Chapter M: C. Baillairgé, Quebec (35)

=Mackenzie, Hon. Alexander=, Toronto, M.P. for East York, ex-Premier of Canada. About the end of the year 1842, three young men resided in the city of Kingston, who were destined to act prominent parts in the public life of Canada. One of the three was a rising young lawyer of pleasing address and popular manners, who had won distinction by his defence of Von Schultz and other state prisoners connected with the troubles of 1837. The second had been a student in the office of this young lawyer, and was this year—1842—called to the bar. The third was a Scottish youth of twenty, who had landed in Kingston in April, and was beginning his Canadian life as a stonemason. The young lawyer is now the Right Hon. Sir John A. Macdonald, First Minister of Canada. His student is now the Hon. Oliver Mowat, Premier of Ontario. The youthful stonemason is now the veteran statesman whose name stands at the head of this sketch—a name respected and honored by every clean man in the Dominion of Canada. Mr. Mackenzie was born on the 28th January, 1822, and is two years younger than his friend, the Hon. Oliver Mowat, and seven years younger than his rival, Sir John A. Macdonald. He was born in the parish of Logierait, Perthshire, Scotland. His parents had neither poverty nor riches, but they and their connections had what was better than either: they had brain-power, intelligence, untiring industry, sterling integrity, and an honorable ambition to rise in the world. Along with these good qualities they had a strong liking for Whig politics. Alexander was the third son in a large family. His school days were few. Two years in a private school in Perth; two more in the parish school of Moulin; less than a year in the grammar school of Dunkeld, and the education of the future Premier of Canada was finished so far as the schoolmaster was concerned. At the early age of fourteen his father died, and, like many another brave Scotch lad who has made his mark in the world, young Mackenzie began to earn his bread on the old Eden principle—by the sweat of his brow. Like Hugh Miller, he learned the trade of stonemason, and like Hugh Miller, he was fond of reading. His spare hours were spent in diligent study, and the habits then formed have clung to him all his days. When twitted with being a book-worm, Thos. D’Arcy McGee replied that he always preferred the society of good books to that of middling men. No doubt Mr. Mackenzie has always cherished the same preference, though perhaps he has never said anything about it. A worthy member of the House of Commons, whose reading days were over, felt lonesome in the same boarding-house with Mr. Mackenzie and David Mills, because, as he explained it “the moment Mackenzie and Mills came in from the house they sat down to their books.” In the following year, 1843, Mr. Mackenzie was joined in Kingston by his brother, Hope F. Mackenzie, who afterward represented Lambton and North Oxford in parliament. Hope Mackenzie was a man of fine spirit, great energy, and high attainments. He was rising rapidly as a public man when his career was suddenly ended by death. Had his life been spared, his ability, industry, and natural force of character would soon have placed him in the front rank of Canadian statesmen. After laboring five years in Kingston, during which time he probably became familiar with the well-known force of the man he afterwards so often faced in parliament, Mr. Mackenzie moved to the neighborhood of Sarnia. His mother and brothers came out from Scotland about the same time, and the whole family made their first Canadian home in that western town. Here Mr. Mackenzie resumed operations as a builder and contractor, lines in which he had been successful before leaving Kingston. It is useless to speculate on what might have been; but had Alexander Mackenzie continued in the building and contracting business, he might perhaps have become the millionaire head of the syndicate that built the Canadian Pacific Railway. In a country where there was so much to be built, almost anything was possible to a man of his patient industry, economical habits, sterling integrity, sound judgment, and all but invincible energy. But Alexander Mackenzie was not to be a millionaire contractor. Like many Scotchmen, he had a keen relish for politics. Five years’ residence in Sir John’s favorite city probably increased his eagerness to join in the fray. In Scotland he had been a Whig, and in Canada he joined the Liberal party as a matter of course. Though a man of quiet, retiring habits, it is no secret that Alexander Mackenzie keenly enjoys debate. To measure swords on the platform with a foeman worthy of his steel was never to him an unpleasant duty. The roar around the hustings never made him nervous. To his natural liking for public discussion and his intensely strong convictions, his love of Liberalism, his popular sympathies, his intense hatred of tyranny in all its forms, his love for the people and desire that they should have fair play—to these qualities add his undoubted capacity for public affairs, and one can easily see why it was impossible for Alexander Mackenzie to keep out of politics. Keep out of politics he certainly did not, for five years after he had started business in Sarnia we find him editing the Lambton _Shield_. Under his editorial management the _Shield_ soon became a power in the west. His editorials educated the electors of Lambton in Liberalism, and were extensively quoted by other journals. Sam Jones is credited with saying that if there is one thing in this world he does hate it is a quiet time. Whether a quiet time is a good time for Mr. Jones or not, it certainly is not a good time for a politician. Mr. Mackenzie had the undoubted advantage of entering the political arena in a stormy period. The battle for responsible government was being fought out and slowly won. The fight had been long and fierce. Under Lord Sydenham and Sir Charles Bagot the recommendations of Lord Durham’s report in favor of responsible government were being carried out. Sir Charles Metcalfe succeeded Sir Charles Bagot, and spent the four years of his official career in trying to deprive Canadians of the rights secured to them by his predecessors. Mr. Mackenzie resided in Kingston during the whole time that Metcalfe was governor, and it goes unsaid that when he removed to Sarnia he was