THE EMIGRANT'S DIRECTORY AND GUIDE TO OBTAIN LANDS AND EFFECT A SETTLEMENT IN THE CANADAS. by FRANCIS A. EVANS, ESQ. late agent for the Eastern Townships to the Legislature of Lower Canada. WILLIAM CURRY, JUN. AND CO., DUBLIN SIMPKIN AND MARSHALL, LONDON and OLIVER AND BOYD, EDINBURGH. 1833. Having now for eighteen years been a resident of British America, and having in consequence of my official appointment as Agent to the Eastern Townships of Lower Canada, frequently visited various parts of the new settlements, I have been enabled to obtain, from personal observation, a larger share of information respecting them than most persons, from time to time I have taken notes on my several journeys, with the intention of publishing an extensive work on the state of the Canadas (and which I had partly completed for the press,) but I considered that at present it might be more useful to persons disposed to emigrate, to publish a small work, giving such information as might be absolutely necessary to direct them to a suitable settlement according to their inclinations, occupations, or habits; and to this determination I was strongly led, by observing the vast increase of Emigrants that arrived at Quebec last season, and who, generally speaking, had very little correct information respecting the British provinces, and were, in every sense of the word, "Strangers in a Strange Land," and therefore liable to be imposed on by interested persons, who cared little for their future prosperity. At a very late period of the last season, a work somewhat similar to this, entitled "Hints to Emigrants," appeared at Quebec, brought out by some emigrants who had then arrived. It is published in the name of "Martin Doyle," and though evidently not written from personal observation, yet it contains considerable information; however, as its object appears to me to be directed in favour of Upper Canada exclusively, I have felt it my duty at once to transmit this work to my native country, in order that it might be published immediately, so that an opportunity should be given to the public of forming a correct opinion, of the present state of British America, and of the great advantages which it presents to the industrious. I shall merely add, that this work has been submitted to persons in authority here, and it is now offered to the public, with their sanction and approbation. It has been extracted from my papers with perhaps too much haste, but the persons for whose use it is principally intended, will not, I am persuaded, greatly fault the style or composition, provided they find it what it professes to be, namely, a "Directory AND GUIDE to obtain Lands and effect a Settlement in the CANADAS." FRANCIS A. EVANS Quebec 1832.
ADVERTISEMENT.PREFACE The Publishers feel considerable regret in having to state that the Writer of the first part of this Work has, since they received the manuscript, fallen a victim to cholera at Quebec. He had devoted a considerable portion of time and labour in procuring authentic information in the Canadas, and had prepared an extensive Work respecting the present state of the British possessions in America, which he intended to submit to the public. In the spring of the last year, Mr. Evans extracted the following pages from his larger Work, and transmitted them to a gentleman in this city, with the intention of having them published immediately, but very shortly after they had been received several new publication on the Canadas issued from the press, in consequence of which it was thought advisable to delay the printing of this Work for a short time, particularly as the season for emigration had nearly closed, and therefore the necessity for the information (which the publishers feel is to be found in this small treatise) was not a pressing nature. They have carefully examined the several new publications on the subject of emigration, many of which they freely and candidly admit possess much valuable information, and are written with the most anxious desire not to mislead the public; but they feel it their duty not to withhold any thing within their power which they conscientiously believe contains much really useful matter, and which is not to be found in similar publications. Mr. Evans emigrated to America in the year 1813, and shortly after procured a grant of land near Drummondville, in Lower Canada; from time to time, he visited various parts of the Canadas, and particularly within the last eight years, as about the year 1824 he was appointed Agent to the Eastern Townships in Lower Canada, and this office obliged him to become intimately acquainted with the atual state of that extensive district, in order that he might be qualified to communicate fully with the Authorities at Quebec, as at that period these townships had no Representatives in the House of Assembly (they afterwards obtained them in the year 1829). The official duties of Township Agent obliged Mr. Evans to visit Quebec frequently, and when there, to become acquainted, from the most authentic sources, with the state of the entire province, for the purpose of enabling him to procure for the particular district with the interests of which he had been entrusted, equal advantages with those parts then enjoying the privelege of being Represented In the Provincial Parliament. It is presumed Mr. Evan's conduct gave general satisfaction to the inhabitants of these Townships, as he was repeatedly re-elected by them to fill the same situation, and therefore the publishers feel no hesitation in submitting and recommending "The emigrants Guide" to the public, as a work containing within a very small compass more real, useful and practical information than is to be found in any other of a similar nature of double the extent. Some persons may consider these observations too strong, but TIME, which is the true test of most things, will determine how far they are accurate. Mr. Evans having felt considerable anxiety respecting his friends in Ireland in consequence of accounts having reached him of the breaking out of the cholera in Dublin, wrote from Quebec in the month of June last, at which time he was in the enjoyment of perfect health, but before his letters reached their destination, he was laid in the grave, and that within nine hours from the period of the attack. If Mr. Evans had lived, it is probable he would have transmitted additional matter which would have been annexed to, or embodied in this work, as he had been writen to on the subject, but his premature death put an end to such expectations; however, some hopes are entertained that all his valuable papers on British America will be forwarded to Ireland during the spring for publication. The publishers, desirous that the "Emigrants' Guide" should be as perfect as possible (and not having, for the reasons mentioned, procured the expected communication from Mr. Evans,) have, in the Appendix, given such further information respecting the Canadas as they conceive may not be altogether unacceptable to the Emigrant, and upon which Mr. Evans has not fully written, it may, in the spirited language of the "Backwoodsman," be called a chaper of "Odds and Ends," and has been extracted from the latest and most authentic publications on British America, Emigration, &c. The Importance of the British settlements in North America as connected with the trade of the United Kingdoms, may be estimated from the fact ascertained by the Custom-house returns, that every man, woman and child in these colonies, on an average makes use of forty dollars worth of British goods annually; whereas, if the thousands who have emigrated from these countries remained at home, they would not, on an average, consume one-third of that amount; therefore, upon this ground alone, emigration is of considerable advantage to the mother country, and we most cordially approve of the motto from Napoleon, prefixed to the "Backwoodsman," viz. "Ships, Colonies, and Commerce." Dublin, 10th March, 1833.CONTENTS SECTION I. General description of Lower and Upper Canada Lower Canada Upper Canada Roads and distances from Quebec Roads from Three Rivers William Henry Montreal SECTION II. General directions on arriving in Canada SECTION III. Directions relating to various parts of Lower Canada favourable for settling in, with a few observations on the settlements already formed SECTION IV. Comparative view of both provinces, with some further remarks on the Upper How to ascertain the quality of lands Directions relative to the obtaining of lands-securing titles therein, with some remarks on the several kinds of title, &c. Currency, or coin current in Canada Matters to be provided on proceeding to settle Building Clearing land Fencing Sowing and planting new cleared land On making maple sugar General observations on Ashes, Salts, Timber, &c. Conclusion APPENDIX Upper Canada Eastern Section Eastern District Ottawa " Johnstown " Bathurst " Midland " Central Section Newcastle District Home " Western Section Gore District Niagara " London " Western " Cities and Towns City of the Falls Lakes and Canals New Brunswick Advice to Emigrants, by A. C. Buchanan, Esq. Government agent for Emigrants Information for Emigrants
THE EMIGRANT'S GUIDE TO CANADA SECTION I. Lower and Upper Canada formed but the province of Quebec until the year 1791, when, by an Act of the British Parliament, it was divided into two provinces, and a similar Constitution given to each, viz:- a Governor, Executive Council, Legislative Council, and House of Assembly elected for four years, who possess similar legislative powers, within their respective provinces, as the King, Lords, and Commons of Great Britain and Ireland; however always admitting the Imperial Parliament to have the supremacy. The king appoints the governor and executive council during pleasure, and the legislative council for life; the executive council are the governors legal advisors, and are somewhat in the nature of privy council.LOWER CANADA. Lower Canada is bounded on the north, by Hudson Bay and Labrador territories; on the northeast, by the Gulf of St. Laurence; On the south and south-east, by the States of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and New York, and the province of New Brunswick; and on the west, by Upper Canada; being about 700 miles long from N. E. to S. W., and 300 miles wide from N. to S., comprising a surface of about 200,000 square miles. It is situated between 45 and 52 degrees of north latitude, and between 63 and 81 degrees of west longitude; the great river St. Laurence running from S.W. to N.E. through the province, into which a number of large rivers and streams run north and south, watering the country at both sides of this river, to the greatest perfection, in every settlement formed, or that can be formed, in the province. The principal rivers that fall in on the north shore of the St. Laurence, are the Saguenay, Malbay, Montmorency, St. Charles, Jacque Cartier, Portneuf, St. Anne's, Batiscan, Champlain, St. Maurice, Deloup, Ymachiche, Masquinouge, and Ottawa. Those that fall in on the south shore, are the Chandiere, Becancour, Nicolet, St. Francis, Ymaska, Richelieu or Chambly, and Chateauguay, with many of less note. A great number of these rivers are navigable for large vessels, for some distance from the St. Lawrence, but boats can proceed very far into the interior of the country. There is a short canal, of eight miles, between Montreal and Lachine, for the purpose of avoiding the rapids on the St. Laurence above the former place. Another canal leads over the rapids in the Ottawa river, to the mouth of the Rideau canal, which forms a communication between the Ottawa and Kingston, on Lake Ontario, in Upper Canada: and another canal is in progres, from Chambly to St. John, to make the Richelieu navigable from the St. Laurence to Lake Champlain. There are also several short canals and locks on the St. Laurence, above Montreal, to enable boats to surmount the rapids when proceeding to Upper Canada. There are roads on both banks of the St. Laurence, and also on the banks of the other principal rivers. The lands or farms are laid out in lots about three times as long as they are wide, the ends of which are generally towards the roads or rivers :- there are also roads across each range of the lots or farms, as far as settlements reach on each side of the rivers. With these there are a few leading roads to and from the principal parts of the country, namely:- the Ristigouche road, from the St. Laurence to the Bay of Chaleur; the Timisconata road, from the St. Laurence to New Brunswick, &c.; the Kennebec road, from Quebec to the State of Maine; the Craigs road, from Quebec to the eastern townships and State of Vermont, &c.; the St. Gregoire road, from Three Rivers to the said townships; and the Ymaska mountain and Shefford road, from Montreal to the said townships. There are also roads from Montreal to Upper Canada, and up the Ottawa river to Hull; with many other cross roads from one settlement to another, and which are too numerous to insert here in detail, as they lead to all parts of the province. Lower Canada is at present divided into five law districts, (somewhat similar to what are called circuits in Great Britain and Ireland,) viz.:- Quebec, Montreal, Three Rivers, Gaspe, and St. Francis; in each of which courts of justice are held for the administration of the laws. These districts are subdivided into forty counties, viz.:- Gaspe, Bonaventure, Rimouski, Kamouraska, Lislet, Bellchase, Dorchester, Beance, Megantic, Lotbiniere, Nicolet, Ymaska, Drummond, Sherbrooke, Stanstead, Missiskoui, Shefford, Richelieu in which is the borough of William Henry, St. Hyacinthe, Rouville, Vercheres, Chambly, Laprairie, L'acaidie, Beauharnois, Vaudreuil, Ottawa, Lake of the Two Mountains, Terrebonne, Lachenaie, L'assumption, Montreal and city, Berthier, St. Maurice in which is the town of Three Rivers, Champlain, Portneuf, Quebec and city, Montmorency, Saguanay, and Orleans. The chief cities and towns are, the cities of Quebec and Montreal, each containing nearly 30,000 inhabitants; the town of Three Rivers, containing about 3,000, and the borough of William Henry, about 2,000 inhabitants. The counties, cities, towns, and boroughs, return eighty four members to serve in the assembly of the province, who are elected by freeholders having a freehold of forty shillings or more, yearly value. The civil laws of Lower Canada are of French origin, with the laws and ordinances of the provincial parliament, but the English criminal law is established in the province. Courts of king's bench sit in the several districts of Quebec, Montreal, and Three Rivers; the two first holding four terms each, and the last three terms in every year; each term continues for twenty days. Inferior terms are frequently held in the several districts, and commissioners' courts are established in many parishes, for the recovery of small debts. There are five French colleges, and many seminaries for education in this province, exclusive of elementary schools established in every settlement, all of which are well supported by the province, or by lands allocated for that purpose. At Montreal a Protestant college is in progress, and several public seminaries in the townships are well endowed. A great portion of the inhabitants profess the Roman Catholic faith, and that church is well supported in the different villages and settlements on the banks of the St. Laurence: it is under the superintendence of the Roman Catholic Bisbop of Quebec, under whom, in this province and Upper Canada, are several other bishops, and a considerable number of inferior clergy, who are generally respectable, and are well provided for by a small tithe of one twenty-fifth of the grain raised by their own peoples besides lands and