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 1 
 
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_# 
 
•s: 
 
 »»■'' 
 
 VIEWS OF CANADA 
 
 AND THK 
 
 »!:-',*K':«j;;'i 
 
 COLONISTS. 
 
 ■# 
 
X 
 
 ' We should look to tlmt great area cultivated by our own countrynieii 
 in our colonial possession in North America — a country to which we are 
 united by the closest relationship — a country which finds constant employ- 
 ment for our surplus labourers — a country which still looks to England 
 with feelings of affection — a country which oflFers a market for our manu 
 factured goods — a country subject to no hostile tariff— which supports 
 our shipping — which improves the condition of our fellow-countrjmen 
 ' — a country which we may hold with signal benefit to ourselves, but in 
 , ' which we cannot maintain our supremacy unless we are cemented to 
 -. her by the closest bonds of affection as well as of interest.' 
 
 Lonv STAyhz\ in the IIuusc 0/ Commons. 
 
 Hj!' 
 
V 
 
 VIEWS OF CANADA 
 
 AKD THE 
 
 COLONISTS: 
 
 EMBRACING THE EXPERIENCE OF A RESIDENCE ; VIEWS OF THE 
 
 PRESENT STATE, PROGRESS, AND PROSPECTS OF THE COLONY J 
 
 WITH DETAILED AND PRACTICAL INFORMATION FOR 
 
 INTENDING EMIGRANTS. 
 
 BY A FOUR YEARS' RESIDENT. 
 
 r 
 
 ' The finest Country [Uprer Canada] I ever knew*. 
 
 Lord Sydenham. 
 
 EDINBURGH: 
 ADAM AND CHARLES BLACK. 
 
 LONDON : LONGMAN, BROWN, GREEN, & LONGMAN. 
 DUBLIN : JOHN GUMMING. 
 
 MDCCCXLIV. 
 
l-^Hj^ 
 
 // 
 
 Printed by A. .^- \n-. ij. w,;,sox, 105 South Biidge, 
 Ediiiburifli. 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 * Because of the uncertainty of information concern- 
 ing our colonies,' remarks the writer* of one of the 
 recent Atlas Prize Essays, * few emigrate till things 
 are well-nigh desperate with them at home. And 
 then they go so thoroughly ill-informed, that there 
 is every reason to fear they will return in disgust.' 
 
 The absence of sufficiently practical and detailed 
 information regarding our colonies has indeed all 
 along been seriously experienced ; and, by those well 
 informed in the matter, is believed to be the chief 
 cause which prevents a much more extended flow of 
 colonisation. ^ 
 
 Books of travels, in a great measure composed of 
 hasty observations, generally speaking do not satisfy 
 the keenly practical inquiries of the numbers natu- 
 rally desirous of being acquainted with particular and 
 detailed facts. Another class of works, the compila- 
 tions from those books, are necessarily similarly de- 
 ficient. A third class, being written by persons 
 
 * The Rev. Joseph Angus, M.A. 
 
* 
 
 PUKFACE. 
 
 familiar with the facts presented, are the kind of 
 works, which, if moderately comprehensive and faith- 
 ful, may be considered to be the most practically 
 useful ; and, in the absence of other means of infor- 
 mation (as might perhaps be expected to be furnished 
 by either the colonial or imperial Governments, or 
 conjointly, regarding the actual and particular con- 
 dition of our colonies — ^this description of information 
 having now in this country become a matter of in- 
 creasing moment) — such sources must prove among the 
 best aids, as they are believed hitherto to have been, 
 in carrying forward the work of peopling England's 
 * noble openings for enterprise and capital.' 
 
 The present publication is offered to the public as 
 an humble attempt to add to the stock of general in- 
 formation possessed in relation to one of our finest 
 colonies ; and concerning which, in its various fa- 
 miliar aspects, and progressively changing circum- 
 stances and prospects, it is natural to suppose that 
 every such attempt, in proportion to the variety and 
 value of the facts, and presumed fidelity of the views 
 presented, will be more or less acceptably received. 
 In addition to the gratification likely to be derived by 
 the general reader, there are large classes now in this 
 country whom the subject particularly addresses. 
 The numbers who have already made Canada their 
 home, and have left behind them, among their rela- 
 tions and acquaintances, a share of interest in the 
 colony ; and the growing numbers, besides, naturally 
 
 \ 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 VU 
 
 desirous of benefiting their position in life, and who 
 l<x)k to the colonies as fields offering such an oppor- 
 tunity — cause Canada, the nearest and most attrac- 
 tive of all our colonies, to be viewed with lively and 
 increasing interest. 
 
 The writer having resided four years in Canada, 
 and in the course of that time travelled through a 
 great part of it, both in making tours into the inte- 
 rior parts, and along almost its entire extent of lake 
 and river boundary, from Lake Superior to the Gulf 
 of St Lawrence ; and having for his own satisfaction, 
 find the information of his friends, preserved much of 
 his observations in regard to the features and nature 
 of the country, the comforts, modes of life, and ex- 
 periences of the inhabitants, as also concerning the 
 general state, progress, and prospects of the colony — 
 he has been enabled to present from full considera- 
 tion, and in a familiar manner, a variety of views 
 more or less interesting, respecting the colony and the 
 colonists. He proceeded to Canada in the spring of 
 1 839, having left Edinburgh in the middle of March, 
 sailed from Liverpool toward: the end of that month, 
 and arrived at New York on the first of May, and sail- 
 ing up the Hudson and through the Erie Canal, 
 crossed at the Falls of Niagara into Canada upon the 
 18th May. Having satisfied himself of the pros- 
 pects presented by the country, and liking it much 
 in other respects, but especially for the proofs it af- 
 forded of possessing a wider field and fuller certainty 
 
s. 
 
 VIII 
 
 PUKFACK. 
 
 of rewai'ds to active and |K'rseverIn^' industry tlian in 
 tlu' mother-country, he determined upon entering 
 into commercial pursuits, and continued thus en- 
 iiCa need, with tlie same satisfaction with which he com- 
 menced, <lurinf»' the whole period of his residence. 
 'J'lie part of the country rendered nuvst familiar by 
 this residence was tlie Western Peninsuhi of Canada, 
 situated hetween tlie Lakes Ontario, Ki'ie, and Huron, 
 and containing' half of the occupied portion of Ca- 
 nada ; and thouf^h indisputably possessin;^ the hi^'h- 
 e.«t character for climate and soil, yet the least known 
 of any part, chiefly on account of its bein^ out of the 
 (M'dinary I'oute of travellers in making their usually 
 hastv runs into Canada from the United States, and 
 touching", in most instances, only at the towns of 
 Toronto, Kingston, Montreal, and Quebec. This 
 part of Canada has therefore been more t'ully dwelt 
 upon than the others ; but, at the same time, to pre- 
 vent any undue bias being likely to be lef( uj)()n the 
 mind of the reader, although one of the districts is 
 selected for the fullest description, with regard to ge- 
 neral appearance, scenery, soils, farms, towns, amount 
 and description of population, the success of the co- 
 lonists, with views of internal economy and govern- 
 ment — such is given more as a specimen or miniature 
 view of Canada, having more or less especial refe- 
 rence to the colony as a whole ; and the better to 
 ])reserve this general character very full illustrative 
 notes and appendix have been added. » 
 
 ^ 
 
I'RCFACE. 
 
 IX 
 
 
 In tlio course of the writer's first tours u])on en- 
 tering Canada, na well as subsc(iuenily, havinu^ he- 
 come strongly inij)resseil that the colony was very im- 
 perfectly known in Britain, the means of comforts 
 and the p;'eneral advantages it possesses in such abun- 
 dance, its steady and prosperous progress towar<ls 
 hecuininga most important and influential country — 
 the writer experienced much satisfaction in having 
 liad the opportunity of a temporary visit to this 
 count rv, to contribute what little amount of infor- 
 mation the nature of his visit allowed him. The 
 general reader is requested to overlook an obser- 
 vati(m here made for the sake of satisfying the not 
 unnatural curiositv of some, which is — that he has 
 no interest whatever in speaking well or otherwise 
 of any part of Canada, and that in the course of col- 
 lecting his information of particular facts, he has 
 throughout scrupulously abstained from laying him- 
 self in the remotest degree under obligations to any 
 individuals who might be supposed to be biassed by 
 personal interests in the colony. The facts he re- 
 quired to be possessed of, chiefly consisting of the 
 most recent statistical information, have been pro- 
 cured in a great measure from official sources in the 
 colony ; and for the purpose of authenticating or 
 illustrating his own observations, he had recourse tc 
 the most approved published authorities. He trusts 
 therefore the views presented will be received at least 
 as thoroughly disinterested. The writer only regrets, 
 

 X PREFACE. 
 
 tliat in order to present as much as possible of de- 
 sirable matter regarding Canada, in the form which 
 would be most generally accessible — ^be should have 
 been obliged to treat many subjects in a manner 
 greatly disproportioned to their importance. 
 
 The series of Letters forming the commencement 
 of the work was written originally for the * Scotstnan* 
 newspaper, at the request of an esteemed friend of the 
 writer, one of the conductors of that journal; and hav- 
 ing been very favourably received and proved useful, 
 as well as, it is believed, generally interesting — these 
 letters are now reprinted, and it is hoped will pre- 
 sent in their collected form increased interest from 
 the material additions they have received, particu- 
 larly those parts descriptive of scenery, and the va- 
 rious familiar aspects of the country in the stages of 
 its progress, from the still uninhabited forest to the 
 first openings of the pioneer settler, the half- cul- 
 tivated clearances of older settlements, and the 
 busy and more comfortable and home-like life pre- 
 sented by the rapidly-growing prosperous towns and 
 villages. Numerous and closely- printed Notes con- 
 tain much information both of details in regard to 
 soil, population, and other characteristics of locali- 
 ties, which it is hoped will prove valuable to the prac- 
 tical inquirer, and also general views of subjects 
 suggested by the text, illustrative of the condition 
 and progress of the colony. A very full Appendix 
 contains matter more closely applicable to the en- 
 
 S 
 
\ 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 XI 
 
 con- 
 ird to 
 ocali- 
 prac- 
 (jects 
 ition 
 (ndix 
 
 tire colony, and of an essentially practical na- 
 ture, particularly in regard to the rates of wages and 
 state of trades, prices of provisions, furniture, cloth- 
 ing, rents ; prices of lands and terms of payment, 
 prices of farm buildings, agricultural implements, 
 live stock, and such other useful details — presenting, 
 as far as possible within limited space, that kind of 
 information most desirable to be known respecting 
 the country. The Appendix contains also condensed 
 views of the whole of the Western Peninsula of Ca- 
 nada, the respective advantages and disadvantages 
 of localities with regard to soil, situation, population, 
 and other matters. 
 
 A main division of the work strictly embraces Ge- 
 neral Views of Canada ; the general aspect of the 
 country through its entire extent ; characters of va- 
 rious parts both in the Upper and Lower portion of 
 the Province ; amounts of occupied and unoccupied, 
 cultivated and uncultivated lands ; a glance at the 
 chief resources of the colony, with the progress and 
 present amount and description of population. A 
 statement of the affairs, and of the income and ex- 
 penditure of the colony, afford occasion to present a 
 variety of interesting details regarding its civil ma- 
 nagement, sources of revenue, and public institu- 
 tions. The views of the present state and pros- 
 pects of Canada, and those respecting the important 
 subject of emigration, will, it is hoped, recom- 
 mend themselves in such a manner as that, for the 
 
N 
 
 Xll 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 sake of the subjects, and overlooking the necessarily 
 brief notice they have received — those who have in- 
 fluence, directly or indirectly, in the colony or at 
 home, may be induced to bestow upon them some 
 measure of consideration. The leading views in both 
 chapters, however briefly dwelt upon, are the result 
 of close practical observation, from opportunities pos- 
 sessed both in this country and the colony, believed to 
 be most favourable to the study of the subjects, and 
 are therefore put forth for consideration with some de- 
 gree of perhaps pardonable confidence. ,. , 
 
 Practical suggestions addressed to intending emi- 
 grants regarding preparations for the voyage, direc- 
 tions for travelling through the country, with other 
 information of like description, close the volume, 
 which, it is hoped, may prove what it has been the 
 writer's aim to make it, as far as its limits would 
 allow, both a desirable companion in travelling to 
 the colony, and a work possessing some degree of 
 interest to the general reader. ; j 
 
 EDINBURC4H, November 1844. 
 
 \ 
 
 \ 
 
^ 
 
 Sk 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 INTRODUCTION, 
 
 Pages 1 to 8. 
 
 SKKTCII OF A DISTRICT IN CANADA. 
 
 PRESENTING A MINIATURE AND FAMILIAR VIEW OF THE COUNTRY 
 WITH ITS FARMS AND TOWNS. 
 
 FIRST LETTER. 
 
 Extent of the Old and Present Limits of the London District — Progress and Present 
 Htatc of Settlement— The Inhabitants, the Countries of their Orijrln, ami their Reli- 
 gious Professions — The Colourcil (African) Population, their Condition and Behaviour 
 in Cacada— The Indians, Oneidas, Munceys, and C'hippewas in the District^Reeent 
 Settlement of Oneidas from the Mohawk Valley, United States — State of Civilisation 
 among them — Oeeiipations, JIanners, and Dress, . . Pages to l»i. 
 
 NoTKs : — Oneida Indians, and their ' Castle' in the Mohawk Valley— Runaw-ay Slaves — 
 Amherstburgh, theix chief refuge in Canada, . . . Pages l" to ID. 
 
 SECOND LETTER. 
 
 Kinds and Quantities of Crop" produced— Average Price of Wheat and of Agricultural 
 Labour— State of Local Market'' — Canadian Winter— Wintering Cattle— Official Re- 
 turns of Stock within the District— State of Canada in regard to Markets— Hasty (Ob- 
 servations of Travellers in drawing comparisons with the Unite<l States — Prospects of 
 Canada— Condition of Settlers, ..... Pages 20 to SW. 
 
 Notes :— Port Stanley, the chief Shipping Port of the District— Climate— Canadian Win- 
 ter—Wintering Cattle— Tillage and Grazing, . . . Pages ai to 29, 
 
 - THIRD LETTER. 
 
 General Industry of the Inhabitants — Wool, Domestic Manufhctures, Orehar<ls, Dairy- 
 Produce — British Manufactures and Prices — Struggles of early Settlera — (Jrowing 
 Prosperity — Delusions of Emigrants — Deficiency of Information — Discouragements to 
 Ik; encountered — Gentlemen Farmers — Classes of Inhabitants — Limite . Numlier of 
 Poor— Cases of Public Begging — Flour and other Mills, and Slanufactorics — Distil- 
 leries, Breweries, and Taverns — Influence of Temperance Movement, Pagts 30 to 4S. 
 
 Notes :— Fruits of Canada— Maple-sugar Making— Prosperous Dairy Farming— Early 
 Dairy Farm in Canada, ..... Pages 4a to 54. 
 
 FOURTH LETTER. 
 
 State of Education throughout Western Canada-— Causes of its generally Depressed State 
 —Act of Legislature for the Support of Schools — Provision of the Act to obviate Re- 
 ligious Scruples — Schools and Attendance in the London District— Collegiate Institu- 
 tions In Western Canada — University of King's College, Toronto— University of Queen's 
 College, Kingston— Victoria College, Cobourg— Course* of Instruction, Fefi, and Re- 
 
f 
 
 \ 
 
 XIV 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 
 M 
 
 lii 
 
 .■IM 
 
 in«rk»— (.'onditlon of Canada favourably changed in roRard to ftfeans of Education 
 within the lust faw Years— No Trovision for Agricultural FAlucatiun, a great Want in 
 ('anada— Tarticular Description of the London District continued— General Appear- 
 nnoe of the Country — Cultivated Settlement — Scene in the Uush — The Lakc-Mhore 
 
 TownshipM, Farms, Houses, Gardens— Harbours, Torts Stanley, Burwell, Talbot 
 
 Colonel Talliot's ReHldence and Settlement— Ueautiful Scenery— Talbot Anniversary- 
 Town of St Thomas, ...... Pages 65 to 76. 
 
 Jo'oTHs :— New School Act— University Dill— American Books and Teachers in Canada— 
 The Lake-shore Townships, ..... Pages 76 to SI . 
 
 FIFTH LETTER. 
 
 Townships of the Interior— Scotch Settlement in Westminster— Delaware, the First 
 Settled Township of the District^Story of it« Early Settlcment^Flrst Settlement of 
 <anada— Niagara, Ancaster, Long Point Country— Expedition of Ail venturers down 
 the River Thames— Scenery and Soil along the Banks— The Travellers Halt for Rest— 
 A Forest Scene— Illustration of the Land-granting System of Canada in the History of 
 Delaware — Remedy recently adopted of Taxing Unoccupied Lands— Township of Lon- 
 don— lu First Settlement and Progress— Present Comfortable Condition of the Set- 
 tlers, ........ Pages 82 to 89. 
 
 NoiB«:—Niagara— Long Point Country— Townships of the Interior, .. 89 to 95. 
 
 , ; CONCLUDING LETTER. 
 
 Introduction to a View of the Town of London— The Fii«t View— Next Day's Impres- 
 sions — Scene around tlie Inn and in the Street — A Walk, and Glance at general Fea- 
 tures of the Town— Growth of London— First House Built— Site and Position— Plan 
 of General Simcoe, and his Opinion respecting the Place and surrounding Country — 
 Travellers from the ' North West'— Indian Letter Writing— Particular Description of 
 London— Streets and Public Buildings— Mechanics' Institute, Reading Room and Li- 
 brary — American and English Books — Market-house — Fish and the Fishings of the 
 great Lakes — Shops, Living, and Prices of Provisions— Rents of Houses, and Cost of 
 Building— Wages of Tradesmen, Labourers, and Farm-servants — Concluding Remarks 
 — Canr.da Imperfectly known in Britain— Necessity of correct and minute Information 
 concerning the Colonies— Present general Condition and Prospects of Canada— Per- 
 sons who ought to Emigrate, ..... Pages 96 to 114. 
 
 NoTBS :— General Simcoe's Opinion and Plans — American and English Books in Canada 
 — Imperfect Information concerning our Colonies — Lord Sydenham's Estimate of Ca- 
 nada-Improved Prospects of the Country— Impressions of a recent Traveller, P. I14-S(). 
 
 APPENDIX TO THE LETTERS. 
 
 CONTAINING MORE PARTICULAR AND DETAILED INFORMATION. 
 
 STATISTICAL AND SUMMARY VIEW OF THE POPULATION AND 
 RESOURCES OF THE LONDON DISTRICT. 
 
 Mo<le of taking the Census and Levying Taxes — Description of Property Assessed, and 
 Estimate of Real Value — The Beginnings and Present Condition of the Colonists — 
 Crops produced — Price of Wheat, and Cost of Transport to England— Miscellaneous 
 Produce — Mills and Manufactories — Description of Population— Taxes, Administra- 
 tion of Justice — Pubhc OflSces liable to be Served by Colonists— Roads and general Im- 
 provements, ....... Pages 121 to 138. 
 
 WAGES, RENTS, AND PRICES OF PROVISIONS. 
 
 \Wges and state of Trades in Canada— House Carpenters and Joiners— Bricklayers- 
 Stone-masons — Plasterers — Painters — Blacksmiths— Carriage makers — Wheel-wrights 
 
 s; 
 
 \ • 
 
'\ 
 
 COXTEyiS. 
 
 XV 
 
 ~Tii)*mithg —Baker* —Shoemaker*— Tailors —Printer*— Seamen— Apprrntioes — Fe- 
 male Employments — Farm-«.'rvant« and Labourers — Scoteh Fami-iiervants — lioiircl 
 tiiiJ LoJicing— Rents, Triees of Provisions, . . . Pages 138 to l.".l . 
 
 PRICES OF LANDS, AND COST OF CLEARING WILD LAND. 
 
 frown Lanrls — C'lerjr>- Reserves— Free Government Settlements of Owen Sound, Ae.— 
 Improved farms— Clearing Wild Land, .... Pages IM to ICJ. 
 
 I'UKES OF LIVE STOCK, FARM RUILDINOS, AGRICULTURAL IMPLK- 
 MENT.S, AND HOUSEHOLD FURNITURE, . . . Pages 163 to Ht4. 
 
 PROFITS OF TILLAGE AND GRAZING. 
 
 CiMt of Clearing Ten Acres of Timbered Land, and Profits of Farming Ist, 5J<1, and *l 
 Years— Profits upon Grazing— Increase in Value of Stoek, Pages 104 to 1 an. 
 
 TIIF. SURROUNDING DISTRICTS. 
 
 The Talbot District— Extent of Population.. Cultivated Burfece.. Character of 8t>il.. 
 Streams, Harbours, Resources, and general improvements .. The District of BrcK-k.. 
 Towns of IngersoU and Woodstock. .Religious Bodies . . Outlets for Pnxluee. . Navigation 
 on the Grand River.. The Huron District.. Fertile Character of Soil.. Town of Gwle- 
 rlch, and River Maitland .. Progress of Colonii'ts in Township of Goderich.. Village of 
 Stratford on River Avon. . Village of St Marj's on the Thames .. Statistics of District 
 and Price of Land, ...... Pages lij8 to 174. 
 
 NEW NORTHERN TERRITORY. 
 
 Recent Visit to this part of Canada .. Proposal to open up and Settle the Territory. . 
 Extent of Territory 8,000,000 Acres. .River Saugin.. Importance and general Charac- 
 ter of Country, ...... Pages 175 to 177. 
 
 THE WESTERN DISTRICT. 
 
 Amhcrstburgh. .Scenery of the River Detroit. .Produce of Orchards. .Cultivation of To- 
 bacco.. Sandwich and Windsor.. Historical Recollections.. Disturbances of 1837-38-3i> 
 . . Banks of Lake St Clair and River Thames. .Chatham. . Moravian Village. . Banks of 
 RiverSt Clair and Village of Samia, .... Pages 177 to 18n. 
 
 THE OTHER PARTS OF THE GREAT PENINSULA. 
 
 The District of Simcoe..The Home District. .City of Toronto. .The Distriet of Welling- 
 ton.. The Gore District.. Towns of Hamilton, Drantford, Paris, Dundas, and Gait. . 
 Review of the Extent and Importance of the Western Peninsula of Canada.. Amount 
 and Pn>gres8 of Population . . Opinion of the late Lord Sydenham on this part of Ca- 
 nada, ....... Pages 1><8 to 198. 
 
 GENERAL VIEWS OF CANADA. 
 
 ILLUSTRATIVE OF THE COLONY'S PRESENT CONDITION AND PROSPECTS. 
 
 EXTENT, GENERAL ASPECT, POPULATION, AND RESOURCES 
 
 OF THE COLONY. 
 
 General Appearance of the Country.. River St Lawrence.. Cities of Quebec and Mon- 
 treal. .Ascent of the St Lawrence to Kingston.. Ottawa Country. Kingston.. Lake 
 Ontario and Bay of Quinte.. Niagara River. .Lakes Erie, St Clair, and Huron. .St 
 
 #•' 
 
V 
 
 XVI 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 Mary'H Chnnnsl and Ljike Huporirir..Goveminpnt of Canada.. Di viijion* nf Canada.. 
 Progrt'M and ChuracUT of DistrlctJt.. Population and Amount of Cultivated Laml.. 
 AmountH of Laml Oopuplcd and T'niK'Pupied, . U('i»ourcc«of Cniinda. . Wheat and Flour 
 . .Exports of lS44..WorkinK of the Now Tariff. Provision Trade of Canada., Timber 
 Trade.. FUhhiKa and Manufactures.. Employment of Uritl^h ijhlpplng. British and 
 other Imports into Canada. .Uank», and Amount of Circulation, Pages IW to 221. 
 
 NoTK;— .->tatl»tie» of DrltJsh .Shipping, . . . ... 221 
 
 STATEMENT OF THE AFFAIRS OF CANADA. 
 
 Explanatorj' Remnrks on HUitement of Affairs.. Debt and Public Works of Canada.. 
 Roads and Canals. .Wdland and Erie Canals .. Clergy Reserves.. Jesuits' Estatec, 
 Huiiool, and Trinity Funds. . Public ilospltaltt and Lunatic Asylum, Pages 222 to 2af . 
 
 INCOME AND EXPENDITURE OF CANADA. 
 
 Income uf Canada for 1842.. Remarks on Income. Customs, Excise, an<l Territorial 
 Revenues. Uank Issues, Post-Offlce and Public Works.. Expenditure of Canada for 
 1S42.. Remarks on Expenditure. Public Debt of Canada, and Loan for Public Works 
 ..Pages ........ 228 to 235. 
 
 VIEWS OF THE PRESENT .STATE AND PROSPECTS OF CANADA. 
 
 View of the Present State of Canada.. Improving Prospects of the Colony.. Manage- 
 ment of its Affairs.. Improvement of Roads and Agriculture. Suggestion to Estal)- 
 lish ExperimentJil Farms. .PolltlcalAffalrs. Plan of Colonial Representation.. Colonial 
 Post-OfticeJIanagemen t — Social State . . State of Religion . . Condition of Churches . . Con - 
 eluding Observations, . . .... Pages 235 to 24(5. 
 
 VIEWS ON EMIGRATION. 
 
 Practical Considerations Suggested.. Evils of the Present Emigration arising from Defi- 
 ciency of Information . . Plan to improve Emigration by diffu.-ing authoritative,aepiirat<", 
 and detailed Information in Britain, .... Pages 246 to 249. 
 
 PREPARATIONS FOR THE VOYAGE. 
 
 Clothing and other Articles suitable to be taken.. Arrangements Provided by Vessels. . 
 Kinds of Provisions for the Voyage.. Period for Sailing .. Disposal of Spare Funds . . 
 Information afforded by Emigration Commissioners, . . Pages 249 to 254. 
 
 ^ ' ' CHOICE OF A VESSEL. v 
 
 The Passages by Quebec and New York.. Government Protection to Emigrants.. 
 Passengers' Act .. Emigration Agents . .Rates of Passages by Emignint Vessels, 
 1'acket-fchip.s, and Steam-ships, and Perio<ls of Sailing, . Pages 254 to 25t. 
 
 ARRIVAL AT QUEBEC, AND ROUTES THROUGH THE INTERIOR. 
 
 Arrival at Quarantine. .Disembarking, and Journey onwards Journey from Montreal 
 to Kingston . . From Kingston up Lake Ontario . . Westward from Lake Ontario . . 
 Other Routes tlirough Canada, .... Pages 258 to 264. 
 
 ARRIVAL AT NEW YORK & ROUTES THI >UGH THE INTERIOR. 
 
 Information and Advice at New Y^ork . . Voyage up the Hudson . .Travelling from Al- 
 bany.. Fares by Erie Canal and Railroad .. Travelling from Buflhlo .. Crossing into 
 Cunadaat the Fallsof Ixiagaro, .... Pages 264 to 206. 
 
INTKODUCTION. 
 
 Our country evidently appears to be approaching a period when 
 the colonies are to exercise, more fully than at present, a ma- 
 terially beneficial influence on its condition and prospects. 
 The achievements of steam-navigation may be said to have 
 brought those inviting territories of ours nearer to us by one- 
 half the distance than they were formerly. Though start- 
 ling the statement, it is in effect practically true, that our 
 North American colonies are nearer to us now than Edin- 
 burgh was to London eighty years ago. In 1763 the dis- 
 tance between these cities was a journey of from twelve 
 to sixteen days, performed once a-month in the only stage 
 coach that was then in Scotland, with the exception of other 
 two in Edinburgh, running between that city and Leith. In 
 the present times, steam-ships havu traversed the distance be- 
 tween the American continent and Europe within ten days ; and 
 persons leaving London may reacn Canada now within the 
 time that the monthly stage-coach performed the journey to 
 Edinburgh in 1763. London newspapers, printed on the .3d 
 of July 1844, and sent by the Hibemia steam-ship, which 
 sailed from Liverpool on the following day, were received on 
 the 20th of the same month at the town of Hamilton, Upper 
 Canada, situated at the head of Lake Ontario, 800 miles into 
 the interior of Canada, from the mouth of the St Lawrence, 
 
\ 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 
 And newspapers printed in that town of Canada on the 22d of 
 July, and containing the news brought from England by the 
 Hibemia, reached Liverpool on the 13th, and were received, 
 and read in Edinburgh on the 15th August. 
 
 One great tendency of this closer intercourse must be to make 
 our colonies more as connected parts of the empire, and the co- 
 lonists to feel less as colonists than fellow-inhabitants, bound 
 by the same ties of common government and laws, modes of 
 thought, and sympathies. The colonies of England — these 
 ' noble openings' — under such influences, cannot long remain 
 so apart as they now do ; but must become, with the more fa- 
 miliar knowledge of them, which growing intercourse brings, 
 and with the flowings of a teeming population naturally follow- 
 ing — the most attractive fields for England's enterprise, occu- 
 pied and cultivated for the most solid advantages, and the 
 strengthening and extension of her power for the purposes of 
 good. 
 
 But how limited our acquaintance, as yet, with even our 
 nearest and most important colony ! How many are 
 there who entertain little else than certain vague notions 
 respecting Canada, associating the climate, general appear- 
 ance, social condition, towns, houses, and style of comforts 
 of the country, with various degrees of exaggeration, all 
 more or less so removed from exact truth, that the most of 
 persons who proceed from Britain, and experience a residence 
 in Canada, find it very unlike the country in many important 
 respects which it is generally represented to be — being much 
 more comfortable and home-like in its principal settlements 
 and towns than they ever anticipated. The people of this 
 country have had little opportunity of being made familiarly 
 acquainted with the evidences presenting themselves from time 
 to time of the silent steady progress the colony is making — of 
 the settlements which a few years ago were comparative wil- 
 derness becoming changed to busy and smiling scenes of 
 
 ■ 
 
 ^ 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 cultivntion — s-pots where only forests* stood hocoming the sites 
 of thriving vilhigos — and viUages becoming chan}.'ed to large 
 and luxurious towns. Within the last ten years particularly, 
 such have been prominent evidences of the progress of Canada. 
 lu IS'.V2 the population of Upper Canada amounted to a little 
 over 276,000, and it now has reached above 500,000, or about 
 a fifth of the population of Scotland ; and in 184"J the extent 
 of its cultivated surface (1,701,000 acres) exceeded a third of 
 the cultivated surface of Scotland. Montreal, the present 
 capital of Canada, and the chief seat of the colony's commerce, 
 from being a town about the size of Perth in Scotland in ! 325, 
 has so increased sinee then as to be now more than double the 
 size of Perth, by above 4000 inhabitants. The population of 
 Montreal in 1825 was 22,000, and by the census of the present 
 year it contained 44,090. Toronto in Upper Canada, which 
 was little more than a village in 1830, has now a population of 
 about 20,000, with spacious and luxurious shops, gas-lighted 
 and paved streets, thirteen churches and chapels, eight or ten 
 newspapers, and returning upon its assessment rolls above 
 200 four-wheeled open and close carriages, gigs, and pleasure 
 waggons — and it is only the other day that a Scottish Presby- 
 terian congregation in Toronto gave an acceptable call to a 
 comfortably placed clergyman in one of the large towns of 
 Scotland, and guaranteed him an amount of stipend nearly as 
 high as is received by the clergy of the city of Edinburgh, 
 
 The total revenue of the colony, including Upper and Lower 
 Canada, was in 1834 a little over £265,000, and in 1842 the 
 revenue of the colony, from Customs alone, derived from duties 
 upon manufactured and other goods, imported chiefly from Bri- 
 tain and the United States, amounted just to about the total 
 revenue of 1834, derived from all the various sources, including 
 Excise, Territorial, Public Works, and other departments. 
 The city of Toronto alone, collected in 1843 an amount of Cus- 
 toms duties upon importations from the United States just 
 about double the total amount of such duties collected in the 
 
INTr.ODUdlON. 
 
 whole of Upper Canada in 1834 — and under a tariff impoMinj^ 
 greatly reduced rates of duties. 
 
 Those facts, and the state and propress of things of which 
 they are an index, the people of this country are but imperfectly 
 ac(juainted with. And it is not more the towns of the colony, 
 as may be believed — which especially, in a country like Ca- 
 nada, are directly dependent upon surrounding general pros- 
 l)erity — than the interior country parts, that the eridences of 
 this progress present themselves. The following pages, to 
 which the reader's notice is invited, are designed to afford 
 some glimpses of the condition of an interior part of the 
 colony, concerning which, although comprising one-half of 
 the occupied, and allowedly the finest portion of Upper Ca- 
 nada, our best sources of information afford but vague contra- 
 dictory general statements. The great Western Peninsula of 
 Canada, upon being first visited by the late Lord Sydenham, in 
 the course of a tour which he performed through the colony 
 in the capacity of Governor-General, in the autumn of 1840, 
 so almost enraptured the practical and expanded mind of 
 that statesman as to cause him to record respecting it:— 
 
 * I am delighted to have seen this part of the country ; I 
 mean the great district, nearly as large as Ireland, placed be- 
 tween the three lakes — Erie, Ontario, and Huron. You can 
 conceive nothing finer ! The most magnificent soil in the 
 world — four feet of vegetable mould — a climate certainly the 
 ])est in North America — the greater part of it admirably wa- 
 tered. In a word, there is land enough and capabilities 
 enough for some millions of people, and in one of the finest 
 provinces in the world.'* -''^^-"^ 
 
 This * great district/ however — this one-half of Upper Canada 
 — already having a cultivated surface exceeding a seventh part 
 
 * Extract from rdvate Letter— Memoir of the Life of Lord Sydenham. 
 London, 1843. " '"''•- 
 
 -\ 
 
INTRODUCTION. 5 
 
 of the cultivated siirfiice of Scotland, with ahout a twelfth part of 
 Srotland'rt population — and concerning which it is most natural 
 to suppose that the people of this country should desire to be 
 ac(juainted — is as yet so imperfectly known, that when turn- 
 ing to consult one of the latest and most detailed accounts of 
 Canada, and recognised as an authority, the inquirer reads 
 those hasty chilling remarks :— 
 
 ' Under the influence of vague and speculative hopes, they 
 (a number of opulent settlers] have made it their ambition 
 to plunge into the extreme west and the heart of the bnsh, 
 and seemed to have imagined that the farther they placed 
 themselves beyond every vestige of culture and civilisation, 
 the greater advantages did they secure. A letter in 18.'i4 
 states that almost all the emigrants of capital were hasten- 
 ing to the London district, a territory perhaps the most de- 
 cidedly woodland of any in Canada. Settlers in these wilds 
 encounter peculiar and extreme hardships, being deprived of 
 every accommodation to which they had been accustomed, 
 sometimes even in want of common necessaries^ and in danger 
 of starvation.'* 
 
 ♦ Edinburgh Cabinet Library, Account of British America, vol. iii. p. lOfi. 
 
 Note.— The grave defects existing in the most popular worlts circu- 
 lating in Britain respecting Canada, are prominently apparent to those 
 acquainted with the colony. Not to speak of the absurd views entertained 
 regarding the social state, climate, and other important particulars, two 
 illustrations of this imperfect knowledge of the colony from matters of fact 
 may be brought forward— not, however, that they should in the least degree 
 reflect discredit upon the parties, who, desirous of diffusing information, 
 circulate such matter unknowing it to be faulty. In a publication upon 
 Canada, forming part of a deservedly popular series, bearing the date of 
 1S42, it is stated respecting Montreal, the present capital of Canada, that 
 ' There are no wharfs, and the ships and steamboats sail close to the 
 
:|l 
 
 C I NT ROD LCT ION. 
 
 The district so Jiiectly spoken of happens to he the very ont- 
 Helected, helongin^ to the Western Peninsula of Canada, for 
 the purpose of presenting a specimen or miniature view of tht 
 country, and the Htatements given heinp hased on ortieial sta- 
 tistical information, and the view presented bein^ sketched from 
 the experience of a four years' residence, an opportunity is af- 
 forded to incpiirers satisfying themselves of the truth of the 
 observation, that in this country we know far too little of 
 Canada. 
 
 The Western Peninsula of Canada, stretching westward from 
 Toronto, near the upper extremityof Lake Ontario, and having 
 Lake Erie forming its southern boundary, and the Rivers De- 
 troit and St Clair, and the Lakes St Clair and Huron its west- 
 ern and northern boundary — comprises of occupied territory 
 nine districts and part of a tenth; in all, 144 townships, of the 
 eighteen districts, and 273 townships into which Upper Canada 
 is at present divided. Those districts of the peninsula, each 
 embracing from six to twenty-six townships, and each townshiji 
 consisting of 61,600 acres, are all more or less separately glanced 
 at in such a manner as to present within limited space much 
 desirable information. Besidee this occupied portion of the 
 region — of about 9,000,000 acres — a large and important 
 
 bank of the river, where there is deep water.* Now, to lony ayo as 
 1832, a Ihw. of heauti/ul and substantial stone-tvhar/s was begun to 
 be built along the St Lawrence in front of the town, and the harbour 
 of Montreal is believed to be equal, if not superior, to any in North 
 America ! The same account of Canada, alluding to the fine public edi- 
 fices of the city of Quebec, mentions among the rest the Castle of St Louis 
 being • a prominent object on the summit of the rocl<:.' Now, the Castle 
 of St Louis — this certainly once promineut and celebrated building, long 
 the residence of governors — was wholly burned ^ the ground in the year 
 1834, and has never been rebuilt! Among the latest travellers in Ca- 
 nada, Mr Buckingham may be mentioned as having fallen into several 
 awkward errors. 
 
 \ 
 
INTIlOliUCTlON. 
 
 n 
 * 
 
 •rritory, nmnuntinp; to 2,000,000 acro^, lyinf? alonpf the en«tein 
 tore of Lake Huron, and Mouth of tho (jeorgiun Bay, han 
 pceived what ulij^ht notice the information yet posneHHcd re- 
 tarding it afforded This territory, which in as yet almost 
 rholly unoccupied, has been recently visited, and under.Htood to 
 ^e (Dntemplatcd hy Ciovornment to be Hoon set apart and opened 
 ip by roads for settlement. The abundance «)f room there is, 
 lowever, in the already constituted districtii of the peninsula 
 br the Howings of emij,i[ration, however large, for numherH of 
 rears to come, may be inferred from the fact of there being 
 )nly about 754,000 acres as yet under cultivation, a large 
 nnount, indeed, taking into account the period of settle- 
 iient, and tho circumstances of the settlers ; but small com- 
 )ared to the several millions of acres yet to cultivate, and 
 •very one of which, without exception, perhaps, susceptible 
 )f -cultivation. 
 
 
 Before here taking leave of the reader, in order to invite his 
 
 rthcr attention to the sketch of the interesting district selected 
 for affording fuller and more familiar views respecting the co- 
 onists, and of the ordinary appearances in regard to scenery 
 nd modes of life presented in this part of the colony — it may 
 e as well, injustice to the whole subject of the important por- 
 ion of Canada thus introduced, to refer to an acknowledged 
 igh authority as to the particular character of its soil and 
 limate. M. Bouchette was Surveyor- General of Lower 
 ■anada, and was employed olTicially on aninspecti" tour over 
 he province. 
 
 * The whole tract,' says Bouchette, in his work on the Bri- 
 isb Dominions* in North America, 'is alluvial in its formation, 
 
 d chiefly consists of a stratum of black and sometimes yellow 
 
 loam ; above which is deposited, when in a state of nature, a 
 
 ich and deep vegetable mould, the substratum beneath the 
 
 •ed of loam being generally a tenacious grey or blue clay, 
 
 Ian 
 
 V '■•■ 
 
'!i 
 
 8 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 which in some parts appears at the surface, and, intermixed 
 
 with sand, con"" -itute** the super-soil.' 'The forests 
 
 are remarkable for the sturdy growth, the variety, and the rich 
 foliage of their trees. Out of the long list of their different 
 species, the following may be selected as being of most fre- 
 quent occurrence : maple, beech, oak, basswood, ash, elm, 
 hickory, walnut, butternut, chestnut, cherry, birch, cedar, and 
 pine, and their several varieties.' — Regarding climate, the same 
 authority observes, * Situated between the parallels of 42 deg. 
 and 45 deg. 30 min. north latitude, it has the advantage of 
 extending further south than any portion of the British North 
 American possessions, and hence enjoys in an eminent de- 
 gree a superior fertiliity of soil and milder temperature of cli- 
 mate.' 
 
 'ill !! 
 
 y.:^:: 
 
- ^ 
 
 /., ■» 
 
 SKETCH OF A DISTRICT IN CANADA. 
 
 ■'RKSENTING A MIMATItrE AND FAMILIAR 
 
 VIEW OF THE COUNTRY WITH ITS 
 
 FARMS AND TOWNS. 
 

 • K' 
 
 lili 
 
 f I! 
 
SKETCH 
 
 OF A 
 
 DISTRICT IN CANADA. 
 
 FraST LETTER. 
 
 Extent of the Old and Present Limits of the London District — Progress 
 and Present State of Settlement — The Inhabitants, the Countries of their 
 Origin, and their lleligious Professions — The Coloured (African) Popu- 
 lation, their Condition and Behaviour in Canada — The Indians, Oneidas, 
 Munceys, ar, ' Chippewas in the District — Ilecent Settlement of Onei- 
 das from the Mohawk Valley, United States — State of Civilisation 
 among them~-Occux>ations, Manners, au^ ress. 
 
 NoTKS : — Oneida Indians, and their * Castle' in the Mohawk Valley — 
 Runaway Slaves — Amherstburgh, their chief refuge in Canada. 
 
 London^ Canada^ 1843. 
 
 I WILL now write you something about our London here. This 
 central portion of the great western peninsula of Canada, 
 though universally acknowledged to be the finest part of 
 the province, and mentioned in books treating of the country 
 as being » the garden-land of Canada,' has, as you are aware, 
 been very little visited by travellers ; and I know of no pub- 
 lication to which 1 can refer you for any detailed account of 
 this important and interesting district of country. 
 
 it 
 
X 
 
 10 
 
 POPULATIOX. 
 
 ! ! 
 
 ii!il 
 
 h ' i 
 
 1 
 
 The old limits of the London district, which have been altered 
 within the last seven years, embraced three counties, Middle- 
 sex, Oxford, and Norfolk, besides the large block of land known 
 as the Huron tract — the whole comprising fifty townships, 
 covering a surface of 3204 square miles, or about a tenth of 
 the size of all Scotland, including the Orkney, Shetland, and 
 Western Islands, and which now show upon the assessor's 
 rolls upwards of one million and a quarter of occupied acres 
 — being more than five times the number of acres in all 
 Mid-Lothian, cultivated, uncultivated, and uncultivable to- 
 gether. 
 
 This great extent of land cuts quite through the centre of 
 the rich peninsula formed by the Lakes Ontario, Erie, St. 
 Clair, and Huron, and stretches from the banks of Lake Erie 
 to the southern shore of Lake Huron. The soils are of great 
 variety, from the light and stronger brown sand, with its oak 
 or pine, lying chiefly along the shores of Lake Erie and in 
 spots near the rivers, to the heavier clay and rich black loams, 
 with their maple, beech, and other hard woods in the interior. 
 In 1035 this district, not including the Huron tract, had a 
 population of 39,4G8, possessing 143,061 acres of cultivated 
 land, 4963 horses, and 13,720 milch cows ; and the latest 
 published official returns show that in 1841 there were 62,397 
 inhabitants, possessing 213,516 cultivated acres, 8609 horses, 
 and 19,831 milch cows — being an increase since 1835 of 12,829 
 inhabitants, 70,455 cultivated acres, 3646 horses, and 6111 
 milch cows. Comparing the population in 1832, which was 
 28,841, with that of 1842, estimated at about 67,000, this part 
 of Canada appears to have doubled its population within ten 
 years. This is the London district, as it is still laid down in 
 books professing to give an account of the country. But a 
 change took place some time since. ' - *' ' 
 
 The old limits of the London district havi been gradually 
 reduced with the increase of population, as the distance, in 
 instances above 60 miles, for jurors and others attending the 
 
 .iH 
 
 \ 
 
\ 
 
 STATE OF SETTLEMENT. 
 
 11 
 
 mce, ID 
 
 courts and other business in the district towns, became two 
 inconvenient. 
 
 The county of Norfolk, having seven townships, lying east 
 and south of London, was the first disjoined, and erected into 
 what is now the Talbot district — with its district-town of Sim- 
 coe, distant about seven miles from P "t Dover on Lake Erie. 
 
 The county of Oxford, with ten townships lying east of 
 London, was about four years ago erected into the district of 
 Brock, having Woodstock for its district town. More recently 
 (about two years ago), the Huron tract, with eighteen town- 
 ships, and having Goderich for its chief town, which is sixty 
 miles north of London on Lake Huron, was erected into the 
 district of Huron ; and boasts of one of the finest soils to be 
 found perhaps in Canada. 
 
 What now constitutes the London district is the remaining 
 third county of Middlesex, having fifteen townships, and Lon- 
 don — our London on the Thames — as its district town. The 
 population of these townships in 1835 was 21,158, possessing 
 70,033 cultivated acres, and the assessed valuation of land and 
 other property was £265,351 currency, or about £212,000 
 sterling. [Cultivated land is valued at 20s. currency, or about 
 16s. sterling, and wild land at about 3s. 3d. sterling an acre — 
 considerably under real value.] In 1841 the population was 
 27,050, possessing 101,686 cultivated acres, the valuation of 
 which and other property exceeded £294,000 sterling — which 
 shows an increase, during the six years, of inhabitants about 
 6000, cultivated land 31,553 acres, and of assessed property 
 £82,000. 
 
 I have before me a copy of the 'inpublished official returns 
 of the district for 1842, to be laid before the Provincial Parlia- 
 ment at the ensuing session ; and as this document presents a 
 variety of curious details, some of which, I doubt not, you 
 would feel interested in knowing, 1 will subjoin a few. First, 
 as regards the kind of population composing the district of 
 London, there are — 
 
liilihi 
 
 liill 
 
 m 
 
 
 12 
 
 KIND OF POPULATION. 
 
 Natives of EDgland, . t 
 
 , . 2828 
 
 .... Scotland, . . 
 
 2»7D 
 
 .... Ireland, . i 
 
 3085 
 
 .... Canada, 
 
 18,200 
 
 Do., of French origin, 
 
 71 
 
 United States, 
 
 , 2225 
 
 .... Continent of Europe, 
 
 • 2<;<) 
 
 Total population (1845', 
 
 The various religious sects number chiefly — 
 
 29,657 
 
 Church of Englana, . * 
 
 C320 
 
 .... Scotland, . • 
 
 41<>9 
 
 .... Rome, . • 
 
 1222 
 
 British Wesleyan Methodists, 
 
 1508 
 
 Canadian do. do. « 
 
 1372 
 
 Episcopal do. do. 
 
 1475 
 
 Presbyterians not in connection with tlie Churcli of Scotland, 1769 
 Congregationalists, . , . 585 
 
 Baptists and Anabaptists, . • 3279 
 
 Other sects, . « i » 583 
 
 The remainder are made up of other denominations ; as mem- 
 bers of the Dutch Reformed Church, Moravians, Menonists, 
 and Mormons— of which last there are only nine persons resid- 
 ing in one tovrnship. I may, however, remark, that implicit 
 dependence is not always placed on this department of the 
 cenF"8, errors being suspected to occur. The population con- 
 nected with the Churches of England, Scotland, and Rome, and 
 the seceders from the Church of Scotland and other Presbyte- 
 rians, and also the Methodists and Baptists, are pretty fairly 
 divided throughout the district. The other sects chiefly reside 
 together in various localities. 
 
 Of the African, or coloured population, as they are generally 
 called, who are chiefly, if not altogether, from the United 
 States, and a considerable portion of them liberated or run- 
 away slaves, there are 223 males, and 77 females— a proportion 
 which of itself tells something of the manner of their coming 
 
 ^"' -■-" S ", 
 
I' Al 
 
 COLOURED rOPULATIOX. 
 
 13 
 
 here. Having had little or no opportunitiea of paining even 
 the first elements of education or correct moral training, the 
 greater part of these people find only employment of the most 
 inferior kind. Those who have not been able to procure land 
 live about the towns, generally gaining a subsistence by cut- 
 ting wood for fuel. There are, indeed, honourable exceptions, 
 evincing enterprise, intelligence, and respectability -yet much 
 prejudice exists regarding the coloured man even in Canada. 
 But you in Britain, I think, too harshly condemn this preju- 
 dice, both as shown in the United States and here, not under- 
 standing sufficiently the various points of this question of dif- 
 ference. Do not think from this, however, I am one of the 
 prejudiced. I find them generally civil and respectful, and 
 any differences they may have I am more inclined to pal- 
 liate than blame them for, and I wonder only they are not 
 worse. 
 
 The Indians, of whom there are two distinct settlements in 
 the district about twenty miles from London upon the banks of 
 the Thames, are not, I believe, included in the census. One 
 of these settlements forms part of the tribe of Oneidas, who 
 emigrated about three years ago from the Mohawk Valley in 
 the United Sates, and purchased this large tract they noiv pos- 
 sess on the Thames. Many of them have built comfortable 
 houses, and are beginning to raise around them cultivated 
 fields. A division of this tribe emigrated to Green Bay, on 
 Lake Michigan, in the United States, but I believe the greater 
 number came to Canada. Some part of the tribe yet remaining 
 in the Mohawk Valley are expected, I have heard, to join the 
 party of their brethren on the Thames, on completing the ar- 
 rangements in the disposal of their lands. Then the whole 
 tribe will have parted with their old inheritance there, where 
 they had long grown their maize and smoked their calumet, 
 to be pushed westward by still another sweep of the tide of 
 advancing civilisation. You remember it is one of those Onei- 
 das that Campbell finely brings into his poem of ' Gertrude of 
 
 
 i 
 
 >j^ 
 
\ 
 
 It 
 
 ONEIDA INDIANS. 
 
 :! 
 
 Wyoming,' where the scene is laid in the valley of the Sus- 
 quehanna:— 
 
 • Antl summer wns tlie tide, and sweet the hour, 
 When siro and daughter saw, with fleet descent, 
 An Indian from liis hark approach their hower. 
 Of husliined linih and swarthy lineament ; 
 The red wild featiiors on his hrow were hlent, 
 And bracelets hound the arm that helped to light 
 A hoy, who seem'd, as he beside him went, 
 Of C hristian vesture and complexion bright, 
 Led by his dusky guide, like morning brought by night.' 
 
 These Oneidas on the Thames are many of them stately 
 looking men, staid almost to cold haughtiness in their de- 
 meanour, reserved in their manner and conversation, using 
 few vrords, which, with their erect manly hearing, lustrous 
 black eye, and browned complexion, impart to the?e best speci- 
 mens of the tribe a striking dignity. The females are fairer 
 in their complexion — more so than the most of Indian women 
 in Canada — the features less strongly marked — in make lighter 
 yet robust, manners soft and simple to extreme, having anarch- 
 elyness at times, and subdued smile, or light clear luugh, espe- 
 cially when together, and delighting to parry all attempts to 
 lead them into talk. Though few can use English like the 
 men, who mostly have it broken, and also sparingly use it, 
 even those of the women who can, incline rather to their natu- 
 ral shyness and reserve. Their dress is a blanket, or square of 
 blue broad cloth, worn as a shawl ; a printed cotton short- 
 gown of showy pattern, falling loosely a little below the waist ; 
 a petticoat of dark blue or green cloth, reaching only low 
 enough fully to show their pantelets or leggins of like cloth or 
 colour, fitting close upon the ankle, and embroidered down 
 the out-seam upon a stripe of lively green or scarlet silk, with 
 varied coloured beads. They usually have no covering on 
 their heads ; their jetty black hair is simply braided in front, 
 and made to lie evenly down behind, smooth and glossy ; and 
 
 \:^M 
 
INDIAN SETTLEMENTS. 
 
 10 
 
 their blanket, or cloth shawl, broupjht fully up to the ueck, 
 is wrapped lightly around, and not unfre(|ucntly diMplaying a 
 well-rounded form. You have here a little sketch of an In- 
 dian belle. You may fancy, additionally, rather small hands 
 with lots of silver rings, and small feet tightly fitted with 
 dressed deer-skin moccasins, neatly made by themselves, with 
 showy silk binding and bead embroidery. Some, too, like our 
 own aspiring fair etjuestrians, carry their head beneath a gen- 
 tleman's beaver, and ' all around their hat' rows of light silver 
 ornaments. These specimens of the Oneidas I have alluded to 
 are the more respectable of the tribe ; there are others tawdry 
 and dirty enough, though, I should say that, as a whole, they 
 are amongst the most orderly and comfortable-looking Indians 
 living in the settled parts of Canada. 
 
 These Oneidas Hve on the south side of the river, where 
 there are sloping and high binks heavily timbered, and a rich 
 soil. Opposite to them, commencing in a gentle valley, then 
 rising on a high steep bank, is the settlement of some other 
 Indian tribes, the Munceys and Chippewas, in their old village 
 of Munceytown. They have here a large tract of the best of 
 land, with several good farms and houses ; their missionary 
 station, with chapel, school, and preacher's residence. Their 
 preacher is himself an Indian, of respectable attainments in 
 knowledge, and of whom, I daresay, you have heard. He is 
 well known as Peter Jones, who, upon one, if not two occa- 
 sions, when he went to England, had the honour of being pre- 
 sented to her Majesty. He delights frequently to revert to 
 this honour, and relates v/ith extreme minuteness and amusing 
 simplicity the details of the ceremony ; the humour with which 
 he does this forming a singular contrast to his general austere 
 and dignified bearing. Mr Jones is esteemed as an excellent 
 man, has done much good among the Indians, and exerts 
 great influence over their conduct and habits. Both tribes, 
 Oneidas and Munceys, though not to be called civilised, are 
 nevertheless wonderfully regular in their habits, perfectly inof- 
 
 ^1 
 
IG 
 
 INDIAN HUNTERS. 
 
 W..I 
 
 
 
 fensive, and arc never known to show the least signs of the 
 savage character formerly attributed to them. At the hunting 
 season some of the more restless, indeed, set off to the most 
 unfrequented parts of the woods, and, during the snow and frost 
 of winter, encamp for weeks till they have gathered their sleigh- 
 load of deer skins and venison — the latter being preserved by 
 the hard frost. "When packing up their slender camp, and 
 driven by their small poorly-fed horses, but as hardy as them- 
 selve", they may be seen moving into London in high spirits to 
 dispose of their capture. The wives and children usually ac- 
 company them, and several shaggy, ugly, and lean, but sharp- 
 looking dogs — all which, with blankets, kettles, and other camp 
 utensils, are bundled together in the sleigh. The venison they 
 often sell exceedingly low ; I have seen it bought for 2d. and 
 even Id. a-pound, and our Canadian London is generally plen- 
 tifully supplied with it during winter. 
 
 But I must close with the Indians now. Respecting their 
 numbers in the London district, in these two settlements on the 
 Thames, quite off all main roads, and removed from other set- 
 tlers, I can only make a rough estimate, and think there may 
 be somewhere about a thousand — the Oneidas numbering the 
 most. 't 
 
 Having sketched to you this district, so far as regards its 
 size, extent of cultivation, amount and increase of population 
 and property, the various countries whence the inhabitants come, 
 and the religious beliefs they profess, together with a slight 
 notice of the coloured people and Indians, forming, you per- 
 ceive, a small and isolated proportion, I must now thiiik of clos- 
 ing this letter. In my next I will give you some statements 
 respecting the kinds, qualities, and quantities of the crops raised 
 in the district last year. Also the amounts and kinds of live 
 stock, and of the products of miscellaneous industry, as domes- 
 tic cloth, maple sugar, and the like ; so that with this, and other 
 information of a substantial and accurate description, yourself 
 and friends may be able to form a pretty correct opinion re- 
 
 N 
 
NOTES. 
 
 17 
 
 specting this district, which may he tftkcn M n specimen of the 
 rnpahilities of Ciuiada, and the condition of the Bettlew. 
 
 
 ^^^>s^^^>^r^>^^^»^» ^^^»^^^*^»^ * 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 The Ovrida Iivdianb. 
 
 > The Northern Traveller,' a work published at New York in 1826, in 
 describing the route along the Erie Canal, has the following notice of 
 the tri))e of Oneldaa, and their residence in the valley of the Mohawk. 
 * Oneida Castle,' it may be mentioned, is situated between the towns of 
 Vtica and Hyracuse, 140 miles west of Albany :— 
 
 • Onkida CA8TLK is a village on the confines of a tract of reserved 
 land belonging to the Indians of the Oneida nation. The principal re- 
 sidences of most of the Indians in this part of the country were for- 
 merly fortified in a manner corresponding with tlieir ideas of warfare, and 
 hence the name of castle attached to this village. 
 
 ' The Oneidns were one of the original Five Nations, which form so 
 conspicuous a figure in the history of the state of New York. The best 
 and most interesting account of them will be found in Colden's history* 
 to which valuable work the curious reader is referred. They formerly 
 resided, says that author, on the shores of the St Lawrence, near where 
 Montreal now stands ; but, being driven from their country by the Adi- 
 rondacks, a powerful and warlike nation, wandered towards the south- 
 west, and settled along the lakes of New York, where they now live. This 
 occurred before the arrival of any Europeans in this part of the continent, 
 and when the French came to Quebec, in 1G03, they held their present 
 n})0de. On the St Lawrence they had been cultivators of the ground, but, 
 after their expulsion, they turned their attention to warlike deeds witli 80 
 much success, that they finally triumphed over their enemies the Adiron- 
 dacks, and almost exterminated them. Their power and influence, at the 
 time of the settlement of New York and New England, were extended 
 far and wide. They held the Delawares in subjection in Pennsylvania 
 and Delaware ; the Cherokees in South Carolina sought their friendship ; 
 and all the country between the Hudson and Connecticut rivers was tri- 
 butary to them. They must have been at that time extremely numerous. 
 But since then their decrease has been great ; for, besides the losses they 
 
 I. 
 
 ^ '■" 
 
lii 
 
 i|iiH!i 
 
 18 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 Ii!i 
 
 ,:| 
 
 iMll 
 
 hnvo liustained in wars, and tho discnscs brought upon tlicni liy civi1isc<l 
 vicoH. many of tliuir vuung uivn Imvu left their native country to go and 
 oiu thu trihofi who Ntiil prcservu 8omo portion of tliclr original hiihits and 
 indopvnduncu ; and there nro Hupposcd to hu only H(M)() now in thi.i state. 
 
 ' Thu ancient Cuiincil (irovuof thuOnuidas, wliero alltlio pidilichusincHs 
 of tho natiou haa been, for many yuara, transacted, in formed of 27 fine 
 butternut trees, which, in tho aummor season, from a littlo distance, 
 present a beautiful and regular nmss of vcnluro. It was carefully fenced 
 in, until witliin a few years, and l<ept clear of all brush, fallen limbs, an*l 
 other obstnictions, but lias now become a mere thoroughfare. 
 
 ' Fn the scattering village about half a milo 1)eyond, there nro several 
 decent and comfortable frame-houses inhabited t)y Indian families, whoso 
 habits have risen to a higher grade than most of tho nation, althougli 
 many of them oro gradually improving, by betaking themselves to ogri- 
 culturc. A handsome {jcliool-house has been erected at tlie same place, 
 tho frame of which was made and raised under tho direction of a young 
 Indian, from wliat ho had leanit by watching tho progress of the builders 
 employed several years before on his brother's house. 
 
 • Tho Onolda nation derived their name from a white stone on a hill 
 five miles soutlierly from this place, to which they long paid a supersti- 
 tious worship. The word ' Oneida,' in their language, signifies a $to>u' 
 on a hi(jh hill. Many of them were idolaters until within u short time ; 
 but, a few years ago, the nation renounced their ancient superstitious 
 rites, and declared in favour of Christianity. 
 
 ' Hrothertown and Stoclibridgo are two villages, a few miles south- 
 easterly, situated on part of the Old Oneida reservation, granted to some 
 of their scattered Indian brethren from Pennsylvania and New England, 
 New Stocltbridgo, until recently, was the residence of the Stockbridge 
 tribe, who came by un invitation from the Oneidas some years ago. They 
 had Christian ministers among them long before they removed from 
 Stockbridge in :dn.ssachusetts. Most of them now reside at Green Hay, on 
 land given thciu by the Menominies, a nation with whom they are on the 
 most friendly terms, and are adopting, to a good extent, the arts of 
 civilised lift. They have invited the Oneidos to join them. The Brother- 
 town Indians have been collected from all the remnants of tribes in New 
 England and Long Island, and practise comparatively few of the Indian 
 customs.' 
 
 Runaway Slaves. 
 
 * I recognised in one of the waiters of the hotel an active and rather 
 
 intelligent coloured man, partly white, whom I had met in the summer 
 
 of 1841 at Amherstburgh — a town famed as the great landing-placo and 
 
 itfylum for runaway slaves from the ac^acent states. This indiYidual 
 
 ■-,■.-, 
 
NOTES, 
 
 10 
 
 C^'' 
 
 WAN then ongn/9;o(l completing liifi tlutiea of ' ttlnvo i>llot' to a bard of four 
 g(*0(l lookingi rtUliur well droxHvtl, young men, who, tlirotigli the iustru* 
 mcntAlity of tlils * pilot,' hatl Just efTuctoil their oscapo from tliclr • pro- 
 
 pHotor,* a Dr (} , of Marvlaml I think. Tlasc young men hail be«n 
 
 nniNicians, conipo.ting nn InHtnnnuntal hand, employed In n public teu> 
 girdon belonging to Dr (•. Tho band waH oeonsionally * hired out,' 
 when not reiptlrod In the garden, and it wn.<i ono of tbe«o ocraslons tliey 
 nindo uso of to effect their e.scapt>. 1>r (»., it Heems, liad closely pursued 
 • hlH proppity,' as it was only a day or .so after tho touching of our 
 hoa-ited ground which chnngos sUivcit to ttuii, that lio landed on tho Am- 
 hentl)urgh wharf from nn American Nteani-boat, Inconsolable for liis losst 
 which hu eiitimated at ' some thou.sanils of dollars.' The American boat 
 layabout two day.s at Amherstburgh, ready, If l)y any means the run- 
 aways could have been got aboard, to carry thein oft'. So mucli was re- 
 trieved by tbei)ur8uit, that, through persuasive means, the Dr went away 
 will; ono of hi.s « ihnr bot/i,' an he indulged In calling them while iujplor- 
 ing them with tears to return. Some week.s after, another of them was 
 taken Itack, and conveyed to Dr (J. by <i i/7ji7c iiihubititiif a/ Canada, 
 ns was currently reportiil, though, I must .say, I never could fully assure 
 uiybelf that «uch could really be the ca.se.' — I'rii-atc Lt:tt<:r. 
 
 [Amherstburgh i.s situated at the lower extremity of tho Detroit River, 
 where it opens into Lake Kric, about eighteen miles below tho American 
 city of Detroit, state of Mi':o;«an. It is one of the oldest settlements in 
 Western Canada ; and in coiuitction with its military fort (i'ort Maiden) 
 is as.sociatcd with some of the more stirring incidents in the last war with 
 America. The situation of tho post caused it to be looked upon as the 
 key to our relations with the Western Indians. Runaway slaves from the 
 United States seem to have taken refuge in this place, and tho country ad- 
 joining, at an early period in the settlement of Canada. These coloured 
 people are a good deal engaged in growing and preparing tobacco for the 
 Montreal market ; and have a church and school-liouse in the small 
 but pleasantly situated town.] 
 
 
\ 
 
 20 
 
 CROPS PRODUCED. 
 
 iHj'hi' 
 
 i I I 
 
 I : . I 
 
 SECOND LETTER. 
 
 Kinds and Quantitias of Crops produced— Average price of Wheat and 
 of Agricultural Labour— State of Local Markets— Canadian Winter- 
 Wintering Cattle— Official Returns of Stock ..ithin the District— State 
 of Canada in regard to Markets -Hasty Observations of TravoUers in 
 drawing comparisons with the United States — Prospects of Canada — 
 Condition of Settlers. 
 
 NoT£3 : — Port Stanley, the chief Shipping Fort of the District— Climate 
 — Canadiaii Winter — Wintering Cattle — Tillage and Grazing. 
 
 London, Canada, 1843. 
 
 I PROMISFD you in my last letter to give the kir Is and 
 quantities of crops produced in the district last year, upon the 
 109,706 cultivated acres by the population of 29,667. So here 
 as follows : — \ . 
 
 
 
 Bushels. 
 
 
 Bushels. 
 
 Wheat, 
 
 t 
 
 246,045 
 
 Pease, 
 
 112,734 
 
 Barley, 
 
 i 
 
 16,075 
 
 Indian Com, . 
 
 79,851 
 
 Rye, 
 
 « 
 
 10,162 
 
 Buck Wheat; < 
 
 23,558 
 
 Oats, 
 
 4 
 
 224,769 
 
 Potatoes, 
 
 268.619 
 
 The average price oi wheat throughout the district during 
 the seai;on is estimated ac 5s. to 3s. 3d. a bushel, or about 24s. 
 to 268. a quai ter ; and the price of agricultural labour a day 
 throughout the year at 2s. 6d. — all sterling money. Wheat 
 geperally brings ready cash in the market towns, as at Lon- 
 don, St Thomas, and Pert Stanley on Lake Erie, which is the 
 chief shipping port of the dist.lst, and is twenty-five miles 
 distant from London, Much of the other produce is also sold 
 
 N 
 
CANADIAN WINTER. 
 
 3* 
 
 for cash ; but mark°its foi these are not so ready, and there is a 
 considerpble deal disposed of with difficulty even in exchange 
 for store govxls. Theie are buyers, inde'^d, who, for speculation, 
 w ill purchase at under prices ; buc usually the farmers who 
 come to the towns with their loads will rather endure difficulty 
 and delay to the last than sell on such terms, by having, as they 
 say, ' the price that is going' broken down. I state the matter 
 thus that you may form some idea of our markets here, and of 
 the buyers and sellers. Turnips and hay are grown to some 
 extent, particularly hay, of which large quantities are disposed 
 of for the troops stationed at Lv^ndon. Owing to the last 
 unusually long and severe winter, good hay was selling in Lon- 
 don at L.4 sterling a ton, which, a month or so before, was 
 about its uHual price of L.l, 15s. and L.2, or about 3d. a si ic. 
 "Winter was about a month later in leaving us this last time, 
 it being somewhere in the end of April until the sun came in 
 his wain; th and melted the snows, and brought signs of spring. 
 Many settlers who had not taken the precaution to have re- 
 serves of fodder — having sold too much, or not husbanded it 
 cautiously enough — lost i ambers of cattle. Only one winter 
 like it had been remembered, I think, by those longest in the 
 country. But do not think too coldly of Canada for all this. 
 You need not at all, I assure yon. I had neither toes, nose, 
 nor ears frozen, nor did I hear of any— oh, no ! Why, the few 
 bitterest days we had I could go abroad in our keen yet dry 
 and bracing air, with as little, if not less, inconvenience, and 
 having the same clothing as you would in your own miserably 
 damp, chilly, foggy days in Edinburgh. And then, th*! tingle, 
 tingle of our sleigh-bells, ringing merrily on the ear. Bless 
 you all, a Canadian winter ! You do not know it. But more 
 fully of all this some other time; 
 
 I was to tell you of the live stock owned in the district So 
 here are the official returns for 1842 : — 
 
 "I 
 
 ,'jt t! 
 
 t 
 
 A* 
 
 I. 
 
 Neat Cattle, 
 Hones, 
 
 47,«78 
 7332 
 
 Sheep, 
 Hogs, 
 
 43,327 
 392d 
 
t I 
 
 i!. !_.:_ 
 
 'ilir. 
 
 Hi! 
 
 89 
 
 WINTERING CATTLE. 
 
 This number of neat or black cattle consists, most likely for 
 the most part, of milch cows, and of the oxen used in agricul- 
 tural labour. Oanada, though affording to every class of the 
 population a superabundant supply of butcher meat of all sorts, 
 beef, mutton, lamb, and veal, and of a quality such as agree- 
 ably disappoints strangers arriving in the country ; still com- 
 paratively little attention, except among the best farmers, is 
 bestowed in the care and feed of cattle. I have frequent'^ 
 seen milch cows browsing in the woods, making their best 
 from the branches of trees and shrubs, in the dead of winter, 
 or straggling about the towns, and picking what they could by 
 stealth from the farmers' hay- waggons, or otherwise. I do not 
 wish you to think this the rule ; but it is to ^.>» extent as 
 would much surprise ycu — I know it would ■" r j ishire far- 
 mers, who pay so commendable attention to the general com- 
 fort, cleanliness, and food of their milch cows. The too 
 common neglect with regard to the shelter and supply of pre- 
 pared food in winter for the cow here, would cause these best 
 of dairy-farmers to inquire how cows kept thus could be worth 
 keeping at all. He would say, I am sure, that his own cows 
 kept in such a manner, instead of a source of profit, would be 
 a dead loss. Nevertheless, we must be cautious where we lay 
 blame, and avoid the sweeping censures the enterprise of the 
 people of Canada have had at the hands of post-haste travrll^ri 
 and superficial observers of the state of things in this cc. jr . 
 We have no market, uch as Ayrshire has, to excite em-ili ;» i 
 and competition among producers to the furthest possible poir.t. 
 Nor have we as yet, in comparison to the United States (so fre- 
 quently put forward), the proportion of populous and wealthy 
 cities, with old-established and completely organised channels 
 of communication and intercourse. This country is young, and 
 imperfectly known ; yet, doubling its population in about half 
 the time of the United States — in course of some litr i time 
 longer, '^ben its capabilities are fuller into notice, auu om- 
 munication and intercourse more developed for its markets, 
 
 N 
 
'< 41 
 
 CONriTION OF THE SETTLERS. 
 
 23 
 
 :anada may give little opportunity for even the most superfi- 
 cial comparisons. E*'en novr, though the people by no means 
 joast of their wealth, let us look, for instance, at the statistics 
 )f this London district. There exists real property to the ex- 
 tent that were every man. woman, and child in the district to 
 lave a fair division, they would have nearly two cattle and 
 ,'o sheep a-piece ; also four acres of cultivated land, and a 
 lorse among every four. Or say, for every family consisting 
 )i four persons, there would be between six and eight cattle, 
 the same number of sheep, one horse, and sixteen cultivated 
 [acres. And let it be kept in mind (and in this, perhaps, con- 
 fsists the main value of the illustration), that this real property 
 [has arisen by manual industry, chiefly within a space of time 
 ] allotted to a single generation. I do not overlook the objec- 
 ition which may be stated to this, that these district share- 
 holders would, as a matter to be expected, become the less 
 fortunate holders of shares of the farmer's debts. As regards 
 this, what of these exists are chiefly owing, I have the con\ic- 
 tion, within the district, and therefore among the inhabitants 
 ; tliCmselves. What is owing to the merchants for British and 
 and other goods, deducting what the merchants themselves 
 i possess in real property, may be met by other property, which, 
 in buildings and other substantial shapes, are excepted from 
 our 'division scheme. Another object for having introduced 
 J this view is, that you may have a familiar idea of the general 
 comfort which you might suppose should exist in this state of a 
 country. Other statistics, which I will give you as we go 
 along, will farther illustrate the existing state of things here. 
 
 The horses of this country are, I think, better looking and 
 more active, though not so large, as your work-horses in Eng- 
 land or Scotland — more like your carriage -horses in make and 
 spirit, and are besides very tractable and good natured. They are 
 capable of undergoing great fatigue and hardship in longjoumeys 
 and bad roads. The four-wheeled waggons we use instead of 
 carts allow them scope for their active and mettle spirit. "With 
 
 *;-l 
 
 ■ish^'l 
 
 i 
 
 tW 
 'i' 
 
 ;■■','«■ 
 
 , 
 
 X 
 
 i*""- 
 
 „. 
 
 
 K 
 
 r 
 
 ^ 
 
 
 'Y 
 
 
 
 
 <■-' 
 
 'f\ 
 
 >■■- 
 
 v 
 
 
 t: 
 
 ^'*, 
 
 ' K 
 
 e ,. 
 
I ' 
 
 m 
 
 ill I 
 
 24 
 
 PRICES OF STOCK NOTES. 
 
 m ^ 
 
 il! 
 
 MP 
 f ! 
 
 '4 
 
 w 
 
 ;ii! I 
 
 m 
 
 '11 ■• 
 
 regard to sheep, we keep steadily improving the breeds, and 
 can show fair specimens of various sorts, particularly I^eices- 
 lers p-\A Southdowns, the latter of whinh are believed to thrive 
 well in Canada- The price of sheep here is from 49. for 
 common, to IGs., and even as high as L.2, for best breeds. 
 Work-horses, L.8 to L.IO ; milch cows, L.2, 15s. to L.4 ; 
 good oxen may be stated at L.12 a-yoke. 
 
 But information grows as I proceed faster uian I had 
 thought it would ere I began writing to you ; and, rather than 
 tire you with long letters, I will reserve for my next other 
 items of wealth and domestic industry of the inhabitants of 
 
 " district. 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 Port Stanley. 
 
 ' Port Stanley is beautifully situated at the mouth of Kettle Creek, 
 which is the outlet of the finest grain country on Lake Erie, and is the 
 port at which are entered all goods for Talbot Street, twenty miles east 
 and west of it, for St Thomas, London, Delaware, and the adjacent coun- 
 tiiae, and wh^n completed as a harbour, with a plank road to London, 
 may be expected to yield three times the revenue it has ever yet produced. 
 The amount of the collections at this port during the last three years is 
 as follows :— In 1840, L.454, 9s. 9d. ; in 1841, L.829, 6s. 8d. ; in 1842, 
 L.505, lis. ; but, under the management of the new collector, Mr Richard 
 Smith, and with an improved harbour, I have no doubt tho amount 
 will b« doubled next year. Mr S. has collected L.834 during the last 
 quarter, nearly double the whole sum in lS^.'-~Cominitsion€r of Cus- 
 toms' Report, Oct. 27, 1843. 
 
 [The above collections of duties on imports from the United States' are 
 stated in provincial currency, which roughly may be reduced to sterling by 
 deducting a llfth. The guinea is rated m Canada at 248. 4d. currency. 
 The oxact rule to redaoe this eurrency into sterBng, is to mtiltiply by 
 60 and divide by 73. To convert sterling into comncy add 1-Mh to the 
 sterling amount, and l-12th to the l-5th.] 
 
 N 
 
\ 
 
 KOTES. 
 
 2S 
 
 Climatb. 
 
 ' The climate of tipper Canada 13 very changeable, hut certainly pecu- 
 liarly healthy. Out of two regiments now stationed at London, only six 
 men are in hospital.' — Emigration Commissionert' Information, 1842, 
 
 The subject of climate being of importance, and generally much mis- 
 understood in Britain, the opinions of one or two other authorities, 
 with remarks, are subjoined. 
 
 Joseph Bouchette, Esq., a native of Canada, who held the post of Sur- 
 veyor General of Lower Canada, and whose elaborate and expensive 
 work on the British dominions in North America, published in two vol- 
 umes, folio, London, 18.31, is considered a chief authority, thus writes 
 regarding the climate of his native country. He may, perhaps, be over- 
 enthusiastic in its favour, for estimating strictly the climate of the greater 
 portion of North Americ;*,, and the estimate may extend in some degree to 
 Canada, its tendency, though it may not be immediate, is considered to 
 impair, in some respects, rather than sustain or improve the race of 
 inhabitants from the British islands. T)ie more equable and moist climate 
 of Britain, preserved, in a great measure, by the surrounding ocean, may 
 be believed to be more conducive to comfort at least, and also both to 
 mental and bodily energy, than the more dry, and in some degree parch- 
 ing climate of America. We do not see so frequently the fresh healthful 
 glow of countenance there ; but, on the other hand, the inhabitants, 
 those of Canada at least, are believed to be more exempt from colds and 
 other diseases, frequently produced by the raw damp atmosphere and keen 
 easterly winds more prevalent in Britain. With this qualification, which 
 we have thought it proper to give, we quote the opinion of Bouchette : — 
 
 ' In point of salubrity no clim&te in the world can perhaps be found 
 to exceed that of Canada, which is not only a sti-anger naturally to 
 contagious disorders, or fatal epidemics, but extremely conducive to lon- 
 ge\1ty. In the early periods of the settlement of the upper province the 
 fever and ague were indeed prevalent ; but, as the cause of this local af- 
 fection was gradually removed by the draining of marshes in the progress 
 of cultivation, ii has almost entirely disappeared.' 
 
