assist each other. Feasts are very common among them, particularly when the inhabitants of one island are visited by those of another. They are represented as cold and indifferent in most of their actions; but easily depressed by affliction, and much addicted to suicide, putting an end to their days with great apparent insensibility.

BRITISH AMERICA.

THE British possessions in North-America are divided into four provinces, viz. 1. Upper Canada; 2. Lower Canada; 3. New-Brunswick; 4. Nova-Scotia. Besides these provinces, the islands of Newfoundland, St. John's, Cape Breton, and several smaller ones in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, belonging to the British dominions.

British America is superintended by an officer, styled Governor General of the four British provinces in NorthAmerica, who is commander in chief of all the British troops in the four provinces and the islands. Each prov ince has a lieutenant governor, who, in the absence of the governor general, has all the powers requisite to a chief magistrate, so far as respects his particular province.

This

The British settlements, in all North America, according to Hassel, contain only 384,400 inhabitants. estimate is much below their real number.

We shall take a separate view of each of these provinces and islands, beginning with

UPPER CANADA.

Situation, Boundaries, Extent. The province of Upper Canada, formerly called the upper country, extends from 42° 30′ to 52° 30′ north latitude; and from 74° to 97° W. lon. Its length is 1090 miles. Its breadth from north to south is about 525 miles. It is bounded south by the United States, east by Lower Canada, north by New-Britain, west by Detroit river, lakes St. Clair and Winnepec

Divisions.

This province is divided into 19 counties, which are subdivided into townships, generally 12 miles long by 9 broad.

Face of the Country, Soil, c. This country in general may be called level; in many parts it is but little elevated above the lakes. There are many swamps; but where the land is dry it is good, and some of it excellent. In the vicinity of Lake Superior and the Lake of the Woods, are extensive plains, destitute of wood, excepting scattered tufts of trees. These plains are covered with luxuriant grasses affording subsistence to immense herds of buffaIoes.

Productions. Wheat, Indian corn, and flax, are produced here in great abundance. Hops, grapes, and various sorts of berries, are the spontaneous production of the country.

Iron ore has been found in great quantities, but little of it has been wrought.

Lakes. These are numerous. The great lakes Ontario, Erie, Huron, and Superior, through which passes the northern boundary of the United States, all lie partly in this province. The other most considerable lakes are the Rice Lake, Lake Simcoe, Nippising, and Temiscanning..

Rivers. The river St. Lawrence, already described, issues from Ontario, in this province. Ottawas is a large river, issuing from lake Temiscanning, and empties into the St. Lawrence. Grand River has its source in lake St. Clie, and, passing through Rice Lake, mingles with the waters of Ontario. The Thames, a considerable stream, runs into Lake St. Clair from the eastward. Niagara river, on which is the cataract, hereafter described, connects the lakes Erie and Ontario. It is about 30 miles in length

and forms a part of the boundary between the United All the waters of this province are

States and Canada.

richly stored with fish.

Springs. There are several salt springs in this country,

from some of which salt is made.

Two miles above the Niagara Falls is a spring, which constantly emits a gas, or inflammable air, which, being confined in a pipe, will boil water in fifteen minutes.

Curiosities. Besides the above mentioned spring, which might, perhaps, with propriety, be mentioned under this

head, the Falls of Niagara river are the greatest and most sublime curiosity, which this or any other country affords. They are 7 or 8 miles south of lake Ontario. The river is here about 742 yards wide, and pitches over a rock 150 feet in perpendicular height. The noise produced by this cataract, is sometimes heard 40 or 50 miles. A heavy fog is constantly ascending from the falls, in which rainbows may always be seen when the sun shines. There is sufficient space between the perpendicular rock and the column of water for people to pass in perfect safety.

Near Burlington bay is a volcano, subject to frequenteruptions, with a noise like thunder. The Indians sacrifice to the Bad Spirit at this place.

Towns. There are no very large towns in this province. Newark, on the west bank of Niagara river, near lake Ontario, contains about 60 houses and two churches for Episcopalians and Presbyterians.

Queenston, 7 miles above Newark, and Kingston at the head of St. Lawrence, have good harbors, and are places of great trade.

York is situated on a fine harbor of Ontario, in latitude 43° 45′ north, longitude 4° west. It contains between two and three hundred families, and is the present seat of government.

