almost every variety in the Province. As a dissenting Academy, it has encountered much opposition, and although it has always received the support of a very large and respectable Majority of the House of Assembly, the Council rejected last year not only the Bill for its permanent endowment, but also the annual allowance of £400, and even a vote to discharge a part of the debt which the Trustees had incurred in its progress. It is now left to struggle with these difficulties, and the Salaries of its officers are raised by the voluntary contributions of its friends. It is foreign from the design of this work to enter into focal politics; we shall therefore not detail the particulars of the controversy, nor the reasonings of the contending parties, but it may be permitted to us to express a regret, that the opposition of a few individuals should have succeeded in withholding the funds from an institution that is both useful and respectable, and one that has always enjoyed the decided approbation of the representatives of the people. Pictou is the usual place of meeting for the Synod of the Presbyterian Church of Nova-Scotia.*

Just above the town, the river divides into three branches, the east, west, and middle rivers. Upon the eastern branch the channel, though winding is navigable about four miles, for vessels drawing fifteen feet, where it is intersected by a bar. Above this obstruction the water is deep as far as NewTown Glasgow. At this place there is a small village, which was commenced in the expectation of its lage, which was commenced in the expectation of

For an account of this body see the third Chapter of this work, in which a view is taken of the general state of religion, and of the different sects in Nova-Scotia.

its becoming a depot for the fertile and populous Country in its neighbourhood, but the formation of extensive works, a mile and a half further up the river, at the Albion Coal Mines, by Messrs. Rundell, Bridges and Co. of London, will naturally attract thither both the population and trade of the neighbourhood. The extraordinary resources, and the natural conveniencies of this District, induced those gentlemen to select this spot as the site of their operations. The vein of Coal which they have opened is upwards of fifty feet in thickness, and iron ore is both contiguous and abundant. Hitherto their operations have been conducted upon scientific principles, and although they must inevitably experience many difficulties in their progress, which are inseparable from the introduction of Manufactures into a new Country; there is no reason to doubt that they will not only succeed, but be amply repaid for their expenditure. For a particular description of the Coal; the reader is referred to the last Chapter of this work, where it is described in connection with the Geology and Mineralogy of the Province. Besides coal, iron ore and copper, this District contains, in abundance, free-stone and lime-stone. In a stratum of the latter at M'Lellan's brook-on the east river, is a singular fissure known generally as Peter Fraser's cave. The owner has placed a door at its mouth, and covered the bottom, which is a few feet lower than its entrance, with a wooden floor. He has also formed two horizontal holes to the brow of the hill in which it is situated, to admit light, and two perpendicular ones for the passage of smoke.— The roof is formed by two limestone rocks leaning against each other, resembling in form the interior

On

of the roof of a house, but beautifully illuminated by numerous stalactites that are suspended from it. The cave is about one hundred feet long, but ofirregular width, and forms in the centre a small channel, through which percolates a rill of pure water. The coolness of its atmosphere in summer, and the corresponding temperature of the water, render it so peculiarly fitted for a dairy, that the proprietor makes it his occasional residence in summer. each of these three branches there are flourishing and increasing settlements; the extent of which will be seen by the subjoined statistical table. On the West River occur salt springs, similar to those of the river Philip; but no rock salt has hitherto been found connected with their sources; whether it exists beneath the sandstone formation is not known, as no attempt to penetrate it has ever been made. In describing this section, the same detail which has been observed in the topographical account of other Counties, where cultivation and population have made a slower progress, would fail to convey a just picture of this district. In the first settlement of the country, the lands in the vicinity of harbors and rivers were first occupied. Thus the Pictou and Merrigomish harbors, and the streams connected with them,were the scenes of the labours of the early emigrants. As the population increased, the fertility of the land invited an extension of cultivation; and in progress of time they lost their distinctive character of settlements, which were with more propriety applied to the subsequent incipient clearings in the wilderness-such as Mount Tom, Roger's Hill, Scotch Hill, McLennan's Mount, and a great variety of others. To enumerate all these

places, and describe their respective localities, would exceed the limits of this work; and perhaps convey but an indistinct and confused idea of the country. A few general observations, formed upon a view of its situation, soil, and resources, will be better adapted to the subject. The north coast, though last settled, is evidently the most important part of Nova-Scotia. The fertility of the land, its proximity to the Fisheries, its coal and other mineral productions, naturally lead to the conclusion that it will, at no distant period, be the seat of enterprise and wealth. The harbour of Pictou is admirably situated, for becoming the emporium of the trade of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and is already the centre of enterprise in that part of the Province. Between the Bay of Verte and the Gut of Canso it occupies a central position; and from the latter place to Quebec, although there are several harbours, both sheltered and commodious, it is not surpassed by any, either in facility of entrance, good anchorage, or general safety.

The great coal fields contained in the district, and accessible only by the waters which flow into its harbour, mark it as the first part where the forest is likely to disappear; and also as the site of extensive manufacturing establishments. When considered in reference to the coast, to Halifax, Quebec, Cape-Breton, and Prince Edward Island, it is also equally evident, that this abundance of fuel will render it the centre of steam navigation. There is but one point in which it is inferior to Halifax, the harbour is much oftener frozen over in winter, but even in despite of this serious inconvenience, it is more likely to become the rival of the capital, than any other sea port in the Province.