a convent and a farm there; some plum, apple, and cherry trees, and some vines planted by them, still exist, and the furrows made by the plough were to be discerned; the settlement is at the entrance of the river Metabitshouan; he had gone fifteen leagues up that river, and found the soil fine and very fit for cultivation, and the climate favourable; for twenty-five leagues, in ascending the rivers Mistassini and Assuapmousoin, which flow into lake St. John, the soil and climate were equally good, &c. &c. It was to be remarked that, although very often the margin of rivers of a certain magnitude did not admit of cultivation, upon removing a little from the shore, or upon passing the mountains which skirt those rivers, there was always found a level country, where the soil was fertile to a very great distance, and the soil along the small rivers, which empty themselves into the larger ones, was invariably good and fertile for a very great distance.

"From Tadoussac to the foot of the rapids Pemonka, for a tract of seventy-five leagues, there was a great quantity of lofty trees, consisting of white pine, red pine, ash, spruce of every kind, elm, black birch and maple, besides several other kinds of timber, as white birch, poplar, aspin, gray and red spruce, &c. &c."

On being asked, if these various timber could be brought, by the several streams he had mentioned, to some place where they might be shipped for exportation by the river St. Lawrence, his answer was :

"That timber might be felled on the borders of several rivers which flow into lake St. John and lake Tsinogomi, which, if drifted along the shore of each of those rivers, would of themselves float to Chicoutimy, where vessels may come, and they might be shipped there."

According to this testimony, as well as that of many other persons, which testimony need not now be adduced, but can be found upon a reference to the Report, my readers will perceive, that the House of Assembly has omitted no pains to obtain every information possible respecting this part of the country, which, a short time after the discovery of Canada, seriously occupied the attention of the French government, and upon which the Jesuits formed establishments, the remains whereof are yet to be perceived. It is to be regretted, that for the trifling sum of from £1,000 to £1,200 per annum, all the north side of the river St. Lawrence, to the seigneurie Mount Murray, the property of Mr. Fraser, many leagues above the river Saguenay, has, under the title of the King's posts, together with a large part of the territory called Saguenay territory, been let for so long a period to some Scotch merchants, known under the name of the North-West Company; and it is also a matter of surprise, as well as of blame, that the Government, until Lord Dalhousie's visit to this section of the country, have voluntarily neglected to make inquiries as to this interesting district. Without wishing to enter into the causes of the dispute between Lord Selkirk and the North-West Company, we believe it right to say, that his Lordship's extraordinary enterprise to the Red River has had the effect of bringing to light circumstances, and destroying prejudices and interest, which have retarded the settlement of lands, the most eligible in the country for the reception of the surplus population of the mother country,

and of awakening the attention of the British Government upon a matter of the highest importance. That his plans were at first represented by certain interested persons as chimerical, need surprise no one: in spite of all opposition, however, he surmounted every obstacle, and, by his plan of colonization, destroyed the monopoly of the North-West Company*; which monopoly exercised a pernicious influence over the welfare of the country, tending both to retard its advancement, and demoralize, if we believe the statement of his Lordship, its population. Lord Selkirk, by this hazardous enterprise, united his own and the public interest, and identified himself so much with the welfare of the Canadians, that his death was to them a subject of unfeigned regret. We have thought it requisite to mention this circumstance (en passant), in order to make the English public acquainted with the most distant causes which have retarded the settlement of the waste lands of the Crown; to give them also a more correct idea of the difficulties to be surmounted, the prejudices to be combated, and the private interests which are constantly found in opposition to the public welfare. This opposition has unfortunately been the lot of all the colonies; but it is to be hoped that, in time, the evils will become less, that the troubles will cease and animosities be appeased, and that a happy change will be effected by the judicious representations of enlightened persons.

We now return to the advantages possessed by the harbour of Tadoussac in a political point of view. I pass by the consideration of the advantages possessed by various other bays, even up to the river Chicoutimy, for the establishment of an agricultural population, which might quickly extend to lake St. John, and many other lakes in the same direction, and by this means facilitate the communication of the interior, and at length reach to Montreal and Upper Canada.

