IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) L^^ /. % 4.^ % r.O !r:™- IIM I.I 1.25 1^ IM M 2.2 12.0 1.8 lIJA IIIIIL6 V ^ Technical and Bibliographic Notes/Notes techniques at bibiiographiques The Institute has attempted to obtain the best original copy available for filming. Features of this copy which may be bibliographically unique, which may alter any of the images in the reproduction, or which may significantly change the usual method of filming, are checked below. □ Coloured covers/ Couverture de couleur □ Covers damaged/ Cc D n n D Couverture endommagie □ Covers restored and/or laminated/ Couverture restaurie et/ou pelliculie □ Cover title missing/ La titre de couverture manque I — I Coloured maps/ Cartes giographiques en couleur Coloured ink (i.e. other than blue or black)/ Encre de couleur (i.e. autre que bleue ou noire) I I Coloured plates and/or illustrations/ Planches et/ou illustrations en couleur Bound with other material/ ReliA avec d'autres documents Tight binding may cause shadows or distortion along interior margin/ Lareiiure serr^e peut caudier de I'ombre ou de la distorsion lo long de la marge intirieure Blank Idaves added during restoration may appear within the text. Whenever possible, these have been omitted from filming/ II se pout que certaines pages blanches ajouties lors d'une restau ration apparaissent dans le texte, mais, lorsque cela Atait possible, ces pages n'ont pas M filmies. Additional comments:/ Commentaires supplimentaires: L'Instltut a microfilm^ le meilleur exemplaire qu'il lui a 6t6 possible de se procurer. Las details de cat exemplaire qui sont peut-dtro uniques du point de vue bibliographique, qui peuvent modifier une image reproduite, ou qui peuvent exiger une modification dans la methods normale de filmage sont indiquis ci-dessous. r~~j Coloured pages/ Pages de couleur Pages damaged/ Pages endommag^es □ Pages restored and/or laminated/ Pages restaurdes et/ou pelliculies F~V^ages discoloured, stained or foxed/ L^ Pages d^color^es, tacheties ou piquees □ Pages detached/ Pages ditach^es r~Vshowthrough/ 11^ Transparence □ Quality of print varies/ Qualiti inigale de I'impression □ Includes supplementary material/ Comprend du matiriel supplementaire □ Only edition available/ Seule Edition disponible D Pages wholly or partially obscured by errata slips, tissues, etc., have been refilmed to ensure the best possible image/ Les pages totalement ou partiellement obscurcies par un feuillet d'errata, une pelure, etc., ont M film^es i nouveau de facon i obtenir la meilleure image possible. This itam is filmed at the reduction ratio checked below/ Ce document est filrn^ au taux de rMuction indiquA ci-dessous. 10X 14X 18X 22X 26X 30X I I I I/I ! M ! I M I M M I 12X 16X 2DX 24X 28X 32X tails du adifier une nage The copy filmed here has been reproduced thank* to the generosity of: ; Motropolitan Toronto Library Canadian History Department The images appearing here are the best quality possible considering the condition and legibility of the oriiunal copy and in keeping with the filming contract specifications. L'exemplaire fiimi fut reproduit grAce h la g6n6rosit* de: Metropolitan Toronto Library Canadian History Department Les images suivantes ont 6x6 reproduites avec ie plus grand soin, compte tenu de la condition at de la nettet6 de t'exemplaire filmA, et en conformity avec les conditions du contrat de filmage. Original copies in printed paper covars ore filmed beginning with the front cov In compiling the Emigrants* Guide, the Editor has insert- ed no iiiforroation orintellii^feuee which he conceives to he too highly coloured. The extracts are from sensible and judicious Travellers — The original Lettersj from private individuals ef integrit}., and not intended for publication, but for the information of ihc relatives and friends of their respective writers — they are therefore void of every degree of literary embelHshoient ; thfeir iimf)licity will, notwithstand- ing, sufHciently recommend them. While this Pamphlet vt(t np ieith ^e—Theli" wagisare viry high and in getitralthiy hdve it(trft cM idti vftht i^udiit^^fmHikiM, that thdr service is trifling." N. B. In consequence of a severe family affliction — the death of a SOD, and other engagements, the printing of this publication had not the Editor's usual tare arid attetttlon : there are, consequently, in it several trifling verbal omissions, and typographical errors, which the reader will he hopes excu&e. 8 insert- o highly i^ellers— and not lives and of every thiitand- was fa- 1 Lettera formerly sents his inswer to to whom th June, to support ice, and in ist £300— I would not r coloured ; been able to lo surmount transfiorta- tf until you comfortable mount them ptiHicUlarl^ ybur family an English re vtry high #ir ttriicc is e death of ation had equently, wsf which SELECT LIVES, VOYAGES AND TRAVELS. AMERICAN TRAVELLER- DESCRIPTION OF THE BRITISH POSSESSIONS IN NORTH AMERICA. THE British possessions in America consist of four provinces* Upper and Lower Canada, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick. The former were settled by the French and continued in their possession more than one hundred and fifty years ; hot Quebec fal- ling into the hands of the British by the gallan ry of General Wolfe, the provinces became an easy conquest^ and were permit- ted to continue British colonies by the treaty of peace, made in the year 1763. These provinces are governed by laws framed by a legislature consisting of two branches denominated the Council and the Assembly ; the foimer nominated by the governor, and the latter chosen by the voice of the people : the executive is vest- ed in a governor-general and deputy ones ; the judicial authori- ties are appoined by the crown ; and their decision, in the respec- tive courts, are marked with that regard to impartial justice, hon- our and equity, that so eminently distinguish the parent country. Th« expenses necessary for the support of the government are de- frayed principally by Great Britain so that no country in the world is subjected to so small a portion of taxation, \no) taxes either di- rect or indirect being levied only on a few articles of luxury. The manners and customs of the Canadies are as opposite Hs.tho^eof the nations from which they have been settled. The original French eettlero retain a great portion of that gaiety and frivolity peculiar to their nation, but secluded from examples of national vice, and SP.f.FrT Tfyrs, VOYAGES AND TRAVELS. Religion and Climate of Canada. leaiJ't.g a life comparatively retired; an honest simplicity character- ises their