471 



real on one side, and by the southern shore of the 

 river down as far asTrois Pistoles, below the is- 

 land of Bic, on the other ; these houses are kept 

 under rules and regulations,estabhshed by autho- 

 rity of the parHament, and annually inspected 

 by a person who is appointed superintendant 

 of post-houses in the province, whose duty it is 

 to see that each station furnishes a sufficient 

 number of calashes in proper order, with good 

 horses for the public accommodation, and that 

 in each iiouse the regulations are conspicuously 

 posted up, so that every traveller may have an 

 opportunity of knowing that no imposition is 

 practised upon him, or how to obtain redress in 

 cases of extortion: should these rules be devi- 

 ated from by any of the post-masters, they are 

 subject to a pecuniary fine. The expense of 

 travellmg is generally one shilling a league dur- 

 ing the summer time, or fitteen-pence in the fall 

 of the year vvith a calash and one horse ; the 

 charges of tolls and ferries must be borne by 

 the travellers. The conveyance of the regular 

 mail, under the direction of the post-master 

 general, is a distinct concern from the post- 

 houses ; it is sent by couriers who leave Que- 

 bec and Montreal every day at four o'clock. 

 Both convenience and comlort are now consi- 

 derably increased by a stage-coach, that starts 

 from each city regularly, every day during the 



