Yonge Street on Foot and by Wagon

From Toronto to Richmond Hill

Saturday 7th [November 1840]. Left office before 1 P.M. for home, reached the corner of King and Yonge Streetsat exactly 1 P.M. & walked to Finch's in 2 hours & 18 minutes. Stopped at Finch's exactly 1/2 an hour by 3 minutes, and arrived home at 1/2 6 P.M., performing the distance in 4 hours & a 1/4, the shortest trip yet. Found all well at home. The Road is now Macadamized to Corbould's gate, & they are just putting up the 4th turnpike at Cook's.

Larratt Smith, Jr., cited by Mary Larratt Smith,Young Mr. Smith of Upper Canada(Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1980),p. 46

From Richmond Hill to Toronto

Thursday 10th [November 1842]. I got up at 5 A.M. & left the farm with 30 bushels of potatoes in the waggon & old Patrick beside me on the box. The new horse baulked at first & would not go. Licked him till he started, he afterwards pulled willingly. We reached Toronto about 10 A.M. Mr. Howe allowed 3 shillings & 9 pence per bushel for the potatoes.

Larratt Smith, Jr., cited by Mary Larratt Smith,Young Mr. Smith of Upper Canada(Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1980),p. 82