And oh! ye gods exert your happiest art To give those charms that win and firmly bind the heart. SEDLEY. FOR THE PORT FOLIO.-THE "KISS!" ACKNOWLEDGED VOL. 1. To her who will understand me. Kiss, be mine! that fills the soul; A kiss which mouth to mouth applies, Mine be-ye kisses of the eyes The eye-blush'd kiss, reserv'd thy lover Kiss of gentle Amadee! Kiss of love! O joy supreme, T& CAMILDHU. 1 ABOVE the island of Orleans, says Gray, in his "Letters from Canada," published in 1809, the St. Lawrence expands, and a basin is formed by the junction of a river called the St. Charles, which takes its course through a plain separated from the great river by a ridge of high land about nine miles in length, and from one to two in breadth, extending from a place called Cape Rouge, to Cape Diamond. Cape Diamond is a bold promontory advancing into the river St. Lawrence, of an elevation of 350 feet above the river, nearly perpendicular, and the bank the whole way to Cape Rouge is nearly of the same elevation, rising from the river almost perpendicular; the ridge slopes towards the north till it reaches the plain through which the river St. Charles runs. On the northeast or lower end of the peninsula, Quebec is situated, and the line of its fortifications runs from the river St. Charles across to the top of the bank which overlooks the St. Lawrence; the distance is about half a mile, and from the line of fortification to the point of Cape Diamond the distance is about a quarter of a mile; within this space stands the city of Quebec. It consists of an upper and lower town. The upper town may be said to be situated on Cape Diamond, at least upon the side of it which slopes towards the river St. Charles. It is much elevated above the lower town, and separated from it by a line of steep rocks which run from the cape towards the river St. Charles. Formerly the river St. Lawrence, at high water, came up close to these rocks; but as the tide rises and falls here about fifteen feet, it gave an opportu nity of taking from the river a considerable space. Wharfs were built at low water mark, and even at some places beyond it, and the intermediate ground filled up to such a height that it remained dry at high water. Upon this situation streets were laid out and houses built. These streets run from the upper side of cape Diamond down to the river St, Charles, a distance of about half a mile; they are of considerable breadth, and the houses are large and commodious, those next the river have attached to them very extensive warehouses (called, in the language of Quebec, hangards) and vessels come close to the wharves to discharge their cargoes; at some of them the vessels remain afloat at low water, at others, which are not carried so far out, or where the river does not deepen so suddenly, the vessels lie dry at low water. The lower town is not included in the fortifications, but the passes to it are commanded by the batteries in the line of fortification which surrounds the upper town, so that the approach by land to the lower town will hardly be attempted by an enemy. It is true the Americans attempted it in the winter of 1775, but they were repulsed with great slaughter. The communication from the lower to the upper town is by a winding street, at the top of which is a fortified gate. On entering this gate you find on the right hand a large area in which is situated the house (dignified with the title of a palace) in which the bishop of Quebec formerly resided; at present it is used for public offices, and accommodates the supreme council and house of assembly. On the left is another area, and on the side next the river is the Chateau de St. Louis, in which the governor resides. Quebec on the north, north-east and south sides, is so strongly fortified by the nature of the ground, that little has been left for the engineer to do. What was necessary however has been done. And as the great river and the river St. Charles, surround in a manner the fortifications in these directions, and in some |