AME- British had, in another direction; overpowered General ICA. Washington, and possessed themselves of Philadelphia. General Vaughan, also, having sailed up Hudson's river, litical burnt the Dutch settlement of Kingston, on the western Moral side.

ites.

tale. On the 30th of January, 1778, a treaty of alliance was ated concluded between France and America, which induced the English ministry instantly to send over commisy with sioners to attempt a reconciliation with the revolted colonies; but their efforts were without success. Howe returned to England about this time, and the command devolved on Sir Henry Clinton.

In the beginning of the year 1780, an expedition, under the British Generals Clinton and Lord Cornwallis, was undertaken against Charlestown, which, in six weeks, was captured, General Lincoln and the whole American garrison being made prisoners. Lord Corn. wallis afterwards pursued his successes, and marched victoriously through the southern states. General Arnold, in the same year, treacherously attempted to deliver up West point and the army to the British, in the absence of Washington; but the plan was frustrated by the taking and execution of Major Andre, aid-de-camp to Clinton, who was employed in the negociation. In March 1781, a severe battle was fought between Generals Greene and Lord Cornwallis, in Carolina, in which, though the British triumphed, they suffered a tremendous loss. About the end of August, Count de Grasse arrived in the Chesapeake, and blockaded the British troops at York town. Washington had previously moved the main body of his army, together with the French troops who were his auxiliaries, to the south; and hearing of the arrival of the French fleet, he advanced to the head of the Elk, by rapid marches, where he embarked his troops for York town. The combined forces of France and America now carried on a vigorous and close siege, till, on the 19th of October, er 1781, Lord Cornwallis was obliged to surrender; and, in a few months, the British having evacuated all their posts in South Carolina and Georgia, and retired to the main army in New York, a foundation was laid for the establishment of a general peace. This most desirable event took place soon afterwards, the provisional articles being signed at Paris, in November 1782, and these articles ratified by a definitive treaty on the 3d of September, 1783. Thus, after a fluctuating conflict of seven years, the independence of the United States of America was solemnly acknowledged, and a basis laid upon which succeeding events have been rearing, and future ages will doubtless complete, the superstructure of one of the most important empires of the globe.

lis.

After so extraordinary a contest, it is not surprising that some years should elapse, and some internal commotions prevail, before a generally acceptable constitution for the government of all the states in union, could be framed and adopted. The federal constitution had, however, been received by all the states, in January 1791, though at different periods and by different majorities. Delaware, New Jersey, and Georgia were unanimous. On March 3, 1789, the delegates from the eleven states which had then ratified the constitution, assembled at New York, and, on the 30th of April, Washington was inaugurated president of the United States, in the Federal Hall, and in the presence of innumerable spectators. He has been since followed in

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the presidency successively by Mr. Adams, Mr. Jeffer- N. AMEson, Mr. Maddison, and Mr. Monroe; and eight other states have been added to the Union.

and Moral State.

British

In the preceding sketch of the present situation Political and resources of the most important portion of the North American continent, our geographical details of North America, generally, will be found to embrace all the great features of the geography of the United Possessions. States; what remains of this will receive our particular attention in treating of the respective states of the Union, which will be inserted in their alphabetical order in this Division. The article UNITED STATES, toward the close of the work, will afford us a convenient opportunity to mark the further progress of this colossal empire, and to exhibit a correct summary of its entire character.

CHAPTER II.

BRITISH POSSESSIONS IN NORTH AMERICA.

The possessions of Great Britain in North America are of considerable extent, but of very inferior population. Of British-born subjects the number is exceedingly small, the chief part being French and natives; and, while the population of the United States rises, as we have seen, to ten or eleven millions, the whole amount of the population of our remaining colonies on the western continent has been stated as scarcely amounting to three hundred thousand.

TIA.

These colonies may be most conveniently regarded as comprising the four provinces of UPPER CANADA, LOWER CANADA, NEW BRUNSWICK and NOVA ScoNew Britain, or the entire district round Hudson's bay, together with the island of Cape Breton, are included in the government of Lower Canada; as are the islands of St. John and Newfoundland in that of Nova Scotia. But the troops at Newfoundland are under the military command of the Governor-General of the four provinces, who resides at Quebec.

