more than any other portion of my travels on the continent of America. Our provisions had been rather short, and the bread on the 4th or 5th day became so excessively sour, from alternate wet and exposure to the sun, that it was unwholesome as well as unpalatable, and began to affect us seriously. Nor had our night's rest been sought upon couches of the softest and most fleecy down; but, in the enjoyment of good health, other matters were of trifling moment, and soon consigned to oblivion.

CHAPTER XXII.

Whence have they this mettle?

Is not their climate foggy, raw, and dull?

SHAKSPEARE.

One says the kingdom is his own; a Saxon drinks the quart, and swears he'll dispute that with him.

TATLER.

AFTER the separation of New Brunswick from Nova Scotia, in 1785, Colonel Carleton was appointed Governor of the New Province, and selected a spot on the right bank of the river, where Fredericton now stands, as the site of the capital. The situation is good, being the head of the tidewater and the sloop navigation. Though ships of large burden can ascend to the mouth of the Oromucto, from twelve to fifteen miles below, yet merchandize is usually forwarded from the sea-port ninety miles distant by small craft, the Falls of St. John, two miles from the harbour, preventing the passage of large vessels except at high water. The town consists of two principal streets, running parallel with the river, and contains about 1200 inhabitants, but as yet has no regular market nor fair. The point of land upon which it is built is flat and low, being but a few feet above the level of the freshets. A low range of rocky hills, however, rises half a mile in rear of the town, and another at rather a greater distance on the opposite side of the

St. John's, into which the pretty stream of the Naaswhaak empties itself. The river immediately above Fredericton is studded with many beautiful islands of considerable extent, which, being inundated at certain seasons, produce abundant crops of hay, as is the case with the low land on the banks; but, in general, the soil is cold and poor.

The original Government House, a wooden edifice, was burnt by accident some few years since, and the present substantial and spacious one of fine freestone was erected during the administration of the late Governor, Sir Howard Douglas. In point of situation and style of architecture it far exceeds both that at Quebec and the one at York: and, with the tastefully laid out pleasure-grounds and gardens, occupies a large tract of ground on the margin of the water above the town.

The College, situated at the base of the hills, is another fine stone edifice, and, in addition to possessing the enormous grant of 6000 acres in its immediate vicinity, has 1000l. per annum allowed by the British, and the same sum by the provincial government. The former made their grant conditionally that the province allowed an equal sum; but of late years the House of Assembly have shown a disposition to withdraw their grant, though that of the mother country was made in perpetuum. They contend that they cannot afford to pay so highly for the education of the half dozen young men who study there under a president and four professors. The other public buildings are of wood, and do not display any thing either tasteful or expensive in their structure. The officers' barracks, for the few companies of infantry quartered in the town, are prettily situated on one side of a square, surrounded by fine trees and the intervening space laid with grass, where the excellent band of the 34th regiment