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
Now in Canada, particularly in Lower Canada, in the neighbourhood of
Quebec and Montreal, an English settler would find himself surrounded by
his countrymen; and although his moderate circumstances should have
induced him to leave England, yet he would not be troubled with the
disagreeable reflection that he had totally renounced his native land,
and sworn allegiance to a foreign power; he would be able to consider
with heartfelt satisfaction, that he was living under the protection of
the country wherein he had drawn his first breath; that he was
contributing to her prosperity, and the welfare of many of his
countrymen, while he was ameliorating his own fortune.
From a due consideration of every one of the before mentioned
circumstances, it appears evident to me, that there is no part of
America so suitable to an English or Irish settler as the vicinity of
Montreal or Quebec in Canada, and within twenty miles of each of these
places there is ample room for thousands of additional inhabitants.
I must not omit here to give some account of a new settlement in the
neighbourhood of Quebec, which I and my fellow travellers visited in
company with some neighbouring gentlemen, as it may in some degree tend
to confirm the truth of what I have said respecting the impolicy of
withholding indisputable titles to the lands lately granted by the
crown, and as it may serve at the same time to shew how many eligible
spots for new settlements are to be found in the neighbourhood of this
city.
We set off from Quebec in calashes, and following, with a little
deviation only, the course of the River St. Charles, arrived on the
margin of the lake of the same name, about twelve miles distant from
Quebec.
[Sidenote: RIVER AND LAKE ST. CHARLES.]
The River St. Charles flows from the lake into the bason, near Quebec;
at its mouth it is about thirty yards wide, but not navigable for boats,
except for a few miles up, owing to the numerous rocks and falls. In the
spring of the year, when it is much swollen by floods, rafts have been
conducted down the whole way from the lake, but this has not been
accomplished without great difficulty, some danger, and a considerable
loss of time in passing the different portages. The distance from the
lake to Quebec being so short, land carriage must always be preferred to
a water conveyance along this river, except it be for timber.
The course of the St. Charles is very irregular; in some places it
appears almost stagnant, whilst in others it shoots with wonderful
impetuosity over deep beds of rocks. The views upon it are very
romantic, particularly in the neighbourhood of Lorette, a village of the
Huron Indians, where the river, after falling in a beautiful cascade
over a ledge of rocks, winds through a deep dell, shaded on each side
with tall trees.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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