HISTORY OF THE British Settlements in America. THE SİTUATION AND EXTENT, HE British dominion in America extending over a tract of coun try called, for the purpose of diftinction, by the general name of British America, comprehends the vaft and unknown extent of country, bounded fouth, by the United States of America, and the Atlantic ocean; eaft, by the fame ocean and Davis's Straits, which divide it from Greenland; extending north to the northern limits of the Hudfon's Bay charter; and westward to an unknown extent-lying between 42° 30' and 7 north latitude; and between 50° and 105° weft long. from Greenwich; and between 25° east and 30° weft long, from Phila delphia. It is divided into four provinces, viz. 1. Upper Canada ;—2. Lower Canada, to which is annexed New Britain, or the country lying round Hudfon's Bay, and the Island of Cape Breton 3— -3. New Brunswick and 4. Nova Scotia, to which is annexed the Island of St. John's-Befides thefe there is the Inland of Newfoundland, which is governed by the admiral for the time being, and two lieutenant governors, who re fide at Placentia and St. John's.—The troops ftationed at Newfound land, however, are fubject to the orders of the Governor-general of the four British Provinces. Of each of thefe provinces our intention is to enter into a brief defcription. VOL. IV. PROVINCES PROVINCES OF UPPER AND LOWER CANADA. SITUATION, EXTENT, AND BOUNDARIES. The provinces of Upper and Lower Canada, conftituted by act of parliament in 1791, comprehend the territory heretofore called Canada, or the Province of Quebec; fituated between 42° 30′ and 50° north latitude, and 61° and 8r weft longitude from London; or 14° caft, and 6o weft from Philadelphia. Their length is about fix hundred miles, and their breadth five hundred and fifty. Thefe provinces are bounded on the north, by New Britain; on the eaft, by the Gulph of St. Lawrence, and part of the Province of New Brunswick; on the south-east and fouth, by the District of Main, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, and the lakes: the western boundary is undefined. The Province of Upper Canada is the fame as what is commonly called the Upper Country. It lies north of the great lakes, between the latitudes of 42° 30' and 50°, and is feparated from New York by the river St. Lawrence, here called the Cataraqui, and the Lakes Ontario and Erie. Lower Canada lies on both fides the river St. Lawrence, between 61° and 71° W. lon. from London; and 45° and 52° N. lat. and is bounded fouth by New Brunfwick, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and New York; and weft by Upper Canada. The line which divides Upper from Lower Canada commences at a ftone boundary, on the north bank of the lake St. Francis, at the cove, weft of Pointe au Boudet, in the limit between the township of Lancafter and the Seigneurie of New Longuevil, running along the faid limit in the direction of north thirty-four degrees weft, to the westernmoft angle of the faid Seigneurie of New Longuevil; thence along the north-weitern boundary of the Seigneurie of Vandreuil, running north, twenty-five degrees caft, until it ftrikes the Ottawas river; to afcend the faid river into the lake Tomifcanning; and from the head of the faid lake by a line drawn due north, until it ftrikes the boundary line of Hudfon's Bay, or New Britain. Upper Canada, to include all the territory to the westward and fouthward of the faid line, to the utmoft extent of the country known by the name of Canada. |