252 LOWER CANADA. 



near Montreal. These, with a few Indians in the neighbourhood or 

 St. Regis, at the head of lake St. Francis, constitute the principal 

 part of the aborigines of Lower Canada. 



Chief towns... .Quebec, the capital, not only of Lower Canada, but 

 of all British America, is situated at the confluence of the rivers St. 

 Lawrence and St. Charles, or the Little River, about 360 miles from 

 the sea. It is built on a l'ock, of black lime slate. The town is 

 divided into an upper and a lower ; the houses in both are of stone, 

 and built in a tolerable manner. The fortifications are strong, though 

 not regular ; and added to the natural advantages of the situation, 

 render Quebec one of the strongest fortresses in the world. The 

 town is defended by a regular and beautiful citadel, in which the 

 governor resides. The number of inhabitants has been computed at 

 15,000. The river, which from the sea hither is four or five leagues 

 broad, narrows all on a sudden to about a mile wide. The haven, 

 which lies opposite the town, is safe and commodious, and about five 

 fathoms deep. The harbour is flanked by two bastions, that are rais- 

 ed 25 feet from the ground, Which is about the height of the tides at 

 the time of the equinox. The principal public buildings of this city 

 are, the Catholic cathedral church, the Jesuits' college, the Catholic 

 seminary, the monastery of the Recollets, the protestant metropoli- 

 tan church, the court house, the Hotel Dieu, a charitable institution 

 for dispensing medicines to the poor, the convent of the Ursulines, 

 the bishops palace, public hospital, arsenal, goal, &c. In most of these, 

 no great degree of taste or elegance can be discovered, although 

 much labour and expense must have been bestowed on their con- 

 struction. 



From Quebec to Montreal, which is about 170 miles, in sailing up 

 the river St. Lawrence, the eye is entertained with beautiful land- 

 scapes, the banks being in many places very bold and steep, and 

 shaded with lofty trees. The farms lie pretty close all the way ; 

 several gentlemen's houses, neatly built, show themselves at inter- 

 vals, and there is all the appearance of a flourishing colony ; but there 

 are few towns or villages. The country resembles the well settled 

 parts of Virginia and Maryland, where the planters live wholly within 

 themselves. Many beautiful islands are interspersed in the channel 

 of the river, which have an agreeable effect upon the eye. After 

 passing the Richelieu islands, the air becomes so mild and temperate, 

 that the traveller thinks himself transported to another climate ; but 

 this is to be understood of the summer months. 



The town called Trois Rivieres, or the Three Rivers, is about half- 

 way between Quebec and Montreal. It is situated upon a point of 

 land, near the confluence with the St. Lawrence, of the stream from 

 which it derives its name. It extends about three quarters of a mile, 

 along the north bank of the former. The surrounding country is 

 flat, and fertile in corn, fruit, &c. The soil is composed of sand, mixed 

 with black mould. In the mouth of the stream, there are two islands, 

 which divide it into three branches, and hence it has acquired the name 

 of the Three Rivers. This town was formerly much resorted to by 

 several nations of Indians, who, by means of these rivers, came hither 

 with various kinds of furs and skins, to trade with the inhabitants. 

 The natives have, however, for some years past, discontinued these 

 visits The town contains a convent of Ursulines, to which is adjoin- 

 ed a parochial church, and an hospital. It sends two members to the 

 assembly. 



