■QUEBEC. 34,1 
built round the bottom of the point, close to 
the water. The rock whereon the upper town 
stands, in some places towards the water rises 
nearly perpendicularly, so as to be totally 
inaccessible ; in other places it is not so steep 
but that there is a communication between 
the two towns, by means of streets winding 
up the side of it, though even here the ascent 
is so great that there are long flights of stairs 
at one side of the streets for the acccommoda- 
tion of foot passengers. 
The lower town lies very much exposed to 
an enemy, being defended merely by a small 
battery towards the bason, which at the time 
©f high tides is nearly on a level with the 
water, and by barriers towards the river, in 
which guns may be planted when there is any 
danger of an attack. 
The upper town, however, is a place of im¬ 
mense strength. Towards the water it is so 
strongly guarded by nature, that it is found 
unnecessary to have more than very slight 
walls; and in some particular places, where 
the rock is inaccessible, are no walls at all. 
There are several redoubts and batteries how¬ 
ever here. The principal battery, which 
points towards the bason, consists of twenty- 
two twenty-four pounders, two French 
thirty-six pounders, and two large iron mor¬ 
tars ; this battery is flanked by another of -six 
