J • -*■ - f' 0 * 4^0. [*-|o 1 ( \ V/o K' (FT ^ ■ * THE PRESENT STATE O F NOVA J C O TI A; WITH A BRIEF ACCOUNT OF CANADA. ; r^>Tyr r^7 ryir^rry. ?’JrT T II E P R E S E N T S T A T E O F N 0 V A SCOTI A : WITH A BRIEF ACCOUNT OF CANADA, AND, THE BRITISH ISLANDS ON THE COAST OF NORTH AMERICA. The Second Edition, corrected and enlarged. « llluftrated with a Map. Sunt ingeniorum vionu7?:enta, quae faeculis prolantur . Livy, t Ceft le nombrc du peuple, ct l’abondancc dcs aiimcns, qui forn.c L vraic force, et la vraie richcfie d’un royaume* * Fenelon. EDINBURGH: Printed for William Creec h, Edinburg ii; AND SOLD BY T. Cabell, and G. Robinson & Co. London. MjDCC.LXXXVI N T O THE RIGHT HONOURABLE, JOHN, LORD SHEFFIELD, My Lord, THE favourable reception with which the former edition of this work has been diftinguifhed in England, emboldens the % Author to hope for the continuance of that protection which you fo generoufly be¬ llowed on the firft impreflion. The whole of the defcriptive parts were written amidft thofe rude and magnificent fcenes, which are fo frequently met with in the yet uncultivated regions of the New World. I AM ( 6 ) I am convinced of the necefiity that this country is under, of ftridtly enforcing the navigation laws in their fulleft extent ; and it is natural to expert, from your Lordfhip’s intimate acquaintance with the fubjeft, that a Treatife which tends to il- luftrate it fhould derive the greateft advan¬ tage from your Lordfhip’s approbation. I have the honour to be, “v f My Lord, Your Lordfhip’s mod obedient, 3.::..... - , rn i . :.;i v- m>i9.r>r And very humble fervant, * . The AUTHOR. l V ■ ■ f CONTENTS. Pag. Introduction i Importance of the remaining Colonies 4 Confequences to America in lofing the friendfhip of Great Britain 9 Bad efeels of giving up to the United States all the territory claimed by them 10 American cod-ffloery *3 Nantucket if and l 5 Rival/hip and jealonfy of the American States Advantages derived to the remaining co¬ lonies from the feparation of Great Britain and the old provinces 19 The fituation of the United States with refpett to foreign powers 20 Peopling Cape Breton ifland 2 5 Situa- I CONTENTS. Vlll Situation, Extent, and Appearance Climate and feafons Natural produ&ions Pine forejls Fruit trees Iron ore . Limejlone Animals , trees^ and plants, that have been imported into the Province Dangers upon the coaft Seal iflands . [[lands of Sable Light-houfes wanted Fifheries # * Abundance of cod-fflo Herrings Salmon * • • Mackarel • • • American fifhermen Indians • • Their ferocity Pag, 2 9 35 40 41 42 44 4 5 46 50 5 1 52 5 3 57 59 6 1 62 6 3 64 68 70 Intern - N CONTENTS. ix Page. Intemperance 7 2 Difeafes 73 Cujloms 75 Language 7 6 Religion 77 Canoes 7 8 Children 80 Beafts 83 Bears • > GO Wild cats 84 Foxes CO Moofe deer 85 Pole cat . 86 Opojfum 87 Ermine • 88 Seals . 89 Beaver 90 Caribou 94 Otter • 95 Fur trade Mijlakes of France relative to this ar - tide in Canada 96 Advantages that may probably arife to England 100 New b CONTENTS. Page. New Settlements, Towns, and Har¬ bours. Province of Main 104 Grand Manan IJland 106 River St Croix 108 Town of St Andrew's 109 St fohn's river 110 Barrtown 112 Ship-building at that place s ll 3 Population on St fohn's river . ll 7 Settlements at Quako 118 Bajon of mines and Chigneclo ”9 French neutrals 120 Annapolis Royal 12 3 Settlement of Digby on the bafon of An ■ napolis 124 St Mary's bay 126 Yarmouth 127 Barrington 128 Shelburn , or Port Rofevuay 129 Port Matoon *33 Liverpool 136 Lunenburgh l 37 § Le CONTENTS. XL Page Le Have Halifax . Old French fettlements 144 Population of St John s ijland « Trade and Navigation 146 API of navigation 1 5 ° Ship building . . Whale fifhery . 155 Cod fifhery 157 Wheat and flour . 161 Lumber 164 Furs 167 Rum 169 Salt • • 171 White oak . 172 Tar, pitch, and turpentine 1 73 Pearl and pot-afhes * *75 Iron ore 176 Government 178 Divifion of the Provinces 180 Conclufton 182 Canada • * . 188 Jfland of Newfoundland 188 Ijland CONTENTS. Xll Page. Ijland of Cape Breton . 190 - °f St 'John's in the Gulph 192 Chaleur bay . . 193 General View of Canada . 193 Jfle of Orleans * . 199 Quebec . C 200 Trois Rivieres , or Three Rivers 203 £/ FV/or . . 204 Montreal . . 205 Population and religion of Canada 206 Sortl or Richlieu River . . 209 .For/ Chambli . . 211 For/ of St John , , . 212 Lake Champlain . . 213 Lake Superior . . 214 Conclufton . . 215 mrTr-ta - ■ Jt V , S\Z<> ins' "Erik m mm w trim. y (\ (7>ar/t\v V- Bell Isle . • (UrraA CZZzmii/lvn U r Zb r ^Z/tt/Zr/s si^n 3/rz,;fr/i, fV ? ZZs/ttfat/t Zv/s ITCRosiers Ara*rjtfsZtav ST ItA^RUSCB /!,):/!/{crA-i /{/'t*'N $/sVoto/ ft WT oraa>XA3TD /lav ‘ ' It,,vV< ,v//w >? flay Butts vttnUi \///iv f ; ZAtztjour JfZ,t/A/r Za/tf Zftrr y A / first tt£lories «f the tf^IOTJJlD S 1‘A^X 3 ,h<» ,s S r //,/HV///t't’.y Zttr/trt/tX A\>t(/fZrv ofl A// (}/>ZO Zj/fArZ/tX ('.(Aar/sjr , Cv//" \lt fa A arroAzo/r Z/tt ’. T).J • izarK S Z Z>rr(>/cer 7n ficient from the large!!. Nor can the ope¬ ration be repeated twice in the fame year, without endangering the life of the tree ; a precaution not always attended to in this country. The fugar, when cold, is of a reddifh brown colour, fomewhat tranfparent, and very pleafant to the tafte. It can only, however, be confidered as of ufe to the in¬ habitants within the province ; and they have not failed to afcribe to it feveral vir¬ tues, either real or imaginary, as a medi¬ cine. Among!! the natural productions of No¬ va Scotia, it is necefi'ary to enumerate their iron-ore, which is fuppofed equally good with that found in any part of America ; the wants and neceflities of the refugees will not permit fuch trials to be made, at lpaft NATURAL PRODUCTIONS. 45 lead for fome time to come, as are necef- fary for afcertaining its goodnefs : The at¬ tention which is requifite in promoting the arts of hufbandry, and extending the fifh- eries, fo as to enfure a prefent fubfiftence, rauft occupy fo much of their thoughts, as to leave them no room for fpeculation on future improvements, or advantages that are at any confiderable didance. There can, however, remain but little doubt, that the iron made here may become a ufeful article of trade in the courfe of a few years. Lime-done is found in many places ; it is extremely good, and is now much ufed for building ; independent of which, it gives the farmers and landholders a great advantage for improving the ground, as it is found by experience to be one of the mod approved things in the world for that purpofe. ANIMALS, 4 6 ANIMALS, TREES, AND PLANTS, THAT HAVE BEEN IMPORTED. H E animals that have been imported do not degenerate. The black cattle are in general very large, and the fheep greatly preferable to thole of New Eng¬ land ; the flelh, both of them, and of their hogs, is excellent; and fome very good horfes are now bred in the country. Their dogs are exceeded by none in the world for ftrength or utility, being conftantly put to every kind of drudgery, fuch as fetch¬ ing home the provifions that are neceflary for the family, the wood for their firing, &c. Several AMIMALS, TREES, &c. 47 Several of the iifeful and raoft common European fruits have been planted in many places; fo that the Province now produces, particularly at Annapolis Royal, and in the country between Halifax and the Bafon of Mines, great quantities of apples, fome pears, and a few plumbs, which are all good of their kind, efpecially the former. I The fmaller fruits, fuch as currants, goofeberries, &c. grow to as great perfec¬ tion as in Europe; and the fame may be faid of all the common and ufeful kinds of garden plants. Among thefe their potatoes have the preference, as being the moll fer- viceable in a country abounding with fifh ; and indeed they are not to be exceeded in goodnefs by any in the world. The maize, or Indian corn, is a native of much warmer climates, and, though plant¬ ed here, never arrives at more than two thirds of its natural bignefs; a defedl which arifes as well from the fhortnefs of the fum- mer, 48 ANIMALS, TREES, &c. mer, as the gravelly nature of the foil. Its vaft utility, both to man and beaft, will al¬ ways, however, render it an object of cul¬ tivation, as no kind of grain is more eafily raifed, after the lands are once cleared, or is capable of yielding a greater produce, which is generally from feven hundred to a thoufand grains, and fometimes twelve hundred, for one that has been fowed; and, befides this large increafe, it is remark¬ able for the excellent food which its Items and leaves afford to every kind of cattle in winter, who will eat it in preference to any other vegetable. As the remaining branches of the king’s dominions in America will be better known hereafter, and, it is hoped, fo governed as to render them flouriflfing and happy in themfelves, and ufeful to the parent date ; the attention of the legiflature will, no doubt, be direded to adopt fuch meafures as may encourage the growth of hemp and flax; articles which are perfedly fined to the ANIMALS, TREES, &c. 49 the foil and climate of the country ; and, if confidered as forming an effential part of the ftores confumed, not only by the royal navy, but by all the mercantile vefl'els of Great Britain, mull always be an objed of national importance, and, if properly fup- ported, will keep at home a great part, if not all, of thofe immenfe fums which have hitherto been fent abroad and expended with foreign nations, for purchafing hemp, canvas, and linens. Tobacco, a plant of which the ufes and effeds are well known, may be cultivated with eafe in Nova Scotia, as it is already e« very where in Canada, from Lake Cham¬ plain to the Ifle of Orleans, for the purpofe of internal confumption. Confidered in no other light than as keeping a fum of mo¬ ney in the Province, the culture of this ar¬ ticle is an objed of fome concern ; but, whether its quality will ever render it a commodity fit for exportation, time alone can difcover. G DANGERS 5 ° DANGERS UPON DANGERS UPON THE COAST. HIS country, as has been already ob- “*■ ferved, may be juftly efteemed the firft in the American world, with refped to that iituation, whether in peace or war, which a great maritime power, poflefled al¬ io of fettlements in the Weft Indies, would wiih to retain and improve. All the fouthern coaft of the Peninlula is one continued chain of inlets, bays, roads, and iheltering places for (hipping ; the ap¬ proaches to which are rendered eafy, by the regularity of the foundings ; fo that the goodnefs of its harbours add to its impor¬ tance, and increafe the local advantages for THE COAST. 5i which, in refpe£l of fituation, it (lands in¬ debted to nature. The principal dangers to which thofe who intend to make the land are expofed, are, firft, from Brown’s Bank, or George’s Bank, a very large (lioal, lying a great way off at fea, fouth-weft of Cape Sable j it is aflerted to have been feen dry in fome pla¬ ces, which is not improbable, as there are credible perfons who have founded upon it in three fathoms water *. It is one of the word places in the world to fall in with at night, efpecially in bad weather, though fortunately the foundings are gra¬ dual. The fecond danger upon the coaft arifes from the Seal Iflands, which lie off Cape Sable, the fouth wedermod extremity of the province. They are dill more hurtful from * This ihoal part is nearer to Cape Cod, at the en¬ trance to Bofton Bay, than to any other place ; it bears from it eaft about 50 miles. 52 DANGERS UPON from the conftant fogs and currents that prevail thereabout, and many veffels are e- very year wrecked upon them. A third, and that equal to either of the former, is the Ifle of Sable, lying about thirty leagues S. E. of Halifax. It is a great bank of fand, very low, being almoft even with the water, and fcarcely difcern- ible, even in clear weather, at any confider- able diftance ; narrow, but of confiderable length, and furrounded, particularly at the N. E. and N. W. ends, with terrible fhoals, bars, and hills of fand. In the middle of it there is a large pond of lalt water, com¬ municating with the fea, abounding with oyfters and other fhell-fifh, which afford a fcanty fubfiftence to the wretches who are fo unhappy as to be wrecked upon this de¬ folate illand. A near approach to it dif- qovers only naked find-hills, producing a few low Ihrubs, and inhabited by horfes, and fome few black cattle, that have long fince run wild. Very THE COAST. 