TRAVELS through the INTERIOR PARTS OF AMERICA. T R A V E L S through the INTERIOR PARTS O F AM E R I C A. SERIES OF LETTERS, BY AN OFFICITC Tl avj ccv ts; ::7t0j, tbvt* Xtyif V O 1.. I. X 0 A* Z> O JV; Printed for WILLI AM LANE, LeaJaJiail-Strm. to the right honorable the EARL OF HARRINGTON, VISCOUNT PETERSHAM, AND COLONEL OF THE TWENTY-NINTH-REGIMEN . OF FOOT. MY LORD, pjAVING had the honor to ferve under your Lordfhip, it was my fortune, in common with all who, were in the fame- fitua- fituation, to become attached to your Lordfhip by perfonal obligations; and it is a confer quence which I hope will be thought equally natural, that I fliould take this occafion to ac** knowledge them* In laying before the Public uncommon fcenes of difficulty, danger and diflrefs, I might be further tempted, had I talents for the undertaking, to particularize the unremitting fortitude, which, in feveral of the moft trying in-fiances, diftinguifhed your Lord* (hip's conduct: but examples of bravery, though none can be more eonfpicuous than thofe your Lord-(hip (hewed, abound in every clals of a Britifh army : more rare though though not lefs worthy of imitation, is the fort of attachment your Lordfhip has always fhewn to your corps. It has been your praife, my Lord, when out of the field, to forego the pleafures which high rank, fortune, youth, and accomplifli-ments opened to your view, and to brave the feverity of climate, through tedious winters, in mere military fellowfhip. In retired quarters, you found the care of your men to be at once the true preparation for your country's fervice, and a moft gratifying enjoyment to your own benevolence : while on their parts, they they considered their leader as their bell friend and benefa&or. Discipline was thus placed upon a bails that mechanical valor can never eftablifh, upon a principle worthy of troops who can think and feel, confidence and gratitude. Duly imprefTed with thefe and many other of your virtues—many more than you would permit me to enumerate y I have the honor to be My Lord, Your Lordfhip's moil obedient, And moft devoted Humble Servant, THOMAS ANBUREY. PREFACE. HE following letters were written to gratify private friendfhip, and would never have been intruded upon the Public, but from the entreaties of fome of the moft refpeftable Subfcribers to the Work, who flattered the Author, that as they contained much authentic information, relative to America, little known on this fide of the Atlantic, they could not fail of being interfiling to the Public. Their Their ftyle and manner will clearly evince them to be the actual refult of a tamiliar correfpondence, and by no means void of thofe inaccuracies neceffarily arif-ingLfrom the rapid efFufions of a confef-fedly inexperienced Writer, which will fcarcely be wrondered at, by thofe who confider how widely different are the qualifications necefTary*to form the Soldier and the Author. Every thing the Reader may meet with will not appear ftrictly nouvelle -y but this is a circumftancc unavoidably attending the writer of a tour through a country, which has been already the fubject of fo much diicuflion; but there are certainly many new circumftances related,' which will ferve to point out the true character and'manners of the Americans. The [ yii ] The facts came within his own knowledge, or are fupported by fome honourable authority; and his motto has ever been, " 1 Nothing extenuate, Nor fet down aught in Malice. They will ftrike every man with the greater force, after the evident partiality of a late Author, who has been led to repreient the Favorers of Independence as pofteffed of every amiable qualification, and thofe who efpoufed the rights of the Mother Country, as deftitute of common feelings, and humanity itfelf. t • * . m • -;JTfv*. ' ' The Author, fcnfible how much thofe Sub {bribers, whofe generofity has exceeded the limits of the fubfeription, would be hurt by a particular diftinction, co-iointly renders them thofe thanks, A Which the tried heart that feels alone can give." DIRECTIONS FOR. PLACING THE PLATES* VOL. I. Map of America, oppofite the Title Tage Facing ?agc; View of St. John's, upon the River Sorrell . . 136 The ScSion and Plan of a Blockhoufc - V - 138 Indian Warrior ... . - 2-London" Capt. Arthur Bu.tcll,--Marines James Betts, Efq.---Elfex-Stn.ct Wm. Butler, Elq.-Qrafle-Stre< f Mr. Baker's Library,-——Southan pton Mr. Barryfs Library,--Mailings C The Rt. Hon.-The Earl of Chefterncld The Rt. Hon.-The Earl of Carlifle The Rt. Hon__The Earl of Cholmondclcy The Rt, Hon.--The Earl of Camden The Rt. Hon.-The Earl of Cavar* The Rt. Hon.-Lord Craven The Rt. Hon.-Lord Clifford The Rt. Hon.-Lord Carbcrry The Rt. Hon.--Lord Cathcart The Rt. Hon.-Lord Fred. Campbell Sir Wm. Clerke, Bart. Sir Hy. Gough Calthorpc, Sir Henry Clinton, K. B. General Chrillie,-Lciccftcr-Square Major Campbell, (24 Regt. of Foot) Capt. Cotter, (103 Regt.) Bryan Cooke, Efq. Mrs. Cooke Wm. Cowdcn, Efq,--Meutb Ralph Clayton, Efq. Richard Crofts, Efq.-Pall Mall The Rev. Mr. Cove,-Helitone Mrs. Cafemcnt, -ditto James Crowd}', Efq.-Swindon, Wilts Mr. Jos. Colborne, Surgeon,-Brentwood Mr. Edm. Cottcrell,-Cold Bath Fields Mr. James Cooper,——Swithin's-Lane Dr. Cockall Mr. Thomas Conder,-Alderfgate-Street The Rev. Mr. Crutwell,-Oakingham J*mes Cobb, Efq.—— Eatf India Houfe Mr. Crawford's Library,---Briohtliclmftone Jos. Chew, Efq. Sec. forlndia Affairs,-North William Curtis, Efq.--London Lieut. Crichton, (31 Regt.)——Gofpcrt J. Croft, Efq. His Grace——The Duke of Devonfhirc The Rt. Hon__The Earl of Derby The Rt. Hon.-The Earl of Dartmouth The Rt. Hon.-7 he Earl of Donegal The Rt. Hon.--The Countefs of Darnley The Rt. Hon.-Vifcount Duncannon The Rt. Hon.-Vifcount Dalrymple The Rt. Hon__Lord Ducie The Rt. Hon.--Lord Dorcheftcr Colonel Dundas Lieut. Will. Dalton, (Royal Navy)-Rotherhithc Lieut. Col. Delancey, Margaret-Street, Cavendiih-Squarc Major Dalrymple, (49 Regt. of Foot) Capt. Duncan Richard Dowding, Efq.--Shadwell Mr. George Dixon,——Wooburne Mr. John Dew,--Shenfield Mr. B. U. Dowfon,-Geldefton The Rev. D. Davies,--Macclesfield Dulot and Owen's Library,--Brighthelrnflonc MeiT. Downes and March,——Yarmouth The Rev. H. Bate Dudley, Bradwell Rich. Jles Dimfdale, Efq.' E The Rt. Hon__The Earl of Effingham The Rt. Hon.--The Earl of Eglingtoune The Rt. Hon.-The Earl of Euilon The Rt. Hon.-—Lord Elphinftone Sir James Erlkine, Bart.--Cavendifh-Squarc the royal engineers. Major General Sir William Greene, Bart, Lieut. Col. Moncrief Capt. Twifs SUBSCRIBERS*; Capt. Rudyard Lieut. Bcatfon ■■ ■ Courturc - Bartlett Mrs. Edgar,--Percy-Street Mrs. Edwards,——Savage-Gardens Mr. Thomas Evans,--Minories F The Rt. Hon.-The Earl of Fauconbcrg The Rt. Hon.--—Vifcount Falmouth The Rt. Hon. ■ ■ Vifcount Fielding The Rt. Hon. .Charles James Fox The Rt. Hon.—«-M. Fitzpatrick tirst (or king's) regiment of dragoon guard General Sir George Howard, K. B, Lieut. Col. Vyfe Capt. Trotter Lieut. Hawley - Syer . - Beckford ■ Serjeantfon - Need Cornet Hamilton first regiment of foot guards. Colonel Bertie ■ .. ■ Strickland ■ . Hon. Francis Ncedham ■ Hon, H. F. Stanhope ■...... Sir Charles Afgill, Bart. fifteenth regiment of foot, Lieut. Gen. Sir. Wm. F&wcett Lieut. Col. Myers Capt. Madden .----- Ditmas - Paumier - Spencer m—- Gordon __Brown __(Jockburne Lieut. Ball —Stopford Enfign Barnard -Mc Donald Qr. Mailer Watkins Surgeon Mr. Anderfon forty-sixth regiment of foot, Lieut. Col. Hon. Colin Lindfay Major Leighton Capt. Bell --Wale Lieut. Lloyd * ——James --Dallas forty-seventh regiment of foot. Lieut. Col. Irving Major Coote ■ Alcock ———Aubrey Capt. Sir Henry Marr —-r- Featherftone Lieut, Johnfon -—Hill —..... Baldwin r< »■ Mc Lean forty-eighth regiment of foot. Lieut. Col. Hedges Major P'Arcy Major Campbell Capt. Jones Lieut. Jones --Roberts Enfign Beevor —-Power Colonel Forbes,^--Arlington-Street Lieut. Col. Forfter, (66 Regt. Foot) Thomas F^orfyth, Efq.-—New Bond-Street Cuthbert Fifher, Efq.—i-Tower J. Flint, Efq.-Shrewfoury Air. Fietcher,-Liverpool 2 fcts Mr. Forreft,-—Sr. Mariin's-Lanc Rofe Fuller, Efq.---Wigmore-Street Walter Farquhar, Efq.--Great Marlborough-Street Mr. Finnin,-Strand Thomas Fortune, Efq.---London Mr. Fenno's Library,-Colcheftcr G His Grace-—Fhe Duke of Grafton His Grace--The Duke of Gordon The Rt. Flon.——Earl Grofvcnor The Rt. Hon.--Earl of Glalgow The Rt. Hon--Lord Gage General Gordon Capt. Gwynn Lieut. Gordon,--Parliament- S treet ----Grant, Efq. Richard Gray, Efq.---Pall Mall M rs. Gib fo M,--H er tford - Street Samuel Greaves, Efq.-Manchester The Rev. Mr. Gryil,-Helftone Mr. T. Gryll, ditto Thomas Glynn, Efq. The Rev. Mr. Gilbert,-Helftone Mr, Gardner,-London H His Grace-————The Duke of Hamilton The Rt. Hon.-—The Earl of Huntingdon The Rt. Hon.-The Earl of Harrington The Rt. Hon.--The Earl of Harcpurt The Rt Hon.-The Earl of Hertford The Rt. Hon.--Lord Howard The Rt. Hon.-—Lord Hawke The Rt. Hon.-Lord Hawkefburv The Rt. Hon.--Lord Heathfield ' The Rt. Hon.--Lord Hood The Rt. Hon..-f-Lord Archibald Hamilton The Rt. Hon.-Lord Spencer Hamilton Sir Watts Horton, Bart. The Hon. Mrs. Horton The Hon, Lady Horton The Rev. Mr Horton The Hon. Mr. Hencage Mr. Harman, Princes-Street, oppofite the Manfion-Hx the royal regiment of horse guards. The Rt. Hon.-.....General Conway Col. Balthwayt Capt. Milncs —— Chaplin Jefferfon Col. Harnage,-Parliament-Street Major Hawker,-ditto Capt Hanchett Capt. Hardy Major Haines,-Hampfhire Mr. Hallj Surgeon, (51 Regt.) The Rev. Mr. Hornby Mrs. Hindes,-Hertford-Street ohn Hawkins, Efq.' 'Helftone arncs Watfon Hull, Efq.'-—Belvedere, Ireland Trevor Hull, Efq.-Greek-Street JVlr. Hinckes,-Great Portland-Street Mr. John Harding,--—Strand Mr. Hollyo^ke, -■— Red Lion-Square-Mr. Harris,--— St. Mary Axe Anthony Mighmore, Efq. ditto Edwatd Hey!in, Efq.-— Blington Mr. Hope,-Upper Seymour-btreet, Cavendifli-Squai^ Bcnj. Hcnfliaw, Efq--Hodfdon Thomas Hodgfon, Efq.-Briftol Mefl*. Haydon and Sons,--Plymouth The Gentlemens Book Club-at Helftone Col. Hill, (late of the 9'th Regt.)--■—Helftone Capt. Richard Hill,---Helftone William Hofte, Efq. Barwick Mr. George Hall,.--Star-Office, Exetcr-Strect I •'<' ■ The Rt. Hon.-The Earl of Jerfey Lieut. Col. Jacques, (51 Regt. of Foot) Sir John Johnfon, Superintendant to the Indians in Canada, Col. Jeilbp,-Eludyer-Street Lieut Jones,--cLov/er Brook-Street Gen, Johnfon Alex. Irvine, Efq.———Berner's-Street Mr. Richard Johns,.--Helftone Mr. Johnfon,-Piccadilly Mr. Samuel Johnfon,-—Briftol I The Rt. lion.——Lord Kenfington Lieut. Col. Kingfton, (28 Regt. of Foot) Capt. Kempthorne,--—Helftone -—Kellctt, Efq.—m—Ruflel-Street, CovcnuGarden John Keene, Efq.-Manfion Houfe Mr. James Kerby,-London . Mr. Charles Knight,—— Windfor Mr. Frederic Kanmacher L His Grace--The Duke of Leeds The Rt Hon.--The Marquifs of Lanfdowri The Rt. Hon,--The Marquifs ofLothain The Rt. Hon.--The Earl Ludlow The Rt. Hon.-—Lord Lovaine The Hon.-Robert Lindfay The Hon..--Capt. John Lindfay The Hon-Hugh Lindfay Sir Michael Le Fleming, Bart.-Hertford-Street General Lambton,—--^Harley-Street Paul Le Mefurier, Efq.—M.P.—Walbrook Charter Layton, Efq.--Drayton Mr. Loxley,-Poultry Mr. Lofack,-Wigmore-Strcet Mr. John Lee,-Black-Friars Mr. Leigh,--Thorndon Mr. John Lees,-^Brentford M His Grace-The Duke cf Marlborough His Grace-The Duke of Montrole The Rt. Hon.——Vifcount Mount Edgecumbc The Rt. Hon.-Vifcount Molefworth The Rt. Hon.-Vifcount Melbourne The Rt. Hon.-Vifcount Mountituart The Rt. Hon__Lord Milford Richard Matter, Efq. MP —Charles-Street, BerkleyqSq. J. Madocks, Efq. (Coldtti earn Regt. Gds.)Bedtord-fctreet Major Money,--"Norwich Capt. Mc. Kinnon,-[63 Regt.)' Ireland Capt. Robert Mc, Crea,---Gu< rnfey Cuthbert Mafljiter, Efq,-P*omford Edward Mafon, Efq''.-Spital-Fielris The Rev. Mr. Mingift,-Goiden-5quar£ Mr. Mackreth,---Scotland-Yard Mr. jofeph Mitchell,-----lleiftonc J. Miibankc, Efq, The Rev. Dr. Morgan,-St. James's-Square? James Madden, Efq.-St. Albans-Street Thomas Maude, Efq.-Temple Mr. Mc Leilh's Library, Edinburgh N His Grace-The Duke of Northumberland the ninth regiment of foot. Lieut. Co?. Campbell Major Ritchie Capt. Baillie - Hoey - Buchannan -- Spencer — — V incent -- Timms - Murray •- Piercy - Rofe - Mc J .can Lieut. Reynolds --Miichel! -Eario Enfu-ns fames Rof: -4*. Dufle ' -Dui'/.icl ---. Bur bridge » O'Connor Enfign Kerghtky -— Vv olte Chaplain—The Rev. Mr. Ckv.lev* the royal navy. Admiral Montague ■ Capt, Dactes ~ Hardy -- Schanks Lieut. Wm. Dalton - Wm. Bentick Mrs. Newberry,-St. Paul's Church-Yard O Sir George Ofborn, Bart. Charles-Street, Berkley-Square James Ormiby,Efq,-Dublin P His Grace The Duke of Portland Her Grace*-The Dutchefs of Portland The Rt. Hon.-The Earl of Plymouth The Rt. Hon.-The Earl of Powis The Rt. Hon.-Vifcount Palmerftone The Rt. Hon.-Lord Pelham The Rt. Hon.-Lord Petre The Hon.-Mr. Petre, Grofvenor-Square The Hon.-Mr. G. Petre, Somerfet-btrect The Hon.——Thomas Pelham, Stretton-Street The Hon.-Genera, Parker Gen. Pitt,-Tenterden-Street • Capt. PeacocK,-117 Regt. of Foot) Mr. Pugh,----Poultry Mrs. Piozzi,——Hanover-Square Mr. Phillips, Somerfetihire Mr. Thomas Powell,-Terace, Buckingham-Street Mr. Parnell,-Church-Street, Spital-Fields Capt. Walter Proffer,-Ireland Palmer and Merrick's Library,——Oxford Mr. Powell,-Newgate-Street Punchard and Jermyns's Library, Ipfwich Thomas Boothby Parkyns, Efq. Thomas Paulk, Efq. R The Rt. Hon.--The Earl of Radnor The Rt. Hon.-lord Rivers The Rt. Hon.-*-—L'.rd Rodney The Rt Hon ———-Lord Rawdon Sir Matthew White Ridley, Bart.-Portland-Place Cape. Reed,--(113 Regt.) Air. Robfonj-—-lYmces-Street, Hanover-Square 'Mr. Alexander Roberts,-Red Lion-Square John Rogers, Efq.——Helftone E. Read, Efq Cheftcr George Rome, Efq. Mount-Streef John Lc Chevalier Roome, Efq.——London-Road Mr. Rufh,---Fountain-Street Alexander Raby, Efq.-Cobham Mrs. Raby Mr. Robinfon,—Comhill His Grace- -The Duke of St. Albans The Rt. Hon.-'Fhe Earl of Suffolk The Rt. Hon.--The Earl of Shnfccfbury The Rt. Hon.--The Counters Dow. ol' Shaftefbury The Rt. Hon.-Fhe Earl of Scarborough The Rt. Hon.—-'Fhe Earl of Stanhope The Rt. Hon.--Earl Spencer The Rt. Hon.--The Earl Stamford The Rt. Hon.-Vifcount Stormont The Rt. Hon.-.—Lord Say and Sele • The Rt. Hon.—-Lord Stourton The Rt. Hon.-Lord St. John The Rt. Hon.- .....-Lord Scarfdale The Rt. Hon--Lord Southampton The Rt. Hon.--Lord Robert Spencer The Rt. Hon-Lady Ann Simpfon The Hon----Mr. Sandilands Thomas Stanley, Efq. M. P.--Pall Mall R. B. Sheridan, Efq. M.P. -B:\iton Street SECOND (OR ROYAL N. BRITISH) REGT. OF J)RAGOONt.. Major Ramfay Capt. Scaford .- Smith i- Boarclman. Lieut. Fortdcue Cornet Wigley ,-Both well - Leigh SIXTEENTH (OR QUEEn's) REGT. OF LIGHT DRAGOONS* The Hon.-Major General Harcourt Major Gardner -Hon. H. Bennett -Howell Capt. Boyce ■- Carmichael Lieut. Hawker --—. Smallett ■ Archer ■Munro Cornet Afhton --Lee —--Pennyman Cornet Anfon , ^ Deering SIXTY'SECOND REGIMENT OF FOOT. Major Gen.—Matthews Lieut. Col. — Campbell Major Howe Capt. Banbury —— Sotheron —•— Wybrants •--• Blackall —Matthias ...----Bromhead .- Blacker - Vallancey Lieut. James ■ ■ — ■ Bjudenett - Gourlay .- Batohelor - Kerr Enfign Kent ——- Garden Major Skene,-—---Chelfca Lieut. Stuart Mr.' Seddon,-Alderfgate-Strecfc John Sawrey, Efq---Lancafhire Edw. Spike, Efq. Mrs. Spike Mifs Spike Mr, John Sladc,- Camberwell Daniel Seton, Efq.-Stratford-Plaqj Mr. ShicrcliBc,-Briftol Mr. Charles Spitta,-College-Hill John Scott, Efq.-Wigmore-Strect Capt. Scott, ——(53 Regt of Foot) ' , Mr. Scott, Jun.-^-Norwich Mifs Smiths,-Percy-Street James Simmonds, Efq. Banker, ~——— Canterbury .Simmons and Kirby, Canterbury John Selecr, Elq--London Mr. Stalker,--London Mr. Sellers,---Blandford The Rev. Mr. Salmon Mr. J. F. Souel,-Guerr/cy John Seeker, Efq- '■V'jndfoF Stell's Library,—-Haitjngs SUBS C RIBE R S. T . r ; 3 The Rt, Hon.--The Marquifs of Titchfield - - The Rt. Hon.--.—Lord Torphichen The Hon.--Mr. TwifletonThompfon Sir Charles Thompfon, Bart. K.B. Bond-Street ;, Sir John Thorold, Bart.-Cavendiih-Square '..its .jT-v* ri >1 so , " .: , • ■ • THE THIRD REGIMENT OF HORSE, OR CARBINEERS* Colonel Long field Major Wilford ---aVillev Capt. Smith - Tifdale ■- Rofs Lieut. Daniel .--French --Templeton --—F itzgerald ———Sir Thomas Chapman Cornet Cramer —--G illefpie -Longfield --Hon. Geo. Pomroy --1—Duncombe Surgeon James Wallace THE THIRD (OR PRINCE OF WALE3*s) R£GT. Gl DRAG. guards. Major Gen. Phillipfon Col. Manfell Capt. Milbanke _ Charlton Lieut. Charlton Cornet Dotten TWENTIETH REGIMENT OF FOOT. Colonel Lind Major Hon. S. D. Strangeways *—I—Rollinfon SUBSCRIBERS, Capt. Winchefter - Norman Lieut, Batcman ■-Brooke Enfign Wynyard twenty-first regt.of foqt (or R N B) fuzilhers, Colonel Hamilton Major Lovell Capt. Petrie -1 Brodic . Lieut. Grant -Dalgleifh --Congalton Qr. M. Geo. Lauder twenty-fourth reqim,ent of fqqt. Lieut. Gen. Wm. Taylejr Lieut. Col. England Major Pilmer '-Campbell Capt. Blake ■--Stiel - W. Doyle Lieut. Leybo.rrne -Short ---Hollings Enfign Meyrick General TTapaud, — -BernerVStreet Col. Anrtruther Thompfon,—(late oibz Regt.) Edinburgh Samuel Toulmin, Efq -Walbrook Mr. James Turner, Jun.-,Miibjnk Thomas 'Erewin, Efq.-Helilone (oKn Trevcner, Efq.-ditto „ Mr. William Tcrwin,——Haymarket Mr. Templeman,-Size-Lane Edward Thornycroft, Efq.-Chefter Mr. William Trillion,-Brentwood Mr. John Thomas Rev.Mr.Hen. Hawkins TrcmaynejA.M.Hcligan, Corn Mr. Leigh Thermion, "I' horn as 1- oi tune, E fq,-London Mr. Timrgood,-Fenchurch Street Pavid Thomas, Efq.—Pay Mafter in America U The Rt. Hon.—--The Earl of Upper Ofibry Mr. Benjamin Uphill,—Mount-Street, Grofvenor-Square Cornelius Vandcritop, Efq--Princes-St. Hanover-bq. The Rt. Hon.-The Earl of Weftmoreland Trie Rt. Hon.-The Earl of Winchelfea The Rt. Hon.-The Earl of Waldegrave The Rt. Hon.-The Earl of Warwick. The Rt. Hon.-Vifcount Weymouth The Rt. Hon.--Lord Willoughby de Broke The Rt. Hon__Lord Walpole Sir Watkin Williams Wynne, Bart.—St. James's-Sciuare Sir George Warren, K B. —-Grafton-Street Mifs Warburton General Warde Capt. Willoe,-—(8 Regt. of Foot} ..<- Wifeman,—;—(53 Regt. of Foot) Edward Willord, Efq.--Chelfea *~- Williamfon, Efq. ■ Temple Richard Whatley, Efq. 1 Parliament-Street Rev. Mr. Whatley,--ditto Rev. Mr. Wills,-Helftone Mr. John Whitehead,-Bafinghall-Street Mr. Thomas WagftafF,-Flighgate Mr. John Winpenny,--Briftol Robert Woodriff, Efq.--Temple Mr. Matthew White,--St. Swithin's-Lane Woodmafon and Page,-Leadenhall-Street James Woodmafon, Efq--Bond-Street Major William Young ERR Af J. VOL. I. Page Line 15 12 after the word to add them a 1 21 after Frigate add ivbo 56 7&8 for y«£ ctarriver rend 60 «-* Latin quotation mifphced, Ztfgw «iy«V/& lower low 75 7 few* to be tor fee m to be 50 5 Dura for durce 309 i&afor Enfant 1 ead Enfans 124. 19 for and have re&d and ticy ha-ve 341 to for read ^/tf 349 14 (ov font read yi?«^ 356 9 for Qcultis read occulfh 395 10 (orjland as rea&jlands a 395 laft line, after add 44.5 a for read Jhtmld VOL. II. Page Line 52 u for Eaafff read Francis 150 14 tor read 177S 17 for entertain read tained 221 laft line efteeming for efiecmti 225 ix -xwrf »«t/tr for « under a?3 16 for waling of Cyder $fy nuding Cyder 28S t 5 omit the word Old 361 16 inllead of/or read or 37G a omit the after 195 ■ 7 after add 'which 425 18 bearing for lea-viug 480 6 after Wf add /W 505 22 fox petits read petit es 506 j for fflrii read TRAVELS THROUGH THE INTERIOR PARTS or AMERICA. LETTER I. Cork, Juguftbtb, 1776. MY DEAR FRIEND, T RECEIVED your letter, dated the 2d * inftant, and furely nothing can be more flattering than the warm teflimony of regard and friendship every line of it fpeaks.—It was with great reluctance you confented to my going into the army, but a dull inactive life neither fuited my cir-cumflances nor my inclination, and an early Vol. I. B love love of a military one, foon determined my choice. My time and poor abilities cannot be fo well employed, as in the fer-vice of my King and country. I have no regrets at quitting England, but the lofs I mufl fuftain in your pleafant and improving converfation; and am per* fuaded you will alleviate as many of thofe painful reflections as poflible, by taking every opportunity of writing to me.— None fhall be omitted, on my part, of alluring you how often I think of you, and the implicit attention I mall ever pay to your commands, in giving you a de-fcription of perfons, places, and various occurrences—and fhould I fometimes be too particular on trivial fubjecls, you mufl: excufe it, and remember the two prevailing motives you affigned for this kind of cor-refpondence—the pleafure you was fo obliging to fay it would afford you, and the utility you thought it would be of to me, by by calling my attention to whatever be-* came in the leart worthy of obfervation. This is the laft you mud expect from me on this fide the Atlantic, as in a few days we fail, with the care of fome recruits for the 47th regiment. I once more entreat you, my dear friend, to take every opportunity of writing to me, and believe that time and diftance can never abate the refpect and friendihip with which I am, Yours, &c, LET- LETTER II. On hoard the Hcive, on the \ c , ' I Sept. 11til. Banks of Newfoundland. J 1776. my dear friend, T T would be very ungrateful indeed not * to embrace the opportunity, by a lliip that is bound for England, now lying too for letters, to fend you a hafty account of the events that have happened fmce my departure from Ireland. You know I had the care of fome recruits for the 47th regiment; and as they were compofed of that nation, no lefs famous for their characleriilic errors, than their fpirit and unbounded hofpitality, let me relate a cafual occurrence or two, in place of novelty, which cannot be expected, ed, fituated as I am, between iky and water. There were continually fome little dif-putes among thefe Hibernians. One day, on hearing a more than ufual noife upon deck, I went up to enquire the occafion of it, and learnt it was a quarrel between two of them. Upon aiking the caufe of him who appeared the tranfgreffor, he exclaimed, u Oh 1 and plaife your Honor, I 11 did nothing to him at all, at all"—when the other haftily replied, " Oh yes, and *c plaife your Honor, he faid as how he " would take up a ftick and blow my " brains out." The peculiar manner in which it was vociferated,, was fo truly comic, that I could not refrain from laughter, and merely reprimanding them, overlooked the offence. The weather has been very pleafant, 'till a few days previous to our coming on B 3 thefe ! thefe Banks, when there enfued a moft dreadful ftorm. The (hip was unable to carry the leaft fail, being left to the fury of the driving temper!:, it was impoilible for any one to keep the deck, and the helm was laihed hard of weather. About the third day the ftorm began to abate, and the evening became almoil calm. But there was fuch a prodigious fwell of the fea, that the iliip was expected every moment to roll her mails overboard : lire had driven fo much to the leeward, that although we could not difcern land, the yards and rigging were covered with birds, that were blown from it by the florin. At this time, one of my recruits coming upon deck, not obferving any one there, and the fea fo tremendous, immediately went below, and cried out to his companions, " Oh ! by my foul, honeys, the « fea " fea is very dreadful, and we are all fure *c to be drowned, for the fhip's a finking. " However, I have this confolation, that " if ihe goes to the bottom, the Captain " muft be accountable for us when we get fC to Quebec." And his fears operated fo powerfully, that he gave a groan, and fainted away. A few days after this the fea, which before had been fo tremendous, and to ufe the technical phrafe, run mountains high, was now become as calm as a mill-pond. It is cuftomary, on fuch weather, in a fleet, for one ihip to invite the Captains and paffengers of others to dinner. The mode of invitation on thefe occafions, is by hoifting a table-cloth to the enfign-ftaff. We hung out this fignal, and the Captain of the nearer! Ihip, with an officer, came on board. After dinner, fo hidden B 4. and and ffrong a breeze fprung up, as to render their return very unfafe, and it was two days before they could venture, when even then they accomplished it with imminent danger. This is a little anecdote I cannot help wifhing to be much noticed, as it might be a caution to young officers and captains of fhips, how they make nautical vifits, or upon any occaiion quit their velfels. Thefe Banks may be' ranked amongft the many furprifing and wonderful works of nature, being a mountain formed under water, by the flime that is continually warning away from the Continent. Its extent has never yet been afcertained, but is generally reckoned to be about 160 leagues long, and 90 broad. About the middle of it is a kind of bay, called the Ditch. The depth of water varies confi- derably, derably, being in fome places only five, and in others fixty fathom. The fun is fcarcely ever to be difcerned, a cold thick fog generally covering the whole atmof-phere, which renders it extremely dangerous to a fleet; for it is at times a ftate of total darknefs, where a continual firing of guns, or incefTant noife of the drum, can alone prevent the fhips running foul of each other. The winds around thefe Banks are generally very impetuous -t the conftant agitation of the waves, I am informed, is occa-fioned from the fea being driven by irregular currents, that beat fometimes on one fide and fometimes on the other, ftrik-ing with great force againft the borders of thefe Banks, which are every where almoft perpendicular, and repel them with equal violence: and yet, on the Banks themfelves, % little from the coafl, it is as quiet as in a bay, bay, except there happens to beaftrong and forced wind coming from a great dillance. When we found we were upon thefe Banks, which is perceptible without founding, as the water changes from an azure blue to a white fandy color, we laid too in order to hlh for cod, the procefs of which is no lefs entertaining than furpriz* ing to Europeans. After baiting the hooks with the entrails of a fowl, in a few minutes we> caught a fifh, when the failors made ufe of fome part of the entrails, as being a better bait, and then drew up the cod as fall as you can pombly imagine -y for though we remained there only half an hour, we caught as many as would ferve the Ihip's crew the reft of the voyage. You may wonder by what means they are certain of having caught a liih, with fo fo many fathom of line out. When it has been a little while in the water, they gently pull it with the finger and thumb, and if there is a fifh, the ftruggling of it occafions a vibration of the line, which is very perceptible, though fo many fathoms deep. They then haul it in, and as foon as the fifli comes in view, the water magnifies it to fuch a fize, that it appears almofl impofTible to get it on board; and indeed it requires fome dexterity, for on hauling them out of the water they flruggle with fuch violence, as frequently to work themfelves off the hooks, by entangling the line in the rigging, before they can be got up the fhip's fide. But thofe veffels which particularly follow this bufinefs, avoid the inconvenience by erecting galleries on the outfide, from the ttiain-mail to the ftern, and fometimes the whole length of the ihip, in which are placed barrels with the tops {truck out, and and the fifhermen get into thefe to inciter themfelves from the weather. Their ftay, I imagine, cannot be long, as the method of curing is equally- as expeditious as the catching them; for as foon as the cod is caught, they cut out its tongue, and give it to one who immediately ftrikes off its head, plucks out its liver and entrails, and giving it to another, the bone is drawn out as far as the navel; it is then thrown