PEOSPECTS OF KINGSTON. 277 



Though Kingston possesses, In its happy position, a 

 certain assurance of great future prosperity, its progress 

 was somewhat checked by the removal of the seat of 

 Government to Montreal, upon the union of the pro- 

 vinces. Placed at the head of the navigation of the St 

 Lawrence, at the junction of the E-ideau Canal with 

 Lake Ontario, and with direct access to the commerce 

 of the States and upper lakes by steam-boats and rail- 

 ways, it will grow with the general growth of Canada, 

 especially with the settlement of the basin of the Ottawa, 

 and the increase of the carrying trade of the great river, 

 till it will compete on at least equal terms with Koches- 

 ter and Oswego, on the south side of the lake. It is not, 

 as some fancy, feverish energy and over-speculation that 

 are required, but a patient trust in the natural develop- 

 ment of the resources of the country, and a prudent and 

 cautious use of the new opportunities of advancing It 

 which every succeeding year presents. 



Sept. 22. — Leaving my kind and hospitable friends in 

 Kingston, I embarked for Montreal at 7^ A. M. We had 

 neither rain nor fog In sailing among the Thousand Isles, 

 but the absence of the sun robbed this part of the voyage 

 of half Its beauty. I was reminded of the Ten Thousand 

 Islands of the Swedish Lake ]\Iaeler, and of the less 

 numerous Islets of our own Loch Lomond, as we glided 

 rapidly down the stream ; but not a gleam of sunshine 

 descended to give the Canadian scenery the bright 

 sparkle which I have seen lending so much joy fulness 

 to these European lakes. A quiet beauty, nevertheless, 

 suffused the river, and, with agreeable and instructive 

 society on board, the day passed pleasantly. Darkness 

 had already come on for more than an hour before we 

 stopped for the night at Coteau-du-Lac, at the foot of 

 Lake St Francis, and 160 miles below Kingston. We 

 had, during the day, descended several rapids, which 

 can only be passed by ascending vessels through the 



