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Lee diagrammes suivants illustrent la m^thode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 '■■■ffll^" •-,.« ■^'.^V < ■; /-K f .#i'- VISIT TO CANADj^ l:-- 1^>. m i- ^i.Jit2:i..illii.. ... „,»».4K'-.V' ri^-,:.,- ->r,-*-|^,^' „'^ VfeiiifeF-i- '^^ . 1&^* VISIT TO THE i^robmce of mpptv Canada, IN 1819. BY JAMES STRACHAN. ABERDEEN : Printed by D. Chalmers 8f Co. Fon JAMES STRACHAN, ABERDEEN,* LONGMAN, HURST, REES, ORME, AND BROWN, LONDON; OLIVER AND BOYD, EDINBURGH; W. TURNBULL, GLASGOW; AND E. LESSLIE, DUNDEE. 1820. # T I- i^r i 'vf 1-: :o> u \ •-. ■ :» '•: ^*^ *l**' ADVERTISEMENT. c» XT is by 00 means the design of this Publication to pro- mote Emigration, or lightly to consider the difficulties and frequent miseries by which it is attended ; — my object in to point out the superior advantages which Canada offers to those who are determined to leave the British Islands for the Continent of America. The most exaggerated and false accounts have for many years circulated in Great Britain aud Ireland, of the en- couragement experienced by Foreigners, in the United States. In consequence, thousands have gone over, been disappointed, and ruinud. Yet the stream of emigration still flows with increasing vigour to that Country, while respectable Emigrants to Canada are comparatively few. The facts disclosed in this Work will, it is hoped, pro- duce, in this respect, a salutary change ; for when it is found that an Emigrant going to Upper Canada, well recommend- ed, gets a grant of one or two hundred Acres of Land for nothing, except the trifling fee of preparing it for Loca^ tion that he enjoys it nnder the protection of British Law3, and possesses all the privileges of a British Subject — that he has access to Religious Instruction, and the a 2 I. I p vi «.oan, of Edaoaliug hi. Child«„_that ,l,e rr . • ■■«i%. .„d .he has. .edic, .id .. ha i L'T J" danger from .1 . j- pwduce-i, i„ „„ cZ T ? I"<'.,„_„d receive, hi. .„pp|ie. „f wm ^ d„p„«d .„ g„ .„ .he „„i,ed s...,„ „^^^ ^, ;- things are reversed. ^^^^ .e rb, ' ;' " ■'"' ™^' -f <" -« eac„„„,t a " h:rr:r"'""^"°^«'''""-^"'-^«p<.": Kith th« ' r °''°' "'^'^ ""™^^" vvho went "•>" aay .he .rav^rl °''''°''"°'"'" "^ -'''"-ti„„, -NasaSSfc"* • - . ^ '. CONTENTS. Departure from Scotland-Voyage to Quebec-its Appear- «ncc-H6«pitelity of the prineipal merehanf^-Politle. of Lower t^iarfa— Arrival at Montreal, Kingston, and York, . „ g QussT. I. What are the limits .nd boundariea of Upper Canada? « _ '^^ Quest. II. What rivers and lakes afford water Communi- cation ? Quest. III. What is the ellmate of Upper Canada? Observations on the year 1810, General remarks. Quest. IV. How are Emigrants to get land on arriving in Upper Canada? Quest. V. Why does the stream of emigration ftow chief- ly to the United States, and not to Canada ? Quest. VI. How is the land cleared ? 36 40 43 44 49 53 62 75 Quest. VII. The land being cleared, what will it produce ? 87 The Falls of Niagara, Quest. VIII. What is the state of religion? Education of youth, QwissT, IX, The populfttipnimd militia. The constitution of Upper Canada, Quest. X. Are there many Indians ? Life of Captain Brant, Quest. XI. How is justice administered? Miscellaneous, Price of labour. Roads, Tythes, 118 123 127 IS3 117 144 149 169 171 178 179 ise l ) I, r • • • Vlll CONTENTS. Game lawi, . Fiali, Diseases, TranquUlity of Upper Canada, Concluition, ^ 181 182 ib. 184 197 APPENDIX. No. I. Mode of application at the seat of government of Up- per Canada for a grant of the waste lands of the Crown, and process to issue of the patent grant, . p. 203 No. II. Form of location ticket, . 2O8 No. III. Land Board, . . 209 No. IV. Montreal wholesale prices, - 216 No. V. Prices current in the Kingston or York market, 222 No. VI. Table of retail prices at York, in Upper Canad<\, 223 Er'ratum— Page 10, ^ne 3, instead of on the slings, read in the ^ngs. VISIT TO THE PROVINCE OF UPPER CANADA. I\OT having seen my brother for twenty-five years, who is respectably settled in Upper Canada, and having some leisure, I determined to pay him a visit. Accordingly, I sailed from Aberdeen, on the 27th March, with a fine breeze. On the 28th, about mid-day, we passed through the Pentland firth, and, the wind continuing, soon got clear of the islands, and entered the Western Ocean. April 6. The winds were baffling, and we made very little way ; but next morning a very heavy gale commenced, which continued fair for more than eight days. The passengers consisted of three ladies and three gentlemen, with one child j and, as they had never been at sea before, they were A ■'^li 10 A VISIT TO* Wt easily terrified at any unusual appearance. On the evening of the 16th, all were filled with cor .terna- tion at the carrying away our main-yard on the slings : screaming and wailings, repinings and vain resolutions, whjch are common on such occasions, deafened us for the greater part of the night. But m the morning, the yard was taken down and re- paired, again set up ; the wind abated, and we pur- sued our voyage. On Sunday, April 18, saw two islands of ice, or as they are now denominated, ice-bergs, one on the weather bow, very large, another a-head, some- what less ; the atmosphere was exceedingly cold till we passed some distance beyond them. 19th, land in sight, which we found to be the western- most point of the island of Newfoundland : the weather was extremely pleasant this and the follow- ing day. On the 2ist, ice was discovered from the mast-head, and before night we were completely surrounded. We had now entered the Gulph of St. Lawrence, but the ice impeded our prog.ess, striking against the sides of the ship with great vio- lence, and exciting not a little apprehension ; on going to the mast-head, I saw nothing but ice on every side— this continued for several days. A ship from London followed our track through the ice, but with great terror ; for, having never been in the same situation, this being her captain's first voyage to Quebec, he hailed us the first evening after we got into the ice, and thought that we had \ UPPER CANADA. 11 On the )r: jterna- on the and vain :casions, it. But I and re- we pur- f ice, or one on d, some- ;\y cold . 19th, w^estern- nd : the J foUow- Tom the npletely irulph of rog.ess, 'eat vio- ion ; on t ice on i}'s. A igh the er been n*s first evening we had done wrong in getting environed j but our captain encouraged him by informing him, that he had been often in similar situations, during the twelve years that he had sailed to Canada ; that he was well acquainted with the Giilph, and that they must per- severe ; for, to go back, was much more dangerous than to proceed. On the ice, several seals were seen— four of which we caught, two very large, and two of a smaller size. On the 24th, still continuing in the ice, we be- gan to be somewhat alarmed : as the masses were large, and the breeze brisk, they struck against the sides of the ship in a dreadful mann; r j but towards night, they began to get smaller, and a clear sea was perceived at some distance ahead. In the morn- ing of the 25th, we found ourselves in clear water, and making great progress. The Point of Gaspe was now in sight ; and about ten at night we en- tered what is properly called the river St. Lawrence. There are several small islands in sight, which are said to afford excellent fishing stations, and are so used, though not by any means to the extent that they are capable of. After passing the island of Anticosti, which appears as void of improvement as when first discovered, we hivd the satisfaction of seeing bofh shores, and of being convinced that we were in a river— a circumstance which ha J long beer asserted by our cr.ptain, but of which we had reason to doubt, not being able at all times to dis- cover land on either side. A 2 l/= m A VISIT TO IS- •! 1) J I I i ( f 11 We now perceived vast chains of mountains on the north, covered with snow ; the scenery was grand and terrific ; but their distance was so great, as not to present any alteration to the eye, from our approaching near the shore. In this part of the river there is great difficulty ; and, to prevent accidents, every ship is obliged to have a pilot. This has, like all other good rules, been to many a cause of complaint, who pretend that they can direct the. ship's course better than the pilots sent on board. But such complaints only prove that the best intentioned measures are cen- sured, and that some persons cannot be satisfied. That the ships should be all obliged to employ men experienced in the navigation of the river is just, not only to insure the safety of the vessel, but to enable Trinity-House to support such a number of pilots as may supply every demand : the loss of one or two vessels would be much more than the price of pilotage for several years. As we approached the island of Bique, signs of cultivation appear : farm-houses are perceived along the coast, and the lands cleared around them. As we proceed up the river, several beautiful islands are seen, covered with fine wood : spots of clearing are visible in many of them, at different distances ; and the smoke rises in columns in various places out of the forest, making the whole exceedingly in- teresting and picturesque. -^^■ragy^: UPPER CANADA. 13 Having been often told that the coast of America was low, and the country flat, so that you were at land before you were aware, I was sensibly struck with the incorrectness of these remarks, as we were passing up the St. Lawrence. Here every thing appeared on the grandest scale: the moun- tains lofty and cragged, and the general effect ex- ceedingly sublime. Not having been in any other part of America, I can say nothing of the aspect of the coast ; but I have travelled through great part of Europe, and yet I never saw so interesting an approach to any country, as by the St. Lawrence. The magnitude of the river, which discharges more water into the ocean, than any six rivers of Europe, and the majestic rudeness of the rising mountains, have a powerful influence over the mind. April 26. This morning the wind heads us — take in our studding sails; but at mid-day the wind comes fair, and we advance rapidly up the river, ex- pecting a pilot every moment. The ship that had been with us in the ice not visible, some think that she is a-stern j but the captain says she must be a-head, as she sails much better than we do. — The breeze dies away, and about 9 in the evening, the tide stops us. 27. This morning, get under weigh, and sail up the river, with a commanding breeze, hoping to ar- rive in the evening at Quebec ; but the wind died away abuut eleven ; no pilot had yet offered, A 3 % 14 A VISIT TO which the captain considered of no consequence, as he had bee-* so frequently at Quebec. He tells us that he can take the ship up as well as any pilot ; but if one comes, he must receive him. This he considered a great hardship. I asked whether he thought it so the first time he came up the river ? he answered no ; for then the pilot was most wel^ come. \\ »« A very fine country now presents itself on the south shore of the St. Lawrence ; but, on the north, it is very mountainous, and appears wild, barren,' and uncultivated, and still covered with snow. Fine weather and light breezes. At one a. m. a boat with four men came off from land, and told us the ice was a-head, and that it was of no use to proceed further, for that the ice at Quebec had broken up only four days ago. Notwithstanding this disagreeable in- formation, we stood in for about an hour j and being now within twelve leagues of Quebec, we could perceive the ice very plain from the deck. About two o'clock, huge masses of ice passing us, we came to a.ichor at Goose Island. Soon after we had moored the ship, a boat came off, and, on its return, the captain sent a letter to his consignees at Quebec. Here we lay till the 29th, when we shifted our station, for greater convenience in mov- ing up the river : went on shore at noon, but could purchase nothing, except milk, and very black flour bread ; the walking extremely bad j the ice, in many places, unhroken, but giving way to the ?■ ! UPPER CANADA. 15 pressure of the feet — every step went above the ankles in mud, water, and snow. We soon got tired, and returned on board. The inhabitants are stout, and dark complexioned ; the number of children in every house very great. Went ashore a second time this day, and hired a carriole, to take uf to a Mr. M'Pherson*s, who had been residing in this part of the country upwards of 40 years. He is originally from Scotland. He received us most courteously, insisted on our remaining to dinner, was lively and polite in his manners ; has several grand-children married, and seems to live in great comfort. From him we first learned the death of Dr. Spark. On reaching the ship, we found the ice much thinner, and expect to sail in the morning, wind and weather serving. About 4 p. m. on the 30th, we set sail, with an excellent breeze ; but were very much impeded by the running ice, which struck the bow of the vessel with such force as to stop her altogether. About 11 p.m, we came to anchor off the island of Orleans. This island is ex- tremely beautiful : the lands are excellent ; and the people, who are numerous, appear to be in good circumstances. The island is said to be about SO miles long, by ten in breadth : it appears to be well cultivated j and pleasing prospects of villages and cottages satisfy the eye. A 4 16 A VISIT TO May 1. Got under weigh at 4 a, m. with a hght breeze : about 8 o'clock we saw the Falls of Mont- morency, Quebec having for some time opened to our view. The city, built upon a lofty rock, seems to look with defiance down th . stream : as you ap- proach, you have Point Levi on your left, and on the right the western point of the island of Orleans; on passing which, you see the main land to the north full of villages, and the steeples of their churches shining in the sun-beams, as they are com- monly covered with tin. Charlevoix justly remarks, that there is no other city besides this in the world, that can boast of a iresh water harbour, three hundred miles from the sea, capable of containing one hundred ships of the line. At the island of Orleans, the breadth of the river is not less than twelve or fifteen miles ; but, above this island, it narrows suddenly, so as not to be quite a mile at Quebec. Yet, between the island and the city, there is a large bason, three or four miles m every direction, into which the little river St. Charles discharges itself. About JO a. in. we came to anchor at Heath and Moir's wharf, all safe, after a passage of five weeks. Went ashore in the lower town, which we find full of ice, and almost impassable j board and lodging 1. IP, UPPER CANADA. 17 very high. Lodge at the Exchange Coffee-house, for 7s. 6d. per day. The situation of Quebec is extremely judicious. It is destined by nature for a great city : it entirely commands the river, which is 100 feet deep, and not a mile broad. The anchorage, however, is good. Above the city, the river widens, and pre- sents a majestic stream, slowly rolling its waters to- wards the ocean. The few days that I spent in Quebec, I found extremely pleasant ; and though my brother resides at York, in Upper Canada, a distance of nearly 600 miles, he was well known, and I received attention, on his account. There are so many good descrip- tions of Quebec, and the surrounding objects. Cape Diamond, St. Charles, Point Levi, and the Falls of Montmorency, &c. that I despair of adding any thing to them ; and therefore I forbear. But I felt very strong emotions when walking on the plains of Abraham, and standing over the place where Wolfe expired, just as his troops became victorious. EPITAPH. Here modest Wolfe, cut off in early bloom, Though crown'd with glory, waits the gen'ral doom. The shouts of victory met his parting breath : He heard with joy — and, smiling, sunk in death. O ! brave enlightened youth, thy manners mild. Of half its terrors horrid war beguil'd : /» IS i I I ? A VISIT TO And sweet compasaion purified the flame Tliat fir'd thy breast to /fain a deathless name. For thee thy country drops the gen'rous tear. And mourns thy conquests at a price so dear. A Stranger, well introduced, spends his time very pleasantly at Quebec. The inhabitants are polite, hospitable, and intelligent ; indeed the so- aety is equal to any you can find in England.— The judges, the crown officers, and principal mer- chants, on the civil side, and the staff-officers at- tached to the commander of the forces, on the mi. litary, form a mixture highly agreeable. Here I was struck with a circumstance, which I thought might be peculiar to Quebec, but which I found afterwards to be general through both the Canadas ; It IS this, that the dinner parties consist almost al- ways of gentlemen, and seldom, as at home, of nearly equal numbers of ladies and gentlemen. On leaving Great Britain, I thought I had left politics behind me ; but I arrived at a momeftt of some discussion and agitation at Quebec. In 1810, the House of Assembly offered, under the administration of Sir James Craig, to assume the civil list, and to pay, from the funds at their disposal, all the officers of Government, who had been hitherto paid by the crown. The governor, m-chief had reason to suspect that this offer was UPPER CANADA. 19 artfully made, and would tend to increase very ma- terially the power of the democratic branch of the legislature ; and place those officers, on whom the person at the head of the government must ever depend for assistance and advice, too much iu their power; and that, although they might for some years pay their different salaries, without dif- ficulty, in order to establish the new system on a permanent footing, that whenever that was done, they would endeavour to reduce them so low, as to render them unworthy of men of firmness and abi- lity. Sir James Craig further discovered that the offer was of very little value, in a pecuniary point of view, as those items of revenue which belonged exclusively to the crown, amounted very nearly to a sum sufficient for defraying the civil list; he there- fore declined their offer. I In 1816, the general distress occasioned by the length of the war, and extraordinary efforts made by the mother country, induced the ministry to look out for every means of alleviating the public burdens ; and they thought it but reasonable, that the colonies should defray the expence of conduct- ing their own affairs. As to the Canadas, they were not, perhaps, aware, that little alleviation could be procured by this change, as it became ne- cessary to give up the crown revenues, and place them at the disposal of the House of Assembly ; by which the influence of the executive government would be very much lessened, and a power given to w I I U' R u ki i t. i A VISIT TO embarrass them, whenever a turbulent demagogue obtained a leading influence in the Assembly. The crown revenues arise from duties imposed at the port of Quebec, by British acts of Parliament, before the constitution v/as given to Canada, and are applicable entirely to the support of the civil government. Sir John C. Sherbrooke was accordingly instruct- ed to accept, in 1816, the offer made by the House of Assembly in 18 JO; and, not seeing the measure in the same light as his illustrious predecessor, Sir James Henry Craig, he cheerfully complied, with- out [pointing out to ministers the consequence of the measure, and the great additional power it would give to the popular branch of the legisla- ture. The House of Assembly very gladly accepted the offer, and voted, with alacrity, the whole of the civil list, in 1816, and likewise in 181? and 1818 J but, in 1819, thinking the matter suffi- ciently established, the members of the House be- gan to dispute about the items— to leave out some of the officers altogether, and to curtail the salaries of others; and even to demand the nomination of several officers, and thus to assume, virtually, all the powers of government. The legislative coun- cil, with great propriety, rejected the bill contain- ing these extraordinary and unconstitutional as- sumptions ; and the legislature was prorogued by a 'it mii-)f r:^jmmi^^m UPPER CANADA. 