into the hold of the fhip, where it is falted and ranged in piles. The perfon who falts it is careful to leave fufflcient fait between the rows of nfh, to prevent them touching each other, and yet not too much, as either excefs would fpoil the cod. The right of hilling upon the Great Bank, by the law of nature, ought to have been common to all mankind; but England and France, being the only two powers that had colonies in North America, made no fcruple to appropriate to themfelves, what what Spain certainly had the greater! claim to, as the original difcoverers of it; and who, from the number of her monks and prieifs, as well as her religion, might have pleaded the neceffity of keeping. Yet at the concluflon of the laf! peace, they entirely gave up all pretentions to it: fmce which time England and France are the only nations that frequent thofe latitudes, and both have frigates continually cruizing, to prevent the encroachments of other nations. The produce of this fifhery is certainly a moil inexhauflible wealth to both countries, and it is no wonder they are fo very tenacious of it: yet it is furprizing what a large circuit the mips are obliged to take before their voyage is compleated, and the profits refulting from this fifhery returns to either, nearly traverfmg by water half the globe: for, in the fiift in-ftance, they fail from their refpecrive ports in in Europe to thefe Banks, from whence they proceed with their cargoes to the Mediterranean and African iflands, where they difpofe of their fiih for the produce of thofe iflands, then go to the Weft Indies, to exchange that cargo, and return home laden with fugars and rum. It appears a very fingular circumflance, that thefe Banks fhould abound with cod and no other fifti; and that the greateft philofophers have never been able to ac* count for it. The Captain of the (hip that is waiting for our letters growing impatient, obliges me to make a hafty conclufion, with wifh-ing you health and happinefs, and alluring you that you ftiall hear from me as foon as I arrive at Quebec. I am, Yours, &c* L E T~ LETTER III. gui&tc, Oft. %th, 1776. dear sir, AF T E R a fatiguing paiTage of eleven weeks, attended with no little danger, we are fafe arrived at Quebec, which before I proceed to give you any defcrip-tion of, it will be more methodical to relate the occurrences that befel us the remainder of our voyage. I told you in my laft, that we had frigates cruizing on the Banks, one of which informed us, that there were feveral privateers in the river Saint Laurence. Had we been lefs attentive to, and more apprehen-five of the ftioals and fands that river abounds with, rendering its navigation difficult flcult and dangerous, it would have been better for us, for a few days after we had paifed CapeRofier, a favorable wind fpring-ing up, the Captain crouded all the fail he poffibly could, in order to get the next morning to the ille of Bee, where he might find a pilot, being very uneafy, as he had never been up that river before. But to our great furprize and aftonifh-ment, about one o'clock in the morning, we run right upon a fhoal (which is called Mille Vache) with amazing violence. A (hip belonging to the fleet that had gone a head in the day time, and perceived the fhoal, (being low water) had immediately brought too, to warn us of our danger, which they did, by firing fignal guns. But the Captain miftaking them for thofe of a privateer, returned the fhot. The The ihip beat with great violence, and was every moment expected to go to pieces; but the tide loon turning, (lie refted upon the ground, and to our great aftonilriment, at the break of day, we found ourfelves fo near the more, that, to ufe a fea phrafe, we could almoin chuck a bifcuit on it. Upon the clearing up of a fog, a {hip was difcerned, which proved to be the fame that had fired guns in the night time: fhe was then about three leagues diftant. We immediately fired guns of diftrefs, of which fhe took no notice, and imagined fhe had, as too frequently is the cafe, deferted us, becaufe we were in diftrefs and ftood in need of her afhftance. However, wTe found friends in a quarter we little expected, for a canoe with three men paddled from the fliore, one of whom came on board and told us, we were very fortunate to have ftruck at the time of Vol. J. C fpring- fpring-tide3, or there would be no probability of the fhip's being got off. He directed us, when the tide was coming in, to carry out the bow anchor the length of the cable, and then made no doubt, but at the full, the fhip would float again, and we might warp off. After having given every proper in* Amotion, he took his leave, requeuing, at the fame time, that in cafe we were fo unfortunate as not to effect it, we would come afhore to his houfe, offering every afhflance to fave the cargo, and with a floop of his to take us up the river. At the return of the tide fome men were fent out with the anchor, according to trie directions given; at the heighth of it we floated, and to the joyful fatisfaction of every one, got clear off, fuftaining no other damage than the lofs of two anchors: yet fuch was the Captain's care and anxiety for his his owners, that, I am perfuaded, he would not have expfefTed half the concern for the lofs of the whole fhip's burthen and company, that he did for his anchors: as with Captains of hired tranfports, the crew and the cargo are but fecondary objects. This is one inftance of the numberlefs accidents that await tranfports, by which, I am convinced, the fervice is retarded, and many operations, however critical, which'defend on troops and provifion, are often fruit rated, either by defign or negligence. For only figure to yourfelf what a fituation an army of fo many thoufands as that we have upon the Continent, and thofe chiefly fed with provinces from the Mother Country, muff be in, upon the mghteit delay. It is much to be lamented, therefore, that all tranfports are not commanded by King's officers, or at leaff the matter made C 2 more more fubject. to controul, when under convoy, or naval orders; as it would prevent the inconvenience and hazard that is continually happening to the King's fervice. You will fuppofe it furprizing that this has never been noticed and remedied by thofe in power. I fhould have thought the affair of the powder-ihip that went into Bofton, would have occafioned a thorough invcfligation of this iniquitous bufmefs. The Captains of tranfports in general, are a fet of people who have their own in-tereft much more at heart than the welfare of their country; and it is well known that many of them are difaffected to Government, which was the cafe of the Captain of the fhip juff. alluded to, but where the blame is to be imputed, is not for me to fay. As in all probability you may not not have heard of this affair, or the real truth of it may not have reached you, I mall relate the matter, as I had it from a Captain of a fhip who failed in the fame fleet, whofe veracity can be relied on, and from the amazing ftrange circumflances which attended the lofs of that fhip, you may form your own opinions. It feems this veffel was an immenfe charge, containing 1500 barrels of gunpowder, belides a great quantity of other warlike flores. Several perfons well dif-pofed to Government, and who were perfectly aquainted with the Captain's principles, informed thofe who had the direction of tranfports at Cork, that this man would, the very firf! opportunity, leave the convoy and join the Americans, but no attention was paid to the information -y upon which they expreifed their apprehensions to the Captain of the frigate was to convoy them out, who promifed to C 3 take take all poiTible care of that fhip during the voyage: and every one in the fleet thought he was not the man reprefented, as he kept clofe under the fcern of the frigate. When the fleet came off Bolton harbour, a frigate that was cruizing for the purpofe, informed them, that the King's troops had evacuated Boflon, and gone to Halifax; and in the fleet's failing to that place, in one of thofe fogs that I have already defer] bed to you, the Captain of the powder-fhip feized the opportunity, left the fleet, and failed back for Boffon, at the mouth of which harbour was flationed a fifty-gun fhip, to prevent any veifel from going in, that might have efcaped any of the frigates that were cruizing. Upon the Captain of the transport's being interrogated by the man of war, he acknowledged himfelf bound for Bof- toii, - ton, that he had not heard of the troops evacuating it, and feveral more excufes; but fome doubts and fufpicions arifing from the man's converfation, and fhe being found a fhip of fuch an im-menfe treafure, an officer was fent on board her, and as the evening was coming on, lafhed her to his main-maft, intending to fail her the next morning for Halifax, under the heft convoy he could afford. But to fhew you what a determined villain the Captain of the tranfport was, in the night time, he confined the Lieutenant, who was fent on board, cut away from the man of war, and under cover of the night, made all poiTible expedition to get into Bofton. The tide would not anfwer his purpofe that time, and the man of war could not come up to her,, for want of a fufricient C 4 depth depth of water. . The Captain manned his pinnace, and fent another Lieutenant on board her. Upon the officer's attempting it, the Captain ft ruck a harpoon into his fkull; he fell into the boat, and the reft finding a great refiftance, and that they were likely to be overpowered, rowed back again. The tide now turned, and he got the fhip fafe under the cannon of the Americans, before a greater force could be dif-patched to retake pohemon of her. The lofs on our fide was great indeed, but the advantage to the Americans was tenfold, as they were in the utmoft diftrefs for thofe materials, and which event may in fome meafure procraftinate this unfortunate war. Two days after our late accident, we arrived off the ifle of Condre, where we got a pilot, a pilot, and three days after anchored fafe in the bafon of this city. Fearful of being too late to fend this by a fhip that is juit failing for England, there is only time to affure you, that I mail embrace every opportunity of convincing you, with how much fincerity and friend-fhip I am, Yours, &c. LET T E R IV. Quebec, Ocloler \ yh> MY dear friend, P& E F O R E you have any account of T** this city and its environs, I fhall de-fcribe to you the river Saint Laurence, which, upon their hrif failing up it, is the aftonifhment and admiration of every European. In forming an idea of a river, people in general are apt to judge by com-parifon: thofe who have made the tour of Europe, inftantly call to mind the Rhine and the Danube; thofe who have not, the Thames. What will you fay, when you are informed that thefe, though very noble and beautiful, are but mere rivulets, when put put in competition with that of Saint Laurence. This river iiTues from lake Ontario, taking its courfe north-eaft, wafhing Montreal, where it receives the Outtuais, forming many fertile iilands, and a lake which is called St. Pierre. It continues the fame courfe, and meets the tide 400 miles from 'the fea, where it is navigable for large veffels. After receiving in its progrefs innumerable fcreams, this great river falls into the ocean at Cape Rofier; it is there 90 miles broad, where the cold in general is fevere, and the fea rather boif-terous. In its progrefs it forms variety of bays, harbours and iilands, many of the latter being extremely fruitful and plea-fant. ; The river Saint Laurence has ever been looked upon as a good defence to this province, for in the neighbourhood of Quebec, it it abounds with hidden rocks, with ftrong currents in many places, which force the mips to make various windings. From the time that Quebec was befieged by Sir William Phipps, in the year 1690, who was obliged to retire with a great lofs of ihipping, this river was very little known to the Englifh till the year 1759, when Sir Charles Saunders, with a fleet of 50 Englifh men of war, and near 300 fail of tranfports, arrived off Quebec, without the lofs of a (ingle fhip, which clearly proves thofe dangers were not fo great as had been rcprcfcntcd. Since that time it has been better known ; and though we have not at prefent at this place fo many men of war, yet there are near as many tranfports, notwithstanding the navigation up this river from the fea is rendered very dangerous, by the fhength of the current and the number of fand-banks, which frequently arife in places where they never appeared before; the fatal confequcnces of which which feveral veffels have experienced this war. There are abundance of porpcifes in the river St. Laurence, which are moftly white, and when they rife to , the furface of the water, have the appearance of an hog fwimming. At night, if I may be allowed the exprefficn, without being acciifed of an Iricifm, they caufe mod beautiful fire works in the water: for being in fuch abundance, and darting with amazing velocity, a continued flream of light glides through the water, and as fhoals of them frequently crofs each other, the luminous appearance is fo piclurefque, that no defcription can reach it. On our entering the river St. Laurence, we faw, off the ifland of Anticofti, a great number of feals, one of which we caught. This animal is generally ranked amongft the clafs of fifh, although produced on land, $o interior Travels land'; and living more there than in water. Its head refembles that of a mall iff, it- has four paws which are very fhort, efpecially the hinder ones, ferving rather to crawl, than to walk upon, and refembling fins; but the.fore feet have claws; the fkin is exceeding hard and covered with fhort hair; they are firft" white, but -as they grow up turn to fandy or black, and fome of them are of three different colours. There are two forts, the larger weighing near two. thoufand pounds, and have a {harper fnout than the others...,I have been told that the Indians have the art of taming thefe creatures, fo as to make the hi follow like a dog. 1 am led to imagine they couple and bring forth their young on the rocks, from this reafon, wherein the powerful inftmdt of nature fhewed itfelf very predominantly : one day, feveral large ones that had got their their young on their backs, dropt them now and then into the water and took them up again, which no doubt, as being brought forth upon land, was to teach, them to fwim; it is not very fnrprizing, when it is conftdered this animal is amphibious : but the mode is exact.ly the fame, only changing the element, with that of the feathered creation, whofe little ones nutter from fpray to fpray, before they venture to fly abroad. The eagle carries her young, to train them up to encounter boifterous winds. 6 : Thefe animals are caught on the coaft of Labrador. The Canadians go to this frozen and almoft uninhabitable coaft, in the middle of October, and remain there till June; their mode of catching them is by placing nets between the continent and a few fmall iflands, where coming in fhoals from the eaft, in attempting to pafs thefe fo'aights, they are caught 5 they then convey vey them to land, where they remain frozen till the month of May 5 the oil is then extracted from them, and it is faid that feven or eight of thefe animals will yield a hogfhead. The ufe -of its fkin is fo generally known, it needs no de-fcription; its fiefh is allowed to be very good, but if you had partaken of it, as I have done, you would coincide with me in opinion, that it turns to better account when converted into blubber. The tide goes a league beyond Trois: Rivieres, which is thirty leagues higher up the river. The difference of the tide at this place is generally between forty-five and forty-eight feet, but at the new and full moon, from fifty-four to fifty-feven, which is very.confiderable. The river is three quarters of a mile broad here, and as the fea water, though it does not come up immediately to the town, town, renders it fomewhat brackifh, the inhabitants make ufe of it only for culinary purpofes, having fpring water for their beverage. In failing up the river St. Laurence, the nrff plantations you meet with are about fifty leagues on the fouth, and twenty on the north fide of the river, below Quebec: they are but thinly fcattered, and their ■ produce very indifferent. The fertile fields commence near the capital, which I am , informed grow better, the nearer you advance to Montreal. About half way up the river, we came to the JJles aux Oifeanx, and palled them about the dillance of a cannon {hot; they are two rocks that rife up in a conical form, about 60 feet above the furface of the water, the larger! of which appeared to be abput two or three hundred feet in circumference ; they are very near one another, Vol. I. D and and there does not appear a Sufficient depth of water between them for a fmall fhallop. It is difficult to fay what color thefe are of, as both furface and banks are entirely covered with the dung of the birds that refort thither; however, there were difcernable in places fome veins of a reddifh calf. One of the mates of the fhip faid he had been on them, and had loaded a fmall fhallop with eggs, which were of different forts, and that the flench arifmg from the dung was almofl infupportable. Befides the fea-gulls, and other fowls from the neighbouring lands, there is found a fpecies that cannot fly. It appears to me wonderful, in fo prodigious a multitude of nefls, how every one finds its own. At my requeft, the Captain of the fhip fired a cannon mot, which fpread the alarm over all this feathered commonwealth, when there arofe over the two iflands iilands a thick cloud of fowl, at leaf! two or three leagues in circuit. One material circumftance I forgot to mention to you, happened in our voyage to this place. In the middle of Auguft, after we had been incommoded for feveral days with excemve heats, one morning, foon after we got up, we felt fuch an in-tenfe cold, that both the Captain and my-felf were obliged to put on our great coats. We could by no means imagine the caufe of this alteration, the weather being extremely fine, and particularly as the wind did not blow from the north. But on the third morning, jufl before day-break, a failor called out with all his might, " luff, luff," which the man at the helm had Scarcely done, when an enormous piece of ice paffed along-fide of the veffel, which infallibly muft h ave dallied her to pieces, had fhe ftruck againfl it. At day-break we law it, when it appeared to be about fix times as D 2 large large as our (hip, and twice the heighth of its malts. You well know that only one third of ice, while fwimming, appears above water, and when that is coniidcred, I do not wonder that the ignorant fhould not readily aifent to the relations given by travellers, of thefe frozen productions of nature. Having already fwelled this letter beyond its intended limits, and wiihing to avoid, as much as poifible, being too dif-fufe on trivial fubjects, I (hall conclude it with my belt willies for your welfare and happinefs, ailiiring you that I am, with friendihip and eiteem, Yours, &c. LET- LETTER V. Quclec, Ocl. z^tb, 1776, DEAR SIR, A G REE ABLE to my promife in a former letter, I fhall now proceed in the defcription of the river St. Laurence, with fome occurrences which befel us, previous to our arrival at Quebec. One of the fine ft bays to be met with in going up the river, is that of St.. Paul, and as we were under the neceiTity of anchoring oppoute to it, till the return of tide, I prevailed on the Captain to go on more. D 3 Upon Upon our landing, the Prieft of the parilh came and invited us to his houfe, treating us with much hofpitality. He was a man rather advanced in years, a native of France, and poilefTed of great learning; he had been recommended by the French Court to the Biihop of Quebec, while this province was under their government, and, as I am afraid is the cafe with too many well deferving characters, was poorly rewarded, by being made Prieit of this fmall parilh, for fome elfential Services he had rendered the French, which, however, has many privileges annexed to it. From the great veneration and refpecr. that was fhewn him, one would naturally conclude he was much beloved by his parishioners, and his converfation turned upon making them happy, by inflr tiering them both in religious and moral duties, encouraging induitry, and dive/Mng them of of thofe innate favage difpofitions, which, he obferved, the lower fort of Canadians are but too prone to. It was impofhble to fay which mould be molt admired, his fmile of welcome, the neatnefs of the repaff, or the hilarity of his conversion; all of which gave mc the greater pleafure, when put in contrail with the other French Priefls I have met with, who are auilere and contracted, and fo difgufling, that rather than fit down with them, I would eat hay with my horfe. This bay is about eighteen leagues below Quebec, containing only this fmall parifh, which is fome dillance from the more of the bay, on a low plain, formed the river. It is furrounded with exceeding high mountains on every fide, excepting one large gap, which runs parallel to the river. The farms are at fome distance from each other, and the church is D 4 reckoned reckoned one of the moil ancient in Canada, which feems confirmed by its bad architecture, and the want of ornaments; the walls are formed of pieces of timber, erected at two feet diftance, which fupport the roof, and between thefe timbers the fpace is filled up with a kind of lime-flate. The church has no fteeple, its roof is flat, and above this roof a bell is fixed in the open air. Moft of the country around this bay belongs to the Prieft, who lets it to the farmers. The inhabitants chiefly live by agriculture, and the profits arifing from their commerce in tar, which they extract from the red pine, by making an inciiiou into the tree in the fpring of the year, when the fap is rifing, and before the tree has itopped running, it will produce feveral gallons of turpentine, which they eafily manufacture into tar. It It may be conjectured, that the country Situated upon the bay of this river being low, it was originally part of the bottom of the river, and was formed either by the decreafe of water, or increafe of earth, carried from the brooks, or thrown on it by ftorms, as a great part of the plants that grow here are marine. But in order fully to inform myfelf whether it was really as I apprehended, I enquired of feveral of the inhabitants, if ever they had found any Shells in digging, who ■aniwered, that they had never met with any thing but different kinds of earth and fand. There is one thing very remarkable, of which we had a proof: the wind is generally, different in the bay to what it is in the river, for upon failing into the bay we had as favourable a wind as could blow, but in the moment of entrance, it was directly the reverfe, which is thus acounted for: the bay being furrounded on all fides, : except except one, with high mountains, and covered with tall woods, when the wind comes from the river, it ftrikes againft fome of thefe mountains, where it is repelled, and confequently takes an oppofite direction. The people who inhabit this bay, as Iikewife thofe fettled lower down the river, feem very poor; they have the necelfaries of life in abundance, but debar themfelves of the comforts that mould arife from them, living chiefly upon bread and milk, and carrying their other provifions, fuch as butter, cheefe, fleih, poultry, eggs, &c. to market, where having difpofed of them, they purchafe cloaths, brandy, and dreffes for the women. Yet notwithstanding, their paircre manner of living, they are; always chearful and in high Spirits, Our object on going on Shore was not fo much to gratify our curiofity, as to procure procure fome vegetables; and as the Captain of the fhip could not fpeak a word of French, as indifferent a Frenchman as you know me to be, I was obliged to be the interpreter on this occafion. I however made the inhabitants understand me very well, till I afked for fome potatoes, by the ufual fchool term of pommes dc terre, and by which I underftand they are called in France; yet, notwithstanding the Canadians are allowed to fpeak as pure French as at Paris, I could not make them comprehend what it was I wanted, tire man continually faying, Motijieur, je fa is Men fuchi de ;te parcoir comprendre ce que vout fiuhaitcz, at the fame time exprerTing great imeafmefs, as I repeatedly allured him, que fetois bicn fur qiiil en avoit, which Seemed to vex him ftill more. How-ever, in walking over his plantation, I happened to See a parcel in the corner of a fhed; pointing to them I faid, Voila Ce que je dcmcmde^ upon which, ' with great great joy in his countenance, he exclaimed, Oh! Monficur, ce font des put at y put at, adding, with great heartinefs, Quil etoit bien aife d'etre en etatde me fatis-faire. Upon my telling him, in England we called them pommes de terre, he added, with a remark which I mould not have expected, f^gte ce mm leur ccnve-twit mieux que tout autre. As I paid him very liberally for the vegetables we had of him,, he faid, with great exprelTion of gratitude, Ah! MonJieury je me jouinen-drat toujour* de vps bontes ct des pommes de terre, Canada, from the fertility of its foil, and the Mubrity of its climate, you would naturally imagine, contributed greatly to its own profperity; but thefe, as in moll other Situations, are counterbalanced by its difadvantages. Canada has only one river for its exports and imports, and even this is fo blocked up with ice, as not to be navigable gable during fix months, while heavy fogs render the navigation How and difficult the remainder of the year. And although the produce of Canada is Superior to that of the other provinces, ft ill the latter, not having fimilar impediments to encounter, Will always have a decided advantage over this, in the convenience of almoft uninterrupted navigation. The farm houfes are moftly built of timber, confifting of three or four rooms, and in one they have an iron ftove, which is rendered fo hot, as to communicate Sufficient warmth to the reft. The roofs are covered with boards, and the crevices and chinks of the timbers are filled with clay, and their out buildings-are thatched with ftraw. Celow the bay of GaSpey there is an ifland, called IJk Percee \ on your approach to it, it has the appearance of the fragment merit of an old wall, being a fteep rock of about thirty fathoms in length, ten in heighth, and four in breadth, which the pilot told us was reported formerly to have joined Mont Jcli, which ffands oppofrte to it upon the Continent. This rock has in the center of it an opening, in the form of an arch (through which a fmall fchooner might pals in full fail); from which cir-cumftance, you will eafily imagine, it derives its name of Tjle Perctw The lafr. object that attracts your attention before you enter the harbour of Quebec, is the ifle of Orleans, a moft beautiful large ifland, fituatcd in the middle of the river St. Laurence. It is feven leagues and a half long, and two broad, in the wideff part, very high, with, fliores extremely fleep and woody, though in fome places there is a gradual defcent to the river, and where that is the cafe, it is entirely free from woods, and upon thefe fpots Spots there are farm houfes clofe to the fhore. The ifle itfelf is well cultivated, and the eye is continually amufed with large Stone houfes, corn fields, meadows, paftures and woods, with the addition of feveral good Stone churches, fome of which Stand fo clofe to the river, and it being Sunday when we paffed the ifland, that we