softened and refreshing. It has been very much improved within these few last years, several extensive fires having consumed many of the old houses, and the increase of wealth having enabled the proprietors to replace them with larger and better buildings. The streets have also undergone a similar change, owing to the very great interest which his Excellency Sir James Kempt manifested in every thing connected with the roads. Water-street is now well paved, and the side-paths neatly flagged for the accommodation of foot passengers. The other main streets have been Macadamized, and the cross streets covered with hard and durable materials. Halifax has a meat, vegetable, and fish market, all of which are extremely well supplied. The latter in particular deserves notice, on account of the quality and variety of fish; the low price at which it is sold, and the importance of the establishment to the poorer class of the community. There are two Churches of the established religion-one in the centre of the town, and the other in the north-west suburbs; one chapel for the Roman Catholics; two meetinghouses for the Presbyterians; one Methodist chapel, and two Baptist, and one Sandaminian meeting-house. There is nothing remarkable in the appearance of any of these buildings, except the Catholic Chapel, which is an elegant and spacious structure, built of cut free stone. The others are plain, substantial, and well suited to the size of the town, and the extent of their respective congregations. Of government establishments, the most important is the King's Dock-Yard. This was commenced about the year 1758, and has been not only of infinite service to the navy during the late war, but by its very great expenditure of money, of most essential advantage to the Province. It is enclosed on the side towards the town by a high stone wall, and contains within it very commodious buildings for the residence of its officers and servants, besides stores, warehouses and workshops, of different descriptions. It is on a more respectable footing than any in America, and the vast number of ships refitted there during the last twenty years, and the prodigious labor and duty performed on them, are strong proofs of its regulation and order. In the rear of the Dock-Yard, and on an elevated piece of ground, that overlooks the works and the harbour, is the Admiral's house, which is a plain stone building, erected partly by funds provided by Government, and partly by a grant of the Provincial Legislature. This house was completed in 1820, and, as its name denotes, is designed for the residence of the Admiral, or senior Naval Officer Commanding on the station. Hospital, which was attached to the Dock-Yard, was unfortunately destroyed by fire a few years ago, and has not yet been re-built. There are two Barracks in the town, one on the north and the other on the south side of the citadel hill, in which parts of three regiments are generally quartered. They are built of wood, and contain nothing particularly deserving notice, except the library, which was established under the patronage of the Earl of Dalhousie, for the use of the Officers of the Garrison. The other Government buildings are the General's house, or the residence of the Commandant, the military Hospital, built by his Royal Highness the late Duke of Kent, and the stores belonging to the Ordnance. The The Colonial buildings are Government house, the Province Building, and the Court-House. The first, which is built of brown free stone, is situated in the south end of the town, and occupied by the Lieut.Governor of the Colony. The Province Building is also composed of the same materials, and is the best built and handsomest edifice in North America; its dimensions are 140 feet in length, 70 in width, and 42 in height. It contains all the various Provincial Offices, the Secretary's, Surveyor-General's, Treasurer's, Prothonotary's, Collector's of Excise, &c. &c; also apartments for the Council, House of Assembly, and Superior Courts. It has two passages on the ground floor, one extending the whole length of the building, and the other from the front to the rear. It is situated in the centre of the town, in the middle of a square, the whole of which is enclosed with an iron fence.Dalhousie College is also built of free stone; it was established in the year 1820, at the suggestion of the Nobleman whose name it bears, and its Trustees are incorporated by Law. It is situated at the end of the old military parade, and is a spacious and handsome structure. The sum of £9,750 is invested in the British 3 per cents. as a fund for its support; but the institution being in debt, the Trustees are unable either to complete the interior of the building or to open the classes. The object of its erection is "for the education of youth and students in the several branches of science and literature, as they are commonly taught in the University of Edinburgh."— There are three professorships, one for the Greek and Latin classes, another for Mathematics, natural and experimental Philosophy, and a third for Theology |