479 



never fails to turn with regret from the contem- 

 plation of what is allowed to be one of the most 

 superb views in nature. Nor is it on this side 

 only that the attention is arrested; for turning 

 towards the bason, which is about two miles 

 across, a scene presents itself that is not the 

 less gratifying for being made a secondary one : 

 it is enlivened by the ever changing variety of 

 ships coming up to and leaving the port. On 

 the right hand. Point Levi, with its church 

 and group of white houses, several other pro- 

 montories on the same shore clothed with lofty 

 trees ; in front, the western end of the beauti- 

 ful and picturesque island of Orleans, displa}^- 

 ing charming and well-cultivated slopes down 

 almost to the water's edge, backed by lofty 

 and thick woods, and every where decorated 

 by neat farm-houses, present altogether an in- 

 teresting and agreeable subject to the observer : 

 in fine still weather, the reflects of the diiferent 

 objects around the margin, in all their variety 

 of colouring, are thrown across the unruffled 

 surface of the water with an almost incredible 

 brilliance. On the plains of Abraham, from 

 the precipice that overlooks the timber-grounds, 

 where an incessant round of activity prevails, 

 the St. Lawrence is seen rolhng its majestic 

 wave, studded with many a sail, from the 

 stately ship down to the humble fishing-boat ; 



