the inhabitants of the surrounding country, besides very accommodating to travellers.

The island is about thirty miles in length, by about ten in breadth. The city of Montreal is situated near the upper end of it, on the south side of the island, at the distance of about one hundred and eighty miles from Quebec. It lies in latitude 45-30, being about 70 miles to the southward of Quebec. They pretend to say, that the spring is always earlier than at Quebec by near a month, and I believe it is allowed to be so. One would scarcely think that so small a difference of latitude, should produce such an effect; it would not be so in Europe; there must be some aiding cause with which we are not acquainted.

Montreal was once surrounded by a wall, which served to defend it against any sudden attack from the Indians; but as this is now no longer dreaded, the wall is about to be removed, that the town may be enlarged with the greater facility. The St. Lawrence' comes close to the town on the south side, where there is a great depth

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of water, but vessels have much difficulty to get at it; for immediately below the town there is a current, to stem which a very strong breeze is necessary: vessels lie sometimes for weeks (waiting for a wind) within a couple of miles of the town, without being able to reach it. It is a pity the site of the town had not been chosen at the bottom instead of the top of the current. This certainly would have been the case had the original founders reflected for a moment what might be the future destiny of the place. But they were monks, whose minds were directed to the propagation of their religion, inore than the advancement of commerce.

Montreal may be said to be a handsome town. Its streets are regular and airy; and contain many handsome and commodious houses. It is fully as large and as populous as Quebec, containing about 10,000 people, the great mass of whom are Canadians. Its suburbs, too, are extensive. It has suffered greatly from fire at different times, and the precautions taken to prevent the spreading of conflagration exceed even those of Quebec; for, in addition to the roofs

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being generally covered with tinned plates, the windows have outside shutters, covered with plate iron.

The island of Montreal is wholly in a state of cultivation; and it is surrounded by a country generally cultivated. What adds much to its consequence is, its being situated near the embouchure of several rivers, which bring down from the countries through which they flow a great deal of very valuable produce.

The river Chambly opens a communication with Lake Champlain, whence are received large quantities of wood, potashes, salted provisions, wheat, &c. From the river L'Assomption much valuable produce is brought. The river of the Ottawais, which forms the northern boundary of the island, opens a communication with an immense extent of country. It is through this river that the traders to the northwest territories proceed. They go in birch canoes many hundred miles up this river, till they meet with rivers which discharge in Lake Huron, from thence they get into Lake Superior, and so on to the Grand Portage, where they discharge the goods

they have taken up, and are again loaded with the furs that have been got in exchange for the preceding year's investment. They do not return by the same course, but by way of Detroit, and through Lakes Erie and Ontario. Montreal is at the head of the ship-navigation from the ocean, and the bateaux and canoe-navigation from and to Upper Canada must commence and terminate at La Chine near Montreal. From these circumstances Montreal bids fair to rival Quebec in commerce:-It is more convenient as a depot for produce. But as Quebec must ever be the great shipping place, there, general merchants will find many inducements to settle.

Although the St. Lawrence is navigable for large vessels as high up as Montreal, yet the navigation above Quebec is attended with so many inconveniencies, that in general it is found more advantageous for the vessels to stop at Quebec, and for such of their cargoes as come from Montreal, to be brought down in river craft.

The influence of the tide is not felt at Montreal, nor indeed for many miles be

low it. I understand that it has been observed that the water at the town of Trois rivieres, rises from the pressure of the tide : -it is about half way between Quebec and Montreal. At any rate, it cannot be supposed to have any effect above Lake St. Peter's, which commences about two leagues above Trois rivieres.

This lake is about twenty miles in length, and about fifteen miles in breadth. It is formed by the waters of the St. Lawrence expanding over a level country, aided by several considerable rivers, which terminate their course here; such as the Masquinongé, De Loup, St. Francis, &c. The lake is, in general, very shallow, and in the ship channel there is not usually found more than from eleven to twelve feet water, as I have already mentioned: so that loaded vessels sometimes take the ground, and are under the necessity of being lightened of part of their cargo, which is put into river craft, and taken in again, in deep water. Vessels of a considerable draught of water, instead of taking in their whole cargo at Montreal, take in only such part of it as they can carry across the Lake,