UPPER AND LOWER CANADA. Of these possessions, Upper and UPPER and LOWER CANADA hold decidedly and by far Lower Cathe most important rank; these provinces, comprehend- nada. ing the whole of what was originally called New France, or French Canada, as ceded to Great Britain by the French in the treaty of Paris, 1763, are bounded on the N. by Hudson's bay, East Maine and Labrador; on the S. by the United States; on the E. by Labrador, the bay of St. Lawrence and New Brunswick; and on the W. by lake Winnipeg, and its confluent streams. From its extreme boundary, the gulf of St. Lawrence in the E. to the Winnipeg lake in the W., this district stretches over the North American continent from 64° to 97° W. longitude, comprehending about 1,200 geographical miles; and its extreme breadth, from lake Erie in the S., or N. lat. 43°, to Hudson's bay, in 51°, is about 480 geographical miles. Its mean breadth, however, does not exceed 200 miles. The division of this country into the two provinces of Upper and Lower Canada took place by an act of 31 Geo. III.; they are separated from each other by the river Utawas, or more accurately by a line which commences on the north bank of lake St. Francis, in the river St. Lawrence; runs thence in a northerly direction to the

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N. AME- Utawas river, and then due north till it reaches the boundary of Hudson's bay. All the territory to the westward and southward of this line, is comprehended Political in Upper Canada, having for its capital the town of and Moral York, on the river Don. Lower Canada lies on both sides of the mighty stream of the river St. Lawrence; British having for its capital the city of Quebec, which may, in Possessions. fact, be regarded as the metropolis of the British possessions in this part of the globe.

State.

Waters, falls, &c.

Falls of Montmo

renci.

Chaudiere.

WATERS, FALLS, &c.-Of the waters of this portion of North America, we have already described that chain of lakes, or inland seas, which forms their principal feature, viz. lakes Winnipeg, Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario. The minor lakes are too numerous to detail in a general view of this continent, The river St. Lawrence, before it reaches lake Ontario, passes through those of St. Pierre, St. Louis, St. Francis, and the Lake of a thousand isles; westward of lake Superior are found many other inferior, but fine sheets of water, which are also scattered through the whole centre of the country, in a line eastward from lake Winnipeg to Quebec. To the whole aspect of Lower Canada, the St. Lawrence affords many striking and interesting scenes. For 400 miles from its mouth, this river flows between lofty eminences, covered with the foliage of immense forests, and supplying to it numerous tributary streams. It occasionally branches into several distinct currents, leaving clusters of fruitful islands between them, or large single islands, as in the neighbourhood of Quebec, and is the grand outlet to the ocean for the productions of all that extensive line of country which lies between the United States and Hudson's bay. The trade of the western territory of the United States themselves has, indeed, no equally convenient channel to the Atlantic. The Utawas, or boundary river, between the upper and lower provinces, is the largest of all the streams connected with the St. Lawrence, and flows from the central waters of the country southward into that river, connecting several of the smaller lakes. The Niagara river (chiefly distinguished by its celebrated falls) runs from the eastern border of lake Erie, and discharges itself, after a course of thirty-six miles, into lake Ontario.

In addition to the falls of Niagara, described (p. 398), Lower Canada contains those of Montmorenci, formed by a river of this name, about five miles N. of Quebec, near its junction with the St. Lawrence. The fall itself is a perpendicular cataract of about 220 feet, and the breadth of the torrent about 50 feet. The majesty and beauty of the whole scene is said to be inconceivable, except to the actual spectator as he approaches the foot of the stream. The waters of the fall, from their excessive height, appear to be of a snow-white foam, and are enveloped with vapour and mist, the cone of which is about 100 feet in height, of an apparently regular mathematical shape, with its base extending nearly

across the stream.

The beautiful falls of the Chaudiere are also situated in Lower Canada, and are about four miles from the junction of the river of that name, with the mighty stream of the St. Lawrence, five miles above Quebec. The rush of the waters is heard at a considerable distance before the falls themselves are visible. They commence at a rocky point projecting across the river, and are crowned with a single cedar-tree. When in full

view, the river, which is about 240 yards in breadth, N. AM is seen to precipitate itself above 100 perpendicular RICA feet over a red clay-slate, forming the bed of the fall, intermingled with thin layers of grey stone, Politics which yield a brownish tinge to its waters. Part of and Mor this stream falls over a ledge of rocks, forming an State, oblique angle to the main channel, and producing a Briti smaller cascade. A wall of granite about six feet in Posse height and three in breadth, nearly on the line of the falls, bursts through the strata forming the bed of the river, and runs across them in a straight line, until broken through by the lesser fall. The scenery which surrounds the whole is grand and imposing; the stately woods and extensive streams exhibiting nature in all her primeval loveliness, and almost in unequalled majesty.

The falls of Shawinnegamme, in Lower Canada, occur Shawie in the river St. Maurice, and are approached by as- game. cending up that river, the navigation being frequently impeded by dangerous rapids. The falls are first perceived rushing down about 100 feet into a dark sombre nook; but the torrent does not appear to be perpendicular in its descent. It is divided by an islet, or mass of rocks, and its total width may be estimated, perhaps, at 60 yards. The rocks at the foot of the falls are covered with trunks and large branches of trees, which are worn round and smooth, as if they were turned in a lathe, by the action of the torrent.