actions, though a persevering industry is seldom to be seen, as their views are rarely extended to exalt their condition, contentedly partaking ol those necessaries & comforts only, which their predecessors enjoyed : nevertheless Gresit Britain possesses iu them more faithfulness, honesty, and loyalty, than in any other colony in the catalogue of her foreign possessions. The number of inhabitants of British America scarcely exceed half a million. Scotland has hitherto furnished the greatest number of emi- grants; and rett^ers from that country possess extensive farms in the upperprovince, most of whom live respectable and happy. The English govtrnment, in conformity to its accustomed wise and in- dulgent policy left the French settlers in the enjoyment of their national peculiarities, without permitting any interference to cre- ate dislike to the British character, or generate a plea for disloyalty: the Roman-catholic religion is therefore tolerated and protected, and this indulgence is in noiostance abused by a refractory and revo- lutionary spirit, or that rancour and bitter hatred Indifferent sects which papists in other coantries exhibit and cherish ; but appreciate the blessings of religious and political liberty, and happy in the en- joyment of them, they chearfully join the common cause; nor idly devote themselves to seek, in seditious theories, those blessings which they practically possess. Few places exhibit a more ge- neral retrard to religions duties than Canada; Protestant churches for the'devotion of Christians of that perstfasion are to be found in every town, under the control and gaidance of an English bishop ; and inferior branches of the clergy, and a spirit of Chris- tian piety, pervade all ranks in the colony. From the extremes of heat and cold which the climate of this country presents, many have been induced to consider it an unhealthy situation, and re- garding it with fearful apprehension have relinquished the thoughts of emigrating thither : this has been increased by conceiving the hardships that must be endured, in the necessary employment of agriculture in the severities of winter, and the difficulties that roust arise to prepare the land for cultivation at theie inclement periods. But nature, in her provident benevolence, has counter- balanced the frowns of a winter with the smiles of an exuberant spring, and the reward ©f a hasty and an almost instantaneous veget^ttion. The low price of land, and its abundance, contrilnite to make B laborious and indefatigable application to improvement less needful than in Great Britain : the soil requires but little manure. IKTRODUCTORY DESCRIPTION. Sleighs-^Expfditions mode uf Conrtjatn^e. nor is one half the preparatory labour tiPcebsaiy to P'-^ ^i^'/ -f L** that British land requires; and the rapid grnwtli, and q''»ck p'-r- lection of every species of grain, requires not ihtit consmM .tud protracted attendance, which a tardy maiurity dt^mandi,. 'i ;« wiuter is therefore only a season of relaxation a-iU Amuseaifui, and mostly devoted to recreation. Gloomy pictures of ih» -^s »«-f- tile and capa.ious provinces have been drawn, which, hei^hu ied by imagination, have served to make them appear, at i\m s^ .^ou, so cheerless as almost to preclude the possibility of veutarin^ abroad ; the very reverse of this is the case ; the cold is seldom so intense as to prevent travelling, which, in sleighs, is so pleasantly and speedily performed, that few people travel at any other season ; the solidity of the rivers and the frozen state of the snow, make excellent roads, which are passed over with incredible swiftness, and two horses can draw, in sleds, a greater weight than four m a wheeled carriage. All large bodies of timber are conveyed to the rivers, in the winter, from the ease with which the task can be performed, and the small portion of labour and expense which are necessary, compared with what would be required at any other season. A single horse will draw a fallen tree along the glossy surface of frozen snow, with more ease and expedition than five could on the bare ground ; indeed, from the ipipossibihty of tim- ber carriages passing through the intricacies of a thick wood, this necessary species of labour could be performed by no oUier means and at no other time; so that winter, with all its imaginary and exaggerated horrors, has its peculiar advantages. The crowd of sleighs that stand near the market-places of large towns, for the purpose of hire ; and the display of contending dex,terity in the management of hundreds passing and repassing in the environs; not only prove the practicability of recreative excursions, at this season, but serve to shew the eagerness with which ihey are sought, and the pleasure they afford. Stage-coaches, carriages, and cha- riots, are sometimes separated from the wheels, and placed on the iron-shod runners of sleighs, which afford a comfortable and an elegant mode of travelling. Houses are kept warm by means of stoves, which are construct- ed with a great regard to convenience; they are closed on all sides, are of various dimensions, and generally placed in the centre of the room. Pipes or flues are attached to them, to convey warmth to the same and adjoining apartments; and most of them are calculated for culinary purposes, the centre serving ? SELECT LIVES, VOYAGES AND TRAVELS. Methufl of procurinf; *«tomed to receive that attention and care which are bestowed on the English breed, they contract no diseases, and experience no distress from a privation of those indulgences which habit renders necessary. Warm stables, good beds, and sweet-bceiited hay, are comforts a Canadian seldom ex- tends to hishori>e; but nature, no less kind to this portion of her creation than she is to any other, has furnished them with consti- tutions adapted to the climate, and she clothes tbem, like bearfi, with coats suitable to the seasons. The river St. Lawrence, which washes the Canadian shores, is ranked next to the Mississipi, and considered the second in North America: it is navigable to lake Ontario, a distance of more than seven hundred miles; but only small vessels go further than Quebec, except those in the employ of the North-vrest company, which proceed to Montreal. This river is thirty leagues wide at it* entrance, but it ebba and flows only ninety miles beyond Quebec, above which is a rapid current constantly running towards the. sea, and which is the principal reason why large shipping go nc further than that town. The ib-? land of New Orleans, situated in the St. Lawreuie, a few miles below Quebec, is as desirable and fertile a