FARMS. 
179 
ber in the roof and walls is jointed in such 
a manner, as to be rendered independent of 
the next piece to it; one wall is independent 
©f the next waif and the roof is in a great 
measure independent of all of them ; so that if 
a piece of artillery were played upon the house, 
that bit of timber alone against which the ball 
struck would be displaced, and every ether one 
would remain uninjured. A block-house is 
proof against the heaviest fire of mtisquetry. 
As these houses may be erected in a very short 
time, and as there is such an abundance of 
timber in every part of the country, wherewith 
to build them, they arc met with in North 
America at almost every military out-post, and 
indeed in almost every fortress throughout the 
country. There are several in the upper town 
of Quebec. 
Amongst the scattered houses at the lower 
end of the district of Malden, there are several 
of a respectable appearance, and the farms 
adjoining to them are very considerable. The 
farm belonging to our friend. Captain E-, 
under whose roof we tarry, contains no less 
than two thousand acres. A very large part 
of it is cleared, and it is cultivated in a style 
which would not be thought meanly of even 
in England. His house, which is the best in 
the whole district, is agreeably situated, at the 
distance of about two hundred yards from the. 