53 Very little danger is to be apprehended when well in with the main land, except from what is vifible and above water, and even thefe dangers are daily leflened by ex¬ perience, and by the great improvements made in the nautic art ; amongft which, that of determining the longitude of pla¬ ces by celeftial obfervation, defeivedly holds the firft rank, and has greatly facilitated the conftrudtion of the beft fea charts that any age or nation can boaft of having pof- fefled. The tides in the Bay of Fundy, though regular, yet, as running very ftrong in many places, and caufing a great rife and fall of water, have imprefTed the minds of many perfons, unacquainted with the coaft, with an unjuft idea of the peril and diffi¬ culty of the navigation, efpecially during the winter, which has not been a little heightened by the fogs that are prevalent at this feafon of the year. It will therefore be neceftary to have light-houfes erected in feveral places for enfuring, not only the fafety of the commercial interefts of the pro¬ vince, » 54 DANGERS UPON vince, but likewife the King’s fhips, which are equally expofed, in performing the du¬ ties of their ftation, with the merchant vef- fels employed in thefe Teas. Happily the fituations fit for fuch ere&ions are fo pla¬ ced by nature, as to be obvious to the moft inexperienced obferver. One of them muft be built upon a confpicuous part of Grand Manan, or the S. W. point of Long Ifland, which form the entrance to the bay of Fun- dy; and this, not only for the guidance of fhips bound in from fea, but likewife for thofe that come down from the fettle- ments at the head of the bay, from St John’s River, Annapolis Royal, and other places. The fecond fliould be upon Patridge Ifland, at the entrance into St John’s River; a fituatiou not lefs adapted for fuch a pur- pofe than for that of raifmg works to fe- cure the navigation of the river, proted the harbour* and prevent the landing of an e- nemy. Another THE COAS a • 5 ? Another is wanted upon the Seal Iflands, and is that which will be the mod: ufeful ; the advantages naturally arifing from it be¬ ing of the moft extenfive kind, and equally diffufed to lhips of all nations, whom ei¬ ther choice, misfortune, or ignorance, has brought into the American feas. Annapolis Royal, and Port Rofeway *, harbours upon which fuch confiderable fettlements are formed, as bid fair to rival the commercial glory of fome cities in the old colonies, would be much benefited by fimilar erections, which, though unable to complete themfelves at prefent, might be kept, if already built, without any kind of expence to government. As a confiderable fettlement is forming at Chedabu&o Bay, in the eaftermoft ex¬ tremity of the Province, it is abfolutely neceffary that a light-houfe fhould be built upon, * There is one now building at this place. S6 DANGERS, 8cc. upon, or near to Cape Canfo ; not merely becaufe there is a town forming in its neigh¬ bourhood, but becaufe it is furrounded by many fhoals and rocks, which are little known, and, above all, becaufe it will tend to facilitate the navigation from Nova Sco¬ tia to St John’s Ifland, the gulph and river of St Laurence, and Canada, by means of the ftreights or gut of Canfo, a narrow channel or arm of the fea, which divides the ifland of Cape Breton from the coun¬ try of which we are fpeaking. FISHERIES. « 57 FISHERIES. PON every part of the coaft, and at different diftances from the land, there are fifhing banks, of greater or fmall- er extent, and in various depths of water, generally from thirty to fixty fathoms ; upon all of thefe, the cod fifh is found in all feafons, and in every month of the year, notwithftanding what has been fometimes advanced to the contrary. There is, indeed, fome variation as to the quantity taken, and the depth of water to which the fifh retire, at certain feafons ; they, however, never entirely forfake the coaft. The com¬ mon, and, indeed, the almoft only method H prac- FISHERIES. 58 pra&ifed here, is that which is called the flationary fifhery, carried on by the inha¬ bitants in fmall craft. In thefe they go off to fea in fummer, and remain out from one or two days to feven or eight, Taking the fifti whilft out, and on their return drying it upon hurdles, placed horizontally, at fome diflance from the ground, and taking care, whenever it rains, to turn the {kin or back of the fifh to the weather, to prevent its being fpoiled. When dried fufficiently, it is piled up in flacks, and afterwards ei¬ ther exported, as an article of trade, or re- ferved as food in winter. That which is only falted, and thrown immediately into the holds of the veffels employed in fil¬ ing, without any farther preparation, is called green cod. Very little of this is pre- ferved for fale, and none exported. The frefh fifh was never confidered as an article of commerce, but is extremely ufeful to the inhabitants as food, of which it conflitutes a principal part, and like- wife FISHERIES. 59 wile to the perfons concerned in the fifh- ery. The almoft infinite number of cod that is taken every year in thefe Teas, though it may excite aftonilhment at firft, will ceafe to do fo, when we confider the immenfe multitudes which moll of the aquatic tribes are formed to bring forth. In this refpeft, the creative wifdom of divine Providence is not a little magnified, by a comparative view of the beneficial and harmlefs filh we are fpeaking off; and that enemy to man and every other living creature, the vora¬ cious and devouring lhark, who, though fo large, brings forth her young ones alive, which are fometimes not above five or fix in number, and feldom exceed twenty ; on the contrary, the roe or fpawn of the cod, having been a&ually counted by an able naturalift *, was found to contain more than nine millions of eggs, each one ca¬ pable * M. Leewenhoeck. 6o FISHERIES. % pable of reproducing the fpecies, in the fame extent and perfedion. This vaft profufion of nature, fo obfer- vable in the leas of North America, might teach us to confider the ocean, and its va¬ rious produdions, as a property common to the whole earth ; and, upon this prin¬ ciple, the obvious and natural rights of mankind would incline us to think, that the fifheries in particular fhould be open to all nations. But maritime dates, (by which is to be underdood, thofe not only poffef- fed of naval power, but alfo of colonies fettled at their expence, and nourifhed by their care and prote&ion,) knowing their importance, have, from motives of found policy, prohibited, and almod totally ex¬ cluded foreigners from a fhare of the be¬ nefits : Thus, Spain, Portugal, and Italy, which, from the great number of monks, and the general fuperftition of their peo¬ ple, might at lead claim the ncceffity, if not the right, of filhing, are, among the reft, FISHERIES. 61 reft, entirely debarred from it. The Bri- tilh government wifely avails itfelf of fu- perior power and fituation, in order to re¬ alize to its fubje£ts the profits and advan¬ tages atifing from a branch of commerce, which, whilft it gives bread to thoufands, enriches the ftate, and contributes in a ve¬ ry great degree to render the kingdom flourifhing at home, and abroad both pow¬ erful and refpectable. From the middle of April, when the rains which break up the froft commonly prevail, and put an end to the winter fea- fon, a conftant fucceffion of all kinds of fifh common to the country takes place in the harbours and inlets. Of thefe, the her¬ rings are generally the firft, and in a little time becoming gradually intermixed with the fhad, are fucceeded by them; thefe are accounted almoft equally good with fal- mon for drying and faking ; both the one and the other run in prodigious fhoals to¬ wards the heads of the creeks and rivers, in 62 FISHERIES. in order to depofit their fpawn at the falls or rapids, which flop them from proceed- 0 ing farther, and where they may be taken with bafkets in any quantity. Salmon foon fucceed, and continue a confiderable time in feafon, and are generally taken in a fet net, which muft be watched in order to ob- ferve when they entangle themfelves. Their number is fo great, that many fifheries may be eftablilhed for curing and exporting them; one of thefe is already begun on the Bafon of Mines. Mackarel, and another kind of filh, ei¬ ther not known in England, or not com¬ mon there, which grows very large, come into the harbours during the fall of the year, in fuch numbers as is inconceivable, for the purpofe of preying upon the young fiih, that are the offspring of other kinds which take to the fhoal water, until their fize and ftrength may enable them to go further off in quell of fubfillence. The FISHERIES. 63 The havoek committed upon them is tru¬ ly ado li iiing. From a diflfedtion of one of tv. n purfuers, the ftomach was found to contain more than five hundred of the fmall fifh. A proof of one of the many means uied by Providence to prevent the feas from becoming overftocked with inha¬ bitants ! Mackarel are exported in large quantities to the Weft Indies ; but the vo¬ racious kinds of fifh above mentioned are unfit for food, unlefs eaten frefh. Lobfters are found on all parts of the fea-fhore in great abundance, and the catch¬ ing them is chiefly confined to the Indians, who carry them to market in their fmali canoes. Plaice, flounders, foals, fkate, and I hallibut, are to be met with every where in the greateft profufion, and are only ufed by the fifhermen and inhabitants for food. The Americans took care to referve to themfelves, at the late treaty of peace, un¬ der 6 4 FISHERIES. der the powerful mediation of France, a right to thh upon the coafts and banks of the colony, and to dry their fifh on fhore in its uninhabited bays and harbours. Of the firft of thefe advantages they have a- vailed themfelves ; many of their veflels completed their cargoes there during the laft feafon. It is probable, however, that they will preferve their cod green , not on¬ ly becaufe the bed harbours are already oc¬ cupied by the loyalifts and refugees, who have fettled there from other places, but becaufe in the others they might frequent¬ ly expedt to meet with the ftaticnary fifh- ermen, in which cafes difputes would pof- fibly arife ; though it is but jufiice to ob- ferve of the fea-faring people, who are the fubjedts of the United States, that their be¬ haviour in thofe parts has, on all occafions, fhewn a defire to avoid giving offence, or doing any thing that might awaken the remembrance of paft injuries. Thefe, up¬ on the contrary, they feem ftudious of bu- rying FISHERIES. <>5 rying in oblivion ; and it is, perhaps, for this reafon that they have feldom, if at all, prefumed to wear their national colours in anv of the harbours. # The cod filhery begins in the Bay ofFun- dy in the month of May, and continues there only fix weeks or two months. The fiih caught here are neither fo good, nor in fuch plenty, as thofe which are caught out at fea, or even near the mouth of the Bay, about the iflands at Paflamaquoddy ; but they are extremely ufeful to the numerous inhabitants who are fettled or fettling in the different harbours. No fatignes or hardfhips can exceed thofe of the fifhermen during the feafon, their labours leaving them hardly any time to reft, either by night or day. Fortunately, however, from the healthinefs of the cli¬ mate, from the wholefomenefs of their food, which confifts chiefly of fifh, but, a- bove all, from their conftant exercife, they I enjoy • 66 FISHERIES. enjoy, in general, an uninterrupted Rate of health. In conclufion, It with truth may be al¬ iened, that the filhery, in the laft fummer, employed about ten thoufand men, and was the means of feeding at lead thirty thou¬ fand. The whole quantity caught was up¬ wards of an hundred and twenty thoufand quintals, about forty thoufand of which were exported ; thefe, at the lowed price, viz. thirteen fhillings and fixpence each, mud have amounted to L. 26,000 Sterling j which dim may be edimated as fo much money really gained to the colony, whe¬ ther the fifh were fold abroad for cafh, or exchanged for commodities of which the inhabitants dcod in need. The calcula¬ tion here given, which is very low, and defignedly kept within bounds, that no charge of exaggeration may be brought a- gaind it, is only intended to fliew what the colony is now able to do, when in a weak , and FISHERIES. 67 and imperfect ftate ; and furnillies an in- conteftible proof, that the fifheries are an inexhauflible mine of wealth, and do, with the woods, conftitute the natural riches of the country. 1 INDIANS, 68 INDIANS. HAT we may go on regularly in JL viewing the produce of the country, and from thence form a judgment of its value, it will be neceflary to fay fomething of the natives themfelves, before we men¬ tion the grand objedt of their purfuit, the fur trade. Ignorant of the arts of agriculture, as well as of commerce, except in the moft confined fenfe, it is in the fatigues and plea- fures of the chace that they have clothing, as well as food, for their objedt ; and, whilft we thus reprefent their manners as concifeJy INDIANS. 69 concifely as poffible, abftrufe fpeculation, improbable conjecture, and hearfay infor¬ mation, will be equally avoided. The large territory which prefents itfelf to our view, exhibits, at firft fight, a dark, thick, and almoft impenetrable foreft, in¬ dented on all fides with the waters of the fea, interfered with innumerable fprings, as well as many extenfive fwamps and mo- rafles, which, never yet cultivated, afford fhelter to many favage animals, and large herds of ufeful ones. On a clofer examina¬ tion, we difcover many fmall tribes orfingle families of the human fpecies fcattered a- bout upon the coaft, perpetually wandering from place to place, living in a ftate of war with the beafts of the field, depending up¬ on their deftrudion for fubfiftence, and pradifing no fort of cultivation, or any of thofe other arts, which are fo neceffary to the eafe of man in an improved flate, if not to his very exiftence. Thefe 7o INDIANS. Thefe are the remains of the ancient na¬ tions j the inhabitants who once filled this part of the coaft of North America, and who, by their paflion for war, and their attachment to the French neutrals that were fettled among them, rendered them- felves dreadful to all who approached them. That paflion, fo unworthy of a rational creature, and which conftantly degenerates into barbarity, when exercifed amongft men in a ftate of nature, was rendered ftill more fierce, by the enthufiafm inftilled into them by their priefts, whofe tenets, too often correfpondent with the fentiments of the favages, irritated their natural ferocity to a continual thirft for the blood of men, who, to the obvious crime of being enemies, were branded as heretics alfo. % Happily thefe fcenes have difappeared ; fanaticifin and blood-fhed vanifhed toge¬ ther ; the rage of the Indians has diminifh- ed with their numbers ; and nothing now engages their attention, but hunting and fifhing, INDIANS. 