s^pot as can be found in America. \ DESCRIPTION OF CPPEE CANAUAi Loyuliii uuu Ztal of its Inhabitants. In proreediiig up the Si. Lnwreiice, by water, the houttt's on theoorth-wesiiTu i-ho.e are placed at such distances as to form the appearance ot one continued street. In proceeding up the coun- try, by land, the interspersion of stieuuis, f'(»re«ts, extensive pas- turage, and rich arable land, affording pleasing prospects, and very lew hills iniervene to make the journey irksoiue. The lirHt town on the banks of the river after leaving Qnebec is Three Ui- vers, which is frequently a great resort of ln TnAVET.9. f.i/'/ of Quebec. ^ration, at this crisis, is become m->re p'evalent than at any for- mer period; and theie are ye*: «orn. !utiulre'J.i rt-Hidinj; iti this country who are detpfuiined to leave df ir juitivt ^oil, with a view to belter their comUtion : the iind. luktnsr reijuirea thetr nidst serious consideration. Let them cutefully rxa-m .e the ndviui* tai^es which the British provinces oflFer to British s:, tiers, tite en- couraj»emeiii they afford, and the security they injure. Let ♦hese preponderating considerations be the touchstone ni dctermiivauon, which cannot fail to influence a well-directed choice, and i oniri- bute to crown a persevering industry with respectabihty, wealth, and happiness. THE CITY OF QUEBEC, (From Welil'i Travels in Canada and Ibc United Sta' -,) The City of Quebec is situated on a very lofty point of land, on the north-west side of the River St. Lawrence. Nearly facing it, on the opposite shore, there is another point, and between the two the river is contracted to the breadth of three quarter? of a mile, but after passing through this strait it expands to the breadth of five or six raileSf taking a great sweep behind that point whereon Qnebec stands. Quebec is divided into two parts; the upper town, situated on a rock of limestone on the top of the point ; and the lower town, built round the bottom of the point, close to the water. The rock whereon the upper town stands, in some places towards the water rises nearly perpendicularly, so ^s to be totally inaccessible ; in other places it is not eo steep but that there is a conununicatioa between the two towns, by means of streets winding up the side of it, though even here the ascent is so great that there are long flights oT stairs at one side of the streets for the accommodation of foot passengers. No census has been lately taken of the number of houses and inhabitants in Quebec; but it is supposed that, including the npper and lower towns and suburbs, there are at least two thou- hsmd dwellings:* at the rate of six therefore to each house, the number of inhabitants would amount to twelve thousand. About two-thirds of the inhabitants are of French extraction. The socie- ly in Quebec is agreeable, and very extensive for a place of the • Nnw (I8i:) 4,000. HUGH GRAY, E*Q* Dtscription of Montreml, size, owin{r to Itts being the capital of the lower province, and therefore the residence of the governor, different civil officera, prin- cipal lawycrc, &r. &c. The large garrison constantly kept iu it makes the place uppear very gay and lively. The lower town of Quebec ih mostly inhabited by the traderti who are concerned with the shipping, and it ih a very disagreeable place. The streets are narrow and dirty, and owing to the great height of the houses in most of them, the air is much contined. The upper town, on the contrary, is extremely agreeable : from its elevated situation the air is us pure a» punsiule, and the inha* bitanis are never oppreosed with heat in summer ; it is far, how- ever, from being well laid out, tlie Htreets being narrow and very irregular. The houses are for the most part built of stone, and except a few, erected of late years, small, ugly, and inconvenient. I must not conclude this letter without making mention of the scenery that is exhibited lo the view, from various parts of the upper town of Quebec, which, for its grandeur, its beauty, and its diversity, surpasses all that 1 have hitherto seen in Ame- rica, or indeed in any other part of the globe. In the variegated expance that is open before you, stupendous rocks, immense rivers, trackless forests and cultivated plains, mountains, lakes, towns, and villages, in turn strike the attention, and the senses are almost be- wildered in contemplating the vastness of the scene. Nature is he. '\ seen on the grandest scale and it is scarcely possible for the imagination to paint to itself any thing more sublime than are the several prospects presented to the sight of the delighted spec- tator. MOf^TREAL. (From Gray's Latters from r::nada.) of Montreal is situated on an island ; but the island is so large in proportion to the water which surrounds it, that you are not sen- sible of its insularity. The island is about thirty miles in length, by about ten in breadth. The city of Montreal i^ situated near the uf>per end oi' it, on the south side of the island, at the distance of about one hun- dred and eighty miles from Quebec. It lies in latitude 45-3Q, being about 70 miles to the southward of Quebec. They pretend ot say, that the spring is always earlier than at Quebec by near SELECT LIVES, VOYAGES AND TRAVELS. r I Jtkanta^eous siluatiun of Montreal for Trade. month, and I believe it is allowed to be so. One would Pcar itd cely think that so small a difference of latitude, should produce such an effect ; it wouM not be 80 in Europe ; there must be some aid- in"- cause with which we are not acquainted. Montreal may be said to be a hand^^ome town. Its streets are regular and airy ; and contain many handsome and commodious houses. It is fully as targe and as populous as Quebec, contain- ing about 10,000 people, the great mass of whom are Canadians. Its suburbs, too, are extensivt*. The island of Montreal is wholly in a state of cultivation ; and it is surrounded by a country generally cultivated. What adds much to its consequence is, its being situated near the em- bouchure of several rivers, which bring down from the countries through which they flow a great deal of very vaiu .ble produce. The river Chamhly opens a communication with Luke Chara- t.lain, whence are received large quantities of wood, potashes, hmUcM provisions, wheat, &c. From the river U Assompttcn much vaUiuble produce is brought. The river of the Ottaicais, which fo. ms the nothern boundary of the island, opens a communication Aviih an immense extent of country. It is through this nver that the traders to the northwest territories proceed. They go irt buch canoes many hundred miles up this river, till they meet with vive.s which discharge in Lake Huron, from thence they get into Lake Snperior, and sc on to the Grand Portage, where they di.