THE
HE Earl of Minto is the eighth

Governor-General to rule in what has been disrespectfully but truthfully called "a shapeless jumble of buildings." Government House, Ottawa, has also lately received this flattering tribute from the pen of a Chicago journalist: "It is a disgrace-from year to year it has been patched and added to till now it is an ugly and inconvenient old barrack, incumbering an acre or more of the earth's surface, and covering nearly one hundred rooms under its leaky old roof. A destructive fire is needed badly."

That "MacKay's Castle" should have to brook this insult! Ottawa people do not enjoy showing strangers the peculiar beauties of their Government House; but nevertheless few would wish to have a fire sweep away all traces of former oc

cupancy, and all memories of its illustrious inhabitants. It was first of all the house of a man who, by his industry and mother-wit, made a name for himself as a wealthy contractor and member of parliament. The Rideau Hall we know is so different from that

RIDEAU HALL-THE GATE.

stone building of 1838, that few stop to realize its origin and growth to its present nondescript appearance.

In that year, when Bytown is referred to as 66 Half a Wood," Thomas MacKay, a canny Scot, bought one thousand acres of good land, and built thereon a mansion-for such it was in

those days of grey stone. The original building was of cut limestone, forty-seven by seventy-three feet, and two storeys high. There were eleven rooms, besides those in the basement and attic. The portico is the same as that now in use, but the original driveway was that bordering on Pine Street. Princess Louise had the second Avenue cut, as well as the "Vista" that goes by her name. The grounds have never been kept in the fine condition in which they were when Mr. MacKay lived. He trimmed the first cedar hedge ever set out in Ottawa, and took a great pride in the beautifying of the grounds. Each tree on the old Avenue, over which the MacKay horses so often stepped, was planted under the direct supervision of Mrs. MacKay, who was very fond of landscape gardening. A round tower and two wings formed the house. Inside it was furnished with all the luxury of that day, which would to us seem cold, stiff and formal.

Grecian cornices and mouldings. were greatly used as decorations, and were much admired by the visitors to the Castle. The only article that is still in use is a chandelier in one of the rooms. All people of note passing through were entertained at the Hall;

RIDEAU COTTAGE.

Sir Charles Bagot, Lord Metcalfe and Lord Elgin, for whom a large garden party was given, among the number. The Duke of Connaught was also, later on, an honoured guest, and the Prince of Wales was taken over the house and grounds when he visited Ottawa.

Mr. MacKay was very fond of music, and the upper room in the tower held violin, piano and harp. His family was a large one and kept the old "Castle" merry. It was taught even then how to echo sounds of gayety. One of the sons distinguished himself in the Mutiny by winning the Victoria. Cross, dying, however, in the campaign.

Among the marriages celebrated under the roof of Rideau Hall, were those of Mrs. T. M. Clark and Mrs. T. C. Keefer. "Pretty Mary MacKay," as she was called, the fairest woman some say that ever dwelt there, was married to Mr. Hutchinson, father of Mr. W. C. Hutchinson, in her old home. Lady Dufferin's youngest child was born at the Hall. The building was christened by Mrs. Keefer one day, when some guests were expected. Her father said the place should have a name, and the one immediately suggested by her was at once adopted.

Inside and out, the grey old edifice with its Elizabethan arch and spreading wings, has certainly had much good "siller" lavished upon it since its leasing by the Government, on the 2nd of August, 1865. It was then leased for a term of twelve years at an annual rental of $4,000, with the right of purchase any time within three years; $82,000 was the price eventually paid.

Hon. Mr. Chapais has been blamed for not demolishing the building on its purchase, and having a fit and proper residence for the Governor erected; but we are not all gifted with foresight, and perhaps he did not realize that Bytown had made way for Ottawa, nor that more would be demanded of its Government House than primitive hospital

building with a front of two hundred and ten feet by fifty-six feet, with a rear wing and basement. It was ornamented with a long verandah, as in the accompanying photograph. The property, which included the "Rideau Hall Domain," the "Bay" and the "Triangle," made a total of eightyeight acres. In the spring of 1868 Rideau Hall was bought by the Government. Not being of a statistical turn of mind I would have none of the Auditor-General's report, in which is set down with fearful accuracy, and at great length, the expenditure, which this act of folly entailed. But he who will may find out the amazing total, and have his own opinion of the extravagance of the powers that be, and

were.

