Is a province bounded on the east by the _Gulf of St. Lawrence_, on the
south by the Atlantic, and on the west by the United States. It is
somewhat more than two hundred miles long, and one hundred and seventy
miles broad. The southern division is a peninsula of triangular form,
having an isthmus not more than thirty miles in breadth. Nova Scotia is
divided into counties, and subdivided into townships; and, in the whole,
contains somewhat more than fifty thousand inhabitants.
The climate is unhealthy. During a considerable part of the year, the
maritime and lower districts are enveloped in fog. The cold of winter is
intense, and the heat of summer excessive. The soil is various. In many
parts it is thin, barren, gravelly, and covered with forests: in others,
especially on the borders of the rivers, it is fertile and agreeable.
Some of the tracts yield hemp and flax; but the inhabitants have not
hitherto made much progress in agriculture. Nova Scotia has many bays
and harbours; but much of the coast is bordered with dangerous rocks.
Great numbers of cod-fish are caught in some of the bays, and in many
parts of the sea adjacent to the coast.
_Halifax_, the capital of Nova Scotia, was built about the year 1749. It
is now a flourishing town on the sea-coast, and has an excellent
harbour, accessible at all seasons of the year, and with depth of water
and anchorage sufficient for the largest vessels. The town is about two
miles in length, and a quarter of a mile in width; and is laid out in
oblong squares, and in streets that run parallel or at right angles to
each other. It is defended by forts of timber, and contains about
fifteen thousand inhabitants. At its northern extremity is the royal
arsenal, which is well built, and amply supplied with naval stores.