HISTORY THE British Settlements in America. SITUATION AND EXTENT. THE British dominion in America extending over a tract of coun try called, for the purpose of distinction, 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 weftward to an unknown extent-lying between 42° 30′ and 7° north latitude; and between 50° and 105° weft long. from Greenwich; and between 25o east and 30o west 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 Hudson's Bay, and the Island of Cape Breton ;--3. New Brunswick ;and 4. Nova Scotia, to which is annexed the Ifland of St. John's.-Befides these there is the Island of Newfoundland, which is governed by the admiral for the time being, and two lieutenant governors, who refide at Placentia and St. John's.-The troops sftationed at Newfoundland, however, are subject to the orders of the Governor-general of the four British Provinces.-Of each of these 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 81° weft longitude from London; or 14° eaft, and 6° 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 caft, by the Gulph of St. Lawrence, and part of the Province of New Brunswick; on the fouth-east and fouth, by the Diftri& 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 separated 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 719 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 Lancalter 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-western boundary of the Seigneurie of Vandreuil, running north, twenty-five degrees eaft, until it frikes 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 weftward and fouthward of the faid line, to the utmost extent of the country known by the name of Canada. |