OF WESTERN CANADA. 31 



Mr. Smitli "Was in Canada at the beginning of tlie war. He thus 

 speaks of tlie capture of Detroit by General Brock: — "The capture 

 of Hull and his army, with the surrender of the fort of Detroit, and 

 all the Michigan territory, were events which the people of Canada 

 could scarcely believe, even after they were known to be true. 

 Indeed, when I saw the officer's and soldiers returning to Fort George, 

 with the spoils of my countrymen, I could scarcely believe my own 

 eyes. The most of the people in Canada think that Hull was bribed 

 by the British to give up the fort." Mr. Smith's description of York, 

 our present Toronto, reads as follows :— " This village is laid out after 

 the form of Philadelphia, the streets crossing each other at right angles, 

 though the ground on which it stands is not suitable for building. 

 This, at present, is the seat of Government, and the residence of a 

 number of English gentlemen. It contains some fine buildings, 

 though they stand scattering, among which are a court-house, council- 

 house, a large brick building, in which the King's store for the place 

 is kept, and a meetiug-house for Episcopalians, one printing and 

 other offices. This city lies in north latitude 43 degrees and some 

 minutes. The harbour in front of the city is commodious, safe, and 

 beautiful, and is formed after a curious manner. About three miles 

 below or east of the city, there extends out from the main shore, an 

 arm or neck of land about 100 yards wide, nearly in the form of a 

 rainbow, until it connects with the^'main shore again about a mile 

 above or west of the city, between it and where the fort stands. 

 About 300 yards from the shore, and as many from the fort, there is 

 a channel through this circular island, merely sufficient for the passage 

 of large vessels. This basin, which in the middle is two miles wide, 

 is very deep and without rocks, or any thing of the kind. While 

 the water of the main lake, which is 30 mUes wide in this place, is 

 tossed as the waves of the sea, this basin remains smooth. The fort 

 in this place is not strong ; but the British began to build a veiy 

 strong one in the year 1811." Thus far Mr. M. Smith. 



In 1815, Joseph Bouchette, Surveyor-General of Lower Canada, 

 and Lieutenant-Colonel Canadian Militia, published his Topographical 

 Description of Lower Canada, with remarks upon Upper Canada, 

 and on the relative connection of both Provinces with the United 

 States of America. 



" What is said of the Province of Upper Canada," the author 

 obser\'es, "is the substance of notes and memoranda made in that 



