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PhoiDgraphic

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INFORMATION

BE».ATrVE TO TUB

CANADIAN COMPANY.

LONDON :

PRINTED BY W. MARCHANT, INGRAM-COURT,
FENCHURCH-STREET.

1824.

ih^iGl

INFORMATION

RELATIVE TO THE

CANADIAN COMPANY.

It is proposed, after giving a slight sketch of the
present state of Upper Canada, briefly to point
out the benefits to be derived from the establish-
ment of a Company, for the purchase of the
Crown and Clergy reserves in that province.

Upper Canada, to which these observations
particularly refer, has been thus described:—

" The province of Upper Canada is situated
upon the north side of t'ie river St. Laurence,
Lake Ontario, Lake Erie, Lake Huron, Lake
Superior, Lake of the Woods, &c. and from

A 2

ihem.e upon a line undefined to the Pacific
Ocean.

" From Lower Canada, along this inland navi-
gation, which is so singularly convenient, beau-
tiful, and extensive, to the extremity of Lake
Superior, is a length of about thirteen hundred
and fifty miles, of an almost uninterrupted con-
tinuation of a fine fertile soil ; and, in every re-
spect, a most delightful country ; a very consi-
derable proportion of this extent, however, is
still unsettled. The settlements, at present, only
extend to Detroit, which is situate between Lake
Erie and Lake Huron, being a distance of about
five hundred and fifty miles from the border of
Lower Canada; but the fine climate, the supe-
riority of the soil, and the conveniences and ad-
vantages of local situation, are such that the
settlements are extending upwards very rapidly."*

Since the late American war, the whole of this
fine province has been in a state of languor and
depression. This appears to have been owing
to the folio '»nng causes : —

* Anderson*s Canada.

1st. During that war the settlers were obliged
to leave their peaceful occupations, and take up
arms in defence of their families and their pos-
sessions ; they had literally to fight pro aris et
focis. In consequence, their agricultural labours
were suspended, and their farms neglected. In
addition to this, in many instances, their houses
and properties were attacked, plundered, and
laid waste ; and, when peace allowed them to
return to their labours, many found themselves
quite destitute of the means of resuming them
with any effect.

2d. The stagnation in the demand for and the
consequent depreciation in the price of agricul-
tural produce which ensued after peace, not only
in America, but all over the civilized world,
cramped their energies and exertions, and pre-
vented them from effecting what their local ad-
vantages might otherwise have enabled them to
accomplish.

3d. The great delay which has taken place in
their obtaining a compensation from the mother-
country, for the actual damages they had sus-
tained during the war ;— the poverty of a great

proportion of the people, and their distance
from the seat of government, prevented, for a
Jong time, their employing an agent here, or
getting their claims put into a form that
could be recognised or taken notice of by his
Majesty's Ministers. At length that was effected,
and the documents were laid before Government,'
who immediately appointed Commissioners to
investigate the claims. Above £200,000 in
amount have already been allowed, and arrange-
ments made to pay them, so that this money will
soon be distributed in the Colony.

4th. The existence of the Crown and Clergy
reserves has been, universally and uniformly,
given as one great cause of the little improve-
ment the Colony has made of late years.*

5th. The mode in which fresh settlers have
been introduced into the Colony has also been

• In all tho l„l, ,vorkH „po„ Canada ll,i, (,a, teen re-
verted o and it has been ni.I ™„re parUcnIarly noticed in
the seatistical report, „hieh ,vere madt by the principal
nhab.ta„u of the different townships a L years ago
(extracts from these will be found in the Appendix ;) and'
above ,, ,„ ,fc, „^p^^^^ ofLegisIative cLmittees ap-
pointed to .pqMlre into the state of the Crown Land« .

frreatly against its progress. Instead of locating
them upon the lands in the neighbourhood of
the old colonists, they have been sent to form
fresh settlements in distant quarters. By thu^
scattering the population over a vast extent of
country, the physical strength of the Colony has
been much weakened, and the new settlers have
been subjected to great inconveniences and dis-
tress, and their progress much impeded.

After arriving at Quebec, and then undergoing
a passage up the river, frequently both tedious
and expensive, the emigrants find themselves,
upon their arrival in the upper province, under
the necessity of making a land-journey of 50 to
100 miles, on roads scarcely formed; over which
they have not only to convey themselves and
their families and baggage, but also all the pro.
visions, clothing, farming utensils, and imple^
ments they require, nothing ct the kind being
to be found among the wilds they are to inhabit.
On arriving at the place of their final destina*
tiou, they find themselves in a wilderness, with
every thing to be done, land to be cleared, houses-
to be built, roads to be made; and, while all

; I

this is doing, provisions and every thing wanted
have to be brought from a great distance, and at
a very great expense. Even with all these in-
conveniences, and under all these discouraging
circumstances, such are the natural advantages of
the country that above 10,000 emigrants annually
repair to it.

The proposed Company will make a wonderful
alteration in a country so gifted and so circum-
stanced.

1st. It will throw into the country that stimu-
lus which alone is wanting— capital.

2d. It will direct the tide of emigration into
an incomparably, more beneficial and useful
channel.

3d. The certainty of finding immediate em-
ployment, and that in cultivated districts, without
having to go into the wilds for it, will attract a
greater number of emigrants into the Colony.

4th. The settling of these upon lands partly
cleared and built on will much sooner call their
energies into action, and will enable them to
make a much quicker progress towards indepen-
dence and wealth. - .

5th. The extra demand for agricultural product
will encourage the old settlers to increased exer-
tions, and the employment that will be given to
them in clearing the lands will enable them to
become purchasers themselves of many of the lots.

6th. The attention of small capitalists in this
country will be attracted to the Colony. There
are at present in Great Britain a number of
persons of small fortune who, since the fall in
the value of money, and the difficulty of em-
ploying it to advantage, are at a loss to
support themselves and families, and have,
therefore, been looking out for countries to
emigrate to. As matters have hitherto been
conducted, however, no one of that description
would ever entertain an idea of going to Canada
to place himself and family in a wilderness,
at a distance from all habitations, with no neigh-
bours but the wild beasts of the forests, out of
reach of a church, and equally so of a market,
either for the disposal of his surplus produce or
the purchase of the necessaries he may require;
but inform such a man that he may purchase, at a
very moderate rate, a lot of rich and fertile land,

i:.^^

free of {itheii and poor-rates, with little or n6
taxes, situated in a cultivated district, with neigh-
hours on each hand, and where a very little la-
bour will open a communication with both church
and market, and he will immediately think of
going to such a quarter.*

7th. The capital of the Company, and its

* That this is no fanciful idea will distinctly appear from
the following facts. In the year 1822, a Mr. Nathaniel
Ward came over from Ohio to Glasgow, where he pub-
lished a smajl pamphlet, setting forth that he had numerous
tracts of valuable farming lands, in the several counties
of the State of Ohio, which he was willing to dispose of
in lots, from 40 up to 3,000 acres, at from 9s. to 42*. per
acre in the wood, according to quality and location. The
consequence of this was, that twenty individuals in Glas-
gow formed themselves in!o an association, which they
chose to call the " Glasgow Ohio Company," and purcha-
sed from him a site for a town and the territory around it,
consisting of 2,760 acres, for which they paid him £3,350,'
and they immediately sent a Committee out to take posses-
sion. A Report from that Committee, narrating their pro-
ceedings, has lately been published and circulated in
Glasgow, inviting others to settle on these lands. Now,
the land on the Ohio State is in general no better, if so'
good, as that in Upper Canada, and tfid climate is deci-
dedly worse, especially for people from a colder country,
it being so extremely ho* and. at times, d^mp and wet,'
that the ague-fever is almost universal on th^ Ohioi while
in Upper Canada it is scarcely known.

r *

power of acting will enable it to do more in teh
years, than could be effected by individuals in
half a century.

If such be the results that will flow from the
operations of this Company, its gains will be in
proportion. The value of the lands will rise
very considerably, in a short time it will be
doubled, tripled, quadrupled. Before thfe
war, it was calculated that the price of land
doubled every five years. Sir . the peace, it
has, for the reasons given, been almost sta-
tionary; but it will now rise rapidly.

It would be doing great injustice, however,
to the highly respectable gentlemen who have
already come forward in support of this measure,
or to those who may be expected to do so,
to suppose that they would confine their views
of the benefits to be derived from it to pecuniary
ones, without taking at all into consideration the
political, which It is conceived will be still greater
and more brilliant.

ist. By filling up the blanks in the old settle-
ments, the propulation will be concentrated, and

the physical strength of the Colony greatly aug-
mented.

2d. By the stimulus given to cultivation of all
kinds, the productions of the Colony will be pro-
portionally increased, and consequently its riches,
so that it will soon be able to relieve the mother-
country from a part, and in time from the whole
expenses of the administration of both provinces.
3d. The increased population along the line
of the river St. Lawrence and the lakes, where
the old settlements principally lie, will mul-
tiply the natural means of defence, and, by
augmenting the militia, will do away with the
necessity of keeping a large military force in the
country, and so save in that expense also.

4 th. The increase in population and wealth
will create an increased demand for the manu-
factures of the mother-country.

5th. The same causes will increase the exports
from the province; and it is calculated that
it may soon be able to supply Great Britain
with all vhe lumber, flax, hemp, &c. she
may require, and thus prevent her from being

immm

Jatly aug-

tion of all
II be pro-
its riches,
3 mother-
he whole
Tovinces.
;• the line
s, where
k^ill mul-
and, by
with the
2e in the
).