other emoluments. The Church of England ranks next in point of numbers, and is governed by the Lord Bishop of Quebec whose diocese includes Upper Canada. In this province there is one archdeacon, and about thirty inferior clergy, having that number of churches, or perhaps more, to attend. This church is supported by parliamentary and Church Missionary aid, exclusive of a large quantity of land, which in a few years will increase in value, and produce a large fund: nearly 10,000 acres of land in each English township, have been reserved for that purpose. At present the inhabitants of this province are only required to provide churches, and keep them in repair. The members of the Scotch Presbyterian Church have about six ministers, and the Wesleyan Methodists about ten ministers, both of whom are supported by their own congregations, and by societies in the United Kingdoms. These are the principal religious bodies in Lower Canada, and are the only ones recognised by law for keeping registers of births, deaths, and marriages. There are a few members of various other sects, but none, it is believed, who support regular ministers. In the townships and country parts, where there are no regular ministers, some religiously disposed men are in the habit of holding weekly meetings with the people for religious worship. The taxes and duties are very moderate; a small duty of 2« per cent is paid on all goods imported, and a duty of 5 per cent on all liquors. Retailers of liquors, tavern-keepers, and hawkers and pedars, pay an annual licence. These, with fines and forfeitures, and the sale of crown lands, constitute the revenue of the Canadas. There are three incorporated banks in this province; one in Quebec, one in Montreal, and one in Stanstead, possessing capital of about £750,000; the Montreal bank has a brand of that establishment in Quebec. The trade of the province, which of course incudes the imports of Upper Canada, gives employment to about 1,200 sail of vessels, anually, having about 12,000 men on board, and tonnage of at least 300,000 ton, if not more. The face of the Country, for about twenty miles back on each side of the St. Laurence, is level: on the north, the settlements do not extend to any very considerable distance, except up the Ottawa river. To the south at the level tract on the south bank of the St Laurence, the country rises into gentle swells of land, or hills, but not broken; and the tract in that direction generally known as the Eastern Townships, cannot be exceeded in fertility in any part of British America. These townships are situated on both sides of the river St. Francis, and extend southward to latitude 45ø, the boundary line between Lower Canada and the United States. An immense quantity of land remains still to be occupied in that province, as the country distant from the St. Laurence is rather thinly inhabited. The population of Lower Canada is now estimated at about 650,000 souls; eight-tenths of the inhabitants being of French extraction, and two-tenths of British birth or descent; being little more than three persons to every square mile, including the populations of the cities, towns, and villages. The lands bordering the St. Laurence, and near it, were laid out in seigniories by the French government but are not of equal extent, some being very extensive, and others small, somewhat like townlands in England and Ireland. The townahipo were laid out under the British government, and contain, on an average, about ten square miles, or 60,000 acres each; and these again, are subdivided into lots of 200 acres, every seventh lot being reserved for the Protestant clergy, and called clergy reserves: an addition of ten acres is given to each lot for roads. The township lots are 103 rods or perches wide, by 300 rods in length, which is the same in Upper Canada also. The lots in the Seigniories are laid out by the arpent, or French acre, which is equal to about four-fifths of an English acre; the lot is usually three arpents wide by thirty arpents long. In another part of this work, the reader will find a more particular description of those parts of Lower Canada most suitable to the emigrant, with a minute account of the roads and distances.UPPER CANADA. This province lies west and south-west of Lower Canada, and is separated from the United States, by Lake in the Woods, lakes Superior, Huron, St. Claire, Erie, and Ontario, and by the river St. Laurence from lake Ontario to its entry into Lower Canada. It is bounded on the north, by Hudson Bay territory; and west and north-west, by the British Indian territories, being about 550 miles in breadth, from north to south, and about 1100 miles in length, from east to west. It has between 45 and 53 degrees north latitude, and between 73 and 97 degrees west longitude. This fine province is altogether inland, but stands unrivalled as to its possessing the best inland navigation in the world, having several thousand miles of lake, or fresh water shore, and also numerous rivers flowing from various parts of the country into these lakes. The princial rivers are, the Ottawa, (for a great part of its course to near its junction with the St. Laurence, separating this province from Lower Canada,) the Rideau, the Trent, the Humber, the Welland, the Ouse, the Thames, the Maitland, and the Severn, with many others of minor importance. Upper Canada is generally a level country, and the rives have much dead or smooth water for boat or sloop navigation, even more so than Lower Canada. The St. Laurence is navigable from Prescot upwards, to lake Ontario, for the lake vessels; but from Prescot down to Montreal, a distance of about 120 miles, the navigation is interrupted by rapids in several places, being however, navigable for boats: considerable improvements have been made in several parts, by short canals and locks, for the purpose of avoiding the worst of the rapids or falls. Good roads pass through all the settled districts, exclusive of the main or leading ones along the banks of the lakes and riven: these reads generally run more inland than in Lower Canada, and are placed under the inspection of the authorities. (See "Roads and Distances.") The Welland canal, lately opened, connects lakes Ontario and Erie, and enables vessels to pass from one lake to the other, and thus surmount the great falls of Niagara, which are the most surprising works of nature, and of which it would be impossible to convey an adequate idea: the awe and dread crested by the fall of such an immense body of water over a precipice of 137 feet, cannot be conceived, much less described. The Rideau canal (now nearly complete,) passes from the lower, or northeast end of lake Ontario to Bytown, on the Ottawa river, and from ten to sixty miles distant on the north of the St. Laurence, opening a fine healthy tract of Country, well situated for settlements. This canal, when finished, will enable steam boats, (having been made sufficiently large) to go from Montreal to all the upper lakes, thus opening the most extensive line of inland navigtion in the world. Of the great lakes from which this country derives so great a facility of inland navigation, lake Hrnon is 246 miles in 1enth, and 220 in breadth, being about 1,000 miles in circumference: this lake receives the waters of lakes Superior and Michagan, the latter of which does not fall much short of the Huron, in extent, and the former is 1,500 miles in circumference. The contents of these stupendous sheets of fresh water, to expand whose surfaces a variety of source contribute, are again received, through the River St. Clair, into lake St. Clair, from whence they pass, through the Detroit river, into the other great lake (Erie) and after rushing with inconceivable impetuosity down the great falls of Niagara, already noticed, they fall into lake Ontario, thence continuing their course through the river St. Laurence, until they at length, themselves, contribute to swell the waves of the Atlantic. The chief town in Upper Canada is Kingston, about 200 miles southwest of Montreal, near the outlet of lake Ontario, and at the head of the Rideau canal. It contains about 6,000 inhabitants, and has got a navy yard for the lakes. The next is York, which is the seat of government for the province: it is about 170 miles west of Kingston, situated on a covvenient harbour of lake Ontario, and has got a population of about 3,000. There are many rising villages scatteed throughout the province, to many of which reference will be seen in the "Account of Roads and Distances." This Province is divided into eleven Law Districts, consisting of twenty-six Counties, and subdivided into 266 Townships, each of which is about ten miles square; but vast tracts remain yet unsurveyed.-1. The Eastern District, includes the Counties of Glengarry, Stormont, and Dundas. 2. The Ottawa District, the Counties of Prescot and Russell. 3. The Bathurst District, the Counties of Carleton and Lanark. 4. The Johnstown District, the Counties of Grenville and Leeds. 5. The Midland District, the Counties of Frontenac, Lenox and Addington, Hastings, and Prince Edward's. 6. The Newcastle District, the Counties of Northumberland and Durham. 7. The Home District, the East and West Riding of York and Simcoe. 8. The Gore District, the Counties of Waltown and Wentworth. 9. The Niagara District, the Counties of Lincoln and Haldimand. 10. The London District, the Counties of Norfolk, Oxford, and Middlesex. 11. The Western District, the counties of Kent and Essex. Through all these districts or circuits, assizes are held by the judges, as in Great Britain and Ireland. The British statutes both civil and criminal, as far as applicable with the acts passed by the provincial legislature, form the law of the province. The Constitution is similar to that of Lower Canada, and consists in like manner of a Governor, Executive Coancil, Legislative Council, and House of Assembly. The House of Assembly is elected for four years by persons possessing freeholds of the clear yearly value of forty shillings and upwards. The present population of this province may be estimated at about 250,000, but is rapidly increasing by enigration from the United Kingdoms, as well as from other countries, and also by the numerous births consequent upon the location of married persons, and who are generally in the prime of life. Education is well supported, and making considerable progress in the country; there is a College in York, and besides the district and other academies, there are, in the different settlements, elementary schools. There are the remains of many Indian tribes here, but they do not altogether exceed 15,000. They are a rambling, unsettled people, and pay little attention to agriculture: some experiments have been tried by the formation of settlements for them, and so far they have answered the expectation of the persons who benevolently lent their countenance and aid to the undertaking. It is hoped that in a short time the remainder of these tribes may be induced to follow the example thus set them, and become what they are capable of being- an industrious, orderly, and sober people. There are two archdeacons, and about thirty other clergymen of the church of England settled in various parts of the province, and are yearly increasing under the superintendence of the present excellant Lord Bishop of Quebec, the Honourable and Right Reverend Doctor Stewart. This church is supported by Parliamentary aid, the British Church Missionary Society, and the seventh of the lands of the province, which at present yields a very small income, but will, in time, be very valuable; the inhabitants only provide churches and keep them in repair. Methodists, Presbyterians, Roman Catholics, Baptists, Mennonites, and other sects, have considerable congregations, but the Methodists, and Presbyterians are considered to be the most numerous. A number of churches and meeting houses have been erected in various parts of the country, and add much to the beauty of the landscape; and to the well disposed it is a cause of much thankfulness that temples have been erected in the forests for the worship of the Most High, where they can bow the knee at His alter, and supplicate a blessing upon thi exertions in a new country, far removed from the homes of their fathers; so that now such emigrants as have been accustomed to to make religion a consideration of the first importance, need not be disheartened by an apprehension that they are about to sacrifice to the prospect of an improvement in their temporal condition, the whole of the religious advantages, with which the inhabitants of Great Britain and Ireland enjoy the privilege of being abundantly supplied in the lands of their nativity. The chief trade of this province is with Lower Canada, and the United State of America, but principally with the former. The climate is somewhat more moderate or mild in winter than in the Lower Province, but in the vicinity of the lakes and swamps (which are numerous) fever and ague very much afflict the inhabitants, epecially in the south western part of the province. Moose, and several other sorts of deer, are numerous; and to the north-west; especially in the extensive plains north-west of lake Superior, buffaloes are very easily met with. Brown bears, wolves, foxes, &c. are common, but not dangerous: these, with deer, and a variety of other animals, are to be found in the lower province. Rattle-snakes abound in Upper Canada but are easily avoided; they are not found in any other part of the British provinces. The Canada Company have large tracts of land in several townships, which they offer for sale at reasonable prices. Land may be purchased at various rates, from three shillings to ten shillings per acre, according to quality and situation, the value being considered nearly the same in all parts of the province, except in the immediate neighbourhood of towns, or places having some other peculiar advantage: the foregoing prices apply only to woodland in its original state. Land partly cleared, with houses erected on the farms, can be had, but at a much higher rate of purchase, and is suited to persons possessing some capital. Laboar is higher in this than in the lower province; the usual hire for farm labourers is from 8 to 12 dollars per month, with board. The districts of this province lying between Lower Canada or the Ottawa River and Kingston, are the most healthy, and through these the Rideau Canal passes. The tract north of lake Ontario and Niagara is next in point of healthiness, but is further inland; and the western tract, though more fruitful, is least healthy. In all parts of the country lands can be procured from the Government, by purchase, as in Lower Canada, from the Upper Canada Land Company, and from private individual in the different townships; and the only difficulty the settler feels, is that of having so many lots or farms to select from, that he is at a loss to determine or decide upon which to take. The settler can proceed from Montreal, either up the St. Lawrence, or by the Ottawa river and Rideau Canal, to Upper Canada; the line between the provinces being about 50 or 60 miles above Montreal: and on the route he can make such inquiries and observations as may be useful to enable him to form a correct judgment of the most suitable place to settle in, according to his means and circumstances. He will perceive little difference in point of climate or soil, between Kingston and Montreal, to affect the interests of the farmer. From the following enumeration of roads and distances from Quebec, Montreal, Three Rivers, and William Henry, to various parts of both provinces, and to other places, an idea can be formed of the route to any section of the country to which the emigrant may wish to proceed: the distances are