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 iry^ 
 
 INFORMATION 
 
 t 
 
 HI 
 
 FOR 
 
 m. ^ 
 
 ON VHt; 
 
 
 iii 
 
 T. P. FRENCH, 
 
 Crown £onb Qlgent. 
 
 PUBLJfSBBD WITH THEfAPPROVAL OP v^ 
 
 THE HONOB ABLE JOSEPH CAUCHON,^ 
 
 COMMISSIONER OF CROWN LANDS, 
 
 THE HONORABLE P. M. V A NKOUGHNET, V 
 
 PRESIDENT EXECUTITE COUNCIL AND MINISTKR OF ^GRICrtTCHB, 
 
 OTTAWA, CANADA WEST, 
 
 1857. 
 
< 
 
INFORMATION 
 
 FOR 
 
 III919&19# 3199^113 
 
 ON THB 
 
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 I 
 
 mn^A tf«^ WPf^M^ m^<i^^ 
 
 .All cat It^ 'iriQlzU.tT'i 
 
 BY 
 
 T. p. FRENCH, 
 
 PUBLISBBD WITH TBB APPROVAL OP 
 
 THE HONORABLE JOSEPH CAUCHON, 
 
 C0MMISSI017ER OF CHOWN I.Ain)S(. 
 AND 
 
 THE HONORABLE P. M. VANKOUGHNET, 
 
 PRESIDENT EXECUTIVE COUNCIL AND MINISTER Or AORICULTURE. 
 
 i 
 
 4 
 
 '1 
 
 I: 
 
 I \\ 
 
 ■^^i^^hari*^ 
 
 OTTAWA, CANADA WEST, 
 
 1857. 
 
 \ J 
 
 i -i-fcy . 'Tarii;" ' 
 
 
A WORD TO THE WISE. 
 
 The object in writing ihe following pages is to present in as clear, 
 but as concise a form as possible, the particular kind of informa- 
 tion essentially necessary for all who may be inclined to emigrate 
 to this country ; and to dispel the cloud of obscurity that invaria- 
 bly vails their future prospects of success from nine-tenths of the 
 poorer class of immigrants who usually come to Canada. 
 
 I have been careful to abstain from theorising, and to omit 
 redundancies, whether of facts or language. 
 
 There is no exaggeration in any statement I have put forth 
 in regard to the country, or in any calculation I have made to 
 prove the advantage it offers. 
 
 I write not to order ; neither do I write from any of the fair 
 cities or thriving towns or villages that Canada can now boast of. 
 
 My home is, and has been for a good while, in a new and 
 yet remote locality ; and I have made a thorough acquaintance 
 with " Bush Life '' in all its roughest phases. 
 
 It is not then, from hearsay, but from iiractical 'personal 
 experience that I have gleaned the " Information for Intending 
 Settlers," which I now submit. 
 
 'Tis true I write in the interest of my adopted country ; but 
 I wish not to delude the ignorant or the unwary ; and I honestly 
 feel that in inducing emigration to Canada I am rendering as great 
 a service to those who come here, as to the country to which they 
 come. 
 
 The description of the lands referred to in the within pamph- 
 
 A X- 
 
 ff 
 
 k 
 
 •iitmiim 
 
4 
 
 let is generalljr applicable to the lands on the other Lilies of 
 tload in the Ottawa Country. 
 
 To such as may wish for mdre detailed information about 
 (Canada generally, I woiild recommend the perusal of Mrs. C. P. 
 Traill's interesting and instructive book, entitled ** The Canadian 
 Settlers Guide." It may be had of all booksellers in Canada for 
 5s. ; and, with a map, for 2s. 6d.,at Stanford's, 6 Charing Cross, 
 London; 
 
 T; P. FRENCH; 
 
w^ 
 
 kmmm^nm fmi (iMii'ENjQiijNiQi SE^nEfiii 
 
 ON THE 
 
 fttafoa pb fpeongo ^oab anb its E^timtg, 
 
 The Agent appointed by His Ei:cellency, the Governor Genera^ 
 for the settlement of the Ottawa and Opeongo Road, finding 
 that much ignorance s^ill prevails with respect to the Road imme- 
 diately under his charge, and the large and valuable tract of coun- 
 try which it renders accessible, si^bmits the following for the 
 information of all who may desire to secure for themselves good 
 f^rms and comfortable homes in this rapidly rising section of the 
 Province. 
 
 On the Ottawa and Opeongo Road one hundred acres 
 wiU be given free to any settler, 18 years of age, who shall 
 take possession of the Lot within one month from the date of his 
 application^ erept on it a house, 18 by 20 feet, put in a state of 
 cultivation at least 12 acres in the course of four years, and live 
 on the Lot during that period. Should I\e fulfil the^e, (jqnditions 
 lie will obtain an indisputable title to the land, but failing to do 
 80^ it will be sold or given to another. Families comprising 
 several Settlers, prefering to reside on any one Lot, will be ex- 
 empted from the obligation of building and of reiidence except 
 
 aS 
 
 ..<^ ^Ak. .. -Ate 
 
 i i tu iam i m i a armi^ttm 
 
f 
 
 I 
 
 upon the lot on >\liicli l\\cy live, but tliu rL'(|uireil clearing atui 
 cultivation mubt be made on nach Lot. The hScttlers will al-io 
 be required to keep the road in repair. 
 
 Kelievini^, liowever, that amongst many in the United King- 
 dom ratlicr exaggerated ideas prevail in regard to the value of 
 the Free rJrant.-. offered by the Canadian Executive to actual 
 Settlers, and knowing what a prolific source of disappointment 
 and distress such erroneous opinions must prove to (he impulsive 
 ami unrellcctinj, who may act upon theui without due consideration, 
 the writer feels tliat charity and justice alike refpiire that they should 
 be promptly and permanently removed. There can be no doubt 
 that a Free CJift from the Crown of 100 acres of good 
 land is a boon that must not be lightly estimated ; but as the 
 Canadian Government do not wish to liy claim tj more liberality 
 llian they actually possess, or to have their generosity undeservedly 
 extolled, and have, moreover, no desire to encourage emigration 
 to this Colony by sanctioning fancy sketches of rural felicity, or by 
 permitting hopes of prosperity that cannot be completely realised to 
 beheld out, he deems it incumbent on him to remind all who may 
 be disposed to emigrate to this country, that they must not estimate 
 tlie value of land here by the standard that obtains in the parent 
 kingdom. As is the case with all other articles, the value of land 
 is regulated by the principles of supply and demand ; hence, where 
 there is an immense tract of country, and but a comparatively 
 thin population, as in Canada, land cannot be of the same worth 
 as where the converse is the case, and, as in England, the 
 country is small while the inhabitants are numerous These are 
 broad facts that de-nand the most earnest consideration of the 
 intending Settler. If he possesses any wisdom he will ponder on 
 
 •- -3^ 
 
them beiiuu.<)ly, and bulunce currt-ctly iiia clmnces of huccc^^ bo- 
 fore relinquUliing his pursuits at hoiiu', disturbing his domestic 
 arrangements, and entering upon a Ion; and expensive journey, 
 that may, possibly, result in blighted (.xpeclations. and a subsecpient 
 life of unavailing sorrow. 
 
 In the more western counties the value of lanti approximates 
 nearer to the Knglish standard than in the newer ones comprised 
 within the Valley of the Ottawa, and to which attention is now 
 directed. Owing to circumstances that the writer deems it 
 beyond his duty to touch upon here, this Ottawa country has 
 not, hitherto, been brought as prominently before the public eye 
 as its vast natural advantages would warrant, conserpiently it is 
 but sparsely settled, and lands are as yet to be had cheap. 
 
 In the former counties, however, facts widely dilferent, but 
 far less cheering to the poor man, present themselves. There 
 the Crown Agents have but little lands at their disposal ; the 
 population is much larger, and, as a natural result, the competition 
 for farms has been the means of causing even wild lands to exchange 
 owners at the high price of from five to ten pounds an acre. 
 
