45 



Oti the south side of this island is the city of 

 the same name, and its convenient port 580 

 miles from the gulf of St. Lawrence, to which 

 ships of 600 tons can ascend with very little 

 difficulty. On the north-west lies Isle Jesus^ 

 that, by its position, forms two other channels 

 of a moderate breadth, one called La Riviere 

 des Prairies, and the other La Riviere de St- 

 Jean ou Jesus ; they are both navigable for boats 

 and rafts, and unite again with the main river 

 at Bout de Tlsle, or the east end of Montreal 

 island. From this city the navigation assumes 

 a character of more consequence than what it 

 does above, being carried on in ships and 

 decked vessels of all classes; in the distance 

 from hence to Quebec (180 miles) the im- 

 pediments to vessels of large tonnage sailing 

 either up or down are not many, and may be 

 overcome with much ease, if it be judged ex-* 

 pedient that their cargoes should be so con- 

 veyed in preference to transporting them in 

 small craft. On either side the prospect is 

 worthy of admiration ; the different seigniories^ 

 all in the very highest state of improvement 

 that the agriculture of the country will admit 

 of, denote both affluence and industry ; the 

 views are always pleasing and often beautiful, 

 although the component parts of them do not 

 possess that degree of grandeur w^bich is per- 