I wealth
i manu-

exports

ed that

Britain

c. she

1 being

under the necessity * pplying for those articles
to the countries of the Baltic, the governments of
which are taking such pains to exclude her ma-
nufactures and produce from their ports.*

6th. A more certain, easy, and beneficial
channel will be opened to relieve that redun-
dancy of population, under which this country
has been labouring for some years past, than any
that has yet been offered, and a considerable an-
nual expense will, in a great measure, be saved to
Government; while, at the same time, the
emigrants will be much better provided for.

It has been thought necessary to submit these
hasty sketches, because very little is known
respecting Upper Canada.

And to show that there is no exaggeration in
what has been stated, a few extracts from diffe-
rent works published on that country, together
with some original communications, are subjoined.

• It may be remarked, that one of the objections made
to Canada (that she is frost bound half the year) is equally
applicable to those northern countries, with whom, how-
ever, Great Britain has carried on for centuries a very
great trade, without experiencing inconvenience from that
circumstance.

( 1

APPEiNDIX.

Extracts from Books of Travels and Private
Communications.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION.
From St. Ann's, upvrards, to the border of Upper Canada,
which IS about sixty miles above Montreal, being a length of
about one hundred and seventy-five miles upon both sides
of the St. Lawrence ; and from the border of Lower Canada
upwards, to the extremity of the settlements of the upper
province at Detroit, being an extent of about five hundred
and fifty miles upon the north banks of the St Lawrence and
the lakes, makes, from St. Ann's, upwards, a length of
about seven hundred and twenty-five miles of a beautiful
and level country. The general characteristics of the face
of the country, throughout this vast extent, afford but little
diversity in point of appearance. The kinds of soil, how-
ever, consist of considerable variety: but that which mostly
prevails is d strong deep loam, which in many parts consist,
of a mixture of rich blue clay and friable earth. This is a
kind of soil which, in whatever country it is found
generally constitutes that of the best quality.

i 1^1

{\ i

f ■ H

! ill

A large proportion of this vast extent of country is of the
first-rate quality, and the average of the whole may be said
to be excellent.

Reckoning to the depth of about fifty miles from the
St. Lawrence and the lakes, (which depth would include all
the land yet granted by the British government,) perhaps
there is scarcely ^o be found, either in Europe or America,
a tract of country equal to this in extent, which compara-
tively contains so large a proportion of a first-rate quality of
land; and certainly there is not in any other part of the
United States, excepting Louisiana, and other parts upon
the west side of the Allegany mountains, and upon the
banks of the St. Lawrence and its lakes, an equal territory,
wherein even one-third of the first-rate soil would be found.
Indeed, in many parts of this vast country, there are oc-
casionally to be found uninterrupted tracts of land of a first
quality, even to the extent of a hundred miles in length ;
whereas, in most countries, one-third of that extent of an
uninterrupted range of such quality is rarely to be met
with. — Anderson.

Nature has, probably, done more for Upper Canada than
for any other tract of country of equal extent; and Art
seems to conduct herself upon the modest principle that it
would be an act of unpardonable presumption in her to
attempt the further improvement of a country so greatly
indebted to the kind indulgence of her elder sister. Here is
the fairest field for the exercise of human industry and in-
genuity ;— a soil not only capable of producing in abundance^
all the necessaries of life, but equal to the culture of its
greatest luxuries !~a climate not only favourable to the hu-,
man constitution, but, also, eminently calculated for the'
cultivation of every species of grain and fruit. And yet, so',
great is the delusion under which many Europeans stijl la-'
bour with respect to the real character of this fine country,!

that most ot those who have not seen it compare it in
imagmation, with the deserts of Siberia, and receive all that
travellers relate in its favour with no more candour than can
be expected from persons who evince no wish to be unde-
coived. Its real advantages, however, are now becoming so
well appreciated by the inhabitants of Great Britain, that, on
a moderate calculation, it annually receives an accession of
eight thousand European settlers, in addition to those who
pass over from the American confines.-E.A. Talbot, on Ca^
nada, just published.

In most parts of the world, and even in the United
States, a most erroneous opinion has been formed of th^
clunate of Canada. So strong is the force of prejudice,
that the word Canada suggests the idea of a country bound
up with ice, covered with snow, and desolated with per^
petual winter. Now, on the contrary, the climate, par-
ticularly that of Upper Canada, is a very fine one. In
the winter, indeed, there is a great deal of cold; but then
It IS a pure clear cold, that enables a person, who is well
clad, to take a great deal of agreeable exercise in the opert
air, uninterrupted by thaws or wet. There is no Spring,
but a Summer of intense heat comes on at once. On the
sixth of June, at the Falls of the Niagara, my pocket
thermometer stood at 84° in the shade, and in the sun
the heat was nearly insupportable. On the same day I saw
two humming birds on the Canadian side of the river. This,
which was only the commencement of the hot weather, may
give some idea of the heat in July and August.

I should consider both New York and Canada far pre-
ferable to the Prairies of the West, not only on account
of proximity to markets, but because the climate Js in-
comparably more healthy. So strongly am I persuaded of
this, that I would r&ther pos-ess a farm of 200 acres in
the Western part of the State of New York or in Upper Ca^

i! I

.* .1

S^^: th»B one of thre^ times the exieat in Iqdi<m^, JJAinQi^,
9/ MktiQv.n,-^AH Ex<i»r8i9H throMgh ths United, ^qif^ Qn4.

CLIMATE, Winds, &c. > . .: >

r. % cli^aate, is not iaten^e^ the situation of the province
ift teference to. degrees of latitude, but the ge^eral tempera-
ture pf the ait This is, iu som^ nieasure, aflfected by
the winds, which, also, are influenced by the configura-
tion of the country into mpuntaips, valleys, beds of
rivers, &c.

The prevailing winds of Upper Canada are the south-
-west, the north-.east, ajid the nojrth-west. In sum-
mer ihp wind blows two-thirds of th? time down stream,
that is from the south-west. As it passes over the lakes
^e air collects ^ moisture, which excitps an unpleasant seiir
»>|tion. In spring and autumn this wind is sometimes
quite uncomfortable. However, comp^ed with the north-
east axtd nprthrwest, it is generally njc)derate. The north-
east is 4amp and chilly, but not to such a degree as at
:fyisififx and other pl^pes. on the Atlan-^c board. The longest
ftprn^s of, r^n and the, deepest, fall pf snow are usually
accompanied by easterly winds, The north-west, which is
m»»% fr«quent in wiuter, is d^y, cold, and elastic. The
^s^tt^-east is soft, thawy, and raiuy. The wind blows less
^requeBtly from the west and sou^, ^ stiU mo^ seldom
from due north.

. Almost every day in the sun^m^r, especially when the
^d blows from th^ south-wpst, it rises about nine or ten
sk*^\%fik in the foreAqpn,^^ ^pRtinuesto increase ia strength
till tpwards evening, wh^ft it gradua^y lulls away;
r This ordiawgr s^at? pf thet winds- is conformable to the
•^ape of the cpufttry. Upper Canada is generally level,

Y 1 T "u " "^^ '^J'*^"' '^^ '^^ Vermont aod Ken
York. The broad valley which extend, from the lower pro-
Twce along the St. Lawrence, around Ontario and LMe
and thence over to the Ohio, i. not interrupted by one sinrie
moun^n IT.e descent of 300 feet from'the jiain of Eri

7^ol Tlu "'* -<^^ - »t-«Ption Eastward
of the Oh.0, the Alleganian chain from the south stretches
up mto the state of New York ; and south-east of Ontario
m the American states, there is a range of highlands, spread^
ing from the Black River towards Lake Champlain. On
that elevated ground about the Black River, the snow is
commonly deeper, and the cold more severe than on thfc
north side of Lake Ontario.

The south-west wind, which sweeps this country, i, a
conunuauon of the vast etherial stream impelled from the
Gulf of Mexico, along the basin of the Mississippi, the Ohio
the lakes, and their rivers, to the Gulf of St. Lawrence '
commg from a warm region it imparts warmth to the climate
as It passes. On the Mississippi side of the Alleganies th*
air IS generally considered to be warmer by two or three
degrees of latitude than on the Atlantic side. Some natural
cause, probably the same, produce, a similar, perhaps not
equal, effect on the climate of Upper Canada, where the feet
has been philosophically determined by an accurate series
of thermometncal observations, that the cold is less severe
than It is m corresponding degree, of latitude in Maswt-
chusetts. New Hampshire, and Vermont. This is the
uniform dedaratkm of inhabitants, who, from their own- re-
sidencemboth situation., are qualified to form a just com.
parison. (^ntlemen setUed on the Bay of Quinte, who
once resided m the state of New York, have assured me,
W the chmate of their present residence i. not colder ^an
that of Albany. A similar assurance was expresired byi«
Qb^ervmg inhabitant of Windham, in the county oTNuIik,

B 2

1 1 I 1
•' 1 1 I

1 1

who formerly lived in Duchess county, in the state of New
York, and who thinks there is no material difference in the
temperature of those two places. Many of the settlers in
the vicinity of Niagara, and at the head of Lake Ontario,
emigrated from New Jersey. By conversing with a number
of them, men of intelligence and observation, I found it to
be their opinion, that they enjoy as mild a climate as they did
before their emigration, notwithstanding the difference of
more than two degrees of latitude. Such appears to be the
concurring testimony of those inhabitants, who have had
sufficient personal opportunities of comparing the climate of
this interior with that of the Atlantic states, which, although
corresponding with the eastern shores of Asia, in respect to
cold and heat, are known to be colder than the same pa-
rallels in the west of Europe.