in the right humor to do battle for responsible government. In 1861, Hope Mackenzie, who had represented Lambton in parliament, declined re-election. The future Premier was offered the nomination by a convention of the Liberal party, and accepting, carried the constituency by a considerable majority. When he entered parliament he had nothing to learn but the forms of procedure, and even these he probably know as well as many who had sat in previous parliaments. His accurate and full knowledge of all public questions, his almost infallible memory, his marvellous capacity for mastering the details of every question that came before him, and his power to make clear and concise speeches on any question on the shortest notice, soon placed him in the front row, along with the most experienced parliamentarians. Mr. Mackenzie has never claimed credit for his oratorical powers, nor have his friends put forth any such claim; but the fact remains that in twenty-five years of active public life he never needed to take a back seat in any oratorical company. He could always hold his own, and generally do a good deal more. He is one of the very few speakers in this Dominion whose speeches will stand a _verbatim_ report. He builds a speech just as he used to build a stone wall—clear, clean-cut, concise; sentences are laid one upon another in an orderly and compact manner, and when the speech is finished you can no more knock a word or sentence out of it than you can knock stones out of a well-built wall. His accurate knowledge, never-failing memory, and quick perceptive powers, make him specially formidable in reply. Running through many of his speeches, especially those delivered in hot debates, there is a mingled vein of mild sarcasm and dry, pawky Scotch humour that is very effective. The effect is greatly increased by the manner in which the work is done. You see the bolt across the house and you see quite easily that it has struck. You look to the spot from which it was thrown and you see a serious, almost solemn-looking man, going on with his work as if nothing had occurred. The plainness and apparent simplicity of the speaker give the humor and sarcasm a great effect. Soon after entering upon his parliamentary duties, Mr. Mackenzie saw his political friends take office under the premiership of Hon. John Sandfield Macdonald, who had associated Hon. Mr. Sicotte with him as leader of the lower Canadian section. This government lasted about a year, and was followed by another in which Hon. Mr. Dorian took the place of Hon. Mr. Sicotte. Mr. Mackenzie had in those days some experience as a government supporter—a kind of experience which has seldom been his during his long parliamentary life. After a short and troubled reign Hon. Sandfield Macdonald resigned, and Mr. Deadlock reigned in his stead. Then came a truce and the negotiations which resulted in confederation. A coalition was formed for the purpose of uniting the provinces. Hon. George Brown and a large majority of the Liberal party were in favor of a coalition. Mr. Mackenzie was of the opinion that the Liberal party should give the government a generous outside support in forming the union, but at the same time keep itself clear of all entangling alliances. The union was not long formed until it became painfully evident to the Liberal party that Mr. Mackenzie was right. When the first parliament met after confederation the Liberals were without a leader, Hon. George Brown having been defeated in South Ontario. The position was offered to Mr. Mackenzie, who accepted it, and displayed great tact in welding into one solid body the somewhat discordant elements that came from the different provinces. The task was no easy one, but in discharging his duties as a leader of her Majesty’s loyal Opposition the member for Lambton displayed the same ability and unwearied diligence that have marked his whole parliamentary career. Ever at his post and ever faithful to his trust, Mr. Mackenzie soon gained the confidence of his followers from all parts of the Dominion. The crisis of 1873 found him not only a successful leader but a parliamentarian of recognized position and ability. When the government fell he was entrusted with the duty of forming a ministry. In less than two days the names of his colleagues were announced, and the new government was ready for business. The question on everybody’s lips was, will there be a general election? It is understood that Mr. Mackenzie received such assurances of support from some of his former opponents as might have induced a less cautious man to go on with the business of the country without an appeal to the people. But the new premier was not to be caught napping. His Scotch caution assured him that a parliament elected under the auspices of his opponents, and the influence of Sir Hugh Allan’s liberal contribution, was not the kind of parliament to be trusted in an emergency. He dissolved the house, and in January, 1874, swept the country. Had the majority given him by the people been half as large as it was, the task of the new premier might have been a good deal easier. To enumerate the good measures that were introduced and passed by Mr. Mackenzie’s government would be to write the parliamentary history of Canada for the five years ending in 1878. His friends may challenge their opponents to show a record of equal merit during any five years in the history of the Dominion, in the history of Old Canada, or in the history of any province that now forms part of the Dominion. Let these restless characters who are everlastingly clamoring for revolutionary measures and hunting for strange gods to worship, sit down for a moment, and quietly read over the titles of the acts passed by Mr. Mackenzie’s government between 1873 and 1878, and say if they have anybody in their ranks that can serve the country better than it was served by Canada’s Grand Old Man. It is quite true that he went down in ’78, but he went down with his escutcheon untarnished and all his colors flying. His was no milk-and-water policy. He did not try to run with the Free Trade hare and hunt with the N.P. hounds. He believed it was wrong to increase the burdens of the people in a time of depression. He went to the polls on this issue, and was defeated by the people he was bravely trying to help. Burke told the electors of Bristol that he advanced their interests contrary to their