.To believe this, one must see it—and " seeing

'pcrience, from recent observation.

' the same time.

I scape.

. for the Upper Province.

CANADA.

“ (Wastchsmv) mien Star.)

Kemsstno longersay “ The Canadas," nor " Her Majesty's dominions of Upper and Lower Canada,” both having by force and authority of an act of the Imperial Parliament been united into one. Politically speaking, therefore, Cana- da is henceforth to be regarded as one province. It already contains a million of inhabitants ; the emigration to it'is'from ttven'ty to fifty thousand, annually, and what’ with its noble river Saint Lawrence, notwithstanding an inhospitable cli- mate, it is-one of the finest countries in the world. h believing." Such, at least, is the writer’s ex~

fittgveller from " the States," who visits Ca- nada for the first time, will find many things to surprise- him, besides a strange consciousness that he is in " foreign parts." However accu- rate my be his knowledge of the history, he will hardly be prepared to realize its actual extent and importance—the intimate connexion of its remotest parts-the Wealth and grandeur of its encient cities and the vigorous growth of the new. Traversipg the St. Lawrence some four hundred miles, say, from a hundred miles above Montreal to a hundred below Quebec, he sees a bountiful country, not only cleared. cultivated, and thickly settled, but actually adorned with a continuous line of villages on either bank. There is scarcely a point from which the spire of a parish church does not greet his eye, and there will frequently be three or four in view at This is no exaggeration ; the scene has been described even in more glowing colours by a late standard author. “ The whole of Lower Canada, for more than 400 miles along the St. Lawrence, presents an extensive chain of firms. Corn-fields, pasture and meadow lands, embellished at intervals with clumps of trees, snow-white cottages, neatly adorned churches, Ilternately present themselves to the eye in the midst of the verdant foliage which shades the banks of that noble river.” Then there are the cities of Montreal and Quebec, with their popu- lation of 40,000 each ; the former, said to pre- sent at this time the best opening for mercantile enterprise in the world ; the latter, glorying in her fortifications, second scarcely to those of Gibraltar or of Malta ; and in her historical as- iociations second to none. The citadel of Que- bec, from its dizzy height of 350 feet perpendi- cular above the St. Lawrence, looks down as] it were with an air of military command upon this cbntinent; and with its soil moistened by the blood of Wolfe and Montcalm, and consecrated by the grave of Montgomery, cannot but be re- garded for the first titne by the beholder with mingled feelings of admiration and awe. The

lains of Abraham, Cape Diamond, Potnt Levi,

ontmorenci and the Isle of Orleans are familiar to every tyro in history as classic ground. A small monument marks the spot where Wolfe died, and a chaste and beautiful obelisk has been erected near the citadel. which has on one side the name of Won-c, and on the other that of Mon'rcaut; The scenery from these heights is in keeping with their historical renown. Nothing can exceed the grandeur and beauty of the land-

And where is this strong hold, exactly, as to Iatitude'and longitude, and what are its relations to us? Quebec is 450 miles from the sea, 180 miles from Montreal, 380 miles from Kingston, and 540 front Toronto. Casting a glance at the map, it will be seen that a line due south from Quebec passes very near to Boston—a line due west passes through the centre of Lake Superior and the head waters of the Mississippi. Stand- ing upon the dome of the House of Assembly, and looking north, the eye takes in all the extent ofcultivation between Cape Diamond and the North Pole ; looking south-east, you can almost see the State of Maine, and are within less than 800 miles of its sea coast. A litre on the map due south from Montreal passes near the City of New York—a line due east, from the same

int, passes through the middle of the State of

aine, as we claim the boundary—a line due south from Kingston in Upper Canada, passes near to Harrisburg—a line due south from To~ r'onto passes near to Pittsburg—a line due east from the same point, passes not far from White- hall at the head of Lake Champlain, and still nearer to Portsmouth, in New Hampshire ; while Maiden comes down to as low a parallel of latitude as the northern line of Pennsylvania and of Connecticut. We have Canada for our imme- diate and intimate neighbor from Michigan to Maine inclusive, to say nothing of the north- west. The New York frontier alone upon Up- per Canada must be sotne five hundred miles ; separated, however, through this whole extent, with‘the exception of the distance from Lake Champlain to the St. Lawrence, by the river St. Lawrence, Lake Ontario, the Niagara river and Lake Erie. Of this boundary the St. Lawrence constitutes about one hundred miles.