 A Goverament Report, which was laid before a select committee of the 
 House of C ommons in 1823, thus estimates the climate of Upper Canada :— 
 
 ' The climate of Upper Canada is considerably milder than that of the 
 lower province, and the winter shorter in the same proportion. In both 
 these respects it improves as you proceed westward, — so much so, that 
 although the frost generally commences in November at its eastern ex- 
 tremity, and continues in that neighbourhood till the middle of April, ll 
 rarely cpmmences on the shores of Lake Erie before Christmai, and r. 
 
 .',4 ■ 
 
 ' 1?^% 
 
1} 1 
 
 i -i 
 
 !.: Ml 
 
 'ilij 
 
 III 
 
 ... 
 
 N 
 
 96 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 usually disappears between the 25th of March and the 1st of April. On n 
 comparison with the climate of Great Britain, the heat in the summer 
 months is somewhat greater, but never oppressive, as it is always accom- 
 panied with light breezes. There is less rain than in England, but it falls 
 at more regular periods, generally in the spring and autumn. The winter 
 cold, though it exceeds that of the British isles, is the less sensibly felt, in 
 consequence of its dryness, and seldom continues intense for more than 
 three days together, owing to the constant fluctuation of the wind between 
 the north-west and south-west points.' 
 
 [The winters in the vicinity of Lake Erie and westward, as along the 
 Itivcr Detroit, though milder, and not so long as in other parts of Canada, 
 the frosts may yet be said to set in earlier than mentioned in the above offi- 
 cial statement. Snow requisite for sleighing does not generally fall until 
 Christmas, or later ; the average depth of snow, in Upper Canada may be 
 estimated between eighteen inches and two feet. The public reports of the 
 inhabitants of townships bordering on Lake Erie, furnished to Mr Robert 
 (iourlay for his valuable work regarding the early condition of Canada 
 [two volumes, 8vo, London, 1822], generally agree in stating, that cattle 
 are put out to pasture from the first to the middle of April, and stabled, 
 or taken into yard, about the beginning of December. Sleighing lasts ge- 
 nerally about two months, chiefly during January and February. Plough- 
 ing commences about the middle of April, and reaping about the latter 
 end of July, or beginning of August ; winter wheat is usually sown in 
 September.] 
 
 Canadian Wintkr. 
 
 The Canadian winter, as the inhabitants in general employ them- 
 selves, is hailed rather as the season of increased enjoyment, than 
 dreaded as the same degree of cold would be in Europe. Agricul- 
 tural labours being at this season suspended, the roads being hardened 
 by the frost, and the rivei's and lakes in general covered with ice, the 
 sleigh or the cariole is got ready all over the country, and now riding 
 abroad upon business or pleasure commences ; visits are paid by friends 
 or neighbours, opening both provinces to each other by a simultaneous 
 movement ; so that the season is, 'jy this agreeable custom, often made 
 to resemble rather a sort of busy jubilee than the period of dreary se- 
 clusion that we should otherr<ise suppose it. Wrapped 'n furs and 
 warm clothing, and seated in their sleighs drawn by a ^nc\9 pair of 
 horses, the farmer and his wife will travel over the snow some sixty or 
 seventy miles a day with but little fatigue; and what with the bracing 
 clearness of vhe winter air, the cloudlessnesa of the skies, the picturesque 
 appearance often exhibited by the ice-crystalised forests, the rapidity of 
 
 Sli. . 
 
 > 
 
 \ 
 
\ 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 '27 
 
 the movement, and the great numbers of equipages and vehicles of all 
 sorts to be met with on the ordinary roads, conveying persons similarly 
 ea;ployed at this time of the year, this kind of pastime is universally re- 
 presented as most agreeable.— TAe Canadat, hy A. Pichen, from Docu- 
 menu furnished by the late John Gait, Eiq. 
 
 • An Emigrant Farmer of Twenty Years' Experience' [in Lower Cii- 
 iiada] thus records his opinion of the winter in that qnarter, where it is 
 allowedly more severe than in the upper or western portion of the pro- 
 vince : — 
 
 ' The length and severity of our winters, of which so much f"" said, 
 fonn generally the chief, if not the only argument ever attempted to be 
 used against this part of the country ; and, to look only at the state of 
 the thermometer and the depth of snow, it would appear rather a formi- 
 dable one ; but the thermometer and our feelings do not unfrequently 
 uieasure heat and cold, especially the latter, very differently. — I have 
 actually suffered more from cold in England, while closely shut up in a 
 mail coach, during <^ night in July, when the thermometer could not be so 
 low as the freezing point, than ever I suffered in this country when it has 
 been near zero : and this is easily accounted for by the fact, that, in the 
 one case, the atmosphere was saturated with moisture, while in the other 
 it was dry. From which it would appear that our feelings, as far an the 
 cold is concerned, would correspond more nearly with the range of t)ie 
 hydrometer than with that of the thermometer. As to the snow ; its depth 
 and long continuance on the ground are such a convenience and benefit 
 to tlie farmer, that he is anxious for its coming, and sorry when it leaves 
 him ; it also acts as manure, and pulverises the land, superseding, in a 
 great measure, the necessity of fallowing. Half at least of what is said 
 about this climate, has no other foundation than what is to be found in 
 the imagination and credulity of travellers, according to these, to be frost- 
 bitten is of so frequent occurrence as to become the subject of a necessary 
 and almost daily salutation, ' Sir, your nose is frozen !' I have been a 
 farmer in this very severe climate upwards of twenty years, and have nevtr 
 seen nor heard of a single instanfre of material sufifering from the cold. 
 The length of our winter, too, has been much exaggerated : while now 
 writing, this 29th November, 1827, my cattle are out grazing night and 
 day, not yet having had any snow, and scarcely any frost : I have some 
 times not been obliged to take them in or to feed them till a few day be- 
 fore Christmas, though this is rarely the case : and by the middle of April 
 we commence sowing our grain, so that our winter is, on an average, not 
 of more than four or five months' duration, instead of six or seven, as 
 people have been led to suppose.' — The Emigrant to North America. 
 
 'A/ 
 ■4.- 
 
1> I 
 
 i 
 
 m 
 
 'H ■ 
 
 I :i| ! 
 
 ! V tl 
 
 IB i 
 
 ii 
 
 
 i 
 
 N 
 
 28 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 [In bringing together authorities in order to aid in correcting the verjr 
 false notions prevalent in Urituin with regard to the climate of Canada, 
 ojiportunity is liure tiil^en to recommend to those interested, and who may 
 not have yet perused the really useful book of the emigrant farmer quoted 
 abovo. It is a cheap publication, and will be found useful as sketching 
 the experience of a settler's life in Lower Canada. It shows what may be 
 accomplished by well-directed industry, even in that part of Canada gene- 
 rally considered to be unfavourable for agricultural operations. Some 
 shrewd general remarks respecting Upper Canada, from letters of an 
 Ayrsliire emigrant, have latterly been incorporated with the publication.] 
 
 Wintering Cattle. 
 
 i 
 
 ' The past has been one of the most severe winters ever felt in Canada ; 
 and, from ]>resent appearances, we would suppose but little will be done 
 on tlie land before the first of May, At this period last year [April 17] 
 tlie thi-ush and the robin were delighting us with their melodies — the 
 plough-boy was merrily whistling after his well trained pair of horses— 
 the gardener was preparing his salad beds and transplanting fruit trees 
 — and the markets were even supplied with the early description of vege- 
 tiibles — and, in short, all nature was rejoicing at the return of spring, 
 when she might clothe herself in her rich and variegated costumes. We 
 are told by some of the oldest settlers that, about forty years ngo, the 
 winter was as long and severe as the present, and the snow was fully as 
 deep as at this period ; and yet grain and roots of every description ripened 
 well. This has been unquestionably a severe winter on live stock. The com- 
 mon practice among most of the Canadian farmers is to provide nothing 
 but straw for their cattle and sheep for winter food ; and the cry which 
 we hear so much about at present is only an echo of the old story of hard 
 winters and scarcity of food for stock. At the first of February much 
 stock were dying from the same cause ; up to that period the winter was 
 mild, and the fault must be attached to the owners of such stock. Let 
 the farmers seed down one-half their farms with cultivated grasses, and 
 plan tiieir business so that they will have good fat pastures for their stock 
 through the summer months, and an abundance of excellent hay and 
 roots for winter feed ; and, instead of making ttrate the sole dependence, 
 use it copiously for bedding the stock, to keep them from freezing to 
 death. If farming will not pay in this way it will not in any other. One 
 of the principal errors of the present mode of Canadian husbandry is this ; 
 it requires pretty much all that is raised in the suuuner to winter through 
 a few head of cattle, and to sustain the inmates of the household in com- 
 fort—we may almost say idleness. If a species of employment could be 
 introduced; from which the proceeds of the winter months could be turned 
 
 \ 
 
NOTES. 
 
 29 
 
 to AS profitable nn account as summer, the business of n fanner might 
 then be made respectable. The dressing of hemp and flux wotihl afford 
 this employment ; and we hope that immediate action will be taken on the 
 subject, and that societies may bo organised for the purpose of :rying the 
 experiment, and introducing the most improved method of prep.'^ring the 
 fibre of these plants for the British market. Much in this way \nny be 
 done the present year, if only men of influence and capital would study 
 the best interests of the province, and lead the von in the introduction of 
 those improvements. — British American Cultivator, Toronto, 184.?. 
 
 TiLLAOE AND GnAZINO. 
 
 ' In the present imperfect mode of farming in this province, the griturt 
 being little understood or attended to — and as gra/.ing exclunivcly has 
 not been tried — it may perhaps be difficult to speak with any certainty as 
 to the comparative profits of tillage and grazing. Many farmers, bow- 
 ever, are of opinion that the advantages of the latter arc not sufficiently 
 understood, and recommend its adoption.' — Emigration Commissioners' 
 Information, 1842. 
 
 [See the Notes to the Third Letter, • Prosperous Dairy Farming,* 
 • Early Dairy Farm in Canada,' also the Appendix, which contains de- 
 tjiiled information respecting profits on tillage and grazing.] 
 
 ■v/ 
 
 '■ \^:i 
 
 
 3-t 
 
 . x 
 
V 
 
 •0 
 
 MISCELLANEOUS INDUSTRY. 
 
 jll 
 
 
 THIRD LETTER. 
 
 Gen«ral Industry of the Inhabitant* —Wool, Domeitie Manufactures, 
 Orchards, Dairy Produce— Dritish Manufactures and Prices— Struggles 
 of early Settlers— Growing Prosperity— Delusions of Emigrants— Defi- 
 ciency of Information — Discoimigements to bo encountered— Gentlemen 
 Farmers— Classes of Inhabitants — Limited Number of Poor — Cases of 
 Public Begging— Flour and other Mills, and Manufactories — Dis- 
 tilleries, Breweries, and Taverns — ^Influence of T mperance Movement. 
 
 NoTK3 — Fruits of Canada— Maple-sugar Making — Prosperous Dairy 
 Farming— Early Dairy Farm in Canada. 
 
 !i ' ' I l!i 
 
 II' i 
 
 I ! 
 
 I 
 
 ;:='• 
 
 
 i|i 
 
 London, Canada, 1843. 
 
 I NOW lay before you an enumeration of the miscellaneous 
 items of industry, from the official returns for the past year, 
 along with additions and remarks supplied from my own obser- 
 vation: — 
 
 The produce within the district in 1842 was, of 
 
 Wool, lbs., ..... 99,484 
 
 Fulled woollen cloth, domestic manufacture, yds., 28,999 
 
 Linen, cotton, or other thin cloth, do. do., . 10,769 
 
 Flannel, or other woollen cloth not fulled, do. do., 69,287 
 
 Maple-sugar, lbs., .... 398,463 
 
 Hives of bees kept, .... 4314 
 
 Under this head of general industry may be added the pro- 
 
 S 
 
 ^ 
 
ORCHARDS. 
 
 31 
 
 ducc of orchards. Large quantities of apples, plums, and some 
 pears, alno peaches from the shores of Lake Erie, all make up 
 a considerable share in the receipts of those farmers who have 
 good orchards. It is right pleasant, as you may fancy, in rid- 
 ing through any ordinarily industrious and thriving settlement, 
 to see these goodly-looking orchards, adding so much to the 
 appearance, as they must do to the comforts, of the adjoininif 
 fann-house. One would almost suppose, too, that a row, at 
 least of the trees, of these pleasant orchards had been set apart, 
 in the kindly spirit which some good people have had in dig- 
 ging wells, and planting shady trees along the highways,— to 
 refresh and cheer the traveller. The tempting apples reach 
 their laden branches quite over the slight wooden rail fence of 
 five feet or so, and wc.e it not — (alas for the marring of our 
 pleasant fancyings !) — that fort^ard stage-drivers, teamsters, and 
 rascally boys, plunder wholesale, instead of contentedly pulling 
 their passing apple, and so have thus brought the practice into 
 scandal, I might have had it to note, as some travellers have done, 
 that fruits were so plenty in America that people need never 
 disturb their pockets, but only use the free-will gifts of the 
 road-side. The unsuspecting early settlers seem never to 
 have dreamed in their primitive times, when all had land for 
 the asking, and orchards for the planting, of forward teamsters 
 and rascally boys. But we digress from our enumeration of the 
 items of rural industry. After orchards may be mentioned 
 poultry, which forms another item. Turkeys, geese, and espe- 
 cially the common domestic fowls, are much more generally 
 used than at home, and a considerable number are sold in the 
 towns. Cheese, butter, and eggs, ought to show fully as con- 
 spicuously as any of the unenumerated articles in the returns, 
 yet not much cheese is made hereabouts — comparatively little 
 in Canada — and the quality, generally speaking, though I 
 would not say indiflTerent, 1 never really could well boast of; 
 still I have seen some very fair samples indeed. A good deal 
 is consumed) which is brought from the United States. From 
 
 > 
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 I 
 
 I 
 
 r 
 
 
 
 ■m 
 
I 
 
 'U 
 
 ft 
 
 I r 
 
 
 ll'!' 
 
 M 
 
 V 
 
 DOMKSTIC AND BRITISH MANUFACTURES. 
 
 Ohio we havp it very fair. English cheese is also used to a 
 little extent. The butter, though Home of it is really as pood 
 as you could wish, as a whole, however, it does not approach 
 the quality it might he, from not having as yet received the ne- 
 cessary share of attention in ('anada; pasturage here being, I 
 suppose, too rank and new, and the cows allowed to feed bo 
 much in the biisii among various sorts of weeds. There has not, 
 it is true, been any encouraging market for its exportation un- 
 til the recent favourable alterations in the tariff, and which 
 go€8, in some measure, to explain the rather general inatten- 
 tion there has existed in the preparation of this important item 
 of farm produce. There has been in some seasons a good deal 
 bought by the store-keepers, but the lowness of price only 
 tempting them to buy — at times as low as 3d. a-pound, paid in 
 store goods— and this the store-keeper salted and packed for 
 the Montreal market. 
 
 Wool, you will observe, forms rather an im;^ .it item for 
 this country, there being nearly 100,000 lbs. produced in this 
 district. It is chiefly used in the manufacture of coarse cloth 
 for men's wear, stutf for women's gowns, men's socks or half 
 hose, women's stockings, and flannels, besides yarn and worsted 
 for various purposes. The cloth for the farmers, and their sons' 
 everyday wear, is isuch as was once very generally used in 
 Scotland, and is sometimes yet, but more so about the time the 
 Ayrshire bard ' went whistling at the plough.' The prevalent 
 colours are blue, dark brown, and sheep's grey. The stuff for 
 women's coarse gowns is a kind of linsey-woolsey of cotton 
 warp and woollen weft, and is of a darkish and not unbecoming 
 colour and appearance. Though not anything like generally 
 used, owing to the low price of British printed cottons now, yet 
 being very durable, it is still frequently to be seen worn by the 
 thrifty housewives of the backwoods. Regarding the low price 
 of British goods here, I may remark, that both in men and 
 women's apparel prices are almost as reasonable as in Britain 
 — I mean in the towns, at such stores where the trade is car- 
 
 \ 
 
 :''. -\ 
 
•'^ 
 
 EAKLY 
 
 ^TRL" 
 
 OGI.F.S. 
 
 33 
 
 rit'd on entirely, or chiefly, for cash, and the lowest cash pricci 
 charged. You can buy good hroadelothn from 18m. to 20h. ; 
 oHHsiimeres, 8h. to 10s. ; nioleskins, In. (id. to Hh, a-yard ; pood 
 jirinted rottonn for ladicH* dresses, 7d. to .Od. ; bleached shirtinpn, 
 Ad. to 8d. ; good plain g.os de Naples, 2s. (3d. to 38. Gd. ; 6-4th 
 British merinoes, 2s. 3d. to 3s., and so on. 
 
 Strangers almost invariably are pleasingly disappointed at 
 bei.ig enabled to purchase clothing and other goods in the 
 /esternniost parts of Canada at a very moderate advance upon 
 the 8ame prices which they used to pay at home; and i.,n^.^ 
 who have trusted to their old-fashioned ' guide be its. nnd 
 locked up some share of their much-needed money in a year or 
 two's stock of gowns, coats, linens, &c.,are, as may be fancied, 
 not a little annoyed. A pleasant consequence of these mode- 
 rate prices is the generally fr« consumption of British fabrics 
 among all classes, especially among the female portion of fami- 
 lies ; and it is also worthy of note, that every succeeding year 
 nhows a demand in the shops tor still better fabrics, and an in- 
 creasing consumption of such. Those merchants and ship- 
 pers in Britain, who have profitably practised upon a current 
 opinion, that lots or ' jobs' of cast-aside and inferior goods were 
 well enough, and just what were suited, for the colony, must 
 have already found, in many cases to their loss, that such can 
 no longer be a thriving trade, carried out in the wholesale man- 
 ner it once was. "When there were scarcely any roads to the 
 towns, and towns themselves had but feeble existence, and 
 little or no money in the country, people then were glad to get 
 anything. Is it not hard to believe with you, what I have 
 over and over again been told by numbers of respectable old 
 settlers, that many a bushel of wheat they have exchanged for 
 the single yard of plain factory cotton ! And think you what 
 the toils of the bush -farmers must then have been for even the 
 first necessary, food, when, almost shoeless, not unfrequently, 
 thongs of bark alone holding the sole and body of the shoe to- 
 gether, these Bobiuson Crusoes of Canada would have had to 
 
 
 '^l 
 
 
 
V 
 
 l!!''; 'Hi 
 
 
 GROWING PRQSPERITY. 
 
 fight their way thus through the bush-tracks, some twenty miles 
 or more, with what grain they could carry on their backs to 
 the distant mill to get ground, or to exchaiige part of it for 
 some positive necessary. This is no imagining like De Foe's 
 Crusoe, but scrupulous fact, which has been told to me by those 
 whose word I could trust, and who had themselves experienced 
 exactly as stated. 
 
 As an instance of the changing state of things, even within 
 the period of the last few years, When I first knew this town 
 here, four years ago, there was only one store, I think, where 
 carpeting could be had, «nd then you would have had indif- 
 ferent choice ; now, there are seven or eight principal shops, 
 all keeping a stock of carpeting, and you would have no need 
 to complain of want of variety in kind, quality, or pattern, from 
 common, which can be had at 2s. 6d. a-yard, to that usually 
 sold as best Brussels, which is to be had at 5s. When such 
 change has been in a place of only sixteen years' growth, what 
 further more cheering improvement may wt not expect in an- 
 other sixteen years or so ? All was forest where this town 
 stands, so lately as the year 1827 ; and the whole township, 
 composed of a square of about twelve mil'js, contained only two 
 families in 1817. It is, indeed, true, that the influence of the 
 military stationed here since 1838, and the circulation of their 
 pay, have in a good measure occasioned these improved appear- 
 ances, but only in measure, as in other towns of Western Ca- 
 nada, such as Hamilton, eighty milciS east of this, at the head 
 of Lake Ontario, where this influence was, absent, the agreeable 
 change I have alluded to, indicating the progress of the coun- 
 try, in being able to increase the comforts of its population, is 
 also strikingly observable. The great bulk of our farming po- 
 pylation, however, who are hardy, frugal, plain-living people, 
 I would have you to bear in mind, do not aspire to such pleasant 
 home conveniences as those just mentioned. The growing 
 taste is limited as yet among the few, and it is chiefly among 
 tbo more prosperous of the town population that the impro ve- 
 
 il^!: ,i 
 
\ 
 
 DELUSIONS OF EMIGRANTS. 
 
 35 
 
 ment has most shown itself. Still, you know how town-folks 
 are easier led to show their improved circumstances than their 
 less ambitious and more plain-sailing country neighbours, 
 who will rather lay out thei.; odd savings for the purpose of 
 hiring labour to add to or improve their cultivated fields, or 
 to buy an hundred acres more land to set down a son upon, 
 or to give away, as dowry, with a daughter. Here, again, 
 you must not be led to entertain the idea that, even in Canada, 
 though favoured greatly in many^ material respects, it ir easy, 
 and a matter of course, for farmers thus to set agoing in life 
 their sons or daughters. Only so far true it is, that such fatherly 
 generosity is not an uncommon occurrence. And with people, 
 too, who never at home, among your press of population, could 
 have hoped to enjoy anything like such gratification, dear to 
 parents' heart. 
 
 Persons proposing coming to this country, in whatever line of 
 life, must prepare themselves for many unpleasant realities that 
 seldom find their way into friendly letters, and which are either 
 altogether amissing or very exaggerateuiy displayed in travellers' 
 books. Many of these annoyances, it is true, are of a nature 
 not easily told, and among so many solid comforts too they are 
 800Q forgotten. Numbers of sensible enough people, who, of 
 course, must be aware — if they may rot have experienced the 
 fact, seem yet to overlook it, that every change in life is found 
 to bring a state of things always a good deal different from 
 what we had expected. We find the change much better or 
 else much worse than our minds, with false hopes or fears, had 
 caused us to look upon it. If vroi ..e, the state of things often 
 receive the blame due to our own delusions ; and hence our 
 colonies have been so sadly sinned against ; and they have 
 fared, too, it is true, about as ill from the opposite delusion. 
 People have looked upon them (and all too Icng this has been 
 the case among a large class) as a kind of out-of-the-world 
 wild-fields of banishment — their going there as gloomy expatri- 
 ation, to suffer from dismally chilling snows or scorching suns — 
 
 m 
 
li] 
 
 ■iii'! 
 
 
 m 
 
 3'!;, '■ 
 
 1 
 
 l! 
 
 N 
 
 i: 
 
 in' 
 
 'i' 
 
 ill li 
 
 !^i: 
 
 ii I-' 
 
 ih. 
 
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 M 
 
 1 
 
 III 
 
 ij 
 
 iij 
 
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 ii::;.. 
 
 
 ill; 
 
 wj 111'! ' '< 
 
 1 
 
 
 Si 
 
 36 
 
 % 
 
 DEFICIENCY OF INFORMATION. 
 
 among dreary forests, bears, rattle-sntikes, and such like — all 
 ■o much fudge-talk, which receives so forcible chastisement end 
 ' most marked light treatment, when people see the real exist- 
 ences with their own eyes, that it has caused this opposite ex- 
 treme to be run into, of painting the pleasing disappointment 
 most glowingly— all indeed too much so. And so you see how, 
 chiefly from want of dispassionate and properly-based informa- 
 tion, serious errors have been bred, and confusion and disap- 
 pointments, and grievous drawbacks inflicted upon the prosperity 
 of the colonieSj'and the wholesome and good work of colo lisation ; 
 and, as a matter of course, your home population and the resour- 
 ces of the empire have not escaped a share of the consequences. 
 I do indeed hope, most sincerely, that this imperfect state of 
 things will not long continue now. The people — especially 
 the prudent, calculating, cautious, and not least valuable por- 
 tion of them — require more minute particulars than the well- 
 meant, but too general information of the presently constituted 
 Emigration Board afford. Such indeed is acceptable so far as 
 it goes ; yet to effect larger good more detail is wanted. 
 But to the main course of my letter, again, which has been 
 somewhat interrupted, though I daresay that you pardon, and 
 may even perhaps not unacceptably receive, such digres- 
 sions as I have ventured upon. I am anxious that these 
 le ters should give you no false views of this country, but 
 rather dispel such ; and they may perhaps suggest, at least, 
 to your mind what sort of a real existence Canada is, and 
 how colonists fare in it. In writing you of the comforts of 
 our farmers here— with their own free farms, light taxes, and 
 plenty of beef, bread, and wool — there is a part of their life 
 which cannot, consistently with truth, be left out of view, and 
 which may serve as a hint to many who, simply enough, fre- 
 quently are led to overlook such. When I allude chiefly to 
 the train of annoyances from which no calling nor station, nor 
 people of any country are exempt, and which ihs Canadian 
 farmer has, as he best knows himself, his full enough share, 
 
DISCOL il.' r.KMENTS. 
 
 37 
 
 vou will at once allow I have approached ground which, 
 whether or no can he truthfully imagined, cannot at all be 
 ea^iily described. There are other things not so easily to be 
 borne by niany as these common annoyances, and persona 
 would do well to think how they can bear them, or aiford to 
 cast them aside : there is that partial and comparative breaking- 
 up of old associations and forming others anew in a new world, 
 as in a sense this is called. And yet, after all, everything con- 
 sidered (and there always are weighty considerations, calling 
 to be balanced with such things as associations, though these 
 oftentimes are nothinglight)— in choosing a home in the coloniea 
 we but go to settle ourselves amid communities composed of our 
 countrymen, perhaps countymen,and it m.ay be, as it not unfre- 
 quently is, townsfolks; and so it is, you may conceive, at worst, 
 but merely a partial and comparative breaking of associations 
 Families will sometimes experience more of this, in removing 
 from the Lothians to Perth or Aberdeenshires, not to speak of 
 from Scotland to any part of England, or from either to the so- 
 uiuch bepraised and fashionable countries of the European con- 
 tinent, amid strange laws and strange languages. But I will now 
 allude specifically to some our drawbacks here, these 
 
 annoyances I hinted at. There in the farmer's scrapings, 
 and often sickening and wearisome tiiough scrapings, for 
 money, in a country where money is scuice, though, as I 
 have told you, money is to be had almost always for wht-at, 
 and some times for other things, even here so far w est. It is 
 not easy for those who have not been used to the like, or indeed 
 for any one, to have a day's life worried out, as, for instance, 
 by bringing in a load of hay to market, and have all ^ its of 
 prices bid you for it, except that at which you belie you can 
 aflFord it, and sometimes, it may be, no price at all ; and when 
 night approaches, reminding you to move homewards, it is hard, 
 don't you think, to take your old load back ?^gain, or be forced 
 to sell to the man who had only offered you little more than 
 lialf price, and whom, you have thought, watched you bm prey 
 
 m 
 
 i 
 
 
 ■ M 
 
■lit 1 ir 
 
 w 
 
 \s 
 
 sl^i 
 
 38 
 
 GENTIEMEN FARMERS. 
 
 !l III. < 
 
 U. Si 
 
 »i:';;l 
 
 as night began to fall— all too-knowing, that you would prefer 
 yielding rather than take your load home again through sorry 
 roads. This is a vexing, but a true picture of a state of things 
 to be classed among our drawbacks here ; and all who think they 
 could not make up their minds to such, and other rough things, 
 which gentlemen-farmers at home know little or nothing of, 
 would do well to pause before th iy tl;:nk of roughing it in Canada. 
 
 Captain , who bartered bis half-pay for a settlement in 
 
 Canada, I have frequently heard bitterly complain ; and, being 
 all unused to the like, it was indeed painful to hear him tell 
 how his hands and neck would be blistered while toiling in 
 the field during very hot days, neither able to afford aban- 
 doning the work nor to hire labour ; the manner in which farm- 
 ing is carried on, the general price of produce, and scarcity 
 of money not allowing such, it is conceived. This class of 
 settlers, were I to venture my opinion. However much they may 
 have secured a kind of independence for themselves and families, 
 have not, I would think, added to what they were wont to call 
 < comforts,' and as the world with them would interpret the 
 phrase. Hardier an i more venturesome spirits of the class who 
 have laid aside the finer spun notions of the changling phrase, 
 ' comfort,' do assure themselves, I know, that they have more 
 of genuine comfort than ever beforo they enjoyed. Some even 
 may fancy themselves, I daresay, and perhaps they are not 
 farthest from the right, to be full happy and truly dignified in 
 likening themselves, for want of exacter parallel, to those 
 ancient heroes of i^oman story, Cincinatus, Curius Dentatus, 
 and others of like fame, with their patches of farms of mere 
 seven acres. You remember the experience of that delightful 
 writer, the authoress of the ' Backwoods of Canada,' herself ac- 
 customed to the refinements of home life : — * I must freely con- 
 fess to you,' writes this lady from Canada, ' that I do prize and 
 enjoy my present liberty in this country exceedingly ; in thi 
 we possess an advantage over you, and over those that inhabit 
 the towns and villages in this *'Ountry, where I see a ridiculous 
 
\ 
 
 DOMESTIC TRAFFIC. 
 
 39 
 
 attempt to keep up an appearance that is quite foreign to the 
 situation of those that practise it. It is foolish,' continues she, 
 ' to launch out in a style of life that every one knows cannot 
 be maintained ; rather ought such persons to rejoice in the 
 consciousness that they can, if they please, live according to 
 their circumstances, without being the less regarded for the 
 practice of prudence, economy, and industry. Now, we btish- 
 tettUrs aro more independent : we do what we like ; we dress 
 AS we find most suitable and most convenient ; we are totally 
 without the fear of any Mr or Mrs Grundy ; and having shaken 
 off the trammels of Grundyism, we laugh at the absurdity of 
 those who voluntarily forge afresh and hug their chains.' 
 
 Leaving for the present, now, these pros and cons of Ca- 
 nada life, let us revert to our task of inspecting the picture of 
 domestic industry of the inhabitants of this district, selected for 
 our useful matter-of-fa,v ; purpose. Continuing, then, the su!:ject 
 of the domestic manufactures of the inhabitants. Many of these 
 home-made articles, woollen hose, flannel, and men's coarse cloth, 
 are not only made use of by the farmers' families themselves, 
 but a considerable surplus is exchanged by the family at the 
 iito*'4'«) for other goods, as prints, silks, muslins, shirtings, and 
 the like. The storekeeper has a demand every winter for 
 much of these raanufactures, particularly for the cloth, both by 
 those farmers who may not have not made any, and by trades- 
 men and people of good means who wear this frequently for 
 trousers and over-coats. It usually sells from 4s. to 58. and 
 (Js., and I have seen some of fine wool, having had more than 
 ordinary care at the hands of the domestic spinner and weaver, 
 and being well dressed, bringing, in an instance, I remember, Ts. 
 a yard; though warm British tweed cloths, fully better looking, 
 can be had from 4s. to 5s. The home-made is preferred for its 
 greater warmth and durability. And there may be something, 
 too, of that laudable pride for one's own manufacture to ac- 
 count for this preference, which, until the people can readily 
 sell their wool, will continue to be indulged, even should 
 
 P. 
 
 -I 
 
 !V:i; 
 
40 
 
 DOMESTIC INDUSTRY. 
 
 ! ! 
 
 British fabrics become much lower. The domestic flrinnel, 
 rather rough to the feel and appearance, its wearing quality 
 being chietly the object, is much used for men's working shirts, 
 and is both made of all wool and of half cotton. Large quan- 
 tities of knitted woollen socks are made in the farmer's fami- 
 lies, which are exchanged in the stores for other goods. There 
 is usually a good demand for the socks in the stores, they being 
 generally preferred by all classes to the imported ones. They 
 are superior both in 6nenev«s and quantity of wool to the Aber- 
 deen knitted hose usually imported here; their price is from 
 3i. to Is. 6d. a pair. Besides the occupations of spinning and 
 knitting their wool, and sometimes weaving, which engage the 
 leisure of the industrious farmer's wives and their daughters' 
 •traw-hat making is another branch of domestic industry car- 
 ried on to some extent. Several thousands are broug"ht into 
 the stores every summer ; the straw is taken from the farmer's 
 own fields, and is used both split and whole, and much of it is 
 very well prepared and neatly plaited. These home-made straws, 
 with low crown and broad brim, you may see sported with very 
 becoming grace, having their black, green, or straw, inch and 
 half ribbon band, by our old men and young men, misses and 
 children. The price of these varies from Is. to 2s. 6d. Plain 
 and bronzed Leghorn hats are also imported from New York, 
 and are sold from 5s. to 10s. That you may not think our 
 heat so oppressive as so force this light wear, many of our 
 gents never dofif their black beaver ; and numbers of people, 
 during summer and winter, through the whole year round con- 
 tinue wearing the same ordinary clothing, just as you may see 
 numbers of people do at home — though a considerably greater 
 proportion, indeed, change their dress here, preferring comfort 
 and convenience more, and fashion and appearance less, than 
 you do in your less active and more closely packed commu- 
 nities. And the climate, besides, it is true, gives a fair enough 
 excuse. 
 
 You may have heard that in Canada the farmers believe 
 
 \ 
 
LIMITED NUMBER OF POOR. 
 
 41 
 
 they cannot afford to hire agricultural labour regularly as you 
 do at home. You will regret with me that such is generally 
 the case. The number of male farm servants shown to be 
 employed in the district in 1842 is only G5; of other male 
 ficrvants in private families, 111. These last I would believe 
 chiefly to be employed in the care of horses, collecting and 
 cutting wood for fuel, and the general work of a family. The 
 Dumber of female servants in private families is 210; persons 
 engaged in trade or commerce, 311. I will now give you an 
 important statement, more illustrative of what we are than 
 anything I have as yet perhaps told you — that is, the number 
 of persons subsisting on alms, which is ten ! Ten persons only 
 in a population of 30,000— one pauper only for every 3000 I 
 And even this amount of pauperism not real perhaps ; at least, 
 I should say, of a different nature, arising from other causes, 
 than yours — chiefly from four causes, I should suppose : first, 
 extreme intemperate habits ; old age distant from relations ; 
 physical disability in like circumstances ; and lastly, it may 
 be a depraved choice, attended sometimes by some one or 
 more of the three other causes. But this is a good deal con- 
 jecture, owing to the subject engaging so little attention, and 
 ill the iiumiliating forms in which you have it, being almost 
 excluded from observation. During the fcur years I have 
 been in Western Canada, I have scarcely met a case of the 
 low beggary which is so pitifully prominent with you. Of 
 cases which I can call to mind, I will tell you two which 
 occurred this last winter. One cold morning, a woman poorly 
 clad, with u sickly-looking child in her arms, entered a shop 
 and begged assistance. She had lost her husband, she said, 
 and was travelling in search of him, and her child was ill and 
 in want of food. The shopkeeper on the instant told the case 
 to a few of the neighbours, and the result was a contribution 
 of a little money, an article or two of clothing, and a supply of 
 food. In about an hour or so after this, the woman was ob- 
 •erved in the open street, half-sitting half-lying upon the 
 
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 CHARITABLE EXERTIONS. 
 
 
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 ground, in a state of intoxication, and with her poor sick babe 
 uncared for, and the loaves of bread she had received scattered 
 on the road. The other case was that of a man who represented 
 himself as a w^eaver from Paisley, who had come to Canada the 
 previous season with his family, and had been unable to procure 
 employment ; and that his wife, whom he had lodged sonis miles 
 distant, was confined, and in want of several necessaries. The 
 man's appearance and story being trusted, he received on the 
 spot some few articles necessary in the circumstances he had 
 represented ; and, by being recommended for further assistance, 
 a trifle of money was collected for him. Perhaps you have 
 anticipated the result — it was afterwards believed to have been 
 80 — a case of deception. In this country, you perceive, there 
 is this so different from you, we are apt to be more liberal and 
 doubt less when assistance is asked— indications certainly fa- 
 vourable of the state of society. 
 
 There are instances of subscription papers being presented 
 by the neighbours of some family or individuals who have met 
 with a calamity, as fire or long sickness ; and these are ever 
 attended to with prompt liberality. The socitaes so general 
 throughout Canada, under the names of St George's, St An- 
 drew's, and St Patrick's, composed of individuals immediately 
 or remotely connected with the three kingdoms, have done 
 much good by relieving accidental suffering, or assisting the 
 emigrant whose means may have become exhausted in the 
 search for employment. There is another class of cases where 
 assistance is required, and which occurs in the towns during: 
 long and severe winters among the families of labourers out of 
 work, with means run short, and many, from being sti'angers, 
 wanting also credit, or confidence to ask it. A supply of la- 
 bour greater than the demand collecting at a certain place, 
 would easily account for this were other as likely causes 
 awanting, as sickness, accidents, or unfrugal or worse habits. 
 Generally throughout Western Canada these cases prevail to 
 no great extent, and are usually promptly and liberally re- 
 
 ^^w 
 
MILLS, MANUFACTORIES, TAVKRNS, itc. 
 
 43 
 
 lieved. At Quebec and Montreal, the first landin;^ points of 
 enii^'ration, and where the winters are so much lonfrer and 
 severer, the case is very different, and attention to such detti- 
 tution becomes a subject of considerable public importance. 
 
 I must now draw this rather lengthened letter to a conclu- 
 sion, by presenting you with the remaining more prominent 
 statistics of the district. 
 
 Of the mills and other manufactories, there are grist or flour 
 mills, 31 — being always one, and incases three or four, in each 
 township, with from one to two run of stone each. To these 
 mills the farmers take their wheat to be ground into Hour — 
 little wheat comparatively being converted into flour here for 
 exportation— the wheat being generally shipped from Port 
 Sta^iley for Montreal direct, or for St Catherine's on the Wel- 
 land Canal to be floured. Besides these mills there are— 2 oat- 
 meal mills, 1 barley mill, 25 thrashing mills, 59 saw mills, 5 oil 
 II. ills, 7 fulling mills, 11 carding mills, 2 paper mills, 2 iron 
 works, 11 tanneries, 1 pot and pearl ash manufactory, 9 other 
 manufactories. So much for this enumeration of busy in- 
 dustry ; what follows partakes of a doubtful nature — I allude 
 to distilleries, breweries, and taverns. There are 6 distil- 
 leries, 7 breweries, 100 fciverns or houses of public entertain- 
 ment, and 45 stores where spirituous liquors are sold. The 
 consumption of spirituous liquors in Canada — which, owing to 
 the low price and the easy means of the people, was formerly 
 large — has been, within these few years, greatly reduced by 
 the action of Temperance Societies, which have had greiit 
 influence here among all classes except the wealthier circles, 
 where, as at home, I suppose, though not to the extent for- 
 merly, drinking usages are still generally count- nanced. 
 
 The number of 100 taverns ;ibove stated, as existing within 
 this district- of London in Upper Canada, may be partly 
 accounted for by explaining, that owing to the great deal of 
 travelling in waggons and on horseback in Canada, taverns are 
 situated every seven or eight miles, perhaps throughout the 
 
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 TREVALENCE OF TAVERNS. 
 
 country (generally on an average of every hix miles or so, alonf? 
 tliO ro.ids for the accoinniodation of feeding and ;vateringhorHe8, 
 and rest and food for the traveller. 
 
 Not unfre(iuently, however, many of thero are the resort of 
 the least industrious individuals residing in the vicinity, who, 
 in hours through the day, as well as during the evenings, seek 
 the grosser excitements which intoxicating liquors, party po- 
 litics, and gaming, all too temptingly furnish. Yet these 
 roadside taverns may he said to he harmless compared with 
 those 80 prevalent in many of the villages and towns, the 
 number of which, one is constrained to observe, is noways 
 •complimentary to the discretion, to say the least, of the ma- 
 jority of the bench of magistracy licensing them. Appointed 
 for the peace and happiness of their respective communities, 
 one would suppose that the generally respectable and intelli- 
 gent members of this body might so far moderately aid exer- 
 tions employed so unquestionably for the benefit of society,— for 
 tne discouragement of indolent and other vicious habits, and 
 promoting comfort among a population. 
 
 I can fancy I hear you say, ' How is it that in a coantry 
 8uch as Canada is represented to be, all classes of the popula- 
 tion so comparatively easy in their circumstances, the vice of 
 indulging in intoxicating liquors has been carried to the ex- 
 tent as to require such efforts for its suppression ? One may 
 readily conceive how in the case of over-crowded Britain — rife 
 with well-directed aims and hopes struck down and ruthlessly 
 blasted, amid keen competitions and uptumings of over-done 
 trades and over-stocked professions, and the cold closed doors 
 presenting themselves to hapless despairing poverty — the tempt- 
 ing cup which drowns, though but for the moment, the mind's 
 rankling and withering cares, may be so all too frequently and 
 disregardingly, as it is despairingly seized upon !' True what 
 you say — and besides, your population have not had stretched 
 out to them freely enough the blessings of a well-based educa- 
 tion, and the other lesser, yet in a sense as necess^iryy means qf 
 
ISOLATION OF KAllLIKIl fOLONISTS. 
 
 cheerful recreation, for tbcir physical ivs well as mental health 
 and cnjoyniont. 
 
 Canada, though provided from an early period with some 
 kind of national schools, yet with a widely scattered and coin- 
 jiaratively poor population, thoufijh ulmudantly possessed of the 
 material necessaries of life, has never been completely able to 
 extend a beneficial, solid education over its fur-stretched 
 nnd thinly-peopled territory. And the mass of the population 
 were thus left to seek from other Hources the gratification natu- 
 rally required to lighten and relieve their monotonous round of 
 toil,andtheirisuiated dwellings in the bush. "With well regulated 
 minds, the happy results of either well self-taught or good 
 school education, such lives as colonists here have had, no 
 people might be supposed freer from temptations. Yet chietty 
 has it been for want of a good education, the difficulty, not to 
 Ray the almost impossibility, of obtaining liberally either the 
 means of self-acquiring elementary, or gratifying acquired 
 knowledge, through the medium of really useful and substan- 
 tial hooks or other ways ; and the circumstances of the coun- 
 try, besides, presenting no -.trong necessity calling for instruc- 
 tion to preserve any keen competition among the bulk of the 
 population— such sources of gratificotion as were within easy 
 reach too readily supplied a place among a people, as the native 
 class of Canadian farmers are here, being naturally social, 
 kindly disposed, and hospitable. 
 
 But perhaps not among the least numerous portion of the 
 population who have had immoderate recourse to drinking 
 usages, and from partly similar circumstances, were a class of 
 colonists chiefly from among the middle classes of home society, 
 who, entering this country with a little money, though in many 
 cases with an assumption of no little consequence in their niJin- 
 ncrs and intercourse, affecting superiority among a people 
 unused to allow such to mere assumption or rank — these people, 
 finding their position so altered in this country, too frequently 
 and readily seek, among a restricted circle, the gratification of 
 
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 40 
 
 IMI'IlOVINf; STATK OP CAVADA. 
 
 the over-Hnc\n\ board. IiulividunlM, too, from among every 
 class, may bo found to whom tho above applies, who, from 
 tontmcted noticms of some fancied superiority to most people 
 around them, prejudices of country, and such like, make their 
 settlement in any new country necessarily disaj?reeahle to 
 themselves, as it is offensive to others and comparatively useless, 
 if not prejudicial, to the social and general well-being of their 
 adopted abode. All who may think of coming to thin country 
 would do well to weigh the considerations suggested by these 
 ftlight allusions to the state of society most prevalent in the 
 newer portions at least of Canada, and in some rcspecls the 
 application extends to the entire country. 
 
 You must not allow your imagination, however, to colour 
 things more than I have perhaps fully enough suggt^jted them 
 to you. Canada is every year vastly improving ; so that the 
 Canada of ten years' ago is quite another country than the 
 Canada of this present 1843; and every year almost bring with 
 it its improvements or cheering promises. Society, with he 
 gradually bettering circumstances of the population, and the 
 flow of emigration from Britain, these several years past, has 
 conspicuously improved ; the state of education begins to 
 receive increasing attention ; agricultural associations are 
 springing up in every part ; the resources of the country and 
 details of improvement are more attended to by the Govern- 
 ment Executive, which has confessedly become more efficient 
 since the civil outbreak directed the attention of the Home 
 Government to remedy a confused state of things, and to extend 
 to the colony — what the colonists gratefully acknowledge (more 
 particularly in the recent tariff measures for their benefit) — 
 tokens of a decidedly friendly and honourable desire to cement 
 closer the ties which connect for common well-being Colonies 
 and Empire. 
 
 The Montreal Temperance Society, which may be termed 
 the parent of temperance societies in Ccinada, has been sur- 
 prisingly successful, owing in great measure to the unwearied 
 
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 ■: } : 1 11, 
 
TKMrKUANLli MOVKMENT. 
 
 47 
 
 zi'iil of its philanthropic leaderfi in awakening pui)lic attention, 
 and extendinf? ItH influence over the entire province. From 
 the annual report ot this society for IJM.'i, the numher of per- 
 sons in Canada who have pledj^ed themselves to abstain from, 
 and generally discountenance, intoxicating liquors, is estimated 
 at 100,000. One of the Society's secreUiries, Mr R. D. Wads- 
 worth, while on a tour through the country last year, travelled 
 about 1500 miles, and delivered nearly 100 addresses, and 
 added over lOOO names to the pledge ; and the immediate re- 
 sult of all the Society's agencies during a period of eighteen 
 months, up to February last, is reported to be above 800 meet- 
 ings held, and 17,000 members enrolled. There are ai, least 
 seven or eight of the clergymen of Montreal connected with 
 this extensively useful and philanthropic society, among whom 
 are the Presbyterian ministers, the Revs. Henry Esson and 
 William Taylor, and the Theological Professor of the Congre- 
 gational body, the Rev. J. J. Carruthers. The President of 
 the Society is John Dougall, Esq., an enterprising and wealthy 
 merchant of Montreal, who, from the early movements of tem- 
 perance in Canada, has been distinguished for his zealous 
 efforts, which have largely contributed towards the successes 
 achieved by the Montreal and other societies throughout the 
 province. The most successful and influential society in 
 Western Canada, and second, perhaps, only to the Montreal 
 one, is in operation at Toronto. One of the most pleasing 
 facts connected with the movements of temperance during the 
 past year in Canada is the progress made among the Irish and 
 French Roman Catholics, under the direction of a number of 
 their priests. The Trish Roman Catholic Society in Montreal 
 numbers between 5000 and 6000, nearly 3000 of whom have 
 pledged themseUes to the principle of total abstinence. A 
 society lately formed by the Roman Catholic Bishop numbers 
 1400 of total abstinence members. The influence of such 
 movements, in a country where intoxicating liquor is so tempt- 
 ingly low priced, as in the instance of native whisky, which 
 
 
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 sells in parts of Canada at one shilling a gallon, and among a 
 people who, by reason of the generally depressed state of educa- 
 tion, have not as yet acquired suflicient taste for the more 
 refined enjoyments — may readily be believed by you to be of no 
 doght importance to the moral well-being of our rapidly in- 
 creasing communities. To give you one specific instance of 
 the good effects of this temperance movement, I will select the 
 case of Quebec— from the extent and nature of its trade and 
 population, the least moral of the towns of Canada. The 
 police department of Quebec had on record, for 1042, between 
 300 and 400 fewer cases of public drunkenness than occurred 
 during the previous year 1841 ; and the keeper of the public 
 jail reported that the committjds had diminished nearly fifty 
 per cent. 
 
 In my next letter I will tell you something of the state of 
 education — and speak of the townships, the villages, and the 
 town of London— and such topics which may suggest them- 
 selves OS likely to interest you. 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 Fruits of Canada. 
 
 ' In my garden [at Toronto, on Lake Ontario, writes Sir Richard RonriT 
 castle in 1841] I had the following varieties of fruit, from which the cus- 
 tomary gifts of Pomona, in Upper Canada, in favourable situations, may 
 be inferred : — Of apples, the golden pippin, not so good as in England, but 
 healthier ; the pommede-neige, a ruddy-streaked apple, with white flesh, 
 and very sweet and j.'. asant, but which will not keep long, and hence its 
 name ; the snow-apple, keeping sound only until winter snows ; the bou- 
 rossou, a russet and highly flavoured keeping apple ; the pomme-gris, or 
 grey apple, also excellent ; with many other varieties of inferior kinds, 
 such as codlings, little red-streaks, &c. 
 
 I 
 
 f'M 
 
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NOTES. 
 
 49 
 
 The peara were of two kinds, one the little early yellow, and the other 
 ft small hard one, but neither good. 
 
 Of plums, there were the greengage, and egg plum, the bullacc. the 
 common blue and the common yellow plum, but none of them po8sos<;ing 
 the taste of those in France or England, and more fit for preserv'es than 
 for the table. 
 
 Of grapes I had only the Isabella, and these were not productive, re- 
 quiring in this climate great care and management. 
 
 Of cherries, the Kentish and the Morello ; the sour Kentish is, how- 
 ever, the common fruit of the country, and very little pains has been 
 taken to improve the stock. 
 
 Raspberries, red and white; gooseberries, large and small, rough and 
 smooth-skinned ; the red, t*«e white, and the block currant, were in i)ro- 
 fusion, and yielded abundantly. 
 
 Of atrawb'jrries, there were several of the European varieties, butthoy 
 have not the rich flavour of their originals ; in fact, the wild Canadian 
 strawberry, though smaller, is better, and makes a richer preserve.' — Tht 
 CuMdas in 1841. 
 
 Maplk-Suoar Making. 
 
 The writer of the * Backwoods of Canada,' a lady, who emigrated with 
 her husband to Canada about ten years ago, thus describes the process of 
 sugar-making from the stately and ornamental, as well as useful, maple- 
 tree, which, in clumps or groves, called a * maple bush,' is found grow- 
 ing as part of the forest on almost every farm in Canada. The tree, com- 
 monly known as the plane-tree in this country, being of tho same species, 
 closely resembles in appearance the sugar maple-tree. 
 
 ' But I must now tell you of our sugar-making, in which I take rather 
 an active part. Our experiment was on a very limited scale, having but 
 one kettle, besides two iron tripods ; but it was sufficient to initiate us in 
 the art and mystery of boiling the sap into molasses, and finally the 
 molasses down to sugar. 
 
 The first thing to be done in tapping the maples, is to provide little 
 troughs to catch the sap as it flows : these are merely pieces of pine-tree, 
 hollowed with the axe. The tapi ng the tree is done by cutting a gash in 
 the bark, or boring a hole with an auger. The former i)lan, as being 
 most readily performed, is that most usually practised. A slightly hol- 
 lowed piece of cedar or elder is then inserted, so as to slant downwards 
 and direct the sap into the trough ; I have even seen a flat chip made the 
 ronductor. Ours were managed according to rule, jou may be sure. The 
 sap runs most freely after a frosty night, followed by a bright warm day ; 
 it should be collected during the day in a barrel or large trough, capable 
 
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 NOTES. 
 
 of holding ftll tluit can be boiled down the same evtring ; it should not 
 stand more than twenty-four liours, as it is apt to ferment, and will not 
 grain well unless fresh. 
 
 My husband, with an Irish lad, began collecting the sap the last week 
 in March. A pole was fixed across two forked stakes, strong enough to 
 bear the weight of the big kettle. Their employment during the day was 
 emptying the troughs, and chopping wood to supply the fires. In the 
 evening they lit the fires and began boiling down the sap. 
 
 It was a pretty and picturesque sight to see the sugar-boilers, witli 
 their bright log fire among the trees, now stirring up the blazing pile, now 
 throwing in the liquid, and stirring it down with a big ladle. When the 
 fire grow fierce, it boiled and foamed up in the kettle, and they had to 
 throw in fresh sap to keep it from running over. 
 
 When the sap begins to thicken into molasses, it is then brought to tiiu 
 sugar-boiler to be finished. The process is simple ; it only requires 
 attention to skimming und keeping the mass from boiling over, till it has 
 arrived at the sugaring point, which is ascertained by dropping a little 
 into cold water. When it is near the proper consistency, the kettle or 
 pot becomes full of yellow froth, that dimples and rises in large bubbles 
 from beneath. These throw out puff's of styam, and when the molasses is 
 in this stage, it is nearly converted into sugar. Those who pay great at- 
 tention to .ceeping the liquid free from scum, and understand the precise 
 sugaring point, will produce an article little if at all inferior to muscadavo. 
 
 In general you see the maple-sugar in large cakes, like bees' wax, close 
 and compact, without showing the crystallisation ; but it looks more 
 beautiful wlien the grain is coarse and sparkling, and the sugar is broken 
 in rough masses like sugar-candy. 
 
 Tlie sugar is rolled or scraped down with a knife for use, as it takes 
 long to dissolve in the tea without this preparation. I superintended the 
 last part of the process, that of boiling the molasseS down to sugar ; and, 
 considering it was a first attempt, and without any experienced person to 
 
 direct me, otherwise than the information I obtained from , I 
 
 succeeded tolerably well, and produced some sugar of a fine sparkling 
 grain and good colour. 13esides the sugar, I made about three gallons of 
 molasses, which proved a great comfort to us, forming a nice ingredient in 
 cakes, and an excellent sauce for puddings.' — Backwoods of Canada. 
 
 [The accomplished writer of this instructive and interesting book, who 
 settled in Canada, as will be remembered, in 1832, still resides, which 
 may give pleasure to many readers to know, amid the scenery she has so 
 attractively described, near Rice Lake in the Newcastle district, situated 
 between Lakes Ontario and Iluron, and occasionally delights with her 
 
■t 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 j1 
 
 elegant and facile pen a large circle of readers in Canada, by contributing 
 to a tasteful Canadian Monthly, the * Literary Garland' of Montreal.] 
 
 PnosPERora Dairy Farmino. 
 
 The subjoined is extracted from the May number for 1843 of the ' Bri- 
 tish American Cultivator,' a highly-respectable monthly periodical, pub- 
 lished at Toronto, T'^pper Canada, and, until very recently, edited by Mr 
 W. Evans of Montreal, a gentleman whose well-known services to the 
 agriculture of Canada can hardly be estimated too highly. Mr Evans' 
 treatises on Canadian agriculture are acknowledged authorities in Britain, 
 nni are quoted in the volumes of the ' Edinburgh Cabinet Lil)niry' upon 
 llritish America, by Hugh Murray, Esq., and in the publications of the 
 (iovemment Board of Emigration Commissioners. The British Ame- 
 rican Cultivator was, in 1843, the only periodical published in Canada 
 lievoted exclusively to the interests of agriculture, and came into existence 
 80 recently as January 1842. Previous to that period the farmers of Ca- 
 nada were indebted to United States' publications. Since the commence- 
 ment of 1844, a secow^ agricultural periodical has appeared in Canada, 
 and, under the management of Mr Evans, is published at Montreal, and 
 addressed more directly, it is understood, to the interests of liower Ca- 
 nada. The • Canada Temperance Advocate,' under the superintendence of 
 a body of gentlemen, zealously interosted in the welfare of Canada, be- 
 sides the primary object of its advocacy, also devotes a regular portion of 
 its extensively circulated pages in the promotion of agriculture and edu- 
 cation. And, for the better effecting its praiseworthy objects, it extends 
 its means in awarding premiums for the production of essays on particu- 
 lar subjects; among the latest of these prize essaj's, is one on the best 
 method of Managing a Bush Farm, which appeared in July 1843. 
 
 The ' Cultivator' published at Toronto, numbers among its contri- 
 butors the best known and most spirited agriculturists in Canada, one 
 of whom is the Honourable Adam Ferguson, late of Woodhill, Scotland ; 
 and among its correspondents in England are Mr P. L. Simmonds, Lon- 
 don, and Mr John llannam of North Deighton, Yorkshire, who gained 
 the premium of fifty sovereigns, awarded by the Highland Society of 
 (Scotland for the • Report of Experimr»nts on the Effects of Special Man- 
 ures,* published in the Society's Transactions, March 1844. The Culti- 
 vator is now edited by its proprietor, Mr W. G. Edmundson, an intelli- 
 gent and respectable practical agriculturist. 
 
 ' The most profitable business for Canadian farmers,' Sfiys the Culti- 
 A'ator, ' is the making of butter and cheese. But little has been done in 
 the production of these articles, and consequently there will be much 
 room for improvement. In ninety-nine cases out of a hundred, the pro- 
 
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 52 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 coeds from the small surplus which the Canadian farmers have to sell of 
 the above articles, go as a perquisite to the fanner's wife. It is not our 
 business to And fault with such an arrangement, but we would just re- 
 mind our brother- farmers of a fact which came under our notice a few 
 weeks since. A Yorlishire farmer, wlio rents a farm seven miles north of 
 this city [Toronto], and pays an annual rent of fifty pounds, infonned us 
 that he only Iteeps ten cowa, nnd the profits from wliich, together with tlie 
 sale of calves, pays the whole of his rent, and leaves a balance in the bar- 
 gain. We examined his stocl<, wnd found them in comfortable winter- 
 quarters, with an abundance of good hay, and cut oats, sheaf and brnn 
 before them, and a good supply of clean straw under their feet for bed- 
 ding. This farmer comes to town once a week regularly, with butter and 
 other produce from his well-cultivated farm ; he also supplies a number 
 of families with butter, cheese, &c., and sends his bill once a twelvo 
 month — and by furnishing a good article, and observing strict punctuality, 
 he always obtains the top price. This same individual came to this coun- 
 try twelve years since, without any means, and by dint of perseverance 
 and superior skill, he can now boast of having thous<ands of dollars out on 
 interest, and by most of his neighbours is considered independent. The 
 circumstance is fresh in our recollection when the same individual aston- 
 iahe^ the natives, about ten years since, in the astonishing yield of 40 
 bushels of wheat per acre on a field of 12 acres, which field was thought 
 incapable of producing 10 bushel per acre. — British American Cultivator, 
 May, 1843. 
 
 [The Home District, where this Yorkshire farmer is situated, is be- 
 lieved to stand the first in Canada, in respect of the improved cultivated 
 condition of its farms, and respectability and intelligence of its farmers ; 
 and its having, besides* the flourishing town of Toronto for a market,— 
 these circumstances favourably recommend it to individuals wishing to 
 settle in the most improved and generally advantageous localities of the 
 country. Toronto, which, in 1817, was computed to have had only 1200 
 inhabitants, and, in 1830, somewhere between 4000 and 5000, now num- 
 bers about 20,000 of a population. The price of land is of course higher 
 than in the generally less favourable, though more fertile parts of the 
 province, further west. Yet all along the shores of Lake Ontario, em- 
 bracing that extensive and beautiful inlet of the lake, the Bay of Quinte, 
 and also the very pleasant district of Niagara, at the head of the lake. 
 partly watered by the Niagara Kiver, — all this stretch of country, having 
 a freer navigation to the sea, and having mostly old and well-improved set- 
 tlements, otters no small inducements, especially to those ha\'ing the means 
 to purchase cultivated farms, which are always to be had, and uc'a«"v 
 with the addition of substantial and comfortable houses, and orchards. 
 
NOTES. 
 
 53 
 
 Kahly Dairy Faiim in Canada. 
 
 Mr John Backhouse, a farmer from the North Hiding of Yorkshire, 
 ■old his stock and fanning utensils, and, with the proceeds, ainoimting to 
 60<) guineas, proceeded with his family to Canada, in the summer of 17SK5, 
 —the colony of Upper Canada having been then only ten years settleii, 
 and under the administration of its first lieutenant-governor, CJeneral 
 Hiiucoe. Mr liacUhouse received an Introductory letter from his friend. 
 General Hale, to fJovcrnor Simcoe ; and after spending a short time at 
 Philadelphia and New York, he entered Canada in 171*4. The letter from 
 wiiich the following extract is taken, was addressed to llobert CJourlay, 
 Ksq. in 1817, while that gentleman was engaged collecting information for 
 his account of the country. The letter is dated from Walsingham, a 
 township then in the Old London district, but now within the separate dis- 
 trict of Talbot. This township of Wal.>iiighain is situated upon the shore 
 of Lake Krie, near the lower part of that lake, and joins the present Lou- 
 don district at its most easterly townshij), liayham. It fonns part of a 
 track commonly called in Canada, tlie Long Point Country, possessing a 
 soil chiefly of a lightish sandy loam, intermixed with clay, and accounted 
 among the most pleasant parts of Canada, it having been one of the first 
 spots chosen by the body of United Empire Loyalists, who went into 
 Canada, and received grants of land, under the protection of the British 
 crown, at the period of the American Uevolutiou. Mr Backhouse, in his 
 letter of 1817, thus wrote : — 
 
 • I arrived at Niagara the 28th of July 1794, and was kindly received by 
 the governor ; by this time I had spent the principal part of the money I 
 had brought with me ; for out of 6(K>, I had left upwards of 300 guineas 
 iu notes, to be collected by a relation who was in business, but was sht rtly 
 b.aiiknipt after I left England, and I never received a shilling. By this 
 time I became acquainted with the late Hon. Robert Hamilton, to v/hom 
 I made my situation known, who instantly became my warm friend and 
 Bujjporter. From him I rented a farm for seven years, for which I paid 
 Lim 100 dollars per annum, lie lent me money to buy 20 cows, which 
 cost 500 dollars. I had but one dollar left when I began farming ; my 
 meat, grain for bread, seed for the land, farming utensils, &c. were all 
 procured by me on a promise of payment in September, which amounted 
 to about 500 dollars. 1 began making cheese the first of May 1795, which 
 Euccecded beyond my expectation ; I seldom had in my dairy room any 
 cheese that was more than three months old ; sold all I made for seven 
 years, at \ dol. per lb., except one ton, which I sold, in 1802, for i dol. 
 per lb. The field is still open : the price and market as good as ever. A 
 dairy of 20 cows, well attended, will make the following amount, via. :— 
 
 -.^1 
 
 • u 
 
 I'-'i 
 
r>i 
 
 NOTKS. 
 
 Cheese throngli the summer season, 
 Loose butter throughout tlie yeur, 
 Twenty calves reared to the last November, 
 Fifteen pigs fed with whey. 
 
 Total profit one year. 
 
 Dollars. 
 
 12<M> 
 
 100 
 
 100 
 
 150 
 
 1550 
 
 (irass-fed beef here far exceeds our expectation the first sight we have 
 of this country ; cattle will fat as well, and tallow better than in many 
 parts of England. On being first assured of this by some of my countrymen. 
 I did not credit the report, and, detenuined to linow by experience, I turned 
 two lean oxen intoa small field, two acres and a half, the 10th day of April ; 
 they had no other pasture nor feed of any kind ; and were killed the last 
 day of November : — the four quarters of the first weighed 820 lb. and 
 had 125 lb. tallow, the four quarters of the second weighed 785 lb. and 
 had 115 lb. tallow. I then winter fatted four wethers, which were worth in 
 the fall four dols. per head ; and they made me 18^ dols. per head. Winter 
 feeding of cattle or sheep may be practised here with success, and will 
 leave large profits ; but the principal objection to winter feeding is the want 
 of labour ; yet turnips can be raised here without any manure, or even 
 ploughing. Clear off new land, sow the seed the latter part of Juno, or 
 beginning of July, and you get a crop of turnips without hoeing or any 
 more trouble, and of as good quality as I ever saw.' 
 
 [The price of dairy, as also other produce, at the period of the early 
 settlement of Canada (as it is yet not unfrequently in the early stages of 
 isolated new settlements), has been usually materially higher than the 
 general average price now, and these many years back. The market 
 price of butter in the towns of Western Canada may be stated to be 
 usually about from 5d. to 8d. per lb. fresh, and salted at slightly lower 
 prices — that exported having averaged in Britain in 1843 about from 4^d. 
 to 6d., and the small quantity of cheese exported rated about from M. to 
 5d. The finer sorts of American cheese bringing good prices in Britain, 
 holds out encouragement to Canada dairy farmers.] 
 
^ 
 
 STATE 01' EDUCATION'. 
 
 65 
 
 FOURTH LETTER. 
 
 state of Education throughout Western Canada— Causes of its generally 
 Depressed State — Act of Legislature for the Support of Schools — Pro- 
 vision of the Act to obviate Religious Scruples — Schools and Attend- 
 ance in the London District — Collegiate Institutions in Western Cana- 
 da—University of King's College, Toronto — University of Queen's Col- 
 lege, Kingston — Victoria College, Cobourg— Courses of Instruction, 
 Fees, and Remarks — Condition of Canada favourably changed in re- 
 gard to Means of Education within the last few Years — No I'rovision 
 for Agricultural Education, a great Want in Canada — Particular l)e- 
 scr'^tion of the London District continued — General Appearance of 
 the I ountry — Cultivated Settlement — Scene in the Bush — The Laiie- 
 Sliore Townships, Farms, Houses, Gardens — Harbours, Ports Stanley, 
 nmwell, Talbot — Colonel Talbot's Residence and Settlement — Heau- 
 tiful Scenery — Talbot Anniversary — Town of St Thomas. 
 
 Notes :— New School Act— l^niversity Rill— American Doolvsaud Teachers 
 in Canada — The Lake-Shore Townships. 
 
 London, Canada, 1«43. 
 Education, notwithstanding legislative efforts which have 
 existed from an early period in the settlement of Western 
 Canada to the present time, continues still in a very unsatisfac- 
 tory state. This is no doubt much owing to the great stretch of 
 country, thinly populated, and without sufficient means to plant 
 and support the large number of schools required in a country 
 so situated during its early stages of existence. Among a 
 great proportion of the population, too, comprising chiefly a 
 class of the older settlers, and the humbler class of emigrants 
 
 ^ 
 
 i r 
 
 0^: 
 
 :':.^4 
 
 M 
 
 

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 'U 
 
 1 
 
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 AH 
 
 STATE OF EDUCATION. 
 
 from Britain, the benefits of education arc but indifferently 
 appreciated ; and where there is found, as is the case in the coun- 
 try rarts, joined with this apathy, some foundation for indulging 
 it, on account of long and bad roads for the children, and also the 
 early value of their services in the work of the farm, it is not 
 much matter of surprise to see the roadside school-house thinly 
 attended and the schoolmaster not at all an individual the beat 
 qualified for his duties. I do not remember an instance of having 
 journeyed through the country without witnessing evidences of 
 this depressed state of education. A school-house is approached 
 entirely closed for want of encouragement to support even the 
 most ordinary sort of teacher ; another is found, supporting, by 
 a scanty allowance, some pains-living industrious woman, an 
 imperfectly self-educated youth, or a worn-out bu;. well-disposed 
 old man. Exceptions, I know there are, of men in their vigour, 
 and possessing qualifications, devoting their lives tn the ill-re- 
 quited task of schoolmaster. The respectability ever attaching in 
 some degree, even in the least encouraging circumstances, to 
 the ofiice, and the exemption its duties afford from the rougher 
 forms of toil, which usually attract individuals to the occupation 
 more than the mere reward of money wages, have perhaps 
 contributed less in Canada than in most countries to advance 
 education. Here, in almost every other kind of occupation, 
 wages are moderately high, and the ultimate reward to per- 
 severing industry a degree of independence, a consequence of 
 which state of things is, that a comparatively limited competi- 
 tion, and of an indifferent kind, is presented for the all too poorly 
 remunerated and dependent office of teacher. Our older set- 
 tled neighbours on the frontier, the Americans, having a fuller 
 share of the class, whose inclinations prefer the office, provided 
 it can afford tolerable livelihood, Canada has mostly all along had 
 from this source a large supply of teachers. So far as the merest 
 rudiments of education, reading, writing, and so forth, are con- 
 cerned, the country may be said to be indebted to American teach- 
 ers ; but when you come to reflect that Americans naturally 
 
LEGISLATIVE SllTOUT OF SCHOOLS. 
 
 57 
 
 pivjugh brought with thein dctnocratic priiu'lples, joiiit'd with 
 virulunt dislikes of the monarchial principles of governmrjif, 
 and being many of them inen not always scrupulous of the use 
 they madv of their inlluenee, it is not too much to say that, in a 
 political view, the employment of such teachers in a British 
 colony must be productive of harm. It is most likely, however, 
 that the greater number of such appointments have been le^s a 
 niatter of choice than of necessity with the people, and to whom 
 the political view, when it was at all considered, gave little if any 
 uneasiness. Having spoken thus generally of the most pro- 
 minent circumstances affecting the progress of education 
 throughout the country parts, I will merely now remark with 
 respect to the towns, that the state of things, as might be ex- 
 pected, is there more favourable. I will now present to you 
 some outline of details. 
 
 I mentioned that the Government have all along employed 
 means to support education, but Canada being a young colony, 
 possessed of only partial ability in the form of money to extend 
 educational benefits over a large surface of thinly-peopled coun- 
 try, the results of these efforts have as yet been correspondingly 
 partial. The law which at present supports public instruction 
 throughout Canada was passed in the legislative session of 1841. 
 It provides that the proceeds of land, already, or which may here- 
 after be granted by the Legislature or other authority, should be 
 created into a permanent fund for the support of common schools, 
 to be known as the common-school fund. It sets aside the sum of 
 X50,000 currency a-year to be apportioned among the municipal 
 districts of the country, the number of which districts in Western 
 Canada being, as you know, seventeen. The District Councils— 
 those popularly elected municipal bodies, whi<;h were estab- 
 lished by Lord Sydenham, and may be likened to your town 
 councils, only presiding over the interests of more extended 
 territories — these bodies are for the purposes of this School 
 Act, constituted Boards of Education, and are directed to di 
 vide the lesser divisions of their districts, the townships or 
 
 m 
 
T^V 
 
 ; -r 
 
 5U 
 
 LEGiSLA'lIVE SLi>rOKT OF SCHOOLS. 
 
 il'- 
 
 !-i!^ 
 
 parishes, into more minute divisions, to be called Hcliool 
 districts, and to apportion umon^ these the district share of fl.r 
 school fund, allowiuf;!: to each, township or parish a sum not ex- 
 ceeding £10 for the purchase of hooks, and alao to assess tin- 
 iiihabitantjj for building a school house, and to make an annua' 
 report of their proceedings. Besides the district councils there 
 are subsidiary bodies, called common-school conunissiontT'^, 
 elected by the township« or jtarishes, for the purpose of carry- 
 ing on the more local machinery of the Act. These commis- 
 sioners are from five to seven in number, and (he duties aj)- 
 pointed them are various and minute. They select a site for a 
 Kchool house, estimate the expense of building, appoint and 
 remove teachers, regulate the course of study and the books to 
 be used, and establish general rules for the conduct of the 
 schools, and communi'^' them in writing to the teachers. 
 Two or more of them arc o visit each school in their township 
 or j-arish once a month at least ; and they are directed to re- 
 pori annually to the district council respecting the state of the 
 school, number and proficiency of scholars, and the character 
 and ability of the teachers, and other matters of interest. 
 Besides these two bodies, the district councils and the com- 
 missioners, there is a chief superintendent appointed by tlu- 
 governor, whose duty is to apportion the general funds amoufz 
 the municipal districts, according to the number of children, 
 from five to sixteen years of age, to visit the districts annually, 
 and examine the condition of the schools, to prepare forms for 
 reports, to address suggestions which may introduce uniformity 
 into the system, and to receive the several distri(rt reports, and 
 to submit an annual report of his own to the governor, re- 
 presenting the general condition and working of the system. 
 Such is a kind of skeleton view of the most prominent machinery 
 of our common school system of education in Canada. 
 
 Those warring grounds, which mostly in every country are 
 found to throw impediments in the way of almost every conciev- 
 able system of popular instruction— the religious scruples of the 
 
\ 
 
 URMGlorS SCRirLFS OEVIATKI). 
 
 r>9 
 
 various sects — nre thus disposed of hero: — Whenever the iii- 
 haliitants of any township or parish, professing a religious faith 
 dirt'erent from that of the majority of the inhabitants, shall dis- 
 tient from the arrangement of the eommis-^iont'rs, with reft rence 
 to any nehool, the dittsentientt* signifying such to the diiitrict 
 eouncil, with names of persons elected by them a.s trustees, 
 such trustees, conforming to the duties of commissioners, are 
 allowed to establish and maintain schools, and to receive a 
 share of the general funds. The value of a provision of this 
 kind is no less liberal than important in a country inhabited 
 such as Canada is by people from many various countries, and 
 professing every variety of creed ; indeed, it is not possible to 
 expect a system of public instruction to be successfully carried 
 (in without liberal concessions to opinions and creeds, provided 
 always that the leading objects and design of education re- 
 cof/nised by all be steadily kept in view. Besides the commis- 
 sioners and trustees for the country, there are, for incorporattd 
 towns and cities, from six to fourteen per-ons appointed by the 
 governor as Boards of Examiners, who shall exercise a check 
 u[»()n the powers of the local incorporations in the election of 
 teachers. These boards consist of an equal number of Catholics 
 and Protestants, and dividing themselves into two departments, 
 one over the schools attended by Catholic children, the other 
 over the Protestant schools, they exercise the privileges of re- 
 gulating the schools and courses of study in the same manner 
 as the commissioners and trustees do in the country schools. '1 he 
 total amount of fees paid by children attending the common 
 schools is Is. 3d. currency, or Is. sterling a-month ; and 10 
 jioor children in each school district are allowed exetnptinti 
 troni this sum. You perceive, now, that we have a recognised 
 basis of public instruction, which, if imperfect in some of its 
 cit'tails, as allowedly it is at present, and insufficient to confer all 
 the benefits desired, may yet in time be the means of bestowing 
 advantages solid and lasting, of which Canada may have reason 
 to be proud. 
 
M 
 
 eo 
 
 STATISTICS OF EDUCATION. 
 
 lit • 
 
 I 
 
 i i 
 
 In MVM) — the population of Western Canada at whieh period 
 wa.s 4."i(),0()() — tiiere were over HOO common schools, and the 
 number of children receiving instruction in these was esti- 
 mated at 21,000, which shows 1 pupil for every IM inhabitants 
 receiving public instruction. In Scotland the proportion, as 
 you are aware, was, in H).'J4, 1 in 10 ; in Switzerland, 1 in A ; and 
 in Prussia, 1 in 6. Of Kiiroixjan countries, France and Ireland 
 come nearest to the proportion in Canada — the former having 
 1 pupil in 17 inhabitants, and the latter I in 18. Hl'lJl, however, 
 was a disturbed year in Canada by reason of the civil outbreaks, 
 which then, and for sometime after, unhinged the tone and action 
 of society. Statistics since that time would present a more fa- 
 vourable account. The present School Act of 1841, however, 
 owing to imperfections in its details, still keeps matters behind. 
 It was a piece of well-meant but hasty legislation — the bill ap- 
 parently having been hastily drawn up, and it is known to have 
 been hastily passed amid the bustle at the close of a session. 
 
