thing of the same kind, in the temperate climes of Europe. I shall be better able to give you a description of these matters, and of the curious phenomena which the Canadian winter months offer to our observation, when the winter is finished. In the mean time, give me leave to send you the result of my enquiries relative to the productions and commerce of Canada.

The population of Canada at the time it came into the possession of the British in 1759-60, amounted to 75600 souls, as appears from General Murray's report to the British government, immediately after the conquest. At that time the extensive country now called Upper Canada was not inhabited by any Europeans. At present the two Canadas contain at least 300,000 inhabitants; of these, Lower Canada contains about two-thirds. The descendants of the Old Canadians constitute at least nine-tenths of the population of Lower Canada. They profess the Roman Catholic religion, and are allowed the use of the Old Canadian, or rather French laws, agreeably to the principles laid down in the Coutume de Paris, as I have mentioned to you in a former letter.

In Upper Canada, the population amounts to about 100,000. These are all British, at least they speak English, and are governed entirely by the laws of England, both in civil and criminal matters; and in questions relative to real property, as well as in questions relative to personal property. The lands are held by the English tenures, and the courts of justice are regulated agreeably to the forms of the respective courts in England. Niagara was formerly the capital of Upper Canada, but about twelve years ago York was laid out for a town, and the seat of government transferred to it, and it is already of considerable size.

From the preceding statement of the population, it is evident that the increase in Lower Canada for these last fifty years has been very great; it has, in fact, nearly tripled. In Upper Canada the increase has been very rapid, as several years elapsed after the conquest before any part of Upper Canada was settled or cultivated. Thirty years ago, Upper Canada was nearly a continued forest;-that a population of 100,000 should in that space of time accumulate, is a proof that the country and

climate are propitious. Indeed, it is generally allowed, that the climate of Upper Canada and its soil are superior to those of Lower Canada.

The country is in general more level and low than the neighbourhood of Quebec and Montreal, The waters of the immense lakes have perhaps narrowed their beds, and left the surrounding country dry, at a later period than has been the case in Lower Canada, where hills and mountains and rapid rivers abound, and where the nutritious parts of the soil may have been carried off. The climate of Upper Canada is temperate, and friendly to vegetation. The warmth of the air will facilitate the decomposition of all vegetable and animal matter, which may be in a state of decay, and in the course of time an accumulation of soil will take place. When the forests are cleared away, and the plough and harrow have performed their functions, the same causes which promoted the growth of the large hardy oak, the stately pine, and the matted thicket, will raise fine crops of wheat, and luxuriant artificial grasses.

In all new countries, such as the Canadas, population must increase much faster

than in old countries, because the production of food for man is much easier; and as their situation precludes the possibility of their indulging in what are called the luxuries of life, their principal occupation will naturally be the production of food. They will clear their lands of wood,—they will sow and reap; next year more will be cleared, sown, and reaped, until the grain, &c. produced exceed the wants of the family. The surplus becomes an object of merchandize. Their disposable capital increases; and it is employed either in increasing production by cultivating more. land, or in ameliorating what is already produced. Mills are erected; wheat converted into flour; flour into biscuit; cat_ tle are fattened and prepared for market. This accumulation of the real wealth of a country is the natural cause of an increase of population.

Besides the operation of this cause, the Canadas owe much of their increase of population to emigrations from the United States of America, and from Europe. These emigrations, to a greater or less extent, take place every year. The emigrants generally prefer settling in Upper, rather

than in Lower Canada, as well those from the United States, as those from Europe. There are many reasons for the preference given to Upper Canada. The soil and climate are better; and lands are cheaper, and more easily procured: the tenures are better understood, and better liked than the French tenures in Lower Canada. The great mass of the people speak English, and have English habits, neither of which are to be found in Lower Canada: case of a dispute with your neighbour, the cause is tried in an English court of justice, and in a language you understand; which is not the case in Lower Canada. In short, these causes will continue to draw to Upper Canada a great augmentation to the natural increase of the population and wealth-whilst the Canadian French рориlation will only increase in the ordinary ratio.

In

In proportion to the increase of population, is the demand for manufactures, and for articles of foreign importation. The increase of industry and wealth gives a greater fund to pay for the productions of other countries. That this has been the case in