Halifax, the capital city of Nova Scotia. It is situated on a fine harbor of the name, and is an important seaport. It is the chief naval coaling station of the British in North America. The harbor is strongly fortified. It is the nearest to Europe on this continent that is open all the year around. The city was founded in 1749. It takes its name from a manufacturing city in Yorkshire, England. The population, according to the last census, was 40,832. At the close of the American Revolution the British garrison of New York City set sail for Halifax. They were accompanied by a large number of American royalists, who deemed that they would feel uncomfortable if left behind at the mercy of their American neighbors. "Go to Halifax" became accordingly a popular term of reproach.