The New York Herald Newspaper, February 21, 1853, Page 1

THE NEW YORK HER = WHOLE NO. 7366. INTERESTING POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE, MORE CABINET REPORTS, sketch of the Services of Caleb Cushing. Carne aa a eae Mayor Westervelt's Leiter to Gen. Pierce. Gen, Plerce In Phiiadelphia. Pumiapes Feb 20, 1853 Gan. Pievee will probably remain here till Wednesday. ‘This morning he attended the Central Presbyterian Chureh, of which Rey. Mr. Clark, formerly of Concord, is pastor, and in the ¢ moon, Rey. Dr choreh, The Cabinet. Wacun lemen selected for Gen. 1 arriving at Washington. ‘They will all be heve by the 4th of March. I do think, ho’ that the arrival of Goy. Marcy within striking distance of the capital amounts to anything in iis favor, forit is well known that he always goes in for the chances; but still hemay get the | Treasury department. Nothing is yet cert however, as to the names of those who will compose it. It is sup- posed that the following is pretty near correct, so far as the names are concerned, There may be some change in regard to the several departments; Cushing may be At- torney General, and Judge Woodward, of Pennsylvania, may take Judge Campbell's place. Caleb Cushing, of Mass. «Secretary of State. R. M. T. Hunter, of Va « Secretary of the Treasury. James C, Dobbin, of N.C, Secretary of the Interior, Jefferson Davis, of Miss. . Secretary of War. James Campbell, of Fenn. Secretary of the Navy. R. McClelland, of Michigan, .... Postmaster General. James Guthrie, of Kent’y . AttornBy General. It is thought that James Buchanan will go to England, Pierre Soulé to Spain, Jobn A. Dix to France, A. W. Buel, 0 Michigan, to Berlin, Gov. Seymour, of Conn., to Mexico, Gen. Lane, as Governor of Oregon, and D. 8. Dickinson, as Collector of New York. I give the above for what they are worth, but “turn down a leaf.’ ‘the The New Postmaster General. {From the Detroit Tribune, Feb. 16. We announced in a part of our yesterday's edition the fact that Goy. McClelland had received « despatch from the President elect, inviting him to a place in his cabinet. It is understood that the office tendered to him is that of Postmaster General. Of course he will accept the offer. In that case Mr. Parsons will be acting Governor for. the remainder of the year. In anticipation of sneh an event, the Hon. George it. Griswold was appointed President pro tom. of the Senate—a most judicious and well-deserved se- lection. Mr. Griswold has shown himself a high-minded man anda faithful representative larcy. (From the Wilmington (N. C.) Journal, Feb, 16.] Fx-Governor Marcy cf New York, accompanied by Cap- tain Maddox and lady, arrived here yesterday morning in the bost from Charleston, and_ proceeded on his jour- ney North, in the train which left at2 P.M. The dis- tinguished cx Secretary of War was called upon at the Washington and Lafayette hotels by nearly all of our citizens who were a vare of his being in town. (From the Richmond Enquirer, Feb 13.) Fx-Governor Marcy, of New York, reached this city yesterday from the South, and, as we learn, is staying with Judge Mason. TELEGRAPHIC. Wasninaron, Feb. 20, 15 Hon. Wm. L. Marcy “has arrived at Willard’s, from the South. Our Boston Correspondence. Boston, Feb. 19, 1353, Sketch of the Life of General Cushing—His Services in the Legislature of Massachusetts, in Congress, as a Diplo- matis, in the Army, and on the Bench of the Supreme Court— General Olzervations, dc. Tt seems to be as certain as anything can be that is yet to happen, or that rather depends upon the lapse of a few days for its accomplishment, that General Cashing is tobe a member of the Pierce cabinet, and one of its principal members, too. A sketch of his career, under these circumstances, may not be unacceptable to the readers of the New York Henan. Caleb Cushing was born in the town of Salisbury, Essex | eounty, Massachusetts, on the 7th day of January, 1800 | and is now inhis fifty fourth year. His father was exten- sively engaged in the shipping business, a pursuit for which Salisbury had become renowned two centuries ago. It was one of the ship-building places of the seventeenth century. The name of Cushing is one of the mort re- apectable in our history. Entering Harvard College when very young, Mr. Cush img graduated, with full honors, in 1817, when in his eighteenth year. He remained at Cambridge, studying for the legal profession in the law school at that place, until 1819, when he was appointed Tutor of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy, in Harvard College, which office he held fortwo years. In 1821 heleft Cambridge, and took up his avode at Newburyport, one of the chief towns in | Essex county, where, after studying in a lawyer's office for a year, he was admitted to the bar, in his twenty-third year. He was very successful as a legal practitioner. and, following the profession steadily for several