the recently-constituted capital of Canada, is situated on the right bank of the Ottawa River, 87 miles above its confluence with the St Lawrence, 95 miles N.E. of Kingston, and 126 W. of Montreal. It is divided into two parts by the Rideau Canal, which connects the Ottawa with Lake Ontario. These parts are called the Upper and Lower Town respectively. The canal joins the river by a series of good stone locks, and is crossed by a handsome bridge; but this mode of communication has now become quite insufficient for the increasing traffic. The streets are straight, broad, and regular, and the buildings handsome and uniform. There are six churches, belonging respectively to the Church of Rome, the Church of England, the Established and the Free Church of Scotland, the Wesleyans, and the Episcopal Methodists. There are also several educational, literary, and benevolent institutions. The principal source of the town's importance is the trade in timber, larger quantities of which are exported to Europe and the United States, through Ottawa, from the surrounding country, than from any other part of Canada. The vicinity of the town is remarkable for its grand and beautiful scenery; the falls of Chaudière on the Ottawa being second only, among American cataracts, to those of Niagara. This place was formerly called Bytown, but the name was changed in 1854. Pop. about 10,000.

The River Ottawa takes its origin in the interior of Lower Canada, in a series of lakes, which may be considered as mere expansions of the river. About 100 miles from its source it leaves Lake Temiscaming, the last of these; and separating Upper from Lower Canada, flows S.E. and E. until it falls into the St Lawrence at the island of Montreal. Its whole length is about 400 miles; and it is navigable as far as the town of Ottawa. It receives the Rideau from the right, and the Gatineau and Lièvre from the left. The scenery on its banks is of the finest description; but the land is not fertile.