 This district of London, containing over 9000 children be- 
 tween the ages of five and sixteen years, receives about £1000 
 sterling of the common-school fund. To make up an equal sum, 
 the district council assess the inhabitants to the amount of 
 three-fourths of a penny upon every pound value of their property, 
 besides the fee of Is. a-quarter required from each scholar. 
 Owing to the misapprehension caused by the imperfect detail 
 of the Act, out of 1/7 school districts in the municipal district 
 of London, above 50 of these have their schools closed, and 
 the attendance in the remaining 120 amounts to about 4000 
 scholars. The common branches of reading, writing, and 
 arithmetic, are chiefly taught in the common schools of the 
 country. The towns supply chiefly the higher branches. The 
 district or high school in the town of London is conducted by a 
 lead master and assistant. There are, besides, in the towns, 
 young ladies' boarding and day schools, conducted by respect- 
 able and aconiplished families, where the usual solid and orna- 
 mental branches are taught as with yourselves in Britain. 
 
 \ 
 
COLLFlfilATK INSTITITIONS. 
 
 (11 
 
 l^oard nntl tuition in these scHooIh nrefre(iuently charged about 
 i'r> a-(|uurfer, or IVuui X'2() to i.'2.5 a year. 
 
 Having ])re«ented you with this outline of the ineann of f.rene- 
 riil education, I will now only very hiiefly all.ide to the colU- 
 j^iate education within the western division of liie colony. 
 
 In Western Canada, there are already established — the Uni- 
 versity at 'I'oronto, which includes King's College and Upjier 
 Canada College, the University of Queen's College situated at 
 Kingston, and Victoria College at Cobourg. The first of these, 
 the Toronto University, is liberally endowed from public lands ; 
 the value of its asset-s in 1 JISD amounting to above £'A 1 .'>,()()() cur- 
 rency, jC24G,000of which belonged to King's College, and the re- 
 mainder, of above £72,000, to Upuer Canada College. The esti- 
 mate of the annual income of the University for 1039 amounted to 
 above X'HOOO. This University was founded in the province when 
 the Church of England was considered to be the established 
 colonial church ; and its aflairs have been chiefly under the 
 control of that Church, but the large proportion of IVinby- 
 terians, Wesleyan Methodists, and other respectable bodies, 
 increasing in numbers and influence, and gaining ascendency in 
 the popular Legislature, this restricted control has been modi- 
 tied since the original charter was granted, and it is probable that 
 recent efforts to throw aside remaining restrictions will be suc- 
 cessful. The building of King's College is at present in opera- 
 tion, situated within pleasantly laid out grounds, and promises to 
 l>e a fine structure of hewn stone, and to prove a chief ornament 
 to the fast growing, and comparatively wealthy city of Toronto. 
 Upper Canada College has been some years in operation ; be- 
 sides the Principal, the Rev. John M'Caul, L.L.D., there are 
 lour professors for the mathematics and classics, and six 
 masters for the preparatory school, for French and for geo- 
 metrical and ornamental drawing. The fees for day pupils at 
 the preparatory school are £6 currency a-year ; at the college, 
 £9; and boarders pay in all £30 currency, or about £25 ster- 
 ing; ornamental drawing, being an optional branch, is charged 
 extra, about 16s, a-quarter. About two years ago there were 
 
 hi 
 
 
 "•V 
 
X 
 
 6'i 
 
 ( OLLEGIATE INSriTLTIONS. 
 
 it: 
 
 
 it! 
 
 lit 
 
 4 
 
 «!1 
 
 •A ' I' 
 
 ^ 
 
 KiO pu})ils in attendance at Upper Canada College. The Ciii- 
 versity of Queen's College, situated at Kingston, received it> 
 rharter in 1H41 , as an institution in connection with the Church 
 of Scotland, and to be conducted as nearly after the model of 
 the Scottish Universities as the circumstances of the country 
 would permit. The principal is the Rev. Dr Liddell, late of 
 Edinburj^^h, who teaches Theology, Church History, and He- 
 hrt'w, and there are to be four other professors. Those at pre- 
 sent are the Ilev. P. C. Campbell, M.A., Edinburgh, Pro- 
 fessor of Classical Literature, and the Rev. James William- 
 son, M.A., Edinburgh, Professor of Mathematics and Natural 
 Philosophy. 
 
 The matriculation fee is £1 currency, or about 16s. sterling, 
 and the fees for each of the classes £2 currency. The students 
 may either board out, or they are received into the families of 
 the professors. The funds for the support of this Scottish 
 University in Canada, as we may term it, were chiefly pro- 
 cured by subscription. The subscriptions in Canada amounted 
 to £1.5,000, with donations in lands equal in value to £1200; 
 in Britain there were subscribed £1500, and the Colonial 
 Committee of the Church of Scotland engaged to provide 
 £i'>000 towards the payment of the salary of the principal, the 
 nomination of the principal being vested in this committee. 
 Besides the above resources the University has a claim upon 
 Kings College to the amount of £1000 a-year, and it is ex- 
 pected that a liberal grant or endowment will be allowed by 
 the Legislature of Canada. The buildings of Queen's Col- 
 lege are designed to cost £15,000. The institution, which 
 opened its first session in 1840, is at present provided with 
 tem|iorary accommodation. Victoria College, founded at Co- 
 bouig, in connection with the Wesieyan Methodist Confer- 
 ence, was opened two years ago. It is under the superinten- 
 dence of five professors, and includes both a preparatory school 
 and college. In this institution are taught the elementary 
 branches, the Classics, French, Algebra, Mathematics, Conic 
 Sections, Rhetoric, Natural History, Natural Theology ; and 
 
IMPROVING CONDITIOX OF CANADA. 
 
 fi;{ 
 
 courses of lectures are delivered on Chemistry, Natural Philoso- 
 phy, Classical ar d Biblical Literature. There is a commercial 
 (hpartment, intended for boys and young men, who have made 
 some progress in elementary studies, but who are not to engage 
 in the Classical course — avery commendable feature in an insti- 
 tution of this kind, as it is so well adapted to the circumstances 
 of a country like Canada. The pupils of this department have 
 a thorough preparation imparted to them for active busi- 
 ness, either as merchants, engineers, or mechanics. The charges 
 of tuition at Victoria ColUge are for the term of 11 weeks — 
 regular division, £2 currency ; junior division, £1, 10s. ; pre- 
 paratory school, £1 ;>ommercial department, £1 , 5s. Board is 
 charged separately, £22, 6s. currency a-year. This institu- 
 tion, previous to its incorporation as a college, was invested 
 with a corporate character as an academy in 1036, and its 
 history is remarkable as being ' the first institution of the kind 
 established by Royal Charter, unconnected with the Church of 
 England, throughout the British Colonies.' The college is 
 assisted by votes of the Colonial Leglislature. The principal 
 is the Rev. Egerton Ryerson, D.D. 
 
 Such is a sketch of the means of education in Western Canada, 
 and I hope the particulars may not have tired you. I might 
 have been fuller, I '^ xt at the risk of being all too lengthy and 
 tedious, and more brief, but that might have been comparatively 
 us-.cles and unintelligible. The rise of these collegiate institu- 
 tions, which we have glanced at, all within the period of a v3ry 
 few years, is an index of the growing condition of this country, 
 and of a stage in its advancement which very many at home 
 ;ire not aware, I dare say, of its having reached. All along the 
 ■chores of Lake Ontario, where these advanced educational 
 institutions are now in active operation, t'aere appeared, within 
 living remembrance, an unbroken line to the waters' edge of 
 drear silent forest. The gay city of Toronto — with its wealthy 
 shops, stately and crowded churches, paved and gas-lightep 
 streets, public walks, societies, clubs, charitable institutions, 
 
 v- - 
 
h ii'' 
 
 r 
 
 i 1 u 
 
 ] ■ : 
 lit;' 
 
 
 iir' 
 
 
 «4 SINGULAR WANT OF AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION. 
 
 and its 20,000 inhabitants, entitling it to the name of * Queen 
 City of the Lake' — was, but some ten years ago, the small town 
 of York, with 4000 or .5000— < dirty little York' as it was called 
 — so you perceive what was Canada in your Geographies ij« 
 very different from Canada as now existing. 
 
 In leaving the subject of education, one is led to make 
 the remark, how singular it is, that, in a country so purely agri- 
 cultural as Canada, which may fitly enough be compared to one 
 great farm, the trades and professions being but the employed 
 agents of the farmers, there is not in one of its educational in- 
 stitutions means provided for any instruction either in the theor}' 
 or practice of agriculture. The obvious consequence is, that this 
 important art suffers — and it is indeed far behind in Canada— 
 and being more carried on at hap-Uazard than otherwise, its le- 
 gitimate dignity is greatly lost in mere drudgery, uninformed and 
 ])rejudiced. People, whose circumstances will at all allow it, 
 are led to give their sons what is termed a liberal education, 
 which most frequently means, spending some yoai^ upon Latin 
 and Greek, and their being able, in most cases, in after-life, to 
 decline pe/uta, and conjugate afnc, instead of much mon^ 
 honourably, as well as interestingly, employing those mosr 
 precious years to investigate the properties of the hidd<n 
 wealth, wh'ch a bounteous Providence has scattered aroun 
 them for their benefit and pleasure, and their country? 
 prosperity — in its soils and appliances, plants, flowers, forests 
 rocks and minerals. Geology and agricultural chemistry, 
 with th<'ir stores of wonders and wealth-producing facts, the 
 ever-interesting and healthful detiiils of rural husbandry, en- 
 lightened by srif-nre, are alias yet overlooked, where we mit^hf 
 most expect they would hold prominent station. It may be, 
 and every frWnd of CttnaU may well wish, that the day will 
 arrive soon, wlit n professor:- hips of agriculture will be considered 
 indispens;ible in tlM'Univ< rsities, model farms become common 
 in every district, iiiid those elements be taught in the schools, 
 'vhich the future faruier will carry through life, to dignify and 
 
 ijl!:;!; 
 
LAKE-SHORE TOWXSIIIPS. 
 
 65 
 
 make honourable, as well as more prosperous, the occupation 
 on which depends the permanent welfare of his country. We 
 may then see farming, in a great measure, relieved from being 
 so mere a drudgery, and the ambition which over-crowds the 
 towns with unsuccessful lawyers, doctors, and shopkeepers, be 
 more naturally and successfully directed to the pursuit of an 
 enlightened agriculture, healthful and interesting, as it is cal- 
 culated to be honourable and dignified, and on which so much 
 of the future existence of the country, as either wealthy, happy, 
 or great, most surely ultimately depends. 
 
 Having thus taken a view of the state of education through- 
 out Upper or Western Canada, we will now return to the sketch 
 of our district. 
 
 In my letters heretofore, having treated of the district gene- 
 rally, I shall now come to the townships — or, to familiarise the 
 term to you, we may call them parishes — the number of which 
 in the London district, if you remember, I mentioned to be 
 fifteen. Six of these are situated on the banks of Lake Erie, 
 lad lay just about midway up the lake, upon the broadest part 
 of it. Though having in parts close on the lake a somewhat 
 light soil, these townships raise excellent wheat crops. Their 
 names, commencing at the westernmost, are Aldborough, Dun- 
 wich, Southwold , Yarmouth, Malahide, and Bayham. I remem- 
 ber being greatly gratified, in the course of a tour I made 
 through these townships in the summer of 1839, by the lively 
 appearances of cultivation and rising villages constantly strik- 
 ing my attention, where, within living remembrance, wild 
 forests used only to be seen. The Talbot or lake-shore road, 
 which follows the line of the lake— commencing at its foot 
 nea- Fort Erie, and extending to Amherstburgh at its head 
 and onwards—runs through these townships, and an almost 
 constant succession of the settlers' farms fronting each side ot 
 the road meet the traveller's eye. 
 
 The usual scene which the country parts present to one 
 oewly arrived in Canada i:- strikingly novel. You find your- 
 
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 IMfTURF. OF A SEITLKMENT. 
 
 self in a large long opening, or ' clearance,' of about a mile in 
 width, bounded on each side as far as the eye reaches by the 
 tall dark forest, serving as a kind of bold magnificent fringe to 
 the more tame, cultivated, yet somewhat rough-like scene 
 between, with its fields, some of them dotted with 'stumps' like 
 so many dark stone boulders scattered over, at distances from 
 10 to 20 feet apart, and there is the temporary zig-zag rail-fences 
 of these square fields ; and then almost close upon each side of 
 the wide road of about 60 feet, and placed at intervals of every 
 quarter mile or less, rise the settlers' farm-houses, with their 
 huge wooden bams in which they house all their grain ; and 
 there is the primitive, rather rough, unmade road itself, on 
 which you are travelling through this all so novel scene, choos- 
 ing betimes a more leve. grassy bit of this broad road for more 
 easy travel, now wearying your eyes on the long strange vista 
 of the rude forest fringed scene — now admiring a neat white 
 painted cottage of an enterprising settler, with its shrubbery 
 and flowers — again vexed, meeting a slo^enly-looking log- 
 house of some equally indolent people, with the we-^^her- 
 beaten straw-hats mending, with their way, the brok«.'ii win- 
 dows, and neglected children sprawling about the doors. Next 
 you pass the humble little school-house, and the unpretending 
 plain religious meeting-house. Here the eye falls on one slight 
 but touchingly interesting object, a solitary grave-slab (of wood, 
 not stone), meekly rising from the lowly grave-mound near an 
 old established looking settler's homestead, its simple lettered 
 story upon the white painted board telling of one or more 
 breaches in the family since it came there ; and further o)iwar(i, 
 again, in a quiet hollow nook by a clear running streani, you 
 come upon a neatly-fenced square plot, waving with long grass, 
 and the plain and humble monuments, all new-like and of late 
 date, and, but as yet, thinly sprinkled over it. Such is the kind 
 of scene which you often meet in this young New World 
 country. 
 
 Should it be a newer "r more backward settlement vou visit, 
 
SCENE I\ THE BL'SII. 
 
 67 
 
 instead of the wide-cultivated opening and comfortable farn\- 
 limises liereand there, this changed scene, of rougher forest road, 
 with the trees, tall and close, upon each side of you, will only 
 pro-ient now and then, at long intervals, the sign of any sort 
 of dwelling. You come all of a sudden upon .some little log- 
 hoiiJie or shanty, and around it the small plot of an acre or so 
 (if a 'clearance.' The settler has but commenced to fight his 
 way in this wild 'bush.' As you pass, you are all eyes to 
 survey the curious scene,— the pent-up little beginning of a 
 farm, scarce having enough of the breath and light of day amid 
 that over-hanging and surrounding dense forest. Yet, again, 
 looking closer, you do not think, after all, the hermit-place either 
 so lonely or so gloomy as you might suppose. The light smoke 
 rurling up from the humble wooden house, the laugh of the 
 children playing about, the chimes or rather sweet clinking ^A' 
 tho oow-bell, and, uppermost sound and lightsomest sight of nil, 
 the doughty vigorous strokes of the settler's axe making the 
 ^voods all around to ring, or quake, as you would think, in 
 affright of their impending fate. This little ' clearance,' a« 
 they call it, what a very medley of confusion it is ! Stately 
 trees, of beech and elm, that have fallen, with their great 
 green branches broken, spreading their unwieldy lengths across 
 the plot, amid freshly-topped ' stumps,' and lopped branches, and 
 masses of trunks, lying about in all directions, and of all sizes. 
 One would think that the bushman, ere he made a ' clearance' 
 of this yet, would have enough to do. But he has encourage- 
 ments cheerfully to persevere. You observe among the fallen 
 trees, and confusion of branches, and remains of trunks, the 
 vigorous fresh appearance of the grass, the scatterings of 
 hjxuriant wild-flowers, and even the weeds — all which tell, 
 along with the great growth of those beeches, eVnns, and 
 maples, of the fertility of the soil did even the small patches of 
 torn surface not show you the rich black mould itself. So 
 fheered with all this and more, the stout-hearted axeman will 
 < 'It up, and collect into hvMips, and burn thi* confusion of wood, 
 
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 TRAVELLING Til ROUGH THK BUSH. 
 
 and in no longtime, too, will make a thorough ' clearance ;' and 
 thus enlarging his plot, and fighting his way into the woods, 
 his hopes will be kept up respecting the future farm, and its 
 reward to him in after years, for his own toilsome beginnings, 
 and the family's privations and hermitage in the *bush.' 
 Having so noted the more prominent features of the secluded 
 scene, pursuing your journey, you find yourself once more 
 between the boundary of forest close upon each side. And 
 when, amid other thoughts, you have at length allowed to pass 
 from your mind the clearance of the bold and hardy bush- 
 settler, yon have suddenly your attention arrested to listen to 
 a slow rustling noise, in the distance backward, as if among 
 the leaves high over-head in the forest — it is one of the trees 
 falling beneath our settler's axe : the rustling among the leaves 
 and lesser branches continues on the ear, and becomes more 
 rapid and distinct, and next a crash-crash-ing among the 
 larger branches as it goes, making way for itself through al! 
 obstacles, till — resounding through the whole forest — the giant 
 thundering falls, awakening all the echoes. 
 
 Advancing onw\ards again between the solitary woods, your 
 observation is restricted to note the lesser, yet not always 
 unpleasing detail, which the forest-road furnishes. Having 
 got into a tract of 'pine woods,' we may continue for miles 
 without seeing a house, there being little in the light sandy 
 soil, which pine trees ever indicate to invite settlers, and, 
 besides, the resinous roots of the pine remain so many years 
 in the ground until they decay, to the great annoyance of the 
 farmer. A border of scrubby brushwood, and younger trees of 
 several sorts, stretch along each side of the road, and give 
 relief to the dark tou ering pines, rising with their straight and 
 massy trunks to the height of from 100 to 150 feet ! Some o' 
 them you may perceive by the numerous tapped |holes froin 
 the bill of the wood-pecker, like riddlings of buck-shot against tl r 
 forest giants, which tell of long age and the decay going on within 
 the great trunks. And hear, the hollow tap-tap of the strong-bille i 
 
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 TRAVELLING THKOUGII THE BUSH. 
 
 CD 
 
 bird, himself hopping pertly round and round the trees, in the 
 pride of his pay coat of purple and white, and glossy hlack. 
 Among the slender trees of the bush-road border — which has been 
 formed on each side of the road by there having been a line of 
 pines removed to admit the free circulation of air — there is a 
 clusrcrinp of the wild May cherry, with its small white flowers 
 ill full blossom ; and young shnibby pines, larches and cedars 
 interspersed, appearing above the long grass ; clumps of light 
 poplar, the tiny leaves fresh blown, and fluttering in the gentle, 
 almost still, air ; the more robust balsam poplar, called here 
 the balm of Gilead tree for the repute of its buds, an infusion 
 of which being esteemed as a bitter ; and, scattering among all, 
 are various sorts of bushes, brambles, and raspberries ; and a 
 little off the edge of the road, free from the intrusion of tramp- 
 ling feet, there is the wild-bush lily in its pure white, and now 
 and then, more or less, tinted with delicate peach hue ; and 
 nearer to the road and shielding itself, close by the stump of 
 an old pine, that brave little flower, showing itself early and 
 near to trodden paths, the wild violet, or heart's case. Such 
 is a specimen of the kind of road-side objects with which, in 
 the new interior parts of Canada., you have to gratify your 
 observation in the manner you best can as you journey along. 
 
 You may meet at times laden waggons with merchandise for 
 the country stores onwards in the interior, or returning with 
 loads of wheat or other produce, to one of the Lake harbours. 
 Or the object you meet maybe an antiquated lumbering stage- 
 coach, lurching amid the deep ruts, or wending slowly through 
 the heavy sand of the roads, or thump thumping over the suc- 
 cession of round logs, laid crossways, forming the ' corduroy- 
 road,' or, it may be, winding up the side of a deep ravine, the 
 chief of the passengers out walking, to ease the horses, and 
 to stretch themselves ; or the mail-stage, for such it is with its 
 four fine animals of horses, may be scudding along upon some 
 smooth even surfcice, the young driver-lad whistling and talking 
 to his horses, calling each by its name, aud smacking about, and 
 
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 curving, in the pride of his art, his long-lash whip. \ au will 
 meet with few foot passengers, possibly a Scotch plouj^hnian or 
 tradesman, with knapsack or bundle upon his stiifF, and slung over 
 his shoulder, travelling in search of employment. Or you may 
 meet a Highland family from Argyleshire (there being many <it 
 them in Canada, and comfortably settled), trudging cheerfully 
 on their way— some of them walking, and some riding— to join 
 some friends, who wrote home to them of their well-doing, and 
 invited them out. The father and one of the eldest sons, tra- 
 vel a little way a-head of the rest, who, seated on the top ot 
 a waggon above their baggage of huge chests, barrels, and bed- 
 ding, are coming up behind. Now this family, who perhaps in 
 Argyleshire could only manage to scrape the barest subsist- 
 ence, will, most probably — before ten years pass, if sober and 
 persevering, and though they may have next to nothing to begin 
 with now — be proprietors of a good farm, yielding them ail 
 comfortable subsistence. 
 
 But it is time now I were thinking how long I have digressed 
 from our more immediate subject, these townships of the Lon- 
 don district, situated along the shore of Lake Erie, which w t- 
 were surveying. 
 
 The size of farms throughout Canada is generally about 20i) 
 acres, and a great number of the settlers have from 40 to 50 
 acres, and some 100 acres, under cultivation, with convenient 
 barns and comfortable houses. The most populous of our Lake 
 Erie townships is Yarmouth, which contains about 4000 inha- 
 bitants, who own above 1G,000 acres of cultivated land, upwards 
 of GOO horses, above 1000 horned cattle, and about 1500 milch 
 cows. The description of houses of almost all is that which, 
 in the absence of brick or stone, is considered in Canada mo-t 
 comfortable and respectable — the fiamc-housc. The squattti s 
 shanty, you know, is of rough round logs plastered with clay ( r 
 lime ; the next improvement is the scjuared log-house, and most 
 comfortable dwellings these are, fully as much, I believe, as any 
 stone house can be. But the respectable frame-house is the 
 
CiARDKXS. 
 
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 fiunily's ambition, and no wronder, for with its white or stone 
 painted appearance, and not unfrequently its verandah, with 
 crt'opinq vines and flowers, and shrubbery in the small front 
 plot, it looks really respectable and pleasant. You may see 
 sucli a picture frequently in the towns where the houses helon<r 
 to merchants, successful tradesmen, and others in easy circum- 
 stances; but I am sorry that it is only here and there met in 
 the country, in instances of the more enterprising or more for- 
 tunate than the majority of their neighbours. The regret is 
 freiiuently expressed that Canadian farmers do not •^how greater 
 tastr for flowers, and keep the exterior of their houses and their 
 j/anlens neater, and more ornamental, than is generally done. 
 I join in the regret as much as any can, but wherever there is 
 exjdauation it ought to follow the blame, and in this case the 
 latter attaches more to circumstances than individuals. In a 
 young and wild country, where a man had to battle with the 
 forest for his bread, and not until arriving at, or being beyond 
 middle age, he finds himself more at ease, is he greatly blame- 
 able that he does not exercise a taste which he never before 
 had opportunities to cultivate ? There is something, too, in this, 
 that in old countries, where most people are content *to have 
 the two ends of the year meet,' wnth a moderate round of com- 
 forts, the mind has more repose, and the inclination conse- 
 quently greater, to cultivate the tastes and lesser pleasures. 
 In young and rapidly rising countries, the chances of gain being 
 greater, and each successive step of success being but an added 
 stimulus to the mind, it thus becomes too much engrossed in 
 hirger views to attend to the detail of taste and the under- 
 growth of pleasures, which are attendant on more settled and 
 older communities. Canada, however, already is fast improving 
 in this respect. There was established about two years ago, 
 on the outskirts of the town of London, a pretty fairly stocked 
 nursery by two intelligent and spirited Englishmen ; and tiiis 
 (ihe first thing of the kind, if I am not mistaken, in this western 
 I>art of Canada) now supplies the inhabifcmts with the most 
 appiv^ved varieties of fruit-trees, shrubs, and flower-:. 
 
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72 
 
 UARBOUKS OF LAKK KUIH. 
 
 The lake-shore townships we were spciking of, are favourt i 
 with as good natural harbours ati there are along the wholo 
 north shore of Lake Erie — the best, perhaps, if we except thf 
 Grand River near the foot, and the Rondeau towards the head 
 of the lake. Port Stanley, in the township of Southwold, is 
 the chief harbour of the district. Its distance from the town 
 of London, you will remember I mentioned, was twenty-fivo 
 miles. It is situated at the mouth of a narrow but rather full 
 and deep stream, where it approaches the lake, and cuts the 
 high sand-banks. Substantial stone piers are now being com- 
 pleted at the expense of the province; and the present little 
 village, with its half-dozen shops, church, and mills, bids fair 
 — should it not be cramped by the narrow policy of those 
 holding the land on its site — to be at no distant time a place 
 of considerable importance. The revenue from duties on im- 
 ports from the United States, collected here in 1839, ranked 
 the fourth largest in the Upper Province, having amounted to 
 £1163 currency, or upwards of £900 sterling. Toronto, 
 which collected nearly £5000 sterling, was the highest, and 
 next, Kingston and Hamilton. A steam-boat runs regularly 
 between Port Stanley and the opposite A merican port of 
 Buffalo, thus affording a good means of conveyance for the 
 numbers of persons who take the New York route forCanadn, 
 proceeding up the Hudson river to Albany, and thence to 
 Buffalo by canal or railroad. Having started from New York 
 in a morning by steam-boat to Albany, and choosing the rail- 
 road to Buffalo, persons may find themselves on the third day 
 in the London district in Canada. 
 
 The other harbours of the district are Port Burwell in Bay- 
 ham township, and Port Talbot in Dunwich ; the first situated 
 down and the other up the lake from Port Stanley. Port Bur- 
 well is an agreeably situated village upon the elevated banks 
 of the lake, with a full deep stream, having prettily wooded 
 banks, flowing past it. This stream, called the Big Otter Creek, 
 is navigable, with a depth of twelve feet, for about two miles 
 
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RESIDENTr: OF COLONKL TALBOT. 
 
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 up, where there is the siiuill viU;ij;c of Vienna, silnatnl in a 
 wiiiiling and pleasant valley. There are several mills here, 
 and a liinihcrin'j; business is carried on with the United States 
 by means of scliooners, which take their earf^oes of j>ine boardH 
 t) t'le opposite port of Cleveland, in the state of Ohio. Port 
 Talbot, as you may know, is in the vicinity of the residence of 
 the eelebrated and eccentric Colonel Talbot, to whose exer- 
 tions and example, since he settled in a wilderness here about 
 f )rty years ago, considerable merit is due for the change the 
 set lu' has undergone into clusterings of farms and villages. 
 Tlli^ spot of the Colonel's residence is romantic and beautifully 
 nituii'ed— one possessing greater natural beauties, and more 
 rciiiinding me of the sites of the linest seats at home, than any 
 I liad seen in Canada. It was a delightful summer day on which 
 1 visited it; and entering by a prepossessing gateway leading 
 otf the good main road, I found myself in a spacious, noble- 
 looking avenue. As far as I could see, there was the wide road 
 wiih its grassy margin, and overhanging and bordering each 
 eidewas the luxuriant and shady recesses of the tall, deep, old 
 ftrost. I dn "d th* reins on my pony's neck, and the ex(]uisite 
 iiungery of e of those rich portions of Spencer's Fai-ry Queen 
 flowing on Hi recollect on, translated this far western spot of 
 vijung Canada luto a scene of hallowed old English ground: — 
 
 • A shady grove * * * 
 AN'hose lofty trees, 'yclad with summer's pride, 
 Did spread so broad, that hoMven's light did hide.' 
 
 Here, methouj^lit, might have been the fair Una, when 
 
 * One day, tii'h Vtiary of t! irksome wjiy, 
 From liev unlmsty beast she did aliglit ; 
 And on the gm^s her dainty limbs did lay, 
 In oecret shadow, far from all men's sight ; 
 I'roin her fair hair her fillet she imdight, 
 And laid her stole a^-ido : her angel's face. 
 As the great eye of Heaven, shined bright. 
 And 
 
 made a sunshine in the slndy place ; 
 Did never mortal eye behold such heavenly grace. 
 
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 THE FUTURE OF CANADA. 
 
 Having reached a winding of the avenue, I was led by a 
 gentle ascent and crescent-sweep to a view of the open grounds, 
 where sheep and horned cattle were grazing in numbers. 
 Descending into a flat grassy vale through which a stream 
 flowed, I crossed a bridge ; and on gaining the top of the 
 opposite bank, a range of a fine park presented it^self, and at 
 its extremity^ overlooking the lake, I perceived the dwelling of 
 the old Colonel. I was struck by the grand view of the lake 
 here ; in a little I found myself standing on the edge of the 
 lofty and steep bank overlooking the expanse of waters, with- 
 out speck or ruffle, as they were thiit day, and a light haze 
 bounding the farthest view. The slight motion of the lake 
 laving the foot of the bank was all — as I stood some moments 
 entranced by the scene, with its calm stillness — that fell upon 
 the ear. While turning towards the humble hermit-dwelling 
 of the man with bold heart and nerve, who had subdued a 
 mighty wilderness, and saw growing up around him the begin- 
 nings of a new country he had aided so to plant — the flitting 
 fani 'es of an imagination winging into the far future, pre- 
 sented, instead of the homely cottage, a magnificent mansion, 
 and all detail in keeping with the noble-looking grounds, and 
 the grandeur of the expanded lake. I thought I could con- 
 ceive, too, looking along its shores, the distant rising of smoke 
 as if from a mighty city. But the views vanished, and the 
 regret came instead — who has not had such a regret ? — that 
 one could not live to see the full growth of those beginnings, 
 he could only, when having to part with them for ever, witness 
 the early healthful promises. 
 
 I directed my steps towards the exceedingly plain dwelling 
 of the Colonel, who, with his man JaflFrey, I found at home. 
 You have heard, I daresay, something of Colonel Talbot's gruff 
 manners and eccentric habits, and you have had the kindly- 
 hearted Mrs Jameson represent him more lavourably. I dis- 
 like being the retailer of gossip where it serves no worth pur- 
 pose, but in its spirit and tendency causing imperfect details 
 
 
ling 
 
 TOWN OK ST THOMAS. 
 
 to 
 
 to take the place of fuller and healthier views. This I knovr 
 best of Colonel Talbot, that the two chief towns of the district, 
 London and St Thomas, vie vith each other which shall most 
 worthily celebrate the anniversary of his birth. In London this 
 past winter we had a gay ball in honour of the event^ at which 
 townspeople and country folks of all parties, joined by the 
 officers of two regiments comprising the garrison, kept it mer- 
 rily up, and the old man himself — I daresay over seventy now 
 — tripped about as lightly as any. The good people of St 
 Thomas Jind around it, which is more in the neighbourhood of 
 the Colonel, never miss ' The Talbot Anniversary ' a single 
 year, but keep the day as one specially marked out. 
 
 I trust that you forgive me this long digression, and I assure 
 you the subject is one which a sketch of the London district 
 ought well to bear, and would be imperfect without. Indeed 
 the name, beside the Talbot, is one much connected with the 
 earliest histories of the district. It was a Talbot, and of Irish 
 birth too, who first settled London township. 
 
 With a passing notice now of St Thomas, the chief town of 
 the Lake-shore townships, I will have to close this rather 
 lengthy letter. 
 
 St Thomas, in Southvvold township, occupies an elevated 
 platform, formed by the steep banks of the Kettle Creek, and 
 is distant eight miles from Port Stanley, and seventeen from 
 London. The population may be about a thousand. There 
 are several churches, numbers of good shops, and the agencies 
 of two banks are established. There was a disastrous fire 
 occurred in it the winter before last, which destroyed a portion 
 of the most valuable quarter of the town, in the chief street 
 where business is carried on ; but it will be the means, most 
 likely, of substituting brick buildings for wooden. One very 
 large brick building has been erected for a store by Mr John 
 M'Kay, who came from Scotland a number of years ago, and 
 settled here. Mr M'Kay 's store, which is completed in the 
 most substantial manner, with stone-built cellars, firc-proof 
 
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 76 
 
 hCTKS. 
 
 sat'fs, and in general appearance much like your own town 
 hhops, is the largest, I believe, in the district ,and affords somo 
 token of the growth and enterprise of this quarter of Western 
 Canada. 
 
 Having not overtaken the town:^hips of the interior, I shall 
 have to defer some notice of them to my next ktier. 
 
 if 
 
 is 
 
 II 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 7 >;■■ ' ■ 
 
 New School Act. 
 
 A new Act for the support of common school eilucation in Westeru 
 Cuiiiula, which passed during the last session of the Colonial Legislature, 
 remedies the more obvious defects of the measure of 1S41. This Act, 
 besides, contemiilates the establishment of a provincial normal ,and county 
 model schools, for the training of teachers, and for the diffusion of a 
 uniform system of teaching throughout the country. It also provides fc>r 
 the appointment of a superintendent of education in each county and 
 town, besides continuing the office of Chief Superintemdent for Western 
 ('anada. The duties of these county and town superintendents cliitHy 
 consist in exercising a general supervision of the schools within thtir 
 jurisdiction, and acting as a check upon school trustees in the appointment 
 of teachers. Having a reference to the employment of United States citi- 
 Bens as teachers in Canada, which prevailed to a considerable extent in the 
 province, the local superintendents arc not allowed ' to grant any certificate 
 to any person as a teacher of a common school, who shall not be a na- 
 tural born or naturalised subject of her Majesty.' A result of this new 
 net will be a general improvement in the state of education throughout 
 C'ai?!i<la. I'rom recent intelligence received, the authorities cnipowered to 
 Buperiuteiid tlie worldng of the measure are actively astir, and efficient 
 teachers ajipear to be much wanted. The warden of the London dis- 
 trict, John Wilson, Esq., an enlightened friend of education, in an ad- 
 dress opening the last May session of the District Council, stated, that 
 i JM tttUng schools of a respectable class in operation, much difficulty has 
 
NOTK'i. 
 
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 ojen experioncod in procuring efricicnt teachers, an<l if the same diMiiand 
 for them exi.-its in other parts of the province, wo cannot ohtain goovl ones 
 for more f.lian half on ■ schools. To obviate this difficulty, I have to sug- 
 gest the propriety of estahlishing at once a Model School, such as the Act 
 contemplates, in which instruction will he given almost free to any num- 
 ber of persons having for their object the acquisition of such an education 
 as will qualify them for teacliers. ' 
 
 UNivcnsirY Bill. 
 
 In connection with the remark made respecting the probability of tlie 
 restrictive character of the charter of the University of King's College 
 being modified, it may he mentioned that a bill was introduced during 
 the same last session of the Provincial Legislature, which passed the New 
 School Act, and under the auspices of the (iovernment — the principle of 
 wliich, it is said, ' has been approved of by the leading members of tiit- 
 various denominations in Upper Canada, and by the great body of the 
 poi)iilation, including many intelligent and liberal-minded members of 
 the Church of Kngland." The measure met also with considerable oppo- 
 sition, and has for the present been posti)oned. 
 
 American Books axd Teacheiis in Canada. 
 
 V>}ule travelling between the towns of Cobourg, situated on Lake '>n- 
 tiuio, and Belleville, at tlie head of the Bay of Quinte, I had an oppor- 
 tunity of coming in contact with a young man, who, in the course of con- 
 versation, became known to me as a citizen of the State of New Yorii, 
 and a teacher of one of our Government common schools in Canada. It 
 was a pleasant May morning, when, having started from the neat, quiet- 
 looking town of Cobourg, in the light open mail waggon, with a pair of 
 horses, I found the only companion of my journey, besides the driver, 
 was a young man, who, from his appearance, might be from 18 to 22. 
 years of age. After having busily occupied myself observing with satis- 
 faction the substantial and respectable stone-built houses and pretty 
 church, which adorn the eastern end of the town we were passing througli. 
 .and the well- cultivated country beyond, with its ornamental scattering of 
 trees, so unlike this new country, and so like home, I was recalled from 
 my busy train of obsen'ations by an animated conversation between the 
 driver and my fellow passenger. The topic was the Toronto races, 
 which had just taken place, and irom which my fellow passenger was now 
 returning, after having, as it appeared, taken particularly minute inte- 
 rest in them. He was describing to the driver the various horses which 
 ran, vrith their respective successes or failures, and ail with such easy mi- 
 liuteaess, and use of the phraseology common to the turf and the stable. 
 
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 tliat I was tempted to speculate within myself as to wha; prcfession or 
 cmiiloymont my companion belonged to. lie had in his tall\ and general 
 itumner that i)ert vivacity which uneducated Americans sho.v, and wa« 
 jutiier resi)ectably dressed, somewliat between the style of a farmer's son 
 in his best suit, and a town's youth in easy circumstances. My curiosity 
 was soon set at rest, f'^r my fellow traveller proved to be a communicative 
 \oung American, and, lilie the generality of his countrymen, conversed 
 respecting his own affairs in a very free manner, and became rather an 
 agreeable road-companion. He belonged, as he mentioned, to the State 
 of Now Yorlt, and had come to Canada uppn a visit to his friends ; and 
 f.irtlier on in conversation, it appeared that, by the advice of his friends, 
 he had consented to become a teacher in Canada, in which capacity, in 
 one of the Government common schools of a neighbouring township, he 
 bad l)een for some time acting. Making inquiries respecting the result 
 of his experience and observation, which his occupation might have af- 
 forded, I was very particular to watch (from what 1 frequently before 
 heard rumoured regarding the matter) what this young man would tell 
 me of the nature of the books used in his school. The result proved what . 
 indeed, I had feared it would — they were all pure American publications 
 in print and authorship ; most probably the same kind of works which had 
 been used by the youth himself at the Government schools of the neigh- 
 bouring Republic, in the State of New York ; — American spelling-books, 
 American grammars, American dictionaries, American histories,— some 
 one's History of the United States, from the discovery of Columbus to the 
 conclusion of the last tear with Great Britain in 1S15, with continuation , 
 
 fSfC, to the Presidency of , Sfc. ^e. While this catalogue of the course 
 
 of instruction for some portion of the youth of our British provinces was 
 being gone over, I could not help, as one naturally might, being led into 
 a train of unpleasant feelings and curious speculation. I felt relieved, 
 however, by considering that the case was now-a-days not so bad as it once 
 ?vas, and that the growing spirit and intelligence, shown in various forms 
 of improvement in the country, would most likely soon be able to remedy 
 a state of things which substituted a knowledge, and, in some degree, a 
 regard for political institutions, of a character very opposite to those which 
 slioiild prevail and be cherished in this noble colony. To understand fully 
 the objections to persons from the United States teaching in Canada, and 
 to their books being used, it is to be remem.bered, among other considera- 
 tions, that in the books of geography and maps of the Republic, its own 
 territories, to even its small villages, are minutely described and displayed 
 on a scale of disproportioned advantage to the little known and undescribed 
 stripe of their frontier country, Canada ; that in the histories which the 
 United States people have most in use, there are an undue and peculiarly 
 
 i 
 
 V 
 
NOTES. 
 
 :.') 
 
 strong, though it mnybeanatural enough, bias to Iheirown institutions, ar.d 
 .1 conspicuous illibemlity to our luouarchical principles, which they threw 
 aside, and against whicli their still too popular war party talie frequent op- 
 portunities to rail ;— and that in the mass of their literature there is obser- 
 vable an iuiporfect and a vitiated taste, cornipting, with rashly coined words, 
 tlie vigoui and beauty of the language. The influence to which the schools 
 of our colony have been exposed from all this, and in the absence of otJier 
 books and other teachers than Canada has had all too long, may ver>' 
 easily be conceived. And had it not been that the use of either United 
 .States teachers or books more arose from necessity than any free choice, 
 and has been somewhat counteracted by the very hearty dislikes and preju- 
 dices being not altogether one-sided — as such near neighbours have pretty 
 uninterruptedly kept up their mutual enmity ever since the violent and 
 bloody quarrels of the old revolutionary and last wars— individuals who 
 know Cana<la would not have to note, as they cannot but do, the attach- 
 ment and determined loyalty which, under many disadvantages, the 
 people of Canada display towards the constitution and crown of England. 
 
 The LAKE-bHORE Townships. 
 
 The range of these six townships of the London district, lying along 
 the shore of Lake Eiie, occupying a line of fifty miles or more, about 
 midway up the lake, each having a frontage of from five to ten miles, 
 and extending backwards from ten to twelve miles, — contains a popula- 
 tion of between 11,000 and 12,000, with 52,000 acres of cultivated land. 
 Along the line there are five natural creeks or harbours, and a spacious 
 l)ay, Alborough Bay ; yet the only good safe artificial harbour at present 
 in a complete state of repair is Port Stanley. The River Thames forms 
 the northern boundary of the two most westerly townships, Aldborougli 
 and Dunwich, and part of South wold. 
 
 Aldborouok. — The population of this township is about 700, about 500 
 of whom are returned in the census as belonging to the Church of Scot- 
 land [in 1841] ; the rest are chiefly Baptists and Methodists. The occupied 
 land amounts to about 16,000 acres, above 3000 of which are under cul- 
 tivation. The soil is described as being of first quality, marly and sandy 
 alternately, and well timbered with maple, beech, elm, black walnut, 
 and other woods as are the received test of good soils. 
 
 Dunwich— lias a population a little above 700, the larger half of 
 whom are Baptists and members of the Church of England. The num- 
 ber of occupied acres is above 28,000, not quite 3000 of which are under 
 cuHivation. It is in this township Colonel Talbot has his residence, 
 upon the flue high bank, of about 120 feet overlooking the lake, and 
 
 
 
X 
 
 a) 
 
 NOTES, 
 
 •'t 
 
 ■M,|,!! 
 
 where ho ilist settled in ISOH, 'nt which time there was not a white in- 
 hulfitJiDt within sixty iuilea on the oast, and seventy-five miles on the 
 wfst.' It was not until I80i)-10, however, that the rrovincial Kxecutive 
 wore i>rev:iilu(l to lay ojten the country for settleuient, and then only 
 partially. 'I ho soil, like that of Aldborough, is doscrihed as being of 
 the lirL.t (luality. Mr Uicharda, a (iovernnient Commissioner, travelling 
 through it in ls;'iO, and writing to Sir George Murray, then Colonial Secre- 
 tary, si)caks thus of it : — ' From Otter Creek [in Jiayhaiu the eastern- 
 most township of the district] to Colonel Talbot's, the lands and croju 
 were as line as possible, and the growth of the woods of the very first 
 quality.' Owing, most probably, however, to the large grant or reserve 
 allowed to Colonel Talbot for his services in settling Uie surrounding 
 country, the population of Dunwich township has not much increased 
 since 1817, when there were computed to be 500 inhabitatts. There art- 
 some quarries of limcstouc, and good earth for brick. 
 
 SouTun-oLij.— Population a little ahove 2000, stated in tho official re- 
 turns as being composed pretty equally of the various religious bodies. 
 but the census is believed to be imperfect in this respect, a return of the 
 whole not being made. A la,rge proportion of the inhabitants are native 
 Canadians, many of Dutch origin, -.vith a considerable number of Eng- 
 lish and other Europeans. The fine stream of Kettle Creek, upon which 
 Port Stanley and the town of St Thomas is situated, nms tlirough tlii-s 
 township. Soil similar to Dunwich and Aldborough, marly, and diver- 
 sified with sandy loam and clay alternately. Thei-e are above 48,flOU 
 occupied acres, above 14,000 of which are cultivated. 
 
 Yarmouth. — Population nearly 4000; occupied acres above 57,000, 
 above 10,000 of which are cultivated. A similar remark respecting the 
 origin of the inhabitants applies to this township as to those of South - 
 wold. Soil, black sandy loam ; timbered with beech, maple, black and 
 white walnut, oak, ash, cherry, &c. Well watereu with fine streams. 
 
 Malahide. — Population a little over 2000, the greater number Metho- 
 dists, Haptists, and members of the Church of England. Above IHO are 
 returned as Quakera ; a considerable proportion are Americans, Occu- 
 pied acres above 43,000, above 9000 of which are cultivated. Soil, loam 
 and clay, and well watered. Cattish Creek, a deep full stream, for some 
 distance from its mouth, runs through this township ; and the village of 
 Jamestown is situated near it in a very pretty hollow, where there used 
 to be many mills employed. There are within the township four flour 
 and eleven saw mills. There is a great deal of uncultivated or forest land 
 belonging to absentee proprietors in Malahide, and this circumstance has 
 retarded its settlement and cultivation. A considerable proportion of tU<» 
 
 ' ■ 's 
 
 ' - 5 
 
NOTES. 
 
 81 
 
 inhftl)itaiits .iro Aniericani, Dngaged iu t!»e timber trade, wliicli trmle 
 chit'Hy employs the saw mills. 
 
 H.vYiiAM. — Population about the same as Malahide, being a littlo 
 ftbovo 2(MM), the greater proportion of whom are returned as belonging to 
 the Church of Hngland, Methodists and Haptists, with about 200 Tresby- 
 teriiins, and several Quakers. Occupied acres above IJ«i,0()(>, (KlOO of which 
 are cultivated. Soil not quite so good in parts as iu the other townships, 
 yet a good deal of loam and clay. Of the timber grown there are largo 
 quantities of pine, but also maple, ash, black waliu:t, diH'erent kinds of 
 oak, chestnut, and cherry. The fine streams of the Little and (Ireat Otter 
 nm through Hayham, and the agreeably situated village of Port Bur- 
 well is [ilaced at the mouth of the latter, upon the high banks of the 
 Like. The situation of Port Hurwell is allowed to be much more plea- 
 sant for a town than any otlicr i)lacG on Lake Erie ; and from the fulness 
 of the stream, a finer harbour, it is believed, could be formed than even 
 at Port Stanley. IJut it is said that a short-sighted, illiberal policy with 
 the proprietors of land at Port Hurwell and its vicinity lias hindered the 
 qrowth of the locality ; the Indifferent cpiality of much of the land would 
 no doubt too greatly opemte. A hirge trade in pine timber, sawu into 
 boards, is capable of being carried on here, for the supply of the oppo- 
 site State of Ohio, about (JO or 70 miles across tho lake. 
 
 The total number of occupied acres in these townships is 2.*?0,000, 
 52,000 of which, it has been stated, arc under cultivation. Calculating 
 each township to contain the average quantity of Gl,f>00 acres, these 
 townships will contain in all about 370, (MM) acres ; so that there yet re- 
 mains to be occupied between 100,000 and 200,000 acres. The amount 
 of the official valuation of property within the townships is about £ 190,000 
 currency, or upwards of £ 15.'>,000 sterling. Tlie real value will probably 
 amount to at least between £200,000 and £.300,000 sterling, and the 
 whole amount of assessed taxes paid by these eleven or twelve thousand 
 inhabitants does not reach to £1000, or is only about Is. 6d. a-year to 
 each inhabitant ; and the greater part of this is expended for local pur- 
 poses within the district by the popularly elected body of the District 
 ( ouiicil. Tho Government of Canada is chiefly supported by a customs' 
 duty of 5 per cent, levied upon British goods imported, and also a mode- 
 rate duty upon imports from the United States. 
 
 ;! 
 
 i 
 
 If- 
 
l, i, If. » 
 
 ,.i ■ r 
 
 82 
 
 lOWNSMIPS OF Tin: INTKUIOR. 
 
 SI . 
 
 
 FIFTH LETTER. 
 
 Townsliips of the Interior — Scotch Settlement in Westminster — Delaware, 
 the I'irst Settled Township of the District— Story of its Early Settle- 
 n»eut — First Settlement of Canada — Niagara, Ancaster, Long Point 
 Country — Expedition of Adventurers dow the River Thames — Scenery 
 and Soil along the Banks — The Travellers halt for rest — A Forest 
 Scene — Illustration of the Land-granting System of Canada in the 
 History of Delaware — Remedy recently adopted of Taxing Unoccupied 
 Lands — Township of London — Its First Settlement and Progress— 
 Present Comfortable Condition of the Settlers. 
 
 Notes: — Niagara — Long Point Country — Townships of the Interior. 
 
 London, Canada, 1843. 
 
 I GAVE you some account in my last of the six townships of 
 this district which stretch along the shore of Lake Erie. These 
 we called the lake-shore townships— the remaining nine, the 
 district being composed of fifteen, we will, for the sake of 
 greater distinctness, name the townships of the interior. Of 
 these I will now proceed to give some slight notices, for I fear 
 lest I stray too much into detail, and should weary you even 
 on a subject so interesting as that of this new country. 
 
 Immediately back from the six lake townships, and com- 
 mencing at the westeramost, are Mosa, Ekfrid, Carradoc, 
 

 SCOTCH SKTTLKMKNT. 
 
 0.1 
 
 Delaware, Westminster, and Dorchester ; and the rrniaininf^ 
 three, back of these again, are Adelaide, Loho, and London. 
 The most popuhms of these first six, which compose the 
 middle ranj^e of the district, and possessing, perhaps, the 
 richest soil, is Westminster. This township received its first 
 inhabitants in IMU ; in 1817 there were 107 houses and 
 42IJ people. The last published official returns for 1H41 show 
 a population of 2GH0, possessing 12,059 cultivated acres, 800 
 oxen and horned cattle from two to four years old, 1117 
 milch cows, and 444 horses, besides four grist mills, two 
 saw mills, three distilleries, and two stores ; but in giving 
 these two last, the distilleries and stores, the vicinity of the 
 town of London is to be taken into account, the south branch 
 of the River Thames flowing past the town, being the northern 
 boundary of Westminster. The assessed valuation of pro- 
 perty within the township (a valuation much under the real 
 one, as you remember I formerly stated) is about £30,000 
 sterling. The soil for the most part is of a marly loam, the 
 surface undulating, in places gradually rising to upwards of 
 100 feet, I would say, above the level of the Thames. One 
 part of this township is settled wholly by inhabitants from 
 Scotland, and receives the name of the Scotch settlement. 
 This settlement forms the greater part of a respectable con- 
 gregation in connection with the United Associate Synod of 
 Scotland, who meet in the town of London under the pastoral 
 charge of the Rev. William Proudfoot, who formerly held a mi- 
 nisterial charge in the Carse of Gowrie in Perthshire, and has 
 resided in this quarter with his large family these many years. 
 The next in the middle range of townships inviting atten- 
 tion is Delaware. This is the oldest township in the district, 
 the first settlers having entered it in 1 795. The village of 
 Delaware is one of the prettiest spots in all Canada. It is 
 situated on the great provincial road, fourteen miles south-west 
 of London, and has been the scene of many a merry pic-nic 
 party made up from the families of the garrison and the town. 
 
 I • 
 
 
 I..- 
 
84 
 
 STORY 01' THK DAHLY SKTTLERS. 
 
 i' 
 
 ( 'oinu'ctfd vvitli the first settlemoiit of Deluwau', there is a 
 driMh of romantic novflty which will sotnewhat interest you, 
 who, like myself, delight to preserve those characteristic cir- 
 cumstances in the settlement of a new country. Ujiper (Ca- 
 nada, you know, first hej^an to he peopled in 17JI4 — the whole 
 of it then was one vast forest. Niagara, situated on that 
 finely salubrious neck of land between the head of Lake On- 
 tario p.nd the foot of J^ake Eric, was one of the first settlements, 
 as was also a similarly favoured tract of country some little 
 way up Lake Erie, included now in the Talbot district, and 
 familiarly called Long Point country. These two places wen* 
 among the first foot-holds of the early settlers. The next 
 Bteppings forth into the interior were directed to the spot 
 where now stands the pleasantly situated village of Ancaster, 
 seven miles west of Hamilton, at the head of Lake Ontario. 
 Soon after this first settlement of Ancaster, some members of 
 the families who had removed there, pushing young men, con- 
 ceived an expedition still farther into the country. The love 
 of adventure, and the novelty of exploring a new country, 
 would readily favour the idea of a trading speculation with the 
 Indians ; and off on this errand set the party westward, with 
 some stores of tobacco, whiskey, calicoes, knives, and trinkets. 
 Having reached so far as Oxford, on one of the branches of 
 the River Thames, east of London, they determined proceeding' 
 down the river in a canoe ; and so loosening their well-laden 
 little bark to the current, away went the adventurers adown 
 the winding and rapid Thames, beautifully wooded along its 
 banks, the tangling brushwood and graceful sweeping willow 
 overhanging its many bends and pleasant nooks. Steering 
 around many a lengthened curve, and by the small, low, wooded 
 islands — some like clumps of trees alone rising from the 
 water -now between banks, with their bold steeps of rich black 
 and clayey loam, crowned by the luxuriant forest; next would 
 open the fertile flats of meadow-land, more thinly wooded with 
 the stately and widely branching sycamore, and hero and 
 
'\ 
 
 t , 
 
 FOIUIST AND lUVr:il StENlUY. 
 
 (\!i 
 
 there willows nnd bushos of aider, with the wild vino twin- 
 in*,' about tlu'Mi, tluMi l)fndijifj: o\t'r and diiipiiif: into tin* niarjzia 
 of the clear lively stream. Tired »)f the watchful steering,' and 
 fending of thi'ir course down a raj)id stream, without opportu- 
 iiitv sutVicient to mark the wild and statelv luxuriance of the 
 neenery, telling them of a wondrnusly rich soil, the adveiiturem 
 naturally thought ol' halting for rest. So fastening their canoe 
 by the bank, the next moment they stood upon the threshold 
 uf the Htatelv and shady olden woods — the towering forest — 
 its far aomhre and stilly depths, vaulted by the thick inter- 
 twining branches high above, seeining like some mighty 
 tt'ini»le, the rays of sun-light here and there flickering on tho 
 lower leaves of the less and bushier trees, or shooting in nar- 
 row streams down some massy trunk. Our tired adventurer* 
 seated themselves most likely upon one of the many old fallen 
 trees, scattered like benches about, as if inviting to rest and con- 
 templation within the shady temple — some newly fallen, other* 
 mouldering, so that touching them, like a friable clod, they 
 scatter into powder: others again — and those the forest wan- 
 derer loves much — with their thick elastic coatings of dry 
 green moss, offering an easy scat across u clear cool spring — 
 sometimes so small as nearly to be hidden — gurgling and play- 
 ing lively through its miniature course of fallen leaves, and at 
 times having even sand and pebbles for its diminutive bed. 
 Upon one of these old mossy trunks our wanderers may have 
 rested, the wild flowers around them appearing from amid the 
 thickly-strewn leaves and long thin grass. Who would not 
 ba'c delighted to rest in such a place .^^ The pillared, vaulted, 
 and sombre forest, with its streaks of light and masses of shade 
 —its car])et of leaves, and grass, and varied wild flowers — iti 
 mossy scats, and pursing streams — a scene awakening sensa- 
 tions at once pleasing and grand. You are charmed by the 
 attractive novelty — you love the flowers, the streams, and the 
 grandeur .^f the whole rising around you, and far over head, 
 iu its vast and cabn solitariness, imposes the mind with 
 
 pro- 
 
 ( \ 
 
 
 
 
 h i 
 
aG 
 
 VILLAr.E OF DELAWARE. 
 
 I'i ' 
 
 foundest awe. Our wanderers, accustomed to such scenes, 
 were most likely simply to experience (besides impressions of 
 of the richness of the soil) a grateful rest, and, it might be also, 
 sensations of their solitariness in such a place, where for miles 
 and miles around them all was forest — deep solitary forest — 
 without a white footstep. Continuing their course, they would 
 pass many a spot tiow enlivened by dwellings and cleared 
 farms, and the din of mill-machinery ; among others, the ris- 
 ing table land on which now stands the town of London, 
 unthinking, it might be, as they loooked upon the high banks, 
 crowned and covered all backward by heavy forest — that 
 here some of them would live to see, as they did, this spot, 
 the site of churches, shops, and a thousand or two busy in- 
 habitants. Having reached the Forks (as the locality was 
 long called, before a house of the town was built, and even 
 since, by old settlers, from the two branches of the river join- 
 ing under the high west bank), they would then glide more 
 smoothly upon the fuller stream, and keeping on their way, 
 till fifteen or twenty miles further down, they made a halt. 
 It was at one of the loveliest river nooks one could wish to 
 linger by. It was the site of the present village of Delaware, 
 admired by all for the beauty of its situation. The traveller 
 along the main road from London westward, all at once meets 
 the river in a curving open valley ; the opposite side high and 
 wooded, and spreading from the foot of this rising bank arc 
 flats of meadow land, w ith scatterings of willows, poplars, an J 
 thorns ; then the river in the midst, almost close beneath the 
 village on the near side, flowing gently, full, and clear, wiHi 
 its shining, unbroken, glassy surface. Such was the spot the 
 adventurers chose as a sort of head-quarters in their Indian 
 traffic. Finding it convenient for profitable trade in disposing 
 of manufactured stores in exchange for furs, and doubtless 
 influenced, too, by the natural attr«c iuns of the place for a 
 tettlement, the result was an invifation to their friends, the 
 
 S 
 
SYSTEM OF LAND GRANTING IN CANADA. 
 
 H7 
 
 older folks, at Ancaster, who soon joined them, .nnd so com- 
 menced the settlement of Delaware. 
 
 This you may call the story of the foundation-laying of the 
 present London district. I had the facts from a respectable 
 worthy old settler, whose family were among those very first 
 settlers of Upper Canada at Niagara, and were also among 
 the first in the London district. The widow of one of these 
 f.rst settlers of Delaware, one of our adventurous explorers, 
 still lives near or within the village. I have before me n 
 printed report of the proceedings of a meeting of the inhabit- 
 ants of this and adjoining townships in 1817, at which the 
 
 widow S 's husband, * ♦^he Squire,' as he was called, wiis 
 
 chairman. This document affords a very striking illustration 
 of the great evil committed in the early settlement of this 
 country by the profuse mode of granting lands. From what 
 we have said of Delaware being still nothing more than a 
 small village, there being in 1JJ41 not 400 inhabitants in the 
 whole township, and from what has been incidentally noticed 
 of the thriving progress of London and the township of West- 
 minster, it is instructive to note, from the proceedings of these 
 primitive settlers, how well they foresaw the eflfect of this laud 
 granting, which has since, in so marked a manner, retarded the 
 settlement and general prosperity of the province. The calm 
 and courteous temper with which the evil is pointed out, and 
 a remedy proposed, attract admiration ; and though it were for 
 nothing else than to aflFord this commentary upon the character 
 of these first settlers of Canada, I may be excused giving you 
 this brief extract of their proceedings : — 
 
 'The greater part of the lands which constitute the town- 
 ship of Delaware were granted many years ago to persons not 
 resident in this part of the province; or are crown and clergy 
 reserves, which have been, and still continue to be, an insur- 
 mountable obstacle to the formation of a compact settlement in 
 it. In the township of Westminster, no lands lave as yet 
 
 V' 
 
 
 I 
 
F8 
 
 NKW TAX UPON UNOCCUPIED LANDS. 
 
 m ^4^# 
 
 t 11 
 
 been frraated but to actual settlers. And if that system is pur- 
 sued by the Government, it will, no doubt, soon form a most 
 delightful, populous, and wealthy settlement. 
 
 * The principal part of the township of Dorchester, which la 
 not composed of clergy reserves, has been granted to persons 
 not resident in this part of the province; and there does not 
 appear to be any probability that it will be settled soon, unless 
 men of capital purchase. 
 
 ' If his Majesty's Government should grant or dispose of the 
 frown and clergy reserves to actual settlers, and the Colonial 
 I^egislature should lay a tax upon the lands of absentees, so 
 as to induce them to sell or contribute to the improvement of 
 roadu, &c., we are of opinion that the province in general 
 would be more prosperous and happy.' 
 
 Dorchester, here alluded to, has bad the same fate as Dela- 
 ware — the returns of 1841 showing that township not to have 
 3000 cultivated acres, and only 620 inhabitants. [Townships 
 on an average contain over 60,000 acres.] Dorchester is the 
 township on the east as Delaware is on the west of West- 
 minster. I am glad to perceive that MrBuller's recent speech 
 in the House of Commons attracts so much attention in Ca- 
 nada, and hope that it may be the means of producing some 
 decided good in relieving the country from this pressure upon 
 its industry and general prosperity, and increasing its attrac- 
 tiveness to British enterprise and capital. The new authori- 
 ties of District Municipal Councils, you are aware, have had 
 powers to tax wild lands to a certain amount, which will aave 
 the effect of forcing, in a measure, a speedier distribution of 
 these lands among persons who will cultivate them. Should 
 the powers of the District Councils be found not full enough, 
 it is likely that these powers may be extended. 
 
 The township of London — the most prominent, though 
 among the latest settled, in the district — next claims our at- 
 tention. In 1817, there were only two families living in thii 
 
 A 
 
TOWNSHIP OF LONDON. 
 
 89 
 
 township, and now the population may be stated at nearly 7000 
 — having 90,000 acres of land, 17,000 of which are cultivated. 
 The first regular settlement commenced in 1818, under IVIr 
 Talbot, a gentleman from Ireland, accompanied by se eral of 
 his countrymen, for whom he obtained from Government free 
 grants of land, and a free passage to Montreal. In 1829, 
 seven years after settlement, the township contained a popula- 
 tion of 2416, with 5941 acres of cleared land; in 1834, it had 
 increased to 5051, with 12,841 cleared acres; and in 1841, 
 it was 6257. These two last-mentioned periods include the 
 town ; but in 1841 the township alone had a population of over 
 4000. A son of the founder, writing in 1834 respecting this 
 township, gave this account of the colonists who emigrated 
 with his father : — ' Scarcely an individual who accompanied 
 Mr Talbot to this country was possessed of more than £100, 
 and many on their arrival in this township had not more than 
 £50 ; yet of all those persons there is scarcely one that is not 
 now wholly independent, in the possession of fine farms, of an 
 abundance of stock, and in the enjoyment of all the comforts 
 and many of the luxuries of life.' The surface of this town- 
 ship is agreeably undulating, being broken into table lands by 
 the branches of the Thames and smaller streams coursing their 
 rapid and clear waters through it, and by a succession of gentle 
 wave-like rollings. The soil may generally be characterised 
 as a rich loam; hundreds of acres particularly so, occurring 
 along the lower banks or flats of the river, these flats to all 
 appearance having been a former and wider channel ; there 
 are again other exceptions, such as one part of the high land 
 on which London is built, where sand prevails, and where pine 
 and the straggling scrubby oak have grown. London town- 
 ship, on the whole, I would say, is both agreeable in irs fea- 
 tures and fertile. 
 
 Although not having overtaken the town of London, I will 
 not lengthen this letter, but will reserve the subject for my 
 next, which will form th^ concluding letter of the series, 
 
00 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 ¥:t 
 
 mi 
 
 
 Niagara. 
 
 The tovm of Niagara, formerly named Newark, was the first capital o^ 
 Upper Canada, it having been there that General Simcoe, the first Lieu- 
 tenant-governor of the province, opened the first Parliament, on the 18tli 
 September 1792. The district of Niagara, in shape nearly an oblong 
 square, is situated between the two lakes, Erie and Ontai-io, and 
 its eastern boundary is watered by the Niagara River, whicii, from its en- 
 trance into Lake Dntario, at the town of Niagara, to the outlet of Lake 
 Erie, at Fort Erie, is a distance of 33 miles. The famous Falls, which 
 have given their name to the district, are 13 miles distant from the 
 town. The strait or river of Niagara, not to speak of the one stupendous 
 feature, presents much both of grandeur and picturesque beauty. At the 
 commencement of the river, receiving into its channel a body of waters from 
 Erie and tlie other great lakes, to the extent of 700,000 tons a minute, the 
 breadth is about two miles, and contracting and expanding betimes, now 
 closing to one mile, now bending out to three, and then, at nearly half- 
 way to the Falls, it divides its course, encircling a body of land of about 
 17,000 acres, forms 'OwanuKgah, 'or, asitis commonly called, Grand Island, 
 where the breadth, measuring across this island, is eight miles. Below this 
 it measures again three miles, and having a smooth glassy surface, lilve to 
 the peacefullest lalce — then it narrows to less than a mile, expands again 
 toa mile and half, and, at the next narrowing, of three quarters of a mile, 
 the mass of collected waters, here broken and rapid, opposed and divided 
 by islands, and tossing on a bed of rough ledging rocks — ha\'ing now 
 assumed their mightiest enargy and fury — thundering roll, roaring and 
 enwrapt in foam, over the cragged cliffs, and down the hundred and sixty 
 feet and more, whitening the vast broad sheet of stupendous precipice. 
 It is as if the bed of great waters had cracked beneath their weight, and 
 the waters above, in frightful unconsciousness of their fate in following, 
 continued ever hoarsely roaring as they hurled tumbling down to the 
 dread abyss. The circling white clouds of foam and spray, denser around 
 the depths and lighter as they rise, veiling and serving an unceasing in- 
 cense amid the deep muffled murmuring roar, impart completeness to the 
 grandeur. Closer observation presents features of the scene displaying the 
 most perfect and pleasing repose. The light showers of ever-continued 
 Bpray — wetting the rocks, the grass, bushes, and trees — acted on by the 
 
NOTES. 
 
 91 
 
 rays of the bright sun, fonn over the chnsm tlie spnn of the rainbow : 
 and the green fresh fulinge is crowning and clustering nbout the rocky 
 cliffs ; and, the eye falling on tlie depths below, there, removed but 
 slightly from the boiling foaming surge, part of the waters have ex- 
 pended their roar and their turmoil, and, in their deep and beautiful blue, 
 in eddies around the rocky edges of the shore, they lave playfully and in 
 quiet, murujuring softly as they ever again kiss the foot of the bank, and 
 the tips of long grass hanging over as if to woo the greeting ;— all this 
 to the observant eye makes Niagara not more a scene of striking gran- 
 deur than of calm softest beauty. The banks above the Falls vary in 
 character as the stream does in breadth — now low, grassy, and lawn- 
 like — now bold, high, and steep. Beyond the Falls, and for six miles 
 down the river, they are bolder, loftier, more rugged, and uneven. When 
 emerging from their restrained course of these six miles, between over- 
 lianging rocks and a rough bed, the waters make their api)earance at the 
 village of Queenston, with alight and peculiar blue; and now broad, 
 mtyestic, and even in their course, for thirteen miles, between banks slop- 
 ing, reguhir, and smooth, and a country smiling and cultivated, they join 
 Lake Ontario at the town of Niagara. 
 
 It was most natural that a district of country with features so remarkable, 
 and inviting also in its climate and soil, should be among the first chosen 
 by the early settlers of Canada. In 1784, the year following the mtificu- 
 tton of the peace, which concluded the unnatural war between Great 
 liritain and her old colonies, and established the present United States, 
 the first colonists of Upper Canada, who had remained stead- 
 fast in their attachment to, and fought under, tho Crown, entered 
 this new colony, and settled in the district of Niagara. That noted 
 corps, the theme of many an incident in the Revolutionary contest, ancl 
 well known as ' Butler's Rangers,' are said to have been the first settlers 
 in Niagara ; and in the succeeding year of 1783, they were followed by 
 emigrants from the States of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and New York. 
 The Niagara district is composed of two counties, having twenty three 
 townships, and a population of a little over 38,000, and 150,0(K) acres of 
 land under cultivation. In 1842, the district produced 249,000 bushelo 
 of wheat, 42,000 bushels of barley, 289,000 bushels of oats, 9000 bushels 
 of rye, 9(i,<K)0 bushels of pease, 48,000 bushels of Indian corn, (iy.OOO 
 bushels of buckwheat, and :^04,0fl0 bushels of potatoes. The live stock in 
 tliat year comprised 35,000 neat cattle, 54,0(K) sheep, 33,000 hogs, and 
 10, (KM) horses. The varieties of soil are sand, clay, and black and yellow 
 loam. The townships fronting Lakes Ontario and Erie, and along the 
 banks of the Grand River, are chiefly composed of clay and loam ; and 
 ih-i township of NiOj^ara, fronting both on the riverand on Laka Ontjuio, 
 
 
 ; i 
 
 
!/2 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 lyi? 
 
 Mil '*§' 
 
 S : 'i' 
 
 l;*^' 
 
 though the most advantageously situated, is believed to have generally the 
 lightest soil. Tluit great public work of Canada, the Wellund Canal, 
 unites the Lakes Ontario and Krie, completing the great chain of internal 
 navigation by intersecting the Niagara district. A good deal of the laud 
 through which this canal flows being low and marshy is not at a', healthy, 
 and the soil cold, and good water not easily procured. "With these excep- 
 tions, the district, generally speaking, is exceedingly inciting, not only in 
 natural beauties, but in climate, soil, and other advantages. 
 
 The vicinity of the Or..so or Grand Hivcr, the banks of which, some 
 miles up the country, being chiefly undulating and finely wooded, and the 
 stream deep and broad at the entrance into Lake Erie, and navigable for 
 a number of miles, unites the advantages of pleasing scenery and a fertile 
 soil. 
 
 Long Point Country. 
 
 This tract of countiy, now included in the Talbot district, derives its 
 name from a singularly narrow and long point of land, which stretches 
 out into Lake Erie to the distance of nearly twenty mites. It is not 
 two hundred yards wide at its broadest part, and all along its lengthened 
 stretch each side has its narrow strip of sandy beach, and the line between 
 is covered with trees. Previous to 1828, or thereabouts, vessels navigat- 
 ing Lake Erie encountered considerable danger in stormy weather wher 
 having to double this promontory, and its headland was long without a 
 lighthouse. At the bottom of the fine bay, called Long Point Bay, which it 
 forms, there used to be a passage, when the waters of the lake were high, 
 for small boats through a small brook ; and when the lake waters were 
 low, batteaux were hauled over the slender isthmus. About that period, 
 of 1828, a contract was entered into between the Government and an 
 individual to form a cut or canal through this barrier to navigation ; and 
 it hai)pened, as I heard the story, that during the night preceding the 
 day on which the contractor had made his arrangements for begin- 
 ning the undertaking, a violent storm had arisen on the lake, which 
 rendered all his preparations unnecessary. On proceeding in the morning 
 with his men to the scene of their intended operations, he saw witJi 
 astonishment that the fury of the winds and waves had made a clear, 
 wide, and deep breach, and the peninsula changed into an island ! 
 The writer sailed through the passage in a steam-vessel (the Kent, of the 
 town of Chatham, on the River Thames) in the early part of the summer 
 18-13, and the channel was then about one mile in width. ♦ Long Point 
 Country,' around the bay, appeared well cultivated and luxuriant, and, 
 with the exception of low flats adjoining the neck of the old peninsula, 
 t)iQ banks were agreeably elevated and sloped towards the la^e. Amoni$ 
 
NOTES. 
 
 f)3 
 
 the pjissengers which the steam-vessel Inndcd here, wore a family of four 
 grown persons, thret orothcrs and a sister, from Wiltshire, who had been 
 invited from ICngland to join two other brothers, who had come to Ca- 
 nada, and purchased a farm in this neighbournood tho preceding season. 
 The Kent had on board another family she had brought from Itutl'alo, and 
 who were landed at I'ort Stanley. They were from Huciiinghamshire, 
 and consisted of husband and wife, with four or five children, and a 
 grandmother. They were on tiieir way also to join friends— a brother of 
 the man, who was settled as a farmer in the township of t'arradoc, and whose 
 comfortable-looliing and api)arently well-managed farm I had observe<l 
 some days before, in travelling between London and Cliatham— and 1 had 
 the pleasure of tolling the family this, after their long voyage from lOng- 
 laud, and now uearing their anxiously thought-of destination. 
 
 The Ton'.vsHiPs of the Interior. 
 
 The banks of the great laices and the navigable rivers were very natu- 
 rally the first settled i)arts of Canada. Situated along the great highways 
 of water communication, t.';o want of roads was less felt, and the climate, 
 tempered by the wide-spread surface of adjacent waters, preventing the 
 occasional early and late frosts of spring and autumn, favoured vegetation 
 and the production of fruits — the peach and even the vine being culti- 
 lated in pails near the lakes, where a distance only of some miles into 
 tlie back country would be unfavoumble to the attempt. Such disadvan- 
 tages of the back country are found counterbalanced, in a great proportion 
 of instances, by a richer soil, and generally lower prices of the lands ; for, 
 although the soil frequently be not so heavy along the shores, the country, 
 being longer settled and cultivated, besides its other advantages, the ten- 
 dency is to raise the value of lands. The small proportion of people of 
 capital and great enterjjrise emigrating to Canada, compared with the 
 number who consider themselves fortunate to secure lands at almost any 
 rate, accounts for the fact of large tracts of land, much of it very supe- 
 rior, lying yet uncultivated along every lake and river of Canada. And 
 in parts of the interior again, with improved roads, large tracts are thickly 
 settled, well cultivated, and nursing within their circles thriving villages 
 and towns. 
 
 The townships of the London district, in the second range from Lake 
 Erie, and forming the middle range of the district, corresponding to the 
 number lying along the shore of the lake, are six. 
 
 MosA— Is the westernmost, and immediately in the rear of the lake 
 township, Aldborough. The River Thames runs along its south-east bor- 
 der, and the River Sydenham, formerly known as the Rig Rear Creek, 
 bounds it on the north-west. The population amoimts to 1146, above ('A)0 
 
 . 'J 
 
 u 
 
 fi y 
 
94 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 If m 
 
 of whom are returned ns belonging to the Church of Scotland [In 1841], 
 nearly 20<) to the Church of England, about 25() aa Methodists of liritish 
 connexion, and 140 Baptists. The number of occupied acres is 22, (KM), 
 of which 30()U are under cultivation. The soil is described as loam and 
 clay, and well timbered witli maple and oak. 
 
 I'^KFRin — Contains 1100 inhabitants, nearly 550 of whom belonged to 
 the Church of Scotland. The next largest body are Baptists, of whom 
 there are nearly 2<M). Occupied acres 2.">,000, 2500 of which are cultivated. 
 Soil loamy, and timbered with maple and oak. 
 
 Carradoc. — Population 5)30, chiefly Methodists and belonging to tha 
 Church of England. 2.3,000 occupied acres, ."JSOO of which are cultivated. 
 Soil loamy, and timbered with oak. 
 
 Delaw'Ark. — Population 400, chiefly Methodists and belonging to the 
 Church of England. Not quite 000 occupied acres, and about 1300 under 
 cultivation. Soil loam and clay, with rich flats along the banks of the 
 Thames. Portions are light and sandy J icing timbered with pine and oak. 
 
 Wkstminstkr. — Population 2080, 480 of whom are in connection 
 with the Church of England, 400 Church of Scotland, 5')0 Free Pres- 
 byterian' . chiefly in connection with the United Associate Synod of Scot- 
 land, (>70 Methodists, and above 200 Baptists. Occupied acres nearly 
 (S0,000, above 12,000 of which are under cultivation. Soil rich black 
 loam, sand, and clay ; finely timbered with beech, maple, elm, and 
 basswood. 
 
 DoRCHRSTER. — Population 62'^, of whom above 200 are returned as 
 Methodists, but this part of the census appears incomplete. This town- 
 ship is usually divided into North and South Dorchester — the former, 
 watered by the south branch of the Thames, has a loamy soil, well tim- 
 bered with pine — the latter sandy, and timbered in front with scrubby 
 pine. The pine of Dorchester has a good market in London, and is floated 
 down the Thames during the spring and autumn floods. North Dorchester 
 has 5500 acres occupied, (?00 of which are cultivated ; and South Dorches- 
 ter nearly 15,000 acres occupied, and above 200 of which are cultivated. 
 
 This completes the middle range of townships of the district, all of 
 which are watered along the southern border by the Thames ; and the 
 three first noticed — Mosa, Ekfrid,and Carradoc — are also watered on the 
 north by the Kiver Sydenham. The main road, leading south-westwBrd 
 from London to Chatham, runs through the whole of them, with the 
 exception of Dorchester and part of Westminster. 
 
 Adblaidb — In the rear or north border of Ekrid and Carradoc, and 
 having the main road north-westward from London to Samia, on the 
 
Hi 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 9ft 
 
 River St Clair, passing through It— has a population of 1100, clilefly 
 individuals retired frcm the aruiy, who settled in this township ahout 
 eight years ago. Occupied acres ahout 33,(MK), of which li^WO are under 
 cultivation. Soil chiefly clay; timhered with nmple, heech, and elm— 
 I>arts of it rather wet, but otherwise good lond. 
 