years, he laid solidly the foundation of that knowledge of law which has made him so useful and so acceptable as a Justice of our highest court. Mr. Cushing's political career commenced in 1825, in which year he was chosen a member of the Massachu- setts House of Representatives, from the town of Newbu- ryport. In 1826 he was elected a member of the State Senate. Both these places he filled very effectively, and to the satisfaction of his constituents. For two years after 1827 he continued to practice the law; and in 1820 ‘he went to Europe, to gratify a natural desire to see a portion of the world then much less visited by Americans than at present. After his return he wrote his “Remin- incences of Spain’’—an excellent work, and showing an intimate acquaintance with unhacknied literary subjects. He also published an ‘‘Historical and Political Review of the Reyolution in F: ance’’—that of 1820—for one must be particular a3 to dates when speaking of French revolu- tions. Mr. Cushing was a contributor to the North Amer- ican Review, writing on historical subjects, and matters connected with public law. In 1833, Mr, Cushing was again elected a member of the State Legislature, from Newburyport, and regected in 1834. His Congressional career commenced in 1835, ho having been chosen a member of the Twenty-fourth Con. gress. He was re-elected in 1836, 1838, and 1840, sery- ing eight years in all. He soon established a high reputa- tion at Washington, as one of the ablest, and certainly the most industrious, of the Northern members of Congress. He evinced great familiarity with all subjects that came before the national legislature; and his assistance, on all matters concerning their interests, was most promptly rendered to people from Massachusetts. A man more devoted to the interests of his constituents never sat in ' the House of Representatives. In 1843, President Tyler appointed Mr. Cushing one of his cabinet officers; but the Senate refused to confirm the nomination. This was the result o° the peculiar condition of the political world at that time, when it was difficult for the voice of jus- tice to be heard in Congress, owing to the exasperation of one party and the hopes of the other. How little cause there was for tho rejection of Mr. Cushing will appear from the tact, that on being nominated to the office of Commissioner to China he was confirmed without difi- wy, He left the United States in the summer of 1843, in the steamship Missouri, and was on board her when she took fire in the harbor of Gibraltar, He succeeded in saving his papers, and, without loss of time, pro- ceeded to China the Overland route. In 1844 he ne- tiated a treaty with the Chinese government, establish- ing diplomatic relations between the two countries. He ‘ it was who first brought the extreme East into friendly communication with the West. He returned to the United States in 1844, by the way of Mexico. After his return home, Mr. Cushing visited Minnesota territory, or what is now so ealled, and where it is sup- posed that he was about to take up his residence at one time, Returning to Newburyport, in 1845, he was, for the fourth time, chosen to repre ent that town In the Legislature. He was the most prominent member of that ly at the session of 1847, one of the most interestis ever held. The Mexican war was at its height at tha’ time. The executive goyernment of Massachusetts was at first rather favorably disposed towards a vigorous pro- secution of the war, and a regiment of volunteors was called for; but the opponents of the contest soon showed that they aad control of the whig Party of Massachusetts, and Governor Brigga had to change his tack. Ia the Le: are of 1847 1) in| of hostility to the war showod itseif ina spirit as ferocious as that which, four and- thirty years earlior, had beon displayed against the war rary in the contest with Great Britain, Mr. Cushing wt himself resolutely to oppose this unwise and unpa- triotic course, and not without effect. He brought for- ward @ proposition to appropriate twenty thousand dollars from the State treasury to aid in eq pping 4 | setts as their candidate for Governor. | self, and w | for Governor about the same number of | tary law, with which he has had some fourteen years e: the Massachusetts regiment of vofutteers, and advocated it with eminent ability When it was defemted, he ad vanced the money from his own meawas, and the regiment was made ready for service. Of thut reginemt he was chosen Colonel, and proceeded with tt to Mexico, in the spring of 1847. boing attached to the army under com- mand of Geneval T Shortly after he reached Mex- ‘ uppoin| ieneral in the United my. nder his immediate comand doi the Virginia, North Carolina, and i 1s of volunteers. Ai hestilities being renewed on the Northern [i was anxious to be in active serviee. General Cu hing was, at bis own request, transferred to the army