Chapter VI

_State of Learning. Trade. Revenue. Remarks on the Lumber Business. Population. Militia._

The state of learning in this Province is very flourishing at present compared to what it was a few years ago. When the country was first settled the opportunities of obtaining a liberal education were small and confined to a few. From this cause many persons who occasionally fill important stations in the several counties, are found very deficient in learning, but this from the many provisions lately made will cease in a few years, and men will always be found to fill all public offices, with learning sufficient to enable them to discharge their several duties with credit to themselves and advantage to the public.

Besides the College of New-Brunswick incorporated by charter, there are Grammar Schools established in several counties which are liberally supported. By the bounty of the Legislature, twenty pounds per annum is allowed to be drawn out of the Province Treasury for every Parish where a School-House is provided, and the sum of thirty pounds raised by the inhabitants, to enable them to employ good and sufficient teachers, and this bounty extends to three schools in each Parish. By this liberal public provision schooling is brought to the doors of most of the inhabitants, who will exert themselves to partake of the public benefit.

The College of New-Brunswick is established at Fredericton and endowed with a block of land containing nearly six thousand acres adjoining the town plot.

The Governor and Trustees of this College having surrendered their charter to the King, and petitioned to have the Establishment put on a more enlarged footing; their petition was graciously received and a new charter granted, bearing date the eighteenth of November, one thousand eight hundred and twenty-three. A grant of a sum of money was at the same time made to the College out of the royal revenues in this Province, to enable the Corporation to erect a suitable building for the President, Professors and Students; and to procure a Library, and Philosophical apparatus for the same. The Legislature of the Province has likewise granted a liberal sum for the same purpose; in consequence of which a building on a liberal scale is to be immediately erected on a conspicuous part of the rising ground adjoining the town.

The most general seminary for the education of the bulk of the population is the Madras School. The Lieutenant-Governor and a number of the first characters in the Province, have the management of this seminary, which is incorporated by the name of "The Governor and Trustees of the Madras School in New-Brunswick." As most of the Parish Schools in the Province are on the Madras system of education, and under the direction of the corporation, I shall close this short sketch of the state of learning in this Province with a statement of that institution copied from the last report.

State of the Madras School in New-Brunswick, in July, 1824, viz.

Saint John, in daily attendance 197 -- total entered 1222 Carleton, " 96 " 143 Fredericton, " 50 " 79 Douglas, " 22 " 45 Queensborough, " " 45 St. Andrews, " 94 " 156 Grand Manan, } " 42 " 89 Grand Harbour, } North Head, " 40 " 76 Westcock, " 45 " 118 Sackville, " 40 Shediac, " 30 " 53 Peticodiac, " 45 " 50 Kingston, 113 Springfield, " 24 " 81 Gage Town, " 25 " 117 Sussex Vale, " 38 " 114 Newcastle, " 39 " 166 Northesk, " 42 " 66 Chatham, " 40 " 51 Hampton, " 26 " 75 Norton, " 60 Maugerville, " 28 " 52 " middle district, " 39 Fort Cumberland, " 49 " 105 Point Debute, " 52 " 62 Jolicure, " 32 " 50 St. Georges, " 38 " 72 Woodstock, middle } " 36 " 135 district, } Upper District, " 35 " 76 Dow's District, " 36 Wakefield, middle } " 21 " 90 district, } Lower district, " 21 " 86 Northampton, " 35 Military Settlement } No. 1, } " 38 " 140 No. 2, " 36 " 131 No. 3, " 24 " 159 No. 4, " 24 " 116 Scotch Settlement, " 20 " 36 ----- In July, 1824 4,379 Add the number in the College at Fredericton, as reported last year 357 ----- Total 4,736 In July, 1823 3,396 ----- Increase during the year 1,340

The trade of New-Brunswick may be comprised under the following heads:

EXPORTS TO THE WEST-INDIES.

Boards, shingles, fish, and small articles. The principal return for which is rum, sugar, molasses, &c.

EXPORTS TO GREAT BRITAIN.

Squared timber, masts, spars, oars, lathwood, deals, furs, &c. Ship-building forms also a considerable branch of trade at present. Some of which are built by contract for merchants in Great-Britain, and others are built and loaded by merchants in the Province, and either employed by them in the exportation of lumber, or sold in Britain. The returns for this trade are British merchandise, and specie.

There was formerly a considerable trade carried on with the United States in gypsum, grindstones, smoked salmon, &c. and for a short period in the productions of the West-Indies from the free port of St. John, (as well as from Halifax in Nova-Scotia.) But the trade in West-India produce is now totally at an end, and the other branches much fallen off, so that most of the flour, corn, and bread stuffs imported from thence is paid for in specie, which is a great drain for the cash of the Province: for there are nearly sixty thousand barrels of wheat and rye flour, and from sixty-five to seventy thousand bushels of indian corn, imported annually, besides corn meal, bread, &c.

The amount of imports in 1824 was five hundred and fourteen thousand five hundred and fifty-seven pounds sterling, and the exports in the same year five hundred and twenty-six thousand nine hundred and twenty-three, exclusive of exports from the port of St. Andrews, which amounted to about one hundred thousand pounds, besides several vessels built at St. Peters, and other places not in the above statement. The gross amount of the revenue collected at the different ports in the Province, in 1824 was forty-four thousand six hundred and seventy pounds two shillings and sixpence, New-Brunswick currency. This when the population of the Country is considered, speaks much for the trade and resources of the Province.

As squared timber is the great staple of this trade, I shall set down the number of tons exported yearly at three different periods, from which the reader may form a pretty correct idea of the quantity usually shipped in a year.

In 1819 the quantity was 247,394 Tons. In 1822 " " 266,450 " In 1824 " " 321,211 "

The above is the total amount from all the Ports in New-Brunswick.

The following statement will shew the total amount of exports and imports of every description in the year 1824.

IMPORTS AND EXPORTS.

PORT OF SAINT JOHN, NEW-BRUNSWICK.

_An account of the total number of Ships and Vessels that have entered inwards at this Port and the Out-Bays within the district thereof, in the year 1824, with their Tonnage, number of Men, and the quantity of Goods imported in the same Vessels, together with the value of said Goods in Sterling Money.--Exclusive of Coasters._

SAINT JOHN.

