Page:American Historical Review, Volume 12.djvu/100

90 most of the houses on this lake are built in the same manner, and the entertainment and lodging is most execrably bad, nor do I think it is much better at St. John's; the Barracks within the Fort, and the houses witht. belonging to private people, being mostly in the same stile, the whole as well as the ramparts and other parts of the fortification being much out of repair, the plain it is situated on is somewhat elevated, and has been cleard to considerable distance to render it wholesome, the soil seems good furnishing a good natural pasture, and is no doubt capable of improvement, a 20 Gun Ship, and the Hulls of several lesser are laying opposite the town, where a short space more will turn them into rotten dust, the Garn. [Garrison] consists of 6 Compys. commanded by a Lieutt. Col:. just without the fort is a rising ground where they bury the dead, which is much higher than where the fort stands, the Americans attack'd it from hence for it intirely commands it, and it seems this ground has been mostly clear'd since the last War.

the 26th. after breakfast I sent forward my baggage by a Cart, and myself mounted a horse, and rode all the way by the side of the river St. Johns to Chambli. this whole road appears (12 Miles) as one continued villiage. most of the land which is clear'd is in pasture tho' I saw some wheat that appear'd pritty thriving, the opposite side of the river is also somewhat setled; the Fort here is a square, and now serves as barracks for a company that is quarterd here, it has no ditch, and cou'd make no defence agt. cannon. the Town is stragling, but pritty extensive and has some good houses in it. the view from the fort is beautifully picturesque, the river from St. Johns to here is full of rapids, but from hence to Sorel where it joins the St. Laurence, it is navagable.

after dining at the Fort at 3 oClock, I continued my rout mostly by the side of the small river Chambli which is exceedingly crooked and muddy, to Longueville; the country is all clear'd except a breadth of about 3 Miles, which I am told runs in a line till it joins the woods of St. John's, the land is so flat that it is very subject to be cover'd by the rains but from the luxuriency of the pastures I shou'd judge the soil to be very rich, the houses of the Farmers are mostly log, and are much inferior in neatness to those of the states, the roads this way which is directly across the country that separates the 2 rivers, are exceedingly bad. and it was late before I arriv'd tho' the distance is call'd only 15 Miles. Longueville is a very extensive tho' very stragling town, the best houses and thickest together are on the banks of the river near the Church, here is also a small Fort but not garrison'd.

when I gain'd the river St. Laurance which I did 2 Miles above the ferry the view of Montreal and the mountain behind it look'd very beautifull but the river here is too shallow and rapid to admit a passage across, and it being late I slept at the Ferry, there is another rout to go to Montreal by La Praire 18 Miles from St. John's, and taking boat from thence down the river to Montreal which is 10 Miles below it, but as