so that the approach by land to the Lower Town will hardly be attempted by an enemy. It is true the Americans attempted it in the winter of 1775, but they were repulsed with great slaughter.

General Montgomery, in the winter 1775, besieged Quebec with an American army, and when reinforced by General Arnold attacked the city by assault on the night of 31st December. They were repulsed; the general and two of his aidsde-camp were killed. The blockade continued during the winter: but on the arrival of troops from England in the spring, the siege was raised, and the Americans driven out of the province.

During the winter the town was defended almost wholly by the inhabitants; there were only forty soldiers in the garrison. Luckily two king's ships wintered there, the crews of which assisted in the defence of the town. The deficiency of men in the garrison arose from their having been carried into the United States to fight our battles in that quarter. The defeat of the Americans on the plains of Abraham, and their being obliged to raise the siege,

has contributed, amongst other things, to distinguish Quebec as a strong hold.

The communication from the Lower Town to the Upper Town is by a winding street; at the top of which is a fortified gate. On entering this gate, you find on the right hand a large area, in which is si tuated the house (dignified with the title of a palace) in which the bishops of Quebec formerly resided; at present it is used for public offices, and accommodates the supreme council and house of assembly. Beyond the palace you have the grand battery, on which are mounted many pieces of heavy artillery, besides mortars, which certainly command the channel of the great river.

Turning to the left soon after entering the gate, you find yourself in another area or'square; on the side next the river you see the Chateau de St. Louis, in which the governor resides. It is situated on the brink of a precipice, and you have the Lower Town of Quebec under, your feet. The view from the gallery at the back of the chateau is extensive and grand. Opposite to the chateau on the other side of the

square, you have the English church, a very elegant building; and the court house, where elegance is not so conspicuous. On the north side of the square you have a very handsome building, erected for, and used as, a tavern, hotel, and assembly

room.

In the neighbourhood of this square you find towards the north an extensive area, in which is situated the Upper Town market-house; a building perfectly unique in its kind. One does not know which to be most astonished at, whether the want of taste in the architect, or that his plans met with approbation: suffice it to say, that on a building one story high, you have a dome as large as that of St. Paul's in London. Never were the rules of architecture and common sense more outraged.

From the area of the market-place different streets diverge, leading to the different gates of the city; viz. Hope Gate, Palace Gate, St. John's Gate, and St. Lewis's Gate, besides the gate leading to the Lower Town; these streets constitute the Upper Town. Outside of St. John's and Palace Gate there are extensive suburbs, which

are increasing in size daily. The population of Quebec and its suburbs. may be reckoned about ten thousand souls.

There is nothing in the appearance of Quebec itself which strikes one as being very different from an English town, except, perhaps, the roofs of the houses; they are generally covered with boards or shingles, and you always see on the roofs, several ladders, for the sake of easy access in case of fire.

A shingle roof so much resembles a slate one, that when they are painted a slate colour, you cannot know the one from the other; the only evil attending them is, that they are liable to catch fire: from this circumstance, Quebec has formerly suffered greatly from fires. A law has been passed encouraging the cover ing houses with boards in place of shingles, and, indeed, prohibiting the latter altogether.

The dread of fire in Quebec is greater than in any place I have ever known, but when it is considered how much they formerly have suffered from it, one ceases to be surprised.

A society has been formed, called the Fire Society: they elect a president and other office bearers annually. The object of this society is to assist in the extinguishing of fire, for which purpose they have several engines and firemen; indeed, in case of fire almost every man may be said to be a fireman, for every body lends his assistance: poor people who have been very active receive pecuniary reward from the society. Their funds are raised by annual voluntary subscription.

Many of the best houses, and most valuable warehouses are covered with tin plates, which make not only a very beautiful and very durable roof, but are also a complete security against fire.

The reason that fire has spread so rapidly in Quebec has been, that the shingles when once inflamed, being extremely light, were blown by the wind to an incredible distance, and operated on other shingle roofs like a shower of fire. Now, the tin-plates receive the burning shingles with impunity; it might be imagined that the tin-plates would rust, but this is not the case. I have