opinions. Mr. Mackenzie tried to do the same thing for the people of Canada and failed. A few years will show, if the revelation has not already been made, whether the electors of Canada did a wise thing when they dismissed a faithful public servant for not taxing five millions of people to enrich a few. Never did British or Colonial statesman display more moral heroism than was displayed by Alexander Mackenzie in ’78 when he stood by his principles while the pistol was pointed at his head—held at times, with shame be it said, by some who pose as moral reformers. If there is no room in the public life of Canada for a man who bravely faces defeat rather than do what he believes to be wrong, then Canada is morally rotten and should be buried out of sight. Soon after his defeat in ’78, Mr. Mackenzie became a resident of Toronto. Owing to declining health he found it inconvenient to represent a large constituency like West Lambton, and in 1882 stood for East York. For this constituency he has been twice elected. East York derives as much honor from its representative as Mr. Mackenzie derives from representing an historic constituency of which he is justly proud. For the same unfortunate reason, Mr. Mackenzie found it necessary some years ago to resign the leadership of the Liberal party. His strength was not equal to the task, and Alexander Mackenzie never was the man to undertake anything unless he could do it thoroughly. The arduous and irksome nature of the work of an Opposition leader in Canada may be learned from the fact that the distinguished gentleman who succeeded Mr. Mackenzie—a gentleman who once could work eighteen hours out of the twenty-four with impunity—has since broken down in health and has been compelled, temporarily at least, to leave public life. The one great mistake of Mr. Mackenzie’s life was his brave attempt to attend to the details of his department while Premier and Minister of Public Works. It is easy to be wise when events are over, but one cannot help thinking that had he worked less then he might be the able and trusted leader of his party to-day, and the party needs a leader badly enough. Mr. Mackenzie’s parliamentary services have not been confined to the Dominion parliament, and the parliament of Old Canada. In 1871, he ran for West Middlesex, was elected, and on the downfall of Sandfield Macdonald’s government soon after, took office under Hon. Mr. Blake, first as provincial secretary, and afterwards as provincial treasurer. Dual representation being abolished, both he and Mr. Blake left the Local Legislature at the same time. Besides his parliamentary work, Mr. Mackenzie has rendered Canada good service by his well-written biography of his friend and leader, George Brown. The tone of the book is moderate throughout, and though written by a strong party man, the facts, so far as we know, have never been seriously questioned. It has occasionally been charged against Mr. Mackenzie that his manner is cold, and his language curt. It is quite true that he calls a spade a spade, and a scoundrel a scoundrel. It may be true that when scaly politicians have asked him to help them to carry out dirty jobs he gave them a reply not always couched in diplomatic language. Quite likely he met the pious proposal of some moral reformers to tax the people for their benefit with language that may have seemed to them unnecessarily vigorous. All this may be so; but those who know Alexander Mackenzie know him to be a warm-hearted man, as kindly as he is firm and true—a man ready at any moment to help the needy, or make sacrifices for his friend. He hates humbug, and scorns shams, and can unmask a hypocrite with rare skill; but no more kindly man stands in the Dominion to-day. May a kind heaven send Canada more Mackenzies.

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=Clarke, Edward Frederick=, M.P.P., Mayor of the City of Toronto, Ontario, was born in the county of Cavan, Ireland, on the 24th April, 1850. His father, Richard Clarke, was a general merchant and flax buyer, favorably known in that capacity throughout the whole north of Ireland. His mother, Ellen Reynolds, the only daughter of the late Charles Reynolds, of Belturbet, county of Cavan, Ireland, is still living, and resides in Toronto. Mr. Clarke came to Canada early in the sixties, and after a short sojourn in Michigan, moved to Toronto, where he has ever since lived. He served his time as a printer in the _Globe_ office, and afterwards, in the practice of his calling, was foreman of the _Express_, the _Sun_ and the _Liberal_, and was compositor and proof-reader on the _Mail_, etc. He took a prominent part in the printers’ strike and attendant labor troubles of 1872, being one of those arrested for alleged intimidation. In 1877 a company was formed for the purchase of the _Sentinel_, the organ of the Loyal Orange Association. He was chosen manager and editor of the paper, but after a short time he purchased the shares of the stockholders, and became sole proprietor. He has since conducted the _Sentinel_ successfully in connection with a large job printing business. He has for many years taken an active interest in secret societies, especially in the United Workmen, Freemasons and Loyal Orange Association. He is a past master of Rehoboam lodge, No. 65 A. F. & A. M., and at the regular annual meeting of the Loyal Orange Association, held at Belleville, in May, 1887, he was elected to the high office of Deputy-Grand Master of the Order in British America. At the provincial elections of 1886, Mr. Clarke was returned at the head of the poll as one of the city of Toronto’s quota of three representatives to the Legislative Assembly. In December, 1887, he was put forward as the people’s candidate for mayor of his adopted city for 1888, and was elected by a plurality of nearly nine hundred votes in a field of three candidates. He is a Liberal-Conservative in politics, and during the last session of the provincial legislature made a favorable impression as a speaker and debater. He is a fluent, ready speaker, of good address, and well informed upon all public subjects. He was married on 30th December, 1884, to Charlotte Elizabeth, fourth daughter of Dan Scott, of Toronto, and has issue, two daughters. Mr. Clarke is a consistent member of the Reformed Episcopal Church, and, although not a total abstainer, is an advocate of temperance reform.

