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Maps, plates, charts, etc., mey be filmed at different reduction retios. Those too large to be entirely included in one expoeure ere filmed beginning In the upper left hend corner, left to right end top to bottom, es meny fremes es required. The following diagrams illustrate the method: Les certes, planches, tableeux, etc., peuvent Atre filmfo A des taux de reduction diff Arents. Lorsque le document est trop grend pour dtre reproduit en un seul ciichA. 11 est films A partir de I'engle supArieur geuche, de gauche A droite, et de heut en bee, en prenant le nombre d'imeges nAcssssire. Les disgremmes suivants lllustrent le mAthode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 OUL "'"f.s-. fV SUPPLEMENTARY VOLUME TO A TREATISE OIV THE THEOB¥ AND PBACTIOB OF AOmOUIiTUREI. ADAPTED TO THE OULTITATIOir AND ECONOMY OF THE ANIMAL AND TEOSTA- BLE PRODUCTIONS OF A«BICULTUBS IN CANADA; BT IVILLIAM EVAlfS, * ■«cf«tarF to tlie niontreal Agrlcaltvral Soetotr- MONTREAL: PRINTED BY L. PERRAULT. 1836. I m ..'-^ ji.ruoY YJTAi/ir'k.:fj'n7;; K3S'r':»iH«2 '^M.fJt ■£ iU?T r-ti Bi^^fr/ •17=;' :j?f;;'/ x^r -in'!, ■^ ■/' r ■*^'- V'^--*?^!'^ ■v'""'«-.f.^ ^JA:lftT^l^^it TJ!|/.)'!>f Vi .1 i^' 'a:; rAt:J=i • i>2*^l District of ) Br it remembered, that on the 8th day of July, in the Montreal, j year one thousand eight hundred and thirty-six, William Evans, of the said District, Esquire, has deposited in this Office the title of a Book, the title of which is in the words following, that is to say : '< Sup- plementary Volume to a Treatise -on the Theory and Practice of Agri- culture, adapted to the Cultivation and Economy of the Animal and Vegetable productions of Agriculture in Canada, by Wm. Evans, Sec- retary of the Montreal Agricultural Society,'' the right whereof he claims as proprietor. .^j,.;^ c^vvr.Oi: *-- .:,i^ - ,.4.... ....u, - _ ■ ' Xi<- '■ ■ ' '' HMM MONK & MORROGH, P. JT. B. r- Entered according to act of the Provincial Legislature, in the year one thousand eight hundred and thirty six, by William Evans, in the Pro- thonotary's office of the Court of King's Bench, for the District of Mon- treal. i ' ,'' EMIGRATION. AWmiir of Emigrani$ from the United Kingdom during 1832, 1833 and 1834. .;, ; ■=.:.: ; f- -•. ^ - ■■■> ■ ' Total in the 1832 1833 1834 three years. British North America, 66,339 28,808 40,080 134,207 United States, 32,980 29,226 33,074 96,279 Cape of Good Hope, 202 617 288 1,007 Australian Settlements, 3,792 103,313 4,134 62,684 2,800 76,222 10,726 Total, 241,209 Emigrants arrived at Quebec in 1836 to the 3d of July, 16,897 >; )i . INTRODUCTION. The Treatise on Agriculture has been so kindly and flatteringly re- ceived, notwithstanding its many imperfections, that the author is induced once more to venture on the public indulgence, and publish the promised supplement to that work. In order to make the Supplement more interesting and useful to stran- gers, the author has given an outline of the geography of the British A- merican Provinces, and a concise description of their state as regards their agriculture, commerce, trade, wealth and population, and their capa- bilities for improvements in cultivation, in population and production. He has next considered the prospect of settling in the forests ; the plea* sing anticipations generally entertained by the settler ; the cause why these anticipations are not always subsequently realized ; the best course to pursue to insure successful settlement; the clearing of land and the most suitable crops to be cultivated. In doing this the author has can- didly stated all the labour and difficulties, and the probable results that may be expected. He has then submitted what he conceives should be the principle on which which wild lands should be conceded or sold to the natives or emigrant settlers so as to insure their successful cultivation. 9 The author has, with great diffidence, submitted for consideration some remarks on those laws which he believes have a very great influence on Agriculture, and on the general prosperity of British America. It will be for the Government, Legislature and the People to determine whether their repeal or amendment is necessary, expedient or practicable, with- out compromising vested rights. The author has also attempted to discuss the principle on which the commercial intercourse of these Provinces can be advantageously carried on with other countries. In all that he has hitherto published, his object was to advance the prosperity of agriculture, and augment the disposable means of comfort to the agricultural class. It is the ime motive which actuates him in the present publication, and a desire to advocate the " the greatest hap- piness of the greatest number," without prejudice, however, to the lesser number, or any smaller portion of the community. He flatters himself that in discussing those matters which he conceives to have an influence on agricultural prosperity in these Provinces, the opinions he has felt it his duty to submit for consideration, will be received with indulgence, and in that friendly spirit in which he oflers them to public notice. He has not by any wilful misrepresentation sought to induce others to adopt his views, but candidly endeavoured to show things as they are. It is the rH 6 people who are interested, and if they do not view things aa he does, or think that the changes ho has suggested will ameliorate their present condition or future prospects, his opinions will do no harm. The author has never thought of proposing any changes in the existing laws or usages, but what may be eflTected through the Provincial Legislatures. It is this legitimate authority alone, that is and ought to be competent, in this and every other country that has a Legislature, to examine the laws and in- stitutions, which the people are subject tc, and promptly introduce any ne- cessary amelioration by which the general prosperity and happiness may be most effectually promoted and secured. The author has ever been of opinion that in all communities a de- sire to possess a reasonable portion of the comforts, conveniences, ana even the elegances of life have a most powerful influence upon industry, and greatly stimulate exertions to provide the means of procuring such things. This beautiful world was created abundantly rich in materi- als to afford to the industry of man all that is desirable of temporal enjoy- ment ; and superior faculties were given to him in order that he might be able to avail himselt of those advantages. Man, therefore, will best fulfil the end of his creation, so far as his temporal happiness is concerned,when he applies all his faculties honestly to procure the largest possible portion of comforts and enjoyments for himself and all those which duty bind him to provide for. It is the author's sincere desire that this should be the govern- ing principle of every inhabitant of the fine Frovincesof British America, He will always endeavor to recommend this principle, and assist in remo- ving every obstacle to its free exercise. The author has extended this veork much beyond the limits he first laid down, and perhaps would have added a few more pages if he had been a- blo to obtain the statistical information from the several Provinces which he did apply for. To His Excellency, the Earl of Gosford, Governor-in- Chief of British America, and to His Excellency Sir F. B. Head, Lieut» Governor of Upper Canada, he feels much indebted for having kindly or- dered him to be furnished with the statistical and other returns he applied for. The diseases of live stock he did not think it necessary to go very large- ly into, but merely to give a few simple remedies for the most common diseases that stock are subject to here. He has ever found by his own experience, that it is much better and less difficult to prevent diseases by careful attention, than to cure them. ■■,-_ , . He has attempted to give some instructions to the farmer to make his own wine, cider and beer, if too far from a brewery. This can be done at trifling expense and without much loss of time. The author has been more anxious to collect together useful informa- tion, than to be very particular as to arrangement of matter. His regu- lar occupation also, requiring so much of his time and attention, he flatters himself it will be some excuse for the want of better arrangement iu this work. Cote St. Paul, July, 1836. -,■■: .." , ,> , ;, . vinciah publi^n TURK An Ad Trei Most he does, or iieir present The author ^s or usages, !• It is this in this and ws and in- uce any ne- piness may lilies a de- liences, anu m industry, :uring such i in materi- toral enjoy- 16 might bo II best fulfil erned,when ibie portion bind him to the govern - h America, St in remo- te first laid lad been a- ces which >vernor-in- ad, Lieut, cindly or- le applied /ery large- common his own iseases by make his n be done informa- His regu- le flatters nt in this » 1 '. ■i The following is a copy of an Act passed in the Inst session of the Pro- vincial Parliament of Lower Canada, granting an aid for translating and publisihing in the French language the author's Treatise on Aguicul- TURE published last year. CAP. XLIV. • An Act to grant an Aid towards printing in the French language, the Treatise on Agriculture written by William Evans. _j, [21st March, 1836.] Most Gracious Sovereign. " WHEREAS it is expedient for the advancement of Agriculture in this Province, to distribute elementary works upon that science among the ag- ricultural population thereof: — May it therefore please your Majesty that it may be enacted, and be it enacted by the King's Most Excellent Ma- jesty, by and with the consent of the Legislative Council and Assem- bly of Lower Canada, constituted and assembled by virtue of and under the authority of an Act passed in the Parliament of Great Britain, intituled, •' An Act to repeal certain parts of an Act passed in the fourteenth year *' of His Majesty's Reign, intituled, " An Act for making more effectual ** provision for the Government of the Province rf Quebec^ in JVorih " America,'' and to make further provision for the Government of the said "Province ;"and it is hereby enacted by the authority of the same, that it shall be lawful for the person administering the Government of this Province, to advance out of the unappropriated monies in the hands of the Receiver General, a sum not exceeding two hundred and fifleen pounds currency as an aid to William Evans to enable him to cuuse to be translated into the French language and to be printed (with the plates) one thousand copies ofa Treatise on Agriculture written by him, and of which the title is as follows : " A Treatise on the Theory and Practice of Agriculture, adapted " to the cultivation and economy of the animal and vegetable productions "of Agriculture in Canada, with a concise history of Agriculture and a "view of its present state in some of the principal Countries of the earth " and particularly in the British Isles and in Canada." Provided always that the said William Evans shall deliver up the thousand copies aforesaid, as soon as they shall be printed, in order that they may be subsequenUy distributed throughout the whole of the Province by the School Visitors. " II. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, that every per- son to whom shall be entrusted the expenditure of any portion of the mo- nies hereby appropriated, shall make up detailed accounts of such expen- diture, shewing the sum advanced to the Accountant, the sum actually ex- l! J ! f ,, ,i! pended, the balance, (if any,) remaining in his handi, and the amount of the monies hereby appropriated to the purpose for which such advance shall have been made, remaining unexpended in the hands of the Recei- ver-Gcnerul, and that every such account shall 1)6 Hupported by vouchers therein distinctly referred to by numbers corresponding to the numbering of items in such account, and shall be made up to and closed ou the tenth day of April and tenth day of October in each year, during which such ex- penditure shall be made, and shall be attested before a Justice of the Court of King's Bench, or a Justice of the Peace, and shall be transmitted to the Oflicer whose duty it shall be to receive such account, within fifteen days next, after the expiration of the said periods respectively. *' II r. And'be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, that the due application of the monies appropriated by this Act, shall be accounted for to His Majesty, his heirs and successors, through the Lords Commission- ers of His Majesty's Treasury, for the time being, in such manner and form as His Majesty, his heirs and successors shall direct ; and that a de- tailed account of the expenditure of all such monies, shall be laid before the several branches of the Provincial Legislature, within the first fifteen days of the next session thereof." The work above alluded to is now translating into the French language, and about half of it is printed. It will be published early in the fall, and ready for distribution in October. The author gives up his privilege to the Legislature to publish a thousand copies of the work in the French language for distribution throughout the Province of JiOwcr Canada. CI I A rONClSE nESCRIPTIO^ OF CANADA. .1 i , : ;i it'''. ■>■' . ;' '(.f /, i.ii '■'.(t ;P, 'to ,•1 Canada, rormcrly called JVei/j France, or the Province oj Quebec, is a most extensive tract of country in North America, and is the prin- cipal British possession in that quarter of the globe. The name Ca- nada, in its must extended sense, has been applied to the whole of that immense district, which is comprehended between the 43rd and 55th degrees of North latitude, which reaches from the Atlantic to the Paci- fic Ocean, in an inclined direction from north-east to the south-west ; but, in its more con0ned acceptation as a British colony, it is computed to extend about 1500 geographical miles between the G4th and 97tii degrees of west longitude, while its breadih,at a medium, is rated at 200 miles, though its greatest width, from Lake Erie, on the south, or lati- tude 43 to latitude 50, is about 420 miles. It is bounded on the east by the Gulf of St. Lawrence ; on the north-west, west, and south-west by the territories of different Indian nations ; on the south and south- east, by the United States, New-Brunswick, and Nova-Scotia. It is di- vided into two provinces, called Upper and Lower-Canada. The former, which is the western division, is situated on the north .side of the great lakes, or sea of Canada, and is inhabited chiefly by English settlers. The latter ia situated on the river St. Lawrence, towards the east, .ind is peopled by a greater proportion of inhabitants of French d«.«cent. yap i. LOWER-CANADA. The boundary between the provinces of Upper and Lower-Canada commences at Point au Bavdet, on Lake St. Francis, about 55 miles above Montreal, and running northerly to the Ottawa River ; up that river to its source in Lake Temiscamin;^, and thence due north, t > the Hudson's Bay boundary. Lower-Canada is comprised within the 45tb and 52nd degrees north-latitude, and tlie parallels of 57,.')0 to &0,G of west-longitude, embracing, it is supposed, an area of 205,3f53 square statute miles, including a superficies of 3,200 miles, covered by numer- ous lakes and rivers of the province, and excluding the surface of the St Lawrence river and part of the gulf, which occupy 52,000 .square miles, and hence giving an area in land of one hundred and thirty-Jive millions of acres, and over 150,000,000 arpents. This territory is divid- m M 10 n ! i cd into three chief districts, Quebec, Afontrca), and Thre^-Rivers ; and two inrerior ones, Gaspi and St. Francis ; these are further divided into 40 counties, with minor subdivisions of srsigniories, fiefs, townships, 6lc. Tlie external appearance of Lower-Canada generally is of a most ma^ jestic character. Inanimate nature is there exhibited on the grandest scale ; her rivers, her lakes, her forests, every thing is vast, and must appear to the native of the British Isles, particularly so. From the mouth of the river St. Lawrence totiie neighbourhood of Quebec, on both sides, are very high mountains, and from the bottom of these to the edge of the river, on the south side, lies a level tract of land gradually advanc- ing io cultivation ; and from Kamouraska to Quebec, is thickly settled. The district of Gasp6, which is situated at the south side of the river St. Lawrence, near its mouth, is only thinly settled, having a population of about 15,000, and near 20,000 acres of cleared land. I believe a large proportion of that district is capable of profitable improvement, and its fisheries should be most valuable to an industrious population. From the western boundary ofGasp^, to the east of theChaudifere river, which discharges into the St. Lawrence, a few miles west of Quebec, is a territory of considerable extent, fronting on the St. Lawrence for 257 miles, and extending back to the boundaries of the province of New Brunswick, and of the United States. Though this section of the pro- vince is not so mountainous as the opposite bank of the St. Lawrence, it may propeily be characterized as a hilly region, abounding with ex- tensive valleys of excellent land, very capable of improvement, and suita- ble for settlement. It is divided into four counties, Rimouski, Kamou- raska, L'IsIet, and Bellochasse, which have a population of 60,000 only, 295,000 arpents of cultivated land, and near 10,000,000 arpents of uncultivated land. On the north bank of the St. Lawrence, there is scarcely any settlement east of the river Saguenay, and from that river to Quebec, a distance of about 100 miles, and extending many miles back, there are two counties, Sagtienay and Montmorency, with a po- pulation of 15,500, and 70,000 arpents of cultivated land, and over 11,- 000,000 arpents of waste (which are included in my tables ;) but the wild land within the boundaries of these counties is three times that extent. This part of the province, partly on the Saguenay, and on the shores of Lake St, John, particularly, is very favourabi_> reported of for settlement ; and though the climate may be severe in winter (I do not allude to any land north of 48| degrees) the country, I believe, possesses many ad- vantages for new settlers. The Saguenay has a course of 180 miles from Lake St. John, and is navigable for the largest ships for nearly half that distance. There are some fine islands in the St. Lawrence from the mouth of the Saguonay Jo Quebec. The island of Orleans is close to Quebec, contains 28,500 arpents, and a population of about 5,000. It is a beautiful island, and is well cultivated generally. The country on the south bank of the St. Lawrence for more than 200 miles below Quebec, assumes a most charming aspect. There is a continued succession of villages, handsome churches, telegraph stations, and farm houses, all whitewashed, and produce a very pleasing effect, in contrast with the dark forests which clothe the back rising hills to their summits. There cannot be a more interesting and beautiful land- il tcape than the south ISanh of the St. Lawrence presenla. Aller passing the island of Orleans, on the north bank of the St. Lawrence, the (alls of the river Montmorency appear in view. The breadih of the etr«am is about twenty yards, and the fall 250 feet. The water is precipitated over a bank of rock that is ahnost perpendicular, into the St. Lawrence, and causes a very considerable spray to rise from the bottom. In the neigh* bourhood of the falls, and west to Quebec, the country is well set* tied, and beautiful. The scenery, on approaching Qjaebec, is truly magnificent. Point Levi, on the ief\, with its village, churches, and white farm houses. On the right, the falls of Montmorency, and a rich cnhivated country, extending back for several miles, terminating in a ridge or monntain?, not of extreme height, but rising gradually from tho cultivated fields in broken hills, with wide valleys between, aiTd mostly covered with forest. In front, the city and battlements of Quebec, ma- jestically towering over the river and surrounding country, with its bright and dazzling tin covered houses, and church steeples, forms the most striking, grand, and beautiful scenery that can well be conceived, and I believe, unequalled on this continent, or perhaps on any other. The city of Quebec is in lat. 4G.48, Ion. 70.72, and situated upon a TDcky promontory called Cape Diamond, (330 feet above the water's edge) which runs seven of eight miles to the westward, connected with another Cape, called Cape Rouge, forming so far, the lofty, and left bank of the St. Lawrence. To the N. W. of the city, the ground slopes gra- dually, terminating in the valley of the river St. Charles. The river St. Lawrence flows to the southward of the city, at the base of the steep pro- montory of Cape Diamond, and unites its waters with the small river St. Charles, which flows along the N. side of the city, the junction be- ing in front of the town, where they expand into a considerable sheet of water forming the harbour of Quebec. Quebec may be correctly considered the Gibralterof the New World, and is admirably well situated, as the key to the entrance of the navi- gation of the St. Lawrence, and the only direct outlet of the Canadian provinces to the sea. The citadel, if not already impregnable, can, I believe, be rendered so, at no very great expense ; and if sufHciently garrisoned and provisioned, would stand a long siege against an enemy. Though an agricultural people may not feel greatly interested in forti- flcations, they are nevertheless oflen necessary to secure the liberties of a people against foreign aggression, and Canada may be proud to pos- sess such a fortress as Quebec. From Cape Diamond, and several other points in and near Quebec, the surrounding country, the river and harbour, present to view tho most grand and beautiful landscape that can be imagined, and cannot be any where excelled. The noble river St. Lawrence, and its high banks, seen for several miles above and below the city ; the harbour, ships, steamboats, and river crafl ; northwest of the city tiie river St. Charles and its bridge ; the falls of Montmorency ; several handsome villages, and their churches and spires ; the white farm houses ; the cultivated fields ; the hills and valleys, ornamented at intervals with sin- gle trees and woodlands ; and in the distance, the daik foi^st and lofty mouuiaiuf, present altogether a beautiful picture that ia worth a journey I i » i 12 1 across the Atlantic tu belrold, and is certainly one which an admirer of the grand and beautiful, could never tire of, during the season that thq navigation is open, and nature is in all its blooin, and loveliness. The city of (Quebec contains now, in 1836, about S0,000 inhabitants, and nep.r 3,500 houses. All the houses in the Upper and Lower Towns are of stone, and well built, but in the suburbs many of the houses arc of wood. There are several churches ; the Protestant and Catholic Cathedrals are good buildings, and very spacious. The new House of Assembly, of which the centre and one wing is finished, is a very fine building, and extremely well suited for the purpose for which it was erect- ed. In the centre is the chamber in which the Assembly hold their sit- tings, and is of ample dimensions, admirably well calculated for the sittings of the representative branch of the legislature. The library is a large fine room, and is well furnished with the most valuable books, in English and French. The robing room is under the library, and of the same di- mensions. There are a great many committee rooms, and several of- fices, occupied by the officers of the House of Assembly. The speak- er's apartment opens into the library, and is handsomely fitted up and furnished. It is proposed to build another wing, which will give ac- commodations to the other branch of tlie legislature. The legislative council at present occupy part of the old House of Assembly. The Castle of St. Lewis was situated on the ramparts, and had a most imposing appearance from the river and harbour. It was rather a hand- some building, but was very capable of improvement. It is now in ruins, having been accidentally burned when occupied by Lord Aylmer, as go- vernor. This ruined castle, occupying so conspicuous a situation, is at pre- sent by no means ornamental to the city or ramparts. The ground where it stands, or immediately near it, is one of the most eligible (as to its lo- cality) and beautiful situations for the government house, that is to be found within the city. It would have a commanding prospect of the ri- ver, harbour, and much of the surrounding country, and would beconve- nieot to the parliament house, and public offices. It would certainly be desirable that a suitable building for the accommodation of the governor- in-chief of this fine country, should be erected with all convenient dis- patch in place of the unsightly blackened ruin of the Chateau, and such a building as would be an ornament to the city, and a commodious and respectable residence for the king of Great Britain's chief representative in North America. The Jesuits' monastery consists of a very extensive range of buildings, and from its situation in the centre of the Upper Town, and fronting the market place, would be a most valuable -property. It is now, and has been since the cession of Canada to England, occupied as a bar- rack, a circumstance that has been much complained of by the people of Canada. It is alleged that this property, as well as the whole of the property which originally belonged to the Order of the Jesuits, was by treaty given up by the British government to the people, for the sup- port of general education. If this allegation be correct, and I shoukl think there ought to be no difficulty in ascertaining the fact, there can be no doubt of the complaints of the people being perfectly just. That a college designed for the education of youth, should, in time of profound ture. m ■4 •'• peace, be occupied as a barrack fur soldiers, in a country where tlic Avantof education ia so much felt, is a circumstance very much to be deplored, according to my humble judgment of the matter. If the col- lege belong to the people for t' .iipport of education, its unconditional surrender, to be applied to ih.- , urpose, ought not to be delayed longer than convenient accommod luon can be obtained for the troops else- where. The provincial legislature will, no doubt, see the expediency, if not sound policy, of providing the necessary barracks for the troops. Were the connection between this country and Britain not to continue a year, the fortress ofQuebec would surely not be dismantled or demo- lished. However disposed to peace a nation may be, she should always be prepared to resist foreign aggression ; and the fortifications of (Que- bec should be maintained, whether Canada continues a British colony, or may be destined at any future time to be an independent nation. So long as England is disposed to garrison Quebec with her troops, and pay them with her money, there ought not to be much hesitation in pro- viding these truops with comfortable lodging. The expenditure of the military establishment in this province must be very beneficial to it, and if barracks were erected at the expense of the province, were they at any future time not required for soldiers, they could be converted into some other useful purpose. While Britain maintains her troops in Canada, for the protection of her Enipire, not to coerce the people of Canada, or abridge their rights or privileges, they will have cause to rejoice at their residing among them, as good citizens and fellow subjects, und fur their protection as a part of the British family, and expending in the province a portion of that revenue to which, I am proud to say, they also contri- bute their share, as I liope to show hereafter. In describing Quebec, I could not forego the opportunity of expressing my feelings with regard to the Jesuit barracks, the occupation of which by the British army for so many years is, I conceive, one of the most just matters of complaint alleged by Canadians in the number of their grievances. If, under proper management, the proceeds ofthis property had been applied to promote and support education throughout Canada, it would have had a most beneficial influence on the prosperity of the country. I must further observe, that when the property is given up, I hope it will be devoted to the general support of education, without any preference to sect or party. It was with this ob.ect the concession was made by the British government, and it is on this principle alone, that the public good will be best promoted. There are three extensive convents in Quebec, ih'2 Hotel Dieu, with thirty-eight professes ; the Hospital General with fifty-one professes ; and the Ursuline Convent with forty-seven professes. These religious so- cieties, both at Quebec and Montreal, possess extensive property in town and country, and make a very good use of their income, in administering to the wants of the sick and destitute, and in educating young females. They occasionally receive grants of money from the provincial legisla- ture. The conduct of the nuns, or religious sisters, throughout the pro- vince is most exemplary, and irreproachable ; and they are universally respected by all classes, and all denominations ol christians. The seminary, occupied by the Rotnau Catholic clergyi is large and I \ /I ' \ i 1 ! 1 iv: i commodious. There are several well built churches, and chapels, be- longing to Protestant congregations of the church of England, Scotland, Methodists, &c. and are numerously attended. The Exchange and Li- brary, Court-house, Custom-house, Banks, Hospitals, &c. are all good Etone buildings, well adapted to their several uses. The obelisk, or monument of Wolfe and Montcalm, lately erected in the garden of the Chateau, or of the Castle of St. Lewis, is about 65 feet in height, with suitable inscriptions. The cost of its erection was collected by general subscription. The situation it occupies is not, I think, the most eligible. The Esplanade, between St. Lewis and St. John's Gate, is the usual place of parade for the troops. The surface is very level. It is in length about 300 yards, and in breadth about 100 yards. The market place in the upper town is situated opposite the Jesuit barracks. It is not extensive or well arranged. There are two market places in the lower town, very confined, and without any convenient ar- rangement. A new market has been lately erected close to the river St. Charles, between it and St. Peter-street. It is very conveniently fitted up, and no doubt will be numerously attended in a short time. The Dorchester bridge, erected by Messrs. Anderson & Smith, over the river St. Charles, is a toll-bridge, authorized by the legislature, and of very great advantage to the farmers residing north of the St. Charles river, and to the citizens of Quebec. I am not aware of the amount of toll charged. There >s one bank chartered at Quebec, and the Mon- treal bank has a discount olHce there. Quebec is very active during the summer months, visited as it now generally is, by 1100 or 1200 ships annually, together with a steam- boat from Montreal, daily. If the surrounding country was well settled, an extensive business would be done there in winter as well as summer ; and it has the further advantage of being the seat of govern- ment, and place of meeting of the legislature. This attracts many strangers to the place in the winter, and must greatly increase the ex- penditure in every way, and be very beneficial to the citizens. The navigation of the river is generally open about the 1st of May, and on some occasions the 15th of April. During my residence in the country, it has very frequently been open about the middle of April. Ships from Europe begin to arrive immediately after the Ist of May ; seldom before. The city of Quebec is chartered, and has a mayor and common-coun- cil annually elected. It is well lighted, and the streets kept in tolerably good order. There are several handsome country residences in the neighbourhood of Quebec, and I believe it would be ditficult to find more delightful situations for summer residences than the country sur- rounding the city affords. In 1662, Quebec is said to have contained only 50 inhabitants ; in 1 759, at its conquest by England, the population was from 8,000 to 9,- 000 ; in 1831, it was 26,000, and now in 1836, is supposed to be 30,000. From the counties of Montmorency on the north, and that of Bcllechasse on the south side of the St. Lawrence, which I have alrea- dy described, there remains to be noticed of the district of Qjiiebec, the counties of Quebec and Portneuf, on the north side of the St. Lawrence, Siidm »mttm,i apels, be> Scotland, ;e and Li- i all good rected in about 65 ction was I is not, I is and St. surface is ibout 100 the Jesuit vo market enient ar- e river St. ntly fitted mith, over ature, and it. Charles amount of the Mon> L" as It now a steam- as well well as govern- cts many se the ex- ns. The and on country, lips from m before. Iion-coun- tolerably in the to find mtry sur- /» les t ants ; in )00 to 9,. e 30,000. that of fe alrca- bee, the awrcncc, ■■ft $ 4. ■ i i and the counties of Dorchester, Beauce, Lotbiniere, and Mcgantic on the south side. The quantity of land in each county, in seigniories, fiefs, townships, and waste, are given in tables, also the quantity conceded and in culti- vation, with the estimated population in 1836. It is therefore unneces- sary to repeat all that information liere. I bhall describe tlie situation and general character of the soil in each county, and theprobublc capa- bilities for produce and population. The county uf Quebec is bounded on the south-east by the river St. Lawrence, and fronts on that river about 15 miles. It is bounded on the north-east by the county of Montmorency, on the south-west by Portneuf county ; and on the north-west by wild lands of the crown. The surface of the country is generally uneven, and of xreut picturesque beauty. Towards the northern parts it is mountainous. In the neighbourhood of the city of Quebec, the soil is of excellent quality, and well cultivated near the St. Lawrence, and it is reported a large proportion of the county may be considered good soil. A light warm soil is preferable in that part of the province, to a cold heavy soil. The lands are well shelteied from the north by mountains, and throughout the county, from the inequality of its surface, the numerous valleys must be much warmer in the cold seasons than if the surface was level and exposed. The county is watered by the St. Charles, Jacques Cartier, and St. Anne rivers, and many smaller streams. Much of the waste land in this county might be very profitably brought into cultivation, provided crops suitable to the soil and climate were in- variably cultivated. The county contains 9,200,000 arpents, of which not more than 150,000 arpents is occupied, and only 45,000 arpents culti- vated. Portneuf county joins that of Quebec, fronts on the St. Lawrence about 35 miles, and is bounded on the south-west by Champlain county, and north-west by the wild lands of the crown. It is watered by the Jacques Cartier, St. Anne and Portneuf rivers, and many small streams. The face of the country is broken and uneven, and is rather mountainous towards the north. The settled parts possess a good soil, and, I believe, the greater portion of the unconceded lands, of which there is over 5,- 000,000 arpents, is capable of cultivation. There are only 330,000 acres occupied, and 75,000 arpents cultivated. On the south side of the St. Lawrence, immediately opposite Quebec, is the county of Dorciiesier, bounded north by the St. Lawrence, by Bellechasse county on the east, southerly by the county of Beauce, and west by the county of Ix>tbiniere. The county comprises the seigniory of Lauzon only. It is of excellent soil generally, and fronting the St. Lawrence is well settled. A large proportion of the land, about three> fourths, is, however, yet uncultivated, and only 55,000 arpents cultivat- ed, though most favourably situated. It is watered by the Chaudidre and other rivers. The county of Lotbiniere is next west of Dorchester, and fronting on the St. Lawrence about 30 miles, is hounded west by the county of Ni- colet, south vid south-west, by Drummond and Megantic counties. This county is not very populous, and I should imagine it is not from u, H li'' ■ I, ■'{ the barrenness of the soil. The situation is favourable for scttlchient. It is sudiciently watered, about half the land is occupied, and only one- ninth of the whole, or 50,000 arpents cultivated. 'J'Jie county of Beauce is bounded northerly by Dorchester county, east by the county of Bellechasse, south by the State of Maine, and west by Sherbrooke, JVIegantic, and Lotbiniere counties. This county is not well settled, and has a iar the B6cancour, and branches of the St. Francis. The District op Three-Rivkbs comprises six counties, Champlain, and St. Maurice on the north side, and Nicolet, Yamaska, Drummond, and Sherbrooke on the south side of the St. Lawrence. The county of Nicolet is bounded on the north-west by the St. Law- rence and Lake St. Peter, west by the county of Yamaska, south-east by Drummond county, and west by the county of Lotbiniere. It ex- tends between 30 and 40 miles along the St. Lawrence. The soil is of good quality generally, and the surface level. It is watered by the rivers B6cancour and Nicolet. The village Nicolet is beautifully situated on the bank of the Nicolet river, and has a hatidsome church with tw6 spires. It is also the seat of a college. This county, though not large, has yet five-sixths, or 255,000 arpents of the land uncultivated and- waste, and about 60,000 cultivated. I believe it to be favourably circumstanc- ed for settlement. The county of Yamaska is bounded on the north-west by Lake St. Peter, south-west by the county of Richelieu, south-east by the county of Drummond, and north-east by the county of Nicolet. This county is not extensive, and the land is occupied except a small part. Thie soil is rf good quality, though a large portion of it is light and sandy. The face of the country is level, and is watered by the fine rivers St. Francis, Yamaska, and a branch of the Nicolet ; not one-fourth of the land, or only 45,000 arpents is in cultivation. It has three or lour considerable villages. The county of Drummond comprises nineteen of what are known as the eastern townships, and bounded on the north by the counties Nico- let and Yamaska, on the west by the St. Hyacinth county, on the south J prop< A Bdca I thougl m by the couniies of Sliefiurd and Sherbrooke, nnd on the east by the coun- ty of Megantic. This county contains more than 1,000,000 acres, is very little settled, only 10,000 acres cultivated ; much of the soil ia of excellent quality, and all, or the greater part, might be cultivated if properly drained. It is well watered by the rivers St. Francis, Nicoict, Bdcancour, and their tributary streams. The north section of the county, and, indeed, the land generally, is level. The county of Sherbrooke, is bounded north by the county ofDrum- mond, west and south-west, by the counties of ShefTord and Stanstead ; south, by the State of New Hampshire, and east by the counties of Me- gantic and Beauce. It comprises twenty-eight of the eastern town- ships. In this county the British American Land Company have ob- tained, by purchase from the Crown, an extensive territory, containing about 000,000 acres, adjoining the counties of Megantic and Beauce, and comprising about fourteen townships. They have also several de- tached lots throughout this county, and the counties of Shefford and Stanstead, formerly the Crown reserves. In addition to the lands above described, they have made large purchases of lands sold by the government, at auction, and from private individuals. They are at pre- sent proprietors of more than one million of acres, purchased with a view to their settlement by emigrants from the British Isles. I am unable to state what progress has yet been made in regard to&e(tIing these lands. The Company have not been long in operation. The lands in the county «( Sherbrooke are of good quality generally. The face of the country is much diversified ; hill and dale prevail throughout ; it would be most suitable for raising and feeding stock, both neat cattle and sheep, and would be the most profitable mode of occupying the soil. Excel- lent pasture might be obtained by clearing oiTthe wood, sowing grass seeds, and draining such lands as might be unfit for the plough, from its stony, uneven and hilly surface. The county is very exten- sive, containing near 2,000,000 acres, and would give an immense an- nual produce if settled, and judiciously managed. It has only 60,000 acres cultivated. The county of Champlain, on the north side of the St. Lawrence, fronts about 35 miles on the river, and is bounded on the north-east by the county of Portneuf, north by the waste lands of the Crown, and south-west by the county of St. Maurice. The soil is good in general, though the country is thinly settled. Of 600,000 acres, only 170,000 are occupied, and 35,000 cultivated. I have no doubt but most of the soil is very capable of profitable occupation by the husbandman ; and there is only about a twelfth part yet in cultivation. This county is well watered by the rivers St. Maurice, Champlain, Batiscan, and St. Anne. The face of tlie country towards the east, is considerably diversified; and from the mouth of the Batiscan to St. Anne, the rising lands north of the St. Lawrence present a most beautifid landscape. In coming down the river St. Lawrence from Montreal, this part of the country is the first that strikes the traveller's eye, being the commence- ment of the gently elevated tract of land that bounds the river from that point to Quebvic, and is particularly beautiful on the north side. The county of St, Maurice, is bounded in front, south, and south-ciiu>i 3 »/ * I 18 by tho St. Lawrence and Luke St. Peter, for above 30 miles ; south- west by the county of Bcrthier ; north-west and north, by tho waste landu of the crown ; and north-east by the county of Champlain. Though some parts of the soil in this county are Hght and sandy, the greater por- tion is of excellent quality. It requires careful draining in the low flat parts, but back from tho St. Lawrence, the land is sufficiently high to admit of perfect draining. Most, if not all, the Seignorial land, is con- ceded, but not half of it in cultivation, about 80,000 acres. A large tract of waste crown land, containing above 6,000,000 acres, together with three surveyed townships, containing 115,000 acres, are comprised within the boundaries of this county ; and, I believe, most of these lands are fit for settlement. The county is extremely well watered by se- veral rivers, the St. Maurice, Maskinonge, Du Loup, and Machiche, with many smaller streams. The town of Three-Rivers is situated in this county, and the extensive iron mines and iron foundry at St. Mau- rice, are about lOmiles north of that town. The District op Montreal, contains 19 counties, Berthier, L'- Assomption, Lachenaye, Terrebonne, Two-Mountains, and Ottawa, north of the St. Lawrence and river Ottawa ; Vaudreuil, between the ri- vers Ottawa and St. Lawrence ; the county of Montreal, in the island of Montreal ; and on the south side of the St. Lawrence, the counties of Beauharnois, Laprairie, Chambly, Acadie, Rouville, Verchferes, St. Hy- acinthe, Richelieu, ShefTord, Stanstead and Missisquoi. The county of Berthier is bounded on the north-east, by the county of of St. Maurice ; north and north-west, by the waste lands of the crown ; south-west, by tho county of L'Assomption, and south-east, by Lake St. Peter and the St. Lawren<'e, on whose shores it fronts for about 25 or 26 miles. The soil in this county has an excellent character. It is populous so far as the Seigniories extend, and is the second county in the Province for the quantity of cultivated land, 110,000 acres. There are two surveyed townships partially settled, and no less than 5,000,000 acres of wa^te crown land, comprised within the boundaries of the county. Most of this land is, I believe, capable of profitable settlement. The face of tho country is level generally towards the St. Lawrence^ but more to the north, it is less so. It is well watered by rivers and several small lakes. The L'Assomption and Berthier rivers are the principal. The small town of Berthier is on the banks of the St. Lawrence, about 46 miles from Montreal, and 135 miles from Quebec. The steamboats stop here two or three times in the week, on their way between Montreal and Quebec. L'Assomption county is bounded north-east by the county of Berthier ; north and north-west, by the waste lands of the crown ; south-west, by the county of Lachenaye ; and south, or rather south-east, by the St. Lawrence. It fronts on the latter about 10 or 12 miles. It is well wa- tered, tho river L'Assomption having its course through the county, with many tributary streams or branches. The settled part of the county is excellent land, and tho whole of the seigniory, and two surveyed town- ships, are, I believe, occupied, and nearly half, or 73,000 acres of them cultivated. There are 3,000,000 acres of waste land of the crown, com- prised within the north and north-west boundaries of the county, and pro- babb i hahly tho pren(t; ;. rt fit for setllempnt. There ore two or three tmall towns in (his county : L'Asaomption is the principal one, and is a pluce of considerable business. ''''^ The county of Lachennye, is bounded on the north-east by tho county ofL'Assoniption ; north and north-west, by the waste lands of the crown ; south-west, by the county of Terrebonne, and south-cast, by the river St. Jean, on which it fronts about 12 miles. It is a small county, and, I believe, all occu|)ied, and about one-third, or 63,000 acres cultivated. The soil is generally good, though part of the township lands is said to be poor. It is well watered by the rivers Lachenaye, Mascouche and Achigan, and many small streams. Tho county of Terrebonne, is bounded on tho north-east by the coun- ty of Lachenaye, north and north-west, by the waste lands of the crown ; south-west, by the county of Two-Mountains, and south-cast by the River des- Prairies, on which it fronts about 12 miles, or more. This county comprehends the seigniory of Isle Jesus, which is about 21 miles long and 6 miles wide. The soil of this island is excellent, and the surface very level. The Isle Jesus is connected with the main land by a well built wooden bridge, at St. Therese ; and on the principal road between Montreal and the river Du Chene, another wooden bridge is being erect- ed, over the Rivi^re-dcs-Prairies, between the island of Montreal and tho Isles Je.sus, and will probably be finished next summer. The latter is constructed in a very superior manner, and will be a great convenience to the people of the Isle Jesus, and north of it, and the Ottawa river. Some time back, a bridge was built from the Isle Jesus to the main land at the river Du Chene, on tlie line of road between Montreal and St. Andrews, but has been carried away. In that pariicular place, it is not difficult to construct a bridge, and it would complete the conununication from Montreal to St. Andrews. The county of Teirebonne in general is good land, and the seignorial part, and surveyed townships, of which there are three, are nearly occupied ; and one-half, or 105,000 acres in cultivation. Within the boundaries of the county is comprised near 2,000,000 acres of tho wild lands of the crown, and are favourably re- ported of. The principal river is the Du Nord, and there are many smaller streams. The county of Two-Mountains, is bounded north-east by the cotmty of Terrebonne ; on the north and north-west, by the waste lands of the crown ; south, by the Lake of Two Mountains and tho river Ottawa ; south-west, by the county of Ottawa. It fronts on the Lake of Two- Mountains and Ottawa river, near 70 miles. With the exception of Montreal, it has the largest population of any county in the province, and ranks third in extent of cultivated land, of which there is 100,000 acres. The soil is generally of excellent quality, though a proportion of it is very stony and Ught, particularly in the seigniory of Argcnteuil. The small towns of St. Andrews, Indian Village and River Du Chene, are the only places worthy of notice. The county is watered by tho rivers Du Nord, Rouge, and Du Chene. In this county there are near 300,000 acres of waste land of Ihe crown, together with 300,000 acres of seignorial and surveyed township lands uncultivated, 100,000 acres only of which are, I believe occupied. 8* ! > f\ f (L- I /; I'M 'i, la.l I i I !■ The county of Ottawa, id bounded on the north only by tho territory of the Hudson Bay Company ; west, by a line running due north from Loko Temiscaming ; south, by the river Ottawa, and cost, by the county of Two-Mountains. This county comprises a vast extent of territory, of which the north portion is not much known. In one seigniory and eight surveyed townships, there are about 700,000 acres, of which not one- fourth appears to be occupied, and only one twenty-eighth part, or 26,000 acres, is in cultivation. The waste land of the crown is estimated at near 20,000,000, acres. I believe the greater portion of this waste land to bo capable of rendering an adequate return for tho labour necessary for its cultivation. The soil on the bank of the Ottawa, and most of what has been explored of the county, is of good quality. The county is abun- dantly Avatered by several rivers and lakes. The principal rivers are Petit Nation, rivers Blanche, Lievres, and Gatineau, with the river Ot- tawa, in front. The county of Vaudreuil, occupies that portion of Lower-Canada that is situated between the Ottawa and St. Lawrence rivers, by which rivers it is bounded on three sides, and on the fourth, or west, by Upper-Cana- da. The soil is of good quality, and all the land is occupied, of which nearly half, 75,000 acres, is in cultivation. It is watered by several small rivers. There are some thriving villages. Those most deserving of notice are, Coteau du Lac, Cedars, and Vaudreuil. The county of Montreal, comprises the beautiful island of Montreal, and lies at the confluence of the Ottawa and St. Lawrence rivers, sepa- rated from the Isle Jesus by the Riviere dcs Prairies. It is about 32 miles long by 10 miles broad, at the widest point. It is at present held as a seigniory by the Seminary of St. Sulpice at Montreal, and in justice to these Reverend Gentlemen, I believe there are not in Lower-Canada, Seigniors who are more indulgent to the censitaires. The mountain immediately back of the city of Montreal, is the only high land on the island, and this is not more than 660 feet above the level of the river. With this exception, and the valley of the river St. Pierre, tho surface of the island is very level, and the soil in general of superior excellence, and very productive in all species of grain, vegetables, and fruit, in greater perfection than any other part of the province. From many points on the mountain, the prospect on every side is most grand and magnificent. The surrounding country, villages, farm houses, cultivated field;3, rich meadows, the distant forests, the city, the noble river, the steamboats and shipping, form a landscape that can scarcely be surpassed in beauty and magnificence. The prospect to the north-west has particularly excited my admiration. I must, however, cut short my description of this delightful scenery, and recommend those who visit Montreal to view this landscape, and judge for themselves of its beauties, which no pen can do justice to. The city of Montreal is situated on the south side of the island, lat. 46,31 long. 73,34 west, at the point which may be considered the termi- nation of the uninterrupted navigation of the St. Lawrence, as the rapids, which first interrupt the navigation, commence immediately above the port of Montreal. It is the first city in British America in extent, population, and wealth. It is supposed to cover above 1000 acres of ) territory of 1 from Lake le county of territory, of ry and eight ich not one- •t, or 26,000 estimated at aste land to ssary for its of what has nty is abun- \ rivers are he river Ot- Canada that iv'hich rivers pper-Cana- ;d, of which by several leserving of r Montreal, ivers, sepa- is about 32 >resent held id in justice er- Canada, is the only ^e the level St. Pierre, of superior tables, and ide is most rm houses, the noble ;carccly be north-west short my who visit s beauties. island, lat. the termi- the rapids, above the in extent, acres of 21 ground, including the suburbs. It has ovor 1 00 strcetn, ft,600 hou8c^', and a population, by estimate, of near 35,000. There is not a city of the same extent on this continent that has better, and mure substantially built houses, many of beautiful cut stone, and latterly almost all the now houses are built with cut tone, and are generally three and four storied high above the surface. This stone i procured at a short distc nee from the city, is soft, and easily dressed, and resists all the rigour of the cli- mate. The improvement in Montreal within the last eighteen years, is very great indeed, and a greater number of tine houses have been erected last year, than any year previous during the period referred to. Tho most public streets are kept in excellent repair ; and since the city has been incorporated, all the streets and roads have been greatly im- proved under the management of the mayor and common-council. The city is lighted, and is supplied with water, by water works, tho property of a chartered company. The port has been greatly improved lately by the construction of extensive wharfs, from funds borrowed by the province, and it is contemplated to extend these improvements by the same means the ensuing summer. TheLachine canal, constructed at an expenditure of near £140,000 of the provincial revenue, connects the port with the na- vigable waters of the St. Lawrence at Laclune, but is only suitable for durham boats, that draw about four feet of water. At Lachine, steam navigation commences again on the line of the St. Lawrence and the ri- ver Ottawa. It would occupy too large a space of this work to give a detailed de- scription of the city of Montreal. The Catholic Parish Church is, how- ever, a building which I must notice, as, I believe, it ranks with the first buildings in North America-, and most certainly does great honor to the religious community who have erected it. It was estimated to cost near jS100,000 currency. It stands about the centre of the city, and fronts the Place d'Armes, a handsome square. In length it is 255^ feet, in breadth 134^ feet. The height of the flanks is 61 feet from the flagging of the terrace to the eaves. I believe it is intended that there shall be six tow- ers, so arranged that each flank shall present three ; these, however, are not yet finished. Those on the principal west front are to be 220 feet high The space between the front towers is 73 feet by 120 in height, crowned with an embattled parapet. These towers are at present not much higher than the parapet, and are covered with a temporary roof. The flank and east end towers, are to be 115 feet in height. The flanks are decorated with buttresses, and crowned on the top with hollow pinnacles which serve as chimneys. The exterior of the building is faced with hewn stone of excellent quality, and the workmanship is exceedingly well exe- cuted. The eastern window is 64 feet in height, and 34 in breadth. It is intended to surround the building with a terrace. In front, the ascent is by a flight of steps to the portal, which is formed by an arcade, consist- ing of three arches, each 19 feet by 48 in height. From this arcade there are five entrances into the church, two of which lead to the galleries. In front, over the arcade, there are several niches, intended for statues, but only one, the centre, is yet occupied. Between the front towers, it is intended to have a promenade 76 feet by 20, elevated 120 feet above the surface of the Place d'Armes, the access to which will be gained by R !• f 1 nil 22 I 1. iif '■, \ ;! ' n Roomotriciil stair, nnd must ofTord n mont fxtrnsivo view of llm St. Luwilngue last year, and may perhaps continue free from itin future. From the comnicncenicnt and pro- gress of this disease, showing itself both years on the arrival of emit, ranis that were known to have cholera on board their 8hi|)8 on the passage, nnd tbilowing them through the country here, it is dilHcult to supposn that it is not infectious, and tho most convincing proof of its being so is that it did not break out in 1833 or 1636, when it was not known to bo in the British Isles or brought in emigrant vessels. But to return to the description of Montreal. There are three convents ; tho Hotel Dicu, is an establishment for the sick of both sexes, who have medical attendance and most careful atten- tion from the charitable Sisters of the convent. It contains 37 Religious Frofessei^.. The convent of Gray Sisters, or Hospital General, has an establishment for foundlings, who are provided for until they are capable of provi^jing for themselves. It contains 29 Professes ; and the Con- gregation de Notre Dame, has 80 Professes. The English Hospital is an extensive and fine building, exceedingly well arranged in every part for the cick. It was built by subscription nnd donations, and is principally supported in the same way. The pro- vincial legislature has occasionally granted aids, but they have not been permanent or regular. It is an establishment greatly deserving of sup- port, and every citizen in Montreal is interested in maintaining this hos- pital, as the most effectual means of preserving themselves and their fa- milies from fevers and other contagious diseases, which they are much exposed to from the great influx of strangers to their city in summer. The College, or Petit Seminaire, was built at the expense of the Semi- nary of St. Sulpice, and is an extensive building, three stories high. The body of the building is 210 feet long, and 45 broad ; there is a wing at each end 186 feet long, and nearly 40 broad. It is capable of giving accommodation to a large number of students, and has apartments for a director, professors and masters. The honorable James McGill, once a respectable merchant of Mon- treal, bequeathed an estate, and tlie sum of ^10,000 for the endowment of a college to bear his name. This college has not yet gone into oper- ation, owing to the bequest being disputed for several years. The suit has, however, terminated, and the property devised is in the possession of the corporation of the college. There are three large public schools, the English National School, the British and Canadian School, and the Recollet School. They receive aid occasionally from the provincial legislature. There are many other pri- vate schools, and the charge for tuition is generally very moderate. The Montreal Library and reading room occupy a building in St. Jo- : I 1 I ' n I ; f ■ i u I I ! i ; \ M I -^i seph-strect, conveniently situated, and contains many thousand volumes ofvaliinble books. It is well supplied with newspapers, magazines, &c. domestic nnd foreign, and subscriptions for admission are moderate. The new market place extends from St. Paul-street to Notre Dame- street. The centre of the building is occupied by butchers' stalls, and on each aide are seats covered in and open in front, that are for the use of those who sell butter, eggs, vegetables, &c. of which there is at all seasons an abundant supply. At one end the market has an upper story, which is occupied for selling fowls, and other produce. Near the river side, is the fish market, not very extensive, but suffi- ciently so for the sale of fresh fish. Two market places have been erect- ed in the St. Lawrence suburbs ; they ar6 not much used. A most sjjlendid market has been lately erected between St. Paul-street and the convent of the Gray Sisters. Though it is not yet numerously attend- ed, there can be no doubt that it will soon be the most public in the city, as it is well situated for a market, and the accommodation is superior. The building is 350 feet long, and the plan is similar to that of the Hun- gerford market, London. It is three stories high, but the ground story is in part below the surface. The Hay and Wood markets occupy each end of McGill-street. The Champ de Mars, is a place for military exercise, and is an excel- lent parade ground, though not very extensive. It might be rendered an agreeable promenade for the inhabitants, and something of the kind is much wanted in Montreal. There is not in the city or neighbourhood, a suitable promenade or public garden, with the exception of one botani- cal garden at Cote au Barron, which is rather far from the city. On the rising grounds close to the city, or on the river banks, are many suitable and beautiful situations for public gardens, that would, if properly con- ducted, amply repay the expenditure, and promote the health and enjoy- ment of the citizens. Quebec is equally destitute of a public promenade or garden, though affording many delightful situations for both in the neighbourhood of the city. Human beings confined in cities, require re- creation occasionally ; and public gardens, conducted on a proper plan, would afford in summer the most pleasing, healthful and rational amuse- ment that could be desired, and need not be expensive. The rising lands immediately near the city, and the river banks above and below the port, offer many eligible and beautiful sites for country re- sidences. Latterly a few have been erected, but only a few. At some future period, the neighbourhood of Montreal will, no doubt, be thickly studded with handsome villas, cottages and gardens ; and I do not think it possible to find more desirable or charming situations. The soil is suitable for gardens and fruit, and the market and stores of Montreal are always well and cheaply supplied with every necessary and luxury. Gentlemen of small fortunes could live cheaper and better in Montreal or its neigh- bourhood, than in any part of the British Isles, or of North America. The rapid of St. Mary, about a mile below the port of Montreal, was, heretofore, a great disadvantage to the harbour ; ships could not stem the current except with a strong easterly wind. Latterly, steam towboats, impelled by steam engines of 160 to 200 horse power, tow ships from Quebec, lioin one to half a dozen together, and will tow them up the ra- id volumes zines, &c. erate. tre Dame- stalls, and for the use iie is at all ipper story, !, but suffi- )een erect- 1. A most eet and the isly attend- in the city, Is superior, if the Hun- round story ccupy each s an excel- endered an the kind is hbourhood, one botani- y. On the iiy suitable )perly con- and enjoy- promenade joth in the require re- iroper plan, •nal amuse- anks above 30untry re- At some be thickly not think it is suitable arc always Gentlemen its neigh- terica. itreal, was, ot stem the towboats, ihips from up the ra- sa rtids St. Mary two or three at a time. By this means most ships vhich bring out goods from England to Montreal come tip to that port before they discharge their cargoes, ns they were obliged to do formerly. The Lake St. Peter offers some obstruction to large vcsgcIs heavily laden, as it is in many places shallow. It 's, however, proposed to deepen a channel through this lake, a measure that can be easily accomplished, by a suitable steam-dredging machine, as the bottom of the lake is compos- ed of such materials as will not offer much obstruction to a dredging ma- chine, judiciously constructed. The intercourse between Montreal and Quebec, is constantly continued from the moment the river is clear of ice in spring, until it again becomes closed with ice in winter : this is always seven months at least, and sometimes nearly eight. In spring, the ice often continues at Quebec several days after it is dear at Montreal. I have repeatedly known steamboats to leave Montreal for Quebec, from the 15th of April to the 21st, and the navigation to continue until the 16th December ; but from the 25th of April to the first week of December is the usual term that the navigation is open. Every day during that time, Sundays excepted, a steamboat leaves Montreal for Quebec, and from Quebec for Montreal. The charge for cabin passengers is five dollars down, and six dollars up, board included, a charge that is generally con- sidered considerably over what it might be, and fairly remunerate proprietors of steamers. Steerage passengers pay one dollar and a half up, and the same down, without board. The journey is performed down in about from 15 to 20 hours, and up in 24 hours, provided there is no accident, and no towing of ships. The boats stop at Sorel, 45 miles from Montreal, and take in firewood there, and laud and receive passengers and goods occasionally. At Berthier also, the opposite side of the St. Lawrence, the same distance from Montreal, steamboats stop. At Port St. Francis, on the south shore of I^ake St. Peter, about 9 miles from Three-Rivers, stores and a wharf have lately been erected by the British American Land Company, for the convenience of landing passen- gers and goods destined for their lands in the eastern townships. From this point there is a road to these townships, and to settlers going there, it is much the shortest and least expensive route. At Three-Rivers, on the north side of the St. Lawrence, 90 miles from Quebec and the same distance from Montreal, is another stopping place, and here the steam- ers generally take in wood sufficient for the boat's use to Quebec, and for the return to Three-Rivers, as the particular description of wood they use {tamarack or einuelte rouge), is obtained at Three-Rivers, in abun- dance, and at a low price ; there is no other stopping place to Quebec. At the Richelieu rapids, about 50 miles from Three-Rivers, or little more than half way from that town to Quebec, the St. Lawrence is greatly con- tracted in its bed by high lands on each shore, and large mi\sses of rocks, and the river in consequence becomes very rapid, and in time of low wa- ter leaves but a narrow channel. Steamboats going towards Quebec, may pass the rapids at any state of the tide, but in coming up the river from Quebec, the stcmbcats generally leave that port at an hour that will give them the tide in their favour in passing the rapids. The tide . rises about 8 orlO feet at the Richelieu rapids, and extends its influence \ as high as Three-Rivers, whcro it rises about 2 feet ; its influence is not I !(' 26 'Is I ih; .■|! i:) ■'■! M' ( 1 very perceptible higher than Three-Ri\'ers. When Uie boats lose the tide they have to anchor below the rapids, and wait for the next tide ; this does not often occur. Sixteen years back, there was no mode of communication with the op- posite shore of the St. Lawrence at Montreal, except by batteaus or ca- noes ; very frequently accidents occurred, and the loss of many lives. Now there are two or three steamers plying between Montreal and Lap- rairie (a distance of 9 miles,) and other points on the south shore of the St. Lawrence. There is a horse-boat used on the traverse below the Current St. Mary to Longueuil, on the opposite shore. Regular stages ply between Laprairie and St. Johns, and form the line of communica- tion from Montreal to New- York, the stages meeting the Lake Cham- plain steamers at St. Johns. A rail-road is now nearly completed be- tween Laprairie and St. Johns, and will go into operation early next sum- mer. This will be of incalculable advantage to Montreal, and greatly increase the communication between that city and the United States. The road from Laprairie to St. Johns has been hitherto most wretchedly bad, but in future this inconvenience will be at an end. I believe there is no country in the world more favourable for the construction of rail- roads than Lower-Canada generally, it has such a level surface. On the line of the Laprairie rail-road, it is almost perfectly level. Montreal is admirably well situated for commerce, and when Canada becomes better settled, and her immense territory producing abundantly, that city must become one of the first on the continent of America. The climate is agreeable and healthful, and the surrounding country has a most fertile soil. The city of Montreal sends four members to the provincial parliament. It has four banks, the Montreal bank, City bank, the People's bank, and Commercial bank. The two latter are private banks, and the two former are chartered banks, managed by a president and directors, annually elected. The Montreal bank has a capital of ^€250,000, and the City bank a capital of<;£200,000, all paid up ; they discount at 6 per cent., and the notes of all the banks circulate freely, and extensively. The charters of the Montreal and City banks expire in 1837. See bank statement. The county of Beauharnois, is situated on the south side of the St. Lawrence, and comes to a point westward, where the boundary line be- tween the United States and Canada touches the St. Lawrence, It is bounded on the south side by the State of New- York, and east by the counties of L'Acadie and Laprairie. It is watered by the Chateauguay and its branches, and several small streams. The soil is generally of good quality, though some is light and sandy. The right hon. E. Ellice, of London, owns the only seigniory in this county, which comprises nearly half its extent. It is one of those seigniories in which the rent of wild land is raised to 6d. the arpent ; but more of this in another place. There is still, I believe, a considerable quantity of land unconcedcd in this county ; about a fifth part only is cultivated, 75,000 acres. The county of L'Acadie, is bounded cast by the county of Richelieu ; north by Chambly and Laprairie counties ; west by the county of Beau- harnois, and south by the State of New- York. It is watered by the Montreal, Lacolle, and La Tortue rivers, and is watered on the east side by the drainir dustri( the iar The west, Cham\ St. Ri surface plied fl are oc( village progres Lower' except nient in produc< oash to ncrally ceedin^ The south-w east, by It is wa by the 1 being c< waters Johns, I Champli I well con and the locks ai , The cai I of aboul I ticularly t ofthetn I ^^^^^- ' I most ger I good quf I in a wasi II at Cham ^ The C( ofChaml between : the soutli distances 3 watered I very Icvc |ory5,00( at'UUcd on its lose tlie next tide ; ivith the op- tcaus or ca- (nany lives. U and Lap' shore of the below the ;ular stages jommimica- iake Cham- impleted be- y next sum- and greatly ited States. t wretchedly lelieve there tion of rail- ce. On the Montreal is ;omes better at city must 16 climate is most fertile I parliament. 's bank, and e two former rs, annually nd the City zv cent., and The charters tatement. le of the St. Jary line be- •ence. It is 1 east by the [!)hateauguay rally of good E. Ellice, of )rises nearly rent of wild ace. There idod in this f Richelieu ; nty of Beau- tered by the the east side I 27 by the Richelieu, which forms its boundary. Much Oi the soil requires draining, and a part is stony, but is naturally of good quality. The in- dustrious husbandman might do much for its amelioration. I believe all the land is occupied, and about one-third, 42,000 acres, cultivated. The county of Laprairie, is bounded north by the St. Lawrence ; west, by the county of Beauharnois ; south and east, by L'Acadio and Chambly counties. It is watered by the rivers Montreal, La Tortue, and St. Rigis, and near its west boundary, by the river Chateauguay, The surface is extremely level. Most of the soil is good, and Montreal is sup- plied with a large portion of the best hay from this county. All the lands are occupied, and nearly two-thirds, 92,000 acres, are cultivated. The village of Laprairie is pleasantly situated, but it has not made any great progress in improvement or t-xtent, for several years. In a country such as Lower-Canada, where there are scarcely any manufactories established, except in the farmers' houses, the villages have no great chance of improve- ment immediately. The farmers have to go to the cities to dispose of their produce, and there they buy most of what they require, when they have cash to pay for what they want. The shop keepers in villages sell ge- nerally on credit, at greatly advanced prices, and this credit is often ex- ceedingly injurious to the farmers. I shall advert to this subject again. The county of Chambly, is bounded north-west by the St. Lawrence ; south-west, by the county of Laprairie ; south, by the county of L'Acndic ; cast, by the river Richelieu, and north-east by the county of Verchiires. It is watered on two sides by the St. Lawrence and Richelieu rivers, and by the Montreal which discharges into the Chambly bason. A canal is being constructed and nearly completed, whic'-- connects the navigable waters of the Richelieu at the Chambly basin with the same river at St. Johns, where it becomes again navigable, and continues so to Lake Champlain, in the United States. This canal is 10 miles in length, and well constructed ; the fall from St. Johns to the Chambly basin is and the river is one continued rapid almost all that distance. The locks are built of stone, and are, I believe, eight or ten in iiumber. The canal was constructed from the provincial revenue, at the cost of about £60,000 currency. It must have a considerable trade, par- ticularly in wood, to Quebec. The rail road, however, will direct most of the trade to Montreal, and much to the advantage of all parties inter- ested. The county of Chambly is, next to Montreal, the best settled, and most generally cultivated of any county in the province. The land is of good quality, and level surface ; all the land is occupied, and very little in a waste state, not over 16,000 acres. A college has been established at Chambly. The county of Vercheres, is bounded on the south-west by the county of Chambly, and comprises all the land from the bounds of that county, between the St. Lawrence on the north-west, and the river Richelieu on the south-east. It is of a triangular shape, and extends about the same distances on the St. Lawrence and river Richelieu. It is sufficiently watered by these rivers, and several small streams. The soil is good, very level, and well settled ; all the land is occupied, and three-fourfhs, or yr),000 acres cultivated. The village of Varenncs is delightfully si- tuated on the banks of the St. Lawrence, has a handfomr rhnrrh with •1* m I- ■• .'iV n I j 1 111 > ' ii: 98 two spires, and an cxtcDsive hotel lately erected to accommodate visi* tors who como to drink the waters ofa famous spa, near the village. The waters possess medicinal qualities ofa high character. A steamboat plys constantly in summer between Montreal and the village, a distance of 15 miles. On Sundays great numbers resort to the spa. The county of Richelieu, is bounded on the north by Lake St. Peter ; west, by the Richelieu or Sorel river and county of Verch^res ; south, by the county of Rouville, and east, by the counties of St. Hyacinthe and Yamaska. It is watered abundantly by the Richelieu and Yamaska ri- vers, and several smaller streams. The soil in some parts is excellent, but much of it is light and sandy ; it is, however, capable generally of re- warding the industrious husbandman. I believe all the land is occupied, though not one-third, or 70,000 arpents, is cultivated. The borough of Sorel or William Henry, is beautifully situated on the point where the river Richelieu discharges into the St. Lawrence. The streets are re- gularly laid out, and cross at right angles. There is a square also marked out, but there has been scarcely any improvement or increase for the last 20 years. The Catholic church is built a short distance from the village. The English church stands in the square, and the parsoR'^.ge house close to it. The number of houses in this town is perhaps 250, and a population of about 1200. It returns one member to the provincial parliament. There is a good house, much in the style of the best description of farm houses, which belongs to the government, and has been occupied occasionally in the summer season by the governors in chief. It is pleasantly situated on the banks of the river RichcliL-u, about half a mile from the village : some land is attached. The situation is healthtui, aud the scenery has considerable beauty, but I believe these are the only advantages it can boast of. The county of Rouville, is bounded west by the river Richelieu, and and north by the county of Richelieu ; east, by the counties of St. Hya- cinthe and Missiskoui. It is low, and ofa level surface, requiring much draining. The soil is naturally of good quality, if judiciously managed. The greater part of the land is occupied, but only one-fifth, 64,000 ar- pents, in cultivation. Missiskoui bay comes in between this county and the county of Missiskoui. It is sufficiently watered by the river and bay on two sides, and by many small streams. The county of St. Hyacinthe is bounded on the north by the county of Richelieu, and west by the same county, and that of Rouville ; souther- ly and easterly, by the counties of Sheffbrd and Drummond. The river Yamaska has its course through this county, and with its branches, wa- ters it abundantly. The soil is of good quality. In this county there are two mountains of considerable height, Yamaska and Rougemont. In this part of the country, there are several other high lands which con- siderably improve the scenery, where the country in general is so flat ; they are distinguished by the names Beloeil, Boucherville, Chambly, and Mount Johnston. Much of the land is yet unconceded, and not much over a sixth part, 60,000 arpents, is in cultivation. There is an exten- sive college established at the village of St. Hyacinthe. The county of Missiskoui, is bounded on the north by the county of ^h<^0bi:d ; on the west, by the county of Rouville and Missiskoui bay ; mg. sive. m •date vi8i> age. The iteamboat I distance t. Peter ; i ; south, inthe and maska ri- excellent, illy of re- occupied, orough of where the its are re- o marked )r the last >e village. le close to tulation of It. There n houses, ionnlly in Y situated i village : encry has ^es it can Btieu, and St. Hya- ing much managed. 14,000 ar- }unty and r and bay county of souther- The river ches, wa- inty there tugemont. hich con- s so flat ; mbly, and not much an exten- county of (oui bay ; on the eouih, by the Htate of Vermont, and on Ihc cast, by (he county of Stanstead. It is well watered by the JMissiskoui and Pike rivers, and several smaller streams. The soil is good, but much of it requires drain- ing. The land is mostly occupied, but not one -fourth, 60,000 acres, is cultivated. I believe this county to be very favourable for stock farming. In Lower-Canada, the towns and villages are not numerous or exten- sive. There are scarcely any manufactures except the tanning of leather, carried on in the villages. Most of the woollen and linen manufactures are confined to the farmers' houses. The town, or borough of Three- Rivers, is next in extent to Montreal and Quebec ; it has about 600 houses, and 3,000 inhabitants. It returns two members to the provincial parliament. The town of Sorel, or William Henry, has about 250 houses, and perhaps 1200 inhabitants, and returns one member to parlia- ment. The town of St. Johns, on the river Richelieu, has 300 houses, and near 2,000 inhabitants. This small town is very likely to increase and improve rapidly when the rail-road from that place to Laprairie goes into operation. It is the great thoroughfare between Canada and the United States. The small town of Aubegny, opposite to Quebec, does not contain over 100 houses. These are the only places that are consi- dered to deserve the name of towns at present. There are about 130 villages, containing perhaps, 6,100 houses ; of these villages, there are in the district of Montreal 76, Quebec 32, Three-Rivers 19, and Gaspd 3. In each of these villages there is sure to be a handsome church, and in some, more than one, where there are protestant congregations. The total number of houses supposed to be in cities, towns and villages, is about 16,600« 1.1ier« are post oflices established in alnio«:( every city, town, and vil- lage in Lower-Canada. On the 16th February, 1836, the number was 128, in the following places : i Abbottsford Aylmer Baiedes Chaleurs Babyville Beauharnois Bedford Berthier Berthier en Bas Bic Bolton Boucherville Brome ' ' Brompton Buckingham B^caneotir Barnston Cap Sant^ Cascades Chambly Chateauguay Chuthau) Cham plain Churchville Cacona Complon Coteau du Lac Clarcncevillc Chateau Richer Danville Drummondville Dundee Dunham Dewittville - Eaton Frelighsburgh Gaspd Gentilly Georgeville Granby ' Grenville Grondiues Hatley Henryville Hemmingford Hereford Huntingdon Hull Isle aux Noix, Isle Verte Industry Kamouraska La Baie La Beauce Lachine Lacolle Laprairie L'Assomption LennoxviSle Lotbiniere Les Eboulemens Lochabar ^i- i ^1 «Uli. ' i Ji i L'IsIet Lachnte Lacadie =' " Manningvillcj Murirty Bay Montreal Napiervillo Nicolet jVorlh Coorge Town Norton Creek New Glas^^ow Petite Nation Phillipsburg Port-Ncnf .• Pot ton ' ' ' ' Pointe Claire Quebec llawdon llichmond lligaud RiiTiou.ski ' " Riviere du Loup Riviere du Loup en Bas 30 Riviere Quelle ' '' t • RiisHcltown ' " -St Andrd ^ ' ' St. Andrews Site. Anne dc la Perade I Ste Anne do laPocutierc j Bi. Antoine I St. Cesaire j St. Charles Ste. Croix St. Denis Enstache Francis ii« I ■. . t. St. St. St. St. St. George Hil lire Ilyacinthe ''* St. Jean Port Joli St. Johns St. Marie de Monnoir ••I Mathias St. Nicholas St. Ours St. Pierre les Becquets 1 .!.■) "•1« St. Hemi * ^'=' ' • St. Roch des Aulnets St. Roch L'Achigan St. Thomas Shefibrd • i./i^ii. Sherbrooke >.i n^ Stanstead ' St. Paul's Bay Stukeley St. Gregoire St. Giles ••! ': Ste. Martine "I St. Jacques '^ St. Anne Bout deL'IsIe Terrebonne Trois Pistoles ■' ' ' '■'*'• Three-Rivers ''••■ Varennes ■■''!' * Vcrcheres " '• :•"! Vaudreuil • ' • » William Henry ' Yamaska ' Yamachii^he .y. To the valuable topographical and statistical description of the survey- or general of Lower-Canada, Joseph Bouchette, Esq. I am indebted for much useful information. That gentleman's work is the most interesting, so far as regards thcac provinces, that is in print. In looking over the maps of Canada, published by Mr. Bouchette, and tracing its numerous lakes and rivers, it will be perceived that no country can be more conveniently Avatered ; many of the rivers on each side the St. Lawrence may be ren- dered navigable at no great expense, and would afford steamboat com- munication between the most di.->tant parts of the province and the St. Lawrence. By building steamers of a particular construction, and light draft of water, the expense of making many of the rivers navigable would not be great ; but until the waste lands are more generally settled, this expenditure is not very npcessary. It is, however, greatly in favour of the settlement of the country to know that such facility of intercourse is practicable, whenever the produce of the soil is so increased as to make it expedient to expend capital in opening the navigation of the. ri- vers discharging into the St. Lawrence to transport this produce to the markets. In Lower-Canada, not less than sixty considerable rivers have their course through the country, besides many of smaller size, that would be thought very valuable in European countries, for mills, and other pur- poses. The number of lakes amount to more than 70, and all are abun- dantly stocked with fish. I give the names of moat of the rivers and lake^i of Lower-Canada, that appear on Mr. Bouchettc's map. ■t I *>nUi> } I In the district of Qiulcr, oic the following livrrp r.iul ]u\u3 Rivera, Lul'CS. N. of the St. La\\ rence. St. Anno Jacques Carticr Batiscan St. Charles Montmorency GouflVe Black River Belsianito St. John Portneuf Saguenay Gateneaii Licvres Petite Nation Riviere Blanche Du Nord Mascoucho L'Achigan L'Assomption Lachenay Berthier Chaloupe Du Chene St. Maurice Batiscan Champlain Du Loup Maskinongd Machiche "1 ■> :i; Tartago Matane Vladawaska ''t. Francis St. Johns N.oflhcSt.Luw. rcnce. St. Johns Commissioners Qnaquagamao VVayagainack Honchctlc Kajouhvaug Onlaratri St. Charles Chawgis Assuaxmoussin Sheconbish Mai Bay MoNTREAi. District. S. of the St. Law rcnce. Chuudiere Etchemin Du Slid Green River llimouski Trois Pistoles Mitis Richelieu Sorel Yamaska Pike Montreal L. Chateauguay Lacollo Magog Coaticook Missisquoi J White Fish Sabbis Killarncy Temiscaming Lievres La Roquo Rochoblanchc Pothier Nirtiicachihigue iPapineau Maskinongd TiiREE-RiVERS District. ■)U St. Francis Nicolet B^cancour Gentilly Yamaska (> I'.ii- O'Cananshing Mfatawin Goldfinch Shasawalaiata Montalagoose Oskelanaic Crossways Perchaudcs Blackbeavei" Bewildered ■li 1.- .1 '• S. of the St. Lau- rence, riuiiscoiiata iMatapcdiie Mitis Abawsisqiiash IjOllgltlliC Pitt Tront "" • ' ' William St. Francis McTavish iVlacananiack Memphianjagog Tomefobi IMissisqnoi Bay Scaswaninejius pt Yamaska Bay St. Louis Two-Mountains St. Francis Chaudicre Chats Aiiumcts Nicolet St. Francis Megantic ! St. Paul '• Outardes Black Lake Connecticut Weedon Scaswanincpus St. Peter h .1 77ie loild animals of Lower- Canada are, the moose-deer, cariboo, and common deer. I believe the buffalo is not now met with in Lower-Ca- nada. Bears are numerous, but not very mischievous, though of a large size. The wolf is larger than thttt of Europe, and in new settlements ve- ry frequently destroys sheep. Wolvereens, foxes, raccoons, martins, i 111 i 'Ill wild cats, Rquirrils and miiskrats. Hares aro abundant, but are not larj'ei' than rabbits ; they tnrn white in winter ; they are quite ditFerent from (he English hare. The l)eavers and otters ate still numerous in the unsettled parts, but are fast diminishing in number. It is unnecessary for me to describe these animals. Birds are numerous in sunir:;cr, and some of beautiful plumage, but few of very melodious note or song. The great- er part of the birds migrate to a warmer country at the approach of win- ter, and return in spring. The wild pigeon comes from the south in spring, in prodigious numbers, to breed in the Canadian forests. They are shot, and taken with nets in great quantities, and are excellent eating. The goose, duck, partridge, woodcock, snipe and plover, are equal to those of the British Isles. The crows, though numerous, are not very troublesome. Domestic fowls are abundant, and breed with little care. Snakes^ are common, but perfectly harmless. Frogs and toads are much more noisy than in England. In spring they keep up an incessant croaking and whistling during the evenings and nights. Insects, are abundant and troublesome, particularly in the w(*od. Mus- quitoes, are a great annoyance to those who have to work in woods, or near them in the sheltered situations, in summer. The fire-fly in the summer enlightens the night with its vivid flashing, and to a stranger, the sparkling of this insect, as it flies about at night, appears strange. Callerpillars, and other vermin, are often extremely troublesome in the spring, and do great damage. Fortunately they aro only occasional vi- sitors. Forests. The natural produce of Canada is forest trees of every size and variety of species ; oak, elm, ash, birch, maple, walnut or butternut, chesnut, cherry, hiccory, iron-wood, hazel, pine, hemlock, spruce, tarn- marack, cedar, and many other varieties, not necessary to name. The maple is a beautiful tree, and produces the maple sugar from its sap, which it yields abundantly in spring from an incision made in the bark. This sap, by a prosses of boiling, is converted into a ric^h, and to the taste of most persons, a pleasant sugar. A large quantity of this sugar might be manufactured in Canada annually ; but there is nut much attention given to it as imported sugar is cheap. The elm is a beautiful tree, when one is lefl occasionally in clearing the forest ; it is more likely to stand alone, take secure root, and flourish than most other trees. Trees stand- ing close together in the forest, do not send out branches to so great nn extent as trees that are regularly planted ; but when scattered trees are left for shelter and ornament, they soon extend their branches, and pos- sess all the beauty of ornamental trees in other countries, and even in a greater degree. It is necessary, however, to leave such trees as are not full grown, or too high, otherwise they will be sure to be blown down when they lose the shelter of the forest. The forest trees do not extend their roots downwards, or horizontally, to the same extent as trees do in Britain, and are very subject to be torn up by the roots, particularly eve- ry variety of pine, or evergreen. The forests of this continent afford an ample, indeed an incxhaustib!? supply of timber of every description re- quired for use in the British isles, and the distance is not so great when two voyages out, and two return voyages can be accomplished in six months with case, and almost certaintv. Three voyages out, and I not InrjEfftf It from I he ! unsettled ' for me to id some of rhe grent- ch of win- le south in ts. They ent eating, 'e cquul to 9 not very iltle care, toads aie I incessant )od. Mus- woods, or -fly in the ranger, the ge. ome in the asional vi- every size butternut, truce, tam- me. The am its su|>, 1 the bark. o the taste igar might attention tree, when y to stand ees stand- great nn trees are and pos- 1 even in a as are not own down not extend trees do in ularly eve- : aflbrd an ;ription re- ; so great pUshed in f out, and ;f three return voyages have beon more than once accomplished In a year. The improvement of the river navigation, the cutting of canals, and con- structing of rail-roads, will make the most remote forests of Canada ac- cessible, and the cost of these improvements will be amply reimbursed by the produce that may be brought to market by means of navigable li- vers, canals, and rail- roads ; and this produce must remain useless and unprofitable, until means of communication with the unsettled lands of the country is rendered practicable. Climate. The following tables of temperature, I have copied from the Montreal Courier of June, 1 835. They were furnished by a member of the Montreal Naturoi History Society, and, I believe, may be relied upon as substantially correct. The means of the months are said to have been deduced from the scries of two daily observations, the one at 7 o'clock, a. m. and the other at 3 o'clock, p. m. The mean temperature of the seasons, and the hottest and coldest days in each year, with the date and temperature, arc also given. The seasons are not of the same duration here as is allotted to them in England. The spring sowing time seldom commences before the 8th or 10th of April, and sowing and planting is generally over about the same date in June ; so that the spring, or sow- ing season, is seldom more than from six weeks to two months ; and in the neighbourhood of Quebec, not so long, as its commencement is usu- ally from one to two weeks later than near Montreal, or west of it. The summer may be said to be about two months duration ; autumn two months ; fall, or ploughing time, two months ; and winter four months. The winter, however, varies in its duration from four to five months, but seldom commences before the 21st of November, and generally ends from the 1st to the 15th of April. I have for the last three years, sown wheat from the 1st to the 8th of Apri/, on the island of Montreal ; but sowing seldom commences before the latter date, and more frequently several days later. The rapid progress of vegetation is surprising ; spring wheat is generally from three to four months in coming to matu- rity from sowing time. Barley and oats about the same, and, I may add, potatoes. Hay is not much over two months in coming to maturity. Mean Temperature for the Montlis of the Yeai •s, Months. 1826 1827 1828 1829 1830 1831 1832 1833 1834 1835 Kingston, U. Cana- da, 18S2. January 17.6 12.4 17.8 13.5 12.10 13.8 16.0 18.7 11.3 17.1 19.6 Febr'y. 21.4 19.3 26.9 14.2 17.7 io.g 16.2 14.9 27.9 13.7 11.7 March 28.9 32.0 33.6 31.0 32.6 36.0 30.1 27.0 29.4 29.2 27.4 April 42.9 '46.2 44.6 46.2 52.9 47.2 41.9 47.0 49.1 10.2 40.6 May 65.4 '57.4 63.0 64.5 59.6 62.5 ,58.1 61.8 56.8 56.8 58.9 June 72.3 '69.2 76.2 68.9 67.2 75.0 68.1 64.8 65.3 65.5 66.4 July 76.9 173.0 73.9 71.9 75.1 74.9 76.7 72.2 76.3 70.8 70.8 August 73.8 69.0 76.3 71.8 73.7 73.1 71.6 67.6 69.6 67.8 68.0 Sept. 63.0,63.0 62.9 67.0 60.8 61.2 63.1 61.1 62.7 56.7 60.6 i October 49.6 47.4 46.3 50.3 53.7 50.5 49.2 45.3 45.3 49.0 49.9 Nov. 33.9 28.6 28.6 34.5 41.6 37.1 33.8 33.6 34.6 38.8 37.3 Dec. 20.0 19.2 18.6 28.8 27.1 9.6 18.6 24.8 13.8 10.8 26.8 (iii- m r / !'• I M \l i|' II i JVf«a;i Temp»ratur$ oj lh$ Seasons. S|)ring, supposed to begin the 20th March, and to end the 20th June, each year. Mean Tempera- ture. I826|l827|182b|1829|1830|1831|1832|1833|l834|18;i5 6ft.2|54.1 |56.8 |56.3 |6ti.2 [58.3 |51.6 |54.0 |62.2 |4U.tf Summer, supposed to begin the 21st June, and ending the 20th of Sep- tember, each year. Mean Tempera- ture. 1826|1827|1828|1829|1830|1831|1832|1833|1834|1836 78.5 |68.ri |73.4 |67.9 [70.8 [70.7 [69.6 |68.0 |77.4 [66.8 Autumn, supposed to begin the 21st of September, and ending the 20th December, each year. Mean Tempera- ture. 1826|1827|1828|1829|1830|1831[1832[1833|1834|I835 40.1 |36.1 [37.8 |40.3 [44.3 37.7 |38.8 [^8.8 |ab.4 {iid.ii Winter, supposed to begin the 21st December, and ending the 20tL March, each year. Mean Temper- ature. 1826|1827 1828|1829[1830|1831 1832[1833[1834[1835 17.3 23.0 [15.7 [22.1 21.9 17.6 [17.0 [22.2 |17.1 [17. ft L VI, Mean Temperature of the years, ; ' 1826 - 47.1 1830 - 47.8 1834 - - 46.0 ■If- 1827 - 44.7 1831 - 46.8 183G - - 42.9 , :■.— 1828 - 47.3 1832 - 44.7 ■ K ; 1829 - 46.0 1833 - 44.8 th'.ti. Upper Canada in 1832 - - . . 44.6 Mean temperature for the city of Montreal, - - 45.7 i;D iKi-.y- Maximum and minimum Temperature in each year. maximum, minimum, 1826, 1827, maximum 1828, 1629, maximum. •{ mmimum, maximum, minimum. 1830, 1831, mmtmum, maximum, minimum, maximum, minimum, July Feb. July July Feb June Dec June July Jan July Jan June Dec. 12th, 96x 1st, 28 8th, 86x nth, 86x 12th, 20 27th, 98x 29th, 20 6th, 91x 11th, 94x 4th, 23 17th, 93x 31st, 20 1st, 97x 22d 17 rJuly .Tiilv , 2d 89x 1832^ maximum^ ^"j^ ^J f^^ j July 8th 89x L Aug 31st' 89x «n;«,rv,..r« i Jan 29th 17 mmimum, J ^^^ ^^^^ ^^ 1833, maximum, H""^23d 90x ( Aug 21st 90x minimum, Jan 19th 25 1834, maximum, minimum, 1335, maximum, minimum, July 25th g6x Jan 25th 16 Aug 10th 98x Dec 17th 26 '•■'.• '. •'"'.■••'( •'. : ) i).'^t .'j')\ '^ Fortha ; J 85 20th June, 3 i834|18»5 1 |52.2 |49.8 0th of Sep- )| 1 834 1 1836 [77.4 |66.8 ng the 20th t|l834|J835 |c{b.4|33.3 g the 20tL |1834 1835 17.1 1 17. 5 I ')'i', f'i' t6.0 12.9 14.6 16.7 ■>:=^f'-' . ir. 2d 89x 6th 89x 8th 89x 31st' 89x 29th 17 25th 17 i 23d 90x 21st 90x 19th 26 26th 96x 26th 16 10th 98x 17th 26 The tnefin of the jear 1636, was more than two degrees lower than any of the other ten years, and I behevo it was lower than any for the last twenty years. It was also remarkable for its humidity, during the months of July, August, September and October. Though the rain did not fall in great quantities together, its frequent occurrence proved ex- tremely injurious to the ripening and harvesting of the crops. The mean of the year 1830, on the contrary, was the highest of the ten years, and the crops were excellent. The range of temperature of the Canada cUmate in the year 1836 was 123 degrees, or from 98 above to 26 be- low zero ; and I have seen it range in one year 130 degrees, or from 100 above to 30 below zero. The climate is, notwithstanding, extremely healthful. It may be interesting to show the difference of mean temperature in Upper and Lower Canada during one year, and the number of fine and wet or snowy days. J-iOwer-Canada. Upper-Canada. For the year. Max Mln. Mean. Fine Diiy.H Haiii or Snow. 1 1 Ma.v. Mln. Mean. Kiiie Dny*. Haln or Snow. 68 2i 11 75 42 1 .309 60 73 8 2.5 72 -18 37 27fi 89 For the months June, July and Aiii?ii'>t 99 33 68 83 77 57 75 17 99 66 57 33 77 37 1 76 16 Winter monthr'ja 66 i 2132 U 25 Snow 16 33 .» 67 22 49 I Snow. Table shelving the number of days on ivliich rain or anew Jell, number of fair days, and quantity of rain, in each month of the following years, in Montreal, Loicer-Canada. For this table 1 am indebted to the hindness of Doctor Robertson. -*.i ' *■ 1831. 1832. 1833. 1834. 1835. Mentha. Si %■ ■n J > i J i 2 , > ■ s . » ■a 5q '3 o c ■ti 'i5 lb 5 a 2! o a ■D .a = 5 '5 e '3 ■a S -J .s a 1 i 03 1 1b '3 c c '3 January 73 3 5 23 63 3 10 18 63 2 lU ir ti 2 23 3 7 ai Feb'ry 4o 1 9 IS 14 !•■. 10 IS 6S 4 2 ai £0 2 7 19 March 3 75 7 () 18 46 2 7 22 60 8 7 21 1 85 4 8 1! 6(i 2 7 22 April M^y 3 84 11 3 16 1 35 fi 4 2:) 1 85 6 44 1 60 5 2.: 3 30 8 6 IH 3 12 2 17 4 3G 1-1 V, 5 10 11 2:i 3 14 10 21 3 60 9 22 Juno 4 Ifi 10 2i) 1 80 6 44 4 80 12 IS 3 29 12 18 4 23 14 Ifl July 4 2' 13 18 3 43 12 in 3 43 14 17 1 86 8 2: 3 91 10 21 August 2 9S 1 21 1 47 6 25 8 8.'5 13 IS 1 81 9 22 6 21 In in Sept. 2 86 15 16 1 8S 11 in 2 71 10 2() 1 7.) 11 1» 1 79 11 19 October 4 92 18 18 2 95 10 21 5 60 12 10 2 on 10 1 20 4 12 IP. 1 17 Novem. 1 34 8 5 17 2 30 7 6 17 75 4 4 22 22 2 5 2:» 1 lo! 3 5 22 Decern. 14 17 8 23 6 2 6 23 6,2 7 22 Total, 32 18 100 t4 22l 20 02 77 49 2Hil 34 20 87 3:2'! 19 00 7.5 :o 2^50 24 65 92 40( 213 Average of the five years, 86 1-5 days rain ; quantity, 2G inches 98 parts. Days on which most rain fell, August 16th, 1833, 3 inches. Av- erage of the five ycar.s on which snow fell, 40 day.s. Average of fair days in each year, 2-10 less by a fraction. The number of fine days was greatest in the harvest months, July, August and Spplember, of the years 1832, and 1834. In the former it was 63, and in the latter 61 days. In 1833, and 1635 particularly, the harvests were very nnfuvovablo. The 8* r» fill i 1 !■ .■i I. i r I ! r • It rl jiji i days that were fair, did not dry much until tnoro rain fell, ond the crops Bulforod more in 1835 than in any year previous for the last eighteen years. In the district of Quebec and Three-Rivers, the snow is much deeper in winter than in the district of Montreal. In the former it lies from three to four feet deep on an average, and in the latter from two to three feet in depth. In the former district and that of Three-Kivern, the snow gene- rally first covers the ground from the 2 1st of November to the Ist of De- cember, and continues until the 1st of April, and perhaps to the 16th, and sometime?, though not frequently, disappears before the Ist of April. In the district of Montreal, though the snow may oocnsionally fall as ear- ly and continue as long on the ground as the periods I have stated, yet I have seen the ground frequently free of snow at tho end of December, and the latter end of March. The St. Lawrence becomes frozen over near Montreal, and passable by horses and sleighs about the end of De- cember, or early in January. The last year, 1836, it was passable at a more early period than has been remembered for many years, about the lOth or 12th of December, and the winter commenced unusually severe and early, and continued so throughout to the end of Februory, 1836. The cold is not often continued in the greatest intensity longer than two or three days at one time ; the third day it becomes milder, and perhaps would be succeeded by several days of mild weather, or even a month together. A snow drift is more disagreeable than the most intense cold. This oc- curs after a fall of snow. A high wind from the north-east or north-west, drifts the dry snow so as to obscure almost every object like a cloud of dust, and fills up the roads, and renders them impassable ; indeed it is im- possible to leave the shelter of a house, in time of a drift, with any plea- sure or convenience. There is not, however, more than one-third or one-fourth of the days of winter, that arc disagreeable from excessive cold or drifting, and in some winters pcrhaps*not twenty days altogether. The coldest days in the year do not prevent working in the woods, where tho shelter makes it more moderate, and cutting down the large trees will be sure to keep the labouring man sufiiciently warm. GovEnNMENT. In the year 1791, a bill was parsed by the British Parliament establishing a constitution in Canada. This bill divided what was formerly the province of Quebec, into two distinct governments, by the appellations of Upper and Lower Canada. Councils, nominated by the King, and Houses of Assembly, chosen by the people, were establish- ed in each. The Habeas Coifus Jict was asserted as a fundamental law of their constitution, and by a very important clause, the British parlia- ment were restrained from imposing any taxes whatever, but such as might be necessary for the regulation f trade or commerce ; and the pro- duce of such taxes was to be at the disposal of the respective provincial legislatures. Mr. Belsham, the English historian, in alluding to this act says : " This bill contained a noble charter of liberty, and did honor to the minister who proposed, and to the assembly which adopted it." This admission from Mr. Belsham in favour of this bill of Mr. Pitt, is a strong recommendation, as he was not accustomed to commend that minister, or his acts. The provincial parliament of Lower-Canada at present consists of the i tho crops St eighteen ich deeper from three iireo feet in mow gene- IstofDe- >the 16th, Bt of April, fall as eor- lated, yet I December, jrozen over end of De- ssnble at a i, about the lally severe 1836. The Avo or three IS would be 1 together. I. Thisoc- north-west, a cloud of eedit is im- h any plea- ne-third or excessive altogether. Ihe woods, n the large the British vided what nments, by minated by establish- mental law tish parlia- ut such as nd the pro- provincial to this act I honor to opted it." [r. Pitt, is mend that sistsofthe T>f- 87 Governor-in-Cbief, appointed by tho king ; between 80 and 40 legislative councillors, also appointed by the crown, torming the second estate ; and the representative assembly, or third estate, now compoHcd of 88 mem- bers, and consisting of four citizens from each u( the citifs of Quebec and Montreal, three burgesses, two from Three-Uivers and one from So- rel, or William Henry, and the remaining 77 knights of the shire returned to represent the 40 counties into which Lower-Canada is now divided. The members of the council are appointed for life, unless they forfeit their seats by an absence of four years from the province, or by paying allegiance to a foreign power. The representative assembly are elected for four years, and are chosen in the counties by proprietors of landed property of tho clear yearly -.alue of 40s. or upwards, and in cities and towns by electors who must possess a lot of ground and dwelling houso of the yearly value of £5 sterling, or must have puid for one year ut least, a rent of iJlO per annum. Those who possess real property in towns, have a vote in the counties as well as in the towns, lut the county free- holders have not the privilege of voting in towns. The parliament must be assembled at least once in each year, and the house of assembly may continue four years at most, but may be diiisolved nt any time before the termination of that period by the king's representative. There are near 60,000 electors possessing real property, nnd nliuut 3,000 electors in the cities and boroughs. All except clergymen, I believe, are eligible as re- presentatives, no qualification as to property being required. The gov- ernors give the royal sanction to most of the bills passed by the other branches of the legislature, and very rarely reject any bill so offered. Bills have, however, been very frequently reserved by the governors for the king's approval, and bills so referred to England have, in mos* cases, received the royal sanction. There is one privilege reserved to the king of rather extraordinary nature, that of disallowing within two years, bills that have been passed by both houses, and assented to by the governor. Though this right has not been acted upon only in one instance, I believe it is calculated to give the laws an unsettled character ; and, indeed, it is difficult to discover why it should be iri anary to take so long a time as two years to understand perfectly the provisions of an act, and their pro- bable effect on the prosperity of the provinces. I must refer the reader to the constitutional act of 1791, Mhich will shew clearly what privileges were granted to the colonies, and ut what particular instances the colo- nial legislatures were restricted in their powers of legislation. To what- ever extent that act has granted them the power of legislation, to that full extent of power they are entitled, and cannot be dejirived of it, but with their own consent, or by committing some act contrary to their allegiance to the British crown. This opinion I have always entertained. In the instructions to the new Governor of Upper-Canada from the colonial Se- cretary, Lord Glenelg, dated Downing-street, December 16th, 1836, his Lordship says : *' Parliamentary legislation on any subject of exclu- sively internal concern, in any British colony possessing a rej)resentative assembly, is, as a general rule, unconstitutional ; unless, indeed," as he ob- serves in another place, *' both houses should concur in soliciting that in- terposition, in tohich event there would of course be an end to the consti- tutional objections already noticed." This admission ought to be very f M m I II! i m \ ' J : * 1 1 i ' 1. as satisfactory to the colonists. The best security that can be found for the allegiance of the people of British America to the British crown, is by al- lowing them to enjoy as much freedom in the management of their own in- ternal affairs as will be consistent with their constituting a portion of the British empire ; that they should have nothing to envy in any other govern- ment; that the advantages of continuing the connection withBritain, should be perfectly clear and unequivocal ; and the commercial intercourse be- tween them established on the principle o{ perfect reciprocity ; that if you buy from me, what you may want of ray produce, I shall, in return, buy from you what I require of the produce you have to dispose of, and the produce be received into each country, as nearly as possible at the same rate of duty, according to the value of the article. Let no one suppose that I express myself in this manner from dis- affection towards the British government. On the contrary, no man can be more anxious to maintain the connection between Britain and her American provinces, from a conviction that it would be advantageous to both countries. I feel, however, that from the peculiar situation and cir- cumstances of these provinces, the connection will be better and more per- manently maintained by that system of government, and freedom of com- mercial intercourse that would convince the people that it was their inter' est to continue the connection, and that they could not make a change for the better, or improve their condition, were it in their power to establish their own independence, or unite with any other state. I am persuaded that all that is necessary to secure the firm allegiance of the provinces may be granted without any sacrifice on the part of the British people or government. I shall return to this subject in another place. I believe I am correct in stating that the statute laws now in force in the feudal section of Lower-Canada, are the following. The acts of the British parliament which extend to the colonies ; capitulations and trea- ties ; the laws and customs of Canada, founded principally on the juris- prudence of the parliament of Paris, as it stood in 1663 ; the edicts of the French kings, and their colonial authorities, and the Roman civil law ; the criminal law of England, as it stood in 1774, and as explained by subsequent statutes ; the ordinances of the governor and council estab- lished by the act of 1774, and the acts of the provincial legislature since 1792. The act of the British parliament of 1826, called the Canada Te- nures Act, has established the English civil laws in all parts of Lower- Canada, except in the seigniories, where the above recited laws are still in force. The judiciary consists of a high court of appeals, presided over by the governor, two chief justices, and the executive council. Should the suit in appeal exceed in value ,£500, an appeal can be made from this court to the king in council ; if below that sum, the Canadian court of ap- peal's decision is final. A court of king's bench, presided over by the chief justice of the province, and three puisne justices for the district of Que- bec, and another court of king's bench, chief justice, and three puisne justices for the district of Montreal. There are also- three provincial courts, Three-Rivers, St. Francis and Gasp€, with one judge for each. There is a court of vice admiralty, quarter session, and other minor courts. The court of escheats consists of commissioners, who are ap- pointed by the executive, to enquire into the liability of lands to be es- li ind for the 1, is by al- eir own in- tion of the er govern- lin, should course be- that if you eturn, buy of, and the t the same from dis- r, no man in and her tageous to }n and cir- 1 more per- m of com- their inter- change for establish persuaded provinces 1 people or in force in acts of the ! and trea- i the juris- licts of the civil law ; plained by ncil estab- ture since Binada Te- of Lower- 's are still ;ided over Should the from this ourt of ap- y the chief ct of Que- -ee puisne provincial for each, ler minor JO are ap- to be es- 38 cheated, by reason of non-performance of the conditions on which they were granted. The decision is by a verdict of a jury composed of twelve men, summoned in the usual way, and the land that may be declared for- feited becomes invested in the crown. The common law of England, with some provincial statutes not re- pugnant thereto, the English admiralty laws, and English commercial laws, are in force in Canada. Registry offices have been established in the townships by an act of the provincial legislature and, I believe they are in full operation in all parts of the country, except in the seigniories. There is a registry kept by the prothonotaries of each district, wherein deeds of settlement, wills, &c. are registered ; but mortgages on property are not, and consequent- ly there can be no sure means for ascertaining, when purchasing property, whether it is mortgaged or not, unless when sold by the sheriff, as in that case all mortgages are cut off. A sale by the sheriff, does not, how- ever, affect family claims, or the rights of widows and minors ; these at- tach to the property after a sale by the sheriff, as well as before. I shall again have occasion to refer to this subject. It is one that has excited much attention and discussion. All these matters will, I hope, in due time, right themselves. If the people of any country discover that they are injuriously affected by any of their laws or customs, they must be a strange people indeed, if they will not introduce a change or remedy, if either or both are in their power. Let them be only convinced by clear demonstration that a change is necessary, and a remedy practicable, and it is impossible that they will refuse to adopt the change, or resist what they would know to be manifestly for their benefit, and calculated to pro- mote general prosperity. It may be interesting to many readers to shew what were the principal provisions of the Constitutional Act of Upper and Lower Canada, pass- ed by the Imperial Parliament of Great Britain and Ireland, in the 31st year of the reign of his Majesty George the Third. ' ; ; Chapter 31. ./ ' ' ' ' THile. An Act to repeal certain parts of an Act, passed in the 14ih year of his Majesty's reign, intituled, an act for making more effectual provision for the government of the province of Quebec, in North Ame- rica ; and for making further provision for the government of said pro- vince. Preamble recites the 14th George 3d. chap. S3, and so much of recit- ed act as relates to the appointment of a council for Quebec or its pow- ers, repealed. It then proceeds : 2nd, And whereas his Majesty has been pleased to signify by his mes- sage to both houses of parliament, his royal intention to divide his pro- vince of Quebec into two separate provinces, to be called the province of Upper-Canada, and the province of Lower-Canada ; be it enacted by the authority aforesaid, that there shall be within each of the said provinces respectively, a legislative council, and an assembly, to be severally com- posed and constituted in the manner hereinafler described ; and that in each of the said provinces respectively his Majesty, his heirs or succes- «tor», shall have power, during the continuance ofihia act, by and with wi \ fi m^ : ■ ill i\ if' 11^ 40 the advice and consent of the legislative council and assembly of 8uch provinces respectively, to make laws for the peace and welfare thereof, such laws not being repugnant to this act ; and that all such laws being passed by the legislative council and assembly of either of the said pro- vinces respectively, and assented to by his Majesty, his heirs or succes- sors, or assented to in his Majesty's name, by such person as his Ma- jesty, his heirs or successors shall, from time to time appoint to be go- vernor, or lieutenant-governor of such province, or by such person as his Majesty, his heirs or successors, shall from time to time appoint to admi- nister the government within the same, shall be, and the same are here- by declared to be, by virtue of and under the authority of this act, valid and binding to all intents and purposes whatever, within the province in which the same shall have been so passed. The act then goes on to point out how the councils and assemblies are to be appointed, and elected. 