FIRST REGARD HEALTH., Some may think that the circumstance of

salubrity of climate has met with more attention in these pages than it merits ; but it' v think so, it is from

igeorance, or inattention to facts. In vast majority of cases, at least when slave labour is not employed, every thing depends upon the personal activity and the power of muscular exertion of the emigrant and his family ; and health and strength come to be of the last importance to happiness, and even to exist- ence. In the greater part of the United States, and even of North America, the defect lies more in the climate than in the productive powers of the soil.

The United States citizens are sufficiently sensible upon this point ; and nothing

cal be said more likely to give offence than any reflection upon, or expressed doubt ut the character of the district they belong to in regard to salubrity. Although it can be proven that every (broiling during the latter part of every summer is an hospital of fever inal to,.: tie patients, and even that one-half of the population died the pre'..iotia sra,a)o, yet any allusion to the filet is quite enough to atfind occasion fur a little ride practice. The rapid increase of the popnia- lotion of the United States is not owing to any salubrity of climate, but hi the favourable field for Imainn lahour holueing early marriage; scarcely a woman of twentv-one years of age remaining a Spinster 11111eSS She is ilaftii (very ogle.) In certaio hicalities i America, the prevalence of insects, mosquitoes, roof Land-dies, come to be an important consideration as well as climate: in some eases, other ,V;Av dcsirable• settlements have been abandoned after the net essary buildings have been erected and clearances made, from the insuffer- able annoyance of tliese diminutive pests. THE MAIRTIME PROVINCLS OF THE ST. LAwnExcr,.*

` Although in the same lath mle with the most temperate parts of Europe, the

winter Is lung and di,: cold intense, with notch snow (a consequence ;:r ihe great intermixture of sea and tool): and when the wind .blows strong from the north and west, over th.ina ols of leagues of an intensely cold snow surface, exposure to the breath of Daces is insupportable. The spring and autumn, es- perially in the more Eastern parts, are also buisterons and variable, with snow, sleet, and rain. The short summer is, however, wana and genial, more parti- cularly in the island of St. John and the South-west portion of the: e provinces ; mut is sufficient to ripen oats, bark), potatoes, excellent apples and pearsorith a little spring-sown wheat, (autunm-sown wheat generally rotting or dying under the snow, from the very long period, sometimes six month., which the snow remains on the ground.) In the Eastern and Northern portioa, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland, the climate is exceedingly ungenial and rough, and but for the vicinity of the fisheries (the most productive in the world) would be considered uninhabitable. The prodigious quantity of' flootinix ice which drifts down front Davis's and Ilialson's straits, and which grounds upon the banks and shallows on the Eastern shores, neutralizes the sun's beat during the first half of smnmer, and, combined with the shallow seas, produces veil frequent fogs, sleet, and drizzly rain, which sometimes chills the season so much as to ruin the prospects of the graid-farmer. These regions are as yet only very thinly peopled, chiefly along the river-courses, upon the alluvial lands, mid in the vicinity of the frequented harbours. The clearances have generally the most uncouth appearance; around which the bare unsightlY stems of the broken forest stand mangled and torn, and scathed by fire, giving a cha- racter of destructive rudeness to the doings of man. Nearly the whole of these wide provinces are covered by forest ; the most valuable tiinber of 'Which is yellow, white, and reit pine, Welt lira; elm, oak, and maple. Ahnost the sole export is timber, under different forms, and potash, (the soluble portion of timber-ushes,) to Britain and the West Indies, which admits of a return of' clothing, hardware, iron utensils. rum, tea, and coffee. Ship-building, and the cutting and preparing of timlai- fIor expert, and the manuflicture of barrel-staves, hoops, mid potash, are, with the fisheries, agriculture, and a little mining the sale employments.

PROSPECTS OF THE CANAHAS.

This division of races and lammage is a barrier to the formation of any con- siderable independent national power in thee provinces, and renders their ulti- mate union with the United States much more probable. In speculating on the future prospects of these regions, we cannot see much chance of their ever becoming highlv. peopled and. civilized. The climate, which no drainage or clearing can ever render congenial to man, or favoundde to production of grain, or the rearing of flocks and herds, will remain an insuperable barrier. The open- ing of a conlymodeation between the Lakes of riper Canada and the Hudson mund.Nlississippi rivers, by moms of canals and railways, will also divert the commerce ot the interior from the Lower St. Lawrence, the navigathm of which must always labonr under the great disadvantage of' being hermetically sealed by ice for six months in the year. The timber trade will, however, continue while the forests exist. It Illay indeed, in the first place, experience a consi- derable diminution, when the anticipated removal of duties takes place ; but as the Baltic supply, already much exhausted, will, under the then greatly in- creased demand, rapidlyfull oft recourse must again be bad to the inferior and more distant Sully or these provinces. The decrease of timber in the United States, already beginning to lie felt, will also soon compel them to resort to the Lower St. Lawrence provinces, and the demand of the West Indies, and of South America, will eontinue. Yet, in the course of time, the timber supply furnished by these 11,,Imi.$ uvill conic to be reduced to the annual growth ; and it is on the til,ii5 el»elly that the trade anal industry must ultimately 1.4011

CPPEli CANADA.

