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them in canoes. In the spring, when the 

 stream is increased by the freshes, small decked 

 vessels can sometimes get up from the St. 

 Lawrence as high as the village, but this 

 cannot be depended upon, as the entrance is 

 obstructed by a sandy bar, upon which craft 

 drawing two feet water frequently strike in 

 the summer or dry season: it is called the 

 .Batture aux Sables. The scenery on both 

 banks is varied and beautiful in many places, 

 but especially on the north-east side it is par- 

 ticularly interesting: in passing down the St. 

 Lawrence, the front of the seigniory presents a 

 prospect peculiarly pleasing, as bordering on 

 that river the wood is pretty thick, with several 

 clear intervals, through which the settlements 

 and the village are seen in different points of 

 view to the greatest advantage. A little above 

 the village is the college of Nicolet, founded 

 about ten years ago, and maintained in its in- 

 fancy by the liberality of the Catholic Bishop 

 of Quebec. It stands on a spot well calculated 

 by the natural beauties of its situation to assist 

 the views of so excellent an establishment. 

 The building is on a simple, unostentatious, 

 but convenient plan, possessing all requisite 

 accommodation for the director, masters, and 

 seventy pensioners. This institution is entirely 

 for instruction, and since its foundation has 



