New Brunswick -- Description and travel; New Brunswick -- History
The Mountains and Hills with which the Province is diversified, have
nothing peculiar to merit a particular description, except Mars Hill,
which has excited considerable interest, being supposed by the British
Commissioners under the treaty of Ghent to be the height of land
intended by the treaty of 1783, and that consequently the boundary line
between the territories of the United States and the British Provinces
should take a new direction at that place. This is resisted by the
American Commissioners, who wish to prolong the line beyond that point.
This is an object of great importance to the two powers, for should the
line be continued in the old direction, which at this point approaches
very near the river St. John, it would cross that river a little above
the Grand Falls, and would not only separate New-Brunswick and Canada,
but likewise give the Americans the upper part of the County of York
which joins Canada, with a large Settlement of French at
Madawaska--Mars Hill lies about six miles from the river St. John, on
the western side, about one hundred miles above Fredericton. It can be
seen from the high lands on the opposite side of the river, and appears
at that distance majestically towering above the adjacent country. On
approaching the mountain the woods are open and the ascent commences
with an easy swell about half a mile from the main hill, after which
the ascent is more abrupt, and in some parts nearly perpendicular.
Having reached the crest, the spectator has a clear expanse of horizon,
being completely above the surrounding country. From hence he views a
boundless forest beneath his feet. The hills appear like waves covered
with their green foliage of different shades, from the various sorts of
trees with which their brows are covered. In different places the more
elevated hills appear rising above the others like towers. Facing the
river St. John, he beholds Moose Mountain at about nine miles distant
on the opposite side of the river, which is nearly as high as Mars
Hill, and perpendicular on the north side. To his left are a range of
lofty hills on the Restook; to his right he has a distant view of
Houlton-plantation, and in his rear, as far as his eye can reach, are
the lofty Catardhan Mountains on the Penobscot river; the intermediate
space exhibiting an undulating forest of boundless variety of hills and
vallies, lakes, &c. The whole forming a grand and interesting
spectacle. The Mountain is about three miles in length, very narrow,
and divided by a hollow near the centre. A small spot has been cut down
on each end of the hill, and a temporary observatory erected by the
Commissioners under the treaty of Ghent.
The Americans have laid out a settlement in this part of the country,
which takes in Mars Hill. The base of the mountain is washed by the
Presque-Isle river, and other streams which fall into the river St.
John.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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