 Yet these prices can scarcely be adduced as an evidence of 
 superiority over the Valley of the Ottawa; for by refeience to 
 authentic statistics recently collected, it appears that if a com- 
 parison be instituted between the average crops raised in these 
 diflerent localities, the Ottawa section, holds out equal induce- 
 ments in this respect to the farming settler seeking a home in 
 Canada. Besides this, in the former counties, cleared, or partially 
 cleared, farms are extremely difficult to obtain, and when such are 
 in the market they bring prices that place them almost entirely 
 beyond the reach of any mau possessing only moderate meansj 
 
 % 
 
 » ^-., 
 
|^^,i H iii i -» - 
 
 I 
 
 while in this locahty they can be easily had at figures varying 
 from ten pounds upwards, exclusive, of course, of the Government 
 price, say of twenty pounds for each 100 acres. With these facts 
 it is of much moment to the small capitalist and the newly arrived 
 imniigrant to be made acquainted. 
 
 With a house ready to receive his family immediately on his 
 arrival, and a few acres ready to crop, the settler need have no 
 fear for the future. The knowledge necessary for putting \n his 
 first crop will be acquired in a few weeks from his neighbors, and 
 before the next year he may himself be certain of being compe- 
 tent to render the same kind offices to all later comers. To 
 those who have not friends in this country the difficulty of procuring 
 such farms, and the possibility of being imposed upon in their pur- 
 chase, may seem serious obstacles, but as there is no doubt that 
 it is the intention of a gentleman of high character and long ex- 
 perience to open an Agency in Ottawa the ensuing Spring for the 
 negociation of such transactions, no difficulty of delay, or danger 
 of imposition, need be dreaded by the friendless stranger. 
 
 The periods during which the quality of land may be best 
 ascertained, are the months of October, November, April and 
 May ; the snow covering the earth from December to March, 
 and the thick fcUage and underbrush rendering travelling through 
 the woods rather difficult, though by no means impossible, in 
 summer. 
 
 Emigrants Trom Europe ought to leave as early as possible 
 in Spring, and they should sail direct for Quebec, as it is the 
 shortest and cheapest route. The following is the scale of charges,, 
 and the allowance to passengers, coming from Liverpool, or the 
 chief sea-ports of the United Kingdom : 
 
STEERAGE PASSAGE FOR 1857. 
 
 By Steamer from Liverpool, fortnightly,. .,£S 8 Sterling. 
 By Sailing Vessels, \ ^ ^^ ^ « 
 
 / U V/ 
 
 Children under 12 years half the above charges. 
 
 It is believed that next year the fares by steamei will be still 
 lower. 
 
 Under the new Passenger Act the following provisions are 
 now supplied, viz. : 
 
 m 
 
 3 quarts of water daily. 
 3^ lbs. of Biscuit weekly. 
 1 lb. of Flour 
 1^ lbs. of Oatmeal 
 
 (( 
 
 (( 
 
 11 lbs. of Rice 
 
 n 
 
 a 
 
 1^ lbs. of Peas 
 U lbs. of Beef 
 
 1 lb. of Pork 
 
 2 lbs. of Potatoes « 
 
 1 lb of Sugar 
 
 2 oz. of Tea 
 2 oz. of Salt 
 14 oz. of Pepper 
 
 I oz. of Mustard " 
 
 ti 
 
 a 
 
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 it 
 
 « 
 
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 I pint of Vinegar 
 
 ti 
 
 Invalids are also allowed medical attendance and increased 
 space and comforts. a5 
 

 10 
 
 Emigrants should lake with them as many beds, blankets, 
 and other articles of household furniture as can be conveniently 
 carried, such things being cheaper in the mother country than 
 here, and as Settlers property they will be admitted duty free. 
 As large a supply as possible of strong and warm clothing may also 
 be brought out with advantage, but all kinds oi farming imple- 
 ments can be procured in Canada cheaper than they can be im- 
 ported. 
 
 The advice to Emigrants before and during, a voyage, from 
 the philanthrophic pen of Vcre Foster, Esq., may be here intro- 
 duced with advantage, and, it is hoped, without apology to the 
 humane gentleman who has already given it to the public in the 
 valuable pages of" Woi'k and Wages'^: 
 
 On jowv nrrlviil al. Liverpool or oHier ports of departure, gostraijrlit 
 to yoiir lod<iing-house. if you liavc clioscu one; if not, po at once to 
 the oliice wliere your passage is pngaEted, or where you wish to eiifrasje 
 it, and find out wlien the ship will sail, where it is, wlicn you should go 
 on board, and when the bertiis (sleeping i)lacos) will be marked, and 
 take cartJ to be on board at that time, and to get the number of your 
 berth marked o-i your passage ticket. At many of the offices there la 
 a store where baggage will bo taken care of free of charge. 
 
 LODGING. 
 
 The u>^ual charge for losing, including use of kitchen fire and 
 cooking utensils, and storing of luggage, is fiom 4d. to 9d. per night — 4d. 
 being a very coramon price. Children under fourteen years of age are 
 usually charged less, according to agreement ; infants nothing. Mind 
 you make an agreement beforehand. 
 
 CHOICE or A SHIP. 
 
 Choose a ship that is well ventilated — that is to say, go In a ship 
 which has one sleeping deck for passengers rather than two ; be careful 
 that you can not only walk upright on this deck, but that it is at least 
 seven feet from the dock abov^, as is the case in all the .'ners, and that 
 the shij) lias not a groat deal of housing on the outside deck to interfere 
 with a [)roj)er current of air below. See that the ship has higli bulwarks 
 (wooden walls), at least six feet high, at the side of the outside deck, so 
 as to protect passengers from being dronchod every time tliey come on 
 <leck by tlir^ sjiray, wlicxioYer the sea is a little rough. 
 
 \ 
 
11 
 
 The weak among my readers — and I would add the very i)Oor 
 but that they cannot afford to choose — should be careful if possible, to 
 eelcct a shij) in which they arc not required to cook fur theraKelves,but 
 are engaged to be supplied daily with enoujih of cooked ]»rovisions. 
 To the richer passengers who can bribe the cooks witli a lialf crown 
 now and then, to pretty women who can coax them with their Mnilcs, 
 or to strong men who can elbow their way with their broad shoulders, 
 such advice is not necessarj'', as they can have access to the crowded 
 cookhouse at any time, aud any number of times daily ; but the others 
 have often to wait for hours in the wet, or even all day, to cook a siuglo 
 meal, and the caprice of the cook seldom allows them even then to get 
 a meal properly cooked. They are pushed off to make way A>r others 
 until the time allowed for cooking is over, or a storm rises to prevent it. 
 The want of properly pooked food especially, and of jn'opcr ventilation, 
 are I believe the principal causes of diarrhoea, dysentery, typhus fever, 
 aud cholera on board ship. 
 
 HOW TO ENGAGE YOUR PASSAGE. 
 
 At Liverpool, or any other port of embarkation for America, be 
 careful whom you employ to show you to a shipping office ; ask no 
 questions in the street, pay no attention to the offers of services of any 
 one you meet, not even to ask your way to any place or office, as each 
 such question may cost you five or ten shillings or more ; but, having 
 gone on board a number of ships and chosen the one you like best, buy 
 your ticket yourself at the head agency office of the ship, the address 
 of which will be posted up in very large letters on board of the ship 
 itself; or, what will be better still, ask the person to whom you may 
 have been recommended from home to get the ticl et for you. You will 
 then be more sure of being charged the market rate for passage. IIo 
 will probably get it cheaper for you than what you can get for your- 
 self, and j'et make a few shillings for himself in doing so. When you 
 go to a shipping office or to a shop to make purchases be sure to go in 
 quite alone, as if any person shows you in or goes in with you it will 
 most likely be to get his commission in one way or another out of in- 
 creased price to be charged to you. All the offices and shops pay 
 commissions of from five to seven aud a half per cent., or more to per- 
 sons who bring them customers, and the worse the ship the higher the 
 commission ; it is therefore the interest of persons of no character to in- 
 duce emigrar.ts to go in as bad a ship, and pay as high a price for their 
 passage as poscible. When you have got your ticket mind you keep 
 it, giving it up to po one except for a moment to the Government officer 
 who will visit the ship to inspect the passengers just before you saii, and 
 who will tear off a piece of every ticket, which serves him as a note of 
 how many passengers there are on board, their ages, and so on. 
 Keep the ticket till after the end voyage as long as you like, as the 
 law allows, in order that you may at all times know your rights, and as 
 an evidence of your agreement in case of your having to seek redress. 
 
