48 



trasted with each other, that they mingle sur- 

 prise with the gratification of every beholder. 

 The capital upon the summit of the cape, the 

 river St. Charles flowing for a great distance 

 through a fine valley abounding in natural 

 beauties, the falls of Montmorency, the island 

 of Orleans, and the well cultivated settlements 

 on all sides, form together a coup d'oeil that 

 might enter into competition with the most ro- 

 mantic. At the basin the St. Lawrence is two 

 miles across, and continues increasing in breadth 

 until it enters the gulf of the same name, where, 

 from Cape Rosier to the Mingan settlement on 

 the Labradore shore, it is very near 105 miles, 

 wide. A little below the city is the Isle of 

 Orleans, placed in the midway, consequently 

 forming two channels; the one to the south is- 

 always used by ships ; the shore on that side is 

 high, and on the opposite, in some places, it Is 

 even mountainous, but in both extremely well 

 settled, and the lands in such a high state of 

 improvement, that a large track in the vicinity 

 of Riviere du Sud is familiarly called the gra-- 

 nary of the province. Beyond the island of 

 Orleans are several others, as Goose Island, 

 Crane Island, and many smaller ones; these 

 two are tolerably well cultivated, but the rest 

 are neglected. At Riviere du Sud the great 

 river is increased to eleven miles in width, and 



