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C<^NTAININ6^ A COMPLETE BESCRirriON OP TBji m^aL&MiAFALLU. . f'; * AlsTD REMARKS RELATIVE TO TRE BITTXAT!0>r Or THE mj^ABITANTS RESPECTING THE WAR. BY M. SMITH. HARTFORD a % Y - ■ ^. . ....■»« i»B.I^XEJ> rOFv THE AUTHOR, BY HAIE ^ HOSMIX. Fc BI3T8XCT OrCONNECTlCTJT, TO WIT : ^SEALV JjE IT REMEMBEniso, That on thjB Twenty.Fourth day of April, in the thirty-seventh yew of the Independence of §« Uiuted State* of America, MICHAEL SMITH, of the said iatrlet, hath deposited in this oflSce, the title of a book, the light Whereof he cladms as author, in the woMsfollowingi to wit : ** A geographical view of the Province;^ Upper Caiiada, aiid Promiscuous remarks upon the gpoifUri^ment. In tyiro paits. \rith an Appen^ mhlic in own the been Buggested by others. Some may imagine, be- cause I write thus, that I have a partiality for the fingUsh — but this I solemnly deny ; I only describe things in their true characters, with the impartiality of an historian. I began this before the war ; I un- dertook it with an earnest desire to benefit some, I care not who ; if any are benefitted I shall be gratifi- ed ; in short, I write this Pro Bono Publico, WwcHfisTBR, April 16> 1813. a2 n expen- rhat has t t-,^' P4BT i T V Descbiption or tke Disthict ot London, (Upper Canada..) This district is bminded east by Indian land, on Grand River, north by the wilderness, west by the t\cstern district at Detroit, and south by Lake Erie, along the north sliore of whieli it extends about nine- ty miles. The district of liondon is certakly much the best part of Canada. It issiufficiently level, very rich, and beautifully variegated with small hills and fertile vallies, through which flow a number of pearly streams of almost the best water in the worid. In this district there is a large quantity of natural plains, though not in very large bodies, and not en- tirely clear of timber. This land has a handsome appearance, and affords jBne roads and pasture in summer. Here the farmer Iip ')ut little to do only to fence his land, and put in the plough which indeed requires a strong team at fiist, but afterwards may be tilled with one horse. These plains are mostly in the highest parts of the ground, are very rich and well adaT»ted for wheat and clover :. The surfaGC of rT" the earth in this difitrict is almost entirely clear of stone ; it is of a sandy quality, f^pccially the plains) which renders it very easy for cultivation. This district is situated in the 41st degree of north latitude, and is favoured with a temperate climate* The summers are sufficiently long, to bring all the crops to perfection, if planted in season : indeed there is hardly ever any kind of produce injured by the frost. This is the best part of Canada for wheat, and I believe of any part of the world : from twenty to thu"ty-five bushels are commonly gathered from one acre of ground, perfectly sqund and clear from smut. Corn thrives exceedingly well, as also all other kmds, of grain. Apples, peaches, cherries, and all kinds of fruit common to the United SUtes, flour- ish very well here. Woodland sells from two to live dollars an acre. The timber of this district con- mts of almost all kinds common to the United States. The inhabitants of this district enjoy a greater de* gree of health, than is common to observe in irost places: but doubtless there are reasons for ihia, founded on natural prmciples, and among which are the following: Ist. The inhabitants are from their prosperous si- tuation, exempt from the necessity of labouring too hard, and at the same time are called to a moderate share of industry^ which promotes the health of the body and mind. T^ y clear of he plains) D of north climate* g all the leed there i by the !at, and I wenty to from one cm smut* ^l other and all tes, flour* i^o to five trict con- x\ States* eater de* in irost for thisg ^hich are erous si- iring too noderate Lhof the . 9 2d» The most of iho people were poor when they .first catfiie to the. province: of course iiad been ac- customed to live on the simple necessities of life, and yet retain a wise moderaiion in eating and drinking, which also very much prevents the introduction of -disease. « ^^ - 3d. The climate is quite temperate, and accord- ing to the observation of many who liave lived in the place ten years, budden changes from hot to <'old, -or cold to hotj. is not so common as in most placiesin the United States, or Europe. TJie winter commen- ces gradually, and goes off in like manner. The isnow in tlife district has [never been known to be more than 20 inches deep, and generally not more than 12. V .r^v..,- 4th. All the water in this district is clear from , any foreign body, is piu'e, ^nd of the lightest order ; the most of the people make use of springs or brooks, which are in great plenty, are clear and cool nine months in the year : neither are they very ol ten made muddy by rain, the land tlurough wlich they run being of a sandy quality. . 6th. The soil being of a sandy quality, as observ- ed above, naturally produces sound and sweet grain, and vegetables : the using of which very much pro- motes the health of the consumer. 6th. The people of /this Canadian paradise are '■ • ■VmlXllia 10 mon'^to observe in most places, which also very much pi:e8erveg the health of man, while a contriiry disposition tends to destjfoy it. Thia District is divided into three counties, viz. Norfolk, Middlesex, and Oxford, and twenty-fiva townships, all of wfeich I will describe in a brief manner. ( - ,1 ■ _ ■ - OF NORFOLK COUNTY. This County lies in the south-east part of the dis- trict, joining the shore of Lake Erie, and is divided into nine townships, generally nine miles wide, where they join on the lake shore, and twelve miles in length towfurds the north. WALPOLE. This township lies in the south-east corner of Hit county, joining the Indian land on the Grand River, and the lake shore. It is tolerably well supplied with timber of various kinds. The ground is level, and very rich ; though thinfy settled, in consequence of large bodies of land together being owned by peo- ple in England. It cotttains 1 gunnsmith, 1 store, 1 school, 1 saw- mill, 1 tanner, 2 shoe-makers, and 1 taylor. RAINHAM. This lies joining and west of Walpole, on the lake shore, and is also thinly inhabited ; yet it is very rich isind, finely Umbered, and clear from stone, though Ail Is supp] from beaul Thei most sily c not ( seen ( thro\ great I hai cultii cd, Sicre. V n also tcry a contriiry « lotles, viz. twenty-five in.& brief of the dis- is divided ide, where s in len^^th ner of the xnd River, I supplied id is level, ^sequence Bd by peo- oJ, 1 saw* m the lake I verv rich e, though \' some parts are overflowed with shallow ponds of wa- iter. There are also large bodies of land in this town- ship, owned by the rich of England and other coun- tries, which very much events the population of the town. It contains two large streams of water, viz. Stony Creek and Nanticoke, with several smaller ones — 1 blacksmith, 1 taylor, * 1 mason, 1 tanner, 2 shoe-ma- «*! kers, 1 joiner, 1 grist-mill, 2 saw-mills, 1 distillo.'y, 1 store, 1 school, one religious society (Dutch Luthe- rans), and 1 divine. WOODHOUSE, Is thickly inhabited by rich farr ^rs ; and is well supplied with timber of various kinds, three mOe» from the lake shore ; after which it is chiefly plains, yf beautifully interspersed with fine groves of tunber. l[ The soil of this township is of a sandy quality, al- most entirely free from stone, and of course very ea- sily cultivated. This kind of sandy land is very rich, not only on the surface, but far beneath. I have seen corn and other things planted on sand that was thrown up from 5 to ;20 feet deep, which grew to great perfection ; nor will it wear out in a short time. I have known land of this kind in the township under cultivation sixteen yeaurs, without ever being manur- ed, to produce twenty-five bushels of wheat per acre. k*. I! "'■BiT'-i'tmnaaliM 12 This township has been eettkd twenty yeaFS, wilh people from New^ Jersey, New-York, and Permsylva- nia ; and is famous for apples aud peaches. It is watered with three large etreanasj which afford ma~ ny fine falls for water-works^ viz. Young's, Patters'vri's^ and Black Greel^; together with several other snm^i- er ones ; and one sulphurous springs It contains t-,vo blacksmiths, six grist-mills, (in twopjaees), seven j>&w mills, one fulling-miU, one carding-mill, six, distiilo lies, seven stores, two masons, thfee joiners, two tai lors, four shoe-makers, thiee weavers, one hatter, two religious societies Methodist one Divine, (MO one meeting-house (M.), one village (Dover),. one philoso^ phical society, three schools, three physiciafls, on*{ at^ torney, and one masonic sodetyrf CHARLOTTE VIIJLE^ This township lies still westof Woadhouse, and will bear nearly the eaiue description, although (if , possible) better watered. It has been settled aboul seventeen years, by people from the United States, It contains four grist-iuills, three saw-mills, three distilleries, three tanners, four shoe-makers, two tai- lors, tlu-ee blacksmiths, four carpenters, two stores, two hatters, one potter, one physician, two religious societies (one Methodist and one Baptist;, one meet- ing-house (B.), two public buildings (a court-house and jail), one singing-school, and three reading-schools. Aucrc iti iiiiuc oi eACciicut uou ore, lately di>'co^ vered. There are also Some large though shallow >j 1 18 Permsy I va- lues. It IS afford nia- PattersfiTi'Sj ther Enrdl" ontainslwo six, distil kv ♦s, two tai* Matter, two ;, (MO one ne phfloso- «ig, on*! at- iiouse, and ithougli (if tied about 1 States, lilis, three fi, two tai- two storefcy 3 religiotis one njeet^ iourt-hou«6 ng-schools. teiy difco^ jh shaUow marshes, or natural meadows, from which tJicrc is an- nually taken a large qiiaw*ity of hay. WALS GHAM,^ Lies directly west or rather south-west of Char- lotteville, on the lake sliore. The soil is very rich and level, and better timbered than Charlotteville, though not quite so well watered, nor so thickly set- tled. The greater part of the inhabitants are Dutch. It contains one grist-mill, one saw-mill, two distil- leries, one tanner, two shoe- makers, two blacksmiths, one tailor, two weavers, tliree joiners, two masons, one hatter, one religious society (Methodist), and two schools. - HOUGHTON, Is directly south-west of Walsingham, on the lake shore, and will bear nearly tlie same description, though it is thinly settled, except on the cast side, the land being chiefly owned by gentlemen in Eng- land. It is watered with one fine stream, called Big Creek. MIDDLETON, Lies north or back of Houghton and Walsingham. In this townsliip there are many plauis and natural meadows — well watered, rich, and clear of stone, though as yet without improvement. Big Creek * From this township, extends Long-Poiut, 18 miles into the lake. No one lives on it. I ! 14 flows through this township, on the banks of which is a sulphu- us spring of great strength. WINDHAM, Joins Middleton on the cast, and Charlotteville and Woodhouse on the north. It is partly plain ami partly timber-land, very rich, clear of stone, well wa- tered, and tolerably thick settled with a civil and in- dustrious people frbm the United States. Unimproved land sells cheap here— from one ind a half to three dollars an acre. It contains two shoe-makers, two tailors, three wea- vers, two joiners, one mason, one tanner, one, hatter, one store, two schools, two religious societies (one Coii- gregationalist and one Methodist), one circulating 11- brary, and one Divine (Congregationalist.) TOWNSEND. This township joins Windham on the east, and Woodhouse and Rainham on the north, is chietly rich natural plains, which are beautifully intersperst I with groves of timber, level, well watered, and cleat of stone. It is thickly settled with rich farmers, wlio raise great quantities of grain and cattle. Townsend contains four grist-mills in two places, three saw-mills, three blacksmiths, three distillerieL% two tanners, four shoe-makers, two weavers, four join ers, one hatter, one mason, three physicians, four stores, one mine of red clay nearly equal to Spanisli brown, two Divines (one Baptist and one Methodist), 15 ; of which arlotteviiie f plain and e, well wa« [vil and in- m one and three wea- one, hatter, ;s (one Cbiii; culating U- ) e east, and I, is chi(?tty nterspersed l,and ckae Liraers, who two places, distillerlci^, rs, four join icians, fonr [ to Spanisf} JMethodist), •t* two meeting-houses (one Congregationalist and one Baptist), and four schools. OF OXFORD COUNTY. This County is situated north of Norfolk and Mid- dlesex, towards the heads of the Thames and Grand rivers, and is divided into six townships, about twelve miles square. BURFORD, Lies north of Townsend, joining the Indian land on the east. It is partly plains, level, rich, sandy, well watered, and pretty thickly settled. It contains two tailors, one hatter, one tanner, three shoe-maker?, two blacksmiths, two joiners, one grist- mill, two saw-milli^, one distillery, one fuUJig-mill, three physicians, two religious societies (Methodists), and tliree schools. . BLENHIEM, Lies north-west of Burford. It consists of plains and timbered land, rich, well watered, and tolerably thick settled. It contains two grist-mills, two saw-mills, one tan: ner, two shoe makers, two blacksmiths, one distilleryi| two weavers, and two joiners. OXFORD. This township lies west of Blenhiem and Burford^ h rich, well watered, thickly timbered, settled, and well improved by industrious people, from the States 16 of Ncw-Yort and Vermont. This township is it raous for making butter and cheese. It contains two grigt-railjs, two saw-mills, two di^v tilleries, two tanners, three shoe-makers, two itasonH, twa hatters, two carpenters, three blacksmiths, iv o tailors, one fulling-mill, two physicians, one i>iv1nf^ (Baptist,) three religious societies (two Metboan^i and one Baptist), one court-house, and a jail. NORWICH, Lies west of Oxford on the beautiful river Thamee, is very rich and exceeding well watered tl»migfr tolerably thick set with timber. This Township has not been settled more ihrn. seven years, yet it contains a considerable nunsl>e,-' f>l iithabittints, chiefly from the State of Ne\N'Y€rk. They are mostly Quakers, or Friends, and luive a decent meeting-house for the w orship of God. It contains one grist-mill, two saw-mills, one tm- ner, two shoe-makers, one tailor, tw^o black-£ uitlis, two carpenters, three ^ fiavers, one hatter, one potti r, one physician, and two schools. DIERHAM, Is good land, well watered, though but thMj settled : It is thick set with timber. It contains one blacksmith, t\ro shoe-maker.?, joiner, one religious society, (Methodist.) Oil* that ■■ i l;;e ; n- r>l' ( ■l'^ine< Tt lliiose latl [tlie I huire. hip is it , two -li^- iiithg, i'vvo le Dlvtiic lethodists il. r Th'iime§, d tl|Oiigli- uore 11i;m nunsh S'e\\'-Yo:rlr. 1(1 ii^Tc-a Jod. !, one tail- onepf^i^cr, but U-U^ilr- takers-, orn I r BLENFORD, Is nearly like Dierham, and contains one saw-mill, me blacksmith, two schools, one tanner, two shoe* lakers, one joiner, and one religious society, (Metho- ..list.) n m ' ''■3 OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY. This county lies directly southwest of Norfolk, Joining the lake shore, and is exceeduig rich, well- watered with a number of fine streams, is level, aqd fvaost entirely clear of stone. The common growtlt ^ timber is bass, black and white walnut, with iii ekory, maple, and oak. , , It is not more than two years jfrom the time I uiite, April 1812, since this county has been open ft>f settlement, of course it cannot be expected In at there are many water works, mechanics, or the Ike; I therefore shall omit naming the number in ay Township, but proceed to name the Townships, aiid on what terms this excellent land may be ob- tJ!]ned.# This County is divided into ten Townships : )se lying on the lake shore are Malahide, Bayham, [; nithhold, Yarmouth, and Dunwich: Those on th« north part are Dorchester, Westminster, Dcla- are, Yarmouth, and Marlborough. *" These remarks were wrote before the declaration of war. a 2. lil'MiJIIillM t The laud is exceeding rich in these Townships and the surface more level than is common, there being no signs of trees having been formerly turned up by the roots here or any where the west side oil the Grand River. Some few years ago there was a road opened by the government eight miles fi'om the shore of Lake Erie, parallel with the same, about fifty miles long, as also one on the lake shore and another from the middle to the north. On both sides of this road bts of ^00 acres of land have been given to settlers by the King, and now may be obtained by any person on the following terms. First, every person that wants a lot of 200 acres (dfor no one person can get more fiom the King) must take the oatli of allegiance to his majesty be- fore some of his majesty's justices of the peace, a certificate of which he must procure. Secondly, he must then go to Col. Thomas Tal- bert, now agent for the King respecting the land, who lives on the place, and shew him the certificate of the oath, and inform him of the a\ ish to obtain a lot for settlement, who will point out those that are not engaged ; they may then take their choice. Thirdly. They must then pay to Col. Talbert, or gome other proper person, 37" dollars and a half, for ' i Fo acres feet ( dowr of th of wl of th I Fii ?