120 MR SOMERVILLE. 



one, but a better was soon to be built. The dinner consisted 

 of fried pork, the standard dish of the country, eggs, new 

 potatoes, and pancakes. Homely as the fare may be consi 

 dered, it has seldom been my fate to rise from table more 

 gratified with a repast, each dish being excellent in its kind, and 

 the entertainment seasoned with the good sense, contentment, 

 and manly feeling, of our host. Miss Somerville, like all my 

 countrywomen met in Canada, was active and in good spirits ; 

 but her piano had remained untouched in the corner of the 

 room since her arrival in the country, the churn being now 

 her favourite instrument. 



Mr Somerville told me his letter was not written with a 

 view to publication, and it appeared in the Quarterly Journal 

 without his knowledge. Under these circumstances it would 

 perhaps be unreasonable to hold him responsible for its con 

 tents. Not having read the letter since the time of publica 

 tion, I cannot say if it is a just representation of his situation, 

 but I can testify to the good quality of his soil, which he says 

 no visitor ever examined minutely but myself. His pasture- 

 grass was truly excellent ; wheat and oats of medium quality ; 

 potatoes and Indian corn well cultivated, and promising crops. 

 He had let twenty acres of forest land to clear and fence, at 

 8 1 2 per acre, which he says is the common cash price of the 

 country. Labourers have difficulty in getting employment 

 during winter ; and on the morning of our arrival Mr Somer 

 ville engaged a first-rate hand for his aguish friend at 880 per 

 annum, and ordinary people may be had for 872 ; wages paid 

 in cash. Boys fit for farm work, and women servants, get 84 

 a-month. Farms in the township, two-thirds cleared, with 

 suitable buildings, may be had for 812 cash, and 816 credit. 

 Bricks are 85 per thousand. 



The soil of Whitby is rich, and not much inferior to that 

 around Newmarket, being free loam, and occasionally ap 

 proaching to sand. The vegetable mould in Mr Somerville s 

 forest was five inches deep. 



Immediately after dinner we joined a waggon, by appoint 

 ment, on the Coburg road, and by which we travelled to the 

 Darlington hotel in the village of Bowmanville, passing over 



