82 EMIGRATION, OR 



the motion of the current; but few houses, situated on the 

 banks of the river, and a saw-mill and tavern, which will 

 increase in a few years, probably, to a large village or 

 town, as the spot is healthy and adapted for business, and 

 at the lowest point of the river, where pines grow, which 

 are here sawed into boards, &c. and rafted down to Sand 

 wich, Detroit, and other places. I am informed near 400 

 deer have been killed this season, within a few miles of this 

 place, chiefly by Indians j haunches of venison to be bought 

 at about Is. Id. each, weighing from ten to fifteen pounds. 

 Stopped at a tavern for the night in the township of West 

 minster; same day a number of people called in, having just 

 arrived from the quarter sessions for the county of Mid 

 dlesex, held in London, situated on the opposite side of the 

 river Thames. Petty Sessions are held at private houses 

 or taverns in almost every township, one or twice a month, 

 where the &quot; Squires &quot;* attend to settle trifling appeals to 

 the law, and grant summonses to creditors for the appear 

 ance of debtors owing small sums, or giving notes of 

 hand, at their next sitting, to either pay them or shew cause 

 why they neglect, when in the latter case the Magistrates 

 decide } and if for the creditor, and the money is not paid, 

 a writ is issued for the sale of property to the amount and 

 expenses. Notes of hand to any amount can be recovered, 

 and, I believe, to the amount of 10/. in book debts, except 

 tavern keepers bills for liquor, which is limited to a much 

 less amount. The township of Westminster is good land, 

 and so also is London, and well settled and healthy, with 

 numerous fine springs, and also thriving by the extensive 

 clearings -, and good large frame houses, and barns being 

 erected along the street. The extreme of heat and cold 

 is rather greater here than near the lakes. 



Jan. 5, 1827. Arrived again in York, which is all bus 

 tle by the numerous sleighs from every part of the Pro 

 vince j some with produce, such as wheat-flour in bolls, 



* Justices of the Peace, or &quot; Squires,&quot; as they are here called, are 

 made in every township if they are eligible persons. In the new settle 

 ments they are mostly farmers, with some store-keepers. One duty of a 

 &quot; Squire&quot; is, to marry, if no clergyman of the Church of England is 

 settled within eighteen miles, I believe. 



