70 TRAVELS THROUGH LOWER CANADA : 
is well adapted to the growth of hemp, and 
iron ore has been discovered in many parts of 
the country, Kemp already begins to be 
cultivated in small quantities; but it has 
hitherto been the policy of government to 
direct the attention’ of the people to agricul¬ 
ture, rather than to any other pursuit, so that 
none of the iron mines, which, together with 
all other mines that are, or that may hereafter 
be discovered, are the exclusive property of 
the crown, have yet been opened. The peo¬ 
ple of the United States, however, alive to 
every prospect of gain, have already sent per¬ 
sons to look for iron ore in that part of their 
territory situated conveniently to the lakes. 
These persons have been very successful in 
their searches; and as works will undoubt¬ 
edly be established -speedily by them in this 
quarter for the manufacture of iron, and as 
they will be able to afford it on much better 
terms than that which is brought all the way 
from Lower Canada, it is probable that go- ,, 
vernment will encourage the opening of mines 
in our owe dominions, rather than suffer the 
people of the States to enjoy such a very lu¬ 
crative branch of trade as they must necessarily 
have, if the same policy is persisted in which 
has hitherto been pursued. 
Copper, in the more remote parts of Upper 
Canada, is found in much greater abundance 
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