216 CANADIAN LOCAL HISTORY. 



a small portage; and it communicates witlithe Grand River or Ouse; 

 and with Lake Ontario by the milita.ry way called Dundas Street. 



The proposed fortifications on the heights of Charlotteville, above 

 Turkey Point, and within the ISTorth Foreland, pi'omise it protection 

 from Lake Erie. The work at Chatham protects the approach to it 

 up the Thames; and there are several strong posts which guard it 

 from the eastward. Add to this, that its local situation secures the 

 interest and attachment of that vast band of Indians, the Chippewa, 

 nation. 



The township of London is also well situated for health, being 

 plentifully watered with springs. The streams have gravelly 

 bottoms, and the water is very pure. It is an excellent tract of 

 land; a black, rich soil. It abounds with black and white walnut, 

 cherry, bass, elm, sugar maple, hickory, beech, white and black ash, 

 and several other kinds of timber. 



This tract is extremely well watered by the windings of the 

 Thames, and also receives a principal branch of the River Chenal 

 Ecarte. Below the fork of the Thames is an island, made by the 

 river having broken through a small isthmus, and several springs 

 add to the stream in the vicinity of the island. The banks in general 

 are high, with intervals here and there of fine flats, originally used 

 by the Indians as planting grounds, particularly on the north 

 side of the river, adjoining the fork. On the east side of the 

 fork, between the two main branches of the River Thames, 

 on a regular eminence, about forty feet above the water, is 

 a natural plain, interspersed with small groves of wood, afford- 

 ing in its present state the appearance of a beautiful park 

 cultivated with great cost and taste. The pines which skirt the 

 river show their tops above the banks, and make a fine termination 

 to the whole. 



From London you pass up the Thames to Dorchester, upon 

 another fork of that river; and from Dorchester still higher ta 

 Oxford, which is situated upon the upper forks. From hence 

 Dundas Street extends forty-two miles to Burlington Bay. From 

 thence you pass immediately into Lake Ontario, through a small 

 outlet, from whence it is thiiiiy-five miles to York, the present seat 

 of the Government. 