- charge the goods tney have taken up, and are again loaded with the furs that have been got in exchange for the preceding year's investment. They do not return by the ^ame course, but by way of Deiroit, and through Lakes Erie and Ontario. Montreal .s at the head of the ship-navigation from the ocean, and the batteaux .nd canoe-navigation from and to Upper Canada must com- inence and terminate at La Chine ne.v Montreal. From these nrcumstt^nces Montreal bids fair to rival Quebec in commerce : it is more convenient as a depot for produce. But as Quebec mn.teverbe the great shipping place, there, general merchantM wiil htid many inducements lohr-ttle. The country in the neighbourhood of Montreal is very fine. About two mile; from the towy there is a b-uuliful hill, common- Iv called the Momtain ; it is about 700 feet ,n height from the level of the nver. A part of this hUl is covered with wood . but much is in a state of cuUlvatiun. I rode to t:.. top of it, Vhence you have a noble view of ihe surrounding country, bound- ed by tlL mountau.s in the .tate of New York towards the south. HUGH OilAV, fisa* Hospitality to Strangers — La Chine. i Between the Mountain and town of Montreal, there are a j;reat many very fine gardens and orchards, abounding with a variety of fruit of the very first quality, and no place can be better supplied with vegetables than Montreal. Quebec, too, is extremely well supplied with vegetables, and a regular sucCs^ssion of fruit ; but cannot vie with Montreal, where both soil and climate combine ' to produce the finest fruit I have ever seen. The apples are par- ticularly good. The Pomme de Neige, so called from its being extremely white, and from its having the granulated appearance of snow, when broken ; it also dissolves, almost entirely, in the mouth like snow : the Fameuse Bourassa, and Pomme Gris, are very fine apples. Peaches, apricots and plumbs, are found in the greatest perfection ; and, with the protection of the glass, you have grapes as good for the table as any 1 ever saw in Portugal; Currants, raspberries, gooseberries, and every sort of small fruit are found in great abundance. The markets of Montreal are ex- tremely well supplied with all the necessaiies and met of the luxuries of the table; provisions are plentiful in winter- for then th'jir industrious neighbours the Yankees bring in great quaatities, such as fresh jftsh, bacon, cheese, &c. The great distance of Quebec prevents them from receiving this sort of supply from the United States; but their own resources are copious. The people of Montreal, in general, are remarkably hospitable and attentive to strangers ; they are sociable also amongst them- selves, and fond in the extreme of convivial amusements. In win- ter, they keep up such a constant and friendly intercourse with each other, that it seems then as if the town were inhabited but by- one large family. During summer they live somewhat more re- tired ; but throughout that season a club, formed of all the princi* pal inhabitants, both male and female, meet every week or fort- night, for the purpose of dining at some agreeable spot in the neighbourhood of the town. The orchards in the neighbourhood of Montreal produce ap- lil« 8, which yield as fine cyder as ever was drank. La Chine is situated about nine miles from Montreal. It is a place of considerable consequence, being the place where the ba- teaux (flat-bottomed boats) and canal navigation commences for i»»^v.:». la SELECT LIVES, VOYAGES AND TRAVELS. Description (^ the Canoes used in Trade, Upper Canada, and for tire country in the north-west. The first go by way of Lake Ontario and Niagara; the second, go up the Outawais river towards Lake Superior, They are under the ne- cessity of commencing their voyages from La Chine instead of Montreal, because the river St. Lawrence is so rapid between Mon- treal and La Chine that loaded canoes cannot be forced up. I had the pleasure of seeing both an arrival and departure of canoes from and to the north-west territories. — It certainly is a curious spectacle. It is surprising to see the great quantity of goods put in one of the large birch canoes ; and it is no less sur- prising to think, that with such a load, and in such a vessel they should undertake a voyag of some thousand miles. The canoe is one of the most frail conveyances you can ima- gine. The length of the large ones is about thirty feet; they be- come gradually narrow towards each end, till they terminate in a point ; the bottom is rounded, and they have no keel. A frame ot thin slips of wood is formed, over which they fasten sections of the bark of the birch tree. These sections are sewed together with filaments of the roots of a tree, and the seams made water- ti"^ht by a species of gum, which hardens and adheres very firmly. The canoe is constructed with much ingenuity ; it is extreme- ly light, and therefore answers the purposes for which it is intend- ed perfectly well. The canoe is the common conveyance on the river St. Lawrence, and on the lakes : the iHrgest, however, are used by the North-west Company, for conveying goods into the Indian territory, and bringing down furs. These cost about 20/. The North-west Company consists of a number of merchants associated for the purposes of trading with the Indians in furs. — Those who manage the concerns of the company reside in Mon- treal. They send up the country large quantities of goods, to be bartered with the Indiana for furs. For the conveyance of these goods, and for bringing back furs, they have employed, generally, about fifty canoes, and upwards of 1000 people. The capital em^- ployed in this trade, in goods aloiie, is upwards of £l jO,000. The goods are made up in packages of about 80lbs. for the conveniences of stowing, and of carrying across these places, . where the loaded canoe cannot pass. In many places they meet with rapids and falls, which arrest their progress : in such cases, they unload the canoe^and carry both it and its cargo to the uexi ISAAC WEIiO, JUN. EB<». II Description of Kingston, The first o up the r the ne- istead of en Mon- P- arture of kinly is a antity of less sur- issel they can ima- they be- inate in a A frame ections of together de waler- ry firmly, extreme- is intend- ice on the rever, are into the tbout 20/. aerchnnts in furs. — a in Mou- lds, to be e of these generally, ipitalem" ,000. >8. for the se places, they meet lUch cases, D tlie uex£ canoeable water. Six men carry o.ie