25 feet from the ground, which is about the height of the tides at the time of the equinox.

From Quebec to Montréal, which is about 170 miles, in sailing up the river St. Laurence, the eye is entertained with beautiful landscapes, the banks being in many places very bold and steep, and shaded with lofty trees. The farms lie pretty close all the way; several gentlemen's houses, neatly built, show themselves at intervals, and there & all the appearance of a flourishing colony; but there are few towns of villages. It is pretty much like the well-settled parts of Virginia and Maryland, where the planters live wholly within themselves. Many beautiful islands are interspersed in the channel of the river, wh have an agreeable effect upon the eye. After passing the Richeli islands, the air becomes so mild and temperate, that the traveller thinks himself transported to another climate; but this is to be understood i the summer months.

The town called Trois Rivières, or the Three Rivers, is about ha way between Quebec and Montréal, and has its name from three rivers which join their currents here, and fall into the river St. Laurence. It is much resorted to by several nations of Indians, who, by means of these rivers, come hither and trade with the inhabitants in various kinds of furs and skins. The country is pleasant, and fertile in cors, fruit, &c. and great numbers of handsome houses stand on both sides of the

rivers.

Montréal stands on an island in the river St. Laurence, which is ter leagues in length, and four in breadth, at the foot of a mountain which gives name to it, about half a league from the south shore. While the French had possession of Canada, both the city and island of Montréal belonged to private proprietors, who had improved them so well, that the whole island was become a most delightful spot, and produced every thing that could administer to the conveniences of life. The city forms an oblong square, divided by regular and well-formed streets; and when it fell into the hands of the English, the houses were built in a very handsome manner; and every house might be seen at one view from the harbour, or from the southernmost side of the river, a the hill, on the side of which the town stands, falls gradually to the water. The place is surrounded with a wall and a dry ditch; and its fortifica tions have been much improved by the English. Montréal is nearly large as Quebec; but since it fell into the hands of the English it has suffered much by fires.

GOVERNMENT.] Before the late war, the French lived in affiuence, being free from all taxes, and having full liberty to hunt, fish, fell timber, and to sow and plant as much land as they could cultivate. By the ca pitulation granted to the French, when this country was reduced, both individuals and communities were entitled to all their former rights and privileges.

In the year 1774, an act was passed by the parliament of Great Britain, for making more effectual provision for the government of the province of Quebec. By this it was enacted, that it should be lawful for his ma jesty, his heirs, and successors, by warrant under his or their signet r sign manual, and with the advice of the privy-council, to constitu and appoint a council for the affairs of the province of Quebec, to consist of such persons resident there, not exceeding twenty-three, nor less than seventeen, as his majesty, his heirs, and successors, shall be pleased to appoint: and upon the death, removal, or absence of any of the members of the said council, in like manner to constitute and

appoint others to succeed them. And this council, so appointed and nominated, or the majority of them, are vested with power and authority to make ordinances for the peace, welfare, and good government of the province, with the consent of the governor, or, in his absence, of the lieutenant-governor, or commander in chief for the time being. The council, however, are not empowered to lay taxes, except for the purpose of making roads, reparation of public buildings, or such local conveniences. By this act, all matters of controversy relative to property and civil rights are to be determined by the French laws of Canada; but the criminal law of England is to be continued in the province. The inhabitants of Canada are also allowed by this act not only to profess the Roman religion, but the popish clergy are invested with a right to claim and obtain their accustomed dues from those of the same religion.

TRADE AND COMMERCE.] The nature of the climate, severely cold in winter, and the people manufacturing nothing, shows what Canada principally wants from Europe: wine, or rather rum, cloths, chiefly coarse linen, and wrought iron. The Indian trade requires rum, tobacco, a sort of duffil blankets, guns, powder, balls, and flints, kettles, hatchets, toys, and trinkets of all kinds.

While this country was possessed by the French, the Indians supplied them with peltry; and the French had traders, who, in the manner of the original inhabitants, traversed the vast lakes and rivers in canoes, with incredible industry and patience, carrying their goods into the remotest parts of America, and amongst nations entirely unknown to us. These again brought the market home to them, as the Indians were thereby habituated to trade with them. For this purpose, people from all parts, even from the distance of 1000 miles, came to the French fair at Montréal, which began in June, and sometimes lasted three months. On this occasion, many solemnities were observed, guards were placed, and the governors assisted, to preserve order, in such a concourse, and so great a variety of savage nations. But sometimes great disorder and tumults happened; and the Indians, being so fond of brandy, frequently gave for a dram all that they were possessed of. It is remarkable that many of these nations actually passed by our settlement of Albany, in New York, and travelled 250 miles farther, to Montréal, though they might have purchased the goods cheaper at the former. So much did the French exceed us in the arts of winning the affections of these savages.

