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posite direction it sinks almost to a level with 

 the river. Three Rivers ranks as the third town 

 in the province, but compared with either of the 

 others it is small indeed, containing only about 

 320 houses, with a population not much exceed- 

 ing 2500 souls. It sends two members to the 

 provincial parhament. In the year 1618 some 

 French colonists began building this place, with 

 a view of making it a depot from whence the 

 fur trade mioht be carried on with the Indians 

 to the northward ; their plan experienced at 

 first many flattering indications of success, but 

 after Montreal was founded, and had so in- 

 creased as to be able to defend itself against 

 the attacks of the natives of the country, it was 

 supposed to be a situation better suited to this 

 improving traffic, and was consequently pre- 

 ferred ; from that period Three Rivers, being 

 greatly neglected, did not much enlarge either 

 its extent or population. About the beginning 

 of last century, however, it began again to en- 

 tertain hopes of rising into some consequence 

 by opening the iron mines at Saint Maurice ; 

 but they proved nearly as delusive as the for- 

 mer, and up to the present time its improve- 

 ment has been upon a very moderate scale. 

 The trade carried on here is chiefly in British 

 manufactured goods, that from hence are plen- 

 tifully distributed through the middle district 