7 1 hilling, which, from their peaceable beha¬ viour, are both rendered ferviceable to the colony. Some few, indeed, have been ob- ferved to be difpleafed at the’great number of white perfons, who, fince their migra¬ tion, have, of neceflity, dedroyed fome of the bed hunting lands that were in the neighbourhood of the harbours they occu¬ py; but their weaknefs, added to their pru¬ dence, will certainly prevent them from making any didurbance. Their numbers, once fo formidable, are now reduced to fuch a degree, as to fore¬ bode the entire annihilation of the race ; and it has often been obferved, with drift truth, that they are continually degenera¬ ting and decreafing in all countries peopled by Europeans. This is not, however, ow¬ ing to wars among themfelves, or with o- thers, nothing of that kind having happen¬ ed for many years. It is chiefly to be a- fcribed, either to the immoderate ufe of fpiritous liquors of the very word kind, pur- 7 2 INDIANS. purchafed of the white people, or to the in¬ troduction of the fmall'pox into North A- merica, which, at different periods, has com¬ mitted dreadful ravages amongft them. A fmall dofe of liquor never fatisfies them. They drink it unmixed, until they can drink no more, and then become literally mad. This, from a frequent repetition, en¬ feebles and befots them, deadens and be¬ numbs the nervous fyftem, and, whilft it irritates, weakens and deftroys the organs of generation, as well as thofe fentiments of affedion and regard which mutually at¬ tract and unite the fexes, and of which the Indians are by no means deftitute, when free from a habit of intoxication. It is not, however, uncommon to fee a whole family carrying in their faces the marks of this brutal vice, and every mufcle fixed in the calm flupidity of inebriation. Their features, when young, are gene¬ rally very good, efpecially the girls, who have fine eyes, teeth, and hair. After mar¬ riage, INDIANS. 73 riage, and bearing children, they fiiddenly lole their youthful look, and affume an a- ged and emaciated appearance. This re¬ mark is not, indeed, without exceptions, as many of them arrive to a very advanced age, contrary to what might be generally expected from the wandering and expo- fed life they continually lead, and the hard- ihips that muft be endured as a neceffary confequence. The fmall-pox, that difeafe which, in our hemifphere, has fo often proved a fatal fcourge to mankind, could find but little refiftence from a people who, before their intercourfe with Europe, knew no dillem- pers, but fuch as proceed from exceffive heats and colds, and unacquainted with a medicine capable of diverting or flopping its progrefs ; confequently, the devaflation committed by it has been fo great, as to imprefs their minds with an idea of its being the worfl and mod confummate of evils that can befall mankind. Thus, of all the tribes K known 74 INDIANS. known by the general name of Abenakics, once fo numerous, and even eftcemed powerful, no more remain at prefent than eleven or twelve hundred, of all ages and defcriptions, which feem to be ftill decrea- fing in the fame manner as in every other part of America. The men are (lout made, and have ftrong bones; but their mufcles are appruently fmaller than thofe of the Europeans, and are fuited to their manner of life, w . ch requires more agility than ftrengtn. '! ir height is well proportioned ; for i exceeds fix feet, and is fcldom Id's tha talleft of the middle fizc. Their comp , by nature of a copper colour, is rei ftill darker, by going conftantly expa.m .. the air, and neglecting to wadi. The red paint, with which they formerly befmeared their faces, is now almoft totally difufed, except in Canada, where it is often made to exprefs war, either begun or intended, and ftill oftener as an ornament to heighten the natural INDIANS. IS natural beauty ; the paint mod efteemed for this purpofe is vermilion, as being the brighteft and molt durable. The hair of the beard and eye-brows, that on the fore part of the head, and e- Very other part of the body, is carefully plucked out by the roots when they are young. The reafon affigned for this cuf- tom is, to ufe their own expreflion, that the hair left upon the back of the head may not be Jlarved by the fupernumerary hair which grows upon other parts of the body, though it perhaps originated amongfl: their ancehors, from obferving the propri¬ ety of {hutting up the glandular paffages, and thereby rendering themfelves lels liable to be hurt by the colds and damps of the furrounding atmofphere, to which, as a na¬ tural conf quence of their wandering and unfettled life, they are more exposed than the people of any other nation. The hair upon their heads is always long and black j as as is alfo the hair and eyes of every Indian tribe m North America. Their language founds ftrong to the ear, but is attended with a foft breathing, or kind of refpiration, which degenerates at times into a guttural noife for a moment, and then goes on fmoothly as before. It is exceedingly expreffive, and contains few words, as arifing from a quick and lively fenfation of vifible obje&s, which prompts them to exprefs, as it were in a moment, ideas that would take time and reflection in us to paint to the life; whilft their furprife, ignorance, or indignation, give birth to thoughts and expreflions, warm, aftonilh- ing, and fublime ; of which a thoufand ex¬ amples might be given, by perfons conver- fant with their dialed. Born and bred up in a ftate purely natu¬ ral, they are extremely jealous of their in¬ dependence. As they believe all men equal, their principal abhorrence to a civilized way of INDIANS. 77 of life feems to arife from what they ob- lerve among the nations that ftile them bar¬ barians, whofe corruptions, and falfe ideas of things, they affedt to defpife ; and none more than the refpedt that is paid to riches, which, as they juftly remark, are frequent¬ ly poflefled by the moft worthlefs of man¬ kind. No form of government can be faid to lubfift among them. Each little hord or tribe pays fome deference to an old man, who is regarded for his wifdom and expe¬ rience. He fpeaks upon all public occa- fions that concern the community, the reft meanwhile obferving a profound filence ; and his language is generally decent, fome- times bombaftic and fwelling, but always fenfible, and delivered with gravity. The Roman Catholic religion is univer- fally profefled ; and they wear a fmall cru¬ cifix, as an emblem of their faith. This fenfe of religion has fo far an influence up¬ on INDIANS. 78 on them, as to bring great numbers from the moft diftant parts of the province to St John’s River, where a prieft of the Ro- milh communion comes annually from Ca¬ nada, to baptize, confefs, and abfolve them; for which he is generally recompenfed by a fmall parcel of furs from the head of each family. Their fubfiftence depends entirely upon hunting and filhing ; employments that oc¬ cupy almoft the whole of their lives, to which their canoes are a necelfary appen¬ dage; and, in the conftru&ion of it, the in¬ genuity of an Indian is chiefly difplayed. The bark of a very large birch tree, fmooth, and free from knots, is cut with a hatchet, perpendicularly through on one fide, and then taken gradually, and with great art, off the tree. Being laid upon the ground, the two ends are neatly fewed up, as are the cracks or Allures caufed by taking the bark off, with lmall withs made of fpruce or pine. The wife is employed in cutting fmall INDIANS. 79 fmall hoops, half an inch thick, and three broad, to ferve as ribs or timbers to ftreng- then it ; thefe are placed croffvvife, at fome diftance, the whole length ; a gunwate, a- bout an inch thick, is now ftrongly fewed to the canoe with the fame materials, a nail ferving as a needle, and the Teams covered with melted rofin. The canoe, on being put into the water, is deftined to carry the whole family, confiding fometimes of five or fix perfons, and likewife the guns, am¬ munition, and baggage ; but the laft of thefe is feldom very cumberfome. This beautiful little work, which is only eigh¬ teen feet long, two broad, and one deep, which is deftitute of keel, fail, or rudder, and weighs only eighty or ninety pounds, is ufed in tranfporting them acrofs the mouth of the Bay of Fundy, a greater di¬ ftance, and more dangerous navigation, than the Channel of England. The canoe, with the gun, tomahawk, and fome few implements for fiftung, confti- tute 8o INDIANS. tute the whole riches of an Indian family • the furs taken in the chace being but too often exchanged for rum, the deftroyer of their race, and the bane of their nation. The children, as foon as born, are plun¬ ged into cold water, to harden them, and increafe their ftrength. Afterwards, they are fattened to a board about two feet long, with their back againft it, the arms, head, and legs,being left at liberty; and in this pofition they continue until able to go, alone. The reafon given for this ftrange cuftom, which prevails univerfally among the Indians, is, that it makes them grow ftraight and handfome ; but a more obvi¬ ous caufe feems to be, that it is convenient for the mother to carry her offspring thus through the woods, where the eyes of an infant would be in continual danger from the boughs of trees, if born about in any other way, or the canoe might be over¬ turned, if a child was left at liberty to move about in it. The infenfibility of cold, and other INDIANS. Sr other hardfhips, obfervable even in chil¬ dren of the tendered age, arifes probably from that bluntnefs of the nervous fydem which cudom and neceflity, through fuc- ceflive generations, have at length natura- lifed, and rendered in fome degree familiar. In conclufion-Let not men, born un¬ der happier climates, and in the bofom of civilized nations, where learning and fci- ences have long been cultivated, and gra¬ dually brought to maturity, draw rafh in¬ ferences from what has been faid of their manners and cuftoms, as if they were a people wholly immerfed in barbarifm, ene¬ mies to improvement, and incapable of in- druction: On the contrary, let it be con- fulered, that the leading chara&eridics, which diftinguifh man from the beads of the field in fo eminent a degree, even in his natural date, are in a peculiar manner damped upon them. The mod perfect no¬ tions of right and wrong, of fubordination to God, as governour of the univerfe, and L fubmifliou 8a [INDIANS. fubmiflion to his will, are but a fmall part of that knowledge which they poflefs from Nature; and, whilft we deplore the dark- nefs in which they are ftill buried, let us not forget, that very few ages have elapfed fince the greater part of Europe was in a fimilar ftate ; and that the fame means which have been ufed by divine Providence, to refcue fo many nations from the chains of ignorance, is perfectly adequate to the fame purpofe again, fince neither good na¬ tural abilities, nor yet a defire to be in- ftru&ed, are wanting, for bringing to per¬ fection fuch a deiirable event. BEASTS, BEASTS. PHE beafts of this province are com- “** mon to Canada, the wolf excepted* which is feldom found in Nova Scotia. Of the wild, or hurtful animals, the firfl is the bear. The chace of this beaft, which is far from being dangerous, is a great favourite with the Indians, as generally affording both profit and diverfion. He is common¬ ly black, and in winter fomewhat fhy, but not fierce. During this feafon, being very fat, his lodging is ufually the trunk of an old tree, where, regardlefs of every thing, he 8 4 BEASTS. he fleeps perpetually, until forced from his retreat by a (hot, or a fire which is made under him. The moment he falls, he is defpatched, in order to prevent mifchief; but, if undifturbed, is a perfectly harmlefs animal. The wild cat, though much fmaller, is more dreaded both by man and beaft. This animal very much refembles the fmall do- meftic creature whofe name it bears, and is of the fize of a middling dog. It was call¬ ed Lynx by the ancients v and is well known in Siberia. It is larger than the wild cat of Canada, is very ftrong and fierce, and endowed with great fagacity, acutenefs of fight, fmell, and hearing, pur- fuing its prey to the tops of the tailed trees, and has the courage to attack even the hu¬ man fpecies, if fpurred on by hunger. The fleih is accounted good food, the fkin va¬ luable, as being fcarce, and the hair long, of a fine grey colour, fomewhat firiped, and inclining to yellow upon the belly. foxes BEASTS. 85 Foxes of two forts are here, and they re¬ tain the fame mifchievous and wily difpo- tions remarked of the race in the other countries. The mcft efteemed fort is that whofe fur is of a beautiful filver-g'.ey, long and full. The other is nearly the fame as the Englifh Fox ; it preys upon birds, fquir- rels, and in lhort any animal it can matter, as thefe frozen climates feldom leave the carnivorous tribes any choice in winter, but that of deftroying others weaker than them- felves. The black fox, the moft valuable of the fpecies, is feldom if ever feen here. The moofe is a fpecies of deer, and per¬ haps the largeft animal of the kind in the world, it being from fourteen to feventeen hands in height, and from eight hundred to a thoufand pound weight. Its legs are very long, and fomething fmallertban thofe of a horfe. The male is furnifhed with horns proportioned to its fize, being ten or twelve feet from tip to tip. When chafed by the Indians, its horns are laid back upon its 86 BEASTS. its fhoulders, and in this podure its drength and velocity are fo great, as to break down and dedroy fmall trees and branches of a confiderable fize. The only time for hunting them is in winter, when the fnow lies deep, and fo frozen on the top, as to bear the weight of men and dogs; for then the bead, from its great weight, and by rea- fon of its fmall feet finking in at every dep, is foon overtaken and dedroyed. The fkin, as well as the flefh of thefe animals, is very good ; and of their amazing numbers we may in fome degree form an edimate, from thofe killed lad winter, in only one fettle- ment, they amounting to at lead four thou- fand. The pole-cat, whofe dinking properties have become proverbial, is of two or three kinds ; all of which, however, afford a beautiful, foft, and glofly fur. The difa- greeable fmell obfervable in this creature proceeds entirely from its urine, which its fears, on being clofe purfued, frequently force BEASTS. »7 force it to emit ; and on fiich occasions neither man nor bead; can approach it; Na¬ ture, in with-holding from it other weapons* having, as a recompenfe, thus furnifhed it with the means of providing for its fafety. The opoflum is an animal fhaped like our rats, but larger, and its hair is grey or filver- coloured. It is furnifhed with a falfe belly or fkin, that hangs beneath the true one, and can be opened or fhut at pleafure. When {he is purfued, the young ones go into this bag, and efcape with the parent. The animals of this clafs are not fo nume¬ rous as the rats, which abound in the mar- fhes, and are remarkable for the fmell of mufk obferved in them. Thefe creatures are larger than the rats with us, and have a ftrong refemblance to the beaver. The tail is flat and marked, but without hair; their mufcles are large, the feet behind web¬ bed, and colour the fame as that animal of which it feems a fpecies* and partakes of feveral 83 BEASTS. feveral of its qualities. The fur, though fhort, is accounted very good. The ermine is very fmall, but beautiful to an extreme. Its eyes are keen, and its motions quick and lively. Its (kin is very valuable, being as white as fnow in winter, except the tail, which is black. This crea¬ ture is feldom feen, and very rarely taken ; and its fcarcety makes it therefore lefs fought after than the martin or fable, whofe fur is very beautiful, commonly of a dark brown, and fometimes (but rarely) quite black. Thefe animals being very £hy, are always found in the inmoft recedes of the woods j the north fide of the Province, beyond the Bay of Fundy, is belt (lock¬ ed with them, and their fur is one of the l moll efteemed of any in the world. The porcupine is found in the fame part of the colony, but is too well known, and of fo ufelefs a nature, as not to need any defcription. Squirrels of feveral kinds BEASTS. 