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LETTER X. 



Of the caufes of the exceffive cold in Canada. Of 

 the refources it affords for the fupport of life. 

 The character of the French Canadians. 



Montreal^ April 2 id> 1721; 



Madam> 



IT is furprifing, that in France, where they fo 

 often meet with perfons who have fpent great 

 part of their lives in Canada, they lhould have fo 

 imperfect a notion of the country. This undoubt- 

 edly proceeds from this, that the greateft number of 

 thofe, to whom they apply for information, are ac- 

 quainted only with its bad fide. The winter com- 

 monly begins before the veflels fet fail in order to 

 return to France, and always in fuch a manner as to 

 aftonifh every one except the natives of the place. 

 The firft frofts in a few days fill the rivers with ice, 

 and the earth is foon covered with fnow, which con- 

 tinues for fix months, and is always fix feet deep in 

 places not expofed to the wind. 



It is true there is no want of wood to guard a- 

 gainft the cold, which very foon becomes extreme, 

 and encroaches greatly on the fpring : but it is, how- 

 ever, fomething extremely mocking, not to be able 



to 