 LoBo. — Population 1170; settled about twenty years ogo chiefly by 
 Highland Scotch. Occupied land above 2y,000 acres, 3800 of which are 
 under cultivation. Soil black loam ; timbered with luaple, be«ch, and 
 elm. Has also the Samia road passing through it. 
 
 London.— Population 6257 [in 1841], above 2000 of which are inhabit- 
 ants of the town. The census returns 1800 as belonging to the Churca of 
 England, 1100 as Presbyterians, 300 of whom in connection, and the 
 remaining 800 not in connection, with the Church of Scotland, about 
 1300 Methodists, 350 baptists, and 300 of the Church of Rome, besides 
 smaller numbers of other sects. Land occupied nearly 32,000 acres, which 
 includes the site of the town, measuring between 700 and 800 acres ; of this 
 amount there is under cultivation above 17,000 acres. Soil rich blaclc loam 
 and clay; timbered with beech, maple, elm, and basswood. A great 
 proportion of the site of the town of London is sandy ; timbered with oak 
 aad pine. Along the baiiks of the Thames are fertile flats. 
 
 'yiXl 1 
 
 i - 1 
 
 1 * 
 
 iLi 
 
 V • '< 
 

 9C 
 
 JOURNEYING TO A NEW TOWN. 
 
 W I 
 
 ;v I 
 
 ■J* 
 
 CONCLUDING LETTER. 
 
 Introduction to a View of the Town of London— The First "View— Next 
 Day's Impressions — Scene around the Inn nnd in the Street — A Walk, 
 and Glance at general Features of tlie Town — Growth of London — 
 First House built — Site and Position — Plan of General Simcoe, nnd 
 his Opinion respecting tlie Place and surrounding Country — Tra- 
 vellers from the • North-West* — Indian Letter Writing — Particular 
 Description of London — Streets and Public Buildings — Mechanics' 
 Institute, Reading Room, and Library — American and English 
 Boolts — Marlcet-house — Fish and the Fishings of the great Laltes — 
 Shops, Living, nnd Prices of Provisions — Rents of Houses, and 
 Cost of Building — Wages of Tradesmen, Labourers, and Farm-ser- 
 vants — Concluding Remnrlis — Canada imperfectly known in Britain- 
 Necessity of correct nnd minute Informntion concerning the Colonies- 
 Present General Condition and Prospects of Canada — Persons who 
 ought to Emigrate. 
 
 Notes ; — General Simcoe's Opinion and Plans — American and English 
 Books in Canada — Imperfect Information concerning our Colonies- 
 Lord Sydenham's Estimate of Canada — Improved Prospects of the 
 Country — Impressions of a recent Traveller. 
 
 London, Canada, 1843. 
 
 After one has travelled some little distance through a line of 
 farms, roadside taverns, and a patch of woods now and then, 
 there is an awakened curiosity as you approach the town, how- 
 ever small, at which your journey ends, and the place heing one 
 which you have never visited before. This curiosity is heightened 
 should the traveller be an emigrant froni the ' old country,' and 
 
FIRST SIfJTIT ON A RAINY DAY. 
 
 97 
 
 on one of his journeyings in * the New World.' The town which 
 he is approaching may have been uppermost in all his thoughts 
 — the centre of his hopes— from the day on which a new home 
 in America was first determined upon ; and as his far journey- 
 ing is now being ended, he is doubly busy fancying to himself 
 the kind of place in which, or its vicinity, his intentions are to 
 settle. Circumstances, accidental and frecjuently of little mo- 
 ment, the disposition of mind, or the state of the weather — 
 a sunny or a rainy day — are well known to influence people 
 in forming an opinion at first sight of localities, or even coun- 
 tries, the very opposite to that which they would under other 
 influencing circumstances have formed. As an instance, one 
 of our new towns in this country, for the first time seen in a 
 heavy wet day in early spring, cannot be said to have at all an 
 inviting look. You may imagine, as I am now about to intro- 
 duce to you this Canadian town of London, that you are for 
 the first time entering it under such circumstances. Approach- 
 ing it from the east, after having journey ed for above eighty miles 
 from the head of Lake Ontario, the entrance is a somewhat level 
 road through a little piece of wood upon each side. Within 
 this, and on looking around you, the scene presented is a cir- 
 cuit of several miles of ' cleared ' ground, bounded all round 
 with a fence of thick forest. A confused-like assemblage of 
 wooden houses of all sizes and shapes fills up the centre. The 
 pelting rain, making every thing look heavy and wet, hopeful 
 anticipations are taken aback as the eye falls upon the dreary 
 looking ugly * stumps,' and the low-roofed rude * shanties' of the 
 squatters ; and while you are yet engaged ruminating on all 
 sorts of wild and unhospitable notions, the mail-stiige, with its 
 four stout steeds, has rattled you up to the door of the chief inn ; 
 and not even the bright blazing log-fire, and a substantial and 
 cheerful looking meal, can make you feel sufficiently at ease re- 
 specting the result of all your joumeyings and anxious thoughts ; 
 and when you retire for the night, ten chances to one, but you 
 go to dream of this wild wooden place in the wilderness. 
 
 t, . 
 
NEXT 1)A\ S SCKNE. 
 
 9- ' 
 
 M n 
 
 The morning in sunny and l)riKht, a dear liluo Hky with tufth 
 of light cloudH calmly reposing ; our fellow-truvellerH and th»' 
 hoarders of the inn are up, quietly enjoying the grateful air, 
 |)romenading the Hhaded balcony, resting Ihemi^elveH on the 
 NeatH, or some of them may he dispersing from the early 
 breakfast table, to resume the active duties of the day. The 
 street— the main street of the town, which you are all eyes 
 «'agerly to look upon — is quite au animated scene in its way. 
 Shops — large shops of two and three storeys— lettered all 
 in front, and vsith gay windows, crowded with varieties of 
 tempting wares, are just much like other shops in your own ' old 
 country.' The shopkeepers are busy arranging and dressing 
 up their shops, displaying their printed cambrics and mus- 
 lins, and webs of bright handkerchiefs around their doors, 
 and even over their upper windows, for the purpose of increased 
 attraction to the farmers, and farmers' wives and daughters, 
 whom you may see already dropping into the town from the 
 suriounding country, and beginning to give an appearance of 
 stir to the wood-paved, wide, and regular street. "Well-dressed, 
 respectable-looking people bustle about, and exchange the plea- 
 sant * good morning' with each other, so much the custom here ; 
 and all doing it so happy like, you cannot avoid the thought 
 within yourself that there must be sometliing vastly comfortable 
 and agreeable about the place which can present such a scene, 
 and that it may be possible to find your anticipations of the 
 New World realized after all. You take a walk out, and you 
 see neat painted cottages, inhabited by the most industriou? 
 and successful tradesmen ; and passing the western end of the 
 street, you suddenly find yourself overlooking, from a high 
 bank, the winding course of the River Thames — the junction of 
 two branches which flow, the one along the south, tht other 
 the north boundary of the town. A still higher bank, on the 
 other side of the south branch, invites you to continue your 
 walk, and that you may have a full view of this New Lon- 
 don. Crossing * Westminster Bridge,' a little w^ay on your 
 
M 
 
 • tj 
 
 -» U4 t 
 
 RATID GROWTH OF LONDON'. 
 
 59 
 
 « 1 
 
 ,bU> 
 
 ne, 
 
 t\\i' 
 ou 
 
 ou? 
 
 the 
 
 igh 
 
 II of 
 her 
 the 
 our 
 
 left, you find youFHelf in the township of the game nnmo, nnd con- 
 tt'inplatinp with a plea-^in^ curio.sity the Hcene which wtretcheH 
 out before you, a crowded collection of houaen — yet the Htreets 
 :ill in perfectly Mtrai^ht lin. h, eaut and west, and others at right 
 unifies, Home of the housen mean, others passable, many neat and 
 comfortable, a few i«tately — nil, however, fresh and new like, as 
 if they had but come from the carpenter's hands yesterday, or 
 had by ma^io arisen out of the woods, and made that ample 
 circuit of 'clearance' in which they stand for themselves. 
 Seventeen years a^o only, there was not one bit of clearance 
 there — all was wood, dense forest — yet you now see all those 
 houses, stately churches, popular institute, and castellated 
 court-house; and several individuals during that time, inhabit- 
 ants of the town, have made respectable competencies, and 
 many more, finding exercise for their industry, comfortably 
 and agreeably settled for life. 
 
 The town of London, the first house of which was built in 
 1H27, now contains A population of nearly 3000. The rapid 
 growth of London, especially within the laat five years or so, ha« 
 been matter of surprise even in Canada. It is very agreeably 
 situated upon an elevated platform, formed by two branches, the 
 north and south, of the River Thames, which meet in an open 
 valley or flat, directly beneath the high western point of the 
 town. A rather pleasant view is had from this point of the 
 clear and rapid river, winding its course through partip'''^ 
 wooded banks, till we lose sight of it curving into the bush^ 
 forest. But speaking of views, I must own one cannot boast 
 here of such as you have in that dear land of mountain and of 
 Hood. Still I like Canada; and there is no need to be always 
 thinking of Scotland. General Siracoe, the first Governor of 
 Upper Canada, in a tour he made to this place during his ad- 
 ministration in 1793, was much pleased with the situation and 
 surrounding country, and affirmed that it would become a 
 place of magnitude and importance. The Governor, indeed, 
 
 ij 
 
 '..^ 
 
 ,! 
 
 
 i^l 
 
100 
 
 POSITION OF THE TOWN. 
 
 ii! 
 
 
 mi 
 
 was so favourably mpressed as to have contemplated New 
 London as the future capital of Western Canada. The ex- 
 posed situation of Niagara, where the seat of government then 
 was, 80 close upon the American frontier, no doubt suggested 
 this to him, while contemplating the more secure, as well as 
 naturally attracti"^e position of London, in the heart of a large 
 and richly fertile peninsula. 
 
 To give you some distinct idea of the position of London in 
 this peninsula between the great lakes, I may mention that it 
 is situated about 85 miles west of Hamilton, at the head of Lake 
 Ontario, about the same distance north-east of Chatham, which 
 town is 15 miles from the mouth of the Thames, where it 
 enters into Lake St Clair ; 72 miles cast of Sarnia, head of the 
 River St Clair, and foot of Lake Huron ; GO miles south of Gode- 
 rich, on the eastern shore of Lake Huron, and 25 miles north 
 of Port Stanley on Lake Erie, which, as I have before stated, 
 is the chief shipping port of the district. There are regular 
 mail stages between the whole of these places, and the emi- 
 grant from Europe may approach the centre of this peninsula 
 by any of these five points, and, if he chooses, without having 
 had more than one day's land journey from the hour in which 
 he stepped on board the vessel at Liverpool or the Clyde. This 
 forcibly illustrates the advantages Canada enjoys from its ex- 
 tent of internal navigation. Think you now — here we are, peven 
 hundred miles from our chief pert, nearest our sea-board, and 
 and yet that port, Quebec, two hundred miles more from the 
 mouth of the river, whose waters so wonderfully stretch into 
 seas, at the distance of a thousand miles and more, into the in- 
 terior of a continent. Yet, with all our seeming distance here 
 (steam having so changed all our ideas of distance), I have had 
 letters from Scotland within the three weeks. Talking of en- 
 tering this district from Europe, I once met an old lady, who 
 still lives in the district, and who came to Canada about 
 twenty years ago ; and as she had neither entered it by the St 
 Lawrence nor the Hudson, had t'^uched no part of the United 
 
TRAVELLERS FROM < THE NORTH-WEST.* 101 
 
 States, nor had seen anything of Lower Canada — think you 
 how she came here? The old lady came into the country in a 
 way, I am sure, few would think of. She left the Atlantic at 
 Hudson Bay, and came down Lake Superior. The gentlemen 
 connected with the Hudson Bay Company, on their visits down 
 the country, sometimes come this way. The other winter I had 
 the pleasure of meeting Mr Gr., from a v hief post in the North- 
 west (Norway House at Lake Winnepeg), in company with 
 Captain M., whom I had met at Sault Ste Marie, at the foot of 
 the Queen Lake (Superior) the preceding summer. Mr G. had 
 left the post in July, and this was in October I saw him ; a 
 pretty long time on a journey. He had brought one of his sons 
 with him, to place him in one of the academies of the province. 
 I was greatly gratified to hear an account from this gentleman 
 of an ingenious and simple method, introduced by the Rev. 
 James Evans, a zealous and talented missionary (stationed 
 at Norway House), with distinguished success, to enable the 
 Cree Indians there to write their own language. I think it 
 would amuse and perhaps interest you, were I to show you a 
 copy of the singular alphabet adopted by Mr E. Mr G. was 
 the bearer, part of his route, of letters from two Cree Indians 
 to Mr E., who was absent on an excursion through the Com- 
 pany's posts west of Lake Winnepeg. Mr G. informed me of a 
 very novel use to which these ^.ndians had put their newly- 
 acquired knowledge (by the way, very speedily acquired by 
 them too), and which gave a curious illustration, besides, of 
 how willing they are to indulge their characteristic taciturnity. 
 They wen? in the practice, when gathered round the hearth of 
 an eveni jg, to ' make a talky without the neccjsity of opening 
 their lips; putting each his stick in the fire until the charred 
 end could be used as a pencil, with this each wrote his thought 
 on the floor or boards, and thus they kept up, to one another's 
 wonder and amusement no doubt, this novel conversational 
 game. '■:..• . -i - - - -^ -^ ■ 
 
 But to our town of London again, as this is the last letter I 
 
 
 }; •. 
 
 ii 
 
102 
 
 PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 
 
 Mi. 
 
 II 
 
 shall have an opportunity of sending to you. The town, as you 
 will have already known, from the general glance which we 
 took, is laid out on the plan of several main streets running 
 parallel with each other, east and west, and cross ones inter- 
 secting at right angles. There are five of what we call the 
 main, and four of the cross streets, which have as yet been 
 much built upon ; and on the west point of the town, overlook- 
 ing the river, an open space in the form of a square is left, on 
 which the district court-house and jail is built, and which from 
 this receives the name of Court-house Square. This public 
 building has a rather striking appearance from its castellated 
 style, and being built of brick coated with mortar to resemble 
 stone. The internal accommodations, however, have been found 
 too inconvenient and limited for the increasing population of 
 the district, and a considerable addition is contemplated dur- 
 ing this summer. On one of the corners of this square is the 
 district school, a respectable-looking two storey wooden frame 
 building. Next to the school is another two-storey building, 
 but much larger, with pediment and portico, and intended 
 to be finished with columns. This is the hall of the Me- 
 chanics' Institute. A stranger may well be astonished at 
 the evidence in this stately-looking and capacious building of 
 the zeal for knowledge and enterprise in a town like thin, 
 which had no existence seventeen years ago. London, I be- 
 lieve, in the spirit with which this institute is supported, is an 
 example to the whole province. I am not aware of another 
 instance in Canada, not even in the comparatively polished 
 and most English-like town, Toronto, where a building has 
 been erected for a popular institute. The hall of the London 
 Institute was opened last winter, and contains on the ground- 
 floor rooms for a day and evening school, for a drawing and 
 modelling class, a library, museum, a room for chemical and 
 other apparatus, and apartments for a teacher or keeper, and 
 the whole of the floor above is occupied as a spacious lecture - 
 hall. During the winter evenings, the inhabitants are enliv- 
 ened by lectures upon scientific and general topics, delivered 
 
s: 
 
 MECHANICS INSTITUTE. 
 
 103 
 
 by ordinary and honorary members resident in the town and 
 neighbourhood. One of the best lectures delivered last winter 
 was by the warden of the district, John Wilson, Esq., a bar- 
 rister of talent and eminence, who is greatly respected here. 
 The subject was optics, and was so ably handled and illustrated 
 by drawings and apparatus, that altogether I do not think, 
 even had the lecture been in your own Modern Athens, you 
 could have desired to have been more gratified. James Corbett, 
 E?q., a gentleman connected wita the department of Rcyal 
 Engineers, also delivered before the institute lectures on geo- 
 logy ; and several others, including members of the clergy, 
 contributed their services : such is generally the good feeling 
 and understanding among all classes. The lectiares are re- 
 markably well attended, aided much by the enlivening presence 
 of the ladies. Tliere is a tolerably good library, rapidly in- 
 creasing, in connection with the institution ; the fees of mem- 
 bership are 3s. a-quarter, and 4s. at entry ; and members are 
 restricted to no class of the community. You may perceive 
 from this that, with a circulating library, and reading room 
 besides, kept by one of fV'* three booksellers in town, we are 
 not quite in the wild woods here shut out from r'' knowledge. 
 Two-thirds and more of our books are supplied through the 
 United States, by means of the astonishingly cheap reprints, 
 of which you will have heard. Think of Allison's Europe for 
 16s., and Blackwood's Magazine for9d. ! Besides Blackwood, 
 we have the Dublin University, Bentley, the New Monthly, 
 and all the Quarterlies, reprinted regularly with wonderful 
 rapidity by one publishing house in New York soon after ar- 
 rival, and the whole of them speedily circulated at low rates all 
 over Canada. The Penny Magazine and Chambers's Journal 
 have also large circulations — the former, however, is Charles 
 Knight's own genuine London edition, and both it and the 
 Journal well sustain their reputation. I think it is lOs. a-year we 
 pay for the Penny Magazine, besides postage, from New York. 
 There is a complaint being made by British publishers about 
 
 I 
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 '■ I 
 
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 AMERICAN AND ENGLISH BOOKS. 
 
 our getting books so cheap in Canada. A remedy, as regards 
 copyright works, would be in international legislation — a law to 
 which the United States and Great Britain alike consent. A 
 result to Canada would of course be, the less desirable books of 
 American writers would be more purchased, and the tastes ot 
 the colony run the risk of becoming formed on the Unitetl 
 States' periodical literature of magazines and newspapers ; not 
 to speak of the political influence constantly liaple to operate 
 where a continued large and cheap circulation of such litera- 
 ture is going on, in a country peculiarly situated as this is, to 
 the exclusion of literature through more legitimate channelif, 
 and this exclusion the result of an unfortunately high-priced sys- 
 tem of book-publishing. The case of Canada, when these cheap 
 issues of British works are repressed, as is now threatened, 
 will afford a subject of some consideration to all who wish well 
 to the permanency of this colony's institutions, and who have 
 a regard to the social and intellectual advantages of the co- 
 lonists. But to the survey of our town. 
 
 In the Court-house Square, besides the public buildings, 
 is the Market-house, a long one-storey plain wooden build- 
 ing, containing stalls for butcher meat, poultry, vegetables, 
 and dairy produce. Potatoes, fruit, grain, hay, straw, &c., 
 which are brought in waggons from the country, are ranged 
 outside in the square, as well as horses, sheep, or cattle 
 for sale. This market is always abundantly, and, I need 
 scarcely remark, cheaply supplied. Fish, generally, also we 
 do not want throughout the year, both summer and winter ; 
 some we get from the Thames at our doors, but mostly from 
 Sarnia, on the St Clair, and from Lake Huroi. In winter 
 they are caught in cart-loads by the hardy Highlanders on the 
 banks of Lake Huron, near Goderich, and sent round by Guelph 
 to Hamilton, and towns in that direction, and large quantities 
 are brought to London. The fish are caught through holes 
 cut in the ice at some distance from the shore, and having 
 been attracted to the spot by lights, or by a decoy fish let down 
 
FISHINGS OF THE GREAT LAKES. 
 
 lO.' 
 
 into the water. "White fish and salmon trout are the kinds 
 most abundant and generally used ; the former, as near as I 
 could describe, is between your haddock and salmon, some- 
 what richer than the haddock, but less so than the salmon. 
 I have seen these fish selling in winter at 3d. p^" lb, ; but 
 generally, I would say, they are cheaper. They u.^ to be liad 
 salted in half-barrels of 100 lbs. from 10s. to 14s. The fish- 
 mgs on our lakes- promise to be of vast importiince. Already, I 
 have been informed by a respectable enterprising gentleman 
 largely engaged in the trade, that there are cured annually on 
 Lake Erie and westward, by the United States people alone, 
 above 30,000 barrels, chiefly white fish, trout, and pickerel. 
 Three American companies have five vessels, and the British 
 Hudson's Bay Company employ one, on Lake Superior, all en- 
 gaged less or more in the fishing. The principal fishing stations 
 on the lower waters are on the islands and shore of the Detroit 
 River, which connects Lakes Erie and St Clair. I am very 
 strongly impressed, that in Britain you know little of the grow- 
 ing trade upon these great waters. In 1841, the American 
 people had more than fifty steamers upon Lake Erie and the 
 lakes westward, several of these vessels being from six to eight 
 hundred tons. The estimated value of these was between two 
 and three millions of dollars; and the capital invested in their 
 sail-vessels was estimated at one and a quarter million of dol- 
 lars; and the joint earnings of steam and sail-vessels that year, 
 for freight and passengers, were calculated to be nearly one and 
 three-quarter millions of dollars. This state nent is no vague 
 hearsay, but from accurate sources. Reflect be-ides, that the 
 vast bosom of Lake Superior is yet untouched by steam power, 
 and that there are only upon that lake six sail-vessels, and you 
 can conceive that this Far "West is only beginning to develope 
 its importance. 
 
 But let us keep in mind we are examining this new town of 
 the west. Entering the streets, one is most struck by the irre- 
 gular appearance of the wooden buildings, each owner of a 
 lot or site having built in such a manner as suited his couve- 
 
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 SHOPS AND PRICES, 
 
 iiience, and according to his taste or fancy. There are several 
 large three-storey buildings, one or two of brick, a number of 
 two storey, and the greater proportion of dwelling-houses ar^ 
 neat and comfortable looking cottages, though there are a good 
 many, too, of small cheap temporary houses scattered throughout 
 chiefly in parts farthest off the main streets. The breadth of 
 the streets strikes one neither as spacious nor narrow, being 
 about sixty feet, though in an extension of the boun Js of the 
 town the width is considerably increased. The principal 
 street, towards the west end near the square, is occupied by 
 the shops, of which there are no want, for the supply of every 
 comfort and luxury usually to be had in most of your own pro- 
 vincial towns. Tliere is the respectable grocer's, where you 
 may have good coffee fresh ground every morning at Is. per 
 pound, young hyson tea from 3s. to 4s. ^ and black cheaper, 
 good brown sugar at 5d., loaf at 7d. ; then there are dried 
 fruits, oranges, and lemons ; and the good housewives need 
 not fear for starch, blues. Day and Martin's and Warren's 
 blacking, Bath brick, and all such et ceteras. In short, these 
 shops are just much like your own, and in the prices of the 
 staple articles, as I have shown you above, much more mode- 
 rate than those you get so highly taxed at home. The pro- 
 vince imports tea, coffee, sugar, and other groceries, at mode- 
 rate duties, from whatever country it can cheapest ; we get a 
 great part from the United States and the West Indies. Such 
 articles as London porter and Edinburgh ale, Lochfine her- 
 rings, Glo'ster cheese, Elizabeth Lazenby's pickles, and Har- 
 vey's sauce, which are all commonly to be had, you do, indeed, 
 pay a good deal higher for than in England. The drapers' 
 shops, called here dry-good stores, are decked out about as 
 gaily with silks, velvets, costly shawls, ribbons, laces, &c., as 
 your own shops, and contain, as the rival advertisements say, 
 which we have here, too, large and varied stocks. With the 
 keen competition which exists generally over Canada among 
 the merchants and storekeepers, all descriptions of British 
 
 ^. 
 
TRADKS AND PUBLIC WORKS. 
 
 107 
 
 manufactures are sold exceedingly low. You may renienibtr 
 the prices I gave you in a former letter. Crockery and the 
 heavier kinds of hardware are a little higher ; stoves, tire- 
 grates, pots, and such hollow ware, also coarse earthenware, 
 are made in the country. 
 
 To give you some rough idea how an' inland town in Ca- 
 nada is supported, I may mention that there are in London a 
 well conducted foundry for the manufacture of stoves, plough 
 castings, and mill machinery ; two tanneries, one of the firms 
 carrying on at the same time saddlery, the other shoemaking : 
 two breweries, where a kind of ale resembling your table beer, 
 1 believe, is made. The largest work in the town is a carriage 
 and waggon manufactory, where there are somewhere at tinus 
 about eighty hands employed iu all the various branches, a<* 
 carriage-makers, wheelwrights, smiths, painters, finishtTs, ^:c. 
 And you may here be supplied with an ox-sledge at £2, a cart 
 £7 to £9, a waggon £12 to £25, and pleasure carriages and 
 fieighs of all descriptions from £20 to £100. I have seen a 
 specimen of a carriage about the latter price, made at Mr 
 Holmes' work, very highly finished, owned by a wealthy resi- 
 dent who has lived in the district since its first settlement. 
 The roads, except some short time before winter sets in and at 
 its breaking up again, are lolerably good iu the town and im- 
 mediate neighbourhood. The whole of the main road, however, 
 from the head of Lake Ontario through London westward, and 
 to Port Stanley on Lake Erie, is about to undergo a great im- 
 provement by being laid with strong planks twelve feet long by 
 three inches thick, laid lengthways — a plan which, from ex- 
 periments in other parts of the province, is preferred to maca- 
 damizing. The side paths in the town of Loudon are chiefly 
 laid with planks. 
 
 Among the other trades in the town, and which it is not per- 
 haps material to number, are the following: — Carpenters, 
 joiners, and cabinet-makers — these the most numerous ; then 
 blacksmiths, plasterers, bricklayers, shoemakers, tailors- chair- 
 
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 CnURCIIKS AND NEWSrAPERS. 
 
 Spll 
 
 makers, coopers, painters, bakers, a confectioner, an uphol- 
 Hterer, a plumber and brassfoun(k'r, two hatters, several sad- 
 dlers, and a dyer and scourer. There are three w atchinakers' 
 shops, three apothecary shops, three book shops, three principal 
 hotels or taverns, besides a lar^e rmmber of smaller taverns. 
 Of churches, there are an En^^lish church, two Scotch churches 
 (a Dissenting and Church of Scotland), two Weslcyan Metho- 
 dist chapels (one in connection with the British, and the other 
 the Canadian Conference), one Episcopal Methodist chapel, a 
 Congregational one, and a Roman Catholic. These buildings 
 are all of wood ; they are plain and comfortably fitted up in the 
 interior, and in winter well warmed with stoves. The building 
 for the members of the Kirk is not yet completed; it will con- 
 tain 800 to 1000 sittings, and cost about £600. It would be 
 hard in a young country, where wealth is only growing and 
 rare, and among a scattered population, to build churches 
 without support from public funds, were not Government to 
 give free grants of sites, and the various sects in the immediate 
 neighbourhood contribute their mite in aid of their brethren 
 engaged in building. In instances, too, assistance is received 
 from home. There are five or six medical gentlemen, and about 
 the same number of attorneys and barristers. Also two news- 
 papers — a Conservative and a Liberal — the ' Herald,' and the 
 ' Inquirer,* and a monthly periodical called the * Presbyterian 
 Magazine,' edited by the Rev. Mr Proudfoot. And there are 
 two bank offices. The nearest town to London is St. Thomas, 
 whicli is seventeen miles distant; but London is the chief 
 place of resort for the whole district, and also fcr parts of the 
 other districts situated around it, so that with the district's own 
 population of about 30,000 with over 100,000 acres of culti- 
 vated soil, and the Government having chosen it as head-quar- 
 ters lor the western division of the troops, the degree of comfort 
 and luxury enjoyed in this London of Western Canada is not 
 80 much to be wondered at after all. Indeed, the quartering 
 pf the troops, since the time of the outbreak in 1837-8, when 
 
 ■I 
 
■V 
 
 LIVING AND PRICES OF PROVISIONS. 
 
 1()<) 
 
 barnioks were built here for two regiments of toot and a bat- 
 tery of artillery, has been a main stimulus, if not support, to 
 the place. The I4th Regiment and 1st Royals are here 
 at present, besides Artillery ; but it is rumoured that there 
 will be a considerable reduction, if not a total withdrawal. 
 (One regiment has since been withdrawn.] The military, 
 both officers and men, like Canada very well, and prefer it 
 to any other station abroad. Living is cheap, and good 
 health maintained, and amusements are not wanting. Be- 
 sides pleasure-riding, carriage and sleigh-driving, hunting and 
 fishing, there are the pic-nic and evening parties, balls, oc- 
 casionally a concert, such as Brahara gave us this past season ; 
 and during the winter, the garrison open a public theatre, of- 
 ficers being the chief players, assisted by the men, and * the 
 houses' display a pretty lively and gay appearance, with inha- 
 bitants and military together. There is choice of respectable 
 and pleasant society, both in the town and neighbourhood. 
 
 The current prices of the staple provisions in this quarter I 
 may state here. The barrel of superfine flour, containing 196 
 lbs., may be stated at 16s. to 18s. ; at this rate, were the bakers 
 allowing weight for weight, a pound of bread for every pound 
 of flour, it would give the price of the 4-lb. loaf at 4d., or Id. 
 per pound. This, I should say, is an ordinary price ; flour be- 
 ing sometimes lower, sometimes higher. (You will bear in 
 mind I write all in sterling currency to you, except when 
 otherwise stated.) Beef, mutton, pork, or veal, say from 2d. 
 to 3^d. Families very usually, before winter commences, lay 
 in their stock of beef and pork by the quantity. Beef in this 
 way m^y be had from r2s. to 14s. per 100 lbs., and pork 7s. to 
 8s., which would make the cost of beef per lb. about l^d, and 
 pork less than Id. One could have purchased any quantity 
 of fresh pork here last winter at 7s. per 100 lbs. F'amilies also 
 usually buy flour by the quantity, and bake it themselves into 
 loaves and various sorts of cakes. Potatoes may be stated at 
 Is. or less to Is. 6d. a bushel ; butter, .S^d. to 6d. ; eggs, 3i^d. to 
 
 
 
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no 
 
 RENTS AND WAGES. 
 
 fri 
 
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 6d.; fowls, Gd. to lOd. a couple ; pecsc, In. to 2s. each; tur- 
 keys, "is. Gd. to 3s. Gd. Vegetables are in abundance ; as cab- 
 bages, turnips, cnrrots, onions, spinage, celery, asparagus, 
 tomatoes. The fruits most common are apples, pears, plums, 
 cherries, peaches ; also raspberries, currants, and some othtr 
 small varieties; gooseberries as yet are rare. Apples are to be 
 had for 6d. to Is. a-bushel ; and I have seen peaches at the 
 latter price upon tl:e lake and main river banks, where alone 
 they grow «ucccssfully. All these fruits, especially apples 
 and plums, are preserved in large quantitiei^ ; and in most fa- 
 milies, to the very poorest, preserves of some kind almost in- 
 variably appear at table, at least once n ('ay. 
 
 Rents may be said to be nearly about what they are in the 
 third or fourth-rate streets of the New Town of Edinburgh, de- 
 ducting the taxes there. A respectable looking house for a small 
 family, with parlour and kitchen on the ground floor, and three 
 or four bed-rooms above, with cellar and back-green, may be 
 stated at £12 a-year. Commoner and smaller houses are of 
 course to be had much less ; say for one room about perhaps 
 7s. or 8s. a-month. And you may have the convenient and 
 elegant cottage, with dining and drawing-room, parlour, and 
 several bed-rooms, and kitchen, with a garden in the rear, and 
 shrubbery and flowers in front, from £30 to £40 or upwards. 
 Frugal people in most cases, when they settle in a new town, 
 manage to buy their half or quarter acre lot of ground perhaps 
 for £7 or £8, and build their own house. £100 to £150, I 
 would say, would put the respectable tradesmen in possession 
 of a convenient and neat house, with his half acre for green and 
 garden, unburdened by feu-duty or vexing window-tax. In 
 the business part of main streets, where ground is high, rents 
 of the ordinary sized shops, having about 20 feet front, with 
 one or two floors or flats above, are from £40 to about £100. 
 
 The wages of the bulk of the trades — as joiners, plasterers, 
 painters — may be stated at from 4s. to 6s. a-day. Board and 
 lodging are to be had from 7s. to lOs. a-week. The wages of 
 
CANADA IMPERFECTLY KNOWN IN BRITAIN. Ill 
 
 liil)ourers on the public works and farm-Horvants may In* ntated 
 at from 28h. to 32h. a-month and board. And in Hummer the 
 wages of farm-labourers are ordinarily about 408. a-month 
 with board. 
 
 I have now jjfiven you what I conceive to be a «light view of 
 this part of Canada. I might, perhaps, have been briefer upon 
 ^ome things, and fuller on others, but I could not think of send- 
 ing you mere dry detail, and information grew so as I wrote, 
 that I really feel somewhat uneasy at the length and number 
 of my letters. Two subjects, the state and prospects of educa- 
 tion and agriculture, I could have wished, indeed, to have dwelt 
 longer upon. In these two lie the future well-being of Ca- 
 nada as a prosperous and happy country. Great and good 
 minds to arouse and direct have, as a lamented Governor said, 
 nowhere a finer field for exertion than in Canada. The coun- 
 try is very imperfectly known in Britain ; vague exaggerated 
 accounts, and more vague and prejudiced ill reports of it have 
 alike done harm. I could wish to see Government authorise 
 minutely correct accounts of all our colonies, that the poorest 
 might lay their hands upon, and all could say, * Here is infor- 
 mation we may depend on ; we may choose our colony without 
 fear of disappointment, which we cannot so safely from vague, 
 prejudiced, interested accounts.' This charge against the cha- 
 racter of the current accounts would be too sweeping, were 
 there not honourable exceptions ; but speaking of the mass of 
 accounts regarding the colonies, it is too true. Government 
 alone being most likely and best able to correct this, would, i 
 conceive, be not so much conferring a benefit as doing a matter 
 of justice to its colonies, the home population, and to the main- 
 stay of the empire— manufactures. 
 
 I must now close, and having afforded you glimpses of the 
 comparative comforts Canada offers, it is well to couple these 
 with drawbacks, here as everywhere else, to be experienced 
 and not so easily described. Accounts are sometimes blamed 
 when the writer is not so much at fault as the mind of the 
 
 '• ; -I 
 
 m 'MiW^BWB^B^ } 
 
 
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 . .jm 
 
\\2 
 
 PROSPECTS OF CANADA. 
 
 
 
 render. Einijjfr.'iiits generally ought tn make up tlitir mindx to 
 receive some dix-ouragementH in exchange for an additictn of 
 material comforts. Am regards the prospects for any general 
 emigration to Canada, I do not think they are encouraging 
 at present. (Since this was written the prospects of Canmhi 
 have very much improved.— Sec Note.) 
 
 London, like all other towns in Canada for a year or two back, 
 has* outgrown the demandu of the surrounding country and 
 other means of support ; and as this state will take a little time 
 to remedy itself, I trust, for the sake of parties themselves as 
 well as the country, that there will be few emigrants this sea- 
 son, except such as intend to settle upon farms. This country 
 has not escaped the general commercial depression which has 
 almost everywhere been felt; and a good deal of suffering a»\d 
 loss in the towns has been the consequence. But the worse 
 seems to have passed over, and things begin to look better ; a 
 good harvest thi:^ coming season will much assist. [There was 
 a good harvest in Canada in 1843, and the latest advices men- 
 tion activity and cheerfulnesp having returned to commerce.) 
 Few countries have afforded to their population so even a How 
 of full comforts, and a steady course of tolerable prosperity, sls 
 Canada. Its population, more thoughtful and calculating, have 
 avoided the rash speculations of the neighbouring republic ; 
 and, whatever may have been their occasional embarrassments, 
 they have had the fortune as yet to preserve their credit and 
 honour. ' , 
 
 To the man with a Httle f apital, willing and able to under- 
 take the necessary labour of cultivating the soil, and to brave 
 some difficulties at his outset in a new country — whether or not 
 he has been accustomed to farm, it will not materially matter 
 — be he nerved with industry and perseverance, in Canada he 
 may almost unhesitatingly calculate on his reward, in a gra- 
 dual growth of comforts and ultimate independence. As re- 
 spects other classes, I would very decidedly, unless matters 
 greatly and speedily change^ give no encouragement for them 
 
 
GKNKUAL REM %HKS CONTLUSIOV. 
 
 113 
 
 :!i 
 
 to emij?ratt» to Ciumdn at promMit. Next spring may hr'\n\i a 
 more invitinK Htato of thiii>?s ; but people would do well to lie 
 thorouKhly informed of the prospect.s before venturing with 
 Home vague notions about a change bettering their circum- 
 RtunceH. Canada, at all times, however, in my opinion, offeru 
 inducementM to individuals with a little means willing to Kettle 
 upon land ; and, to those who can afford it, the ndvantage8 in 
 various ways of purchasing partly cleared farms upon good 
 roads are very material. Many suc.i farms, at moderate prices, 
 are to he had in the London district as well as elsewhere. Far- 
 ther dow n the country, nearer the main navigation at Montreal, 
 speaking generally, the soils are not so good, and land not to 
 be had ho cheap, as it is here further west ; and no part of Ca- 
 nada is more healthy, and the climate more temperate and 
 equable, than about the centre of this great peninsula. 
 
 You remember what a recent writer, and one well acquainted 
 with Canada, from having been a resident. Sir Richard lionny- 
 castle, lieutenant-colonel. Royal Engineers, has said respecting 
 this part of it. As the opinion of such an authority carries a 
 particular weight, I shall take the li'v rty of concluding the se- 
 ries of letters with it, which, at your request, I have had great 
 pleasure in writing. I like Canada; and for its sake, and for 
 the good of those at home who would be benefited by removing 
 there, I should wish to see you in Britain have a closer and 
 more familiar acquaintance with it in all its aspect"). 
 
 In voluTOie first, page 270, of ' The Canadas in 1841' (a 
 work containing a good deal of interesting information, but 
 like almost all that have yet been written by those who have 
 visited Canada, rather general in its observations, and in- 
 tended less to satisfy minute and practical inquirers than 
 suited to the prevailing tastes of general readers), Sir Richard 
 observes : — * This part of Upper Canada, from Kettle Creek 
 or Port Stanley, an artificial harbour, round to Sarnia and Go- 
 derich is the garden of the province, being less affected by 
 the weather and climate than other parts, and capable of 
 
114 
 
 NC ^S. 
 
 [4 • 
 
 If 
 
 ! '1' 
 
 producing all the cereal p aminr. in abundance. European 
 fruits of every description flourish ; and tobacco is grown 
 in abundance. The country is diversified by rivers and 
 undulating lands, and covered, where man has not openeu it, 
 with the most luxuriant forests of beech, birch, elm, maple, 
 chestnut, walnut, cherry, black, red, and white oak, hickory, 
 cedar, fir, spruce, and pin'- -nth the wild vine, gooseberries, 
 currants, strawberries, raspberries, and a profusion of flowers. 
 I know of no country more smiling, or of a more generous soil, 
 than this, aid it is rapidly filling up.' — Adieu ! 
 
 Yours, &c., 
 ^ ' A FOUB^YEARS' RESIDENT. 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 rXAIffl OF GsifERAL SiMCOB. ^ 
 
 Canida having been divided in 1791 into two provinces, Upper and 
 Lower, and General Simcoe the first Lieut-Governor, having established 
 his Government at Newark, now Niagara, in the year following, the ac 
 tivity of mind and energy of the new governor, durii. ^ his short adminis- 
 tration, found full employment in the various means to be used ir. strength- 
 ening the infant colony, by arrangements *o encourage the growth of a po- 
 pulation, as well as by plans for the pccurity of its military position. The 
 Dul£e de It* Rochefoucault Liancourt, in the course of his travels through 
 North America, having crossed the Niagara River into Canada in the 
 fummer of 1795, had an opportunity of becoming closely acqujiinted with 
 Governor Simcoe, who appear* to have imparted to the Duke a full ac- 
 count of his various plans, for the settlement and defence of the country. 
 The choice of a seat of government was chen, as it has continued to b" 
 to the present time, a subject on which opinions o-"3*itly differed. The 
 seat first chosen, at the entrance of Niagara River into Lake Ontario, 
 was naturally enough considered insecure, when in accordance with the 
 treaty of 1794, the fort situated en the opposite bank of the river was 
 
 
I 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 115 
 
 -.vith others along the ^outh shore of the lakes, delivered up to the Ameri- 
 cans. Governor Simco upon this cent, first thought of York, now Tor- 
 r onto, situated about niiaway up the north shore of Lake Ontario, and 
 where the gov ;rnnient was afterwards, and continued to be estnblighed, 
 until the recent imperial measure again united the provinces, and liord 
 Sydenham assembled the United Parliament at Kingston, situated at the 
 lower end of Lake Ontario, and head of the River Bt. Law^-ence. An(^ at 
 present the capital of the province of Canada is the city of Montreal. 
 At the early period referred to, the Duko de la Ilochefoncault writes, that 
 ' Governor Simcoe seems to have relinquished the idea of establishing his 
 residence and the seat of government at York. lie intends to remove 
 them to the bank of a river, which is to be found ir. all maps under the 
 name of De la Trenche, and which he has named the Thames. This river, 
 which rises between Lake Huron and Ontario, but is yet not sufficiently 
 explored, is supposed not to be far distant from the Miami or Great 
 (Grand) River. It flows forty or fifty miles in a south-west direction, and 
 empties itself into Lake St Clair, it is the Governor's intention to build 
 hischief town, to which he has given the name of London, about 200mile8 
 distant from this lake This intended capital is surrounded by all possible 
 means of defence, and is so situated that it may speedily give succour 
 wherever it may be wanted.' The natural advantages which are supposed 
 to have influenced Governor Simcoe, in proposing to plant the future 
 rapital in this spot, are slated in Mr Gourlay's account of Upper Canada, 
 to have been < the central position between the Lakes Ontario, Erie, and 
 Hurou, its fortunate sitimtion on the Thames, the fertility of the country, 
 the mildness and salubrity of its climate, the abundance and purity of its 
 wrter, its means of naval and n ilitary protection, and the facility of com- 
 munication with the above mentioned surrounding lakes.' 
 
 American and English Books in Canada. 
 
 It has been stated that two-thirds and more of the books sold >n Ca- 
 nada are United States publications ; and this, notwithstanding a cus- 
 toms' duty of 33 per cent, upon all books imported from the United 
 St tes. This law there is little doubt, however, was more hono''.red in 
 the breach, and a much lower duty is now imposed. London being a gar- 
 rison town, and a large proportion of the inhabitants English, it might 
 be supposed that a taste for works of British publication, with their 
 superior printing and paper, wouli! prevail fully as much as in any other 
 quarter of Canada. Yet a respectable bookseller of the town, Mr Craig, 
 informed the writer, th'xt he usually sold from three to four American 
 publications for one British ; and that there were certain works, the 
 bigh -priced English editions of which not one copy would sell ; but 
 
 ',( 
 
116 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 whenerer the cheap American one, 1 ^wever inferior, was introduced, he 
 has sold in Instances from 100 to 200 copies. Of Mr Diclions's Notes on 
 America he had sold 150 copies, and had not nearly supplied the demand. 
 This American edition was sold in New Yorlt for 12^ cents, or 6d. ster- 
 ling, and when American and Canada postages were added (1 cent per 
 sheet American, and Id. per sheet Canada postage), and other expenses, 
 the hook was sold in London, Canada, at Is. sterling. Of the English edi- 
 tions of English novels the high prices prevented one copy being sold ; 
 but whenever an American edition was produced the sale usually ave- 
 raged from 40 to 50 copies. Of one American edition of Blackwood's Ma- 
 giizine Mr C. would sell about .30 copies, and nearly the same number of the 
 Edinburgh Review. This edition of the Review sold in New York at Is. ster- 
 ling, and in Canada at Is. 6d. A result of this cheap literature, in the greatly 
 increased circulation, appeared to be somewhat similar to the result of the 
 experiment in Rritain of cheap postage. Individuals who, in Rritu 
 would have only seen the leading magazines and reviews at the publi.. 
 reading-room, or had them a night from the circulating library, in Ca- 
 nada would order one, two, or more, direct from New York, for the period 
 of six months or a year, which they could regularly receive on republica- 
 tion, and have bound and added to their library. Liebig's works of Agri- 
 cultural and An'.mal Chemistry, published in Britain at 10s. 6d., may belaid 
 upon the shelves of the cottager here for Is. oris. 6d. each. And probably 
 the publishers of the^e American editions would dispose of 60,000 copies I 
 From observation and inquiries in other parts of Canada, Toronto, 
 Kingston, and Montreal, the same fact presented itself of a very limited 
 number of copies of British editions of books being sold in these places, 
 as well as westward. 
 
 Since the introduction of American editions i)f Encrlish copyright works 
 into Canada has been repressed, it is sa' "^factory to observe, that the im- 
 portance of the colonial market has induced two or three respectable Bri- 
 tish publishers to issue publications adapted in price for the colonies. 
 Murray's Colonial Library is one instance, and more i*ecently there 
 is Knight's Weekly Volume, still cheaper. Chambers's People's Edi- 
 tions have for years had considerable sale in Canada, and about two 
 years ago the writer was much gratified to observe a large package of 
 the school-books of these enterprising publishers find their way to 
 supply the principal school of the London district. The proprietors of 
 most of the English magazines have seen it their interest latterly to enter 
 into arrangements with booksellers of Canada to supply their periodicals 
 at reduced rates to the colony. Messrs Armour and Ramsay, Montreal, 
 and Mr Scobie, Toronto, two of the most respectable bookselling houses 
 in Canada, advertise the original editions of mostly all the Britisti maga- 
 
 ^i 
 
ar^^-t' 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 117 
 
 lines nnd reviews at prices fully ' lo'ver than those formerly charged for 
 the now prohibited United States reprints.' This is supposed not to refer 
 to the cheapest sort of reprints, but to editions longer and more gene- 
 rally known in Canada. 
 
 iMPKRFErT Information Conckrnino oi.'R Colonies. 
 It was gratifying to the writer a month or two after the remarks at 
 page 111, had been first i)ublished — (on the present iinnprfect information 
 poss^ jsed at home concerning our co'onies, and the earnest wish expressed 
 that more complete, authoritative, and easily accessible accounts might be 
 circulated, for the benefit alike of the home population, and the colonies) 
 — to And in one of the recent Atlas Prize Essays, similar views and wishes 
 more forcibly expressed. The essay referred to Is by the Itev. Joseph 
 Angus, M.A., and the passage occurs in (,'hapter V : — 
 
 ' So again of our colonies. In some of them, as in Canada, and Southern 
 Africa, there are noble openings for enterprise and capital. Yet, be- 
 cause of the uncertainty of information concerning them, few emigrate 
 till things are well nigh desperate with them at liome. And then they go 
 80 thoroughly ill-informed, that there is every reason to fear they will 
 return in disgust. . 
 
 • IIow truly parental would a Government be, in obtaining and publish- 
 ing, for the guidance of all her children, correct statistical information on 
 the various br*» .iches of home-industry, and the condition of her colonial 
 possessions ; and then, in facilitating (by wise parish regulations at 
 home, wise emigration legulations abroad) the removal of local excess- 
 population to thinly-peopled districts.' 
 
 Tht further remarks which the same clear- sighted and forcible writer ap- 
 ■; li .'. to districts of the home country, is fully as applicable, if not more so, 
 .: On> colonies. We have certain round rates of wages which have stood 
 1 • !o(-ped these ten years and more, for this and that colony, with the 
 rt rt .1 'hat such and such descriptions of trades are ' in great request,' 
 witiioji* reflecting that a redundant supply one season, or deticiency the 
 next, must be ever changing both the description and extent o/ demand, 
 and also rates of wages. And again, in a part of the colony where a 
 particular description ol labour is in demand at high rates, in another 
 locaMty the disappointed emigrant is hopelessly wandering, and cannot 
 find employment at any wages whatever. lie is thus apt to reiurn (should 
 his means allow this) heaitless and in disgust, and by his statements in- 
 jure the colony ; while, on the other hand, letters are received from the 
 more t^ourishing locality, and each account being taken within their re- 
 spective circles as applying to the whole colony, conflicting statements, 
 most !i)juriou8 in every way, and disastrous to all regular and healthy 
 colonisation, is the consequence. During the smnmer of 1843, the writer 
 
 'L^lrl 
 
 Hi 
 
 ■■■ h u , 
 
 
118 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 ii>l;J, 
 
 n.| 
 
 -v.; 
 
 f-t-' 
 
 m 
 
 '»•. '' t^. 
 
 accidentally met travelling through Canada a respectable and intelligeni 
 individual who had just »• turned from New South Wales, after haviun 
 found it not the kind of place it had been described to him, and who 
 had come to Canada to ascertain from personal observation if it teas a 
 country in which \c was likely to be successful in his 2>articular line 
 of life. What an expenditure of energy and means which the few, 
 very few only, could accomplish or afford ? And yet this, by correct mid 
 Ktatistical information, might have been all saved, and thousands of in 
 dividuals besides, repining in hopeless circumstances at home, might 
 have had a home and the means of hopeful support accurately nnd 
 miuately poir*»d out to them in a country to whose wealth, as well as to 
 their own usel< » • nd happiness, they would have greatly added. How 
 truthful the obse. ns of the essayist I — 
 
 ' Labour has beei , ^dundant in one district [or country"], and dejiciinl 
 in another ; and no one has found it his business to accommodate both dix- 
 tricts [or countries] by effecting a change. The condition of trade in one 
 locality is often totally unknown in another; and workmen often trnvel 
 through the kingdom in search of what accurate statistical information 
 would have told them that they could have found only in one district, or 
 in greatest abundance, at home. What an immense saving of anxiety, 
 and disappointment, and expense, if Government could publish periodi- 
 cally accurate information on the trade of each district, the average value 
 of labour, and the average supply.' 
 
 The present emigration machinery of a Board at London, and agent:* 
 at the chief sea-ports at home and in the colonies, may be pointed to on 
 the part of the Government. This machinery, so far as it goes, is of 
 much service ; and the writer even can, with much pleasure, tender liis 
 humble testimony in instances, to the courtesy, care, and ability which 
 these public officers display in performing their respective limits of duties. 
 But machinery more efficient is required. 
 
 Lord Sydenham 's Esttmatk op Canada. 
 
 The memory of Lord Sydenham will continue long to live in the 
 affections of the people of Canada, for the true earnestness with which 
 he devoted his whole soul to what he conceived to be for the good of the 
 country. Towards tho close of the Parliamentary Session of 1839, the 
 British Ministry presented their colleagu3 Mr Thomson, then President 
 of the Board of Trade, with a choice of the two more distinguished offices, 
 the Chancellorship of the Exchequer, and the Governor-Generalship of 
 Canada. This office of the Exchequer — • once the object of my greatest 
 ambition' — now within his reach, and along with it his seat in the Cabi- 
 net, and place in Parliament, he gave up, and left to be occupied by hu 
 
 
NOTES. 
 
 II!) 
 
 friend Mr Baring. ' Ilia decision was chit-% influenced 1>y the feeling 
 of where he could make bis abilities and energies most useful.* The 
 terms of cordial intimacy on which he lived with Lord Althorp had power- 
 ful weight, in determining his decision. In his diary is this passage : — 
 
 ' Lord A. said, he thought Canada ' the finest field for exertion for 
 any one, as aflFording (he greatcgt power 0/ doing the greatest good to 
 one't felloto-creaturet.' I agree with him. ' 
 Having arrived at his chosen destination, he writes at Toronto — 
 ' It is the finest country I ever knew, even what I have seen of it in a 
 circle of thirty or forty miles from here ; and by the accounts I receive 
 tlie upper part is even superior. Lower Canada is not to be named in 
 comparison. The climate, the soil, the water power, and facilities of 
 transport finer than any thing in North America.' 
 
 y 
 
 -n 
 
 Improved Prospbcts of thb Country. 
 
 The accounts received by the steam-ship Acadia in the middle of 
 July last, rei)re8ent the commercial and general industrial affairs of Ca- 
 nada in a very gratifying light. The country appears to experience the 
 benefit of the impulse given by the Government bill, which allows Ca- 
 nada wheat and wheat-flour to enter Britain at an almost nominal duty. 
 The late revisal of the tariff, greatly reducing the duty ui)on other de- 
 scriptions of the colony's produce, has also, as might be expected, mate- 
 rially assisted in bringing about the present favourable prospects. From 
 the opening of the canals, about the latter part of April, to the 25th 
 June, 303,624 barrels of Canada, and 46,408 of American flour, and 111 ,021 
 tiushels of Canada, and 95,227, of American wheat, had been received at 
 Montreal. This is reported to be more than three times the quantity 
 received in that port to the same date of the previous year, when it was 
 not more than 111,801 barrels of flour, and 48,211 bushels of wheat. The 
 quantity of flour shipped to Britain from Montreal and Quebec to 25th 
 June last, was 140,600 barrels, and of wheat 136,248 bushels. 
 
 The • Montreal Gazette,' one of the most respectable and intelligent 
 newspapers of the colony, remavks, under date of June 27th : — « We be- 
 lieve at no preceding period was the business of the province in a more 
 sound and healthy condition. There have been seasons of heavier im- 
 ports, of much higher prices of produce, rrising from speculative action ; 
 but we believe there never was one in which a moderate and quiet busi- 
 ness was done on a sounder basis, and with a mori} fair and equable dis- 
 tribution of profits on the general current of exports and imports. * 
 * * * All the accounts represent the breadth of land laid 
 
 down in both provinces with wheat as unprecedented, and the crops aa 
 looking remarkably healthy.' 
 
 i ...: 
 
 tl-: 
 
1-20 NOTES. 
 
 Imprkssions of a Hbcknt Traveller. 
 
 The * London (Canada) Inquirer' newspaper, of September 8th 1843, 
 contains an account of a public meeting of the inhabitants of the town, 
 for the purpose of mailing preparations to recieve a visit of the Oovernor- 
 Oeneral, Sir Charles Metcalfe. The Hon. O. J. Goodhue, a member of 
 the Legislative Council, and an inhabitant of London, introduced, in the 
 course of the proceedings, a gentleman, who had resided in Jamaica 
 during the latter part of Sir Charles Metcalfe's administration there, and 
 who, in a tour he was making through Canada, had just arrived in the 
 town. Tlie remarks of this stranger possess much interest. Adverting 
 to the success, which rewarded the exertions of the present Governor- 
 General of Canada, in his administration of Jamaica, Mr O 'Keith took 
 occasion to congratulate the meeting upon the selection of Sir Charles 
 Metcalfe as her Majesty's representative for Canada : — 
 
 ' I rejoice at it also for the Governor's sake, for it has been truly said of 
 Canada (not the Canadas, for there is now but one) that it presents the 
 largest field for bestowing the greatest amount of human happiness, and 
 how earnestly do I pray that this blessing may fall to your present Gover- 
 uor's lot. His government of Jamaica is a guanintee, and his unbounded 
 public charities, exceeded only by those of a private character, which to 
 my knowledge required a princely fortune to indulge in, speak volumes. 
 
 • The time is not far distant when this country will be better known than 
 it now is — the time is at hand when our people at home will not consider 
 that coming to Canada is coming to the back woods of a wilderness. Thev 
 will find, as I have found to my great astonishment, good roads, good 
 modes of conveyance, and as good towns as in F^urope, with shops w^U 
 stored, not only with the necessaries but the luxuries of life. They will 
 learn that this town, which now consists of handsome buildings (the one 
 in which we are now assembled, the Mechanics* Institute, giving a stamp 
 of respectability, intelligence, and a taste for the fine arts, of which you 
 may be justly proud), contained but four cottages 14 years ago. These 
 facts will speak trumpet tongued, and render this noble country under 
 British dominion and your unanimity the noblest appendage to her 
 Majesty's dominions. It is the natural and the fittest outlet for the sui)er- 
 abundant capital, people, and enterprise of the mother country, present- 
 ing as it does an opening for the investment not only of thousands, but 
 of millioiis of capital, abounding in all the elements of wealth, navigable 
 rivers, a luxuriant soil, and a congenial climate, and undoubted security 
 on real estiite at high rates of interest, and to an unlimited extent.' 
 
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 APPENDIX T() THE LETTERS 
 
 CONTAINING MORE PARTICULAR AND 
 DETAILED INFORMATION, 
 
 Vti 
 
 ■il^ 
 
 <■' 
 
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 f ■; 
 
 
 <;;■ 
 
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APPENDIX TO THE LETTERS. 
 
 STATk riCAL AND SUMMARY VIEW OF THE 
 POPULATION AND RESOURCES OF THE 
 LONDON DISTRICT. 
 
 Township. 
 
 Population. 
 
 OrcuiMK 
 Land. 
 
 l[un.SU.S AND 
 
 Cattlk. 
 
 1 TOTAI, 
 AdSKHSED 
 PllOPKnTY. 
 
 S 
 
 a> 
 
 1 
 
 §1 
 
 
 ill 
 
 S "3 rt 
 
 £ ^ > 
 
 % .1? 
 
 JAhlborough,. . 
 
 jDunwich, 
 
 South wold, . . . 
 VaiTOouth,. ... 
 
 Malahide 
 
 Bayhani 
 
 Mosa, 
 
 Ekfrid 
 
 Carradoc 
 
 Delaware, 
 
 Westminster,.. 
 
 Dorcliester, \ 
 
 Jf.andS...; 
 
 Adfciaide, 
 
 |Lobo, 
 
 London 
 
 London, Town, 
 
 Total, Lon-\ 
 ^onDistrict, J 
 
 ,337 
 356 
 1,064 
 1,992 
 1,116 
 1,147 
 
 598 
 5(59 
 489 
 208 
 1,440 
 
 330 
 
 682 
 
 575 
 
 2,141 
 
 1,082 
 
 348 
 346 
 1,034 
 1,070 
 1,071 
 1,049 
 
 548 
 528 
 439 
 190 
 1,240 
 
 290 
 
 526 
 594 
 
 2,038 
 99(5 
 
 685 
 702 
 2,098 
 3,762 
 2,187 
 2,196 
 
 1,146 
 
 1,097 
 928 
 .3,98 
 
 2,680 
 
 620 
 
 1,108 
 1,169 
 4,179 
 
 2,078 
 
 12,.372 
 25,742 
 34,0(50 
 40,7(50 
 33,986 
 30,593 
 
 19,217 
 22,563 
 19,950 
 4,642 
 38,678 
 
 17,480 
 
 30,877 
 25,284 
 64,300 
 
 677 
 
 3,143 
 2,7.34 
 14,188 
 16,.394 
 9,6(54 
 6,090 
 
 3,1.')1 
 2,531 
 3,.365 
 1,285 
 12,059 
 
 2,796 
 
 3,3.38 
 
 3,833 
 
 16,950 
 
 62 
 
 609 
 744 
 2,088 
 2,557 
 1,643 
 1,480 
 
 809 
 810 
 736 
 255 
 1,908 
 
 743 
 
 978 
 1,091 
 2,912 
 
 232 
 
 92 
 12.S 
 471 
 63;^ 
 446 
 334 
 
 126 
 9(i 
 97 
 
 62 
 
 44r) 
 
 106 
 
 71 
 
 139 
 688 
 161 
 
 £7,024 
 11,373 
 31,660 
 46,909 
 26,7.31 
 23,688 
 
 10,160 
 9,414 
 9,(535 
 5,618 
 
 29,934 
 
 9,581 
 
 11,767 
 12,162 
 41,499 
 16,251 
 
 14,126 
 
 13,004 
 
 27,033 
 
 421,186 
 
 101,283 
 
 19,495 
 
 4,087 
 
 £302,306 
 
 • ' '■,!■■ 
 

 122 
 
 APPENDIX TO THE LETTERS. 
 
 fcpy 
 
 ■u 
 
 
 MODE OF TAKING THE CENSUS AND LEVYING TAXES. 
 
 The contents of the preceding table are collected from the 
 official census for the year 1841. This census is taken an- 
 nually in Canada by individuals named assessors, chosen in 
 each township, for the nurpose chiefly of ascertaining the 
 amount of property liable to be assessed for taxes. These 
 taxes, limited by law to a certain amount, are imposed by the 
 popularly elected body, the District Council, and applied for 
 purposes within the district, such as the making and repairing 
 of roads and bridges, the maintenance of the public buildings of 
 Court-house and Jail, of the public offices of Sheriff, Treasurer, 
 Clerk of the Peace, and others, and the support of education. 
 The value of each description of property is fixed by law, and 
 is uniform over the whole colony ; cultivated land is valued for 
 the purposes of being thus assessed at 20s. currency, or lO's. 
 sterling per acre ; and uncultivated, at 4s. currency, or 3s. 3d. 
 sterling. Common wooden houses of one storey are valued at 
 £1C brick or stone houses of one storey at £32 ; horses at LO', 
 10s., cind milch cows at X2, 9s. sterling. These rates are all 
 under real value. The returns of these assessors are htmded 
 over to township collectors, who gather the fix id amount of 
 taxes within the township, and transmit the amount, with the 
 returns of the assessors, to the treasurer of the district. Copies 
 of these returns again, consolidated into district returns or tab]ef% 
 are transmitted by the district to a department of the Colonial 
 Govertiment, along with a copy of the treapurer's accounts for 
 the year in detail. These documents are thereafter printed, 
 and laid before the Colonial Legislature. At the end of each 
 session, thc^y are bound up with the journals and statements 
 of other public accounts and transactions, and a limited num- 
 ber of copies distributed throughout the country. This is a 
 simple and satisfactory mode of procedure in levying taxes, 
 and of ma-iing known the manner in which they are applied ; 
 
 
DESCRIPTION OF PROrERTY ASSESSED. 
 
 123 
 
 while recording from year to year the progress of the country, 
 it serves as a check at the same time upon public offices. A 
 chief design in detiiiling this just now, however, is to show, 
 that the statements oi value of the assessed property of these 
 colonists in the London district of Canada may be depended 
 upon as correct, and may therefore serve as data in estimating 
 the amount of such property. Besides returns of the amount 
 of assessed property, the census is now designed to include the 
 quantities of the several kinds of crops produced, and parti- 
 culars of other branches of industry and popular statistics. 
 
 DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY ASSESSED, AND ESTIMATE OF 
 
 REAL VALUE. 
 
 Property liable to assessment is limited to lands, dwelling- 
 houses, flour and saw mills, distilleries, merchants' shops and 
 store-houses, horses and cattle, and farmers' wag^-^ns and 
 pleasure carriages. The amount of this property, according 
 to the assessed value within the district of London, appears to 
 be, in round numbers, £302,000, which, divided among the 
 population of 27,000, would allow %e amount of £11, 3s. ster- 
 ling to each inhabitant, man and child ; or to each family, 
 taking five individuals as the average, an amount slightly ex- 
 ceeding £60. Rating the assessed value a? about one-half the 
 real value (=1 vuoderate estimate, since both cleared and un- 
 cleared lands are worth more than triple the assessed rates), the 
 assessed property within the district will amount to between 
 luilf a million and three quarters of a million sterling, and the 
 individual and family shares, divided among the population of 
 27,000, would be respectively £24, 6s. , and £120, and over. 
 This, no doubt, is dividing the property of a community in a 
 rather rough unauthorised manner, when it is considered, 
 moreover, that no two members have contributed alike to the 
 general amount. There being number^, of course, of these 
 27,000 in the London district belonging to the class of 
 working tradesmen and labourers, who have no property in- 
 
 I 
 
 '■! •; 
 
 .■ i 
 

 124 
 
 APPENDIX TO THE LETTERS. 
 
 1:1' 
 
 -, ■^:'•k■.v,■^ 
 
 i:'M; 
 
 
 ■■■; -'i' 
 
 
 eluded in the assessor's returns. These deducted from the 
 class of farmers, including a limited number of tradesmen, 
 shop-keepers, and a few professional and private individuals, a 
 larger amount of property would be shown to be in possession 
 of the mass of settled colonists. Among these established colo- 
 nists there are very few individuals possessed of very much 
 larger means than their neighbours. This, generally speaking, 
 may be taken to be the condition of the colony. Exceptions 
 of a kind of distinct class of colonists there may be said to be 
 in the merchant capitalists in the cities of Quebec, Montreal, 
 and Toronto. 
 
 m 
 
 !i' 
 
 !% 
 
 ,> 
 
 IK. I, 
 
 
 THE BEGINNINGS AND PRESENT CONDITION OF THE 
 
 COLONISTS. 
 
 The colonists of Upper Canada may be divided into two chief 
 classes — the one composed of those individuals, and their im- 
 mediate descendants, who, in their steadfast allegiance to Bri- 
 i? n, removed into the province on the occasion of the old co- 
 lonies ieclaring their independence ; and the other, that por- 
 tion of the population, and their families, who emigrated di- 
 rectly from Britain. Several of the first named of these classes 
 of colonists settled in the London district towards the close 
 of last century, and others during the early part of the pre- 
 sent, about 1812 or so. These old settlers, commonly known as 
 U.E.'s {United Empire Loyalists), received their allotments of 
 200 acres each of forest land. And besides this, and their axe, 
 and one or two of the most fortunate having, perhaps, a horse, a 
 cow, and a pair of oxen, these hardy and brave men maybe said 
 to have commenced their life of colonists in Cannda in posses- 
 sion only of their own indomitable perseverance and industry. 
 At their early settlement encountering the attacks of plunder- 
 ing marauders during the continuance of the last war, and be- 
 ing subject to military service, as well as contending to fub- 
 due the forest under many disadvantages, they did not, i^s 
 might be conceived, make much progress in prosperity for some 
 
PROGRESS OF THE COLONISTS. 
 
 125 
 
 :i^- 
 
 considerable time. After the war haa ceased to aanoy in a 
 direct manner, the want of roads, markets, and other conveni- 
 ences, still interrupted their progress. As C anada became better 
 known, and emigration commenced somewhat steadily to liow 
 into the country, their prospects brightened. And the most 
 industrious and enterprising of these colonists now, are in com- 
 paratively independent and easy circumstances. Having set- 
 tled chiefly along the banks of Lake Erie, in the lake-shore 
 townships, and a few in Delaware and Westminster, the re- 
 turns for these settlements affoid evidence of this. The other 
 class of colonists, the emigrants irom Britain, have chiefly set- 
 tled in this district of London within the last twenty years, or 
 little more ; and the great mass of these were persons of humble 
 means. It has been chiefly during these late years that indi- 
 viduals of small capital, from the middle classes of Britain, 
 have become settlers in the district. The whole of the colo- 
 nists of Western Canada may be said to have acquired their 
 lands chiefly in threeways,— either directly from Government, 
 from private holders, or from the Canada Company. The early 
 colonists received their lands for the most part from Govern- 
 ment as free grants, or upon the payment of fees, varying from 
 about £8 to £10. Colonel Talbot, , the part of the Govern- 
 ment, settled a considerable number in this manner. The first 
 settlers in the township of London, under the auspices of Mr 
 Talbot in 1818, all of them persons of very limited means, 
 also received grants of Government land. Such were the cir- 
 cumstances of the mass of the earliest settlers. Those who have 
 settled latterly have chiefly purchased their lands from private 
 hands, and from the Canada Company. The class who pur- 
 chased in the former manner have mostly been persons with some 
 little capital, who have settled upon partly cultivated farms. I'he 
 Canada Company — whose known respectability and fair and li- 
 beral dealings have done much to encourage settlement in Ca- 
 nada, and to whom the colony is greatly indebted— recently pub- 
 lished a series of statistical returns, showing the success of their 
 
 
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 APPENDIX TO THE LETTERS. 
 
 Iff-" 
 
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 I? ' 'if*"- 
 
 settlers in various parts of Canada. As this publication lias 
 rel'erence to the London district, it will prove serviceable in 
 illustrating our present subject. It may be proper to premise 
 that the settlers of the Canada Company, whose prosperous 
 circumstances are here statistically stated, are likely all to 
 have commenced their career since 182G, the year in which the 
 Company, by its incorporation, became connected with Canada. 
 Of eight persons in the township of Aldborou^'h^ who settled on 
 the Company's lands, four commenced with capitals of £20 and 
 under, and four with capitals over £20. The first named four, 
 whose average capitals at commencement amounted to £13 
 each, were in possession, in 1840, of property, amounting on 
 an average to £337 each. Tb'* other four, whose average ca- 
 pitals at commencement amounted to £37, 10s., possessed in 
 1840 properties averaging £437, 10s. each. Of 24 settlers 
 in Malahide, two commenced without capital, two with 
 capitals of £20, and 20 with capitals of £175 each. These 
 last were in possession of property in 1840 to the amount of 
 £552 each, the settlers of £20 capitals had properties of £100 
 each, and the two without capitals lad properties of £300 each. 
 Of 15 settlers in Lobo five had no capital, one had £20, and 
 nine £161 each. These last, in 1840, had more than doubled 
 their capitals, the one with £20 had a property of £260, and 
 the five, who had no capital, had properties averaging a little 
 over £400 each. The townships of London and Westminster 
 present similar results. An analysis of returns showing the 
 average state of 164 settlers at < * inmencement in various parts 
 of Canada, and their condition in 1840, presents 310, who ar- 
 rived in Canada with no capital, possessing collectively pro- 
 perty to the amount of £95,787, being an average for each of 
 about £309 ; 113 with sums of £20 and under, collectively 
 possessing property to the amount of £36,548, being an 
 average for each of £323; 217, averagi g capitals of £12.5 
 each, possessing properties to the collective amount of £91, 69G, 
 being an average for each of £422. Sucli results prove very 
 
CROPS AND VALUE OF WHEAT. 
 
 127 
 
 distinctly the encouragement which Canada offers to her far- 
 mer coloniN't!?^ nnd show how moderate the means have been 
 with which the greater number have commenced their career. 
 
 CROPS PRODUCED. 
 
 The census returns which, in 1841, showed a population of 
 27,033, possessing 101,283 cultivated acres within the district, 
 presented in 1842 a population of 29,657, with 109,706 acres 
 under cultivation. The crops of the various grains raised for 
 that year, namely wheat, barley, rye, oats, pease, Indian corn 
 or maize, and buck wheat, amounted to above 713,000 bushels, 
 246,000 of which were of wheat; and of potatoes there were 
 raised nearly 270,000 bushels. The respective quantities are 
 stated in the Second Letter, page 26. Besides those crops in- 
 cluded in the statistical leturns, all the various grasses and 
 turnips are grown; and both silk and tobacco in instances have 
 been produced jn small quantities. 
 
 PRICE OF WHLAT, AND COST OF TRANSPORT TO 
 
 ENGLAND. 
 
 Wheat is the great staple in Canada, and generally com- 
 mands a CL ' . market. The price per bushel, upon an average 
 of seven years, has been calculated to be 3s. 6d., fluctuating 
 usually between 2s. P 1. and 4s. 6d. The rate of agricultural 
 labour, varying in particular districts and seasons, may be 
 stated to be from 2s. to 3s. a-day ; and the average produce of 
 wheat, per acre, 25 bushels. The cost of transporting a bushel 
 of wheat from the shores of Lake Erie to England is esti- 
 mated at 2s. 6d., covering all charges. The imperial quarter, 
 which, as stated by Mr M'Culloch, averages in England 57s., 
 contains 9 bushels and 20 lb. wheat, at 60 lb. to the bushel. It 
 fippears then that the average price of wheat in Canada is 32s. 
 Hd., say on the shores if Lake Ontario. On Lake Erie it will be 
 about 30s., and, adding the cost of transport to England of 23s. 
 4d., the result will be that Canada wheat, exclusive of duty, 
 could have been presented in the English market on the averag(^ 
 
 I ;i|i 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 5'> 
 
 
 J 28 
 
 APPENDIX TO THE LETTERS. 
 
 of the last seven years at 53s. 4d. a-quarter. The cost of tran- 
 sporting a bushel of wheat 20 to 30 miles from the interior 
 to Lake Erie is at present about 6d. a-bushel on indifferent 
 roads ; but as the roads are improved, which is now being the 
 case, this cost will be lessened. And as the interior navigation 
 of the canals is also now being perfected, the cost of transport 
 to England will be likewise lessened. The present improving 
 state of agriculture, and the tendency of labour to become 
 cheaper with the increase of population, are also other circum- 
 stances favourable to the colony ; and the general result in no 
 long time m^y be expected to show itself in a gratifying and 
 marked manner. The average produce of the wheat crop in 
 Canada, as has been stated, is believed at present to be about 
 25 bushels. It varies, however, from year to year, owing to 
 the late and early frosts, and other circumstances. 
 
 I« 
 
 
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 it. 
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 1^-i^frv^ 
 i 
 
 MISCELLANEOUS PRODUCE. 
 
 The settler's time during winter is usually employed in fell- 
 ing and cutting up trees for burning in the spring, in taking 
 care of his cattle, and in bringing what produce he may have 
 to market. The ground when covered even with several inches 
 of snow, smoothing the roads greatly facilitate travelling, and 
 the far back bush-settler is eager then to make use of his rude 
 sledge and pair of oxen to bring his stores of produce to the 
 towns. The farmer's family, besides visiting and other amuse- 
 ments, usually employ themselves in spinning, knitting, and 
 such female occupations. The census of 1842 showed nearly 
 100,000 lbs. of wool produced that year, and 110,000 yards of 
 domestic cloths, all mostly of woollen material, and the opera- 
 tions of carding, spinning, weaving, dyeing, and dressing 
 which, were performed within the district. The domestic in- 
 dustry of the inhabitants is further shown by the quantity ol" 
 sugar made during the year from the sap of the maple tree, 
 amounting to nearly one hundred and eighty tons (177 tons, 17 
 cwt., 2 qrs., 12 lb.). Maple-sugar making takes place, and oc- 
 
MISCELLANEOUS PRODUCE. 
 
 12{) 
 
 cupies some short time during early spring. Besides the above 
 leading branches of domestic industry, and the knitting of wool- 
 len socks, stockings, mitts, and gloves, for the winter season 
 and straw-hats and bonnets for summer, not only for family use, 
 but for sale in the shops, economical and industrious families 
 frequently make their own soap, candles, blacking, ink, and 
 nnegar. Soap is made very simply from the ley of wood- 
 ashes and kitchen grease, and vinegar from the sap of the 
 maple tree. 
 
 The varieties of bread baked by the settlers, and upon which, 
 in the exercise of their unaffected hospitality, they somewhat 
 pride themselves, are quite innumerable almost — from the sub- 
 stantial cone of the common wheaten cottage loaf to the wafers 
 of warm buck- wheat pancakes, seasoned with a very agreeable 
 kind of molasses from the serviceable maple tree. A farmer's 
 table hospitably displayed to the passing friend, although with 
 no preparations from the perhaps distant town, is quite a pic- 
 ture of comfortable primitive content. His own housewife's 
 bread from the grain of his own fields, the beef, mutton, and 
 poultry from his barn-yard, trouts from the stream at the foot 
 of his farm or the near river, with butter, cheese, and cream 
 in abundance, sr^ar from his own ' maple-grove,' apple, plum, 
 peach, and other preserves from the orchard sheltering and 
 beautifying his own dwelling, beneath whose roof-tree he sits, 
 unburdened by either rent or tithe, and scarcely knowing any- 
 thing deserving the name of taxes — his cleanly and cheerful 
 log-fire blazing from the supplies of his own forest — and it may 
 be— more to enliven the scene, and as the good laird of Wood- 
 hill has described it — a group of * olive plants' are growing up 
 around him, without having to bestow one anxious thought re- 
 f/arding their future welfare, in a country which provides so 
 amply, comfortably, and easily for all. True, the farmer has 
 his cares, his toils, his anxieties— and who in life has not ? — 
 md it might be, that without such, comforts would not be so 
 much enjoyed. 
 
