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A C C O U N T
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PRESENT STATE
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AN //^i^
ACCOUNT ~~
OF TRB
PRESENT STATE
or
h
NOVA sc or I A.^ V
U^C^M. ^(lifU^^^ <l>t4rvtf< C k4^ -C^^w-^i*^
. * . . I ■ — C'cft k Bombfe Ai pcdpk «t I'lbondaaet 4tt ali-
t neni, qui forme la vnd force et b vr^ richdie d'nn ro|«UM»
£ B I N B U R G H :
Printed for William Creech $
AND
T. Longman London.
M,QCC,I.zy(XVZ.
/
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y
THE RIGHT HONOUR ABLE
JOHN LORD SHEFFIELD,
The following Oxtets, contain-
ing an Account of the Prefent
State* of
NOVA SCO T I A,
are moft refpedfully infcribed
BY
His Lordfliip's
moft obedient
and moft humble fervant
THE AUTHOR.
171556
.. ^'Xiikr^V *1»*ai«
Ajg'tic
W^^,
IMTI
The
C O N T E N T *
1 >
iNTROOUCTiON ' f
The SiiuatioH, EttUnif and AfptaraiM « 7
Climate and Seafmt * is^V.^.- # fj
Natural produSitons . ' .: * ••
Animals^ Trees, and Plants, iHuajfOVi AwJI
imported . ^ ^'V- ; • H
Dangers upon tbeCedH^^eal lftandi$ t^4^^
JJgHtt'boufes wanted . # ill
FisHiMis. Ahundame ofCedFi/h^Hirm
ring^MackareU^Anuriean FtJbermeM %§
Indians. Their Fernity — I»temper am f « *
Di/ea/es — CuJioms^^Language^^IUUiion*'
Canoes^-Children
4§
Beasts. Bears—Wild Cat — FoMes-^Motffi
Deer—'Pole Cat — Oppofunt^^Ermini'^
Seals-'^Beaver — Caribou — Otter • 4o
Fur Trade. Mi/lakes of France in Cana*
tia~^Probable advantages to England 73
New Settlements, Towns, and Haiu
sours. Province of Maine-^rand Ma*
nan
( viU )
nan ffland^River St Crtix^^t Andrtw^s
— Btmitr Harhmr'^t JohiCt Rivers^
Falls-^Parr Tew»^Harbour ofdiUo—hs
pofulMtim'^^ifako Settlemen^^Mines Ba-
/§n^ and Cbipuilo Bay-^Frencb Neutrals
i^^Annapolis Royal'^Bafin of ditt^-^Digby
—5/ Marfi Bi^-^Tarnuutlh^Barriag^j.
ton^Sbetkumi or Pm R^PokLy^^Pori
Matoon*'-'Liverpool^~--Lunen^u/^b-^'^ljt
Haw^^HALirAX'-OldFrencb Settlements
-.^^ Jobtes Iflaiid \\V < • '
TaaDb and Navigation. A£i of Novi'
l a thn t\ Sap^biiiliUn^^Wbale Pifimy^
Cod FiJherf-^Wbeai and Flour — Ltmber-^
Fun-^Rvn^-^Salt-^-Wbite (hk-^Tart
Pitcbt and THrfentine^Pearl and Pat
AJbes^^h-on Ore • • •
GovBRNMiNT. Qonelufim . ,
71
i 1
1X2
»53
'.< .?
. V,
i^'
T H B
PRESENT STATE
o r
NOVA SCOTIA.
INTRODUCTION.
A MOMENT*! refleaion, upon the
▼aft loft of territory, as well as the
immenfe number of fubjeds, which Great
Britain has fuftained in America, in con-
fequence of the unfortunate iflue of the
late war, muft awaken in the mind of every
man, who feels himfelf interefted in his
country's welfare, not only the moft paiit-
fiil ideas, but muft leave him in fome degree
at a lofs to determine, whence the misfortune
A arofe;
2 INTRODUCTION.
arofe ; whether from a miftaken and delufive
fy ftem, purfued by the governmenf at home ;
from the clamours of fa<flious and defign-
ing men, as well in England as America ;
from that enthufiafm, which fo often feizes
on whole nations as well as individuals,
* heighterfed arid inflaiAcd by the efavf of fo-
reign ftates, aiming to crufli for ever the
.power and the commerce of Great Britain,
by accomplifhing the dif-uiiion and repara-
tion of the parent ilate and her .colonies ;
the interference and attacks of thofe nati-«
ons, united in a confederacy, as numerous
as it was powerful j or whether, indeed,
it did not arife from all thefe caiifes, a^ing
to one unfortunate end.
Happily for England, that national fpi-
rit, which has fo often diftinguifhbd her a-
fAongft the nations, as well when cdnvulfed
by inteftine diforders, as when furrouiided
by fuperior forces, exerted itfelf with its
ufual effedt. The world faw with aftonifh-
ment the efforts that were made ; even her
dc-
#
INTRODUCTION. 3
deleatft added to her glory; Europe, .Afia,
and the Weft Indies, beheld the ftaadards of
Britain; crowned with vidlory, or repelling
with fuccefs their hoftile foes, who, awed
by that unbroken refolution which appear-
ed in the exertions of her fleets and armies,
frequently negleded to gather the fruits of
thofe advantages that had been gained at
the expence of their blood and treafure.
Ini America alone, as far as relates to fi-
nal fuccefs, the fad reverfe appears in al-
moft every thing i there, though poffefled
of an army, numerous, brave, and adlive y
and of a fleet well manned and appointed,
yet repeated victories led but to repeated
defeat»' ; and misfortune conllantly follow-
ed in the foot fteps of profperity. Thofe e-
vents- are too recent to (land in need of be-
ing enlarged upon ; and, were they ilill
more diftant, a repetition. of them muft a-*,
waken many painful fenfations : Fortu-
nately j for this country, though . (he loft
much, ihe was n0t C|i|irely ftripped of all
^'i her
•*g
iU»'.<a«Mtwii'.
4 INTRODUCTION.
her ancient pofleflions in America; Canada,
and Nova Scotia, however miferably cuiy
tailed, by the terms of the provifional treaty,
are ftill left.
Great nations, as well as private fami-
lies, are fubje^t to revolutions, misfortunes,
and decay ; from which it is neceffary to
learn wifdo^, and, by a prudent conduct,
avoid falling again upon thofe rocks, on
which their hopes and happinefs have been
already wrecked ; and, by purfuing a con-
trary line of diiedion, prevent the renewal
of the like evils in future.
It mull awaken the attention, and call
forth every feeling of humanity, to confi-
der this Province, as the lad and only re-
fuge of a body of people, lefs refpedable
for their numbers, though great, than for
their loyalty and fufferings, in confequence
of a firm and unfhaken adherence to the
Britiih conftitution ; difdaining to live be-
neath the (hadow of thofe moteley and dif-
jointed
INTRODUCTION.
jointed fabrics of government, which have .
been raked out of the afhes of the Het-* <
then republics of Greece and Rome ; they
have quitted their native foil, where eafe
and affluence, the happy effeAs of their
own and their anceftors induftry, awaited
them ; and facrificing every thing to thofe.
principles, have fled to its defarts as a pro-
tedion from .the violence of their country-
men; and fought amidft its forefts th^
means of procuring the bare neceflaries of
life, which can only be obtained by a hard
and laborious employment, conftantly ftrug-
gling with the rigours of an inclement iky,
and a rough and uncultivated foil ; in all
things, the reverfe of thofe mild climates
and fruitful fields, their former happy po£-
feifion.
But, in a national point of view, it is
of ftill greater confequence to England, to
be poiTefled of it, as entirely commanding
the fiiheries ; which, while properly encou-
raged, may not only be coniidered as an
inexhauilible
6 INTRODUCTION..
inexhauflible mia« of wealth to the empire
at large, and one of the chief (inews of its
power, but as having the moft evident
tendency to increafe the trade and popula-
tion of the Prbrince, and render it not on-
ly happy in itfelf, but alfo ufeful to Great
Britain, as well in pbint of commerce, aa
by affording protection to the fifheries upon
its own coafts; and thofe carried on upon
the banks of Newfoundland.
'i^ I. . . '
In ihort, its fituation is . advantageous,
viewed in every light. Its fhipping and
fean^en are rapidly increafing, as well as its
produce, which affords the pleafing profpe£t
of being able to fupply itfelf with all the
neceffaries of life ; a thing that cannot be
expeded at prefent, from the immenfe
niimber of fettlers who have, before and
fince the late peace, abandoned their habi-
tations In the United States,
T HE
THE
SITtlATION, EXTENT, AND
APPEARANCE.
'ip
"OVA SCOTIA is, without doubt,' the
: imoft convenient, in point of (ituati-
op, of any prbvince in America, for a ma-
ritime power id be pofrefle4 of ; froni Hie
excellent pppprtunities which it atfords' ^bf
watering;, wooding, ana re-yi£tualling thbir
fleets, that may be bound to or from the
Weft Indies, either in time of peace or war;
as is (apparent, from infpe^ing the ^nap
of the tyro Continents, of Europe and the
■ ' V" ( i . • -J - ' .' . * :..,..*:.-.■ f ■ ... . ...;., ■.
New Wprld j in which its comparative vi-
cinity to iLurope is particularly ftriking;
lying confiderably to the northward and
eaftward oiF all the old colonies, and having
a
J SITUATION, EXTENT,
a great part detached from the main land
of America, fo as to be almoft entirely fur-
rounded by the waters -pf the ocean, and
affording (heiter and protedlion on every
fide, by means of its numerous harbours,
of which it can boaft a greater number,
than almpft any other country of the fame
extent in the world*
This Province, when pofleflfed by France,
was called Acadia ; and fuppofed to com-
prehend only the great triangular peninfula
whl^ forms the fouthern part of the colo-
ny^ exclufive of that large trad of country,
feparated from it by the Bay of Fundy, and
extending north to the River St Laurence,
having for its boundary on the weft, Paf*
faihaquoddy Bay, and the River St Croix,
and on the eaft, the Gut of Canfo and Gulf
of St Laurence, the Atlantic Ocean being tHe
fouthern boundary of the whole Province;
whofe dimenfions extend from Gape Sable,
Lat. 44* lo' to the 47th degree of north
Lat.
AND APPEARANCE, g
tan* being 130 leagues in breadth, from
tiorch to fouth, and about 100 in length
from eaft to weft, namely, from Cape Sa-
ble to Cape Canfo, which is its eaftermoft
extremity ; and having in the very center
the Bay of Fundy, a navigation that may
juftly be confidered as of the higheft im*
portance to its future wealth and profperity.
The face of the country,* when viewed
at a diilance, prefents a pleatingly Variega*
ted appearance of hills and valleys, with
fcarccly any thing like mountains to inter*
rupt th6 profped^, efpecially near the fea*
A nearer approach difcovers thofe fublime
and beautiful fcenes, which are fo far fu-^
perior to the gaudy embellifhments of art.
Immenfe forefts, formed of the talleft trees,
the growth of ages, and reaching almofl to
the clouds, every where incumber and a*
dorn the land : Their leaves falling in au-
tumn add continually to that cruft of mofs,
vegetables, and decaying wood, that has
for many centuries been accumulating ;
B whilft
lo SITUATION, EXTENT,
whilft the rays of the fun, unable to pierce
the thick (hade, which every where covers
the ground, leaves it in a perpetual (late of
damp and rottennefs ; a circumftance
which contributes, in no fmall degree, to
increafe the (harpnefs of the air in winter.
ih
The clouds, flying over the higher
grounds, which are covered in every directi-
on with one vaft foreft, and arretted by the at-
traction of the woods, fill the country with
water. Every rock has a fpring, and every
fpring caufes a fwamp, or morafs, of great-
er or lefs extent, in proportion to its caufe;
hence it is, that travelling becomes almoft
impracticable in fummer, and is feldom at-
tempted, but in the fall of the year, when
winter begins to fet in, and the ground is
already frozen.
The land, throughout the peninfula, is
in no part mountainous, but frequently ri-
fes into hills of gradual afcent, every where
clothed with wood. From thefe arife in-
numerable
AND APPEARANCE, n
numerable fprings and rivulets, which not
only fertilize and adorn the country, but
have formed, in the midft of it, a large
lake, or piece of frefli water, which is of
various depths, and of which, however,
little more is known, than, that it has upon
its borders very large tradts of meadow-land,
highly improveable. That part of the Pro-
vince, which is beyond the Bay of Fundy,
and extends to the River St Laurence, rifes
alfo gradually, as we advance from the fea,
quite to Canada, but is, however, hardly
any where mountainous. Its lands are
moftly very good, particularly at a diftance
from the fea ; and its woods are generally
hard, lofty, and extremely ufeful.
It is remarkable that, in thefe favage de-
farts, all the animals fly with terror and
precipitation from every place marked with
the footfte'ps of man, who commonly car-
ries devaftalion with him, and imprefles
fear on every other creature. Happy, in-
deed, had it been for the human race, if
the
12 SITUATION, EXTENT,
the malignant pailions, which diftinguifli
and difgrace the Lord of the creation, had
been employed in the purfuits of the chace,
and the deftrudlion of beads of prey, ra-
ther than in wars more criminal, and far
lefs ufeful.
CLIMATE
CLIMATE AND SEASONS,
THOUGH this country, like CftOi4«|
is fubjed to long and fevere wintifif
fucceeded by fudden and violent hetUfOfUn
much greater than what are felt m tbf fkm$
latitudes in Europe ; yet it cannot be u*
counted an unhealthy climate. The «lr{o
general in winter is very iharp, frofty, «fl4
dry; the iky ferene and unclouded^ by
which every kind of exercife ad§jpud to
the feafon is rendered pleafant and ifrcc-
able.
The fogs are frequent near the CcMf hut
feldom fpread themfelves to any difUnu in
Un4,
14 CLIMATE AND SEASONS.
land. They are obferved to rife only
from thofe places that are contiguous to
the fiOiing banks which lie upon the coaft,
and are remarkable for not producing the
fame difagreeable tScCts upon the human bo-
dy, as is obfervable of frefii water fogs ; the in-
fluence of the latter often producing the
moft dangerous difeafes, even upon perfons
that are otherwife healthy, and, to the con-
fumptive or afthmatic, prefent death. The
reafon of this difference is, no doubt, to be
accounted for, from their different origin ;
and a particular inveftigation of the matter
is foreign tc our purpofe.
The winter commonly breaks up with
heavy rains, and the inhabitants experience
hardly any of the delights of the fpring,
which in England is accounted the moft a-
greeable feafon of the year. From a life-
lefs and dreary appearance, and the gloomy
fcenes of winter wrapped around the vege-
table world, the country throws off its dif-
guilful attire, and, in a few days, exhibits
Utife.
CLIMATE AND SEASONS. 15
a grand and pleafing profped i the vegeta-
tion being inconceivably rapid, nature pafles
fuddenly frooi one extreme to another, in
a manner utterly unknown to €;ountrie8 i€«
cuftomed to a. gradual progreflion of Tea-
Tons. And, ftrange as it may appear, it it
an acknowledged fad, a fad which fur-
nishes a certain proof of the purity of the
air, that thefe fudden changes feldom, if
ever, affed the health of Grangers oCj
Europeans.
Many conjedures, fome of them impro-
bable enough, have been made by perfons
unacquainted with North America, but
from hearfay, to account for the length of
the winter, and the peculiar feverity of the
air. Its real caufes are, the great height of
the land, every where between the north
pole and the Britifh colonies lying upon
the Atlantic Ocean, confiding of unknown
and almoft boundlefs regions, formed of
vaft ranges of prodigious mountains cover-
ed with eternal fnow; the immenfe lakes,
or
*-*,
i6 CLIMATE AND SEASONS.
ml
I
or rather Teas of frefiiwater, frozen up and
entirely covered with ice one half of the
year ; and what is equal, if not fuperior to
thefe, is, the e^ttreme humidity tf the folk
A« the north- weft winds preratif, and con-
tinue to blow near nine months in the
year, and muft, in their paflage, neceflari'*
Jy pafs over a great extent of cold and bar-
ren defarts, as well as of moumains cover-
ed with fnow, and large trafts of frefli wa-
ter: It may be eafily conceived from hence,
with what innumerable particles of cold
they muft be charged, by the time they ar-
rive near the fea coaft. To follow, there-
fore, the fubjcd further, would be only to
perplex what is fufBciently obvious; and
the caufes as above ftated are fully ade-
quate for determining the queftion, why,
in Nova Scotia, the winter is longer, and
the cold more fevere, than in European
countries which are fituated in much high-
er latitudes ?
th<
etlMAtfe AND SEASOWSi i^
The coldnefs, however, of this pfovince^
ivith that of New £ngland, will fcarcely
bear a comparifoni the latter being gene-
rally much greater, which is plain from
this circumftance, that their harbours aire
frequently frozen, a thing which is feldoit
or ever knoWn td happeil ijl the fotmeu
Tiirf?-;r7 ,br>ow \ ct yh ^. . ,
NATTJRAX
■■- ■ ^is.[ ^ i;ijgaiigi:t;ii ,
'•^ '•• ■■■■-c^ •■
-tOlrilJ .T\3d:^QtV^ .'.
:..;. V/3/4 "i:: <:
lii'O •-• : .: ; ■.. i y vyi .
..:.>i[ fVi^'iiiiJ!!
, - , ; - . . ^ , . , '
.mnrn'iA^ ■ ■•
■ ,yj;.(jK
J « :ifW-^*» «
1^
^l^ijf^ttc/:
0- "; £tu^..u
u M^ixi i.,i'U- ,^
NATO R A L Plio D U CT ION a ^
ALL the difierent kinds of wood, which
grow 10 the neighbouting provin-
ces of New £nglaad» grow here. Unfor*
tunately, however, very little white oak
can be obtained, but what grows at fuch a
diftance from the Tea, as renders it incapable
of becoming an article of commerce, with
any profped^ of profit ; a cirqumftance the
more to be lamented, as no fpecies of wood
is more valuable to America, on account ^
of the great demand there is for it in the
Weft India iflands.
t
The
~ The pine forefts^ WHich may be fuppofed
to occupy four fifths of all the laAdiB Itf the
Provifide, are not only valuable for fumifli-
ing mails, (pars, himber for the fugar plan-
tations/ and timber for building, but for
yielding tar, pitch, and turpentine, commo-
dities which are alt protured from tlus ire-
ful tree, and with which the mother coun-
try may in a few years eadly be fupplied,
if fuch encouragements are held out, as a
wife adminiftration know how to beftow
upon aii * indiiftrious and ufeful colon^r.
The procefs for obtaining thefe valiistble
ardcles is fo fimple, that every man podTef-
ied of land has it in his power to make
more or lefs of them.
Tins matter merits the ferious attention of
the legiflature ; as the United States, whilft
they continued the fubjeds of £ngland,
furniflied our Shipping with tar, pitch, and
turpentine 5 but have lince become, in e-
very refpc£fc, a foreign nation. It is fure-
ly no Ibpger good policy to take from them
thofc
^ laATURAL PIlODUGTK)^J5.
