Had the north side of the Vermont mountains, and the lake, as high as Skeensboro, or even Crown Point, been included in Canada (and which, I have been assured, would have been granted had it been insisted upon), the advantage to Canada now would have been very great; and if, instead of the line 45, the line of boundary had run from Skeensboro, or even Crown Point, due west, it would have included the whole river St. Lawrence to Lake Ontario, and rendered the river infinitely more valuable to Canada. At present, it is a line of boundary for a considerable way, and would, in case of war, be of no use to either party,

ذرية

The distance from the mouth of the river St. Croix, to the termination of the line north, in the highlands, separating the waters which run into the St. Lawrence, from those which run into the Atlantic, is from 3 to 400 miles; from thence, south-west, along the line of highlands (for the American geographers have laid down a very pretty chain of mountains in the very course they could wish them to be), to where the Connecticut river crosses the pa

rallel 45, the distance is about 400 miles; from thence, the parallel 45 crosses the lower end of Lake Champlain, and comes to the St. Lawrence a little above Lake St. Francis, a distance of about 150 miles; so that there is a line of boundary of from 900 to 1000 miles between Lower Canada, New Brunwick, and the United States. The line which separates Upper Canada from the United States is continued from the parallel 45, up the St. Lawrence, through the Lakes Ontario, Erie, Huron, Lake Superior, Lake of the Woods, and so on to the north-west, through an immense extent of country, known only to the Indians, who wander through it, and to the North-west Company, who go to trade with them.

It is particularly well known to Sir Alexander Mackenzie, who, with a laudable ambition for discoveries, and a bold and manly line of conduct, accomplished in 1793 a journey to the Pacific Ocean, over a country that had never been trodden by the foot of a European. By this journey, and another which he made to the Northern Ocean, he ascertained two very

important points, viz. the practicability of opening an overland trade with the shores of the Pacific, and from thence with China, and with India; and the impossibility of there being any north-west passage from Europe to China, by the Northern Ocean,

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The line of boundary between Lower Canada, and the United States, would, in case of a war, attract much attention. though it is extensive, there are, comparatively, few places where an army could enter. The greatest part of the country through which the river St. John runs, is a continued forest, and impassable; and the country to the north of the highlands, from thence as high up as Quebec, except near the St. Lawrence, is pretty much in the same state, without any thing like a road, till you get as high as the river Chaudiere, which falls into the St, Lawrence a little above Quebec. It rises about a hundred miles up the country, in the highlands, forming the line of boundary. A road is formed up this river for a considerable part of its course; but, I believe, it is not continued quite through; the townships in its course, not being all settled.

The banks of the St. Lawrence, from the lowest settlement, up to this river, are not cultivated backwards to a great distance, seldom above 10 or 15 miles, in a direct line from the river. The distance of the American line, from the river St. Lawrence, is not well ascertained; it must vary, as the highlands advance or recede; upon an average, it is probably about 50 to 60 miles. When you get as high as the river Chaudiere, the highlands retire towards the south, leaving a country between them and the St. Lawrence of the breadth of near a hundred miles. It contracts again as it approaches the St. Lawrence on the parallel 45. In this tract of country are the southern townships of Canada; they run behind the Seigneuries the whole way from Bique, 150 miles below Quebec, to the termination of the parallel 45 in the St. Lawrence, upwards of 200 miles above Quebec; but they lie principally between the river Chaudiere and the river Chamblie. The Seigneuries do not in general recède from the river above eight or ten miles. In the country backwards, as far as the American line, are found the townships.

In each township, the crown, when it makes a grant, reserves one-seventh for future disposal, and one-seventh for the future support of the protestant clergy.The crown reserves also the right of cutting wood fit for ship-building.

Besides the road on the river Chaudiere, there is another on the river Yamaska, about a hundred miles further up. This river discharges itself into that part of the St. Lawrence called Lake St. Peter's.

A third road, a little further to the west, comes from Burlington, on the east side of Lake Champlain, and down the river Chamblie.

A fourth road comes in from the state of New York, by Odlestown to Laprairie, opposite Montreal,

Besides these roads, there may have been some opened very lately, and perhaps there may be a few tracks, known only to the natives, which, in case of war, might be serviceable to Americans, though they would not be so to British soldiers. An American is at home in the woods, and could easily find his way, and live, where an Englishman would lose himself and die.