The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1839-08-06 00:00:00

CAYUGA

(From Dr. Rolph's Tour in the West Indies and Canada.)
. On the 30th of April, 1835, I rode to see the new settle-
ment of Cayuga, and was gratified to find- that along floe
whole line of road, new settlements were forming, large
clearings being made, some of the best log houses I had seen
in the country erected, surrounded with small, but neat gar-
dens, clearing indicating that the settlers were Europeans.
At the point where youstrike the Grand River, a large tavern
has been built, and lots been sold for the purpose of making
a village. The ride along the banks of the river, to Cayuga,
a distance of sixteen miles, is one of the most charming in
the Province. The road runs parallel with and close by the
river ; on both sides the country is well cleared and admirably
cultivated. Some trees of a majestic growth are left over--
hanging the stream, and the lovely islands, interspersed
throughout the river, present an appearance of singular
beauty. The foliage had attained about two thirds of its full
developement, and was precisely in that stage of tender, yel-
lowish verdure, when Spring, in my view, wears her most
beautiful face. Nothing could exceed the brilliancy of the
green carpet on the islands in the river, and of some of the
fields on its banks ; nor have I any where else seen such a
charming border of green trees and grass, as skirted the
stream for several miles. Between these lovely shores the
river rolled full to it brim,—smooth, unbroken, apparently
a vast canal,—its still, soft waters moving on as calm as a
mirror, forming a striking contrast with the deep, dark,
sombre forest of pines which here and there bad been lett
untouched to the water's edge. The whole tract of land, on
both sides of the river, six miles deep, belonged to the
Indians, but owing to the indefatigable exertions of Sir J.
Colborne he inducedthem to make a surrender of an extensive
and fertile portion now called the townships of Cayuga and
Dunn, 14 miles in length from the mouth of the river. The
banks of this river form the Reserve of the Six Nations, ex-
tending fifty miles from Lake Erie to Brentford ; a portion
of these lands were sold to an ancient and respectable family
in the Province, named Nelles, and the settlement was called
after them. The road to Cayuga passes through this settle-
ment, and satisfactorily accounts for the extent of richly cul-
tivated country, without stumps to be seen on the banks of
the river. A large village called York, having the advantage
of a post-office, has been formed, within these three years,
and is augmenting rapidly ;—it has mills, several large stores,
taverns, a school, and carries on already a considerable trade.
Between it and the village of Cayuga, is another village called
Indiana, still the residence of many Indians, but having
some large houses and stores in it belonging to Europeans.
Several neat residences have been erected in favourable posi-
tions on the banks of this lovely river, particularly one, be-
longing to Mr. Martin, of Galway, son of the amiable, but
eccentric philanthropist, of that name. • .
In every instance when these fine lands have been brought
into market, it has been followed by the clearing and culture
of the soil, by the conversion of cabins into cottages, of
hamlets into villages, of villages into towns, and of towns
into cities : by the encouragement of industry and trade ; by
the public order and social strength. Since that time I have
been many times to Cayuga, and have been highly gratified
at the rapidity of its settlement. The crops last year, as
well as the present, were particularly luxuriant along the
whole route of the river. Great quantities of wild fruit grow
along tpe banks of this interesting river, particularly the
grape, whose noble vines, were almost borne down by the
immense clusters of fruit hanging pendent from them.—
Several species of thorn, and prickly ash, adorn the banks,
and the finest varieties of wild honef-suckle I ever beheld ;
there are alsO abundance of that beautiful parasitical plant
entwining round the trees, elegantly decorated with orange
coloureeberries, termed the celestina scandens. This country
must be well adapted for fruit ; there is actually a super-
abundance of raspberries, strawberries, plums, and apples,
growing in the wild state. Along the flats of the Grand
River, very heavy crops of Indian corn and barley are raised,
and I saw several large fields of wheat of the most promising
aspect. The quarries of gypsum or plaister of Paris seem
inexhaustible, and several mills for grinding it, are in active
operation along it course.
The Niagara District returns six members to the House of
Assembly.