Landing Passengers on the Ice, Toronto Bay

Inscribed l.l.: W. Armstrong [over effaced ''W. Armstrong''?]; l.r.: 1852 [over effaced ''1852''?]; 

on vso: Landing passengers on the ice / Toronto Bay - 1852. Looking west, showing steamer 'Chief Justice Robinson'.  

JRR (1912) 27. Rev. November 1981

"517-STEAMER CHIEF JUSTICE ROBINSON-Landing her passen· gers in the winter of 1852-3 on the ice in Toronto Bay, east of Queen's Wharf, and about 1,500 feet south of the then north shore of Toronto Bay. The route from Toronto to Montreal in 1852 was by boat to a point on the Niagara River, probably Lewiston; rail, Niagara Falls to WhitehaII via Albany; boat, Plattsburg; rail to Caughnawaga via West Chazy, Moore's Junction and St. Isidore Junction; ferry to Lachine, and rail to Montreal. At that time there were nine railway lines used from Montreal to Niagara Falls several of which were consolidated into the New York Central in 1853.' The "Chief Justice Robinson," 400 tons burthen, was built at Niagara, 1842. She was owned and commanded by Captain Hugh Richardson and was a well-known packet on the route between Lewiston and To~onto for several years. Subsequently she was sold, her engine eventually being put into a new steamer, the "Marine City." Water color by Wm. Armstrong, C.E., Toronto. Size 8 x 13."