heard them at mafs. The river St. Laurence, till you come to this ifland, is moftly four or five leagues in breadth, but after you pafs it, Suddenly narrows, fo as to be no more than a mile hroad at Quebec, and from which circum-ftance this city derives its name, from the Indian word Quebeio, or Quebec, which Signifies a ftrait or narrowing. Shortly after we had palled this ifland, and turned Point Levy; we entered the harbour, harbour, which has the appearance of a large bay, for Point Levy flretches itfelf out towards the Iile of Orleans, fo as to hide the fouth channel; and that ifland projects fo as to conceal the north. On entrance, you are ftruck with the grandeur and confufion and variety of objects that prefent themfelves: fronting is the city; on the right is the beautiful fall of Montmorency, and a view up the river St. Charles; on the left there is an extenfwe view up the river St. Laurence, and over the falls of Montmorency > a delightful profpect of feveral leagues round the country, interfperfed with the villages of Beauport, Charlebourg, 6cc. a particular account of which I ihall give you in my next. I am, yours, &c. LET- LETTER VI. Quebeci OSlobcr kjih, I Jj6+ MY DEAR FRIENDj T N my defcription of this province, you muff not expect, a tirefome detail of diftances, or a romantic defcription of the country, but a few general observations, as I Shall paSs through the different parts of it, which are deferving notice; This city, the capital of Canada, from the Singularity oS its Situation, boafts of having that which no other city in the known world poffeffes, a frefh water harbour, an hundred and twenty leagues from Vol. I. E the the fea, capable of containing an hundred fhips of the line; it is built in the form of an amphitheatre, on the declivity of a pe-ninfula, formed by the rivers St. Laurence and St. Charles, and commands a pro {peel over extenfive fields, which appears rich, lively and beautiful. This city fufrered fo much during the long fiege, laft winter, that it will by no means anfwer the beautiful defcription given(by that elegant writer Mrs. Brookes, in her Emily Montague,, for many houfes were defrroyed for fuel, others to prevent harbouring the enemy, and mot and fhells continually defacing and burning the reft, you muff eafily imagine, greatly contribute to deffroy all ideas of regularity. The city is divided into two towns, dif-tinguifhed by the upper and the lowerr which, during the fiege, were feparated by a Strong Stockade, which proved extremely fortunate Sor us, as the enemy got into the lower town, but .not being able to keep podeflioii, they Set it on fire, and nearly destroyed the whole of it. There are two communications from the-lower to the upper town, the one for carriages, by a ferpentine road up a very Steep af'cent, and the other Sor foot paffengers, up a flight of Steps cut out of the rock. The carriage road to the upper town, as v/ell as the Streets in general, are almoft impaifable for either man or beaft, never having been paved fmcc the fiege, .when the pavement was entirely torn up, that the fhells might bury themfelves in the ground before they burft, whereby they were rendered lefs dangerous. The diftreffes of the inhabitants in a beSieged town, at all times are very great; E 2 but Z2 INTERIOR TRAVELS ~ l but here they were rendered particularly fo, from the extreme leverity of the weather, being deprived of fuel, and compelled to refide in their cellars, as the only place that could afford them the leaft Shelter. The Governor's houfe ffands upon an high eminence, and being bomb-proof, the family thought themfelves in perfect Security: from its elevation too, it was imagined to be out of the reach of cannon fhot. One evening, however, they were rather unpleafantly convinced of their error, by a fhot pairing through an adjoining room to that in which they were playing at cards • this threw them into no little confufion, and obliged them to retire to that part of the houfe in which the other inhabitants were compelled to refide. You may remember, fome months before my departure from England, that Mr. JVXr. W—, who is a bon vivanty jocularly remarked, if he were confined to any fingle room, it fhould be the cellar; he was then at the Governor's, enjoying his favourite wifh, happy as good company and good wine could make him, the found of every cannon being the iignal for a bumper. A Major whip was here during the fiege, cxprefled his aftoniihment to me that the place held out fq long, having an amazing feverity of weather, and numberlefs other difficulties to encounter; and that its Safety was entirely owing to the great exertions of General Carleton, who continually enpouraged the inhabitants to action, for they chiefly compofed the ftrength of the garrifpn. The fuburh of St. Fauxbourg is entirely destroyed, but that, as well as the lower town, is now rebuilding, and when com-' pleated, muff add greatly to the beauty of E 3 the the city. There are feveral quays, and a convenient place for heaving down fhips to be repaired, called Cut dc Sac, where the King's fhips lay up during the winter, to preferve them from danger upon the freezing and breaking up of the ice, which is more hazardous than you can imagine; for unlefs the fhips are got into this Cul de Sac in proper time, they are very much damaged, and fometimes totally loft, by the amazing iilands of ice mat float down the river. This city is at preient badly accommodated as to taverns, there being but one in the upper, and another in the lower town, both of them in the worft fcatc imaginable; for although they provide good dinners, the reft of the accommodations are fuch as would difgrace the meaneft public-houfe in London. No attendance whatever from fervants; no feperate apartments, and fifteen or twenty people are obliged to flecp ficep in one room, about a yard apart from each other; ufuaily deprived of natural reft in fuch vile dormitories, one Scarcely feels refrefhed the whole day, and let me allure you, Since I have been here, I have-not enjoyed a good night's repofe, from the fonorous mufic I am Surrounded with, arising from that natural and almoft universal wind inftrument, the nofe. The owners of thefe taverns imagine, if they give good dinners and good wine, they perform wonders. Thus, however, may be laid in their favour, as to accommodation, that this city has been for many months pair, in a very deranged State, owing to the late fiege. The Canadians of the higher clafs arc very polite and attentive to ftrangers j a few days fmcc, I was invited to dine with one of the principal merchants, chcz Mcn^ Juur Roberdecu, the dinner was entirely after the French fafhion, and cliiplayed E 4 with with much tafle', but fuch was the per-verfenefs of my Englifh ftomach, that it could not rclifli one of their made diflies; and although I endeavoured to eat, out of compliment, the mafter of the houfe perceived 1 did not do it with any guffo; he then faid, Ah ! Monfieur, vous ne fakes que. d'arriver dans ce fays; quandvcus aurez tie avec nous un certain terns, vous aimerez beau-coup notre cuifmc. fe fids bien fache que dans ce moment il ne fe irouve nen d voire gout, mais quand -vous me ferez I'honneur de venir tine autrefois chez mot, jaurai foin d'avoir du ROAST BEEF Ct dll PLUMB PUDDING que IfS Anglois aiment iant. When the defert came, whichwas before the cloth was removed, I made amends for my not being able to eat at dinner, which the mailer of the houfe obferving, faid, Ah! Moificur, cenejipas que vous ne vous fouciez pas des viandes, mais cefi que vous etes un pen comme les enfant, vous ainiez les friandifes % when, fearful left J fhould be difpleafed at his raillery, with a pohttN a politencfs truly French, he filled his glafs, and added, Allons, MonJicury verfez et vive le Koi d'Angkterre. Fearful of lofmg the opportunity that now prefents itfelf of conveying this to England, I have but juft time fubferibe myfelf? Yours, Sec. lE'L L E T T. E R VII, Quebec, OSIober 1776, MY DEAR FRIEND, rr^HE haffy conclunon I was obliged to * put to my laft, having prevented me from entering fo fully into the defcription of this city as I had intended, Inowtranf-mit to you fome further particulars relative to its fiege, and the religion of its inhabitants. The caufeway by which General Montgomery made his attack, is not more than twenty-four feet wide; on one fide is a lofty perpendicular rock, and on the other a fleep precipice, without any fence, down to to the river; this caufeway was defended by two Strong barriers, and were I induced to give an opinion, nothing but adefperate effort could juitify the attack. Trie event fatally proved it; for upon the advance of the enemy, -the firfi barrier was abandoned, which, after they had "broke down, huihed with fuccefs, and the hopes of eafily gaining the upper town, they ru-hed on (with an" intrepidity that might expect every tiling from their valor) to the fc-cond barrier, where two pieces of cannon were concealed, and upon their approach were immediately fired, when great numbers of them were killed and wounded, and in their retreat many fell down the precipice; this defeat greatly contributed to put an end to the hege, the termination of which, had nearly been fruf-trated, by the eager impctuofity of the faiiors, who were pofted with thofe guns, as they could Scarcely be re-trained from firing them when the enemy attacked the firit ' frrfl barrier, which, if they had done, the {laughter would not have been fo great, nor the enemy perhaps have loft their brave Commander. But by the threats of the officers upon duty at that poft, the guns were not fired till the enemy were within a few yards of them ; and as they advanced abreaft, as many as the caufeway would admit of, you may eaiily conceive what havoc there muft have been amongft them. In this daring enter-prize fell a man, who lived long enough to eftablifh a reputation, Nee peter it ferr urn, nec edax abolere roetuJlas, qucd nec Jovis ira nec ignis t as no doubt it will be handed down by the Americans to the lateft ages. He died too fpqn for the fupport of that unnatural faction,, to whichj from miflaken principle:;, he was deeply attached j and being a man worthy of fome notice, you mall know, the little hiftory I have been able to collect || him. In In the laft war lie was an officer in our Service, and dift inguiihed himfelf in feveral inflances. At the peace he came over to this country, and married an American lady, where by his conduct and agreeable manners, he was reSpected as much as if he had been a native ; and being, from his marriage and long refidence in the country, confidered as a man fit to be traded with a command, he was appointed Brigadier General by the Congrefs; this commiflion he wifhed to decline, feeling a compunction, as a native of Great Britain, and once in the King's fervice, to bear arms againft his Sovereign. His wravering inclination was unfortunately Subdued, by the over-perSuafion of a fond wife, whom he loved moft affectionately, and the importunate Solicitation of his relations and friends. When he had taken a decided part, his conduct fully corresponded with the high opinion that had been formed of his abi-hties and fidelity. No one who lived So fhort fhort a time in their employ, could render them more important fervices, or do their caufe more honor. When he had been induced to facrifice tlic happinefs he enjoyed in private life, and enter into the fervice of the Gongrefs., he was then abfolved from all views ad-verfeto their party (of which he had been fufpecled) and considered as a man who took a part in the caufe from confeience and principle. In this light he was viewed while living, and Spoken of when dead. He had the Singular felicity of being equally efteemed by the friends and foes of the party he efponfed; the latter acknowledged his worth, though they reprobated the caufe in which he fell. To the praife of General Carleton, his remains were, by the General's order, interred with all military honors. An Very fhort! y after this repuhe, an American foldier, in attempting to flep out of his batteauxy at Wolfe's Cove, fell into the water, and catching hold of a flake . of ice that was floating down the river, lie got upon it, and was carried down the ilream. As he palled Quebec clofe to the more, he was feen by a cen-tinel, who obferving a man in diitrefs, called out for help, when numbers flew to his allillance, and found him motionlcfs; by the help of fpirituous liquors, with fome diificuity they brought him to life foist moment, and jufi recovering fpeech enough to tell them, that the city would not. long be in our poifeflion, he inftantly expired. A mile from the city is a Convent, that was once poffeffed of a beautiful garden, hut this, as well as their chapel, with the ■images and other ornaments of their rcli-ftfetfj are greatly injured. The enemy, after after taking poffemon of the Convent', converted it into an hofpital, and com* pelled the nuns to attend upon their fick and wounded; and what was frill more perfecuting to their religion than to their willies, fevefal of the nuns, after they had abandoned it, proved capable of in fome meafure making up for the ravages of war, by producing what may in future become the ftrength and fupport of theif country. There are feveral churches in each town* but thofe in the upper are the moft magnificent, and have fuftained the leaft damage. The largeft of thefe churches, and what may be termed the cathedral, has nothing worthy of notice, except a hand-fome fteeplej it is entirely roofed with flate, and is the only building I obferved that has this advantage, they being all covered with fhingles. It is much ornamented in the infide; the gallery is bold, light, lights and well wrought, furrounded with an iron balluftrade, painted and gilt, of curious workmanfhip; one thing, however, appears very lingular, that the pulpit is likewife gilt, and feems to have had more labor bellowed upon^ than it is ever likely to have 'within it; there are three altars handfomely defigned, and fome good pictures; it is without any dome or cupola, having only a flat ceiling, very curi-oufly ornamented; it is not as in molt Cathedrals, paved with flone, but floored with planks, which makes this church the more fupportable in winter; in others you are generally flarved to death with cold. After the Romifh fervice is over, °n a Sunday, the Governor, with the officers and foldiers of the garrifon, and the Proteftant inhabitants of the city, re-fort thither to their worfhip. This little circumftance I mention to you, as the paffing of the Quebec bill made fuch a noife in England; clearly to ihew there Vol, I F is is no animofity among the inhabitants, on the fcore of religion. Where he Canadians, who conftitnte the principal part of the inhabitants of this province, did not interfere with our religion, I cannot but think it was a very neceffary and politic ftep in Government to tolerate theirs ; as at the time the bill paffed, it was judged proper to make this facrifice to them, in order to gain their affections, which feem-ed to be wavering, whether they fhould not join the other provinces in rebellion againft England. For my own part, I am led to imagine, from the converfation I have had with feveral of the principal inhabitants, they never were in the leaft apprehenfive of their religion being fuppreffed, but that idea was inftillcd into their minds by fome party at home, who, I am forty to obferve, are more dangerous than any enemy we can poilibly have abroad. With With all the advantages of the laws of our constitution, the* toleration of their religion, and the bleffings of liberty, the Canadians are by no means well affected to the Englifh Government, but have a firong propenfrty to be under the protection of the French $ and, I am confident, Would affiff the Americans, had we not fuch a powerful force in this province. The garrifon of this city, and a few inhabitants at Montreal, are {launch to the intereits of Government, for their fidelity and courage have been proved; upon the commencement of the fiege, the General ordered every one out of the city, that he could entertain the leafl fuf-picion of, none of whom have fmce made fteir appearance. The army is now returning from the Lakes, and at prefent the garrifon confifls °f Colonel Maclean's regiment, and the F 2 recruits recruits lately arrived from England; the 34th regiment is daily expected, as the army is getting into winter quarters. General Carleton and General Burgoyne are both here, the latter of whom fails for England in a few days. My friend Captain W—n, who is embarking for that country where my fondelt willies are placed, will deliver you this: he has juft called upon me for my letters. I muff therefore conclude. You fhall hear from me by the later! ihip that fails. Yours, &c. LET- LETTER VIII. Qughec, Nov. \tht 1776, my dear friend, T 7 IS I TING two or three of the vil-Y lages round this city, has enabled me to give you fome little defcription of the country and its inhabitants. About Charlebourg and Beauport it is rather champaign, but becomes more woody towards Lorette. The farm houfes inter-fperfed about the country are very numerous, and being generally whitened on the outfide, form a neat and piclurefque appearance : their houfes moftly confift of °ne floor, very few having a ftory to them, 1 which gives rife to the idea, that the Ca-F 3 nadians nadians will tell a flory well, though they never make one. You would be pleafed to find them extremely neat in their houfes, very attentive to their cattle, and careful of the flock on their farms. They are at pre-fent employed in cutting and getting in wood for the winter, for themfelves and the market, for though it is fo early, there has been a fevere fall of fnow; wood-cutting continues all this month, and in December, when the winter is fet in, it is carried into the city upon fleighs over the fnow, being a much eafier conveyance than with carts, as the roads are fo intolerably bad. The Canadians in general are a fwarthy people, and low in ftature; their drefs confiils of a kind of jacket, and when the weather is cold, a blanket coat, which they fallen round them with a worried iafn. They moftly wear a woollen cap, but but in the cold weather a fur one, and have amazing long queues, of which they are exceedingly proud. They are Seldom or ever found without a pipe in their mouths, a habit which they acquire in their very infancy. I was much Surprized upon going into one of their houfes, in which there was a large family, moflly boys, to find, that from the youngeft up to the father, they all fmoakedj nay, one of three years old had a pipe in his mouth. Their ufual mode of living being chiefly milk and vegetables, which, joined to the number of the faff days impoSed on them by their religion, renders them a very meagre and Slender people. The women are extremely lively, good-natured and obliging, and very neat in their pcrfons, but have not the lead pretention to beauty. The men are far from agreeable, for fince they have enjoyed the hleffings of an Englifh Government, they are become infolent and overbearing, eafily offended, and when they fancy themfelves fo, their cry is, jfe vat's le dire au General Carleton \ and the General is of that good-natured, affable difpofition, that he always liffens to their complaints, and is continually plagued and tormented with fome of the moft trivial nature, by thefe trouble-fome and tenacious people, for they conceive their Governor is bound to hear them, efpecially their Seigneurs, or Lords of the village; it is a title you have not among you, but I affure you thofe who poffefs it here, fancy themfelves of no little importance, and aifume more confequence than the firff peer in England; Thefe Seig?ieurs arc defendants of thofe officers and gentlemen who firft fettled, and had grants in this province, when Canada was only a vafl foreff; who, not being proper pcrfons to cultivate it themfelves, nor poifeifed of a Sufficient fund to pay labourers, ers, let out the grounds at a very {lender quit rent; fo that with the fines, which were here very fmall, and what is called the Droit du Moulin, & Metairie, a lordfhip, which confifb of two leagues in front, and an unlimited depth, can yield them no great revenue; and there are many planters on their manors, who by their induftry have become wealthier than the owner himfelf; notwithstanding which they ftand in great awe of thefe Seigneurs, as they are defcended from an-tient nobility in France, the forefathers of whom were permitted by Louis XIV. to exercife commerce as well by fea as land, without queffion, interruption, or derogating from their quality and rights; and to you, who fo well know the French, I need not fay in what manner any one defcended from nobility conducts himfelf, and the hauteur he treats every one with. About . About three leagues from this city is a nation of Indians, who live at a fmall village called Indian Lorette: they are quite civilized, have a church, go regularly to mafs, and are extremely ingenious in making bead ornaments. Thefe Indians, who are really Chriftians, of the Rornifh perfuahon, have a chapel built nearly on the model, and of the fame dimenfions as that I have heard you relate you met with in Italy, of Santa Cafay and, as in that, have an image of the Virgin, which, upon enquiry, appeal's to be a copy of that very ffatue. Whether it was the effect of imagination, devotion, or of any other caufe, I cannot fay, but upon attending the chapel, I was feized with an inward and facred terror, of which I can give no account. The folid piety of the Indians, (whom we are taught to believe fo naturally ferocious, as no edification, religious or moral, can overcome) added, added to the gloomy horror of the fituar tion, made a violent impreffion upon me, which became the more Strong, upon ob-ferving the fervor and modefry which they displayed in their devotions. Thefe Indians had a great number of dogs with them, which feems to be the only domestic animal they breed; they are trained up for hunting, and are equal to any hounds; appearing to be all of one Species, having upright ears, of dark brindled color, with a long fnout, like that of a wolf. None of our Englifh dogs are more remarkable for their fidelity, which is rather to be wondered at, being but very ill fed, and never carefTed by them. As hereafter, and no doubt before my return to England, I Shall meet with many Indians of different nations, cuftoms and manners, manners, give me leave to make a few reflections upon thefe favages, as they are, called, and civilized man. In regard to the former, their origin and antiquity is quite uncertain; the only matter, therefore, to be confidered is, whether thefe untutored nations are more or lefs happy than us ? "Whether they, who are in the condition of man left to mere animal initinct, pafling their lives in hunting, feeding, producing their fpecies, and reppfmg themfelves, do not pafs a life of more felicity than ours, who can enjoy every luxury of life, and vary our indulgences and wants in a thoufand ways ? It is in our nature and difpofitions, that we mull look for the means of happinefs. Wherein then does it confifr ? Prefent fub-fiftence, and (which I think there can be none fo hardened as not to have) a thought of futurity, and the hopes of enjoying every blcffinp- that is attendant on it. The fa-vage never is in want; he lays in no Stores, becaufe the earth and waters are refervoirs to fupply them. Fifh and game are to be had all the year. The favage has no houfe to fecure him from the inclemency of the external air, or commodious fire places, his furs anfwering all thefe purpofes. His labor is but for his own benefit; he fleeps when he is weary, and is a ft ranger to reft-lefs nights. Little does he experience Wearinefs that arifes from unfatisfied de-hres, or that uneafmefs of mind which Springs from prejudice or vanity. As far as S can perceive, the Indian is Subject, to no evils but thoSe inflicted by nature. Li what manner then do we enjoy a greater happineSs ? Our food may be more wholefome and delicate, our cloaths may he Softer, and our habitations fecure us better againft the weather ; but then ob-Serve the common people, who are the Support port of civil fociety; the number of men who in all {fates bear the burthen of labor ; can they be faid to be happy, who, by the luxury and police of their governments, are reduced to a State of Servitude ? And to what outrages are thofe in a higher Sphere expofed to ? If you are pollened of any property, you know not how far it may be called your own, but mutt, in all probability, divide the produce between the lawyer, in teaching you how to preferve it, and the collector, who comes to levy unlimited taxes. If you have no property, how can you be allured of a permanent Subfiftence ? What industry or invention is fecure againSt the vicimtudes oS Sortune, or the encroachment of others. In the forefts oS America, if there is any Scarcity in the north, the favages bend their courfe to the fouth; but in our civilized States, we are confined within certain limits, where if famine, or war, or peftilcnce, with with all their concomitant horrors, fhould hefal us, all muft participate. It certainly is apparent to every one, that injustice prevails in the partial distribution of fortunes and Stations, which muff be the effect: and the caufe of oppreS-fion. In vain does cuftom, prejudice, ignorance, or hard labor, ftupify thofe of the lower clafs, fo as to render them in-fenfible of their degradation; it is not in the power of religion or morality to hinder them from feeing and feeling the arrangements of policy, in the diffribution of what we call good and evil 5 and, no doubt, you muft have often heard a poor nran expostulating with heaven, " What have I done, that I fhould deferve to be horn in fuch an indigent and dependent htuation ?" The reafon we prefer our condition to that of the favages is, becaufe civilization has has rendered us incapable of bearing fome natural hardships, which they can endure; and fimply that we are attached to fome indulgence cuftom has made neceffary to us. As a proof of this aifertion, and how a civilized man may habituate himfelf to the fociety of lavages, and return* to this State of nature, let me relate the Situation of a Scotchman, who was caff, away upon the Ifland of Fernandez, where he lived alone; his only enjoyments conSifted in Supplying his wants, and to Such a pitch had his ideas of happineSs raiSed themSelves, that he Sor-got his country, his language, his name, and even the articulation of words. And after a banishment of four years, from the burthens of Social life, he had loft all thought of the paft, or anxiety for the future. One of the firft principles we imbibe, one of the firft inftincts oS man, is a conScioulheSs oS independence; and no doubt doubt but you muft have obferved, that the mail who poffeffes a competent fubfift-ence is incomparably happier than the rich man, who is reftrained by prejudices and faihions, which inceifantly are reminding him of the lofs of his liberty, and which too frequently are the occafion of the rafh and fatal act of fuicidc. In comparing the ftate of the favages to that of children, the queftion may eafily be decided, which has been fo warmly in debate among the moft learned men, £C whether the ftate of nature has the advantage °ver that of focial life?" And you, no doubt, will readily allow, that your ftate °f childhood, notwithstanding the rcftraint °f education, was the happieft period of your life. Nothing finely can more clearly Plicate the happincfs that children feel, than that habitual chearfulnefs they de-^onftrate, when not under the fchool-^after's rod. V°h T< G After After all, a fingle word may determine this great queftion. Let us aik the civilized man if he is happy ; and the favage whether he is unhappy ? If they both anfwer in the negative, there is an end of the diSpute. How mortifying muft this parallel be to civilized nations ? And the more painful the reflection, as it awakens the feelings to the caufe of their Sufferings; no doubt but they will one time or other be convinced from whence it arifes—from the confufion of their opinions, from the defects of their political constitutions, and from the capricioufneSs of their laws,, which ever are in continual opposition to the laws of nature. But for fear you think I am growing too Sententious, I fhall return to my defcription of this province. The- The woods of Canada abound with a larre kind of rabbits, which are of a brown color in the fummer, and turn white in the winter, one of the effects of the extreme cold or fnow that prevails in this climate ; we found likewife vaft quantities of partridges, much larger than ours, which the Canadians call pheatants • there arc two forts of them, the fprucc and the pine: the meat of the former is very delicious, to thofe who are fond of the flavor of the Spruce. The market at this place is well fupplied with all kind of provifion, fifli and vegetables in abundance. 