LESSON XI.

BRITISH AMERICA.

Area in square miles, 2,800,000. Population, 2,280,000.

Geographical Position, etc.-This country comprises all the northern continental portion of North America except the Russian Possessions, and all the islands in the vicinity except Greenland and Iceland. It extends from the Arctic Ocean on the north to the United States on the south, and from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean.

How Divided.—British America is divided into several provinces; viz., Hudson Bay Company's Territory, Canada, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Prince Edward's Island. The last two are insular provinces.

HUDSON BAY COMPANY'S TERRITORY.

Geographical Position, etc.-This territory, sometimes called NewBritain, comprises all of Continental British America, except the south-east portion, and is under the immediate government of the Hudson Bay Company.

Surface. The greater portion of the surface consists of dense forests, vast swamps, expanded lakes, large rivers and lofty mountains; and is, for the most part, in a state of primeval simplicity.

Soil, etc. In the northern districts the soil is barren; but in the south it is tolerably fertile. The climate is so cold, particularly during the winter season, that wine is often found frozen into a solid mass; and the bays and lakes are covered with ice during half the year. On the coasts the country produces pines, birch, larches, &c., but the trees are small and knotty; in the interior, the same kind of trees is more abundant and of a greater size. Of the fur-bearing animals, which are here numerous, there are upwards of twenty different kinds. The seas and lakes abound in morses, seals, cod, &c.

Inhabitants. The inhabitants, estimated at about 180,000, are chiefly Indians and Esquimaux.

Manufactures and Exports.-There are no manufactures; the inhabitants being wholly occupied in hunting and fishing. The chief articles of export are furs, dried and salted fish, oils and walrus-ivory.

YORK FACTORY, a settlement on Hayes River, is the capital of the Company's territory, and their chief trading station.

BRITISH PROVINCES IN NORTH AMERICA.

LESSON XII.

MAP STUDIES.-SYSTEMATICALLY ARRANGED.

Bound the following Provinces, viz. :-Canada, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia.

State the situation of the following Cities and Towns, viz. :Ottawa, Prescott, Brockville, Kingston, Coburg, Port Hope, TORONTO, Hamilton, Queenstown, Simcoe, Windsor, Chatham, London, Brantford, Paris, Goderich, Barrie,-New Carlisle, New Liverpool, Quebec, Three Rivers, Sorel, Sherbrooke, Longueuil, St. Johns, La Prairie, Montreal,-Dalhousie, Bathurst, Chatham, Liverpool, Dorchester, St. John, Gagetown, FREDERICKTON, St. Andrews,-Truro, Pictou, Wilmot, Sherbrooke, HALIFAX, Lunenburg, Liverpool, Shelburne, Yarmouth, Weymouth, and Windsor.

Describe the following Islands:-Newfoundland, Miquelon, St. Pierre, Sable, Cape Breton, Prince Edwards, Magdalen, Anticosti, and Manitoulin.

Describe the following Towns:-Harbor Grace, ST. JOHN's, Placentia, Sidney, Louisburg-and CHARLOTTETOWN.

LESSON XIII.

MAP STUDIES.-SYSTEMATICALLY ARRANGED.

Describe the following Capes:-Chidleigh, Harrison, Charles, Gaspe, Canso, Sable,-Bauld, Bonavista, Race, Ray,—and North.

Describe the following Gulfs and Bays:-James, Ungava, St. Lawrence, Chaleurs, Miramichi, Halifax, Fundy, Mines, Georgian,White, Notre Dame, Bonavista, Trinity, Placentia, Fortune, St. George's, and Bras d'Or.

Describe the following Straits:-Belleisle, Northumberland, and Canso.

Describe the following Lakes:-St. Joseph, Abbitibbe, Mistissinnie, Nitcheguan, Caniapuscaw, Melville, Meshickenau, St. John, Grand, Temiscaming, Simcoe, Nipissing,-and Bathurst.

Describe the following Rivers:—Albany, Moose, Abbitibbe, Harricanaw, Rupert, East Main, Great Whale, Koksak, Meshickemau,— St. Lawrence, French, Severn, Thames, Grand, Ottawa, Aux Lievres, Montreal, St. Maurice, Ribbon, Saguenay, Betsiamite, Sorel, St. Francis, Chaudiere,-Restigouche, St. John's,-and Exploits.

LESSON XIV.

CANADA WEST.

Area in square miles, 148,000. Population, 952,000.

Geographical Position.-This part of the Canadian province lies to the north of the great lakes, which form the boundary line between British America and the United States, and extends westward from the Ottawa River to the head waters of those rivers which flow into Lake Superior.

