his arrival, was entrusted with the construction of the boat canal, at the Cascades above Montreal, which he successfully accomplished. On his completing this undertaking, he returned to Quebec, and superintended the building of the four martello towers outside the walls of Quebec; and at this time he also got up the celebrated model of that city, which was conveyed to England, and submitted to the Duke of Wellington for inspection.

In 1811, Colonel By proceeded to England, soon after the departure of the governor, Sir James Craig; and again returned in 1826, for the express purpose of constructing the Rideau canal; a work, which the imperial government was resolved to carry out, so that in the event of another war with the Americans, there might be another route, besides the St. Lawrence, for the conveyance of stores and troops to Kingston, as this enterprise in 1812 was a work of no little difficulty and danger. From the "Records of the Royal Engineers," London, we find that, excepting a partial survey made of the line of operations, by Captain Jebb, in 1815, the whole work entirely owes its origination and completion to the ingenuity and skill of By, who, overcoming all obstacles and difficulties, at last fairly accomplished what had been entrusted to him; and had the satisfaction of seeing one of the greatest works in the province fully carried out and set in operation. It was during the time that the Rideau was building, that the first huts were raised by him on the present site of what is now Ottawa city, which even unto this day is known as Bytown.

But some irregularities or mismanagement in the pecuniary affairs of the canal having arisen, and being attributed to him, in August 1832, he proceeded to England to vindicate his conduct; but there, instead of meeting with the reception which he merited, he received nothing but reproaches; and this treatment acting on a naturally weak constitution, finally caused his death. Many affirm that he really died of a broken heart, having looked forward to receiving some royal mark of favor or honor for his successful exertions in carrying out the great work which alone is a mighty evidence of his professional skill and assiduity.

He had married twice; his second wife was a lady of high connections, and one of his daughters married, we believe, Lord Ashburnham. All have now passed away, and the name of By is all that is left of one of whom it may be said, that he did his duty faithfully, and sacrificed himself to his zeal in the service of his sovereign.

HON. AND RIGHT REV. CHAS. J. STEWART.

THE name of this truly excellent and devoted servant of Christ in Canada, who succeeded the first Bishop Mountain in the see of Quebec, deserves the highest place that can be accorded to it in the annals of the Church of England, and in the hearts of the English people of this province.

Often as we witness the wonderful efforts made by the ministry of the Church in its behalf and in the behalf of its people, we rarely, if ever, heard of a character of such self-sacrificing, devout, pious and holy principles, as those held by the late lamented Bishop of Quebec.

Bred as the son of the Earl of Galloway, in all the wealth and luxury that appertain to a scion of a noble house, brought up amidst all the temptations and hazards which beset the path of the young and noble, in their progress through college and the university, (and he might have aspired to the highest places in the many worldly employments held forth to the sons of the aristocratic families of England), he passed through the two first ordeals unscathed; and pure and spotless in character, through no worldly motives except to do good to his fellow creatures, he entered the ministry as a meek servant and instrument of God. With such purposes in view he came to this country, and endured direst privations as a missionary, passing from one place to another in the depth of winter, without perhaps, (in those days, many years ago), a prospect of a shelter for his head, or a bed for his wearied body; and, even when raised to the high and important office as head of the church of this province, when age and sickness had crept upon him, he continued in the good work, going from one place to another, never wearied, never heedful of his own health, but all intent on the welfare of his flock and people; until finally, a not very strong constitution was undermined, and death closed his earthly labors. Beyond doubt he has met with his reward, for seldom did mortal ever strive, work, suffer and endure more to the service of his Divine Master than did the zealous and upright Bishop Stewart.

Bishop Stewart was the fifth son of the Earl of Galloway, and was born on the 13th of April, 1775. He was educated at Galloway House, in Wigtonshire, Scotland, by a private tutor, until he was old enough to enter Oxford, and here he graduated as M.A., in 1799, and was afterwards ordained to the holy ministry. His first charge was that of Orton Longueville and Botolph Bridge, near Peterborough, where he remained for eight years; and shortly

afterwards, having offered himself to the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, he was appointed to the mission of St. Armand, in the Eastern Townships. Here there was not the semblance of a church; and the first service which he held, was performed in a room in the village inn. But he soon built a church at his own expense; and it might not be out of place here to mention that during the time he was in Canada, he spent the whole of his private fortune in the service of the church and in assisting the poor and distressed. He remained in the Eastern Townships until 1819, when he was appointed visiting missionary in the diocese of Quebec. During the time he remained in the Eastern Townships, he did much good to the cause he served; and promoted the erection of many churches in different parts of the country. In his new position, a wider field and a larger scope was opened for his exertions. The diocese then included the whole of Canada; and this extensive space of country had to be traversed by the valiant missionary in days when there did not exist any of the comforts and conveniences which characterize modern Canada. In 1817, he was honored with the degree of Doctor of Divinity, from Oxford.

