IN NORTH AMERICA. 85 



On the southern side of this Province, where it meets the Atlantic, the old 

 fishermen universally report the effects of uplifting at certain places where they 

 have been wont to anchor their nets and boats in pursuing their avocation. Off 

 the harcor of Halifax, and Sambro Lighthouse, a submarine elevation appears to 

 be advancing. A few years ago a steamer was wrecked in breakers six milea 

 south of the lighthouse, after a gale of wind : breakers at that place were un- 

 known before. Recent soundings also show a shallowing of the water. 



Cape Breton. — In the Island of Cape Breton, situated at the entrance of the 

 Gulf of St. Lawrence (and which the writer had an opportunity to explore 

 under the patronage of the late noble Earl of Dundonald), several upheavings 

 and depressions of the land were observed, not dissimilar to those already men- 

 tioned. Among the latter is that of the ancient city of Louisburg, which forms 

 an interesting feature in Colonial history. This place was once the stronghold 

 ©f France in America, and has one of the finest harbours in the world. It was 

 well fortified : and a population of 20,000 souls was contained within its walla. 

 It was taken from the French by 4000 provincial troops, under Colonel Pepper- 

 all, in 1745. Afterwards Great Britain restored it to France. In 1758 it was 

 again captured by General Amherst. The place was defended by 3000 men 

 six ships of the line, and five frigates : in this action the brave General Wolfe 

 won an early distinction. The inhabitants of the city were dispersed ; and the 

 British Government expended £40,000 in blowing up the fortifications. The 

 ■city is now occupied by six families of poor fishermen ; two stories of the hospi- 

 tal remain, as do the foundations of the Governor's house and other public build- 

 ings, with much of the massive masonry of the bomb-proofs and bastions. 

 Among the ruins are seen fragments of exploded shells and other missiles, ming- 

 ling with the crumbling bones of the killed. Had Louisburg continued to exist 

 up to the present time, its abandonment would not have been the less certain, 

 for the sea now flows within its walls and overflows sites that were formerly 

 inhabited. Its submersion is plain and distinct. The rock upon which General 

 "Wolfe landed has nearly disappeared. The waves break against the south wall 

 which they have undermined and thrown down. The higher parts of the fortress 

 afford shelter for sheep ; but each succeding tide flows freely into the northern 

 Bide of the deserted city. The lands westward also bear testimony to an exten- 

 sive submergence. 



Prince Edward's Island. — The fertile Prince Edward's Island is situated in the 

 Gulf of St. Lawrence, fifty miles eastward of the Province of Nova Scotia. It 

 is composed of red sandstone ; no workable strata of coal have been found 

 within its limits. Of several sinkings of the earth noted by the writer during 

 his geological survey of the island, one of them merits attention as being more 

 recent than any other that met his observation. It is situated between Lennox 

 Island and Cascumpec, a deep and well-sheltered harbour. The sea has hero 

 thrown up mounds of sand from the shallow water, which are separated from 

 the mainland by lagoons. The lagoon between Richmond Bay und Cascumpec 

 is upwards of thirty miles in length. Cascumpec lagoon is a beautiful sheet of 

 water, eighteen miles long and a furlong in breadth, abounding in shellfish and 