MOUNTAINS. Immense branches of the Rocky Mountai mountains stretch into the Canadian provinces from the W. They completely encircle lakes Winnipeg and Superior, and separate the waters that fall into them northward and southward, advance along the course of the St. Lawrence, and again divide the tributary streams of that river from those which fall into Hudson's bay. They are characterized by all the boldness and ruggedness of what may be called their parent stem in the W., and are interspersed with the same variety of lofty plains, immense woods, and waters of every shape and name. The mountains and highlands in the vicinity of Quebec are principally composed of a grey rock-stone on a base of lime-slate, which is sometimes impregnated with grey and black glimmar and quartz, fibrous gypsum, and pierre au calumet (so called from its being principally used as an ornament both by the French and Indians at the head of their calumets, or tobaccopipes). Some iron-ore has been discovered in the neighbourhood of the Three rivers, where works for the smelting and manufactory of it have been formerly erected, and copper and lead are found in small quantities in Lower Canada, but the mineralogy of these provinces has been but little explored. At St. Paul's, about 54 miles below Quebec, it was once thought that some veins of silver-ore had been opened, but it was afterwards discovered to be only a superior kind of lead. The copper has appeared principally on the southwestern shores of lake Superior.

CLIMATE.-Canada, from its extreme cold in the Climate winter months, has been called the Siberia of England; and the heat in summer is said to be as excessive as the cold is in winter. Mr. Weld asserts that Fahrenheit's thermometer has been known to stand at 96° in the months of July and August, and in winter that the quicksilver generally freezes. In November, the snow begins to fall; in December the frost sets in, and the

Moral

tate.

AME atmosphere, by its purifying influence, is free from a ICA. cloud or vapour during several weeks. The cold weather reaches its utmost severity in the month of litical January, and is sometimes so intense as to seize upon any exposed part of the persons of strangers. The inhabitants themselves are compelled, by the severity of ritish the frost, to cover almost their whole bodies with skins essions. and furs to protect them when they go abroad upon their ordinary business. The ice begins to thaw in the river St. Lawrence about the commencement of May, and passes on into the Atlantic with surprising velocity when dissolved. Spring immediately follows this gloomy winter, and is itself as soon succeeded by summer. As a proof of the extreme fertility of the soil in summer, the wheat, which is sown in May, is said to be sometimes reaped at the latter end of July. Such a climate is likely to be capricious in its favours; and when various species of fruits have disappeared at Montreal, they have been found in full season at the short distance of Quebec.

table

C

VEGETABLE PRODUCTIONS.-In Lower Canada, the thin soil is particularly well adapted for the growth of various kinds of grain, and the Indian maize is cultivated in abundance. Tobacco for private use is also grown here, but it is not cultivated as an article of commerce; indeed there is not sufficient for the home consumption of the inhabitants. All kinds of European fruits and culinary vegetables arrive to great perfection in Canada during the summer heats. Raspberry, currant, and gooseberry trees flourish in luxuriant fulness; the first is indigenous here, and occasionally to be found in the woods in a wild state. There is also a sort of indigenous vine, but the grapes are small and

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and Moral State.

British

acid. The woods and forests abound in oak, elm, N. AMEbeech, ash, pine, sycamore, walnut, and chesnut trees; and in almost every part of the country the sugar maple tree thrives exceedingly well. The maple which is Political extracted from the sap of this tree is the only raw sugar which is used in the Canadian villages. ANIMALS.-The zoology of Canada very much resembles that of the United States of America, and its Possessions. chief singularities, according to Mr. Pennant, are the moose-deer, and that extraordinary animal the beaver. The puma and lynx are said to be found in various parts of the country, and the rein-deer is to be seen in the northern districts. Of birds, the only curious species to be mentioned is the humming-bird, sometimes found in the vicinity of Quebec. That formidable reptile the rattlesnake infests both the Canadas.

&c.