>e ac end c W ..01. whic j'|iip')n ^,VfUC dolia (;cpei in If of by is of G( lives rownshipg ion, there ly turned est side of opened by re of Lake liles longj from the this road to settlers d by any 200 acres the Kmg) najesty be- le peace, a Lomas Tal- 2j the land, ! certificate to obtain a se that are loice. Talbert, or a half, for 19 t / Fourthly. . luey then must witliin the term of 1, two years, clear fit for cultivation, and fence, ten acres of the lot obtained and build a house 16 by 20 feet of logs (or frame) with a shingled roof, also cut down all the timber in front of and the whole width of the lot, which is,^ chains 133 feet wide, 33 feet of which mast \yt cleared smooth and left fot half of the public road.# Fifthly. They must with, or without a family, Ixi actual settlers on the said lot, within and at the f^nd of two years. When all the things are done (no matter how soon) Col. Talbert will give them a certificate of the same, ivhich they must take to the Land Office in York, upon which they will get a . deed for the said lot, which is a deed of s^ift from the King. The 37 1-2 dollars called the fees is what necessarily arises ^ :. an c cpense from the surveying and giving it out; in the spring of 1812 there were 600 lots taken up for f^ettlement and was then 400 more to be disposed of by government, besides about 300 in the possession o{ Col. Talbert to be sold at private sale. ' The aettlers of these lots are almost altogether nar- ivts of the United States. '» The cutting of the timber for 133 feet is oir-itted as a settling duty on lots which lie off from tlie main road. FdRT II Genekal Remarks on the Geograpuical State OP THE whole Province. Situation and extent.^Th^ Province of Upper- Canada lies between 41^ and 40 minuted and 47 de- grees north latitude, and extends along the northern banks of the river St. Lawrence, the Lakes Ontario and Erie, and the water communication from Lake Superiour about seven hundred miles, and is five hundred mfles wide, according to an imaginary line thatdivides it from New-Britain on the nt rth. The line that divides it from the lower province begins in. latitude 45 at Lake St. Francisco, and takes a north- west course by Lake Tomis, canting until it meets the imaginary line just mentioned. The line that divides the upper province from, the United States commences near the above lake and is a ground line a considerable distance, some disl tance above the St. Regis village of Indians: then through the middle of the river St. Lawrence to Uie^beginning of Lake Ontario, thence through the , uuMh uf a to iha outlet of Lake jik-ie, then through feCttl any ( Shoi CAL STAXJt; of Upper- nd 47 de- le northern cs Ontario from Lake nd is £ve binary line rth. The B begins in, !S a north- it meets- ince from, bove lakCj some d is- ms. • then nence to ough the » through 21 the middle of the out-let to the beginning of the said l.ake, then :through the middle of it to tJie head near Detroit; so tlirough the middle of tlie water eommunication and Lakes 3t. Clair, Huron, Superi- or, Long-Lake, and Lake of the Woods : thence a due west course to the head waters of the river Mis- jisippi. In these bounds there is a very largo quantity of r\xeeding fertile land uninhabited, particularly in Ike south western parts. Here nature blooms, un- irod by man and sjniles with virgm charms to draw him hence. Nor do I doubt but that the time is near when settlements will be made in these regions, enpecially ' his Majesty's successour to the British throne aould possess such a benevolent disposition as i^eorge HI. who has always been willing to give •my one land in the province without money or price. Should this be the case, the wilderness will soon be- ome a fruitful field, and the desert like the garden ol Eden.f Soil and Surf ace, -^Theve are no mountains in the jljruvince of Upper -Canada, and but very few hills of m,y considerable hcighth : yet the country is not of ja clear level, but affords enough of small hills and t These remarks were wrote before the declaration of war by I rie ^T-merieaii goyerrmieni against England or the invasion of T Canada. PBgr-^p""*"^- high bodies of ground to render it agrceai)Ie to the eye, and on^^enjent for cultivation, buildings, water- Works, e c. !^ c. Hie naoumn'n iJope or siidden rise of ground, wlkkh divides the waters of Lake Erie from Lake Ontario, begins (I ki.ow not how far) northwest from the lieud of Lake Ontario, or what is called Burling- ton Bay, it extends around tht; head of the Bay a south-east course, then an easterly course near the south shore of Lake Ontario, (one or two miles) till it crosses the out-let of Lake Erie, uhere it is fifteen miles to the sbuUi of Ontario. This rise, towers m some places hve hundred feet high, almost perpendicular, aboundmg with craggy rocks : but in general, is not more than two hundred and fifty or three hundred feet, and then the ascent is very gra- dual, mostly in the form of an English summer gar- den, with natural offsets about five hundred yards wide : there are commonly two of thmc offsets. On these offsets are plantations with inhabitants, who have very extensive and beautiful prospects, especial- ly those who reside on the top. Here the eye can gaze with pleasure oh ail the fer- tile fields below, and has an unbomided view of the Lake Ontaiio, and some of the novthern shore. On top of this rise of ground, the whole country k itveJ fertile and beautiful, no hill to descend or rise! « -^- «,. ..i, TTM.vwi5 oii liic souiusucie oi this slope § run fine for 1 iTO of 01 ft ^'"^ I and S mt eU 6 forn A Ootc side] h lei of tt Che ^ all, li'^at] T] 1 ce(?di I A , 23 cable to the iiiigs, water- of groimd, from Lake Ihwe^t from led Burlirig- the Bay a se near the ► miles) till ►here it is This rise, igh, almost cks : but in nd fifty or 3 very gra- immer gar- Ired yards ffsets. On itants, who ts, egpecial- ail the fer- ritw of the re. On J« ' •y ib itvel, I or rise, this slope I mn into Lake Erie ; though there are a few that lirjd their way through the slope, and afford fine f Jls for water works. What is called tj e SO the 30 md 40 mile creeks go through the slope and afford excellent f'ulfi, on which there are famouF water works at pre- mn.. A considerable part of this slop is composed of craggy limestone rock, particularly the steep parts, ar) called the short hills. Some of these have the form of little mountains, though none ol them are !iigh or hard of ascent, and may be cultivated nearly all over. All along and not far from thn north shore of Lake Ontario the ground rises tolerably sudden and con- ?klerrbly high, after which the country to the north i level enough. There are few stone on the surface <)[ the ground, in any part of the province, and on Ihe west side of the Grand River there is no stone at ail, worth naming, yet there are stone enough be- ri'^ath the surface almojt every where and in many pkvcefj limtbtone is plenty. The soil of the Province of Upper Canada is ex- ceeding good in every part, yet if possible it is the i;cst in the upper part west and southwest of the ! H Ifl m li lilUi III head of the Bay Quaatie around the north shore and head of Lake Ontario, and the west side of the Grand River, in the London district already describ- ed. The lower part of the Province ip sand and clay, mixed ; from the head of the Bay Quantie to the head of Lake Ontario, it is altogether a black light rich mould, in most places seven inches deep, after which it is brown clay. On the Grand River or In- dian Land and ih the London District,the soil is sand, brown loam and clay. Natural Production. The timber of the lower part of the Province, is chieOy hemlock, birch, and beach. That of the middle part, or from the begin- ning of Lake Ontario to the head, is chiefly beach, sugar maple, and white pine. On and west of the Grand River the chief of the timber is white pine. Elm, bass, black walnut, and the different oaks, chesnut and the like, indeed in this part of the pro- vince are found all the varieties in the United States ; also some of the trees of the balm of Gilead, one of a majestic appearance stands M miles west of Ni- a.e:ara on the main road. In the lower part of the province there is but little of any kind of wild fruit, but in the middle part there are several sorts, parti- cularly whortleberries and rioe.# In the western * This rice grows in the bottom of several shallow Lakes • the stalk is nearly like the stalk of oats. The en-aln :« l.w,.. Vk^j, common rice,^not so white, but rather of a better taste"and not 2d 3 north shore t side of th? eady describ- md and clay, lantie to the black light 3 deep, after River or In- le soil is sand, f the lower ;, birch, and n the begin- defly beach, L west of the white pine, rerent oaks^ i of the pro- lited States^ ilead, one of west of Ni« part of the ' wild fruit, I 'Orts, parti- he western w Lakes ; the - O*'* •-'i-il taste and not ^ and arc part tJicre arc a great variety of wild fruits, „»^ «,c the following : Cranberries, raspberries, blackberries grapes, sarvesberries, wild potatoes, whieli were ex' needing useful to the first inhabitants, strawberries plumbs of a very good sort, as also a, great quantity of tlie best crab apples I ever saw, which the inha- bitants of new settlements use by preserving with the molasses of pumpkins. ^gnmllurc-^ln the lowev part of the province, there are considerable quai^tities of wheat, oats, and peas raised. In the middle part, wheat, rye, oats, peas/hemp, flax, and some corn. In the western p^rts the product is wheat, which thrives better here than, in other parts ; rye, oats, and corn, come to grcE^t perfection as also buckwheat. All kinds of roots and vegetables flourish well in any part of the province, but especially in f he west. Apples come to perfection in any part of the pro- evince^ though peaches cannot be raised in the lower end, but do exceeding veil within 3()0 miles of the -west end of the province, as also cherries, pears, plums, apricots, and the like. All kinds of tame cattle do well in any part of tJie province, but especially horned cattle and sheep 90 hard to clean. The Indians collect it with their canoes, and sell very chenp. 1 i; Ml 26 thrive here, and are exceeding healthy. Bees do exceeding well on Lake Erie. Climate,' — The climate of the Upper Province v. temperate, especially near the head of Lake Ontario and on west joining the shore of Lake Erie. All this part of the province lies in the same latitude as from Trenton in the State of New- Jersey, to Hart- ford in Connecticut, yet as it is several degrees t the west, it is warmer than the weather in the sami latitude east. It is also evident from the experienct and journal of several discerning persons, that have lived nearly twenty years in this part of CanatUi, that the weather does not change so often and su ! den from heat to cold and cold to heat as in mod other places ; nor are the seasons of wet and dry k:; extreme as they are in the United (especially ihe southern) States. The show ers of rain are moderiM and plentiful owing perhaps to the Iwunty of liea ven, and the multitude of fine lakes of water wll|i which the province abounds. The air of the lower part of the province is s u ther too sharp in the winter, yet truly salubriou;. and healthy ; the air in the upper part, 4, 5, or mO miles to the southwest, is quite pleasant. What is a little remarkable, but which is true according I > ,. diary of the weather which I kept for two years, tht wind blew more than two thirds of the wiriler or for six months, fro ^ the west, but hardly e V'tl y, Beetj df> • Province i* iake Ontario ! Erie. All tiie latitude. Kjy, to Hart I degrees f i. in the saxiii! e experience , that havi; of Canada, en and seal t as in iriO.-ri md dry ko pecially llie re moderate mty of Iiea water wllli vince is nv salubrious k 5, or 6fX^' What h K JTding V) u. two years, tlie winter lardly ever 27 from the north or north wpc* . ^^* • ., '^.- a,„.o.t constantHi Z Zn^^T the coldest «ind« from the south-east aid sourt Wl/enir "'":'™"' ''"' ""^"^ -'^ north wer*" When the vvestern part of the horizon is red at he .tt.., of the sun, it forebodes foul weatS'f! he next day. I„ the upper part of this province,^ the summer tin,e, there is a continual though mode- rate gale of wind, similar to that in the State of Geo!- «ater. fh.s being the case, the hottest days are midered pleasant. ' Co«„„.rc.._The commerce of the upper province has of late years been considerable, and of great bene- fit to the mhabitants, as well as to Great-Bri- tain. Wxthm eight years, the exports of both pro- vinces have amounted to about two millions and a Aalf of dollars, though the greatest part of these ex- ports belong to the upper province. It appears that there were exported from both provinces, in the years 1802-3-4^, 1,012,000 bushels of wheat each year on an average, 40,000 barrels of flour, and StOOO weight Qf biscuit, besides mUch potash, timber, fur, sc. ^ In the years 1809-10-11, there has been timW ^or vessels isnd casks taken to England, to the amount I of 200,000 pounds sterling. 'li I ^H i i i 1 i 'i ■ i ■ 1 I i i it 1 ■' i 1 i ! ■ ' i w i i ii j i ii f,. ^^^H:' 1 HI Ii In ^^^^rai. ' i . .' i , i HUmLI 1 1 28 In these years, there were 320 vessels employed in taking away this produce, amounting to 450G tony. The common price of wheat is one dollar per bush- el, and sometimes one dollar and 25 cents— eon 5 50 cents, and rye 75 cents — pork six dollars per cwt. — These prices are common in every part of the pro- vince. Dry goods and groceries are brought to Canada, in great quantities, from England and the Lolled States, which, considering the great distance itey come, are sold very cheap. At Niagara, and other places, green tea is sold for one dollar per pound^nio- lasses ten shillings per gallon, and brown mgi^ one shilling per pound or eight pounds for a dollar, but since the war it can be had for eight centa per pound. Tolerably fine calicoes are often bought for :2b cents per yard, and salt has been generally sold at $1 per bushel, but since the war it has sold at imt.. Beasts and Birds. — I believe that all the Viiriety of animals common to most places in the lJiiii€04ra>tMn T 1-v£i1 tf.-.^. Al.^A 1.__ _j 1 f Al ^ \'-> North America. Bears are plenty in all parts- of 1 ] ; i fore" 29 mployed in oOO Ions. r per bush- Ls— corj'i 50 per cwt. — of the fxo- > Cans.'s^a., in the Uo-iled stance Ihey a and other pound^ffio- own &ygtir or a dollar, it cenW.'pt't ight . 2b ally: mhl at Id- at Imt. the ■ Unifei ire nottx) h cauglit mm: ilace, wyii'v L is the on.!}" liie iiL\i.', ;, parts- of ilj.. province, but more abundant in the south-west part. It IS very remarkable, that bears do not often de- stroy hogs in Canada; however, they are trouble- some to the inhabitants in the fall, by infesting theu- corn fields, yet the people lose but iittle by thenj as they kill many for food. ' ITiere are also an abundance of hedge-hogs ia the province, and which the Indians eat, counting Uiem good. In the south-west parts there are plenty of deer, an abundance of which are taken every winter by the Indians, There are also a plenty of all kinds of birds which are found in the United States, except turkey-buV ;?ai'ds, which are very scarce. There is also a kind of bird found here about the size, and has the same motion and voice a^ the parikite, so plenty in the fitate of Kentucky, yet not of tlie same colour, but is grey ; it is caUed by some the frolic. Wild ducks m-e found in great plenty in and around the shores of all iht Lakes. Geese are not plenty in the waters of Lakes Ontario and Erie at present, but used to be be- fore the country was settled by wliite people, yet they are plenty enough in all the lakes north of the settle^ m^nts. In the north end of the province there are no snakes ■of any kind to be fou^id, but different sorts are fomid plenty enough in the south-west end. A number of years ago. there were several people of respectability, c2 1; I; \^ :,| .HI ,i i i!(i lilljj. I I Ifi! ' i i 30 %vho reported that they saw in Lake Ontario several large snakes, about twenty yards in length. In June, 1811, a snake was seen in this lake near the mouth of the river Credit, 16 miles above York. I was ac- quainted with some who saw it, and believe them to be people of truth. It come within seven yards of the boat thnt they Avere in, and played about it, and wii' judged to be lliirty feet in length and three in cir^ cumference.