harbour with sand and gravel, which, the water, descending the creek in
summer-time, is not sufficient to disperse. I think, however, by
clearing out, and piling the channel, and erecting two piers a short
distance from each other, carried out upon the lake, and curving
towards each other, until only sufficient space is left between them
for the entrance of steam-boats and schooners, it might yet be made
navigable. The harbour at Cobourg has been built something on this
plan, which answers tolerably well; but if it had had a creek only the
size of this I am describing, it would have been much better, as the
current is a great help in clearing out the sand and gravel.

On crossing the bar, we found ourselves in a snug little basin,
sufficiently deep for a vessel drawing six or seven feet water. We
landed on a little peninsula, between the lake and the harbour, and
commenced operations for cooking.

After dinner, we paddled through the harbour, and up the river, as far
as we could go, which was only a very short distance, the navigation
being interrupted by a pretty fall of water, which tumbled from ledge
to ledge, like a succession of stone stairs, stretching from bank to
bank across the stream, and forming, as the Americans would say, an
elegant mill-privilege.

Since I left Goderich, a township, called Ashfield, has been laid out
north of the Company's township of Colborne; the principal place of
which is the village of Port Albert--the very spot we went to explore.

What a difference a few years make in a new country like Canada! With
the aid of a compass, or by following the course of some unknown
stream, with much toil and difficulty we make our way back for miles,