This occurred before I settled in Canada, and the consequence was, when I desired to purchase land, none could be obtained.

At the time, however, of which I am speaking, the Canada Company were constructing a road through their possessions, some seventy miles in length, and the principal contractor, Mr.Ingersoll, had agreed to take land in part payment for his services on the road.

In accordance with this agreement, he accepted one lot of land situated within the Wilberforce settlement, which he agreed to sell to Mr.Lewis for twenty-five dollars.
Mr.Lewis, knowing that I was anxious to purchase, accepted the offer, and then came and showed the contract, offering it to me on condition that I paid him the twenty-five dollars which he had just paid Mr.Ingersoll.
This I was glad to do; I paid the demand; took an assignment on the back of the receipt, and passed into immediate possession of the land.

He at the same time requested me to take up a note of twenty-five dollars for him; which I did, on his promising to refund the money in a short time.
I commenced laboring on the wild land I had purchased; cleared some ten acres, which in consequence of its being so heavily timbered, cost me at least twenty-five dollars per acre; built a house and barn--supposing myself its legal possessor,--until I chanced to meet Mr.Ingersoll, who informed me that Mr.Jones had refused to sell him the land to be disposed of to a colored person; that he had duly informed Lewis of the fact, and had returned to him the twenty-five dollars received.

Not a word of this, had Lewis communicated to me, though he knew I was making expensive improvements, in the faith that I was its only owner.