The land-crab, an animal of warm climates, is seen upon
the north shores of Lake Erie.

It is the belief of the inhabitants here, that their winters
are less rigorous and snowy than they were when the
province was first settled. A snow which fell in February,
1811, about two feet and three inches deep, was every where
•poken of as remarkable for its depth.

Snows are not so liable to drift here as in the more hilly
districts of New England; nor so much exposed to the
thawing influence of south-eastern winds as in places nearer
the sea-board. Yet sleighing, although a pleasant mode
of travelling, and very convenient for transportation,
especially when summer roads are new and incomplete, is
«ubject to too much uncertainty from the fluctuations of
■weather, to be safely depended upon, even here, for distant
journeys.

The climate of Upper Canada is favourable to health and
kngevity. At the first settlement, indeed, in common with
all new countries, this was afilicted with the fevers incident

!' !i

:2i

16 that stage of cultivation ; but those effects ceased with
their cause, and ^he country is now very healthy. Thi»'
opinion is founded upon the information of medical gentle-
men and others, confirmed by observation and my own
personal experience. I have found travelling and residing
ia it to be salutary and restorative to a feeble constitu-
tion. — Qourlay.

The general character of the climate of Upper Canada
may be designated as varm and good; but these two cha-
racteristics vary under particular circumstances, and exist
in proportions somewhat unequal.

From the eastern boundary of the province to Kingston,
tod between the St. Lawi-encc and Ottawas rivers, its pro-
portion of warmth is least ; from Kingston to the head (or
north-western border) of Lake Ontario, and southward of
the line of small lakes and rivers which intersect the coun-
try between Lake Ontario and the Ottawas, the proportion
of warmth is somewhat greater. From the head of Ontario
to Port Talbot on Lake Erie, including the Niagara district,
the warmth increases; and its greatest degree is from Port
Talbot to the Detroit and St. Clair rivers. The western ex-
tremity, as it has permanently a greater proportion of heat,
80 may it, perhaps, in very hot and dry seasons, be a shade
less healthy than the other parts of the province. Such
seemed to be the case in the summer of 1819, when a de-
gree and a continuance of warmth was experienced, greater
than had been known for the preceding twenty years : and
when, amidst the universal sickliness which prevailed in both
provinces, that of the western district of the upper province
seemed somewhat to preponderate.

Perhaps, however, it would be impossible more strongly
to characterise the general salubrity of the climate than by
recording the fact, that in a season, wherein arose such art
extraordinary concurrence of unhealthy influences, as those

( I,'

I'll

1 I'

ilill

I n

iillll

Which mk ^lft% io that •ummer ; and when a limilar paraf.
W •f Waijte -■ the Uniud Htates was visited will* that
dr^fol disease, which is commonly cMcd the yellow fever,
W^r Canada, including us western distn. ^ experienced
©nly a l, /er of a mUd a. '^ totaUy non-infectious type, tedi-
o»«, indeed, and perplexing, but, generaUy speaking, very
far fi\,tii '1 tngjerous. — Stewart.

SOILS, STONES, MINERALS, &c.
Upper Canada is the most fertile British province in Ame-
rica. It contains a variety of soils, but that which predo-
mmates is composed of brown clay and loam, with a small
portion of marie intermixed. This compound species of
■oil, m various proportions of the component parts, prevaiU
m the eastern, Johnstown, Midland, and Niagara districts,
not, however, without some excepUons. Around the Bay
of Quinte it is more clayey, especially near the lake shore
where it resembles the soil of the country about Lancaster!
m Pennsylvania, and is rich and productive.

Throughout these districts, generally, it rests on a bed
of limestone, which lies in horizontal strata, a few feet be-
neath the surface; and, in some places, rises to the surfacei
of the ground. In colour, this stone is of different shadet
of blue, interspersed with grains of white quartz; it is used
for building, and is manufactured into excellent lime by an.
easy process of calcination. It also enriches and invigorates
the soil

The hmestone of Niagaia district differs from the rest,
both m colour and quality, being gray, and not so easily
calcined into lime. .

The front of NewcasUe district is of a rich black soil. Ai
Bome distance back, towards the Rice Lake, there is a sandx
plain. ^

A numbe. * townships in the east riding of York, an4

ilar paral-
witli thftt
How fever,
:perienced
ype, tedi-
Ling, very

i in Ame-
ch predo-.
h a small
pecies of
, prevails
districts,
the Bay
ce shore,
ancaster,

>n abed
' feet be-
s surface!
t shadet
t is used
le by an
'igoratea

ihe restf
easil};

ioil. At
asaodj^

rk, aii4

lh« land on the Ouse, or Grand river, and the Thariies
festittibles the front of I iwcastle, in reip-^-ct to toil.

At York, and thence through Yon gt -street, the soil it
fertile, but stones are so scarce that thei is a want J thetA
for common uses. There is likewise a scarcity of stones in
several townships bordering upon Lakes Erie ai 1 Sinclair,
and the Detroit

Barton, Ancaster, and other places around the head of
Lake Ontario, are a light sandy soil ; so is a considerable
tract near the shuve of Lake Erie.

Notv.lth«t tnding the predominance of calcareous stones,
there are other kinds, as granite and sandstone ; but not in
so large quantities, except in the north-western regions,
Where Mr. M'Kenzie says granite abounds.

In the Indian land, opposite to the Delaware township,
oh the river Thames, there is a quarry of soft freestone, of
k dark colour, very useful for buildings. It extends a quar-
ter of a mile on the bank of the river ; the Indians hew it
out in long blocks with their axes ; it will not endure the
heat of fire.

Near the (Jananequi Lake there is found a soft stone, of
a smooth oily surface ; it is called soap-stone, and is useful
for inkstands and various other utensils.

Gypsum is obtained in large quantities in Wilson's town-
ship (now Dumfries), on the Grand river, north of Dundas-
Btreet. A gentleman, accustomed to the use of that of New
Bnmswick, has examined and used this, and pronounced it
to be equally good for purposes of man'ufacture or manure.
In a new comtry manures are less needed, and, therefore,
Ic^s valued than in districts of old worn-out land. But
plaster- will, probably, be an article of value even here, a#
it has longbben in places of similar soil in Pennsylvania, and
has- begun to be in the western parts; Of the state of New
York.

•■"i,

;! ■ :

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iff

ni!

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I i

iii

.Marie abounds, more or leas, in- every district of the pro-
vince. It is of different colours in different places ; that of
Woodhouse and Charlotteville, near Long Point, is of a
bluish, or lead colour.

Clay, proper for bricks, is frequent ; and some of it is of
a quality suitable for potter's ware; there is a large mass of
that description in a marsh in Ernest townj it is blue, and
unmixed with other substances.

Pipe-clay, of a good quaUty, is found at Burlington
Heights.

In the township of Rodney there is a bed of that species
of fine calcareous earth, which is known in commerce by the
name of whiting, or Spanish white, and which is used in
painting, and for putty, and in the manufacture of fine
wares.

Brick buildings, however, have not become common; and
but little potter's ware, coarse or fine, is manufactured in
the country.

There is plenty of iron-ore in some places, particularly in
Charlotteville, about eight miles from Lake Erie. It is cf
that description which is denominated shot-ore, a medium
between what is called mountain-ore and bog-ore ; the iroo
made of it is of a superior quality.

Black lead is found on the shores of the Gananoqui Lake,
and in some other places, chiefly in the eastern section of
the province.

Yellow ochre is dug up in Gananoqui, and in the township
of Ernest town. — Gourlay.

The surface, to the depth of several inches, is composed
almost entirely of decayed vegetable matter. The withered
leaves, strewed by every autumn, speedily decompose and
unite with the soil; and a thin layer being thus added an-
nually, a stratum of considerable thickness is soon formed,
which has hitherto been allowed, in most places, to accu-

»f the pro-
i& l that of
It, is of a

of it is of
^e mass of
blue, and

Surlington

at species
rce by the
i used in
e of fine

non; and
ictured in

cularly in

It is of

medium

the iron

}ui Lake,
ection of

township

omposed
withered
ose and
ded ani-
formed,
to accu^

raulate without disturbance from the plough or harrow.
Fallen trees likewise add a great deal to the surface by their
decomposition : they may be observed in all stages of decays
from simple rottenness to that of absolute disintegration,
A soil of this description, as you may easily conceive, is
rather too rich for the common purposes of agriculture; and
consequently the first crops never are^so good as those that
follow. As a proof of its luxuriant quality, I may mention,
that two fields were pointed out to me which had been crop-
ped twenty-one years in succession, without receiving any
manure whatever. That part of the soil which has been,
some time under cultivation presents an appearance superioc^
to any thing of the kind I have ever seen ; being formed,
entirely of a rich black loam resting upon a bed of clay.
This combination is peculiarly adapted for agricultural pur-
poses, as it possesses the double advantage of being easily
worked, and, under proper management, not capable of
exhaustion.

