or the province of Quebec, an extensive country of North America, bounded on the north-east by the gulf of St Lawrence, and St John's river; on the south-west, by lands inhabited by the savage Indians, which are frequently included in this province; on the south, by the provinces of Nova Scotia, New England, and New York; and on the north-west, by other Indian nations. Under the name of Canada, the French comprehended a very large territory; taking into their claim part of New Scotland, New England, and New York on the east; and extending it on the west as far as the Pacific ocean. That part, however, which was reduced by the British arms in the last war, lies between 61 and 81 degrees of west longitude, and between 45 and 52 of north latitude. The climate is not very different from that of the northern British colonies; but as it is much further from the sea, and more to the northward, than most of those provinces, it has a much fewer winter, though the air is generally clear; and, like most of those American tracts that do not lie too far to the northward, the summers are very hot, and exceeding pleasant. The soil in general is very good, and in many parts extremely fertile; producing many different sorts of grains, fruits, and vegetables. The meadow grounds, which are well watered, yield excellent grass, and breed vast numbers of great and small cattle. The uncultivated parts are a continued wood, composed of prodigiously large and lofty trees, of which there is such a variety of species, that even of those who have taken most pains to know them, there is not perhaps one that can tell half the number. Canada produces, among others, two sorts of pines, the white and the red; four sorts of firs; two sorts of cedar and oak, the white and the red; the male and female maple; three sorts of ash trees, the free, the mungrel, and the bastard; three sorts of walnut-trees, the hard, the soft, and the smooth; vast numbers of beech-trees and white wood; white and red elms, and poplars. The Indians hollow the red elms into canoes, some of which made out of one piece will contain 20 persons: others are made of the bark; the different pieces of which they sew together with the inner rind, and daub over the seams with pitch, or rather a bituminous matter resembling pitch, to prevent their leaking; the ribs of these canoes are made of boughs of trees. In the hollow elms, the bears and wild cats take up their lodging from November to April. The country produces also, a vast variety of other vegetables, particularly tobacco, which thrives well. Near Quebec is a fine lead mine, and many excellent ones of iron have been discovered. It hath also been reported that silver is found in some of the mountains. The rivers are extremely numerous, and many of them very large and deep. The principal are, the Ouattauais, St John's, Seguinay, Delpaires, and Trois Rivieres; but all these are swallowed up by the great river St Lawrence. This river issues from the lake Ontario; and, taking its course north-east, washes Montreal, where it receives the Ouattauais, and forms many fertile islands. It continues the same course, and meets the tide upwards of 400 miles from the sea, where it is navigable for large vessels; and below Quebec, 320 miles from the sea, it becomes so broad and so deep, that ships of the line contributed in the last war to reduce that city. After receiving in its progress innumerable streams, it at last falls into the ocean at Cape Rofer, where it is 90 miles broad, and where the cold is intense and the sea boisterous. This river is the only one upon which any settlements of note are as yet formed; but it is very probable, that, in time to come, Canada, and those vast regions to the west, may be enabled of themselves to carry on a considerable trade upon the great lakes of fresh water which these countries environ. Here are five lakes, the least of which is of greater extent than the fresh-water lakes to be found in any other part of the world: these are the lake Ontario, which is not less than 200 leagues in circumference; Erie, or Oswego, longer, but not so broad, is about the same extent. That of the Huron spreads greatly in width, and is about 300 leagues in circuit; as also is that of Michigan, though like Lake Erie it is rather long, and comparatively narrow. But the lake Superior is larger than any of these, being not less than 500 leagues in circumference. All these are navigable by any vessels, and they all communicate with each other; but the passage between Erie and Ontario is interrupted by a most stupendous fall or cataract, called the falls of Niagara*. The river St Lawrence, as already observed, is the outlet of these lakes, by which they discharge themselves into the ocean. The French built forts at these several straits, by which the lakes communicate with one another, and on that where the last of them communicates with the river. By these, while the country was in their possession, they effectually secured to themselves the trade of the lakes, and preserved an influence over all the Indian nations that lie near them.