21 firm, dignified, and liberal speech, in Aviiich his Grace says, that, while the greatest deference and respect should be paid to the privileges of the conn- mons, and the most liberal interpretation given to them, that equal care should be taken to preserve the riglits of the other branches of the legislature. The more respectable members of the House, and many who had usually been in the opposition, had strenuously urged to the Assembly, that common honesty demanded a continuance of the civil list upon the same footing on which it was offered and received ; that it certainly was their right to con- sider well, before any additions were made to it ; and that, if it should be found necessary ever to di- minish it, the faith of government should be kept with the incumbents, and no alteration made till their promotion or death. These arguments were addressed, in vain, to the small majority of a thin House. It is said, that had there been a call of the House, matters would have taken a different turn, as many of the most intelligent and efficient members were absent j and who saw more clearly the evil consequences of the measures which the House was adopting, than those did who took the lead in promoting them. It is now feared by many who had hoped to distinguish themselves in the par- liament of the province, that his Grace the Duke of Richmond will resume the civil list, and never more submit the same to the consideration of the House of Assembly ; and when it is remembered that it gives little or no relief to the mother coun- ( li \,'.M ftu A VISIT TO /I I j try, and that the crown revenues, together witli the territorial rightsof theking, amount together to with- in a few thousand pounds of the sum wanted, it is hoped by all the peaceable and well-informed part of the community, that the governor-in-chief will resume it, as the consequences anticipated by Sir James Craig have been completely realized. It is a remark that I have often heard made at home, that the principal members in op|>osition were often unworthy in private life ; and, however eminent in talents, could not claim the confidence of the country, by the noble firmness and purity of their conduct. And it seems the principal person in this political drama is a Montreal auctioneer, who failed some years ago, and carries on business in the name of his wife; and although under this name he has made a large fortune, he has adopted Cobbett's morality, of not paying his creditors till it be perfectly convenient. On the 5th, I took my place in the ^team-boat. Telegraph, at 9 o'clock /?. w. and arrived at Mon- treal on the 7th. The banks of the river all the way are pleasant and interesting ; almost every six miles you see a village, with a church and neai steeple, covered generally with tin. This associa^;'s in the mind the most agreeable reflections. You are in a Christian country, among the disciples of the lowly Jesus j and, though to the protestant there is a great drawback, when he finds the ma- UPPER CANADA. S8 jority catholics, yet when he further considers the very few colonies that have a regular worship, he thinks Lower Canada a vast gainer by the com- parison ; and is fo.ced to admit that, however su- perstitious the Roman catholic religion may be, and however great its deviation from pure Chris- tianity, it embraces many sincere disciples of Jesus Christ, and sets its face against every thing irreli- gious and immoral. In the neighbourhood of Quebec, the lands are fertile, and the population very considerable, as appears from the hamlets visible from Cape Diamond ; but there is still so much snow and ice, that the face of the country, in general, presents a rude and inhospitable aspect. After reaching Three Rivers, the climate becomes more mild : the ice and snow have disappeared, the air is soft and temperate. The country is level as you approach Lake St. Peter's; and nothing can be more cheerful than the banks, when you leave that broad expanse. The lands are well cultivated ; the river is interspersed with beautiful islands, some of which are inhabited, and others partially cleared, without inhabitants j and present you with some of the finest landscapes in the world. On coming near Montreal, the river is extremely rapid, and requires nearly the whole force of the s tarn engine to enable the vessel to stem it. This City, which is before Quebec, in point of commerce, sjands on an island nearly thirty miles long, and thirteen at its greatest breadth. The mountain 'If i I' i M A VISIT TO from which Montreal derives its name, is about a mile from the town, and affords the most agreeable sites for country-houses and beautiful gardens. From the top of the mountain the view is very ex- tensive, embracing a circle of nearly 80 miles radius. Montreal was once surrounded with a wall, to defend it from the Indians and English, by whom it was frequently alarmed ; but lately, the ramparts have been levelled, and streets and building lots laid out on the ground which they occupied. The town is more open and airy than Quebec, and consequently more pleasing to strangers ; but neither so romantic, nor surrounded with scenery so sublime. I. is more populous than Quebec, con- taining, perhaps, 20,000 inhabitants, and the latter about 15,000. A stranger is particularly struck in this city with the iron doors and window shutters, and the roofs of white tin or sheet iron, which give a gloomy appearance to the houses, and excite the notion of house-breaking and robbery; but, on en- quiry, I found it was to guard against fires, which have been very frequent, and very destructive. The inhabitants of Montreal are extremely kind to strangers, and many of them entertain in a princely style. The few days 1 remained were spent in the most pleasant manner, and I left it with regret. At Montreal, the steam navigation ceases for the distance of about 160 miles, which \- '■' i W 1^1 UPPER dANADA. 25 I must either be passed over in batteaux or in the stage. There are objections to both : the batteau moves so very slowly, seldom more that 20 miles a-day, and the stage is so rough and uncomfortable. To save time, I chose the latter j but could not help lamenting that steam.boats were not practicable the whole way. The ease of travelling by steam- boats is very great : you step into the boat as into your dining-room— you read in the gentlemen's cabin, or you walk upon the deck, as you feel more agreeable ; and, at meal-time, you are served most comfortably with every viand you can well desire. There is no fatigue, no privation— you are as com- fortable as in your own apartment. There are seven excelL^nt steam-boats plying between Quebec and Montreal ; some of them very large, fitted up both for goods and passengers. There is no difficulty in coming up. except at the rapid of the Richlieu which requires some attention. No accidents have happened, owing to the superior excellence of the engines, some of them of fifty-horse power (which are all from England), and the attention of the persons by whom they are conducted. The application of steam to navigation brings virtually the back settlements oi' America to the ocean; it gives such a facility to exports and imports, and' is so much cheaper than the former modes of convey, ance. It, however, appears, that nature always gives an advantage on certain conditions, and here a great sacrifice is made ; for the prosperity of the steam vessels becomes the ruin of all the sloops and K i< I' 26 A VISIT TO river etaft, which, in cases of emergency, furnished us with a very considerable number of pilots and seaman. . ,!.'., ■ • On the 12th, I Iteft Montreal, in the stage ; the roads very bad, but the country through which we passed well cultivated, nd seemingly full of people. In the afternoon, we came to a broad part of the river, which is called Lake St. Francis. The rapid water which we passed the greater part of the day is extremely curious ; rushing forward with incredible swiftness, and carrying the boats with it often nine or ten miles an hour. At Lake St. Francis we find a very good passage- boat in waiting, which took us up to the mouth of the Kiver au Rasin, a distance of 26 miles, at which place we landed, and again entered the stage. I am now in Upper Canada ; no villages yet in sight, and the land seems more in a state of nature than in the Lower province. We reached Cornwall to breakfast. The coun- try looks now more interesting : this village, though not large, is clean and neat, and is ornamented with an excellent church. From Cornwall to Pres- cott the country is very fine, and the Long Soult and the Rapid Plat, from the turbulence and swift- ness of the stream, are very wonderful. As we approach Prescott, the river widens, and is Jess involved with islands; and when we arrived^ the UPPHJR CAl^APA. 27 St. Lawrence appeared truly majeatic— for 20 miles it is nearly two miles broad, the banks on both sides gently rising. It is grand to see a river, nearly seven hundred miles from the sea, pouring its waters in a channel two miles broad, and capabk of conveying in its bosom ships of the greatest burthen. Saturday, 15th May, went on board the steam- boat Charlotte, at Prescott, and proceed to King- ston, where we arrive at nine, and retire to Walker's hotel. Next morning, a friend of my brother, a most intelligent and respectable gentleman, invited me most cordially to his house, till the return of the steam-boat Frontenac, which was then at York and Niagara. In this gentleman's house I was en- tertained in the most agreeable and courteous man- ner. Kingston looks well as you approach from the water. The war was of much use to it, not only more than doubling the population, but like- wise distributing among its inhabitants large sums of money. The number of houses built, and well built, since the war, is very honourable to the taste and enterprize of the people. Here I found the same hospitality as at Montreal, but it made me more impatient to see my brother ; for, when his friends arc so kindly eager to pay me attention, how much more will he rejoice to see and enter- tain me ? the « 2 r-" ii I ! H ! ■ /• .. 38 A VISIT TO A Stranger, coming to Kingston, by the way of New York or Quebec, must be filled with astonish- ment at the size of our ships, one of which is as large, and, perhaps, larger than any ship of the line in his majesty's service. After passing up the river so many miles, to behold the vessels and dock-yard is indeed truly wonderful. The St. Lawrence, which is the largest, has flush decks, and carries 1 10 guns } her broadside must be tremendous. The chaplain of the army, a gentleman of sweet and obliging manners, conducted me through the fortifications, which are rendered strong by art and nature. The Martello tower, on Point Henry, commands the harbour, and can easily prevent the approach of any vessel, however formidable. The dock-yard and principal fort stand on land separated from Kingston by an arm of the Lake. The town is, therefore, not sufficiently protected ; and, in case of war, it will be greatly exposed. The inhabitants were very active during the late contest with the United States, and are justly proud of their exer- tions. ' J'' i May 21. I took my passage on board the steam- boat, Frontenac, for York, the seat of government in Upper Canada. This is the largest boat that I have yet seen, arranged for both passengers and freight : as a vessel of burden, and having to en- counter the storms of the Lake, she is broader in the beam, and not so flat in her bottom, as those UPPER CANADA. 29 I which are built to sail on rivers only. The Fron- tenac is admirably commanded : captain M*Kenzie, to the most incessant care of the ship, adds the greatest politeness and attention to his passengers. Saturday, May 22, I arrived at York, about six o'clock. My meeting with my brother, whom I had not seen for twenty«five years, his wife, and beautiful family, is more easily imagined than de- scribed. I am now at the end of my journey, and at the source of information respecting this coun- try. I shall, therefore, at my leisure, answer the different questions which were given me by many persons before 1 left Scotland. I have arranged them in some kind of order, and selected from se- veral lists all those which require distinct answers. B 3 riv ■ ^ 1 i ^^H f 1 j! Ij f ^m \ i r 1 1 t' 1 Ijj ■ ,1 H 1 1 1 1 i 1 1 i I i f 1 1 1 H 1 i H f ' i llji H ,; ll ^^^^H B |, 1 r ^ ^^^^^^H W' Wm t I i' ' l^# H '^ 1^. 1 ' f ■ ■' li^ 1' f^ ' BU < ■'^ :v ■.-> : I' 1 GENERAL OBSEKVATIO^S. '■U ' ' :: ... .' ;.•;■).:.) ; ; , ■ ■ ; ■ ■ ' \ .- ■■ • ■ ; . : : ; "> I ; . n r The changes which have been effected by "war and commerce, 'within a very short period, in the Canadas, have xapidly improved their wealth and importance. It is indeed not too much to say, that these provinces are more vahiable to Gie&t Britain than one half of her West India colonies. While the French kept possession of Lower Canada, the inhabitants, considered with respect to com- merce, were few in number, and without energy oi enterprize. After the conquest, the settlers fr, .■ I. . We shall have occasion to prove, by the most undeniable evidence, that Upper Canada offers to emigrants advantages vastly superior to any por- tion of the United States ; but we would still ad- monish all who are thinking to leave their native country, to examine the matter with severe mi- nuteness : not to be led away by golden dreams j and to prepare themselves, should they decide upon going, to meet many discouragements from sick- ness, from different manners, hard labour, and pri- 66 A VISIT TO ^ vations of various kinds. Yet, though no step can be so important as that of leaving one's native country for ever, it is to be feared that such a step is taken without due consideration. The fancy is deluded with golden dreams : the farmers in Ame- rica are owners of the soil on which they live ; they have no rents to pay j no tax-gatherer at their doors ; possessing a noble independence, they ac- knowledge no superiority, but genius and merit. These are high sounding things, but more specious than solid. Before a man allows himself to be de- luded by them, he should remember, that it is no great hardship to pay rent, if his produce fetch three times the price in England that it does in America. That the difficulty of bringing his things to market, and the dearness of his purchases, pro- duce, united, a tax, not perhaps inferior to what he has paid at home, and attended with many difficul- ties, which he never experienced. That the facili- ties of intercourse by good roads and canals, by saving time, and the tear and wear of his carriages and cattle, are worth a very considerable sum. That, in removing from his native country, he is leaving the improvements of a thousand years, to encounter all the ri:eese, 2 10 1 3 10 1 7 Fowls, per couple. 1 G ..2 8 9 L.3 5 1. I Wheat, per bushel, L.O Indian corn, - " Oats, Hay, per ton. Butter, per lb. Cheese, Fowls, per couple. N.B. These prices, taken from Mr. Birkbeck's book, are L.30 per cent, above the truth. From this table it is manifest, that the produce raised in Upper Canada sells at an advance of up- wards of 30 per cent, on what the same can be sold in the Illinois territory, supposing Mr. Birkbeck*s prices correct, which they are not, being much too high. The vast advantage, therefore, in coming to Upper Canada, must appear manifest. It may by some be said, that the families are too nnmeious, as there are few that consist often per- sons ; but the result will be proportionally the game, whatever the number be ; and if we suppose them to consist of persons in comfortable circum- stances in their own country, they will commonly bring servants with them, by which the average will be still greater. But this is of no moment ; the difference of expense in travelling .500 miles, or 1570, is sufficiently clear. >' 72 A VISIT TO ] k <0 iMl We must add, to the disadvantage of Mr. Birk- beck*s farmer, the dearne&s of all those articles which he has to purchase ; for his distance from the sea*coast and market operates in two ways to his disadvantage. * His produce is low, and the * goods from the shop are dear : the shop-keeper, * who is at a great distance from the place where * the articles he deals in are procured, will add to * the price, when he disposes of them, the additional * expense of bringing, and the time lost in procur- * ing them. To him who is obliged to take a jour- * ney of 1600 miles to procure his articles of mer- * chandize, the cost and trouble must be very * great j and all this he makes the consumer pay. * The journey which Mr. Birkbeck*s merchant is * obliged to take is a very serious one, compared * to that of the merchant of York or Niagara. The •latter, in consequence of his situation, can trade * with a smaller capital than the former ; because * he can at any time procure a fresh supply in a few * days, while the former can lay in a stock of goods * only once a-year. Now, all these difficulties are * to be paid for by the farmers and mechanics, * who consume the articles imported : the differ- * ence to them, in the course of a twelvemonth, by * receiving less for the articles they sell, and paying * more for those they purchase, will be found to be * ^eyy great. * It is not merely the quantum he shall raise, but * the sura he shall get for it, which constitutes the. ^w St UPPER CANADA. m farmer's advantage. It is not simply to get enough to eat and drink that is to bound the desires of the farmer ; it is to procure the means of cr .vert-' ing his log-cabin into an handsome and convenient house,— to erect a large barn for his grain, and suitable buildings for his cattle,— to educate his children,— and, as he grows old, to enjoy the sa- tisfaction of finding that his industry has supplied the comforts of life, and jnabh 1 him to satisfy the wants of society — wants to which we are in- debted for the amelioration of mankind.* In the selection of a place of residence in a new country, it is very important to take into view the ultimate market for the farmer's produce. While the country is settHng, there will be no dif- ficulty ; for the increasing population will demand all the supplies that can be raised. But the pru- dent settler will look beyond that period, and con- sider what he shall do when every one raises more grain than he will be able to consume. In that case, vicinity to market, and facility of transporta- tion, are all important. Now, the produce of Up- per Canada can be sent to Montreal, one of the best markets in America, in five or six days, at a trifling expense, which is yearly diminishing as the waters are improved. Very different is the case with the farmer in the western division of the United States : the immense distance which grain has to be sent, occasions the ex- pense to be so great, as frequently to equal, and E *> ji t I 74 A VISIT TO sometimes exceed, the price offered when it reaches the market. The more that this statement is exa- mined, the more correct it will be founds and the superior adTantage» of Canada will appear in a stronger light ; but, having become a landholder, it is time to instruct the emigrant bow he is to oiake his liviog out of it. .f . I » QUEST. VL I: ' U tlPFfitt CA»At)A. 15 , , QUEST. Vf. How is Land Cleared ? ,, T«fi first thing is, ti€> dHt dolvn the Uftder-wdod/ of, As k is commbflly daDerf, bfush, as dose td «he ground as possible. The treses aH theft cirt d6 iu oh6 direction j afld thfey are chopped up into lengths of eight or ttn feet, to enable them to be dri^^n together irt orde^ to be burnt. Soon after, and dotnetim^i f#^ ev^r f'giU tQ\)esk good crop, Clearing md fencing one acre, One bushel of wheat sown, r $ Harrowing, (it gets no ploughing) Harvesting, - Threshing, - f ■» 10 p IQ P 10 p L.$ 10 If the ground be prepared as it ought to be, this ejcpense may be safely incurs red) for tho crop, estimated at 2^ bushels, at one dollar, or 5 shillings per bushel, - , - J^eaving a profit pf L.6 q » ^ I mi I w ) i H I L,0 IP Other statements might be given, leaving a much greater profit ; some persons having twenty-sev^n and thirty bushels, for their first crpp, per acre j examples are even found pf forty bushels. All accounts agree in saying, that the fir^t crop will defray the expense of clearing and fencing. Ac^ cording to this table, which is the least, the profits on clearing one hundred acres would be two hun- dred dollars, or L,50, independent of the additional value given to the land, whicli would be equal to ten hundred dollars, or J^,?^P mor^-r^making, aU UPPER CANADA. 79 J 15 5 5 3 JO 5 IQ 3 JO 5 JO gether, the sum of fourteen hundred dollars, after defraying all expense, or L.S50. If we take the largest cr.-. ilu profits would amount to three thousand doilars, :,. : The expense of clearing and /eucing one acre, as ^ ^^^""'^^ - •• . L.5 10 Crop, 40 bushels, at 6s. a bushel, - lO O Giving a profit of IS dollars, or L.4 10s. per acre : on one hundred acres. 1800 dollars, or L.450; to which add the improved value of the land, ten hun- dred dollars, or L/250, equal to L.700: so that more than one hundred per cent, would be cleared on the capital employed. These are facts which every settler here appears to be acquainted with. The great mcrease of the value of land in this country, where the soil h al* most universally good, and the situation favourable for the sale of the articles raised, is almost in- credible. We have already mentioned that these calcula- tions are made upon the most expensive mode of clearmg. which is by burning the timber whilst green. A great saving of immediate expense, may be made by cutting down the light timber, and gird- hng the heavy, leaving it standing i^^6 or three E 4 80 A VISIT TO years before it is burnt ; in consequence of which, it becomes dry, and one half the labour of burning is saved. A settler, coming to Upper Canada, sees the great body of the people engaged in agriculture. He perceives that where settlements are just form- ing, agriculture has a rude and wild appearance, compared to what it is in the old and well cultivat- ed settlements. In the latter, the business of the farn er is to cultivate the farms which have al- reac y been greatly improved ; and by the applica- tion of more labour and attention, and skilful ma- nagement of rotation of crops, and manure, to in- crease the quantity of produce j and, consequently, the profit. In the new settlement, the first business of the husbandman is to cut down the woods, to clear up the lands, to sow them with grain, to erect the necessary buildings, and open roads ; and thus to connect and form a communication between this and old settlements. Amidst the hard living, and hard labour, that attend his rude cultivation, the settler has certainly the most flattering prospects and encouragements. One hundred acres of land cost him only about L.6, if granted by government, and cannot, if pur- chased, exceed L.50; frequently one-fourth of that sum, which he can spare, if a young man, from the UPPER CANADA. 