Since we became possessed of Canada, our trade with that country has been computed to employ about 60 ships and 1000 seamen. Their exports, at an average of three years, in skins, furs, ginseng, snake-root, capillaire, and wheat, amount to 105,500l. Their imports from Great Britain, in a variety of articles, are computed at nearly the same sum. It is unnecessary to make any remarks on the value and importance of this trade, which not only supplies us with unmanufactured materials, indispensably necessary in many articles of our commerce, but also takes in exchange the manufactures of our own country, or the productions of our other settlements in the East and West Indies *.

But whatever attention be paid to the trade and peopling of Canada, it will be hardly possible to overcome certain inconveniences, proceed ing from natural causes; principally the severity of the winter, which

*The amount of the exports from this province in the year 1786 was £343,263 Amount of imports the same year was £,325,116.

is so excessive from December to April, that the greatest rivers are frozen over; and the snow lies commonly from four to six feet deep on the ground, even in those parts of the country which lie three degrees south of London, and in the temperate latitude of Paris. Another inconvenience arises from the falls in the river St. Laurence, below Mostréal, which render it difficult for very large ships to penetrate to tia. emporium of inland commerce; but vessels from 300 to 400 tons are not prevented by these fails from going there annually. HISTORY.] See the general account of America.

NOVA SCOTIA.

SITUATION AND EXTENT.

Miles.

Length 350
Breadth 250

between

Degrees.

Sq. Miles

57,000

43 and 49 North latitude 0} 60 and 67 West longitude BOUNDARIES.] BOUNDED by the river St. Laurence on the North; by the Gulph of St. Laurence, and the Atlantic Ocean, East; by the same ocean, South; and by Canada and New England, West. In the year 1784, this province was divided into two governments: the province and government now styled NEW BRUSS WICK is bounded on the westward of the river Ste. Croix, by the said river to its source, and by a line drawn due north from thence to the southern boundary of the province of Quebec; to the northward by the same boundary as far as the western extremity of the Bay de Chaleurs, to the eastward by the said bay to the Gulf of St. Laurence to the bay called Bay Verte; to the south by a line in the centre of the Bay of Fundy, from the river Ste. Croix aforesaid, to the mouth of the Musquat River; by the said river to its source, and from thence by a due line across the isthmus into the Bay Verte, to join the eastern lot above de scribed, including all islands within six leagues of the coast.

RIVERS.] The river of St. Laurence forms the northern boundary. The rivers Risgouche and Nipisiguit run from West to East, and íd into the Bay of St. Laurence. The rivers of St. John, Passamagnadi, Penobscot, and Ste. Croix, which run from North to South, fall into Fundy Bay, or the sea a little to the eastward of it.

SEAS, BAYS, AND CAPES.] The seas adjoining to it are, the Atlantic Ocean, Fundy Bay, and the Gulf of St. Laurence. The lesser bays are Chenigto and Green Bay upon the isthmus, which join the north part of Nova Scotia to the south, and the bay of Chaleurs on the north-east; the bay of Chedibucto on the south-east; the bay of the islands, the ports of Bart, Chebucto, Prosper, St. Margaret, La Heve, purt tois, port Rossignol, port Vert, and port Joly, on the south; per La Tour, on the south-east; port St. Mary, Annapolis, and Minas, or the south side of Funday Bay; and port Roseway, now the most populous

of all.

The chief capes are, Cape Portage, Ecoumenac, Tourmentin, Cape Port, and Epis, on the east; Cape Forgeri, and Cape Canceau, on the south-east: Cape Blanco, Cape Vert, Cape Theodore, Cape Dore, Cape

La Heve, and Cape Negro, on the south; Cape Sable and Cape Fourche on the south-west.

LAKES.] The lakes are very numerous, but have not yet received particular names.

CLIMATE.] The climate of this country, though within the temperate zone, has been found rather unfavourable to European constitutions. They are wrapped up in the gloom of a fog during great part of the year, and for four or five months it is intensely cold; but though the cold in winter and the heat in summer are great, they come on gradually, so as to prepare the body for enduring both.

