SOLON ROBINSON, 1850 407 



spent a good deal of labor upon a machine to go by steam, 

 to supersede the plow in some cases, and thinks he has 

 now got it so it will work advantageously. The principle 

 is more like spading than plowing. I hope with all my 

 heart, he may be quite successful. There are many more 

 things I might have seen in this part of Canada, and 

 much more that I did see, that I might write about ; but 

 as I am only out for a "flight," I must plume my wings 

 and away. So let us step on board the Princess Royal 

 steamer, a very good boat, of the slow and sure line, for 

 Kingston, 180 miles northeastward. 



The north shore of Ontario, below Toronto, appears 

 dotted along with small farms, upon which that sign of 

 prosperous condition, a good barn, is often conspicuous. 

 The first town of any note is Port Hope, which is really a 

 very hopeful looking place, occupying a smooth valley 

 that opens up through the hills with a gradual slope from 

 the water. It has an excellent wharf and good-looking 

 buildings, and with one exception, I must commend the 

 place. "Port Hope whiskey" has long been the most noted 

 and abundant article of export from this town, and I fear 

 that some of the bricks of its nice looking edifices are 

 cemented with the tears of widows and orphans of those 

 made drunk upon its wicked abominations. A neat church 

 was seen peeping out of the trees upon one of the hills, 

 and at the foot of another, upon a grassy, shady plot, on 

 the bank of the lake, some dozens of boys and girls were 

 making the earth glad with joy, while the setting sun 

 gilded the trees over their heads, dancing to the merry 

 notes of a poor old blind fiddler, and as we left the wharf, 

 carrying away one of their companions, they made the 

 earth resound with such cheerful notes as only are heard 

 in those spots where dwells rural simplicity. 



such as to turn the furrow perfectly. Among its advantages are: — 

 Lightness of Draft — Cleaning well in the most sticky soil — Capa- 

 bility of cutting deep as well as shallow — Turning furrow well at 

 any speed — Ease of guidance, and — Great durability. A raise is 

 attached in front of the coulter to prevent clogging." Letter from 

 the Public Library of Toronto. See also post, 510 ff. 



