He was eminently successful and the directors felt that they could now begin their great engineering work; and so, on November 30, 1824, in the presence of some two hundred persons, the first sod was turned near the head of one of the branches of the "Twelve."

For the next five years William Hamilton Merritt was fully occupied with the construction of the canal. There were many who were only too glad to prophecy failure for the enterprise and the directors had to contend with local jealousy and a lack of national enthusiasm. However, the work went steadily on, and Mr. Merritt was able to inspire many with some of his own enthusiasm. As the work progressed it was found that more money would be required than was at first anticipated. The directors had exhausted the funds their Canadian and American friends were willing to risk in the enterprise, and so there was nothing left for it but to raise capital to complete the enterprise in England. Naturally Mr. Merritt was sent to the homeland to obtain funds. He had an interesting visit and was consulted by the Select Committee on the Civil Government of Canada with regard to the Clergy Reserves and other important matters. His replies to their questions show how deep and broad an interest he took in the political and social life of his country. He met with a considerable measure of success, and on his return to Canada work on the canal was prosecuted with renewed energy.

In the autumn of 1829 everything was ready to open the canal. Unlooked for circumstances arose, however, and it was decided not to have the public opening until 1830, but the real opening took place on November 27, 1829, when the schooner "R. H. Boughton," Captain Pheatt, and the schooner "Annie and Jane," Captain J. Voller, passed through the canal from Lake Ontario to Lake Erie and anchored in Buffalo on December 2. On their progress through the Welland Canal enthusiastic crowds had lined the banks, and when they reached Buffalo they were received with a salute.

The canal became government property in 1842, and a part of the great system of canals that was ultimately to connect Lake Superior with the Atlantic, and to William Hamilton Merritt is due the credit of being the first promoter of this vast engineering enterprise.

The building of the Welland Canal was not the only great enterprise he initiated. It was he who projected the Niagara Falls Suspension Bridge in 1845, and he was president of the company which built it until his death. Welland Railway Company, too, was promoted by him; indeed, he reached out in every direction possible for the true development of Canada, and in his undertakings the element of selfishness was never in evidence.

Naturally Mr. Merritt could not keep out of public life and was returned to Parliament for the county of Haldimand in 1832. He was a prominent figure during the bitter years of the rebellion and naturally opposed William Lyon Mackenzie, but he was likewise generous enough to sign the petition to Sir George Arthur, Lieutenant-Governor of the Province of Upper Canada, for the reprieve of Lount and Matthews, who had been sentenced to be hanged. It was he who brought this petition to Toronto and presented it to the Governor, but unhappily it was of no avail. He rejoiced when the Union took place, and had much to do with drawing Upper and Lower Canada closer together. In 1848 he was made President of the Council, and in 1850 he became Commissioner of Public Works. In 1851 he retired from Parliament, and did not return to public life until 1860 when he was elected by acclamation to the Legislative Council for Allanburg.

He had now not long to live. The closing years of his life were clouded with great sorrows. The death of his son William in 1860 and the death of his wife on the 10th of January, 1862, caused him such deep grief that his strength failed him and his friends saw that his death was not far off. He journeyed seaward with the hope that the sea breezes might restore him some of his old-time vigor, but when he reached Montreal he was in such poor health that the doctors gave him no hope of recovery; and in July he set out upon his return journey to St. Catharines, hoping to die among his own people in the district he had done so much to build up.

As the steamer "Champion," in which he was journeying westward, was passing through the canal at Cornwall the angel of death visited him. It was not an unfitting place in which to end his life; indeed, it was peculiarly appropriate, that one who had done so much to overcome the

obstacles to the successful navigation of the noble St. Lawrence should be gathered to his fathers on those calm waters and in sight of the turbulent rapids of the Long Sault.

William Hamilton Merritt was a Canadian with lofty ideals and lofty hopes for the future of his country and did much to foster that spirit of enterprise that has in the end given us a united Canada, and opened up the country from the Atlantic to the Pacific.

CHAPTER XVI.

BISHOP STRACHAN.

The Pioneer in Educational Matters in Upper Canada-Of Humble Scotch Parentage-Begins His Life Work as a Tutor-A Graduate of the University of Aberdeen—A School-Teacher in Scotland-Offered a Situation in Canada—His Disappointment on Reaching the New World-Teaches in Kingston-Takes Orders in the Church of England-Appointed to Cornwall-The Celebrated Cornwall School Established by Him-His Ideals as a Teacher -Appointed Rector at York-Does Excellent Work during the War of 1812-On Death of Honorable Richard Cartwright Appointed a Member of the Executive Council of Upper Canada-Vehemently Denounces Mr. Robert Gourlay-Appointed a Member of the Legislative Council-Pays a Visit to the Motherland-The Church of St. James BurnedThe Building of the Cathedral of St. James-Mr. Poulett Thomson and the Clergy Reserves Question-Corner-Stone of King's College Laid-The Bishop of Toronto's Work in Connection with His Diocese—University of Toronto Takes the Place of King's College-Trinity College Opened-The Closing Years of Bishop Strachan's Life.

JOH

OHN STRACHAN, Bishop of Toronto, was one of the first men to direct the attention of the people of Upper Canada to educational matters. He was of Scotch descent, having been born in Aberdeen, April 12, 1778. His father was an overseer in a stone-quarry and was nominally a Presbyterian, but it is said that he had a strong liking for the Episcopal service, and that his son frequently visited an Episcopal chapel with him.

When John Strachan was only fourteen years old his father met with an accident in the quarry which caused his death. His family were left in poor circumstances, and John had to look about him to find something to do to assist his mother and sisters to earn their livelihood. He secured work as a tutor and by rigid economy was enabled to enter the University of Aberdeen in 1794. The long vacation of the Scotch University gave him much time to himself and during these months he industriously taught. He had a successful college career and graduated a Master of Arts.

On graduating he obtained a school near St. Andrews with a salary of £30 a year, but he managed to save even out of this small income. He was a born teacher and early acquired a good reputation. A vacancy occurred in Kettle; he applied for the position and was accepted. At Kettle he received £50 a year.

About this time Upper Canada was attracting a good deal of attention in the Old World. A teacher was needed for that far distant province and Mr. Strachan, who was now in his twenty-first year was offered the position. He did not like the thought of leaving Scotland and his friends there, but the temptation of a free passage to the New World, board and lodging, and £80 a year induced him to leave his fatherland.

He sailed late in the year for Canada, and did not reach Kingston until the last day of December. Here he found that the situation had been misrepresented to him, and so disgusted with the outlook was he that he was anxious to return to Scotland at once; but he had not the price of a passage home. Richard Cartwright was then one of the leading men in Upper Canada. He was attracted by the sturdy and scholarly young Scot and took him into his own house, giving him tutorial work to do.

For three years John Strachan resided in Kington and was, during that time, a most successful teacher; but he saw no future for him in the teaching profession and so he decided to take Orders in the Church of England. He was ordained on May 22, 1803, and was appointed to Cornwall.

Although he was now a preacher of the Gospel he found it impossible to shake off his love of teaching, and as soon as he was established at Cornwall renewed his work as a teacher and established the celebrated Cornwall School. Among his pupils were a number of lads who were to rise to the first place in the affairs of this country. As a teacher he had strikingly original methods. His boys were thoroughly drilled, but at the same time he was no pedant. He had the very loftiest conception of education, and in an address which he delivered four years after establishing his school at Cornwall, pointed out what he believed to be the true purpose of education.