1 think it is only necessary to give the ti- tles of each section, which are as follows. His Majesty may authorize the governor, or lieutenant-governor, of each province, to summon members to the legislative council. No per- son under 21 years of age, &c. to be summoned. Members to hold their seats during life. His Majesty may annex to hereditary titles of honor the right of being summoned to the legislative council. Such descendible right forfeited, and seats in council vacated in certain cases. Hereditary rights and seats so forfeited or vacated, to remain fully ended during the lives of the parties ; but on their deaths to go to the person next entitled thereto. Seats in the council forfeited, and hereditary rights extinguish- ed for Treason. Questions respecting the right to be summoned to the council, &c. to be determined as herein mentioned. The governor of the province may remove the speaker of the legislative council. His Majesty may authorize the governor to call together the assembly, and for the purpose of electing the members, to issue a proclamation dividing the province into districtH, &c. Power of the governor to appoint re- turning officers, to continue two years from the commencement of this act. No person obliged to serve as returning officer more than once, unless otherwise provided by an act of the province. Number of mem- bers in each province, regulations for issuing writs for the election of members to serve in the assemblies, returning officers to execute writs, by whom the members arc to be chosen, certain persons not eligible to the assemblies. No person under 21 years of age, &c. capable of vot- ing, or being elected ; nor any person attainted for treason, or felony. Voters, u required, to tal;e the following oath (see the constitutional act for this,) and to make oath to the particulars herein specified. His Ma- jesty may authorize the governor to fix (he time and place of hold- inw' elections, and of holding the sessions of the council and assembly, &c. The council and assembly to be called together once in 12 months, &c. and all questions therein to be decided by the majority of votes. No member to sit or vote till he has taken the following oath. I, A. B. do sincerely promise and swear, that 1 will be faithful and bear true allegiance to his Majesty , as lawful sovereign of the king- dom of Great Britain, Ireland, and of these provinces, dependant on and belonging to the said kingdoms ; and that I will defend Him to the utmost ■■ ^i )ly of such ire thereof, laws being 3 said pro- of succes- as his Ma- t to be go- rson ns his nt to admi- le are here- s act, valid le province emblies are give the ti- [overnor, of . No per- ers to hold !es of honor descendible Hereditary I during the lext entitled extinguish- Dned to the governor of iincil. His embly, and ton dividing appoint re- lent of this than once, er of mem- election of ecute writs, : eligible to able of vot- , or felony, itutional act His Ma- ice of hold- assembly, 12 months, of votes. ful and bear of the king- iant on and the utmost 41 .ed to be ad- ministered and executed within the said provinces, or either of them res- pectively, by the said bishop of Nova Scotia, or by any other person, ac- cording to the laws and canons of the church of England, which are lawfully made and received in England. Sec. 41. Provided always, and be it fuitht:r enacted by the authority aforesaid, That the several provisions herein before contained, respecting the allotment and appropriation of lands for the support of the Protestant clergy within the said provinces, and also respecting the presentation of in- cumbents or ministers, who shall hold and enjoy the same, shall be subject to be varied or repealed by any express provisions for that purpose, con- tained in any act or acts which may be passed by the legislative council and assembly of the said province, respectively, and assented to by his Ma- jesty, his heirs or successors, under the restriction hereinafter provided. Sec. 42. Provided nevertheless, and be it further enacted by the au- thority aforesaid, That whenever any act or acts shall be passed by the legislative council and assembly of either of the said provinces, contain- ing any provisions to vary or repeal the above recited declarations and provisions contained in the said act, passed in the 14th year of the reign of his present Majesty, or to vary or repeal the recited provision con- tained in his Majesty's royal instructions, given on the third day of Jan- uary, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy- five, to the said Guy Carleton, Esquire, now Lord Dorchester ; or to vary or repeal the provisions herein before contained for continuing the force and effect of the said declaration and provisions ; or to vary or re- peal any of the several provisions herein before contained respecting the allotment and appropriation of lands for the support of the Protesfant clergy within the said province ; or respecting the constituting, erecting, or endowing parsonages and rectories within the said province ; or res- pecting the presentations of incumbents or ministers to the same, or res- pecting the manner in which such incumbents or ministers shall hold and enjoy the same : and also that whenever any act or acts shall be so pass- ed, containing any provisions which shall in any manner relate to or af- fect the enjoyment or exercise of any religious form or mode of worship, or shall impose or create any penalties, burthens, disabilities, or disqua- lifications in respect to the same, or shall in any manner relate to or af- fect the payment, recovery or enjoyment of any of the accustomed dues or rights herein before mentioned ; or shall in any manner relate to the granting, imposing or recovering any other dues, or stipends or emolu- ments whatever to be paid to or for the use of any minister, priest, eccle- siastic or teacher, according to any religious form or mode of worship, in respect to his said office or function ; or shall in any manner relate to or affect the establishment or discipline of the church of England, amongst the ministers thereof w ithin the said provinces ; or shall in any manner relate to or affect the King's prerogative touching the granting the waste lauds of the crown within the said provinces ; every such act or acts ■■^' 1 ;1 1 iable to all jurisdiction [esty's royal lereafter, by d to be ad- >f them res- person, ac- i, which are lie authority , respecting i Protestant itation of in- II be subject rpose, con- tive council ) by his Ma- • provided. i by the au- issed by the es, contain- rations and of the reign vision con- day of Jan- ind seventy- jster ; or to itinuing the vary or re- specting the Protestant ig, erecting, ce ; or ree- Eime, or res- all hold and be so pass- aite to or af- of worship, , or disqua- ate to or af- tomed dues relate to the s or emolu- riest, eccle- worship, in relate to or td, amongst any manner g the waste act or acts 45 shall, previous to any declaration or signification of the King's assent thereto, be luid belorc both houses of parliament in Great Britain ; and that it shall not be lawful for his Majesty, bis heirs or successors, to sig- nify his or their assent to any such act or acts, until thirty days after the same shall have been laid before the said houses, or to assent to any such act or acts, in case either house of parliament shall, within ossession, re- mainder, reversion, or otherwise, at the time of such surrender ; but w \\i i"'' ilt r ri 'il ir I : H 46 that every such surrender and grant shall be mode subject to every such right, title, and interest, nnd that every such right, title, or interest, shall be as valid and effectual as if such surrender and grant bad never been made. Sec. 46. And whereas, by an act passed in the eighteenth year of the reign of his present Majesty, intituled, " An Act ibr removing all doubts and apprehensions concerning taxation by the parliament of Great Britain, in any of the colonies, provinces, and plantations in North Ame- rica and the West Indies ; and for repealing so much of an act, made in the seventh year of the reign of his present Majesty, as imposes a duty on tea imported from Great Britain into any colony or plantation in Ame- rica, or relates thereto," it has been declared, " That the King and Par- li^Tient of Great Britain will not impose any duty, tax, or assessment whatever, payable in any of his Majesty's colonies, provinces or planta- tions in North America or the West Indies, except only such duties as it may be expedient to impose for the regulation of commerce, the net pro- duce of such duties to be always paid and applied to and for the use of, the colony, province, or plantation in which the same shall be respective- ly levied, in such manner as other duties collected by the authority of the respective General Courts or General Assemblies of such colonies, pro- vinces, or plantations, are ordinarily paid and applied[." And whereas it is necessary, for the general benefit of the British empire, that such pow- er of regulation of commerce should continue to be exercised b;' his Majesty, his heirs or successors, and the parliament of Great Britain, subject nevertheless to the condition hereinbefore recited, with respect to the application of any duties which may be imposed for that purpose : Be it therefore enacted by the authority aforesaid. That nothing in this Act contained shall extend, or be construed to extend, to prevent or affect the execution of any law which hath been or shall at any time be made by his Majesty, his heirs or successors, and the parliament of Great Bri- tain, for establishing regulations or prohibitions, or for imposing, levying, or collecting duties for the regulation of navigation, or for the regulation of the commerce to be carried on between the said two provinces, or be- tween either of the said provinces and any other part of his Majesty's do- minions, or between either of the said provinces and any foreign country or state, or for appointing and directing the payment of drawbacks of such duties so imposed, or to give to his Majesty, his heirs or succes- sors, any power or authority, by and with the advice and consent of such Legislative Councils and Assemblies respectively, to vary or repeal any such law or laws, or any part thereof, or in any manner to prevent or ob- struct the execution thereof. Sec. 47. Provided always, and be it enacted by the authority afore- said, That the net produce of all duties which shall be so imposed, shall at all times hereafter be applied to and for the use of each of the said pro- vinces respectively, and in such manner only as shall be directed by any law or laws which may be made by his Majesty, his heirs or successors, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Council and As- sembly of such provinces. The remainder of the act only points out. that his Majesty in council was to fix and declare the commencement oi' the act. The time for is- \ 47 suing tho writs of summons and elections, which were not to bo later than tho 31st December, 1792, but that between tho commencement of tho act, and tho first meeting of the legislative council and assembly, temporary laws might be made by the governor or lieutenant-governor and executive council, for the good government, peace and welfare of such province, such temporary laws to continue valid and binding, until six months after the legislative council and " jmbly of each province shall have first assembled, under the authority of this act, &c. I have now given all that is necessary to understand perfectly the Con- stitutional Act, and as I shall again have occasion to refer to it, I will make no remarks on it in this place. I have introduced it principally for the information of the reader who may have been unacquainted with its provisions. Religion. — The prevailing religion in Lower-Canada is the Roman Catholic. The clergy are educated in Canada. They possess consi- derable property in town and country, as seigniories. The island of Montreal, and Isle Jdsus, by far the most valuable in Canada, are their seigniories. They are also paid for their support the twenty-sixth part of the grain raised on the lands of Roman Catholics. There is one bishop, two coadjutors, four vicars general, and perhaps near three hundred vi- cars and cur^s. The Catholic bishop receives the sum of ^1000 per annum from Great Britain, in addition to the rent of some lands in Cana- da, which I believe are not of great value. The income of the vicars and cur^s, I have been told, may be about .£300 per annum, on an ave- rage. The church of England clergy consists of the Bishop of Quebec, the arch-deacon, and I believe forty clergymen. The number of churches they have in Lower-Canada may be about forty, or upwards. The British Parliament, in 1834, granted jt'6,690 towards the support of this church principally, and I have seen a statement of its distribution in the following manner : Bishop of Quebec, £3000 ; Arch Deacon, do. ^£500 ; Rector, do. £400, and house rent £90 ; Minister of Trinity Chapel. £200 ; Montreal Rector, £300 ; Three-Rivers, do. £200 ; William Henry, or Sorel, £150 ; Dunham, £100 ; Argenteuil. do. £100 ; Chatham, £100 ; Caldwell's Manor, £100 ; St. Armand, £100 ; Evening Lecturer at Quebec, £100 ; of do. £160 ; Minister of the church of Scot- land at Quebec, £50 ; of Montreal, do. £50 ; Roman Catholic Bishop of Quebec, £1000. In addition to the grant by the British parliament, the Society for the propagation of the Gospel gives annually some assis- tance for the payment of the ministers of the English church, but I am not aware how it is distributed. The ministers of the church of Scotland in Lower-Canada are eleven or twelve in number, and they have as many churches. With the excep- tion of £100 from the parliamentary grant, which I have mentioned above, they do not receive any government support, and are entirely dependant on their congregations. I am not aware of the number of other dissent- ing congregations. I believe the Methodists and Baptists have twenty ministers, and as many churches, or perhaps more. The American ■I I >, , T I ' ( 1!' '" I 4d ii Presbyterians have a church at Montreal, numerously attended, and I think they have one at Quebec. The Protestant congregations have generally to support their own rai' nisters and churches, by voluntary contributions. They receive no aid tr«)m tithes or grants, except the grant from the British parliament which I have alluded to above, which is principally to the ministers of the Eng- lish church. Though a large quantity of wild land was reserved in the townships throughout the lower province, these lands have not yet pro- duced any rents worthy of notice, in consequence, I believe, of misman- agement in every way. A large portion of these reserves has been late- ly disposed of by the British government to the Land Company. I can- not say how the proceeds are to be disposed of. Education — The legislature have for several years past granted very considerable aid towards the support of schools. In 1832, the grant was ^34,094 ; in 1833, .£23,263 ; in 1834, the latter amount was paid ; and in 1835, a large sum was contributed, but I am unable to say how much. JThe school visitors of each county were, in the year 1833, allowed to distribute at their discretion during their visits to the schools, 9s. for each school, for the encouragement of such children as they should find tc ex- cel in such schools. The number of schools that were entitled to this premium in 1833, were 1295. I have reason to suppose that the num- ber was not less for the lost two years. I am sorry that on this subject I am unable to give as full information as would be desirable. I had not the means of information at my disposal, but I expect to obtain it, and shall again refe* tO the subject. There are many Excellent schools in Montreal, Quebec, and other towns and villages, that receive no aid from the provincial revenue, nor from any other public funds. Some of them are under the superinten- dance of respectable clergymen of the English and Scotch churches. I have already stated that there are six' Canadian colleges, at Montreal, Quebec, St. Anns, Nicolct, St. Ilyacinthe, and Chambly. In these col- leges, all the higher branches of learning are taught, and are, I believe, extremely well conducted. The greatest want mat has been hitherto felt in the country parishes, was mat of properly qualified schoolmas- ters, and suitable class books, calculated to give usejml and general infor- mation, and instruction, to the Scholars. Since writing the above I find that a bill has passed the legislature, granting .£3000 for establishing two Normal schools, one at Quebec, and one at Montreal. These schools are intended to form schoolmasters, on the same plan as is adopted in France, Prussia, and other countries. That properly qualified schoolmasters are wanted in the country parts of Canada, there can be no doubt, and if this act of the legislature will supply the deficiency it will confer a great benefit on the province at large. Much will depend on the manner in which the provisions of the act will be car- ried into effect. Together with the above grant, ^8600 has been voted for the support of education this year. I believe that no plan can be de- vised for the amelioration of Canada, that will be found more certain and efiectual, than the establishment and support of a general system of m9c- /«/ education among the people. , ../.^r,, ,»., ..,,.., ,, ;, .. -..j.j,;,. []cd, unil I ir own raw vo no aid lent which f the £ng- rvcd in the ot yet pro- )f niisman' been lato- y. I cun- -anted very grant was I paid ; and how much. allowed to Is. for each find to ex- tled to this it the num- his subject I had not lair, it, am] and other ivenue, nor superinten- turcbes. I . Montreal, 1 these col- I believe, en hitherto sehoolmas- neral infor- legislature, at Quebec, oolmasters, countries, try parts of will supply irge. Much will be car- been voted can be de- certain and item of V9C- 4» Charitablb IifSTiTUTioNB, in Lower-Canada were sufficiently nu- merous until lately. Within the last two or three years mendicity has greatly increased in Montreal and Quebec. At present, the number of persons in these cities applying for charity from door to door, is very considerable and perhaps appears more so from being heretofore unusual. There is no regular institution in either city for the relief of the unemploy- ed poor. Hospitals for the sick are provided, and very well conducted. The following are the principal charitable institutions at Montreal. Montreal General Hospital, erected by subscription, chiefly, and sup- ported in the same way, and by grants from the legislature. For the last few years these grants were made from the tax paid by emigrants arriv- ing at Quebec, which is, I believe, divided equally between this hospital, the emigrant hospital at Quebec, and the two emigrant societies at Que- bec and Montreal. In one year the Montreal general hospital received 1759 in-door patients, and had 2188 out-door patients. Of (he in-door patients, 1360 were emigrants ; and of the out-door, 1439, and cost the institution .€1 il8 10s. 8d. The total expense for the year was =£1844 lis. The Hotel Dieu, is an establishment for the reception of the sick and diseased of both sexes, and is conducted by a superior and 36 nuns. The funds for maintaining this charity, are principally derived from land- ed property, and grarits by the legislature. I do not know what number of sick are admitted during the year. The Convent of the Gray Sisters, is an establishment for the reception of foundlings, and such as labour under mental derangement. This institution is supported by landed pro- perty, and grants by the legislature. There are not many insane patients, nor is the number of fourdlings very considerable. The Emigrant Society renders great assistance to destitute emigrants in forwarding them to their destination, and helping them in various ways. Their funds are supplied by subscription, and a share of the emigrant tax. The Widow and Orphan Asylum, is supported principally by subscrip- tions, but has had occasional grants by the legislature. At Quebec, the Hotel Dieu, and General Hospital are both establish- ments conducted by the Nuns, for the reception of sick poor, foundlings, and insane. They are also under the superintendance of commission- ers, and are principally supported by landed property and grants from the revenue. The Emigrant Hospital, is supported by subscription, and a propor- tion of the tax on enu'grants. The Marine Hospital is supported by funds furnished from the provin- cial revenue. The Deaf and Dumb Institution is supported from the same funds. At Three-Rivers, the Nuns there have an establishment in their con- vent for the eick poor, and I believe for foundlings; conducted and supported in the same manner as those at Montreal and Quebec. There are some other charitable societies supported by private contri- butions, but I do not think it necessary to describe them particularly here. The amount of the emigrant tax in 1832, was £6,605 10s., in 1833, £4,776. A bill has beein passed this session to renew the tax on emi- grants arriving at Quebec. ^'■-■i iil !!i. ri V i 'Ml m 00 •'"< >! '' Banki in Loteer Canada, in 1836. Montreal Bank has capital paid in. • - ;f260,000 It had notes in circulation November 1836, • ;f 363,236 It had in its vaults at Montreal and Quebec, in gold, silver, and other coins, and in transitu • iS 106,660 The dividends declared for the last two years was 8 per cent, annually, and the profits on hand at the ^ above date was, . . . , . 30,375 This bank is chartered by the provincial legislature, but the charter ex- pires on the 1st June, 1837. It is managed by a president and twelve di- rectors annually elected by the stock owners. The City Bank has capital paid in, « • ;f200,000 Notes in circulation 7th November, 1836, - £ 90,437 Gold, silver and other coined metals in the bank, 26,667 The dividends declared for the last year was 8 per cent, and the profits on hands at the above date was £ 10,820 It is chartered as the Montreal bank, and managed in the same way. There are two other banks in Montreal, the People's Bank, or ** en Commandite," of Yiger- De Witt & Co., and the Commercial Bank, which is a private bank The Quebec Banli has capital paid in, - • £, 76,000 Notes in circulation 5th No\ ember, 1836, Gold, silver, and other coined metals in the bank. The dividends declared for the last year was 8 per cent, and the profits in hands at the above date was, - It is chartered and managed in the same way as the Montreal banks. iiu The total amount of notes in circulation of the three - chartered banks at the date of their statements sub- mitted to the provincial legislature, now in session, was And the total amount of bills discounted, and accommodation to the public, was about 1,173,000/. Of this sum near 360,000/. was deposit- ed in the banks by those who kept accounts with them at the date of the statement. The Montreal bank had of this, deposits 276,706/. and notes discounted 704,184/. Montreal bank shares at the close of last year (1836) were at 36 to 36 per cent- premium. City bank at 9 per cent, premium ; and Quebec bank at Th« following is the rate of pre- mium paid on bills of exchange the last year in Montreal : £ 69,386 12,860 £ 12,289 . J**- £403,068 01 ttaU ofPrivaU BiU$ at 1835. January to Feb. 6 March to April 7^ May, June, July, 8 August, • 9 September, • 9| October, - 8j November, - 10 60 d ayt. 6^ prem. 8 do. 9 do. 10 do. s| do. do. lo't do. A«/« oftho Montreal Hank BilU at 60 1835. January to Feb. 8 March, • 9^ April and May, 9 June and July, 9 August, - 11 September, 9^ October, - 9 November, none [daya. ' a 8^ preni> a do. . -1 a 9^ do. a do. a do. i a 9 do. '1 a do. A Exchange in Canada is not often lower than the above rates, I have frequently known it to be over 12 premium. I have seen 126/. currency paid in Montreal for an English bill for 100/. sterling, at short sight. 100/. sterling is generally equal to 120/. currency, or requires that amount currency, to pay 100/. sterling in England. It is well that emigrants should be aware of this circumstance. English guineas pass for 24s. 6d. to 25s. 6d. currency each. English sovereigns for 23s. 4d. to 25s. do. do. * Spanish dollars at 5s. and French crowns at 6s. 6d. each ; smaller parts of dollars in proportion. English half crowns for 2s. 9d. and shillings at Is. Id. each. > The copper coins in circulation in Lower-Canada are certainly of a mixed quality, and unequal value. Coins of every reign for the last 140 years, and of every country, pass currently ; sheet copper cut into a round shape, without any impression, and other light coin manufac- tured, and put into circulation, in fact any thing near the shape of an old worn copper, though not the value of half a farthing, pass for a half-penny. I do not say that Uiis is an evil, so long as they pass with the people for the value they are allowed to represent, but I confess I would prefer see- ing a regular copper coin in circulation. Canals and Rail-roadb. — ^The Lachine canal is near nine miles long, and was constructed at an expense of near 137,000/. currency. The following is a statement of the annual revenues from 1829 to 183^ inclusive. |ft", \ Years Amt. Tolls. Expenses of management & repairs, &c. What Amount Revenue. No. boats upwards No. boats downwards 1829 1830 1831 1832 1833 1834 1835 2925 5313 6632 5826 7164 6531 80 18 8 1 2 Id 4^ 15 11 4 h 2 10| 15 8| 1658 15 10 2813 1 2 1941 4 8i 1394 7 1 1916 19 9 1331 10 :?} 526 18 1259 2 10 1854 2500 1711 4691 13 8 2005 4432 8 10 1752 5237 14 3^ 2049 4753 9 IJ 1779 1659 1156 1815 2111 1821 2160 1735 1600 About 1000/. of the above expenses was for deepening the bed of the river St. Pierre, to answer as the main drain for carryi »g away ihe *; \i (Kl m i waste water and leaka^ from the canal. The permanent expenditure for salaries of secretary, toll-collectors, lock>keepers, and labourers is about 810/. annually. The canal act not being in force during the years 1828 or 1835, no tolls were collected, and about 10,000/. was l6st in consequence to the provincial revenue. Statement of revenues of the locls at the Cascades, Spi/ Rock, and Co- teau du Lac, on the river St. Lawrence, from the year 1827 to 1836. Years. Gross Rev- enue receiv- Repairs and Nett Reve- No. Durham No. Bat- ed. Expenses. nue. boats. teaus 1827 2230 6 881 18 6 1348 6 6 497 254 1828 2089 17 6 579 11 6^ 1519 5 11| 358 403 , 1829 1273 12 6 253 15 3 1010 17 3 1830 2627 17 6 777 19 8 1849 17 10 530 712 1631 2447 10 341 6 5 2106 3 7 371 837 1832 2345 5 932 3 ll| 1636 1 0^ 451 817 1833 3093 15 6 876 15 1 2218 6 612 864 1834 1836 .Ij'^ ; !(:-».. • H'J . f.-.i ;:. ''.:! .f c ;r.. ;:_!-' i -i Viis' .r.'.i;>u. rauiuu ils.r e4\c. The rail-road from St. Johns to Laprairie, distance 15 miles, now near- ly complete, cost 34,f)00/. including what is necessary to fiiiish the rail- road, provide engines and cars, and erect station houses and wharves, being at the rate of 567/. for graduation, masonry and bridges, per mile, and 2,335/. per mile for the road complete, with one locomotive engine, four passenger cars, and twenty freight ditto. Of this amount, the wharves at Laprairie and St. Johns cost about 2,800/. The road is ex- pected to be open in July next. The work is reported to be executed in the very best manner throughout the whole line. The cost per mile is less than one-seventh of the cost of the Lachine canal per mile, and. the annual cost of maintaining the canal will, I suppose, be more than that of the rail road, without taking into consideration the damage caused to the lands that are intersected by the canal, which in all cases where canals are constructed, must be considerable, and in the instance of the Lachine ca- nal has been particularly so, in proportion to its extent. The Chambly canal is not yet finished. I fihd that an additional grant has been voted this year by the house of assembly of 28,500/. to coihplete the canal, and 9,400/. to remove obstructions in the river Richelieu, and build a lock at St. Ours. This grant did not pass in the legislative council. Hence' the Chambly canal, and the improvement of the river Richelieu, connected with that canal, will make the cost of opening the navigation from St. Johns to the river St. Lawrence not much short of 100,000/. currency. It must prove a great convenience to the inhabi- tants of that section of the country. It is probable that a large business will be done on the cana! in the lumber trade. The Grenville canal, is a work that has been constructed at the expense of the British government to open the navigation of the Grand or Ottawa river from Lachine, tiine miles from Montreal, to the point where the Ri- deau canal is connected with the Ottawa at Hull or By town, about 123 I 58 f- cpenditure bourers is ; the years as l6st in '{, and Go- to 1836. m No. Bat- teaus 264 403 ! 712 837 817 864 n^ now near- 3h the rail- d wharves, , per mile, ive engine, nount, the road is ex- ixecuted in per mile is le, and the han that of ised to the i canals are machine ca- ional grant :o complete helieu, and legislative of the river >pening the ich short of the inhabi- ;e business the expense I or Ottawa lere the Ri- , about 123 miles from Montreal. The Grenville canal is well executed, and has cost the British government a large sum. In connection with the Rideau canal it completes the navigation to Lake Ontario, and were the Welland canal in an efficient state, the navigation would be open from Montreal to Lake Erie. Proposed Internal Improvements. — The legislature of Upper- Canada have voted a large sum of money for the improvement of the na- vigation of the river St. Lawrence, where it is intenupted by rapids, from Cornwall to Prescott. The work is now far advanced towards comple- tion. The river will then be navigable from the province line to Lake Ontatio for steamboats, and other vessels drawing nine feet water. The expense of improvement within the upper province is estimated to cost over 300,000/. From Lachine to the province line, there are consider- able obstructions in two or three places, which prevent steamboats from plying through from Lachine to Cornwall. A survey has been made in 1831, and a report of the result laid before the provincial legislature by a Mr. Wright, civil engineer, who makes two or three estimates. The first is for the improvement of the river, which he considers the best plan, and amounts to 236,782/. The second estimate was for 325,000/., and would be more inland by cutting a canal, and not be confined to the river. The canal would require to be near 16 miles long. The third estimate is by a different route, and would amount to a sum over 400,000/. This would truly be an improvement well worthy of these fine provinces, to make the St. Lawrence navigable to Lake Ontario for steamers and other large vessels. The navigation might be carried on through the Welland canal into Lake Erie, and so on to Lake Huron. The Welland canal is not I believe, in good repair, or in an efficient state at present, but may be rendered so, and if not, the sum of 600,000/. already expended upon it must be considered a " bad job" for the stock owners. The improvement of Lake St. Peter by a steam^-dredging machine, has been provided for by the legislature. This lake is very shallow in most places, and requires to have a channel deepened for large vessels. I understand it is a plan easy to accomplish, as the bottom is not rooky. There are plans before the legislature for the improvement of the Ya- maska, St. Francis, and other rivers, that would, if carried into effect, greatly facilitate intercourse to the remotest parts of the province, which is now almost impracticable. There is one mode proposed of improving the navigation of the Yamaska river, by constructing dams, and raising the water over the rapids, on the same plan as the Rideau canal, which I think would be very likely to cause much damage to the Ipuds in the neighbourhood of such dams, unless they are very peculiarly situated, and the banks of the river considerably elevated. Lands that may not now be considered of much value, in a few years hence will be very va- luable, and obstructing the course of rivers in a flat country as Lower- Canada is, will impede tbe discharge of waters, that are already too slow in most places. A river that has now a considerable fall, and many ra- pids, if the stream is dammed so as to raise the water over these rapids sufficiently deep for steam navigation, must surely have a great effect on the river, and all streams which discharge into it, if the lands in the neighbourhood be level, and not much higher than the river. Though ih {■:■> I! iiit* • -fr * f ! an:; M the water in the river should not be raised so much as to overflow its banks, it may notwithstanding be so impeded that the velocity of tlie stream may be diminished one half or more, and perhaps equally impede all the streams that discharge into it. These objections will not apply of coin-se to any river that is sufficiently below the level of the adjoining lands, that the construction of dams will not, or cannot obstruct the water courses discharging from the lands, f' '" '' Several plans of rail-roads have been submitted to the legislature this session. One from Quebec to the province line, there to meet a rail- road proposed to be constructed by the citizens of the United States from that line to the city of Boston. This was highly approved of, and the road will probably be commenced very soon. A second rail-road was proposed from Q'lebec to St. Andrews, a sea port in New-Brunswick, situated on the bay of Fundy, which is open, I believe, for navigation at all seasons of the year. This road would be of great advantage to the British provinces, would facilitate intercourse, and would render what is now a tedious and expensive journey from Canada to New-Brunswick, and Nova Scotia, easy, expeditious and cheap, and would give the people of Canada access to an open seaport at all seasons of the year. The provincial legislature have received these propositions very favourably, and it is probable this line of rail-road will be constructed in a short time. Petitions to the legislature from individuals to grant them the privilege of constructing rail-roads from funds to be subscribed by joint stock com- panies for that purpose, have, from some informality I believe, not been granted this session, but most likely will the next session. The estimated expense of erectmg a bridge from the lower end of the island of Montreal to the main land, was laid before the legislature in 1834. The estimate was 37,568/. which I think was sufficient. A bridge in the situation proposed, would be a very great benefit to the po- pulation on the north side of the St. Lawrence, and to a large portion of the community, as the line of road is one much travelled on. For several years past, the greatest part of the revenue raised in Low- er-Canada, has been applied to public improvement, and the support of education. In 1832, out of a revenue of 164,000/. about 118,000/. was voted for education, canals, roads, new gaol at Montreal (which cost 20,- 000/.) and other improvements. The present session, almost all the mo- ney granted has been for public improvements. I shall endeavor to give a statement of the appropriations made if I cah obtain the necessary do- cuments in time. Exports and Imports at Quebec — I shall now endeavor to show the progress of the trade of Canada for tho last few years, and what the annual amount of tonnage arriving in Quebec was at various periods, from 1800 to the year 1835. I am sorry the value of the exports will not show so great an increase as might be expected, or proportioned to the vast increase of shipping. rn^i: '..'If;. /.'ivitltlt ■•', i« lit' •lyvi"' J ■s 4 verflow its ;ity of the lly impede )t apply of I adjoining ; the water ilature this leet a rail- itates from >f, and the 1-road was Brunswick, vigation at lage to the der what is Brunswick, the people ear. The favourably, short time, jrivilege of stock com- B, not been ' end of the rislature in icient. A t to the po- portion of ed in Low- support of ,000/. was 1 cost 20,- all the mo- vor to give ;essary do- 55 Principal exports from Canada from Ihe year 1830 to 1836. Articlea. 1830. 1831. 1831. 1833. Wheat, t'lour, Afihes, Pearl Pot Beef 1)0. founds ) fctongaes ) Pork butter Cod Fiah Salmon Furs and Pelletries, No. Skins Stares, standard hhds. and ) bis. S Oak Fine Elm, ash, ) •naple tec. S Masts and ) spars 5 Deals, traards, & planks Estimated value F.x ports 900101 71T49 60917 134590 4303 «8e^s 11800 ited ) of i ts ) 77441 360 77384 6376548 13213 160910 14145 1616714 LI ,555,403 1323370 8I0«3 19747 30512 6416 43339 6461 35025 46867 688 67372 4111786 18664 194408 13920 2420 1862238 Ll,195,613 657240 61038 13934 16344 612) 24520 8187 15700 24404 691 °i65831 7680443 3)804 194276 30995 2395 1S6348G; LI ,027,303 175900 9X393 13980 S2499 6298 1S810 11163 16382 6760 750 76012 4660042 20084 178679 16590 8761 2048868 Ll,005,673 1834. 1835. 413000 79651 1042) 16520 3300 isse? 1C418 67400 87000 6095 23045 3431 12700 7250 64607 6601 40C 699C3 760 86653 85656 6651907 9077606 21125 288778 19835 806639 22104 21566 8880 8400 2247623 3370158 LI, 166,860 Ll,037,278 MInois. Barrels. Ditto. .-y Ditto. <^ Ditto. No. Barrels. Lbs. Cwts. Barrels. No. of skins No. Tons. Do. Ou. No. Do. The above ee;in?r ■' includes the principal exports at Gasp^ and New Carlisle, for the Jit yoars. There are several articles of lumber and other produce ; rv^ not enumerated in the above, but are included in the value of exports. Some other kinds of gn Im was exported, but did not exceed for the six years more than 200,000 minots. The three last years the wheat crop was considerably injured in Lower- Canada, last year particularly, and partially in the Upper Province. In Upper- Canada they found a better market in the United States last year for their wheat, than sending it to Montreal or Quebec for sale or export. It is right to observe that the amount of imports and exports at Que- bec, includes the portion which belongs to the UpperProvince, and is es- timated at one third of the whole, and the revenue collected on the im- ports at Quebec is divided tvith the Upper Province in that proportion. 'V]M I. ...- }'aiiii ^or to show id what the us periods, exports will ortioned to -; f r i-"^ ?■ V S> Ci iM • m Pnneipal Imports at Quebec, Montreal, Gaspe, and JVeir Carlisle for the last seven years. 1829 1S30 1831 1832 1833 1834 1835 AVinc, Madeira 15353 loion 32099 22327 35-200 23777 1721' sal Port 39391 44809 55019 795it2 7880(1 62157 93257 Teneriff. 345JK) 60781 29049 94227 4075(1 40175 23872 lo. Fayal 1971 8090 532 100 4252 83 lo. Sicilian and Spanish J Other Kindfl 17991 152049 165)72 131728 430y00 218731 81242 tic- 55122 S^JSOB 00011 0237,. 18301^ 109957H 9100(1 50177 51771 lo. Brandy 80007 8102!' 64215 290000 14030(1 273350 ,lo Gin 1387i 07121 73414 1G000(, 71530 9240(< Jo Run^jVV biskey &c. J Molaxset 1133150 114975S 1428283 108200(: 915968 994191 do. 90159 80957 lonoo 127183 100000 92010 98050 do. RcAned Sugar G2:)313 501969 10S4889 1653348 199fl8(Ri 1252015 1411999 11m Muscovadii do. 4739004 4;0419(» 5')3019G 57779(11 5759 UJ7 169421S 2729(;3(i -lo- Coffee 70467 21112'' 119101 174901 791 U 52830 7713 .'(>■ Leaf Tohacro 85545 55187 119622 125774 1900(1 10158h 7(5880 >lo. Munufactur'd du. 10819 147109 248000 24674:i 116487 lo. lea 12314 7305:^ 587171 98'{250!l4()()7IG 923071 591347 do. S.lt 453007 24580(1 2-^4040 28713G 29600( 3381J07 228687 mi. Merchandize ^ jKijing 24 per i cent, and free f 1 £ 841403 1183935 1317950 1327300 142935: 95700(; 145778.1 Goods Emigrants arriv ed at duebec- 15943 28075 49250 51422 22902 30219 11780 Of the above me rchnnJize and other goods, was imported i-t Montreal tb e two last years, including the estimated value ofiheg oJs that were not the produce or manufacture of the £ £ British Isles • 601704 11662941 rt I have included in the above table the imports at Gaspe and New-Car- lisle, for the last two years, also, the value of the free goods for the same period ia included with the merchandize paying 2^ per cent, my object being to shew the total value of imports into Canada. ., The folloieing table will sheto the amount of Tonnage arriving at Quebec, ia several years from 1800 to 1835 : Years. | 18001 1806| 1807| 1808{ 1810 1820 | 1830 1836 Tonnage, Inwards 14293 33996 42293 70275 143893 149661 252005342744 The amount of tonnage increased from 1800 lo 1835, twenty-Jour fold. I believe I am correct in supposing that no port in the world has had so great an increase in her shipping in the same period as Quebec. It can- not be expected that it will go on increasing in the same proportion, yet, if the country improves as it is capable of improvmg, the tonnage may still be augmented to a great extent. When it is considered that there 8 •I: .4. I' ■y >if IS ■'.III 111 58 is only one seaport to a country of such vast extent, it is scarcely pos- sible to conjecture what the commerce and shipping may amount to at the port of Quebec, some years hence. In the above table I did not include the imports at St. Johns from the United States. In 1832, the imports were 146,807/. and exports 8197/. In 1833, imports 104,600/., exports 20,500/. Of the imports in 1832, more than 100,000/. was agricultural produce, and in 1833, more than 80,000/. ; and, however extraordinary it may appear, all I believe was re- quired for consumption in Canada. I do not know the amount of imports and exports at St. Johns the last two years. I am not aware of the ex- act value of the p ids enumerated in the above table that are not the pro- duce of the Britisn Isles, but including the imports at St. Johns, I should imagine that in 1835, the imports into Canada were abont 2,000,000/. sterling, and the exports not much over half that amount, or 1,000,000/. sterling, according to their estimated value at Quebec. This exported produce from Canada constituted the freight of 1266 ships, which carried 540,254 tons ; and the charge for the freight of this produce to its destined ports, in Britain and other places, added to the Quebec value, would, I believe, increase that value to double what it was estimated at Quebec. Were the shipping so employed, the pro* perty of Canadian merchants, this freight would make the value of the exported produce to the people of Canada, nearly equal to the imports of the produce and manufactures of other countries into Canada ; but as the fact is otherwise, and that the merchants of Canada are not ship own- ers to any great extent, the balance by which the imports exceed the exports, must be paid from othe: sources ; and I cannot see from what funds the balance can be paid, except from capital constantly brought into Canada by emigrants, the expenditure of the British government for the payment of the troops, &c.in Canada, and the income of those who derive them from the British Isles, by military half-pay, or property there. It can be only from such funds the balance is paid. Canada has not mines of the precious metals, and she certainly does not sell much to fo- reign customers, except what she exports at Quebec. I would wish particularly to direct the attention of the reader to the foregoing table, from which it appears that almost all the ships which depart from Quebec are freighted with wood or lumber, the naturalpro- duce of the country, not the direct produce of agriculture. It is true that part of the produce of agriculture is consumed in preparing the wood and lumber, and transporting it to Quebec for shipment, and that another part of the produce is sold to those who bring capital to the country, and be- come settlers in the forest, and for the supply of the military, &c. &c. Hence the agricultural produce may still be considered to furnish indi- rectly the chief means uf paying for the imports. But I would observe that by not having more produce to dispose of, Canada loses in a great measure the advantage of the capital brought into the country, and it is scarcely ever employed afler it is once paid away by those who bring it here, until it is again returned to the British Isles. If the cultivated lands were all producing as abundantly as they might, and ought to be, the farmers would be able to supply all the home demands, and have a sur- plus for export fully sufficient to pay the balance of the imports, without •cely pos- unt to at from the rts 8197/. tin 1832, nore than e was re- q( imports of the ex- >t the pro- I should ,000,000/. ,000,000/. t of 1266 ght of this ded to the tie what it , the pro* lue of the he imports la ; but as ship own- xceed the from what tly brought rnment for those who jerty there, ida has not nuch to fo- jdcr to the hips which aturalpro- is true that i wood and nother part ry, and be- Tj &c. &c. irnish indi- ild observe s in a great |r, and it is vho bring it cultivated >ught to be, have asur- rts, without ■J ■i ^ m sending back the money brought into the country directly, before it was a second time employed advantageously in Canada. I have no hesita- tion in saying that were the lands now occupied in Upper and Lower Canada managed properly, and judiciously, they would yield (except in very adverse seasons) a surplus produce to sell to foreign customers, more than sufficient to pay the balance of the imports, after abundantly supplying all the demands of the present population for food. It is pos- sible that a greatly increased influx of strangers to Canada, might at a fu« ture time, prevent the possibility of exporting constantly as much of the produce of agriculture as would fully pay the balance of the imports that might be required for the use of a greatly increased population, as emi- grants could not, for the first few years, produce much for themselves ; but the increase has never yet been so great that the exports might not have been equal to the imports, if the agricutural produce had been any thing near what it was possible to make it. It may be useful to examine this question further. It is the g' .:"'! opinion of political economists that a thriving country is capable oi p- porting in its towns a population equal to that of the country employed in husbandry, (hough the soil should be of inferior quality. The present state of England is a proof that this opinion is perfectly correct. The quantity of cultivatable hind in England and Ireland is not greatly over two acres for each soul ; and in Canada, there is at least four acres in cultivation, or that has been cultivated, for each of the present popula- tion, besides the advantageous use made of the wooded and waste land ; and I am convinced that by including the whole of the cultivated lands of Canada, they are not less fertile than the cultivated and pastured hinds of the Britii^h Isles, on an average. The inhabitants in the towns and vil- lages of Canada, do not amount to a seventh of the whole population, yet under all these circumstances, the countiy has not furnished for the last eighteen years that I have been in Canada, more agricultural pro- duce than was required for the food of its inhabitants, taking into consi- deration the large quantities of cattle, butchers' meat, butter, cheese, and flour (hat have been constantly imported from the United States, both into Upper and Lower Canada, during all that time. I will admit that Canada may, and is, prospering, notwithstanding her imports so much exceed her exports, p ■{ that she may go on increasing in population and wealth, her commer- -'tinuing to show the same re- sults aa at present, while she receives ak. ?ssion of population, and ca- pital annually from abroad, that is employed in the cultivation and im ' provement of her waste lands. But let ths accession of capital coming into the couatry be discontinued, and she must then sell produce to cus- tomers out of Canada, to the same amount of her imports, or the im- ports will soon be reduced to the amo^iBt of her exports, because if there was a balance over it could not be paid. It is not the merchants who ara to blame for bringing more produce and manufactures into the country than is exported of produce from the country, nor is it for the accommo- dation of the merchant, thai those goods, when imported, will be purchas- ed, but because the people want them. The merchant would find it much more profitable to export produce, in payment to other countries from which he receives his imports, than gold or bills of exchange, that 8* % U\ ' \ A il^ i ' '"I i , ^!ii|i I '^•m 'Si! ■111!' Illiji m 'iff ■ III' 60 are always at a high premium. If he had produce to export, he would have a profit on that produce, perhaps equal to that ou his imports. On remitting gold or bills, he cannot have profit. It must, therefore, mani- festly be the interest of all parties, that the produce of Canada should be exported or sold to customers out of Canada, to nearly the full amount of the imports from other countries. The exports of England exceed her imports by more than a third, besides the profit of carrying almost exclu- sively to their destination, upwards of 70,000,000/. sterling worth of her produce and manufactures, which must add immensely to their value. I may be too sanguine in my opinions of the natural capabilities of Ca- nada for production. I acknowledge that I cannot see any thing in the circumstances of the country, geographical or physical, that should pre- vent it from becoming populous and productive, as any part of NorthAme- rica, or as most countries of Europe. Though the winter may continue four or five months in the year, and so severe, as to cover the whole sur- face of the land with snow, and the mighty rivers arkl waters of Canada with ice, so far am I from thinking this circumstance prejudicial, that I look upon it as being ordered so by a bountiful Providence for the good of the country, and the convenience of those who inhabit it, and who could not otherwise make so profit ib!e a use of it. ^f it is cold in winter, there is abundance of fuel on th*; spot, to keep the people warm and comfortable. What use would the majestic forests of fine timber be, that are so much wanted in other coimtries, and which now constitute almost the only ex- ports, if there was not snow and ice in winter, that allows this timber to be prepared, and brought to situations where the waters will be naviga- ble in summer, to be exported to those countries, which will give in ex- change the goods that are required by the population of Canada X Were the winters soft and open as in England, the forests would be useless ; indeed it would be scarcely possible to get firewood from them. Good roads, in a country of such vast extent, to accommodatt all, are impracti- cable to a thin population, and until the country is more thickly settled, it is fortunate that the climate is sufficiently cold in winter, to make roads nearly equal to rail-roads, without any expense. The summer seasons on an average of years, are more favourable for agricultural production and for harvesting the produce, than in most countries of Europe, or the United States ; and it is a well established fact, that the winters, howe- ver Sbverc, are not injurious to the health of plants or animals. By a reference to the price of provender for eattle, for the last ten years in the principal markets of Canada, it will be found that in seven years out of ten, the best hay has been selling from 1/. to 21. per ton, a convinc- ing proof to me that the productiveness of the land in summer is suffi- ciently great, amply to supply the wants of a long and severe winter^ with any farmer who understands his business, and will practice what he knows, ^and those who may not understand or will not practice a proper system of husbandry, cannot justly attribute unprofitable farming to the climate, so far as I am capable of judging of it. With the human species, colds and consumptions are much more pre- valent in the British Isles than in British America, and I believe the latter country is more healthy at all seasons than the United States. The fo- reign commerce of Canada, though confined in a great measure to the I ' 1 * .-,! i ■ -■ ■-- ■' - - $t - ^ summer season, is sufficient for every purpose, and most suitable to the circumstances of the country, as time and winter roads are required to collect the produce to navigable waters and seaports. It is not (he severi- thc winters that would prevent the country from producing sufficiently to atTord a surplus produce for export, that would equal the imports. It may prevent Canada from possessing large fleets of merchant ships, but perhaps that has no unfavourable influence, connected as she is with England, who has numerous fleets and open ports at all seasons. The limited capital in Canada may be better and more profitably employed in rendering productive what is now unproductive, thon invested in ships, that should lie idle several months in the year, either in her own ports or in others. My views of this subject may be unsatisfactory to some. I would not presume to meddle with commercial aflairs, if I did not feel convinced that they are intimately connected at present, with the prosperity of the agricul- tural class in British America. And a principal object of this work, is, to endeavor to persuade that class how much it will be for their interest to augment as much as possible the produce of agriculture, to aflbrd them a sufficient surplus to export from British America, an equal amouni in va- lue, as the people of British America may require to import for their use of the produce of other countries. I shall have occasion to discuss this subject more at large, when treating of the intercourse of Britii>h Ameri- ca with o'.her countrie!:. I could not forego the opportunity that present- ed itself to ofler some remarks here. Population of Lower-Canada at different periods from 1676 to 1836, incuhive. Years. 1676 1688 1700 1706 1714 1759 1784 1825 1831 1836 841511249 15000 20000 26S0'I 65000 113000 450000512000 60CO00 The above table shows an increase in the population from 1784 to 1836, a period of 51 years, of nearly six fold. This much exceeds the proportion of increase in the United States. It is doubling in 20 years, and probably at the expiration of this 20 years, or in 1844, it will be much more than doubled. Within the last seven years 210,000 emigrants arrived at Quebec. I intended to give insertion here to a table showing the births, mar- riages, and burials in Lower-Canada for the last seven years ; as it was chiefly from these returns I estimated the present po|)ulation. I have not yet been able to prepare them as perfectly as would be desirable, but shrll give them in another place. In the three yearp previous to 1832, the births were about double the number of burials. In 1832,the firstyear of the cholera, the births were 24781, and the burials 22034 ; but of the latter, many were emigrants. The year 1833, the number of births were 25400, and the burials only 10840, making a difference of five to two. For 1834 and 1835, I have not returns from all parts of the province ; I am convinced, however, that the following estimate is rather under than over the present population of Lower-Canada. I expect I shall also have it m my power to give the statistics of crime, for the last few years. 1-^ M •?: ■ 65 { ■ E" ' " ' .' 'i .fc'ni 5ai'|] 4 V |!fl ¥\ III 1 },! ii ' ^ 00 s •o.a III ill I E 0/ 3 cd o MPS ""T Members senitoProv. Parliament. 0fe4»)e9e«e4e«94«o»)0fe4e«e4e)e 00 ss ©©OQ©Q©SP©0©© S©5i?5^?5(N0D®QiN©g} »*.jLifiaofiS(Os«gogo;*i9 -i©aoecPSifs©^ 00 ^ Townships. [--■COC* N WSO 00 qOCOCOCOf^ Fiefs so rH (N Seigniories, l»»'^aoioN^'-"-"-"-ioct'W Tl< CQ'^ OD o .2 o Si V s !»» <^ as § J •T3 iT3 rt -« (T. §•■3 _ 3 -S ■oo8.i:3aSo5'«o8:ss*SS2's«S ■3 s3MOJjJSSoaiioe!(»apr/jE-iE-tt>t» District of Monlreal. i 1.1 s ■2"S e» 1 I 1 <4 n * "* s ^ 5 in Q s** t^ S fi cs 2 i-t 1— 1 IS ^^ 1* » i- si „ I I -It S S 2 * 5 I' ■ f ' I UiHtrict of (Quebec. Dt. Uaspp.( !(<: 64 i' I I 4m In Mr. Bouchctte'fc tables ho includes the whole Bupcrficial extent in ■qimre miles oftho Isle au Coudrc, Anticosti and Saguenay, in the urea of Lowor-Canuda. I have letl out of my tables Anticosti, and most part of Sa^iienay, or 64,000 square miles, equal to about 41,000,000 acres, and have only included 10,000 square miles of the county of Saguenay, fronting on the St. Lawrence, the river Saguenay, Lake St. John, and such portions of land within the county oa may one time or other, be pro- fitably occupied. It is quite unnecessary for my purpose to include lands that are not certainly, under present circumstances, suitable for set- tlement, and that will not be settled until many millions of acres are cul- tivated, that are now waste. There is probably abundance of land north of the boundary of the territory included in my tables, that at a future pe- riod may be found ca|)able of being profitably occupied. This boundary does not extend north of 48^ degrees, and surely west of Quebec, that is not too far north for agriculture. I do not know the extent of seigniories and fiefs in the district of Gas- pi^, and Magdalen Islands, but should suppose that added to the qiinntily of land which appears in the tables to be comprised in the seigniories and fiefs, it would make the whole about 7,600,000 acres, or about 0,000- 000 arpents, exclusive of the Island of Anticoisti, whice I have left cut altogether. The surveyed and projected townships, 160 in number, contains 7,720,736 acres, or 9,000,000 arpents, making a total of 1 6,- 221,000 acres, or 18,300,000 arpents, of which not over one-half ap- pears to be conceded, and not one-seventh cultivated. The waste lands of the crown included in my tables are 76,600,000 acres, or near 92,000- 000 arpents. Hence the unconceded land is about 85,000,000 acres, and added to the occupied land that is yet uncultivated, it will make over 90,000,000 acres, or about 110,000,000 arpents of wild land yet in Low- er-Canada, and about 113,000,000 arpents altogether within the bounds that has a climate which will admit of the land being profitably occupied by the skilful husbandman. I am confident that in this vast territory there is not any thing near the quantity of barren or uncultivatable land that is to be found in the British Isles, in proportion to their extent. Perfect draining is the chief requi- site to insure their pi-ofitable occupation for stock and suilable crops. There is scarcely any land in Lower-Canada naturally so barren as Bag- shot heath, in England, yet there has been much of this heath cultivated, and now produces good crops. There is doubtless much of Lower-Ca- nada that is unfit to produce good wheat, but other <>repe will be sttfir- ciently profitable to pay the farmer for their cultivation, and are certain- ly more suitable to much of the climate of Lower-Canada than wheat. 1 cannot believe that any lands producing naturally large forest trees, can be unfit for cultivation, and some parts of the country where the trees are not large, it may be in consequence of superabundant water, and not the inferior quality of the soil. If the soil be so very stony as to prevent cul- tivation, it wU' not produce large trees. I have cultivated some of the lightest and most sandy soil I have seen, and which, in its natural state after the wood was cut off, produced scarcely any thing but wild straw- berries (a sure indication of light soil) and I raised good crops of every grain but wheat, and excellent crops of hay on this land. -m- >^-jJ •s t. tl C5 extent in n the urea most part lOO acres, Sagucnay, John, and er, be pro- to include )Ic for set- B8 are cul- land north , future pc- 9 boundary t)ec, that is ict of Gas- he qimntity seigniories jout 9,000- nve left cut in number, otal of 15,- >ne-half ap- wuste lands car 92,000- ,000 acres, make over ret in Low- the bounds \y occupied ing near the I the British chief requi- able crops, ren as Bag- 1 cultivated, Lower-Ca- ivill be Btifir- are certain- than wheat, st trees, can the trees are and not the prevent cul- some of the natural state t wild straw- ops of every 1 In the foregoing table I have estimated the incron«r of tftc popuflftfion at 166 to 1000 on the returns by the census of 187^1. Titu:- would be only doubling the population in 30 years, though I have in n mhie to show, in another place, tlint the increase since 1784, has been tully cquul to doub- ling in 20 ycar>;, and I thinic at the expiration of the third period of 'iU years from 1784, it will be again doubled, if no extraordinary check to population should occur. I have not allowed the same ritto of increase for the counties of Montreal and Quebec, as for the other counties, as the ravages of the cholera in 1832 and IS34 did not allow much increase, in those counties, in cither year. I believe, however, that my esti- mate will not be found overrated, when tlie next census is made. For the counties of Drummond, Stunstcad, Sheflbrd, Sherbruoke, Missisquoi, Beauhnrnois, Ottawa, Two-Mountains and Megantic, I have estimated a larger increase, as it was iu- thcMO counties chiefly that emigrants who remained in the province have settled. The males over 14 and under 18, and over 18 and under 60 years of age, I have estimated in the same pro- portion to the whole population, us they appeared to bear by the last con- ana. The males over 18 and under 60, being subject to serve it: the militia, would, without any exemptions, be about 130,000 ; and the males over 14 and under 18, would be 22,000, which gives 162,000 males ca- pable of labour, and of being productive consumers. I hove included in my tables the immoveable property at Quebec, Montreal, Isle aux Noix,the Grcnville canal, and the locks at the Cedars and Split Rock, which belong to the British government, and which in- cludes the fortifications at these places. I could not pretend to esti- mate the value correctly, but when I state what that estimate amounted to, if my valuation be inaccurate, it will not be of material consequence. Tlie value I put upon this property was two millions five hundred thou- sand pounds. This valuation may be much lower than it ought to be. I am sure it is not ovenated. In proportion to the cultivated land, I find that the amount of human power applicable to agriculture is equal, if not greater, in Canada, than in England ; and I believe the animal power is also greater. A greater power is certainly necessary in the working season in Canada than in England, because there is generallv five months that the plough and spade cannot be employed. This would appear to an English farmer to have a very injurious effect on agriculture, but such is not the fact. The agricultural class have employment in the winter season, and the produce of their labour in that season, in domestic manufactures, fire-w <^d, wood for exportation, &c. makes no inconsiderable portion of the n: >;>t.!/ pro- duce created. The clearing of new land, providing fence wood, &cc. may also be done in the winter. The feeding of stock might be greatly in- creased, and would give profitable employment in that season, Taking out mao'ire from the farm yards to the fields where it will be required in spring, would greatly facilitate the spring work, and li v. ill be much more easy to carry out manure on the winter roads of snow or ice, than wade through mud in doing so iu the spring. Hence industry can make even the winter profitable. The follovying tables 1 have taken some trouble to make as accurate as possible. I believe they are as nearly so as it is necessary for them to be. 9 .: <4i } h > I II )'"*' i vt 1' : 1 i: CO cs «t G CS o -g > o a J a ct o Of s I s I c a s s e I iVrr-'.'rf' " ,lr,irT' lis il'V'v '■ I- ' -id! ';:■.(■' / trii'ii ,'.'1 I ,; i r., -j'tv i>'| •1 . .nl ^'>-; -VK, to CO S. I 9 « a 0) Of s I a> iS.Hif . §11 IS .■^ ffl r3 4) -4 S! a5 • I^J -i-f.9 ^Itiil i'. I ■'^28 V o -Q o a m ^z ts §5 CO (S , b a. •« g B a> (O ^ ^1 «) O 3 g^ >^-5 « « *- g-ts CO (0 V — — tH qj ^ S V o » •a &)' S'S 00 --2 o o S 1 S --5 b « g 08 -a S t> a-w o 2^:3 5^-^ g-ja M ' v — o s -CH-S o I o i « ^ "-§ » a g*2^ 2 ■Sag *? y^ s ^^ ^ "S 2 CI- Bg ,cs a p 35 0»^ n O' ♦? 2 k> W •A « -* fe O O 0,00 £ S^ O Q O '" § « CO CUiS rt « 5P7J ? ~ .a S- a as ■« -jg HH .2- o. 3 -f g ^ -s o g o .a be be 5-. . •-" "a "C S •lis- E. © 2 > 4» o rt *. o O-a ^^ g 5 o = « = ^ •= £ ^ ^ ■•-• H_ a'9 a a 3 fc^o ca'rt 2 «« « = o Sb.2 o w ed ^ tt ©■§ is % « -'S 1^-5.2 ^ « J s O >s « S -S 2 g is s ^ •— >-. 3 « 5 © ^\^ ■' 9-1' li $ ;'i i \ \ :*^l —I . .12 68 --,:-:—-;-•- " I From the foregoing tables it would appear that the total amount of pro- duce annually and directly created by agriculture, and the labour of those chiefly employed in husbandry, and including half the value offish, which is a fair proportion of their share, is - - JB6,030,000 , Allow for seed annually sown and planted, - 130,000 ' 5,900,000 A large proportion of Canadian manufacturers be- ^ , , long to the agricultural class, M'ho generally manufac- ture their own woollen and linen cloth, and make their own clothes, sugar, soap, candles, part of their leather, ' agricultural implements, much of their harness, furni- j ture, &c. They in fact manufacture all the wool of their sheep, and the flax they grow, and therefore the Talue of these articles of raw produce, must be includ- ed in the proportion to be put to their credit of the domestic manufactures of Canada. I think I may set down their share very fairly at - - - Total amoimt annually created by agriculture and the labour of those chiefly employed in husbandry. Amount annually created by commerce, profes- . ^ - . , . _ sions, and the employment of all those not employed L-'- - • •- in agriculture, I include in this .£700,000, of the pro- ' I duce of Canadian manufactures, and .£100,000 as half the value of fish, .£2,800,000 .£2,300,000 ^8,200,000 Total amount annually created in Lower-Canada, from every source enumerated in the foregoing table, ^11,000,000 I estimate the present popula) ion at 600,000 souls, and including food, drink, luxuries, clothes, firevood, and all other necessai'y personal ex- penses, I suppose the average annual amount expended for each person would be about 16/. or 60 dollars. This will make 9,000,000/., which de- ducted from the amount annually created, as above statod, will leave a balance of 2,000,000/. to accumulate as capital, or be o\pended in im- provements. Of this balance I have estimated that 760,000/. is annually expended by agriculturists in the increase of stock, or improvement of land. The greater part of the remainder belongs to the class not agricul- tural, to be employed for extending commerce, and in improvements in cities and towns. It will be manifest to the reader acquainted with Lower-Canada, that 16/. Avould not be the full amount of the annual expenditure of each indi- vidual of the class n< ^ agricultural ; but for the agricultural class, this sum is at present more than the expenditure of each person, on an aver- age, and for the entire population I believe it to be as correct an estimate as can well be made. In no other country that I know, or have read of, can the same comforts and enjoyments, that the people generally possess here, be had for the same amount annually that I have estimated. The poorest person resident in this country for any time, is scarcely ever seen to go the shortest journey, on business or pleasure, on foot. They uso ,* 69 bread made of the flour of wheat, almost exclusively ; they use animal food constantly, and are generally comfortably lodged and clothed. According to the statistics of Paris, the expenditure of each person is 40/. 88. annually, but of this sum 91. is paid in taxes and house rent, and there are many other items of expense, which make a large total from which our population are exempt. Each person in Paris is s^uppo^ed to consume 80 pounds of flesh meat in the year. A city population will always expend more than a country one, of which ours is chiefly composed. I have no means at this moment to ascertain the annual expenditure of the English population, nor do I think it necessary for this work. In 1830, the quantity of butcher's meat consumed in London by each person on an average was about 180 pounds, which at 6d. the pound (about double what it is in Canada) would be 4/. 10s. In Brussels, 89 pounds of meat is supposed to be the average consumption of each per.ch- I do not think that the quantity of flesh meat consumed in Lower-Caiia Ja by each mouth, is equal to that in London, but I believe it to be much over what is allotted to each individual in Paris or Brussels. I have taken some trouble to discover what is the probable expenditure of the population of Lower-Canada in rum, gin, whiskey, brandy, wine, and beer, and I believe it to be, as nearly as I can estimate, from 400,- 000/. to 600,000/. annually, and from a great part of these articles being consumed in taverns, where the price is considerably enhanced to those who buy it in these places, I have little doubt but the latter amount is the most correct, and if so, it will be equal to \3s. 4d. to 15s. of the an- nual expenditure of each person. By the statistical tables of 1831, and allowing for the probable increase, there are in the district of Montreal about 680 places licensed to sell spirituous liquors ; district of Quebec, about 400 ; Three-Rivers, about 90 ; Gaspe, about 20, making in all 1190. I would observe that the profits of commerce are not to be estimated by what would appear a reasonable percentage on the amount of imports, because much of these goods pass through several hands he- fore they come to the consumer, each of whom expect, and are entitled to their profits. Hence the total amount of profits must be very consider- ably increased over what they would be were they imported to sell di- rectly to the consumer. Imported goods landed in Quebec, will, I be- lieve, cost the merchant, including all charges and duty, the premium on bills of exchange, &c. from 30 to 40 per cent, over the prime cost in England. The value of our exports is so much short of the value of our imports, that a very considerable amount has to be remitted in bills of exchange or in gold, each of which are at a high premium. The pro- fit of the merchant on goods exported is also to be included in the pro- fits of commerce. I am not sure that I have estimated the profits of the mercantile class so high as I should have done, and I would sincerely re- joice to be convinced of an error in my calculation that Would be in fa- vour of that class. In ray estimate of expenditure, I have supposed that the agricultural class spend about 14/. each, and the class not agricultu- ral a fraction over 20/. each annually. This would leave a balance of annual profits on the employment of the latter class of 1,000,000/. ; but of course this balance will be reduced in proportion as the expenditure is increased above what I have stated. All those who arc not employed in I ■i' t .■■: m 1 <■'•'{'. li "■''.1 ; '''' 'i i; i 1 ! • :i 1; .1' .5 y ' . iM 1 I t ii 1 ii M ■ : 11 ;1 :ii husbandry are included in the class not agricultural, and must therefore include a very considerable number of daily labourers and working trades people, whose expenditure must be less than that of the mercantile or pro- fessional class. In my estimate I have included the income of doctors, ad- vocates, and notaries, but I did not include in the annual expenditure of each person, what they may pay to these professional men. This makes some difference in the expenditure, but none in the whole amount annu- ally created, because what constitutes the income of one must be furnish- ed from the produce of the other. But if in reality the income of the agricultural and other classes exc >; Is annually the sum I have estimated by the amount of the estimated income of these professional men, it will by so much increase the total an ot it annually created, and I hope it is so. I have no means to ascer n correctly the number of persons be- longing to the above professions, but by the statistical returns of 1827, and allowing for the increased number in the same proportion as the in- crease of population, I believe they are near 1000. By the same statis- tical tables, allowing for the probable increase, there may be about 1200 merchants, store, and shop-keepers, and from 7000 to 8000 artisans ; about 200 office-holders ; 1000 in receipt of an annual income from land, houses, or pensions ; 3000 clerks, and the remainder of the class not agricultural, must be labourers, working about towns and villages. It may be proper to account for the apparent difference that exists be- tween the above tables and the estimate I have given of the produce of agriculture in Lower-Canada, in my Treatise on Agriculture, pages 42 and 43. In that work I d'.d not think it necessary to estimate any pro- duce but that luisea the farm way, after the plough and harrow, produce of stock, hay, hops, and garden produce sold in towns, amount- ing in all to 3,500,000/. annually. In the tables now given, I have included the produce of all gardens in fruit and vegeiables ; fowls and eggs ; pasture and hay consumed by horses used by farbiers for plea- sure ; firewood, ashes, and timber exported, and the improvetaents made annually on old and new farms. These items amount to 2,000,000/. which added to the former estimate will make it agree with ti\e above table. I have, in addition to the produce of land and stock, intioduced the amount of domestic manufactures of evein/ deacnption, which co.ild be considered to belong to the agricultural class, and estimated all in the tab'e of produce annually created in Lower-Canada. In making out the foregoing tables, I did not estimate separately every produce of agriculture. The pasturage, hay and straw, consumed in feeding the stock that produce the milk, butter, cheese and animal food, is estimated in these articles ; so is that portion consumed by siock kept for labour and manure, when the produce from that labour und manure is valued. I therefore only estimated what was sold in towns of this produce, and what I conceived was a reasonable charge for the supply of horses kept for pleasure by farmers, or rather all horses that were not actually necessary for agricultural labour. A part of the produce of agriculture, applied to feed pork, and occa- sionally to feed beef, should properly be deducted frotu the amount of grain and vegetables produced annually, because tlie value of the pork and beef is given. I have not made this deduction from an impression that (ho estimate of grain and vegetable produce is not overrated, but on 71 the contrnr}', less than vrhat it usually is. I wish to Ktale for the satia* faction of farmers, how I have calculated the quantity of animal food pro> duced annually. I suppose that each farm of 60,000 should annually produce one ox, cow or heifer, to be slaughtered for family use, or sold to the butcher. This is the least that can be expected from a stock of about 400,000 neat cattle. Also, one fat calf from each farm, for family use, or sold io the butcher. Two or three fat hogs from each, and from a stock of sheep of 600,000, there should be given for slaughter annually 110,000, for family use, or sold in towns. The average dead weight of bullocks slaughtered in London in 1830, was stated to be about 656 pounds ; that of the calf 144 pounds ; of the pig 96 pounds ; and of sheep and lambs 90 pounds, including ofial. This was nearly double the weight of these animals in 1730. From the present state of the stock in Lower-Canada, I think the following estimate of the weight is not far from being correct : 60,000 fat r^en, cows or heifers, weighing each 400 lbs. 24,000,000lbs: 60,000 calves, I will say, at 60 lbs« only, each, - 3,600,000 110,000 sheep and lambs at 40 lbs. each, . . - 4,400,000 60,000farms to produce 400 lbs. of pork each, - 24,000,000 Total produced and consumed by the farmers' family or sold66,0C0,000lbs I have no doubt but this amount of animal food is produced annually in Canada, and considerably more consumed. This would give about 93 pounds of animal food for each person, together with fowls, and per- haps this would be sufficient for a large proportion of the population ; but for those residing in towns and villages, and the more wealthy class of farmers, this would not be sufficient. In few countries is more animal food made use of by the wealthy, and working men, than in Canada ; and I know that a large quantity of animal food is consumed here that is tlxe produce of the United States, not that there is any actual necessity for jforeign importation of animal food, for the country is able to supply its inhabitants, and export instead of import. In estimating the annual produce created in Lower-Canada, I am not correct perhaps in fixing upon the portion of capital in moveable and im- moveable property which should be subject to interest, at 35,000,000/. which at 6 per cent, amounts to 2,100,000/. dhnually. I have deducted from the 58,000,000/. which is the total amount of moveable and immove- able property, the value of unconceded wild land, and the greater part of that occupied, but uncultivated, which yields no return ; the value put on growing timber, on mines and quarries, churches and fortifications, mak- ing in all about 23,000,000/. I have computed that of the 35,000,000/. the agricultural class should be chargeable wi '. the interest of 26,000,- 000/. which is 1,500,000/., and the non-agricultural class with the interest of 10,000,000/. making 600,000/. annually. There can be no doubt that interest is chargeable on the capital employed by the latter class out of the general annual produce created. It may be proper to deduct it also from the annual produce of the agricultural class, being only the interest ou tue expenditure of labour and money on the farms they occupy, in first clearing the land, and in h«/uses, barns, furniture, equipage, implements. ■ P { ;1 ■f .» i! '■' H h I 1,(1 n and stock. The whole property belongs to the farmer, arid of course he ha? the whole produce at his dinpo^nl for expenditure ; but if it be desi- rable to ascertain the clear annual produce of husbandry, it is only fair to show what it is, charging the interest on the capital in land, stock, &c. &c. which the farmers have to work upon, and which they may generally inherit from their fathers. There may be some distinction between those who obtain an inheritance of land, stocky &c. from their forefathers, and those who begin life v ithout either land or capital. The latter may just- ly claim the whole produce witho'jt any deduction for interest. As I cannot, however, make the distinction, I submit the interest account 'o- those interested, who will be best judges, where the whole, any, cr what proportion should be charged, in each particular case. The class not agricultural may possibly imi^gine that I have underra- ted their annual income. I would observe thatc greater amount n .ly be annually created and expended, than the tables v/oiild show, but li the surplus annually produced is equal in amount to that indicated by the ta- bles, they may rest satisfied that they are making groat advances in wealth. The surplus produce of agriculture is chieSy expended in increase of stock, and improvement of land, and this is the most profita- ble opplioation for it. The rent of houses in towns, i.s generally paid from the produce of tlie industry of those who occupy thtm. Few per- sons in Canada h;t.vc incomes from other countries, and those who have incomes derived from property in bind or houses here, must be paid from the produce created Ivtr". and is all, therefore, included in thie tables. The city of Montreal v>o lid certainly indicate a prospcroub condition of its citizens, if wo mny form a judgment from the numerous superior build- ings erected there the past summer, and now in progress of being finish- ed, and the new buildings commencing this spring. Of the present population of Lower-Canada, estimated at 600,000 souls, I believe thai 510,000 belong exclusively to the agricultural class. The remaining 90,000, I suppose to belong to the class not agricultural. The! produce annually created by agriculture, I have shown to be 8,200,- 000/. This would give about 16/. 10«. for^each person belonging to the agricultural class. For the class not agricultural, I have estimated the nnnual produce created in every way at 2,800,000/., and for 90,000 per- sons of this class, it will give 31/. for each. It may be interesting to fol- low up this calculation ; I estimate the population to be composed of 100,000 families of six persons each ; 85,000 belong to the agricultural class, and 15,000 not agricultural. For the latter the annual incoiV^e for each family would be 186/. and for the former or agricultural, 96/. lOs, for each family. Again, I estimate the males over 14 and under 60 years of age at 150,000 ; and as the females of the agricultural class contribute Tery considerably in the production of domestic manufactures, assist at harvest work, attend to the dairy, and other matters, I estimate their work as fully equal to that of 50,000 nutles (and I believe this is much too low) which will show the working or productive class of the commu- nity to be 200,000, or about one-third of our whole population, and hence the amount annually produced by each working person, all those employ- ed in productive industry, and in professions, will be 65/. I will suppose again, that of the 200,000, 175,000 belong to the agricultural 1 ' H courfio he it be desi- nly fair to itock, &c. generally ,'cen those thcrs, and may jvist- 8t. As I :count Vo' t.r vvlmi e untleria- int n ay be hut »i' the by the ta- vances in ;pcoded in ssf profita- leraily paid Few pcr- -vvho have paid from the tables. ondition of erior build- eing finish- 3,000 souls, lass. The igrlcultural. » be 8,200,- nging to the itimnted the 90,000 per- sting to fol- omposed of agricultural 1 incoiV^e for al, 96/. 10*. ler 60 years )8 contribute res, assist at ttimate their this is much the commu- 1, and hence ose employ- 6/. I will agricultural 1 • cl«as, as it is chiefly the females of that class that ar9 employed in prpdiic- tive labour, the annual produce from the labour of «ach will be 47/. ; and for the class not agricultural, which I estimate at 26,000, productively employed, the annual produce for each will be 110/. The charge for interest of capital, which I have before alluded to, is for agriculture, 1,600,000/. annually. This would make a reduction of 9/. 10». from the annual produce of each working person« and leave it only 37/. 10s. ; and the interest of capital of the class not agricultural, is 600,000/., and would cause a reduction of 24/. from the annual produce of fsach person productively employed, and leave it only 86/. Agricul- turist << will do well to observe that the interest is only a &ir proportion of the » >nual produce for the land and capital, and that 37/. lOs. is nearly the i\M amount of the annual produce from the labour of each full-grown working person, and that this labour is applied in agriculture, under more favourable circumstances than it could be in a.;y other country, to good soil, free, in a great measure, from all rent and taxes. The interest of capitd charged is on an average about ten shillings the acre of cleared Idod, ;nd including stock, buildings, furniture, implements, &c. &c. upon these lands. I am sorry that I cannot show by my tables, a more flattei:- mg picture of the results obtained from agriculture in Lower-Canada. No doubt many will differ from me in the estimate I have made, and the conclusioBS I have brought them to. I can only say that they have dis- appointed myself. I have, however, endeavoured to make them as accu- rate as possible from the means of information at my disposal, which cer- tainly were considerable, and from a long experience. It is extremely difficult to make these sorts of estimates perfectly accurate, indeed an approximation to accuracy is all that is practicable ; and I hope the ge« neral results will be found entitled to that character. Farmers will per- ceive by these calculations that the annual produce for each working per- son taken at 37/. 10a. is not more than what is very frequently paid to hired labourers, including their board ; they are oflen paid more ; and it may be right to state that board, or any other item of personal expense, is not included in the 37/. 10s„ but that all has to be provided for from this amount, and also for the idle and helpless portion of the community, which nearly amount to two persons for one productively employed, and hence the 37/. 10s. would not be sufficient for the support of near three persons, without including the sum set apart for the interest of land and capital, which should be allowed to accumulate, or be expended on land for the settlement of growing families. There is one cheering circum- stance, that a vastly increased produce may be obtained from agricluture, by introducing a more perfect system of husbandry and good manage- ment every way, and by the care and attention of our legislature to all such matters as directly or indirectly influence the prosperity of agricul- ture, which, I regret to say, has not hitherto been much attended to, and in proof of this, I would only refer the reader to the imports and exports of Canada. If her agriculture were in a healthful or prosperous state, the imports would not be double the amount of her exports, when she is in possession of a fertile soil of almost boundless extent, and a climate th^t is not unfavourable. Assummg the population of UpperandLwerCanadatobel,000,000, the imports for last year would amount to 2/., and the exports to 1/. for each. 10 •I J :- 74 Btrthf, marriages and burials in Lower-Canada, for five years, from 1831 to 1836,inclu8ivei | Births. Marriages. Burials. II If td .1 :"1 Quebec, 1831, 8,133 1,629 6,023 1832, 8,691 1,67^ 6,946 f't: 2833, 8,642 1,601 6,282 ■•)""'• 1834, 8-697 1,407 6,282 v'r'i; .. 1836 r ,^ s,671 2,644 1,636 8,027 2,692 3,118 *. '\', > \ ..... 24,202 Montreal, 1881, 14,217 6,614 1832, 13,196 2,606 13,718 1833, 13,721 2,643 6,936 1834, 14,181 2,487 9,069 1836, 13,124 2,397 4,977 1 68,438 2,738 12,626 40,204 Three-Rivers, 1831, 619 1,196 1832, 2,964 648 1,319 , 1833, 2,914 647 1,064 1834, 2,988 614 1,303 1636, 3,014 486 929 .... 16,408 2,613 63 6,770 St. Francis, 1831, 37 26 1832, 62 67 28 1833, 81 67 33 1834, 167 66 29 1836, No Returt 1 . ■ . . • .1 327 ; 263 116 Gasp^, 1831, 330 68 48 ,1832, 280 :-:t. 23 •, 1833, 181 33 ^834, 281 ■• m ^ 41 '. . . '5, No Return 1172 ' 220 146 Total in five years, 127,889 23,274 70,436 There are some returns wanted for the last year fov Gasp^ and St. Francis, and some parishes in the district of Montreal. I believe that the cholera caused the death of full 16,000 persons in the years 1332 and 1834. If it were not for this, it is probable there would be considerably more than two births for one buria\ The last year, in the districts of Montreal and Three-Rivers, the biilhs are very nearly three for one burial, and the burials as one to sixty-six, of the whole population ; and taking an average of the years which includes the two yeurs of cholera, the proportion of burials to the entire population 95 is only one to thirty-eight. Hence n") country in the world has so great a disproportion between the births and burial8*h8 Lower-Canada, in or- dinary years, or in any years except those of cholera. The following will show the births and burials in England, France, and Russia in 1830. England Bir>hs. I BuriaU 343,660 I 238,349 London. Binlia. %i,Sii BuriaU. 21,709 FrHnee. Births. I Burials. 973,986 I 79S,0I2 Paris. Births. I Uuriala 23,970 2.1,341 Kiiimia. Birihs, 1,642,023 Burials. 1,194,037 Lower-Canada, in five years, including the two years of cholera, would, if the returns were all furnished for the last year, show an increase of births over burials of near 60,000, and this added to the emigrants who have settled in the Lower Province, will make the increase amount to 90- 000, which will bring the whole population to my estimate of it, 600,000. Such is a concise description of Lower-Canada ; generally correct I trust it will be found. The tables may not show as favourable results in all branches of industry and the progress of improvements, as might be desirable. However, though Lower-Canada has not progressed so ra- pidly in improvement as the neighbouring states may have done, yet within the last twenty years, tho province has greatly advanced in wealth and population ; and this advance has not been the consequence of a very extensive circulation of bank paper money, nor are the people much involved in debt to each other, or to strangers, in effecting these improve- ments, and therefore they may be said to be their own and paid for. It will be manifest to the reader that the capabilities of the province of Lower-Canada, which I have described, must, for future production and population, be very great, when it is considered that out of 113,000,000 arpenls of land, the greatest part of which is capable of cultivation, or of being rendered productive, about 110,000,000 is yet in a wilderness state, and that of the whole of this immense territory, not much over one- twentieth part has yet been even occupied, and about one-fiftieth part cultivated. I would further observe, that it is not by any means all the best, part of the land that has been conceded. The seigniories are situ- ated on each side of the St.. Lawrence, and do not extend far back, and they were not so chosen from the superior excellence of the soil, but from their being more convenient for settlement. I have not included any land in the tables that lies too fai north. West of Quebec, no part of the boundary of those lands extends to 48^ degs. north latitude, and I am con- vinced that lands south of that line are capable of being profitably occupied by the husbandman who perfectly understands his business, cultivating such crops and stock as are suitable to the soil and climate of his location. The present papulation of Lower-Canada (600,000 souls) occupy very little more than one-twentieth part of the land, and cultivate about one- fiftieth part, as I have before stated. The uncultivated part of that which is occupied, gives a produce in firewood, lumber and ashes, which con- stitute part of the amount annually created, as shown by the tables. The whole of this population are employed in agriculture, commerce, profes- sions, domestic manufactures, &c. I have endeavoured to show that the. produce annually created fVom every source is 11,000,000/. I will then say, that if 600,000 souls occupying a twentieth, and cultivating a fiflieth part of Lower-Canada, produce annually 11,000,000/., that if the 10* ifi,:!: 11 H I < I \'.i ■S 1» ':.' I !j',:>l 1 i 1 '' ii 'l! ■ ,■:' '•}'■ ' ■' 'I'i '! ii •1 !! •!' '1 In ■ if i ■■ 1 i'' t't '1; 1,, ' ■ i' whole were occupied and cultivated even in the same proportion as at pr»> sent, it would give 220,000,000/. produce annually created and a popula- tion of 12,000,000 souls, and be only at the rate ofone to9 arpentsof land. This estimate may appear chimerical, but I am confident, nevertheless, that the capabilities of the country for population and production, are not overrated, but ou th«i contrary. Were an improved system of husbandry now generally introduced, the present produce from every branch of in- dustry would be vastly augmented, and might be increased in proportion from a full population, and exceed my estimate. Admitting that only the one-third of the land which I have included in the tables, may be fit for cultivatioii, it will be amply sufficient to provide for a population of 12,000,000 souls. In England and Ireland, the po- pulation is more than three-fold to the square mile, what my estimate for Canada would be, and there is in those countries one-eighth of the land unprofitable and uncultivatable. The quality of the soil cannot be bad in Canada, where it is naturally coverlid with forests of large trees of every species and variety, and in some situations tbnit do not produce large trees, the land may yet be excellent, but injured from excessive moisture or some other cause easy to remedy. The wonts of an increased population for firew )d, in a country such as Canada, where good fires are actually necessary in winter to the safe- ty and comfort of the people, might to many suggest an objection. The estimate I have made of 12,000,000 souls, would be only about 70 to the square mile, or one to nine arpents of land. If the one-fourth, or one- fifth of every farm were reserved for fire and fencewood, it would be abundantly sufficient. By preserving a wood from cattle, it will very soon after it is cut down, grow up again to a good size, and by constant- ly observing this rule in future on every farm, a sure supply might be pre- served. On most farms there will be found some parts perhaps not pro- fitable to cultivate, and in many "sections of the country there may be rocky or hilly land, only fit for growing wood ; such lands might be re- served for firewood. There is, however, no occasion to apprehend scar- city of firewood for centuries to come, and it will be always in the pow^r of the legislature to adopt such measures as may be necessary tO secure a supply of firewood, or a substitute, so essential to the comfort of the population of Canada, whether many or few. I do not speculate on the chances of a more moderate climate resulting from the country becoming cleared of the forest, and settled, though I think it possible when it is settled to the extent T believe it ca- pable of, that the climate will be ameliorated. Those \,ho would ex- pect much change of climate from the comparatively limited extent to which the forests of Canada are yet cleared, must not have given due consideration to the causes which produce excessive cold in winter in Canada, in the same latitude as France, where the winters are very mo- derate. When I think of the vast extent of continent situated north land north-west of Canada, that never can be cleared or cultivated, the mil- lions of square miles of snow and ice that never thaw, I can scarcely hope that the clearing and settling of Canada to the full extent it is capa- ble of, can have much effect in moderating the climate. In consequence of entertaining this opinion, I make my osculations that the same neces- si^ for fuel, and artificial heat in winter will be felt in Canada, whether the population be one or twelve millions. i '■' :iH^ 77 If Lower-Canada were {ntpulous to the extent I have estimated, the in« creased produce of the country would soon enable the people to open communications to the most remote parts of the province, by navigation and railroads, that would enable them to draw thti, . .pply of wuud from distant sections of the country never yet visited by civilized man ; and at a price that would not be exorbitantly high. There is every reason to suppose that abundance of coal is to be had in the province, and there is a certainty that it is to be found in Nova Scotia and Cape Bre- ton, of the best quality. What grounds should there be then to appre- hend any want of firing ? I believe that coal brought from England is now in use with many families in Montreal and Quebec, and when burn- ed in suitable stoves, is found as cheap and as M'eil odapted to warm houses as wood. As to the want of fence- wood, I hope that at no dis- tant period, live and stone fences will be substituted for wooden fences, in all the old settled parts of the country. I would further observe, that I have left out of my estimate 40,000,000 arpents of land in the lower section of the province, which has been included in Mr. Bouchette's ta- bles. This land is, I believe, all wooded and might be accessablo by wa- ter communication. I therefore do not see that any objection can be well supported against my estimate of population, on the grounds of there being a scarcity or want of necessary fuel. A numerous, well-informed, and industrious population, will more rea- dily find the means of supplying their wants under many disadvantages of climate and soil, that! a Uiin population, uninstructed, scattered over a wide extent ofcountiy would be able to do with a more fertile soil and favourable climate. For the truth of this proposition, I appeal to the experience of those who have had opportunities of seeing practical proof of it in Canada, and elsewhere. The climate, as appears by the tables of temperature, and from my own experience, is not unfavourable for agriculture. The situation and circumstances of the country every way are advantageous, and, theref jre, to all who will give due consideration to these advantages, I hope they will find sufficient reason to justify the estimate which I submit to public con- sideration. A considerable period will of course elapse, before my calcula- tions can be realized ; but from what I personally know of the province, and the reports I have from good authority of those parts of the country w^ich I have not had an opportunity of seeing, I am persuaded that Lower Canada might produce abundant means of comfort and happiness for the amount of population I have stated. I am far from thinking it desirable that a country should be so populous that the people would not be able to supply themselves, by moderate exertion, with a reasonable portion of the necessaries and comforts of life. No, I consider that state of popu- lation the best, which wilt afford to every individual an opportunity, by applying their talents industriously to some useful and suitable occupa- tion, to provide what is necessary of the conveniences of life, for rational enjoyment, according to the station they occupy in society. If all who are disposed to be useful to themselves, and to society, are offered a fair and equal chance to advance their circumstances, which I hope they al- ways will have in British America, those who will possess most talents, industry and prudence, will be able to acquire proportionate advantages. Fop ages yet to come, Canada will afford the materials to produce the ne- ?! $ ':p t 1 iiii ' II ''■;[ 1 t ■ 78 r«flsnrio'4 nnd conreiilrncrs of iifo to those who will ecck for them tut d be dJHiHKoed to iiinkc them nvnilable. There is an objection that |>o'.hi!i'.j' may be urged to the capubilitiei4 of the countrytfrom the faihiro of cro^ri in a^lvcrso seasons, in the lower paits of the province. Adverse seosouB .t. '. not more frequent there, than in many populous countries of Europe, and ihorc mny be much of the disappointment in crops to be attributed to bad fdoughing, inHnfTicicnt draining, injudicious cropping, and the total neg- cct of n proper syistem being observed in the management of the land. 1 have no doubt these cnut^es hnvc produced more loss than the climate. Ninctcon-twentieths of the forests of Lower-Canada is now unproduc- tive and waste. Would it bo for the interest and advantage of every in- dividiml of the present community in this province, that those lands should be settled, and cultivated as speedily as circumstances would per- mit ? Would their settlement to the full extent which I have above stat- ed be consistent with the general comfort and prosperity of so greatly in- creased a population ? These questions I candidly answer in the affir- mative, from the clearest conviction of my own mind. What has hitherto confmed the settlement of the lands so much to the front, or the banks of the principal rivers ? The difficulty of going bade, and making roads at the hibour and expense of a thin population. Were the back country occupied by active settlers, this difficulty would be obviated. The same road that would be necessary for the convenience of five settlers, ten or twenty miles back in the forest, w ouid answer for a hundred, or perhaps for five hundred ; and the making of a road which five could not under- take, would be easy to five hundred. There are many other circumstan- ces which prevent almost the possibility of a few persons going back into the forest to commence a settlement which would be rendered perfectly practicable to a more numerous body settling together, who would assist each other and would leave no interval of woods unoccupied to injure the small portions of cleared land that can never be productive without a free circulation of air. I have heard much complaint in these provinces of the injurious effect produced from the crown and clergy reserves being left waste. If these waste reserves arc injurious to the adjoining culti- vated lands, which no doubt they must be, how much more injurious must it be to the poor settler who ventures to commence a settlement in the wild forest, without neighbours on any side to assist him to open the fo- rest, or drain the land. Enclosed by high, impenetrable woods, that pre- vent the sun a good part of the day from shining on his clearance, what chance has he to be successful, or to be happy 1 debarred himself and his family from all communication with their speciet?, their state will be little better than that of the savage ; and they are unable to derive from their lands and labour, half the produce they would do, were they surrounded with neighbours, cultivated fields, and had easy access to markets. Means of free and constant intercourse has, in all countries, a powerful influence on civilization, improvement, and rational enjoyment, principal- ly because it greatly augments the produce from every branch of indus- try ; and it is only where industry is abundantly productive, that civiliza- tion and improvements will go on, and rational enjoyment can be practi- cable to the people. Where a population are barely able to subsist, ci- vilization will not be greatly advanced, improvements are out of the ques- tion, and what ought to be considered as rational enjoyment in civilized society, cannot be known or understood. IS necesa in liOwer-CnnnHn, the greater the poptilatiun the more there will be nn- nnally produced, and the greater will be the savings that can be made, to be again expended in useful improvements, productive labour, in culiiva^ tion and in the comfortable settlement of the rising generation. This produce might bo constantly going on, augmenting, population incr<>ns- ing, and the power, wealth, and prosperity of British America advance most rapidly and certainly. In all new countries that have abundance of good land, waste and unprofitable, it ought to be the first object of go- vernment and people, to settle and cultivate it. The prosperity of the United States is estimated by the rapid increase of her population, the clearing and cultivation of her forest lands, and the growth of her cities, towns and villages. This must be the true mode of estimating the pros- perity of British America. Nothing but the settlement and cultivation of her land, can give her a numerous population, and flourishing cities, towns and villages. It is the produce of the soil that must supply what is necessary for the support of a numerous population, and means of car- rying on commerce, the profits of which will give funds for the extension of the cities, towns and villages, and the establishment of such manufac- tures as would be likely to b;^ profitable. To a country that has a thin population, and a territory of almost boundless extent, that can only be rendered productive by the labour and industry of man, an accession of population able and willing to work, not of the idle and worthless, mual be profitable. Whatever is produced from the labour of a man, applied to what would have continued unpro- ductive, if he was not employed upon it, must add so much to the produce annually created, and increase the wealth of the country, by the amount produced over what he consumes. A full grown man then coming into a country capable of producing more than he consumes, under the cir- cumstances I have above stated, is equal to a capital of the same amount that was required to support him from infancy to manhood, or a working state, because in every country what it takes to support the rising gene- ration to be capable of working, or of being productively employed, must be so nn.i.:h unproductive consumption, and more particularly to the coun- try that loses their services when they are at maturity, and capable of rendering service. I make a distinction in the value of emigrants to Canada. The indus trious labourer, though poor, is in himself a certain amount of capital. The skilful agriculturist with limited funds, is still a more useful emigrant. The farmer who has both skill and capital, is of more value to the pro- vince than either. Kmigrants of the class not agricultural, who come with sufficient funds or industry are also valuable. It is only those who come with trifling funds, and without any disposition to increase them by industry, that cannot be of auy benefit to a country where industry is the basis of prosperity ; they add nothing to production, but on the contrary lessen the funds that should be employed in productive labour, and must therefore be injurious to a community such as that of British America. The class of emigrants who come to Canada with funds must be benefi- cial to the farmers settled in the country, as these funds are expended ge- nerally in purchasing the produce of the province, and extending the mar- ket for it. In coming to these colonies they do not lessen the funds of •I til I 1 1 . i u ■J ■ ':iil: lii m 80 those here before them. If they should improve their ctrcumstaneei', it is not by taking any part of what belongs to the inhabitants of this country, but by expending labour and capital on what was previously waste and unproductive, and rendering it productive. Every well inform«^d man, acquainted with the local circumstances of British America, and its connection with Britain, the West Indies, &c. must be convinced that the more the produce which is annually created in every way, the more ample will be the means at the disposal of the inhabitants for secu- ring their comfort and enjoyment. The English market may not al- wajw be found equally profitable, but as the population increases there, and th. situation of the Irish poor becomes improved, the markets of Bri'um must extend and improve for the sale of the produce of these pro- vinces. Should the foreign market not be sufficient for a greatly in- creased surplus produce from agriculture, means will be fqund to pro- vide a home market, by encouraging manufactures, and increasing our cities and towns. It is manifest that we cannot purchase manufactures from abroad, if we do not sell our own produce to customers out of Ca- nada ; but there is not much danger that we shall produce more than we can dispose of, particularly while we may be engaged in clearing the forest, which will give employment for ages to come. The British government have given great encouragement to emigra- tion to the Swan River, or Western Australia. A settler is allowed a free grant on producing satisfactory proof that he has the means or ca- pital to invest in land or its improvement, at the rate of 3/. capital for 40 acres ; and stock, implements or half pay, is c m niuci) of the forest is the ncighbowiiood of the lake« and rivers has been cut down, aivi the lii«(fi cultivated ; but what is all that has yet been done, conipar<^('. loth« vast f^xtent that reaia:n8 stili in a state of nature 1 An extent that nearly equrJ« that of the Britiinfa Isles. The great facilities oHbred by her .ivers aua lakes for corornunicatiun to almost every part of her territory, is ot' the greatest consequence and advantSige lo the settle- ment o<'a new country. Many of these rivers, it is true, require some .expenditure to make them navigable for steamboats, but certainly nature has done as much good fii*r Upper-Canada, a« ibr any country ; and if man will only do his part well, I do not know, nor have I read of a country better calcuatod to produce all that is necessary for the support and reasonable enjo) ment of a numerous populatif>n. The province is divided info eleven districts, twenty-six counties, aD6sh, eel, trout, dace, chub, mullet, carp, lucker, dogfish, bill fish, lamprey, silver eel, herring, and sun fish, are all found in the lakes and rivers. ' The Climate of Upper-Canada, is considered by most persons who have resided in both provinces, as more moderate than that of Low- er-Canada. It is said that the prevailing winds in summer blow from the south-west, and passing over the vast lakes, the air collects a very considerable moisture, which in the spring and fall is said to be unplea- sant. In winter the north-west wind is most frequent, and is dry and cold. When it blows from the south-east, it is generally soft, and the deepest falls of snow, and the longest continued rains, are accompanied by easterly wfnds, as in Lower- Canada. In summer it frequently occurs th'ii .' •3n the wind is from the south-west, it rises about nine o'clock, atk'^i r'jntinues to increase in strength until towards evening, when it lulls a"-'."