432 Vessels--94,248 Tons--4,192 Men.

Wheat and Rye Flour, bbls. 32,512 Bread, ditto 1,088 Corn, bushels 37,917 Meal, barrels 3,448 Rice, cwts. 1,097 Beef and Pork, barrels 4,719 Sheep, number 26 Horses, ditto 3 Peas and Beans, bushels 1,145 Wine, gallons 14,772 Brandy and Gin, gallons 29,682 Rum, gallons 310,879 Molasses, gallons 110,579 Coffee, cwts. 248 Pimento, lbs. 9,742 Sugar, cwt. 2,988 Salt, tons 4,673 Naval Stores, barrels 2,254 Tobacco, cwts. 1,334 Tea, chests 1,415 Cordage, coils 9,406 Coal, chaldrons 3,703 Oak and Locust Wood, M. feet 62 Onions, Seeds, Apples, &c. bbls. 3,016 Staves, M. 45 Shingles, M. 27 Iron and Copper, tons 2,154 Hides, number 7,724 Mahogany, Logwood, &c. tons 192 Bricks, M. 21 Stone Ware, pieces 22,113 Cotton Wool, bales 134 Slates, M. 95 Oats, bushels 9,863 Barley, bushels 1,452 Wheat, bushels 5,418 Tallow, hogsheads 67 Wood Hoops, number 2,400 Packages of British Merchandise, including cotton, silk and woollen Goods, Sail Cloth, Ironmongery, &c. 24,686

MIRAMICHI.

327 Vessels--94,601 Tons--4,274 Men.

Wheat Flour, barrels 17,285 Bread, barrels 1,063 Corn, bushels 17,262 Meal, barrels 11,598 Rice, cwt. 160 Beef and Pork, barrels 6,016 Peas and Beans, barrels 1,204 Naval Stores, barrels 212 Tobacco, cwts. 727 Tea, chests 280 Cordage, coils 1,144 Coal, chaldrons 1,063 Onions, Seeds, Apples, Nuts, &c. barrels 710 Wine, gallons 6,493 Brandy and Gin, gallons 23,533 Rum, gallons 86,977 Molasses, gallons 23,533 Coffee, cwts. 126 Pimento, lbs. 224 Sugar, cwts. 2,462 Salt, tons 410 Iron and Copper, tons 125 Hides, number 94 Mahogany, Logwood, &c. tons 42 Bricks, M. 82 Stone Ware, pieces 60,300 Slates, M. 34 Barley, bushels 200 British Merchandise, packages 3,600

SAINT PETERS.

33 Vessels--6,143 Tons--302 Men.

Wheat Flour, barrels 184 Bread, ditto 34 Rice, cwt. 16 Beef and Pork, barrels 130 Wine, gallons 61 Brandy and Gin, gallons 1,078 Rum, gallons 2,596 Molasses, gallons 1,675 Sugar, cwts. 48 Salt, tons 250 Naval Stores, barrels 10 Tobacco, cwts. 13 Tea, chests 4 Cordage, coils 67 Coal, chaldrons 24 Iron and Copper, tons 35 British Merchandise, packages 142

RICHIBUCTO.

86 Vessels--17,490 Tons--830 Men.

Wheat Flour, barrels 889 Bread, ditto 283 Meal, ditto 631 Beef and Pork, barrels 493 Peas and Beans, bushels 135 Wine, gallons 968 Brandy and Gin, gallons 3,581 Rum, gallons 10,821 Molasses, gallons 5,967 Coffee, cwts. 15 Sugar, cwts. 202 Salt, tons 680 Naval Stores, barrels 39 Tobacco, cwts. 29 Tea, chests 36 Cordage, coils 56 Coal, chaldrons 125 Iron and Copper, tons 25 British Merchandise, packages 1,322

SHEDIAC.

19 Vessels--4,018 Tons--208 Men.

Wheat Flour, barrels 7 Bread, barrels 60 Beef and Pork, barrels 29 Brandy and Gin, gallons 120 Rum, gallons 20 Molasses, gallons 105 Sugar, cwts. 9 Salt, tons 180 Naval Stores, barrels 17 Tobacco, cwt. 11 Cordage, coils 23 Coal, chaldrons 7 Iron and Copper, tons 28 British Merchandise, packages 176

RESTIGOUCHE.

13 Vessels--2,226 Tons--118 Men.

Bread, barrels 5 Beef and Pork, barrels 7 Peas and Beans, bushels 14 Rum, gallons 972 Molasses, gallons 1,010 Sugar, cwts 3 Oats, bushels 40 Salt, tons 50 Naval Stores, barrels 5 Cordage, coils 33 Coal, chaldrons 6 Iron and Copper, tons 6 Stone Ware, pieces 3,000 British Merchandise, packages 50

DORCHESTER.

4 Vessels--841 Tons--37 Men.

Total value of Goods L514,557, sterling

CLEARED OUTWARDS.

SAINT JOHN.

417 Vessels--102,300 Tons--4,198 Men.

Timber, tons 114,116 Pine Board and Plank, M. feet 11,534 Staves, M. 1,923 Shingles, M. 491 Masts and Spars 1,918 Oars and Oar Rafters 2,103 Handspikes, number 595 Hogshead Shooks 4,461 Lathwood, cords 1,435 Dry Fish, quintals 15,102 Pickled Fish, barrels 9,868 Smoaked Herrings, boxes 6,961 Fish Oil, barrels 168 Gypsum, tons 5,183 Grindstones, number 6,013 Salt Meat, barrels 90 Potatoes, bushels 710 Flour, barrels 332 Bread, barrels 140 Rice, cwts. 23 Rum, gallons 45,870 Molasses, do. 525 Pimento, lbs. 5,442 Sugar, cwts. 166 Naval Stores, barrels 271 Tobacco, cwts. 371 Coal, tons 749 Mahogany & Camwood, &c. tons 17 Apples, Onions, &c. barrels 330 Smoaked Salmon, number 3,662 Ox Horns, hogsheads 20 Old Copper, tons 25 Salt, tons 245 Hogsheads of Furs 15 Corn Meal, barrels 50

MIRAMICHI.

331 Vessels--94,800 Tons--4,341 Men.

Timber, tons 141,384 Pine Boards and Plank, M. feet 1,256 Staves, M. 304 Shingles, M. 8 Masts and Spars 1,400 Oars and Oar Rafters 702 Handspikes, number 888 Lathwood, cords 3,080 Dry Fish, quintals 263 Pickled Fish, barrels 580 Smoked Herrings, boxes 70 Flour, barrels 737 Bread, do. 7 Rum, gallons 8,627 Naval Stores, barrels 45 Tobacco, cwts. 106

SAINT PETERS.