89 kinds abound every where, and afford ex¬ cellent fport to thofe who are fond of (hoot¬ ing. The feal, though of an amphibious na¬ ture, claims our notice as a land animal ; for it is upon land he is bred, and where he lives more than upon the water. Thefe creatures follow the fhoals of herrings through their various emigrations, devour¬ ing them in great numbers, and then re¬ tire to the fhore to deep. If cut off from their retreat to the water, (which is not very often the cafe, as one who is left to watch is conftantly upon the look-out), they will fight, and throw (tones * with great force, to avoid being taken ; and the coniequence is, they are commonly killed in the fray. The Bay of Fundy abounds with them in the fpring ; and a fifhery of fome ex- M tent * This Is done by ilieir hinder-feet in running. go BEASTS. tent might be eftablifhed there for the purpofe of procuring their oil, which is preferable to that of the whale ; their fkin alfo is very highly and very juftly efteem- ed for its many good qualities, and the u- fes to which it is applied in feveral manu¬ factures. The beaver, whofe fur is fo ufeful for a thoufand purpofes, is a timid animal, but of a focial nature, and poflefles a degree of inftinCt that is amazing. His colour is of a dark brown, the hair very thick, fine, and glofly. Of all our animals, he is near- eft in fhape to the fmall quadruped called a Guiney pig. His hind-feet are webbed like thofe of a water-fowl ; the fore-feet are ftrong, and armed with fharp claws, for digging and building ; and his tail, which is fiat, and without hair, is about nine inches in length, and five in breadth. He is of great ftrength, as is apparent from the conftru&ion of his bones and mufcles; nor ought he to pafs unnoticed, in refpeCt to BEASTS. 91 to the ftrange life he leads in his natural hate. Before the approach of winter, thefe a- nimals ahemble in large troops, in order to build their houfes, which are always fi- tuated by the water, for the double advan¬ tage of fafety and fubfihence. If a hill water or lake does not prefent itfelf, they find out the fhalloweh part of a river, o- ver which a large tree proje&s ; this they quickly fell, lo as to lie acrofs the hream ; to effect it, their only inhruments are the four large teeth, obfervable in feveral other animals ; and a number of hakes, of va- rious fizes, being procured by the fame means, and placed, hoping to the current, againh the trunk of the fallen tree, they twill them together with boughs, and, lahly, fill up with earth, drawn from the fhore upon their tails, and worked in a- inongh the hakes with great labour, by the help of their fore-feet. The 92 BEASTS. The whole work, which is a public con¬ cern, when finifhed, leaves the mind loft in aftoriifhment at viewing an immenfe caufeway, perhaps thirty yards long, and four or five thick, raifed without hands, in the mid ft: of a river : Few people would think but that it was a work of man for fome ufeful purpofe : But what follows difcovers the artizans : Their houfe is built upon this pile : It is formed of mud ftrongly cemented together, and per¬ fectly round, containing feveral apait- ments, and is one, two, or three ftories in height, in proportion to the number of in¬ habitants that are to occupy it. The houfe is impenetrable to wind or rain, but has two doors, one towards the land, through which the provifions are brought, com¬ monly confifting of poplar and alder twigs, and the other towards the water, in order to effect an efcape, if found neceflary. The floor of the houfe is covered with grafs or boughs, and kept very clean. The ftore- BEASTS. 93 ftore-room, or out-houfe, belonging to each family, is kept conftantly full of twigs, placed regularly, as a referve of food, againft bad or ftormy weather, when they feldom venture abroad. No creature is fonder of its young, or receives from them a more grateful re¬ turn. The beaver, when grown up, will not forfake his parents ; and the old and infirm, when taken, fhew evident marks of having been fed, either by their own immediate dependents, or the community at large. This animal, whofe life is fo much fought after, like his deftroyer, the Indian, is con¬ ftantly retiring from the white fettlers, and growing every day fcarcer. A few ages hence he will only be known, like the fo- litary creature that bears his name in Eu¬ rope : His love of fociety will center in a regard to his own prefervation ; and luxu¬ ry 94 BEASTS. ry muft direft its endeavours to difcover a new object wherewith to fatiate its appe¬ tite for novelty. The caribou, an animal fmaller by one- half than the moofe, has been, however, generally confounded with it. Its flelh and {kin are more highly prized by the na¬ tives than fhofe of the latter, being efteera- ed the beft of the deer kind in America; they are very fhy, and feldom feen, even by the natives. A large and extenfive plain, lying north-eaft of St John’s River, is the only place where the taking them is accounted certain ; for very few are to be found in the peninfula, or near any fettle- ment. The otter, a creature tolerably well known in Europe, is a voracious animal, fubfifting chiefly on fifh, and inhabiting the banks of rivers, or pools of frefh water. He is larger than the Englilh otter, can dive very well, and continue a long time under BEASTS. 95 under water. His hair is a very good fur, long and fine, and inclining to a dark brown. Its goodnefs makes thefe animals very much an objett to the Indians in hunt¬ ing, and they are often found in confider- able numbers. FUR $6 i FUR TRADE. I T was the misfortune of a neighbour¬ ing kingdom, when poffefled of colonies in North America, to have minifters, who, blind from ignorance, prejudice, or ava¬ rice, to the true interefts both of their country and its colonies, facrificed the fafe- ty of the one, and the profperity of the o- ther, to a temporary branch of commerce, which yielded, indeed, a temporary flow of wealth and revenue, but was utterly defti- tute of that foundation, for its continuance, which can alone conftitute the real worth of FUR TRADE, 97 of any kind of trade, or make it ufeful to a colony. , This was the fur trade, which, unhappi¬ ly, engrofling all their attention, diverted them from giving due encouragement to agriculture, which, in a new country, is the only fure defence againft either pre- fent or future evils. The people, dreading to become the flaves of a proud and lazy noblefle, alrea¬ dy pofTeffed of exorbitant grants of land, and having before them alfo the fear of re - ligious , added to civil opprefiions, were but too ready to fecond the views of the minifter, and to follow the chafe with ea- gernefs, in the purfuit* of fu’-s, when they fhould have been employed in the cultiva¬ tion of their lands : 1 hus was a colony, whichj from its fituation and local advan¬ tages, might have ferved as a bulwark to the French Weft India iflands, rendered a mere N bur* FUR TRADE. 98 burthen to the mother country, long before it was attacked and taken. From the refult of fuch miftaken policy, let other ftates learn wifdom. It is not the immediate profit arifing from a favourite branch of commerce, that is to be confider- ed, efpecially in a national point of view, but the probable and future confequences attending it. To place this matter in a ftill ftronger point of light, let it be fuppo- \ fed, that all the inhabitants of Nova Sco¬ tia, inftead of cutting down the woods, clearing their lands, and extending the fiiheries, were to be altogether employed in hunting, in order to procure furs, It is afked, what the confequences "would be ? The anfwer is obvious : They might, for a fliort time, raife a confiderable revenue, and the province would probably, during that time, maintain itfelf; but, in the end, the nation would be impoverifhed, in pro¬ viding a lupport for fo many idle perlons, and the colony itfelf.be entirely ruined. This FUR TRADE. 99 This trade rauft therefore be left entire¬ ly to itfelf, as every attempt to increafe the quantity (if fuch attempts are not confined to the Indians) will be attended with a pro¬ portional decreafe of more ufeful labour. It is juft, however, to confider it as the third, though leaft important fource of commerce, which Nature has beftowed upon Nova Scotia ; but, even as fuch, the fur trade mull never be fuffered to come in compe¬ tition with the fisheries, or thofe advanta¬ ges they may expert to reap from their woods, much lefs to interfere with the im¬ provements of agriculture, which, with the two laft, are fully fufficient to make this one of the moft ufeful and flourifhing fet- tlernents Great Britain has ever poffefled. By means of St John’s river, and the rivers which difcharge themfelves into the Bay of Fundy at its head, the Indians will be able to bring their furs from all parts of the country that lie between the peninlu'a and the river St Laurence. There the game abounds ; 1 100 FUR TRADE. abounds ; and, as the natives are the pro- pereft perfons to be employed in this way, the advantages might be much extended, if a road was cut from the head of St John’s River towards Quebec ; and if intelligent perfons were alfo fent to view that part of the country, (as being little frequented e- ven by the Indians), in order to find out a fituation fit for a fettlement, and to pre¬ vent the trade from pafling to the weft- ward, which it poffibly might do, if any navigable water extended that way. Monopolies have been at all times hurt¬ ful to induftry, and ftill more fo to com¬ merce. Every kind of reftraint that is laid upon this trade muft therefore hurt it, in- ftead of anfwering the intended purpofe of doing it good ; and, like a plant left to its own native foil, if left to itfelf, it will be found to thrive the better. In fine, it isim- poflible the extent of the advantages can be afcertained which the province may re¬ ceive from it, Thus far it may be affirmed, that FUR TRADE. ioi that it is a thing which, though capable of great improvement, has this farther to re¬ commend it, that the perfeverance of the inhabitants in giving encouragement to it, by trading upon reafonable terms with the Indians, is fully adequate to the purpofe of rendering it, as much as poflible, advanta¬ geous, either to Great Britain or them- felves. NEW r 102 ' NEW SETTLEMENTS, TOWNS, :: ' ' 'and harbours. T H E fituation of this country, confi- dered in every point of view, is far more advantageous for Great Britain to be poffeffed of, than any other on the whole Continent of North America, whether in refpeCt to its connection with Canada, New¬ foundland, Cape Breton, St John’s Ifland, and the fifheries, or to its being much nearer to the mother country than any o- ther province ; and, above all, for the fu- perior excellence and number of its har¬ bours, creeks, and inlets ; to which we may add the facility wherewith it can fup- piy NEW SETTLEMENTS, &c. 103 ply our Weft India iflands, in conjun&ion with Canada, with all the various kinds of lumber, live ftock, fifh, falt-provifions, and flour, which they formerly purchafed from the revolted colonies, and that at a cheaper rate than the latter can afford them, whilft the navigation laws of this kingdom are wifely permitted to a _ veral of their vefiels by the Americans put a flop to their exertions in that line. They have fince renewed them, and, with the addition of fome loyalifts, are carrying on a trade with Halifax in fifh, lumber, corn, and cattle, particularly fheep. The lands in the neighbourhood, which appeared at frrft but indifferent, being found, within thefe few years, to improve very rapidly; fo that, in proportion to the number of fettlers, few places in the province bid fair¬ er for profperity. From the fouthern extremity of the pe- ninfula, the coaft ranges nearly E. N. E. and W. S. W. with very little variation, quite to Cape Canfo, its eaftermoft extremity, which is near to the ifland of Cape Breton, and containing, in a fpace of about 300 miles, a number of very excellent harbours, at 128 NEW SETTLEMENTS, at a fmall diftance from each other, all a- long the coaft. It will, however, be pro¬ per to mention only fuch among them as are moft diftinguifhed, either for their fu- perior goodnefs, the extent of their popu¬ lation, or the advances they have already made in agriculture or commerce. The firft place, eaft of the Seal Iflands, which deferves notice, is the town of Bar¬ rington, confifting of about 4000 inhabi¬ tants, moftly fettled there before the war, and chiefly engaged in the fifheries and coafting trade, for which their fituation feems well adapted, being the fouthermoft fettlement in the province. Their harbour, however, is but fmall, and, at certain times, fomewhat difficult of accefs ; and the lands round the harbour being efteemed indif¬ ferent, has induced the loyalifts that have come here not to confine their attention to farming alone ; but as yet their number is inconfiderable. Six TOWNS, AND HARBOURS. 