248 LOWER CANADA, 



banks of great elevation, is remarkable for the depth and impetuosity 

 of its current. There is a fall of fifty feet about ninety miles from its 

 mouth. The impetuous torrent of this river, when the tide is low, is 

 sensibly felt in the St. Lawrence, which for the distance of many miles 

 is obliged to yield to its impulse. Its breadth is generally near three 

 miles, except near its mouth, where it contracts to one third of that 

 extent. An attempt has been made in the centre of its mouth, to 

 sound the depth with 500 fathom of line : but no bottom was found. 

 One and half miles higher, the depth has been ascertained at 138 

 fathoms, and 60 miles above it is near 60 fathoms. 



The other principal rivers of Lower Canada, are the Sorelle, which 

 discharges the waters of Lake Champlain into the St. Lawrence, near 

 the head of Lake Peter ; the Valiere, St. Francis, Chateogua and 

 Chaudiere, with several others, emptying into the St. Lawrence from 

 the south ; and Black, Montmorenci, St. Anne, St. Maurice, and Mas- 

 quinange rivers, with a great number of smaller streams, which dis- 

 charge into the St. Lawrence from the north. 



Lakes. ...The largest lake of this province is the Mistissinny which 

 is situated in lat. 57° N. long. 74° W. from London, and is 70 miles 

 long, by 60 broad. Lake St. John is situated in lat. 48° 30' N. long, 

 72® 30' W. from London. It is of an oval form, and is 35 miles long 

 and 25 broad. It discharges its waters at the eastern end, by two 

 streams which commence at the distance of five miles from each 

 other, and after forming a circle of about 30 miles diameter, unite in 

 Jong. 71° W. and give rise to the Saguenai river. Lake Abbitibbee, 

 the source of the river Outawas, lies in lat. 48° 45' N. and between 

 the 79° and 80° of W. long, from London. It is 40 miles long from 

 east to west, and 10 miles broad. Lake Temiskaming, lies about 

 100 miles S. W. of Lake Abbitibbee, and is formed by the river 

 Outawas. It is 36 miles long and of an irregular breadth not exceed- 

 ing 12 miles. Lake Peter is formed by the St. Lawrence, where it 

 receives the waters of the Sorelle in lat. 46° N. It is 21 miles long 

 by 15 broad. Lake St. Francis is situated in the S,W. corner of the 

 province, and extends into New York and Upper Canada. It is 43 

 miles long and 10 broad. 



Metals and minerals. ...Near Quebec is a fine lead mine, and in 

 some of the mountains, we are told, silver has been found. This coun- 

 try also abounds with iron and coal. A mine of the former is worked 

 on the Three Rivers, about nine miles above the town. 



Climate. ...Winter, in this country, continues with such severity 

 from December to April, that the largest rivers are frozen over, and 

 the snow lies commonly from four to six feet in depth ; but the air is 

 so serene and clear, and the inhabitants so well defended against the 

 cold, that this season is neither unhealthy nor unpleasant. The 

 Spring opens suddenly, and vegetation is surprisingly rapid ; the 

 summer is delightful, except that a part of it is extremely hot. The 

 cold in winter is not so severe as it was when the first settlements 

 were made. By observations taken in the island of Orleans, during a 

 course of 60 years, it appeared, that in that period the medium of cold 

 had risen eight degrees. The St. Lawrence has not been completely 

 closed, by the ice, at Quebec, since the year 1799. 



Soil and produce. ...Though the climate be cold, and the winter 

 long and tedious, the soil is in general very good, and in many parts, 

 both pleasant and fertile, producing wheat, barley, rye, with many 

 other sorts of grains/ fruits, and vegetables ; tobacco thrives ^ellj 