■'4
thofc things which^ with proper encouriigef
mcEkC) pi;ir own colonies jire found to pror
jducf ; an^, although the quantity ix)a4e by
them v?}ll never, |)c,rh^ps, he eqi|i|l tp.thf
(dem^n^, yet }t ^ffpr^s. a pl^afipg prpfpfij
of greatly reducing the lofs that inu^ ptherr
wife accrue to us in this branch of trade,
which is acknowledged on all hands to b^
f:pnfiderably agaiiiift Gr^at Britain,
AH the various /p^cies of birch, be(Bch,
and m^ple, ai^d feveral forts of fpruce^ are
found in all parts in great abundance ; as
alfo nuiperpi^s herbs and plants, either not
jcommon tp, or not known ip England^
Amongft thefe none is more plentiful than
farfaparilla, and a plant whofe root lefem-
bles rhubarb in coloyr, iafte, and effc^s ;
likewife the Indian or mountain tea, and
maiden-hair, an her|) n\uc|i in repute for
the fame purpofc, with (hrubs producing
ftrawberries, rafpberries, and many other
pleafant fruits, with which the woods in
I
fiimraer are well ftored : Of thefe wild
- ■ >' ' ' , " ' ■ ■ ■ •"
produdlons.
N^i:URAL PRODUGTIONS. 21
pfTCKki^ons, the 'Cherries are beft, though
jOfnallec than our^, and growing in bunches
fomewhat refcmbling grapes. The lafla- •
ffiLS tree grows plentifully in comnion with
Pth/ers ; but amongft them none is m^ re
ufefuU to th.e inhabitants, than a fpecies of
ii^ap)^*; 4iftingui(hed by the name of the
fugar tree, as affording a confiderable quan^
tity of that valuable ingredient ; to obtain
which, it 48 ncceflary, early in the fpring,
when the faa.jn vegetables is obferved to
begin to rife* to n^ake an incifion at fome
diftance from the ground, about two inches
deep in the trunk of the tree, and a fpout
being 6xed therein, the juice flows fad in^
to a veflel placed below to receive it, and
decreafes in quantity as the fun declines to-
ward evening. This liquor, which, in its
natural ftate, is of a fweetilh watery tafte,
and requires no other preparation than to
be evaporated over a flow fire, whereby its
aqueous parts are difunited from the fu-
gar, and the latter Is cooled in moulds made
pf earth, or bark of trees. Sixteen pounds
of
« r v-'twaj^^Mij-t-^U'
ill
i!
^ NATURAL PRODUCnONa.
offap are requifite for miking oneof fiigaf,
tnd care is taken not to drain the trees to6
^' much ; twenty gallont is deemed fufficitnt
from the largeft ; nor can the operation be
repeated twice in the fame year, without
endangering the life of the tree, a precau*
tion not always attended to in thii touO'^
The fugar, when cold, is of a reddifli
brown colour, fomewhat tranfparent, and
very pleafant to the tafte. It can only,
however, be conHdered as of ufe to the in-
habitants within the province, and they
have not failed to afcribe to it feveral vir-
tues, either real or imaginary, as a medicine.
Amongft the natural produdions of No-
va Scotia, it is neceflary to enumerate their
iron ore, which is i'uppofed equally good
with that found in any part of America ;
the wants and neceilities of the refugees
will not permit fuch trials to be made, at
lead for forxie time to come, as arc nccef-
fary
ai«*»i,..>eaas».<f:
NATURAL PRODUCTIONS. ^$
(uTjf for nfceitaining its goodnefs : The at-
IfUlion which is requiCite \n promoting the
arU of huibandry, and extending the fiih*
cries, fo as to enfure a prefent fubfiftence,
muft occupy fo much of their thoughts, as
to leave them no room for fpeculation on
ftitdre impro^ments, or s^dvantlgei th^c
are at any confiderable diftance. There
can, however, remain but iittle doubt, that
the iron made here may become a ufeful
article of trade in the courfe of a few years.
i
.■.■ '1
.Lime-ftone is found in many places 9
itris extremely gpod, and is now much u-
fed, for buiMingJi independent of whlcli,
^t gives the farmers and landholders a
great advantage for improving the ground,
as it is found by experience to be one of
the moft approved things in the world for
that jpurpofe.
•^^t'scpm-w
•v .--' -,t >•*'■■■
. V»i Jl4."-«.,! ,. fl^
ANIMALS^
u
i /'..' Til A/t •
THAT HAVE BEEN IMPORTED.
••...i
• .r.:^i m: r
-•! vbftUI :■ •! ■.:.:
^sd'i'ij
The animals that have been imported do
hot degenerate. The black ciatile are in
general very large, an'4 the ifheep greatlj^
preferable to thofe of i^evr England ; the
flefh both of them and of their hbgs is ex-
cellent ; and fome very good horfes'^fe
now bred in the country. Their dogs arc
exceeded by hone in the world for ftrength
or utility, being conftaufly put to every
kind of drudgery, fuch as fetching home
the provifions that are neceflary for the fa-
mily, the wood for their firing, &c.
Several
^^
ANIMALS, TREES^ dtc. ^
Several of the ufeful and mod commoa
European fruits have been planted in many
places ; To that the Province now produces^
particularly at Annapolis Royal^ and in the
country between Halifax and the Balbn of
Mines, great quantities of applcsi fomt
pears, and a few plumbs, which are all
good of their kind, efpecially the former.
The fmaller fruits, fuch as currants,
goofeberries, &c. grow to as great perfect
lion as in Europe, and the iame may be
faid of all the common and ufeful kinds of
garden plants. Among tbefe their poutoed
have the preference, as being the moft fer-
viceable in a country abounding with fi(h ;
and indeed they are not to be exceeded in
goodnefs by any in the world*
The maize, or Indian corn, is a native of
much warmer climates, and though plant-
ed here, never arrives at more than two
thirds of its natural bignefs ; a defed which
arifes as well from the fhortnefs of the
D fiimmer
26 ANIMALS, TREES, &d.
fummer as the gravelly nature of the (bll.
Its vaft utility both to man and bead will
always, howev^r^ render it an obje£t ojf
cultivation^ as no kind of griiin is moTe
eafily raifed, after the lands are 6nce clear*
edj'or is' capable of yielding a greater pro-
duce, which is generally from feveh hun-
dred to a thoufand grains, and fometimes
twelve hundred, for one that has been fow-
ed;'and belides this large increafe, it is re-
markable for the excellent food which its
flems and leaves 'afford to every kind of
cattle in' virinter, who will eat it in prefer-
ence to any other vegetable.
As the remaining branches of the kings
dominions in America will be better known
hereafter, and, it is hoped, fo governed as
to render them flouriihing and happy in
themfelves, and ufeful to the parent ftate ;
the attention* of the legiflatiire will, no
doubt, be di reded to adopt fuch mcafures
as may encourage the growth of hemp atnd
flax ; articles which are perfedtly fitted to
» the
ANIMALS^TREES, ke. ij
the foil and climate of the countr^r ^ »n4t
if confidered as forming an eflcnfial p»ft
of the (lores confumed, not onlf by th«
royal navy, but by all the mercantile VfiKrli
of Great Britain, muft alwayi be tn ob»
je£tof aational iinporti|nce, and^ if popwif
fupported, will keep at home a great pi^ft^
if not all, of thofe immenfe fum* whUh
have hitherto been fent abroad and expcfl*
ded with foreign nations, for purcbA/iffg
hemp, canvas, and linens.
Tobacco, a plant of which the uCe§ Ami
effects are well known, may be cuU\¥§Ud
with eafe in Nova Scotia, as it if itr^idy
every where in Canada from Lake Cbiffi*
plain to the Ifle of Orleans* for the purpofe
of internal confumption.^ Confidered in
no other light than as keeping a Aim of
money in the Province, the culcure of ihk
article is an obje£t of fome concern ) but,
whether its quality will ever render H a
commodity fit for exportation, time »ime
can difcover.
DANGERS
«S DANGE&S UPON
yyi
ii^MSnUtifi
iltl
^\
BANGERS UPON THE COAST,
THIS country, a9 has been already ob«
ferved, may be juftly efteemed tlie
fitft in the American world, with refpe^t
to that (ituation, whether in peace or war,
which a great maritime power, poiTefTed alfo
of fettlements {n the Weft Indies, would,
wifh to retain and improve*
All the fouthern coaft of the Peninfula is
one continued chain of inlets, bays, roads,
and (heltering places for fhipping ; the ap-
proaches to which are rendered eafy, by
the regularity of the foundings ; fo that the
goodnefs of its harbours add to its impor<*
tance, and increafe the local advantages
for
i;the coast.
ft9
for which, in ttfytd to fituition, it fttnda
iodebced to future.
The principal dangers to which thofe
who intend to make the land are expofed,
are» iirft, from Brown's bank, or George*!
bank, a very large flioal lying a great way
off at fea, fouth-weft of Cape Sable ; it is
aflerted to have been feen dry in fome
places, which is not improbable, as there
are credible perfons who have founded ii|h
on it in three fathoms water *. It is one
of the worft places in the world to fall in
with at night, efpecially iu bad weather,
though fortunately the foundings are gra*
dual.
The fecood danger upon the coaft, arifes
from the Seal iflands, which lie off Cape
Sable, the fouth weftermoR extremity of
the pr6vince ; they are dill more hurtful
from
* This (hoal part, is nearer to Cape Cod, at the
entrance to Bofton bay, than to any other place ; it
hears from it caft about 50 miles.
3© DANGERS UPON
from the conftant fogs and currents that
prevail thereabout, and many veiTels 'are
every year wrecked upon them.
A third, and that equal to either of the
former, is the Ifle of Sable, l^^ing about
thirty leagues S. E. of Hilifak . It is a grtat
bank of fand, very low, beinig almoft even
with the water, and fcarcely difcernible^ e-
ven in clear weather, at any confiderable
diftance ; narrow, but of confiderable length, .
and lurrounded, particularly at the N. £.
and N. W. ends, with terrible ihoals, bars,
and hills of fand. In the middle of it there
is a large 'pond of fait water, communica-
ting with the Tea, abounding with oyfterd
and other fhetl filh, which afford a fcanty
fubfiftence to the. wretches who are fo un-
happy as to be wrecked upon this defolate
ifland. A near approach to, it ^ifcovers
only naked fartd hills, producing a i'ew
low ihrubs, and inhabited by horfes and
fome few black, cattle, that have long fince
run wild.
Very
..«?fi
THE C O A S T.
31
Very little danger is to be apprehended
when well in^with the main land, except frorn^
what is vifible and above water, and even
thefe dangers are daily leiTened by experi^;
ence, and by the great improven^ents mad;e.
in the nautic art, amongft whiqh, that of
determining the longitude of places by
coeleftiai obfervation deferyedly holds the
firft rank, ;ind has greatly ;^iqilitated thf^;
conflrudion ,of the heft fea charts that any
age or nation can boaft of halving pofTelTed.
The tides in the bay of Fundy, though rerri
gular, yet, as. running very ftrong in many
places, and caufmg a great rife and fall of
water, haveimpreifed tl|e minds of many
perfons, unacquainted with the coaft, with
an unjuft idea of the peril and difficulty of
the navigation, efpecially during the wirx:*
ter, \^ich has not been a, little heightened
by the fogs that are prevalent at this fea-
fon of the year. It will, therefore, be ne-
ceffary to have light houfcs ereded in feve^
ral places for enfuring, not only the fafety
of the commercial interefts of the province,
but;
dm:.,
■ 1
'il 111
HP
Ml
'III
l!|ii
„ I i
! i
3*
DANGERS UPON
but likewife the King's ihips, which are e*
qually expofed, in performing the duties of
their ftation, with the merchant vefTels em*
ployed in thefe Teas. Happily the fitua-
tions fit for fuch eredions are fo placed by
nature, as to be obvious to the moft inexpe-
rienced obfervcr. One of them muft be built
upon a confpicuous part of Grand Manan,
the S. W. point of Long Ifland, which
forms the entrance of the bay of Fundy ;
and this, not only for the guidance of ihips
bound in from lea, but likewife for thofe
that come down from the fettlements at the
head of the bay, from St John's River,
Annapolis Royal, and other places.
The fecond fhould be upon Partridge
Ifland, at the entrance into St John's River,
a fituation not lefs adapted for fuch a pur-
pofe than for that of raifing works to fe-
cure the navigation of the river, proteft
the harbour, and prevent the landing of an
enemy.
Another
N
THE COAST.
33
iich are e*
duties of
eifels ettii
the fitua-
placed b)^
\ inexpe-
ift be built
id Manan,
d, which
f Fundy;
«offhip8
for thofe
nts at the
1*8 River,
es.
Partridge
n's River,
ch a par-
ks to fe-
, protcdt
ingofan
Another
Another is wanted upon the Seal Iflands,
and is that which will be the mod ufeful ;
the advantages naturally arifing from it be-
ing of the moft extenfive kind, and equally
diffufed to (hips of all nations, whom ei-
ther choice, misfortune, or ignorance has
brought into the American Teas.
Annapolis Royal, and Port Rofeway *,
harbours upon which fuch confiderable
fettlements are formed, as bid fair to rival
the commercial glory of fome cities in the
old colonies, would be much benefited by
iUnilar erections, which, though unable to
complete themfelves at prefent, might be
kept, if already built, without any kind of
expence to government.
As a confiderable fettlement is forming
at Cheilabufiko Bay, in the eafternmoft ex-
tremity of the province ; it is abfolutely
neceffary that a light-houle (hould be built
upon, or near to Cape Canfo ; not merely
E becaufe
• There is one now building at this place.
s\
1 . '
34 DANGERS UPON, &c.
1>ecaufe there is a town forming in its neigh-
1
bourhood, but becaufe it is furrounded by
many (hoals and • rocks, which are little
known, and above all, becaufe it will tend
11
to facilitate the navigation from Nova Sco-
1 1
tia to St John's Ifland, the gulph and rivtr
1
of St Laurence, and Canada, by means of
1
the ftreights or gut of Canfo, a narrow
1]
channel or arm of the fea, which divides
II H
the ifland of Cape Breton, from the country
1 iiii
1 !■ ''
of which we arc fpeaking. ,
1 !
i
:,
■ f ■ •
',■■■. . ■ *
•
FISHERIES.
u
€
FISHERIES*
UP0>1 every part of the coaft, and at
difierent diftances from the land^
there are fifliing banks, of greater or fmal*
ler extent, and in various depths of wa-
ter, generally from thirty to fixty fathoms;
upon all of thefe, the cod fi(h is found in
all feafons, and in every month of the year^
notwithftanding what has been fometimes
advanced to the contrary. There is, indeed,
fome variation as to the quantity taken,
and the depth of water to which the fiflL
retire, at certain feafons ; they^ however^
never entirely forfake the ^oaft. The
common, and, indeed, the almoft only me*
thod
M
. fc
iiiii
36
FISHERIES.
thod pradifed here, is that which is called
the ftationary fiihery, carried on by the
inhabitants in fmall craft. In thefe they
go off to Tea in Summer, and remain out
from one or two days to feven or eight,
falting the fifh whilft out, and on their re-
turn drying it upon hurdles, placed hori-
zontally, at fome diflancc from the ground,
and taking care, whenever it rains» to turn
the (kin or back of the fiih to the weather,
to prevent is being fpoiled. When dried
fufficiently, it is piled up in flacks, and af-
terward either exported as an article of
trade, or referved as food in winter. That
which is only failed, and thrown imme-
diately into the holds of the veiTels employ-
ed in iiihing, without any farther prepara-
tion, is called green cod ; very little of this
is preferved for fale, and none exported.
The frefli fi(h was never confidered as
an article of commerce, but is extremely
ufeful to the inhabitants as food, of which
it conilitutes a principal part, and like-
wife
FISHERIES.
37
wife to the perfons concerned in the fi(h-
ery.
The atmoft infinite number of cod that
is taken every year in thefe Teas, though
it may excite aftonifhment at firft, will
ceafe to ao fo, when we confider the im-
menfe multitudes which mod of the a-
quatic tribes are formed to bring forth. In
this refpe^t, the creative wifdotn of divine
providence is not a little magnified, by a
comparative view of the beneficial and
harmlefs fiih we are fpeaking of ; and that
enemy to man and every other living crea-
ture, the voracious and devouring (hark,
who, though fo large, brings forth her
young ones alive, which are fometimes
not above five or fix in number, and feldom
exceed twenty j on the contrary, the rdfe or
fpawn of the cod, having been actually
counted by an * able natural ift, was found
to contain mors than nine millions of eggs,
each
* M. Leweenhoeck.
#•
ll
38
\
FISHERIES.
each one capable of reproducing the fpe^'
cies, in the fame extent and perfection; . -
*.
'II
'^iii'
iihiilii
This vaft profufion of nature, fo obfer*
vable in the feas of North America, might
teach us to confider the ocean, ai^ its va-
rious productions, as a property common
to the \7h0Ie earth ; and. Upon this
principle, the obvious and natural rights
of mankind would incline us to think, that
the fiiheries in particular fhould be open
to all nations. But maritime dates (by
which is to be underftood, thofe not only
poflcffed of naval power, but alfo of co-
lonies fettled at their expence, and nou-
riflied by their care and protection) know-
ing their importance, have, from motives
of found policy, prohibited, and almoft to-
tally excluded foreigners from a fhare of
the benefits : Thus Spain, Portugal, and
Italy, which, from the great number o£
monks, and the general fuperftition of their
people, might at leaft claim the neceflity,
if not the right of fifhing, arc among the
/ reft
FISHERIES.
39
refl: entirely debarred from it. The Brl-
tifh government wifely avails itfelf of fu«
pertor power and fituation, in order tO:
realize to its fubje^s the profits and ad-,
vantages arifing from a branch of com-
merce, which, whilft it. gives bread to
thoufands, jenri^hes the ftate, and * contrU
botes iri a very great degree to render the
kingdom flouriihing at home, and abroad
both power^l and refpedable. .r
From the middle of Aprilt when the
rains which break up the froft commonly
prevail, and pu.t an end to the winter fea-
fon, a conftant focceflion of all kinds of
fi(h common to the country takes place in
the harbours and inlets. Of thefi| the
herrings are generally the firft, and in a
little time becoming gradually intermixed
with the (had, are fucceeded by them ; thefe
are accounted aim oft equally good with
falmon for drying and faking ; both the
one and the other run in prodigious (hoals
towards the heads of the creeks and rivers,
in
I
M
40
FISHERIES.
ill order to depofit their fpawn at the falls
or rapids, which ftop them from proceed-
ing farther, and where they may be taken
with bafkets in any quantity. Salmon foon
fucceed, and continue a confiderable time
in feafon, and are generally taken in a fet
net, which muft be watched in order to ob-
ferve when they entangle themfelveo. Their
number is fo great, that many fifheries may
be eftablifhed for curing and exporting
them ; one of thefe is already begun on the
Bafon of Mines.
Mackarel, and another kind of fifh, ei-
ther not known in England, or not common
there, which grows very large, come into
the hifbours during the fall of the year,
in fuch numbers as is inconceivable, for the
purpofe of preying upon the young fiflj,
t
that are the offspring of other kinds which
take to the fhoal water, until their (ize and
ftrength may enable them to go further off
in que ft of fubfiftence.
