164 MEMOIR OF DR. HARVEY. 



CHAPTER VIII. 



TOUR IN THE UNITED STATES. 



Dr. Harvey sailed from Liverpool in the Europa, to Halifax, 

 where he landed on the 24th of July, 1849, after a fair passage 

 of ten days, and was warmly welcomed by his old Cape friend 

 Mr. E., with whom he took up his quarters during the few days 

 of his stay, which were chiefly spent in exploring the neigh- 

 bouring country and in dredging for seaweeds. 



He describes the shores of Nova Scotia, as seen from the 

 deck of the steamer, to be not unlike some bleak parts of the 

 north of Scotland, save that instead of the Scotch fir, the hills 

 are clothed with the dark conical spruce. " Such wooding," he 

 says, " has a very sombre appearance, and, in cold weather, must 

 be the quintessence of bleakness. The shore itself much 

 indented, with rocks and islands scattered about." His journal- 

 letter thus proceeds: — 



" The harbour of Halifax itself, though there is nothing grand 

 in the scenery about it, has much beauty, besides being, as you 

 know, one of the most capacious and secure in the world. 

 There is a long entrance from the sea; a narrow bay, bordered 

 by spruce-clad hills, and at the far end you see the town, 

 standing on a projecting tongue of land. None of this is the 

 harbour proper, which lies behind the town, completely shel- 

 tered from storm, while the approach, owing to the form of 

 ground, may be strengthened to any extent, and has been 

 strongly fortified. There is an island a little way down in the 

 middle, a sort of Spike Island, placed exactly in the spot for a 

 'position (of defence). The town lies along the shore on a suc- 

 cession of hills, and is overlooked by a large and strong citadel 

 crowning the highest hill. It is built entirely of wood, and has 



