[155] James Hedges, a government surveyor, laid out the town of Mansfield in 1808, naming it in honor of Colonel Jared Mansfield, surveyor-general of the United States. In 1820 it contained about 250 inhabitants.—Ed.
[156] Ethan Allen Brown was elected governor of Ohio in 1818. He resigned his office to accept a seat in the United States senate.—Ed.
[157] For the early history of Portland, see Buttrick’s Voyages, volume viii of our series, note 34.—Ed.
[158] Plunder is a cant term used in the western country, signifying travelling baggage.—Flint.
{287} LETTER XXIV[159]
Passage on Lake Erie—Presque Isle—Buffalo—The Falls of Niagara—Kingston—Youngstown—Newark—Passage on Lake Ontario—Scotch Settlement in Upper Canada—Descend the River St. Lawrence—Thousand Islands—Brokeville—Prescott-Ogdensburgh—Rapids—St. Regis—Lake St. Francis—Falls—Cotu-du-Lac—The Cedar Falls and Village—Lake St. Louis—La Chine—Cachnewaga—Montreal—Passage down the St. Lawrence—Sorel—Lake St. Peter’s—Trois Rivieres—Settlements in Lower Canada—The Falls of Richelieu—Quebec—Heights of Abraham—Lorete—Indians—Remarks on the People—Lumber Trade—Government—Climate.
Quebec, Nov. 9, 1820.
Since writing my last letter to you I have removed from the head of Lake Erie to this place—a very considerable distance; but as I proceeded most of the way by water, I had very little communication with the shore, and very scanty means of making myself acquainted with the country.[160]
On the 14th I went on board the American steam-boat Walk-in-the-Water, a fine vessel of 330 tons burden, with two masts, and rigged, for taking advantage of the winds in the manner of sea-craft.[161] The interior of this vessel is elegant, and the entertainment is luxurious. There were twelve cabin passengers of genteel appearance and polite manners, and about an equal number of persons in the steerage; the whole indicating a degree {288} of intercourse and refinement which I did not expect to see on Lake Erie. The southern bank only was in sight. It is low, and many cleared patches were to be seen at intervals amongst the woods. Probably the time is not far distant when the anticipation of Campbell will be realized,
“There shall the flocks on thymy pasture stray,