flourishing town was then in its infancy, the most unpleasant aspect in
which any Canadian settlement can be viewed. Still, I am pleased that I
have had the opportunity of tracing some of these important places from
their dawn to their present prosperous condition.

I found the general aspect of the country level. There is scarcely a
rise of land sufficient to justify the appellation of hill from Wilmot
to Goderich; but as you approach the lake, the land becomes more
rolling, and better watered by fine spring streams.

I was quite delighted with the situation of Goderich, though the town-
plot was only just surveyed. Three frame-houses were in process of
building. A log-house, beautifully situated on a bold hill, overlooking
the harbour, called by Dr. Dunlop, the Castle,* and a dozen or so of
log-cabins, comprised the whole town of Goderich, most of the latter
being inhabited by French Canadians and half-breeds. The upper town is
situated on a fine cliff fronting the lake and harbour, and upwards of
one hundred feet above the level of the water.

[* "In the afternoon of the following day, we saw afar off, by our
telescope, a small clearing in the forest, and on the brow of a rising
ground a cottage delightfully situated. The appearance of such a sight
in such a place was unexpected, and we had some debate, if it could be
the location of Dr. Dunlop, who had guided the land-exploring party
already alluded to. Nor were we left long in doubt; for on approaching
the place we met a canoe, having on board a strange combination of
Indians, velveteens and whiskers, and discovered within the roots of
the red hair, the living features of the Doctor. About an hour after,
having crossed the river's bar of eight feet, we came to a beautiful
anchorage of fourteen feet water, in an uncommonly pleasant small
basin. The place had been selected by the Doctor, and is now the site
of the flourishing town of Goderich."--Galt's "Autobiography."]

The lower town comprises a few acres of alluvial flat, only a few feet
elevated above the river. This piece of land was destitute of trees or
stumps, and had evidently been cleared many years ago by the Indians,
who had cultivated it with Indian corn. I ploughed up this flat of land
for the benefit of the Company, and sowed it with oats in the spring of
'29; and, therefore, I can justly claim the honour--for the sake of
which I did it--of putting the first plough into the ground of the
Huron trac