of Genera Scott, His first duty was to command a camp of in tlon, consisting of regiments from Ohio, usetts, Florida, Texas few reg ops. "He was’ then apt mand ot San Angel, where he had under from South Carolina, Texas, Massachusetts, New and Pennsylvania. It was not his good fortune to be en : i the brilliant actions of the war ; butiit is hardly necessary to say that there are services to. be: performed in every campaign which are as useful as hast iighting, and without which such fighting would be of Il consequence, yet which never attract public at | tention In the year 1847, while he was in Mexico, Genoral Cushing was nominated by the democracy of Maxsachu ‘This nomination Was made without any Yrevious consuliation with him. owing to the part whieh he had taken in suppert of the war. It proved a good movement. ‘The dem © vote—which, under the lead of Judge Mor ton und his flunkies, had’fallen in two. years from 54,000 to 94,000—was increased to 41,000 a the election of 1847 Attempts have been mars to prejudice the democracy of other t General Cushing, by s that in 184 was again a candidate for Governor, he received but a small vote. The state of affairs here, how- ever. at that. time, sufliciently oxplains the cause of the smallness of the vote he then received. Our State elec- tion took place six days after that for President ad ween nc and when it was known that General Cass had heaten. he consequence was, that the demo- cratic vote was very «mall. General Cushing received votes as were cast for the democratic candidates for Con. gress, among whom were some of the most popular men of the party. That party was disheartened and dispirited, and all its candidates felt the efiect of its depression. The speech which General Cushing made on accepting the demceratic nomination in 1848 was one of the finest efforts of Lis life; and the convention which then nomi- nated bim was the largest ever held here by the demo- crats. Throughout the campaign of 1848, General Cush- ing was the most zealous lnborer wo had in behalf of | General Cuss, devoting his whole time for months to the cause, and often addressing two meetings a day. If, therefore, it be true that General Cass denounces the mere idea of appointing General Cushing to a cabinet office, he is very ungratefcl—no uncommon thing with statesmen and politicians Jn 1850, General Cushing was chosen a member of the Massachusetts House of Representaves from Newbury- port, for the fifth time. He was, therefore, a member of the Isgiclature which elected Charles Sumner to the Senate of the United States. He opposed that gentle- men’s election to the uttermost aa was present at every balloting, voting against him. For this he was de- nounced by some of the coalitionists with as much fero- city as he had experienced at the hands of the whigs for supporting the Mexican war, Such attacks, however, had no effect on him, and he opposed Mr. Sumner from first to last. There are some free soilers who are now sorry that his efforts were not successful. At the same time, General Cushing gave a very able support to all the liberal measures of State legislation which the coalition brought iorward, aud most of which proved successful. He was universally admitted to be the ablest man in the Legislature. In 1851, the offiee of Attorney-General was offered to General Cushing by Governor Boutwell, but he did not accept the appointment. ‘The Legislature of 1852 having created an additional Justice of the Supreme Court, Ge- | neral Cushing was appointed to ffl the office, in the month of May: ‘The whigs were greatly shocked at this. They had strong doubts of it being constitutional to appoint a democrat to a seat on the Supreme bench. They had serious thoughts of impeaching Goveznor Boutwell. for his disregard of ancient usage. Several venerable whigs, who disappeared about that time, are supposed to have thrown themselves into the Back Bay, or Frog Pond, in sheer disgust with a world in which such an outrage could be perpetrated with impunity. The mass of whigs, however, consoled themselves with the Patriotic assurance that General Cushing would, prove himself utterly unfit for the place, and do a great deal of mischief to the public. The whig lawyers were particu- larly consoled by this belicf, which, however, like many other whig ideas, wag not destined todo much honor to its originators. 