CHARLOTTE TOWN. 285

ting no more from the level than could be Wished, for the purpose of agriculture.

Almost every part affords agreeable prospects and beautiful situations. In summer and autumn, the forests exhibit a rich and splendid foliage, varying from the deep green of the fir, to the lively tints of the birch and maple ; and the character of the scenery at these seasons, displays a smiling loveliness and teeming fertility.

The island is divided into three counties, these again into parishes, and the whole subdivided into sixty-seven townships, containing about 20,000 acres each. The plot of a town, containing about 400 building lots, and the same number of pasture lots, are reserved in each county. These are, George Town, in King’s County; Charlotte Town, in Queen’s County; and Prince Town, in Prince County.

Charlotte Town, the seat of government, is situated on the north bank of Hillsborough river, near its confluence with the rivers Elliot and York. Its har- bour is considered one of the best in the Gulf of St Lawrence. The passage into it leads from Northum- berland Strait, to the west of Point Prime, between St Peter’s and Governor’s Islands, up Hillsborough Bay, to the entrance of the harbour. Here its breadth is little more than half a mile, Within which it widens, and forms a safe, capacious basin, and then branches into three beautiful and navigable rivers. The har- bour is commanded by different situations that might easily be fortified, so as to defend the town against any ordinary attack by water. At present, there is a