setdown according to the latest calculations, and will be found correct.ROADS AND DISTANCES FROM QUEBEC. The main and post road from Quebec to Montreal and on to Upper Canada, runs along the north bank of the St. Laurence. It has been well made, and is kept in good repair; it is also very populous, presenting an almost uninterrupted chain of farmhouses and comfortable dwellings, generally not more than, one hundred yards distant from each other; handsome villages also, and churches, are situated at distances varying from 4 to 9 miles, and present a most agreeable prospect to the traveller by land or water. The town of Three Rivers lies halfway between Quebec and Montreal, being 90 miles from each city. On this road bridges have been erected over all the rivers, except four, and these are in progress: where bridges have not been erected there are good ferry boats which convey passengers, horses, carriages, and goods across the rivers, with great care and safety, at very moderate charges. Quebec to St. Augustine 12 miles; to Point aux Tremble 24; to Cape Sante 31; to Port Neuf 35; to Dechambault 45; to St. Anne's 60; to Batiscan 66; to Champlain 75; to Three Rivers 90; to Point de Lac 99; to River du Loup 112; to Berthier 135; to Bout del Isle, the foot of Montreal Island 165; to Montreal 180 miles. From Port Neuf on this line, a road is made into the country for abont 6 miles, to a new settlement, where the emigrants are doing well. From Berthier a road leads to the townships of Rawdon, Kilkenny, and Kildare, where a large settlement has been formed by emigrants, Whose spiritual wants are attended to by a resident clergyman of the Church of England; the road extends from Berthier into the interior of the country nearly 80 miles, and from the same place there is a ferry across the St. Lawrence, to William Henry, on the south side of the river, where it is four miles wide. Various other roads lead to different parts of the country from the main road to Montreal. A road lads from Quebec to lake Beauport, N. by E. of Quebec, 18 miles distant, and passes through Charlebourg: at lake Beauport there is a large settlement by emigrants. The road to the townships of Stoneham and Tewkesbury, and to lake St. Charles, from 12 to 15 miles distant, passes also through Charlesbourg. Near lake St. Charles is also another emigrant settlement. A road leads from Quebec to Vale Cartie settlement, N. W. of that city, and passes through Loretto: this settlement was formed by emigrants, and is in a flourishing state, the nearest part being about 15 miles, and the most distant part not more than 30 miles distant from Quebec. A road leads down the north shore of the St Lawrence, through Beauport, by Montmorency Falls, St. Paul's Bay, Malbay, &c., to the end of the settlements in that direction. From Point Levi, opposite Quebec, and to which steam and team ferry boats pass and repass every hour, a road leads down the south bank of the St. Lawrence, and is the post road to New Brunswick, Halifax, the Bay Chaleur, &c. The distance from Quebec to Kamouraska is 90 miles; to the Portage 110 miles, all well settled along that distance; to Timisconata, across the Portage 146; to Frederickton, the capital of New Brunswick, down the river St. John 426; to Halifax in Nova Scotia 706 miles. The road to the Bay of Chaleur leads down the St. Laurence, from the Portage, and by the new road to Ristigouche, at the head of the bay, which is about three hundred miles distant from Quebec; a road leads from thence to Mirimichi, on the south shore of the Bay of Chaleur, distant about 70 miles. Another road leads from Ristigouche along the north shore of the Bay of Chaleur to New Carlisle 60 miles; to Percee 120, and to Gaspee 140 miles. A road leads from Quebec, by Point Levi, to the township of Frampton, south east of Quebec, being a new emigrant settlement, and about 30 miles distant. The Kenebec road also leads from Point Levi; south to St. Mary's 32 miles; to Aubert Gallion 62; to the height of land dividing Lower Canada from the State of Maine 92; to Portland 23O; and to Boston 260 miles: this is the shortest road to the States of Boston and New England. The Craigs road also leads from Point Levi to St. Nicholas 12 miles; to which place, there are also, steam and team-boats from Quebec, for passengers, carriages, and such other things as may require to be conveyed that way. From Point Levi, by St. Nicholas, to St. Giles 28 miles; to Leeds 40; to Ireland and to Inverness 54; to Richmond in Shipton 104 miles, through Halifax, Wolfstown, Chester and Tingwick townships. From Ireland, a branch called the Dudswell road leads on to the head of Connecticut river, passing through Wolfstown, Weedon, Dudswell 94 miles; through Bury, Westbury, Eaton 120 miles; and through Newport, Clifton and Hereford townships, to the Connecticut river, which is 150 miles from Quebec. There are only one or two families settled on this road between Ireland and Tingwick, a distance of 30 miles, through the woods. At Richmnd the Craigs road intersects the roads rnnning up the river St. Francis. On the Dudswell branch there are only three families settled between the townships of Ireland and Dudswell, a distance of 40 miles through the woods. From Eaton a road leads to Lennoxville, 13 miles; to Sherbrooke 17; to Hatley 28, and Stanstead 43 miles. From Point Levi a road also leads up the south bank of the St. Laurence, through many villages in the southwest bounds of the prpvince, of which the principal ones are St. Nicholas 12 miles; Lotbiniere 45, Nicolet 99; La Bay 106;: Ymaska 123; William Henry 135; Varronne 165; Boucherville 171; Longueil 180, being opposite Montreal, on the south bank of the St. Laurence; Laprairee 188 miles; Chateauguay 198, and St. Regis 230 miles, being the south west corner of the province.Roads from Three Rivers. From Point an Sable, or St. Gregoire, on the last mentioned road, opposite Three Rivers, the St. Gregoire road leads south to the eastern townships on the river St. Francis, at Long Point; the distance from Three Rivers to Douglas is 18 miles; to Long Point, in Kingsey township, 40 miles. From La Bay village, on the same road, and 18 miles above Three Rivers, the stage and post road to the Eastern Townships runs to the south; the distance to Campbell's Mills, on the St. Francis, from Three Rivers, is 33 miles; to Drummondville ferry 35; up the same bank to Whitney's, opposite Drummondville village 42; to Long Point, in Kingsey, 54, (where the St. Gregoire road joins this road;) to Richmond village in Shipton 60 (here the Craigs road from Quebec joins this road;) and to Brompton ferry 65 miles, where this road passes over to the south west bank of the St. Francis, and joins the road on that bank from Drummondville ferry, passing through Drummondville village, Durham, and Melbourne. To Sherbrooke, from Three Rivers, 82 miles; to Lennoxville 86 (where the road from Eaton and Dudswell joins the road as already noticed;) to Compton 96; to Charleston village, in Hatley, 101, and to Stanstead Plain village (two miles north of latitude 45, the south province line) 116 miles. From Stanstead, to Boston in the States, 20 miles; various other roads lead to Windsor in Vermont, Burlington on lake Champlain, &c. From Stanstead and Charleston, on this line, other roads lead to Montreal, Missiskoui bay, and to various other places. This road also passes, as partly noticed, through the townships of Wendover, Grantham, Simpson, Wickham, Kingsey, Dunham, Shipton, Melbourne, Windsor, Brompton, Oxford, Ascot, Compton, Hatley, Barnston, and Stanstead, and is the most important to the Eastern Townships with its several branches; on this road also mail and stage coaches pass and repass twice a week from Three Rivers, and the line is, generally speaking, well settled.ROADS FROM WILLIAM HENRY, CALLED OTHERWISE SOREL. William Henry, on the south bank of the St. Laurence, as already mentioned, is 135 miles above Quebec, and 45 miles below Montreal; and here the steam-boats from these cities daily stop during the season, for the accommodation of passengers, and for lading and unlading goods. It has several roads leading to the interior, the principal of which are the Ymaska road leading to Drummondville (where it joins the before mentioned road from Three RIvera) distant 36 miles; here it also joins the road up the St. Francis to Sherbrook; and the road to Ymaska mountain, distant about 40 miles, passing through St. Dennis, Si. Hyacinthe, and St, Cesaire, where it joins, the road from Montreal to Shefford, Stukely, Stanstead, &c. Other roads lead from William Henry up the Richelieu river, to Chambly 45; and Dorchester, or St. John, 57 miles, at which the lake Champlain United States steam boats arrive, and again sail from it for Albany, New York, &c., by the lake, and a short canal to the Hudson river. Between lake Erie, at its eastern extremity, above the Falls of Niagara, and the Hudson river there is a direct communication by the Erie Canal, in the United States; and of this great canal many emigrants take advantage, who by way of New York wish for a more expeditious voyage to Upper Canada.ROADS FROM MONTREAL. From Lapraire seven miles above Montreal, on the south side of the St. Laurence (and to which there is a regular steam ferry boat from the city) a road leads to St. John, which is also the mail stage road to New York and other places. St. John, (between which, as already mentioned, and the States of New York and Vermont there is a communication kept up by steam boats,) is 18 miles from Lapraire; the distance from St. John to Albany is 150 miles, and from thence to the city of New York 165 miles. A rail-road is in progress between Lapraire and St. John, and a canal between the latter place and Chambly. A road leads from St. John, to the townships of Dunham, Farnham, Stanbridge, Sutton, Brome, and Missiskoui bay, distant from 20 to 40 miles, and from whence are various roads to the other eastern townships. Several roads also lead from Lapraire, southward, to the township of Hemmingford, Hinchinbrooke, and Godmanchester; also to Chateauguay, Caldwell's Manor, L'Acadie, and on to the Western part of the State of New York. The last mentioned townships are from 15 to 30 miles from Lapraire, and are situated between the Richelieu river and the St. Lawrence. From Longueil, opposite Montreal, on the south shore of the St. Laurence, a mail stage road leads to Stanstead, Boston, and other places; from Montreal Ferry to Langueil 2 miles; to Chambly Bason 14; to St. Cesaire 30; to Ymaska Mountains 40; to Granby 50; to Frost village in Shefford 65; to Stukeley, 75; to outlet of Magog lake, 90; to Georgeville village 100; to Stanstead Plain village 115; and from Stanstead to Boston in the United States, 200 miles. From Ymasca mountain a new road is opened through Milton, Roxton, Ely, and Melbourn, to Richmond village in Shipton, a distance of about 30 miles. From Granby, on this road, a road has been opened to Farnham, which also communicates with other places. From Shefford and Stukley roads lead to Brome, Dunham, Missiskoui Bay, ann to other parts. From the outlet of Magog, roads lead to Potton and Bolton; another road from the outlet to Sherbrooke, distant 20 miles; and one to Charlston village in Hatley, distant 15 miles, from thence roads lead to Barnston, Compton, and Eaton, besides several other places with which they communicate. The roads now enumerated are the principal ones leading from the south east bank of the river St. Laurence to the Townships and United States: large grants of public money have been lately expended on the most of them, and they are now generally in pretty good repair. A post road leads from Montreal to the north west, up the north east bank of the Ottawa to Hull, and Bytown as follows.- From Montreal to St. Martin's, 12 miles, to River du Chene 18, to St. Andrew's 45, to Grenville 60, and to Hull 124 miles. Bytown is below Hull on the south west bank of the Ottawa, and at the mouth the Rideau Canal, which leads to Kingston, and there joins Lake Ontario in Upper Canada. From this line of road others also lead to the Perth settlements in the upper province; but the Ottawa river being now navigated by steam vessels adds much to the convenience of travelling in this section. Perth is 193 miles, Richmond 122, and Bytown 113 miles from Montreal. The main post and stage road to Upper Canada from Montreal runs up the north bank of the St. Laurence to Kingston, and in the summer season while the navigation of that river is open, a stage conveys passengers to Lachine from Montreal 9 miles, where they take a steamboat which conveys them up the St. Laurence to Coteau du Lac, 36 miles; and here they take the stage again to Prescott 90 miles, at which place they meet the Lake Ontario steam boats to Kingston, York, Niagara, &c. The road passes along the bank thus:- From Montreal to Lachine 9 miles, (where there is a ferry to cross to the south west bank of the Ottawa from the Island of Montreal). From Montreal to Coteau du Lac 45 miles, to Lancaster in Upper Canada 66, to Cornwall 87, to Matilda 120, to Prescott 135, to Brockville 147, to Kingston 195, to Bath 207, to Adolphustown 223, to Hallowell 235, to Bellville 243, to Cobourg 300, to Port Hope 307, to York 367, to St. Catherine's at the mouth of the Welland Canal 451, to Niagara 463, to Queenstown 470, to Oxford 457, to London 490, to Amherstburg 612, and to Sandwich 620 miles, to Victoria 419, and to Guelph the Head Quarters of the Canada company 395 miles. Several of these places do not lie in a direct line, but are noticed for the information of the emigrant. Besides the roads that have been noticed there are several others leading to various parts of the interior; and Montreal being a central point of the Canadas, the emigrant when there can easily procure such additional information as he may conceive necessary, and can without difficulty proceed to any part of the North Americea continent which he may select.SECTION II. GENERAL DIRECTIONS ON ARRIVING IN CANADA. Emigrants who have left the land of their nativity and made choice of America as their future country, have done so no doubt with a view of bettering their condition, or to avoid apprehended changes in their circumstances, to which most persons in the middle and lower classes of society are subject in the united kingdoms; and here it may not be improper to remark, that any industrious well meaning man is certain of acquiring in the Canadas a competency for himself and his family, without fear of those sudden alterations of fortune which often destroy the fruits of long and painful toil and exertion. It is desirable that such expectations should not be frustrated, or the emigrant delayed in the attaining his object by want of information respecting the country in which he is a stranger; this small work has therefore been written with the intention of furnishing such general knowledge of the most important portions of the Canadas, as will enable him to form a proper estimate of the soil, climate, produce of the country, amount of population, state of society, religion, agriculture, cities, towns and villages, roads and canals, lakes and rivers, the system of government, and of the various means of obtaining land and the title therein. It is not unusual for the emigrant on arriving in America to feel disappointed and dissatisfied, and many for a short time regret having left their native country. Every thing appears strange, especially to the warm-hearted Irishman; he cannot forget the hospitality to which he has been accustomed-strangers and interested persons are frequently to be met with -the scenery, manners, customs, and the language of a considerable portion of the inhabitants, differ from what he has been accustomed to at home, and