.
1865.

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|BMM>t'it'l"«WMIilJ^r"^'~"^'

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••^

• •

PRINTED AT THE STEAM PRESS ESTABLISHMENT OF W. C. CHEWETT & CO.,

KING STREET EAST, TORONTO.

%tx^^

PREFACE.

DO.,

Having in my possession a sketch of Toronto Harbour, taken by the
lat;. Sir Peregrine Maitland, shortly after he assumed the government
of Upper Canada, which several of those whose recollection goes so far
back have expressed a desire to see lithographed, I have now placed it
in the hands of the talented artist, Mr. Charles Fuller, who has kindly
undertaken to execute it. As an appropriate accompaniment of this
picture, I have obtained the permission of the Rev. Dr. Scadding, to
reprint his interesting " Early Notices op Toronto," which appeared
in a local periodical some time since. In his reply to my application,
Dr. S. informs me that it had been his intention, if the pubHcation
referred to had maintained its existence, to have followed up these
"Notices" with some further antique Memorials of this place and
neighbourhood. It is to be hoped that this intention will not be relin-
quished; and as it is certain that several of the descendants of the
original settlers are in possession of materials which, if collected and
arranged, would be invaluable to the future historian of our country, I
tl"ust that should these "Notices" meet the eyes of any of them, they
will permit me to suggest that they entrust them, or such portions of
them as may be deemed suitable, without delay, to the care of Dr.
Scadding, than whom I know of no one more likely or better qualified
to make the desired use of them.

SALTERN GIVINS,

Incumbent of St, PauVs, Toronto,

Toronto, Dec. 17th, 1864.

•^

• •

EARLY NOTICES OF TORONTO.

BY THE REV. DR. SCADDING.

The antiquarian in Canada has to sustain his mania on meagre
fare, so far as the land in which he lives is concerned. Quebec and
Montreal, in their early structures of solid masonry, present some
objects of interest; but elsewhere, for the most part, the traces of
the past are slight. A few grass-grown earthworks, a few depressions
on the surface of the green sward, are all the vestiges that will
reward diligent research; and even these are fast disappearing before
the builder and engineer. The remains of the old French Fort, to
the westward of Toronto, which used to be explored on holidays by
the rising youth of the place some thirty years ago, are now oblite-
rated by the new stone bar cks ; and certain pits and irregular
mounds, shewing the site of ^^^ first public buildings on the left
bank of the Garrison Creek utterly cut away in the construc-

tion of the Esplanade. Where the long government store-houses
and enclosures for ship building, with a quaint guard-house above,
stood within recent memory, distinctive objects and well known
reminders of the primitive day, the ruthless steam-excavator has
devoured down to the very rock.

For the re-construction of its infant history Toronto must have
recourse to the records of the original French settlements in the
country, and to the journals of early explorers. Impressed as we
live with the fact that our westerij capital is but of yesterday, and

that it received its present euphonious Italian-sounding name so
recently as 1834, we are somewhat startled at stumbling so frequently
as we do on the familiar and home-like Toronto in documents
nearly two centuries old.

The French settlers in Canada soon had reason to feel alarm at
the audacity of the English of the Atlantic seaboard, who were un-
ceasing in their efforts to draw away the trade from the channel of
the St. Lawrence. Their emissaries were everywhere, tampering
with the native tribes even in the territories confessedly French. In
connexion with proceedings of this kind the name of Toronto comes
tip in the year 1686.

M. de Denonville, the Governor General of the day, thoroughly
alive to the machinations of Col. Dongan, Governor of New York,
"who, in spite of general prohibitions from headquarters, will persist
in unduly patronizing the Iroquois, thus writes to the home minister,
M. de Seignelay, that *' M. de la Durantaye is collecting people to
fortify himself at Michilimaquina, and to occupy the other passage
at Toronto, which the English might take to enter Lake Huron. In
this way, our Englishmen will find somebody to speak to."

In the following year, however, this same Governor writes : " I
have altered the orders I had originally given last year, to M. de la.
Durantaye to pass by Toronto and to enter Lake Ontario at Gandat-
sitiagon, (about Port Hope) to form a junction with M. du Lhu afe
Niagara. I have sent him word by Sieur Juchereau who took back
the two Huron and Outaouas chiefs this winter, to join Sieur du Lha
at the Detroit of Lake Erie, so that they may be stronger, and ia
a condition to resist the enemy, should he go to meet them at
Niagara."

In 1687 it is decided that the Iroquois must be humbled, if the
French power in Canada is to be maintained. But to efi"ect this, it
is reported to Paris 3,000 men would be required. Of suck a num -

le so
ently
uents

rm at
e un-
nel of
)ering
la
comes

)ughly
York,
persist
nister,
)ple to
>assage
)n. In

s : " I

[. de la
}andat«
Lhu at
)k back
iu Lha
and ia
hem at

, if the
this, it
a num-

ber, M. de Denonville has at the time only one half, though, as the
memoir goes on to say *' ho boasts of more for reputation's sake, for
the rest of the militia," it is stated," " are necessary to protect and
cultivate the farms of the colony; and a part of the force n ust be
employed in guarding the posts of Fort Frontenac, Niagara, Toronto,
Missilimakinak, so as to secure the aid he (M. de D.) expects from
the Illinois and from the oth^r Indians, on whom, however, he can-
5iot rely, unless he will be able alone to defeat the five Iroquois
nations."

