Blair Collection > Celtic magazine > Volume 5

THE EDITOE IN CANDIDA.
VI.
Mr Murdoch having left Kingston early on Tuesday, I had the bard all
to myseK that day until 4 p.m., -when we started together for the station
on my way to Toronto. The train being late, I here got into conversation
with the Hon. Sir Eichard J. Cartwright, Finance Minister in the late
Mackenzie administration. He was also waiting the train, and I was in-
troduced to him by Maccoll. I at once turned the conversation to my
grievance about the Canadian treatment of Highland emigrants, so shabby
■as compared with the facilities and encouragement which have been ex-
, tended to the jMennonites and Icelanders, and what I considered the
suicidal policy of only encouraging men with money to the Dominion,
Sir Eichard was against me. I stated my opinion firmly and in such a
manner as probably justified this able but self-opinionative Canadian
knight to part from me with the idea that I did not pay that deference
to his opinions and policy which they deserved. The train, however,
rushed along the platform before I had an opportunity of doing the
amiable ; and probably both of us went our respective ways fully con-
vinced that the other was more dogmatical in his assertions and opinions
than either our knowledge or experience justified. Eor that, however, the
arrival of the Grand Trunk train in the middle of our inteiesting discussion
must be held responsible.
I soon found myself rusliing along through a very fine country, with
Lake Ontario a considerable distance on the left, until, after passing
Belleville, Cobourg, and Port Hope, we skirt almost along its banks,
through some of the best and most productive land in Canada. This
district is celebrated as the greatest barley producing country in the
Dominion. About 11.30 p.m. we arrived at
Toronto,
a distance of over 160 miles, and I made for the "Walker House," a
capitally conducted hotel, kept by a native of Glasgow, who arrived in
the Dominion with only a cap)ital of £3, but who is now proprietor of
this fine establishment and other property in Toronto. His house, in
which you are only charged 8s a day for everything, is the common ren-
dezvous of Scotsmen, not only in Toronto and neighbourhood, but of
those who visit the city from all parts of Canada, the United States and
Scotland.
Next morning I had a walk through the principal parts of the city,
the streets of which, in consequence of the recent fall of snow, were very
slushy. There are some very fine buildings in the commercial part of the
town, but I saw the place for the first time under such serious disadvant-
ages that I was not so favourably impressed with it as I would no doubt
otherwise have been. Toronto is the capital of Ontario, the most import-
ant province of the Canadian Dominion. It is situated on a beautiful
circular bay on the north-west shore of Lake Ontario, 333 miles west