Surface. It is considerably diversified by ridges of table-land, which are not sufficiently elevated to be denominated mountain ranges. A large tract of country lying between Georgian Bay and the upper part of the Ottawa River, is considerably elevated. The eastern part of the province is, for the most part, level, gradually sloping down towards the Ottawa on the one side, and the St. Lawrence on the other.

Soil, etc. The soil is generally fertile, and the climate more mild than that of the eastern part of the province; still it is colder than those countries in Europe which are situated in similar latitude. Table fruits and various kinds of grain are among the chief productions. Wild animals abound in the forests; many of them valuable for their fur. Maple trees are numerous, from which a considerable quantity of sugar is obtained.

Inhabitants, etc.-The inhabitants consist chiefly of settlers from Great Britain and the United States, with their descendants. Some native Indians yet remain on the shores of Lakes Huron and Superior.

The country is subject to Great Britain, and forms a part of the British Colonial possessions in North America. The province is provided with a Governor, Council, and House of Assembly. The Governor and Council are appointed by the mother country, and the members of Assembly are chosen by the people of the province.

Traveling Facilities.-Between the different towns of the province are good roads, and several lines of railway are being completed, connecting the ports on Lake Ontario with those of St. Clair and Detroit Rivers.

Manufactures and Exports.-The manufactures are, of late, receiving considerable attention. Wheat, timber, pot and pearl-ashes, furs, and fish form the leading articles of export.

Cities and Towns.-OTTAWA is situated on the Ottawa at the entrance of the Rideau Canal. It is connected by a handsome suspension bridge, with a small place called Hull, on the opposite bank of the river. This place has been selected by Queen Victoria as the capital of British America; but, at present, the Legislature meets at Quebec.

KINGSTON, Situated at the north-east extremity of Lake Ontario, immediately above its outlet, the St. Lawrence (here called Cataraque), is the great depôt of the government steamers, and of the boats employed on the Rideau Canal. It possesses an excellent harbor, and is the naval arsenal of Great Britain in this quarter.

TORONTO, late capital of British America, is located on a fine harbor on the northern shore of Lake Ontario. It is extensively engaged in trade, and maintains a constant steamboat intercourse, during the season of navigation, with the various ports on the great lakes and the River St. Lawrence. By means of the electric telegraph, this city communicates with the chief towns and cities of Canada and the United States; and it is connected by railroads with nearly all the cities of note in North America.

HAMILTON, situated in an extensive valley on Burlington Bay, at the head of Lake Ontario, is an important commercial city of Canada West. It is also situated on the line of the Great Western railroad, which extends across the province, from the Niagara to Detroit River.

CANADA EAST.

Area in square miles, 202,000. Population, 890,000.

Geographical Position.-Canada East, or Lower Canada, embraces all that part of the Canadian province east of Ottawa River.

Surface. It is agreeably diversified by hill, plain and valley. A ridge of hign land extends along the south side of the St. Lawrence River, from about the meridian of 70° west, to the Gulf of St. Lawrence.

Soil, etc.-In the northern parts, the soil is too barren for cultivation, but along the banks of the St. Lawrence it is quite fertile. The climate is very cold considering its distance from the equator. The markets in the winter, to a person who has been accustomed to a more genial clime, appear very curious; every thing is frozen. The productions are similar to those of Canada West.

Natural Curiosities.-About a half dozen miles north-east of the city of Quebec, and a short distance above the spot where the Montmorency discharges itself into the St. Lawrence, are the celebrated and beautiful Falls of Montmorency. The Montmorency is a small river, which in its onward course, to join the St. Lawrence, descends a precipice of about 250 feet.

These, and the Falls of Chaudière, in a river of the same name, 2 miles above its mouth, are the chief natural curiosities belor ging entirely to the Canadian province. It has, however, a share in the Falls of Niagara,-the most stupendous cataract in the world.

Inhabitants.-A large proportion are French settlers, and their descendants, who are chiefly engaged in agricultural pursuits.

Traveling Facilities.—Good roads exist in the more settled portions of the province, and railroads connect the chief cities with those of the United States; but the commercial traffic is mainly carried on by means of the lakes and rivers, or the canals which have been constructed to overcome local difficulties in the navigation of the latter.

Manufactures and Exports.-These are similar to those of the western portion of the province.

Cities and Towns.—QUEBEC, a strongly fortified city, styled "The Gibraltar of America," is situated partly on a plain, along the left bank of the St. Lawrence, and partly on a promontory, 350 feet in height. By this means, Quebec is divided into two parts, called respectively, Upper and Lower Town. The harbor is accessible for ships of the