Toronto in these despatches lapses occasionally into Tarento,
Taronto, Toranto and Torronto.

After a brief prosecution, this war with the Iroquois is brought
ingloriousl^ to a close, the government of Louis XIV. being unwil-
ling to incur further expense. The Colonial minister writes out—
'* This is not the time to think of that war ; the king's troops are
too much occupied elsewhere, and there is nothing more important
for his service, nor more necessary in the present state of affairs than
to conclude peace directly with the Iroquois, His Majesty not being
disposed to incur any expense for the continuation of that war."
The truth being, that William III. having just taken possession of
the throne of Great Britain in the place of James IL, a war between
England and France was imminent.

In 1749, we find in the usual Journal of Canadian events periodi-
cally transmitted to France, directions given by Grovernor General
M. de la Galissonidre for the erection of a stockade and store-houses
at Toronto.

By this time, it appears the English of the sea-board had obtained
permission from the Iroquois to establish for themselves at the mouth
of the Oswego river — a '^ Beaver-trap," which speedily took the form
of a stone-fort and trading post. Here such prices were offered that
the trade of the North Shore was diverted thitherward. This Choue-

guen — so tlie post was named — became to the authorities at Quebec
a veritable Carthago ddenda. It not only damaged the Canadian
trade, but was an assumption of right and title to the Iroquois terri-
tory, which lay, as it was believed, within the limits of New France.
It was in connexion with the establishment of this hateful Choue-
guen, that Toronto was first fortified and made a French trading-post.

" On being informed/' says +he Journal above referred to, " that
the Northern Indians ordinarily went to Chouegnen with their pel-
tries, by way of Toronto, on the north-west side of Lake Ontario,
twenty-five leagues from Niagara, and seventy-five from Fort Fron-
tenac, it was thought advisable to establish a post at that place, and
to send thither an ofiicer, fifteen soldiers, and some workmen to con-
struct a small stockade-fovt there. Its expense will not be great, the
timber is transported there, and the remainder will be conveyed by
the barques belonging to Fort Frontenac. Too much care cannot
be taken to prevent these Indians continuing their trade with the
English, and to furnish them at this post with all their necessaries,
even as cheap as at Choueguen. Messrs, de la Jonquiere and ]>igot
will permit some canoes to go there on license, and will apply the
funds as a grat- ity Lo the officer in command there. But it will be
necessary to order the commandants at Detroit, Niagara, and Fort
Frontenac, to be careful that the traders and storekeepers of these
posts furnish goods for two or three years to come, at the same rate
as the English. By these means the Indians will disaccustom
themselves from going to Choueguen, and the English will be
obliged to abandon that place.''

From a despatch of M. de Longueil, in 1752, we learn that this
fort was named Fort Rouille, from Antoine Louis Rouille, Count
de Jouy, Colonial Minister, 1749-54. M. de Longueil says that
*' M. de Ccloron had addressed certain despatches to M. de la
Lcvalterie, the Commandant at Niajjrara, who detached a soldier to

cbec
diaii
;ern-
mcc.

lOUG-

■post.

' that

r pel-

tario,

Fron-

e, and

con-

at, the

'ed by

cannot

th the

5saries,

[ r>ig;ot

ply the
will be
d Fort
these

ne rate
custom
will be

lat this
Count
ys that
. de la
loldier to

convey them to Fort E-ouille, with orders to the storekeeper at that
post to transmit them promptly to Montreal. It is not known what
became of that soldier. About the same time, a jMississague from
Toronto arrived at Ninpjara, who informed M. de la Lavalterie that
he had not seen that ..oldier at the Fort, nor met him on the way.
It is to be feared that he has been killed by Indians, and the de-
spatches carried to the English."

One more extract from the same document will enable us farther
to realize the uncomfortable anglophobia prevalent at this itme at
Toronto.

^' The storekeeper of Toronto/' the despatch reports, ^' writes to
M. de Vercheres, Commandant at Fort Frontenac, that some trust-
worthy Indians have assured him, that the Sulteux, who killed our
Frenchman some years ago, have dispersed themselves along the
head of Lake Ontario, and seeing himself surrounded by them, he
doubts not but they have some evil design on his Fort. There is
no doubt but ^tis the Eusflish who are inducino; the Indians to
destroy the French, and that they would give a good deal to get the
savages to destroy Fort Toronto, on account of the essential injury
it does their trade at Choueguen.'^

Montcalm's destruction of Choueguen, in 1750, was speedily
avenged in 1758. Hannibal ante portas ! was no longer a false
alarm along the northern shore of Lake Ontario. The capture of
Fort Frontenac in that year, by the irrepressible English, counter-
balanced their loss of the stroni2;hold which commanded the en-
trance of the Osweii;o river; and iM. de Vandreuil is necessitated
to inform the minister, M. do Massiac, that '' if the English should
make their appearance at Toronto, I have given orders to burn it at
once, and to fall back on Niagara.'^

The last French order issued in regard to Toronto, was in the
following year. After stating that he had summoned troops from

••:

•••

Illinois and Detroit, to rendezvous at Presquisle, on Lake Erie^
M. de Vandreuil adds, — " As those forces will proceed to the relief
of Niagara, should the enemy wish to besiege it, I have in like
manner sent orders to Toronto, to collect the Mississagues and other
natives, to forward them to Niagara." All in vain. The enemy,
it appears, did wish to besiege that place ; and on the 25th of July
it surrendered — an event followed on the Ib^th of September, in the
same year (1759), by the fall of Quebec.

