CANADIAN" LOCAL HISTORY. 



The townsliip of Osnabruck lies above Cornwall ; the River aux 

 Raisins rises here in several branches ; it has two other streams 

 which run into the St. Lawrence in front, off which lies the Isle au 

 Longue Sault, Isle de trois Cheveaux Ecart^es, Isles au Diable, et 

 Isle au Chat. 



The Rapid, called the Long Sault, lies in front of this township ; 

 the boats, in going up, keep the north shore in great measure, because 

 the south shore is not settled; but in descending, they universally 

 pass between the islands and the south shore, that being the largest, 

 deepest, and altogether the safest passage. The inhabitants of late 

 years have taken down their grain with safety on rafts to the 

 Montreal markets. 



Many people think that the lumber trade is carried on with more 

 safety down the rapids, than by those which pass Chambly from 

 Lake Champlain ; it being a frequent observation at Quebec, that 

 the rafts from the Upper St. Lawrence are less ragged than those 

 which come from Lake Champlain. There is, however, some little 

 additional risk to the rafts from Upper Canada, by reason of having 

 to pass the small Lakes St. Francis and St. Louis — all broad waters 

 being more or less against the rafting trade. But as the Lake St. 

 Pierre, which is larger than either St. Francis or St. Louis, must be 

 passed, whether from Lake Champlain or the Upper St. Lawrence, 

 there is no doubt but the lumber trade will find its way down the 

 St. Lawrence. Some settlers have already made the attempt, even 

 from the head of the Bay of Quints ; and when the produce of that 

 very fertile country shall be exported for the Montreal or foreign 

 markets, the raft will answ.er a double purpose; it requires but few 

 hands to manage it ; and grain or potash may be carried as diy as 

 in any other way. 



The township of Williamsburgh is next above Osnabruck ; it has 

 but few streams. There are some islands in its front ; among the 

 rest. Isle au rapid Plat, the west end of which lies also in front of 

 Matilda, the next township. In the front is Point aux Pins and 

 Point Iroquois ; the latter of which has the advantage in a great 

 measure of commanding the passage up and down the St. Lawrence. 

 A few islands lie in the front of this township, and a peninsula, 

 which is insulated at high water. 



[Matnda is the next township above Williamsburgh : 2nd ed.] 