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=Carignan, Onesime=, Three Rivers, Quebec, was born on October 16th, 1839, at Champlain, district of Three Rivers, Que. His parents, Pierre Carignan and Josephte Turcotte, were well-to-do farmers, who were highly esteemed by their neighbors. The subject of this sketch was sent to the parish school, and at the age of fifteen, commenced his business career by accepting a clerkship in a general store in Champlain. Two years after he went to Three Rivers, where he procured a situation as clerk in a grocery store. In 1863 he entered into partnership with Francis Hamel, but two years after, this partnership was dissolved, and Mr. Carignan entered into business for himself in the house he still occupies. His business has continually increased, until now it is conceded that he has the leading grocery of Three Rivers, doing a wholesale as well as a retail trade. His success is due to economy, good administrative abilities, and constant attendance to the details of a growing business. He has been an alderman of Three Rivers since 1876, and has been acting mayor on more than one occasion. He has also held the position, of president of L’Union St. Joseph since 1885. Mr. Carignan has taken an active part in the public enterprises undertaken in his neighborhood, notably in connection with the Three Rivers Water Works, the St. Maurice Bridges, and the Three Rivers drainage. He has been president of several benevolent and religious societies, has been president and is now treasurer of the Three Rivers Conservative Association. He has always taken an active part in political movements, municipal, provincial and federal. In religion he is a Roman Catholic, an ultramontane. He was married on November 15th, 1864, to Aglaé Lebel, of Quebec.

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=Archibald, John Sprott=, Q.C., D.C.L., Professor of Criminal and Constitutional Law in McGill University, Montreal, was born in the village of Musquodoboit, Halifax county, N.S., on the 8th September, 1843. His father, William G. Archibald, was a native of the same county, and his mother, Nancy Archibald, a cousin of his father, was born in Truro, Nova Scotia. Their ancestors came from Londonderry, Ireland, in 1719. John is the fourth child, in a family of five, and was educated in part in the Presbyterian Seminary, Truro. In 1864 he came to Montreal, and took the arts course in McGill University; graduated B.A. in 1867, and won the Prince of Wales’ gold medal for standing in mental and moral philosophy. He then studied law in the office of the late John A. Perkins, taking in the meanwhile the law course at McGill, graduating B.C.L. in 1870, and receiving the Elizabeth Torrance gold medal for highest general standing in his class. On the 18th of January, 1871, he was admitted to the bar, and since that time has steadily pursued the practice of his profession in Montreal, at first alone and subsequently as a member of the firm of Archibald & McCormick, until the present autumn (1887), when he dissolved his partnership, and formed a firm with the Hon. W. W. Lynch, Q.C., for many years solicitor-general of the province of Quebec, and George G. Foster, B.C.L., under the name of Archibald, Lynch & Foster. It is unnecessary to say that this new firm ranks among the leading law firms practising in Montreal. In the autumn of 1871, Mr. Archibald was appointed lecturer on criminal law in McGill University, and in 1880 he was made professor of criminal and constitutional law in the same institution, a position which he has filled with credit to himself and the college. He prepares himself with great care for his arduous duties, and is a great favourite with the students. In the spring of 1887 he received from his _alma mater_ the degree of Doctor of Civil Law, and, almost concurrently, the distinction of Queen’s counsel from the government of Canada. In 1884 Mr. Archibald was elected alderman for St. Antoine ward, one of the largest and most influential wards in the city of Montreal, which position he still holds, having been re-elected in 1887 by acclamation. In 1885 he was appointed revising officer, under the Franchise Act, for the electoral division of Montreal West, which office he still holds. Mr. Archibald is a member of the Presbyterian church, and in politics a Conservative. On the 13th July, 1871, he was married to Ellen Hutchinson, of Bluevale, Ontario, and has a family of five children.