The physical conformation of the site of Toronto, must have
always rendered it a noticeable spot. Here was a sheet of quiet
water, lying between the mouths of two rivers, sheltered by a
natural mole of sand, which, extending itself gradually from the
highlands to the east, had striven to grasp the shore by a succession
of hooks. On this low barrier, groves of trees — often strangely
lifted into the air by the effect of refraction — were landmarks from
afar, guiding the canoe from every quarter of the lake, to a tranquil
haven within.

Two favourite interj;retations of the designation of the spot have
been " Trees rising oui of the water," and " The place of meeting,"
— the Rendezvous, or Chepstow, perhaps, as our Saxon forefathers
would have said — the Trading-place. But we are sadly in want of
an infallible authority to decide the signification as well as the or-
thography of native Indian names.

Some persons have very gratuitously suggested that '* Toronto "
is a perpetuation of the name of the engineer who constructed the
fort; but the fort, we see, was originally called "Kouille." Others
have thought that it was some such expression as "cut tour de la
ranch d' eaic,'* caught up and repeated by the Indians from the
French, as '^ Yankee," has arisen from an Indian effort to say
*' Anglais." I once thouG^ht it had some connection with the Gens
de Fetun — the Tobacco-tribe — the Tionnontates — who stretched in

relief
Q like
. other
snemy,
f July

in the

t have
>f quiet
d by a
oin the
ccession
trangely
fks from
tranquil

pot have
leeting,"
>refathers

1 want of
s the or-

Toronto '^
ucted the
Others
tour dt la

from the
brt to say

the Gens
tretched in

this direction from the west, and may have had here a Lonrrjadc
ox pogua. Kania-toronto-quat also, on the opposite side or' the lake
(now clipped down into Irondequoit, Monroe Co., N. Y.), said to
signify '^an opening into or from a lake," tempted to further
speculations on this subject. On mature consideration, however,
I think it not improbable that one of the native appellations of
Lake Simcoe has something to do with the question. This lake,
called by the French Lac le Clie, and Lac aux Claies, besides
Siniong or Sheniong — had also the name of Toronto. The chain
of lakes, extending from the neighbourhood of this lake south-
easterly, and discharging by the Trent, are called the Toronto
lakes; and the river Humber, once styled St. John's, was also
described as the Toronto river.

Though small in area-, and of slight elevation above the sea, yet,
as occupying the summit level of a vast water-shed, Lake Simcoe
is a very distinguished sheet of water ; and it is possible that several
water-courses and localities may have derived their designations
from their relation to it. Ouentaronh is given as one of its native
names ; and it may not be unreasonable to imagine that this is the
term, which has been gradually rubbed down, while passing from
trader to trader, into Toronto.

Although the Ottawa and the Trent were the high-roads from the
north-west to the east, the southward trail across the neck of the
peninsula, between the lakes Huron, Erie, and Ontario, along the
courses of the Holland river and the Humber, was, as we have seen,
far from being unimportant, and the terminus of this track was a
notable locality.* By this route came down many a pack of beaver ;

* That the trade of this post was not inconsWerablo. appears from a statement of Sir
William .lohuson, about eijiht years after the con<iuest from France. In a despatch to the
Earl of Shelbnrne, on Indiu-i affairs, in 1767, he allirms that persons could be found willing
to pay .£1000 per annum for its monopoly. As this document gives us some insight into the
commercial tactics of the Indian and Indian trader of the time, I transcribe a sentence or two
preceding the reference to Toronto:

::•

and here landed the war-parties of the Iroquois, whenever that
domineering confederacy found it necessary to make a demonstra-
tion amon<ij the tribes on the north-western border of the hike; and
here, from time immemorial, stood a native villa,i!;e. In an early
MS. map of the time of General Simcoe's administration, I re-
member seeing; sketched on this site a few acute-angled wigwams,
with the inscription, " Toronto, an Indian village, now deserted/'
The name probably indicated the landing-place for the portage to
the lake Ouentaronk.f

Some early maps give the name of the village situated here as
Tc'utVKjon ; whilst other authorities place this name in the neigh-
bourhood of the present Port Hope.

