480 



ilie opposite bank, extending up the river, 

 is highly cultivated, and the houses, thickly 

 strewed by tlie main road, from this height 

 and distance have the appearance of an almost 

 uninterrupted village, as far as the eye can 

 reach in that direction. The country to the 

 southward rises by a very gentle ascent, and 

 the whole view, which is richly eiiibellisiied by 

 alternations of water, woodland, and cultiva* 

 tion, is bounded by remote and lofty moun- 

 tains, softening shade by shade until they melt 

 into air. Whoever views the environs of Que* 

 bee, with a mind and taste capable of receiving 

 impressions through the medium of the eyes, 

 will acknowledge, that, as a whole, the prospect 

 is grand, harmonious, and magnificent ; and 

 that if taken in detail, every part of it will 

 please, by a gradual unfolding of its picturesque 

 beauties upon a small scale. 



The Island of Orleans, below Quebec, di- 

 vides the River St. Lawrence into two chan- 

 nels; it is about twenty miles long and five 

 broad ; was granted as a seigniory on the 15th 

 January, 1636, to the Sieur Castellon: it is at 

 present divided into three ^distinct properties, 

 belonging; to Madame Drapeau, Monsr. Pou- 

 lain, and Monsr. Le Comte Dupre; it also 

 forms the county of Orleans. This island, 

 next in size to that of Montreal, approaches it 



