COLD WINDS FROM THE SEA. 17 



road runs, are cleared of wood on the side next the sea. 

 Perhaps it was natural for the settlers so to clear them ; 

 but this circumstance also shows how much evil may arise 

 from a little want of consideration and forethought. The 

 open view of the sea, and the pleasant sea-breeze, are 

 delightful in summer ; but, in winter, the north-east wind, 

 sweeping along the ice of the bay, comes up piercingly 

 cold to the houses and land on the elevated shores, and 

 the stock and family of the farmer both suffer. Hence the 

 clearings in the woods those of the second tier of farms, 

 for example, which have the uncleared land of the first 

 concession between them and the sea are, as it is gra 

 phically expressed on the spot, a whole greatcoat in 

 some places, a greatcoat and a pea-jacket in others, 

 warmer than those by the sea. The importance of shelter 

 to the crops we raise, and to the animals we feed, is now 

 recognised and acknowledged by all improving agricul 

 turists. In no part of the world is it more necessary 

 that this importance should be borne in mind, than when 

 the winds of the Gulf of St Lawrence rush up the bays, 

 and beat upon the shores of North America. 



Twenty miles from Bathurst we reached the house of 

 a Mr Ritchie, at New Bandon, where I and my two 

 travelling companions had been taught to anticipate 

 comfortable accommodation. There are no inns along 

 this road, but things are in that unsatisfactory transition 

 state in which the traveller is received into a house as a 

 great favour, and is afterwards expected to force into the 

 hands of an unwilling host double the usual bill paid at a 

 comfortable and willing hotel. We had considerable diffi 

 culty in getting into this house at all 5 and then we were 

 at first offered one bed for the three, and finally were 

 favoured with a shake-down in addition, on which I 

 passed a very comfortable night. Our host was a farmer 

 and a magistrate, and had we been made welcome we 



VOL. II. B 



