138 MISTAKE ROADS HORSE FERRY-BOATS. 



21s. sterling, finding themselves with books, bed-clothes, and 

 washing. Gentlemen are educated for L.20 a-year, including 

 all branches of education, board, and washing. Some excel 

 lent stone barracks are in the village, which is reckoned an 

 important post in approaching Quebec from the States. They 

 were unoccupied, and in good order. The river above the 

 village forms a continued rapid for a mile or two, and aifords 

 ample power for propelling machinery. 



The state of the weather and roads induced me to abandon 

 the plan of visiting the Eastern Townships, and we agreed to 

 pass down the banks of the Richlieu to Sorrel. We obtained 

 a cart, in which a seat was placed for my friend D and me ; 

 and we set out, driven by a boy who was said to know the 



road well, followed by Mr and Miss in the waggon 



we all four occupied the previous day. A more wretched 

 equipment than the one furnished us seldom appeared. A 

 ragged boy drove a small lean Canadian mare, which hopped 

 on three legs ; and the ill fitting wheels of our crazy cart be 

 smeared us with mud, and creaked so loud, that we could 

 scarcely hear each other speak, while almost every passenger 

 cracked a joke on our musical vehicle. After jogging on for 

 more than an hour, it was discovered we were on the road 

 leading to Montreal, instead of that to Sorrel. A council 

 was held we determined to continue the route, and Mr 



and Miss returned. We soon reached Longueil, and 



crossed the St Lawrence in an awkward-looking ferry-boat, 

 propelled by horses. This horse-power differed from that we 

 had seen used in the States for similar purposes, by the horses 

 walking round a circle instead of remaining stationary. The 

 machinery of the boat was fitted up for twenty-two, although 

 only fourteen horses were attached, and the poor animals were 

 unmercifully goaded by two ruffian drivers. On landing on the 

 opposite side of the river, we walked to Montreal in time for 

 dinner. 



The soil, from Lapraire to Chambly, and around the vil 

 lage, is strong clay, varying considerably in quality, and uni 

 formly ill managed. Parts of the canal channel, forming near 

 Chambly, showed no change of soil at the depth of ten feet. 

 The soil also from Chambly to Longueil was clay, and part of 



