Recollections of Bytown and Its Old Inhabitants

John Cobb, I'll take a glance at thee, Firm standard of Free Masonry! Mine eye delights to rest upon Thy iron frame, old "Uncle John." If honesty and simple truth E'er "flourish...

"And "Little Johnny Robertson," But lately from amongst us gone, Took both his "sneeshin" and his glass, And let the tide of fortune pass. And Ewen Cameron, who died By cholera...

And now, kind reader, westward ho! Across the Sappers' Bridge we go; When first in youth I cross'd it o'er, The arch was wood, "and nothing more"-- As Edgar A. Poe doth remark A...

Can I, an ancient friend, pass by, Who even to-day still greets my eye, And brings up among modern men The dearly cherish'd past again? 'Tis far, far back, I scarce can fix The...

Though strictly not of Bytown fame, I can't forget John Egan's name, It well deserves what I can give, To make it unforgotten live; For 'mongst the sons of enterprise, Who rose...

And now, kind reader, I behold Before me, as in days of old, Bold Paddy Whelan, Wexford Paddy Surely of noisy men the daddy; A man of most Herculean form, Who roamed through sun...

And John McGraves, the chandler, why Could I so long have passed him by? By accident I've turned a leaf Which brings him out in bold relief A plain and unassuming man Was John;...

Near where the George Street market stood Lived William Northgraves, then a good And skilful watch-maker, who's chime Did regulate the march of time, And Arthur Hopper, sporting...

In '28, on Patrick's Day, At one p.m., there came this way From Richmond, in the dawn of spring, He who doth now the glories sing Of ancient Bytown, as 'twas then, A place of bu...

Come, now, my gentle Muse, once more, Come with me to the days of yore, And let us wake, with friendly hand The memories of that distant land, The past; and while thy minstrel w...

I cross the Ottawa once more. From Hull again to Bytown's shore. And for a moment I behold The river as it was of old, Swelling, majestic in its pride, A glorious stream from si...

Pierre Rocque, thou ancient man of stone! I had almost let thee alone; But 'twere not well to leave behind, A man of such a rocky kind; Thy Christian name is stone--that's hard,...

George William Baker, better known As "Captain Baker" in the town. Who oft the mailbag's lock untied Long after Matthew Connell died-- Long after Helen Denny's hand Sent postal...

And now another man I seek, Who lived on George Street, by the creek, Lo! memory's telescopic eye At once John Taillon's shade brings nigh, And as his form approaches near, His...