PROSPECTS OF PORTLAND. 229 



pean, these white houses and new towns, disguised with 

 fresh paint, have all so much the air of having just been 

 taken out of a bandbox or a toy-seller s shop, that he is 

 apt to see in them more signs of rapid and immediate 

 improvement than really exist. In an old town in 

 Europe, what is really new is easily distinguished, and 

 the rate of recent progress easily judged of. But this 

 criterion fails the traveller here, arid he must look closer, 

 and inquire more, if he would not exaggerate greatly 

 the tale of prosperity which these towns appear to tell. 



Portland in Maine, like St Andrews in New Bruns 

 wick, flourished formerly on the proceeds of the West 

 India trade. But here also, as at St Andrews though 

 &quot; Peel s Bill,&quot; which is said to have ruined St Andrews, 

 ought to have given greater wealth to Portland the 

 West India trade also failed, and checked the growing 

 prosperity of the place. But the construction of railways 

 east and west has recently revived it ; while that towards 

 the north and the St Lawrence, (the St Lawrence and 

 Atlantic railroad from Montreal to Portland,) and the 

 expectation of becoming through it the outlet of the 

 trade of the Canadas, hold out an encouraging prospect 

 of a large future increase to the commerce of the port. 

 Boston, Portland, and New York, are now rivals for this 

 Canadian commerce, and are running a race with each 

 other, which of the three shall first have a railway opened 

 from the Atlantic to the banks of the St Lawrence. The 

 shortest of the three routes from Montreal to the Atlantic 

 is by Portland, and this place will certainly receive its 

 share of the transit trade of both Upper and Lower 

 Canada ; but the natural outlet by the St Lawrence, if 

 the Canadians are true to themselves, will by-and-by 

 swallow the lion s share of the intercourse of these coun 

 tries with Europe, in spite of all the railways and canals 

 which have yet been projected. 



Dec. 28. Leaving Portland by the railway at 8J A. M., 



