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finished that vessels were able to pass between Lakes Ontario and Erie, the length of the new canal being about sixteen miles. Its final completion belongs to later history; indeed it was again deepened some twenty years ago. Before success could be achieved it had to be taken over by the province as a public work. Nevertheless its first beginnings were an important event in the history of the province.

In 1824, on the advice of John Galt, the celebrated Scottish novelist, who had acted as agent in the matter of claims made by Upper Canadians for losses suffered during the American invasion, the Canada Company was formed, Canada under which a great tract of land on Lake Huron was Company. thrown open to colonization-the company receiving eleven hundred thousand acres in one block. Galt's Autobiography throws strange light on the ways of colonial governors at that time, and especially of Sir Peregrine Maitland; nor does the reputation of Dr. Rolph emerge the clearer from his statements. Such personal matters, however, belong to a dead past; Galt's work as a colonizer is of permanent interest. The town of Guelph was founded in 1827, situated in the centre of the tableland which separates Lakes Ontario, Simcoe, Huron, and Erie. A road was made through the forest of the Huron tract, establishing land communication between Lakes Huron and Ontario, a distance of some hundred miles. For years the company suffered from lack of funds, and their relations with their agent Galt were unsatisfactory; but the colonization of the Huron country was successfully accomplished, and by 1833 Lord Dalhousie was able to congratulate Galt on the success of the company's perseverance. Experience in settling the Canadas,' he wrote (August 31), 'has long proved that to give free grants is not the wisest system for advancement either of the emigrant or of the province.'

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Sir Richard Bonnycastle, in 1841, was much struck by the success of the Canada Company's operations. It had

The land

system and clergy

reserves.

Education.

purchased over 2,200,000 acres of land, and within ten years had planted some hundred thousand with bona fide settlers. It had made a hundred miles of road, and spent large sums on public buildings, bridges, &c. Goderich, one hundred and fifty miles from Toronto, was in 1829 a wilderness inhabited by four families; by 1838 it had a population of five thousand, and returned a member to the legislature.

The success of the Canada Land Company caused similar methods to be adopted in Lower Canada, a course which led to considerable complaint from the Assembly of the province.

Among the most practical grievances in Upper Canada were the evils connected with the land system. The inefficiency of the surveying department caused great insecurity in the title to land. Useless formalities and consequent delay often occasioned hardships. The want of roads was as serious in Upper Canada as in the Lower Province. Mention has been already made of the clergy reserves in their political aspect, as creating a jealousy of the English Church, but their economic consequences were no less lamentable. A township contained eight thousand acres, and besides the clergy reserves there was an equal amount reserved for the Crown. Moreover, a large portion of the remaining land was taken up by grants to united empire loyalists, militiamen, and others, who left their lands in an unimproved condition. These waste lands, wedged in on all sides of the bona fide settler, placed him in a most hopeless position. They prevented the development of a population sufficiently dense to maintain mills, schools, post offices, shops, and churches, and the other signs of a growing community.

In the matter of education Upper Canada, as we have seen, was on a more satisfactory footing. The early efforts of Simcoe and President Russell to support it by setting apart a vast tract for the establishment of a University and

four Grammar Schools, were indeed foredoomed to failure, because they began at the wrong end; but from an early date common schools were set on foot by the voluntary efforts of the people. These common schools received the sanction of the legislature in 1816, when power was given to the people to elect trustees for their management, and grants in aid were allotted by the legislature to the several districts. A Board of Education was established in the different districts, with whom lay the apportionment of the public grant. Unhappily religious controversy soon became a disturbing element. The powerful influence which Dr. Strachan secured for the Church of England was shown by the establishment of a Central Board of Education, practically directed by that Church, and in other ways. To the same influence must be ascribed the commanding Church of position of the Church of England under the charter of England ascendancy. 1827, which established a new University. It proved impossible, however, in the face of a hostile public opinion, to give effect to the provisions of the charter; and the House of Commons Committee of 1828 recommended essential changes in it so as to prevent a suspicion and jealousy of religious interference in a country where only a small proportion of the inhabitants belonged to the Church of England. In consequence, the proposed University dwindled to the proportions of a Church of England College established in 1829. A rival Methodist College, known as the Upper Canada Academy, was started in 1836, upon which also university powers were conferred in 1841, under the name of Victoria College. Denominational colleges were also established by the Roman Catholics and by the Presbyterians. The policy of linking education with denominationalism left abiding marks on the character of the Upper Canadian people. Travellers even to this day record the difference between the treatment of Sunday in British Canada and in the Western States of America. The

permanence of traditions and ways, which otherwise might have been lost, was largely due to associations formed in early years, when the character is most open to influence.

AUTHORITIES

The official correspondence is calendared in Brymner, op. cit. 1896– 1901.

Life and Times of William Lyon Mackenzie, by C. Lindsey. 2 vols. Toronto, 1862.

Kingsford, op. cit. vol. ix, pp. 193-251, and vol. x, pp. 213-339.
Autobiography of John Galt. 2 vols. 1833-

Brymner, op. cit. 1898, on 'Land Companies of Canada' and 'Naturalization question', and 1899 on 'Clergy reserves' and 'Education, 1818'. Appendix B to Lord Durham's Report, on 'Crown Lands', in Lucas, op. cit.

Life of Lord Seaton, by G. C. Smith, 1903.

Memoir of Rev. J. Strachan, by A. N. Bethune. Toronto, 1870.
The Canadas in 1841, by Sir R. Bonnycastle. 2 vols. 1841.

Statistical Account of Upper Canada, by R. Gourley. 2 vols. 1822.
The Life of Sir J. Beverley Robinson, by Major-Gen. C. Robinson.

1904.

CHAPTER XI

THE REBELLION OF 1837

Gosford.

We have traced the history of the two Canadas down to the eve of the rebellion. On leaving Upper Canada Colborne was given the military command in British North America, an appointment which proved a tower of strength to British interests. Gosford was inclined to complain of Attitude of Colborne's action. He still did not believe in the possibility of serious commotion, though he recognized that Papineau was determined to split from Great Britain. At the same time he had come to recognize that it might be necessary to suspend the Constitution. Until Papineau's power was nullified there could be no hope of better things.

The situation was indeed becoming serious. Meetings were being held at which the severance of the connexion with Great Britain was openly advocated, as well as the smuggling of goods so as to starve the revenue. According to Gosford, the great majority of the people were in their hearts disinclined to the agitation, but were intimidated by the revolutionary party. Nightly parades took place in Montreal by organized bands, and loyal parishes were Serious severely boycotted. The system of trial by jury had broken down, so that offenders were sure of immunity. Large bodies were drilling every Sunday, and no attempt was made by the civil authorities to interfere, while several French officers had been secretly introduced from the United States to give military drill and instruction. The magistrates and officers. of Militia were being compelled to resign, and many land

situation.

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