The author, born in Canada, served at intervals as a military officer in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Cape Breton, Prince Edward Island, and Lower Canada. He owned extensive lands and a shipping business. In this book he writes of Canadian social and political conditions, especially in Maritime Canada, but including sections on the Canadas and even the USA. Topics include colonial government, immigration, the Rebellion of 1837 in Lower Canada, the nearness of Canada to Britain in the days of steam and telegraph, the railway as a consolidating force, etc. The title word "Hacmatack" is probably an Americanism, meaning dense forest or interwoven shrubbery of tamarack or other conifers.