 Emigrants should on no account, except when properly recommend- 
 
12 
 
 .«d, suffer themselves to be so misguided as to pay in Enropo their pas- 
 sage any further than to the port of arrival of their ship in America, as 
 it often happens that railroad or other tickets bought in Liverpool are 
 found to be of no use in America, and the fare has to be paid over again, 
 and no redress can be got in America for breach of an agreement made 
 in England. This especially applies to agreements about baggage. Of 
 course there are honest persons in this trade as in others, and much ex- 
 pense and imposition at New York may be saved by buying tickets from 
 such persons, who may be heard of by enquiring of the Government 
 Emigration officer at each port, or of me at Wimbleton, Surry. It must 
 be clearly understood that any recommendation given by me one year c 
 month will not be good for another, until renewed. 
 
 According to the British law, a passenger over one and under four- 
 teen years of age gets only half allowance ; according to the American 
 law, every passenger over one year old gets full allowance. Of course 
 passengers will get fed according to one scale or the other, not both. 
 The British law provides that certain substitutions may be made at the 
 option of the master of the ship for the oatmeal and rice, and very 
 properly requires that these provisions should be given to the passengers 
 daily, in a cooked state, but this is not attended to one time in a hundred. 
 Each passenger is entitled by law to lodgings and provisions on board 
 from the day appointed for sailing in his ticket, or else to one shilling 
 for every day of detention, and the same for forty-eight hours after 
 arrival in America. As regards extra provisions, they must depend on 
 taste and circumstances. As much as heretofore will not be required 
 if the ship's provisions shall be issued cooked according to law. In 
 my voyage in the " Washington," from Liverpool to New York, which 
 occupied thirty-seven days, I took the following extra provisions, which 
 I found sufficient, and which were the same in quality and quantity as I 
 had been in the habit of supplying previously to passengers whom I 
 had assisted to emigrate to America: — Ij stone wheatcn flour, 6 lbs. 
 bacon, 2| lbs. butter, a 4 lb. loaf hard baked, i lb. tea, 2 lbs. brown 
 sugar, salt, soap, baking powder. These extra provisions cost 10s. 6d. ; 
 I consider them to be plenty, so far as necessary articles are concerned. 
 A ham, a cheese, more butter, more flour, some potatoes and onions, 
 and in case of children, many little extras, such as sweet preserves, 
 suet, raisins, preserved milk, treacle, lemons, &c., would be palatable 
 and desirable additions, particularly during the first fortnight, until the 
 stomach gets inured to the motion of the ship. Remember, that you 
 cannot, when at sea, run to a shop to get what you want ; you must get 
 it before hand. I also took the following articles for the use of myself 
 and messmate, the prices of which, of the commonest kind, though quite 
 good enough for so temporary a purpose, should be as follows, accord- 
 ing to size, for one, two, or more persons : — Tin water-can, 6d., Is., Is. 
 2d.; tin hook saucepan or boiler, 5d., 7d., lOd. ; frying pan, Od., 8d., 
 lOd., Is., Is. 4d. ; tin dish or wash basin, 5d., 6d., 9d. ; tin kettle, 8d., 
 Is., Is. 4d, ; tin tea-pot or coffee-pot, 6d., 8d., lOd., Is. ; tin plate, deep, 
 so as not to spill easy, Ijd., 24d. 3d. ; tin pint mug, Ijd. ; chamber ves- 
 sel, 6d. ; knife, fork, and spoor j 4jd. ; treacle-can for 3 lbs. or 6 lbs. 4d., 
 5d. ; barrel and padlock to hold provisions, Is. to Is. 3d. ; small calico 
 
 i' 
 
13 
 
 bags to hold ship's woekly flowr, oatmeal, rico, biscuits, tea and sugar ; 
 towels and rubbers ; straw mattrass, length ft. 10 in,, 8d. to Is. 2d. 
 (a better description of do. would cost Is. 4d. to 23, 4d,) ; blankets for 
 one person 2s., or, according to size, per pair, 4s., Gs. Gd., 9s. ; rug. Is., 
 Is, 4d., Is, Gd., Is. lOd. ; sheets each, (ijd. Instead of buying a mat- 
 trass, it would be better to bring an empty tick from homo and fill it with 
 straw at Livcr])onl or other port, A crock will bo wanted for the butter, 
 ])rice, holding olbs., Gd, Bruig some cpsom salts or pills, or other 
 l)urging medicine with you, and i)lonty of treacle for children, as roll- 
 ing in bed and want of occu])ation during the voyage stops digestion. 
 Families would do well to take with thorn a tin slop ]iail, price. Is. Cd, to 
 Is. lOd., or japanned, 2s, ; also a broom and small shovel. The handles 
 and spouts of all tin articles should bo riveted on as well as soldered. 
 The bottoms of trunks should have a couple of .t^trips of wood nailed 
 on to them lengthwise, one at the front edge and the other at the back 
 edL,c, to keep them olfthe damp floor. Sec that yon get all the arti- 
 cles of sea stores u-liich you pay for. Almo.-t any sort of clothes will 
 do for the voyage, diit, grease, tar, and salt water will spoil any thing 
 good. 
 
 LAST TIHNv*. 
 
 The last thing to do before going on board is to get a few loaves of 
 fresh bread hard haJcccl, and a good-sized piece of ^'onsted or boiled 
 fresh meat to cat when cold. An Emigrant's guido ■« 'lich I have seen 
 contains the following sound advice : — " When the tiino nrrives to go 
 on hoard .ship, do so without delay, not allowing yourself to be persuad- 
 ed by the lodging-house keeper to sleep on shore, as there will be plenty 
 of time in the morning. Such an indulgence has cost many the loss of 
 a passage and a week's delay in Liverpool." 
 
 Clo on board your ship, if jiossiblo, before it moves out of the dock, 
 rather tijan after it has gone into the river, as in the latter case you may 
 have to slop for hours in the rain on the ])ier head waiting for the small 
 steamer which is to tako you aloi.gside the sliip, and getting your lug- 
 gage, and j)rovi,sions, and bedding, for which and yourself there is no 
 siielter, soused and s[)oilcd with the wet, or else have to hire a small 
 boat to take you to the shij) at an enormous expense. Whether you go 
 in tlie steamer or in a small boat yon v.iil have to get on board in a very 
 scraniblii!g manner, and your baggage may get all knocked to pieces, 
 as often ha])pens. For the cartage or porterage of your baggage from 
 your lodgiu_' to your ship, mako a clear agrooraent beforehand with the 
 carter or jjurter as to v.-Jiat yon aro to pay, and let that agreement in- 
 clude the carrying of your baggage not only on board the shij), but 
 ALONo.siPE 01.' youH BERTH. " From the moment your luggago gets on 
 board lake care that it be well watched ; and if you lie in tho ship in 
 dock a night, keep a close guard over it, as ships aro at such times in- 
 fested by thieves, who cannot bo known from passengers,"' and whom 
 the officers of the ship are otherwifie too busy to look after. 
 
14 
 
 I 
 
 THE TOTAOE. 
 
 Tho birtlis (sleeping places) are each from six to six and a half feet 
 lonw, and eighteen inches wide, ranged one over tho other in douMo 
 shelves along the side of the ship. Single men are berthed separately 
 from the rest of the passengers. All clothing and other baggage not 
 wanted at sea should bo put out of the way till the end of tho voyage, 
 as the officers of the ship may direct. Passengers should be particu- 
 larly cleanly tm board a crowded ship to prevent ship fever from break- 
 ing out (this is very important), and should keep much on deck to breathe 
 the fresh air for the same reason, and pay a cheerful obedience to the 
 discipline of the ship. Tho floor should be sprinkled with vinegar 
 sometimes to sweeten the air, and chloride of lime should be sprinkled 
 now and then between decks. Be careful of your sea stores, as your 
 passage may be longer than you expect, and it is better to have some 
 over at the end than to be short at sea. 
 
