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immense combination of dark clouds, resting on the bosom of the ocean. But as we approached nearer, and were able to distinguish the lofty mountains, the majestic forests, and "the silver-surfaced streams" issuing forth in all directions with unabating impetuosity, and mingling their fresh and tributary waters with the vast collection of their common parent "the briny deep," all the powers of my mind became enraptured; and with pleasurable emotions, till then unknown, I viewed the interesting objects with which I was surrounded. This far-famed land,-the asylum alike of friendless poverty and enterprising wealth,--the reputed nurse of liberty,-the patron of arts, science, and literature, the genial soil of piety, philosophy, and peace,-the enemy of oppression, -the mother of equality,-and the seat of independence, was then the object of my immediate contemplation; and never did any man, of whom it might be said

Fair Science smiled not on his humble birth,

derive more real delight, than I did, from the indulgence of such a train of ideas, as were presented to my mind on this occasion.

A few days after entering the Gulph of St. Lawrence, we were enveloped in one of those perplexing fogs which so frequently prove fatal to vessels sailing up and down this mighty river. For almost two days, we were unable to distinguish

land in any direction; and, having no pilot on board, we found it impossible to ascertain the proper channel. There was not a breath of wind, and the ship was allowed to drift up and down, as the tide alternately ebbed and flowed. While in this perilous situation we fired several guns, as signals for a pilot; but without effect. His Majesty's frigate, the Iphigenia, with his Grace the Duke of Richmond and Sir Peregrine Maitland on board, which was a little way a-head of us, also discharged some heavy guns for the same purpose; but with no better effect. We had no idea that we were

in any imminent danger, until the fog withdrew; when we discovered, to our great surprise and alarm, that we were drifting close to the perilous Island of Anticosta, on the shores of which many a brave tar has concluded the voyage of life. This unpropitious island, although 125 miles long and 28 miles broad, has not, in its whole extent, a bay or harbour sufficiently safe to afford shelter for a single sail. It is situate in 49 deg. 40 min. North Latitude, and between 62 and 64 degrees West Longitude; and is entirely uncultivated and almost destitute of inhabitants. Several attempts have been made to cultivate the soil in various parts of it; but all of them have hitherto proved fruitless and ineffectual. Government has erected two buildings on the island, one at each extremity: In these, two families are stationed during the summer months, and furnished with an abundant supply of provisions, which are always freely dis

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tributed to such persons as may be cast away upon the island, and have the misfortune to require these supplies. Boards are also placed in different points of the coast, inscribed with directions to those Houses of Mercy.

In sailing up this magnificent river, the eye is constantly relieved by the most delightful and evervarying little Islands, which are covered with trees and shrubs of every form and hue; and which, -with the innumerable farm-houses on each side of the river, and the lofty mountains "crested with trees" whose cloud-exploring tops terminate the view,-form a picture of nature, at once reviving and romantic. But of all those islands with which this great estuary of waters is decorated, the Bird Isles, situate in the Gulf, are the most remarkable and curious. Strictly speaking, they are nothing more than two large rocks, elevated to an immense height above the river, the circumference of whose summits scarcely amounts to 150 perches. In the numerous cavities of these rocks, millions of birds annually build their nests and produce their young. Pilots, and sportsmen from the neighbouring settlements, frequently disturb them in this barren retreat; and, by climbing sometimes to the highest eminences, rob them of their eggs, which the pilots carry to market at Quebec, and vend at as high a price as is usually obtained for the eggs of domestic fowls. The rocks appear at a distance to be clothed in white, on account of the prodigious quantity of ordure and feathers with which they

are covered; and the birds, when compelled t take wing, completely obscure the water, ove which they fly, with the shadow of their number

The Island of Bonaventure is also frequente by an astonishing assemblage of Gannets or Solan Geese, which during summer abandon the Souther countries, and take up their abode in this island where they bring forth their young; and, after that object has been effected, they instinctively migrate again to a more Southerly climate. These birds are said to be very fierce, during the time of incubation, and to possess incredible strength. They never shrink from attacking their despoilers; and the severe incision inflicted by their bite, which is generally directed to the eye, frequently compels their assailants to retreat with wounds of no inconsiderable magnitude.

The shores on each side of the Gulph of St. Lawrence exhibit a most striking picture, and fully realise to the beholder the many descriptions given us by poets and novelists. Lofty mountains, covered with stunted trees, are intersected by numerous and foaming cataracts, which tumble over pendent rocks and over-hanging banks, until they rush into the mighty ocean. Perhaps no country on earth exhibits a more wild and repulsive aspect, or affords greater sources of enjoyment to the lovers of terrific scenery. A large portion of it is almost unknown to civilised man, and is chiefly frequented by the ferocious beasts of the vast wilderness, and by their equally indomitable hunters. Its appearance

is most uninviting, and awakens in the mind few feelings, except such as are the most unpleasurable and repugnant. Unfruitful soil, frowning rocks, stunted trees, and roaring cataracts, are the most prominent and engaging features which it offers for attraction.

As we remained twelve days in the river, I had frequent opportunities of going ashore in various places. (On Green Island, I saw, for the first time, one of the aborigines of the country. She was a female, and her covering was a large brown cloth shawl, thrown rather carelessly over her shoulders and reaching down to the knee. Her legs were loosely bandaged with cloth of a similar colour. Her feet were bare; but she appeared to tread the ground as if unaccustomed to walk without shoes or moccassins. Her skin was an exact copper colour; and her hair, which almost touched the ground, was black as the moonless midnight. Her countenance was mild, placid, and unassuming. Her accent was not disagreeable, nor was there any thing particularly coarse or unpolished in her manners, On the

whole, I think she exhibited as much of cultivation, as we commonly see in the countenance, manners, or address of uneducated females, however favoured with the example of surrounding millions; and as I conversed with her, for she understood English well, various and opposite emotions fluctuated within my mind.

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