THE ST. MAURICE FORGES. 87 
completed, the sale was postponed, and readvertised on the same conditions for October 
1st, when it took place, and was adjudged to Mr. Bell for £60 per annum for a term 
of twenty years, because the auctioneer had no instructions to put on it an upset price. 
Consequently the executive council refused to ratify the sale, as the difference between 
the former lease, £850, and £60 was too great. Therefore the same firm were permitted 
to hold the property in sufferance at the old rental, £850, till January 1st, 1810, when the 
governor, Sir James Henry Craig, leased the forges and lands attached thereto to the same 
firm of Monro and Bell for a term of twenty-one years, to end on March 31st, 1831, at an 
annual rental of £500 currency. It is said that the amount of profit realised from the 
date of their first occupation to 1806, exceeded that on their subsequent operations even 
at the reduced rental of £500 per annum. The cause is easily seen, when it is recorded 
that the governors of Canada revelled in the enjoyment of every luxury that the hospi- 
tality of Messrs. Monro and Bell could provide for them. The Tally-ho Hunt Club was 
an institution at the forges, and their shouts of “Tally-ho!” resounded through the hills 
and dales of the River St. Maurice, and the “ brush” was competed for by well-mounted 
red-coated cavaliers, with as much energy and activity as in the mother land beyond the 
sea. These extravagances easily absorbed whatever profits the forges yielded,—and from 
their being the only manufacture of the kind in the country, the profits must have been 
enormous. 
The lease was extended from year to year by orders-in-council till 1834, when a ten 
years’ lease was granted to the same firm. It then came to the knowledge of the gov- 
ernment that great dissatisfaction existed among the people of Three Rivers, and others, 
on account of the monopoly of such a great extent of land held by the lessees of the St. 
Maurice Forges in virtue of their lease. That the town of Three Rivers was shut in, and, 
moreover, the lands were required for settlement. Also, the trade of the town derived no 
advantages from the works, because the company imported all their supplies and sold all 
their manufactures through agents residing in the different cities of Canada. This was 
proved by a commission, appointed in 1836 by Government, to take evidence on certain 
things connected with the Jesuits’ estates. Accordingly the Government ordered Mr. E. 
Parent to make a report on the forges. This was completed and sent in to the executive 
council, being dated September 15th, 1843, and approved by his Excellency the Governor- 
General on the 26th. It contained the recommendation “that Mr. Bell continue in 
occupation for one year beyond the present term, and then for reasons set forth, among 
others, that it would be more beneficial to the revenue, to the holders of the forges, to the 
people of Three Rivers, to the trade and manufactures of the province, that the forges be 
sold to the best advantage and to the highest bidder.” Surveyor-General Thomas Parke 
was ordered to make a complete survey, and subdivide the tract into farm lots. 
By order of Lord Metcalfe, the governor-general of Canada, on November 20th, 1845, 
a report from D. B. Papineau, commissioner of crown lands, was made, pointing out the 
disadvantages resulting from the system hitherto pursued, of letting out the Forges of 
St. Maurice and the lands adjoining, and recommending the immediate sale of the forges, 
on certain conditions; and the disposing of the lands after the tenure en franc aleu 
roturier, and à rente foncière, rachetable under certain conditions. An order-in-council, 
approving the recommendations contained in the above report was passed on November 
22nd, 1845, and on December 19th the forges were advertised to be sold by public 