 How Emigrants may secure good treatment for future passengers, 
 more effectually than can be done by Acts of Parliament, whose regu- 
 lations are easily evaded. Whenever it happens, as is sometimes the 
 case, that passengers have received the full allowance of provisions of 
 good quality for which they have agreed and paid, and have been 
 otherwise very well treated during the voyage, they should in justice to 
 the captain or other officers, before leaving the ship, express their 
 thanks to them in a written address, have it published in the newspa- 
 pers where they land, (for which no charge will in general be made,) 
 and then post a few copies of those papers to the principal papers in the 
 old country ; and the same if they have been very ill treated. 
 
 V 
 
 ) 
 
 In order tliat the Emigrant shall be able to make a correct 
 calculation of liis expenses before leaving home, it may be well to 
 state here that the Canadian value of Britifh Coins is as follows, 
 
 VIZ.: 
 
 The Sovereign, ^1 4 4 
 
 Half « 12 2 
 
 The Crown, 6 1 
 
 Half « 3 li 
 
 Florin, 2 5 
 
 )}ut for convenience the British Shilling passes current for ls> 
 
i.) 
 
 3d., and the Six-pence for 7^d. It will be then apparent thai 
 English Shillings and Sixpences are the most profitable coins 
 to bring to Canada, as there will be lOd. gained upon each £\ 
 sterling. Short dated Bankers Bills, payable in London, are also 
 a safe and profitable mode nf taking money to this country, as 
 they OiriB invariably sold at a premium here. The newly arrived 
 Emigrant will require to keep in view this difference between the 
 English and Canadian currency, so that when told in Canada that 
 the price of his dinner is Is. 3d., or the cost of any article 5s., 
 he may readily understand that one English shilling discharges 
 the former claim, and four English shillings will pay for the 
 latter. 
 
 All further prices given here will then be quoted in Pro- 
 vincial Currency ) according to the above value. 
 
 Arrived in Quebec Emigrants must be 'particularly careful 
 not to follow the advice of strangers of either sex, in regard to 
 lodgings, employment, or modes of travelling. When put on 
 shore they should go at once to the Chief Emigrant Agent, A. 
 Ci Buchanan, Esq., whose office will be found close by, and who 
 will afford them every information they can possibly require. 
 Such as are for this Agency will come on from Quebec, via. the 
 Cities of Montreal and Ottawa, and the following are the rates at 
 which the journey may be accomplished : 
 
 FROM QUEBEC TO MONTREAL. 
 
 BY RAIL. 
 
 Fir-t Class, lOa. 
 
 Se'^ond Class, 58. 
 
16 
 
 BY STEAMER. 
 
 Cabin, including Tea and Bed, lOs. Od. 
 
 Steerage, without meals or bed, 2&. 6d. 
 
 Steamers leave (Quebec daily during the Summer at 4 o'clock, 
 p. m., and reach IMontreal next morning about 6, a. m. Railway 
 Trains leave twice a day, and make the journey in 7 liours. 
 
 Should the Emigrant require any information in IMontreal, 
 he wdl find Mr. Conlan, tho Government Emigrant Agent, ready 
 to supply it. 
 
 The journey from Montreal to Ottawa may also be made 
 either by Rail or Steamboat at these prices, viz. ; 
 
 BY MAIL STEAMER — GOING THROUGH IN ONE DAY. 
 
 Cabin, and three meals,. . 10s. | Steerage, without meals,. . . .5s. 
 
 BY TOWING STEAMER — WHICH MAY TAKE TWO OR THREE DAYS. 
 
 Steerage, 5s. | No Cabin. 
 
 BY RAIL — GOING THROUGH IN ABOUT SEVEN HOUtS. 
 
 First Class, 20s. | Second Cla^s, 15s. 
 
 Emigrants^ 10s. 
 
 From Ottawa the journey to this Agency may be made 
 by land, or partly by land and water, and as there are no public 
 
17 
 
 conveyances on the land route, the other is by far tho br^ist. It is 
 9 miles from Ottawa to the Village of Aylmer, and Stages are 
 continually running between these places, that carry passengers 
 at 2s. Gd. each. From Aylmer a Steamer starts at 7 a.m. on 
 Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, and passengers by it are put 
 on shore at the Bonne-Cherc Point, or at Fcrrall's Landing, 2 
 miles nearer E.enfrew, about 3 p.m. The Fare being : 
 
 Cabin, with breakfast and dinner, 12s. Gd. 
 
 Steerage, " " 7s. Gd. 
 
 Steerage, without meals, Hs. Od. 
 
 The distance from Ferrall's Landing to the Village of Ken- 
 frew is but 7 miles, and a Stage will be on this road next Summer, 
 which will convey passengers for about 2s. Gd. each. Thus, 
 from Quebec to Pvenfrew,a distance of 3G7 miles, may be travelled 
 at a cost of ,-Cl 2s. Gd. currency, or 18s. sterling. At Jvenfrew 
 the Emigrant is within 16 miles of this Agency, and he will have 
 no difficulty in procuring a mode of conveyance to take him here, 
 and hence, along the Opeongo Pvoad, should he be unable or 
 unwiliinff to walk." The first of the Free Lots is 20 miles from the 
 Ottawa Pviver, and as the entire length of the Opeongo Pi-oad is 
 99 miles, it thus leaves 79 miles upon which Free Grants are 
 being given. This Poad commences at Ferrall's Landing, on 
 the Ottawa, crosses the Bonne-Chore at Pvenfrew,and then taking 
 a north-westerly course it runs mid-way between the Bonne-Chcre 
 and Madawaska Pvivers on to Lake Opeongo. It is intended to 
 connect this with a projected line of road known as " Bell's 
 T.ine," leading to the Lake Muskako and T<ake Huron, br r 
 
18 
 
 t 
 
 I, 
 
 v 
 
 %\ 
 
 Vranch nhieh will direrge from the Opeongo P J, In the Town- 
 ship of Brudenell, at a distance of about 53 mii. om the River 
 Ottawa, forming with <' BelPs Line," a great leading road, or base 
 line, from the Ottawa to Lake Muskako, 171 miles in length, 
 passing through the heart of the Ottawa and Huron Territory, and 
 opening up for settlement a vast extent of rich and valuable land* 
 
 The Bonne-Chere and Madawaska Rivers, between which 
 this road runs, are important tributaries to the Ottawa, and con- 
 tribute a large quota of the very best timber that annually passes 
 down that river to the Quebec Market. Over 40 miles of the 
 Road are now good for waggons, and as the remaining portion 
 will be repaired next Spring, Settlers can easily take in their 
 families and supplies at all periods of the year. For some years 
 past Settlers have been occasionally locating themselves on the 
 wild lands of the Crown, in the neighborhood of this Road, and 
 as there are besides over 120 of the Free Lots at present conceded, 
 those who come in future will experience no difficulty in obtaining 
 prompt gratuitous assistance to erect their shanties, and tempo- 
 rary accommodation while they are bcmg put up. Twelve men 
 can build a good shanty in a day, — t^e timber of which it is 
 constructed being always to be had on the spott The best possi- 
 ble feeling prevails among the Settlers, and no kindness ths^t any 
 one of theni can render i^ ever denied to the stranger, no matter 
 from what country he hails, or at what altar he kneels. Settlers 
 are permitted to select their own Lots, those coming first having 
 first choice. The Lots are all posted and numbered. 
 
 As yet the nearest villages to the Road are Renfrew, 
 Douglas, and Eganville. Renfrew is distant 13 miles from the 
 (ifst Free Lot on the cast end. Some 13 miles farther up, thpt 
 
m 
 
 \ 
 
I 
 
 IP 
 
 it 26 miles vrtat of Rcnircw, Douglas is n-ithin V2 miles; and 
 again, 14" miles farther west, Eganville i% but 16 miles from the 
 Koad. At each of these villages there is a Post Office, and also 
 Mills and Stores, where all necessary supplies can be obtained* 
 In Renfrew there is a Catholic Church, a Kirk, and a Free 
 Church, (Presbyterian.) in each of which there is service once a 
 fortnight. Tn Douglas a Methodist Minister resides, and he has 
 prayers there and at Eganville eacli alternate Sunday. There is 
 also a Catholic Church two miles from Douglas and another at 
 Eganville ; in the formei the Clergyman officiates once a month, 
 and at the latter twice a month during the Summer, and once a 
 month during the winter. At Mount St. Patrick, and 3 miles 
 from the east end of the Road, there is also a Post Office and a 
 Catholic Church ; a Clergyman attends once a month. 
 