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=Haanel, Eugene Emil=, F.R., Ph.D., Professor of Chemistry and Physics, Victoria College, Cobourg, Ontario, is a native of Breslau, Silesia, Europe, and was born on the 24th May, 1841. He is a son of Franz Haanel and Ann Herde. His father is a government officer, and occupies the position of secretary of the council in Breslau. The Haanels were originally from Sweden, the great grandfather of Franz Haanel having been forced to leave his native country on account of his politics. Eugene, the subject of this sketch, commenced his studies at four years of age, and graduated at the Gymnasium in his native city in 1858. Soon afterwards he left for the United States, and being in Baltimore when the civil war began between the Northern and Southern states in 1861, he joined the Northern army, and spent three years as a hospital steward, and one year as first lieutenant Co. K., Second Regiment Maryland Veteran Infantry, leaving the army at the close of the war in 1865. He then became a student at the Michigan State University, Ann Arbor, and in 1866 was appointed assistant professor of natural science at Adrian (Michigan) College. The next year he held the same position in Hillsdale College, Michigan; and in 1868 was master professor of the same department in Albion College, Michigan, and occupied the chair for four years. In 1872 Professor Haanel returned to Germany, and on the 7th of June, 1873, took the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at the Royal University, Breslau. He then left for Canada, to occupy the chair of chemistry and physics in Victoria College, Cobourg. His coming to Cobourg caused the erection of Faraday Hall, in 1876, a brick building, 50 by 100 feet, admirably arranged for the purpose it is intended, and equipped with apparatus selected by the professor himself in the cities of London, Paris, Bonn, Leipzig, Dresden and Berlin. While at the University of Breslau in 1873, for the purpose of graduating, Professor Haanel took for his thesis “The galvanometric method for the determination of the earth’s magnetism and its oscillations,” for which he constructed, in accordance with his original designs, “the galvanic bifilar magnetometer,” which at this day constitutes the principal instrument for observation at the magnetic observatory connected with the University of Breslau. A few years ago it occurred to him that he might remove the difficulty experienced by students in distinguishing the oxyd coating on charcoal of bismuth from the similar one of lead, by converting these coatings into iodides, and his experiments turned out very satisfactory. (See paper read by him “On the application of hydriodic acid as a blowpipe re-agent,” before the Royal Society of Canada, May 25, 1883.) The method adopted then was to touch the coatings with a drop of strong hydriodic acid, and direct the blowpipe flame upon the charcoal just in front of the moistened spot. The heat of the blowpipe flame volatilized the respective iodides, which were deposited again upon the cooler parts of the charcoal, at a greater distance from the assay. The iodide of lead gave a magnificent canary-yellow coating, the bismuth a chocolate brown; cadmium and antimony, when treated in a similar manner, a white and brick-red coating respectively. In the extension of this method to other substances he found that other iodides of very characteristic colours were formed. Many of these were, however, altogether too volatile to be deposited satisfactorily on the charcoal, charcoal being too poor a conductor of heat to lower the temperature of the vapours of the iodides in question sufficiently to permit of their condensation and consequent deposition as coatings. In order to utilise to the fullest extent the value of hydriodic acid as a blowpipe re-agent, it became necessary to adopt a support which, on account of its better conductivity, would condense the various volatile iodides on its surface as coatings. The choice of the kind of support best suited was farther restricted by the following characteristics which a support, to prove entirely practical and satisfactory, should possess. 1. It must be cheap and easily made; 2. The surface of the support must be smooth and white, to bring out the colours of the coatings, uninfluenced by peculiarities of surface or admixture of tint of the support; 3. It must resist the heat of the blowpipe flame; 4. It must be of sufficiently porous texture to absorb the hydriodic acid, and supply it to the assay gradually and constantly during the progress of the operation. After some reflection and experimentation, he finally adopted plaster of Paris casts in the form of narrow thin tablets as the support, and found that it possessed the above-mentioned characteristics in an eminent degree. Though a German, Professor Haanel speaks the English language with eloquence and fluency; he is clear and concise as well as accurate in his enunciation; an attractive lecturer, a successful experimenter, and a laborious and untiring enthusiast at his work. He was married on the 5th of November, 1866, to Julia F. Darling, of Lake Ridge, Michigan, United States, a graduate of Albion College, and they have a family of five children.

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=Kelly, Thomas Eugene=, Joliette, Province of Quebec, was born at Joliette, in 1861. He is a son of Francis Kelly and Mary Collins, his wife. The subject of this sketch was educated at Bryant & Stratton’s Business College, at Montreal, taking the commercial course. He afterwards travelled extensively through the Western States. He is a Roman Catholic in religion, and is unmarried. He is engaged in the manufacturing and wholesale lumber business, being a member of the firm of Kelly Bros., Joliette, Quebec.

