Student of Early Canadian History 29 



"Q. Are you aware that Cobourg is in the hands of the 

 Government? A. I have understood so. 



"Q. Is not the trade of Cobourg larger than from Port Hope? 

 A. I think so and its being the District town compels many 

 more persons to resort to it. 



"Q. What are your views on the subject of Rice Lake navi- 

 gation being generally used? A. At present it costs sixpence 

 per bushel to bring produce to Port Hope. If the Plank Road 

 is completed it will reduce this to three pence, by bringing the 

 produce to Peterboro and thence by water to the Plank Road. 



"Q. Do you think the periodical fires will endanger the road 

 by the new route? A. I have often seen the Plains on fire; 

 it is not as formidable as represented. There are some farms 

 on the Plains, and the farmers generally run four furrows round 

 their fences, and these protect them effectually. The same 

 precaution would in my opinion protect the Road. Answering 

 the question, Is the wheat brought to Peterboro and thence by 

 direct route to Cobourg? Gilchrist answered: That there are 

 several flouring mills on the route where it may be ground en 

 route: " 



Illustrating what were other difficulties of the times, Mr. 

 Keeler further found in an enquiry about postal facilities by a 

 Royal Commission the following amongst many other choice 

 bits. It is a letter by Rev. John Roaf, dated Toronto, 1840, 

 in answer to an official enquiry. It states: 



"A large portion of the people of this District are so far from 

 Post Offices as to be virtually destitute of accommodation 

 from them. . . . Many persons attribute this not only to 

 political favoritism but to the contemptible purpose of driving 

 as many as possible to the shops of the postmasters. . . . 

 Sometimes the English mail is made up here before half the 

 city population is aware of it; and if a person is a day or two late 

 his letter may be eight or nine weeks in reaching England." 



Such and much more was the material which Joseph Keeler 

 had ready to discharge at the professor at their next meeting. 