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 130 APPENDIX TO THE LETTERS. 
 
 MILLS AND MANUFACTOIIIES. 
 
 The following h a tabular view of the number of flour and 
 other mills, and public works in the district : — 
 
 Paper do. , . .2 
 
 Iron Works, • . 2 
 
 Tanneries, . .11 
 
 Pot & Pearl Ash Manufactory, 1 
 Other Manufactories, . 9 
 
 Total Mills and Manufac- 
 tories in the District, 166 
 
 Flour or Grist Mills, . 31 
 
 Oatmeal do., 
 
 . 2 
 
 Barley do.. 
 
 1 
 
 Thrashing do. , . 
 
 . 25 
 
 Saw do., . 
 
 • 59 
 
 Oil do., . 
 
 5 
 
 Fulling do., 
 
 7 
 
 Carding do., 
 
 . 11 
 
 
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 ;•■ i 
 
 DESCRIPTION OF POPULATION. 
 
 The description of population in the district, the countries to 
 which they originally belong, and the numbers composing the 
 various religious sects, are already tabularly stated in the First 
 Letter, page 12. This official statement shows the proportion of 
 colonists directly from England, Scotland, and Ireland, to be 
 nearly equal — those from England, being 2800, numbering 
 least, from Scotland nearly 3000, and those from Ireland some- 
 what over 3000. The proportion bom in Canada are about 
 three-fifths of the entire population, there being above 18,000. 
 Those from the United States amount to 2200, and the re- 
 maining 300 are composed of natives of the continent of 
 Europe, and French Canadians, Of the various religious bodies 
 the Church of England presents the largest number of adher- 
 ents, there being in the district over 6000 in connection with 
 that Church. The Church of Scotland (in 1842) shows the 
 next largest number, there being over 4000 connected with 
 it. The three several classes of Methodists are also nu- 
 merous, and, taken collectively, outnumber the Church of 
 Scotland adherents. Baptists and Anabaptists number over 
 3000. [It may be here stated, in connection with this subject, 
 that the building belonging to the Church of England body, 
 
 ■i. 
 
TAXES ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICK. 
 
 131 
 
 uliicli was a conspicuous structure in the town of London, was 
 lately destroyed by fire, but in likely soon to be replaced by a 
 larger as well as handsomer edifice.] 
 
 TAXES. 
 
 A great change has talcen place with regard to the internal 
 government of Canada, in the recent institution of District 
 Councils. These councils are composed of a Warden, ap- 
 pointed by the Governor, and two Councillors returned from 
 every township having above 300 householders. Every house- 
 holder is entitled to a vote in the election of these Councillors. 
 The District Councils have the sole power to impose taxes 
 within a limited amount, and these taxes are expended for 
 purposes of local improvement, and the administration of jus- 
 tice within the district. The usual amount of taxes levied is 
 l^d. on the pound of assessed property. Upon unoccupied and 
 uncultivated lands the District Councils have the power to im- 
 pose a tax of l^d, on the pound of assessed value. This tax 
 is found to be beneficial in discountenancing large proprietors 
 holding back their lands from settlement. A statute-labour 
 lax for making and repairing roads is levied in the London 
 district at the rate of 2s. 6d. for every single man, and 2s. 6d. 
 tor every £50 of rateable property. Individuals in the country- 
 parts usually perform this labour personally or by deputy. 
 The Government of the colony is chiefly supported from a cus- 
 toms duty of five per cent, upon imports of British goods, a 
 moderate duty upon imports from the United States, an excise, 
 and a territorial revenue from Government lands. 
 
 ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE. 
 
 The laws and forms of administrating them are based upon 
 those of England, so far as applicable to the circumstances of 
 the country. The administration of justice within each dis- 
 
 ;.'''i^ 
 
 .li. 
 
 :m. 
 
139 
 
 APPENDIX TO THE LETTERS. 
 
 ■"/•"fi' 
 
 I '% ■ 
 
 \-li- 
 
 
 trict is entrusted to Justices of the Peace, wlio meet in Quarter 
 Sessions, to a District Judge, whose jurisdiction extends to simple 
 contracts above £10 and under £40, and to questions of personiil 
 property and trespass ; tliere is also a Sheriff for each district, 
 a Clerk of the Peace, and Treasurer. There is a Court-house 
 and Jail in each district town, at which the Quarter Sessions 
 and District Judge hold their sittings. The Court of 
 Queen's Bench for the province, composed of a Chief Justice 
 and four other judges, holds two regular terms or circuits at 
 each district town. The duties are analogous to the Scottish 
 Courts of Justiciary and Session. There are six small debt, 
 called Division Courts, established in separate localities, in 
 each district, and held every two months in each division, and 
 presided over by the District Judge. The District Council is 
 an incorporated municipal body, charged with a general super- 
 intendence of the affairs of the district, and holds its sessions, 
 presided over by the Warden, four times a-year. 
 
 Towns in Canada having a certain number of inhabitants, 
 say about 2000, may receive a legislative act of incorporation 
 entitling the inhabitant householders, possessing freeholds of 
 the assessed value of £40, to vote in the election of members 
 to compose a municipal board, for the superintendence of the 
 affairs of the town. There is such a body for the town of 
 London, under the designation of the President and Board 
 of Police, having powers to assess the inhabitants within a 
 limited amount for the general improvement and regulation of 
 the town. A population increasing to about 10,000 may be 
 incorporated as a city, possessing the privilege to elect a 
 Mayor, Aldermen, and Com mon Councilmen. 
 
 PUBLIC OFFICES LIABLE TO BE SERVED BY COLONISTS. 
 
 There are annual meetings held in the month of January in each 
 township for the election of office-bearers, charged with the regu- 
 lation and management of certain local matters within the town- 
 
PUBLIC OFFICES SERVED BY COLONISTS. 
 
 1 :\ti 
 
 hhip. Every houHeholder is liable to serve theae ofiices, which 
 are AssesHor, Collector, Township Clerk, School Commissioner, 
 Road Master, Pound Keeper, and Fence Viewer. The Iload 
 Master has a general superintendence of the roads, and directs 
 the application of the statute labour; the Pound Keeper takes 
 intokeepinir or *pound' strayed cattle, and advertises for owners ; 
 the Fence Viewer has a superintendence of the fences of the 
 township, to ensure their being kept in a proper condition, so that 
 cattle may not encroach upon and destroy property. Two Dis- 
 f.rict Councillors, besides, are elected from each township, hav- 
 ing 300 householders, and one when the township has fewer. 
 These Councillors require to possess freehold property of the 
 value of £300 currency. Members of the Provincial Parlia- 
 ment require to be possessed of freehold property of the value 
 of £000 currency. Freeholders only are allowed to vote in 
 the election of members of the Legislature. Freeholds in Ca- 
 nada, however, are easily obtained. The district of London, 
 or rather the county of Middlesex, which now composes the 
 present district, returns one member to the Provincial Parlia- 
 ment, and the town returns one. The member for Middlesex 
 is the present much respected Surveyor-General of Canada, 
 Thomas Parke, Esq. The member for the town is Lawrence 
 Lawrason, Esq., a successful merchant in London. Mr Parke 
 is liberal in his politics, yet moderate ; and L^r Lawrason, who 
 only recently succeeded the President of the Board of Works, 
 H. H. Killaly, Esq. (that gentleman having resigned his seat 
 to enable him to devote his time exclusively to the duties of 
 his office) is understood to be conservative in his opinions, yet 
 also moderate, and personally much respected. 
 
 ROADS AND GENERAL IMPROVEMENTS. 
 
 It is satisfactory to be able to state that the people of Ca- 
 nada have never at any former period been more fully impressed 
 than they are at present with the vital importance of good 
 roads. This state of feeling is in a great measure the result 
 
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 APPKNniX TO TIIK LKTTKRS. 
 
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 I*"* 
 
 of tho stimulus imparted by the late loan of a million and a- 
 half of money, guaranteed hy the HomeGovcrnnK'nt for carry- 
 ing on public worlvH in the colony. And Sir Charles Metcalfe, 
 having introduced the subject prominently in his speech on tia 
 occasion of opening the last session of the Legislature, materi- 
 ally assisted in further arousing public attention. The western 
 parts of the province have been greatly benefited by the vny 
 seasonable loan. A sum of above £200,000 provincial cur- 
 rency, or nearly £170,000 sterling, was set apart for public- 
 improvements westward of Lake Ontario. These consist in 
 the repair and new formation of harbours, light-houses, roads 
 and bridges, but chiefly roads and bridges. The main pro- 
 vincial road, leading from Hamilton at the head of Lake On- 
 tario, westward, through the town of London, when completed, 
 as it is intended to be this year, will be one of the best roads 
 that could be wished in any country. Part of it, for some 
 disfance west of Hamilton, has for many years been an excel- 
 lent macadamized road ; the rest of the distance, througli 
 London and south-westward to Chatham, is to be laid witli 
 planking three inches thick, and 12 and 16 feet long, laid cross- 
 ways upon a succession of ' sleepers.' The entire breadth of the 
 road is 6G feet, 30 feet of which, along the crown or centre, 
 is thoroughly levelled, and properly sloped towards drains, upon 
 each side ; and it is upon this prepared 30 feet of breadth that 
 the planking is laid to a width of 12 feet, and near towns, 
 where there is increased trafilc, the width is IG feet. The 
 cost of this description of road, which is comparatively new in 
 Canada, is £850 provincial, or nearly £700 sterling currency, 
 per mile. The exact distance from Hamilton to London is 
 86 miles, thence to Chatham Gdh miles, forming an entire dis- 
 tance of 150 miles, extending through the length and culti- 
 vated centre of the peninsula. The road is intended to be 
 continued from Chatham along the south shore of Lake St 
 Clair, and onwards, following the course of the Detroit llivcr 
 to the town of Amherstburgh, situated near the mouth of that 
 
 
ROADS AND GEXKRAL IMrUoVKMKNTS. 
 
 13.) 
 
 river, wliere it joins Lake Erie. Another pljuikcd road is one 
 k'luliiipf I'roni the town of liondon southward to Port Stanley 
 upon Lake Erie, a distance of 2ii^ miles. A hranch of the 
 main western road from tlie head of Lake Ontario — if it may 
 nut he called the main ctmtimiation — extends from London 
 nearly due west to the agreeahly situaied village of Sarnia, 
 head of the River St Clair, and foot of Lake Huron. The old 
 j)()st-road to Sarnia was a distaui-e of 7'2 miles, hut this new 
 ;u)d improved line is some miles shorter. The Sarnia road, 
 which for 40 miles is entirely new, opening a stretch of fertile 
 tountry where only thick forest existed, is not at present to be 
 planked. For general evenness and breadth, and forming for 
 many miles a perfectly straight line, this road is held to be 
 unetpialled in Canada. The road of GO miles northward from 
 London to the town of G ode rich, at the mouth of the lliver 
 Maitland on Lake Huron, though not as yet, is likely soon to 
 lie, planked. This road, cutting quite through the township of 
 London, and extending onwards through the richly fertile Ais- 
 triot of Huron, is one the improvement in planking which 
 will confer great advantages upon many rapidly growing 
 settlements, and also much benefit the town of London. 
 The general result, indeed, of these new improvements in the 
 roads of the country will undoubtedly, in the course of a few 
 years, be of a most marked and gratifying nature. The old 
 Kinds along the bed of soft natural soil are great drawbacks ; 
 ior whenever the weather becomes wet they are rendered so 
 very bad as to be almost impassable, except with a very light 
 load drawn by a pair of oxen or horses. On the planked roads 
 double the old loads is likely to be drawn with less expenditure 
 of animal pov.'cr, and in less time, and always with complete 
 f ertainty, whatever may be the state of the weather. The 
 farmers, thus encouraged, will be stimulated to produce more 
 than they now do, and the good effects to the market towns, 
 :!s well as to the producers themselves, and therefore, of 
 course, to the whole country, must soon become very apparent. 
 
136 
 
 APPENDIX TO THE LETTERS, 
 
 
 
 hi 
 
 ' '' 
 
 11: 
 
 I': 
 
 1 
 
 
 ■ 
 
 An iir.madiate and highly beneficial result is already experi- 
 enced in the excellent drainage adopted throughout the whok- 
 of these roads having dried long stretches of land along the 
 lines that stood much in need of such an operation. The 
 success of this, 'n Ae way of example to the farmers, who may 
 thus be induced more to practice draining, is an addifional 
 benefit. The scientific and improved practical modes in 
 which the general formation of the roads, under the superin- 
 tendence of experienced engineers, are being conducted, have 
 already, it is said, been the means of introducing material im- 
 provements in the management of the lesser roads through the 
 country, dependent upon the common statute labour, which 
 used to be generally performed in a slovenly and imper- 
 fect manner. To the establishment of the new depart- 
 ment in Canada of a Board of Works, the country alto- 
 gether already affords evidence of being very greatly in- 
 debted. The completion of the St Lawrence canals, these 
 plank roads, Port Stanley and other harbours, bridges, and 
 other works, have all been simultaneously carried on with 
 an efficiency, economy, and promptitude, which, while it 
 proves the immeasurable superiority of this over the old sys- 
 tem 0^ local commissioner or trusteeship, notorious for reckless 
 expenuiture and general inefficiency, reflects great credit upon 
 the gentleman entrusted with the presiding control of the de- 
 partment. Mr Killaly's scientific acquirements, as well as 
 thoroughly practical and active business talents, have, along 
 with other qualities, won for him general respect in the pro- 
 vince. From the clear and business-like report presented by 
 him to the Legislature during the last session, it appears that 
 not one of the many provincial works had even during their 
 early stages of progress cost over 12^ per cent., and the great 
 bulk of them only about 7, 5, 1, and 3 per cent, for cost of su- 
 perintendence. "When completed, it is estimated this cost of 
 superintendence will be reduced, in many cases, to one-half 
 these rates, and for the canals the per centage for superinten- 
 dence will be about 2 to 1^ upon the gross expenditure. 
 
GENERAL IMPROVEMENTS. 
 
 137 
 
 Besides the plank roads mentioned, the other public works in 
 progress, orrecently completed, in this western section of Cana- 
 da are— P'^rt Stanley harbour, estimated to cost about £120,000 
 sterling, and repairs on Port Burwell harbour and road above 
 £0000 ; a light-house and light-ship at Long Point, and harbour 
 at Port Dover, Talbot District, and road thence to Hamilton, 
 crossing the Grand River by abridge at the village of Caledonia ; 
 a light-house and harbour at Rondeau, Western District, and 
 road thence to Chatham, connecting Lake Erie with that town, 
 upon the River Thames — the breadth of the neck of land being 
 only about 15 miles. It was once proposed to cut a canal here, 
 which would have saved to a large :i,nd productive portion of 
 country about 100 miles of lake and river navigation ; but oV)- 
 stacles in the nature of the country to be intersected, caused 
 the design for the present to be abandoned. Another projected 
 work in this great western peninsula, but which will, it is ex- 
 pected, yet be carried out, is a railway running westward from 
 the head of Lake Ontario to the towns of Sandwich, Chatham, 
 or Sarnia. The merchants from the far Western States of 
 Wisconsin, Illinois, and Michigan, on their periodical jour- 
 no to the eastern cities of New York, Boston, &c. to pur- 
 chase, very frequently, especially in winter, make use of the 
 route through Canada as being more direct than the cir- 
 cuitous line around their own south shore of Lake Erie. 
 The present plank roads may for some time, however, super- 
 
 'de the necessity for this work. And the country probably 
 vill be more generally benefited by undivided attention 
 iieing still further directed in prosecuting improvements upon 
 tlie common roads. 
 
 Besides these main plank roads, ti ere are numerous of tiers 
 intersecting the country. The number of these other roads 
 may be understood from the manner of laying out or dividing 
 ii t<,vvnship. Townships are twelve miles square, and are 
 tlivided into sixteen strips of territory, which strips are called 
 voncessions. These concessions run from east to west, and 
 
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 APPENDIX TO THE LETTERS. 
 
 eueh division line is a good broad road of S6 feet. The con- 
 cessions are again subdivided into lots or farms by lines cross- 
 ing north and south, and roads also intersect in the same direc- 
 tion at convenient distances. 
 
 It may be stated as a somewhat singular circumstance in 
 connection with travelling in this part of Canada, that hun- 
 dreds of miles may be traversed without the sight of a single 
 toll-house or gate. With the exception of one or two upon 
 the macadamized roads in the vicinity of Hamilton, tolls mav 
 be said to be unknown in this part of the country. "With the 
 introduction of the new plank roads, there will be for the firM 
 time the novelty of toll-gates, 
 
 m 
 
 WAGES, REJNTS, AND PRICES OF PROVISIONS. 
 
 ^i 
 
 
 
 
 mm 
 
 Wages. 
 
 Much inconvenience to individuals has been the conse- 
 (juence of the indiscriminate information circulated with re- 
 spect to the demand and remuneration for different kinds of 
 labour in Canada. Persons frequently arrive in the colony 
 buoyed with high hopes of their services being in great re- 
 (|uest at certain high rates, which they found invariably quoted 
 in the emigration guide books they had read. Did they know 
 that in most instances this sort of information has been handetl 
 down in stereotype from one writer to another year after year, 
 while the state of things within the colony all the while con- 
 tinued more or less changing, much less dependence would of 
 course be placed upon it; and they would not, on arriving in 
 the colony, refuse, in their false expectations, the offer of 
 moderate wages, and have painfully to experience this error 
 when both their patience and means for further travelling ore 
 exhausted. Another prevalent mistake is, that inferior de- 
 scriptions of tradesmen suit and find employment almost as 
 V-eil as the best in C'.mada— the colony, as individuals reasor., 
 
STATE OF THE TRADES IN CANADA. 
 
 1 ;]9 
 
 being young, and therefore inacunparatively rude state, gooi 
 workmanship is not in request. This may apply to small vil- 
 lages or country settlements; but the case in regard to the 
 towns is for the most part quite the reverse. In the principal 
 towns of Canada, labour being usually well remunerated, the 
 worlanauship required is not inferior to that in the best towns 
 in Britain. Inferior hands experience difficulty in getting 
 employment, while superior tradesmen in most branches are 
 highly prized. Certain trades, again, it would be well for 
 many would they reflect, have little or no encouragement at 
 all in Canada — such as those engaged in the finer descriptions 
 i»f manufactures which the colony import from Britain or the 
 United States. Others must also have to take into account 
 how the seasons may affect their particular branch, as the long 
 frost in winter materially lessens the wages of the plasterer, 
 bricklayer, and stone-mason on the average of the year. And 
 again, the rates of the generality of trades vary in diiferent 
 jjarts of the country, and in the same parts at particular 
 periods. With regard to the hours of labour it may be stated 
 generally, that they are somewhat longer, and the application 
 closer, than in Britain. Tradesmen who have been long in any 
 part of North America usually get accustomed to put work 
 aiore speedily through their hands, and are generally more in- 
 ventive in the variety of their modes of doing work, than ' old 
 country ' tradesmen. Minute periodical statistics from the seve - 
 ral districts, specifying, for instance, the numbers engaged in the 
 various trades, with the rates of wages, and remarks regarding 
 the probable demand, would be of great benefit as a guidance 
 to the home population as well as to the general interests of 
 rhe colony. The respective districts might, assisted by the pro- 
 vincial Government, collect and publish this information as 
 part of an yearly census ; and the parent Government might 
 >uperintend its cheap periodical distribution at home. From 
 personal observation and inquiries in the London district, and 
 'tthcr parts of Canada, which are stated, in 1843, a few particu- 
 lars regarding several of the trades are here subjoined :— 
 
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 •p 
 
 
 140 APPENDIX TO THE LETTERS. 
 
 HOUSE CARPENTERS AND JOINERS. 
 
 Both these trades, from the number of buildings, chiefly ot 
 wood, which are required, do well in Canada. Indifferent 
 hands, however, need not expect much encouragement, as 
 there are a great many of these already in the country frt - 
 quently unemployed. The rate of wages may be quoted to he 
 from 4s. to 5s. a-day sterling (and it may be here mentioned 
 that in this currency all rates, when not otherwise stated, v\ill 
 be understood to be quoted). Master tradesmen usually charge 
 20 per cent, upon their journeymen's wages. The price of 
 yellow pine boards is usually from 32s. to 40s. per thousand 
 feet, for common quality, inch thick ; and the best clean boaidy 
 vary from 40s. to 60s., generally about 48s. These boards are 
 usually cut into lengths from 10 to 12 feet, and vary from three- 
 fourth inch to two inches thick. 
 
 BRICKLAYERS. 
 
 A more limited number of this trade is required, and 
 chiefly in settlements that ha\e some progress, where the in- 
 habitants have acquired the means and leisure to substinitc 
 more substantial and durable materials for wood. Tornntfi 
 and Hamilton are towns which build a good deal of brick. 
 Montreal and Kingston are now building chiefly of stent'. 
 The rate of wages of bricklayers in the London district, in 
 18'i^, was from 6s. to 7s. a-day. The winter season is much 
 against this trade, as only eight months' work in the year can 
 be calculated upon. The brick work for the new Jail and 
 Court-house erected last year in the town of London, was esti- 
 mated at Hid. per cubic foot. Respecting this price, how- 
 ever, the Board of Works, in exercising their power of control, 
 remarked that such was fully double the usual price, where 
 materials are convenient. Good bricks, the price of which 
 may be calculated about 12s. per thousand, are made in se- 
 veral places in the vicinity of the town, and generally through- 
 out the district. 
 
'■e.?'^"-^ 
 
 WAGES AND STATE OF TRADES. 
 
 141 
 
 tiy ut 
 ferent 
 it, as 
 y fre. 
 
 I to l)e 
 tioned 
 d,Mill 
 charge 
 rice of 
 ousaiid 
 boards 
 irds are 
 1 three- 
 
 ed, and 
 the in- 
 ibstitute 
 Torontd 
 )f hriek. 
 
 )f stOTU.'. 
 
 strict, in 
 is macVi 
 year can 
 Jail aiui 
 was esti- 
 ice, how- 
 )f control, 
 je, where 
 of which 
 ,de in se- 
 - throngh- 
 
 STONE-MASONS. 
 
 Very few of this trade have as yet found encouragement, 
 west of Hamilton. In that town several substantial stone 
 huildings have been erected from a neighbouring quarry. 
 Stone, however, is now being found in various parts westward. 
 The public Court-house in the town of Goderich, district of 
 Huron, 60 miles north of London, is built of stone. Since the 
 preceding letters were written, a quarry of limestone, very suit- 
 ahle for building, has been discovered, and considered to be al- 
 most inexhaustible, four miles from the town of London. The 
 new Jail has been partly built with it. Before the discovery was 
 made known, the estimate for ruble stone work in foundations, 
 dwarf walls, cess pools, &c., was ll^d. per cubic foot, and 
 after the quarry was made known, it lessened the same de- 
 scription of work about one-half, it being then estimated at 6d. 
 per foot. Stone from this quarry has been charged to the 
 London district 6s. 2d. per cord of 128 cubic feet, and the 
 quarrying cost besides 4s. Id. per cord, and the carting for the 
 four miles into London was 22s., making a total cost delivered 
 in the town of 32s. 3d. Lime and sand are had in abundance, 
 both near the town and throughout the district. The best 
 towns for masons are Kingston and Montreal; in the latter 
 city, now the seat of Government, a good demand for hands, I 
 would say, may be expected. During the season of 1843, the 
 wages of masons in Montreal were from 4s. to 6s. a-day. The 
 working season may be estimated to be from 1st May to 1.5th 
 November. 
 
 PLASTERERS. 
 
 This trade is much required in Canada, as houses of every 
 description, except the very poorest, are lathed and plastered 
 the same as in Britain. Wages about the same as bricklayers; 
 and the same drawback of a long season of frost applies also 
 to this trade. 
 
 4 
 
 'I 
 

 
 IS"' 
 
 .■ it ; 
 
 % 
 
 h ? 
 
 
 
 \^: 
 
 APPENDIX TO THE LETTERS. 
 
 PAINTEUS. 
 
 This is a good trade in Canada, and all the individuals i 
 iiave known engaged in it have had opportunities of prosper- 
 ing. Wooden houses, besides inside painting, usually receive 
 two or more coats of white or stone colour, on every part out- 
 side, excepting the roof. The paintershereabouts work mostly 
 upon their own account, and charge by the job. Carriage paint- 
 ters, of which a limited number are required, receive about 4s. 
 a-day with board, or about 32s. a-week without board. 
 
 BLACKSMITHS. 
 
 This trade is one which will always employ many hands in 
 Canada, chiefly owing to the quantity of waggons, carriages, 
 and agricultural implements in demand, and the number of horses 
 requiring to be shod. Wages may be stated to be £4 a-month 
 with board, and 4s. to 6s. a-day without board. Iron work is 
 charged by blacksmiths fromCd. to lOd. per lb., and horse-shoe- 
 ing 6s. a set. English iron was selling in the western parts of 
 Canada in 1841 at from 16s. to 18s., and Swedish at 28s. per 
 cwt. Three Rivers iron, manufactured in Lower Canada, and 
 used much for horse-shoeing, has a character equal to Swedish, 
 and sells about the same price. 
 
 CARRIAGE-MAKERS. 
 
 A few required in the towns. Wages, £3 to £3, 10s. a- 
 month with board, 4s. to 5s. a-day without board. 
 
 WHEEL-WRIGHTS. 
 
 Usually paid by the piece, £l, 4s. a set of four wheels. 
 Average hands can make two set a-week, and some good 
 hands more. 
 
 TINSMITHS. 
 
 Wages, 20s. to 35s. a-week with board ; average good hands 
 30a. a-week with board. This trade is carried on in the westtrn 
 
AVAGFS AND STATE OF TRADES. 
 
 141) 
 
 parts of Canada chiefly by means of barter. Travellinrf wajr- 
 goiis are kept by master tradesmen, and sent loaded with wares 
 throupfh the country, which are bartered for furs, feathers, ike. 
 The furs are sold in the New York or Montreal market for 
 shipment to England. A great many of ingenious American 
 machines are used in working the tin, such as for turning 
 locks, putting tire together, grooving, preparing tire for 
 wire and putting it in, turning out and setting down bottoms, 
 all which much abridges labour. The description of tin 
 known as IC is chiefly used, and IX to a limited extent. 
 The former costs about from 48s. to 60s. a box ; the latter 
 about 56s. Pint measures of common tin are sold at 6d., and 
 iiuarts at lOd. 
 
 BAKERS. 
 
 Although in the country parts people usually bake their 
 own bread, in the towns a considerable quantity of bakers' 
 loaves and fancy bread are used, and the trade is one which 
 prospers well. Not so much capital is thought requisite to 
 begin business as in Britain, many in this country just pur- 
 chasing a barrel or two of flour as required. In some of the 
 towns, as Toronto, an assize regulates the price of bread, and 
 8s., I am informed, is allowed for baking a barrel of flour con- 
 taining 196 lb. The Government contract for the troops at 
 London in 1 843 bound the baker to give equal weight of bread 
 for weight of flour, the Government supplying the flour. The 
 public bakers usually take more profit than this. When flour 
 sells at I4s. to 18s. per barrel of 1961b., the 41b. loaf sells in the 
 shops in towns from 4d. to 6d. sterling. Journeymen receive 
 40s. to 48s. a-month with board. The hours of labour are equally 
 long, and as unseasonable, as in Britain. The average price 
 of a barrel of flour in Canada is stated to be 18s. Gd., and the 
 cost of transport from the Welland Canal, between Lakes On- 
 tario and Erie, which may be said to form the centre of pro- 
 duction, is estimated at I4s. 6d. to any part of Britain, mak- 
 ing the cost of Canada flour in Britain, exclusive of duty, 33s. 
 

 
 J- 
 t 
 
 It . 
 
 m 
 
 
 144 
 
 APPENDIX TO THE LETTERS. 
 
 The completion of the great canals of Canada, which will pro- 
 hably he this season, is expected to make a reduction of 2s. 
 6d. on the cost of transport. 
 
 SHOEMAKEUS. 
 
 Notwithstanding a considerable quantity of cheap shoes im- 
 ported from the United States, shoemaking is a prosperous 
 trade in most parts of Canada. Journeymen are, as in this 
 country, paid hy the piece. Bootmakers have 10s, a pair for tht- 
 best, 8s. for common, and 6s. for ^ pegged' boots. For men's 
 dress shoes 4s. 2d. is paid, and for ladies' dress do. 2s. to 2s. Cd. 
 (rood hands do not usually experience much difficulty in pro- 
 curing employment. The earnings of journeymen may be said 
 to range from 24s. to 48a. a-week. Masters' prices are 24s. to 
 28.S. for best Wellington boots, and for coarse boots, 14s. t; 
 J6s. ; gentlemen's dress shoes, 10s. to lis.; ladies' walkina; 
 shoes, 10s, ; children's shoes, 4s. to 6s. Leather, which is not 
 so good as in Britain, owing to less care and time being be- 
 stowed in the preparation, sells usually as follows : — Sole 
 leather, Is. per lb. ; calf uppers, 4s. per lb. ; kip uppers, 3s. 
 per lb, 
 
 TAILORS. 
 
 First-rate workmen may not iind much difficulty in procur- 
 ing employment, but of inferior hands I would say that Ca- 
 nada is fully stocked. Journeymen's wages are 19s, for mak- 
 ing a dress-coat, trousers 4s., vest 4s. The work that is paid 
 thus is of the best description, and quite as good as is required 
 in the first towns in Britain. The master tradesmen's prices 
 are generally 24s. to 28s. for making a dress-coat, and 6s. tor 
 trousers, and the same for vest. Clothes, however, by second 
 and third class tradesmen, are much cheaper ; and both women 
 and inferior class tradesmen make a good deal for the shops 
 at very low rates ; and much of this description of work is sold 
 in Canada. 
 
 PRINTERS. 
 
 The demand for printers in Canada has usually been very 
 
WAGES AND STATE OF TR\DES. 
 
 1^5 
 
 limited, the trade being chiefly confined to newspaper and 
 job work. Wages vary from 288 to 40s. a-week. The news- 
 papers, generally speaking, with exceptions in the chief towns, 
 do not appear to meet with encouragement sufficient to cause 
 either good workmanship, or much editorial care being em- 
 l)loyed upon them. The sheet is usually smaller than the ordi- 
 nary sized papers in Britain, the paper inferior, and a conside- 
 rable portion is occupied with advertisements, and the greater 
 number of these ^ standing' ones — say for two, three, six months, 
 or longer, the advertisers having contracted for ' a square.' a 
 half, or a whole column at so much a-year. Advertisements of 
 from six to ten lines are charged from about 2s. to 3s. for a 
 first insertion, and for each subsequent insertion the charge is 
 only one-fourth of these rates, namely from 6d. to 9d. Longer 
 iidvertisements are charged 3|d. a line for first insertion, and 
 |d. euch subsequent one. There are no stamp-duty upon adver- 
 tisements, no duty upon paper, and no stamp, nor any sort of 
 restriction whatever upon the publicationof newspapers. Papers 
 sent through the Post-Office were until lately charged Id. each, 
 payable by the printer before they could be forwarded; now 
 only ^d. is charged upon each to the party receiving it. The 
 price of weekly newspapers in Canada is about 12s. a-year; 
 and of the most respectable twice-a-week papers from 18s. to 
 20s. In Toronto and Montreal some very good work is per- 
 formed, consisting of jobbing, periodicals, pamphlets, and a 
 book occasionally. The progress of the press in the colony, 
 liisplaying, in some measure, both cause and effect of the gene- 
 ral condition of the country, is at present unusually active and 
 encouraging, Within the last twelve months, besides several 
 newspapers throughout the province, both an agricultural and 
 a n edical periodical have been commenced at Montreal, and 
 a medical and philosophical journal has been proposed to be 
 established at Toronto— the Montreal publications monthly, and 
 the other quarterly. Paper for the pui-poses of printing is chiefly 
 manufactured in Canada, and a ream of the ordinary news- 
 paper size and quality costs from about 16s. to 24s. A Print- 
 
 I I. 
 

 
 C':-„ ■ "I 
 
 i ■ 
 
 14G 
 
 APPENDIX TO THK LETTKRS. 
 
 iriif press of the devscription called Imperial, siniiU, No. 1, oV 
 United States make, can be purchased for from £40 to £G(l. 
 The description or ' fount' of type called ^ Long Primer,' ot 
 United States manufacture, costs about Is. 7d. per Ih. Wooden 
 hlock letters for posting hills are made by machinery within 
 the colony. Mr Ruthven, son of Hie ingenious and well known 
 printing-p. .as maker of Edinburgh, recently commenced tlu- 
 manufacture of these types in Canada, at the spirited and 
 rapidly-growing town of Hamilton. I have seen several neat 
 sjjecimens of the letters ; and their manufacture by machinery 
 is the first attempt of the kind, I am informed, in the colony. 
 
 Seamen. 
 
 The trade upon the great lakes bei^^*]; rapidly on the increase, 
 good seamen are commonly in dema, I, and have fair prospects 
 if sober and .ihgent. Wages ot men are £3, 4s. to £'i, 12!«'., 
 a-month; mates, £4 to £5, 12s. ; and masters, .£10 to £12 a- 
 month. Lads able to cook for six or eight men have frequently 
 from £J, 12s. to £2 a-month. Seamen upon the American 
 lakes are both better treated and better fed than either our 
 coasting or foreign-going vessels at home ; but in noting the 
 wages, it is to be mentioned, that there is no sailing during 
 winter, the lakes during that season being usually frozen. The 
 period during which navigation is carried on, may be stated 
 to be seven to seven-and-a-half months, namely, from the be- 
 ginning of April or May, according as the ice clears away, till 
 the end of October, or it may be somewhat later. About two- 
 thirds of the seamen on these lakes are supplied from amonti 
 the hardy west Highlanders, chiefly Argyleshire fishermen. 
 They go to the lakes during summer, and work usually upon a 
 farm in the winter season. The industrious and sober have all 
 greatly bettered their circumstances, and many who came out 
 with no money a few years ago are in possession of good 
 farms. The vessels upon the lakes are chiefly owned by mer- 
 chants, and sometimes the captains have a share. 
 
WAGES AND STATE OF TRADES. 
 
 147 
 
 APPRRNTICEfl. 
 
 Speakinf? generally of apprentices in all trades, they usually 
 in.'t as niueh during their apprenticeship as provides for their 
 support. They most frequently board with their employers, 
 iind have a sulTicient sum allowed for clothing. The ordinary 
 piriods of apprenticeships are from three to five years. 
 
 FEMALE EMPLOYMENTS. 
 
 Such descriptions of female employment, as dressmaking, 
 millinery, plain sewing and washing, appear to be well stocked, 
 and the remuneration moderate. Washing is usually charged 
 2s. a-dozen pieces, and families and others contracting by the 
 month have it for much less. Coloured shirts, full breasted, are 
 made from 9d. to Is. 6d. each, and white ones. Is. 6d. to 3s. 6d. 
 Maid-servants' wages may be calculated as nearly about double 
 what they are in Scotland, and vary from £6 to £15 a-year for 
 common servants. Young girls on first going to service get 
 about 4s. to 8s. a month, and good cooks about .£12, and in cases 
 £\!) a-year. Good Scotch and English servants are much 
 prized, and are generally scarce. 
 
 FARM-SERVANTS AND LABOURERS. 
 
 The rate of wages for common labourers is liable to great 
 fluctuations in Canada, depending naturally upon the extent of 
 public works carried on at particular seasons, and the supply of 
 hands in the country. The great number of Irish labourers 
 that have been forced into Canada from the suspended public 
 works of the United States, have not only kept the rate of 
 wages moderate, while the present public works are being car- 
 ried on, but have occasioned much annoyance and inconve- 
 nience from the over-supply both to contractors and quietly dis- 
 posed labourers. The wages varying upon the public works 
 of canals, harbours, and roads, may be quoted to be from Is. 
 b\l. to 3s., generally about 2s., a-day. Farm-servants usually 
 get in the western parts of Canada from 32s. to 48s. a-month, 
 
 -tt: 
 
*'r^T^ 
 
 UH 
 
 APPENDIX TO THE LETTERS. 
 
 V. 
 
 I' y 
 
 
 
 
 I 
 
 
 ;m' 
 
 1 *i J 
 
 jind board; in certain parts of the country, and at certain 
 seasons when the price of produce is low, and hiboururs iioi 
 much in demand, they are to be had at the rate of from 'JOh. 
 to 82h. a-month. Scotch farm-servants command readiest em- 
 ployment, and at the best rate of wages. 1 know many of them 
 who have prospered remarkably well in Canada. One from 
 Forfarshire, who had 12 guineas a-year, and oatmeal and milk, 
 in a ' bothy,' at home, came to Canada in 1041, and now 
 receives in the London district 40s. a-month, and board. Ht' 
 can save, he said, from £16 to £17 a-year, and has all his plans 
 laid out for the disposal of his savings. He intends in five or 
 six years to purchase land for himself; to go upon it in the 
 ' Fair (latter part of Autumn), cut down the sappling timl)er, 
 and chop the trees during winter, and in spring he will hire 
 oxen to ' log' and * clear,' and prepare the ground for crop. 
 And then when he has raised st*aw, &c., from his crops, he will 
 purchase his own pair of oxen and cow, or whatever stock he 
 may require. This Forfarshire ploughman first landed at New 
 York, and worked some time in the United States, but shortly 
 afterwards removed into Canada, which country he likes well. 
 He wears the same kind of clothing . 'is he did in Scotland, and, 
 as far as his knowledge goes, he thinks it about the same price. 
 He gets the best moleskin for trousers and waistcoat that ho 
 could wish for 2s. 6d. to 3s. a-yard. He has better food in (his 
 country, although he would not say but with his brose and 
 * bothy' he was tolerably contented in Scotland. There were 
 some drawbacks to Canada, he thought ; he had less leisure, 
 such as at meal times, and the work he considered more ' fag 
 ging.' He did not relish the men having to work about the 
 cows so much, milking them, and attending to the dairy, put- 
 ting on the fires in the morning, and preparing wood for fuel, 
 which duties, for the most part, he had the notion belonged of 
 right to the women. But, taking all in all, he would not ex- 
 change Canada now for Britain by a great deal. He had now 
 cheering prospects of comfortable independence. 
 
 Having stated these current rates of wages, it may be as well 
 
WAGES AND STATK OK TUADKS. 
 
 149 
 
 t(i muntion that, in parts of Canada, the workman cannot lU'- 
 pond, in many instancen, upon always receiving reguhirly his 
 wages in money. Barter prevailing to a considerable extent, 
 and ni.)ney comparatively scarcej the master tradesman has 
 fre(iuently not ready cash to pay his men when re(|uired. lUit 
 should clothes, shoes, or the like be wanted by a worknutn, his 
 employer will give him an order for the articles upon the shop- 
 keeper, or the shoemaker, with whom he does business, and the 
 l)ulance of wages in cash is paid as the tradesman can spare it, 
 :ind when otherwise needed by the workman. This state of 
 things is not nearly so prevalent, however, as it was formerly, 
 and, with the improving condition of the country, the system 
 i)f ready money in all transactions is more adopted, and lor 
 all parties, of course, is found to be most convenient and pro- 
 fitable. 
 
 BOARD AND LODOINci. 
 
 Boa-d and lodging of a very comfortable description is to be 
 liad in the towns from 8s. to 12s. a-week. It is dilTicult, most 
 frequently impossible, for single men to have a separate room, or 
 jiorlour and bed-room for themselves, and their meals prepared 
 to their order, as in Scotland. This is a great drawback in al- 
 most every part of America to the quiet comfort of those who 
 have been used to the old country plan. Certain families take 
 in boarders, and spread usually one table at stated hours — say 
 seven or eight in the morning for breakfast ; twelve, one, or 
 tw'o for dinner ; and six or seven for tea, or supper, as it is 
 here called. Breakfast commonly consists, at even the most 
 indifferent tables, of fried meat, as steaks, chops, ham and 
 e<r!j;s, or bacon, with abundance of wheaten bread, baked or 
 roasted potatoes, cotFee and tea. Abundance of butcher-meat 
 at dinner again, soup now and then, poultry on occasions, and 
 almost, if not always, every day a dessert of pie or pudding 
 closes the substantial meal. Many families serve up liberally 
 preserved apples, and also tea or cotfee to dinner. To those 
 exercised in the open air, butcher-nieat is served up again at 
 
 % 
 
 
m; M 
 
 1.50 
 
 APPENDIX TO THE LETTERS. 
 
 ' ' ''Ei' 
 
 the seven o'clock supper, with abundance of preserves of ap- 
 ples, plums, peaches, or cranberries, with coffee or tea. IVJeuls 
 of this description are charged usually Is. to Is. 6d. in the couti- 
 trv roadside taverns, and for 2s. or 2s. 6d. you may be f-eated 
 at the more choicely prepared table of the town hotel. And in 
 neither instances have you to pay extra, as the unpleasant prac- 
 tice ia in Britain, any fees whatever in country or town inn, ex- 
 cept 3d. or Od., when staying over night, to the man whom 
 you require to brush your boots. 
 
 i( -.''?3 
 
 ■j":" 
 
 
 >%^. 
 
 ic 
 
 M?'! 
 
 ^■■1.: 
 
 RENTS. 
 
 Rents in Canada, as is generally known, are somewhat 
 hightJi than they are in most places in Britain, because then- 
 boih labour and money bring better returns. One large room, 
 with one or two bed-closets (the kind of accommodation which 
 workmen with small families generally shift with at first), may 
 he had in towns in Canada from 10s, to 12s. a-month, or from 
 about £G to £7, 5s. a-year. For further particulars, see pHge 
 
 no. 
 
 PRICES OF PIIOVISIONS. 
 
 1 will here quote the prices of provisions in iiie London mar- 
 ket last summer. It may be premised that economical families, 
 who have the means, usually lay in a stock of flour, beef, pork, 
 .Sec, by the barrel or 100 lb, before the wiiUer commences, and 
 ilso their fire-wood, which foresight saves them paying higher 
 prices. A cord of wood, containing 128 cubic feet, sufficient 
 to i.,ake a comfortable daily (ire for a family having to use it in 
 corking, for about the space of a fortnight to three weeks, cost^ in 
 the towns from 5s. to 8s. The pieces or billets of beech, maple, 
 ash, and hickory timber, used fo ■ lUel, are about four feet lonj.^, 
 and from 9 to 18 inches in circumference, and when used for 
 stoves of three feet length or less, these pieces are cut and split 
 to the most convenient size. We have in this couDlry in the 
 |)resent day our prejudices for coal, but wood, by experience, 
 is found to make a cheerful, cleanly, warm, and nuu ii inor*' 
 
PRICES or PROVISIONS LANDS, &c. 
 
 151 
 
 lasting fire than is generally supposed. The following were 
 the prices of provisions in the public market at London, Ca- 
 nada, May 24, 1844— quoted from the 'Inquirer' newspaper of 
 same date : — Wheat, per bushel of 60 lb., 3s. to 3s. 4d. — Barley, 
 per bushel of 48 lb., 2s.— Oats, per bushel of 34 lb., lOd. to Is. 
 — Potatoes, per bushel. Is. Gd.— Hay, per ton, 24s. Cd. — Straw, 
 per loud, 8s. 2d. to 10s. 3d. — Beef, per cwt., 20s. 6d. — Mutton, 
 per cwt.-, 20s. 5d. — Veal, per cwt., 20s. 6d. — Pork, 14s. 3d. to 
 1()S. 4d. — Ham, per lb., 4d. — Butter, per lb., 7^d. — Eggs, per 
 dozen, 3id. — Maple sugar, per lb., 3^d. — Fowls, per couple, 
 Is. to Is. 3d. — Turkeys, each 2s. to '.jii. 6d.— Geese, each Is. 
 {)(\. to 2s. Id. 
 
 In the same market, the week ending June 14th, the price 
 of wheat was 3s. 3d. to 3s. Gel. a bushel, and beef IGs. 4d. a 
 cwt. ; butter, which during the previous month was 7h^.j was 
 then selling at 6d. per lb. 
 
 At Toronto, July 1st, wheat was selling at 2s. lOd. to 3s. .')d. 
 a bushel, and flour 16s. 4d. to 18s. per barrel of 196 lb. Oat- 
 meal, per barrel of 19G lb., 10s. Gd. to lis. 3d. Eggs, 4d. to 
 .h1., and butter 4d. to od. 
 
 For the prices of groceries, see page 106, and for clothing, 
 p;ige 33. 
 
 ITvICES OF LANDS AND COST OF CLEARING 
 
 WILD LAND. 
 
 Lands in Canada may be purchased either from Govern- 
 ment, incorporated companies, or private individuals. The 
 lands under the control of the Government are classified into 
 Crown Lands, Clergy Reserves, School Reserves, and Indian 
 Reserves, and are scattered over every district ot the colony. 
 The incorporated land companies in Canada are two: the 
 
if: 
 
 ':t,' 
 
 
 
 .V-' 
 
 I-'"' 
 
 ];y2 
 
 APPENDIX TO THE LETTERS. 
 
 British American Land Company, and the Canada Company, 
 The lands possessed by the former are situated in Lower Ca- 
 nada ; and the Canada Company's lands in the upper or western 
 division of the province. This latter company, which was in- 
 corporated in 1826, possesses scattered lands in every district, 
 and almost every township of Upper Canada, besides lar|jfe 
 territories or tracts in the "Wellington and Huron districts, the 
 latter consisting of a million of acres. The lands held by pri- 
 vate individuals for sale are situated in every part of thp 
 colony, and consist of tracts and scattered lots which have 
 been purchased for speculation, or acquired in payment of 
 debts, chiefly by merchants, and lots of from 100 to 1000 acre?; 
 ill the occupation of the proprietors, and partly cultivated. 
 Dividing the description of lands in Canada into the two classe.s 
 of waste or wild lands, and lands partly cultivated or cleareil. 
 some information respecting them is subjoined. 
 
 '- :■ ■ 
 If: 
 
 At 
 
 WILD LANDS. 
 
 The Crown lands, by an act of the Colonial Legislatiirt . 
 are to be sold at a price to be from time to time fixed by the 
 Governor in Council. The present fixed price fo.v such lands in 
 Upper Canada 'in 8s. currency, or 6s. 7d. sterling per acre. This 
 price does not apply ' to lauds reserved by Government for non- 
 payment of the conditions of settlement on whirh they were 
 granted under a former system now abolished, nor to laii Is 
 called Indian Jiesfrves and Clergy Reserves, which thric 
 classes are, as well m town and village lots, subject in 
 special valuation.' The Government Gazetf^^ publishes ri- 
 specting the Crown iatuU^ whicli are to be had for 8s. cur- 
 rency, that the lots are to be taken at the contents in acrt.- 
 marked in thepu])lic d(tri< merits, without guarantee as to the 
 actual quantity ; that no purchase-money will be received bv 
 instalments, but that the whole, either in money or ^ lanti 
 scrip,' must be paid at the tiiiio of sale. On the payment ot 
 the purchase-money, the purchase^ will receive a receipt wiiicli 
 
CROWN LANDS. 
 
 163 
 
 will entitle him to enter upon the land purchased, and ar- 
 rangements will be made for issuing to him the patent deed 
 without delay. [The ' land scrip' mentioned al)ove is paper 
 issued by the Colonial Government in satisfaction of U. E., or 
 other claims for lands adjusted by this means, and which 
 paper, bearing a certain value attached by Government, and 
 taken as payment for lands, is frequently to be purchased much 
 under the nominal value from the holders for ready cash.] 
 
 For public convenience, Government agents are appointed 
 in each municipal district, ' with full powers to sell to the first 
 applicant any of the advertised lands, which, by the returns 
 open to public inspection, maybe vacant within the district.' 
 
 In addition to the Crown lands offered for sale at 6s. 7d. 
 sterling per acre, the Colonial Government have set apart 
 settlements in both Upper and Lower Canada, in which indi- 
 viduals of 21 years of age and upwards, who have never ob- 
 tained a grant of land from Government, may receive a farm 
 lot of 50 acres without purchase, upon certain conditions. The 
 settlements in Lower Canada are upon the Lambton and Ken- 
 nebec Roads, the former leading from the village of St Francis, 
 through Tring, to the townships of Forsythe and Lambton, and 
 the latter being a continuation of the Kennebec Road from 
 Aubert De Lisle to the Province Line. The settlement in 
 Upf>er Canada is upon a road, which commenced opening in 
 IU'2 at the expense of Govemment, through the Crown land 
 from the north-west angle of the township of Garrafraxa, in 
 the Wellington district, to Owen Sound upon Lake Huron. 
 The road which opens up this important new territory termi- 
 nates at Lake Ontario, from which Owen Sound is distant 
 somewhat over a hundred miles. The chief conditions to be 
 ol)served by settlers are — 
 
 ' They are to make application to the Commissioner of Crown 
 lands, or to the agent on the ground, whenever they shall be 
 ready to become resident on the tract to be granted. — Upon 
 giving a satisfactory account of their means of providing for 
 
i^ 
 
 
 154 
 
 APPENDIX TO THE LETTERS. 
 
 
 g%^'h 
 
 h 
 
 themselves, until a crop can be raised from the ground, thej 
 will receive a ticket from the Commissioner at the Crown 
 Lands' Office, entitling them to locate the land. — Upon appli- 
 cation to the agent in the first place, he will forward a state- 
 ment to the Crown Lands' Office, of the applicant's age, family, 
 and means of settlement, upon which, if approved, authority for 
 location will issue. — Settlers will be required to clear, and 
 place once under crop, one-third of the land located, and to 
 reside on the land until this settlement duty is performed, and 
 after one-third of the grant shall have been cleared and under 
 crop, the settler shall be entitled to bis patent free of expense. 
 The settlement duty is required to be done within four yearsJ 
 from the date of the ticket.' 
 
 The class of lands known as Clergy Reserves are subject to 
 the disposal of the Commissioner for Crown Lands and hU 
 agents in each district. The amount of these lands to be dis- 
 posed of in any one year in Canada, is limited to one hundred 
 thousand acres, except with the written approbation of one of 
 her Majesty's principal Secretaries of State. The lands are 
 reported upon and valued by inspectors appointed by the Crown 
 Lands' Commissioner, and returns upon oath are made by the 
 inspectors of the extent, nature, and other particulars, including 
 the value of such lands, and upon the returns being approved 
 of by the Governor in Council, ^ the same shall be comnumi- 
 cated to the Commissioner of Crown Lands, and the lands 
 contained in such returns shall be considered open for ,^ale, and 
 the price stated in such returns as confirmed, including the 
 value of improvements, to the first person who shall apply for, 
 and pay for the same.' 
 
 The sale of Clergy Reserves are subject to the following terms : 
 — ' Two-sixths of the purchase-money to be paid in hand, and 
 the remaining four-sixths in four equal annual instalments, pay- 
 able on the first day of January in each year, with interest, at 
 the rate of six per cent, per annum — the first of the instalments 
 to fall due, and be payable, on the first day of January next en- 
 suing after any such sale.' 
 
 1* 
 
LANDS OF INCORPORATED COMPANIES. 
 
 155 
 
 The lands of the British American Land Company in Ca- 
 nada are situated in a district of country in Lower Canada, 
 known ai^ the Eastern Townships, and amount to about 700,000 
 acres. The price of the new or wild land of this Company, ac- 
 cording to their published papers, is 6s. to 8s., and near towns 
 12s. an acre. Their terms are one-fifth of the price at entry, 
 and the rest in six annual instalments with interest. The 
 Eastern Townships are situated inland, on the south side of the 
 River St Lawrence, between Quebec and Montreal. Sher- 
 brooke, the principal town, is 83 miles distant from Fort St 
 Francis on the St Lawrence, 90 miles above Quebec. The 
 Company have a Commissioner at Sherbrooke, and agents at 
 Quebec, Montreal, St Francis, and other places. 
 
 The Canada Company, in addition to the formerly usual modes 
 of selling for payments in ready money and by instalments, 
 have lately adopted a new system in the disposal of their lands, 
 which appears to be highly advantageous to a numerous class, 
 who may not have means to acquire lands by immediate pur- 
 chase. The enterprising spirit, and honourable dealings of 
 this Company, and their kind and liberal treatment towards 
 their settlers, have exercised a material influence in forward- 
 ing the interests of Canada, especially of late years, and in a 
 manner highly gratifying to all who have disinterestedly at 
 heart the welfare of the colony. During my residence in Ca- 
 nada, 1 had many opportunities of becoming acquainted with 
 j)ersons who had dealings with the Company, and 1 heard them 
 invariably spoken of with respect and esteem. In the exercise 
 of their honourable and liberal course, the Canada Company are 
 no doubt in part influenced by, and experience the benefits of, the 
 great maxim now being every day more generally recognised — 
 thatprivate interests and those of the public are inseparably one; 
 so that in forwarding the interests of Canada in the promotion of 
 its colonisation, this Company most efteetually promote their 
 own. In reference to their new system of leasing lands, the fol- 
 lowing passages are extracted from one of the published papers of 
 
.1- 
 
 
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 ]:,6 
 
 APPENDIX TO THE LETTERS. 
 
 the Company, dated from their oflice, 'Frederick Street, To- 
 ronto, May 1844:— 
 
 ' The Canada Company have for disposal about one million 
 iand a-half acres of land, mentioned in the printed lists of this 
 date. They consist of lots of from 100 to 200 acres each, 
 scattered throughout the country, and most of them surroundtcJ 
 hy old settlements ; of blocks containing from 1000 to 10,000 
 acres, situated in the Western district ; and of an extensive and 
 important territory, of 800,000 acres, in the Huron district, 
 situated 90 miles south of Owen Sound, 
 
 ' The lands are offered on the most liberal terms, and are 
 highly beneficial to the settlers. By this arrangement, the Com- 
 pany dispose of their lands by way of lease, for a term of ten 
 years— no money being required down — and the rents payable 
 1st February in each year, being less than the interest upon 
 the price. Thus, for example, suppose the purchase-money 
 for 100 acres to be 12s. 6d. per acre, which is £52, 10s., the 
 rent required thereon is £3 — full power being secured to the 
 settler to purchase the land he occupies at any time during the 
 term upon payment of the price stated in the lease. The Com- 
 pany will make a liberal allowance upon the price, according 
 to the period when the settler pays, by anticipation, the amount. 
 and thereby saves himself from further rent. 
 
 '• These lands, and others not included in the leasing list, are 
 also to be disposed of upon the Company's former plan, viz., for 
 cash down, or by one-fifth cash, and the balance in five equal 
 annual instalments with interest. 
 
 ' Fn order to afford every assistance to industrious and pro- 
 vident settlers, the Canada Company will receive any sum, no 
 matter how small the amount may be, for which their lessee 
 settlers may not have immediate want, on deposit, allowing 
 interest at the rate of six per cent, per annum for the same ; bur 
 it is clearly understood, that the full amount with interest ac- 
 crued, shall at all times be at the disposal of the settler with- 
 out notice. For this purpose the Company have opened a". 
 
 £\m 
 
CANADA COMPANY S LANDS. 
 
 lo7 
 
 
 account, which is tcrnicd ' Settlers' Provident or Savings.- Tinnk 
 Account,' thus aifording to the provident settler every facility 
 for accumulating sutlicient money to purchase the freehold of 
 the land which he leases, whenever he chooses to do so, within 
 the terra of ten years ; but should bad harvests, or any unfore- 
 seen misfortunes visit him, he has always the amount deposited, 
 with interest accrued, at his disposal to meet them. 
 
 'Every kind of information upon Canada, and directions that 
 can possibly be useful to intending emigrants to Canada, will 
 be readily furnished, free of all charge, by applying personally, 
 or by letter, to the Company's Ofike in England, Canada 
 House, St Helen'? Place, Bishopsgate Street, London. 
 
 ' The new printed lists of land (which may be seen in every 
 Post-OlTice and store in Canada West), and any particulars, 
 may be obtained, free of charge, upon application, if by letter 
 post paid, to the Company's Office at Goderich, as regards the 
 Huron lands; at Frederick Street, Toronto, as to all other 
 lands and remittances of money.' 
 
 The remittances of money here mentioned refer to arrange- 
 ments whereby the Company, ' anxious to assist settlers and 
 others desirous of sending monies to their friends, engage to 
 j)lace the amounts in the hands of the parties for whom they 
 are destined, free of all cost and expense, thus saving the 
 "Settlers all care and trouble in the business.' 
 
 The next sentence is one speaking more plainly and unequi- 
 vocally regarding the colony than any other similar amount of 
 words and figures could possibly do. Well may every one wish 
 that Canada may long so prosper that her colonists can thus 
 have means to prove so forcibly its advantages, and promote 
 so eiFectually its colonisation. 
 
 '■ The Company last year remitted to the United Kingdom 
 and Germany nearly £3000 in 329 sums, averaging about £.') 
 each : by this means, and during the last four months, they 
 
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 158 
 
 APPENDIX TO THE LETTERS. 
 
 have already sent home a similar amount.' The transactions 
 of the last year [1043] alluded to, consisted in detail of 
 £1438 3 7 in 185 Remittances to Ireland, 
 1076 12 2 in 85 do. to England and Wales, 
 441 14 5 in 58 do. to Scotland, 
 35 3 2 in 1 do. to Germany, 
 
 £2990 13 4 in 329 Remittances. 
 
 IMPROVED FARMS. 
 
 It is, as will be conceived, difficult to state the precise prices 
 at which improved farms can be purchased, the locality, amount 
 of improvements, and particular circumstances of persons wish- 
 ing to sell, having all to be taken into account. It may be 
 generally remarked, however, that such farms, say usually 
 about 200 acres, with 40 acres, or less or more, under cultiva- 
 tion, and having dwelling house, farm buildings, and sometimes 
 implements and stock, are frequently to be bought under real va- 
 lue. The number of farms in the market of this description arises, 
 in many cases, from the possessor wishing to purchase a large 
 extent of wild or waste land for the purpose of sharing such 
 with his grown-up family. In the greater number of instauces, 
 perhaps, farms partly cultivated are to be had for about £3, 
 10s. to £5 an acre. Good bargains are frequently to be had 
 when purchasers are able to pay ready money. An instance 
 I am able to mention of an Englishman who arrived in the 
 London district in the spring of 1843, and who purchased a 
 farm of 100 acres, one half cleared, with a dwelling house upon 
 it, though not very good, a frame barn, and also some stock, 
 for £350 currency, or about £286 sterling, ready money. This 
 farm is about four or five miles from the town of London, and 
 was considered to be a cheap purchase. Another instance I 
 know of is of a farm about the same distance from the town, and 
 the same size as the above, but understood to possess a better soil, 
 
IMPROVKD FARMS. 
 
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 I 
 
 1 1 
 
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 Jtions 
 
 having had an offer of a purchaser for £G00 currency, or £-lV:i 
 .sterling, and the bargain, though not concluded when I heard 
 of it, was expected to be. Like the other farm purchased for 
 £350 currency, this one had also 50 acres cleared, with a frame 
 bam and dwelling house, though the latter of a rather poor de- 
 scription. There are mostly always advertisements of farms 
 for sale to be found in the various newspapers throughout the 
 country, and many bargains are had in this way ; but it is 
 ever a great drawback that, with few exceptions, thf price is 
 not stated. The high charge of postages in Canada, and the 
 delay which must take place before replies to communications 
 are received, naturally frequently operate as barriers in the 
 business of effecting sales, which might not have been the case 
 had the important item of rrice been mentioned along with 
 other particulars of the advertisement. For the purpose of 
 presenting a specimen of an advertisement of a farm in Canada, 
 and the better to illustrate the description and price of farms to 
 be had, I would willingly have selected any property so offered 
 for sale within our district of London ; but on account of prices 
 being omitted, I select one suitable in this respect acciden- 
 tally met with, referring to a different part of the province, and 
 which is extracted from the columns of the ' British Colonist 
 newspaper, published at Toronto. ' Important to Small Ca- 
 pitalists' is the heading of the advertisement— ' For Sale, on 
 very advantageous terms, a most desirable Property, in the 
 Township of Haldimand, District of Newcastle, C. W. It is 
 delightfully situated, having a beautiful view of Lake Ontario. 
 A Saw and Grist Mill adjoins the Property, and being adjacent 
 to Grafton and Cobourg, a good market is secured for all kinds 
 of Produce. The Farm consists of 1 00 Acres, 80 of which are 
 cleared and under cultivation ; the other portion consists of u 
 splendid Maple Bush, which, for its productive qualities, is not 
 to be excelled in any part of Canada. There is a very excellent 
 Frame-built Cottage on the Premises, consisting of two Bed- 
 rooms, Parlour, Kitchen, and Store-room ; also another larger 
 
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 APPEXDIX TO THE LETTERS'. 
 
 Frame Dwelling, 42 by 32, in a atiito of completion ; a good 
 Frame Barn, Stable, ami ()ut-hoii.seH; and a fine Orchard ot 
 Young Trees. It is worthy the attention of anv re.spectablf 
 person, and the Land U of the fir8t quality — the present Pro- 
 prietor leaving in consequence of its interference with his Pro- 
 fession. Price £400 [provincial currency, being £,*J2n ster- 
 ling.] The payment to suit the Purchaser, and immediate p()><- 
 session may be had. For further particulars, inquire of l)r Sa- 
 bine, Chemist and Druggist, 54 Yonge Street. — Toronto, Au- 
 gust 20, 1«43.' 
 
 Wild or waste lands near towns frequently bring a ])rice ap- 
 parently disproportionate to their value, compared with the 
 low price of cleared farms. This is chiefly owing to the tim- 
 ber in such situations being valuable for fuel, A lot of 1.50 
 acres of wood land, within two and a-half miles of London, was 
 lately sold for £500 currency, or about £411 sterling, jind 
 shortly afterwards easily resold for the same amount. 
 
 The least quantity of farm land sold by Government is 50 acres ; 
 and the least quantity disposed of by the Canada Company is 
 100 acres. The usual size of farms in Canada is 200 acres ; 100 
 acres, however, is considered a fair size for persons of mode- 
 rate means. With respect to the important matter of ascer- 
 taining the validity of titles in cases of purchases from privat'> 
 individuals, it may be mentioned that each county has a Re- 
 gister-Office in which titles to lands are recorded. The charge 
 for a search is Is. 6d. 
 
 CLEARING WILD LAND. 
 
 The * clearing' of wild land is usually understood as cutting 
 down and removing all the trees to the two or three feet only 
 of the * stumps' of the larger trees left standing, and fencing, 
 and leaving the field ready for crop. These stumps are usually 
 from 10 feet to 20 feet apart, and do not impede, so much as is 
 generally supposed, the operations of ploughing or harrowing. 
 
CLKARIN'G WILD LAND. 
 
 nil 
 
 The cost of clearing thus may bu stated to be from £2^ loa, 
 to i!3, 5m. per acre. 
 
 An ecoiiomic.il plan, from theexperiiMice of nn early and suc- 
 cessful colonist, may he here stated. Thesettler of limited means 
 having got upon his land about the middle of May, and erected a 
 temporary summer dwelling, as described at page 1(J2, may se- 
 lect a space of two acres or so near his hoii^e, and a man and hoy 
 proceeding to clear in a rough manner may have the lot ready 
 to plant potatoes in about three weeks. The trees are felled, 
 out into lengths, the branches chopped olT, and the light brush- 
 wood cut, and then the whole collected, along with fallen 
 leaves, into heaps, and burned. The logs, if not burned, are 
 iillowed to lie for the present. Good land is found to be free 
 and easy like rich garden ground, and with only a hoe the set- 
 tler may commence planting the plot with potatoes. By this 
 time, say that the season is advanced to the middle of June, or 
 even a little further on, another acre may be similarly cleared, 
 and planted with turnips. Towards the end of July or so, the 
 winter house may engage attention, so that it may be ready by 
 the end uf September, or beginning of October. After the house 
 !;< finished, or while engaged on it, the potatoes and turnips will 
 require to be taken up, an as thr settler has as yet no cellar, 
 the roots may be pre^erx in bings upon the ground. After 
 this has '-en done, the wi. le of th. three acres, from which 
 a first croj rias been had, may be more fully cleared by collect- 
 ing the scattered logs together, an i burning them up. The 
 ashes may either be preserved for the purpose of being manu- 
 factured into the useful asjhes of commerce, or they may be 
 scattered over the land further to fertilise it. The land may- 
 then he raked, and all sown in wheat ; theu«iual quantity sown 
 at this season being one bushel to the acre. After the seed is 
 sown, the rake, "^ ng, or hoe, ) nay he employed. It will now be 
 about the end ol (ictober, and th^ settler may turn his atten- 
 tion to more e\>('vii-'\ve clearing operations through the winter. 
 The spring following, spring wheat may be planted, besides 
 
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 potatoes, oats, pease, turnips, and Indian corn or maize, a id 
 also some garden vegetables. The settler having probably now 
 procured cattle, say a cow aad a yoke of oxen, he may look 
 forward with prospects of being able sufficiently to provide for 
 them, and also to add to his own comforts* 
 
 
 I . • 
 
 PRICES OF LIVE STOCK, FARM BUILDINGS, 
 
 AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS, AND 
 
 HOUSEHOLD FURNITURE. 
 
 i1 
 
 
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 LIVE STOCK. 
 
 The price of a good yoke of oxen may be quoted to be from 
 £10 to jei2 sterling. Milch cows, £2, 15s. to £4. Farm 
 horses, £8 to £10. Sheep, 4s. to IGs. Young breeding sow, 
 8s. to 12s. 
 
 FARM BUILDINGS. 
 
 A comfortable log dwelling house, 16 feet by 24 feet, two floors 
 with shingled roof, is estimated at about from £12 to £14 ; a 
 frame house, 24 feet by 40 feet, about £50 ; a log barn, 24 feet 
 by 40 feet, about £10 ; a frame bam, same dimensions, about 
 £20. The description of dwelling erected by many of the 
 hardy settlers with small means is very simple, and costs little. 
 Having selected land in the commencement of summer, and 
 anxious to get as much done with the least loss of time, pitch- 
 ing their tent for the summer months in the woods gives them 
 little thought. A number of small round logs, or poles, of beech, 
 maple, or elm, 8 inches to 1 foot diameter, are cut in lengths of 
 about 16 feet, and selecting a site 16 feet square, these light logs 
 or poles are laid one upon another, and knotched together with 
 
PRICES OF IMPLEMENTS AND FURNITURE. 163 
 
 the axe at the corners of the square, the sides of the shanty are 
 thus reared. Lighter poles are then laid across the whole to form 
 a roof, and the strong bark striped from the stately elm trees, 
 cover these poles again. An opening for a door having been 
 left in building, a thick mat or quilt is hung over the entrance, 
 and completes this description of forest hut. A man and boy 
 will erect a dwelling of this sort in three or four days, or, with 
 three or four active neighbours, the whole can be done in a 
 day ; and the settler having previously purchased a small stock 
 of provisions, pork, flour, salt, milk, and whatever else he may 
 be enabled to purchase, commences the work of chopping, and 
 burning, and preparing the ground roughly for some little crop ; 
 and before winter approaches, he has time to turn his attention 
 to have a more substantial dwelling erected. 
 
 *^:' 
 
 m. ■ 
 
 AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS. 
 
 Ploughs may be quoted from £1, 10s. to £3, 5s. ; and a pair of 
 drags or small harrows, £l, 5s. to £l, 10s. ; an ox-sledge, £2, 
 and a four-wheeled w^aggon for a pair of horses, £12 to £20 ; 
 carts for single horses, which are, however, little used in Ca- 
 nada, may be had for £2 ; double harness, £6 to £6 ; common 
 saddle and bridle, £3 ; thrashing machines, about from £12 to 
 to £26, fixed or portable ; winnowing or fanning machines, £5. 
 
 HOUSEHOLD FURNITURE. 
 
 The following are specimens of prices of the description of 
 furniture suited to the means of the working tradesman or 
 small farmer : — 
 
 Common deal table, 8s. to 12s. ; turned and painted chairs, 
 3s. to 4s. ; French bed-stead of cherry wood, from 23s. to 30s. ; 
 feathers for bedding, Is. 3d. to Is. 6d. per lb. ; chest of black 
 walnut drawers, £2, 15s. ; cast-iron stove, from £2, 10s. to 
 £4 ; cooking stove, £5 to £8. Furniture of the best descrip- 
 tion, made of mahogany, and also of the native woods, black 
 
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 APPENDIX TO THE LETTERS. 
 
 walnut, maple, and cherry, are to be had of superior design 
 and workmanship in almost every neighbourhood, and at rea- 
 sonable prices. 
 
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 PROFITS OF TILLAGE AND GRAZING. 
 
 The Colonial Land and Emigration Commissioners trans- 
 mitted to the authorities of the British provinces in North 
 America, a series of questions, embracing a variety of im- 
 portant points, to which, through the assistance of Government 
 officers, public bodies, and private iiidividuals, the colonial 
 authorities returned answers. This information, with other 
 useful matter, the Government Commissioners published in 
 1842. To question 16, page 20 — ' Are there parts in which 
 grazing is chiefly used? and if so, name the districts, and the 
 advantages for that pursuit ?' And to question 17 — ' What are 
 the comparative gains of grazing and tillage ?' The following, 
 in substance, were the answers received from Canada, as of- 
 ficially published : — 
 
 ' Mr Widder, one of the Commissioners of the Canada Com- 
 pany [resident at Toronto, Canada], has furnished the following 
 statements ; the first, with reference to tillage, he states he pro- 
 cured from a very intelligent and respectable yeoman, settled 
 in the London district : — 
 
 ' Cost of clearing 10 acres of heavy timbered land, in the 
 usual Canadian fashion, with an estimate of the crops to be 
 produced therefrom during the first three years after clearing. 
 [The rates are understood to be stated in colonial currency, 
 which roughly is reduced to sterling by deducting a fifth, or, 
 to perform the operation exactly, by multiplying by 60, and 
 dividing by 73.] 
 
 
PROFITS OF FARMING IN CANADA. 
 
 16^ 
 
 First Year. 
 
 Chopping, clearing, and fencing 10 acres, with a sub- 
 stantial fence, 7 rails and riders, .it least 8 feet high, 
 so as to leave it fit for the drag, and sowing, at £4 
 per acre, . . . 
 
 Seed, IJ bush, wheat to the acre, say 15 bush, at 5s., 
 
 Sowing and dragging at 53. per acre, 
 
 Jfarvesting at 7s. 6d. per acre, 
 
 The value of the straw tailing, wheat hulls, &c. on 
 the farm, are supposed to be equal to the thrash- 
 ing and cartage to the barn, . . 
 
 Cr. by 20 bushels wheat per acre--200 bushels at 
 3s. 9d., . • • • 
 
 Second Year. 
 
 To timothy and clover seed, at 2s. 6d. per acre, 
 Mowing and taking off hay, at 7s. 6d. per acre, 
 
 Cr. by IJton per acre of hay, at 6 dollars per ton. 
 
 Dr. 
 £ s, d. 
 
 Cr. 
 £ s. 
 
 40 
 
 
 
 3 15 
 
 
 
 2 10 
 
 
 
 3 15 
 
 
 
 37 10 
 
 15 
 3 15 
 
 22 10 
 
 Third Year. 
 
 To mowing and taking off the hay, at 7s. 6d. per acre, 3 15 
 
 Cr. by 1^ ton hay per acre, at 6 dollars per ton, 22 10 
 
 Balance, . . 23 15 
 
 £82 10 82 10 
 
 Cr. by balance brought down, 
 
 £23 15 
 
 ' In this case the value of the after-grass is not taken into 
 consideration, although it is of great value to the farmer, it 
 being the object of this statement to make every allowance for 
 extra expensesj and as it might possibly be thought that the 
 prices of labour were stated at too low a rate, the value of the 
 after-grass is thrown into the scale to compensate for any de- 
 ficiency in the statement of expenses. 
 
 ' It will be observed, that in this statement no mention is 
 made of tlie profit to be derived from the feeding of cattle ; this 
 is left out purposely, in order to show that the actual produce 
 
 
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 in wheat and hay, taking it under every common disadvantage, 
 would, in three years, pay for the clearing, &c. 
 
 * It also appears that the clearing of wild land, and thus 
 forming what is called in this province a fallow for wheat, is 
 not more expensive than for preparing a fallow for wheat in 
 the old country. 
 
 ' The farmer who furnished the data upon, which this state- 
 ment is made, went into the different items, and satisfactoi'ily 
 proved that three or four ploughings, marling, chalking, or 
 both, manuring and otherwise preparing an acre of land in 
 England so as to make a good summer fallow of it, and ensure 
 a profitable crop of wheat, was, without taking rent, poor rates, 
 and taxes into consideration, fully equal to the price of clear- 
 ing (not taking into account the fencing) an acre of land in 
 Canada. 
 
 ' In both instances the crop is nearly the same ; if any dif- 
 ference, the advantage is in favour of Canada, as the average 
 of the wheat crop throughout Canada is considerably greater 
 than the average of the wheat crop in England ; and, although 
 in Canada the price is much less for the produce, yet there is 
 neither rent, rates, nor taxes to pay. 
 
 ' It must be borne in mind, in making a comparison between 
 Canada and Britain, that, in the case of the latter, a fallow Is 
 prepared for the crop, or at most the crop and the succeeding 
 one, while in Canada, when once an acre of land is cleared, 
 it ranks in the farmer's lists of assets for ever at the value of 
 its cost in clearing, as it is in fact so much reclaimed from the 
 forest, which for eight or ten years at least will require scarcely 
 any expense in the way of manure or fencing. 
 
 * The preceding account shows that the farmer would have 
 10 acres of cleared land, substantially fenced, the fence of 
 which will last without repair from 12 to 15 years, and with 
 repair, for 20 years at least ; and it must also be borne in 
 mind, that in case the farmer does the labour with his oini 
 hands and the assistance of his fatmly^ the whole amount of the 
 
tage, 
 
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 state- 
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 ind in 
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 allow is 
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 PROFITS OF STOCK FARMS. 
 
 1C7 
 
 debit side, with the exception of the cost of seed, is swept off, 
 leaving the clear profit £77, 10s. ; and, at the end of the time 
 before mentioned, the land is actually better than it was when 
 it was first cleared, and every year afterwards it goes on im- 
 proving until the stumps rot out, when it should he gradually 
 levelled, and then it will be advisable to adopt the usual course 
 of good English farming. 
 
 * As to profits upon grazing ^ they are very considerable. The 
 demands for cattle for the use of the colony cannot be supplied, 
 except by importation from the United States, where consider- 
 able numbers of sheep are raised for the wool. In the Huron 
 tract, and Wilmot [district of Wellington, east of the Huron 
 tract], the pasture afforded to cattle in the woods is so excel- 
 lent that, without any assistance, they get remarkably fat ard 
 fit for slaying. In Wilmot, the Huron, and Waterloo [another 
 township of Wellington] , the number of sheep is much on the 
 increase, and large flocks are seen. 
 
 * PROFITS UPON GRAZING. 
 
 * From the statement of a respectable and intelligent indivi- 
 dual, residing in Zorra [district of Brock], whose veracity I 
 have no reason for doubting, the value of stock in that town- 
 ship is as follows : — 
 
 < Sheep (store), after shearing, 10s. a-piece. 
 
 ' Working cattle, per yoke, 60 to 60 dollars. 
 
 ' Year old hogs, 12s. 6d. to 15s. each. 
 
 ' Horses, from £30 to £40 the span (the pair). 
 
 *■ Cows, 16 to 20 dollars each. 
 