129 Six leagues north-eaft of Barrington Bay is the town of Shelburn, built upon the har¬ bour of Port Role way, latitude 43 0 47’ N. longitude 6j° 16* weft from London, in¬ habited by a numerous colony, perhaps the moft lc, that any nation can boaft of in modern times *. The harbour is not ex¬ ceeded by any one in America for good- nefs, having every where fix or feven fa¬ thoms water from the fea to the town, the diftance not being more than eight miles, with fcarcely any current either in or out ; whilft a large iiland lying in the entrance fhuts it in fo entirely from danger, that no wind whatever can do the Jeaft prejudice to (hips riding at anchor. The town is, perhaps, one of the largeft in the New World, containing almcft 3000 houfes regularly built, having 15 ftreets R * in * The population cf Shelburn, and its neighbour¬ hood, is nearly equal to 30,000 j before the war, it did not exceed 50 perfons. NEW SETTLEMENTS, * 3 ° in right lines from north to fouth, and 3c from eaft to weft, crofting the former at % right angles ; the number of inhabitants a- mopnting to 13,000. Oppofite to Shel- burn is Birch-town, peopled by the negroes from New York, about 1400 in number, whofe labours have been found extremely ufeful to the white inhabitants, chiefly in reducing very conftderably the price of work, and various materials, the produce of the country. The lands are greatly im¬ proved, and have, in feveral places, produ¬ ced fine crops of wheat, barley, and oats, as well as of garden herbs, and dwarf fruits, as currants, &c. The good effects of their being poflefled of a large capital fhews it- feIf very plainly in the great number of fhipping belonging to the merchants, near¬ ly equalling that of Halifax itfelf, being at leaft 300 fail of all forts, feveral of which are employed in the whale-ftfhery, a ftill greater number to the Weft Indies, and the reft in the cod fiihery upon the banks that are upon the coaft of the Province. The TOWNS AND HARBOURS. 131 pilots, who are employed by the Britifh fleets in North America, during the war, are fettled upon the harbour half way be¬ tween the fea and the town. Government, wifely confidering how obnoxious thefe men had rendered themfelves to the rebels, have allotted them half-pay during the reft of their lives ; a meafure equally juft and neceffary, moft of them being former¬ ly poffefTed of property in the United States. No people amongft the loyalifts have ex¬ erted themfelves more fuccefsfully than they, in rendering their prefent fituation comfortable. All the country, for feveral miles about, is exceedingly populous, par¬ ticularly upon Indian River, five miles eaft of Port Rofeway, noted for an extraordi¬ nary falmon fifhery, where large tradts of land are cleared, and produce very good wheat and barley. The river itfelf is only fit for veftels of 12 feet draft of water to enter, but has three law mills erected upon it by the New Co- lonifts, NEW SETTLEMENTS, J 3 2 lonifts, that are kept going night and day for the merchants at Port Pofeway, who are conftantly (hipping off lumber to the Weft Indies, both from thefe mills, and two others, lately erected above Shelburn. From this place, a creek communicates with a large frefh water lake feveral miles diftant, the borders of which are capable of feed¬ ing numerous herds of cattle, and are clo¬ thed with fine woods, confifting of birch, mapple, fpruce, pine, and red oak ; a great many loyalifts, convinced of the goodnefs of the lands, are employed in clearing the woods, and converting them into lumber. Two churches are built at Port Rofcway, one for the people of the Prefhyterian per- fuafion, and the other for thofe of the church of England. All kinds of frefh provifions are tolerably cheap ; butcher- ir.eat being, upon an average, at fourpence per lib. and flour and bread in proportion. Many large wharfs, and convenient flore- houfes, are erected for landing and fecuring goods j their trade, particularly to the Bri- tifh TOWNS, AND HARBOURS. '33 tifh Weft Indies, having increafed very ra¬ pidly within the la ft eighteen months. Be¬ low the town, and upon the fame fide of the harbour, the lands quite down to the lea have been divided into 50 acre lots ; fo that a vaft number of velfels have been built by the proprietors, chiefly for the filhing bufinefs, and fome of them as large as to 2^0 tons burthen ; 70 fail were upon the flocks in October laft ; and it is con¬ jectured that near 400 fail will have been finifhed by this time, fince the evacuation of New York, at this one fettlement a- lone. Port Matoon, or Gambier harbour, is 7 leagues eaft of Jordan River, and nine di- ftant fiom Shelburn. It affords but very indifferent fhelter to fome filhing veflels belonging to other places, having only two or three of its own, and very few inhabi¬ tants. The foil, for feveral miles round, is full of rocks and ftones ; and the moft bar¬ ren of any in the province, producing a fcanty i34 NEW SETTLEMENTS, fcanty vegetation, and appearing incapable of ever being cultivated. One of the re¬ giments *, which had ferved with diftin- guilhed reputation during the war in Ame¬ rica, began a fettlement here, and built a town in the autumn of the year 1783, which, unfortunately for them, being fomewhat too late, and the ground confequently co¬ vered with fnow, prevented their obferving the nature of the foil until the following fpring. Their town, at this time, confid¬ ed of upwards of 300 houfes, and the number of people was fomething more than eight hundred ; they, feeing the fte- rile appearance of their lands, and all their hopes, of courfe, fruftrated, were medita¬ ting on the beft means of getting away to other places, when an accidental fire which * The Britifh legion, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Tarleton. f The fummer of 1784 had been uncommonly dry, and many large fires were feen burning in the woods in TOWNS AND HARBOURS. 135 which entirely confnmed their town to afhes, with all their live Rock, furniture, and wearing apparel, filled up the meafure of their calamities, and rendered them per¬ fectly in various places, devouring confiderable trails, in al- moft every direction, occafioned either by the careleff- nefs of the Indians, or that of the white people at their work in the woods, by neglecting to extinguifh their fires ; the ground, at the fame time, being quite dry, and covered with mofs and decaying vegetable. A poor woman at Guyfburgh (the name the loyalifts had gi¬ ven to the place) was undefignedly the caufe Of the mil- fortune ; the fire, after it was once kindled, fpreading fo rapidly, and burning with fuch fury, as rendered all attempts to divert or flop its progrefs quite ineffectual; deftroying, in a few minutes, almoft every houfe, and driving the inhabitants before it into the water, whilft one man, more unfortunate than the reft, perifhed in the flames. Scarcely any, even of their domeftic ani¬ mals, efcaped out of it. In fhort, a more complete de- ftruftion, from that mercilefs element, never befel any fet of men ; and, if a king’s fhip had not been defpatch- ed immediately from Halifax, with provifions to their relief, a famine mult have enfued, from which very few could have efcaped. On her arrival, fhe found them, without houfes, without money, and without even breacf 136 NEW SETTLEMENTS, fe&ly miferable. Since that time, Port Md- toon has had very few inhabitants, and ne¬ ver can become a fettlement of any ex¬ tent. Thofe perfons who fuffered by the conflagration havemoftly removed to Che- dabudto Bay, in the eaftermoft extremity of the province ; a fituation much better fuitcd to their deferts, and promifing fome confolation in the midft of their fufferings. Liverpool is a fmall,.but fafe and conve¬ nient harbour, capable of receiving veflels from 250 to 300 tons burthen, and is not more than three leagues eaft of Port Ma- toon. It has been feveral years fettled, and undergone confiderable improvements, and has a fmall river above the town, which runs a good way into the country. The veflels that belong to it are moftly employ¬ ed in fifliing, and carrying on a trade to Halifax, Shelburn, and fome other places, in cattle and provifions. The inhabitants, whofe fettlements extend far above the town, have had their numbers conflderably augmented, TOWNS, AND HARBOURS. 137 augmented, by Tome of the loyalifts from Port Matoon and other places, fo that their population is very little Ihort of 1200 of I all forts, who are in every refpedt an in- duftrious and thriving colony. Lunenburgh is a fine town, and refpec- table colony, founded by fome Germans in the year 1763. It is 70 miles N. E. from Shelburn, and 36 S. W. from Halifax, which place it fupplies with cord wood for feuel, having a great number of fmall vef- fels, employed in that and the cod fifheries: It alfo fends fome lumber to the Weft In¬ dies ; and no place in the peninfula, not- withftanding the unpromifing appearance of the lands, at their firft fettlement, is in fo profperous a way, excepting the two pla¬ ces above mentioned, lnduftry and per- feverance have rendered it highly flourilh- ing ; while the primitive fimplicity of their manners, which remain uncorrupted to the prefent time, have very much endeared them all to their neighbours. S The i3» NEW SETTLEMENTS, The lands about Lunenburgh are great¬ ly improved ; and their population, which wa& at firft about 3000 perfons, may be ef- timated at nearly three times that number at prefent. Le Have is a fettlement that ought to have been mentioned before Lunenburgh, It had a number of inhabitants upon its river, in detatched fituations, fome time be¬ fore the war, who have been greatly in- creafed, and whofe fettlements appear to be well adapted for carrying on a trade with the Briiifh Weft Indies, for fifti and lumber. Halifax, the capital of Nova Scotia, and feat of the legiflature, is in lat. 44 0 40’ N. long. 63° 30' W. from London, nearly in the center of the fouth fide of the penin- fula, 36 leagues N. E. of Shelburn, built upon the weft fide of a fafe and fpacious harbour, which is perfe&ly flickered from all winds, at the diftance of 12 miles from the TOWNS, AND HARBOURS. 139 the lea, and where a thoufand foil of {hips may ride without the leaft danger. Upon it there are built a great number of com¬ modious wharfs, which have from 12 to 18 feet water at all times of the tide, for the convenience of loading and unloading fhips. The ftreets of the town are regu¬ larly laid out, and crofs each other at right angles, the whole rifing gradually from the water upon the fide of a hill, whole top is regularly fortified, but not fo as to be able to withftand a regular attack. Many con- fiderable merchants reiide at this place, and are poflefled of {hipping to the amount of feveral thoufand tons, employed in a fiou- rifiiing trade both with Europe and the Weft Indies. It was founded by the Eng- lifh in 1754, and, notwithftanding the po¬ verty of the foil, has at length attained a degree of fplendor that bids fair to rival the firft cities in the revolted colonies ; for which it has been equally indebted to the late war, to the great increafe of popula¬ tion from the exiled loyalifts, and the fof- tering NEW SETTLEMENTS, 140 tering care of Great Britain; infomuch, that the number of inhabitants has been more than doubled during the laft ten • t years. There is a fmall but excellent careening yard for (hips of the royal navy, that are upon this ftation, or that may have occa- fion to come in to refit, and take water, feuel, or frefh provifions, on board, in their pafiage to and from the Weft Indies. It is always kept well provided with naval (lores ; and (hips of the line are hove down and repaired with the greateft eafe and fafety. Several batteries of heavy cannon command the harbour, particularly thofe that are placed upon George’s Ifland, which being very deep and high, and fitu- ated in mid-channel, a little w r ay below the town, is well calculated to annoy velfels in any direction, as they muftof neceffity pafs very near it, before they are capable of do¬ ing any mifchief. Above TOWNS, AND HARBOURS. 141 Above the careening yard, which is at the upper end of the town, there is a large bafon, or piece of water, communicating with the harbour below, near 20 miles in circumference, and capable of containing the whole navy of England, entirely fhel- tered from all winds, and having only one narrow entrance, which, as we obferved be¬ fore, leads into the harbour. There are a number of detached fettlements lately form¬ ed by the loyalifts upon the bafon ; the lands at a fmall diftance from the water being generally thought better than thofe near to Halifax ; but what fuccefs may at¬ tend their labours, will require lome time to determine. An elegant and conveni¬ ent building has been ere£led near the town, for the convalefcence of the navy ; but the healthinefs of the climate has as yet prevented many perfons from becoming patients, fcarcely any (hips in the world being fo free from complaints of every kind, in regard to health, as thofe that are employed upon this ftation. There is a very 142 NEW SETTLEMENTS, very fine light-houfe, ftanding upon a fmall ifland, juft off the entrance of the harbour, which is vifible, either by night or day, fix or feven leagues off at fea. < ' \* S t IJ ' *1 # 1 ) Eaft from Halifax, the coaft lies much the fame as before, and, in the extent of 50 leagues from thence to Cape Canfo, contains as many harbours, moft of which are very good, and at a fmall diftance from each other ; hardly any one, amidft fo great a number, is to be found wholly uninha¬ bited ; but there are few of the fettlements upon them as yet formed into towns, or that poffefs much fhipping : The popula¬ tion is generally from 50 to 100 families, moft of whom are fuccefsfully employed in the cultivation of their lands; hence a par¬ ticular defcription or enumeration of them becomes unneceffary, except our obferva- tions were extended to matters in which navigators alone are concerned. Cape TOWNS, AND HARBOURS. 