effect. Indeed, I am well assured that the presents are, even now, almost thrown away, from the circumstance of their being given to the most unworthy part of the Indians, -to fellows who live in the neighbourhood of Detroit and Michilimakinack, and whom these presents keep in a state of idleness and dissipation; while the real hunters, the active Indians who furnish the furs, and are truly useful as well as formidable, get little or nothing. They stand no chance with the Detroit or Michilimakinack Indians, or those in the neighbourhood of these places, whose knowledge of, and connexions with, the commanders and men in power, secure to them a large share of what the British government send to this country. The Micmac and other Indians that come to receive their presents at Quebec and Montreal, are too insignificant to be feared, or to be taken much into consideration.

It certainly would be improper, nay highly unjust, to stop all at once the giving presents; but I find it is the general opinion that the thing might be done gradually; and that it would not only be a consider

N

able saving to Britain, but really, upon the whole, an advantage to the Indians not to receive presents. It would be better that they should spend their time in hunting, than in coming to our military posts and destroying themselves with spirits, which they get in exchange from British subjects, for the very presents they had just received from government; so that they very often return as completely divested of their presents, as when they came out of their native forests. I have heard that some years ago very great abuses were committed by those concerned in this department, who are said to have inveigled the Indians to part with their presents for liquors, and that the goods were afteruse, where

wards appropriated to the

by large fortunes were made.

An important part of the commerce of Canada is carried on with the United States of America, the consideration of which I shall reserve for my next letter.

LETTER XIV.

Quebec, December, 1807.

I HAVE just returned from taking a walk, though the weather is bitter cold. You will be surprised that any one could shew their nose to it, when I shall have told you how cold it is; on that subject you shall hear from me by and by: in the mean time let me continue my mercantile disquisitions. I have to lay before you the commercial connexions of Canada with the United States.

Besides the trade which Canada carries on with Britain and her colonies, a very considerable trade is carried on with the American states. The law acknowledges but one place in Lower Canada, through which goods can be introduced from the United States, as I mentioned in a former letter. It is by the river Chambly, which connects Lake Champlain with the St. Lawrence: At St. John's, on this river, there is a custom-house for the

purpose of taking cognizance of such goods as are brought in from the States. The imports by way of St. John's in

the year 1806 were as follow.

Besides the preceding articles, there are a variety of others introduced from the United States. Some by way of St. John's, some by other channels, besides what is sent into Upper Canada. Where there is so extensive a line of boundary as that which separates Canada from the United States, it is not to be supposed that strict attention will be paid to the law making St. John's the only legal channel for goods into Lower Canada. Smuggling to a great extent is carried on. Of the articles not enumerated, I am well informed that there are at least 20,000 pieces of white cotton, at about 17s. 6d. a piece-a large quantity of blue cotton-silk handkerchiefs -East India checks and stripes-East India silks-French cambricks and crapes,