This letter depicts the perils of frontier commerce. The Long Sault Rapids (“Galoos” as Stone refers to them) are located near Cornwall, Ontario. The “Canadian Boat” described by Stone is more generally referred to as a “Bateaux” and was a flat bottomed cargo skiff used throughout colonial times in British North America. The “Cribbs” were rafts made of logs or roughly hewn timber lashed together for transport, and would be disassembled upon reaching their destination. Stone’s saw mill shipped thousands of log rafts on the St.Lawrence to Kingston and Montreal.
At Col. Frenches in Cornwall
7 Oclock past M Monday 16th July 1804
We have this first a most Violent Gust of Wind _ fear it will Do great Damage_ but thank God I hope the property a float is in safety as yet and pray that you may (all at home) be safe likewise_ pray let me hear from you_ Direct to me at Montreal to the care [of] Mr. Wm. Adams and by all means let me hear how it is with our friendly Pegy_
I will now endeavour to give you a laconic History of my travel Since I left home_ with enough to do I got on board the Canadian Boat wind fare and very strong_ Evening com on, I went to Sleep and Did not wake until we were going down the Galoos and not thinking [my associate] near behind _ Did not stop untill I got to the famos Esquir Reed oposit Bramharts _ so here I found my mistake then stopped my trunk_turned about and went back as far as Ephraim Jones Esq. _ then saw my raft underway and was informed by him that they had loaded on 300 barrels flower
-turn over
and was underway_ I tacked about again went to the head of the Long Suit [Sault] waited there until I saw my rafts coming in Dis order _ she struck in the Galoos struck on the cribb there_ and the next parted coming down two by too O and Or [over and over] and some without any body on them. I got hands forthwith Collected together [unclear word] Cribbs and secured them at the head of the Sew [Sault]_ this on Saturday, Sunday Stephen went back after the Other Cribb, I went down the Suit with Six Safe and this Day I have heard Stephen had got all his Cribb and near coming Down will I hope to be underway Soon and to stick with my raft_ the Uncommon Death of horses is worth notice_ please to see that my horses have plenty of Salt twice a week if you can possibly procure it and God be with you all my Dear_ I will be with you as soon as possible _ I fear we shall have a Wet Harvest
I am
Your Affectionate
Joel Stone