of the largest canoes: its load weighs generally from four to five tons ; consisting of a nura- I ber of small packages, which they carry very expeditiously. Tliese Canadian voyageurs are hardy, strong fellows : they have beea known to cany at one time five packages, weighing about 80lbs. each, over a portage of nine miles. The canoes, when they take their departure from La Chine, are loaded to within about six inches of the gunwale, or edge of the canoe;. Instead of bars, they use padhed houses at Montreal and Quebec. A stranger, especi- ally il a British sunject, is sure to meet with a most hospitable ^ud friendly reception from them, as he passes through the place. The following information the Editor received from Lieute- nant O'Jiiley , an intelligent Naval Officer, in his Majesty's ser- vice, who left Kingston October 25, 18 1 6. Kingston, in Upper Canada, is a fine flourishing town ; con- tains about 3,000 brick and stone houses, and 10,000 inhabitants. r~1500 houses have been built since the last peace. — 2,000 troops are now stationed there: the I2th, !7th, and 37lh foot regiments, besides artillery, and a very considerable naval force ; in conse- quence of which, there is a very great and constant demand for English manufactures ; boots, shoes, hats, and every article of difess are in great request; wages for labour are very high; car? penters, bricklayers, masons, &c. may have their own prices. — ru blacksmith receives a dollar for each shoe he places on a horses' fool : the storekeepers (such as our Welsh shopkeepers) become rich, with great rapidity. Mr. Torrens, who began business, 15 years ago with 35 ^hilling6, is now worth £40,000. Lieutenant O'Riley described the progress of the colony as of the most extraordinary nature. The new town of Perth, ocJy set- tled since the peace, has now 1,000 settlers ; Drummondville 500, and New Dublin 300. Perth, only 25 miles from Kingston, Lieut. O'Riley considered as the most eligible neighbourhood for settlers, situated on the river Hideau, which having a communi- I LIEUTENANT o'hILEY. 13 Liberality of Govcriimeni towards Seltiers, Ired men t is con- brouglit are here on board urs from ected to* down the the town nd along tot large, rs of ul4 r, especi* ospitable he place. 1 Lieute< sty'g ser- itn ; con- labitants. 90 troops t'giments, in conse- inand for article of igh; carr prices — pu a horses' ) become jiaesti, 15 lony as of oiAy set- ville 500, Kingbton, irhood for :ommuni-* cation with the St. Lawrence, timber or produce can be shipped down to Montreal or Quebec with the greatest facility. T ' settlers are remarkably kind and friendly : in seed or harvest time they assist each other, even ten or twelve families unite their whole strength, by which means their business is done in a short time, and at a very little expense. The ciimate of Upper Canada Lieut. O'R. describes as nearly the same as New York : the winters not much severer than many in England, and far more pleasant: he passed a whole winter without the u e of a great coat : he describes the inhabitants as delighting in the mar- vellous. Accounts, similar to the abovo, have been given us by several other gentlemen, who had been many years in the settle- ment; consequently we feel ng hesitation in declaring it as our opinion, thai for poor farmers, bricklayers, carpenters, shoe- makers, tailor-, (urriers of leather, blacksmiths, &c. &c. there i* no place in the world more des^irable than Canada. Govtrnment very liberally bestows on settlers grants of land, allows provisions for a year or two, supplies with iuiplements of agriculture, and encourages in every possible way it can encourage, excepting a gratuitous passage, which, for various reasons, is, at present, withheld; but which, under certain regulations and re- strictions, will, we hope, be again allowed. We shall conclude this account of Canada, with the judicioua observations of Mr. Weld. What are the general inducements may here be asked, to peo- ple to quit Great Britain for the United States? They have bteu turara<;d up by Mr. Cooper*, in his letters p-iblished in 1794, ou the s'lbject of emigrating to America; and we cannot have recourse on inc i'holetto better authority. Mr. C. says — *' In my mind, the first and principal inducement to a per- son to quit England for Amf^rica, is the total absence of anxiety re^ fpectuii; the/uture success of a family. Thery is little fault to find with the government of America, that is, of the United States, either in principle or practice. There are few taxes to pay, and •Mr. Cooper, late of Manchester, who cmij-rated to America with all his family, and whose autliority has been very generally quoted by the Amcricaus ycho have since written ou the subject of eioigration. I f 11^ 14 SELECT T.IVES, VOYAGBa AND TRAVELS. Inducements to Emigration to the United States, those are of acknowledged necessity, and moderate in amount. — There are no animosities about religion, and it is a subject about which few questions are asked; there are few respecting political men and political measures ; the present irritation of men's mind§ in Great Britain, and the discordant state of society on political accounts, is net known there. The government is the govern- ment of the people, and for the people. There are no tythes nor game laws ; and excise laws upon spirits only, and similar to the British only in name. There are no great men of rank, nor many of great riches ; nor have the rich the power of oppressing the less rich, for poverty is almost unknown ; nor aie the streets crowcl- ed with beggars. You see no where the disgusting and melan- choly contrast, so common in EiKope, of vice and filth, and rags and wretchedness, in the immediate neighborhood of the most wanton extravagance, and the most useless and luxurious parade; nor are the common people so depraved as in Great Britain. Quar- rels are uncommon, and boxing matches unknown in the streets. There are no military to keep the people in awe. Robberies are very rare. All these are real advantages ; but great as they are, they do not weigh with me so much as the single consideration first mentioned." Any person that has travelled generally through the United States must acknowledge, that Mr. Cooper has here spoken with great partiality; for as to the morality and good order that pre- vails amongst the people, he has applied to all of them what only holds true with respect to those who live in the moht improved parts of the country. He is extremely inaccurate also, in representing the people of the States as free from all animosities about political measures ; oil the contrary, there is no country on the face of the globe, per- haps, where party spirit runs higher, where political subjects are more frequently the topic of conversation amongst all classes, and where such subjects are more frequently the cause of rancorous disputations and lasting ditferences amongst the people, 1 have repeatedly been in towns where one half of the inhabitants would scarcely deign to speak to the other half, on account of the differ- ence of their political opinions ; and it is scarcely possible, in any part of the country, to remain for a few hours in a mixed compaiy <4f men, without witnessing some acrimonious dispute from the tame cause, ISAAC WELD, JON. ESQ. 15 Mr. Cooper*s inducements to Emigration considered. Let us, however, compare the inducements which he holds out to people in England to leave (hat country for America, that is for the United States, with the inducements there would be to settle in Canada, under the premised supposition, that the land was there granted in an unexceptionable manner. From the land being plentiful in Canada, and consequently at a very low price, but likely to increase in value; whilst in the States, on the contrary, it has risen to an exorbitant value, be- yond which it is not likely to rise for some time to come ; there can be no doubt bul that a man of moderate property could pro- vide for his family with much more ease in Canada, than in the United States, as far as land were his object. In Canada, also there is a much greater opening for young men acquainted with any business or profession that can be carried on in America, than there is in the United States. The expence of set- tling in Canada would be far less also than in any one of the States ; for in the former country the necessaries and conveniences of life are remarkably cheap, whilst, on the contrary, in the other they are far dearer than in England; a man therefore would certainly have no greater anxiety about the future success of a family in Canada than in the United States, and the absence of this anxiety according to Mr. Cooper, is the great inducement to settle in the States, which weighs with him miore than all other considerations put together. The Taxes of Lower Canada are of acknowledged necessity, and much lower in amouut and number than those paid in the States. There are no animosities in Canada about religion, and people of all persuasions are on a perfect equality with each other, ex- cept, indeed, it be the protestant dissenters, who may happen to live on lands that were subject to tithes under the French govern- ment ; they have to pay tithes to the English episcopalian clergy ; but there is not a dissenter living on tithe lands, perhaps, in the whole province. The lands granted since the conquest are not liable to tithes. The English episcopalian clergy are provided for by the crown out of the waste lands ; and all dissenters have simply to pay their own clergy. There are no game laws in Canada, nor any excise laws what- seever. As for the observation made by Mr. Cooper, in respect to th«i /li 16 SELECT I.1VE3, VOYAGES AND TRAVELS. ihn:: Canada preferable to the United States for British Settlers. military, it is almost too futile to deserve notice. If a soldier, however, be an object of terror, tbe timid man will not find bim- ?«elf at ease in the United States any more than in England, as be will meet with soldiers in New York, on Governor's T«land, at Mifflin Fort near Philadelphia, at the forts on the North River. atNiaojara, at Detroit, and at Oswego, &c. on the 'ikes, ni.d all throusli the western country, at the diflferent posts which were established by General VVuyne. In every other respect, what Mr. Cooper has said of the Uoited States holds good with regard to Canada ; nay more, it must cer- tainly in addition be allowed by every unprejudiced person that has been in both countries, that morality and good order ar6 much more conspicuous amongst the Canadians of every de- scription, than the people of the States ; drunkenness is undoubt- rrlly much less common amongst them, as is gambling, and also n (j'.i'.int. i>. Hut i-wlependant of these inducements to settle in Canada, 1 here i«< still another circunrstance, which ought to wei^h greatly with every British emigrant, according to the opinion even of Mr. Cooper himself. After advising his friends " to go where land is cheap and fertile, and where it is in a progress of improvement," he recommends them to go somewhere, if possible, in the neigh- bourhood of a fetO English, whose society, even in America, is in* teresting to an English settler, who cannot entirely relinquish the memoria temporis acti ;" that is, as he particularly mentions in another passage, «« he will find their manners and conversation far more agreeable than those of the Americans," and from being chiefly in their company, he will not be so often tormented with the painful reflection, that he has not only left, but absolutely re- nounced his native country, and the men *hom he once held dedr above all others, and united hirui^elf, in their stead, with people whose vain boasts and Ignorant a^>* town and Newhaven. Hartford contains a btatt-liouse, a bink, museum, some neat churches and meeting-houses, and abo.it 10,000 inhabitants. We left the town about three o'clock, and parted reluctantly with General Brui:«ey ; who had pleased u» by his gentlemanly mannerB,andeutertained us with his facetious and agreeable humour. " Our stage and four horses embarked on board the flat-bot- tomed ferry boat ; and Charon, not content with us, took in ano- ther stage and four, in spite of our remonstrances to the contrary, which rendered our passage across the Connecticut river extreme- ly dangerous. The waters had risen several feet above their usual level, occasioned by the melting of the snow and ice in the upper parts of the country ; and had inundated the opposite side of the river, above a mile from the shore. All the houses near the river •were surrounded, and the farms laid under water. Our ferry boat had therefore to pass over fences and hedges, and between trees and houses, for more than a mile after we had crossed the river. — It was with difficulty the driver could keep hio horses quiet; and one plunge would have upset the boat, and most probably drown- ed us all. <* For several miles we passed through a plain level country, well cultivated, and apparently rich and fertile. The people of Connecticut are distinguished by their industry, sobriety, and oeconomy ; strict piety and devotion. Travelling on Sundays is not permitted in their state, though strangers often contrive to evade the laws. Elders go about and forbid inn-keepers at their peril to suffer any person to travel ; but the latter generally keep a few horses ready saddled in the stables; and if a traveller arrives on Sunday, he help^ himself to one of the horses, and goes off by some bye-road. This manoeuvre of the inn-keepers resembles that of the Quakers in paying taxes ; " Friend, thee may lakcy but I cannot give to thee." "The inhabitants are almost entirely of English descent; there being neither French, Dutch, Germans, nor other foreigners among them ; and very few even of the Irish and Scolf.h. Th^^ ORIGINAL LETTERS. 