This great interior country. extending. South-west of Lower Canada along the North side of the great Americim lakes is chiefly a fiat or slighfly undu- lated continuous forest, only diversified by ;he lake and the river, nod the small rude clearanee of the settler. Nothim, Call exceed the sensation of loneliness (lose, as the Americans term it,) which is experienced in these interminable threats, where for hundreds of miles no object is recognizable beyond the tops of the trees. To a Scotsman, the view of' hills is awanting ; to the English- man, the cleanly smiling villages, and the neat enclosures, with the beautiful sheep and cattle. The ocean is :11S,) ■1Walltillg, so interesting to the Briton, as giving him some assurauee of his loc.ility, and carrying with it the idea of home—that he is not lost in flat, 11111i, illimitable space.

This dreariness, combined with some climatic influence, has a marked effect upon the spirits and character of the settler; who is as silent and sombre as the gloomy set snlsnnhuuing which he is le:4,—nothins. seeming to be alive nod in a state of nctive noisy enjoyment in these interininable swampy forests, but the myriads of frogs.

The great disadvantage of the country of the Lakes is, that it wants some some staple article of export. Its timber is too distant from market to be worth transporting. 'rhe climate is not very favourable to fine-woolled sheep, or sheep of any kind; besides, they would require a great extent of clearance, not ft pile of grass growing in the dense hard-wood forest, where only pigs can pick up a little food, consisting of reptiles nuts, and tree-seeds. Cattle require too much hoarded. winter fora,ge, and are 'far from markets; the nearest of which are Montreal, Albany, and New York. Grain is also too distant from market to be profitably raised for export ; and, in hid, it, as well as cattle, is imported to very considerable extent. There is thus almost no means of export to ba- lance necessary imports of clothing, hardware, Ace. • and the portion they teeeive-has hitherto been purchased by the hard cash that emigrants have car- ried out, by the pension of half-pay officers, (a number of whom have settled in the country,) and by the money expended by the Government derived from

• This divisiou includes the seabord of Canada, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Sze.

Britain. Being entirely destitute of exports, the imports of even the few sup- plies which people of euch inadequate means find necessary, speedily exhaust the little hoarded money which settlers carrfout with them; and, except when they can exchange a few cattle or some seed-grain with a new comer for his hard dollars, they are under the necessity to content themselves with the rude fabrics which their own hands. can manufacture, and with the simple food which their clearance can supply.

The Western parts of South Africa—that is, the whole country of the Hottentots—is settled wherever it is worth settling. The general drawbacks of Algoa Bay are droughts, wild beasts, and the risk of a border war with the Caffres. Still, there are some very delightful districts .further east ; only they do not belong to us, or the title is disputed. However, as the public mind is nut much turned to South Africa, we need not dwell upon it.

Upon the healthiness of Australasia Mr. Marriniw passes a favourable opinion. .The climate and soil of Van Diemeh's Land he considers well adapted to settlers ; but there is one drawback—the best land is occupied, and the moral plague of connictism is rife : hut in no case does he allow due weight to the misery of this latter evil. I us judgment of extra-tropical * New Holland rates it high as a pastoral country, loss- as an agricultural one. He thinks it never will be densely peopled ; and hopes it may not till New Zea- land is colonized to serve as a. granary ' • for, should the periodical droughts or blights (the latter induced by a peculiar wind resem- bling the simoom) occur, amongst tt large population, a state of misery must ensue more horrible than the rice famines of Imlia. The exception to this judgment is Major MITCHEWS newly-dis- covered region of Australia Felix. The reasons for coming to this conclusion, apart from the character of the country and the expe- rience of the settlers, are thus stated.

0 In taking. a general survey of extra-tropical Australia, we observe a state of things iniheative of great aridity, anti a natural provision for withstanding drought fully more complete than in any other parched locality.- " 1st, A deficiency of timber in many places, and large old trees standing apart, without the young rising to supply the fidlure of the old—rather indi- cating that the drought is out the increase.