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=Weir, W.=, Banker, Montreal.—There are few better known faces on the streets of Montreal than that of the above named gentleman, head of the banking firm of W. Weir & Sons, and president of the Banque Ville Marie. Mr. Weir was born at Greenden, near Brechin, Scotland, on the 28th October, 1823, and came to Canada in 1842, Like a good many successful Canadians, he began life as a teacher, having taken charge of a public school before he was twenty years of age. After two years engaged in this honorable but ill remunerated occupation, during which time he devoted himself to the study of the French language, and having further improved his knowledge of that language by a short course at St. Thérèse College, Mr. Weir accepted a bookkeeper’s situation in Montreal, commencing business on his own account in 1849. In 1856 he removed to Toronto, where he remained till 1859, when he returned to Montreal. During his stay in Toronto he published and edited the _Canadian Merchants’ Magazine_, a monthly periodical, the vigorous style of its editorials soon bringing their author into notice. In 1858 he took the prize of the Upper Canadian Board of Arts for the best essay on the manufactures of Canada, and contributed many articles to the local press on financial and commercial subjects. Among the early promoters of what has since become known as the National Policy, Mr. Weir was a leading spirit. At his suggestion, and largely through his exertions, the great convention of manufacturers was convened at Toronto in 1858. At this convention Mr. Weir was the secretary, and he held the same position in the “Association for the promotion of Canadian Industry” then formed. This society embraced among its members many prominent members of Parliament, and its exertions and influence secured the changes in the tariff of 1858 which gave the first great impulse to Canada’s manufacturing industries. To the present generation, Mr. Weir is best remembered for his successful efforts to effect the removal of the “silver nuisance.” The suspension of specie payments in the United States, in 1862, caused a large influx into Canada of American silver coin, which, passing current in retail transactions and in payment of wages, but not being bankable, caused great loss and inconvenience to the public, who had daily to carry nearly all their receipts to the brokers’ offices, to be sold at a discount for bankable funds. For several years Mr. Weir urged upon the Government the importance of removing the evil, and at his suggestion one million dollars was exported at the public expense, he himself exporting a similar amount by contract with the leading commercial houses. In 1869, he attempted to export two millions more, but the attempt fell through owing to inadequate support. Early in 1870 (the late Hon. Sir Francis Hincks having become finance minister), Mr. Weir succeeded in obtaining the aid of the Government to remove the whole depreciated coin from circulation. He contracted with the Government to effect its removal, and carried through that great work with complete success. Five million dollars were exported between March and July, 1870, at a cost to the Dominion exchequer of $118,000, the Government being recouped by assuming the one and two dollar note circulation, a measure suggested by Mr. Weir to meet the objection on the score of expense. Seventy banks and bank agencies assisted in the work, the shipments being made from every place of importance between Quebec and Sarnia. The coin was purchased at five, five and half, and six per cent discount, for half and quarter dollar pieces, the smaller coins, to extent of $500,000, being exported by Mr. Weir at his own expense, making the total amount exported by him over seven million dollars, or over two hundred waggon loads. Since 1870, Mr. Weir has taken an active part in discussing the leading financial questions of the hour. He assisted in reorganizing the Jacques Cartier Bank, of which he was vice-president when offered the presidency of the Banque Ville Marie, a position he has held for the last six years, during which period the bank has trebled its business and strengthened its position. To the people of Cote St. Antoine and west end of Montreal, he is best known for his services and public spirit in securing the opening up of Western Avenue, destined to be the great western entrance into the city. Mr. Weir married, in 1849, a daughter of the late John Somerville, of Chatham, P.Q., and has five sons living, and one son and one daughter deceased. Three sons are in business; the two youngest are graduates of McGill University, Arthur the youngest being already well known as a talented writer both in prose and verse.

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=Madill, Frank=, M.A., M.P. for North Ontario, Barrister, etc., Beaverton, Ontario, was born in the township of Scott, in the county of Ontario, province of Ontario, November 23rd, 1852. He is youngest son of Henry and Eliza Madill, who came to Canada from Monaghan, Ireland, in 1837, and eventually settled in the township of Scott. Henry Madill is one of the old pioneers, and was for many years a prominent member of the council of that municipality, until his removal to the village of Vroomanton, in same county, a few years ago, where he and his good lady still reside, amidst a large circle of children, grandchildren and friends, universally respected. The subject of this sketch was educated at Uxbridge and Whitby high schools, and the University of Toronto, where he graduated B.A., in 1873, and M.A. in 1876; studied law in the office of the late Hon. John Hilliard Cameron, Q.C., M.P., and was called to the bar of Ontario, Michaelmas Term, 1877, and still practises his profession at Beaverton. During his university course he was one of the university athletes, and held the championship of the university. He was also a prominent member of the university football team,—the champions of the Dominion for four years. He was lieutenant of No. 4 company, 34th battalion, V.M.I., and is now paymaster of the same battalion, with rank of captain. He was first returned to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, 4th June, 1881, and sat until the general election, 1883, at which he was defeated by twenty votes. At the last general election for the House of Commons he was elected for the same riding by a majority of 158, over A. P. Cockburn, ex-M.P. He is a Liberal-Conservative, and Supporter of the government of Right Hon. Sir John A. Macdonald. He was a member of the Grand Lodge of Royal Black Knights, and was at one time D.M. of King Solomon Preceptory, 292, at Toronto. He is a member of the executive committee of the Liberal-Conservative Union of Ontario; is a Freemason, and is an ex-warden of Murray lodge, Beaverton. He has taken an active part in all political contests in the Midland District, but has never taken any active part in municipal matters. He is commodore of the Beaverton Yacht Club, vice-president of the Beaverton Gun Club, and president of the Chicker Lacrosse Club. His travels have been confined to the United States and Canada. He has always belonged to the Presbyterian church of Canada, in connection with the Church of Scotland, known as the “old Kirk,” of which his father is an elder. He was married on the 5th day of May, 1886, to Florrie, eldest daughter of Charles T. Young, of Beaverton, one of the village fathers.

