TORONTO, the capital city of the province of Ontario, Canada, stands on the n. shore of lake Ontario, in lat. 43° 39' n., long. 79° 23' w.. 165 m. from Kingston, and 323 m. from Montreal. It is over 2 m. in length between e. and w., is bounded on the s. by the bay of Toronto, a spacious inlet of lake Ontario, and is lam. broad from s. to north. The scenery of the vicinity is somewhat tame, and the situation of the town is low and flat, the most elevated quarter—the Queen's park in the w. containing the university, observa tory, and handsome private residences—being only from 100 to 200 ft. above the level of the lake. The harbor or bay, about 5 tn, long and 1 m. in width, is formed by a curving spit of land running into the lake in a s. and w. direction to the distance of 3 miles. It is capable of accommodating the largest vessels that navigate the lakes, and is defended at the entrance by a fort, which was thoroughly repaired in 1864 by the imperial govern ment, and mounted with the most efficient modern ordnance. Toronto has much the appearance of an English town, and is distinguished for the number of its churches.— many of which are surmounted by handsome spires. The principal are St. James's cathe dral (anglican), a noble edifice in early English, erected in 1852; St. Michael's cathedral (Roman catholic); Knox's church and St. Andrew's (Presbyterian); the Metropolitan (ethodist); and the Unitarian chapel. Toronto is the fountain-head of the Canada school-system, and its educational institutions are numerous and well appointed. The university, charmingly situated in the well-wooded Queen's park, was inaugurated in 1843, and is attended by 250 students; Trinity college has about 100 students; and the upper Canada college has 200. Knox's college, recently built, is the Presbyterian theo
logical hall The university park, with its beautiful monument to the volunteers who fell at Ridgeway, and the Horticultural gardens, are frequented by all classes of the community. There are also the normal and model schools, iu the first of which teachers exclusively are trained. Attached to the university is the observatory. There are many benevolent institutions, as hospitals, asylums, etc. ; and handsome official buildings, including Osgoode hall, the seat of the supreme courts of the province; the legislative buildings; the Government house; the customs-house; and the post office. There are two large theaters in Toronto. Toronto is a station for five railways—the Grand Trunk, running e. and w.; the Great Western; the Northern; the Toronto, Grey, and Bruce; and the Toronto and Nipissing ; while during open navigation, magnificent steamers in all directions on the lake. Cabinet-ware and iron rails are manufactured, and foun dries, distilleries, and flour mills are in operation; the exports are manufactured lumber, flour, wheat and other grain. Pop. '71, 56,092, who return two members to the pro vincial parliament.
The name Toronto is supposed to be of Indian origin, but the meaning of the word appears to have been lost. The town was founded in 1794 by governor Simcoe. It was incorporated in 1834, was burned by the Americans in 1813, and suffered severely in the insurrection of 1837 on which occasion it was the headquarters of the rebellion, as also from fire in 1849. .