# There are seals in this lake, some 0I which have been caught. Fish, — Lake Ontario abounds with fish of almost eyery kind, but the salmon and salmon-trout are the inost and far the best. The salmon appear in very large qup.n titles in the fall of :he year and penetrate- up all the waters that run into the lake, so high that they are often thrown out with the hand, but they are commonly taken near the mouth of the rivers by the Indians in the night, by means of spears. The) commonly weigh from ten to twenty pounds, and may be purchased of the Indians at one shilling each, or for a gill of whisky, a cake of bread, or the lih. trifle. They are of great benefit to the inhabitant j^^, espedalJy the poorer class, * From the head of the Bay Quantietoa little lake that emp ties into Lake Ontario, it is not more than a mile and three quar- ters. It is very smooth, at diflerent times ; and the inhabitant have in the morning seen tracks, as if a large log had been drawi along from the bay to the lake— this was done by snakes ! ano sevsral . In June J le mouth of I was ac- ve them to yards of the it, and wa« iree in cir- ke, some oi h of ahnost )ut are the Jar in ven* 1 penetrate ) high that but they le rivers by ars. They ounds, and lining each, [)r the lik(^ ahabitant}:, ake that emr d three quar le inhabitant 1 been drawi akes ! % 31 The salmon-trout appear in the spring, though not in ?o great plenty, but are longer, weighing from fifteen to thirty pounds, and are much fatter than salmon. There are several other fish of an excellent quality, and plenty, particularly bass and herring : the lat- ter very much resemble the sea herring, though they are not so full of small bones. In the month of November they are taken in great abundance from the water communication between the main Lake and the Little Lake, otherwise called Burlington Bay, at the head of Lake Ontario. They are taken with the net, the channel of water between the two lakes being not more than eight feet deep, and about sixty wide and three hundred long. Very good and large eeis are also taken out of the lake, yet they are but little valued, except by the In- dians. There are a great number of fish in Lake Erie some of which are very valuable, particularly what is called tfee white fish. There are not many eels in this lake ; what few there are have multipled from twenty which a British officer put into it from Lake Ontario thirty-seven years ago. Mines and Minerals. — In the Johnstown district *1,rs-" *'• ~-~ * - -^ ^_?J1 ^1-J_ » A wiiuiC ,^D an ilUIi JiliiiU Ui i3UiiciU.UIu.iiiU VUlli*'} irUili which iron has been made for many years; 1 I 'U ■a\ S2 \h I- 1 I: ! Wli ;y In the cUstrict of London, Charlotteville townshii) there was a large and rich body of iron ore discos ei ed in tlie year 1810, and from which there has hm:u a little iron made of an excellent quality. Th«rc ai i Several more mines or bodies of iron ore found in dif- ferent parts of the province, yet there is but littu di- tention paid to them, though they might be valu. ble, should they fall into the possession of men of u enterprising spirit. There are also some lead ruiiief that are said to be very rich and good. In the forks of the Grand River which eraptiei- jnN Lake Erie, and about fifty miles from the same, i i the land owned by the six nations of Indians, tlicv has lately been discovered a body of plaster, or wh is called plaster of Paris. It lays in the ])owels of; large hill, but how much it contains is not knov^- This plaster has been used in different parts of ih. country adjacent, and answers every valuable per pose, as wqW as that which is brought from Frg or Nova-Scotia does in the United States. No ml. can be better adapted to the use of plaster, tluu that of the district of London, which joins twa I- Grand River. In the Township of Townsend, there is a cl that paints nearly as well as Spanish brown, and id ny people use it instead thereof. Also in some other parts there are clays that paint very well. There is a number of salt springs in almost everj T! ' lie towiisliip, ore discovei lere lias hum '. ThtTcaxi found in dlt- but little &,U it be valur of men of uy; i lead miitef cmptiei^ Mr he same^ < r idians, the ter, or wb,;^! ])oweIs of ; not knov parts of the iluablc pill rom Frano 5, No sol aster> tliiti oins On l' e is a cl vn, and 10? some ot]ie Imost eveiT I 33 part f >f Canada, although there has not been much salt made in the province hitherto, it having been brought i!rom the different salt-works in the . State of New- Yori?, in great abundance. However there has been salt made from some, of an excellent quality, pai-tir •,ularJy in Lincolh county, near Niagara, and in the township of Percy, Newcastle district. There is a number of medical springs in the pro- vince of an excellent quahty. One in the township of Woodhouse, is of a sulphurous nature : a quart wiU purg<5 well, and of the same sort is the one in Middle- ton on Big Creek. Twelve miles east 0.' York there k a spring of great medical virtue. Zflte*— There are seven lakes of considerable size 'n the inhabited part of the proviiice, and many mere iHtithe wilderness. Lake Ontario is about eaie hun- dred and thirty miles long from north-east to south- west, and eighty wide ; about the middle, being of an oval form, it is exceeding deep, and in most places it appears to be without bottom, as there has been great length of cord let down without finding any. The water is very clear and cool at all times of the year, having the appearance of a large spring. This lake never freezes except near the shore where it is shallow: nor does it freeze there only a £gw weeks in the most severe weather. It is pretty certain that '' 1 H.! ;i VilLTC Id jiixJtG Wali'i jLliilo Out 01 luia IdKe lixali •ims hi, and when we consider its very extensive sur- 34 face, it is also certain tlmt there is mucli of its water evaporated by the sun : of course it must hide ma- ny exceeding large springs. Lake Ontario has sunk witliin its banks since the notice of its present inhal)itants, say 37 years, and some Indians inform tliat their foreliithers say tliat it was once as higJi as tJie heighth of the Niagara fall, and that the waters of Lakes Ontario and Erie joined in most places, but ns to the truth of this assertion, I will not pretend to say ; yet J am of the opinion that the water of Lake Ontario once reached to tie foot of the mountain or slope of ground already named, and I am led to this belief from the ciicur> stance of pebble stones being dug up from every pad of the surface, and underneatli the same, between it and the shore. The foot of the mountain is 20 feet higher than the lake. There are not many islands in this lake, except near the lower end, wliere they are plenty. In many places the ground descends to the water very gradually, and there is no bank at all, except a sandy or gvtivdlj beach : but in otbvr places the banks are lifteen feet In'gh. Tlie wind has a great eiiect upon this lake, and the waves sometimes run high ; yet it is tolerably safe for lavigation, there being but few shoals or rocks at any distance Jiom the shore. Hire are a numberof vessels on t his lake, and some of its water 5t hide ma- ks since the year?, and 3 say that it Niagara frtll, Erie joined if assertion, he opinioD :hed to the rid already tlie ciicuiu- evcry pail between it I is 20 (dQi ike, except • the water [, except a s the banks 3 lake, and 5 tolerably lis or rocfcs and gome . oi considerable size. The sight of so great a body of 7 ^vater in the midst of the wilderness, enriched with .hips sailing and colours flying, is truly pleashig and romantic* The Little Lake, or Burlington Bay, lies at the Houth-west end of this lake, and is divided from it by I causeway, five miles long, and in most places 3(30 } urds wide. The surface of this causeway is com- Pidel/ level, of a light sand, matted over with grass, and beautifully decorated with groves of tiraberi laefly oak of a middle size, but of an endless varied ly of curious forms— some six feet in circumference at the butt, yet not more than twelve feet high, witli extensive limbs, crooking and turning in all directions. A great number of these trees are entirely encircled Tvith grape-vines, and produce great quantities of grjtpes of an excellent quality. The residence of the noted Col. Brandt is near this place. This cause- %?ay is broken oif in one place, as ahready noted, about a mile from the north-west shore, and is about five feet higher than the water. It is a beautiful place for a summer seat.t The Little Lake to the west of tliis causeway is about 30 miles in circumference, and is geiierally shallow, although deep in some places. \ ♦ There are many prosp«ctive situations on the banks of this i.dSe. t Not far from the middle there are a number of Indiana buried. In the winter of 1810, this causeway was shook in a vio. Ijiit manner4}y an earthquake. / *:i I J'l m II (5 11 litlii It is thought that there are salt springs in the bot- tom of this lake, because the herring chiefly reside in it. It is famous for ducks and eels,'^ There are a considerable number of harbours in Lake Ontario, but the most noted and curious is tliat of Prificuil, in the district of Newcastle, Cramache township, on the lake shore, about 80 miles south- west of Kingston. There arc two points of land, about four miles apart, which extend out from the main shcre, but draw nearer each other as tliey ex- tend into the lake, and finally meet in a rounding form, about five miles from the sliore. These arms of land are level on the top, and are about fm or eight feet above the water. About three miles from the Bhore, there is a channel of it^ter which mm tlirough the east point of land, about ^ yards wide, and 30 feet deep. This chamieMets in the vessels, which can sail ail over Uie Imrbour with safety, and in go- ^ng up to the top, or whoi'e the two arms meet, Miidi is in form like a horse^shoe, and the largest diips may come close up to iht banks, wliich are perpendicular of solid rock. A plank is put from the shore to the vessel, when it is to be loaded;^ The Bay Quantie co»nccts Avilh Uke Ontario, a small distance west of Kingston, and extends 70 miles up towards the south-west, parallel with it. It is -v-ji, .ts-.s v-x^ uiciw i5 a voiciao oi tfonae note. I I in the bot- l lefly reside larbours in ious is tliat , Cramache liles south- ts of land, t from Ihe as they exv L rounding esc arms of ve or eight \6 from the m tltrough de, and 30 cte, which md in go- ^i, mhidi (kipB may 3ei:}dicular ore to the Ontario, a s 70 miles it. It is [10 te. u ot'e mi^c wide in some places and bit in otherf There itre a considerable number of arns, or smaller bays. which put out from if, some ten miles long. Th^ bay is very safe for navigation, being very deep, and ^ure from the eJlect of high winds. Most of tjic nvnders, with small vessels who go from Kingston to > ork, Niagara, or Detroit, pass up this bay to the Iicaxi, which is only one mile and three quarters ^rora d mmll hUce called Wiilow's Lake that puts into lake Ontario, and here the vessels are carried across by mtans of wheels. The road is quite level and sandy. Those traders which come down Lake Ontario gen- emlly cross this carrying place into the bay ; al- tliough the Bay Quantie, and the Lake Ontario are 8© near here, yet they are thirty miles apart in some places, owing to . m extensive projection of some points of land into th6 lake, and no doubt their be- iiig so hear, is a divine interposition of Providence for the benefit of th6 fahabitants. There are several small lakes in ihe peninsula be- tif een the lake and bay, which abound with fish, one of which deserves particular notice, called the moun- tain lake. This lake is situated in Ilaliowell town- ship, Prince Edward county , Midland district, thirty miles from Kingston^ on tlie bay shore. It lies on the top of a mountain judged to be two hundred feet high : but in the month of December, 1812, I Blood on tlie ice of the Bay, in front of it, and after 38 taking the heiglith, I found it to be only one hundred and sixty feet. This lake is about three miles in circumference, and very deep in most places, abound- ing with fish of d'fferent sorts. How fish could get into this lake, is a matter of deep speculation, as it has BO connection with the bay or lake, only by the small stream that flows from it into the l>ay by a fall of one hundred and sixty feet n«arly perpendicular. Under these falls there is now a grist-mill, near the bay shore, in the possession of Mr. Vanalstine. Near the head of the Bay Quantie, on the north side, there is a lake of a considerable size called the Hog Lake, as also several others not far distant. About twenty miles west of the head of the Lay Quantie, and fifteen miles north of the shore of Lake Ontario is situated what is called the Rice Lake, on account o£ the great quantity of rice which grow on it. This lake is from three to nine miles wide, and thirty-six in length, though not very diiep. Us course is from east to west, the west end is not far from Lake Simcoe, and communicate, with it. At the east end there is a tall of eighteen feet perpendicular, m the form of a half moon. Below the fails, begins what is called the river Trent, which is tolerable large, and aiibrd^ many falls fit for water works : it empties in the Bay Quantie at the head. This lake communicates with a chain of small lakes called the ^uaiiow laKes which afford rice also, and exten4^ •P hundred miles in :, abound- :ouId gel , as it has J by the by a fall dicular. , near the le. he nortJi ailed the distant, the Lay i of Lake Lal^e, on ich grow es wide, «p. Us not far . At the idicular, I, begins olerable orks : it his lake led the exten4^ '? 39 near the north end of Lake Sinicoe : Lake Simcoe lies still west of the rice lake, and is some larger. U communicates with Lake Huron to tlie soulh-west by the river Severn. Lake Erie which lies thirty miles from any part of Lake Ontrlo, on the soutJi-wcsf, is nearly three mdred miles lon^- from north-east to south-west, and 1 om twenty to forty miles wide. This lake lies - arly three hundred feet higher than Lake Ontario -id which is the reason of the Niagara falls. It is "o pure and clear water, though not so deep as i ake Ontario, nor is it so safe for navigation, or af • Ir'frd so many fine harbours. There are some Isl- auds near the west end of this lake that contain ma- ny bad snakes. The shore of this lake in most places i^ nearly level with the land, and very smooth and ndy. It is thonght that full as much ^ater runs ^'it of this Lake as runs in.# There are other Lakes in Canada : the Lake St, < lair lies in a westerly course from Lake Superior to I .ake Erie : still farther to the west is Lake Huron, c le hundred miles in circumference, in latitude 42. 1 rom Lake Huron, through the straights of Marie, h is 40 miles to Lake Superior, which lies between * Lake Erie extends sixty miles iiorth-east of the head, or \vest end of Lake Ontario. To draw a line due south, fi«m tliA vest end of Lake Ontario to Lake Erie, it would strike it ninet/ miles fi-om Uie east end |ri 40 49 and 50 degrees north latitude, and between 84 and. 90 degrees west longitudie from London. The Isle Royal, which is near the middle of this Lake, is 100 miles long and 4trwide. In the middle of this Island is the luie between the United States and Great-Britain. Rivers, — Although Canada is a level country, yet is not so low and flat as not to afford any streams of water, but on the contrary, has many which run clear, and afford many excellent falls for water worts, the principal of which are the following :— The Ottaways river is a large stream that rises out of Lake Tomis,-canting and runs a s(mth-east course through Upper Canada, and crosses the line into the lower province, and empties into the river St. Law- rence above and below Montreal. The spring floods in this river rise in the month of June ; it inundates its banks, and often spoils the farmer's young crop.--. The reason of tliis is because the river extends so great a distance to the northwest, where the spring does not begin until the last of May, and by the time the snow is thawed, and the ice in the lake broken up, the water descends to the settled parts of the province near th^ mouth of the river, it is the ■middle of June. There are a great number of fish of Tanous.orts In this river. There are considerable mm m this nver. thmje^)! nnn« ^t « ^^ ,. .„ , i T i:i»i tween 84 )n. The i Lake, is 'e of this ates and titry, yet treanis of lich run er worlis, rises out st course into the it. Law- 1^ floods lundates crop.-« lends so e spring by the he lake parts of it is the of fish iderable Lilar ueV i t 41 There are several more rivers in the lower part of the province which empty into the river St. Law^ rence, and abound with iish. The river Cananocqua, which empties into the river 14 miles below Kingston, is of considerable size. What is called Myres* Creek, w^hich empties into the Bay Quantie, from the north, 50 miles from Kingston, is considerable large, very cl-ar and pure, and runs near the surface of the gi'ound, affords fine falls far water works^ and aljounds witli fisli. The river Trent, already named, empties into tlie head of the Bay Quantie from the Rice Lake, is large and abounds with fish. Many hundred barrels of excellent salmon are taken out of tiiis river every fall. From the head of tJie Bay Quantie, for 70 miles towards the southwest, up the Lake Ontario, there are no rivers of a considerable size that empty into the Lake ; yet there is an abundance of small and pearly creeks and brooks— indeed, it is the best wa- lered part in Canada. Smith's Creek and Lion^« Creek, are streams cf some note-. What is no, 7 called Duilen's Creek, is a fine stream abounding with fisly; it empties into Lake Ontario, 30 miles below, or northeast, of York. The river Rush empties into the Lake, 18 miles be- low York ; it is tolerably large, and navigaljle for boats 20 miles u|>. d3 ii W'.ii ■ 1 1 1 1 f! ■ ; IH j ^^H| 1 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^1 ^s i Hl'i i y ^^B m 1 1 1 ii i ^^^^^^M- > 111 i H 1 |ji i 4^2 From this river there is an abundance of salmoa taken every fall. Still up towards the head* of Lake Ontario, there are a number more fine streams. Sixteen miles above York, empties into the Lake, the river Credit. This is one of the best rivers in Canada for salmon ; it is tolerably large. The salm- on are taken out of this and other rivers in the night by means of spears. The fishermen have an iion frame fixed in the fore part of their canoes, in which they place pine knots and fire for light. They then paddle along in the river, and see the salmon floating near the surface x)f the water, where they come by the influence of the light. They are (quite tame and ar^ .struck with ease. The salmon come up the rivers in large quantities together on piu-pose to spawn. . Ten miles still farther up the Lafee, empties ir what Is called the 16 mile Creek, which is tolerablj lajge and famous for fish. Five miles farther ts what is called the 12 mile Creek, a beautiful stream, abounding with fish and many fine falls for water works. There are several fine streams that run into the head of Lake Ontario and Burlington Bay. The Chippeway river runs mk> the Niagara river 3 miles above the falls, and is tolerably large and long. --What is called the 20 mile Creek, rfses near the nead (H the Cjhinnp'xvstxT f^r^*^ « i^ ^^ ^ „.. rrzsjj Aiviii a lar^ potiu HOm^k a northeast course and plup^es down the sloppy, ol '^ 4^ of salmon d of Lake the Lake, . rivers in The salm- the night 5 ah iron in which ^hey then n floating come by tame and the rivers iwn, npties ii! tolerablj arther ts I stream J for water i into the ira river ind long, near the ii iy ground, already deseribed by several perpendicular pitchea in different plax:es, affording excellent seats for water-works. it empties into Lake Ontario, 16 miles west of Niagara. The fifteen, sixteen, seventeen, thirty and forty mile Creeks, ail run into Lake Ontario and plunge over the slope and afford fine falls. The river Nia^ra, or out-let of Lake Erie, is very large before it empties into Lake Ontario, but k still lai'ger after it leaves the Lake, or river St. Lawrence. This river will be fully described in the Appendix. There ixre several considerable streams that run in- to Lake Erie. The Grand B-iver is a considerable large stream of exceedingi clear water rising from the small I^ke St, Clie. It is navigable for vessels of considerable size fbr 50 miles from its mouth. It empties into Lake Erie 60 miles from the east end, and contains many fine fish.