\y gradually. The south-west wind, coming from a warm region, im- jun-^ warmth to the climate of Canada ; and it is found that the cold is lest severe in the latter country than in corresponding degrees of latitude in e.me of the eastern states of the Union. I have been told that emi- grants from New Jersey, who have settled in Upper-Canada, have found iff 'imate more mild than in the country they had lefl,thou<f latitude was two degrees. The inhabitants of Upper-Canada coioiwain much of want of sufficient snow \n s(ime seasons to make good winter roads, and to shelter the young growing wheat. A full covering of snow from the 1st of December to the 2l8t of March, will be ever found advantageous for both Canadas. Though there should not be a particle of snow on the ground, the climate is such that cattle must be under shelter or enclosed in yards with sheds, and hand-fed in winter. The grass that might be on the fields could possess very little nutriment indeed, after a few nights of frost, so severe as to cover the vast rivers of Canada with ice. The difference between the climate of Upper and Lower Canada, so far as regards the winter feeding of cattle, is very tri- fling. Perhaps cattle might contrive to exist oil what they could procure in ine fields, at a Inter period of the fall, and some days earlier in the spring, in Upper than in Lower Canada ; but, doing justice to stock, they will require to be hand-fed in both provinces, from some time in the month of November until the 1st of May. This may appear to the emi- grant from the British Isles, as greatly unfavourably to the keeping of cattle to profit, but it is not so 'm rea'iiy. I believe that in ordinary sea- sons, that are moderately moiti ii\ summer, one hundred acres of land in due proportion of meadow and pasture, will suppnw as much stock in Ca- nada for the year, as the same quantity of land of equal fertility, in pas- ture and meadow would do m Britain. The land may yield as much produce of nutriment in six months in Canada as it will in a year else- where, provided it is not checked by extraordinary drought, which sel- dom happens untii the hay crop is secured. The greatest drawback to i ; ill 'I':;! 87 the farmer is, that in the months of August and Septembor, it frequently happens that the pastures suffer for want of rain ; but I am contident that except in such unfavourable seasons, the long-winters will not be found prejudicial to the keeping of stock in due proportion to the size of farms, and the capital of the farmer. I have already given tables of the temperature of Upper-Canada, com- pared with that of Lower-Canada, which will be sufficient for every use- ful purpose. The difference in the spring, summer and harvest months, is very inconsiderable, but in the winter the cold is not so great or so long continued in the Upper as in the Lower Province, and perhaps this combined with some difference in the soil, is the chief cause that fall wheat is more successfully cultivated in the Upper Province ; but I will not admit that even with this ndvanta^^e, and what it may possess in re- gard to climate, that the Upper Province is much to be preferred to the Lower, as an agricultural country. Cities, Towns, and ViLLAGEs,inUpper-Canada, cannot yet be very numerous or extensive ; there are, however, some that have made aston- ishing progress within a few years. The city of Toronto, in lat. 43.35. north, and long. 79. 20. west, is the scat of government, and has now about 1500 houses, and over 10,000 inhabitants. It is beautifully situat- ed on a fine bay or harbour of Lake Ontario, which is protected at the entrance by a strong battery. There are several public buildings, the House of Assembly, where the provincial legislature hold their sittings ; the Government House, King's College, Court-house, Gaol, Episcopa- lian Church, Catholic Church, Scotch Kirk, Baptist and Methodist chap- els. Barracks, &c. A considerable number of the houses are wood, but some are of brick and stone. The city is incorporated, and is governed by a mayor, aldermen and common-council, annually elected. It returns two members to the provincial assembly. Toronto is so favourably cir- cumstanced in many respects that it is likely to advance rapidly in extent and population. Kingston is in lat 44.12. north, and long. 75.41. west, at the north- east point of liake Ontario, and the head of the St. Lawrence, about 200 miles from Montreal, and 190 from Toronto. It has about 600 houses, and from 5,000 to 6,000 inhabitants. More than half the houses are of brick and stone, and well built. There are several public buildings, churches, barracks, &c. The Provincial Penitentiary, lately erected, is a fine and extensive building, and cost over 12,000/. It is estimated that it will be necessary to expend 8,000/. more to complete the plan. 1 be- lieve there will be 370 cells or more, when the building is finished as pro- posed, with all other necessary appendages, work-shop?, yards, apart- ments for keepers, watchmen, &c. I have not seen a plan of the peniten- tiary, but believe it the same as that of the penitentiary at Auburn or Sing Sing, in the United States. The estimated expense of keeping 50 pri- soners in food, clothes, light and firewood, is about 850/. annually, ex- clusive of keepers, watchmen, &c. This would be 17/. for each prison- er, of which 7\d. per day is the estimated expense of rations, or 11/. 8s. 3d. annually for food ; 3/. 12s. for clothes, and the remainder for fire- wood and candles. There is no estimate made of what the work of the prisoners is likely to produce, but I should hope that under judicious su- ; fit. If ^» '111 •i 't:i, ' I! i ) 1 1. li ii'; a- v fr 1^ 1 1 ' 'III 1 "'. l' ■1 , •I -.'.^4 88 perintendance, it will nearly clear the whole expense. I thinly there is no mode of restraint that can he deviii^ed so proper, as that of obliging those who commit a broach of the law of their country, to contribute to their own support, while they are subjected to confinement for their crimes. It is unreasonable that the criminal, idle and dissolute, should be support- ed in idleness, at the expense of the industrious and well conducted part of the community, and it is only strict justice to oblige those who will vo- luntarily ahd wantonly act against the peace and welfare of society, to work for their maintenance, while under lawful restraint. I have ever looked upon it as an encouragement to vice and crime, to keep young and healthy men for several months or years confined in idleness. It is scarcely possible that such persons when discharged, will ever again be- como industrious and well conducted ; and in such a country as British America, idle habits ought to be strictly guarded against, where the in- dustry of all is required to be usefully applied. The amendment of the criminal ought to be as much, and more the object of good laws, as his punishment ; and indeed I dispute the perfection of any laws- that are not calculated to produce amendment rather than inflict punishment. There vfaa a government dock yard at Kingston, and several ships of war were laid up there since the last American war. One ship of the Line, the St. Lawrence, of 130 guns, was sold at auction some time ago for a few pounds. I believe the establishment is now uroken up. The expense incurred in constructing ships of war at Kingston during the laM American war, was immense. Kingston is strongly fortified by batteries at all points. Fort Henry is a strong fortress, and commands the city and harbour. Brockviile is, next to Kingston, the most extensive and improving town in Upper-Canada, and has been built since the last war. It is 143 miles from Montreal, 12 from Prescott, and 56 from Kingston. This town has a considerable trade ; the steamboats arrive and depart al- most every day while the navigation is open. I believe it has from 16(HI to 2000 inhabitants, and is likely to increase rapidly. The town of Pres- cott is situated immediately above the most westwardly rapid on the St. Lawrence. The steamboats ply between Prescott and every part of Lake Ontario. The improvement of the St. Lawrence now in pro- gress, will, when complete, allow of uninterrupted steam navigation from Prescott to the province line between Upper and Lower Canada. The town of Niagara is charmingly situated on the south shore of Lake Ontario, at the mouth of the Niagara river. It has about 500 houses, and a population of 2000. There is a very considerable and constant in- tercourse in the summer season by steamboat, between Niagara and ev- ' ery part of Lake Ontario, and as k»w down as Prescott. The town of Niagara is about 10 miles below the great falls, a circumstance that at- tracts many strangers to the place, on their way to visit the falls. There are many other rising towns of considerable trade which I think it unne- cessary io describe particularly. The names of almost all the cities, towns and villages, are given in the following list of places where post offices are established in Upper-Canada, on the 6th of February, 1836. }'■ 89 )re is no ng those ) to their crimes, support* cted part . will vo- ociety, to lave ever icp young iss. It is again be- as British ere the in- lentofthc iws, as his w thai are ment. ral ships of ship of the 10 time ago I up. The ring the Inst by batteries ids the city I improving Lst war. It 1 Kingston, id depart al- ts from 1500 )wnofPres- id on the St. very part of now in pro- trigation frow lada. ihore of Lake 600 houses, i constant in- jgara and cv- The town of stance that at- falls. There think it unne- all the cities, IS where post )ruary, 1836. Aldborough Guelph Pickering Adolphustown Goderich Port Burwell Alexandria Hallowell Port Dalhousie Amherstburgh Hamilton Port Dover Ancaster Hawkesbury Port Hope • ?<^ Adelaide Hillier Port Stanley Albion Holland Landing Port Talbot Asphadel Howard Prescott Bath Haldimand Pakerham . Bayham Hope Porland Belleville Kemptville l^errey Beverley ,?>., Kilmarnock ;-> -r.--^: Queenston ;v»* ■'{ Brantford Kingston (, • Raleigh I.I Brighton Kitley Richmond Brockvillc Keswich ,. •■. River Trent ■ •■ '■; ''-•/ Burford Lanark Romney ' '- Bytown Lancaster Riiwdon ... Beamsville Loyd Town Richmond Hill i,t Barrie Lochiel ' St. Andrews Beaverton London St. Catherines " • • . ;■>;■ Carleton Place L'Oriihe! St. Johns .-ii Castleford March St. Raphaels (■^1 Cayan Markham St. Thomas i ' "v Chippa-va ;i,- f. Marmora Landwich ir ;: .;.„ Cobourg . ■!> , Martintown Simcoe .' •; .* 1 Colborne - - ,)- • Matilda Smith Falls z' n Colchester if I Merrickville Smithville ' ' -' ■ ; Cornwall Middleton Stoney Creek ^ .? .* [ Credit Mosa Streetsville ,' Camden East Murray Stoufville ';••.• Chingnaconsey Milford . . ';, Searboro 'ffi Clarke Montinette , . > Stanley's Mills ; •> Consecon Mersea Shannonville =:i•<^.■: ;: ') Darlington Manogham St. George . * Delaware Napopee Stratford '' ; Deraorestville Nelson Seymour West :. - : Drummondville Newmarket Thomhill 'i " « Dundas Niagara Thorold 4 Dunnville Norwich Toronto Eriens Orford Trafalgar ' i.: Elobicoke Oxford . * Toronto City Esquesing Osnabruck . ': VankleekHiU Fitzroy Harbour Otanabec Vittoria , ■; Fort Erie Orillia Wainfleet Fredericksburgh Oakville Walsiogham Gait Ora Waterford Gar.anoque Pasis Waterloo • , £ Georgina Penetanguishene Wellington ■ Gosfield Perth Wellington Square • r.i Grimsby Peterboro West Williamsburg n k'.J, '.va M ' U/ 1 . !| li I 'l f|1i|:;:ili Whitly Whitton 1 Yarmouth Williamsburg East Woodstock Yonge Ways MHIs Williams Town York Milla My object in publishing this work is to give an idea of the capabilif '"^s of the country tor future population and production, not to describe mi- nutely, every town and village in Canada. It may reasonably be supposed that there cannot be many large towns, in such an o:a«nsive country, and thin population. There must first be a numerous rurnl po- pulation before there will be encouragement to build extensive cities and towns, because a numerous town population could not be otherwise sup- ported unless manufactures were extensively established. The stranger may however rest assured that in every part of Canada he will lind he can settle himself sufficiently convenient to a rising town or village, where he can procure all actual necessaries, and those who may require luxuries, and have the means of paying for them, will find no difficulty in getting them to purchase, if they do not go too far into the forest, beyond the bounds of civilization. Education, is very >vell provided for in Upper-Canada. The legis- lature have made annual grants for the support of schools and school- masters ; there are also appropriations of land made to a considerable ex- tent, which may be increased, I suppose, to any extent that would be pru- dent and desirable. In a new country, unless education receives some support from government funds, the rising generation will be neglected. The parents in general will think th&y can badly spare the services -of their children when able to render any assistance in the way of labour, and can less spare money to pay for their education. Hence, it will be found, that in every new country, where education is not partly provided for from public funds, it will be very much neglected. I do not say that a gratuitous educalioi^. should be offered to the children of parents who might vorj well afford to contribute something towards paying for their education. 'There might be some rule adopted that would guard against an abuse of this ki'td. In case that puplic property is set apart for general education, it would be just that the public at large should participate in the benefit, and it is on this principle that I would think it desirable to grant public lands for the endowment of public schools, which might be sold on a permanent annuity for their support. One public school in each township ought to be sufficient, if placed in a ccntial situation ; and were 4000 acres set apart in each township, it would on an average afford a permanent annu- ity of 100/. or more. This, with whatever assistance might be rendered voluntarily by the people, would if on«e properly organized, be sufficient without much aid from the public revenue, except for the erecticn of schoolhouses, and residences for masters. The less revenue that is col- lected off the people by the government, over what is actually necessa- ry for its respectable support, and for works of general utility, the better for the community at large. To insure the success of public schools, the principal matter to be attended (o would be the choice of qualified school- masters, and placing the superintendance of schools, under the controul of a board of commissioners in each province, whose duty it should be among >, rageme much di all over The "',i! 9i »abilit!«'8 ribe mi- lably be latnsive rtn!!i po- ities and viae sup- stranger I lindhe village, y require iliculty in t, beyond he legis- 1 school- srable ex- Id be pru- ives some leglected. ervices of of labour, , it will be f provided }t say that irents who T for their ird against 1, it would it, and it is c lands for permanent ip ought to ) acres set nent annu- >e rendered c sufficient erection of 1 that is col- ly necessa- ^ the better schools, the Red school- controul of Id be among t \ education erve for a io|iose to : others, to visit personally, every public school in the province annually, and to see that proper books of instruction were made use of 'n the schools. The duty ot^ these commissioners, as well as a general plan of education, might be pointed out by an net of the legislature. The expense of a board coeducation, need not be very great. Four commissioners and a secretary would be sufficient, and as they would not bo constantly employed, ex- cept the secretary, about 200/. a year for each might perhaps remune- rate them for their services, with an additional allowance for travelling expenses, in visiting the schools, which they could do separately. A lo- cal board might be elected in every township to superintend each school, under the chief board of education, from whom they would receive their instructions. Competent men might be found to form a board of education at a salary of 200/. a year. A useful education is what would be requir- ed to be taught at the township schools, and in my humble judgment, the dead languages need not form a part of it. Let those who would iind it necessary that their children should be taught Hebrew, C md Latin, send them to the colleges or private schools. A plain 1 is amply sufficient for any agriculturist in Canada, and large proportion of those who are not agriculturists, an employ themselves in trade, commerce or manufacturer King's College in Upper-Canada is endowed with 245,0()t) acres ol'Iand. This land, if even sold' at lOa. the acre, the interest of the purchase money at 5 per cent, per annumj would amount to near 6000/. a year for ever ; an J f suppose the land may realize double that amount. I do not know what returns the lands yield at present. The college has an annual grant from the money received for the land sold to the Land Company of 1000/. sterling, The '* rates of tuition :" 2/. currency per quarter, and 5a. for contin- gencies, that is, pens, ink, fiiel, &c. for each scholar in the college forms. In the department of the college which is called the preparatory school, W. 6s. per quarter for tuition, and 5s. for contingencies, is paid for each scholar. The terms at the college boarding house, are 30/. currency per annum, for board and tuition. Books and materialla furnished' to the pupils on the lowest terms by the college, who order them from England every year. The average num- ber of scholars was for the first year, 1830, 104 ; in 1831, 121 ; in 1832, 105 ; in 1833, 118 ; in 183^^1, 115 ; and for the quarter ending March, 1835, 124. I believe the college is very well conducted undier a president, princi- pal, vice-principal, and several masters, &c. No scholar is required to conform to, or be instructed in, the peculiar creeds, or religious exercises of any christian denomination. This is as it should be, and I hope that every college in British America may be conducted on the same princi- ple, that scholars of every religions creed may be educated togetherr without any interference as to the religion they profess. It is the encou- ragement of miserable and unchristian distinctions, that has caused so much division and ill feeling to prevail between different religious sects all over the world, who all nevertheless pro/ess to be christians. The number of schools in Upper-Canada may be from 500 to COO. I IS* ' i! \ ' ^^'"^o. ^., IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) k A // ^ .4^ /i^v {< % % K 1.0 I.I .25 |io ■^™ IMHI m 1.4 V] <^ /^ / -y &. '/ /A Hiotographic _Sdences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STRUT WnSTIR,N.Y. 14SS0 (716)t72-4S03 \ >V •sj \\ rv '^ ^^^ ^ .**# ■m m have not an exact return of them. The legislative aid granted in 1833, 1834, and 1636, was about 8,000/. annually. This session the House of Assembly have voted 20,000/. for education annually, for some years to come, but it has not yet passed the Council; Religion, in Upper-Canada, is perfectly free. Every man may profess what particular creed he thinks proper ; and there are several different religious denominations. No tithes are raised in Upper-Canada. The clergy reserves, or one-seventh of the lands, were set apart for the sup- port of a Protestant clergy by the constitutional act. Until very lately these reserves did not produce much. The following statement will show what the clergy reserves have produced for the last 16 years. It is taken from documents placed before the legislature. Statemmt of the sums received on account of rents of Clergy Reserves from 1820, to 1834, with expenditure for superintending, and balance paid into the hands of the Receiver-General. £ s. d. t £ s. d. 1820 Received, 34 18 n 1820 Expenditure 35 1821 ditto 231 17 H 1S21 ditto 149 10 1822 ditto 2C1 6 H 1822 ditto 160 8 n 1823 ditto 251 8 1 1823 ditto 163 8 1 1824 ditto 174 2 1824 ditto 123 16 8 1826 ditto 432 7 10 1825 ditto 142 2 104 1826 ditto 1827 ditto 1828 ditto 1829 ditto 209 6 8 1829 ditto 149 6 8 1830 ditto 726 1 6 1830 ditto 216 2 6 1831 ditto 725 12 8 1831 ditto 176 12 8 1832 ditto 1168 12 2 1832 ditto 248 12 2 1833 ditto ditto inl833 1877 1483 19 lit 1833 ditto Total Expenditure 228 13 13 7 1833 1772 10 1834 ditto 3367 16 10 Balance paid from time to time into Receiver-Gene- il Received, 11034 ral's hands. Total, 9261 12 Toti 6! 10 11034 6 10 statement of Rtceipts and J:*ayments arising from the sales of Clergy Reserves, made by the Commissioners of Crown Lands, from 1st Jan- aury, 1829, and quantity oj land sold, with the price per acre. 1639 1830 IS31 1883 I83S 1834 ((UBntity of Land Sold. AcrM. 18014 34703 1-3 38S68 1-3 48484 8-4 63333 1-4 59638 Price per Acre. d. 8 1-3 « 1 3-4 S 8-4 4 1-3 13 10 3-4 Total Amount. L 1. d. 18339 S34J8 4 17363 13 83387 19 44747 19 41336 18 Amount Received. L ■. d. 3460 1 3 6S1S 1 11 8339 17 8 10713 6 14936 16 6 16630 8 I Amt. paid to Commiasary General, ll.Ool 8,000 9,600 10,000 Amt. paid to Receiv er Oen'rl L s. d 7S9 IS 3 703 7 3 1062 10 7 total 319676 13 8 172136 13 7 683il 12 A SS/iO) ;i}68 13 1 J^alance in the hands of the Oommissionei ol Crown Land Expenditure for luperiu- tendance. L E 8139 S 839 18 1207 18 1020 IS 1286 10 1886 13 83U0 11 10 Total paid L B. d SISO D 8 . 839 13 8 14307 13 9818 10 3 11493 18 I 12949 4 3 49460 6 1 1 8790 5 6 a 33351 12 .-> a. d. 10 8 n 8 1 16 8 2 m 6 8 2 6 12 12 8 2 10 6 10 « I- J, » 1 1 Total paid L B. d SIM 9 8 830 13 8 143OT 13 .9819 10 3 11495 18 I 12949 4 3 49460 6 n 8790 5 6 33331 12 j Out of the above fund? there appears to have been paid the dergy'of Upper-Canada in the year 1838, 11,870/. ; and in 1834, 16,927/., mak- ing a total of 28,797/. Of this amount the clergy of the church of Eng- land received in the two years 14,821/. ; of the church of Scotland, and of the united Presbyterian Synod of Upper-Canada, 6,127/. ; Roman Catholic church, 4,910/. ; and Methodists 2,667/. A part of these grantitf were for the erection and riepailr of churches. List of Misnonarica of the Church ofEnglandi .•^!!iT .!:■)?{ PAROCHIAL CLBROT OF THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND IN UPPER- CANADA, 1st APRIL, 1836. Home District. — ^Toronto, &C) the honorable and venerable J. Strachan, D. D. (Archdeacon of York.) Rev. H. Grasett, A. B. assistant minister, Toronto, (chaplain to the lord bishop.) f^ The clergy of the Upper-Canada college officiate on Sundays in parts adjacent to Toronto. Markham, and Yaughan, Rev. Y. P. Mayerhofier, and Rev. G. Mor- timer, A. M. Ji .:,3g Toronto, &c. Rev. J. Magrath. . ij.. i/u u>/. Etobicoke, &c. RevT. Phillips, D. D. , , v.^;;{ Travelling Missionary in the Home District, Rev. A. Elliot, /fn-aliiul Gore District. — Hamilton and Barton, Rev. J. G. Geddes. (^ Binbrook, Glandford, &c. Rev. J. C. Usher. , > ^ Ancaster and Dundas, Rev. J. Miller, A. M. isrfj oj vjitficisuiiM Guelph, Woolwich, &c. Rev. A. Palmer, A. B. Missionaries to the Six Nations (Indians) on the Grand River, Rev. R. Lugger, from the New-England Company, London ; Rev. A. Nelles, assistant minister. : , *»i.,..t.., .. v>«i District op Niagara. — Niagara, Rev. T. Creen. " ..q^, Grinusby, &c. Rev. G, Grout. i^ ...^ji Chippawa, Stamford, Queenston, Rev. W. Leemin^^j. Waterloo, Fort Erie, &c. Rev. J. Anderson. St. Catherines, &c. Rev. J. Clarke, A. M. .'\ .. ., ~ t London District. — St. Thomas, &c. Rev. M. Burnliia)n,'A. B. Woodhouse, &c. Rev. F. Evans. 1 London, &c. Rev. B. Cronyn, A. M. Adelaide, Rev. D. Blake, A. B. Carrodoc, &c. Rev. R. R. Flood, A. M. ' Blandford, &c. Rev. W. Bertridge. '"' ., Western District. — Amherstburg and Colchester, Rev. R. Rolj^l Sandwich, Rev. W. Johnson. Chatham, &c. Rev. T. B. Fuller. Warwick, Rev. J. Radcliff, A. M. Travelling missionary in thb London district, Rev. T. Greene, A. B Newcastle District. — Cobourg, &c. Rev. A. N. Bethune, (Chap lain to the lord bishop.) . Port Hope, &c. Rev. J. Coghlan, A. B. ,, , ,, .^ i:? •itf « .1. : 1 i 4. i / 94 ')i 'iji t !>' r/' Am I, .1! Cavttti, &c. Rev. J. Thomson and Rev. S. Armour. i Peterborough, &c. Rev. R. H. D'Olier, M. A. * Midland District. — Kingston, the Yen. 6. 0. Stuart, L. L. D (Archdeacon of Kingston.) Rev. R. D. Gartwright, A. M. assistant minister, and acting chaplain to the Garrison, (chaplain to the lord bishop.) Bath, Ernestown, &c. Rev. A. F. Atkinsout A. B. Adolphustown, &c. Rev. J. Deacon. ' Belleville, &c. Rev. John Cochran, A. B. Carrying Place, (Township of Murray) &c. Rev. J. Grief. Mohawk Tract, in the Bay of Quints, &c. Rev. S. Givins. Travelling missionary in the Midland District, Rev. W. S. F. Harper. Prince Edward's District. — Hallowell, &c. Rev. W. Macaulay. Bathu RST Di :icT.— ^Perth, &c. Rev. M. Harri*, A. M. Beckwith, &c. j.t,ev. J. Shortt. Richmond, &c. F Rolpb. ' March and Huntley, Rev. J. PadHeld. Carleton Place, &c. Rev. E. J. Boswelt. Johnstown District. — Brockville, &c. Rev. £. Denroche, A. B. Yonge, &c. Rev. W. Gunning, A. M. Prescott, Maitland, &c. Rev. Robert Blakey. Oxford and Marlborough, Rev. H, Patton. Eastern District. — Matilda, WilUamsburg, &c. Rev. J. G. B. Lindsay. Osnabuigh, Cornwall, &c. Rev. G. Archbold. Missionary to the Indians at Sault Ste. Marie, Rev. W. McMurrayr from the Society at Toronto, (U.C.) for the conversion of the Indians, &c. Red River Settlement, and Hudson's Bay Territory, Rev. D. J. Jones, chaplain ; Rev. — Cochrane, assistant chaplain to the Hudson's Bay Company, missionaries from the Church Missionary Society, Lon- don. Rev. J. S. Strong, destination not known. Rev. J. Mackenzie, do. , i' ^ ■ , . "I CATECHISTS OF THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND IN THE CANADAS. Lower-Canada. — District of 't> aebec, 6. C. Allsopp, Frampton and parts adjacent. Edward Turner, Bourg Louis. District of Montreal — Charles Foiit>i»<,'Chateauguay, and parts adja- cent. W. Harvey, Huntingdon, and parts adjacent. District of Three-Rivers — Edward Lane, Riviere du Loup, and parts adjacent Patrick Benson,, Lake Miskinong^. District of Gasp^ — John Eden, Gasp^ Basin. Geo. Heath, Mai Bay. J. Tuzo, L'Anse au beau-fils. Upper-Canada — Home District — ^Thomas Moore, Markham. Newcastle District — ^R. Taylor, Douro. Maitland District— Mr. Shiriey, Bath. Johnstown District — ^Mr. Latimer, Wolford. Ditto ditto, John O'Neill, New Boyne. Eastern District — P. Mulhcrn, Cornwall. i -' - ' WV ;|; cbaplain . Harper, [acaulay. et A. B' J, 6. B. IcMurrayf dians, &c. jv. D. J. Hudson's siety, Lon- jDziet do. «ADA8. ixnpton and )art8 adja- >, and parts 1, Mai Bay. ham. ; -iw'i 95 CORPORATION ron manaoimo the olbrot reserves in lower* CANADA. Members — ^The Lord Bishop of Quebec, and all the beneficed clergy within the province. Principal, The Lord Bishop. Directors: The Rev. 6. J. Mountain, Rev. J. Bethune, Rev. J. Jack- son, Rev. S. S. Wood, Rev. R. R. Burrage, Rev. £. W. Sewell, Rev. J. L. Alexander. Secretary: T. H. Thomson, Esquire. amfi .ix.fi ^ The following are the payments that are proposed to be made to the missionaries employed by the Enslish Society for the Propagation of the (' ospel in British America, from the funds of that Society, from Colonial funds, and parliamentary votes, commencing 1st April, 1834. Paid by the So- Paid by the Paid by vote of the British Total Countries. ciety from their Local Gov- paid an- own funds. 'emment. Parliament. nually. Upper-Canada, £ ^6606 £ ;e6506 Lower-Canada, 3415 560 3965 Nova Scotia, 4000 4000 New-Brunswick, 3800 562 6352 Prince Ed's. Island 300 300 Cape Breton, 400 .-.1* : J F^^ 400 Newfoundland, 2170 2170 Total annually. jei0085 7058 4560 21693 I have taken the abo^e firom official documents submitted to the Le- gislature of Upper* Canada. lAit of JV[im$ier$ in connection with the Church of Scotland. Rev. Mr. Rintoul, City of Toronto. Rev. James Ketchan, Belleville. Alex. Ross, Aldborough, Alex. Gale, Hamilton. John Machar, Kingston. W. McAllister, Lanark. Thomas Wilson, Perth. ' A. McNaughton, Lancaster Archd. Connell, Martintown John McKen^ie, WiUiamstown H. Urquhart, Cornwall. Wm. Stuart, Gait J. Cruikshank, Bytown. Robert McGill, Niagara. Geo. Cheyne, Amherstburg D. McNaughton, Yaughan. M. Y. Stark, Dundas. James Smith, Guelph. John M. Roger, Peterborough P. Ferguson, Esquesing. Geo. Romanes, Smiths Falls. John Fairbaim, Ramsey. I have it not in my power to show what the annual allowance to each minister is for the year 1834. The total amount charged as paid to them, was 2219/. 11«. lOjd. for payment of one year's allowance or sa- laries. ^^1 III It i r l! II J^^ «l ' I I .: |! I|!' ;■ JJtt of Clergy of the ■ Unihd Pretbyterian Synod of Upptr- Canada, lal January, 1835. Jtev. G. Buchannan, Beckwith. - Andw. Bell, Toronto township John Gemmill, Lanark. John Bryning, Mount Floasant Robert Lyle, Osnaburg Robert Boyd, Prescott. Rev. P. Fereuson, Esquesing.^ D. McMillan, Caledon. WiUiamKing, Nelson. R. McUowfdl, Fredericksburg James George, Scarboro. 6. McClitchey, Clinton. Wm. Smartt, Brockville. The amount paid by the Receiver-General Dunn to the clergy of the United Presbyterian Synod of Upper-Canada, as their allowance for the year ending the 31st December, 1834. was 813/. currency. Romtm Catholic Clergy of Upper-Canada in 1834. Right Rev. Bishop McDonald, Right Rev. Bishop Gaulin. Rev. James Moore John McDonald Wm. Fraser James Bennett James Campion '. Timothy O'Meara John Cannon Rev. Michael Brenan John Butler W. P. McDonell Patk. McDonogh John Eeegan John Cassidy Angus McDonell Rev. John Lostree John McDonell Edward Gorden Daniel Downey George Hay — Morin Murth. Lalor John McDonogh , The Roman Catholic churches for which government aid has been granted in 1833 and 1834, are the following, and the amount granted for ofteh* Glengarry, - ^^300 Peterboro, n 150 Niagara, - - -191 Guelph, - "•" ' Longeuii, Gore of Toronto, - Adjala, - Loughboro, 'i'Avuiifi Petit Nation, - Penetanguishine, 90 40 40 40 70 30 30 '.»a';ii)ii 'Wkv- ,.-.-L. Maiden, London* St. Thomas, Port Hope j - f-ii'-' Kingston^, '-i^^i*!-! Camden, - ., . - Trent, ''^^'i^^-' - Cornwall, - m. jn Jt St. Catherine, i Toronto - - ^90 60 a©! 150 20 20 20< 85 25 .'U. Up to the year 1800, about 20,000 acres of land were set apart as Glebes in Upper-Canada for the use of the church of England. From that time to 1828, about 600 acres ; and from 1828 to 1834, 600 acres, making in all over 21,200 acres. From 1828 to the present period,most of the land set apart for glebes was for the church of Scotland andRo- man Catholics. For the former up to 1834, 1160 acres, and for the lat- ter 400 acres. I cannot say what state of improvement these glebe lands are in, or what proportion has been cleared and cultivated. I should think that there ought not to be any objection to grant free, a sufficient glebe, for every church, and resident minister in Upper-Canada, of whatever religious profession. There is land in abundance, and a glebe would be of great assistance to the support of a clergyman, who would reside upon it, amongst his flock, or parishioners. Unquestionably land has often been granted free to persons in Canada, less deserving of The toti I Also gi| retur Gen£ Total; '^ 99 it than (he clergy ; And where there are nd iithes, aiid I hope never will be, a glebe for the resident minister, who might have a family that could be usefully employed upon it, and who, perhaps, otherwise might be idle, would be greatly desirable. It cannot be injurious to any portion of the community, that glebes should be appropriated for the support of minis* ters of religion ; and in a country such as British America, it might be well for the clergyman to have a farm, where some of hii children might be instructed in agriculture, if they had no better means of getting their living. The Government is the same as that of Lower-Canada. The Cunsti- tutional Act granted tne same power of legislation to Upper as to Lower Canada, under a lieutenant-governor, appointed by the king. The Eng- lish civil and criminal laws are in force, with some modifications by pro- vincial statutes.. Registry offices are established in every county, so that (here can be no difficulty of ascertaining the trie circumstances of any property offered for sale, and of knowing what security a man may give who would require a money accommodation. This must have a very fa- vourable inJflueHce on the prosperity of Upper-Canada. Lands granted in Upper-Canada, from the original returns to England, to the year 1834. 941 grants of 100 acres, and under, 431 grants of 100 (o 600 acres, 28 grants over 600 acres, • - ^ 1400 grants or deeds, for - - • Other 6 grants or deeds, to the Canada Land Com- pany, have passed the great seal, ... Also 96 Clergy Reserve leases luve passed the great seal, --.-.-• Grants have passed the great seal, commencing from (he year 1792, for - Deeds have been granted to the Canada Company for other --.,--- 67,373 acres 92,815 do. 24,036 182,228 do. do. • 62,311 ocn i; , 18,364 r( do. q A do. 8,l2i,666J do. ^ 735,828| do. 9,296,620acrea - l,697,164acrei .■ O '■61. 302,420 do.^ Il,125,204acre8 Total granted, ..... The total quantity of surveyed lands remuning un- granted in 1834, according to the blue book, Also given over to Col. Talbot for settlement, no return of which has been made to the Surveyor- General, - • - • Total granted and ungranted, which is surveyed It doea not appear that one-half of the above granted lands have ever yet been settled upon or occupied, and only one-eleventh part cultivated. The Canada Land Company purchased from the government by their first agreement, the crown and clergy reserves set apart in Upper-Cana- da, that were not previously disposed of. By a subsequent anaugement, the clergy reserves, comprising 829,430 acres, were given up by the Company, and the government gave in exchange for £em the Iluron 13 ■ i] I 4 1 II* : S t • ik ,^!:j ;?■« ■\\L 96 I ^ ■ ^ Tract, contatnin| 1,100,000 acres. The clergj reserves were valued to the company at 3s. 6d. the acre, and amounted to 146,160/. 6s. They got the Huron Tract for the same gross amount, with a privilege of one- third of the purchase money to be laid out by them on canals, bridges, roads, churches, wharves and schoolhouses. Hence the price actually paid by the Land Company for this tract to the government, is a fraction over one shilling and nine pence currency, the acre. I do not know what the crown reserves were valued at. The following is a statement of what the company have and are to pay for what they have purchased. July 1827, 1828, x829, 1830, 1881, ;f20,000 July 1882, 15,000 1833, 16,000 1884, 16,000 1836, 16,000 1836, jei7,ooo 18,000 19,000 20,000 20,000 'And each succeeding year for six years the like sum of 20,000/., making altogether 296,000/. currency. This amount does not include the sums which the Land Company are to invest in public works, and improve- ments in the blocks of land in the London and western districts. The company have, I believe, paid up all their instalments to July last. Of the receipts, a large sum has been paid towards the support of the civil government of Upper-Canada. For the expenses of the commissioners employed to value the lands, &c. about 7,000/. was paid ; and for the compensation in lieu of fees to the officers of the Land-granting Depart- ment, I find the sum of 19,900/. currency charged ; an allowance to the honorable Colonel Talbot, of 400/. sterling, per annum, and some other Sensions and charges, of which one of the latter is 1000/. sterling to the Ling's CoUe^ge, a most excellent application of so much. Stalement of Receipts of all Monies arising from the Sale oj Croton Lands and Town Lots, made by the Commissioners of Crown Lands, also by Rents received on Crown Reserves, Jrom IstJanuai'y, 1831. Tean Lands Sold. Acres. Price per Acre. Total Amount. Amount paid Town lots sold. Price wld fur. Received for Town Lots. Rent received from Crown Reserves. 1931 ISSS 1883 18S« 4851 10328 81*73 8891 s. d. U 3 9 1 8 9 9 L e. d. 3158 1 8 4711 9 9 11578 19 3 40B3 11 11 L 8. d. I72S 16 25SJ 1 « 6352 6 7 3917 13 1 3 30 114 67 L e. d. 2> 2 8 827 15 1874 9 UM 13 L 8. d. 93 IS e 81 18 S 634 18 6 7 16 6 L s. d. 804 1 1 419 17 S £89 16 11 181 1 Total 49U44 - 9 7 22776 IS 7 14581 16 3 234 3193 19 8 880 6 8 1166 16 6 I regret that I cannot give so satisfactory a statement of the funds aris- ing frona the rent and sale of government property as 1 would wish. I give it as I could make it out, from the journals of the legislature. There is no statement of the amount of annual rent or instalments, payable for lands or town lots, leased or sold, which might readily be made to show all this, at one view. fs-j,;;:jii •:;:!.;; I m 'im alued to They of one> bridges, actually i fraction lot know tatement chased. 7,000 8,000 9,000 10,000 iO.OOO ., making the sums improve- !ts. The last. Of fthe civil nissioners ind for the ig Depart- nce to the ome other ling to the toj Crown ten Lands, t/, 1831. Rent received from Crown ad»ervM. L ■. d7" 804 1 1 410 17 « £29 16 11 lai 1 81 U6S IS I funds aris- Id wish. I ure. There payable for ide to show 00 '^"' itiv*bir^ and Expenditure of Upper- Canada for the year 1834. REVENUE. Amount received from the Receiver-General of Lower- Canada, as the proportion for Upper-Canada of the import duties collected at the port of Quebec, in 1834, ;e64,393 13 Amount of 22d and 23d bank stock dividend, - 2,000 Amount received on account of licenses issued to shop-keepers, inn-keepers, distillers, &c. &c. • 6,911 13 Amount received for bills of exchange on London, on account of government debentures transmitted there, 208,466 4 Amount of duties on imports from the United States, 10,726 1 Amount of license to hawkers and pedlars, - - 892 14 Amount of licenses to auctioneers, and on auction sales, 467 11 Amount of tolls on roads, canals, harbours, and interest on loans, . - . . . 1,871 ."ft I ill n Hi H 9 104 Total amount of resources in 1831, - - iE285,757 19 Of the above was nett revenue of the province for one 10 ;e77,291 16 EXPENDITURE. Administration of justice and support of civil govern- £ 16,186 16 777 16 406 11 1640 8,839 4 120 8373 ment, Receiver-General's salary, Inspector-General's salary, ... Adjutant-General of militia, militia pensions, &c. Contingencies of the Legislature and officers of do. Pensions, - - - - « Schools and schoolmasters, - - . Hospital, Female Benevolent Society, and Penitentia<- ry, Kingston, - - - - - Agncultural Societies, - - - - Improvements of road^, bridges, river navigation, &c. 63,64 ' Maintenance of Light Houses, ... 700 Remuneration to Arbitrator on behalf of the province, 600 Surveys and district returns, - - - 666 19 Redemption of debentures, - i. •*»*«*!* 9" 128,710 6 Interest on debentures outstanding, - - 11,838 6 On account of the appropriation for the improvement of the river St. Lawrence, - - - - 36,000 9 /*?■!> 1 3 6 8 Total expenditure in 1834, ^277,728 14 8 I did not deem it necessary to state the balance in the Receiver-Ge- neral's hands at the commencement or termination of the year, as I only 13* k:', m 100 15^ wished to show what the revenue and expenditure was within the year. The debt due by Upper-Canada in 1634, raised on debentures, for which the provincial revenue is accountable, was 360,000/. currency, subject to an interest of 6 per cent. The improvement of the rivsr St. Lawrence will cost from 300,000/. to 400,000/. more, and is raised in the same way. I believe the debt this year will not be much short of 800,000/. with what may be added to it the present session of the provincial parliament. It must be manifest how necessary it is to encourage agri- culture, and every branch of industry, to augment as much as possible the production of the country, to meet those Targe demands. Let popu- lation increase, the wilderness be cleared and rendered productive in corn and cattle, and the money invested in useful public improvements will soon be refunded. The Wblland Canal, which connects the lakes Ontario and Erie, is 42 miles long, has 37 locks, and a fall between the two lakes, of 330 feet. It is 56 feet wide at the surface, 28 at bottom, 8| feet deep, and cost al- together about 500,000/. currency. The British government has lent 65,555/. at 4 per cent, interest ; and the province of Upper-Canada 100,000/. at 6 per cent, interest. The remainder is in stock held by both provinces and by individuals. I believe that since the canal was con- structed, there has not been one shilling dividend to stock-owners. The interest for the money borrowed, is 7,222/. annually, which has been paid. In the year 1834, the tolls collected amounted to only 4,300/. In the balance sheet of the Welland Canal Company for the year ending December, 1834, 1 Bnd the following items of expense for that year : Contingencies, 1087/. lis. 6c/. ; salaries, 675/. ; ditto engineers, 258/. I6t. 3d. ; steam-dredging machine, 780/. 5». lOd. ; award for land da- nwge 796/, 0«. lO^d., making a total of expenses 3507/. 13*. 6c/. To meet all this, and the interest, there are only the tolls, and 989/> lOt. re? ceived for water privileges ; and 1097/. 9^. 2d. for lands sold. That there has been mismanagement in some way, ^ere canpot be the shadow of doubt, either in the construction of the canal, or the expen- diture in its construction. From the locality of the canal, connecting the two great lakes, Ontario and Erie, by a navigable means of communica- tipn, I sboidd imagine there could not be a situation in North America, where a work of that description would be inore useful or profitable; and, notwithstanding these favourable circumstances, that the year's tolls should only amount to 4,300/. is difficult to account for, if the country has any produce to transport, or the canal in an efficient state for navi- gation. From report, I have reason to suppose that the canal has, for a great part of the time since it was constructed, been in bad repair* from the falling in pf the Lanks, and other causes. It is most essentially necessary that in constructing great public works, engineers of high character for practical experience, should be employed. To expend hundreds of thousands of pounds under the direction of an engineer who may know very, little more than the theory of engineering, is, to say the least of it, not very good policy. Where large sums are to be expended on public works, it is the bounden duty of those whq have the management of this expenditure, to obtain the very best advice of practical men of known experience, wherever they are found. I do not IQl » year, which mbject wrence B same D,000/. >vincial ;e agri- toBsible 5t popu- ctive in rementB Erie, i9 (30 feet, cost al- hafl lent -Canada i by both f/VLB con- •s. The has been lOOl. In Eir ending year : ers,258l. r land da- 6d. To /. 10». re- )lic worksi employed, jtion of an (igineering, urns are to whp have t advice of I do not M with to insinuate that competent engineers have not been employed in Canada for these works, but from what cause does it proceed that the Welland canal has been so much and so oAen out of repair 1 The fall- ing in of the banks of canals is a casualty which they will be much sub- ject to in Canada in many situations, and ought to be provided for ; and if they cannot be preserved from the ill effects of such casualtiest canals ought not to be constructed. I shall refer to this subject again. The Rideau Canal, is a work which has been executed bv the Bri- tish government, at an expense to Britain of more than one million ster- ling. It is a canal, or chain of waters which can be navigated by steam- boats, from the river Ottawa at Hull or Bytown to Lake Ontario, near Kingston. I believe its whole course is about 135 miles. The Rideau lake forms what is called the summit level, and is 24 miles long, situated some miles nearer to Lake Ontario than to Bytown. The surface of this lake is 283 feet higher than the waters of the Ottawa, and 164 feet higher than those of Lake Ontario. The canal has in all, on each side of the lake which forms the summit level, 47 locks and 20 dams, the latter construct- ed to flood the waters of the different lakes, and river Rideau, over the shal- lows and rapids, to make them navigable. By means of these dams, a great extent of lands has been destroyed by flooding. Contrary to all prece- dent in England, the engineers under whose management the Rideau ca- nal was constructed, were perfectly indifferent to the injury done to the lands in the neighbourhood of the canal. Their skill was chiefly direct- ed to the most effectual mode of flooding, without any regaid to draining or preserving lands from injury, andlam sorry to say (hat the same disre- gard has been manifested in constructing other canals as well as the Ri- deau, and in situations where the injury, though not so extensive, is more severely felt. In England, where canals are constructed through the pro- perties of great landed proprietors, they are able to take care of their own mterests, and not suffer their lands to be damaged, without compensationt or a remedy being provided ; but in Canada, the proprietors of land be- ing farmers without influence, in case of canals being constructed through their small properties, their interests or the preservation of their lands from damage is not much tjiought of, and they have to submit to the in- jury. In proof of this, the Lachine Canal has crossed the bed of the small river St. Pierre, about two miles from Montreal, and a small tunnel was constructed under the canal for the waters of this river to pass through. In time of heavy rains, this tunnel is so insufficient that the waters are raised from four to six feet on one side of the tunnel higher than on the other ; and the valley of the river St. Pierre, which contains about 1000 acres of as fine land as any in Canada, in the immediate vicinity of Montreal, is from this cause, flooded occasionally to such an extent as to destroy the crops that may be upon it, and render the lands worse than useless to their owners. It is true that the legislature^ passed an act to remedy this evil, by authorising the construction of a second or third tunnel, if it should be necessary ; but this law has been evaded by those whose duty it was to carry it into effect. There is a fur^ ther injury occasioned by this canal to the lands it intersects by waste wares, and leakage through the embankment, no part of which htM been puddled, nor intersecting drains cut to prevent the leakage and waste wa- ters from spreading over the adjoining lands, and all (his wirhout any compensation being given. 1^ ipf' . \ V 103 •4- Banxs. There are three chartered banks, two in Toronto, and one in Kingston, and a private bank in Toronto. It is probable many more banks will shortly be established. At the last session of the pro- vincial parliament, application was made to charter cne or more banks, and was favourably received by the House of Assembly. In such & country as British America, where capital is wanted, (be judi- cious operations of banking would be of incalculable advantage, and would greatly assist the population to cultivate and improve the country, and convert what is now a wilderness, yielding no return, into pastures, meadows, and corn fields, and thereby immensely increase the annual produce from land and labour. But though the judicioua operations of banking are calculated to produce much good, it is nevertheless possible that banks might be exceedingly mischievous to a country. The busi- ness of banking is one in the proper understanding and right copducting of which the public generally is, beyond all other business, interested. If errors are committed by those who may be engaged in any other busi- nees, the injury is chiefly confined to the parties immediately concerned, and those whom they have transactions with. But errors with regard to the principles or practice which should govern the trade of banking, ex* tend their evil consequences far and wide, and must be felt in some de- gree, by almost every member of the community. It is, therefore, the bounden duty of the legislature, in every country that has one, not to neg- lect this most important subject ; but to provide on fair and equitable prin- ciples for the prudent management of banks, by adopting such rules for the protection of the public, as they shall consider most likely to be effectual, and by rendering the directors of each bank personally responsible for the consequences of breaking through such rules. It will be as much in favour of banking companies, as of the whole community, that some general principles should be established by which banking would be go- verned and regulated in future, giving no undue advantage to any party. *. The following table will give a good idea of the present state of Vp- per-Cuuada, and the capabilities of that fine country for future production and population. The land that is occupied is not over a twelfth part of the whole, and even of this there is only a fiflh part cultivated. The oc- cupied land alone, if cultivated, is capable of supporting an additional population of more than one million and a hdlf, at the same proportion that the cultivated land bears to the population at present. I have not been able to ascertain exactly the number of houses in Upper-Canada ; the following table only gives the ratable houses that are subject to pay a tax from which the inferior description of dwelling houses are exempt. In 1811, the population of Upper-Canada was estimated at 77,0Q0 ; in 1821, 122,587 ; in 1830, 251,467 ; in 1832, 276,953 ; in 1834,323,- 738 ; in 1835, it was 346,185 souls ; and allowing the same rate of in- crease to 1836, it would be now near 372,000 souls in Upper-Canada, which will show the most rapid increase of population of any part of the globe, being augmented five fold in 25 years, or doubling in about 11 years, and latterly it exceeds that rate of increase. I have no doubt but the population of Upper and Lower Canada this year is very little, if any. short of one million, of whom there are about 220,000 males over 18 and under 60 years of age. ^Jhti^fgniniarSp ^rfM^m" j^mhfi.»;q:t cvoyi gi- .i!'>n:^ '.iiii'Hl nt»i)nnfi<»<]r<.<: ■ o s "3 9 ■ I •!..S « > rS 2 3 •So »» o ».s SI 11 o o P & |J to I « I o ■ I1 Number of Inn keepers. ytilla, number eallons. ffissffi^^a ?22?:a Pay iur memberh tuihe Aii««mblv, a C O g ^ S-^ §§ii2| sisi II t) ^ i For supiiori of Si hools. Neiicutiiu irom 2 to 4 years old. g,®2Si-g^^±SRii52 Milch Cowa. Oxen, ii yeais old Jit upwards tiorsea Syearx old and upwarde Merchants' Shnfm. ; o - >ni i-» ,. _ 1 O — ^ _ .• ^ iJ o^ v« — ?Oi-'Tj«MmO — — COM toiorelioumja. I '^^SJS'^SS'^S^^^ j S Saw MillaT"] ~S§ 2 gj "g J2 ?§ .^~ S 2 §? S 2' j | Gnat Mills \ r^ \0 u 3 •a > timber, bri2k &\ g^^§^SSJ?Sl^S{^^ atone. | "" '^'^ ^^^„^^'« I -a; 9 1 g. u •3 O a s tt a a u S" m B O t s n 1 a s 3 ' "i'l .1' I St hi « * 000, this will give 44,000 residing in the towns, and 328,000 in the coun- try, engaged in agriculture. Hence the whole annual produce of the land and labour of the agricultural class, 6,426,000/. will eive 16/. 10a. Sd. for each of 328,000 persons which I have computcJ to belong to this class. It in d icmarkable coincidence that this amount is within a frac- H • >■ ,''''!} :' '' iuXl • i ■• ?lll> ■'•I; £900,000 k . 400,000 400,000 300,000 600,000 326,000 200,000 260,000 200,000 1,000,000 100,000 100,000 760,000 £6,428,000 Mf I! ■t?b i 1 II;, ., * IL 106 «h ■ \l Hon of what I have assigned to the same class in Lower-Canada, though the estimates were made up in a diiferent manner, and without any re- ference to each other. There is certainly one cause that the produce should be less in Upper than in Lower-Canada, from there being more cleared land in proportion to the agricultural population in the latter than the former. In Upper-Canada, the proportion is about three acres for each person, and in Lower-Canada four acres ; and as there is more new land bringing into cultivation from the forest in the Upper than the Lower Province, there must be a greater expenditure of labour. Allow- ing that of the 328,000 belonging to the agricultural class, 90,000 males are fit for labour, and that the work of the females is equal to 20,000, it will give 1 10,000 capable of labour. Hence each working person will produce 49/. 7^. annually, and for each family of six persons 991. 6s. 6d. will be the annual income. I find it difficult to estimate the probable annual amount created in ev- er^ way by the class not agricultural. From the most exact calculations of^the trade and commerce, and the produce from every source, not be- longing directly to the agricultural class, I believe that 1,600»000/. ap- proximates to the amount annually created by all classes not agricultural, and computing their number at 44,000 souls, it gives near 36/. 10«. for each, which 'u 51. lOs. more than for the same class in Lower-Canada. I will suppose again, that between one-third and one-fourth of the 44,000 persons are productive consumers, say 13,000, it will give for each tpeor 123/., and for each family of six persons, 220/. annually. This es- timate may be incorrect, but perhaps it approximates to the truth as nearly OS most estimates of the kind. In the^class not agricultural, are included office-holders, professional men, and all those not engaged in agricul- ture. The total produce annually created in Upper-Canada, according to my estimate, is 7,026,000/. I admit that this may be less than the ac- tual amount ; but from all that I can learn of the state of the prov- ince, it is not much too low an estimate, though I believe it is much be- low what it might be. It gives a fraction less than 19/. annually for each of 372,000 inhabitants ; and assuming the proportion of productive con- sumers to be 123,000, it gives for each of them about 67/. 2s. annually. It is not difficult to prove that the annual expenditure cannot exceed the production. The question is whether the production of the agricultural class in particular, be sufficient (after deducting what I have assigned to the increase of stock and improvements of farms, 750,000/.) to supply a reasonable portion of the comforts and conveniences of life to each per- son. If my estimate be correct, the amount which will remain for the agricultural class for the supply of food, raiment, and all other personal expenses, will be only 14/. 6s. for each soul. This amount will certain- ly appear small. Yet as food is cheap, and as the domestic manufactures which constitute a large proportion of the consumption, are valued low in the estimate of production, I think it is probable the expenditure docs not exceed this amount. The proportion of children is nearly equal to one-third, and their expenditure is less than that of full grown persons, which will leave more for the expenditure of the latter. If, however, my estimate be low for the annual expenditure, it must also be low for the ::• ■'I . I 107 produce annually cr^titcd ; bo that it cannot make any very eesential dif* ference. There can be n* , ;','■ •Jl'-'-f-'.frr ••'-'' • •ff«'-"--J » 4-. ■ Ai n rt fh^\ Jt*^,^ NOVA0€OTIii^ ■Ml, .,v..., .d'li'.i ' i V' l< I ill ' i Tbis province is situated between the 43rd and 46th degrees of north latitude, and the 61st and 67th of west longitude. It is bounded on the north by the strait of Northumberland, which separates it from Prince Edwards Island ; on the north-east v by the Gut ofCanseau, which di- vides it from Cape Breton ; on the south and south-cast, by the Atlan- tic Ocean ; on the west, by the Bay of Fundy ; and on the north-west, by New-Brunswick. Its length is about 280 miles, stretching from south-west to north-east, but it is of unequal breadth, varying from 60 miles at Black Rock pier to 104 miles at Bristol. Its superficies is es- timated at 16,617 square milbs, or about 10,000,000 acres, and including tlape Breton, the whole will contain over 12,000,000 acres, of which 2,000,000 may be uncultivatable. The province is divided into ten counties, including the island of Cape Breton, and contains now a population of about 190,000 or 200,000 souls, though in 1760 they were not 6,000 in number. This is doubling the population in every period of 16 years. In a pountry of sudn extent as Nova Scotia, the soil must necessarily be various. Dividing the country in the centre, from east to west, the north-western half is said to contain by far the greatest portion of good land. Towards the Bay of Fundy, the soil is very rich, and free from stone, a,nd contains many thousand acres of dyked marsh land, or allu- vial land, foitned by the deposit of the tides, a sediment composed of the finer particles of soil, brought away by the rivers and torrents in their course to the Bay of Fundy, of putrescent matter, salt, &c« This land, after it has attained a suitable height, is dyked, and the water of the ri- vers excluded. No land in the world can then exceed it in fertility. I have been assured, when m Nova Scotih, that in many places this land yields three tons of hay per acre, and bus continued to do so with- out any manure, since first dyked and enclosed. There is a differenco in the quality of these lands. Where the tide, which overflows it, is not much ciirichod by a long course through the country, it is observed to be of inferior quality ; on the other hand, that which is partly marsh and partly intervale, composed us well of ^e sediment of salt water, as that of fresh water, is exceedingly fertile. The quantity of this marsh land is considerable. At the head of (he Bay of Fundy, there is 70,000 acres lit ■one connected tract. Another in the county of Cumberland, as large us Romney Marsh, in England, and of vastly superior quality of soil. The grass growing upon these marshes, is vcrv agreeable to cattle, and has a wonderful tendency to fatten them. 1 hese marshes abound most in Cumberland, Macan, Napau, Wiadaor, Horton, Cornwallis, Granville, •■A 100 Annapolis, Onslow, Londonderry, Truro, Shubeoocadie, Noel, Eehnet- cook, Newport, Sic, Nova Scotia is not a very level country, and abounds in what i« caKed in America, '* intervale land,'' au alluvial soil made f)y the overflowing of largo fresh water brooks and rivers in spring and autumn. This kind of land is to be met with in every part of the province, and is frequently found covered with a long, coarse, natural grass, several feet in length. Such lands are called *' wild meadow," and the grasn that grows upon them, if cut in time, and properly cured, will make very good provender for eattle. The quality of the$e intervales varies very :.iuch, but they are generally very rich and fertile. The upland varies so much that it is difficult to describe it accurately. There is one ridge of upland which is more than 100 miles in length, and from 3 to 7 miles in breadth. It commences at Gape Bloniidon, and runs in the direction of Digby, not very far from the shores of the Bay of Fiindy. This ridge is ^•cported to be an excellent strong soil, and produpes all )fipds of grain in abundance. InHorton and Cornwallis, the land is of alight, sandy loam, easily work- ed, early fit to work, and produces as good crops as the strongest lands in the country. In almost every township a great viU'iety of soil is found, froAi the hea- vy clay to the lightest gravelly loam, and from the richest to the most in- ditferent. In the neighbourhood of Halifax, and particularly in the south- west part of the county, the soil is very stoney ; but the eastern part, about the three rivers that empty into Fictou basin, the gulf shore and the district of Colchester, contains a large portion of excellent land, con- sisting of dyke, intervale and ppland. Sydney county contains much of upland and intervale, and is generally good soil. Cumberland is said to coQtain more good land than any county of its size in British America. It is an immense prairie, extending in places as far as the eye can reach, supporting numerous herds of cattle, and producing large quantities of hay. Hants and Kings counties rank high in value in point of soil, con- taining a larger portion of intervales and marshes, than any of the re- maining four counties. The upland of these two counties is also more invariably good land. Annapolis county is very extensive, and exhibits every variety of soil. The upper half« or the part between Kings Cdunty and Digby, is considered the best land. The valley of the Annapolis ri- ver is one of the most picturesque and fertile parts of the province, and retains this character for a distance of near forty miles. The land on both sides is, at some distance from the river, high, and gradually slopes with various undulations, until it descends to the meadows which, on ei- ther side, border the rivers. Shelburne, Queens, and Lunenburg, con- tain a large portion of stoney land ; but as the population of these coun- ties are chiefly commercial, less attention is paid to the improvement of the lands than in the other counties. The quantity of inferior land is said to preponderate in these three last named counties. Wheat is not so generally cultivated in Nova Scotia as in Upper- Ca- nada, nor is the climate or soil found so suitable for it, but there might, ncvertheloiiis, be a suflicicnt quantity of wheat raised for a greatly increas- ed population, if the country was cleared, and properly cultivated for whoat. It will produce oats, barley, rye, Indian corn and vegetables of «^' m -^ 1 1 ' i.ii 110 r:! all kinds in as great, if not greater, perfection, than any province of Brt- tish America. The settlers on new land generally adopt a very good plan of sowing down with grass seeds the new land with the 6rst crop of grain, and go on clearing the forest every year, and take up new land for crops of grain and vegetables. This is the most effectual and speediest way to get a farm cleared from the forest. The climate of Nova Scotia is much milder in winter than cither pro- vinces of Canada ; and in summer the heat is not so great. The cli- mate, both in summer and winter, is preferable to that of Ireland or Scot- land, so far as I can judge, and it is much more healthy. In Nova Sco- tia, the weather is more changeable and inclined to fog than in Canada. 1 have not in my power to give very exact tables of temperature. The following meteorological register is for the town of Halifax. Months. Thermometer. Max. Med. Min. January, February, March, April, May, June, July, Augustj Septemb'r October, Novemb'r Decemb'r 42 40 52 54 60 68 80 90 79 68 69 46 20 18 25 30 40 60 63 70 51 51 38 26 2 10 6 8 20 30 40 55 48 30 18 7 Some clear days. Some rain & snow ditto Some rain, cloudy, ditto Cloudy, rain, ditto Bain, cloudy, ditto liittle rain, ditto ditto Little rain and fog. ditto ditto and hazy. Clear, ditto ditto Rain and fog. ditto And snow. By the above table it will be perceived that frost must have occurred occasionally in May and June, which cer'ainly is not very favourable to growing crops, but it may have been so slight, and so early in June, as not to cause much damage, and perhaps it is hot usual. I know that the climate of Nova Scotia is not unfavourable for agriculture if the farmers will do their part well, particularly in ploughing and draining. A slight frost will not have so injurious an effect on crops growing on a soil that is perfectly well drained, as if growing on a damp soil. Like all other parts of British America, Nova Scotia is abundantly and conveniently watered with lakes, rivers, brooks and streams. Some of the lakes are beautiful, having small islands covered with wood to (he water's edge. The lakes are the more beautiful from the lands in the neighbourhood of them undulating in the most romantic manner. These lakes will, at a future period, afibrd great scope for inland navigation. A chain of lakes and rivers have already been connected by art from Halifax across the country, and made navigable to Truro, and thence into Mines basin in the Bay uf Fundy. This water communication is called Ill the Shubonocadie Canal. Perhaps no country ofthesamo extent has more numerous seaports, and is better situated for commercet. and for carrying on extensive fisheries. It has a sea coast of about 600 miles. The natural vegetable productions of Nova Scotia are much the same aa those of Lower-Canada. Immense forests of large trees of every species and variety cover the most of the land in its natural state, and when these forests are cleared and cultivated, every vegetable and fruit that is grown in Lower-Canada, may be cultivated in this province with equal success. The mineral products are most valuable. Coal is found of the best quality in Sydney, Cape Breton, and some other places ; also gypsum, slate and iron ore, limestone and freestone. In mineral products, this province is superior to any other in British America. Indeed in many respects she possesses great advantages ; her rivers abound with the fin- est fish, and her sea shores with every variety of white and shell fish. 1 have never seen a cheaper fish market than that of Halifax. I havo known lobsters to be sold there from one to three coppers each, and other fish in proportion. The wild animals are not numerous, and are perfectly harmless. The most troublesome insects, as in all the other British provinces, are the musquitoes, and black flies, which certainly are tormenting for some monUis in the year, particularly in the neighbourhood of woods and swamps. Halifax is situated in 44.44 lat. and 63.34 long., and is the chief town in Nova Scotia; it is the seat of government, the principal commer- cial mart in the province, and a free warehousing port. From the water or port, Halifax has a very handsome appearance. It is built on ground which rises gradually from the water's edge to the height of 260 feet. The streets are wide, and generally cross each other at right angles. Most of the buildings are of wood,but large, some three stories high, well constructed, and painted white. There are many houses of brick and stone, built within the last few years. The government house, parliament house, English church, and some other public buildings, are of stone, and are handsome structures, very creditable to the province. The streets are generally dry and clean from the situation of the town built on the side of a hill. I suppose the number of houses is now about 2000, and the population not far from 20,000. I have not seen a town in Bri- tish America that I was more pleased with than Halifax. The harbour may truly be called a noble one, equal I believe to any in the world, sur- rounded on all sides with high lands, and the entrance protected by strong batteries, which a hostile fleet could not readily pass. It was the principal nDval station in British America for ships of war. There was a most ex- tensive government dock-yard, but the establishment is now partly broken up. In time of war, Halifax is exceedingly well situated for a naval de- pot, and will be sure to become one, should war unfortunately occur. Halifax has a very considerable maritime trade, and will be likely to go on increasing every year. The port is open generally at all seasons of the year, and the entrance to it is easy, and perfectly safe. Dalhousie College, at Halifax, is of the same constitution as that of Edinburgh University. There are several excellent schools in the town ; indeed there are good schools in every town and village in the province. '"'li ' I ^ 4 •■'. I ! 1 ! '^.ia 112 -: ill! Th« town of Windaor, eituated in the county of Hanta, on the bonks ot the Avon, is said to be one of the prettiest in America. The land in the neighbourhood is excellent, and the scenery beautiful. Kings College, is an establishment at Windsor, which is highly creditable to the pro* vince, and is said to be extremely well conducted for the education of young men. The town of Pictou, is a free warehousing port, and has a very consi- derable trade in lumber, coal, and the fishery. More than 100 vessels have been loaded here with timber for Great Britain in a year, and the exports to the West Ifidies were not less extensive and important. This town also, has a college for the education of youth. The town of Sydney, in Cape Breton, is the seat of government for that island, and is a place of very considerable trade. The exports are timber, coals, fish, oil and caMle. There are several other rising towns in Nova Scotia, many of which have safe harbours for shipping, and considerable trade. It may be interesting to the reader to state the extraordinary rise of the tide in the Bay of Fundy. In Mines basin, the tide rises 75 feet, while in Pictou harbour, on the gUlf of the St. Lawrence shore, it does not rise more than six feet. It is said that in some places, particularly in Chig- necto bay and Mines basin, the tide flows so rapidly, that animals on the shore are sometimes unable to escape fVom it. It flows in at once se^ veral feet in height, and with a force that is almost irresistible. The Nova Scotia and Cape Breton Mining Company with a capital of 400,000/. commenced operations in 1827, at Albion, Sydney and Bridge- port. The first is near Pictou, Nova Scotia, the two latter in the island of Cape Breton. The Albion mines produce a most superior quality of coal» particularly for the purposes of steam. The quantity shipped in the year 1884 from the Albion mines, was 11,207 chaldrons. The Sydney mines produce coal similar to the English ; Newcastle and Bridgeport* coal of the same description. Statistical table of Nova Scotia for the year 1828. Popu- Land Land uncul- ouliiva- civated. ted. 9700030 233986 Pi-oduce. Pota- toes. 4000000 Horses. 14000 Neat cattle. ISOOOO Sheep Swine Births Marri ages. Binba laton Wheat ^•'f' grain. 2C0p:0 5000^0 123848 12C00O 200009 looaco 4.563 943 in)8 By the above the annual births are 1 to 27 of the population, and the burials 1 to 66, or nearly five born for two that die. Hence the period of doubling the population, independent of emigration, would be about 17 years. By this rule, the present population of Nova Scotia in 1836, computing moderately, the increase by emigrants for the last eight years, should be full 200,000 souls. I expected to get the last statistical re- turns, but have not yet obtained them. If I should receive them before the work is published, I shall give them in another place. ■^ in-^II'iM. •t'i;l ■ •11 t.ii iii '.f.hV \'.'i:' iiVk-i ;v.«< ->('■■ Ciu'.' -I'f.u t»y.'; nksot in the allege, B pro- tion of consi- vessels and the , This nent for lorta are of which ae of the 3et,"whilo J not rise in Chig- ils on the tonce se- capita) of id Bridge- \e island of ity of coaU in the jrear iney mines ortf eoal of MarrI U^tjia ages. on, and the je period of )e about It ia in 1836, ; ei^ years, tatiatical re- them before 113 .l%efoUotDing laUa will $how'iha value of the mport$ anJiexporUof^ovU Scotia proper^ in aUiling tnoney, toith the ahipping and tonnage. Imports. Exports. ' ' Ships. Tonnage. YaWe. Ships. Tonnage. Value. 1826 1830 1833 1834 1835 1018 1865 1960 3068 2872 89423 149343 163388 253921 227820 £ 738181 1405163 1035^60 876310 1161 1850 2830 3116 2914 96853 158776 179965 260239 227fe70 ^(454262 714865 887367 861000 Tho exports come much, qearer; to the amouutof imports in Nova Scotia latterly than they do in Canada. The chief cause for this is, that some of the imports are again exported from Nova Scotia, which is not tho cose in Canada* Perhaps nearly half of the imports are exported again to other countries. Supposing this to be correct, it would bring tho amount of imports to bear about tho same proportion to the population that it does in tho Canadas, 2/. for each inhabitant ; but the exports would be the same, or nearly so, and be double the amount they are in Canada for each person. This may bo some help to determine the an* nual expenditure of the population, when we know the greatest amount of commodities we receive from abroad. The total Revenue was in 1821, 31,4302, and the oxpejiditurc 30,684/. Tn 1831, the revenue was 85,018/., and including a grant by the British parUoment of 13,126/. the expenditure was 94,876/. I have not yet been able to obtain a correct return of the amount of revenue and expenditure for the last few years. The province some years ago issued treasury notes which, on Uie 1st of January 1834, amounted to 70,299/. in notes of 10/. and over,then in circulation. I do not know what the amount is now. Education is provided for on a very good principle. Any settlement consisting of thirty families, who raise by their subscription, or by assess- ment, 60/. for the support of a school, are entitled to receive 26/. from the provincial revenue annually. There are 3 colleges, 24 grammar schoolv; and in 1833, there were 420 other schools, and 13)260 scholars. The common schools received from the provincial revenue that year 1,831/., and from the people in six months, 7,851/. The ccUeges and grammar schools receive, I believe, some aid from tho provincial Tevo- nue, and from grants of land. Religion is chiefly Protestant, but there is perfect freedom in respect to religion and no tithes paid. The church of England had in 1831, a bi- shop, archdeacon, and thirty clergymen stationed at the following places ; The honorable and right reverend John Inglis, D. D. Lord Bishop of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, Halifax. Rov. John Bumyeat, Visiting Mis- Rev. Mather Byles Disbriaqy, Dart- sicmary. James C Cochran, Lunenburgh John 8. Clark, Horton, John M. Campbell, Coinwallis 15 mouth. Charles Elliot, Pictou. Thomas A. Grantham, Yar- mouth. i o fri\^ 1' 1 \ 1 1 \\\ 4 ' ' ' 1 '■ • ; ■ ■-» , ' ■:. 114 .i.L ,: "t a ;fi !"■ ';il ii fl Robert Fitzgferald Uniocke, Haliru. Roger Yiels, Digby. Thomas Howland White, An- tigonish. Charles William Wickst Guys- Sbrouffh. Robert Willis, Halifax. Francis Whalley, Granville. Joshua Wingate Weeks, New Dublin. Richard B. Wiggins, Amherst. Cape Breton. Charles Inglis, Sydney. James N. Shaw, Arichat. Rev. Edwin Gilpin, Annapolis. Rev. Alford Gilpm, Weymouth. Archibald Gray, Sackvillc. Wm. C. King, Windsor. Wm. B. King, Visiting Mis- sionary. George £. W. Morris, Raw- don. John T. T. Moody, Liverpool. Henry Lambrith Owen, Ayles- ford. Charles Porter, Newport. James Robertson, Bridgetown. Thomas B. Rowland, Shelbum James Shrevc, Chester. John Stevenson, Visiting Mis- sionary. ; Annual grant from England for the support of this clergy, 4383/. The Roman Catholics have a bishop and 14 clergymen. The church ■<»f Scotland, 12 clergymen ; Methodists, 19 ministers ; Baptists, 36 mi- nisters ; and there are some other Protestant dissenting congregations, but I do know how many. The ministers of the church of Scotland re- iceive 751. each from the British government. I am not aware that the ministers of any other denomination receive any salary from government. They are chiefly supported by the contributions of their respective con- gregations. The government consists of a governor, legislative council, and house of assembly. The council are named by the crown; the house of as- sembly consists of 40 members, two from each county, except the coun- ty of Halifax, which returns four, and the town of Halifax two, and se- venteen ether towns one member each. The laws in force are the com- mon and statute laws of England, and the statute law of Nova Scotia. There is not one of the British provinces where the several branches of the legislature have hitherto maintained a better understanding than in Nova Scotia. Offices of re^stry are establiriied in the province. .There is one bank in Halifax. I am not aware that there are any more. I have not sufficient statistical information to enable me to estimate with any pretensions to accuracy the present probable produce annually created in Novn Scotia. I have, however, every reason to suppose that it is fully equal, if not over, what is produced in the Canadas, in propor- tion to the population. The people of Nova Scotia are ship-owners to a considerable extent. They take large quantities of fish over what is ne- cessary for their own conbumption which they export. From the most par- ticular calculation I could make from the means of information I possess, I think that the produce annually created from every source, might be safely estimated to amount to between three and four millions, say 3,800,000/., two-thirds of which I would assign to the agricultural class, and one-third othe class not agricultural. This would give about 17/. lOs.lannually pro- duced for each person, taking the population to be now 220,000, including te, An- , Guys- \ pi •' . , • 31. le church ts, 36 mi- regationst otiand re- e that the veminent. ctive con- and house use ofas- thecoun- iro« aud ee* B the com- (va Scotia, tranches of ig than in ce. any more. estimate :e annually appose that in propor- )wners to a what is ne- lemostpar- 1 posses^t I fat be safely 3,800,0001., nd one-third nnuallv pro- 0, including 116 die island of Cape Breton* and supposlnff that about one-third are produc- tive consumers, it will give 73,000 as uie number capable of being em- ployed in agrirulture, commerce, domestic manufactures, professions, &c. &c. and for each person »( employed, the unualpradaction will give 62/. I cannot make the distinction between the agricultural class and the others as I did for Canada, not having late statistical returns. The moveable property I estimate at 7,600,000/., and the immoveable at 14,000,000, making a total of 21,600,000/. , and that there may be due for imported merchandize 600,000/. it will leave the amount of moveable and immoveable property 21,000,000/. In making these estimates I have calculated the houses as 30,000 in number ; tho cultivated land at 600,000 acres, the occupied but uncultivated, at 4,000,000, and the uncc- cupied at 6,000,000 acres, including Cape Breton, which I believe con- tains over 2,000,000 acres ; but I have left 2,000,000 acres as waste out of the whole, and have not put any value upon it. I have valued the land at the same rate I did that of Canada. I have set a value on the sea- ports, mines and fisheries, in the estimate of immoveable property; I have not however, put them down at what I believe them to be worth to an in- dustrious population. There is not a country in America richer as re- gards her natural advantages of mines, seaports and fisheries, than Nova Scotia, and her soil and climate are not unfavourable for the production of corn and cattle, under the management of the skilful husbandman^ The south of England is near five degrees north of the latitude of any part of Nova Scotia, and the north of Scotland is about eleven degrees farther north than tho most northern point of Nova Scotia. The capabilities of Nova Scotia for future population and production. I estimate as follows : If a population of 220,000, with 600,000 acres of land in cultivation, and occupying 600,000 acres of wild land, for various uses, furnishing timber for export, and firewood for the use ofthe inhabi- tants, produce now in every way, 3,800,000/. annually ; this being only a tenth part of Nova Scotia, if the whole were occupied and cultivated even in the same proportion as now, the population might be 2,000,000, and the annual produce created 36,000,000/. Were the country populous to the full extent of my estimate, it would still be capable of supporting a population of double that number. Nova Scotia is beyond all compa- rison superior to Scotland, in its capabilities for supporting a numerous population, and the population of Scotland is now considerably over two millions. The island of Cape Breton I have not described separately, as it has been incorporated with Nova Scotia since 1820. It has several good harbours, and is well situated for carrying on the fishery. The island is rich in mines of eoal, and in gypsum of the best quality for agricultural purposes. The coal lies near ue surface, and is easily worked. The gypsum constitutes a elifi* of several miles in extent, and in some places many feet high. Ships may approach close to the cliff to load from the mines. I have seen them do so. There is some excellent land in the island, but the fishery, die coal trade, &c. occupy the attention ofthe in- habitants more than die cultivation of the land. The population may be about 30,000, or over. I have included the population, produce, &e. widi that of Nova Scotia. 16# (■•y'f • 11 ¥■ . i .1 t' ' ■ 6t1 I '! ' ^1 HO. NEW BRUNSWICK. tiiiil .9vi all) .> J YtJ.al noid iuili i, ■ I H ^1)18 p^ovinco is Dounded west by the United StateB. fVom which it iirae- parated by the rivor St. Croix, oiid by Lower-Canada, also on the north by the latter province until it touches the western extremity of Chaleur Bay; un the oast by the Gulf of the St. Lawrence and the straits of Northum- berland ; on the south-east, by Nova Scotia ; and south, by the Bay of Fundy. It is situated between 46 and 47 degrees north latitude, and be- tween 66 and 68 degrees west longitude. It is estimated to contain 27,704 square niile^, or 17,730,560 acres, of which there is not over 600,000 acres in cultivation. It is divided into ten counties, which are the follow- ing : York, Charlotte, Sunbury, Queens, Kings, St. Johns, Kent, West- moreland, Gloucester, and Northumberland. It is again divided into 04 parishes. New Brunswick has many noble rivers that may be rendered naviga- ble from the Gulf of the St. Lawrence and Bay of Fundy into the heart of the country. The river St. John, considered the principal, has a course from its source near the Chaudidre, in. Lower-Canada, of near 600 miles to where it discharges into the Bav of Fundy. The tide flows 80 or 90 miles up the river, and is navigable for sloops and [steamboats for that distance to Frederickton, where it is about half a mile wide ; but- toaux and towboats ascend more than 100 miles fmJierup the river. Near the city of St. Johns, is the entrance from the sea to this river ; it is not a quarter of a mile wide, and the passage iscalkid the falls. It has a ledge of rocks running across the bottom of the channel, on which there is not sit low water above 16 or 17 feet of water. The common tide rises here about 20 feet. At low water, the water of the river is about 12 feet higher than the waters of the sea, and at high water the sen is about five feet higher than the waters of the river ; and at every tide there are two falls, one outwards, and one inwards. The only time for vessels to pass with safety, is at the time that the waters of the river are level with the waters of the sea, which is twice in a tide, and continues not more than twenty minutes at a time. At any other time it is impas- sable, or extremely dangerous. This passage is said to resemble Hell Gate, hear New York. The banks of this river are in many places ex- (Celleht land, enriched by the annual overflowing of the waters of the river. About' 30 miles from St. Johns commences, a fine level country, rich in- tervale and meadow lands, covered in great part with fine timber, much of it fit for exportation. The river St. John has many tributory streams which emipty into it on each side. Tobique, 200 miles long; Restook, 100 long ; Nashwack, Madawaska, Oromecto, Washedemoake, and se- veral o£cr rivers of considerable magnitude. On all these rivers there is much excellent land fit for '^verv purpose. The river Kennebccasis, 117 which if o branch of the St. John, and tcrmiimtoa a fiiw inilea above lh« fnlla, has a long oourac, through a fine country. The valu of Sdmcx in J .irticularly lo, and well inhabited' ** I'hi Incorporated Company for the Propagation of the Go^mI ih New EngiancI, and parts adjacent in America^" have traaaferred from New England in 1788, an academy for the initraetiori of the Indians. At this academy 40 Indian children are fed, clothftd and instructed, under the direetionof a board of commission- ers, of iHiioh tfie governor of the province is president. There are three larve riven which fall into the Passamaquoddy bay, and on their banks, throughout their course, there is much rich intervale and meadow land, which was formerly covered with timber of large growth, that was- destroyed by the woods taking fire, about 60 or 60 years ago. TheMiramichi river, on the north-east coast of New Brunswick, falls into a bay of the same name, which communicates with the gulf of the St. liawrence. This river can be navigated by the largest merchant vessels for 30 miles frOm the sea. The town of Chatham, on one side of the river, and those of Newcastle and Douglass on the other bank, are visited annually by about 200 vessels or more from Britain for lumber. These towns are firom twenty to thirty miles from the gulf of the St. Lawrence up the river. Seven anilea above Chatham, the Miramichi divides into two branches, one running N. W. the otfier to S. W. The tide extends up the latter branch about fifteen milelB, and Uio dountry it settled along the banks for 45 miles above the tide (way, up to which point merchant vessels go to take in lumber ; and for!90 miles further, lighters and bar- ges from Chatham and Newcastle, ar4 enabled to go to the New Bruns- wick Land Company's territory. The ^outh-Hvest branch of Ithe Miramichi is about 190 miles long before it forms a junction with the N. W. branch. The N. W. branch is much obstructed in its course by rocks and rapids, and is not navigable for large craft. The Miramichi and its branches receive aeveml considdraUe streams dn evel-y side of theircoorse. The river Ristigouche runs from wdst to eatt, between tbe province of Lower-Canada and N^w Brunswick i^to Chaleur bay, which communi- cates with the gulf of !St. Lawrence. The tide goes up Uiia river near 200 miles, add is navigable for small :craft nearly to its source. The town of Dalhonsie is situated near the mouth of the river, where there is a s|Mci6u8 and aafe harbour. The Richibueto is a fine riVer, and has a couHioof ab6ut 70 mUest and the tide conies up near 80 miles fi-om its mouth, v^ch affords water sufiicient for Uie largest vessels. The town of Liverpool is built tin its banks, not far from the gulf of St. Lawrence. The Ghibuctouche river isltotTar from the Richibueto, and is remarkable for its large andfllie oysters. The Fctitcodiack river falls into the Bay ^fPundy, tod has a course of aibout 100 liiiles. ' There are mtiny more rivers in the province, but (hose which I have named #ill aufRce to give the trader some idea how amply ihecountry is watered in every direction. There are also many beatitifal hikes, and all these waters are abundantly stocked with salmoit, and a variety of o(h- %r fish. The'largeist pines in British America are to be found in New Bruns- wick, and furnish masts for the British navy from twcntv to thirty inch- 1^ ^ i! 'i -^(i ^i I, ! • ' ih r! i! i i i 1 i 'i 1 1 1 i ' ■j |, 1 ii i! ■'1 1 ' 1 r ! 118 Qs k) diameter. These noble trees are generally accessible by water communication, by which they can be conveyed to navigable waters for export The coast of this province is indented with numerous bays and com« modious harbours. The principal are Chaleur, Miramichi, Vert (which is separated from the bay of Fundy which extends along the south shore of New Brunswick, hear 160 miles) ; Chigaecto bay, at the head of Fun- dy bay ; and Passamaquoddy bay, bordering on the United States. The province is bounded on nearly three sides, north, south and east* by na- vigable waters, it ,rw! i .' The natural vegetable productions of New Brunswick: are nearly the same as those of the other British American provinces. The wild ani- mals are also the same. The climate is not very different from that of Nova Scotia. The fol- lowing table for one year may give a fair view of the average of seasons. Thermometei • 1 Days of weather. Months. High- est. Low- est. Ave- rage. 17 Greatest variation Fair, 24 Rain 2 Fog. Snow. January, 22 -21 34 1 * '' February, 19 -19 24 44 23 1 — 4'.''-^^ September 67 67 62 10 17 6 8 K October, 63 42 48 11 22 7 2 .1—.. , . November 34 28 31 6 16 8 3 4'.»V(:rvi; i. December 16 -11 14 42 27 26 246 62 2 . ' -■ ■ ■ ' " Mean and total, is 38 22 47 21 , — r- — r-r^ ,, The above will show how many more fair days there are in the year in New Brunswick, than in the British isles ; and there is, notwithstund- iug, sufljicient moisture for a luxuriant vegetation. The cliipatie will be found by emigrants very favourable for agriculture. . < '. i ! I>few Brunswick is composed of hills, intervales and lowlands .covered generally with immense forests. There is not over 3,000,000 acres granted, of which not a sixth part has been cultivated. It is supposed that there are yet more than 10,000,000 acres to be granted that is fit for cultivation. The intervales, glens, and vallies, which aboundiin this province, are of the richest soil. On the shores of the gulf of St. Lawrence, and the Bay Chaleur, and Miramicht, the soil is sandy, and not of the best quality ; but a few miles inland, the soil is much more fer- tile, and assumes an easy and gradual elevation. The county of West- moreland is reported to be a rich and valuable district. The county of now. ••ii> ' 4 4 ' <•*'J:'l /■ — •l>1>^' — ^ ;!'<; ■ . xin 1 f ../ . a'in" .._ ••.il.H.-! 4 (■»;)■) i: 3 il'l' 21,, C-. 119 St Johns bat a considerable extent of good land. The county of 8un« bury, situated on each side of the river St. John, is said to bo the most fertile and productive in the province^ though the population are still very few in number. The Queens county, adjoining the last, is said to havo much good land. In this county coal is abundant, on the shores of the grand lake and the banks of the Salmon River. A company is incor- porated to work them with 30,000/. capital. Charlotte county is one of the most populous, and is generally good land. The town of St. An- drews is in this couaty* Kings county has much excrllent land, and nuiks about the fifth in population. The counties of Gloucester, North- umberland and Kent, front on the shores of the gulf of the St. Lawrence, and are of great extent, but thinly settled. The county of York is bound- ed by the United States on the west, and is also of great extent. I be- lieve it ranks second in population. In every part of the province there is abundance of good land that may be obtained on very easy terms by settlers who have sufficient means to undertake its cultivation. ThecityofSt. Johns is in latitude 46.20 N. longitude, 66.3 West. It is built upoxi the fine river St. Johns, and is so favourably situated for trade, with a capacious safe harbour, that it is the emporium of a great part of the province. It is a handsome city, and has several good public buildings of stone and brick. It was incorporated in 1786^ and is gov- erned by a mayor, recorder, six aldermen and six assistants, who have at their disposal a revenue of 2,000/. a year, for the improvement of the city. In 1832, the population of the city was about 10,000. The tide rises atSt; Johns over 20 feet, and in consequence, the harbour is never obstructed by ice. Frederictbn, the capital of the province, is in 46.67 N. latitude, and 66.46 W. longitude. It is 80 miles from St. Johns, 90 miles from St. Andrews, 140 miles from Fort Cumberland, in Westmoreland county, and the same distance from the upper settlement in Madawaska. It is situated on the right bank of the river St. Johns, which is near three quar- ters of a mile wide, and is navigable froni the sea to this place for vessels of 60 tons burden, and for steamboats. Fredericton was founded in 1785 |by Sir Guy Carleton. It is regular- ly laid out in streets, and has several public edifices. The Province Hall, where the Provincial Legislature have their sittings, and the courts of justice are held, the government house, barrack, churches, and library, are all good buildings. The city is fast increasing, and from its central situation, and its being the seat of government, it is likely to make rapid progress in extent and population. The population may now be from 6,000 to 7,000. Near the city are several tracts of l^d appropriated for the support of a college, and are invested in a corporation erected by charter, for the government of the institution. St. Andrews is situated on the N. £. extremity of Passamaquoddy Bay, which communicates with the Bay of Fundy. It is about 60 miles from St. Johns, and only three miles from the shores of the United States. It is extremely well situated for trade, and is a handsome, regular and well built town. Should the contemplated rail-roal from Quebec to this (own go into operation soon, it will vastly increase the importance of this place, and would greatly advantage Canada, as the port of St. Andrews ■i i -1^ i ii 1 ■ ^ ■ ■ ■ 3 . lap 'ji, 'I' I , :, 13 opon at all eeasons. The tid« rises here about twenty feet. The po- pulation is now fh>m 6000 to 7000. ' :i . There are several other rising towns in the provhice, faint I donoCsee thiEit it is necessary 'to describe them all. It may be reasonably supposed that where the pofiillatidn does not exceed 140,000 or 150,000 at most; scattered over 17,000,000 aeres of territoryt the towns are not likely to be very numerous or extensive. The natural productions of New Brunswick are very similar to those of Nova Scotia and' Lower-Canada ; and I believe the soil is also much of the same quality. It may not be generally so suitable for the produc- tion of wheat in perfection, buC for aU other descriptions of grain vad ve- getables, the soil is as well adapted as any part of British America. Religion is chiefly Protestant, though there is a considerable propor* tion of Roman Catholics. There are no tithes paid to any church, and all, except the Episcopal church ministers, are chiefly supported by their own congregations^ An annual grant is made for the church of England ministers from the English " Society for the propagation of the Gospel," of about 4,000/., and'die ministers receive abont 300/ annudly each. I am not aware whether there is any government provision for any other church ministers. The following will show the stations of the church of England minis- ters in 1834.' 1 am sorry I have not in my power to give the same in- formation of the ministers of the other several churches, but I expect the information- before this work is published. Stations of church of England ministers in New- Brunwick, ih 1834. Rev. Jerome Alley, St. Andrews. Oliver Arnold, Sussex-Yale. John Black, Shediac, Samuel R. Clark, Gagetown. John Dunn, Grand Mannan. J. W. D. Gray, St Johns. Geo. Seymour Jervis, Hamp- stead. Raher Milncr, Mangerville. Addington D. Parker, Prince WilTlam. ' Elias Shovel, Kingston. Alex. C. Somerville, Bathurst. Samuel Thompson, St.George. ' . James Somerville, Douglas. ''. Skeflington Thompson, St. Stephens. ■ Rev. William W. Walker, Hamp- ton. Horatio Nelson Arnold, Sussex Vale. Samuel Bacon, Miramichi. Frederick Coster, Carletpn. George Coster, Frjedericton* Benjamin G. Gray, St Johns. Edwin Jacobs, St Marv's. George ]\fcCanlcy, Yisitiog Missionary. Christopher Milner, Sackvillc. Samuel D. Lee Street, Wood- stock. Abraham Wood, Grand Lake. Gilbert L. Wiggiqs, Westficld. H' lyi There is complete religious freedom in this province as in every pther of British America, and there is no revenue raised by authority for the support of any particular church ministers, except in Lower-Canada, where Roman Catholics have to pay a tithe, or twcnty-6flh part of their grain, for the support of (heir ministers. Education is provided for partly by grants of land, legislative aid, and by the voluntary contributions of parents. There is no want of schools, rbepo- not see it moBti likely to to tbose BO much ) produc- I vxA ve- ica. 9 proper- urch, and ) by their r England , Gospel," r eacn. 1 any oiher and minis- te same in- expect the itil834. letj IHamp- loW, Sussex ramichi* 3arletpn. riedericton* , St. Johns. Mary's, y, "Visiting r, Sackville. treet,Wood- trand Lake. [s, WestficW. tt every other f ority for the Ewer-Canada* ipartoflheir alive aid, and [tof schools, 121 if the children are only sent regularly to them. In every part of British Aiuerica, English schoolmasters, perfectly competent, may be had with- out difficully. Emigrants of a certain class, coming to the country, that may not be possessed of means sufficient to commence business in any other way, is one cause that schoolmasters of considerable qualifioations, may be employed at a moderate salary. Many of this class will never set themselves down to hard labour in the forest, if they can got a school, and certainly they would be more profitably employed in keeping a school than in cutting down large trees, considering the progress they would be likely to make in that work. The government of New Brunswick is the same as that of Nova Sco- tia : a lieutenant governor, legislative council, and house of assembly, (which consists of 28 members) constitute the provincial parliament. The laws are nearly the same as those of Nova Scotia. The courts of justice, registry offices, &c. &c. are similar to those established in the latter provmce. There are not many, or perhaps any, countries on the globe which enjoy more perfectly civil and religious liberty, and a great- er degree of exemption from every species of taxation than Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. The following table will show the amount of shipping at the ports of St. Johns and St. Andrews for three years. St. Johns. !l St. Andrews. Years. 1832 1833 1834 1836 Inwards. Ships. Tons. 1738 1818 2026 203907 234610 237039 Outwards Ships Ton^. 1710 1768 1943 212734 239732 246272 Inwards. Ships. Tons. nil 876 75883 67863 Outwards. , Ships. Tons. 1013 863 » lot 76446 71028 Imports and exports, revenue and expenditure of New Brunswick for several years. Inwards. Outwards. a s • i OB . Ton- nage. Value import- ed. f Ton- nage. Value ox- ported. Reve- nue. Expen- diture. 1822 1825 1830 1831 1832 1833 1834 1845 907 1810 3968 2914 3817 2999 2902 222306 256376 361174 267616 340446 313217 304927 ^266628 694815 693561 603870 664783 690488 1102 1902 3073 2367 2969 2772 2606 226863 279666 348646 266634 310867 314178 316214 .£272177 601941 570307 447318 636744 411672 ^31100 43056 49284 68769 69700 25036/. 39637 44193 66600 71000 There are a great many of the shipping employed in the fishery and coasting trade, and are of small tonnage. The total value of the trade 16 '■\ lit ■ z\ i'? f id3 5! ! ■■ 1; .i/i! ■I : i ^ • > "i ist however, very considerable, and particularly so to the province, as her people own a large proportion of the shipping. There is a large amount of capital invested in this province in saw mills for preparing lumber, &c. for exportation. The attention of the population is directed more to the lumber and fishing trade, than to agri- culture ; and in all countries so circumstanced, agriculture is not very likely to flourish much. As the country becomes settled, however, all its natural resources will be made the most of by an industrious popula- tion, and one business will not be neglected for another. There are three chartered banks in New Brunwick, one at St. Johns ; the New Brunswick bank, with a capital of 60,000/., which had in 1834 notes in circulation for 45,000/. ; St. Andrews' bank, capital 16,000/. ; and Frederickton bank with the same amount of capital. I do not know the amount of notes in circulation with the two latter banks. There is perfect confidence in all the banks. The New Brunswick Land Company have been chartered by Act of Parliament, and have purchased a large tract of the waste land from the British government at a very low price, with the object of settling and improving it. The land is reported to be of excellent quality, and well situated, as to means of water communication to the gulf of St. Law- rence. I do not know what progress the Company have made. The statistical information I have of New Brunswick is not of so late a date as would be desirable. In 1824, the population was 74,186, and allowing the same proportionate increase as for Nova Scotia, and also for emigration, the population is now, I should suppose fully 120,000. The quantity of land in cultivation is reported to be 600,000 acres, from 8,000,000 to 4,000,000 acres granted, and about 10,000,000 acres, or per- haps more, of wood land yet to grant, and from 3,000,000 to 4,000,000 acres considered unprofitable. Number of horses about 16,000, of neat cattle 120,000, sheep and swine of each 100,000. The population of New Brunswick are not so generally employed in agriculture as they are in the other provinces. The lumber trade and fisheries, occupy a very considerable portion of the working class, I sup- pose fully one-third ; therefore the agricultural population would not be over 80,000, and the class not agricultural 40,000. The produce annu- ally created by the labour and industry of the agricultural class in everj way, I estimate at about 1,400,000/., which would give 17/. 10s. for each individual. For the class not agricultural, the produce annually created may be 1,600,000/., and will give 40/. for each individual of that class. Again, supposing that 30,000 of the agricultural class are productive con- sumers, it will give 46/. 13s. 4d. for each working person annually, and if there are 13,000 of the class not agricultural, productive consumers, it will give 123/. for each annually. Taking the whole amount annually created at 3,000,000/. it gives for each of the population of 120,000, 26/. annually which is the largest amount that my estimates show for any of the British American provinces. I confess that I have less statistical informa- tion of the province of New Brunswick than of any other. The annual consumption is of greater amount for each person, than in the other pro- vinces, firom many causes. The imports to New Brunswick is equal to 5/. for each inhabitant, while in the Cfanadas it is only 2h I think I may It. Johns ; id in 1834 16,0001. ; I not know There is d by Act of id from the settling and (T, and well )f St. Law- ie. ot of so late 74,185, and tia, and also ly 120,000. I acres, from acres, or per- to 4,000,000 ,000, of neat employed in er trade and class, I sup- would not be roduce annu- ;lass in every 10s. for each ually created of that class, oductive coD' annually, and I consumers, it 1 ount annually 120,000, 25/. for any of the itical informa- The annual the other pro- ck is equal to I think 1 may 128 estimate the expenditure for each individual of the whole population to be on an average from 19/. to 20/. annually. This would leave from 600,000/. to 700,000/. for accumulation annually, for the improvement of land, ex tending commerce and trade, and the enlargement of cities, towns and villages. The value of moveable and immoveable property I have endeavoured to estimate as accurately as my means would allow. The first I have made out to be about 6,000,000/., and the immoveable property 10,- 000,000/. ■i PRINCE EDWARDS, OR ST. JOHNS ISLAND. V'')'-.u[ lie high he for- ries co- lifficult, I part of Idwarda govern- ir, and a le island eet in its lUy from umber of The en- excellent die build- d Prince- I is one of he largest so a good and New from fogs >t by many it ; and so m have oc- Nova Sco- as long in Lrity of the at there are 'avourable, s ofEng- they have ot from any le statistical n each, and is greater the popula- l 1834. Irand .otal. Suppos- ed Pojiu- lation in 1826. 