81 wages of two years. When he comes to apply his labour to his own land, the result is very profitable. The first crop of wheat, as has been stated, more than pays him for all the expense he has been at in clearing up, sowing, and fencing his land ; and, at the same time, increases its value ten or twelve times. In this way every day*s labour spent in clearing up the land is rewarded doubly : first, in the grain which it produces ; and, secondly, in the value of the cleared land above that which is still in a state of nature. An acre of land, which, in its natural state, costs him one shilling, is in one year made of that value that it will afterwards annually produce for him twenty or twenty-five bushels of wheat, or other kinds of produce, of equal value. From this it appears that the profits attending la- bour, in a new settlement, are the greatest that can ever take place in agriculture. The labourer con- stantly receives double wages. He receives hiwh wages in the produce of his corn and wheat ; and he receives much higher wages in the annual addi- tion of a new tract of cultivated land to his farm. This double wages, nature, with great benevo- lence, assigns to the man of industry, when he first makes a settlement in the uncultivated lands of Canada. S2 A VISIT TO in K - ' In two or three years, he acquires a very com- fortable and independent subsistence for a family, derived from no other source but the earth, and his own industry. In some excursions which we made, we saw the first struggles of the new settler. As soon as he gets a little Indian corn and a few potatoes in the ground, he endeavours to put up a log-house : ac cordingly, he chooses a spot most convenient for his residence, and cuts down trees of a suitable size for his cabin. These he cuts into lengths; the most common dimensions of the first building are IS feet long by 16 broad; and it is so built as to become the kitchen of a superior house to be erect- ed in its front, jvhen the settler has enlarged his clearing, and got a little more forward in the world. After cutting a sufficient number of logs, his neigh- bours assemble, and raise the building for him, by laying the logs in a rectangular figure, with the ends notched, so as to interlock with one another, by which means the whole are secured and braced together. The spaces for the door and windows are then cut through ; and towards winter, the in- terstices, or openings between the logs, are chink, ed, that is, filled with pieces of wood, and mutUled, or daubed with plaister of common mud. It is covered with bark ; and, where mills are distant, or the newness of the country makes it difficult to get out to the roads which lead to them, the floor is likewise covered with bark. The chimney is then UPPER- CANADA. S3 built spacious, with a few stones for the back, to prevent the fire communicating with the logs, which nevertheless it often does ; and log^houses are frequently burnt. Seldom any accident hap- pens, and the smallness of their value readers the loss inconsiderable. When time and circumstances admit, and saw-mills are accessible, a frame-house is built, and covered neatly with boards, planed and paintod. The next important thing with the new settler, is to have protection for his grain ; and if it be at all practicable, he gets a frame.barn, covered with rough boards J the most common dimensions are fifty feet long, by forty wide. Such a building is finished with stables at both ends, for horses and cattle ; and costs, including materials, about three hundred dollars. In some places it may be a little more, in others a little less, according as you are distant from or near a saw-mill. You frequently find a farmer, possessed of a magnificent barn, full of grain, still living in his first log-house, which, after a few years, looks wretched j but it is always the case that the most industrious farmers build a good barn, before they think of a comfortable house ; and to reverse this order, is considered a sign of idleness, and want of proper management. The first public building for a new settlement is a saw-mill. To erect ^ good one, with a single saw, capable of cuttin j i o thousand feet per day, 84 A VISIT TO may cost from three to six hundred dollars, or from L.75 to L.150. The neighbours bring their logs with their teams to the mill, and carry home half the qu-^ntity of boards which they make, leaving the other half with the miller. % Pine boards are to be had at eight dollars, or two pounds, per thousand feet, at the mill ; and at some distance, they are delivered at ten. These are average prices ; for sometimes they sell much higher, and again lower, when the market happens to be overstocked. But in a new settlement, there is always a great demand for boards j and the pro- prietors of the saw-mills are so far from having any to export, that they are not able to supply their neighbours. Cherry, oak, and walnut boards, which make beautiful furniture, especially the cherry, which is little inferior to mahogany, are sold for about one half more than pine boards. All buildings, after you leave the first log-house, are covered with shingles : these are made of white pine, split thin, commonly 18 inches long, and from 6 to 12 broad ; they are lapped over each other, like slates, four, five, or six inches, to the weather. They cost from ten to fifteen shillings per thousand, and compose a roof impenetrable to rain, when well laid on j buj: they are much ex- posed to fire. Ill 1 !■ l f i I UPPER CANADA. 85 Fences, through the whole country, with the exception of little gardens, and along the fronts of houses, are the ugliest feature that strikes your eye ; even worse than the LtJirsps of trees, with which the fields are ^' '. Thev are made at first, in many places, with ' » s, of about twelve feet in length, placed in a zig-zag manner, with their ends resting on each other, to the height of five feet. This sort of fence has a very rude appearance, though it may serve for a while, and save some trouble in burning. But most settlers split the logs into what they call rails, and lay them up in the same manner as the logs, with stakes at the angles, on which heavier rails are placed, to steady the whole fence. In some parts of the country they are improving upon this mode of fencing, and making it straigiit, with posts ; but the labour and time necessary will prevent it from being generally adopted for many years. Englishmen are more offended with the fences than with any thing they see in this new country ; and certainly, when compared to walls and hedges, they have but a slovenly appearance. They are soon, however, reconciled to them, when they discover the easiness with which they can be made, and the amazing expense of walls. As for hedges, they would be extremely inconvenient, on account of harbouring vermin, in a new country ; when the country is open, it may become different. It m A VISIT td is said, that around Boston and New York, they are jast commencing hedges, and ate succeeding well. QUEST. VIL U I mv-'p UPPER CANADA. 87 QUEST. VII. The Land being Cleared, what will it pro- duce ? Mosr strangers of intelligence, who have tra- veiled through the province of Upper Canada, have freelj admitted, that they have never seen so great a body of good land. Travel in what direction you please, it is seldom that you come to a tract that will not most abundantly pay for its cultivation. The different grains are raised here, that are com- mon in England, together with Indian corn, or maize, which cannot be cultivated in Great Britain. 1. Indian corn, — When corn is spoken of here, this is the kind always meant j for other grain is called by its specific name. It is planted in hills, about three, and sometimes four, feet apart : two, three, or four stalks, grow in each hill, to the height of five, six, or even eight feet ; and bear on their sides three or four ears, nearly a foot long, and as thick as a man's wrist, enveloped in a husk. The top of the stalk is surmounted with a large tassel ; and the plant, when growiiag, has a very rich and beautiful appearance. The hills are commonly hoed } but, with good farmers^ the plough is in- 88 A VISIT TO ■glf %m trodiiced, as soon as the stumps permit. When the ears are in a milky state, before the grain is ripe, they are boiled, and the green corn eaten with butter and salt, which is considered a great delicacy. When ripe, it is ground, and made into bread or cakes ; and by some the meal is mixed with rye, and made into bread. Many are fond of the meal boiled to the consistency of hasty pud- ding, and eaten with milk, and molasses and butter. The grain is sometimes ground very coarsely, so as to break it into three or four parts, and used in soups: in this state it is called hominy j or the hull or bran is taken off, by steeping it in a lye of wood-ashes. The stalks and leaves afford an excellent fodder for cattle J and the grain itself is excellent for fattening cattle, hogs, and poultry. 2. Oats are lighter than in England ; but forty and fifty bushels an acre is not an uncommon crop. 3. Buck wheat, or French wheat, is raised on poor lands. It is most commonly used to feed poultry ; ground, it may be given to all animals, particularly to hogs, with advantage. The meal is sometimes made into cakes; and considered by many, if steeped in butter, a great lux.iry. 4. Potatoes are an abundant crop, and almost al- 'vavs certain ; they are, in general, dry and good, itiid easily raised. You have only to make a small hole for the seed, in new ground, to drop them, UPPER CANADA. 89 great and coyer them. If you have time to hoe them atter they come up, the better crop ; but if not. the produce will still be very great. Rye, barley, peas, beans, are raised abundantly. Flax grows well ; and tolerable tobacco may be raised. Hemp has been frequently recommended, and great expectations have been entertained of its progressive cultivation. The difficulties of raising It m Canada are not insuperable, but they will not be very soo.^ removed. It is supposed that Great -Britain requires annually 30,000 tons of hemp. That there are lands of good soil, sufficient to raise ten times that quantity, cannot be denied; but, till the population is more increased, and mills are es abhshed for breaking the seeds, this production will not be cultivated to any extent. Estimate of the expense of three acres of land cul- tivated with hemp in Upper Canada : 1. Ploughing, at 12s. 6d. per acre, 2. The second and third ploughing, . 3. Nine bushels of seed, at 12s. 4. Sowing, covering seed, and water fur- rowing, . . ^ J. Pulling. 16 days work, at 5s. per day, 6. Boarding the labourer 16 days, 7. Drawing and bundling, two days. Carried forward, F L.1 17 6 2 5 8 1 10 4 2 1 L.17 15 6 '(] - ^ i' i 11^ m '■ i m aO A VISIT TO Brought forward, L.17 IS ii 8. Carting to and from the water, 1 9. Watering, gras&ing, drying, and housing, - . - 3 10 10, Dressing one ton, at four days every JOQ cwt. 5K) 11. Boarding during tUne of dres^ijog. being 80 daya, ... lO o 12. Rent of land* 15 o tu5S 6 By one ton of hemp, at L.9 per cwt. 40 O By which the farmer loses L.13 6 The great item of expense is that of dressing the hemp, and boarding the labourer while em- ployed. Were mills erected, this part of the busi. •ness, which at present costs L.50, might be done for five or six pounds ; in which case, the culture of hemp would be profitable ; and the farmer clear about L,12 on every ton, which would be a very fair reward for his trouble. And as this would be so much profit, after defraying all expencea, and paying him well for his individual labour, the cul- tivation of hemp might soon be introduced. Wheat, and the average quantity per acre, has been already noticed. The grass, which is sown, gfows abundantly ; but little attention has been i I r IS 6 I 3 10 3 a 15 o 8 6 3 6 dressing 'hile em- the busi' be done : culture ner clear te a very would be ices, and the cul- i acre, has is sown, has been uppbh CA^AtoA. n pft»d to t»ie beet sot^ts. Alttsost tfie 4iuty otie n the coanfry i, Trmothy. Red otovor, irhe,^ A is st^ grows ItiKurian*ly. Th« whl!« dover appmrs a tia- turM grass of tf»e Wf». It ^erL^ery field and roaawwdo. wheit. the knd has been ti^gtected. Any fidd is turned into a When Ittid down with ^.rass, readily J^i^ldn fioin one to two tons per acre. When the setter hus wiade ft clearing tipon his form, hebegins to thi^k of a ki, .hen-gai'd*^ , tind if he or his fattily attend to it, h« will l,e well s«*>. gied With turnips, carrot*, beets, t»lirship8, pmL tons, squashes; and, by a Jfttte additional care, witti strawberries, gooseberries, raspberries, cueumu bers, mask melotts, water Aielons, tawiatus, And «U the esculent heits of Eotope. The orchards produce apples, pears, ^hert-ies ; and, m the western parts of the province, quinces, peaches, nectaHnes, and apyicols in additidn. The question, What w«! the land prodiKite ? Is thus siifficrently answered. It pix>diices all the ne- cessaries, and enables the owner, if industrious, M purchase all the comforts, of life. It does more-Mt enables the parents to provide for their diildrett, without care or anxiety : every industrious and »ober farmer grows rich. Indeed ali that he has to do IS to go to a rtew settlement, where the soil is F 2 I IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) V / 4 V] <^ /a >m 'iJ >■> 0>% /S 1.0 ^» 2.8 I.I 1^ us UO IL25 M 1.4 rfl, 1 U'_ riioiOgiapiJlL Sdences Corporation IM 22 IM 1.6 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, NY. 14580 (716) 872-4503 '^» "^2% % i/u ■^ 92 A v'ISIT TO I if 4 rai 1 f of a good quality, and either purchase or a grant of one hundred acres ; and if he cle: dually, so as to maintain himself on it, t rise of land will, in a few years, make him wealthy. But if he exert himself, he will have a very consi- derable portion of surplus produce to dispose of; and then he will be able to purchase lands for his sons, as they come of age, and to settle them all on their farms before he gets old ; detaining the youngest son on the homestead, to assist him in his old age, and to inherit liis property after his death, which is the common custom of the country. The wealth acquired by industrious farmers will be more clearly seen by the following list, given to my brother by a respectable yeoman, in the course of a few minutes. They are all of Mr. Young's ac- quaintance ; and he said that he could have doubled, nay trebled, the catalogue, with a little recollec- tion. They are men who had nothing when they commenced. Mr. James Young, the person who gave the fol- lowing list, lives in the township of Ameliasburgh ; has three children ; began upon a wild lot of 200 acres, about seventeen years ago, without any pro- perty ; paid for his land; and reckons his property, in mills, lands cultivated, and wild,, worth 15,000 dollars, or L.3750. i 4 !»■ *4 f Mr. Robert Charles Wilkins, his neighbour, has 5 children, and possesses property to the same value. UPPER CANADA. dd Mr. Zaccheus Burnham had perhaps one hun- dred dollars, or L.25, when he began, about twenty years ago ; has five children j and has accumulated property worth 20,000 dollars, or L.5000. Mr. Thomas Dempsey had only his axe ; culti- vated a farm of 200 acres ; has been labouring upon It about twenty.five years j and is supposed to be worth 8000 dollars, or L.2000. Mr. Peter Crouter had L.75, or 300 dollars, when he commenced ; purchased a lot of 200 acres, cleared it, and paid for it ; and is now worth about L.1250, or 5000 dollars ; he has ten children— lives in Ameliasburgh township. Mr. Henry Radner had no property when he began, twenty years ago; has had eight children; and is worth L.1250, or 5000 dollars. Mr. Owen P. Roblin had little or no property when he commenced twenty years ago j has ten children ; and is supposed to be worth L.2500, or 10,000 dollars. Mr. Henry Tyce had no property when he began eighteen years ago ; has nine children ; and has property worth L.I 250, or 5000 dollars. 'h F 3 ) •1 / 9^ 4 \^i;ht %^ w IVAr. Qeorfps^ CunniDghaiz), hadi a shuktle when he begaft; baa six chiUron ^ aad k wpsth X4.it7£(V. or 700&doHaxt8i For perspicuity, and to save room, we place the residide o^ the list faonished 'm* the htm of A TABLE. Names. i\o. of rhil- Value. of Property. Year* Townships. ", dreii. settled'. 1 , L. Doll. DuHeli GeareMgfa 6 : 1,000 o» 4/)oo 17 AmeUasburg James Piersoni . 4s 1,000— 4,000 15 Ameliasburg Josiah Proctor ' e 1,500— e,ooo 9 Cfamafte- Joseph Keeller 3 6,250 — a5/)00 ao Crtamitsi Ezekiel Lawrence 2 2,000— 8,000 20 Thomas Jones 10 2,000— 8,000 20 Sydney Abel Gilbert < » 3^,750^ t&fiOQ 25- Sydbey Reuben Wi^e . 8 ;a^00— 10,000 , 16 Sydney: John Roe 5 3,000 — 12,000 16 Sydney Jacob W. Myers . 7 2,000'— 8,ooe l» Sydney Joseph Pheloy 8 2,000— 8,000 18 Haldiraand Joseph Philips 6 1,500— 6,000 20 Haldiroand JcJin Grover 6 2,000"— 6,om 15 IfkldimMld JofanD. Stnith 6 5>0«0^20y0«0 ; 15- HoR« Isaac Garret 7 1,500— 6,000 20 Hope John Stevenson 8 5,000— 20,000 28" HallbtJ^n 1 6heads of families 100 42,000—168,000 !'•; p|i Iti giving* them- names, I desitc^ M*; Youi^ to^ be particularly earefti! not to menti^ott any pevsom who had a capital to begin with. All these people are well known to him, and by far the greater num- ber are neighbours. They had no chances su- B-f- rppftt «AiirAi>A. m perior jio whut all may stilt have ; and the wfiole tfcae they ar« wwth has been obtaineiJ by patient it may inyfefecf be remarked genetalfy of Upper t^atiadUj that, having been fim settle* By Ibyafist* and disbanded soldters, who were all poor, everr person who is now in good circumstances owe* it entirely to his own industry, or that of his father. And no person of health and strength need be afraid, if he once resolutely determines to emigfafe, to become, in «ime, independent! and rich. As far, then, as respects the physical wants of effltgfants, tJppet^ Canada is a. supefiof to the United States ; but tftere are rtafters'on whieh our happiness essentially depends, whith reqtiireexpltf- nation. The state of religion and' education*, of so- ciety, of the laws and government, &c. Bht the steam.boar is just sailing to Niagara; and my bro4 ther, to whom I am indebted for the greater part oFthe information' already cowniunieated, accom- panies me; fO'See the Mis ; and promises to answer the remainder of my (jueries as wellas^he ean, when iTetHrnto Yorfc. Juttfe'agrd, 1819. There were- veiy few passengers in the steam-bottt; and' si» honrs took Us to NiV gara. Asm^ were walking' on the deck. Captain Tatkey'ii Narrative becjame the subject of conver- sation, for one of the gentlemen- happened^ to havtt F 4 fi (i 96 A VISIT TO it in his hand. My brother remarked, that ond could not read the melancholy issue of this expedi- tion, without lamenting the unhappy sufferers ; and the more so, as, by proper arrangements, their deaths might have been prevented, and the great object of the expedition accomplished. This re- mark excited attention, and he was requested to explain. , The utmost extent to which Captain Tuckey r-^ached did not exceed two hundred miles in a direct line, or two hundred and eighty from the mouth of the river, including its windings. The ships, on the 8th July, tried to double Shark Point ; and on the 10th September, Capt. Tuckey was obliged to return. The deaths were occasion- ed by fatigue ; and they were prevented from get- ting forward from the want of provisions, and not having the means of advancing within themselves. The ship Congo was only ten miles up the river, on the 18th July j so that ten days were spent in proceeding ten miles. When recour«5» was had to the boats, their progress was still slow ; and when they approached the Rapids, or Falls of Yellala, the boats became useless, and they were forced to march by land. This again obliged them to hire natives to carry their baggage, by which they were made completely dependent on their caprice for their future progress. !♦■ ii • 1 ; «i UPt»fiR CANADA. ^T' > the provisions which they procured from the inhabitants of the country cost prices so enormous, that the ships could not have carried articles suffi. cient to purchase food, at the same rate, for two months more. < , j , . . :;m)/,-. (,•• In order to succeed in this expedition, it is ne- ist, That the party be completely independent of the natives, .-. e. have provisions and the means ot transport within themselves. 2d, That the party be sufficient for defence, and well armed. II ^ i.i 3d, That it proceed in six days as far as Captain 1 uckey did m two months. 4th, That, as the first object is to ascertain the geography, the greatest expedition may be used in passing into the interior. In returning, if it be thought prudent to return by the same route, more time may be taken. To effect these purposes, employ canoes used by the fur traders in traversing the vast continent of America. , _. . . Let four north-west canoes be brought to Encr. land, with picked crews of twelve men each j let \i I) if l m A, VISIT TO them be pat on board a vesselr aod trftnsported to the mouth of the river Z»tre. These eaaoet earry twenty men each,; with provitions and necessairiet fbff fiMir monfchsr The proviMoiM tlo consist of pemican, which can be packed in the usual maimer. The men belonging to each canoe under regular officors, of determined resolution ; and tfa» whole under one commander. Every person, capablcr on an emergency, of using his arms. A sufficient stock o£ presents fbr the native» would not occupy much room, ae they might covisist of suoh^ewy articles as attract the notice of bacbarians^^ V Ml Such an expedition would be indeqiendsnt oS the natives in every respect ; adopting the: same me* thod of voyaging which is done in North America, no»impediment could stop themw When they come to a rapid, they stem it withi easef when to* ap fell^ they instantly land, and carry canoe, provisions, and baggage, around^ it. The^ diffei^mt- artides being madft up in» packages of 3d- or 90lb9. weigto;^* the cii3w» tiansport them) over an carrjring' piuotf witlfr uncommon' e^^aditioni. As the crews would be select, and well officered and appointed».thci;e would) be nothing to 0Kir £rom the natives* thoaugh whose territories- they pawed r they might alarm, but they would be respeotttdv and this respect would most generally change into regtttdj. if th<^ were comciliafciogi- }rt«d to et carry :e$S£Hriei nsist of atSMBfVP* regular f whole table, on ufiicient > occupy It ol the nne vci9* America, idy co>me ovisions, . aitides weigio;^ 1^ ^ttor officered mr from passed : 8{i«aeiidv inge into UP9K11 CAJSADA. 99 Bottbft rabidity of movement which, fLs. mode ofcomwjancepoMeages^w iti greatest recommen- datioo. Tha norlh-west voy^ers go from. 70 ta 80 miJcs a^ay, £bi» many day^ together^ in apiu of cvecy impediment from rapids and carrying placpjw which, are munecoiw. But we shiiU suppose that this expedition proceeds only 60 mU«a en an ave- rage per day, and less than this can never happen ; andin two months it wiU have txawcrsed the conti- nent of Africa^ and hava provisions enough ta re» turn,, should no supi^ be receivedr from the na. tivoft. In.five days.such. an expeditiou would be farthei: advanced thaa Captain, Tuckey was in twro months > and should, any difficulty happ^ with the natives, the canoes would UHJceed witli such velocity^ that they couJd neyef be overtaken- Instruments for taking the proper observations could, very easily be carried wiA, tham^ The^ crews; should be princi. pally Canadians,, because they are accustomed, ta such voyages, and. caiv not only bi.^, fatigue of Uiia sort better than- mogt other, men,, hut.caij.ba.mora easily, kept in or-der-. The ai^foach. to. Nia^ra. is. very, fiae,:, qm oner sida^the tovva is rising from. iu. ashes with.great rapidity J and on. tU: other,, the American, fort RFasente itself^ h&ndsomely, repaired since ttiQ pe»:er-a^majflstic.^i»e^^ollift bftwaan them. • 1 1 I r " !)