# This river is in the possession of the six nations of Indians^; they own six miles of land each side of it from the mouth to the head. The Thames is large and beautiful, rising near the head of Grand River, and runs nearly a south course into the waters that come from Lal^c Superior mto * I tbmk it proper to rectify n mistake which somehow got into Morsje'a GeoerraDhv^ Drlnted in Boston^ 1811s wh^^e Uiis Grand River is represented as « passing thi'ough Rice Lake wad mingling witJi the waters of Ontario," if . ; i ij III m J a the head of Lake Erie. There are a number mor. fine strean^s that run into Lake Erie; su^hL « tre,k passing through Middleton ^d Hou^ W^j. as also Kettie and Outer Creeks in St ^.-^t^T^^?"' "'" ^^"=" "I'^tinct nations of T.- dansm the inhabited part of Canada; six oftL nations hve on the Grand River akeadv LT^ the Mohawks, the Chippewavr thH, r * ^'' Massasaugas. the T^ZZUtr^l^'''^ f 'r t].ese nations have their Kin>r or n,^' ^ '^ village and councU house ml ?' ""^ *''^"" ferent language vet ..„r ; l^^ ""^"^ 'P^^ « dif- oufcuage, yet understand each other verv vw.» The e «. nations of Indians on the Gmnd W t number, one thousand nme hundred a^d 1 ? ' • have attained to a tolerabledf f ^"""^y-si^* They speak the P„lr T , ^^ °f civilization. p4, S hlv Sfa^d^" ''f --« I-- among them ThTT w ^*"^' continnaWy Indians have very La EnJ', , '"""'^" '^ ^'"'^ P ^dustrious: '0^0?^^;^^^^ "'' ''' f^^'^ebest.;; teched to the irrterest of th^ BrT^T "' '" ^""'^ "'- are exercised in (),. ,„:,."''* S^^erament.an.l ""•es in the venr '""X,!" "'^'-'y "* of arms, several -"cy can muster si^ hmdtf 46 Dumber more such as Bli^ d Houghtf)]} fes in Middle- ations of In six of the «^ ^ notedj. vh<, awares, thi; '• Each of i and their peak a dif^ r very wdl i River, in. 5eventy-six> ivilizatioj>. some prtt^ 3ontinuall| ^ of th, .e tid are vt> ve raistci t. Tliey lie best r Srraly al- aenti ai)< I > several huficlrefl warriors; though the Massasauiras ar. m. . %ht, nor for any thing else. rZeZ a '"f '' ;;ie number of thi« tribe r^idf^ in^^^^^^^^^^^^ J- province, sorf,e on tlr. d^en^n^ile t erab Forlr, aheady named, others on the banl. of the till Simcoe, and others on the Hice Lake ^ Besides those of the Mohawks on the Grand m t.ere are a considerable number liviT^^rr^^^^^ Quantie, on the north.ide, about the middle tS own a tract of land twelve miles squaS and W -hools and the gospel among them^Iso ' "^'^ There are a small tribe of Indians called the St Hegis Indians, living o. the river St. Regis, near the ower i^t of U,e province. There is llo alS nbe called the Moravian Indians, living m the Te " h^ the Dutch Moravians among whom they hve • they are of the Delaware tribe. On some IslandJ Zb^ A' ^""^ ^'''' '^''' ''' ' considerable number of Indians called the Huron Indian., and are great warriors. > <"i- Near the head of the Ottaways river, there i, a small tribe of Indians, called the Nepisingui Indians : they hve on a lake of tlxe same naBie, and M^as once converted to the B.oman Catholic religion, at which tinje tliey were a numerous tribe : they are of the * T ol o"" ' 7"""'"^ •'^«*^ ^^ ^m^u mw r^m about L/3Jie ou|^/erior. <4^ 46 t: , ill There are a number of Indians of different nation- bcsidee those that I have named, though they have but little intercourse with the British, except thp.t they trade with them by the agents, and nialte tliem yearly presents of a great amount. There are varioas accounts respsctihg lh'3 number of Indians in Canada, some suppose that there is one hundred thousand, and out of these, there may b raised thirty thousand warriors, yet I thinlt this i' not correct : indeed I believe that the British govern ment do not Icnow the number of aU tiiat consid. j themselves connected with it, as all the dLTerent na tions never meet together at o!ice.« The Canadian Indians cost the British Crown about 3,000i. sterling each year. This sum is expend ed m iurnishing them i, ith fire-arms and ammuni- tion by means of which they kill their game, also i. blankets aiid clothes to cover their nakedness, as als. bread meat and tobacco. These things are calle.. gifts, from the King, but are chiefly the interest <.- money in England belonging to the six nations, fo, land sold to the King. However I am nf « • • that those thmgs which they get from the Kins' riores. dothem more harm than good, as therebv • I am of opinion that at present, September. 1812 whirh s.nce the invasion of Canada, that the Iritiahh ve „Ltt .merest mcluding: the Prophet Tecumseh. S.lit.I„.. .Tw" I^': ->ue-wa,er. nearly thirty thousand warrior,; ^ithAeyp^oplT"' I some < die so Inl iiad it it ffercnt nation: ?h they have , except thai d make then? tli'3 number t there is one here may b think this if fitish goverij Jiat considf i diilerent mi ifish Grown n is expend- nd ammunl^ ^ame, also ia Iness, as alsc s are callet! e interest <>i nations, fox of opinioiL the King^ as thereby 812, which ^ i now in th<; i and "Wslt-t;; ir people. h. y ai-e encouraged to hve in idleness, depending on L >3e gifts which they receive twice a year. Should part of .his amount be given to them in orses, cows, sheep and hogs, as also farming utensils, jnd tlie rest to all sucli that at the end of eacli year, lad raised more produce than they needed ;— this .vould he a discouragement to idleness, and a stimu- us to industry. The most of the Indians in the province of Upper Canada have been converted from Idolatry, to the be- ief of the Christian religion, by the labour of the oman Catholic Priests, when the province belonged the French ; but ever since the province has fell ito the , hands of the British, there has not becja so inch attention to the religious instruction of the In- ians as formerly. What ai-e tauglit in the Chris- ian faith are of the Protestant cast, yet the young ndians do not know or care any thing about any ;ind of religion. ;- Notwithstanding the Indians have formerly been aught by the Catholics in the principles of the hristian faith, and at present the protestants preach mong them, as do some other sects. They still hold some of thope traditional notions relative to God and the soul, v/hich are very curious. In the summer they lay about the lakes, and now arid then catch sturgeon and eete. r- i I nil 15 liM 4S These Indians are considerably trouWesome to tl white people, especially the tribe* of Massasaugas, «iey are wandering through tlie country almost co, MnuaJiy and begging something to eat and when the get drunk, which is as often as they can get a char ttiey^are quarrelsome and many times dangerouF. The armour of the Indians in time of war, arn rifle, a spear about 18 inches long with a hand' eight feet, a tomahawk, and scalping *:nife, all < M'hioh they use as instruments of death. The Indians in Canada, like all other Indians, d t ^ry indifl-ei-entJy, though they get much fine cJol ih)mthe King's store, which they only throw ow theirdu-ty bodies, and in a little timeall. is filthy I gethcr. Id the summer, they ar.,«K~_ -.* ^1 » _•_ _ . _ - -*^ --iwii^v vi iuiD pittcescwiasabotrt a baH a i The har. 18, saf« and )u« manner. city, there 1 or neck of learly in the th tjie mah) of the city, Ibout three many from bis circular r large ves- 5 two miles any tiling main lake tost as the )th. The itish began 1. soutk side r the con- starfo. It surround* lorth, and a^ords a a baif a mile ih)m the mouth of this river, neai tho barlk where it is thirty-four feet above the surface of the ,f at«r ; it is nearly square, enclosintj a space of about one hundred and fifty yards long and one hundred broads The pickets are lii^^h and strong, defended hy a ditch on the out side, and breast-works on the iUsidc. It is well provided with caanon, anuuuni. ftion, water, provision and the like This village is a pla€e of much trade, and is inhabited by a civil and industrious people. It contains a council-house^ court-liouscj and jail,* and two houses for public vvorsliipi 'i'here are several squares of ground in this village adorned with almost every kind of pre- cious fruit. The front part of the village, on the cast, looks towards the fort over a beautiful plain of nearly one mile wide. Is situated se en miles furrier up the Niagara ri> ver, close by the foot of ' u. antain, or slope of ground already noted at what is called the landing It is a small, but hanrisonie village : th most of tht; houses are built with stone or brick, large^ and well finished. It is abo >% place pf considembie trade, and inhabited by a tivil and rich people. * On tha 13th of October, 1812, these wcrebuHittyt!i€ Aai^. leans with hot balls ^^^ra the east side, as abo some athei buikl- »ngs. _^^^^^ t it was at tltts plaoe the Aroericanfi crossed on Ihe l.ltK o€ »otobv,.. 11^ ■:S- ill I- 'ii n lii 1 !' V ■:'l )l I ml ■i I illii 35 CHTPPEWAY, ' Lies ttn miles alcove Queens and tliree above the Niagara falls: is a small village at the mouth of the Chippeway creek. It has some handsome buildings, and is a place of considerable trade. FOIIT ERIE. There is a small village at this place of some beau- ty, the inhabitants of which carry on a considerable trJide from the Lake. • TURKEY-POINT, Is situated about m miles south-west of Fort-Erie, on the lake shore m the district of Undon, a little east of Long^ Point. It stands in a beautiful place adjoining an excellent country of land, and jias a handsome court-house and jail, i PORT.TALBERT, Lies 64 miles farther to the south-west, on the lake shore. It has been laid otit about 3 years, and bids fair for a considerable village, it has a fine har^ hour for shipping. MALDEN. This fort and vilhge is situate at the south-west ehd or head of Lake Erie, 14 miles south of Detroit- It is a j>leasant place though not large. Tlie fort here is strong. - • SANDWiCa ^ Is situated still up the river, opposite Detroit, and i& a naiiavorae village of considerable ag^, inhabited m irce above 3 mouth of handsome trade. some beau- )iisiderable Fort-Erie, )n, a little tiful place md lias a S^ on the jrears, and I fine har-- 9tith-wesr. Detroit- Hie fort roit, and nhabited i }..: principally by French, who eeltleel this country io3 V? ars ago. There are several other villages in .the proviuc« sc4 immediately on the water, which are of eonsid^ fable size and bemjty ; but those already named ar« the principal. SettlemeiUs.'-^In the lower part of this province, the settkmerits do not extend back or north from the river St. Lawrence. Above Kingston, the scttiementfi eiiend from Lake Ontario, counting the peninsula tictwecn the lake and the Bay Quantie, which in Home places is 10, and in others 30 miles wide, fifty mlle^. Above the head of the bay, on the lake shore, l»r about 100 imles, the settlements do not extend noxt ihm six mites from the lake. North from York, the setUenients extend farther back, particularly on what i$ called Yonge Street, which runs a due north ♦ourse to Lake Simt-^oe. On both sides of tliis street, i}t& fariB,s are tiiick and well improved, the soU being f eury gmjd, although the cHjuate is not so favourable as it is farther to the south-west. From York west, ^;*iong the lake shore, tiiere are but small settlements m. the shore for Smiles ; after which, wlrnt is called iy ondas^Stieet, four miles from the shore, is thickly settled on both sides for 20 miles ; as also betweezi tills and the lake it is thinly inhabited, al- though this has not been settled more than six years from tl» paresent date (1812). Above 10 oi 16 mil*?, B 2 ■ ' . ^1 '' 'J i ' il M v; li M m o4 at the head of Burlington Bay, is ^hat is called Goot's Paradise. It is fine rich sandy j)iains, thickly settled seven miles from the shore, to the foot of the .slope already named; and on the top, west aod north-west for 15 miles, there are fine settlements in two townshins—Enst and West-Flambeau. Farther south, around the head of Lake Ontario, or more par- ticularly Burlington Bay, the settlements are thick, extending west 16 miles. About 40 miles up the Grand River, is a thick settlement of Dutch in Brant's township. Still to the ea^t, as the roads lead to Ni- agara, the settlements are thick near the shore of Lake Ontario. After one gets 20 miles east of the head of Burlington Bay, and ^ from Niagara, settle^ ments of an old date are mode, and pretty thick, all the way across from laire to lake, which is r.iore than 30 miles. From the thick settlement west of tiie head of Lake Ontario, towai ds the London dis- tnct, the inhabitants are thin for 20 miles, throudi the tract of laaid belonging to the six nations of In. dians. Ihe settlements in the London district have already been described. The settlements in the we^tr end of the province, are chiefly on the river St, Law. I'ence, on Hs course through Huron md St. Clair. tZTT . '^S^^'^^ncU, twenly.four counties, and: one I^ndred and fifty-six tow..h.ps, generally 4ou. -«-.^aru. inese townships arc surveyed into! : is called ins, thickly foot of the west and lements in Farther more par- are thick, les up the in Brant's sad to Ni- ' shore of ist of the ira, settle* thick, all I is more tit west of iidon dis- , throui^h ons of In- rict have I the wei^t* St, Law- Canada Is ties, and' iy about ytil intoi } concisions, the wedth of the township in front to- ivards the lake, and one mile and a quarter wide >ack from the lake to the north, but in some places Mey are not more than three quarters of a mile wide. I^ach township is divided into U concisions, the ijole of whicii make 2184 These concisions are nbdivided irito 24 lots of 200 acres each, the whole oi which lots amount to 3^,416, which number mul- tiplied by 200, will produce 10,4^3,200, the number of. acres surveyed in the province, besides considera- ^}k, called broken fronts, not yet surveyed, granted to those wlio owned land in rear thereof. It may not ^« amiss to remark here, that in every direction from IM lands now surveyed, there are great quantities of >vild or uns' i ved land, which is equally as good as ^! It now improved . Bet w een every concision, there i* four rods left for the pu]>lic road, and also be- tween every fourth lot, wliich is one quarter of a mile ^vide. IHsMcts — Of these there are eight, as already ted. The eastern district is situated at the north- ^-d end of the province, joining the St. Lawrence Id Ottaways rivers. It is in the coldest and most -.