many are watching for opportunities to take advantage of his inexperience. He is therefore for a time disposed to form an opinion unfavourable to America, without considering that he has but just landed in a strange city or seaport town, and that it was never his intention to settle in such a place. It is also probable that he may have conceived too high expectations of what was to be immediately possessed in the country-a thing which not unfrequently happens, from the numerous exaggerated and extravagant accounts that have been transmitted by ignorant and foolish persons of very little experience themselves; it is therefore necessary to caution the emigrant against suffering himself to despond, as many persons have been led astray by such expectations, as well as by the equally fallacious and more flattering statements of others who may have pointed out various distant settlements where ease and comfort are to be had. The stranger travels from place to place, and at length, when his means are exhausted, he is obliged to settle in a situation far inferior to many that he has passed by; finding, when too late, that he might have obtained good land in many advantageous situations, without spending his money and time as he has done, and which he could have avoided had he received a fair and unbiassed account of the country. To emigrants of the labouring class, I would recommend a speedy application for work, and if it cannot be had in Quebec immediately after they land, they should at once proceed into the country, to some of the nearest settlements, where they will most probably succeed without any considerable delay. Let them, however, not refuse the first fair offer of employment, as it is much better to be engaged; and in a short time they will become acquainted with the manners and customs of the people, their method of farming, &c., and, if industrious, sober, and honest, they will speedily get higher wages and certain employment. Public works are also carried on, such as canals, roads, bridges, and public buildings, in which many find employment and good wages, varying from half a dollar to three shillings per day without board. In the Townships of Upper and Lower Canada, higher wages for labour are given than in the French Canadian settlements near the St. Laurence: the inhabitants on each side of that river, all through Canada, and to the extent of five or six miles back from its north and south banks, are generally of French extraction and speak that language; for which reason, to the British labourer many difficulties present themselves that are not to be feared among his own countrymen. There are many, hewever, that can speak English, and if the emigrant can obtain employment he should not refuse it, as he may have offers in the French settlements; but it would not be adyiseable for him to seek for work among them, when the Townships, which are inhabited by British and Irish emigrants, lie so convenient, being immediately in the rear of the French Seigniories. In a short time, the labourer will be enabled to purchase a lot or farm, which is easy to be had in all parts of the Country; so that in a few years, he may, by sober honest iadustvy, expect to live comfortably, and get forward in the world. When he once becomes the proprietor of a piece of land, all his work is for his own benefit, no rent or taxes being to be paid: he has the full produce of the soil for his support; and the surplus he can send to market, when and how he pleases, as he is not in dread of the agent coming to distrain him for the rent, or the collector of the county cess, or the tithe proctor, with many others which are the daily visitors of the farner in England and Ireland. It is this that makes the Canadian farmer feel really independant;- in fact he is the lord and master of his own estate, and many that have landed in Quebec without a pound in the world, have been able to realize by this course what is here represented, and can now, from their having had themselves substantial proof of its reality, testify that it is not an imaginary picture, but one to be met in Canada every day. However, it is necessary to observe that the idler, the drunkard, or the seditious, must abandon his vicious practices and habits, and in fact become another man, before he can expect to succeed in Canada: -to such it holds out no expectations of success, and many are to be met with who, while they have left their native country, have not, however, left behind them their former vices-these were poor and wretched before they set out for Canada, and their condition has been little improved by change of country. How galling has it often been to the sympathies of a tenderhearted emigrant, to recognise some old neighbour reaping the fruits of his misconduct, while chained to the stocks or undergoing some other deserved penalty, notwithstanding a hope he might have entertained that the unhappy culprit had left home with full purpose of amendment. Emigrants who have got any eapital should, as soon as possible after landing, decide on the part of the country they wish to settle in, and at once proceed to examine it; the distance and delay to be measured by the depth of their purses-that is, if their means be small they must seek for land as near as they can match themselves, and not foolishly exhaust their money in moving to distant places, while suitable situations may be obtained near at hand. Prudence and promptitude should guide their conduct, and they may comfort themselves with the expectation that in a reasonable time, by perseverance and industry, their exertions shall be crowned with success. Strangers on arriving in Canada are often liable to be imposed upon, not because in it are to be found more impostors than in other countries; but they meet many person willing to offer their advice, which, unless from an intelligent friend, should be received with the utmost caution. Wild, visionary, or romantic ideas or situations should not be the objects of pursuit, and nothing, however attractive at first view, should determine the choice, unless upon sober deliberation it were found to have circumstances connected with it to render the speculation a prudent one:-the salutary counsel of a disinterested friend should always be a desirable thing, as it will ever be found to be of great service, but especially in cases where inexperience is a bar to the competency of our own unaided judgment. In Quebec his Majesty has appointed A. C. Buchannan, Esq., Resident Agent, for the purpose of giving information gratis to settlers; to him they should apply, as he will be able to give them much useful information and instructions, and point out where lands and employment may most probably and readily be obtained. Before giving further directions it may be necessary to insert a few cautions to the stranger arriving in Canada. And in the first place, temperance is earnestly recommended; many upon landing feel elated at having once more fixed their feet on firm land, and all sorts of spirituous liquors being cheap, when their prices are compared with those for which they are purchased at home, they are often led to indulge too freely in the use of them; not always with the intent of pursuing such a course of intoxication, but to gratify the desire of the moment, when, alas! a vicious inclination gratified, even for, a short time, more generally leads fo a confirmed habit, and this brings on, as its necessary consequence, poverty, disease, and all sorts of misery, which by a very natural combination must, eventually secure the death of their unhappy victim! Hundreds, yea thousands, have in these provinces been hurried to an untimely grave by this habit -persons who were once temperate, but whose intemperance it is believed may be traced to the above mentioned origin. Emigrants will therefore do well, both for themselves, their families, and society in general, by avoiding this baneful practice, however difficult their palates may find it to resist its baneful solicitations, or whatever false estimate they may themselves form of its contributing to promote sociability. They should always be cautious of taking draughts of cold water in warm weather, or when heated by labour and exertion, as it frequently in this country causes instantaneous death. Again, it is necessary to caution the stranger that he may often meet persons who will urge him to travel inland to distant parts, out of pure regard for his welfare as they will assert; but, on enquiry, they are generally found to be individuals interested in the disposal of lands to which they would direct the attention of the unsuspecting emigrant, or in steam boats and other modes of conveyance from which, of course, a profit must be derived to themselves proportional to the number that may avail themselves of the accommodation which they offer to persons proceeding in the same direction. Nothing is more common in Quebec on the arrival of a vessel with passengers, than for agents of steam boats, and such friends to go on board and advise those who are about landing to proceed to Montreal since, according to their representations, no wise person would stop short of that part of the country.* The poor deluded stranger is again advised in Montreal, by other pretended friends who may be found interested in transporting goods or passengers to Upper Canada, that he should by all means proceed upwards, for what wise man, say they, who has yet to settle himself, would remain in the lower province where he could get nothing but Fremcj onions and soup meagre.- The thankful wanderer is in this manner handed from one to another until he is at length introcuced to the blessings of the western wilderness, and no doubt should often be forwarded to the pacific ocean, if his purse continued unexhausted, or could he find friendly carriers to accommodate him with the modes of conveyance. He will also meet friends still more lavish of their benevolence, who would fain persuade him, that no wise man desirous of persuing the most effectual plan for the advancement of his interests, should remain in the British provinces, and that friendly persons could be procured who for a reasonable compensation would conduct him into the United States. Such has been heretofore the practice, and the newly arrived emigrant would do well to weigh in the balance of sense and discretion the advantage and necessity of proceeding very far inland, as, if led on by no other prospects or certain inducements than wild speculations, he may run the risk, after having considerably diminished his capital by the expenses connected with travelling, of being reduced to the alternative of taking up his abode in a settlement considerably inferior, in point of all advantages, to what he might have procured lower down, with much loss trouble, and before he should have incurred the expenses of his journey; or, taking all things into consideration, not better than he might have possessed himself of in a week after landing. Doubtless, having connections in distant parts, and particular views, with various other considerations, will and should influence a man to make a choice and proceed accordingly; but more on this head hereafter. These cautions are given merely to make the stranger aware, that every inducement which may be held out to him on landing will not always prove such as should have any weight in regulating his determination. In most parts of the Canadas good land is to be found, but in this the emigrant must expect to find some disadvantages connected with advantages, as well in America as in any part of Europe. *It is but fair to state that the proprietors of the steamers on the St. Lawrence are very liberal to emigrants in reducing the fare.SECTION III. DIRECTIONS RELATING TO VARIOUS PARTS OF LOWER CANADA FAVOURABLE FOR SETTLING IN, WITH A FEW OBSERVATIONS ON THE SETTLEMENTS ALREADY FORMED. Having briefly given a general outline of the Lower and Upper Provinces, with the roads and distances between the several places of any importance, and having suggested a few particulars which the newly-arrived emigrant may find of use to put him on his guard against imposition; we shall now proceed to take a view of several of the most favourable parts of Lower Canada, such as may probably prove most agreeable to the settler, and have also got the greatest quantity of wild land still unoccupied. The Seignorial parts of the Province being mostly taken up by Canadians of French extraction, or likely to be so in a short time by their families, the Townships present the most encouraging field to the industry of the emigrant; being in fact also the best land in the Province, and English being the language spoken among the inhabitants in consequence of their being themselves persons not long arrived from the United Kingdom, and from the States. There are, however, many parts of the Seigniories yet unoccupied, in which are to be found very favourable situations as well as cleared farms easy to be obtained; and many emigrants have purchased farms of this description in the Seigniories, especially in the vicinity of Quebec and Montreal. In the country parts hereafter mentioned, the emigrant may apprehend that he should be at too great a distance from the great markets of the Province, not being acquainted with the country; but it may be observed that farmers residing two hundred miles or more from Quebec and Montreal, if on good land, can live well and improve in their circumstances if not better, at least as well as those who have taken up their residence within a few miles of the cities.