Teronto and Kingston are the important points inUpper Canada. and are both flourishing. The farmer has a population of 13,000, and thelatter from 6 to 8000. The Rideau Canal has given an impulse to Kingston, and Toronto is said to have one of the finest back countries in the world. The traveller is nearer to Montreal, measuring the distance by day’s journeys, when in the city of New York, than when in Toronto. no reaches Montreal on the morning of the third day after leaving New York. Then again, when in Toronto he finds himself within a half a day’s journey, by steamboat and railroad, of Bufi'alo!

Of the million of inhabitants in Canada, 600,- 000 is the estimate for the Lower, and 400,000

The traveller is struck with the universal pre- valence of French in every thing in Lower Ca- nada.—'It would seem that nine-tenths of all that meets the eye and ear is French, from the ad-

' and

rlic in. the market place. 0f the French papa ation, which constitutes fourofiftths of the whole, certainly not one in ten speak or under- stand English. . .

It is not yet a century since the British rule commenced—at that time there were about 70,- 000 inhabitants in all Canada. Quebec was founded in 1608. Wolfe fought on- the plains of Abraham in 1759, and the province was confirm- ed to the British by the treaty of 1769, making a period of one hundred and fifty years from its

vailed, excepting a short period that the English had possession of Quebec in 1629. During this period there was more than one unsuccessful at- tempt made by the English and Provmctals to conquer the country. The troops omployed tn these expeditions were generally from New Eng- land, and we are informed that a prejudice still prevailsagainst “ Bostonians.”

Upper Canada was not then known as a dis- tinct province. It was a mere district attached to Quebec, until after the war of our revolution; when in l78l, a great many loyalists and dis- banded soldiers ofthe British army were located here under favourable grants from the govern- ment. It is even said that some who had not been very loyal, affected the merit of toryism to avail themselves of the kindness of the mother country to the persecuted refugees. Until 1791, the government of all Canada was in the hands of n Governor and Council appointed by the crown. In that year a Constitutional government was provided by act of Parliament for each pro- vince. It was enacted, that in Lower Canada there should be a legislative council appointed for life, by the crown, consisting of 34 members, and a House of Assembly elected for four years by forty shilling freeholders of the counties and the five pound freeholders or the ten pound an- nual renters for the towns, composed ofSS mem- bers. In Upper Canada, the chief Executive officer was styled Lieutenant Governor; the Les gislative Council consisted of 17 members, and the House of Assembly of 50. The Governor had a right of veto upon the acts of the two Houses—in certain cases the royal sanction was required ; and in some, even that of the Imperial Parliament. It was provided by another act that no taxes should be imposed on the Colonies, but for the regulation oftrade, and that they shall be applied for the use ofthe province, in such man- ner as shall be directed by “ any laws made by his llajcsty,” by and with the advice and cott- sent of the Legislative Council and House of Assembly. Hence one of the principal causes of dissatisfaction. This form of government after existing for near half a century, is now at an end—having been first “ nullified” by rebellion, and since repealed by the high behest of the home government. What is to be the result of the Union Bill, no one can tell—Upper Canada is emphatically a young giant, liaringquadrupled her population since our last war. A single fact illustrates the ever conflicting policy of the Im. perial with that of the Provincial Parliament— the interest of the mother country contrasted with that of her provinces. :-

The British Government have expended more than a million upon the Rideau Canal, a circuit- ous route connecting Montreal with Kingston by way of the Ottawa river. This is regarded as almost exclusively a military work, constructed mainly with aview to strengthen the power ofthe Government over its Colonies, and its hold upon them in the event of war with the United States. Less than half the money thus expended—nay, it is even said one fourth, would have made a perfect navrgation round the rapids of the Saint Lawrence, brought the two points much nearer to each other, and been far ntore advantageous to the growth and prosperity ofthe country. So deeply did the inhabitants feel this, that they had actually undertaken and entered with spirit upon the execution ofthis rival work, by aid of provin- cial resources alone, when their late troubles brought every thing to a stand.