The
F t S H £ H 1 £ S. 4%
The havock committed upon them if tru«
ly aftonifhing. From a dilfe^ion of om
of their purfuers, the ftomach wm found
to contain more than five hundred oi*
the fmall fiih. A proof of one of the m»'
ny means ufed by providence to prevent
the feas from becoming overftocked with
inhabitants ! Mackarel are exported in )»rgd
quantities to the Weft Indies { but ib« yQ*
racious kind of fi(h above mentioned dftf
unfit for food, unlefs eaten fre(h,
Lobflers are found on all pirt« of ihi
fea-ihore in great abundance, and the eM4ih*
ing them is chiefly confined to the I»duiff»«
who carry them to market in their fmtll
canoes. Plaice, flounders, ibaU, (ksiCf «nd
halltbut, are to be met with every where in
the greatefl profufion, and are only ufi^d by
the fiihermea and inhabiuos for iood.
^^T'
at
f
;o %ht Americans took care to reserve i9
themfelves, at the late treaty of \)eue^ nn*
der the powerful mediation of Fritne^^ A
F , %\^ht
m
41 FISHERIES.
right to fi(h upon the coafts and banks of
the colony, and to dry their fifh on fliore
in its uninhabited bays and ^harbours. Of
the firft of thefc advantages they have a-
valled themfelves ; many of their veiTels
compleated their cargoes there during the
lad feafon. It is probable, however, that
they will preferve tlieir cod greeUy not
only becaufe the bed harbours are already
occupied by the loyalids and refugees, who
have fettled there from other places, but be-
caufe in the others they might frequently
cxpeft to meet with the ftationary filher-
men, in which cafes difputes would poilibly
arife ; though it is but juftice to obferve of
the Tea- faring people, who are the fubjedls
of the Vnited States, that their behaviour
in thofe parts has, on ail occaficns, (hewn
a defire to avoid giving offence, or doing
any thing that might awaken the remem-
brance of paft injuries. Thefe, upon the
contrary, they feem (ludious of burying in
oblivion ; and if is, perhaps, for this reafon
ihat they have feldom, if at all, prefumed to
wear
FISHERIES.
43
anks of
n fliore
rs. Of
have a-
vcflels
ing the
cr, that
f^n, not
already
fcs, who
, but be-
Jquently
Y fiflicr-
poffibly
)ferve of
fubjedts
:haviour
ftewn
►r doing
remem-
pon the
ying in
} reafon
imed to
wear
wear their national colours in any of the
harbours. t
The cod fiftiery begins in the Bay of
Fundy in the month of May, and continues
there only fix weeks or two months. The
fi(h caught here are neither fo good nor in
fuch plenty as thofe which are caught out
at fea, or even near the mouth ji the Bay
about the iflands at Paflamaquoddy ; but
they are extremely ufeful to the numer-
ous inhabitants who are fettled or fettling
in the different hai hours.
No fatigues or hardfhips can exceed
thofe of the fifhermen during the feafon,
their labours leaving them hardly any time
to reft either by night or day. Fortunate-
ly, however, from the healthinefs of the
climate, from the wholefomenefs of their
food, which confifts chiefly of fifh, but a-
bove all from their conftant exercife, they
enjoy, in general, an uninterrupted ftate of
health.
In
44 F I S H E R I E S.
In coficlufiooy It may with truth be af*
ferted, that the fifliery, in the lad fummer,
employed about ten thoufand men, and was
the means of feeding at leaft thirty thou-
fand. The whole quantity caught was up-
wards of an hundred and twenty thoufand
quintals, abdut forty thoufand of wliich
were exported ; thefe, at the loweft price,
viz. thirteen (hillings and fixpence each,
mufl have amounted to L. 26,000 Sterling,
which fum may be eilimated as fo much
money really gained to the colony, whe-
ther the fifh were fold abroad for caihi or
exchanged for commodities of which the in-
habitants flood in need. The calculation here
given, which is very low, and defignedly
kept within bounds, that no charge of ex-
aggeration may be brought agalnft it, is
only intended to fhew what the colony is
now able to do, when in a weak and im-
perfect (late, and furnifhes an inconteftible
proof that the 6(heries are an inexhauflible
mine of wealth, and do, with the woods,
conftitute the natural riches of the country.
INDIANS,
■ :ii*.
I N D I A N S.
0(1 1 .. !
THAT we may go on regularly in-
viewing the produce of the country,
and from thence form a judgment of its
value, it will be neceifary to fay fomething
of the natives themfelves, before we men*
tion the grand objed of their purfuit, the
fur trade.
Ignorant of the arts of agriculture, as
well as of commerce, except in the moft
confined fenfe, it is in the fatigues and
pleafures of the chace that they have cloth-
ing as well as food for their objed ; and,
whilft we thus reprefent their manners as
' concifely
46
INDIANS.
concifely as poifible, abftrufe fpeculation,
improbable conjedure, and hearfay infor-
mation, will be equally avoided.
The large territory which prefents itfelf
to our view, exhibits, at firft fight, a dark,
thick, and almoft impenetrable foreft, in-
dented on all fides, with the waters of the
fea, interfe£ted with innumerable fprings, as
well as many extenfive fwamps and mo-
raffes, whieh, never yet cultivated, afford
fhelter to many favage animals,, and large
herds of ufefuJ ones. On a clofer examina-
tion, we difcover many fmall tribes or fingle
families of the human fpecies fcattered a-
bout upon the coaft, perpetually wandering
from place to place, living in a ftate of war -
with the beafts of the field, depending up-
on their deftrudion for fubfiftence, and
pradifing no fort of cultivation, or any of
thofe other arts, which are fo neceffary to
the eafe of man in an improved ftate, if not
to his very exiftence.
Thcfc
INDIANS.
47
Thefe are the remains of the ancient na-
tions ; the inhabitants whp once filled this
part of the coaft North America, and who,
by their paffiibn for war, and their attachment
to the French neutrals that were fettled a-
mong them, rendered themfelves dreadful to
all who approached them. That paflion, fo
unworthy of a rational creature, and which
conftantly degenerates inco barbarity, when
exercifed amongft men in a (late of nature,
was renderea >.iil more fierce by the enthufi-
afm inftilled » hem by their priefts, whofe
tenets, too often correfpondent with the
fentiments of the favages, irritated their na-
tural ferocity to a continual third for the
blood of men, whp, to the obvious crime
of being enemies, were branded as heretics
alfb.
Happily thofe fcenes have difappeared ;
fanaticifm and blood-fhed vanifhed toge-
ther; the rage of the Indians has diminifhed
with their numbers, and nothing now en-
gages their attention but hunting and fifh-
ing.
y
48
INDIANS.
ing, which, from their peaceable behavi-
our, are both rendered ferviceable to the
colony. Some few, indeed, have been obr
ferved to be difpleafed at the great number
of white perfons, who, fince their migra*
tion, have, of necefiity, deftroyed fome of
the beft hunting lands that were in the
ne^hbourhood of the harbours they occu*-
py ; but their weaknefs, added to their pru^
dence, will certainly prevent them from
making any difturbance.
Their numbers, once £b formidable, are
now reduced to I'uch a degree as to forebode
the entire annihilation of the race ; and it
has often beeti obferved, with ilridt truth,
that they are continually degenerating and
decreafing in all countries peopled by Eu<-
ropeans. This is not, however, owing to
wars among themfelves, or with others, no-'
thing of that kind having happened fot
many years. It is chiefly to be afcribed
either to the immoderate ufe of fpiritous li-^
quors of the very worft kind, purchafed of
the
INDIANS.
49
the white' people, or to the imrodudion of
the fmali pox into North America, which,
at different periods, has committed dreadful
ravages amongft ;.:em. A fmall dofe of li-
quor never fatisfies them. They drink it
unmixed, until they can drink no more,,
and then become literally mad. This^ from
a frequent repetition,' enfeebles and befots
them, deadens and benumbs the nervous
fyftem, and, whilft it irritates, weakens and
deftroys the organs of generation, as well
as thofe fentiments of \ affedion and regard
which mutually attra<A and unite the lexes,
and of which the Indians are by no meains
deftitute, when free from a habit of intoxi-^
cation. It is not, however, uncommon to
fee a whole fa:mily carrying in their facesr
the marks of this brutal vice, and every
mufcle fixed in th^^alm ftupidity of ine-
briation.
Their features, when young, are general-
ly very good, efpectaily the girls, who have
fine eyes, teeth, and hair. After marriage^
G and
50
/
INDIANS.
and bearing children, they fuddenly lofe
their youthful look, and aifume an aged
and emaciated appearance. This remark is
not, indeed, without exceptions, as many
of them arrive to a very advanced age, con-
trary to what might be generally expeded,
from the wandering and expofed life th*y
continually lead, and the hardfhips ^hac
muft be endured as a neceiTary confe-
quence*
The fmall-pox, that difeafe, which in our
hemifphere, has fo often proved a fatal
fcourge to mankind, could find but little re-
fi{\J6tice from a people who, before their
intercourfe with Europe, knew no diftem-
pers, but fuch as proceed from exceflive
heats or tolds, and unacquainted with a
medicine capable of diverting or flopping
its progrefs ; confequently the devaflation
committed by it has been fo great, as to
imprefs their minds with an idea of its being
the worfl and moH: confummate of evils that
can befall mankind. Thus, of all the tribes
known
INDIANS.
5«
known by the general name of Abenakies,
once fo numerous, and even efteemed
as powerful, nb more remain at prefent than
eleven or twelve hundred of all ages and
defcriptions, which feem to be ftill decrea-
fing in the fame manner as in every other
part of America.
The men are ftout made, and have ftrong
bones ; but their mufcles are apparently
fmaller than thofe of the Europeans, and
are fuited to their manner of life, which
requires more agility than ftrength. Their
height is well proportioned; for it never
exceeds (ix feet, and is feldom lefs than the
talleft of the middle fize. Their complexion,
by nature of a copper colour, is rendered
flill darker by going conftantly expofed to
the air, and negleding to wafli. The red
paint, with which they formerly befmeared
their faces, is now almod totally difufed,
except in Canada-, where it is often made to
exprefs war, either begun or intended, and
ftill oftener as an ornament to heighten the
natural
I-
^^1
m
I '
5a
INDIANS.
natural beauty ; the paint moft edeemed for
this purpofe, is vermilion, as being the
brighteft and mod durable.
•
The hair of the beard and eye-brows,
that on the fore part of the head, and eve-
ry other part of the body, is carefully
plucked out by the roots when they are
young. The reafon affigned for this cuf-
tom is, to ufe their own expreflion, that
the hair left upon the back of the head
may not be Jlarved by the fupcrnumerary
hair which grows upon other parts of the
body, though it perhaps originated amongft
their anceftors, from obferving the propri-
ety of fliutting up the glandular palTages,
and thereby rendering themfelves lefs liable
to be hurt by the colds and damps of the
furrounding atmofphere, to which, as a na-
tural confequence of their wandering and
unfettled life, they are more expofed than
the people of any other qation. The hair
upon their heads is always long and black ;
ag
as u
trim
INDIANS.
SS
as 18 alfo the hair and eyes of every Indian
tribe in North America.
as
Their laiiguage founds ftrong to the ear,
but is attended with a foft breathing, or'
kind of refpiration, which degenerates at
times into a guttural noife for a moment,
and then goes on fmoothly as before, h
is exceedingly expreffive, and ccntains few
words, as arifing from a quick and lively
fenfation of vifible objeds, which prompts
them to exprefs, as it were in a moment,
ideas that would take time and reflexion'
in us to paint to the life ; whilft their fur-
prife, ignorance, or indignation, give birth
tb thoughts and expreflions, warm, afto-
niihing, and fublime ; of which a thoufand
examples might be given, by perfons con-
verfant with their dialed^.
■#.
Born and bred up in a ftate purely natu-
ral, they are extremely jealous of their in-
dependence. As they believe all men equal,
their principal abhorrence to a civilized way
of
54
I N D I AN S.
of life feems to arife from what they Ob-
ferve among the nations that (tile them bar-
barians, whofe corruptions, and falfe ideas
of things, th^y, affed to defpife j .and none
more than the refpeft that is paid to riches,
which, as they juftly remark, are frequent-
ly ppflefled by the moft worthlefs of man-
kind.
m
No form of government can be faid to
fubfiQ: among them. Each little hard or
tribe pays Tome deference to an old man,
who is regfu'ded for his wifdom and expe-
rience. Hp fpeaks upon all public occa-
lions that concern the community, the reft
meanwhile obferving a profound filence ;
and his language is generally decent, fome-
times bombaftic and fwelling, but always
fenfible, and delivered with gravity.
The Roman Catholick religion is uni-
verfally profjcfTed, and they wear a fmall cru-
cifix, as an emblem of their faith. This
fenfe of religioq has fo far an influence up-
on
I N D* I A N S.
55
on them, a« to bring grett liumberi from
t)»e moft diftant parts of the provinct to
St John's river, where a Pried of ih$ Ro*
mifli communion comes annually fromC^
nada, to baptize, confefs, and MoU§ tbefll)
for which ht is generally Hcomptntid hf
a fmall pareel of furs from the hftd of
each family* i^^^' '*' ">
'^rit
fir n%n* '<i t **Mh'|
Their fubfiftence depends entirely ttpmi'
huntin^nd fifhing; employment* thft oe*
cupy al^ft the whole of their liyeif to
which their canoes are a necelTflry tppetl-
d$gej and inthe conftruftion of It, the \n^
genuity of an Indian is chiefly dtfpliycd«
The bark of a vei*y large birch tree, fmodth,
and fi'ee from IcnotSy is cut With a Uitehitf
pcrpendiciiiarly through on one fidf, «ti(t
then taken gradually^ and whh grtut ift|
off the tree. Being laid upon the gfOttild,
the two ends are neatly ieived up,' 19 »re
the cracks or fiiTures caufed by taking the
l^ark off, with f#aU withs made of (pruee
or pine ; the wife is employed m euit\n^
fm»n
i'.
fi
>■':•
56
INDIANS.
fmaH hoopt, half an inch thick, and three
broad, to . ferve as ribs or timbers to
ftrengthen it; th^e are placed crofswife, at
fome diftance, the whole length ; a gun-
wate, about an inch thick, is now ftrongly
fewcd to the canoe with the fame materials,
a nail ferving as a needle, and the Teams
covered with melted rofin. The canoe, on
being put into the water, is deftined to car-
ry the whole family, coniiAing fometimes
of five or fix perfons, and likewHe the
guns, ammunition, and baggage r hut the
laft of thefe is feldom very cumberfome*
This beautiful little work, which is onlyii
eighteen feet long, two broad, and one>
deep, which is deftituteof keel, fail, or
rudder, and . weighs only eighty or ninety
pounds^ is ufed in tranfponing them acrofs
the mouth pfjthe Bay of Fundy, a greater
diftance, and more dangerous navigation,
than the Chanel of England.
The cauQc, with the gunj tomahawk/
and fome few implements for fifhing, con-
ftitute
INDIANS.
;*7
^(litute the whole riches of an Indian fami-
Jy ; the furs taken in the chace being; but
too often exchanged for rum, the deftroyer
of their race, and the bane of their nation.
The children, as foon as born, are plun^
ged into cold water, to harden them, and
increafe their (Irength. Afterwards, they
are faftened to a board about two feet
long, with their back againd ir, the arms,
head, and legs, being left at liberty ; and in
this pofition they continue until able to go
alone. The reafon given for this ftrange
cuftom, which prevails univerfally among
the Indians, is, that it makes them grow
flreight and handfome ; but a more obvi-
ous caufe feems to be, that it is convenient
for the mother to carry her offspring thus
through the woods, where the eyes of an
infant would be in continual danger from
the boughs of trees, if born about in a?./
other waj', or the canoe might be over-
turned, if a child was left at liberty to move
about in it. The infenfibility of cold, and
H other
III
•m
m
-^
58
INDIANS.
other hardfliips, obfervablc even in chil-
dren of the tendered age, arifes from that
bluntnefs of the nervous fyftem which cuf-
tom and necefllty, through fucceflive gene-
rations, have at length naturalifed, and
rendered perfectly familiar.
f
In conclufion.— Let not men, born un-?
der happier climates, and in the bofom of
civilized nations, where learning and fci-
ences have long been cultivated, and gra^
dually brought to maturity, draw rafli in-?
ferences from what has been faid of their
manners and cuiloms, as if they were a
people wholly immerfed in barbarifm, ene-
mies to improvement, and incapable of in-
ftrudion : On the contrarv, let it be con-
fidcred, that the leading charafteriftics,
which diftinguifh man from the beafts of
the fieid in fo eminent a degree, even in
his natural (late, are in a peculiar manner
ftamped upon them. The moft perfe^ no-
tions of right and wrong, of fubordination
to God, as jgovernour of the univerfe, and
fubmiflioa
INDIANS.
59
fubmiffion to his will, are but a fmall part
of that knowledge which they pofTefs from
Nature; and, whilft we deplore the dark-
tiefs in which they are ftill buried, let us
not forget, that very few ages have elapfed
iince the greater part of Europe was in a
fimilar (late; and that the fame meana
which have beien ufed by DiviaeProvidence
to refcue fo many nations from the chains
of ignorance, is perfedly adequate to the
fame purpofe again, and may one day break
forth, like the meridian fun, to difpel the
clouds with which this wefterq^ world is,
benighted, iince neither good natural aM-
lities, nor yet a defire to be inftruded, are
wanting, for bringing to perfedion fuch a
defirable event.
BEASTS.
Q
B E A ST S.
np'HE beafts of this province are com-
JL mon to Canada, the wolf excepted,
which is Teldom found in Nova Scotia. Of
the wild, or nurtJFui: animals, the firft is the
bear. The chace of this beaft, which is
far from being dangerous, is a great favou-
rite with the Indians, as generally affording
bot» pirofif and diverfion. He is common-
ly black, and in winter fomewhat fhy, but
not fierce. During this feafon, being very
fat, his lodging is ufually the trunk of an
old tree, where, regardlefs of every thing,
he
BE A S T S.
et^
he fleepd jperpenially, until forced from his
retreat by a (hot, 6r a fire which is made
under him.' The moment he falls he is
defpatched, in order to prevent rtiifchief;
but, if undifturbed, is. a perfectly hartoleft
animal.
The wild ciat, though much fmaller, is
more dreaded both by man and beaft. This
animal very much refembles the fmall do-*
medic creature whofe name it bears, and is
of the fize of a middling dog. It was cal-
led Lynx by the ancients, and is welt
known in Siberia. It is larger than the
wild cat of Canada, is very ftrong and
fierce, and endowed with great fagacity,
acutenefs of fight, fmell, and hearing, pur-
fuing its prey to the tops of the tailed trees,
and, has the courage to attack even the hu-
man fpecies, if fpurred on by hunger. The
flefii is accounted good food, the fkin va-
Itia ..; as being fcarce, and the hair long,
of a fine grey colour, fomewhat flriped,
and inclining to yellow upon the belly.