• .i loo A VISIT TO Ui Orr landing, we hired a carriage to attend us found the town, and take us to the falls. In the town, we saw nothing so remarkable as the contrast between the church and jail : the former entirely out of repair, and most discreditable to the people ; the latter, the most splendid building in Upper Canada. The ride to the Falls from Niagara is very fine. In proceeding to Queenston, you think you are passing through a very old country : the river, in sight all the way, appears exceedingly noble; houses are thick, and the lands in a good state of cultivation. Queenston has become famous by the death of the gallant General Brock, who was killed on the 13th October, 1812, bravely repulsing the landing of the enemy. His body is interred under one of the bastions of Fort George at Nia- gara, without any stone or memorial to mark the spot where the saviour of Upper Canada lies. It is said that the legislature, some years ago, voted one thousand pounds for a monument, and that a committee was appointed to procure and set it up ; but nothing has been done. Such conduct requires explanation. Was the sum too small? It might have been easily increa8ed by private contributions ; and, till the monument is erected, the province is disgraced. On looking at the bastion where the General and his gallant Aid-de-camp are buried, I attempted the draught of an inscription for the monument, should it ever be built. --»'.i.::s«iNy ttend u9 alls. In i as the ; former itable to building ery fine, you are river, in noble ; state of aous by who was epulsing interred 1 at Nia- nark the lies. It ;o, voted d that a it it up ; requires It might butions ; Dvince is iiere the buried, for the UPPER CANADA. Why a&Xb this bastion forth the patriot sigh, And Htarts the tear from beauty's swelling eye ? Within it« breast intrepid Brock is laid ; A toniti according witli the mighty dead : Whose soul, devoted to his country's cause. In deeds of glory sought her just applause. EnrolI'd with Abercrombie, Wolfe, and Moore, No lapse of time his merits shall obscure : Fresh shall they burn in each Canadian heart, And all their pure and living fires impart. A youthftil friend rests by the hero's side ; Their mutual love death sought not to divide. The Muse that gives her Brock to deathless fame, Shall in the wreath entwine M'Donnel's name. 101 It is supposed that the Falls of Niagara com. menced at Queenston, though they have gone seven miles further back. The banks of the river give some weight to this supposition : they are chiefly soft strata, mixed with stones, which water could soon wash away. After rising the Queenston heights, the country becomes as level as below them. Therj^^an appearance of a mountain on one side only, and the land beyond it is called a table land. We passed Lundy's Lane, on going to the Falls, where General Drummond, with a very small part of his forces, fought the whole of General Brown's army, on the evening of the 25th July, 1814, and beat him off the field. Next morning the American 1 t im A VniT TO 4,^ ■ Sf, i ^^i I ilm\ f iL army fled, burning and destroying their provisions and baggage, towards Foft Erie* claiming, never* theless, a glorious victory. As it was difiicult to get even their oountryaMn to believe thAt tbey had gained a victoryr by Tanning away, srnne ai their generals dflbred to give evidence of fts truth ; but, being parties concerned, there was still a demur. On reaching the Falls, I found the bed of the river a solid rook of Jime-stone, so tiMit their progress backward niBflt be very dom ; bwt that their ap- pearance charrges gready is evident flrcm the con- current testimony of the neighbouring inhabitants, and the vast portions of the rock which are now and then falling down. Wishing to go below, I clambered down the precipice, about half a mile fVorn the Falls ; but my brother not feeling a suffi- cient con*fidence to follow me, I soon returned, and we proceeded to Black Rock. The ridesti!! continues beautiful along the river, birt the countiy is rather flat. It was dark by the time we reached Black Rock ; we therefore pnt up for the night — determined to visit Bufialoe, on the American side, in the morning. June 25, passed the river at six o'clock, which is here very rapid ; vraWced to Buflaloe, distaiit from the ferry nearly two miles. Itie town increases wonderftilly : tbe houses, many of them elegant, the greater numbet of brick> almost all erected since the war ; for this to^vn had l^e tnisfottune to UPPE« CAKADA. lOS >rovisions g, never- ifiicult to they had J of their itfh ; but, a demur. ' the river progress their ap- 1 the con- habitants, are now below, I alf a mile rrg a suffi- iftied, and the river, ark by the )re p«t up ot, on the :, which is stamt from intirea^es n elegant, dl erected jfortutie to Uekornt. in retaitatMii for the bumiwg of Nragani. Bfeikfasted at Landeti'a. Met a very intrflrgent farmer, who lives about fourteen miles from Bafra- joe, on the shore, of Lake Erie. This gentleman had just returned from a journey of nearly four thousand miles, to look for a new settlerocnt. Are yoM not comfortable? Yes; but I had a good dmnoe of seliiftg my improvement, and I wished to purchase a larger track of land. You are too old to think of a new settlement. But ray diildren. Well, what success? I went through the States of Ohio, Missouri, and the Illinois, but I saw little ad- vantage in changing ; the people, in most places, were squalid and miserable : some had large crops but no market. How do you like the prairies ? Some of them are rich and dry in the upper parts of th« Missouri} but they are commonly wet and unhealthy in the State of Illinois. How can you account for trees not growing upon them ? The . shallowness of the soil : yet in some the soil is deep, and no trees grow. The greater part of the Illinois is flat and marshy ; no streams for mills. The tide of emigration is taking a different direc tion, to the Alabama and Missouri territories. In- deed the miseries which most of the new settlers from old America have to suffer, from sickness, and the want of all those comforts to which they have been accustomed, begin to be known, and have checked emigration to a very considerable degree. For my part, rather shame, than a desire to remove, induced me to make a conditional bargain for 104) A VISIT TO m;' about two thousand acres of land in Missouri State ; but, on my return, I found it inipossible to dispose of my farm, and I am well pleased ; for I shall be more comfortable to remain. He complained bitterly of the banks : one at Buffaloe had just failed, and ruined half the neigh- bourhood. I am come to town to-day to pay five hundred dollars, for putting my name on the back of a bit of paper, for my next neighbour, who re- quested this fi»vour for three days only. The barks induce people to get into their debt, and ruin follows. There are two booksellers in Buffaloe, each of- fering for sale a large assortment of books, many of them well bound, and valuable. One small work, entitled * Letters from the British .Settlement in Pennsylvania,* attracted my attention, and I pur- chased it. The book is written by a Dr. Johnson, and draws, in the most fascinating colours, the ad- vantages of a track of land, consisting of 40,000 acres, purchased in the western part of the State of Pennsylvania, and to be settled exclusively by Eng- lishmen. The land averaged four dollars per acre, price enough for the sterile soil of this part of America j a deduction of the price to the amount of 25 per cent, was to be made, on prompt payment. Thero are, nevertheless, many useful remarks in the book, of which I have availed myself in tran- scribing this ; but the praises he bestows on his Kail: I i UPPER CANADA. 105 settlement are greatly exaggerated. He blames Mr. Birkbeck for mis-statements, and the folly of his choice ; and with great truth. It is a flat un- healthy country, where there can be no mills, the waters of the rivers running slow, and over-running their banks in spring and autumn. We continued two hours walking round the town, admiring the rapidity of its growth. The lake opens on its west end with great magnificence, but there is no harbour ; and the violence of the swell prevents the forming of one, as it brings such quantities of sand, and would immediately fill up any basin that could be d-^g. There is great difficulty in fixing upon the mouth of the great canal, now cutting from Lake Erie to the city of Albany, whether it shall be at Buffaloe or Black Rock. The great objection to Buffaloe is, that the canal would be exposed to the storms, and have its mouth filled up six or eight times a- year. The impediment at Black Rock is, the strength of the current before you can get into the lake, which is so strong, that the steam-boat re- (juires assistance from oxen to enable her to stem it. In turning a corner, we met the farmer with whom we had breakfasted, with a fine looking in- telligent old man, neatly dressed ; and we went back to the inn with them, to rest half an hour, previous to our return to cross at Black Rock to G im A yi9IT Tp M\ Can^4, 49 the c|ay was extrefpely hpt, SpiegJ^iBg Qf t^e can^), th^ %mer prprajsed the country inn- ip^nse acjv^t^ges frpm its operation ; that it would bripg |:he I^ftke§, i^sit wer^, to New Yprl^ j and that the w^H9i'|i ii^ha^it^^t^ would now begin to t^te the sweets of a goQ^ f^&irkeU I hav^ nothing to do but to bring my flour down to the canal, and if I get ray price, vf^W »nd gppd j if not, sisfteen days carry n^e to New Yorl^, and thct same number re- stores B}^ \^ niy family. AH PUr citizens en ILakes Erie, Miphigan, and Superior, will have New York ^ the H^aFket fpf their produce, the great enipofiuin frpra which they ii^ust obtain all their suppliea. It ■will unite the Union more firmly together i aM leave us nothing to regret that the free navigation of tl^p St. Lawrence i§ not open to all. As tq Ca< fi^d^t ^nd especially Mpn|r«qil, this undertaking is ext;r^mely detrimpnt^K Ng produce will proceed in that direction after l^he opening of this q^nail-^ £^11 will pass £^nd repass tp N^W Yprl^. Instep of giving the people op your side any portion of our tmsiness, we shall hp getting theirs. The voys^ge 4pwn to the sea will be sp certaint and the expense so sm^ll, ^s to preclude the possibility of any coip- petitionr We shall be able to tal^e a h^rrel of flour from any part of Lake Erie to New York for a dol- J^, where at present it cannpt be taken for half its i'V I dq not see quite sp many advai[its^es^ friend J$i9Q^ said the elderly gentleman ^ they are, in my .»' I ^f i I UPPEE CANADA. lOT try im- t would n4 that o tmio g to do md if I in days %hQr re- w yprfc iporiuoi lea. It it't and ligation } tq Ca- lking is proceed stea^d of i of oiir voyage expense t^y coqa- of flour )r a dol- ha\f its , friend 3, in my of«nioti, gwatly over.ratfed. This «inal will do more good to Montreal tiian to New York : it paa« ses at one place within ten miles of Sodus Bay, on Lake Ontario> from which a lateml cut or raiUway may be constructed ; flour may be taken out of tho canal, and put on board the steamvboat, at threes pence per barrel j and as it is cheaper to tarry produce from Lake Ontario to Montreal, than by the canal to New York, should the markets of thos* two cities be equal, the former will have the pre- ference. Besides, the canal will freeze much ear- lier than the river St. Lawrence ; and hence we have less time to pass along with our produce, than by the lakes and rivers, or living waters. It is so easy (turning to us), gentlemen, to improve the na- vigation of the St. Lawrence, that all our eflbrts to divert the trade will prove in vain. And it is well that it should be so ; for the produce of the vast countries which surround us will be enough for both. It is not as an instrument of commerce that I admire the canal which we are digging, but as an emblem of peace. Had we not despaired of conquering the Canadas, the hope of which pro*, duced the late war, this great work had never been commenced. We were much pleased with the candour and good sense of this old gentleman, and took a cordial leave. On our way to Black Rock, I made enquiry of my brother concerning the im- provements necessary to render the waters of the St. Lawrence navigable for vessels of burden, par* 108 A VISIT TO I as;;; in. 5i tinularly steam-boats; and shall condense his in- formation. 11 Ships can come up to Montreal ; but here dan- gerous rapids commence, and continue nine miles. The canal, to avoid them, may require a length of ten miles; and is now beginning under an incor- porated company. It is to pass behind Montreal, and have a lateral cut from the St. Lawrence, at the entrance of the town. The ground is easy of excavation, and the supply of water inexhaustible : in two or three years it will be open for transport. The whole expense is not expected to exceed L.80,000 ; and such is the trade that must pass through it, that the stock-holders will, in two or three years after it is in operation, share their maxi- mum, 01 15 per cent. Lake Ontario is reckoned 200 feet above the St. Lawrence at Montreal, which may be divided into three unequal parts. From the head of the St. Lawrence, where it leaves the Lake, to the Rapid Flat, a distance of 90 miles, there is not more than 40 feet fall ; from the Rapid Plat to Lake St. Fran- cis, a distance of 40 miles, there is a fall of 55 ; the next 26 miles, called Lake St. Francis, shew some current, and may give a declivity of six feet. From the Coteau du Lac to Lake St. Lewis, nearly 22 miles, the fall may be estimated at 57 feet ; and the Lachine Rapids 42 feet, in a distance of twelve miles. It is obvious that much of conjecture enters UPPER CANADA. 109 into this calculation j but it will not be found very wide of the truth. To allow sloops and steam-boats to go from Mon- treal to Lake St. Francis, two canals are necessary, of about equal difficulty— the Lachine canal, just begun ; and the Cedar canal, of much the same length. This canal commences near the junction of the Ottawa, or Grand River, and the St. Law- rence, and enters Lake St. Francis near the east end. The estimated expense, L.75,000; so that L. 155,000 would cure all the defects of the St. Lawrence within the limits of Lower Canada. The impediments in Upper Canada are less consi- derable ; it is not thought a greater sum than L.60,000 would be necessary to remove every im- pediment. But the provincial revenue is too limit- ed at present to admit the disbursement of this sum, small as it is, and great as the advantages must be to the colony. The House of Assembly, in conjunction with the legislative council, sensible of these advantages, and their present inability, have petitioned his Royal Highness the Prince Re- gent, througli his excellency Sir Peregrine Mait- land, for a grant of 100.000 acres of land, to assist m such improvements J and as the request goes home, favoured by his excellency, there is little doubt of its being favourably received. Now, this quantity of land, if located in a fa- vourable situation, will sell for two and a half dol- G 3 ne A VISIT TO lars pev acre i that is, L.63»500 for the wholcft or L.2500 beyond our estimate of the leceesary iisk provements. But, should the sum wanted exceed tl»i<; ten or twave tboufiand pounds, no particular impediment would arise ; for th« legislatiuo would vary willingly provide for tbia coatiingency. Having thus, ad a small oxpeose, opened a direct communication between Niiagara and the oeeai]> the next great ol^ecii is the junction of the two La](es Erie and Qkitario, which. na.y be mone easily effected than i» coranioiriy supposed. There arc ieveral perts of tho Chippaw^ where it ib navig.able for vesses of any reasonable size», within fifteen naiJbes of Lake Oatario. F a can^ : the current almost innpei!- ceptible, and very UtUe aiSected by rains; the cbannel deep, and without obstruction. A canal of fourteen^^ miles would reach* to the head of the vpouivtain, close on Lake Ontario,, io^sevecalpkiicefr} ^r locks would be su^ient in tbis.di^ancekr^ The height; of the hHl, withiu a. distance of tw.o nailer of Lake Ontario,. i» ^50 feet ; r,e<|juiring upt- ws^ds of thirty locks, all very near one another. The grea^li expeose of so mm^ locks* and the tinie lost^iapaasing and re-p£»8ing them,, seem ti» poini: out a vailrway as more advanta^ous^, The basin at the end of the canal should be formed at some distance from the top of the hill, making the rail- way* with ite Mundings> about four miles, before it reached the wba«fe on Lake Ontario* The distri- UPf ftft CAifAl>A, ill butJon of the height of 250 feet would hardly be peteeptMe'm this distance. Thecanikl, foirrteert milefs long, will cost L.40,000 ; and the rdl-way, four miles, L.lo,ooO; and L.10,GO0 for stotes and wharfs— forming an aggregate of L/Ja,0CO; fot joining the two Lakes. After passing into Lake Erie, to which there is m difficulty, from the mouth of the Chfppawa, except a mile of rapid water at Black Rock, the navigation is open through Lakes Sinclair, Hnron, and Michigan ; and a triflhig expense at the sfrdJt of St. Mary, will enable vessels to proceed into Lake Superior. There is one other improvement connected with this line, which I consider of great importanc^e to a large and wealthy section of the province, namely, a communication between the Grand River and Chippawa. The Grand River is navigable for boats to a great distance from its mouth. It abounds in mill seats of the best description, ca- pable of turning any machinery whatever; and the country through which it runs is of the first quality, and must, in a short time, become rich in the pro- duction of grain. It would, therefore, be of infinite advantage to possess a water communication to hak& Ontario, which may be eflected by a canal of five miles in length ; for so near do the Grand River and Chippawa approach to one another. This would complete the main line of internal naviga(»ion, and bring the greater part of the proviwce close to G 4 1 f\ ! '1 ? V lis A VISIT TO the ocean. What is pecuHarly encouraging, there is no expense to be incurred which can be considered beyond our reach. The communication between the two lakes will not be required for a few years, as the surplus produce, for some time, will find an im- mediate market among the new settlers, who are flocking in great numbers to the London and Western districts ; and before that period elapses, the provincial treasury will enable the legislature to appropriate, without any difficulty, a sum suffi- cient to pay the interest of the capital laid out in making the canals, rail-ways, &c. «i> Recapitulation of expense to effect this great object. In Lower Canada. ... ... The Lachine Canal, - L.80,000 ^ Th^Canal of the Cedars, - 75,000 Total expense to Lower Canada In Upper Canada. ' Rendering the river navigable from Cornwall to Prescott, by short canals, deepening the rivers, &c. . L.60,000 Connecting Lakes Ontario and ^"®» :' ' • - , 60,000 L. 155,000 t'.- .;;: Total expense to Upper Canada The grard total of opening a communi- ., cation between the great Lakes of Canada and the sea. 120,000 L.^75,000 b i-M UPPER CANADA. 113 A sum not equal to the expense of many small canals of England ; not even beyond the ability of many individuals, who would soon make an im- mense profit by a very moderate charge on the boats, rafts, and vessels, passing through these canals, for a limited number of years. The benefits that must soon flow from su^n an extensive communication are obvious; and the cheapness with which it may be done is wonderful. But this arises from the ease with which the canals can be supplied with water, and the little value at- tached to the lands through which they would pass ; most people would give what was required for nothing. But it may be said, that before the plan can be finished, the commerce of the western coun- tries will have taken a different channel. Were we to act vigorously, our improvements might be in operation two years before the great western canal ; but it is recommended chiefly on account of our own commerce. This country is growing rapidly, and her productions will in a short time . be very great. The commerce that may come through our waters from our neighbours I consider adventitious— it may be prohibited by their laws. Let us stand upon our own bottom, and improve for our own benefit. If our water communications are found beneficial to our neighbours, and induce them to bring their produce to our markets, so much the better j but this ought not to be our h /~ .... — J ^ V— &- lU A VISIT TO moving principle. There is every reason to be- lieve, that the great western canal will bt of more benefit to Montreal than to New York i because the Montreal merchanta can afford to give greater prices fbi provisions of all kinds* which they can carry to the West Indies. It has frequently been said, by intn of intelli- gence and observation, that there is no country in the world possessing so good inland water comtnu' nications as the Caoadas. But the principal one which we have been describing is liable to great objection in time of war : it foriiis» in the greater part of its line, the boundary between the Provinces and the United States, and is liable to interruption during hostilities. This was found very detrimen- tal in the late war ; and the communication be« tween Upper and Lower Canada was frequently cut off for a time, and the supplies taken, or greatly delayed. This si^gested the profpriety of opening a water communication between Montreal and Kingston, by rocfins of the Ottawa river. To facilitate this ]^an, the country between the St. Lawrence and Ottawa required to be settled j and, accordingly, it is filling with disbanded officers and soldiers very rapidly, who have their lands assigned them in this tract, under the superintendance of tht' quarter- flwster-general. ii:':l ^_> I4..W- UPPER CANADA. iu The sttfveyori, in laying out the country in towBsbtpe, and dividing it into lots lor the settleri^ have discovered, that the river Rideau, rumuog into the Ottawa, is navigable for boats through a great part of its course j that it istues froBi a chain oflakeainthe middle of the peninsula (between the two great rivera), which run nearly as far up as Kingston. In fine, it is ascertained that fifty thousand pound* would conaplete the ioternal coanmuTMcation between Montseal and Kingston, with the exception ei one carrying pbce of two huodred yards, at Ib^ mouth of the Rideau, where it joins the Ottawa. Other riv&i»^ rwam^ into the Ottawa, have been discovered, which facilitate uNercourse very bbucIk From Kingston there it m water commumication up> the bay of Qaiaie sixty roilea,. which cannot heioteifruiiAedj and this n»y be continued up. the Trent into the Rice Lakes ^ and so, by lakes and rivers, into Lake Simcoe, in the rear of York.