-ipleasant part of the province, the land being sandy, Id and stoney, in general producing peas, potatoes, *ats and some wheat. The n^ost of the inhabitants re Scotch anrl Frpnr»h Tlie i>f :nci of Johnstown hes up farther on the , ii 'i J fi.: M i I jSter St. Lawrease, and wUl bear nearly the sam^ deseription as the other> but u somethmg better. The Midiand mstrlct lies from a Jittld below Kirgston np west to the head o£ baf Qimntia, ooni-^ prehentiing that beautiful penimula betweea the baj aiid the lake. This district is large, and thick settled with rich farmers. The land is very fertile, pro* ducing wheat in abundance, also apples^ and othev fUDfimcr fruit. The bay and the several rivers tlwt yun into it aiTords plenty of fish. NEWCASTLE DISTRICT, Extends from the head of the bay Quantie, Sfty miles to the south* west, along the shore of the lake and is divided into two counties, Northumberland saad Durham. This district is well watered, rich, tiK>ugh a little hilly, and more stoney than any other. HOME DISTRICT, . Is^ still farther up the lake, and is divided into two counties, York and Simcoe. It is large and tolerably thick settled ; it has an abundance of white pine on it, and a number of bcautifu! streams of water^ NIAGARjl DISTRICT, Is situated south of the Home and the lake, in th* peninsula between the two lakes. It is very large, and divided into two counties, Lincoln and Halderman. The latter is on the Grand River, in p^^^session of the six nations of Indians, already named. The county of Lincohi lies in the east part of the T \ the sam^ Btter. lie below tift, oom-^ a the bay sk settled •tile, pro* lid other vers tliat itie, ifty the kke nberJand ed^ fich, ay other. into two tolerably pine on ere c, m the irge, and derman. >n of the :t of the 5r peninsula, joining on the outlet of Lake Erie, and k divided into twenty-five townships, all whieh are tolerably thick settled, and well improve, though not so well watered as other districts. London District has already been described. WESTERN DISTRICT, Is situated at the west end of tlie province, joining the river St. Lawrence as it come« from Lake Superi- or to the head of Lake Erie ; it is large and rich, and some part tolerable well improved : it aflbrds fine plams, and has l»een settled by the French more than a hundred years. It is divided into two counties, Essex and Kent. King*§ roads^-^When the upper province was first settled, the people laboured under considerable dis- advantages, for the want of roads : nor could it be expected that the inhabitants could open any of great extent, as the timber in most places is heavy, and they had as much as they could do to clear land to raise enough produce for their families. Yet the opening of roads was necessary, and the King knew this could not be effected by the people w ithout his assistance. He therefore give large sums of money to be laid out for that purpose, and for a number of , years past the whole amount of the revenue of the province which is the King's money, amounting to t5000/. has been laid out in the opening and repairing of the public high ways. This with the statute la* '^'i !li " (K !lr \i 68 ■i . ' 1 IrJl Mil boiir, which the inhabitants of every to^mshlp ptr iotm is tlie means of making tolerably good roads vi almost every part of the. province. There is no tbJl taken for passing on ajiy road or bridge in the pro vince. What is called the King^s roads, or hi,^h ways, are four rods wide, and had iv the directions now to be described : there is one road Ih^t leads from Mont' al, which is in the lo\ver province, up the river Lawrence, hear the bank on the north side, fhrmigri Cornwall village to Prescott, so on to Brockviilc.ai!(i Kiiigston; from here there ^are several roar i ^'hich lead different ways, thougii they are opcrx f by the inhabitants, except one wliicli is IL J King's, and extends up towards the wouth-we J about twenty miles, when it divides into two. Ot I crosses the Bay Quantie, and extendi nearly ihroug i J the middle of the peninsula to the heail# The otl fer turns to the right, and extends up the bay on tl: north side, through the Mohawk's or Indian lane crosses Myeres Creek and the river Trent, v/here j empties into the Bay Quantie, extends a few miles t the south, and joins with the other on the carryin. place. From hence it leads on through wood-laiir i (thinly settled) by Frcsquile harbour, for about U miles, w hen the country appears moi-e improved, and tJ>.e road tolerably good. Within about 60 mile? • Tlu6 is the best roacl. 50 3^vnshlp V • lod roads in re is no toll i ill the pra di ways, ar^j 6 now to he om Mont.! .he river '"; le^ tferoiigii •>€fevilie.aii(i 'eral ^roa^'' are openti 'h is tlir south-we^il two. Or dy througf The otL bay on tL - tdian Jand. i, where it Bw miles V e carryin wood-kiid about U roved, and of York, the road is bad, as the ground is Vcrjf rich land soft, and but thinly settled ; aiKi about 16 loiies from York, there are two roads — one extends along I the lake shore aiid is the best— the otlier leads about dght miles to the north ; but they meet again at what 18 called the Lion's Crest and Tavern. For nearly 30 miles to York, theve ifi but one road (and that q«ite bad) till within nine miieto of the city. From York, there is one road which eidends 40 miles a due north course, to Lake Sirncoe. Thij? road, in most places, is tolerably ^ood. The other road er- tends up the lake shore 16 miles to the river Credit, where it leaves the shore a little to the north, and ex- tends to the head of the lake ; this road is not very good* Two miles from York, on th« road which Ifads to Simcoe, called YoHge*s Street, another road lead^ out, extending to the head of the lake, called Bundas-Street, which is completely straight for 260 miles to the river Thames, near Detroit. Although it is not passable in all places, yet where it is not open* ed, tiieie are other roads near by, which lead the same way, and enter it again. Where it crosses thosite (though a ittJe to the ^t) of Sacket's Harbour. The distance from one to the other, on a straight line, is 27 miles • though the nearest way that can be pa^d by land o J the road, (and a bad one), is 34 miles, and 36 by wa- i«er or icg. E^hty maes from Kingston fa situated Presquilc Harbour, already noted. It i. nearly opposit*. the _One hundred mUes from this harbour, up the lake, stands York, nearly opposite Niagara, though alitOc to the north-west, on a straight line. The distance from one to the other is 34 miles ; but by land around the head of Lake Ontario, it is 90 mUes Ni-' a^ais opposite Niagara fort, on the U.S. side. The nver is 1200 yards wide. Queenston seven miles ik,m Niagara, is Opposite Won. The river is 900 yards wide her^ with nigh banks on both sides. P^n«, t «..,,.*__ ., ft good road which leads through JBatavi^, on to AI- ■1;i ■ f| ;.fi w m ! iJ I !! s|i li \l it i .8;.'; i'l ^Hlll 63 bany, an east .course. Tort Erie is a little bclov Buii'alo. Turkey-Point, near Long-Point, on L^kc Erie, b opposite the village of Presquile, on ^4k^« S. siAe. Fort Maiden is 14 miles below IMroit. Sand wicli i«^ opposite Detroit, m here the river is 900 yarc" wide.# Population,— 'One^ of out twelve of the inhahi tants of Upper Canada are nalivt -^ of England, Ir - land, and Scotland ; and all the children born oi such, born in Canada, make the proportion a litt!-: more than two out of ten. There are about an equ ;number of those who took part '^ ith the King in the revolutionary war, who, with their children born Canada, make about one sixth part of the inhabitant at present ;— the rest, with their children, are Amf ricanF. Or, in other words, if all the people were di vided into ten equal parts, eight parts would be na tives of the United States, with their children bong in Canada, and two part? of there eight would ^ what are now called loyalists, (though natives of tis United States before tlie war,) with their childr* ' bewn in Canada. The other six parts would he k* tives of the United States, and thek children born the province. Within the term of 12 years, the inhabitants of ire ijpper province have increased beyond all conjectui :, * This is the place where Gen. Hull crossed. to invade Canad «. ti ■oy i'l tile bcloH kc Erie, is S. side. it. Sand 900 yards lie inhahl gland, Ir n born ol ion a Wiiht it an equal ang in the en born io liihabitanti , are Aim- )le were di )uld be na idren horn I would ? ivesgf ilv ir childreu mid he na ren born m ants of the conjecturix vade Canad'i, 63 the terms of obtiiining land have been extreme- ly easy. * ' In the ye^]8ll,the number of inhabitants in both provinces, was .>G0,000. J n the upper province, there svmt 136,000, not including Indians In the set- tled parts of the province. The liumber of the militi^i, ot of those who are li- able to do duly, from the ago of Bixtcen to sixty, arc 22M0, including Indians in the bounds of the pro- nace at that time. Lcan}ing,-^ThQ gi^ater part of the inhabitants of Canada are not w^ell educated, for a« tliey were poor ^vhm they came to the province, and the country be- ing but thinly settled for a number of years, they had l>iit little chance for the benefit of: .schools. But^ Fince the country has become more seU led, and the inhabitants rich, or in a goud way of living, which is almost tmiversaily the case, they pay Gonsiderabic at-^ tention to learning. ' '. Ten dollars a year i? the common pHce given for the tuitifin of eacli scholar by u:ood teachers. Until lately, there was no Latin or Greek school kept in the province. ISow there are tliree— one in York, taught by the Epirropal minister of that place ---one on the Bay Qaantle, by a Pdr. Bid^relJ, from the United States — and the other in Niagara village, itcva juurnc;. Good eiicoiuagement would ha if 4 II. i-h ' } a ei I'll i pi s " i * given in many other parts to teacliers of such schools, particularly in the Niagara and London districts. Notwithstanding I said that the ssmin body of the inhabitants were not well educated, fit there arc a numbtj of gcntleracn in the province, who have th< best of learning, r* Ther is a public apcl free school kept in crery di« Uict, by oruer of the -King, the teachers of which re ceive ai^iually one hundred pounds sterling from tht crown. ilforai?.— It m lyi idea entertained by the gcncrali ty of the people of the United Statesi that the inhab itants of Canada are some of th« worst people in th< world, made up of rogues, murderers, and the lik mean characters. However, the idea is entirely false That there has some bad characters escaped fron^ difljByent parts of the United States to Canada, n** one will deriy ; but these cannot be called the inhab- itants, but only sojourners. But I must say, whether I am believed or not, that the main body of the pec pic of Canada are peaceable, just, and generous hi all their intercourse with each other, and stranger also ; they are benevolent, being once poor themseli^ they ki)ow how to feel for human want and huraau woe. 1 have been acquainted with some of the Ih- habitants of almost every neighbourhood, and ha^ found them to be nearlv al! alike^ except thf^Rft fro^^^ England or Ireland. I have also attended a numbi ^ C5 ;h fichool^i istricts. ody of the here &re a » have th( ercry difj ' whlah re 5 from tht; e gencrali the inhab >ple in thi nd tlie lik Lirely false aped hoa anada, n'> the inhab y^ whethc' of the peo enerous hi [ strangei themselre.'^ nd hunattij of the ifi- and haTf^ i a numbtr i tjie courts of justice, and viag jjuiprised t(» ^?ec sa ii\tle business done at theni.^*^he most of tiie In> iiabitants of the western or upper part of the province .xxfrora the states of New- Jersey, Veimsylvania, and New-York, and yet retain a considcraljle degree oC that rectitude of conduct and conversation observed among the Quakers and Prcsljytevians in those States. There is hardly ever an instance of a pcrSoti stealing in this province, not perliaps because all the Inhabit- -ints arc too good, but partly from tins cause, and partly because the penalty annexed to tlie crime is death; however, no one lui . bceLi put to death in the province yet. Religion. — Aln&ost all the | cile of Canada that 'lave come to the age of maturity, are professors of digion : however, as in all other places they are of ^UlTerent sentiments and sectaries. The Methodists .' re the most numerous, and are scattered all over I ?rp province. The other sectaries are more local, I ai'e as follows : there are fifteen churches for bap- lisi.sJ|a])out one thousand in number, and eleven Preachers ; one church in Bafcter||E township, one in TJ luriow, one in Sidney, one in Percy, one. in Ilallc- II, qne in Sufiasburgh, (there five last are oa the lay Quantie) one in CranlWte,, one in Hildamin, one i Whitby, one in Markh.uii, one in Townsend, one •a Oxford, one in CharlottevIIle, one in Clinton, and ne in Niagara, There are six Blinkters and Coa-> ; il ti ^ cni^v"*^"*' «6 grcgations of Episcopalians : one at Cornwall, one a! Kingston, one - 1 York, one aUSTiagara, one at Turkey* Point, one at Sandwich.* fThere are ten cong]rega-» tions of Presbyterians, and seven Ministers. /One in London district (Townsend), a Mr. Colver, Mi- nister, a very old gentleman; one in Ancaster, near the head of Ontario, a Mr. Williams, Minis^ ter; one on the twenty mile creek, twenty miles from Niagara, a Mr. Eastman, Minister ; one in Nia- gara village, a Mr. Burns, Minister ; one in York, no minister ; one on the .Bay Quantie, one in Kingston, and three below, t^'^here are five co%regations of Quakers or iriends/: / one in Adolphustown, thirty rtjiles west of KmgMon on the Bay Quantie, one in Roxbridge, thirty miles north-east of York, on a new townsliip, one on Yonge street near Lake Simcoe, one in the township of Norwich, on the river ThJimes, and one at the short hills, not far from Lake Efeie, thirty miles south-west of Niagara. There is also a considerable inmiber of the Butch Moneasts in the province ; a large settlement of them reside in Clin- ton township, nofoar from Niagara, as also another m Markham, near Yqrk, and on Yoiige street, and «qme other parts.: /There is also some Tunkers in' the ppc»vlnce, and a fe#Roman Catholics. - They have a chapel in Cornwall, and in Kingston and Sand- • There is also another congregation and Minister on Yon^, Street lately becomes ch : a Mr. Joseph Lockwood. once a ***'»\odist, is tlieir Minisur. / ■ i- ..-.> ih II, one at t Turkey* ;ong]rega-» re. jOne Iver, Mi- Ancaster, s, Minis- ity miles e in Nia- York, no iCingston, jations of n, thirty e, one in m a new ncoe, one Thames, ake lE^e, is also a is in the i in Clin- > another eet, and nkers in' r f/Tliey [id Sand- on Yon^ d, once a wich. There is also some other sectaries in the pro^ vince, all of which enjoy full liberty of con>icience to worship God as they please, and are protected by law from penalties, impositions, or burthens of any kind relative to religious concerns. The Episcopal clergy are paid by the King. " The one eeventh part of all the land of Upper Canada is appropriate cd according to the constitution, for the maintenance of a Protestant clergy within the province." This land lies in two hundred acre lots, and is leaseci out for/twenty-oneyears, at two dollars the first seven years of the lease, four dollars the second seven, and six dol- lars the tliird seven. The rent of these lot;-, called Clergy reserves, is given to the Clergy to the amount of eight hundred dollars a yeai*. The Clergy of the (jther sectaries are paid' according to the will and bounty of their hearers. /■Tlicre has been no general revival oi religion of late in Canada, yet the people in general pay a very serious attention to it, and at- tend to preaching very well. Profane swearing is geldcra heard, and the sabbath is reg-arded with con- rideriible reverence. Bigotry or superstition is not often to be discovered among the inhabitants of Ca- nada, of course tliey do not persecute each other, but are friendly and loving. Dhersions,'-TU inhabitants of almost every coun- try have their diversions, \vhich Vury accoraing theu: notions of pieasare. Of course, the people of Ca- ']■'■■ 4/k ml ■M ^\m GB iff nada have theirs, which, however, areof anex.rc.: ing and innocent nature. Meeting togetJjer at private houses and dancu; L: a favourite amusement of the young people. T!;.;. however, is not carried to excess. Hunting deer and bears in the winter is also u d version, and a very profitable one. Sleighirig is another amusement, of which 1h people are very fond, and for which Ukv are well prepared, as it respects horses, sleighs, gIoIIi mg, and furs. They also very much esteem the nm^ SIC of bells, some having at times 40 on the harness of two horses. Much produce is taken to market m li-' wmter by sleighs, in which is connected both i ica^. sure and profit. As this is a level country, an. i tLe snow lies pretty deep all winter, there is very -n .] sleigliing. 3Iost of the people drive Jehu-lilii! or " ftirious." The melody of the human voice is also an n^im^ ment of the yomig people of both sexes, Tcmhm of this art will meet with good encouragemejit :.; f most every part rf Canada. Comparatively speaking, Canada is but a newaad thinly settled country ; vet, contrary to the ci/^na of the inhabitants of such places, the people here Irp well at all times, but when they go abroad, or a llu4 Saf)bath, thry dress very fine. When I sav i ' dress line, 1 do not mean that fancied iineness, IwlM i»r3^ 69 )f an exi TCi& i dancijigis >ple. .Th'A. is also ;;, di- wliicli tlsi hich tJie^ ighs, clolh' mi tlu) mu- harness of irket iv. iho both |'lea« y, anr I iLf, very -o.i; . 'lU-Jiki. u:' ana^n-M;:.-'^-^ Tea;,:.;ies:s aejit U'i .':f^ [jere tbvN:;; or a the ,■ '' ' sav 'fliey ••> .,• 5, stu(l,ied and practised in large cities and populous placfc&-— such as jewels, rings, ribbons, powder, paint, and the like ; but with garments of the finest stuffs, with but kw trinkets of any kind. The raost of their clothing l« of their owti manufacturing, particularly the wool- I a, for which they have plenty of the best of wool. ' Horse-racing, card-playing, and the like unprofita^ Lie and sinful diversions are very seldom performed ill Canada. Drunkenness and dissipation are seldom seen among fhte people. As aU have to g(d their living by their labour, there appears to be but little time ox tempta- tion to frequent taverns for that purpose. The people of Canada pay very little attention t^ i !?iy kind of diversion in the sunmier, except to visit one uiotlier in a social manner,and drink tea,of which ^ a;m very fond, and a friendly chit-«« VA *' *M i>'mm»^0»>tkt • H ro \ Salt is also made here, though to a small amnnnt, but might be made in great (luantil ies. Hats s!ioe.s, b<>ot^^ and thi and crockery ware are manufactured here in great plenty. Linen and woollen cloths are made in abmidance. ^^iitsiiey, and apple and peach brandy arc also made in considerable quantities. PilOMlSCUOUS RE.UARKS ON TJife GOVERNMENT. The constitution, laws, and government of ITppo Canada arc much belter than people unacquainted ■> M'lth them expect. It is not my intention hrr.