ssels in the trade, any additional expense should not
for a moment be thought of as an objection. The Lachine Canal is to
admit only of boats. This may suit the merchant of Montreal, but will
not do for Upper Canada. Indeed I am doubtful if our great navigation
should at all touch Montreal, and rather think it should be carried to
the northward. As to the line within the province, my mind is made up,
not only from inquiries commenced on my first arrival here, but from
considerable personal inspection of the ground, as well between Lake
Ontario and Lake Erie, as below. My opinion is that the navigation
ought to be taken out of the river St. Lawrence, near the village of
Johnstown, in Edwardsburgh, and let into the Ottawa, somewhere below
the Hawkesbury Rapids; probably in that part of the river called the
Lake of Two Mountains. By a bold cut, of a few miles, at the first
mentioned place, the waters of the St. Lawrence might be conducted to a
command of level, which would make the rest of the way practicable,
with very ordinary exertion. The idea which has been started by some of
raising the navigation by two stages, first into Lake St. Francis, and
thence to the higher level, may do for boat navigation; but, for
vessels of a large scale it is greatly objectionable. Any benefit to be
gained from the lake considered as part of the canal already formed,
would be quite overbalanced by the want of a good towing path. A boat
navigation may, I think, with benefit to the parts adjoining, be
brought up so far as Milrush, through Lake St. Francis, and thence be
taken into the line of the grand canal. The advantages to Upper Canada
from a navigation on a large scale would be infinite. Only think of the
difference of having goods brought here from England, in the same
bottoms to which they were first committed, instead of being unshipped
at Quebec, unboated and warehoused in Montreal, carted to the ditch
canal, and there parcelled out, among petty craft for forwarding to
Kingston. Then again at Kingston tumbled about for transport across
Lake Ontario; and again, if Amherstburgh is the destination, a third
time boated, unboated, and reshipped. Think of the difference in point
of comfort and convenience to the merchants here. Think of the greater
despatch. Think of the saving of trouble and risk. Think of being
unburdened of immediate commissions and profits. Think of the closer
connexion which it would form between this province and En