202

194

and Prescot was one Schooner of only 40 Tons
burden at present there are not less than
36 Steam Vessels of different sizes from 100
to 500 tons and 100 Schooners from 40 to 150
tons On Lake Erie there are upwards of 300
sailing vessels and 64 Steam Vessels belonging
to the American Shores.

The cost of the Welland canal
had been so far as one can ascertain £500,000
but I should say not one half of this sum has
been laid out in the actual construction of the
work which has been wretchedly executed the
other half has been consumed by peculators
and jobbers This undertaking was
not the work of Government but of a company
who have benefited much, and as the population
increases a fair return will be yielded for
the Capital expended Lord Sydenham has
lent great attention to the affairs of the company
foreseeing that this line of conduct is of vital
importance to the vast and growing enterprize
of emigration and settlement He has
strongly recommended that the Government
at home should advance a sum by way of loan
to enable the company to deepen and double the
width of the Canal.

On the 19th from Dalhousie I proceeded
to St. Catharines, St. Davids and Stamford the
latter a beautiful English looking village having
left Mr. Taylor to proceed in charge of the money