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The unfortunate soldiers, who attempt to desert from Quebec by the Chaudiere road, find the impossibility of passing through woods with which they are unacquainted. .They, almost without one instance to the contrary, are brought back, after having delivered themselves up to some of the country people, to be conducted to Quebec.

If we should unfortunately go to war with America, the less our troops are in the woods the better. I am not qualified to give an opinion as to the best manner of defending Canada. In case of an attack, every thing that soldiers can do, will be done; for the troops are kept in excellent order, and in good spirits. I should suppose that Upper Canada is more vulnerable than Lower Canada. It not only has no strong holds, but as the line of boundary runs through the lakes, boats might be prepared, and troops might be carried over in any numbers, and landed at any given point, unless they were obstructed by our navy; for on those lakes we have a navy, which rides as triumphant as that of the ocean. During the American war we had several armed ships on the lakes, and

even now we have a few, with a regular establishment of officers.

I do not know if it was the intention of government that Americans should be al lowed to settle in the townships. Whether it is sound policy or not, is a question which has been much agitated here; and it certainly involves many difficulties. In one point of view the Americans are preferable to any other people, because there are no people who so well understand the business of clearing a new country, and making it productive. They are active, industrious, hardy, and enterprising, to a degree, that is scarcely to be credited, till ocular demonstration convinces you of the fact. In these points, the Canadians are not to be compared to them; nor are any of the emigrants from Europe by any means so valuable. In short, the American, when he makes a pitch (as they term it, when they make an establishment in the woods) is quite at home, and following the profession he has been habituated to from his infancy. The emigrant from Europe has every thing to learn; and, besides that, he has to unlearn all his European habits.

Therecan be no doubt, that the greater

the number of inhabitants such a country as Canada possesses, the greater will be the amount of its productions, and the better market will it be for the manufactures of the mother country. The more industrious and enterprising the people are, the better; because over and above their own wants, a large surplus produce will be found for exportation, raising thereby a fund to pay for manufactures imported. It is this which will make Canada of consequence to Britain; and the most expeditious method of bringing about such an end would naturally be adopted, were there no political considerations to be attended to; but Britain, in order to increase the productions of Canada, and open a larger market for her manufactures, must not adopt means which would have a tendency to deprive her of the country altogether.

Canada is a desirable country for emigrants, particularly the south-west parts of it, where the climate is moderate, as is the case in Upper Canada. In fact, population increases fast both in Upper and Lower Canada, as you may well be convinced of, since, in the course of little

rejoice to get possession of Canada: he wants colonies and commerce. It is thought that a few thousand French troops, could they find their way into Canada, would be well received by the Canadians, and would very soon possess themselves of the country: at least, they would unhinge our government, and confine our power to Quebec. In this point of view the Canadians are as dangerous as the Yankees.

I should suppose we need not be under any apprehensions from either. Let the Canadian endeavour to eradicate from his mind any remaining partiality for France; for surely no nation has so completely vilified itself. Well may the descendents of old France say, "You are a reproach amongst the nations-we know you no more!" The Canadian ought to fraternize with those around him: he ought to be thankful for the blessings he enjoys under the auspices of Great Britain-a nation which rears its head amongst the nations of the earth; because honor, energy, and good faith, are in her councils ;-virtue, integrity, and industry, amongst her people.

The policy of the mother country, in regard to the management of colonies, is complex. The principal object is to preserve their allegiance and dependence, and have such command of their resources, as to be able to bring them forward at any time, when the mother country may have occasion for them. Every thing will naturally be done by the mother country to increase those resources, and promote the general prosperity of the colony, so long as the primary objects are not endangered.— Were there any risk of that sort, I should have no hesitation in adopting a line of conduct calculated to preserve these primary objects in full force, though the growth of the colony might thereby be checked.

It has been said, that we have lost nothing by the United States becoming independent, because they take our manufactures to a greater amount than they did before they became independent. Suppose they do, the conclusion does not follow as a matter of course. I am inclined to think, that our losing the sovereignty of the United States has been a very great

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