without alluding to points of faith, be considered as general proofs of sincerity and piety, the habitans of this parish have undeniable claims to these virtues. I believe there is little difference to be found, in this respect, among the other parishes. If there be, I have failed to discover it; and admitting, as I have frequently heard, that they are religious by habit and imitation, rather than by conviction, no one who has travelled among them can deny that they are sincere, amiable, charitable, honest, and chaste. Let us leave abstract points of Christian doctrine to theological disputants; but if we look for a more correct or moral people than the Canadian habitans, we may search in vain. A Sabbath morning in the Scotch parishes most remote from the towns, bears the nearest resemblance to a Sunday, before mass, in Canada.

The interval, however, between morning and evening service differs, but not widely; for, in both countries, those who do not return to their houses, spend the time in conversing on local incidents, or in communicating what news is gathered during the week. But the evenings of Sunday are far more cheerfully spent than in Scotland. The people of the parish often meet in small groups, or at each other's houses, for the sake of talking; and on these occasions they sometimes indulge in dancing.*

A low belt of thickly-peopled country, lying between the St. Lawrence and the high lands, extends from the Rivière du Sud until we arrive within a few miles of Pont Levi, where the post-road ascends over a high eminence, the heights of Lauzon; from which we have a rich prospect of the Isle of Orleans; and, soon after, the city of Quebec, and the heights and citadel of Cape Diamond, burst suddenly into the view, and draw our attention from all other objects. Before I attempt, however, to describe Quebec, I will finish my sketch of the lower country, by briefly describing the settlements on the north side, and the islands of the St. Lawrence.

CHAP. XVI.

COUNTY OF THE KING'S POSTS. - THE RIVER SAGUENAY. TADOUSAC. — ISLANDS IN THE ST. LAWRENCE, ETC.

THE vast region extending from the seigniory of Les Eboulemens, about 400 miles along the north shores of the St. Lawrence, to Cape Cormorant on the Labrador coast, including the River Saguenay and its lake, was formerly, under the French Government, granted to an association called the "King's Post." It is still named the "King's Domain." That company had the exclusive right of fishing, hunting, and bartering within the said territory, usually styled in the King's ordonnances, La Traite de Tadousac.

The principal posts or forts are at Tadousac, at Isles Jeremie, at Seven Islands, at Labrador, and on the River Saguenay. At the Post of Chicoutimi, on the Saguenay, 58 miles up, the small chapel, built 105 years ago by the Jesuit Labrosse, with its altar and pictures, are still in tolerable preservation; and the tomb of Father Cocar, who died in the last century, with a Latin inscription, is pointed out to us by the voyageurs. A Catholic missionary visits the post twice each year.

The country of the King's Posts, with these exclusive rights, was leased to a Mr. Goudie of Quebec, some years ago, for 1200l. per annum. A Mr. Lampson succeeded to the lease; but he has not been able to continue the trade with advantage, owing, he has stated, to the interference of the Hudson Bay Company, to whom he has been under the necessity of surrendering his lease. The trade at the various posts is, therefore, now conducted by the agents of this company, who may now be said to engross the whole fur trade of Canada, to the exclusion of all the inhabitants, and that for a matter of revenue little more than 1000l.: the value of the lands thus monopolised is another serious inconvenience, which the Assembly has already represented to the Executive of the country.

About 100 persons are employed in the Indian trade and the fishing, by the agents of the Hudson Bay Company, within the country of the King's Posts.

Tadousac harbour lies at the mouth of the Saghuny or Saguenay. It is well sheltered, sufficiently deep, and affords excellent anchorage. To it the first French adventurers who visited Canada resorted, and it continued for a long time to be one of the principal fur-trading posts. The old French post is still maintained, and rented with the other posts on the King's Domain; but the place is at present of little importance, in consequence of there being no settlements on the great river that flows past it into the St. Lawrence.*

of the mountains between the Ottawa and Hudson Bay mountains; and it is deep and navigable for about ninety miles, when it is interrupted by a cataract of about fifty feet perpendicular. The banks are occasionally low, but generally high, until within a few miles of Post Chicoutimi. Magnetic ore is abundant, and renders the compass uncertain. The vast body of water which it discharges is of sufficient force to influence the stream of the St. Lawrence obliquely to the south. It flows through excellent lands, and a great timber country may be opened on this river. Commissioners are appointed for exploring it, under a provincial act. I extract the following sketch from an article lately sent me from Canada written, I believe, by a gentleman on board of the schooner Gulnare, employed for some time past in surveying the St. Lawrence. The information it contains respecting a river along which towns, villages, and settlements will assuredly rise, and in which the sons and daughters of industry and enterprise are as certainly destined to act their parts, cannot fail to be interesting:

"On the next morning we left our anchorage. As we approached the mouth of the Saguenay River, the wind died away, and we were obliged to come to anchor. We were strangers to its navigation; and though one or two of our companions professed a knowledge of it, we found, nearly to our cost, that they were not to be trusted. After waiting till the ebb tide had ceased, we took advantage of a light wind that favoured us, and shortly found ourselves securely at anchor in the little harbour of Tadousac, at the mouth of this river.

"The view from our anchorage was of the most