32 Vessels--6,095 Tons--289 Men.

Timber, tons 8,308 Pine Boards and Plank, M. feet 52 Staves, M. 8 Masts and Spars 191 Handspikes, number 159 Lathwood, cords 274 Dry Fish, quintals 800 Pickled Fish, barrels 155

RICHIBUCTO.

81 Vessels--17,285 Tons--820 Men.

Timber, tons 24,269 Pine Boards and Plank, M. feet 134 Staves, M. 36 Masts and Spars 545 Oars and Oar Rafters 242 Handspikes, number 1,380 Lathwood, cords 625

SHEDIAC.

19 Vessels--4,018 Tons--208 Men.

Timber, tons 5,851 Pine Boards and Planks, M. feet 12 Masts and Spars 327 Oars and Oar Rafters 184 Handspikes, number 96 Lathwood, cords 184-1/2 Rum, gallons 100 Tobacco, cwts. 50

RESTIGOUCHE.

14 Vessels--2,301 Tons--121 Men.

Timber, tons 3,062 Pine Boards and Plank, M. feet 7 Masts and Spars 47 Handspikes, number 32 Lathwood, cords 30 Dry Fish, quintals 2,000 Pickled Fish, barrels 403 Fish Oil, barrels 20

DORCHESTER.

4 Vessels--841 Tons--37 Men.

Timber, tons 1,246 Pine Boards and Plank, M. feet 2 Masts and Spars 5 Oars and Oar Rafters 110 Handspikes, number 374 Lathwood, cords 29-1/2

Value of Exports L362,043, sterling.

N.B. To the value of exports may be added the following Ships and Vessels built and registered at this Port within the year 1824, by persons resident in this Province, either for proprietors in the United Kingdom, or sent there for sale, as remittances for British Merchandise, or for owners here, carrying on the Timber Trade.

60 Ships and Vessels, measuring 16,488 tons, at L10 L164,880
---------
Total L526,923

PORT OF SAINT ANDREWS.

_An account of the total number of Vessels, their Tonnage, number of Men, with the quantity and quality of their Cargoes, entered at the Port of St. Andrews in the year 1824, ending the 5th January, 1825._

156 Vessels--29,687 Tons--1,406 Men.

Rum, gallons 104,259 Wines from Madeira, pipes 36 Ditto, Hogsheads 46 Ditto, Quarter Casks 38 Ditto, Half Quarter Casks 10 Molasses, gallons 26,768 Gin and Brandy, gallons 1,391 Wine from Great-Britain, galls. 1,476 Brown Sugar, cwt. 640 Shrub, casks 6 Coffee, barrels and bags 68 Tobacco, hogsheads 4 Bricks, M. 60 Naval Stores, barrels 327 Canvas, bolts 159 Cordage, coils 831 Made Sails, sets 3 Soap and Candles, boxes 323 Beer and Porter, barrels 118 Nails and Wrought Iron, kegs 198 Ship Chandlery, packages 13 Beef and Pork, barrels 57 Coals, chaldrons 314 Paint, kegs 439 Tea, chests 47 Chain Cables 10 Glass, boxes, &c. 120 Pieces of Earthenware & Cast Iron 873 Oak Staves, M. 120-1/2 Wheat and Rye Flour, bbls. 5,732 Biscuit, barrels 727 Rice, casks and bags 43 Corn, Meal and Grain, bushels 12,100 Peas & Beans & Rye Grain, bus. 370 Boards and Plank, M. feet 6-1/2 Wood and Timber, feet 22,750 Fruit, barrels 1,090 Sheep, number of 200 Merchandize, packages 585 Salt, tons 1,998 Iron, tons 68 Earthenware, crates 105 Cotton Wool, bales 22 Mahogany, logs 11 Green Hides 305 Linseed Oil, casks 4 Pimento, bags and casks 8 Logwood, tons 1 Tobacco Pipes, boxes 25 Copper Bolts, cwt. 47 Horses, number of 28 Piano Fortes 1 Carriages 1 Horned Cattle 678 Furs, bales and boxes 3

PORT OF SAINT ANDREWS.

EXPORTS.

175 Vessels--33,493 Tons--1,543 Men.

192 Plaster Paris Vessels--13,040 Tons--657 Men.

Birch and Pine Timber, tons 25,975 Boards and Plank, M. feet 8,386 Cod Fish, quintals 10,540 Shingles, M. 2,412 Lathwood, cords 753 Spars, number 1,559 Small Poles, number 1,542 Sawed Laths, bundles 172 Oars, Oar Rafters & Handspikes 1,093 Oak, Ash and Spruce Staves, M. 284 Ship Knees 50 Naval Stores, barrels 234 Cotton Wool, bales 22 Pickled Fish, barrels 3,132 Smoked Herrings, boxes 1,067 Beef and Pork, barrels and kits 69 Oil, barrels 69 Rum, puncheons 285 Sugar, barrels 10 Coffee, barrels and bags 7 N.B. Vinegar, barrels 40 Fruit, Onions and Potatoes, bbls. 126 N.B. Gin, barrels 37 Salt, tons 45 Iron, tons 12 Birch, M. 35 Calf Skins and Sides Leather, No. 48 Soap and Candles, boxes 1,212 Butter, firkins 2 Tobacco, hogsheads 6 Smoked Tobacco, hogsheads 21 Merchandize, packages 22 Wines, pipes 26 Ditto hogsheads 33 Ditto quarter casks 27 Ditto half quarter casks 1 Wheat and Rye Flour, bbls. 2,839 Bread and Biscuit, barrels 88 Rice, casks and barrels 22 Indian Corn and Meal, bushels 2,482 Peas and Beans, bushels 22 Plaster of Paris, tons 15,576

The Articles of Exports the Production of this Province and the Fisheries, are considered when shipped, worth the following values, viz.:

Pine and Birch Timber, 20s. sterling Per Ton. Lumber and Plank, 40s. per M. Shingles, 12s. 6d. per M. Lathwood, 20s. per Cord. Spars, 5s. Each. Small Poles, 2s. 6d. Each. Oars and Oar Rafters, 5s. per pair. Staves, 60s. per M. Dry Fish, 12s. 6d. per quintal. Pickled Fish, 20s. per barrel. Smoked Herrings, 3s. per box. Oil, 80s. per barrel. Plaster Paris, 10s. per ton.

The whole value of the above Exports may be about L100,000.

