A 11 T I C L E VIII. 



ON THE HYDROLOGY OF THE BASIN OF TUB RIVER SAINT LAWRENCE. 



BY THOMAS EVANS BLAOKWBLL, M.I.O.E. 



Bead March 16, 1866. 



INT Ji () I) (I C T I N. 



The subject of the following paper was suggested to the author, some four years since, 

 while in company with the late lamented President, Sir William Gubitt, and the late Mr. 

 J. K. Brunei, Vice-President of the Institution of Civil Engineers. 



In accepting the proposal that he would prepare a paper originally intended for this 

 Institution, respecting the Hydrology of part of British North America, the author had 

 but a very limited view of the extent to which its ramifications would be likely to lead 

 him. And at that time, too, there was very little prospect, from the nature of his occu- 

 pations, of his being able to perform, to any adequate degree, a promise made with the 

 intention of fulfilling it at an early period. 



Still the subject was always an interesting one, and its study was aided to a certain ex- 

 tent by business which led him from time to time to make comparisons between the two 

 great modes of inland communication, and this brought him in contact with individuals 

 and afforded him knowledge of a number of circumstances which he felt would be inte- 

 resting matter for a communication, even if they did not always represent subjects of a 

 purely engineering character. 



Materials for a large portion of the information which it has been his endeavor to digest 

 to a presentable form, have been for the most part collected during a period of repose, 

 that was necessary for the restoration of health, broken down for a time by unusual labor. 

 In collecting and now reviewing these materials, the author has experienced the more 

 relief, finding in it a return to former modes and subjects of thought, lie is quite aware 

 that much of the material, as well as the reflections thereon, may still have a crude and 

 imperfect form; he trusts, however, to the leniency of critics, as he offers these remarks in 

 good faith, and in the belief that the subject will be interesting especially at this period, 

 seeing that a large portion of the inland waters of that part of North America now under 

 consideration is to be viewed as common to both the British and American nations. 



vol,. XIII. — :>- 



