LXXVIII. may enumerate, among other birds, the wild pigcon, the BOOK Different mines of iron ore were discovered in Canada, Metals. divisions. Canada was formerly called New France: fiefs, which ex- Topogra tended along the banks of the St. Lawrence, were granted phical by the crown of France to the first settlers. The west of the country was inhabited by natives. Gaspé, or Gaschape, is situated on the south of this great river; although it is under the government of Canada, we shall describe it more conveniently along with New Brunswick. The line betwixt Upper and Lower Canada commences at a stone boundary north of lake St. Francis, it proceeds from thence to the Ottowa river, and to its source in lake Temiscaming; and continues still north until it meets the boundary of Hudson's Bay. Upper Canada has been lately divided into ten districts, and nearly 300 townships ;* but these divisions vary with the increase of population. A commodious harbour, that can afford a safe anchor- Towns. Quebec. age for several fleets; a large and beautiful river, whose banks are sheltered by steep cliffs, or interspersed with forests, a lofty rock covered with houses, rising gradually above each other in the form of an amphitheatre, the two promontories of point Levi and Cape Diamond, the majestic chasm of Montmorenci and its snow-white cataract embellish and adorn the capital of Lower Canada. The up Supplement to Encyclopædia Britannica, article Canada. Gourlay's Canada. BOOK per part of the city is built on the heights of Cape Diamond, LXXVIII. and raised about three hundred and forty-five feet above Montreal. the lower town, which extends along the banks of the river at the base of the bill. In the winter time the fissures of the rock are filled with snow, which, while it freezes, expands beyond its usual limits, and bursts its cavities; these are loosened by the warmth of spring, and often precipitated on the unwary passenger. A traveller, before his arrival at Quebec, is apt to form too high an opinion of its public edifices, from observing the splendour that is produced by the tin or sheets of iron which cover them. The finest building in this city is the ancient seminary of the Jesuits, situated in the market place of the upper town. It has been lately converted into excellent barracks, which can accommodate with ease more than 2000 soldiers. The revenue of these priests was formerly very considerable, being upwards of L.12,000 at the time it reverted to the British crown. The other buildings most worthy of notice are the old castle of St. Lewis, the court-house, and the English cathedral. The advantages of situation, and the improvements that have been made in its fortifications, may enable Quebec to resist the dangers of a protracted siege. It has been said that 10,000 men may defend the city. In the event of an attack, however, the garrison may be increased in a few hours, by the troops that are generally stationed at Three Rivers and at Montreal. A fleet too can easily supply the town with provisions, so long as the inclemency of winter does not interrupt the navigation of the St. Lawrence. The population of Quebec amounts to 22,000 souls. During the winter its inhabitants amuse themselves by taking excursions in their carioles; and the dullness of a long night is enlivened with the pleasures of the dance. The garrison supports a bad company of actors; and the horse races, which have been lately introduced, tend to improve the breed of that useful animal.* Montreal, the second town of Lower Canada, is built Lambert, Heriot, &c. &c. upon an island of the same name, about thirty-two miles in BOOK length, which is encompassed by the united streams of the LXXVIII. Ottawa and the St. Lawrence, immediately below their junction. This majestic river is here nearly two miles in width, and although 500 miles distant from the ocean, is capable of supporting on its surface vessels of 6 or 700 tons burden. This town has a fine appearance. The mountain, from which its name is derived, rises on the left of the city; it is not a conical eminence, but a swelling semicircular ridge, with its concave side towards the river. The hill seems placed like a rampart behind Montreal to shield it from the rude blast of winter. A thick forest covers the greatest part of it; some space has been left for a few neatly built houses, whose bright roofs glitter in the sun-beams. This city contains about (a) 15,000 souls; its commerce consists chiefly of furs. The principal merchants of the North-West Company reside at Montreal; it is their emporium, and the great mart of the trade that is carried on between Canada and the United States. The enterprising spirit of its directors has tended to diminish the profits of the Hudson's Bay Company. They employ 3000 individuals as factors, travellers, and huntsmen. The clerks are mostly adventurous Scotsmen, who are forced by penury to emigrate from the Hebrides, to certain hardships, and dubious affluence, in the dreary wilds of the North-West. The small town