From the foregoing statement it plainly appears that chief of the export trade of this Province consists of timber, which is its natural stock or capital; and as there are many articles taken in exchange from the mother country, which are indispensably necessary to the inhabitants of this Province; it points out the necessity of paying strict attention to its preservation. In this Country there is no article, or articles, that can in any degree furnish exports equal to the pine, which is manufactured in the simplest manner, and got to market with but little trouble. So simple is the process that most settlers who have the use of the axe can manufacture it; the woods furnishing a sort of simple manufactory for the inhabitants, from which, after attending to their farms, in the summer, they can draw returns during the winter for those supplies which are necessary for the comfort of their families. This being the case, the preservation of our forests becomes of prime importance to the prosperity of the Province.

The evils that must arise to the Province, by allowing the timber to be monopolized and hastily cut off are many. The timber standing in the Country, particularly on the Crown Lands, may be considered as so much capital or stock, to secure a permanent trade, and promote the solid improvement of the Country. Most of the lands in this Province where pine is found are intermixed with other timber, and although the precise spots on which the pine grows, are unfit for agriculture, without much labor; yet there are most always spots adjoining, where a settler may cultivate with success: so that in a lot of two or three hundred acres, there is generally enough for tillage, and a man settling on such land could always choose his spot for farming, and keep his timber to cut at his leisure. His pine so reserved would as long as it lasted serve him as a resource, from whence, after attending to his farming in the summer, he could draw returns during the winter, for such supplies as would be necessary for his family, and for improving his farm.

To make this more evident, we will suppose a man settling on a wilderness lot--like most settlers he has but little save his own labour--perhaps he has a small family--he commences with cutting down a small spot, and erecting a hut--say in the summer or fall, he then moves on his family, and looks round for sustenance till he can raise his first crop--in doing this his funds are exhausted, and he wants by his own labour to replenish them during the winter, and provide a few implements of husbandry, and nails, &c. for building a barn--now supposing his lot to be back from the river, and at a distance from old settlements where labour is wanted--what does he do?--why he resorts to his pine--to the simple manufactory before noticed, and makes a few tons, say twenty, thirty, forty, or fifty, according to his ability--carefully cutting the under brush and timber, so as to put his land where he is working in a fair train for clearing--this timber he probably gets hauled to the water on shares, if he is very poor and has no team; the returns for which the next spring, furnishes him with supplies, and enables him to continue on his land and prosecute his farming. If he cannot do without the return of his timber till spring, he applies to a merchant, who if the man is of good fame, advances him such articles as may be particularly necessary for his family. This enables him to find labour on his own lot, and stay with his family: whereas if he has no such resource, he must leave his home, and go to a distance from his family, seeking labour; and probably they may be so circumstanced as not to be left safely alone, and he has to take them with him, which breaks up his family and prevents him from settling.

If a number of families commence a settlement together, where the timber has not been destroyed, but where a fair proportion is still growing on the land, they exchange labour with each other, and by their joint exertions, manufacture and transport their own lumber to market. In this way they are enabled from year to year to prosecute their settlement and pay for their grants; the timber answering as a first crop fully grown, and a resource to make returns for necessaries.--By this method, as the pine disappears, houses and barns will rise in its place, and the country, instead of a barren waste, will exhibit flourishing settlements, peopled with a race who will know the value of their improvements; and feel their interest identified with the country: and whose attachment to the Government will increase with their growing possessions. Their children, raised on the soil, from the strong principles of early association, will feel that interest in the welfare of the country, that no transient advantage can produce; and grow up an ornament and strength to the Province. On the contrary, if the lumber is cut off by mere speculators, the land will be left in an impoverished state, much valuable timber will be wantonly destroyed, and the places from whence the timber is taken will be left an uncultivated waste; settlers will neither have the inclination or ability to occupy them. While the major part of the men employed in getting the lumber for the merchants, instead of making a comfortable provision for their families, will wear out the prime of their days without making any permanent establishment; and keep their families shifting about the country like vagrants. Their children, for the want of employment, and the direction of their fathers, brought up in idleness--their education and morals neglected, and bad habits acquired, will be the reverse of those before noticed: and many of them will become a vagrant race, unconcerned or uninterested in the welfare of the country, and in many instances a nuisance to it. While their parents, after they get unfit for the business, will be turned off in debt.

In short, it will be the most direct way to prevent the settlement of the back lands, and to produce (what is the bane of all countries) a race of inhabitants who have no interest in the soil or welfare of the Province.

Statement of the expenses on one thousand tons of pine timber, manufactured on the Wabskahagan, a branch of the river Tobique:--

The Secretary's, Governor's, and Surveyor General's fees of office, including the charge for writing petition 1 10 0 Duty on 1000 tons, at 1s 50 0 0 Less by amount included in fees, &c. 1 5 0 --------48 15 0 Incidental expenses to the applicant 0 15 0 Surveyor's fees for measuring the timber berth 7 0 0 Expenses for axemen and chainmen 5 10 0 Travelling expenses thence and back, five hundred miles 8 0 0 --------- 71 10 0 Ten men at L5 per month, and an overseer at L10, say for six months 360 0 0 Six yoke of oxen, at L30 per yoke 180 0 0 One pair draught horses 50 0 0 One boat, sail, and gear 36 0 0 Two canoes with paddles 6 0 0 Sleds, chains, harness, &c. 27 10 0 Eleven men's provisions for six months, at 85s. per head, per month 274 10 0 Hay for oxen, &c. 30 tons, at L10 300 0 0 Grain for ditto 25 0 0 ---------1259 0 0 Total expense on one thousand tons of timber, at the ---------- brow ready for rafting L1330 10 0 Expense of rafting, anchors, cables, ropes, &c. 50 0 0 L1380 10 0 Deduct for articles that may be useful another season, viz.-- Oxen, Horses, Boat, tackle, &c. 214 0 0 Canoes, sleds, harness, anchors, &c. &c. 50 0 0 --------- 264 0 0 ---------- Total amount of expenses L1116 10 0

From the foregoing statement (admitting it to be near the truth) it appears that the expenses on one thousand tons of timber got on the river Tobique, amounts to L1116:10:0--to which is to be added the expense and risk of taking it down to Saint John, a distance of about two hundred and fifty miles--the loss by casualties on a rapid river, where men and teams frequently break through the ice, and are swept away by the velocity of the current. When all the above expenses are deducted from the returns of the timber, it will leave but a little for those who carry on the business, and very often involves them in inextricable difficulties.

The preceding statement points out the necessity of adopting a more prudent system in conducting the timber business. Not to push the trade to such an extent--to retrench the expenses, by raising the heavy parts of the supplies near the timber districts; and to follow up the timber trade with the improvement of the country and cultivation of the soil.

