was reminded, that, instead of having been engaged in placing the last stone on the tower of Babel, I had only concluded my first walk in the city of Quebec."

The next visit which Captain Blake and I made, that evening, was to an Hotel. On arriving there, we were ushered into a large apartment, in which there were about thirty sea-captains. We entered sans ceremonie, and discovered, that each person had an enormously large tumbler full of liquor placed before him, with a smoking pipe about three feet and a half in length, and a paper of best Virginia tobacco. In a few moments, Captain Blake and I were furnished with similar accommodations; I drank some of the liquor, which was really delicious, but begged leave to dispense with the pipe and tobacco. The room was excessively warm, and filled with the smoke of burning tobacco and the effluvia of over-heated bodies: I wished most heartily to make my exit; but since I went to this place, not by choice, but in compliment to the Captain, who appeared as happy in the company of his amphibious fraternity, as if he were engaged in discovering the longitude, I could not with propriety retire, till he thought fit to propose our departure. These sons of Neptune talked of long and short voyages, of well and illbuilt ships, of the felicities of a sea-faring life, and the exhilarating qualities of Cognac Brandy, in such a lengthened strain as made me wish myself asleep in the worst-built house in Quebec.

Not a subject was discussed, nor an idea suggested, which could afford either profit or pleasure to any one beside themselves. I therefore "sat in sad civility," until about eleven o'clock, when the whole party withdrew by mutual consent, but not before an appointment was made to meet on the following evening for their general edification, and the prosperity of the tobacco trade. This rendezvous, it is unnecessary to assure you, I did not attend.

LETTER III.

SITUATION OF QUEBEC-ITS FINE EXTERNAL APPEARANCE-FORTIFICATIONS-CITADEL-CAPE DIAMOND-PUBLIC EDIFICES OF QUEBEC CASTLE OF ST. LOUIS-ROMAN CATHOLIC CATHEDRAL -PROTESTANT PLACES OF WORSHIP-COURT HOUSE-JESUIT'S COLLEGE THE HOTEL DIEU- THE CONVENT OF THE URSULINES THE BISHOP'S PALACE THE BARRACKS GENERAL WOLFE'S STATUE-ORIGIN OF THE WORD QUEBEC-POPULATION OF THAT CITY.

QUEBEC lies in 46 degrees 48 minutes North latitude, and in 71 degrees 11 minutes West longitude; and is beautifully situated between the rivers St. Charles and St. Lawrence, immediately at the point of confluence. It is, as I have before observed, in the form of an amphitheatre gradually ascending; and exhibits such a fine appearance from the river, that a stranger, unacquainted with its interior, would imagine it to be one of the most beautiful cities in the world. The amazing elevation, resplendent spires, and formidable outworks of the upper town, are all well-calculated to prepossess the mind of a spectator; but when he enters into the streets, squares, and alleys, especially of the lower town, and finds the whole to be con

fined, ill-constructed, and inelegant, nothing can equal his disappointment. Many of the streets are scarcely wide enough to admit of carriages passing each other, and all of them are void of beauty, taste, and regularity. Business is principally transacted in the lower town; in consequence of which, and of its confined situation, it is in a perpetual bustle. The granaries, warehouses, and dwellings, though generally very lofty, are frowned upon by the impending rocky projections of Cape Diamond, which, in some directions, seem to threaten them with instant destruction. The ascent to the upper town, along the windings of Mountain-street, has been contrived with much art, but is, after all, exceedingly steep; and, in certain parts on the right-hand side, is shaded by obtruding precipices.

After gaining the summit, the aspect of the city becomes more attractive, and is in every respect preferable to that of the lower town. The public buildings, however, exhibit little that can interest those who have been accustomed to view the more splendid and magnificent erections in European cities.

Much attention is very properly bestowed on the improvement of the fortifications. They are kept in excellent repair, and new defences are added wherever they may be deemed necessary When viewed from the opposite shore, or from any part of the surrounding country, they present a very noble appearance. The citadel stands on the highest point of Cape Diamond, which is no less

than Three Hundred and Fifty feet above the level of the river. When Quebec became the capital of the French Colony, the citadel was built expressly for the protection of the approaches to the city on its Western side, towards the Plains of Abraham; and, proudly frowning over the St. Lawrence, it now extends its immense walls and regular military outworks across the end of those Plains, down nearly to the banks of the river St. James. There are five gates into the city: Port St. Louis, which is the largest, opens to the West, and towards the Heights of Abraham, where the gallant Wolfe breathed his last. Port St. John opens towards St. Foix, which is the road to Montreal. Both these gates are strongly fortified; and the walls, through which they serve as entrances, are there at least fifty feet in thickness. Palace and Hope gates, open to the North; and Prescott Gate, through which we pass to the lower town, opens towards the South. The approaches to all the gates are guarded by batteries and other defences. With its naturally commanding situation, therefore, and its immense fortifications, Quebec must be considered as one of the strongest cities in the uni

verse.

Every account of Quebec, how ample soever it may be, will be considered incomplete, unless it comprise a description of the celebrated Plains of Abraham. To gratify you, therefore, whom I know to feel interested about every circumstance conneeted with our national glory, I add a slight topo