SOIL AND PRODUCE.] From such an unfavourable climate little can be expected. Nova Scotia, or New Scotland, till lately was almost a continued forest; and agriculture, though attempted by the English settlers, made little progress. In most parts, the soil is thin and barren, the corn it produces is of a shrivelled kind like rye, and the grass intermixed with a cold spongy moss. However, it is not uniformly bad; there are tracts in the peninsula, to the southward, which do not yield to the best land in New England, and, by the industry and exertions of the loyalists from the other provinces, are now cultivated, and likely to be fertile and flourishing. In general, the soil is adapted to the produce of hemp and flax. The timber is extremely proper for ship-building, and produces pitch and tar. Flattering accounts have been given of the improvements making in the new settlements and Bay of Fundy. A great quantity of land has been cleared, which abounds in timber; and ship-loads of good masts and spars have been shipped from thence already.

ANIMALS.] This country is not deficient in the animal productions of the neighbouring provinces, particularly deer, beavers, and otters.' Wild fowl and all manner of game, and many kinds of European fowls and quadrupeds, have, from time to time, been brought into it, and thrive well. At the close of March the fish begin to spawn, when they enter the rivers in such shoals as are incredible. Herrings come up in April, and the sturgeon and salmon in May. But the most valuable appendage of New Scotland is the Cape Sable coast, along which is one continued range of cod-fishing banks, navigable rivers, basins, and excellent harbours.

HISTORY, SETTLEMENT, CHIEF Notwithstanding the forbidding TOWNS, AND COMMERCE. Sappearance of this country, it was here that some of the first European settlements were made. The first grant of lands in it was given by James I. to his secretary, Sir William Alexander, from whom it had the name of Nova Scotia, or New Scotland. Since then, it has frequently changed hands, from one private proprietor to another, and from the French to the English nation, backward and forward. It was not confirmed to the English till the peace of Utrecht; and their design in acquiring it does not seem to have so much arisen from any prospect of direct profit to be obtained by it, as from an apprehension that the French, by possessing this province, might have had it in their power to annoy our other settlements. Upon this principle, 3000 families were transported, in 1749, at the charge of the government, into this country. The town they erected is called Halifax, from the earl of that name, to whose wisdom and care we owe this settlement. The town of Halifax, stands upon Chebucto Bay, very commodiously situated for the fishery, and has a communication with Lost parts of the province, either by land carriage, the sea, or navigable rivers, with a fine harbour, where a small squadron of ships of war

lies during the winter, and in summer puts to sea, under the command of a commodore, for the protection of the fishery. The town has an entrenchment, and is strengthened with forts of timber. The other towns of less note are Annapolis Royal, which stands on the east side of the Bay of Fundy, and though but a small place, was formerly the capital of the province. It has one of the finest harbours in América, capable of containing a thousand vessels at anchor, in the utmost security. St. John's is a new settlement at the mouth of the river of that name, that falls into the Bay of Fundy, on the west side.

Since the conclusion of the American war, the emigration of loyalists to this province from the United States has been very great: by them new towns have been raised; as Shelburne, which extends two miles on the water-side, and is said to contain already 9000 inhabitants. Of the old settlements, the most flourishing and populous are Halifax, and the townships of Windsor, Norton, and Cornwallis, between Hal.fax and Annapolis. Of the new settlements, the most important are Shelburne, Barr-town, Digby, and New Edinburgh. Large tracts of land have been lately cultivated, and the province is now likely to advance in population and fertility.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

Of the rise, progress, and most remarkable events of that war, between Great Britain and her American colonies, which at length terminated in the establishment of the United States of America, we have already given an account in our view of the principal transactions in the history of Great Britain. It was on the fourth of July, 1776, that the congress published a solemn declaration, in which they assigned their reasons for withdrawing their allegiance from the king of Great B tain. In the name and by the authority of the inhabitants of the United Colonies of New Hampshire, Massachusetts Bay, Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Penn sylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Caro lina, and Georgia, they declared that they then were, and of right ought to be free and independent states; and that, as such, they had full power to levy war, conclude peace, contract alliances, establish commerce, and do all other acts and things which independent states may of right do. They also published articles of confederation and perpetual union between the united colonies, in which they assumed the title of "The United States of America;" and by which each of the colonies contracted a reciprocal treaty of alliance and friendship, for their common defence, for the maintenance of their liberties, and 'for their general and mutual advantage; obliging themselves to assist each other against all violence that might threaten all or any one of them, and to repel in common all the attacks that might be levelled against all or any one of them, on account of religion, sovereignty, commerce, or under any other pretext whatsoever. Each of the colonies reserved to themselves alone the exclusive right of regulating their internal go vernment, and of framing laws in all matters not included in the art'es of confederation. But for the more convenient management of the general interest of the United States, it was determined that delegates, should be annually appointed, in such manner as the legislature of each