REVIEWS. 273 



total of the subscriptions in Upper Canada amounted in 1836 only to £3,712 lOs. 

 the money iu the Treasury must have been a small sum. It is true subscriptiona 

 had been taken up in Lower Canada and in the United States, but the Quebec 

 subscribers, even in the previous year, had shown a marked want of confidence in 

 the scheme. In the Annual Report, the Directors gave no figures ; they merely 

 stated that 'a sufficient quantity of stock had been subscribed.' Early in 1825 

 the Company came before the Provincial Parliament and obtained an amendment 

 to their charter to raise the stock to $800,000 ; and the Canal was extended for 

 sloop navigation. We learn from a statement of Mr. Merritt that on the passing 

 of this Act the Hon. J. H. Dunn, 'the President proceeded to New York and 

 obtained £75,000 subscriptions.' The Committee reported in 1836, that the max- 

 imum of United States subscriptions was £69,625 ; a proof that the work had 

 been commenced the preceding year with literally an empty exchequer. The 

 ground was re-surveyed. The Welland River route was considered objectionable ; 

 or at the best to be developed to hasten the connection of the two waters ; for 

 although it was still to be retained, the advantages of a direct opening to Lake 

 Erie through the Grand River was specially commended. The distance was esti- 

 mated at 41 miles. Nevertheless it was still urged that a connection with the 

 "Welland River was virtually a connection with Lake Erie ; that its junction with 

 the Niagara River was only 18 miles from the lake ; and that although the cur- 

 rent was strong, vessels could sail up against it. But at the same time it was 

 represented that there would be difficulty in passing Fort Erie, owing to the great 

 rapidity of the stream below that spot. It was accordingly considered advisable, 

 that in order to avoid ' this impediment to navigation,' and to attain ' other im- 

 portant advantages,' a connection should be effected with the Grand River, which 

 turned at a high level into a navigable feeder, would furnish both a sufficient 

 supply of water and extend a satisfactory and quiet navigation. Considering 

 that the work had been commenced, the discovery came late. But a change from 

 the entrance by the Welland River, was in any circumstance wise and expedient. 

 The size of the locks was established. The dimensions were 100 feet x 22 feet, 

 with 7.6 feet depth of water : they were maintained in the cdhstruction of the 

 first Canal, except that the sills had only 7 feet. The locks were 40 in number. 

 The route thus determined, the contracts were partially given out in November, 

 1826, at least it was so stated before the Committee of the House of Assembly, 

 and the work from the Welland to Lake Ontario was to be so far completed by 

 April. 1827, that the communication to Lake Erie would be assui'ed by that date. 

 The connection by the Grand River was hereafter to be developed. In this 

 position, an application was made to the Legislature for assistance. Sir Peregrine 

 Maitland was then the Lieutenant-Governor, and he appears rightly to have esti- 

 mated the importance of the project. The ground of this assistance is succinctly 

 stated, viz.: that £26,000 had been subscribed in the Canadas; — the actutd 

 amount was not £14,000~that £75,000 had been subscribed in New York; and 

 that the directors ' being desirous that at least a majority of the stockholders 

 should be British subjects,' a limit had been placed on American stock to that 

 extent, and that accordingly £100,000 had been left for the English market ; that 

 the ' Canal was rapidly advancing,' and to prevent any delay in meeting the obli- 