- This being the fact, I feel desirous to impress it on the minds of those for whose information I am writing these pages, that the colonist who makes choice of a more distant settlement is not liable to the expenses incurred near Towns, and farms are had on much cheaper terms. For many years he finds for the surplus of his produce a consumption on the spot among those who are daily arriving, and who must for some time, before they can enjoy the fruits of their own labour, supply themselves with the articles necessary for present use from the stock of those who have already settled themselves; and fat cattle, hogs, and horses are easily conveyed to distant markets, or they are bought up by the drovers before it is found necessary to remove them. The first I shall notice are the Townships in the county of Beauce; lying about 30 miles south by east of Quebec. In one of these, the Township of Hampton, there is a settlement newly formed by emigrants, which contains at present a population of seven or eight hundred. The land, though light, is of a very fair quality, and the occupiers generally doing well. In this, and the the adjoining Townships, what is denominated wild land can be purchased at five shillings an acre, or even less. Carters may be engaged at Point Levi, to convey loading to this place, at from 7s. 6d. to 10s. 0d. per load; and to that part of the country the road is good. From Beauce we shall proceed to describe in succession as they extend to the west, the several Township Counties heretofore known as the eastern Townships, though they are more properly the southern Townships of the Province. The next to Beauce, and to the west of it, is the county of Megantic, the way to which from Quebec is by the Craig's road, or the Kennebec road up the Chaudiere river. The settlements already established there, are situated on and near the Craigs road, in the Townships of Leeds, Inverness, Ireland, Halifax, and Broughton; the principal ones being in Ireland, Leeds, and Inverness. These have only been lately formed, and in a manner very much to their credit, and furnish a demonstration of the industry of the occupiers who amount to about 2000 souls. Leeds, as has been shown in the Account of Roads and Distances, is from Quebec 40 miles S. by W., and is the place of election for this county. The lands in these Townships are generally good, easily cleared, and such as in which situations can be had that present to the industrious a variety of advantages: they are well irrigated by the head waters of the St. Francis, Nicolet, Becancour, and Chaudiere rivers, and the face of the country undulated with gently rising hills and fertile valleys. Several small lakes, (the most considerable of which is the Megantic, at the head of the Chaudiere River, from which the county derives its name,) with ponds, brooks, and a number of rivers, beautifully diversify the scenery, and to the places through which they pass impart an unusual fertility; so that of this it may in truth be said that it has experienced from the bountiful hand of Nature much liberality in the distribution of her favours. Mill-sites and water power are to be found in abundance and will not be wanting when a numerous population may require these necessary conveniences; saw mills in particular are indispensible appendages to all new settlements in the wilderness. Grass when cultivated, or the seed sown, grows with great luzuriance in all the Townships, and here all the other productions of the soil in this province may be raised with advantage; and among the many other luxuries with which the agriculturist may expect to have his industry rewarded, is to be reckoned the maple sugar, which, in its proper season is extracted from the trees of that name in such manner as shall be hereafter described. Although a very considerable proportion of the lands in the neighbourhood of the settlements, has been already granted, but a very small part, however, is yet settled on. Many thousand acres, of excellent quality, are the property of the heirs of Joseph Frobisher, Esq. and are now offered for sale. Here the price of land varies much, being, from four to ten shillings per acre, near the settlements, but in other quarters may be had on much cheaper terms. Two small lakes, one in Ireland, and the other in Halifax and Inverness, both connected by a small river, form for boats a water communication of about twenty miles, which could be easily extended north to the St. Laurence, eighteen miles, and south to the lake St. Francis, two miles. It could still, with comparatively trifling expense, be continued down the St. Francis to Lennoxville, and thence through lake Massiwippi to lake Magog, in Stanstead. This would be of incalculable advantage to the townships. For such a communication as I have now described, Nature appears to have formed this route between Quebec and lake Magog, as vallies, gullies, ponds, lakes, and dead waters, seem to invite the hand of man to lend its cooperation, and take advantage of the facilities which they offer to the rapid progreas of art: and what presents most encouragement to such a work is that, than the tract of the country through which it should pass, is one of the most fertile in the Canadas. From surveys, made in the United States, a canal is projected to connect the head of lake Magog with lake Champlain, to the west, and the Connecticut river to the east; a part of lake Magog lying within the state of Vermont. A view of a map of the sections, will at once point out the importance and feasibility of the communication proposed; and a tax of one penny per acre on the lands through which it should pass, would provide a fund adequate to complete it in three years. This county is very large, comprising, the townships of Somerset, Nelson, Halifax, Inverness, Ireland, Wolfstown, Leeds, Thetford, Broughton, Coleraine, Tring, Shenley, Oulney, Winslow, Dorset and Gayhurst; each containing in surface, about one hundred square miles of land. In these infant settlements, they enjoy the benefit of several elementary schools; and in Leeds, there is an English church in progress, with a settled minister; in Ireland they have got a Wesleyan Methodist chapel. The respective populations of the inhabited townships are nearly as follow:- Leeds, 800; Inverness, 900; Ireland, 500; Halifax, 50; Broughton, 200; and scattered here and there, 250 souls. The next county which claims the attention of the settler, is that of Drummond, lying west of the last county noticed, and north of Sherbrooke; and nearly central between Quebec, Montreal, Three Rivera, and the United States. This county though large, is not populous, having but about 3,000 inhabitants. It comprises the townships of Aston, Bulstrode, Horton, Stanfold, Athabaska, Chester, Ham, Wotton, Tingwick, Warwick, Wendover, Simpson, Kingsey, Durham, Wickham, Grantham, Upton, and Acton, with their gores and augmentations. The part of it to the north, in the townships of Wendover, Simpson, Upton, Grantham, and part of Wickham, and adjoining the seignories, is generally of an inferior quality, except in a few situations. In these latter townships generally, the land does not appear to be inviting to emigrants, yet it is freely taken by Canadians of French extraction, who exhibit much patience and perseverance in turning their attention to the improvement of such places. Interspersed many lots are to be met with of a superior quality, and furnishing to the improving occupier, an abundance of blue marley clay, which can be conveniently raised to enrich the lands requiring such amelioration. South and east of these townships, in the same county, the land is very good, few in the province exceeding in quality of soil, &c., the townships of Kingsey, Tingwick, Chester, Durham, and part of Wickham: they are also well watered by the St. Francis and Nicolet rivers, whose fertilizing powers are aided by the friendly contiibutions of many small streams. Drummondville village, which is forty five miles from and to the south of, Three Rivers, and thirty-six miles south east of William Henry, is the county town, being the place of election, and where the Registry Office is kept. It contains about twenty houses, a Protestant Episcopal, as also a Roman Catholic church, a school-house under the Royal Institution, several stores, a post office, and two good taverns. This section was a wilderness until the year 1815-16, when government decided on forming a settlement on the tract of waste land between the seigniories on the St. Laurence, and the townships to the south. Drummondville was chosen for a military settlement, that is, for discharged soldiers; not to the exclusion of any other emigrants who may choose to fix their residence there: each settler was located to one hundred acres of land, and had a year's provisions granted by government, as also a variety of tools and some other matters that might have been considered necessary to contribute to the comforts of an infant colony. The expense attendant upon such encouragement becoming enormous to the government, it was found necessary to withdraw it, which check, combined with the failure of the crops in the years 1816 and 1817, and with the circumstance of the land itself being generally of inferior quality, caused many who had settled there to abandon it. Since that time many of the deserted lots have been occupied by families of French Canadians, with every favourable prospect of success. This village was almost wholly consumed by fire, in the year 1826; but has since arisen from its ashes. About half a mile lower down, is the seat of Colonel Herriot, C.B. and P.A.D., who, from the commencement, was superintendant of this settlement, and has been exerting all his influence to forward its importance: he was the first member returned, to represent, in the provincial parliament, the county, after its establishment in the year 1829. Being a near relative, of the late much lamented General Brock, Governor of Upper Canada, who lost his life at the battle of Queenstown, in the late war with the States, and having also distinguished himself during the same war, as Field Officer in command of the Lower Canada provincial troops, Colonel Herriot now deservedly enjoys the confidence of his government. To the Indians of the St. Francis, or Abinaquois tribe, belongs a large tract in the township of Durham, but, though given to them on condition of settlement, they have never effectually attempted to improve it. Some years since, their agent, with their own consent, leased a number of lots to persons who removed from the Drummondville settlement principally, the land in which the Indians had property being very good. The leases were given for twenty-one years free; after the expiration of which term the tenant is obliged to pay annually, one-third of the produce of all crops raised. Litigation and trouble are likely to arise from this confused and uncertain tenure; but the land being of such a quality as presents striking inducements to its cultivation, improvements have been made with considerable advantage by the lessees; how far the title may hold good is a question yet to be decided. Land is easily got in this county at from three to five shillings per acre; and here, as well, as the county of Sherbrooke, of which we shall presently give a sketch, several extensive landholders offer portions of lots, of fifty acres or more, off the original lots of 200 acres, to actual settlers, on condition of settlement, and keeping in repair the road across the parts so taken up, until the remainder shall have been sold or occupied. The township of Kingsey was the first part of this county that was colonized, thirty years ago, and now exhibits a very flourishing settlement. They have in all the settlements established elementary schools and school houses, in which also religious meetings are held, whenever they are visited by ministers. The inhabitants of the county are almost wholly British emigrants; and but a few Canadians and Americans from other quarters. The principal roads, as already noticed in the account of roads and distances, are the Craigs road, which, passing through the county of Megantic, enters this county, and through Chester and Tingwick leads on to Richmond, Sherbrook, &c.; the St. Gregoire road, which, from Three Rivers, passes through Acton, Horton, Wendover, Simpson, and Kingsey, meeting the road up the eastern side of the St. Francis to Richmond; and the Ymaska road, which passes from William Henry through Upton and Grantham, to Drummondville, meeting the road up the western bank of the St. Francis, to Durham, Melbourn, Richmond, Sherbrooke, &c.. The populations of the settled townships respectively, are nearly as follow:- Upton, 200; Horton and Aston, 100; Wendover, 200; Grantham, 600; Simpson, 50; Wickham, 300; Durham, 500; Kingsey, 600; Tingwick, 203; Chester, and scattered in the other townships, 100 Souls. The next county of importance to the emigrant, being more extensive and more thickly inhabited than either of the former, is that of Sherbrooke, lying south-west of Megantic, and south of Drummond counties, and north of latitude 45, and the State of Vermont. It comprises the townships of Garthby, Hatford, Whitton, Marston, Clinton, Woburn, Stanhope, Croydon, Chesham, Adstock, Tingwick, Weedon, Dudswell, Bury, Hampden, Ditton, Emberton, Drayton, Auckland, Newport, Westbury, Stoke, Ascot, Eaton, Hereford, Compton, Clifton, Windsor, Brompton, Shipton, Melbourne, and Orford, with their gores and augmentations. This county is well watered by the head waters of the rivers St. Francis and Nicolet, with brooks, which are to be found in great abundance; the face of the country is hilly, but not mountainous, unless a small ridge in Stoke and Westbury; and both soil and climate are mare favourable than in the counties before described. The townships near the leading roads which pass through this county, offer considerable advantages to the agriculturist; most of those already settled there have been brought up in the wilderness, having chiefly emigrated from the United States, whose industry, enterprisizig dispositions, and habits of settlement in a new country, have, in a great measure, opened this tract to the more easy access of such other settlers as may feel disposed, by setting their steady and persevering examples before them, to participate in their comforts. There are also in this county many others, who have emigrated from tbe United Kingdom, together with some families of French descent; they are settled in a way both advantageous and creditable to themselves, thus, by their present condition, demonstrating that this country bountifully rewards the efforts of those who steadily pursue a course of application and industry, in places teeming with benefits to as many as here court the favours of Providence, by bringing the fertility of the soil into active and skilful operation. The population of the whole county may, at present, be estimated at about 10,000 individuals. The village of Sherbrooke is the county town, in it being kept the Registry Office; but the election is held at Richmond, in Shipton, as well as at Sherbrooke. The latter is also the seat of judicial proceedings for the district of St. Francis. It is situated on the south-west bank of the river St. Francis, where it is joined by the waters of the Magog, whose descent into the former affords many of the advantages of water communication. It contains about thirty houses, besides a court-house, a good substantial brick jail, a Protestant church; a Roman Catholic church, a meeting and school-house, flour and saw mills, pearl-ash works, a post-office, several country stores, &c.; also a woolen factory, lately erected by C. F. H. Goodhue, Esq., which is likely to do well. This village appears well situated for trade, and has a good deal of intercourse with the different parts of the district. Although it has not much flourished heretofore, it is to be hoped that through the enterprising spirit and activity of the chief proprietors, the Hon. Mr. Felton, and C. F. H. Goodhue, Esq., it will make a rapid progress in the several branches of improvement, situated, as it is, in the midst of a beautiful country, and surrounded with good land, which is as yet but partially settled on, to the east, west, and north. A Weekly Newspaper is published here. About six miles west of Sherbrooke is Belvedere, the residence of the Hon. Mr. Felton, Commissioner for the management and sale of crown lands, and what are called clergy reserves. In the year 1816, he commenced his settlement in this place, than entirely a wilderness; and, with a great expenderitur of capital before roads were opened, cleared about a thousand acres, and built a handsome dwelling house, offices, farmhouses, &c. A road passes Mr. Felton's place, from Sherbrooke to outlet of Magog, and meets the Stanstead and Montreal road. The village of Richmond, in the township of Shipton, twenty-two miles below Sherbrooke, is, as has been already observed, the other place of election for this county; and is situated on the east bank of the river St. Francis, where the Craigs road, from Quebec, meets that river. This village has about a dozen good dwelling-houses, (several built of brick,) a Protestant Episcopal church and school, two excellent and extensive hotels, a post office, three or four country stores, tanneries, hatteries, also large stone-built, grist and saw mills, with extensive pearl-ash works, &c., chiefly the property of W. S. Wales, Esq. An academy to be built of brick, is in progress, which, when finished, will be of great advantage to this part of the country. On the side of the St. Francis, opposite Richmond, in the township of Melbourne, is also a rising village, which has got several good buildings, a meeting house, stores, &c. Also ten miles north-east from Richmond, on the Craigs road, commonly called the Back of Shipton, there is a flourishing settlement, and a village, the name of which is Danville: having several