NO EMIGRATION. 97 



Kingston is an old settled place, situated on the west bank 

 of the Catarauqnui river, opposite the naval depot, over which 

 a large bridge is about to be built of wood. Wooden bridges 

 in this country, generally, are the most proper at present, 

 being more economical, requiring less outlay from the scanty 

 finances of a new country ; yet, as there is here such im 

 mense rocks, and good building and lime stone, on the spot, 

 (laid bare by an overflowing of the water over the surround 

 ing neighbourhood at some early period), I should have sup 

 posed it would have been nearly as cheap, and if so, cer 

 tainly more desirable for its durability and strength. The 

 harbour is good, and an excellent place for wharfs ; but, with 

 the exception of two or three, you run the risk of a broken 

 limb in crossing them. The houses are built chiefly of 

 stone, and generally larger than those in York ; the streets 

 are also paved with stones, (in rather a rough manner), 

 which gives it much the appearance of a small-sized market 

 town in England, about 3000 inhabitants. There are a 

 number of good stores, and three or four large druggists 

 shops, as elegantly arranged as some in London, in all their 

 neatness of order, much better than the general part I have 

 seen in America. A pretty large and handsome stone-built 

 church, and another small one belonging to the Establish 

 ment, besides Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, and Methodist 

 places of worship. I like the appearance of Kingston gene 

 rally, but it is not so thriving as York ; and here also there 

 is a little of the .Imerican feature before noticed. Houses 

 and premises half built and half in ruins, unmeaning, slo 

 venly arrangements, &c. ; but they are fully counter 

 balanced by a number of specimens of real neatness and 

 order, in different parts of the town, and particularly along 

 the banks of the bay. The military establishment in the 

 neighbourhood causes some little business, yet the inhabi 

 tants complain times are not now as they have been. A 

 band of music from the barracks parades the town occa 

 sionally at night, playing lively airs. Four steam-boats ply 

 between here and Prescott and up the bay of Quintie (pro 

 nounced Kanty, or Canty), besides three to Niagara, York, 

 and Queenston, once a week. Three very large ships of 

 war on the stocks, one above 100 guns, where they have 

 remained since the war. Kingston is inhabited chiefly by 

 Europeans, the greater part Irish, I believe, considerable 

 numbers of Scotch, some Americans, and a few English. 