 *• It appears that stock farms are much more profitable than 
 merely grain farms, on account of the great increase in the 
 value of cattle in the first three or four years. The following 
 is a fair statement of what may be done "fith them : — 
 
 * In the fall of the year ox calves', calved in the spring, may 
 be purchased for 20s. currency per head, generally at some- 
 
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 APPENDIX TO THE LETTERS. 
 
 thing less. The next autumn, when two years and a-half old, 
 they are worth 80s. each ; and the spring following are fit to 
 break in, and then are worth £5 each or £10 per yoke. The 
 stock farmer should not keep them longer, as they will not con- 
 tinue to increase in the same proportion. Heifer calves are 
 equally profitable to keep. 
 
 ' The western parts of Upper Canada, on account of the win- 
 ters there being shorter and milder, would no doubt answer far 
 better for rearing stock of all kinds than the eastern districts.' 
 
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 THE SURROUNDING DISTRICTS. 
 
 It might prove interesting, before closing the subject of the 
 district selected for the purpose of affording some glimpses of 
 Canada, and the condition of its colonists, to give some slight 
 sketches of the distinctive features of the other districts in the 
 great western peninsula of Canada, and with which, moreover, 
 the London district stands somewhat in the relation of a com- 
 mon centre. The prescribed limits of this publication will, 
 however, only allow this plan to be adopted to a very slight ex- 
 tent. Those districts, the Talbot, Brock, and Huron, which 
 are the ofF-shoots of the old London district, invite our first 
 attention. 
 
 THE TALBOT DISTRICT. 
 
 The London district, as has been previously stated, consisted 
 originally of three counties, besides the great Huron tract, 
 now existing as the separate district of Huron, and these coun- 
 ties, named Middlesex, Oxford, and Norfolk, now also consti- 
 tute separate districts. The two latter having been erected 
 into the districts of Brock and Talbot, Middlesex the central 
 
THE TALBOT DISTRICT. 
 
 1 f;n 
 
 one, and it being also the largest and most important, became 
 the present district of London. The Talbot district, composed 
 of the comity of Norfolk, is situated upon the east and south of 
 London, and lies with a stretch of five townships, along the 
 shores of Lake Erie, namely, from the township of Bayham in 
 London to the western border of the district of Niagara ; and 
 upon the north it is bounded by the district of Brock, which was 
 once the county of Oxford. The district of Talbot consists of 
 seven townships, named Houghton, Walsingham, Charlotte- 
 ville, Woodhouse, Townsend, Middleton, and Windham. In 
 1841 the total population was 9G0O, possessing above 186,000 
 occupied acres, of which about 50,000 was under cultivation. 
 The total amount of assessed property within the district, ac- 
 cording to the assessed valuation, was above £120,000 ster- 
 ling. The chief or district town is Simcoe, situated about 
 seven miles from the town and harbour of Port Dover upon 
 Lake Erie. The soil may generally be characterised as sandy, 
 in some parts light, and thinly timbered with oak, but in other 
 parts again, it is rich and fertile, and well timbered. There 
 are abundance of creeks or streams watering the district ; and, 
 owing to the large quantity of iron ore found in the township 
 of Charlottevil^e, an iron work called Long Point Foundry has 
 been for some time in existence, and supplies the country with 
 stoves, fire grates, ploughs, mill machinery, and such descrip- 
 tion of articles. The most numerous religious body in the dis- 
 trict are Baptists ; there being of one division of this sect, 
 ' Close Communion' Baptists, 2200. The next largest body are 
 Methodists, of whom there are above 2300. The Church of Eng- 
 land adherents number 800, and Presbyterians nearly 400. 
 This district is likely to receive great benefit from the improve- 
 ments of Port Dover harbour, and the new plank road which 
 leads from the harbour, and intersecting the country, and cross- 
 ing the Grand River by a substantial bridge, connects the dis- 
 trict with the flourishing town of Hamilton, at the head of 
 Lake Ontario. Port Dover, situated upon a fine stream, con- 
 
 M 
 
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 »..•!. 
 
 , ' i 
 
170 
 
 APPENDIX TO THE LETTERS. 
 
 II 
 
 tains about 300 inhabitants, and has a beautiful country around 
 it. The whole of Long Point IJay, indeed, U attractive, and 
 with its wharfs, and creeks or streams, the stretch of 20 miles 
 from the western commencement of the bay, all down the lake 
 to Port Dover, may he called one vast harbour. But good roads 
 are wanted in some parts to open up the back country, and par- 
 ticularly as they might prove highly serviceable outlets for the 
 produce of the important inland district of Brock. 
 
 i' 
 
 
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 THE DISTRICT OF BUOCK. 
 
 This district, embracing the county of Oxford, is directly 
 east of the London district, and in the rear, or on the north 
 boundary, of the Talbot. It consists often townships, the names 
 of which are Dereham, Norwich, Burford, Oakland, Oxford 
 west and north, and Oxford east, Nissouri, Zorra, Bland- 
 ford, and Blenheim. A great part of this district is agreeably 
 jituated upon the banks of the River Thames, which winds 
 through it ; the surface of the land is gently broken and undu- 
 lating, and the soil, for the most part, is rich and fertile, gene- 
 rally loam and clay. Parts, such as the east division of Bur- 
 ford consist of sandy loam, not very well timbered. Much of this 
 township of Burford, however, is well cultivated, possessing 
 some of the best farms in the district, and the village of Bur- 
 ford is one of the most pleasant and luxuriant little spots in 
 Western Canada. Zorra is considered an excellent township 
 for soil and other advantages ; it is timbered with maple, beech, 
 and oak, and well watered. The population consists chiefly 
 of Scotch Highlanders ; in 1841 the township numbered 2700, 
 and above 1400 belonged to the Church of Scotland. The 
 total population of the district in 1841 was 15,600, possessing 
 271,000 acres of land, of which 62,000 acres were cultivated. 
 The amount of assessed property was £204,000 provincial 
 currency, or above £166,600 sterling. There are many re- 
 spectable English residents in this district, several of whom 
 
THE DISTRICT OF BROCK. 
 
 171 
 
 are settled in the immoiliate neighbourhood of the very agree- 
 ably situated district town of Woodstock. The country around 
 here is slightly elevated, and finely rolling, and some of it taste- 
 fully laid out and opened by cultivated fields and parks amid 
 patches of woods. Ingersoll is another prettily situated little 
 town, about nine miles west of Woodstock ; both are upon the 
 main road leading westward from the head of Lake Ontario. 
 The number of houses within the district slightly exceeds 770, 
 of which nearly the whole are the comfortable description 
 known as frame houses, and nearly 100 are composed of two 
 storeys, and 10 are brick and stone houses. There are IJ] Hour 
 mills, above 40 saw mills, 30 merchants' shops, 40 pleasure 
 waggons, and G curricles and gigs. Methodists are most nume- 
 rous in the district, there being 3900 of the various divisions, 
 known as Canadian, British, and Episcopal Methodists. The 
 Church of England is next strongest, there being over 2600 in 
 connection witb that Church. Baptists number about 2G00 ; 
 the Church of Scotland a little above 2000, and with other Pres- 
 byterians, 2800. Among other sects may be mentioned nearly 
 900 Quakers. The nearest good harbour on Lake Erie for this 
 district is Port Burwell, in the London township of Bayham, 
 which township joins the south boundary of Dereham, belong- 
 ing to the district of Brock. Much of the wheat of the district 
 at present is forwarded eastward, to be shipped either at Hamil- 
 ton on Lake Ontario, or at Brantford on the Grand River. The 
 district town of Woodstock is about 25 miles west of Brant- 
 ford, and thence further eastward to Hamilton is other 25 miles. 
 As an instance of the important openings which are being made 
 into the interior of this great and fertile peninsula of Western 
 Canada, it may be mentioned, that it was only the other sum- 
 mer that the first vessel freighted from Brantford, sailed with 
 a cargo of wheat and other produce direct to Montreal with- 
 out once breaking bulk, and returned freighted to Brantford 
 with a cargo of merchandise, having performed in all a voyage 
 of between 800 and 900 miles. Brantford, containing between 
 
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 17-2 
 
 APPENDIX TO THE LETTERS, 
 
 1000 and 2000 inluibitantfl, is situjited somtwhere about 40 
 milen up the Grand Uivrr; and, although the navigation this 
 distance is accoini>lished by nieann of lockage, a steamboat 
 plys between the town and the village of Dunville, near the 
 mouth of the river, two or three times a-week. 
 
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 THE HURON DISTUICT. 
 
 The Huron district, situated directly north of the district of 
 London, and stretching along part of the south-eastern shore of 
 Lake Huron, contains twenty-one townshijis. The soil of this 
 district, which is rnpidly growing in importance, is believed to 
 be without exception the most fertile in Canada. The greater 
 part consists of a rich black sandy loam, finely timbered with 
 beech, maple, black walnut, and elm. Spring wheat hitherto 
 has chiefly been grown, and the produce of crops varying, ac- 
 cording to seasons and other circumstances, is known to range 
 from 15 to 60 bushels an acre. Goderieh, the district town, is 
 60 miles north of London, and is situated upon the elevated 
 banks of Lake Huron, at the mouth of the Iliver Maitland. 
 The Canada Company, to whom nearly the whole of the district 
 belongs, have laid out large sums in improving the natural har- 
 bour formed by the mouth of the Maitland ; two piers have been 
 built, and, in 1843, vessels drawing nine feet water had access. 
 A steamboat usually plys between Goderieh and Detroit, in 
 connection with the steamers from BuflFalo, and the Canada 
 ports on Lake Erie, and a mail stage runs twice a-week to and 
 from London, and a stage also runs regularly on another good 
 turnpike road, intersecting the north-east portion of the dis- 
 trict, and passing through the Wellington and Gore districts 
 to the town of Hamilton. The site of Goderieh was quite a 
 wilderness so late as 1830, and in 1040 it contained a popula- 
 tion of 700. The position of the town overlooking Lake Huron 
 .s commanding (perhaps rather much so, as being too exposed 
 in winter), and the scenery upon the River Maitland is very at- 
 
THE HURON DISTRICT. 
 
 17:{ 
 
 tractive. A youii'j; nobleman, tlui Baron du Tuyll, has eit'ctrd 
 a residence on the Maitlund opposite Cioderioh, and the well 
 known Dr Dunlop, author of * The Baek-woodsinan', has hero 
 liin finely cultivated farm of (Jairhraid. The town is re|j;ularly 
 laid out, with a market place in the centre, and the Court- 
 house is substantially built of stone. As bein;^ the shipping' 
 port and market of an extensive and fertile country, Godcrich 
 is likely to become an important place. The fishings of Lake 
 Huron may yet employ a great deal of labour arul capital. In 
 the season of UI40 the result of the enterprise of a single indi- 
 vidual in the fisheries, round the Saugin Islands, was COO bar- 
 rels of salmon, herrings, and white fish. The township of 
 Cioderich, exclusive of the town, had a population in 1}I40 
 of above 1100, in possession of between 5000 and (JOOO acres 
 of land under cultivation, above 140 yoke of oxen, nearly ■'SOO 
 cows, 130 horses, 1000 young cattle, (500 sheep, and 'JliOO pigs. 
 The aggregate means of these colonists on arriving in Canada, 
 according to returns, was estimated at c£lU,700; their means, 
 on goingupon theirlands, at £19,400 ; and, in 1 lUO, the value of 
 their stock and improvements amounted to £45,200. Of the 
 population who have shown such progre:JS in prosperity, ll;{ 
 of the families were destitute of means before they went on 
 land ; 17 families had an amount of means under £10, and 4(5 
 families had, on the average, means under £50. The settle- 
 ment of the Huron district was commenced by the Canada 
 Company in 1820. Among the rising villages of the district is 
 one named Stratford, situated on the banks of the River Avon. 
 This village is situated at a point where four townships meet 
 —those of North and South Easthope, Ellice, and Downie ; 
 and the main road leading irom Goderich, through Wilmot, 
 Waterloo, and Dundas, to Hamilton, passes through it. Al- 
 though -an years ago all was waste forest here, there are now 
 well-finished houses, a church, two inns, a Hour and saw mill, 
 a brewery, tannery, and numerous mechanics, and around are 
 well cultivpted farms. In the surrounding townships, besides 
 
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 174 
 
 APPENDIX TO THE LETTERS. 
 
 the British settlers, who are the most numerous, there are 
 many illustrious and prosperous Dutch, possessing well im- 
 proved farms, stocked with sheep, cows, &c. 
 
 The village of St Marys, township of Blanchard, about 18 
 miles from the town of London, is a settlement which, al- 
 though newly sprung up, having only commenced in 1840, is 
 now considerably advanced, and likely to become a very thriv- 
 ing place. It is situated very agreeably upon the north branch of 
 the River Thames ; the soil is of the best description, and finely 
 timbered along the undulating banks. There is abundance of 
 limestone, suitable fur building, upon the site of the village, 
 and flour and saw mills of the stone are erected, and an inn, 
 shops, and other buildings. The settlers around St Marys 
 are chiefly Scotch. 
 
 The statistics of the Huron district for 1843 were as fol- 
 lows : — Population — Males, 4994 ; females, 4184; making a 
 total of 9178 ; of these 3200 belong to the Church of England, 
 2400 to the Church of Scotland, 1000 to the Church of Rome, 
 Seceders from the Church of Scotland and other Presbyterians 
 800, Methodists 500, Baptists 200. The amount of land oc- 
 cupied by this population was above 240,000 acres, nearly 
 25,000 acres of which was under cultivation. They possessed, 
 besides the above, 9600 neat cattle (about 3000 of which were 
 cows), and about 700 horses, above 5000 sheep, and 6500 hogs. 
 Among the products of 1843 were 65,500 bushels of wheat, 
 54,000 bushels of oats, 7700 bushels barley, 12,700 bushels of 
 pease, and 117,900 bushels of potatoes. The quantity of maple 
 sugar produced amounted to 58,300 pounds, the wool to 10,100 
 pounds, pnd the domestic fabrics manufactured to 10,900 yds. 
 The average price of land in this district is about 12s. an 
 acre ; and settlers, not only from Britain, but numbers almost 
 from every part of Canada are attracted to it, more especially 
 since the new system of leasing the lands has been adopted. 
 
NEW NORTHERN TERRITORY. 
 
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 NEW NOKTHERN TERRITORY. 
 
 Directly north of the great Huron Tract, and stretchinj;^ 
 along the eastern shore of Lake Huron, until hounded on the 
 north by Owen Sound, and other parts of the south shore of 
 the great Georgian Bay, and on the east bounded by the new 
 districts of Simcoe and Wellington is situate an extensive 
 territory, to which considerable attention has recently been di- 
 rected in Canada. The new government setilement upon the road 
 opened from G arrafraxa to Owen Sound, which is mentioned at 
 page 153, as being laid out in farm lots of 60 acres, for the pur- 
 pose of free grants to settlers passes along the eastern boun- 
 dary of this new and important territory. Two enterprising mer- 
 chants, who, for these number of years, have been honourably 
 connected with the interests of Canada, are believed to have 
 lately, in the course of one of their business journeys, visited 
 this territory, and the interesting account which appeared re- 
 garding it during the early part of the present year, in the 
 columns of the British Colonist newspaper, published at To- 
 ronto (Hugh Scobie, Esq., Editor), is supposed to have been 
 chiefly derived from the information of those gentlemen. 
 
 The Governor-General, Sir Charles Metcalfe, whose atten- 
 tion, it is well known, is earnestly directed towards improving the 
 resources of Canada by means of good roads, is believed to be 
 favourable to a plan of judiciously opening up and settling this 
 part of the country in such a manner as will most benefit the 
 home population emigrating to Canada, and improve the gene- 
 ral prosperity of the colony. Besides the road from Garra- 
 fraxa, other roads, having their commencement at Lake Ontario, 
 are proposed in various directions to intersect the extensive 
 tract, which is stated to consist of two millions of acres. A 
 
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 170 
 
 APPENDIX TO THE LETTERS. 
 
 great part of this territory, as may be seen by the map, is not 
 farther north than the well known Bay of Quinte, where some 
 of the best wheat in Canada is raised, and Owen Sound, in 
 the Great Georgian Bay of Lake Huron, is described as a 
 magnificent inlet. From this inlet, and another, 60 or 80 
 miles north of Goderich, known as the Saugin, the distance 
 from Toronto and Hamilton is estimated to be from 105 to 115 
 miles. The Sangin, which promises to uecome an important 
 harbour of Lake Huron, is thus described in the report of a 
 Surveyor examining this part of the country:— 
 
 * In viewing the mouth of the Saugin, I think it the most 
 beautiful part of all I have yet seen. There is a small island 
 about three quarters of a mile from shore, in front of the mouth, 
 which serves as a natural breakwater, affording safety to fish- 
 ing vessels and others, which are often there, and take protec- 
 tion under the lee of the island, veering round as the wind 
 changes. — Immediately on the bar, in the mouth of the river, 
 the current is rather heavy to admit vessels without a hard 
 pressing wind. After passing these rapids, vessels of heavy 
 burden might sail up to the distance of twenty miles, and wide 
 
 enough to admit the passing of three steam- vessels.' 
 
 * The distance from the mouth to the Owen Sound road is 
 about thirty miles; but to follow the river it may be 100 miles, 
 as the river forms a great bend. I came down the river from 
 the Owen Sound road on a raft of dry cedar, and had often to 
 renew the raft, as I could not haul it over the several jambs of 
 drift timber that I met with. After passing the junction of 
 the several Saugins, about seven miles below the Owen Sound 
 road, I met with but few other obstacles, as the river was 
 deep and wide enough for steamboats. After passing the 
 junction, we bore off in a south-east direction for, say forty 
 miles, and after passing the Great Bend, which is about half 
 way, being near the Burwell line, we then sailed north to 
 within about twenty miles of the mouth, when the river then 
 took a westerly course to the lake,* 
 
f (■■ 
 
 WESTERN DISTRICT. 
 
 177 
 
 Respecting the vast tract of land in this quarter, the report 
 in the * Colonist' proposes, that this public (and at present 
 waste) territory should be formed into a public-road fund for 
 the use of the whole province. A plan of this nature, the 
 same authority mentions, is intended to be submitted to the 
 Provincial Parliament during next session. 
 
 ' But even if no general system like this be adopted,' ob- 
 serves the Colonist, ' we have no doubt that part of the large 
 tractof land lying on Lake Huron will be applied at least to the 
 openinp- up of that vast country itself. It will assuredly prove one 
 of the greatest wheat-fields in Upper Canada, and we venture to 
 say, that the Huron tract and this new territory will, within 
 15 or 20 years, send as much produce through the Welland 
 Canal, as now passes it, of surplus produce grown on the whole 
 Canadian side of Lake Erie. The lands of this new territory 
 are now lying as valueless as so many acres of Lake Huron, 
 while, if opened up by plank roads, every acre would be made 
 immediately marketable, and preferred to any part of the pro- 
 vince. The country is described as most beautifully rolling, 
 and finely watered with springs, which the winter never 
 freezes.' 
 
 THE WESTERN DISTRICT. 
 
 The Western District, lying to the south and west of the 
 districts of Huron and London, comprises the extreme south- 
 western portion of Canada, and also of British America. 
 Bordering, too, for a stretch of between one and two hundred 
 miles along the shores of Lake Erie, the Detroit River, Lake 
 St Clair, the River St Clair, and the most southern part of Lake 
 Huron, this large district possesses a climate, compared with 
 
178 
 
 APPENDIX TO THE LETTERS. 
 
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 other parts of Canada and British America, peculiarly mild 
 and equable. Every description of fruit grown in Canada is 
 produced here in fuller perfection ; and in the older and 
 better inhabited settlements along the banks of the Detroit 
 River, where are situated the towns of Amhevstburgh and 
 Sandwich, and along the River Thames towards Chatham, 
 the country is remarkable for numbers of luxuriant orchards, 
 producing some of the finest apples known in North America ; 
 also pears, peaches, plums, cherries, and, in instances, several 
 varieties of grapes of good ordinary size and flavour. Abun- 
 dance of melons are produced, excellent in quality ; and the 
 tomato, a greatly prized vegetable, is much cultivated. But, 
 indeed, generally along the banks of the above-named lakes 
 and rivers, especially along the Detroit River, connecting 
 Lake Erie with Lake St Clair, the country presents, during 
 summer and autumn, the most luxuriant and smiling aspect. 
 The scenery of the Detroit is really charming, and I shall 
 ever preserve the memory of many pleasant days I spent upon 
 its banks. In parts, as in the vicinity of Amherstburghj those 
 banks are slightly elevated ; and, though much worn away by 
 the action of storn\s and other causes, they still display slopes 
 or small rugged steeps, covered to the water's edge with 
 treey, flowers, and shrubs, and the wild vine luxuriantly clus- 
 tering and twining around the trunks, and overtopping and 
 bending into sorts of fanciful bowers the bushy branches of 
 the trees. The broad expanded river here, at the meeting of 
 its deep full waters with Lake Erie, is studded with verdant 
 wooded islands, varied in character and size. This— one of 
 those lovely scenes which so enchanted the early French 
 voyagers, particularly the accomplished Charlevoix, who, ad- 
 dressing the Duchess de Lesdiguieres, describes glowingly this 
 very spot — has now exchanged the unbroken calm and still 
 beauty which surrounded it then, a century and more ago, for 
 the very different, though not to say less pleasing busy life- 
 stirrings of crowding sails and stately steam-vessels passing 
 
AMIIERSTBURGII. 
 
 170 
 
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 ly mild 
 anada is 
 der and 
 Detroit 
 rgli and 
 Jhatham, 
 irchards, 
 iinerica ; 
 !, several 
 Abun- 
 and the 
 d. But, 
 led lakes 
 mnecting 
 ts, during 
 ig aspect, 
 i I shall 
 jent upon 
 gh those 
 away by 
 ay slopes 
 dge with 
 ntly clus- 
 jping and 
 anches of 
 leeting of 
 1 verdant 
 s— one of 
 French 
 who, ad- 
 ingly this 
 and still 
 I ago, for 
 
 )usy 
 
 life- 
 
 s passing 
 
 and repassing, laden with the riches of this West, and with its 
 eager bustling population. 
 
 The vicinity of Amherstburgh, however, though presenting 
 most agreeable features, has the great drawback of a large 
 portion of its lands lying low and flat, and instead of lively 
 running streams, most of the waters are dull and rather stag- 
 nant, which circumstance is considered to be unfavourable to 
 health, and this character extends to other situations along 
 the stretch of frontier waters of the Western District. Fair 
 health seems, notwithstanding, with ordinary care, to be pre- 
 served by the inhabitants; and I know many highly respect- 
 able English and Scotch families who have long resided here, 
 and always enjoyed good health. The night and early morn- 
 ing air of spring and autumn, when miasma most abounds, 
 requires to be as much avoided as possible ; and, with light 
 nourishing diet, regularity, and moderate exercise, good 
 health may be considered pretty safe, even in the situations 
 of this western country most exposed to the annoying and 
 debilitating, yet not fatal complaints of fever and ague. 
 
 Amherstburgh, one of the oldest towns in Upper Canada, 
 a number of French having settled at an early period all along 
 the shores of the Detroit, Lake St Clair, and the lower part 
 of the River Thames (long from that circumstance known by 
 the name of De La Trenche), has, up to the present time, 
 made rather slow progress, having only somewhere about 1500 
 inhabitants. A considerable portion of the population consists 
 of French, and coloured African people who have escaped from 
 the slave States of America. There is an English Church, 
 Presbyterian Church, and Roman Catholic Chapel in the 
 town ; the coloured African people have also a small church, 
 and the Wesleyan Methodists maintain a preacher here, whose 
 duties extend to the surrounding country. An agreeable fea- 
 ture in this interesting small place, is a public reading-room, 
 where not only British, Canada, and United States newspapers 
 and other periodicals used to be received, but journals printed 
 
 
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 'V. 
 
 II 
 
 180 
 
 APPENDIX TO THE LETTERS. 
 
 in French and German, and all of which were read and appre- 
 ciated among the variety of residents. There is also a li- 
 brary attached to the reading-room. Another pleasing social 
 feature of this neighbourhood is the " Western District Lite- 
 rary, Philosophical, and Agricultural Association," estab- 
 lished, in 1842, for the purposes of the mutual instruction of 
 its members, and co-operating in promoting the more general 
 diflFusion of education, and agricultural, and general improve- 
 ment in the district. Its members number the most respec- 
 table and intelligent inhabitants ; and its first transactions, in- 
 cluding the opening discourse of its first president. Major R. 
 Lachlan, published, in pamphlet form, is now before me. 
 A Temperance Society has been some years in operation, and 
 exerts a very beneficial influence. 
 
 Several vessels belong to the port of Amherstburgh, which 
 are employed in the commerce of the lakes, carrying produce 
 down Lakes Erie and Ontario for Montreal, and bringing up 
 merchandise. The size of vessels are chiefly from 100 to 160 
 tons burden, usually schooner-rigged, carrying about half-a- 
 dozen hands, and are commonly actively employed in transport- 
 ing cargoes of wheat, flour, salted provisions, and oak-sta\es 
 and tobacco, down the lakes. The vessels proceed through 
 Lake Erie, the Welland Canal, and Lake Ontario, a dis- 
 tance of above 400 miles, to Kingston, at the lower ex- 
 tremity of Lake Ontario, and head of the River St Lawrence, 
 where the cargoes are at present unloaded, and sent the re- 
 maining distance of about 200 miles down the river, or through 
 the canals, in smaller craft, to Montreal. The completion 
 and enlargement of all the great carals of Canada now about 
 to take place, will allow larger vessels to trade, and also to pro- 
 ceed the whole way direct to Montreal, or even to ^^ngland. 
 
 The tract of country stretching along Lake Erie below 
 Amherstburgh for a distance of about 80 or 90 miles, con- 
 sists of ten townships, extending to Aldborough, the eastern- 
 most township of the London district. Much of the land of 
 
 II ! 
 
CULTIVATION OF HEMP AND TOBACCO. 
 
 181 
 
 ippre- 
 I a li- 
 social 
 t Lite- 
 estab- 
 tion of 
 general 
 iprove- 
 respec- 
 ms, in- 
 ajor B. 
 ire me. 
 on, and 
 
 J which 
 produce 
 ging up 
 3 to 160 
 ; half-a- 
 ansport- 
 -sta\es 
 through 
 a dis- 
 ver ex- 
 Iwrence, 
 the re- 
 |through 
 ipletion 
 about 
 to pro- 
 band. 
 
 below 
 !S, con- 
 leastem- 
 land of 
 
 these townships is situated upon high banks of the lake, 
 and is of the first quality, producing excellent crops both of 
 wheat anr* tobacco. The slaves, who from time to time have 
 effected their escape frcm the southern States of America, se- 
 lected, from an early period, this quarter of Canada as a place 
 of refuge, and are believed to have introduced the culture oi 
 tobacco into these lake-townships, where it is now grown 
 in large quantities, and is estimated equal to the second 
 quality of Virginian tobacco. Eighteen hundred and twenty- 
 one is stated to have been the first year in which it 
 was sent in bulk to Montreal market, yet so rapidly did the 
 trade grow, considering the limited means and numbers of the 
 settlers, in 1827, six years afterwards, there were shipped for 
 the same market 500 hogsheads, weighing each from 1000 to 
 1100 lbs. The culture is still carried on, though of late 
 years it has apneared to flag owing to the low prices obtained, 
 and the farmers experiencing it to be a crop which greatly 
 impoverishes the soil. Concerning price, it maybe stated, that 
 a quantity of Amherstburgh tobacco, grown in the lake settle- 
 ments, and manufactured into phtg (known as negrohead in 
 this country), was sold, wholesale, in 150 lb. casks, in other 
 parts of Canada, in the winter of 1843, so low as 4d. sterling 
 per lb. In August last (1844) Canada leaf tobacco was 
 selling in Montreal at 2^d. Hemp used many years ago to 
 be cultivated in large quantities in the lake-townships and also 
 on the River Thames. In 1812 the price procured in Canada 
 was £50 sterling per ton. The Western District is believed 
 to be favourable to the culture both of flax and hemp ; and 
 attention is being re-directed to this sometime neglected branch 
 of products. The manufacture of oak-staves for the West 
 India market has engaged a considerable share of attention 
 these many years throughout the Western District, and em- 
 ploys many hands during winter, cutting down the trees and 
 preparing the staves for shipment ; and this trade affords a good 
 deal of employment to the vessels transporting them to King- 
 
 ■:k 
 
m 
 
 'i 
 
 182 
 
 APPENDIX TO THE LETTERS. 
 
 1} 3«V>, .: 
 
 
 ston. Standard oak-staves, 1^ inches thick, and 5^ feet long, 
 were purchased on the lliver Thames and Lake Erie shore for 
 from £4 to £G sterling per thousand, and shipped on board the 
 vessel they were £6 to £7, and the vessel's charge for freight to 
 Kingston was £8 to £10 per thousand. The usual rate of 
 freight for merchandise and luggage from Kingston to the head of 
 Lake Erie is 2s. a cwt. ; from Montreal to Kingston, also 2s., 
 — 4s. in all, a distance by land of 700 miles. The time taken, 
 say by steam-propellers, up the St Lawrence, and schooners 
 up the lakes, from 8 to 10 or 12 days. 
 
 That beautiful native wood, black walnut, is found in large 
 quantities in the Western District, and quantities are shipped 
 down the lakes. A magnificent specimen of this richly 
 ornamental wood of Canada is exhibited in the Museum, at 
 Edinburgh, of the Highland and Agricultural Society of Scot- 
 land. The specimen is from the River S*" Clair, and was sent 
 from Canada by Mr Sutherland, a native of Edinburgh, who 
 has a very pleasant residence upon one of the most agreeable 
 spots of that fine river. 
 
 Proceeding above Amherstburgh, along the River Detroit, 
 through a richly fertile part of country, some of it gently 
 elevated above the river, and dry and well drained, but much 
 of it disagreeably low, level, and wet, the district town of 
 Sandwich is approached, 16 miles distant. It is a neat quiet- 
 looking town, rather smaller than Amherstburgh, with many 
 respectable inhabitants. There is an English Church, Baptist 
 Chapel, and Roman Catholic Chapel, in Sandwich. On ac- 
 count of Sandwich being now not sufficiently central for the 
 increase of population westward, Chatham is spoken of as 
 being made the district seat. Probably soon, however, as some 
 further increase of population takes place, the large district 
 will be divided, and both may then be district seats. 
 
 Among those enterprising individuals who, in every country, 
 but more especially in new countries such as Canada, are 
 found, in particular neighbourhoods, imparting a stimulus 
 
AMHERSTBURGII SANDWICH WINDSOR. 
 
 183 
 
 ; long, 
 ore for 
 ird the 
 ight to 
 rate of 
 liead of 
 Iso 2s., 
 taken, 
 looners 
 
 n large 
 shipped 
 , richly 
 eiira, at 
 of Scot- 
 vas sent 
 gh, who 
 greeahle 
 
 Detroit, 
 t gently 
 ut much 
 town of 
 t quiet- 
 h many 
 Baptist 
 On ac- 
 for the 
 n of as 
 as some 
 district 
 
 [country , 
 
 ida, are 
 
 Istiraulus 
 
 around them, two brothers, natives of the west of Scotland, 
 may be mentioned in connection with this Western District. 
 Tlie Messrs Dougall, carrying on a large trade as merchants 
 at Amherstburgh and "Windsor, and through the means of 
 branch stores throughout the district, have two or more of the 
 largest class of colonial vessels upon the lakes, which they 
 freight down the country with cargoes of wheat, salted provisions, 
 and other produce, chietly purchased for ready cash in the neigh- 
 bourhood cf their stores, and which produce is either disposed 
 of in Montreal by one of the brothers resident there, o. shipped 
 on their own account to England. The residence of Mr James 
 Dougall, the resident partner in Upper Canada, is situated 
 about two miles above Amherstburgh, upon the banks of the 
 Detroit, and is conspicuous to the traveller as one of the most 
 pleasant seats in this part of Canada. The house is sub- 
 stantially built, principally of brick, with some parts stone, 
 and is two storeys in height. The farm is stocked with the 
 best breeds of Ayrshire cattle, imported direct from Scotland, 
 and both the farm and fine garden are placed under the su- 
 perintendence of Scotchmen brought out for the purpose. 
 
 Two miles above Sandwich, continuing the route along the 
 river, is the small village of "Windsor, situated immediately 
 opposite the American city Detroit, the capital of the State of 
 Michigan. The river here is about three quarters of a mile 
 wide, and a ferry is maintained by a steamboat which crosses 
 every half hour, encouraging considerable intercourse between 
 the frontier countries. 
 
 All the three places w^hich we have glanced at along the 
 Canada shore of the River Detroit — Amherstburgh, Sandwich, 
 and "Windsor, are conspicuously associated with particular 
 events in the history of the colony . 
 
 Amherstburgh, with its military post. Fort Maiden (at present 
 occupied by a detachment of the new corps of Royal Canadian 
 Rifles, charged with the protection of the frontier), was head- 
 quarters for the western parts of Canada, naval and military, at 
 

 184 
 
 APPENDIX TO THE LETTERS. 
 
 i^-liflS 
 
 
 
 the period of the breaking out of the last war with the United 
 States. Here soldiers, militia, and Indians, sailors and ma- 
 rines, were on that occasion hastily collected to endeavour to 
 repel the invasion of the colony. 
 
 Sandwich is associated with the eventof the American General 
 Hull, having here crossed the Detroit, and invaded Canada, in 
 the summer of 1812, with upwards of 2000 men, and sometime 
 after having issued his proclamation of invasion, and dis- 
 persed part of his forces, retired into his own territory. Gene- 
 ral Brock, in command of the Canada militia and a few regu- 
 lars, and a number of Indians — in all a force of between 1300 
 and 1400 — crossed the Detroit at the same point soon after- 
 wards, and overawed the garrison of Detroit, under the com- 
 mand of General Hull, into terms of capitulation. 
 
 Between Sandwich and Amherstburgh, on the small river 
 Canard, the first blood of an unnatural war was shed. 
 
 Windsor was the scene of a most bloody and unfortunate 
 affray, only so lately as 1038, when a band of men, styling 
 themselves * patriots,' crossed the River Detroit early of a morn- 
 ing in winter, under the delusion that the inhabitants of Ca- 
 nada would receive them warmly, and with open arms join with 
 them to overturn the government of the colony. But those 
 among them who lived to return had reason to regret the rash 
 marauding invasion they made, and to mourn that the * arms' 
 with which the inhabitants of Canada received them, had caused 
 the bodies of several of their comrades to be left disrespected 
 corpses, exposed for hours on the public streets. Though 
 some of those unfortunate men may be allowed to have been 
 actuated by motives of wild adventure and plunder, all, it is 
 believed, were grossly deceived as to the general state of pub- 
 lic feeling in the colony at that disturbed period, by the re- 
 presentations of reckless individuals among the colonists them- 
 selves. 
 
 Among the effects of the war of thirty years ago, there still 
 lingers among the inhabitants of both countries along the fron- 
 
RECENT PROGRESS OF CANADA. 
 
 18j 
 
 tier, the remains of the hitter hatred and unjust depreciation of 
 each other which that odious conflict of brutal force engendered, 
 where in instances brothers were known to have been fightin^ 
 against brothers, and sons against fathers. The display of these 
 old bad feelings give annoj ance and pain to the unprejudiced 
 traveller, and many of the frontier troubles some years ago 
 were chiefly ebullitions of those rankling sores which appear 
 to take long time in healing. 
 
 Among the most prominent results of the more recent dis- 
 turbances of 1837-38-39 have been, that the serious attention 
 of the Home Government having been directed by those events 
 to the state of matters, substantial causes of disaffection 
 have been removed, and closer attention now appears to be 
 shown to the interests of the colony ; and general confidence 
 having been thus won, Canada has displayed a greater degree 
 of industrious and enterprising spirit, and, as a consequence, 
 made more progress as a country these last five years than 
 any former fifteen, perhaps, or even more. The late political 
 rupture between the Governor-General and the Ministry may 
 be looked upon in the light of the as yet unfamiliar detail of 
 new machinery falling temporarily out of order, more than in 
 any premeditated bad intentions of the workers, or inherent 
 faults in the machinery itself. Time, and a better knowledge 
 of each other's best interests and feelings, between the Home 
 Government and colony, will most probably not only prove 
 this to have been the case, but may develope a fuller acknow- 
 ledgement on both sides of the advantages to be derived from 
 cultivating, by enlarged views and a liberal spirit, the intimacy 
 and perpetuation of the colonial connection. 
 
 After having passed the rather high banks on which Wind- 
 sor is situated, and the pleasant cottage residences, and or- 
 chards, and green slopes, along the river, a few miles farther 
 onward the low-lying banks of Lake St Clair show themselves, 
 and the uninviting level aspect continues to the mouth of the 
 
 N 
 
 ■U 
 
1 , 
 
 
 
 r 
 
 ■i 
 
 t ! ■ 
 
 km 
 
 
 186 
 
 APPENDIX TO THE LETTEIIS. 
 
 River Thames, and some distance further. The land around the 
 mouth of the Thames, and some way up the river, presents an 
 extent of hundreds of acres of low Ihit prairie appearance, 
 without a tree, the resort of ducks and other wild fowl ; and, 
 during the dry months of summer, cattle may he seen grazing 
 half hid among the rank vegetation. Towards Chatham, which 
 is 15 miles up the deep full river, the banks become higher and 
 are richly fertile ; but poorly managed, slovenly-looking farms 
 appear. The settlers all along here, below Chatham, are 
 chietly unambitious French. The town of Chatham, perhaps 
 rather low lying to be very healthy, is a spirited place of about 
 1500 inhabitants, in which a good deal of business is done. 
 The lands around it are of the very best description, the soil 
 being a richly fertile black loam, producing heavy crops of 
 wheat, pease, barley, and Indian corn. Some of the land 
 close to the town is apparently low and flat, but up the river 
 the banks are high, and the land finely lying. 
 
 Chatham is indebted for much of its prosperity to a family 
 of brothers, named Eberts, who are the principal owners of two 
 steamboats, and one or two sail-vessels engaged in the trade 
 of the town. The Messrs Eberts commenced many years 
 ago to open a market for the produce of this locality, by sail- 
 ing a small craft between the town and Detroit, and gra- 
 dually increased their means until tiioy were enabled to place 
 the Brothers steamboat upon the route, and now, besides their 
 other vessels, they are proprietors of a large and comfortably 
 fitted up hotel and other buildings in Chatham. 
 
 Between Amherstburgh and Chatham, a distance of about 
 50 miles by land, a new road which is opening some miles 
 oflF the shores, through the back country, will be an important 
 improvement to this part. • 
 
 Several miles up the Thames from Chatham is the small 
 village of Louisville, to which schooners find sufficient depth 
 of water to proceed and load their cargoes of wheat or staves. 
 
 ttmm 
 
\ 
 
 TIIK RIVKRS THAMES AND ST CLAIR. 
 
 if^J 
 
 lund the 
 iunts an 
 larance, 
 r\ ; and) 
 grazing 
 1, which 
 ;her and 
 ig farms 
 am, are 
 perhaps 
 of about 
 is done, 
 the soil 
 crops of 
 the land 
 he river 
 
 a family 
 \rs of two 
 
 e trade 
 ly years 
 
 )y sail- 
 Eind gra- 
 
 to place 
 
 es their 
 ifortably 
 
 of about 
 le miles 
 nportant 
 
 He small 
 nt depth 
 staves. 
 
 Farther upwards, the scenery of the Thames incroascn i;* 
 beauty, and the lands are finely sitiiatcd, and preserve the 
 fertile character they have all around here generally the whole 
 way up the river, except some light spots at a few places. 
 Moravian village, un Indian settlement about 20 miles above 
 Chatham, near the main road to London, is an exceedingly 
 delightful situation — one of the loveliest and most fertile spots 
 one could wish to look upon in any country. It stands upon a 
 plot of table land, formed by a full bend of the river, which the 
 spectator would suppose almost encircles it. The houses and 
 gardens are regularly laid out, and the spire of the church 
 is a picturesque as well as otherwise gratifying feature of 
 the scene. The grounds around appear to be well cultivated, 
 and are all agreeably interspersed with fine trees, imparting 
 a pleasing effect too seldom experienced in Canada. Farther 
 along, upon the road to London, the land is of a rolling charac- 
 ter, and the greater part of it good, though somewhat wet in 
 parts, which, however, the improved drainage introduced upon 
 the new plank-road in this direction may be expected greatly to 
 remedv. 
 
 Among the desirable spots for settlement in the Western 
 District may be mentioned the banks of the River St Clair, 
 from the commencement of the river, at the village of Sar- 
 nia, to about half way down, including the township of 
 Moore. The lands have an easy slope to the water, and the 
 river scenery is very fine. Sarnia promises to be a thriving 
 village, and, being situated on a high bank, is ver> Mthy. 
 American villages arc scattered all along the opposite baiik of 
 the St Clair. The new road between London and Sarnia 
 will have a good effect in drying some portions of wet but most 
 fertile land through this part. 
 
 The Western District, consisting of two counties, Kent and 
 Essex, and twenty-six townships, had, in 1841, a population 
 of a little over 23,000, possessing 58,600 acres under pasture 
 and cultivation, and 358,700 acres uncultivated. This extent 
 
 V' 
 
 ( 
 

 
 i V,' 
 
 if. 
 
 
 
 188 
 
 APPENDIX TO THE LETTERS. 
 
 of occupied land, though indeed large, only amounts to be- 
 tween a third and fourth part 2 the surface of this district ; 
 as estimating e.- ch township to consist of the average of 61,600 
 acres, the entire surface of the Western District will con- 
 sist of 1,601,600 acres, or more than double the extent of 
 all Fifeshire and the three Lothians together— their surface 
 being 776,320 acres— and as yet this richly fertile territory 
 has only son ?where about a fourteenth part of the popula- 
 tion of these counties, which, as we see, do not extend to half 
 its size. 
 
 THE OTHER PARTS OF THE GREAT PENINSULA. 
 
 f I 
 
 .' \ 
 
 ■V' 
 
 li 
 
 id 
 
 The remaining parts of the great "Western Peninsula of 
 Canada, which, had this publication not already exceeded its 
 prescribed limits, would have been a source of pleasure to have 
 fully described, are the districts of Niagara, Gore, Wellington, 
 and Simcoe, and the part of the Home district westward of the 
 North or Yonge Street road, which, connecting Lake Ontario 
 with Lake Simcoe, by a land communication of 36 miles, forms 
 the neck of the peninsula. Lake Simcoe, as may be observed 
 from the map, is connected with Lake Huron by a passage 
 or strait named the River Severn, which is understood to re- 
 quire improvements in parts to make it a good navigable chan- 
 nel. Lake Simcoe, around whose shores front either nine or 
 ten townships, has at present two or more steamboats plying 
 upon it. 
 
 THE DISTRICT OF SIMCOK. 
 
 The newly erected district of Simcoe, consists of eighteen 
 townships, the population of which, in 1841, was estimated at 
 
THE HOME DISTRICT, AND CITY OF TORONTO. 18<) 
 
 cbout 12,000, and, although some oi the townships had then 
 scarcely begun to be settled (one township having had only 
 22 acres under cultivation), the tota cultivated land amounted 
 to 40,200 acres. Of this amount, one township, West Gwil- 
 limbury, situated at the extreme south-western point of Lake 
 Simcoe, possessed 12,300 acres. The township next best cul- 
 tivated is the one immediately west of Gwillimbury, named 
 Tecuraseh, which had under cultivation 9000 acres. 
 
 THE HOME DISTRICT. 
 
 The Home district, as now limited to the county of York, con- 
 sisting of 24 townships, had, in 1841,nicludingthecity of Toron- 
 to, a population of above 67,000, and the lands cultivated at that 
 period amounted to 253,900 acres, or more than the cultivated 
 surface of Dumfries-shire by above 50,000 acres, and only about 
 17,300 less than the cultivated portion of Lanarkshire, which 
 is stated to be 271 ,296, and Dumfries-shire 232,557 acres. The 
 four townships west of the Yonge Street road, connecting 
 Lakes Ontario and Simcoe, and forming the eastern com- 
 mencement of the great peninsula, contained a population, in 
 1841, exclusive of the city of Toronto, of above 17,000; and 
 Toronto, which had then a population of above 14,000, is 
 now, in A844, stated to have increased to about 20,000, and 
 those townships now, 'ncluding the city, will probably con- 
 tain somewhere about 40,000 souls. It has been already men- 
 tioned in the Note to the Third Letter, * Prosperous Dairy 
 Farming,' that the Home district is understood to be the most 
 iniproved and best cultivated part of Canada, and a large pro- 
 portion of the farmers a highly resp 3ctable, comfortable, and 
 intelligent clios. The townsh'p of Markliam, which is believed 
 to be among the first in point of improvement, had in 1841, 
 26,700 acres under cultivation, with a population of 5400, and 
 who also possessed nearly 300 of the comfortable description of 
 
 '<!*■' .^- 
 
K'' 
 
 fy ■"■■ 
 
 
 190 
 
 APPENDIX TO THE LETTERS. 
 
 I 
 
 |.' 'U »!? 
 
 r I 
 
 "J 
 
 
 
 
 
 W- 5 
 
 
 frame-built houses, and 70 stone and brick houses consisting 
 of two storeys, besides about a dozen flour mills, 21 saw mills, 
 and 17 merchant shops. The number of horned cattle in 
 Markham, from two years of age and upwards, amounted to 
 above 3000, and of horses above three years old to above 
 1200. 
 
 The city of Toronto has much increased in population 
 within these last four years, and, with the recent introduction of 
 gas and other improvements, its appearance is much like some 
 of our respectable provincial towns in Britain ; and, in several 
 respects, such as in the amount of trade, and the general com- 
 fort of the inhabitants, advantages, compared with the greatv " 
 number of those towns, are on the side of Toronto. The prin- 
 cipal streets are comfortably paved, the buildings large and 
 imposing, and the shops spacious and well filled with every 
 luxury usually to be had in the best cities at home. In 1841, 
 there were as many as 90 four-wheeled open and close cai- 
 riages, and 130 gigs and pleasure waggons returned upon 
 the assessment rolls of the city. King's College University, 
 now building at Toronto, has been noticed at page 61. The 
 churches and chapels amoun*- to 13, and there are numerous be- 
 nevolent and other societies ; and eight or ten .ewspapers are 
 regularly published, three of which are twice-a-week papers, 
 the others weekly. A Temperance Society, which commencod 
 in 1839, numbered in 1841 above 1300 members. The Home 
 District Agricultural Society holds its meetings and public 
 shows in Toronto. Fourteen or fifteen, if not more, spacious 
 and elegantly fitted up steamboats which ply upon Lake Onta- 
 rio, are some of them almost continually touching at the 
 whar-^es close to the town, taking on board or landing numbers 
 of well-dressed business or pleasure-seeking parties, to or 
 fi^om the surrounding towns on the lake, such as Rochester 
 and Oswego on the United States side, and Kingston, Cobourg, 
 Hamilton, and Niagara, along the Canada shore. The re- 
 venue, from duties chiefly upon imports from the United 
 
 ;J 
 
WELLINGTON DISTRICT MR HOWITT S FARM. 191 
 
 States, presented the following increase during the years 1840- 
 41-42:— In 1840, there were collected £5050 currency — 
 1841, £6729—1842, £8390. 
 
 THE DISTRICT OF WELLINGTON. 
 
 The district of "NA'ellington, situated south of the district of 
 Simcoe, and east of the Huron district, and formerly a part of 
 the Gore district, consists often townships, with a population? 
 in 1841, of 13,800, possessing 68,100 acres of cultivated land, 
 12,200 head of cattle above two years old, and 2000 horses 
 above three years old. The land generally is of the best 
 quality, and presents some well cultivated farms. Guelph, in 
 the township of the same name, upon the small River Speed, 
 is the district town, and is a thriving place ; it is situated 35 
 miles north-west of the town of Hamilton. Adam Ferguson, 
 Esq. late of Woodhill, Scotland, has his large settlement in this 
 district, and takes much interest in contributing to improve the 
 agriculture of the country. Mr Ferguson, it may be known, 
 is a Member of the Legislative Council, or Upper House of the 
 the Canada Legislature, and bears the title of Honourable. 
 Among the enterprising farmers of this -^^ strict may also be 
 mentioned Mr John Howitt of Guelph — as such instances 
 serve to show what may be accomplished in Canada by spirit 
 and intelligence. Mr Hewitt's farm, one of the largest in 
 Western Canada, extends to 1400 acres, half of which land is 
 under cultivation, and 200 acres are sown annually in wheat. 
 His out-buildings are spacious and substantial ; his barn is 
 120 feet long by 70 feet wide, and along this length of 120 
 feet are sheds 30 feet wide, fitted up for cattle. The whole of 
 the main buildings of barn, stables, &c., which are principally 
 timber built, are supported by a stone wall nine feet high, and 
 under are cellars for turnips, potatoes, and other roots. Mr 
 H.'s stock of cattle and sheep are of the most approved breeds ; 
 
 ^¥ 
 
H; 
 
 192 
 
 APPENDIX TO THE LETTERS. 
 
 
 his sheep are the pure South Downs, a breed found best 
 adapted to Canada. In 1842, this gentleman had a very fine 
 short-horn heifer, which, tnough only supported on wheat- 
 straw during the winter of 1841, was estimated in July fol- 
 lowing to weigh 64 stone. This heifer, from a dam im- 
 ported from England in 1833, was calved in September 1838, 
 and bred by Mr Howitt himself. 
 
 The remaining districts of the peninsula to be mentioned are 
 the Niagara and Gore districts, and the former of these has 
 already been alluded to. [Note ' Niagara/ page 90.] 
 
 THE GORE DISTRICT. 
 
 
 
 The district of Gore, situated directly at the head of Lake 
 Ontario, and lying along part of the north-west shore of that 
 lake, until its eastern point touches the Home district, and 
 bounded on the north by the district of Wellington, on the 
 south by the Niagara, and on the west by the Brock dis- 
 trict — is composed of fifteen townships, containing, according 
 to the census of 1841, a population of 42,577. At the same 
 period, the cultivated land amounted to 201,919 acres, and the 
 amount occupied, and yet uncultivated, was 380,141 acres. 
 The number of horned cattle within the district, of two years 
 old and upwards, was then 26,718 ; and of horses, three years 
 old and upwards, 7508. This is an old settled district, pos- 
 sessing much good land, though, generally speaking, the soil is 
 not so heavy as the further western portions of the peninsula, 
 a rather light sand prevailing in parts, as in the back parts 
 of the township of Beverly, where this light soil prevails, 
 timbered with heavy pine, very difficult tc clear. Some 
 spots of the district, again, have rather a cold and wet soil ; 
 yet, notwithstanding these very partial drawbacks, the soil, for 
 the most part composed of a sandy loam and clay, is found to 
 be highly fertile. The advantageous situation of the district 
 
 ^^1 
 
THE TOWN OF HAMILTON. 
 
 193 
 
 at the head of Lake Ontario, and the country generally being 
 agreeably broken and diversified in its features, have been the 
 means of inviting an intelligent and respectable class of inhabi- 
 tants who are settled throughout, vsrith large and vfeW cultivated 
 farms. As some index to the comfort and respectability of the in- 
 habitants of Gore, it may be stated, that the assessment rolls 
 of 1841 returned no fevrer than 452 four-wheeled pleasure 
 carriages, curricles, gigs, and pleasure wa ^ons, owned within 
 the district, and 98 of these were four-wheeled carriages. 
 
 The chief towns are Hamilton, Brantford, Paris, Dundas, and 
 Gait. Hamilton, the capital of this thriving district, is si- 
 tuated almost close to the navigation of Lake Ontario, being 
 within a mile or so of Burlington Bay ; and, within these few 
 years especially, has presented so improved and flourishing an 
 appearance in the number of large shops and wholesale ware- 
 houses established, and generally in its streets, buildings, and 
 amount of its trade, that it would seem already to rank as one of 
 the first towns in Upper Canada. Toronto and Kingston can 
 only aspire as rivals to it. The census of the present year 
 showed the population to amount to about 5000. The number 
 of frame-built, and brick and stone houses was 749, 317 of 
 which were two storeys and upwards, and of merchant shops 
 there were 43. At one particular period, during the past 
 summer of 1844, there were in progress of being erected as 
 many as between 20 and 30 new buildings of brick and stone, 
 one of which was a bank, another an hotel, and the remainder 
 shops and dwelling-houses. The revenue of Hamilton from 5th 
 January to 5th July 1843, from duties chiefly on imports from 
 the United States, amounted to £:. 631 currency, and during 
 the corresponding period of the present year 1844, the amount 
 was £7421. Among the exports of 1843 were 27,243 bar- 
 rels of flour shipped, and during the season of 1844, there 
 were 35,874. Hamilton is very prettily situated under the 
 rocky wooded ridge or commencement of table land, called 
 Burlington Height-s, varying from 100 to 300 feet high, and 
 
rr 
 
 194 
 
 APPENDIX TO THE LETTERS. 
 
 
 
 ^M 
 
 hi \\ 
 
 which stretches around the head of Lake Ontario, and, crossing 
 the Niag«\ra River into the State of New York, forms the 
 celebrated Falls, Upon this table land, bordered by the 
 Lakes Erie, St Clair, and Huron, with their connecting rivers, 
 the whole of the country of the peninsula westward is situated. 
 
 A chief circumstance, explanatory of the prosperous condi- 
 tion of Hamilton, is obviously its highly advaniagous situa- 
 tion at the head of Lake Ontario, and at the main point of 
 entrance to the large and fertile peninsula, imperfectly noticed 
 in the preceding pages. Hamilton now being enabled to supply 
 the stocks of goods required by the population of this territory, 
 without the necessity of the country merchants having to 
 travel, as was formerly the case, the frequently inconvenient 
 distance to Montreal, will, there is every probability, as the 
 population westward increases in numbers and prosperity, con- 
 tinue also to grow in like proportion. Its recent growth is, 
 perhaps, rather sudden to be altogether natural and sound — 
 the number both of wholesale and retail shops being apparently 
 larger than the wants of either the town or surrounding coun- 
 try warrant at present. Any partial check which may occur, 
 however, is not likely materially to interfere with a healthy 
 general progress. 
 
 Brantford is a small and rather thriving town, situated upon 
 a rising table land formed by the banks of the Ouse or Grand 
 River, 26 miles v ^st of Hamilton ; and possesses a direct 
 communication with that river to Lake Erie. 
 
 Paris is a smaller place, some miles farther up the Grand 
 River. It is situate in a kind of flat, beneath the high banks 
 of a bold bend in the river, and is the seat of several mills and 
 manufactories for the preparation of coarse woollen cloth. 
 Paris is also noted for quarries of gypsum, much used by the 
 best farmers as a fertiliser, being found well adapted for this 
 purpose, applied in the form of a top dressing to the land. 
 There are other quarries of gypsum farther down the Grand 
 River^ and one or more quarries have been found in the 
 
 >lf 
 
GA.lt and DUNDAS CONCLUDING REMARKS. 195 
 
 Home district, back of Toronto. From the Grand River, quan- 
 tities finely ground and packed in barrels are shipped across 
 Lake Erie to the American city of Buflfalo. The price at the 
 Paris quarries is Is. a-bushel. 
 
 Gait, the district town of the prosperous township of Dum- 
 fries, is situated still farther up the Grand River, and is distant 
 about 19 miles from Hamilton. 
 
 Dundas is a small village, romantically situated in a finely 
 wooded nook immediately beneath the Burlington ridge, four 
 miles north-west of Hamilton. There is a lively stream running 
 through it, upon which are large flour mills, carrying on a con- 
 siderable business, and shipping the produce almost close from 
 the village by means of a canal communicating with Bur- 
 lington Bay, Lake Ontario. There is a good macadamised 
 road between Dundas and Hamilton. 
 
 Having thus completed a hasty view of this important and in- 
 teresting portion of Canada, it were best, perhaps, that I take 
 leave with a request, that the courteous reader would, if suffi- 
 ciently interested, do both the subject and the writer the jus- 
 tice of consulting acknowledged authorities or favourite writers 
 upon Canada, as may be conveniently within reach, such as 
 Bouchette, Gourlay, Macgregor, Montgomery Martin, Fer- 
 guson, Buckingham, Murray's British America in the Edin- 
 burgh Cabinet Library, Chambers's Information, and others, 
 in whose publications, though not in the somewhat detailed 
 form here imperfectly attempted, the reader will nevertheless 
 find, it is believed, sufficient general evidence to satisfy him 
 that the favourable opinions expressed in the foregoing 
 pages respecting the greater part of this extensive peninsula, 
 are not the result of mere partiality, but rather, as upon 
 the whole they indeed are, well-weighed, candid, and most 
 
 
196 
 
 APPENDIX TO THE LtXTERS. 
 
 
 
 *."*■'■■ '. 
 
 ■*, t?« 
 
 m 
 
 it 
 
 fil 
 
 II 
 
 !S ! 
 
 thoroughly disinterested expressions of the best judgment of 
 the writer, who, in giving publicity to his views, desires to put 
 forward no other pretensions than the simple one of aiming 
 humbly to contribute, within his sphere, something which may 
 prove of practical utility to a portion of his fellow country- 
 men. Having much liked the country himself, and having had 
 full opportunities of observing how comfortably it sustained 
 its population, and possessed, in such over-abundance, room and 
 resources, temptingly inviting occupation — the writer, with no 
 other motives than arose from such reflections, conceived he 
 might usefully employ the leisure which a short respite from 
 ordinary duties, chiefly for the benefit of health, allowed him 
 to have. 
 
 This Western Peninsula of Canada is estimated to exceed 
 in extent one half of the whole occupied territory of Upper 
 Canada, which at present consists of 18 districts, subdivided 
 into 273 townships and each township, upon an average, con- 
 sisting of 61,600 acres. The peninsula, consisting of nine 
 districts, and part of a tenth, comprising in all 144 townships, 
 besides special tracts, is thu' shown to exceed, by many thou- 
 sand acres, the half of the most important division of the finest 
 province of all the British American dominions, and is, there- 
 fore, more than worthy of the very brief notice here bestowed 
 upon it. Although exceeding, however, in extent the occupied 
 portion of Upper Canada, this important peninsula does not 
 quite contain one half of the population — Upper Canada at 
 preset t containing nearly about a fifth of the population of 
 Scotland, or about 540,000. In 1841 Upper Canada contained 
 about 450,000. This peninsula contained, in 1841, a population 
 of above 214,000, or about a twelfth part of the population of 
 Scotland ; and the extent of its surface is estimated to exceed 
 10,000,000 acres, or about double the extent of the whole culti- 
 vated portion of Scotland, and almost every acre of these mil- 
 lions in "Western Canada is capable of the highest degree of 
 cultivation. In 1841 the cultivated lands in this portion of Ca- 
 
PROXIMITY OF CANADA RECENT GROWTH. 197 
 
 »ent of 
 I to put 
 aiming 
 ch may 
 ountry- 
 ing had 
 stained 
 >om and 
 with no 
 jived he 
 te from 
 ved him 
 
 ) exceed 
 f Upper 
 bdivided 
 ige, con- 
 of nine 
 ivnships, 
 ay thou- 
 tie finest 
 s, there- 
 )estowed 
 occupied 
 ioes not 
 mada at 
 ation of 
 ontained 
 >pulation 
 lation of 
 exceed 
 ole culti- 
 lese mil- 
 egree of 
 m of Ca- 
 
 nada amounted to about 764,000 acres, being above a seventh 
 part of the cultivated lands of Scotland. As regards the price 
 of lands, in entire proprietorship such does not nearly amount, 
 upon an average, to the yearly rental of lands in Scotland ; 
 and the public burdens in the shape of taxes are so light in the 
 colony as scarcely to be felt, never at least affording founda- 
 tion for a single murmur — while, at the same time, almost 
 every imaginable comfort and luxury may be procured in the 
 respectable and rapidly growing towns. This favoured terri- 
 tory, too, with respect to distance from home, may be com- 
 puted in the measure of time to be as near Britain as, 
 within eighty years ago, Edinburgh was to London — it 
 having, by the best public conveyance, taken from twelve 
 to sixteen days to accomplish the journey between the Eng- 
 lish and Scottish capitals, which time is now sufficient to 
 accomplish the voyage across the Atlantic. The news brought 
 from England by the Hibernia steam-ship, which sailed from 
 Liverpool on the 4th July 1844, were received in the town of 
 Hamilton, Canada, at the head of Lake Ontario, and published 
 in the newspapers of that town on the 20th July, being within 
 a period of sixteen days from the time the steam-ship left Eng- 
 land. The Hamilton Gazette of July 22d, which published 
 this statement, along with the news brought to America by the 
 Hibernia, was received in this country and read in Edinburgh 
 on the ] 5th August. 
 
 The growth of population in this part of Canada is every 
 year, especially of late, shown to be remarkably rapid. In 
 1824, the "Western District contained only 6950 inhabitants; 
 ill 1828, the number was 8330 ; in 1832, 10,600 ; and, in 1841, 
 the population of this district exceeded 23,000. The London 
 district, in 1824, which then comprised the now distinct dis- 
 tricts of Talbot, Brock, and Huron, containing in all only 
 17,530; in 1828, 19,800; and in 1832, 28,800 ; contained, in- 
 cluding these districts, in 1841, no less a population than 
 57,500, or nearly three times the number of 1828. The Home 
 
 ■. .K 
 
 v., 
 
198 
 
 APPENDIX TO THE LETTERS. 
 
 ■a 
 
 district, including the recently disjoined district of Simcoe, 
 contained, in 1824, 16,600 ; in 1828, 22,900 ; and, in 1832, 
 40,600; contained in 1841,65,400; and this exclusive of the 
 city of Toronto, which has now of itself neariy as large a 
 population as the whole district in which it is situated pos- 
 sessed in 1828, 16 years ago. 
 
 
 -■'} 
 P 
 
 
 ;^1 
 
 We close these views with the opinion of the late Lord 
 Sydenham upon this part of Canada, who, after having visited 
 it in the course of a tour he performed through the colony in 
 the capacity of Governor-General, in the autumn of 1840, 
 writes thus concerning it : — 
 
 ^ I am delighted to have seen this pa^ t of the country : I 
 mean the great district, nearly as large as Ireland, placed be- 
 tween the three Lakes Erie, Ontario, and Huron. You can 
 conceive nothing finer! The most magnificent soil in the 
 world — four feet of vegetable mould — a climate certainly the 
 best in North America — the greater part of it admirably wa- 
 tered. In a word, there is land enough, and capabilities 
 enough, for some millions of people, and in one of the finest 
 provinces in the world.' 
 
 

 GENERAL VIEWS OF CANADA. 
 
 ILLUSTRATIVE OF THE COLONY S PRESENT 
 CONDITION AND PROSPECTS. 
 
m 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 '! 
 
 
 ■ 
 
 i • 
 
 
 wL 
 
 ! • 
 
 . 9 
 
^ 
 
 GENERAL VIEWS OF CANADA. 
 
 EXTENT, GENERAL ASPECT, POPULATION, 
 AND RESOURCES OF THE COLONY. 
 
 The United Province of Canada comprises a long stretch of 
 country : Commencing at its eastern extremity at the Gulf of 
 St Lawrence and extending in a south-westerly direction along 
 both sides of the River St Lawrence for a distance of between 
 600 and 700 miles, then, for about 100 miles along the north- 
 em shore of the river, and for between 400 and 600 miles 
 along the northern shores of Lakes Ontario and Erie ; and 
 thence following a north-w ester? y course along the northern 
 shores of the Lakes St Clair, Huron, and Superior, wit.i their 
 connecting rivers — the extreme western boundary of this terri- 
 tory is reached beyond Lake Superior, at the sources of the 
 rivers and streams which fall into that lake. The extent of 
 distance here sketched along the shores of this grand course of 
 navigable waters, may he safely stated to exceed two thousand 
 miles. The entire surface of the territory possessed by Canada, 
 exclusive of its great waters, has been estimated hy the best 
 authority, to consist of 190,000,000 acres ; or between two and 
 three times the size of Great Britain and Ireland. This vast 
 country, situated 3000 miles across the Atlantic, and usually 
 reached by steam-ships in from twelve to sixteen days from 
 Britain, and by sailing vessels in from thirty to fifty dayj?, 
 lies between the latitudes of 41° 71' and 52*' north, and the 
 meridians of 67° 50' and 117° west longitude. ^ 
 
 ' .['■ 
 
 ■I 
 
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 PS-J^! 
 
 
 t 
 
 200 
 
 APPEARANCE OP THE COUNTRY. 
 
 The general aspect of Cana over those portions that are 
 partly occupied and cultivated, situated along the hanks of 
 the grand chain of rivers auu lakes mentioned, may he 
 characterised as piesenting vast stretches of plains, rising at 
 intervals slightly ahove each otlier, and forming a series of 
 table lands, until that situated along the banks of Lake Supe- 
 rior is ttvund to stand ab-jut 700 feet above the level of the 
 Atlantic. The surface of these plains, with tho exception of 
 the heights or ridges, whi'-^, besides forming them into table 
 lands, In po,rts run throuj^h the country and divide the streams 
 that have their fall southward into the basin of the St Law- 
 rence, from ihose that have their course in a contrary di- 
 rection—is one gently undulating, and very par*-* ally broken 
 and diversified by innumerable streams of every imaginable 
 dimension, from the slight rivulet to the broad and deep 
 navigable river. Certain portions of the country, besides, are 
 diversified by inland lakes, the niost remarkable of which in the 
 settled parts is Lake Simcoe, situated about 36 miles distant 
 from the north- w^estera shore of Lake Ontario, and which com- 
 iiiunicates by means of the River Severn, with the Georgian 
 Bay of Lake Huron ; and thus, leaving only the neck cf land 
 of 36 miles, forms the eastern commencement of the great 
 Western Peninsula of Canada. 
 
 The appearance of the country on entering the River St 
 Lawrence is bold, rugged, and even mountainous ; and, gene- 
 rally speaking, for a course of about 500 miles, especially along 
 the northern shore, the banks of this magnificent river preserve 
 this marked character. Such, takeu in connection with the 
 grand expanse of the gulf entrance (200 miles and more in 
 breadth), and the bold width of the nver itself— can hardly fail 
 of striking the imagination of the voyager as having happily 
 bc'jn designed to form the most befitting approach to ihe vast 
 sheets of water that stretch for 2000 miles and more into the 
 interior of the continent. The extreme comLu jncement of the 
 St Lawrence, where it would seem to contract its expanse 
 
 

 RIVER ST LAWRENCE AND CITY OF QUEBEC. 
 
 201 
 
 at are 
 nks of 
 lay be 
 jing at 
 jries of 
 ; Sape- 
 
 of the 
 jtion of 
 to table 
 streams 
 )t Law- 
 *ary di- 
 
 broken 
 iginable 
 id deep 
 ies, are 
 ;h in the 
 
 distant 
 ch com- 
 leorgian 
 
 cf land 
 
 e great 
 
 !,iver St 
 [d, gene- 
 lly aloDg 
 [preserve 
 ith the 
 more in 
 iT dly fail 
 happily 
 Ihe vast 
 linto the 
 It of the 
 expanse 
 
 from the character of a jfuli intO that of a river, is formed by 
 the easternmost point of Canada, Cape Rosier, a bold headland 
 upon the south si. ore ; and ^.he breadth of en*^rance across here 
 is estimt ted to be 90 miles. Continuing upwards for about 60 
 miles, this breadth diminishes to about 70 miles ; and 60 miles 
 farther, where the river character indisputably commences— 
 which is between Pointe des Monts on the norib, and Cape 
 Chatte on the south — the breadth is estimated to be 24 miles. 
 Upon the northern shores of the St Lawrence, from its 
 commencement, Canada is bounded by rugged mou.itainous 
 ridges which separate its tributary waters from those coursing 
 in an opposite direction, and falling into Hudson's Bay. 
 Among the most remarkable of the bold heights striking the 
 eye of the voyager is one named Cape Tourment, 25 miles be- 
 low Quebec, which, abruptly approaching the very brink of the 
 river, towers upwards its bare bleak sides and top. and some- 
 what prepares 'he spectator for the bold grandeur of the mag- 
 nificent panorama of the basin- harbour of Quebec, where Cape 
 Diamond, the Gibi'altar of America, as it has been called, ris- 
 ing to a height of about 400 feet, crowned by its citadel and for- 
 tifications of towers anu battlements, and enclosing within its 
 walls the crowded tin-roofed antiquated city, with its convents, 
 cathedrals, and churches — overlooks a scene which, for unit- 
 ing grandeur and picturesque beauty in so striking a manner, 
 is considered to be unsurpassed either in th*^ New or Old 
 World. From the uppermost heights of the citadel, the spec- 
 tator surveys bold ranges of hills fringing the noribern dis- 
 tance, and forming the outposts of almost untracked territories 
 beyond ; and between and tnese fringes of hills a''e the val- 
 leys undulating and sloping to the St Lawrence, enlivened by 
 verdant stripes of cultivation, and villages with their church 
 spires, and patches of green woods, and small lakes, and wind- 
 ing rivers glancing in the sun ; and then turning towards the 
 south-westward, <he eye — scanning in its progress tlie expan- 
 sive basin, formed parily by the smiling Isle of Orleans, pre- 
 
202 
 
 SOUTH SHORE AND CITY OP MONTREAL. 
 
 9 '>! 
 
 l|l 
 
 m-. 
 
 
 
 ;l^' 
 
 m,^ i 
 
 
 v&Pi 'iii '' 
 
 aenting throngs of ships, timber rafts, steam-vessels, boats, and 
 canoes, enlivening the mid-river, and clustering around the 
 jetties at the foot of the steep rock — is attracted by the 
 wooded and somewhat bold rocky banks on both sides up the 
 river, here closing to about half-a-mile ; beyond which, to- 
 wards the south, along the stretch of table-land, wide sweeps 
 of plains present, for leagues upon leagues, their dark masses 
 of forest, with sprinklings of houses and fields, until the dim 
 mountains of the States of Maine and Vermont bound the view. 
 
 Upon the south shore of the St Lawrence, and at the com- 
 mencement of the river, Canada is bounded by New Bruns- 
 wick, and farther upwards by the States above mentioned, and 
 by those also of New Hampshire and New York, until about 
 60 miles above Montreal, when the remaining part of the riv 
 of above 100 miles, and the centre channels of the lakes and 
 rivers westward, become the southern boundary. The south 
 shore of the river below Quebec, generally less stern in its fea- 
 tures than the northern, presenting along its cultivated slopes, 
 an almost continued stretch of French villages, with their 
 church spires, occurring every six miles, or thereabouts — the 
 Bcene forms one of pleasing contrast to the wild uncultivated 
 appearance, for the most part, of the banks opposite. 
 
 About 180 miles above Quebec is the city of Montreal, now 
 the capital of Canada, and containing by tho census of the pre- 
 sent year 44,090 inhabitants, bein^ fully double the population 
 of 1 825. The banks of the St Lawrence here stretch out into 
 smiling plains of most luxuriant appearance, in midst of which, 
 and forming a main feature, is the garden-island of Montreal, 
 32 miles in length, and about 10 in breadth, upon which is 
 situated the city, covering above 1 000 acres, with its quaint 
 mixture of English, American, and French architecture, in 
 its streets, shops, English and Scotch churches, and French 
 cathedral towers and spire?, and ancient convents; and 
 rising from, and forming a sheltering back-ground to the city 
 on the north, is the ' Mountain,' as it is called, thickly wooded 
 
ASCENT OP THE ST LAWRENCE TO KINGSTON. 
 
 203 
 
 lats, and 
 )und the 
 by the 
 28 up the 
 liich, to- 
 ; sweeps 
 k masses 
 1 the dim 
 the view, 
 the com- 
 w Bruns- 
 med, and 
 itil about 
 'the riv 
 lakes and 
 rhe south 
 in its fea- 
 ;ed slopes, 
 vith their 
 touts — the 
 cultivated 
 
 treal, now 
 of the pre- 
 population 
 ;h out into 
 t of which, 
 Montreal, 
 n which is 
 its quaint 
 ;ecture, in 
 nd French 
 cuts ; and 
 to the city 
 kly wooded 
 
 % 
 
 with bushy trees to the summit— an elevation of above 500 feet, 
 ^'ommanding a magnificen' view of the picturesque and luxu- 
 riant country around, the expanse of the St Lawrence, and the 
 bold mountain scenery in the distance. Along the substantially- 
 built stone wharfs skirting the south of the town, and icvards 
 the broadest channel of the river, lie the throng of ships, barges, 
 and steam-vessels, loading and unloading the natural products 
 «^f the interior, and the manufactures, and other merchandise 
 of Britain. Montreal, situated about 600 miles up the St 
 Lawrence, forms the head of the ocean navigation, and the 
 main point at which the produce of the interior arrives in 
 small steamboats, steam-propellers, and barges, for reshipment 
 on board the Atlantic-going vessels. The number of vessels 
 which entered the St Lawrence from the sea for the ports 
 of Quebec and Montreal in 1841, amounted to nearly 1400, 
 above 1000 of which, employing above 15,000 men, were from 
 Great Britain and Ireland ; the remainder were from other 
 North American colonies, the "West Indies, Africa, and fo- 
 reign European ports. 
 
 The distance between Montreal and the commencement of 
 the great lakes at the town of Kingston, the lower extremity of 
 Lake Ontario, is 180 miles. The navigation of the St Law- 
 rence in this space is greatly impeded by rapids, to overcome 
 'vhich, a series of canals, long ago contemplated, and for some 
 'e^rs in operation upon a limited scale, are now being com- 
 ? eted upon so grand a scale, as will allow ocean vessels, should 
 they see fit, to proceed with their cargoes to the inland lakes, so 
 far as Lake Huron, or even to the foot of Lake Superior, about 
 2000 miles into the interior. The distance between Montreal 
 and Kingston is accomplished, by the speediest conveyances of 
 steamboat and stage-coach, in about 26 hours upwards, and 24 
 hours down the river. The scenery along the banks, enlivened 
 by cascades, foaming rapids, and innumerable islands, is ex- 
 ceedingly picturesque in parts, and is much visited by travel- '■ 
 lers from the United States in cba course of summer excur- 
 
 i'l 
 
m 
 
 ■■I 
 
 u ■ 
 
 ■4 
 
 •X- 
 
 IvWV 
 
 A.-: 
 
 
 
 2C4 OTTAWA COUNTRY KINGSTON LAKE ONTARIO. 
 
 sions to the cities of Quebec and Montreal, and the Falls of 
 Niagara, Montmorency, Chauderie, and other places of note* 
 The country in the imm liatc vicinity of both the south and 
 north shores is rather tame than otherwise^ and further wants 
 the cultivated appearance it presents around Montreal and 
 Quebec, and along parts of the shores of the lakes westward. 
 But farther into ihe interior, off the broad margin of the north 
 shore, along the course of the groat stream of the Ottawa, 
 which flows into the St Lawrence some distance above Mont- 
 real, £.id betvv'f'n the Ottawa and Lake Ontario, the face of 
 the country is a • 'fed by ridges and bold heights, and also 
 by numerous strei. and inland lakes. The Rideau Canal, 
 a work constructed by the Imperial Government for military 
 purposes, passing ^'arough this part of the interior from a point 
 some distance up the Ottawa to Kingston, is almost one con- 
 tinned chain of inland waters. The chief link of these waters 
 is Rideau Lake, forming the summit level of the canal, and 
 being 280 feet above the Ottawa River, and 150 above Lake 
 Ontario. 
 
