Travels through the states of North America, and the provinces of Upper and Lower Canada, during the years 1795, 1796, and 1797 [Vol. 1 of 2]Weld, Isaac
History
Travels through the states of North America, and the provinces of Upper and Lower Canada, during the years 1795, 1796, and 1797 [Vol. 1 of 2]
Weld, Isaac
Canada -- Description and travel -- Early works to 1800; United States -- Description and travel -- Early works to 1800
We set off this day with a remarkable fine breeze, and being desirous of
terminating our voyage as soon as possible, of which we began now to be
somewhat tired, we stopped but once in the course of the day, and
determined to sail on all night. A short time after sun set we passed
the boundary between the British dominions and the United States. Here
we were brought to by an armed brig of twenty guns, under English
colours, stationed for the purpose of examining all boats passing up and
down the lake: the answers which we gave to the several questions asked
being satisfactory, we were accordingly suffered to proceed. Since the
surrender of the ports, pursuant to the late treaty with the United
States, this brig has been removed, and laid up at St. John’s. When
night came on, we wrapped ourselves up in our blankets, as we had done
on the first night of our voyage, and laid down upon the cabin floor,
where we might possibly have slept until we got to St. John’s, had we
not been awakened at midnight by the loud hollas of the sentinel at the
British fort on Isle aux Noix. On examining into the matter, it appeared
that the boat had been driven on shore, while our sleepy pilot enjoyed
his nap at the helm; and the sentinel, unable to imagine what we were
about, seeing the boat run up close under the fort, and suspicious of
some attack, I suppose, had turned out the whole guard; by whom, after
being examined and re-examined, we were finally dismissed. We now took
the command of the boat upon ourselves, for the boatman, although he was
more anxious to get to St. John’s than any one of us, and though he had
himself in some-measure induced us to go on, was so sleepy that he could
not keep his eyes open. Relieving each other at the helm, we reached St.
John’s by day-break; one hundred and fifty miles distant from
Skenesborough.
Immediately on our landing we were conducted to the guard house, where
we had to deliver to the serjeant on duty, to be by him forwarded to the
commanding officer, an account of our names, occupation, and place of
abode, the strictest orders having been issued by the governor not to
suffer any Frenchmen or other foreigners, or any people who could not
give an exact account of their business in Canada, to enter into the
country.
[Illustration:
_A NEW MAP_ OF UPPER & LOWER CANADA 1798.
_Published Nov^r. 20^{th}. 1798 by_ J.Stockdale _Piccadilly_.
]
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