At the moment when the localities along the north shore of Lake
Ontario were receiving the names which their new owners were
pleased to impose, the star of Northumbria seems to have been in
the ascendant in the office of the surveyor-general for the time
being. Hence we see along the border of the lake, to this day,
Newcastle, Alnwick, Percy, Darlington, Whitby, Pickering, Scar-

" The ludmns have r\9 business to follow whftn at ponce," he pays, '' but hunting: : botwoeu
each hunt tliny have a rc^ci'ss of several uionths. They are naturally very covetous, aiid be-
come daily het'er acquainted with the value of our gonds and their own peltry: they are
everywhere at home, and trav 1 without ttie expense or inconvenience attending our journey
to them. On the other hand, every step our traders take beyond the posts, is attended at
least with some risk and a very heavy expense, which ttie Indians must feel as heavily, on
the purciiase of their conunodities ; all which considered, is it not reasonable to Hupi)ose that
they would rather employ their idle time in (]Ue8t of a cheap market, than sit down with such
plender returns as they must receive in their own villages? As a proof of which, I shall give
one instance concerning Toronto, en the north shore of Lake Ontario. Notwithstanding the
assertion of Major Rogers, ' that even a single trader would not think it worth atteutiiui to
supply a dependent post,' yet 1 have heard traders of long experience and good circumstances
athrm that for the exclusive trade for that place, for one season, they would willingly pay
;lil>)OU — so certain were they of a quiet market — from the cheapness at which they could, alford
their goods there."

The customs' returns gives the valne of exports from Toronto, in 1860, as $1,7S6.77'5. and
of imports in 1801, as $4,(Jl'.»,U'.). The receipts of the Corporation, in 18t)2, amounted to
$|)U2,2U7 74.

f Latinized by du Creux (see his map in Tlressanl's Rrhtfwn AhrcfjcK) into Lacus Ounri'
f(tr'iiiius. In a paper on the Ktyuiology of Ontario, in (he ('anailian Juartud, >;o. 4"J, 1 was
led. by an inaccinacy in the engraving of this map, to suppose that Lacus Ouenlaronius
Ueuoted LaKo Ontario.

tliat
nstra-
; and
curly
I re-
warns,
rted/'
tage to

lere as
neiiih-

of Lake
r3 were
been in
lie time
,his day,
c. Scar-

g : botwoen
)us. aiid be-
y: tliey are
jur journey
iittemltHl at
heavily, on
uppnsH that
11 with such
I sliall give
tandintz; the
atteiititni to
rcuuistanceH
•illiugly pay
could allord

7S6.77.'5, and
mounted to

Lacus Oum-
;o. 4J, 1 was
JucnUiraiuus

borougli. And hence it was that " York,'' up to 18^U, dislodged
*' Toronto '' from the map of Upper Canada.

Boucbette's well-known description of the harbour of Toronto;
as he found it in its natural state, in 1703, is as follows :

^' I still distinctly recollect," he sa}-?, in 1832, " the untamed
aspect which the country exhibited when I first entered the beau-
tiful basin, which thus became the scene of my early hydrographical
operations. Dense and trackless forests lined the margin of the
lake, and reflected their inverted images in its glassy surface. The
wandering savage had constructed his ephemeral habitation beneath
their luxuriant foliage, — the group then consisting of two families
of Mississagas, — ^and the bay and neighbouring marshes were the
hitherto uninvaded haunts of immense coveys of wild-fowl ; indeed
they were so abundant as in some measure to annoy us during the
night. In the spiing following, the lieutenant-governor removed to
the site of the new capital, attended by the regiment of Queen's
Kanger's, and commenced at once the realization of his favourite
project. His Excellency inhabited during the summer and through
the winter, a canvas house, which he imported expressly for the
occasion ; but frail as was its substance, it was rendered exceedingly
comfortable, and soon became as distinguished for the social and
urbane hospitality jf its venerated and gracious host, as for the
peculiarity of its structure."

Two years later (in 1795), the Duke de la Rochefoucault T 'an-
court, in his travels through North America, reports : '* There have
not been more than twelve houses hitherto built in York. They
stand on the Bay, near the river Don. The inhabitants," he takes
the trouble to add, '^ do not possess the fairest character.
In a circumference of one hundred and fifty miles, the Indians are
the only neighbours of York." Again he remarks, — " From a
supposition that the fort of Niagara would certainly remain in the

4^,--.

• 'i

ill'

possession of the English, Governor Simcoe at first intended to
make Newark the chief town of his government. But since it h::.s
been decided that this fort is to be given up, he has been obliged to
alter his plan. A chief town or capital must not be seated on the
frontier, and much less under the guns of the enemy's fort. He
has since thought of York, situated on the northern bank of Lake
Ontario, nearly opposite to Niagara. It is in this place he has
quartered his regiment, and he intends to remove thither himself
when he shall withdraw from the frontiers*." "This place,'' he
adds elsewhere, "has a fine extensive road (roadstead for ships),
detached from the lake by a neck of land of unequal breadth, being
in some places a mile, in others only six score yards broad; the
entrance of this road is about a mile in width ; in the middle of it
is a shoal or sandbank, the narrows on each side of which may be
easily defended by works erected on the two points of land at the
entrance, where two block-houses have already b^en constructed."

Here we have a reference to the early forlificat'ons, standing not
many years back, which caused the north-western extremity of the
Toronto peninsula to be humorously designated Gibraltar Point,
and which have left a souvenir in the little inlet still named Block-
house Bay.