 The Free Lots on the east end of the Road, for 12 miles, 
 lie within the recently organized Township of Grattan, which 
 is already pretty well settled. No schools have as yet been estab- 
 lished on the Pwoad, but there is no doubt that ere long Churches 
 will be erected, and School Sections defined, and the Settlers will 
 be enabled to adore the Lord in His own temple, and to secure for 
 iheir children the many great blessings resulting from a good 
 education. In this Province the " Voluntary System " obtains 
 in regard lo all Churches, but the Schools are liberally aided by 
 the Government. 
 
 Liberty, in the most extended sense of that soul-stirring 
 word, prevails in Canada. We have here a happy and harmonious 
 blending of the best parts of the Monarchal and Republican forms 
 of Government, and all who know aught of our institutions and 
 laws must admit that the Constitution und'.T which it is the proud 
 
20 
 
 privilege of Canadians to live will contrast favorably with that 
 of any other country in the world. 
 
 The Province is divided into Counties, and these are again 
 sub-divided into Townships of about 10 square miles. The rate- 
 payers in each well settled Township elect annually, from amongst 
 themselves five Councillors, who form a body corporate, and ore 
 iinpowered to impose taxes, levy fine?, define School Sections, ap- 
 point Path-masters, Pound-keepers, ]load Surveyors, ike, and 
 make all such bye-laws as may seem, . jthem, for the benefit oTtlie 
 Municipality. The Chairmen, or " Pveeves " of tliese Townships 
 are Magistrates durinir their vear of olTice, and mcetina; at stated 
 periods in the County Town, they form what is termed the 
 " County Council," the functions of this body consisting in a 
 general supervision of such Municipal matters as affect the County 
 generally. 
 
 AYhcn a School Section is defined by a Tov.nship Council the 
 Clerk of such Council directs some person within the Section to 
 call a meeting of the householders for the purpose of organising 
 a School. This meeting must be called by public notice, and 
 at it three Trustees are elected, who appoint a Teacher and con- 
 trol all (he alTalrs of the School. If, however, any of their acts 
 should be at variance with the wishes of the majority of the house- 
 holders, the latter can protest against them, and, if necessary, the 
 matter in dispute must then be referred to J.ie arbitration of two 
 persons, one of whom shall be appointed by the people, and the 
 other by the Trustees : and should tliese arbitrators still disagree, 
 then the Local Superintendent is called upon to act as umpire, 
 and his decision is binding. This Local Superintendent is appointed 
 annually by the County Council, upon the recommondatlon of the 
 
"^ 
 
 21 
 
 Reeve of the Municipality wherein the School Section is situated ' 
 his duties are to visit the School periodically and ascertain 
 how it is conducted, and what progress is being made by the 
 pupils. 
 
 There are three new Townships now being surveyed alon<>- 
 the Opeongo Road, and the Surveyors state that the lands are 
 excellent for agricultural purposes. AVhen the surveys are com- 
 pleted the lands will be sold by the Crown, in lots of 100 or 200 
 acres, at a price yet to be fixed, but which will not exceed some 
 four or five shillings per acre. Such lands are usually sold sub- 
 ject to the obligations of actual residence, and the cultivation of 
 a few acres annually ; and the payments for them are generally 
 made in four annual instalments. Settlers are never prevented 
 from making farms on the wild lands of the Crown wherever they 
 find them best adapted to their wants, and all who may have 
 gone to live on them previous to their bring sold, will be per- 
 mitted a pre-emptive right to purchase. 
 
 In the newer Townships the taxes rarely exceed a very few 
 pence in the pound upon the assessed value, which is never exor- 
 bitant, but all who are on the assessment roll ai-e compelled to 
 do some days of statute labor annually upon the roads, the amount 
 being regulated by the assessed value of the property. 
 
 The soil in this part of the Province is a sandy loam, in some 
 places light, but in others deep and rich. The country presents 
 rather a hilly aspect, but by far the larger portion is composed 
 of gently undulating and flat lands. Tew of the very highest hills 
 are incapable of cultivation, and it is strange that the best soil is 
 not unfrequently found on their sunmiits. A good deal of rock 
 and loose surface-stone is also to be met with, and while it must 
 
.h) 
 
 I 
 
 ubt be denied that such often prove a source of inucti annoyance 
 to the farmer yet they do not prevent the proper cultivation of 
 the land, nor form any great obstacles to the raising of excellent 
 crops. All kinds of cereals, vegetables and fruits grow well, and 
 by the man who is capable of doing his own farming, they can 
 be produced at comparatively little cost, and to him they are 
 sure to yield a profitable return for his labor. But, as in all new 
 countries, labor is scarce, and consequently expensive, he who is 
 incapable of taking the aye, the plough, the scythe and sickle, in 
 his own hand, and using them effectively, cannot hope to realize 
 much profit from pursuits exclusively agricultural. There are 
 many other avocations, however, to which a man with a small 
 capital may usefully turn ; and as the dignity of labor is here 
 fully recognized, the particular nature of his employment will in 
 nowise affect his respectability, provided he be always found honest 
 in his dealings, and moral in his conduct. 
 
 The wages of a good working man is usually from J£30 to 
 XiO a year, with board and lodging, and that of servant girls 
 from 10s. to j61 a month, also with board. Shoemakers, 
 tailors, blacksmiths and carpenters, are the tradesmen most useful in 
 the newer parts of the country, and such will find ready and remu- 
 nerative employment in the various towns, villages and settlements. 
 Masons, bricklayers, glazieis, &c., &c., &c., will also have no 
 difficulty in getting immediate and constant work in the large 
 towns and cities. In fine, there is plenty to do for all who are 
 able and willing to do it ; but for the indolent or the intemperate 
 there is no room, and such characters will certainly not better 
 their circumstances by a change to Canada. 
 
 The climate of Canada being so wiuely different from that of 
 
23 
 
 tof 
 
 the United Kingdom, the system of farming and the rotation of 
 crops must necessarily be dissimilar in both countries ; and as it 
 is most essential that the intending Emigrant should accurately 
 understand how much he has to learn, and be made familiar with 
 every phase of the difficulties he will have to encounter in the 
 land of his adoption, the circumstances having reference to these 
 difficulties may be thus concisely stated. 
 
 And as some may also be curious to know more particu- 
 larly how the preliminary process of clearing is effijcted, this too 
 will be described. It comes first in order, and is thus 
 accomplished. Before falling the large timber the underbrush and 
 small trees are cut close by the ground and piled in heaps, then 
 the large trees are chopped within about three feet of the root, the 
 branches are taken off and piled on the heaps of underbrush, and 
 the trees themselves are chopped up into logs of a size capable 
 of being hauled from one place to another by a yoke of oxen. 
 This completes the chopping, and if it be done in the winter it 
 remains thus until the Spring, when the brush and branches liave 
 decayed and are readily burned off. At the burning of the 
 brush piles all the leaves and small sticks that lie about are also 
 consumed, and nothing remains but the large logs. As soon after 
 rs may be desirable the " logging " takes place, and this is done 
 by drawing the logs together with oxen, and placing them in 
 piles, that will quickly burn. When necessary these piles are 
 fired, and are generally consumed in day. The ashes to which 
 they have been reduced are carefully gathered, and from them is the 
 Potash manufactured. The stumps of the trees, unless extracted 
 by a stumping machine, will remain for about 7 years, but yet 
 the land is now considered clear, and is fit for cropping. A good 
 
u 
 
 man can chop an acre of average land in 6 or 7 days, and 4 men 
 and a yoke of oxen is the complement allowed to " log" it. Pota- 
 toes and Wheat are the first crops generally raised upon new 
 land ; as it is too rich for almost any others. The Potatoes to bo 
 planted, are, as in the old country, cut into " slits." The only 
 imnloment used by the planters is a small hoe ; with it they dig 
 shallow holes in the gi-ouiid, about a yard apart, and in each of 
 them 3 slits arc placed. The earth is then scratched up all around, 
 and the formation of a small mound over the seed completes 
 the planting. When the shoots appear above ground a second 
 hoeing takes place, but after this they remain undisturbed until 
 they are finally taken out ; the hoe alone being still used in their 
 extraction froia the earth. The women and children of the 
 family are most frequently the cuUivators of the Potato. When 
 Wheat is to be sown it is shaken over this new land and simply 
 dragged or harrowed in without any previous ploughing or cuKiva- 
 tion. Wheat is the crop that generally succeeds the Potato, 
 and it is sown in the Potato soil as in the new land. Oats 
 follows the Wheat, but the Wheat stubble must be ploughed for 
 its reception. All crops here, though put in later in the Spring, 
 mature earlier than in England. 
 