From the facility of its entrance, the river Saguenay ought to be considered as the key of Canada, for it cannot be doubted that a port which is situated thirty-six leagues below Quebec, and which can receive, with perfect ease and safety, vessels of the largest burden-to which vessels may sail without the assistance of a pilot, and which has the advantage over Quebec of being open one month earlier for navigation, must, in time, become a place of the highest consequence, not only in a commercial point, but also of the greatest political importance. In case of a sudden declaration of war by the United States, at a time when supplies could be sent from England by no other route, not even by New Brunswick, this port would be open, and all the necessary succours might be dispatched to any part of the country. All that is needed for this desirable object, is to form settlements at the mouth of the river Saguenay, and the inhabitants would quickly find the means of communicating with the capital, as well as with any other part of the country, in every season of the year. It is known that Quebec is not more than three days' journey distant from the settlement formerly established by the Jesuits on lake St. John, and

Since that period, the North-West Company have been obliged to come to terms with the rival company of the Hudson's Bay, and finally to unite with them.

that the reverend fathers were accustomed to carry on their communication, and even to pass cattle by this route. There are few places in Lower Canada which, all circumstances considered, offer greater advantages to the surplus population of the country, and the emigrants from Great Britain, than are possessed by the Saguenay territory. The fertility of the soil is equal to that of any other part of the country; and the fish of the various rivers and lakes would alone be sufficient to maintain the settlers, during the period they must necessarily wait for returns from their newly-cultivated lands.

We know that the English Government has received applications from individuals, offering, on reasonable terms, to buy lands in this part of the country, and that to these applications they have not paid the least attention; we nevertheless take the liberty of recommending this matter to their notice, as one deserving the most serious consideration.

No. II.

Minerals and other Natural Productions of Canada.

Messrs. Jackson and Alger have just given an excellent description of the mineralogy and geology of Nova Scotia, and I sincerely lament that it is not in my power to imitate their laudable endeavours; my knowledge, unfortunately, on these important subjects, is not sufficiently extended to enable me to attempt such a task: my present purpose is merely to direct attention, if possible, to the subject, to induce others actually to perform what I can only desire. There are few countries which offer a greater field to scientific research, or more deserving the attention of the natural philosopher, than the Canadas. That the people of the country have hitherto neglected to prosecute researches into such matters, need excite no surprise: education has, comparatively, made small advances among us: our endeavours hitherto have chiefly been directed to the attainment of the means of subsistence, and we have not yet arrived at that degree of wealth, in which the advancement of science becomes a business by which a man may live. We, however, are tending towards that state; and the pleasures derived from the acquirement of knowledge are becoming, in a greater degree, an object of desire among the more educated classes of the community. This change will operate in various ways, in directing the attention of all to the various products of our country, which hitherto have been unfortunately neglected. The sciences of mineralogy and geology have not been neglected, however, because deemed unimportant, but because no means of acquiring a knowledge of them has hitherto been within the reach of the Canadian youth. Institutions and professors are wanting; and without these it is difficult, almost impossible, to acquire any thing more than a very superficial knowledge, in matters where great tact and

experience are required to discover the facts upon which the science is built: we are, consequently, far behind the people of Europe. The study of chemistry has also been greatly neglected, and for the same reason. In botany, greater advances have been made; and the knowledge of the various properties of our indigenous plants is tolerably advanced. Ornithology, not indeed a very important branch of natural philosophy, but still a branch, has, through the activity of a young Canadian, M. Chasseur, made considerable progress. He has already made an exceedingly respectable collection of birds and some other animals, and thus made the first step towards forming a national museum of natural history.

It has been discovered by those who, from time to time, have made partial researches into the aspect of the country, that there exist mines of iron in abundance*, and that they are almost always accompanied by mines of coal, of an excellent quality. Mines of copper, lead, and even of silver, have also been discovered. Quarries of slate and of marble, of granite, and other stone fit for building, are spread over the whole country. Some few precious stones are sometimes found; and in the district of Gaspé the white and red cornelian are frequently discovered.