19 Letter from Mr. John TurnbuU. ' towns is built d iitat Ml till'* , biiik, HllOilt <, and J (]» hy nu8 and lat-bot- in ano- )ntrary, ttreme- ir usual i upper » of the he river rry boat en trees river.-— et ; and drown- :ountry, eople of »ty, and idays is itrive to at their lly keep ir arrives es off by bles that te, but I descent ; :>reigner8 •.h. Th? rouKh, frank hospitality of the En-lish farmer is here generally met with; and thou^h there are not many who are reiuarkable for opulence, yet the number is still less of those who are remarkable fo. indigence. The generality of the people live iu ea^y indepen- dent circumstances ; and upon that footing of equality which is best calculdted to promote virtue and happiness amouj? society. The population of the state is about 300,000, the nv.jority of whom are Con^r^gationalist8, Episcopalians, Haptl^ts, Quakers, and Ii.dependants. The people are said to be distinguished for their general information and learning ; and the country abounds with colleges, grammar schools, and village seminaries. The se- lect men (magistrates) are empowered to levy a fine of three dol- lars upon every person who neglects to send his children to school. «» The general face of the country consists of mountains, bills, plains and valleys ; well watered by the Connecticut river, and a variety of smdier streams. The climate is healthy, thou-h liable to the extremes of heat and cold. The principal productions are wheat, rye. buckwh-^at, Indian corn, oats, barley, flax, hemp and vegetables of all kinds. Great quantities of horned cattle, horses, sheep, swine and poultry, are also raised in this state, of a very ex- cellent kind. Cyder is the favourite beverage of the people ; and large orchards crowded with an iminense variety of fruit-trees are attached to every farm in the state." The following Extracts from authentic Letters will, no doubt, in the opinion of^ome of our readers, be of ^''l%}'''f^''^ll\:^^^ the Accounts of Travellers or the Observations of Editors, we there- fore subjoin them : Extract of a Letter from Mr. John TurnhuU, late of Shrewsbury, to his Mother. ^^^^ _, ., Bai^uok Oec. 8, 1816. ""AinTRapW'^of six weeks anH two days w. •■ - .af., having epjoyea .oodttal.h he w2 ot .ho time: We were received kind.y and bade welcome to K„n;b.a-s M.ore. I landed on Monday and cot «ork '» ^^J'^/^^'^-.^lrn not riover hrard of me & was goiiiK down to seek for me, hot we met ai am ^appointed in «ny thing. Labouring men P«» ; f^/!^-,.];^;^^;^^^^^^^^^ men rom 7.^. to 9s. a .i^y ; tailors have trom four to nine dollars tor V^lf^^, . , ?here is no want of employment here if disposed to work :,ho^^^^^^^^^^ in«,.. RiP^fl nf extra analitv. three nonnd and a half tor the qiiaiter uouar. ui .. 3d to 6d pound TS'sd. to fod. ; butter I3d. lo 18d. a. th. season o t .. year : I had a ,oose to day tor dinner atj!s. 9d. ; P"»«'""' l'^«' ^jS . l' v ;, bushel ; tea and sugar the same a* with yon but very good : rent h Rb • P>y for a large room 3 dollars and a halt per month, but I'ope soon to d« be ;n I and sells np to the city from 20 to 100 dollars per arre. WorKm^ " i, , „ from balipast "e'^en o'clock in the morning till four in the evemng : and one bonr siilowed for dinner time. 20 OBI GIN AL LETTERS. Mrs TurnbuWs Letter. -»■ Extract of a Letter from Mrs, Turnbull to a friend in Shrewsbury, Baltimore, Dc«m6er 2c>th, 1816. Y EAR RiENDj^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^^ ^^^^^ ^^^^^^^ ^^,^ of oursafe arrival after : paiijia»?e of MIC weeks and two days. We were ten days on board before weMiIel, wl» "U made it eicht weeks on the watei. I wa» sick only one day, whid. 'va'^ a g'ea« inercv as my li"'" tamilv reqnired constant attention. We ha- • I' been very heartv'since wf landed, which was five weeks la^t Su.ulay morning We went on .iJiore in the af .ernoon to look about uR-»lie children were so delichted they «vere ready to roil about the earth and kiss the pround L was a verv fine day •vhicli 0i.i(le it Pleasant to them, but I felt as if I would rather abide m the ^Inr than go into «. strange ciiv, with three litt e children, and no money in my pocknt, tor we had bat one dollar C48. 6d,)so I leave you to gm ss at my fri'lmgH. »or I ««!';»;;«- scribe them • and we all wanted (.omelhintt fiesli to eat and drnik, l»eiii!i without so lone, for we could not afford to lay in any thing to diiak; but we had plenty of salt meat, potatoes, peas, oatmeal, and wat.-r, vhicU was a great merrv ; »'>'« «c did not look poor, for we dressed onrselvos quite .sm.rt, and the c nidren looked so nice th2l several s«'^«teei penple sropped ns to kiM the dnidren and bid us welcome. Two Negro girls followed us two or three streets, and looked so wisii- fHl and pleasant at the children, and at last one of them said to me, " Pray, Madam, do \oo know any one that wants a girl." • i » If the Lord pleases Jo give us good health, we shall do well, as there is plenty of work and very f«w good stone cutters. John might have gone to vwork on Mondav morning, if we could have cleared out of the ship, but it was Thursday •veiling before he could go, but he got four dollars by Saturday, which wa» very "''''rJi''s'pIace is not ne^r so large as Liverpool nor are the streets fj'.j'y h"|'^ "J' bot they are laid out quite straight, and trees planted on each side. J' "7;« '"^,, ny handsome houses of brick and stone, and many good shops, which they c^ll Stores. What you ell hnxtcr*, sell spirits of all kinds and beer, b^«f » f^'^f/y- I have not tasted any good tea since I came here, and as dear as with j on. I he augar is about the same price, but much sw^ r ,,1 better. . We ^^l^f^.^'^^^^^ pounds and a half of flour for a quarter of , . ,- All kinds nf ' cbe wornen wearnocaps. but liaVe their hair all turjied back Iron, be ore and f««t«"^'^ r";^ « comb npon the top of the head: they put mc in 'n'"^."