BRITISH AMERICA. 243 



century all knowledge of Greenland seems in a great degree to have 

 been lost. In 1720, however, Hans Egede, minister of Vigen in 

 Norway, conceived the idea of going in search of the remains of the 

 ancient colony, if any existed ; and having, with some difficulty, pro- 

 cured an approbation of his plan from the court of Copenhagen, went 

 to Greenland, where he continued till 1735, preaching the gospel to 

 the natives, and making many converts. His example was followed 

 by several other missionaries; and about thirty years afterwards the 

 Moravians began their settlements here, which were chiefly in the 

 south-west part of the country. Denmark now claims this part of 

 Greenland, and a company is established at Copenhagen, which sends 

 thither three or four ships every year. 



East Greenland, or Spitzbergen, was for a long time considered as 

 united to, and a part of West, or Old Greenland, but is now known 

 to be a cluster of islands, lying between 76 and 80 degrees of north 

 latitude, and 9 and 24 of east longitude, and is generally referred to 

 Europe. It was discovered, according to some, by Sir Hugh Wel» 

 loughby, in 1553, or, as others suppose, by the Dutch navigator Ba- 

 rentz, in 1596. It obtained the name of Spitzbergen (or craggy moun- 

 tains) from the height and ruggedness of its rocks. The mainland 

 or principal of these islands, is about 300 miles in length from north 

 to south. The few vegetables and animals are nearly the same with 

 those of West Greenland. The mountains and islands of ice present 

 the same appearance ; and the whale fishery is carried on along the 

 coasts. The Russians claim this dreary country, and maintain a kind of 

 colony here from Archangel. The inland parts are uninhabited, 



RRITISH AMERICA. 



UNDER the general name of British America is comprehended 

 the vast extent of country bounded on the south by the United States 

 of America and the Atlantic Ocean ; on the east by the same ocean 

 and Davis's Straits, which divide it from Greenland ; extending, on 

 the north, to the northern limits of the Hudson's Bay charter, and 

 westward indefinitely : lying between 42 and 70 degrees of north lati- 

 tude, and between 50 and 96 of west longitude. 



British America is now divided into six provinces, viz. 1, Upper 

 Canada ; 2, Lower Canada, to which is annexed New Britain, or the 

 country lying round Hudson's Bay and Newfoundland ; 3, New Bruns- 

 wick, originally included in Nova Scotia ; 4 } Nova Scotia ; 5, Cape 

 Breton, and 6, St. Johns. 



The British colonies in North America are under the superinten- 

 dence of an officer styled the governor-general of the British pro- 

 vinces in North America, who, besides other powers, is commander 

 in chief of all the British troops in the provinces, and the govern- 

 ments attached to them. Each of the provinces has a lieutenant-go- 

 vernor, who in the absence of the governor-general has all the powers 

 requisite to a chief magistrate. 



The number of inhabitants in the whole of these northern Eritish 

 -olomes has been estimated at about 350,000. 



