81 



tained so much attention as it was imagined 

 they would. A very large track of fertile coun- 

 try on their side of the border is thickly settled 

 and in high cultivation; the industry of its in- 

 habitants always insures a large disposable 

 stock of the fruits of their labours, which the 

 vigilance and invention of a speculative dis- 

 position will not fail to discover means of trans- 

 ferring to the readiest market, in despite of 

 enactments that are no less disagreeable than 

 disadvantageous. By fostering this intercourse, 

 Canada would always secure a vast addition of 

 articles of the first necessity, in aid of its own 

 surplus produce, to meet a great increase of its 

 export trade, were that trade relieved by the 

 British government from some of the impe- 

 diments thrown in its way b}' existing regu- 

 lations that are highly favourable to American 

 commerce. 



The principal exports from the Canadas con- 

 sist of new ships, oak and pine timber, deals, 

 masts, and bowsprits, spars of all denominations, 

 staves, pot and pearl ashes, peltrv^, wheat, flour, 

 biscuit, Indian corn, pulse, salt provisions, fish, 

 and some other miscellaneous articles, employ- 

 ing generally about 150,000 tons of shipping. 

 In this enumeration, the articles of primary 

 consequence to England are the growth of the 

 forests, whether considered as the source of 



G 



