One of the most fascinating aspects of the history of Canada is the development of trave—from the canoe-routes and woodland trails first followed by the Indians, the fur-traders and explorers, and the pioneers, to the canals, locks, and highways of a later age, and the seaways, railroads, and air routes of today. Equally interesting is the story of the development of the means of transport—canoes, bateaux, sailing-ships, steamships, stage-coaches, railway cars. This volume contains the chapters from Mr. Guillet's large volume, Early Life in Upper Canada, describing early travel and transportation. He draws on contemporary letters, diaries, newspapers, and periodicals, in order to describe vividly the conditions of travel at various periods, and the book is abundantly illustrated with authentic portraits, photographs, and drawings.

The settlement of Upper Canada began in the Detroit river district where there were several hundred people living before the close of the French régime. Between 1785 and 1800 colonization continued with the arrival of Loyalists and other settlers, including a contingent of German mercenaries who fought for George III during the American Revolution. Pioneers continued to come in large numbers to the unsettled areas of the province for the next 75 years and these later settlers often suffered hardships greater than those experienced by the Loyalists. This is the story of these early settlements in Upper Canada. The author, a distinguished Canadian historian, has drawn on contemporary letters, diaries, newspapers, and periodicals; he has consulted all the existing histories, and has supplemented these researches with interviews with persons who had contacts with early life in the province. The numerous illustrations included accurately depict the era. This book was originally part of Early Life in Upper Canada, by far the finest social and economic history of the area yet compiled. It is being printed separately to make more widely available this important and engrossing description of the early settlement of Ontario. Informative, accurate and delightfully readable, this volume brings to life the pioneers of Ontario and vividly recreates their experiences.

Scots, some of Upper Canadas earliest pioneers, influenced its early development. This book charts the progress of Scottish settlement throughout the province.

Although there were abundant hardships, early life in Upper Canada was romantic and colourful in many ways. However, despite important contributions to the social and economic history of Canada, few good, comprehensive accounts have been generally available. Early Life in Upper Canada, originally published in 1933, is by far the finest history yet compiled, and it is now being reprinted in order to make available to a new generation an important and engrossing description of this area of Canadian history. The author, a distinguished Canadian historian, has drawn on contemporary letters, diaries, newspapers, and periodicals, as well as consulting all the existing histories, and he has supplemented these researches with interviews with persons who had personal contacts with early life in the Province. Mr. Guillet has compiled a thorough, accurate and delightfully readable history, that brings vividly to life the early settlers and their experiences. This is in accordance with the author's profound desire to make the study of Canadian history a delight rather than a chore. He has not concealed the unpleasant aspects of pioneer life, nor does he attempt to glamorize its difficulties. There is a tendency at times to forget that the founders of Upper Canada include hundreds of thousands of men and women of many nationalities, and fur traders, lumbermen, and voyageurs, as well as settlers. Their contributions, too, are acknowledged and recorded here. This book is profusely illustrated, with drawings made, in many cases, by army cartographers, who were skilled creative artists as well. Their paintings, fortunately, have been better preserved than were written accounts of the times, and are accurate depictions of pioneer life. The extensive bibliography and carefully prepared index will make this work invaluable for historians as well as for general readers.

Uses maps to illustrate the development of Canada from the last ice sheet to the end of the eighteenth century

It has generally been assumed that the political and social ideas of early Upper Canadians rested firmly on veneration of eighteenth-century British conservative values and unequivocal rejection of all things American. Jane Errington's examination of the attitudes and beliefs of the Upper Canadian elite between 1784 and 1828, as seen through their private papers, public records, and the newspapers of the time, suggests that this view is far too simplistic.