“Queenstown must infallibly acquire magnitude and importance when the province becomes populous and flourishing, for it is situated at the commencement of a portage, which never can be evaded by any improvement in the navigation, it being rendered necessary by the falls of Niagara; therefore, all vessels containing goods and stores destined for the western parts of Upper Canada must unload and leave their cargoes at Queenstown, that they may be conveyed overland to Chippewa, where the Niagara river again becomes navigable.  Even now, a good deal of this carrying business goes on during the summer months.  The North-West Company forward a considerable quantity of stores to the Indian territories by this route, and the country merchants receive annual supplies of goods from Montreal, and send down pork, flour, staves, and potash, in return.

“The environs of Queenstown are beautifully picturesque and romantic, and nothing can be finer than the prospect up the Niagara river.  Immediately above the village its channel narrows very much, and the banks rise to the height of 300 feet perpendicular, while at the same time they become wild and rocky, and are thickly covered with trees of various kinds.  In some places they partly over-arch the river, and throw an appalling gloom upon its waters, now dashed into turbulence and impetuosity by the ruggedness of their sloping bed.

“At the ferry, the Niagara river is 1,250 feet in breadth, and from 2 to 300 in depth.  The current is very rapid, and the wreathing and perturbed appearance of the water shews that its course is much impeded by the narrowness of the channel, which must be entirely composed of rocks; for, otherwise, the continual and rapid attrition of such a large river as that which flows through it, would undermine and wear away the banks, and thus gradually enlarge and widen its course.

“The prospect from the top of Queenstown mountain is the finest and most extensive that Upper Canada affords, and, in an eminent degree, combines the beautiful and the magnificent.  The wild and majestic precipices which engulf one part of the Niagara river, the windings and mirrored expanse of that noble body of water, the dim and undiscoverable extent of Lake Ontario, together with the verdant orchards, thick forests, and improved fields, glowing beneath a pure sky, collectively form a scene of admirable effect and composition.  Even York, which is 36 miles distant, and lies very low, can be seen from the summit of this hill during clear weather."[117]

* * * * *

    ON THE DEATH OF MAJOR-GENERAL BROCK.

    Low bending o’er the rugged bier
    The soldier drops the mournful tear,
    For life departed, valour driven,
    Fresh from the field of death to heaven.

    But time shall fondly trace the name
    Of BROCK upon the scrolls of fame,
    And those bright laurels, which should wave
    Upon the brow of one so brave,
    Shall flourish vernal o’er his grave.