JB/008/145/003

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THE WELLAND CANAL.3

Copy of a further Dispatch from the Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada, to
the Secretary of State for the Colonies.

York, Upper Canada, 28th Feb. 1828.

SIR,

THE President and Directors of the Welland Canal Company have, within these
few days, made me acquainted with their intention of sending Mr. Merritt, their
Managing Agent, to England, in the hope that, by a full and well authenticated
explanation of the great importance of the work in which they are most zealously
engaged, and of its present very advanced state, he may succeed in obtaining further
assistance from His Majesty's Government, and perhaps also in engaging the
attention of capitalists to an undertaking of more than ordinary consequence to
British interests in this part of the world.

Mr. Merritt was the original projector of this Canal, which is intended to con—
nect the waters of Lakes Erie and Ontario by the navigation, suited to schooners
of one hundred tons burthen, and has been most active and useful in superintending
it, under the directions of the Board, which consists of a President and six other
Directors.

I need not trouble you with explanations, which the Agent of the Company will
doubtless be fully prepared to furnish, and which can be much more satisfactorily
laid before you in a personal interview, if it shall be in your power to admit
Mr. Merritt to an audience for that purpose, as I sincerely hope it may be.

I reside, during part of the year, within eight miles of the Canal, which I have
frequently visited, and I have had every opportunity of watching its progress, and
of forming a judgment, upon the most satisfactory information, as to the system
and economy with which it has been conducted. My testimony on a few points,
therefore, may not be unimportant, and I have great pleasure in affording it. The
Canal was undertaken in 1824, by a private Company, under a charter of incorpo—
ration obtained from the Legislature; and the original design was to make it on
a scale adapted to the navigation of boats drawing four feet water. It was soon,
however, proposed to enlarge the scale to the present dimensions, in order to admit
of navigation by sloops and schooners. The stock allowed to be held was increased
with that view to £. 200,000, which, it was estimated, would cover the expense.
Of this sum, about £.100,000 was taken up in these provinces and in the United
States, but principally in the United States, where one mercantile house subscribed
for nearly £. 50,000. (It is to be understood, that the sums spoken of here are in
provincial currency dollars, at 4s. 6d. or 18s. sterling to a pound.) The work was
begun in 1825, and the interest which it became the government of this province
to feel in the completion of this great Undertaking, induced me to recommend it
strongly to the assistance of the Legislature. In 1826, an Act was passed here,
authorizing the Government to lend the sum of £.25,000. to the Company, which was
a very material encouragement, as it enabled the Directors to make an immediate
and considerable progress, and to show the possibility of surmounting difficulties in
the execution, which had been absurdly exaggerated by persons unfriendly to the
design. The Company, however, has always hitherto paid, and are still liable to
pay the full rate of interest (6 per cent) upon this loan, and are bound to repay the
principal. In the following year 1827, the progress made had been so satisfactory,
and the appearance of the work was so encouraging, that the Legislature of this
province passed an Act, enabling the government on behalf of the public, to take
stock in the Company, to the amount of £. 50000. and the Legislature of Lower
Canada then in session, upon the application of the Company, recommended by me
to his Lordship the Governor in Chief, authorized £. 25000. in stock, to be held in
behalf of that province. With these aids, the Company has accomplished a vastdeal

445. A 2

Identifier: | JB/008/145/003 "JB/" can not be assigned to a declared number type with value 8.
Date_1	1828-06-17	Marginal Summary Numbering
Box	008	Main Headings	official aptitude
Folio number	145	Info in main headings field
Image	003	Titles	canada / copies of two dispatches / upon the subject of the / welland canal
Category	printed material	Number of Pages	7
Recto/Verso	recto	Page Numbering	(1-6)
Penner		Watermarks	[[watermarks::[star motif] c]]
Marginals		Paper Producer
Corrections	jeremy bentham	Paper Produced in Year
Notes public		ID Number	3249
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