50 Jolin Bachr.ian. 



yet a frontier, the time is not far distant, when it 

 will contain a busy, enterprising population. 



Tell our little Maria that if she will trace our 

 journey on the map, and give us an accour^t of all 

 the rivers, where they rise and where they empty, 

 and tell us the number of inhabitants in the towns, 

 I shall bring her a fine present. 



I have just received a visit and a rec[uest, that T 

 should preach in the Presbyterian Church, as the 

 minister is absent, I cannot refuse. 



Kiss all the children for me, and love to tliB 

 wdiole row of friends, J. B. 



Montreal, Lower Canada, 



August 1st, ]827. 



I will have much to tell you about Canada, be- 

 sides some trifles of Indian manufacture to give you 

 on my return. The difference between the Upper 

 and Lower provinces is very great, both as it regards. 

 the face of the country, and its inhabitants. In Up- 

 per Canada, you find a soil and people similar to 

 that of the United States, under the same latitude. 

 In Lower Canada, you appear at once to have fallen 

 upon a strange land and people. There is some- 

 thing peculiar in the Canadian character. Thosa 

 who are nearly descended from the French are a 

 lively, thoughtless set, careless of to-morrow ; and 

 particularly the boatmen are indifferent of fatigue, 

 and appear to be happy in their ignorance. 



In Montreal, there are several things that strike 

 the attention as peculiar. Their streets are very 

 narrow ; houses of a dull and gloomy appearance, 

 built of stone, covered with tin, and their doors of 

 sheet iron. This was a fashion in ancient days, 

 when, in the time of the Indians, every man's house 

 was his castle Iho grey stone houses art^ 



