Barrack Hill

The weather has deteriorated. We're in the throes of a depression with blustery winds this morning, rain this afternoon. The Ottawa River is greyish brown and so full that it's drowning the smaller islands. The water's churned up by the wind; white caps are breaking on it.

Yesterday I noticed that flood water has submerged the jetty from which the pleasure boats will soon pick up passengers on the Ontario side, below Parliament Hill.

In Major's Hill Park I found a (reproduction) picture of the view as it looked two hundred years ago, probably painted around the time when the British were considering where the Rideau Canal locks should go. Same curve, fewer buildings. The limestone outcrop on which the Parliament of Canada now stands was known Barrack Hill in those days.