Indeed, were it not for the uncommon richness of the soil,
which yields profusely almost without cultivation, the set-
tlers could not obtain a subsistence from their farms until
after many years occupation. In sowing wheat they use the
small proportion of one bushel, and one bushel and a half,
to the acre. In England, three are required. This extra-
ordinary diflference can alone be accounted for by supposing,
that, in Upper Canada, the fertility of the ground causes
every individual grain to germinate and come to maturity.

Notwithstanding the quantity of labour necessary in clear-
ing a piece of land, the first crop seldom fails to afford a
return more than sufficient to repay all that iias been ex-
pended. The clearing, fencing, sowing, harrowing, and
harvesting an acre of waste land will cost about £5 : 5. The
prqduce is usually about twenty-five bushels of wheat,
which, on an average, are worth £6. After the land h?s

(

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I M

been ia crop, iU cultivation bfecoraes much lets expeiisive;
The cB8t of putting in a second croJ> (ploughing being tHen
uwessary), irtll ^ot exceed £t m^ ^u, i»hile the produed
will amount to perhaps thifty-five or forty bushels j tlt««
affording a clear profit of ftotti £4: 15 to £ 6 : m, aftet

£1:10, has been deducted for hamming and threshing.--
Howison.

PRODUCTIONS, NATURAL AND CULTIVATED.

In 1784, the whole country was one continued forest.
Some plains on the borders of Lake Erie, at the head of
Lake Ontario, and in a few other places, ^ere thinly wooded :
but, in general, the land in its natural state was heavily
loaded with trees; and, after clearing for more than thirty
years, many wide-spread forests still defy the settler's hier
The forest-trees most common are beech, maple, birch,
elm, bass, ash, oak, pine, hickory, butter-nUts, balsaffi,
hazel, hemlock, cheny, cedar, cypress, fir, poplar, syca-
itaore, (vulgarly called button-wood, from its balls resembling
buttons,) whitewood, willow, spruce. Of several of these
kinds there are various species; and there are other trees
less common. Chestnut, black walnut, and sassafras, al-
though frequent at the head of Lake Ontario, and thence
westward and southward, are scarcely to be seen on the
north side of that lake and the St. Lawrence. Near the line
between Kingston and Ernest Town a black walnut has been
planted, and flourishes and bears nuts.

The sumach, whose leaves and berries are used for a black
dye by the curriers here, and by the dyers of Manchester,
and other manufacturing towns in England, grows plenti-
fully in all parts of the country.

Elder, wild cherries, plums, thorns, gooseberries, blaek-
berries, raspberries, grapes, and many other bushes, shrubr,
and vines, abound. Wortleberries and cranberries (botii

i':il!,

tht tall and the low or viney) grow in some places, but not
generally throughout the province.

The sugar -maple is common in every district; its sap,
which is extracted in the spring, and from which molasses
and sugar are made, is useful to the inhabitants in the eariy
stages of their setUement, and might be rendered of more
extensive and permanent use by proper attention to the pre-
servation of the trees, the manner of tapping them, and
some practical improvements in tlie process of reducing the
sap to sugar. The wood, also, being beautifully veined and
curled) is valuable for cabinet-work.

The butter-nut tree is useful for various purposes; the
kernel of its nut is nutritious and agreeable to the taste. If
gathered when young and tender, about the first of July,
ti.e nut makes an excellent pickle. The bark dyes a durable
brown colour, and an extract fromit is a mild and safe ca-
thartic.

A healthy beer is made of the essence of spruce, and also
of a decoction of its boughs.

The juniper is an evergreen, the berries of which are used
here, as in Holland, in the manufacture of gin, and give to
that liquor its diuretic quality.

The prickly ash is considered to possess medical virtues.
A decoction of its berries, bark, or roots, is taken for rheu-
matic complaints.

Red cedar, being the most durable of all known woods
when exposed to the weather, is highly valued for fence-
posts and other similar works. It is also a beauUful material
for cabinet-work.

For a number of years past, large quantities of oak and
pine timber have been annually cut on the banks of the St
Lawrence and Lake Ontario, and its bays and creeks, and
flo?.ted down on rafts to the Montreal and Quebec marketa
for foreign exportation.

if 'I

la2-;.ii

i ilii

The principal fruit of Upper Canada is the apple. Th*
various species of this most useful of fruits grow in all the
districts, but most plentifully around Niagara, and thence
westward to the Detroit, where they have been cultivated
with emulation and success. No country in the world ex-
ceeds those parts of the province in this particular. In the
north-eastern townships, orcharding has not been so much
attended to, and, perhaps, the soil, although good for fruit,
is not so pecuUarly adapted to it But there are many con-
Wderable orchards, most of them young, and some valuable
nurseries of trees, not yet transplanted. A general taste
for apples and for cider, a beverage most suitable to this
phmate, begins to prevail.

Peaches flourish at Niagara, and at the head of Lake On-
tario, but not on the northern shore of that lake. Cherries,
plums, pears, and currants, succeed in every part of the'
country. Strawberries grow freely in the meadow, and are
culUvated with success in gardens.

Sarsai-ariUa. spikenard, gold thread, elecampane, lobelia,
bloodroot, and ginseng, are native plants. The latter root
Fhen dried, has a sweetish taste, similar to that of liquorice'
but mixed with a degree of bitterness and some aromatic'
y^armth. The Chinese esteem it very highly, and it might,
therefore, be a valuable article of exportation to China;
but tt seems to be neglected.

. Snake-root, also, is a native of this province. It is of a
pungent taste, and is stimulant and sudorific. The Indians
are said to apply it as a remedy for the bite of the rattlesnake
and hence its name is derived. *

Spearmint, hyssop, wormwood, winter green, water-
cresses, pennyroyal, catnip, plaintain, burdock, horehound,
»iotherwort, mallows, and many other aromatic and medi-
cinal plants are indigenous.
White clover springs up spontaneously as soon as the

lill

2n, water-

ground is cleared; greensward, also, is spontaneous. There
are several other native grasses. But red clover and most
of the useful species of grass must be sown, and then they
grow very well. The most common are timothy, herdsgrass^
foul meadow, and red clover. Lucerne is cultivated in some
places.

The soil, however, is not so favourable to grass as to
grain.

Wheat is the staple of the province. When the land was
first opened, the crops of this precious grain were luxuriant
They are still plentiful, although they become less abundant
as the land grows older.

Wheat that is sown as early as the first of September is
found to be less liable to be winter-killed, as it is termed,
than that which is later sown, the former being more firmly
rooted in the ground. As this injury from the frosts of win-
ter, or more commonly spring, is one of the principal causes
of a failure of crops, it is an object of importance to the
husbandman to seed his wheat-fields in good season. Some
years ago, when the country was infested by that destructive
insect, erroneously named the Hessian fly, it was dano-erous
to sow this grain early, because it was then more exposed
to the ravages of the insect; but, happily, that scourge of
agriculture is no longer felt here. ,

Other grains, such as rye, maize (here called Indian corh),
pease, barley, oats, buckwheat, &c. are successfully culti-.
vated. The township round the bay of Quente produces
large harvests of pease, and generally furnish supplies of that
article of provisions for the troops of the various garrisons.

Wild rice grows in marshes, and on the margin of lakes.
It has even given a name to the Rice Lake, a smaW
lake about twenty-five miles long from south-west to north-
east, and four or five miies wide, in the district of New-:
castle, north of Hamilton and Haldimand.

^ Wildiowla feed a«d 'atten on this .pontaneou, graio,
ke Indian, also gather it by thrusting their canoes into the
^t of it, and then beating it into the canoes ^ith sticks.
I^ey eat It themselves, and sell it to the white inhabitants,
who uae it in puddings and other modes of cookery. It is
rather larger than the Carolina rice, and its shell is of a
dark brown colour.

The soil in all districts of the province is adapted to flax
and m some of them to hemp. Legislative encouragement
has been given to the latter. Seed has been purchased and
distributed gratis; a bounty has been granted to the growers
of It m addition to the price they could obtain for it in the
market; and at last, a liberal price, above that of the mar-
ket, has been paid by government for the purchase of the
nemp, on public account

The gardens produce in abundance, melons, cucumbers,
tquashes, and all the esculent vegetables and roots that are
planted m them. The potato, that most valuable of all
roots, for the use both of man and beast, finds a congenial
and productive soil-^Gowiay.

The whole province produces abundanUy, when cultivated
•very kind of British grain, and pulse or vetches; together
with all the common fruits and vegetables of Britain, besides
others which Britain has not so commonly.
^ The maize, or Indian com, is raised in every part of if
but abundantly and securely only in the western districts.
In other parts it is apt to be blighted before it comes to ma-
turity, by the early autumnal frosts. Of course, this dis-
aster may occur in the western districts also, if the corn be
planted too late; but then it is the fault of the planting, and
not of the climate. ^

^ Tobacco is also produced in every part of the province j
but the western district is probably the only part where it
could be advantageously cultivated to commercial extent-

iiiii

and there it need have hardly any U»it but the m^fma and
.other views of the cultivator, U has been tji*4 Oft a fmall
scale near Amherstburgh, and has been judged ^qv»\ in ma-
nufacture to any obtained frooj th? United States,

AH the British fruits, &«, are congenial to tb^ province ;
but the garden gooseberry does not appear to thrive tn the
western district; although the gooseberry, in a wild state,
is universally indigenous.

The melon, in its various species, and the vine may be
everywhere reared with a facility unknown in England. The
wild vine, the fruit of which is small, harsh, and unpa-
latable, abounds throughout the forests.

