CANADIAN GUIDE BOOK. consequence of some companies of troops being usually stationed here from its important position in commanding the communication between Lake Champlain and the St. Lawrence. The Commander of the Forces occupies the Government-cottage, as it is called. The population amounts to about two thousand five hundred. The houses, though generally constructed of wood, are substantial. The Protestant and Catholic churches are of stone. On the opposite shore of the llichelieu are excellent accommodations for ship-build ing, in which vessels of large tonnage used to be constructed. This branch of trade, however, has not been pursued to the extent that might have been expected. Here most of the Montreal steam ers are laid up for the winter.—A few miles below William Henry the St. Lawrence widens into its last expansion, called Lake St. Peter. It is about twenty-five miles long, and from five to ten in width. Its upper extremity for about nine miles is studded with numerous islands, some affording excellent pasturage, and others still covered with tall primeval trees. Some of the group belong to Government. On approaching the Lake the stranger can descry, overtopping the islands, the church-spire of Bcrthicr, a village pleasantly situated on the North Channel of the River. From being midway between Montreal and Three Rivers in the direct route of the stages established on the plan of those in the Mother Country between the Capital and Quebec, and from having well furnished stores for the supply of the neighbouring populous seigniories, it has become a place of considerable resort and traffic. Hence large quantities of grain arc annually exported. From its flat situation much damage has been sometimes caused to the basements of the houses and goods in the stores by the melting of the snow and ice in spring. So great has the rise been that it has been necessary to remove large quantities of grain to the upper stories of granaries in order to preserve it from injury. A similar inconvenience happen* at Verchercs on the south side. The banks on either side of the Lake are very low,and shoals stretch from them to a considerable distance, so that there js but a narrow passage for shipping from two to three fathoms in depth. This intricate channel is marked off by pole* and other beacons. Large sums of money have been expended by