>. to write much respecting the government, tiiough 1 had taken iijuch pains in studyin- it with an intention oi publishing the result of my enquiries on the .subject One year beibre the declaration of T^ar by the Amc ncan government against England, while in Canad. I issu(^d proposals for a geographical and political view ol the province ; but, ay it is now generally ex- pected that tlie province will fall into the hands of the American government, I shall make only a few remarks on tlie subject. In the year 1791, the then called province of Que- bec was, by an act of the British Parliament, divide " ed mto two separate provinces~to be called the pro- vince of Lower Canada, and Ihc province of TJnn.r i^anada. By this act, u constitution was formed for X ware are iiidMiice. arc also f Uppo: [uaintiidl hvre to h I had ntion of subject, le Amie- -^anada, >oJiticaI illy ex- aiids of " a few ►fQue- divid- le pro- - rv'- led for \ .4. each province, each Iii it,s nature calculated lo suit the !-"?fnati()ii of their respective inhabitants-— one being" , ly settled by the Fictich, and the other by the English. The constitution put it out of the power of the Ci itish parliament to impotje any taxes on the people tifLer upon their property or trade, but what was rif i^ssary for the icguiatiou of commerce: but this vild be dispojied of by the Legislature of the pro- vince for the bcueiit cf the same. The constitutioH also provides for the creation of a Legifciative council anrl a Legislative assembly. The King also sends a grivernour who acts in the King's name. The mem- h(:i6 of the legislative council are selected by the King and go veniour jointly ; these hold their seats dm'ing Ilk if they do tiot forfeit it. The members of the Legislative Assembly are elected every fourth year ])y the freemen of the province. Any man of the age of twenty- four, and who Is worth property to the amount of forty shillings a year, and has been in e province seven years, may be elected a member oi the Legislative assembly, or vote for one.* The r uking of laws for the welfare of the people is the busi- v-sof theliCgislative Assembly, must be assented to hy the Legislative Council and governour in the J ing's name, before they become lat\'s, yet the Le- f/hil ative Council, ;;overnour, British parliament ot * The people vote in Canada by word of mou A. 72 '!! %if i- King, cannot luakc any laws for the people of Cana- da, « without the advice andconsent of the Legisla- tive ABsembly.** From hence we see that the people have got the means of guarding th«^mselveh'. About twelve ^/ears ago, the assembly parsed an act dividing the province into districts, or ridings, every om of which sends one member to parliament or th6 assembly. The num- ber of members at present, Auguiit, 181^, f^ twenty- six, two tMi ds of which are natives of the United States,* sm than one third of the justices ot iht peace are AiEericanf!, the sherifls are either Emop^ ansor loyalists; th»; iarj, accor^ng to the constitu- tion, must be taken ii? rotafioji fiom each township, as their names ntmi m- tiie assessment roll or list of Barnes ; of course the. majority are always America!i?„ Tlie majority of the Courts of Quarter Sessions, Pijc*- bate Surrogate, and Courts of King's Bench, are Eu- ropeaiis ; yet the proceedings of those Courts are re« gulated hj the acts of the Assembly. In the second session of the first Parliament in 179^3, an act waa passed to prevent the further in- troduc tion of slaves. Tlie excellent words of that act begin thus :--« IVhereajs it is unjust ihat a people who enjoy freedom, by law should encourage slavery, * No Minister of the Gospel can get In either hQ?i3e. of §Qtm^. the people ar© iwt tfraid of epirituia tyran/iy. 1 ^ 'ttr 5 of Cana- e Legisla- ve got the dve years e province I sends one The. num- h tvv^eDty- iie United c^3 of tJie T Eiiroper B constitu- townshipj or list of Lmericaxi]» sions, Pi^t^ h, are Eu« *ts are re- lament in urther in- >f that act a people ^e slavery, ' $ 1 That after the passing of this act, no per son brought into the jxrovince shall be subject to tiic condition of a slave.*' All that were then in the pro- vince are free at 25 years of age. The taxes in Canada are very small, no person is tuJied ^lore than one penny upon the pound sterling he is Tvirth, accoi'ding to the valuation of property Tiiado V; v act of Parliament, and which at present is not more than half of what it would sell for. The taxes so collected are laid out by the judges of the <;oiut of quaiter sessions for the benefit of the district, from which it was collected, and where the court is ■—it is to pay the >vages of the members of the as «embly sent from the district, and half of the salary of the fiheriffe of the same, to build or repair the court-house or jail, and Uie like. The whole »;xpcuce of the govenunent of Canada except what is here noted, is paid by the King, which together with the Indian department, costs him i^o million sterling annually, and which frees the people from a great burthen. The Moneasts, Tmikers, and Quakers are exempts edfrom military duty by paying annually in time of peace five dollars, and in time of war twenty. The governour of the province has power by law to call out all the militia, and to cross tliem over the line hi pursuit of an enemy that has invaded the pro- vince, or to uestit»y 8,ny fort or fortincatiori, that -K K I 4 * 1 m ^H J|: [:1}ai li 74 umy be the means of covering or assisting an inV.: teion, but in no other case. Stealing, exposes a person to i!m 76 dicular for scvn iriile;;. Here you comf to Qu ton on the .IgUt hand, and JAwiston on the left, or Unilcd Slate^i fclde. This j^^laco is called the lund- Irigjioi^ here all the lading of vcsHdf destined for th' comitry, each side of Lake T'. ! the Michtj^ut territory, are taken out a : .^.jtd up the Moun- tain or slopo, nme milerj ^^ the dill water, two ib; . above the Falls. The ; scent of ihig slopc,«tliou;^u three hundred feet liigh, is very ea*^ ^ ... r - ^ here is half a niilf wide, and a little above there is a whirl of cohsider il/ie depth, tliuugh not dangero i- After you paea this pkce three hundred yards, yr*- \ m\AX the AxiVLV 1 ciiime: and instead of the liv ;' proj?pect of the i .ihng of ships ^\ ith liying coloiu , fiultfuliields, and pleasant landscapes, you areyj! at once buded hi a grave Ok at least three hund^ : feet deep. Although it is open at the top, shot f you look up, the sight is tr»dy gloomy: the banks -^^ perjjftndicular, and in gome places more than perr ^ dicular, ^abounding -ivith craggy rocii^anging o , yoiu* head in a frightful may^ier , near he surf^, there is lo be seen flat rocks pFojcctlng loward ee " otjier in a horizontal pogitioH.f You htiU rov/ oi r * This place is tnemorablc. Here the American t crossed the I3th of October, 1812, to invade Ciinada. f Thip place is also meiTiorabie. Down in U i; Jful chiriM amunber of ihe Aiiiericrin soitiiers .vere dro' he onq' bv i ' Indians, alter t^'y had surrtrndered themselves pnsotjer& afw . to tlie British, on the IStli of October, XU% i m •^ ... ic Ic.fi, or the lund- d for tlv le Moli.'^ two mil , here is a ht, iiv i , ;; colour^, u ar< Jiuiid ;; I per;- '> ing o'v.;* SUft : OV/ OP 15 "roused mg by 1'^ ers >f \\ ufli direction with little variation, the water is con- ,: a rably rapid, and the banks have nearly the same npncarancc, until within about a mile of cataract, wlure the banks are not quite so high ; at still all ifi Aioomy, as you are buried from the sight of the iana of the living, and must be filled with haunted Ihoi^ghtfi of five .hundred murdered dsad, that in one Mai hour, plunged into the mighty grave near which you now are.* As you proceed, the water becomes very rapid, and at length tJie mighty Falls appear in full tremen- dous view, and fill the ear with dismal roar. It is eight miles from Quecnston. When you arrive within ::r' yards ol the cataract, you must fop. Here the bed of the river \\idens, and is not sunk more ^lian half the disttu.oe below the surface, as it W3 at your first entrance of the chime. A view of ' horiz( ^ is of course more extensive. In sitting in vour m^ ba k, he above distance, with your < to the soi'% i fore you flows the main body of ^ Some distance ;fc> tK P^Hs, on the U. S. Hide, near the eh.tne, there is ahok.SuO ) -ds m circuit, and 300 feet deep, . trees und cvmggy *ck* sticking to the inner surface. In thf Ffench war in this pi-ovince, in 1759, there was a company of Aiue-icanand British 80»d; ers, with all heii' baggage wag'ffonfc •.,. ling by this hole; when they were a, litven into it, at i\ > ivt of tlie bayonet, by a comp my oi kwnclh who lay in tm^ Only two men esca^sd. Uiic uf tUiifla i uw lives five imW, the i--^-6: 9 (4- m 78 i i UMI* '":l(, liiJ < i t I . ;■ I! mm water, and plunges over with a tremendous dasft. About 60 yards of the middle of this cataract is much deeper than the rest, in consequence of a chime sunk in the rock. The water Iiere has a bluish gretn appearance. On your left hand, comes the other part of the river, not so large by a sixth part, and falls over also. This river is divided into two separate pitches, each 400 yards in width.# This division is made by a small island, crowding up to the verge of the rock, near the middle. It e^tend^ half a mile up the stream, and terminates in a point, where the water divides * toihe right and left. The (mm of the cataract bends inwards, or is nearly a Ifenicircle. By the striking force of the fall- ing ater on that below, wwicl is pressed under, which rises below in a foaming niunner, though not to any ijeiglith or violence.f The lime-stone rock, on the U. S. side, over which the water flows, shelves considerably, and leaves a large cavity between the base and falling colunm oa water ; and, were it not for the depression of air, a person might walk some distance in it witliout be- ing wet. * Great numbers of small eels may be often seen on the edge of the beach, bclov; the Falls. They are trying to get over j but cannot succeeds utiIliss some one Essists them. "I Tills Air. EUicott compares to cocks oi'hay ; but I have ne- ver stca any tbing of Ui*t appearance. Th the b mouni which of bea iug ui shape Ab the r vact.'' The ( es du' mile ence< A •A ro us dasR. itaract is ^a chime ish gre* I! he other part, and pitches, made by the rock, e stream, r divides . rds, or is [the fall* er, which oi to any er which leaves a ylnnm oi of air, a lout be- 1 the edge over } but X have ne- K The mighty dash oX,so great a body of water 0» the bed below, raises a fog or small rain, which mounts u[» and spreads to a considerable distance, in which (when the sm shinrs) may b(; seen a variety of beautiful rainbows. In the winter, this rain light- ing upon the neighbouring trees,congcals in a thousand shapes, fornung a romantic and pleasing appearance. About 1 aif a mile above the Falls, what are called the rapids begin, and descend 50 feet to the cata- ract.* The water descends below the Falls 70 feet. The draft of this rapid is so great, that it often reach- es ducks and geese, when they appear to be half a mile out of danger, and when once under the influ- ence of the impetuous current, they cannot get on the wing a^jain. Indians with tlieir canoes have been known to be irresistibly carried down the rapid, and have dinappeared forever. Alcove thii rapid, the river spreads to nearly three liiiles wide, and i'? shaUow, with several small islands. The river now has a south-east course to Grand Isl- and, 9 mile wide, and then south to lake Erie, where it is only a mile wide. This is 20 miles from the Falls by water. — From this place, you may sail more than a thousand miles if you wish, to th' end of l,nke Superior, without encountering any mure ialls. If my reader pleases, I will invite him back a.^ain, to view and contemi)Iate a little uKjre thio awful • The hofl of the rapids is very rocky. ir I^v> ; ,u \M . 1 v\ 'i •i m i ' 'rl: ^ 11 kJu! eoene. On both, sides of the rapids, above the Fa the banks oftlie river are quite low, and there £ many convenient situations for water-works. Sevei are now erected, yet there is room for more. Witt small expense, a large quantity of water can brought in use to do great execution. The perpendicular pitch of this vast body of v ter is 144 feet— add to this 50 feet above and 70 ' low, and we fin(i that the river descends in eight m ' and a half, 264 feet. Some who have never seen \ river, suppose it to be much less than it is, while c ers suppose it to be larger. Indeed, it is hard . any one to judge with propriety, that has seen it. there are but eight miles in the \v hole length of river, between the two lakes, where any current c;' be seen, and that is very rapid. For the contemplation of the curious, who ma perhaps never see these Falls, 1 have made the folio \ ing calculatic^n, from which they may form some t lerably correct idea of the quantity of ^vater that fal over this cataract : — Say that each of the spaces over which the wat pitches, is 400 yards wide, or 12(.X) feet. The mc fcliallow one of these, or tliat on the U. S. side, is thr feet deep,. on the verge of the rock over which it fa! Now, if v/e multiply its depth (S feet) into its wid (1200 feet), we have 3GIX) cubic or solid feet ofwal iiitk 4Jip t'tirMvp ,\£ iVii^ i»v/>ii 'ii'^'A Ac i^M^ff^ ^vp A >? nr-ivr iM i the Fa I there i s. Sevei B. Witl ter can lody of V : and 70 eight ra ^er seen \ , while c' is hard .; s seen it,, s\ ngth of current c o , who ina J the folio > :m some t er that fa! I the wat The mc IdCj is thr lich it fal its vvid ?et of wat: p A'^^ nr,ivr. 81 • -oirdupois in ?i cu])ic or solid foot of Avater, (and a ■'e more, ^vhich we will i(^ave out to avoid frac- Uons) ; so', if we multiply 63 (the pounds in a square oi' water) into 36130 (tlie niunl>er of feet of wa- iiT on the verge), we have 223,200 pounds of watef a the verge of the precipice. But when we consi- ,^<-i\the laws of gravity respecting spouting fluids and ' Uiiig bodies, wo shall find that the water of this ca- taract receives a vast additional weight by the time .1 comes to tine lowest point of fall. In ordtr, iiif-refore, to llnd this additional weight, we must 1 luj the follo\^ ing things : — - Hcavv bodies near the surface of the earth, fall ur>c foot the first quarter of a f cond, three feet tli« ;itd, five feet the third, and seven feet in the fourth .liter ; that is, ten feet io the first second. Let go I-! ; bullets together—stop the first at one second .. it will have have fallen 10 feet; stop the next ' fhe end of the second second, and it will have fall- : ' X .'^ ::= 4) four tinier 16 or 6ii feet; and stop ' the last at the er d of the third second, and the dis- f - fallen ^vili l)c (3x3 = 9) nine times 16 or I'M and 60 (.)n. iS'ow the momentum, or force, with ). a falling body strikes, is equal to its weight ,, \)\kd by its velocity," and in order to find which • i vv.ust " multiply the perpendicular space fallen * ill. Oy U*, aiivi MiO b^iuaiw ivJ^Ji- Ui tJiv^ /> m\ll<'/\i ttV ni VJi.\l\JV fl\ 1 Lk velocity required."— ^£? I'ikeh Arith. page ^i*. i u 5;|ii , -' I m I t I II' 82 From calculation, we find tliat'the water of thi. calaract U three .ecouds descending the one hundred and forty-four fret, and that the vdocdy -^a.re I that time .M,d distance to be 90, wh.ch it we mul- tiplv i..to 22;5,m the number of poundsofwa tcr or. iu-pofthe rock, we find that 21,4%300>sth^^ ,,.isht thereof at its lowest point of fall : th« « the weit'ht of the water of the smallcrt part of he cata- ract, or that on ihc United States nde, the other part of the falls as has been noted, is at least s-x f^mes a= large, that is timesthe auantity of water flows ov«^ it. Now if we ir,uUiply the al,ove ^"'(^^Z;^ i.v 6, we have the enormous sum ot 128,M.^^. pLn^s of water, which fail, on the bed of the n.e. below, , . iJ.ionr No wonder then that the solid rock and d . ai>. .uvface bend beneath the n.ighty pre6.uve, and tha I sound i. often heard at the distance of twcn and some, times i ' miles. However, it mu.., I- here noticed that faUmg bodi.. met with re.slanc. from the air through which they pa^S which i. »l a^^ta proportion to the distance fallen, the v.loo.t.r Tf the LL, and dimensions of their surfaces •, or mother word, the water of this cataract i. c^isu le.. olV resided bv the air through which it falls, fi o,. which circum'stance it api^ars that there ought .<■ w «nn,e reduction from its weight, or stvuni; force at its lowest point of fall : yet when ^s'c ol^serw II <« il 83 ter of thib c hundred r acquired if we mul- )f water on ,^00 is lii( this is tlie )f the cat2r= ; other part ix times a^ r Hows over 128,563,2CK^ of the riyei and disLaiii re, and that e of twenty, , itrauBt. S^e th reslstimc • which is Til live velocity surfaces ; e^* is csnsideru, it falls, frorn ere ought ir or strikin:; ju we ol^serv I fhr^i fiaids act by prcsnrre andgi'avity both, and that i-vi ■ y |>art of this cataract is of some depth, and al)oiit sixty yards is eighteen feet deep wliere the pTCfc'Sure is great, of course we may fairly calculate sh\d tfie pressure out-halacces the resistance. But v; . .1.-1 3 are nou elastic, they do iiot produce but half tlje trilt^t of perfect elastic bodies. Were the water *" I Ms cataract a perfect elastic body and fell on a '. elastic base, the strikiiig' force and sound ■• nM H jtist four times as great as it now is, Sev- ters who have wrote a description of this ca- uid the adjacent partf^, h.ave stated that tlie ' . re once down at the landing or north side of i or niountaiu already noted. And "that I ' ! great lengtiv of tiine^ quantity of water, and from widcli it fell, the solid rock is wore svv.i} r seven Kiiki up the stream to wliere it is now. To me it is plain that neither of these asscr- i( a: ;5 true. Whoever will take the nainn view m ffom tiie f)e.j.