ABSTRACT
The British Empire was held together by a series of linkage systems which operated on a worldwide basis to facilitate the redistribution of men, money and goods. One of the more important linkages within the British Empire and beyond was the complex web of investments emanating from the London financial markets. Expansion beyond the British Isles depended upon the growth of trade based on secure trade routes maintained by a strong navy. Most colonial lines were built as links between the port and interior resources, whether agricultural regions, mining centres or strategic points, with a view to facilitating trade with the metropole. London-based finance was linked to colonial financial and commercial expertise which initially was often locally controlled. Navigation of the St Lawrence was made possible through the construction of canals to avoid the rapids and to link the lakes for small vessels.
