north america-1-第21章
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n simply placed the matter in the hands of the Governor…General。 Be that as it may； I do not think that any unbiased traveler will doubt that the best possible selection has been made； presuming always； as we may presume in the discussion； that Montreal could not be selected。 I take for granted that the rejection of Montreal was regarded as a sine qua non in the decision。 To me it appears grievous that this should have been so。 It is a great thing for any country to have a large； leading； world…known city； and I think that the government should combine with the commerce of the country in carrying out this object。 But commerce can do a great deal more for government than government can do for commerce。 Government has selected Ottawa as the capital of Canada； but commerce has already made Montreal the capital； and Montreal will be the chief city of Canada； let government do what it may to foster the other town。 The idea of spiting a town because there has been a row in it seems to me to be preposterous。 The row was not the work of those who have made Montreal rich and respectable。 Montreal is more centrical than Ottawanay； it is as nearly centrical as any town can be。 It is easier to get to Montreal from Toronto than to Ottawa； and if from Toronto； then from all that distant portion of Upper Canada back of Toronto。 To all Lower Canada Montreal is； as a matter of course； much easier of access than Ottawa。 But having said so much in favor of Montreal； I will again admit that； putting aside Montreal； the best possible selection has been made。 When Ottawa was named； no time was lost in setting to work to prepare for the new migration。 In 1859 the Parliament was removed to Quebec； with the understanding that it should remain there till the new buildings should be completed。 These buildings were absolutely commenced in April； 1860； and it was； and I believe still is； expected that they will be completed in 1863。 I am now writing in the winter of 1861； and； as is necessary in Canadian winters； the works are suspended。 But unfortunately they were suspended in the early part of Octoberon the first of October whereas they might have been continued； as far as the season is concerned； up to the end of November。 We reached Ottawa on the third of October； and more than a thousand men had then been just dismissed。 All the money in hand had been expended； and the governmentso it was saidcould give no more money till Parliament should meet again。 This was most unfortunate。 In the first place the suspension was against the contract as made with the contractors for the building； in the next place there was the delay； and then； worst of all； the question again became agitated whether the colonial legislature were really in earnest with reference to Ottawa。 Many men of mark in the colony were still anxiousI believe are still anxiousto put an end to the Ottawa scheme； and think that there still exists for them a chance of success。 And very many men who are not of mark are thus united； and a feeling of doubt on the subject has been created。 Two hundred and twenty…five thousand pounds have already been spent on these buildings； and I have no doubt myself that they will be duly completed and duly used。 We went up to the new town by boat； taking the course of the River Ottawa。 We passed St。 Ann's； but no one at St。 Ann's seemed to know anything of the brothers who were to rest there on their weary oars。 At Maxwellstown I could hear nothing of Annie Laurie or of her trysting…place on the braes； and the turnpike man at Tara could tell me nothing of the site of the hall； and had never even heard of the harp。 When I go down South； I shall expect to find that the negro melodies have not yet reached 〃Old Virginie。〃 This boat conveyance from Montreal to Ottawa is not all that could be wished in convenience； for it is allied too closely with railway traveling。 Those who use it leave Montreal by a railway； after nine miles； they are changed into a steamboat。 Then they encounter another railway； and at last reach Ottawa in a second steamboat。 But the river is seen； and a better idea of the country is obtained than can be had solely from the railway cars。 The scenery is by no means grand； nor is it strikingly picturesque； but it is in its way interesting。 For a long portion of the river the old primeval forests come down close to the water's edge； and in the fall of the year the brilliant coloring is very lovely。 It should not be imagined； as I think it often is imagined； that these forests are made up of splendid trees； or that splendid trees are even common。 When timber grows on undrained ground； and when it is uncared for； it does not seem to approach nearer to its perfection than wheat and grass do under similar circumstances。 Seen from a little distance； the color and effect is good； but the trees themselves have shallow roots； and grow up tall； narrow； and shapeless。 It necessarily is so with all timber that is not thinned in its growth。 When fine forest trees are found； and are left standing alone by any cultivator who may have taste enough to wish for such adornment； they almost invariably die。 They are robbed of the sickly shelter by which they have been surrounded； the hot sun strikes the uncovered fibers of the roots； and the poor； solitary invalid languishes； and at last dies。 As one ascends the river； which by its breadth forms itself into lakes； one is shown Indian villages clustering down upon the bank。 Some years ago these Indians were rich； for the price of furs； in which they dealt； was high； but furs have become cheaper； and the beavers； with which they used to trade； are almost valueless。 That a change in the fashion of hats should have assisted to polish these poor fellows off the face of creation； must； one may suppose； be very unintelligible to them； but nevertheless it is probably a subject of deep speculation。 If the reading world were to take to sermons again and eschew their novels； Messrs。 Thackeray； Dickens； and some others would look about them and inquire into the causes of such a change with considerable acuteness。 They might not； perhaps； hit the truth； and these Indians are much in that predicament。 It is said that very few pure…blooded Indians are now to be found in their villages； but I doubt whether this is not erroneous。 The children of the Indians are now fed upon baked bread and on cooked meat； and are brought up in houses。 They are nursed somewhat as the children of the white men are nursed； and these practices no doubt have done much toward altering their appearance。 The negroes who have been bred in the States； and whose fathers have been so bred before them； differ both in color and form from their brothers who have been born and nurtured in Africa。 I said in the last chapter that the City of Ottawa was still to be built； but I must explain； lest I should draw down on my head the wrath of the Ottawaites； that the place already contains a population of 15；000 inhabitants。 As； however； it is being prepared for four times that numberfor eight times that number； let us hopeand as it straggles over a vast extent of ground； it gives one the idea of a city in an active course of preparation。 In England we know nothing about unbuilt cities。 With us four or five blocks of streets together never assume that ugly； unfledged appearance which belongs to the half…finished carcass of a house； as they do so often on the other side of the Atlantic。 Ottawa is preparing for itself broad streets and grand thoroughfares。 The buildings already extend over a length considerably exceeding two miles； and half a dozen hotels have been opened； which； if I were writing a guide…book in a complimentary tone； it would be my duty to describe as first rate。 But the half dozen first…rate hotels； though open； as yet enjoy but a moderate amount of custom。 All this justifies me； I think； in saying that the city has as yet to get itself built。 The manner in which this is being done justifies me also in saying that the Ottawaites are going about their task with a worthy zeal。 To me I confess that the nature of the situation has great charms； regarding it as the site for a town。 It is not on a plain； and from the form of