The question of a seat of government, only of late decided, has,
as we have seen above, been agitated since 1792. Our forefathers
in that year were much harassed with it. The people of Newark,
being in possession, thought it ought to remain where it was. Gov-
ernor Simcoe had decided that it should be at York ; but still only
temporarily, until the west should be settled, and London built.
Lord Dorchester, the Governor General, was of opinion that King-
ston was the proper place. In 1796 the Newarkers vainly flattered
themselves that the retirement of General Simcoe from the Govern-
ment would put an end to the project of removal.

ded to

5 it hr s

iged to

on the

f Lake

he has

himself

pe," he

ships),

, being

id; the

le of it

may be

I at the

ited/'

ing not

of the

Point,

Block-

id, has,
(fathers
fewark,
Gov-
ill only
1 built.
I King-
attered
jrovcrn-

*' The town of Niagara," writes Isaac Weld in 1796, in his Traveli
in North America, 1795-7, " hitherto has been and still is the capi-
tal and (as he elsewhere speaks) " the centre of the Beau monde of
the Province of Upper Canada ; orders, however, had been issued
before our arrival there for the removal of the seat of Government
from thence to Toronto, which was deemed a more eligible spot for
the meeting of the Legislative bodies, as being farther removed from
the frontiers of the United States. This projected change is by no
means relished by the people at large, as Niagara is a much more
convenient place of resort to most of them than Toronto; and as the
Governor who proposed the measure has been removed, it is imagined
that it will not be put in execution." It will be observed that Weld
uses the name Toronto in preference to York. He makes the follow-
ing remarks on the changes which had recently been made in the
names of places :— *^ On the eastern side of the river," he says, " is
situated the fort, now in the possession of the people of the States,
and on the opposite or British side the town most generally known
by the name of Niagara, notwithstanding that it has been named
Newark by the Legislature. The original name of the town was
Niagara ; it was afterwards called Lennox, then Nassau, and after-
wards Newark. It is to be lamented that the Indian names, so
grand and sonorous, should ever have been changed for others.
Newark, Kingston, York, are poor substitutes for the original names
of these respective places, Niagara, Cadaragui, Toronto."

To those who have seen the actual developeraent of Toronto, some
of the expectations of its original projectors seem not a little astonish-
ing. The first Parliament house, at the time of its destruction by
fire in 1824, a substantial building of brick with an east and west
aspect, occupied the site of the present Stone Jail. Henc3 to this
day " Parliament Street " in that direction. Here was the primitive
Bclgravia of the capital. Here on the low accumulations of alluvium

•-•

and sand at the embouchure of a slow-paced stream— amidst minia-
ture buyous, lagoous and marshes — it was supposed a new Venice in
the course of years, would appear — a lucustriue Cybele,

" Rising with itc tiara of proud towers."

" The tiara of proud towers ^' has, to some extent, become a reality,
but their foundations have, for the most part, been laid further to
the west, in localities preferred for elevation of position and wholo-
someness of air.

In the Canadian annals for the year 1813, our Western Capital
comes prominently and rather painfully into view. Since June in
the preceding year the United States had been carrying on a war
against Great Britain, nominally on the question of the right of
search on the high seas, but in reality with the hope of ** diiving the
leopards " off the American continent. The policy of Napoleon at
the moment was engaging all the attention of England ; and at no
time had more than 3,000 regular forces been spared for the protec-
tion of the Canadas; and these in the course of a twelvemonth had
been seriously reduced in number by casualties. It need not sur-
prise us then that York, though a depot of shipping and stores was
poorly defended. '*0n the evening of the 26th, (of April, 1813,)
information was received that many vessels had been seen to the
eastward. Very early the next morning, they were discovered lying
to, not far from the harbour ; after some time had elapsed, they
made sail, and to the number of sixteen, of various descriptions,
anchored off the shore, some distance to the westward. Boats full
of troops were immediately seen assembling near the Commodore's
ship, under cover of whose lire, and that of other vessels, and aided
by the wind, they soon effected : landing.^' So writes the unfortu-
nate General Sheaffe, who, after eight hours' resistance, had to
evacuate the town, and leave it in possession of the United States'
General; Dearborn; " preferring the preservation of his troops to that

mmia-
nice in

reality,
'ther to
whole-
Capital
Fune in
n a war
'ight of
ing the
)leon at
d at no
Drotec-
1th had
lot sur-
>res was
1813,)
to the
d lying
id, they
[•iptions,
oats full
lodore's
id aided
iinfortu-
had to
States'
s to that

of his post, and thus carrying off the kernel, leaving to the enemy
only the shell/' The great prcponderaticc of the attacking force
forms an apology for the retreat. The little band of regulars and
militia retired step by step within their defences, pursued by over-
whelming numbers ; and as General Pike, who led the forces which
had landed from the vessels, approached the second or main battery,
the magazine exploded, crushing him and two hundred of his men.
Fragments of the building struck, in their descent, the ships in the
harbour, and ** the water shook as with an earthquake." Two of
the articles of capitulation were *^That the troops, regular and
militia, at this po&:, and the naval officers and seamen, shall be sur-
rendered prisoners of war. The troops, regular and militia to ground
their arms immediately on parade, and the naval officers and seamen
be immediately surrendered. That all public stores, naval and mili-
tary, shall be immediately given up to the commanding officers of
the army and navy of the United States — that all private property
shall be guaranteed to the citizens of the town of York.'' Before,
however, the actual capitulation. General Sheaffe with the remains
of the regular soldiers, escaped in safety by the Kingston road.
The flag of the Fort, and the Speaker's mace were transmitted to
Washington as trophies of this success. The American Secretary,
Armstrong, offered to General Dearborn, the following criticism on
his proceedings on this occasion : — '* In your late affair, it appears
to me that had the descent been made between the town and the
barracks, things would have turned out better. On that plan, the
two batteries vou had to encounter, would have been left out of the
combat, and Sheaffe, instead of retreating to Kingston, must have
retreated to Fort George."