143 Cape Canfo is the eaftermoft extremity of the province. The ground about it is much broken, and greatly in want of a light-houfe, as there is a fmall but navi¬ gable ftraight of fome length, which fepa- rates Nova Scotia from the ifland of Cape Breton, communicating immediately with the gulph and river of St Laurence, there¬ by tending to facilitate the commerce be¬ tween all parts of the remaining colonies. It is near this place that the loyalifts have built a town, and formed a confiderable fettlement, at the bottom of Chedabu&o Bay, and at a fmall diftance from Cape Canfo, which is feemingly well chofen to become a place of fome confequence, being equally adapted for carrying on the cod and falmcn fisheries upon an enlarged fcale, as the misfortune which happened to the refugees at Port Matoon has added confi- derably to their population. The woods thereabouts are equally good, and as well fitted for carrying on a trade in 144 NEW SETTLEMENTS, in lumber as any part of America. The lands having been formerly poflefled, at leaft fome diftri&s, by the unhappy French Neutrals, were in a high ftate of cultivation, of which very few tokens remain at pre- fent. From Chedabu&o Bay, the coaft runs away to the north-weft nearly, to¬ wards the mouth of the river St Laurence, where the land becomes very high and mountainous, but it is not entirely deftitute of harbours, that were formerly inhabited by the French, and, though almoft entire¬ ly deferted prior to the late war, are now partaking of that increafing population, which is obfervable in all other pans. Fine tradts of land, equal in goodnefs to molt parts in the northern ftates, extend almoft the whole way, from the gut of Canfo, to the entrance of the river St Laurence, and their woods are ftill entire, and feem al¬ moft inexhauftible. Soon after palling the Straights of Canfo, the illand of St John becomes vifible, and may be feen from No¬ va Scotia It has two or three good har¬ bours, TOWNS, AND HARBOURS. 145 hours, and one large town, befides feveral fmaller ones. Its population amounts to near 5000 perl'ons of all forts, molt of whom have fettled there fince the com¬ mencement of the war. Large tra&s of woods have been cut down> and a part of them already exported to the Britifh Well Indies. The lands in general are not fo high above the level of the fea as thofe of the neighbouring provinces, but are ac¬ counted fertile in grain, and afford very good paflure for liorfes and horned cattle. T TRADE TRADE AND NAVIGATION! T a time when all the nations of the T*- earth feem to vie with each other in extending their commerce, increafing the manufactures carried on by their refpeCtive inhabitants, or inventing new ones; when the monarchs of Europe, attempting to difguife their ambitious and fanguinary views upon each other’s dominions, affeft the fame purfuits, and, pretending to for¬ get the animofities which have agitated their kingdoms againft each other for ma¬ ny ages, appear only defirous of contribu¬ ting u TRADE AND NAVIGATION. 147 ting to the eafe and happinefs of the peo¬ ples over whom Providence has permitted them to become the fovereigns ; when a portion of the Britifh empire upon the con¬ tinent of the New World has been vio¬ lently rent afunder from the crown of thefe kingdoms, the inhabitants of which, for¬ getting, in the triumph of independence, and amidft the exultation natural to people in the infancy of empire, the hand that protected and railed them to maturity, have fludioufly endeavoured to throw whatever can be confidered as of weight or impor¬ tance, in refpe£t to themfelves, into the hands of a powerful and rival neighbour, and, not fatisfied with this, are difcontent- cd at being denied the privilege of beco¬ ming the carriers of the produce of her re¬ maining iflands and colonies : It will fure- ly be for her intereft to avoid entering in¬ to any meafures that can tend to leflen her manufadlures, commerce, or marine, as it is upon the perfervation of thefe alone that the Britifh kingdoms can depend for hap- cin els A 148 trade and navigation. pinefs and fecurity at home, and peace and refpedt from abroad. To trace the firft rife, and the fubfequent progrefs of the manufactures, commerce, and revenues of England, to any diftant period, would be foreign to our purpofe; it will be fuflicient to obferve, that, in pro¬ portion as thefe have flourifhed, from the time of Queen Elifabeth to the prefent day, the naval power of the kingdom has increafed with it, fo as at length to prefent to the world a fpedtacle of opulence and grandeur, which unfortunately, whillt it gave umbrage to the pride, excited the re- l'entment of all the powers of Europe, and frequently hurried them on to attempt the deftruclion of a marine, which appeared from time to time upon the ocean, almoft too formidable to be refilled. Baffled in this favourite plan, aftonifhed at the inexhauf- tible refources with which her almoft bound- ids commerce lupplied the exigencies of \ var , and awed by that unbroken* fpirit, fo vifible TRADE AND NAVIGATION. 149 vifible in the refiftance, and the vidories of her fleets and armies, the world beheld a Angular phaenomenon, unequalled in the page of hiftory ! a nation diflraded with inteftine fadions, and opprefied with a load of debt, which threatened the annihilation of her exiftence ; opposing, in every quar¬ ter of the globe, the hoftile attacks of more than half of Europe ; and, amidft the un¬ equal conteft, fecurely proteding her trade, conveying in fafety the immenfe property of her merchants to the moft diftant re¬ gions, and increafing her manufadures, commerce, and revenues, while that of her enemies w r as languilhing and decreafing daily. The advantages poflefled by Great Bri¬ tain, both as to her local fituation, climate, and genius of the inhabitants, w^ere better underftood, and fooner profited by, than perhaps any other nation ; and, while the events alluded to above are ftill recent, let it not be forgotten to what they were chief- ] y 150 TRADE AND NAVIGATION. Jy owing ; and, if the recollection of fuch excites pleafing reflections, it can never be too often repeated, that thofe laws, and the principles of them, which have raifed thefe iflands to their prefent greatnefs, will, with¬ out doubt, if once relaxed, have a contra¬ ry elfeCt, and plunge us into the very depth of wretchednefs and mifery; fince a de- creafe of (hipping muft of neceflity be at¬ tended with a proportional lofs of revenue, of feamen, and of national confidence, which, in the prefent ftate of things, is the chief bulwark of the kingdom. That memorable law, the aCt of naviga¬ tion, was probably framed at firft with a mixture of juft refentment, as well as of invidious partiality, the latter of which, far from making againft it, is a ftrong ar¬ gument in its favour. The Dutch were no doubt kept in fight when it was enaCted ; they were become in a manner the carriers of all the trade of Europe ; fince that time their navy has been conftantly upon the decline, TRADE AND NAVIGATION. 151 decline, for want of a fimilar law, though its exceflive weaknefs was not apparent un¬ til the late war difcovered it. That of Britain has rifen in proportion, and has not yet, perhaps, attained to its meridian glory. If, then, the fimple requifitions of that law, enjoining all our national Shipping to be Britifh built, and to be manned with at lead two thirds of feamen born in the do¬ minions of England, have produced fuch mighty effects, what could equal the folly of giving them up ? Confidered in this view, the propriety and juftnefs of which is inconteftible, it is not feamen only, nor yet the revenue in addition to it, that would be the only lofs fuftained *. If fhip-build- ing is, indeed, a manufacture, it fhould re¬ ceive * The new navigation a£t paffed laft fefiion of par¬ liament, is the belt law that ever was enafted, to pre- ferve and increafe the power of thefe kingdoms; but much of its effects will depend upon the manner in Which it is executed. 152 TRADE AND NAVIGATION. ceivc every encouragement from a com* mercial ftate ; but, if the fale of American veflels be permitted, and they are allowed to become Britifh bottoms, upon being transferred into the hands of Britifh mer¬ chants, is it not plain, that the building of fhips in America muft be greatly extended, and, confequently, by drawing many of our fhip-wrights thither, deprive this coun¬ try of a moft ufeful body of men, in the hour of public exigence. Without, there¬ fore, entering into a comparative view of the fuperior goodnefs of fhips built in Eu¬ rope to thofe of America, as it is obvious to all the world, and particularly noticed by feamen, it will fuffice to obferve, that the colonies remaining to Great Britain are fully adequate to the building a far greater number of velfels, than ever can be wanted for the carrying trade,between the Continent of America and the Weft In¬ dies ; that they have within themfelves the means of fupplying every article wanted by the ^ritifh iflands from thence, as well lumber TRADE AND NAVIGATION. 15 5 lumber and fifh, as corn, flour, live flock, and other provifions ; and, confequently, that, inftead of throwing any part of our carrying trade into the hands of foreigners, the advantages of it may he made to cen¬ ter in the King’s dominions, to the bene¬ fit of individuals, and the general good of the ftate. The view that has been exhibited alrea¬ dy of only a part of the territories remain-* ing to us upon that continent confidered under their feveral heads, may ferve, as they are really intended, to illuftrate and confirm the truth of thefe aflertions. Long unknown, and generally difefteemed, the whole was regarded as a defart almoft un¬ fit for habitation, or the refidence of the human fpecies. We affected to defpife a country, wdth whofe worth we were unac¬ quainted, and refted fatisfied in an unpar¬ donable degree of ignorance. Canada was equally negle&ed, though poflefled of a luxuriant foil, a territory almoft unbound- U ed, 154 TRADE AND NAVIGATION. ed, the nobleft woods, rivers without num* ber, and lakes equal to the Teas of Europe in extent, and probably in ufefulnefs ; it was confidered with a gloomy fatisfadion that bordered on malevolence. The folly and the misfortunes of the French nation loft them the pofleflion of a province, to the importance of which they had been, until that moment, ftrangers. The ifiands of Cape Breton and New¬ foundland, though in conjundion with Nova Scotia, are the key of the fifheries, were as much difregarded as Canada it- felf. The firft was entirely deferted im¬ mediately after the deftrudion of Louif- burgh, the capital, and no attempts were made to people the latter; fo that both re¬ mained a prey to the firft invader. If, then, fuch ample pofteflions are left to Britain, it will be true wildom to improve and en¬ courage them, efpecially as the war itfelf, however deftrudive in other refpeds, has added fo greatly to their population ; many citizens, TRADE AND NAVIGATION. 155 citizens, independent of thofe upon whom fentence of banifhment has been pafled by their countrymen, having come voluntarily to refide upon the lands guaranteed to them by a conftitution, that is equally free from the defpotifm of Kings, and the abufes of a democracy. In the produce cf the province, it will be feen how far fhe is able, as well as Ca¬ nada,'to carry on a trade with Great Bri¬ tain and the Weft Indies. The great quantities of whale oil con- fumed by many manufactures, in every part of Europe as well as in England* make it of the higheft importance to this nation to beftow upon it every encourage¬ ment, both in her European dominions, and in the remaining colonies, the inhabitants of which are poffefled of fufficient capital, and of that enterprifing fpirit neceffary for arduous undertakings. They have, among other advantages, a larger proportion of feamer? 156 TRADE AND NAVIGATION. feamen than any one of the States, except Maflachufet’s Bay, over whom their (hip¬ ping muft foon become fuperior, if the pre- fent laws relative to this article and the adt of navigation are continued in force. They operate as a prohibition upon foreign train oil ; and have this further to recommend them, that no branch of our trade breeds hardier or better feamen than the (hips em¬ ployed in the whale filhery. Several towns are already engaged in this bufinefs, parti¬ cularly Halifax, Port Rofeway, and at St John’s River ; which, with thofe of Cana¬ da, will foon put an end to that of Nantuc¬ ket, as no market can be found equal to that of Great Britain, either as to the price of the commodity, or the great bounties given by the Englifh parliament. The Dutch take a great quantity off our hands, a large part of which goes to France; and, when the moft of this trade was in the hands of the New Englanders and Nantuc¬ ket men, their annual returns were little fhort TRADE AND NAVIGATION. 