90 EMIGRATION, OR 



very extensive marshes, in some places uncovered by water, 

 and in others but just covered, round which people have 

 settled, and keep great numbers of cattle and horses to breed 

 for sale, mowing the marsh grass for hay. I should have 

 supposed these marshes unhealthy, had I not been told 

 otherwise, and the looks of the people confirm the assertion. 



April 5. After crossing four miles of the Big Marsh I 

 came to the Thames, a mile or two from its mouth, and a 

 few miles below Chatham. At Chatham there is a church, 

 and a mill, but no town or village at present. The river is 

 about fourteen or fifteen rods or poles wide, of uniform 

 breadth, and of sufficient depth to admit schooners up it 

 twenty miles or more. There are some rich farms along its 

 banks, but it is not settled backward. For several miles it 

 is settled by French, but higher up are Dutch and some 

 others. Wheat grows and looks well, just covering the 

 ground. There is a store, and mill, once in ten or fifteen miles. 

 The French, along Lake St. Clare, and Detroit river, have 

 several windmills. Fish are now coming up the river in 

 shoals to spawn. One man told me he had already caught 

 forty barrels, close by his house, with a small seine. 



April 6. Passed over from the river to Talbot Street, 

 again along the road or track, which, at best, is but little 

 better than an Indian trail, and now nearly blocked up by 

 trees blown across it ; while the late rains have filled the 

 swamps, making it almost impassable for either man or beast. 

 This is the only communication to the river where there is 

 a bridge, and is much used when passable. Why do not 

 government cut these public roads, with the fees and other 

 money arising from the sale of lands ? If no other funds 

 can be appropriated to such purposes, I would say, establish 

 toll-gates. 



April 9. Returned home again, where my friends had 

 arrived the day preceding. Some heavy rain yesterday. 

 Weather warm of late, and hardly the slightest frost for 

 two or three weeks past thermometer 50 to 60 ; and spring 

 in all its beauty appears. 



May 25. The latter part of last month was wet and 

 cold, which has made the spring late, contrary to what 

 was expected. Wheat on the wet soils looks but indiffer 

 ently on account of it, but on the dry and sandy ones very 

 good. 



June 1. There has been a frosty night or two of late, 