The productions of our forests are too well known to need description; I will only observe, that vegetables of almost every description are there to be found; that tobacco is cultivated in the country with the greatest success; that the vine also for some years, being cultivated with care, has produced fruit of an excellent description, particularly in the district of Montreal; and that the grape of the indigenous vine, although a little acid, is not disagreeable, more especially after the first frosts of autumn.

Such part of the natural history of Canada as regards wild animals is that which hitherto has received the greatest attention, on account of the commercial advantages derived therefrom. The animals which are principally to be found in our woods are stags, elks, deer, bears, foxes, martens, wild cats, ferrets, weasels, squirrels, hares, and rabbits. The southern parts, in particular, breed great numbers of wild bulls, divers sorts of roebucks, goats, wolves, &c. The marshes, lakes, and pools with which this country abounds, swarm with otters and beavers, of which the white are highly valued. The commerce in these articles, however, though at present of importance, must of necessity take a second rank, when compared with other branches which must eventually arise. The productions of agriculture must, ultimately, be the staple commodities of the country; and even now the fisheries might, with care and attention, be made to yield a return far superior to any derived from the trade in peltries. The attention of the Government might well be directed to these matters; and probably would be so, if the disputes which have so long irritated the public, and checked improvement, were happily settled. The time, indeed, appears to have at length arrived when such a fortunate consummation may fairly be expected; and it will not be among the smallest of the benefits derived from this union, that our trade will be a matter of consideration to the Legislature.

* At Three Rivers, a large iron foundery has been for years in existence.

No. III.

Historical and Descriptive Works.

The best history of Canada extant is that by Father Charlevoix, a Jesuit, born at St. Quentin, in 1684, entitled "Histoire Générale de la Nouvelle France," in 3 vols. 4to.; or 6 vols. 12mo. Paris, 1744.

"A Topographical Description of the Province of Lower Canada; with Remarks upon Upper Canada, and on the relative Connection of both Provinces with the United States of America. By Joseph Bouchette, Esq., Surveyor General of Lower Canada," published in London, in 1815, is an excellent work, already well known in England and all parts of America. With the assistance of his maps, which are upon an extended scale, a person in this country, willing to go and settle in the colony, may find in that work the necessary information to guide him in the choice of a site*.

"History of Canada, from its first Discovery to the Peace of 1763. By William Smith, Esq., Clerk of the Parliament, and Master in Chancery of the Province of Lower Canada." This work was printed in Quebec, in 1815, but did not appear till a few years afterwards. It has its merit, being well compiled, and I can easily believe, as he says himself, that his materials have been collected from the most authentic documents,—the colony records, the Jesuits' journals, and Charlevoix's history; but not so easily that he has shown no partiality or prejudice.

"Memoirs of the Administration of the Colonial Government of Lower Canada, from the Year 1807 to 1820, giving an Account of the late American War, and the Difficulties under which the late unfortunate Sir George Prevost was placed during his Administration. By Robert Christie, Esq., Law Clerk of the House of Assembly." These Memoirs were published in Quebec ; they are very interesting, and, although intended to please the ruling power, impartially written.

“Les premiers Rudiments de la Constitution Britannique, traduits de l'Anglais de Mons. Brooke, précédés d'un Précis historique, et suivis d'Observations sur la Constitution du Bas-Canada," is an excellent little work, published in French by Jaques Labrie, Esq., M.P.P.-Montreal, 1827.

In 1828 appeared, "The Political Annals of Lower Canada, being a Review of the Political and Legislative History of that Province;" a work as full of information as it is of prejudice against the French Canadians. Several English travellers have given an account of the Canadas; but "Gray's Letters" are certainly the most correct I have seen, although not divested of prejudice.

* A new Topographical Description of the province of Lower Canada, with an improved Map, upon a large scale, will shortly be published in London, by the same Author, under the sanction of the Provincial Government; and, as far as we have been able to judge, highly deserving the attention and the encouragement of the public.