called the
township of Parr, and Carleton on the western side. It is divided into
six wards, two of which are in Carleton and four in St. John, properly
so called. It contains, according to the late census, 8,488 inhabitants
of all descriptions.

Like most English towns, the streets in St. John intersect each other
at right angles. They are in some parts well built up, the houses being
of different heights and joining each other for some distance, forming
several fine ranges of buildings. The first houses in this place were
constructed of wood, many of them were low and ill shaped. These when
removed by fires or other causes, are generally replaced with handsome
brick buildings, which is making a great improvement in the appearance
of the city. The streets, likewise, which were formerly nearly
impassable from rocks, hills and chasms, are rapidly improving; hollows
have been filled up, and rocks cut away; so that although the hills in
some parts are still steep, yet carriages drive through most part of
the city with the greatest safety.

A projecting point near the entrance of the harbour, has caused the
different parts of the city to be distinguished by the name of the
upper and lower coves; the latter of which has been much neglected till
lately, Government having built a handsome range of Barracks on the
point fronting the Bay of Fundy, and removed the troops, &c. from Fort
Howe to that station, it is beginning to improve.

Most all the trade of the city is carried on in the upper part of the
town, where there are a number of warehouses, stores, wharves, and
other conveniences for lading and unlading ships. The tides rise to
such a height that large ships can lay at the wharves and discharge
with the greatest safety.

The harbour is convenient and safe, and capable of containing a great
number of vessels of the largest description. Partridge Island lies at
the entrance, on which there is a light house, and signal station,
where signals are carefully attended to and made on the first approach
of vessels. These signals are repeated at Fort Howe. Within the island
there is a bar which extends from the western side, and passes the
lower point of the peninsula, on which the city stands. It has a beacon
on the outer end, and a buoy to direct vessels coming or going. The bar
is dry at ebb tides, but within the harbour there is sufficient water
for the largest ships. The tide ebbs and flows from sixteen to
twenty-four fe