 Generally speaking the snow is off, and the ground is fit for 
 ploughing between the 20th April and 1st May. 
 
 ^ 
 
 Peas may be sown up to the 2()th of May. 
 Indian Corn do do do do 
 
 Spring Wheat do do 2r)th do 
 
 Swedish Turnip? do do 15th do 
 
 Aberdeen do dr> do 10th Jultr 
 
25 
 
 Oats may be sown up to the 1st June. 
 Potatoes do do 24th do. 
 
 Cabbage Seed is planted in a box about the 15th of ApriJ> 
 and transplanted to the open ground by 1st June. 
 
 Haying (^mowing) generally commences about the 12th July.. 
 An acre and a quarter is the av'^'age quantity of meadow that a 
 man will cut per diem. The expense of saving the hay is consid- 
 erably less than in England. It may be judged of by the fact 
 that light meadow has been known to have been cut and put into the 
 barn or stack on the same day. The more usual system however, 
 is to shake it out soon after being cut, then to rake it into 
 " wind-rows,'' make small stacks of it by the evening, and next 
 evening put it into large stacks or the barn. 
 
 The reaping of the wheat that has been sown in the fail (au- 
 tumn) begins about 1st August. If it be not lodged it can be 
 ** cradled," — which means being cut with an implement called a 
 cradle, resembling a scythe, and by means of which a man will 
 cut at least four times as much as with the reaping-hook. 
 
 Spring Wheat comes in about 10th August, and may also 
 be " cradled" if not lodged. 
 
 Oats is usually fit for cutting by the 14th August, and is 
 most frequently " cradled." 
 
 Peas ripen by the 5th August, and are cut with the scythe 
 and reaping-hook. 
 
 Indian Corn is gathered in about the 8th September, and 
 it takes about four men to the acre. Women and children are 
 almost as useful at mis work. 
 
 Potatoes ripen according to the time at which they have been 
 planted. 
 
26 
 
 •By the 10th of October the harvest is generally housed, and 
 then underbrushing — which cannot well be done in winter in 
 consequence of the deep snow — is commenced. Potash is now 
 being made, and sleighs, &c. put in order for the winter's work. 
 
 Potash is very remunerative to the farmer, and require? but 
 little skill on the manufacture. The kettle and coolers necessary 
 cost about 14.1 — but they are always supplied on credit by the 
 storekeepers in the neighborhood, who are paid in potash or other 
 farm produce. The ashes of 2^ acres of ordinary hard woot? 'and 
 should be sufficient to make a barrel of potash, say of the s mcl 
 quality, and for this the owner should receive $30 (7/. 10s.) after 
 deducting all expenses of carriage, storage, &,c. 
 
 In this section of the Province sleighing can rarely be calcu- 
 lated on with any degree of certainty before Christmas in each year, 
 and it ends about the lOtb April. 
 
 The manufacture of Maple-Sugar may take place before 
 farming operations commence in the Spring, with advantage t 
 the settler and without involving the loss of any valuable labor. 
 
 Cows, horses, oxen, pigs, sheep, and poultry, are to be had 
 as cheap, if not cheaper, than in the mother country. An excell- 
 ent farm cow seldom costs more than 51. Wool may be set 
 down as being worth about Is. per lb. Horses and sheep cannot 
 well be supported unless there be some land cleared and laid 
 down in pasture upon which they may graze, but such is not neces- 
 sary for the oxen and cows, as they are merely allowed to roam 
 at large in the " bush" (woods), and they quickly fatten upon 
 the brouse and herbage. In winter they are fed upon " wild hay," 
 which is generally easily obtainable at some of the numerous 
 '^beaver meadows" that are to be found in all directions, and 
 
 1 
 
A, I 
 
 
 which are always rega; Jed as common property until the lots 
 are surTeyed and sold hy the Government. 
 
 All through the Valley of the Ottawa patches of Tine and 
 Hardwood are singularly mingled, and it is a wise dispensation of 
 Providence that they should be so : for as the hardwood land is 
 that which best repays the farmers toil, so is the Pine Grove 
 the mainstay of the lumberer, and each must remain dependent on 
 the other, while yet at an inconvenient distance from railways 
 or navigable waters. Thus it is that the lumber shanties afibrd 
 a certain and profitable market for all the settlers surplus produce 
 of Beef, Pork, Flour, Peas, Potatoes, Oats and Hay. At the neigh- 
 boring villages, and by new settlers, a large quantity of farm 
 produce is also annually consumed, and all such, except the hay, 
 will be gladly taken ia exchange for shop-goods by the store- 
 keepers ; so that if a man takes a few bushels of Oats or Potatoes, 
 or a barrel of Pork or Flour to the nearest Village he can always 
 obtain for them an equivalent in Groceries, Dry Goods or Hard- 
 ware. 
 
 Lakes, Streams and Springs of the purest water are to bo 
 found in all directions, and to the man who understands fishing they 
 will yield an abundance of the choicest fish. One man in the 
 settlement of Lake Clear, which is close to the Opcongo Pvoad, 
 has realised as much as £20 in one season by the sale of barrelled 
 fish, after supplying his own family. Wild Deer, Partridges and 
 Ducks are also numerous, and well repay the labor of looking out 
 and shooting them. The peltries of Beaver, Otter, Mink, Martin, 
 Musk-Rat and Fisher, are very valuable, and some settlers make 
 money by ti-apping these animals. AVolves and Bears also in- 
 habit " the Bush ;" bur, however the idea of such neighbors may 
 
28 
 
 It^care Europeans, they are not dangerous to man; even when 
 linarmed and alone they fly from him whenever he happens to 
 cross their path, and they seldom annoy the settler, unless in har- 
 vest, when Bruin occasionally helps himself to a feed of growing; 
 grain, or to a pumpkin, but for which he generally pays the penalty 
 of his life, and his skin amply compensates for the few evening 
 meals he may have stolen. 
 
 In Europe much misconception exists with respect to the 
 amount of capital necessary for a farm settler in Canada to be 
 possessed of. Let it then be distinctly understood that the single 
 man, of temperate habits, with a will to work, needs but a stout 
 heart and a strong arm to realise for himself an independence in 
 a very few years. With the man of family, however, it is 
 somewhat different ; but it is hoped the following extract from 
 a letter of the undersigned, in reply to one addressed to him last 
 Spring by His Lordship, the Bishop of Bytown, (Ottawa), will 
 afford the necessary information, and remove all further doubts 
 on thb important question. The Bishop asks : 
 
 What capital do you think it necessary for an indtistrious family, 
 say of five, to be possessed of in order to settle down on wild land in 
 that part of the country 'I 
 
 Your Lordship has scarcely been sufficiently explicit in putting 
 this question. You cannot fail to observe that it will make a serious 
 difference in * the bush,' whether the family of five be composed of 
 males or females, or whether the children are old enough to render any 
 assistance to their parents. I will, however, put the case myself, and 
 suppose your Lordship means the family to consist of a sober and indus- 
 trious father and mother, and three young children incapable of doing 
 any out-door work. And as I conceive this to be a point about which 
 there should be no possibility of error, I will give a careful estimate of 
 the quantity and cost of the provisions calculated to support such a 
 family for eighteen months, together with a list of the articles usually 
 in use by settlers, with the prices attached, observing that I have 
 'taken this years prices for the Provisions— which is rather a high aver- 
 
Q9 
 
 age— and that the figures affixed to the otlier articles are such as they 
 may bo purchased for in the Village of Renfrew, or any other, in this 
 County. 
 