Population. In 1806 the inhabitants were estimated at 80,000, chiefly emigrants from the United States.

Government. The government of this province consists of a governor, legislative council, and house of assembly, chosen for four years by the people; they meet annually in May for the purpose of legislation. The province is not subject to taxation by the British parliament; and the whole expense of the civil establishment is borne by the government of England.

Weekly courts are held by two justices of the peace through the province. A district court is held every three months in which one judge presides. Another court is held by a chief justice, and two associate judges, who make an annual circuit through the province. The people regulate all local matters in the towns, as in the United States.

Militia. The militia in the several districts meet annually. All male inhabitants, excepting Friends and Menmonists, from sixteen to forty five, bear arms.

3. Religion. Methodism is the prevailing religion of Upper Canada. There are settled clergymen in some of the principal places; but, for the greater part, the country is (destitute of regular religious teachers, and many of the inhabitants appear to have no religion.

History. The country was constituted a province, by an act of the British parliament, în 1791.

T

LOWER CANADA.

Boundaries, Situation, Extent. BOUNDED on the north by the coast of Hudson bay and Labrador, east by Labrador and the Gulf of St. Lawrence, southeast and south by New Brunswick and the United States, west by Upper Canada. It lies between 45 and 52 degrees north latitude, and between 61 and 71 degrees west longitude, 800 miles long; its average breadth 250.

Divisions. This province is divided into six districts, which are subdivided into 21 counties, and these into townships or parishes.

Climate. Winter continues here with such severity from December to April, that the largest rivers are frozen over. The snow is commonly from four to six feet deep during the winter. But the air is so serene and clear, and the inhabitants so well defended against the cold, that this season is neither unhealthy nor unpleasant. The spring opens suddenly and vegetation is surprisingly rapid. The summer is delightful, except that a part of it is extremely hot.

Face of the Country. The country is generally mountainous and woody. The forests never attain to the luxuriant growth of warmer climates. Evergreens form the largest portion of their woods. The other trees are maple, birch, and elm.

Productions. Notwithstanding the coldness of the climate, the soil is fertile in many parts; producing wheat, barley, rye, and many other sorts of grain, fruits, and vegetables, The meadow grounds yield excellent grass, and feed great numbers of cattle.

Lakes and Rivers. The principal of these have already been mentioned. The St. Lawrence passes through this province, and falls into the ocean by a mouth 90 miles broad, in which is the island Anticosti.

Population. The province of Lower Canada contained, in 1784, 113,012 souls. In 1806, 150,000; and in 1811, they were estimated at between 200,000 and 300,000.

Religion. Nine tenths of the inhabitants of Lower Canada are Roman Catholics; the rest are Episcopalians, Presbyterians, and a few of almost every sect of Christians.

Manners and Customs. These are considerably tinctured with French gaiety and urbanity. The French women in Lower Canada can generally read and write, and are thus superior to the men; but both are sunk in ignorance and superstition, and blindly devoted to their priests. The French language is spoken, except by settlers from Great Britain and the United States.

Towns. QUEBEC is the capital of this province, and of all British America, being the residence of the governorgeneral. It is situated at the confluence of the St. Lawrence and St. Charles or Little river, 320 miles from the sea. It contained, in 1806, 15,000 inhabitants, two thirds of whom were French. A large garrison is supported here. The houses are commonly built of stone, small, ugly, and inconvenient. The market is well supplied, and the little carts are frequently drawn by dogs. The river is here four or five leagues broad, and the haven, opposite the town, is safe and commodious. This city was taken by the British in 1754, when general Wolfe, who commanded the army of the besiegers, lost his life. In December, 1775, it was attacked by the American army, under the brave general Montgomery, who was slain, and his army repulsed.

Montreal, the second city in rank, stands on an island in the river St. Lawrence, 170 miles above Quebec, and 308 north by west of Boston. It contained in 1809, 16,000 inhabitants.

Manufactures and Commerce. The exports consist of wheat, flour, biscuit, flax-seed, lumber, fish, potash, oil, ginseng, and other medicinal roots and herbs, but chiefly of furs, and peltries. The imports are rum, brandy, molasses, coffee, sugar, wines, tobacco, salt, provisions for the troops, and manufactured cloths from England.