'The place beft adapted to repay the labours of the hufbandman, are pointed out to him by the Spontaneous productions °f nature; where the pine, the fir-tree, and the cedar grow folitarily, there he finds only watry and fandy grounds : but wherever the foil is covered with maple, °ak, beech, yoke, elm, hickory, and fmall G 2 cherry- cherry-trees, there he is certain to meet with a reward for his trouble of clearing away the woods, and may expect a great incrcafc, without the difficulty of manuring. Being informed that the pacquet fairs this afternoon, and having feveral other letters to write, a further account of this province muff be delayed till my next; and in hopes you will pardon my breaking off fo abruptly, and leaving you in a ftate of fufpence, I remain, Yours, See, LET- h E T T E R IX. Quebec, November $tb, 1776. MY DEAR ERIEND, I^BLIGED to conclude my laft rather haftily, I fhall relume my obferva-tions on this province, without any apology. Moft of the plantations in Canada arc Sufficient to fupply the wants of their respective owners, and there are few of them that do not yield rye, maize, barley, flax, hemp, tobacco, pulfc and pot-herbs, in great abundance, and thofe of an excellent quality. It It is capable of furnifhing many articles for a trade with the- Welt Indies, which was wholly neglected, whiht this province was under the French Government; but hnce in our poffeflion, great quantities of flour, planks, and timber, proper for building, have been exported to them : and as there is perhaps no country in the whole world which produces more forts of wood, or of a better quality, you may eafily judge what immenfe riches may be drawn from thence, it confifting principally of woods, I know not whether giving you an account of the extenhve forefts of Canada, will afford you any entertainment; but when I inform you that they have the appearance of being as ancient as the world itfelf, and were never planted by the hand of man, I think you will find fome amuie^ ment in the defcription of them. On On my firft arrival in this country, I was ftruck with the loftinefs of the pines, fir-trees, and cedars, which are of a fize perfectly aftonifiiing. There are two forts of pine, both of them yielding turpentine. The white pines produce, on their upper extremities a kind of mufhroom, which the Canadians adminifter in cafes of the dyfen-tery. The red pines contain more turpentine, are heavier, and do not grow to fuch a thicknefs; but where they fiourifh, the land is reckoned very good to raife corn. There are feveral fpeeies of fir-trees, which rife to a great height, are excellently calctdated for mafts, as well as every fort pf carpenter^ work. There are two forts of cedars too, the white and red, the former of which grows the thickeft, and the odour is in its leaves; whereas, in the latter, the odour is. in the G 4 wood, wood, and far more agreeable. Of thefe trees the Canadians make palings, but moflly fhingles for covering their houfes, from its extreme lightnefs. AH over Canada are two forts of oak: the white grows in low fwampy grounds, the red in dry fandy lands. There are three forts of walnuts; the hard, the foft, and another with a thin bark. The hard fort bear a fmall nut, very good to eat, but apt to occafion coflivenefs, the wood of which is only fit to burn. The tender bears a large fruit, with a hard fhell, the kernels of which are excellent: the wood of this tree is Angularly curious, being almoft incorruptible in water or in the ground, and difficult to confume in the fire: of this wood the Canadians make their coffins. The third fort produces a nut which is exceedingly bitter, but But yields an excellent oil, ufed by the in-r habitants for their lamps. Beech and elm trees are in great abundance ; and in the thickeft woods are found vaft numbers of cherry and plumb-trees. There are an infinite number of others, but as I am no Botanift, you will pardon my giving an account of what is here in fuch variety, that perfons who have taken the moft unremitting pains to difcover them, have not been capable of defcribing half their number, I fhall conclude this heavy detail of trees, with that of the maple, which boarls of many excellent qualities. The maple tree yields in great quantities a liquor which is cool and refrefhing, with an agreeable flavor. The Canadians make a fugar of it, a very good pectoral, and ufcd for coughs. There are many trees trees that yield a liquor they can convert into fugar, but none in fuch abundance as the maple. You will no doubt be fur-prized to find, in Canada, what Virgil predicted of the Golden Age, Et dura quercus fudabunt rofcida me Ha* The flock of the .farming part of the inhabitants in this province, confifts generally of about a fcorc or two of fheep, ten or twelve cows, and five or fix oxen for the plough ; the cattle are fmall but excellent, and the people, fince they have been under the Englifh Government, live in a degree of eafe and happinefs unknown to the country people in England, and arc how improving their farms and enriching themfelves very fait. Before the commencement of the war, they ufed to export valt quantities of wheat and all forts of grain, to the other provinces and the Weft India iflands 5 but when under the French Government, they were fo oppreffed by their Seigncurs% Seigneurs, that they never raifed more grain than would ferve themfelves and the ftock on their farms ; whenever they did, it was generally claimed by the Seigneurs for the ufe of Government. The Canadians were at that time a very indolent fet of people: now they reap the fweets of their induffry, and are quite the reverfe. I went yefferday to view the Fall of Montmorency, which is really beautiful. The breadth of it is not above ten or twelve yards, and its perpendicular height one hundred and twenty feet; by the violent fail of fuch an imraenfe body of water, there is always a thick fog of vapors, which occafions a continual rain, for fome dilfance round the bottom. Anxious to examine it as minutely as pofTible, I approached within twelve yards of the Fall, when" a hidden gull of wind blew fuch a thick fog off the fpray, that in lefs than a Minute I was as wet as if I had walked half an an hour in a heavy mower, which, however, did not prevent my endeavouring to Satisfy my curiofity, for I perfcvered, in hopes of accomplishing my with, which, like many of our ardent purfuits, did not bring me that recompence I had flattered, myfelf it would; for having obtained the purport of my intention, inftead of the beautiful appearance I had pictured to my imagination, to be difcerned between the rock and the immenfe body of water that was falling from fuch a prodigious height, I found myfelf enveloped in a very thick fog of fpray, Scarcely able to fee my hand when extended, and where, in all probability, if I had continued five minutes, and the wind changed, I was in danger of being drowned. The noiSe occafioned by the fall, was fo great, that an officer who was with me was obliged to fpeak as loud as he could, to make me understand any thing he faid. It is fometimes heard at Quebec, which is two leagues diitant to the Southward, and when when that is the cafe, it is the iign of an approaching Strong north-eait wind. One thing remarkable is, that this plentiful fall of water, which never dries up, one would imagine, muft proceed from fome fine river : but it is quite the reverie, it being only a puny ftream, which in fome places is Scarcely. Sufficient to cover the ankle; it Slows, however, constantly, and derives its Source from a pleafant lake, twelve leagues distant from the falls. I have vifited the plains of Abraham, to fee the remains of the enemy's encampment, and could not help contrasting thofe who had fo lately abandoned that place, with the poffelfors of it when the brave Wolfe fell! Nor was it pofiible to fupprefs a figh to the memory of that gallant officer, who, at fo early a period in life, had acquired the eftecm and admiration of all Mankind. While in the very arms of death, he added glory and contrueft to the Britifh empire. Nor could I help lamenting, at the fame time, the fate of an officer of confiderable merit, though an enemy, the brave Montgomery, who commanded the troops that had fo lately abandoned this encampment, and of whom I have already fpoken: he poifcffcd all the fire of military ardor, ruflied with impatience in the front of every danger, and met his death, " e'en at the cannon's mouth," where he unfortunately fell a facrifice to miflaken principles, unnatural rebellion, and the ambitions views of a few deligning men.----His courage and death would have done honor to a better caufe. The people in this city arc making pre-perations for the winter, and you would think it impofhbie they coidd confume the amazing rafts of timber that are already fioated floated down the river j but I am informed they are a very inconfiderable part of what are expected.—It is not in the leaft hirprizing they were obliged to pull down houfes for fuel laft winter, during the fiege. Europeans muft form a terrible idea of the intenfe cold of this country, from the preparations the Canadians take to guard againft it; for the inhabitants are patting paper round their windows, and every crevice where they imagine the leaft cold will penetrate. Inftead of fire-places they make ufe of iron ftoves, which muft be extremely unhealthy ; a few days fmce I went into a room when there was a fire in one of them, and bad not been there above five minutes, when I was feized with a moft mtolcrablc head-ach, which I can only attnlnite to the fulphurcous air that proceeds cecds from theSe Stoves; and, for my own part, imagine they are the occafion of tire Canadians having fuch fallow complexions; but cuftom, which in fome meafure overcomes all prejudices, will no doubt reconcile me to them. The fhips are all preparing to fail for England, left the river fhould freeze up. I have been this afternoon upon the ramparts, to fee the Apollo frigate drop down, in which General Burgoyne fails for England; who, I am perfuaded, has the fmcere and ardent withes of all ranks in the army, for his Safety and happy arrival. The General joins to the dignity of office, and Strict attention to military discipline, that consideration, humanity, and mildneSs oS manners, which muft ever endear him to all who have the happinefs to be under his command; for my own part, I Shall pray with ShakeSpear, " that the the winds of all the corners may kifs the fails, and make his veflel profperous." I remained oh the ramparts to take the laft look of the Apollo, who, withafteady and favourable breeze, failed magnificently down the river, and was foon out of fight. You cannot guefs how it affected me; fhall I confefs that more than Once I wiihed myfelf on board her: it was fuch a fight as muft awaken the mind to all its natural attachments. But that I may not think too much of country and friends, at this time, I (hall haftily conclude myfelf, Yours, &c. Vol. I. I{ LET- L E T T E R X. my dear friend, F T E R a tedious march of near three * weeks, which for a young foldier is a pretty good initiation into the toils of his profelTion, I am fafe arrived at this place. As we could not march many miles in a day, through the feverity of the weather, bad roads, and the ihortnefs of the days, I am enabled to give you fome little defcription of the country between this city and Quebec, Both Both fides of the river are very well fettled, which aifords a pleating profpect. The farms mofllv lie clofe to the water-fide, and at fome diftance from each other, fo that each farmer has his potTefTions entirely diftinet from thofe of his neighbour's. But had an edict, which was paffed in the year 1745, when this province was under the French Government, been obferved, it would have been one continued ftreet from Quebec to tills place, as it forbade the Canadians from extending their plantations more than an acre and a half in front, and thirty or forty acres in depth; by which means indolent heirs Would not have waited for the inheritance of their fathers, as they would have been under the neceffity of forming new plantations, and fuch vaft fpaces of wood would no longer have feparated them from each other. But But whether that indolence they then poUeiied proceeded from nature, or the rigor of their Government, they feem now to have entirely loll it, and are become more industrious ; as I perceived, in many places, they were clearing away the woods to form new plantations. Moft of the farm houfes are built of itone, confuting of three or four rooms, which are heated with a Stove, nearly upon the fame construction as thofe I defcribed to you, Some of them have orchards annexed, though in general they are without fuch an accommodation, but all have , exceeding good kitchen gardens. Every three leagues there is a church,, with a kind of little village, confining of the parfonage, the aubergc, the fchool for boys and girls, and a few houfes belonging to -tradeSmen, thofe but few indeed, and and f0 thinly .Scattered, that it Scarcely gives you the idea oS a village. Trade is confidered by any deScendant of the noblcjfe a diSgrace, yet there are Sew inhabitants but what claim Some affinity to one Seig~ new- or another, who, though they think it no derogation to plough, Sow, and reap upon their plantations, deem it ignominious in the extreme, to be a mechanic or tradeSman. Notwithstanding which., I was- much Surprized to find, that the principal .inhabitant in each village, who generally belongs to fome mbljjy, •v.ii, the poit-mafter, and kept the only ■ Auberge in the place; nay, did not think his nobility offended, with providing horfes and entertaining travellers, which I remember to have heard you fay is the cafe in many parts of Italyi...... Between each church, or village, there are feveral croffes put up on the road-fide, parallel to the [bores of the river, and II 3 which which are common throughout Canada. They are made of wood, about fifteen or twenty feet high, and proportionabiy broad: In that fide towards the road is a fquare hole, in which- they place fome wax images, either of our Saviour on the crofs, or of the holy Virgin, with the child in her arms, and before that, apiece of glafs to prevent its being injured by the weather. Thefe croffes are ornamented witli all the inftruments they think tire Jews employed in crucifying our Saviour, fuch as the hammer, tongs, nails, a flafk of vinegar, wffh many more things than one would fuppofe were really made ufe of, or even invented; and frequently i the figure of a cock is placed at the top, which appeared to me rather lingular; as it could have not the leafl affinity, to. the. crucifixion, and muft rather be fuppofed an allufion to the cock's crowing when St. Peter denied our Saviour. Thefe Thefe crones, however good the intention of erecting them may be, are continually the caufes of great delays in travelling, which to perfons not quite fo fuperllitioully difpofed as the Canadians, are exceedingly unpleafant in cold weather; tor whenever the drivers of the calafhes, which are open, and nearly fimilar to your one horfe chaifes, come to one of them, they alight, either from their horfes or carriage, fall on their knees, and repeat a long prayer, let the weather be ever fo fevere, The ufual mode of travelling is in thefe calaihes: in the front of thofe which travel port, a man fits fo drive, and who, let your bufmefs be of ever fo great importance, will alight at thefe crones, and pay his accuftomcd homage, One day, on our march, being fent forward to procure quarters, with our friend H 4 Cap- Captain Grattan, whole pleafanfry of manners you are well acquainted with , for expedition we went in a poft-calafh. The weather was fo exceiliveiy fevere, that with the afliftance of fur coverings, wc could fcarcely keep ourfelves warm. Not above a mile had been beguiled, before we came to one of thefe croiies, when the fellow who drove us Hopped j| upon aiking him why he did fo, he replied, Ce neji que pour faire une petite prie're ; which petite priere he was nearly rive minutes in repeating, when he mounted his feat. We complained of being almoff periflied with cold, when he replied, Allons, aliens, je vais me depecber, and after taking two or three whiffs of' his pipe, whipped up his horfes, and made amends for his flopping. We had not gone a mile and a half further, before another crofs made its unwelcome appearance : here he muft alight, and faire une autre petite priere, which, upon our not confenting to, he begged we would let him juft through america. i03 luff Stop, le terns de faire un Jigne de croix, which he was not long about. We then jogged on again with great chearfulnefs, as he drove pretty faSt j "foon after we perceived the village to which we were deStined. for quarters, when again he Suddenly if opt, and upon our faying there was no crofs there, he immediately cried out, Mat's en votci une la, which, being' at fome distance from the road, we had not obferved,-requesting us to let him halt Hit a moment: Ufaut que je defcende ici; cejl mon village; We told him he ihould not, and that he muft drive into the village as fait as he could. Upon this he growled inwardly, and complained openly, till he came op-pofite to it,, where he Stopped again; before he could defcend, our friend Grattan laid hold of his long queue, of which I told you they are exceedingly proud, and declared, if he did not immediately drive °n, he would inftantly cut it off.---- This being afTerted with fome degree of warmth, warmth, he thought fit to facrifice his religion to his vanity, fojuft crofling himfelf, muttered a fhort prayer, and drove us as faft as he could to the end of our journey, facrant contre the Engliih officers ; and I do not doubt, if one could form any idea from his countenance, but he fent us both .into purgatory with fuch curies, that all the mafies which could be offered would not be able to releafe us from it, for having treated his religion and his queue with fo little ceremony, . -. •. . v. : '",*;.; B*e55 ,TOfX ;'. "tij iillti IjiOj £w Leaving you to make yom own reflect tions orr thefe Canadians and their religion * I remain; - - i , . . yours, &c, -•;,riO-:bn:;rif WQrth&^)>2> v.:tun zdmcxi&i J, E T T E R XI. Montreal. Nov. zotb, i~]6. MY DEAR FRIEND, sift zpplrd j bin v.- boa ,io^ris. ISHALL now proceed with my obfer-. vations, and the remainder of the occurrences which happened in our march from Quebec to this place. About half way between Quebec and Montreal,: is a town called Trots Rivieres ; it takes its name from three rivers, whole currents join here, and fall into the river St. Laurence. Previous to my giving you any defcription of this place, permit mc to relate a trifling circumstance that occurred, juff juir as we entered the town. About half a mile before we came to it, fo hidden, and naufeous a fcent anaiied our olfactory nerves, as nearly to Suffocate us, which laSted till we arrived at the outftirts.— Upon enquiry, we found it arofe from an animal, which the Canadians call the Enfant du Diabfe, or bete puante \ a title which it derives from its ill fcent, occasioned by difcharging his urine whenever he is attacked, and which infects the air-for a great distance.. Laying aridd this quality, it is in other Tcfpects a beautiful creature;rrbekrg about the Size of a -cat, with a fine {tuning .fur, of a 'darlc grey color, (freaks of white glistening from the head to tliejfcail, which is bufliy', like that of a ,ioV.>. and! turned up as. a' fc|uirref's : this had heeu pnrfued by'-Some dog's which the foldiers ■■had' with them, acroSs the road, butwhen it came near us, its Stench was almoit mSupportahle. '!; i Jqfta rbsTtwrx) ti.-.r pmsfattavus goilto svv. J Thefe The fe~ Enfant du Diable differ from your Enfant du Diable, the London beaux, who have all their prettyifms perhaps, but are eternally exhaling their pefliferous odours, fearful* if they referved them till purfued, they would have no opportunity to *' Taint the flying air, and ■fl.ink in ftate." The country is pleafant, and there are feveral good houfes about the town, but they were greatly damaged by the Americans, upon abandoning it, after their defeat this fummer, when their army was routed, and feveral of their Generals, with great numbers of their men, taken prisoners. This place is the winter cantonments of the German troops, who are commanded by General Reidefcl 3 he commands likewife the diftricl: between Quebec and Montreal. This town, by reafon of the three rivers, tried to be much frequented by the feveral nations -nations of Indians, and was built with a view of encouraging trade with the northern ones in particular. It had every profpcct of being the fecond city in the province, but the fur trade was foon diverted from this market, and carried entirely to Montreal, St being fome leagues nearer to the Indians ; and though we have feveral trading places with them upon the lakes Ontario and Superior, Montreal will always fupport its confequence, as being the ncareft and moft convenient place for Shipping the furs to England. Trots Rkicres has now loft all its traffic and is lupported chiefly by the travellers pairing between the two cities. There are feveral churches, and two convents, the nuns of which are reckoned the moft ingenious of any in Canada, in all kinds of fancy ornaments, needle work, and curious toys. During During my flay at Trots Rivieres, there came down from the Illinois, feveral Indians of that nation, with an interpreter, to acquaint us, that they would be down in the fpring, -and would take up the hatchet in favor of 11 their good Brother who rejided beyond the great waters." Among the groupe I obferved one, who had hanging round his neck the image of the holy Virgin, with our Saviour in her arms, which I thought very lingular, as he was of a nation efteemed extremely ferocious in their manner, and whom the French Mimonaries could not convert j but upon my enquiring of the interpreter if he knew the reafon, he gave me the following account: In fome ikimirfh, when the Illinois were at war with the Canadians, this image-had fallen into their hands, amongft other plunder. Sometime afterwards as a Mif-honary, of which the French had great numbers numbers travelling through the interior parts of Canada, to cultivate ffiendfhip, and erfablifh their religion among the Indians ; by chance he met this perfon, and obferving the image, was very much aftoniihed; the manner in which he took notice of it, excited,the curiohty of the poor lavage, to know what it reprefented, when the Miflionary, who no doubt was pleafed to have fuch an opportunity of 4lfr playing his religion, told him, that it re* prefented the mother of his God, and that the child fhe held in her arms reprefented God himfelf, who had made himfelf mail for the falvation of the human fpecies, and explaining to him the myffery of our incarnation, alluring him, that in all dangers the Chriltians addreffed themfelves to this holy mother, who feldom failed to extricate them. The Indian liflened with the utmoff attention to this difcourfe, and went away. Some- Being out a hunting, foon after this, juft as he had discharged his piece at a deer, One of the Outagami Indians, whofe nation was at variance with the Illinois, and who was lying in ambnfh, prefented his piece at his head. In this Situation he recollected what had been told him about the mother of God, and invoked her protection. The Outagami endeavoured to difcharge his piece, but milled; he cocked a Second time, and the Same thing happened five times Succeffively. In the interim the Illinois had loaded his piece, and prefented it to the Outagami, who choSe rather to Surrender than be Shot. From *hat time the Illinois would never ftir from his village without his Safeguard, which he imagines renders him invulnerable. There can remain little doubt but this eircumftance was the means of his conversion to Cnrirtianity, and the Romiih region : for he has certainly embraced that perfuafion, as I followed him to the Vol. I. I great great church, where, upon his entrance, after crofting himfelf with the holy water, he fell upon his knees, and feemed to wor-fhip with as much devotion as the molt devout of the Canadians. But to return to my defcription of this place. The road from Quebec hither is the whole way within fight of the river, being moftly upon its banks, which renders it extremely pleafant to travellers, efpecially in the fummer, as there is a constant breeze. The river from Quebec to Trots Rivieres is very wide, and at that place it forms a very large lake, called St. Pierre, where the eye cannot reach acrofs; you can only difcern a large body of water, with feveral iflands, which, with the fmall veffels failing between them, form a very romantic profpect.. The tide comes no farther than this lake, terminating a few leagues beyond beyond Trots Rivieres, when you meet with the river again, where it runs extremely rapid, at the rate of feven or eight miles an hour. At its firif appearance you can hardly fuppofe it the fame river, for where the tide has effect, it Seldom runs more than four miles an hour; it increafes in rapidity as you advance to Montreal, and oppofite the city it runs almoft ten miles an hour, which renders its navigation extremely difficult, as nothing but a very Strong and favourable wind, with all the fails full fet, can enable veffels to flem the current. What with unfavourable winds and light breezes, fhips have been as long in getting up from Trois Rivieres to Montreal, as they were on their pafTage from England to Quebec. The rapidity of the current makes crof-Smg not only difagreeable, but very dangerous, for unlefs you have a Skilful pilot, the current will carry you a league below 1 I 2 where where you want to land. And yet it is fill-prizing, how expert the Canadians are with their wooden canoes ; hut the Indians far exeeed them in working theirs, as their canoes are of a much lighter conltruction, Both being much ufed in this country, I fhall endeavour to defcribe them, that you may be able to form fome idea of what they are. Thofe which the Canadians irfe, are cahed wooden ones, being hollowed out of the red elm, fome of which are fo large, as to contain twenty perfons. Thofe which the Indians ufe, are made of the bark of the birch tree, and diftin-guifhed