4000(1 " , . 125 Statistical returns of Prince Edwards Island taken in 1827 and 1836. Acres ofland occu. pied. Acres ofland in culti- vation. Milch cows. Oxen. Vouiig cattle. 11074 Horses 3979 Sheep Swine Produce from tillage. Bushels of wheat Bushels barley. Bush, of oats Bushels potatoes 1827 396981 59909 9378 2473 39899 2IS31 1.1418 3908 ' 23712 77612.1 1834 387617| »W8* |l3869 | 3377 | 131S2 | 6239 joOolO |20702 | l2S331 | 38831 |261064|l310063 By the above returns it appears that stock has increased from 1827 to 1834, about one-third, grain near ten fold, potatoes eighteen fold, and cultivated land more than one-third. There is not one of the British American provinces that can show so great an advance in improvement* in proportion to the population, in so short a period, as this island. The number of ships inwards and outwards may be about 400 annually, and the value of the imports is perhaps 80,000/., and the exports 40,000/. a year. There is a certainty that the exports and imports might be vastly increased if the country became settled and cultivated. There is not over a fourteenth part of the land yet cultivated, and less than a fourth part oc- cupied. The present annual production created in every way, is not less ^than from 600,000/. to 700,000/. Hence the income of each individual of 40,000 maybe from 16/. to 17/. 10s. annually The amount of moveable property I estimate at 1,500,000/., and of immoveable property at about 3,000,000/., making a total of 4,600,000/. in moveable and immoveable property. This island is very capable of supporting 600,000 souls, and of produc- ing annually from twelve to fifteen fold the amount which it does at pre- sent, or about 10,000,000/. I have not a doubt that if the island was in- habited to the extent it is capable of supporting amply, producing corn and cattle in the abundance it might do, and all its natural resources made the most of, it would be as fine a province, for the extent of it, as any in the British colonies. In order that the natural resources of the island might be made the most of, some arrangement will have to be made with regard to those absen- tee land owners, to oblige them to settle the lands according to the con- ditions of the grants made to them by the government many years ago, or to surrender up those lands. It is exceedingly unfair that persons should be allowed to retain lands in this island, in a wilderness state, to the pre- judice of every settler in it, and contrary to the express conditions of the grants by which they can have any title to these waste lands. I do not wish to suggest interference with private property, but I cannot see what just right of property these absent claimants of waste land can have, where they do not comply with the terms on which they received grants, and would not have got grants except for the purpose of settling the country, and clearing and cultivating it, an obligation they have never redeem- ed, and probably will not redeem for a long time to come, if they are al- lowed to let them lie waste, increasing in value at the expense of others. I hope I shall be able to show clearly, in the proper place, how injurious it is to a new country to allow large blocks of waste land to remain in the midst of land that is settled. Those persons who wish to retain lands in a wilderness state, let. them ta^e lands that are far back in the Cana- ■I •■rt m ^ 1 ■ 1, . I,! \ I 136 dian forest, and hold them there in an unproductive state as long as they please, or, at least, until an increased population will make it expedient to push them still farther back into the wilderness. ':| ■ 5 III II I have now given a very concise description of the British American provinces. I trust it will be found sufficiently accurate for every useful purpose. I have been very particular in my calculations in mcdiing up the estimates of produce annually created, and the value of moveable and immoveable property. Those who may question their accuracy, vnll do well to calculate very closely the quantity and value of every species of production, of expenditure, and ot property, before they decide that mine are incorrect. If I have erred, it was not with any design to mislead the public. I am persuaded that I have not drawn a more flattering' pic- ture of any of the provinces than I was justified in doing, as regards their present state, or their capabilities for future population and production. I know that these provinces possess all the natural advantages that are requisite to furnish abundant means for the support of a population folly as great as my estimate for them would indicate. I believe it will be ad- mitted by all who are perfectly acquainted with the present state of agri- culture throughout the provinces generally that it is very capable of great improvement, and of yielding an increased produce. If, then, the present population are able to produce ample or sufficient means of comfortable subsistance, cultivating imperfectly not much over ajifticth part of the cul- tivatable land in the provinces, it cannot be from the natural circumstan- ces of the provinces, geographical or physical, that my estimate for fu- ture population and production could be made out incorrect. The cli- mate, if it be considered by some to be unfavourable, must be as much so for the present thin population as it would be for a population twenty- fold as numerous. The climate of a great part of the Russian empire in Europe, is very similar to that of British America, and it is well known to be abundantly productive in com and cattle, and the means of human subsistance. Population and capital are the greatest wants in British America. As to good laws, if the population throughout the provinces were educated as a respectable yeomanry ought to be, they would be sure to have such laws as would be best suited for promoting the general prosperity, and they would not suffer any to continue in force, that could be clearly de- monstrated to be prejudicial to the interests of the community. Every true friend of British America must be anxious to see her population in- crease. It is impossible that the rights and liberties of the people could be endangered in any way by an increase of population, but on the con- trary. The people of these provinces now, and foi the time to come, will generally enjoy a greater degree of equality as to property and influ- ence, than in any other country out of America ; and it must, therefore, be decidedly their own fault, if they ever suffer their just rights and privi- leges to be withheld from *hem. A population of ten millions would not be less capable of knowing and of defending their rights and privileges than one of a million and a half, particularly where the community is con- stituted as it is, and is likely to continue to be in British America. If e Eel g-. H 3L gcr 01 I CM 3 as they pedient mencan y useful iking up able and , will do lecies of lat mine I mislead ring" pic- irds their oduction* I that are ition fully irillbe ad- teofagri- le of great tie present )infortable ofthecul- ircumstan- ate forfu- The eli- te as much on twenty- 1 empire in ^l known to of human lerica. As e educated > have such sperity, and clearly de- ty. Every pulation in- eople could on the con- [le to come, ly and influ- tt, therefore, ts and privi- is would not ad privileges unity is con- erica. ■'« r ^ — 128 I ,i W U di The last table will show the capabilities of British America for future population and production. With a territory of 216,000,000 of acres (excluding that of the Hudson's Bay) that can be profitably occupied, an extent of land three times as great as the British isles ; the population is not now over 1,352,000, a number that does not amount to an eigh- teenth of the population of Great Britain and Ireland. This thin popu- lation, under many disadvantages, and an imperfect system of agricul- ture, nevertheless produce annually 26,600,000/., and possess an amount of moveable and immoveable property, exclusive of the value set upon the waste unoccupied land fit for cultivation, and of the property which belongs to the British government, of about 100,000,0001. currency. Giving due weight to all these circumstances, I trust I shall appear jus. tified in the estimates I have made, and which I now submit to the public. I would further observe, that the extent of land now in cultivation, is not much more than two acres in one hundred of what is fit for cultiva- tion. It may be conceived what a disadvantage this must be to the present population in many respects, and how tnifling must be the influ- ence it would have in ameliorating the climate, if it is expected that clear- ing,and cultivating the country will produce that effect ultimately. I am ful- ly convinced that perfect draining will have a verypowerftil influence on improving the soil for agriculture, and of lessening Uie injurious effects of climate, so far as regards slight frosts that might occur occasionally late in the spring, or early in the fall. Crops growing upon soil perfectly drained, will not be so injuriously affected by these frosts, as those grow- ing upon a damp or imperfectly drained soil ; and perfect draining can never be accomplished by a thin population scattered over an extensive territory. Much of the lands of British America that are now set down as totally unfit for occupation or agriculture, might be rendered by drain- ing the best and most profitable land in the cu: itry ; but where there is abundance of dry soil, a lot of land requiring draining is at once rejected by the settler, and there it remains for years, to the great injury of the lands occupied and cultivated. I shall, in the proper place, again advert to this subject. I shall now go on to discuss the best means which will appear to my humble judgment necessary to adopt for reaUzing the flattering picture which a true description of British America cannot fail to present of what it may become at a future period. I profess now, as I always have done, that I wish to advocate the greatest happiness of the greatest number, without however, designing any injustice to the lesser number. In following up my subject, I shall steadily adhere to this rule. I do not write as a passing stranger, but as an inhabitant of the country, I trust permanently settled in it, and sincerely interested in its prosperity. I feel that if that prosperity can be be generally promoted, my own family will have a fair chance of participating in it. I disclaim any desire to advo- cate the interests of one part of the community to the prejudice of ano- ther, but that all should have a fair opportunity to apply Uieir capital, their talents and industry, and receive a proportionate return, that would not be subject to any unjust drawback. The power and prosperity of British A- merica, of which I am proud to be an inhabitant, is the only object I have in view, and if I happen to recommend means that are not the best calcu- lated to advance both, it will be from an error of judgment} and not in- tentional oa my part or with any design to mislead. - r 7 ^ -: Cuturo acres jpied, ilation eigh- popu- gricul- Ltnount it upon which rrency. ar jus- public, ition, is cultiva- I to the e influ- at clear- lamful- lence on sffects oi lally late perfectly ise grow- ining can extensive set down by drwn- e there is e rejected ury of the ^n advert )ear to my og picture !nt of what lave done* )t number, nber. !» I do not try, I trust rity. I feel family will re to advo- lice of ano- apital, their rould not be »f British A- )ject I have best calcu- and not in- SETTLEMENT IN THE FOREST OF BRITISH AMERICA. Under this head it is scarcely necessary to vrite for the information of persons bom in America, but as this work may be more likely to be read by strangers who come to settle in these provinces, than by natives, I feel it to be my duty to offer them a true picture of what settlement in the forest really is, and the best advice I am capable of giving, in order that their settlement may be successful for themselves, and useful to the pro> vinces. To the gencrnlity of persons on the other side of the Atlantic, who, from whatever cause, would be disposed to emigrate, the contem- plation of a settlement in America affords very pleasing anticipations. This is more particularly the case with those who belong to the class of rent-paying farmers, who have for several years past, very generally suf- fered severely in theij^ circumstances, and who can scarcely look forward now with any confident hope that their condition is likely to become much improved in the British isles. This class of persons, when (hey are told (and correctly) that in America they may be /)ro;pne/or« of good land, for less money per acre than they had to pay annually as local taxes in Britain, and that in British America they will be altogether free from di- rect, and nearly so, from indirect taxation, it is not matter of surprise that they should look forward to America, almost with the same anticipations that the Israelites did of old when in Egypt, to the promised land of Ca- naan. There is, however, an essential difihrence in the circumstances of each, which is not in favour of the emigrants from the British isles ; the Israelites considered themselves strangers in Egypt, and looked upon Canaan as the land of their fathers, to which they were to return with abundant riches, and take possession of a country already abounding in every necessary of life. Not so with the farmers of the British isles, they feel that they are abandoning forever their father-land, and a beau- tiful and highly favoured one, the country of their birth, their kindred and friends, and the place of sepulture of their ancestors, for a distant land to which they are strangers, and where they cannot expect any favour but what their own means and industry will give or purchase for them ; and so far are many of them from having riches to take with them, that they iiad themselves deprived of almost all they did once possess. From the natural love of country which is felt by every human being, and above all by agriculturists, however they may be reduced in circum- stances, it must be very sanguine expectations indeed, of better fortune, that will overcome theii attachment to the home of their youth, and in- 17 A > 'i'Hl' (luce them to desert u forever. I would bo the last to attempt to damp the plonsing nnticipationa that may bo entertained by the class to which I did belong. I« too, had experience of similar f(;c!in^H, and the cir> cimistances which led to ihcm, and I am now gind to hold out encou- ragement to all who come to British Amorica^rif^luly disposed to indus- try, and determined to persevere in unremitted attention to business, that it is possible for them to accpiire independence. The emigrant who comes to settle in the forest, must reasonably expect to find great indus- try and exertion necessary to overcome the difliciilties of clearing and cultivating wild land, and that ho will have to submit to many privations, if his means are not very ample, before ho can convert the howling wil- derness into cultivated fields, producing corn, fruit, vegetables, grass and cattle, for his comfortable support. The man who will expect to meet these diflliculties and who will be resolved to submit patienlly to priva- tions, which his utmost attention and industry cannot always prevent, \a fit to become a settler in the forest, and with a very reasonable probabili- ty of being successful. If a man is perfectly aware of the advantages and disadvantages that belong to the situation ho assumes, he will be bet- ter prepared to avail himself of every odvantage it may olfer, as well as provide, if it is possible, against any difficulties or disappointments that he may be exposed to. But the man who settles in the forest that does not understand rightly what it is, will not expect to encounter difliculties or disappointnicnts, and hence will bo moro likely to meet with them, be- cause he will not adopt the best means to prevent them, or be prepared to remedy them when they do occur. Persons of this character settling in the woods, particularly if they belong to the middle classes of society, and have only small capitals, are subject to undergo many years of disap- pointment and suiTering, unless they make their escape from the woods, which they often do, with loss of time and greatly diminished capital. I offer these remarks, in order that strangers coming to British America, may take warning to place themselves, if possible, in situations which will be most suitable to their former experiences, habits, and present dis- positions and circumstances. I have known much evil to result in con- sequence of persons placing themselves in situations unsuitable to their means, their dispositions, and former mod& of life, particularly in British America. To the emigrants who come with large or sutiicieut caphal in gold, or good bills of exchange, to insure their independence, advice will not be very necessary, though it is possible they too might not lay out their capital to the greatest advantage. To forward the interests of those who may not be so fortunate as to possess much capital, my humble ef- forts will be principally directed. It may be encouraging to state ihat an experienced agriculturist coming to British America, determined to be in- dustrious, and live prudently, willing to adopt any alteration in his former mode of husbandry that will be required by the change of country and climate, will have a better chance of succeeding with a few hundred pound;!, than a man who is not an experienced agriculturist, and will not I join in the labour of agriculture, would have with five fold as much capi- tal. Experience and industry, with a small capital to employ it, is n more useful importation to these provinces than inexperience and wai i of industry with a large cajiital ; it will do more good for the individuals I 131 who possess it, and will ;;o farther towardH the fijpneral improvement of the country, and the increase of her annual production, because capital in the hands of the experienced, industrious, and prudent, will always be applied judiciuubly, and will iiugnient rapidly, when no part of it will be iinproductively consuuud. On the contrary, capital in the hands of thope who want expcrioiMT. and perhaps industry, is very likely to be wasted by being misapplied, undmuch of it unproductively consumed. Farming is, by most people, looked upon as quite a simple occupation, which can be successfully taken up by any one, whatever his former mode of life. Tf.d this general impression it is that there are so many pretenders to understand the art, and who oHen attribute their want of success, or rather their want of being successful to the extent they ex- pected, to other causes besides the true one. Those who may read these remaks, if they are already, or about to become, farmers, will ha^e to judge for themselves, whether they possess the qualifications which constitute a good farmer, which must in these provinces always include industry and prudence ; and if they do not, they cannot expect the suc- cess, that I am convinced I may confidently promise to those who do possess them, that they will assuredly, with the blessing of Providence^ ultimately attain a degree of independence, and establish themselves and their children more respectably and more permanently than they could hope ever to do in the British isles, by their industry, however great, and their attention to business however unremitted. I am decidedly of opinion that no man should settle in the woods, who was not himself determined to join in the work of clearing, or had a fami- ly who were able and disposed to do so, whatever were the funds at his disposal, and however ample they might be to pay for clearing and im- provements. Such men will invariably find it better to let others work before them in clearing the forest, and purchase from those who have cleared for themselves, and u1' > never do set so high a value on their la- bour as it will cost a stran^t i, vho will have to hire labourers to do the work. I know that a contrary opinion is entertained by many on this point, who say that the new land ii so much better than the old, that the difference in quality is nn lo than equal to the expense of clearing ; and further, that when land i- uvered with forest of hard wood, the ashes it will produce will pay for learing. Roth these assertions may be correct, but cannot be generally applied. For those who are nblo and determined to work hard, and who have not much funds, the wild lands may be the most suitable. This will also apply to all the labouring class who possess means sufficient for their support un- til they raise a crop, ll'they should get lands that have timber on them fit for making potash, they may occasionally succeed in saving the ashes, and thus obtain considerable assistance by its sale. But this cannot be relied upon as a certainty in all cases. There are many circumstances which may occur to ])revent the settler from saving the ashes, were he ever so industrious. When he is so prevented, the land will receive great benefit from the ashes remaining upon it. I laiow that in many instances settlers who have had the means to put up a potash manufactory, and had land themselves, and in their neighbourhood bearing wood fit for potash, have I by great perseverance and attention, made as much of ashes as paid for 17* iiir[^.J M i'f ?1: M i'! I- ib', til ill 1 r" ,11.1.4,, . I ! I 1 1 ■ ri ,!' i 132 clearing off the wood ; but I tnust say that this does not frequently hap- pen. After burning the wood, rain or high wind may prevent the ashes from being secured in time before they become spoiled for potash. The settler may in other cases be so far away from a manufactory, with a bad road to it, that he is prevented from making any use of the ashes without a sacrifice of time and labour, which the price he sells the ashes for will never fully compensate ; and I am sorry to say that settlers oflen make this sacrifice to get a few pounds, which is very injurious to them. It may be proper, when the settler finds opportunity of saving the ashes, and can manufacture them himself, or dispose of them conveni- ently, that he should do so. It would appear to me, however* that manu- facturing potash should be a business distinct from farming, and that the manufacturer should collect the ashes from the settlors, at a price that would remunerate him for that trouble. By this means the farmer would not lose his valuable time in taking ashes to a manufactory when he ought perhaps to be putting in his crop. The days that would be most suitable for carting ashes on a bad road, would certainly be most suita- ble for sowing, or securing a crop, and the loss of such Hays to a settler would be great indeed. There is another circumstance that deserves con- sideration, namely, whether stripping the land at once of the whole pro- duce of many years, by carrying off the ashes which the timber upon it produces, is a good practice for a propnetor of land to adopt who in- tends to cultivate that land afterwards for his own profit. The strength and fertility of the land must be great, that will not be impoverished more than it ought by such treatment. I confess I have heard it asserted, that land will bear all this, and the soil nevertheless be sufBciently fertile ; but I must remind the reader that land has to bear more in America than it would be expedient to oblige it to do in England, without constant manuring. I know that wood ashes is excellent manure, and the set- tier will be best able to judge whether or not he should take it off the land. There is another mode of getting land cleared by persons who will en- gage, if the wood upon it is ^t for potash, to make it ready for cropping, for the ashes of the timber that grows upon it. This is certainly an easy mode of clearing land without expense to the settler, and ought by all means to be adopted when opportunity would serve ; but it 's only on particular spots that have suitable wood upon them that will be cleared on these terms, otherwise clearing the forest would be a matter easily accom- plished, which I am bound to say will not be found so in practice. I would therefore recommend to every settler in going upon wood land, not to set much value upon the chances I have enumerated, but to esti- mate the full amount of labour or money that must be expended in clear- irig land fit for a crop, and in Lower-Canada this may be fairly taken on an average at from ten to twelve dollars (2/. lOs. to 31. currency) the ar- pent ; perhaps in some situations it may be a trifle over this. In Upper- Canada it generally exceeds this by a third. In Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, the cost of clearing is rather higher than in Upper-Canada. The settler who will work, can, by taking the value of a days labour at 2s. 6d. without diet, in Lower-Canada, and in the other provinces at a third or a fourth more, be able to find what amount of his own labour 133 I' tly hap- le ashes potash, ry, with iie ashes he ashes ers often to them, iving the conveni- lat manu- d that the price that ner would when he 1 be most ost suita- a settler erves con- whole pro- ber upon it pt who in- \e strength ished more iserted, that itly fertile ; merica than ut constant nd the set- ke it off the who will en- br cropping, jnly an easy ought by all ; ^ only on je cleared on asily accom- practice. I wood land, ,but to esti- ided in clear- irly taken on rency) the ar- . In Upper- (tiaand New pper-Canada. days labour at provinces at o IS own labour will be required to clear and make ready for crop, one acre of wood land, leaving in all the stumps or large roots of trees. At a subsequent time the taking out of these roots is no inconsiderable item of the expense of clear- ing land perfectly, if they are not allowed to remain in the ground until quite rotten. The roots of sofl wood trees will remain sound for many years ; but those of hard wood will rot in eight or ten years. Au expert chopper, accustomed to clear land, who would undertake to do so by task work, would expect to earn considerably more wages per day, than the prices I have named, but a new comer would find it difficult for the first year to earn the wages I have stated, at clearing land, though he should get as much per acre as the man who was accustomed to the work. Working persons, or trades people, not accustomed to agricultural la- bour, who emigrate with an intention of settling in the woods, will find the clearing of forest land to be an undertaking of some difficulty. I know that many such have succeeded, but from my own experience I have ever foundi in employing labourers in Canada, that those accustomed to agri- culture were capable of rendering much more valuable service in every way, than those who were partly brought up to trades in the Old Country. Their inexpertness must be equally felt in the forest ; and though they may in a considerable degree get the better of it, by constant and long continued practice, yet their successful settlement will be generally more difficult and protracted than that of experienced agricultural labourers. I do not make these observations with a view to discourage any man, whatever may have been his former occupation, from making the experi- ment of settling in the forest, if he is so disposed, and has sufficient con- fidence in himself and his industry, to expect success ; but I think it my duty, when I pretend to write on this subject, to give my opinion candidly. It would be well for those not acquainted with agricultural labour to work with others until they would be instructed in some part of the business of agriculture, before they would undertake the clearing and cultivating of a lot of wild land from which they were to derive their only means of subsis- tence. Their labour, applied under the superintendence of a qualified far- mer, would be much more productive, until they were acquainted with the work and the country, than if lefl to themselves in the woods without any previous knowledge of the nature of the employment they were to com- mence upon ; under such circumstances, there is not one in ten, that will be likely to sccceed, without having to suffer long under difficulties and privations which might be avoided. I shall now state why I should recommend to all emigrants who come to the country with ample or sufficient funds for establishing themselves on farms, without being obliged or disposed to labour, to purchase clear- ed farms, or partially so, with buildings, &c. in preference to wild land. Though lands long in cultivation may, if improperly managed, be great- ly exhausted, when compared to the same natural quality of fresh wood lands immediately after being cleared, yet to any one possessed with the means of purchasing stock, it must be muw less expensive to restore to cleared land its original fertility, than for a man not accustomed or dis- posed to hard labour, to enter upon clearing and cultivating the forest. To a farmer not of the labouring class, who has means and a thorough knowledge of his business, getting upon a cleared farm, though it may .'Ki'. i|i. \ \'* < 134 m 11 I'', a be exhausted, he will know how to restore its fertility very soon, and wilt be *' quite at home" in managing a farm of this description, who, if in the woods looking over the slow progress of clearing the forest, in which he could take no part, would be exhausted in patience long before he could see a field of ten acres fit for the plough. To families who have been ac- customed to live respectably in the Old Country, the wild forest cannot nnmediately afibrd either comfortable lodging or abundance of the neces- saries and conveniences of life, whatever their funds may be to provide them. The consequence very frequently is, that such families brought into the woods, get so utterly disgusted with their situation, and the coun- try, that their comfort and happiness is gone, perhaps never to return. What subsequent advantages will* compensate for this? If the circum- stances of a settler are such that he must go to the woods and labour for his living, and that of his family, whatever their formed habits may have been, it is a matter of imperious necessity, and they must only endeavor to be reconciled to the privations that are inseparable from such a situa- tion ; but the case is quite different with the respectable farmers who have means to purchase a farm and' stock, and may at once establish them- selves comfortably in proportion to the funds at their disposal. I shall give a table showing the probable returns that may, under ordinary cir- cumstances, but with good management, be expected from a given quan- tity of land. The results may not be always obtained, but I will take leave to say, that if they do not, it will oftener proceed from mismanage- ment, than from their being overstated by me. There is inmost parts of British America at all times to be had farms cleared, and built upon, or partially cleared, with buildings, to purchase at a fair value, in general at a less price than was expended upon them. The hardy settler, accustomed to clearing lands, is no way discouraged to undertake a new wood farm, if he can sell the old one for a fair price. He may sometimes require the money to settle his children on farms, which he could not do without selling the old one, where he has expend- ed all his labour and the proceeds of it, in improving, and now requires to convert it into a money capital for other purposes. This is one cause that cleared farms are always for .sale. There are many other causes, particularly in Lower-Canada, from the state of the laws, farms are frequently sold by the children after the death of the parents, in fitdei to make an equal division of the property among the heirs, if they aru not able to arrange it otherwise. This latter is one cause of the aale of property which I sincerely wish miijht be remedied in some way. From what I have stated above, I am convinced that a capital brought into the country by the respectable class of settlers, particularly if agricul- turists, will be much more usefully applied, both for themselves and for the ^reneral interest, in purchasing ihe labour and improvements of others olready expended, than by expending the isame amount in paying wages, or by contract for clearing new landrf. The man who oflers to sell his improved farm, does so because he thinks the price of it will be more va- luable to him in some other investment ; tlio man v'; > wants to get land, will purchase under these circumstaces from him \vW' is desirous to sell, or from those who are obliged to sell, improvements already made for less money than he can get the same improvements executed by con- tract, or daily labour. Property circulates freely and advantageously ; 135 ad will 'in the [lichbe i could Ben ac- cannot neces- provide brought lc coun- return. circum- bour for lay have jndeavor a situa- vho have ih them- I shall inary cir- ;en quan- will take smanage- lad farms > purchase pon them. ouraged to fair price. on farms, IS expend- w requues 'his is one are many )f the law?, parents, in eirs, if they ause of the some way. (ital brought y if agricul- ves and for its of others ng wnges, 3 to sell his be more va- to got land, irous to sell, dy made for ited by con- intagcously ; capital is likely to be more productive in the channel it gets into ; the woodsman is once more employed in the labour he was accustomed to ; the experienced farmer is on such land as he was in the habit of manag- ing, in the Old Country, and has free scope to profit by his previously acquired knowledge of agriculture, which in the woods would be compa- ratively of little value to him, and all parties will be in the situation most suitable for them ; and hence their own, and the general prosperity will be more likely to bo promoted. The practical farmer who knows his bu- siness (it is only such I allude to here) will introduce an improved sys- tem of husbandry in place of a defective one perhaps, and this will not be the least advantage that will arise from the change, as it will encou- rage others to adopt the same system. I would regret that any one who has had the labour and difficulty of clearing a farm, should ever be obliged to sell it. I hope I have suffi- ciently proved to the farmers of Canada, my ardent desire to promote the improvement of agriculture and the prosperity of agriculturii>ts. I would most sincerely rejoice that every farmer was not only able to keep his farm, but to buy another. But if circumstances force him to sell, or the laws, as they are, allow heirs to sell, or if a man supposes he can make a better use of the price he will get for his farm and improvements in some other investment, or having a large family of sons able to work, he expects for the price of the improved farm of 100 acres, to get seven farms of the same extent, and some capital to assist him in making a new settlement on each, under any of these circumstances, it is well that purchasers with ready money capital should be in the market disposed to buy, and if they were not there, and the lands to sell, nevertheless, mat- ters would be much worse. The necessity or disposition to sell is not always the consequence of the buyer being in the market, and when the ne- ctssity exists, the seller of property will have cause to rejoice at meeting him there ; and indeed it will be a benefit to the whole community. The old French laws' of Canada prohibited settlers from erecting farm houses or buildings on less than 45 to 60 arpents of land as a farm. The penalty incurred by a breach of this law was a fine of 100 livres and the demolishing of the building so erected. Though I am not an advocate for prohibitory enactments that would be a check to the free use of pro- perty, yet I look upon it as an evil of considerable magnitude, that farms should be greatly roduced in size by subdivision, among several heirs. The circumstances of British America are such at present, and are likely to continue so for a long period, that a respectable, or even comfortable living is not to be obtained from a small farm. Cities, towns and villa- ges, inhabited by manufacturers, must vastly increase before small farms will support a family in any thing like a respectable or comfortable way. It is greatly to be lamented that in a country where abundance of fine land is in a state of nature, and uncultivated, and ought to be obtainable on the most favourable possible terms by any industrious man who would be disposed to occupy it, that there should be any disposition to subdivide farms, already not sufficiently extensive. I fear that in many instances it is want of capital to divide among their children to enable them to un- dertake the cultivation of new land, that is the cause of subdividing the old farms. The necessary capital for a young man brought up in the — "'■ — rtiTimii f!i 1^ country, perfectly acquainted with clearing, to begin in the woods, would not require to be of great amount. How desirable then would it be, when this capital is not generally forthcoming, and when it is, is of small ?\mount, not to lessen it much by obliging him who is disposed to encoun- ter the labour and difficulty of converting the howling wilderness into beautiful meadows and com fields, to pay out of this little for the privi- lege 01 b>'?ing allowed to make that productive, which was before unpro- ductive, and might continue so if he had not the resolution and industry to bind himself down to labour and privations for several }fears, before he can have any hopes of receiving an adequate reward. 1 have alrea- dy endeavoured to show what the result would be of bringing the wi'd lands even partially into cultivation. If the twentieth part of the wild lands of British America was now in cultivation, it would indirectly con- tribute more to the national revenue in ore year, than the price these lands will be sold for, will amount to in twenty years, at the rate they produced for the same period now past. The price of wild lands is in- significant in a national point of vi<3W, when compared to the general be- nefits to bo derived from their cultivation ; and if making a charge for them, where they are in such abundance, retards their settlement, or in- juriously lessens the means of the industrious settler, for their successful cultivation, it is at variance with every idea I could forin of sound poli- cy, to make the charge. The practice of the United States may be brought forward against my argument. That government does charge for th6 wild land, and the country flourishes notwithstanding. It however remains to be proved, that it is because the wild lands are sold and paid for, that the country is prosperous ; also, it would require the clear- est demonstration to convince me that the amount paid to the gov- ernment for the wild lands would not produce more national prospe- rity, if it were lefl in the hands of tho& e who become actual settlers in the forest. To lessen the capital of those employed in agricul- ture, from the produce of which trade, commerce, manufactures, and revenue, every thing must be paid, is to lessen the annual produce of the whole country in every branch of her industry, and retard the gene- ral prosperity in a much greater de.rse than most persons will allow them- selves to believe possible, partly because they will not take the trouble to examine the question. I would not propose that every man. who chose to speculate in wild land should have it to get gratis, but to actual settlers with limited capital, barely sufficient to set them fairly to work, with the necessary stock, implements, seed, and means to procure food until they are able to raise it for themselves, I think, to use th( most gentle term, that it is inpolicy to deprive this settler of his little capital, or any part of it It is indeed similar, if not worse, in its effectp, than collecting tithes in spring out of the seed, instead of waiting to collect it in the harvest from the produce. If a price must be paid, let payment be deferred to the harvest, or to that period that will give the settler a fair chance of be- ing able to pay it without inconvenience, say ten years free of interest, and if not then paid, subject to interest until paid ; and to any one who found his means sufficient to pay at once, to allow a fair proportionate discount, so that each party would be on an equality. It would be un- just I witho 137 ■tii would it be, small icoun- 8 into privi- unpro- idustry before J alrea- tie wi'd he wild tly con- e these ate they Is is in- leral be- irge for [it, or in- iccessful ind poli- may be IS charge however and paid he clear- the gov- il prospe- lI settlers 1 agvicul- ures, and rodace of the gene- low them- trouble to who chose ual settUra I, with the I until they entle term, any part of sting tithes the harvest deferred to inc« of be- of interest, ny one who roportionate Duldbe un- just to tax a man with capital in this particular case, more than a man without it. It will bo time enough some hundred years hence to be shut- ting up the wild forest against settlers, and to be demanding high prices and cash payments for wild iand. I am aware that objections are made to free grants, and long credit on tho purchase money, ou the principle that persons claim such grants who are not possessed of any capital, and in consequence make no improvement, and after contriving to exist a few years, sell the land, and are very little better in circumstances than whei> they commenced, owing to the want of.adequate means ; and that these persons, if they had been labouring for others, would have been much better off. I acknowledge this may be correct in many instances, but though it should, I do not think it a sufficient objection to the plan I submit. I know that in numerous in- stances persons of industrious and laborious habits havo succeeded ad- mirably well as settlors in the woods, with very 'ittlc means to begin ; and though some may have failed, perhaps they would not have succeed- ed were their capital equal to what would be deemed fully sufficient for an industrious settler. The deeds might be withheld, and no sale allow- ed until a reasonable improvement were made. If improvement has not been tuade where free grants were given to" men without capital, how many tens of thousands of acres ha^e been granted to persons who have never yet seen the land, or taken any steps towards its settlement or cul- tivation, and others in the provinces who for a long time have held grants to a large extent which remain in a wilderness state to this hour. A poor man who has cleared and cultivated five or ten acres, in as many years, has done more towards the improvement of the country, than the absent or resident proprietor of ten or fifty thousand acres, who has never expended one shilling in their cultivation, nor perhaps ever will. A former empress of Russia gave every encouragement, even to foreign* ers, to become settlers in the forests of the Russian empire, and not only gave them free grants, but furnished them with capital and funds for sus- tenance for a certain number of years, free of interest ; and these well- directed efforts are said to have succeeded to admiration. How rejoiced I would be to see the government not only encouraging new colonists, but assisting the children of the old inhabitants with capital to enable them to occupy and bring into cultivation successfully the land fit for it in these provinces. I hope I have sufficiently explained the necessary personal qualifica- tion of the settler to insure successful settlement in the woods. It will be perhaps proper also, to give some idea of the means or capital required by a settler. I feel that this is difficult to determine accurately. I know that twenty-five pounds will to one settler be found a more adequate ca- pital than one hundred pounds would be to another, though each might be of the labouring class. The grand requisite for a settler is agricultural ^ifill, industry, and prudence ; a man so qualified will sooner become in- dependent in the forest with twenty •five pounds to begin, than another man, with the same family, but wanting in these qualifications, will be with five times that amount. This estimate of capital refers only to th« labouring class, and is supposed to be clear of all demands for the pur- chase of tho wood land. I refer the reader to tho following table of pri- 19 m h !:• ^ If !, i 111 rngja^meu^kmaet-v ii-i-iimS 13S I 1' 'i C€5 of food, &c. which is nearly an average for the last five years in Lower Canada. From this table the settler, in whatever class he may rank himself, will be able to judge how much capital he would require in going to the woods, if he be able to put a reasonable extent of land m crop the spring subsequent to his settling on his land, he may hope to be able to raise sufficient food that harvest for his support from that time, but it is not likely he will have any to sell ; he must therefore be prepar- ed to purchase with other funds what he may require of luxuries that he cannot raise on his own farm. It will be well that he should be so pre- Kred for more than one year. Unless he has considerable help of la- ur in his own family, or can pay for it, he will not be able to sell much for three of four years perhaps. Many disappointments may occur; the cut-down timber may not burn in time to get in a crop of grain in spring, and if grain is late sown, it may be injured hi the harvest by early frosts before it becomes ripe. These are occurrences which may not often take place ; but the settler will do well to remember that they are possi- ble, because I assure him they have taken place. I shall give him the best advice in my power to guard against these casualties. For the first three or four years, until a sufficient space is properly cleared and culti- vated immediately about where a dwelling house should be erected, it would, be prudent for the settler not to expend much money in building an expensive house, as there is very great danger of its being burned, when burning off the wood. I have had my own house burned in this way, though I thought I had taken sufficient precaution to guard against such an accident by clearing and burning off the wood of a full acre about the house. A plain log house, of the most simple construction that can be made habitable, and I know such a house cannot only be made habitable but comfortable, will be the most proper to erect for three or four years ; usd a family who do not think they could submit to live in such a house of t\bout 24 feet long by 18 or 20 wide, will do well not to become set- tlers in the forest. The expenditure required for the erection of a good house, will be much more usefully applied to the clearing and cultivation of the farm, ihe produce of which will build a house at the proper time. The settler will abo have an opportunity to collect materials for the house when he has any spare time, and wiH thus save much expense. The settler's attention should be most Carefully directed to husbanding his capital, and to expend as little as possible, except where it will be productive, until his annual produce becomes equal to the supply of his reasonable wants, and this will be the case much sooner by adopting Ihis rule of prudent expenditure and submitting to some privations for a short time. A log house of the above description and dimensions may bo erected at a very trifling expense, as all the timber required may be found on the spol, and boards can generally be had for from four to six dollars the hundred pieces of twelve feet long, a foot broad, and one inch in thickness. It is easy to estimate how many of them will be required for flooring and covering. The settler will find his neighbours ready to as- sist him in this work by assisting them in return. It will not require that a man should be a very superior carpenter to erect a log hut, or horse. It is only necessary to make it proof against much cold air or water. For the first two or three years, the settler's time will be much better applied ears in le may quire in of Innd hope to lat time, I prepar- ) that he 3 so pre- !lp of la- ell much :cur ; the in spring, irly frosts not often are possi- e him the jr the first and culti- erected, it building an rned, when 1 this way, rainst such e about the that can be le habitable [four years ; [ich a house become set- in of a good I cultivation )roper time, rials for the ich expense, husbanding re it will be lupply of ^'.^ adopting this IS for a short ions may be may be found o six dollars one inch in required for ready to as- »t require that lut, or house. )r water. For better applied 139 in clearing and cultivating the land in order to its producing abundantly to supply the inmates of the house, who will fare much better in a plain log house, dry and warm, with a sufficiency of the necessaries of life than they would in a palace without them. If the land is only put into a state to produce abundantly, the erection of a good house need not be long de- layed. Table ahoiving the average prices of the articles enumerated^ in Montreal, Lower-Canada, May, 1836. Lower-Canada. Av evage prices. Agricultural produce. Wheat per minot, Barley Peas Oats Rye Indian corn Flaxseed Buckwheat Potatoes Turnips do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. Superfine Flour, per barrel, of 196 lbs. Fine do. - - Market flour, per 112 lbs. Oatmeal do. do. Beef, per pound, - - - Mutton do, - - - , Pork do. - - - . Veal do. - - - . Beef, per barrel of 240 lbs. Pork, per do. of do. Tallow, rendered, per pound, - Lard, rough, per pound, Do. rendered in kegs per pound, Butter, fresh, per pound, Do. salt, in keg^, do. Cheese, English, per pound. Do. Canadian, do. - :■?,{ Geese per couple, ... Turkeys, do. - . - - Fowls, do. . . . - Hay, per 109 bundles of 1600 lbs weight Straw per do. of 1200 lbs. Aihes, Pot, 1st sort, percwt. Pearls do. per do. Fiah — Cod, large dry, per cwt. Pickled, do. per do. Herrings, per barrel, Mackerel, per do. Salmon, per do. ■ 18* ^* s. d. £ s. d. 6 3 a 6 3 3 a 3 6 4 a 6 1 6 a 2 6 3 4 a 4 3 9 a 4 6 6 3 (t 7 6 3 9 a 4 1 a 2 6 1 6 a 2 6 30 a 32 25 a 30 10 a 16 6 10 a 12 6 2 a 6 2 a 6 H a 7 2 a 6 45 a 65 60 a 115 6 a 7 4 a 6 .0 a 7 8 a I 3 6 a 1 1 a kiic-! 3 a 6 4 a 5 4 a 6 1 8 a 2 6 20 a 40 15 a 20 25 a 86 30 a 45 16 a 21 — a 17 a 22 20 a 22 46 — a •1 140 Lower-Canada. Averag e prices. Groceries, Wine, Beer, Spirits, &c. £ a. 1 I £ s. d. East India Company. J Teas, Bohea per pound, 1 H a Gunpowder, do. 5 6 a Old hyson, do. 4 4 a Young hyson, do. 4 4 a Do. skin, do. 2 6 a Souchong, do. 3 2 a Twankay, do. 3 1 a Coffee, green, do. 10 a 1 Sugar — Muscovado, per cwt. 48 a 65 Bengal, white, do. 50 a 61 Refined loaf sugar per lb. 8 a 9 Cloves per lb. ... 1 6 a 1 8 Ginger, Jamaica, per lb. 1 9 a 2 Nutmegs, do. - - - 8 a 9 Pepper, black, do. - - * 6 a 7 White, do. - - - 9 a 10 Almottds, shelled, do. 1 a 1 6 Do. soft shell, do. 10 a m Currants, do. • - - 6 a lO' Lemons, per box, ... 20 a 25 Oranges, per do. ... 22 a 25 Nuts, Barcelona, per lb. 6 a 6 Raisins — Muscatel (bunch) per box, 14 a 16 Muscatel) do. 12 a 13 Bloom, do. 12 a 13 Lexia, per lb. 4 a 4j; Figs, do. 2i a o' Wine— Champagne, per doz. 65 a 72 Claret, do. 60 a 60 Madeira, per 110 gallons, - 60 a 80 Port, per 138 gallons^ 40 a 70 Figuiera, per do. 26 a Sicilian, Red, per 120 gallons. 8 a 10 Sherry, 1st quality, per 130 do 25 a 60 , Common, per gallon. 2 6 a 3 6 ' ^j Spanish red, 1st quality, 120 gals 8 a 9 p ^- Do. Common, do. 6 a 7 10 Teneriffe, L. P. do. 35 a 36 Cargo, - - do. 12 10 a 16 Canadian strong beer per gallon, 1 a 1 3 Table beer do. 6 a Brandy — Cognac, per gallon, 6 3 a 6 6 Bordeaux, t'o. 4 6 a 4 9 Spanish, do. 3 9 a 4 3 ^ Canadian, do. 3 6 a 3 9 ('-*/ V J'* ^ 141 M Lower-Canada. Average prices. Groceries, Wines, Beer, Spirits, &c. £ a. d. £ s. d. Hollands — Pale, in casks do. - 4 6 a 4 6 Montreal gin, - - d«. - Do. Whiskey, - do. 3 6 a 2 6 a 2 9 Do. made in imitation of Scotch, 6 a 6 3 Rum — Leewards Island (1 a 5) do. 3 3 a 3 4 Demerara, (1 a 4) do. 3 4 a 3 6 Jamaica, (1 a 2|) do. - . 4 a 4 1 Lime Juice, - - - do. 1 8 a 2 Miscellanious Articles. Mustard, per lb. - - - 1 a Mustard in bottles, ... 4 a 4 6 Salt per raiuot, - - - 1 6 a 1 8 Saltpetre per cwt. - - - 47 6 a Soap, — English, per lb. - - 3h a Canadian, do. \ , a" a Castile, do. ' - - v 6 a 9 Starch, - do. - - 6 a Blue fig, - do. - - 7i a 8 Indigo, East India, do. 7 a 8 6 Candles, English moulds, wax wicks per lb 10 a lOi Do. Spermaceti, - do. 2 6 a 3 Do. Wax, - - do. 3 a 3 4 Do. Canada mould, do. 8 a Glass — Bottles per gross. 22 a 30 Do. Window cut in various sizes, per 100 feet, 22 a 32 Gunpowder, per dozen canisters, 18 a 22 Do. F. to F. F, F. per 100 lbs. 65 a 87 Shot per cwt. - - . - 35 a Leather, sole, per lb. - - 1 2 a 1 3 Uppe" per side, - - 10 a 16 Cordage, white and tarred, per cwt. 35 a 45 Paints — Black, per keg of 28 lbs. 6 a Brown, per do. - - 6 a 6 3 White lead, ground, do. 8 a 12 6 Green per' lb. 8 a 1 Blue do. - - - 6 a 9 Yellow, do. - - - 3 a Lead, dry, white per cwt. ' 37 a 40 Do. do. red do. 20 a Tar, boat, per barrel, - - - 12 6 a 15 Tobacco, leaf, U. C. per lb. 5| a 6 Do. U. States, do. - - - e 7 a 7i Do. Plug, do. - - ' 11 a 0" Pipes, per 10 gross, - - 22 a 25 Vinegar, per gallon - - 1 3 a 1 6 r ► S'VJ »7«J Jf'V ''i :tf i, hT'^ 142 Lower-Canada. li^ Metald, Hardware, &c. Iron — English bar, per ton. Do. hoop, do. Do. Sheet, do. Swedish and Russian, do. Copper sheets, per lb. Tin, of various quality, per box. Steel, per lb. - - . - Chains, ox and timber, per cwt. Do. Trace for one pair of horses. Spades and shovels from No. 1 to No. 3 of each per dozen. Nails, Canada, wrought, 14 lb. Do. cut, 2d to 20d per cwt. Do. best sort, 6d to 20d, per lb. Stoves — Scotch, single, each from 20 to 36 inches long. Do. Double from 30 to 34 inches Oils— Linseed, boiled, per gallon, - Do. Raw, - - do. Do Olive, - do. Do Palm, per ton, - - - Do. Whale, per gallon. Do. Seal, pale, do. - Coals — Newcastle, per chaldron, Canadian made iron ploughs, Scotch, imported, do. Scotch cart, good, - - - Fanning machines, Canadian hay cart, ... Shoeing horses a set, ... Ab eome guide to strangeni to ascertain (ho proportion which Upprr-Csnada agricul- tural produce bears to that of Lowrr-Canada, I jjive the last prices current at Toronto market. Thn proportion is not always the same, but very generally there is fully the difierence the ai>ove and following prices current would indL-atr. Prices Current in the City of Toronto. May 81, 1836. Wheat, per bushel, ... Grown do, ... Barley do. .... Oat9 do. - . , . Rye do. .... Pets do. .... Reef per 100 lbs. (hind quarter) Do. do. (fore quarter) Fork, do. . ... Hay per ton, . . - - Straw, per load of 100 bundles. Flour, per barrel, Do. warranted good, It is to be observed that we give the prices of the best articles. Averag B prices. £ 8. d. £ s. d. 16 o 20 a 21 10 a 24 a 27 1 6 a 1 7 66 a 86 4i a 11 42 a 46 3 4 a 4 28 a 40 4 7 a 20 a 24 24 a 28 22 6 a 66 75 a 100 6 a 6 5 a 6 6 6 9 a 6 60 a 56 2 a 2 1 2 6 a 2 8 29 a 33 9 4 a 6 10 4 a 7 10 6 a 6 10 6 a 10 6 a 8 6 a 5 a 4 a 2 6 a 2 6 a 1 3 a 2 6 a 2 6 a 30 a 27 c a 20 a 60 a 15 a 20 a 22 118 In Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edwards Island, the prices of all the articles I have named in the foregoing list nre as low, or rather lower, than in Lower-Canada. Woollen and cotton goods are i>old by retail in Montreal at perhaps 50 per cent, currency over the price sterling which they are sold for in the British isles. The best description of wearing apparel may bear about the same proportion to the price in England, but the coarser kinds are not much higher than in Britain. Blacksmiths charge higher than in England for farmers' work. The price for a new sock, or share for a plough, is generally 5s. to 7s. 6d. and repairing a share 2s. to 23. 6d. ; for harrow teeth 6d. to 6d. the pound. For trifling job work or repairs, the charges arc high. Many of the working tools (spades in particular) that are imported, nre of a very in- ferior description. The spades are not fit to work on a farm. A pro- perly made spade of wrought iron, such as is generally used on farms in England, would, for a farmer's use, be worth half a dozen oftho.se that can be purchased in stores in Canada. The cost of making the wood work of agricultural implements may be readily estimated, when the wa- ges of carpenters are known. The wood costs scarcely any thing, and for many articles that can be made in the country, the cost will be letrs than in England. The price of imported agricultural implements, allowing for the difference between currency and sterling mone}', and for the cost of freight, will not be greater in British America than in England. Har- ness for a cart may be had for 21. to 3/. 10». a set, made in English fa- shion. The leal., er made in British America or the United States, is very much inferior to English leather for every purpos 3. I attribute this en- tirely to the mode of tanning. The materials used in tanning, and the whole process, is hurried and defective. The leather is consequently not sufficiently or properly tanned, will not give wear, and is not impervi- ous to water as the English leather. The price of the articles enumerated is higher in Upper-Canada than in Montreal, particularly these that are heavy and bulky. The average in- crease of price at Toronto may be from 6 to 26 per cent. When these goods are brought further into the country, the price is increased in pro- portion. The value of wheat and barley is less in Upper-Canada by the cost of transport to Montreal, if it is sent to that market. It is possible, however, that a more convenient market may be found, should the United States remove the restrictions and heavy duties which are now in force and charged on Canadian produce imported into the United States. A greatly increased emigration would give a market for much of the spare produce for some yf ars to come. Carpenters may be had to work from 4s. to 5s. 6d. the day without board ; ihe latter is the wages of good workmen. Stone masons the same. By contract, is the cheapest mode of getting a house erected. The settler could provide all the rough materials on the spot, and contract for its erection. A good plain house of 40 feet long, 24 feet broad, and 10 feet high, over the cellar, built of square timber, boarded on the out- side and plastered within, covered with shingles, with two stone chimniep, and finished in a plain manner, might cost by contract 100/. or 150/., provided the settler brought upon the spot all the large Mmbcrs, f^tone, •! ■ i 144 •1 '•' lime and iinnd required, but not the boards or plank or any othrr male- rial. The Mtone may frequently be found convenient, ond encumbering the groiMid, but when (his is not the case, industrious settlers might join in making brick, which they could do at a trifling expense, where there \h abundance of fuel, and suitable clay in most places. I have given the prices of all the materials necessary in the erection of a good house, and the wages of labour. It is easy for the settler to ascertain what the kind of house he wishes to erect will cost, if not built by contract. He mny perhaps be capable of doing much of the work himself, and could finish it gradually as he found means and opportunity. The cost of building barns and stables may also be estimated by the price of materials and la* bour. A barn and stables may be built by controct, the contractor find< ing all materials, and the building 30 feet wide, 12 feet high, and what length may be determined upon, suppose 60 feet, and covered with shin- gles, a threshing door, and stables fitted up in a plain manner, for 16s. to 20s. the running foot in Icnf^th, In some situations perhaps it might cost a trifle more. If covered with straw, which answers exceedingly well, this cost may bo considerably reduced, and if the settler flnds all the wood, which he may at very little cost, the expense of putting up a barn and stables would be trifling in amount. House furniture, and every de- scription of house utensils are not much higher priced in British America than in the British isles. Horses, carriages, harness, &c. suitable for the country, are also to be had for moderate prices. The settler may very well estimate the funds he would require to esta- blish himself iu the forest, when he knows the prices current of almost every article necessary for his use. I thought it better to give the prices in this way, than attempt to estimate for others what they were to expend for subsistence, houses, furniture, &c. &c. &c. They will know best >vhat they will require, and I have put it in their power to calculate the cost as accurately as is necessary, of all they may require. PRICE OF WILD LAND, AND THE TERMS ON WHICH IT IS CHANTED IN BRITISH AMERICA. ■ Latterly the government have adopted the mode of disposing of wild land by auction in Canada. In Upper-Canada the average price for the last seven years has been 13s, 8d. per acre for clergy reserves ; and for other land about 9s. 7d. per acre, payable by equal instalments in four years. All the lands sold by the government in any of the provinces are in free and common soccage. The prices of wild land in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick are much lower than in Upper-Canada. I have not in my power at this moment to state the present paces, but I believe they are nearly the same as in Jiowcr-Canada. I expect I shall be able to state the latest prices before this work is published. The last advertised sale of wild land by the government was dated at Quebec, the 9th September, 1836, and the sale was to take place at the Court-house of Thrce-Ilivcrs, the 3d of October following. The crown lands and clergy reserves to be sold, were situ- •^ 145 ■ motc- »berinn join in hero iH ,en the 8C, and he kind -le mny finish it juilding i and la- tor find- ind what ilh shin- r 159. to ight cost gly well, a nil tho p a barn every de- America litable for re to esla- of almost tho prices to expend [know best culatc tho GRANTED ing of wild ice for the ^ ; and for nta in four >vince8 are are much Is moment ^ame as in lices before Ind by the Ind the sale 1 of October ■v^cre situ- ntod in the townships of Warwick, Ilorton, Middlngton, Blandford, and Somerset, in which tho upset prico was to bo 4s. the acre. In the town- ship of Ilunterstown, 3s. tho aero ; and in Coxton, (wo 2s. 6d. tho aero. Tho number of lots to bo sold wus about 870, from 100 acres to more than 200 acres each. At a rough estimate, the total quantity might bo 150,000 acres. The conditions of sale were as follows, which have been the usual conditions at sales at auction by the government : 1st. The lands will bo put up for sale, in lots or parcels of from 100 (or half a surveyed lot) to 1200 acres (or six surveyed lots) as may suit the convenience of parties disposed to bid for the same. 2nd. Tho lots will bo oflered at tho upset price per acre as stated above. 3rd. The lots are to bo taken at the contents of acres marked in tho public documents, without guarantee as to the actual quantity contained in them. 4th. The biddings to be made in currency, upon tho upset price per acre. 5th. Tho lots will bo sold to the highest bidder. 6th. Tho purchase money to be paid by four annual instalments, with- out interest; tho first instalment or deposit money of 25 per cent, nt the time of the sale ; and the second, third and fourth instalments, at in- tervals of a year. 7th. The instalments arc to be paid into the olTice of Crown Lands, at Quebec, or to tho Treasurer or Receiver of Rents, on his half yearly tour for the collection of rcntg. 8th. If the instalments arc not regularly paid, the deposit money will be forfeited, and the land again referred to sale. ■ ' ■ To the above mode of sale my principal objections are, that there is no obligation of settlement incurred by those who purchase, and that there is too largo a quantity (870 lots) of land offered for sale at one time, and in one part of the province, considering the demand by actual settlors. I shall reserve my remarks on the sale of wild land for another place. Seigniorial Lands that are long settled, arc generally at low rents, sel- dom exceeding what is equivalent to three dollars annually, for 90 or 100 arpents, and often not half that amount. Latterly, almost all the seignio- rial lands are raised to ten dollars rent annually for 100 arpents, or six pence the arpent, together with corvee days, &c. These lands are in all cases subject also to lods et ventea^ or a twelfth part of the purchase mo- ney at every sale, must be paid to the seignior. There is another pri- vilege which the latter has, the droit de retrait, which entitles him to take the property sold at the price sold for, within 40 days after the sale. The Seignior receives part of the fish caught, has the privilege to fall timber for erecting mills, repairing roads, or other works of general utility. He has the exclusive right of erecting mills, and the tenants are bound to grind their grain at his mills, and some other privileges which will be found in the copy of a deed from the seignior to the tenant or censilaire. From the present high rents charged by seigniors, for lands that arc subject besides to loda et ventes^ and other feudal rights, these lands are now much higher priced than any other wild lands in the Lower Fro- 19 At.'-- 146 If;: Nff vinee. Six pence annual rent per arpent, is equal to the interest at five per cent, often shillings the arpent purchase money ; and there is scarce- \y any wild land now selling at that price, except in very favourable situ- ations. The following is a copy of a seigniorial deed of concession, so far as is necessary to show the obligation incurred by the censitaires. These deeds of concession are not alike with all seigniors, but this may be taken as a fair sample of them. There are not many deeds granted at pre- sent that will give more privileges than this does to the cenailairis, SEIGNIORIAL DEED OF CONCESSION. JThe deed names the seignior, and tenant or censitaire, describes the lot, situation and extent, and then goes on to fix the conditions, &c. as follows. " To have, hold, use, enjoy and dispose of the said piece or parcel of land by the said grantee, his heirs and assigns, for ever, subject to the following charges, clauses, conditions and reserves, that is to say, 1st, that the said grantee, his heirs and assigns, shall pay yearly to the said seignior, his heirs and assigns, at the manor house of said seigniory, or to his agent, for the time being at the place of receipt therein, the sum of current money of the said province of Lower-Canada, and bushels of good, clean, dry and merchanta- ble wheat, of quit or seigniorial rent {dc cens et rentes) for the said lot of land for each and every superficial arpents therein, and days co^'vee, that is to say, the labour of one man and a yoke of oxen, or span of horses yearly, for the said lot, or five shilhngs said current mo- ney in lieu thereof, if demanded at the seignior's option, the first year's payment of which said seigniorial rent and dues, shall become due and payable on the eleventh day of November, now next ensuing, and from thenceforth continue to be made yearly and on that day, the said quit and unred3eniable rent producing the rights of /o(?s et rentes, defauts saisines et amendes, and all other seigniorial rights as the case may occur ; 2ndly, that the said grantee, his tenant or holder of said lot of land, heirs and assigns shall be held and bound to carrj- his and their grain to be ground at the mill of the said seigniory, and to no other mill, under penal- ty of paying double toll and confiscation of all such grain as shall be ground elsewhere ; and that he or they shall build, or cause to be built and erected, a dwelling house on the said piece or parcel of land within a year and a day from the date hereof, and in default of his or their so do- ing it shall and may be lawful to and for the said seignior, his heirs and as- signs to enter into and take possession of the said piece or parcel of land, and the same shall, in case of such default, become immediately reunited to the domain thereof. " 3rdly. That the said grantee, his heirs and assigns shall be held and bound when required, to cause the said lot of land to be surveyed by a sworn land surveyor, to place boundary marks thereon, and to furnish unto the said seignior, at his the said grantee's own proper costs and charges, a copy of these presents together with a copy of the surveyor's report, on pain of all damages and interests. ** 4thly. That the said grantee dosufier and allow to be made, all such 'I 1^- «., 147 St at five is scarce- able siiu- , so far as . Those r be taken cd at prc- scribes the ns, &c. as )r parcel of jject to the say, 1st, [0 the said eigniory, or the sum of province of merchanta- e said lot of nd ! of oxen, or current ino- 1 first year's me due and g, and from said quit and aids saisines may occur ; )f land, heirs • grain to be under penal- 1 as shall be e to be built land within a their so do- [heirs and as- ^rcel of land, Sely reunited 1 be held and urvcyed by a tid to furnish pet costs and he surveyor's lade, all such roads as the seignior may judge proper and expedient for the public use, furnish and make his part of joint fencing with his neighbour's when thereto requested, and give his proportion of labour for all public works, but without any obligation on the p^rt of the seignior, to make fences or ditches to separate his domain, or the unconcedcd lands. "5thly. That the said grantee shall not sell, cede, give, grant, or other- wise convey or transfer the said parcel of land or any part or portion thereof to any mortmain or religious community, and on no account what- soever erect or build mills of any description thereon, without the appro- bation and consent, in writing, of the seignior first had, and obtained to that effect ; the said seignior hereby reserving unto himself, his heirs and assigns, in all cases of sale, of the whole or any part of the said parcel of land, of the right ofrelrait, that is, of acquiring the same in preference to all purchasers, even the parents lignagers, on refunding to the purchaser the price paid for the same, and all other legal costs and expenses, as also the right of taking on the said parcel of land all wood and timber fit for building, and all stone, lime and sand necessary for the erection of a church, parsonage house and mills, principal manor house, and other public works, even for the use of his farms ; and likewise all mines and minerals, if any on the said lot, to the use of his Majesty. And should the said seignior, his heirs or assigns wish to erect mills, whether wind, grist, saw, or other mills, he and they shall be at liberty and have (for the building thereof) to take, occupy, or cut the land of the tenant or holder to cause the water to pass at such place and spot as to the seignior may seem fit ; and to pass and repass on the said land with his horses, carriages, servants, &c. &c. on by him, the seignior, paying neverthe- less, for the clearings in proportion to the damage caused to the tenant or holder, upon the award of skilful persons, and lessening the quit rents in proportion to the land cut and taken in the execution thereof. "To all which said charges, clauses, conditions, servitudes and reserves the said grantee doth voluntarily bind and oblige himself, his heirs and assigns, hereby promising to do, execute and perform the same, and to well and truly pay unto the said seignior, his heirs and rissigns as afore- said, the quit and unredeemable rents at the time and place herein be- fore expressed, for security whereof, the parcel of land hereby granted shall be and remain from this day specially charged, affected and mort- gaged, and in case the said grantee, his heirs and assigns, do fail or con- travene in any of the covenants, clauses and conditions herein mentioned, the present granted parcel of land shall thereupon immediately revert and become legally reunited to the domain of the said seignior with full power and authority unto him, the said seignior, heirs and assigns to dis- pose of, and reconcede the same in favour of whomsoever he or they may think proper, nor shall any of the said charges, clauses and conditions aforesaid be considered as comminatory {comminaloire) but of rigour, as without which parcel of land the said lot had never been granted, and for the execution of these presents the said grantee hath elected domicil on the hereby granted parcel of land." (Here follows the signatures.) I confess that I feel very great objections to any mode of sale or con- cession of wild land in British America, by which the exact price is nut dctermiaed and specified at the time of sale or concession, so that it cuuld Id* ' ^'- 148 Vi : I !. not subsequently be increased or diminished, whether the land was resold or not. I more particularly object to the seigniorial system, because the af- ter claims are to depend in amount on the improvements of the purchas- er, and the frequency of the property changing owners. A rr.an may lake a lot of seigniorial land in town or country, and improve it at the expenditure of 100/. to 20,000/., and from having expended perhaps moru than he could conveniently spare, he may get into difficulties which would force him to sell the property so improved, and the consequence is, that the seignior claims the loda et ven/e«, and takes so much out of this man's capital, upon which he ought to have no claim. This is not an imagina- ry case, but one I have known to have occurred very frequently, and the sales were brought on in consequence of more being expended in im- provements than the owner's circumstances would warrant. Hence forced sales were brought on, and improved properties sold for less than was expended upon them and the owners had to submit to the further loss of lods ei ventes paid out of their already diminished capital. I shall submit my further objections under another head. The following are the titles of the Canada Tenures Act passed by the imperial parliament in 1825. 6th. Geo. 4th, chap. 69. An act to provide for the extinction of feudal and seigniorial rights and burdens on lands held a Hire de fief and d litre de cens, in the province of Lower-Canada, and for the gradual conversion of those tenures into the tenure of free and common soccage, and for oLher purposes relating to the said province. 1st. 3rd. Geo. 4th, chap. 119. Recited persons holding fiefs or seignio- ries may, on application to his Majesty, and on surrender of the ungranted parts thereof, obtain a commutation and release of feudal burthens due to his Majesty thereon, such fief or seigniory may be regranted to the pro- prietor in free and common soccage. 2nd. Feudal and seigniorial rights on n of feudal ''and dtiire conversion ge, and for } or seignio- le ungranted ihens due to i to the pro- such seign- obtained as imutation as kose holding be fixed by ions may be awarded by price of in- )n, or award- se upon the )e converted ars. )lic notice to r-Canada to dands rc-aiv ;.67. 10th. Court of escheats may be constituted in the said provincot to try forfeitures of uncultivated lands, liable to escheat to the crown, court how to proceed. Inquests to bo returned, no new grant of escheated lands to be made for one year. 11th. Notice to be given. Parties interested may traverse inquests. 12th. Certain parts of the clergy reserves in the said province may be surrendered, exchanged, and regranted for certain public uses and other purposes. Ct£ARING OF WILD LAND. The mode of clearing wild land is unnecessary to be described very mi- nutely in this work. By practical experience is the only way that a man can be perfectly instructed. In British America wild land of good quality is ill general thickly encumbered with large trees, and before any produce can be obtained from this land, those trees have to be cut down, and got rid of by burning, or otherwise. The usual mode of proceeding is, first to cut down close, to the ground before the snow falls, any small trees or brushwood, and to pile them in heaps. The large trees are next cut down, and in falling them it is best to cause them all to fall with the tops in the same direction ; they are then cut up into logs ten or twelve feet lr-n«, he tops and small branches made into separate piles. This work is i:^- . ./ ;'.one in the full and winter. In the following spring the brush- woo ^ >; s. t on fire, and if sufficiently dry, the whole will burn off. The larj^vj lofTS must then be made into ^tIcs by men, if oxen are not to be had to haul them together ; all the small wood that remains is collect- ed on the piles of large logs, and fire is then applied to it. If the spring is dry, and the logs prin'-ipally hard wood, it burns readily, but otherwise it will not burn woM the first spring. While the piles are burning tht j' require attention to keep the logs together with handspikes. Those who propose to make use of the ashes to convert into potash, must now collect it and put it under cover before it gets wet, or it will be useless for that purpose. If there he an early and dry spring, the settler will have a fair chance of getting what is termed in the woods, " a good burn," and will be able to get in his crop in good time ; but in this he may be frequently disappointed, and so long delayed before he can get the wood burned off, that it becomes too late to sow wheat, or perhaps any grain. If there is much sofl wood on the land, it will not burn off well until it is very dry ; but though much of the large logs should remain on the soil after the fire has gone over it, the land may be cropped be- tween the roots and logs, with barley, oats and peas (if in time, and the settler thinks it eligible) with vegetables of all kinds, and with Indian corn. It is most essential to a good burn in spring, that the small and brush- wood should bo cut early in the fall, with the leaves firmly on, as they will, when dry, greatly contribute to consuming the whole. Af\er the piles of large wood that are first set fire to, cease burning, all the logs that remain unconsumed are collected into new piles, if there is time to do so, and set fire to again, or left to the fall. Settlers often leave many of the large trees standing and cut the bark round near the root so as to kill the tree and prevent its again putting '' ! \' 150 • : hfi I :■, ;i forth leaves. This practice is, in Lower-Canada, not a good one ; trees so lefl are very apt to fall with the first high wind, and may honce often cause injury to crop or cattle. It is useless to say more on the mode of clearing land. The settlor would receive more instruction from personal inspection of the work as it proceeds, in one hour, than he could by reading one hundred pages on the subject. CROPPING NEW LAND. * ^^' - " . The cropping of new land when prepared, is a matter that it may be useful to the settler to offer some remarks upon. It is in this respect he will be most subject to err. In Lower-Canada, settlers are greatly inclin- ed to sow wheat, whether the land is suitable and prepared in time or not ; the consequence is, a total failure frequently, and if not, a very short pro- duce, when, if the same land were sown with barley or oats, it would have produced abundantly. If land is suitable for wheat, and can be sown any time in April, by all moans the settler shoulr^ try it ; but much later in the spring it will not be profitable, nine times in ten to sow wheat on new lands. Very favourable seasons, fine harvests, and no early frosts, a late crop might succeed, but the risk is considerable, and one that need not be incurred, when crops that are certain, and equally profitable, may be raised. It will be much better for the settler to cultivate the crop most likely to succeed, than incur the risk of disappointn?ent in sowing wheat. He can always sell oats and barley to buy the wheat he may re- quire, and oatmeal will be an excellent substitute occasionally for the flour of wheat. It is exceedingly discouraging to a settler when his first crop fails, and I have known it often to occur, from sowing wheat in a sheltered spot surrounded with high trees, at a late time in spring, when it was certain, in a moist season, to be injured by milldew or some other disease, or by early frost in the fall. When the settler will advise with his neighbours, and know how they have succeeded in circumstances si- milar to those in which he may be placed in spring sowing time, he will be better able to determine what course to pursue ; and in asking such advice, it will be well to apply to those that are known to have succeed- ed best in the settlement ; the advice of any other is not safe to follow. After a year or two, the settler who has agricultural knowledge, and is prudent and industrious, will not require advice from any one ; and those who may go to the woods without these qualifications, cannot be better instructed than by following the example of those who are so qualified, and those whom he finds are doing well. If he can improve upon their system, so much the better, but it will be safest not to try experiments, until he is in circumstances that their failure would not affect him very injuriously. As I before observed, agricultural knowledge is of great value to any person who becomes a farmer on cleared land, or in the woods ; but it must be obvious to any clever man, that he will have something to learn in coming to a country so different in climate from (he British isles, and particularly when he goes into the forest, where it will be many years be- fore he can plough freely, and cultivate as he was accustomed to do be- fore. In consequence of this circumstance, ho will not have the same latitude to exercise his skill, confined by the forest, and interrupted by ; trees 3 oftea settler rk as it iges on may be spect ho f inclin- I or not ; tiort pro- uld have be sown h later in ,t on new frosts, a that need ible, may the crop in sowing e may re- y for the !n his first ^vheat in a iug, when omc other dvise with stances si- ne, he will ling such succeed- to follow, ge, and is and those be better qualified, upon their ;periments, ;t him very 151 the roots of largo trees ; but nevertheless he will find means to over- come difficulties with greater facility than a man who has not much ex- perience in farming, because he will understand where he ought to con- form to the climate and circumstances of a country so different from that he was accustomed to, and no national prejudices in favour of the system of the country he has left will prevent a sensible man from adopting what is suitable to that he finds himself placed in. I am persuaded that a per- son possessing the qualifications that are necessary to constitute a good farmer in every country, fixing his residence in a new settlement, would not only be sure to be successful, but his example would be of incalcula- ble advantage to his neighbours, at least to all those who would be pos- sessed of sufficient common sense and due regard for their true interest, to learn and profit by it. Indian corn is a crop that ought not be neglected on new land. Though it should not always come to full perfection it will be very useful for feeding swine, and the stalks will be good winter food for cows, when it may be difficult to provide hay. Should the season b© favourable, there is not a more profitable crop for a new settler than Indian corn ; it is easy to cultivate, requires little seed, and the produce when it succeeds well, is very great, and will be found good food by the settler, until he can grow wheat to advantage. It is usual to sow seed of pumpkins at intervals in Indian corn land, after the corn is over ground, and first hoed. There is generally a considerable produce of pumpkins, which assist in feeding cows or swine, and do not injuriously affect the growth of the In- dian corn crop. Peas will grow well on new land that is not over fertile, and are a good crop for a settler. The greatest danger of their failure is from lodging, and inconsequence not filling. If they were only sown on a small scale for table use, it would be a good plan to put them in rows far apart, and plant a few beans at proper intervals, that would help to support them and y ield a produce. Settlers cannot often find time to put down stakes to peas. In most places spots of suitable light soil will be found to grow peas in perfection, without any support being necessary for them. Windsor, kidney, and horse beans succeed well, and are very productive if sown in good time. I wo Id recommend their cultivation, particularly the two first, to settlers. They answer well for soups and haricots. Turnips grow in greater perfection on new land, and are less subject to failure than on the old cultivated lands ; they are a good crop for the set- tler to a certain extent, who may sow them any time he finds opportunity to the 1st of August, and when it would be too late to sow any other crop. Carrots are a crop I would highly recommend ; the produce is great, and they seldom fail. Parsnips will succeed well, as will onions, and ?11 kinds of garden vegetables. The new soil and ashes are the very best for their production in perfectiou. For carrots, parsnips, and such root crops as penetrate deep into the soil, the settler will require to take out all roots of trees to the necessary depth. Though this will be at an expense of some labour, it will amply repay it. A few perches well pre- pared, will produce more roots that three times as much land ill prepared. m U 153 ii. Potatoes may be cultivated without niuch labour, in hills between the roots and logs, and give a large produce, and they are generally of better quality in new land, than in land long in cuhivation. It is not possible to cultivate potatoes in any other way but in hills, for the first few years, until the roots of trees are taken out. The settler who will manage judiciously, and cultivate vegetables or gree ' nrops, principally, for the first two or three years, will seldom fail of sucutiiiS ; he will grow the vegetables I have enumerated with ease and almost certainty, where, perhaps, he would not reap a crop of wheat that would produce more than the seed sown. With these vegetables in abundance, he can feed pork in sufficient quantity to supply his table constantly ; and if a new settler, for the first few years, can insure for himself and his family a full allowance of good pork and vegetables, with milk, butter, eggs, and whatever more his means or industry will allow him to provide, their lot will not be very deplorable. I do not wish to be understood a=^ recommending that no wheat should be sown the first years under any circumstances. On the contrary, I have said when the soil and season were favourable, and the seed could be sown in good time, it would be right to try it ; but only when all these favourable cir- cumstances would combine. Barley, oats, peas, rye and Indian corn, are the most certain grain crops for the first few years, in Lower-Canada, Nova Scotia and Np w Brunswick, until the clearance is more extensive, and a free circulation of air is admitted. Grass seeds should be sown as soon as possible, the first year if practicable, on a small part that could be sufficiently cleared of the small roots. Grass will effectually check the small roots under the surface from sprouting again, and hay is very necessary for the winter support of a cow or two, and a horse, if the set- tler can keep one. It is of the most essential consequence to the settlers that they would so manage as to be able to locate themselves convenient to each other, if possible, so that each lot would be connected. Though the land might be rather of inferior quality, it is a great benefit that no interval of wild land should be allowed to remain between farms. Settlers are, when located logether, able to assist each other in various ways, in erecting houses, piling logs, making roads, draining, and by example of the most experienced and industrious. What is the consequence when a settler happens to get upon a lot that requires draining, if he be surrounded with unoccupied wood land t He perhaps loses his crops, and the benefit of his labour year after year, without a remedy being in his power. It is out of the question that under such circumstances he could alone and un- assisted, attempt draining through the wilderness. I know that from this cause proceeds the failure of many poor settlers, and it may well be sup- posed that perfect draining is impracticable unless the land is regularly taken up and settled in rotation, without allowing any waste lots to inter- vene or remain unoccupied. I do not believe it would be possible to promote successful settlement more efiectually than by adopting this re- gulation in disposing of the waste land. In no country in the world is draining more necessary than in both the Canadas, where the surface is generally level, and where there are heavy falls of rain which requires ample drains to carry off the superfluous wa- 153 r^m ecn the f better )Ossiblc V years, ables or m fail of ;ase and heat that tables in lis table nsure for (les, with will allow vish to be the first when the n in good arable cir- i corn, are ■r-Canada, extensive, [)e sown as that could lally check lay is very !, iftheset- they would each other, land might rval of wild are, when in erecting of the most len a settler junded with le benefit of iwer. It is one and un- lat from this well be sup- is regularly lots to intev- possible to ►ting this ro- i in both the [re are heavy erfluous wa- ters in the spring, and when the crops are in a growing stale before they are injured by it. It may reasonably be supposed that in a sew country yet almost in a state of nature, and abounding in rivers and lakes, much superfluous water must be retained in many situations by natural causes, which would require ample outleta to be cut, to allow these waters to run off. In England, so long inhabited, and cultivated for centuries better than any other country, it is only within the last fifty years that extensive tracts uf land have been drained and cultivated whh great success, which previously gave no valuable produce. A settler who gets a few acres cleared in the forest, and cannot get it perfectly drained, will have to wait in spring until the moisture is dried up by natural evrnoration. In new land the surface is very uneven, and it has many hilloc - -■ .1 hollowi; that require several days of fine weather to dry them perfectly. From this cause sowing is delayed, or a large portion of the best of the soil is left waste. There are some situations where the soil is naturally high, dry, loamy or sandy, that will not require much draining ; but in every situa- tion new land is of uneven surface, caused by the roots of trees, &c. that cannot be perfectly levelled until it is some years under cultivation. There is a very considerable difference between the Upper and Lower Provinces of Canada in respect to the first crop raised on new land. In the Upper Province they generally sow the new land with wheat in the fall, and it succeeds in favourable seasons extremely well ; almost all the wheat is sown there in the fall, which is certainly a great advantage, as it secures the cultivation of the only crop that requires very early sow- ing. There can be no doubt but Upper-Canada generally is much bet- ter adapted to growing wheat than Lower-Canada or the other British Provinces ; however I have seen very fine crops in Lower-Canada of spring sown wheat, and have raised, not on the very best wheat l&nd, 33 English bushels to the acre ; but I must say this produce is of rare occurrence. I shall give the average returns reported from several counties and townships of Upper-Canada, but I cannot answer for their accuracy. The climate i= "i an average, warmer and dryer than that of Lower-Canada, anc favourable to the production of wheat in perfection ; but the reade. not to infer from this, that Lower- Canada is not a good wheat country, though it may not be equal to Upper-Canada. I believe that oats are more productive in the Lower Province than the Upper. I have seen as fine crops of oats in the county of Montreal as could grow in any country. Barley, rye, and peas are produced in perfection in all the provinces. Indian corn succeeds well in Upper-Canada, though it may occasionally be injured by frosts before it is at maturity. Much of that province is south of 45 degrees latitude, the line that is said to be the northern boundary for suc- cessfully cultivailng that plant. Potatoes do not succeed so well in the Upper Province as in the Lower, nor are they so good for the table. The crop of hay is seldom so abundant in Upper as in Lower-Canada. There is no peculiar mode necessary to be observed in the cultivation of crops in one province, more than in anotlier except in sowing wheat in the fall, which seldom succeeds well in Lower-Canada. I think, howe- ver, it might be tried there on new land, if sen sufHciently early in the fall to take firm root before the winter. The snow is so likely to lo^ 20 '" < Hi ,11 main pn the ground in sheltered situations, that it might succeed in fti- vourable years. The covering of snow upon the wheat until the spring is fairly commenced, is the best protection for fall wheat ; but it has to incur another risk, the danger of rust, to which it is much more liable than spring wheat in Lower-Canada, though it does not appear to be so in the Upper Province. As I before observed, the settler in the Lower Pro- vince will do well to be cautious in making experiments unless he is pre- pared to meet the results, whether they turn out favourable or the contrary. It is not necessary for me here to state how the settler is to put in the seed in his new land when prepared. He will be very unfit for a farmer if he is not able to take example by those who he may find placed in similar situations, when he sees how they execute the work. The more efTcc- tually he can stir up the soil between the roots with the hoe or harrov/, the better chance he will have to reap a good crop of wheat, barley, oats or peas. One bushel to the acre on new land is sufficient. It is not good to sow over this quantity, except the land is very poor. The seed is in most cases harroved in, if not, it is hoed or raked in. The settler must, in planting potatoes, endeavor to cover them as well as the roots of trees will allow ; in sowing any other seed, there will not be much difficulty in finding sufficient mould or soil to cover it. If the land gets a good burn, all is likely to go on well, but frequently settlers are dis- appointed of obtaining a good bum the first year. In that case the set- tlet' must sow and plant between the logs and stumps in the best manner he can, but a full crop is not to be expected, unless of potatoes, and per- haps Indian corn and turnips. It may be proper to notice here that settlers are prone to form errone- ous ideas of the progress they are likely to make in the clearing and cul- tivating of new lands. They imagine they can go on year after year add- ing to the quantity of cleared land, and the extent under crop. This must, however, depend on the abundance of his funds for the employ- ment of labour, or command of labour in his own family. When a set* tier has not abundance of help or funds to employ labour, there must be a limit to the extent of his clearance and his crops, because one man is only able to cultivate to a certain extent, and when he has brought it to that extent, all his attiention will be required for the cultivation and crop- ping of a few acres of land, and he is not able to add much to his clear- ance. If the settler was strong and active to go on with clearing ne\'^ land, and seed down with grass af\er the first or second crop what he had cleared and cultivated, it would be the most speedy way to bring the land into a productive state, and the most certain to independence. The roots would be decaying in the land seeded down, and it would be producing hay or pasture, which would, perhaps, be as profitable as any other crop, imd he would be constantly adding to his clearance, and cropping the new land with grain and vegetables. In this way a man might in a few years, have a considerable farm cleared. I have seen some tables show- ing the progress of improvements on new settlements in Upper-Canada, and though they are wanting so far as that they do not show tne means of the settlers, yet they give some idea of what progress may be possible. By one table, 25 settlers, who appear to have been all married, and (o have betw«ea them Q7 children (but their ages are not given) in fiv« seed in dx- the spring it it has to liable than le so in the ower Pro- ) he is pre- e contrary. } put in the a farmer i£" d in similar more effec- ! or harrov/, barley, oats t. It is not The seed The settler as the roots lot be much he land gets sra are dis- ease the set- best manner oes, and per- form errone- ,ring and cul- fter year add- crop. This the employ- When a set* ere must be a e one man is 155 years had cleared 674 acres, or 23 acres for each family on an average. By anotner table, 21 settlers, 19 wives and 61 children, had in crop the second year 176 acres, being an average for each family of 8J acres. A third report was of 24 settlers, with 16 wives and 64 children,who, the second year, had 176 acres chopped, and 122 acres in crop, being an av- erage for each family of near 6 acres in crop, and 7J acres cut down. By a fourth report, 24 settlers had in two years 9}t acres chopped, 9 cleared, of which 8^ acres were in crop for each, on an average. In all these cases log houses had been put up by the settlers. These tables give a fair view of the progress of settlement in the forests, when the set- tler has not very suiRcient funds to expend on clearing land, but must rely chiefly on his own labour and exertions. There is another error that settlers are liable to in the estimate they make of a lot of wild land. I have seen estimates and calculations of tlie produce that might be expected from new land, from which a stranger would infer that any lot of land he would purchase in Upper-Canada, he might expect that every acre of it would produce, when merely cleared of the wood upon it, at the rate of 26 bushels of wheat to the acre, or more. There may certainly be many lots that are all capable of p. jducing wheat, but there are other lots that will be found of very mixed quality of soiU and requiring much draining before they can be profitably cultivated, and perhaps considerable portions that would not pay for cultivationt only fit for pasture, or to produce wood. I do not make this statement to dis- courage settlers, but to prevent them from entertaining erroneous expec- tations which could not be realized in any country on the globe. There are few farms in England at this day, though long it has been occupied, and cultivated better than any other country, that would not show some inferior land, requiring draining and improvement. How can it then be expected that farms are to be had in the forests of America that will have no inferior land, or require any expenditure but that of clearing off the wood,and sowing the seed 1 farms may be cultivated in this way certainly, but strangers may rest assured that the crops that will be pro- duced by such management will be far short of yielding the large returns attributed to them ; except small portions of land that are very favoura- bly situated. I oflfer these remarks in order that emigrants may expect to find British America in some degree like other countries; that though the soil in general is good, yet it will only produce crops in proportion to the skill and good management applied to their cultivation. Though the country has not much bogs, almost every part of it requires draining, and constructing proper drains through a forvtst lately cut down, is a work of some difRcuity. There is no doubt that much of the lands in Canada produce good crops of wheat with cultivation that would be considered in Britain very defective indeed ; but, nevertheless, I would by no means hold out this circumstance as encouragement to strangers that they could expect good crops in British America without adopting a judicious and regular system of improved husbandry. There is sufficient encourage- ment to the skilful and industrious farmer, in a permanent title to lands, and in the almost total absence of rents and taxes, to settle in British America, without its being necessary to offer the prospect of obtaining nbundant crops by the least possible expenditure of labour in their culti- 30* t 'V N 106 vntion. Any competent farmer who travels through the settled parts of British America, will see in every direction he goes, n preat necessity Ibr improvement in the system of agriculture, and the breeding and mnnugu- nient of liv«! stock. Whatever be the present produce from agricullurc, it might unquestionably be vastly increased by adopting a better system of management throughout. RETURNS WHICH MAY BE OBTAINED FUOM ACiniCULTURE IN DIFFEK- ENT SECTH»NS OF BRITISH AMERICA. I fear that undor this head I could not be able to offer very satisfactory general estimates, and probably were I to attempt it, those who would read them, should they at any future time find by their own practical ex- perience that they could not realize luy estimates, might accuse mo of having led them astmy. I shall, therefore, contine myself to ofl'ering a few remarks that may bufficiently show what the returns from a given quantity of land might be, managed judiciously, by an active and atten- tive farmer. I will suppose a farm of one hundred acres of good land, all arable, to be situated within a day's journey of Montreal or any other of the principal Cities of British Ameiica (say within 15 to 50 miles, or nut to exceed this) with suitable buildings for the occupancy of a farmer. That the land should be managed on a plan of convertable husbandry and regular rotation of crops, one-third in tillage, one-third in meadow, and one-third in pasture, taking up eleven acres of grass land for tillage, and seeding down for meadow eleven acres of what may be in tillage annually. Of the land in tillage, one-third should be under green crop, and all that was not, to be in summer fallow, and two-thirds under grain, of wheat, oats, barley, rye and peas, or either of them, that the soil will be most suitable for, seeding down with timothy and clover, i!even acres annually. On a farm of this size;, from 12 to 15 milch cows might be kept, and three horses would be sulficient to work it, if the soil was not very strong and heavy, but if it should be so, a yoke of oxen or per- haps more, should be kept in place of one of the horses. If the farm had a good soil, and was managed properly by observing a regular rotation of crops and manuring, it would maintain amply the stock I have named, and perhaps more, and allow of 33 acres being in tillage constantly. From this management the following returns might be obtained : 1 1 acres of wheat at 20 bushels the acre, or of barley at 30 bushels to the acre, of which one acre was to be allowed for seed and other waste, either crop might be of equal va- lue one at 5s. and the other at 3s.4d. the bushel, would be ,£50 11 acres of oats and peiis, oats 30 bushels the acre, and peas 20,the price of one 2s. and the other 3s. the bushel would be atler allowing for seed, &c. - - 30 11 acres of potatoes, carrots, turnips and Indian corn, pota- toes 200 bushels the acre, and either of the other crops would, if good, be of equal value with potatoes, at Is. the bushel after allowing for seed, &c. - - 100 B The actual value of produce from 33 acres in tillage would be^lSO But if a family and servants had to be maintained, there could not be more than two-thirds of the produce of wheat or barley sold; one-third 167 would be required for to furnish broad to a fiuniiy of eight or (en persons, including servants, if reiiuired to work tlic farm. The produce of oats or peas would also be necessary for the support of the horses^ for family use, and fur a help to feed swine. If any of the peas could be spared ihey might be sold, and make up for some other deficiency. The green crop should be applied to leeding cattle and hogs, if a convenient market could not be bad fur potatoes at one shilling the bushel. By judicious management in feeding stock, never giving the potatoes to them in u raw state, one shilling a busbel might he realized fur them. I refer the reader to my Agricult\iral Treatise for more particular direc- tions as to the best mode of feeding cattle with potatoes, &c. The hay raised on 33 acres of good meadow would support the regular stock on the farm, and afford sufiicient surplus fur feeding a few head of cattle, with the vegetables, or could bo sold. Should oxen be kept on the farm, they should be fattened and sold oif every year, and lean ones bought in. As many more cattle as there would be feeding for, might be purchased late m the fall and fattened on the produce of the green crops, ond buy if not disposed of to better profit. The disposable produce might than ^ pay high It may be or a stran- ;ill, and a e to going encounter, d manage- jred to let, lot get any 1 will be in se circum- l to recom- attainable itting them sted in the iod, but at [rreat, from fa of land, >rty into the Iperty so as it thc-e are from pur- Incy. The If he under- ofproduc- [urchase, as judicious, the term useful and good ma- that state, mditure on )vements in lis head, for 161 LAWS AS THEY ARE, THEIR mFLUENCB ON AORICULTORE, AND ON THE GENERAL PnosrEUITY OF BRITISH AMERICA. Under this head I come to discuss suly'ccts of considerable delicacy, and to which I feel I am not competent to do justice. I have underta- ken the task with a view to promote the interests of the country of which I am an inhabitant. I hope, therefore, I shall experience the indulgence of those who may find what I advance to be deficient in argument to jus- tify the changes I would wish to recommend, as well as of persons who may disapprove altogether of what I propose. I feel rather more confi- dence in commencing on this discussion, because the subject is in no way connected with politics, but one in which the great majority of tho people are deeply intcre::tod, whatever political party they are attach- ed to. I believe it is indisputable (hat in most countries bad laws have been suffered to remain unchanged and unrepealed, long after their pernicious- ness has been fully ascertained. This is to be attributed to various cauics. Tho self-interest of the few, tho supineness of the many, and the pretended veneration of all for the antiquat'^d laws and customs of their fathers, have in many instances prevented the abrogation of unequal and injurious laws, and hence they have !)cen suffered to remain in force to aggrandize the few, at the expense of the many. There is not, I be- lieve, a greater obstruction to improvement than the too frequent appeal, and the too supine resignation of our understanding to the laws and cus- toms of antiquity ; and it is much to be doubted if it is altogether from modesty that we have this resignation, or from any conviction that we feel that our ancestors were wiser than ourselves, but rather from an in- disposition to take the trouble to examine these 1; ws and customs, and what they were founded upon, and whether they can be suitable to the present state of things. Let it not be said of the people of Canada, that because certain laws and customs of our fathers liave been sanction- ed for ages,we have no reason to question their lawfulness, or enquire into their justice, but submit to and defend things as they are, because we found them so. If we would act thus we would subject ourselves to the impu- tation that we would be equally prepared to defend any other state of things, if we had found it in existence. I do not apprehend that it is by any means likely the i)eople of Canada will act thus at the present day. In the enlightened time of the world in which we happen to live, when such great changes have, and are being introduced in the laws and cus- toms of every /ree people, it is the duty of the people of IJritish America to examine into their laws and customs, in order to discover if any ot them are unequal in their bearings, or calculated to obstruct general im- provement and prosperity ; and if it should be clearly ascertained that any of them have this tendency, then iho people should unite with one voice in procuring their repeal or amendment to suit the present order of things. If the people will be generally and permanently determined to obtain what is right, and introduce the changes that are necessary, they will assuredly ultimately prevail. Many of the nations and people of Eu- rope, have lately discovered that laws hnd customs which might have been "'•■*'' ' '■-"** their progenitor- -•- ^ ^ '^'■escnt apr i :i ^**'*'ii H 162 I'i and indeed the people now begin to look with astonishment on some of these laws and customs, and only wonder how they could have submitted patiently to them so long. There have been many changes made in the laws of England within the last few years, with the almost unanimous consent of the legislature and the people, that twenty or thirty years back would scarcely have met with any support in purliament,or in the country. Down to the revolution in 1790, the French people did not possess much of either civil, political or religious liberty. A large proportion of the people were in a state of vassalage to the nobles, and one of the first uses they made of their political liberty was to sweep away every vestige of feudal laws and privileges. In Prussia, in 1810, by a royal edict, the condition of the vassals or peasantry was totally changed. By giving up a portion of the land they held from the proprietors, they become free proprietors of the remainder, instead of being vassals or tenants, as they were previously ; and I have seen it stated by good authority, that the agriculture of the country has been most astonishingly improved in ton- sequetice of this change. The circumstances of the nobles and great proprietors are also greatly improved, though they complained very loud- ly when the royal edict was first published. To encourage the improvement and prosperity of agriculture, it is most essentially necessary that the whole of the profits arising from the appli- cation of capital, labour and industry, to the improvement of the country, should be insured to the persons who apply it, without being subject, in reality or prospect, to any drawback, in consequence of thiss very im- provement, which they could not be subjected to if ll.o improvement had not been made, it must ever check improvement, if the laws are such as to admit a party under any circumaiances to come forward and claim n portion of the capital of others, expended in improvements^ that has not in any way contributed to the production of that capital or improvements, directly or indirectly. The bare possibility that such a claim could be made and sustained must be a very great bar to improvement in any country. In a new country, when a lot of ground is purchased for im- provement in town or country, it is most essentially necessary that a sure and permanent title should be obtained for a fixed and unalterable consi- deration, whatever it may be, that cannot be increased or diminitihed by any circumstances that may subsequently occur. Unless labour and ca- pital can be securely applied, and freely circulated for the sole benefit of those who apply it, the country will not improve and prosper as it might do, under more favourable circumstances. I would most earnestly urge the inhabitants of these fine provinces to look at, and examine thorough- ly, thin^j as they are, and if they find that any changes could be intro- duced that would be likely to promote the interest and happiness of the greatest numbertto endeavor fearlessly, but by all fair means,, to procure their introduction. It is no part of my design to suggest any interference with unquestion- able right of property, where this right can be clearly established, without giving an equivalent. But if private rights, and exclusive privileges (which seldom can be right,) should be found to obstruct general im- provement, and prevent the expenditure and free circulation of capital and property, the government, legislature and people, Mill doubtless est [1 some of submitted ade in the inaoimous ^eai's back le country. sess much tion of the of the first sry vestige il edict, the y giving up ecome free nts, as they ity, that the »ved in ton- s and great d very loud- ire, it is most )m the appU- Ihe country, g subject, ill thi'i very im- rovement had aws are such ird and claim i^ tbat has not nprovements, lim could be !inerit in any ;hased for im- iry that a sure tcrable consi- diminished by abour and ca- lole benefit of sras it might earnestly urge line thorough- ;ould be intro- )piness of the ins, to procure ith unquestion- lished, without sive privileges ict general im- tion of capital doubtless s«» 163 the expediency and advantage of purchasing these rights, by giving an equivalent, and making such arrangement as will be just towards all par- ties. I may fail in convincing tho reader that there is any necessity for change in any of the laws or customs of British America. If I do, it will be so much the better for the country, and my observations will not pro- duce any evil. To me it has ever appeared that laws, to be perfect, must be equal in all their possible bearings, and that no law or custom, however long es- tablished by usage, can be good, that will allow tho property of one man to be subject to contribution or tax of any species, while by the same law or custom, another man's property is not .