The opposition to the collection of the quitrents in the legislative assembly (February, 1833) is general, and the measure will be attended with great difficulty. It appears that the attorney-general does not think he has sufficient authority, without an act of the provincial legislature, to enable him to collect those rents. There is no doubt but that his majesty has a right to those rents; viz.

But the annual collection of the above sum, especially from being due in very small sums from the inhabitants, would cause endless discontent, and expensive law proceedings, as in the notorious instance in 1824 of Prince Edward Island. It appears that, even without law proceedings, the actual expense of collecting the quitrents would not leave one third of the whole to the crown. It is even doubtful if the annual collection be practical; and, if their payment be urged, the grievance can only be removed by a commutation to be satisfactorily appropriated by the Legislature for the purposes of opening and improving roads, erecting public buildings, encouraging agriculture and the fisheries, supporting seminaries of education, and general improvements.

CHAP. II.

DIVISIONS OF THE PROVINCE. - DESCRIPTION OF THE CITY AND RIVER OF ST. JOHN. - PRAIRIE. - SUBURBS OF PORTLAND AND CARLETON. - SOCIETY, ETC.

THE representative constitution of the province, and the administration of justice, required that it should, like Nova Scotia, be divided into counties: these are-St. John's, Westmoreland, Charlotte, Sunbury, Queen's, and York counties, through which last the River St. John winds, and the county of Northumberland*, which fronts on the Gulf of St. Lawrence and the Bay de Chaleur, and which is watered by the Miramichi, and other rivers.

The principal settlements are along the River St. John and its lakes, on the north banks of the St. Croix, on the Gulf of St. Lawrence, on the River Miramichi, and on the shores of the Bay de Chaleur.

The corporate town or city of St. John is situated in 45° 20′ N. latitude, 66° 3′ W. longitude, on the southern declivity of a peninsula, and on the northern side of the entrance from the Bay of Fundy to the River St. John.

On approaching St. John from the Bay of Fundy, the aspect of the country on each side is bold and rugged. Meogenes Island and several coves open to the left; a bold headland on the right, between which and Partridge Island, on which there is a lighthouse, is the proper entrance to the harbour. The town, with part of Carleton on the opposite side, opens to view several miles distant; which, with the wooded mountainous background, and general picturesque scenery, enlivened by shipping, wharfs, stores, houses of various sizes and colours, spires of churches, forts, and the beautiful range of new barracks, form altogether a very splendid picture.

The rise of the tide is from twenty-five to thirty feet. When the sea flows so as to cover the shores, the appearance of the harbour of St. John, viewed from Carleton, and all the surrounding objects which fill up the landscape, is beautiful and magnificent; but at low water the aspect of the front of the town, which exhibits muddy shores, high wharfs, and timber booms covered with slime, is exceedingly disagreeable. One of the most interesting and extensive prospects of scenery is, however, from the heights on which are the ruins of Fort Howe, over that part or division of the town named Portland. The view from this station is really magnificent: the harbour, prairies, mountains, woods, a bird's-eye view of the town and shipping, a broad prospect of the Bay of Fundy, with Nova Scotia high and darkly blue in the distance, are its prominent features.

Fort Howe is now in ruins: its position is very commanding. On the Carleton side, situated also on a commanding height, there is another fortification, and some guns are also planted on Partridge Island.

St. John is not the metropolis, although the largest town in the province. It is about half the size of Halifax, but contains nearly two-thirds as many dwelling-houses. The government and public buildings, if not splendid, are certainly handsome structures. The wharfs, with warehouses built either over them or immediately adjoining, and the private houses, closely resemble the buildings in Halifax. The ground on which the town is built is rocky and very irregular, and the forming and levelling of the streets required vast labour. Much improvement is still necessary to level them sufficiently for carriages to drive along agreeably; and the abruptness of some of the streets renders them very dangerous in winter.

The public buildings are, a very commodious and handsome stone court-house, built lately on the high ground above the middle of the town, a marine hospital, poor-house, and, of course, a gaol. Previous to this period, the courts were held over the markethouse, a very mean building.

There are two Episcopal Churches; the oldest, built of wood, but painted so as to resemble white stone, is a very handsome edifice, with a pretty spire. The interior is arranged nearly in the same manner as most modern English churches of the same size.

The new Episcopal church is a substantial edifice, built in the Gothic style, of rough stone, and its interior very handsomely planned and finished. Both these churches have good organs.

The Scotch kirk is a plain building, with a tall spire, and neatly fitted up within. Besides these places of worship, there are, a Catholic chapel, two or three Methodist chapels, and one Baptist meetinghouse.

There is a grammar school, a central school on the Madras system, and some other institutions, principally Sunday schools, where the rudiments of education are taught.

There are also two or three Bible and religious societies, and the benevolent societies of St. George, St. Andrew, and St. Patrick. The poor-house is made to answer also the purposes of an hospital.

The provincial bank, or, in reality, the bank of St. John, established under an act of the legislature, with a capital increased since its formation to 50,000l., has paid handsome dividends, and has been of great benefit, as well as occasional injury, to those engaged in trade. It facilitates sales, by discounting promissory notes at three months' date; but this accommodation is apt to tempt men into imprudent transactions. The directors, however, are said to guard with much caution against risks. When its stock was increased, in 1824, by legislative enactment, the new shares sold at 175 per cent.* There is also a bank for savings; and a marine assurance company, established also by an act of the legislature, seems to prosper, and has hitherto been singularly fortunate in its risks. There are two public libraries, and a respectable news-room, where the English, Colonial, and United States papers are taken.

The Chamber of Commerce is formed on much the same plan as that at Halifax. Four or five respectably conducted weekly newspapers are published at St. John, one at Fredericton, one at St. Andrew, and one at Miramichi.