gested, in 1822, the plan of the St.
Charles River Docks—the first who took up the subject of rendering the St.
Lawrence Rapids navigable higher than Montreal. The idea seemed so
impracticable, and what was still worse, so new, that the far-seeing Mr.
George, was at the time branded as non compos! and still for years
the "Spartan," "Passport," "Champion" and other steamers have safely, ran
these rapids daily every season!
James George had also suggested the
practicability of wooden Railways or Tramways, with horses as locomotive
power, forty years before the Civil Engineer Hulburt built the Gosford
Wooden Railway, with steam as locomotive power.
"William Grant," of St. Roch’s,
after whom Grant street was called, was member for the Upper Town of
Quebec, during our two first Parliaments, from 17th December 1792, to 29th
May 1800, and re-elected 9th January 1805; an enterprising and important
personage in the little Scotch world of Quebec, was the Honorable Wm.
Grant, he had landed in Quebec about 1762 and became an extensive holder
of real Estate. When he married the widow of the third Baron de Longueuil
in 1771, he was Receiver General of the Province; his death is recorded in
the Quebec Mercury, on the 7th October, 1805.
"John Mure" represented the County
of York, (Vaudreuil?) in three Parliaments, from 9th January 1805, to 26th
February 1810, and was member for the Upper Town of Quebec from 1810 to
1814. A man of intelligence, he also, though a Presbyterian, became a
benefactor to the R. C. Church, having in 1812, given to the parishioners
of St. Roch’s whereon to erect their church, the site of the R. C. temple
of worship, in that thriving suburb.
"John Blackwood," also represented
the Upper Town in two Parliaments, from 9th April, 1809, to 20th
February,. 1810.