But the first Governor, Viscount Monck, did not come to a very luxurious establishment; nor did he disburse much of his own wealth for the very good reason that he had little of this world's gear. Very little entertaining was done by him. He had no carriage and pair save when John Tozer, a wellknown "citizen of credit and renown," scoured the city for horses and drove a spanking four-in-hand down to the Hall for His Excellency. The latter's

usual way of reaching the city was by a boat.

Sir James Young, Lord Lisgar, was, if truth be told, slightly penurious. It is said that on a day when guests were invited till the hour of eight p. m., the gas went out at the fateful stroke, and the forlorn guests, huddled in the dark on the steps, waited impatiently for their carriage to "block the way." In a letter written by a Nova Scotian in 1872, this pen picture of the times is given: "I sha'n't libel Lord Lisgar, and therefore I won't say that the parties are very numerous or very pleasant. Save the Queen' plays you out at ten o'clock. . . . . We have here Butcher to the Governor-General, Purveyor and Apothecary."

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The Earl of Dufferin was the first to raise Rideau Hall to its proper dignity. He added the ball room, in which the theatricals for which his regime was famed, were given. Here, too, the merry skaters, after skimming over the rink, danced the winter afternoon away. The brass sockets of the standards erected in this room, to set apart and enclose the Vice-regal Court when they danced the quadrille of honour, may still be seen there. But

Lady Dufferin pleased to tint her boudoir in delicate pink? Then came the Princess with her love of dark paper and tapestry, her artistic tastes and liking for peacock blue and peacock feathers. And she in turn made way for other tastes and desires. This lends point to a question asked of a courteous official as to why the Governor's guests must sit in chairs of dubious upholstering covered by a simple chintz. "Was it not a poor covering for those ancient chairs whose glory had departed?"

the standards themselves and silken encircling cord have long since gone. When the Princess Louise saw them she was dismayed, and ordered them to be taken away at once.

So it has been with all the fancies of the various residents-"Sic transit gloria gubernatoris." Was Lord Dufferin's soul satisfied when he had green hangings and red furniture, or

RIDEAU HALL-THE LAWN.

"Well," he said, gravely, "it's this way, you see; upholstering comes high, and as each Governor's lady likes different colours, and the Governmentespecially this one is most economical, they can get what they want by changing the colour of the chintz." Which, after all, is a most ingenious way of suiting the capricious feminine one. The Earl of Dufferin's study was full of sketches and portraits, many of them of his wife. During his reign the Racquet Court was added; many theatricals and plays in which children acted were given, together with moonlight parties, the first ever enjoyed in Ottawa. The Log Cabin, lately devoted to Lady Marjorie's use, and called by

house, guard house, lodge, iron gates and stone pillars, Rideau Cottage, gardener's cottage and laundry.

The finest Cricket Ground in Canada is the field in front of Rideau Hall, but it is sacred to the use of the Ottawa Cricket Club for ever; and men in flannels disport themselves on the Crease in the hottest days summer. The late

in

Capt. Urquhart

house wherein the angels of birth and death have entered; and, in addition, a dignity all its own. It has grown with Ottawa and is a part of it. Almost every Governor has left something by which it is the richer; and when the time comes, if it ever does, for old and new to crumble in a common ruin, there will be some regret doubtless, mingled with rejoicing, over the end of the "disgrace" that cumbers the ground.

On entering the Avenue leading to Rideau Hall, the Lodge must be passed; an odd looking octagonal structure of yellow brick. Rideau Cottage, the residence of the Governor-General's

and Lord Lansdowne were enthusiastic cricketers.

The Rideau Hall of the present is a long rambling structure which all too plainly shows that it is patchwork. As will have been seen from the foregoing, it is of no particular period of architecture nor uniformity of design; it is an embodied mistake which all the addition in the world can never rectify, but nevertheless is it worthy of regard. And though it cannot inspire love even in the hearts of those who have dwelt there, and only gains contempt from the passer-by, it has the majesty of any

Private Secretary, is not visible, only its roof peeping through the trees behind the Hall. It is reached in a roundabout way, but it is really nearer than it looks. Crichton Lodge, the residence of Mr. T. M. Clark, picturesque with red roof and gables, was at one time the Secretary's house, and the Cottage suffers by comparison, although it is bright and cheerful within.

The arm of the Racquet Court-now used for a supper room at dancesreaches in yellow distance in advance of the older portion of the hall, or rather to one side of the portico where