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 Ottawa--nay, 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 October--on 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
government--so it was said--could 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