206 



and the population, which amounts to 3000 

 souls, there are certainly but few possessions in 

 the province superior in value to this one. 



Beloeil (the seigniory of), on the north- 

 west side of the Richelieu, in the county of 

 Surrey, is bounded to the westward by the 

 seigniory of Chambly, to the eastward by that 

 of Cournoyer, to the southward by the river, 

 and to the northward by lands stretching to the 

 rear of the seigniory of Cap St. Michel and 

 the adjoining small fiefs, and which form an 

 augmentation to Beloeil; its dimensions are 

 two leagues in front by one and a half deep ; 

 the augmentation is nearly of the same super- 

 ficies. The principal grant was made, January 

 18, 1694, to Sieur Joseph Hertel, and the ac- 

 cessory one, March 24, 1731, to Sieur de Lon- 

 geuil. The Baroness de Longeuil is now pro- 

 prietor of both. The land of this tract is good, 

 resembling in its varieties that of Chambly, hav- 

 ing some patches of as rich a soil as any in the 

 district of Montreal. On the border of the 

 river and the eastern side the settlements are 

 numerous ; about three-fourths of the whole 

 being in cultivation. The uncleared parts af- 

 ford some beech, maple, and birch timber, but 

 more of spruce fir, cedar, and inferior sorts. 

 The north-eastern part is well watered by the 

 little river Beloeil, that flows into the Richelieu, 



