onveyed overland to Chippewa, where the
Niagara river again becomes navigable. Even now, a good deal of this
carrying business goes on during the summer months. The North-West
Company forward a considerable quantity of stores to the Indian
territories by this route, and the country merchants receive annual
supplies of goods from Montreal, and send down pork, flour, staves, and
potash, in return.

"The environs of Queenstown are beautifully picturesque and romantic,
and nothing can be finer than the prospect up the Niagara river.
Immediately above the village its channel narrows very much, and the
banks rise to the height of 300 feet perpendicular, while at the same
time they become wild and rocky, and are thickly covered with trees of
various kinds. In some places they partly over-arch the river, and throw
an appalling gloom upon its waters, now dashed into turbulence and
impetuosity by the ruggedness of their sloping bed.

"At the ferry, the Niagara river is 1,250 feet in breadth, and from 2 to
300 in depth. The current is very rapid, and the wreathing and perturbed
appearance of the water shews that its course is much impeded by the
narrowness of the channel, which must be entirely composed of rocks;
for, otherwise, the continual and rapid attrition of such a large river
as that which flows through it, would undermine and wear away the
banks, and thus gradually enlarge and widen its course.

"The prospect from the top of Queenstown mountain is the finest and most
extensive that Upper Canada affords, and, in an eminent degree, combines
the beautiful and the magnificent. The wild and majestic precipices
which engulf one part of the Niagara river, the windings and mirrored
expanse of that noble body of water, the dim and undiscoverable extent
of Lake Ontario, together with the verdant orchards, thick forests, and
improved fields, glowing beneath a pure sky, collectively form a scene
of admirable effect and composition. Even York, which is 36 miles
distant, and lies very low, can be seen from the summit of this hill
during clear weather."[117]

* * * * *

ON THE DEATH OF MAJOR-GENERAL BROCK.

Low bending o'er the rugged bier
The soldier drops the mournful tear,
For life departed, valour driven,
Fresh from the field of death to heaven.

But time shall fondly trace the name
Of BROCK upon the scrolls of fame,
And those bright laurels, which should wave