 PROVISIONS NECESSARY FOR A FAMILY OF FIVE, SAY FOR 
 
 ONE YEAR. 
 8 barrels of Flour at £2 10s. per barrel, - - £20 
 
 2 " ofPorkatjeaiSs. " - - 7 10 
 80 bushels of Potatoes at 2s. per bushel, - - - 8 
 30 lbs. of Tea at 2s. 6d. per lb. 3 15 
 
 1 barrel of Herrings, 200 
 
 * " of Salt, 076 
 
 Cost of Provisions, £41 12 6 
 
 SEED. 
 
 20 bushels of Potatoes at 2s. per bushel, ---£200 
 
 3 " ofWheatat7s. Gd. " - - - 1 2 6 
 10 " of Oats at 2s. " - - - 1 
 
 Cost of Seed, 
 
 OTHER NECESSARIES. 
 
 1 Axe, £089 
 
 1 Grindstone, 076 
 
 1 Shovel, 1 10 
 
 2 Hoes at 3s. 6d. each, 7 
 
 3 Reaping-hooks, at Is. 6d. each, 046 
 
 1 Scythe, 050 
 
 1 Inch Auger, 050 
 
 1 Inch and a half Auger, 076 
 
 1 Hand-Saw, 076 
 
 2 Water Pales, at Is. 6d. each, 3 
 
 1 Window Sash, and Glazing, 050 
 
 1 Bake-Oven, 050 
 
 2 Pots, at 5s. each, 10 
 
 1 Kettle, 060 
 
 1 Fryingpan, 030 
 
 1 Teapot, 026 
 
 6 Small Tin Vessels, at 4d. each, 2 
 
 3 Large Tin Dishes, at 2s. 6d. each, ... - 076 
 
 6 Spoons, at 2d. each, 010 
 
 6 Knives and Forks, 050 
 
 3 Pairs of Blankets, at £1 6s. per pair, - - - 3 15 
 
 2 Rugs for Quilts, at 2s. 6d. each, 5 
 
 2 Pairs of Sheets, at 3s. per pair, --.-. 060 
 
 1 Smoothing Iron, 026 
 
 1 Pig, 15 
 
 Total, 
 
 £ 4 2 e 
 
 £10 7 i 
 £6G 2 1 
 
30 
 
 I* 
 
 IfiU'iiiL; thus ^ivtiii your Lurilbhip lui uiiliiualo -aiiJ that n lii^L 
 OHO— of tho cai)ital it would bo well for a sottlei" on wild land to bo pos- 
 sessed of, I shall proceed to show what return ho may reasonably 
 expect from such an Invcstmont, and tho length of tiino it would tako 
 hiai to repay tho amount, supposing it to have been lent him upon going 
 into" tlio liush." 
 
 I will then suppose tho man fjoes on to tho land on tho Ist. May, 
 ISoG. IIo can have two acres cleared and planted with j)otatoes by 
 21th .June. On tho LJlth August six acres more may bo \inderbrusl\od 
 iiiid eiiopped. It would tako him an equal time to " loy " it, — that is 
 to collect tho lofrs in piles so that they can bo readily burned oil', — were 
 ho to d<» it alone, but as tho " los^uiiiu' '' is usually done in a day, by 
 makin:: a " bee," which means the cailin!^ tc>getlier of his neighbors to 
 assist liini, and as ho is naturally expected to go to each or many of 
 them fur a day upon similar occasions, I give him to lilih October for 
 this exchange of labor. I then allow lihu until 1st Dercmbor to chop 
 firewood and leave matters snug for tho winter, when [ ahall suppose 
 him to '^o to a lumber shanty for four months at t!io low wa^es of £2 
 10s. a month, which will bring him i!lO. Tho timber of his eight acres 
 of land should have produced 480 bushels of ashes, and taking it for 
 granted that I'o had neither time nor a kettle to melL them into Potash, 
 I allow him to sell them at lid. a bushel, and they will realise £G. (If 
 made into Potash, which could bo easily done if any of his neighbors 
 owned a Potash Kettle, the 480 bushels would produce at least £15.) 
 Now this £(j, with £10 earn* d at the shanty, will, at the prices already 
 <|Uoted, leave on overplus of 7s. Gd. .'if'tcr payin>i for Pork, Flour and 
 Tea for the six UKHiths ending 1st November, 1857, wit]n)UL oven taking 
 into account the saving in Hour which his [)otatoes will ell'ect. By this 
 time his harvest will be gathered in, and his produce can be made avail- 
 able for future support. After his return from the lumber shanty on 
 the 1st of April, he ca- clear two acres, which, with the two acres cleared 
 the previous spring, and the six acres cleared during the summer, 
 leaves him 10 acres of cleared land, and about 120 bushels more of 
 ashos, worth £1 10s. This cleared land ho can plant with three acres 
 of wheat, five of oats and two of potatoes, for all of which I have already 
 set down cost of seed ; and as a fair average j'ield of spring wheat raised 
 ill nev.' ground will bo 20 bushels to the acre, he will have sufficient to 
 produce twelve barrels of flour ; and allowing him six barrels, which, 
 with his potatoes, will be enough for his own use, he will also have a 
 surplus of six barrels, which being sold as low as £1 15s i)er barrel, 
 gives X'lO 10s, and £4 ol' this sum laid out in [)ork, would, with his own 
 hog, leave him quite as much as I allowed hiiii for the first year. Now, 
 then, ho is provisioned till November 1858, and £S still remain to him. 
 The five acres of oats should provluco 175 bushels, ami this sold at 2s. 
 would bring £17 lOs. The yield jf his four acres of potatoes, that is, two 
 acres each year, should bo about 800 bushels, and leaving him half that 
 quantity for homo consumption, and the feeding of two or three hogs, 
 400 bushels would yet remain, and at the unusually low figure of Is. 
 od per bushel they would bring £25 5s. Thus making by ashes, sur- 
 plus, fiour, oats, and potatoes £50 10s. From this sum I must uow 
 
31 
 
 deiUicL £>i 5a for the year's tea, herrings, salt, aiul seed, ^vll«»nt and 
 oats, as before, and this will still leave n balance of ,i'l2 Cs. Thu-*, 
 then, niny the family bo provisioned for two years anil a half and £42 
 53 realized hesidoi>i, from a capital of £!ji) '2s Id, and the prodiice of 
 ten acres of land, say in two years, as I Rive him till It ^la; IHoH tu 
 Kill his stuff. Takin:^ it for jiranled, then, that the .summer of 1857 
 lias been spent as industriously as that of 185(5, and as ho canuiot yo a 
 bccond >v inter to a shanty, but must spend it in threshing, milling his 
 ijrain, and chopping, ho sliould have in all tsventy acres ready to ci'>p 
 by 1st June 1858. The land ^\ill now rc(iuiro pl'm<rhinji, and as the 
 children will bo the better of a little nilk, £20 nm^i go for a yoke of 
 oxen, c'Jlfura plough and chain, and ,1:5 for a cow, which reduces the 
 £i2 5sto<£13 5s, and this sum I allow for clothimi and incidental expen- 
 ses. For Soap or Candles I havo made no allowance, bocausu the for- 
 mer is usually home-made, from the house ashes and yreasc witliout 
 expense, and until circumstances improve, dry Pine or Cedar may bo 
 used as a substitute for the latter. Iniporled ^upar is seldom seen by 
 settlers in the busb, but that which they themselves make from tho 
 sap of the maple tree answers all their puri)oses (luite as well. Tho 
 process of sugar making is extremely simple, and being unuUonded by 
 any expen.se, all .settlers make a little, while some make and sell a great 
 deal annually. The third year will, of course, biir.ir much larger profits 
 to our settler than the two proceeding, and as it will eiial)le him to add 
 some sheep, a horse and additional caltlo to lis stock, I consider him 
 independent, and I think that on the 1st May, 1861, ho should bo able 
 to repay with interest, and without iuconveuleucc, tlie capital lent him 
 upon going into tho bush in 1850. 
 
 I have thus endeavored briefly to prove .y your Lordshii» tho ad- 
 vantages thiit aj)pertain to the occupation of Tiirming in this junrt of tho 
 Province, and I trust tho calculations I have made will be deemed clear 
 and reasonable. For my own part I am perfectly satisfied I have not 
 over-estimated any item to the advaniage of the settler, and I trust 
 I havo made it apparent that the Valley of the Ottawa offers the bless- 
 ings of a happy home, and the certainty of ultimate and not remote 
 independence to the sober, honest and industrious husbandman. 
 
