hand, the Country that lies between the shores of the great Lake and Parrsborough, called the District of Colchester, presents an appearance altogether the reverse. The ponderous masses of granite of the Southern Division are no longer seen, the land is low and fertile, adapted to agricultural purposes, and the support of a dense population; filled with lime and gypsum, and affording indications of extensive beds of Coal and other minerals. This description belongs to a tract extending many miles both east and west of the Shubenacadie, in the immediate vicinity of which are many well managed farms, skirted with alluvial deposit, or rich intervals that are formed by its waters, and extend as far as Fort Ellis. The black rock to which the tide reaches is wholly limestone, and near it Coal has been discovered of an excellent quality. The point where the river leaves the Lake, is but 21 miles distant from Halifax Harbour. The valley through which it flowes, receives the waters of the whole Country, both east and west, for many miles. The principal streams that fall into it in the upper part of the District, that we are now describing,are the Stewiack and Gay's River. The former discharges itself into the Shubenacadie above Fort Ellis. The tide water ascends it about seven miles, beyond which its course may be traced nearly forty more, affording a passage for small boats, and for the conveyance of timber.-There are few finer agricultural tracts than those which compose the settlements of the Stewiack.The inhabitants are numerous and enterprising, and have long supplied the Halifax market with cattle and the productions of their farms. About 14 miles

above the tide and one from the river, veins of Coal rise to the surface, and free-stone, lime and roofing slate are found in the same neighbourhood. Salt springs also occur of a similar nature and strength to those on the River Philip. It is said there exist no material obstacles in the river to the conveyance of the mineral and fossil productions of these settlements to the line of the Canal, and that its navigation may be so improved, that boats of ten tons burthen may ascend the whole distance. Below the black rock, Gay's River enters the Shubenacadie, after a course of about six miles from Lake Egmont, receiving in its progress, the waters of two branches. On its northern branches, a vein of Coal has been exposed to view by the action of the water, and iron ore, lime-stone, and slate, are also found in the same neighbourhood. Pine, spruce, and other valuable timber, abound in this quarter, and the land, though but partially settled, is of a superior quality.

The township of Truro contains 50,000 acres. It is bounded on the north by Colchester Bay, on the south by the Stewiack settlements, on the east by Greenfield, and on the west by the Shubenacadie river. The first British settlers of Truro were Irish emigrants from Londonderry, or its adjoining Counties, to New Hampshire; from whence they were. removed to this Province by Colonel McNutt, who was the agent of many settlements, both in the United States and Nova-Scotia. In July, 1759, a volunteer corps was raised to serve at Fort Cumberland, in which were a number of Irish from NewHampshire. Some of them, in consequence of the Proclamation of Governor Lawrence, visited Truro;

and in the following year, 1761, returned with several families of their countrymen, and made their first effectual settlement. In various manuscript letters of Colonel McNutt, both Truro and Onslow (though the patents were not then executed) are mentioned as townships so early as August, 1762, and many of the original settlers are addressed by him as old friends. In the same year, and of the date of November, the settlers of Truro wrote to him to procure them a Seceder Clergyman from Glasgow. They appear, in common with the inhabitants of the other neighbouring townships, to have had great difficulty in procuring their grant, in consequence of opposition in Halifax. This untoward event occasioned them much uneasiness, and their discontent manifested itself on several important occasions for many years afterwards. At first they laboured under great terror of the Indians, and a stockaded fort was for a length of time their resort at night. The Truro grant is signed by his Excellency Montague Wilmot, and bears date the 31st October, 1765. It conveys all manner of rights, royalties, privileges, franchises, and appurtenances whatsoever, without any exception or reservation. The quit-rent is one shilling for every fifty acres, payable after the expiration of ten years. That this unconditional grant, was not, however, considered very peculiar at that time, will appear from the following quotation, from a part of a very spirited letter of Colonel McNutt's, dated London, 31st July, 1767, and addressed to two gentlemen at Truro "Onslow people may hold their land upon the same terms with you. His Majesty has been pleased to

order me all iny grants, according to my first agree ment, without any exception or reservation of Mines." From this circumstance it has been inferred, though without foundation, that these reservations were suggested by the local Government of the Province. On the arrival of the British settlers, they found only two French buildings (barns) remaining; to which circumstance the lower division of the township is indebted for being denominated Barn Village, Of dyked marsh there were, however, 1036 acres, of cultivated upland-390 acres, and of cleared interval--200 acres. Several orchards were also in full vigour, and some of them still produce fruit. The greater part of this land lies in the lower village, for in the upper, or Derry Village, the French had made scarcely any improvement. Even the extensive and fertile intervale land, upon Salmon river, consisting now of 800 acres, had not attracted their notice. This river, the only one besides the Shubenacadie in the township, is no where navigable, but presents many fine views, especially one from the upper bridge, of most luxuriant beauty.

The town of Truro is nominally divided into the upper and lower villages, but the designation of village belongs with more propriety to the former, the latter being merely a continuation of farm houses at moderate distances, situated on the uplands that rise gently from the marshes. The upper village consists of about 70 dwelling houses, and these are in general compact enough to merit the appellation. Both are situated on the south side of Colchester Bay, near its head, with no evident seperation but a small creek, near which stands a Presbyterian Meeting

House, placed intentionally to accomodate the inhabitants of both. The upper village is built upon what may be called table land of about a quarter of a mile in width and three quarters in length, and is laid out in two parrallel streets, running east and west.These streets are terminated on the west by a square, surrounded with houses two stories in height, in which are also the Court-House and Jail. From this square diverge the Halifax, Pictou, and Lower village road. In pursuing the road leading to Pictou, the whole front street is traversed, and near its head stands the Episcopal Church, a very beautifully proportioned building with a spire and bell. Near this place the street terminates in two roads, the Eastern leading directly up the Salmon River and its rich intervale, towards Pictou ; the Northern crossing Salmon River by a new and most ornamental bridge, towards Cumberland, and a division of the village, denominated, from its situation, the hill, which is exactly one mile from the Court-House. No doubt the alluvial lands, which here extend between the Salmon and North Rivers for nearly two miles, first led to the erection of dwelling houses on this part of the village, the number of which is now twenty, and daily increasing. The situation is one of most consummate beauty. From this hill another road, and the most frequented, leads to Pictou, and from it also the Cumberland road may be said to commence, through the township of Onslow and Londonderry.

Whether originating in accident, taste, or convenience, this is the place where the public business is transacted, all the Law Offices, the Custom-House,