The Sun.
London, England, 1856-12-02 00:00:00

GRAND TRUNK OF CANADA.

The completion of this railway from Montreal to
Toronto, and the great system of railway communica-
two which extends from the State of Maine to Canada
West, a distance of more than 800 miles, was celebrated
on Thursday, Nov. 13, by a great banquet at Montreal,
at which 5,000 persons, consisting of the leading men of
the province, the military, merchants and farmers, and a
number of invited guests from the United States, sat
down to a table extending over a mile and a half. The
festival is described as having been a very grand affair.
At 2 o'clock p.m. the Governor-Getteral, Sir Edmund
Head, arrived, with a guard of honour. The chair was
taken by Mr. H. Starnes, the Mayor of Montreal. At
the riget hand of the Mayor sat his Excellency, and on
his left sat Sir William Eyre, Ceminander of the Force=.
Amongst the other distinguished guests were—Judge
Day, of the Superior Court, the Lord Bishop of Mon-
treal, Colonel Tache, the Canadian Premier, &hater
Wilson, of Massachusetts, and Hon. John Rose, Previ•
dent of the Grand Trunk Railway.
The toast, " The health of the Governor-General,"
was responded to by his Excellency, who stated that he
met the citizens of Montreal on this occasion with pecu-
liar satisfaction, because he knew that this day was a
-great epoch in the history of Canada. He felt assured
it was one upon which the future historian would lout
back with satisfaction—that it would make a bright page
in Canadian history. It was in 1839 that Leal Durham
made her report on Canada; and how did he describe
it ? He stated that, except in a few spots, the country
wee all wild and desolate, and only possessed about 15
miles of railway, between Lake Cnamplem and Lap-
rairie. But now what was the condition of Canada ?
Put the traveller down at St. Thomas, and let him
go through to Stratford by railroad, see the condi
tion of the country and primounce if it is waste
and desolate. Tee country new produced net
only enough to supply its own needs, but experted
to the United States and to Eurepe. And all this
Progress had been made in the brief space of 17
years, since Lord Durham wrote his report. In
stead of the 15 miles of railway that then existed there
were now nearly 1,500 open. The whole c eintry was
Opened up, and the markets of Europe rendered acce,-
Bible to Its people. Montreal was the centre of that cern
coerce and that railway eystem, and such a pos;cion a,
~ a
the a :t:
pr
Ger do hvoi.tusrsC: andmmercial greatness. Toe former tedious
Journby from Quebec to Montreal wa, now performed in
the traveller alight go from one end of
1
lace to the other in 24 hours. The Victoria
Bridge
would render Montreal famous for one of the
, most wonderful works of the world. It was a great work,
whicsa
h w
the seaboard the great West with the South and
,
obstructed navigation,ata
ciuiCedAenioat period of the year wnen masses of ice
o creatin, obstructions which it re-
: iiighbooauvured.,rconae. That work would also con-
, eeet alontreei the West and North with their
Soathe
Talley of the Ottawa, whom;intdh.
evez remain fast friend:a that alluded
he knew
nt;wthtehegrnetattt.
z-ns of Montreal looed with
Betta
ttehde
nth.
ho hoped they would
velopment. The settlement of peculiar interest to its de
he considered was of. great importance
country. Cauada wanted breadth, and thi
great tract of territory
hes
theto settlement
.n.
ent
whole
ttie
of the Ottawa region would affird. • The Otta • ,
w t
further interest, as affording a link between
the Great
West and the St. Lawrence at Montreal. It was not for
him (Sir E. Heady to decide which was the best-means of
opening up that route. That would properly be decided
by the civil engineers wh , were now surveying it. Mon-
treal would receive the traffic of the Ottawa, which aiot.e
afforded assurance of its commercial greatness. The
Victoria Bridge would also Connect that region with the
South. In conclusion, he proposed the health of the
chief magistrate of the Inited States.
Senator WILSON responded to this toast on behalf of
the cit'zens of the United States. I am sure, sir, I speak
the sentiments of every American here to-day, when I
say that we not only thank you for proposing a toast to
the chief magistrate of our country, but I thank you fur
saying that you truEt that the people of the United
States and the people of British America will alway. i
meet as friends. (Cheers.) Difficulties, it is true, have
arisen between Great Britain and the United States. i
There difficulties, sir, ketwfku our Governments, we all