The various species of plums appear to suffer, to the west-
ward, from too luxuriant a growth. But the peach and the
vine there seem to have found their congenial climate, and,
whenever cultivated, flourish abundantly with little care.
A superior kind of pears needs introduction. Their cherries
also, though abundant where cultivated, are not select. Gu^
rants thrive admirably.

Wild strawberries and blackberries are common in Cleara-
nus ; but the real raspberry is rare. A few other berries are
found; some plentifully. But the nuts are the pride of the
woods. Where you meet the apple or the plum, in the
forests, it is a diminutive, harsh, repulsive fruit The nuts,
on the contrary, seem perfectly at home. They tower, of
various kinds, amidst the lofty heads of the trees, and scat-
ter around their treasures, the natural granaries of the
squirrel, the hog, and the bear. They are.

The walnut, or black walnut, as it is caUed, of a peculiar
and rather disagreeable flavour.

The white walnut, or butter-nut, and the hickory-nut,
which much resemble each other, and both of which are ex-
cellent

The chestnut, equal to that in England.

ii'.t

'i ■ ■•)

' (l

' The filbert, of a good quality.

The beech-nut, and some others of an inferior description,
a store for quadrupeds.

None of these, I believe, are peculiar to any part of the
province; but it is in the western peninsula that they prin-
cipally abound. — Stewart.

t * ■

FLAX. '

Flax is raised throughout the country. The crops are
generally good ; and, indeed, in some instances, excellent.
This, however, appears to be a secret which the people do
not know, for so little is the management of this article un-
derstood, that notwithstanding the good crops which are
produced, it seldom turns out to be worth the trouble and
expense incurred in working it; and, perhaps, there is
hardly any instance of its being found profitable, merely
from the circumstance of its being improperly managed after
it is pulled ; for both flax and seed are completely spoiled
in the process of management which succeeds the operation
of puUing. Yet such is the favourable state of the clunate
and superior quality of the seed, that notwithstanding all
the bad treatment which it receives, that which remains is
generally found to be of a good quality; indeed, if properly
managed, it is, in point of quality, equal to Dutch seed, and
would answer tlie soil and climate of Great Britain equally
as well as that from Holland.

HEMP.

Hemp.— For some years past a considerable quantity of
hemp has been produced in Upper Canada, nearly in a
sufficient quantity for the supply of that province with
cordage. The proper and profitable metliod of cultivating
and managing it, however, in all the stages of the necessary
process through which it goes, from the time of its being

liiili

sown to the period of its being cleaned, is far from being
well understood in that province.

From the bad system of cropping, which is practised,
the land, in point of fertility, is rather in a reduced state.
This circumstance, therefore, certainly in some degree
generally operates against the cultivation of both hemp and
flax. There are, nevertheless, to be found, throughout the
Canadas, generally, upon every farm, even where the land
is most reduced, certain pieces of land fit for producing very
fertile crops of either hemp or flax ; for instance, land newly
taken in, small pieces under pease, meadow, or what may
have otherwise been several years under grass, or spots
that may from one or other of a variety of causes, be
more than ordinaruy fertile ; amongst these such a choice
might be made by any one who possessed a tolerably ac-
curate idea of agriculture, and the cultivation and manage-
ment of hemp and flax, as would ensure the profitable cul-
tivation of these crops.

Considering that the land is in general well adapted to
the cultivation of hemp and flax; that our Government are
disposed to give encouragement to the growth of hemp ;
and that good crops of flax, although spoiled in the watering,
are raised throughout the country in general ; it is there-
fore evident, to any at all acquainted with agriculture, and
the means which have generally proved successful, in the
introduction of improvements in other countries, particu-
larly the rapid success which attended the means used for
improving the cultivation of flax in Scotland, that the re-
sult of a litUe well directed attention to the cultivation of
hemp in these provinces would, undoubtedly, be the abun-
dant supply of the British market with that important
article. — Anderson.

i-m

m
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¥'t

■i::)
ill

Remarks on the Province of Upper Canada. Bj^
the Founder of the " Talbot Settiementr

POSITION ANI> EXTENT OF UPPER CANADA.
Thb province of Upper CanAda commences at between
73 and 74 degrees of west longitude, its western extremity
being at about 84«; Its southern boundary extends from
45° 20' to 41« 4(y of north latitude. To the north it may
be said to advance as far as the pole. That portion of its
territory, which is now in course of settlement, is cdrnputod
to be not less than seven hundred miles in length from east
lowest, having a miean breadth of one hundred tod fifty
miles or thereabouts.

Th2 whole of this extensive tract of land possesses pecu-
liar advantages in point of situation ; the Rivet of St. Law-
rent?, and LaJces Ontario, Erie, and St. Clair, furnishings
conUnued and easy water communication along its entire
•outhern line. There are several other navigable lakea and
nrers which intersect it in a northern direction, all of which
»re connected with the St. Lawrence.

CLIMATE, SOIL, AND PRODUCTIONS.
Climate.^The climate of Upper Canada is considerably
milder than that of the lower provmce, and the winter
shorter m the saffle proportion. In both these respects it
improves as you proceed to the wfestward ; so much so, that
although the frost generally sets in in November at the Point
au Bodet, on Lake St. Francis, its eastern extremity, and
continues in that neighbourhood till the middle of April, it
rarely commences on the shores of Lake Erie before Christ-
mas, and it usually disappears between the 25th of Marbh
-.nd the 1st of April. The greatest depth of snow around
Lake St. Francis is about three feet, which gradually

diminishes to eigliteen inches on the borders of Lake Erie.
From York, on Lake Ontario, upwa ds, neither black cattle
nor sheep require housing during the winter ; and the new
settler, with the addition of a small quantity of straw, can
keep his stock on the tender branches of the trees felled by
him in clearing his land, until the return of spring-. On a
comparison with the climate of Great Britain, the heat in
the summer months is somewhat greater, but never oppres-
sive, as it is always accompanied with light breezes. Ther6
is less rain than in England, but it falls at more regular
periods, generally in the spring and autumn. The winter
cold, though it exceeds that of the British Jsles, is the less
sensibly felt, in consequence of its dryness, and seldom
continues intense for more than three days together, owing
to the regular fluctuation of the wind between the north-
west and south-west points. It may be observed that the
winter season is the most favourable to land-carriage, as the
roads then admit of sledging in all directions, which is a
very expeditious mode of conveyance, and attended with
but little draft ; so that one horse or ox can in this manner
easily draw double what he can npon wheels. It is hardly
necessary to state that in a country so overspread with
timber there can never be a deficiency of fuel. As the
forests disappear the climate improves.

SoiL—Vpfer Canada is blessed with as productive a soil
as any in the world,, and it is easily brought into cultivatlott,
as will appear when the agricultural system there pursued is
noticed. The nature of the soil may be invariably discovered
by the description of timber it bears. Thus, on wh&t i^
called hard timbered land, where the maple, beech, black
birch, ash, cherry, lime, elm, oak, black walnut, butter-
nut, hickory, plane, and tulip tree, &c. are found, the soil
consists of a deep black loam. Where the fir and Iiemlock
pine are intermixed in any considerable proportion with other

c 2

^III

111

(

trees, clay predominates ; but where they grow alone
wtnch ,s generally on elevated situaUons, .and prevail,'
This also happens where the oak and chestnut are the only
trees. These sandy soils, though naturally unfavourable to
meadow and pasture, are found to produce the brightest
and heavtest wheats, and can, with the assistance of gyosum
which abounds in many parts of the province, be m<ule to
bear the finest possible crops of clover and Indian corn In
motst seasons the clays furnish the greatest burthen of
grass. Perhaps there does not exist in any quarter of the
globe, a country of the extent of Upper Canada, containing
so small a quantity of waste land, either of marsh or moun-

dl°;i ^"f r '' ""' ""^ '''*™"'^y 0' ""^'= '« indepen-
dently of the numerous rivers and streams which flow

armT"'''™/™^''"'' ^""^ »P""B»«e„niver.

UmW !, °. °"'-^''' *■"""» "•'"""'l '" excellent
tober, adapted to all uses, and furnish a considerable
supi^y both to the West Indian and British markets. That
wh,ch ,s ch,.fly exported consists of the oak and fir. it
timber most esteemed in Upper Canada for building and
farmmg purposes is the white oak (very similar to t^e
Enghsh): the yellow pine, a sort „f deal which cuts up
.nto excellent boards, a. does also the tulip-tree, which there
grows to an mmense si.e. This latter timber' is by m"
considered the best for weather boarding, from its superior
facdrty in taking paint, and being of the poplar tribe it is
ess able than niost other woods to accidLu from fil

rob " ""' '■"'■"y "' P"-'HIy used

tor ploughs, cart-wheels, &c. ' •■ }

The black-walnut, cherry, and curled maple, work up
into durable and beautiful furniture of all sorts. From the

tZn 'l""'.'"' ^ * '"y '""P'" -J easy process of
tapping, obtain m a few day, a sufficient quantity of su-^ar

I or moun-

to supply their families for a year; many, ir, -, manufac
ture a considerable surplus for sale. The bark of the oak
hemlock, and black-birch, is employing in tanning; but
that of the first is preferred for this purpose. Buttef-
nut bark affords a durable brr wn dye for woollen, cotton, and
hnen-yarn. Soap may be made in any quantities from the
wood-ashes, with the addition of a certain proportion of
tallow or grease of any kind. Plums, cherries, crab-apples
(which latter yield an excellent preserve), gooseberries, cur-
rants, strawberries, raspberries, grapes, cranberries, wal-
nuts, chestnuts, and filberts, grow wild in the woods
where game is suflficiently abundant; consisting of red-deer'
hares, pheasants, woodcocks, snipes, and quails, with many
other birds, good for the table; in which enumeration should
not be omitted the wild pigeon, which, at certain periods of
the year, migrate from the westward in flocks of such mag-
nitude as surpasses all description, and are excellent eating.
In the Talbot Settlement, wild turkeys are met with in
great numbers, often from fifty to one hundred in a troop. Th-.
borders of the lakes and rivers also contribute their quota of
the feathered race, such as swans, geese of different kinds
together with the many varieties of duck, teal, and widgeon,
most which have a delicious flavour; the waters themselves*
swarm with excellent fish, of various sorts, many of which
are unknown in Europe. In proportion as the country is
explored, salt-springs are discovered, which, when pro-
perly worked, it is expected will yield an adequate supply
of salt to the province; there are also mineral springs, some
of which have great efficacy in removing rheumatic and
scorbutic disorders. Of limestone, and clay for making
bricks, there is no want Iron-works are likewise established
in several situations; and from the quantity of ore found,
they promise to be exceedingly productive.