— This poiitiiw* of the line^ after enteriiig into the Treat Jft not yet sufficieatly explored, to form aa estimaAfrofi iibe expense, k is supposed that se* verai short sail-ways^ woald ofler a cheaper f&ode of connectifig the- aavigable waters than caoals. Of the practicability of continuing this in*eral com- munication as far, and even farther than Lake Simcoe, there is no doubt. V I I ( V 116 A VISIT TO His Grace the Duke of Richmond, with a zeal for the improvement of the Canadas highly grati- fying to the inliabitants, and worthy of his benevo- lent mind, has already begun to remove tiie impe- diments in the Ottawa, to where the river Rideau joins it ; and, in a very short time, this route to Kingston will be commonly taken. June 2.5th, we returned to Black Rock; and, crossing over, drove to Fort Erie, famous during the late war, from the singular spectacle of an American army allowing themselves to be besieged in it by half their number of British troops. Having determined to take a more minute view of the Falls of Niagara, we stopped only a few mi- nutes at Fort Erie. On passing towards Chippawa, we saw the British commissioner and his party, for ascertaining the boundary, encamped on an island some distance from the shore. . -4 ftjf jf p., The village of Chippawu, through which we pas- sed, consists of very few houses, but neat and clean in appearance. We saw a great number of oak staves piled on its banks, and beheld several teams loading them to carry to Queenstjuj t uc head of the navigation, and then to be shi-ip^v. fj Lower Canada. Is CM I We asked whether it was possible to carry them so far, with any prospect of advantage ? * The ■.^»■ UPPER CANADA. 117 Staves you see piled.' said a merchant to whom we had addressed ournolves for information, • are made by the farmers: when clearing their land, they cut up such good oak trees as they meet with into staves, rather than burn them. By this means, they are enabled to sell them cheap, and still be gamers.' The lumber trade has always been considered one of the great staples of Canada; but I did not thmk that It could have been extended beyond the shores of Lake Ontario. The forests produce a great variety of different woods, fit for ship and house building, and all sorts of cabinet work.— Masts of the largest size are procured easily, some 128 feet long, and four or five feet diameter. Very fine oak timber is found in abundance, commonly straight, and excellent for planking ships, and staves and heading. The quantity will always bear pro- portion to the demand ; more especially since the diminution of freight and risk enables the merchant to purchase it on Lake Erie. The most beautiful furniture may be made of the curled and bird-eye mapple ; tiie cherry is nearly equal to mahogany ; the black walnut looks well. Ihere is, besides, a great variety of species of dif- ferent kinds of wood, which will be found useful, as the country improves, and experiments are 118 A VISIT TO THE FALLS. My brother, after some hesitation, ventured down the precipice ; and, having reached the bed of the river below, we were well rewarded. It was now that my expectations were realized : the height of the rock — the thundering of the Fall— - the spray forming in rain-bows — the vast volume of water rolling over the impending precipice, pro- duced a sensation overpoweringly sublime. We passed to the American side in a flat bottomed boat, which appears to me rather dangerous, on account of the swell and agitation of the river so n'-^ar the fall ; the boat ought to be sharper. On the American side, you are able to approach to within a few feet of the Fall, which is small in comparison of the Horse-Shoe, or Main Fall. The whole fall is divided by an island into two unequal parts; and this on the American side may rather be termed beautiful, than sublime. h Mi General Porter has made a flight of steps from the top of the rock to the base, which is extremely UPP«a CANADA. 119 ventured the bed . It was sed : the he Fall— : volume pice, pro- ne. We bottomed srous, on e river so 3er. approach s small in all. The [> unequal lay rather teps from extremely useful, as there was no getting up and down on this side before ; but it spoils the picturesque of the scenery, as it is enclosed in a sort of wooden frame, covered with boards. The wild vine, or hop, might be made to shade it, and thus restore the scenery to its former excellence. We went up the steps, to view the bridge made by General Porter, to the island, which divides the Falls, and is a very great curiosity. The water is so rapid where the bridge is built, that I was at a great loss to conjecture how it could have been erected. On passing the bridge to the island, in order to have every possible view of the Falls, we found the huts of tUe American commissioner and his party for ascertaining the boundary line. One of the gentlemen politely asked us to enter the tent, and drink a glass of wine, which we very thankfully did. The day being very warm, we were much fatigued climbing up and down the precipices. I asked immediately how the bridge was made ? General Porter failed in his first at- tempt, a httle higher up. but he was determined to proceed. After some deliberation as to the best mode, several pine trees of great lengtu were drawn to the bank ; their butt ends resting on the bank, their other ends projecting over the river as fer as was judged proper, to make the first pier. The part of the trees on land being much heavier than the portion above the water, the whole was covered with planks. A basket of wicker work was j , \ J HO A VISIT TO i f then made, and was, with great difficulty, kept in its place ; indeed it would have been impossible, but that the water ran through it. Stones were put into it, and then a frame of timbers gradually put around it, piece by piece, and joined, and filled with stones, till the pier became high enough and steady, by reaf^on of the great weight of the stones. The crib, or frame of the pier, rests on the smooth rock, and preserves its place by its gravity or weight. This pier became a resting place for other timbers, to project over a second portion of the river, to form the next pier, &c. and so on, till the whole bridge was finished, at an expense of more than one thousand pounds. The island consists 6f about eighty acres of fine land'; but it was rather as a public accommodation that the bridge was built. iM Afler conversing some time with the two gentle- men of the tent, whom we found very intelligent, and gentlemanly in their conduct, we returned to Mr. Forsyth's inn, to dine, on our own shore. As the steam-boat was to sail on the 26th, we determined to return to Niagara this evening, and on our way to visit the Whirlpool. It appears that the river has made an attempt to break through to the north j but not being able, it is forced to turn to the north-east, forming a tremendous basin, containing a dreadful whirlpool, from which no- thing can escape. Several trees had been in it till ml UPPER CANADA. 121 thoy were all worn ; when they went into the vor- tex, you were tired looking for their re-appearance. The banks are extremely high, and the whole scene awfully sublime. Some people are more struck with this than with the falls. We found at Niagara that smuggling is not un- known in this new country. The collector had made a seizure of some contraband wares from the United States. All produce or manufactures may come in. on paying a trifling duty j but foreign wares and merchandize are prohibited. Now, as the communication between France and the States IS open, French goods of all descriptions, and Chi- nese goods, teas, &c. are often smuggled into Ca- nada. The boundary is long, and it is impossible to guard it in all parts. A newspaper was placed on the table after din- ner, giving some account of the late expedition to the North Pole. The voyage has not been satis- factory, but it has determined against the possibility of ever sailing through the Polar seas into the Pa. cific Ocean; for, if any passage exists, it is in too high a latitude ever to be free from ice. If merely reaching the Pole were an object of importance, it might, I think, be accomplished, said a gentleman, who I found had been, in his youth, an active fur- trader, and passed several winters in latitude 69^* It would take two years : the first two depots of provisions might be made, one at 80, and another H k m A VISIT TO ds high as 8J°. The second summer we might pro- ce^ as early as possible, pass our depots, and make our way to the Pole j going by rivers as far as we possibly could, and then with hand-sleighs dragging our canoes, when sailing was not practicable* It is not probable that there is much, if any open sea, at the Pole ( and we might easily carry provisions to hst us from 85 lo 90*, and back. Repeated trials might be necessary before the object was acoom- plished ; and it might be found that the second voyage, from 80 to 85', where the depot of provi- sions, Sec. was made, would be better in winter than in summer. During the winter, it is very light about the Pole, and in all the northern regions $ «o that the supposed darkness, from the absence of the sun, would be no impediment. With dining and conversation, the six hours that we were in the steam-boat passed agreeably ; and we found our- selves at York in time for tea. QUEST. VIII. •;1 I. UPPER CANADA. .'' . ■'. 1 li •"'■'. . . ' 'i '". t .* ' * ' ' ■ ■ • r ■ '^ l'^ QUEST. VIII. . ' i i - ■ — . What is the State of Religion ? :••'?, !■ « >:rvn: i. ! The province was first settled by disbanded sol- diers and loyalists. Th6se people were supplied with provisions and implements of husbandry by government ; but, being scattered over an immense surface, it was not so easy to administer to their spiritual wants. There were only two clergymen in the province for many years, one of the Church ot England, which is the established chur.h, and one of the Church of Scotland. When the province of Quebec was divided, the king signified his intention toparliament of making some provision for a protestant clergy, by which the people might enjoy all the benefits of religious instruction, without being put to any serious ex- pense For this purpose, he devoted one-seventh ot all the lands in the province. To follow up this pious and benevolent measure and to encourage the establishment with more con' venience, a bishop of Quebec was appointed re- taming the former name of the colony, that both H 2 124 A VISIT TO ! ■'■f'l I provinces might be included in the diocese. The established clergy begin to increase : there are at present twelve m this pro' ince ; a great number is expected from England ; and three or four young men belonging to the country are prepared to take orders, and others have commenced their studies. All denominations are con?pletely free, for there is no political power conferred upon the establish- ment. Presbyterians, Calvinists, and Lutherans, have a right to marry, on proving themselves, to the satisfaction of the quarter-sessions, the ministers of a particular congregation. There are in the pro- vince five congregational clergyrrien, six catholic clergymen, and a very considerable number of methodist preachers. The one-seventh of the land reserved for the support of a clergy has hitherto been unproductive ; and this, among other reasons, may have retarded the growtli of the church j but the prospects are brightening, and a clergyman will soon be found in every settled township. At present the clergy of the established church are paid by the venerable Society for propagating the Gospel in foreign parts ; and, while government grants lands in fee simple for nothing, few persons will take up reserves, except in old settlements. But, as the settlements extend, they will be more :^MII'ML ,. , : ^^Wfl-m— m ; ^,^ UPPER CANADA. 125 sought after, and become productive ; so that, in a few years, there is every reason to believe, that they will yield enough to maintain a considerable number of clergymen. - ,, ^ ... ^, .; ' ■' ■■ ■ ' - >■■■ ' ■ . :^.■• . The livings have been lately increased, through the munificence of the British parliament, aiding the Society for propagating the Gospel in foreign parts, from L.150 to L.200 sterling per annum, clear of all deductions. Since the war, the climate IS no longer deemed frightful, or the state of so- ciety nearly savage ; and the same difficulties will not be experienced in procuring clergymen from England, as heretofore. . a. . . .,UH^^,i, ,,.,- hv ■ ff'ij, My brother says, that, since the return of peace, a great change is observable among the inhabitants : many are become desirous of religious instruction, who used to be cold and indifferent. In the old settlements, the majority of the people are getting comfortable in their circumstances; and though not able to spare much from their little earnings to support religious institutions, they would yet gladly receive the gospel, if offered to them. In many places, they are coming forward with a generous zeal, highly gratifying, to build churches ; and are soliciting, with anxiety, the establishment of a settled minister. The prospect of obtaining a re- spectable clergyman unites neighbourhoods toge- ther ; and when he is once fixed, and is of a mild conciliating disposition, he is sure to make a con- H 3 I 126 A VISIT TO grcgation. For, though differing in tjieir religious Tiewsi or rememberiDg that their parents were at- tached to different principles, some may, for a time, keep aloof, yet the presence of a minister, who merits their esteem, by answering their doubts, and removing their scruples, gradually wins them over j and when they become accustomed to the form of worship, and hear him explaining the doctrines of the gospel, they will soon collect around hira, and consider themselves his flock. No man need hesitate coming to Canada, on ac- count of religion : if of the established church, he has the same privileges as before j if of a different denomination, h? has full liberty. ■V: i. n' ■'■ , ,i: ■I \ f lU lO .., .--, EDUCATION. UPPER CANADA. m EDUCATION. f' " 'i*. .;. ';} •/ f J^K n^" ^"^ y '•""•rted. th»t it wa. reserved DrUt^h"'"M-"''''8'°" '° »"«««" ""d put „ prart.ce the .ubl.m. work of educting a \vho e f„rir "'""■•'r '*'"' "•« "Wld'. L da^ m tllZ. '.r*' '"'""■""* giving it instruction t in crurfh h. ' *^''- ^"^""^'-g'y. the Chris- TJvIa l • '" '^^'y """""y where ithaabeen Mtabl shed. d,ew„ a becoming solicitude for the directing the.r minds to » knowledge of the Uadiflg and n>port,nt doctrines of the holy soripturef Nor .. the praise of this conduct eon/nedTZ but « due to all denominations. The v^wfof J 'li' ""<.' **"^ *° W«=«te the ya« advantages rea^itmgfromsuch knowledge, even when con*^ to .t. s„»p e eff^t of enlarging the understandlT and elevating the sentiments j bM wh«» J„S oo Ctast.»n v.ews. it habituates yo^. from £ earliest infancy, to proper government and <«sci' H 4 1^8 A VISIT TO ift pline, and qualifies them to enter life with advan- tage. If they attend a public school so conducted, their manners are formed in a society of consi- derable extent, and under many salutary restraints and regulations. They are brought into a field similar to that in which they will afterwards act, when they become members of a larger society. The behaviour of every individual is placed under the vigilant review of a great number of his equals ; and motives and restraints are here employed simi- lar to those which are found so powerful and bene- ficial in directing the conduct of mankind. In this country the great excellence of such an education, flowing naturally from a regular esta- blishment of Christianity, or a numerous clergy, whether paid by the state, or supported by the people, has not been experienced, on account of the slow progress of the church ; but, though this has been a sore hindrance, more has been done than, under such circumstances, could have been expected. Soon after the formation of the settlements, as- sistance was offered by Lord Dorchester. Lands were afterwards set apart, to support a University and inferior schools ; but these lands have not as yet been productive. In the mean time, several respectable seminaries were established, and a great number of small schools, throughout the province. ft- UPPER CANADA. 129 In 1807, a law was enacted, establishing a school m every district, in which the classics and mathe- matics were to be taught j the teacher to have a salary of L.loo per annum. This law has been very beneficial. Eight superior schools were esta- Wished, one in each great division of the province where young men receive such an education as qua! hfies them for the different professions ; besides, these schools will become excellent nurseries for the University. ; .j ,„; i._. At present, the district schools are as flourishing as any public institution can be expected to be; and. It there are any complaints, they are of a partial and local nature, which do not militate against theprin- ciple of the law. *^ . The legislature, finding the revenue greatly in- creased in 1816, a law was passed, containing many excellent provisions for establishing and supporting common schools in every village or township in the province. This law is about to expire ; and, in re- newing it, the legislature will, no doubt, alter some of Its clauses ; one of which, « that there shall be a school ,n every town, village, or place, where twenty scholars can be collected,' is injudicious, as produc- ing too many schools of the lowest description. Several other amendments may be made, which will render it more liberal and efficient j and, at the same time, be accompanied with a very con- siderable diminution of expense. I i ISO A VISIT TO In aid of what the wisdom of the legialature may continue to bestow upon the education of youth, something may soon be looked for from the benefi- cence of the crown. •I- ii'^ It is indeed said that a University is going to be soon established, depending upon lands for its sup- port, and future extension. The character of the present lieutenant-governor, who has nothing more anxiously at heart than the promotion of religion and education throughout the province, gives cur- rency to this rumour. The plan said to be in agitation is, to commence with a principals or president, and three or four professors ; these gentlemen to give two or three courses of lectures to different classes during the season, from some of which courses they will be relieved as soon as the funds admit of the appoint- ment of additional professors. Two scholarships are to be attached to each district, by which, at the end of every two years, the best scholar at the district school has an oppor- tunity o£ obtaining a scholarship at college, which will maintain him four years. The number of scho- larships attached to each district to be increased, till they amount to four, or even more, if the re- venues of the University allow. In this manner will the door to a liberal education be opened to the poorer inhabitant ; and we may live to see the UPPER CANADA. 131 children of the farmer and mechanic filling the highest offices in the colony, to which they have raised themselves by their superior talents, fostered by the benevolent institutions of their country. The nftcessity of sending young men out of the province to finish their education, ought to be re- moved ; for the specimens that have been tried have disappointed the just expectations of their friends. Few can support the great expense of sending their children .o Great Britain ; and pa- rental anxiety reluctantly trusts them at such a distance from its care, observation, and controul. If they are sent to the United States, there is much reason to fear that they will return with sentiments unfriendly to our different establishments ; as the whole system of education, even to primary school books, in that country, is pervaded with pernicious politics, breathing hatred to the parent state. , There is no subject more important to the true prosperity of the province than the careful educa- tion of its youth ; for it is only by a well instructed population that we can expect to preserve our ex- cellent constitution, and our connexion with the British empire, or give that respectability to the country which arises from an intelligent magistracy, and from public situations fiUed with men of ability and information. 132 A VISIT TO tj, I (* 1 ! The liberal professions now demand the esta- blishment of a University. The church requires a long course of study, which cannot at present be obtained. Young men des gned for the bar, have not the necessary opportunities for preparing them- selves for that important profession. The students of medicine, the sons of liberal merchants and of the more opulent landholders, would certainly attend a seminary on an extensive scale ; and it is very certain that, in a few years after its establishment, more than one hundred students would be found at the University of Upper Canada. The present state of education consists of eight district schools, at which upwards of 300 boys are now taught the higher branches of education, the classics, mathematics, &c.; and the common schools, in which upwards of 5000 children are instructed j besides a great number of schools of a similar de- scription, to which the bounty of government can- not be extended. Sunday schools are likewise getting numerous, in which religious instruction is obtained by many who are not in circumstances to attend schools throughout the week. No man need be deterred from coming to Canada on ac- count of the education of his children j for he can get them (generally speaking) cheaper and as well instructed in Canada as at home. QUEST. IX. UPPER CANADA. 