Three months aft'^r this event a second visit of the United States
flotilla is thus described in the report of Sir George Prevost : —
" The enemy's fleet of twelve sail, made its appearance off York on

I-

the 31st (July, 1813). The three square-rigged vessels, the Pike,
Madison, and Oneida, came to anchor in the ofl&ng ; but the schooners
passed up the harbour, and landed several boats full of troops at the
former garrison, and proceeded from thence to the town, of which
they took possession. They opened the gr-^ ^'berated the prisoners,
and took away three soldiers confined for leix^ijy j they then went to
the hospital and paroled the few men that could not be removed.
They next entered the storehouses of some of the inhabitants,
seized their contents, chiefly flour, and the same being private pro
perty. Between 11 and 12 that night they returned on board their
vessels. The next morning, Sunday, the 1st instant, the enemy
again landed, and sent three armed boats up the river Don in search
of public stores, of which being disappointed, by sunset both soldiers
and sailors hud evacuated the town, the small barrack wood-yard and
store-house, on Gibraltar Point, having been first set on fire by
them ; and at daylight the following morning the enemy's fleet
sailed.'' It is furthermore added that this foraging expedition was
under the command of Commodore Ohauncey and Lieutenant-Colonel
Scott, *' an unexchanged prisoner of war on his parole." This is
the still existing Lieutenant General Scott..

By the treaty of Ghent, in 1814, peace was restored ; and Canada?
left to itself for a series of years, became the victim, in both its
subdivisions, of innate, organic social disease. It was the misfor-
tune of York to partake of the general mediaeval condition of the
country. Visitors, impelled across the Atlantic by the awakening
spirit of emigration, gave dreary reports of the place and its society.
To Rochefoucault's remark in 1794, that " the inhabitants of Toronto
do not possess the fairest character," Gourlay m 1821, rather spite-
fully adds, " nor have chey yet mended it." But the explorers of
this period seem very un philosophically to have expected to find in
remote colonial communities; a higher social condition than that

wi
bei
me
its

V'li^

3 Plkc,

looners
! at the
' which
isoners,
went to
(moved,
bitants,
pate pro
rd their

enemy
[1 search
soldiers
^ard and

fire by
y's fleet
tion was
•Colonel

This is

Canada*
both its

misfor-
n of the
rakeninj];
i society.

Toronto
ler spite-
lorers of
;o find in
han that

which the mother country itself, at the corresponding^ time, exhib-
ited. The state of things in England up to the passing of the
Reform Bill is confessed not to have been politically satisfactory.
What a miracle would it have been to have discovered prior to that
event, a Colony boasting that its institutions were exact transcripts
of those of the mother-state, and yet ruled in an exceedingly enlight-
ened manner.

Mrs. Jameson in 1836, discerned more clearly how matters stood;
and while commenting with severity on persons and things as she
found them, expressed hopes which have turned out to have been
well grounded. " Toronto is, as a residence," she says, " worse and
better than other small communities — icorse^ insomuch as it is
remote from all the best advantages of a high state of civilization ,
while it is infected by all its evils, all its follies ; and better y because
besides being a small place, it is a young place, and in spite of this
affectation of looking back, instead of looking up, it must advance ;
it may become the thinking head and beating heart of a nation,
great, wise and happy ; who knows ? And there are moments
when, considered under this point of view, it assumes an interest
even to me ; but at present it is in a false position, like that of a
youth aping maturity ; or rather like that of a little boy in Hogarth's
picture, dressed in a long-flapped laced waistcoat, and ruffles and
cocked hat, crying for bread and butter. With the interminable forest
within half a mile of us — the haunt of the red man, the wolf, the
bear — with an absolute want of the means of the most ordinary
mental and moral developement, we have here conventionalism in
its most oppressive and ridiculous forms. If I should say, that at
present the people here want cultivation, want polish, and the means
of acquiring either, that is natural — is intelligible, — and it were
unreasonable to expect it could be otherwise ; but if I say they want
honesty, you would understand me, they would not ; they would

imagine that I accusa tliera of false weights and cheating at cards ;
so far they are certainly '' indifferent honest'' after a fashion, but
never did I hear so little truth, nor find so little mutual benevolence.
And why is it so? because in this place, as in other small provincial
towns, they live under the principle of fear — they are all afraid of
each other, afraid to be themselves; and where there is much fear,
there is little love, and less truth. I was reading this morning of
Maria d'Escobar, a Spanish lady, who first brought a few grains of
wheat into the city of Lima. For three years she distributed the
produce, giving twenty grains to one man, thirty grains to another,
and so on, — hence all the corn in Peru. Is there no one who will
bring a few grains of truth to Toronto?" The authoress doubtless
deemed herself a second Maria d'Escobar in this regard ; and per-
haps, to some extent, she was. It is amusing to read her remarks
in another place. " The strange, crude, ignorant, vague opinions I
heard in conversation, and read in the debates and the provincial
papers, excited my astonishment. It struck me that if I could get
the English preface to Victor Cousin's Report printed in a cheap
form, and circulated with the newspapers, adding some of the statis-
tical calculations, and some passages from Duppa's report on the
education of the children of the poorer classes, it might do some
good — it might assist the people to some general principles on which
to form opinions ; whereas they all appeared to mo astray, nothing
that had been promulgated in Europe on this momentous subject
had yet reached them; and the brevity and clearness of this little
preface, which exhibits the importance of a system of national edu-
cation, and some general truths without admixture of any political
or sectarian bias, would, I thought — I hoped — obtain for it a favor-
able reception. But, no; cold water was thrown upon me from
every side — my interference in any way was so visibly distasteful,
that I gave my project up with many a sigh, and I am afraid I shall

