[It affords me unqualified pleasure to state, that I have, during my resi

dence

in Halifax, enjoyed an uninterrupted access to the Town Library,

the Commercial Reading Room, the Mechanics' Institute, and the other Lite

rary and Scientific Associations, which so eminently distinguish this enlight

ened metropolis; and therefore, do I now, to the respective Directors and

Managers of these Societies, unfeignedly tender my assurances of regard

and esteem.]

R. C.

PRINTER'S NOTE.

The general demand for Cooney's History of the northern part of New Brunswick and the fact that copies of the original edition, printed at Halifax by the late Honorable Joseph Howe, in 1832, are very difficult to obtain, together with the merits of the work itself and the importance of preserving it as a valuable historical record, have induced me to reprint it. The book as now reproduced- from the introduction to the last page-is -is a faithful copy of the original, (with the exception of a few corrected typographical errors, such as are apt to occur in any printed matter.) The number of pages and of lines to a page, as well as the beginning and termination of every line, are the same, so that any references in other works, to Cooney's History, by page or line, will apply to the present edition, exactly the same as to that printed by Mr. Howe in 1832. D. G. SMITH.

Chatham, New Brunswick 1896.

INTRODUCTION.

ALTHOUGH We protest against the unwarrantable vanity, that would betray us into the institution of a comparison between New Brunswick and other Colonies of Great Britain; we feel satisfied that no one will impeach our consistency, if we briefly allude to the rise and progress of the maritime strength and commercial prosperity of the latter; thence modestly hinting, that her Colonies have eminently contributed to both.

Considerations of this kind, though perhaps destitute of any intrinsic utility, are on this occasion recommended by a sort of natural pertinency, inasmuch as they may exhibit the general importance of Colonial possessions; and embody an expression of the sentiments, as well as an avowal of the principles, cherished by the inhabitants of this Province in particular.

1

I am, moreover, induced to make these preliminarý remarks, from a view of the injustice of some late mea

sures of Colonial policy; as well as from a dignified conception of our own co-relative situation, as the subjects of a country, of which we are a constituent part: under whose laws we live; by whom we are protected: of whose greatness we participate; and to whose institutions we are attached.

Towards the close of the 15th century, Venice and Genoa were the only great commercial powers in Europe. Between these two nations a similarity of purpose inspired mutual rivalship; but in trade, Venice maintained the pre-eminence. She engrossed the whole commerce of India, then carried on through the interior of Asia, or by way of Egypt and the Red Sea. America, comprising the great western Continent, and including almost innumerable fertile Islands, was then a Terra Incognita, or an unknown land.

Under these circumstances, the trade of England was very limited; we did little more than wander through the Mediterranean, or crawl along the coast of Africa. This was the extent of our navigation; and the few ships employed therein, were, as well as our Naval stores, imported. We purchased all manufactured metals from Germany; we were dependent on Portugal for Sugar; we bought American produce from Spain; and we had to pay the Venetians and Genoese for the commodities of India.