of Ottawais, Johnstown, or Bathurst. He says, few farmers in those districts, on an average of ten years, succeed in raising a sufficient quantity of "bread-stuff" for their own consumption, and consequently never think about cultivating any for market.

The MILITARY SETTLEMENTS of Perth, Richmond, and Lanark, comprising some of the best townships in the District of Bathurst, have been so fortunate as to engross the almost exclusive attention of Government. Assistance has, in various ways, been afforded to the settlers, who are not subject to many of those enormous fees which are exacted from the inhabitants of other townships. The Government selected this spot as a settlement for several half-pay officers, and soldiers discharged from the various regiments that had served in the Canadas. I dare say, they are sufficiently contented with the allotments assigned; and most heartily do I wish them all the happiness which they can derive from contemplating poisonous swamps, blighted corn, and frozen cucumbers. Such sights are, to say the least, as well calculated to cheer and elevate the spirits of men,

As stormy floods and carnage-cover'd fields:

But the ameliorating effects which human industry gradually produces on the rugged face of nature, are beheld with satisfaction in several parts of this District. Already have the fields begun to wear a more smiling aspect; the woods disappear, and

some of the obstinate morasses have yielded to the arts and labour of the husbandman.

The village of PERTH, which is the only one of any consequence in the Military Settlements, is rapidly increasing both in extent and population. It now contains three places of worship, a gaol, court-house, and market-place, with a variety of decent-looking private buildings. Perth is the depôt, from which such of the settlers as are furnished by Government with provisions and implements of agriculture, obtain their supplies. And many of the officers, to whom I have alluded, reside in the village and its environs.

Those of our settlers who separated from us at La Chine, have taken up their abode in the vicinity of Perth,-I think in the township of Goulburn. I have seen letters from several of them, which speak of the soil being very rich, but rather swampy; notwithstanding which, every one appears perfectly satisfied with his situation.

These Districts are settled by men of different nations. In the county of Glengary, the inhabitants are almost exclusively Scotch: In the Military Settlements, the majority are Irish, and the rest Scotch and English. Along the banks of the St. Lawrence, from Glengary to the Eastern line of Plattsburgh, Americans, Hollanders, and Germans, are, for the most part, the owners of the soil. The three Districts comprise about 35,000 inhabitants.

!!

+ See page 83.

The communication between Upper and Lower Canada, from MONTREAL to KINGSTON, was till lately by the route of the St. Lawrence; and as the opposite bank of this river was, for part of that distance, an enemy's country, during the late war, the transportation of stores, troops, or merchandize, along that line, was accomplished with much risk and inconvenience. The numerous straits and rapids in the river, between the two Provinces, afford an enemy good opportunities for intercepting supplies and injuring commerce. To òbviate this difficulty, was an object which long occupied the attention of Government: After several schemes had been devised, it was at length resolved to improve the navigation of the Ottawais, or Grand River, which flows into the St. Lawrence only a few miles above Montreal. For more than 120 miles from its junction up to Nepean,-the point at which land-communication is intended to begin,-the Ottawais is navigable, with the exception of one part, in which a dangerous rapid occurs, called "the Long Sault:" This, however, will be avoided, by a canal of twelve miles, six or eight of which are now finished under the direction of Government. From Nepean, a grand military road has been commenced, which will soon be completed: It will then afford a good and uninterrupted line, upwards of 120 miles in extent, through a fine country, every part of which will soon be thickly settled and well cul

tivated. By this route,-which will not be exposed in any part of it to the attack of the Americans, produce and merchandize may, both in time of war and peace, be conveyed a distance of 240 miles, if not more quickly, yet with greater safety, than by the old course of the St. Lawrence. The inhabitants of the townships, through which this important road passes, have an additional stimulus given to their exertions, on account of the increasing facilities which will be thus afforded to the transportation of their imports and exports.

The MIDLAND DISTRICT, in which is the town of Kingston, enjoys a very favourable climate and a soil which is tolerably free from swamps. The land all round the Bay of Quinte is of an excellent quality, though rendered very unproductive by that indigenous weed, the Canadian thistle. All efforts to extirpate this intruder have hitherto proved ineffectual, and it is vain to expect a good crop from those lands in which it has once made its appearance. This District was first settled by those persons who adhered to the royal cause during the revolutionary war, and were compelled on its termination to take refuge in the British territories. There are now a few European adventurers amongst them; but the majority of its inhabitants are the descendants of these Antirepublicans. The situation of this District is very favourable to the prosecution of commerce; but it is the opinion of all men of extensive information,

that it presents very few advantages to agriculturists. It contains 21,000 inhabitants.

In most parts of the NEWCASTLE DISTRICT the soil is very good, but especially so in the townships of Cavan and Monaghan. It is well-watered by the river Trent and its tributary streams. On the whole, I think it greatly superior both to the Eastern and the Midland Districts. Its climate is much better; its soil equally good; and its population likely to become more numerous and condensed. It contains at present 10,000 souls.

The HOME DISTRICT, in which is York, the seat of government, has a great variety of soil; some of which is very excellent, and some of an inferior description. All that part which lies on the shores of Ontario, is of a bad quality. The new townships in the neighbourhood of Lake Simcoe are much more productive; but the climate in Winter is severe, and Indian corn affords a very precarious crop. The climate of Esquising, Chinguacousy, and Nassaucya is still milder, and their soil more fertile. The township of Markham, which is situated on the North East side of the road leading from York to Lake Erie, is the most improved part of this District. It is inhabited principally by the Dutch, whose industry is conspicuous in every part of the Province in which they are settled. The new townships of the Home District are almost wholly peopled by English, Scotch, and Irish; and the old ones, which are those along the shores