by order of Lord Bathurst. He consented to do so; and, on stating to his Grace of Richmond, the objections of his family to a residence in the Lower Province, and the necessity of procuring the government-rations, for the subsistence of the settlers whilst pursuing their journey to the Westward, he obtained the requisite order for them, with about 170 pairs of blankets, which had also been put on board for their accommodation.

We objected to Lower Canada, FIRST, On account of the inferiority of its soil ond the severity of the climate.-SECONDLY. In consequence of its being almost wholly in the occupation of a people with whose customs, language, and religion, we were very imperfectly acquainted.

I must not proceed further in my narrative, without acknowledging the kind attentions, which, during an acquaintance of Fifty-three days, we experienced from Captain Blake of the BRUNSWICK. From the moment of our embarkation at Cork, to the night of our departure from his ship, his attention, not only to the cabin-passengers, but also to the humblest individual in the steerage, evinced a disposition highly creditable to himself and honourable to his profession. He exerted himself on all occasions, to render the situation of every one on board as agreeable as the nature of circumstances would admit. He was to all a friend, an attendant, and a physician; and constantly solicitous for our health and comfort. To the inferior officers and crew of the BRUNSWICK, we are also much indebt

ed, and cannot, I am sure, avoid retaining a due sense of their unremitting assiduity to render us comfortable. We parted from the whole of them with regret, and hope they are fully aware how sensible we are of their praise-worthy conduct.This is a digression; but it is one that speaks its own apology.

Within a few miles of

The country between Quebec and Montreal, although more advanced in cultivation than that immediately below Quebec, appears less diversified and not so thickly settled. "the Three Rivers," the banks of the St. Lawrence lose their steep and precipitous character, and become gently sloping and regular. The houses are of an inferior description, and the churches are less numerous; but the farms are more extensive, more level, and better cultivated.

POINT AUX TREMBLES, which is about 21 miles from Quebec, was the first village we observed after leaving that city. It contains a Cathedral Church and a Convent of Nuns, and has about 500 inhabitants, all of whom are of French extraction.

The town of TROIS RIVIERES, or Three Rivers, about 90 miles from Quebec, is situated on a point of land on the North bank, at the confluence of the St. Lawrence and the St. Maurice. At the mouth of this small river, stand two small islands, that divide it into three channels, from which the place derives the name of THREE RIVERS. This town, which is next in importance to Montreal, contains a French Parochial Church; an English

Episcopal Church; an Hospital, called the Ursuline Convent, for the cure of the diseased and the instruction of young persons of the Roman Catholic persuasion; a Gaol and Court-house; a small Barrack, and a Monastery of Recollects-an order which is now extinct in Canada. There is also an

extensive Iron Foundry at Three Rivers: It is the property of Government, and is leased out to some merchants of Quebec, who manufacture on the spot a great quantity of cast and bar iron. The ore is said to be very rich, and the castings are of a superior description, particularly the stoves. Wrought iron, manufactured there, is preferable to English iron, though still inferior to Swedish. The number of the inhabitants is 2000, nearly fivesevenths of whom are of French descent. At this place the steam-boats, in passing to and from Montreal, came to anchor, for the purpose of landing and taking in passengers and freight, and for receiving fresh supplies of fire-wood.

After leaving Three Rivers, we soon entered Lake ST. PETRE, which is only another of the numerous expansions of the St. Lawrence. It is about twenty miles long, and from eight to twelve wide, and is in general exceedingly shallow. Owing to some neglect on the part of our pilot, in not observing the proper channel,—the river being here intersected by a number of islands, we were very near running aground in passing through this lake, having sailed for nearly an hour in water so

shallow, that each revolution of the wheels brought up either mud or weeds from the bed of the stream.

Forty-five miles from Three Rivers, and One Hundred and Thirty-five from Quebec, stands the neat little town of SORRELL, or William Henry, in latitude 45 degrees 50 minutes, and longitude 73 degrees 20 minutes. It is situated at the confluence of the Chamblois with the St. Lawrence. The streets are handsomely laid out, but not yet completely filled up with buildings. It is provided with two good places of worship,-a Roman Catholic Chapel, and a Protestant Episcopal Church. Its appearance from the water is respectable. Sorrell was first settled by a party of the Royalists, who quitted the Union at the period when the Independence of the States was recognized. It is a smaller town than Three Rivers, and contains only 1500 inhabitants, most of whom are English and Scotch. It is gradually on the increase; and, on account of its salubrious situation, frequently becomes the residence of his Excellency the Governor of the Canadas, for a few months in the

summer season.

Between William Henry and Montreal, there are several small villages; the principal of which is BERTHIER on the North Bank. Around this village there are several extensive and apparently rich. settlements, some of which are still occupied by the descendants of the French Noblesse, by whom they were first cleared and inhabited.

MONTREAL ISLAND, upon which the city stands, is about 32 miles long and ten and a half broad. It is the property of the Seminary of St. Sulpruse, and certainly possesses the finest climate and the most luxuriant soil in the whole Province. The city is situated on the South side of the Island, in 45 deg. 31 min. North latitude, and in 73 deg. 35 min. West longitude. It is 45 miles from William Henry, 90 from the Three Rivers, and 180 from Quebec.

Montreal is placed in the midst of the most picturesque scenery. It is at present very irregular in its construction, being in length nearly two miles; while its greatest breadth,—that is, from the banks of the St. Lawrence to the foot of an insulated mountain from which it derives its name,-is only three quarters of a mile. It contains 15,900 souls, more than one half of whom are Roman Catholics. The streets are in general very narrow; and, to add to the inconvenience which this occasions, the side-paths or causeways are rendered almost impassable, by a barbarous practice which prevails in every part of the city, of erecting outside the doors wooden steps which project from three to four feet into the streets.

If only two

persons meet opposite one of those cumbersome piles, they will inevitably be obliged either to retrace their steps, or out of hasty complaisance to descend into the channel, probably up to their knees in snow, or to their ancles in mud. It is also impossible even for two persons to walk arm in