POPULATION, MANNERS, &c. The population of Population, this country has been a subject of much dispute. The manners, fact is, it has been exposed at one time to the severest visitations of war, and all the discouraging circumstances arising from a change of masters; and in latter years, from emigration hither, and the peculiar attention of the British government, it has increased, as in the case of its neighbours, the United States, with an almost incredible rapidity. According to a census taken by the orders of General Murray in 1765, the number of inhabitants, exclusive of the king's troops, was 76,275; previously to this period the population appears to have been on the decline. By another census, taken in 1783-4, they amounted to 113,012, making an increase of 36,737 in eighteen years, and the entire statistical accounts of these two periods have been thus compared:

This is the last census of which the douments have been given to the public. Mr. Heriot computed the entire population of Upper and Lower Canada, at the publication of his work (1808), at 250,000; and M. Bouchette, in 1814, estimates the native Canadians only, "descendants of the original French settlers," at 275,000; perhaps, therefore, the true population (including the British, and all who live upon the soil), may be taken from this number to nearly 300,000 souls. The generality of the French Canadian peasantry resemble the people of old France in vivacity and gaiety, and their very features strongly proclaim their French extraction. The sharp, unchangeable, angular linea ments of the French countenance, are seen set off with a blue nightcap, the hair tied in a leather queue, and a short pipe in the mouth. It is, however, observed, that the manners, of those parts of Canada which border upon the United States, very much partake of the sullenness and taciturnity so characteristic of much of their inferior population. The French language is universally, but not purely spoken; and the use of English is confined to the small number of British colonists.

In

Literature is at a very low ebb, the bulk of the popu lation being involved in ignorance and superstition, and the willing dupes of every sort of priestcraft. Lower Canada, the expences of the civil list are reckoned at -20,000l. per annum, one-half of which is defrayed by the British government, and the other half by the province, out of the duties arising from the importation of spirituous liquors, wine, sugar, molasses, coffee, tobacco, salt, cards, &c. &c. In Upper Canada, the expence of the civil list is not computed at more than one-fourth of that of the lower province. In both provinces the military establishments, together with the repairs of fortifications, are thought to cost the British government 100,000l. per annum. The like sum is expended upon provisions and presents to the Indians in Upper Canada; the entire annual cost to Great Britain of maintaining this province, has been taken at about 500,000/. sterling.

TRADE AND COMMERCE. The commerce of the Trade and Canadian provinces has rapidly increased within the commerce. last thirty years, prior to which it was of little consideration. The mercantile men are mostly British ad

and Moral State.

N. AME- venturers, though several Americans of the same deRICA. scription have lately settled at Montreal. At Quebec there are ship-building establishments, which are supPolitical plied with iron-work from the interior, and cordage and rigging from England. The East India and British manufactured goods imported annually into Canada, British average about 250,0007.; tea and tobacco are the Possessions. principal imports from the United States, with whom the whole amount of the import trade may be taken at about one-half of that of Great Britain. The imports from England principally consist of earthenware, hardware, household furniture, woollen, linen, and cotton manufactures, haberdashery, and hosiery of all sorts,

and

Stal

besides stationary, leather articles, grocery, wines, N. Al spirits, all kinds of West India produce, cordage, and RIC the coarse articles of iron manufacture. In some parts of Canada, manufactures of coarse linen goods and of Pol woollen cloths are carried on, but Great Britain supplies most of these articles. The principal exports from Canada consist of various kinds of furs, pelts, B wheat, flour, biscuit, timber, lumber of all sorts, dried Pa fish, oil, genseng, and different kinds of medicinal drugs. The returns of the exports and imports for 1808 and 1810, extracted from Thompson's Alçedo, will give the most correct view of the general state of the commerce of these provinces.

The number of shipping that cleared out from Quebec in 1808, amounted to 334; and were laden principally with timber, pot-ash, pitch, tar, and turpentine; wheat, flax-seed, staves, &c. The tonnage was 70,275, and the number of seamen 3,330. The greatest part of these vessels were sent by government, the usual supplies from the Baltic being in a great measure cut off by the war with Russia and Denmark, and the importations from the United States being totally stopped by the embargo. The advantage, therefore, of Great Britain deriving her supplies of hemp, as well as every other description of naval stores, from Canada, cannot for a moment be doubted. Even in time of peace, they would encourage and enrich the British colonists, and the competition in the market with the

productions of the United States, and the N. parts of Europe, would inevitably tend to lessen the expences of our navy and commercial marine. From the account of the exports and imports of Canada for the year 1810, Mr. Thompson presents us with the following data:

Exports, 1810.-170,860 bushels of wheat; 12,519 barrels of flour; 16,467 quintals of biscuit, 112 lbs.; 18,928 bushels of peas; 866 ditto of oats; 8,584 ditto of flax-seed; 33,798 pieces of oak timber, about 24,000 loads; 69,271 ditto of pine, about 50,000 loads; 137 ditto of walnut, maple, &c.; 6,977 masts and handmasts; 678 bowsprits; 3,354 spars, principally red pine; 3,887,306 staves and heading, 3,000,000 standard; 47,515 stave-ends; 312,423 pine boards and planks; 13,623 handspikes; 30,301 oars; 167,398