to North America^ 1 1 



LETTER Ill- 

 Dated at Quebec May iy. 1684. 



Containing an ample Defcription of the City of 

 Quebec, and of the ifland of Orleans. 



SIR, 



BEfore Ifet out for Monreal, I had the curiofity 

 to view the Ifland of Orleans, which is feven 

 Leagues in length, and three in breadth : It ex- 

 tends from over againft Cape Tourmente, to within 

 a League and a half of Quebec, at which place the 

 River divides it felf into two branches. The Ships 

 fail through the South Channel ; for the North 

 Channel is fo foui with Shelves and Rocks, that 

 the fmall Boats can only pais that way. The Ifland 

 belongs to a General Farmer of France, who would 

 make out of it a thoufand Crowns of yearly Rent, 

 if himfelf had the management of it. 'Tis fur- 

 rounded with Plantations, that produce all forts of 

 Grain. 



Quebec is the Metropolitan of Ncw-France^keing 

 almofta League in Circumference; It lies in the 

 Latitude of 47 Degrees, and 12 Minutes. The 

 Longitude of this place is uncertain, as well as that 

 of feveral other Countries, with the leave of the 

 Geographers, that reckon you up 1200 Leagues 

 from Rocbel to Quebec, without taking the pains to 

 meafure the Courfe : However, I am fure that it 

 lies but at too great a diftance from France, for the 

 Ships that are bound hither; For their paffage com- 

 monly lafts for two Months and a half, whereas 

 the homeward bound Ships may in 50 or 40 days 

 failing, eafily make the Belle Ifle, which is the fu- 



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