269

RAILROAD ROUTE FROM MONTREAL TO TORONTO, ETC., VIA GRAND TRUNK RAILWAY.

As the Grand Trunk Railway of Canada has recently been opened from Montreal to Toronto, and from the latter place is in rapid progress of completion to Port Sarnia, situated at the foot of Lake Huron, we give the following description of the route from Montreal westward, ascending the noble St. Lawrence.

The depôt is situated at the termination of the Victoria Bridge, about one and a half miles from the center of Montreal, subjecting the traveler to a long ride from the hotels or steamboat landing. On leaving the depôt the La Chine Canal is soon passed, and then the Montreal and La Chine Railroad, the track of the Grand Trunk Railway extending westerly across the fertile island of Montreal, passing in sight of Lake St. Louis, formed by the junction of the Ottawa and St. Lawrence rivers.

ST. ANNE'S, 21 miles from Montreal, is a French-Canadian village, of some four or five hundred inhabitants. Here is a Roman Catholic church, and a number of picturesque edifices situated near the water's edge. The rapids, government lock for steamers, and the railroad bridge, together with the beautiful Ottawa and islands, altogether afford a magnificent view, al most unrivaled for river scenery. A few miles westward may be seen the hills giving the name to the Lake of the Tw Mountains.

ISLE PEROT, about two miles in width, is next passed over by the upward train, and another branch of the Ottawa crossed when the cars stop at the

VAUDREUIL STATION, situated about half a mile below the village of the same name. Here a lovely view is obtained of the

Ottawa, its islands, and the hills of the Lake of the Two ountains in the distance. The railroad track, on leaving the Ottawa, runs through a fertile tract of country for several miles, the village of the CEDARS being passed on the left, some two miles distant.

COTEAU STATION is 37 miles from Montreal and one and a half miles from the landing; here is a scattered settlement of French Canadians, numbering about 500 inhabitants.

LANCASTER, 54 miles from Montreal, is situated on the north shore of Lake St. Francis, an expansion of the St. Lawrence River. Here is a population of about 700 inhabitants, mostly of Scotch descent.

CORNWALL, 68 miles from Montreal, is a thriving town, situated at the foot of the Long Saut Rapids. It contains about 2,500 inhabitants. Here the trains usually meet, and the passengers are furnished refreshments. This is also a convenient steamboat landing, where the Royal Mail Line of steamers stop daily on their trips up and down the St. Lawrence.

Dickinson's Landing, 77 miles; Aultsburg, 84 miles; Williamsburg, 92 miles; Matilda, 99 miles, and Prescott Junction, 112 miles, are soon reached and passed by the ascending train.

The line of the Grand Trunk Railway from Vaudreuil to Brockville, a distance of 100 miles, runs through a level section of country, from a half to two miles distant from the St. Lawrence River, which is only seen occasionally from the passing train of cars.

The town of PRESCOTT, 113 miles from Montreal, and 60 miles from Kingston, is advantageously situated on the north bank of the St. Lawrence, opposite the village of Ogdensburgh. It contains a population of about 3,000 inhabitants. (See page 259.)

The Ottawa and Prescott Railroad, 54 miles in length, extends from Prescott to Ottawa City, intersecting the Grand Trunk Railway one and a half miles from the St. Lawrence River. On leaving Prescott the railroad runs through a level country to Kemptville, 23 miles, and thence to Ottawa City, a further distance of 30 miles. This is now the most speedy and

favorite route from Montreal to the Upper Ottawa, passengers' baggage being checked through, via Prescott.

BROCKVILLE, 125 miles above Montreal, and 208 miles below Toronto, is one of the most important stations on the line of the Grand Trunk Railway, it being a flourishing town of about 8,000 inhabitants. The Brockville and Ottawa Railroad will extend from this place to Pembroke, situated 100 miles above Ottawa City. The railroad route from Brockville to Kingston, 48 miles, continues along the north shore of Lake Ontario to Cobourg, 90 miles farther, and thence to Toronto, 70 miles; being a total distance of 333 miles

For further information in regard to Kingston, Cobourg, Toronto, etc., see Trip from Hamilton and Toronto to Kingston, etc.

272

MONTREAL.

THE City of MONTREAL, the largest and chief seat of commerce of British America, is favorably situated at the head of ship navigation on the left bank of the St. Lawrence River, here about two miles in width. It lies 170 miles above Quebec and 350 miles below Toronto, by water, in N. lat. 45° 30′, and W. long. 73° 25' from Greenwich. The site, although not so commanding as Quebec, is in every other respect superior, lying at the foot of a romantic eminence from which it derives its name, called Mount Royal, which hill rises in picturesque beauty, about one mile from the city, to the height of 550 feet, forming a prominent object in the picture from every point of view. The streets, although somewhat irregular, present a fine and clean appearance. Notre Dame Street, the Broadway of Montreal, is the principal promenade and seat of the fashionable retail trade; it is about one mile in length and has many elegant stores, built of stone in the most durable manner. St. Paul Street, lying nearer the water, is mostly filled with wholesale stores. Great St. James Street is a wide and beautiful avenue, where are located most of the banks and insurance offices; together with hotels and other substantial buildings. McGill Street is filled with stores and offices of different kinds, running across the streets enumerated above. Water Street, Commissioners' Street, and Common Street extend the entire length of the city, facing on the St. Lawrence River and La Chine Canal; at times presenting a pleasing and lively appearance when the harbor and canal are filled with steamers and sail vessels of different kinds. From whatever side the city is approached, either by water or iand, the scene is one of much interest; if from the St. Lawrence, Victoria Bridge and islands first attract attention; then the splendid towers of the Cathedral, the tall spires of other churches, the elegant front of Bonsecours

Market, the magnificent stone quay, and the long range of cutstone buildings which front the river, form at once a tout ensemble which is unequaled.

The public buildings in Montreal are numerous; many of them massive and costly edifices. The most noted is the Roman Catholic or French Cathedral, situated on Notre Dame Street, fronting the Place d'Armes; it is built in the Gothic style of architecture, 255 feet in length by 134 in breadth; it has six towers, of which the three belonging to the main front are 220 feet in height. The principal window is 64 feet in height and 32 in breadth. The interior has several desks or altars, and is capable of accommodating from 6 to 7,000 persons, who can disperse by several outlets. "This church boasts the possession of a magnificent set of bells, one of which, weighing thirteen tons, is hung in the western tower, and is the largest bell in America. Under the church, the entire space is occupied by a cemetery-in which the more wealthy of the Roman Catholics are interred." The Seminary of St. Sulpice, adjoining the Cathedral, is a substantial stone building, at present only finished to the extent of half the proposed plan. In this building is transacted all the parochial business, and also the secular affairs connected with the very valuable property belonging to the priests of the seminary. There are several other Roman Catholic churches, mostly belonging to the order of St. Sulpice, to the members of which Montreal chiefly owed its foundation, and who still hold the seigniory of the island on which it stands.

The Protestant churches, consisting of the Church of England or Episcopal, the Church of Scotland (Presbyterian), the Congregational, the Baptist, the Methodist, and other persuasions, are numerous; Montreal being justly celebrated for its church edifices and church-going people. There are also a great number of nunneries and charitable institutions in the city, both under Roman Catholic and Protestant management. The courthouse and prison are new and substantial stone buildings, occupying the site of the former college of the Jesuits. The govern