132 Toronto to Collingwood. 



town, enjoying every prosperity till the war of 18 12. In the 

 subsequent year it was captured by the American army 

 under General Pike, who lost his life at the storming of the 

 fort, which was destroyed by an explosion, causing great loss 

 of life. General Sheaffe, who commanded the British troops, 

 was forced to retire towards Kingston. It was held, how- 

 ever, but a few days, while in the meantime the Government 

 House, the public buildings, and the spoils which could not 

 be carried away were burned. The ground upon which the 

 city is situated is nearly level, sloping gently up from the 

 water's edge to the rear, called Davenport Hill, where from 

 several points good views of the city, lake and bay may be 

 had. This range of hills bears evidences of having been a 

 former margin of the lake, when the waters stood much 

 higher than at present, and the flat site of the city was 

 probably a marsh or shallow. Owing to this flatness of 

 country on the site of the city, Toronto presents at a dis- 

 tance no striking aspect. It is connected by railroad and 

 steamers with all the principal places in Canada and the 

 neighbouring Union. The Grand Trunk Railway, the 

 Great Western, and the Northern, connect it at all seasons 

 of the year with all places of importance, and the country 

 round is fertile and productive in the extreme. The 

 public buildings of the city are numerous, and many 

 of them really very handsome. First and foremost 

 among them is the University, standing amidst the quiet 

 retreats of the University Park, with its splendid avenues 

 leading into two of the main thoroughfares, neatly planted 

 and well attended to. This building, about which many 

 party differences have risen, is Norman in style ; its walls 

 are built of white stone from Ohio, and its columns, capital, 

 &c, are composed of stone brought from France. The 

 chief facades of the building are to the south and east, — the 

 former of great and massive elevation for distant effect from 

 the lake and bay, with a massive Norman tower in the 