 Having reached Kingston, at the foot of Lake Ontario, 
 after an ascent up the St Lawrence, marked by numerous. 
 rapids, the commencement of the country along the shores of 
 the great lakes is found to be 200 or 300 feet above the level 
 of the Atlantic. The town of Kingston, with a population of 
 about 10,000, is very favourably situated in a spacious bay, 
 and with its strongly-built stone fortress upon the summit of a 
 rocky hill overlooking the town, the river, and the lake — the 
 place altogether strikes the observer as one of much strength 
 as well as beauty of situation, and may be said to form at 
 once a commanding and inviting approach to the gigantic in- 
 land lakes. Lake Ontario, 170 miles long and 60 broad, and 
 about 470 in circumference, presents along its banks one vast 
 stretch of plain, only partially broken by an inconsiderable 
 ridge which runs through it, and which, coursing around the 
 }jead of the lake, forms the commencement of table-land of the 
 
T^ 
 
 .10. 
 
 alls of 
 f note* 
 ith and 
 ■ wants 
 ;al and 
 stward. 
 e north 
 3ttawa, 
 3 Mont- 
 face of 
 and also 
 I Canal, 
 military 
 1 a point 
 one con- 
 ;e waters 
 mal, and 
 pve Lake 
 
 Ontario, 
 luinerou?- 
 shores o^ 
 the level 
 Illation of 
 ous bay, 
 mmit of a 
 ake — the 
 strength 
 form at 
 erantic in- 
 road, and 
 one vast 
 insidorahle 
 round the 
 and of the 
 
 SHORES OF LAKE ONTARIO AND BAY OF QUINTE. 205 
 
 Western Peninsula. The north shore of Lake Ontario has 
 nothing very striking in its appearance, being chiefly either 
 composed of agreeable slopes, level flats, and in places some 
 what bolder, of high sandy or clayey banks. One of the most 
 fertile and beautiful portions of this lake is the magnificent 
 inlet of the Bay of Quinte, commencing near Kingston, and 
 forming a spacious indentation of about 70 miles to the mouths 
 of the Riverb Trent and Moira. The towns of Belleville and 
 Picton are situated in this bay, the former at the mouth of the 
 Moira, and the latter is the chief town of the well cultivated 
 and old settled peninsula of Prince Edward, formed by the 
 n€ar approach of the waters of the bay and the main lake, 
 not far from the mouth of the River Trent, near the wesrern 
 point of the bay. The shores of this bay are more diversified 
 and pleasing in their features than those of the lake, and, in 
 the picturesque nook in which Picton is situated, the scenery 
 is agreeably characterised by finely wooded heights. Two or 
 more steamboats regularly ply between the ports of this fine 
 bay and the town of Kingston. The towns situated along 
 Lake Ontario are, Kingston at the foot of the lake, Toronto 
 3o miles from the head, and Hamilton at the extreme head — 
 with intermediate and smaller towns, the chief of which are 
 Cobourg and Port Hope, both thriving places, the former 
 with a population of between 1500 and 2000. 
 
 Following the chain of waters westward, the traveller ap- 
 proaches the Niagara River, 33 miles long, and connecting 
 Lake Ontario with Lake Erie. The town of Niagara is 
 situated near the moutb of the river; and the small village of 
 Queenston, at the foot of the table-lant^, which stretches west- 
 ward, and forms the celebrated Falls, is about four miles far- 
 ther up, and nine miles from the Falls, and about 20 miles 
 from Lake Erie. This part of the country, westward to Lake 
 Huron, having been somewhat described in preceding pages, 
 we may pass to the parts situated still farther westward. The 
 ihores of Lake Erie present features very much similar to 
 
 If 
 
206 
 
 LAKE ONTARIO TO ST MARY S CHANNEL. 
 
 U 11 
 
 VS 
 
 H 
 
 In * " ■ 
 
 
 
 tf "'i * 
 
 r - 
 
 ^a? 
 
 those of Lake Ontario, the banks of Lake Erie being gene- 
 rally, perhaps, bolder and more elevated, and composed chiefly 
 of clay and sand. The more fertile parts are situated some 
 distance off the banks, throughout the extensive plain of table- 
 land beyond, situated 560 feet above the level of the ocean. The 
 extent of Lake Erie is about 265 miles long, and from 30 to 60 
 broad, and in circumference between 600 and 700. The chan- 
 nel connecting Lake Erie with Lake St Clair, called the De- 
 troit River, is about 27 miles long, and in places several miles 
 broad, and interspersed with many islands. Lake St Clair, 
 from 20 to 30 miles long, and about the same breadth, and the 
 smallest of all the lakes, leads to the St Clair River, in length 
 about 30 miles, which river opens to the wide expanse of Lake 
 Huron, of about 1000 miles in circumference. The shores of 
 this inland sea, as it may well be named, are as yet imper- 
 fectly known ; although along its eastern banks, which for 
 the most part are agreeably elevated and richly fertile, an in- 
 dustrious and thriving population are fast settling. 
 
 We may now be said to have arrived at the farthest western 
 point of the occupied portion of Canada. Beyond this extends 
 the northern shores of Lake Huron and Lake Superior, with 
 the connecting river or strait of St Mary, between 30 and 40 
 miles long. The character of the scenery on entering St 
 Mary's Channel is the most delighful, one is led to suppose, 
 that can possibly be imagined. It was in a calm clear sunny 
 day of August (1841) that the writer, among others, forming a 
 party upon a tour up the lakes, entered this channel, when a 
 gcene so agreeable, in contrast to the seemingly boundless 
 deep blue expanse of Lake Huron, presented itself, as still 
 to leave a vivid and most pleasing impression. A calm 
 bright surface of water without a ripple lay stretched out far- 
 ther than the eye could reach, studded closely with numerous 
 islands, each encircled by a ring of pebbled and sanded beach, 
 and luxuriantly covered with trees and other foliage. The 
 channel throughout, with the exception of several small lakes. 
 
 I 
 
APPROACH TO LAKE SUPERIOR. 
 
 207 
 
 gene- 
 chiefly 
 d some 
 f table- 
 ,n. The 
 ;0 to 60 
 e chan- 
 the De- 
 al miles 
 It Clair, 
 and the 
 n length 
 J of Lake 
 shores of 
 it imper- 
 I'hich for 
 le, an in- 
 
 t western 
 s extends 
 rior, with 
 and 40 
 tering St 
 suppose, 
 ear sunny 
 brming a 
 when a 
 boundless 
 If, as still 
 A calm 
 id out far- 
 numerous 
 ed beach, 
 ge. The 
 nail lakes. 
 
 seemed to be almost packed with islands; but, in proportion to 
 its intricacy to the navigator, it was every now and then re- 
 vealing new aad striking beauties of wooded heights and steep 
 banks clothed with verdure, and spots of flat fertile meadows, 
 and, at times, bare, rocky, fantastic crags, yielding delight to 
 the tourist. The sides of the ridges of table-lands that skirted 
 the country around the borders of Lake Superior appeared in 
 the distance clothed with one mass of lively green ; and from 
 the hue and luxuriance of the foliage in parts, there seemed 
 to be hundreds of acres in extent of groves of the maple tree pre- 
 sented foour view. 
 
 Our vessel, a large steamboat named the Cleveland, about 
 400 tons, which had sailed from Lake Erie for a fortnight's ex- 
 cursion, approached within about 18 miles of Lake Superior, at 
 the foot of the Falls, or rather, more properly speaking, Kapids 
 of St Mary — whence, divided into numerous small parties, those 
 who were sufficiently tempted to have a sight of Lake Superior, 
 took the further voyage in canoes and batteaux. The region 
 in this direction seemed much less fertile, the trees along the 
 shores of the broad strait appearing to be chiefly of the pine 
 species, and the soil, in parts which we saw, rather light and 
 sandy, and the lands close upon the banks principally low-lying 
 and flat. ••-■,.. '-'■,■ ,. .;- ■ ^, ,,>:._. -.:„■;/. __ ..„ -i'r,^'';. 
 
 As we approached the great Queen Lake, or inland sea, 640 
 miles long and 140 in breadth, dark blue masses of hills up- 
 rose, somewhat reminding the voyager of the approaches to the 
 St Lawrence, in the forms of the headlands of Cape Rosier 
 and others, yet being neither so high nor so bold as those. 
 The main entrance to the lake is marked by two such rocky 
 badlands, one upon either shore, several miles apart. From 
 the heights of the one on the northern shore, named Gros Cap, 
 composed of the ropk known as the old red sandstone, the sides 
 of which were partially covered with junipers, blue bells, wild 
 briars, and other vegetation, reminding one of Scottish hills — 
 we overlooked a scene of the most imposing and still grandeur 
 possibly to be imagined. The dim distance into the lake was 
 
1 1 
 
 r 
 
 ■I 
 
 
 iiit ? 
 
 1 1"- 1 
 
 ^ ) 
 
 i 
 
 200 CLIMATE AND SHORES OF LAKE SUPERIOR. 
 
 >)ounded hy vast islands, and along both shores bold uneven 
 banks uprose, apparently covered with dark dense foliage, and 
 Htretched themselves in irregular course as far as the eye could 
 Mcan along the wide expanse of water that presented no speck 
 of navigation. The light craft of our party alone lay in the 
 small clear crystal bay at the foot of the rock. Between the lake 
 and the rapids we had passed three or fonr vessels engaged in 
 the fur and fishing trade, which were chiefly the whole of the 
 lleet of Lake Superior. The climstte of this region, like that 
 of others comparatively little visited and consequently imper- 
 fectly known, has been greatly exaggerated with respect to its 
 severity in winter. Major J. B. Campbell, an officer in the 
 United States Service, wintering there during 1843-44, and 
 taking the opportunity to correct the erroneaus impression, 
 writes, under date of December 15th 1843,^ from Copper Har- 
 bour, that the weather had been exceedingly mild for the la- 
 titude, the thermometer never having been lower than 16** below 
 freezing, and that the day previous it was, at Y2 o'clock, tempe- 
 rate, in the open air, and that the snow had never exceeded six 
 inches in depth. The shores of Lake Superior, although im- 
 perfectly explored, are believed to be abundant in mineral re- 
 sources ; and besides a large fur trade, prosecuted by the Hud- 
 son Bay and other Companies along its shores, a considerable 
 business in fishing is carried on by the Americans. A short 
 canal, of about three quarters of a mile, is all that is required to 
 extend ship navigation to the remotest part of this last grand 
 link in the chain of great lakes. But as there is still almost ue- 
 limited portions of more favourably-situated territories to be 
 occupied before having recourse here so far westward, the time 
 for such a work on the part of Canada may be said not to have 
 arrived. 
 
 " Having thus concluded a hasty survey of the lake and river 
 borders of Canada, we will proceed to close these introductory 
 general views of the country by a glance at its constituted 
 divisions, amount of population, and chief resources. 
 
GOVERNMENT OF CANADA. 
 
 209 
 
 uneven 
 ;e, and 
 e could 
 speck 
 f in the 
 he lake 
 aged in 
 B of the 
 ike that 
 imper- 
 nt to its 
 r in the 
 44, and 
 iression, 
 er Har- 
 ■ the la- 
 6« below 
 :, tempe* 
 eded six 
 )ugh im- 
 neral re- 
 che Hud- 
 siderable 
 A short 
 qnired to 
 ist grand 
 most UE- 
 ies to be 
 , the time 
 )t to have 
 
 and river 
 roductory 
 onstituted 
 
 Canada, formerly divided into two provinces, known an 
 Upper and Lower Canada, with separate legij^latures, was, in 
 1841, hy an act of the Impi-rial Parliament, constituted one 
 province with one legislature. The (lovernment is desi}2;ned to 
 resemble as closely as possible that of the mother country. 
 A Governor, appointed by the Crown to represent Sovereign 
 interests, a Ministry termed the Executive Council, chosen 
 by the Governor to act as his advisers, and to conduct chief 
 public offices— two Houses of Legislature, one, the Legislative 
 Council, nominated by the Governor ; the other, the Legislative 
 Assembly, elected by the people — these compose the Govern- 
 ment of the colony. Members of the House of Assembly 
 require to be possessed of freehold property of the value of 
 £800 colonial currency ; and electors of freehold property 
 of the value of 40s. Members of Assembly during session 
 have tin allowance of pay for their services, and the body un- 
 dergo-'s a new election every four years. The seat of Govern- 
 ment of United Canada is the city of Montreal. The present 
 Governor is the Right Honourable Sir Charles Theophilua 
 Metcalfe, Bart. K.G.C.B., one of Her Majesty's Privy Coun- 
 cil, and Governor-in-Chief over the Provinces of British North 
 America. 
 
 Canada, although now united for legislative and other pur- 
 poses, will most probably continue to be viewed and spoken of 
 under its formerly recognised divisions of Upper and Lower 
 Canada. [The terms Eastern and Western introduced at the 
 period of the union, appear to be already getting into disuse, 
 and the more familiar, as well as sufficiently appropriate terms 
 brought back.] Lower Canada is divided into four chief dis- 
 tricts, named Quebec, Three Rivers, Montreal, and Gaspe. 
 
 Gaspe, commencing at the eastern extremity of Canada, 
 upon the south shore, at the mouth of the St Lawrence, con- 
 tains two counties, comprising one seignory, six fiefs, and ten 
 townships.' The Quebec district, comprising the whole northern 
 shore from the gulf, and the southern, from the western boi^n* 
 
 ilt. 
 
310 
 
 DIVISIONS OF CANADA. 
 
 EL'UHr 
 
 
 
 "1 
 
 
 ?! 
 
 
 >j 
 
 iw,'fflW 
 
 > ■ i' 
 
 Im' 
 
 V 
 
 lAi 
 
 'i 
 
 
 'I 
 
 A'^'>v 
 
 \ 
 
 i li 
 
 
 ''■ :.i 
 
 J' 51 
 
 
 i) 
 
 II! 
 
 )! -A 
 
 dary of Gaspe to the mouth of the River St Anno, 60 miles 
 above the city of Quebec— is divided into 13 counties, with the 
 subdivisions of 79 seignories, 12 fiefs, and 38 townships. 
 Three Rivers district, conun'ncing at the River St Anne, 
 and continuing up both sides of the St L-awrence towards the 
 upper part of the expanse of Lake St Peter, contains 6 
 counties subdivided into 25 seignories, 6 fiefs, and 10 town- 
 ships. Montreal district, commencing at the western boun- 
 dary of Three Rivers, and continuing along both sides of 
 the St Lawrence to the division line of Upper Canada at the 
 village of St Regis, 60 miles above the city of Montreal — 
 contains \d counties, subdivided into ^Q seignories, 8 fiefs, 
 and 45 townships. 
 
 Upper Canada, comprising the remaining territory all along 
 the northern shores of the lakes and rivers westward to the 
 sources of Lake Superior, is divided into 18 districts, sub- 
 divided into 273 townships. These districts and townships 
 are the municipal divisions, a set of oflicers being » inually 
 elected by the townships for purely local purposes, and the bo- 
 dies named District Councils being elected by the districts for 
 the more extended purposes of general improvements, and pro- 
 viding for education, and the administration of justice within 
 the di.-trict. The province is further subdivided into counties 
 and ridings, which divisions are chiefly recognised for legisla- 
 tive purposes — counties, ridings, cities, and towns, returning 
 members to the Provincial Parliament. A district always con- 
 tains one, and in instances two and three counties. Ridings are 
 subdivisions of the larger counties. Counties so vary in size 
 as to contain in instances only six up to above twenty town- 
 ships. The size of a township is ten miles square, which ter- 
 ritory again is subdivided into concessions and lots. A town- 
 *'hip is divided into eleven concessions or ranges, usually 
 running east end west, with roads along the division lines, 
 and each range or concession is further divided by lines at 
 right angles into 28 lots, each lot containing 200 acres, the 
 
PROGRESS AND CHARACTER OF DISTRCITS. 211 
 
 ordinary size of a farm iti Canada. These concessions, it will 
 be observed, serve the purposes of streets in towns, and, when 
 it is known that the concessions and lots are all regularly 
 numbered, the resemblance between concessions and lots, and 
 houses and streets, becomes more apparent. The address of 
 the most remote inhabitant in Canada may be thus precisely 
 ascertained: Thus, for example, A. B., Lot 10, 1st Concession, 
 Township of Westminster, London District, Canada. 
 
 The districts of Upper Canada, situated along the north 
 shore of the St Lawrence, from the western boundary of the 
 lower division of the province to the commencement of Lake 
 Ontario, are the Eastern, Ottawa, Johnston, Bathurst, and 
 part of the Midland district. The four entire districts con- 
 tained, in 1823, 42,300; in 1^30, 85,100; and, in 1841, 
 103,190. The largest and most populous of these districts 
 is Johnston, which contains 2 counties and 1 8 townships, 
 with a population of 35,900 in 1841. It is situated close upon 
 the St Lawrence, immediately above the Eastern district, the 
 lowermost or most easterly district of Upper Canada; and, 
 joining the eastern boundary of the Midland district, ex- 
 tends nearly to Lake Ontario, The towns of Johnston, Pres- 
 cott, Brockville, Gannanoqui are in the Johnston district. 
 This section of country enjoys important advantages in be- 
 ing situated between the two great navigable rivers, the St 
 Lawrence on the south, and the Ottawa on the north ; and 
 possesses abundance of limestone very suitable for building. 
 The soil is chiefly composed of a brown clay and yellow loam ; 
 the drawbacks it is known to have are, that it is wet in some 
 parts and stony in others. 
 
 The districts situated along Lake Ontario to the eastern 
 commencement of the Western Peninsula, are the Midland, 
 Prince Edward, Victoria, Newcastle, and the greater part 
 of the Home district as now limited. These districts en- 
 tire, consist of 8 counties and 93 townships. In 1823 they 
 contained a population of 53,600 ; in 1836, 144,500 ; and in 
 
 'X- 
 
 I 
 
212 
 
 rorULATlON OF CANADA. 
 
 f: 
 
 .'J- *y* 1 
 
 ' 1^*^^; 
 
 1841, 100,G00, beinp; between three and four times the amount 
 of population they possessed in H\'2'.i. This section is under- 
 stood to be the most improved and wealthy part of Cimada. 
 The soil i8 very diversified in its character, varying from light 
 sand to rich black h)arn. The most fertile, and generally ad- 
 vantageous parts, are perhaps in the Prince Edward district, 
 or peninsula, around the shores of the Bay of Quinte~the 
 front part of the Newcastle district, upon the banks of Lake 
 Ontario, and back part of the Home district, along the Yonge 
 Street road leading to L:»ke Simcoe. Limestone for building 
 1*8 found in most parts. The towns of Kingston, Ik'lk'vllle, at 
 the mouth of the Moira, near the head of the Bay of Quinte, 
 Cobourg, in the district of Newcastle, upon the shore of Lake 
 Ontario, 100 miles above Kingston— are now, to a considerable 
 extent, built of this limestone. There are numbers of good 
 roads tbroujjh ihe greater portion of this section of Canada, 
 several of which are macadamised, and one or two planked, 
 besides others contemplated to be, or now being, subject to thia 
 latter mode of improvement. 
 
 The remaining occupied portion of Upper Canada, westward 
 to the eastern shore of Lake Huron, embraced in the great 
 Western Peninsula, containing the districts of Gore, Wel- 
 lington, Simcoe, Niagara, Talbot, Brock, London, Huron, 
 and the Western, with their subdivisions of 144 townships, 
 having elsewhere, in preceding pages, been prominently no- 
 ticed—there now only remains to be mentioned, the pre- 
 sent amount of population in Canada, and some of its chief 
 resources. 
 
 The population of Lower Canada is estimated to amount 
 to about 730,000, and that of Upper Canada, in 1842, was 
 computed to be 506,000. The total population of United 
 Canada at present may be estimated to be somewhere about 
 1,350,000, which is an amount exceeding half of the popula- 
 tion of Scotland in 1841 by 40,000. In 1759, the period when 
 the colony came into the possession of Britain, Lower Canada 
 
rorrL\Tioy and amount ok rur/nvviKD land. 218 
 
 was believi'd to contain 6/>,000 inhabitants ; in 1704, the year 
 in which Uj)por Cmala ho«^an to be Hfttied, the popuhition of 
 the lower province had increased to 113,000; in \H-2,'i, the 
 number wai^ 42;M»00; and in la.U, it was 511,900. Upper 
 Canada in J7f)l, when a constitution wan bestowed upon it, 
 and it was formed into a separate f^overnment (it havinp; pre- 
 vious to that oeriod composed part of the province of Que- 
 bec)— wat. supj osed to contain a population not exceeding 
 10,000; in 1811, the number of inhabitants was computed 
 to be about 77,000; in l{{2i, after emigration from llritain 
 began rapidly to augment the population of the colony, the 
 numy)er of inhabitants had increased to l.'51,000; in 1828, 
 to 185,500; in 1832, to 290,000; and in 1835, to 330,000. 
 These returns show that, from 1824 to 1835, the inhabitants 
 of Upper Canada had much more than d' ihled their numbers 
 within a period of 11 years, and that, IVom 1828 to the pre- 
 sent time, a period of 1(5 years, their numbers have been nearly 
 tripled. The annual number of persons arriving at Quebec 
 within the last 13 years, up to 1841, is officially stated to have 
 been nearly 25,000— their havinir, up to that period, from 1829 
 inclusive, arrived at that port in all, 321,000 ; Great Britain 
 and Ireland having furnished the whole number, with the 
 exception of between 4000 and 5000. Of the population of 
 Upper Canada in 1842, 247,600 were natives of Canada of 
 British descent, 70,200 were Irish, 40, GOO English, nearly 
 40,000 Scotch, and nearly 33,000 Americans ; the remainder, 
 of above 20,000 were natives of the Continent of Europe and 
 of Canada, of French descent. 
 
 The amount of land under cultivation in U}iper Canada was, 
 in U i2, estimated to be 1,751,500 acres, being more than a 
 third of the cultivated portion of Scotland. In Lower Canada 
 there is estimated to be 3,000,000 acres under cultivation, 
 which, added to the amount cultivated in Upper Canada, 
 shows a cultivated surface in United Canada of 4,751,500 
 acres, which is very nearly the extent of cultivated laud in, 
 
I 
 
 4 
 
 i 
 
 a1 
 
 
 mk 
 
 • 1 
 
 -t i 
 
 
 214 AMOUNTS OF LAND OCCUPIEr AND UNOCCUPIED. 
 
 Scotland, it being returned as slightly exceeding 5,000,000 acres. 
 The extent of land occupied, but uncultivated, in Upper Ca- 
 nada, was estimated in the returns of 1842 to be 6,212,700 
 acres, making, together with the land cultivated, not quite 
 8,000,000 acres, which amount does not include half the 
 extent of land set apart in the constituted districts and town- 
 ships, and is only about a third of the (available territory 
 within the limits recognised as the occupied, or in the imme- 
 diate vicinity of the strictly occupied jarts. The extent of 
 land laid out into townships in Upper Canada is estimated to 
 be between 17,000,000 and 18,000,000 acres, and, including 
 tracts situated either within, or in the vicinity of the districts, 
 the available extent is computed to exceed 21,000,000 acres. 
 And, with regard to the ur. occupied portions of Lower Canada,it 
 greatly exceeds that of the upper part of the province, but th^ 
 proportion of its surface cultivated is greatly less. Among the 
 most valuable parts of Lower Canada, containing most unoccu- 
 pied land, are perhaps the Eastern Townships, comprising the 
 St FranciS territory, in the district of Three Rivers, and a tract 
 in the vicinity of the River Saguenay, on the north shore of the 
 St Lawrence below Quebec, which is understood to be very fer- 
 tile, and the land low priced. Among the roost fertiJe parts of 
 Upper Canada, containing the greatest extent of unoccupied 
 territory, are believed to be the large tracts of Crown territory, 
 and Canada Company's lands, situated in the north-western 
 portion of the Western Peninsula, and chiefly lying along the 
 eastern shores of Lake Huron. The banks of the magnificent 
 River Ottawa, which empties itself into the St Lawrence at 
 the western boundary of Lower Canada, and extends in a 
 north-westerly direction into almost untracked regions of the 
 interior, offer space for settlement, loosely speaking, nearly 
 unlimited, and a soil, in parts, of the most fertile description. 
 
 The resources of 'vhich Canada is enabled to export a su'plus, 
 are chiefly the agriculture and dairy proviuce of wheat and 
 
lED. 
 
 RESOURCES OP CANADA WHEAT AND FLOUR 215 
 
 )0 acres, 
 per Ca- 
 ,212,700 
 ot quite 
 half the 
 id town- 
 territory 
 le imrae- 
 (xtent of 
 m?ted to 
 including 
 districts, 
 )D0 acres. 
 [Canada, it 
 e, but the 
 .n'.ong the 
 st unoccu- 
 irising the 
 Hid a tract 
 horc of the 
 e very fer- 
 )e parts of 
 noccupied 
 territory, 
 th-western 
 along the 
 lagnificent 
 avrence at 
 tends in a 
 ions of the 
 mg, nearly 
 iscription. 
 
 t a su'plus, 
 wheat and 
 
 wheat-flour, butter and cheese, lard, and salted bsef and pork ; 
 the produce of the forest, which includes timber, pot and 
 pearl ashes, furs and poltries; and the produce of the lake, 
 river, and sea fisheries. Ship-building rnd manufactures are 
 also among the directly profitable resources of the colony. 
 
 The exports to Great Britain in 1841 of wheat and wheat- 
 flour amounted to 388,400 barrels of flour, and 450,500 mi- 
 nota [Lower Canada measure, 100 minots being about equal 
 to 90 bushels]. To the sister North American colonies, 
 Canada exported the same year 11,300 barrels of flour, and 
 1000 minots of wheat. In 1843, according to a Parliamentary 
 paper printed by the House of Commons., June 1844, Bri- 
 tain received from the British North American colonies 
 (chiefly if not entirely from Canada), 15,861 quarters of 
 wheat, and 328,186 cwts. of wheat flour. A consideraMe por- 
 tion of this produce is, as is known, directly or indirectly re- 
 ceived by Canada from the United States, a low duty admit- 
 ting United States wheat into the colony, which being there 
 manufactured into flour is exported and received into Britain 
 as Canada produce at the almost nominal colonial duty. Beef, 
 pork, and butter, are also received by Canada from the United 
 States. The average annual quantity of wheat exported by 
 Canada for a period of five years, ending 1831, was 747,200 
 bushels, and for four years ending 1835, the average annual 
 amount was 780,000 bushels. And during these latter men- 
 tioned four years, Canada, by the United States official returns, 
 is shown to have exported to that country, upon an average, each 
 year, 60,000 bushels of wheat ; and 7100 cv ts. uf flour. The 
 encouragement Britain has extended to Canada in the recent 
 modified tariff" in favour of colonial produce, has, as might be 
 expected, greatly stimulated agriculturists and others in the co- 
 lony ; and an improved emigration, as respects the pre portion 
 of skill and capital during the last two years, ha^-ing been also 
 among the results of the measure, it may, therefore, in all pro- 
 bability, be expected that no inconsiderable supplies of bread 
 
¥ I 
 
 216 EXPORTS 1844 WOllKING OF THE NEW TARIFF. 
 
 Stuffs and provisions will henceforth be received from this 
 quarter by Britain. 
 
 It has been elsewhere stated [Note * Improved Prospects 
 of the Country,' page 119] that up to 25th June of the present 
 year (1844), and, during aperiod of about two months from the 
 opening of the internal navigation, there had been received at 
 the port of Montreal, from the interior of Canada, 206,248 
 bushels of wheat, and 350,022 barrels of flour, being 22,097 
 quarters of wheat, and 610,752 cwts, of hour, an amount much 
 exceeding the total importation into Britain from the whole 
 North American colonies during 1843. Of these amounts of 
 wheat produce, above 46^030 barrels of flour, and 95, 0.)0 bushels 
 of wheat were received by Canada from the United States. 
 While Canada is thus shown to receive from the United 
 States, through the working of the new tariff, a portion of sup- 
 plies of produce for the English market, the agriculturists of 
 Britain, it is believed, need be under no apprehension in regard 
 to an, very marked effect of this measure upon their interests ; 
 since, from estimates which, roughly speaking, may be con- 
 sidered correct (and rather under than overstated), the amount 
 of wheat produce received by Canada across her United States 
 frontier forms but a small proportion of the surplus produce of 
 the wheat-growirg States of America. The shipments from 
 the leading ports of the States of Ohio and Michigan, situated 
 along the south shore of Lake Erie, amounted, by the esti- 
 mates referred to, in 1842, to 2,454,823 bushels of wheat, and 
 771,443 barrels of flour ; and, in 1843, to 2,142,016 bushels of 
 wheat, and 1,012,849 barrels of flour.* These amounts, com- 
 
 * TJie United States official returns for 1842 of the crops in the va- 
 rious parts of th'j Union set down 25, 387, 409 bushels of wheat raised in 
 tlie State of Ohio that year, with a population of 1,711,935 ; and 3,952,389 
 bushels in the State of Michigan, with a population of 2(56,303. The total 
 wheat crop of the United Htutos in 1842 is, in these official returns, est:- 
 luated to have been 102,317,340 bushels, or 11,000,000 of quartera.-- 
 From Report t(j the Congress of the United States hy Commissioner the 
 Hon. W. II. Ellaco) th. 1843. 
 
T 
 
 IFF. 
 
 PROVISION TRADte OP CANAbA. 
 
 217 
 
 rom 
 
 this 
 
 *ros}pect«i 
 e present 
 1 from the 
 iceived at 
 , 206,248 
 ng 22,097 
 )unt much 
 the whole 
 mounts of 
 ►:)0 bushels 
 ed States, 
 iie United 
 ion of sup- 
 lulturists of 
 n in regard 
 r interests ; 
 I ay be con- 
 the amount 
 lited States 
 1 produce of 
 ments from 
 an, situated 
 by the esti- 
 wheat, and 
 G bushels of 
 omits, com- 
 
 op3 in the va- 
 heat raised in 
 
 and 3,952,389 
 }03. The total 
 
 returns, est- 
 of quarters. — 
 nmissioner the 
 
 pared with the enMr*^ shipments received by Britain from Ca- 
 nada in these years, show small cause for uneasiness on the part 
 of British producers; while the quantity received at present, 
 and likely to be afterwards received, may be believed somewhat 
 to mitigate the restrictions upon foreign importations of grain, 
 and, at the same time, the internal canal, river, and lake carry- 
 ing trade, and milling and other interests of Canada, and also 
 British shipping employed in carryingfromthe St Lawrence, will 
 receive considerable encouragement The fears that have been 
 expressed in quarters, of grain being likely to be clandestinely 
 received across ihe United States frontier into Canada, may 
 be relied upon to be— from acquaintance with the nature of that 
 frontier, and the circumstances affecting such clandestine trade, 
 while the present rate of duty remains — without foundation. 
 
 Beef, pork, butter, and cheese, at present are exported to 
 Britain by Canada to a limited amount. To the sister North 
 American colonies Canada exported, in 1841, 19,000 barrels of 
 pork, and 1700 barrels of beef, and to the British West Indies 
 11,400 barrels of pork, and 800 barrels of beef. . • 
 
 The provision trade of Canada, favoured b\ the recent re- 
 duction of duties, is most likely to beco one of considerable 
 importance to the colony. More and more care is being taken 
 every season to select and prepare articles in the iiiust suitable 
 manner for the British market. The Montreal Board oi Trade, 
 composed of intelligent and influential merchants, circulated 
 over the country detailed directions, setting forth the most a{t- 
 proved modes of preparation ; and, in instances, experienced 
 curers have been brought from England to superintend the ope- 
 rations of houses engaged in the trade. From returns of ar- 
 rivals of produce at Montreal, there had been received at thai 
 port from the interior of Canada during 1844, up to the 10th 
 September, 7037 barrels of pork, 1582 barrels of beef, 8,nd 2766 
 kegs of butter. Besides these quantities from Canada, 'i.here had 
 been received from the United States an addition to the quan- 
 tity of pork, amounting to above 13,000 barrels. Up to the 
 
 'VM 
 
4! 
 
 I 
 
 
 218 TIMBER TRADE, FISHINGS, AND MANUFACTURES. 
 
 same period of 1843, there had been received at Montreal in all 
 of United States and Canada produce, less than half the quan- 
 tities of pork and butter received this year, and about three- 
 fourths of the quantity of beef, The amount of these provisions 
 shipped to Britain, during 1844, to 10th September, from Que- 
 bec and Montreal, was reported to be above 5000 barrels of 
 pork, nearly 3000 barrels of beef, and above 1400 Irega of 
 butter, 
 
 Of timber, Canada exported to Britain and Ireland, in 1841, 
 31,384 tons of oak, and 373,800 tons of red and white pine, and 
 of staves above 6,000,000 pieces, besides quantities, both of 
 staves and timber, to the other colonies, including the West 
 Indies, and also to the United States, South America, and 
 France. In 1835, the exports of timber to Britain, Ireland, and 
 the colonies together, showed 19,798 tons of oak, and 303,340 
 tons of pine. In 1842, the exports were not indeed nearly so 
 large as in 184/; it is, however, conjectured, from rough esti- 
 mates, that those of 1843 would be as large, and probably 
 larger. The removal of part of the protective duties upon 
 Baltic in favour of Canada timber, is believed to have had 
 more the effect of introducing greater economy in conducting 
 the details of the trade in the colony, than in T)roducing any 
 material check in the amount exported to Britain. 
 
 Of the other articles exported — besides ashes (which appear 
 to be rather on the decrease, since substitutes of British manu- 
 facture are being more used ), and. ars and peltries— large quan- 
 tities of salmon, cod-fish, herring., mackerel, lobsters, fish oil, 
 and seal skins, are shipped to the West Indies and other parts, 
 chiefly from the district of Gaspe, near the mouth of the St 
 Lawrence, 
 
 Among the manufactures of Canada exported by the colony, 
 are soap, candles, leather, nails, moccasin?, whiskey, and ale 
 — which commodities are chiefly shipped >j the sister North 
 American colonies and the West Indies. - 
 
 ^mong other manufactures not exported may be mentioned 
 
fRES. 
 
 EMPLOYMENT OP BRITISH SHIPPING. 
 
 219 
 
 .r-i 
 
 real in all 
 the quan- 
 >ttt three- 
 provisions 
 torn Que- 
 barrels of 
 ) Ijega of 
 
 cl, in 1841, 
 ) pine, and 
 3S, both of 
 r the West 
 lerica, and 
 relandjand 
 ,nd 303,340 
 d nearly so 
 
 rough esti- 
 jd probably 
 iuties upon 
 o have had 
 
 conducting 
 oducing any 
 
 hich appear 
 ritish manu- 
 • large quan- 
 ers, iish oil, 
 other parts, 
 ith of the St 
 
 y the colony, 
 ;key, and ale 
 sister North 
 
 be mentioned 
 
 coarse woollen cloth, flannel and linen, woven chiefly by do- 
 mesdclooms, and also worsted, of which last 1,302,500 lbs. were 
 returned in the census of 1842, as produced in Upper Canada 
 ' alone ; and of all kinds of domestic cloth made that year in the 
 same division of the colony, the returns state the number of 
 yards at 1,327,700. Of maple sugar there were produced the 
 same year in Upper Canada, 3,699,800 lbs. Cordage, starch, 
 blue, paper, iron, stoves, ploughs, hollow ware, and ma- 
 chine castings, and other articles of lesser note, are also among 
 the manufactures of Canada. 
 
 Besides numbers of large ships built at Quebec for the At- 
 lantic trade, and, farther up the St Lawrence, brigs, schooners, 
 steamboats, and other craft, for the river and lake navigation — 
 a barque, owned and freighted by a company in the colony, arrived 
 last season at Montreal, direct from China, with a cargo of 
 teas, silks, and fancy wares, sHxC this vessel was expected to 
 be the precursor of a regular trade. 
 
 The number of vessels •'eturned in 1841, as having entered 
 the St Lawrence in the trade of the colony, has been stated in 
 a preceding page to have been between 1300 and 1400, with 
 an amount of men exceeding 18,000. Above 1000 vessels, 
 with 15,000 men, were entered from Britain and Ireland. In 
 the year ending 5th Janupry 1844, according to recent returns 
 to Parliament, 2215 British ships were entered inwards at Bri- 
 tish ports from British North America, being as large a num- 
 ber as all the British and foreign vessels entered inwards during 
 the same period from the West Indies, East Indies, and the 
 United States together.* 
 
 The total official value of manufactures exported by Britain 
 in 1843 to the North American colonies amounted to £1,751,200 
 sterling, of which £334,500 value were cotton, and £270,000 
 
 ' See Return printed by Ihe House of Commons, June 26, 1844. Other 
 statements here mentioned are upon the authority of the Quebec Cus- 
 torn-House Returns, Legislative Journals of Canada, and other source;;^ 
 believed to be authentic. « ,^ 
 
:4 
 
 IS'^'^ 
 
 W ^; 
 
 f'>^v .' 
 
 h'!(i 
 
 
 lis 
 
 K' 
 
 bI 
 
 220 BRITISH AND OTHER IMPORTS INTO CANADA. ; 
 
 woollen manufactures, ancl£336,000 iron and steel, and hardware 
 manufactures. These amounts of exports from Britain may be 
 observed to show a decrease compared with former years, and 
 only a small increase on the average of many years back; but 
 it is not therefore to be concluded that Canada and the other 
 North American colonies are being limited in their resources, 
 and making little or no progress. A very large trade has been 
 growing between Canada and the United States, and especially 
 of late, owing to reduced rates of duties upon foreign imports 
 into the colony. During ten years ending 1841, the exports 
 of the United States to the British American colonies are stated 
 to have amounted to above £40,600,000 colonial currency- 
 each of the years 1840 and 1841 presenting amounts exceeding 
 £6,000,000. Among the articles imported by Canada from 
 the United States are, unbleached cotton shirtings, cotton 
 yarn, low-priced printed cotton cloth, shoes, leather, sugars, 
 teas, rice, raisins, currants, oranges, and lemons ; also tobacco, 
 and certain descriptions of hardware, chiefly edge tools, saws, 
 and axes. 
 
 Besides these imports from the United States, Canada re- 
 ceives wines, spirits, cordials, sugars, molasses, coflfee, and 
 salt, from France, the British and foreign West Indies, and 
 Spain, Portugal, and Sicily. In 1841 the colony imported from 
 Cuba 1,159,777 lbs. sugar, 7500 gallons of rum, and 4700 gal- 
 lons of molasses. The other North American colonies are also 
 employed by Canada in carrying on an indirect trade witii 
 other countries for the colony, chiefly in wines, spirits, sugars', 
 teas, and co£fee. By this trade, in 1841, Canada received 
 4700 gallons of wines and spirits (chiefly Spanish and Fayal 
 wines), 1,754,488 lbs. foreign IMuscovado sugar, 16,000 lbs. 
 of the same description from British possessions, 42,000 lbs. fo- 
 reign cofl^ee, and 15,700 lbs. teas. 
 
 One main design of these statements, here introduced in an 
 imperfect and hasty manner, is, that they might aflbrd to the 
 general reader some materials for judging, that both na- 
 
A. 
 
 BANKS, AND AMOUNT OF CIRCULATION NOTE. 2'2l 
 
 lardware 
 1 may be 
 ?ars, and 
 ack; but 
 the other 
 esources, 
 has been 
 especially 
 1 imports 
 e exports 
 are stated 
 jrrency— 
 exceeding 
 lada from 
 rs, cotton 
 ;r, sugars, 
 
 tobacco, 
 )ols, saws, 
 
 !anada rc- 
 joflfee, and 
 indies, and 
 )orted from 
 
 1 4700 gal- 
 ies are also 
 trade with 
 its, sugars, 
 la received 
 
 and Fayal 
 16,000 lbs. 
 ,000 lbs. fo- 
 
 luced in an 
 EFord to the 
 t both na- 
 
 tural resources and personal comforts of no inconsiderable 
 amount must be possessed by the country, when, taking into 
 account its population, such statements can be presented re- 
 specting it. 
 
 The circulation of paper money in the shape of bank-notes, 
 issued by seven banks in Canada, was, in 1842, £781,614 
 colonial currency. The paid up capital of three of these 
 banks (the Bank of Upper Canada, the Commercial Bank, Mid- 
 land district, and the Bank of Montreal) amounted to above 
 £976,000. 
 
 It would have been an interesting subject to have touched 
 upon the prospects of the partially known and undeveloped re- 
 sources of Canada ; but having already exceeded the space 
 originally prescribed, we must now give place to other views 
 of the condition of the colony. 
 
 • '-'i:./ .;■ ■ . NOTE. 
 
 Statistics of British Shipping. 
 
 Return printed by the House of Commons June 26, 1844, showing the 
 number of ships, with amount of tonnage, entered inwards, and cleared 
 outwards, at British ports, to and from the under-mentioned countries, 
 during the year ending 6th January 1844. 
 
 British Ships. 
 
 Countries. 
 
 Entered Inwards. 
 
 Cleared Outwards. 
 
 Ships. 
 
 Tonnage. 
 
 Ships. 
 
 Tonnage. 
 
 British North American 
 
 Colonies, . 
 West Indies, 
 East Indies, 
 United States, 
 
 2,215 
 
 758 
 393 
 352 
 
 771,905 
 206,290 
 192,381 
 200,781 
 
 1,996 
 897 
 335 
 419 
 
 710,608 
 253,698 
 156,368 
 246,026 
 
 Foreign Ships. 
 
 .• m 
 
 United States, : 
 
 715 
 
 396,109 
 
 717 
 
 396,237 
 

 
 &'■ 
 
 222 
 
 STATEMENT OF THE 
 
 Loans to Incorporated Companies and 
 to Commissioners for Turnpike Roads, 
 viz. :— 
 
 Roads, Cant Ja West, 
 
 Roads, Canaia East, 
 
 Erie and Ontario Railroad, . 
 
 Harbours, Canada West, . 
 
 Dei^ardins Canal, . 
 
 Urand River and Tay Navigation, 
 
 Grantham Academy, 
 
 Provincial Works : — 
 Welland Canal, 
 Baint Lawrence Canal, 
 Trent Navigation, 
 Inland Waters, Newcastle District 
 Port Stanley Harbour, 
 Bridges, Canada West, . 
 Road, Garafraxa, to Owen Sound, 
 New Brunswick Road, 
 Kingston Penitentiary, 
 Kingston Hospital, 
 Parliament Buildings, Toronto, 
 Toronto Harbour, 
 
 West Guilliambury Road and Bridge, 
 Saint Anne's Rapids 
 Harbour of Montreal, 
 Chambly Canal 
 Steam Dredge, Montreal, 
 
 Thos. Wilson and Co., London, for this 
 
 sum owing the Province, 
 Debts due by Public Accountants : — 
 Collectors of Customs, Commissioner 
 of Crown Lands, Outstanding Bonds, 
 Montreal, Quebec, and St Johns, 
 
 Receiver-General Dunn, 
 
 Balance due him for Special Funds, 
 Civil List, Schedule A [of Union Act], 
 
 Advance for 1842, . . 
 
 Civil List, Schedule A, 
 
 Advance for 1841, 
 Territorial Revenue Special Account, 
 
 being debt due to the Clergy Fund for 
 
 Land Rights, 
 Board of Works, to be accounted for, 
 
 £ t' d. 
 
 239,701 ^ 
 
 1,614 16 11 
 
 6,614 1 8 
 
 12,011 2 9 
 
 22.416 14 3 
 
 2,049 17 1 
 
 318 2 7 
 
 
 402,856 18 10 
 
 
 440,097 11 
 
 
 23,354 11 7 
 
 
 21,660 
 
 
 7,600 
 
 
 12,600 
 
 
 2,600 
 
 
 2,600 
 
 
 44,198 16 1 
 
 
 3,000 
 
 
 5,000 
 
 
 6,200 
 
 Re» 
 
 965 3 6 
 
 
 4,308 16 4i 
 
 
 87,175 
 
 
 36,000 
 
 
 i;500 
 
 £ t' d. 
 
 283,524 14 IH 
 
 1,159,306 16 3i 
 66,040 1 
 
 103,204 8 3^ 
 
 40,019 5 11 
 191 15 6i 
 856 17 6i 
 
 15,661 8 11 
 1,337 2 5 
 
 1,670,142 10 iUil 
 
 ♦ This statement, slightly abridged from the one drawn up by the In- 
 spector-General of Canada, and presented by him to the Legislati^-e Assem- 
 bly during the session of 1842, being the second session of the first Parlia- 
 ment of United Canada — is taken from the journals printed by order of 
 the Assembly. It presents the state of affairs of Canada on 31st Dec. 1841, 
 
fl2d 
 
 AFFAIRS OF CANADA.* 
 
 £ t. d. 
 
 ,524 14 IH 
 
 9,306 16 3i 
 G,040 1 
 
 3,204 8 3^ 
 
 0,019 5 11 
 191 15 6i 
 856 17 6i 
 
 5,661 8 11 
 1,337 2 5 
 
 r0.142 10 ly)k\ 
 
 ip by the In- 
 ilati"e Assem- 
 } first Parlia- 
 d by order of 
 St Pec. 1841, 
 
 Public Debt :— 
 
 £ #. 
 
 d. 
 
 £ t. d. 
 
 Stg.Debentures, int. payable atGlynn, 
 MiU8,IIaUfax&Co., £400,000 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 dii iii D l'^ 
 
 
 Sterling Debentures, in- 
 
 *k*M*Uf*m*M^ O 
 
 Av 
 
 
 terest payable at Uairing 
 
 
 
 
 &Co., . £438,850 
 
 
 
 
 
 487,611 2 
 28/2(51 11 
 
 3 
 
 
 
 Balance due Glynn, Halifax & Co., 
 
 i 
 
 Balance due narirg Brothers fie Co., 
 
 11,703 8 
 
 H 
 
 
 Bank of Upper Canada, . 
 
 20,000 
 
 
 
 
 Gore Bank, 
 
 6000 
 
 
 
 
 Provincial Debentures, Tip. Canada, 
 
 289,544 1 
 
 2 
 
 
 Provincial Debentures, Lr. Canada, 
 
 123,675 
 
 
 
 1,411,239 11 10^ 
 
 Profit on Exchanges, 
 
 
 
 Sold by the Receiver- General, • 
 
 • • 
 
 
 45,844 19 1 
 
 Interest Account, 
 
 
 
 
 For Int. on Loans "o Public Works, 
 
 • • 
 
 
 13,008 13 3 
 
 Balance due to Public Accountants : — 
 
 ^ 
 
 
 
 Collectors of Customs, 
 
 225 7 
 
 51 
 
 
 Inspectors, . . ; 
 
 16 9 
 
 4 
 
 841 16 9} 
 
 Special Funds : — 
 
 
 
 Clergy Reserve Fund, Canada "West, 
 
 18,982 13 11 1 
 
 
 Clergy Reserve Fund, Canada East, 
 
 311 9 
 
 1 
 
 
 Clergy Revenue Fund, 
 
 11,606 19 
 
 7 
 
 
 Jesuits' Estate Fund, 
 
 
 23,502 1 
 
 5 
 
 
 School Land Fund, 
 
 
 2,0.55 5 
 
 8 
 
 
 Trinity Fund, Quebec, . 
 
 
 2,215 16 
 
 n 
 
 
 Trinity Fund, Montreal, . 
 
 
 645 10 
 
 
 
 
 Tonnage Duty Revenue, . 
 
 
 616 2 
 
 
 
 
 Lunatic Asylum Fund, . 
 
 
 1,577 6 
 
 9 
 
 ^k4 ^"M #« *■ t\» 
 
 Consolidated Revenue Fund, 
 
 
 
 61,513 6 2t 
 
 
 
 For Balance of that account. 
 
 • • 
 
 
 73,280 16 2f 
 
 Civil List,Sched. B, 1841 [of UnionAct], 
 
 
 
 ^ tf>01 1 O 11 
 
 For Balance of that account. 
 
 • 
 
 
 1,621 13 1^ 
 
 Receiver- General Dunn, 
 
 
 
 
 Balance per his Account 
 
 
 
 f 
 
 current, sterling, . £2525 17 
 
 ) 
 
 
 
 Warrants issued for the 
 
 
 
 
 service of 1811, and cre- 
 
 
 
 
 dited him, but unpaid, 59524 8 11 
 
 • • 
 
 
 63,33. 15 4i 
 
 X56998 11 11 
 
 
 
 1,670,142 10 lOi 
 
 The amounts are in colonial currency : one pound of which currency is 
 equal to 16s. 5d. sterling, as at present estimated ; and one pound sterling is 
 equal to 24s. 4d. colonial currency. As has been before stated, the rule to re- 
 duce this currency to sterling is to multiply by 60 and divide by 73 ; and to 
 convert sterling into currency, add l-5th to the sterling amount, and l-12th 
 to the l-5th. 
 
224 
 
 DEBT AND PUBLIC WORKS OP CANADA. 
 
 n ' : 
 
 hi 
 
 w 
 
 ■V I 
 
 ri». J 
 
 IH 
 
 it: 
 
 EXPLANATORY REMARKS ON STATEMENT OF AFFAIRB. 
 
 The preceding statement of the affairs of Canada sbowH, 
 that on 3lBt December 1841, the colony stood indebted to sun- 
 dry creditors resident in England and Canada for an amount 
 of £1,411,239 colonial currency, or about £l,15i:,«i90 ster- 
 ling. A In ost the whole amount of this debt has been 
 contracted for executing public works within the co- 
 lony, chiefly canals, harbours, roads, and bridges. The left 
 columns of the statement show the description of works upon 
 which these funds have been employed in executing. The 
 total amount thus expended, as shown by the statement, is 
 £1,442,830 colonial currency, of which £283,524 is invested 
 in the shape of loans for executing and upholding works under 
 the management of Commissioners and Incorporated Compa- 
 nies. The remaining sura of £1,159,306 appears to be ex- 
 pended on * Provincial Works,' a class under the more direct 
 control of the Provincial Government. The well organized 
 department of the Executive recently established, known as 
 the Board of "Works, has the direct control and management of 
 these provincial works, and this new management promises to 
 be of great advantage to Canada. Those public works, such 
 as roads and bridges, which continue under the management of 
 local commissioners, will most likely, in course of time, be 
 transferred to thia public board; their revenues may then be 
 paid directly to the Receiver-General of the colony, and amounts 
 required for maintenance of the works (after the estimates being 
 approved of and ordered by the Executive) be issued by of- 
 ficial warrant. 
 
 The roads above stated under local commissionership are 
 chiefly either macadamised or planked ; and the revenues are 
 collected by means of toll gates. The rate of tolls upon these 
 roads varies from about Id, to 2d. per mile for a waggon drawn 
 by two horses. Where the road is principally macadamised 
 the tolls seem to be highest, and lowest where plank has been 
 employed as the material instead of stone. A portion of the 
 
 
ROADS AND CANALS. 
 
 225 
 
 FAIRF. 
 
 I sbowfl, 
 i to 8un- 
 , amount 
 $90 ster- 
 las been 
 
 the co- 
 
 The left 
 orks upon 
 ng. The 
 ement, i» 
 i invested 
 irks under 
 d Compa- 
 
 to be ex- 
 lore direct 
 
 organized 
 known as 
 igement of 
 romises to 
 orks, such 
 Igement of 
 f time, be 
 ly then be 
 id amounts 
 lates being 
 ued by of- 
 
 lership are 
 venues are 
 upon these 
 rgon drawn 
 icadamised 
 ik has been 
 tion of the 
 
 main province road leading around the shores of Lake Ontario, 
 extending to fourteen and a-quartor miles, which was maca- 
 damised, appears to have cost £30,000 currency, or above 
 £2000 per mile, and an extent of nine miles of the same line 
 of road, whieh was planked, cost only per mile £550. These 
 planked roads, which have been only recently introduced in Ca- 
 nada, are likely to confer great benefits in opening up the resources 
 of the country by affording cheap and good roads, exceedingly 
 easy to travel upon at all times, and in every kind of weather. 
 They are estimated to wear at least ten years with only partial 
 repairs. 
 
 The investments in these roads, as well as in most of the 
 other public works of Canada, as may naturally be expected 
 from the progress the colony is making in amount of popula- 
 tion and general prosperity, appear to be steadily rising in 
 value. The tolls upon 38 miles of the main road from Toronto 
 eastward to Kingston, realised in 1840 a nett revenue of £1196, 
 and in 1841 £1441. The road northwards from Toronto to 
 Lake Simcoe, a distance of 36 miles, known as the Yonge 
 Street road, yielded a nett revenue in 1839 of £1638 ; in 1840^ 
 £2167 ; and in 1841, £2315. 
 
 The more extensive works of canals may not appear at pre- 
 sent to realise similar marked results. It is, however, to be kept 
 in view, that these great works are not only, in a manner, yet 
 creating or calling forth the mean? of traffic, hitherto in a mea- 
 sure discouraged, or held in obstruction by the expenses, delay, 
 and difficulty attending the old inland communication with the 
 sea ; but the new grand line of navigation, which will afford a 
 safe passage for sea-going vessels of more than a thousand 
 miles into the interior of Canada, is as yet incompleted, al- 
 though now very nearly so. Both the Lachine and Welland ca- 
 nals, but especially the latter, are striking instances of this call- 
 ing forth of traffic, by improving the means to market, ana con- 
 sequently the resources of the country. Not many years ago, 
 before the "Welland Canal was in existence, the whole of the 
 

 226 WELLAND AND ERIE CANALS CLERGY RESERVES. 
 
 productH of Canada from the fertile shores of Lake Erie and 
 westward, as well as merchandise destined thither, had to be 
 carried over land for a distance of ten miles, between Lake On- 
 tario and Lake Erie, and attended with heavy expense, delay, 
 and dilTiculty. The Falls of Niagara, with their ridge of massy 
 rock crossing the country on each side, seemed to many to have 
 decreed an insurmountable barrier to navigation. Now, such has 
 been the results of the Wulland Canal, that, in 1841, it afforded an 
 easy, expeditious, and comparatively inexpensive transport, to an 
 amount exceeding 17'2,000 tons of agricultural and other pro- 
 duce, and merchandise. Among the items of this vast amount 
 of traffic were 30,400 barrels of beef and pork, 213,400 barrels 
 of flour, 1,579,900 bushels of wheat, besides several millions of 
 feet of timber, and large quantities of merchandise, and other 
 articles. The tolls on this canal, which in 18'J5 amounted to 
 £5807, in 1838 were £6740, in 1839 £11,757, in 1810 £19,175, 
 and in 1841 they were £20,210 ! This canal has been found to 
 compete successfully with the great Erie Canal belonging to 
 the Americans, and it transports a good deal of the produce of 
 their Far "West. As an illustration of how short-sighted many 
 people are respecting the results of great public undertakings, 
 it may be mentioned that the Erie Canal, which was at one 
 time slightingly spoken of as Govenior Morris's, or De Witt's 
 * big ditch,' transported through it, in 1839, nearly a million 
 and a-half of tons [1,435,713] of produce and merchandise, 
 the estimated value of which was 73,399,764 dollars, or above 
 £14,000,000 sterling ! 
 
 The class termed Special Funds, shown in the right columns 
 of the statement as receipts of the colony, includes, among others, 
 the amount then in the hands of Government of Clergy Reserve 
 Funds. The sum annually distributed among various reli- 
 gious bodies in Canada, now that this long agitated subject has 
 been so settled, is believed to be between £11,000 and £12,000 
 sterling — £7200 of which is received by the Church of Eng- 
 land, £2800 by the Church of Scotland, and Presbyterian Sy- 
 
EIIVES. 
 
 JESUITS ESTATES, SCHOOL, AND TRINITY FUNDS. 227 
 
 Erie nnd 
 I ad to be 
 Lake On- 
 c, delay, 
 of massy 
 ly to have 
 , such has 
 fforded an 
 port, to an 
 )ther pro- 
 3t amount 
 
 00 barrels 
 nillions of 
 
 and other 
 lounted to 
 
 1 £19,176, 
 n found to 
 onging to 
 produce of 
 hted many 
 ertakings, 
 as at one 
 De Witt's 
 y a million 
 jrchandise, 
 s, or above 
 
 ht columns 
 iong others, 
 jy Reserve 
 urious reli- 
 subjecthas 
 nd £12,000 
 rch of Eng- 
 yterian Sy- 
 
 nods of Canada, and £1500 by the Church of Rome. The Clergy 
 Reserve Lands used until lately to be leased ; but as the Go- 
 vernment experienced difficulty in collecting even ho much as 
 a fourth of the rents (either most probably from the want of due 
 caution in the selection of tenants, or from the general incfli- 
 ciency of the superintending local a[j'«.at8 employed) the system 
 of leasing is believed to be abandoned, and a limited annual 
 portion of the lands now sold at a fixed price. [For particulars 
 regarding the present mode of disposing of Clergy Reserve 
 Lands see page 154.] 
 
 The Jesuits' Estates Fund, which is shown to have had, in 
 1841, in the hands of Government, the sum of £23,502 cur- 
 rency, it may be known, comprehends the proceeds of the pro- 
 perty of the late celebrated order of the Jesuits in Canada, 
 which property, on the demise of the last of the order in the 
 colony, Father Cascot, in the year 1800, fell into the possessioi 
 of the British Government. The College of the Jesuits, situ- 
 ated in Quebec— a spacious, and, as once it was considered to 
 be, noble edifice, with its shady trees and garden walks, whence 
 issued the devoted missionaries, who over a space of hundreds 
 of leagues, from the St Lawrence to the Mississippi, spread 
 their faith with dauntless spirit, constancy, and patience, amid 
 suflFerings and privations — is now used as a barrack for sol- 
 diers. The nett revenue of the Jesuits' Estates collected in 184 1 
 by theCommissioner of Management amounted to £4566 sterling. 
 
 The School Land Fund is the proceeds of lands set aside by 
 Government for the support of education. The sum annually 
 appropriated by the Legislature of Canada from the proceeds 
 of these lands, for the purposes of common school education, is 
 £50,000. Special grants are besides voted for educational 
 pui-poses. 
 
 The Trinity Funds consist of monies collected by the Trinity 
 Boards of Quebec and Montreal, for the maintenance of light- 
 houses, superintendence of harbours and of pilots, and other- 
 wise regulating and improving the navigation of tne St Law- 
 rence. 
 
 > 
 
fl 
 
 ■'•. 
 
 
 
 f:>| 
 
 ', '*' 
 
 lil 
 
 • ■ 
 
 h 
 
 
 P 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 f^'- 
 
 
 Uj ", ^ ^<- 
 
 n 
 
 228 PUBLIC HOSPITALS, AND LUNATIC ASYLUM. 
 
 The Tonnage Duty revenue is collected also both at Quebec 
 and Montreal, and is subject to deductions for the support of 
 an hospital at each of the ports for the medical treatment of 
 sick seamen. The amount collected at Quebec in 1840, leas 
 five per cent, for expenses of collection, was £1684 currency ; 
 and the sum paid into the Marine Hospital there that year 
 was above £2000. The Marine Hospital of Quebec was 
 opened in 1834, and contains accommodation for 360 
 persons. It measures in length, with the wings, 206 feet, 
 and in depth 100 feet, and the area of the whole premises con- 
 sists of six acres ; the cost exceeded £20,000, The Montreal 
 General Hospital receives every description of indigent sick 
 patients, and administers also out-door relief, and is an in- 
 utitution highly useful. 
 
 The Lunatic Asylum Fund is appropriated to the support of 
 a temporary lunatic asylum at Toronto, which, having been 
 found unsuitable for the purposes, a permanent one is contem- 
 plated to be erected by the colony. The number of patients in 
 the Toronto Asylum has usually averaged about 36. Since it 
 opened in January 1841 to Septeniber 1842, the number of 
 patients admitted had been 1260. Of these 68, or more than 
 one-half, were natives of Ireland, 36 were natives of England, 
 8 natives of Scotland, and 11 natives of Canada ; and in the 
 medical officers' returns of the causes of disease, 23 cases, or 
 between a fifth and sixth of the whole, are reported as having 
 arisen from intemperance. . . - . . 
 
 The Consolidated Revenue Fund, constituting the ordinary 
 income or revenue of Canada, is in the above statement of the 
 colony's affairs credited with £73,280, being the balance or 
 surplus of that account for 1841 ; and this amount is carried 
 to the credit of the accounts of the fund in the statement of 
 income and expenditure for 1842. ' • 
 
 The schedules A and B of the late imperial act reuniting 
 Canada, respectively debited and credited in the statement of 
 aflfairs, include the list of appropriations granted to the Crown 
 
!■ 
 
 INCOME AND EXPENDITURE OF CANADA. 
 
 229 
 
 .{■■■ 
 
 Quebec 
 pport of 
 ment of 
 }40, less 
 irrency ; 
 lat year 
 )ec was 
 for 360 
 106 feet, 
 ises con- 
 yiontreal 
 ^ent pick 
 is an in- 
 
 upport of 
 ing been 
 3 contem- 
 atients in 
 
 Since it 
 umber of 
 lore than 
 England, 
 id in the 
 
 cases, or 
 as having 
 
 " I' 
 i ordinary 
 
 ent of the 
 
 alance or 
 is carried 
 tement of 
 
 ; reuniting 
 itement of 
 the Crown 
 
 for defraying the expenses of the administration of justice, and 
 of the civil government of Canada, and some explanation of 
 which is given in the remarks appended to the accounts of 
 income and expenditure which follow. 
 
 INCOME AND EXPENDITURE OF CANADA. 
 
 The amounts of income and expenditure of the United Pro- 
 vince of Canada for one year, ending 31st December 1842, 
 are here subjoined. These amounts, classified, are taken from 
 the statements of the public accounts of Canada laid before the 
 Provincial Parliament during the session of 1843, by the In- 
 spector-General. The amounts, as in the previous statement, 
 are in provincial currency. 
 
 INCOME OF CANADA FOR 1842. 
 
 Heads of Income. 
 
 Gross Amount. 
 
 Cost of 
 Collection. 
 
 Nett Amount. 
 
 
 £ s. d. 
 
 £ s. d. 
 
 £ s. d. 
 
 Customs, . 
 
 278,im 7 H 
 
 l.'^,543 15 4t 
 
 205,386 11 lOJ 
 
 Kxcise, 
 
 33,9.01 6 y^ 
 
 2,0()f> G 3t 
 
 31,925 55 
 
 Territorial, 
 
 51,775 8 2 
 
 27,202 12 8 
 
 24,i372 15 7 
 
 Light-houseand Tonnage duty 
 
 • • 
 
 • • 
 
 500 16 8 
 
 Hank Imposts, 
 
 , , 
 
 • ■ 
 
 10,277 3 1 
 
 Itouts and rrofits of the Seig- 
 
 
 
 
 niory of Lauzon, 
 
 1,589 15 10 
 
 3(57 7 9 
 
 1,222 8 1 
 
 Public Works, . 
 
 24,232 13 9 
 
 7,802 18 7 
 
 10,309 15 2 
 
 Militia Commissions, Fines, 
 
 
 
 
 and Exemptions, 
 
 , , 
 
 • • 
 
 309 8 H 
 
 Fines, Forfeitures, & Seizures 
 
 3,5G4 9 
 
 * • 
 
 • 
 
 Less Cfovernor's share, . 
 
 , , 
 
 54R 19 
 
 2,938 4J 
 
 Casual Revenue, 
 
 2,820 8 10 
 
 30.; 17 10 
 
 2,454 11 
 
 Incidental Sundries, 
 
 , , 
 
 ^ , 
 
 5,820 11 5J 
 
 Saving on Schedule A of Union 
 
 
 
 
 Act (Civil List), 1841, . 
 
 , , 
 
 » • 
 
 2,077 12 9 
 
 Do. on do. for 1842, 
 
 • • 
 
 ^ , 
 
 1,090 5 
 
 lialance of Consolidated Keve - 
 
 
 
 
 nuo Fund, 1841, 
 
 • • 
 
 la for 1842, 
 
 73,280 16 2i 
 
 Total Income or R 
 
 evenue of Cana( 
 
 438.886 1 ^jf 
 
230 CUSTOMS, EXCISE, AND TERRITORIAL REVENUES. 
 
 y %6M 
 
 ,<> i I 
 
 3r 
 
 If 
 
 REMARKS ON INCOME. 
 
 The greater part of the amount of customs is collected at the 
 ports of Quebec and Montreal, chiefly arising from an import 
 duty of five per cent, upon British merchandise, and other mode- 
 rate ad valorem duties. The nett amount of customs collected 
 at these ports in 1042 was £217,578, of which £149,491 was 
 collected at Montreal. Forty-five other ports, situated chiefly 
 along the shores of the St Lawrence, and the Lakes Erie, On- 
 tario, and Huron, collected the remainder of £47,800. The 
 collections at those ports of the interior are almost wholly con- 
 fined to duties upon imports from the United States, the duties 
 varying from 5 to 20 per cent. The port of St Johns on the 
 River Richelieu, communicating between Lake Champlain and 
 the St Lawrence below Montreal, collected of the above 
 £47,800, £16,800 ; Toronto, on Lake Ontario, the next high- 
 est, collected £8000 ; Hamilton, at the head of Lake Ontario, 
 £7200 ; Kingston, at the foot of the same lake, £6500. 
 
 The Excise revenue chiefly arises from duties on distillation 
 and sale of spirituous liquors, auctioneer and hawkers' licenses, 
 and sales by auction. 
 
 The Territorial revenue principally arises from sales and 
 rents of crown lands, and licenses to cut timber. The re- 
 ceipts by the Commissioner of Crown Lands in 1841 amounted 
 to £28,500. The Hudson's Bay Company pay an annual 
 rent for the Queen's Posts of £1200. 
 
 Bank imposts consist of duties upon bank issues. The cir- 
 culation of seven banks transacting business in Canada, in- 
 cluding the Bank of British North America, amounted in Sep- 
 tember 1842 to £781,614 provincial currency, in promissory 
 notes, not bearing interest, of one dollar and upwards. The 
 highest circulation was that of the Bank of Montreal, amount- 
 ing to £250,736 ; and the lowest, the Quebec Bank, which 
 was £38,603. 
 
 The principal public works of Canada are mentioned in the 
 statement of afiairs. In 1841 the revenue from public works 
 was between £3000 and £4000 less than the above revenue of 
 
UES. 
 
 PUBLIC WORKS, POST-OFFICE EXPENDITURE. 231 
 
 ;d at the 
 1 import 
 er mode- 
 collected 
 491 was 
 d chiefly 
 irie, On- 
 )0. The 
 loUy con- 
 he duties 
 IS on the 
 plain and 
 tie above 
 ext high- 
 ! Ontario, 
 
 0. 
 
 istiilation 
 ' licenses, 
 
 ales and 
 The re- 
 amounted 
 m annual 
 
 The cir- 
 mada, in- 
 ed in Sep" 
 )romissory 
 rds. The 
 1, amount- 
 nk, which 
 
 )Ded in the 
 blic works 
 revenue of 
 
 1842. The Lachine Canal, for avoiding rapids in the St Law- 
 rence above Montreal, yielded in 1841, in tolls, £9200. In 
 1845 it is estimated by the Board of Works that the whole of 
 the great canals of Canada will be completed, so as to allow 
 sea-going vessels to navigate the interior lakes. The funds to 
 complete those canals and other public works were raised by a 
 loan of £1,500,000, guaranteed by the Home Government. 
 
 Among the items of the income of Canada, it will be 
 observed that no revenue from the Post-Oftice department 
 appears. By an apparently rather singular arrangement, 
 the Post-Office revenue of Canada is transmitted to England. 
 The amount of this for the year 1840, according to the re- 
 turns made by the Deputy-Postmaster-General, was £54,248 
 gross, and £l9,G93 nett revenue ; and during that year of 1840 
 £20,500 was remitted by the Canada Post-Office department 
 to England. For the period of eleven years previous, includ- 
 ing 1840, it appears that the amount of £135,076 of this reve- 
 nue has been sent to England. The inter-colonial postage 
 rates of British North America are oppressively high ; in. cases, 
 such as from Halifaj^ to Hamilton, at the head of Lake Onta- 
 rio, the charge for a single letter is 3s. currency, or 2s. CJ. 
 sterling. Recent improvements introduced the system of 
 weight, instead of charging every enclosure as an additional 
 single letter; but the old high rates, with this modification, 
 are continued. 
 
 EXPENDITURE OF CANADA FOfl, 1842. 
 
 Interest on Public Debt, 
 
 Amount of Schedule A of Union Act) for Governor 
 
 and administration of justice), 
 Amount of Schedule li of do (Executive officers) , 
 Permanent charges, as per Acts of Canada East, 
 Do. do. Canada West, 
 Do. do. Province of Canada, 
 Incidental payments, 1841, per Acts, 
 Sinking Fund, 
 Charges under estimate of 1842, 
 
 Total Expenditure of Canada for 1842, 
 Balance at credit of Consolidated Revenue Fund, 
 3l8t December 1842, 
 
 Total Revenue, 
 
 £75,833 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 50,000 
 
 
 
 
 
 33,333 
 
 6 
 
 8 
 
 18,807 
 
 7 
 
 6 
 
 11,231 
 
 19 
 
 4 
 
 31,345 
 
 9 
 
 4 
 
 21,430 14 10 
 
 47,299 
 
 9 
 
 1 
 
 70,257 
 
 4 
 
 6 
 
 359,538 12 
 
 3 
 
 79,347 
 
 8 lU 
 
 438,886 
 
 1 
 
 2* 
 

 
 '4 
 
 232 PUBLIC DEBT, AND LOAN FDR PUBLIC WORKS. 
 
 ■M 
 
 .1 '^L.l:W 
 
 REMARKS ON EXPENDITURE. 
 
 The public debt of Canada existing previous to the loan 
 of £1,500,000, raised under the guarantee of the Home Go- 
 vernment, it was proposed by the Secretary of Stote for the 
 Colonies, and intimated by the Governor-General, Sir Charles 
 Bagot, to the House of Assembly in September 1842, ' should 
 remain a first charge upon the revenue of Canada, and should 
 be paid off, as it became due, from the produce of the current 
 revenue.' It being contemplated by the Home Government 
 that the credit of Canada would be thus strengthened ^ by the 
 continuance of the priority of this debt, and by the prospect of 
 early repayment, at or before the expiration of the existing 
 bonds.' And that the Colonial Legislature ' thus unencumbered 
 with other obligations, would be enabled to enter into negotia- 
 tions with the creditors of the existing debt, and either to con- 
 tinue durirg the terms of their respective engagements the pre- 
 sent rate of interest, or to extinguish the debt by mutual agree- 
 ment before the period stipulated under the present engage- 
 ment.' Great Britain having thus not only lent her credit for 
 the benefit of Canada in order to raise the loan of £1,500,000, 
 at a rate of interest not exceeding four per cent., to be applied 
 directly to execute the public works, further strengthened 
 the colony by sacrificing her priority of claim upon the reve- 
 nue, and allowed the payment of the loan to become a secon- 
 dary charge. In the conditions of the payment of the new loan, 
 provision was made for a sinking fund, at the rate of not less 
 than five per cent per annum of the principal. 
 
 The total amounts of public debt of United Canada, at 8th 
 September 1842, as reported by the Receiver-General, were 
 £403,589 colonial currency, at a rate of interest payable in 
 Canada, averaging about six per cent., and £869,050 sterling 
 currency, at five per cent., payable in England. 
 
 The schedules designated A and B of the Imperial Union 
 Act, include an annual and permanent appropriation of 
 
cs. 
 
 EXPENSES OF CIVIL GOVERNMENT. 
 
 233 
 
 the loan 
 ome Go- 
 for the 
 Charles 
 ' should 
 id should 
 e current 
 vcrnment 
 I ^ by the 
 rospect of 
 ! existing 
 cumbered 
 
 negotia- 
 er to cen- 
 ts the pre- 
 :ualagree- 
 it engage- 
 r credit for 
 1,500,000, 
 be applied 
 :engthened 
 
 1 the reve- 
 \e a secon- 
 ; new loan, 
 of not less 
 
 a,da, at 8 th 
 iieral, were 
 payable in 
 50 sterling 
 
 ^rial Union 
 priation oT 
 
 £46,000 sterling of the revenues of Canada for salaries and 
 pensions to the judges, and other expenses of the judicial esta* 
 blishment ; and £30,000 of an annual appropriation during her 
 Majesty's reign, and five years thereafter, to defray a civil 
 list, and certain expenses of the civil government. The people 
 of Canada have, through their representatives, expressed some 
 degree of dissatisfaction with the exact nature of these condi- 
 tions. They seem to desire that the allowedly high salaries 
 upon the civil list should be reduced, and also the general ex- 
 penses in all departments of the civil government, on a scale 
 more corresponding, as they would suppose, to the resources 
 and liabilities of the country. And, upon these desired reduc- 
 tions being made, they would seem not to object to a permanent 
 appropriation for the salaries of the Governor and his private 
 Secretary, with expenses of his office, and for the salaries of 
 judges, and other necessary charges of the administration of 
 justice ; and to an appropriation for a reduced civil list to con- 
 tinue, if not by vote from year to year, during her Majesty's 
 reigny agreeable to the present usage of the Imperial Parlia- 
 ment. As such desires appear reasonable, it is very probable 
 that arrangements may be made for carrying them into effect. 
 The present condition of Canada, under a heavy debt, con- 
 tracted in praiseworthy enterprise in order to develope her re- 
 sources, requires that economy in expenditure be studiously 
 kept in view. 
 
 Among the items of the present civil list of Canada, a sum 
 above £10,000 is appropriated for the salaries of the Governor 
 and Lieut.-Governor, and the Governor's Secretary, and con- 
 tingencies of their offices. Two Chief Justices and eleven 
 Judges have respectively £1500 and £900 each, and one other 
 Chief Justice has £1 100. The appropriation for Attorneys and 
 Solicitors-General, and for their clerks, is £4620, and for Pro- 
 vincial Secretaries and their offices, £4640. The Executive 
 Council have an appropriation of £3450, and the members com- 
 posing this body have appropriations besides, as heads of de- 
 
 Q 
 
234 
 
 DETAILS OF EXPENDITURE. 
 
 
 _ 5* ' -i 'i 
 
 H '■;.'". J. 
 
 
 partments. The Inspector-General of Public Accounts, one 
 of the Executive, has an appropriation, including expenses 
 of his office, of £2598. , 
 
 Besides the expenses of the Government provided for in sche- 
 dules of the Union Act, there are the other charges mentioned 
 in the statement of expenditure, as being authorised hy acts of 
 the formerly distinct legislatures of Lower and Upper Canada, 
 and the now united legislature of the province of Canada. The 
 details of the estimate of expenditure for 1842 present above 
 £17,000 set aside as salaries of the officers, and other expenses 
 of the legislatures, of which amount £3500 is for the allow- 
 ance of pay to Members of Assembly during session. The 
 pensions to officers and servants of the old legislatures amount 
 to the small sum of £328. The schedules of the Union Act 
 secure above £5000 for pensions to judges and others. The 
 principle of pensions is understood not to be generally approved 
 of in the colony. In the same estimates an amount of £5396 
 is set aside for the promotion of education, in addition to 
 the ordinary annual grant of £50,000 ; of this £5396 Up- 
 per Canada College is granted £1000, and Queen's and Vic- 
 toria Colleges £450 each. A further sum of nearly £2000 
 is appropriated to various public institutions and agricultural 
 societies, of which M'Gill College, Montreal, is granted £900. 
 An appropriation of £10,800 is granted to charitable purposes ; 
 among which are the Toronto and Montreal General Hospi- 
 tals, the Lunatic Asylums at Montreal and Toronto, and the 
 Commissioners for the relief of insane persons, foundlings, and 
 indigent sick persons in the districts of Quebec and Montreal. 
 Among the miscellaneous estimates, exceeding £16,000, £1500 
 is appropriated to the Quarantine establishments at Quebec and 
 Giosse Isle. A very large item under this head of 'miscella- 
 neous' is the charge of £6800 for printing, translating, and pub- 
 lishing the acts and proceedings of the session of 1841, of which 
 sum nearly £5000 is for printing alone. For the year 1842 the 
 estimate of £3000 is set aside for printing public acts, and 
 other matter, and £250 for distributing the same. 
 