by the name of birch canoes, the different parts of which they few together with the inner rind of the bark of the tree, and daub them over with a pitch, or rather a bituminous matter, refembling pitch, to prevent their leaking. They form the ribs from from the boughs of the hickory tree, and are constructed of different dimenfions, fome being only large enough to contain two perfons, and others thirty. Thefe canoes are eafily managed by the Indians with their paddles, and with the current go at a prodigious rate, for one Single Stroke with the paddle will force them twice the length of the canoe againft it. It was with one of thefe birch canoes that General Carleton, with an Aid-de-Camp, made their efcape through the enemy's fleet, when he quitted Montreal, foi The purpofe of putting Quebec in a better ftate of defence. Unwilling to lofe the opportunity of fending this by an officer who is going to Quebec, I am obliged to put a period to this letter : and, no doubt, upon the perufal of ir, you will eafily difcover the young tra-13 veller, I I8 interior travels veller, who is diverted with every thing that prefents itfelf to his view. But in hopes that it may afford you half an hour's amufement, I remain, Yours, &c, LET- LETTER XII. Montreal, No-vember z6tb, 1776. MY DEAR FRIEND, TJEFORE Idefcribeto you this city, let me give you fome account of the ifland on which it Hands, and from whence it derives its name. This ifland, which meafurcs, ten leagues in length and about four in breadth, is formed by the river St. Laurence, and in the center of it are two large mountains, which are the firfl you meet with on the north fide of St. Laurence, and were called ky the firft difcoverers of this province, 14 Mffits Monts Royaux, which gave name to the ifland, afterwards Mont Royal, and at laft, by a variety of corruptions of the language, Montreal. Of all the adjacent countries, there is no place where the climate is reckoned to be fo mild, fo pleafant, and the foil fo fruitful: with all thefe natural bleflings, is it not furprizing to fee it thinly inhabited, and very ill fettled, for except two or three miles round the city, the country is moftly woods, interfperfed with a few fmall plantations. One thing not a little remarkable is, that this ifland contains a Smaller one of about three miles in length, and two and a half in breadth, formed by two inlets of St. Laurence. This little iiland, which is called the IJle dj> Jefus, is almofl cleared from woods, and has a fmall church and a few houfes on it, rendering Montreal £real extremely pleafant; being fo Situated, that you cannot go a great length in any direction, before you come to it j and Surely, after travelling through woods and fwamps, it affords a moft pleafmg relief. The Summit of the mountains 1 have defcribed to you are extremely difficult to gain; but having once accomplifhed it, the delightful proSpcct that preSents itScif, amply compenfates Sor the fatigue and dangers you encounter, being able to view the wliole iiland, and Several leagues round it. Yqu can plainly diScern the mountains that crofs Lake Champlain, called the Green Mountains, which are near 60 miles distant. It appears generally a vaft Soreft, there being only three objects to diverfiiy the Scene: the view of the city of Montreal, the river St. Laurence, and the mountains of ChambUe, which are exceedingly beautiful, and the more remarkable, being in a plain level country, and not not having a Tingle hill for feveral leagues round them; they are considerably loftier than the mountains on this ifland. This city forms an oblong Square, divided by regular, well formed ffreets, and the houfes in general are well built; there are feveral churches, but thofe, as well as many of the houfes have felt the effects of this war. The city is fur rounded by a wall and dry ditch, and at one end there is a citadel. Thefe fortifications were raifed many years part, as a defence agaiuft the Indians, and fince the war, great improvements have been made to them \ but the city is fo Situated, that no works can be raifed to enabled it to Stand a regular fiege, having many rifmg grounds, that command it in more places than one. When "When we gained poffetTion of this province, Montreal was nearly as large as Quebec, but fince that time it has fuffered much by fire; it is greatly to be wondered at, that it has not, one time or other, been totally deftxoyed: for in the winter, when the inhabitants go to bed, they make great fires in their itoves, and leave them burning all night, by which means they are frequently red hot before morning. Imagine how very dangerous they muft have been, when their houfes were constructed of Wood; few of thofe are now remaining, except in the outikirts of the city, the greater! part of them being built of Stone. The inhabitants here, as well as thofe of Quebec, having fo many times fuffered by fire, construct their buildings in fuch a manner, that they are not only perfectly fecure againft that element, but even agamft houfe-breakers, which being a little lingular, Singular, you will have no objection to my defcribing them. The houfe confifts of one lofty floor, built with ftone, and the apartments are divided by fuch thick walls, that fhould a fire happen in one of them, it cannot communicate to any other : the top of the houfe being covered with a ftrong arch, if the roof which is over it fhould catch fire, it cannot damage the interior part of the houfe. At Quebec, that city having been fo often befieged, the inhabitants who are now building at that place, make this arch bomb-proof. Each apartment has a double door, the inner one of wood, and the outer one of iron, which is only fhut when the family retire to reft; the windows have double mutters of the fame materials, and have not only taken this precaution with the doors that lead out of the houfe, but added added an iron one, which is fixed on the infide. Thefe doors and mutters are made of plate iron, near half an inch thick, which, perhaps, you will imagine, muff give the houfe a very difagreeable appearance, but it is far otherwifc, for being moftly painted green, they afford a pleafmg contrail to the whitenefs of the houfe. This is the bufy time of the merchants belonging to this place, who are now ufing all poffible expedition in fending home their furs, before the winter fets in. The reafon afhgned for deferring it till fo late m the feafon, is on account of the traders, fome of whom are but juft arrived from the upper countries, the merchants generally waiting as long as there is a poflib-ility ■°f their return, and fometimes fo long in expectation of them, as to lofe their markets entirely. Thefe Thefe traders, in the courfe of their voyages, are continually encountering hardships and difficulties, and their lives are frequently in imminent danger:----- nothing can counterbalance the great perils that await them, but the certainty of acquiring an ample fortune in the courfe of three or four voyages. They fet out in the Spring of the year, in parties of about twenty or thirty per-fons, with perhaps eight or ten large bitch canoes; they have no fixed courfe to take, but Steer that where it is imagined they can meet with a tribe of Indians; keeping moftly upon the upper lakes, fometimes carrying their goods and canoes' acrofs rapids, which are parts of the river greatly quickened by the defcents, and over land to a river, up which they will proceed many leagues. If they do not meet with any Indians, it obliges them to return again to the lake, and proceed westward. The The goods they take with them to barter for ikins, confill chiefly of brandy, tobacco, a fort of duffil blanket, guns, powder and balls, kettles, hatchets and tomahawks, as likewife looking-glaSTes, ver-millipn and various other paints \ and according to any article that an Indian has a defire or an ufe for, he will give ten times its value in Skins. They are moft eager after powder, ball, paint, brandy and tobacco, j ■ Thefe traders traverfe vaft lakes and rivers with incredible industry . and patience, carrying their goods among nations in the remotest parts of America. They are generally abfent from their families about three years, before their departure make a will, and fettle all their affairs, many of them, with their whole party, having been put to death by the Indians, either for the Stores they carry with them, or to revenge the death of fome of of their nation, who has been killed by the burfting of a gun that has been fold to them, which is frequently the cafe, they being by no means proof. The Indians do not wait for thofe traders who fold the gun, but take their revenge upon the firft they meet with. Here I muft obferve to you, that the guns which are fold to the Indians are fitted up in a very neat manner, to attract, the notice of thefe poor creatures, and frequently, after having been fired five or fix times, they burft, and the unfortunate purchafer is either killed, or lofes an hand or an arm. Thefe traders are certainly the beft judges, but I cannot help thinking it both cruel and impolitic. It having been hinted, that a reward would be given to him who fhould difcovcf a north-weft paffage, or whether the Continent joins to India, two fuppofitions much credited by the Europeans in general j feveral of the traders have endeavoured to find find which is the true one: as there is every year fome frefh difcovery made, there remains but little doubt that in fome future time it will be effected. I believe the far-theft that any of them have yet reached was a Mr. Henry, who is reported to have travelled for ten days upon a large plain, on which grew only a rank-grafs, nearly as high as a man's brearf, and on this plain he frequently met with immenfe droves of buffaloes, and obferved the tracks of feveral • others ; that on the eleventh day he came to a vaft river, which flopped his progrefs, as he did not chufe to venture crotTing in a canoe; that the water was quite fait, and run extremely rapid, from which circum-«ance he concluded there muff be a north-welt paffage. Whether it is fo or not, it is to be hoped that when this unhappy conteft is ended, Government may think it a matter worthy their confideration, and fit out an cxpedi- Vot.I.- K tion tion for ascertaining it, as the diScovery would not only be of great importance to England, but to all the world, As we have already made fuch great and wonderful difcoveries in the South Seas, Surely this will be deemed of Sufficient importance to justify the expence of fitting out proper perfons from England to investigate the fact. If after fo many fruitlefs attempts, fome one lhould appear, whofe firm mind will rife Superior to every SenSe of danger, encountering variety of hardships,, and whofe patience is not exhausted by their duration j if fuch a one, animated with a hope of glory, which alone teaches men to difre-gard life, rendering them equal to the greatest undertakings; who, being well informed, So as to understand what he Sees, and of veracity enough to relate only what he has Seen—if fuch a man Should appear, and no doubt there, are many who poSfeis thefe thefe excellent and extraordinary qualifications, his refearches will perhaps be crowned with better fuccefs. But, if after fuch an undertaking, this celebrated p adage mould fiill remain concealed, it murf be concluded, either that it doth not exiil, or is not given to man to difcover. I add nothing more to this letter, fearful of lofmg its conveyance, therefore remain Yours, Sec. LET- L E T T E R XIII. Montreal, Nov. 2,0th, 1776. MY DEAR FRIEND, A EEW days ago, I made a vifit to our friend Shlagell of the 2iff regiment, at St. John's, where he is {rationed for the winter. I cannot but fay I was much pleafed with the place, it having all the appearance of a dock-yard, and of being equally as bufy. The fleet that was upon the Lake is repairing, as likewife feveral of the veffels that we took from the Americans ; they are laid up in docks, to prefervc them from the inclemencies of the winter, and by the enfuing fpring, what with the fhips fhips v/e had before, and thofe we have fmcc taken from the Americans, we fhall have a fleet far fuperior to any they can poffibly bring on the Lakes. There are two fchooners here, the Carle-ton and Maria, which were built in England upon a conrfruclion to take into pieces, in order to be tranfportcd acrofs -a carrying-place of about two miles. After their failing from England to the mouth of the rapids, which prevented their proceeding up to St. John's, rather than lofe the time of taking them to pieces, and re-conrf meting them, Lieutenant Schank, of the navy, an ingenious officer, informed General Carleton, that they might be conveyed upon a cradle over land to St. John's, entire, provided there was a good road made for them. The General acquiefced in this gentleman's propofal, and the whole army were employed in making a road. One of the veffels was near half a mile on it, by K 3 means means of cables fixed to windlaffcs every twenty yards j but the General perceiving this mode of conveyance would take up more time than the other, gave orders to have the fchooners taken to pieces and rebuilt, which was accomplifhed in as fhort a fpace of time as they had been creeping that fmall diifance upon land, Our naval force being far inferior to what the Americans had this fummer upon the Lakes, it was deemed neceffary to e'n-creafe it. The fliip-wrights were inftantly employed to build a frigate, and the army in cutting the timber for it, which is now as complete a veffel as any in the King's fervice. I am afraid you will think I ufurp the privilege of a traveller, when I tell you that this frigate was constructed'in fo fhort a time, that in eight and twenty days after her keel was laid fhe was in action; and what was ft ill more wonderful, there were only fixteen fhip-wrights to build her, one of of whom was, on the third day, fo badly wounded with an adze, as to be of little fervice. You may eafdy imagine how great muft have been the aftonifhment of the Americans when lire came upon the Lakes, Knowing we had no fuch ihip when they abandoned St. John's. Notwithstanding this, they fought their fleet bravely, and our new-built veiled, by the falling of the wind, bore but a partial part of the engagement, the ftrcfs Laying upon the Carle-ton and Maria Schooners, which were both much Shattered. On board the latter was General Carleton, who had a very narrow eScape, a cannon Shot paMing clofe by him as he was giving directions to an officer, and which the General with that coolnefs and intrepidity that fo much diftinguiflies his character, took no notice of, but turning round, gave his orders with as much K 4 com- compofure as if he had been in the moft perfect ftate of Security. This place, which is called the key to Canada, when the works are compleated, will be of great ftrength; there are temporary barracks at prefent, both for foldiers and artificers. The old barracks, as well as the fort the Americans destroyed when they abandoned the place, were formerly quite fur rounded with woods, but are now clear for fome diftance round. In order that you may form a juft idea of this important place, I have enclofed you a drawing of it, reprefenting the two redoubts, with the rope-walk, the fhip on the flocks, and the other veffels at anchor near the fort, and which 1 have taken from the block-houfe erected on the oppofite fide of the river Sorelh From ^91^391713132583648330976^ 0943 4615 From this place I went to the IJle au NotXy which is the advanced port of the army, on which the 20th regiment is Station-ed. This ifland is about a mile and a half in length, and three quarters of a mile in breadth; it was entirely covered with wood, but at prefent greatly cleared, and before the winter is over, we imagine it will be entirely fo. Although fo late in the year, and in this fevere climate, the regiment Rationed there is encamped, and likely to continue fo till after Chriftmas, as it will be that time before the block-houfes intended for them are fmifhed. Block-houfes not being generally known in England, fhall be my apology for giving you a defcription of them. They are con-itructed of timbers, placed one on the other, of a Sufficient thicknefs to refill a mufquet fhot, and large enough to contain from 100 to 120 men; there are two apartments in them, one above the other, in the upper of which is a divifion for the officers. In both the lower and upper apartments are two pieces of cannon and four port-holes, for the purpofe of pointing thefe cannon on any fide of the block-houfe on which it may be attacked; and in cafe an enemy fhould in the night endeavour to fet fire to the houfe, there are loop-holes, through which the troops on the infide can level their pieces and fire upon the affailants. They are reckoned to be a. very ffrong defence, as it has been known that a fmall party of men, in one of thefe block-houfes, have repulfed treble their own number. But that you may more fully comprehend the conftruct ion of thefe unufual fortifications, I have inclofed a drawing and Section of one of them for your inspection. The Soldiers, not only at the JJIe au Noixy but likewiSe at St. John's, have been very Subject, to the Scurvy, not having any other r other than fait provisions, but by drinking plentifully of fpruce beer, they are now all in perfect health, which clearly proves that liquor to be a powerful antifcorbutic. It is fo much known in England, as to need no defcription; the only difference between the fpruce there and here is, that here it is made with the branches of the tree itfeJf, and there with the effence. As the feverity of the weather Units up all intercourfc by letters, this is the laft you may expect to receive from- me till the froft breaks up. But though I cannot write to you, be allured I fir all continually think of you, and remain, with the greatest ■ efteem and Sincerity, Yours, &c. LET- LETTER XIV. Montreal, January \%th, 1777. MY DEAR FRIEND, IDID not expect to have written fb foon, but an opportunity of a flag of truce, which is going by the way of Ticon-deroga to New-York, unexpectedly occurring, I am happy to embrace it, efpecialfy when it is impoffible for me to employ my leifure hours more fatisfactory to myfelf, than in endeavouring to divert you. I {hall therefore proceed to give you fome account of the winter amufements of this place, and among the principal ones is that of carioling upon the ice, the inhabitants making making large parties every day for that purpofe; they generally go to Point mix Trembles, about three leagues from this city, at which place refides a Dutch woman, who makes moft. excellent lauiages, and at whofe houfe it is cuftomary to refrefh with thefe and bottled porter. As the north wind generally blows very fharp, you acquire a pretty good appetite, and, for my own part, I enjoyed this petite repas in preference to my dinner, very few regimental meffes being conducted with that propriety and decorum which fhould characterize the profelllon, as there are generally among them a fet of ungovernable young men. But to return to my defcription of carioling, You will no doubt think it too much to go nine miles and back again for a jaunt before dinner ; but this mode of travelling is fo very expeditious, that moft of the inhabitants defer their journey to Quebec ~ till till this feafon of the year, as they can per^ form it with lefs difficulty, and much greater expedition. The carioles are fafliioiied after different devices, to imitate birds and beads, but in general they are of one conitruction, witli only this difference, that the common people have theirs clofe upon the ice or fnow, while thofe of their fuperiors are raifed upon what are called runners, which elevate them about two feet. They paint them of various fantaftical colors j many of them, as a contralt to this feafon of the year, are colored in imitation of thunder and lightning. It is certainly a very eafy and expeditious method of travelling, for the horfes of the country will go with eafe fifteen miles an hour upon the ice. The inhabitants think nothing of a journey of forty or fifty miles to fee a friend, and returning the fame day. Not- Notwithftanding the river runs fo rapid as I have before defcribed, and is now entirely frozen over, yet there are certain warm Springs that never will congeal -3 to caution travellers, every pari Hi, as foon as the river is frozen over, is obliged to fix large pine trees in the ice, dirtant from each other about ten feet, which receiving moisture from the ice, and being an evergreen, continue fo the whole winter, fo that when travelling, it appears as if you were going between an avenue of hrs. On each fide of the river it is quite fmooth, but in the center, where the current runs fo rapid, the ice is thrown up in prodigious hills, through which the inhabitants are obliged to cut a paffage to crofs the river; the fides are frozen fo as to bear carriages, long before the center, and when that freezes, no thunder can equal the noife, the reafo'n of which you will eafily imagine, for where thefe rapids are, the ice ice is thrown up in a continual fucceflion of hills; between thefe hills, you are furrounded with ice feveral yards high, and there it is inconceivably cold j when upon the top of one of thefe hills, you cannot help flopping to view the many curious forms the ice is thrown into, fome of it being in that of a pyramid, other pieces that of a cone, others again in large ilabs, and fome of it refembling the figures of men, birds and hearts 5 in fhort, no defcription can equal fo romantic a pro-fpecL The Canadians have a very Singular cuftom among them, at the commencement, of the year, the men go round the city and falute the lathes, who lit up in ftate for three days for that purpofe, and as the inhabitants are acquainted with each other, the lady is generally Saluted by the greatest part of the men; the Salutation is after the French faShion, upon the cheek, when having having Saluted one, the lady preSents the other. The European ladies who are fettled here, rather than appear fmgular, adopt this cuftom, only varying the Salutation after the Englifh Safliion; not but what I think the French mode preSerable on this occaSion, where the lady is under the ne-ceffity of receiving the falute of every one. As I know you will make this observation, I dare fay he went his rounds, let me candidly acknowledge I did, and with another officer. We had a very great mortification in going to the houfe of an Englifh merchant, who has a beautiful wife: upon our entering, we difputed who fhould falute her firft; you may Suppofc how eager we both were in our addreffes upon entering the room, and would have enjoyed our chagrin, when we Saw General Phillips there, whoSe departure muft be waited Sor, beSore we could Salute the lady; perhaps you will Vol. I. I-r Say fay the pleafure was heightened by contemplating her charms—Praflat expeBare, This being the firft Catholic country I ever was in, you muft fuppofe me particularly attentive to their religious ceremonies at Chriftmas. I had ever conceived, that moft authors had greatly exaggerated their accounts upon that head, and had I not met with convincing proofs, my candor could not fuppofe that mankind were fo weak in their understandings. That the lower clafs of people fhould be led away is not to be wondered at, but how men of learning, found fenfe and good understanding Should, is to me aftonifhing. It is allowable Sor every man to worfhip any thing Symbolically, but their doing it in reality never can be admitted. Thefe -fuperftitious people implicitly believe, the waxen images that are fhewn them by their priefts, to be abfoSurely the perfons they are intended to reprefent. On On Chriftmas Eve, I went to the great church, where there was a prodigious con-courfe of people, and got as near as I could to the altar, to obferve the ceremonies. About nine o'clock the fervice began with prayers and anthems, which lalted till ten, when the cradle was brought in, upon which there was a great fhout, after this they continued fmging and praying till the clock ftruck twelve, when the high priert brought in a wax figure of a child, fuperbly dreffed, the mufic ftruck up, and there was a fecond great fhouting. The child being depofited in the cradle, it was rocked till about one o'clock, when the ceremony finifhed. In fome of the convents they arc exceedingly curious in their wax images: there was a reprefentation of the Mefliah, which was daily varied in its fize, from the time of its fuppofed birth, till the time the Monks had fixed as neceifary for its L 2 being being Sufficiently grown to reprefent our Saviour, at the age he was when he preached in the Temple. When I firft went to See this wax-work, on the ChriStmas-day, there was a figure of Jofeph, dreffed in a Scarlet cloak, with a large tie wig, another to refemble the Virgin Mary with a little child, laying in a manger, and over it was the figure an ox and an afVs head, which are at the Same time emblematical of their own ftubbornefs and Stupidity. In a few days this representation was changed, and there was another oS the WiSe Men making their offerings to the Sakator Mundi; fo continuing every remarkable event of his life, till the time of preaching in the Temple; and whenever I went, there was always a vaft concourfe of people upon their knees praying to thefe figures. This mode of religion appears to me to be extremely well calculated to infpire devotion in the lower ciafs of people, yet it is great pity fome better method of paying adoration tion to the Divine Being cannot be adopted to infpire a true fenfe of his existence, than means fo abfurd. Difference of opinion concerning religion ever will prevail, but left you think I am growing too fermonic, I fhall conclude this fubject with an obfervation of a Monfieur Blondeaux, at whofe houfe I am quartered, and who is a very fenfiblc and intelligent man. Converting with him, one day, on their worihipping thefe waxen images, and other ridiculous ceremonies in their religion, Monjieur, faid he, Mon avis eft que chacun doit fuivre la religion pour laquelle il Je font plus a"inclination; et je fuis ajfureqiiau jour du jugementj on ne nous demandra pas quelle religion, nous avons proftjfee, mais que nous ferons tons recompenfes on punis jelou nos actions. As I informed you this goes by a flag of truce, it would be unpardonable to omit L 3 men- mentioning the humanity of General Carle-ton, who has cloathed all thofe who were taken prifoners, they being almofl in a ftate of nakednefs; many of them he fuffered to return to their homes upon their paroles of not bearing arms again during the war. Thofe who are here to be exchanged are cloathed, and fare the fame as our own foldiers. Fate can only determine whether I ffiall experience the misfortune of being taken prifoner, but, if I fhould, it is my hope that I may not meet with worfe treatment than thefe people have received. By the mode this will be conveyed, I am not certain that it may reach you; but if it mould, it brings you my bert wifhes for your health and happinefs, and an affurance that I am, with great fmcerity, Yours," &c. ' LET- L E T T E R XV. Montreal, January z%tb, 1777. MY DEAR FRIEND, TH E winter is now fet in with great Severity, and you would naturally conclude that this country is the moft uncomfortable in the world, and its inhabitants the moft unhappy, but far from it: the city and the country people around, feem to be perfectly in their element; there is nothing but carioling, fealting, and other amufements. The Canadians perfectly refemble the French with refpecl to dancing, having meetings at each other's houfes for that purpofe almoft every night. E 4 Though Though the weather is fo fevere, the in- , habitants here never (fay in doors in the day, unlefs it Shows, which Seldom happens, for the firft fall is generally the only one thev have, and that lafts for two or three days, after which the weather is fettled, and has been extremely pleafant for this month paft; excepting one day, there has been quite an Italian iky, not a cloud to be Seem The air of Canada is reckoned the mofl falubrious and healthy of any in the world; yet notwithstanding this, the Canadians are very confumptive, and it is incredible what numbers of them die before they arrive at maturity; if they Survive that period, they moftly live to a good old age. A very eminent phyfician, Dr. Kennedy, who is with our army, attributes this entirely to the Stoves they make ufe of in the winter, and that was any other mode of conveying conveying warmth fubftituted, they would in all probability be a long lived people. For, fays he, the inhabitants moftly keep their ftoves heated, and in coming out of the frefh air ■ to enter a room where there is one, you are almoft fuffocated. How pernicious this muft be to the conftitution, efpecially of the young children, who are continually going in and out of the heated rooms into the fnow and upon the ice; and when the lungs and pores are expanded by the heat of thefe ftoves, run without any addition of cloathing into the cold, where the blood receives fo hidden a change, that it generally leaves fome fatal diforder upon the lungs. It is very difficult to eradicate long efta-blifhed prejudices and cuftoms, but if the Canadians were to adopt the mode of other northern climates, where the cold is nearly as intenfe as it is here, I think they would experience the benefits arifing from it. In 154 INTERIOR TRAVELS t In Ruffia, Germany, and in all the northern parts upon the Continent in Europe, the inhabitants have ftoves funilar to the Canadians, but fo constructed, that when the room is of a fufficient warmth, the front opens with two folding doors, where there is a good fire in a grate, and the fulphureous air exhales up the funnel, by which means they enjoy an agreeable warmth; if they perceive it getting cold, they (hut the doors for a little while, till the room is Sufficiently heated. The Canadian ftoves are fo conftructed, that the whole time you are in a room, you are almoft Stifled with the fulphureous vapor, which muft be extremely pernicious, and in all probability occafions the fallow complexion of the Canadians; there cannot be a Stronger proof that it is fo, than its having the fame effect on Europeans who have been fettled here any length of time. They They put me in mind of Erafmus's Diverjoria Gcrmanica-----B. In hypocaifio exuis ocreas; induis calccos; mutas, (i voles, itidu/ium, vejles pluvia madidas Jufpendis juxta hypocaujlwn; ipfe te admoves, ut ficceris, Itaque frequenter in idem hypocaujlwn con-veniunt oBaginta nut nonaginta, peditest equites, negotiatores, nauta, auriga, agricola, pueri, famina, fani, agroti.