BRITISH COLONIES

IN

NORTH AMERICA.

CANADA.

ང་ལ་་་་

PUBLISHED UNDER THE DIRECTION OF

THE COMMITTEE OF GENERAL LITERATURE AND EDUCATION
APPOINTED BY THE SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING

CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE.

LONDON:

PRINTED FOR THE

SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE;

SOLD AT THE DEPOSITORY,

GREAT QUEEN STREET, LINCOLN'S INN FIELDS,

AND 4, ROYAL EXCHANGE; AND

BY ALL BOOKSELLERS.

PREFACE.

.

THE sketch of the History and Topography of Canada, her past and present condition, and future prospects, contained in the following pages, had its origin in the want of some such manual experienced by the writer when in the Colony, and expressed by him to the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge.

As, therefore, it has been compiled principally as a hand-book for the emigrant and settler, it in some measure partakes of the utilitarian spirit that prevails in the western world, and has been arranged rather with a view to usefulness than amusement.

To those, however, already resident in the Colony, or about to become so, this will not perhaps prove its least recommendation, for that which is really useful cannot but be interesting; and it is presumed that it will