98

92.

that branch, the improvement of forest lands soon
produced a wonderful change, and converted a great
extent of wilderness into beautiful fields.

In 1791 Upper Canada had attained
so much importance that when Mr. Pitt determined
to bestow a constitution on the Colony, he formed
this part into a separate government giving it the
name of Upper Canada, and to the early settled
districts that of Lower Canada, the former was not
supposed to contain at that time above 10,000
inhabitants, General Simcoe however in 1794
founded the town of York, (Toronto) on the upper shore
of Lake Ontario, which was fixed upon as the seat
of Government, and made the most strenuous effort
to encourage colonists to settle in the neighbourhood.
They came in considerable numbers those chiefly
from the United States.

It was not till 1803 that through the
exertions of Colonel Talbot emigration from
Britain was commenced on a large scale.

The result of these measures was that in
1811, The Country was found to contain about 9623
persons paying taxes. By a most careful examination
Mr. Gourlay estimated the tax payers at one
eighths of the entire population which on this principle
must have amounted to about 77,000.
A vast additional impulse however was given
at the close of the last war, in consequence of the
low rate of profit and wages, and the difficulty
of finding employment at home,