it cards ;
lion, but
3Volence.
irovincial
afraid of
uch fear,
)rning of
grains of
uted the
another,
who will
doubtless
and per-
' remarks
pinions I
provincial
could get
1 a cheap
the statis-
irt on the
i do some
on which
, nothing
us subject
this little
ional edu-
y political
it a favor-
me from
listasteful,
lid I shall

always regret this. True, I am yet a stranger — helpless as to means,
and feeling iny way in a social system of which I know little or
nothing ; perhaps I might have done more mischief than good — who
knows? and truth is sure to prevail at last; but truth seems to find
so much difficulty in crossing the Atlantic, that one would think she
was ^ like the poor cat i' the adage,' afraid of wetting her feet/'

At length came Lord Sydenham, in 1839. An instinctive appre-
hension in regard to the revolution which he was about to attempt,
caused his first reception in Toronto to be cold. Claiming in their
address to be ^' the highest municipal body of the Province," the
corporation of the day ventured to demand " ascendancy " for the
very principles which the newly-arrived Governor had expressly
come to correct and modify ; and spoke of their Lower Canadian
fellow-subjects as *' aliens to our nation and our institutions." On
his return, however, in the following year, from an extensive tour,
after the assent of the Parliament to the re-union of the Canadas
had been procured, the city offered a more cordial welcome. On
this occasion it was that he deemed it useful to offer the following
piece of advice : — " 1 trust thait the inhabitants of Toronto will
emulate the general feeling of the Province, by discarding violent,
party, and personal feeling, and lend their willing assistance in the
great work which is before us." In a private letter of this period,
published afterwards in his Life, he thus refers to this occasion : —
"Even the people of Toronto," he says, ^'who have been spending
the last six weeks in squabbling, were led, I suppose, by the feeling
shewn in the rest of the Province, into giving me a splSnd' 1 recep-
tion, and took in good part a lecture I read them, telling them they
had better follow the good example of peace and renewed harmony,
which had been set them elsewhere, instead of making a piece of
work about what they did not understand."

The compliment was paid Toronto, of deriving from it one of the

titles conferred on the first Governor General of re-united Canada.
Mr. Pouleti Thompson was created Baron Sydenham of Sydenham
in Kent, and Toronto in Canada, as Lord Amherst had been in
1788 of Holmesdale and Montreal. This proved, however, for
Toronto an unprofitable and short-lived distinction. Its liege-lord
issued his arri^reban for the assembling of the first parliament of
united Canada, on the 13th of June, 1841 — not there — but at
Kingston, where, on the 19th of the following September, he died,
leaving no heir to his name.

Thus, amidst varying fortunes, and through more evil report than
good, the chief City of Western Canada grew, advancing from
obscurity and insignificancy, to what it now is. The rebukes,
friendly or otherwise, of critics interested or disinterested, proved,
on the whole, *' precious balms," which healed while they scathed.

•* Grown wiser from the lesson given,
I fear no longer, for I know
That where the share is deepest driven,
The best fruits grow.

The outworn rite, the old abuse,

The pious fraud transparent grown,
The good held captive in the use

Of wrong alone.

These wait their doom, from that great law
Which makes the past time serve to-day,
And fresher life the world shall draw,
^ From their decay."

After the Union, the Genius loci seems to have become benign
and winsome. Since that epoch the notices of Toronto have been
only friendly. The Observatory and University speedily caused its
name to be enrolled with honour amongst those of seats of Science
and Learuing; and in quick succession the Grand Trunk; Great

■,5

''if

—

K
iTl

■wi

:\i

iQ(

Western, and Northern Kailways, brought its inhabitants at large
into favorable relations with the general life of the North American
continent, and of the world.

The Toronto of 1860, the year of the Prince's visit, had risen
I above the fear of criticism. An American writer, in regard to the
memorable event of that year, could thus express himself : —

" The prosperous young city that is capital to Canada West, de-
sired its Sovereign's son to witness what Englishmen, undisturbed
by any admixture of races, could effect, and the very progress and
condition of their city is evidence. A rich land of sure harvest is
the back-ground, — a wide blue sea is the highway over which all
the markets of the world can be reached. These wharves see the
rigging through which the breeze of the Atlantic whistles ; and if
the ocean is too distant, the merchants of Oswego willingly indicate
to the Canadians the convenience of the inland navigation to New
York. * * * Toronto's beautiful bay," he continues, <' has its
proudest page to inscribe in its annals on the 7th of September,
1860. It has seen the sails of a hostile fleet, and has witnessed the
coming of successive Governors General ; but of the Royal House,
none until this hour. The reception was worthy of the guest. * *
Such a scene of wild, enthusiastic, joyous, uncontrolled excitement
in that grand multitude, that enormous concourse of human beings
— few shall ever again see — few have ever seen. Something that
was either hospitality, or affection, or loyalty — whatever its precise
name — something in great and glorious fact was there, and no one
that witnessed that enthusiasm, — that kindled amphitheatre, will
forget it while his senses live to paint the picture of the past for
him."*