>u'ciect to the same contri- bution or tax. The tithe law in Ireland operaicu exactly as I have des- cribed, and was one of the greatest general objections to it. The best land in the country kept for feeding cattle, gentlemen's domains, and pleasure grounds, were exempt from tithes, while the industrious tillage farmers and occupiers of small holdings, had to bear almost the whole burden of the tithes. Hence tithes were a tax in Ireland on industry and improvement. The operation of the Feudal laws in Lower-Canada, appear to me to have the very same tendency, that they are unequal, a tax on industry, improvement, and on the circulation of capital and property. To prove them unequal in their operation, I will suppose that three persons pur- chase from a seignior, three wild lots of land, or three waste lots in a town or village, at the usual rent that wild unproductive seignioral lands are sold for. On these lands the seignior has probably never expended one shilling, directly or indirectly. One of the tenants, or censilaires, pays the rent of a few pence per acre annually, and makes no improve- ment of consequence. He does not sell, and this unimproved property remains in the same family for many generations, never paying lods et uera o. properly lU order to grt their portionfl. Thus ijie i^eudal laws tax those who are least able to pay taxes, and by the same laws, the rich and more fortiirafo are not obliged to pay any tax, and the unim- nroving tonant hr-j the same exemption ; indeed it is only for the latter description of persons that such a law would be suitable. To any person acquainted with liowci -Canada, cases similar to that I hare supposed, will be known to have occurcd iVcqucutly, and I must confess that I soo very great object! n to the laws or customs that would sanction such cases. The th'-ec lots were equally unproductive, and capable of equal improvement wi ei, the seignior conceded them, yet in the course of time, fifty or one hu : rC':' years, one lot, or rather the labour or capital expend- ed on one lot, puys the seignior one hundred, one thousand, or twenty thousand pounds as lods el ventes, while ^he other two lots do not pay one penny. This is not an exaggerated picture of the possible operation of the Feuda'. laws. Say, a French Author, in his Political Economy, a work of great mer- it, gives a very good article on the transfer of properly ; it is the follow- ing; — "Taxes upon transfer.besides the mischief of pressing upon capital, are a clog to circulation of property. But has the public any interest in its free circulation ] So long as the object is in existence, is it not as w^cll placed in one hand as in another ? Certainly not. 'J'he public has an intoros*. in the utmost possible freedom of its circulation ; because by that means it is most likely to get into the hands of those that can make the .T' 1 of it. Why does one man sell his land, but because he think- he can lay out the value to more advantage in some channel of produclive industry ? And why docs another buy it, but because he wishes to invest a capital that is laying idle or less proJi.ctively vested, or because he thinks it capable of improvement 1 The transfer tends to augment the national income of the two contracting parties. If they be deterred by the expenses of the transfer,those txpensetj will have prevent- ed this probable increase of the national income " It will be objected that seigniorial property is as much the properly of the seignior, and that he should enjoy every right 'hat belongs to it, in as full and ample a manner as the owner of any other description of proper- ty. I will not dispute this question here, bf cause I am not peifectly ac- quainted with the conditions on which these grants were originally made to the seigniors ; but I understand that they were not entitled to charge their tenants or censUaires, more than one quart of wheat and one halfpenny per arpent annual rent, and I have also been assured, that the seigniors were not entitled to demand lods ei icntes^on the sale of property, for capital expended in improvements, but only on the value of the land, and that the contrary practice has only been lately introduced by the ar- bitrary construction of the law by the Canadian Bench. I would be very much inclined to suppose, that so far as regarded the rent that was to be charged, my information was perfectly correct, for this reason, that it ap- pears that all the lands in the Province, however more valuable one situa- tion might be above another, were uniformly let at a low rent, until very lately, that it has been generally raised to more than three fold that anu)unt. It is surely no trifling defect in this law, if there be any unccr- kiinty in its provisions. eudal laws laws, the the unim- ■ the latter any person supposed, I that I see iction such ble of eqiml rse of time, iittlcrpcnd- or twenty lo not pay te operation f great mcr- 3 the foUow- ipon capital, y interest in is it not as le public has ; because by at can make because he [0 channel of because he lively vested, isfer tends to , If they be lave prevent- e property of gs to it, in as uu of proper- peifectly ac- re orij^inally it entitled to leat and one ired, that the e of property, 3 of the land, ed by the ar- vould be very lat was to be in, that it ap- )le one sitni- )W rent, until hrec fold that e any unccr- M i-opr>eiors of estates ir Lngland derive their titles in many instanceii from direct grants by the crown, but more frequently I believe at this moment, from purchase. Landlords in England are generally at the ex- pense of all necessary permanent improvements, such as bouses, out- ofrices,and often hedging and draining, and the tenant has only to stock the land, and cultivate it. In such a case as this, the landlord is entitled to a reasonable rent for his land, which very rarely amounts to near the interest of the capital invested in the purchase of property, and expendi- ture in improvements. Hence the tenant only pays the value of the land in a state of preparation for actual production. These remarks do not apply to many of the Irish landlords, unless a great change for the better has taken place lately. In any of the cities or towns of the British Isles it was very rarely that houses were erected except on leases in perpetuity, where the rent was fixed, and could never be increased or diminished, were the property to change owners a thousand times, or the value of it increase an hundred fold. In America capital is fully of twice as much value as in England, computing the difference of sterling and currency. Consequently those who possess it, and expend it either in money or labour, are entitled to proportionate returns ; and it is no wonder they should be unwilling to al- low another party to advance a claim to part of it, that did not contribute in any way to its production. If the seigniors of Canada would only clear and prepare their lands in the same way, and make them ready for occupation, a tenant might be able to give a fair rent, but the seignior will find it will not be equal to the interest of the money expended by him in clearing, cultivating, and building on each farm. If then the seignior cannot obtain a rent equal to the interest of the expenditure in- curred in preparing a farm for the occupancy of a tenant, it would, I think, be a great hardship on the tenant who would execute all this work at his own expense, if by misfortune or any other cause, his farm and im provements should be brought to sale, that the seignior should have his claim on a part of the purcha^ie money, that never belonged to him and was actually and bona lidffi the labour and capital of another expended on waste land that was subject to a rent the full value of the land when he took it in a wilderness state. Is the rent of six pence the arpent, which is now charged for seigniorial wild land, fully equal to the price of the day, of land sold by the government, and granted in free and common soccage ? I believe that it is considerably over what the wild lands may be had for in good situations and that will be forever free oHods et rentes; six pence the arpent rent amount'- to five per cent interest for ten shillings an arpent purchase money, and the wild lands of the crown are usually sold at auction for less than half this, and I doubt very much if the waste seigniorial hinds could now be sold, if free from lods et ventes, for ten Khiliings the arpent on an average. There is another important question. At the time the land that is now most valuable, was lirst conceded, was it worth more than the rent char- ged for it, then in its wild state ? I believe that up to a very late period, the land was not worth more. It was only during the last war that the rent of lands was raised so much above their value in the British Isles. I know lands of middling quality in Ireland, that about the year 1760 had 166 !< I . pnt, owioi; it w;is said to the want of roads, added i.» iije chai'ge ibr cultivuiion winch absorbed nearly the whole amount !he proJuce woT;ld st '. for. How Vtry similar to the i.'ircunistancos of some lanO.' in Tanod;;, so that heretofore a ^tjl of the %\ild lands, with the condition of settleaiciii and cidtivation, could not be consiu'^red a very valuaMe boon. Indeed I consider the rent, except in favourable situation?, fully pufficieht at this day. li'then the wild seigniorial \r>vns were let for their full value at the time in proportion to the price that other lands could be had for in };crpe- tuity, what has added to their value but thti labour of the cc/i»i7ai,tc' ? 1 admit that the altered circumstances of the country as regards the in- crcAie of populotion, and the growth ofciti'is aiid villages, hj.^ increased the vuliie of the lands in many situations ; but this was i.n advantage Jhat the coisiioii'e was entitled to expect, and was not produced by the seignior. Ho would fu)i have fuken the land unless he got it in perpetuity. I will maintaia that at this day the seignior cannot clear and prepare a farm from tht; 1 >'f-'!it, erect the buildmgs necessary for the occupation of a farmer, and put it in the state of improvement that cleat ed farms are ge- nerally in, and be able to sell it for an amount equal to the expeilditure, though it should be free from all rent and tods d ventes. At the period of the first settlement of Canada the feudal laws were in full force ili France. It was quite reasonable that they should be in- troduced into Canada, and perhaps it was the best mode that could have been adopted for the settlement of a new country then, when as Mr. Bouchelt says, "the countenance, aid, and protection of the Seignior" might have been a very great benefit to the CensUaires^ from the unset- led state of the country. The obligation of erecting mills for grinding the corn of the tenants, might also have been a great convenience. From the altered circumstances of the country at the present, "the coun- tenatice, aid, and protection" of the Seignior, is not so much required, when there is a local Legislature to take care of the people's rights ; and as to the convenience of mills, if the seigniors would only forego the privilege of Erecting millt., and leave it open to public competition, the eensitaires would not experience any inconvenience in consequence. The mills, I believe, have paid their owners amply, and if not, they can be always sold for a valuable consideration, or retained without any exclu- sive privileges, which must have an injurious tendency, in every country. I feel bound in justice to remark here, that though we may owe the introduction and establishment of the Feudal laWs in Canada to the French people, yet any of the present seigniors who are of English des- sent are fijlly as well disposed to take advantage of every privilege which the Feudal laws allow them, and to exact the last farthing odods et ventes at ever}' opportunity, as the seigniors of French descent. I believe it was the seigniors of Fnglish descent who firsi raised the seigniorial rents and made them more burdensome on the people thnn they were previous- last ten pent and it for one :h lower. 5 district fitinc the laj'ge i'oc VOT.ld St'', Tanoda, ettlen.tiil Indeed I itA at this ilue at Ihc in };cr[ie- 'airc 1 1 rds the in- hiercased ntage ihat e seignior. ty. I will re a farm tation of a ms are ge- tperiditure, laws were kuld be in- :ould have ?n as Mr. Seignior " the unset- )r grinding nvenience. "the coun- required, •ights ; and forego the itition, the ence. The Ley can be I any exclu- ry country, owe the jada to the iglish des- lege which 1$ et ventes believe it liorial rents e previous- 167 ly. At present, however, they do exact ns high, if not tlie iiighest rentj that are paid in liower Canada. , Far be it from me to question the right of the seignior to his landsr' but I object to tho claim that is made to a share of the tenant'.s labour, improvements, and capital, beyond the fi.ved rent. If the lands are sold at a money and produce ront, when in a wild state, equal in amount lu what other lands of the same description are sold for, subject to no after claims, I cannot see the equity of levying contributions at every sub- sequent time lands may exchange owners. 1 have already endeavoured to show the unequal bearing of the Feudal law, as one property may not be subject to pay loda el ventea for a century or more, while another may in that period pay it twenty or fifty times ; and though this is only a possible case, it would appear that the law which would sanction it would require amendment. It may be objected that seigniorial lands conceded up to this time, were sold to the censitaires, subject to lods et ventes ; that the sale was fair, and the purchase voluntary, and therefore no change should be made to favour one party to this contract more than the other. I admit this, that any law which would deprive the seig- nior of any part of his equitable rights, without an equivalent, would be unjust, but the matter to be ascertained is, how far the seignior's rights extend, whether he has a claim for a twelfth part of the amount that a property sells for at evei'y sale that may be made of it. If he has this right, I must say it is one that never would have been granted, if its unequal , if not injurious future operation could have been contemplat- ed when the grant was made. But it is by no means clear that lods el ventes can be strictly considered as the property of the seignior, be- cause he can exercise no actual controul over it ; it is produced at tho discretion of another person. A man who takes a lot of seigniorial land, i.s obliged to perform the settlement duties upon it, but no more. He cannot be compelled by the seignior to expend labour or capital* that would produce /o(29 e< ventes, or if he does expend capital the seignior cannot oblige him to dispose of his improvements and pay him Iqds et ventes. The censitoiVe cannot be deprived of his land though he should never improve it, or pay lods et ventes. Hence it would appear that the seignior cannot have any actual right of property in the lods et vente» that is at the absolute discretion of another to produce it or not. The present laws of the country allow the claim, but this does not constitute it property, nor cannot, because it is actually the 'property of another. I view the law now, however, like all other laws of our ancestors, subject to be revised, and corrected, always securing the rights of individuals. I cannot discover any partlculat delicacy manifested by public men in Europe at the present day, in ab- rogating old laws and introducing new, and even in Canada, the Constitutional Act, which I believe was in 1792 received by the people in the most favourable manner, there are many who now desire to alter several of its provisions, and some provisions that affect the rights of property. I allude to the Clergy reserves. On reference to the 38th and 39th sections, it will be seen that by the reading of that act, whatever may be said to have been the intention, the reserved lands were set apart for the support of a Protestant clergy ,who were to be ministers of the Church «<■% 108 'ifi if; of England duly ordained according to the rights of that churcli. It ia not necessary now to discuss the justice or propriety of making a provi- sion f ''c clergy of one church only; as the clergy reserves are no lon^ ! d sacred for their exckisive use and benefit, and though a sin- car y; ached member of that church, I rejoice that it has been so deci- ded,L,e ^use I am confident that otherwise it would inevitably have caused much dissatisfaction and ill feeling; and no wonder. However, it will be ad- mitted that the British Parliameiit had the power when they passed the Con- stitutional Act, to legislate for Canada, as a part of the British Empire, before she possessed a local Parliament to make laws for her, and theie- fore the clergy reserves were as firmly made over for the support of the English Churi/n as an act of the Imperial Parliament could make them. But as it has been discovered, subsequently to the passing of this act, that its provisions would be unequal,rnd consequently unjust in its opera- tion towards other portions of the community, the claims of the English Church should not stand for a moment to prevent a more equitable ar- rangement, and one that would give more general satisfaction; nnd I be- lieve the members of the English Church most cheerfully acquiesce in the decision of the British Government that these lands should be given up for more general public purposes. I make these remarks in order to show that many laws that might have been looked upon some years back as harmless, and were not com- plained of by the people, are now considered as most unjust and perni- cious in their tendency, and their repeal loudly and almost unanimously called for. We are not bound to continue the laws of our ancestors, more than we could expect to bind our posterity to retain our laws. The Feudal laws were found unsuitable to England, centuries back. The English laws were altered to suit the circumstances of the United States, and the Americans are highly commended for the altrrations made • but among these alterations they did not see the expediency of introducing the Feudal laws of their ancestors, and yet the Americans have succeed- ed to admiration, without the countenance, aid, or protection of seig- niors, or the granting of exclusive mill priviFeges. France abolished Feudal laws, and gave only a very moderate compensation to the seig- niors for real rights, which were determined by valuation. I have heard it stated,that any change of tenuie,or in the Feudal laws, would alter the rule of descent by inheritance, and change the whole body of the laws applicable to real property, and be felt as a strange and injurious novelty by the censilaires. This objection cannot be entertained for a moment. The same authority that would be competent to introduce a change in the Feudal laws, would certainly be equally competent to secure and make permanent that part of the existing laws, that would be agreeable to the habits and wi.dies of the censitatres, as regarded descent by inheritance, and the laws applicable to real property. It is no part of my design in publishing this work, to undermine, or endeavour to abrogate, any laws that are acceptable to the miijority of the people which I know the laws of inheritance to be ; but I am equally certain, that a vast majority of the people are anxious for a change ir «'- . i^oiirlnl laws, as regards lods et ventcs, m\d exclusive privilf "■•.-' young loda et 169 It is piovi- aro no a sin- I deci- caiised be nd- c Con- 'mpire, 1 theie- of the ihem. this act, I opera- Knglish able ar- nd I be- ce in the given up le He whole a strange annot be competent equally ting laws, tatres, as property. rminc, or Bority of the xn equally change ir The principal cause that a change has not been demanded long since, with a unanimity that would be irresistible, is, that when a man takes a lot of wild land, he never contemplates such a possibility as that of the farm changing owners. He would not encounter the labour and difficulty inseparable from clearing and cultivating the forest, if he did not expect to enjoy the produce, and leave the inheritance to his children. So it is in most cases, when a man purchases a farm ; the loda et ventes are paid at the expense of the person who sells, and cannot be demanded on the new purchase until a sale is again made. Hence the tax is only viewed in prospective. Every man expects that he will not have to pay it, and he leaves it to those who may have it to pay, to consider of its equity. I know several properties that in ten years have gone through three sales, and some in live years have been three times sold, and in each instance extensive improvements were made. I know other country properties that if now sold the /od9efren/e« would be nearly equal to a third of what the properties sold for ten years back, and this increased value produced entirely by the improvements of the purchaser. I have ever looked upon lods et ven/e«, to have the same injurious operation upon industry and improvement as that of Irish Tithes ; the most indus- trious and improving occupiers in town or country have most to pay out of the produce to a party who gives no equivalent, nor contributes in any way towards the production in labour or capital. It may be said to be the law, but if it is the law, there is a legislature to amend it, and make its provisions more equitable, and more suitable to die altered circumstances of the country, and the times in which we live; and I would ask, in what free country is such a law suffered to exist now ? Suppose that for the waste seigniorial lands not yet conceded, lods et vente3 were to be abolished, would not the seignior have the full ad- vantage of selling his land in a fair open market, free from all after charge,and of course would be entitled to receive the value in proportion ? All the advantages of the Feudal system, as regards selling the lands at a fixed moderate rent, equal to the interest of the fee simple of the land at the price of the day, may still be retained by those who wish to for- ward the interest of the settlers, and allow them to retain the capital they may be possessed of to improve their land ; and I look upon it, as being as much in favour of the seignior to receive an annual rent so well secur- ed to him on property in land, as it will be convenient to the cetmtairea that it should be paid in this way. I do not object to the Feudal laws for any good that may be found to be in them, but onl^ to that part that may be proved to be injurious, unequal, or that would justify any thing like vaaaalage, a term that is hateful, and cannot exist in any state that is really free. I have known a case where a Canadian farmer who had all his land in cultivation, had a good stone house and other suitable build- ings, unfortunately got in debt, and was obliged to dispose of his farm. The price he sold it for made the lods et ventes near <£40 ; of course he got .£40 less for his farm, than he would have done, had it been free from lods et vmtes. It required every shilling of the proceeds to pay his debts, and he had to commence anew on wood land, with a large young family. Had he been able to get this i£40 that was stopped for the lods et ventes^ he might have established himself with some degree of 22 ,1 < 170 ? h- comfort and prospect of success ; but the difficulty to be encountered in settling in the forcnt without a reasonable capital, I would much rnther imagine, than understand by practical experience. On the farm above alluded to, it was the labour and capital of the cenaitaire that constituted its alnost entire value. Indeed I am convinced that the whole of the price it was sold for, including the lods el veules, would not fully reimburiie the labour and capital expended ; consequently it must be from this labour and capital that the lods el rentes were paid, nnd no other. I may have failed to convince the reader that the Feudal laws require amendment, but I hope that what I have said will excite inquiry by those who are bettor qualified than I [jretend to be, to understand the true na- ture and tendency of these laws, wliich must have a very powerful influ- ence on the future prosperity of Canada, as the sei«,'nioria! lauds occupy each bank of the St. Lawrence, and are the site of our principal cities and towns, where the properties must necessarily often change owners ; and it must be exceedingly injurious to check the free circulation of pro- perty by levying any species of tax on its transfer. It is not for me to eug- gest the equivalent, in kind or quantit'% :!.at the seigniors ought to receive. The first question is, to determine their rightSf what they are, nnd then I do not see that the Legislature should have any difficulty in fixing the equivalent. An increased rent, determined on equitable principles, I cannot think there could be any great objection to, nor would this mode of arrangement injure the right of any party, if a better cannot be devised. This would be a remedy similar in its eflccts to the commutation of tithes in Ireland, that assessed them on the lands according to their value, in- stead of the crops, and thus obliging all who held lands to contribute to- wards thr tithes, which under the former law they were not obliged to do. It is because lods el ventes are generally paid by those least able to pay them, that they are they more liable to objection ; and as I have already endeavoured to show that the most industrious and improving censilaires who by death Jose, or other unfortunate occurrences may have their pro- perties and improvements sold, bear the burden of lods el venhs, while the rich and fortunate who do not sell their properties, and the unimpro- ving occupiers, are almost free. The British Government is entitled to receive from the seigniors the same Feudal dues, which were payable to the 'French King. I cannot say what these are in all cases. The quint is a payment due to the king on the sale or transfer of a seigniory, of the fi h part of the whoJe pur- chase money, which if immediately paid, it was reduced two -thirds of the quint Perhaps there may be about six thousand pounds of these quints, now due to the king. By the intructions to Lord Dorchester in 1775, in case any new seigniories were to be granted, a quit rent of one halfpenny per acre was to be payable to the king, " af\er the expiration of ten years from the admission of the respective tenants." I believe the same amount was payable for the seigniories granted by the French King. I do not know if all these dues be collected. As the Government have a share in the Feudal dues, I would suppose it ou;;ht greatly to facilitate their equitable and judicious arrangement. It will be in the power of Government to set the example of remitting lods et ve»/e? where it becomes due to them, on equitable terms, and by 171 a judicious arrangement with the bci^niors in respect to the quinlt, and quit-rcIlt:^, tho worst featurcsi of the i < idnl Inws might be finally got rid oliand abolished forever. The rdniisaion of dues that may bo mado on the part of the Government, will not ultimately prove n sacrifice, provided it is made the instrument of a commutation of those Feudal burdens that arc calculated to obstruct tho free circulation of property in town and country, and consequently the advancement of improvement. In concluding this subject, I again repeat, that I do not propose any measure that would deprive the seigniors of their just rights, but only a conversion of these rights, that they may bear equally on all seignioral property, proportioned to its value, (but not the capital expended upon it,) by a fixed rate being established, that all property improved or not, sold or unsold, should atlter once being conceded, be equally subject to an equivalent for loda et ventes, and all other exclusive privileges, but refnin- ing such other provisions of tho Feudal laws as may be agreeable to ihe people, and securing the •* rule of descent by inheritance, and the whole body of the law applicable to real property," which the censilaires are ac- quainted with, and attached to. I hope that the remarks that I have thought it my duty to make on this delicate subject will not excite hostile feelings towards me. If the people and their representatives are convin- ced that the changes I have suggested are not required, and are perfectly satisfied with things aa they are, my observations will du no harm, anil as one of those interested I shall submit without murmur to matters I cannot remedy; and if I had not long since determined to take my chance with the people settled here before me, that their laws should be my laws, I would have fixed my domicile in some other part of this vast continent. Perhaps before parting with this subject it would be interesting to show that the House of Assembly have manifested a disposition to introduce a commutation of /orfs et venles. It appears that on the 14th January, 1834, a petition was presented from the inhabitants of St. Roch Suburbs of the City of Quebec, who are the censilaires within the limits of His Majesty's Domain. The petitioners stated that from poverty they were unable to pay the accumulated arrears oHoda cl venlea and other dues then due to His Majesty, and praying the House for relief. According to a state inent sent to the House by the then Governor, Lord Aylmer, on the 31st January, the amount of tods el ventes thtn due was about ,£9554 12 3J. The Committee to whom the petition was referred, made a report to the House, of which the following is the substance: — " That by the evidence it appears that the mass of the inhabitants of the suburbs are poor, that their property is but of little value, and that the loda et ventes lue to the Domain have accumulated since the 24th of May, 1803, to the 1st of De- cember, 1831, to so considerable an amount, that the censilaires cannot pay them without being utterly ruined ; that these loda etvenka have ac- cumulated on their properties at the period when the general impression in the suburbs, though erroneous, was, that His Majesty would not exact them : This opinion would seem to have arisen from the remittance made to the censilaires of the Domain in 1801, by virtue of an act passed by the Provincial Legislature, and the neglect of the King's officers to sue for the recovery thereof from time to time as said loda et ventea be- , came due, and that with the consent of the Domain." ., ., , * i ^ ■. 22* *l '% V , 172 i.i i " Wherefore your Committee respectfully submit vr 'h. [r opnion, that it would he just and proper to limit the payment of the .'..'>; "i ren/e»duo to His Majesty's Domam by the cenaitairea of the Suburbs of the City of Quebec, to the last ten years, whether the aenailairea be personnlly res- ponsible or by mortgage." A Bill was brought in and passed the Assembly and Legislative Conn- cil| for the relief of the cenaitairea from all loda et venff«, except those that were personally due. The bill was however reserved for His Ma- jesty's sanction. From these proceedings it would appear that the Legislature have not considered loda et ventea as a species of property that is inviolable, or that may not be commuted or remitted, without giving any equivalent. And though it was the King's Seigniory on which the loda et ventea wore due in the particular case I have introduced, yet if there is a right of property in loda et ventea, any one who is actually seignior must enjoy this right, whether it be the King or his subjecto. The sooner a final arrangement is made respecting loda et ventea, and an equitable commutation of them effected, the better it will be for all parties. Though it might perhaps bo put off for a short time, it will ine- vitably have to be conceded to the people before many years are ex- pired. It is a question in which ninety-nine hundredths of the people arc deeply interested, whatever be their politics. North America is a soil on which Feudal laws and hereditary privileges cannot be expected to thrire, at this advanced period of the nineteenth century. The laws that are agreeable to the people may be secured to them, but I must state, that I have never met with a Canadian farmer (it is only them I will allude to) who in giving an opinion on the subject of loda et ventea, did not unequi- vocally express his disapprobation of this demand on every sale of pro- perty. The Canadian farmers are not a people inclined to encroach upon the rights of others, even though their own interest might be in question ; indeed I believe there is not a better disposed people on the face of the earth. There is not, therefore, much probability that they would require of the seigniors to remit any part of their just rights, without giving an equivalent. They would cheerfully submit to an equitable commuta- tion, that would bear equally on all lands conceded, whether improved or not, sold or unsold. This is not a political question. If the Feudal claims are commuted the vast majority of the community will participate in the benefit it will unquestionably produce. It will encourage the im- provement of the country, the free circulation of capital and property, and hence must be productive of unmixed good to the people of Canada. The Laws in force with respect to property in the seignories of Lower Canada, are to most persons from the British Isles, very objec- tionable. But as the operation of those laws may be in some degree guarded against, by those who wish to do so, I do not seo that any just grounds of objection can be advanced against them. If the majority of the people should at any future time discover that it would be expedi- ent to make any change, it will of course be their privilege to do so ; but certainly these laws are not felt so injurious in their operation by emigrants from the British Isles, that they could reasonably call for their alteration or removal in the seigniories, contrary to the wish of the lion, that tntea duo e City of mlly rea- ve Coun- ent those His Ma- have not le, or that int. And were due f property this right, ! tntea, and I be for all it will inc- irfl are ex- people arc is a soil txpected to 3 laws that t state, that II allude to) abt unequi- ssde of pro- Toach upon 1 question ; face of the mid require it giving an s commuta- improved or the Feudal participate tige the im- roperty, and Canada, iignories of veryobjec- )me degree ee that any the majorily be expedi- I to do so ; jperation by lably call for wish of the 178 Canadian people of French descent. The following arc the laws alluded to. Property, according to the laws of Canada, is cither propre, that in held by descent, or acquits, which expresses being acquired by industry or other means. Communnute dea biena ia pnitnership in property by marriage ; for the wife, by this Inw, becomes an equal partner in what- ever the husband possessed before and acouires after marriage, and the husband is placed in the same position m respect to his wife's dowry property. When the wife dies before the husband, the children may claim half of the father's property as heirs to the mother,and the mother's relations'of\en persuade them so to do. The dot, or dowry, is the property which the wife puts into the cotnmunauti de bien moveable or immoveable property, falling to her by descent, is propre, and docs not merge in the communautS. Dower,in Canada, is either customary or stipulated. The first consists of half the property which the husband was possessed of at the time of marriage, and haff of all the property which he may inherit, or acquire; of this the wife has the use for life, and the children may claim it at her death. If they be not of age, the wife's relations can tako it out of the father's hands for them, and may compel him to sell his property to make a division. Stipulated dower is a portion which the husband gives instead of the customary dower, and is fixed by mart iage contract. These laws are not certamly altogether free from objection, particularly that part which allows children or heirs to force the sale of property, to the great injury perhaps of all parties interested. There is however, a possibility of guarding against some provisions of theue laws by marriage settlements, or contracts, that will be in the power of every man who marries, and if he neglects to do so his family must be subject to the consequences. By executing wills or testaments, persons have it also in their power to dispose of their property and effects, so that those who object to the laws, may in a great measure be able to prevent the operation of those parts they disaprove of so far as the disposal of their own property is in question. There is a law or custom established by long usage in Lower Canada, which I think is injurious to agriculturists. In every part of the country there are public roads constructed between the several concessions which make it necessary to have an additional line of fence to enclose such road. As it was considered to be unjust to oblige the proprietors of the lands through which the roads are conducted to make and keep in repair this double fence, the farmers of the next concession who use the road are obliged to make and maintain one half of these fences. There is no doubt but this arrangement was perfectly just in itself. The objec- tion to it is, the waste of time and labour that is incurred in coming to perform the work, and in returning perhaps several miles, when a man residing on the spot might do the work for one a&venth of the expenditure of labour and time that is now consumed. Works that are executed by a requisition of labour as these fences are, can be looked upon in no other light than a mischievous kind of taxation on farmers, at the most hurried time of spring, interrupting their agricultural pursuits,and wasting ^ i 1, ,ii' 1 ^1 Hi' ■ !•: , ' ' ' II J 1 ■ ^ 1 ]i i ■ 11 . ) Il ' r,- ! ; ; f ' '''^ ii'. || 1 ■ ' f;^ , 1 III j \ 1 ' ' ! ' li^' 1 1 lilii i f 1 \ 174 their most valuable hours in going and returning several miles to do work that might not occupy one hour. Indeed it is an unproductive consumption oflabour that must be a dead loss to the public. A farmer may have to go to work in two or three opposite directions onjhcse road fences. In the settlement in which I reside, farmers have to make and keep in repaii fences of three several roada, beside the road that passes through their lands, both fences of which they are obliged to keep up. These fences not being in charge of the proprietors on whose lands they are constructed, are subject to be stolen, and get out of repair. In consequence, a trespass may be commiled on the crops, and a farmer who may reside seven miles ofi", through whose fence the trespass has been committed, will be subject to pay the damage. I have experienced the inconvenience of having these fences to maintain, and also, of the injury and annoyance of holding land that had road fences of this descrip- tion to be kept up by farmeis who reside at a considerable distance from the spot. I found it almost impossible at any one time, to have all the fences made up properly ; perhaps one half was well made ; a few more farmers had made their parts very insufficiently, and the remainder had been left without any repair. I know that in most instances the farmer that owned the land where fences have to be made up by this means, had much better make the whole at his own cost, than lose time in calling upon others to come and do the work, and after all never have his lands perfectly enclosed. There could be no difficulty of commuting this obligation by a law of the Legislature, that all farmers subject to keep such fences in repair should pay a reasonable consideration together, or annually, to the proprietors on whose lands the fences were situated, to be relieved from the obligation of doing the work. These proprietors would then be interested in taking care of the fences, keeping them in good order, and could do so at about a seventh of the expense that is now incurred, and the fences are seldom in good order. An unnecessary waste oflabour in such a country as Canada, must be an injury to the whole community, and works such as I have described, that are done by a requisition of labour under the circumstances I have stated, will always cause a great waste of time and labour, and from the work being insufficiently execu- ted, will subject property to waste by trespass of cattle. It was suppos- ed that the repairs of the roads in France by the corvee system invoked a sacrifice to the nation of 40,000,000 livres annually, and the roads were not kept in good order after all. The waste of time and labour incurred in every way, by maintaining these road fences throughout Canada is more than most persons would imagine, and of the most valuable time of the year, the spring. The cross roads have also to be kept in repair by the farmers who are obliged to make the fences, but though there is a waste of time in doing this work, yet the obligation is by no means so liable to objection as that of keeping up the fences, ntid therefore I ofler none. By making these roads with suitable malcriul.-, they will not require to be often repaired ; the materials are not perii^hul/l' , nor can they be stolen, nor is there any danger of trespass on property by some parts being out of repair, as in the case of the fences. In every country it is most necessary to guard as much as possible against wasto } to do ducUve farmer se road ke and passes ?ep up. ids they air. 1» 1 farmer pass has erienced ), of the descrip- ice from all the few more inder had le farmer s means, se time in 3ver have y a law of in repair ly, to the eved from id then be order, and Lined, and f labour in ommunity, luibition of ise a great itly execu- as suppos- B invoked the roads and labour throughout )f the ir.ost also to be fences, but )bligation is Hcnces, and materials, perislmb'' > property by In every ^ainst wasto 175 of labour and time, and though the laws cannot provide a remedy against this waste in all cases, no laws should by any of their enactments demand or sawciww what must produce a waste of lime and labour to fulfil the laws, or carry the laws into effect. Some will object that farmers far back in the country would prefer making these fences, to being obliged to pay the smallest sum in cash for having them made. It would be easy to meet the wishes of all parties, by a law which would allow those who prefer making the fences to continue to do so ; but those who would find it more for their benefit to commute this obligation on a lair principle, to have it also in their power to do so. In the last session of the Imperial Parliament in lS3t;, an act was pass- ed relating to weights and measures in the British Isles. By this act, all local and customary measures were aboliahed. Heaped measure was also abolished, and articles heretofore sold by heaped measure, are now to be measured by the Imperial bushel, fitted in all parts as nearly to the level of the brim as the size and shape of the articles sold will admit ; but they may be also sold by weight. By the same law coals are to be sold by weight and not by measure in future. For a breach of this law, pe- nalties by fine are incurred. Weights made of lead or pewter not to be used, unless wholly and substantially cased with brass, copper, or iron. I have introduced the heads of the above act for the information of (he farmers of British America who may not be aware that such an act is in force in the British Isles. It would be a great benefit to agriculturists if the standard measure of British America in all the provinces, should be assimilated to the Im- perial bushel measure of England. The Canadian minot contained 2381-184 cubic inches, English, striken measure ; the Winchester busl- el, 2150-4 cubic inches, making a difference of between a ninth and a tenth. This is the measure, (the Winchester,) that is established in Up- per-Canada, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and the United States. The Imperial bushel contains 2218-192 cubic inches, and is to weigh 801b. avoirdupois of water. This measure is about a thirtieth part, or a frac- tion over, more than the Winchester bushel, and is between a thirteenth and fourteenth part less than the Canadian minot. It is difficult io dis- cover how this dissimilarity of measures can be useful to the agricultural class. It is with England we are connected ; in her markets our produce is sold, measured by the Imperial bushel, not by the Canadian minot, or the Winchester bushel. If a farmer sees the English prices C"-rrent, he does not take the trouble to calculate the difference of measure, and is apt to form an erroneous opinion of the relative prices in England and Canada. It may be said that in Liverpool they estimate by weight, and that 701b. is the standard for one bushel. Be it so ; let us have 701b. as our standord. It only tends to confusion (hat a different standard mea- sure should be authorised in these provinces, from (hat of (ho British Isle-i. While we are connected with them, and resort to (heir markets fi. Gd. the hundred bun- dles, and out of this perhaps the farmer would hav: weighing the hay, and the carts or train, a rhargo c any case Is 4d for weighing the hay. Offices of Registry, for deeds, mortgages, &c highly necessary to be introduced into the seigniorial parts r.f Lower Canada, by a very considerable portion of the ;•* pulation. The great majority of the Canadian people, however, looi^ upon the proposition as an innovation that is not required by them, in as much as they have been able to manage their own aifairs heretofore perfectly satisfactory to themselves, and have not suffered any material loss, though they had no registry offices. It may be a very -good objection fo introducing new laws, when a great majority of the people do not see an obvious necessity for them. The altered state of society, and the greatly mixed population of Lower Canada, may however require laws now that were heretofore found unnecessary ; and if this be a fact that can bo clearly demonstrated, I think the objection to the introduction of registry offices will not be long persisted in. It is one of the most confirmed opinions of political ccoaomistti, that 23 ( pay both for 2s. 4d., but in are con&idered 178 ! '■■ a fvee, ami secure circ^ilation of property, and capital, is necessary to au.'ancc line prosperity of a country. Neead I observe, that neither one or the other, wji circuliite freely, without security. It will not follow that any man *teould be ubliatd to part with his property because it was possible for kum to do so with ikcijity, and to the best advantage if he was so disp«<«ed. There caiimot i-e any doubt but the want of offices cl' rptiistiy must dc'jweciate the value of property that is brought to sale in Lower Canada. No one will pay as much lor a property ofi'ered for sale if any uncertainty exists as to title, or whether there be after claims, by niortgagefe,widows,0'r minors. A sherifi''« sale will cut off all mortgages, but not the other claims. In CRses of voluntary sales, if a sheiifl''s title is required and agreed upon between the seller and purchaser, considerable delay and law expenses are incurred to uotain a voluntary sale by the sheriff. This expenditure of time and capital might certain- ly be much more produc lively employed, than in paying for a title that is not a secure and perfect one after all. This is truiy an unproductive consumption of capital. The law that would establish registry offices, might readily provide that tiiere should be no unnecessary exposure of the circumstances of private individuals, unless whore the individual was disposing of proper(y, or raising money upon it, and in that case few would question the reasonableness of the true circum:. ?nces of that property being made known to those who were to give a ^ aluable consi- deration for, or upon it, assuming it to be exactly as represented. No man has a right to enquire into the private circumstances of another, imless that other applies for an accommodation in money or property, or offers to dispose of property for a money price ; then indeed no man should complain that his true circumstances should be known to the person who proposed to give him his money. The purchaser cannot oblige the owner of property to sell; but if the proprietor offers to sell, there cannot be any sound objection that the laws should make known the true circumstances of such property for the security of the purchaser. I appeal to the good sense and good feeling of all those who may think differently on this subject. There is another circumstance that I cannot reconcile to the law of equity, that is vJicn a property is by the laws of the country adjudged to be sold to satisfy claims of creditors, &c. a sale by the sheriff, who is the officer appointed to execute that law, is not a security against future claims of widows, aiul minors. There cannot be any objection to these claims ; on the contrary they should be secured before all others, ')ut certainly these claims .should be announced by the sheriff previous to the sale. It would be competent to the Legislature to make such a law as would meet this case, ond provide that the widows, minors, or their guardians or friend.*?, should be duly advertised in time to make known their claims previous to (he ej/(e. |t in very proper to make provision for widows and minors, oiii of their husband's or parent's properties, but if these pro|)(,rtip.s ore sold for their full value to strangff.^ yr'dho.ii reseif'.ng the claims of widows and minors, or making them known, it will bVi the stranger who will be at (he cost of providing for the widows and minors ofothfifs, while the full value of the prope/iy cjiargeable with (Jjeec claims w^//|/usfi ifjto (he hands of other parties fcr fV 179 issary to X one or low that 36 it was age if he offices cl' sale in d for sale laims, by lortgages, sheriff's mrchaser, voluntary \t certain- a title that productive ry offices, tposuro of individual that case ;e9 of that lable cousi- ;nted. No of another, ,r property, eed no man lown to the laser cannot ffers to sell, lake known e purchaser. may thmlv sheriff, vho irity against objection j're all other?, riff previous oUe such f. minors, ot me to make per to wah or parent's to strangfr? making them prfjvidinp f'*' f the property her parlif'p ^f' the benefit of the friends or relatives of these widows and minors. The bare possibility of such a circumstance taking place, requires that a re- medy should be provided, that will secure the rights of all parties, on lionsst Linn equitable principles. So long as the owner of property retains it in his own hands, he may do with it what he thinks proper ; but when he chooses to dispose of it,or when it is sold under the authority of a law- ful decree for the owner's benefit, and for a specific valuable considera- tion, ill both cases no claim should legally attach tu that property, that were not declared at the time the bargain of sale was concluded upon. In cases where capital would be wanted, if there could be sure means of ascertaining the true circumstances of the person who required it, there would be no difficulty of obtaining it. In England they are glad to find landed security and from 2 to 4 per cent for their money, and in Canada where land must greatly increase in value, and with the absence of all direct taxes, the security of landed property would be as good as any in the world. These are the only laws which I think it necessary to advert to here, and those vhich I am persuaded must have a verv great influence on agriculture, and on the general prosperity of the country. I have candidly endeavoured to point out the manner in which these laws are injurious in their operation, or rather I should say, how they appear to be so, in my humble judgment. I submit my views with great defe- rence, on subjects which must be deeply interesting to the present and future inhabitants of Lower Canada. It is not from any discontent that I feel as an individual, at submitting to the laws and institutions of a country, which though having these laws, I prefer notwithstanding to any other country I know or have read of, but from a persuasion that the prosperity of the country is most materiuUy retarded by the oper- ation of some of our present laws and usages, and they are of such a nature, that a change or amendment in them could not possibly fail to have a beneficial effect for the vast majority of the people, so that no risk can be incurred by introducing the change, whatever may be thought to the contrary. We know that European nations that have any pretensions to enjoyment of political and civil liberty, have done away with feudal laws and exclusive privileges ; but though they had not, such laws and hereditary exclusive privileges are not suitable for thia country, where improvement is so much required, where the improve- ments made constitute almost the whole value of landed property, and on seigniorial property must be entirely effected by the labour and capital of the censitaires, and not of the seigniors. Offices of registry may not be general in the old countries, but if we have cause to believe that they would be necessary here, to increase the free circulation of capital and security of property, the public are interested in their introduction and have a right to obtain them. We may be proud to bring with us from tho land of our fathers to this new world, any of their laws or usages that liave been j)roved by experience to be beneficial to society generally, and would be suitable to the state of society and other circumstances pe' uliar to British America, but our partiality to our fathers' laws, and customs, should not carry us further, and will not justify us in inflicting 23* ^n 180 ' i Sii-V;*: injury, upon ourselves and our posterity. What should we think of the public man who would propose to introduce tithes here, on the principle that they are still collected in England, and other European nations ? Would the parties into which, unfortunately, the people of the Canadas are now divided, only consent by mutual concession to re- concile their differences, and unite as one people of common interest, and make it permanently the order of the day, truly and sincerely to desire the good of Canada and to promote the greatest happiness of the greatest number of her people by every juat means, what happy results would inevitably be the consequence. It is then, and not vnlil then, that we may expect to see our laws and customs ameliorated, so that they shall give ample encouragement to improvement, afford every security for the employment of capital, remove every bar to a free cir- culation of property, commute on some equitable principle the obligation of personal labour in all cases where it is now wastefuUy, inelTectually, and unproductively consumed, and introduce such other changes as a united and friendly Legislature would in their wisdom see likely to advance the prosperity of these fine provinces, and increase the means of human happiness for the people. . . • •. '. ?*'•'; THE FRICE OF WILD LAND, THE MODE OF SALE, AND THE AF?LICATION OF THE PROCEEDS. , :' O' ^ The price of wild land, uud the mode of sale adopted by the Govern- ment, and by the seigniors of Lower Canada, has been already stated. Land Companies, and individuals who hold wild lands, will have to dis- pose of them according to their relative value as regards soil and situa- tion to the Crown lands sold in the market at the same price. I shall now proceed to the consideration of what would be the most favorable mode of sale to adopt to ensure successful settlement, and the most judi- cious application of the proceeds derived from the sale of wild lands to promote the prosperity of British America. In treating of settlement in the forest, I have perhaps too freely ex- pressed my opinion, that the price of the wild lands of the Crown would be much more likely to produce general benefit to the community, led in the hands of the industrious settler, than if disposed of in any other way whatever. With the exception of wliat has been paid by Land Compa- nies, and what the Clergy reserves have been lately sold for in Upper- Canada, the nett proceeds of revenue that has been derived from the sale of crown Innds f ;;■ the last thirty-six years is considerable. The expense of superintendence, commissioners of crown lands, of woods and forests, &c. &c., who cerix n.y have never done much to promote successful seutement in the provinces, have consumed a large proportion of this revenue until very lately As however it is probable that no ar- gument that could be advanced would persuade those in authority that the price of wild land left in the hands of the industrious settler would be productive of more general good than if made a source of revenue, it may be as well to submit a mode of payment for the land, that would af- ford the poor settler some chance of success, and be suitable for all des- criptions of settlers, whatever their means, . ,„ f ii . of the inciple ilions 1 of the to re- aterest, jrely to ness of 1 happy ot v,nlil ited, so d every free cir- bligation Pectually, inges aa likely to e means B Govern- idy stated, ive to dis- and situa- I shall freely ex- Dwn would nity, left in other way ad Compa- >r in Upper- ed from the able. The 3, of woods 1 to promote e proportion that noar- ithority that "er would be . revenue, it jat would af- for all des- 161 Few persona who understand perfectly what settlement in the forest ix, if they have adequate funds to purchase cleared or partially cleared farms, will give a preference to a farm covered with large trees. Hence it is that Uiose who go to the woods are generally only those whose means are insufficient to establish them elsewhere. To deprive settlers so cir- cumstanced of any part of their limited funds before they have got any return from the lands, may be the means of checking their progress in the very commencement, and inflicting much want and suffering for years on the settler and his family, should he have one. To the wealtliy, the price of wild land may appear trifling, but notwithstanding, its payment or any part of it at the time the land is sold may be severely felt by the settler, and embarrass all his future operations. I have already endea- voured to point out the many disappointments that settlers are exposed to, and when their means are insufficient to meet these disappointments, they may be unable to go on with the clearing and cultivation of their farm, and be obliged to go to work for others to procure necessaries which their own farms would produce could they work constantly upon them. Those who have never experienced temporal wants in any shape, cannot comprehend what value a few pounds would be to a poor family in the woods, and how much privation and suffering the want of it occasions, or they would never approve of measures that would be calculated un- neceaaarily to produce these evils. The working settler who has means to supply himself with necessaries, and devote all his time to his own farm, after he gets his first crop is able to purchase a few pigs, a cow or two, or more if he can provide food for them, will have a fair chance of success, and after a few years will be sufficently independent to pay the purchase money of his farm without inconvenience, when if obliged to pay in the commencement of his settlement, he might not be able to purchase either cow or pig, and hence be deprived of a great help to his support, and be devoted to spend the most of his life at hard labour with a very scanty portion of the necessaries or comforts of existence, in the power of himself or his family. Suppose that a settler purchases at a government sale a lot of wild land, one*fourth of the purchase money is to be paid at the time of sale, and the remainder in three equal annual instalments. I would appeal to the experience of those who may be acquainted with the circumstances of British America, and the progress of new settlements, whether it is probable the settler will be in better circumstances to pay these instal- ments as they become due, than he would have been at the day of sale. For my own part, I have no hesitation in saying that in most cases the thing is impossible. It is only at the termination of three years that a settler could expect to raise produce sufficient for his own wants, and if he has a helpless family to provide for, he must be industrious indeed if he is able to do so in that time, without paying one penny from the pro- duce of the land towards the purchase money. There may be some ex- ceptions, but it must be owing to a combination of favourable circum- stances, where there is abundant capital to employ labour, or large fa- milies of working persons. When a settler comes to the country, he and his family are generally well provided with wearing apparel and bedding, sufficient tc serve for f-ii % } ^ ': to! -*■»:* W.I 18S ! ^i, MIL: }i 'I V h II liJ (i! two or three years. When this stock is worn out, a new supply has to be provided. To settlers that have not adequate means, this will be a demand which may be severely felt for the first f^'v years, until they have got their land in a reasonable state of production, and this necessa- ry expenditure will make it the more difRcult for them to pay immediately the purchase money for their farms. Those who never have experienced wants, are apt unfortunately to forget the many little necessaries that are essential to the comfort of others, and particularly for the poor settler in the forest. Without ample clothing by night and by day he cannot ex- pect to pass a Canadian winter very comfortably, and I believe most of those who estimate the amount of his necessaries do not include the cost of clothing that is so essential to his very existence. There have been estimates published to the world of the large produce that is attainable from a lot of wood land brought into cultivation, in the course of four or five years. But if we look to the amount of exports from Canada, and the imports of agricultural produce brought into Upper Canada from the United States, it will show how extremely erroneous these estimates must be, if generally applied. In 1834, there was over one million acres of land reported to have been in cultivation in Upper Canada, together with the use that is made of forest land. This would give more than three acres for each soul, and notwithstanding this abun- dant source for the supply of every species of food, there was much more agricultural produce imported from the United States than was exported of the produce of Upper Canada to other countries. It is to practical results we must look to ascertain the probable returns that may be obtained from agriculture. It is quite manifest that were the produce on an average any thing near what is reported, the exports would be much greater than they have ever yet been, though there should not be one shilling's worth of agricultural produce brought into Canada from any country on the globe. It may however be admitted that the produce would be much greater were a good system of husban- dry generally introduced. I have seen late statistical, returns of the Kingdom of Belgium, in Europe, which show that thenj is not more than one acre and a half, English, of land in Cultivation, for each inha- bitant, and I believe they are well fed and clothed, but the country is exceedingly well cultivated generally, though the soil is not so good in quality as that of Upper Canada. The mode of payment which might suit the circumstances of every description of settler would be,that at the time of sale it might be option- al for those who would have means of paying for their land to do so at once, and be allov^d a reduction of fifty per cent, which would be equal to ten years interes at five per cent per annum. That those who could not spare funds to pay at the time of sale should be allowed credit for ten years, interest free, and at any time previous to the expiration of this period, they would find their circumstances would admit of their paying the whole or any part, they should be allowed a reduction equal to the interest for ihe unexpired term. That from the expiration of ten years from ihe da\ ^{ sale, the purchase money should be subject to the pay- ment annually of interest at five per c<^nt, until paid. By adopting these conditions, tk» settler who had itufficient capital, would be able to in- that the ed it w( imaginai appear t cient ca do purcl perhaps niany cit to go on stances their mei works, be in tha not any i if! Ill \ .1 11:1 has to [ be a il they cessa- diately ienced [lat are ittler in not cx- nnost of ude the produce , in the exports 3 Upper roneous as over I Upper is would lis abun- ich more exported e returns that were I exports jgh there ught into admitted husban- ns of the not more ich inha- B country so good )e of every )e option- do so at 1 be equal vho could credit for ion of this eir paying al to the ten years the pay- iting these )le to in- 183 vest it to advantage, and the man who had not much funds over what was necessary to establish him on his wood farm, would be allowed time for the purchase money until he could pay it from the turplus produce of the land he had received in a wild and unproductive state. This mode of sale of the crown lands (which can be only looked upon as public property and should be disposed of in that way which would best promote the general interest,) would not demand any sacrifice, because it would be (he means of obtaining a higher price for the lands, equal no doubt to the amount of interest remitted. People will pay in proportion to the advantages offered them to purchase, and the advan- tages ofl'ered in this mode of selling land would be so obvious that it could not fail to be duly appreciated. It would not unfairly depreciate the value of private property, when the crown lands were to be sold at public auction, in open market, with all the advantages of the conditions made known. Any commodity thus faiily offered to the highest bidder will bring what it is worth, and wild lands held in private hands, it would be unreasonable to expect that they should sell for more. But in matters which involve the happiness of thousands as this would do, private in- terests should not be allowed unfairhj to obstruct the prosperity of this fine country, and those who may come to increase her population and production should have every reasonable encouragement. In reply to those who would urge objections to giving lands to settlers on a credit, lest some might not have sufficient funds to cultivate them, I would observe that the present mode of disposing of the wild lands, will not prevent persons purchasing whose funds may be very inadequate to bring them successfully into cuhivation, when only a fourth part of the purchase money is to be paid at the time of sale. Emigrants are induced to purchase, expecting they shall be able to pay the annual instalments as they become due, from the produce of (he land,(oge(hcr with supporting their families from the same source after the first year. In conse- quence of these expectations, they are tempted to part with perhaps most of their funds to pay for the land, and if their progress subsequently is not so prosperous or successful as they anticipated, they find all (heir funds expended, and are not only unable to pay the instalments^ Hoin their extra produce, but theiy cannot proceed as they should do with u.e clear- ing and cultivating of their farms, from the want of funds. It is possible that the small sum they paid in advance for their lands, if they had retain- ed it would have enabled (hem to go on successfully. This is not an imaginary case, but such as constantly occurs in British America. It does appear to be a strange kind of remedy to prevent persons with insuffi- cient capital to cultivate from purchasing land, to take from those who do purchase, whether they have this sufficient capital or not, a part, and perhaps a greater part, of what they do possess. It is well known that many circumstances may exist that leave no choice to the emigrant but to go on wild land. Those who may have been reduced in circum- stances would prefer taking their chance on a lot of wood land, though their means might be insufficent, to go to work for others, or to public works. They may have a family able to help them, or (hat soon would be in that state, and they venture on the experiment because they have not any other resource. In case of a failure of crops, or any other disap- !84 m ] ^B pointment, the use of a few pounds to n settler Under such circumstAnct i would be of greater advantage than it is possible for an> one to imaginu that has not had personal experience of like circumstances ; and it is nothing short of cruelty to deprive the poor settler 60 circumstanced of any part of his little capital, if he finds he cannot con«oniently spare it. A settler may be under the impression when he conies to the country that he has sufficient funds to pay the first instalment for his land, and the others when they become due ; and if his progress was uninterrupted by any disappointment or reverses, he might be able to do so ; but he will find it imprudent to expose himself to the risk of the consequences of disappointment by not retaining sufficient funds m his hands until he is fairly settled on his farm and has got it in a productive state. If he ia a prudent man, should he find himself in circumstances to pay the whole or a part of the purchase of his land, he will do so at any time previous to the expiration of the credit of 10 years,because he will save the interest which will be remitted to him out of the principal for the unexpired time. Giving credit ~nay possibly be an inducement to persons to become s«>t- tlers with insufficent funds to cultivate the land who otherwise would not do so ; but though a few should he foolish enough to do this, the benefit it will produce to the many will n;ore than toake amends ten fold for any evil it may cause to those who would be so thoughtless as to become set- tlers without means sufficent for their support. Whatever may be the objections that wUl be made to this mode of disposing of the public land8,from whatever quarter they may come, I am firmly persuaded it is the most certain mode that can be adopted to in- sure si}-::cessful settlement. In a political view, perhaps some would fear thut it would give a preponderating influence to the government that anight he dangerous to liberty. To guard against this, it would be M'ell that ihe purchaser of land should not be compelled to pay the purchase money sc long as he paid the interest, and that he might pay the princi- pal at any time he was disposed to do so. The settlers would then be as free from undue influence as if they were settled on seigniorial lands,and more so. We hear every day of the want of capital iri British America, and how immense would be the advantage of the introduction of capital to a coun* try possessing a territory of almost boundless extent in an unproductive Htate, if applied to render this territory productive. Capital thus expend- ed would manifestly be advantageous to the whole country. The settler in the forest, if he has capital, will most certainly apply it to (hat purpose, which few other capitalists will be induced to do, however they may wish the country to improve. Is it not then depriving the country of the most advantageous application of capital brought into it, to take it from the settler, when perhaps his ail is only triffing in amount, in payment for land lying waste and unproductive, and that might continue waste if he had not the courage and industry to undertake its cultivation 1 By leaving the purchase money in the hands of the settlers, if they require it, it is giving the country all the advantage of so much capital for ten years, and on much better terms to the settlers than they could expect to obtain it from banks or money lenders, who, if they should consent to accommo- date them, (a matter of great uncertainty), would bind them to a given time I rcumstiinci i e to imaginu «8 ; and it is imstanced of itly spare it. the country land, and the Bterrupted by • but he will isequences of Is until he is te. If he is a pay the whole time previous ve the interest inexpired time, to become 8*'t- trise would not bis, the benefit en fold for any to become set- this mode of nay come, I am 5 adopted to in- ts some would ;overnment that \ would be well ay the purchase t pay the princi- vould then be as liorial lands, and nerica, and how ipital to a coun- an unproductive ital thus expend- ry. The settler to that purpose, sr they may msh untry of the most ;ake it from the payment for land waste if he had )n? By leaving J require it, it is for ten years, and xpect to obtain it ent to accommo- m to a given time 185 fur its repayment; which were it enforced in all caMi, might be extremely injurious to them. Hence it is clearly In the power of government most effectually to promote the settlement and improvement of the British American provinces, by merely leaving in the nanda of the lettlera who require it, the funds they may be possessed of for a few years, to enable them to clear and cultivate the wilderness. The security for its payment ultimately, is as good as could possibly be given under any circumstances; the lands and improvements upon them would be accountable before any other claims, and what reasonable objection can there be offered against giving this mode of disposing of the forest land a fair trial ? Again I would say that if capital is wanted to the industrious (not the idle) settler it to leave him what he rould it be more usefully ifr- more happiness, and paralyze industry and JUL la in the hands of an in the forest, it Is in the power of the govi may be possessed of, and in no other iit< employed than in his hands, or where it c the want of it inflict more suffering and pi n impede improvement. The small sum ot it;; industrious settler for ten years, might be the meann of affording comfort and temporal happiness to him and his family, when, if deprived of it, they might be subjected to suffering and privations for all that time, and make little progress in their improvements. At some luture period the price of the crown lands may be a very va- luable source of revenue, but at the present there is no pressing necessi- ty to seek an immediate revenue from them to the iujury of the poor settlers. The whole of the revenue paid in the Canadas now, does not exceed five shillings for each inhabitant annually, and of this, three-fifths, or nearly two-thirds, is annually expended for internal improvements, education, and c arity. A revenue amply suflUcient for the support of a respectable, but cheap government, and other purposes of general useful- ness, may be raised without pressing injuriously on any portion of the community, and without making any demands upon the poor settler in the wilderness, until he brings part of it into a productive state. In a new country, education requires some aid from the revenue, unless it is provided for by endowment of lands, or has other public means of sup- port. It is also 'he bounden duty of Government and people to make a provision for those reduced to a state of destitution, by the death of friends, by age, or bodily infirmity. To meet all these demands, ample funds may be readily obtained. In these provinces, revenue is raised on the productions of other countries that are consumed by the people here. The greater the production from every species of industry, the more am- ple will be the means to purchase taxable commodities, and the less the payment of a revenue will be felt To allow the price of wild land to be retained by the settler, if he should require it, as capital to enable him more effectually to subdue the forest and bring it into cultivation, will vastly increase production, and what is considered to constitute human happiness. England has abundant wealth to meet her demandswithout resorting to the poor settlers in her American forests, to raise a revenue in a manner diat would be hurtful to them, and certainly ultimately so to her. No ob- jection is ofTered against paying for the land on the terms proposed, but a very great objeetion would still exist to the application of the proceeds 2i ii^. '\ ^ <>, *r^3. IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) ^/ %. A 1.0 1.1 y4|2.8 150 ^^* 2.5 2.2 t liL 112.0 IK 11.25 III 1.4 I 1.8 1.6 ^9% '/# 7 7 PhotDgraphic Sciences CorporatiGn 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14StO (716)872-4503 \ ^"^ <> ^ «r^ xS9 I ■' ' derived from its sale, to any other pwpoM than to promote the improve* ment of the provinctts, and for their exclusive use and benefit The Government and people of these provinces should be equally inteiested in the general prosperity. Whatever will advance the prosperity ef the people, must add to the true security and respectability of the Govern- ment, and in America, no Government can be secure or respectable if the governed are not in a prosperous state. It is this that will be their best security. The Government which will make it the interest of the vast majority of the governed to stipport it, will find in it better security than any military force could give. It may well be said, " That Govern- ment only is great which promotes the prosperity of its own people." It is for this end governments are instituted and supported, and if they do not use their best endeavours to accomplish this object, they are wanting in their duty to the people they rule over. The question then to be ascertained is, whether the British Isles have a redundant population for whom it would be desirable that they should have an outlet, in the shape of emigration to their own colonies ? The next question is, whether it would be advantageous ft. British America to receive those enpigri^nts to become settlers in her forests t And if these questions be answered in the affirmative, it will only remain to be deten> mined in what way these measures will be best carried into effect, so as to ensure the success of. the emigrants, and that their coming to these provinces shall be useful to themselves, and advance the prosperity of those who are settled here before them. It is for the Government to give these questions due consideration, and to act on them in that way that will be most likely to be beneficial to the pepplfi of Birit)«b America, and of the British Isles.^ r,, ,,\ .ahndn hi\i\ Those who would consider my propositions at ^ving more advantaf^s to settlers than they would be entitled to expect, would do well to try the experiment themselves of clearing, vvild landtor pay for doing the work. This will be the sure means of becomii^ acquainted with the expendi- ture of labour required, and the produce obtained, perhaps under the most favorable circumstances that command of ample capital could ttfibrd. They will find that their nett profits will depend on many contingencies, and be subject to some disappointments for the first two or three years. It is by practical knowledge al9ne they will be able to make a right esti- mate of the consequence of such disappointmentB to a settler wiUiout means. The difiiculty of collecting the rents, or annual interest, might be ano- ther objection. If a proper system of settling the waste lands were once in operation« those whose duty it would be to superintend this depart- ment, under the control ol the Government and Legislature, might very well collect the interest in the several counties at a fixed time in each year, and the expense need not greatly exceed that incurred at present for doing comparatively very trifling service. All that is wanting to en- sure th^ plan working well is, to put it under proper superintendent?, who will understand the duties they will have to perform, and devote their time and best exertions to these dutieti ; to instruct the settlors as to their best mode of proceeding, and to superintend the w^ks- of a piiblie na- ture that emigi ants or settlers might be employed npon. The aitwtion ol 187 J"v improve* t. The interested ity el the 5 Govern- ectable if 11 be their st of the ir Becurity ,t Govern- ople." It if they do re wanting laleahave hey should iesi The h America Lnd if these o bedeter* jfTect, so as Dg to these rosperity of ment to give It way that jnericat and a gtQ)ertntendefnt would not be a sinecure to any one whi> rrijglit be ap^ pointed if he vms disposed and capable to do his duty. Perhaps the following rules and conditions might be advantageously adopted in disposing of the crown lands in British America. Rules. — That public sales at auction should annually take place on the second Monday in the tnonths of June, July, August, September and October ; and the places of sale be fixed in five different places or more, in each province, the most convenient to the lands to be disposed of and offered for sale from thne to time. That the quantity of land offered, for sale at each place aproxinlLitc to the probable wants of actual settlers in the market at the time, and dis- posed to purchase. That the upset price be determined according to the general quality of the soil, and situation with regard to markets. That it shall be the duty of the sufiVeyor appointed by government care- fully to examine every lot, and give a correct report on oath, of the soil, fitness for cultivation, and st&te as regards the necessity of draining, and the dift«ulty or facility of executing perfect draining. That each lot shall be sold in order of rotation, and no waste lot be allowed to, iritervesne, unless previously declared by the surveyor to be incapable of being occupied as an araMe or pasture farm, without an ex- penditure that would be imhioderately high foj- a settler to undertake. That i«i case of such report being made of any lot or lota, such lots shall be set up at one penny the acre, and sold to the highest bidder who will undertake to clear it, and bring it into tliat state of improvement that it shall not be tniurlou» to occupied lands tn thb neighbourhood, particularly in respect of draining. That an agent be appointed by government in each district, whose duty it shall be to make an annual survey of the lands sold in future, and report on oath the progress of each sdtler, i;i o)rder that those who may not have coiAplied with the conditions of sale, may at once be dis- possessed of the lands, to be again sold. Conditions for PoRCHASERs.-^That every ptiifchaser of a lot of one or two hundred acres, shall be bound to have an actual settler resident upon each lot before the end of two years from the day of sale, who shall have a log house of the usual dimensions erected, and five acres at least in crop, or prepared to receive a crop, and in failure of this consideration, the lot or lots sh&U revert to the crown, and be again sold. That no title or deed be given, except a ticket of location, until the above condition be fulfilled. They are not however intended to apply to lots that may be reported by the surveyor as unfit for a;rable culture. That the above conditions are not intended to prevent persons posses- sed of capital purchasing more than one lot of land, should they require it for their occupation, provided improvement is made in proportion to the quantity of land that is occupied, at the rate of five acres for each hundred acres annually for ten yearj from the day of sale, and in failure of this condition being fulfilled in ten years, the government may demand the surrender of any land of which the due proportion h^ not been clear- ed, returning the purchase money if it should have been paid for the quantity of {and whieh is surrendered and reVerts^to the crown. 24* if 1 1 u I ^ J( "7 im : I • ^T^ That it ■hall be optional with the purchaser of the crown land* to pay the purchase money on the day of sale, and be allowed a reduction of fifty per cent on the amount, or pay the full amount in ten yeara from the day of sale vithout interest, or at any intermediate time that the purchase money is paid, a reduction at the ra'c of five per cent per annum for the unexpired time of the period often /ears from the day of sale be made to the purchaser. That should the purchase money remain unpaid after the expiration often years from the day of sale, it shall be subject to interest at five per cent per annum, until paid. I do not pretend to offer these rules and conditions as those that it would be expedient to adopt, and no other, but they may suggest some others that would be more appropriate. I am however perfectly con- vinced that the present mode ofdisposing of the crown land is not the most advantageous for the gorcmmeut or the governed, either in the British isles or British America. It is impossible that any ?ale of the waste lands of the crown be for the public good, unless the obligation of immediate actual settlement, cr improvemeut of the land sold, is incuned by the purchaser. I think this proposition must be manifest to any one acquainted with the circumstances of the British Isles and their redun- dant popi>.!ation, and with British America and her want of population. To any one that would be disposed to settle in the woods and cultivate, their land should be given on the most reasonable terms, and with the least possible trouble by the land granting department. It is from some defect in the management of land granting hitherto, that has retarded their settlemeqt, at least I would suppose so. Many thousands of emigrants have landed at Quebec that have not settled in Canada, but have gone to the United States. Surely the Bri- tish American Provinces ought to hold out as much encouragement to induce British subjects to remain in the British empire, as a foreien state could do. And as the power of empires is generally estimated by their population, if England desires this power, she undoubtedly possesses wealth sufficient to enable her to grant the wild forests of her vast domi- nions to her hardy and industrious sons, on as favourable terms as they could obtain forest lands from a foreign state, and not exact almost the last penny that they are able to take with them when quitting for ever the land of their fathers, to seek subsistencw in the American, Australian, or African wilderness. Those who r/is*- -ell to the prosperity and power of the British empire, would surel} "> aend that every reasonable en- couragement should be held out to ei ■^. uuts to settle in the British do- minions, rather than in a foreign land, particularly when she possesses lands of almost boundless extent, that are only occupied by wild beasts. Considering all the circumr.tances of the British empire, there must be something wrong, that would induce the sons of the British Isles when emigrating from their home, to go to a foreign country in pre- ference to settling in the territories of Britain, that I am persuaded are capable of offering equal if not superior advantages to any part of the Unhed States. It is for those in authority to examine into the causes which produce this effect, and they will be wanting in their duty to their country if they do not provide a remedy, if it is possible, that wUl induce Uioae that are bongi SiUop to continue Britona while thejr live, from a 180 eoDvictioik that they cannot enjoy more prosperity as the subjects of any other empire on the globe. The next question that presents itself is, the most judicious and profit- able application of the revepue arising from the sale of the crown lands. For the present, this revenue, or the greater part of it, could not be ap- plied more usefully or beneficially than in opening communications to the most inaccessible parts of the provinces that are fit for settlement, by constructing roads, rail-roads, and bridges ; improving the water com- munications and making them navigable, and draining large tracts that may otherwise prevent regular settlement so necessary to successful set- tlement, and to give every further reasonable assistance to the settlement and cultivation of the vast wilderness of the British American provinces. This proposition may. no doubt, appear a very strange one, and troub'e- son ! to execute, but I will nevertheless maintain t^t were the provin- ces private proptrty^ it would be the most certain and judicious means to improve such an estate iM^d to render it fit for occupation and produc- tion, and the course that would be proper for private individuals to adopt under such circumstances would be equally proper to adopt for the im- provement of the public property. In a pecuniary view it would be a judicious expenditure that would inevitably be refunded. A numerous population and abundant production is what will make these provinces a valuable part of the British Empire. The policy that will augment both population and production, will, therefore, unquestionably be the bestto follow. Improving the means of communication with the unsettled lands in the provinces, would be sure to increase population and valuable produc- tion in those parts that now have neither one or the other. The application of every shilling of revenue derived from the sale of the public lands to the purposes I have enumerated, will have this effect, and increase the resources of Uie country, and the disposable means of the inhabitants to purchase foreign commodities, and thus promote the inter- ests of commerce as well as agriculture, and also augment the revenue to be again expended for die general good of the people. When the country becomes more populous and productive, the people would not require so much assistance ip making roads, draining, &n.; but while they are or should be employed in clearing the wilderness, and in cultivating and rendering productive what is now waste and ^produc- tive, and erecting the necessary buildings vrhere there is now no shelter for man ot animals, it is not possible for them to attend to other objects, however useful they might be to themselves. The task they undertake is fully sufficient to occupy all their time and capital, and it will be good policy to extend every reasonable support and encouragement to those , who may be so engaged, and to make their burdens as light as possible until able to bear them, whether native or emigrant, coming to the coun- try. Granting lands on terms I have suggested, and applying the pro- ceeds derived from the sale of the public lands for the presevt, to general improvement, particularly in the most thinly settled parts of the country, would be all perhaps that would be required to promote s^ettlement, though indeed it would appear that a part of the revenue, derived from the sale of wild land could not be more profitably applied, for ages to come. , ■■ ' ■ ,M ■ "', . . ■' , '^i^^ hi m #. 4\. ' 1^- i , f ISO :f' . ii I m it m than to die improvement of the means of communication throughout eve- ry part ot the extensive territory of British America, and ta the draining ojf iaxtensive wastes that are unsaleable in their present state, and must be a great injury to the lands that are and may be occupied in their neigh- bourhood. In many places where water is retained on the lands, it might not require a large expenditure to out outlets that would drain them, and these lands would repay the expenditure amply when they would be offered for sale. Settlers tvill not purchase lands so circum- stanced ; and if they did, they would perhaps be useless to them, as it might require all their means to drain them. Under judicious superin- tendence of practiced men, one main outlet, or drain, might be out, that would let off the water from thousands of aicres of land to such an extent that the settlers might be able to execute the remainder of the work of draining. My proposition would not subject the Government to any out- lay, but from the funds derived from the sale of wild lands, and if the money vVas judiciously expended and not nuule a job of, it would assu- redly be refunded, and not only that, but it would be of immense benefit to the country, improve the climate for agriculture, increase production, and allow the lands to be settled in regular rotation» It is not proposed that this system of draining should be generally adopted, but only where large tracts that are now considered U8ele88,raight be rendered At for set- tlement by a comparatively trifling expenditune. As it has been already observed, the true mode of making the wilderness of the British Ameri- can Provinces a valuable estate, is by managing them in the same way it would be prudent to do were they private property; and why then not manage them ao 1 By a sale of these lands for cash payments, and taking no futher trouble with them or the settlers upon them, the govern- ment might perhaps gain more immediate benefit from them, than by the mode I have auggested ; but ultimately the plan I have submitted would unquestionably be productive of most benefit to government and people. The revenue that will be raised subsequently from settlers in the forest, "will not be confined to the price of the land, or the purchase money, but will be in proportion to the amount of taxable goods which the settlers Are able to purebaae* This may be considered as the rent that the estate will pay. And the amount of this renivrill depend on the amount q( production created by the labour and industry of the settler. In managing a private property of woodland, perhaps it wiould not be prudent to expend more upon it than would fit it for settlement, and in- crease its value before it wa&sold. Subsequently to its sale, the former owner cannot expect to derive any more revenue or benefit from it, and he is not called upon to expend his own capital further, for the sole be- nefit of (Aher persons. Not so with the government ; the revenue will be «very year increasing, from the labour and impiovooaents of the settlers. Tliey will, as they are able to increase production, increase their expen- diture on ^xed commodities, and by this means be contributors to the revenue, both here and in Engiand. As it will therefore be the manifest interest of the government to advance improvement, and augment produc- tion, their efforts should be uncemiUed in fiutherance of these objects. Not only should these efforte be directed to the improvements that have been enumerftted, but they might be profitably ap{died in aesisting emi- 1»1 witete- hraimng must be r neigh- innds, it Id drain len they circum- m, aa it superin- outi that an extent 1 work of ( any out- gind if the }u1d assu- tstt benefit roduction, t proposed «ly where fit for set- len already tish Ameri- same way ly then not ments, and the govern- Ithanbythe litted would and people. a the forest, money, but the settlers nt that the the amount iviould not be mt, and in- the former from it, and he sole be- enue will be the settlers, their expen- utors to the the manifest ment produc- these objects, ts that have iseirting emi- gitttion of the utsful class of fletdeni. Some of the funds derived froth the sale of the public lands might be most usefully expended in this way. The working class of emigrants who would not have much capital, could be employed on the public wofks carrying on for the improvement of th6 waste lands, and might thus be able to acquire capital to become settlers. By adopting judicious measures to facilitate the settlement of the British American forests, and give that reasonable assistance and encouragement to the settlers that would be prudent for the government here and in £n> gland to givCj and necessary for the settler to receive, these provinces would advance most rapidly in population, wealth, and power, and 8oon become a great nation. Mach more might be advanced in reeemmendation of the application of the funds derived from the sale of wild lands to the improvement of our internal communications, and the settlement of the waste lands, &c. but perhaps what I have said may not avail much with those who have it in their power to give effect to lAans of this nature. To suggest what I con- ceive might be productive of^good, is (he limits of what is in my power to do. It is only as an inhabitant of British America, and interested with her people, tiiat I would attempt to discuss the subjects I have introduced. Much objection may possibly be urged to some of the propositions I have submitted, but when 1 did attempt to examine matters in which the great body of the inhabitants are deeply interested, no consideration on earth would deter me from candidly stating my humble views on the subjects I introduced. I may be very much mistaken in my views, but offering them to the consideration of the public, it may induce more competent persons to consider the subjects that have been bought forward by me, and propose measures that will be better calculated to promote the public gOodi '>■■•' • -i ..,..u^;; ^. •;, . : ^ MEAXiS OF INTERHAI. COMAIUNIO&TION BY ROADS AND BRIDGES, RAIL- B>OADS, AiVCas AND CANALS. Facility of communication assists production, inasmuch as if abridges the labour connected, with production. Good roads, navigable rivers, rail-roads and canals, will, if they abound in any country, be sure to pro- duce imfNTovement^ and vastly augment the resources and comfortable enjoyment Of Idne people. In thO dark ages of barbarism, the Ronlans were so civilized, as to be aware of the importance of good roads, and Constructed tinem throughout their empire and in some of the countries that they had only temporary possession of. In modern times, England owes muchof her prosperity to her ample means of internal communica- tion by goood roa<^, safe bridges, rail-roads, navigable rivers and Canals. In this respect she excels all other nations on the globe, and at the pre- sent time^ theve are so many applications to the British Parliament for the privilege of constructing rail-roads in every direction throughout the British Isksj that it is probable railroads will very soon supersede most of her roads now in use, at least on all the great public thoroughfares, and prevent altogetlter the construction of canals in future. In British America the want of good and ample means of internal communication is severely felt, and Will be bkely to Continue so, until the population is vastly increased, unless public funds are applied to the pur- ! 