and six troops; these expences were incurred by the preparations made to resist the aggressions of the French, and cannot be regarded as part of the usual expenditure of the government of the United States; and every mean is taken to reduce the national debt, which, on the 1st of January 1792, amounted to about seventeen millions and a half sterling, as will be seen in the fourth table at the end of the volume.

CHAP.

CHAP. XI.

British Possessions in North America. Canada. Its Legislature. Governor. Revenue. Manners of its Inhabitants. Climate. Produce. New Brunswick. Nova Scotia. Cape Breton. Newfoundland. Its Fishery. Hudson's Bay. When discovered. Settled. Its produce. Its Climate.

IN giving a connected account of the history of the United States, we have been obliged to suspend that part of our plan which relates to the British possessions in North America. These are still extensive, and of considerable importance, though so thinly inhabited, and in such a disadvantageous climate, that they sink into a kind of insignificance when compared with the great and flourishing colonies belonging to Spain, or with the territories of the United States. The inhabitants of the former have been estimated at seven millions, and those of the latter at more than five; while the population of the British possessions does not exceed two hundred thousand souls, of whom the greater part are French, or of French origin.

The chief of these possessions is Canada, now divided into two parts, Upper and Lower Canada, the former being the western division on the north of the great lakes or sea of Canada, while the lower division is on the river St. Lawrence, towards the east, and contains Quebec the capital, and chief city of our remaining settlements. On the east of Canada,

to

to the south of the river St. Lawrence, is Nova Scotia, which within these last twenty years has been divided into two provinces, that of Nova Scotia in the south, and New Brunswick in the north.

What is called New Britain comprehends the most northern parts towards Hudson's Bay, and the coast of Labrador. The large island of Newfoundland, that called Cape Breton, and the neighbouring isle of St. John, complete the chief denominations of British territory.

The original population of Canada consisted of several savage tribes; and the first European settlement was at Quebec in 1608. For a century and a half it belonged to the French, but in 1759 Quebec was conquered by general Wolfe, and at the peace in 1763 Canada was ceded to Great Britain.

The religion is the Roman Catholic, but the British settlers follow their own modes of worship. A legislative council and an assembly are appointed for each of the provinces of Upper and Lower Canada, having power to make laws with the consent of the governor; but the king may declare his dissent at any time within two years. The legislative council consists of seven members for Upper Canada, and fifteen for the lower province, summoned by the governor under the king's authority, and nominated during their lives. The house of assembly is to consist of fifty members from Lower Canada, and sixteen from Upper Canada, chosen by the freeholders. The councils are to assemble at least once a year; and the house of assembly continues four years, except in case of prior dissolution.

British America is superintended by an officer styled governor-general of the four British provinces in North America, who is also commander in chief

of

of all the British troops in the four provinces, and the governments attached to them, and Newfoundland. Each of the provinces has a lieutenant-governor, who, in absence of the governor-general, has all the powers requisite to a chief magistrate.

The only revenue arising to Great Britain from this colony proceeds from an advantageous commerce which employs several thousand tons of shipping. The expences of the civil list are supposed to be 25,000l. of which half is paid by Great Britain, and the other is raised by the provinces, from duties on the importation of spirits, wine, and a few other articles. The military establishment, with repairs of forts, &c. is stated at 100,000l.; and the like sum is expended in presents to the savages, and salaries to officers employed among them for trade in Upper Canada. But the advantages of the commerce are thought to counterbalance these charges.

The manners and customs of the settlers in Canada are considerably tinctured with French gaiety and urbanity. The women can generally read and write, and are thus superior to the men; but both are sunk in ignorance and superstition, and blindly devoted to their priests. They universally use the French language, English being restricted to the few British settlers. Through the whole of Canada there is no public library except in the capital, and this is small, and consists mostly of French books. And excepting the Quebec almanac not a single book is printed in Canada.

The chief town is Quebec, built on a lofty point of land on the north-west side of the river St. Lawrence; which in this neighbourhood is sufficiently deep and spacious to float more than a hundred sail of the line. The upper town is of considerable na

tural

tural strength, and well fortified; but the lower town towards the river is open to every attack. A large garrison is maintained, but to man the works five thousand soldiers would be necessary. The houses are commonly built of stone; but they are small and inconvenient. There are three nunneries. The markets are well supplied, and provisions remarkably cheap. The vicinity of Quebec presents a most sublime and beautiful scenery; and the falls of the river Montmorenci are particularly celebrated. To the honour of Canada, a solemn act of the assembly declares all negroes to be free as soon as they arrive in that province.

The climate of this part of America is very severe, but the atmosphere is generally clear. The extremes of heat and cold are astonishing: in July and August the thermometer is often as high as 90 degrees, while the mercury freezes in the depth of winter. The snow begins in November, and in January the frost is so intense, that it is impossible to be long out of doors without risk of serious injury to the extremities. But winter, as at Petersburg, is the season of amusement, and the sledges afford a pleasant and speedy conveyance. In large houses stoves are placed in the hall, whence flues pass to the other apartments, and there are always double doors and windows. On going abroad the whole body is covered with furs, except the eyes and nose. In May the thaw generally comes suddenly, the ice on the river bursting with the noise of cannon, and its passage to the sea is terrific, especially when it crashes against a rock. The heat of summer speedily succeeds the frost, and vegetas tion is instantaneous. September is the most pleas sant month.

The face of the country is mountainous and

woody;