Foxes
6a
BE A S T Si^
Foxes of two forts are here, and they rc?^.
tain the fame mifchievous and wily difpo-
fitions remarked of the race in the other
countries. The moft efteemed fort is that
whofe fur *s of a heautiful filver gray, long
and full. The other is nearly the fame as
the Engliih Fox ; it preys upon birds, fquir-
rels, and in fhort any animal it can mafter,
as thefe frozen climates fel^om leave the
carnivorous tribes any choice in winter, but
that of deftroying others Weaker than them-
felv^s. The black fox^ the moil valuable'
of the fpecies, is feldom if ever feen here*
The moufe is a fpecies of deer, and per-
haps the largeft animal of the kind in the!
world, it being from fourteen to' Seventeen
hands in height, and from tight hundred
to a thousand pound weight. Its legd are
very long, and fomething fmaller than thofe
of a horfe. The male is furniflied with
horns proportioned to its fize, being ten dr
twelve feet from tip to tip. When chafed
by the Indians, its horns are laid back upon
its
BEASTS.
63
its flioulders, and in this pofture, its ftrength
and velocity are fo great as to break dowii
and deftroy fmall trees and branches of a
confiderable fize. The only time for hunt-
ing them is in winter, when the fnow lies
deep, and fo frozen on the top as to bear
the weight of men and dogs ; for then the
beaft, from its great weight, and by reafon
of its fmall feet fmking in at every ftep, is
foon overtaken and deftroyed. The (kin,
as well as the flefh of thefe animals, is very
good ; and of their amazing numbers we
may in fome degree form an eftimate, from
thofe killed laft winter, in only one fettle-
ment, they amounting to at leail four
thoufand.
1
i
The pole-cat, whofe (linking properties
have- become proverbial, is of two or three
kinds ; all of which, however, afford a
beautiful, foft, and glofly fur. The difa-'
gr^eable fmell obfervable in this creature,
proceeds entirely from its urine, which its
fears,- on being clofe purfued, frequently
force
ii
64
B ¥ A S T 9.
force it to emit ; and on fuch occafions
neither man nor beaft can approach it ; na-
ture, in with-holding from it other weapons,
having, as a recompenfe, thus furniihed it
with the means of providing for its fafety.
The opoiTum is an animal fhaped like our
rats, but larger, and its hair is grey or filver
coloured. It is furniihed with a falfe belly
or (kin that hangs beneath the true one,
and can be opened^ or fhut at pleafure.
When flie is purfued, the young ones go
into this bag and efcape with the parent.
The animals of this clafs are not fo numer-
rous as the rats, which abound in the mar-
fhes, and are remarkable for the fmell of
mufk obferved in them. Thefe creatures
are larger than the rats with us, and have
a ilrong refemblance to the beaver. The
tail is flat and marked, but without hair ;
their mufcles are large, the feet behind web-
bed, and colour the fame as that animal of
which it feems a feems a fpecies, and par*?.
takes
BEASTS.
65
takes of feveral of its qualities. Tlie fur
though fhort is accounted very good.
The ermine is very fmall, but beautiful
to an extreme. Its eyes are keen, and its
motions quick and lively. Its fkin is very
valuable, being as white as fnow in winter,
except the tail which is black. This crea-
ture is feldom feen, and very rarely taken ;
and its fcarcity makes it therefore lefs
fought after than the martin or fable, whofe
fur is very beautiful, commonly of a dark
brown, and fometimes (but rarely) quite
black. Thefe animals being very ihy, are
always found in the inmoft recefles of the
woods ; the north fide of the Province, be-
yond the bay of Fundy, is heft ilocked with
them, and their fur is one of the moft e-
ileemed of any in the world.
The porcupine is found in the fame part
of the colony, but is too well known, and
of fo ufelefs a nature, as not to need any
defcription. Squirrels of feveral kinds a-
I bound
m ,
66
BEASTS.
i'l
bound every where, and affbrd excellent
fport to thofe who are fond of (hooting.
The feal, though of an amphibious na-
ture, claims our notice as a land animal ;
for it is upon land he is bred, and where
he lives more than upon the water. Thefe
creatures follow the flioals of herrings thro*
their various emigrations, devouring them
in great nunibers, and then retire to the
fhore to fleep. If cut off from their re-
treat to the water (which is not very often
the cafe, as one who is left to watch is con-
ftantly upon the look out) they will fight
and throw ftones with great force to avoid
being taken ; and the confequence is they
are commonly killed in the fray.
The Bay of Fundy abounds with them
in the fpring, and a fifliery of fome extent
might be eftablifhed there for the purpofc
of procuring their oil, which is preferable
to that of the whale ; their fkin alfo is very
highly and very juftly efteemed for its
many
BEASTS.
67
xcellent
ting.
0U8 na-
mimal ;
I where
Thefe
gs thro*
g them
to the
leir re-
y often
is con-
1 fight
avoid
is they
I them
extent
)urpofe
ferable
8 very
or its
many
many good qualities, and the ufes to which
it is applied in feveral manufactures.
The beaver, whofe fur is fo ufeful for a
thoufand purpofes, is a timid animal, but of
a focial nature, and poireiTes a degree of
infti^A that is amazing. His colour is of
a dark brown, the hair very thick, fine, and
glolTy. Of all our animals, he is neareft in
fhape to the fmall quadruped, called a gui-
ney-pig. His hind feet are webbed like thofe
of a water fowl ; the fore feet are ftrong
and armed with (harp claws, for digging and
building ; and his tail, which is flat and
without hair, is about nine inches in length
and five in breadth. He is of great ftrength,
as is apparent from the conftrudion of his
bones and mufcles ; nor ought he to pafs
unnoticed, in refpedt to the ftrange life he
leads in his natural i^ate;
Before the approach of winter, thefe ani-
mals aflemble in large troops, in. order to
build their houfes, which are always fitua-
ted
.j;-»*iQi-Oi*l«. ■*•-.■
69
BEASTS.
ted by the water, for the double advantage
oi fafety and fubfiftence. If a ftill water
or lake does not prefent itfelf, they find out
the (hallo weft part of a river, over which
a large tree projects ; this they quickly fell,
fo as to lie acrofs the ftream ; to efifedt it,
* their only inftrumentd • are the four large
teeth, obfervable in feveral other animals ;
and a number of ftakes of various fizes,
being procured by the fame means, and
placed floping to the current againft the
trunk of the fallen tree, they twift them to-
gether with boughs, and, laftly, fill up with
earth, drawn from the fhore upon their
tails, and worked in amongft the ftakes
with great labour by the help of their fore
feet.
The wholf work, which is a public con-
cern, when finiihed, leaves the mind loft in
aftonifhment at viewing an immenfe caufe*
way, perhaps thirty yards long, and four
or five thick, raifed without hands, in the
midft of a river : Few people would think
but
-,. ... '-.••wit, „^'*J. «iv
BEASTS.
^
but that it was a work of man for ibmc
ufeful pufpofe ; but what follow! d\(eo^er§
the artizans. Their houfe ii built upon
this pile : It is formed of mud ftrongty ce«
mented together, and perfedly round| con*
taining feveral apartments, and i« OM, two«
or three ftories in height, in proportion to
the number of inhabitants that are to 0C«
cupy it. The houfe is impenetrible to
wind or rain, bat has two doori, one to*
wards the land, through which the provi*
fions are brought, commonly confifting of
poplar and alder twig»^ and the Other tO«
ward the water, in order to effcCt an efeipf,
if found neceflary. The floor of the foottft
is covered with grafs or bougbi, ftn4 kept
very clean. The (lore- room, or oui'houitf
belonging to each family, is kept conftftflt^
ly full of twigs, placed regularly, a» a te*
ferve of food againft bad or (lormy wettheTi
when they feldom venture abroad.
No creature U fonder of its young, or
receives from them a more grat^ul r£iuro/
The
70
BEASTS.
The beaver, when grown up, will not for-
fake his parents ; and the old and infirm,
when taken, ihew evident marks of having
been fed, either by their own immediat|s
defcendents, or the community at large.
This animal, whofe life is To much fought
after, like his deftroyer, the Indian, is con-
flantly retiring from the white fettlers, and
growing every day fcarcer. A few ages
hence he will only be known, like the fo-
litary creature that bears his name in Eu-
rope : His love of fociety will center in a
regard to his own prefervation ; and luxu-
ry muft dired its endeavours to difcover a
new object wherewith to fatiate its appe-
tite for novelty,
^^he caribou, an animal fmaller by one.
half than the mpufe, has been, however,
generally confounded with it. Its fleih
and {kin are more highly prized by the na-
tives than thofe of the latter, being efteem-
ed the beft of the deer kind in America ;
they
BEASTS.
7«
they arc very (hy, and feldom fccn even by
the natives. A large and extenfive plain,
lying north-eaft of St John's river, is the
only place where the taking of them is ac-
counted certain ; for very few are to be
found in the peninfula, or near any fettle-
ment.
The otter, a creature tolerably well
known in Europe, is a voracious animal,
fubfifting chiefly on fi(h, and inhabiting the
banks of rivers, or pools of freih water.
He is larger than the Engliih otter, can
dive very well, and continue a long time
under water. His hair is a very good fur,
long and fine, and inclining to a dark
brown. Its goodnefs makes thefe animals
very much an objedl to the Indians in hunt-
ing, and they are often found in confide*
rable numbers.
FUR
Ml
>f
il
7*^
i
fi.f'i
i
IHli|
?|il
FUR TRADE.
IT ^<td the misfortune of a neighbour-
ing kingdom, when polTeiTed of colo-
nies in North America, to have minifters,
who, blind from ignorance, prejudice, or
avarice, to the true interefts both of their
country and its colonies, facrificed the fafe-
ty of the one, and the profperity of the
other, to a temporary branch of commerce,
which yielded, indeed, a temporary flow of
wealth and revenue, but was utterly defli**
tute of that foundation, for its continuance,
which can alone conftitute the real worth
of
tUR TRAPEi
73
of utiy kind of trade, or make it ufeful to
a colony.
This was the fur trade, which, unhappi- ,
ly, engrofEng all their attention, diverted .
them from giving due encouragement to a-
gricuhure, which, in a neiv country, is the
only fure defence againft either prefent or
future evils.
Uti^i
jy.u ^
J I ->
The people, dreading to become the
flaves of a proud and lazy noblefle, already
pofle fled of exorbitant grants of land, and
having before them, alfo, the fear of reli"
gious^ added to civil oppreffions, were but
too ready to fecond the views of the Mini*
fter, and to follow the chace with eager-
nelSjinthe purluit of furs, when they fliould
have been employed in the cukivation of
, ' their lands : Thus was a colony, which,
from its fituation and local advantages,
. might have ferved as a buhvark to tlie
French Weft India iilands, rendered a mere
:^ r ■ %_ K. burthen
74 F IJ R TRADE.
il
r-.JV
i.«n»j,
burthen to the mother country, long before
it was attacked and taken.
From the refult of fuch miftaken policy,
let other Hates learn wifdom. It is not
the immediate profit arifmg from a fa*
vourite branch of commerce, th*t is to be
coniidered, efpecially in a national point of
view, but the probable and future confe-
quences attending it. To place this matter
in a dill flronger point of light, let it be
fuppofed, that all the inhabitants of Nova
Scotia, inftead of cutting down the woods,
clearing their lands, and extending the
fifheries, were to be altogether employed
in hunting, in order to procure furs : It is
afked, what the confequence would be ?
the anfwer is obvious ; they might, for a
fhorttime, raife a confiderable revenue, and
the Province would probably, during that
time, maintain itfelf ; but, in the end, the
nation would be impoveriflied, in providing
a fupport for fo many idle perfons, and
the colony itfelf be entirely ruined.
This
FUR TRADE.
75
This
, This trade muft therefore be left entire-
ly; to itfelf, as every attempt to increafe the
quantity (if fuch attempts are not confined
to the Indians) will be attended with a pro-
portional decreafe of more ufeful labour. It
is juft, however, to confider it as the third,
though lead important fource of commerce,
which nature has beflowed upon Nova
Scotia; but, even as fuch, the fur trade
muft never be fuffered to come in compe-
tition with the fifheries, or thofe advanta-
ges they may expert to reap from their
woods, much lefs to interfere with the im-
provements of agriculture, which, with the
two laft, are fully fufficient to make this
one of the mod ufeful and flourifhing fet-
tlements Great Britain has ever poflefled.
By means of St John's river, and the
livers which difcharge themfelves into the
Bay of Fundy at its head, the Indians will
be able to bring their furs from all parts of
the country that lie betv^een the peninfu-
ia and the river St Laurence. There the
f-A. . game
ll
■M'i'
Mm
i
iit
ii
76 FUR T R A D fi,
game abounds ; and, as the natives arfc tliQ
propereft perfons to be employed in this
way, the advantages might be much e»-
tended, if a road was cut from the head of
St John's River towards Quebec ; and if
intelligent perfons were alfo fent to view
that part of the country, (as being little
frequented even by the Indians), in order
to find out a fituation fit for a fettlement,
and to prevent the trade from paffing to the
weftward, which it poffibly might do, if
any navigable water extended that way.
Monopolies have been at all times hurt^
ful to induftry, and flill more fo to com-
merce. Every kind of reflraint that is laid
upon thir^ trade niuft therefore hurt it, in-
ftead of anfwering the intended purpofe of
doing it good ; and, like a plant left to its
own native foil, if left to itfelf, it will be
found to thrive the better. In fine, it is
impoffible the extent of the advantages can
be afcertained which the province may re-
ceive from it. Thus far it may be affirm-
are tb^
in this
ich c»-
head of
and if
to view
cig little
n order
lement,
g to the
t do, if
way.
es hurt-
:o com-
t is laid
it, in-
rpofe of
ft to its
will be
le, it is
ges can
may re-
affirm-
ed,
FUR TRADE. 77
ed, that it is a thing which, though capable
of great improvement^ has this farther to
recommend it, that the perfeverance of the
inhabitants in giving encouragement to it,
by trading upon reafonable terms with the
Indians, is fully adequate to the purpofe of
rendering it; as much as pollible, advanta-
geous either to Great Britsun ot themfelves.
I .
NEW
!10;I1-
■tM ■ jVi
:v ^
•-S>^ T^^^i^-;^,
0'
';iii?%fr-i' hf^^- ' X
kf^Tn
^«f¥#*^«^^^i. ii5f^:f5,i
• iv
;Arr
•or
lU
I fli^l
■ -!* .
■'^!!;HI
j8
"f
rr
.0, .
NEW SETLLEMENTS, TOWNS,
^9> >.*4 AND H ARROURS*
efe-<
TH £ tituation of this country, confi-
dered in every point of view, is far
more advantageous for Great Britain to be
poiTefled of than any other on the whole
Continent of North America, whether in
refpeft to its conne£tion with Canada,
Newfoundland, Cape Breton, St John's If-
land, and the fiflieries, or to its being much
nearer to the mother country than any o-
ther Province \ and, above all, for the fu«»
perior excellence and number of its har-*
hours, creeks, and inlets j to which we
may add the facility wherewith it can fup-
NEW SETTLEMENTS, &c, 7^
ply our Weft India xflands, in conjundion
with Canada, with all the various kinds of
lumber, Htc ftock, fifh, fait prorifions, and
flour, which they formerly purchafed from
the revolted colonies, and that at a cheap-
er rate than the latter can afford them, whilft
the navigation laws of this kingdom are
wifely permitted to ad as they have hither-
to done.
Many perfons unacquainted with the
nature of this country, and of thofe above
mentioned, which ftill belong to us, and
others equally blinded by prejudice, have
formed to themfelves a very difadvanta-
geous idea, and reprefented the whole as
unworthy the attention of government, and
afferted, that very little of it is capable of
cultivation or any kind of improvement.
To fuch it may be fufficient to obferve, that
although the provifional treaty formed un-
der the powerful intervention of France,
has fecured to the States of America large
tradts of country, on which they never be-
fore
m
111-
1^
m
8o NEW SETTLEMENTS,
fore pretended to have the leaft claim ; yet
that what remains is of fuch value as to be
capable, v^ith judicious management, of
rendering more eflential benefit to Great
Britain than was ever yet derived by her
from any of the ancient colonies. Amongft
other things it ought to be rems:mbered, that
the colonies fouth of Nova Scotia have very
few harbours that can be compared with
many poffefTed by the latter, if any at all,
excepting that of Rhode Ifland, which is
certainly the bed in the territories of the
United States : All the others have fome
material defedt, either in point of fitua-
tion, the towns upon them being commonly
at too great a diflance from the Tea, or in
being barred harbours, and incumbered with
various dangers.
a
The province of Maine *, as that part of
the coaft has generally been called, which
lies
1 Sh-flitU
* Perhaps no country in the world produces better
timber of all kinds, for fliip-buikiing, as well as for
mafts and yards, which makes its lofs the more regret-
ted.
n; y^t
i8 to be
;nt, of
Great
by her
mongft
ed, that
ve very
id with
r at all,
rhich is
of the
e fome
fitua-
imonly
or in
;d with
part of
which
lies
es better
I as for
rcprct-
,TOWNS AND HARBOURS. 8 r
lies to the eaftward of the State of New
Hamplhire, and joins to Nova Scotia, was
given up to the Americans at the late peace,
thovigh commonly fuppofed to be within
the Hitiits of the latter Province. It is thin-
ly inhabited, but has fome tolerably good
harbours, where there are fettlements, from
which moft of the lumber, formerly fent by
the New Englanders to the Weft Indies,
was. procured, being cut by the faw mills at
Mechios, and other places, forming a prin-
cipal part of the commerce of the eai^ern
colonies.
lln making obfervations upon, and defcri-.
bing the different harbours and fettlements,*
it will be moft proper to begin at the place
where the boundary line commences, and
proceding from thence to the head of the
Bay of Fundy, return again to the weft ward
in a contrary diredion ; and, after viewing'
the places moft confpicuous, along the
fouth (hore.of the peninfula, extend our:
remarks
t'iHtlitf-'i K.ft
"•"li.
US
m
:t'«;
jit
ill 'III
"I !l|
i
m
li
^ I
'^
is
82 NEW SETTLEMENTS,
remarks to the eafttnoft extremity of the
Province.
The Irne is fuppofed to commence upon
the fea coaft, in latitude 43^ 10' N. longi-
tude 66^ 50' weft of London, at the ifland
of Grand Manan, which lies two leagues
from the main land, on the north fide, at
the entrance into the Bay of Fundy, and
has feveral fmall rocks, or iflands, near it,
on the fotith frde, which form a harbour.
Inhere, ar certain feafons of the year, the
cod and feal iifheries may be profecuted to
advantage. The ifland is every where
covered with good timber, but is entirely
deflitme of inhabitants, except fome Indians
who land upon it occafionallyr It is about
fourteen miles in length, and nine in breadth,
very ftcep and craggy on all fidest but co-»
vered with an excellent foil, capable of am-
[^y rewarding the labours that are neceiTary
for its cultivation ; however, it is not yet
known whether it is to belong to Great
Britain or to America.
Id
TOWNS, AND HARBOURS, »i
4 In fight of the above ifland, and lo mitfi
diftant from it, is a large and deep bfy^
which dill retains its Indian name of Paila«
maquoddy, having a great number of Hi'dn6§
at its entrance, ot various dimenrionf^ tb«
principal of which, called Cathpo UeWo, h«#
feveral loyaliih fettled upon it, and foffl«
tilled land.