Another great drawback to the prosperity of the Province is the great consumption of ardent liquors--partly occasioned by the present modes of conducting the timber business. The amount of spirituous liquors imported and consumed in the Province in 1824, at the least calculation was L120,000, exclusive of the County of Charlotte; and add to this amount the cost of the transport of the liquor to the interior and the enormous charges on the article in the distant parts of the Province, the cost to the consumer may be fairly reckoned at treble the amount, making in the whole the gross sum of L360,000 for ardent liquors alone, consumed by the inhabitants of the Province, being near twenty gallons on an average for every male over sixteen years of age.

The number of inhabitants in this Province, according to the census of last year, is seventy-four thousand one hundred and seventy-six--besides the large settlement of Madawaska and the parish of West Isles; and as it is probable the numbers in the different parishes are taken in some instances under the real amount, the whole population may be fairly rated in round numbers at eighty thousand. The subjoined statement will show the population of the different counties and parishes in 1824:

Population of the Province of New-Brunswick, IN THE YEAR 1824.

--------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+------+ | Whites. | People of Colour. | | Males. Females. | Males. | Females. | --------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+------+ C o | | A | U | A | U | A | U | A | U | i u | | b | n | b | n | b | n | b | n | n P n | | o | d | o | d | o | d | o | d |T a t | | v | e | v | e | v | e | v | e |o e r i | | e | r | e | r | e | r | e | r |t a i e | | | | | | | | | |a c s s | | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 |l h h ----+---------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+------+ |Fredericton | 526 | 352 | 470 | 392 | 29 | 21 | 34 | 25 | 1849 |Saint Mary | 259 | 242 | 216 | 223 | 7 | 8 | 11 | 6 | 972 |Douglas | 365 | 340 | 289 | 306 | 19 | 18 | 15 | 15 | 1367 Y |Kingsclear | 226 | 173 | 190 | 155 | 15 | 28 | 22 | 23 | 832 o |Queensbury | 205 | 172 | 149 | 153 | 10 | 6 | 6 | 15 | 716 r |Prince William | 159 | 142 | 117 | 116 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 545 k |Northampton | 182 | 130 | 133 | 123 | ... | ... | ... | ... | 568 Woodstock | 267 | 181 | 186 | 179 | 1 | 2 | ... | ... | 816 |Wakefield | 217 | 276 | 267 | 218 | 1 | 1 | ... | ... | 1010 |Kent | 645 | 596 | 457 | 597 | 2 | ... | ... | ... | 2297 ----+---------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+------+ |City of S J | St. John |2371 |1731 |2361 |1632 | 94 | 72 | 139 | 88 | 8488 a o |Portland, i h | 1st district | 628 | 392 | 447 | 340 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1813 n n |Portland, t | 2d district | 386 | 242 | 228 | 207 | 42 | 40 | 43 | 42 | 1230 |Lancaster | 216 | 150 | 157 | 151 | 38 | 31 | 28 | 22 | 793 |Saint Martin | 154 | 147 | 133 | 148 | 1 | ... | ... | ... | 583 ----+---------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+------+ |Kingston | 503 | 386 | 382 | 365 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 1655 K |Sussex | 487 | 460 | 414 | 433 | 11 | 12 | 7 | 9 | 1833 i |Hampton | 462 | 385 | 375 | 314 | 4 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 1559 n |Norton | 152 | 115 | 100 | 109 | 5 | 4 | 8 | 9 | 502 g |Westfield | 182 | 181 | 152 | 178 | 7 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 713 s |Springfield | 241 | 212 | 210 | 234 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 3 | 924 |Greenwich | 184 | 185 | 178 | 185 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 744 ----+---------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+------+ Q |Gagetown | 180 | 124 | 140 | 133 | 7 | 5 | 9 | 10 | 606 u |Waterborough | 486 | 643 | 403 | 444 | 1 | 10 | 7 | 19 | 2023 e |Wickham | 306 | 297 | 236 | 259 | 2 | ... | ... | 1 | 1100 e |Hampstead | 193 | 188 | 164 | 165 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 723 n |Brunswick | 50 | 64 | 36 | 39 | ... | ... | ... | ... | 189 s |Brunswick District Butternut | Ridge | 24 | 29 | 19 | 28 | ... | ... | ... | ... | 100 ----+---------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+------+ |St. Andrews | 653 | 464 | 574 | 532 | 12 | 8 | 13 | 7 | 2263 |St. Stephen | 518 | 393 | 397 | 358 | 3 | 1 | ... | 3 | 1673 C |St. David | 278 | 233 | 230 | 264 | ... | ... | ... | ... | 1005 h |St. George, a | 1st district | 245 | 173 | 166 | 159 | 1 | ... | 1 | ... | 745 r |St. George, l | 2d district | 191 | 174 | 66 | 170 | ... | ... | ... | ... | 701 o |St. Patrick | 217 | 203 | 164 | 178 | ... | ... | ... | ... | 762 t |St. James | 121 | 116 | 109 | 107 | ... | ... | ... | ... | 453 t |Pennfield | 223 | 120 | 93 | 120 | 2 | ... | ... | ... | 558 e |Campo Bello | 167 | 123 | 123 | 95 | ... | 1 | ... | ... | 509 |Grand Manan | 157 | 170 | 138 | 132 | ... | 1 | ... | ... | 598 |West Isles | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... ----+---------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+------+ S u |Maugerville | 152 | 112 | 115 | 92 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 484 n |Sheffield | 227 | 139 | 187 | 156 | 5 | 9 | 5 | 7 | 735 b |Burton | 432 | 298 | 322 | 269 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 1338 u |Lincoln | 200 | 167 | 142 | 158 | 1 | ... | 2 | ... | 670 r y ----+---------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+------+ W e s |Dorchester | 706 | 748 | 611 | 672 | 8 | ... | ... | ... | 2737 t |Sackville | 444 | 464 | 395 | 415 | 6 | 7 | 4 | 7 | 1744 m |Westmorland | 215 | 208 | 192 | 229 | 2 | 13 | 11 | 9 | 883 o |Hillsborough | 281 | 291 | 226 | 344 | ... | 5 | ... | 3 | 1152 r |Monckton | 85 | 94 | 82 | 79 | ... | ... | 2 | ... | 342 e |Botsford | 200 | 216 | 162 | 195 | ... | ... | ... | 1 | 774 l |Salisbury | 171 | 170 | 147 | 177 | ... | ... | ... | 1 | 666 a |Hopewell | 292 | 256 | 225 | 232 | ... | ... | ... | ... | 1005 n d ----+---------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+------+ |Newcastle | 641 | 326 | 377 | 313 | ... | ... | ... | ... | 1657 |Chatham | 451 | 296 | 319 | 382 | 1 | ... | 2 | 1 | 1452 |Ludlow, | 1st district | 407 | 191 | 147 | 173 | ... | ... | ... | ... | 918 N |Ludlow, o | 2d district | 286 | 38 | 29 | 37 | ... | ... | ... | ... | 390 r |Northesk, t | 1st district | 921 | 107 | 119 | 96 | ... | ... | ... | ... | 1243 h |Northesk, u | 2d district | 47 | 60 | 41 | 52 | ... | ... | ... | ... | 200 m |Alnwick, b | 1st district | 93 | 54 | 44 | 54 | ... | ... | ... | ... | 245 e |Alnwick, r | 2d district | 137 | 83 | 72 | 80 | 1 | ... | ... | ... | 373 l |Carleton | 757 | 429 | 376 | 402 | ... | ... | ... | 1 | 1965 a |Beresford | 327 | 294 | 225 | 228 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1086 n |Glenelg | 323 | 174 | 175 | 163 | 1 | ... | ... | ... | 836 d |Saumarez, | 1st district | 299 | 209 | 201 | 234 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 949 |Saumarez, | 2d district | 524 | 446 | 408 | 450 | ... | ... | ... | ... | 1828 |Wellington | 420 | 393 | 335 | 406 | ... | ... | 1 | ... | 1555 |Nelson | 574 | 185 | 201 | 166 | 3 | ... | 2 | 1 | 1132 ----+---------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+------+

