the few remaining French would molest the proprietors of the confiscated farms, it was deemed necessary, not only to erect stockaded houses, but also to station there a small detachment for their protection. In process of time the settlers came to a partition of their lands, the first division of which consisted of marsh, the second of the most valuable uplands, and the third of wood lots. This township is well irrigated, having, beside a great number of brooks, four rivers-Horton, Canar, Habitant, and Pereau, all extending into the country in a western direction, and emptying into the Basin of Minas. The first takes its rise in the Carriboo bog in Aylesford; and from Kentville to its mouth, divides the townships of Horton and Cornwallis, from the former of which it takes its name.* Its extreme length is nearly thirty miles, and throughout its whole extent it is bordered with diked lands or interval, of each of which there are about 350 acres in the township of Cornwallis. The second is about ten miles in length, and furnishes 2000 acres of diked land, 600 of which have been lately enclosed from the sea by an embankment, caled the Wellington dike, which was constructed at an expence of about £20,703. The greater portion of the latter marsh is of the most superior quality, having yielded in some places fifty bushels of wheat per acre. The Habitant extends the same distance as the latter, and furnishes about 300 acres of enclosed alluvial land, but of an inferior description of soil. There are upon this river two grist mills and a carding mill. The Pereau is the smallest of the

It is indifferently called by the name of either Township, and is as often known by the name of Cornwallis river as the other.

four, not exceeding three miles in length; but even in this short distance there are fifty acres of diked land, beside a great quantity of salt marsh, that hereafter may be reclaimed with advantage. The navigation of these rivers is managed with much ease in summer, but owing to the immense quantities of loose ice with which the Basin of Minas is filled in winter, they are not to be approached at that season without danger. The Bay of Fundy is also inacces sible at the same pericd, for want of an artificial harbour, at some of the little coves and inlets at the base. of the mountain, that forms the northern limit of the township. The upland of Cornwallis is in general of a superior quality, free from stone and easily tilled. The whole of the north mountain, from Blomedon to the borders of Annapolis county, is fit for cultivation, and the low land adjoining it is of the first class of interval. Like Horton, Cornwallis has numerous and extensive orchards, which are productive and thrifty, and both the fruit and the cider are surpassed by none in Nova-Scotia. From its extraordinary fertility, it has been styled the garden of NovaScotia. There are in this Township an Episcopal Church, 1 Presbyterian, 1 Methodist, 1 Independent, and 3 Baptist meeting-houses; also, 16 sawmills, 11 grist mills, 2 carding machines, and 1 oat mill.

Parrsborough. The township of Parrsborough was named after the late Governor Parr,and though situated on the eastern side of the Bason of Minas, is appended toKing's County. There is a small village,bearing the name of the township, nearly opposite to the extreme point of the Cornwallis mountain, from whence

the packets run to Horton and Windsor, twice a week, and occasionally oftener. The distance between this place and Windsor, is thirty-five miles. The village is overlooked by a bold bluff, 250 feet high, called Partridge Island, which, resisting the tides of the Bay of Fundy, affords shelter in the summer months to vessels employed in this internal navigation. Near the junction of this township with Colchester, is a beautiful group of Islands, five in number, and generally known as the Five Islands. They rise abruptly from the sea, and present a very picturesque appearance. The most remarkable is one that stands in advance of the others, and from the constant attrition of the water on its base (which is composed of a softer substance, than the superincumbent mass) presents the curious phenomena of a leaning tower, and casting a dark broad shade beneath it, seems as if ready to* tumble into the sea, from the overhanging weight of its summit. The land in this township is much broken and hilly, and the shore, from Partridge Island to Advocate harbour, consists chiefly of a high rocky cliff, beyond which are lofty hills, but the soil on the summit as well as slopes of these produces all kind of vegetables and grain. About two miles from the village is the Parish Church. From this place to Francklin manor, the lands on both sides of the road to Cumberland were, in the year 1774, subdivided into farm lots, and offered for sale at the rate of six-pence per acre, but at that period such was the low estimation in which

The reader is referred for a minute account of the Geology and Mineralogy of this District, to a very interesting article in Dr. Silliman's Journal of Science, drawn up by Charles Jackson and Francis Alger, Esqrs. and published in the number for October, 1828.

the Country was held, that not a single sale could be effected. In 1783, and at subsequent periods, they were again divided into sixty farm lots of 250 acres each, and were granted to such families as were inclined to accept of them. Besides this settlement

there are several others in Parrsborough, that are in a thriving and prosperous condition. The inhabitants experience much inconvenience from the intervention of the Bason of Minas, between Parrsborough and Kentville, where the public offices are held. The Bason is a large reservoir that receives the waters of nineteen rivers (Pereau, Canar, Habitant, Horton, Gaspereaux, Halfway, Avon, St. Croix, Kennetcook, Cackmagon, Shubenacadie, Salmon, North, Chegenois, Deburt, Great Village, Porteaupique, Bass, and Diligent rivers)* from whence they escape between Partridge Island and Blomedon, into the Bay of Fundy. Outside of the strait the tides are rapid but regular, and although the wind, when blowing in an opposite direction to the current, renders the sea uneven and violent, it has no effect on the tides. Within it the rise of the tide is greater than in any part of America. From the entrance of the Bay to this place, the velocity of the current increases in proportion as it advances. From Cape Sable, the flood passes through the Seal Islands and Bald Tuskets, towards the north-west at the rate of two or three knots. Obstructed by these Islands, its rate is increased to four or five knots, thence taking the course of the shore, it flows past Cape St. Mary's, and thence towards Brier Island. As the Bay beconies narrower, this vast body of water rushes for

* These are exclusive of the tributary streams of the larger ri

vers.

ward with greater rapidity, and fills the Bason of Minas and Chignecto, with vast impetuosity. At the latter place it rises in spring tides as high as seventy feet.

Aylesford lies between Wilmot and Cornwallis. It was settled chiefly by Loyalists, in 1784. The post road passes through its front, which is an extensive sand plain. The quality of the land on the north mountain, and of the interval that adjoins it, is similar to that of the western parts of Cornwallis.

A more minute description of these Townships would fail to be interesting to the general reader. The process by which the wilderness is converted into a fruitful country, although necessarily slow is uniform. As the population becomes too numerous for the cultivated parts, the young men either extend the frontiers of the Townships, or penetrate into the depth of the forest. Far from embellishing, their first operations deform the beauty of the landscape. The graceful forest is prostrated, and the blackened. remains of the half burned wood and the unsightly stumps still remain. In process of time the appearance of the country is again changed. Every year pours forth, in an increased ratio, new laborers, until their scattered clearings approximate on every side, and the rudely constructed log huts are succeeded by well built houses. Time, that crumbles into dust the exquisite monuments of art, cherishes and fosters their improvements, until at length hills, vales, groves, streams and rivers, previously concealed by the interminable forest, delight the eye of the beholder in their diversified succession.