In
The harbours that He within tfc« bty
are equal in goodnefs to any in the world|
and alike fitted for carrying on tb« \amh(it
trade to the Weil Indies, the fiQierie*^ ifld
(hip-building. The facility of conftfuAiflg
docks and fhips, for the latter purpofe, h
perfectly obvious, having great (lore 0f%o§d
timber every where in the ncigbbourboed
of the bay, as well as a very eonCider»Me
rife and fall of the tide, which, though net
fo great as at St John's Uivcr, and othat
places farther up the Bay of Fundy, con-
tributes to render the fituation fuperlof fO
them in a comparative view, when <hip«
building is confidered as the principal thing
r'-
1 f-a
^,
■ ^
^t^^-
IMAGE EVALUATION
TEST TARGET (MT-3)
A*
ISr
^.^
^J^
^
1.0
I.I
i5o ^^^^ H^^B
S liS 120
11.25 i 1.4
1.6
Photographic
Sciences
Coiporation
23 V^EST MAIN STREET
WEBSTER, N.Y. MSM
(716)872-4503
t
5^
H"'-
r«#Aiil^ate^ in a nv^^lr cMfetf'SlCmiNv^icb
br4kuiH^« bott mtoi ftliree (iiHih^ thM^oeb 3
ftti4 thfefe oMikiog .con^eriahlb anglei wii^
each other, have cauiTed a mifupdeFftan^iiig
between the pcrfons appointed to fettle the
Hinits^^of both couQtHe£S) i» the line between
thein wii to be drawii^ flxmr the head of
fhir rWer, and i^ temainsuilniJeckled "tvhidi
bf (he thfee 4irancheS' ift td be called, the
head. The lanc|8 in general that liie #ound
about thein are not bnly .very good, but the
fuperior excellence of the Uinb^r inak^s tc
kn obje^ to.thitt country tO contend fcri-
^ufly for every foot of tci:ritory to wh^
{he is entitled.
St Andrews is a h^ndfome town bqilf )^
the loyalifts upon the river abovf mentioi^
ed, confiftlng of 6oq houfes, the fituittian
bf which^ though in fome refpeds well
chofen,
T0o:mmima3fmAKiK)vm.' h
.-.xi
from the fcay s^^^^bcfidestlkis^iilldinuliiakgeit
h«Si«dly'£z fi^Iwatir HiM haibonr ilipbn
r^rved before, in the whole Province hhf^
ier ikuated for ihip-building. They have
t^ ,€0id li^i^^vidi (Wt dsdq: ^iibon^ ihd
pmfifefi^ > tlic! fingul^r: j^dvantagfr '■ bt> bdiig
fcki^ely dvier inobmmbdcd : ^tdi tihe fogs *
vdiiobvpr^viiil.idn imaftyiodierfHutSjpf idid
coaitfeverial months in the yeir^ .IThe tii«^
habitabtft at SCf AiHii?^t».aiidm iti vkinityt
atoaunt tjsi upwakdtiof three thtfiilaiid of
all forta $ and na p^o^e 3oii the conthiefit
ate loaqpable xif heif^/ more ' oiefidly Induf^
tcroQff io proiportibQtothsiiir nmnbers,
iBeaver hsrbbiir it a fmdl port, ^'leagues
eaft of Pafiamai{uoddy^ fettled % the: reH>
fi^tt, about €00 Iki number^ Who have
bMlt ai towtn^om it, the fituatibn of which
* The great number of iflandi lying in % bay
tM«ak and diTperie the fegs, caofing them to rife m
fofin of vapour.
\
x:
ieemi to be^ well chofen foe carrying>*pfl
the fiikcrjr, if their harbour was not,tzr
pofed to the foutherly winds that fom&f
times prevail and |)lowtvery hard upoo the
COaft. . . • i : ;.;.
From this place to St John's River, £•
N. £. diftant 12 leagues, the land appears
moderately high and rocky, with a bold
ihore, entirely free from danger, but de-
fUtute of any other than one fmall harbour,
only capable of iheltcring fiihing veflels a-
gaipft all winds. Off the mouth of St
John's river, lies a fmall ifland, high,
rocky, and covered with wood, near to
which fhips muft pafs, in going in or out
of the river ; and as it lies at a fmall di-
ftance from the main land, is equally fitted
to afford pibtedion to the river againft an e*
nemy, and for the eredion of a light^houfe,
Ck^Iguide (hips in pafling up and down : the
bay, being very confpicuous for feveral
;^eague8. ' • • . u:.^:u....u
/':^Thl
the ha
ifland,
entran
and pc
The
ingcoi
cit>ach
grfeat d
ticular]
flood ih
IbWf th
bepaflc
river is
70 mile
thm|;'
rains fa
^ry, wl
of Afiri
up tl^e i
,,!l v R?^ _').
'vu-
The
Atth
TOWNS, ANDi HARBOXIM* tf
'5!Fltt ^own b btttie upbn the c^ fid^ of
the harbouf, wkbin two miles of Partridge
iflaiid, which, lying directly opFtofite to^the
entrance of the river^ • breaks off : the fea^
and perfedly (heltera it froai jdl winds. :
The river, a mile above the^town, by^be-
ing confined between ibme rock^ ithat taV
chuuth upon it cdnfiderably, though of a
grtet depth, has a lafge fall or rftpid, pari
ticularly upon the febb tidcv ; When thd
flood (has r^eil i ^ feet in the harbour bet-
lOwj the'faUsiare fmOoth, and continue to
be paflable for About to minuses, and jtho^
river is navigable from) henCe "Upwfards of
76 miles, for vi^fiels of; 80 to i^ tops biir«
thbl^r^'In times of great frelhe^, when, the
rains fall, and^he fnows melt in the coun-
Ifry, which' is eommonly from the middle-r
of A^ril to the beginning of June, the falia
are'ab(blutdy imjpafiable to veilHs bound'
tide does not rife to
their.
up the ritet
■.ip» as
f At the diftance of fizty miles from the Tea, the
river
fixiSs t<d^tifii^llyr'dd«»h^ viyofigh tie hatw
Ytffth thk> are bound in ^oih enieriiigv
unlefs tfififted fafy a fairivind* (i...rr^;j ui/,
•rd.
' Th^ town confiftsr of* Qpwanrds of ' tWo
ihbufiiid hbufcs^ maby of which are large
andip^eiwaili;' and being built upoft' a neck
of land j l^lftiOft efftU^^I^ forrouoded by tb^
kk'^ is tliereby reAdet«d ek^eeditfg pleafatic*
This ftreeti' bate 1»een Wgularly laidiouty
ai^ frotti >j*o to (So- feet in bi^eadtliy ftnd
afoTs tadh dther ar right angles; eorrisi^omd*'
ing with the four oardihar points, cTiery-
hottfe pofMing 60 fbet ii^ front by i 'ao in
■■•■.> ^6rffh-;iftidc|lAi;
-nun) t-Jj ri 1
oi?ft. »'r
;(
!.r:l>fti^i
ifvar'ieooiintintcates with a Isurge piece of watsT) fitufitedt
vprUj^g 4eptbs, is. navjg9bl«,i|itQ.t))e, river, ]^^^.tj^
rifes four feet perpcindiqular in it, has good hui^ <^
its borders, and is welfftored with'fiih ; pit coal, of 'a
qni^ftf fuperior to that at Cape Breton, has lately been
difcovered, and brought to Parrtown from thence.
•r. V.I
^5i
TOWNS, AND HARBOURS. 89
depth, makes it capable of becoming one
o£ the beft cities in the New World, as th«
ground whereon it is built is of a moderate
height, and rifes gradually from the water.
■ d I .
No place on the north fide of the Bay
of Fundy poiTeiTes equal advantages with
this, for becoming a place of general trader
the river extending not only much further
into the country, than any, other in the
Province, but likewife has upon its banks
liMTge trads of land, equal in goodnefs to
any in America, for railing both corn and
live-ftock ; while its woods, abounding
with the beft of timber, will enable it.tQ
carry on a trade for lumber with the Weft
Indies, and to vie with New Kngland in
the fhip- building bufiners, which Was one
of its principal branches of commerce be-
fore the rebellion. When the woods on
the lands near the river are cut down, and
a fufficient quantity cleared, a bufinefs,
which in the hands of the loyalifts, Is ma-
king rapid advances, the quantity of cattle
M raifed
.>
«>
:f
\9-
$
I
ffiifed in tliit pan of Npiia Sootli will iti*
uinlj be very great, both for hoAe eo^
fumption and exportttion *»
Amongft other advanttgei pofleflcd by
thia fettlement, it tiighc n6c to beoonfiikr-
ed a« the leaft, that a yttij eonfidemble
property was imported, together with a
number of relpedlable fierchantai from
New York, at the evacuation of that eity«
whofe unremitting induftry and perfisve-
rance has emhelliihed the town with a
great many fine honfes, the harbour with
&veral fine quays and wharfs, and they al*
teady pofiefs 60 fail of vefiels, fome of
which are employed in carrying on trade
with the Weft Indie^i and the reft in the
whale and <xid fifheriest Moft of the fur trade
that
* Thii a^ertion ftandi upon • veiy foUd foundacioa.
The gres4 improvements in agriculturei wbteJn the
Ganadlilt^colonf, fettled at Maugervillci 50 milei t^ t^e
river, have made in a few year'i confirm! it in the moil
ample manner. 1
that
TOWNS, AND HARBCXJIta 91
tbtt eaa ever take place oa thii fide of the
Ffovncei rnuft naturallj eeoter here, at no
oiher navigable water extendi ^ inland,
befides St John*t river. Very good jnails
.ibr the royal navy are cut at the diftance
of 50, 60, and 70 miles from the fea, as
large as to ja* inches diameter, which
arc coUedled by perfont appointed by go-
vernmeill, below the falls, from whence^
they are (hipped off for the King's dock-
yards in England.
The harbour has from feven to ten fa-
thoms water, with good holding ground,
and an excellent beach for landing goods,
and graving or repairing veflels of the lar-
geft
* It is furelf bad policy to mark all the large &r*-
trttft fortilie ufe of govetnoieiit, without idlowing any
lHaaog m ccuiiidcfation of damages to the proprietor of
^liiQjaiid% where fuch trees grow; asy in this caTe, they
wUl not be- over Iblicitous for the prefenution of the
large timber* i
ga NEW SETTLEMENTS,
;^eft ilze *. Oppofite to the town, on the
other fide of the harbour, is a fmall fettle^
ment, c^tied Carleton, built and inhabited
by the lojalifts, amongft whom are a coa-
.fiderable number of ihip carpenters, whofe
talents have already exerted themfelves in
•building many veiTels; whilft the large
qnantity of fine timber on every part of
the river, equal in goodnefs to that of New
England, and almoft ^ny other province in
America, is not only a proof of their fitu-
ation being very properly chofen, but a
fure prOgnoflic of the advantages which
this place derives from (hip-building.
. ■ ■ ■, ' ■ . . • * ' ■
- To all the above recited advantages may be
adided the extent of population, which ex-
ceeds
* Like almoft a]i the other harbours of Nova Scotia,
this place never freezes up; and, when the river is bro-
ken up above the falls, ai(ter being frozen during the
"winter^ the great fdrc6.of the tides.daihes the i(;e i^
entirely in pieces, that it is never known to dp 9pj.
damage to the ihipping below.
1
eeedt
tiniMi
bande
highlj
their
from
the CO
nited
Fort-I
indonf
being
Out-w(
ofiflai
paflun
when
portioi
the inl
genera
improi
Tw«
Fundy
fmatl 1
tailed '
1
TOWNS, AND HARBOURS. 93
eeedt Cen thoufand perfons of at! denomina*
UDM^ among whom are feTeral regiments dif^
banded at the late peace, that »rc*rnot only
highly refpedable for their numbers, and
their induftry, but ftill more fo, if poilible*
from their forming a very ftrong barrier to
the colony againft the fubje^^ of the U-
nited States. A fmall fortification, called
Fort- Howe, defends the town, but is too \
indonfiderable to.withftand a regular attack^
being very fmall, and entirely deftitute of
put-works. The river has jn it a number
of iflands, which, even at this time, afford
pafture for a great number of cattle; fo that;,
when more land is cleared, a far greater
portion of live-ftock will be raifed, than
the inhabitants can confume, the foil being
generally very good, and capable of great
improvement.
Twelve leagues further up the Bay of
Fundy E. N. E. from St John's River, is a
fmall fettlement belonging to the loyalifts,
cfalled Quako. About fix hundred perfons
are
^».-
I)
i!
1 \
H NEWSETTLIMEHTS,
( ^
ate here, wl^ have Toy wiftfj diratei
tlieir tttention to ftgricuharei tMr kinii
being geiienilly acooiihted goo4, whM, M
the contrary, they have no place fit to UmI*
terveiTeliini efpeeially when foutberly winds
prevail. The timber of aU kinds It very
good, and the country abounda with game.
■ , ■ f ■ ■ ■
Eleven leagoea eaft from the laft mcntloO'
ed place, the Bay of Fundy, after carrying
every where in its courfe a great depth of
water, and continuing from fifteen to fix
leagues wide, is Aiddenly divided by the
hind into two dillind arms, the largeA of
which, called the Bafon of Mines, takes its
courfe nearly due eaft for almoft eighty
miles, but having the rife and fall of the
tide continually cncreafing as it advances, to
as to be equal to 70 feet perpendicular ^ at
its
* Thu great rifo of the tide renden fevent rif e^
both in this, and the north eaft branch of the baf, ttt-
▼igpibk a loof war into the coantrjr. What tatf bf
thought
TOlHrNB, AND UARBdORS. 95
M
RIV*
• •ft
ifidt
lOM*
ihof
fko£
«tits
ghty
the
let, fo
lr»»t
let
Stvlieafl, tti4 receiving die WAfei% otfewemA
ijhvri, which ftom thence pcnetral>e conft*
derabiy into the eountiy. All thefe rit«M
hate iettkmentt upon them, the Inhabitama
of which amount to upwards of 4000.
The lands in the environs of Mines BalbA
att «rery goodi and have Aore of timhd',
particttlatly on the fonth fide, and continue
lb atmoll all the way to Halifax, from
which it is 'diftant upwards of 40 miles.
The T)ther head is called Chignc£ko Bay •,
taking its courfe N. E. from where the fc-
paration commences* for about 50 miles,
receiving the waters of feveral rivers which
difcharge themrelves into it, one of them
heing pretty conliderable, called Pe(udiac,
where
•►ii
thought remarkaUe» is this, that the tides from tiw
Gulf of St ]Uurence in Vert Baj, rife only eight feet,
and yet it u but twenty miles diftant, being divided from
each other by a narrow neck of land.
'1
n ^ r T
i
* QyAers have been difcovered here, and are notr
become an article of export to feveral places.
' ■ -i
St^ NRW!S1T^*#MEN/TIS,
wli«re aibpiH 30OO I07alift8;are fetil^c)^ .fii^
ha^e the app^ftrtnce ofrbdUg « ithiivirgr
colony. ' M^njL adTanlages tare 'held .ou|; *^
peribtift that are obliged tO' fettle- io ^hia
Frovincei, tel^^^ views are>not folely eofi»>
fined to txade^ but wlio wiifli to attend |o
agricu]ture> itnjd the ratfing cattle, a^ moft
of the^ lands round the :head of the Bay arc|
very gopd« having beeu formerly poifefled
^nd cultivated ;t»y the ancient French color
nifts, diftinguiihed by- the name, of Neu«-
trals*, vrhofe induftry had been crowned
, . with
* This people, defc^ended from the ancient French
fetuers, had increafed gradually to feveral thoufands,
clearing large tra£b of land, and railing num^ous herds
of cattle, living many years in the moft perfeA friend-
ihip with the native Indians, amongft whom they fre-
^aently intermarried, and became in a manner one peo-
fie. Unfortunately for themfelves, by engaging in all
the quarrels that were agitated from time to time be-
tween Great Britain and France, they became an ob-
ject .of refentment to the former, who, having caufed
them to be aflenibled together under various pretences,
caufed
m
tdWN8; AND HARBOURS. ^7
^9^ i degree of fuccefs not always equal:*
li^, ind but feldom exceeded by tbe inha^
BitantH of the fouthem colonies; nor can it
be doubted, but that the perfons in whofe
hands they now are^wtll very fpeedily ren-
der them an objed of jealoufy to their New
England neighbours. There is a fmall fort,
N
formerly
I
ctufed fevenl thoufands to be (hipped eff, and tnua-
ported to the other colonies, n^ere moft of them died
of grief and vexation. This «£Uon, fufficiently cniel
in itfelf, was rendered ftill more fo, from having been
perpetrated in confequence of pofitive orders from a
nation commonly regarded, even l^ its enemies, as
magnanimous* Let us attend to the event. Theljmds
from which the Neutrals Wen thus violently torn, be-
came a defart, and every attempt to re-people them was
conftantly rendered abortive, until a Urge body of men
inhabiting thofe very colonies to which the Neutrals had
been baniQied, were driven in like manner from their
own country for a fimilar attachment to Great Britain,
and compelled to cultivate the lands left by the former^
)a if' it was tlie exprefs intention of providence, lit this
particular ifaftance, to mark in ftrong coloiurs the in-
juftice of a great nation, as well as to teach mankind
a leflbn of moderation and humanity.
I «i
9t N$WSyTT|^^>IEN/rS;
formerly called St Laurence ♦, and. iJO^
port-Cumberland, fe^lli; upon t)^ Ifthtiijif
Which joinf the pcoinfulato th|5,n^ai9Ut?dt
ind, though of no great accoi^nt at ftt^ix^
^^Yt >n ^ more improved Q-^^it^ be^Iool^ed
vpon as the key of Nova 3cotia agaiofft the
invafion of a land army, Returning from
hence down the bay of Fundy to the we(t-
itard, there is no harbour until nearly op-
pofite to St John's river, when we 6nd An*
napoHs Royal f, which has one o( the no-
hleft harbours in the world, perfedly iheU
tered from all winds, the entrance into it be*
ing
* It was attacked at the begianixig of the late
troubles in America } but the p^irty CQnceraed in thaf
affidrmetwitha deferyed xepulfe, and were entirely
defeated.
t This place, when in the han4s of the French,
was fortified, and called Port Royal, being intended
for t^ f:apital of the province. At the peace of Ur
trecht, it was ceded to Grrit Britain, and was called by
its preient name, in honour of Queen Anne. Its forti«
j^cations at prefent are but indifierent.
iigig bcitiwo jtwo! capes or bead lands,. witll
^cifi|.to to 30 fathoms waiier. ThU entranct
1$ near ajhile wideyii^d }ia« a (Irbiig curirea|
both lupon th^ eb& aiid flood«>tidei ; tht
ihore at the £line;tim« bciin^ To iltdp^ tfail
a ihi^. may nm ber bdwtf^iprk agaiiiift tile
rocks, and yet be: in 10 fathiQtais wateh
Iihmediatelj witHia. t^is ftraiigbt i&a brgce
ptOQCQf '.water,, called Annapolis Baibn^oir'
patble of K9l<|ing..i jqonOderable ntnnber o£
il»ip9t :Pi(b a fu^ici^iiifdi^pth of water fot
v^ffieifiof a©y fifj^ iiodfat Icaft a0 ;mjle« in
cHrj8U9>Ceft«ai?et cntijreljr, iheUercd Icom aU
mtk4»* On thi§:Mbf>i;na very hiandloin^
tp"vrp, called 0!ig^y^.:bM been bUalt b^ th<!
ilpyalifts.) tb< fuiiaiion of it is exceedingly
^jsll cbt^fen, boi^ ^<^ ^^ ^^eries and every
other kind of trade adapted to tbe l^^ovince.
