412 CAPE BRETON . the oblivion which has so long enveloped this valu¬ able and important island. To Great Britain, its possession is of the utmost consequence. The naval power of France , it is well known, began to decline from the time they were driven out of the fisheries by the conquest of ; and the Americans of the United States would consider a boon more valuable to them, as a nation, than any of our islands. Did they but once obtain it as a fishing station, and as a position to command the surrounding seas and coasts, their navy would, I fear, in a few years, have sufficient physical strength to cope with any power in , not even except¬ ing England . Let not the British nation, therefore, lose sight of this colony. It is capable of supporting from one to three hundred thousand. If it were once populously settled, the inhabitants would adhere steadily to certain regular pursuits. The farmers would follow agriculture alone, and the fishermen would, at the same time, find it advantageous to persevere in fishing, as the pursuit in which, by habit and experience, they had acquired the most perfect knowledge. Particular care should, however, be taken to render the inhabitants readily effective as a militia, to defend the colony in the event of its being attack¬ ed. The farmers would then be prepared to defend their own property, which is probably the cause for which a militia will most bravely fight. The fisher¬ men may at all times, from thehazardous business they follow, be considered hardy and dauntless seamen.