157 ihort of L. 150,000 for feveral years be¬ fore the war. Canada, particularly the lower parts, or thofe neareft the fea, afford confiderable quantities of oil, that may be greatly increafed from their enlarged popu¬ lation, as the gulph and river of St Lau¬ rence, and the adjacent Teas, abound with feals and white porpoifes ; their oil is al¬ ready obtained in large quantities, and is generally of a better quality than that of the whale. Cod Fishery. The remaining colonies and iflands have an evident advantage over every other people in this branch, being much nearer, by feveral days fail, to the banks, than thefifhermen of New England, and can at all times dry their fifh on fhore, a privilege which, though granted to the Americans, by the third article of the pro- vifional treaty ; yet, as that article mentions only uninhabited bays and harbours, and very few can be found in that ftate, they have i$8 TRADE AND NAVIGATION. have not attempted to avail themfelves of this advantage. Too much encouragement can never be bellowed upon the cod filhery by Great Britain, as, next to the coal and coafting trade, Ihe receives from it the belt and moft ufeful body of her feamen, and who are fcarcely to be equalled, and cannot be exceeded, by any in the world. It may, in every fenfe, be confidered as a fpecies of manufacture, which, independent of the feamen it raifes for our marine, employs a great number of perfons in Ihip-building, and in curing the filh onlhore, thereby ad¬ ding to the population, and, confequeatly, to the real riches of the Rate. Before the late war, fcarcely 500 men were employ¬ ed in the fifhery of this province; but, fince the emigration from the other provinces, their number is increafed in the various Rages of it to little fhort of 10,000, a fure proof of the height to which the cod fithe- ry may be carried, and the fair profpeft there TRADE AND NAVIGATION. 159 / there is of their increasing population becoming the means of their fuccefsfully rivalling, and even underfelling, other na¬ tions in foreign markets. Whilft the co¬ lonies that are now the United States were confidered as Britilli, it was common for them to purchafe from Newfoundland and Nova Scotia large quantities of fiffi, caught and cured by thofe provinces, for which they generally gave in exchange rum that had been manufactured in Bof- ton, and other places upon the continent, from melaffes, the growth of the French Weft India iflands. This fpirit was of the very worft quality, either from its wanting age, or from the unfkilfulnefs of the diftil- lers; fo that a double advantage accrued to the carriers of this traffic, which has now entirely fallen to the ground ; for the fiffi thus procured afforded them a full cargo there, and was again exchanged with the French for melaffes, very little of it being made into rum by that people, that it might 160 TRADE AND NAVIGATION. might not interfere with their brandies in Europe. As the fiflhery can now be carried on with evident advantage, it will commonly be in dried cod, the annual confumption of which in our Weft India iflands is not lefs than 140,000 quintals ; fo that, in propor¬ tion as the a93 countries. 1 his ifland has two excellent harbours, one on each fide of it, where towns have been built, and fome foreign trade is carried on. The fea abounds with li(h every where round the ifland, and its fituation fecures to the inhabitants the means of procuring them, in every kind of weather, during the whole year. About 30 miles north-caft from St John’s, lie the Magdalen JJlcs , famous in Canada for the fifhery carried on there for feals, and the manati, or fea-cow, and which might be extended to any length. They are wholly barren and rocky, but af¬ ford good fhelter to fmall fifhing veflels ; but will never become capable of being in¬ habited. Chalem Bay , at the eaft end of the land which forms the entrance into the River St Laurence on the fouth fdc, was once a famous fettlement, when the French were in poflejTion of Canada, and carried B b on i 9 4 AN ACCOUNT on a confiderablefifhery, but has fince been deferted, and is now only reforted to occa- iionally. It is an excellent ftation, and af¬ fords fhelter to fhips of the largeft fize, a- gainft the north-weft wind, which prevails here nine months in the year. % Miramichi Bay, and the Bay of Verte, or Green Bay, both lie upon the fame ccaft, and are beginning to affume the form of fettlements, being famous for their falmon- fifhery, efpecially the former, the fhcres of which abound with excellent wood. The mouth of the great river St Lau¬ rence, where it falls into the gulph of that name, between latitudes 49° and 51° north, is near 100 miles wide, but has a large iOand lying in the middle, called Anticojii, 120 miles in length from call: to weft, and 30 in breadth, the fhores of which are rocky and defolate,'affording no ilieiter but to birds and beads, and have therefore ne¬ ver been fettled. From OF CANADA, &c. 1 95 From hence, to the capital of the pro¬ vince, it is 360 miles ; the liver gradually contracting itfeif to 12 miles in breadth, and patting by many iHands till it reaches that of Orleans, within a few leagues of Quebec, and, there dividing itfeif into two channels, is never afterwards leen more than two miles wide, and fomedmes much lefs, until it reaches Lake Ontario, which gives birth to it, 600 miles from the 0- cean. The whole of the vaft province of Cana¬ da ought to be viewed, as forming two grand divilions, diftinguilhed by the names of Upper and Lower Canada. The latter contains all that tract of country which reaches from the ftraights of BelieiHe and the coaft of Labrador, on the north fide of the gulf, and aifo the lands on the fouth fide of the river to 1 hree Sifters, about 30 miles above Quebec, being near 400 miles in length upon the river, and varying in its breadth according to the nature of the foil, 196 AN ACCOUNT foil, which is its diftinguifliing chara&erif- tic. All this tradt, though covered with good wood, has but few rivers that are navi¬ gable, and flill fewer harbours. Its fhores are fteep and rocky, in many places high and mountainous, and often interfered with deep creeks, or impaflable fwamps, overgrown with forefts of fpruce and pine. The climate is fubject to frequent fogs, which arife from the neighbouring gulf and river, and not onlv diminilh the fun’s influence, but incrcafe the dampnefs and cold to a very great degree. In confequence of thefe difagreeable cir- cumftances, vve find very few inhabitants * in * In exploring the fouth fide of the river, the au¬ thor faw fcarcely any until near the ifiands called the Pilgrims, 30 leagues below Quebec, where there is a fmall village. , ‘ OF CANADA, &c. I 97 in the Lower Canada, for near 300 miles above Cape Rofier, at the entrance of the river. At fome diftance below the ifle of Orleans, the country becomes more culti¬ vated on both fides ; and the mountains gradually retiring from the river, not only improve the profpeft, but give more room for the exertions of human induftry, on the extenfive plain that reaches from the capi¬ tal to Lake Champlain. / The fecond divifion comprehends a fpace as large as the whole kingdom of France, every where well watered with deep and noble rivers, and bordering on the different lakes, whofe extent and dernenfions are a- ftonifhing, and whofe woods, foil, and cli¬ mate, may vie with the moft favoured of the United States. Yet, of all thefe vaft regions, no part is peopled, except upon the banks of the rivers St Laurence, Riche¬ lieu, and thofe fmaller ones that fall into them, as far as Lake Ontario, which gives rife i 9 8 AN ACCOUNT rife to the former, and to Lake Cham¬ plain, which is the parent of the latter. In this divifion, as the great river winds away to the fouthward, the eye begins to lofe fight- of thofe towering mountains that take their rife at its entrance. The Lady Mountains on the fouth fide, becoming lefs elevated, retire deep into the country, be¬ tween the Bay of Fundy and this river, and there give rife to St John’s River, which runs about ioo miles fouth, and then fails into the former nearly oppofite to Anna¬ polis Royal. Thofe on the north fide form an impe¬ netrable barrier to the capacious bed of waters beneath ; and, as they advance to¬ ward Quebec, begin to retire to the north- weftward, in ranges piled above each other to the clouds, quite to Hudfon’s Bay, and the polar regions. There OF CANADA, &c. 199 There are few towns in Canada ; but the banks of the river prefent an uninter¬ rupted proipect of one unbroken chain of villages and churches, for near 400 miles. The Ijle of Orleans , which lies a little below Quebec, is the firff place de- feiving mention, for the excellent wheat it produces, and the happy Hate of the pea- fants, of whom there are feveral parilhes. It is 20 miles long, and 7 broad, and has oppofite to it, on the north fide, the fa¬ mous falls of Montmorenci, where Gene¬ ral Wolfe firft attempted to land his army, but was repulfed. Their noife is diftindfcly heard at Quebec, though nine miles diflant. Quebec, the capital of Canada, and once the glory of the French empire in Ameri¬ ca, from its elevated fituation, is diftinflly feen, at a coniiderable diftance, on the ri¬ ver. It is built on a point of land, formed by the St Laurence on one fide, and a fmall river, called St Charles, on the other ; while a ftrong wall, mounted with heavy cannon. 200 AN ACCOUNT cannon, reaches quite from fide to fide, and fecures it from infult to the weftward, though entirely deftitute of outworks. The form of the town is that of an irre¬ gular triangle, the longeft fide being next to the large river. It is compofed of an upper and lower town ; the latter running irregularly the whole way round the beech, and becoming wider or narrower alternate¬ ly, as the craggy rocks on which the up¬ per town ftands will allow for building. The city itfelf ftands, in fome places, 200 feet high above the water, and is inaccef- fible to an enemy on two of its three Tides. It is ftrongly built, and has a number of batteries every way to command the ri¬ ver, and the lower town, which it can burn at pleafure, if poflefled by an e- nemy. 1 1 On the higheft part of the upper town, called Cape Diamond, ftands the Cajlle of St Louis , which is (officially) the Gover- nour’s OF CANADA, &c. 201 nour’s refidence. It is impregnable on the fide next the river, and terminates the l'outh end of the land fortifications. The city contains feveral churches, which have nothing in them remarkable, and two con¬ vents ; feveral friars of two diftindt orders, a ftill greater number of priefts, and two or three Jefuits, ’who are fuccefsfully em¬ ployed in the education of youth. The ftreets, in general, are regular,and contain, with the fuburbs, about 3000 houfes, which are ftrongly built with lime and Hone; and are from three to five ftories in height, but totally devoid of that fymmetry and con¬ venience which diftinguifh the new build¬ ings of London and Edinburgh. The inhabitants are humane and polite ; and, fince their acquaintance with the Bri- tifh nation, many of whom make a refpec- table figure there, and have adopted a con- fiderable portion of their manners and mode of thinking. C c The so2 AN ACCOUNT * The bafon of Quebec is very extenfive, and capable of containing 500 fail of the largeft fhips. The tides are fometimes ve¬ ry rapid, and flow thirty miles above the town, where the water is frefli, but apt to jaffedt the health of ftrangers. Leaving Quebec, and proceeding up the river about two miles fouth-weft, we fee the fteep afcent, and that narrow path, which leads to the plains of Abram, at the back of the city, wrhere the great battle was fought w'hich decided its fate, and where the immortal Wolfe breathed his laft, after overcoming every obftacle of art and nature, to enfure victory to his coun¬ try, and a never-fading glory to himfelf. The tide flows thirty miles above this place, to Point au Tremble, where it is in fome degree flopped by a bed of rocks, that are vifible at half ebb, and extend above half wav.acrofs the river, which caufe ma¬ ny dangerous eddies, and the tide to run with with extreme rapidity. The banks of the river from hence are no longer fteep and craggy, but open on every fide into a beau¬ tiful champain country, whofe woods, as we advance, become more lofty, and are e- very wmere interfered with villages and churches. Tr ois Rivieres, or Three Rivers , is the third town of any note in Canada, and Hands upon the north lide of the River St Laurence, a little way below, where it com¬ municates with Lake St Peter. It contains 6 or 700 houfes, and feveral churches, to¬ gether with fome Englilh families. A fmall trade for furs is carried on here with thofe Indians who inhabit between Quebec and Montreal. Lake St Peter begins three miles above, the town of Three Rivers, in a flat low 1 ' country, abounding with excellent timber, and extends 30 miles fouth-eafl, and is a- bout 22 in breadth, receiving the waters of feveral 204 AN ACCOUNT feveral finall rivers, Tome of which are na¬ vigable to a confiderable diftance. The Ri- ■ ver St Laurence pafles through the midft of the lake, which is the only part navi¬ gable for large veflels in their w r ay to and from Montreal, and is divided into feve¬ ral channels, where it enters the lake, form¬ ing a number of beautiful iflands, which, as well as the neighbouring continent, are covered with lofty woods, fit for fhip- building, and every other commercial pur- pofe. From hence it is 45 miles to Montreal , the fecond town of Canada, in point of trade and eminence, feated in a fertile plain, upon an ifland formed by the River St Laurence, and every where furrounded by a beautiful and well watered country, whol¬ ly unincumbered with rocks or mountains, producing excellent fruits, and large crops of wheat, of which they have exported an immenfe quantity to the Weft Indies, and the fouthern ftates of Europe, this year. Every OF CANADA, &c. 205 Every where between Lake St Peter and Montreal, the country is compofed of fine plains, which are but little cultivated, ex¬ cept immediately near the fhoresand banks of the river. The reft of the lands are co¬ vered with woods, the nobleft that imagi- 0 , nation can conceive, and altogether of the moft ufeful kinds, of which they have fent off confiderable quantities as lumber, and for building. Montreal is a handfome well built city, about two thirds of the fize of Quebec, a- bounding with all the conveniencies of life, and exceedingly well fituated for car¬ rying on a general trade with the Indian nations that inhabit the countries to the weftvvard *. Its citizens, among whom are many Britifh families, are diftinguifhed for their humanity and politenefs, and that phi- * Montreal has fent home this year, 1786, the great- eft quantity of furs that have been imported into Eng¬ land from thence ftnce the Americans took