^innkig of the slope through he water now Hows up to the falls, must be id oi the miitakt;, Tor tlif hanks are not foM » it are in some places sand, in oth'Ts sand and ]';v d in othert^ eoUd rock, as al^o trees, bushos, ^ks ahd M/ ne^ but in very few places are the V bolid rock on both sides.* That the ca d- •?1 l,"nc£i'-'i. ft'li' s .. --U the bank« of thil river in the ., V u;( suys, **oaa CiU'< f'.^ ^yiininution of the banka oi the w 1,1 } I'i )• ' ,\ i k 'ii .1 ^ :ii ! I I . ^ 1 84. ract was ever down at tlie north side of tlie felope, i^ a conjecture to me very improbable, for if it v.as ever there, it must have fallen from those flat and horizon- tal rocks already named, and wJiich are near the sur- face of the ground. The surface of the gTound, oy top of the slope, where the Falls arc supposed once to have been, is ei^M l^et higher than the still waXcr above the rapids already noted, according to me? surement, and but one loot lower than the lower end of Lake Erie. v' ^4t - js[ow as there is a considerable hollow en the. Unv ted States side,, about halfway bets^een the Falls and the top of the mountain, it is evida^t the ^^ hole viVC]^ would have found itB way mto Lake Ontario through this hollow, rather t^ ui rise at least 'Mrty fe^t to laow over the top of the mountaui, or Svope. From the Falls, the ground i^ level in every direc^ tion,and on the Canada bide, heids are cui'ivated to the verge of the bank ^\ some places. The cataraci may be seen from some directions, at the distance o; four miles. A little above the^c fells there is a sprio;;; exnitting a gas, or an hiftamnuibie air„ which if cot • fined in a pipe, and fire set to it ^vill burn. It is curious to see all the trees near this cataran " cut on the baxk for a considerable distance up all ovc) tiTeritwas evident that tliere was no good fcAindalion fov tbi rthe above] opinicHi." See a noteiti Mor3e\s Ga/eltcer, prai^ ed ftt Boston m 1797, cnUer tJie itord N:agara> 1 e ftlope, ii^ t was ever 1 horizon- ir the sur- ;vound, oy xl once to till water 5 to me? lower end 1 the tJnb ; Falls and \ hole iivc]* io tlircugh i1,y feet to /• very direc- il'ivated to be cataract (Usance o; 3 is a sprio;;: hich if coi • lis oatara< I » up all OV'^5 lalion foi' Ibi 85 the initials or Brst letters of persons' name?, with ear in which they were cut: some of these i'mU.i' are of contJiderable age ; I discovered t^7o tliat bad been made tuo hundred and seven years, or in IGOC, which was two years before the province was ?re? ' I by the French, though it was discovered by ill. iiglish three hundred and sixteen years ago, or in year 149?'. Tliere is a ladder provided one iui iriied and forty-four feet long, to go down into the . ha^i^i, though but few will venture, , \lassaugus nation of Indians used to sacrifice i'fsi^^'f'ataract, before theji were visited bytheRo- liia;] Catholic PriestF. it two years ago, some of the island already named fed to the bottom with a great sound. KSM-IRKS BKLATIVE TO TH^. SITUATION OP THE ?G0- TLE OF CaNAUA, IlESPJiCTlNG THE WaIU |v> writing upon this subject, I feel as if J was rea* ling upon delicate ground. Although T feel as iimcli neutrality in the contest as perhaps it is possi- r li for an} one to feel, except that I have one wish •.rhifh is that of peace. Yet, no dou])t, some of ray , leifi M ill find, or think they find some partiality in rn\ i-emaiks on the subject. However, I intend to retaie nothing but the truth, ,ii i\ ill 1 III 86 ilie general knowledge of which,! hope will (w)b(iTie- ficial. I have already noted that six out of ten of the in- habitants, were natives of the United State?, or their children born in Canada, These people did not move to the province because they preferred the govern- ment of Great-Britain to that of the Uinled States, but in order to obtain land upon easy .terms, for it must be remembered, that all the land of Canada now ]nha])ited, was given to the people by the Kmg who bought it of the Indians.% j> It must here be mentioned also, thai in order 1o ob- tain this gift, they were inider the necessiity of taking the oath of allegiance to his Majesty, the King. While the CongresH of the UBitcd States wm in debate, relative to the declaiation of war against England, and all hr.r territovicis and dependencies, the parliament of Canada passed a law providing for the raising and training one third of the militia of the province, between the age of 18 and 45, called Sank companies. And at the same time passed an act for the formation of a peculiar kind of an oath of allegiance, to l>e adniiuistered to the militia, at the discretion of the Governour. • At preKont there is & small conuderation required, and "ahould tlvis land be sold at any time t« any peison, such person »iU9t take the oath of uiie^i*ui*i« Wivkin one jc&r, oir U^ i^rH Msbacktotlie King. ■ the in- or their ot move govern- i States, J, for it Canada lie King [ir loob- f taldng were in against Kiencies, ding for ilitia of 5, called Lssed an 1 oath of I, at the I red, and ih person 8r This oath was the subject of gre?.: complaint, and many refused to take it, insomuch, that the Govern^ ojir thought proper to lay it by. At this fie?;sion, there M'as an attempt made to pass an act to suspend for eighteen montlis, the liabeas corpus act, and thereby to deprive the people of tiie process of trial by court and jury, Howevt r^ it did not pass by some odds. — ^^Ilid this act passed, there is wo doubt but that a rebcliion would have taicen place. The act that was passed for the organi station of a part of the miUtia, was carried into effect without any opposition, as but few expected that the declara- tion of war would take place ; indeed, but few knew Uiat fiuoh an act was under consideration ; the invar sion of Canada was contemplated ])ut by few. When war was declared again^-t England, Mr. Fos- ter, Minister from tlie couri cl Great-Britain,, to iha United Staten, sent an express to Canada, with great ■peed. When the government were iDformei of the eventj the jQank companies were ordered to Fort ieorge, and t'ler places on the lines, with great expedition. They were told that they must go to such places ) get their muskets, after which they might return* 'his order they obeyed wlih cheerfiUnass, not know- iiig that war wa:'' deciaxed, or that tliey should be de- aued, which ho is ever was the case.' ihi ''■' ll- t I ill f«l m if .19 ft -.A m \A m ill u rif I if ■'. u ■ w U^i hi Had they known of the declaiation of Avar, and that th y were to be detained for tliat purpose, I ani of opinion tliat hut kw would have conipjied with the orders, though most of th?m were under obliga- tions so to do, having talvCB an oath to that efilct.* At the same time the regular soldierrj were march- ed from York to Fort George. All the Indian war- riors on Grand River were called for, and they went down immediately, — but soon returned. After this the chiefs made an arjeemcnt with the Governaiir, and Were to have good wages to engage in the war, after wJiicli, they returned again. In a little time after this the flank companies rais- ed in different parts of the province some distance from E'ort George, were called to it; and at the same time Gen. Hull invaded the province at Sand- wich, nearly 300 miles west of Foil George. 1 then lived on the main road that leads to it, on which all the fcioldiera passed, and conversed with some hun- dreds of tliem, re?^pectin.» tbclr feelings ar 1 view&, and found that nearly all of them were of the same mind, and that was. If Hull came down to Fort George, (which was the unt ;rsal expectation,) aid they were ord^ed to march against liim, they w^ouM * Upon th i declaration ©f war, the govemour issued a procla- mation, making it treason for any one to aL0tm^t to cross the lint* Hiid nyl this been duiif, on;? iuui of die people would have ]• " the fTinviiieo, T f ■ ' libjk '-»,■ '„ .*:^^. "»f , ^ war, and osc, I an.i icd with r obliga- eficct.# 'e march- diari war- hey went A.fter %hh overnoiir, the war, lilies rais- difiance d at the at Sand- , 1 then which all )me hun- nd view . the same I to Fort ion,) aid Ley would d a procla- oss the line, lid have !•. ■tfti Y notoljey. Srich was theh' dread of war, and par- tiality to the United States' govenimtnt. But not a mail would ha\'c joined him and fought against the King, as was the opinion. But the < vent was, Hull did not come, hut continued at sandwich, and sent a proclamation among the people, tclUKg thciu he was coming to deliver them from tyranny, and that he w as able to accomplish the task ; but, at the frame time, he invited them to join him, like true vthtU against their King and oaths, or else stay and mind their own w ork ; but if any should come against iiim, and be found fighting by the side of an Indian, they should be murdered without mercy. I believe al- most every one that saw or heard of tills proclama- tion, treated its contents with contempt. People are hardly ever so willing to do wrong irorn tlie advice of ethers, as of their o^vn accord. Now, to take up dvim against their King, whom they liad sworn to j)rotect, was too much. They were oilcnded at any man, who could think that they M^ere capalxle of such conduct ; and as to assist- ing Hull in freeing them from tyrarniy, it \vas a mere notion— for it' they had be( n under any, they could at any time have crossed the line to the United. States. But Ihcy ^vere told that they luiglit stay at home and mind their business ; — this proposal, they wnnid wiHinglv have acctded to. for they dreaded the war v\lih their whole souIj. iiouic x'f them hs It 2 ' ii , ',1 IJ If Illff i ^ tl. I if k WW "M-\ 1 ' iMI deed took the friendly advice, for which they m er sliarply rebuked by .heir rulers, and in consequence of this some fled to the wildcrn«'<^s, and some remain there until this day for aught I Icnow ; >' but all of them were much e-Tasperated against Hull, for tlire;j- tening not to give any one quarter?, who shoukl U found jGghting by the side of an Indian. They were well assured that IIuU kncAv every man in Canada to be imder the control of the government, and that tl?ey were obliged to bear arms, and at least to march wlnu'c tijey were ordered, arid that they could not prevent the Indians from marchinf- with them. They also knew tliat tJiey must com- mence an engagement, should they be - brought in sight of Huirs army ; but in the confoaon of a bat- tle, should one take pbr-, m.avjy hoped to make tlieir escape to Hull. However, after this dreadful declaration, no one had rny such \lew, believing if they should leave the British army, from among the Indians, and go to Hull, that he would Icill llicm According to hi? pi )mise. This operated very much in favoiii' of the Britiijh cause. It was generally thought in Canada, that if Hull had luarched with haste from Sandwich to lorl George, tlie province >vould have then been coiiquer- * A \cry fewfictl to Hull, but when he gave them up they weiT imt Imi'f. hilt rviif ;»i ».^*.i »* 1 t-„-— - - . 1 .t . . . — ^..^, ... ^..^ .. ..jjjj yg5_.jj ._p^_.^„ -.j..^, ujey wcJ'G iiaiig-evl ; but ti: is is vv Ithout f©* .dation; ley werr sequence i remain t all of or thrcJi- lould b«^. Try man ^rnment., , and at arid that larching' ust com- ►light in of a bat- to make rlriat: )elieving i among :iil them ry much if Hall to Fori Ljynquer- the\' weiT i n ^ ed without ihe lo."? of a riian ; for at that time British would not hav n able to brin^- more VJOO men to oppose hi u, jeforo could have rca( ed the Niagara, and cu j^ieratrd vjth tlie army un the east sidr, who then coidd have come over with safety, and so th re Mould iiave been an end of ^Jie unhappy war. L'ut, contrary tu all expectation, ITnll remained at handwich, tin Genrral Brock issued his proci a to i\v^ i)eopIe, tellfn^ fr' that Hull was sent ./a- dison to conquer tlw. province for Bonapart ml if tlirv rbV not repel iiim they would be sent to France. Til ', tU3 a successfi ^?p towards a preparation to rippo; 3 Hull Brock then i)cat up for volunteers at i i 01 ge, to f with hin and opp> .se the iiw d ^j-^ promising all who would engage with him to fare tiie same with himself, and have 200 acres of land,— About .ia) turned out, and took water to go by the way of I^ake Erie. At the same time he sent two pieces of Hying artillery, and a few regulars by land. He had also ordered some part of the m*'itia from the district of London, about a hunuiod njiles from Sandmeh, to march there. This r ly refused to do of their ov.n accord, and others were persuaded so to rduss by a Iv! . Culver, a Mr. Beamcr, aiid one m '/j-e, w:ho rode amcng the people for tlx days, tell- hc.ndtd, and the most of the people became obedi» t if'i I IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-S) // m^ {/ 4^ #? ^ M 1.0 I.I 1.25 ■ 50 "^" till 2.2 2.0 i.4 1.6 V] yl ^ ^^ ^;; > > ^. ^ ■ ^'^ "^ /A ^ 'V// o 7 Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. MS80 (716) 872-4503 4, \ •■^ <> 9) ^ 'O'^ O \ w «> /. .^^. ^^ f/i fA J 1P.r^ r^^ I Ij^ m cttt. After this, they had their choice to go or stay, and some went. The result of this expedition is suP ficiently public, and need not be inserted here. Hovr- ever, it maCy be here remarked, that -^he capture f^C Hull and all his army, with the surrender of the fort of Detroit, and all the Michigan Teritory, were ev^ntii which the people of Canada could scarcely bdiev^j even ifter they were known to Im^ true. Indc; d» when I saw the ofiicers and soldiers returning to Fort George, with the spoils of my countrymen, I could scarcely believe my own eyes. The most of the peo- ple in Canada think that Hull was Iwcibed by the British to giv« up the forte After this event, the people of Canada became fear- ful of disobeying the government— some that hud fled to the wilderness returned home— and the friendi? or the United States were discouraged, and tliose t£ the King encouraged. ■ Great preparations were now made — the militi®^ were trained every week, and a number more called •ut ; and some hundreds of regulars came from i^ hwer province. The army nbw became respectable^ and a dread fell on those who had opposed the go- verament. The people now saw that it was as much as their property and lives were worth to disol>ey oiJ* ders, and now what they had been compelled to 4«% iJi^t^l. ti iiliiU ♦ViiiiC iii\jjr'. i»ivi :iViii ■i, ii' J- i.v-..i Thinss nmauied in this situation till August, wbcB I 1 is nvJr' )ture (4. the fort e ev':i»tii believe. Indeed, to Fort ■ could he pco'- by tlie lat btfd I friendi! tliose ()i- jiiilitiE e called rem th^ ectable^ tlie gt?- IS inucfe Dbcj? <^ d to4iOj dfVfhm «; • *i > m the Parliament met for a short session, and put all the pi|blic inoney. into the hands of the govejnour, and aJfio passed an act making it treason for any person, man or woman, to speak against the Administration, or to refuse going or persuade any of his Majesty's subjects from going to war, ;^They strove hard also to pass an act to establish tiie martial law, but the biilwas violentljf opposed by the friends of the peo- ple, particularly by J. Wilicocks, an Irishman. The members of Parliament pu])lished an address to the people, in which they all promised to assist in tlie war, both with their counsel and arms; and when the house dissolved; the most of them took tl^ field.* In the course of the aimmeri Broeky who was in- deed a f n, had rendered himself very dear to all the 8oiu..i& at F )rt George^ and to the people in general. In this situation tilings remakicd, and the array increased^ till the invasion of the province at Queens- ton, an account of which has been laid before the public. However, it may not^Jhe^amlsg to make a few remarks on the subjects Early in the mornmg of the 13th of October, 1812, some Americana landed on the bank at Qucenston, unobserved ; but were soon dMcovered, and the alarm given, at which tune they retreated unseen (as it was » If the members of Confftess wovud act uiu», ii wouid make a great alteration in the war. u i 1 I yet d. to keep them frona coming do^\ n to the beacJi to r t> pose the inva5 . i»iir Goyernonr. Such sounds filled crcry bosom with raartial fire, .u reinforcernent of one thousand eight hundred soldiers and six pieces of tlying artille- ry, was soon in marching orders, under Gen. Sheaife: they ascended the slope one mile and a half west of the American army, which was then on the heights above^ Queenston. When they came in sight, they all raised the Indian wlioop, let loose the cannon, & rushed on with great impetuosity. Tlie Americans seemed panic struck, did not form, or fight, but re- treated a small distance, but the awful chime was in the Way : they surrendered, and quarters wer« given, yet the lodians who were on the left wing, continued to kill with their tomahawks, which so exasperated Gen. Sheaife, that he threw off his hat, and stuck hie 6word in the ground up to the handle, and declared, that if every man did not exert himself to preven*. the Indians from killing the Americans, after they iad surrendered, he would give up the confmand and go home. The militia and regulars then, with mjtch ado stopped the Indians from killing. No one can reflect on this scene without feeling his heart bleed at the view of human misery. When I heard the cannon, in the morning, I took my horse and rode down, and on the road met a number of the Massaugug Indians who had made tdb«. i I ; *? w ! I 1*^1 After this the British contemplated another #hi>.t. sion hnniedia.ely, and therefore called ail the rail i from sixteen to sixty, from the river Credit roi;' the head of Ontario to the west side of the Gran.' River, and between the two lakes, as also more iimi one half from the London and Home districts to 1 oi t George, and other stations on the Niagara river 1 • Fort Erie, which made an army of eight thoaruiJ soldiers. This order was resisted witii considerabla ,j5pirit, yet it was too late, for not only the officeVs of the army and the Indians were engaged to compel obedience, but all^the militia that had been m the service; they thought it hard and unreasonable ^Mi they must bear all the burden and dangers ol lue war, therefore a number of them were zealously en- gaged to bring forward the disobedient, althouglj. their neighbours and relations. An example of ihb sort may be named : about twelve days after th^ • kj tie, a C«oL Graham, on Yonge street, ordered his m- giment to meet, in order to draft a number to send to Fort George : however, about forty did not appear but went out into Whitechurch township, neail; wilderness, and there joined about thirty more, vtli?? ' hadfled from different places. When the regiment- met, there were present some who had yet liberty '^ absence a lew days from Fort George, these witi ■ > number of o^**. hundred and sixty, to go and k U ii )t herein the rail t v4\i roi i ■ * the Gra.L„: more ihnn icts to ,1'ort ra river i^ t thomajvl onsideraI)'e J officers ';f . to compel )een m tlse onable tluxi, ers of th,!' ealousiy en- L, altlioaglj. aple of t^uK tetb""^).'