"2d, The nature of the tree foliage ; the small, bard, smooth, simple, (not di- vided,) dark-colonred erect leaf, so differmit from the beautiful large fresh green leaves of the deciduous forests of Upper Canada mai the Mississippi Basin. "lid, The slough, or covering of dead bark, which serves to protect the living bark of the trees from the drought. This is grtulually forming, and coats are thrown off as the stem enlarges, which appear hanging from the stein in the most unsightly fit shion, like tattered garments. "4th, The gummy consistence of the tree-asp, and the flinty hardness of the timber, matured by the great drought, and the absence of a wiuter check to a solidity and induration which render it almost uselesitto man for the purposes of construction.

" 5th, The herbage, especially the grasses, very scant, and thin and dry, stands ing apart in tufts. " 6th, The native mammalin, generally of the marsupial order ; baying a bag, —a provision, as it would seem, '-for the purpose of removing their young when they are obliged to migrate on the occurrence of droughts; while the remoante of past life, found in caves and diluvial earth, prove the former existence of niammalia not marsupial. " These indices of aridity and sterility are not balanced by any apparent counter advantages or capacity for improvement, excepting the peculiar adap- tation for sheep-Iv:like. Were the country too moist, or even insalubrious, drainage and cutting down the forests might remedy the former of these de- fects altogether, and to a considerable degree the latter. Did it have nume- rous good harbours, convenient river communication, or supply of water-power suited for machinery, with a cool climate commerce and manufactures might make sonic amends fin. deficiency of fertility. Were the sea its abundant in edible fish around Australia as in the sea on the east and west coast of North America and around Britain and New Zealand, the fertility of the waters might he'lp to repair the sterility of the land. But all this is awanting in Australia.

"It is even flaunt out, by experience, that fertility is not increased in Austra- lia, as it is in Britain, by the ground being &pastured, but, on the contrari, greatly diminished. The country which has been longest under pasturage in the vicinity of Sydney, and which for some time after the commencement of the colony alllaaled comparatively fair pasturage, is now reducel to great steri- lity. An oncropt cover of grass, thin as it is here' appears useful to shelter the vegetable matter in the soil from being exhausted or evaporated by the arid heat, aud even necessary to protect the roots from being burned out by the stroog influence of the situ. And the manure of cattle, instead of heing covered be the luxuriant herbage, before it is desiccated, and enriching the soil, as in Eng:land, under the powerful sun and mid air in New South Wales is quiekl- reduced to dust, and dissipated."

Of the differcnt settlements in New Holland, he gives the pre- ference longu intereallo to South Australia. Besides the arid and rocky nature of the country, New South Wales is overrun with con- victs ; Swan River has 1)ot recovered the shock of its first misfor- tunes, and is moreover a " Crown colony." In South Australia, he only sees one drawback to the "fine display of popular vigour" in planning the foundation of the colony and carrying it into execu- tion—" the borrowing funds to carry on operations ;" though, how this was to be avoided, unless by making it his much-dreaded " Crown colony," we do not perceive. Like Mr. ImEs, he con- siders the price of land was fixed at too high a rate ; and he criti- cizes, with great severity, the grant of two square miles of pasture- land to each lot of sonic 134 acres ; denouncing it as a delusion to cover the original error of the high price and as sure in its effect to cause that dispersion of settlers which it was the basis of the plan to prevent, as, practically, every new settler will be driven beyond the range of pasture-lots.

Of New Zealand, our author speaks in terms as eulogistic as those of most other writers who have treated of the subject, except perhaps the early navigators, lie speaks in raptures of its seas teeming with fish ; its rivers favourable for navigation or irrigation; its numerous ports ; its fertile soil; its delightful climate ; its hills

* Of New Holland, or Australia, to the North of the Tropic, (about one half of the island,)•little or nothing is known. There are reports of inland lakes, and large rivers, and the soil is said to be much less arid than that of the colonized regions: but all this is derived from the observations, or rather the mmjectures, of navigators occasionally effecting a landing.

and vallies adorned with woods, variegated by flowers, and en- livened by song-birds *; and lastly, its alpine range capped with snow, and affording a sufficient guarantee against drought. Nor are its commercial and political advantages overlooked by the no

longer critic, but enthusiastic projector. " The proposed Pacific steam-navigation via the Isthmus of Darien," says he, " Will soon

bring New Zealand, and the fine countries on the West coast of North America, within little more than a month's voyage." Its situation, within easy sail of Australasia, India, and China, gives it great commercial advantages, pointing it out as the Britain of the Southern hemisphere, though with a finer climate, a more productive soil, and a more teeming sea. In case of Russian or American ag- gression, we should have a double upon the verge of India ready to act at once,—supposing our double well-disposed, and inclined to mix itself up in our quarrels. Mr. MATTHEW takes New Zealand under his special protection, and minutely propounds his project for its colonization, under the various sections of the subject, and at considerable length. Like

