PREFACE. Vll 



Great Britain. In the province of New Brunswick 

 I spent four months, and travelled two thousand 

 miles — penetrating to the confines of the settled land 

 in nearly every direction. I owe it to the province, 

 therefore, to make its own inhabitants, not less than 

 those of Great Britain and of the United States, 

 better acquainted with the real character and capa- 

 bihties of its surface. In this respect, I believe the 

 following pages will form a historical document to 

 which future provincial antiquaries will turn back 

 for a description of the state of their country in the 

 middle of the nineteenth century. 



Some persons in the United States, and perhaps 

 not a few at home, may be inclined to controvert the 

 opinions I have expressed in regard to the agricul- 

 ture and to the productive capabiHties of the wheat 

 regions of North America. I will not maintain that 

 more knowledge might not somewhat change my views 

 on these subjects ; but as these form in reality one 

 of the points in my book upon which I have bestowed 

 much deliberation, I have not put them upon paper 

 without being fully satisfied that they are substan- 

 tially correct. It will not alter these opinions, that 

 some American writers may dissent from them. My 

 own experience has shown me, that the areas in 

 regard to which individuals in the United States 

 possess really correct and precise agricultural infor- 

 mation are very local and limited; while the majority 

 are insensibly inclined to give faith to exaggerations 