it in 1776. *o6 AN ACCOUNT philanthropy which leaches us to confider the whole human race, however marked by particular fefts or profeffions, as the children of one common parent. The ci¬ ty contains feveral churches and monaf- tries, and, together with the whole pro¬ vince, makes profeffion of the Roman Ca¬ tholic faith. In no part of the world have the people of that perfuafion agreed better with the Proteftants than here. The num¬ bers of all the Canadians, taken colledtive- ly, may probably exceed 300,000; and their general chara&eriltic is induftry and humanity, in which the clergy frequently fet the mod laudable examples. The River St Laurence is navigable no further for fhips of burthen than to Mon¬ treal, above which it becomes rocky, and difficult to proceed upon, having a rapid current continually running to the eaft- ward from Lake Ontario, 160 miles diftant from Montreal, and is there called the Iro¬ quois River, after the Indian nations of that I OF CANADA, &c. 207 that name, who are the moft powerful of all the favage tribes in North America, and pofiefs, by right of conqueft, all the terri¬ tories upon the lakes, as well as upon the frontiers of Canada. Lake Ontario is of confiderable extent ; but, lying far to the northward, cannot be confidered as anobjed of any importance to the United States at prefent, though it is fo, in fome degree, ito Canada, on account of its fur trade. At its northeaft extremity, it has Fort Frontenac, on the fouth fide Fort Ofwego, and at the fouthweft end Fort Niagara, near the famous falls of that name, and one of the principal frontier places of Ca¬ nada. Beyond Montreal, on the weft, the country is but thinly peopled, and the ha¬ bitations of civilized life become fcarce, in proportion as we advance toward the lakes, and 208 ANACCOUNT and the country of the Indians. The cli¬ mate and foil are, however, equal to thofe which the moil favoured provinces on the fea-coaft enjoy, and the productions of the former are equal in every refped to thofe of the latter. The lands are very much elevated in the neighbourhood of the lakes, which likewife lie at a great height above the level of the fea, and accounts for the feverity of the winter, efpecially when aid¬ ed by the humidity of the foil, which is in every diredion covered with the moil ve¬ nerable and magnificent woods. In feveral places, in the vicinity of the lakes, are found fait water creeks, probably impreg¬ nated by the veins of rock-falt, fometimes found in the bowels of the earth, that would afford a never failing fupply to this country, if in a ftate of civilization, which it will take a confiderable time to effed, as the emigration, now become prevalent in feveral of the United States, does not, in many inftances, extend to the frontiers of Canada, along which the Indian hunting lands OF CANADA, &c. 209 lands ftretch themfelves in almoft every di¬ rection ; and the jealoufy of their owners makes them eager to embrace every oppor¬ tunity of deftroying thofe infant Fettle— ments. It may be neceftary to obferve, that So- rel cr Richlieu River joins the St Law¬ rence 60 miles below its own fource, which is in Lake Champlain, 45 miles below Montreal, and nine miles above Lake St Peter, of which mention has been already made. At the junction of the two rivers, on a Tandy point of land, which commands the pafl'age both up and down the St Law¬ rence, ftands the village of Sorel, in a heal¬ thy and pleafant fituation. Afcending a- gainft the ftream, which is almoft every where rapid, and intermixed with rocks in many places, about 25 miles from Sorel, we come to a pretty confiderable town, called St Denis, which carries on fome trade with the Indians, and is fituated in a fertile D d country. 210 AN ACCOUNT country, having a number of villages near it, on both Tides of the river, which runs in two diftindt channels, with a dangerous and rapid current that is almoft impalp¬ able. Above this town, the country is well peopled on both Tides the river, and Teems to extend on all hands into a vaft plain, without hills or mountains, except that of Chambli, nine miles below the bafon, which bears its name ; at the foot of which moun¬ tain the llream of the river is deep, rapid, and very narrow. Forty-nine miles from Sorel, and 36 miles from Montreal, Hands the little fort of Chambli, one of the frontier fortrefles of Canada, commanding the head or bafon of Sorel River, about 10 miles from where it rifes in Lake Champlain, and from whence it runs with inconceivable rapidi¬ ty, until it walhes the walls of the fort, and Ill OF CANADA, Sec. <»nd immediately falls into the bafon above mentioned *. It is now, by the provifion- al treaty, included within the territories of the United States, the boundary line run¬ ning immediately below it, but is Rill in the polfeflion of Great Britain. Above thefe rapids, on the borders of Lake Champlain, and near its end, is the Fort of St John, which was taken by the American army in 1776, after a fiege of forty days. It is now repaired, is in the hands cf a Britifh garrifon, and ferves as the Ration and dock-yard for the King’s {hips upon the lake, which, with the gun¬ boats * Until an invading army has taken this fort, or Montreal, they cannot attack, with a profpecl of fuc- cefs, the interior parts of the country, as they muft o- thenvife make a great circuit about, in a diftrift every where interfered with creeks and fwamps, through which it is almoft impoflible to march, even with light troops. 212 AN ACCOUNT boats and gallies, contributed to gain that memorable victory over the American fleet, which eftablilhed the dominion of Great Britain in Canada, and fecured the in¬ ternal happinefs of the province ever fince. Lake Champlain is a ftrong natural for¬ tification to Canada, extending eighty miles in length from north to fouth, and 30 in breadth from eaft to weft ; and, with the fmaller lakes that communicate with it on the fouth, forms a barrier againft New York, and, in fome meafure, againft the New England ftates, thereby drawing a line between them and Canada, over which it is not for the intereft of Great Britain to trefpafs. The country is beautiful and fer¬ tile ; and the peaceable pefieffion of it fe¬ cured to the loyalifts and emigrants, now beginning to fettle there, by the neighbour¬ hood of the fleet upon the lake, which is fufficiently powerful to check any ralh en- terprife OF CANADA, &c. 213 terprife that may be undertaken by the fubje&s of the States, Crown Point and 1 ’iconderago , though once of Great importance, when England and France difputed for the empire of A- merica, are no longer of that confequence they formerly were, as the fuperiority of the fleet of either of the nations upon the lake muft ultimately decide the fate of all its dependencies, and of which thofe two forts are a part. The former of thefe commands the entrance into Lake Cham¬ plain from the fouth, and the other may be confidered as capable of anfvvering a fi- milar purpofe. The larger lakes lie confiderably to the northward and weftward of the laft men¬ tioned diftri&s, and being more remote from the old colonies, are lefs liable to be¬ come the immediate fource of litigation. Some of them are of very great extent, particularly Lake Superior, which is 350 miles 2 X 4 AN ACCOUNT miles long from eaft to weft, and 160 in breadth from north to fouth, but is feldom vifited by any but the wandering nations of Indians, and fometimes by the traders, who go, for the fake of commerce, to a confiderable durance into the country, and purchafe furs in exchange for the manu¬ factures of Great Britain, which are after¬ wards (hipped off for this country from Montreal and Quebec. In all this widely extended region, there are no places poffeffed by England worth naming, except Detroit, a lort fituated 2co miles weft of the Falls of Niagara, and near to the place where the waters of Lake. Huron fall into Lake Erie. This fort is become an objeCt of jealoufy and terror to the middle provinces, parti¬ cularly Penfylvania, whofe ancient boun¬ dary line included the eaft end of Lake E- rie, and extended north, almoft to the Falls OF CANADA, &c. Falls of Niagara, although it is evident that Great Britain is juftified in retaining all the ports in that quarter, except fhe wifhes to give up more than one-half of the In¬ dian trade, to recompenfe the gratitude of the United States, and reward their huma¬ nity to the banirtied loyalills * ! * This term having been fo often ufed in the fore¬ going pages, it is hoped the world will not impute its frequent application to arife from a want of diferimi- nation between fuch as do, and fuch as do not defervo it, nor yet with any defign to ferve a party, fince no o- ther motive has ever predominated, in mentioning them, but thofe of humanity, arifing in the breaft of one who has been a fpedtator, and not a iharer, of their fufferings. Ii6 AN ACCOUNT Thus, in this fhort and imperfect fketch, have we traced with impartiality the out¬ lines of that country which Providence has permitted to remain under the imperial crown of Great Britain, on the vaft Conti¬ nent of America. That it is of impor¬ tance to her, cannot be doubted, while fhe ranks in the fcale of maritime nations, and poflefles colonies and iflands in the Weft Indies, from whence a large portion of her revenue is continually drawn, and whofe commerce employs no inconfiderable num¬ ber of her manufacturers, her fhipwrights, and her feamen. And, though the idea of diftant colonization, as contributing to na¬ tional ftrength, or of extenfive dominion, as conducive to national glory, are equally exploded, OF CANADA, &c. 217 exploded, and have proved a fource of misfortune to this country, yet it is neither wife nor neceftary that (he fhould aban¬ don her remaining colonies on the conti¬ nent, except it fhould alfo appear to be for her intereft to give up the fifheries, the Weft India iflands, her Eaft India poflcf- fions, and, eventually, her formidable na¬ vy. But, when other maritime nations have put in pradlice fuch leflbns, it will then be time enough for Britain to learn them. • % In the prefent fituation of things, her unfortunate faithful fubje&s in America call aloud on her humanity, and claim that grateful attention, which is equally due to their attachment and their fufferings. While this is beftowed, there are objedts at home which cannot be negledted, without diminiftiing the national grandeur, and ultimately affedting the happinefs of indi¬ viduals, It is the intereft of our country to attend to the following things. E e EVry?, 2lS AN ACCOUNT FirJJy To give every poflible encourage¬ ment to agriculture, manufactures, and commerce, as tending to increafe popula¬ tion, which wife men, in every agej have pronounced to be the real riches of a ftate. Secondly , To pay attention to thofe parts of the united kingdom, particularly in the north, that have been fo long neglected, from an illiberal policy, national prejudice, or the difadvantages of their local fituation ; to give life to agriculture * and manufactures, by * A more partial or abfurd tax was never laid than that upon coals in Scotland. All that are fent beyond a certain diftance from the collieries pay a heavy duty, while thofe that are confumed near at hand pay nothing. This accounts, in a great de¬ gree, for the prefent unimproved ftate of moft of the lands in the northern parts of that kingdom, which have abundance of limeftone to manure * them, OF CANADA, &c. 219 by freeing them of all unneceffdry re- flraints j to extend the home fifheries, which are capable of being carried to four times their prefent fcale, without ever in¬ terfering with thofe of Newfoundland, and equally affording a race of flout and hardy feamen for the royal navy, as well as pre¬ venting thofe emigrations to America, which, in every point of view, mufl be de¬ trimental to this nation. Thirdly , To enforce the navigation-laws in their utmofl extent; which will operate equally to increafe the fhipping, feamen, wealth, and power of the nation j give life them, but, at the fame time, have duty, freight, and fea-hazard, all operating upon them, in pro¬ portion to their diftance from the diftricls that a- bound with coals. To awaken a general fpirit of improvement, the tax fhould be reverfed. It ftiould be laid on at the collieries, and either paid on all the coals indifcriminately, or thofe at a certain diftance fhould be entirely exempted. 220 AN ACCOUNT life and vigour to every exertion of the re¬ maining colonies, and enable them, in a few years, rather to aflift, than become a burthen, to the mother country. Fourthly, To di(courage, by every pof- fible means, that fatal propenfity to emi¬ gration, which has been attended with l'uch fatal confequences to the empire for¬ merly. Fifthly , To preferve in America what¬ ever we now hand pofiefied of, and to. a- void altercations and unneceflary cavils with the United States ; but, at the fame time, prevent them from becoming car¬ riers to the Britifh iflands, and our re¬ maining colonies on the continent, which fhould be in our own hands, and thofe of our fubjedts in America. LojUy , To fupport the civil effablifh- ments in Nova Scotia in their prefent form, the wifdom of which is manifeft, bv 4 OF CANADA, &c. 221 by a divifion of the province, in fuch a way as Nature herfelf has pointed out, to be perfectly adapted to the eafe and fecu- rity of the inhabitants. The government of Canada has, indeed, in its prefent form, been frequently the fubjed of animadver- fion, as being a fyftem utterly incompa¬ tible with the liberty or profperity of in¬ dividuals. But, whilft Providence fhall continue to blefs the empire with a Sove¬ reign, whofe happinefs is founded on that of his fubjeds, no part of them will be wanting in affedion to his perfon, nor have caufe to be diffatisfied with the mode of his government. FINIS. ERRATA. Page 193. line 18. for Chalem read Chaleur 201. 20. dele and 207. 20. for fcarce read (career 208. 9. read; and this accounts \ ■ : ■ vi 4 / a o,. * o - tO J: . 1 • c .. . z: ; : lU?f A : • • * - i * * 4 ,