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=Welton, Daniel Morse=, D.D., Professor of Hebrew, Baptist College, Toronto, Ont., was born in Aylesford, Nova Scotia, July 20th, 1831. His father was Sydney Welton, and his mother, Isabel Morse. His ancestors on both the father and mother’s side came from New England at the time of the Revolutionary war. He prepared for college in Horton Collegiate Academy, Nova Scotia; entered Acadia College, Nova Scotia, in 1850, and graduated therefrom in 1855. After occupying the place of tutor in Acadia College for twelve months (1856), he went to Newton Theological Institution, Mass., where he remained a year. In September, 1857, he was ordained to the pastorate of the Windsor Baptist Church, Nova Scotia, which position he filled till October, 1874, when he was called to the chair of Hebrew and Systematic Theology in the Theological Department of Acadia College. He remained here till 1883, with the exception of two years (1876 and 1877) which he spent in Leipzic, Germany, engaged chiefly in Semitic studies under Professor Delitzsch. He received the degree of Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Leipzic in 1878, his dissertation for the same being “The History of Hebrew Learning in England.” His Semitic studies in Leipzic chiefly embraced the Hebrew, Chaldee, Syriac, Samaritan and Arabic. In 1883, he was appointed to the chair of Hebrew and Old Testament Interpretation in Toronto Baptist College, which he fills at the present time. In 1884 he received the degree of D.D. from Acadia College, his _alma mater_. In the years 1876, 1877 and 1878 he also visited London, Paris, Berlin, Vienna, and the principal cities of Italy. He was married to Sarah Eliza Messenger, daughter of David and Catherine Messenger, September 23rd, 1857.

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=Gagnon, Hon. Charles Antoine Ernest=, M.P.P., Kamouraska, was born at Rivière Ouelle, Quebec, on the 4th of December, 1846. The family came originally from Vendee, France, and settled in Canada in 1633, being thus one of the oldest Canadian families, having representatives still living. The subject of this sketch is the son of Antoine Gagnon, merchant, of Rivière Ouelle, and a nephew of Senator Pelletier, C.M.G. He was educated at St. Anne’s College, and was very successful in his studies. Taking up the study of law, he was appointed notary public in 1869. In 1870 he married Marie Malvina, third daughter of Francis Gagnon, farmer. Throughout his life, Mr. Gagnon has taken the keenest interest in politics and has done yeoman service to the Liberal party with which he is identified, in numberless contests in both Provincial and Dominion affairs. He also directed considerable attention to municipal affairs, his knowledge of those being recognized by his appointment as secretary of the municipality, and, later, secretary of the Board of School Commissioners. He also fills the office of treasurer of the Fabrique. He was president of the board of liquidators of the late Stadacona Fire and Life Insurance Company of Quebec. In October, 1885, he was appointed president of the Board of Notaries, of the province of Quebec, and this position he still holds. In 1873 he was appointed valuator for the St. Lawrence District of the Intercolonial Railway, which was then under construction, and a year later was appointed receiver of wreck for the district of Kamouraska, holding those offices concurrently until March, 1878, when he resigned to contest Kamouraska in the Liberal interest. He was successful in the contest, as he was in the next election in 1881. He was unseated after this election, each party paying its costs, but was again elected in 1883, and has continued to represent the constituency ever since. He was one of the strongest and ablest supporters of the Joly administration during its short career, and when the Liberal party went into opposition he rapidly came to the front as a leading man in the small but resolute band which opposed the policy and methods of the Conservative government under its successive leaders. When the Nationalist agitation arose, he took the same position as his leader, Mr. Mercier, that the interests of the Dominion demanded that a fair field should be given to the people of Quebec, and that union on the part of those people was the best means of calling attention to their demands. Battling strongly on this line, it was natural that when the Nationalist cause triumphed under Mr. Mercier’s leadership, Mr. Gagnon should be called to a position of honor and responsibility. He was sworn in as Provincial Secretary and member of the Executive Council on 29th June, 1887.

