YORK. 105 



and sand, the former yielding good wheat and grass; the 

 latter prevailed on approaching York, where we took up our 

 residence at the Ontario house. 



York is situated on Lake Ontario, and is the seat of govern 

 ment of the province from which it derives its chief impor 

 tance. Steam-boats arrive and depart almost hourly, and the 

 inhabitants amount to about 8000. The progress of American 

 cities in newly settled districts seems to be uniform ; at first 

 mean wooden houses, which, as wealth increases, gradually give 

 way to better ones of the same material, and ultimately to 

 those of brick or stone, clay for making the former being- 

 almost everywhere to be had. The houses of the principal 

 streets of York are passing from wood to brick, and in no 

 place, during my tour, did I see more brick erections going 

 forward. 