VI KW OF THE PRESENT STATE OF CANADA. 
 
 235 
 
 lilts, one 
 jxpenses 
 
 in sche- 
 icntioned 
 y acts of 
 
 Canada, 
 da. The 
 
 mt above 
 expenses 
 he allow- 
 on. The 
 IS amount 
 Jnion Act 
 iTS. The 
 
 approved 
 of £5396 
 ddition to 
 5396 Up- 
 I and Vic- 
 rly £2000 
 ^ricultural 
 ited£900. 
 purposes ; 
 ral Hospi- 
 
 0, and the 
 llings, and 
 
 Montreal. 
 )00,£1500 
 Quebec and 
 
 ' miscella- 
 g, and pub- 
 
 1, of which 
 ar 1842 the 
 
 acts, and 
 
 The statement of income and expenditure here presented, 
 though sufficient for general purposes, does not, it may be men- 
 tioned, in several respects, show a fair account of ordinary ex- 
 penses and revenue, owing chiefly to the then still unsettled 
 state of affairs, arising from the arrai gement of the union of 
 the provinces. The estimates of expenditure and revenue for 
 1842, calculated in September that year, presented £332,800 
 currency, or £299,620 sterling, as the probable expenditure, 
 and £391,661 currency, or £352,494, as the probable revenue 
 of Canada, The expenditure included nearly £12,000 as ex- 
 penses of rural police and stipendiary magistrates in Lower 
 Canada for that year. 
 
 VIEWS OF THE PRESENT STATE AND 
 PROSPECTS OF CANADA. 
 
 Estimating in a general manner the present state of Ca- 
 nada, the view presented is very similar in many respects to 
 that which Scotland presented previous to the spread of those 
 improvements in agriculture and internal economy which fol- 
 lowed the union with England, and the establishment of the 
 Highland Society, and the National Board of Agriculture. 
 Conspicuous among the features of similarity are rude modes 
 of agriculture prevailing throughout the colony— defective in- 
 telligence, skill, enterprise, and command of capital among 
 the majority of farmers; the lesser and not unfrequently sub- 
 stantial comforts and conveniences in the construction and care 
 of dwelling-houses and out^houses generally neglected ; social 
 intercourse and communication with markets greatly inter- 
 rupted by the want of proper roads and bridges ; and there are 
 the train of other drawbacks which may be imagined naturally 
 to follow such a state of things, more especially in a country 
 as yet thinly populated, and burdened with high rates of labour 
 and low prices of produce. This general view, however, it is 
 ^'easing to remark, has been during late years gradually uu- 
 
 I 
 
 m 
 

 lis 
 mi 
 
 236 
 
 IMPROVING PROSPKt'TS OV THE COLONt. 
 
 
 
 dergoing a change to the better. Influences similar to those 
 which wrought improvement in Scotland are now begun to 
 exert themselves in the colony. Among these are improved 
 intercourse with the intelligence and enterprise of the mother- 
 country, the greater diflfusion of general and professional read- 
 ing resulting from this, the establishment of agricultural asso- 
 ciations, the improvements of roads and canals, and the recent fa- 
 cilities afforded to commerce ; and not least, the friendly spirit 
 manifested towards the colony by the home-country in the ex- 
 pressed desire of those at the head of affairs, to cultivate more 
 closely the bond of connection, by extending to the colonists 
 as large a share of advantai^es as is possible, and naturally 
 right to be possessed by brother inhabitants of the same em- 
 pire — separated only from the great centre by space, and for the 
 common welfare. 
 
 The growing interest shot^rn throughout the mother-country 
 towards its most important and rapidly rising colony — as is 
 proved by the amount of emigration annually flowing to it, and 
 the consequent ties of friendship thereby arising further to ex- 
 tend the interest — would perhaps warrant, even were there 
 no other considerations, some matters of detail affecting the 
 prospects of Canada being glanced at in such a manner as 
 might possibly tend in some measure., however indirectly, to 
 accelerate its progress, or deepen the interest in its prosperity and 
 ultimate destiny. Here, at present, however, as part of this 
 brief chapter, and as followingup the preceding imperfect notices 
 respecting the state of afl'airs of the colony, little more than 
 mere allusion will be made to a few of the more prominent con- 
 siderations afl'ecting its condition and prospects. 
 
 First, in regard to the management of its affairs : it appears 
 to be of chief importance to the comparatively young colony 
 that the strictest economy in expenditure should be observed. 
 This desire to economise, it is gratifying to know, was gene- 
 rally expressed in the proceedings of the Colonial Legislature 
 during the session of 1843 ; and, from all appearances, itis most 
 likely that arrangements will be effected for reducing the 
 
IMPROVEMENT OK ROADS. 
 
 237 
 
 o those 
 :gun to 
 iproved 
 mother- 
 al read- 
 al asso- 
 ecent fe- 
 ly spirit 
 the ex- 
 ite more 
 colonists 
 aaturally 
 lame em- 
 idfor the 
 
 r-oountry 
 ly — as is 
 to it, and 
 her to ex- 
 rere there 
 eeting the 
 nanner as 
 lirectly, to 
 jperityand 
 art of this 
 ect notices 
 more than 
 ainent con- 
 
 : it appears 
 mng colony 
 le observed. 
 , was gene- 
 Legislature 
 38, it is most 
 2ducing the 
 
 amount of the heavy civil list of the colony. Next in import- 
 ance appears to be a steady attention being observed towards 
 judiciously and economically developing the resources of the 
 country, which, since the great canals are now all but com- 
 pleted, would seem to be best accomplished, for some time to 
 come at least, by means of affording good roads. At present 
 large portions of inland territory, comprising the most fertile 
 land of the colony, are in a great measure locked out from 
 markets by the worst description of roads. Here, also, as in the 
 matter of public expenditure, gratifying signs of the future pre- 
 sent themselves. The establishment of the Board of Works, 
 and the comparative success of plank roads, and not least, the 
 degree of attention and lively interest which the present Go- 
 vernor-General bestows on the subject, are all alike prominent 
 and hopeful evidences of something being done in a matter so 
 vitally important to the general prosperity, as are the means of 
 communication through the productive districts of a country. 
 The St Lawrence and other canals have been constructed at 
 great expense, and unless the equally important tributaries of 
 good roads be supplied throughout the country, these grand 
 courses of navigation cannot at all be expected to yield the 
 benefits for which they were designed. 
 
 Scarcely secondary to good roads seems to be the necessity 
 for active and systematic efiforts being made to improve th^ 
 agriculture of the country. In a country so mainly dependent 
 upon agriculture as Canada is, it must be allowed to be a great 
 drawback that there are no means for its population obtaining 
 any sort of agricultural instruction. No finer field, one might 
 suppose, could be presented to the statesman of enlarged mind 
 and philanthropic desires than the one wherein he could, by 
 the exercise of judgment and energy, plan and put into ope- 
 ration a course of means whereby the productive resources of 
 an important colony might be at least doubled, and it made 
 besides more than doubly inviting to the much wanted and 
 superabundant population and capital of the mother-country. 
 Among the most prominent means for so desirable an end 
 
 
238 
 
 IMPROVKMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
 
 ' ■? ■ 
 
 it • t I 
 
 
 m^' 
 
 V 
 
 ] b 
 
 ■ ; 
 
 i ■' 
 
 :1m_ 
 
 ri 
 
 
 1 
 
 -■■--.,.=.1 . 
 
 1 
 
 ■ ,) ^''t ; 
 
 % 
 
 
 ■ r.i A 
 
 
 |i 
 
 r^&^'!i i 
 
 *!' 
 
 ':-,'{■ ::-i 
 
 11 
 
 
 W 
 
 lHyi 
 
 L 
 
 '^H'l 
 
 would seem to be — beginning at the foundation — causing in- 
 struction iu the science and art of agriculture to form a branch 
 of education in the common Rchools, the district or higlier 
 Bchools, and in tlie colleges. Model and experimental farms 
 might be established, say in each district or county, where 
 first lessons and principles being fully carried out into the best 
 modes of practice, under proper directors such establishments 
 would be constantly furnishing the country with a supply of 
 skilled agriculturists ; and, besides the consideration of ad- 
 vancing the intelligence and standing of the agricultural body 
 generally, these pupils, either upon their own or the farms of 
 their parents, would be the means of diffusing more or less 
 widely, practically beneficial results throughout their respective 
 neighbourhoods or spheres of influence. Periodical reports by 
 the directors of these model tablishments, setting forth the 
 modes of practice adopted, anu che results obtained, would like- 
 wise materially further the desired objects, not only in a direct 
 manner to the colony, but by circulating in Britain information 
 of the description which these reports might contain, would, 
 by proving what can be accomplished in Canada, be serving 
 the interests of colony and mother-country, in a manner per- 
 haps the most efficient, as being the most practical that could 
 be designed. Such establishments might also further be made 
 to serve the purpose of Normal Schools for the instruction of 
 teachers. 
 
 Agricultural societies and farmers* clubs form already part 
 of the means of agricultural improvement in Canada; and it is 
 gratifying to observe that such associations have made consi- 
 derable progress, more especially within the last four or five 
 years. A general and central association for the whole pro- 
 vince, upon the model of the Highland Society of Scotland or 
 Royal Agricultural Society of England, would appear to be 
 alone wanting to complete this branch of the course of means. 
 Attention having been directed to this want through the me- 
 dium of the intelligent agricultural writings, which, although 
 recently supplied within the colony, have already been of so much 
 
' 
 
 POLITICAL AFFAIRS. 
 
 239 
 
 iig in- 
 
 )ranch 
 
 higher 
 
 farms 
 
 where 
 
 le best 
 
 ihments 
 
 pply of 
 
 of ad- 
 
 al body 
 
 arms of 
 
 or less 
 
 spective 
 
 ports by 
 
 orth the 
 
 uld like- 
 
 a direct 
 
 >rmation 
 
 1, would, 
 
 ! serving 
 
 kner per- 
 
 lat could 
 
 be made 
 
 action of 
 
 ady part 
 and it is 
 ,de consi- 
 r or five 
 liole pro- 
 jtland or 
 3ar to be 
 )f means. 
 I the me- 
 although 
 if so much 
 
 benefit in other respects — it may warrantably be expected, tak- 
 ing into account the growing spirit of inquiry aud enterprise, 
 that this material part of the means at least will not long be 
 wanting. The recent reduction of duties upon the importation 
 into Britain of the chief articles of colonial produce, hnH, as 
 might naturally be supposed, greatly stimulated the desires of 
 the colony for agricultural advancement. And the colonists 
 have already gained much upon which to rest, as encourage- 
 ment and hopeful promise, for continued exertions. Canada of 
 even ten years ago is in many material respects a very different 
 country from Canada as it now is — so much has the tide of 
 British emigration, rapid growth, and other circumstances, 
 tended to make it more home-like, more particularly in the 
 social aspects of its towns and older settlements, and, in 
 many gratifying instances, in the improved modes and spirit 
 introduced in agricultural management. 
 
 The uneasy aspect which from time to time the colony as- 
 sumes in political matters, may be considered to be not among 
 the least of the drawbacks to its prosperity. The cause of this 
 may perhaps, in a great measure, be traced to the imperfect 
 knowledge possessed by Britain of the actual state, interests, 
 and wants of her colonies, and a proportionate defect of sympathy 
 and understanding, resulting frequently in the jarring of colo- 
 nial with imperial courses of action, are the consequences. The 
 want of more comprehensive and detailed information concern- 
 ing our colonies is one severely experienced by both colony and 
 mother-country, and operates in most important respects to 
 their common disadvantage. The frequeni change of governors, 
 and, in instances, the unsuitableness of appointments, have 
 been chief sources of the political troubles of Canada. Within 
 the eighty years which have passed, since the colony came un- 
 der British government, there have been above thirty governors, 
 being, on an average, not three years to each — a period barely 
 sufficient for the individual, however well endowed, to qualify 
 himself properly, in order to discharge safely — with honour to 
 
1 
 
 iBk 1 
 
 ! 
 
 1 ■ ■■ 
 
 i 
 
 ;'V ■ 
 
 1 
 
 "11 
 
 } 
 
 ^ 
 ] 
 
 '"^PT 
 
 > 
 
 »' 
 
 
 
 ! .1 
 
 2. ii- • '^ 
 
 
 
 
 •1 s. 
 
 I 
 
 240 
 
 PLAN OF COLONIAL REPRESENTATION. 
 
 himself, and with advantage to colony and empire — the import- 
 ant f\inctions with which he is intrusted. The increase of 
 duties, and consequent responsibilities, which have fallen upon 
 the Colonial-Office, with the growth, in number and importance, 
 of our colonics during these past years, would seem to form 
 another chief hindrance to Britain satisfactorily cultivating 
 colonial connection. It would, perhaps, be well, for the pur- 
 pose of relieving the colonial Minister of some share of respon- 
 sibility, as also to secure other important objects — that the 
 colonies, or a particular class of them, should be called upon 
 to send each a limited number of representatives or commis- 
 sioners to Britain, who, as well to the Government as to the 
 people of Britain, would be found greatly serviceable as re- 
 sponsible authorities in communicating information, and by 
 thus serving most important common objects, such a measure 
 appears further to recommend itself by its being calculated to 
 cement closer the bonds of relationship between colony and 
 empire. 
 
 The better to secure such objects, these colonial representa- 
 tives might be allowed seats in the Imperial Parliament. It 
 would be difficult for misgovemment, or any serious misunder- 
 standing, or conflict between colonial and imperial interests, to 
 exist for any very inconvenient time under such an arrange- 
 ment — not to speak of the other advantages which might be 
 dwelt upon, as most likely to be among the results. 
 
 Among lesser measures for the common benefit of the colony 
 and the home-country, the management of the Post-Office de- 
 partment, as respects the regulations and charges for the con- 
 veyance of correspondence, is one universally allowed to be of 
 great importance. The improvement introduced within these 
 last five years of conveying the North American mails by means 
 of steam-packets, attended by the reduction of rates, and other 
 facilities, has, it is believed, been of marked benefit to Canada. 
 The increased correspondence between the colony and Britain 
 has very materially furthered emigration. The annual report 
 of the Government Emigrant Agent at Quebec for 1843, re- 
 
COLONIAL POST-Ol'FKK DKPARTMENT. 
 
 241 
 
 
 iiport- 
 
 ase of 
 
 upon 
 
 Irtance, 
 
 form 
 
 ivating 
 
 e pur- 
 
 [respon- 
 
 at the 
 
 d upon 
 
 sommis- 
 
 to the 
 
 as re- 
 
 and by 
 
 measure 
 
 Llatcd to 
 
 my and 
 
 )resenta< 
 lent. It 
 lisunder- 
 srests, to 
 airange- 
 uight be 
 
 le colony 
 )fficede- 
 the con- 
 . to be of 
 lin these 
 ^y means 
 ,nd other 
 Canada. 
 I Britain 
 al report 
 [843, re- 
 
 cordt* as a remarkable fact of the emigration of that yonr, that 
 of the number of 21,727 emigrants, wlio arrived at (iueboc from 
 Britain , no fewer tlian three-fourths came out to tlieir relations.* 
 This large proportion, in the greater number of cases, it may 
 be presumed, received invitations, with information and advice 
 from their friends through tiio medium of the Post-Office — a 
 fact fruitful of suggestions in otlier respects, bearing on the im- 
 portant subject of emigration. What I would desire to sug- 
 gest at present is, that the rates of postage upon letters between 
 Canada and Britain undergo further modification. From the 
 success of the experiment of cheap postage in Britain, the sup- 
 position may be hazarded that the present rate of Is. 2d. ster<i 
 ling upon letters to or from Canada, under half an ounce, might 
 be reduced oue-half at least, or say to Gd. sterling for every 
 letter within the weight of a Eingle rate. An extension of the 
 advantages of cheap postage to the colonies in every case at all 
 practicable, would, it is believed, be attended with gratifying 
 results. The present mail steam-packets to North America 
 appear to be conducted upon a style of expenditure not war- 
 ranted either for insuring necessary safety or comfort, and cal- 
 culated to prevent the full extension of advantages which 
 might naturally be expected to result from so promising an un- 
 dertaking. 
 
 A great reduction of the present oppressively high rates of 
 internal postage in all the North American colonies seems im- 
 peratively called for, as the rates now imposed (44d. currency 
 for the shortest distance, of two or three miles, up to 3s. for 
 single letters) may be conceived to act to an injurious degree 
 against the interests of the colonies, especially in those vitally 
 important matters, which so especially concern them, connected 
 with the sale and transfer of lands — not to speak of the restric- 
 tions imposed upon commercial pursuits, general business, and 
 friendly intercourse. It were perhaps better, in order to promote 
 business and friendly intercourse by cheap postage rates, that the 
 
 ♦ Report of Colonial Land and Emigration Commissioners. May 1844. 
 
1 
 
 
 r 
 
 m 
 
 u 
 
 
 1 
 
 ■ ' '■• 
 
 ) 
 
 ..■ •' .■- 
 
 
 ./ 
 
 I I. 
 
 < 
 
 if !r 
 
 
 242 
 
 SOCIAL STATE. 
 
 expense of conveying intelligence and other exchanges be borne 
 in other forms, should the system of low rates not support it- 
 self, as it cannot always do in an extensive and thinly-peopled 
 country. 
 
 Among other and lesser means suggested by the present condi- 
 tion of Canada as seemingly calculated to assist its progress, may 
 be mentioned Savings Banks. Only tAvo or three, it is believed, 
 exist in the large towns, such as Montreal, Quebec, and To- 
 ronto — in the former of which, such has been the success of 
 those institutions, the amount of deposits up to the present year 
 was officially announced to be very nearly £90,000. 
 
 The want of parks and walks for the necessary health and 
 recreation of the population of towns, considering the preeent 
 ]ow price of land, is, without doubt, a great overlook in laying 
 out and forming towns in Canada, and will come to be severely 
 felt, with the increase of population, and consequent increase 
 in the price of land, and difficulty of obtaining it at all. 
 
 To other matters, such as in the proper construction of pri- 
 sons, and providing them with airing grounds, the attention of 
 the colonists might be usefully directed.* Crowded and in- 
 convenient burying grounds, in the very heart almost of towns, 
 are among other eye-sores to intelligent observers, which can- 
 not be too speedily remedied. Large public cemeteries, orna- 
 mented with walks and shrubbery, and situated at some dis- 
 tance, not too inconvenient, from the towns, would be an 
 advantage easily obtained, while land is now so moderate in 
 price, and easily procured for such purpose. 
 
 With regard to the social state of Canada, the increasing 
 stream of emigration, and other influences, have caused Canada 
 to be so improved in this respect, that the old descriptions con- 
 
 * The public Jail of the rity of Quebec presented , tlunnga visit the writer 
 paid to it in the siuTimerofl843,evidences of bad ventilation, limited accom- 
 modation, and even filth, combinedto a painful de^^ree. The Jail of a townii 
 in Upper Canada not haviniEf the smallest ai)])earance of a court-yard for 
 the prisoners to take air or exercise, tlie ques-'ion wa» put how proper 
 health couid be maintained for want of such, when the answer was com- 
 placently returned that the roof of the building served for this puriJOse — 
 this, in a country where thousands of acres of waste land may he had at 
 rates almost nominal ! 
 
 :* fi- 
 
^ 
 
 STATE OF RKLTGIOV. 
 
 243 
 
 borne 
 
 lort it- 
 
 jopled 
 
 condi- 
 
 3S, may 
 
 jlieved, 
 
 Ind To- 
 
 ;cess of 
 
 ;nt year 
 
 1th and 
 present 
 1 laying 
 severely 
 increase 
 L 
 
 n of pri- 
 eution of 
 and in- 
 [)f towns, 
 lich can- 
 BS, orna- 
 ome dis- 
 d be an 
 derate in 
 
 1 creasing 
 d Canada 
 ions con- 
 
 : the writer 
 t^d accom- 
 1 of a towii 
 irt^yard for 
 low proper 
 r was com- 
 puHJOse — 
 - he had at 
 
 taiued in publications received in BritPin as authorities, appear 
 more like malevolent libels upon the colony than any thing 
 else. Persons emigrating to Canada may find unpleasant parts 
 of the country very destitute of social advantages ; but, on the 
 other hand, they will experience no difficulty in settling them- 
 selves in neighbourhoods as agreeable, and possessing social 
 attractions in as full a degree, perhaps, as most provincial parts 
 of Scotland. 
 
 Remarks nearly similar, though not of so general appli- 
 cation, apply to the means of religious worship ; notwith- 
 standing, that various religious bodies represent the case as 
 alarmingly different. Ir, an extensive and thinly-peopled 
 country such as Canada is, and the inhabitants divided into a 
 great variety of different sects, it cannot, of course, be expected 
 that over every part of it the same pri '^eges can be enjoyed 
 as in England or Scotland. But, with the exception of the 
 very thinly-peopled parts of the colony, there are not the 
 wants experienced which many in this country are led to sup- 
 pose ; and when these wants exist, it would seem to result 
 more from the apathy of the colonists themselves in not coming 
 forward with the same hearty zeal to the support of religious 
 ordinances, which is shown in England or Scotland. Colonies, 
 however favourable tliey may be to the inhabitants maintaining 
 themselves in comfort, or acquiring wealth, appear rather to 
 be prejudicial th c otherwise to the interests of religion. Co- 
 lonists do not experience the same restraints which in old and 
 compact communities are found to exercise so powerful an influ- 
 ence in causing individuals to wear professions at least, and as 
 a means to other than the professed ends. One is most forcibly 
 struck with such views in surveying the state of religion in ncAv 
 settlements of colonies especially. Individuals who have never 
 felt the power of genuine religion finding themselves removed 
 from a state of society, which influenced them so far as to cause 
 them to pay outward observance to its forms and interests, and 
 thrown into a somewhat disjointed and scattered population, 
 composed of stranger people of various countries and sects, 
 
244 
 
 CONDITION OF CHURCHES. 
 
 who exercise upon tliera no such influence — do usually becorao 
 indifferent, more or less, to religious interests, and this indif- 
 ference constantly reacting, a state of torpor rather predomi- 
 nates, and genuine attachment to Christianity may thus readily 
 be conceived to be the exception. In new and rising villages, 
 it is more difficult to distinguish the points of difference, and 
 in the towns the shades have again further blended, and the 
 influences of home in the older countries are more felt. 
 
 This is rather a disheartening and gloomy view, but it has 
 forced itself on the observation of many as the most truthful 
 one. And it goes in a great measure ta explain why so much 
 missionary aid is required for colonists who possess so substan- 
 tially the means of worldly comforts. N^ doubt in quite new 
 settlements, having a scattered population, this aid is essen- 
 tially necessary, and the want of it is frequently severely ex- 
 perienced ; but the cases are more frequent, I would say, 
 throughout Canada, where a healthy state of religious feeling 
 among certain bodies is more wanted than the necessary 
 worldly means to support Gospel ordinances. One ^reat evil 
 which is observable in al) the churches of Canada, and mostly, 
 I feel in truth constrained to observe, in the Church of Scot- 
 land as it existed — has been that men of indifferent abilities 
 have usuaiJy fallen to the lot of the colonists. This is, with- 
 out question, the effect of the natural principle (from the in- 
 fluence of wliich not even ministers of the Gospel are ex- 
 empted), tli8.t the lower the rate of worldly encouragement the 
 more indifferent the description of ability presents itself in the 
 field which calls for occupation. This state of matters has 
 been greatly aggravated by reason of the imperfect knowledge 
 possessed at home of the actual condition of our colonies. We 
 have greatly ern-d in estimatuig them as so outlandish and 
 uncomfortable abodes as we have done ; at least, the case is 
 80 with respect to Cannda ; and the consequence has been that, 
 where it was of matei Inl importance the labourers should be 
 powerful and skilful, the field has been all too much occupied 
 in a manner most unfortunately calculated to aggravate evils. 
 
1 
 
 CONCLL'blNG OBSiillVATlONS. 
 
 24 J 
 
 >ecomd 
 s indif- 
 redomi- 
 readily 
 Ullages, 
 ce, and 
 and the 
 
 it has 
 truthful 
 so much 
 substan- 
 uite new 
 is essen- 
 erely ex- 
 luld say, 
 IS feeling 
 necessary 
 great evil 
 id mostly, 
 of Scot- 
 t abilities 
 3 is, with- 
 m the in- 
 1 are ex- 
 ement the 
 self in the 
 itters has 
 mowledge 
 nies. We 
 ndish and 
 he case is 
 been that, 
 should be 
 li occupied 
 Lvate evils. 
 
 With the gi-eater diffusion of accurate information respecting 
 Canada, and vv^ith the increase of emigration, we may expect 
 its prospects in this as in other respects materially to brighten. 
 Though such be a general view of the state of churches over 
 the wide stretch of the imperfectly occupied colony, it must 
 not be overlooked that there are numbers of compact settle- 
 ments and prosperous towns presenting a very different pic- 
 ture. There are there settled, in many instances, highly ta- 
 lented and zealous Christian ministers, blessed in flourishing 
 and exemplary congregations. And by choosing such localities 
 the emigrant from home will not experience the drawback he 
 might suppose from want of religious ordinances. 
 
 Regarding the present state and prospects of education, the 
 reader is referred to the statement and views contained in the 
 Fourth Letter. 
 
 In now closing these general views of the condition and 
 prospects of this important and rising colony, I would do so 
 with this further remark, suggested by attentive observa- 
 tion, and some degree of personal acquaintance with the 
 wonts, desires, and feelings of the colonists — that Great Bri- 
 tain, in order to perpetuate, for a very lengthened period at 
 least, an honourable, and, all things properly considered, de- 
 sirable connection on both sides, she need only continue to 
 evince still further and closer attention to the interests of the 
 colony — not timorously stinting the colonists in the exercise of 
 political privileges, which cannot affect the bond of connection 
 — extending every practicable facility to their commerce and 
 general intercourse with us at home — doing all that is possible 
 to disseminate con*f><>t information regarding the colony, and 
 thus encourage, by means the most natural and safe, the most 
 so'-.nd and healthy emigration : By such attentions the already 
 undoubted loyalty and affection of the colonists will be still 
 further strengthened ; the colony may be expected to grow up in 
 vigour, with honour and ;jdvantage to the empire, thus extimd- 
 jiig and displaying to tl;e world tlie blessings of her institu- 
 tions, and receiving the affections aud perfect alliance of a people 
 
Ki 
 
 1^ 
 
 ml' 
 
 f^;v. 
 
 r ai V V 
 
 
 1 rej ; :i 
 
 
 1 iff . i 
 
 
 
 , 1 
 
 24G 
 
 VIEWS ON EMIGRATION. 
 
 }t ':: 
 
 
 destined to become, at no very distant time, powerful and in- 
 jduential. 
 
 VIEWS ON EMIGRATION. 
 
 Upon no subject of equal importance, and upon which so 
 much has been written, have views less practical, perhaps, been 
 brought to bear than upon this undoubtedly very important and 
 apparently little understood one of emigration. 
 
 All that is intended to be ooserved here will be the most 
 practical considerations (to the best of the writer's judgment), 
 and which have been suggested by closest and most practical in- 
 quiries and observations during a residence in tlie colony to 
 which the remarks particularly apply. I would first observe, 
 as a fundamental principle, that colonies appear to be as much, 
 and of necessity, governed by the laws of demand and supply iu 
 regard to the amounts of the various descriptions of popula- 
 tion required, as are individuals, companies, or communities in 
 their ordinary transactions ; and any departure from those 
 laws inflict injury as much in the one case as in the otlier. 
 Grand schemes of emigration, conducted in the present state of 
 our information with regard to our colonies, it is believed, 
 would most probably present similar disheartening results, 
 which grand schemes of otner shipments would, which had not 
 been ' ordered,' or had been sent without full acquaintance with 
 the particular necessities or demands of the country. Tl'c 
 paupers ' shovelled' out from England, and thrown under the 
 rock of Quebec in ignorance or disregard of the wants of the 
 colony, or fitness of the individuals to be proper colonists ; the 
 hand-loom weavers of the west of Scotland, unfitted, the n;.i,- 
 jority of them, to supply the wants of Canada, yet flocking out 
 in ship-loads to Quebec, and forwarded to the upper country 
 at Government expense — in many instances only to experience 
 disappointment, and to be obliged to swell the public factorie?* 
 
PLAN TO IMPROVE EMIGRATION. 
 
 247 
 
 lid iii- 
 
 ucli so 
 pB, been 
 ant and 
 
 he most 
 Igment), 
 stical in- 
 olony to 
 observe, 
 as much, 
 supply in 
 [" popula- 
 iinities in 
 om those 
 he other, 
 t state of 
 believed, 
 J results, 
 li had not 
 mce with 
 ;ry. Tl'O 
 jnder the 
 its of the 
 lists ; the 
 , the ni:t- 
 cking out 
 r country 
 xperience 
 : factories 
 
 of the neighbouring republic : These are cases illustrative of the 
 evils connected with even a very limited emigration, conducted 
 without regard to the principles of demand and supply ; and 
 whicli, if extended as proposed, so as to allow a freer commu- 
 nication with our colonies, would only aggravate evils. The 
 great error lies in supposing that the classes of persons who 
 are overabundant at home, and consequently least wanted, are 
 exactly those most needed by the colony. Broken-spirited pau- 
 pers, hand-loom weavers, and other persons unaccustomed, and 
 frequently quite unfit, lor the kinds of labour in demand by the 
 colony ; as also a description of Irish labourers, who either 
 cannot or will' not work, except upon canals, and who flock 
 out to the United States and to Canada, and are the cause of 
 serious disturbances on account of their large numbers — illus- 
 trate very distinctly that it is more the want of information 
 respecting the exact condition and demands of our colonies that 
 is experienced, than any extension of means to inundate the 
 colonies still more with unsuitable individuals. 
 
 Were authoritatve, accurate, and minutely exact information 
 extensively and periodically diffused among all classes at home 
 respecting our colonies, this simple plan, it is confidently be- 
 lieved, would, as applied to Canada ut least, answer all the 
 ends desirable in sound colonisation. Nothing is wanted so 
 much as this description of information, and, until this be sup- 
 plied — even should to-morrow see every war-ship placed at the 
 public disposal, in order to ' bridge' the Atlantic, by affording 
 free passages — it will be in vain that we expect a desirable 
 and prosperous emigration. With such information — which, 
 further to carry out the illustration of supply and demand, 
 would appear at home, in the market of supply, much in the 
 light of a particular order or demand from the colony for cer- 
 tain amounts and descriptions of population— we might liope to 
 see the present annual amount of emigration at least doubled, 
 and the individuals composing it more suitable to the exact 
 wants of the colony. And without fiuch attention to meet the 
 exact nature of a colony's dcnuiuds, colonisation can uovev be 
 

 t'' V' 
 
 ^ HI ; 
 
 ':■■■ ^ 
 
 
 
 4 V 
 
 5'^^ 'r 
 
 248 
 
 SUGGESTIONS OF DETAIL. 
 
 expected to yield the full advantages it is calculated to do 
 either to individuals or the colonies. 
 
 The manner in which valuable information could be collected 
 in Canada for use at home, might be suggested to be partly 
 through the means of the present arrangements for taking the 
 annual census, and partly through the means of new arrange- 
 ments to be provided by the several districts. Accurate descrip- 
 tions of the districts mightbe drawn up, somewhat in the manner 
 of the statistical account of Scotland drawn up by the parish 
 clergy, but more detailed in several respects, so as to present, for 
 instance, the numbers of persons employed in agriculture, the 
 various trades, with the rates of remuneration — the probable 
 demand, and general encouragement, or otherwise, for parti- 
 cular descriptions of persons — in short, such information as the 
 various classes of persons would themselves direct their atten- 
 tion to, were they to proceed to the spot for such a purpose. 
 Each district account might be accompanied with a map, which 
 would be all the more useful were it to present the varieties of 
 soils, the lands occupied and unoccupied, cultivated and unculti 
 vated — and those for sale, whether Crown, company, or private 
 lands, with references as to price and terms. Accounts, with il- 
 lustrative maps, such as these of every district might be made, 
 with annual corrections or supplementary reports, circulated 
 extensively throughout England, Scotland, and Ireland — would 
 very greatly promote the interests of the colony, and meet what 
 is so much wanted in Britain, in order to guide the numbers of 
 persons whose circumstances would be improved by emigration, 
 but who, because of the deficiency and uncertainty of informa- 
 tion, will not run any hazard of failure, so long as there is hope 
 at all left of their making shift in their present circumstances. 
 Those accounts or reports might be made more uniform, and 
 more generally useful, were they to be collected and compiled 
 under the direction of a Board of Emigration to be established 
 in the colony, of which the chief Government Emigrant Agents 
 would be membf ra, and the president, perhaps, a member of 
 the Colonial Executive. This Board could have powers to re- 
 
 ." 
 
1)11' FUSION OF INFORMATION IN BRITAIN. 
 
 240 
 
 to do 
 
 oUected 
 |e partly 
 :ing the 
 rrange- 
 descrip- 
 manner 
 e parish 
 sent, for 
 ture, the 
 probable 
 ■or parti- 
 ion as the 
 eir atten- 
 , purpose, 
 ap, which 
 arieties of 
 d unculti- 
 or private 
 ;s, with il- 
 t be made, 
 circulated 
 id — would 
 meet what 
 mmbers of 
 migration, 
 f informa- 
 3re is hope 
 iimstances. 
 iform, and 
 i compiled 
 established 
 mt Agents 
 member of 
 wers to re- 
 
 vise, candense, and publish, and also to prepare a summary or 
 genera' report for the whole colony. A member of this Board, 
 or other individual well ac<iuainted with the colony, might be 
 established as Commissioner in Britain, for the purpose of 
 superintending the distribution of the information respecting 
 the colony, and also to correspond with and answer all neces- 
 sary inquiries of persons desirous of special information. Were 
 such commissioners of colonies not to supersede the present 
 Emigration Board of Commissioners established by the Impe- 
 rial Government, and stationed in London, they might perhaps 
 be usefully incorporated with this Board, and in conjunction 
 with them much more efRciently represent the interests of the 
 several colonies, and be enabled to diffuse information in a 
 more satisfactory manner than the present constituted Board 
 can be expected to do. The necessary expenses of collect- 
 ing and preparing information, and to meet the charge for 
 salaries of an Emigration Board in Canada, and a Commis- 
 sioner in Britain, might be i)rovided from a share of the pro- 
 ceeds of the recently imposed tax upon unoccupied and waste 
 lands. 
 
 Arrangements such as these, whereby authoritative, accu- 
 rate, and minutely detailed information respecting Canada 
 might be collected, and extensi\ oly circulated throughout Bri- 
 tain, appear to be calculated more successfully to promote the 
 increase of a sound and healthy emigration than any other 
 means which it would be safe or desirable at present for Go- 
 vernment to employ. 
 
 PREPARATIONS FOR THE VOYAGE. 
 Persons upon the point of embarking for Canada, and being 
 under the impression that the climate in winter is more severe 
 than it really is, and that clothing and other articles are both 
 higher in price, and more difficult to be had, than is the case 
 —frequently spend very unnecessarily a portion of their fandn, 
 
 R 
 
 /V 
 
260 
 
 CLOTHING, FURNITURE, AND TOOLS. 
 
 
 '], 
 
 I* ^t 
 
 ] v^ 
 
 i 
 
 
 and wliicli could with advantage be spared for other purposes 
 upon their arrival in the colony. I would advise persons to 
 take no greater supply of clothing than is desirable to have for 
 ordinary purposes. To meet exigencies, in case of rough wea- 
 ther during the voyage, the description of clothing required 
 for the top of a coach, or deck of a steamboat, in cold weather 
 in this country, will be found not only suitable, I would say, 
 for this purpose, but also suflBcient for the ordinary winter wea- 
 ther of Canada. Articles of furniture not required for the 
 voyage may likewise be dispensed with, as furniture of all 
 kinds is to be had easily in almost every part of Canada, and 
 at prices much lower than the same articles would cost pur- 
 chased in Britain, adding the freight, and risk of damage 
 likely to be sustained in transporting them. A box of tools ia 
 sometimes mentioned in publications containing advice to emi- 
 grants, as being advisable to be taken to Canada ; but this, 
 among other articles believed to be unnecessarily recommended, 
 the emigrant would better not trouble himself with, unless they 
 should be such as he requires for the purposes of his trade or 
 profession. And even in this case, he should be cautious how 
 far he encumbers himself, as every description of articles are to 
 be had in Canada at moderate prices, and frequently more 
 suitable for the country than those which may be selected at 
 home. Carpenters, joiners, shoemakers, and other mechanics, 
 ought always, if possible, to bring their most necessary tools 
 with them, as they may miss an opportunity of being employed 
 upon their aiTival for want of them. Ploughs, and other agri- 
 cultural implements, are to be had in Canada, of a good de- 
 scription, and at reasonable prices. [For prices of clothing, 
 furniture, and agricultural implements, see pages 33 and 1G3.] 
 In short, respecting what should or should not be taken by the 
 emigrant bound for Canada, the advice of one who has had 
 some experience in crossing the Atlantic would be, that every 
 thing which is likely to encumber, and not required for the 
 journey, should be left behind. The cabin passenger, besides 
 his two or three trunks containing a good ordinary supply of 
 
 ififeii 
 
ARRANGEMENTS PROVIDED BY VESSELS. 
 
 2:)i 
 
 rposes 
 ions to 
 ave for 
 ;li wea- 
 [equired 
 eather 
 ,1(1 say, 
 ;er wea- 
 for the 
 e of all 
 da, and 
 ost pur- 
 damage 
 tools in 
 to emi- 
 but this, 
 iinended, 
 less they 
 trade or 
 ious how 
 les are to 
 itly more 
 lected at 
 echanics, 
 ary tools 
 nnployqd 
 lier agri-. 
 good de- 
 clothing. 
 Old 1G3.] 
 en by the 
 has had 
 lat every 
 I for the 
 •, besides 
 supply of 
 
 wearing apparel, a few books, and writing materials, need have 
 little else, except it be that he wishes to have a few trifles, 
 which his friends or himself may suggest, to make the voyage 
 perhaps a little more agreeable, independent of the ship's 
 stores. Medicine is provided by the ship — every captain of a 
 ship being required by law to provide a medicine chest, with a 
 book of directions for prescribing and administering, which he 
 is to do without charge to his passengers whenever required. 
 
 Steerage passengers usually have to provide themselves with 
 bedding, provisions, and cooking utensils, with such articles 
 as are necessary for serving up their meals ; fuel, witli a stove 
 or grate for cooking, and water to the amount of at least 
 three quarts a day to each individual, and also seven pounds 
 of bread stuffs per week, half of which to be bread or biscuit, 
 and half may be potatoes, at the rate of five pounds to one 
 pound of bread stuffs, are required to be provided by the ves- 
 sel to each passenger, according to the enactment of the Pas- 
 sengers' Act, under a severe penalty ; for the enforcement of 
 which, and other clauses in the same act, complaints are to be 
 made to any of the Government Emigrant Agents, or Officers 
 of Customs. 
 
 The average length of passage to Quebec was computed in 
 1841 and 1842, from passages by 616 vessels with emigrants, 
 to be 45 days the one year, and 46 the other. The shortest 
 passage was 24 days, the longest 78 days. The Passengers' 
 Act requires the length of voyage to be computed at 10 weeks 
 or 70 days. Persons who provide their own provisions would 
 therefore do well, I would say, to lay in a stock to meet, as 
 nearly as may be, the period computed by Government. It 
 will save them all uneasiness of mind upon a material point, 
 and may prevent much suffering, which otherwise might be oc- 
 casioned by a long voyage ; and the supplies left over by a 
 shorter voyage, may, upon the vessel's arrival, and after reserv- 
 ing a little for the rest of the journey, be disposed of one way or 
 other, without much loss. A deal chest, with lock and key, is 
 perhaps the best for holding the greater part of the provisions. A 
 
232 
 
 KINDS OF PROVISIONS FOR THE VOYAGE. 
 
 ll^Mh' 
 
 ^rf- 
 
 good conditioned barrel witli padlock, rather than a sack, Ih 
 found to be best for prenerviug potatocH. The kindH of proviwions 
 usually taken are biscuit, hard baked loaves, hams or bacon, 
 clieese, salt butter ; eggs, preserved by being well greased to 
 exclude the air, and i)acked with bran, saw-dust, or such like ; 
 milk, preserved by being carefully boiled with loaf-sugar, and 
 sealed in small jars or bottles ; and tea, coffee, sugar, oatmeal, 
 herrings, with mustard, pepper, vinegar, and salt. In calcu- 
 lating the provisions to be taken, the amount of bread stuffs to 
 be provided by the vessel will, of course, be taken into account. 
 A few other things, which the taste or circumstances of the 
 party may suggest, will much promote comfort during the vo- 
 yage. Among such may be mentioned split peas for soup, 
 flour, suet, and a small quantity of raisins and currants for a 
 pudding now and then ; a few lemons and oranges, a little 
 gingerbread, and such trifles, are always found to be wonder- 
 fully agreeable in relieving and cheering the time upon occa- 
 sions during an ocean voyage. Immediately before sailing, a 
 little fresh meat, say a leg of mutton or so, with vegetables and 
 barley, will be found, in most instances, during the first few 
 (lays out at sea, very serviceable and agreeable. 
 
 It may be unusual in writers dropping such hii ts as these 
 are designed to be for intending voyagers, to recommend books ; 
 but I would only observe, that, if in the bustle of preparation, 
 such pleasant companions be overlooked, in most cases their 
 absence will be much felt. Besides special books, works of a 
 miscellaneous varied character, such as Chambers's Journal, 
 and Information for the People, the Penny and Saturday Ma- 
 gazines, or even a few odd numbers of Punch, the Pictorial 
 Times, the Illustrated London News, or, it may be, one or two 
 old newspapers, will be generally experienced to be very ac- 
 ceptable antidotes to the ennui usually attending a voyage- 
 across the Atlantic. 
 
 Many females entertain serious fears concerning the naturo 
 and incidents of a lengthened voyage ; but J would say, from 
 personal experience and observation, that, with the exception 
 
ick, in 
 [viHiouH 
 
 bacon, 
 lased to 
 111 like ; 
 iir, and 
 
 atmeal, 
 [i calcu- 
 
 iHtuffH to 
 
 iccoiint. 
 
 y of the 
 
 I the vo- 
 
 or soup, 
 
 tits for a 
 
 a little 
 
 wouder- 
 
 )on occa- 
 
 sailing, a 
 
 ables and 
 
 firbt few 
 
 as these 
 id books ; 
 sparation, 
 •ises their 
 orks of a 
 
 Journal, 
 rday Ma- 
 Pictorial 
 ne or two 
 ) very ac- 
 a voyage- 
 he nature 
 =5ay, from 
 exception 
 
 PKKIni) von H\\H*Ui SrVUK FINDS. 
 
 25 U 
 
 of the first few dayn, vvhi«^h may be attended less or more >vitli 
 some unpleawant sensations of part or complete Hea-sickness — 
 those fears usually turn out rather agreeably to have very little 
 real foundation. 
 
 The period recommended for sailing to Canada is that dur- 
 ing which the early spring slilps depart ; the greatest number 
 of vessels usually commence the voyage from the 1st to the 
 l.^jtli of April, and the next greatest number during the latter 
 part of that month. The first vessels from sea generally ar- 
 rive at Montreal about the middle of May. 
 
 With regard to the spare funds, which the intending travel- 
 ler may have available to take with him to Canada, it would 
 be advisable for him to lodge such in mnm safe bank at horiio 
 before he leaves ; and when he arrives in Canada, he can draw 
 for this money as he require> it. This plan combines both 
 safety and convenience, besides some little gain resulting from 
 the difference of exchange, which is always against the colony, 
 and in favour of Britain. 
 
 Persons desirous of obtaining information upon particular 
 points previous to embarking for Canada, are invited to com- 
 municate with the Colonial Lan<l and Emigration Commis- 
 .sioners, ioncd at London for the superintendence of emi- 
 gration, 'I diffusion of information respecting the colonies, 
 and whose roceedii ,,'8 are directed by instructions from the 
 Secretary of State for the Colonial Department. ' It is the 
 province of the ( i>mmissioner8, from time to time, to make 
 public any authentic information which they may receive on 
 matters connected with the ettlement of waste lands in the 
 colonies, and ali'ecting the interest of any description of per- 
 sons, who propose to settb' there. They likewise answer all 
 application ^^ from individuals, and afford them, so far as may 
 bo in their power, such information as may be adapted for their 
 particular cases. The office of the Commissioners is at No. .0 
 i ark Street, Westminster, and all comniunicatiops 'ould bo 
 addressed to the Secretary, Stei)hen Walcott, Es(j.' 
 
^, 
 
 '^.^ 
 
 IMAGE EVALUATION 
 TEST TARGET (MT-3) 
 
 ^>* 
 
 .V4fe 
 
 
 1.0 
 
 I.I 
 
 1.25 
 
 ■ 50 ^^" 
 
 Li 
 
 ■ 25 
 L£ 12.0 
 
 1.4 
 
 III 
 
 1.8 
 
 1.6 
 
 V] 
 
 vl 
 
 W 
 
 4W % -^ 
 
 
 '/ 
 
 Sdoices 
 Corporation 
 
 '^j'^y. 
 
 ''^:^'^ 
 
 33 WEST MAIN STREET 
 
 WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 
 
 (716) 872-4503 
 
* 
 
 
'i' !':■ ' 
 I- « ,\ ' 
 
 
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 . '■'■yf-,' ' 
 
 
 J V' 
 
 ■ \ 
 
 ; i 
 
 1 
 
 254 THE PASSAGES BY QUEBEC AND NEW YOUK, 
 
 CHOICE OF A VESSEL. 
 
 It will readily be allowed that it is of first importance t«> 
 the voyager to be enabled to select a good sea-worthy vessel, 
 well manned and equipped, and in the charge of a captain on 
 whom reliance can be placed as an experienced seaman, sober 
 in his habits, and of general good character and disposition. It 
 may not be an easy matter frequently to find all these requi- 
 sites combined ; but the want of any of them will be found to 
 diminish, in some degree, the comfort of the voyager, who during 
 several weeks has his home upon the waters. 
 
 The best vessels sailing, to America are believed to be those 
 from Liverpool, London, and the Clyde. Respecting the choice 
 of the New York or Quebec passage, this nvuch may be said, 
 that the latter is most advisable, when a good vessel is to be 
 had, for persons proceeding to Lower Canada, and to those pro- 
 ceeding to any part of Canada whose funds are limited, or who 
 desire to see as much of Canada as possible, and to obtain use- 
 ful information and advice upon landing from the Government 
 Emigrant Agents. The New York route, on the other hand, is 
 usually preferred by persons proceeding to Upper Canada in 
 more easy circumstances than the poorer class of emigrants, as 
 it is believed to be upon the whole most agreeable, the shortest, 
 and perhaps the safest, and offering greatest choice of first-class 
 vessels. It is attended with little, if any difference of expense, 
 to those choosing the most comfortable description, or even se- 
 cond-class accommodation ; but there is this drawback upon 
 landing at New York, that persons are more liable to be mis- 
 led by false information of designing individuals, and frequently 
 by downright impostors, than guided by the friendly informa- 
 tion afforded at Quebec gratuitously by Government. 
 
 Should the traveller bound for Cahada. make choice of the 
 New York route, the greatest choice of best vessels will be 
 found at Liverpool. United States vessels are experienced to 
 be good sailers, and generally very well managed. Strict dis- 
 
 *:r 
 
 
GOVERNMENT PROTECTION TO EMIGRANTS. 
 
 355 
 
 
 cipline is observed among the seamen by the captain and offi- 
 cers, and gener£:lly great sobriety. And all these are very ma- 
 terial points ; for it is believed to be established that most of 
 the disasters at sea are to be attributed, not so much to bad 
 vessels or pure accident, as to causes blameable in those hav- 
 ing the management. Among those causes are deficiency of 
 hands, carelessness in the duty of the seamen in not keeping a 
 proper outlook or vratch, especially in hazy or dark weather, 
 and near a coast, and in a great number of instances, and in- 
 deed a leading cause, is intemperance ; and I regret to have in 
 truth to add, that among the shipmasters of our own country 
 this disgusting vice exists to a most lamentable and very un- 
 safe extent. 
 
 The traveller who intends proceeding to Cana-da by the St 
 Lawrence will find excellent vessels leaving the Clyde among 
 the regular traders to Montreal. The Clyde, being on the west 
 coast, is the best part of Scotland to select for departure for 
 America. Parties, whose nearest ports would be Leith or 
 Aberdeen, cannot always, however, find it convenient to 
 incur the expense and extra trouble of travelling by steam or 
 other conveyance to Glasgow or Greenock with their luggage, 
 for the sake of avoiding the more lengthened sail and tedious 
 passage along the east and around the north coast of Scotland; 
 but wherever it can be easily done, it is desirable on several 
 accounts. 
 
 Persons sailing from ports at which Government Emigration 
 Agents are established, have the advantages of being guided 
 by the experience of those officers in the choice of a vessel, and 
 of having every description of necessary information gratuitously 
 provided — such as regarding the sea-worthiness of passenger 
 ships, the periods of sailing, and means of accommodation, suf- 
 ficiency of provisions, water, and medicines they have on board. 
 The Passengers' Act, which it is the duty of those officers to 
 enforce, is very particular in protecting passengers from annoy- 
 ance and inconvenience arising from the want of punctuality in 
 the sailing of vessels, the nou-fulfilment of bargains with ship- 
 
I:> 
 
 
 li -r 
 
 H 
 
 li;- 
 
 Jt, ;; 
 
 ■I .!•■ 
 
 350 
 
 PASSENGERS ACT EMIGRATION AGENTS. 
 
 masters or brokers, and for ensuring the comfort of passengers 
 during the voyage. Its chief provisions consist in limiting the 
 number of passengers to be carried by each ship, three persons 
 being only allowed to every five tons burthen ; and whatever 
 be the tonnage, only one passenger to every ten superficial feet 
 of the space between decks appointed for passengers, and the 
 height of such space to be not less than five feet, and not having 
 more than two tiers of berths, and also regulating the size of 
 each berth ; also requiring that parties contracting to find pas- 
 sages to give written receipts in a prescribed form, and that 
 no person except owner or master of the ship, or brokers regu- 
 larly licensed, and acting under written authority from princi- 
 pals to act as agents, be recognised as empowered to contract 
 with parties for passages; in cases of non-fulfilment of contracts 
 on the part of the shipper, parties to be maintained at the con- 
 tractor's expense, and provided, witliin a reasonable time, with 
 a passage to the place of destination, under a penalty recover- 
 able by summary process before two Justices of the Peace ; pas- 
 sengers during detention of ships to be victualled by the ship, 
 and if detention exceed two working days, except caused by 
 wind or weather, to receive 1 s. per day, unless satisfactorily 
 lodged and maintained. Among other provisions, passengers 
 cannot be landed against their consent at any other place 
 than the one contracted for ; and after their arrival at such 
 place, they are to be maintained for 48 hours on board, un- 
 less the ship in the prosecution of her voyage quits the port 
 sooner. The act extends to foreign as well as to British ships, 
 but not to vessels carrying fewer than 30 passengers, nor to 
 cabin passengers. Two copies of the act require to be kept on 
 board every ship to which it applies, and to be produced to 
 passengers on demand. 
 
 The Government Emigration Agents stationed in Scotland 
 are Lieut. Forrest, R.N., Glasgow,* and Lieut. Hemans, 
 R.N., Greenock ; those in England, Lieut. Lean, R.N., London 
 
 1 
 
 ♦ Lieut. Fon'est has only lately been removed from Leith to Glasgow. 
 
RATES OF PASSAGliS. 
 
 12.^7 
 
 sseiigers 
 iting the 
 I persons 
 vhatever 
 Lcial feet 
 and the 
 it having 
 e size of 
 Bnd pas- 
 uid that 
 ;rs regu- 
 Q. princi- 
 contract 
 lontracts 
 the con- 
 me, with 
 recover- 
 ce ; pas- 
 ihe ship, 
 used by 
 actorily 
 ssengers 
 jr place 
 at such 
 ird, un- 
 he port 
 ih ships, 
 nor to 
 kept on 
 uced to 
 
 Gotland 
 lemans, 
 London 
 
 isgow. 
 
 (office, East Smithfield), and Lieut. Henry, R.N., Liverpool 
 (office, 33 Union Street); and those in Ireland, Lieut. lIodder> 
 R.N., Dublin, Lieut. Friend^ R.N., Cork, besides Lieuts. Starke, 
 Shutcleworth, Ramsay, and Mr Lynch, R.N., for the ports re- 
 spectively of Belfast, Sligo, Londonderry, and Limeric^. These 
 Government agents act under the immediate direction of the 
 Emigration Board of Commissioners stationed at London. 
 
 The rates of steerage passages to Quebec or Montreal vary 
 from £1 to £4 without provisions. The places mentioned in 
 the Government returns as affording passages at the lowest 
 rates, are Liverpool and most of the Irish ports ; in Liverpool 
 the rates are from £1, 10s. to £2, 10s. ; and the rates of the 
 Irish ports are returned as being from £2, 5s. to £3. Greenock, 
 Leith, and London rates are returned as the highest — those at 
 Leith being from £2, 10s. to £3 ; and Greenock, by the best 
 vessels, the regular traders, £3, 10s. ; and by ordinary emigrant 
 ships, less. At London, rates are as high as from £3, 5s. to 
 £4, 5s. Provisions are estimated generally to cost additional, 
 from £1, 10s. to £2, 10s. Intermediate or second-class pas- 
 sages are ordinarily rated to be from 10s. to £2 additional- 
 Cabin passages, with every requisite of bedding and provi- 
 sions, provided in the same style as for the captain, usually 
 range from £10 to £20. The vessels from Leith and the Irish 
 ports are returned as charging lowest for cabin passages, and 
 those of Greenock, Liverpool, and London the highest, the ves- 
 sels from these ports being chiefly of a superior class, and their 
 accommodation and table supphes more comfortable. Children 
 uiider 14 years of age are usually computed at half rates. 
 
 Regular packet-ships between New York and Liverpool sail 
 on the 1st, 6th, 11th, lGth,21st, and 2Gth of every month from 
 the latter port, and charge about £20 for cabin passage ; and 
 their intermediate and steerage rates are from 5s. to 20s. higher 
 than those of ordinary vessels. American and British vessels 
 sail also occasionally from the Clyde for New York. The rates 
 of passages to New York are much about the same as to 
 Quebec. 
 
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 258 
 
 GOVERNMENT INFORMATION AT QUEBEC. 
 
 The Great Westeni steam-ship charges £30 for cabin pas- 
 sage to New York, with £1 additional as steward's fee. This 
 vessel sails from Liverpool usually once a-month, but has 
 no particular days. The line of Royal Mail steam-ships, 
 the Britannia, Caledonia, Hibernia, Acadia, and Cambria, sail- 
 ing between Liverpool and Boston, and touching at Halifax, 
 charge 38 guineas, including provisions, but without wines or 
 liquors, for the passage to Boston or Halifax, and one guinea 
 additional for steward's fee. These vessels sail from April to 
 November inclusive, on the 4th and 10th of every month ; and 
 during the four months, from December to March inclusive, on 
 the 4th only of every month. 
 
 ARRIVAL AT QUEBEC, AND ROUTES THROUGH 
 
 THE INTERIOR. 
 
 The traveller who has made choice of the Quebec passage 
 will experience much satisfaction in having every necessary at- 
 tention shown in affording him information and advice, so far 
 as such may be within the power of the Government Agent. 
 A. C. Buchanan, Esq., son of the highly respected and recently 
 retired British Consul at New York, is appointed by Govern- 
 ment the chief Emigrant Agent for Lower Canada, and stationed 
 at Quebec, for the sole purpose of affording information and 
 advice gratuitously to emigrants. Emigrant ships, upon ar* 
 riving within about 33 miles of Quebec, are boarded by the 
 authorities of the quarantine department. The station is an 
 island of the St Lawrence, named Grosse Isle. A medical 
 officer here examines the ship as to the state of health of those 
 on board, and any persons that may be sick are taken on shore 
 to an hospital. One dollar (say 4s. 2d. sterling) is understood 
 to be at present imposed upon each passenger, the proceeds of 
 which tax is applied for the purpose of affording medical at- 
 
 I 
 
DISEMBARKING, AND JOURNEY ONWARDS. 259 
 
 tendance and relief to the sick, and assisting destitute emi- 
 grants to reach the places of their destination. 
 
 Mr Buchanan being usually apprised of the approach of 
 vessels with emigrants, is in waiting to receive tliem in the 
 river opposite Quebec, and either on board, or at his office. No. 
 30 Sault-au-]\Iatelot Street, affords all desired information 
 within his power. Emigrants are cautioned against unguard- 
 edly relying upon statements which may be made to them by 
 individuals, who may put themselves in their way for the pnr- 
 pose of taking improper advantage of them. Having Mr Bu- 
 chanan at Quebec, and the other Government agents at the 
 chief towns up the country to consult, the emigrant may have 
 his doubts in cases solved, and all necessary advice tendered 
 to him freqly and gratuitously. One little piece of advice I 
 would here impress upon emigrants is, that they ought not to 
 refuse offers of employment, however low they may suppose the 
 rate of remuneration ; they may suffer inconvenience before 
 they get another offer, and by accepting a short engagement at 
 once, they save their means, and have an opportunity of look- 
 ing about them more at leisure, and getting acquainted with 
 the country. Persons arriving from Britain are apt generally, 
 from vague notions entertained, to place higher value upon 
 their services than they find from after experience they can 
 readily command. 
 
 The master of the ship is bound to disembark emigrants and 
 their baggage free of expense at the usual landing place, and 
 at reasonable hours. Persons who have contracted for their 
 passage only so far as Quebec, or who may in cases wish rather 
 to proceed onward to Montreal by steam-vessel than wait the 
 slower sailing (perhaps with contrary wind) of their own ship, 
 will usually find steamers ready to take them to Montreal, a 
 distance of 180 miles. When a number of emigrants are going 
 together, the steamer not unfrequently proceeds close alongside 
 the ship, and takes on board the passengers without inconveni- 
 ence. 
 
 Steamers leave Quebec at least every afternoon at five 
 

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 f., 
 
 ,.t. 
 
 K 
 
 i 
 
 
 2G0 
 
 JOURNEY FROM MOXTRKAL TO KINGSTON. 
 
 -■i.l'> 
 
 o'clock, and call at 'JMivec Rivera), Port St Francis, an<l Soiel, 
 and arrive at Montreal early next morning. The fare for 
 deck passengers is usnally a dollar, which is 5s. colonial cur- 
 rency, or say 4s. or 4s. '2d. sterling, according as the full value 
 of exchange may or may not be exacted to the letter. Children 
 from .*J to 12 years of age are rated at half price. The cabin 
 passage, with i)rovisions included, is charged five dollars by the 
 first-class (mail) steamers. There are, however, most fre- 
 quently opposition boats, charging lower fare than the above. 
 One named the Charlevoix, advertised during the season of 
 1844 to convey passengers between Quebec and Montreal, at 
 the rates of 2s. currency (about Is. Dd. sterling) for deck, and 
 two dollars cabin passage, meals included. 
 
 Having arrived at Montreal, the traveller, unless he wishes 
 to make a stay of a day or two in the city, should immediately 
 have his luggage conveyed to the office or warehouse of the 
 conveyance by which he is next to travel. There is a stage- 
 coach (the mail) departs every morning at ten o'clock to La- 
 chine, nine miles above Montreal, in connection with steam- 
 boats sailing up the St Lawrence, and through the St Law- 
 rence canals to Kingston, accomplishing the distance between 
 Montreal and Kingston, of 1 fiO miles by this route, in about 
 20' hours. The fare for the whole distance is usually twelve 
 dollars. This conveyance, however, chiefly recommends itself 
 to those whose time for travelling is limited, and whose means 
 allow first-class accommodation. The ordinary conveyances 
 up the country are the small steamboats and barges departing 
 from the Lachine Canal, which commences at ]VIontreal Har- 
 bour, and proceeding up the St Lawrence and Ottawa Rivers, 
 and through the Rideau Canal, reach Kingston, a distance by 
 this route of about 250 miles, and which is usually accomplished 
 in three days by the steamboats, when they take no barges in 
 tow. The barges, and those steamers towing them, take about 
 six days. The fare by steamboat is usually three dollars 
 steerage ; and eight dollars cabin, including meals. The fare 
 of the barges is from one to two dollars. The quantity of lug- 
 
 I!!- !!i3-' 
 
KllOM KINGSTON UP LAKE ONTARIO. 
 
 261 
 
 I Soit'l, 
 Pare fur 
 ial cur- 
 
 II value 
 ^.'hildrcii 
 le cabin 
 s by the 
 ost fre- 
 c above. 
 ;asoii of 
 treal, at 
 3ck, ami 
 
 e wisbes 
 
 icdiately 
 
 e of the 
 
 a stage - 
 
 i to La- 
 
 1 steam- 
 
 St Law- 
 
 between 
 
 ill about 
 
 f twelve 
 
 (Is itself 
 
 e means 
 
 eyances 
 
 epartiiig 
 
 al Har- 
 
 Rivers, 
 
 mce by 
 
 aplished 
 
 irges in 
 
 te about 
 
 dollars 
 
 ^he fare 
 
 of lug- 
 
 gage allowsd free is not narrowly estimated ; at the least, the 
 allowance is from one cwt. to one and a-half cwt. The charge 
 for extra ([uantity is at the rate of 2s. O'd. currency, or 2s. ster- 
 ling, per cwt. between Montreal and Kingston. The cartage 
 of luggage from the harbour to the canal, as regulated by the 
 Montreal authorities, is lOd. currency, or 8d. sterling, for each 
 load of 15 cwt., and for the largest load of 20 cwt., and up- 
 wards, the legal rate is Is. 3d. currency, or Is. sterling. 
 
 The steamboats and barges are departing every day from 
 Montreal, usually in the afternoon about four o'clock. Emi- 
 grants who may wish to prepare meals, or even to take a 
 night's rest at Montreal before proceeding up the country, 
 will find temporary accommodation provided by Government 
 gratuitously for this purpose. The Government Emigrant 
 Agent stationed at Montreal is James Allison, Esq. ; and at 
 Kingston the chief Emigrant Agent for Upper Canada, A. 
 B. Hawke, Esq., is stationed. 
 
 Steamboats depart every day from Kingston up Lake On- 
 tario for Toronto and Hamilton, touching at Cobourg and Port 
 Hope. The time of departure is usually about three o'clock, 
 afternoon, after the arrival of the mail and other steamers from 
 Montreal. The fares from Kingston to Toronto are generally 5 
 dollars cabin, and 3 dollars deck passage. An opposition boat, 
 the Frontenac, advertised last season to convey passengers at 
 the rates of three and a-half dollars cabin, and one and a-half 
 deck, and also to sail direct to Hamilton, without causing emi- 
 grants proceeding further westward than Toronto to change 
 steamboats. The distance from Kingston to Toronto is 170 
 miles, and the passage is accomplished in from 20 to 24 hours. 
 From Toronto to Hamilton, the distance is 45 miles, and 
 steamboats depart usually about two o'clock afternoon, upon 
 the arrival of the boats from Kingston. The fares at the 
 highest rates are two dollars cabin, and one dollar deck ; but 
 in seasons of opposition the rates are frequently half of the 
 above, and sometimes less. Durhig one season (1843) they 
 were for sometime only 1 s. cabin, and 6d. for deck passage. The 
 

 262 
 
 ■WESTWARD FROM LAKE ONTARIO. 
 
 v-'^'w: 
 
 
 
 
 
 Government Emigrant Agent at Toronto is D. R. Bradley, Esq ., 
 and at Hamilton J. H. Palmer, Esq. 
 
 Travellers proceeding further westw^ards, to the London, 
 Talbot, Brock, Huron, or Western districts, may either take 
 the daily mail stage-coach to London, a distance from Hamil- 
 ton of H3 miles, or hire a waggon at so much per day. The 
 usual cost of travelling by stjige- coach in Canada is from 2|d. 
 to 3d. per mile ; and the hire of a waggon with a pair of horses, 
 carrying a load of 10 cwt., or a little more or less, is generally 
 about three dollars per day. For a family with miifh luggage, 
 this is the cheapest mode of travelling; although some prefer 
 travelling on by stage, and leaving extra luggage to be after- 
 wards forwarded by waggon. From London there is a daily 
 stage westward to Chatham, Western district, and steamboats 
 sail from Chatham to Windsor, Sandwich, Amherstburgh, and 
 Detroit. The whole distxince, of about 150 miles, from Ha- 
 milton westward to Chatham, will most likely by next season 
 be accomplished over one of the ^est roads in the country— the 
 greater part of it being securely laid with strong planking, and 
 a portion of the remaining part being macadamised. 
 
 Travellers proceeding to Goderich or other parts of the Huron 
 district will find the mail-stage leaving London three times a- 
 week. The distance from London to Goderich is 60 miles ; 
 fare, three dollars. 
 
 For Sarnia, at the head of the River St Clair, and foot of 
 Lake Huron, and about 70 miles direct west of London, the 
 mail-stige leaves London three times a-week, passing through 
 the townships of Lobo, Adelaide, Warwick, Plymptonand Sarnia. 
 
 For St Thomas, 25 miles south of London, and situated in 
 Southwold, one of the townships lying along the shore of Lake 
 Erie, the mail-stage leaves London three times a-week. 
 
 Having now conducted the traveller to the farthest western 
 points of Canada by the usual and most direct routes, before clos- 
 ing this part of the subject I will subjoin several of the other 
 most important routes leading off this main one. > 
 
 The following routes to settlements in Lower Canada are 
 
OTHER ROUTES THROUGH CANADA. 
 
 2(;3 
 
 taken from a circular of Mr Buchanan, chief Emigrant Agent at 
 Quebec : — 
 
 * The Eastern TowNSiiirs of Lower Canada. — The best 
 route until the new Gosford road is finished, is by Port St 
 Francis, 98 miles above Quebec, by steamboat, passage 28. ()d. ; 
 from thence you proceed to Sherbrooke, by Nicolet, La Baie, 
 Drummondville, and Melbourne. 
 
 Settlements in the District of Montreal. — Chambly is 
 1 8 miles from Montreal, on the south side of the St Lawrence ; 
 this route leads also to the eastern townships, via Abbotsford 
 39 miles, Granby 48 miles, Shefford 62 miles, Georgoville 91 
 miles, and to Stanstead 104 miles from Montreal, and 34 miles 
 from Sherbrooke. Persons going to Dunham or Stanbridge 
 proceed by steamer and railroad from Montreal to St John's, 
 through Henryville and Bedford, from thence to Stanbridge 
 Mills, Dunham, Nelsonville, and Brome. 
 
 To the south, from Montreal, by Lachine, are the villages of 
 Chateauguay, 16 miles, and Beauharnois 25 miles, and from 
 thence to Godmanchester and Hinchinbrooke. If going to 
 Shernngton, Hemmingford, Napierville, or Odle Town, you 
 proceed by steamer to La Prairie. 
 
 To the north of Montreal are the settlements of New Glas- 
 gow, 30 miles ; also Kilkenny, Kildare, and Rawdon, in which 
 are many thriving settlements.* 
 
 In proceeding from Montreal to Kingston by way of Bytown 
 and the Rideau Canal, ' you pass through Carrillon and Grenville, 
 on the north bank of the Ottawa ; on the south side, opposite 
 Grenville, is the village of Hawkesbury, and six miles ftirthcr 
 up is L'Original, and from thence to the townships of Cale- 
 donia, Plantagenet, and Clarence. Persons proceeding to Hull, 
 Aylmer, Fitzrcy, and to the settlements in Bristol, Clarendon, 
 Litchfield, and MacN oh, stop at By town. Those "proceeding 
 to Perth, Dalhousie, Ramsey, or Lanark, land at Oliver Ferry 
 on the Rideau Canal, 70 miles from Bytown. Persons going 
 to Glengary, Cornwall, Prescott, or Brockvillc, proceed from 
 Montreal by the route of the St Lawrence.' 
 
trt.i' 
 
 M 
 
 /■jii 
 
 2f)i 
 
 INFOHMATION AM) ADVK K AT NEW YORK. 
 
 From Kingston, besidon tho Htcamers daily to Toronto and 
 Hamilton, there are others also plyinjj; daily to Victim, Belleville, 
 and other placeH, situated in the Bay of Quintd. Sailing 
 schooners are also usually to be found proceeding from King- 
 ston to Hamilton, St Catherine's on the Welland Canal, and 
 to Port Stanley on Lake Erie, and Amherstburph on the lliver 
 Detroit, and other ports. The rates of passage by those 
 schooners are usually much lower than by the steamboats ; 
 but theirtimes of sailing, and the duration of their voyages, are, 
 of course, subject to much uncertainty. 
 
 Persons proceeding to Peterborough, or the settlements 
 in the vicinity of lUce Lake, in the Newcastle district, will 
 land at Port Hope. Stages also leave Cobourg for Peterbo- 
 rough and the Kice Lake settlements. 
 
 From Toronto, steamers leave also daily for Niagara and 
 Queenston, the latter village situated on the Niagara Iliver, 
 being nine miles from the Falls of Niagara. 
 
 For Dundas, Gait, Guelph, and other places, situated in the 
 Gore and Wellington districts, and north-west of Hamilton, 
 travellers will find regular mail-stages at Hainilton proceeding 
 in this direction, and by way of Wilmot to Goderich, in the 
 Huron district, a distance by this route of 101 milcp. 
 
 
 r t 
 
 *^' 
 
 
 m^. 
 
 ARRIVAL AT NEW YORK, AND ROUTES 
 THROUGH THE INTERIOR. 
 
 The voyager who has made choice of the New York pas- 
 sage will most likely experience some annoyance from the gangs 
 of unprincipled persons who beset the emigrant upon his arrival 
 V' this port, in order to dupe him out of his money, under the 
 pretence of being authorised to contract for his means of con- 
 veyance up the country, or to provide him with lodgings in the 
 city. Persons who thus beset the traveller ough*^ scrupu- 
 lously to be avoided, and no dependence placed "}>un their 
 
TRAVELLING FROM NEW YORK. 
 
 205 
 
 ito aii(\ 
 levillo, 
 Sailinfj^ 
 
 iil, anil 
 e llivLT 
 \f those 
 iiboatH ; 
 jes, are, 
 
 lements 
 ct, will 
 ^eterbo- 
 
 [ira and 
 I lliver, 
 
 d in the 
 amilton, 
 ceeding 
 in the 
 
 :s 
 
 )rk pa8- 
 e gangs 
 arrival 
 ider the 
 of con- 
 } in the 
 scrupu- 
 ,n their 
 
 statements. In order to protect strangers arriving from the old 
 world against such impostors, and to aftord necessary informa- 
 tion and advice, an association composed of highly respectable 
 English residents of New York, has recently been established. 
 
 Steamboats leave New York for Albany, 1(50 miles up the 
 Hudson River, every morning and evening. The fare is usually 
 from one to two dollars. The hours of sailing are usually seven 
 o'clock morning, and five evening. The steamboats which 
 leave New York at seven o'clock morning, reach Albany about 
 six o'clock evening. Travellers proceeding to Rochester or 
 Oswego for the purpose of crossing into Canada at Kingston, 
 Cobourg, Port Hope, Toronto, or Hamilton, by steamers 
 which ply across Lake Ontario between these ports daily ; or 
 those proceeding to DuJQfalo for the purpose of crossing at the 
 Falls of Niagara, or taking a steamboat for the Canada ports 
 of Lake Erie — usually take the railway to Schenectady or Utica, 
 and thence either the canal or railway to Syracuse, Roches- 
 ter, or Buffalo. There is a branch of the Erie Canal lead- 
 ing off at Syracuse to Oswego, and the great canal passes 
 through Rochester. The distance from Albany to Utica by 
 railway is about 9() miles ; but as the train arrives at an in- 
 convenient hour of the morning at Utica, comfort and economy 
 perhaps may be both consulted, by proceeding on the railway 
 no further than Schenectady, about 17 miles from Albany, and 
 here tr«king a canal packet-boat to Utica, or even further, on 
 board of which the traveller may rest for the night, and be at 
 the same time forwarded on his journey. From Utica to 
 Syracuse the distance by the canal is about 63 miles ; from 
 Utica to Rochester, about 160. The length of the branch 
 canal from Syracuse to Oswego on Lake Ontario, is about 
 38 mili? ■*. The fares from Oswego to Toronto by steam-boat, 
 a distance of 160 miles, are usually six dollars cabin, includ- 
 ing meals, and two dollars steerage. 
 
 The rate^ by railway in the United States are usually 
 from one penny to twopence, or two to four cents per 
 mile, acco'ding to the class of accommodation. Upon 
 

 '»'( ' 
 
 266 ROUTES FROM BUFFALO— CROSSING INTO CANADA. 
 
 the Erie Canal the rates are one and a-half to three 
 cents., or say three farthings to three -halfpence per mile, ac- 
 cording as meals are, or are not, provided. From the op- 
 position of the railway, the rates may, however, be found to be 
 less than those stated. The distance between Albany and 
 Buffalo by the canal is 363 miles ; the route taken by the rail- 
 way being more direct, the distance is less. The first-class 
 railway trains accomplish the journey from Albany to Buffalo 
 in 25 hours, and last season the fare was 1 1 dollars by first- 
 class accommodation, and there were emigrant trains in 1843 
 conveying passengers for 5^ dollars. 
 
 From Buffalo, steamboats depart daily for Detroit, which is 
 half a mile opposite tha village of "Windsor, in the Western 
 District of Canada. The fares to Detroit from Buffalo are 
 from five to seven dollars cabin, and tw© dollars or less for 
 steerage passage. Steamboats leave Detroit every other day, 
 at least, for Chatham on the River Thames — generally 
 Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday afternoons — and usually 
 daily for Samia on the St Clair ; and for Goderich on the River 
 Maitland, generally two or three times a-week. A steamboat 
 also usually plys between Buffalo and Port Colbome, at the 
 mouth of the Welland Canal, Dunville, near the mouth of 
 the Grand River, and Ports Dover, Rowan, and Stanley, and 
 other places on the Canada side of Lake Erie, generally twice 
 a-week, leaving Buffulo on Monday and Thursday evenings. 
 Steamboats a\so ply from Buffalo to Schlosser on the American, 
 and Chippe'va on the Canada side of the Niagara River. Rail- 
 way trains leave Buffalo for Niagara Falls twice a-day ; the 
 distance is 22 miles, and the fare half a dollar. A very little 
 way below the Falls, and within full sight of the great cata- 
 ract, the River Niagara narrows to a few hundred yards, and 
 a ferry is maintained at the point by a small row boat, which 
 the traveller may make choice o; for the purpose of crossingr 
 into Canada. 
 
 THE END. 
 
'i.;". 
 
 ^NADA. 
 
 to three 
 mile, ac- 
 in the op° 
 aund to be 
 Ibany and 
 )y the rail- 
 first-clasa 
 to BnflFalo 
 rs by first- 
 ins in 1843 
 
 t, which is 
 le Western 
 Buffalo are 
 or less for 
 
 other day, 
 
 generally 
 id usually 
 L the River 
 L steamboat 
 me, at the 
 i mouth of 
 tanley, and 
 rally twice 
 ' evenings. 
 
 American, 
 ver. Rail- 
 a-day ; the 
 
 very little 
 great cata- 
 yards, and 
 3oat, which 
 of crossingr 
 
 I'i»f^' 
 
 .■.••-r--