NUMBER OF INHABITANTS IN THE DIFFERENT COUNTIES.

County of York 10,972
County of Saint John 12,907
County of Kings 7,930
County of Queens 4,741
County of Charlotte 9,267
County of Sunbury 3,227
County of Westmorland 9,303
County of Northumberland 15,829
------
Total in the Province 74,176

The enrolled Militia amount to about twelve thousand. They are divided into twenty-three battalions; the battalions are composed of six, eight, or more companies, according to local circumstances. The companies consist of one captain, two subalterns, three sergeants, and sixty rank and file, except flank companies, which are allowed four sergeants. Where districts are in remote situations, and not sufficiently populous to form two companies, but exceed the number of sixty effective men, eighty are allowed to be enrolled in one company. They assemble by companies two days in a year for drill; and by battalions or divisions for muster and inspection, once or oftener, if the Commander-in-Chief thinks it necessary. An Inspecting Field Officer is appointed to inspect the battalions at their general muster. He visits the different corps successively, and reports to the Commander-in-Chief. He is paid a certain sum per annum, which is granted yearly by the Legislature. The Militia Law is continually undergoing alterations, and has not yet attained to that perfection, that such an important branch of our provincial constitution requires. The last year two Inspecting Officers were appointed to inspect the two great divisions of the Province.

There are abundant materials to form a good effective Militia in this Province. The youth are in general docile and orderly, and have a great aptitude to attain the requisite discipline; there are also a number of disbanded soldiers and other persons acquainted with discipline, scattered through the country; so that there are few districts, but where there are persons qualified to act as drills. The want of arms is indeed a great check to the military spirit, as nothing is more taking to boys when first put to drill, than to have arms; and although many requisites of discipline, such as marching, wheeling, &c. can be acquired full as well without them; yet nothing makes a young lad so alert as to have a musket put into his hands.

To get persons to excel in any thing, it is requisite first of all if possible to create an attachment and liking to it; and to get the youth fully engaged in acquiring martial discipline, it is a primary object to make it pleasing to them. If therefore the different corps were at their musters to be supplied with arms and a few rounds of cartridges, and taught to skirmish, it would act as the greatest stimulous to the youth, and would soon make an alteration for the better at the trainings; by making them a recreation and time of amusement: while it would make the Militia familiar with the use of arms--which is at present altogether lost sight of.

The writer is well aware that many arms formerly issued to the Militia have been destroyed, and that this might again happen; but surely some method might be adopted to prevent such abuses, and still to furnish the different corps with arms while at drill, by forming depots for lodging the arms, and appropriating some of the fines to keep them in order. In scattered districts, one, two or more companies arms might be kept together; and in towns Arsenals might be erected where two or three thousand stand might be deposited. Such buildings would not only be highly useful, but ornamental to the different places: and as there are but few serviceable arms in the Province at present, some steps should be taken to procure a sufficient number, and not to let the country remain in its present naked condition. It certainly appears like an anomaly in our preparations for defence, to expend time and money in improving our Militia, and not provide the means of arming and making them efficient if they should be wanted. If (as the preamble to the Militia Law states) "a well regulated Militia is essential to the security of this Province," it is equally necessary that the Province should possess the means of arming that Militia. If arms could not be procured from the Crown, it would be advisable to appropriate a part of the Provincial revenue for the purchase of a sufficient number to supply the Militia in case of emergency; which could be either sold to the Militiamen, or placed in the Arsenals, and issued occasionally to the different corps as the Government should think proper.

Should the Province ever be invaded, its defence will not wholly consist in defending fortified posts or in engagements with large bodies in open field, but by taking advantage of the natural fastnesses of the country, such as woods, deep hollows, hills, rivers, brooks, &c. with which the Province abounds.

This points out the necessity of having the Militia trained to sharpshooting and such exercises as will be beneficial in the hour of danger; and not merely taught a few parade movements, or how to receive a reviewing officer.

The Indians in New-Brunswick are fast declining, and although several attempts have been made to induce them to form permanent settlements and become planters, they still continue their migratory mode of life. The attempts that have been made to civilize them by educating their children have been equally unsuccessful. The Romish religion appears to be the most congenial to them, as well as to the French. This arises in a great measure from its outward pomp and external forms imposing on the uncultivated mind. They yield an implicit obedience to the Romish Missionaries, who instruct them in religion, regulate their marriages, and censure or approve their conduct, and so successful have been their endeavours, that but few depredations are committed by the Indians on property, although they are frequently reduced to the most extreme want.--The Baron LA HOUTAN, who has enumerated forty-nine Nations of Indians in Canada, and Acadia, names the following Tribes as the original inhabitants of Nova-Scotia:--The Abenakie, Micmac, Canabus, Mahingans, Openangans, Soccokis, and Etechemins, from whom our present Indians are descended. As the customs, manners, and dress, of the Indians have been often described, I shall not therefore swell this article by repeating old stories. Besides the conical cap, the blanket, leggins, and moccasins, worn by all the tribes; the women among the New-Brunswick Indians frequently wear a round hat, a shawl, and short clothes, resembling the short gown and petticoat worn by the French and Dutch women. The Indian language is bold and figurative, abounding in hyperbolical expressions, and is said to be susceptible of much elegance. To give the reader some notion of the manner in which these people conduct their conferences with each other, and with Europeans, I shall subjoin an extract of a conference, or talk, held at Quebec, with the Governor General of Canada, during the last American War.

