LETTER IX. MORE PARTICULAR SKETCH OF THE DIFFERENT DISTRICTS SETTLE EASTERN, INCLUDING JOHNSTOWN AND BATHURST-ITS COMMER- -- AND WESTERN DISTRICTS UNTIMBERED LANDS, COMMONLY CALLED PLAINS OPINIONS OF THE INDIANS ABOUT THEM, &C. HAVING given you a slight sketch of the whole Province of Upper Canada, I shall now attempt a more particular description, and speak of each District separately. This is the more necessary as they differ greatly in their soil and climate, as well as in their commercial and agricultural advantages. In the EASTERN DISTRICTS, including those of Ottawais, Johnstown, and Bathurst, the soil is in general of an inferior quality: Yet those townships which are watered by the Grand River and the St. Lawrence, are said to be exceedingly fertile. In many parts, however, the land is much too swampy, and composed of a cold clayey loam, -circumstances which, in Canada, wholly preclude the possibility of making good roads. The proximity of these districts to the Montreal market, and the facilities which their direct watercommunication with the Atlantic affords, would, in the eyes of a superficial observer, give them a decided preference to every other district in the Province; but the severity of the climate more than counterbalances these great advantages, and renders them far less desirable, as places of residence for agriculturists, than many of the more remote townships on the shores of Erie and St. Clair. It is of little advantage to a farmer to find a convenient market, if he has nothing to dispose of; and from the general character of the Eastern districts, there is no great probability that the inhabitants will ever have a surplus produce of any considerable amount. Winter-wheat is a very uncertain crop, ever in their best soils, and Indiancorn seldom arrives at maturity: Both these unpropitious results are owing to the severity of the climate. Early frosts in the Autumn, and late ones in the Spring, too frequently render abortive the exertions of persevering industry. I am intimately acquainted with a gentleman, who for more than 20 years resided in one of these Districts, and who is now in that of London. He has repeatedly declared to me, that he would rather have 50 acres of land in either of the Western districts, than 500 in the most productive townships in that 4 of Ottawais, Johnstown, or Bathurst. He says, few farmers in those districts, on an average of ten years, succeed in raising a sufficient quantity of "bread-stuff" for their own consumption, and consequently never think about cultivating any for market. The MILITARY SETTLEMENTS of Perth, Richmond, and Lanark, comprising some of the best townships in the District of Bathurst, have been so fortunate as to engross the almost exclusive attention of Government. Assistance has, in various ways, been afforded to the settlers, who are not subject to many of those enormous fees which are exacted from the inhabitants of other townships. The Government selected this spot as a settlement for several half-pay officers, and soldiers discharged from the various regiments that had served in the Canadas. I dare say, they are sufficiently contented with the allotments assigned; and most heartily do I wish them all the happiness which they can derive from contemplating poisonous swamps, blighted corn, and frozen cucumbers. Such sights are, to say the least, as well calculated to cheer and elevate the spirits of men, As stormy floods and carnage-cover'd fields: But the ameliorating effects which human industry gradually produces on the rugged face of nature, are beheld with satisfaction in several parts of this District. Already have the fields begun to wear a more smiling aspect; the woods disappear, and some of the obstinate morasses have yielded to the arts and labour of the husbandman. The village of PERTH, which is the only one of any consequence in the Military Settlements, is rapidly increasing both in extent and population. It now contains three places of worship, a gaol, court-house, and market-place, with a variety of decent-looking private buildings. Perth is the depôt, from which such of the settlers as are furnished by Government with provisions and implements of agriculture, obtain their supplies. And many of the officers, to whom I have alluded, reside in the village and its environs. Those of our settlers who separated from us at La Chine, have taken up their abode in the vicinity of Perth,-I think in the township of Goulburn. I have seen letters from several of them, which speak of the soil being very rich, but rather swampy; notwithstanding which, every one appears perfectly satisfied with his situation. These Districts are settled by men of different nations. In the county of Glengary, the inhabitants are almost exclusively Scotch: In the Military Settlements, the majority are Irish, and the rest Scotch and English. Along the banks of the St. Lawrence, from Glengary to the Eastern line of Plattsburgh, Americans, Hollanders, and Germans, are, for the most part, the owners of the soil. The three Districts comprise about 35,000 inhabitants. + See page 83. To The communication between Upper and Lower Canada, from MONTREAL to KINGSTON, was till lately by the route of the St. Lawrence; and as the opposite bank of this river was, for part of that distance, an enemy's country, during the late war, the transportation of stores, troops, or merchandize, along that line, was accomplished with much risk and inconvenience. The numerous straits and rapids in the river, between the two Provinces, afford an enemy good opportunities for intercepting supplies and injuring commerce. obviate this difficulty, was an object which long occupied the attention of Government: After several schemes had been devised, it was at length resolved to improve the navigation of the Ottawais, or Grand River, which flows into the St. Lawrence only a few miles above Montreal. For more than 120 miles from its junction up to Nepean, the point at which land-communication is intended to begin, the Ottawais is navigable, with the exception of one part, in which a dangerous rapid occurs, called "the Long Sault:" This, however, will be avoided, by a canal of twelve miles, six or eight of which are now finished under the direction of Government. From Nepean, a grand military road has been commenced, which will soon be completed: It will then afford a good and uninterrupted line, upwards of 120 miles in extent, through a fine country, every part of which will soon be thickly settled and well cul M 3 |