History of Halifax City

by Thomas B. Akins

The walls of the new College had now been built up even with the surface of the parade ground, and it was arranged that the corner stone should be laid with proper ceremony by Lord Dalhousie, the patron and originator of the scheme. Accordingly, on the 22nd May, 1820, the troops in the garrison were turned out and formed a double line from the Province Building to the Grand Parade. The Freemasons, under the Grand Master, John George Pyke, proceeded from Mason Hall along Barrington Street and formed a square on the Parade. About 2 o'clock, Governor Dalhousie, the Admiral, the officers of the Governor's Staff, with the Members of His Majesty's Council, the Magistrates of the town, and a number of leading inhabitants, proceeded through the line of troops to the south-east corner of the building. Dr. J. T. Twining, the Grand Chaplain, offered a prayer, after which a brass plate containing the necessary inscriptions and a quantity of coins, were placed under the stone, after which the Earl addressed the meeting and explained the objects contemplated in erecting the college. The stone was then laid with all due Masonic ceremony. A royal salute was fired from the forts and the whole was concluded by a ball and supper at Government House.

On the 24th May, the corner stone of St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church was laid with full religious ceremonies by Bishop Burke. The old church of St. Peter, usually known as "the chapel" was a small wooden building painted red. It stood opposite the head of Salter Street, inside a rail, and was approached by a gate and turn stile. This old building was the first Roman Catholic place of worship in Halifax. It was built some time between 1785 and 1790. It was removed soon after the new building was ready for occupation.

On the 29th November, Bishop Burke died in the 78th year of his age. He was laid out in state in his Episcopal robes and mitre for several days. Bishop Burke was succeeded by Dr. Fraser, Bishop of Tanen in partibus. He resided at Antigonish. Mr. Miniot was parish priest at this time; he was succeeded by Mr. O'Brien and afterwards by Mr. Lochnan, etc., until the appointment of Bishop Walsh. The St. Mary's Cathedral crept on slowly for many years for want of funds, but was finished according to the original plan about the time of the appointment of Bishop Walsh.

The Earl of Dalhousie having been appointed Governor General of Canada on the death of the Duke of Richmond, a farewell ball was given to him and his Countess by the officers of the garrison on 28th May, and on 31st the inhabitants presented him with an address. On the first of June, his successor in the Government, Sir James Kempt, arrived at Halifax in the Phæton, frigate, Capt. Montague, 42 days from England. He landed at the King's Wharf, and was driven to Government House. At 3 o'clock the same day he went to the Council Chamber, where he was sworn into office.

On the 5th, Lord Dalhousie embarked for Canada. The flank companies of the First Halifax Regiment of Militia, under the command of Capts. John Liddell and John Pyke, attended on the wharf as a guard of honor. Sir James Kempt brought with him as A. D. C., Major Charles Gore, afterwards General Sir C. Gore, G. C. B., Lord Frederick Lenox, a younger son of the Duke of Richmond, who lately died in Canada, and Major Couper, afterwards Sir George Couper, Comptroller of the Household of the Duchess of Kent, the Queen's mother. Sir James Kempt was one of Lord Wellington's Officers in the peninsular war. He commanded a brigade at the Battle of Waterloo, and after the death of Sir Thomas Picton, the General of Division, who was killed early in the action, the command of the division fell to him.

The only other occurrences worthy of notice during this year were the dinner given to Governor Dalhousie by the inhabitants of the town, which took place at Masons' Hall on 17th June, the Hon. Michael Wallace in the chair, and John George Pyke, Vice. Sir John Wentworth, Baronet, the former Governor, died this year at his residence, Mrs. Flieger's, Hollis Street. His death took place on 8th April. He was in his 84th year. He was succeeded in his Baronetcy by his son, Charles Mary Wentworth, a native of Halifax, who had retired to England, where he held some subordinate office under Government. At his death, unmarried, the title became extinct. By his will, he gave the old villa and grounds on the Basin, built by the Duke of Kent, to Mrs. Gore, the novelist, who was a distant relative of his family.

A Fair and Cattle show was held by the Agricultural Society on 6th September on Camp Hill. The Governor distributed the prizes. John Young, John Albro', William Young, John Starr, Peter McNab and Frederick Major, Esquires, were Judges of the cattle.

1820-21. This winter was, if anything, more severe than the three preceding. Early in January the harbor became frozen over, and by the 20th the ice extended to Meagher's Beach and was sufficiently strong to bear sleighs. By the 27th the ice formed a firm bridge between Halifax and Dartmouth, over which a continuous line of sleighs, teams and foot passengers might be seen on market days. Skating and sleighing parties were numerous. The Governor, Sir James Kempt, drove tandem almost to McNab's Island, and the double sleigh of Judge Brenton Halliburton, in passing over a weak spot in the ice, fell through but was rescued without damage to the horses or the ladies in the sleigh. The navigation was completely stopped for several weeks. A passage was, however, cut from Cunard's wharf to the mouth of the harbor with much labor and expense, to permit the Government Brig Chebucto to proceed on her cruise. This little brig was owned by A. Cunard & Sons, and was employed by the Imperial Government in cruising along the shores of the province to protect the fishery, and at the same time to enable the officers of Government to visit the outposts, and was occasionally employed on special service to proceed to Quebec and other places with despatches, etc. The channel through the ice by which this vessel was taken out, and which ran along close to the wharves, was afterwards kept open while the ice remained, and a boat and two rafts were used to convey over passengers and sleighs.

On the 17th September, a fire occurred in the town, which destroyed nearly all the buildings on the eastern side of Barrington Street, between Sackville Street and Blowers Street and extended back into Granville Street, where several houses were consumed. Most of the buildings destroyed were old and delapidated except those at the corner of Granville and Sackville Streets occupied by Mr. Liswell's Bakery, etc. There were in all about 24 houses consumed. A large portion of the burned district remained for many years after unbuilt upon.

It was customary at this time for the dress companies of the militia to give balls. On 23rd January the Grenadier and Light Companies of the 1st Halifax Regiment gave a ball at Mason Hall at which 300 persons were present. The regiment was commanded by Hon. T. N. Jeffery, the Collector of the Customs, who had only lately succeeded old Col. J. G. Pyke in the command. John Liddell commanded the Grenadiers and Brevet Major John Pyke, the Light Company. Lieut.-Col. Richard Tremain commanded the Town Artillery.