595 



streams, and some of great size, that flow both 

 into Lake Huron and into the Ottawa River, 

 but none of them have been sufficiently traced 

 to admit of being delineated on any map* 

 Timber in almost every variety is found in the 

 greatest profusion; the oak, beech, walnut, 

 ash, hickory, maple, elm, pine, sycamore, birch, 

 and many other sorts, are of peculiar excellence, 

 and of capital dimensions. The cUmate is so 

 particularly salubrious, that epidemic diseases, 

 either among men or cattle, are almost unknown ; 

 its influence upon the fertility of the soil is more 

 generally perceptible than it is in Lower Ca- 

 nada, and supposed to be congenial to vegeta- 

 tion in a much superior degree. The winters 

 are shorter, and not always marked with such 

 rigour as in the latter ; the duration of the frost 

 is always accompanied with a fine clear sky and 

 a dry atmosphere ; the spring opens, and the re- 

 sumption of agricultural labours takes place 

 from six weeks to two months earlier than what 

 it does in the neighbourhood of Quebec ; the 

 summer heats rarely prevail to excess, and the 

 autumns are usually very friendly to the har- 

 vests, and favourable for securing all the late 

 crops. In fact, upon so good a soil, and under 

 such a climate, industry and an increase of po-^ 

 pulation are only wanting to render this colony 

 flourishing and happy. In reviewing the popu- 



Q Q 2 