stores, a meeting house, schools, pearl-ash works, fulling and carding machines, &c. Between, Danville and Richmond may be seen a small, but neat, Roman Catholic chapel; and in the township are also Presbyterian and Methodist congregations. South of Sherbrooke, about four miles, is situated the village of Lennoxville, which has got about a dozen good dwelling houses, a Protestant Episcopal church, a meeting and school-house, a country store, a tavern, post-office, &c. From Lennoxville a road runs eastwardly to Eaton, which is rather well settled. In Eaton, there are two Episcopal churches, two stores, several schools, tanneries, pearl-ash works, &c.; there is also here a Baptist Society, and some others of various denominations. The country from Lennoxville to Compton, a distance of ten miles, is well settled. In Compton, there are two country stores, an Episcopal church, a post-office, several mills, &c. Eaton and Compton contain each a population of about 1,500; Ascot about 1,200; Shipton, 1,500; Melbourne, 800; Hereford, 200; Chifton, 150; Westbury, 100; Dudswell, 250; Stoke, 20; Orford, 300; Brompton, 300; and Windsor, 200; these being the only townships colonised in the county. The chief roads are-the Dudswell, passing from the county of Megantic, through Weedon, Dudswell, Bury, Westbury, Eaton, Clifton, and Hereford, into the state of Vermont, at the head of the Connecticut river- a branch of this leads from Eaton to Lennoxville; the Craigs road, leading from QUebec throgh. the counties of Megantk and Drummond, and passing through Shipton to Richmond, in this county; the roads leading up each bank of the St. Francis, through Shipton, Melbourne, Windsor, Brompton, Orford, Ascot, and Compton, continuing on towards Stanstead; and the Ymaska, mountain road passing through Melbourne. From the observations that have been made it will be seen tht few places offer more advantages to settlers, than the chief part of this county. Wild lands may be purchased at prices varying from 2s. 6d., to 7s. 6d., per acre; and partially cleared farms also may be had on reasonable terms. Should a man decide on buying crown or clergy lands, he may effect the purchase at once on the spot, from Mr. Felton, or from his agents at Sherbrooke. Baggage may be conveyed from Three Rivers to Sherbrooke, eighty-two miles, at from four to six dollars per load; and travellers by the mail stage, for five dollars. We shall now proceed to give a description of the county of Stanstead, lying southwest of the county of Sherbrooke; it is bounded on the south by lat. 45, the provincial line between this province and the state of Vermont, and on west by the county of Missiskoui. It comprises the townships of Hatley, Stanstead, Barnston, Barford, Potton, and Bolton; and is tolerably well colonised, having a population of about 10,000, chiefly emigrants from other parts of America; but there are still in all its townships, except Stanstead, large tracts of wild land of a good quality. The Township of Stanstead is the best settled in the province. Many partially cleared farms might be obtained in this county on easy terms, and with good titles, an opportunity which has been in many instances embraced, by British emigrants. From its contiguity to the States, a considerable share of commercial intercourse exists between the inhabitants and their American neighbours, to the advantage of both parties. The chief village is Stanstead Plain, in the township of Stanstead, two miles north of the Lines, and thirty three miles south-west of Sherbrooke; 115 miles south of Montreal, 150 miles southwest of Quebee, 116 miles south of Three Rivers, and about 200 miles northwest of Boston. Stanstead Plain village is on a plain surrounded by hills, and consists of about fifty houses, some of brick, and others of wood, in neat style. In it are are also to be seen a number of stores, a post office, tanneries, a paper mill, pearl-ash and cast iron works, cabinet makers, hatters, watchmakers, saddlers, &c.; it has got besides, a printing office which issues a weekly paper, a handsome brick Presbyterian and a Methodist chapel, an academy and school, and a large free church, for the use of all denominations, north of the village. Between this, and Three Rivers and Montreal, is a stage communication twice a week, as also to and from the United States. The township contains about 4,500 inhabitants; and, besides two academies, has about thirty elementary schools in active operation. The village of Georgeville lies about fifteen miles north-west of Stanstead Plain, in the same township, and on the east shore of lake Magog, a beautiful sheet of water, about thirty miles long and five in breadth: about one third of the south part of the lake is in the state of Vermont. Several picturesque mountains to the west and north of the lake, contribute much to the beauty of the scenery, and generally round it the land, though high, yet slopes with a gradual declivity to the water's edge; and all round, in every direction, are to be seen well improved farms and farm houses. Georgeville is a handsome village, and consists of about forty houses, several stores, a post office, a seminary, and other schools, an Episcopal, a Methodist and a free church, pearl-ash works, together with some other country manufactures.- There is here a ferry across the lake, which is one of the ways from Stanstead to Montreal. This is one of the places of election for the county, and it is here the registry office is kept. Ten miles to the north, is a small village of about a dozen houses called the Outlet of lake Magog, in which there are fulling, and carding mills, grist and saw mills, pearl-ash works, stores, taverns, schools, &c. and the main road from Stanstead, Hatly, &c. to Montreal passes through it. The other place of election for the county, is the village of Charleston, in the township of Hatley about halfway between Stanstead plain and Sherbrooke. It consists of about twenty houses, a neat Episcopal church, an academy, school, stores, post-office, brewery, pearl-ash works, &c.; and about a mile distant, is a neat free church for the accommodation of all parties. Throughout this county, and, indeed, in the eastern townships generally, schools for elementary instruction are never neglected after the settlements are once formed; a circumstance which attaches much credit to the character of the inhabitants; and where they are not provided with churches, they meet in the school-houses regularly on the Sabbath, for social religious worship, convinced of the obligation under which they lie, of paying a tribute of praise and thanksgiving to Him who is the anthor of every good gift; and that it as not only a "reasonable service," but also their interest to pray for a manifestation of his grace among them, his guidance, and his protection. Thus, by the aid of Divine grace, do they mutually contribute to promote among each other, the growth of religion, without which all other blessings are but imaginary; but which, when earnestly sought after and possessed, can temper the cup of affliction with happiness, (should such in the dispensations of Providence ever fall to the lot of its possessor,) and convert the most distant land into a home. Montreal is the chief foreign market for this county, unless for horses and cattle, which find a readier sale in Quebec. Vast quantities of pearl ashes are sent by waggons and carts in summer, and by sleighs in winter, to the former of these cities; and in return are brought back such commodities as there may be demand for in the villages and other parts of the townships. The face of the country is hilly but not broken, and is well watered by Lakes Magog and Massiwippi, together with various small streams which lend their aid; and though the most distant county from the St. Lawrence, it is however the most desirable part of the province to settle in, from the information possessd by the inhabitants and their enterprising charactrer, and from its being throughout the whole so abundantly supplied with farms, good roads, schools, &c. as may be seen from the more minute accounts already given. Wild lands are, as may be expected from the superior advantages of which it can boast, higher in this county than in any of those before noticed; being generally estimated at from five to ten shillings per acre, or more. The principal roads are, that from Shefford county and Montreal, through Hatley and Stanstead to Stanstead plain, and another road to the same place from Sherbrooke through Charleston. The whole country is however interspersed with good roads, for a more particular detail of which see the account for roads and distances. The populations in the several townshops of this county are nearly as follows;- Stanstead 4500; Hatley 2000; Barnston 2000; Bolton 1200; Potton 700; and Barford 100. The next, as holding out inducements to the emigrant, of the state of which I shall endeavor to furnish him with some information, is the county of Shefford. It is situated northwest of Stanstead and west of Sherbrooke counties, and nearer to Montreal than any of the former; the post roads from that city to Stanstead pass through it. The usual route to Shefford from William Henry and Montreal is by Ymaska mountain. Frost Village, the centre of the county, is distant from both these towns about sixty miles. This village presents a handsome appearance, and has got about thirty houses, an Episcopal Church, a school house, taverns, several country stores, a post office, pearl ash works, a tannery, and several other conveniences; it is also the place of election for the county, and where the registry office is established. About five miles west of Frost Village is the small village of Waterloo; and about ten miles further on towards Montreal is Granby Village, consisting of about a dozen houses, stores, school, &c. From these village roads lead in several directions to the different townships of this county as well as to Missiskoui, Stanstead, Sherbrooke, &c. The Ymaska river might by a little improvement, be rendered navigable to boats into this county, which is well watered by its head branches. The land is generally good upland, intespersed with many fertile valleys, and which, in alternate succession with gently rising hills, the face of the country is indented. Of the inhabitants three fourths are American emigrants, and the remainder are from the United Kingdoms. Many are in possession of good farms, and the easy access there is from this to the Montreal market renders the situation a very eligible one. The price of wild land varies from two and six pence to seven and sixpence for the acre, but no doubt will rapidly rise in value; and a great portion of the best quality remains still unoccupied, but henceforth no doubt many persons will feel it their interest to direct their attention that way, as roads are now opened through it in several directions, the chief of which are these already noticed, and the road from Ymaska mountains to Melbourne, lately opened, and passing through Milton, Roxton, and Ely. The population and townships comprised within this county are as follow.-Shefford about 1200- Stukeley 500- Ely 50- Roxton 20- Milton 50- Brome 1100- and Farnbam 1000 souls. At Ymaska mountain, joining to, though not in, this county, is a flourishing settlement of American and British emigrants, who are provided with an English church, schools, stores, post office, &c. The land is good but not in the townships, it being a Seignory. The county of Missiskoui, lying south of Shefford and west of Stanstead counties, next claims our attention; and of those formed out of the Eastern townships is the only one that remains to be noticed. In this also were made the first settlements in the townships in the year 1794. It is smal, consisting only of the townships of Dunham, Stanbridge, Sutton, and the Seignory of St. Armand; but is however the most populous of the township counties, as it contains a population exceeding 10,000; and, except in Sutton, most of the lands are occupied. It lies adjoining the state of Vermont, having on thir west Missiskoui Bay on Lake Champlain. The country is intersected in every direction by a number of roads leading to the other townships, to the United States, St. John, and Montreal, from which city the centre of the county is about fifty miles. The principal village is on Missiskoui Bay, and contains between sixty and seventy houses, with regular streets and some wharfs, a seminary, school houses, two Baptist meeting houses, a Methodist chapel, an Episcopal church, stores, a post office, pearl ashe works, &c. The Bay is about four miles wide, opposite this village, which is favorably situated for trade, and has considerable share, being about a mile north of the province line. The village next in importance is Dunham, which is one of the places of election, and where the registry office is kept. It lies about l6 miles north east of the former, and consists of about forty houses, an Episcopal church, stores, schools and a post office; in it are also to be found pearl ash works, country manufactures, &c. The other place of election is Freleighsburg in St. Armand, about ten miles west of Missiskoui Bay on Pike river; which contains about thirty houses, an episcopal church, nail factory, post office, stores, schools, &c. In this county there are not any large rivers, but it is well irrigated by Pike river, which discharges itself into Lake Champlain, and by some other smaller streams. The land is generally good, and the farms in a flourishing state; and in all the settlements, which are making a rapid progress in wealth and respectability, the agriculturist and tradesman possess abundant facilities of mutually contributing to the advancement of each other's interests, through the medium of those various factories that have been already noticed. Wild lands are worth from fire to shillings per acre according to situation. It is colonized chiefly by American emigrants with some from Great Britain and Ireland, who are all both enterprising and intelligent. The population may be estimated in the following proportion- The Seigniory of St. Armand about 4000 -Township of Dunham 3000- Sutton 1000 and Stanbridge 2500. Between this county and the Richelieu river, St. John, Chambly, &c.; many American and British emigrants settled on good lands in the Seignories; being well situated for settlement. The aforesaid counties now described contain that tract of Lower Canada heretofore known as the Eastern Townships, and lately divided into the said counties of Megantic, Drummond, Sherbrooke, Stanstead, Shefford, and Missiskoui. Before this division they were attached to the Seignorial counties and de facto had no representation in the legislature of the province. Roads and public improvements were left to the industry of the inhabitants, and these being scattered over a large tract of country were extremely bad. But in 1829, after many fruitless applications, a new division of the province took place, and these counties were set off as above described; they now enjoy the privilege of returning nine members to represent their interests in th assembly of the province, and have had leading roads opened and improved, which in a short time will add much to the value of real property in this important section. The settlements were only commenced in these townships between the years 1794 and 1803, but in Drummond, Megantic, and Shefford they are of a much later date. The first settlers, emigrants from the United States generally, penetrated into the wilderness and fixed themselves in places where they were often removed distances of from 40 to 60 miles from mills or neighbours, and without the convenience of roads unless Indian tracks, the only thread they had to guide their way through the