Mexico, it is a scheme, but more developed ; with the weak- nesses which generally characterize paper schemes, besides being

utterly impracticable under existing circumstances. Assuming that the founder of a colony were fettered neither by want of power nor by want of means—that a NAPOLEON or a TITUS were meditating the settlement of New Zealand—the speculation contains the germ of some good thoughts. After an arrangement with the chiefs, Mr. MATTHEW would fortify three positions, as a protection against native or foreign aggression, and as a garrison for regular troops. Be would have (such at least is our interpretation) a body of colo- nists provided in the shape of' militia, to consist of picked men, the majority married. Like the militia corps at home, these men would only be called out to drill at certain seasons ; they would have small allotments of land; and be employed on public works

at all intervals of leisure, receiving pay only when called out, and so far adscriptce glebee that they could not be ordered from New Zealand. Under the shadow of this organized and disciplined body, other colonists might settle in the usual manner—buying land if they had the means, and if not working for those who had.

Resides this greater scheme, which he would like the Govern- ment to undertake, Mr. MATTHEW has another, of which he himself

would be the WILLIAM PENN. He proposes to raise funds by means of a joint stock company of 601. shares ; each shareholder to be a colonist, and to carry out men and women in a rateable proportion to the number of his shares. And a plan of this kind, properly detailed, is not the worst way of founding a colony.

With an eye to New Zealand himself, Mr. MATTHEW of course criticizes the plan of the Association, whose bill was defeated in the last session of Parliament. His chief objection is to the Asso-

ciation's want of "ways and means"—their mode of raising money on loan ; and the deficiency this poverty will lead to in their sur-

veying staff; in their power of' defence, or rather of awing both the natives and the vagabonds of all kinds who infest New Zealand and its seas, as well as in their means of providing for the mental and physical cultivation of the natives. Hence, perhaps with the spirit of a rival, he would rather have had Government than the Asso- ciation undertake the settlement. But it is by no means likely

that Government would have advanced the requisite sum, or judi- ciously employed it : it is probable that their interference would have led to all the evils of jobbing and misgovernment, which Mr. MATTHEW finds in other "Crown colonies." That any plan of raising money which should dispense with a loan at high interest would be an improvement, is true : but, unless it be a gift, let money come from where it will, it must be paid for; and if the par- ties mainly concerned—the borrowers and the lenders—are willing to come to terms, we see no reason why they should be prevented. As regards defensive force, it was in the view of the Association to provide for it, though not perhaps to a sufficient extent ; and this is a point which should no doubt receive great attention, considering the numbers and warlike propensities of the natives, and the miscreants by whom they might be excited. With respect to the protection and instruction. of the natives, that was a main object of the Association. In looking to the colonization of New Zealand, three courses are before US. I. Mr. MATTHEW'S project,—which, to use the mildest

term, is impracticable, even if he had any influence to back it.

2. The plan of the Association,—deficient, we conceive, in executive force: if they could defend themselves against aggression, they could not prevent it by an overwhelming display, and might not be able

to enforce their decrees. 3. Government colonization,—which would no doubt be preferable, if the Government were wise, honest, and provident ; but being neither, it would fall short in all requisites save force, and that it would probably so use as to excite a New

Zealand war as a pendant to the Canadian. If, therefore, New Zealand is to be colonized—and opinion is strongly setting in that

direction—the plan of the Association, in its general features, seems the most preferable. And let it be remembered, that whatever may be its difficulties, they will be encountered by the parties (and no others) who prepare for them, with full knowledge and consider- ation. In practice, something must always be risked; and where

* In America, Africa; and Australia, the song-birds are few and the ser- pents many. MT. MATTHEW offers a conjecture upon it- " It is a curious fact, that serpents are not found in New Zealand; and the melody of the grove at break of day is described to be altogether enchanting. Can it be, that the birds of lengthened steady song are not so common in the serpent-abounding countries, because their note and melody attract these de- stroyers, while those which only give out sudden discordant sounds, as they leap from bough to bough, are comparatively safe ?"

action is necessary, when we cannot do the best conceivable, we must do the best we can.