it offers many advantages.

The estates of persons dying intestate are distributed analogous to the
custom of gavelkind in Kent. The heir at law of such intestate shall be
entitled to and receive a double portion or two shares of the real
estate left by such intestate, (saving the widow's right of dower.) The
remander to be equally distributed among all the children or their
legal representatives, including in the distribution the children of
the half blood; and in case there be no children, to the next of
kindred in equal degree, and their representatives. Provided that
children advanced by settlement, or portions, not equal to the other
shares, shall have so much of the surplusage, as shall make the estate
of all to be equal, except the heir at law, who shall have two shares,
or a double portion.

Advertisement.

_Having for reasons stated in the commencement of this Work, given up
my first design of adding a brief connected history of the Province, I
have inserted a few extracts relating to this Country, in an Appendix;
as they may be satisfactory to the reader, and useful in conveying some
knowledge of the early history of the Country. My reasons for abridging
this Description I have also stated, and have omitted many particulars
necessary in a full description of a Country, such as tables of
Animals, Plants, Minerals, Weather, &c. as I could not obtain the
necessary materials, as but little attention has been paid to these
subjects by persons qualified for the task._

_I have endeavoured to be as correct in what I have stated as possible,
but no doubt many inaccuracies will be discovered, as the information I
have collected from different sources is liable to error. But it must
be remembered that in a first Work like this many difficulties will
occur, and having no tract to guide me, I have frequently wanted the
necessary information. The Work, however imperfect, must be useful, as
giving the first general outline of the Province, and interesting to
every person who possesses a feeling of interest for his own fireside.
In short, persons who strike out a first tract in any thing, may be
compared to pioneers who trace a road for others to use and improve._

APPENDIX No. 1

_Speech of His Excellency the Lieutenant-Governor at the meeting of the
General Assembly, at Fredericton, February 1, 1825._

_Mr. President, and Gentlemen of His Majesty's Council,
Mr. Speaker, and Gen