.^'^ ered his ri^ ;r to smd to not ax^pear, p, neai h/ a niore^ v^iu' "^ he regimeiii, etlilK ' se witlA and i'v-^^ iii them in, to which the Colonel agreed, but ordered Ihem to take no arms ; but when they found they imA not take arms, they would not go. At the first r 1 Decenniber they had increased to about three hun- d td: about which time as I was on ray way to K ?ngston to ootain a passport to leave tlie province, I sau about fifty of them near Smith's creek, in New- i 'le district, en the main road, with fife and drum, ?. \ ling up for volunteers, crying huzza for Madison; None of the people in this district bear arms, ex- < pt twelve at Presquile harbour. They are univer- jMiJJy in favour of the United States, and if ever an- i ; ^^r army is landed in Canada, it ought to be here, ^vhich would be a hundred miles from any British e, and before one could march there, nearly all Canada militia would desert, especially if the - ! erican army was large. But whenever the Am^r- kaiis attempt to land where there is an army, that rty will fight till they are nearly all destroyed, for .j» V dare not rebel, not having now any faith in any off: rs of protection in a rebellion, as they have been If reived. Indeed many of the militia are considera- bly exasperated against the invaders, for they think ih if, itjis hard that they should feel the misery of war ho have no agency in the councils of England, and u; ^^ that the United States government cannot force V uan over the line, of course those that come, they ' -vi dscommg oi their owu choice, as void uf justice 1 1 '.I i'' P' V i 1 Mkil 98 and l^umatiity, and therefore deserve to he killed for their intrusion. In August, the inhabitants were called together, in order that all who had not taken the oath of allegi- ance, mi^ht take it without exception. However, some refused, some were put in the cells, and others were not dealt so hard with. Many took the oath rather than suffer thus^ Some time in the month of November, the Ameri- cans became masters of Lake Ontario, which was very grievous to the British* About the same time,* tlie Governour* issued his proclamation ordering all the citizens of the United States, residing in the pro- vince of Upper Canada, who had refused to take the oath of allegiance^ to leave the province by ap- plying at certain boards of inspection appointed to examine into the claims of those who asked that pri- vilege ; and all who did not so receive passports, and leave the province by the 1st of January, 1813, and still refused to take the oath of allegiance, ^uld be considered as alien enemies and spies, and be dealt with accordingly. This proclamation was of short dura:tioD and but little circulated ; of course, but few received the benefit which they ought to have had, according to Jay's treaty. The victories that the British obtained over Hull Ski. DetrQit^ a.THi Vnii R.p.i! and others ►ok the oath the Ameri- which was same time,' ordering all in the pro- sed to take nee by ap- ppointed to ed that pri- ssports, and , 1813, and I, ^uld be id be dealt as of short rse, but few ) have had, over Hull nef Ar» «;pr/» of Indiant engage with them in the war. At the coramence- ;8nt of the contest, the most of the Indians refused . ; take any part in tlie war, alleging that the Ame- 'ans were foo numerous ; but they wove told that . i hough they Averc numerous, but very few would ine over, as the government could not compel Ihem ; V ! (1 that if they did not fi^^^hf, they would lose theu* i:i*;d. Some of the white people were also led to be- K ve, that they would be deprived of their huid and ;h;.T property. In the course of the summer, on ■ uc line l)etwccn Fort George and Fort Erie, there V re not more than 1000 Indians under arms at one : iue. The^e ludians go to and fro as they please, to ih( country and back, and are very troublesome to ilu; w^omen when theu' husbands ai*e gone, as they , .under and take what they please, and often beat llic w^omen, to force them to give them whi-rkey, even 'lien they are not in possession of any ; and wiien ' y see any man that has not gone to the Lines, tlicy fall hira a Yankee, and threaten to kill him f( r not iroiitg to fight ; and indeed, in some instances, their ■ ] iats have been put in execution. They act with gi( jt authority and rage — since they have stained I lie; • h an ds w it h h u man bloot I . rhe inhabitants at large would be extremely glad 't out of their present miserable situation, at al- ( ! any rate; but they dare not venture u, rebel- ii- without being sure of protection. And 3ls they ^7tf% IS' pi f I I- I.: im ii ! if hi fe^, ml ilPIRt i «!■ t l! I I 100 now do not expect that the Amerisan government will ever send in a siilficientJy lar^i^e army to afford them a sccuiity, should they re])el, they feel it their duty to Idll all they can while they are coming over, that they may discourage any more from invading the provu;ce, that the government may give up tlie idea of conquering it, and withdraw their foicc-?, that they may go liome also ; for they are greatly distressed in leaving their families so long, many of whom are in a si'flering condition. Ever i^Iace the commencement of tlie ^\ar, there lias been no collection of debt^ by law, in tjie upper part of the province?; and to^vards the fall In no part ; nor would one pay another, No person can get cre- dit from any one to the amount of one dollar ; nor can any one sell any of their property for any price, except provision or clothing; for those who have money, are determined to keep it for the last resort. No business is carried on by any person, except what is absolutely necessary for the time. In the upper part of the province, ail the schools are broken up, and no preaching is heard in tha land. All is gloomy — all if? war and mi.^.Ty. ■ Upon the declaration of war, the governoiu- laid an embargo on all the ijour, wheat, and pork, then in the province, destined for market, %vhich was at a thtlP. wljpn VITV lifH^ h'Arl Ijaff 4l-»« .M.,-..r.'.-,«r. T'U^ .. J ,. ,,-,.,■,.!. j-„At.- vi^-^ |-i w V ii;v>-»-» JLiiV next harvest v^a.-: truly bountiful, asaiijo the crops of \ ;:ovenmient iy to alibrd 'eel it their )iiiiiig over, 111 invading ^ive up tlie licir foi((::\ are greatly [g, many of ^var, there 1 tJie upper in no part ; an get cre- lollar ; nor r any price, who have hist resort, xcept what the schools !i the land. ^rnoiu' laid Drif, then in h was at a iy n f\ 'I I* yi, 10 crops of lOX corn, buckwheat, and peas ; tlie niost of ^vhidl were gathered, except the buckwheat, which was on the rround when all the people were called away after the ^ ittle of Queenston ; so that the people have a [)l€nty of provision as yet (April, 1813). But, ! iiouid the war conthme, they must suffer, as not niore tlian one half of tlie farmers, especially of the upper part of Canada, fiowed any winter grain, be- cause, when they ought to have done it, they were died away to the lines. Although I say that tlie people in general have grain enough, yet some women are r.')w su Ifering for bread, as their husbands iixe on ill lines, and they and their children have no money li'ir credit, nor can they get any work to dr.. is soon as the snow fell in Canada, and the sleigh- ing J H«ame good, (which was in the last of Novera- ?■: r, the British exerted themselves to the utmost to m >vide for the supi^ort of the war. A large price iffered for flour and pork, particularly near the of the lower part of tjie Slate of New. York, on i '! t, Lawrence, and near the line of Vermont and Hampshire, in order to get a largA^ supply for > iher year, and to induce the citizens of the United SUdes to transgress the laws; and it appears that Tonie, by the love of money, were prevailed upon to >:■ the months t)f December and January, Fome ' 1 neds of sleighs were almost constantly on the i2 01 f i: 1 103 voail £v(tta iVfoiilrcal and other places in the lower provitice, carrying provisions and military btores to Ivin;;ston, York, Niagara, and other parts in the up- per province. But where all these provisions came from, I am not able to pay. About this time in December, the Britidi also were making' preparations to aEserahlo a large force at Kingston, in order to cross tlie lower end of Lake Ontario on the ice, and if possible to destroy the American vessels laying at Sacket's Harbour, which they considered as powerful and dangerous : and to eifcct thi?, they were ddcrmined to lay out all their strength, or all that they possibly could «pare, for tliat budoesB.'* In the month of December a])out one hundred and twenty ship carpenters ceinie from 1 lie lower province to Kingston aind York, in order to build seven vessels on Lake Ontario. The government expected io have them finished by the tims the ice was out of the lake, which seven, with four that wcie then nearly fit for use, would make a tei of eleven sail, which, it was * Some time in February, informutlon readied the United States tliut the Coveriiour of tlie lower province had arrived at Kingston with 5000 ti oops, which together with what was station- ed there, and with Vi'Iiat ini^^ht be collected of the militia round about would make an army of 9000 strong* ; and I liave wondered ivbv tiw^Tr A'tA nnf ni'ilrr^ en rr»nt wliilr> i]:f Iria \yiic «fri'nt\.> • lAilf as it was not done, I am inclined to believe that the militia would %ot ^fo over for thui purpose, ;;s the law does not o]>lige them. -^ 103 the lowrr r btores to In Ihc up- ions came itish also LTge force [1 of ]^ake 'Ftroy the ur, which s' : and to t all their spare, for idred and r province m\ vessels id to have f the lake, &j lit for ch, it was the United I arrived at \\'i\.9: station- iiilitia round re Avondered stvoUi,' : but^ \ilitia would thought, would l)esufhcient to regain possession of I.akc Ontario. However, I am fully of opinion that the Britisli Vv ill not be able to finish more than three iMifore the ice Jeavos the lake. Some little time ])e,.,re Hull Invaded tlie province, there was an armi.^lice entered into by the comlnand- ers of the armies on both sides of the I Lie, at which time a number of the militia were permitted to go home, and whicJi was a joyful thing to them. When tills armistice was madti known to Mr. Madison, he refused to agree to it, and when notice was given of hiN refusal to the Govcrnour of Canada, all the mili- tia T\'ere called back. Some tiniti before the buttle of Queenston, there was another armistice agreed upon for an unlimited time, but the conditions M^ere such, that if eii.iier party wished to commence hostilities, thit party should give the other four days notice. Immediately uj)on this agreement, almost all the miiiiia were permitted to go home, and about one half of them had got some miles on the road, and some that lived nit^h to the line had got once more to tjie bosom of their families, wath the sweet liopc of never agiin returning to the place of danger and d 'ith. — But oh, hard late ! notice was sent fr^^ni the American side that the armistice must end in iour djys; ofcouise, all the militia that had got houK^ or on thdr w: y, Ave.re called back again, and \yitlia heavy heart many a man parted with iM i J II BrjWMWiJS- " 104 10 P H'l i , ^! :i: n the wife of his bosom, and children of his Io\'tr the last time. The Indians are forbid by the British rovern ment from crossing the Jines at any time, or pla< are watched and guarded for fear they will ; » . British know that if the Indians were permit (1 to cross and commit depredations on the United States side, that it vrould unite all the people against ihcm and that their safety or success lies in their pi ,; c of forl^earance and humanity in the war. Perhaps seiue of my readers arc ready here to say that I am a wretched tory, and deserve to ht 'icRg for writisg thus, and for naming forbearance ar?d ^u manity with the word British, after they ha' ■ en- couraged the Indians to murder so many wom^ m v! i d ehildren, by paying them so great a price for j r icalps. But dear reader, if you ^vill have a litl tience, I will tell you the trutli as mgh as 1 ium:-, though I expect you will not believe it : \vh\ r, ]<, the Indians ara not paid one cent for scalp: , have they taken any of any account since the b^itk: of Brownstown,* and every one that they tooi ll^erf they brought down to Fort George, by my h itse. I asked several of the chiefs, who stopped t> : f some bread, what they took them for, iithc go , en * It is entirelv indifTerent to me whether knyo'ie beliovf remarks or not : indeed I will not stand ior the truth of it, - , is the nearest or greatest evi k-nce i could get on tlie subjec ; I ■ 305 til ; It'i; iiiC rmitt-v! to ited. States inst tlK Hi, leie t(} sii¥ :e aiui In,?.. ha'VL' en- for lu'ir , litt. :/: as 1 ca!\, ^alpF, ^ V- the b:^1t/e Looic tiierc ly 1/ .11? d t. .■.•:. .c govcrri" HfVfM of if. . i.ibjec ; ciir or Co!. Claus (an Indian agent at Niagara) give them any thin.t;- for them ; they told me not, but that they took them to shew the gbvernour how many men they had kilJed with their own hands, and that some times a good King's man would give them some dram, when they shewed them the scalps. They told me that none of the .Indians took any scalps fron>. women or children but only from those whom they had killed in battle; but they wished that the governour would give them money for Ecalp^', they would kill plenty. When they took these scalps down to Fort George, the Governour and Col. Clans reproved them for their conduct, and told them to take no more scalps at any tinte or place. This order they pretty much obeyed, yet it is im- possible to rule those ferocious savagep. But if they now take any scalps, it is both against the knowledge andwillof the Britidi. In making these remarks I do not wish to 1)8 un- derstood that I believe the British government is too good to wish or iKrrmit the Indians to kill and scalp any that lie? in their power. I do not pretend to say or judge how this is, but I know how the gov- ernour and others act on tliis occasion, and believe that the safety of the province is a preliminary con- sideration, for as I noted before, it is well known that such conduct as tJiat of encouraging the Indians to commit depredations would be the most likely means 106 n Mi i') |:1 f ' •I: !»*'; It I Vi li I to join all the people of the United Stales agniu: . them. But at present they view that their safci hangs upon the opposition of what they call I ^ friends of peace to the United States government, ami they are very careful not to act so as to incur i displeasure of those friends of peace. The inhabit- ants in general feel as if they were fighting aej^iir?! their own fathers, brothers, and sons, whicli in mapy instances is actually the case. In the first of the war the people of Canada seeme !i in many )f the war uck; the\ d to pre ;iem to it ittk work ime. i that the le good Q Canadii, e ihowed states, anc objects of been a con he Anieri- alive, thai Indians al- hey would Ltting mur- .w t - T ---%^- sause there V has a number of Americans left the province ?\ e the war, either by permission or without, and a i.i;mber of these have land and other property there which they never can obtam again, except the province is conquered : for it must be noticed that all the land in Canada has been given to the first settlers by the King, and it is specified in every original deed, which is a deed of gift, that no person can hold it by transferment more t^an one year, except they take the oatii of allegiance to his Majesty. Now, al- though this is the law, and it is so specified in eV' ery original deed, yet very few people know it to be the case that \vent from the United States and bought land, of course many have lived there on their land a number of years without taking the oath, and as many of such have come away rather than take the oath, of course their lands accorduig to law will fall back to the King. FINIS.