QUEBEC, 17TH MARCH, 1814.

Thursday having been appointed for holding the Council, the Chiefs and Warriors assembled, and after shaking hands with His Excellency, as before, NEWASH accompanied by his Interpreter, again presented himself in the middle of the room, and pronounced the following Speech, or talk.

SPEECH OF NEWASH.

"Father--Listen.--You will hear from me truth. It is the same as
what the Chiefs and Warriors now here have to say.

"Father--Listen.--Open your ears to your children, to your red
children that are in the west. They are all of one mind: although
they are so far off and scattered on different lands, they hear
what I am now saying.

"Father--Listen.--You have told us by the talk of your Warriors,
twice Father, that we were to fight on the flanks and in the rear
of your Warriors, but we have always gone in front Father; and that
it is in this way we have lost so many of our young Warriors, our
women and children.

"Father--Listen.--The Americans have said they would kill you first
Father, and then destroy your red children; but when you sent us
the hatchet we took hold of it Father and made use of it Father, as
you know.

"Father--Listen.--Your red children want back their old boundary
lines, that they may have the lands which belong to them, and this
Father when the war began, you promised to get for them.

"Father--Listen.--Your red children have suffered a great deal,
they are sad, indeed they are pitiful, they want your assistance
Father. They want arms for their Warriors, and clothes for their
women and children. You do not know the number of your red children
Father. There are many who never yet received any arms or clothing.
It is necessary at present, Father, to send more than you formerly
did.

"Father--Listen.--At the beginning of the war you promised us when
the Americans would put their hand forward you would draw yours
back. Now Father we request when the Americans put their hand out,
(as we hear they mean to do) knock it away Father, and the second
time when they put out their hand, draw your sword.--If not Father,
the Americans will laugh at us, and say our Great Father, who is
beyond the Great Lake is a coward Father.

"Father--Listen.--The Americans are taking our lands from us every
day, they have no hearts, Father, they have no pity for us. They
want to drive us beyond the setting sun. But Father, we hope,
although we are few, and are here as it were upon a little Island,
our Great and Mighty Father, who lives beyond the Great Lake, will
not forsake us in our distress, but will continue to remember his
faithful red children.

"This is all I have to say. This is from our Chiefs and Warriors,
this is all they have to say."

NEWASH then advanced to His Excellency, and presented him with the Black Wampum and Bloody Belt.

His Excellency the Governor-in-Chief then made the Chiefs and Warriors the following answer to the talks or speeches that had been addressed to him in their behalf.

"My Children.--I thank the Great Spirit for his protection of you on
your long journey, and I rejoice to meet you at Quebec, the Great
Council Fire on this side the Great Lake.

"My Children.--You have freely and forcibly spoken your sentiments,
and I am happy to have heard from your own mouths, your thoughts,
as I know on these occasions you always speak the truth. I am
therefore delighted to hear my red children declare their
attachment to the King our Great Father, beyond the Great Lake, and
to myself and my Warriors.

"My Children.--I have opened my ears and listened with attention to
what you have said. My heart was sore when I heard of the death of
a great warrior. It still bleeds when I think of his loss, and the
misfortunes my children have met with during the war, in the death
of many a wise chief and brave warrior, and some of your women and
children who are gone to see the Great Spirit, before whom we must
all one day appear.

"My Children.--I thank the Great Spirit that I see you in my own
dwelling, and converse with you face to face. Listen to my
words--they are the words of truth. You have always heard this from
my chiefs, and I now repeat them. We have taken each other by the
hand and fought together. Our interests are the same--we must still
continue to fight together: for the King, our great father,
considers you as his children, and will not forget you or your
interests at a peace. But to preserve what we hold, and recover
from the enemy what belongs to us, we must make great exertions;
and I rely on your courage, with the assistance of my chiefs and
warriors, to drive the big knives from our land the ensuing summer.

"My Children.--Our great father will give us new warriors from the
other side of the great water, who will join with you in attacking
the enemy, and will soon open the great road to your country, by
which you used to receive your supplies, and which the enemy having
stopped, has caused the distress and scarcity of goods you complain
of: for I have never been in want of goods for you, but could not
send them.

"My Children.--Our success in the war must depend on our bravery and
your young men listening to the advice of their chiefs--this you
must always bear in mind. I recommend to you to open your ears when
my chiefs speak to you, for they only wish for your good. Tell your
brother warriors whom I may not see, that these are my words; and
that though they are to destroy their enemies in battle, they must
spare and shew mercy to women and children, and all prisoners.

"My Children.--I have but one thing more to recommend to you, which
you will not forget--you know that the only success that the enemy
gained over us, last season, was owing to the want of provisions.
There was much waste at Amherstberg--the consequence was that you
and my warriors were forced to retreat. In future you must be
careful of provisions, and use only what may be necessary; they are
the same as powder and ball, we cannot destroy our enemies without
them.

"My Children.--You will not forget what I have said to you. This is
my parole to the nations. (Here the black wampum is presented to
NEWASH.) Let them know what I have said. Tell them they shall not
be forgotten by their great father nor by me.--Take courage my
children--be strong--and may the Great Spirit preserve you in the
day of battle." (Here the bloody belt is presented.)

After the interpreter had presented the belt to NEWASH, he with several of the chiefs chaunted parts of the war song:

"Under the Cloud Island
With this belt I go;
By this my heart is strong,
I shall have courage to die by the foe.

"Now I take hold of this belt,
Light as birds fly in the air;
Strong is my heart, and round I go,
Seeking to die by the foe."

While this song was chaunting, several short speeches were made by the Indians. One of them said--"There is our father--here is the belt--there you are--the Great Spirit presides--now we are one, and none can flinch--if we stand by our father, he will stand by us. Our path is in the west--the war shall brighten there--the sky begins to clear--the light falls on our lands, and soon again shall our women and children be on them. You Saulks--you Chippeways, and all you of different nations, we are all one. We will fight them with our father, and never cease to fight while we have life, or until we have got back our lands."

The names of twelve Indian chiefs, inhabiting the coast of Acadia at the time the French peasants submitted to the British Government, will be found in the appendix to this work.

