Down the St. Lawrence. 115 



channel suddenly opens out on the right, you are whirled 

 suddenly into it, and the next moment a magnificent amphi- 

 theatre of lake opens out before you. This, again, to all 

 appearance, is bounded by a dense green bank, but at your 

 approach the mass is moved, as if in a kaleidoscope, and a 

 hundred -beautiful little isles appear in its place. Such, for 

 upwards of forty miles, is the scenery through which you 

 glide. Once seen, the remembrance of them is never for- 

 gotten ; and when seen under the bright rays of an early 

 summer dawn, it seems a glimpse of fairy land. Emerging 

 from this beautiful scenery, we come suddenly upon Brock- 

 ville (before mentioned), and, proceeding onwards, nothing 

 further of note occurs till we come to Prescott, i 2 miles 

 down the St. Lawrence, which is a very thriving town. This 

 is the terminus of the Ottawa and Prescott Railroad, a road 

 doing a large business, as Prescott, being opposite to Og- 

 densburgh, in New York State, and connected with it by 

 means of two ferry-boats, is the place of transhipment for 

 most of the American goods purchased by the dwellers on 

 the Ottawa, as well as for the export of cattle and Canadian 

 produce. This road was built for the purpose of counteract- 

 ing the stagnation of trade resulting from the construction 

 of the Rideau Canal between Kingston and Ottawa, which 

 diverted the carrying trade previously enjoyed by Prescott ; 

 and this shows how one enterprise stimulates another. The 

 view from the town is exceedingly picturesque, embracing 

 the villa residences, spires, lighthouse, and miniature docks 

 of Ogdensburgh ; and as all passing steamers call at the one 

 place or the other during the summer, while in the winter a 

 passage is kept open by the heavy railroad steamer, it wears 

 continually an aspect of stir and business. The country 

 around is very pleasant and healthy. Fort Wellington 

 here is a military position of importance, and forms an 

 object of considerable attraction. About a mile below 

 Prescott are the ruins of an old stone windmill, at 