He continued in his office of visiting missionary until the year 1825, when Bishop Mountain died, and Doctor Stewart was nominated to the vacant see. He accordingly proceeded to England; and, on 1st January, 1826, was consecrated Bishop of Quebec, in Lambeth Palace, by Archbishop Sutton, assisted by numerous high dignitaries of the church. In the following May, Bishop Stewart returned to Canada, and was installed in the Cathedral of Quebec. It were almost superfluous to proceed further in detailing his history; his course continued much the same all through his life. He was a most zealous servant and soldier of Christ, a noble disinterested being, endowed with rich qualities of heart and mind, and a mouth that spoke no guile. His death occurred on the 13th of July, 1837, at London, in England, whither he had proceeded through extreme ill-health; and he was buried in the family vault at Kensal Green. His decease occasioned deep and universal regret in Canada. We may say he spent the greater part of his lifetime in this country, and devoted it entirely to the service in which he was engaged. He made several visits to England, which were always destined for some good object in connexion with the church. To his indefatigable efforts in its behalf may be truly ascribed, to a considerable extent, its present high and important standing.

HON. MR. JUSTICE WILLIS.

JOHN WALPOLE WILLIS, the subject of this brief notice, who, to the shame of the "Family Compact" party of Upper Canada, received such base and unprincipled treatment at their hands, for no reason but because he did his duty well, was an English lawyer of great legal ability and knowledge; and also a gentleman of much goodness and amiability of character. In October, 1827, he had been raised from the English bar to the bench of Upper Canada, as one of the puisné judges. In this high office he displayed great judgment, and an accurate acquaintance with his official duties, and was considered an honor to the bench (heretofore not in very high repute) not only for his talents and merits as a lawyer, bus for his extremely excellent disposition, and for the manner in which he maintained the dignity and impartiality of the court, by refusing to take any part in the politics of the day, and by refusing to join himself to any party whatever. Such a man was not in favor with the omnipotent power that ruled the upper province; and a strong dislike was taken against him. To such a length was this mean inveteracy carried by the lieutenantgovernor, Sir Peregrine Maitland, that on the first occasion he could get a plausible charge against him, he dismissed him from the bench. The alleged reason of this dismissal was, that Judge Willis, in the absence of his superior, and the other puisné judge, had refused to go on with the business of the court by himself at term time; a reason of so strong a nature that, on his appealing to the home government against Sir Peregrine Maitland's abitrary and self-willed act, he was sustained in what he had done, and appointed to a judgeship at Demerara. We believe he died in England.

REV. JAMES MAGRATH, M.A.

THIS celebrated divine was born in Ireland, in 1766. He graduated at Trinity college, Dublin, and was for many years rector of the township of Toronto, previously rector of Shankill, diocese of Leighlin, and formerly of Castlerea, Roscommon. Dur

ing the Irish Rebellion, in 1798, he was curate of Killenvey, county of Roscommon, and in consequence of his exertions in discovering what was called the shocking conspiracy, the then secretary-of-state for Ireland authorised him to offer any reward he thought necessary, in order to procure further information regarding that treasonable design. As an acknowledgment of his welltimed and loyal services, Mr. Magrath was presented by the then lord-lieutenant of Ireland, Marquis Cornwallis, with the living of St. Kill, county of Kilkenny. He held commissions of the peace for seven counties, and was deputy-governor of the county of Roscommon. In May, 1827, Mr. Magrath arrived in Canada, and in the same year was preferred to the rectory of the Credit, which he held till the period of his decease, which took place on the 14th of June, 1851. In addition to the duties of St. Peter's church, he for many years officiated at Hurontario church, on the Centre Road. Mr. Magrath was the senior missionary, and the oldest clergyman in the diocese of Toronto. His family still remain in the province.

LORD SEATON, G.C.B., G.C.H., G.C.M.G.

Ir must assuredly be a subject of pride and gratification to Canadians, that this great and illustrious man was for a lengthened period connected with this province, and governed its destinies in the most critical years of its existence; and we may confidently rely that a grateful and affectionate remembrance is retained of the brave old hero and conqueror, who encountered and overcame many dangers to preserve this valuable dependency to his royal mistress, and to the British nation. To Lord Seaton essentially belongs the credit, pride and honour of overcoming the rebellion of 1837-8. The biography of Sir John Colborne, a name by which he was best known here, seeing that it was while he possessed that plain designation, that he fought in our cause, and won the honors which he now so gallantly wears; the biography of this great man might be written in letters of gold.

The noble lord, we understand, is an Englishman by birth, and received his education at Winchester college. Being destined for the British army, as early as 1794, he entered the service as an ensign, but we are unable to learn in what corps. Those were the days of fierce and bloody warfare; and young Colborne had hard