of Three Rivers is situated between Quebec and Montreal. Although its inhabitants are not more than 1500, it passes for the third city of the province. Sorell was built by the American loyalists in 1787. It contains about a hundred detached houses, and supplies the inhabitants of the town and neighbourhood with English manufactured goods and West India produce. The importance that was formerly attached to Sorell arose from its ship building, which has of late years entirely ceased. The towns of Upper Canada are still in their infancy. Towns of Upper CaThe traveller, after leaving the St. Lawrence to enter Lake nada. (a) [Population by census, in 1821, 18,767.7-AM. ED. " BOOK Ontario, crosses the gulf that has been improperly denoLXXVIII. minated the Lake of a Thousand Isles. Kingston is situat ed on one of its creeks. It occupies the site of the old fort Frontenac, the ruins of which are still extant, as well as the remains of a breast-work thrown up by the English. The harbour is on the east side of Kingston, and is formed by a bay that stretches towards the front of the town, The west shore of this bay is bold, and well adapted for wharfs, because vessels of any burden may not only lie in safety, but load and unload with convenience and ease. From its situation, this city is the depot of those articles of commerce which are transported across Lake Ontario in ships, and along the river in boats. They meet, deposit, and exchange their cargoes at Kingston. York, which is the seat of the provincial government, is finely situated on a bay, extending nearly two miles from the west to the east side of the town, and almost enclosed by a peninsula, which stretches to a corresponding distance from east to west without the basin of the harbour. Burlington Bay is a small lake, separated from that of Ontario by a sandy beach, which extends five miles in a northerly direction, from Saltfleet to Nelson, with a narrow outlet running from the bay across the beach, and having a bridge over it; on the west of the bay, divided from it by a promontory extending from north to south, is a marsh, or marshy lake, named Coot's Paradise, which is famous for its game. The beach, the bay, the promontory, and the marsh, form perhaps as wild scenery as any in America. The town of Niagara was originally called Newark, but the name was changed by law in 1798. It is still generally, but erroneously, described by its first appellation. It is situated on the left bank of the Niagara, and extends along the shore of the lake to a considerable distance towards the west. Fort George is more than a mile higher up the river. In pursuance of the treaty of 1794, the garrison was removed from the old fort on the opposite bank, and stationed at Fort George; its works have been since strengthened and improved. Fort Erie stands on a small eminence, about fifteen feet above water; it is surrounded by a good BOOK harbour and a pleasant village. London is still an incon- LXXVIII. siderable town; the natural advantages on which the expectation of its founder depended, were its central position between the lakes Ontario, Erie, and Huron; its fortunate situation on the Thames; the fertility of the adjacent country; the mildness and salubrity of the climate; the abundance and purity of its water; its means of military and naval protection; and the facility of its communication with Lake St. Clair, through the outlet of the Thames; with Lake Huron, by the northern branch of that river; and with Lake Ontario, by the military road. Hence the names of the river, the contemplated metropolis, and the adjacent towns, were taken from corresponding ones in the mother country. Fort Malden commands the river Detroit, and is situated near the frontiers; the town contains 108 houses and 675 persons.* We may remark that the southern extremity of Canada Peninsula in Upper forms a peninsula that is separated from the rest of the pro- Canada. vince by the rivers Severn and Trent, which are connected together by a chain of small lakes. The rest of this peninsula is watered by the lakes Huron, Erie, Ontario, and by the rivers St. Clair, Detroit, and Niagara. The soil is a vegetable mould that rests on beds of limestone. Many of the rivers are turbid in this part of America, but there is no great body of stagnant water. The country is fertile in wheat and in different sorts of trefoil; it abounds also with excellent peaches and other kinds of fruit. The temperature of the banks of lake Erie is almost as mild as that of Philadelphia. This fruitful and happy region, so different from the other parts of Canada, was claimed by the United States previous to the treaty of 1783; that republic is still ambitious of obtaining it; but the English are fully aware of its military and political importance. Canada was originally neglected by the court of France, Popula Smith's Description of Upper Canada. Gray's Letters on Canada, and Gourlay's Sketches of Upper Canada. + See the Columbian and New York Journal of the 12th April, 1813. tion. |