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on board the steam-boat, and my example was followed by the 
families of Messrs. Clare and Grymes. The steam-boat carried 
one hundred tons, and was of twenty-five horse power, but she 
was by no means so convenient and comfortable as the Frontenac. 
At this place commence the rapids of the St. Lawrence. They 
are formed by rocks, which extend obliquely across the river, 
over which the water rushes with tremendous force, so that be¬ 
tween this place and Montreal, a distance of one hundred and 
thirteen miles, the steam-boats can run only a part of the way. On 
this account, therefore, there is a line of stage-coaches and steam¬ 
boats between Prescott and Montreal, which take the passengers 
alternately, and produce much vexation in consequence of the 
baggage The rapids may be descended in bateaux, or Durham- 
boats, "which are small, flat vessels of about forty tons, have but 
half deck, and draw eighteen inches of water. The Durham- 
boats have a mast and two sails, and carry large cargoes of goods. 
We were anxious to undertake the passage, in order to see the 
rapids, and to ascertain the danger of which so much has been 
spoken. We therefore went on board a Durham-boat, the Flying 
Dutchman, paid two dollars for each passenger, and were assured 
by the captain, that, if the wind should be good, we should be at 
Montreal in a day. Sir Michael resolved to attempt the enter¬ 
prise, and his lady accompanied him, in spite of her fears. Mrs. 
Grymes, however, was so much afraid, that she preferred travel¬ 
ling partly in the stage and partly by steam-boat. 
We embarked on board the Flying Dutchman, at about 6 
o’clock, early in the morning of the 30th August. The morning 
was delightful, and as we were much pleased with the beautiful 
prospect of Prescott, in the neighbourhood of which is Fort 
Wellington, a redoubt, which was built during the late war. 
On the American shore we saw the town of Ogdensburgh, 
which was fortified by the Americans during the late war, but 
soon fell into the hands of the British. The comforts of our 
vessel were not, as we have remarked, very great. It was 
open, a few barrels of potash served us as a floor; and boards laid 
across our trunks as seats. Six miles below Prescott we arrived 
at a few islands called the Gallop Islands, and the first rapids. 
As we approached, the water appeared to be boiling, and high 
foaming billows arose, over which our boat passed rapidly. They 
are not so high as the swells at sea, but they are very short and 
rapid in their movements. As our Durham-boat, however, was 
remarkably long, it divided them without producing any disa¬ 
greeable motion. Scarcely had we passed the rapids before the 
river became again smooth, and as we had scarcely any wind, our 
progress was but slow. Another set of rapids, nine miles long, 
were passed in an hour, and with no more danger than the pre- 