133 the esta- equires a resent be bar, have ng them- students nd of the y attend t is very lishment, )e found of eight boys are tion, the I schools, tructed ; Tiilar de- lent can- likewise iction is ances to Sfo man I on ac- r he can as well ST. IX. QUEST. IX. The Population — Militia. This colony was at first settled by about tea thousand souls, consisting of disbanded soldiers and refugees, at the close of the American rebellion. After 1784, great numbers came into the country from the United States, whose peculiar circum- stances prevented them from availing themselves sooner of the king's bounty. In 1790, the popula- tion was supposed to have doubled, and in 1800 it was reckoned about 40,000, but entirely from con- jecture ; for, although there is a law by which an accurate return of the population of each town- ship ought to be made Qvery year, it is seldom com- plied with. At this time there cannot be fewer than 120,000 souls in Upper Canada; and if they double in fourteen years, as has been supposed to be the case, there will soon be a numerous popula- tion by natural increase. But so great a number of emigrants are daily coming into the province, that it greatly affects the population ; and I am persuaded, that the numbers are doubled in ten years, and will continue to do so for many years to come. In twenty years, or by 1840, there will 134 A VISIT TO be nearly half a million of souls in the province ; and in ten years more, a million. After which, the density of the population will, in some degree, impede the rapidity of the increase ; for it is only while lands are easily procured, that this increase continuer) so astonishingly great. # iV MILITIA. Every male inhabitant, from sixteen years of age to sixty, is deemed capable kS bearing arms, and must enroll his name as a militia-man, on the first training day of his division, giving in his name, his age, his residence, and the place from whence he came, if a stranger ; and those who neglect complying with this requisition, are liable to be fined. Persons above tbaptist^ j for i,t i^ tl^e miiven^ad practice, ta Ipftptize chf^^n as, sppij after they 9^^ born aft possiWe* T^e soliemnity before me w^W n^w, but h^gbliX im^restipg : t^his calm an4 digqifle4 smipwso^^s mik \vbi.m Mnson, ^he ma- |?agem£n,t of Jndi^p ^ff^ir^ falling into much le^s ^^le*nd ,e;xperienced hands, it bec'ame'necessary to employ many of those whp had only ^cted ' in subordinate stations under him. The great natural address and ynderstanc^in^ of Mary, Capt. Brunt's sister, with the knowlec^ge of business which she had acquired during Sir William's life, placed her ^id her brother in a prominent situation. The British government employed them both as confi. dential ^ents in settling Indian affairs, and pre- serving the six nations in pur pwn interest, during the American troubles. • Here it may be proper to remark, that, although Captain Brant's name was famous in the American ^va^, on the supposition .that be commanded every K 2 156 A VISIT TO ^ party of Indians with whom he acted ; this was far from bein^ the case. He was not by birth a war chief,' inor was his family remarkable for any pre- eminence in their village -, but, by his uncommon talents, and address, as a counsellor and politician, he was able to subdue all opposkion and jealousy ; and at length acquired such an ascendancy, that, even in the hour of action and danger, he was able to rule and direct his countrymen as absolutely as Ifhehad been born their general. At a very early period of the American war, about 1775, Captain Brant, in company with Co- lonel Guy Johnson, deputy superintendant of In- dian affairs, quitted the Mohawk river, and fixed his common residence at Niagara, except when he was employed in embassies to the distant Indians about Detroit and the Ohio. The cruelties committed by the Indians during the revolutionary war, have been detailed in the most frightful colours by American writers, with- out much regard to truth or consistency, in order to blacken the character of the British, and render it odious among their own people, as well as among foreign nations. During the actual existence of the rebellion, they might consider themselves ex- cused by what they called patriotism, for painting their enemies in the most odious colours j but that European, and especially English writers, should have copied their exaggerated descriptions, or for- UPPER CANADA. 157 borne to notice the real causes of the cruelties com- mitted by the savages, is truly surprising. Were it generally known that the greater part of these un*^ happy people remained neutral for some time after the commencement of hostilities, and that their great crime was, a steady refusal to join the rebels, till they were not merely threatened, but attacked, with fire and sword, their future actions would ap,. pear less aggravated. The Americans, in arms against their sovereign, were as anxious as the friends of the king to have the Indian? on their side; but these poor people resisted, as long as possible, the solicitations of both. After the first and second years of the war, they were driven from their villages by the insurgents their houses burnt, their crops destroyed, their apple trees cut down, and the aged and infirm, who could not escape, murdered or burnt. This foolish policy forced the natives to join the king, and to make incursions into the settled parts of the country, in order to live. There was a post at Niagara, at which they generally resided, after they were forced from their towns and villages, but not a depot of provisions equal to their necessities. The distance of America from Europe, and the general ignorance of the causes and progress of the rebellion, have been of great service to the re- putation of the United States. The war of inde- pendence has been called a revolution, without K 3 i^6f M Vl^iT TO bfaadnhtd ; hitt iki aftsW* frtfttl A ciulpable want of iHfdrHimlon. Thfr situatioh of the )d(ydists, t/t Twie«, s(s thej^ Wdftf c6infertiptaousIy callfed, was t^uly d«»{»!orabre ; they #er*, in rtidst pldCW, itrjp. ped 6f theii" property, driven from their h&mMy irtrtiftirfed ih j^ilsf, or hanged, withoat trial. The nifrirderi, rrtlprisonments, and confiscation^, pei*!. pirated by ih6 fctimmittee of /llbany, equalled and ikr exceeded th^ of the committee of public iiafety in l*af is, ^heh the diflfef ence of population is taketi irtt6 icfcouht. If any loyalists, after being driven ftbm their hotter, Secretly returned to ascertain the fate of their wives and children, many of #hot» perished from cruel treatment, or the evils incident to poverty, they were hunted like vrild beasts by their oppressors, anti branded as assadsinsi and mur- derers ; and if caUght, nb attention was paid to their sufferings, 6t thfe dreadful suspetlse which had dccasioned their journey, but they tt^ere put t<» deatii without niercy. The committee established in the different townships acted with an unanimity and ehergy Worthy tif a better cause. They pr*; hibited salt or provisions frbnl being sold to those stispected of loyalty — they regarded no legal diffi- culties — attetided tb no rights— one thing guided all their decisions, the predominance of their own party— every sort of opposition was to be put down ; and a ffeW brutal men were the judges. Had thfe Tories, as they Werfe called^ acted with the sattie unanimity, had they been protected and cOutt- tetsdttced by thfe Bl-itiSh generals, and encbUlaged HPMHP UPPIR CANADA. 159 to ahich wa& h^Vtt acknow- ledged by the Indiatis. ^ At niy flr^t intert^ieW with hi'rtt/ says the Rev. Dr. Stuart, * at Niagara, in ItS*, I found hiol much changed in his manners and principles. In his fim journey to England, he had been greatly caressed—iritroduded by the tiiilitafy officers, whtf had served iL Aiiierica, into all companies— flatter- ed by the ministers— arid gratified in all his caprices and desii-es ; it was ho wonder that he was greatly changed. In two respects especially this was the case ; in his religious principles, and in his reve- rence for the king. He, who had been very early impressed with the deepest reverence for religion, who had never heard its truth called in question, now found it ridiculed and condemned by persons whose weight and consideration in society gave a sort of sanction to their opinions. He found him- self engrossed with novelties, every hour his vanity puffed up, his appetites and passions gratified ; and he began to look with contempt on his former as- sociates ; and to think that even his friend. Dn Stuart, was deceived, or a deceiver. His own ex- perience might have convinced him of the conso- lations of religion, when bereaved of his wife, and 164 A VISIT TO '? 1 busy assisting in translating the sacred volume. At that time he felt its power, and reaped from it the purest consolation. It was most criminal in those who caressed and flattered this miserable man, to de- prive him of the only restraint on his savage fero- city. There were times when he felt the injury that had thus been done him, and when he acknow- ledged, with tears, that many of his faults sprang from the doubts that had been raised in his mind respecting the truths of Christianity. This voyage to England was no less pernicious to his political, than to his religious principles.— Taught on the Mohawk river, while young, never to mention or hear the king's name mentioned without the greatest reverence, he was much asto- nished to find, on his arrival in England, the mea- sures of government arraigned, the king abused, and his servants vilified ; to see the Administration changing hands every month or two, and the whole country a scene of confusion ; the House of Commons voting resolutions, which were disregard- ed by the Crown ; and the utmost licentiousness of speech used by both parties, in defence of their favourite opinions. He who had considered it a crime of the deepest cast to think ill, much less to speak disrespectfully of the king, found his scruples laughed at, and the utmost freedom of remark in- dulged. In fine, he heard many things which had a tendency to weaken the hold which the prin- ciples of the Christian religion had taken of him ; t-i . UPPER CANADA. 165 and also the free opinions which were given, in his presence, of the king and his ministers, had, by degrees, such an effect as to induce him to enter- tain a mean opinion of the government. Induced by wicked example, he began after this period to speak very freely of people in power ; and, of course, to entertain a very high opinion of his own talents and importance, as the auxiliary of our go- vernment, and as the primum mobile of Indian po- litics. And he really persuaded himself, at length, that he had it in his power to render the Indian na- tions, when properly linked together by treaties and leagues, independent of us ; at the head of which confederacy, he had no doubt but he could place himself. * ; ' '> ■ . > ' y At the end of the American war, he found him- self in a more important situation than ever. The British and Americans, as he conceived, stood ready to out-bid each other for his friendship and influence ; both looking upon him as the only per- son that could turn the scale. Puffed up with his own importance, he frequently discovered a want of gratitude to the British government. But, in truth, he had been so greatly flattered and indulged, that it is rather wonderful that he behaved no worse. • At the reduction, he obtained a very large and va- luable tract of land for the five nations, who had act- ed as our allies during the war, and had consequently # 1^ A VISIT T© 'i ?) V. m f I i«ft their Americao possessions. This hnd wm given, as k then aeeraed, at » great distance from Niagara, the neareRt settJcnieBt, so as not to inter- fere with its pr,€)grc86 J but so lafwdfy im the pno- vince fiilled with inhabitants, that it has been long since «urround«d by the white population. Cap*. Brant saw much «oon«r than tfaie governwejit the value of this tract of land, and determined to make it the subject of lucrative speculation, by leasing or sdling it to white people. This disposition of the lands not having been foreseen, or not mti- ciewtly guarded against, in maikiiig (the gmnt, pj-oy- ed the fruitful spurce of disagreemefit between him and the colonial government. These cooteatioofi, however, were not sufficient to empioy so readers a mind. He saw the Indians sinking into insigni- ficance, and bis owsn influence daily ^oii#ig Jess, as there was nothing to cail forth hk italeats eiirh*r in the village or in the field. Having ^oo ^^h ieisurc, and his views oi advaficemeuit becpmi^g less «ind less probable, he begao to indulge i» is^- rituous liquors. This eitposed Urn t& the Jiatli«d of his enemies among 'bis coMaitrywien, m^ gave them a handle agaimat liira, which they fenew well how to employ : indeed he became eaHous, md fit length, drank to exceos. £b a short tiaae ihe \n^t his popularity, not only with the Indians at J*rge, but even with the Mohawks in the village which they er^ted at Oswego, on theCtewid Eiver. UPPER CANADA. 167 The IdM of hia infjuenc* among hig own tfib« gave rise to a niort deplorable event, which em- bittered the eve«ing of his nfe. His eldest son, who lived in the village of Oswego, on the Oraiki River, instead of being his friend, was his most stremioue opposer. He inflaifled the Indians agaiii»t fcis father, and was Tcontinually undermining hts Influence. • I knew the young roan,' said Dr. Stuart : « he was tiie son of Captain Brant's first wife. No pains m expense were spared in his edu- cation. But he seemed to be of a suljen, jporose, savage dispos.don. When ho returned from Mon- treal, where he was educated, he came up with me. 1 remember well that he avoided all society and in- tercourse with the white people at whose houses we happened to stop ; and after he went to his fa- ther, at the Grand River, be was remarked for « ferocious and unfriendly temper, sometimes mali- ciously and wantonly shooting horses belonging to white people ; and, when intoxicated, which often happened, endangering the lives of persons also.* This young man connected himself, at length, with the faction in the village that opposed his father in political measures ; and to so great a pitch had his animosity arisen, that he frequently declared he would kill him. Being in his father's house one day, a conversation took place on the subject of their differences. The son attempted to stab the father with a pen-knife, but Captain Brant parried the blows } and, having always a great variety of 168 A VISIT TO arms in his room, in a paroxysm of passion, snatch- ed down a pistol, and struck the son with it on his head, (but not, as he frequently declared, with a design to kill him,) by which he wounded him badly. Much blood issued from the wound ; the blood was stopped, and the young man went home to his own house. But continuing to drink and act in a riotous manner, the blood burst out again from the wound. He refused to have it bound up a second time, and bled to death. This is the best account I can give you of that fatal and unnatural accident. ;l Soon after this dreadful event. Captain Brant re- moved from the village, and lived upon a tract of land given him at the head of Lake Ontario, where he built a very excellent twostory wooden house. His habit of drinking, however, increased, and hastened his death, which happened in 1810, at the advanced age of 70 years. QUEST. XI. iJM: "i!-C I K UPPER CANADA. 169 n '..'.. . ■• I 'if QUEST. XI. ' i - * i t i Hon is Justice administered ? , . . . v One of the first acts of the legislature, after the division of the province, was, to introduce the law of England as the rule of decision, as well as the rule of evidence. This act has been modified, ex- plained, and altered, by particular laws, as suited the condition of the province. The superior court, which takes cognizance of all matters of importance, both civil and criminal, con. sists of three judges—the chief justice, and two puisne judges. The chief justice has L. 1 100 ster- ling a-year, and the other two L.750, besides an allowance of L. 100 each, to defray their expences on the circuit. The judges are independent of the executive government. Besides the superior court, there is a district court, consisting of one judge, who determines all causes of debt to the amount of L.40, and trespasses to L. 15. In this court the presiding judge is seldom a lawyer, and consequently the jurisdiction of the ito A V|HT TO court is confined ; but in the collection of small debts it is ^'-•Mi'i very beneficial. The quarter sessions, and the duty of magistrates and justices of the quorum, are much the same as in England. There are two crown officers, the attorney and solicitor-general, who conduct alk mattMS for the king. The gfeateifc impftitialiiy pefvades »ll the ewft*. There is w> iaterference oxh the pwt of tM gdvera^ inent. The true iater«st9 of the rulers, ^ft w^U m of «he people, are known. to> 4epeii£| upon |he ikHkUU tered operations of tibe \»Yi%, T^ ju^^ ao4 crown officers are men of acknowledged ability, se- liseted from m hai)Qarabl« and Uber^^ pfo^ession, and raised fey their educatioii %bov« sordid and iiai?«ow views, < Wl»ei% w« beMd (says 9^ wiiter ifh Canada) ihas© upright disp«n8ci?8i of j ustic^, wittwu^ any temptation to the ri^t o? to, the l«ft» pjfeparc^ by a long oouise of study for thew ^wful and im* pctftaot 5unotiQB% heayiag, witih the gr^tost pa^r dour, and most invincible patie«e!e> not nvere^. ^ causes between different subjects, but those between private citizens and their sovereign j m^% instead of^ bending to the iHilera who appoint thew^ giving every proper facUity to the prisoneir, attending patr-^ ticularly to his defence, and ev«n beconui^ hm ceuniel, if he erre ,* i& there any pefson who i» no^ •vw UPMR CANA1>A. in consciouB that he fs complete^ master of Ms owii conduct? that the quiet possession of hij Hfe, his pctsou and property , and good name, are secured to hfm by the laws ? Do we not fee! that our go. vemment is abte, and not only able, but careful, to protect the rights of every individuaJ, and to aliow him as much liberty as is compatible with the rights of hi« fellow subjects ; protecting him agamst all oppression, givmgfree scope for the exertion of his talents, and in every way contributmg to his comfort and happiness. MISCELLANEOUS. In this country great capitals might be invested in land, and in a few years give a certain and great profit. In the United States this has been done to a great extent, and is still proceeded in with the nwSt beneficial results ; but in Upper Canada very few attempts have been made of forming settlements by individuals on a great scale, owing to the want of large capitalists, and likewise to the practice of go- vernment giving grants of land gratis to every re- spectable settler coming into the province. Now, that these grants are becoming more limited in ex- tent, and lie further back, speculations in land will become more frecj^uent. L 2 Hi I 17« A VISIT TO fll People disposed to invest their money in this way, can expect no return (or five or six years, but they will get this time to pay the greater part of the purchase ; one-fburth down, and the remainder in instalments, with interest till paid: which instal- ments may be once a-year, and sometimes once in two years, so as to give time for returns. To il- lustrate a speculation of this kind, we shall suppose a township to be sold by government for some cha- ritable or beneficial purpose ; for example, the land to be given for improving the St. Lawrence, or one of the townships set apart for the support of a Uni- versity. The latter will serve for illustration. A township contains about 66,000 acres, 2.7ths of which, or nearly 19,000 acres, are reserved for the crown and clergy. The quantity to be purchased is 45,000 acres, at three dollars per acre, L.33,750, Halifax currency, or L.SO,375 sterling; one-fourth down, or L.7593, 15s. sterling, leaving L.22,781, 5s. bearing interest at 6 per cent, till paid ; for it is not probable that there would be any difficulty in leaving the three-fourths in the hands of the pur- chaser as long as he chose. In order to have the complete command of the township, the purchaser should lease all the reserves, which are 95 in num- ber, at 7 dollars each per annum, for the first seven years, which will add L.150 sterl. per annum to his actual cost. Hence the township stands the pur- chaser, from the moment of full possession, about L.2000 sterling per annum. The first thing to be dene is to open two roads, at right angles, through I- UPPER CANADA. irs the township, by vA.'-h it is divided into four equal parts; n.u to bjild a saw-mill, for the con- venience of the :nh» litants. All this may be done for L.eooo stciiT but we shall suppose, that, together with preparation for a grist mill, when re- quired, the a.«o 'lal capital required will be L. 10,000. The lots of land on these roads will immediately sell at from eight to ten dollars per acre ; we shall suppose only eight dollars per acre j and we have in a short time nearly the whole purchase money replaced, and three-fourths of the township still in the hands of the proprietor. Sup- pose these roads, having lots on each side of them, open a ready communication to one-fourth, or 16,000 acres, 4000 of which are reserves, avoiding fractional parts J leaving 12,000 acres for sale, at eight dollars per acre — ^giving time on paying a small instalment: L.24,000 Halifax currency, or L.2 1,600 sterling ; and the twenty reserves will easily let at the government rent, and L.IO Halifax, per annum, or L.9 sterling, each additional. We shall suppose that four years are consumed before all these arrangements are completed ; and certain- ly this gives abundant time. The account current of the township would be as follows : Cash paid or secured to govern- ment, - . L.30,375 Interest on ditto for four years, at 6 per cent. - 7,380 Carried over, L.37,755 i 1 j i I /' a i L 3 174 A VISIT TO Brought forward, L.S7,755 Cash paid for improvetncnts* 10»000 Interest oq ditto for three years, at 6 per cent. . 1,800 Bents on 95 reserves, four years, 600 Capital actually laid out at the end of four years. By lands sold, 12,000 acres, at 8 dollars per acre, in sterling, L.21,600 By lands in the hands of the pro* prietor, vhich we shall value at 6 dollars only, a low price after such improvements j for, if the capitalist had the means of living without forcing sales, they will average 10 dollars per acre. The quantity in his hands 33,000 acres, at 6 dol- lars, . , 44,500 L.50,155 L.66,100 Profit on the speculation at the end of four years. L. 15,945 There are other items to be considered : suppose the proprietor not forced to sell, and tliat he rather wishes to leave his money at the end of four years invested, amounting to L.28,555, the difference of the lands sold, and the whole capital laid out at Ui^*Elt tkVADA, lt5 this peHod. Tlii^ at 8 p^T tifeftt. ifiteitiit, L.lYls, <^s. J add th^reftt fot rtifei^ves, L.l^bc--L.l88d, U^. ; but there Wtre twenty resfervtesi ihtel-mihgled With the l2,tW0 tttelSi Whifch Ivfe suppose Sbid, uJiOn Which a pfoUt bF L.9 p^i* aflfitith Wds bbtSitlfed, br L.lid. Take this frbrft L.i8d9, 6s. leaves L.le«s, ejj. fbt the aetual paytnfehl. But thiil tha^ be fat-- thbr lessened, as a rtiati bf this pr^^tiy tdUld easily get ttibuey at S pfef teUt. by Which the atiHUal id- tef^t i> I I -J TRAN. •. / '■'.)