nishes great forests of excellent timber and wood, consisting of pine, spruce, hemlock, beech, birch, ash and maple, and no part of America affords finer masts and spars than New Brunswick.

889. Chief Towns. St. John's, the chief town in the province, situated near the mouth of the river of that name, is regularly laid out, and contains about 1000 inhabitants. Frederickton, 80 miles from the mouth of that river, at the head of sloop navigation, is the present seat of government, and contains about five hundred inhabitants.

890. Singular Fall. A mile above the city of St. John, is a Fall, occasioned by a ridge of rocks over which the tide flows and ebbs. At low tide, the fresh water falls over the rocks towards the sea; at high tide, the water flows from the sea over the rocks, and falls into the channel above, so that the water alternately falls in different directions. The only time when boats pass is at high water, when there is little or no current.

891. Breton.* To the north east of Nova Scotia is Breton, an island of 100 miles in length, and from 20 to 80 in bredth, in the 46th and 47th degrees of north latitude, and separated from Nova Scotia by the strait of Canso. Near the center of the island, is a lake which receives several rivers, and communicates with the sea. This island contains much cultivable land and valuable timber. It was formerly annexed to the government of Nova Scotia, but in 1784 was constituted a separate government. It contains 3000 inhabitants, two thirds of which are French.

892. Towns and Trade. The chief towns are Sidney and Arichat. Sidney, on the south east branch of Spanish river, is the seat of government, and contains a garrison. Arichat, on the Isle of Madam, is inhabited by fishermen. Lewisburg, a fortress, taken from the French by the New England troops in 1745, is considered as the key to Canada. The principal trade of the island consists in the export of coals and fish. The coal

* When this island was first discovered, it was mistaken for a part of the continent, and called Cape Breton. But this being an error, the word Cape ought not to be retained.

lies near the surface of the earth, and is in great abundance. One mine has taken fire, which cannot be extinguished.

893. History. The island was discovered by some of the first voyagers to America, and became the resort of fishermen. In 1713, it was settled by the French, first at Fort Dauphin, but they removed to Lewisburg. By the reduction of this fortress in 1745, the island came into possession of the British. The French had permission to remove, but they chose to remain.

894. St. John's. St. John's is an island, north of Nova Scotia, in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, about 100 miles long, and from 10 to 35 broad. It contains some rivers, and much cultivable land. Charlotte Town is its principal town, and the residence of the lieutenant governor. The inhabitants are estimated at 5000.

The four governments of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Breton and St. John's, are each under the immediate jurisdiction of a lieutenant governor, and all subject to a general governor, who resides at Quebec.

895. Smaller Islands. There are many small islands in the gulf of St. Lawrence, which have no permanent inhabitants. Anticosti, at the entrance of the river, is 120 miles long, but has no convenient harbor, and is uninhabited. The Magdalen Isles are frequented only by fishermen. Pierced Isle, south of Cape Gaspee, is so named from arched openings through a perpendicular rock, through which the tide flows and ebbs.

or 5.

896. Newfoundland. Newfoundland was the first land discovered in North America, having been seen by John Cabot on his first voyage, which must have been in 1494 It is situated in front of the great bay of St. Lawrence, extending in medial length and bredth about 350 miles, from 46 degrees 45 minutes, to 51 degrees 46 minutes north latitude, and 52 degrees 31 minutes to 59 degrees 40 minutes longitude west from London. On the north it is separated from the continent by the strait of Belisle.

857. General Description. Newfoundland was settled by the English under Gov. Gray in 1610, but its climate and soil are so unkindly, that the permanent inhabitants

are not more than 1000 families. The chief towns are Bonavista, Placentia and St. John's. It contains some good timber, but a great part of the island remains unexplored. It has a number of good harbors, and is highly valued for the fishery of cod on the banks, which exceeds every thing known in any other part of the world. It is computed that 3000 sail of vessels and 100,000 hands are employed in this fishery.

898. General views of the Climate. The climate of the countries just described is extremely unpleasant. The winters are long and cold; and in summer thick chilling fogs cover the land and sea, and hide the face of the sun a great part of the time. These fogs, which are doubtless caused by the warmer waters of the gulf stream, and the rapid evaporation which that water must suffer, in the colder regions of the north, are wafted over the land by every easterly wind, and for some months, an occasional blast of westerly wind affords the inhabitants the only opportunity to enjoy a serene sky and the cheering rays of the sun.

LOWER CANADA.

