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 tract. I also put in four acres of wheat on the top of the hill
near the castle, in the fall of the same year, the yield of which was
upwards of forty bushels to the acre--a good yield for any country,
especially when it is considered that at least one-twelfth of the
ground may be fairly deducted for stumps of trees, stones, and other
obstructions, usually found in all new clearings. I believe, however, I
may say without exaggeration, that the Company's tract may safely
challenge any other block of land of the same dimensions either in
Canada East or West, for fertility of soil, average yield per acre, or
healthiness of the climate.*

[* "The Canada Company's Huron tract is known to be one of the most
healthy and fertile settlements in Canada. The tract in the year 1842
contained 7101 souls. In June last year (1849) the Huron district
numbered 20,450 souls, according to official reports, exclusive of the
townships of Bosanquet and Williams. The Canada Company's tract now
contains a population of 26,000 souls, showing an increase of 18,900,
and that the population has nearly quadrupled itself in seven years--a
progress of settlement of a tract of country scarcely exceeded in any
part of the North America."--Information to Emigrants by Frederick
Widder, Esq.]

I bought a small log-house and town-lot, or rather the good-will of
them, from a French Canadian, putting myself in his place with the