Notice of the Peninsula of Michigan. Sls 
ants of French descent constitute near a third part. They 
occupy sections of the shore from Lake Huron to Lake Erie. 
Their farms, adjacent to Lake St. Clair and river Detroit, are 
in narrow zones, commonly less than three acres in breadth, 
and extend back from the shore three-miles, with rarely more 
than twenty acres in depth of tillable surface. This strip of ta- 
ble land is elevated from fifteen to thirty feet above the water, 
and generally descends westwardly toa dense wet forest, but in 
open places, extensive swampy meadows occupy the rear of ~ 
the farms. In the soilcultivated, clay predominates, embracing 
calcareous ingredients, Good water is rarely found by sink- 
ing wells in these banks of clay. The inhabitants rely on the 
neighbouring lake and passing stream. 
The French are indifferent farmers, but their ungrafted or- 
chards produce much geod fruit. ‘The dwellings are plea- 
santly situated near the water, a road intervening, and com- 
mand beautiful lake and river views, bounded to the east by 
the Canadian Peninsula. For upwards of fifty miles, with the 
exception of a few wet uninhabitable tracts, an almost con- 
tinued village is presented. The fences are a rude picketing 
of poles. ‘The ride on the banks of Lake St. Clair, and river 
Detroit, is one of the most agreeable in the western region. 
The Canada shore presents a similar range of French occu- 
pants: the elevation -of the banks, soil, and face of the 
back country adjacent, much the same as in Michigan. Au- 
tumnal fevers are very prevalent in this part of Canada. 
The population in Michigan and Canada, of French descent, 
are deficient in information and enterprise, and have much oc- 
casion for moral as well as intellectual improvement. 
Though the interior of Michigan remained, until lately, un- 
occupied by whites, and almost unknown to the French 
residents on the shore, yet Detroit is one of the oldest western 
settlements, being occupied by a colony iu the year 1670. 
This city is pleasantly situated ona ridge that rises gradually 
from the river, about thirty feet above its level. J’umerous 
dwellings of the French inhabitants, located with good taste, 
occupy the margin of the stream in the vicinity ef Detroit. 
The principal street runs on the flat summit parallel to the 
river. It is wide, extensive, and well built. This city is fast 
rising to importance, from the rapid settlement of the interior. 
Its healthy and pleasant site, the depth and safety of its har- 
hour, and its location between great navigable waters, give it 