 The foregoing calculations being only intended to show what 
 amount of capital i.s sufficient to place a man entirely beyond all 
 dajigcr of dijjicidty or distress, it must not therefore be supposed 
 that the energetic and self-reliant man of family may not safely 
 venture to Canada with a less sum than £56. Few, and but 
 very few indeed, of the agricultural immigrants to this Province, 
 who are now so independent, were the fortunate owners of £10 
 when they had reached these shores. In most cases the men 
 
came first, and vrhen tiiey had earned a few pounds lent them 
 home to bring out the other members of the family. Young 
 boys, and even girls, have not unfrequently been the pioneers of 
 the household, and soon made homes here where their aged parents 
 passed the autumn of their days in peace and plenty. 
 
 To the man who can afford to employ others to clear his land 
 by " task work," the cost will vary from £2 10s. to £4> per 
 acre, according to the quantity of underbrush and timber that ma^ 
 be on it. 
 
 By referring to a map of North America it will be'seen that 
 a connexion between the head waters of the Ottawa and Lake 
 Huron may easily be formed via. Lake Nippissing, French River 
 and Georgian Bay. Tb'^se the Government are now having sur- 
 veyed with the view to test their practicability for a great Ship 
 Canal, by which Canadian produce, and that of some of the West 
 ern States may be taken to Europe without transhipment, and by 
 a shorter route than aitY >ther at present known. The surveys 
 will soon be completed, and as th^re ^s little doubt they will be 
 favorable to the building of the Canal, it iq prohabJe that 
 this grand project will be soon commenced. It is also in- 
 tended to construct a railway from Quebec, through t^e Valley of 
 the Ottawaj, on to L^ke Huron. The Company for this gigantic 
 enterprise was incorporated in the last Session of the Parliament 
 pf Canada, and is to receive from the Government a grant of 
 4,000,000 acres of the land through which the road will pass. 
 What the entire effiects of these splendid works may be upon the 
 future of Canada it is impossible for the human mind accurately 
 to comprehend. But jf permitted to make deductions for the 
 future from the data afforded by the past, and if the opinions of 
 
 
it 
 
 •age men, who hare grown grey in the carrying out of lucb un^ 
 dertakings be worth attention, then, indeed, must we be true be- 
 lievers in the success of the Ottawa Ship Canal and the North 
 Shore Railway, and faaVe equal faith in the glorious destiny 
 which awaits our splendid country. 
 
 In a document, such as this, written for the information of 
 those who have resolved it try their luck iii a new country, th^ 
 writer feels that the character of the inhabitants of the Ottawa 
 Valley must not be overlooked, or but lightly and carelessly touch- 
 ed upon. A strict sense of conscientious obligation will render 
 his delineation of it entirely free Irom every trait of prejudice or 
 Ipartiality ; ais he is fully sensible of ,the importance that those 
 who may be disposed to leave the land of their fathers, and bid 
 adieu for ever to the fondly cherished friends of their youth, 
 should know correctly the moral standard that prevails in the 
 country where they are about to make new homes, and the proba- 
 ble amount of danger to the morals of their children from associa- 
 tion with its people. 
 
 The inhabitants of the Ottawa country are of various ori- 
 gins, but are chiefly English, Irish, Scotch and French Cana- 
 dians. Amongst them the leading Christian denominations ar6 
 Well represented, and each particular creed can boast of worthy 
 ministers and faithful followers. Geilerally speak'ng religious or 
 political acerbity is almost unknown here ; the people of all creeds 
 And shadea of politics are so mixed up in business, and are so de- 
 pendant upon each other, that they cannot afford to quarrel about 
 their particular forms of worship, or their political predilections, 
 even though their better judgments did not interpose to prevent 
 Hmtt. No doubt a fanatic, or political trader, ii occasion-' 
 
\ 
 
 It 
 
 Mil 
 
 
 34 
 
 ally io be met with, but such characters receive liitle encou- 
 ragement, and fortunately for the country their number is not in- 
 creasing. " Peace and good will" between man and man may, 
 forsooth, be said to be the characteristics of the Ottawa country, 
 for although wide differences of opinion do, and ever must exist, 
 yet such unfriendly feeliiigs as they may generate, are, with but 
 few exceptions, restrained within becoming bounds by Christian 
 charily, commoa sense, and an earnest desire for the general weal. 
 
 Hospitality is a virtue freely practised by all, from the highest 
 io the lowest, and the stranger, whoever or whatever he may be, 
 is always sure of receiving kindness and encouragement ; for, in all 
 probability, the position in which the recipient may now be, is 
 identical with that in which the doner himself was some few years 
 previously. 
 
 The laws of tlie country are efficiently administered, the 
 rights of property are respected, and every species of crime is 
 comparatively trifling. The following paragraph, from a local 
 journal, will corroborate this statement : 
 
 " Jail to Lkt ! ! — Tho Perth Jail is now and has been for some 
 time past without a single occupant. When it is considered tliat Perth 
 is the County Town " for the largo Counties of Lanark and Renfrew, 
 this fact speaks well for the morality of the people — long may it be so." 
 
 Comment on the foregoing would, it is hoped, be deemed 
 superfluous, unless it be to state that the United Counties so 
 spoken of embrace an area of about 2,500 square miles, and con- 
 tain a population exceeding 40,000 ! 
 
 . It now remains but to add a fev? remarks on the climate of 
 this country, of wiiich so great a horror'seems to be entertained by 
 
35 
 
 those whose only knowledge of it consists in knowin<r " ihat it is 
 very hot in Summer, and very cold in Winter." 'Tis quite true 
 that the Canadian Summers are hot, and the Winters long and 
 cold, but still who that ever lived in this Province will venture to 
 assert that its climate is not as healthful as that of any other por- 
 tion of the globe ? Farming operations are usually begun about 
 the middle of April, and continued till 1st December, about 
 which period the snow generally falls, and remains until the end of 
 March. The clearing of the land, however, is most frequently 
 done in winter, and threshing and milling are also exclusively winter 
 employments. Besides purifying the atmosphere, and enriching 
 the earth, the frost and snow fill up raud-holes, almost impassable 
 in Summer, and convert Lakes and Rivers into excellent roads, 
 over which the farmer takes large sleigh loads of produce to the 
 mill and to the market. In the preservation of meats the frost is 
 also of very great advantage. It obviates the necessity of feeding 
 fat cattle or poultry through the winter, and thus saves an incal- 
 culable amount of labor and expense. As before stated the cat- 
 tle are permitted to roam at large through the woods in summer, 
 and in the fall such as are intended for beef are in fine condition. 
 When the cold weather sets in they are slaughtered, and the meat 
 be'ng allowed to freeze, and being then put in a cold place, it keeps 
 perfectly fresh till spring. Poultry are preserved by the same 
 simple process, and milk may also be kept through the winter in 
 frozen cakes, — a lump being chopped off and thawed out as occa- 
 sion may require. Were it not for the frost and snow, and the 
 length of time they continue, lumberers cuuld not draw their tim- 
 ber from the woods to the streams, neither would the latter be 
 sufficiently deep to float it to the larger rivers only for the in- 
 
If 
 
 rlii 
 
 36 
 
 grease to their waters received by the melting snow in Spring. 
 In short, however much the length and severity of our Canadian 
 winters may frighten those unaccustomed to them, and ignorant of 
 the many blessings which they bring, but for them the climate 
 would be less healthful, the soil less fruitful, the valuable*products 
 of the forest could never be made subservient to the use of man, 
 fmd Canada would not be, what she now undeniably is, a pros- 
 perousi a progressive, and a happy country. 
 
 T. P, FRENCH, 
 Agent for the Ottawa and Opeongo j??afl<?^ 
 
 Mount St. Patrick, 
 
 Canada West, 
 J^ebruary, 1857. ^ 
 
 Wiwi i in i i umm mi0igmm0mmmim 
 
 tDtukv^Tinr ■■''■V'--- 
 
Spring, 
 inadian 
 rant of 
 climate 
 roducta 
 f man, 
 I pros- 
 
 ^tm(i^ 
 
 '•wiBJW^ '*V