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Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Hidward’s Island. In 
1870 the Dominion bouglit the vast territories of the Hudson 
Bay Company—the most important step they ever took—and in 
1871 British Columbia joined the Dominion, which had thus its 
boundaries extended from ocean to ocean. This last addition 
embraced 340,000 square miles, an area equal to Belgium, 
Holland, Italy and France combined. The most striking 
features of Canada were its waters and woods, the slope of the 
land being so gradual that the waterways afforded unusual 
facilities for transport. A large and important extent of country, 
namely, from Winnipeg westward to near the Rocky Mountains, 
was, however, characterized by the absence of wood, and this 
was the land of promise not only for the Dominion but in some 
respects for this country as well. The climate in winter, 
especially towards the eastern portion of the belt, was very 
severe; but towards the west it became much milder, and in 
this portion cattle could be kept without artificial shelter on the 
natural grasses growing in many parts knee deep all over the 
prairie. The western portions also yielded an unequalled field 
for the growth of wheat. Many farmers from Ontario were 
selling their farms and moving westward, and if, as was hoped, 
it was found practicable to run a line of rail to Port Nelson and 
to ship wheat thence to this country the development of that 
region would probably be rapid in the extreme. Incredible as it 
seemed, those fine lands, within 24 miles of the railway line, 
were being given away by the Government to every able-bodied 
male who would occupy and cultivate them—160 acres were 
given free, while a further like extent might be purchased at 
the rate of ten shillings an acre. As to the trade of the 
Dominion the last year’s returns gave a total of imports at 
£26,000,000 and exports £20,000,000, and close as Canada was 
to the States, as yet the larger share of trade was with the 
mother country. Like the great nation on their borders they 
were attempting to foster their national manufactures at the 
expense of the bulk of the people by heavy import duties, but 
the bad effects of this policy now followed for thirteen years had 
already begun to show themselves. An interesting description 
of the vast railways and some of the celebrated public buildings 
in Canada was then given, and Dr. Brown proceeded to speak of 
the visit of the British Association during the past summer. 
At Montreal no effort had been spared to make the visit a 
pleasant one. For the benefit of those who did not know how 
the British Association meetings are conducted, he stated that 
they lasted a week. The evenings were occupied by the intro- 
ductory address of the president, two scientific lectures, and 
one popular lecture to working-men; the two remaining evenings 
being devoted to entertainments of a social nature. During the 
