*; ( m ) 



between two iflands, which Teemed to have been 

 planted by the hand like fo many orangeries? 



With refpeet to the profpecl:, it cannot be called 

 beautiful at this ieafon. Nothing;; can be more dii- 

 mal than that univerfal whiteneis, which takes place 

 in the room of that vait variety of colours, the 

 greateft charm of the country, than the trees which 

 prefent nothing to the view, but naked tops, and 

 whofe branches are covered with icicles. Further,, 

 Madam, the lake of St. Francis is in this country, 

 what the Loire is in France. Towards Quebec the 

 lands are good, though generally without any thing 

 capable or affording ple'afure to the fight ; in other 

 refpe&s, this climate is very rude; as the further 

 you go down the river, the nearer you approach to 

 the north, and confequently the colder it becomes. 

 Quebec lies in 47 deg. 56 min. The Three Rivers * 

 in 46 deg. and a few minutes and Montreal be- 

 tween 44 and 45 ; the river above lake St. Peter 

 making and winding towards the fouth. One 

 would think therefore, after paffing Richelieu iflands, 

 that one were tranfported into another climate. The 

 air becomes fofter and more temperate, the coun- 

 try more level, the river more pleafant, and 

 the banks infinitely more agreeable and delightful. 

 You meet with iflands from time to time, fome of 

 which are inhabited; and others in their natural 

 fcate, which afford the fight the fined landfkips in 

 the world \ in a word, this is the Touraine and the 

 Limagne of Auvergne, compared with the countries 

 of Maine and Normandy. 



The ifland of Montreal, which is, as it were the 

 centre of this fine country, is ten leagues in length 

 from eafl to wed, and near four leagues in its great- 

 er!: breadth , the mountain whence it derives it name, 



and 



