miles, from thence to Detroit, 790 miles, and
from thence to Michillimackinac, 1,107 miles; there was a road _en
route_ to Boston, _via_ St. Giles, Ireland, Shipton, St. Francois, and
the Forks of the Ascot, to the lines, 146 miles long; and there was a
road from Laprairie, opposite Montreal, to Isle-aux-Noix, which was 28
miles long. Canals were contemplated to overcome the difficulties of
the Lachine, Cedars, and Long Sault rapids, and indeed there was an eye
to those improvements which never fail to develop the riches of a
country. The landholders at this time were mostly French Canadians.
There were some thousands of acres, however, which had been granted to
the British population since 1796, occupied or settled upon by
Americans, that is to say, former residents of the United States. Land
was not by any means valuable, on account of the great distances from
convenient markets, and the consequent length of time which it took the
distant farmer to bring his produce to market. It was this drawback
that produced in the Canadian the pernicious habit of merely producing
enough for the consumption of his own family, and for the keep of his
own farm stock. Farm lands were seldom held upon lease. The cultivators
were the _bona fide_ proprietors of the soil, subject to a very
inconsiderable annual rent to the seigneur and to a fine of a twelfth
upon a change of proprietor by sale, a condition which, as a matter of
course, would in time become intolerable and demand that remedy which
has since been applied. In Lower Canada, the lands held by Roman
Catholics, were subject to the payment of a tythe or a twenty-sixth
part of all grain for the use of the curate, and to assessments for the
building and repair of churches. Now with regard to the character of a
people, who, not long after this period, exhibited an intolerance of
tyranny and injustice, it may fairly be said that the French Canadians
are naturally of a cheerful and lively disposition, but very
conservative in their ideas. Outwardly polite, they are not
unfrequently coarse in conversation. If the Canadian evinces respect,
it is expected that he will be treated with respect in consideration
therefor. His chief shortcoming is excessive sociability. When once
settled among friends and relatives he cannot leave them--absence from
home does in truth only make the heart grow fonder of home
associations. He is active, compactly made, but generally below rather
than above the