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NOTES TO BOOK VI.

NOTE AA, page 425.

THE practicability of a most advantageous intercourse across the continent of America, from Canada, was long since demonstrated by that very adventurous traveller, Sir Alexander M‘Kenzie. Mr M‘Taggart, who was an engineer employed at the Rediau ‘Canal, observes, in his very. instructive, although very quaintly written book, “ but. the grand Canadian Canal is not the Rediau Canal, nor the Welland Canal. These are only sections of it, which are to be met with on the grand line between Quebec and the noble summit level of Lake Superior. This famous canal will be finished in a few years, as far as the summit level. Steam- boats may go up from Quebec to Lake Superior ere three“ years from this time; from thence, with little trouble, they will pass tliro‘iigh the Note/t of the Rocky Mountains, and be locked down the Columbia to the Pacific Ocean. The route, however, will be better to be kept of the American frontier, which is Columbia, and to go down Cook’s River, or the large Salmon River at Nootka Sound. The town of Nootka is likely yet to be as large as Lon- don, and ought to be laid out on an extensive plan, as the trade between it and the Oriental World may become wonderfully great in a short time. Then, when the steam-packet line is established between Quebec and London, as it soon will be, we may come and go between China and Britain in about two months. The names of the stages will be London, Cove of Cork, the Azores, New- foundland, Quebec, Montreal, Kingston, Port Dalhousie, Maitland, Erie, Huron, Superior, Rocky Mountains, Athabasea, Nootka, and Canton. Can this be called a foolish prophecy, or an idle dream ? By no means, it is perfectly practicable. The magnitude of the whole may probably be too much for the minds of the generality

we;