• The following wan the Prince'B reply to a request fhat he should plant a uiemorial-maple
In thu Botanical GardenB of Toronto: '' I shall have threat pleaRure In dnlnj? anythint; which
will tend to encourage aaidngst you a taste Ibr the cultivation of gardens, such aa may
iuciease the comfort and enjoyment of the citizens of Toronto. I shall be content if the tree

Simply an assemblage of streets, gardens and pleasure grounds,
spread far and wide over a level expanse, between a long wooded
ridge and a line of blue water — between, that is to say, an ancient
margin and the present limit of a sea-like lake, — possessing nothing
to set it off in the way of fine scenery, excepting a sky almost
always cheerful, and often times magnificent ; the Toronto of to-day
has succeeded in attracting to itself a multitude of kindly regards.
While its substantial home-comforts secure for it, of course, the
warmest affections of its own people, its social amenities produce
pleasant impressions on the stranger; and on the memory of most
whose lot it has been to make there from time to time a lengthened
sojourn, it retains an agreeable hold.

Nor in passing, let us forget one other point of view from which,
we may be sure, the name of Toronto stirs a chord in many a heart.
Think of the number of its fair daughters who have been translated
from their native firesides, by contingencies, military, commercial,
ecclesiastical, which need not be detailed; think with what yearning
bosoms these — comely matrons now, presiding over happy house-
holds in widely diverse regions — turn occasionally hitherward,
when in quiet intervals, among the memories of the past, come up

again, the

" Thrice happy days !
The flower of eacli, the moments wlien we met !
The crown of all — we met to part no more."

In like manner also, how many of its sons there are, exiled by

■which I am about to plant. floiiriRh<^s as yonr youthful city has already done." Amongst the
innumerable ephemera inspired by the Triuce's visit was an epigrammatic rendering in Latin
of this brief response.

ARBVSCVLA.M SVI MEMORKM, TORONTO IVXTA SATAM,

PRINCKPS AFFATVR.
CIVinVS . VMRRA . CAI'AX . FIAS . CITO . SVRCVLE . SIC . TV
IlKSPKRIAli . CAPITIS . MOX . ACER . INSTAR . KRia

(Translated.)
Ood Rpeod thoH, little majtle, till thnu tower a stately tree—
So of our Weat'H fair Capital meet symbol shalt thou ba.

duty or circumstance, by the avocations of a soldier's or sailor's life^
by the spirit of enterprise, adventure or travel, to a hundred nooks
and corners of the habitable earth, who would at this moment^
before all other sights, behold once more if they could, the Sphacte-
ria, so to speak, of the old Pylos ; who would hail as

" The eye
Of all peninsulas and isles."

the long low spit of poplar-shaded sand, which in the days of their
youth guarded so faithfully the play-place of their boyhood, and
which, perhaps they are grieved to hear, is disappearing inch by
inch in a gallant unaided effort to fulfil to the last its primeval
mission.

As one of the latest notices of Toronto, we may in conclusion
add, that the Messrs. Nelson & Sons, of London, Edinburgh, and
New York, have devoted to it one of their sets of topographical
views ; and from these many strangers at a distance will derive their
first ideas of the place. The people of Toronto can afford to fore-
warn visitors that, whilst these pleasing pictures are in the main
very admirable representations, in a few respects they depict matters
in colours somewhat rosy-hued. In the general view, for example,
a spaciousness and softness are given to the Kailway Esplanade
towards the east, which will lead to disappointment; and in two
instances^, handsome spires appear where as yet the spires are not.
On the whole, however, the city has reason to be thankful to the
enterprising publishers named above, for the fair portraiture of itself
with which they have furnished the public, as well as with the
Hand-Book in which the same views may be found incorporated.
Great as is the progress which has been made in the course of the
last twenty years, as these cheerfully tinted engravings will help tho
outside world to sec, — should " industry, intelligence, integrity,''

.fr*****

th.

continue to be actual characteristics, as they are the citic watch-
words of its people, with energy, self-sacrifice, good-taste, taking no
rest until disfiguring, imperilling damages by fire and flood, when-
ever and wherever occurring, be more than made good- — should such
qualities as these continue active, and the country at large be blessed
with peace and propitious seasons, — it is not to be doubted but that
the western capital of Canada has still before it in respect of both
its physical and moral well-being, a career in the future, which shall
be worthy of its annals up to the present time. So may it be,
prays many a pious son and daughter. So may it be, responds
avery where the large-hearted Canadian.

Flobeat Toeonto ; sit perpetua.

•

PRINTED BY W. 0. CHKWETT <b CO., KING STREET EAST, TORONTO.

Lc watcb-
aking no
d, wheu-
ould such
»e blessed
[ but tbat
t of both
bicb sball
ay it be,
responds

lONTO.