SAINT JOHN.
This County is bounded northerly by a line running East North East, and
West South West, from the southernmost point of the Kennebeckasis
Island. Westwardly by a North line from Point Lepreau. Eastwardly by
Hopewell Township, and on the Southward by the Bay of Fundy. It has
four Parishes. The City of Saint John, Portland, Lancaster, and Saint
Martins. It contains a population of twelve thousand nine hundred and
seven inhabitants. This county has several fine harbors; the principal
of which is the harbor of Saint John, at the mouth of the Saint John
river and which was noticed in the description of the city. This harbor
has a valuable fishery for Salmon, Herring, and Shad. Formerly from two
to three thousand barrels of Shad, twenty thousand barrels of herrings,
and a vast quantity of Salmon were taken here annually; but the fishery
has fallen off very much of late years. A Cod fishery might also be
prosecuted to advantage not far from Partridge Island, but this is
totally neglected. The other harbors are Quaco, Musquash, and Dippoo
harbor, down the Bay, which have nothing particular. They have water
sufficient for vessels of four hundred tons burthen.
The lands, in the county and along the sea-board are not so good for
farming as those in the interior. They are generally very rocky and
uneven. In many places they are mere barrens being covered with a
stunted growth of shrubs. There are however good spots intermixed, and
many places that formerly appeared doomed to sterility have been
brought under a good state of cultivation. Great improvements have
lately been made in farming in this county. Many new settlements have
been formed and are rapidly improving. Several merchants and persons of
property in the city of Saint John have lately improved farms in its
vicinity; particularly on the Marsh and at Loch Lomond. It will
certainly be a great advantage to the Province, if men who possess
capital, employ a part of it in improving the country. By this means
many poor districts of sterile land may be reclaimed, and improved by
the wealth of the city; to the great advantage of individuals, and
benefit of the settlement where such improvements are made: as the
citizen will lay out from year to year, no more than he can spare from
his other pursuits, and this when the land is once brought to a good
state of cultivation will richly repay him: while the indigent settler
will have labour brought home to his own door to enable him to subsist
while he improves a small spot for himself, which without such a
resource he could not attempt.
A great strip of Marsh lies contiguous to the city, some of which is
dyked and yields excellent grass. The whole district is rapidly
improving to the great advantage of the city. Several wealthy citizens
have lately made great improvements here, and some fine seats are
nearly completed.
The Parish of Portland contains old Fort Howe. This Fort is situated on
a rugged hill at the mouth of the river Saint John, and completely
commands the harbour. Portland is well built up, but the road near the
Fort is very narrow, and in a wretched state, considering that it is
the only thoroughfare from the city, to the Indian House, so called;
which is situated in front of the bay, just above the falls, and where
vessels and boats come too, going and coming to wait for the tide, and
where passengers from all parts of the river land, and frequently walk
over the tongue of land to Saint John, which is a little more than a
mile. Passengers likewise going up the river in the Steam-Boat or
Sloops, usually ride or walk from Saint John to the Indian House, and
baggage and goods of all descriptions, are transported above the falls
by this route, which keeps the road continually thronged, and points
out the necessity of having a good and safe communication in such a
public place. There is no public place of worship in Portland of any
denomination: the inhabitants resort to the different places of worship
in the city.
The settlements of Quaco, Manawagonish, Musquash, &c. are in a
flourishing state. Considerable progress has been made in Agriculture,
and there is reason to believe the country round the Bay shore is rich
in minerals. Manganese has been found at Quaco, and the adjoining
district, which has been sent to the United States, and is said to be
of a good quality.