intricacies and labyrinthes of the forest; but by perseverance and application, to which they were stimulated by a sense of the advantages they enjoyed in the quality of the soil, they at length surmounted the numerous obstacles and difficulties with which they had to struggle in this arduous undertaking. Times are now altered, and those who proceed to settle there can enjoy all the advantages of having the country already opened, leading roads through which is given a free access to the various benefits of commerce, a facility of obtaining provisions at hand until they can regale themselves with the fruits of their own industry, as also the advantage of a residence in the neighbourhood of farmers who from their own experience, are well acquainted with the plan of laying out and clearing a wooded country. South of Montreal, and west of the Chambly or Richelieu River, are the Counties of Chambly, La Prairie, L'Acadie, and Beauharnois. They are laid out in Seigniories, extept the townships of Sherrington, Hemmingford, Hinchinbrooke, and Godmanchester, lying near the Province Line, lat. 45, which divides this province from the State of New York. The townships have been generally colonized of late with emigrants from the United Kingdom, but the seigniories are almost wholly settled with French Canadians, among whom, however, are many British and American emigrants, particularly towards the south part of these counties. Farms, partially cleared are easily obtained; and also seignorual uncleared lands of a good quality. The climate, soil, and situation, are all favourable to industry: its vicinity to Montreal, (distances from various parts of from ten to thirty or forty miles,) and to the garrisons of Chambly, St. John's, and the Isle of Noix, renders it doubly so. This section of the country is intersected with many roads leading to Montreal and the United States. A number of Canadian villages and churches greatly ornament the face of the country, which is quite level with the exception of a few isolated remarkable lumps of rocks or mountains of peculiar formation which tend to diversify the scenery and render it attractive to the traveller's eye. Through a part of this tract, between Montreal and Lake Champlain, a Canal is contemplated, and a Rail road is already in progress. The County of Beauharnois has an easy access to Montreal by the St. Laurence, and Chateaugnay rivers. Though a great portion of this section is the most populous part of Lower Canada, it still presents many favourable situations to the enterprising settler. On the Island of Montreal, farms may be taken at an annual rent, and purchased on favourable terms; but near the city lands sell very high. The island is very fertile, and many British agriculturists are settled there on farms which they have either at a yearly rent or by purchase. It is somewhat triangular, being about 30 miles long by ten, where broadest, and is well settled throughout, having the advantage, of good roads intersecting it in every direction. Exclusive of the population of the city, which contains 30,000 souls, that of the island may be estimated at about 13,000. The City of Montreal is situated on the south east side of the Island, at the head of Ship Navigation on the St Laurence, in lat. 45, 31 north, and west longitude 73, 35; its situation being unrivalled for climate, trade, soil, or local advantages. A more minute description is considered here unnecessary. North of Montreal, in the county of Terrebonne and Lake of the Two Mountains, many British and American emigrants are favourably settled, especially in the seigniories of Terrebonne and Argentueil, St. Andrews, the township of Chatham, and the vicinity of the Ottawa River. It still offers many inviting tracts for settlement from 20 to 50 miles north and west of Montreal, with which it enjoys an easy communication by good roads and the Ottawa River. West of Montreal, and joining Upper Canada on the west, is the county of Vaudreuil; lying between the St. Laurence and Ottawa rivers. By roads from Montreal to Upper canada, passing through the county from east to west, as also by the rivers, there is free communication with that city, from which it is distant from 15 to 5O miles. This county is granted in Seignories, having only one Township,-Newton. The principal villages are Coteau du lac, the Cedars, and Vaudreuil. The land is generally good, and has many situations on which the agriculturist may speedily find himself amply remunerated for his pains. A number of emmigrants from the United Kingdom are settled in various parts, and are in possession of good productive farms; with other comforts which they enjoy, may be reckoned the advantage of a climate, if not better, at least equally good as that of any other part of the Lower Province. Northwest of Montreal, and on the north east bank of the Ottawa River, is the county of Ottawa; being a northwest Township county lately laid out, and northwest also of the county of the Lake of th Two Mountains. It has much good and productive land, as well as a large supply of valuable timber; from which is chosen a considerable portion of the timber exported from Quebec, adn is found to be of a superior quality. The settlements are confined to the bank of the Ottawa; the principal of which is Hull, and was commenced by Phileman Wright, Esq. who in this place, more than twenty years since, had to struggle with the inconvenience of settling in a wilderness far away from civilized society; but by active industry and perseverance surmounted every obstacle and at length effectually succeeded in showing the beneficial effects and advantages that can be derived from a steady course of application. The inhabitants, who amount to 2500, are emigrants from the United States and Great Britain, and are much employed in the timber trade. The Navigation of the Ottawa is improving, and is expected to be in a short time navigable for Steam Boats from Montreal to Hull; and in connexion with the Rideau canal, now nearly finished, will be navigable to the same sort of vessels through Upper Canada to Lake Ontario, &c. Along this line, and in this section of the province, are wide and encouraging fields, which afford to the emigrant full scope for the exercise of an enterprising spirit. With this county may be concluded the observations on the Lower Province, which it has been considered he may find of some use in directing him whither to turn his attention in choice of a resting place from his wanderings, before he can proceed to that actual expenditure of capital and labour from which he may expect to derive his future comforts; being well persuaded that if he cannot find situations to his taste and satisfaction in the parts noticed, he will find it difficult to please himself in Lower Canada. Besides the parts described, there are certainly other places in this province, which hold forth to the emigrant fair prospects, but these being thought fittest for him, have been described more minutely, with an earnest wish that this attempt may have the desired effect, in giving him correct information, and enabling him to make such a selection as will best answer the end for which he has, or shall have emigrated from his native country.SECTION IV. COMPARATIVE VIEW OF BOTH PROVINCES, WITH SOME FURTHER REMARKS ON THE UPPER. There are, no doubt, many emigrants who find that they have reasons of sufficient weight and importance to decide them in favor of settlements in tHe Upper Province. To as many a know their own reasons best, and have already given due consideration to the circumstances that should justly influence them not to confine their speculations to the Lower Country, it may be observed that it was not with the intent of forcing into a different channel from what they had marked out for themselves, the choice of such, that the cautions suggested to guard an inexperienced stranger from imposition and from being led astray upon his first arrival in America have been given; for convinced as the writer of these pages is, that there are very many who, from the time they first make up their minds to emigrate, have upon fair and rational grounds decided upon going at once to some part of the Upper country, and that there are others who may yet before they leave their own country feel it their interest to pursue the same course, he certainly does not presume that upon their determination should operate hints that are given only for the guidance of those who may be quite undecided whither to turn themselves, and have no reasons of their own sufficient to prevail upon them to give one province a preference beyond the other. But as it is not practicable to be equally minute in detailing the several particulars connected with the present state of Upper Canada, as with that of the Lower Province, in consequence of its not being so extensively settled or taken up for agricultural purposes, they who may feel disposed to make choice of some part thereof as the scene of the future industry and improvement, are referred to the more general description already given as also to what has been noted respecting the facilities of communication already established by roads, and the improvement of inland navigation. In the general view its peculiar advantages by reason of which many will think themselves warranted in preferring it to the Lower Province have been stated; where it has been observed that it is generelly a level country, and that the rivers have much good level water for boat and sloop navigation, even more so than Lower Canada. Another of its peculiar advantages there noticed, is the more moderate climate, a consideration which should often preponderate when put into the scale against other advantages by such as have regard to whatever is calculated in any measure to preserve to them the blessings of a sound constitution; but those who know how to estimate duly so valuable a possession as good health, should guard against fevers and ague, to which persons residing in the vicinity of lakes and swamps, especially in the south Western parts of the province, are exposed; against this inconvenience, however, we may set that arising from the fogs which often prevail towards the sea in the Lower province. It may also be observed that though in the latter province there is such a vast extent of good land that mnny years must roll over our heads before it can be all so taken up as to render it difficult for the newly-arrived colonist to settle himself to his satisfaction; however in the Upper the soil is more generally good and seldomer interrupted by veins of more inferior quality; and generally because it has not yet been so extensively cultivated, land is cheaper- a circumstance which of course deserves to be taken into account by those who have got but a very trifling capital; although, as has been already stated, whatever be the depth of a man's purse, he can meet no great difficulty in suiting himself in the lower province, and that before he has incurred the additional expense of travelling so much further up the country. To those also of the labouring class, if they can conveniently compass the expense of so long a journey, Upper Canada presents the encouragement of higher wages. It is hoped that because the substance of what is here given in this comparative view, of the relative advantages of both provinces has been already stated in former parts of these pages, it will not be considered superfluous in this place, as it has been considered necessary by presenting every thing in the most impartial light possible, to guard the reader against any misconception that it is by an excessive partiality for the lower province, the author has been induced to more minuteness in his account of it than of the upper. But though the present state of that province does not call for so much minuteness in describing settlements, villages, and various other particulars connected with its localities, some information may be given which the emigrant who may decide upon giving the preference to Upper Canada will find of use to assist him in his choice of a settlement. Those who seek the advantages of obtaining a speedy conveyance to the larger markets, for such commodities as they shall have to dispose of, and with equal dispatch to get in return whatever being indispensible to the agriculturist, is not to be found among the productions of his own farm, will find a settlement on the banks of lake Ontario, and not far removed from Kingston, a very desirable one, if they be possessed of capital sufficient to enable them to make a purchase, where a combination of so many advantages must render land very dear. Heretofore between this and Montreal, navigation has been much impeded and rendered dangerous, by the numerous rapids that are to be encountered in the St. Laurence; but this cause of complaint will not long exist, as by the great canal works noticed in the more general view of the province, steam boats will have a free and easy course to the Ottawa river, which joins the St. Laurence, within a few miles of Montreal, from which place to the Atlantic, the navigation is free from all manner of local interruption. Settlements formed along the Rideau canal, will be found to confer considerable advantages on their occupiers, from the connexion that it must establish, when completed, between foreign commerce and the agriculture of that country. Another circumstance that renders the situation a desirable one, is the opposite, but equally beneficial, effects which lake Ontario has on the temperature of both seasons; from its very great depth it is never frozen in winter, on which account, the neighbourhood, during that time, enjoys the benefit of a comparatively clement season; so, in summer, the breezes that pass over its surface, constribute greatly to cool the atmosphere. The same effects are, of course, to be expected from the other large lakes, upon the places immediately in their vicinity. But the Huron, a tract which extends over 1,100,000 acres, in the London District, besides the strong recommendation which it receives from the properties it possesses in common with other tracts, holds forth to a farmer of small capital, the additional inducement of cheap land; and even in that remote quarter, settlers who make choice of situations on the great lake of that name, are not cut off from the benefits of navigation, as it communicates with the Atlantic through lakes Erie and Ontario. Goderich, the chief town of this district, is situated where the river Maitland discharges itself into lake Huron, and from its many advantages, presents favourable prospects of rising to considerable importance. Several establishments, which must promote the interests of agricultural commerce in the surrounding tract, are here contemplated. It is true, that there are other parts where land can be obtained even cheaper than in, this tract; but this alone cannot be a consideration, sufficient to influence a judicious farmer to settle himself, where he must do it to the exclusion of more important advantages; and as this has met with the unqualified approbation of many persons of good judgment, by whom it has been explored and carefully examined, it may, for many reasons, be found such as will suit the circumstances of persons whose own inclinations would lead them to choose a remote settlement. The unsettled emigrant, who may expect to derive information of any value from the perusal, of these pages, (in which expectation, it is hoped, that he shall not find himself disapointed,) is now left, by a comparison and careful observation of what has been said, both generally and particularly of each province, to decide where a settlement may best suit his peculiar circumstances; and to him who has already decided upon the situation on which he purposes