The most curious and interesting part of the natural history of Canada is the animals there produced. These are flags, elks, deer, bears, foxes, martens, wild cats, ferrets, weasels, large squirrels of a grayish hue, hares and rabbits. The southern parts, in particular, breed great numbers of wild bulls, divers sorts of roebucks, goats, wolves, &c. The marshes, lakes, and pools, with which this country abounds, swarm with otters and beavers, of which the white are highly valued, as well as the right black kind. A vast variety of birds are also to be found in the woods; and the river St Lawrence abounds with such quantities of fish, that it is affirmed by some writers, this would be a more profitable article than even the fur-trade.—There are in Canada a multitude of different Indian tribes: but these are observed to decrease in number where the Europeans are most numerous; owing chiefly to the immoderate use of spirituous liquors, of which they are excessively fond. Their manners and way of living we have already particularly described*. The principal towns are Quebec, Trois Rivieres, and Montreal. The commodities required by the Canadians from Europe are, wine, or rather rum; cloths, chiefly coarse; linens, and wrought iron. The Indian trade requires rum, tobacco, a fort of duffel blankets, guns, powder, balls, and flints, kettles, hatchets, toys, and trinkets of all kinds. While the country was in possession of the French, the Indians supplied them with poultry; and the French had traders, who, like the original inhabitants, traversed the vast lakes and rivers in canoes, with incredible industry and patience, carrying their goods into the remotest parts of America, and among nations entirely unknown to us. These again brought the furs, &c., home to them, as the Indians were thereby habituated to trade with them. For this purpose, people from all parts, even from the distance of 1000 miles, came to the French fair at Montreal, which began in June, and sometimes lasted three months. On this occasion many solemnities were observed, guards were placed, and the governor affixed to prefer order in so great and various a concourse of savage nations. But sometimes great disorders and tumults happened; and the Indians frequently gave for a drum all that they were possessed of. It is remarkable, that many of these nations actually passed by the English settlement of Albany in New York, and travelled 200 miles further to Montreal, though they could have purchased the goods they wanted cheaper at the former.

Since Britain became possessed of Canada, our trade with that country has generally employed 34 ships and 400 seamen; their exports, at an average of three years, in skins, furs, ginfling, snake-root, capillaire, and wheat, amount to 150,000l. Their imports from Great Britain are computed at nearly the same sum. It will, however, be almost impossible to overcome certain inconveniences arising from the violence of the winter. This is so excessive from December to April, that the broadest rivers are frozen over, and the snow lies commonly from four to six feet deep on the ground, even in those parts of the country which lie three degrees south of London, and in the temperate latitude of Paris. Another inconvenience arises from the falls in the river St Lawrence below Montreal, which prevent ships from penetrating to that emporium of inland commerce. Our communication therefore with Canada, and the immense regions beyond it, will always be interrupted during the winter season, until roads are formed that can be travelled without danger from the Indians. For these savage people often commit hostilities against us without any previous notice; and frequently, without any provocation, they commit the most horrid ravages for a long time with impunity.

Canada was undoubtedly discovered by Sebastian Cabot, the famous Italian adventurer, who sailed under a commission from Henry VII. But though the English monarch did not think proper to make any use of this discovery, the French quickly attempted it; we have an account of their fishing for cod on the banks of Newfoundland, and along the sea-coast of Canada, in the beginning of the 16th century. About the year 1506, one Denys, a Frenchman, drew a map of the gulf of St Lawrence; and two years after, one Aubert, a ship-master of Dieppe, carried over to France some of the natives of Canada. As the new country, however, did not promise the same amazing quantities of gold and silver produced by Mexico and Peru, the French for some years neglected the discovery. At last, in the year 1523, Francis I, a sensible and enterprising prince, sent four ships, under the command of Verazzani, a Florentine, to prosecute discoveries in that country. The particulars of this man's first expedition are not known. All we can learn is, that he returned to France, and next year he undertook a second. As he approached the coast, he met with a violent storm; however, he came so near as to perceive the natives on the flore, making friendly signs to him to land. This being found impracticable by reason of the surf upon the coast, one of the sailors threw himself into the sea; but, endeavouring to swim back to the ship, a surge threw him on shore without signs of life. He was, however, treated by the natives with such care and humanity, that he recovered his strength, and was allowed to swim back to the ship, which immediately returned to France. This is all we know of Verazzani's second expedition. He undertook a third, but was no more heard of, and it is thought that he and all his company perished before he could form any colony.

