Reference has been made to the prominent part that Cartier took in advocating the construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway; and in desiring to see the accomplishment of that great undertaking, he had an eye to the interests of Montreal. In a speech to the electors of Montreal-East on August 8th, 1872, he promised that Montreal would be the principal terminus of that great road. "I have," he said, to the citizens of Montreal on that occasion, "devoted all my efforts to further your interests and I have always desired that Montreal should have the lion's share." The mercantile and business interests always found in Cartier a friend, in fact had he not been a public man, it is likely that his inclinations would have made him a great business man. "Merchants," he said, speaking at a dinner tendered him by the merchants of Quebec, on December 23rd, 1869, "contribute greatly to the progress of the country. Without the English merchants, England could not have kept its possessions in the world. Like Rome she would have lost her Colonies soon after their conquest. But the English merchant was the means of forming bonds between the new possessions of the Empire. I respect the interests of those here present. Those interests have greatly contributed to render Canada prosperous. Those who devote themselves to commerce form in every country one of the most important classes of society." Cartier's efforts on behalf of the mercantile interests of Montreal, and his faith in the future of this city never wavered, and he predicted its great expansion in wealth and population. "Our city," he said, addressing the electors of Montreal-East in 1867, "now counts 150,000 souls. In twenty years under Confederation, I predict that it will have more than 250,000 inhabitants." How Cartier's faith in Montreal has been justified, we all know. What was at the time he spoke a town of 150,000 people, has become a great metropolis of over 600,000 souls, and it is destined to have before many years a population of over one million people. As Montrealers we are all, as we have a right to be, proud of the great position which the city has attained, and of the still greater future which awaits it. Let us, in its day of greatness not forgot those, like Cartier, who in the days of small things foresaw the great future before Montreal and gave their best efforts to promote its interests. To the very end of his public career, Cartier's interest in the welfare of Montreal and his efforts to promote its advancement continued. His own words conveyed but the simple truth when he said in one of his last addresses, to his fellow citizens: "I frankly avow that all that my heart inspires, all that my knowledge and experience furnish, have been devoted to the welfare and prosperity of my compatriots in general and of Montreal in particular."