A fmall fettlement is: alfo* forming at the
aiQUtb>pf Bear River, hear Dlgby, by fome
Xf ^rmans, formerly belonging to the auxi-
.Ibry troops during the war in America.
••'•,''■•■'
.From the Bafon to Annapolis Uopl, it
is about 12 miles, upon a deep and narrow
riveri
100 NSWSETTlEMENTSi
river, in which there is, a great rifer And ftH
of the tide. Both fides of it are well pee^
pled, and in many pls^ces are highl^^ ifl^
proved. A imall ifland, half way betwpia
the Baibn and thd town, may be eaiily
ittjide to> command the navigation of theiri*
"^er entirely) as nothing can pa& either up
dr down without going clofe in with it^
Since the arrival of the loyalifts, amount-*
Ing to 2500, the town has increafed to fix
times its former dimenfions, the country a**
bout it clearing faAof the woodsy hiiving
received an increaffs of population, un^
known in any former period. The raHing
blac^ cattle will probably be oneof thlsir
principal employments j as the inhabitants
who ciadie here prior to the War, not only
ratfe the largeft and beft cattle of any in
the Province, but equal, to any in America,
except Rhode Ifland ^nd Connedicut*; ^
that
* The people who have lived many years on Anna^
polls River are confident, that, when they havt Better
opportunities
rtmm, ani> HARdotrits. i6i
llll^ tUtfy will be able in a little time, to*
gechtr^ with the people of St John's riyep,
to taite all the liYe-ftock, or nearly fo, that
Win be wanted fbr the Wi^ft India marker,
The anchorage <^ the town is very good»
and ^ the rtdetkext the divers the fort
which defends the harbour is of fome cIMii-
fideration, b^t tptally inadequate to a de-
fence toward the land.
^
. 1 ^tffing fouth-weft from Annapolis Royal,
we come to St Mary*s bay, which is of con-
iiderable depth, and beginning to afliime
the form of a fettlement. The lands every
where about it are covered with excellent
timber of various kinds ; and, as the loyal-
ifts fettled here have fome vcflfels, they have
. N already
opportuaidet of nuxipg the breed of their cattle with
that of other countries, thej ih^be able to equal thofe,
of the two flates here mentioned ; the time, indeed,
ieems to he at no great diftance, when the New Eng-
landers will have fufficient caufe to repent their having
driven mto exile fome of their beft farmers.
^ii
m Kiw »i/3PTt£M;i:.Knp&
jJreadjT iliipgfd of .i^^nmbfif ttf jcai||fie8 fc^
dij9<$reiit porta^ altboogk nc^itoktoy? bad at;^
te/pi>t«d CO iettl^ htrc» nmW jafidr/tbe «y«f .
.qygtipoofJ^vf,Y0rfc. ¥imDiSAMmj*^hiy^
^,^0^ Jie$ ««arl7 Aoi^ »i^;£buth]. ItiB
^niry. auich Jbvoken. and : Eaiggedj while the
feal iflands, whofe dingcroiBsiiitiHitiDQihaa
been already mentioned, lie within fight of
,lbe Undt ^^ affocd al dilagrtfeab^prbfj^dt,
^ven in roftddratp weathorV ftona; tht (many
:Qiirfentft t^al aTJ^kaowa i^lpfeHiatllaroiind
-''■p
Ui^in-j>z-^ a:i'f,f 03p • ■■
^1 B K» f^
-l>^ cotifiderible nurob^er of' perfons w«re
i^ttled befoi*e the late War ai this ^nd df
the- peninfula, on a fmall river f, where
there is a town called Yarmouth. They
4*ve employed' themfelves^ fitecefsfulff th
"fifhiiiHg, atid had even made Tome prbgirefe
-giiH V '• r"d^ ,■■•■■, ) ;;-j-!g on bJ^-rMta. *ssjiv
;ja;v*:Thc n^ceffi^y of having a Bgbt-hpufc cre^ed^Hp-
on them canofBy^ be too often ri^pQat^d., , -. .' .1
f Tufchet River, lat. 43° 44' N. long. 65* 50' W.
in<(he
vehit(
ailop
have (
dition
trade
in the
firft , hi
th^fe i
fo that
tiers, fi
for pre
Frot
ninfuja
W.S.
Cape C
i^ ^ear
cbntair
numbe
fmall
the coi
ip^ntlo
TOWNS, AND flARBOURS. 1 03
in j^he cdd fifljiery, when the captare of fe^
yeiral of their veilels by the Americans put
a Bop to their exertions in that line, I'He^r
have (ince renewed them, and, with the ad^
dition of fome loyalifts, are carrying on a
trade with lia^ax in fiih, lumber, corn,
an^ cattle, pafticvlarly (beep. The lands
in tht neighbourhood, which appeared at
6r{l.bi|t indifierem:^ being found, within
th?fc few yearsy to impxove v^ry rapidly,
fo that, in proportion to the number of fet-
tlers, few places in the province bid fairer
for profperity.;
From the fouthern extreihity of the pe-
ninfula the coaft ranges nearly E. N. £. and
W. S. W. with very Httle variation, quite to
Cape Canfp, its eaftermoft extremity, which
19 near to the ifland of Cape Breton, and
containing, in a fpace of about 300 miles, a
number of very excellent harbours at a
fmall diftance from each other all along
the coaft. It will, however, be proper to
ip^ntloii only (uch among them as are moft
diftin^uiOied,
f^
ji
:i vl
m
I Hi
£1
m
II
11
II
>
I
\
164 NffiW SETTLEMENT*,
diftitigiiiflied, either f6r their (upBt^ot gb6d«
nefs, the extent of their poj^iiMtioni of th(B^
advaAces the^hm already m4db in agri^
ctilture or commerce.
The firft place, eaft of the teal Iflands^
which deferTes notice ii the tbwn of BSlf-^
rington, (Boniifting of about 4000 iiih4bi«^
unts, mbftlf fettled there before the war,-
lAd chiefly engaged in the fiiherietand
cbafting trade, for whi^h theit fituktion
feems well adapted, being the fouthermoft
fettlement in the Province. Their harbour,
however, is but fmall, and at certain times
fomewhat difficult of accefi ; and the lands
round the harbour being efteemed indif-
ferent, has induced the loyalifti that have
come here not to confine their attention to
farming alone ; but as yet their number ||
inconiiderable.
\-\
Y
i.#
Six leagues north*eaft of Harrington Bay
is the town of Shelburn, built upon the
harbour of Port Rofeway, Utttude 43* 47' N.
longitude
j \
"X.
TOWNS, AND HARBOURS. 105
i^pgitudf; 65* 16" Weft from London^ in*-
llfibited by a numerous colony, perhaps th«
^pft fo that any nation can boaft of in
modern times ^. The harbour is not ex-
ceeded by any one in America for good-
nefs, haviu|^ every where fjx or feven fa-
thoms water from the fea to the town, the
diftance not being more than eight miles,
with fcarcely any current either in or out ;
whil(| a large ifland lying in the entrance
i^uts It in fo entirely from danger, that no
wind whatever can do the leaft prejudice
to fhips riding at anchor. .
The town is, perhaps, one of the largeft
ii^ the new world, containing almoft 3000
hjbufes regularly built, having 15 flreets in
i^ight lines from north to fouth, and 30
from eaft to weft, croffing the former at
.right angles ; the number of inhabitants a-
mounting fo 13,000. Oppofite to Shel-
O burn
* The population of Shelburn, and its neighbour-
hood, is nearly equal to 30,000 i before the war it did
npt exceed j;o perfons. -
• t
-
£ii
,i i:
io6 NEW SETTLEMENTS,
»
burn, is Birch-town, peopled by the negroes
from New York, about 1400 in number,
whofe labours have been found extremely
ufeful to the white inhabitants, chiefly in
reducing very confiderably the price of
work and various materials the produce, of
the country. The lands are greatly im-
proved, a;nd have, in feveral places, produ-
ced fine crops of wheat, barley, and oats, as
Well as of garden herbs, and dwarf fruits, '
as currants, &c. The good effeds of their
being poflefTed of a large capital (hews it-
felf very plainly in the great number of
ihipping belonging to the merchants, near-
ly equalling that of Halifax itfelf, beibg at
leaft 300 fail of all forts, feveral of which
are employed in the whale fifhery, a flill
greater number to the Weft Indies, and the
reft in the cod fiftiery upon the banks that
are upon the coaft of the Province. The
pilots, who are employed by the Britifh
fleets in North America, during the war,
are fettled upon the harbour half way be-
tween the fea and the town. Govern-
ment.
; I
im-
TOWNS, AND HARBOURS. 107
ment, wifely confidering how obnoxious
thefe men had rendered themfelves to the
rebeU, have allotted them half pay during
the reft of their lives ; a meafure equally
juft and neceifary, moft of them being for-
merly pofleiTed of property in the United
States. No people amongft the loyalifts
have exerted themfelves more Aiccefsfully
than they, in rendering their prefent (itua-
tion comfortable. All the country, for fe-
veral miles about, is exceedingly populous,
particularly upon Indian River, 5 miles eaft
of Port Rofeway, noted for an extraordi-
nary falmon fifhery, where large tracts of
land are cleared, and produce very good
wheat and barley.
The river itfelf is only fit for yeflels of
1 2 feet draft of water to enter, but has three
faw mills ere^ed upon it by the new Go-
lonifts, that are kept going night and day
for the merchants at Port Rofeway, who
are conftafitly (hipping off lumber to the
Weft
n
ill
«
II
.«»
ii
.,^/''
ioS NEW SETttEMENtS,
Weft IndiM, both from thefe milli, tnd
two others, lately erected above Shdburil.
From this place, a creek cf mmunicatei
with a large frefh water lake feveral milef
diftant, the borders of which "are capablt
of feeding numerous herds of cattlei andi
are clothed with fine woods, confifting of
birch, maple, fpruce^ pine, and red oak)
a great many loyalifts, convinced of th0
gpodnefs of the lands, are employed clear-
ing the woods, and converting them into
lumber. Two churches are built at Port
Rofeway, one for the people of the Pref-
byterian perfuafion, and the other for thofe
of the church of England. All kinds of
frefh proviHons are tolerably cheap ; butch-
er meat being upon an average at fcurpence
per lb. and flour and bread in proportion*
Many large wharfs, and convenient ftore*
■ ■ . ' ■ ' ' '■
houfes, are erected for landing and fecurine
goods ; their trade, particularly to the Bri-
tifh Weft-Indies, having increafed very ra*
pidly within the laft eighteen months. Be-*
low
TOVWd Al^ HAkBOtJRS, 109
low the td#D, and upon ilie ftme fide of
the hiarhotir, the lands quite down to the
fea, hayebdn divided into 50 acre lots;
fo that a vaft liumher of vefTele have heea
built by thd proprietors, chiefly for the
fiihing bufinefs, and ibme of (hem as large
as to 150 tons burthen ; 70 (ail were upon
the ftodcs in Odober laft ; aiid it is conjee-
tured that near 400 fait will have been fi-
niflied by this time, (ince the evaduation
of New York, at this one fettlement alone.
Port Matopn, or Gambier harbour, is 7
leagues eaft of Jordan Riyer, and nine di-
ftai^t from She^bum. It affords but very
indifferent (belter to fome fi(hing veflels
' belonging to other places, having only two
or three of its own; and very few inhabi-
tants. The foil for feveral miles round is
full of rocks and flones ; and the moft bar-
ren of any in the province, producing a
fcanty vegetation, and appearing incapable
of ever being cultivated. One of the rc-
• giments
I' I
'I
>
i*
w I'ik. J
,k
no NEW SETTLEMENTS,
e 4
giments*, which had ferved with diftin^
gui(hed reputation dnring the war in Ar
merica, began a fettlement here, and built
a town in the autumn of the year 1783^
which^ unfortunately for them^ being fome-
what too late, and the ground confequent-
ly covered with fnow^ prevented their ob-
ferving the nature of the foil until the fol-
lowing fpring. Their town at this time con*"
(ifted of upwards of 300 houfes^ and the
number of people was fomething more
than eight hundred ; they, feeing the fte-
rile appearance of their lands, and all their
hopes, of courfe, fruftrated, were medita^^
ting on the beft means of getting away to
other places, when an accidental fire f ^
which
* The BHtifh legion, Gommanded by Lieutenant
Colonel Tarleton.
whic
nflies
and ^
ofth
feai)
f The fummer of 1784 had been uncommonly dry,
and many large fires werefeen burning in the woods in
various places, devouring confiderable trails, in almoft
every dire^on, occafioned either by the careleilhefs
of
^»,. ^1
TOWNS AND HARBOURS. 1 1 1
which entirely confutned their town to
aOies, with all their live ftock, furniture,
and wearing apparel, filled up the meafute
of their calamities, and rendered them per-
fedly miferable. Since that time. Port
Matbon
of the Indians, or that of the White people at their
work in the woods, by neglefUng to extinguifh their
fires } the ground at the fame time being quite dry and
covered witji mofs and decaying vegetables. A poor
woman at Guyiburgh (the name the Loyalifts had gi-
ven the place) was undefignedly the caufe of the misfor-
tune } the fire after it was once kindled, fpreading (b
rapidly, and burning with fuch fury, as rendered all
attempts to divert or flop its progrefs quite inefieAual ;
deftroying in a few minutes almofl: every houfe, and
driving the inhabitants before it into the water, whilft
one man, more unfortunate than the reft, perifhed in
the flames. Scarcely any, even of their domeftic ani-
mals, efcaped out of it. In fhort, a more complete de-
ftru£lion fr^m that mercilefs element, never befell any
fet of men^ and if a king's fhip had not been difpatch-
ed immediately from Halifax, with provifions to their
relief, a famine muft have enfued, from which very
few could have efcaped. On her arrival, fhe found
them without houies, witliout money, and without e-
ven bread.
!!
f.'.:
m%
m
U
%
I ■
Ill NEW SETTLEMENTS,
Racoon has had very few inhabitants, a^
ney^r cao becoti^e a fettlemeiit of aof at*
tjBE^t I thofc; perfojis who fuffere4 lyf the
conflagration have moftly removed to CKe^
dabn^o bay, in the eaftermoft extremity
of ihc province ; a fituation much better
fuited to their deferts, and promifing fome
C0|:iro]ationin the midft of their fufferings.'
Liverpool is a fmall, but fafe and conve-
nient harbour, capable- of receiving veiTels
from 250 to 3pQ tons burthen, and is not ^
more than three leagues eafl: of Port Ma-
roon. It has been feveral years fettledj
and undergone confiderable improvements,
and has a fmall river above the tov^n, which
runs a good way into the country. The'
vefl*els that belong to it, are moftly employ-
ed in fifliing, and carrying on a trade to
Halifax, Shelburn, and fome other places,
in cattle and proviiions. The inhabitants,
whofe fettlements extend far above the
town, have had their numbers confiderably
augmented, by fbme of the Loyalifts from
Port
"^r
. TOWNS, AND HARBOURS. 113
Pott Matoon and other places, fo that their
population is veiy little ihort of 1200 of
ail forts, who are in every refpe^ an in-
duftrious and thriving colony*
Lunenburgh is a fine town, and refpetf-
table colony, founded by fome Germans in
the year 1^63. It is 70 miles N. E. from
^Shelburn, and 36 S. W. from Halifax,
which place it fupplies with cord woo J for
feuel, having a great nuinber ot fmall vef-
fels, employed in that and the cod fiihcries:
It alfo fends Ib.m lumber to the Weil In-
dies; and no place in the peninfula, not-
withftanding the unp'omifing arpearancot
of the lands, at th> ir firft feti ement, is in
fo profperous a way, excepting the two
places above mentioned. Induflryand per*
fevcrance have rendered it highy fiourifh-
ing ; while the primitive fmiplicity of their
manners, which remain uncorrupted to the
prefent time, have very much endeared
them all to their neighbours.
P ^ The
8
"'U
iiiiii
ill
ii
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-'V ,
m
m
^^:
It4 NEW SETTLEMENTS,
The landd at>out Lunenburgh are gtvat-
I7 improved ; and their population, which
waiB, at firR, about 3000 perfons, may be
eftim&ted at nearly three times that num-
ber at prefent.
Le Have is a fettlement that ought to
have been mentioned before Lunenburgh.
It had a number of inhabitants upon its
river, in detached Htuations, fome time be-
fore the war, who have been greatly in-
creafed, and whofe fettlements appear to
be well adapted for carrying on a trade
with the Britiih Weft Indies, for fiih and
lumber.
Halifax, the capital of Nova Scotia, and
feat of the legiflature, is in lat. 44^ 40' N.
long. 6^1^ 30' W. from London, nearly in
the center of the fouth fide of the penin-
fula, 36 leagues N. E. of Shelburn ; built
upon the weft fide of a fafe and fpacious
harbour, which is perfectly fheltered from
all wind% at the diftance of 12 miles from
the
TOWNS AND HARBOURS, i 15
the Tea, and where a thoufand fail of ihip»,
may ride without the lead danger. Upon
it there are built a great number of com-
modious wharfs, which have from 1 2 to
18 feet water it all times of the tide, for
the convenience of loading and unloading
Ihips. The (Ireets of the town are regu-
larly laid out, and crofs each other at right
singles, the whole rifing gradually from
the water upon the fide of s^ hill, whofe
top is regularly fortified, but not fo as to
be able to wiihftand a regular attack. Ma-
ny confiderable merchants refide at thii
place, and are pofTefled of (hipping to the
amount of feveral thoufand tons, employ-*
ed in a flourifliing trade both with Europe
and the Weft Indies. It was founded by
the Englifh in 1 754, and, notwithftanding
the poverty of the foil, has at length at-
tained a degree of fplendor that bids fair
to rival the firft cities in the revolted colo^
for which it has been equally in-
nies
debted to the late war, to the great in-
creafe of population from the exiled Loy-
alifts,
Sii
"''Hi I
:lii'ii
""■If '
'ml
llli'lk
IJ
■i'lil
Ii6 NEW SETTLEMENTS,
alifts, and the foftering care of Great BrU
tajn ; infomuch, that the number of the
inhabitants has been more than doubled
during the lad ten years.
