34 TRANSITION STATE OF NEW BRUNSWICK. 



and the slow rate of travelling, would compel me to 

 devote some months longer to the work than I had 

 originally anticipated ; and, In order to complete It, I 

 was subsequently compelled to delay, to a future oppor- 

 tunity, my Intended ylsit to the more southern and 

 westernly portions of the American Union. 



The commercial, and I may say the entire Internal 

 and social condition of the province of New Brunswick, 

 is in a transition state ; and as all transitions occasion em- 

 barrassment and distress more or less general, wherever 

 they occur, It has been the fate of this province to suffer 

 a temporary check In Its progress. In consequence of this 

 transitlonary state of things. 



New Brunswick contains an area of eighteen millions 

 of acres, of which about five millions are at present unfit 

 for agricultural purposes. Its population is estimated at 

 two hundred and ten thousand. With twice the geogra- 

 phical extent of the province of Nova Scotia, it has still 

 a population about one-third less. It is therefore In a 

 considerable less advanced condition than the latter pro- 

 vince. Indeed, It was not till 1784 that It was separated 

 from Nova Scotia, and formed Into a distinct government. 



The earliest inland trade of these northern provinces 

 was confined in a great measure to the purchase, by way 

 of barter, of the furs of wild animals collected by the 

 native Indians In their hunting excursions. Next, and 

 as settlers increased, the timber, or lumber trade as it Is 

 called, sprang up, and an apparently Inexhaustible article 

 of export was drawn from the boundless forests which 

 stretched uninterruptedly over the entire surface of the 

 province. The cutting of the trees, and the haulage and 

 floating of them down the rivers, gave healthy employ- 

 ment to many men ; the raising food for these men called 

 agricultural industry into play; the export of the timber 

 employed shipping, and afforded the means of paying 

 for the British manufactures and West India produce 