> ; 'fin? 184 A VISIT TO }i I \ Mi ( n , 1 , ^H TRANQUILLITY op UPPER CANADA^ >vf :■■ I Before I went out, I was deceived as to the state of the province ; and, supposing from whot I saw in some of the papers, that the country was nearly in a state of insurrection, one of my reasons for going out was, to offer my brother an asylum, in case of danger. But when I came into the province, I found all tranquil ; and that the people had at length seen through the criminal views of the half insane, but mischievous Robert Gourlay. This man is the son of a most respectable, and once very opulent, farmer in Fifeshire ; but such was his turbulent and diso- bedient conduct, that he was turned out of his fa- ther's house. A short time after, Mr. Robert Gourlay printed a letter, addressed to Lord Kelly, full of the most shameful falsehoods and calumnies against his Lord- ship and the other freeholders of Fife. His poor father, it is said, tried to collect all the copies ; but such was his son's talents for doing mischief; that he scattered ten fire-brands for one that could UPPER CANADA. bo restrained. Mr. Gourlay then went to Kng- lanil, i'or he durst not remain in Scotland, and took a farm» in Wilts, belonging to the Duke of Somer- set. As he seldom paid rent, and his father having refused to supply him, he got rapidly into debt.— This produced difficulties between him and his landlord, and a suit in Chancery. During this pe riod, lie was the friend and correspondent of Cob- bett and Hunt ; and having become a member of the Bath Society Ibr Agriculture and other pur- poses, he printed a most infamous attack upon the members. Whr^ called upon to answer for this outrage, he said that he did not mean any of the individuals, but the persons employed in doing the business of the society. He was then asked to make an apology as public as the foul calumny which he had promidgated j and, on his refusal, ho was expelled with disgrace, • '"■'•*♦■; - ' >- .< . i. I ii >■ ? 1 . , . , .. . Finding his affairs daily getting worse, he came to Canada, leaving, as a legacy, two tracts on the poor laws, so inflammatory, that he durst not print them while in England, for the purpose of borrow- ing money from one of his friends, the Hon. Tho- mas Clarke, a gentlenian belonging to the Legisla- tive Council of this province. Mr. Clarke intro- duced him to the Hon. William Dickson, another Legislative Councillor. These gentlemen, finding him unfortunate, and not willing to risque their money with a man, who had taken so little care of his own, to get clear of his requests, recommended IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) // :a #A^ 1.0 I.I 11.25 ^ m us 140 IM 2.0 i:4_ mil 1.6 Pnotographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, NY. 14S80 (7)6) 672-4503 iV «v L1>' 'V^ ^'^i>^^^i^ % ^^ o /^ *^ 1^ IBS A VISIT TO him to Colonel Smith, then administering the go- irernment of Upper Canada. The Colouel, not knowing the man, treated him kindly, and ^rfTered to do any thing for him in reason, on the strength of his recommendations. But this gentleman did not choose to tak« the oath of allegiance* which must always be taken and filed, before any land can be granted. He had other views 5 md, in cftse they should not succeed, he had ati asyiom in th« American States. The president, it is said, was placed 80 far off his guard, by the represctitations of the two gentlemen in favour of Go«rlay, who stood 90 high in the province, that he was going to pa* trooize him cordially, had betaken the o*th* ; .uf. .ti;<-u» Bat Mr. Oourlay isoon threw off the mask. The plan which he adopted to «e<;yre«n influence in the province was singularly artfd. He pretended that he was anxious to draw up a topographical account of Upper Canada ; and, for this purpose, be pub- lished a long address t?0 the resident iandhoklers, which he got intserted in the Pnovincial Gazette.*^ The inflammatory iwiture of this paper, and the dangerous mode of proceeding which it suggested, were not perceived by the president of the pro- vince, or by any of his counsellors, except one -of tbem, who highly disapproved of Mr. Gouriay's paper, and of its being published in a journal, which gave it a sort of official authority, Miost pec^ approved of such an account of th« country 6s was sugge8rt;ed j and, in their eag^rn^ss to promote its UPPt-R CANADA. 187 execution, ov^rtbokec! the intemperance of the projector. • : < . ^ . -< , ■h! run '^^■'■ir/'}li^^'j.,-^iil A ^Lnv-y^-it) In tiiTis pajjer, 'Mf. feoiirfey ff«maiidea ansW^rs to certain queries, not from respectable individuals, but from the freeholders of each township, who -were to assemble on a given day for that express purpose. The impudence of a stranger cafKng public meetings would have, hi an old country, strack every man, and no such meetings would have been held ; but in Upper Canada, where there is little information of this sort among the inhabi- tants, and where most of them were desirous of pro- moting such a work, no difficulties were started.—. Meetings were very generally held, and answers sent him from a great number of townships. Mr. Goarlay, having thus interested a great proportion of the province in his favour, published a secbnd address, still more inflammatory than the fir^tj in- deed so much so, that many of the respectable part of the community, who had been friendly to fns llrst publication, did not hesitate to pronolittce him an incendiary. Finding that his views b^gantd be discovered, he traduced all who did not adhere to him, in the most shameful manner, filling his co- lutitins with the 'giossest falsehoods and calumnies that his imaginatii^rt codid suggest. By degrees, he opened his plan more and more, and at length dropped his statistical account altogether, and pro- posed that a commission should be appointed by the freeholders of the province, to proceed to Lotjdon, M 2 w 188 A VISIT TO and petition his Royal Highness the Prince Regent for the redress of certain grievances which they had discovered. These grievances may be reduced to two. 1st, The payment of losses sustained by in- dividuals during the war. 2d, Lands to be given to the militia for their services. Now, both these had been tor some time under the consideration of the ministry. As to the first, there were many difficul- ties in the way. The state of the finance was such as to make it delicate to make new demands upon the treasury ; and the people of Upper Canada lost nothing by the war, compared to their fellow sub- jects in Great Britain, The second had been grant- ed before it was a grievance ; and no doubt some- thing will be done witli the first so soon as it can be done with propriety. Subscriptions were en- tered into at all townsliip meetings, which now be- came frequent, to pay the expense of the proposed commission. Ten thousand dollars were thought requisite j and of this the people of the district of Niagara gave about nine hundred. It was in this district that Mr. Gourlay found his principal sup- port, a circumstance against which former expe- rience should at least have guarded them. <)■ .; There are only three papers published in the pro- vince, the Gazette and two Journals, one at Nia- gara and one at Kingston, all of which Mr. Gour- lay may be said to have commanded ; for the Ga- zette published his first address ; and though none of bi,8 other papers were ioserted, yet it religiously lii ■■'"r"^^^-Vij'^f^'Y^g|ft^f ■ UPPEE CANADA. 189 abstained from giving any opinion against him. The Niagara Spectator was completely in his power ; and every th'ng which he inserted was carefully co- pied into the Kingston Gazette. Having, therefore, the ccitroul of the press, he acquired a degree of influence, and spread his opinions in such a manner as to render him extremely dangerous. Follow- ing the example of his Spa-fields friends, from Whose company he had just escaped when he came to Canada, he endeavoured to destroy the charac- ter of every respectable gentleman of high standing in the province who did not think that a milk and water conduct v;as admissible, but publicly opposed him. He hoped to destroy their influence, by tra- ducing them ; but in this he was mista.ien. His zeal outstripped his prudence: the people could read the falsehoods which he published against them, and knowing them to be such, they began to question his integrity. This was more particularly manifested in the eastern district. In order to get the commission sent home, Mr. Gourlay under- took to go through the province, and hold town meetings in person, at which money should be rais- ed, and the opinion of the meeting taken on a draught of a petition to his Royal Highness the Prince Regent, which had been published in the two papers, and circulated in hand-bills; and more- over, to choose a delegate in convention, to meet at York, on the 6th of July, 1818. This conven- tion was to choose the gentlemen to compose the commission, give the final polish to the petition, M 3 t~>'C:dMfkK<' 190 ^ VISIT TO and geaerally to tftk« into coosiderfttioD the state of tbe province ^ in fij^ie, to asfium^ the powers of t)ie legislature; and it reminded, by its proceed- ingSi all well informed, of the horrors of a rcvolu- liom Thus fai* every thing )}ad proceeded accordf> ing to his wishes. The government took no notice of biiu. He expected to direct the convention, to be the principal commiseiooer, if it was necessary to go bome»; or to overtuimt the governmentt and beooioe president. At several town meetings which he oail«d tof ^tihei:, he procured all he wanted -p but wlien he came into tl>e eastern district* the good sense of the people began to rally. His pamphlets were puUicLy burnt by the militia of Storniont and Gi^nville, on the king's birth^day j and a, disposi- tion so hostile to him and his views manifested, that be durst not vcmture to call meetings of the people. In the Johnston district, he was opposed at his meetings by all the respectable part of tlie com- munity; afld bis inflammatory language refuted, and his views exposed. Ho left most of these town- ships discomfitted and disgraced. In the midland district he experienced less public opposition } bu the greater number of the freeholders, who had joined him merely on account oi his proposed sta- tistical hoqk, now forsook Mm. In the district of Newcastle, he was ably refuted, and his falsehood and seditious character so clearfy set forth, that he decamped in confusion. In the western part of the province he made little or no progress. Neverthe- less, on the 6th of July, a convention, consisting of t. i UPPSR 04VAPA. 191 certain discontented characters, assembled at York, chose their president, secretary. &«. tod spent five or six days debating and amending the petition to the Prince Rej^ent ; but after it was prepared, there was no money-— the nine hundred dollars collected had been spent by Mr, Gourlay in his seditious missis through the province, and ten tliousand were necessary. This put Utem to a nonpius.***- At length, it was resolved to postpone the commis- sion, and to apply to his Grace the Duke of Rich- mond, and to Sir Peregrine Maitland, who were daily expected, for the redrcsa of their grievances ; at the same time appointing another meeting of tlie convention during the next sitting of parlia- ment^ to overawe its proceedings. ■ Mr. Oourlay's conduct in passing through the country, calling meetings, and the language which he used in addressing the people, together with the reports of such assemblies published in the news- papers,, were of a nature so seditious, and struck so completely at the root of all civil government, that the Attorney-Gencral caused him to be arrested in Kingston, to lake his trial for seditiaas practices; He was acquitted against the clearest evidence ; and, although it gave him a temporary triumph, it has been of us»^ not only in giving him an oppor- tunity of shewing more clearly the baseness of his character, but the purity with which tin^ l«ws gfe admiairtered* * iwj. I .'0 ■.;> -i-iN-ff;.. . , ..u*-. wmmm 19^ A VISIT TO After SirP.Maitland assumed the government, the same inattention to this man's proceedings was not continued, as his publications appearing without con- tradiction, the province seemed to people at a dis- tance in a state of insurrection. The American edi- tors were astonished at the forbearance of govern- ment, and after admitting that such things would not be tolerated in their country, they looked forward to some terrible explosion. Soon after the Lieut.- GeneraPs arrival at York, petitions, or rather re- monstrances, were daily sent him from assemblies, calling thems:: i'es township meetings; but which did not often consist of more than twenty names from a population of five hundred. Sir Peregrine, it seems, directed that all these petitions should be published in the government gazette. The grievances were chiefly imaginary, many of the statements altogether untrue, and some as bad roads in the back settlements are unavoidable in a new country. They all ended with demanding payment for losses sustained during the warj and this from places in the interior, where the war never reached. This arose frohi the circumstance that Mr. Gourlay prepared the greater number of these petitions, which were nearly the same, hence their absurdities. In answer to certain very indecorous petitions from some of the townships, full of general expressions of dissatisfaction and gross abuses of the legislature, particularly of the House of As- sembly, his Excellency demanded to be made ac- quainted with the specific grievances on which the UPPER CANADA. 19S petitioners grounded their complaints j and having obtained them, he adopted the novel expedient of publishing them in the government gazette, observ- ing, it was right that the good sense of the people in general should have an opportunity of exercising itself in the causes of discontent, and of those re- volutionary measures pursued by the malcontents, as they were exhibited by the complainants them- selves. Whether the General anticipated all the good effects of publishing the grievances, I cannot say, but they began soon to appear. First, the several townships, beholding a violent and seditious paper, without sense or decency, purporting to con- tain the collected sense of the inhabitants, were filled with indignation, and hastened to contradict it. This shewed the falsehoods which had been practised, and the great insignificance of the de- luded in numbers and respectability. Secondly, the grievances, coming before the public, were answer- ed most completely, and fully refuted j and many, who for the first time had then seen the mat'^r they had subscribed, instantly declansd their dissent. rv These- things only inflamed Mr. Gourlay the more against the governor, whom he grossly reviled, calling upon his associates to assemble at the same time with the parliament, which was convoked in October. The decided tone which the government had at length taken, satisfied the people that the utmost exertion of the law would be employed to put down sedition j and the delegates hesitated to II !l I J, 194 A VISIT TO aaaemble^ as their maater demanded. The parlia- ment, on meeting', enacted & law against convea- tiooa, such as the one wliich had already assembled, and threatened »till to assemble j but they were careful in doing tbta not to infringe the right to pe- tition. After passing many salutary laws, and esta^ blisbing the greatest harmony between the two Houses, which had been interrupted for nearly two years, the parliament was prorogued.' ■J /IB J; Mr. Gourlay bad honed to excite gome difficulty inthe parlianieot,.Qr, at all events, to proceed with his convention ; but the law which had passed put it out of his power to assemble them again. Thus disappointed, he became furious, and so outrageous, that his very friends, to wliom he had come out,' thought it their duty to arrest him, by virtue of a law passed fn 180*^ to keep the province free from seditious persons flying from the British empire.-- By this it is enacted, that « a person coming into the province, who has not taken the oath o£ al- legiance^ and is suspected of seditious practices, may be sent out of the province, upon examination of hia conduct by certam persona commissioned for that purpose/ Mr. Gourlay had carefully ab- stained from taking this oath; and bad even re- proached his friends, Messrs, Clarke and Dickson, for not putting this law in force against hiro^ long before they considered it expedient to take this ^ep. At length he was arrested, and sei-ved with • ■ >'ij j~ ^H-'i- •■*«iE«^" '.■.tte-^.-mKvr---' NkMM iimmrmim mmmm UPPER CAKADA. 195 a notice to leave tbc pirovince, which he has refuted to* d(^ and remaioa iu jail to take his triaL* . _ Even from prison bis seditious papers found their way to the press ; but the delusion has now va> nished, and the number of his followers are reduced to a very few persons, of desperate fortunes, with- out respectability or talents. Still the mischief which this man would have accomplished, under a less firm and intelligent government than that of Sir Peregrine Maitland, is incalculable. Though followed only by a desperate portion of the people, yet in possession of the press, continually writing, and full of activity, a minority appeared in his hands the majority ; and a civil war would have been the consequence, and for no reason but to gratify a man of desperate fortunes. Had not the industry of some of our British prints copied his mad effusions under the name of township meetings, for he was the sole amanuensis, by which it ap- peared that the whole province was ripe for rebel- lion, I should not have contaminated my pages with the mention of this man's name. He can now do no harm in Canada ; the people are sensible that the interests of the government and the governed i( * Since leaving the province, Mr. Gourlay has been convicted, and banished Upper Canada. i' 196 A VISIT TO is the same ; and that the lieutenant-governor can- not recommend himself in any way so well to the king, as by proving, that, under his administration, Upper Canada has prospered, and becorte more at- tached to the parent State. ' ; > i ,« 11. . I' (.1 • I - 1 1 / I ■ T > M. ». ! I' t • : I / ■; tft . ( ' ' 'i ' ' ' i ' ■ J • . ■ " ^ '^ • T t • ( ., ^ .., V I I ; • f ' I , . . I ' ' h, . •■I ' I : .■ : ! " ^ /.■ *?f'f ":l CON- !■ -^Ti;.- < .*»J - 1'' ; UPPER CANADA. 197 ' ' \> ■ ' . , ■ . ■ ■ t. ' ut ,,■■,. i i; /, : ' «.•',' I '.*! .1 ■ . , 1.' I J 111.' • • ' i > !■ .. I i I. .-,'''. !i h CONCLUSION. t >'^tf f-'w.' On reading over the foregoing remarks, I find many things wanting, that an inquisitive or scienti- fie inquirer may wish to know ; but my short stay in the country made it impossible for me to collect information upon those, nor was it my object. What I wished to do was, to give such information as an emigrant, coming to settle, would wish to possess ; and, in doing this, I have exaggerated nothing. — All persons leaving their native soil should weigh the matter well, before they take their final resolu- tion j and, after determining, they should look into the primary cause that takes them from their native land. Jf politics, then they ought to go to the United States ; not that they will be pleased with the government there, or will become content, but because the disaffected will not suit this province, nor will it suit them. But if the emigrant's desire be to maintain a rising family, and increase a small capital, with greater ease and certainty of success than in any other country that I know. Upper Ca- nada will not disappoint him. Here an honest man, ( '' 198 A VISIT TO m iit'i i with industry, may live in great comfort, and, in a short time, with less labour than in any othp part of America j but I wish every person to consider what I have written with coolness, and not allow himself to be carried away by too sanguine expec- tations. No man can succeed here who possesses not industrious habits j the lazy and indolent will be wretched here, as well as in England. This country furnishes all the materials for comfort and happiness, but they must be fashioned and shaped by the industry of mm. He who has not exertion t(» do this, had better stop and slumber at home. I believe I have not concealed the difficulties whicTi every person has to encounter who settles in a new country, for I see them on all sides ; but I likewise see that, where industry is applied, first competency, and then abundance follows. With pure air, and excellent water, the settler may calculate upon health ; with a most fruitful soil and good markets, and the blessing of providence, he may calculate on prosperity. I coald not take leave of York, where I had spent six weeks so pleasantly, without much regret. Tlie society, both as it respects the ladies and gen' tlemen, is very superior, and such as few to^vns in England can furnish. The judges, the crown offi- cers, the heads of the different departments, several professional gentlemen, merchants, and officers on half.pay, all living with their families in the great- IJPPfiB CANADA. 109 est hai-mony, cannot fail of rendering York ex- ceedingly agitable, and, to strangers, interesting. ■ -;'-..■ ';u<' : .-- %MMjijL.;i. : • ,,;! .-M .,,■ i.,-,- , This friendly intercourse /is niudi -increased by the amiable manners of the lieutenant-governor's family 5 which indeed presents, in all its simplicity, tenderness, and beauty, what a Cliristian family ought always to be. They are deliglitfiil persons, and beloved by all who know them. (;., ,:i „-.•; - • ;::) 1 ii;( Sir Peregrine Maitland's abilities are of the firet order, as his brilliant career in Spain and in the Netherlands sufficiently testify. 'I'hey have been again proved since iiis accession to the government of Upper Canada. He found the province rent by divisions— the Legislative Council and House of Assembly at variance—a turbulent demagogue tak- ing advantage of this to spread the flames of discord through the country, and succeeding in his evil de- sign beyond all belief. But, by the lieutenant- governor's wise and eneigetic measures, tempered with kindness and condescension, and a readiness to remove every real grievance as stxon as it was known, he has won the hearts of all the inhabitants. The differences between the two branches of the legislature are happily reconciled: tranquillity uni- versally prevails ; and the turbulent are enraged to behold salutary measures adopting which deprive them of all pretence for clamour. They see the distinguished person at the head of the govern- '^. 