There is a fmall, but excellent careen*
ing yard for fhips of the Royal Navy, that
are upon this ftation, or that may have oc-
ca(ion to come in to refit, and rake water,
feuel, or frefli provifions on board, in their
paflage to and from the Weft Indies. It
is always kept well provided with naval
ftores, and (hips of the line are hove down,
and repaired with the greateft eafe and fafe-
ty. Several batteries of heavy cannon
command the harbour, particularly rhofe
that are placed upon George's iland, which
being very iteep and high, and fituated in
mid-channel, a liftle wa- be ow the town,
is well calculated to annoy veifels in any
diredion ; as they muft ofneceliity pal'Si
very near it, belore they are capable of do-'
ing any mifchief, i^
Above
TOWNS, AND HARBOURS, n;
Above the careening yard, which is at
the upper eqd of the town, there is a large
bafon, or piece of water, communicating
with the harbour below, near 20 miles io
circumference, and capable of containing
the whole Navy of England, entirely (hel-
tered from all winds, and having only one
nairow entrance, which, as we obferved be-
fore, leads into the harbour There are
a number of detached fettlements lately
formed by the Loyal ids upon the bafon ;
the lands at a fmall diftance from the wa-
ter being generally thought better than
thofe near to Halifax ; but what fucceft
may attend their labours, will require fomo
time to determine. An elegant and con-
venient building has been eredted near the
town, for the convalefcents of the navy ;
but the healthinefs of the climate has as
yet prevented many perfons from becoming
patients, fcarcely any (hips in the world
being fo free from complaints of every
kind, in regard to health, as thofe that are
employed upon this ftation. There is a
very
:(
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A.
i
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fiW NEW SETTLEMENTS,
iety fine light- houfe, ftanding upon a
trnaW iiland, juit off the entrance of the
harbour, which is vifible, either by night
6r day, 6 or 7 leagues off at Tea.
I. ■ ■ • . .
Eaft from Halifax, the ccaft lies much
the fame as before, and, in the extent of
50 leagues from thence to Cape Canfo, con*
tains as many harbours, mod of which are
very good, and at a fmall diftance from
each other; hardly any one, amidft fo great
a number, is to be found wholly uninha-
bited ; but there are few of the fettlements
-upon them as yet formed into towns, or
tliat poffefs much (hipping: The population
is generally from 50 to 100 families, moft
of whom are fuccefsfully employed in the
cultivation of their lands } hence a parti-
cular defcription or enumeration of them
becomes unneceflary, except our obfcrva-
tions were extended to matters in which
navigators alone are concerned.
Cape Canfo is the eaftermoft extremity
of
TOWNS^ AND HARBOURS, ii^
of tlk^ l^rovince. The ground about it U
much broken, and greatly in want of a
light-houfe, as there is a fmali, but navi^
gable ftraight of fbtne length, which fepa*
rates Nova Scotia from the ifland of Cape
Breton, communicating immediately with
the gulph and ritfcr of St Laurence, thers*
by tending to facilitate the tommerct be-
tween all parts of the remaining colonies*
It is near this place that the Loyaiifts have
built a town, and formed a confideraMe
fettlement, at the bottom of Chedabudto
bay, and at a fmall diftance from Cape
CaniTo, which is feemingly weil chofen t«
become a place of fome confequence, be-
ing equally adapted for carrying on the
cod and falmon fifheries upon an enlarged
fcale, as the misfortune which happened
to the refugees at Port Matoon has added
confiderably to their population, '
The woods thereabouts are equally good,
and as well fitted for carrying on a trade
in lumber as any part of America. The
lands
I liPi
,.ji
lil'l
I III!:!
' ; ill
: '(!!"
120 NEW SETTLEMENTS,
lands having been formerly poflefled, at
leaft fome diftridis, by the unhappy French
Neutrals, were in a high (late of cultivationi
of which very few tokens remain at pre-
fent. From Chedabudo bay, the coaft
runs away to the north-weft nearly, to-
wards the mouth of the river St Laurence,
where the land becomes very high and
mountainous, but it is not entirely defti-
tute of harbours, that were formerly Inha*
bited by the French, though almoft entire-*
ly deferted prior to the late war, are now
partaking of that increafing population,
which is obfervable in all other parts. Fine
tracts of land, equal in goodnefs to moft
parts in the northern ftates, extend almoft
the whole way, from the gut of Canfo,
to the entrance of the river St Lawrence,
and their woods are ftill entire, and feem
almoft inexhauftible. Soon after pafling
the ftraights of Canfo, the ifland of 8t John
becomes vifibte, and may be feen from
Nova Scotia. It has two or three good
iMiboars, and one large town, befides fe-
veral
tbWNS AND H ARBOtJRSl. i i i
Veral fmaller ones. Its population amounts
to near 5000 perfons of all forts, mod of
whom have fettled there fince the com-
mencement of the war. Large trails of
woods have been cut down, and a part of
them ah-eady exported to the Hritifh Weft
Indies. The lands in general are not fo
high above the level of the fea, as thofe of
the neighbouring provinces, but are ac-*
counted fertile in grain, and afford verf
good pafture for horfes and horned cattle.
llllii;;,,,.
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TRADfi
■';!', Ijl
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"i»
TRADE AND NAVIGATION.
AT a time when all th« nations of the
earth feem to vie with each other in
extending their commerce, increafmg the
manufadures carried on by their refpe^ive
inhabitants, or inventing new ones ; when
the monarchs of Europe, attempting to
difguife their ambitious and ianguinary
views upon each other's dominions, afTedt
the fame purfuits, and pretending to for-
get the animoHties which have agitated
their kingdoms againft each other for ma-
ny ages, appear only defirous of contribu-
ting to the eafe and happinefs of the peo-
ple, over whom Providence has permitted
them
Ill
TRADE AND NAVIGATION, i aj
them to become the fovereigns ; when a
portion of the Britifh Empire upon the con-
tinent of thf New World, has been vio-
lently rent afunder from the crown of ihefe
kindgoms, the inhabitants of which, for-
getting, in the triumph of independence,
and amidft the exultation natural to people
in the infancy of empire, the hand that
protected and raifed them to maturity,
have ftudioufly endeavoured to throw
whatever can be confidercd as of weight or
importance, in refpcd to themfelves, into
the hands of a powerful and rival neigh-
bour, and, not fatisfied with this, are dif-
contented at being denied the privilege of
becoming the carriers of the produce of
her remaining iflands and colonies: It will
furely be for her intereft, to avoid entering
into any meafures, that can tend to lefTen
her manufadiures, commerce, or marine,
as it is upon the prefervation of thefe alone
that the Britifh kingdoms can depend for
happinefs and fecurity at home, and peace
and refpe^t from abroad.
. To
i:Ai:
|I'«|JH|(|
I'M'.
m
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>24 TRADE AND NAVIGATION.
To trace the firft rife, and the fubfequent
progrefs of the manufactures,, commerce,
and revenues of England to any diftant
period, would be foreign to our purpofe ;
it win be fufficient to obfeive, that in pro-
portion as thefe have flouriihed, fro n the
time of Queen Elizabeth to the prefent
day, the naval power of the kirs^dom has
increafed with it, fo as at length ib pr? fent
to the world a fpedacle of opulf ■< ^nd
grandeur, which unfortunarely, v. ic
gave umbrage to the pride, e: cirtd ' . e-
fentment of all the powers > i hui< ; , d
frequently hurried iliem on to affei p he
deftrudion of a marine, whicli appealed
from time to time upon the ocean, alnioil:,
too forinidabie to be icliiicd; Baflied in ihi*
favourite plan, apK/r.ilhed at the inex'iauf-
tible refources with which her ahnoft
boundl fr. comi) erce fiipp-ued the exipcn- '
ciesofwar, and awed by thai unbroken
fpirit fo vird)le in the rcfiftance, and tlie
vid.ories of her fleers and armies, the world*^'
beheld a fmguiar phaciiomciKni, unequalled
in
TRADE AND NAVIGATION. 125
in the page of hiftorv ! a nation diftra^ed
with inteftine fadions, and opprefled with
a load of debt, which threatened the an*
nihilation of her exiftence; oppofing in e-
very quarter of the globe the hoftile attacks
of more than half of Europe, and, amidfl:
the unequal conteft, fecurely protecting
her trade, convoying in fafety the immenfe
property of her merchants to the moft di-
ftant regions, and increafing her manufac-
tures, commerce, and revenues, while that
of her enemies was languifhing and de-
creafing daily.
m
"ml
The' advantages poflefled by Great Bri-
tain, both as to her local fituation, climate,
and genius of the inhabitants, were better
imderftood and fooncr profiled by, than
perhaps any other nation ; and, while the
events alluded to above are ftill recent, let
it not be forgotten to what they were
chiefly owing ; and, if the recolledion of
Aich excites plcanng reflexions, it can ne-
ver be too often repeated, that ihofe laws,
and
lii
m
1 26 TRADE AND NAVIGATION.
and the principles of them, which have
raifed thefe iflands to their prefent great-
nefs, will without doubt, if once relaxed,
have a contrary effedt, and plunge us into
the very depth of wretchednefs and mifery;
iince a decreafe of fliipping muft of necef-
(ity be attended with a proportional lofs of
revenue, of feamen, and of national con-
fidence, which in the prefent ftate of things
is the chief bulwark of the kingdom.
«•
That memorable law, the adt of naviga-
tion, was probably framed at fiift, with a
mixture of juft difcernment, as well as of
invidious partiality, the latter of which,
far from making againft it, is a ftrong ar-
gument in its favour. The Dutch were
no doubt kept in fight when it was enact-
ed ; they were become, in a manner, the
carriers of all the trade of Europe ; fince
that time their navy has been conftantly
upon the decline, for want of a fimilar
law, though its excefllve weaknefs was not
apparent until the late war difcovered it.
That
TRADE AND NAVIGATION. 1 2 7
That of Britain has rifen in proportion,
and h^s not yet, perhaps, attained its me-
ridian' glory.
If then the fimplc requifitions of that
law, enjoining all our national (hipping to
be Britifh built, and to be manned with at
lead two thirds of feamen born in the do-
minions of England, have produced fuch
mighty efFeds, what could equal the folly
of giving them up ? Confidered in this
view, the propriety and juftnefs of which
is inconteftible, it is not feamen only, nor
yet the revenue in addition to it, that
would be the only lofs fuftained. If fhip-
building is, indeed, a manfadure, it Ihould
receive every encouragement from a com-
mercial ftate J but, if the fale of American
veflels be permitted, and they are allowed-
to become Britilh bottoms, upon being
transferred into the hands of Britifh mer-
chants, is it not plain, that the building of
ihips in America muft be greatly extend-
ed, and, confequently, by drawing many
of
mi
: III
ll'ai!-l'!ii j
if
■Itii
m
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m
i
1 28 TRADE AND NAVIGATION.
of our fliipwrights thither, deprive this
country of a moll ufeful body of men, in
the hour of public exigence. Without,
therefore, entering into a comparative view
of the fuperior goodnefs of fhips built in
Europe, to thofe of America, as it is obr
vious to all the woild, and particularly no-
ticed by feamen, it will fuffice to obferve,
that the colonies remaining to Great Bri-
tain are fully adequate to the building a
far greater number of vefTcls, than can e-^
ver be wanted for the carrying trade, be-
tween the Continent of America and the
Weft Indies ; that they have within them-
felves the means of fupplying every article
wanted by the Britllh iflands from thence,
as well lumber and fifli, as corn, flour, live
ftock, and othtr provifions j and, coiife-'
quently, that inftead of throwing any part
of our carrying tiade into the haiic's of fo-
reigners, the advantages of it may be made
to center in the King's dominions, to thf
benefit of individuals, and the general good
of the ftate.
The
tRADfi AND NAVIGATION, i 2^
The view that has been exhibited already
bf only a part of the territories remaining
to us upon that continent^ coniidered under
their feveral heads, may ferve, as they
really are intended^ to illuftrate and con-
firm the truth of thefe affertions. Long
unknown^ and generally difedeeitied, the
whole was regarded as a defart almoin un-
fit for habitationi or the refidence of thd
human fpecies. We affeded to defpife a
country, with whofe worth we Wtre tmac-
quainted, and refted fatisfied in aU tinpar-
donable degree of ignorance. Canada was
equally negledled, though pofleffed of a
luxuriant foil, a territory almoft unbound-
ed, the nobleft woods, rivers without num-
ber, and lakes equal to the Teas of Europe
in extent, and probably in ufefulnefs ; it
Was confidered with a gloomy fatisfadioa
that bordered on malevolence. The folly
and the misfortunes of the French nation
loft them the pofleffion of a Province, to
the importance of which they had been,
until that moment, (irangers*
'* ' > R . . .' The
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Nil.
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III
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' ' ' ' i.
'■'ill
vfr. . .
I30 TRADE AND NAVIGATION.
The iflands of Cape Breton and New-
foundland, though in conjunction with
Nova Scotia, arc the key of the fifti-
cries, were as much difregarded as Canada
itfelf. The firft was entirely deferted im-
mediately after the deftru£kion of Louif-
burgh, the capital, and no attempts were
made to people the latter ; fo that both re-
mained a prey to the firft invader. If then
fuch ample poiTeflions are left to Britain, it
will be true wifdom to improve and en-
courage them, efpecially as the war itfelf,
however deftrudive in other refpedts, has
added fo greatly to their population ; many
citizens, independent of thofe upon whom
fentence of banifhment has been pafied by
their couniryniien, having come voluntarily
to refide upon the lands guaranteed to them
by a conftitution, that 4s equally free from
the defpotifm of kings, and the abufes of a
democracy. d*f>
m«
In the produce of the Province it will
be feen how far flie is able, as well as Ga-
^ . nada,
/
TRADE AND NAVIGATION. 131
nada, to carry on a trade with Great Britain
and the Weft Indies.
The great quantities of whale oil con-
fumed by many manufadures, in every
part of Europe as well as in England,
make it of the higheft importance to this
nation to beftow upon it every encourage-
ment, both in her European dominions and
in the remaining colonies, the inhabitants
of which are pofTefred of fufficient capital,
and of that enterprifing fpirit neceflary for
arduous undertakings. They have, among
other advantages, a larger proportion of
ieamen than any one of the States, except
Mafrachulets Bay, over whom their (hip-
ping muft foon become fuperior, if the pre-
fent laws relative to this article and the aGL
of navigation arc continued in force. They
^ operate as a prohibition upon foreign train
oil, and have this further to recommend
them, that no branch of our trade breeds
!i hardier or better feamen than the (hips
-employed in the whale fi(hery. Several
?m
"M(...i,,,
iiiilii
iill'
\\\m
Ik
'III:!
! ^1
, ^-Jli^^ij
towns
\m
I3« TRADE ANP NAV^<?ATIO».
tOwod are already engaged in thi« bufiner*!
particularly Halifax, Port Rofewayi and al
St John's River ; \vhich, with thofe of
Canada^ will foon put an end to that of
Nantucket, as no market can be fonnd e**
qual to that of Great Britain, cither as to
the price of the commodity, or the great
bounties given by the £ngli(h Parliament^
The Dutch take a great quantity off out
handS) a large part of which goes to France ;
und, when the mod of this trade was in the
hands of the New Englanders and Nantuc-
ket men^ their annual returns iVere little
fliort of L. 150,000 for fevcral years be-
fore the war. Canada, particularly the
lower parts, or thpfe neareA the fea, afford
confiderable quantities of pil, that may be
greatly increafed from their enlarged popu-
lation, as the gulph and river of St Lau-
rence, and the adjacent Teas, abound with
feals and white porpoifes ; their oil is al-
ready obtained in large quantities, and is
generally
TRADE ANP NAVIGATION, i^f
gjsntnWyoi a lUttUfc quality' than that of
fekewiialci ' ra
r G6t) FistifiRY^. The remaining coionm
aikd ifland^ have an evidient advantage bVer
CY^ry other people in this brandh, being
mitch neater by' federal days fail - to the
bankd, than the fiihcrmen of N<ew England,
and can at all trntes dry their fifh on fhbre,
a'priTJlege which, though granted to thb
Amerieans, by the 3d article of the provi'^
fional treaty ; y^t, as that article mentions
only Uhinhabitbd bays and harbours, and
very few can be found in that ftate, they
(lave not attempted to avail themfelves o^ ^
this advantage, ^^
mi
iliill
I'M
Too much encouragement can never bfe
bedowed upon the cod fifhery by Great
Britain, as, next to the coal and coafting
trade, (he receives from it the bed and
mod ufeful body of her feamen, and who
are fcarcely to be equalled, and cannot be
exceeded, by any in the world. It may, in
■--V" ; ■'. ■ ;-'.. every
HI
134 TRADE AND NAVIGATION.
every fenfe, be copHdered a8 a fpecies of
manufadure, which, independent of the
feamen it raifes for our marine, employs a
great number of perfons in (hip- building,
and in curing the fi(h on (hore, thereby ad-
ding to the population, and, confequently,
to the real riches of the ftate. Before the
late war, fcarcely 500 men were employed
in the fifhery of this Province; but, fince.
the emigration from the other provinces,
their number is encreafed in the various
ftages of it to little fhort of 10,000, a Aire
proof of the height to which the cod fiOiery
may be carried, and the fair profped there
is of their increafing population becoming
the means of their fuccefsfully rivalling,
and even underielling, other nations in fo-
reign markets. Whiift the colonies that are
now the United States were confidered as
Britilh, it was common for them to pur-
chafe from Newfoundland and Nova Sco-
tia large quantities of fiih, caught and cu-
red by thofe provinces, for which they ge-
nerally gave in exchange rum that had
been
w
TRADE AND NAVIGATION, ijj
•been manufadured in Bollon, and other
places upon the Continent, from melafles
the growth of the French Weft India
iflands. This fpirit was of the very worft
quality, either from its wanting age, or
from the unfkilfulnefs of the diftiliers; fo
that a double advantage accrued to the car-
' riers of this traffick, which has now entirely
^iallen to the ground ; for the fifh thus pro-
cured afforded them a full cargo there, and
was again exchanged with the French for
melafles, very little of it being made into
rum by that people, that it might not in-
terfere with their brandies in Europe.
11!!;^
illliiE,;
As the fi(hery can now be carried on
with evident advantage, it will commonly
be in dried cod, the annual confumption of
which in our Weft India iflands is not lefs
than 140,000 quintals; fo that, in propor-
tion as the ad of navigation is enforced in
that quarter, will our filheries become ex-
tended or diminilh. Ships can put to fea
from hence at all feafons of the year, as the
harbours
:l! {i
111' i I
136 TRADE AND NAVIGATION.
harbours 9re never ffozen ; fo that, in M
few days getting into the tride windfi
ibey are free from every kind of dangef^
except in the hurricane montbi* Thtif, if
by means of the fiiheriei ar d lumber trad#«
'thejr veflfels are conftantly employed, the
•<)uick return of fo large a capital, as that
ait prefent employed in the trade of the
Province, muft, of necefTity, bring a con(i-
derable profit to the kingdom, which can
never happen if the ftri^eft attention is
not conllantly paid hy every officer, whofe
duty it is to prevent any abufes of the Ad^
mirable laws, that have laid the foundation
of our wealth and power.
