70 CANADIAN LOCAL HISTORY. 



the rear of Hamilton ia Dives. [The last eight words are omitted 

 in 2nd edition.] 



The river !N"en empties itself iato Lake Ontario, in the township 

 of Pickering, east of the Scarborough heights ; it runs from a consi- 

 derable distance in the country through Scarborough, Markham, &c., 

 crossing the Yonge Street, and apparently rising in the vicinity of 

 one of the branches of Holland's River, with which it will probably, 

 at some future period, be connected by a canal. This river abounds 

 with fish ; at its embouchure are good intervals for meadow ground, 

 and it is the back communication from the German settlement in 

 Markham to Lake Ontario. 



York, which is at present the seat of Government of Upper 

 Canada, lies in about 43 degrees and 35 minutes north latitude, and 

 is most beautifully situated within an excellent harbour of the same 

 name, made by a long peninsula, which embraces a basin of water 

 sufficiently large to contain a considerable fleet. It has this advan- 

 tage over the other ports on Lake Ontario, that vessels may ride 

 safely at its entrance during the winter. 



On the extremity of the peninsula, which is called Gibraltar Point, 

 are commodious stores and block-houses, which command the entrance 

 to the harbour ; on the mainland, opposite to the Point, is the garri- 

 son, situated on a point made by the harbour and a small rivulet, 

 which, being improved by sluices, affords an easy access for boats to 

 go up to the stores ; [the last seventeen words are omitted in the 

 2nd edition.] The barracks, being built on a knoll, are well situated 

 for health, and command a delightful prospect of the lake to the west, 

 and of the harbour to the east. The Government House, which is not 

 yet finished, is about two miles above the garrison, near the head of 

 the harbour, and the town is increasing very rapidly. [In the 2nd 

 edition, the preceding sentence reads thus : — " The Government House 

 is about two miles from the east end of the town, at the entrance of 

 the harbour, and the town is increasing very rapidly." The Govern- 

 ment House referred to in the 2nd edition was situated in the Fort. 

 It was destroyed by the concussion occasioned by the blowing up of 

 the powder-magazine, when York was taken by the United States 

 force in 1813.] The front of the city, as now laid out, is a mile and 

 a half in length ; several handsome squares are projected, particularly 

 one open to the harbour. The River Don empties itself into the 

 harbour a little above the town, running through a marsh, which, 