200 A VISIT TO ment, conscientiously applying all his abilities to the promotion and well-being of the colony. * With * great justice may the,, inhabitants of Upper Canada * congratulate themselves on the choice of the * friend and sharer in the glory of the first warrior * of the age, &s their governor, and receive it as * demonstrating, in the most convincing manner, * the paternal regard of his Royal Highness the * Prince Regent for the prosperity and happiness of * the province. .And equal reason have they to * congratulate themselves on the advantages ex- * pected to result to both the Canadas from the * more intimate union of counsels and interests * which will naturally flow from the connexion be- * tween his Excellency and his Grace the Duke of « Richmond, who nov/ presides over British Noi:th 'America.* > J .. , vxn ;,;;■••. vul.'.j*^/ • -^^ . . ;. ■• .-^ ^ .:. , !< ■.■■ . ''.■.., Already are these advantages beginning to be realized ; for this illustrious personage begins to be known to those he governs, by shewing a greater interest in their prosperity, and a stronger desire to become actually acquainted with the situation and capabilities of the country, than has appeared in any of his predecessors. ,*j 1 in * Address of the inhabitants of York to the Heut-gorernor, Sir Peregrvne Maitland. UPPER CANADA. 201 •vThenobie Duke is at this time, August 1819, accompanied by Sir. Peregrine Maitland, and his personal staff, making a journey through the west- ern part of Upper Canada, by Lakes Simcoe and Huron to Drummond Island, the most distant military post. From thence he comes round, through lake and river St. Clair, to Sandwich and Amherstburgh. and down Lake Erie to Niagara and York, that he may see in person what improve- ments can be made. These illustrious persons, on their return, pro- ceed to the eastern division of the province, for the same benevolent purposes. The anxiety of the noble Duke to ameliorate the condition of the Ca- nadas knows no bounds : his present journey, of between two and three thousand miles, partly through an uninhabited country, and for a still greater part through turbulent and dangerous in- land seas, exposed to many privations, demonstrates his zeal for the public good. Such exertions must excite in the hearts of the Canadians the same gratitude for his Grace's per- son and government, which is still felt and annually commemorated in that part of the United Kingdom over which he presided, with so great honour to himself, and advantage to the empire. His name in Ireland is never mentioned but with the greatest respect and most affectionate regard; N ' 1 i 20« A VISITf &C. and I find that, in Lower Canada, which is placed more immediately under his protection, the same confidence and zealous attachment to his Grace's person and government are growing fast into ma- turity* fV. i i , i ^ ,\^ i.yfii h'.r. ->|.-' ;••: . .,)*■ '■:* i ■■■■•■' i ;• ' i .' .-■, • > Ji ! / ■. I ' ■ • J' \> ■• ' ■) , ' -i.'!' '. I -'■,: . iU . . l- ;■ v'J oc •• >■>>' ;i.r . ■ : li.ii ■ . u v/ ; ! ' ■ :ti J." ...S r ! - • • / APPEN. —'jraryini. 1 .1 ■■ 1 • I ^ippmUx* N°- I. Moos of AppUeation at tke Seat of the Go verm^enl of Upper Canada, for a Grant of tke Wa,teLand, of the Crown, and Process to tssue oftlie Patent Grant. On the arrival of the settler at the seat of go- vernment (York), application is made by him It the governor's office, for permission to^tak the oath of allegmnce. where, if approved of. he re ce.ves an order to a commissioner for admil' oath? Y • ''"''"' """" ""' ""'- *« """ 1 oaths: ■faprotestant. of allegiance, abjuration, and upremacy ; ,f a Roman catholic, th^ oath of "l leg.ance only prescribed by the I«h of the king and ,ece,ves from the commissioner, on paymef^ of. fee of 2s. 6d. Halif,, currency,-. cerS' .hereof, which is annexed to a p«l„„ .^hf *f vernor .n council, (see No. ..) with such recom. N 3 1^ 204 APPENDIX. mendatory certificates as he may be possessed of, which he lodges with the clerk of the executive council, at the executive council office, paying him a fee thereon of 5s. 6d. Halifax currency, where he is dinected to attend again on the first day ap> pointed for the meeting of the governor in council for hearing land petitions,* when he is usually exa- mined by his excellency in council, and receives the same day an answer to his petition. If fa- vourable, he receives from the clerk of the council a paper, addressed to * The Surveyor-General of Lands,* called a warrant, containing the order in council on his petition, which he presents at the surveyor-generaPs office, where his name is entered for such land, open for location, as he makes choice of, on the plan of the township ; and the surveyor- general delivers to him a paper, called a location ticket, in which the land located, and conditions of the location, are stated, and for which the surveyor- general receives a fee of 2s. 6d. Halifax currency ; this paper, the location ticket, which authorizes him to occupy and improve the land, remains with the grantee until he has completed the settling du- ties jt on performance of which, application is * The appointed days are every second Wednesday. t The settling duties are, five acres to be cleared and fenced of the grant for each 100 granted, half the road in front to be cleared, and a log or other house to be erected, of at least 16 by 20 feet, on some part of the land. APPENDIX. 205 made by him to a magistrate, to view his improve- ment and building, and give a certificate of what hehasperformed,— if no magistrate in the town- ship, two of the neighbours are generally taken to view the duties, and make affidavit of them before the nearest magistrate to their residence; The certificate or affidavit is then taken to the surveyor- general, with the location ticket, upon which he notes whether any change or otherwise has taken place since the ticket was issued ; and if none ap- pears, gives him an authority to the receiver-general of the province to receive the proportion of the crown fee on the grant, and the whole of the fees of survey, for which he obtains a receipt, and pro- ceeds to the agent of the land granting officers (see No. 2.) to whom he pays the fees allowed to them for making out the patent grant, for which he also takes a receipt ; and which, with that of the re- ceiver-general, together with the location ticket, and certificate or affidavit of peribrmance of settling duties, are presented to the attorney-general, who retains them, and gives a fiat for the making out of the patent grant, addressed to the surveyor- general, who, on its receipt, gives a description of the boundaries, in which is also contained a spe- cification of the clergy reserve in respect of the land granted ; and which is delivered to the secre- tary of the province, and is authority for him to en- gross the patent grant j which being done, the pa- tent, accompanied by the surveyor-general's de- scription, is sent to the attorney-general, who exa- N 3 2oe APPENDIX. m'mei it, certifies the examinAtion by his name in the margio, and return* it to the provincial secre- tary, who then a^ixee to it the great seal of tlie province, and sends it to the governor's private se- cretaiy, to obtain the governor's signature ^ on re- ceiving which, it is sent back to the secretary of the province, who forwards it to the auditor-general of land patents, in whose office it is docketed, and then again returned to tlie paovincial secretary j who, being also register of the province, records it in the register's office, when it is deposited in the provincial secretary's oflGkie, to be delivered, on ap- plication, to the grantee* or Ms i^gent.* ' ''-''[ (N"- 1.) ■' ' ■' To his ExceUencjf Sir Peregrine Mmtiand, K.C.B. Lieutenant-Governor of the Provmce ^ Upper Canada^ 4md Meffor^Generai commanding his Ma* Jesty screes therein, ^. ^a, ^^c /« CotmciL The petition of of the township of Humbly Sheweth, That your petitioner is a native of * If the deed is taken trat uy agent, the secretary of the pro- vince receives a fte of 2s. 6d. ifbr fiUng the power of attonsey, which Must be x^roduced from the grantee. APPENDIX. 207 the parish of . in , in the county of ; and has lately arrived in this province from , ( , with his family, consisting of a wife and children, ^ That your petitioner has means to improve land, and is desirous to become a settler on the waste lands of the crown in this province. Wherefore, your petitioner humbly prays, that your Excellency would be pleased to grant him such portion of land as a settler, as your Excellency may deem meet. And your petitioner shall , ever pray. York, "I 1 . ■■ ! ■ (N"- 2.) Feei on Grante of Land, JSI9. 100 Acres, -,i . • j.^ - ' <♦ I4.5 14 1 200 ; " .■ p . 16 17 6 300 -■•,■ :.) ; 4u,i;^ *i '<• rii, i'-J, ' ui:m , $4 11 7 400 N 4 m 32 5 8 t li: xuo APPENDIX. "500 Acres " m L.d9 19 9 600 m '4) 47 18 10 - 700 • . .'v» •Vi.i'-" !• •■ 55 17 11 8(X) • w .' ' ■' ^ srib" •?:•:•■' ■'* , ' 63 2 900 • . 70 16 1000 m • 78 10 2 1100 • ' • >..'■"'; ■*i •^ 86 4 3 1200 ' m 93 18 4 . . '; •■ . ^ • N"- II. ... ... No. Ticket of location not transferahlet pursuant to an order in council of the 18th June, 1817, and order of his bearing date 1 do hereby assign to an emigrant settler from the lot number in the concession, of the township of in the district containing acres, which he is authorised to occupy and improve ; and upon proof produced to the honourable Executive Council, of liis actual settlement and residence on the said lot, at the end of two years he shall be entitled to receive a grant of the said acres, on the usual terms of payment of fees, under 9 10 11 o o 2 3 4 APPENDIX. 209 the regulations of the sixth of July, ons thousand eight hundred and four. ' -) i^o\ ; ;• Given at the Surveyor-General's Office at York, Upper Canada, this ». v ' day of one thousand eight ' ' hundred and . i i; . N"' III. Executive Council Chamber, ISth March, tl Chamber, \ h 1819. y ' PRESENT, -; His Excellency Sir Peregrine Maitland, K.C.B, Lieutenant-Governor, in Council. Whereas great inconvenience accrues to emi- grants desirous to become settlers in this province, from the necessity of presenting themselves at York, before they can obtain a location on the waste lands of the Crown : For remedy thereof, his Ex- cellency the Lieutenant-Governor, by and with the advice and consent of the Executive Council, is pleased to appoint in each of the districts certain persons to form a Board, with power to locate any emigrant or other person desirous to become a I' ^10 APPENDIX. settler in the respective district, 6n a lot of one hundred acres within the same, under such limita- tions, restrictions, and rules, as from time to time may be made for the government of the said Boards by any order in Council. The Land Board in the consist of District to RULES AND REGULATIONS. The Boards will assemble one day, at least, in each week, of which public notice shall be given in the district. -* II They shall examine every applicant, and minute his place of birth, age, and time of coming into the province ; shall receive and minute a 1 (CIRCULAR.) Executive Council Office, York, 18 Sir, I have received the commands of his Ex- cellency the Lieutenant-Governor, to transmit to you copy of an Order in Council constituting a Land Board, of which his Excellency has been pleased to appoint you a Member. By the same command, I enclose, for your infor- mation, copy of a letter from his Excellency's pri- vate Secretary to Major Rogers, being an answer to certain queries proposed by him, as a Member of the Board in the Newcastle district, and also the form of a certificate of location. I have the honour to be, Sir, Your most obedient Humble Servant, Copij fx^ APPENDIX. 213 Copy of a Letter to D. McGregor Rogers, Esq. Chairman of the Land Board, Newcastle District. Lieutenant-Governor's Office, April 26, 1819. Sir, I am directed by his Excellency the Lieut.- Governor, to reply to your letter of the 15th instant, in explanation of those particular points on which you, in the name of the Land Board of the New- castle district, solicit more precise information than that contained in the instructions transmitted to you by the Clerk of the Executive Council. In the first place— With regard to such other persons besides emigrants, as the Board may be au- thorised to grant locations to, I am to explain to you, that by such ' other persons,' are to be under- stood such able sett'ers as resided in the district be- fore the late war, and produce due certificates of having done their duty in its defence. Secondly—With regard to military claimants. No military claimant, as such, is referred to the Board : — being to receive their lands gratuitously ) I S14 APPtyDlx. in the military settlement, any dispensation of that sort must be approved on application to the Lieut.- Governor in Council. ■* Thirdly.— The sons and daughters of U. E. loyalists, being entitled to gratuitous grants of 200 acres, must apply to the Lieutenant-Governor in Council. Fourthly.— Persons arriving from the United States, and bringing due certificates of their being British born subjects, are admissible by the Board. Fifthly.— A form of ticket of location will be transmitted ta the Chainnan of the Board, in which will be specified the conditions of settle- ment. n I Sixthly.— His Excellency is of opinion that the presence of the Chairman is not necessary at every meeting of the Board ; any three of the Members constitute a Board, and may proceed to act accor- dingly. Seventhly.- The settler should be thoroughly in- structed, that, in the event of his finding any im- provement on the lot to which he may be located, he is immediately to return with his ticket of loca- tion to the Board, and report the circumstance for the information of the government. Should he fail in this particular, he can expect no confir.Tiation of '▼^ APPENDIX. Sits the grant to him. In this case the Board will ap- point him another location. Eighthly.— With regard to the difficulty that may be experienced by the settler in finding his particu- lar lot :— His Excellency bids me observe, that, in order to remunerate the person who might be em- ployed to point it out to him, the settler must be burthened with another fee ; and as in the case of persons located by the Surveyor-General's office, no such precaution is practised, his Excellency does not perceive the necessity of the regulation. 1 am, &c. (Signed) GEO. HILLIER, P. Seen/. FORM OF LOCATION TICKET. »'>»^%^%%»>»% LAND BOARD, District. A. B. bom at \_place,'] in [country^'] of the age of years, having arrived in this pro- vince [(/aA?,] and petitioned to become a settler therein, has been examined by us j and we being satisfied with his character, and of the propriety of ne APPENDIX. admitting him to become a settler, and having ad- ministered to him the oath of allegiance, do assign to him one hundred acres of land, being the half of lot No. : i in the h concession of lto'wnship,~\ in [c?«/r«c/,] for which, upon due proof of having cleared and cropped five acres, and cleared half the road in front of his land, of having erected and inhabited a bouse thereon for one year, he will be entitled to receive a grant to him and his heirs, he paying the patent fee of L.5 14s, Id. sterling. ,.,i.i...>jiLj 'M uoijii.",". -i/ i'.:,.i?. oc N.B. If the settlement duty is not performed within two years, this location to be of no value, but assigned to another settler. N^- IV. Montreal Wholesale Prices Current, carefully corrected every Friday, •f Articles, L, s. d, L, s. d. Ale, Montreal, per hhd. 4 10 o O o o Almonds, soft shelled, best, per lb. - O 11 o 1 O Shelled Jordan p o o APPENDIX. 217 Articles. - Ashes, pot, per ton Pearls Bacon, H. English, per lb. Canada Beans, per min. Barley, pearl, per cwt. Coarse Beef, P. Mess, per bbl. Cargo Bottles, per gross Bread, Cracker, per cwt. ' tulip - Butter, 1st quality, per lb. 2d ditto Candles, mould, per lb. Dipped Spermaceti Cheese, English, per lb. American Chocolate, per lb. American Coal, Newcastle, per chal. Liverpool, Coffee, W. I. best quality, per cwt. W. I. common Figs, per cwt. Fish, dried cod, per cwt. Herrings, per bbl. Salmon, pickled X. s, d, 30 O O 34 O O 1 1 O 1 17 1 O 2 10 O 1 5 5 5 1 3 1 O O O 1 O O o o 4 o o o o 9 3 O 11 4 6 1 O 1 1 1 15 O 1 10 O 3 6 4 6 L» s, d» 30 5 O 35 O O 13 3 1 10 O 3 10 O 1 10 O O O 10 1 O 4 O 1 1 8 17 6 1 O P> O o 8 6 9 8 1 1 2 1 12 6 9 10 10 O 8 8 2 1 1 5 O 3 ]0 O o I, 218 APPKWWX, Articles, nour, superfine, per bbl. fine Entiere Flax»seed, per min. Fur^ beavers, N. per lb. Martins, each Muskrat, each Glass* 6^ by 7t, per box Vt by 8|, Si by 9i, 6 by a 7 by 9 8 by 10 lO by 12 lOby 14- Grain, barley^ per min. Oats Gunpowder, English, p. lOOlb. Hop^ Canada, per lb. indigo. East India Spanish irony pig, per cwt. Ei^Iish Russia Svfcdisll Three Rivers, wrought Da plough share moulds English boh Sheet Hoop L, 5. d, 2 O 1 15 O 1 10 O 5 O 1 O O O 4 1 9 2 10 O 2 17 3 2 2 kO 2 17 3 2 3 JO Q 4 O O O 4 O O & O 5 O O o 1 a O 6 O e» lo o 17 ft 1 lO o 1 7 6 1 7 6 6 O 6 6 1 1^> 6 O o 17 e 2 O O 17 6 I O o o 2 2 6 1 17 6 1 15 O O 6 1 o 1 o o o o s o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o a o o o O 3 6 O O 1 O 8 9 o 6 O 12 O J O o o o * lO o 1 10 o & o o 1 o o o» o o 1 10 o APPENDIX. »19 /Irtkles, L' Kettles, English, potash 1 — Three Rivei^, 44 to 190 gaU 1 Coolera, 7 to 32 ea. O Lard, per lb* - O Lead, bar, per cwt. 2 Sheet - 2 Leather, sole, English, per lb. Ditto, Canada O Calf, Eng. per doz. 5 Seal-skin - 5 Dressed upper, p. lb. O Lumber, oak timber, p. cub. ft. O White pine Shingles, pine, 18 in. pr. M. Cedar, 15 inch. Boards, 1 inch, per 100 Do. H Do. 2 Deals, 2^ Staves, pipe, per M. Red oak, Pipe packs, each Molasses, per gall. Nails, shingle cut, per M. Wrought Spikes, per cwt. Rods, per ton Oils, olive, per gall. Lintseed, Pease, split, per cwt. s. d, 10 10 10 o o o o 2 3 4 6 30 6 O o o 1 o o o 1 9 o o o o 3 6 1 8 O O O O O 1 O o s 12 6 9 O 10 O O O O 10 O o o 10 o 12 6 3 1 6 3 8 6 15 O o 10 o 7 6 16 O L, i* d, 2 5 O O 10 3 O 1 10 13 O 13 O Q O O 1 3 Si O 15 O O 10 o o o 3 4 S 7 O O o o o o o 31 O O 7 O 15 O 3 4 2 O 7 O O O O O O 10 8 O O 3 o 2 SI-,-- ^-... — 220 \P APPENDIX. Articles. z. s. d. Paints, white, 28 lb. per keg 16 Yellow, do. o 15 O Red, do. O 11 o Black, do. O 15 O Green, 14 lb. 13 4 Spanish brown o lo o Ochre, dry - 15 Pork, mess, inspected, per bbl. 6 10 o 5 O 18 O O 17 O 2 2 3 1 10 O 9 7^ 7 5t S • Prime Fresh, per cwt. Raisins, Muscatel, per box Bloom Salt, St, TTbe's, per min. Liverpool Lisbon Shot, all sizes, per cwt. Soap, white, English, per lb. Yellow, Canada, Spirits, Brandy, Cog. per gall. 9 Bourdeaux Spanish Jamaica, 16 O. P. 27 to 30 do. 35 to 40 do. Leewards Geneva Whisky, Canada Starch, Poland, per lb. Common, do. o 4 4 O O O O O O O 6 5 5 5 6 4 5 3 O 11 6 O O O 6 O O 9 O Xr. S, d. 17 6 2 5 1 3 1 3 7 5 10 O 1 O O O 18 O 2 3 2 10 O 6 6 5 5 6 4 6 O O 6 O 3 9 3 3 3 O 1 O 8 APPENDIX. 221 I^S Articles. Steel, German, per lb. English, Crawley, Blistered Sugar, Muscovado, per cwt Havannah East India Loaf, per lb. Tallow, per cwt. Tea, Gunpowder, per lb. Hyson Hyson skin 'J Twankey - ') Souchong - Congo '■ ' Tin, plates, IC. per box IX. Tobacco, Leaf, American, p. Ib.O Twist - O Plug - O Vinegar, white wine, per gall. Cyder - Wax, Bees, per lb. - O Wines, old Port, per 138 gall. 50 Benecarlo, per 126 20 Teneriffe, L.P.p. 120 45 Madeira,* per 110 Claret, per 54 Bronte, per 112 Malaga, per 1 20 Wool, Canada, per lb. o 3 i. O o 3 3 3 O 4 O O o o o 2 3 s. d. 1 O o 9 6 5 O 10 O 10 O 10 15 8 6 6 3 4 4 4 4 O O o o 15 O 7 6 O 1 80 15 40 25 O 6 2 O 11 2 6 2 O 2 6 O O O O O O O O O O O O 1 O L. s. d, O 1 3 9 3 15 O 3 15 O 3 15 O O O 11 9 6 6 4 2 4 2 5 4 2 3 3 10 O 7 O 1 4 O 1 1 3 4 2 3 .0 O O 75 O O 25 O O 50 O 100 O O 30 O O 2 3 ■\ )•• \\ 1 1, ',1 «tJ;.:,.x,.;-.i,L^^^^' ^ "S'" ^A^g„.,,tar' I »• n^ AWfEVDlK, prices Current in the Kingston or York Market, corrected weekly. -^ Articles, Beef, per lb. Mutton Veal Fork Fowls, per pair Turkey*, each Ge©se „ Cheese, per lb. Butter Fggfc, per dozen Barley, per bushel Peae, do. Potatoes, do. Oats, do. Turnips, do. Cabbages, per head, Flour, per cvvt. Ditto, per bbl. Tallow, per lb. Lard, per lb. Hay, per ton Straw, per bundle Wood, per cord. z. s. d. L. s. d. 5 7 6 o 7 6 n ^T 10 3 4 6 7t 1 1 3 1 3 5 6 2 2 6 3 3 9 1 1 3 2 15 16 3 1 7 6 1 10 O n 8 8 3 10 J 12 6 • 1 fy "■■^t.i AFYEVDIX. 823 i' N'* VI. • i .,j; . ^ t • *rable of Retail Prices at Yorkf, in Upper '■"' Canada, J t>.. ,j <) Green Tea, perR), Souchong, do. Hyson, do. Loaf Sugar, do. Muscovado Do. do. Maple Do. do. Oat Meal, do. Barley, do. Rice, do. Candles, do. Soap, do. Coffee, do. Chocolate, do. Pepper, do. Allspice, do. Cheese, English do. Ditto, American, do. Butter, do. Pork, per bane! Flour, do: Salt, pel bbf. Spirits, per gal. Reduced Rum, do. Brandy, do. Halifax Curr» L.Or 5 O lu.O 7 6 S ^ f 5 a n a 0» 74 a o 9 & o 6 a o T4 a n 1 cr 1 d a o 11 o o ^ 2 a a ^ 9 a I roi o 2 6* a I m lO a o 1 a 5 ro or 1 ra a r a a o 7 6 a o 5 o 12 6 •M, \4 ,4 224 AFPBHDIX. L.O Holland Gin, per gal. Treacle, do. Allum, per lb. Copperas, do. Tobacco, all kinds, do. Sole Leather, do. Cow Hides, per side Calf Skins, per skin Nails, all sizes, per lb. Window Glass, per 100 feet Putty, per lb. Iron, Swedish, per cwt. Ditto, English, do. Crawley Steel, per lb. Blistered Ditto, do. Iron Pots and Bake Pans, do. Plough Share Moulds, do. Shovels and Spades, each Men's Shoes, per pair Women's Do. do. Flannels, all sorts, per yard Cloths, all qualities, do. India Cottons, per piece Printed Cottons, per yard Check do. do. Striped ditto, do. Irish Linens, all qualities, do. O Bussia Sheeting, do. - O Blankets, all sizes, per pair 1 THE END. Ha^faa: Curr, 10 o L.0 o 6 3 o o o o o 4 O 2 O O O O O O I o o o 6 11 6 1 6 1 6 12 6 10 O O 11 O O O 9 10 O O 1 3 1 O O 5 7 5 1 6 6 6 O 1 lOi 6 6 2 O 1 O I 104: 1 \0\ 2 2 6 2 6 1 O O O 17 6 4 10 O O 1 6 13 7 6 O 15 O O 12 6 3 5 1 O 5 2 2 2 7 3 9 O 6 6 6 O 1 15 O r,.(;hal...rr>,MCo. fr.nters, HbcTdFUi^. ■A^^^^i. i&iMi X Curr, ..0 ( [) ^ < 2 6 1 17 6 4 10 1 6 1 3 7 6. 15 12 6 L 3 9 2 5 1 5 2 i 2 i 2 6 6 1 7 6 ; 3 ; ) 1 15 ;