Grain, ^c— The grain grown in Upper Canada consists

(i :

.'1 !!;

of spring and winter wheat, oats, barley, rye, buck-wheat,
and Indian corn, the last of which is a most important arti-
cle of consumption. Peas are the only field pulse cultivated
there; the summer heats being considerably too great for
beans for green crops. There are potatoes, turnips", pump-
kms, clover (red and white), and timothy grass. Both flax
and hemp succeed remarkably well, and the latter will pro-
bably, at no very distant day, become an object of the
greatest importance both to the colony and the mother-
country. Even, at present, a very considerable saving to
Government might be obtained in encouraging the growth of
this article in Upper Canada, where it would be manufac-
tured into cables and cordage for the naval establishments
on the lakes, at half the expense it now costs, owing to thp
distance of transport.

Fruit and vegetables.-kW the fruits and herbs, common to
the English kitchen garden, thrive well in this province- and
several of the former, which cannot in all seasons be had
m perfection, without forcing, in England, succeed there in
the open air; such as peaches, nectarines, apricots, grapes,
and melons, all of which are excellent in their kinds. There
IS also a great variety of apples, pears, plums, and cher-
nes of he finest quality which are known to European or-
chards. The stone-fruit is also raised on standards.

AgTiculture.-.CoMv^e of crops : the soil being of such a

nature as not to need manure, the same attention is not

there paid to the regular succession of crops as in Great

Britain. After wheat, which is generally harvested in the

month of July and beginning of August, rye can be sown

on the same ground in the autumn to advantage; the rye

mp ,s frequently laid down with clover or grass seed, which,

unless tlie farmei: is pressed for ground, will continue to furnish

good meadow and pasture for four or five years, otherwise

»t is ploughed up before winter, and in the spring put into

pease, spring wheat, India(i.com,.barl«j^ oats, or buck-
wheat, all of which answer very well ; the two first rather
benefiting than impoverishing the land. The leaves and tops
of the Indian corn are likewise excellent winter food for cat-
tle, particularly milch-cows. After any of these latter crops,
wheat may be sown again; potatoes and turnips succeed
well upon newly cleared laud, as a first crop; potatoes being
put mto the ground with a hand-hoe, from the beginning of
May till the middle of June ; turnips are sown about "the
first week in August, after the greatest heat has subsided,
and, at which time, the fly has disappeared, simply requiring
the harrow. It is to be understood that the new land is
never ploughed for the first and second crops. Timothy
is the grass most cultivated, as it affords a large burthen of
the best hay, besides good after-grass; however, it is best
mixed with clover, to which it serves as a support, and pre-
vents matting. .

To afford some idea of the rapidity with which a new set-
tlement will advance under proper management, it is only
necessary to state, that the writer of this tract having been
entrusted by hia Majesty's Government; with- the location and
general superintendence of those extensive districts on the
shores of Lake Erie, which, at present, bear the name of
the Talbot Settlement, has, by his exertions in opening
roads at convenient distances, aided by the peculiar advan-
tages of the soil and climate, collected around him a popur
lation of twelve thousands souls,, at the least, in the short
spa^ie of ten years. The generality of these settlers, on
their arrival in the province, were persons of the very poorest
description; whereas, they may be now said to form, as inde-
pendent, as contented, and as happy a body of yeomanry as
any in the world. .

This, too,, has been accomplished in a situation which,
little more than ten years ago, appeared an impenetrable

'!■

.V ■ji

wilderness, and was above one hundred miles removed from
all human intercourse.

EMracts from Statistical Reports made by the
principal Settlers in each Township, in reply to
the following query sent them, with a number of
others.

^Ist. What in your opinionretards the improvement
of your Township in particular, or the province
in general: and what would most contribute to
the same ?

ANCASTER,— GORE DISTRICT.
A reply to the latter part of the 31st query, as to what
m our opinion, retards the improvement of the province in
general, would be more lengthy than the nature of this
meetmg admits of, were the subject done justice to; briefly
however, want of capital and enterprise may be consi-'
dered as having a large share in it; for what besides, you
would say, with a climate and soil so fine, and laws so ex-
cellent, could intervene to check its progress? There are
however, other causes, and those causes out of our power
to control, even with the aid of legislative interference. It
is our Gracious Sovereign and the Parliament of the United
Kingdom that can alone lay the axe to the root of these ob-
servations; but without the sHghtest feeling of murmur, or
idea of right to dictate, we think it our duty to point out'the-
road to their removal.

A large portion of the province, equal in every respect, in
pomt of quality, to the granted lands, still lays locked up in
the shape of Crown and Clergy reserves, in almost every

emoved from

township, commonly two-sevenths of the township; and
these, interspersed as a caput mortuum amidst the settle-
ments, tend largely to check the improvement of roads,
added to the extensive tracts of land formerly granted to
individuals, many of whom reside across the Atlantic, and
contribute nothing to the means of the province. Besides
these, there are whole townships shut up as reserves for
schools, and beautiful tracts of first-rate lands, of almost
immeasurable extent, immediately in rear of all the settle-
ments, remain in a desart state.

Occasionally a township is surveyed off and given out.
This important gift and patronage is vested in the hands of
the Administrator for the time being; and the Executive
Council is acted upon with a slow motion, producing little
manifest improvement to the province ; no visible invitation
to men of capital,— yielding no benefit to the mother-coun-
try, or restitution of her great expenses here; whereas, the
reverse would be the undoubted result were these tracts set-
tled; whilst, at present, they operate as a dark and shady
cloud, keeping off the genial rays of the sun, and now and
then affording only a trifling emolument, as fees to a few
individuals, instead of the abundant harvests of the neces-
saries of life.

To remedy these obstructions (or, shaU we call them
evils ?) to the improvement of the prcince, all that is want-
ing is for the Crown to dispose of those lands, impartially,
to the highest bidders, that they may be immediately settled,
without waiting the tardy movement of a land-granting de-
partment; then, indeed, there would be room for the redun-
dant population of Great Britian— an ample field for capi-
talists—and the exercise of enterprising spirit— and an open-
ing to cement upon a large scale that connexion with the
mother-country, which « would cause the idea of invasion
to wither before its strength." The munificent bounty of
the Crown might sUU be employed, in Canada, in making

mi!

I l:>iiii.

roads, improving the navigation, and other projects, to
which the geographical figure of Canada offers every invi^
tation.

BARTON,— GORE DISTRICT.
The wild lands of the Grown intermixed with the setUe-
ments thi^oughout the province, commonjy called Crown
reserves, lying in the unimproved state, they would, were
they sold at auction by the Government, not only produce
large sums of money, which could be applied to useful pur-
poses, but tend essentially to improve eveiy part of the
province.

NICHOL,:r^QpRE DI3TRIPT.
We have further to remark, that we think it would be of
much benefit to the province, as also a reUef to the mother-
country, were alUhe jingranted lands, In the already sur-
veyed townships, sold at a moderate price per acre; when
epu-rants and others could select soil, situation, and neigh-
bours to their mind, for which they would far rather pay
than go to the wilderness by lottery ; the fund thereby
raised could be well applied to the improvement of the
mternal navigation of the province and other public pur-
poses; as also help to relieve many of the claimants who
suffered losses during the late war.

WEST FLAMBOROUGH AND BEVERLY,-GORE

DISTRICT.

The remainder of these townships, that is, the unculti-
vated lots, are in the bands of persons not resident in the
province, or in the hands of such residents, in Canada
who keep them, asking high prices; depending on the in-
dustry of the inhabitant settlers for making roads, and im-
proving their own land ; by which means the unsettled lots
become valuable enough, in time, to bring the high prices

projects, to
every invi-

the settle-
lied Crown
irould, were
ily produce
useful pur-
part of the

ould be of
he mother-
Iready sur-
cre ; when
md neigh-
rather pay
d thereby
int of the
ublic pur-
aants who

-GORE

! unculti-
snt in the

Canada^
I the in-

and im-
tled lots

prices

demanded for them. With respect to the province in gene-
ral, could some other mode be devised to dispose of the
vacant lands of the Crown, or part of them, rather by
selling them, than granting them in the present mode, it
would, no doubt, not only bring capital into Canada to make
purchases, but it would also beget a further interest in the
purchasers to bring in useful settlers^as well those with
property, as those wanted for clearing the lands and handi-
craft tradesmen. It would settle the country with a yeomanry,
who, in times, requiring soldiers, would, no doubt, be
found such as were wanted ; besides procuring a fund to
the Crown for its lands, which, at present, appear to pro-
duce little or nothing. Under such pohcy, we think Canada
would immediately show another face ; and would, we pre-
sume, improve full as fast as we have seen the country op-
posite to us in the United States ; our natural advantages
being infinitely superior to those enjoyed by the citizens of
that country.

