53 



describing the distance and direction to these 

 friendly spots : these establishments were made 

 in the year 1809, the humane intention of 

 which will be honoured wherever it is made 

 known, because the crews of vessels driven on 

 shore here have, sometimes, at the utmost 

 peril of their lives, forsaken them to make their 

 escape to Gaspe. Anticosti forms no part of 

 the province of Canada, but is at present within 

 the government of Newfoundland. With the 

 powerful conviction upon my mind of the great 

 estimation the river St. Lawrence ought to be 

 held in, from presenting itself as the outlet, 

 designed as it were by nature to be the most 

 convenient one for exporting the produce of 

 these two extensive and improving provinces, 

 the country stretching to the north-west nearly 

 to the Pacific ocean, and even the adjacent 

 parts of the United States^ which, in defiance 

 of prohibitory decrees, will find an exit by this 

 channel, I have, it is feared, exposed myself to 

 a charge of being prolix in wishing to convey- 

 to others a clear conception of its importance ; 

 yet I must still trespass upon the patience of 

 my readers long enough to mention that the 

 observations hitherto made apply only to one 

 part of the year; and also to notice, that 

 from the beginning of December until the 

 middle of April, the water communication is 



