146 



JOURNEY FROM KINGSTON TO YORK. 



down sheep, and a lot of swine, came to the yard of the Kingston 

 liotel, at which I lodged, on their way to the county of Dum 

 fries, Upper Canada, direct from England. They were objects 

 of interest to many of the inhabitants, and were seemingly in 

 excellent health and condition. 



I left Kingston about dusk for York, in the St George 

 steam-boat ; one of the shafts broke when opposite the Bay of 

 Quinte, and we returned to Kingston about noon next day. 

 Another vessel was immediately expected to carry us on our 

 voyage ; and, in the meantime, the captain refused the pas 

 sengers dinner; and four of us w^ent on shore to dine, in order 

 to be in readiness. We called at the Commercial Hotel, 

 esteemed the first house of entertainment in Upper Canada ; 

 and, on an application at the bar, were told a joint could not be 

 prepared for us until four o clock. Having stated it was pos 

 sible to dine without a joint, and we soon expected a steam 

 boat to take us to York, a mutton-chop was promised in 

 half-an-hour. We had not, however, retired to the parlour 

 five minutes, when a spruce waiter entered, and told us Mr 

 Macdonald would not give dinner. I could not help contrast 

 ing this treatment with what we experienced at Ogdensburgh ; 

 and if Mr Macdonald s behaviour passes for British manners 

 and hospitality, they have not improved by transportation to 

 Canada. 



The Great Britain, one of the largest vessels on Lake 

 Ontario, was laid alongside of the St George, and all hands 

 employed in transferring the cargo of the one to the other. 

 A passage was made from the upper decks of both vessels, 

 along which the passengers passed to and fro ; and as they 

 came crowding up stairs for hours together with their lug 

 gage, reminded me of bees entering a hive laden with pollen ; 

 it was eleven o clock before the bustle was over, and the vessel 

 under weigh. I observed a quantity of gunpowder conveyed 

 from the St George to the Great Britain in the most careless 

 manner, and locked in the captain s room. The owner of the 



Great Britain, Mr , was on board at the time, and must 



have sanctioned the transport of this dangerous commodity. 



The night-scene on board the Great Britain formed a 

 counterpart to jhat of the batteau on the St Lawrence, almost 



