[bourixot] builders OF NOVA SCOTIA 16S 



The population may now be fairly taken at three millions. 



For the rate of increase in the Canadas, I avail myself of two lectures 

 of the Rev. Adam Lisle, before the Mechanics' Institute, Toronto, in February, 

 1S52, in which, with much research and aibiliity, the Rev. gentleman has 

 triumphantly vindicated Canadian as compared with United States progress. 



A single passage will serve my present purpose :— " Taking Canada as a 

 ■wthole, its population has increased from 60,000 to 1,582,000 In seventy years."' 

 Hence, in 1850, it was over twenty-six times wliat it was in 1760 ; more, con- 

 siderably, than two and a half tLmes what it wlas in 1825, when it numbered 

 5S1,657." 



Thus the increase in twenty-five years is over a million, or about sixty- 

 eight per cent, in ten years. We have seen that the present decimal increase 

 of the United States is thirty-three and a haJlf— much beneath that of Canada. 



Looking foT'ward for a quarter of a century, the population of the North 

 American Colonies may be assumed to reach over seven millions, and in 

 another quarter to be pressing on to eighteen millions. 



As to territory, we have but again to look to the miap to perceive that 

 vast as is the extent of the United States, the British domain exceeds it,— 

 and although much of this large territory lies in the inhospitable region of the 

 north, yet morejthan enough for accumulated millions of people remains of 

 lands of the best quality for settlement. The extent of the several Colonial 

 limits I have already stated ; and beyond Canada to the west onward to 

 the Pacific and Vancouver's Island lies a vast country destined to be the 

 home of multitudes. 



Aware that a gentleman aimong us, distinguished by hisi benevolent regard 

 for the aboriginal inhabitants of Nova Scotia, and hiis earnest efforts to pre- 

 serve from destruction our river fisheries, had, under the influence of an ener- 

 getic spirit, an enquiring mind, and the indomitable zeal of an ardent and 

 scientific sportsman, crossed the American continent and visited the coasts 

 of the Pacific, I sought iniformaltion from him as regards the country to which 

 I have last alluded. 



Although his observation has been chiefly confined to the United States 

 side of the line, yet he crossed over to Vancouver's Island, and had some know- 

 ledge of the coast of the British territory extending to the northward. 



Captain Cheamley, whom the Committee will recognize as the gentleman 

 to whom I have made reference, has kindly favoured me with information 

 wihich cannot fail to be interesting. At Vancouver's Island the SQil is good, 

 and the country in every way adapted for settlement— the vegetables were 

 of superior size and quality, and he witnessed the importation of cattle, 

 intended to be turned out for breeding, and there coal abounds. 



Nisqually, at the south-east extremity of the Straits of St. Juan de Fuca, 

 was highly esteemed for sheep farming, and he there saw an establishment of 

 the Hudson Bay Company at which was probably not less than 3,000 sheep, 

 tended by men from the old country. 



The salmon fishery was of boundless productiveness, and fish of great size 

 were ordinarily sold by the Indians for the most insiignificant price — a leaf 

 of tobacco purchasing a large eajmon. From what he saw of the Oregon 

 territory, wheat of the finest quality is grown, and forests of magnificent pines 

 abound, he had no doubt that across the line on the British side of the country 

 which he did not visit, would present similar characteristics. 



But, sir, it is needless to pursue these observations. The Crown of England 

 possesses territory enough in North America to occupy centuries in filling up, 

 and to give space for many national communities. ' 



Confining ourselves to «what has been allotted to the Provinces, the field 

 is large enough to exercise the most ardent imagination in the visiion of the 

 future. 



In view of the increase and trade of the Colonies the facts are more than 

 sufficient for the argument. 