to plant himself, what is to follow may be found to convey no unacceptable information.HOW TO ASCERTAIN THE QUALITY OF LANDS. Next to the choice of situation, that which concerns a settler, before he should take any steps towards making a bargain, is to make himself acquaintedwith the quality of the soil; for which let him remember, in the first place, that when choosing land in a state of nature, he may commonly know its quality by the Sort of timber growing thereon. -Thus, a mixture of all kinds of hard and soft wood, (that is, evergreens and such as shed their leaves,) of a healthy growth, without too much underwood, has a corresponding good soil fitted for most sorts of agricultural productions. When the land is covered with firs or evergreen trees, called soft wood, they indicate a poor sandy soil, which is by no means to be recommended. The absence of all fir or soft wood, denotes a better quality, and if there be no timber growing on it but maple and beech, the soil is light and sandy. From a growth of large elm, maple, birch, oak, walnut, beech, basswood, and some hemlock, with little underwood, may be expected the best soil, if dry; but examination will satisfy the inquirer. Large tracts of flat land are often met with, covered mostly with tamarack or larch, where the upper soil is sandy to the depth of from eight to twelve inches on a substratum of marly clay, which, when cleared and drained is very durable and good, as deep ploughing brings up the clay and fertilizes the surface. Emigrants, however, seldom like to settle on such land, while the French Canadians generally prefer it, the largest tracts of this quality being found in the seigniories, near the St. Laurence, in Lower Canada. This sort is not susceptible of such speedy cultivation as the former kinds, it being generally necessary to drain it, and extract the roots of the trees, before it can be ploughed or cultivated to advantage; while, on the other hand, hardwood upland can be immediately cultivated the same year, after having cleared off the timber, without extracting the roots; or even beforehand, the crop often amply repaying the expense of clearing and bringing it to that state.DIRECTIONS RELATIVE TO THE OBTAINING OF LANDS -SECURING TITLES THEREIN- WITH SOME REMARKS ON THE SEVERAL KINDS OF TITLE, &C. Government heretofore adopted various methods in settling the waste lands, by several successive plans laid down for that purpose. A complement of land was given gratis to every settler, on certain conditions of settlement; but this is now no longer the case, as at present all the crown lands are sold on easy terms of payment. Officers and discharged soldiers, however, receive grants gratis, in the following proportions:- Privates, 100 acres; sergeants, 200; sergeant-majors 300; Subalterns 500; Captains 800; Majors 1000; and all higher officers 1200 acres. It is thought the British Government were led into the plan of selling land, from the comparative failure of the several other plans that had been previously adopted, and from a hope that such a system would tend to prevent the accumulation of large tracts in the hands of unimproving individuals. Commissioners for the sale of crown lands have been accordingly appointed in the several provinces, who keep offices for this purpose at the Seats of Government where all persons may purchase at a fixed rate, called "The upset price." There are also for the same purpose in various parts of the country, Agents appointed by these Commissioners. In several places, at certain periods of the year, "The upset price" being fixed by Government, lands are set up for sale and struck off to the highest bidder on any of the following conditions.-In the first place, to such as pay the full price, they immediately get from the Crown a direct title in free and common soccage for ever. Next, to those who pay down one fourth of the purchase the three other parts in annual instalments, free of interest: no right further than occupying it is given, until the whole purchase money is paid; and the land, if not paid for as agreed, may again be sold. Poor persons wanting 100 acres, or less, may have the same by paying down one year's interest on the amount of the purchase, and every other year doing the same till the principal shall have been paid up; the land being liable to revert to the Crown, if the interest be not punctually paid:-the purchaser may however, instead of continuing the plan of paying this way, clear up what may be still unpaid of the principal at any time convenient. Unless the whole of the purchase money be paid, no person can sell or transfer lands thus obtained, without the consent of Government, which is easily got if the parties wish, or appear to act uprightly. The emigrant may be able to effect a purchase of crown land on any of the conditions now mentioned, in Quebec, or in York, on his arrival in either province, and choose such terms as will best suit his views and circumstances, as the title obtained from tile crown is the best that can be' procured. To these offices therefore the settler is particularly referred, as by making himself there acquainted with the terms and some other particulars, it will give him a general idea of the value of lands in the several townships and their vicinities. The prices of Crown lands for the current year, (1832) in Lower Canada, in the townships open for sale, are as follows-In the townships of Stanbridge and Dunham ten shillings per acre. In Farnham, Stanstead, and Compton four shillings per acre. In Sutton, Granby, Shefford, Milton, Potton, Barnston, Clifton, Hereford, Eaton, Shipton, Windsor, Kingsey, Melbourne, Ely, Durham, and Upton, five shillings. In Bolton, Westbury, Newport, Wickham, Ireland, Leeds, Hallifax, and Inverness, four shillings. In Wendover, Caxton, &c. two shillings and six-pence. In the townships on the Ottawa river, and south of Montreal, five shillings. And in those of Stoneham and Tewkesbury, north of Quebec, four shillings. In other cases when the settler purchases land from private individuals, or from proprietors on an extensive scale, who are always met with in large towns, good titles may be had, but he will do well to have proper legal advice as to the manner of sale, security of title, &c. In the townships of Lower Canada, and in Upper Canada, offices are established for the registry of any incumbrance affecting real or landed property, and in such places secure titles may be easily obtained; otherwise, great caution is requisite in persons who are unacquainted with the laws and customs of the colony, as in a considerable extent of the settled parts of Lower Canada it is difficult to procure good or sufficiently secured titles to land. Partially cleared lots which would make desirable farms, may be had for ever in most settled parts; they can be procured in more easily, and on cheaper terms, than wooded land could be purchased for and afterwards cleared by a person who is a stranger to that business, and are more desirable to the British farmer who, by availing himself of such lots, would be at once able to settle and keep stock to farm with, and thus be the sooner in the actual enjoyment of comforts, and free from those inconveniences that are sometimes felt by those locating in the woods. In mnny cases such farms with from ten to thirty acres or more of cleared land, can be purchased for less money than wood land, adding thereto the cost of clearing, being put into that state by persons who prefer clearing to farming;, therefore to the settler who has got sufficient money for that purpose, such farms would be an advantage if the soil be good- on the contrary, if bad, the labour of clearing is thrown away, and his circumstances become the most uncomfortable. Bad land being harder to be cleared than good, which fulfils the old Yankee proverb, "it is like a bad horse, hard to be caught, and when caught, good for nothing." Another method of obtaining land, of which it may be necessary to apprise the settler, prevails in the Canadas. Persons advanced in life are often met with, who, either not having children, or having them already settled in life, desire to make their old age comfortable without labour. They will give their farms, implements, and stock, to an honest industrious person, who binds himself either to support them during their lives, or else may pay them a certain rent for the same term, upon the expiration of which, the tenant enjoys the whole without further payment. In such cases, he will do well to be cautious, and consult an honest lawyer on the form, conditions, &c. before he involve himself in what, if not properly secured, may ultimately prove to have been a severe burden. But if all things are found regular and fair, the acquisition of a cleared farm and stock by this means, would be a great advantage to the poor settler. It is common also to rent farms for terms of from one to seven years, longer leases not being frequently given; in such cases the yearly rent is from seven shillings and six pence to fifteen shillings per acre near the cities and large towns, and from five to ten shillings at a distance of from ten to twenty miles. Cleared farms are also frequently let on shares; that is, the owner of the farm stocks it with horses, cattle, agricultural implements, and half the seed necessary to be planted or sown; the tenant in return is to pay as rent half of the whole increase of the stock produced on the farm; being bound in all cases to cultivate it to advantage, and take all necessary care of its fences, and of such other matters as may require to be attended to. The Upper Canada Land Company, who have agents in Quebec, Montreal, and various other parts, have vast quantities of land scattered all over the upper province, besides the Huron Tract already noticed, which consists of 1,000,000 acres near Lake Huron, 600 miles above Montreal. Their agents will be able to inform the emigrant of their terms, and to show from surveys the various situations and lands to be disposed of, the quality of the soil and all other particulars connected with it, as well as the route to be taken by the purchaser. They give titles of the land they dispose of, in free and common soccage for ever. The lands granted by the British government, since the conquest of Canada from the French, which include almost the whole of the upper and the townships in the lower province, are granted in free and common soccage; by this tenure the owner is lord of the soil, which is not liable to any rent or charge whatever, mines only being reserved by the crown; and in this manner the land is sold and transferred from one to another, subject to no condition or reservation unless by mutual agreement. In Lower Canada that tract along both banks of the St. Laurence, from its mouth to Upper Canada, and extending back from the river from ten to twenty miles or more, having been granted by the French government before the conquest, is conceeded under a decription of title not familiar to the British settler; it shall, therefore, be described more particularly, as there are many desirable tracts of seignorial land, very favourably situated near the St. Laurence, and easily obtained. The substance of what follows on this head is taken from a work on Canada, by Colonel Bouchette, Surveyor General. The lands alluded to were conceded by the French king in Seigniories, Fiefs, or Baronies, according to the Feudal system. The Seignior holding the seigniory, fief, or barony, from the king as lord paramount for public settlement, each seignior as he comes into possession, and on the accession of a new sovereign, is obliged to do homage and fealty for his seigniory, and on all transfers or sales of the seigniory to pay to the king a quint or fifth part of the purchase, which, if paid instanter, causes a reduction of two-thirds; so that in fact the seignior was not much more than an agent to the king, to settle a portion of the country, and receive certain emoluments for doing so and taking care of the same. The seigniory is more or less in size from one to one hundred square miles in surface. The Seigniors are by law obliged to concede or lease lots, of about ninety acres each, of the seigniory to tenants or censitaires on certain conditions that are easy: the tenant has a lease for ever and pays for a lot from a halfpenny to a penny per acre yearly, with other trifling considerations which come to about the same. Latterly the seigniors have been charging more, whether legal or not, is not so clearly, ascertained. The seignior has the exclusive right to the grist mills on his seigniory, to which the tenants are obliged to give employment, by using them when they have any thing in that way to get ground the charge being one-fourteenth for grinding. Lands are also held on leases of from twenty to fifty years or more, subject to a very small rent, which titles are termed bail amphiteotique. Other lands are held by what is called Franc allen, a freehold similar to what is called free and common soccage, being exempt from all charges to any person but the king. Another sort of title is called censive, subject to a yearly rent in money or produce. All these that have been enumerated include the different forms of title granted in the seigniories. A most material privilege however belongs to the seignior or landlord of the seigniory, which is called lods et vente or part of the sales, being a twelfth part of the value of all farms sold from one to another on his seigniory, which every purchaser must pay; but a deduction of one-fourth is made for prompt payment. Thus, whenever a farm on a seigniory is sold, the seignior claims a twelfth of its value, which is a great draw back on industry; for if a person takes a lot worth 10£, and then expends on it 1190£, thereby making it worth 1200£, on the sale thereof the seignior claims 100£, to which he can have no equitable claim, though legal. Besides these privileges and emoluments to the seignior, he has the right also of droit de retrait, which is, that he can claim any farm sold by the tenant, within forty days after the sale, by paying the highest price for the same. He can also claim a tithe of all fish caught on the seigniory, besides being entitled to fell forest timber any where on the same for his house, mills, roads, public works, and the churches. Some seigniors have compounded for all their rights, unless lods et vente, by receiving a greater yearly rent, that is, from fifteen to twenty shillings per lot: The same remedy might be applied for lods et vent: also, and thus have justice done to all, by charging a yearly rent; and not suffering it to be as at present a tax on improvement. However, when the land is not sold there is no lods et vents to pay, which is only a grievance when a sale takes place. The French Canadians are generally partial to the seignorial titles, perhaps from habit, and in consequence of having them associated as they are with their laws and religion; the Roman Catholics, who occupy farms in the seigniories, are obliged to pay a tithe of one twenty-fifth, of all grain raised by them, to their own clergy, besides assisting to build and repair their churches, parsonages, &c. The seigniors to whom these seigniories belong, either live on them or have resident agents, who are always ready to concede lands, and give titles at once with scarcely any expense.CURRENCY OR COIN CURRENT IN CANADA. Before we proceed farther, it is necessary to inform the stranger, that the pounds, shillings; and pence, in these colonies, commonly called Halifax currency, are in value ten per cent below the pounds, shillings, and pence, sterling. Thus 100£ sterling is equivalent to 110£ currency. All the current gold, silver, and copper coins of Europe and America pass here in that proportion