32 EAELY GAZETTEER AND MAP LITEKATURE 



countiy very recently, as well as a knowledge obtained of it during' 

 an anterior service of six years as an officer of the Provincial Navy, 

 upon the lakes : these have been corroborated and enlarged from 

 other sources of undeniable intelligence and veracity." 



An excellent engraved plan of Toronto harbour is given, shewing 

 the singular conformation of the Peninsula, of which more presently. 



A plan of Kingston harbour is also given, with the different 

 channels leading to it from the lake. 



In 1822, Robert Gourlay published his statistical account of Upper 

 Canada. In consulting this work for statistics and topographical 

 information, the attention is inconveniently drawn aside to other 

 matters — especially to the personal grievances of the author, which, 

 doubtless, were many : and they are set forth at great length. The 

 idea with which he started of collecting statistics from all quarters of 

 the country in the form of replies to a circular, was,, of course, quite 

 a natural one ; but it was a novelty in the young colony, and offended 

 the susceptibilities of the local authoxities, who charged Gourlay 

 with disaffection to the Government. This soon transformed the 

 diligent gatherer of statistics into a violent political agitator. Sub- 

 sequent topographical writers have gleaned much from the three 

 volumes of Gourlay. The information which they contain is in 

 reality of the date 1818. The maps that accompany the work are 

 excellent ; and, as a vignette, on the engraved title-page of each 

 volume is as good a little picture of the Falls of Niagara, seen from 

 the heights on the Canadian side, as any that are in circulation now 

 taken by photography. 



In 1831, appeared Bouchette's larger work: — "The British 

 Dominions in North America, or a Topographical and Statistical 

 Description of the Provinces of Lower and Upper Canada, New 

 Brunswick, Nova Scotia, the Islands of Newfoundland, Prince 

 Edward, and Cape Breton." This work consists of two volumes, 

 4to., with 23 plates of views and plans. 



Four chapters are devoted ta Upper Canada. Goderich is thus 

 spoken of: "The town is very judiciously planned, and peculiarly 

 well situated, upon the elevated shores of the lake, and on the 

 southern side of the harbour formed by Maitland River. This har- 

 bour is capable of affording safe shelter to vessels. of 200 tons burden, 

 and is well calculated to admit hei-eafter of the construction of quays, 

 to facilitate the loading and unloading of produce and merchandise. 