* '^''^ ^"7\ ^'Jl'? bonotts sti( king up so high: they mostly wear bonnets in the shape of a mans liat, vith a ribbon over the top, wiiU feathers in the front, &c. ILxlract if a Letter from Mr. D. Jones to his Brother toho resides near Shreivsbury. •« Belficv lives in Wilmingiou, and is doing very well ; Jane is >"«";; ^•^'f";'" 4oIng yerv well ; Brother Richard lives near Wilmington, farming. Dear B ot er «e should he glad to see you in America where you may enjoy perfcU for ov. r. 1 would not give my situation and liberties for «"y,I^""» «ff ^^^VmS i i !,,.k! ; for I want lor nothing but grutitudo to n,ake me as happy as any man m rugland. wsburif, 316. r u pa»»a«?e ai a great bpen very Ye vent on tliev •^♦•<'« ilftj -.vliicli i|t than go kfit, for we rai) «ol 'le- ; without so enty of salt V ; but we n looked so and bid us eH 80 ^^isll- ay, Madam, ^re is plenty to work on 18 Tiuirsday Lh was very ly built np, lere are ma- ich they call des grocery, ijyon. 'I'he abont three itcliers' meat ity together, and half— it y are mostly who are very iioiid. It is e pump, &c. mployers,for [ black men, !in very good You will see ; the women tened with a -, with thi'iv r a man's hat, )ho resides larried, and in Dear Brother rfect freedom !siate in Eng- 3 any man in ORIGINAL LETTRRI* 91 J^r. Sixain's Letter. " I have a handsome firm, and every thing ibont me. Mother rides about with me and my wife, and ih as happy as the day, to nee her children settled in a land n( freedom. If you wete here she would die happy. I Irear that times are hard i« En^htnd, and that the ciop of wheat faiM Fa^i harvest: I hope you will let me know 1 live 18 miles from the City 6f Philadelphia, a good market, very lari{fl an acres.) If I accon.plish this, I hope to have some of you to come and live with niP The land is very good and easy rlearin-. I send this by a Inend to Monliea', our seaport above Quebec. Yen m:.y send to me by any vessel to the Uoited biates, h„t t>es> *.^ M^w York, from thence wc have a logalar po^t every two weeks : the iKtci* \>ill come sooiitit and saten tliis \v;.y. Let "H'. ? beseech yon» hcui lion^ r' n.i >•<;> ORIGINAL LEITEtin. Mr. Phillips's Letter. von as soon as this comes to hanJ. I have it in contemplation to send to yon for some of vonr farthen-ware— plates, dishes, mugs, tea-nips, &:c. ice. are vHrv dear here • and I lliink 1 might import a few crates to good advnniajje. I hope T shall soon 'have it in mv power to export some small quantity of wheat flonr; great ouantiiies are sent from this country. If you have acquaintance with any of the masters of the earthen-ware works, be so good as to enqnire if the> usually ex- port, and what credit they give to foreign merchants : mention this in your next." Cop7j of a Letter from Mr. John PhilllpSy late of Manchester ^ to a friend in Shrewshuri/. Dear Sir,— When we parted at Shrewsbury, you much wished me to give vou some information respecting Canada, and the place to which I was going to settle- I will therefore first ieform you that I sailed from the Port of Glasgow, in a fortnight after we parted, and I arrived at Quebec the 19tli July. I had a letter from Lord Bathurstto Governor Sir G Dnmimond, and I assure you I found his excellency very obliging and civil, much more so than many of your tradesmen and half eentiy. His excellency shewed me his maps, and I fixed upon a grant of land at Drummondville, about 60 miles from Montreal, and about the same distance from Three Rivers and Sorrel, and 13() miles from Quebec. 1 find the country very agreeable, and the land is excellent— equal to any yoa have altout Shrewsbury ; bat to a person who does not understand how land is .Icarfd holt', the siijht of such immense trees would be frightful in the extreme.— I had UKicr^-s of my land cleared by a Yankee at 5 dollars an acre, and well done too. I expect about from 25 to Sb bushels an acre of wheat ; but part of my land I have set with potatoes and other vegetables. I got my stock of Pigs and Foul- try fiom a nei'-hbour settler of the name of Mac Kinnei, who is a Scotchman, and a downri"ht "ood fellow~I shall pay him in kind. Indeeil, i purchase all my little neccssanes'^on condition of paying for them out of my comin- crops, and from the increase of my life slock. , •, , . -^ j Jan*" did not like our mode of living at hrst— she is now reconciled to it, and we are as comfortable as it is possible to be— T am surk of living now and in a vear or two as my farm improves, i hope to do souu'thing more than barely maintain myself. Land here does not require half the culture yon bestow upon it in England": Indeed it is often too rich. . ^ . , We have a great many Aineiinans amongst us who prefer our government and onr clin-ate to ih( ir own. The winter is id: fio»u bping so severe as I imagined, as Uiere are manv warm davs in the coldtst season. The fiies are the most trouble- some of any inconvenience we have here ; but these are common to ail America, and only teaze us in the .summer. j ^, , ... The town of Three Rivers is a borough like Shrewsbury, and they have their oarSi-s "ler.- ^'s well as with you. Some years ago Mr. Ezekiel Hart, a Jewish merchant was elected member of our Parliament ; but ihe gentry very mcch oppo- sed him, and there are parlies even yet. i ^ t „ I have not seen enonnh of Canada to give you a full description ; but I can as- sure you I have seen no poViktv HEhE-theie is work for every one-good wages and comfort too. if thty are iu any degree prudent. I wish 1 had a ew fnvnds out of Lancashire, I should be tlie iiappiest man i.i t xistenoe. I preach occasionally, and ;.in forming a little sodeiv among the svttlei^-l hope to be useful- When I wine next, I will send you all ivailiculars. Till wlu;n, RiNGLEY Farm, 1 «««>, Dear Sir, yuns, &c. Dnuumo-idriNcOct. It;, 1816. . ... *'•, . "^*^"„ r ^.r- P S.TIie following ase (lie prices ot pvovi.MoiS line, which you will, 1 dare *ay, think cheap- steilii.g im,a>ey --Potato.. i(id. jKr I)ii4u-1 ; Onions lOd per hun- .ircd; IWeffroni )|d. to -M. r-r 11..; «an,b 3<. < . . ..''■ 'l''*^r'.r; Veal ,d per • ; Pork .Vd. per lb; Fowls l..?l.<^ courlo, <.eo.e 'J<. •., to yon for very dear )pe T sliall inr: ^reat uiy of the usually ex- ir next." er^ to a fne to give ts going to ilas$;ow, ia id a letter [ found his esnien and a grant of le distance to any yoa ow land is ttrome. — I Iduue too. my land I and Ponl- nan, and a II my little d from the ] to it, and ; NOW and han barely aw upon it nment and iragined, as St trouble- America, have their , a Jewish lu'ch oppo- t I can as- fjood wages friinds out ccasioiially, i|. When I IPS. will, T dare )d per hull- ed, per I') ; 10 yd. f-acli ; r.— .All arlj- unteiit witU J. V. J