climate are propitious. Indeed, it is generally allowed, that the climate of Upper Canada and its soil are superior to those of Lower Canada.

The country is in general more level and low than the neighbourhood of Quebec and Montreal. The waters of the immense lakes have perhaps narrowed their beds, and left the surrounding country dry, at a later period than has been the case in Lower Canada, where hills and mountains and rapid rivers abound, and where the nutritious parts of the soil may have been carried off. The climate of Upper Canada is temperate, and friendly to vegetation. The warmth of the air will facilitate the decomposition of all vegetable and animal matter, which may be in a state of decay, and in the course of time an accumulation of soil will take place. When the forests are cleared away, and the plough and harrow have performed their functions, the same causes which promoted the growth of the large hardy oak, the stately pine, and the matted thicket, will raise fine crops of wheat, and luxuriant artificial grasses.

In all new countries, such as the Canadas, population must increase much faster

than in old countries, because the production of food for man is much easier; and as their situation precludes the possibility of their indulging in what are called the luxuries of life, their principal occupation will naturally be the production of food. They will clear their lands of wood,—they will sow and reap; next year more will be cleared, sown, and reaped, until the grain, &c. produced exceed the wants of the family. The surplus becomes an object of merchandize. Their disposable capital increases; and it is employed either in increasing production by cultivating more land, or in ameliorating what is already produced. Mills are erected; wheat converted into flour; flour into biscuit; cat_ tle are fattened and prepared for market. This accumulation of the real wealth of a country is the natural cause of an increase of population.

Besides the operation of this cause, the Canadas owe much of their increase of population to emigrations from the United States of America, and from Europe. These emigrations, to a greater or less extent, take place every year. The emigrants generally prefer settling in Upper, rather

In

than in Lower Canada, as well those from the United States, as those from Europe. There are many reasons for the preference given to Upper Canada. The soil and climate are better; and lands are cheaper, and more easily procured: the tenures are better understood, and better liked than the French tenures in Lower Canada. The great mass of the people speak English, and have English habits, neither of which are to be found in Lower Canada. case of a dispute with your neighbour, the cause is tried in an English court of justice, and in a language you understand; which is not the case in Lower Canada. In short, these causes will continue to draw to Upper Canada a great augmentation to the natural increase of the population and wealth-whilst the Canadian French рориlation will only increase in the ordinary ratio.

In proportion to the increase of popu lation, is the demand for manufactures, and for articles of foreign importation. The increase of industry and wealth gives a greater fund to pay for the productions of other countries. That this has been the case in

Canada, is clearly proved by the gradual increase of her foreign trade.

Great Britain is at a considerable regular expence in supporting the garrisons and military establishment of Canada,-besides the value of the presents given annually to the Indians, and the amount of the salaries of a variety of people employed in what is called the Indian department, consisting of superintendants, inspectors, agents, &c. The goods given to the Indians. annually are of considerable value, and consist of clothes, muskets, powder and ball, trinkets, hardware, &c.-Yet Canada is well deserving the pains and cost necessary to preserve it. She consumes our manufactures to a considerable amount, as I shall shew you presently; she gives employment annually to about 200 sail of merchantmen, and about fourteen hundred seamen; she furnishes Newfoundland with supplies of flour, bread, &c.—and she supplies our West India islands with a considerable quantity of lumber, staves, punchcon-packs, hoops, horses, and salt-fish of a variety of kinds. She supplies Great Britain with wheat occasionally; and, what

is likely to be of great importance, the forests of Canada will be found equal to supplying the dockyards with masts and yards for the largest men of war in the navy, and, indeed, for vessels of all sorts, to almost any amount; besides a great abundance of oak, and other ship-timber of a variety of species. Our coopers, too, may be supplied with staves to any amount, and of as good quality as usually come from Hamburgh, Stettin, and Dantzig.

This cannot fail to be of great consequence, when we happen to be excluded from the Russian dominions, and from the Baltic ports, which the capricious conduct of the Emperor of Russia gives too much reason to fear may sometimes be the

case.

The quantity of wheat, flour, and biscuit, annually exported from Canada is considerable: but the crops are prevery carious, and the quantity as yet not sufficient to ensure to the mother country a regular supply.

The following statement of exports will shew what a variety of articles Canada produces. I have taken the average of five years, ending 1805.

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