It is not to the fouth fide of the penin^
fula alone, which abounds with fo many
excellent harbours, that the cod fi(hery is
confined. The feas on every fide equally
afford opportunities for the exertions pf in*
duflry, and the means of Aibfidence to the
inhabitants. Oafpec Bay was once a fa^
mous fettjement of the French Neutrals,
v-,*.W.„^
and
TRADE AND NAVIGATION. 137
ind isi together with Chalem Bay^ the
principal places reforted to by the Canadian
fi(hermen. The fi(h caught here, though
generally inferior in (ize to thofe of New-
foundland, 18, however, coniiderable in
quantity, not much (hort of 40,000 quin-
tal!, fome fiAall portion of which is con-
fumed within the Province of Canada, and
the reft exported;
Whbat and Ftdt^R. in the prefent fi-
tuation of the Province) it cannot be fuppofedi
that, (inee her population has increafed to
fix or feven times more than it was beiore
the rebellion, there is any to fpare eittter of
the one or the other, fo as to become arti-
cles for exportation, at leaft for fome time
to come. The lands are, however, in mo(^
places, well adapted for the cultivation of
wheat, barley, rye, oats, peafe, and beans 5
they are already growing in large quaati-
ties in many places, particularly upon ihe
banks of St John's River, north of the
bay of Fuhdy, among the fcnch colonifta
■ from
Mitt
lMi«i
tjB TRADE AND NAVIGATION.
Ifotn Canada, equal to any in the moM
fpr goodnefe, and likewife at Port Rofeway*
and many other places in the peninfula^'
It will certainly be for the intereft of go»^
Ternment to encourage agriculture to a ccr*^
tain degree in the remaining provinces, for
they are already able to export from Cana*^
da alone nearly all the com that is ufed in
the Britilh Weft India iflands; but it may
be juftly doubted, whether flour and wheat, '
as well as oats and beans, may not be fent
out cheaper from Great Britain and Ire-
land, than they can be had from America;
fmce freight is much lower from the for-
mer, owing to many fhips going out erery^
year with fcarcely half a cargo, and a
great number in ballaft only, for want of
cargoes, which makes them always glad to
take in goods upon alnioft any terms/
Both the lower and upper Canada grow
vaft quantities of corn : The former is e-
qual in the goodnefs of its foil to many
parts of.Americai whilft the upper is great-
ly fuperior, both in that and its climate ;'
* . added
'^
JRAPE AND NAVIGATION, j ^9
«<Uied to this, it is the only channel through
^hicfa the (late of Vermont can have any
communication with the fea, and eventual
jly with £urope; confequently the fubje^
of Great Britain muft always remain the
carriers of its produce j and it is certain,
that even Penfylvania does not exceed it
in the goodnefs of thofeafticles of 'which
we are fpeaking. The fbuthern dates fif
Europe take already to a large amouti^ of
£our from our remaining colonies ; and, if
the prefcnt high price of freight and infu^-
rance continues up6n American vefTels nat
vigating in the Mediterranean, by being fo
much expofed to infult from the piratical
dates of Barbary, it will enable them to
underfeil the reft of America, in the only
market where their flour can find a vent*
liii'i;
1,
' Lumber. So much has been already faid
6f the goodnefs of the woods, their plenty,
and vail variety, as may make it lefs necef-^
fary to enlarge upon particulars in this
place; and, as it is plain to a demonftration,
that,
140 TRAM AND NAVIGATKMf,
that, whatever part of our ca|Tying^i!]|ad#
falls into the hands of foreigners, mpfti pf
courfe, be attended with a proportional di^
fliinution of feamen and (hipping to Great
Britain, it would be highly proper for gor
^ernment to allow a fmall bounty iipon all
lumber that is the growth of our remain-^
ing colonies, exported from thence to the
Weft Indies, though it were but for a limit-
ed time; efpecially if it appears, that the
complaints of the Weft India planters- are
well founded, who have long urged, that
the fupply at prefent i& too fcanty, often
precarious, and commonly very dear, owing
to a want of competition in the market,
which would be imYnedi ^tely removed, were
they allowed to receive lumber from the
Continent in American bottoms. As tiiefe
perfons form a v6ry refpedable part of th^*
fommynity, their grievances, where r hey;
have a real foundation, (houjd be c.treiii]i)f
attended to, and ilridly redreiTed ; but, i£f
^ny meafure tending to a relaxation of th%|
|iavigation laws, is the objed of their wiftiv;
nn
*RADE AJ4D NAVtOATidM. ^
iti'thfly oaght to remember, that fuch met^
jfbres are Tapping the very exiftence of the
Sritiih naval power, and, by confequence^
defttoying that which can alone protect'
the pofleffioos, firom whence their wealth
aitid importance is derived ; and not Only To,'
but doing the fame by all our other fo-
reign dominions. ''^
- The lumber (ent from hence is already
very coniiderable ; five faw-mills are going*
cent T-ally at Port Rofeway, and in its
nei j >urhodd, and a far greater number'
at other places. 8t Andrews fent off feve-'
ral cargoes very lately to our iflands, not-'
withftanding the attempts of the Americans
to ingrofs the trade in Paflkmaquoddy Bay
to themfelves, by endeavouring to form a
fettlement upon the weft fide of the river
St Croix ; nor is it to be doubted, but that
the woods, population, and (hipping of
this Province, even independent of the fo-
lefts of Canada, are fully adequate to fup-
ply the confumption of all the Briti(h
• ^?^' iPand|
•ill I
'I;
' i!l
''.I'll
lljiil
.1
f^9 mfLE^^JUPiNdyieMiw.
ijQands for fpine <fige6 to cpoije^j; fince,^ froin^
its local fitwion, and mil4er climate^, ^it
poffeiTes many advantages oyer , that pro^
vince, and the woods of New ^nglan^ Iwiiw?
^ready failed in many plaQe^f efpeciajlj
near the iea* Noihing, .thjecffore. feeoif
wanting, at preleDtj but a^^imall bouncyi
rather as the means of enabUag;our %bje^
to bring a fufficient quantity into the mar-
ketrthan^from aiiy fcarcityl though. With-
out bountiet, its exportation will be great?
]y extended, as loon jas the people are 4iC'>
engaged from the more neceifary purfuita
that at pcefcn; may aat^rall^ be fuppofed
to ingrofs their attention^! yj^y 8:--'tjuji !it
,.. FuRSi It may be decoded s^ fortunate^
cir^umftance, that) feeing ' fu(^ immen^
territories! Wer< abandoned 'to America i^'
the proyifionaljreaty, by a perfon who^
pTipbably, fe^ving never croffqd the Allan-t
tip,' Wis, therefore, in fome rcipeds^ linii-t
dequate to the taik, the Apntricans ha^rf
flailed in the fulhliing feveralof its eflen^^
tial
t
TRADE AND NAVIGATION. 143'
tial articles. Until thefe are in fome de«
gree performtd, it will be both juft and .
wife to withhold the pofts upon the lakes
as a fecur ^y to carry on the fur trade, which -
can be done more advantageoufly through
Canada, unlefii thefe forts are given up,
than through any of the ftates, except New
York, where Hudfon's river, penetrating
a long way into the country, communi-
cates with the lakes of Canada, and thereby
enables Albany to become the ftaple for
this traffick with the different Indian na-
tionSi The furs hitherto fent from Nova
Scotia have been but inconfiderable ; they
would have appeared much greater in the
two laft years, had proper cuftom-houfes
been e(labii(hed in the refpedive ports of
the province, as has been lately done, for
their entry ; fmce moft of thofe fent to
Britain were fmuggled home in merchant
ihips or tranfports. i
As the Americans, in fpite of all our en-
deavours, will attradl: a part of this trade
to
%
m
i44 TRADE AND NAVIGATlbjii
to themfelves from Canada, our own fub-^
je£t8 ihould receive every poffible encour^^
ragement, either by taking off the prefent
duties, which are intolerably heavy, and a^
lowing not only a drawback upon expor-^
tation, but even a bounty, fhould it be
found neceflary, in order to enable the in-,
habitants of the colonies to undermine the
trade of their neighbours, by giving a lar-
ger price for furs, than the Americans can
affotd*
Mads, yards, and (pars, abounding in fy^:
great a number of places, and haying beea
fo often mentioned, need not to be enlar-,
ged upon ; no other part of the Continent
afibrds thern in Co great a variety, nor (ail
eafy for trafportation to the iea. i^
. Jliri-
Rum is a fpirit much ufed in America^
particularly in thofe places that lie contigii-.^j
ous to, or are emoloyed upon the fifheriesi ^i
It was formerly manufactured to an im-^
menfe extent in Boilon, and other places.
-fe'j
now
., /
r
TRADE AND NAVIGATION. 145
ndW under the dominion of the United
States, chiefly from the melafles, which
they procured from the French iflands ; and
the rum thus made, though of a very bad
qualify, was moftly confumed by the fifli-
eries, carried on from Newfoundland, No-
va Scotia, and Canada, to the amount of
600,000 gallons annually ; a fure proof of
the immenfe profit derived from it to the
carriers and manufadurers, efpecially when
it is confidered, that the melaiTes was com-
monly received in exchange for fiih, lum-
ber, and provifions of various kinds ; To
that, with thefe encouragements, a certain-
ty of freight, both out and homeward
bound, and the conftant evafion of duties
on their arrival, it is not to be wondered at,
that thbfe people became fo fuddenly ca-
pable of making a figure as a commercial
ilate. As the Britifh iflands generally
make their melaffes into rum, which the
French dc not, it may admit of fome doubt,
whether the diflilleries of Nova Scotia
fhould be extended, or tht fiflieries and
T remaining
'III
I'll
ill
146 TRADE AND NAVIGATION,
remAtaing colonka receive their fupply of
fpirits immediately from our iflaiuls. As
the quantity is certainly very great that is
confumcd by the former, and the fale pf
foreiga liquors being ftri^ly prohibited
under very heavy penalties, this regulation*
if (lri£tly enforced, will, in a ihort time,
amply compenfate the planters and Weft
India merchants for any partial injury
they may have received from the wife and
falutary reftridions laid upon their com*
merce with the fubje^s of the United
States, as they will hereby enjoy the mo«
nopoly, in its moft exteoiive fenfe, of aU
our remaining pofleiTioas, and the differ
rent filheries*
Salt* An advaiuage^ and that not a
fmall one, which our fisheries will have
over thofe of fqreign nations, is, the being
pofTefied of the (alt keys in the WeiV Indies,
where ialt is made from fea water,, evapQ*^
rated to drynefs by th^ heat of the fun.
A garrifoQ ought to be placed in them to
fecure
of
As
II
pf
lited
(ion,
ime,
TRADE AND NAVIGATION. 147
fecure the monopoly of it to our own Tub*
je£t8, both in peace and war ; and thus, by
prohibiting other nations from loading fait
for their fifheries, except under certain re*
llridlions, would caufe it to operate as a
bounty upon the fi(h taken by the Britifh
Americans, and give them the fuperiority
in foreign markets, an advantage much
t^ifhed for, and of which we fhorld never
lofe fight.
Ill
White oak cannot be faid to bt vcy
plentiful in Nova ScOtia. As it is an ar-
ticle indifpenfibly neceffary for ftaves for
rum puncheons, and hogfheads, m the
Weft Indies, it may admit of fome doubt
whether the quantity brought to Britain,
by the tobacco Ihips from the fouthern
States of America, each of which takes in
a great number of ftaves, as dunnage for
her cargo, will be fufficient for the con-
iumption of the iflands. If they are not,
this kingdom cannot be injured in its trade
the fupply that will be afforded them
from
148 TRADE AND NAVIGATION.
from the fouthern States, who, having no
ihipping of their own, are very little inter*
efted in the queftion, either how, or by
what nation their produce is exported ; and,
as they will not be prevailed upon to lofe
the trade of this country, by adopting the
iir judged refentment of their northern
neighbours, moft, if not all, of their traffic
with the iflands will be carried on in 3rl-
tifli bottoms.
Tar, pitch, and turpentine. A great de-
mand for thefe articles will always continue
in the Britifh dominions, whilft they re-
main a commercial empire, large quantities
of which may be made in the remaining
colonies, where nearly four fifths of all the
lands are covered ^ith pines, efpecially if
a fmall bounty was given for a few years
upon each of them. Moft of the tar for-
merly ufed in Britain was manufadured in
the Carolina's, and though much cheaper,
even with the extra charge of freight, than
Swedi()i tar, was held fo much inferior to
it.
no
er-
;.f
TRADE AND NAVIGATION. 149
it, that, in many wprks and manufactures,
the latter was conftantly preferred. Since,
however, the difcovery of exira^ing the
bitumen and eiTential oil of pit coal, a thing
long fought for, and at length brought to
perfection, this nation bids fair, after fup-
plying herfelf, to become the ftaple for the
reft of Europe, as it has been found to re*
fift the bite of that deftruCtive infed the
fea worm *, with which the waters of our
feas abound ^^Imoft as much as thofe of A*
(Aerica,
As
:1|
* It would not, perhaps, be altogether an ufelefit
inquiry whether this infeA, fo well known by its ter-
rible effedts upon the bottoms of vefTels, and all kinds
of wood, that are conflantly eat into and entirely de-
ftroyed by it, is originally a native of this hemifphere,
or has been imported fince our difcovery of, and com-
merce with, the new world, as their numt>ers and rava-
ges feem continually to increafe. In Holland, for in-
ilance, the wood that compofed a part of one of their
dikes, upon which the fafety of the country in a great
meafure depends, was . fo entirely deftroyed a few
months ago that the damages were eftimated at
L. 40,000, in one place only.
I56 TRAM AND NAVIGATION.
As a qutmity of Tcgetable tar will al«
ways be wanted for rigging, cablei, faili,
&c. and the Britilh colonies are capable of
affording a fupply to fome extent, it will
be proper to bellow upon it fome encou*
ragement, which muft tend greatly to
clearing the lands, in the fame manner as
confining the tranfportation of lumber to
the Weft Indies to Britifh veifels alone ^ for
as the new fettled countries upon the con-
tinent, are one entire foreft, the greater the
demand is, and the furer vent they find for
their produce, the fooner will the lands be
cleared, their improvement effe^ed, and the
nation thereby freed from the expence of
feeding and cloathing the loyalifts.
Pearl afhes, and Pot afhes, are made at
this time byalmoft every inhabitant, but
not in fufficiirnt quantities for exportation.
The reafon is obvious. The cultivation of
their lands, as the only means of fecuring
a permanent fubfiftence, mufl naturally
preclude almoft every other purfuit, except
thofe
TJIADE AND NAVIGATION. 15 *
thofe branches of commercca tht means of
extending wbM^h are eafy in the acquiiiti-
on, and immediately open to their view.
Iron ore abounds in many places. The
fpil in general is well adapted to the cul*
tare of hemp and flax. Their pit coal i$
of an inferior quality, abounding with ail-
phur, but may hereafter become ufefuL to
the Province, as an article of export. It
has been lately diCcovered near the Grand
lake* upon St John*8 River, and is account-
ed better than that of Spani(h River, in
the ifland of Cape Breton. Moft of the
garrifons are fupplled from the latter, and
\t is probable that the United States muft
purchafe it from them a few years hence,
as wood is muclii dearer and fcarcer in the
fea- port towns of the Eaftern P evinces,
than is generally imagined.
ill
It may be unneceflary to e^l'Tge upon the
imports from Great Britain to the colonies
ftill
tS2 TttAt)E AND NAVIGATI0J4.
ftill pofleflTed by her. Their nature is too
well known, to need either a defcription or
enumeration, and their increafing con-
fumption muft always be in proportion
to the population of the colonies. The
fuperior goodnefs of the manufad3:ure8 of
Grieat Britain, even where attempts have
been made to rival them, has conftantjy^
opened to themfelves a market, extended
their (ale, and increafed their reputation.
Not only the province, whofe produce and
defcription have been more particularly
attended to, but Canada, and the extenfive
territories upon the lake, the population
of Which* is very great, and is hourly
ehlci^a^j^, miift receive all their fupplies
of cloathing, &c. from England : To
which may be added, a large and valu-
able trade ^with all the nations of the
North.
GOVERNMENT.
ijj
GOVERNMENT;
THE form of the govcrriment In NoVd
Scotia approaches as nearly to that
of the parent ftate as poilible. The gover-
nor is named in England, and reprefents
the Sovereign, as no laws are deemed valid
v^ithout his afTent. A council is named b^
him, whofe office is analogous to that of
the Houfe of Peers, as holding a middle
rank in their legiflative capacity, between
the governor and the reprefentatives of
the people. Thefe laft are chofen by rhd
freeholders and burgeffes for each of the
counties and large towns, and refemble the
Houfd of Commons in England.
\J
Thid
154 GOVERNMENT.
This kind of government, though appa^^
rently complicated, is, on a clofer analyfis,
equally juft and Hmple. The liberties of
the people can only be endangered by the
pufillanimity or treachery of their repre-
fentatives ; and, whilft their freedom is
guarded againft the encroachments of weak,
arbitrary, or profligate minifters, by the
power and authority of a Britifh parlia-
ment, an entire, full, and complete ex-
emption from taxation for ever, but by
their own'confent, is fecured to them by
the fame facred compad.
The contrail between new fangled ftates^
where a rude and imperfed fabric is fud-
denly raifed upon the fandy foundations
of a turbulent democracy, and a govern-
ment formed upon the model of a luper-
ftrudure which has been the work of ages,
and is the admiration of the world, is too
(Iriking, noc to aflford to the prefent age a
leffbn equally interefting and inftrudive.
The probable conlequences of fuch a form
fubfifting
GOVERNMENT.
iJJ
fubftfting in the latter, m]\ be, an increafe
of population by emigrations from other
countries, an increafe of trade and fhip-
ping, a great improvement in their lands,
and an addition to the value of them.
Where freedom does not exift, in the
fulleft and moft unconfined fenfe, very
little good is to be expeded from the
richeft foil, or moft unbounded territories,
even in thofe countries where fcience has
long fmce reared its head, and the arts have
enjoyed the patronage of the great ; but,
in countries newly planted, whofe inha-
bitants know how to prize their liberties, and
efteem them as natural and inherent rights,
every innovation that can poffibly affedt
them, mull be a ftep toward the ruin of
the colonies, and the means of fowing e-
ternai difcprd with the mother country.
Great Britain ftill poflefleth a large ex-
tent of territory in the new world, inha-
bited by a people virtuous and loyal ; their
morals
156 GOVERNMENT.
morals are as yet untainted, by that iui'^
poifoned fpring, which, flowing fiom the
jails of Europe, and the moft corrupt of
mankind, contributed to fpread peftilen'-
tial Influence over many parts of America,
and whofe efFeds are too well known to
need a comment, or to point it out as a
mode of colonization, equally abfurd and
impolitic. Ext^nfive dominions, if defti-
tute of people of induftry, and of com-
inerce in proportion to its fize, is fuch a
pofTeiiion as is only fitted to gratify the
pride of conqueft, or the licentioufnefs of
ancient heroifm. Their great extent is but
a proof of their extreme weaknefs, and
renders them either an eafy prey to fo-
reign invafions, or the more liable to fuf-
fer or to perifh by their own difTenfions.
The remaining colonies are compadt and
united. Long may this ifland continue* by
the wifdom of her councils, and the jultice
of her meafures, to unite all the diftani
parts of fo great an empire in one ftrid and
jndiflbluble bond of fraternal union; and,
while
I
GOVERNMENT, 157
vrhile the freedom of her facred conftitu-
tion beftows bleflings upon the unbora
millions, who may hereafter become inha-
bitants of her remaining colonies, may it
be the fecond wifh of every fubjed, " that
the King may long continue the fovereiga
of a free people, the firft ihould be, that
the people may be free.**
FINIS,