1 1 ' \-\-\ to' ^?f. } 192 f ■ , i/i poie ; and there are funds that might be applied to thete pnfpbsea with advantage to government and peopfe. I allude to thoae derivra from the ■ale of the pablic lands. Even in the immediate neighborhood of the cities the roads are generally bad. The waste of time and labor that is incurred in taking produce to market on bad roads is very great ; not more than half loads can be carried a great part of the year, and even half loads are more injurious to the horses' harness and machines, than full loads would be on good roads ; there is also near double the time con- sumed in going to and coming from market. In every way the want of good roads is injurious, and acts as a drawback on the produce of agri' culture, and every species of industry. Itmiay be said to prevent pro- duction, because it consumes unnecessarilyi time and labour that might otherwise be applied to production. We could not expect good roads throui^hout such an extensive coun- try as British America, with her present thin population, unless by the aid of public funds. In the neighborhood of the principal cities and market towns, were turnpikes established, we might have good roads where they were most required,which would certainly produce much benefit. It would also be an experiment for the people, of this mode of making and main- taining roads. The Legislature would have it in their power to provide that a reasonable degree of exemption should be afforded to farmers who had their o\^n roads to make and maintain, at their own expense, else- where. If turnpikes were generally established, all would participate in the full benefit, and it would be fair that all should pay who made use of them ; but until that is the case, it does not appear just that a farmer who resides off the line of the turnpike, and has his own roads to keep up un* assisted, for the public use, should have to pay constantly the full tolis for passing on the turnpike road to market. Those who would reside on the line, and have their roads made for them to their doors, would not be entitled to any exemption, because they would be relieved from the ob- ligation they were previously subject to, of making these roads at their own expense. There is another circumstance worthy of notice, that un- til good roads were general, those who would reside at a considerable dis- tance from the turnpike road, would not derive so great advantage from it as some would imagine, and could not, perhaps, bring more to market than if all the road were equally bad ; it Would, therefore, be unjust to make any pay more than a fair proportion for the benefit he received. There cannot be any doubt that turnpike tolls, established on a just and equitable principle towards all parties, and managed property ,without any jobbing, would bo the best and fairest means that could possibly be adopt- ed for the making and maintaining of public highways. Those who who would use them, would pay ior them, and their contributions would be expended in such a manner, that they would receive a full equivalent in convenience and comfort. Turnpike tolls are a just and equitable tax ; and were the inhabitants of British America to have good roads for pay- ing moderate tolls, they might cheerfully submit to the tax, as they would find it would be every way advantageous to them, and for any pecuniary sacrifice that would be neccBsary, they would be amply compensated, and it would be more than refunded at the year's end. The Legislatures in the different Provinces have granted within the 103 ■I . met with from the id of the tor that is ^ent; not and eren nes, than time con- » want of Be of agri- jvent pro- hat might luve coon- by the aid and market where they it. It would and main- to provide ieurmers who pense, else- articipate in made use of farmer who keep up un • the full tolls |ild reside on would not irom the ob- oads at their ice, that un- liderable dis- ntage from it I to market be unjust to 16 received, a just and ^jwithout any bly be adopt- Thope who rations would uU equivalent squitable tax ; roads for pay- as they would my pecuniary compensated, ted within the last few years, a largo amount fur the making and repairing of roads, and I believe the money has generally been applied so very judiciously that it has been productive of much benefit. The granting of money from the revenue of the country for repairing roads, is a measure of rather doubt- ful policy, considering the sources from which our present revenue is de- rived. There are some particular circumstances which might make such grants expedient, but if they extend beyond these cases, I do not see that there should be any limit to the grants. One part of the country has Justus much right to participate in the benefit of grants for road ma- king as another part, and if this principle be generally admitted and acted upon, the whole revenue would be insufficient to satisfy the applications that would be made. A revenue for general road making should be a dis- tinct and separate one, raised expressly for that purpose only. An ap- propriation flrom the land funds would answer for making roads in all tho new parts of the Provinces f but in my humble judgment, a revenue for the general support of roads should be provided for separately from tho present Provincial revenues of the Provinces. Where grants would bo made for roads from the public revenue, it would be well (o provide that in every case where it waspossible, the money should be expended on the roads in hard metal or broken stone, and if stone was not to be pro- cured, (he best kind of hard gravel, or pure sand. Unless the money is thus applied, the public will not derive much benefit from it. If the roads are to be made in the unsettled parts of the country, a diifcrcnt plan must be adopted. All that can be done through a forest, is to re- move the trees, root and branch, from the line of road, to drain it perfect- ly, and make bridges where necessary. When grants of public funds are made for improvements of any description, the most durable, and if pos- sible, imperishable materials should be made use of, and the work exe- cuted in a substantial way, so as to give it a fair chance to bo permanent- ly useful. If this rule was observed in granting arid expending public money, it would rarely be misapplied ; some permanent good would al- ways remain to the public. On the contrary, if public revenue is expend- ed on improvements that can be of only temporary duration, from the de- scription of materials used, and the manner of using them, the p / lie will not derive much advantage from them, and it cin scarcely be y ihiider- ed in any other light than i waste of tho public money. If, for inb^ance, in making or repairing roads, materials that are not durable or suitable are made use of, the mont?y so expended is so much thrown away. Or if in executing public woiks, to make a paltry saving, an imperfect plan is a- dopted ; contractors allowe'd to make use of materials that are not of the best description ; and inferior workmanship in style and execution permitted ; in all these cases a great wastfe of the public money is the consequence. The works are, perhaps, from an injudicious plan, very unsuitable for their uses, or not the most suitable ; and from inferior materials and work- manship, they soon get into a state of gradual decay. All works of a public nature, and paid for from the public funds, should be executed on well considered plans made by competent profbs»ohal men, of the best and the most duiable materials ; and the workmanship, though it might be plain, executed in the most substantial manner possible. Ornament and show, is, perhaps, not desirable, or at least not so much so as utility, 35 1»4 It fcv !^' strength, and durability. Tiie exterior of the Roman Catholic Paribli Church at Montreal is a very fine specimen of the description of archi- tecture that would be suitable (or public buildings. It is of excellent de- sign, materials, and workmanship ; no flimsy ornament about it, but all substantial, in good taste, and highly creditable to the architect and me- chanics who were employed to execute the work. I might also mention the new St. Ann's Market at Montreal, as a substantial and well con- structed public building. Either of these buildings will not require a con- stant outlay (or repairs, as buildings not well constructed or of good ma- terials will always do. Rail-roads would appear to be well adapted for British America. The country is generally level, and from the climate that is peculiar to the provinces, rail-roads would be much more suitable than canals. In the first place, they would not be bo subject to injury by severe frost, which will always be a great objection to canals in Canada, in most situations. In the next place, rail-roads can be longer made use of than canals that must be shut up with ice five months in the year, when the use o( the rail-road might, perhaps, be only a very short time interrupted. The waste of time that is incurred in passing through several locks of a canal is another great objection, when compared to the extraordinary facility of communication on ibil-roads. It is not possible to increase the speed of a loaded boat, on most canals, beyond the rate of from two to three miles the hour, without greatly injuring the banks, and requiring a great power to draw the boats, as increasing the velocity would greatly increase the resistance of the water to a loaded boat. The time lost in passing locks will be nearly ten minutes for each lock. The Lachine canal is nine miles long, and has seven locks. It must take from four to five hours, at least, to pass a loaded boat throagh, from the entrance at Lachine, to the harbour at Montreal, passing all tho locks. If a rail- road was constructed, the same distance would not occupy more than half an hour to travel over. The last oldection to canals, (though not the least, in my view,) is their injuri'^us effects on the lands intersected by them, which must, in general, be very great, particularly when puddling the banks is never thought of, or intercepting drains cut to receive the water that leaks or percolates through the embankments. If the improvement of the'navigation of the St. Lawrence was effected, as it is likely to be, to Frescott, and steam navigation possible from La- chine to Lake Ontario, it would certainly be desirable that steam naviga- tion should be continued to Montreal ; but this should not prevent the construction of a rail-road ; because, though the canal might be enlarged to admit of uninterrupted navigation for steamboats, travellers would give a preference to go by rail-road to Lachine, to the delay of passing by the the canal. A rail-road to Lachine would add greatly to the enjoyment of the citizens of Montreal, and the time consumed in making the trip would be so trifling, that it would not be injuriously felt by any class, to make the journey occasionally. A great means of improving the Canadas particularly, would be by di- minishing the expense of carriage to the more remote parts of the country. To accomplish this, the most effectual way would be, first by improving the navigation of the rivers; not by damming their waters and flooding the 105 Parittli >f archi- illent de- It, but all and mc- I mention irell con- ire a con- ;ood ma- ca. The ar to the In the iBt, which situations, anals that ase o( the ed. The of a canal facility of speed of a hree miles ;reat power kcrease the iBsing locks I nine miles rp, at least, the harbour tructed, the travel over. 5W,) is their , in general, thought of, >r percolates vas effected, e from La- eam naviga- prevent the f be enlarged s would give aissing by the enjoyment of le trip would IBS, to make uld be by di- ■ tfie country. )y improving d flooding the rapids, but by i-emoving the obBtructiono, and constriicting locks where there are falltt. It must be injurious to dam the waters of rivers that have naturally formed their own l^cds. Vast improvements may be effected by straightening the courfie of rivers and removing obstructions, but never by damming back their waters. When rivers have formed their natural chan^ nel through a country, their waters must have required that channel or it would not have been formed, and particularly where there are rapids, and the channels shallow, it must be from the nature of the soil being rocky or hard, and water cannot have formed a deeper channel in such situations than was necessary for their free discharge. If artificial means are adop- ted to dam the water at those rapids, it must in most cases have a very injurious effect on the lands situated on the banks of the rivers, and per- haps to a great extent back. The waters would he impeded in their course, take a longer time to discharge a given quantity, and hence all the small streams that discharge into these rivers may be similarly affected, and cause great damage to growing crops of whatever kind that may be with- in the influence of such river or streams. As to the construction of canals, I think they are very unsuitable fur these Provinces, unless in situations where a long continued navigation might be effected by means of a canal to connect navigable waters. In all other situations, rail-roads will be found preferable. By constructing main lines of rail-roads on the principal thoroughfares, and branches from them to distant sections of the Provinces, it would be the greatest improve- ment, next to increase of population, that could possibly 1^ effected. The produce of distant parts might in winter be collected to places connected with main rail-roads or their branches, and the expense of carriage then to the principal markets, would be so trifling that the most distant part of the Provinces would be rendered nearly as valuable as those in the immediate vi- cinity of cities and towns. It would be a saving of time and labour that might be applied more profitably, and of unproductive consumption in horses, the wear and tear of carriages, harness,and other implements that are injured and wasted by bad roads. Who that are inhabitants of these fine Provinces, and are placed in a situation that would give them power to forward mea- sures of improvement that must produce favorable results to the whole community, but would join heartily to effect so desirable a purpose 1 They would be patriots indeed, who would improve and extend the means of internal communication in British America. It would be the most easy and certain way to increase annual production, and augment the wealth and resources of the people of every class. The price of the waste lands might, as I observed under another head, be in part applied to the construction of rail-roads and other roads in the thinly settled parts of the country, and through the waste lands, to facilitate their set- tlement and cultivation. This would be the legitimate application of a part of the funds derived from them. Another portion might be applied to assist emigration by superintending their settlement, and adopting such other measures as would be calculated to give them a fair chance of success. Can it be necessary to say more to recommend this subject to the Governments, Legislators and people 1 It would be wasting the reader's time to describe how rail-roads are 25* 19G conHtructcd. It is not for mc to do more than endeavor to prove their Uflefulncis, and to show how well thoy are adapted to the circumstanccH of British America. The mode of construction is the busineso of the en- gineer. It might be well to observe that the rules adopted by the British Parliament in respect to applications for privileges to construct rail-roads or canals, which obliges those who apply for them to deposit plans or map» of the proposed line in the proper oflice, would be a very judicious rule to adopt in these Provinces. Those who undertake those works arc generally unconnected with the agricultural class, and when tliey are privileged by an act of the Legislature to construct these works, they are not accustomed to use much ceremony about the injury or damage they may occasion to farmers. Legislative acts for these purposes cannot too carefully guard the rights of the farmers. It can do no harm to provide for the just protection of those who are enlitled to exemption from injury. No part of the profits derived from auch undertakings is di- vided with the farmers, and therefore they should not be subject to suffer damage by these works. However carefully the legislative act may be worded, it can do no harm to rail-road or canal companies, if they are din- posed to act justly towards the farmers, and if they arc not so dis- posed, it will be well to have the means to oblige them to do so. In Eng- land I believe it is usual in canal acts to insert a clause for the security oi landowners, to require the company to cause all the banks that need it to be secured by puddling, to prevent damage to the land below by leakage ; and I believe this clause is generally enforced. It is also the invariable system to cut intercepting drains. It is well known how little attention is given to these matters in this country. If canals are constructed through soils that are not water-tight, the banks require to be puddled. Any soil that will lot the water soak or percolate through it, such as sand, gravel, loose or open rock, is considered as porous soil, and should be puddled to prevent injury to the adjoining lands. If the canal is cut in soil that is altogether of a porous nature, the bottom as well as the sides would require puddling. The puddle-ditch, or puddle- gutter as it is generally called, is usually about three feet wide, and when it is not necessary to puddle the bottom of the canal, it should enter about a foot into the soil that is not porous ond is water tight, and be carried up a few inches over the wotet line in the canal. The best stulTfor puddling is said to be a lightish loam, with a mixture of coarse sand or fine gravel in it. The principal opera- tion in puddling consists in consolidating the mass by watering and work- ing it well before it is filled into the ditch. If canal companies were obliged to adopt these necessary precautions^ farmers would not be so sub- ject to be damaged by these works, and it would he much better to pre- vent damage than to be obliged to have constant recourse to a court of law for redress, and waate the time and money of both parties in ob- taining it. It may be useful to offer a few remarks on the most approved method of making and repairing roads as practised at present in the British iRleb'. In England, the principal roads or highways between the capital citic. and seaports, where they are most frequented, as within a few miles oi largo towns, arc from 30 to 60 feet wide, with footways on each biiU from 4 to 10 feet wide In no case ia ihc wclallcd part of these roads la 107 than 20 fcol ; thai width being rcquitiito to admit of ono loaded waggon passing another. These roadi) arc supported by tolls levied on cxriiagCH und animolt) passing over ti>ein. According to minutes of evidence before a committee of the Britisli House of CommonSi given by several engineers, " A dry foundation and clearing the road from watery are two important objects which ought to bo kept in view, in laying out roads, that the foundation of the road should lio kept dry, either by avoiding low ground, or by laising the surface of the road above the level of the ground on each side, or by drawing qflftho wa- ter by means of side drains." Edgeworth observes " the substratum must be laid dry by proper drain- age, and where the road is liable llrom the flatness of the country, to be at times under water, the expense of raising itabove the water must be submit- ted to in the first instance. All drains Cor carrying oflf water should be under the road, or at the field side of the fences, and these drains should 1)0 kept open by constant attention, and ahould be made wide at the outlet." Paterson recommends *< That before tlie materials are put on, run a drain alung the middle of the road, all the way, from two to three feet deep, then fill it with stones up to the surface, making those at bottom of a pretty good size, and those at the top fully as small as tlie road materi- als. And, in order that the quantity of stones used for the said drain may bo as little as possible, and every way to save expense, it may be made as narrow as it can possibly be dug. From the leading drain make a branch here and there to convey oflTtlie water to the drains on the sides of the road." This mode of draining has been found so beneficial, that a road so drained would be better and more durable with eight inches than it would otherwise be with twelve inches of materials, and not only so but on such a road there would be a saving of the incidental repairs ever after- wards of about one-half of the labour, and at least one-third of the materi- als. There have been some roods made on this plan under Paterson's di- rections, which are said to have stood all the winl(?r rains and frosts with- out injury, and promise now to make the finest roads in England. In some cases, two drains running parallel, and five feet apart are cut, and he recommends in wide roads that three or four should be out. He says that though at all times the effect of these drains will be beneficial, it will be particularly so in time ol a thaw, after severe frost. In frost the surface of the road j though wet before, becomes dry, the water being absorbed by the road, or otherwise condensed by the frost ; but no sooner is this suc- ceeded by a thaw, than the absorbed or condensed water, again makes its appearance all over the surface of the road, and this is the time these drains are so peculiarly beneficial. Where such drains are wanted, tlie road on the return of a thaw, throws up to tlie surface oil the water it had imbibed, and in many places the materials swelling up become quite loose and ojicn. This is a natural consequence when the materials are not thick, and where the soil under the road is not (lerfectly dry ; but where a road is dried in the way described, it will be uniformly seen that tlie water in- stead of spewing out on the return of a thaw, is sucked in by the drains, so leaving the surface of the road quite dry. It may be observed that at such limes the places of the roads where a few roods o( such drains have been introduced, present to the eye at a quarter of a mile distant quite a con- h \ 196 trast to the other parts of the road ; the one opaque and dry, from the moiflture being all BUcked in ; the other all wet and glistening, from its be< ing thrown out of the sarface. To adopt this mode of draining roads in British America, would, I am convinced, answer extremely well, provi- vided some care was observed in making the drains suiiiciently deep, and having many outlets from them. The late Mr. Talford observed " that when roads are made on ground where there are many springs, it is absolutely necessary to make a number of under and cross drains to collect the waters and conduct them into the side drains, which should always be made on the field side of the fences. The surface drains or water tables formed between the metalled road and footways, should be made a few inches lower than the side of the road, and of the common width of the spade at the bottom, and they should have frequent cross drains under the footways and fences into the outside drains that are cut on the field side of the fences. These latter drains ought in- variably be cut with a considerable slope. In another case where drain- ing was, from the nature of the soil and situation, found to be impracticable, Talford laid down and joined by cement, blocks composed of coarse gra- vel and Roman cement. The water is thus prevented from oozing up, and a foundation formed at once firm and dry. Water is one of the most serious causes of the wear of roads; It acts, aid- ed by pressure, like gunpowder, in rending the surface of bodies. Fro- zen, it acts precisely in the same manner ; and when it has penetrated deeply, as it usually does in Canada, into a stratum of materials, a thaw produces an entire derangement. Mud is formed in consequence of the presence of water and dust or earth, and acts as a sponge to retain it and perpetuate its bad effects. In British America it is the most necessary part of road making to drain them perfectly, if the soil is not of a very po- rous nature. I have not seen many roads in the country that do not re- quire great improvement in respect to draining and the formation at their surface. Talford adopted another mode of making roads where the foundation was not dry, by forming a pavement of stone with the hand, the broadest end downwards, and filling up the cavities with stone chips or small stones so as to make all level and firm, and then put^ng on six inches of broken stone of the proper size. According to the road act in England, the ascent or descent of roads in passing through a hilly country, should not be more than one foot in height to thirty feet of the length thereof, if it should be practicable without cau- sing a great increase of distance. It is the general opinion that a perfectly level road is not always the best for every species of draft. Slight and short alternations of rising and falling ground are serviceable to horses mo- ving swiflly ; the horses have time to rest their lungs and different muscles. Talford, Paterson and several other engineers, were of opinion that it would not be proper (o line a road upon a perfect level, even to the length of 1 mile together, though it could be quite easily obtained. They say it is well as- certained that where a horse, dragging a load over a long stretch of road quite level, will be exhausted with fatigue, the same length of road having here a gentle acclivity and there a declivity, will not fatigue the animal so much. This is easily accounted for. On a road quite level, the draft m ground \ number I into the e fences, road and road, and )uld have tide drains i ought in- ere drain- racticable, ;t acts, aid- lies. Fro- penetrated lis, a thaw snce of the etain it and It necessary f a very po- do not re- lon at their t of roads in bot in height vithout cau- t a perfectly Slight and ) horses mo- ■ent muscles, that it would gth of 1 mile it is well as- tch of road road having e animal so cl, the draft J99 id always the same without any relaxation ; but on a gentle ascent oi7e of his powers is called into exercise, on the descent another of his powers is called into action, and he rests from the exercise of the former. Thus are liis different muscular powers moderately exercised, one after another, and this variety has not the same tendency to fatigue. McAdam in making roads preferred a soft bed, provided it was perfectly drained, and recommended that the stones should be reduced to a size that none should exceed six ounces in weight. The quantity of metal put on depends on the situation near great towns. Where they are much travelled on, from nine to twelve inches are considered necessary ; and at a distance from large towns a third less would be sufficient to make a good road. The degree of convexity given to a road in laying on the metal, should not ex- ceed what would be necessary to incline the water to the sides. If the road is raised too much in the middle, wheel carriages will run in the mid- dle and soon wear that part into deep ruts and spoil the road. A road of thirty feet wide should not be more than eight or nine inches higher in the middle than at the sides, and a less width in the same proportion . Edge- worth recommends that clean gravel should be put over the broken stone, which would insert itself between the interstices, but that no more should be used than what will sink to a level with the surface of the stone. In all cases, after the road has been covered with stone, and before the gravel is put over, it should be carefully examined, and any stones that are over the proper size should be broken or picked off. Paterson says that the earth obtained at the sides of the road, and without expense, will answer as well or better than gravel, for putting over the stone. According to Stevenson, the breadth of roads in the vicinity of towns of 60,000 inhabitants, should be at least fifty feet between the fences, and be metalled from side to side. Where the population would be only 30,000, the breadth should be 40 feet, and metalled from side to side, in each case with paved side drains, and provided with a foot-path on each side. Narrow roads are generally in bad condition near large towns, which is accounted for from the circumstance of carriages being obliged to go in the same ruts or tracks, and these ruts being not over six inches wide* one foot only of the road is worn by the wheels, instead of the whole breadth of it, which would be the case if the roads were of the proper width and well constructed, not rising too high in the centre. At a distance from large towns, and where there is but little traffic, it is unnecessary to waste land by making very wide roads. In such situa- tions, twenty feet in breadth would suit the public convenience as well as a road of forty feet, but the principal public roads would always require to be at least forty feet wide, and strongly made with bard metal in pro- portion, to their vicinity to large cities or market towns. The London Commercial road is seventy feet wide ; ten feet on each vide is occupied as foot-paths ; twenty feet in the centre is paved for heavy carriages, and there are fifteen feet of gravel road at each side for light carriages and saddle horses. In the vicinity of all our principal towns, foot-paths ought to be made at the sides of all the public roads for the accommodation of those who may not be able to go in cewriages or on horseback, and who surely are € U li!« 'Vv 200 "Sit !' J' I . entitled to this accommodation. What arc callied water-tahks are somc- timei required to be made across tho rofldt particularly in flat roads on a steep slope. These should be made at right angles with tho road, with their sides gently sloping to occasion as little obstruction to carriages as possible. In cases where there may be considerable water, these sur- face-tables may bo laid six feet wide at the bottoipt which should be per- fectly flat, and twelve feet wide at each side, to rise at the rate of one inch in the foot, which will make tho depth in the centre one foot, and from the size, being altogether 30 feet, no carriage wilt feel any jerks or shakes in passing it. The pavement should be nousidc of hammered stone of nearly equal depth, each stone from nine to twelve inches long on the surface, and four to eight inches broad, and at least one foot deep or more ; the under side to be flat in the under face, and not of an irregular or angafar under surface, as m that case it would not be solid. It would bo well' to have the stones on a firm foundation. It is the opinion of experienced engineers that good roads of broken stone are preferable to pavements. They certainly are preferable to pavements that arc not well made, and I have never seen a well made pavement in British America. Major Taylor who was at the head of the paving board in Dublin, before he began to pave a street, made a good gravel road, and lieft it to be beaten down by carriages for several months ; it then became a fit foundation for a good pavement. A foun- dation of ten inches of broken stone would answer well. The stones used for paving should be of a cubical form, the lower bed having an equal surface with the upper face ; they should be as nearly as possible of an equal size, and they should never be of unequal length on the face. In quarrying and preparing the stones, these matters should be strictly attend- ed to; and though the dressing may be expensive, it will bo well bestow- ed, and the stone broken off in dressing will answer for other roads. If the stones are properly prepared; and a good foundation of smooth sur- face for the pavement, it is easy to lay down the stones, which should all bear broadly and firmly on their base. The whole should be rammed repeatedly to make the joints close. The pavements should be covered with gravel which will fill the joints and servq to hold them together, and will preserve tho pavement fVom the irregular pressure of wheels until the whole is consolidated. The stone should be of equal hardness, and one stone should not be higher than another. They should be laid at right angles from the sides, in perfectly straight lines, and the joints broken itx the courses, so that the joints in one course shall not be in a lino or op- posite to a joint in any of the two courses adjoining. Filling up tho joints, or grouting them with lime-water, which finds its way into the gravel between and under the stones, forms the whole into a solid con- creted mass. It has been lately oUgge^ted to lay the paving stones pro- periy dressed on a bed of good mortar placed on a firm foundation, and grout the joints with cement. It is said the whole mass will then become a solid body, and eflbctually prevent the rain from penetrating to tlie foundation, and hence could not be injured by rain or frost. Without adopting an improved mode of paving in Canada, and using stones of a proper size and shape laid on a firm foundation, we never can expect to have good or durable pavements. !301 '4 ■'; re somc- )ads on a md, with rriages as i\e80 Bur- Id be per- te of one foot, and ly jerks or Bred stone ng on the ,t deep or n irregular It would of broken ufcrable to well made he head of mde a good for several t. A foun- 1 stones used g. an equal oesible of an tie face. In lictly attend- vcll bestow- ir roads. If smooth sur- lich should I be rammed i be covered ogether, and eels until the tesst and one laid at right its broken in a lino or op • lling up the vay into the a solid con- ig stones pro- indation, and then become rating to tlie (St. Without stones of a can expect to The repair of r-; should be constantly attended to from the moment they show any br»\.„. or inequality. The ruts and hollows should be filled up, and any loose stones broken. By due attention from the time the road is made, it miglit be kept a long time in repair at a trifling expense, and when much worn, renewing the surface by a coating of metal three or four inches thick. It is a great waste of money to neglect roads after they have been made at heavy expense. It is considered that the wheels should not be less than four inches broad, and that if the axletrees were of different lengths it would be a means of preserving the roads, as the wheels would not then run in one track. It is recommended that heavy coaches should be so constructed that the hind wheels should follow cither two inches within or two inches outside the track of the fore wheels, as might be considered most proper ; that by this means the stones displuccd by one carriage or wheels would be replaced again by the next that would pass, and prevent the roads from being rutted. It is highly probable that were this plan adopted, it would be a great means of preventing the roads from being so cut up as they usually are from the wheels of every kind of carriage going in the same track. A division of weight is recommended, and four wheel carriages or wagons with the horses driven abreast are said to do less injury than two wheel carriages. The horses travelling abreast go before the wheels and are the means of levelling the tracks made by wheels. Whatever good eilect this might produce on the summer roads, there can be no question that we should introduce winter carriages drawn by two horses abreast, or we never can expect to have good winter roads in Lower Canada. It is much to be regretted that the principal streets in our cities and towns are not generally wider. In Quebec, within the walls, there might be some justification for narrow streets, but in Montreal there can be none. In countries that are subject to heavy falls of snow in winter, narrow streets must be extremely inconvenient. In Montreal there are not more than two streets of sufficient width, — St. James and McGill streets. If the side walks were of sufficient width in St. Paul, and other narrow business streets, there would not be room for two carts or carriages to pass each other. These streets might be sufficiently wide perhaps if the city was never to exceed the present population ; but when it vnll become populous and extensive as it is likely to be, narrow streets will be found a great inconvenience, and particularly in the principal business streets. Should Canada improve to the extent it is capable of, Montreal must become one of, if not the principal city of North America. In the city of Dublin, an incorporated company was established by act of Par- liament, which had the privilege to widen any streets, or parts ofstreets, that were considered too narrow. Tlie mode of proceeding was, I believe, to summon a jury of respectable citizens, who valued the houses that were necessary to be taken down, and the owners of the houses received their value, and new houses, or ranges of buildings, were erected by the Wide Street Company, so as to give the streets sufficient width ; and it was found in most cases, that the improvement made in the streets enhanced the value of houses so much as to reimburse the whole extra expendi- ture, and the city was vastly improved by this means. I have no doubt similar companies will have to be established in the cities of British Am- 26 ^ff 202 ■*■■ erica at some future time. But in order to prevent unproductive eon- gumption of capital, it would be well to guard against the necessity of widening streets hereafter, by making them sufficiently wide now, particu- larly when we are aware of the necessity and utility of their being so. In the business parts of the cities, the sti'eets would not require to be a greater width than to give room for side walks eight or ten feet wide, and a carriage road from thirty to forty feet wide. The health and convenience of the inhabitants would be greatly promoted by the streets and sido walks being of sufficient breadth, and land is not so scarce in British America that streets should be so confined as to lessen health or convenience. The street of Notre Dame, in Montreal, now that the wall in front of the Catholic Parish Church is removed, would be a noble one indeed, if its bieadth was a r /.le better proportioned to its great length. Were it twenty feel wider, it would at no distant day, rival any street in America. There is another great inconvenience to be complained of, which makes the narrow streets and side walks still more disagreeable. At the doors of most of the old houses in Quebec and Montreal, steps of stone or wood ex- tend out, from one to three feet, over the side walks, so that two persona cannot walk abreast for many yards without being interrupted by these steps, and iron scrapers fixed on or near the steps. This is an evil that could readily be remedied, by obliging those who find door steps necessa- ry, to remove them xoilhin the range of the outer or front wall of their houses. I cannot perceive on what principle any house owner can have a right of obstructing the public highways, as the steps and scrapers in question obstruct the public streets. If house owners had not the means of remedy within their power, there would be some justification for con- tinuing the inconvenience, but in every stone house, the breadth of the wall alone would afford room for two steps, which in most cases would be amply sufficient. Whether or not, the public should not be inconveni- enced in this pailicular instance, to save a little trouble to private indivi- duals, and these steps are certainly not in any way ornamental. In six months, the nuisance might be remedied ; that time would give every house owner full opportunity to fix door steps which might be necessary for his own convenience, so that they should not greatly inconvenience the public, and often subject them to broken iaccs, if not to broken bones. I appeal to every one acquainted with our cities, whether or not I am jus- tified in making these observations. All the buildings erected latterly, however, have not door steps that extend over the footways, and it is not probable that in Montreal at least, any of the stone houses erected in future will have steps outside the range of the front walls. In the suburbs where wooden houses are numerous, they will continue the nui- sance unless there is some law to prevent it. The improvement of our stieets and highways, constructing rail-roads, and improving the navigation of our rivers, are matters which are inter- esting to every inhabitant of British America. If the government would allow a proportion of the proceeds derived from the sale of the wild land, to be appropriated to these uses in the newly settled parts of the country, and to open gradually the unsettled parts for settlement, it would greatly advance the prosperity of these Provinces. The expenditure would be of the utmost use to poor emigrants, give them employment, and prepare «8aity of , parlicu- teing so. to be a ide, and a ivenience ido walks lerica that n front o( indeed, if Were it America, lich makes lie doors of r wood ex- ivo persons I by these a. evil that ps necessa- ill of their sr can havo Bcrapers in t the means ion for con- sadth of the es would be inconveni- vate indivi- 1. In six give every le necessary convenience •oken bones, ot 1 am jus- ted latterly, i?ays, and it (Uses erected Is. In the inue the nui- ig rail-roads, :h are inter- nment would le wild land, the country, irould greatly re would be and prepare r 303 them for becoming settlers in the forest. This application of the funds to u certain extent, would prove to be a judicious and profitable one ; increase production, and diminish the expense of production in every way, and would hence enable the people to accumulate savings, to extend improve- ments more and more, the annual profits of which would give the means to purchase imported goods necessary for their comfort and convenience. It is in this way the Provincial, as well as Imperial revenue, will most certainly be augmented, and without being injuriously felt by those who pay it, because it will be in exact proportion to tlioir means and desires of buying taxable commodities, and no more. The grand principle to be attended to in expending public money for im> provement, is, that it should not be applied in any case where any doubt would exist of certain benefit being derived from it by the public. Local, and oden private interests, have a great influence on expenditure of this nature, and very much to the prejudice of the public. There are other precautions that should be observed : first, that no extravagant expendi- ture in any one case should be allowed until the resources of the country are better developed ; and secondly, that in constructing public works, particularly canals, and improving the navigation of rivers, the greatest care bo observed to guard against damage to the lands, whether settled or unsettled. It is reasonable to suppose, that if canals and navigable riv- ers are to enhance the value of lands, those that are on their banks ought not to be the least valuable. To injure or flood these lands by insufii- cient embankment of canals, or damming the waters of rivers, appears to me a very doubtful means of improving a country in most cases ; and as to damming the course of rivers to improve their navigation, it is nothing less than a mischievous plan. The dams are liable to get out of repair constantly ; witness the breaking of one of the dams of the Rideau Can- al, lately, whereby the navigation is interrupted in the most hurried time of the year, and it is said it will talce several weeks to repair the dam. This breach let off the water from twenty miles of the canal. The rivers of Bri- tish America are such that dams formed across their beds, must ever ba subject to give way ; it is scarcely possible that any human skill or pre- caution could prevent it, and if an ample expenditure could have made the dams of the Rideau canal permanently secure, they ought to remain undif^turbcd for centuries to come. Before parting with this subject, it may be no harm to submit a few re- marks on the subject of granting extensive privileges to incorporated com- panies, or to individuals, to construct rail-roads, bridges, or canals. Exclusive privileges can seldom produce public good, under almost any circumstances, and in all cases the Legislature would do well to be cautious in granting them, without securing the rights of the public. It may be very well for the people of the present day in British America, if they want a rail-road, bridge, or canal to be constructed for their conve- nience, to be ready to encourage the expenditure of capital on such works, and advocate the principle of granting extensive and exclusive privileges to those who expend it ; but though it may be advantageous for a thin population, who arc in want of capital for constructing public works of improvement, to do this at the present day, and for themselves, yet a few years hence, when the country becomes more populous, our *26 .1 ; i ; It I { VI m \ li-i 'I 904 "H^. i. !; • ii;;';- future generalicn may view these matters very differently, and consider that we had no right whatever to grant privileges that would be binding on them, to serve our day and circumstances, but that would be unsuitable for their time and circumstances. Any one of these works constructed at the present day, would require a much higher rate of tolls to remuner- ate those who expended capital on them, than would be required, perhaps, in ten, twenty, or thirty years hence, when the population may be increased three-fold. It will be much better for a country to keep rights when they have them, than attempt to resume them unjustly after they have granted them to others. If privileges should be granted, it would be very proper that those who were disposed to embark their capital should have every fair advantage given them, consistent with the just rights, present and fu- ture, of the public ; but here would be the limits of their claims. On any great public thoroughfare that works of this description would be re- quibite, it would be very desirable in a new country that they should be consiructed at the public expense, and the tolls proportioned to the ex- penditure. When population would increase, the tolls could be reduced, and when the money would be refunded, the tolls could be diminished to what would be required to keep the works in repair, and the public might then have the use of them nearly free. I do not offer objections to granting privileges to discourage improve, ment, but in order that future generations may not have to pay too high a price for our accommodation. Let capital expended for the improve- ment of the country, have fair and equitable encouragement ; but in a country circumstanced as this is, it is extremely difficult to foresee what would be a fair and equitable arrangement for a future time, and there- fore, it would appear proper that some reasonable limit should be estab- lished in all grants of exclusive privileges. Can there be a question that the public interest would not be more promoted, were they to have the use of a rail-ruad, bridge, or canal, at half a dollar, rather than by paying a dollar for the same accommodation, an individual or an incoporated company should be enriched more than they were entitled to be ? The principle I advocate, or would wish to advocate throughout this work, is what I der'ared it to be at the commence- ment : the greatest happiness of, and the greatest good to, the greatest number, without doing injustice to the lesser number. In furthering my ob- ject,! may have proceeded to greater lengths than I should have done in urg- ing the claims of the public or of the greatest number, but I beg the read- er will acquit me of design to mislead public opinion in any quarter here or elsewhere, by wilfully misrepresenting any circumstance connected with the subjects I have attempted to discuss. Improvement is wanted, and expenditure of capital to this purpose most desirable ; but, never- thcless, it is possible to purchase these advantages at too high price, and at an unfair price. This should be guarded against, particularly so far, ns to only bind ourselves to what arrangement we may enter into for our accommodation, but not to attempt to bind those who may succeed us, by arrangements vtiiich though perfectly suitable and convenient for us, would not be either the one or the other for them. INTERCOURSE OF BRITISH AMERICA WITH OTHER COtTNTRlM. Acording to Paley, *' the business of one half of mankind is to set the other half at work." Let us enquire by what means this is to be effect- ed. That portion of mankind who are employed in cultivating the soil, create a produce in the Brst instance which must set the other portion to work. It is the surplus produce of land, over what is necessary for the food of those who are engaged in its cultivation and management, which can alone be the means of giving employment and pay to all those not employed in agriculture. This is the only possible source from which commerce, manufactures, and civil and military professions can be main- tained. If the earth would only produce what was sufficient for the food of those employed in its cultivation, no manufacturers or idle persons could exist. The more abundant the production which in British Ameri- ca is annually created, and which was not previously in existence, the greater will be the funds for the improvement of the country, and extend- ing her commerce and manufactures. However paradoxical it may ap- pear to some, it is production which must open a demand for produciionf if our la W3 are good, and the industry of the people properly directed. In any country that does not produce abundantly, commerce cannot be profitably carried on, nor can the people enjoy much of the comforts or conveniences oi civilized life. The amount of imports to British Amer- ica does not actually enrich the country, unless we have a produce to give in exchange for the goods imported. The imported goods are not a new production, nor can we obtain them for our use without giving an equivalent in money or goods in exchange for them. If we produce largely, we can purchase in proportion, commodities necessary for our convenience and comfort, and hence a large production is beneficial to the merchant, manufacturer, and every part of the community in the Provinces. When the farmers produce abundance of their own commo- dity, it must be a flourishing condition of the community ; and when they do not do so, it must leave the community in a poor, weak, and exhausted state. It is by the continual efforts of men to produce more, and grow rich, that a country rises to prosperity ; it is by the saving and narrowing of consumption, that a nation falls into decay. The following article is from the French author, Say, on production : *< That each individual is interested in the general prosperity of all, and that the success of one branch of industry promotes that of all the others. In fact, whatever profession or line of business a man may devote himself to, he is the bet- ter paid and the more readily finds employment, in proportion as he sees others thriving equally around him. A man of talent, that scarcely ve- getates in a retrograde state of society, would find a thousand ways of turning his faculties to account in a thriving community that could af- ford to employ and reward his ability. A merchant established in a rich and populous town, sells to a much larger amount than one who sets up in a poor district, with a population sunk in indolence and apathy. What cot!ld an active manufacturer or an intelligent merchant do in a small, deserted, and semi-barbarous town in a remote corner of Poland or West- phalia? Though in no fear of competition, he could sell but little, be- cause little was produced : whilst at Paris, Amsterdam, or London, in 1 1 u }.S' f 200 * J- 1 'h ilii 11 1 If' 1; Rpito orthe competition of one hundred dealers in his o^vn lin«, he might do business on the largest scale. *< The reason is obvious,he is surrounded with people who produce largely in an infinity of ways, and who make purchases each with his respective products, that is to say, with the money arising from what he may have produced. " This is the true source of the gains made by the towns' people out of the country people, and again by the latter out of the farmer ; both of whom have wherewith to buy more largely the more amply they themselves pro- duce. A city, standing in the centre of a rich surrounding country, feels no want of rich and numerous customers ; and, on the other side, the vi- cinity of ah opulent city gives additional value to the produce of the coun- try. The division of nation» into agricultural, manufacturing, and com- mercial, is idle enough ; for the success of a people in agriculture, is a stimulus to its manufacturing and commercial prosperity : and the flour- ishing condition of its manufactures and commerce reflects a benefit upon its agriculture alsu. The position of a nation, in respect of its neighbours, is analogous to the relation of ono of its provinces to the other, or of the country to the town ; it has an interest in their prosperity, being sure to profit by their opulence. " From this fruitful principle, we may draw this further conclusion, that it is no injury to the internal or national industry and production to buy and import commodities from abroad ; for nothing can be bought from strangers except with native products, which find a vent in this external trafHc. Should it be objected that this foreign produce may have been bought with specie, I answer specie is not always a native product, but must have been bought itself with the products of native industry, so that whether the foreign articles be paid for in specie or in home produce, the vent for national industry is the same in both cases." This article may not be considered applicable to the subject I am about to discuss, but as our intercourse with other countries must depend upon our production and possession of exchangeable commodities, I cannot forego any opportunity to recommend the increase of production by every possible means. I do not expect to succeed in doing justice to this sub- ject, as it is not one I have given much thought to. I undertake the task however, as a farmer, and can only give a farmer's view of it. As our intercourse will be principally confined to England and her de- pendencies, it is necessary to state on what grounds we claim a free par- ticipation of trade as a part and portion of the British Empire, and in do- ing this I must introduce matter which more particularly belongs to Bri- tain than to these Provinces, but I feel that I could not otherwise pretend to do justice to this subject. Timber and pot-ash, the natural produce of the forest, wheat, flour, fish and peltries, are the principal exports from British America. There is no part of the exports that come in competi- tion with English agricultural produce except wheat and flour, of which a very small quantity has been exported latterly ; indeed the quanti- tity was so small that it could not depreciate the value of English wheat and flour. This year a large quantity of foreign wheat and barley which was in bond in England, has been sent out to Canada as a mercantile spec- pie out of I of whom elves pro- ntry, feels de, the vi- ' the coun- and com- jlture, is a I the flouv- ineiit upon leighbours, •, or of the ng sure to lusion, that ion to buy ought from lis external have been )roduct, but btry, so that l)roduce, the I I am about lepend upon s, I cannot ion by every ( to this sub' take the task t. and her de- n a free par- ), and in do- ongs to Bri- wise pretend il produce of jxports from in competi- nd flour, of ed the quanti- nglish wheat barley which rcantile spec- 207 Illation, which certainly was not required for the consumption of the peo- ple here, though our harvest was bad last year. An important question presents itself here. Is British America in her commercial intercourse with the British Isles considered as a part of the British Empire, entitled to all the privileges of being so, or ought she to be so considered 1 For me I cannot discover why she should not be al- lowed every privilege of intercourse as a part of the Empire, and that her produce should have the same protection in the English markets, that the produce and manufactures of England have in the markets of British America. This is all that we could require, and I am persuaded it would not be prejudicial to England or her people to grant and secure this to us. It will be objected that British America does not contribute towards pa^ ing any part of the burdens of England, and that therefore we could not expect to enjoy the same privileges of commercial intercourse that are enjoyed by the British people. To this I reply that the people of British America do contribute their mite towards the taxes, and fully as large a proportion as they are able to do in their new country. They indirectly con- tribute to the taxes in purchasing British manufactures which must come to them charged with all the cost of production, including the taxes paid in every way by those who produced them. It is clear that British man- ufactures would not be sent here if they did not pay the manufacturer his expenses and a profit. I leave it to those political economists who have so often calculated the anvount of tax which is paid in the production of every article, to estimate what proportion of the total imports to British America (jS3,600,000 annually,) may be considered os taxes, and what that amount may prove to be, is the proportion of the British revenue paid by British America. As the circumstances of these Provinces improve, the people will consume more of British goods, and every year will thus increase their contribution towards the British revenue. British manufac- tures meet with no competition in our .markets, and they are only subject to a duty of 2^ per cent. The shipping and tonnage employed in this trade, inwards and outwards, is nearly a fourth of the whole British mer- chant shipping, and this trade is almost exclusively in the hands of British merchants, who must gain fully as much by the trade, I should suppose, as the people of British America, considering that the charge for freight of an article so bulky as timber, must bear a large proportion to its entire value when landed in British ports. Not to argue the question farther, I would state that it is for the advan- tage of Britain to encourage and protect her trade with British America, simply on the principle that it must be as beneficial to her people as to ours, that it would be most unjust towards us to put foreigners on the same footing with us, considering the way in which the trade is carried on at present, and who they are who actually derive the most advantage from it. If the timber of dbe north of Europe is taken in preference to ours, our trade with the mother country will in a great measure be put a stop to. It is for the people of England to decide, whether the trade with these Provinces is likely to be more valuable to them than the trade of Pr;issia, Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Russia who might furnish them with timber, and perhaps grain. In trading with these countries, British ping will not be often employed in the transport of timber ', with us » m 206 If , ■! "111 f they are xeltuively employed, and probably will continue go. I cannot state the exact amount of Uie trade of Britain with the northern countries of Europe, but the amount of cotton goods to Sweden, Norway, Deninari< and Prussia was in 1834 only JS62,600. To Russia the amount was cer- tainly greater, but I believe it was chiefly in cotton twist, not in wrought cotton goods. The estimated amount in 1834 was JSl, 100,291, which showed a falling off from the previous ye^r of j£264,390. The total of woollen goods to all these countries, was in 1833 only about £110,000. These countries of Europe have too great a jealousy of England to be very profitable customers for her manufactures, and there is not much probability that the trade will increase. On the contrary, by fostering the trade with these Provinces, it will inevitable increase rapidly, and at no distant day be the most valuable trade that England will have. The capital in British America is too limited to admit of her people en- gaging extensively for the present in the carrying or shipping trade. All this capital will find more useful and profitable employment in giving acti- vity to her native industry, which considering the circumstances of tho country every way, is decidedly entitled to the preference. We can very well leave the carrying trade in the hands ofBritain which has ample capital, thousands of ships, and open ports at all seasons, and no wilderness to clear and cultivate. We do not at present require to train up a milita- ry, marine or navy for our protection ; when we do the country will be in a better state to bear such an expenditure of capital, and until then, we shall not suffer much loss though not possessipg a numerous fleet of mer- chant ships. For several years past, the importation of wheat and flour from British America was so trifling that it could not have any sensible eflfect on the English market. For the last three years the average price of wheat in England was below 62s the quarter, the lowest price at which foreign wheat is admissible, consequendy no foreign wheat was imported. The Colonial wheat is subject to a duty of five shillings sterling the quarter, but is alwaye admissible. When wheat is about 58 the bushel, the duty will be 12^ per cent. The timber duty perhaps exceeds this, but I can- not exactly say how much. The national debt of England cannot be w'ell connected with the inhab- itants of these Provinces. Had they been sunk in the ocean the debt would not have been much less. It was to maintain the honor, power, and influence of the British Empire that these Provinces were and are protected. The inhabitants are not therefore rightly chargeable with any of the ex- pense of the last wars. The national debt of England is looked upon by most persons as an overwhelming evil. I have learned to view it in a very different light. If it was so in reality, how is it that Britain is con- stantly advancing in wealth and power, notwithstanding her taxation, the same amount now as it was at the termination of the war, 22 years back. She owes a large debt, it is true, but who are her creditors ? Her own people generally, who spend the interest they receive annually in purcha- sing the produce and manufactures of England, that must certainly be charged with bU the cost of production, including the taxes paid directly and indirectly by the producer. This debt is not felt in the same way by England, that any other coun- countries , Denmark it was cer- 1 wrought 91, which le total of jei 10,000. land to be not much jstering the and at no • • people cn- rade. All giving acti- nces of the Ve can very nple capital, wilderness up a milita* ry will bo in itil then, we fleet of mer- ith the inhab- ean the debt ir, power, and are protected. y of the ex- oked upon by view it in a iritain is con- taxation, the 2 years back. J? Her own illy in purcha- certainly be paid directly y other coun- try would feel it. She dues at tliis moment poiiaess unemployed capital to a vast amount that cannot be invested iu fmy branch of trade that would be likely to be profitable, u" the channeln are so completely filled up. She has leat capital to many foreign countii^s, the repayment of which is more than doubtful. No other country on the globe could pay the revenue that England does, and without any very perceptible inconvenience. It is her capital, her machinery, her commerce, trade, and the industry of her people, that make engagements light to her, which would overwhelm any other country that did not possess the same advantages. Let us ex- amine this matter a little further. Suppose that England was to pay off the national debt to-morrow, in what way would it be productive of good 1 What would those who live on the interest of their money in the funds, do with their capital, if paid .off to them ? How would they invest it when so much capital is already idle ? Farming ia overdone, or at least unprofitable. Trade is over- done. In what channel of productive industry could it be invested ? It would certainly support the owners for a while, but what was to become of them when all was expended 1 So long as the income of England is expended in England on the produce and manufactures of her people, she will not be injuriously affected by her taxes, provided always that the taxes are equally borne by all, collected as economically as it is prac- ticable, and her expenditure is not extravagant ; all sinecures abolished^ and no pensions paid but such as are well deserved^ A military or naval establishment that would be unnecessarily large, would certainly be an evil, because a large proportion of their expendi- ture must be considered as unproductive consumption ; but if they are only sufEr.iently numerous for the protection of the British empire and her colonies, considering that almost all nations by whom she is surrounded are constantly armed, the expenditure is necessary and cannot well be complained of. If all taxes, or the greater part of them, were repealed, would it be expected that every person in the community who now pays them, di- rectly or indirectly, would have the exact amount which they now pay in taxes, in addition to their present revenue, whether derived from la- bour or from whatever source 1 Would they hope that their future in- come would be increased by the full amount they now pay in taxes ? To make the question plainer. If a man is now able to earn by his la- bour or industry in any way lOOl. annually, and that in expending this sum for necessaries, a fourth part, or 25/., is actually taxes, direct and indirect, on the commodities he purchases, would he expect that if tax- ation were done away he would still have 100/. income for the same quantity of labour or industrious exertion, and be able to purchase the same quantity of commodities for 25/. leas than he now has to pay for them 1 If it can be satisfactorily proved tbM this would be the result of the absence of all taxation in England, it is much to be regretted that taxes cannot be done away altogether. I, however, much doubt, that from the peculiar circumstances of Great Britain, so very different from «ny other country on the globe, that the absence of taxation would not 27 k ,»;, ifv '410 broduce »o much general good to the people as lome would anticipate. Taxation ia not so great an evil to those who have the means of paying it. If the inhabitants of the British Isles conceive that were taxes of every description abolished) that each inhabitant of 25,000,000 would on an average have their income increased 21. annually, or that they would be able to purchase to the amount of 2/. more of the necessaries of lif^ than they do now, I think their expectations would prove to be fallacious. The following table will give an idea of the vast resources of England to meet all demands. An ACCOUNT of the valve of all imports into, and all cxports from the United Kingdom, calculated according to the official rates of valua- tion ; distinguishing the value of the produce and manufactures of the United Kingdom, ^om the value of Foreign and Coloniul merchandise, exported during, the years 1S33 and 1834. Value of Imports into Great Britain, calcula ted at the official rates of Valuation. Value of Exports from Great Britain, calcuia- ted at the official rates of valuation. Produce and manufactures of the United Kingdom. Foreign and Colonial mer- chandise. Total exports. 1833 1834 JB45,952,551 ^49,362,811 je69,989,339 ^73,83 1,550 £ 9,833,753 ;f 11,562,036 £79,828,093 ^85,393,587 Revenue and expenditure for the year ending 5th January, 1836, INCOME. Customs, _--»---- Excise, -------- Stamps and Hackney Coaches, &c - - - - Taxes, -------- Post Office -.--.--- Is. 6d. and 4s. on Pensions, &c. - - - - Crown Lands ------- Small Branches of the King's Hereditary Revenue, Surplus Fees, - - - - - - - From the Bank of England, on account of unclaimed Dividends, -..--- Impressed and other Monies, - » - . - £ast India Company, for 4 George IV. c. 71 Repayments for advances for Public Works Total Revenue and other Receipts, j£21,ll8,920 16,756,716 - 7,562,755 4,667,349 - 2,319,980 - 13,719 354,980 - 34,746 24,078 4,680 18,912 52,777,839 60,000 - 618,731 ^53,456,571 311 • 'I EXPENDITURE. PATMENT8 OUT UF THE uRuSS REVENUE. &C. - - - - '1 ! Repayments, Dravrbacks, &c Charges of Collection, &c. Other Repayments, . • - Bounties, .... Woods and Forests . - . Pensions and Grants, Civil Government of Scotland, &c. Miscellaneous, - • # PAID AT THE EXCHEQUER. Interest and Management of Permanent Debt, - Terminable annuities, .... . . Interest on Exchequer Bills, ... . < Russian Loan, raised in Holland, - . . - Civil List, . - - - - . - Civil, Naval, Military, and Judicial Annuities and Pensions^ Salaries and Allowances, ...... Diplomatic Salaries and Pensions, .... Courts of JusticOi - - . . . . Mint, - • - - - . .. Miscellaneous, > > ..... Payments on the annual Grants for Army, do* do. Navy, . - do. do. Ordnance, do. do» Miscellaneous, - ie2,204,296 ■ 3,582,635 . 130,403 13,344 - 130,639 21,182 . 127,790 . 265,319 £6,525,711 iC24,158,879 3,653,922 691,294 - 190,809 510,000 502,309 162,930 181,448 433,601; 14,649 274,194 6,493,925 4,503,908 1,068,223 2,061,395 ADVANCE FOR PUBLIC WORKS. Commissioners for issue of Exchequer Bills for employ- ment of Poor, . . . . , Exchequer Bills issued for Reliefof Owners of Tithes in Ireland, . > . . Advances for Public Works in Ireland, Total Advances, - - - - Expenditure, exclusive of Advances - - ^ ■ Total expenditure, .... Balance in the hands of Collectors on 5th January, 1835, Bank of England notes in circulation in 1834, on an average of the four quarters, was Of Joint Stock Companies of England and Wales, Of Private Banks in do. - - - Total Bank Notes in circulation in 1834 #27 ^^51,427,412 ie695,450 800,000 619,063 je2,014,513 51,427,412 £53,441,925 jfl,709,462 18,235,983 2,508,03e . 7,913,587 je28,656,606 IRp! I M A-'r m 21« I do not know what quantity of gold and lilrer coin is in citeulation, nor have I any infurmation of the amount of Bank notes in circulation in Scotland and Ireland. The quantity of gold coined at the mint in London since t&e commence- ment of the new gold coinage in 1817 to the 3l6t December 1829, amount- ed in value to j£4<4<,224,490, and it was coined into 16,120 double sover- eigns, 4f0,672,4d6 sovereigns) and 7,839,688 half sovereigns, The amount of Bank notes in circulation in England and Wales from the year 1810 to the year 1820, varied from 42,000,000/. to 52,000,000/, During that period, however, there was not much gold or silver coin in circulation. It is interesting to show the cflfects of monopoly. In 1833-4 the quan- tity of tea imported into the British Isles was 29,693,310 lbs. This was under the East India Company's monopoly. In 1834-5, when the mo» nopoly was done away, the importation amounted to 41,041,843 lbs. and three sliips were still due when the returns were made up in October^ which were expected to bring cargoes of about 2,000,000 lbs. Thid would make the importation of last year, when the trade was open, over 43,000,000 of pounds, which shows an increase in one year of more than one-third, or about 13 millions of pounds. Well may the great majority of every nation condemn monopoly in almost every shape and form. I perceive by the tea returns that nearly half the quantity imported is Congou, and nearly a fourth part Bohea. I give the following tables, which may further explain the nature and extent of the trade and resources of tho United Kingdom. It is possible some information may be derived from them, that tnight be useful to the people of these Provinces, and help them to direct their industry. Wheat. — Annual average prices of wheat in England and Wales* from 1815 to 1834, by thiB quarter: — - 9. d. 9, d. 1815 ,^. 63 8 1825 66 6 1816 . 76 2 1826 • ^ 56 11 1817 94 1627 ■ - 56 9i 1813 83 8 1828 60 6 1819 , 72 3 1829 66 3 1820 65 10 1830 .-, -j,.-;j; J . 64 3 1821 . 54. 5 1831 66 4 1822 ' . 43 3 1832 ;^;/o t; 58 8 1823 -. 51 9 1833 52 11 1824. ■ - - 62 1834 - <^< V K ' 46 % and in 1835 the average was not 40». the quarter. ' ""' In Lower Canada the average price of wheat for the hist sixteen years was about 5s. 3d to 5*. 6(/. the minot. tJl:i(»" , ' T iV'8 iv--f' 213 Grain imported into England and fftde* in 1834. Description of Quantities imported. Quantities brought from Grain, &c. Foreign. 1 Colonial. Ireland. Wheat, quartera. no returns. no returns. ^ 462,229 Rye, 841,40 47,167 982 Barley, 217,568 Oat?, 87,192 1,227,597 Peas, 175,185 666 2,196 . Beans, 67,802 283 18,776 Maize, 48,229 75 Malt, 3,862 Wheat meal, cwt. 87,772 61,984 1,118,464 Oat meal, 72 672,993 i,i' Duty on Colonial Grain in 1834, fr? A V I ». d. a. d. Wheat, per quarter 6 Oats, 3 Rye, 2 6 Peas, 1 9 Barley, 2 Beans, , .' 3 If "Mi i ni Prices of various articles of provisions and Merchandize in the markets of London in January and June^ 1834. Beef inSmithfield market per stone of 8 lb. Mutton, Newcastle coal per ton. Iron in bars, do. in pigs. Cheese, Cheshire, per cwt., ditto. Gloucester ditto.. Butter, Cork, first rate. Hemp, Riga Rine per ton, Petersburgh, clear " Flax, Biga, P. T. R. « Tallow,yellow soap,per cwt Petersburgh " British town made <♦ \ Whale Oil, New Greenti- land, per ton. Spermaceti, <• Deals, Memel, yellow, pe^ stand, hd. Timber, Memel per load, w 15 to 16' 4 16 to 6 6 n\ }:i S14 [hI' '1 Woollen Manufaciurm, ^c. in England and Wales. The quantity of British sheep and lamb's wool exported to foreign countries during 1834* was 2,278,721 lbs.; of woollen and worsted yarn (including yarn of wool or worsted mixed with other materials) 1,861,870 lbs.; the declared value of British woollen manufactures exported during the year 1834, amounted to j£5,736,870 ; and the quantity of sheep and lamb's wool imported into the United Kingdom from foreign countries, in- cluding the Isle of Man, during 1834, was 46,490,720 lbs., of which 40,- 840,271 lbs. were retained for home consumption, 807,362 lbs. were re- exported, and 6,494,266 lbs. remaining were housed under bond on 5th January, 1835. WooU (Cotton.) Imported in 1833 was 303,656,837 Ibs.,and,iQ 1834 was 326,876,425 lbs. Of this quantity about 270,000,000 lbs. were from the United States. The quantity and declared value of British cotton manufactured goods exported from the United Kingdom in 1833 and 1834. In 1833 was jei8,486,401, and in 1834 £20,513,586. Sugar — Imported into the United Kingdom in 1833 was 4,763,414 cwt. Coffee — ^Imported 41,865,111 lbs., and exported the same year 15,250,- 480 lbs. Quantity of coals brought into the port of London in 1834 was 2,080,547 tons. Iron — Exported and Imported in 1834. — Of British Iron exported there were of bar iron, 70,809 tons ; bolt and rod iron, 9,154 tons ; pig iron, 21,788 ; cast iron, 13,870 ; iron ware, 298 ; anchors and grapnels, 1,940 ; hoops, 12,046 ; nails, 5,005 ; all other sorts, except ordnance, 20,947 ; old iron, for re-manufacture, 497 ; foreign iron imported in bars or unwrought, 16,215 tons, and 698 tons of unwrought steel. Soap — Quantity made in Great Britain in 1834. — Hard soap 143,904,- 897 lbs. Soft soap, 10,355,424 lbs. Exported to foreign countries 12,- 460,000 lbs. Quantity of foreign and Colonial tallow imported in 1834 : — 1,3.97,406 cwts. Quantity of tobacco imported into the United Kingdom during the year 1834, was 39,478,906, of which 38,440,794 lbs. came fVom the United States. Total amount of spirits distilled in the United Kingdom in the year en- ding 5th January, 1835,was, in England, from a mixture of malt with un- malted grain, 4,652,838 gallons. Scotland, from malt only, 5,994,623 gallons ; from a mixture of malt with unnalted grain 3,198,468 gallons. Total 9,193,091 gallons. Ireland, from malt only, 63,895 gallons ; from a mixture of malt with unmalted grain, 9,307,448 gallons. Total quantity for the United King- dom, 23,216,272 gallons. Total quantity of Colonial spirits imported, 5,130,448 gallons. Total quantity of foreign proof spirits imported, 3,576,834 gallons, on which a duty of 11 2s 6d the gallon was paid for all admitted for home consumption. !il5 Wine, imported, 9,^66,116 gallons. The rate* of duty on that reiaiii- ed for home consumption per ^ Ion were, French, 68 6d, Cape, 2s 9d. other sorts, 5s 6d. Malt, from barley, 39,807,287 bushels \ t . i A^^H^'ha Malt, from beer, or Bigg, 1,338,30 9 bushels ] ™^» 41,145.696. Hops, 39,587,497 lbs. Duty paid on them, 329,895/. Number of acres under cultivation for hops in Great Britain in 1634 was 51,273,which yields a produce of about 765 lbs. the acre. The quantity of hops export- ed in 1834<, of various growth, from 1817 to 1834, was 870,099 lbs., and the quantity imported from foreign countries was 52,699 lbs. Quantity of beer exported to foreign countries in 1835 was 71,418 barrels. Number of cotton, wool, silk and flax factories worked by steam in the United Kingdom in 1835, was 3236, of which 76 were empty. The num- ber of persons employed were 355,373, of whom 158,555 were males, and 196,818 were females. Of these persons 164,663 were under 16 years, and 190,780 over 18 years of age. Children under 13 years of age are subject to the education clauses of the act of Parliament for regu- lating labour in factories, and only work 9 hours per day. The average number of persons at work in each factory is about 112. Such are the resources of England. She imports annually near JS50,- 000,000, and exports of (he product and manufaclure of the United King- donit near 74,000,000/, and her exports altogether amount to 85,393,587/. While she continues to exhibit such a balance sheet, that proves the prosperous state of her trade and commerce, the national debt need not give her people much concern. The consumers of her manufactures all over the world assist in paying the interest of the debt) and they do so with advantage to themselves because England supplies them on better terms than they can, notwithstanding her taxation and the heavy duties which British goods have generally to pay in foreign ports. If England by the command of capital, the perfection and power of her machinery, and the industry and ingenuity of her people are able to undersell other na- tions, in their own markets, it is so much the more creditable for her, and must be beneficial to them,because they are furnished with necessaries of a better description and at a cheaper r: te than they could obtain them else- where or manufacture them. Her own Colonies in every part of the world, pay in the same way their proportion of her burdens, and so far very justly, but this is the limit of what they are bound to do. The manufacturing class has ever been the most violent and clamor- ous about taxation, and I think it would not be difficult to prove that the agricultural class have much more cause to complain that they are sub- ject to the greatest burden of taxes, and that what is paid by the manu- facturers is refunded to them by the English agriculturist, ana by all those who purchase their manufactures all over the world. The malt, hop, and beer tax, (I will not include the spirit tax,) is a direct tax on agricul- ture, and though the consumer of beer pays it, yet the manufacturer finds means to be refunded what he pays, in the price of his goods which he soils to the farmer and other customers out of Britain. Hence the value of the farmer's produce is lessened by a heavy direct tax upon it, which is nearly all paid at his expense. Whatever the manufacturea of £ng- 4 316 ■'( ;< Uod finally veil for, including the cost of materials, labour, taxes and profitB» must all be paid for from the produce of British agriculture, except what is exported, and what is consumed hy the manufacturer. These are not idle propositions, but such as are capable of demonstration. The manufactu- rer would not continue at his trade if he did not find it as profitable as any other, and all his consumption, including all his taxes, must be charged on the manufactures he sells^ and whoever pays ultimately for these manufactures, pays all the tax. The farmer is confined to the market of Britain for the sale of his produce ; he cannot extend it ; he has only a given number to supply with food, and if he raises more food than they want, he cannot sell it; all the pow^r of machinery cannot make land produce more than a certain quantity of grain or vegetables j not so with the manufacturer ; he can use machinery that can perform the work of hundreds of men ; he can multiply his products without end, and he has the whole extent of the globe for his market ; and with all these advantages above their neighbors, the manufacturing class has ever heretofore been clamorous about taxes and dear bread. I have often thought of the remark of a great man, Sir £obert Walpole, in reference to the agricultural and other class, and doubtless there was some justice in it, when he compared the agricul- tural class to a flock of sheep^ who tamely and without murmur suffered themselves to be annually shorn of a valuable fleece of wool ; but the other class he compared to swine, who, if you attempted to sheer them, made a tremendous noise and fierce resistance, and give no valuable fleece after all. This is no reflection on the manufacturing class ; but contrasting their extreme unwillingness to be shorn with the simplicity of the agricul- tural class, who are proverbially negligent of their true interests. Con- «tant intercourse with each other and with the world — a better education — « greater fluency of language which they acquire both from necessity and practice, give the class not agricultural in all countries a decided advan- tage over farmers of almost every grade. The press is generally on the Bide of the mercantile body, though I must say they are not unjustly so in Canada. Farmers must indeed have clearly the better cause when they oppose succesiifully such opponents on any question which affects the separate interests of either party, and which have to be decided by argument sup- ported by the influence of the London press. I do not desire to insinuate that the class not agricultural, or that the press would wilful- ly support measures and a state of things that would be manifestly un- just and injurious to the agricultural part of the community ; but 1 attribute things being as they are to the circumstance that the class not ngricultural understand perfectly their own interest, and always adopt the best means to secure it without ever troubling their heeds to find out what would be the interests of the other class ; or, perhaps, whether their own interests infringed upon the rights of the other class. Farmers on the contrary are so negligent, that they do not study their real position, whe- ther they enjoy equal advantages, whether and in what manner they are debarred from any of their just rights and privileges, and whether they profit by all the favorable circumstances that belong to their situation. It is this supineness that in all countries subjects the farmers' interests to h^ 217 leas cared for than other parts of the commiinity. I have witneRsed its eB'ects both here and elsewhere. - There is another question of some importance. Are the profits on produce from trade and manufactures capable of purchasing as much of the necessaries and comforts of life for all those employed in them, as the produce from agriculture, afler all deductions, is capable of affording to those employed in agriculture ? If they are on an equality in this re* spect, there can be no just cause of complaint for one more than anoth- er. If the manufacturer should pay a trifle more for his food than he would do were there a free trade in corn, he sells his manufactures charged with the expense of production, which includes the enhanced price of his food and hit taxes. I admit if there was no restriction to the importation of corn, and that the manufacturer could buy his food at half what it costs him now (though that would be impossible,) and at the same time sell his manufactures for the same price he receives at present, his condition would be improved. But what was the farmer to do under such circumstances; would his condition be equal to the manufacturer's? Who would he sell his corn to ; or could he obtain a price that would af- ford him means to buy manufactured goods ? Certainly not, and hence the manufacturers would lose their best customers. Were farmers or farm labourers to be thrown out of employ, could they become manufac- turers ? In case of war, what was the J^'alion oj Manujadurers to do, that should depend on foreign nations to buy their manufactures, and sell them food 1 Ruin would be the inevitable consequence of such a state of things. By the report of the select committee of hand-loom weavers, the an- swer of one of the witnesses, Hugh Mackenzie, of Glasgow, to the com- mittee, may be interesting : " Do you ascribe your distress to what is called the Corn Bill 1 With respect to the corn bill, there are many different opinions upon it ; but as relates to us as weavers, we are persuaded that though the corn bill were off to-morrow, such is the nature of our manufactures and the disposition for cheapness, that they would reduce us exactly proportionably to the f^ll of corn." Remove every restriction on trade, and farmers cannot expect protect- ing duties to be kept on for them ; but England is so peculiarly circum- stanced in regard to what is called her national debt, that restrictions and taxes must be supported, if the fund-holders are to receive their interest. If the country never had a national debt, it would unqueslionably be better for the country; but now that she has one, though it should be possible, perhaps it would not be an expedient measure to pay off the vhole. Uut this we need not speculate upon. It will not be paid in this age, while Sir Robert Peel's currency bill remains unrepealed. Foreign wool is imported largely into England, but there is no objec- tion to this, because the country is unable to produce sufficient wooJ for her manufacturers, and it must be very desirable, and add greatly to the national wealth, to import raw produce of little value, and export goods of great value, and this increased value given by the industry of the people, that might otherwise be idle and thrown for support on the agricultural interest. Though a farmer, I would not plead for any unjust or unaquj^l ki !• i ■ 1 H 1 i 1 i p T 1 ! 1 2W Pi ii tj/i I" ' /-. ■ill if-: '■ Ik' • I e, advautage for fnrmen ; but I would rejoice to see them placed on a per- feet equality with other portions of the comniunity, as regards rights and privileges, and that they should not be subject to any species of oppres- sion. The agticultural interest ought not to be neglected in Britain. In case of war or other casualty, they would be found the most useful part of the community. Something, must manifestly be wrong, or thou- sands of respectable farmers would not have been reduced to destitution year after year since the tei mination of the last war. It is well known how useful a class of persons these were in a community, and particular* ly in one constituted as that of the British Isles. Hundreds of thousands of them have lost their all, the fruits of their own industry and that of their fathers. Unquestionably other parts of the community must have gained unjustly by their losses. Farmers are not a class of persons generally given to expense or extravagance, nor is it probable that in many instan- ces their losses can be traced to any such causes; consequently some in- justice must have been done to them, or they would not be the only suf- ferers in a lariving community. -The poor-rates in England are a drawback on her prosperity, because it must be injurious to all that there is not meaus of employing the poor profitably. The right of the unemployed poor to maintenance at the public charge is unquestionable ; no law can jziatly deprive them of this right. It is as firmly established as Magna Charta, the Bill of Rights, or the Habeas Corpus acts ; but that so large a sum as 8,000,000/. should be annually expended in this unproductive way, is a great loss to the community. If any means could be devised that the unemployed poor might be put into a situation that would enable them to provide for them- selves, it would be greatly for their own advantage, as well as that of the English people. To settle them on the waste lands in her colonies, and furnish them witli the means to cultivate these lands, would be one way that could be adopted to remedy this increasing evil, and 'it is the only one that appears practicable at this moment. The people of England are not, however, to get rid of their poor by transporting them out of the country, and leaving them to provide for themselves without means in a land of strangers. Unless they are reasonably provided for, and their settlement carefully superintended, it would be unqualified injustice to oblige or even encourage them to emigrate, particularly such as have families. There is abundance of room for every man who is industriously dis- posed, and has m<;ans to settle in the immense forests of British Ameri- ca, but without capital they cannot succeed there. Were a judicious plan of emigration and settlement adopted, the poor who are now burdensome to the people of the British Isles, might in a few years be not only able to provide for themselves, but be consumers of British goods, and thus contribute their mite towards the revenue of England. England gave 20,000,000/. to emancipate the slaves of the West Indies ; the condition of her own poor would certainly require to be ameliorated. The poor of Eng- land have rights that were they purchased by the parishes at a fair valua- tion, would establish them in any of the British Colonies in a way that they could provide for themselves. The money, however, should not be committed to their charge, but measures taken to apply it for their comfortable establish meut under proper superintendence, who would 919 "i ; advance the money to them as they proceeded with th^ir improve- mentB, and provide each family with a cow, pigs, implements and mater- ials for a small house. I shall refer to this subject again. I have seen an interesting paper abridged from foreign . communica- tions made to the Poor-Law Commissioners in England a short time since. It may be useful to be acquainted M'ith some of its details. In several European countries, in order to prevent pauperism, the Government takes care to provide for the education of the working clas- ses. In Norway, the children of the poor have free access to the parish schools, and scarcely pay anything for the education of their children, or for religious teachers. The general report from Russia states, that every parish in every town has a school which is open to children of all classes, under the direction of the clergyman. The Gottenburg re- port states that in Sweden gratuitous education is provided for the chil- dren of the indigent, and it is asserted that there is not one person nut of 1000 who cannot at least read. The Danish report states, that the children of all poor persons are educated grattiitously ; that the parish is taxed for the payment of the schoolmaster, the repairs of the school- house, books, paper, pens, ink, &c.; and that the parents arc bound un- der a penalty to send their children regularly to school until they have passed the age of fourteen and been contirrned. Gratuitous education is also afforded in Mecklenburg and in Prussia. Mr. Gibson states, as a general lawxrf the country, that '* all children capable of going to school are obliged to attend it. Those whose parents are unable to pay the expense must be sent thither at the cost of the community to which they belong ; the expense oi school-money and religious instruction is about Is. 6d. for each child." In the detailed regulations for the relief of the poor in Berlin, it is laid down, that " the period of children being sent to school regularly commences at the beginning of the child's seventh year, and terminates when the child, according to the testimony of the Minis- ter, has acquired the knowledge necessary for his station in life, which generally occurs on his attaining his fourteenth year. If parents allow their children to grow up without instruction, the Commissioners for the relief of the poor are to remonstrate with them ; and should this be of no avail, the commissary of police is to interfere." In Saxony, *' the local poor commission supports free schools." The Bavarian poor-law enacts that all the children of the poor shall, without favour and without regard to the usual pretexts, be kept to the practice of the public school and religious instruction, as also ol frequenting the work and industry schools and of learning a trade. The school money is to be paid from the poor institutions. Among all the continental communities which recognize in the poor the right to relief, the only one which does not appear to provide tho means of education, and to enforce their being made use of is that in which pauperism has become absolutely intolerable, namely, the canton of Bern ; and were there any aubain, or person not entitled to bour- geoisie (settlement) in the parish in which he resides, may be summarily ejected (unless possessed of landed property in it) If it can be proved that he does not either send his children to school or provide otherwise for their education. 2S* ^||] '»■. 220 I If In France, in the department of the Loire In/erieure, the report •tatea,e intersts ofth^ people of these Provinc s would be cared for and every protection and privi-. lege afforded to them that would be extended to Ireland in the way of trade. These Provinces receive English goods,on the most favorable possible terms,^ and all they ask iii return is that Britain shall i-eceive their produce in pay-, ment on the same terms. It is useless to tell us of the jyational Vebl,, or the burdens of the people of England. We understand them perfectly, well, hilt we are unable to pay any part of them, except what we contriT bute by purchasing the manufactures of Britain, that come to us charged with her taxes of course. These we will purchase, if England purchase, from us, otherwise we cannot. I have candidly endeavored to show things, as they are, and plainly to state the grounds on which the British American Provinces claim a freedom of commercial intercourse equal to that which is enjoyed by the people of Britain with the Provinces. It is on this principle alone that an advantageous intercourse can be carried on for both cuuntries< If British agriculture is depressed, I think Ihave proved that it is not by any means to be attributed to the intercourse with British America. 29 |: S96 III: J v.!!.- The remedy for the relief of the British farmer will not be found in anj measures f:it could be adopted to interrupt or restrict a free intercourse with these i^rovinces. It is in England the causes of depression have oc- curred, and in England alone an effectual remedy can be found. The trade of British America with the West Indies might be greatly exten- ded. It is a trade that is suitable for the Provinces provided Rum did not form a large proportion of the return cargoes. This article will not be neces- sary for us to any great extent, considering our own circumstances. We may produce a large quantity of barley ,rye and oats, which cannot be export- ed to profit, and if we do not convert it into spirits, we cannot make any other use of what we may have to spare of this grain. If we will use spirits, we ought surely to manufacture it from our own inferior grain which we cannot otherwise dispose of,in preference to importing spirits from abroad. If the settlement of the forests was to go on as it would be desirable, we would find a greatly extended home market for our produce that would be much the most profitable. As the country becomes populous, and our cities, towns and villages increase, markets will also increase, and there is therefore not the slightest cause to apprehend over production, or that we shall not be able to dispose of our produce when it is greatly aug- mented. No country, however fertile, will produce more than is neces- sary to provide amply for the comfort and convenience of its inhabitants. If they do not produce for themselves all the articles necessary for their comfort and convenience, they can exchange what they find it more pro- fitable to produce,for those^articles which they may require from other coun- tries. Hence it is that no country need ha\°e surplus produce if the indus- t.y of the people is properly directed. If they cannot produce for them- selves all that they may require of every necessary, they will have to pro- duce such articles as they can exchange with other countries that can sup- ply them with what they want, and 'if they are unable to do this, they must themselves manufacture what they want, instead of producing what they do not want, and cannot sell. Ireland exports a large quantity of corn and cattle, but would that con- tinue to be the case were all her people to be clothed and fed as the peo- ple of England are ? Certainly it would not. Though fertile the country, it is not in its present state more than able to furnish her people with a full supply of every necessary, comfort, and convenience that human be- ings ought to possess. There may of course be a surplus produce of corn and cattle, but these must be exchanged for manufactures and other necessaries which Ireland does not produce. I do anticipate that an im- provement in the condition of the people of Ireland, will prove beneficial to the interests of these Provinces, and extend the markets for their pro- duce. A GOOD Providence has given to every country and people the means of their own temporal happiness, if they only make a proper use of the ad- vantages at their disposal, and British America possesses a full share of these natural advantages, and only wants people who have capital to take possession of, and enjoy them. In concluding this subject I would observe that the people of British America can never enjoy the full advantages that belong to their situation and circumstances without a more general education of the people, and particulariy the agricultural das*. It is only by education and reading 227 agriculturnl works that they can acquire a proper taste for inaprovement. I have endeavored to prove that to increase production will augment the means of happiness for every class. If this be admitted, it is our duty to learn ourselves and instruct others how labor and land will be. most pro- ductive of what is necessary for the comfort and enjoyment of the human family. A useful education is perfectly attainable by almost every agri- culturist. If the hours that are oflen wasted or spent unprofitably were devoted to reading books of instruction, and obtaining a knowledge of men and things in other countries, it would be found nearly sufficient time to acquire a very respectable portion of education. Like every thing else, a taste for useful knowledge is necessary, or a man may spend a good part of his youth at school, without being much benefitted by it; but those who wish to attain knowledge, from a sense of its usefulness and pleasure, will attain it, whatever difficulties may present themselves. According to Dr. Johnson, •♦ All knowledge is of itself of some value. There is nothing so minute or inconsiderable that I would not rather know it than not." He was of opinion that knowledge gave pow- er, *' and that all power of whatever sort was desirable." There can be no doubt but that useful knowledge, which will give us power to do what will be beneficial to ourselves and to society, is highly desirable in every point of view. The cultivation of letters draws men otV from what is hurtful, and gives them other and more useful pursuits. It tends to explode ab- surd prejudices which have so seriously injured mankind, and which too often arm them against each other and their own interest. To the forma- tion of enlightened legislators the improvement of the mind through books and observation is essential ; and it is almost needless to observe that wise laws are indispensible to the profitable exercise of industry. Sir Joshua Reynolds says, " Perhaps there is no higher proof of the excellence of man than this — that to a mind properly cultivated, whr.tever is bounded is little. The mind is continually labouring to advance, step by step through successive gradations of excellence towaids perfection, which is dimly seen at a great though not hopeless distance, and which we must al- ways follow because we can never attain ; but the pursuit rewards itself; one truth teaches another, and our store is always increasing though nature can never be exhausted." Were useful practical knowledge more generally diffused, and every art, including that of agriculture in particular, uniformly directed by the prin- ciple of science, new and interesting plans would be formed, new improve • ments set on foot, new comforts enjoyed, and a new lustre would appear on the face of nature, and on the general state of society. We would soon observe tho effects of this most desirable diffusion, in only traveling through the country or walking over (he meadows and fields ; wo would see eve- ry farm in good order, producing largely, corn, fruits and vegetables, and abounding with well f<3d domestic animals ; all hurtful weeds extirpated, and nothing suffered to grow but what was useful for man or his cattle., Ample proof of the skill and industrv of the farmer exhibited in every field, ridge, furrow and drain. Houses, neat and commodious, furnished with every requisite accommodation for the inmates. Bams sufHciently air and water tight to secure the crops; stables and eattle-houscs construct- . (d in inch a way ai to afibrd comfortable shelter to domestic animals. 20* 228 All on ey^ry side proving th^ knowledge, industry and good management of the bgrrculturists, by the fruits of it, abundance, comfort and happi- ness of the rural population. HowdflightfulitwouId.be to realize this picture, and in no country in the world is it possible if not in British A- nierica. It is not for others that the agricuhurist has to labour and toil here, but for hiniBelfand his children. If his life is necessarily a labori- 'ous one, there are many enjoymjents that are not to be had in any other .mode of life. I know that without a reasonable degree of agricultural skill, aiid tpremitted attention and industry, farming will often be found laborious without affording much profit o. enjoyment ; but in every 'profession and trade, atteiition and industry are requisite to attain indepen> dente, or even moderate compensation. We do not often see fortunes acquired by those who are not skilful and industrious in the business they bre engaged in. In no business that man is employed in is it more ne- cessary than in farming. Young agriculturists may acquire useful knowJedjge without becoming idle or neglecting their other duties. It can- not be a useftil education, that would lead them to neglect the duties of their calling ; on the contrary it is that which will teach them their duty arid the way to perform it. The instruction of the class not agricultural is equally necessary. ** At Surges, there are six or seven hundred young men belonging to the poorer classes, who are educated gratuitously every evening during the week in drawing, and in the arts generally ; and once a year prizes are given to the most deserving pupils in each department of art, an ho- nour which is rendered more flattering by a public procession through the town on the prize-day. Surges is a manufacturing city, and the taste which is first formed in the drawing school is afterwards visible in the manufactured productions. And in other large towns of Belgium similar institutions are productive of the like advantages. At Antwerp, the Sun- day-schools are attended by about 7000 children, who are not only in- structed in reading and writing, but also in drawing ; and if any of these children evince a natural taste for the latter pursuit, their talents are im- mediately cultivated, and are afterwards profitably directed in sustaining the reputation of the domestic manufactures ; and the encouragement docs not stop here, for if more than ordinary genius is evinced by the pu- pil, the opportunity is afforded at the public expense of pursuing a course of study calculated to develope and mature it. Thus fostered, talent has emerged into eminence from the poorest ranks of the people." — {Parliamentanj Report.) Dr. Bowring, in his Report on the commercial relations between France and Great Britain, mentions the school of St. Peter, at Lyons, where a course of instruction in the different departments of art is gratu- itously given to about 200 students. The course lasts five years ; the classes open at nine and continue till two o'clock. The students must be of French birth* and Lyonnese are to be preferred. The city of Lyons pays 20,000 francs annually for the support of the school, and the Government gives 3,000 francs from the budget of the Minister of Commerce. A library, a botanical garden, a hall of sculpture, ja muee- um of natural history, and an anatomical theatre, belong to the eatab* lishment, and are accessible to (he students. There ar^ professors of 220 the different branches of the fine art?, and one of .vhose particular busi- ness it is to teach their application lo mnnufaclurPiS. In March, 1834, there were 200 studenUi, divided into seven classes, under the direction of seven professors. The classses are, 1st, The ele- mentary class ; 2rKl, The bust-copying class, or that in which the study is solely devoted to inanimate objects ; 3rd, The anima '*lly provided for from public funds,it would,I believe,be found necessa- ry that the law should at the same time oblige parents and guardians to send the children to school a given number of hours,day8 and years. It is a waste of public money to keep a school open and pay a school-master, if the chil- dren are not kepi, regularly at school. It is perfectly fair that if schools should be supported exclusively by public funds, the people for whose use they are so provided for should be obliged to make use of them for th«ir children. Hov\'ever objectionable compulsory laws may bo, I can- |l i^. 230 not Fee how they can be itoeonably dit-pensed nith in thiii particular in* etance. "' THE WHEAT FLYj OR CECIDOMYIA-TRITICI. All .VI ; ' '-k^'^ This insect has not been known in Lower Canada until the last year, and was not much known ihen.but only the ravages it committed. In the yeak 1834< partial injury was done to the wheat, and I found the maggot in the ear of wheat but could not conjecture what had produced it, as I had not then heard of the fly. Last year, however, about the 7th or 8th of July I discovered the fly on my wheat in myriads. The ear was then shot out in my first sown wheat, and there was scarcely an ear that had not many flies upon it. They appeared to me then to be depositing their egg.«> or hn'(B in the glumes of the car, and I found in six or eight days subsequently, live maggots produced, thai subsisted on the milk or mat- ter destined to form the grain. The fly disappeared enti.oly on the 11th or 12th of July. I could not find one ai^p"* the 13th, though I sought care- fully for them. My earliest wheat was nearly all destroyed, some ears not having one grain loft. A part of my wheal, that was not fully in ear when the flies disappeared, was not so much injured. The tops of the car had the maggots, but the lower part that was not shot out was unin- jured. Though my vi^heat was on new land, aiid had a most luxuriant appearance, it did not on an average produce much over six bushels to the acre, which was not a fourth of what it should have yielded from the ap- pearance of the crop standing. In the Spring of 1835 the seed was washed and steeped in strong lime water, and as well prepared as it was possible, previous to sowing. When the wheat became nearly ripe the maggots disappeared from the ear, and I have cause to suppose they fell into the soil and remained there during the winter, and re-produced the dv this spring. This year, 1836, 1 have barley, oats and potatoes where the wheat was last year. On the 29lh of June I discovered the fly. For several days they remained close to the surface of the soil,in the grass and young clover,and could not be seen without separating the growing corn with the hands, they then fluttered about but did not rise more than a few inches above the ground. The first day I discovered them they appeared then in the act of copulating, and were not arrived at the full size. I examined them closely every day, several times, particularly in the evening. On Monday evening, the 4.th of July, they couunenced depositing their eggs or larvce in the ears o( barley which were then shot out. The grain on the ear of barley is so closely surrounded by the awns when ii is first shot out that the fly finds some difliculty in getting at the grain. I have seen them work their way under and between the awns, and M-hen they got to the grain im- mediately eject their eggs mto it. Several of them might be seen together on one ear under the awns thus employed. They will not attempt to de- posit their eggs unless they can get upon the grain of barley, or upon the glumes of the ear of wheat, hence there is no danger until the cars are uncovered. They are too delicate a fly to be able to penetrate through the covering of the ear until fully shot out. I caught one fly, that had got under the awns of barley, and secured 231 it by holding its feet and vving$. I examined it with a. microscope on the Bpot, and could distinctly see it move its body violently and cast its eggs or larvaa from it,and the larvot were perfectly visible and distinct to the num- ber of six or eight, and appeared to have life and ntotioii. I could not dis' tinguish the larvcR with the naked eye, but barely perceived my finger nail discoloured by the eggs. Last year not many of my brother farmers would be convinced that the maggots in the car of wheat were produced by the %, bccaui>e they had not themselves seen them. Th tom of the tub. It is completely insoluble in cold water, and when per- fectly white and pure, forms a consistent niabi', which is then spread nut upon uc!(>lh or other cuun'iv.tiicc iiir liiyiiig it ; and by rubbing it with the hand as it dries, it falls down into a fine impalpable powder, consti- tuting the potatoc-flour. If kept in a dry place, t^ys may be preserved for any length of time ; and lirom the commencement until the termina- tion of the process, the operation may perhaps occupy a week. When used in the manufacture of bread, it should be mixed with a considerable portion of rye, or wheaten flour ; but a very palatable loaf may be form- ed with about one-third potatoe-mcnl, and two-thirds of that of wheat. Thus it is stated in u lute number of the * Bulletin des Sciences Jigri* cole$f that 4^1bs. of the former and lOlbs. of the latter produce, as near- I as possible, 281bs of bread, or six full weight quartern loaves. The leaven is prepared in the usual manner ; but the dough requires to be rather more kneaded in order to make it risn. The same account further says, that the dough is divided into portions not larger than 6lbs., which are baked in small pans. The oven is left shut for a quarter of an hour, after which it is partially opened for some time ; and when the bread has had sufficient time to bake well, it is removed. In half an hour it is again placed in the oven, and allowed to remain an hour, the door being left open during the time ; this second baking, it is to be observed, being of great importance. 