A Tour of the West

LETTERS BY VIATOR FOR THE BRITISH WHIG - 1847

LETTER NO. III

Cooksville:

The neat and improving Village of Cooksville is situated on Dundas Street, sixteen miles from Toronto; it numbers about 400 inhabitants. It contains three excellent houses of accommodation, one large, well furnished Store, an extensive Furniture Warehouse, a Post Office, Blacksmith's and Sadler's Shop, and a "Fashionable Tailor's Establishment"; together with numerous "concerns" of less note. In the centre of the fine tract lying between Port Credit and this village, a capital Steam Saw Mill has been lately erected by the Messrs. Romain, which apprises you of its whereabouts long ere you can see it, by the reverberations of its machinery through the profusidity of the pine forest, - to use an expression of an egotistical writer in a late number of the Church.

The country from Toronto to this place, is well cleared and in a high state of cultivation. The loghouses and shanties, the primitive indispensable of the settlers, have long since disappeared to make room for the more commodious and respectable frame buildings with its green blinds, or brick cottage, glorying in its florid front. It is really astonishing to find what a few years of patient industry and sobriety will accomplish in converting the untrodden forests into smiling abodes of independence and happiness. Toronto can well boast of having in its immediate vicinity some of the finest farms in this or any other country.

From Cooksville, I travelled in one of the numerous stages which ply between the city and villages on Dundas Street, to Springfield. Here I found a friend of mine comfortably located with the worthy hostess of the Royal Arms Hotel, of which I shall say a little by and by.

Springfield:

This sweet, picturesque and enchanting village, is situated on the right bank of the River Credit, from which a charming view is had of several "bends" of this beautiful stream. Some idea may be formed of the exquisite scenery which environs this pretty spot, from a first glance calling to my recollection some of those inimitable views on Killarney's Lakes. The River at this place, takes awide and circuitous sweep between high banks crowned with venerable Oaks and towering Pines. The "flats" on both sides the steam are now cleared, then covered with bushy shrubs; here waving with yellow corn, there reposing in solitary beauty, while the limped stream, like a silver cord, winds its tortuous course along-- at one place broken into myriad of bubbles by the rocky bed, another leaping gaily over a sudden declivity -- a perfect miniature cataract -- rendered more pleasing from its sweet associations, while again it glides peacefully by -- scarcely kissing the pebbles on its enameled border.

The village numbers 500 inhabitants; and contains one Store, one Furniture Manufactory, a Saw Mill, two well ordered Taverns, and one capital Hotel, kept by mine hostess, Madam Cavanahthan, than whom can be found none more ready to pay attention to her guests; her beds are perfect luxuries, clean, well aired and soft. I strongly recommend a visit to this section of the country, to pay their devoirs to the landlady of the "Royal Arms." An extensive Grist Mill has lately been burnt down it is strange that there seems no likelihood of another being erected in its place; it is a matter of reproach to those capitalists in the village. I was astonished to find that such valuable water privileges had not been taken advantage of. There is a neat and commodious English Church here, but miserably attended. The Protestant population is about 200, yet not more than 20 people attend. This shows that, either the people are very careless and indolent, or that the Curate is very lax in his spiritual admonitions * . Some few years back this place was the resort of numerous fishermen, who in the season found ample sport for their trouble; but "Othello's occupation's gone." Then it was deemed only fair sport to spear 80 or 100 Salmon a day -- now you can with difficulty procure a dozen. The River, however, abounds with somelarge silver eel, which amply repay the trouble of catching them. Trout are rarely hooked so far down the stream, but hearing that farther up there was abundance, I expressed a desire to go; my friend immediately formed a party of five, to start early in the morning, for a pond some fifty miles north-west. Then hey! for the "boundless continuity of" -- woods.

A perfectly enchanting drive to two hours, over a smooth road, and through beautiful scenery, brought us to the village, town more properly, of Streetsville. But enough for this letter.

VIATOR

Township of Kingston, Sept.1, 1847.

* Dissenters are numerous, no less than four ... hold meetings here.