574 CANADIAN LOCAL HISTORY : 



the harbour from his own, and setthig fire to three ships of the line, and obliging the 

 remainder in a disabled state to haul out of cannon shot, that great officer was enabled by a 

 rapid and unexpected movement to take post within four hundred yards of the town, from 

 whence Major Holland, under Iiis directions, carried on the approaches, destroyed the defences 

 of the town, and making a practicable breach, obliged the enemy to capitulate. He distin- 

 guished himself also at the conquest of Quebec in 1759, and was made honourable mention of 

 in Gen. Wolfe's will as a legatee. He also distinguished himself in the defence of Quebec in 

 1760, after General Murray's unsuccessful attack on the enemy. — After the peace he was 

 appointed Surveyor-General of this Province, and was usefully employed in surveying the 

 American coasts, from which siirvey those draughts published some years since by Major 

 Debarres have been principally taken." 



Major Holland was succeeded in the Surveyor-generalship of Lower Canada by a nephew — 

 the distingvtished Colonel Joseph Bouchette. In 1791 Major Holland constructed a map of the 

 British Province of Quebec^ on tlie scale of six inches to the square mile. It exists in MS. ia 

 the Crown Laud Office of Ontario. It is a magnificent map. On it. Lake Simcoe is left 

 undefined on one side, not having been explored in 1791. 



It was in 1832 that the project of a steamer for the Holland river and Lake Simcoe was 

 mooted. We give a document relating to this undertaking which we find in the Courier of Feb. 

 29, in that year, published at York. The names of those who were willing to embark, however 

 moderately, in the enterprise are of interest. It will be observed that the expenditure contem- 

 plated was not enormous. To modern speculators in any direction, what a bagatelle seems 

 the sum of £2000 ! 



" Steamboat on Lake Simcoe :" thus runs an advertisement in the Courier of Feb. 29, 1832. "Per- 

 sons who feel interested in the success of this undertaking, are respectfully informed that Capt. 

 McKeuzie, late of the Alciope, who has himself offered to subscribe one-fourth of the sum 

 required to build the proposed steamboat, is now at Buffalo for the purpose of purchasing an 

 Engine, to be delivered at Holland Landing during the present winter. Capt. McKenzie, who 

 visited Lake Simcoe last summer, is of opinion that a boat of sufficient size and power for the 

 business of the Lake can be built for £1250. In order, however, to ensure success, it is proposed 

 that stock to the amount of £2000 should be subscribed ; and it is hoped that this sum will be 

 raised without delay, in order that the necessary steps may be taken, on the return of Capt. 

 McKenzie, to commence building the boat with the view to its completion by the opening of the 

 navigation. — Tlie shares are Tvi^elve Pounds ten shillings each, payable to persons chosen by the 

 Stockholders. The following shares liave been already taken up, viz. : The Hon. Peter Robinson, 

 8 shares ; F. Hewson, 1 ; Edw. O'Brien, 2 ; W. B. Robinson, 4 ; W. R. Raines, 4 ; J. O. 

 Bouchier, 2 ; Wm. Johnson, 2 ; John Cummer, 1 ; T. Mossington, 2 ; A. M. Raines, 1 ; Robert 

 Clark, 1 ; Robert Johnston, 1 ; M. Mossington, 1 ; B. Jefferson, 1 ; J. M. Jackson, 1 ; R. 

 Oliver, 1 ; Wm. Turner, 2 ; L. Cameron, 1 ; P. Osborne, 2 ; J. Graham, 1 ; J. White, 1 ; S. H. 

 Farnsworth, 1 ; Andrew Mitchell, 5 ; Murray, Newbigging and Co., 2 ; Capt. Creighton, 2 ; 

 Capt. McKenzie, 40 ; Canada Company, 8 ; J, F. Smith, 2 ; John Powell, 1 ; Grant Powell, 2 ; 

 A. Smalley, 1 ; Samuel P. Jarvis, 1 ; James E. Small, 1 ; R. W. Parker, 1 ; D. Cameron, 1 ; 

 Capt. Castle, 79th Regt., 8 ; James Doyle, 2 ; Francis Phelps, Bast Gwillimbury, 1 ; G. Lount, 

 West Gwillimbury, 1 ; Samuel Lount, West Gwillimbury, 1 ; George Playter, Whitchurch, 1 ; 

 Joseph Hewett, 1 ; Thomas A. Jebb, 2 ; Charles S. Monck, Haytesbury, 1 ; G. Ridout, 2 ; 

 T. G. Ridout, 1 ; Thomas Radenhurst, 1 ; Major Barwick, 2 ; Capt. W. Campbell, 2 ; C. C. 

 Small, 1 ; J. Ketchum, 1 ; Capt. Davies, 2 ; Lieut. Carthew, 2 ; Capt. Ross, 1 ; C. McVittie, 1 ; 

 Lieut. Adams, 1 ; S. Washburn, 2 ; J. C. Godwin, 1 ; F. T. Billings, 2 ; Thorne and Parsons, 2 ; 

 James Pearson, 1 ; B. Mason, 2 ; Wm. Laughton, 2 ; Wm. Ware, 1 ; A. H. Tonge, 1 ; Sheldon, 

 Dutcher and Co., 1 ; Jabez Barber, 1 ; R. W. Prentice, 1 ; T. Bell, 1 ; Lucius O'Brien, 1 ;— 

 Total, 162 shares. Persons who are desirous of taking shares in this boat are respectfully 

 informed that the subscription paper is lying at the Store of Messrs. Murray, Newbigging and 

 Co., where they can have an opportunity of entenng their names. York, 21st Dec, 1S31." 



The movement here initiated resulted in the steamer Simcoe, which plied for some years 

 between the Landing and the ports of Lake Simcoe. The Simcoe Avas built at the Upper 

 Landing, and after being launched, it was necessary to drag the boat by main force down to 

 deep water, through the thick sediment at the bottom of the stream. During the process, 

 while the capstan and tackle or other arrangement was being vigorously worked— instead of 