—Gu. Iflucvere canobium eft.—Be. Alius ibi petfit caput, alius abfiergit Jlidorem, alius repurgat perones aut ocreas, alius erutlat ahum. §uid midtist Ibi linguarum ac perfonarum non minor eft confufio, qudm dim in turri Babel. Prodit famulus Jenex barbd cand, tonfo capite, vultu torvo, for dido vefitu.—Gu. Tales opportebat cardinalibus Romanis efje a pocuhs.—Be. Is circumaBis oculis tacitus dinumerat, quot pit in hypocauflo: quo plures adefe videt, hoc vehement1'us accenditur hypccaujlum ctiamfi ah-oquejol aftufit moleftus. live apud illos pra-cipua pars ejl bonce trac~lionis,ji fudore difjluant omnes* Si quis non affuetus vapori, aperiat rimam rimam fenefrce, ne prafocetur, protinus audit, Claude. Si refpondeas, Non fero: audis, Quaere igitnr aliud diverfoiium -Gu. At-que mi hi nihil videtur periculojius, qudm tarn multos haurire eundem vaporem, maxime refo-luto corpore, atque hie capere cibum, et boras complures commorari. Turn enim omit to rudtus ailiatos, et ventris jlatum, halitus putres: multi funt qui morbis ocultis labor ant, nec ullus morbus non habet fuum contagium.—Be. Sunt viri fortes, iftarident ac negligunt.—Gv. Sed ■interim multorum periculo fortes funt.—You will pardon me fuch a long quotation, hut it is fo appofite, that I could not reiiit it. Although the weather is intenfely cold, the mode of drefs in ufe here, and thefe Stoves, prevent your ever feeling any; there are none of thofe raw damp days, fo much the fubjectof complaint in England, and from the bad effects of which no cloathing will defend you. The The drefs of the natives is extremely well calculated for the climate; it confiffs (in addition to the common habiliments worn in England) of a blanket coat, a pair of what are called leggings, with a kind of flap on the outride of the leg, to prevent the fnow from clogging round them 5 fur gloves, and a fur cap, which is made to pull over the ears, but this is feldom done, except when the ffrong north-weft winds blow. At that time it is very dangerous to go out, as you run a great rifque of being froft-bit, which happens in an inftant, fometimes in turning the corner of a ftreet, without being fenfible of it at the time, as it occafions no fort of pain; if the part affected is not immediately rubbed with fnow, and every precaution taken, it is fure to mortify, and fhould any one, thus circumftanced, be imprudent enough to go near the fire, mortification is inevitable. To 15 8 INTERIOR TRAVELS To convince you how very instantaneous it muft he, I ftiall relate a ludicrous cir-cumftance, which however had nearly been productive of a duel. An officer in the garrifon having a nofe remarkably large, was going to dinner at the mefs, when not four doors from his lodgings, turning round a corner, he met another officer, who immediately cried out, " God blefs me, your nofe is froft-bit." From the fmall diftance he had gone, he thought it impoffible, and that his friend was bantering him; high words arofe, and they parted with an appointment to meet the next morning, to refent the affront. He made hafte to his dinner, and upon his entering the room, the officers prevented his coming to the fire, telling him at the fame time his nofe was froft-bit. He then began to think it no joke, and was happy to apply the ufual remedy: it was no bad punifhment for his rafhnefs and incredulity, Hty, that during the time the officers were at dinner, he was obliged to be in the cold, rubbing his nofe with fnow till the blood circulated, and though very fharp fet, obliged to nofe a meal he would have been, happy to partake of. The prefent feafon of the year not permitting any military manoeuvres, and naturally inclining us more to reflections of a ferious nature, than the gay appearance of the fpring or fummer, I fhall again trefpafs on your patience with fome few obfervations on the effects of the intenfe cold weather experienced in this country; and as you have always appeared partial to my adding the remarks of others, where I thought them more juft and beautiful than my own, I fhall allude to fome that ftruck me on the following phcenomena. I have already mentioned to you that the froft is fet in, and among the many incon- veniencies veniencies which the inhabitants of this northern region Suffer from it, none is more to be lamented than that of the ground being fo much frozen, as to make it impofhble to dig a grave for the interment of thofe who die at this time ; their friends are obliged to keep them above ground till a thaw comes, when they return the body to the dull from whence it came. You will eafily conceive, my dear friend, that the daily fight of fo mournful an object as the bier of a departed hulband, muff inevitably lengthen out the Sorrow of ** The new made Widow—■ Whilit bufy meddling Memory, In barbarous fucceflion, mutters up The paft endearments of their fofter hours, Tenacious of its theme." To relatives, who often think it a religious duty to mourn the departed, fuch fcenes, fcenes, by a protracted forrow, often draw life to its utmoff verge, and at the funeral they are fcarce more alive than the corpfe. they bury. To thofe who, without feeling a lofs, are yet led to contemplate, it often fuggefts the idea of Arbuthnot, *• What am I ? how produe'd ? and for what end ? Whence drew I being ? to what period tend ? I think you would hardly forgive me, were I not to relate to you the very ft range manner in which thefe thoughts affect the German foldiers of our army. I know not whether to call it fympathy, or by any other name, but it ftrongly evinces the connexion exifting between the body and mind. The Germans, to the number of twenty or thirty at a time, will in their conversations relate to each other, that they are fure they Shall not live to fee home again, and are Vol. I. M certain certain that they fhall very foon die: would you believe it, after this they mope and pine about, haunted with the idea, that ** Nor wives, nor children, mail they more behold, Nor friends, nor facred home.'* Nor can any medicine or advice you can give them divert this fettled fuperffition, which they as furely die martyrs to, as ever it infects them. Thus it is that men, who have faced the dangers of battle and of fhipwreck without fear (for they are certainly as brave as any foldiers in the world), are taken off, a fcore at a time, by a mere phantom of their own brain. This is a circumstance well known to every one in the army. In cafe of any deceafe in the family of a Canadian, the corpfe is depofited in fome private chamber, but in our general hof-pita] there is a long room appropriated for that that purpofe. The fuperintendant of this room, an apothecary, being a man poffeffed of whimfical ideas, and a turn for the ludicrous, had placed the dead bodies of thefe poor Germans in various poffures, fome kneeling with books in their hands, others fitting down with pipes in their mouths, many landing erect againfl the wall, and as they have their cloaths on, you fcarcely at firft imagine they are dead j but upon a nearer approach, what with their long muffaches, which are put in form, and their ghaftly countenance, you cannot picture to yourfelf any thing fo horrible, yet at the fame time fo truly laughable and ridiculous. After what I have related, you will moft probably agree with me, that the constitution of England has not unwifely declared apothecaries and furgeons incapable of compofmg a jury upon trials for capital M 2 offences offences, though it excludes fome few of them who do honor to the profeffum, by their gentlenefs and humanity: yet I am fearful the major part of them would not join in the warmth that is fo frequently experienced, in the generous and noble burff s of joy that overwhelms the order of our courts of juftice, when unprotected innocence efcapes the arbitrary and revengeful profecution of malice and power, I have heard furgeons, as an excufe for the itrange want of feeling either brought on by the daily vifitation of ficknefs and pain, or which they poilefs from the apathy of their nature, fay, that were they to feel much on the occafion, it would difable them from doing their duty. Strange argument this! and as contradictory to found fenfe as true philoibphy, which might teach them gentlenefs in the manner, and firmnefs in the execution. For my own part, fuch is the fituation of my mind, when I am indifpofed, that I have fancied the the affectionate " how do ye" of the fur-geon and apothecary, has done me as much good as their drugs, or the performance of an operation in phlebotomy. Can any one conceive it proper, when a youth of Sixteen has broke a leg, that the Surgeon, while in doubt on the firft viht, fhould, in the pretence oS his patient, refufc to fearch whether a fracture had actually happened, becaufe he would make fuch a roaring and a mlfe that he fhould not get it out of his head for a fortnight, and though the lad with Spirit affured him, that thoSe who were preSent had not Seen him Shed a tear, the Surgeon, however, did not make the experiment, though I believe Sor a much better reafbn than he gave, which was that the leg was much Swelled. Thus did a Surgeon, while I was in England, treat our couSm B—lowering his Spirits, leaving him three °r four days in fufpence, whether his leg Was broken or not, merely to fhew how M 3 coolly coolly he could talk on a Subject: like that before him. Had he, inrtead of this unfeeling excufe, but tenderly affured his patient, that it would put him to more pain to make the fearch then, than at a future time, I Should have fuppofed it would have made his mind more eafy, and been the means of preventing the accefs of a fever, always to be feared on thefe occasions. In the hoSpitals, perhaps the multiplicity of caSes may plead an excuSe for little ceremony, but in private practice, where they are well paid, thus wantonly to wound the feelings of thofe who are but in ill Spirits, cannot add either to their credit or practice. You will long ere this wonder how I have Strayed Srom the wild Scenes that Surround me, to lafh the hardened proSeffors of of the Efculapian art, but you too well know that fuch things do exift, not to pardon my deviation. I ihall therefore conclude with my fincere willies that you may never have the misfortune to fall into their hands, and remain Yours, &c. LET- MY DEAR FRIEND, S my laft was liable to the inspection * oS the enemy, I been have restrained from informing you of many things that it would otherwife have communicated. I embrace, therefore, the opportunity of an officer going to Quebec, in order that you may receive this by the firSf fhip that fails for England. Since my laft I have been again to St. John's, where, notwithstanding the Severity of the weather, the artificers and fhip- wrights LETTER XVI. Wrights are all buiily employed. We have railed upon the Lakes, in addition to the force of laft fummer, a curious veifel, called a Radeaux, which formerly belonged to the French, and was funk by the Americans near this place: it is a caftle of itfelf, of a monftrous con Structure, and will hold a great number of men; fhe is intended to convey the heavy artillery acrofs the Lakes. From the account, indeed, that we have received from fome deferters, the Americans do not intend to difpute them, but wait our arrival at Ticonderoga. The garrifon at St. John's has been kept very alert moft of the winter, as feveral parties of the enemy have come acrofs the Lake upon fleighs, and having hovered about the woods, twice attacked the block-houfe on the oppofite fhore, their views, no doubt, were of deftroying our fleet; but to#Tender the fhips more fecure, the ice has been cut away for feveral yards round round them, to prevent their being fet fire to. As I returned from St. John's along the river, my attention was Suddenly caught by an object well calculated to have exer-cifed the feelings, and employed the pen of a Sterne. When the river freezes over, the Canadians cut a fquare hole in the ice, for the cattle to drink out of. I faw a drove of fheep Surrounding one of thefe holes: the whole hock looked moft piteouily, and bleated with fo mournful a lamentation, as would have pierced a heart of Stone; one of them Seemed infinitely more agitated than the reft, and exhibited feelings that would have done honor to the moft tender fenfibility. Curioiity, concern, or what you will, led me inftantly to the mouth of the hole, where a poor little lamb, not four days old, urged by extreme thirft, had fallen fallen in; it was ftruggling for life, and fent forth fuch diftrefsful cries!—my God, how my pulfe beat, and my bread was full, even to burfting!—how often did it get its little feet on flakes that feemed to promife it fupport, and as often it flipt back again into the water; now it feemed by ineffectual exertions, anxious for life, and now hopelefs and defpairing, lay inanimate;— it was fome time before I could extricate it; do me juftice, and guefs my feelings till I had effectually faved its life. I took it up in my arms, and the whole flock followed me to the farm houfe. To defcribe the mother's folicitude, and the joy at finding itfafe, is impoflible; language can never betray what the imagination itfelf can Scarcely paint. You who are poffeffed of fympathy, and a tender regard for the whole creation, which is perhaps the greateft ornament of human nature, will eafily believe the infinite pleafure this little office of humanity afforded me. This is one of the many things in which the mind might be apt to arraign the wif-dom of Providence, why nature fhould give birth to fuch tender creatures, at fo rigorous a feafon of the year, when to all appearance they require the utmofl warmth to bring them to perfection. A few days fmce I went to Verchere, to fee fome officers of the 24th regiment, which village is extremely pleafant, commanding a very extenfive view both ways of the river, with a profpect of this city. It derives its name from a circumftance, wherein it is proved that the fair fex, upon emergencies, poffefs a courage equal, if not Superior to ours. In the year 1690, when this province was in a continual ftate of warfare with the Indians, and the inhabitants were obliged to refide in forts, it happened that a Madame de Verchere was left alone in the fort, whilft the reft of the people were at work in the fields; a fmall party party of Indians gaining this intelligence, were determined to enter the fort, plunder it, and take her prifoner; Madame de Ver-chere, however, perceiving them approach in a poflure for Scaling the palifado, fired fome mufquet fhot, and drove them to a distance; they inffantly returned, and were again repulfed, aftonifhed, you may be fure, fince they could only difcover a woman, who appeared as undifmayed as if fhe had been furrounded with a numerous garrifon. The Indians knowing the place was unprovided with any other defence, made feveral attempts, and were always repulfed by the lady, who defended herfelf in the fort for near four hours, with a valor and prefence of mind which wouldhave done honor to an old warrior: they were at length compelled to retire entirely, as the inhabitants of the fort (who always went out to labor with their mufquets, in cafe - of an attack) were returning, and greatly Superior in number to the Indians. This was was not the only instance of this lady's courage, for about two years after, a party of the fame Indians, but much more numerous, furprized and took prifoners the men, when at work; a little girl happened to make her efcape, who, running into the fort acquainted Madame de Verchere of what had happened. Shortly after the Indians appeared before the fort, leading the men captive. There was not a foul left in it, befides a young foldier and a number of women, who raifed moft lamentable cries at the fight of their hulbands being led prifoners. In the midft of this, Madame de Verchere loft neither her courage nor prefence of mind, for after locking up the women, that their groans and weeping might not infpire the Indians with additional courage, and afluming the habiliments of a foldier, fhe fired a piece of cannon and feveral mufquet fhot, fliewing her-felf with her foldier, fometimes in one redoubt and fometimes in another, always firing firing upon the approach of the Indians to the breatt-work, who did not make a fierce affault, as by her ftratagem they fuppofed there were many men in the garrifon. Fortunately for the lady, fhe had not long to remain in this difagreeable ftate, for the Chevalier de Crifafy who was Governor of a fmall fort at Chamblee, upon hearing the firing of cannon, came to the fuccour of the place, and that fo fuddenly, that the Indians were obliged to make a very precipitate retreat, leaving their prifoners behind them. This remarkable lady lived to a good old age, and died in Normandy, where there is a monument erected to her, with thefe two Singular inftances of her fortitude and bravery. One would imagine that this Spot of V?r-chere was deftined for the trial of fortitude and bravery in the fair Sex, to which I might might add conjugal affection. At this time a lady refides here, noble by birth, in whom is united all the foftnefs and delicacy of her fex, ever accuff omed to thofe elegancies and refined enjoyments which are attendant upon high rank and fortune: fhe has forfaken all the pleafures of the gay and fafhionable world, to accompany her hufband to the wild foreff s of Canada; already travelled a vaft extent of country, in different extremities of feafon, and with difficulties that an European will not eafily conceive. Such inftances of connubial attachment, in the levity of the prefent day, are rarely to be met with; but that fuch characters do exiff, and that the pleafures and gaieties of the beau monde have not altogether vanquifhed the focial virtues, is to be inffanced in that pattern of her fex, Lady Harriet Ackland, who has not only encountered the hardfhips already defcribed, but upon joining the army, in addition to her former fatigues, had to attend her hufband upon upon his fick bed, in a miferable hut at Chambla\ A mind like hers, animated by love and affection, is alone capable of encountering fuch hardfhips. General Phillips commands this garrifon, and is much efteemed by the officers of the army ; he gives them as little trouble as poiiible, but will have them perforin their duty, and feldom miffes coming upon the parade in a morning. The following anecdote will give you a trait of his character, and fhew you the method he has of gaining the eftcem of the officers ; One evening feveral young officers of the artillery having made a little too free with " the Tufcan grape, and being high in blood," went to the houfe of a Canadian, the father of three very pretty daughters : it happened the young ladies were at home, and as they had frequently given fome little encouragement to the officers, thefe young Vol. I. N men men thought themfelves warranted in taking a few liberties with them; but, as the wine had deprived them of all ideas of re-itraint, they proceeded farther than the rules of decency or delicacy allow of, or than I chufe to relate. In the midff. of this fcene the father arrived, whofe appearance added greatly to the confufion, and the old. gentleman making a general alarm and outcry, the officers were obliged to decamp. The next morning a formal complaint was made to General Phillips, by the father of the young ladies, who faid that if he was not immediately rcdreffed, he would fet off for Quebec, and lay his complaint before General Carleton, at the fame time informing him who had been the aggreffors, adding, with fome warmth, Quil etoit bicn certain que ce bon General lui rendroit ji.fi tice* The The General profcfTed himfelf extremely forry that fuch a difgrace fhould have fallen upon the officers of that garrifon, and that he fhould, for his own fake, render him all the' juftice in his power, in order to wipe off fuch a ftigma from his own corps, which pacified, the Canadian. The next day being the General's levee, thofe officers, who were now become con-fcious of their imprudent behaviour, did not abfent themfelves, leaf! it fhould argue guilt. After the General had made his bow of retirement to the levee, he defircd that the officers of the artillery would remain, and the reft of the company being departed, he addretfed them in the following manner: " Gentlemen, I have had a very heavy <£ complaint made to me by one of the in-'* habitants, of fome of the officers of the ,4 artillery, and cannot but fay I feel it N 2 " more " more forcibly, as commanding that corps cc -—and of fuch a nature too—Gallantry " has ever marked the foldiers character, hour, whatever kind of provihon is put in thaws, and becomes fit for ufe. The lower clafs of Canadians are exceedingly infolent, and infult the officers upon every occafion; their behaviour would be infufferable, did they not now and then get feverely chaltifed. Was I induced to hazard an opinion as to the caufe of this, I fhould attribute it to the very great indulgence fhewn to them by General Carle-ton ; they imagine it is only to lay their complaints, however abfurd, before him, and be redreffed, according to the flory they tell him. The following is the heft fpecimen I can give you, in confirmation of my affertion : As Colonel Carleton was driving his cariole, with a lady in it, upon the ice, a Canadian drove his Heigh defignedly againff the Colonel's cariole, by which it was overfet and much damaged: upon this the , N 4 Colonel Colonel gave him a molt fevere horfe-whipping, which the Canadian bore very patiently, faying, with a flight fhrug, Fouettez done Monfieur, jufques a ce que vous foyez fatigue, mais je vous ajjure je men plaindrai an General Carleton. The Colonel then encreafed his flagellation, telling him at the fame time, Et quand vous vous plaindrez au General, ayez la bonte de Tin-former en meme terns, que cejl jon fre\re qui vous afouette. The Canadian hearing this, and prefuming he fhould then obtain no redrefs, began to afk pardon, became very fubmifhve, and was glad to make the belt of his efcape, by flinking away and drawling out, §>ue fil eut fu que ceioit lefrere du bon General, il nauroit pas fait cela pour tout au monde. This little anecdote, while it convinces you what great lengths thefe plebeians go, when they imagine themfelves protected, will afford you an example of that mean- nefs nefs ever attendant upon vulgar and bafe minds, when a proper chaftifement is be-ftowed upon them, for fuch instances of their audacity. I am juft informed there is an opportunity of fending letters to Quebec, from whence this will foon reach you, with my fincere wifbes for your health and happi-nefs. I remain, Yours, &c. LET- LETTER XVII. Montreal, Jpril6th, IJJJ. MY DEAR FRIEND, A S we are now in daily hopes of the ■* -** frofVs breaking up, and every one is anxious and impatient to hear from his friends, do not let me meet with a difap--pointment. Being defirous to vifit every place worthy of notice, I went to Chamblce, where are the remains of a fort, formerly built by by the French, for what purpofe they are the beff judges: it is faid their intention was to prevent an army entering Canada. It It is fo fituated, that an army can march by La Praire and La Chine, take Montreal, and then turn their whole force againlt the fort, which would be thus cut off from any relief. This has been clearly evinced this war, when General Prefcott, with feveral companies, were taken prifoners in it. The fort is built of it one, of a regular fquare, with four baitions at each angle, without any out-works, and is fituated a few miles from the mountains which I have already defcribed ; from its fituation I can never fuppofe it otherwife than intended as a magazine for ffores and provifions to fupply St. John's. About three miles from the fort are the rapids, which prevent {hipping going up to St. John's ; there is a faw-mill there, and it being the firft of the kind I ever faw, I was particular in my examination of it. After After the owner had given me every necef-fary information, I afked him which Government he preferred, when he exclaimed, Oh! Monfieur, il riy a point de comparaifoity VAngloh rAnglois! and then related a cir-cumff ance, which no doubt you will fay carried a powerful reafon for the poor old man's giving us the preference, and affords another proof how much the Canadians were oppreffed by the French. There was a cuftom, which is continued for the repair of roads, transporting provifions, and other Services for Government, called a corvee; it is in the breaft of the Captains of the Militia to nominate fuch a number of inhabitants to go with horfes and carts upon that duty. At the