KINGSTON,— MIDLAND DISTRICT.
The second cau^e which, in our opinion, retards the agri-
cultural improvement of this township, is the Crown and
Clergy reserves. If they could be disposed of, so as to
allow good roads, and a free communication from one con-
cession to another, it would tend, in our opinion, much to
the improvement of the township.

YARMOUTH TpWNSHIP.-LONDON DISTRICT.

The lands granted to persons not resident at present in
the province, or living at the seat of government, or in
^ther towns of the province, and the Crown and Clergy re-
serves intervening so often amongst our farms, have a ten-
dency to retard the improvement of our settlement very
materially. What, ja our opinion, also, further retards
the growth ul" our settlement, is an improper system

4'r

of emigration ; and we are confident that the introduc-
tion of men of capital would much tend to the improve-
ment of the same.

SOUTHWOLD.— LONDON PISTRICT.

Nothing retards our settlement more than the lands of
absentees, and the Crown and Clergy reserves being inter-
spersed amongst our farms ; and nothing would contribute
more to the improvement of our settlement than their being
sold to active and industrious persons. We are confident
that the province in general would be much benefited by
the sales of the lands of absentees, and the Crown and
Clergy reserves to actual settlers.

DUNWICH.— LONDON DISTRICT.

The Crown and Clergy reserves intervening so frequently
amongst our farms, impedes the improvement of our town-
ship; and we are of opinion that the growth and pros-
perity of the province in general is impeded by them. These
being removed, or disposed <f to active and industrious
settlers, would, in our opinion, be a blessing to the province.

WESTERN DISTRICT.

The want of some incentive to emulation, the rererve
of two-sevenths of the land for the Crown and Clergy
must for a long time keep the country a wilderness, a har'
hour for wolves, a hindrance to a compact and good neigh-
bourhood; and as these reserves grow in value, they increase
as a political inducement to an enemy. Other reasons may
be added; a defect in the system of colonization, and too
great a quantity of the lands in the hands of individuals who
do not reside in the province, and who are not assessed for
those lands. All these circumstances considered, it must
be evident that the pfesent system is very prejudicial to the
internal welfare of the township.

DELAWARE, WESTMINSTER, AND DORCHES-
TER,— NIAGARA DISTRICT.

The greater part of the lands which constitute the town-
ship of Delaware were granted, many years ago, to persons
not resident in this part of the province ; or are Crown and
Clergy reserves, which has been, and still continues to be,
an unsurmountable obstacle to the formation of a compact
settlement in it.

In the township of Westminster, no lands have, as yet,
been granted but to actual settlers. And if that system is
pursued by the government, it will, no doubt, soon form a
most delightful, populous, and wealthy settlement.

LONDON DISTRICT.

In our most candid opinion, there is nothing wanting but
the filling up with industrious men, men of property, mo-
nied men, men of enterprise, speculative men with capital,
to make our township, our country, our district, one of the
best countries for farming in all British America; and, lastly,
could a liberal system of emigration be set on foot, and men*
of enterprise, skill, and capital be induced to come among
us, they would find a high rate of interest, and substantial
security.

Quenes answered hy the Honourable and Reve-
rend Br. Strachan, and hy P. Robinson,
Esq. Members of the Council of the Province
of Upper Canada,

QUERIES. ANSWERS.

Has the improve- The population has increased

ment of Canada, par- prodigiously during the last seven

ticularly of the Upper years, but the emigrants have

Province, with respect been chiefly persons of little or

to the value of pro-
perty and the increase
of population, been in
any degree considera-
ble within the last se-
ven years ?

To what extent may
emigration have been
carried during the last
seven years ?

,1, Hill!

Suppose a Company
were formed in Eng-
land to promote the
agricultural improve-
ment and populatlpn of
Canada, from what,
sources would they de-

no property, with the exception
of half-pay officers, who are
entitled to gratuitous grants.
Lands in Canada, being in some
- degree a circulating medium, are
estimated in the market high or
low, in proportion to the value
of their produce, the lowness of
which, for several years back,
has caused much distress to many
who were not provident when it
was high; consequently, persons
forced to sell have seldom got
the value of their property, some-
times not hall the value, but
those who are not in distress will
not dispose of their property at
an under price.

The average number of emi-
grants who have landed at Que-
bec during this period, may be
taken at upwards of 10,000 an-
nually.

In one year more than three
thousand orders for land were
granted by the present excellent
Lieutenant-Governor.

Were such a company in pos-
session of the whole of the Crown
reserves in any district, a new
impetus would be given to the
province. By good roads and
bulging mills on the blocks or
tracts, the lands would immedi-

rive any return
Uieir capital?

for

ately become valuable. OflSces
for the sale of the lands might
be opened in London, Edinburgh,
and Dublin, furnished with cor-
rect maps and description.

The character of the Company
would guarantee the safety of the
purchaser in respect to his title—
and to show fairness, the Com-
pany might direct their lands to
be shown, free of all expense,
to the agents of any private asso-
ciations or small capitalists who
who might'be disposed to purchase.
In many of the populous town-
ships, the reserves would be pur-
chased by the native inhabitants,
in order to setUe their children
near themselves; for example, in
many of the townships, there are
already 200 families, most of
which possess one lot of 200
acres; but we shall sqppose that
the 200 families possess, among
them, only 150 such lots. Now
the grantable lots in a township
are about 240, and 90 reserved
lots, that is, 45 for the crown,
and 45 for the clergy. The popu-
lation from emigration and natural
insrease doubles in about 12 years,,
so that in that time the 200 fami-
lies would be 400 families, and re-
quire at least 150 more lots of land.

(

'iM

■,'ii! ';'?"■: it!ii!i

III

What is the cause
of thatdiiference which
all travellers have re-
marked between the
United States and Ca-
nada, where the soil
and climate are so si-
milar: in the former
every thing is repre-
sc^jted as alive, active,
and prosperous; in the
latter, all dull and lan-
guid?

This supposition is placing the
matter in the most disadvantageous
point of view, because many of
the unoccupied lots belong either
to the inhabitants of the same
township or other individuals,
who, knowing the value of lands
in the midst of a populous set-
tlement, hold them high, so that
the Company would, in all proba-
bility sell the reserves much soon-
er than is here anticipated, being
satisfied with a moderate profit.
In fine, were a little capital thrown
into the province, and the public
attention drawn towards it, lands
would rise four-fold, and yet be
cheap to the actual settler, as
the produce would rise in propor-
tion, from the rapid advancement
of commerce, of enterprize, and
increase of a circulating medium.
This question admits of a most
satisfactory answer.

Upper Canada was settled first
by refugees from the United
States after the peace of 1783,
all of whom were destitute and
wholly without capital; every ac-
cession of inhabitants has been
nearly of the same description.
Whatever wealth is to be found
in the province has been made
entirely from the soil; never yet
has one single capitalist come into

. I'v■,„•■

placing the
vantagcous
e many of
long either

the same
ndividuals,
le of lands
)ulous set-
^h, so that

all proba-
Duch soon-
itcd, being
ate p'ofit.
tal thrown
the public
} it, lands
id yet be
ettler, as
in propor-
rancement
trize, and

medium,
of a most

ittled first
United
of 1783,
itute and
every ac-
has been
scription.
be found
en made
lever yet
:ome into

the country, purchased a laug%
tract of land, built raillB. made
roads, and. as the Americans
'^ay, prepared it for settlement
The consequence has been appa-
rent languor, compared with the
neighbouring States, many per-
sons becoming comfor'^able, but
never acquiring great capitals.
But in the American States, many
purchased large tracts, spent many
hundred thousand dollars in their
preparation for location, sold at
high prices, and after a few years,
recovered the capital laid out
seven-fold. The same may be
done in Canada at this moment,
and with the certainty of speedier
■aturns than the speculators on
the other side, as the population
of Canada is much greater than
the parts of the country were,
where they commenced their ope-
rations.

Queries answered by the Right Reverend Father
Macdonell, Bishop of Rhoesina.

QUERIES.
What do you con-
ceive would be the
most efi^ectual mode of
•encouraging emigrants

ANSWERS.

Were twenty or thirty acres
cleared in lots of 200 acres, it
would he a great inducement to
that class of emigrants to sit down

ii^

111 1

1 I,

I ^1

possessed of a little
capital to settle in Ca-
nada, independent of
the cheapness of the
land?

Suppose a Company
were formed in Eng-
land for this purpose,
what would be the
sources of income, or
the return for the capi-
tal so invested ?

What is the cause of
that difference which all
travellers have remark-
ed between the United
States and Canada,
where the soil and cli-
mate are so similar :
in the former every
thing is represented as
alive, active, and pros-
perous ; in the latter,

at once in Canada ; but certainly
the most efficacious way of in-
ducing emigrants to go to Canada
and remain in the country, would
be to help them with the means of
clearing the lands and settling
themselves.