The difficulties in the Lower Province are far more intricate and complicated. The very concessions to their religion and laws and language, and the indulgence with which they were treated for so many years after the con- quest, make the French population more restive under British restraints. Amongthe laws and cos- toms still in force we find many “ founded princi— pally on the jurisprudence of the parliament of Paris, as it stood in 1763, the edicts ofthe French Kings, and the Roman Civil Law.” Trial by jury prevails irt criminal cases only, and but few civil cases are tried in this manner. The pro- ceedings in their courts are conducted both in French and English—it is common to have one half the jury English, and the other half French. and for one advocate to address them in French and another in English. One of their great objections to the Union Bill, is, that it extends and enforces the right of trial by jury in civil case. A distinguished lawyer of Montreal inquired with emphasis, the other day, ” how it was possible we got along with the trial of titles to land, before a jury !"-—-Their lands are gette- rally held by Fedual tenure under large propriet- ors, termed seigncurs, to whom they were origin- ally granted under this tenure, by the French King. Its leading features, as it now prevails, are the payment ofa small annual rent, and a percentage on the advance in case of sale. Not- wrthstanding every facility and encouragement

freeand' common soccage, the Canadians adhere pertmactously to their old forms. It is said indeed to be one cause why no improvement takes place, and the price of land is kept down. No p'rovrncial Legislature could ever be induced to pass Registry Laws, and it is difficult if not impossible to ascertain the true state of titles.»- It required the omnipotence of a British parlia- ment to overcome their objections to such laws; and still the French Canadian inveighs with

the Union Bill as against th nients of arbitrary power.

occupation.

some millions. highways, and you. mee and the Queen’s troops : Guards, and the Scotch Highlanders, ti'nguished

first settlement that the French government pre- 2,, the soldiers, that they are generally fine looking

accomplished gent:pmen. h ' dress and drt _ Tfeyiiiu approach by the late rebellious Sorel, or from any “ sympathing” quarter, you must obtain ass rts, tell your ag . fadyreyes, and place the keys ofyour trunkin the hands of her sovereign majesty Queen Vic- toria’s officer of the customs. . I

be added, this is all done With the least possible trouble to you, without detention, and wtthout actual search; as well becomes theofiicers ofa gracious Queen to receive her neighbors on a friendly visit to British America.

for the conversion of these tenures into those of

e more unjust enac-

nada b dint of military

England nnglftharemllidn has cost her Go where you will on the great and in the cities and villages of Canada, t with fortifications and barracks, there are the Coldstream Grenadier Guards, and the and regiments of less dis-

d' in uished cap and fame and less ts I g n musrbe’said

lume, numbering, 17,000 men. that many of them are

Nothing can exceed and discipline and musrc.

nen : and of the officers,

e, give the colour of your

Natltless, it should

That part of Upper Canada composing a

species of triangle, “ two sides .of which are formed by the Lakes Ontario, Erie, and Huron, with their connecting channels, about 570 tmles in length, and 50 to 80 in breadth,” is said by high authority to be “ one ofthe most fruitful on the earth, and capable ofsupporting a most numerous population.”

There is now an uninterrupted inland naviga-

tion from the head of Lake Superior to the Gulf of St. Lawrence, some 2000 miles; besides that of the Ottawa, extending nearly 1000 miles, broken however by rapids.

As to the character and importance ofthe tim-

ber trade alone, the same authority says :--“ The timber is obtained from the immense forests upon the shores of the great interior lakes. when felled, are put together into immense rafts, which often cover acres, and on them are raised small huts, the residence of the woodmen and their families. set up, and the rafts are navigated to Quebec, through many dangers, in which nearly a third of them tire said to be destroyed.-Those which survive are ranged along the river iii front of Quebec, forming a line four or five miles in extent.

The trees

Ten or twelve square sails are

The capital invested in this trade is estimated at £1,250,000 sterling—the export of 1831 ex- ceeded £1,000,000 in value, and the ships employed were over 1000.

At this crisis ofCanadian afi'airs it is worth while perhaps to look a little tnore closely into the history, statistics and politics of our neigh- bours than we of ” the States" have been in the habit of doing. Not in the spirit of aprying curiosity; much less that of espionage. to inter- fere with their domestic troubles, stir up false sympathy, or provoke aggression : great indeed has been the mistake of our citizens upon the

gratitude we owe to General Scott for rescuing us from the brink of war; but, as a leaf in the volume of human nature containing an interesting passage ofthe history ofa great and growing coun- try, and of an interesting and peculiar people. It is in this spiritu-under a sense of obligation to all parties and professions during a recent visit, and without unkind recollections toward any, that this hasty sketch has been attempted.