899. History. A Frenchman by the name of Cartier, entered and sailed up the St. Lawrence, or Great River of Canada in the year 1535; and called the country New France. A few convicts were transported and left at Tadousac, on the river Sagunau, in the year 1600; but the first regular settlement of Canada was made by Champlain, who founded Quebec in 1608. This province continued, with little interruption, in possession of the French, till the year 1759, when it was conquered by the English, and confirmed to them by the treaty of 1763.

900. Situation and Extent. Lower Canada is situated between 61 and 81 degrees of west longitude, and 45 and 52 north latitude. Its length east and west is 1000 miles, and its bredth 400. It is bounded south by the United States; west by Upper Canada; north by NewBritain; and east by the gulf of St. Lawrence, and other British possessions.

901. Mountains. A chain of mountains runs nearly parrallel with the St. Lawrence and the great lakes on

the north side, at nearly an equal distance from the riv er and lakes on the south, and Hudson's Bay on the north. Canada is also bounded on the south by the great chain which runs through the United States, and which separates Canada from Maine.

902. Rivers. Lower Canada is penetrated by the great river St. Lawrence, which is the outlet of five of the largest lakes on the globe. From the sea to the isle of Orleans, that is, a distance of more than 300 miles, this river is from 12 to 15 miles wide. Above Orleans, it narrows to a mile in bredth, at Quebec.

903. Smaller Rivers. On the south, the Chaudiere, runs from the mountains which divide Canada from Maine, and enters the St. Lawrence, not far above Quebec. The St. Francis issues from lake Memfremagog, and falls into the same river. The Sorell, the outlet of Lake Champlain and Lake George, discharges the waters of those lakes into the St. Lawrence, below Montreal, On the north the St. Lawrence receives the Sagunau, a considerable river, with Bustard river, Black river, and some smaller ones, below Quebec. Above Quebec, the principal river is the Utawas, which comes from the north west and unites with the St. Lawrence just above Montreal.

904. Climate and Productions. The winters in Canada are long and cold; the rivers are covered with ice, and the earth with deep snow, for four months., But the heat of summer is sufficient to ripen all kinds of grain, even the smaller kind of maiz. Wheat is raised in great quantities, as well as all other grains and garden vegetables which are produced in New-England. Canada is also a good country for grass and timber. The ans imals are mostly the same as in the United States.

905. Chief Towns. Quebec. The chief town in Lower Canada, and the metropolis of the British colonies in North America, is Quebec. This city, whose name in the Algonkin language, signifies a narrowing or strait, the St. Lawrence here being contracted from a broad estuary to a mile in bredth, stands at the confluence of the St. Lawrence and a small river called St. Charles, about 320 miles from the sea. Between the city and the isle

of Orleans is a large bason a league in length, which forms a spacious harbor. Quebec is in north latitude 46 degrees 47 minutes, and in 71 degrees 10 minutes west longitude.

906. Description of Quebec. Quebec is situated upon a rocky point, composed of marble and slate. It consists of the lower and upper town. The lower town is at the foot of a steep hill, near the water; and from this there is a passage to the upper town by steps. It contains some handsome squares and buildings; among which are the church, convents, and bishop's palace. The houses are mostly of stone, and the fortifications are strong. The inhabitants, about 10 or 12,000, are mostly French, and many of them well bred and intelligent. The vicinity of Quebec exhibits a variety of picturesk scenery; of which the fall of Montmorency, a beautiful sheet of water, of 40 feet high, is not the least romantic.

907. Montreal. Montreal, which name is a corruption of Mont Royal, royal mountain, is situated on the east side of a considerable island, 150 miles south west of Quebec, at the junction of the Utawas with the St. Lawrence. The Island of Montreal is about 10 leagues in length, and 4 in its greatest bredth. The mountain from which it receives its name, is about half a league from the south shore. On the declivity of this mountain, as it ascends from the shore, is built the city, which has its upper and lower town. It is of a quadrangular form, and contains 6 or 8000 inhabitants, with a regi ment of British troops. Ships of 400 tuns may ascend with difficulty to this place, but here ends the navigation of large vessels.

908. Government. Canada is governed by the govern or general of the British possessions, who resides at Quebec, a legislative council and assembly. The gov ernor is appointed by the king; the legislative council consists of seven members, selected by the governor, and holding their offices for life. The Assembly consists of at least 50 members, chosen by the freeholders, once in four years. The governor, and certain members of