The Large
Steamers Rush Down With The Rapidity Of The Wind, Through Waves Lashed
Into Foam - Sweeping Close Past The Rocks And Islets In The Stream, And
Only Kept In Safety In Their Course By The United Exertions Of Six Or
Seven 'voyageurs,' And A Pilot, At The Wheel.
"The upper shores of the St. Lawrence are populous and well cultivated.
In stopping to take in our supply
Of wood, which we had to do several
times during the day and night, usually at quiet secluded nooks along
shore, or on some little island, I had many opportunities of seeing the
comfort of the people, and the progress of the country. The houses,
usually of wood, painted white, or of some showy colour, and having
verandas covered with climbers, looked both commodious and gay. It
might be mistake, but I fancied that improvement was more perceptible
when, passing the point where line 45 degrees 'strikes' the river, we came
into the American territory. I was particularly struck with one farm
near Warrington, over which I had half-an-hour's walk, upon the best
fields of which were still protruding the heavy stumps of the forest
trees, cut down ten or twenty years ago. The owner told us he had 160
acres, which he bought, partly cleared, seventeen years ago, for ten
dollars an acre. He had, a year ago, refused twenty dollars an acre for
it, intending to make it worth fifty; and during his occupation he had
brought up a large family in comfort and independence upon it, and
saved money.
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