In 1534, one Jacques Cartier of St Malo set sail under a commission from the French king, and on the 16th of May arrived at Cape Bonavista in Newfoundland. He had with him two small ships besides the one in which he sailed. He cruised along the coast of that island, on which he discovered inhabitants, probably the Eskimos. He landed in several places along the coast of the gulf, and took possession of the country in the king's name. On his return, he was again sent out with a commission, and a pretty large force; he returned in 1535, and passed the winter at St Croix; but the season proved so severe, that he and his companions must have died of the scurvy, had they not, by the advice of the natives, made use of the decoction of the tops and bark of the white pines. As Cartier, however, could produce neither gold nor silver, all that he could say about the utility of the settlement was disregarded; and in 1540, he was obliged to become pilot to one M. Roberval, who was by the French king appointed viceroy of Canada, and who sailed from France with five vessels. Arriving at the gulf of St Lawrence, they built a fort; and Cartier was left to command the garrison in it, while Roberval returned to France for additional recruits to his new settlement. At last, having embarked in 1549, with a great number of adventurers, neither he nor any of his followers were heard of more.

This fatal accident so greatly discouraged the court of France, that for 50 years, no measures were taken for supplying with necessaries the settlers that were left. At last, Henry IV, appointed the marquis de la Roche lieutenant-general of Canada and the neighbouring countries. In 1608 he landed on the isle of Sable, which he absurdly thought to be a proper place for a settlement, though it was without any port, and without product except briars. Here he left about 40 malefactors, the refuse of the French jails. After cruising for some time on the coast of Nova Scotia, without being able to relieve these poor wretches, he returned to France, where he died of a broken heart. His colony must have perished, had not a French ship been wrecked on the island, and a few sheep driven upon it at the same time. With the boards of the ship they erected huts; and while the sheep lasted they lived on them, feeding afterwards on fish. Their clothes wearing out, they made coats of seal-skin; and in this miserable condition they spent seven years, when Henry ordered them to be brought to France. The king had the curiosity to see them in their seal-skin dresses, and was so moved with their appearance, that he forgave them all their offences, and gave each of them 50 crowns to begin the world anew.

In 1600, one Chauvin, a commander in the French navy, attended by a merchant of St Malo, called Pontgrave, made a voyage to Canada, from whence he returned with a very profitable quantity of furs. Next year he repeated the voyage with the same good fortune, but died while he was preparing for a third. The many specimens of profit to be made by the Canadian trade, at last induced the public to think favourably of it. An armament was equipped, and the command of it given to Pontgrave, with powers to extend his discoveries up the river St Lawrence. He sailed in 1603, having in his company Samuel Champlain, who had been a captain in the navy, and was a man of parts and spirit. It was not, however, till the year 1608, that the colony was fully established. This was accomplished by founding the city of Quebec, which from that time commenced the capital of all the settlements in Canada. The colony, however, for many years continued in a low way, and was often in danger of being totally exterminated by the Indians. As the particulars of these wars, however, could neither be entertaining, nor indeed intelligible, to many of our readers, we choose to omit them, and in general observe, that the French not only concluded a permanent peace with the Indians, but so much ingratiated themselves with them, that they could with the greatest ease prevail upon them at any time to murder and scalp the English in their settlements. These practices had a considerable share in bringing about the last war with France, when the whole country was conquered by the British in 1761. The most remarkable transaction in this conquest was the siege of Quebec; for a particular account of which, see that article. And for the transactions here during the late American war, see AMERICA (United States of).