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two countries both in summer and winter : dur^ 

 ing the latter season a very brisk intercourse 

 takes place by means of sleighs travelling upon 

 the frozen surface of the lakes and rivers. Be- 

 fore the war the timber trade was carried on 

 here to a great extent; and most probably 

 with the return of peace will resume its former 

 activity. A large proportion of the inhabitants 

 resident here are American emigrants, who have 

 sworn allegiance to the British government ; 

 some of them keep the best inns of the place, 

 and are proprietors of the stage coaches that 

 travel regularly from hence to La Prairie on 

 one side, and to the states of Vermont and 

 New York on the other. Fort St. John, on the 

 west bank of the Richelieu, is of an irregular 

 figure, and is an old frontier post; but little 

 can be said in favour of its construction, or of 

 the defences that surround it, as they are merely 

 field works strengthened by pallisades and picket- 

 ings ; within the fort are about twenty houses, 

 including public storehouses, magazines, &c. 

 Being so near the frontier, it is a post of much 

 importance; latterly a strong force has been 

 kept at it, and the works placed in a very ef- 

 fective state of defence. The oflScer who com- 

 mands here is charged with the superintendance 

 of the more advanced posts on this line, from 

 whence he receives all military reports, and 