Tna MORAL Fromm—When sailing down the Thames, upon one of the most beautiful voyages In the world, from London to Margate, few people are aware that at high tide they are borne upon a flood of waters several feet higher than the level of the surrounding country. The whole of that vast river is an aqueduct, raised and supported between banks of stupendous con- struction, the work at first ofimniemorial ages, but gradually increased in strength and height as the bed of the river has grown higher by con- tlnual deposit. i masts, and admire the magnificent proud sailing vessels, as it were the swans of ocean with their snow-white wings, between fair and golden fields and emerald meadows,—the wealth of universal, of British commerce, borne upon the water, the wealth of British agriculture and industry enrich- tng the land ; but they little think upon what all these fair prospects and riches depend, and what disasters must invade the occupiers ofland and water, and their ripening riches, if but a small portion ofthe artificial barrier of earth were to be loosened from its position. Yet these banks having been once commenced, must from time to time be made higher continually. and the danger also must become continually greater in magni- tude, and more eminent. Ifnature had been left to take her own course, the deposit of soil would have taken place over the surface ofthe land, as well as on the bed of the river; the bed and .banks would have maintained their same relative height, or rather the land would have gamed most, as on the banks ofother rivers: the harvest of wealth would not have been reaped at so early a period, but it would have been sure for ever. The social system in this country is in an equally artificial state. In our opinion it is no less dangerous and alarming. We see the tide of riches and commerce, and trade and manu- facture in all its branches, borne onwards and aloft at avery artificial elevation, an elevation which requires to be continued and constantly increased for the very maintenance of its exist- ence,_and one which carries with it the utmost rum in Its consequences, should it ever meet wrth disaster and interruption. In the'earlv part of the last century, the Thames burst its bounds and overwhelmed the rich harvests of its shoreti "1 Essex, far and wide, with aterrible inundation Thesite .obtained its name from the calamity. and is still called DagenhamL Breach. It With

ministration of justice in their courts, to the leaks

b

equal earnestness against the wise provision of

only at enormous expense, and after ma loss and labour, that the injury was repaicddfeaiid

the land restored to cultivation. A

larnt excited, and some symptoms of". fence, in the same neighbourhde 0m» system is in a conditlon analogous in m -. 1. (I I to that which we have described; Let“, sider it well, and be upon our guard “a In . _ iizrli'ousds-again, bearing on its bosom the of all the world, and the means of every . the ruin would be greater than all the '3 which it new beats. . V I sioned by it, or other changes and drstr I. mischiefshould not be repaired, the ’whob cent country must become a swamp, llkell‘ magnificent Babylon. _ I . I this Wealthy and majestic British empire itself become as Babylon.—-Landon m,

Batman—On a surface of two square uv was ascertained that fifty thousand men. horses were 1 'ing! ‘

grain which liad covered the field of booths

reduced to litter, and beaten into the earthi’ H , the surface trodden down by the cavalry,- furrowed deeply by the cannon wheels,. with many a relict ofthe fight. cuirasses, shattered fire-arms and broken swuda all the variety of military ornaments, lancer V and Highland bonnets; uniforms ofcvery colour, plume and pennon; musical instruments; the V. apparatus of artillery, drums, bugles:—:-but good"; God, why dwall on the harrowmg picture ofa

fouahteo field ’l—each and every ruinous display 1 bar: mute testimony to the misery of such a . battle. ' " “ _ r ‘ ance of this scene of death he heightened, yr... would be by witnessing the researches. ofthe. living amidst its desolation. for the object their love. days were occupied in that rnournful duty'; and: the confusion ofthe corpses, friend and foe'inter- ‘ mingled as they were, often rendered the attempt I

dead lay four deep upon each other, marking, spot some British square had ocupied, when» \

Nétlemk frontier, and deep is the debt of

They glide between forests of

elapsed, and if the same out 5. happen again, the calamity must N dreadful. There is at the pmnt .. . g~ '

If the majestic Thames should If, through the loss .

Let us look to it, Wa'ranaoo AT NOON ON THE DAY arm;

The luxurious crop at.

Helmets: a3:

Could the melancholy appear-1' Mothers and wives and children, ',

at recognizing individuals difficult, and in >l| cases, impossible. “ “ In many places

posed for hours to the murderous fire of a F i - battery. Outside, lancer and cutrasster scattered thickly on the earth. Madly at ing to force the s'erried bayonets of the Brit they had fallen, in the bootless essay, by musketry of the inner files. Farther on y”