Canada for Gentlemen | Page 9

of five which we pay here. I don't say that I
believe it; someone must be in the wrong; and until we can find out for
ourselves it is impossible to say who it is. It may just as well be Deacon
as anyone else. Still, it would have been unwise to go west so soon on
pure speculation. The end of it was the gentleman started away by
himself, and Mr. Barnes said we were quite right to stop where we were.
He said, somehow or other, he had managed to get a wrong impression
of the whole affair. He has since exerted himself a great deal in making

enquiries in Henry's behalf, and he gave me an introduction to a young
fellow in the Harbour Commissioner's office, which, however, did not
prove of much value. We have had to take our present diggings for
another week, not having been able to get finished up here in time. I do
not want to leave the place and leave any stone unturned, and there are
several people I can see yet. We see Roland Stanley nearly every day,
at a fish and game club where he introduced us, and which forms a
most convenient meeting place, &c. Like everyone else, he is very
good-natured, but his power of assisting us, so far, seems to lie chiefly
in his willingness to do so had he the power. He has given over his
farm to his son, and only kept his house and a few acres, comprising his
garden chiefly, so there is no chance of his taking either of us.
Holloway and Darwin are our two next best men; they are both young,
and both back us up most energetically. We are going to spend the
evening to-morrow with the Darwins, and on Sunday evening we dine
with the Holloways, which is a great improvement on a crowded
boarding-house. The latter is a partner in a well-to-do hardware
establishment, which means to say they import all sorts of saws, chisels,
axes, hammers, etc., from Sheffield; and the latter is accountant in a
bank here. He has got a mother and two sisters, both possessing every
claim to amiability. Holloway went with me on Wednesday to the
Grand Trunk Railway Works, and introduced me to several people, and
"boosted" me all he knew, but it was no go, they sacked seventy-five
men last month, and are going to do the same again this month, things
are "that" slack. Yesterday he took me down to the Canadian Pacific
Works, but the man we wanted was away, so we are going again on
Monday. There is also another man I am going to see on Monday, who
has a good-sized iron-foundry. I went down there to-day, but he was
out of town. Also I am going to see another engineer to-morrow, so you
see I am not done yet. I saw the son of President Arthur, of the United
States of America, this afternoon, at the club, where he was detailing
his sporting adventures, having been away all summer in California and
the Rockies, fishing and shooting, which he seems to have done in a
very luxurious manner, to judge from his conversation. He talked about
having engaged a Pulman Hunting Car for his trip, &c., and, apropos of
fishing, said he had seen two natives netting salmon in some river or
other, so he "stopped the train" while he went to look on and try his

hand at it. By-the-bye, tell old Daddy that the pocket-book he gave me
has turned out the most useful thing in my possession, barring coin; in
fact, without it I should have been stumped, and had to buy one before I
left Liverpool. The little one you gave me would never have held all the
cards, letters, and business communications I have had to cram into it.
In fact, I verily believe its bulky proportions and imposing air have
obtained me an interview with many a big gun when I should have
been politely bowed out had I not produced it with the sternness of a
highwayman drawing his pistol, when I presented my card. I must shut
up or I shall lose the mail. Henry is writing also by this post, but I
wanted to tell you about the Howel introduction. With best love to
everybody all round,
Believe me,
Your loving Son, J. SETON COCKBURN.

60 Aylmer Street, Montreal, P.Q.,
_Sept. 20th_, '84.
My Dear Pot,
I daresay you would like to hear my opinions concerning the manners
and customs, alias professional resources of this much talked of
country. When you told me that if I expected to drop in for an
appointment such as I would take in England after a fortnight's search, I
should