Washington sentinel., 1853-10-08
Masbington Sentinel.
A JOURNEY TO
NIAGARA, MONTREAL AND QUEBEC,
In I766,*
OR, IT'S EIGHTY YEARS SINCE.
[Concluded.l

and arrived at Fort Ontario. oath. In tn,
morning sailed; in the evening the schooner
lay-to, opposite Cataraqui or Frontenac, q
small fort at the north side of the entrance O.
the river st. Lawrence, about ninety miles
from Fort Ontario.
The French had their grand magazine OF
provisions here, from whence they supplied all
their back forts. 1t was taken by Col Brad
street, in 1857. We went on shore and walked
about the fort, which is now deserted and in
ruins AT night, came to an anchor in the
river.
10th. Sailed down the river, which affords
many beautiful prospects, from the number OF
small islands that are in it. At night, ran
alongside large rock and tied the schooner
which served instead of coming to anchor
Caught some fine fish, 2
9th. The wind being contrary we still kept
fast to the rock. 2Sth. Set sail, and anchored
29th. Arrived at Oswegachy, a small fort
built for the protection of the provision which
is sent there from Montreal, for the supply Of
the garrisons of Ontario, Niagara, Detroit, &c.
Oswegachy is one hundred and twenty miles
from Fort Ontario, and ninety from the first
entrance into the river st. Lawrence, from the
lake.
Both. Left Oswegachy in a very small
wooden canoe. Mr. Madden, who commanded
at the fort, could get us no other. Two saw.
ages and soldier of the fifteenth regiment
were our conductors and guides, and miserable
ones they turned out to be-
Nine miles from Oswegachy is a small is
land, on which is built Fort William Augustus
taken by General Amherst, in 1860 The gre
nadiers of the whole army under the command
Of Lieutenant Colonel Massey, of the twenty
seventh regiment, were ordered to storm the
fort, as they had sustained seige of three
days; luckily for both parties, the fort surren
dered before they began the storm, 9s
Proceeded over some very bad rapids, som,
of them several miles in length. Our canoe
in passing one of these rapids, took in consid
cradle quantity of water, and was turned roun,
by the current. Got that night to St. Anjuste
about forty miles from Oswegachy, an Indial
village of about forty houses We lodged a
the house of one Gordon, Jesuit priest, VIII
was very civil and gave us some dried cells an
eggs for supper which was all he had in tn
house.
As it was our custom always to rise yer
early when travelling, we were under some un
easiness lest we should disturb the priest, bu
he assured US that he was up every morning a
four o'clock. He came into our room the mex
morning at that honr; soon after we saw hin
upon his knees praying. We offered him som
chocolate, which we had brought with us 70
breakfast, but he declined ii, telling us he at
very little on Sunday. te aa.n
After thanking him for his civilities, we en-
barked in our vessel, and soon came to som
terrible rapids, which we were Just going dowl
but luckily saw an Indian trader, who assure
us that if we attempted to go down in so sma
| a canoe, we might depend upon being cas
away; and if that had been the case, every ma
of us would certainly have been drowned tn
stream ran so violently, that swimming woul
have avaled us nothing.
The only chance we had was to go ashore
unload our boat, and carry every thing on boar
to point about a quarter of mile distan
which we did, and the trader with several say
ages he had with him, assisted in dragging ou
canoe over the rocks, down to that point, by
long rope fixed to her head. After giving hin
two piastres for his civility, we re-embarket
and proceeded over some disagreeable rapid
but not near so bad as those just mentioned t,
the Cedars, where we lay that night
What is called the Cedars is range of Frencl
settlements, about three or four miles long tn
only houses we have seen since we left Cata
ragui, except Oswegachi, Fort William Angus
dred and forty miles.
The man at the house where we lay assure
us that what the trader had told us was yer
true, for had we but gone twenty yards furthe
than where we landed, the consequences mus
inevitably have been fatal. ~
|. The behaviour of the poor French inhabit
ants of this part of the world is extremely dill
! ferent from what is met with in any of tn
h
afable, civil, and always ready to do anything
in their power to oblige. On the contrary,
Briton, piquing himself on his liberty, (whicl
in my opinion is nothing more than an insut
stantial vision, and, like the coors in prism
entirely deceptive, will treat you with hautj
ness and effrontery, and though you pay hin
literally for everything you have of him, think
you are more obliged to him than he to you
1t is said that the good behavior of these poo
Frenchmen is owing to their having been rule
with rod of iron when this country was in tn
hands OF its former masters; it is very probs
ble am sorry that so good an effect shoul
be produced by so had cause.
| Monday, lst September. Left the Cedars 0
horseback, and had all our baggage carried i
! cart three leagues. This was absolutely n,
cessary, as there were three or four very ba
rapids, down which our canoe could not &,
otherwise than very light We got the man
the house where we lay (whose business it is
to pilot her down. Embarked; got to La Chin
about two o'clock. After dinner rode nine mile
to Montreal, which was no small comfort TO |
after all our difficulties. @
The town of Montreal stands upon an islam
oi" the same name; it is lorty miles long an
| fifteen broad, surrounded by branches of th
| river st. Lawrence.
Saw the troops reviewed by Major-Gener'
Burton, commander-in-chief in the norther
district. The soldiers looked and performe
their exercise well; afterward cold collatio
uno'er tent; French ladies there, very agree
able and chatty; English country dances on ii
grass. Madame Landrieve my partner; the pre-
tiest woman and the best dancer in the set.
4th. Sailed on board sloop with fair wiz
for Quebec got seventy miles. The pilot, afra
to sail in the night on account Of the rock
anchored. g.i w8sla. bgL.,.s,
Breakfasteo, with COL Massey Of the Twent
Seventh Regiment at Trois Rivieres, tov
ninety miles from Montreal so called from I
river St. Maurice having three mouths near
About one hundred and fifty houses.
Wind still contrary; lay here; no wind
4 u a..1 I