1 ne bread made in this manner is described as being of excellent quality, and may be kept for eight or ten days with- out any apparent alteration. Now, according to all common calcula- tion, the proportion of household bread, qaade from any given quantity of wheaten flour, is as four to three, consequently lOlbs. would only yield at the most IS^lbs. oi bread ; yet we here find that by the admix- ture of4^lbs. of good potatoe meal, an increase is obtained of ll^lbs. " Puddings made of potatoe flour closely resemble those formed of ar- rov^-root ; and a very nutritious article of food for individuals of every age, but particularly for that of childhood, or persons of weak digestion, may be prepared in the same manner as blanc manpe, in the proportion of one large cupful of the meal to eight of milk, the flour being well mix- ed up with a spoonful or two of cold milk before it is put on the fire to boil, and aflerwarda allowed to cool. If the juice of any acidulous fiuit, such as raspberries, currants, or especially cranberi ies, be employed in- stead of milk, a jelly is also thus formed which will be found an elegant and agreeable appendage to the table. One word may also be added to notable house-wives upon the essential point of boiling potatoes ; they should be chosen as nearly as possible of the same size ; and, if very large, they should be cut into halves ot quarters. They should be put 337 into an iron pot, with a good handful of coarse aalt ; and the water which should be quite cold should not be allowed to quite cover them, nor should the lid be closed. When about half done, those at the bot- tom should be removed to the top ; and when the whole appear com- [>letclydonp, the water should be instantly poured oflf, and the potatoes eft in a napkin, within the pot, by the side of the Are. The boiling of those of a moderate size generally takes about three quarters of an hour ; and their being done to the heart can only be ascertained by thrusting a fork through one of them. Cooks generally follow one rule ; either peeling them or boiling them in their jackets ; but this is wrong ; for some sorts are better in their skins, and others peeled, and the diOerence can only be ascertained by experience." Though I would be sorry to see potatoes come into that general use as human food in British America, which they have done in Ireland, yet the root is one of the most profitable that can be cultivated, and may constitute a considerable proportion of human food, properly prepared, and with other nutritive food. To the settler in the forest, the potatoe wilt be invaluable, and the very best vegetable or crop of any kind that he can cultivate for the first few yecrs. He will derive a most certain and valuable product from thcui in every way, for his own use directly, and for manufacturing into butchers' meat, flour, &c. H MANUFACTURE OF CIDER, BEER, AND WINE. It woitld be very desirable that farmers in the country parts of British Americn should be able to manufucture for their own use, if they can produce the materials. Cider, Beer, and Wine, or either of them. There ii no man more averse to the slightest degree of intemperance than I am, but I cannot see any impropriety in the occasional and moderate use of these liquors ; on the contrary, I think them given for our use, and that they are perfectly harmless when used as rational beings oughi to do. A man may make a very immoderate use of food that will be hurtful to his health and constitution. It does not hence follow that we are to reject food altogether. I admit that intemperance does more in- jury to individuals and to families than almost any other vice that hu- man beings are subject to on this continent. But why is it so 1 It is not the case in the wine coimtries of Eurrpe. I have reason to believe that in those countries a drunken person is very seldom met with. If habitual drunkards were to know how despicable they appear to sober men, how very loio they are estimated by them, they would be cured of this vice, if any thing could cure them. I hope the reader will pardon me for using strong language when I say, that I look upon drunkenness as one of the meanest, most beastly, and most ungentlemanly vices that some of our species are subject to in this lite. There is excellent cider made in British America, and there may be abundance of fine fruit raised for it. The process of cider-making in the West of England is to have the apple-trees shook gently at two or three different times, that only the ripest fruit may fall ; the apples are then laid in heaps, which, if circumstances permit, should be under cover, with a free admission of air. They ai^ sufiered to remain ten days or a if:> ., 238 fortnight, and some kinds even longer ; and the good cidor-maker takes care that the decayed npples and other impurities may be removed bcFore they are taken to the cider-mill, where they are crushed hy a large cir- cular stone which is turned by a horse. When the apples are complete- ly mashed, the must, as the crushed apples pre then called, is placed in large square pieces of hair-cloth, each hair-cloth being folded over so that nothing but the juice can escape when they are put under the screw- press to which they are removed, and where they reman until the juice is all expressed. The juice is received into a large tub, from which it is conveyed to the casks. Those who do not rack the cider (about which there is a diflerence of opinion) cover the bung-hole of the cask with a tile, and let it stay until March or April, when to every cask of 100 gallons is put half a pound of hops, and a little colouring made of burnt sugar, and the cider is then stopped close, and is fit for drinking at the end of the year. It is doubtful whether the hops improve the cider, but they probnljly make it keep better. This method makes the strong cider, which is the principal beverage used in the cider countries ; that consu- med in London bein;> prepared and sweetened by persons who purchase the cider from the n>akcr. In Devonshire the cider is racked (which is drawing the clear cider from the dregs, and putting it into clean casks) as often as the fermenta- tion comes on, a brimstone match being burnt m each cask before the cider is put into it ; this management preserves the sweetness, but in an equal proportion diminishes the strength. Seven or eight sacks of apples will afford about a hundred gallons of cider, the expense of making which does not exceed in all lOs. A cider-mill has been lately constructed in Gloucestershire, which is much superior to the old mill ; it is driven by water and makes from 300 to 400 gallons a-day. In this mill the apples are placed in a large box, with an aperture in the bottom, which drops the apples between two iron rollers ; these break them in pieces, after which they fall between two stone rollers set so close to each other as to crush the kernels of the apples, which is essential to the flavour of the cider. The must is in this mill received in a large tub beneath the rollers, and froln thence put into the press. It is the general opinion that the pommage, or mashed apples, should be allowed to stand for 24 hours before they go to the press, though some say that half that time is amply sufficient. If hair-cloths are used in the press, particular care should be observed to wash and dry them frequent- ly, or the ill-effects of their acidity will be communicated to the cider, and if straw or reeds are used, it should be perfectly clean, sweet, and free from fustiness, lest the cider be impregnated with it. The cake or cheese, as it is called, after standing awhile, a slight pressure is giv- en, which must be gradually increased until all the juice is expressed, after which the j« lice must be strained through a coarse hair sieve to keep back its gross feculences, and be put into proper vessels. These vessels may be either open vats or close casks. It is after this that the great art of making good cider commences. Fermentation soon begins, bubbles rise to the surface, and there forms a scum, or soft and spongy crust, over the whole liquor. The crust is frequently broken by the air as it disengages itself from the li- 289 ?|Uor, aad furces itn way through it. Thid cfTect continuou while the brmentation is brisk, but ut last gradually ceuttes. The liquor now ap- pearii tolerably clear to tiio eye, and hus n piquant vinous sharpness up- on tho tongue. If in tliiit stuto the least hissing noise be heard in the fermenting liquor, the room is too warm, and atmospheric air must be lot in at the doors and windows. JNow all further sensible fermentation must be stopped. This is best done by racking oil' all the pure pait into open vessels, which must bo placed in a more cool situation for a day or two, after which it may again be barelled and placed in some moderate- ly cool situation for the winter. In racking otT the cider, the receiving tub should be but a small depth below tho cock, and tho stream from the cock should be small, lest by exciting a violent motion of the parts of the liquor, another fermentation be brought up. The feculence of the cider may be strained through a fdtering bag, and placed among the se- cond-rate cider ; but by no means should it be returned to the prime ci- der. The whole art of clearing cider depends upon attending to the first fermentation. When it has ceased fermenting, and the liquor appears clear and bright, it should be instantly drawn off, and not suflcred on any account again to mingle with its lees ; tor these possess much the same property as yeast, and would inevitably bring on a second fermen- tation. If the cider after being racked oiT, remains bright and quiet, no- thing more is to be done to it until the succeeding spring ; but if a scum collects on tho surface, it must immediately be racked off into another cask, as this would produce bad effects if suffered to sink. If a disposi- tion to ferment with violence again appears, it will be necessary to rack off from one cask to another as often as a hissing noise is heard. The strength of cider is much reduced by being frequently racked off ; but this arises from a larger portion of sugar remaining unchanged, which adds to the sweetness at the expense of the other quality. I'he produce of those fruits which produce very strong cider often remains muddy the whole winter, and much attention must frequently be paid to prevent an excess of fermentation. The casks into which the liquor is put whenever racked off, should always have been thoroughly scalded and dried again, arid each should want several gallons of being full to expose a larger surface to tho air. If a second fermentation is allowed to take place, the cider never can be again restored to its former rictmess and purity. To check a second fermentation, a bottle of French brandy, and a few gallons of old cider, poured into a hogshead may be useful, provided the cellar is not too warm and close. Those remedies are innocent, but to apply any preparation of lead to restore cider, is to convert it into a poi- sonous draught to those who may drink it. The fuming a cask with burning sulphur is sometimes found advanta- geous ; it is thus performed : — Take a strip of canvas cloth, about twelve inches long and two inches broad ; let it be dipped into melted brimstone ; when this match is dry, let it be lighted, and suspended from the bung of the cask (in which there are a few gallons of cider) until it be burned out. The cask must remain stopped for an hour or more, and be then rolled to and fro to incorporate the fumes of the match with the cider, after which it may be filled. If the fuming be designed only to suppress some slight improper fermentation, the brimstone match is sufli- k #t nm 'M' cient ; but if it be required to give any additional flavour to the cider, some powdered ginger, cloves, cinnamon, &c., may be strewed on the match when it is made. Cider is generally in the best state to put in< to bottles at two years old, where it will become rich and sparkling, and if it possesses much richness it will remain without any sensible change for twenty or thirty years, or so long as ihe cork duly iierforms its office. The cider made for common use is seldom racked off, and though it may not be so clear or pleasant a liquor as cider managed in the way a- bove described, it will keep for a year or two without getting sour, and is generally preferred by the farmers and working class in England. When it becomes extremely thin and harsh by excess of fermentation, the addition of a small quantity of brui;>ed wheat, or slices of toasted bread, will much diminish its disposition to get sour. To MAKE MADEIRA CIDER. — Take ncw cider from the press ; mix it with honey till ii bears an egg ; boil it gently for n qiinrter of an hour, but not in an iron pot ; take ofl* the scum as it rises ; let it cool, then barrel it, without filling the vessel quite full ; bottle it off in March. In six weeks afterwards it will be ripe for use and as strong as madeira. The longer it is afterwards kept the belter. F.3rry is manufactured on exactly the same principles as cider. The peani should not be quite ripe, and Ihe admixture of some wildings will add much to the sprightliness of Ihe taste. If it is properly made it re- sembles champaign, and is nearly equal to it. The quantity of cider or perry which orchards may produce is difficult to estimate, there is such a vast difference in the number of trees on an acre, and the fruit of each. In England, they estimate that each tree will on an average give 32 gallons of cider. In Canada trees produce more fruit. About 32 bushels of apples will produce 120 gallons of ci- der, and if the fruit is good they will produce more. In preparing casks for cider, whether new or old, they require to be carefully scalded with hot water, into which some handfuls of salt has been thrown, or with water into which some of the pommage has been boiled. They should afterwards be washed with some of the cider. In using wine or brandy casks, the tartar adhering to their sides should be ecraped off, and they should be well scal.ded. Beer casks are unfit for cider, as cider casks are equally so for beer. BREWING BEER. The following is said to be a good proceos for making malt for either beer or spirits : — Barley is the grain generally used, but oats and other grain are some- times u;sel called a cistern. Sometimes the grain is first put into the cistern and then covered with water ; at other times the water is first put tn and the grain added afterwards. Very soon after the grain has been covered with water, it begins to swell and increase in bulk, and continues to do so pretty regularly until it reaches its maximum. The amount of the swell depends not only up- 241 law presumes that the swell will < ighty-two and a hall' bushels be- on the length of linne the grain remains in steep covered T«nth water (which by law in England can in no case be less than forty hours), but also upon its quality and state of dryness before put in steep, and must of course 1)6 expected to vary j but the amount t<» a seventeen and a half r.:r fore steeped, or more than a fifth part. The gram, after being steeped and the water drawn, is thrown out of the cistern into a square or oblong utensil called a c 'uch-franie, in which it is required by law to remain for the space of twenty-six or thirty hours, as the case miiy be ; the grain in operation is said to be on the flour, and during the time it remains on the flour it undergoes a variety of changes. 1st. The grain at a certain period (which varies according to ciicum- stance.s) becomes moist, and emits a rather agreeable smell, and soon after this period the roots b gin to make their appearance. 2nd. The acrospire or future stem begins to swell, and gradually ad< vances under the husk from the same end where the roots are ob&erved to spring, till it nearly reaches the other extremity of the grain. 3rd. The kernel, as the acrospire advances through it, becomes friable and sweet-tasted, and the whole art of malting depends upon the proper regulation of these changes. In a day or two a Aer the grain has bten thrown out of the cistern, the roots begin to appear at the end of each kernel, in the shape of a small white protuberance, which soon divides itself into distinct fibres or rootlets. The grain about this time appears moist on the outside, which is called sweating, and which usually goes off in a day or two. In about a day g'>nerally after the spreading of the roots, the rudi« ments of the future stem may, by splitting the grain, be seen to lengthen. It rises from the same extremity with the roots, and advancirg within the husk, would at last issue from the opposite end of the gram and as- sume the form of a green blade of grass ; but the proces.« of nnlting is brought to a conclusion S( me time before the stem has made such pro- gress as to burst the husk. As the germination proceeds, the grain is gradually spread thinner on the floor ; and when the moisture has been in some degree evaporated, and the germination has thereby been check- ed, it is again gradually laid thinner to wither. Maltsters difier much in their manner of working, which is affected also by the state of the wenther. The grain having thus germinated to the extent required, is put upon the kiln, and heat applied by means of a fire, which is regulated accord- ing to circumstances ; and vvh<>n the malt has attained ihe requ'site state of dryness it is thrown ofl'the kiln, the process being then finished. The usual fuel is coke, or other charcoal. I am not a brewer, norcan I pretend to give instructions for brewing, further than to assist persons who may wish to drnk beer, and are too far away fiwmi a regular brewery to supply themselves with that whole- some liquor, after the manner of our fathers. I can very well recollect the time that every country farmer of moderate circ misiances had his brewing utensils, and brewed his own beer regularly three or four tiroes in the year, and their beer was not certainly inferior to that brewed at the public breweries of the present day. After the malt is properly made and dried, it is to b^ prepared for the 81 Wh^< 1 I ! I hi 243 n. k iiKish-tun in Uvu di0erent ways ; by crushing, or by grinding. In the former case the malt is made to pass between two cylindric rollers, close enough to burst the skin and bruise the kernel. This answers the pur- pose very well, provided the malt is good, but if not there will be a loss of materials, which would be secured by grinding the malt. Grinding is best performed by mill-stones cut sharp for the purpose. Private families might use a steel mill, ofasii.e proportioned to the wants of a family. 'I'hey can be had at any price from three pounds to ten, currency. There are several other utensils necessary for brewing, on however email a scale it is carried on, constantly or only occasionally. In a small brewery constantly worked, two coppers would be necessary, a liquor aad wert copper, one used for heating water for the niash-tun, and other purposes, and the other for boiling the werts along with the hops for giv- ing bitterness, flavour, and a preservative quality. For private families one copper would answer very well, and it need not be very expensive. Thin-bottomed coppers are much more easily heated, and are said to be much less liable to wear than thick ones. The inner surface of the cop- per can never be hotter than the fluid it contains ; the outer surface is of course as hot as the fluid which envelopes it. In a liquor copper there- fore, the inside can nevei exceed the heat of boiling water ; and if the bottom be thin, the liquor it contains will be heated in a much less time than in a thick copper. In thick coppers the outer surface is submitted to the heat of the fire some time before it communicates with the liquor within ; the metal becomes oxidated, and comes ofl'ia scales, or if the scales remain, they render it more impervious to the heat so as in some cases to take double the time of a thin bottom before the liquor can be brought to the requisite heat. The diflerence of wear is the obvious consequence. A brewer said he had made use of a boiler that held 20 barrels, or 720 gallons, which only weighed 300lb&., the discharge-cock included, and that at the end of 15 years it was perfectly sound, and did not need tlie slightest repair during all that period. The London allow- ance for a copper of that size would be 800 or 9001bs. The copper must be of a size proportioned to the quantity and quality of the beer to be brewed. In England, for strong ale, with small beer in succession, it is allowed that the copper should contain about 3 barrels, or 110 gallons, for every quarter or eight bushels of malt to be brewed, and where three mashes are made. In setting the copper, a great advantage will be found iu constructing the fire-place on a good principle, so that the heat can get round the sides as well as the bottom of the copper. This is done by supporting the bottom of the copper to the proper height above the furnace on three blocks built of the best flre-brick or firc-stone, and carrying up the sur- rounding wall at from eight to twelve inches Irom the sides of the cop- per, and for nine, twelve or more inches from the bottom upwards. It may then be covered by means of bricks leaning from the wall to the sides of the copper. In British America, where wood is almost exclu- sively used as fuel, there is no necessity to have iron bars or grating for the fire-place. The wood will burn perfectly well without bars, and will heat the liquor in much less time than by having a grating under the fire ; the boilpr mnv also bo Bet much lower and more conveniently a^ thf.rf* 24,? exnensive. will be no space required between it and the U vel of the floor, but v/\\r\t will be sufficient for the wood tliat is buiring. The chimney, &c., in the work of the mason, and does not requ.re to be described here. The mash-tun must be regulated by the quantity of malt that is to bo mashed, and the sort of beer to bo brewed. This can be easily ascer- tained. The mash-tun would require to be six or eight inches higher than the malt and liquor of the mash, so as to leave room for the agita- tion when mashing. A false bottom is now invariably used in mash- tuns, and about one inch is generally the height that is allowed between the bottoms. The false bottom is perforated with holes that should be burned rather than bored. The holes should be conical ; the lower part from a quarter to three-eighths of an inch in diameter ; but at the upper surface they should not exceed an eighth. The false bottom should fit the sides of the mash-tun closely, and not leave a chink. The liquor when let into the mash-tun is not poured on the malt, but is carried down the inside of the mash-tun by a trough, and made to enter between the bottoms, and rises upwards through the holes of the false bottom, and forces its way among the malt with which it is then mixed with mashing- oars. The liquor is let off the mash-tun by a hole or cock placed be- tween the bottoms, and from thence falls into the under-back or vessel that is made to receive the liquor. The hop-back is another ve.«sel that it, ,'^nerally required in breweries to receive the werts when sufficiently hoi ' "ith the hops. The hops are separated from the werts by means of . • ner fixed in one corner of the vessel. From this vessel the w: ■ ■;<■: conveyed to the coolers by a pump or other means. It is of great importance that tho werts when drawn from the coppers should be cooled as speedily as possible to the degree that fits Ihem for fermenting in the tun. The coolers should be placed where there is the best succession of fresh air, a«ia the werts if possible should not stand, nor ough> ever to lie above two or three inches deep on the coolers. In brewing for private families, regular coolers are not always used, and they may perhaps be dispensed with. If only a few bushels of malt were to be brewed at one time, a few shallow vessels might answer the pur-r pose. I have seen good home brewed ale cooled in this way. A small cooler of the regular make would not be expensive where timber is cheap. The greatest difficulty would be, that coolers made as they are in public breweries might be subject to dry up and open from not being constantly made use of. When the werts are sufllciently cooled they are carried to the ferment- ing tun. These must be of a size to answer the quantity brewed, and must hold more, to give room for the head of yeast which rises during the fermentation. When the beer has received its due portion of fermentation in the tun, it is cleansed, that is, drawn off into other vessels. These are usually barrels or casks of a similar shape, in which the fermentation is finished by causing the yeast to be discharged from the bung-holes into tubs, or stillions, over which the barrels are placed. In order to keep up the purgation until all the yeast is worked off, the casks are filled up from time to time with other beer. In some cases the purgation is finished in the tuns, by skimming off the yeast as it rises after the fermentation bo^ 81* \4- llpji'li 'V- C4I ; !■' '■' • eomes languid. In private breweries good ale may be brewed without a great store of utensil:^. The inasih-tun may answer extremely well for a fiBnnenting, or gyle-tun. It is for the private brewer I ufier these in- strurtionn. I do not pretend to instruct the public brewer, or in Qnif way interfere with his trade. The instruments ca'ied the thorinometcr and snccharometer are ne> cessary to all pul)lic brewers. The private brewer may find the first Euffi.Ment. The thermometer is applicable and useful in evi-iy stage of the brewing process. It ascertains the heat of the mashing liquor, and of the wei'ts when draining from the mash-tun. In the coo]er^s, it tihows when the werts are ready to let down fir fermentation, and in the gyle-tun it marks the progress, as far as it is notified by the increase or diminution oftheheut. For the latter purpose there are tun thermometers, from three to three and a half feet long, which can be immersed in the werts, while all that is necessary of the scale overtops the froth of the btad. The other instrument, the saccharometcr, is nothing else ^ ut a hydro- meter, whose scale is calculated so as to render it peculiarly fitted for measuring the specific gravities of werts, as con.paied with water. I do not think it necessary to describe it further. Ihose who know its use, and wish to use it, will not require any instruction here. It is most essential to good ale that it should be made from good malt. It is the opini'>n of good judges, that if the malt after it is properly pre- pared for drying should be heated beyond that which simple preserva- tion requires, the valuable qualities of the malt are lesi^ened and injured. In pale malts,thc extracting liquor produces a separaticm which cannot be effected in brown, where the pans are so incorporated that unless the brewer is very well acquainted with the ^evcMal qualities and attach- ments, he will bring over with the burnt mixture of ssaccharine and muci- laginous principles, such an abundarce of the scorched oils, as no fer. mentation ran attenuate, no precipi*ants remove ; for, being in them- eelves impediments to the action of fermentation, they lessen its effica- cy, and being of the same specific gravity with the beer, they remain sus- pended in, and incorporated with the body of it, an offence to the eye, and a nausea to the palate to the latest period. The quality of water to be employed, in brewing is a consideration. Sofl water is universally allowed to be preferable to hard, both tor the purposes of mashing and fermentation. Transparency is, however, more easily obtained by the use of hard than of soft water. Hard water is eaid not to be well adapted to the brewing nf porter, or such beer» as rC' quire a fulness of palate, and in cons-equence is not often used in London. The purity of water is determined by its lightness ; and in this, distil* led water only can claim any material degree of perfection. Rain water is the clearest of all that is naturally produced ; l)Ut by the perpetual ex- halations of vegetables and other substances floating in the atmosphere, it does not come down to us entirely free from those qualities which pond and river water possess in a greater degree. These, especially of rivers running through fens and morasses, imbibe an abundance of ve- getable solutions which occasion them to contain more fermentable mat- ter, and consequently to yield a greater portion of spirit, but at the sania time induces such a tendency to acidity as will not easily be conquered. tl5 Tbit is more to be apprehended towards the lalter end of the snmmer Uiaa at any other time, because thene vegetable tubxtances are then in u state of decay, ans upon the palate, is to- tally flavourless, inodorous andc< lourlesc, whence it is the liettei prepar* ed for the reception and retention of such qualities as the process of brewing is to communicate and pres^erve. The next thing to be considered is the proper degree of heat to be em- ployed in making the infusion ; and here it is evident that though this must be an ol>jectof the utmost importance to the success ol the opera- tion, it is extremely difficult, ))erhaps impossible, to fix upon a piecih'e standard that shall at all times fully answer the purpose. Much might be said here to explain how a high or low degree of heat in the liquor acts «)n the malt, but I do not think it necessity for the reader. A ra- ther low degree of heat is in general to be preferred, and is found to pro- duce a wert replete with a lich, soft sweet, that is fully impregnated with its attendant mucilage, and in quantity much exceeding that obtain- ed from increased heat, which by its more powerful insinuation into the body of the malt, acting upon all the parts together, extracts a considera- ble portion of the oleaginous and earthy princi|>les, but falls ^hort in soA- ness, fulnesH, sweetness, and quantity. This is occasionrd by the coag- ulating property of the mucilage, which partakirg of the naiuie of floufi has a tendency to run into a pai^te, in proportion to the increase of heat applied, by which means it not only locks up a considerable part of the saccharum cont-iined therein, but retains with it a proportionate quantity of the extracting liquor, which would otherwise have diavvn out the impri- soned sweet, thence lessening both the quantity and quality of the werts. And this has sometimes been known to have bad so powerful an etlect na to have occasioned the setting of the gouda or malt iu the mnsh-lvn, and uniting the whole in a pasty mass ; for though heat increases the solvent powers of water in most instances^, there are some in which it totally destroys them, and MUch is the presence of flour, which it converts into paste. From a knowledge of these eflfects alone can ideas be formed of the variations necess^t y in the heat of the extracting liquor, and as I am not a brewer, I will not pretend to lay down any degrees of heat, which vary in almost every treatise written on the suhjtct of brewing, and indeed it could not be otherwise, as these heats depend upon so many circumstances, namely, the quality of the malt ; of the water ; the quantity of malt welted ; and the time of year it is brewed, as well as the time the beer is intended for use. Too low a heat is found sometimes to produco imme^liate acidity, an insipid flavour of the beer, and a want of early transparency. Too much heat, at the same time that it lessens the mucilage, has the effect of diminishing the saccharum also ; whence the lean, thin, austere quality of some beer. The private brewer, by giving due attention to all these circumstances, will by a little practice know that a certain degree of heat will extract principles in a certain propor- tioPt and without mvch difBcuUy he can fix upon another degree that -M , i '*■■' M- > y :\ s «« I r.k^' M: ■hall produce ihe required proportion of the remaining qualities^ and ef^ feet then that equal distribution of parts in the extract which it is the hu- ainess of fermentation to form into a consistent whole. The principal use of boiling the werts is to separate the grosser parts of the extract, preparatory to the more minute separation which is to be effected in the gyle-tub. Strong worts require much less boiling than weak werts. During the operation of boiling, the hops are added which are found to be necessary for preventing the too gieat tendency of beer to acidity. The fine essential of the hops being most volatile and soonest extracted, it will be found advantageous not to boil the first wert longer than ia Buificient to form Ihe extract, without exposing it to the action of the fire so long as to dissipate the finer parts of this most valuable principle, and defeat the purpose of obtaining it. To the subsequent werts a larger al- lowance can be afforded, and pursue the means of preservation so long as those of flavour are kept in vain, to which no rules can positively direct the process varying with every other variety of ale and beer. It is actu- ally necessary to allow a sufficient time for the due separation of the parts of the wert and extraction of the requisite quantities of the hop. To pro- ceed to the other extreme, there is every thing to apprehend from the in- troduction of too large a quantity of the grosser principles of the hop, which are very inimical to the fermentation, impairing greatly the fer- mentative qualities of the wert, by their too long exposure to the action of the fire upon them, whereby their parts are too intimately blended to yield to the separating force of fermentation with that ease the perfection of the product requires. The last step in the process of brewing is to ferment the liquor proper- ly, for if this is not done, whatever care and pains have been taken in the other parts, they will be found altogether insufficient to produce the de- sired liquor. The first thing to be done here is to produce a proper fer- ment. There are two kinds of artificial ferments procurable: viz : beer^ yeast,and wine-lees. Brewers find some difficulty when commencing, to procure beer-yeast in sufficient quantity. Yeast may be preserved by freeing it from its moister parts. This is sometimes attempted to be done by the sun's heat, but slowly and imperfectly. The best method is by gently pressing it in canvass bags * thus the liquid part in which there is scarce any virtue will be thrown off, and the solid will remain behind in form of a cake, which if packed in a barrel or box, will it is said keep for a long time sweet and fragrant, and fit for the finest uses. The same method may be taken with wine-lees or the flowers of wine. The wine-lees are dissolved in water,and stirred about with a stick, the lighter, more moveable, and more active part of the lees will be thrown up to the top and may be taken off and preserved in (he manner above mentioned in any quantity desired. By attention to these matters a regular supply of yeast may be always secured. There is great circumspection necessary with regard to the quality of the yeast or ferment ; it must be chosen perfectly sweet and fresh, free from musty or corrupt taste or smell, for if it is mixed with the fernient- able liquor, when either musty or corrupt, it will communicate its fla- vour to it in such a manner as never to be got off. If the yeast i« lour, .m 247 it is not fit to be used for any liquor, for it will communicate its flavour io the whole, and even prevent its rising to a head, and give it an acetous instead of a vinous tendency. When the proper quantity is got ready it must be put to the liquor in a state scarcely lukewarm. The best method of putting them together so as to make the fermenta- tion strong and quick, is as follows. When the ferment is soli J, it must be broken to pieces, and gently thinned with some of the warm liquor ; but a complete or uniform solution of it is not to be expected or desired, as this would weaken its efficacy for the future business. The whole intended quantity being thus loosely mixed in some of the lukewarm liquor, and kept near the fire or elsewhere in a tepid stale, free from too rude commerce with the external air, more i ;,. insensibly warm liquor ought at proper intervals io be brought in, tiU uus by degrees tlM whole quantity is set at work together. When the whole is thus set at work, secured in a proper degree of warmth, and kept from a too free in- tercourse with the external air, it becomes aa it were the business of na- ture to finish the operation. • In the operation of fermentation,however,the degree of heat to be employ- ed is of the utmost consequence. In forming the extracts of the malt, the variation of a few degrees of heat produces an important difference in the effect. In the heat of fermentation, similar consequences result from similar variety. Under a certain regulation of the process, we can retain in the beer, so far as art is capable, the finer mucilage, and thereby pre- serve that fulness upon the palate which is by many much admired ; on the other hand by a slight alteration we can throw it off and produce that evenness and uniformity of flavour which has scarce any characteristic property, nnd is preferred by some only for want of thai heaviness which they complain of in full beers. If a more vinous racy ale be required, it can,by collecting and confining the operation within the body of the wert, cause the separaticm and absorption of such an abundant portion of the oleaginous and earthy principles, as to produce a liquor in a perfect state at the earliest period, e- ^o highly flavorous as to create a suspicion of an adventitious quality. t though all this may be done, and often has been done, the proper mt mgement of fermenting liquors depends so much upon a multiplicity of slight and seemingly unimportant circumstances, that it hath never yet been laid down in an intelligible manner, and no rules drawn from any thing hitherto published on the subject of brewing, can be at all sufficient to direct any person in this matter, unless he had considerable opportunities of observing the practice of a brew-house. With the help of the directions I have given here, which I have taken from the best works on the subject that I had at my disposal, a farmer may contrive tc make some very good '* home-brewed ale," if he has no means of getting beer conveniently from a public brewery. In London they generally allow that four quarters, or 32 bushels, of malt, and 32 lbs. of hops, will make 15 barrels of good porter, of 36 gallons each, beer meas- ure, equal to about 600 gallons wine measure of Canada. I believe that the same quantity of good malt will produce asmany gallons of strong ale. The farmer who will brew for his own use will soon discover what quan- tity of malt he should use to make a few barrels of good ale or beer. mw- ili>' I*' »t8 MAMVrACTUftB OV WI.fB ritOM THC SMALL tRUITl Of TAmiOVS |>g. ICRirTIONS THAT MAY BE rRODVCED IN BRITISH AMIRICA. ^ -rlJ In every part of the Provinces, white, black and red currants, goose* berries, raspherrirs, elder-berries and wild grapes may be produced toal* most any extent, and wiih very little trouble. All ihe»e snia II fruits will yield more abundantly here than in England, and I have never known any failure. Every farmer might grow them. They would occupy very little space, much less than is now occupied by hurtful weeds. They m'g'it plant them in rows about the garden fences where they would be no injury whatever. If the farmer did not choose to drink the wine that might be manufactured from the fruit, he could sell it for a fair price if properly niado. In England the gooseberries are brought to great perfec- tion. I have seen it stated that in Derby there was in 1821 a bush plant- ed 46 years, and the branches of v/hich extended 36 feet in circumference. Sir Joseph Banks had in his garden at Overton Hall, near Chesterfield, two gooseberry plants trained against a wall, measuring each upwards of fifty feet in the full extent uf their branches. A single fruit has been ex- hibited at horticultural shows in England that weighed 32 dwts. 13 grs., and seeding plants of reputmion have produced,when sold in lots, no less than J£32 ; and it is said that the distribution of a single bush, in rooted parcels, has frequently brought twenty guineas. White, red and black currants grow in perfection in British America, and ehher of these make good wine. Raspberries groiv wild and of excel- lent flavour. This fruit makes a most agreeable wine. Elder berries grow in many rla'^es. I cannot say that they are generally to be found, but they nj-ght certainly be cultivated every where. The process of making wine is very simple. The principal matter to be attended to is fermenta- tion, to allow the wine to work off its grosser parts afler it is made and put in casks. RisPBCRRy Wine. Take equal quantities of fruit and sofl water; bruise the fruit well, and let it stand 49 hours ; let it then be strained, and to every gallon of the liquor put from three to lour pounds of good sidt su- par, (though refined sugar would be better and a less quahtity would do ;) when perfectly dissolved put the liquor into a barrel, leaving the bung open or covered lightly while it is inclined to ferment. In three months it will be fit for bottling, and into each bottle put a large spoonful of good brandy ; it will keep good as long as it is likely to be allowed to remain bottled in the farmer's cellar. Currant Wine may be made of either white, red or black, but the black should not be mixed with either of the other kinds. The white and red do very well mixed. This wine is made much in the same way as raspberry wine ; the same quantity of fruit to a like quantity of water. The currants should be well broken up, and after they are allowed to stand for 21 hoursjthe liquor should be strained off, and all the juice|expressed from the fruit as well as it can be done. A certain portion, about a fourth, of r spberries added, is a great improvement. Sugar must then be added in the same proportion as in raspberry wine (from three to four pounds to the gallon of liquor) and aAer the sugar is dissolved, the liquor should again be strained and put into casks having the bungs open so long as it is incli^ied 249 to ferment, and keeping the casks constantly full. When the fermentation has subsided, it will be well to put to each gallon a pint of brandy, or of whiskey of good flavour, but if the whiskey is not of good flavour it will spoil the wine. The casks should then be closely bunged up, and the following spring the wine may be bottled, but the longer it is allowed to remain in the cask the better it will be. It will also improve by age in the bottle. GoosEBERT Wine may be made in the same way as currant wine, but is always best made with loaf sugar, and indeed loaf sugar is \y~ for all kinds of wine, and I believe equally cheap, or nearly so. o fruit should not be perfectly ripe for this wine; they should be gat^' 'jefore they are in that state which is understood as dead ripe. C ■ ; wine, properly made, is very delicious, though perhaps it would 1.0 ie the taste of all who are accustomed to use foreign wine, as they may . .nk it has too much sweetness. Age will however greatly correct this defect. The same quantity of brandy should be put to this wine when put into casks, as is directed for currant wine. Elderberry Wine, is considered a very wholesome wine. To three gallons of ripe berries without stalks, put seven gallons of soA water. After standing forty-eight hours, put all into a copper L.id let them boil an hour ; then press the juice through u coarse cloth ; put the liquor into the copper again with twenty pounds of soft sugar, half a pound of Jamaica ginger, bruised, one ounce of cloves, and one ounce of allspice. Boil the whole together one hour, then put it into a tub, and when cold enough add some good barm, or yeast ; spread on a toast, and in two days put all into a cask, and lay the bung lightly on for two months, then add one quart of brandy to this quantity of liquor and close the bung; this wine will keep for several years. I have on page 240 given the method of making Cider Madeira, which is a very agreeable wine. In my Agricultural Treatise, I gave the receipt for making pofa/oe ivine ; but lest the reader should not see that work, I give the same receipt insertion here. PoTATOE Wine of a good quality may be made from frosted potatoes, if not so much frosted as to become soft and watery. The potatoes must be crushed or bruised, or put into a cider press. A bushel must have ten gallons of water, prepared by boiling it, mixed with half a pound of hops and half a pound of white ginger. This water after having boiled for half an hour must be poured upon the bruised potatoes, into a tub or vessel suitable to the quantity to be made. After standing in this mixed state for three days, yeast must be added to ferment the liquor ; when tlie fermentation has subsided, the liquoi' must be drawn off as fine as pos- sible, into a cask, adding half a pound of soft sugar for every gallon. Af- ter it has remained in the cask for three months, it will be ready for use. I believe I have now given as many receipts for making cider, beer, and wines, as will be necessary for farmers. If they take a little trouble, they may at trifling expense provide themselves and their families with either, or all of these liquors^ and keep a constant supply of them in their houses. 33 ill ': l\ 11^^ m 860 DISEASES OF THE HORSE. I freely avow that I have no pretensions to know much of the veteri- nary art as applied to horses, and all I shall attempt to give under this heaid, will be a few remarks on (L%> most common diseases that horses are subject to in British America) and the most simple remedies that are generally known. I would not attempt to meddle with this subject if I uought this work would only be read by persons who might reside in or near towns, where skilful farriers ma^ perhaps always be had ; but as it may fall into the hands of persons residing far in the woods, who would have no advice or medicine near, I think it proper to endeavour to assist persons so circumstanced. I shall commence with giving a list of medi- cines, which I believe to be all perfectly safe if given and applied accord- ing to the directions. A farmer going far into the wilderness, or indeed at any inconvenient distance from towns, would do well to lay in a small stock of the most simple of these medicines. It might perhaps save him many pounds in the cure of his stock should they be diseased. In treat- ing of the several diseases and their cure, I shall refer to this table of medicines, which I have numbered for the purpose in such a way that I hope there will be no risk of making any mistake, by giving a little atten- tion to the directions. With most of the medicines and Uieir efficacy I am well acquainted. VETERINARY PHARMACOPGEIA, OR Fi^RMERs' MEDICmE TABLE, FOR HORSES, NEAT CATTLE AIVB SHEEP. ALTERATIVES, JVo. 1. 1st. Levigated Antimony, 2 drachms. Cream of Tartar, Flour of Sulphur, each half an ounce. 2d. Cream of Tartar, Nitre, of each half an ounce. w 3d. ^thiops Mineral, Levigated Antimony, Powdered Rosin, each 3 drachms. Give in a mash, or in oats and bran a little wetted, every night, or make into a ball with honey TONIC ALTERATIVES. JVo. 2. 1st. Gentian, Aloes, Ginger, Blue Vitriol, in powder, of each 1 drachm. Oak Bark in powder, 6 drachms. 2d. Winters Bark in powder, 3 drachms, Green Vitriol in powder, 1 J drachm. Gentian in powder, 3 drachms. Make eitiier of these into a ball Vrith honey, and give every morn- ing. 3d. White Vitriol, 1 drachm, Ginger, ground, 2 drachms, Powdered Quassia, half an ounce, Ale, 8 ounces, mix and give as a drink. ASTRIGENT MIXTURES FOR DIAR- RH(£A, LAX, OR SCOVRmG. JVo. 3. 1st. Powdered Ipecacuanha, 1 drachm, Powdered Opium, half a drachm, jPrepared Chalk, 2 ounces, (Boiled Starch, 1 pint. S51 84. Suet, 4 ounces, boiled in 8 ounces milk, Boiled Starch, 6 ounces, Powdered Alum, 1 drachm. 3d. The following has been very strong- ly recommended in some cases for the Lax in horses and cattle Glauber's Salts, 2 ounces, Epsom Salts, 1 ounce, Green Vitriol, 4 grains, Gruel, half a pint. 4th. When the Lax or Scouring at all ap- proaches to dysentery or molten grease, the following drink should be first given : Castor Oil, 4> ounces, Glauber's Salts, (dissolved) 2 ounces. Powdered Rhubarb, half a drachm, Powdered Opium, 4 grains, Gruel, one pint. ASTRINGENT BALLS FOR DIABETES, OR PISSING EVIL. JVo. 4. Catechu (Japan earth) half an ounce, Alum, powdered, half a drachm, Sugar of Lead, 10 grains, Conserve of Hoses to make a ball. ▲STRINGENT PASTE FOR THE THRUSH, FOOT ROT, FOUL IN THE FOOT, &;c. JVb. 5. Prepared Calamine, Verdigris, of each half an ounce, White Vitriol, Alum, of each half a drachm, Tar, 3 ounces : mix all. ASTRINGENT WASHES FOR CRACKS IN THE HEELS, 'WOUNDS, SPRAINS, &C. JVo. 6. 1st. Sugar of Lead, 2 drachms. White Vitriol, 1 drachm. Strong infusion of oak or elm bark, 1 pint : mix all. 2d. Green Vitriol, 1 drachm, Infusion of Galls, half a pint: mix, and wash the part three times a day. POWDER FOR CRACKS, &C. ^ 3d. » Prepared Calamine, 1 ounce. Fullers Earth, powdered. Pipe Clay powdered,of each2 ounO/es: mix all, and put within gauze and dab the moist surface of the sores frequently with it. ASTRINGENT PASTE, FOR GREASE. JVo. 7. XSt. ^vi Prepared Calamine, Tutty, powdered, m Charcoal,powdered,of each 2 ounces. Yeast enough to make a paste. 2d. To the above if more strength be re- quired, add of Alum and Verdi- gris, each a drachm. ASTRINGENT WASH FOR GREASE. 3d. Corrosive Sublimate, 2 drachms. Spirits of Wine or Brandy, 1 ounce, Soft Water, 10 ounces : Disolve the Sublimate perfectly with the spirit, then add the water. This is a strong preparation, and is said to have often proved successful in very bad cases of grease, which had resisted all the usual remedies. JVo. 8. BLISTERS. 1st. A general one. Cantharides, (Spanish Flies,) pow- dered, 2 ounces, Venice Turpentine, 2 ounces, Rosin, 2 ounces, Palm Oil, or Lard, 2 lbs. : Melt the three latter articles together, and when not too hot stir in the first, which are the Spanish Fliea. 32* w * < I'TA I '■■'■ ) ■■■ |! . 952 2d. A STRONG CHEAP BLISTER, BUT NOT PROPER TO BE USED IN FEVERS, ' OR INFLAMMATIONS, AS OF THE LUNGS, BOWELS, &C. Euphorbium, powdered, 1 ounce. Oil of Vitriol, 2 scruples, Spanish Flies, 6 ounces, Palm Oil, or Lard, Rosin, of each 1 lb.. Oil ol Turpentine, 3 ounces : mix the rosin with the lard or palm oil. Having previously mixed the oil of vitriol with an ounce of water gradually, as gradually add this ■ mixture to the melted mass: which again set on a very slow fire for ten minutes more ; afterwards re move the whole, and when begin- ning to cool, add the powders pre- viously mixed together. 3d. FOR SPLINTS, SPAVINS, AND RING- BONES — Jl Mercurial Blister may be made by adding to four ounces of either of the above blisters half a drachm of finely powdered Corro- sive Sublimate. 4th. STRONG LIQUID BLISTER. Spanish Flies in gross powder, one ounce. Oil of Origanum, 2 drachms. Oil of Turpentine, 4 ounces, Olive Oil, 2 ounces : steep the flies in the turpentine three weeks, strain off, and add the oil. 5th. MILD LIQUID OR SWEATING BLISTER Take of the above blister when mix ed, one ounce, and add to it of C ive Oil, or goose grease, 1^ ounce. CLYSTERS, A LAXATIVE ONE. J^O. 9. 1st. Thin Gruel, or Broth, 5 quarts, Epsom or common Salts, 6 ounces. 2d. CLYSTER FOR GRIPES. Mash two moderate sized Onions, Pour over them Oil of Turpentine, 2 ounces. Pepper, half an ounce. Thin Gruel, 4 quarts : mix. 8d. NUTRITIOUS CLYSTER. Thick Gruel, 3 quarts, Strong Ale, 1 quart. 4th. Strong Broth, 2 quarts. Thickened Milk, 2 quarts. 5th. ASTRINGENT CLYSTER. Tripe Liquor, or Suet boiled in milk, 3 pints. Thick Starch, 2 pints. Laudanum, half an ounce. 6th. Alum Whey, 1 quart, Boiled Starch, 2 quarts. CORDIAL BALLS. Ko. 9. Gentian, powdered, 4 ounces. Ginger, powdered, 2 ounces. Coriander Seeds, powdered, 4 ounces Carraway Seeds, powdered, 4 ounces Oil of Aniseed, a quarter of an ounce: make into a mass, with honey, treacle, or lard, and give one ounce and a half for a dose. CHRONIC COUGH BALLS. JVo. 10. 1st. Calomel, one scruple, Gum Ammoniacum, Horse Badish, of each 2 drachms, Balsam of Tolu, Squills, of each one drachm : beat all together, and make into a ball with honey, and give every morn- ing, fasting. S68 1' ^1. V s. TEH. iled in milk, c. J\'o. 9. nces, ices, ed, 4 ounces ed, 4 ounces of an ounce: with honey, d give one dose. . JVb. 10. drachms, achm : beat le into a ball every morn- fid. DRINK FOR THE SAME. Tar Water, Lime Water, of each half a pint. Tincture of Squills, half an ounce. 3d. POWDER rOU TIIL SAME. Tarter Emetic, 2 drachms, Powdered Foxglove, half a drachm. Powdered Squills, hplf a drachm, Calomel, one scruple, Nitre, three drachms. Give every night in a malt mash. DIURETIC BALLS. JVb. 11. Rosin, yellow, one pound. Nitre, half a pound, Horse Turpentine, half a pound. Yellow Soap, a quarter of a pound Melt the rosin, soap, and lurpen tine over a slow fire ; when cool ing, add the nitre. For a strong dose, one ounce and a half, for a mild one, one ounce. It should be kept in mind that mild diuretics are always equal to what is re- quired ; and that strong diuretics are always hurtful. DIURETIC POWDERS. J^O. 12. Yellow Rosin, powdered, 4 ounces. Nitre, powdered, 8 ounces, Cream of Tartar,powdered, 4 ounces. Dose, 6, 8, or 10 drachms, night- ly, which most horsei will readily eat in a mash. URINE DRINK. JVo. 13. Glauber's Salts, 2 ounces, Nitre, 6 drachms, dissolved in a pint of warm water. EMBROCATIONS, COOLING FOR IN- FLAMMATIONS. JVo. 14. 1st. Goulard's Extract, half an ounce. Spirits of Wine or Brandy, 1 ounce. Soft Water, one quart. id. Mindrrcrus Sj»iritP, 4 ounces. Water, 12 ounces. FOR STRAINS. JVo. 15. Bay Salt, bruised, half u pound. Crude Salammoniac, 2 ounces. Sugar of Lead, quarter of an ounce, Viiiegar, one pint and a half. Water, one pint. FOR THE EYES. JVb. 16. 1st. Sugar of Lead, one drachm. White Vitriol, iv/r scruples, :^ Water, one pint. 2d. Brandy, one ounce Infusion of Green Tea, four ounces. Tincture of Opium, two drachms. Infusion of Red Roses, four ouncetj 3d. Rose Water, six ounces, Mindererous Spirit, three ounces. 4th. Corrosive Sublimate, four grains, Alcohol, one ounce. Lime Water, one pint. 5th. Alum, powdered, one drachm. Calomel, half a drachm : mix'and insert a little at one corner of the eye. Thi i Mntom of blowing it in alarms i'.!' iiorse. FEVER POWDERS. JVo. 17. 1st. Tartar Emetic, two drachms. Nitre, five drachms. 2d. Antimonial Powder, two drachms, Cream of Tartar, Nitre, of each four drachms. ii'i ■It; i:. r. ! f i; k t ■ K ■ 1 254 MW 3d. FEVER DRINK. Sweet Spirit of Nitre, one ounce, Mindererus Spirit, six ounces, Water, four ounces. 4th. EPIDEMIC FEVER DRINK. Sweet Spirit of Nitre, one ounce, Simple Oxymcl, six ounces, Tartar Emetic, three drachms. 5th. MALIGNANT EPIDEMIC FEVER. Simple Oxymel, Mindererus Spirit, Beer Yeast, of each four ounces, Sweet Spirit of Nitre, one ounce. FUMIGATIONS FOR PURIFYING IN FECTED STABLES, SHEDS, &C. JVo. 18. Manganese, two ounces, Common Salt, two ounces. Oil of Vitriol, three ounces. Water, one ounce : Put the mixture of manganese and salt into a basin ; then, having be- •- fore mixed the vitriol and water very gradually, pour them by means of tongs, or any thing that will enable you to stand at a suf- ficent distance from the articles in the basin, gradually. As soon as the fumes rise, retire and shut l: up the doors and windows close. HOOF LIQUID. JVb. 19. Oil of Turpentine, four ounces, Tar, four ounces. Whale Oil, eight ounces. This softens and toughens the hoot'b extremely, when brushed over them night and morning. PURGING MEDICINES. JVo. 20. Balls very mild. Aloes, powdered, six drachms, Oil of Tyrpentine, one drachm. mild. Aloes, powdered, eight drachms. Oil of Turpentine, one drachm. STRONG. Aloes, powdered, ten drachms. Oil of Turpentine, one drachm. The aloes may be beaten with treacle to a mass, adding during the beating, the oil of turpentine. Allspice, oil of tartar, cream of tartar, jalap, &c., are useless, and often hurtful additions. LIQUID PURGE. JVo. 21. Epsom Salts, dissolved, eight ounces, Castor Oil, four ounces. Watery Tincture of Aloes, 8 ounces. Mix. The watery tincture of a- loes is made by beating powdered aloes with the yolk of egg, adding water by degrees : by these means half an ounce of aloes may be suspended in eight ounces of wa- ter ; and such a purge is useful, when a ball cannot be got down, as in partial locked jaw. SCALDING MIXTURE FOR POLE EVIL. JVb. 22. Corrosive Sublimate, finely powder- ed, one drachm. Yellow Basilicon, four ounces. FOOT STOPPINGS. JSo, 23. Horse and Cow Dung each about 21b. Tar, half a pound. WASH FOR CORING OUT, DESTROYING FUNGUS, OR PROUD FLESH, &C, JVb. 24-. Lunar Caustic, one drachm. Water, two ounces. WASH FOR MANGE. JVb. 25. Corrosive Sublimate, two drachms. Spirit of Wine or Brandy, one ounce, Decoction of Tobacco, Decoction of White Hellebore, of each a pint. Dissolve the mercury in the spirit, and then add the de- coctions. 335 OINTMEN :i FOR HBALINO. AV). 26. 1st. Turner's Cerate, four ounces, White Vitriol, powdered, half a drachni) Lard, four ounces. 2d. FOR DIGESTING. Turner's Cerate, two ounces, White Vitriol, one drachm, Yellow Basilicon, five ounces FOR MANGE. J^O. 27. Sulphur Vivum, eight ounces, Arsenic, in powder, two drachms. Mercurial Ointment, two ounces. Turpentine, two ounces, Lard, eight ounces : mix, and dress with every morning. FOR SCAB OR SHAB IN SHEEP, MAL- LENDERS AND SELLENDERS IN HORSES, AND FOUL BLATCHES AND ERUPTIONS IN CATTLE IN GENE- RAL. JVb. 28. Camphor, one d-achm. Sugar of Lead, half a drachm. Mercurial Ointment, one ounce. . In treating of diseases I will refer to the above table, which I hope will be understood by the reader, as I have numbered them. For exam- ple, in any particular disease that fever powder or drink may be required, I refer to No. 17, and the different powders und drinks are marked Ist., 2d., 3d., 4th., and 5th. If 2d. powder is the one ordered, I say No. 17, 2d., and so in all cases. There are other simple and safe medicines that may be used for cat- tle, not in the above list. Linseed oil is very little if any inferior to castor oil, as a purgative, and is much cheaper. In Canada, I think it as safe and good a medicine as can be administered to an animal as a purgative. About a pint, or a little more, is sufficient for a dose for a full grown animal. Linseed, or flax-seed, is incomparably the best emollient poultice that can be applied. If to an ulcer that is foul, a lit- tle of the chloride of lime should be mixed with it. If the object of the poultice is to bring an ulcer into a proper state of suppuration, a little common turpentine may be added. Linseed is an excellent mash in cases of sore-throat, or of any intes- tinal affection. A little bran may be added to the mash. Sulphur is a very good aperient when the object is to evacuate the bowels. The dose varies from eight to twelve ounces. As an altera- tive for hide-bound, or a genersd unthrifly appearance, it is excellent, combined with nitre. Epsom salts is an excellent purgative for cattle. It may be given in doses of from eight ounces to a pound, and to very large animals a pound and a half may be safely given. 1^ Chalk is a useful ingredient in drinks given in dysentery, or looseness, for calves in particular ; the dose varies from a drachm to an ounce. Chloride of lime is the best disinfectant that is known for infected horse and cow stables. COMMON DISEASES OF THE HORSE. The first and most common disease which horses are subject to, are brought on by colds. Catarrh, fever, epidemic catarrh, distemper, &c., ore names that apply to one common disease, which oden in cold varia* *; *i \. r ■! :i; ; 1 f m\ M ;l 256 bic seasons appears as on cpidensic, and affects many horses at once. It is observed to bo particularly j.revalent in this form in some years more than otliers, about the months of February, March, and April. They are generally brought on by alternations of heat, cold, moisture, &c. In cities and towns it is more prevalent than in more open situa- tions, and is more frequently found in the young than in aged horses. Where it does not exist as an epidemic, it is brought on by accidental cold taken. It is oAen mistaken for inflammation of the lungs, and as the treatment for both diseases ought to be different, it is essential to dis- tinguish them. Inflammation of the lungs commences by a short cough, without much other disturbance of the health than the pain it gives the horse to cjugh. If a horse in the distemper coughs early, it is not a hollow, harsh-sounding, and distressing cough of this kind ; if he ex- presses uneasiness, it is principally from a sore throat, which is very common in distemper. The sore throat in distemper gives a horse a dis- position to refuse his food, or he sometimes chews it, but lets it fall from his mouth without swallowing it. He will also refuse water if placed on the ground. His eyes are heavy and moist, his breathing is quicken- ed, and his ears and legs are alternately hot and cold. His nose on looking into it is redder than usual, and his jaw glands are tumified. On the third or fourth day there is generally a running at the nose, and the horse will of\en run off the disease by this suppuration. The treatment, if immediately after the disease begins, may be cut short by giving the horse one ounce of sweet spirit of nitre, or if not at hand, the same quantity of spirit of hartshorn, in a pint of good ale. Exercise the horse briskly ; then well hand-rub Llm, and cover him warmly, and this may probably cut short the disease. But should it pro- ceed, begin by bleeding moderately, if the horse be not already weak, or the running matter from the nose commenced. If the fever be con- siderable, which may be ascertained by the quick full pulse, and red- ness of the inner surface of the nostrils and eyelids, bleeding should be resorted to, though there was matter running from the nose, and perhaps it would require to be repeated. A cool temperature is best in the sta- bles. Before the discharge commences from the nose, give, night and morning, the fever powder. No, 17, 1st or 2d (medicine table) in a mash or drink ; after the running has come on,' or as soon as the weakness has become considerable, give night and morning either of the fever drinks, No. 17, 3d or 4th (in medicine table). Malt mashes, when the fever is great, are proper ; at other times bran mashes with plenty of chilled water are best. To relieve the throat, rub the outside with mild liquor, or sweating blister. No. 8, 5th (in medicine table). Green food in the stable ii it can be procured would be best. If this disease assumes a character of uncommon malignance, as it sometimes does in the Canadas, it becomes highly contagious, attacking almost all the horses, as well as cattle that have any communication with each other. The throat is intensely sore, and the mouth and tongue ulcerated ; great quantities of matter running from the nose which has a very offensive smell. The treatment recommended by Blaine is, the early use of malt mash- es ; even ale is indispensable. A very cool Btp.ll is necesisary, having a 857 ^en situa- freo communication with the open air, if not too cold. As medicine, three doses are necessary every day, of the malignant epidemic fever drink. No. 17, 6th (in medicine table). Half a pint of yeast vi?ith a pint of ale, given three times a day, has had a good effect. To prevent the infection from spreading, fumigate the stables and out-houses with the preventive fumigation, No. 18, (medicine table). Staggers is caused by an accumulation of blood within the brain, or the translation of the inflammation of some organ to the brain. Too full feeding, without exercise, will bring it on, as will sudden cold, violence, &c. The treatment of the staggers should begin by abstracting a largo quantity of blood promptly, by opening both jugulars, and letting the hori5e bleed to the amount often, and evtn twelve quarts, repeating the bleeding until the delirium ceases. The head is sometimes blistered. It is recommended after the bleeding to back-rake, and throw up a laxa- tive clyster, No. 9, 1st (medicine table). The treatment may then be the same as in other fever affections. It is a dangerous disease, but for- tunately not a very common one, and bleeding with judgment, blistering the head, and keeping the body open, is the only cure. Diseases of the eyes are not very prevalent in British America. It is generally a constitutional disease, brought on by artificial habits, or over-exertion, close unhealthy confinement, or heating food. It is therefore clear that the abstraction of all these is necessary to remove the complaint, or prevent its recurrence. The food should be mild and cooling, and the exercise moderate, but long coutinued. One quart of pure vinegar to three quarts of water, may be a useful application to wash the eyes and eyebrows, and keep them constantly wet with it. Bleed- ing is always proper, and it the horse be full and gross, it should be re- peated until the disease lessens. Physic and alteratives assist the cure. Strangles is a disease that most horses are subject to, when from two to five years old. If they happen to be at grass when they take it, it passes off mildly and seldom produces any ill effects to the horse. If il comes on when the horses are in the stable, the usual remedy is to poultice constantly until it produces suppuration. Bran, or malt mash- es, with warm water, should be the horse's principal support while suffer- ing under this disease in the stable. This disease is so well known I do not think it nccessaiy to describe it minutely. Diseases op the mouth, or lampas, is an enlargement of the ridges of the palate. It is usual to burn this part with a hct iron, but a mild dose of physic, or gentle alterative, would prove a more certain remedy, rubbing at the same time the ridges of the palate with bay salt, or with vinegar. Inflammation op the lungs is a disease to which the horse is pe- culiarly liable. It is brought on by sudden cold acting on a heated sur- face, hard riding, and high feeding. It often commences slowly, by a hard dry cough, occasionally shivers, the ears and feet colder than the rest of the body, he heaves at the flanks, and the lining of his nose is found much more red than usual, and sometimes of a purplish hue ; the insides of the eyelids are tinged with inflammation, and the appetite be- comes affected. The pulse is usually small, but quick. If the horse 83 !i ,J, in this state be accidentally or erroneously taken out, and subjected to Considerable exertion, it is almost always fatal to him. The treatment is, early and large bleedings, as seven or eight quarts from a large hoive, and which should be repeated in five or six hours if he be not relieved in his breathing. Immediately rub into his brisket, on the chest, and behind the fore legs, the blister No. 8, 1st (medicine ta- ble). Give half a dose of physic, and assist it by mashes and warm wa- ter, which if noMaken readily, horn down. Back-rake also, and throw up the laxative clyster, No. 9, 1st (medicine table). Avoid all exercise, clothe modera ah , allow a free circulation of air through the stable if not too cold, anc" ub iUe legs frequently, and when not under this process keep them bandaged up to the knees with hay bands, or woollen cloths. When the bowels are open give the fevc;c drink. No. 17, 4th (medicine table) three times a day. Carrots are said to be excellent food for a horse recovering from this disease, when able to use them. Broken wind is brought on by many causes. It is generally occa- sioned by over-exertion after full meals, in which the lungs become per- manently weakened, perhaps ruptured, in their air-cells. Criteria of broken wind. The cough which accompanies broken wind is a short, deep, hollow grunting noise, and the short expiration ia peculiarly excited by turning a horse quickly round, striking him smartly with a s*;ick at the same time, which often produces the deep sound without the cough, and which is so significant as never to be mistaken wl H i once heard and attended to ; but the principal peculiarity arises froi . the beating of the flanks, which operate rather by three efforts than by two as usual. In the first, the air is drawn in in the usual manner, and the flanks fill up as is common ; but in the next, the falling of the flanks is by no means natural, for it is not done by a gradual sinking of the sides, but it takes place at once, with i. kind of jerk, as though the horse was sighing ; and then a third effort lakes place, by a more slow drawing up of the muscles of the belly and flanks, to press out the remain- ing air. Broken wind usually destroys the fecundity of the mare, and hence argues permanent alteration of structure ; it is also always incura- ble, but horses may be rendered very useful that have it, by feeding them very nutritiously, but with their food mUch condensed in bulk. Little hay should be allowed, and that little should be wetted ; wate* in any other way should be given very sparingly, for which they are however very greedy ; from which circumstance, as well as that they are pecu- liarly flatulent, it is said that the vitiation of the lungs is either aggra- vated by the deranged state of the digestive organs, or, which is more probable, that the digestive powers become weakened from the state of the lungs. In some few cases a partial rupture of the diaphragm, or mid- riff, has been observed in broken wind. Lime water is recommended. Inflamation of the Bowels, or Red Colic, is a most dangerous disease, and not uncommon in Canada. The causes of it arc various. Hard work, drinking cold water when heated, neglected gripes, or long continued costiveness will bring it on. It begins by restlessness, loss of appetite : the mouth is hot and dry, and the inner membranes of the mouth, nose and eyelids are redder than natural. As the disease ad- vances, the pain forces the horse to lie down, rise again very frequently ; 250 and when the pain is violent he kicks at hia belly, and looks round at his Bides. The pulse is usually small and quick. Breathing is quickened, and the flanks heave ; the extremities are alternately hot and cold, but continue longer cold than hot. The animal is costive, and if it passes any faeces, it is hard and dry. The treatment must be active and immediate, or a fatal termination may be expected. Begin by abstracting a considerable quantity of blood. If the horise is large, seven or eight quarts may be taken. Baek-rakc, and throw up a large clyster of warm gruel. Give by the mouth one pint of castor oil mixed by means of the yolk of two eggs with half a pint of broth or gruel. If castor oil is not convenient, linseed oil will answer equally well, as will olive oil. In half an hour after giving the oil, give a gruel drink, in which six ounces of epsom salts have been dissolved. Eub the belly with a strong liquid blister. No. 8, 4th, (medicine table.) and apply to the belly after rubbing in the blister, a sheep skin immedi- ately after it is removed from the sheep. In four hours repeat the bleed- ing, if a considerable improvement have not taken place, and if the bowels be not unloaded, give more oil, and clyster frequentlj', having first back- racked. Avoid exercise : first hard rub, and then wrap up the extremities to the knees. When a clear passage fur the dung is found, the animal will recover slowly ; but he should be sparingly fed for some time. In cases when the inner surface of the intestines are inflamed, which differs only from the former by being generally accompanied by purging ; astringent drink, No. 3, 1st or 2d (medicine table) should be given with a pint of boiled starch eveiy three hours, and give the same by clyster with two quarts of pot or tripe liquor, free from salt. Colic, Flatulent or Spasmodic, called the Gripes, is an important because a frequent disease, and is usually very sudden in its attack. Cold in its various forms, is a parent of colics. The distinguishing marks between colic and imflammation of the bowels are gained, according to Blaire, by attending to the following circumstances : — In the gripes the horse has violent fits of pain, but they remit, and he has intervals of ease. The pain in inflammation of the bowels, or red colic, is more uniform and less violent. In gripes, the pulse is, in general, natural ; in red colic it is quicker than natural, and commonly small. The extremities are not usually cold in gripes j in red colic they usually are. In gripes, the horse attempts to roll oa his back, which in red colic he seldom does; there are no marks of fever with gripes, as red eyelids, inflamed nostrils, &c., but in red colic they are always present. When spasmodic colic has conti- nued some hours, it is always proper to bleed to prevent its ending in in- flammation : bleeding in tl. -. mouth is quite useless. Back-rake, and throw up clysters of warm water, one after another, as fast as possible, which often overcome the irritation. La Fosse recommends a curious remedy, but as it can always be obtained, and has the sanction of long experience, it may be tried : an onion is pounded and mixed up with some powdered savin ; in default of which use powdered ginger. This is to b» introduced up the rectum as high as possible and the horse is to be then moved oriskly about; an onion put up the fundament whole has long been a domestic remedy. The following is recommended by Blaine : spirit of vi- triolic aether, an ounce ; powdered opium, one drbcHm ; oil of turpentine, 33* %x I \ -i 1 i i i j t\ |i- i i 1 4a iri-i th, •• '•If'-' "*- »• ■ 290 three ounces ; waiin ale, a pint. He also recommends the following more simple remedy as always ui hand : — The expressed juice of two or three large onions, common gin, common oil, of each half a pint; mix and give. White recommends a pint of brandy, or gin,with water, as an excellent carminative. Clark, who has expressly written on |i;ripes, extols the virtue of a mixture tims made ; which, if it have the qualiites he attri- butes to it, and w'lich there is no reason to doubt, no ?igricu!tu)i.=1, coach or post-master shotdd be without it: pimento-beviy, ( aii.^d also all.' v.i u, every hour until full relief is obtained ; hand rubbing, wisplug, or foaji- ui- ing die bowels with hot water at the time. Worms op Horses are of several kinds: First, oots in the stomach ; but which, as they mostly attach the;iiselves to ihf; hard insensible part of the organ seldom do harm- Clark lancifuUy supposes they do goivj, ana devises means for furnii.-!hing them when i:ot in existence. The hoi is the larva of the a>,strusequi, a I'ly which deposiis its eggs, it is mupposod, on the Grass on wliich the horse feeds, and piobribly on parts .. the horse bimsoif, from whence they pass into the stomach by i\vi food or by being licked off. Certain it is they get tliere, are hatched, and there remain hai.ghig to the roots; oii't by two tentaculae, receiving the juices of the mas- ticated food as nutriment. After a considerable time they make their way out by iiiv? diius, drop on the ground, and are first transformed into chrysaUds and afterwards into parent flies. When bots fix themselves on the sensible portion of the stomach they may do harm ; but no medicine that I know of will destroy them. The iereSf or large round worm, some- times occasions mischief when it^texists in great nutnbers, such as a staring coat, binding of the hide, iiregular appetite and clammy mouth. The best remedy is the Spigelia marylandica or Indian pink, in daily doses of half an ounce. Tae'nia are not common in the horse ; now and then they exist, and are best combatted by weekly doses of oil of turpentine, three ounces at a time mixed by means of the yolk of an egg with half a pint of ale. The A'scarisy or thread worms, are best removed by mercurial pur- gatives. The existence of worms may be known by an appearance of yellow matter under the tail, and by the disposition the horse has to rub his fundament. Blain recommends the following vermifuge : powdered arsenic, eight grains ; pewter or tin finely scraped ; Venice turpentine, half an ounce ; make into a ball and give every morning. He also re- commends salt to be given daily with the food, which agrees with my own experience as one of the best vermifuges known. It is a fact acknowl- edged by the residents along the sea-coasts, that horses troubled with worms will often voluntarily drink largely of sea-water, and thus cure themselves. I am persuaded that a free use of salt to the horses when they will take it, and more particularly by using salt in curing the hay they consume, will prevent worms. The diseases of the liver are acute inflammation, or chronic INFLAMMATION OR YELLOWS. The acuto inflammation of this organ, like the lungs, stomach and intestines, may spontaneously take on the aflection. The symptoms are not unlike those which attend inflam- mation of the bowels or red colic, but with lesa violence. About the third 861 day the whites of the eyes and the mouth turn yellow. Bleeding, blister- ing and purgatives form the methods of cure as in red colic. Chronic inflammation or yellows, is an aflection of the stoninch rather than the liver, though that organ is also afTected, and the bile be- comes diseased, and is thrown out in that state by the blood over (he body. If the fever be present, bleed, but if the symptoms present no token of ac- tive infIanimation,give eitch night ten grains of calome1,and every ten days work it off with a mild dose of physic. Diseases op the Urinary organs are not very common. The best remedies are to empty the bowels, and endeavour to open the arterial ac- tion by bleeding, but it is recommended carefully to abstain from irritating the kidneys by diuretics internally, or blistering externally. A newly stripped sheep-skin placed over the loins, or active fomentations of hot wa- ter, are the only sources of counter irritation that are proper ; neither should diluting liquors be pressed on account of the distension they occa> sion. Warm, mild and frequent clystering must in these cases be very advisable. Stranguary, or suppression of urine; Incontinence of urine. Bloody urine, may arise from injury done to the kidneys by strains or by absorption of irritating matters. In these cases bleed if there be fe- ver, and if not, merely give the horse absolute rest, mash him, give him gruel, and warm his water for drink. Bloody urine should be treated in the same way. Some horses have such a natural or acquired weakness of kidneys, as to stale blood with the urine on every occasion of over ex- ertion, and to give diuretics in such cases rather aggravates the complaint than gives any relief. Strong diuretics injure horses more than strong physics, and in cases of bloody urine are said to be absolutely improper. Diseases op the skin and glanders, are not of^en met with in Brit- ish America; there is, therefore, no necessity to take up the reader's time in treating of them. Farcy is not uncommon, and attacks under different and distinct forms one of which affects the lymphatics of the skin, and is called the bud or button farcy ; the other is principally confined to the hind legs, which it af- fects by large indurations attended with heat and tenderness. Farcy is considered contagious. The remedies recommended by Blaine, are the dividing the buds or but- tons with a sharp firing iron ; or if deeply seated opening each with a lan- cet, and touching the inner surface with lapis infemalis. The various mineral acids may any of them be tried as internal remedies with confi- dence, never losing sight of watching their effects narrowly, and as soon as any derangement of the health appears, to desist from their use. Cor- rosive sublimate may by given daily in doses of fifteen grains ; oxide of arsenic may also be given in similar doses, watching, as before observed, their effects. The expressed juice of goose-grass, a strong decoction of hemp-seed, and of sassafras, of each six ounces, given occasionally after the mineral acids, is said by Blaine to have a good effect. Green meat is the best for horses afflicted with this disease. If that cannot be procured, carrots or boiled potatoes are good, or boiled or malted grain. Diseases of the extremities. Shoulder strains are not common. When they do happen, it is commonly the consequence of some slip, by |!.- ! t i ; J 1 fit '462 which (he arm is forced violontly outwards. It may be discovered Mheth* er the lameness is in the shoulder or not, by lifting up the fore leg consi- derably, ^\hich if the evil be in ihe shoulder will give great pain. If the hurt is recent, bleeding in the plate vein, roweling in the chest, Hv^ t:'>;uenting with hot water two or three limes a day, are the best re- I till >. When the heat and tenderness have subsided, first bathe daily vith he astringent wash for strains, No. 6. Ist. (Medicine table) and I ' ^ed to blister in the usual manner. In strains in the back, sinews and ruptures in the tendons and ligaments of the legs, physic and bleeding are useful, and fomentations and poul- ticing to reduce the swelling are indispcnsible. When the heat and swel- ling are reduced, then use tonics, such as the astringent wash,No. 6, 1st or 2d. (medicine table) bandage and exercise carefully. In a rupture of the tendons or ligaments of the leg, a perfect cure is seldom obtained. The heel should be raised and a laced stocking or firm banduge is necessary. Splints and bone spavins. The former is usually situated on the inner side of the canon or ahank bone ; and as they are situated so are thoy more or less injurious. When buried as it were, within the tendons or back sinews, they are very apt to lame the horse seriously ; but wheu situated on the plain bone, unless they be very large, they seldom do much injury. If a splint be early attended to, it is seldom difficult to remove. Blaine recommends the swelling to he rubbed night and morning for five or six days with a drachm of mercurial ointment, rubbing it well in ; after which to apply a blister, and at the end of a fortnight or three weeks to apply another. In very bad cases he recommends firing in the lozenge form. Bone Spavin is to be treated in the same manner as a splint, but it is necessary to commence the treatment early, and continue it energetically. It will not be found so easy to remove as splint, and usually requires the application of firing. Ring-bone is of the same nature, being a bony circle formed round the coronet. The treatment is the same with that of the splint or spavin. I must say, however, that either splint, spavin or ring bone, are difficult to cure, unless in the very commencement of their appearance. Blood Spavin, partakes of the nature of wind-gall:^, and can only be removed by strengthening the sides of the tumours or bass, by stimulants or by pressure. The more active stimulant is the liquid blister. No. 8. 2d.(medicine table.) Milder tonics are found in the astringent wash,No. 6 1st. (medicine table.) Bandages assist greatly when well applied to the part. Curb is an inflammation of the ligaments at the back of the hock, and is usually removed by astringents if applied in time. No. 3, 1st (Med- icine table.) When it does not give way to these, the sweating liquid blis- ter may be applied, No. 8, 6th. (medicine table.) Cracks and grease, are not frequent in these Provinces, and need not be very particularly described. When they do occur, to bleed, give a mild dose of physic, and wash, will have a gotid effect. It is generally the consequence of mismanagement in the horse's food or grooming that this unpleasant disease is produced, and this is the first matter that must be remedied. Poulticing with scraped carrots or turnips is good) and then to int. but it is d63 apply the astringent wash, No. 7. 1st or 3(1 (medicine table.) To dry the hecla perfectly when the horse is put into the stable, is accessary to prevent the disease. Diseases op the feet. Founders of the feet are of two kinds, acule and chronic. Acute founder is often produced by a severe days work, and when very much heated, if a horse get a sudden chill by standing iit cold water, or on snow or ice. It is commonly the fore feet that are a(- fiected. This may be ascertained by the disinclination of the horse to remain firm on his feet. On feeling the feet they will be found intensely hot, and the pastern arterie will beat vrith great violence. At the com- mencement of the disease bleed largely, as well by the neck as from tho toe of each foot, by paring until the blood flows freely. After which im- merse each foot in a goulard poultice, made of bran and goulard water with a little linseed added, and give the fever powder or drink No. 17. 2d or 3d. (medicine table,) litter up to the belly, and if amendment do not take place, renew the bleeding, and blister round the poslerns. Chronic founder, or contraction in the feet. It is easier io prevent than to cure. As soon as it is at all suspected to be likely to oc- cur, keep the hoofs pared low; never suffer the horse to stand on litter, and keep the stable cool ; feed moderately, and exercise daily. Whatever in- creases the general fulness of habit flies to the feet. Above all keep the feet moist by means of wet cloths tied loosely round the coronet, falling over the whole hoof, but not extending beyond the edge, then moisten the feet repeatedly, and stop them wi'h No. 23, (medicine table) every night. The most effectual method is to obviate all previous causes of contraction, and then to thin the hoofs around the heels from each quar- ter so thin as to be able to produce an impression by means of the thumb; in fact, to remove so much of the horn as is consistent with safely from the coronet downwards. It is also prudent to put in a score or two from above downwards, drawn a quarter of an inch deep on each side towards the front of the hoof; but whether this be done or not, the front of the hoof should bo rasped thin, about an inch in width, by which means a hinge is formed, which operates most advantageously in opening the hoofs. After this is done, tips should be put on, and the horse should be turned out to grass, where he should remain three months,by which time the new formed hoofs will have reached the ground, and will bear a shoe. This is Blaine's plan, and the best I have known. Corn? are troublesome aliments to which horses are liable, and which injure and ruin many. They are always brought on by some improper pressure of the shoe, or from something getting in between the shoe and the horney heel. A shoe too long worn is a very common cause, as also clubbing the heels of shoes. They are equally produced when the outer horn of the bars is the immediate offending part, rendered so by too luxu- rient growth, by unequal wear, or by secondary pressure from the shoe, or by gravel working in. It is the fleshy sole itself that is bruised, from which a speck of extra- vasated blood follows, and if not immediately relieved it gathers, or the part becomes habitually defective, and instead of forming a healthy horn, it always afterwards forms a spongy 8ubL.tance of extreme sensibility, and r^i k' I: 864 i' m W* thu3 id aUvaya liable to produce pain and lameness when exposed to pres* sure. Ticalimnl. Blainc recommends, that by means of a fine drawing knife every portion of diseased liorn should be pared away, and the extravasa- tion uinlerncntli likewise. Having done this he advises to introduce some butter of antimony into the opening, and place over this some tow, which should be kept in its place by means of a splint. If any contraction of the heels be prCHCnt, it will materially assist the cure to lower them, and to thin the hoof a little round the quarters, and afterwards to put on a shoe without heels opposed to the corn, or a shoe chambered, opposed to the weak part, or a bar shoe may \^^ applied so framed as completely to leave the heel untouched. Introduce the butter of antimony once or twice more, with the interval of two days between, and then turn the horse out to grass; in about six weeks time the horse will be sound. In all cases of corn, the diseased part must be carefully pared out at each shoeing, and such a shoo put on as will completely free the heel from pressure. Running thrush is always a dangerous disease. It is often pro- duced by over-fullness, want of ex^.'cise, and over-warm stables. To cure it is necessary to correct this mismanagement, then begin by clearing out all the fissures of the frog from loose ragged horn, and then introduce to the bottom of the sinews, by means of a thin piece of wood, some of the thrush-paste, No. 6, (medicine table) smeared on tow, which will enable it to be held within the clifl, especially if it be guarded by splints of wood passed under the shoe ; renew the dressing daily, and turning out to grass may be practised to great advantage for thrushes by this mode of dressing. Sanu cracks arcjismres of the hoof, and it is recommended to file the fissure crossways so as to destroy the connection between the divided and undivided parts of the hoof, and to fill up the crack with melted pitch. A bandage is sometimes applied, but it is necessary to watch the foot lest inflammation succeed, and then the bandage and dressing should be re- moved. Punctures in the feet, are often serious evils, either when received by nails when shoeing, or picked up on the road, &c. The danger arises from inflammation, which, if it take place quickly,proceeds to suppuration; and the matter is apt to make its way upwards, unless it find a ready vent below^. It often diseases the foot so as to pn luce quitter. It is seldom that a horse is pricked in shoeing but the smith i* aware of it by the flinching of the animal. Were the nail immediately withdrawn and a little spirit introduced within the [)uncture nothing would occur ; but on the contra- ry he sends the horse home to avoid trouble, and the following day the horse is lame. By removing the shoe, the matter that may have collec- ted about the nail, may flow out at the nail hole ; if not, the drawing knife must detect the injury. If the heat be great, and instead of matter, bloody dark icher flows out,wrap the loot in a poultice; but if healthy matter flows out this will not be necessary ; sometimes it is necessary to detach all the horn that is underrun by the matler,but when the injury has not proceeded to this extent, apply over the part tow steeped in friar's balsam ; tack on the shoe tiglitly,and retain the dressing by means of 8plints,which are thin pieces of tough wood passed under the shoe ; repeat the dressing daily^ and avoid 265 moisture, which would encourage quitter. A nail picked up on the road,and wliicii passes through the sole, is to be treated in the same way. If the nail should penetrate the coffin joint, it should be pared to the wounded joint, and then n lieated budding iron applied; not to the capsular ligament it9eir,but to the skin immediately near it. If this be inconvenient, put a pledget, dipped in butter of antimony, just within the opening, but do not press it into the cavity of the coffin joint. Bruises in the sole, from whatever cause, may be treated as above, for punctures. Quitters and canker are the consequence of these injuries when neglected,nnd can be cured only by removing the diseased parts by the knife or by caustic. Threads, Over-reach, &c. A wound on the coronet is not uncom- mon from one foot being placed on the other, or the hinder foot may strike it, &c. First wipe away the dirt, and remove any loose edges that cannot unite; avoid washing unless stones or dirt have got in ; bind up, having first placed over the wound a pledget of tow moistened with balsamic tinc- ture, or tincture of myrrh, or of aloes, &c. Treatment of wounds. A wound must be treated according to (he part of the horse's body in which it happens. In most cases they shouUl be carefully and smoothly brought together, and simply bound up in their own blood, without washing, unless dirt or foreign matter is suspected to lodge within. If the wound does not wholly unite at once, perhaps some portion of it may ; and at all events its future progress will be more natural, and the disfiguration less than when stuffed with lints, tow, &c., or irita- ted with heating oils or spirits. When an extensively lacerated wound takes place, it is common and often necessary to insert stiches into the lips of the wound. As these stiches seldom remain firm aflcr the third or fourth day, it is the more necessary in such cases, that the animal have perfect rest, and perhaps good bandages to secure the wound from distor- tion. Sticking plaster made with diachylon and pitch, may assist in keep- ing the lips of the wound togethe:*, but the wound must be guarded from these plasters by lint or tow first put over it. When in addition to lacera- tion in a Wound, there is a destruction of substance, then the caution of washing will not apply, as it will be necessary to bathe with some warm- ing spirits, as tincture of myrrh, tincture of aloes, or friar's balsam, to assist in restoring the life of the part, and in preventing mortification. Bleeding must be stopped by pressure and astringents, as powdered alum. When great inflammation follows wounds or bruises, counteract it by bleeding, a cool temperature, opening medicines, and continual fomenta- tion to the part itself. Mode of giving a ball. Back the horse in his stall, and being el- evated on a high stool, gently draw the tongue a little out of the mouth, so as to prevent its rising to resist the passage of the hand ; the tongue should not,however,be laid hold of alone,but it should be held firmly by the fingers of the left hand against the jaw. The ball previously oiled, being takeh into the right hand, and squeezed into as narrow a shape as possible, must be passed up close to the roof of the mouth, and the ball placed on the root of the tongue, when both hands being withdrawn it will readily pass down. This mode is much preferable if done properly, to using a balling 34 I I ^ aoG i-V I '.' Vm iron. There are, however, machines lately in\x 'oO for f Ms purpose that are perfectly safe. Fomentations and Poultices. Fomentations of various herbs, as rue, chamomile, St. John's wort, wormwood, &c., aie recommended ; their principal virtue is in the warmth and moisture which unload the ves- sels; but the warmth ought not to be considerable except when the in- flammation is within, as in inflamed bowels. In this case fomentation should be as hot as the hand will bear. In other cases it ought not to exceed blood heat ; and it should be continu- ed long, and when removed the part should bo covered,or cold may be ta- ken, and the inflammation increased instead of diminished. Tobacco is sometimes used in fomentations. The method of applying fomentations is conveniently done by means of two large wollcn cloths wrung out of the heated liquor ; as one is cooling the other should be ready to be applied. Poultices act in the same way as fomentations in allaying irritation and inflammation ; but are in some respects more convenient, bccauso they act continually. It is an error to suppose that poultices to be bene- ficial should be very hot ; however hot they may be applied they soon be- come oC the temperature of the surrounding parts. When poultices are applied to the extremities a stocking is a convenient method of application. When it is drawn over the leg, and bound around the lower part of the hoof, or of the pastern, or otherwise, the matter of the poultice may be put within, and it may then be kept in its situation by means of tape fas- tened to one part of it and passed over the withers or back to the other sidi-, and again fastened to the stocking. Cold poultices are often useful in the inflammation arising from strains, &c. In these eases bran and goulard water form a convenient medicine, but if the poultice require to be hot, a little linseed should be added. Bandages should be broad and not put on too tight. Setons and rowels. Setons are useful in keeping up a drain fo draw what are termed humors from parts, and to lessen inflammation in another part ^ot very remote ; they make a convenient orifice for the es- cape of lodged matter, and are easily attended to. Setons may be passed with a common packing needle and skein of thread,or4)iece of tape,or skein of silk, smeared over with digestive ointment. When the seton needle is removed, the ends of the thread or tape should be joined together to prevent the seton from coming out. Rowels act as setons, and when a general drain is required they act better; but in other cases, setons are more convenient. Any person may apply a rowel by making an incision in the loose skin about an inch, separating with the finger its adherences around, and then inserting in the opening a piece of round leather, with a hole in the middle, smeared with blistering ointment. Then plug the opening with tow, and in three days, when the suppuration has begun, remove it. The rowel leather is after- wards to be daily moved and cleaned. Blistering answers the same purpose as setons, and is practiced by first cutting or shaving the hair from the part,where the blistering ointment, No. 8, 1st (medicine table) should be well rubbed in for ten minutes or a quarter of an hour. Some of the ointment after the rubbing may bo smeared over the part. The head of the horse should be tied up for three t't» • i 267 V Jays aou to prevent his gnawing or licking. On the fiAhor aixth day after blistering it ia well to rub the blistered part with oil to prevent the ekin cracicing. Sweuling or liquid blisters, No. 8, 5th (medicine table) are only more gentle HtimulantH which are daily applied to produce the buine cilocts on a diaeased part without removing the hair. Though lesa active they are often more beneficial in strains and stiflhess than blistering itself. Clystering and physicing. Clystering should al waysbe preceded by back-rakinn' which consists in oiling one hand and arm and passing them up into the fundament, and by that means remove all the dung balls that can be reached. The pipe of the clystering bag should be oiled before using, and the liquor should be steadily pressed up, and when the pipe ia removed, the tail should be held down over the fundament to prevent the return of the clyster. They are found extremely useful in many com- plaints. Physicing process, as given by Blaine. The horse having fasted an hour or two in the morning without food, but having had his water as usu- al, give him his purge, and two hours after ofier him a little dulled but not warm water. After the ball has been given two hours, a warm bran mash may be offered, and a very little hay. He should have walking ex- ercise as usual. At noon mash again, and give a little hay, which should be repeated at night, giving him at intervals chilled water. On the follow- ing morning the physic may be expected to work, which if it do briskly, keep the horse quiet : but should it not move his bowels, or only relax them, walk him quietly half an hour, which will probably have the desired effect. Continue to give mashes and warm water, repeating every two or three hours to support him. When physic gripes a horse,give him a clys- ter of warm water, and hand-rub the belly as well as walk him out. If the griping prove severe, give him four ounces of gin in half a pint of sound ale, which will soon relieve him. On the next day the physic will probably set, but should it continue to work him severely, pour down some boiled starch, and if this fail, turn to the directions under diarrhcea. The horse should return to his usual habits of full feeding and full exercise by degrees ; and if more than one dose is to be given, a week should inter- vene. It is often requisite to make the second dose rather stronger than the first. A very mild dose of physic is likewise often given to hor- ses while at grass in very warm weather, and without any injury. When worms or skin foulness are present, and mercurial physic is deemed ne- cessary, it is better to give two drachms of calomel in a mash the previ- ous night, than to put it into the purging ball. Bleeding is a very common, and to the horse a very important opera- tion, because his inflammatory diseases, on account of the great strentrth of his arterial system, run to a fatal termination very soon, and can only be checked in the rapidity of their progress, by abstracting blood, which diminishes the momentum of circulation. Bleeding is more particularly important in the inflammatory diseases c^ the horse ; because the circula- tion cannot readily be lowered, as in the human frame, by nauseating the stomach. Bleeding also lessens irritation, particularly in the young, and those of full habit ; hence to bleed in spasms of the bowels, lock-jaw, &c., has a good elTect. Bleeding is general or topical. iSeneral, as di* P' I 1 it 2^ ■•■H from the neck, to lessen the general momentum. Topical, when from a particular part, as the eye, the plate vein, the toe, &c. In common hands, the fleam, as the more general instrument, is best adapted to the usual cases requiring the agriculturists' notice. Care should however be taken not to strike it with vehemence ; and the hair being first wetted and smoothed down, it should be pressed close between the hairs, so that its progress may not be impeded by them. A ligature is generally passed round the neck, unless the operator is very expert, when the use of the fingers will dispense with the ligature. The quantity of blood taken is usually too small. In inflammatory diseases, a large horse, particularly in the early stage of the complaint, will bear to lose eight or ten quarts ; and half the quantity may be taken away two or three times afterwards, if the violence of the symptoms seems to require it; and the blood should be drawn in a large stream to do all the good it is capable of. After the bleeding is finished, intioduce a sharp pin, and avoid drawing the skin away from the vein when pinning, which lets the blood escape between the vein and skin : wrap round a piece of tow or hemp, and next day re- move the pin which might otherwise inflame the neck. In removing the pin, care should be taken not to open the vein. In drawing blood it should always be measured, in order to ascertain the quantity exactly, and to observe the state of the blood. The improved method of shoeing horses, in England is found to unite all the perfections of modern English improvements, with some derived from their neighbours, the French. The improved shoe is of English make, but the mode of fastening it to the foot is French. This shoe presents a flat surface opposed to the ground, but a concave one towards the sole ; but this concavity does not begin near the outer edge, but em- braces only two-thirds of the web, leaving by this means a sufficient sur- face for the crust : but this levelling is not intended to reach to the heels ; it stops short of them, leaving the web at this part plain for the heel to rest upon. The great advantages of this seating are, first, that as the crust rests upon a flat surface instead of an inclined plane, as most of the com- mon forged shoes present, so its position is maintained entire, and the in- clination to contraction is in a great degree avoided^ The nailing on of this shoe should be the French method, .which consists in conical nail holes,without any grove,punched with a square countersink, into which are received conical nails, which exactly fill up the countersink ; by which means, so long as any part of the base of the nails remains, the shoe must be held firmly on, and which is not the only advantage gained ; for the nail holes being obliquely formed, and at some distance from the out- er rim, act less detrimentally on the crust of the foot. It is strongly re- commended that shoes somewhat wider and thicker than the common one, be used for general purposes. In weak, tender, flexible feet it will be found particularly advantageous ; and here the benefit of wide heels to the shoe will be most apparent. For very young, very light, and vcr} firm feet, it may not be very necessary to have heavy shoes, but the shoes for working horses are generally too light in Canada. To prepare the foot for the application of the shoe is also an important consideration., Avoid taking off more than one shoe at a lime ; otherwiw' the edges of the crust become broken away. Observe that the clinche: 369 are all carefully removed. Let the rough edges of the crust be rasped away; after which the sole should be |fared throughout, until a strong pres- sure with the thumb can produce some yielding ; too strong a sole tends to heat and contraction, too weak a one will not require paring. In this paring imitate the natural arch of the sole as much as possible. The line of concavity should not begin, as it usually is made to do, from the extreme margin of the foot, but should begin from the inner line of the crust only, by which means the crust, or outer wall of the hoof, will have a firm bearing on the flat surface of the shoe. Let no heated shoe be applied to correct the inequalities that may be left, unless it is for a mo- ment, only to observe, but not to burn them ; but still more carefully avoid puting a plain shoe on an uneven foot. The portion of the sole between the bars and quarters should be always pared out, as the surest preventive against corns. The heels should also be reduced to the ge- neral level of the foot, never allowing their hardness as an excuse for being left; neither suffering the inner heel to be lowered more than the outer. After all the rest has been done, the frog should be so trimmed as to remain on an exact level with the returns of the heels and no more. The custom of taking away the point or angle of the horny inflections of the heels, under the false term of opening the heels, is to be carefully a- voided. Let all the operations be performed with the drawing knife. The butteris, in so common use, should never be allowed to come near the foot of any horse but the largest and coarsest of the cart breed. The shoes for the hind feet should be a little squared at the toe for about an inch, to which squareness the hoof should be adapted by rasping, but not so as to injure it. By this means they are less liable to interfere with the fore shoes by clicking. When horses click or over-reach very much, the toe of the hinder shoe may be squared, or shortened, but not to do so by the horn ; by which the hoof meets the middle of the fore thoe, instead of the shoe itself, and the unpleasant noise of the stroke or click of one foot against the other is avoided. I have collected the foregoing remedies, &c., from authors who are considered the very best on the diseases of horses. I have not given place to, or recommended any remedies, that I do not believe to be efficacious and perfectly safe, and none of them are expensive. DISEASES OF NEAT CATTLE. It will be found much less difficult to preserve neat c j.ttle from dis- ease, than to cure them when they become diseased. Though it may not be possible always to prevent cattle from many diseases which they are subject to, yet, by proper care and management, they will be much less liable to sickness than they will be when not duly attended to. Abun- dant nutritive food at all seasons, a constant supply of good water, a due proportion of salt weekly during summer, and their food i^alted in winter, which will be best eHected in putting up the hay for their use after it is cut, will be a great means to [^^ jserve dtock in good health, horses, as well us neat cattle and sheep. I have frequently mixed saltr)etre with the salt 1 gave to my horses and cattle, in the proportion of about one ounce i/fi»altpo(re to the pound 01 salt. To do this monthly will be found a l\ 270 . very good practice. It is also most essential to pay constant and dallv attention to stock, and when any are observed to decline their food, lose the cud, or if milch cows, when they suddenly give much less than the usual quantity of milk, there is sure to be something amiss with the animal ; and by observing the symptoms, the nature of the disease may be discovered, and the proper remedies applied immediately. The following are the diseases to which neat cattle are most subject in British America. Gloss Anthrax or Blain. — There is a disease of the tongue in cattle, which, from its sudden attack, its fearful progress, and its frequently fatal termination, requires particular notice. The animal is dull, refuses his food, and rumination ceases. A discharge of saliva appears from the mouth ; it is at first limpid and inoffensive, but it soon becomes purulent, bloody, and exceedingly foetid ; the head and neck begin to swell ; they become enormously enlarged ; the respiratory passages are obstructed ; the animal breathes with the greatest difficulty, and is, in some cases, literally suffocated. This is the Blain or Gloss Anthrax, inflammation of the tongue. On examination of the mouth, the tongue is apparently enlarged, :but it is in fact only elevated from its bed between the maxillary bones ; and the cause of this being examined into, large vesicles or bladders, red, livid, or purple, are found running along the sides and base of the tongae,- and particularly towards its anterior part. These bladders are strangely rapid in their growth : they become of a great size ; they quickly break ; and they form deep ulcerations. Other vesicles arise in their immediate neighbourhood, of a similar character, but of a still larger size. Some- times the animal dies in twenty-four hours from the first attack ; but at other times fever rapidly succeeds of a typhoid or malignant kind. In a few cases these bladders have been found on the upper part of the tongue, and even nearer to the top of it than to the franum. The tongue soon becomes really enlarged, and particularly when the lateral or inferior parts of it are the seats of disease. General inflammation of it speedily follows, and that part of it on which the ulcers first appeared becomes mortified, and mav be cut into, or cut away, without the animal expressing the least degree of pain. Incisions into the tongue are not followed by blood, but they bring to view tissues decomposed at some points, and I)lack at others, and bearing the marks of incipient gangrene. The primary seat of the disease is the membrane of the mouth, beneath or above the tongue. As the sublingual glands lie along the under part of the tongue, and their ducts open on the side of the membrane or liga- ment under the tongue, it is possible that this disease may proceed from, or be connected with, obstructions or inflammation of these ducts. Dis- section, however, has not proved this, but the membrane at the base of the mouth see.ns to be the part primarily concerned. Post mortem examination shews intense inflammation, or even gan- grene of the part, and also inflammation and gangrene of the CEsophagus, the paunch, and the fourth stomach. The food in the paunch has a most offensive smell ;and that in the many-plus is hard and dry, inflammation reaches to the small intesiincs, which are highly inflamed, with red and black patches in the ccEcuni, colon, and rectum. I cannot speak with md daily food, lose less than I with the ase may St subject in cattle, ently fatal eiuses his from the purulent, '^eli ; they jstructed ; no cases, ammation 5eil,:but it 3ncs ; and red, livid, ingi^O; and gely rapid reak ; and immediate ;. Some- k ; but at In a few iC tongue, igue soon erior parts ly follows, mortified, g the least blood, but L at others, 1, beneath under part e or liga- ;eed from, cts. Dis- le base of even gan- sophagus, las a most lammation th red and speak with 271 confidence as to the cause of this disease ; indeed, I believe it is-, in a 0reat majority of cases, unknown. Some have said that it is more frequent m low marshy lands than in, others ; that it attacks beasts that have been in poor condition, and are suddenly changed to good keep ; and that it oftener happens in spring and autumn than in the summer or winter. While the blain sometimes assume an epidemic character, I fear that there can be no doubt of its being contagious, and especially under the malignant form. The disease, however, like glanders in the horse, is not communicated by the breath ; but there must be actual contact. The beast must eat from the same manger, or drink from the same trough, or be in such a situation that the saliva, in which the virus seems to reside, shall be received on some abraded or mucous surface. The malady is readily and too frequently communicated when animals graze in the same pasture or feed in the same yard or stable. Tha farmer and the practitioner should be aware of this, and should adopt every necessary precaution. The treatment of blain is very simple ; and if adopted in nn early period of the disease, effectual in a great majority of cases. It is inflam- mation of tl,<: membrane ot the mouth along the sides of, and under the tongue, and characterized by the appearance ot vesicles or bladders; per- hap: pellucid at first, but becoming red or livid, as the disease advances. These vesicles must be freely lanced from end to end. If this operation is performed when the saliva first begins to run from the mouth, and be- fore there is an unpleasant smell or gangrenous appearance, it will usual- ly effect a perfect cure. If the mouth is examined four-and-twenty hours afterwards, tiic only vestige of the disease will be an incision, not looking very healthy at first, Ijut that will soon become so and heal. Some rub a little salt well into the incision as soon as it is made, and others apply a solution of alum. Either may be done and the first is preferable. The blain, suffered to take its course, speedily becomes connected with fever, and that fever is not long in taking on a typhoid form : even then blood should certainly be abstracted ; four, five, or six quarts should be taken away according to the size of the bea-^t. and the urgency of the case : or rather blood should be abstracted until the effect on the general circulation is perceived. In addition to this a i i • T;ative from a pound to a pound and a half of Epsom salts she tld be &l ninisleiod, and likewise throw up some laxative clysters. When the stage of acute tever is past, physic should be given, one dose 'it least, whatever is the state of tiie bowels. A double dose cf aro- matic powder should accompany the ph; ..' : and after that might be given morning and evening for a few days, two drachms of gentian, the same J of columbo, and one drachm of ginger, suspended in some gruel, and half I a pint of strong; ale to each dose. While the soreness of the mouth I continues, the animal cannot eat its common food, and must be fed with I some gruel or mashes it can eat, and it must be poured down with a horn, if it will not take it otherwise. Cattle that have had this disease once, are said to be free from it ever after. Catarrh, or Influenza, or Felon, is nothing else than a 'iMrrain, in a mild form. Stormy, wet weather, or that is very changeable in its tem- perature, from heat to cold, will bring on this complaint. A change of pasture or food from good to bad, is another cause. The first appears by A\ v "fc ;rM''i» 272 a rumiing oi'the n«M6, cad a rednega of the nostrils and eyelids ; the ani- mal h«av6s, is tucked up in the flaiaks, and loses the cud. There is sonicumcs a cough, and not unfrequentij a sore throat, in which case the beast i»rariably holds down its head. Tlie treatment of this liisease should commence by bleeding rnoder- atidy, if tilw animal is noif. too weiik, or lias a rcry considerable running from the nose. The bleeding ihould always be in the commencement of the disease, not after the bev.f(t becomes very weak. Give night and morning the fever powder, No. 17, 1st or 2d, in a mash or drink. When the running at the nose has come, and weakness is considerable, give niglit and uiurning either of the fever drinks, No. 17, 3d or 4th. Malt mashes, when the weakness is great, aio very proper: r t other times bran mashes with plenty of chilled water are best. To relieve the sore throat, rub tlie outside with mild liquid blister, No. 8, 5th, and keep it from severe cold. The malignant epidemic Influenza^ or commor^ly called the Murrain or Pest, has at various times made great havoc among cattle in Europe, but I liave not known it to be of this malignant character in Canada. The symptoms thai first generally appear, are a difficulty of swallowing, shaking of the head, excessive weakness, and staggering gait, which oc- casioned a continued desire to lie down ; an acrid discharge from the nose, purging after the first two days, but previous to wl>'ch there is often costivcness. Great tenderness about the spine and withers, and a blow- ing up of the skm by air discharged underneath it. According to Sauvagt's dissections of animals that have died of this dis- ease, they have shown marks of great inflammation, and of a great putrid tendency ; but the solid parts, seldom ran into gangrene. The paunch, he says, was usually filled with indigested matter, and the other stomachs highly inflamed ; and the gall bladder distented . 