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=Reid, Rev. Charles Peter=, Sherbrooke, Quebec, was born at Cornwall, Ont., on the 14th of August, 1811. He was the eldest son of the late Rev. James Reid, D.D., for fifty years rector of Trinity Church, Freleighsburg. He was educated at the Grammar School founded by the Royal Institution in Montreal, and taught by the late Alex. Scakel, and for a while at the similar school in Quebec, taught by the Rev. R. R. Burrage. He took his Divinity course at the Theological Seminary at Chambly, at which the late Rev. J. Braithwaite, M.A., was the principal. He was admitted to the diaconate by the Right Reverend Dr. Stewart, bishop of Quebec, on the 23rd of June, 1835, and to the priesthood at the first ordination held by the late Right Reverend Dr. Mountain, bishop of Quebec, on the first of Nov., 1836. His first mission after his ordination was Rawdon, in the present diocese of Montreal, where he remained a short time. He removed from Rawdon to St. John’s, as curate to the Rev. D. Baldwin, and missionary at Laprairie. While at St. John’s he was married to Julia Gray, eldest daughter of John Gray of her Majesty’s Customs. He then removed to Compton, where he remained fourteen years, building two churches, and organizing the work of the mission on a secure basis. On the 1st of April, 1854, he was appointed to Sherbrooke, of which place he has been rector for thirty years. During this long ministry the church under his charge has grown into a strong and flourishing one, and he has been identified with every good work which has been accomplished in the town. Not only by active interest, but by liberal donations, he has helped to support various charitable institutions. Bishop’s College, Lennoxville, is specially indebted to him. There are few figures more widely known or more truly beloved throughout the whole District of St. Francis, than that of Dr. Reid. He is spending his ripe old age in Sherbrooke, and, still active in mind and body, is never so happy as when assisting in the services of God’s house or ministering in his old field of labor, to those who have become endeared to him by a life-time of loving intercourse. Dr. Reid has been one of the trustees of Bishop’s College from the foundation, in 1843. He received the honorary degree of M.A., in 1855, and of D.C.L., in 1884. He has been for many years rural dean of the District of St. Francis.

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=Power, Michael Joseph=, was born at Halifax, Nova Scotia, on the 23rd day of February, 1834. He is the son of Michael Power. His mother’s maiden name was Ann Lonergan. Both parents are natives of Waterford, Ireland. Mr. Power received his early education at the Union Academy, in Halifax. He is a prominent representative of the Roman Catholics in that city. Mr. Power has taken an active interest in civic affairs for many years. He was an alderman for six years, representing ward 4. He has also been chairman of the City Board of Works for one term; chairman of the Fire department for eight years; vice-chairman of the Board of School Commissioners for two years; and president of the Charitable Irish Society. He does business at 75 Buckingham street, Halifax. He is the Imperial government army contractor for land transport. In his younger days he took considerable interest in militia affairs, holding various commissions in the 63rd battalion of Rifles, and is now retired with the rank of captain. Mr. Power’s connection with the city council brought him into relations with the Commissioners of Public Gardens, of which body he is vice-chairman. He is also a justice of the peace for Halifax county. At the general election of 1878, Mr. Power, together with Hon. P. C. Hill, then Provincial Secretary and Premier, and Donald Archibald, M.P.P. for several terms, and now high sheriff of the county of Halifax, were the candidates of the Liberal party, running in opposition to Charles J. McDonald, W. D. Harrington and John Pugh. The Conservatives carried the elections and the Liberals were out of power for one term. But in the next elections in 1882, Mr. Power, running with Hon. W. S. Fielding, now Provincial Secretary and Premier, and Jas. G. Foster, against W. D. Harrington, Jonathan Parsons and John Pugh, was elected. Messrs. Fielding and Harrington were also elected, Halifax being represented in that legislature by two Liberals and one Conservative. At the general election of 1886, Mr. Power, Hon. W. S. Fielding and William Roche, jr., defeated John Y. Payzant, W. D. Harrington and James N. Lyons by over 1000 majority. On the assembling of the Local parliament, Mr. Power was elected Speaker of the House. He married on the 20th November, 1860, Ann Sophia, daughter of the late Patrick Kent, a Halifax merchant. In politics Mr. Power is a Liberal.

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=Paquet, Rev. Benjamin=, Priest and Household Prelate to his Holiness Leo XIII., Doctor of Theology, Superior of the Quebec Seminary, and Rector of Laval University, was born at St. Nicholas, county of Levis, in 1832. His father was Etienne Paquet, husbandman, captain of militia, and descendant of an old French family. He was one of the most remarkable citizens of the county of Levis. His mother was Ursule Lambert. He received his education at the Quebec Seminary and Laval University. After having finished his classical course, he gave himself up to theology, to prepare for the priesthood. After having been employed in the active ministry for five years as priest at the Basilica, Quebec, he entered the Seminary of Quebec as professor of belles-lettres about a year. In 1863, he went to Rome to complete his theological studies, with the intention of teaching in the faculty of theology at Laval. He studied at Rome for three years, at the celebrated Roman College, where he took his degrees. He returned to Quebec, and taught moral theology at Laval University for a great number of years. He was afterwards purveyor of Quebec Seminary for five years. During this interval, he built the new Quebec Seminary, one of the most beautiful edifices of the Dominion. After having been director of the Grand Seminary for two years, he was, in 1887, appointed Superior of the Seminary and Rector of Laval University. In 1878, he was appointed secret domestic to his Holiness Pope Pius IX., on account of his eminent services to religion in the cause of Laval University. In 1888, he was given, by Pope Leo XIII., the title of household prelate to his Holiness, which entitles him to take part in the court of honor of his Eminence Cardinal Taschereau. Doctor Paquet has made five trips to Europe in the interests of Laval University, and sojourned in Rome eight years.

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