The Company should have lands
on easy terms from Government;
it should agree with settlers to
take those lands at a certain regu-
lated price, and assist the settlers
to clear them in the American
way; taking an obligation from
the settler to repay the money
advanced, and the price of the
land, within a certain period of
years. Thus the difference be-
tween the price paid by the Com-
pany to Government, and the
price which the Company would
receive from the settlers, Mould in
my opinion constitute a certain
source of return to the Company.

In the United States the lands
are bought in large tracts by spe-
culators, men of capital. The
first thing those gentlemen do, is
to open reads in different direc-
tions, through the tracts which
they purchase, and to build mills
in favourable situations, thus at-
tracting settlers to their lands ;
and by disposing of lots along
the roads and in advantageous

all dull and languid in
comparisun ?

situations, giving encouragement
to build villages. These specula-
tors help the new settlers with
loans, &c. and do not give them
titles to the land till such time as
they have fulfilled the conditions,
and have repaid the capital with
interest of the money advanced to
them. When it happens, as it
sometimes does, that the settlers
fail in their engagements, the lands
revert to the speculators with all
the improvements made on them,
and then are in a condition to
bring a much better price from the
next that desire to purchase ihem.
As the tracts are thus improved,
the lots which were at first con-
sidered of little value by settlers,
are gradually made more valuable,
insomuch that those which remain
longest in the hands of the specu-
lato.s, generally h . the greatest
prices. N( on the other hand,
with regard to Canada, the Crown
and Clergy reserves, and the ron- ^
cessions granted to military claim- '
ants, keep more than three-fourths
of the whole province in a state
of nature, and deprive the settler
of the assistance of his neigh-
bours in making bridges and
roads, to bring his produce to
market, and from the towns such
things as his family requires;

. I"

ii.

But you hare said
that there are no spe-
culators with capital in
Canada, similar to the
Americans ; of what
avail then will it be,
that these waste lands
are brought to sale,
when the energy is
wanting that is requi-
red to animate the
country ?

Do you know any
thing of the Pulteney
Lands on the Ameri-
can side of the Sk.
Lawrence ?

prevent mills and other accommo-
dations from being erected ; thus
cramping the exertions of the
settlers.

If those obstructions, of which
I have spoken, were removed, and
the lands free to be sold, capita-
lists would soon rise to render
them profitable subjects of specu-
lation. I do even conceive that
men of capital would come from
England and Europe, and deal in
the American manner with those
lands : besides, the natural pro-
gress of the agricultural popula-
tion of the province would create
a market; for it may be justly
said, that the youth of Canada all
aspire to become possessors of
land, and there are no spots so
desirable as those very reserves
which are a dead weight on the
prosperity of the province.

Yes; I had an opportunity
many years ago of reading the cor-
respondence of the agent of Sir
W. Pulteney, respecting those
settlements. From that corre-
spondence it appeared that the pro-
gress of their operations were, as
I have described the process of
the American speculators. It
also appeared that Sir W. Pulte-
ney and his associates had laid
out large sums of monoy, perhaps

How long had these
operations been going
on before the lands
came to njake no great
a return ?

Do you conceive, if
similar undertakings
were instituted in Ca-
nada, that similar re-
sults would follow
from them ?

What are those su-
perior natural facili-
ties?

as much as sixty or eighty thou-
•and pounds in building inns and
mills, and making roads and
bridges, before they got much re-
turn. But now the lands, which
were not worth half a dollar an
acre when they began their opera-
tions, are worth, on en average,
from thirty to forty dollars an
acre.

There was very little return
made for the first eight or ten
years. The return for the succeed-
ing five was considerable, and the
profit has since continued to in-
crease in a prodigious ratio, quite
incalculable.

I think that the results would
be quite equal; for the natural
facilities in Canada are more fa-
vourable than those on the Ame-
rican side.

The great channel of internal
navigation, the St. Lawrence,,
iVom Montreal to Amherstburg, a
distance of nearly 800 miles, might
be rendered navigaMe for vessels
coming across the Atlantic, and
steam boats, by cutting a canal,
first, from the Cascades to Cotua
du Lac, a distance of thirteen
miles, and from Cornwall to the
head of the rapid Plat, a distance
of forty miles, and from Eurling-

;«■

ti liljiiiiJi;

ton Bay, at the head of Lake On-
tario, to the mouth of the grand
river that flows into Lake Erie, a
distance of about thirty miles.
Government is excavating a canal
to avoid the great rapids of the
Ottowa; and besides these, the
whole country is intersected by
streams and lakes in a manner
quite peculiar to itself, afibrding
the means of inland navigation in
every direction.

Queries answered hy William Gilkison, Esq.
long resident in Upper Canada.

QUERIES.

What is the ave-
rage cost per acre of
clearing land in Up-
per Canada in favour-
able situations, and in
what may be called
unfavourable situa-
tions ?

What is the average
value of land, general-

ANSWERS.

Lands are cleared of their
standing timber and brushwood,
(not of roots,) including fencing,
for the average price of about
seventy-five shillings per acre.

It is immaterial to the labourer
where the land may be situated,
but the quality of its timber fixes
the rate. Lands covered with
oak, ash, elm, hickory, or maple,
and the like, are the most easily
cleared, and may be called favour-
able : those with white pine, cedar,
&c. unfavourable.

There are but few lots (lots
consist of 200 acres) cleared of

ly, per acre, after it
has been cleared ?

What would be the
difference in compara-
tive value of a lot of
200 acres in a state of
nature, and the same
lot where fifty acres
shall have been clear-
ed?

What would be the
value of a lot of 200
cleared, with a house,
&c. thereon ?

In what districts
do you consider the
mostdesirable reserved
lands to be situated,
bearing in mind that
tlie Inquiry h made

more than half its timber; and
when sales or valuations are made,
' this is done by average of the
whole quantity in the lot: their
price varies according to situation
and state of buildings. Average
may be £350.

I have about 2000 acres in a
state of nature, some of them ex-
ceedingly well situated, which I
would not sell under fifteen shil-
lings an acre ; but tracts of land
have been sold for three shillings
an acre. Last winter 1 sold 200
acres in the township of Corn-
wall, with a house and barn on it,
for £420. This farm had been
several years in the market; it
had sixty acres of cleared land,
but no fence,

A 200 acres lot is in no case
ever cleared of more than half of
its timber. The value, taking it
with the first houses, barns, &c.
may be estimated at from £250 to
£300. The answer to this query
applies to land settled within
eight years, during which the first
buildings are seldom changed.

It is impossible to give a satis-
factory answer to this query. A
reference to the Surveyor-General's
maps, &c., and to the field notes
of his deputies, can alone be re-
lied on. I have always heard the

!!i

(!
I

! ^^,1

.■■ lit I
.III!:* !^

with reference to ope- districts of Niagara, Gore, aod
rations on a large Midland District, named as con-
^OAie'i taining the most valuable of thp

crown and clergy reserves.

CANALS,

" The inhabitants of Lower Canada propose to render
the navigation of St. Lawrence uninterrupted, by cutting
canals at those places where the rapids impede it. This
is quite practicable ; but I fear there are not wealth and
public spirit enough in the two provinces for such an
arduous undertaking. I say the two provinces, because
the inhabitants of both would, in an equal degree be
benefitted by any improvement in the navigation of that
river, which ministers in so great a degree to their
mutual convenience and prosperity. However, an incor-
porated company have lately undertaken to cut a canal
between Montreal and La Chine, the expense of which
is estimated at £80,000 sterling. It will be about eleven
miles in length, and will receive a supply of water from
the St. Lawrence. The trade between Upper and Lower
Canada is at present so great, that the stockholders iu
the concern confidently believe, that a large dividend will
become due to them in the course of three or four years
after the canal has been completed." — Howison's Sketches
of Upper Canada, page 3.

" The canal between La Chine and Montreal is ad-
vancing towards its completion. But the most important
measure is that projected in Upper Canada, for uniting
the lakes Ontario and Erie by means of a navigable canal.
A meeting of the merchants of Upper Canada took place
at York on the 4th of March (1824.) The design and
general utility of the proposed measure were explained.

'57

All the persons present subscribed liberally for the stock •
and we hope the projected communication will be carried
into effect on a scale proportionate to its importance, and
that It will be made sufficiently large and commodious to
admit vessels capable of navigating the lakes. The falls
of Niagara form the only obstruction to navigation from
the St. Lawrence to the head of the lake Superior, a dis-
tance not very far short of fifteen hundred miles

- But in order to give full effect to these measures of
improvement the great object yet remains. This is to
remove the obstructions which at present interrupt the
course of the St. Lawrence between Montreal and lake
Ontario. The whole distance is about one hundred and
eighty miles : but vessels of some burthen already descend
to Prescot, about sixty miles below the lake, thus reducing
he distance to be improved to about one hundred and
twenty miles. There is not sufficient capital in the Pro-
vinces to enable them, of themselves, to engage in an
undertaking of such magnitude. But at a time when Great
Britain is overflowing with unemployed capital, it is not
surely too much to hope that a part may be devoted to
this useful purpose; more especially since there never was
a project so capable of realizing views of profit, or so far
removed from the chances of failure.

• By the last accounts it appears that their example had beer*
generally followed throughout both provinces.

THE ENJ>.

.VAnrUAN-r, IMilNTKR, y^ r.p_ , yt-c QV m, /.O.tDOS.