CANADIAN LOCAL HISTORY. 71 



when drained, •will afford beautiful and fertile meadows ; tliis has 

 already been effected in a small degree, which will no doubt encourage 

 further attempts. The long beach or peninsula, which affords a 

 most delightful ride, is considered so healthy by the Indians, that 

 they resort to it whenever indisposed ; and so soon as the bridge 

 over the Don is finished, it will of course be generally resorted to, 

 [in 2nd edition : the bridge over the Don, being finished, is frequented] 

 not only for pleasure, but as the most convenient road to the heights 

 of Scarborough. 



The ground which has been prepared for the Government House 

 is situated between the city and the River Don, in a beautiful spot, 

 and its vicinity well suited for gardens and a park. [By " Govei-n- 

 ment House" is here meant the fii'st Parliament Buildings, whicll 

 were afterwards burnt by the enemy in 1813.] The oaks ai-e large, 

 the soil excellent, and watered by variovis streams ; the harbour is 

 well calculated for ship-building and launching of vessels. The 

 Yonge Street, or military way, leading to Lake Simcoe, and from 

 tnence to Gloucester on Lake Huron, commences in the rear of the 

 city. This great communication has been opened to Gwillimbury, 

 32 miles ; and must be the gi'eat channel to the North- West, as it is 

 considerably shorter than the circuitous route by the Straits of 

 Niagara and Detroit. [In the 2nd edition, the following sentence is 

 inserted here ; — The tract of land between Kempenfeldt and Pene- 

 tanguishene Bays has been lately purchased from the Indians, and a 

 road is opening, which will enable the North-West Company to 

 transport their furs from Lake Huron to York, thereby avoiding the 

 circuitous route of Lake Erie, and the inconvenience of passing along 

 the American frontier. We add in a note below the official docu- 

 ment attesting the purchase at Penetanguishene.*] Farm lots of 



* Upper Canada. — To all to whom these Presents may come, Greeting. Whereas the Chiefs, 

 Warriors and People of the Chippeway Tribe or Nation of Indians, being desirous, for certain 

 considerations hereinafter shewn, of selling and disposing of a certain tract of Land lying near 

 the Lake Huron, or hutting and bounding thereon, called the Harbour of Penetanguishene, to 

 His Britannic Majesty King George the Third, our Great Father, Now know ye that we the 

 Chiefs, Warriors and People of the Chippeway Tribe or Nation, for and in consideration of 

 One Hundred and One Pounds, Quebec currency, to us paid, or in Value given, the receipt 

 whereof we hereby acknowledge, to have given, granted, sold, disposed of, and confirmed, and 

 by these presents do give, grant, sell, dispose of and confirm for ever, unto His Britannic 

 Majesty King George the Third, all that tract or space containing land and water, or parcel of 

 ground covered with water, be the same- land or water, or both, lying and being near or upon 

 the Lake Huron, called Penetanguishene, butted and bounded as follows :— Beginning at the 

 Head or south-westernmost angle of a Bay, situated above certain French ruins, now lying on 

 the East side of a small Strait leading from the said Bay into a larger Bay called Gloucester or 



