Canadian Scenery, Volume 2 (of 2)Willis, Nathaniel Parker
History
Canadian Scenery, Volume 2 (of 2)
Willis, Nathaniel Parker
Canada -- Description and travel; Canada -- History
On hearing this awful intelligence, I immediately set off to meet my
brother and his companions. Before I had proceeded more than half a
dozen miles I met the whole party; and judged from their countenances
that the information I had received was not exactly correct. I told them
what I had heard, and desired to know whether or not I had been
misinformed. My brother replied, that my information was in the main
correct; that they had indeed been shipwrecked, but that no lives had
been lost, except that of a Mrs. Lewis, who had died in consequence of
severe cold and fatigue. I was also further given to understand that my
father and his family were all well and safe, and in the United States,
waiting only a vessel to bring them over to the shores of Canada. It is
impossible to describe the sudden transition of my feelings on hearing
these joyful tidings. A few moments before I had the strongest grounds
for believing that my nearest relations were lodged in a cold and watery
grave; but now I could indulge in the joyful anticipation of meeting
them once more, restored, as it were, to life. In about a fortnight
after this they all arrived at Port Talbot, after having experienced
much kindness from the inhabitants of the State of New York during their
continuance among them.
In the latter part of October, my father removed his family from Port
Talbot to Westminster, where he procured lodgings for them until a house
was erected on his own lands. The township of Westminster is separated
from that of Port Talbot only by the river Thames. London is situated
about 24 miles north of Lake Erie. On the 1st of November, 1818, it was
entirely unsettled, and its surface studded with the various trees which
are to be found in Canada. The land is considered, if not superior to
every township hitherto opened for location, at least inferior to none
in the whole province. The township forms a square, and is divided into
16 concessions, in each of which are 6,400 acres. These concessions are
subdivided into lots of 200 acres, of which there are 32 in each.
Between every two concessions there are 66 feet set apart for roads,
which are called concession lines. These, together with seven side roads
of equal width, which intersect them at right angles, and are
equi-distant from each other, comprise all the public roads in a
township.
On the 26th of October, my brother and I, with six men carrying
provisions and felling-axes, took our departure from Westminster; and,
having hired a guide, proceeded into London, to fix upon the most
desirable lot for the erection of a house. 1,200 acres were assigned to
my father for his own demesne, if I may so call it. We had, therefore, a
large tract of land to explore before we could decide on the most
eligible site. After spending the greater part of the day in approving
and disapproving of particular lots, we unanimously determined on making
the second lot in the sixth concession the future asylum of our exiled
family.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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