Lands in New-Brunswick are held in fee simple or free socage. The grants are immediately from the Crown. The subjoined table will shew the fees on single Grants, or where a number of Grantees are included in one patent, at present taken at the several offices.

TABLE OF FEES ON GRANTS.

+---+-------+-------+-----+---------+---------+------+-----+--------+ | |G | | | | | | | | | |o | | | | | | | | | |v | S | | | | | | | | N |e | e | | | | |C | | | u |r | c | | | p | |o | | | m |n | ' | | A |R u | S |m | | | b |o | y | | t |e r | u |m | | | e |r t | | | t |c c | r |i | | | r | h | a | | o |e h | v |s C | | | |i e o| n | | r |i i a | e |s r | | | o |n f| d | | n |v n s | y |i o | | | f |c w | | A | e |e c e | o |o w | Total. | | |l a s| R | u | y |r l | r |n n | | | a |u r u| e | d | - |- u m | - |e | | | c |d r r| g | i | G |G d o | G |r L | | | r |i e v| t | t | e |e i n | e | a | | | e |n n e| r | o | n |n n e | n |o n | | | s |g t y| . | r | . |. g y | . |f d | | +---+-------+-------+-----+---------+---------+------+-----+--------+ | | L s d | L s d | s d | L s d | L s d | L s | s d | L s d | |100| 4 1 8 | 3 7 6 |13 4 | 1 10 10 | 0 13 4 | 2 0 | 5 0 |12 11 8 | |200| 4 1 8 | 3 7 6 |13 4 | 1 10 10 | 0 13 4 | 2 0 | 5 0 |12 11 8 | |300| 4 1 8 | 3 7 6 |13 4 | 1 10 10 | 1 4 6 | 2 0 | 7 6 |13 5 4 | |400| 4 1 8 | 3 7 6 |13 4 | 1 10 10 | 1 15 8 | 2 5 |10 0 |14 4 0 | |500| 4 1 8 | 3 7 6 |13 4 | 1 10 10 | 2 6 10 | 2 10 |10 0 |15 0 2 | +---+-------+-------+-----+---------+---------+------+-----+--------+

On Grants where more than one person is concerned, His Excellency has seven shillings per hundred acres; and the public offices have half the above-mentioned fees for each additional name, with the exception of the Attorney-General, who has nineteen shillings and two-pence for each additional name. The purchase money (which is a sum of five shillings sterling for every fifty acres above two hundred, payable to His Majesty, and called the King's purchase money,) is included in the above scale of fees to the Receiver-General. According to the Royal Instructions, a single man is entitled to one hundred acres of land, with an additional quantity provided he can produce sufficient testimonials of his ability to cultivate more. A married man is entitled to two hundred acres, with an additional quantity on proof of his ability to cultivate more: but no more than five hundred acres is allowed to be granted to any person by the Colonial Government.

The method of laying out lots in this Province, of a narrow front and extending a great distance back, is very inconvenient to the settler. Being confined to a narrow front when he commences, clearing, supposing, (which is often the case,) the land adjoining to be unoccupied, he merely makes a lane through the wilderness, not half of which will produce a crop, on account of its being shaded by the adjoining woods: which not only exclude the sun, but impoverish the land by drawing the nourishment from the plants to the adjoining trees. To obviate this, and many other inconveniences, it would be far better to lay out settlements, where the face of the country would admit of it, in square blocks, or parallelograms; to contain two ranges of lots, with roads at proper distances. The fronts of the lots to be extended, and their length contracted. The lots to abut on the road; and extend back one-half the depth of the block:--The rear of the lots in one range, abutting on the rear of lots in the next range. Or else, the settlements might be divided into squares and sections, after the method adopted by the United States in laying out new settlements, of which the following is a short outline:

Their townships are laid out in blocks of six miles square, the whole area containing 23,040 acres. Those squares are divided into thirty-six smaller squares or sections of a mile square, containing each 640 acres. The sections are numbered from right to left, and left to right, as in the following plan:--

six miles long. s +----+----+----+----+----+----+ i | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | x +----+----+----+----+----+----| | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | m +----+----+----+----+----+----+ i | 18 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 13 | l +----+----+----+----+----+----+ e | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | s +----+----+----+----+----+----+ | 30 | 29 | 28 | 27 | 26 | 25 | l +----+----+----+----+----+----+ o | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | n +----+----+----+----+----+----+ g .

The sections are again subdivided into quarters and half quarters. A quarter section is half a mile square, and contains one hundred and sixty acres. The sixteenth section of each township is reserved to maintain schools, and the sections two, five, twenty, twenty-three, thirty, and thirty-three, are sold in half-quarters.

By this method the limits of counties and parishes are accurately defined; the settlements are every where interspersed with roads, and each man's field, instead of a narrow strip of irregular figure and uncertain boundary, is a square laying compact and near a road, whose contents are always easily ascertained. The rectangular method of laying out settlements, cannot always be followed, on account of rivers, &c. which will cause gores and inequalities; but whenever it can be adopted it offers many advantages.

The estates of persons dying intestate are distributed analogous to the custom of gavelkind in Kent. The heir at law of such intestate shall be entitled to and receive a double portion or two shares of the real estate left by such intestate, (saving the widow's right of dower.) The remander to be equally distributed among all the children or their legal representatives, including in the distribution the children of the half blood; and in case there be no children, to the next of kindred in equal degree, and their representatives. Provided that children advanced by settlement, or portions, not equal to the other shares, shall have so much of the surplusage, as shall make the estate of all to be equal, except the heir at law, who shall have two shares, or a double portion.

Advertisement.

_Having for reasons stated in the commencement of this Work, given up my first design of adding a brief connected history of the Province, I have inserted a few extracts relating to this Country, in an Appendix; as they may be satisfactory to the reader, and useful in conveying some knowledge of the early history of the Country. My reasons for abridging this Description I have also stated, and have omitted many particulars necessary in a full description of a Country, such as tables of Animals, Plants, Minerals, Weather, &c. as I could not obtain the necessary materials, as but little attention has been paid to these subjects by persons qualified for the task._

_I have endeavoured to be as correct in what I have stated as possible, but no doubt many inaccuracies will be discovered, as the information I have collected from different sources is liable to error. But it must be remembered that in a first Work like this many difficulties will occur, and having no tract to guide me, I have frequently wanted the necessary information. The Work, however imperfect, must be useful, as giving the first general outline of the Province, and interesting to every person who possesses a feeling of interest for his own fireside. In short, persons who strike out a first tract in any thing, may be compared to pioneers who trace a road for others to use and improve._