Statistical Account of Upper Canada. 9 



sured hlni the dust could be obtained in great abundance, 

 nnd that ne:;t vear he would return to Amherstburgh with 

 a larger quantity. 



A society has been formed for the encouragement of the 

 commerce and agriculture of the province ; and the legisla- 

 lure, last year, voted 400 /. to procure a philosophical appa- 

 ratus, to be placed in the most populous and central district; 

 a crant of liJOOZ. was also made for the improvement and 

 making of roads. When it is considered that the popula- 

 tion does not exceed -lOjOOO souls, so liberal a disposition 

 in the provincial legislature is certainly calculated to im- 

 prove the character of the people, who may be described, 

 at present, as a composition of all nations, kindred, and 

 tongues. The Dutch farmers are eminently distinguisht;d 

 for their industrious inclinations, but the settlers frou) the 

 United States are the refuse of their own country ; they ar-3 

 nevertheless, however, excellent axe-men, and wondertuiir 

 active in clearing the forests. The French of Upper CaiUiLJ.i 

 are an indolent and thoughtless race j their attention is only 

 exerted towards objects of amusement, and they appear but 

 slightly affected by that kind of ambition which incites the 

 rest of mankind to improve their condition. The Scutch 

 Highlanders can hardly yet be regarded in any respect dif- 

 ferent from their well known character in Britain. 



Religion. — The established religious discipline ot Upper 

 Canada is that of the English church. The clergy are go^ 

 verned by the bishop of Ouebec. Their salaries, however, 

 {ire paid by the state, as the lands allotted for ecclesiastical 

 purposes are still inadequate to support them. By thia miidq 

 of paying the clergy, those parochial feuds, which so often 

 disgrace the priesthood elsewhere, are prevented. Exclusive 

 of the allowance from government, the Missionary Society 

 gives' a small stipend, which makes the amount of the sa- 

 lary to each minister about 200 /. per annum. It would be? 

 improper to dismiss this article without noticing a very ex- 

 traordinary innovation on the tything system, which 1ms bcja 

 made by the British government. Instead of ihe tenth of 

 the produce, a teutU part of the land in every alloi!i>'.'ni is 



rescrvcj 