time Lord Amherft was expected to enter Canada, acrofs Lake Champlain, the French were continually Sending Sup* plies of ammunition and provifions to Cham- Chamblce and St. John's, and the Inhabitants, as well as their cattle, were almoft worked and harratfed to death, by the op-prelTion and tyranny of the Captains of , Militia. Before the campaign commenced, General Montcalm went to St. John's and Cbamb/ee, to fee that thofe garrifons were in a perfect ftate of defence, when the poor peafants affembled in a body round him, and fell on their knees to tell their grievances. The man who owned the faw-mili told the General he was willing to fcrve le Grand Mo?iarque, but he had been much oppreffed; that his harveft and plantation had been neglected, and his family almoft ruined and itarving; and, to add to his misfortunes, que le deux feuls chevaux qui luirefioient etoient morts de fatigue la veille: to which the General, inftead of comforting and redrerTing the poor old man, with a very ftern look, and at the fame time time twirling his croix de St. Louis, replied, Mais vous en avez les peaux, cejl beaucoup, cefi beaucoup ! Among the various amufements we enjoyed while away this long winter, I forgot to mention that fkating is one, which thofe who are fond of that diverfion are amply indulged in, there being fuch a conftancy and large extent of ice. There are feveral officers in the regiment, who being exceeding fond of it, have inflituted a fkating club, to promote divernon and conviviality. The Canadians fkate in the manner of the Dutch, and exceedingly faff, but the Indians dart along like lightning. Some years fmce, for a confiderable wager, three Indians fet off from this place at day light, and before dark arrived at Quebec, which is 60 leagues ; their fatigue, however, was fo great, that two expired fhortly after their their arrival, and the third did not Survive above a week. In this country there is no Spring nor autumn, and as the froft is daily expected to break, the troops are kept in continual exerciSe. General Carleton is come to review the different regiments; but the Snow is So deep upon the ground, they are exer-cifed and to be reviewed on the ice, which you would naturally think extremely dangerous, and that the men would (lip and do one another miSchief with their bayonets j but Such is the power of the Sun at this time, that during the day it thaws the Surface, which freezing again at night, forms a kind of fmall ice, affording a Steady footing, added to which, all the ice oppohte the city is covered with loofe Straws blown from the dung. The foil being fo extremely prolific, they have no occafion for manure, and therefore bring • it it in fleighs upon the ice, to be carried away when it breaks up. There are many unpleafant duties attending an officer, but none more fo than fitting upon a court-martial. A few days ago,' being upon that duty, I felt myfelf much diftreffed, as being the junior officer, and of courfe the firft to pats fentence, but was foon releafed from that painful talk, the culprit efcaping a puniflmient, by his blunt oddity. The crime for which he was tried, and for which he had been twice punifhed before, was that of drunkennefs and diforderly behaviour, which being upon this occafion clearly proved, he was afked by thePrefident what he had to fay in his defence. He replied, which they term La Fhe Dicu. On the evening preceding that day, I could not conceive the reafon that the people were bringing cart loads of fmall firs into the city; but judge how great was my fur-prize in the morning, when I went to the parade, to find the ftreets fwept as clean as poflible, thefe trees ftuck in the ground on each fide, and fo contrived that their tops united, that every ftreet had the appearance of a grove, and upon enquiry found it was intended for the celebration of this great festival. About eleven o'clock the proceflion began from the great Church, which extended near half a mile in length. All the principal Clergy, the Friars of the different Convents, with a large band of mufic attending; in the center of the procefuon, under a canopy of crimfon velvet, Supported by fix Priefts, the High Prieff carried the Host, upon a Bible, covered with a white napkin, and before him two men bore a large bafket full of flowers, which were ftrewed by feveral little boys in fur-plices; four others, with filver chalices, were continually wafting the incenfe towards the Holt,.the people at the fame time finging anthems. Jn this manner the pro-ceflion went through moil of the Streets in the city, and thofe who met it fell instantly on their knees; thofe who remained in their houfes, came to the windows and and did the fame. I cannot but fay it was a pleating fight, and could not help thinking but it mull; be magnificent indeed, in thofe countries where the Roman Catholic is the elfabliflred religion. We were apprized of fome proceflion, from an order given the day preceding by General Phillips, but had no idea of feeing fuch a Spectacle. There having been feveral difputes in Roman Catholic countries, concerning the refpecf that the military fhould pay the Hoft, when paffmg by, his Majerty, a few years ago, iffued out a general order for that purpofe, which General Phillips gave out in orders as follows :— tc As to-morrow there will be a great pro-*' ceflion through the city, I need not in-M form the officers of the refpecf and <{ attention his Majefty has required fhould 44 be paid the Hoft, when paffmg. The 11 non-commiflioned officers are defired to *■ be particular in informing the men, that Vol. I. P " when " when the Hoft is going by, they are to " front it, and behave in a decent and re-" fpecriul manner, to pull off their hats, " and remain in that fituation till the pro-" ceffion has palled. Any complaint that " is made to the General, will be punilhcd fC with the utmoft feverity." To-morrow I leave this city, to join the advanced corps at the river La Cole. Situated as I muft be, confined to the company, which I am proud in faying is commanded by Lord Peterfham, you cannot expect the. whole detail of the manoeuvres of the different actions that may happen, or a particular account of the fiege of Ti-conderoga. I lhall however inform you of every thing that comes under my own obfervation, and give you my opinion ot events, not as an officer, but merely as a Spectator. The The officers take the field under great disadvantages, in regard to horfes to transport their baggage, when they quit the Lakes; thofe for the ufe of Government are fent through the woods to Crown Point, but their arrival at that place is very uncertain, as they are liable to be taken by the enemy. It is quite a hazard, but rather than be diftreffed when I get to Ti-conderoga, I have rifqued Sending mine, with Some others, through the woods; if they arrive fafe it will be a vail convenience ; if not, I fhall be compelled to fend back my baggage, and then, hey for courage and a knapfack! Should any misfortune attend the cattle intended for Government, it will greatly retard the army, provided the Americans mould abandon Ticonderoga 3 at all events it will impede us in fome meafure, as it will be feveral days after the army gets there before the horfes arrive, and you may eafily conceive an army cannot move without its artillery and provifions. Another great disadvantage which we experience in the profecution of this war, and which the Americans avoid is, that we have to tranfport all our provisions with us, whereas they have magazines Stored with great abundance, every thirty or forty miles; where, in cafe any difafter attends their army, the lofs of their provifions is eafily recruited. But if any fuch event Should happen with us, we mould be obliged to make a Stand at Some Strong port, till provisions could be Sent from Canada. Added to this, the Americans are by much our Superiors at wood - lighting, being habituated to the woods from their infancy. Our fucccfs in any engagement muft greatly reft on the bayonet, the great utility of which General Burgoyne pointed out in an order a few days Since, Strongly recom- recommending the officers to inculcate that idea into the minds of the men. After I leave this city, you muff not expect to hear from me fo regularly as you have lately. But you may reff affured, I mail embrace every opportunity of letting you know I am not yet food for the crows. Yours, &c. LETTER XIX. Montreal, May zSth, 1777. MY DEAR FRIEND, A FEW days fince I was invited to * dine with Capt. Frazer, who is fu-perintendant over the Indians, and who gave us a dinner entirely of wild-meats. Moff of the dimes were only to fet off the table, there being fuch things there as very few of the company could partake of ; we had the leg of a bear, indeed, which was faltcd, and far exceeded in flavor a leg of pork; another difh, which though deemed a great rarity with you, is not efteemed fuch here, a very fine haunch of venifon. To To tell you the truth, I really made my repair, of what Monfieur Roberdeau, of Quebec, hinted to me, of the Fria?tdifes. Juft as the cloth was removed, there came into the room a great number of Indians, (and amongfl them one very old) who not having much ceremony, and feeing the bottles and glalTes on the table, would drink with us, and began to be extremely troublefome, when Capt. Frazer interfered, and to flrew you the controul he has over them, the inffant he fpoke, they quitted the room, but not without a prefent, for I did not underffand the Indian language, but as I thought, and as he afterwards told us he was obliged to order his fervant to give them a bottle of rum. After we had got rid of thefe troublefome guefls, and the table reltored to order, Capt. Frazer faid, Gentlemen, I obferved you all took notice of that old Indian, P 4 which 2l6 IN TERIOR TRAVELS which the company acquiefcing in, he told the following very fmgular hi ft ory relative to him: That Indian, faid he, is of the Algonquin nation, who are converted to Christianity, and who, being attached to the French, had excited the enmity of the Iroquois, whofe hatred to Christians carried them to every excefs of fury, murdering and tormenting to death, without any regard to fex or age, every one that had the misfortune to fall into their hands. To efcape the fury of the Iroquois, the whole nation of the Algon-quins were determined to fight their way to the French, in which Struggle the women took no inconsiderable Share, but nobly rehited their enemies on this occasion, when it So happened, that the mother of that old Indian was taken priSoner. The Iroquois carried her to one of their villages, Stripped her naked, bound her hand hand and foot in one of their cabins, and in that ft ate fhe remained for ten days, the favages fleeping round every night. The i ith night, when they were all afleep, fhe difengaged herfelf from the ropes they had bound her with and fled into the for eft. The fecond day after her efcape, her footfteps Were perceived by the Iroquois who were in fearch of her, and they purfued her with fuch expedition, that the third day fhe difcovered them clofe at her heels : fire in-ftantly plunged into a pond of water that was near her, and diving amongft fome weeds and bulrufhes, juft kept her head above water, fo as to breathe, and by this ftratagem efcaped from her purfuers, who, after making a moft diligent fearch, went away the courfe they thought fhe would take. When night came on, fhe left her fituation, and took a different route to that fhe perceived the favages had taken, by which means tins poor creature wandered through the woods for five and thirty thirty days, without any other fuftenance than roots and wild-berries. At length fhe came to the river St. Laurence, and not perceiving any canoe along the fhore, made a kind of wicker raft, on which flie eroded the river, and had paffed by Montreal, not knowing well in what part of the river (lie was, when, perceiving a canoe full of favages, and fearful left they might be Iroquois, lhe again ran into the woods, and remained till fun-fet, when fhe directed her courfe to Montreal.— Within a mile of the city, fhe was difco-vered by a party whom fhe knew to be Algonquins; when they approached her, fhe fquatted down behind a bufh, calling out to them that fhe was not in a condition to be feen, as fhe was naked; one of them then threw her a blanket, and conducted her into the fort. After Capt. Frazer had related this ftory, he told us this old Indian took great pleafure in telling it to every one, at the fame time exploiting the utmoft utmoft indignation, and vowing revenge againfl the Iroquois. We had fcarcely drank five glaffes, after Captain Frazer had hnifhed his narration, when the Indians returned, upon a pretence of bufmefs to him, which was no other than that of procuring more rum, which Captain Frazer refufing them, they grew extremely troublefome, and what, with the liquor they had already drank, were much beyond any controul, for they paid no attention to Capt. Frazer, who, finding he could not pacify, or any way get rid of them, made us an apology, and the company broke up. On my return home, mentioning to my landlord what I had heard concerning the Iroquois, he faid, Mpnfieur, ks Iroquois font le plus fauvage et frauduleux de tout, and related the fad cataftrophe of a Mifllonary, one Father Jogues, who refided a little below low Trcis Rivieres: imagining he had made great progrefs in converting them to Chrif-tianity, during a fhort interval of peace, was willing to fpread his doctrine amongfl the remote of the Iroquois; for that pur-pofe, he fet out with four Indians, and a young Frenchman as his fervant; he had not palled Trots Rivieres above a league, when his four favage guides abandoned them: yet fuch was his enthufiafm and confidence of having wrought upon them fo far, that his perfon was in fafety, he would not return, but travelled on, and at the very firft Iroquois village he and his fervant came to, he was too fatally convinced of his error, for they were feized, ftript, fcourged, buffeted, and treated as prifoners of war. At this hidden change the good Father was in great amazement, and began (for he could fpeak their language) to expostulate with all the powers of elocution, which were of no avail, and the only favor that his eloquence could procure procure him was, that inilcad of burning him and his companion alive, they humanely condefcended to behead them with a hatchet. After my landlord had finillied the ifory, he faid, with great warmth and indignation, Monjieur, les Iroquois font frau-duleux comme le Diable, ct cn voyagent fat toujours crainte de le rencontre; and, from the Story he had related, you will no doubt fay he had very good foundation for his fears. I am, yours, &c. LET- LETTER XX. Montreal, May 31/?, iff7, MY DEAR FRIEND, XJEFORE I leave this city, though JO there is not much leifure time on my hands, I fliall communicate to you the fruit of my enquiries (to which I have applied myfelf this winter) reflecting the advantage England derives from Canada. ' It was a complaint, and perhaps not without foundation, that Canada never enriched France, and that none of its inhabitants acquired the leaff fortunes, but the Indian traders. As it was not the fault fault of the country, which has many Staple commodities, from which a Source of wealth might be derived, whence then is to be attributed this caufe? Firft, from the continual ftate of warfare this province has been in from its very firft fettle-ment; to the oppreiiivenefs of the government, and the rapacioufnefs of the clergy • from which caufes (except thofe enterpriz-ing people who embark in the fur trade) the inhabitants not having a ftimulative motive, were content with a mere exiftence, and if a Canadian could but pay his tythes and duties to his prieft, and lay up a little to enjoy a long tedious winter, his happi-nefs was com pi eat. But the Scene is now reverfed ; all over the province there are faw and grift-mills, and the Canadians are now enriching themfelves, by exporting lumber and grain to the Weft Indies and the other provinces. As I obferved beSore, it was not the fault of of the country, for to perfons induftrioufly inclined, this country has many advantages, as after they have tilled their ground in autumn, from that time till the middle of April and the begining of May, when they fow their crops, they have to cut down timber, and to faw it for building, {hipping, and other ufes, ready for exportation when the froft breaks up. Another great advantage this country poffeffes, is the quick vegetation, for the crop that is fown in May Springs up, grows to perfection, is cut down and carried into the barns by the end of Auguit. Without considering the hardships and difficulties they were expoSed to, the Indian trader was always looked upon with an envious eye : but now, as they are not liable to the rapacity of ftate and clergy, but enjoy all the privileges of our happy constitution, their induftry is very great, and thoSe winters that uSed to be Spent in feafting feafting and pleafure, is now employed to more ufeful purpofes, and an Indian trader is not now a man fo much to be envied. Daily experience (hews, that this province is capable of producing more re-fources than one. What motives of policy could it be in the French to keep the Canadians in fuch a ftate of oppreflion ? It fhould feem that France was Sufficiently proud in having this vaft territory annexed to its crown, and content with the produce oS the Sur trade. But left you think I am entering too deeply into politics, I fhall conclude, deferring to my next an account oS the fur trade, which ftill is the greatcft refource of wealth to England, but which muft in procefs of time be annihilated, from the very great destruction of the animals, which every year diminifhes them fo faft, and occafions their flying to remoter parts, that the trader has hundreds Vol. I. Q_ %f of leagues farther to go in fearch of them; the necemty, therefore of encouraging hni-bandry, Avill appear evident to you. But I fee I am again running into politics, therefore adieu. Yours, &t. L ET- LETTER XXI. Montreal, June 3d, 1777. MY DEAR FRIEND, IN O W proceed to give you fome account of the fur trade, and as in one of my former letters the nature of Indian traders were defcribed to you and their modes of trafficking with the favages, I fhall give you fome little account of the beafts, whofe furs they go in fearch of, and hope you will not think any little remarks that I may interfperfe, as dictating to your Superior fenfe and underSf anding, but merely ideas that occur to me whilst writing. By By the accounts molt authors have given us of Canada, they defcribe it, upon its firff difcoverv, to have been an immenfe tract of forett, ferving only as an extenfive haunt to wild beaits, with which it was over-run, and which had multiplied prodigioufly; for thofe few men who did inhabit thole deferts, not having any flocks or tame animals, left more room and food for thole that were wandering and free, like themfelves j and although there was no great variety, ftill there were multitudes of each {pedes. But they, as every thing, fooner or later, in this terreff rial globe, paid tribute to the fovereignty of man -} that cruel power that has been fo fatal to every living creature,, and the few that the natives destroyed for their food and cloathing, were of little note in fuch a prodigious multitude. No fooner had our luxury led us to make ufe of their ikins, thin the natives waged a perpetual war againit them, which they carried on with great eagernefs, as in return return for the havoc and detraction they made amongft them, they indulged in a plenty and variety of gratifications they were before unaccuftomed to; and to render the war the more deff rudrive, we alfiffed them with fire-arms, by the means of which great quantities of furs, and of a prodigious variety,- were procured. Moft of thefe were known in Europe, which were the fame as thofe that came from the northern parts of our hemisphere, but they were in too fmall quantities to fupply a great demand. Caprice and novelty has made thefe furs more or lefs in fafhion, and England has found it to be for the interefl of Canada, that they fhould be valued at home; and that they are fo with a witnefs, the enormous price your fifler gave for a muff and tippet, is a convincing proof: here I affure you they are very dear, the commoneft fur cap {landing you in two guineas. Q_ 3 As Having given you a little hiftory of furs, I {hall now defcribe to you fome of the beafls whofe fkins are ftill in requeft, and firft begin with the Otter, which is fo generally known in England, as to need no defcription; there is ho other difference than that it is much larger, and its hair blacker and finer than ours, a circumftance fatal to them, as expofing them more to the purfuit of the favages. The Pole-cat, of which there are three fpecies, is in great eftimation among the Canadian hunters, as the hair is darker, more gloffy, and more filky than thofe in Europe. Even the Rat of North-America is valuable for its fkiii; but the two principal ones that are in the article of trade is the Oppoffum and the Mufk; many and ridiculous are the ftories which are propagated relative to the female of the former, fuch as, among otlirs, that of the young ones getting into the belly again through the teats, the fact is this, under its belly there is a loofe ikin, with a fmall aperture in the center, and this fhe can expand or deprefs at will; if purfued, and {lie thinks her young are in danger, fhe puts them into this bag, and runs away with them up a tree. Another Angular in fiance of Sagacity in this animal, which is Seldom mentioned, is, that if purSuedby other animals, Such as the Tiger, Mountain-cat, &c.that can mount trees, it goes to the extremity oS a bough, and fufpends itfclf by its tail. The lkin of the Mufk-rat is employed for the fame purpofes as the Beaver, of which he feems to be a diminutive ; but its moft intrinfic value is for that predominant and powerful perfume it produces, and which is called after this animal. The Ermine is about the fizeof a Squirrel, but not fo long, has the fame lively eyes, 0^4 keen look, and his motions are fo quick, that the eye can fcarcely follow them, it has a long buihy tail, which at the tip is as black as jet; what enables me to give you fo exact a defcription of this little animal is, that the daughter of the gentleman at whofe houfe I lodge, has one in her poiYef-hon; indeed it is the fafhion for the young ladies to keep them, as ours do fquirrels. One thing not a little extraordinary of this animal is, that all the winter it was white as fnow, and the other day, when admiring it, I expreffed a furprize in perceiving it had a yellow tint, when the young lady faid, Ah! Monfieur, au milieu de fete cejl jaune comme ior. This little animal is reckoned one of the beauties of Canada, for though the fable is fmaller, it is not fo common. The Martin, whofe lkin is the moft valuable, is only to be met with in the center of the forefts, far from any habitation, and and although fo fmall an animal, is a bead of prey, living entirely upon birds. It is but a foot and a half long, yet leaves a print in the fnow, which appears to be the footftep of a larger animal, occafioned by its jumping along and giving the marks of both feet together: their fur is much cftcemed, but is inferior to that fpecies which are called fiibles, whofe fkins are of a fhining black. Thofe of the Martin encreafe in value from the various dyes, the deeper the tint the more valuable, and they gradually encreafe from a light brown to the deep gloffy black of the fable. The Martins feldom more than once in two or three years quit their receffes in thefe impenetrable woods, and when they do, the Canadians take it as a fign of a good winter, imagining there will be great quantities of fnow, and confequently good fport in deffroying them. The The Wild-cat of Canada is reckoned much fmaller than thofe upon the northern continent of Europe, and is the fame kind of animal that was called by the ancients the Lynx, of which an erroneous opinion has ever prevailed amongit the vulgar, that it is poffeifed of the power of piercing to death with its eyes whatever it def-tines for its prey, as nature had deprived it of the faculties of hearing and fmelling at a diffance, which mistaken notion muft have arifen from this Simple cauSe, that as this animal lives upon what game it can catch, it will purine it to the very tops of the tailed trees, and nature having endowed it with a quicker Sight than mott other animals, whatever it purSues, though of ever So Small a nature, it never loSes fight of, let the foliage of the trees be ever fo thick. The fteSh of this animal is very white, and faid to be well flavored, but the Indians hunt it chiefly for its Ikin, the hair of it being long, and of a fine light grey> grey, but not fo valuable as that of the fox. This animal, like other natives of the frozen climates, where nature produces but few vegetables, is carniverous. Befides the fmall furs, Canada fupplies England with the fkins of the Stag, Deer, Roebuck, the Caribou and the Elk, the latter of which is fuppofed to be the original of all thefe fpecies. All thefe animals are hunted by the Canadians, but the chace of the Bear the favages have referved to themfelves, and which is their favorite fport; it feems belt adapted to their warlike manners, Strength and bravery, and efpecially as thofe animals Supply moff of their wants. Fearful left you may grow tired of this heavy detail of wild beafts, I Shall conclude this, referving to my next the defcription of of the only two that are worthy of notice, the Bear and the Beaver, the latter of which poffeffes all the friendly difpofitions, diverted of all the vices and misfortunes that await us, and which debars us from the true and real pleafures arifing from the friendly and fweet intercourfe that Should fubfilt between man and man. Yours, &c. LET- 1, E T T E R XXII, - Montreal, Junc~th, MY DEAR FRIEND, ^OPPORTUNITIES almoft daily occur-\-J ing, I am happy to embrace them, during the little time I have to remain in this city j when I quit it, you will think me very remifs in addrefling you. Let me fincercly allure you, although there will be no regular conveyance, I fhall embrace every opportunity that offers. As in my laft I mentioned to you that the favages were fupplied with moft of their wants from the Bear, feeding upon its its nefh, rubbing themfelves with its greafe, and cloathing themfelves with its lkin, it may not be amifs to give you fome little account of this animal, and the Angular method they have of deff roying them. As no doubt you muft have feen many of them in England, I fhall only give you an account of fome of its particularities. This animal is rather fhy than fierce, and will feldom attack a man ; on the contrary, they will fly at the light of him, and a dog will drive them a great way. The only time they are dangerous is after having been wounded, when they quit the hollow trees they have refidcd in all the winter, and at the time of rutting, which is in the month of July; they are then fo fierce and ill-tempered, the effects of jealoufy, that they are extremely dangerous to meet with. At this feafon they grow very lean, and their flefh hasfo difagreeablea relilh, that the Indians, whofe whofe Stomachs are none of the moft delicate, will not touch it. Who could conceive that an animal, fo unlovely in its appearance, •fhould in the Space of one month grow leaner by the belie pafjion, than after an abftinence of fix months. But the feafon over, he recovers his former embonpoint, which he is greatly afTifted in