with oak, chestnuts, and fine hickory trees, and such parts as are better watered bear, in common with all other parts of America, ash and maple-trees.

"It was on this spot that Mr. de la Jonquiere, commissioned by the French Court to secure the free navigation of the lakes to French traders, formed his first settlements, which, by permission, and under the protection of the Indian tribe of the Yonnowshouans (who, with many other tribes, have vanished from this part of the globe), were afterwards transferred to Niagara.

"From the civil treatment we experienced, as soon as we reached the boundaries of the government of General Simcoe, we could not but expect a kind reception on his part; and yet the event exceeded our expectation. No sooner was he informed of our arrival, than he sent his adjutant-general to invite us to dinner. Having just alighted from his horse, he could not come himself. We accepted his invitation; and shortly after dinner he entreated us to remain with him, to sleep in his house, and consider ourselves as at home. To refuse this invitation would have ill corresponded with the politeness of his conduct; of the sincerity of which we were convinced. By accepting it, we greatly promoted our own convenience, as we had no visits to pay in the town, which is full half a mile distant from the Governor's house, and could not but expect to be most agreeably entertained in his society, and to obtain from him the most satisfactory information respecting the country, which so forcibly engaged our curiosity and attention.

"We soon understood, that we should be obliged to continue longer in Niagara than we originally designed. On my acquainting General Simcoe with my intention to proceed to Quebec, he informed me that, without the express permission of Lord Dorchester, it was not in his power to allow any foreigner to enter Lower Canada; he even shewed us the Governor-general's positive orders to

that effect, issued in the month of October, and occasioned by the conduct of some Frenchmen. Although the wise measures of prevention, adopted by the Governor-general, as well as all other steps tending to avert a revolution, met with my fullest approbation, yet I could not but find it extremely unpleasant that Mr. Hammond, in so positive a manner, should have assured me of Lord Dorchester's perfect concurrence with him on the score of my intended journey. On his asserting that a passport, granted by him, was the only sufficient mean to enable a foreigner to proceed from the United States into Lower Canada, I entreated him, in addition to this passport, to write a letter to Lord Dorchester, who, by ordering the subordinate commander to let us pass, would have saved us a tedious delay in our journey, and the uneasiness naturally arising from our incommoding Governor Simcoe for such a length of time. Yet we were necessitated to conceal our dissatisfaction, and wait until Lord Dorchester could send his answer to Kingston, to which I requested him to direct it.

I employed my long residence in Niagara to acquire some knowledge of the country, the attainment of which was greatly facilitated by the generous openness of Governor Simcoe.

"So late as in the year 1791, the administration of Upper Canada was separated from that of Lower Canada. It formerly constituted a part of the province of Quebec. The administration of it was much the same as that of the English colonies, and depended entirely on the will and pleasure of the Governor; yet was undoubtedly here conducted with still more precaution, not only because Lord Dorchester, by all accounts, is a man of a mild and just disposition, but also because the lesson, given by the United States, will not prove altogether fruitless. The British Parliament, at the same time when it divided these two tracts of the province of Quebec into Upper and

Lower Canada, gave them a representative form of government; which, though all the springs of this political machine are yet in the hands of the Governor-general, is framed in such a manner, that if this country should grow more populous, more opulent, and enlightened, it will not prove an arduous task to rescue the management of public affairs from this influence, which at present is very great, and, in the actual state of things, perhaps absolutely

necessary.

"Lord Dorchester is Governor-general of the British possessions in North America; the governors of the different provinces are only lieutenant-governors; who, whenever he appears, yield to his superior authority; and are also responsible to him in all military affairs, if they be gentlemen of the army, which is by no means an indispensable qualification for the place of a lieutenant-governor. In regard to state affairs, of whatever nature and complexion, the Lieutenant-governor corresponds immediately with the English ministry. It is from them he receives his orders and instructions, without being obliged to communicate them to the Governorgeneral, who is not even possessed of the right, on leaving the different districts of his government, to give the smallest directions for what is to be done during his absence. For this reason the Governor-general, except when pressing military arrangements call him from the chief town of his government, constantly resides there; while the Lieutenant-governor, who has no business in that place, keeps as much as possible at a distance from it. But as no accounts of any public expenditure pass without being signed by the Governor-general, he possesses a powerful influence over all sorts of operations and projects, which at least require his approbation; an influence that extends through all the different branches of his government.

"The British possessions in North America are divided

into Upper and Lower Canada, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia. Only the first two of these provinces are governed by the new constitution. The others are

governed as in former times.

"The boundary between Upper and Lower Canada lies about one hundred miles above Montreal. The extent of Upper Canada far exceeds that of Lower Canada, as, the western boundary being undefined, it comprises all the known and unknown countries, extending as far as the Pacific or Great Sea, and is bounded northwards also by unknown countries. The population of Lower Canada is estimated at about one hundred and forty thousand souls, and that of Upper Canada at thirty thousand; but this estimate seems rather high.

"

Upper Canada is a new country, or rather a country yet to be formed. It was probably for this reason General Simcoe accepted the government of it. He was fully aware of the advantages which his native land might derive from such a colony, if it attained perfection; and imagined, that means might be found adequate to this purpose. This hope was the only incitement which could impel a man of independent fortune, and, as he says, of confined wishes, to leave the large and beautiful estates he possesses in England, and to bury himself in a wilderness, among bears and savages. Ambition, at least, appears not to have been his motive; as a man, in General Simcoe's situation, is furnished with abundant means of distinguishing himself by useful activity, without removing to a great distance from his native country, where, in such a case, he is almost sure of being forgotten. But, whatever have been his motives, his design has been attended with consequences highly beneficial.

"The plan conceived by General Simcoe, for peopling and improving Upper Canada, seems, as far as he has communicated it to us, extremely wise and well arranged. The central point of all his settlements, and of the

population of this country, he means to place between Détroit River and the plantations already established in Lower Canada, within a square, formed by Lake Ontario, Lake Erie, Détroit River, and Lake Huron. From a supposition that the Fort of Niagara would certainly remain in the possession of the English, he at first intended to make Newark the chief town of his government. But since it has been decided*, that this fort is to be given up, he has been obliged to alter his plan. A chief town or capital must not be seated on the frontiers, and much less under the guns of the enemy's fort. He has since thought of York, situated on the northern bank of Lake Ontario, nearly opposite to Niagara; it is in this place he has quartered his regiment, and he intends to remove thither himself, when he shall withdraw from the frontiers.

York, from its extent, security, and situation, offers an excellent road. The communication between Lake Ontario and Lake Huron is facilitated by several rivers and small lakes. The surrounding territory possesses a good soil, and affords all possible means to improve the trade on the lake. Even in a military point of view, its situation is very advantageous. The banks of Lake Ontario are likely to be first peopled by the Americans, and to become most populous; and Lower Canada will always prove to them an object of jealousy and envy, rather than Upper Canada. On this ground it is extremely important to choose a situation, which renders it more easy to succour such points as are most exposed to an attack. Yet Governor Simcoe seems to have relinquished the idea of establishing his residence, and the seat of government, at York. He intends to remove them to the banks of a river, which is to be found in all maps under the name of De la Trenche, and which he has

By the Treaty of 1794.-TR.