47 



within the province ; at this place the tide 

 ceases entirely, and, indeed, is not much felt 

 at several miles below it : from hence there is 

 scarce any variation in the general aspect of 

 the St. Lawrence until arriving at the Richelieu 

 rapid (about 52 miles), where its bed is so 

 much contracted or obstructed by huge masses 

 of rock, as to leave but a very narrow channel, 

 wherein at ebb tide there is so great a descent, 

 that much caution and a proper time of the 

 ebb is necessary to pass through it ; at the end 

 of the rapid is a good anchorage, where vessels 

 can wait their convenient opportunity. From 

 Montreal, thus far, the banks are of a very 

 moderate elevation, and uniformly level, but 

 hereabout they are much higher, and gradually 

 increase in their approach to Quebec, until 

 they attain the height of Cape Diamond, upon 

 which the city is built. At this capital of the 

 province and seat of government there is a 

 most excellent port and a capacious bason, 

 wherein the greatest depth of water is 28 fa- 

 thoms, with a tide rising from 17 to 18, and at 

 the springs from 23 to 24 feet. From whence^ 

 and from Point Levi on the south shore, one 

 of the most striking panoramic views per- 

 haps in the whole world offers itself to notice; 

 the assemblage of objects is so grand, and 

 though naturally, yet appear so artificially con- 



