EXPEDITION TO THE MISSOURI 245 



waters of all our sea-lakes, we must not be astonished at her 

 great breadth, depth, and strength of current to about 60 

 miles below Montreal. About the latter city that noble stream 

 is intercepted by many rapids and a vast number of Islands, 

 the latter of which so intersect the view that in some instances 

 it would prove quite out of the question to discover with cer- 

 tainty either of the main shores. I visited the falls of Mont- 

 morency, those of the Rivierre Serria and of La Chan[u]diere. 

 I besides made many an acquaintance and a few very valuable 

 friends. At Quebec I sold a copy of our large Work to the 

 Earl of Caledon who also subscribed to our quadrupeds. At 

 Montreal I sold several Copies of our Small Edition of the 

 Birds of America and procured several good names to the 

 quadrupeds. At Kingston where I had the pleasure of becom- 

 ing acquainted with Sir Charles Bagot and family (all delight- 

 ful persons) I sold two copies of the large work to both Houses 

 of Parliament, and also procured their double subscriptions to 

 the Animals. Thus I returned home highly pleased with all that 

 I had done and seen. The more perhaps because I procured in 

 the meantime most valuable specimens of rare quadrupeds and 

 a fund of information that can never be met with unless on 

 the ground of action. . . . 



Our dear "Minnie's Land" is improving as fast as our poor 

 pecuniary means will allow. We have done a good deal since 

 our purchase of it, in a wild state as it was, and next spring 

 we will have a good garden and probably some fruit from our 

 own young trees, of which we have planted nearly 200 of the 

 very best description, including pears, aples, quinces, apricote, 

 plumbs, vines, nectarines, apricotes, etc., etc. . . . We have 

 fish whenever we draw the seine, and this summer we have caught 

 one sturgeon that measured upwards of 8 feet . . . weight 

 more than 200 pounds . . . The "Boys" take a sailing pretty 

 frequently in their sail boat, but I never join them in that, for 

 attempts I have crossed the Atlantic pretty frequently I have 

 an inward dislike to the water, after it is more than 2 or 3 

 fathoms deep! We have now been enjoying that delightful 

 season, which our Americans call the "Indian Summer" and not 



