TORONTO OF OLD. 437 



those who shall store produce therein. John Goessman, clerk." The Parmer's Store was at 

 the foot of Nelson Street. Mr. Goessman was a well-known Deputy Provincial Surveyor, of 

 Hanoverian origin. In an address published in the Weelcly Register of July 15, 1824, on the 

 occasion of his retiring from a contest for a seat in the House as representative for the counties 

 of Toric and Simcoe, Mr. Goessman alluded as follows to his nationality: "I may properly 

 say," he observed, "that I was a born British subject before a great number of you did even 

 draw breath ; and have certainly borne more oppressions during the late French war tlian any 

 Child of this country, that never peeped beyond the boundary even of this continent, where only 

 a small twig of that all-crushing war struck. Our sovereign has not always been powerful 

 enough to defend all his dominions. We, the Hanoverians, have been left the greater part 

 during that contest, to our own fate ; we have been crushed to yield our privileges to the 

 subjection of Bonaparte, his greatest antagonist," &c. 



Eglinton, through wliieh, at the present day, Yonge Street passes hereabout, is a curious stray 

 memorial of the Tournament in Ayrshire, which made a noise in 1839. The passages of arms 

 on the fartlier side of the Atlantic that occasionally suggest names for Canadian villages, are 

 not always of so peaceful a character as that in'the Earl of Eglinton's grounds in 1339 ; 

 althougli it is a matter ot some interest now to remember tliat even in that a Louis Napoleon 

 figured, who at a later period was engaged in jousts of a rather serious kind, promoted by 

 himself. 



About Eglinton the name of Snider is notable as that of a United Empire Loyalist family 

 seated here, of German descent. Mr. Martin Snider, father of Jacob and Elias Snider and 

 other brothers and sisters, emigrated hither at an early period from Nova Scotia, where he first 

 took up his abode for a time after the revolution. Among the names of those who volunteered 

 to accompany General Brock to Detroit in 1S13 we observe that of Mr. Jacob Snider. In later 

 years, a member of the same family is sheriff for the County of Grey, and repeatedly a repre- 

 sentative in Parliament of the same County. 



The Anglicised form of the German name Schneider, like the Anglicised form of a number 

 of other non-English names occurring among us, illustrates and represents the working of our 

 Canadian social system ; the practical effect of our institutions, educational and muniaipal. 

 Our mingled population, when permitted to develope itself fairly ; vvhen not crushed, or sought 

 to be crushed into narrow alien moulds invented by non-Teutonic men in the pre-printing- 

 press, feudal era, becomes gradually — if not English — at all events Anglo-Canadian, a people of 

 a distinct type on this continent, acknowledged by the grand old mother of nations. Alma 

 Britannia herself, as eminently of kin. We have specially in mind a group from the neigh- 

 bourhood of Eglinton, genuine sons of our composite Canadian people, Sniders, Mitchells, 

 Jackeses, who, now some years ago, were to be seen twice every day at all seasons, traversing 

 the distance between Eglinton and Toronto, rising early and late taking rest, in order to bs 

 punctually present at, and carefully ready for, class-room or lecture-room iu town ; and this 

 process persevered in for the lengthened period required for a succession of curriculums ; with 

 results finally, in a conspicuous degree illustrative of the blending. Anglicising power of our 

 institutions when cordially and loyally used. Similar happy effects springing from simUar 

 causes, have we seen in numerous other instances and batches of instances, among the youth 

 of our Western Canada, drawn from widely severed portions of the country. 



Beyond Eglinton, in the descent to a rough irregular ravine, the home of Mr. Jonathan Hale 

 was passed on the east side of the street; one of the Hales, who, as we have seen, were forward 

 to undertake works of public utility at a time when appliances for the execution of such works 

 were few. Mr. Hale's lot became afterwards a part of the estate of Jesse Ketclmm of whom 

 we have spoken. We add here, that we observe in the Gazette of June 11, 1803, an obituary 

 notice of Mr. Ketchum's father. It runs thus : " On Wednesday last, Sth June, departed this 

 life, Mr. Joseph Ketchum, aged 85. His remains were interred the following day." 



In ISOS, the Gazette (October 22) informs us, the sheriff. Miles Macdonell, is about to sell "at 

 Barrett's Inn, in the town of Torlc," the goods and chattels of Henry Hale, at the suit of Elijah 

 Ketchum. Likewise, at the same time, the goods and chattels of Stillwell Wilson, at the suit of 

 James McCormack and others. 



On the west side, opposite Mr. Ketchum's land, was a farm that had been modernized and 

 beautified by two families in succession, who migrated hither from the Wesflndies, the Murraya 

 and the Nantons. In particular, a long avenue of evergreen trees, planted by them and leading 



