clumps of trees and plants, beds of flowers, natural terraces, and winding path to the TRAFALGAR TOWER peering from the summit of the MOUNT clothed with luxuriant arbors— contribute to render this spot peculiarly adapted to the purposes of a CEMETERY, the existence of which will at once be a source of attraction, usefulness and celebrity to the Metropolis of Canada.

An office has been opened in the City, for the transaction of all business concerning the CEMETERY, at which tickets of admission may be had gratis, hearses, omnibuses and cabs will be provided, which will enable parties so inclined, to limit the funeral cortege to executors and near relations of the deceased as customary in other cities.

The tariff of rates which will be upon an economical scale, for burial lots, excavation, hearse, and other contingencies, may be ascertained either at the office or at the cemetery; and for the convenience of the public, the entire arrangements for interment may be effected by an order without further trouble to the applicant.

The Minute Book, containing copy of the articles of the Proprietary Association of the Cemetery, and minutes of all proceedings connected therewith, will remain in charge of the Superintendent, for the information of intending purchasers of burial lots.

Office: No. 19 Great St. James Street.

MONTREAL, 22nd June, 1846.

From the foregoing data, the reader can select the true story of Trafalgar Tower.

THE LACHINE CANAL OF THE FRENCH

REGIME.

By MR. ROBERT C. DOUGLAS, OTTAWA.

Amid the famous men of Canada there stands forth in bold relief the tall and powerful figure of Dollier de Casson, whilom the brave dragoon, and now a priest and superior of the Seminary of St. Sulpice at Montreal.

This ecclesiastic, was like many others of the same order, who, being men of the world, were not wholly absorbed in their priestly duties and the care of souls, but in addition, devoted themselves to furthering the material benefit and welfare of the settlement on the Island of Montreal.

The settlers at Lachine had great difficulty in transporting their produce to Montreal on account of the dangerous rapids of "Sault St. Louis." Many batteaux and canoes, as well as the lives of those in charge, had been lost in descending these rapids.

M. Dollier de Casson, familiar with the canals of old France, then being constructed or in contemplation, conceival the project of constructing a canal from Lachine to Montreal. Upon it the intention was, to build a number of mills of all kinds; water-power being necessary on account of the lack at times of wind to propel the mills already constructed; from which cause the inhabitants of Montreal and surrounding country had frequently to eat whole grain boiled.

Reasons adduced for assistance from France, were that in some years it cost the King over 200 pistoles through loss in this, as it was called "une rapide impraticable, ou du moins très-dangereux"; also the King paid yearly 200 écues for cartage which would be avoided if batteaux were loaded at Montreal.

In October, 1700, M. Dollier de Casson made an agreement with Sieur Catalogne, at that time, lieutenant of Marine and Royal Surveyor, to excavate a canal from the

Grand, or St. Lawrence River, to the River St. Pierre. The cut would be some 800 toises in length, 12 feet (French) wide at the surface of ground, the greatest depth of cutting mentioned is 9 feet. The gentlemen of the Seminary were to allow the use of any tools in their possession, especially those suitable for rock excavation. In the event of Catalogne's death during the time of construction, his wife could complete the work. The contract price for the work was 3,000 livres and it had to be completed in June, 1701.

This contract, the first canal contract in Canada,—when the magnitude of the present canal system and this humble endeavour, as viewed from to-day, are compared,-possesses great interest. The preamble may be quoted

30th October, 1700.—“ Marché pour le canal de la Rivière St. Pierre entre Mr. Dollier et Sr. Catalogne.

"Furent présent Messire François Dollier de Casson, un des prêtres du Seminaire de St. Sulpice de Paris, Supérieure des ecclésiastiques de Ville-Marie,

“Et Sieur Gédéon de Catalogne, officier dans les troupes du detachement de la Marine et Arpenteur Royal."

The name of the notary executing this document was Adhemar.

Catalogne did not complete the canal at the date specified, the death of M. Dollier de Casson, in October, 1701, stopped the work.

Catalogne, in his memoirs says, having made the plans and superintended the works, the sudden death of M. Dollier de Casson cost him 3,000 écues.

With reference to this statement, the Seminary noted "c'est Catalogne qui parle, mais il ne dit pas la vérité."

After the death of M. Dollier de Casson, another Sulpician priest interested himself in the canal. M. de Breslay was a gentleman of the King's Chamber; disgusted with the world and the gay life of the court of Versailles, he sold his commission and devoted himself and his fortune to the Indian missions of New France. He was appointed curate

to the priest of Lachine in 1702. The importance of completing the work would come directly to his notice. He directed the attention of Vaudreuil and Beauharnois to the project. In their memoirs to the minister, 15th November, 1703, the canal is thus referred to:-" M. de Breslay's project of building a canal to Montreal would be of great utility to the Colony if constructed as commenced, and we beg of you to assist him in completing the work."

M. de Breslay agreed to contribute 3,000 francs towards the completion of the enterprise. Having expended his fortune in building a chapel and fort near St. Anne, through the straightened circumstances of his family, he was unable to fulfil his agreement; he requested that he be discharged from it, which was done, the Seminary knowing his poverty.

The King's attention was drawn to the project, he asked for the plans and estimates, upon examination of which he said he could not undertake the work, on account of war he was engaged in, and that the work should be postponed until the time of peace, unless means could be devised to carry on the work without his assistance.

In 1717, the enterprising gentlemen of the Seminary again attempted to complete the canal. After expending 20,000 francs, the work was abandoned on account of the large amount of rock that required to be excavated. This was the last endeavour made to connect the waters of the River St. Lawrence with those of Lake St. Pierre.

The King was closing his long reign in disaster and gloom, leaving France in financial ruin and disorder. From nearly the inception of the canal to his death, a profitless and costly war prevented any assistance being granted towards completing the work. The Seminary, after two efforts, finding that, unassisted the construction of the canal would prove of too great a strain upon its finances, finally relinquished the work.

The Lachine Canal of the French Règime was an unfinished cut through which no craft has ever passed.

While standing near the entrance of the canal at Lachine, and looking on the massive masonry structures, and other works, impressive in their magnitude, we must not despise the insignificent cut to the north, a memento of the public spirit and enterprise of the gentlemen of the Seminary in its early days. The imagination carries us backward two centuries, where near by could be seen the valiant and large hearted Dollier de Casson and his engineer and contractor Catalogne discussing the method of attaining an end accomplished on so grand a scale by the works which we have just viewed.

From 1717 until the conquest, the project is from time to time commented upon by governors and intendants and engineers. In 1732, MM. Beauharnois and Hocquart advise the Minister to continue the work, and request that the engineer of the Colony be authorized to study the project. In their memoirs, 28th September, 1733, it is said that the study of the work showed great difficulties. M. de Lery, chief engineer, having surveyed the canal, made several plans and memoirs, he says, in this year, that, upon exami nation of the projected canal, a consideration of the enormous expense its execution would necessitate, induces him to give up the project.

In 1749, we find one M. de la Morandier proposing to M. Galissonière an elaborate plan for the completion of the work. (Plan in Library of Parliament).

A cutting was to be made from the St. Lawrence into the River St. Pierre, this river and Lake St. Pierre would then be used to the foot of the lake, where a mill had been built called "Moulin du Lac." This mill would be situated about where the Grand Trunk Railway crosses the present canal. The flood water of Lake St. Pierre was discharged into the River St. Lawrence by the brook St. Pierre. From this brook, at nearly opposite to the water-works pumpingstation, a small canal had been excavated by the gentlemen of the Seminary, to convey water to the "Moulin du