[GARRY] DIARY OF NICHOLAS GARRY 91 
and the many Perils and Dangers he experienced have formed the Sub- 
ject of a very interesting Narrative written by himself! A Feeling 
which in any other Situation might be considered superstitious came 
across my Mind but in this sacred and awful Moment it was to me a 
most happy one, giving Hope and Firmness to my Mind. \ 
Dined with Mr. McGillivray—met there Bishop Macdonald and an 
English Priest, Roman Catholic, from the Island of St. John’s. 
Montreal is very pleasantly situated on the St. Lawrence in Lon. 
73.13, in Lat. 45.33. The Houses are built of Stone and with some 
exceptions are old fashioned and ill built—the stone has a gloomy dirty 
Appearance. This Town has been so often visited by Fires that the 
Inhabitants have hit upon an Expedient which renders the Town very 
uncomfortable—the Heat being almost insurportable. The Roofs of the 
Houses and Churches are covered with Tin Plates and the Shutters are 
of Iron. On my first Arrival we were dreadfully annoyed by an innum- 
erable Number of Flies which took possession of the Town. They pay 
the Town an annual Visit and come with the Shad Fish. In walking it 
was necessary to keep the mouth shut. Montreal contains about 15,000 
Inhabitants, three-fourths Canadian-French. The Island on which 
Montreal is built is about 30 miles in Length and belongs almost entirely 
to the Priests (St. Sulpice). Their Income would be immense: but they 
do not exact their Rights and all they receive is given away in charity. 
The St. Lawrence is navigable to Montreal but it here becomes shal- 
low full of Rocks and Rapids. A Canal is planning, to go round the 
Rapids which would continue the Navigation to Kingston on Lake 
Ontario and thus communicate with the other Lakes. 
Monday 11th June, dined at Home having many Letters to write 
and Arrangements to make. Mr. Gale dined with me. 
Tuesday 12th June. After taking Leave of my Friends, and not 
the least valuable amongst them was my aged Innkeeper Mr. Dillon, I 
left Montreal at 2 o'clock and wishing to see the Country I started 
before Mr. McGillivray with Raven in a sort of open Carriage drawn by 
two Horses; an Outrigger, &e., loose Harness—very much in the Russian 
style of Driving. Our Route was along the St. Lawrence to La Chine 
the Place where the loaded Canoes take their Departure from and 
where from the great Breadth of the River (being 7 miles from La Chine 
to the Indian village on the opposite side) it is called Lake Saint Louis 
which is at the Head of the Sauts or Falls of this Name. The Distance 
from Montreal to La Chine is 9 miles. The Road from La Chine con- 
tinues along the St. Lawrence and is very interesting and beautiful, 



1 Travels and Adventures in Canada and the Indian Territories between the 
years 1760 and 1776, by Alexander Henry, Esq. (with portrait), New York, 1809. 
