been printed in the Collections
of the N. B. Hist. Society) show that before Beamsley Glasier left
Montreal, as the accredited agent of the St. John's River Society,
there had been a good deal of discussion about the location of the
townships it was desired to procure and settle. It was ultimately
decided that this matter should be left to the discretion of Captain
Glasier after he had made a personal examination of certain localities
and obtained reliable information respecting the ungranted lands in
Nova Scotia. Glasier wrote from Halifax on the 15th December, 1764, to
Captain Thos. Falconer and the Society's committee at Montreal,
informing them of his selection of the valley of the River St. John as
by all odds the most desirable situation. He says:

"When I compare this place to any other we ever thought of I am
surprised it had not been fixed on before I came away. The island
of St. Johns (or Prince Edward Island) is not good land, besides
being so far to the northward it is too exposed if a war should
happen, as is all up the Gut of Canso, Bay Challeurs, etc. Besides
the whole of that part of the country, as well as all the coast to
the head Cape Sable and up the Bay of Fundy, is bound with fog
almost three months in the year. In this River you have none above
the falls, nor have you Musquitos here in any sort of comparison
to any other part of this country. Besides you are so near the
settled parts of New England that you may sail with a good wind to
Boston in 30 hours, or if you have a mind to coast along shore you
may harbour every 4 or 5 Leagues all the way to Boston and that
all winter. I think we are very happy not to settle on the Lake
where we proposed, for if we had anything to send to market it
would take more time and be a greater risk to get it out of the
River St. Lawrence than to go from here to Europe."

On the 1st March following Capt. Glasier addressed a letter to John
Fenton of Boston informing the members of the Society in that quarter
of the success of his subsequent proceedings. He apologizes for the
tardiness of his communication by saying, "I have put off writing, as
the world puts off Repentence till the last moment." Glasier is very
enthusiastic as to the outlook.

"The interval lands on the St. John," he says, "are wonderful, not
a stone and black mold 6 feet deep, no underwood, large tall Trees
all hardwood; you may drive a Coach through the T