'ilb acrid thick brown bile, and intolerably foetid. Gozola describes the murrain as accompani- ed with pustulous sores, and so great was the putrid tendency, that even the milk, before it dried up, which it usually did before the fourth ucy, be- come foetid. Treatment oj the murrain. — In the very early stages, all eminent au- thors recommend bleeding, but which- should not only be confined to tho early perious but to such subjects as by their previous hepJth and con- dition can bear it. The animals should have air, and their litter frequent- ly renewed ; and the stable itself should be fumigated with the preventive fumigation. No. 18, (medicine table.) Pitch may be burned on green boughs of pine as a substitute for the , above in fumigating. In the early stages from ten to twenty ounces of epsom salts should invariably be used. If the scouring come on, still however purge, but with only half the quantity; an artificial purge will I carry off the morbid bile, and if exce«(|/^*! vveaknefs do not come on, the same may be advantageously repeated, fietons are rrcornmended in the dewlap. When abt e.sscs appear, they arc opened, and their contents discljarged, washing the wound with brandy and vipegnr. The otbe^ es sen^lals as detailed under the malignant epidprnic in horses, are here ap- plicable in every parliculnr. When recovery takes pluee, it required rare to prevent other diseases eupe^yfe^jng. The animal should continue to be 273 housed, and neither exposed to sun or wind for some time, rnd the feed- ing should be nutritious. When this disease gets among catue, it is most essential to separate those infected, and constantly to fumigate the stables and stalls ; and those that may die of the disease should be buried with theh- ^tiins on, with quick lime. Fortunately this disease is not common in British America. Phrenzy FeveVf or inflammation of the brain, sometimes attacks cattle. The symptoms are very similar to those in horses having the same dis- ease, and the treatment may be exactly the same. Inflammation of the Lunga occasionally occurs in caUle, in which also the symptoms, progress, and proper treatment, are similar to those in horse pathology. Inflammation of the S^omac^ sometimes occurs from poisonous matters; and in such cases, when the nature of the poison is discovered, the treat- ment detailed under poison in horse pathology must be pursued. But there is a specief! of indigestion to which cattle are liable in the spring, from eating voraciously of the young sprouts of wood, to which some woods are more conducive than others. The symptoms are, heat, thirst, costiveness, lessened urine, quick and hard pulse, with heat and redness in the mouth and nose ; the belly is hard and painful, and the stools, when they appear, are covered with glair. When the mouth and nose discharge a serous fluid, the animal usually dies. Treatment. — Bleed at first, open the bowels with saline purgatives. No. 21, (medicine table.) After this give large quantities of nitrated water, and clyster largely. The Hove or Bloom in cattle is also an inflammatory affection of the paunch, ending in paralysis, and rupture of its substance. From the fre- quency of its occurrence in England, it hus become a subject of investi- gation with almost every rational grazier, and a particular matter of in- quiry with every agricultural body ; whence it is now very successfully treated by the usual attendants on cattle, when skilful, but when other- wise it usually proves fatal. It is observed to be more frequent in warm weather, and when the grass is wet. When either oxen, cows, or sheep meet with any food they are particularly fond of, or of which they have been long deprived, as potatoes, or other roots, the different grasses, par- ticularly red clover, they eat greedily, and forget to lie down to ruminate, by which means the first stomach, or paunch, becomes so distended as to be incapable of expelling its contents. From this, inflammation follows, and fermentation begins to take place ; a large quantity of air is let loose, which still adds to the distensiion, till the stomach either bursts or by its pressure on the diaphragm the animal is suflfocated. The situation of the beast is known by the uneasiness, and general swelling of the abdo- men ; with the circumstance of the animal being found with such food, or the presumption that it has met with it. This inflammation is not very common in these provinces, partly from there being less moisture, and less of the food which particularly occasions tho inflammation, or bloom, namely, turnips, and red clover. But as it may occasionally occur, I tiiall give the treatment. „,.,.,. .' ..; .. . ., , 35 S74 ^i Niii 'I'l 'ill r) w^ Ti-ealineni. — There are three modes of relieving the complaint, which may be adverted to according to the degree of disteoiiiion and length of time it has existed. These are internafmedicines ; the introduction of a probang of some kind into the paunch by the throat ; and the puncturing it by the sides. Dr. Whyatt, of Edinburgh, ia said to have cured eigliteen out of twenty hoved cows, by giving a pint of gin to each. Linseed oil, by condensing the air, has been successfully tried. Any other substance, also, that has a strong power of absorbing air, may be advantageously given. Common salt and water, made strongly saline, is a usual country remedy. New milk, with a portion of pure tar equal to one-sixth of the milk, is highly spoken of. A strong solution of prepared ammonia in water often brings off a great quantity of air and relieves the animal. Any of these remedies may be made use of when the hove has recently taken place, and is not in a violent degree. They will generally be found sufficient in British America. When the disease haci existed a consider- able time, and the stomach has become so distended with airthnt there is danger of immediate suffocation or bursting, in these instances tho puncture of the maw must be instantly performed, which is called paunching. This may be done with (he greatest ease, midway between the ilium, or haunch-bone, and the last rib of tlio leftside, to Avhich the paunch inclines ; a sharp pen-knife is frequently ubed ; and persons ii: veterinary practice should always keep a long trochar, which will be found the most etHcaciouf, and by far the most safe, as it permits the air escaping certainly and nuickly, at the same time that it prevents its en- trance into the cavity of the abdomen, which woidd occasion an equal distension. As soon as the air is perfectly evacuated, and the paunch re- sumes its office, the trochar may be removed ; and in whatever way it is done, the wound should be carefully closed with a sticking plaster, or other adhesive matter. It is necessary to observe that this operation is so safe, no farmer should hesitate a moment about doing it himself. Af- ter relief has been given by paunching, a stimulant drink may be given, such as half a pint of common gin, or one ounce of spirit of hartshorn in a pint of ale, or two ounces of spirits of turpentine in ale, may any of them be used as an assistant stimulant. The animal should be fed sparingly for a few days alter the cure may be effected, and for a few mornings get a tonic. No. 2, Ist. (medicine table.) Infiammatory Fever, is a diseai^e that cattle are very subject to in the British isles. Young stock, and those that are thriving most rapidly are its chief victims. The symptoms are the following: — The animal is {bund with his neck extended ; bis liead brought as much as he can effect it, into a h'traont •• jjosition; the eyes protruding, and red ; the mu.'szle dry ; the no-tirils expanded ; t\v? breath hot ; the roots of the horns consi- derably so ; rhe mouth partly cp^n ; the tongue enlarged, or apparently so ; the pulse fii!!, hard, and from 60 to 70 in a minute 5 the breathing quicken- ed and laborious ; the flanks violently heaving, and the animal moaning in a low and peculiar w-ay. The animal appears to be unconscious of surrounding objects ; and will stand for 8 n hour together without the slightest change of posture; can scarcely be induced to move, or when compelled to do so, staggers, in the hind-quarters particularly ; rumina- tion has ceased, and the appetite quite gone. After a while he becomes **■ .■."^^ int, which length of iiction of a puncturing d eighteen linseed oil, substance, nlageously lal country ixth of the mmonia in he animal. IS recently y be found considcr- ith air that stances tho ia called ly between which the persons in h. will be nits the air nts its en- an equal paunch re- !r way it is plaster, or peration is iself. Af- ' be given, artshorn in ny of them 1 sparingly ornings get t to in the rapidly are animal is I can effect [he mujjzle orns eonsi- arently so ; ig quicken - al moaning necious of vithout the !, or when ; rumina- le becomes 875 ^ - mbre uneasy, lies down, and gets Up almost immediately, is down again ; and debility rapidly increasing, he is soon unable to rise, and generally dies in twelve or twenty-four hours. . , , This disease if not checked immediately, Sometimes proceeds to assume that particular character that leaves no doubt of its being the quarter-evil, joint murrain, or black-quarter, when its cure is almost hopeless. The symptoms are tenderness on the loins and back. The animal will not bear even the slightest pressure on these parts. The case is worse if to these are added swellings about the shoulders, back, and loins, with a peculiar crackling noise, as if some gsis were extricated in the cellular membrane, and the process of decomposition had commenced during the life of the animal. There is an appearance of sudden, hard, scurfy pat- ches of what seems to be dead skin. It is a kind of dry gangrene, and is the commencement of a sloughing process, extensive and rapid to an almost inconceivable degree. The ulcers first appear about the belly, the quarter, and the teats, but they spread every where ; and particularly about the mouth and muzzle- Tlifi mouth is almost invariably ulcerated, and (he tongue is blistered and ulcerated too ; and there itf either a dis- charge of serous, offensive, or bloody fluid from the nose and mouth, or considerable hemorrhage from both of them. The urine becomes dark, or bloody ; the dung likewise has streaks of blood over if, and both are exceedingly fcetid. In this state the animal may continue two. or three days, until it dies a mass of putridity. The chief appearance after death will be venous congestion every where. The larger and smaller trunks will be black, and distended almost to bursting. The congestion is every where. It affects both the pleurae, the intercostal and the pulmonary^ and the whole substance of the lungs. It extends over the peritoneum, and mfore particularly over the mucous membrane of the intestines ; and patches of infiammation and ulceration are found in every part of the colon. These are the appearances when the animal is carried off during the inflammatory stage of the disease. If the complaint has assumed a putrid type, there are effusions, the smell of which can scarcely be borne, both in the chest and belly ; with adhesion and agglutination of all the small intestines. Often vomicae in the lungs, and eflusion in the pericardium; ever}' stomach is inflamed, and the fourth ulcerated through. The substance of the liver is broken down. There are ulcerations generally of the smaller, and always of the larger intestines ; and in every part of cellular membrane there are large patches of inflammation running fast into gangrene- There cannot be a doubt respecting either the nature or treatment of such a disease. It is, at first, of a purely inflammatory character, but the inflammation is so intense as speedily to destroy the powers of nature. The capillary vessels must have been working with strange activity, in order to fill and to clog every venous canal. Tlie congestion prevails in the cranium as well as in other parts, and the distended vessels press upon the substance of the brain, and that pressure is propagated to the com- mencement of the nerves ; and hence debility, and staggering, and almost perfect insensibility. As the congestion early takes place, the coma, or stupor, is early in its appearance. , The nervous energy being thus impeded, tiie power of locomotion { !H 1r ¥' fell ,t \i i kUw L. M 276 t m i^j' if seems first to fail ; then general debility succeeds, and at length other parts of the vascular system are involved. The mouth of the excretory ducts can no longer contract oii their contents, hence fluid is effused in the chest and in the belly, and in the cellular membrane ; and hence, too, the rapid formation of ulcers. The vital powtis generally are weakened, and in consequence of this, there is the speedy tendency of every excre- tion to putridity, and the actual commencement of decomposition while the animal is yet alive ; the blood shares in this abstraction or deficiency of vitality, and hence the disposition to ulceration, gangrene, and dissolu* tion,by which the latter stages of the disease are characterized. The very name of this disease, infiammalion ftver^ indicates the mode of treatment. As much blood must be taken as the animal will bear to lose ; and the stream must flow until the beast staggers or threatens to fall. Here, more than in any disease, there must be no foolish direction about quantities, for it is only by the bold and persevering use of deple- tory measures that a malady can be subdued that runs its course so ra- pidly. Purging must immediately follow. The epsom salts are here, as in most inflammatory diseases the best purgative ; about a pound or a pound and a half for a large animal, dissolved in water gruel, and poured down the throat as gently as possible, should be the first dose ; and no aromatic should accompany it. If this does not operate in the course of six hoars, another pound should be given; and, after that, half a poured doses every six hours until the effect is produced. At the expiration of the first six hours, the animal should be carefully exanruned. Is there any amendment? Is the pulse slow, softened ? If not, he must be bled a se- cond time, and until the circulation is once more aflected. If the animal is somewhat better, yet not to the extent that could be wished, the prac- titioner would be warranted in bleeding again, provided the sinking and fluttering of the pulse does not indicate the commencement of debility. If the pulse is a little quieted, and purging has taken place, and the ani- mal is somewhat more himself, the treatment should be followed up by the diligent exhibition of sedative medicines. A drachm and a half of digitalis, and one drachm of emetic tartar, and half an ounce of nitre, should be given three times every day ; and setons inserted in the dew- lap. Those of black hellebore root are. the best, as producing the quick- est and most extensive inflammation. No trouble need be taken about removing the beast now, although he may be in the pasture which has been the cause of all the mischief, for he will not eat until he is very considerably better ; and then he cannot be too quickly removed. If the animal is not seen until nearly the inflammatory stage of the fever has passed, the skill of the farmer will be put to the test ; but he will not And much difficulty in deciding how he ought to act. If the animal has not been bled, ho must be bled now, except he is too much debilitated to bear bleeding, and perhaps even that should be no excuse, as bleeding is almost the only remedy that can be adopted. As a general rule in this stage of the disease, the effect of bleeding should certainly be tried, but very cautiously, and with strict attention to the state of the pulse ; if it becomes much weaker and more indistinct, the oriflce siftould be immediately closed. FhysK in this stage is indispensable. A pound of t psora salts lor a large 277 animali and in proportion for smaller, should be the first dose, with two drachms of ginger, and six or eight ounces of salts, and two drachms of ginger, in the subsequent doses, until the bowels are opened, (clysters or injections of warm water and salt being given in the mean time.) If the bowels are opened, and the fever should still continue, more physic must be given, but in moderate doses. When the. fever is abated, tonics may be given, one drachm of gentian, the same quantity of Colombo, and half a drachm of ginger three times a day, in gruel, with a pint of ale added. In very bad cases of the inflammatory fever, ulcers may breakout, and the joints of the legs may become enlarged. In such cases the ulcers should be carefully and thoroughly washed several times a day, with a solution of the chloride of lime, of the following strength: — half an ounce of the pow- der dissolved in a gallon of water. If there should be ulcers about the muzzle, mouth and throat, they should be treated in a similar manner ; and it is recommended to give the animal by the mouth a pint of the solu- tion twice on the first day. Mashes, and plenty of thick gruel should be offered to the animal, and if it will not take them voluntarily, the latter should be horned down. When the disease is subdued, medicine should be discontinued, and nature will do the rest. It is the opinion of some farmers in England that this disease is brought on by cattle feeding on buds of trees, or shrubs, in copses and hedge rows, and in other cases in young cattle by over-feeding. I have given a full description of the symptoms, &c., as I believe that we have occa- sionally this disease in Canada, or one very similar to it. Indeed, I think that tn^mma/ory /ever, and inflctmmation of the bowels^ or red co/tc, are the most fatal diseases cattle are subject to in Canada, and must ne- cessarily be so, from the heat of the summers particularly, and often the want of abundance of pure water. The Pulse. — Every farmer ought to know the importance of the indi- cations to be obtained by the pulse in cattle. The heat of the blood may be felt at the roots of the horn; and the rallying of the blood around some im- portant, but inflamed part, may be guessed at by means of the coldness of the ear, or the extremities ; but here we ascertain the state of the general system, and the increased force or debility of that central machine on which every secretion and every function depends. The temporal artery will generally be sufficiently distin-^ ; but, on the whole, it will be most convenient to ascertain the beating of the heart itself, by placing the hand on the left side, a little within and behind the elbow. The average pulse of a full grown healthy ox is about forty. From this it may be ascertained by the pulse the degree of fever that is present in an animal at any time he becomes diseased. In a state of health the heart beats in the farmer's horse about thirty-six times in a minute. In the smaller and thorough-bred horse, the pulsations are 40 or 42. This is said to be the standard Tpuhe — ^the pulse of health. It varies singularly little in horses of the same size and breeds and where it is found there can be little materially wrong. The most convenient place to feel the pulse in a horse is at the lower jaw, a little behind the spot where the submaxillary artery and vein, and the parotid duct, come from under the jaw. The character of the pulse, as well as the number of pulsations may bo ascertained there. To put the hand on the side to as- m H" :»!| 'lr"*'-1 IpI 278 certain the number of the pulsations is also a very comraon pruciice. When the pulao reaches fifty or fifty-five, some fever may be appreiiendcd. Seventy or seventy-five will indicate a somewhat dangerous state, Few horses can long survive a pulse of one hundred. A (juick puloc indicates irritation and fever. A hard pulse is the sure indicator of considerablu fe- ver, and calls for the immediate and free use of the lancet. Sometimes the pulse may be hard and jerking, and yet 9>>iail This shows a danger- ous state oi disease. It is an almost invariable accompaniment of in- flammation of the bowels. A very weak pulse, is expressive of debility. The oppvessed pulse, is when the arteries seem to be fully distended with blood ; and there is obstruction somewhere, and the action of the heart can hardly force the stream along, or communicate pulsation to the current. Thia is the case in sudden inflammation oi ihe lungs. They are gorged with blood which caimot find its way through their minute vessels. This will accouiit for the well known fact of a copious bleeding increasing a pulse previously oppressed. A portion being removed from the distended and choked vessels, the remainder is able to flow on. The horse is bled for some particular purpose. The change in the pulse can alone indicate when the object of bleeding is accomplished. The operator should h&ve his finger on the artery durinf^ the act of bleed- ing, and comparatively regardless of the quantity, continue to take blood until, in inflammation of tlie lungs, the 0f)pre8sed pulse becomes fuller and more distinct, or the strong pulse of considerable fever is evidently softer, or the animal exhibits symptoms of faintness. Injlammation of the bowels, or red colic, is a disease not uncommon in British America. The symptoms do not differ from those common to the horse, and the treatment in every respect may be the same. See under this head, in diseases of tho horse, page 258. r'li.'ier this head I will give some extracts frouj a work lately published iu Kr.giand, on the syni|)tom.s and tretlment of this disease. The skilful farmer may be able to judge from what shall be submitted, the most pru- dent course to adopt in tlie treatment of this most dangerous disease. Tais disease is more frequent in hot weather, and after long continued drought. The beast that on the preceding day seemed to be in perfect health, is observed to be dull, depressed, his muzzle dry, his hair rough ; he shrinks when his loins are pressed upon, and his belly seems to be enlarged on the left side. To these symptoms speedily succeed disincli- nation to move, weakness of the hind limbs, trembling of them, stagger- ing, heaving of tho flanks, protusion of the head, redness of the eyes, heat of the mouth and ears and roots of the horns, and a small but rapid pulse, generally varying from 60 to 80 beats in a minute. Rumination has now ceased ; the appetite is lost ; the faices tire rarely voided, and are hard and covered with, a glazy mucus, and that mucus is sometimes streaked with blood ; the animal also luoans with intensity of pain. These symptoms rapidly increase ; the patient becomes more depress- ed ; the pulse more feeble ; the moaning incessant, and the beast is con- tinually down. He becomes half unconscious, and is ^evidently halt blind ; the mouth is filled with foam, and the tongue is covered with a brownish yellow deposit. There is grinding of the ttLth, and difficulty in the swallowing of liquids ; a tucked up appearance of the belly, mingled ...ng that presents itself is, tho ' vvilh black nnd coagulated tened in their consistenoy, 'iibits tho effusion of a great lamed, alnioat universally £70 with tho enlargement of tho left flank, and tho whole of tlie belly is cx- coeilingly tender. Until he ia too weak to raise himself, he is exceed- ingly restless, lying down, and immediately getting up again, and with convulsive movements of tho muscles of the neck and extremities. Tho evacuation of fteces ia entirely suppressed, or a little stream of liquid excrement forces a passage through tho hardened mass by which the rec- tum is distended, and that which is voided has an exceedingly fcetid and putrid smell. This symptom is characteristic. 1'he urine becomes thick, oily, and brown, and has a peculiarly disagreeable and penetrating smell. As the disease proceeds, the weakness and suflering increase, until tho animal dice, sometiinus cxiinusted, but mostly in convulsionp, and fre- quently discharging a bloody foetid fluid from the mouth, the nose, and the anus. On examination after death, the fir engorgement of the subcutaneous blood, and the discoloration of the n. and becoming putrid. The abd' quantity of bloody fluid ; the pcrit(, so ; there are black gangrenous patches in various parts, and on others there are deposits of flaky matter, and often spotted. The liver is en- larged, and its substance easily torn ; the paunch is distended with food» generally dry, and its lining membrane inflamed and injected, and of a purple or blue tint ; the honey-eomb, or second stomacli, does not es- cape the inflammatory action ; the manyplus, or tl)ird stomach, is flllcd with d'-y and hard layers ; the fourth stomach is highly inflamed, with patches of a more intense character, and its contents are liquid and bloody, particularly towards the pyloric orifice. The small intestines contain many spots of ulceration ; the lining membrane is everywhere inflamed, and they are all filled wilh bloody mucous fluid ; the laiger intestines ure even more inflamed ; they exhibit more extensive ulcera- tion, and contain many clots of effused blood. The rectum is ulcerated, and gangrenous from end to end. There is usually considerable effusion in the chest ; the coverings of the lungs are son.ctimes gorged with blood, and the heart is marked with black spots. The lining membrane of all the air passages is of a red brown colour, and so is the membrane of the gullet. This disease seems occasionally to be epidemic, for several instances of it occur in the same district. In hot summers it is more prevalent than in those that are more moderate. When the upland pastures are burned up, or what remains of them rendered unusually stimulating, and the acrid plants of the marshes or low grounds acquired additional delete- rous agency. The use of stagnant, impure water, or that containing a considerable quantity of metallic salts, and the use of mildewed and un- wholesome food, are all fruittul sources of this disease, particularly in British America. I have known it to be very fatal to cattle in dry sum- mers on some lands, particularly where there was not abundance of water. The description that has been given of this disease will leave little doubt respecting the course of treatment that should be pursued. A malady of so intensely an inflammatory character should be met by prompt and decisive measures, and to them it will in its early stages generally yield ; 'il MS i'Ml ■n ' \iV\ IM IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 I.I U&|28 |25 ■^ l&i 12.2 lU 14.0 IL25 i 1.4 6" 2.0 iil 1.6 „^ f S^ A / "Vv^** '^ y Photographic Sdences Corporation «^ \ •^ :\ \ ^ 6^ ^^^' 23 WIST MAIN STRUT WEBSTIR,N.Y. I4SS0 (716) •72-4503 '^ %^ 6^ ^ 883 but quickness of brenth, heat of the mouth, and evident fever being once establitihed, the danger is great. The animal should bo bled. If it is sim- ple costiveness without fever, six quarts of blood may suffice; but if the symptoms of inflammation cannot be misunderstood, the measure of the bleeding will be the quantity that the animal will lose before he staggers or falls. Purgatives should follow, the first dose being of the full usual strength and assisted by quickly repeated moderate doses, until brist; purging is pro- duced. Hot water, or blisters should be applied to the belly, and the food of the beast should be restricted to gruel and mashes. Aromatics or tonics should not be given until the state of the fever had passed over, and circumstances indicate the approach of debility, and of typhus fever, which sometimes may succeed. Such are the symptoms and treatment of this disease given by very experienced authors. The symptoms I know to be correct, and I have successfully practiced the treatment. Inflammation of the liver, or Iwt yellows, sometimes occurs, in which case in addition to the symptoms of the diseases which are des'^ribed in the horse, there is from the presence of cystic bile in the ox a mort. determined yel- lowness of the eyelids, mouth and nostrils. The treatment must be simi- lar to that directed for the horse in the same disease, page 261. Thrust in the moulA, is a disease sometimes epidemic, especially in the winter and spring. It consists in the appearance of pustules, not merely along the side and the root of the tongue, but all over the mouth, and occasionally on the outside of the lips. These pustules break, and minute ulcers succeed, which may run a little into each other, but they of tener speedily heal. This disease is harmless, and though it may con- tinue a few days, i*, will yield to a few mild doses of physic. Inflammation of the kidneys, called red water, is not uncommon among cattle. The animal to other spmptoms adds stifihess behind, and often straddles ; but always shrinks on being pinched across the loins, where frequently increased heat is felt ; the urine is sometimes scanty, and again increased in quantity, but is alwa}'S first red, then purple, and afterwards becomes brown or black, when a fatal termination may be the consequence. The treatment consists in plentifully bleeding and opening the bowels, carefully abstaining from the use ot diuretics. Colics in cattle arise from different causes ; costivencss brings on co- lic, which often ends in the red colic, or inflammation of the bowels,which is described in diseases ol the horse, page 259, and may be treated exactly in the same way. It is a dangerous and common complaint in Canada. The common or spasmodic colic, or gripes, is not so dangerous. Bleeding is always proper; also, to back-rake and throw up clysters of warm water. The following simple remedy is recommended. The expressed juice of two or three large onions, common gin, and common oil, of each half a pint, mix and give. Another remedy is allspice, ground fine, half a pound; spirits of wine and of water of each a pint and a half ; infuse them together and keep them for use ; give a quarter of a pint of the mixture every hour until relief is obtained. Rubbing and fomenting the belly with hot water is recommended. Diarrhwa or Scourinsc. The best cure is to keep the animal warm and dry; give them nutritious food. Buck-wheat will often check scouring. To give the astringeot inixtare« No, 3, Zi. (medipiQe tebJej) three times a day, will generally cure, "the animu should have water a little wann. Dysentery^ orhrazy^ bloody ray, and slimy flux^ differs from a simple scouring, in a ^eat degree of fever attending it, and its being an inflam- mation of a particular kind, and part of the intestines. It is frequently dependent on a vitiated putrid state of the bile brought on by over dri- ving or hot weather. The discharge is characterised by its bad smell and by the mucous stringy patches m it, and also by the heat and smoking when voided, all which are different from the discharge of the aliments in a state of solution in diarrhoea, and which difference should be carefully marked to distinguish one from the other. Treatment. In the first stages it is well to bleed, and give six ounces of castor oil ; aflervirards administer the following : powdered ipecacuan- ha, a drachm ; powdered opium, a scruple ; liquid arrow-root, eight ounces. Should this not check the evacuation, and should it continue as mucous as at first, again give castor oil, and then follow it up by either of the drinks directed for the cure of scouring of looseness, Ho. 8, 1st or 2d (medicine table.) Yellows. When active fever is not present, and yet cattle are very dull, with great yellowness of the eyelids, nostrils, &c., it arises fi-om biK* iary obstructions, to which cows and oxen are more liable than holies, from their being fVirnished with a gall bladder. The treatment, if there is much fever, is to bleed, but if there is not much appearance of inflam- mation, give each night ten grains of calomel, and every week work it off with a mild dose of physic. There is a cure recommended in England which is said never to fail, and a simple one^ Flowier of mustard mixed with any liquid, and in doses of two ounces repeated two or three times in the course of twenty-four hours. To subdue the inflammatiopi or fever by bleeding and physic, to keep the bowels afterwards open by mild purgative medicine, adding tonics occasionally, such as gentian ro^t in particular, and vdien the disease is sUbdUed to give a few liOniQ. dnnks, will restore the animal to perfect health in most cases* ,- Loaf of the cud. This is less a disease, than a symptom of some pUi^r affection. Any attack sufficient to destroy the appetite, vniX generally occasion the loss of the cud. It is possible that taking ii^to the paunch, substances sudi as acorns or the tops of some woody shrubs, ^(^„ may occasion the loss of the cud. The treatment in this case would be to stimulate the stomach by tonics, as aloes, pepper and gin Jiii.\ed. There cannot in general be a more certain indication of the presence of disease in neat cattle than the bss of the cud. I would strongly recommend ev- ery farmer to look well to this, morning and evening if possible. Staggers, or Turning, is not common, and when it does occur, it is produced from over-feeding, particulariy when front low keeping, eatjtie are suddenly moved ^o better p^turage. The treatment is bl^duag and purging. Cattle Surgery is in no respect different from that practiced among horses ; the wounds are treated in the same manner. Gonng with the horns will sometimes penetrate the cavity of the belly, i^nd let ovt tl^e intestines ; the treatment of which is the same as for tl^e horse, page 2Q0> ^trains, bruise^ &e., «re aluoto be treated like ttiqse inMqrfOs^ ^ m>\ lil :i 1J I't ''fi H i' fit .M \\^ m . .1 ■%■ 289 ' l^outinttffodl dcctusklhaliy coWsi on of itself, but is more oflen the efiect of accident. Clean it well, and l(eep it from dirt; apply the foot pa^te, No. 6, (medicin6 table.) , Womalst Warbles, or Puckeridge, are tumours on the backs of cattlc> occasioned by an insect, the gad-fly, which punctures their skin and de- posits its eggs in each puncture. AVhen the eggs are hatched, and the larva or maggots are arrived at their (ull size, they make their way out, and leave a large hole in the hide, to prevent which, the destruction of the eggs should be attempted by nipping the tumour, or thrusting in a hot wire. ';t;^,j,. / The process of Calving is usually performed without difficulty ; some- •times, however, cross presentations take place, and sometimes a con- Atriiction of parts prevents the natural passage of the calf. To act properly 'on these occasions, great patience is required, and much mildness ; many cows have been lost by brutal pulling. A steady moderate pull during the throes of the animal, will assist much ; having first directed the atten- tion to the situation of the calf, that the presentation is such as not to ■obstruct its progress ; if it does, the calf must be forced back, and turned -or placed aright. ' Whethering, or retention of the Afttr-hirth, Placenta or Burden. — 'It sometimes happens that this is retained ; for which I believe no better remedy has been hitherto discovered than keeping the animal warm, and 'giving it an aperient drink consisting of from ten to twelve ounces of epsom salts, (Or one pound for a large animal,) and two drachms of ginger, with 'the addition of a pint of good ale to it; this is the best and safest assistant 'that can be given. Should the cleansing or afler-birth, continue, to be re- 'tained for several days, the hand should be introduced into the passage, and the separation accomplished as gently as possible, and the cleansing removed. ' To a cow afHer calving, it is always well to give a warm mash, if she will take it ; and an aperient drink, the same as ordered for a cow retain- ing the afler-birth, will be very proper to give in most cases, particularly to cows that Calve before they are let out to pasture. Inversion of the Womb. — In the convulsive efforts in order to accom- {ilish the expulsion of the foetus, the Vfomb itself sometimes closely fol- ows the calf, and hangs from the ^'jar is low or lower than the locks, in the form of a large red or violet v »• ^ bag. This is called " the downfall of the calf-bag.'* It should i,^ .^jturned as soon as possible, for there is usually great pressure on the neck of the womb, which impedes the circulation of the blood, and the protruded part quickly grows livid ' and black, and is covered wiia ulcerated spots, and becomes gangrenous , and mortified ; and this ib rapidly increased by the injury which the ' womb sustains in ihe continual getting up and down of the cow in these cases. ' The womb must first be cleansed from all the dirt which it may have '^gathered. If much swelling has taken place, and the bag looks thick- - ^ned and gorged with blood, it should be lightly scarified, and the bleed- ing encouraged by warm fomentation. Two persons should now sup- port the calf-bag by means of a strong, yet soft, cloth, while if the pla- i. ) 288 centa, or cleaiMsing; yet remaind attached to it, a third person gently se- parates it at every point, and takes it away. The little collection of blood-vessels which belong to the placenta, should also be careiully re- moved. If much bleeding attends this process, the parts should bo washed with a weak mixture of spirit and water. The bleeding being a little stayed, and everything that may have gathered round the calf-bag being removed, the womb should be raised with the cloth on a level with the bearing, while the operator, standing behind, and having his hand and arm well oiled, and a Ijttle oil having been snwared over the womb, generally, places his right hand, with the fingers bent or clinched against the bottom, and forces it through the passage, and as far as he can into the belly, and there he retains it, while, with the other hand, he endet^v- ours likewise to force up the smaller horn, and*the mouth of the womb« Til re is sometimes considerable difficulty in effecting this operation, for the strainings against it will be immense, and oflen when the bag is re- turned, it wil! be again suddenly and violently expelled. A bleeding from the jugular, and administration of two drachms of opium, will ma- terially lessen these spasmodic efforts. In performing this operation it would be well to have the cow's hinder parts considerably elevated. Care should be given that the parts are returned as nearly as possible into their natural situation ; the retention of the womb will depend a good deal; upon this. To prevent the womb from being again expelled, stitching the bearing is often but improperly resorted to. The best mode of prevention is,, to pass a collar of web over the neck of the cow immediately before the shoulders ; a girth of the same material put round the body behind the shoulders, and this is connected with the collar, under the brisket and over the shoulder, and on each side a second girth is passed behind the first, and a little anterior to the udder, and connected ^th the first in the same way. To this, on one side, and level with the bearing, a piece of strong wrapping cloth, or other strong material, twelve or fifteen inches wide, is sowed or fastened, and brought over the bearing and attached to the girth on the other side in the same manner. This will effectually prevent the womb from again protruding. If it cannot be kept in its proper position, another piece may be carried from below the bearing over the udder to the second girth, and a corresponding one, slit in order to pass on each side of the tail, may reach from above the bearing to the upper part of the second bandage or girth. The cow should bo kept as quiet as possible ; warm mashes and warm gruel should be allowed ; bleeding should again be resorted to, and small doses of opium administered if she should be restless. The bandage may be removed so soon as the cow appears free from pain, and straining, but it is better to allow it to remain two or three days, or per- haps more, than run the hazard of the calf-bag being again e:^elled. If stitching is resorted to, the stitches should be through the hide, not through the lips of the bearing. A lew stitches with a strong waxed- thread passed through the hide and crossing the bearing three or tour times, will prevent the calf-bag from obtruding, provided thie. stitching is properly ex- ecuted, which is very easy to accomplish. Sore TealeSf or cracks or chops on the teatcs, are very troublesome. 86* t li ^ f !l i 1 j|;;;|l I m 11 11 m i H'V' ■t'; : : 1- „ ' N, ; j I ir B i I II f^ ff^ 884 The cow iuiTert Much pain (W)in these tracks fai ttiilking, and the dis- charge f^om the cracks mingles with the milk. The treatment is simple. Foment 'die teates with warm water in order to clean them, and get rid of a portion of the hardened ecabbiness about them, the continuance of which IS the cause of the greatest pain in the act of milking; and after the milking the teates should be dressed with the following ointment : — Take one ounce of jellOw wax and three of lard, melt them together, and when they beein to get cool, mix wetl a quarter of an ounce ofsugar- o^lead and a drachm ot idum finely powdered. Qfargett it an inflammation that attacks the internal substance of the udder ; one of the teates or the quarters of tiie udder becomes enlarged, btft, and tender, and soon begins to feel hard and knotty, ahd contains withiti it Kttle distinct hardened tumours or kernels. The milk has coag- ulated in the bag to a certain degree, and it has caused local inflamma- tion where it lodges. In the early stage of the complaint, the calf allow- ed to suck the mother and knock about the udder at pleasure, will dis- perse the lumps and eflbct a perfect cure in many cases. If the infltimroation should continue to increase, and the milk become disedoured with matter or with blood, the cow should be bled ; a dose of physic administered ; the udder well fomented ; the milk drawn gen- tly, but completely off, at least twice in the day, and an ointment com- posed cf the following ingredients, as thoroughly rubbed in as the cow "iirill permit : — Rub down an ounce of camjAorj having poured a tea- apoohfiil of spirit of wine upon it ; and an ounce of mercuriid ointment, and half a pound of elder ointment, and incorporate them well together. Let dlis be applied after every milking^ and ihe remains of the ointment hashed off before the next milking<. In some cases, tumours will break out in the bag, and uleers be form- ed. The chloride of lime is an invaluable application here. The wound should be well cleaned with warm water, and then a diluted solution of the chloHde of lime freely applied to every part of it. This will arrest the destructive progress of the ulcer, and ^e wound will speedily take on a healthy character. When this is effected, recourse may be had to the Friars' balsam, but Ae occasional use of the chloride will be advanta^ geous until the bag is perfeetly healed. The causes of garget are various. High condition ; imperfect milk- ing, leaving a portion, and the best portion of milk in the bag, which gradually becomes a source of irritation and inflammation in the part ; and the hasty drying of the cow, are the principal and general causes. When this is known, prevention is possible, by due care and attenti tonics, treacle and strong beer in warm wash, and good peas, and pollard. . In the measles, sulphur, &c., and if the animal require it, give cordials I .occasionally. In staggers, bleeding, fresh air and nitre; in catarrh a ■ warm bed and warm cordial wash ; and the same in quincy, or inflam- iLwati(Hi of the glands in the throat. If esLtemal suppuration appear like- 289 I y, (lischar^ the matter when ripe, and dress wi),h tar and brandy, or balsam. The heavings or unsoundneas of tho lungs in pigs, like the un- soundness of tlie liver in lambs, is sometimes found to be hereditary ; there is no remedy. This disease in pigs is often the consequence of colds from wet Iwlging, or of hasty feeding in a poor state ; in a certain state it is highly inflammatory, and without remedy. Unction with train oil, and the internal use of it, hare been thought beneficial. Salt, nitre and sulphur, occasionally given in the food of swine, will be found a good preventive of disease in these useful animals. INSTRUMENTS FOR GRUBBING UP THE ROOTS OF SMALL TREES AND SHRUBS. A simple and powerful instrument for this purpose has been invented. It is a very strong iron three-pronged fork, having the prong 'twenty in- ches long, and of proportionate strength, and a strong ashen handle, twen- ty feet long, fixed firmly into it, to the end of which a rope is fastened ; this is driven obliquely under the roots, and by means of a log as a ful- crum it forms a lever when pulled down by the ropes. With this instru- ment, properly made, the roots of small trees and shrubs may be taken out with great ease and facility, by two or three men. The three prongs will not allow the instrument to slip off the root, and the long handle gives it great power. In sofl land, roots of considerable size might be removed with it. I can strongly recommend the instrument. In all cases where it is found necessary to grub up large trees, the best means to adopt in or- der to save labour will l^ to cut the roots all round, below the surface, and draw the tree over by means of strong ropes fixed to the top. By this method the stem becomes a lever by which the roots are much more easily drawn out. The standing trees may be made useful in this work, and give great additional power to the ropea applied to the tops of the tree that is to be grubbed. The Bern machine was invented also for this purpose. I have not seen it, nor am I perfectly aware of its utility. It acts by pushing the tree over and lifts it at the same time. I do not believe that any machine yet invented can be generally useful in clearing wild land. It is only in making new roads, rail-roads or canals, where it would be necessary to take out all trees, roots and stems, that they can be brought into operation. The usual method of clearing land in North America, will be found the most effectual, and tlic only one practicable. CONSTRUCTION OF THE FLUES OP CHIMNEYS, SO AS TO PREVENT THAT MOST DISAGREEABLE OF ALL CIRCUMSTANCES IN DWELUNO HOUSES, SMOKY CHIMNEYS. The following directions for the proper construction of flues of chim- neys, may be interesting to all who would desire to be free of this very great nuisance, a smoky house. I have taken it from an excellent work by Dick, " On the improvement of Society, by the DifTusion of Knowl- edge." I believe the directions given will be found an effectual preven- tive to smoky chimneys. " To all who are acquainted with the nature and properties of elastic fluids, it must be obvious that the whole mystery of curing smoky chiin- 37 ■i . '1 'i u I it'' ■I. , :.l Ifi'- 290 % neys consists in fimllng out and removing the accidental causes which prevent the heated vmoke from being forced up the chimney by the pres- sure of the coul or heavier air of the room. These causes are various ; but that which will be found most commonly to operate is the bad construc- tion of the chimney in the neighborhood of the fire-place. '*The great fault," says Count Rumford, *' of all the open tire-places now in common use, is that they are much too large, or rather it is the throat of the chim- ney, in the lower part of its open canal, in the neighbourhood of the mouth and immediately over the fire which is too large." The following is a condensed view of some of the rules given on this subject, by this in- genious practical philosopher, and which ore founded on the principles of science and on numerous experiments: 1. The throat of the chimney should be perpendicularly over the fire : as the smoke and vapour which rise from a fire naturally tend upwards. By the throat of a chimney is ^ meant the lower extremity of its canal, where it unites with the upper •*part of its open fire-place. 2. The nearer the throat of a chimney is to the fire, the stronger will be its draught, and the less danger of its smoking, since smoke rises in consequence of its rarification by heat, and the heat is greater nearer the fire than at a greater distance from it. But the draught of a chimney may be too strong so as to consume the fuel too ra- pidly ; and, therefore, a due medium must be fixed upon according to circumstances. 3. That four inches is the proper width to be given to the throat of a chimney, reckoning across from the top of the breast of a chimney, or the inside of the mantle to the back of the chimney, and even in large halls, where great fires are kept up, this width should never be increased beyond 4 285 ( P^oartment ofCrovm Lands, and Woods and Forests, > Quebec, July 27, 1836. Public notice , hereby given, that a sale of licences to cut timber, on the waste and ungranted lands of the crown, will take place at Quebec, at the Exchange, on Wednesday, the thirty-first day of August next, at ten o'clock in the forenoon. William B. Felton, Commissioner of Crown Lands. VPPER CANADA. f Commissioner for Crown Lands Office, \ Toronto, 10th May, 1836. Notice. — The times and places for the sale of crown land and clergy reserves during the present year, will be as follows : In the Western District. — For crown land and clergy reserves in the County of Kent, and town lots in Chatham and ErroU at Chatham, on the first Tuesday in June, and on the first Tuesday tn July, August, Sep- teniber and October following. For clergy reserves in the County of Essex, and town lots in Sandwich and Amherstburgh, at Sandwich^ on the third Wednesday in June, and on the third Wednesday in July, August, September and October fol- lowing. Reference may be made to the agent for the crown for this district, Mr. Henry Jones, residing in Chatham, for further information. In the London District. — For clergy reserves, in the County of Nor- I folk, at Simcoe, on the first of June, and on the second of July, second of August, first of September, first of October and first of November fol- lowing. For clergy reserves in the County of Oxford, at Blandford on the fourth of June, and on the fifth of July, fifth of August, fifth September, fourth of October and fourth of November following. For clergy reserves in the County of Middlesex, and town lots in Lon- don, at London on the eighth of June, and on the eighth of July, ninth of August, seventh of September, seventh of October and on the eighth of November following. Reference may be made to the agent for the crown, for this district, John B. Askin, Esquire, residing in London, for further in- formation. In the Home District. — For town »ots in Port Credit, and Bronti ; in this City on the 23d May instant. And for such crown lands, and clergy reserves, as are for sale ; at this City, on the second Tuesday in June, and on the second Tuesday in July, August, September, and October following. In the J^ewcastle District. — For crown lands, clergy reserves, and town lots in Peterborough and Lindsay, at Peterborough, on the first Tuesday in June, and on the first Tuesday in July, August, September, and October following. For town lots in the Village lately surveyed at the mouth of the Trent, in that Town, on the fifteenth of June, and on the second Wednesday in July, August, September and October following. Reference may be made to the agent for the crown, for tliis district, M V ^ -ill 29S Alexander McDonnell, Esquire, residing at Peterborough, for further in- formation. /» the Bathurat Di$triet. — For clergy reserves in the Counties of Lan- ark and Carlton, at Bytoven, on the second Wednesday in July, August, September, and October following. For town lots in Richmond, at that Town on the same days. In tht Oltmva Di$lricl. — For clergy reserves in the Counties of Pres- cott and Russell, at Btjtoton on the second Wednesday in June ; and on the second Wednesday in July, August, September and October following. Reference may be made to the agent for the crown for thes«) districts, John McNaughton, Esquire, residing at Bytown, for further information. Schedules of the particular lots to be sold in each township, specifying nlso the terms of sale, have been printed and -will be put up at the Court House, at the offices of clerk of the peace, and sheriff, and in other conspicuous places in each district, which schedules may be had on ap'* plication to the commissioners for crown lands, or any of the above named agents. Schedules are preparing for the Midland and other districts, in which there are crown lands or clergy reserves for sale, and notices of these sales will be speedily given. Peter Robinson. ,}••■■■ ■ - . SALB OF CLEROV RESERVES IN THE MIDLAND DISTRICT. ' •" The undermentioned clergy reserves, in the Midland District, will be offered for sale, by auction, at the Court House in the Town of Kingston, on Tuesday the 30th of June, 1836, and afterwards, on the 28th July, 29th Augu8t,29th September, 28th October,and 29th November following. F The terms of payment will be one-tenth of the purchase money down» and the remainder in nine equal annual instalments, with interest upon each instalment as it becomes due. Township of P&rtland. — At the upset price of 10s. per acre. ;• Tovtuahxp ofPiitaburgh. — ^At the upset price of lOs. per acre, ti Townahip of Hinchinbrook, — At the upset price of Ss. per acre. Township of Bedford. — At the upset price of 6s. per acre. t Township of Loughborough. — At the upset price of 10s. per acre. • TVolf Island. — At the upset price of ISg. per acre. The undermentioned clergy reserves, in the Townships of Huntingdon, Madoc, Hungerford, Rawdon, Sidney, Thurlow, Marmora, and Elziver, in the Midland District, will be offered for sale, by auction, at the Town of Belleville, on Monday, the 20th June, 1836, and adjourned sales will afterwards be held at the same place, on the 20th July, 20th August, 20th September, 20th October, and 21flt November following. Township of Huntingdon.— At the upset price of 10s. per acre. Townahip of Hungerford. — At the upset price ofTs. 6d. per acre. Townahup ofMadoo. — At the upset price of 6s. per acre. Township of Rawdon. — At the upset price of 10s. per acre. Townahip of Sidney. — At the upset price of 15s. per acre. Townahip of Thurlow. — At the upset price of 158. per acre. Townahip of Marmora. — At the upset price of Ss. per acre. Toxcnahip of Elziver. — At the upset price of 68. per acre. 297 Commissioner oj Croten Lands* Office. I Toronto, 10th May, 1836. » Notice. — The times and places for the sale of crown and clergy re- serves, during the present year, '^ill be as fouows : MIDLAND DISTRICT. M Btllevillet for crown lands, in the County of Hastings, on the 20th June, 20th July, 20th August, 20th September, 20th October, and 21st November. At AVipanee, for crown lands, in the Counties of Lennox & Addington, on the 24th June, 26th July, 24th August, 24th S'^ptember, 24th October, and 26th November. At Kingston^ for crown lands, in the County of Frontenac, on the 30th June, 28th July, 29th August, 29th September, 28th October, and 29th November. At Belleville, for clergy reserves, in the County of Hastings, on the 20th- June, 20th July, 20th August, 20th September, 20th October, and 21st November. At ^apanee, for clergy reserves, in the Counties of Lennox & Adding- ton, on the 24th June, 26th July, 24th August, 24th September, 24th October, and 25th November. At Kingston, 'for clergy reserves, in the County of Frontenac, on the 30th June, 28th July, 29th August, 29th September, 28th October, and 29th November. Schedules of the particular lots to be sold in each Township, and spe- cifying also the terms of sale, have been printed, and will be put up at the Court House, at the office of the Clerk of the peace, and Sheriff, and at other places in the District, which schedules can be had on application to the Commissioner of crown lands, or to Samuel S. Wil mot. Esquire, Deputy Surveyor, who will reside in the District, and superintend the sev- eral sales. SALE OP TOWN LOTS, RIVER TRENT. Notice is hereby given, that certain lots, in the town lately surveyed at the mouth of the Trent, in the District of Newcastle, will be offered for sale, by auction, in that town, on Wednesday the 15th day of June next, and afterwards on the second Wednesday in July, August, September, and October following, at the upset price of J£10, currency, each, and up- on the usual conditions of building. The terms of payment will be one quarter down, and the remainder in three equal annual instalments, with interest On each instalment as it be- comes due. Commissioner for Croum Lands* Office. ) Toronto, April 30th, 1836. J Notice to Emigrants. — The undermentioned Government Agents will, on application, afford Emigrants information relative to the Crown Lands for sale in their respective districts, and the conditions upon which they may be obtained. Mr. W.J. Scott, Emigrant Agent, Prescott, Johnstown District. Mr. John McNaughton, Agent to the Commissioner for Crown Lands, Bytown, Bathurst District. Mr. Anthony Manahan, Enjigrant Agent, Kingston, Midland District. 38 I ■ II, I i' 1?^ 296 Mr. Alexander McDonell, Agent to the Commissioner for Crown Lands, Peterborough, Newcastle District. Mr. John B. Askin, Agent for the Commissioner for Crown Lands, London, London District. Mr. Henry J. Jones, Agent to the Commissioner for Crown Lands, Chatham, Western District. They will also give information as to the routes, distances, and rates of conveyance, to those parts of the Province to which emigrants may be desirous of proceeding, and direct those in want of work, to places where they can obtain it. The undermentioned Gentlemen have been furnished with Maps of the Townships open for location, and will give Emigrants information, rela- tive to the lands for sale in their respective neighbourhoods. Mr. Pringle, Cornwall, Mr. Frazer, Brockville, " McKenzie, Bath, « Baldwin, Belleville, '* Fairfield, Hallowell, " Brown, Cobourg, (< Eingsmill, Port Hope, *< Elliot, Sandwich, *' Bostwick, Port Stanley, '< Ironside, Amherstburgh, Emigrants in want of infoimation, or employment, on their arrival at Toronto, are directed to apply at the Emigrant Office in the Public Build- ings. A. B. Hawke, Chief Emigrant Agtntfor Upper Canada. Emigrant Office, Toronto, May 24, 1836. NOVA-SCOTIA, NEW-BRUNSWICK, ISLAND OP PRINCE EDWARD, &C. I have not very full information of the mode of sale or crown lands, in all the above Provinces. The following advertisements will however show the emigrant the upset prices, and terms of payment in New Brunswick. I cannot say that the prices given below for Nova-Scotia may be consi- dered as applying generally, but the advertisement I copy is the only one I have seen lately, for the sale of land in Nova-Scotia. In the Island of Prince Edward the wild lands are generally in the hands of absent owners. I give one advertisement that will show the terms on which some of these proprietors are disposed to concede these wild lands. I cannot say that this is the mode of concession and terms of sale generally, but it must be something near it. NOVA-BCOTll. Halifax, June 29, 1836. The following lots of land will be sold at public auction, on Wednesday, the 27th of July next, at 12 o'clock, in the Commissioner of Crown Lands' Office, Province Building. The lots are then described. Upset prices from 2s. 3d. to 3s. per acre. John Sprt Morris, Commissioner of Crown Lands, NEW-BRUNSWICK. D^artmentfor Crown Lands and Forests, Fredericton, June 1st, 1836. By authority of His Excellency the Lieutenant Governor, under in- structions from His Majesty's Government, public notice is hereby given, that for the future all crown lands will be sold by public auction, and that monthly sales will take place at the crown land office on the fir^ Monday '•} 299 io every month ; the loveest upset price will be six shillings per acre, by four annual instalments, with a discount o( fifteen per cent, if all paid at the time of sale ; and in order to afford the public every reasonable faci- lity in the acquisition of land, any person who may be desirous that any particular lot should be submitted to sale, will send a description of the same to the crown land office at least six weeks prior to the day of sale, that it may be introduced into the notice of such sale. Purchasers paying by instalments will be required to pay the first instal- ment at the time of sale, and give bonds to the King for the balance due ; upon which a grant will be prepared with the least possible delay. Persons who may have taken possession of land without authority, and who have been settled more than a year, are allowed until the 31st of December next to make a payment on the land they occupy, at such price as his Excellency shall direct, and will be admitted to the same ad- vantages as persons purchasing by auction. So many repeated notices respecting Squatters having already been published, such of that description of settlers as may neglect to avail them- selves of the last notice, are hereby warned, that in making sales of crown land after the first of January, 1837, no attention will be paid to their oc- cupancies. All deputy surveyors are hereby required to report to me immediately, any case of a person taking possession of crown lands after this notice, without proper authority for so doing, in order that he may be proceeded against by His Majesty's Attorney General for trespass and intrusion. Thomas Baillie, Commissioner and Surveyor General. Sale op crown lands by public auction. — A sale of vacant and unsurveyed crown lands will be held at the crown lands office, on Mon- day the 1st day of August next, in the several counties in this Province. Upset price, six shillings per acre and upwards, according to the quali- ty and locality of the land. Quit rents. — ^Public notice is hereby given, that all persons who have paid quit rents to His Majesty agreeably to the notices formerly publish- ed to that effect, are required to transmit on or before the 15th July next, to the clerks of the peace for the several counties where those rents were paid, the receipts or true copies thereof, which were given to them for the sums so paid as above in order that the clerks of the peace may make a return of the same, to be compared with the entries of the receiver gene- ral, after which the several amounts will be transmitted to the clerks res- pectively, to be returned to the parties who have so paid them. By com- mand of His Excellency the Lieutenant Governor. Thomas Baillie and J. S. Saunders, Commissioners. Fredericton, 1st June, 1836. The following advertisement is for tlie sale of land in the Island of Prince Edward, or St. Johns. Notice. — Large tracts of land to be disposed of in several townships, on the following conditions : The rents to be in sterling — the tenants to pay taxes, and restricted from cutting timber for any person but for their own use, or the pro- prietor's. 38* I, :l iji '!» r ■ ■! i' ijr :1 • IT m m doo Terms of letting lan(}3 on Townships numbers 4, 5, and 6, for nine hundred and ninety-nine years. Ist and 2d year, free ; 3d year, three pence per acre ; 4th year, six pence per acre ; 6th year, one shilling per acre ; 6th year, one shilling and six pence and so to remain. If fifteen chains water front, an ad- dition of three pence per acre, and ^so in proportion for an extension of ' water front ; but not more than twenty chains of water front to be leased. One vacant space, fifteen chains in front, to be left between every new farm. No lease to be granted on Ilillstovvn point, or on any part of the peninsula to the southward of the south line of lot number four, nor on Fox Island, Pitt's Island, or any other island or peninsula. Any settler taking a farm on which buildings have been erected or improvements made, to account or pay for the same. Further particulars may be known on application to William Forgan, Esq., Charlottetown ; Charles Craswell, Esq., Cascumpec, or Patrick Cody, Esq., Eildare. Charlottetown, April 20th, 1836. MEANS OP INTERNAL COMMUNICATION ESTABLISHED IN BRITISH AME- RICA, BY STAGES, RAIL-ROADS, STEAMBOATS, &C. RATE OP PASSAGE AND FREIGHT FROM QUEBEC, MONTREAL, AND VARIOUS CITIES AND TOWNS IN BOTH CANitDAS, AND THE OTHER PROVINCES. In order to afford as much information as possible to emigrants and strangers coming to British America, I shall give under this head all that I think interesting for them to be made acquainted with. The rates of passage, &c., to different places in Upper and Lower Canada, has been kindly furnished mo by the owners and agents of steam boats, and by forwarders. I regret that it is not in my power to give as full information respecting the other provinces. However it is not so necessary as there is not so much inland travelling in Nova-Scotia or New Brunswick as in the Canadas. The only information I have in my power of the means of internal communication and rates of passage in Nova-Scotia and New Brunswick, is from newspaper advertisements, and these do not give the rates by steam boats on the rivers, or packet boats on the canals. I believe the means of communication are ample in both those provinces. New-Brunswick. — Stages. — The subscribers being desirous of ren- dering every accommodation to the pubfic, purpose for the future to have stages to start for Richibucto and Bathurst, every Saturday morning, im- mediately after the arrival of the steamer Cape Breton, from Pictou and Prince Edward's Island, which will return in sufficient time to enable persons to take passage in that boat on her return to the last named places, on Monday morning. They have in addition to the above, a stage running daily between Mi- ramichi and Bathurst, and another which leaves with the mails for Ki- chibucto, Peticodiac, and Dorchester, every Wednesday morning at ten o'clock, which returns with the mails to Miramichi on the morning of Sa- turday. This stage meets at Dorchester, the couriers for Halifax; and Saint John. Fares. — To and from Bathurst, twelve shillings ; Richibucto, twelve shillings and six pence ; Peticodiac, thirty shillings ; Dorchester, twenty- five shillings. Way passengers, four pence per mile, &c. &c. 301 Between Fredericton and Miramtciii. — The eubscrilicr returns thanks for past favors and begs leave to intinnate to his friends and tlie public that he intends running a stage from Mewcastle to Frcderict(>n weekly — to start from Newcastle to Fredericton every Wednesday morn- ing at twelve o'clock, and from Fredericton for Newcastle the lollowing Wednesday, at the same hour precisely. Every attention will be paid to such passengers as he may be favoured with, and lie requests that such persons as may require to engage their passage will leave their names at Mr. M'Leod's, at Fredericton, and at Mr. Uamiirs, at Newcastle, on each Tuesday evening previous to starting, and pay the usual passage money of forty-five shillings. A reasonable quantity of baggage will bo admitted, &c. &c. A steamboat plies from St. John to Fredericton on the River St. John. NovA-ScoTiA. — Eastern Stage Coach. — The subscriber begs leave to notify the public, that from and after Monday, the second of May next, the coaches will as usual, leave Halifax and Pictou three times in each week. The Pictou coach will start at six o'clock on the mornings of Monday, Wednesday and Friday, in each week, and arrive in Halifax the following days at two o'clock in the afternoon. The Halifax coach will start on the mornings of Monday and Friday at six o'clock, and ar- rive in Pictou next day, at two o'clock in the afternoon. On Wednesdays the co9ch will leave at the usual hour (three o'clock in the afternoon,) and stop all night at Hill's Inn. .A Fares. — From Halifax to Truro twenty shillings. , ,,ju ;.. t plying 09 follows : — Messrs. Macphcrson & Crane, Montreal ; Lake Ontario Steam Boat OITice, at Prescott ; Messrs. Truax & Phillips, Commercial Wharf, Kingston ; Mr. Robert Cooley, Steam Boat Agent, Otiwego ; and Mr. James Browne, Toronto. May 25, 1836. The mail stage loaves Toronto daily at twelve o'clock f^^r Hamilton and during the summer several steamers ply between those places daily. The fare by stage is 128. 6d. ; by sieamers, in the cabin, I believe, lOs. A stage also leaves Toronto at nine o'clock in the morning every day excepting Sundays, for " Holland Landing." LAKE SIMCOE. From Lake Simcoe the means of conveyance can be obtained to any part of the Huron country as far as St. Joseph's Island at the upper extremity of Lake Huron. There is a line of steam boats and stages in operation between Detroit acd Queenston. The distance, about two hundred and sixty miles, is travelled through in three days and a half. The Cynthia steamer, J. McCrae, master, leaves Sandwich, opposite Detroit, for Chatham, three times a week, every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday morning, at eight o'clock, and arrives at Chatham same even- ing. Returning, leaves Chaiham for Sandwich, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at eight o'clock in the morning, and arrives there the same evenings. Fare, ten shillings, cabin, and seven shillings and six pence, deck. The stage leaves Chatham for London, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and London, daily for Queenston via Oxford, Burford, Brantford, Ancaster, Dundas, Hamilton and St. Catherines. From Queenston to London, the same route, daily, and from London to Chatham, Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursday via Westminster, Delaware and Howard's Bridge. Fares. — From Chatham to London, - iJO 18 9 From London to Brantford, - 15 From Brantford to Hamilton, - 6 3 From Hamilton to Queenston, - 12 6 Vice versa, the same. The above mentioned lines afford the best means of conveyance from Michigan eastward, and from New York, &c. westward. It intersects the Ridge Road Stage Line at Tjewiston, which leads to Rochester, and also the Lake Ontario Steam Boats, at Hamilton. It also intersects, at Detroit, four different Stage Lines, viz., to Pontiac ; to the mouth of St. Joseph River, to Chicago, and to Monroe. « •8 S s I Ml n a CR k> CAIIRYINO PLACE, Deck. mnntu^^m Cubiii. o ^ --J .; S A ic rt o J. ?. i o 3 fN "^ — ^ '^ ''"'■'* "^ "^ "^ "" *• To TRENT. ll.'Ok. Cabin. ^'l -I S »t £ '» '- « "5 ""^ ''' ?• ' To AMELIASDHRG. i>i,vk. ? -. ... ''. = » -5 1, ■?. ■« ' 3 75 1- -.3 • 5 .rj rt (Jl ■ i To BELLEVILLE. Uc.k. tm^^^UtU ! :': Cabin. J V *«-,:•« 'i o ° f ? . , , Jj J o i; H . O .15 — M M , , , To SOPHIASBURG. Deck. « 7, 4; ? '/ ?: \ = f. = , . . . o 2 « o tj ;•! 7) ji -. « ! 1 ; ; Cabin. :jj JJ ^ 3. i-o d .^ .-:ji 1 , , 1 To PORTTS. i)o( k. .. .-. ^ <£ f c"=-tO i ■u J> ■£> t n r: i-k -^ ^ Cabin. To 9CANLANS. Deck. ^'v^'SfSir? i Cabin. r; O '^ '7 O J". O (O ;n S2 "^ *'* '^ "^ » i . 1 , . To HALLOWELL. Ufik. intl^l ::::::: 2?. Cabin. IIP^SI ::::::; 31 To ADOLPHUSTOWX. Deck. 1» 7. -^ ^ i? T^ 1 -. 1 - ^5 c3 »« — • . . • « 1 1 . 13 Cabin. imn :::::::: >• -3 To FREDERICKBURG. Deck. U%ll ::::::::. * Caljiii. •r;. i?:i7; 3 a To BATH. Ueck. Ii^« :::::::::; 1 Cabin. |;^a| ;;;;;;;;; ; J To KINGSTON. Deik. ^■j'll ■5 .r. N , . . . ,. , . «?9=; Caunj. N o o I ; 1 ! I ; I . . . . To OANANOQUE. Deck. SI :;:::::;::: : Cabin. ^% ',',',:',',',', \ ; ', To BROCKVILLE. Ueck. Cabin. ^ (N ■ - :::: ;o :;::;;; : BS« • •••■&>. ; ■ • : : « s ' • • ' a • 5^ -J < .3 a a J J « H a -J '-^ r 3 (Zl 39 \f VV m a 9 Id s fa I Id s e fa IM fa » fa mi V iTo Carrying Place. ^0001t*i«<««0«OW^-*Tj».^^ To Trent. .^ o e OS t^w w CO «o ?o »jt rfi ^.^ 1 To Ameliasburg. To Belleville. .^ Oi OS 00 1> «) ;o;o;oco;o^ i i i i To Portts. ..^a^osooi>(ococo^^ i i i i To Scanlans. )i^Oio:)00t>«o;oco^| | | 1 1 1 To Hallowell. ^ 00 CO t* «o i« -i* T(t 1 1 1 1 II To Adolphustown. ^ 00 GO t^«> ^ '^ 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 To Fredericksburg. .^ 00 CO ic^to •* 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 To Bath. ^j^fi©-*!!! Ill 1 To Kingston. ^««^ Mill ill To Gananoque. "«*'°'* 1 1 1 1 i 1 1 III To Brockville. ■^-^ II 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 ■ 1. , From Prescott - - - " Brockville " Gananoque - - " Kingston - - - " Bath " Fredericksburg '* Adolphustown « Hallowell " Scanlans - - - - " Portts " Sophiasburg - - " Belleville - - - *' Ameliasburg- - " Trent •^ ■ ' ■■* W i •T3 oo S JO H r/i H ® S Horses. =^ a. 3 M ^ i g Oxen and 3.C0WS. Ut S Double s 5 «1 • g. Wagons re « f Ul g Single cc g- Wagons i< CO S' i Sleighs. n H > :n S Horses, 5{ Kl pr 1 n (—1 S Uxen and w CO g-Cows. g Double J5 OJ g- Wagons H f <> )). .» g Single 2.Wagons p ►4 « >• • n Sleighs. « •^ ? re g Horses. a a. W S" S Oxen and S-Cows. C*1 1— ' to S Double > OS S-Wagons re 71 15^ ^ H-l S Single sc • S-Wagons • 4 B W OJ g Sleighs. > ts re 15 liorses. g • to ^ !=? rl g Oxen and S s- 2.C0WS. |D- to M S Double 1 is. Ire §.Wagons 1" f? r/} ^5 g Single ^ 5< f O) g- Wagons g Sleighs. • >■ > >• P3 CI B From Prescott -------- " Brockville " C^wego, State of New York - - " Cobourg and Port Hope - - - " Toronto os.'^ 0^ r m ts/' 0?^ a re n ■ c^. c. P^ g? 2 C p£ Cl w .«> cor- 05 C3 ^ F^ -i > ■i J, r^ • (X Ci W .=" 4n ^1 ^ i" ffiO^?' C ^. IS a Q = V 0Do5 X?" U ^ ►- w w »». »<. .„ W J C 00 !i" 0000 or- 3 so H • osoiojc 0?^ ♦—■'»—* r* ui ■'J ij •5! W 2 10 J, >- > ■ o_3i_aic -4 00.* I* d «9 X4 on ft &9 S3 ft B ft B I? I I ! : i ■ I i !t ■' s ■ ,/ il * ABOVE QUEENSTON. Rates op Passage, &c., to Places on and bordering on Lake Erie ; means of conveyance, &c., for Emigrants proceeding to that quarter. FASHENOERS. WAGONS. NO, OF MILES Qucf nston to Chip- pewa, - - - Chippewa to Buf- falo, - - - Niagara to Buffalo, Buffalo to Detroit, Chippewa toRyer- son's Creek, - Chippewa to Port Burwell, - - Chippewa to Port i Stanley, - V Buffalo to ditto, > Chippewa to the Round Dean, - Chippewa to Am- hurstburg, - - 10 RATE TEH LOAD lOs. 21 ^STEAMEHS NO, OF MILES RATE FER HEAD 18 Sandwich to Chat ham, - - - Sandwich to Gode rich on Lake Hu- ron, - - - Buffalo to Chica2;o on Lake Michi- gan, - - - The average passage The average pussago May. 1836. 160 SsOd REMARKS. lOs. 50 OS, On the arrival of steam boats at Queenston, teams are always in readiness to convey passengers and baggage to Chippewa. Two boats ply daily between those places. A daily line of stages. Steamers leave Bunalo twice a day, and call at the intermediate Ports on the American side. Steamer " Thomas," twice a week. Emigrants for the town- ships of Walpole, Townsend, Charlotteville, vVoodhouse, and Houghton, should ship for Kyer- son's Creek. Steamer '' Thomas," twice a week. Emigrants for the town- ships of Malahide, Bay ham, and Durham, should ship for Port Burwell. Steamer " Thomas," twice a week. Emigrants for the town- siiii>s of Yarmouth, Southwold, London, Delaware, Lobo. West- minster, Ekfrid, Dunwick, Ald- boro', and Oxford, should ship for Port Stanley. Steamer " Thomas," twice a week. Emigrants for the town- ships of Howard, Harwick, Ra- leigh, and Tilbury,Ea&t &, West, should ship for Round Dean, Steamer Adelaide is expected to be ready to commence her trips about the end of June. E- migrants for the townships of Ilomney, Mersea, Gosfield, Col- ciiester, and Maiden, should ship for Anihurslbnrar. By River and Lake St. Clair, and the River Thames, steam boat every second day. Steam boat once every week. Steam boat twice each month. across Lake Erie is about three days, to Port Stanley is about thirty-six hours. ■**- ;-»;'^,',^^--(?T» =» -■ 309 i'i' William iv. — Propelled by a low pressure engine, of one hundred horse power, the only boat that runs between Prescott and Toronto with- out crossing the Lake to or from Oswego, will on the opening of the na- vigation, commence her regular weekly trips, running as follows, viz : Upwards. — Will leave Prescott for Niagara every Saturday evening after the arrival of the Montreal stages or steam boats, touching at Brock- ville and Gananoque. Kingston, Sunday morning. Cobourg and Port- Hope, Sunday evening. City of Toronto, Monday morning. Hamilton, Monday afternoon ; and arrive at Niagara on the same evening. Downwards. — Will leave Niagara lor Prescott, every Tuesday after- noon, at seven o'clock. City of Toronto, Wednesday morning at ten o'clock. Cobourg and Port-Hope, Wednesday evening. Kingston, Thursday morning, touching at Gananoque and Brockville ; and arrive at Prescott in the afternoon. Passengers leaving Niagara on Tuesday evening, and the City of To- ronto Wednesday forenoon, by the William IV., will arrive in Montreal on Friday evening, passing the ♦' Thousand Islands.''^ Canada. — Propelled by a low pressure engine of fifty horse power, the only steam boat which plies regularly between Kingston and Oswego ; will leave Kingston every Monday, Wednesday and Friday morning, at half-past eight o'clock, and Oswego every Tuesday, Thursday and Satur- day, at the same hour, until further notice ; and on Sundays will make an extra trip, leaving Kingston at six o'clock in the morning, and returning the same evening. For freight or passage, apply .o Messrs. Trobridge & Grant, Oswego ; Messrs. Truax & Philips, Kingston, or to the Captain on board. Rochester^ Toronto, Hamilton, Cobourg, Port-Hope, and Presqii'isle. Traveller, will, on the first July, commence making two trips a week, between the above mentioned places, and leave as follows : — On Monday and Thursday mornings, at eight o'clock, leave Rochester for Presqu'isle, Cobourg, Port Hope, Toronto, and Hamilton. On Wednesdays and Fridays, at twelve o'clock noon, leave Hamilton for Toronto, Port-Hope, Cobourg, Presqu'isle and Rochester. Hamilton, will, during the present season, (Sundays excepted) ply re- gularly between the above ports, leaving as follows : Hamilton, at seven o'clock, in the forenoon, Toronto, at two o'clock, in the afternoon. Touching at Port-Credit, Oakville, and Burlington Bay Canal, on the way up and down. All baggage and small parcels at the risk of the owners, unless booked and paid for. It is requested that bills of lading will at all times be sent with property. Cabin passage ten shillings, Deck passage five shillings. Passengers are requested to be on board in due time, as the boat will leave H. Vallance's Wharf, at Hamilton, and A. McDoiiald's, at Toronto, precisely at the hours above stated. Brockville, will leave Prescott for the head of Bay of Quinte on Tues- days and Fridays, on the arrival of the steamer Dolphin, touching at Brockville and Gananoque. She will leave Kingston on her upward H 310 trips on WeJncsdays and Saturdays, at half-past eight o'clock, in the morning, and will call at the following places : Bath, Fredericksburgh, Adolphustown, Hallowell, Scanlan's, Roblin's Mills, Mohawk Village, Sophiasburgh, Belleville, Ameliasburgh, and ar- rive at tbe Trent and Carrying Place the same evenings. She will leave the Trent and Carrying Place on the evenings of Wed- nesday and Sunday, for Belleville, and leave Belleville for Prescott on Mondays and Thursdays, at half-past six o'clock iu the morning, calling at all the intermediate places. Oneida, (propelled by two powerful bw pressure engines,) will until the 15th of September next, ply between Ogdensburgh and Niagara* louching at the intermediate ports, as follows : Upwards. — Leaves Ogdenburgh, Wednesday evening, Kingston, (U. C), Thursday morning, Sackclt's- Harbor, Thuri-day noon, Oswego, Thursday evening, Genesee River, Friday morning, Toronto, (U. C), Friday evening, touching at Youngstown, and reaching Lewiston early Saturday morning, Downwards. — Leaves Lewiston, Sunday evening, Genesee River, Monday morning, Oswego, Monday afternoon, ' ' Sackct(t's Harbor, Monday evening, Kingston, (U. C), Tuesday morning, touching at French-Creek, Morristown, Alexandria, and Brockville, and arriving at Ogdensburgh Tuesday afternoon. Oswego, will ply on Lake Ontario and St. Lawrence River, between Ogdensburgh and Niagara, as follows, commencing ^pril 29th, 1836. Upwards. — Leaves Ogdensburgh, on Friday evening, Kingston, (U. C), on Saturday morning, Sackett's Harbor, on Saturday noon, Oswego, on Saturday evening, ' ... Rochester, on Sunday morning, Toronto, (U. C), for Niagara and Lewiston, on IMonday morning, where she arrives early,, giving passengers all the day to visit the Falls of Niag.ira, and return by the boat. Dowmcards. — Leaves Lewiston, on Monday evening, Rochester, on Tuesday morning, i Oswego, on Tuesday afternoon, h=j-I-^J vw ;;a<: ,fcii.«w Sackett's Harbor, on Tuesday night, Kingston, (U. C), on Wednesday morning, and arrives at Ogdensburgh the same evening touching at French-Creek, Mor- ristown, Alexandria, and Brockville. Parties intending visiting the Falls of Niagara, Buffalo, or the different ports on Lake Ontario, will find the route via Oswego to Rochester to be the cheapest and most expeditious. Passengers Leaving Niagara in this boat on Monday evening, will ar- rive at Montreal on '^hursday erening, passing the most interesting part of the St. Lawrence River by day light. 811 LAKE SIMCOG. The steam boat Peter Robinson will leave the Holland Landing during this season on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, at eight o'clock in the morning. — Will leave Roache's Point, for the towa of Bar- rie, on Mondays and Fridays, at eleven o'clock in the morning. — Will leave Barrie on iMondaysand Fridays, at three o'clock in the alternoon, touching at Kempenfeldt, E. O'Brien's, Esq., Hodge's Landing, and Captain Davis's. — Will leave the Narrows on Tuesday, Thursdays, and Saturdays, at eight o'clock in the morning, touching at Parker's Wharf, and Roache's Point, arriving at the Holland Landing at six o'clock, P. M. On Wednesdays will go by the way of Georgina and Thorah ; and oa Thursdays, by the route as above stated. N. B. — The utaiost punctuality will be observed in leaving the above places at the specified hours. There are several other steam boats on the navigable waters of Upper Canada, but I think it is not necessary that I should notice every one of them. the WATERLOO CiESARIAN EVERGREEN COW CABBAGE. The above is the name given to an extraordinary species of cabbage of recent discovery, introduced into England three years since, by a Mr. Ful- lard. It is described as growing to the height of nine to twelve feet, and from FIFTEEN to twenty feet in circumference. It is said that five of these cabbages by proper management will be found an ample allowance of food for one hundred sheep, or ten cows for a day. They are said to produce a most surprising improvement in the growth and utility of every description of cattle, particularly sheep. The wool of sheep fed on this cabbage is said to grow to twenty-five inches long, of the finest silken texture, and to be superior to every other kind of wool for the manufac- turer. I do not know if they would prosper in our climate. I believe from the notice I have seen, that in England they are transplanted from the seed bed in September and remain out during the winter. The fol- lowing is part of the notice taken from the Agriculturist. " The plants of this seed, unlike other vegetables produced for cattle, never fail, and after two months growth, (being sown in July,) they may be irunsplanted, even upon waste ground, a small portion of good mould only being suflicient for raising them to perfection." The seed is to be had ofJVJr. Brown, 46, Cheap- side, London. It would be interesting to make further enquiry about thi$ vegetable in order to ascertain if it could be cultivated in British America. ROUGH comfreYj (or Symphytum asptrrimivin L.) I have already noticed this plant in the Agricultural Treatise, page 206. It is said to be a perennial from Siberia. I find by late reports that it is cultivated in Ireland with great success, and found to answer the highest expectations. The Reverend H. Moor, of Carnew Castle, County VVick- low had a crop last year which at three cuttings produced eighty-two tons of green food for cattle to the Irish acre, equal to about one arpcnt and three quarters. This plant, I have no doubt, might be cultivated in Canada successfully, and would be likely to prove a valuable acquisition as an herbage plant. 313 ASSOCIATION IN EniTAIN FOU THE ENCOUaAGEMENT OF AGRICULTURE. It may be interesting again to allude to the exertions that are now ma- king in the British Isles to improve the condition of the agricultural inter- est. By a report of a meeting of the proprietors of the Provincial Bank of Ireland, held in May last, it appears that the affairs of the Bank are in a most prosperous slate. That it has now 33 branch banks open in the principal towns in Ireland, besides which, the managers of the nearest branch banks visit several other towns and transact business on market days. The report goes on to state that the operations of the banks hare had a very beneficiat effect on the price of Irish produce and manufac- tures. That prior to 1825 the Bank of Ireland had no bank out of Dub- lin ; that in Dublin there were only four private banks, and that there were no otiier banks in Ireland then, but in Cork, Belfast, Wexford, and Mallow ; that from 1825 to 1834, the Provincial Bank, Bank of Ireland, _the Northern and Belfast Banks, had gradually established in the chief cities about fifty banking offices ; that within the last two years the num- ber of branch banks, &c., has increased to upwards of 120, and appears to be daily ai'";.iienting in number ; besides which, there are a great num- ber of stations attended on market days by non-resident agents on behalf of one or other of these banks ; and in addition to all these, several es- tablishments on a large scale have been announced lately in Dublin, as in connection with some of the joint stock banks in the Provinces. The nett profits of the Provincial Bank for the year ending 26th March, 1836, after deducting all expenses, and providing for all bad and doubt- ful debts, was .£61,791 sterling. The balance of profits on hand from the previousyear was £102,500. The capital ^500,000; £40,000 of this profit was added to the capital stock, and a dividend of 8 per cent is now made annually to the stock-holders. There are other companies about to be established in England ; one is the" British Agricultural Loan Company," capital ^2,100,000 in 20,000 shares of ^105 each. This company is instituted expressly for the relief of agriculture, and to place agriculturists on a footing with the trading community, to increase the currency and to relieve those with loans who have no access to banks in the ordinary way. This institution has not yet, I believe, gone into operation. Another company, is " The United Kingdom Beet- Root Sugar Association,** capital Je250,000 sterling. The object of this assoeiation is to manufacture sugar from beet-root, by a patented apparatus and process imported from France, where they have been in full and successful operation. It is said that the produce of a crop of beet-root will yield a much greater remuneration to the farmer than any other crop he can raise ; and that the residue of the beet-root, after the saccharine mattei has been extracted, aiibrds to animals a most nutritious food. The company oflfer to contract for the prodnce of beet-root of many hundred acres of land. It is said to promise the most ample profits for the capital invested in this manufacture. The measures adopted in other countries for the encouragement of agriculture, may be some guide to our proceedings to accomplish the fiume object, I cannot forego this opportunity of offering a few 313 CULTURE. now ma- jral inter- nal Bank k are in a )n in the e nearest )n market inks have manufac- : of Dub- hat there ford, and >f Ireland, the chief the num- d appears reatnum- on behalf veral es- >ublin, as la. th March, nd doubt- and from 40,000 of )ei' cent is 1 ; one is in 20,000 the relief le trading oans who I has not 16 United ng. The root, by a they have of a crop • than any after the nutritious t of many )roiits for jement of :nplish the g a few remarks, though I have no pretensions to be able to do justice to the subject. The amount of gold, silver, and copper coin, and paper-money in cir- culation in the British Isles, cannot at this moment be less than je80,000,000 to £100,000,000 sterling. It is the opinion of most writers of repute, that the requisite circulating specie and paper money of any country should be equal in amount to about one-fiflh of the produce annu- ally created in that country. In the British Isles I believe it is now equal to one-fourth. I have endeavoured to prove that the produce annually created in every way in Lower Canada was about JCI 1,000,000, and in all the British American Provinces £25,000,000. The amount of specie and paper money now in circulation in Lower Canada, (I cannot estimate accu- rately for the other provinces,) does not, I suppose.exceed in all £700,000 or .£800,000 currency. But I will admit that it should even amount to .£1,000,000; that would be only equal to one-eleventh of the annual produce created, and not more than half what is considered requisite for the con- venience of trade and due improvement of a country. The circulating medium in the United States is more than twice as great in proportion to the annual produce as it is in Canada, and it is admitted by all, that in no country is improvement making more rapid progress. I do not think that an over issue of paper money would be useful to these provinces, but I am convinced that our present circulation of mo- ney in every shape, is under what is requisite for the due improvement of the natural and other circumstances of British America. I do not pretend to suggest how this want is to be supplied, I merely state that there is a want of circulating capital, and a very great one, more particularly among the agricultural class, that constitute nine-tenths of our population, and who create by their labour and industry three fourths of the annual pro- duce of the country. The British Agricultural Loan Company which I have mentioned above, is instituted lately in the British Isles, with the professed object of placing the agricultural interest on an equal footing with manufactur- ing and commercial classes in regard to banking accommodation. From the fact of instituting such a company, for such an object, it may be reasonably inferred that heretofore they have not been on an equal foot- ing in this respect. It may be well to inquire whether in British America the same want is not felt by the agricultural class. I believe that up to a very recent period the chartered banks in these pro- vinces did not afford scarcely any accommodation to the agricultural class. Indeed I belieye it was considered that they were instituted expressly and solely for the convenience of the commercial class, without reference to any other. I will not take upon me to say whether this exclusive system of banking is or is not the best for these provinces. If banking operations were confined to the discounting of regular bills of exchange given in every instance for value received^ it would naturally be confined almost entirely to the commercial class. But while in every country where there are banks, they do not confine their discounts to paper of this discription, it would appear that reasonable accommodation to the agricul- tural class would be fully as useful as to any other class, and I cannot i^ ■' I It h , ■A I 40 814 help thinking that where chartered banks are established, the agricultural interest are not upon an equal footing with the cummercial classsee, if they have no part or share in banking accommodation. I am well aware that unlimited accommodation might be very hurtful, but there are circumstan- cea where accommodation might be granted with (he greatest safety, and where it would most unquestionably greatly augment annual production. There are no privileged debts, such as rents and taxes, in these prov- inces, to take all, or most, of the farm produce, and therefore the security that farmers could offer here would be infinitely better than that of farm- ers in the British Isles, who might by one year's bad crops, or a great fall in stock, find themselves deprived of all their capital. Far be it from me to ofler any objection to banks. I only wish to see the class to which I belong able to participate ip their advantages. Banking, though it may be chiefly confined to the commercial class, must be useful, be- cause it increases the circulating capital. I believe however it has very little if any effect on the price of agricultural produce for exportation. For example ; if wheat, flour, potashes, or lumber, are wanted in Eng- land, the prices here of those commodities will be governed by the prices there, and our banks will not much increase that price. If these com- modities are required in Britain, they will be purchased here for that mar- ket at a proportionate price, whether we have a bank or not. Specula- tion, with a fair prospect of remunerating profit, will always insure us purchasers. I may form an erroneous opinion on this subject, but the grounds on which I found this opinion are, that while the farmer when he has produce,and is obliged to sell, because he cannot obtain an accommo- dation to allow him to keep his goods for a better market, the banking ac- commodation to the merchant is not productive of much benefit to the farmer. To be on an equal footing in regard to the facility of obtaining a moderate money accommodation, appears to me to be essentially necessary to the interest of the agricultural class, or the usefulness of banks must in a great degree be confined to those who transact business with them. Were the accommodation afforded by our banks to be the means of es- tablishing and supporting useful manufactures, they might then be in- directly beneficial to agriculture, by increasing the number of the con- sumers of agricultural produce; but while banking accommodation is solely limited to the discounting of bills circulating between merchants, they are, and must be the principal gainers by the banks, under the pre- sent circumstances of British America. Were the Scotch system of banking introduced in British America, it is the only one that in my humble judgment would be suitable to afford a judicious accommodation to agriculturists. It has been found to work well in Scotland for all parties, and I am not aware of any circumstance that would prevent it from working equally well here. Lest some readers might be unacquainted with the principle of the Scotch banking system, I shall give it insertion here. The plan of granting credit on cash accounts, which now forms a principal feature of the Scotch banking, was introduced so far back as in the year 1729. The nature of these cash accounts consists in the banks giving credit on loan to the extsnt of a sum agreed upon, to any individ- ual or house of business that can procure two or more persons of undoubt- 315 cd credit and property to become surety for the repayment on demand of the sum credited, witli interest. When a person has obtained this credit, he may employ the amount in his business, paying interest only upon the sura which he actually uses, and having interest allowed to him Iror* the day of repaying any part of the loan. These loans are advanced. 'i\e notes of the bank, and causes a large issue of their paper. These cash accounts are found to be very advantageous, by supplying capital, for which interest is paid only in proportion to the amount which is employ- ed, and persons accommodated are not conflned to a particular day for repayment. At present I believe the interest charged by the banks does not v.xceed 4 or 5 per cent, but the banks do not allow for the deposits more than 2 or 2^ per cent. There are at present in Scotland 32 banks, which have 133 branch banks established. I do not know the amount of notes in circulation. The Provincial Bank of Ireland has adopted the Scotch system of banking, and has by this means produced more benefit than by any former system of banking known in Ireland. I would earn- estly recommend this subject to the consideration of those who may have it in their power to give eifect to measures calculated to advance the prosperity of these fine provinces. If a judicious system of banking could be established, that would on a fair and secure principle afford a reasonable accommodation to the agricultural, as well as the commercial class, I am persuaded it would greatly augment annual production from land and labour, and hence would be the means of advancing the general prosperity of British America. I submit these remarks, as an agriculturist, with great deference. I may have taken a wrong view of the subject, but it may lead more com- petent persons to consider the matter, than which there are not many of greater importance to the community. I have now brought my work to a conclusion. I find that there is mueh want of a proper arrangement. Should I be encouraged to pub- lish another edition, I would expect to improve the treatise on agriculture, and this supplementary volume very considerably, both in matter and arrangement. Circumstances did not admit of my preparing the entire of the copy until the spring, and even the summer was advanced. This was one cause that prevented better arrangement. Indeed I found it very difficult to give due attention to the preparation of the copy for publication, from my other engagements, and I hope this will in some degree excuse me to the reader, for the errors which will doubtless be discovered in the work. of the :■■ ^ ? -s if THE END. ■■i 40* I CO 8g 00 Cd 00 00 CO 00 w 00 00 to 2 00 CO (O to 00 8g o» - 00 00 ^ 00 CO 00 to 00 00 CO OS 00 cc ti-l uo 00 CO to 00 00 to •JI to to 00 00 to 00 00 «o g to 1^ 8§ o 00 to s to w 00 to 00 00 M 00 to CJi 00 to Oi to o CO to to CO CO 05 CJ1 o> His w s CO yt CO (W to to to CO 05 o> Ui 00 to to s 00 to O) to GO Oi to 00 a to OS bd (B CO CO to 00 CO to 0\T? CO to oc «1 00 CO 2 OS OS 00 ffi Oc} 8- •^ s f f 1 3 QD OS 00 C31 OD y to OS CO 00 00 to n to OS OS ^ «• H I. GENERAL INDEX. Page Emigration from the United Kingdom, ----- 4 Introduction, --------- 5 Copy of Provincial Act for granting an aid to publish in the French language tlie Author's Treatise on Agriculture, ... 7 A Concise Discription of Canada, ----- 9 Lower Canada, -------- ib. Upper Canada, -------- 81 Nova Scotia, lOS New Brunswick, - - - - - - - 11(5 Prince Edward's or St. Johns' Island, ----- 123 Table showing the present state of the British Provinces in North America in 1836, 127 Settlement in the Forest of British America, . - - - ]29 Price of Wild Land, and the terms on which it is granted, - H'l* Clearing of Wild Land, 149 Croppingof New Land, ------- 160 Returns which may be obtained from agriculture in different sections of British America, ---- _-_- 155 Laws as they are, and their influence on agriculture, and on general prosperity in British America, ------ 160 The price of Wild Land, the mode of sale, and the application of proceeds, - --------- 180 Means of Internal Communication by roads and bridges, by rail- roads, rivers and canals, ------- 191 Intercourse of British America with other countries, - - - 205 The Wheat Fly, or Ceciiomyia, Tritice, - - . - 230 Dry Rot in seed potatoes, ------- 233 Manufacture of Cider, Beer, Wine, &c. - - - - 237 Brewmg Beer, -------.. 240 Manufacture of Wine from small fruits, &c. - - . - 248 Diseases of the Horse, -------- 250 Veterinary Pharmacopceia, or Farmers' Medicine Table, - - ib. Common Diseases of the Horse, ------ 266 Diseases of Neat Cattle, 269 ofSheep, 285 ofSwine, 288 Instruments for grubing up the roots of Trees, - - . - 289 Construction of the Flues of Chimnies, so as to prevent, smoky Chimnies, --------- ib. State of the Wheat Crop in the District of Montreal, in August, 1836, and the ravages of the wheat fly, - - - - - 291 Government Notices of Sales of Land, ----- 293 Travelling by Steam Boats, Stages, Rail-Road, &c., in British „ America, ---------- 300 New Agricultural Plants, - - - - - - - 311 Association in Britaia for the encouragement of Agriculture, - 312 '1 i3 I li