regaining by the great quantity of fruits the woods abound with, and of which he is extremely greedy \ grapes he is particularly fond-of, climbing after them up the moft lofty trees. After he has fed for fome time on fruits, his flefh becomes delicious, and continues fo till fpring. It is furprizing enough that this animal, although provided with fo warm a fur., and not of the moft delicate appearance, fhould take more precautions than any other to preferve itfelf from the cold, (this may Serve as a leflbn • from nature, nor not to form our judgment of things by appearance, fince every one is the befl judge of his own wants;) for which pur-pofe, when the winter fets in, he climbs up the hollow rotten trunk of an old tree, flopping up the entrance with pine branches, by which means he is fheltered from all inclemencies of the weather, and when once lodged, he feldom or ever quits his apartment during the winter, which is the more fmgulaf, it being certain that he lays up no manner of provihon, and that he muff require fome nourifliment. That he requires little food is natural to fuppofe, as at the end of autumn he is very fat, takes no exercife, and almoft always fieeps, and, therefore, lofmg little by perfpiration, has very feldom occafion to go abroad in queft of it, and when he does, ha tens back to his retreat. A ridiculous notion is gone abroad into the world, that during the winter tfje fole nourilhment of the Bear is licking, its paws, which, no doubt, arofe from through america, 241 from the amazing long time thefe animals can, either through the nourilhment they receive from deep, or idlenefs, go without food. Yet that fuch an idea fhould prevail, I am not furprized, as there has been an inflance of one that was chained for a whole winter without either food or drink, and at the end of fix months was found as fat as when firft caught* The feafon for hunting the bear is in winter, when the Indians force him from his habitation by fetting fire to the pine branches that he has drawn together at the bottom of the hollow tree, when the fmoke afcending up the trunk, drives him from his late comfortable habitation, from which he no fooner defcends, than they kill him. The Indians now only deftroy them to anfwer their own wants, as formerly they ufed to do for the pur-pofe of difpofing of their fkins to the traders ; but it was no fooner under flood that Vol. I. R Canada Canada was Stored with Beavers, than the favages, urged on by a more lucrative interest, directed their war againft an animal the mod harmlefs, who molefts no living creature, and is neither carniverous nor Sanguinary. This is, I am forry to obferve, become an object of man's moft earneft pur Suit, and the one that the Savages hunt-after with the greateft eagerncSs and cruelty; a circumstance entirely owing to the unmerciful rapacioufnefs which luxury has made neceflaryin Skins, for all the polifhed nations of Europe. This animal is by nature adapted for focial life, being endowed with an inftinct in the prefervation and propagation of its fpecies; it is generally about three or four feet long, moftly weighing from forty to Sixty pounds ; the hinder feet are webbed, which enables it to Swim, and in the fore feet the toes are divided; its tail is oval, very flat, and covered with fcales; the head refembles refembles that of a rat, in which are four very Sharp teeth, with thefe it will gnaw through trees of a great circumference. This animal is diverted of turbulent pailions, without a defire of doing injury to any one, free from craft, fcarcely defending itfelf, unlefs it lives in fociety; it never bites, except when caught, and as nature has not Supplied it with any weapons of defence, by a natural inffinct. as it were, it forms focieties, and has various contrivances to fecure its eafe, without fighting, and to live without committing, or fuifering an injury; although this peaceable, and you may fay almoft tame animal, enters into fociety, it is nevertheless independent, every want being fupplied by itfelf, and therefore it is a Have to none. It will not ferve, nor does it pretend to command, every care feems directed by an inffinct, that at the fame time, as it labors for the general good, it lives for itfelf R 2 alone. alone. To learn the nature of the Societies of thefe animals, as it was related to me by my landlord, may afford you the fame entertainment it did me. In the month of June or July, they aftemble from all quarters, to the number of two or three hundred, near fome lake or pool of water, to build their habitations againft winter, the construction of which, from the complication and manner of difpofing the materials, one would be led to imagine to be beyond the capacity of any one but an intelligent being, and efpecially in their contracting of dams, when they cannot meet with a lake or pool in this cafe they fix upon fome river, when the firft of their labour is to make a dam, which they generally do in the fhalloweft part of the Stream, for that purpofe felling trees with the four J harp teeth that I have already defcribed; five or Six of them will gnaw a large one one through, and to mark to you the wonderful fagacity of thefe induftrious brutes, they contrive it fo that it always falls in the water: having laid this foundation, they fell fmaller trees, which they roll to this great one, but what appears the moft wonderful is, the manner they fink the piles in the water, to prevent the ftream's carrying away the trees, they lay acrofs. Their contrivance is this, with their nails they dig a hole in the ground, or at the bottom of the water, with their teeth they reft the ftake againft the bank of the river, or againft the tree that lies acrofs, and with their feet they raife the ftake and fink it with the fharp end (which thefe fenfible animals make to it) in the hole that they have made, where it ftands up; and to render thefe ftakes or piles more fecure, they interweave branches of fmall trees, and with their tails witk up a kind of mortar with clay, and fill the vacant fpace of the interwoven branches. R 3 After After this work is finiihed by the body at large, each one confiders of fome lodging for himfelf; an hut being built upon piles on the fides of the Lake, capable of containing from two or three to ten or fifteen, (for they divide themfelves into companies, and build thefe huts accordingly,) which are formed with walls and partitions of about two feet thick and as many in height, arched over, and the whole fo plaiffered with clay, that the final left breath of air cannot penetrate through them; each apartment is made large enough to contain two, a male and female; each hut has two entrances, one towards the land, and the other on the fide towards the dream, the former for them to go into the woods to fetch provifions, and the latter to efcape from their enemy, that is to fay man, the deftroyer of cities and commonwealths. The infide of their apartments has no other furniture than the flooring of grafs covered with the the boughs of the fir, and thefe animals are fo cleanly, that no filth of any kind is ever feen in thefe apartments. In each hut there are Store houfes proportionate to the number of its inhabitants; every one knows its own, and never fteals from his neighbour. Each party, that is to fay, the male and female, live in their own habitations; they have no jealoufies or quarrels; the provifions of the community are collected and expended without any contest, and reft fatished with the fimple food that their labors procure them. The only pailion they have is that of conjugal affection, wherein a molt excellent example is held forth to that all-wife andall-fufficient man, who is led away by every guft of paffion and vanity. Two of thefe animals, in. the courfe of their labours in the fummer months, match together, unite by inclination and re-R 4 ' ciprocal ciprocal choice, and agree to pars the winter, and like too many couple who haftily enter into matrimony with equally as good motives, but forgetting what mould make the happinefs lading, that of laying up a dock to guard againd an inclement feafon. The happy couple retire to their hut about the end of autumn, which has been obferved to be no lefs favorable to love than fpring; for if the feafon of flowers invites the feathered tribe to propagate in the woods, the feafon of fruits as powerfully excites the inhabitants of the earth in the reproduction of their fpecies; befides, as winter gives leifure for amorous purfuits, it compenfates for the advantages of other feafons. I am this moment told that the pacquet is going to fail, and mud therefore defer a further account of this wonderful and furprizing iurprizing animal, from whom fo many lelfons of induftry and morality may be drawn, till another opportunity, and conclude with alluring you of my bed wifhes for your happinefs and profperity, and that I remain Yours, &c. «~f!w . 1 1 lift (nwr; fj LETTER XXIIL Montreal, June %th, \yjj. MY DEAR FRIEND, T SEND this by our friend Captain F. X who is going poft to Quebec, from which place he will fail immediately, and as the navigation from this city to Quebec is much delayed by the various currents and other caufes in the river, he will be there as foon, if not fooner, than the ihip I fent my firft by, in which cafe you may receive this before the other, which may greatly bewilder you. I therefore fhall juft hint to you, this is the conclusion of the hiftory of the Beaver. If my recollection does not deceive me, I left off in my laft at defcribing his love, that univerfal paffion of nature, which the Beaver feems to enjoy in the conjugal ftate, comparatively much happier than mankind ; for when they couple and enter their huts, they never quit each other, confe-crating their whole time to love, from which neither labor nor any other object can divert them. If by chance a fun-flriny day fhould happen to enliven the gloomy melancholy of the feafon, the happy couple leave their huts to walk on the borders of the Lake, regaling themfelves with fome frefh bark, and breathing the falutary exhalations of the earth. At the conclufion of the winter, the mother brings forth the endearing pledges of their affection, while the father ranges the woods, allured by the fweets of the fpring, leaving to his little family that portion of room which he took up in his his narrow cell. The Beaver generally produces two or three, which the mother fuckles, nurfes and trains up, for when the father is abfent, fhe takes out the young ones, in her excurfions for cray and other fifli, and green bark to recruit her own Strength and to feed her young, till the feafon of labor returns; for although thefe animals are fo induff rious as to build themfelves habitations that would laft them a century, they are obliged to rebuild them every year, as the firft thing the traders do when they meet with any of their works, is to breakdown their cabins and the dam, together with their dyke. There are various methods of taking and deftroying thefe animals, by draining the water from their dykes, and fometimes by Shares j they are very feldom Shot at, for unlefs killed on the fpot, they are loft to the huntfman, by plunging into the water wounded, when they fink to the bottom and and never rife. The moft certain and general mode of catching them is by fetting traps in the woods, where they perceive them to have been eating the bark of the young trees; they bait thefe traps with frefh flips of wood, which the Beaver no fooner touches, than a great weight falls and crufhes its loins, when the huntfman, who lies concealed near the fpot, haftens to kill it. No doubt but by this time you are heartily tired with fo long a detail of this animal ; but if I have deviated from the common path of defcription, I can only fay it has proceeded from thefe two caufes, that I cannot Sufficiently admire the many virtues it poifeffes, divefted of all manner of vice, and have been loft in the contemplation of that Divine Being, who formed it with all thefe natural endowments. I Oil You muft pardon my making a companion between the Societies of thefe animals and thofe of a convent. If happinefs may be faid to dwell in both communities, it muft be allowed to be by very oppofite means. The happinefs of one confifts in following the dictates of nature; in the other, nature, the fweets of focial love, and the laws of our creation, are totally-destroyed ! The inftitution of the fociety of the Beaver, fcems folely to propagate its fpecies ; the other to annihilate it. How many, who might have dignified nature under the character of a fond mother and an affectionate wife, are loft to the world and to themfelves!—they cannot help.feeling tender emotions, and, in the bitternefs of mifery, execrate that tyrant cuftom, which has torn them from the embraces of happinefs and chained them in cells, a prey to affections hopelefs and infatiable—the idea carries me beyond myfelf. What What will not the feelings of humanity exclaim, when it confiders that thefe gloomy and ferocious inftitutions are wafting away in all parts of Europe ! Inftitu-tions not only injurious but inhuman, which, under the abfurd and ridiculous notion of making men equal to angels, robs health of its vigor, and beauty of its reward. I am moft agreeably interrupted in my ferious reflections, by a vifit from our friend S—, who is juft arrived from New-York ; he was taken prifoner in the courfe of laft fummer, by a notorious fellow of the name of Whitcomb, the fame man who fhot Brigadier General Gordon, the particulars of which I (hall inform you in my next. Yours, &c- LET- LETTER XXIV. Montreal, June Mth, 1777- MY DEAR FRIEND, T N my laft I mentioned to you the name of one Whitcomb, a native of Connecticut, and a great partizan of the Americans, who, after the defeat upon the Lakes, offered his fervice to venture through the woods, and bring in prifoner an Englifh officer, for which purpofe he Stationed himfelf among the thickeft copfes that are between La Praire and St. John's. The firft officer who happened to pafs him was Brigadier General Gordon; he was mounted on a fpirited horfe, and Whitcomb thinking thinking there was little probability of feizing him, fired at and wounded him in the moulder. The General immediately rode as faff as he could to the camp at St. John's, which he had but jufl reached, when with lofs of blood and fatigue, he fell from his horfe; fome foldiers, took him up and carried him to the hofpital, where, after "his wound was dreffed, and he was a little at eafe, he related the cir-cumftance, which being immediately made known to General Carleton, a party of Indians were fent out to fcour the woods, and fearch for Whitcomb, but in vain, as he half ened back to Ticonderoga. General Carleton, however, imagining he might be lurking about the woods, or fecreted in the houfe of fome difaffecled Canadian, ifrued out a proclamation among the inhabitants, offering a reward of fifty guineas to any one that would bring Whitcomb, alive or dead, to the camp. Vol. I. S A few A few days after this General Gordon died of his wound, in whofe death we fin-cerely lamented the lofs of a brave and experienced officer. When Whitcomb returned to Ticonde-roga, and informed the General who commanded there, that although he could not take an officer prifoner, he believed he had mortally wounded one, the General ex-preffed his difapprobation in the higher! terms, and was fo much difpleafed at the tranfaction, that Whitcomb, in order to effect a reconciliation, offered his fervice to go again, profeffing he would forfeit his life, if he did not return with a prifoner. He accordingly, with two other men, proceeded down Lake Cbamplainfm a canoe, to a fmall creek, where they fecreted it, and repaired to the woods, to the fame fpot where Whitcomb had Stationed himfelf before ; the two men lay concealed a little way way in the wood, whilft he fkulked about the borders of it. The regiment of which our friend S— is Quarter-mafter, having occafion for fome Stores from Montreal, he was going from the campt at St. John's to procure them; he was advifed not to go this road, but by way of Clmnblee, on account of the late accident, but you know him to be a man of great bravery and perfonal courage, joined with uncommon Strength; refolving not to go fo many miles out of his road for any Whitcomb whatever, he jocofely added, that he fhould be very glad to meet with him, as he was fure he Should get the reward; in this, however, he was greatly mistaken, his reward being noother than that of being taken prifoner himfelf. Previous to his fetting out he took every precaution, having not only loaded his fufee, but charged a brace of piftols; when S 2 he he Came near to the woods I have already fcribed, lie was very cautious, but in an inftant, Whitcomb and the two men he had with him fprung from behind a thick bulb, and feized him before he could make the leaft refinance; they then took from him his fufee and piffols, tied his arms behind him with ropes, and blind-folded him. It was three days before they reached the canoe that had been concealed, during which time they had but very fcanty fare; a few hard bifcuits ferved to allay hunger, while the fruit of the woods was a luxury !— When Whitcomb had marched him to fuch a diff ance as he thought he could not make his efcape, were he at liberty, through fear of lofing himfelf, for the greater eafe on his own part, and to facilitate their march, they untied his hands, and took the cloth from his eyes. Only picture to yourfelf what muft have been his feelings, at feeing himfelf in the midft of a thick wood, fur-rounded rounded by three delperate fellows, and uncertain as to their intentions ! At night, when they had partaken of their fcanty pittance, two out of the three ufed to deep, whilff tire other kept watch. The firft night he flept through fatigue-t on the fecond, as you may naturally fuppofe, from his great anxiety of mind, he could not clofe his eyes, in the middle of which an opportunity occurred whereby -he could have effected his efcape, for the man whofe watch it was, fell fall afleep. He has fmce told me how his mind wavered for a length of time, what meafures to purfue j he could not bear the idea of putting them to death, though justified by the rules of war: if he efcaped from them, they might in all probability retake and ill-treat him. The great hazard of all, which determined him to abide by his fate was, that by being fo many miles in a tract of wood, where he could not tell what S 3 direction direction to take (having been blind-folded when he entered it) he might poftibly wander up and clown till he perifhed with hunger. In this reftlefs ftate, he remained till day-break, when they refumed their march, and in the evening came to the creek where tire canoe was concealed; they then Secured him again, put him in the canoe, and proceeded up the lake to Ti-conderoga, where they arrived early the riext morning. When they landed him he was again blind-folded, that he might not fee their works, and thus conducted to the General, whofe only motive for endeavouring to get an officer was, either by threats or intreaties, to gain information relative to our army. In this, however, he was greatly difappointed, and as he could not obtain the leaft intelligence from our friend, he orderecJJiim as prifoner of war upon his parole, to fome of the interior towns, from which place, as I informed you in my laft, he is juft returned, as hearty hearty and well as ever. I fhould not have dwelt fo long on this fubje<5t, but knowing you have his welfare fo much at heart, that you feel yourfelf interefled in whatever concerns him. I fhall now conclude, but before I do fo, let me congratulate you on the recovery of your health, after fo alarming an illnefs. Good health alone fweetens life, and that you may long enjoy it, both for your own fake and that of your friends, is the ardent wifh of Yours, &c. LET- LETTER XXV. Camp at $(. John's, June \\lh, 1777. MY DEAR FRIEND, IHAD fcarcely finifhed my laft, when I received orders to march to this place, and am now entering upon the hurry and buftle of an active campaign. You muft not accufe me now of inattention, if you fhould not hear from me fo frequently. As I obferved in a former letter, it was the general opinion the King's troops would not be prevented pafiing Lake Cham-plain, but wait our arrival at Ticonderoga; in that cafe the operations of the campaign will will commence at Crown Point. It would be doing great injustice to thofe who have been Stationed at this garrifon during the winter, if I omitted to mention their great exertions in repairing, augmenting, and rendering fit for immediate fervice tire batteatix, gun-boats, and armed veffels. The other parts of the army have been equally as mdufl'rioiis in effablifhing magazines at Montreal, Sorell and Cham-blee, which muft be effected during the froft, not only as the conveyance is eafier at that time, but on account of the roads, which, by the running and melting of the fnow, are generally impaffable for fome months. By all the accounts that can be collected, the Americans are in great force at Ticon-deroga, nearly to the amount of 12,000, and a considerable number occupy Lake George, fuftained by a great naval power, with a view, no doubt, of Securing their retreat in cafe they fhould be obliged to abandon Ticonderoga. Should the navigation of Lake Champlain be fecured by the fuperiority of our naval force, the advanced corps, under the command of General Frafer, with a large body of favages and Canadians, for fcouts and out-works, and the belt of our engineers and artificers, are to take poffeflion of Crown Point, and to fortify it. The intention is with a view to prevent infult from the enemy, during the time neccuary for collecting flores, forming magazines and fortifying pofls, all which muft be ac-complifhed previous to our proceeding in force to lay fiege to Ticonderoga. This brigade being Stationed at Crown Point, as a check on the enemy, the reft of the army are to be employed in forwarding the convoys and tranfports of provifions, removing artillery, preparing fafcines and other other neceffaries for artillery operations, and to commence the fiege j and that the enemy during that period may not reft in tranquillity, corps of favages, Supported by detachments of the light infantry, are to keep them in continual alarm within their works, at the fame time to cover recon-noitering parties, both of general officers and engineers, and to obtain the beft intelligence of their Strength, pofition and defign. From the great preparations that have been made during the winter, and by the vigorous exertion of the troops, who are in great health and fpirits, it may rea-fonably be expected that the reduction of Ticonderoga will be early in the fummer, unlefs fome misfortune, human prudence cannot forefee, fhould prevent it, although it is the general opinion it will be warmly contested, and that there will be much blood-fhed. The Americans, when they drew the fword, muft have forefeen a bloody conteft, and expected all the horrors of a war. war, carried on as it were in their own boibms, laying wafte their fields of har-veft, deffroying every comfort, and introducing every mifery mankind is capable of devifing. But had certain perfons, who were actuated by no other motives than a welfare and profperity to both countries, directed their rcfolves, they would have advifed a peaceable fubmiffion to the Mother Country, and eafily prevented all the horrors of a civil war. America, from a number of aggregate fortunate circumstances, by flow degrees, had arifen to a ftate of great profperity, and the power that fhe had fixed by that profperity, bids fair to be of fome duration, yet, in my opinion, not to fuch a degree as to eftablilh her independence; her prefent diftreffed fituation, without fome other favorable circumftance, muft inevitably prevent the execution of that idea. I am fully per-fuaded in my own'mind, had they but referved their ideas of independency for half half a century longer, from their increafe of population and wealth, they would have fixed it without much difficulty, or even the affiftance of any other power, and thus become the firft nation in the world. In the prefent day, if they attain their boafted end, it muft be by the arm of fome nation, to whom, for want of refources to defray the expehces of their alliance, fhe will be in continual broils and difputes, which may perhaps finally terminate in a total Subjection, and that abject, flavery they fo ridiculouily pretend to dread from us. Should this be the cafe, fhe will regret the lofs of that protection from the Mother Country, fhe is now treating with fo much ingratitude. Leaving you to your own remarks, for no doubt you will fay, " a foldier and a politician!" I fhall divert your attention from the cabals of mankind, to the wonderful productions of nature, in deferring to you a little animal that was brought me lately, called a flying-fquirrel. This This animal takes its name from being provided with a ikin, or membrane, which adheres to each fide, about the breadth of three inches, extending from its hind to fore feet, where it is connected by a bony articulation; it expands this membrane like a fail, by which it is enabled to fly from one tree to another, at a great diffance. Moft fquirrels will jump from tree to tree, when contiguous, but this animal will fly an incredible way. Its ikin is very foft, and of a beautiful dark grey, with eyes large, black, and very prominent; it fomewhat differs from the other fquirrels in its tafte, caring little for nuts, the chief and favorite food being the frefh tops of the birch. This little animal makes its bed in a very curious manner, of the mofs of the fame tree, in which it lies as it were buried, feldom furring from thence in the day time, unlefs difturbed. I came into pofferhon of it from a little drum-boy's going up a tree after a bird's neft, who perceiving perceiving it lay in that dormitory ftate, lei zed it and brought it to me, for he had heard that I was making a collection of natural curiofities. By the bye, I beg you will inform me, in your next, if you received fafe the little collection I fent you from Montreal. I have added this curious animal, and one of another fpecies, called the ground fquirrel, which is a little larger than a moufe, and moft beautifully fpotted like a fawn, to the collection I am now making, and hope they will be considered as tokens of friendihip from Yoursj &c. LET- LETTER XXVI. Camp at Ri " moveable in your hearts this folid maxim, " (it cannot be too deeply imprefitd) that " the great effential reward, the worthy " fervice of your alliance, the fincerity of " your zeal to the King, your father and " never-failing protector, will be examined *c and judged upon the tell only of your " fteady and uniform adherence to the " orders and counfels of thofe to whom " his Majefty has entrusted the direction " and honor of his arms." After the General had hnifhed his fpeech, they all of them cried out, Etow! Etow! Etow ! and after remaining fome little time in confultation, an old Chief of the Iroquois rofe up. and made the following anfwer: " I ffand up in the name of all the na-" tions prefent to affure our father, that *! we have attentively liftened to his dif- " courfe— cc courfe—we receive you as our father, * * becaufe when you fpeak we hear the voice " of our great father beyond the great lake. " We rejoice in the approbation you have " expreffed of our behaviour. " We have been tried and tempted by " the Boitonians; but we have loved our " father, and our hatchets have been " Sharpened 'upon our affections. " In proof of the fmcerity of our pro-