'With that calm confidence which a pow- erful mind has in itself, and which is the most different thing in the world from egotism, General Cushing ascend. ed to theSupreme bench. To say that he surprised peo- ple, and particularly those persons who act as if they be- iieved wisdom and fitness for high station to be whig mo- nopohos, would not be to express the feeling that was created. He astonished them all. There is not a more popular indge in theState at this time than Caleb Cush- ing. The most complex and recondite legal matters seem as familiar tohim as the commonest forms of parlamen- perience. The extent of his acquirements, the logi- cal precision of his arguments, the facility with which he disentangles the most compheated questions and the attention which he bestows om every case brought before him. have won for him the deepest respect of the bar; while his urbanity and courtesy, things so different from what we often find in courts, hayp made him popu- lar with suitors. One of his colivagués lately remarked that Judge Cushing was ever ready to perform any amount of work that was put upon him, and seemed to be surprised (hat a man should be fond of labor for its own ; sake, but Judge Cushing’s industry is far out of the com- mon way, and might well astonish almost any man. He does not allow any of his time to be wasted. Ifit be true, asa great authority asserts, that work is worship, then is Judge Cushing ‘the most devotional man in the country. - His acquisitions are vast, and they are ever at command. I doubt if there be in the na‘ion one man who can approach him in this respect. The only person whom Tever knew that could be justly named with him in the matter was the lato Mr. Rantoul, whose conversation on historical, and literary and scientific subjects, always impressed one with the idea that he knew everything, something after the manner in which you are affected by reading one of Macaulay's essays, or ‘a chapter from his history. Judge Cushing excels in conversation, which is more than ean be said of most of our public men. who generally contrive in that way to exhibit only their own ignorance, vanity, and egotisin. Such is a brief sketch of Judge Cushing. Whether heis to go into the cabinet. or to remain on the bench, of which he is co great an ornament—his leaving which would con- sign it to its original dense ism—I know not. The be- lief, here, however, is universal, that he is to be a cabinet officer, and that be will depart for Washington next week. That he will be Secretary of State is not so confidently affirmed. The Treasury, the War Department, and the Attorney-Generalship have each been bestowed upon him by an appreciating public, whose conduct, it is hoped the President will sce fit to imitate. In this part of the world we do not think he could do better. LGOMA, The Visit of General Plerce to New York. MAYOK WESTERVELT'S LETTER 10 THE PRESIDENT ELECT. Mayor’s Ormicr, 16th Feb., 1353. Fraygun Prercs, Esq., President Elect. Drax Sin—Although the authorities of this city are in the receipt of your letter of the Sth instant, declining the public reception which was tendered to you on your Journey to the seat of government, I do not feel that I | can permit the oceasion afforded by your presence among us to pass without expressing as well my own sentiments as those of our citizens whom I have the honor to repre- sent, in view of the circumstances which deprive us of the pleasure of testifying our regard and esteem for your- self, and sympathy in the bereavement with which it has pleased an all-wise Providence to viait you. The citizens of New York, proud that they have contri- buted to your elevation to the distinguished position which you are ko soon to occupy, and confident that while the goverumen} is in your hands the best interests of the whole country will be carefully and faithfully cared for by you, wouid have tendered to you a cordial, heartfelt welcome to our metropolis, and giadly testified their ap- Preciation, of one whom s nation has elevated to the ighest office in its gift. But, sir, the feelings con-equent upon your reeent be- reayement, and which bas caused the whole country to mourn with you, would {lly comport with the pageantry of & public parade, and we respect thore feelings too Dighly to intrude anything of that kind upon then, desire, sir, to express to you our best wishes for your health and happiness: ard ‘with the earnost hope that the same Power which has inflicted this wound, and which alone can heal, will guide, guard, and watch over you, 1 am, sir,’ with sentiments of sincere regard, Your friend and fellow citizen, JACOB A, WHSTERVELT. Fire 1x Detrorr, Micu.—About one o’clock yesterday morning, a fire broke out in the back part of the store occupied by John R. Ellis, on Woodward avenue, corner of Congress street, and in a short time the building, with all its contents, was a he: of ruins. The store was owned by Mr. W. Birchard. Lozs $6,000. Insured ses Mr. Ellis lost his whole stock of dry and fancy goods, worth hee His insurance, in several companies, is $20,000. The topes, floors were occupied as offices. Dr. Leland lost library, books, accounts, and clothing—insured $250. Mr. Holbrook lost Cea DB farnitare, &c. A daguerrean lost his &xtures. The adjoining store was occupied by Atkinson & Godfrey, who had damaged to the amount of $2,000 in removing. insured.— Detroit Free Press, Fé A Naturat Brince at Avpany.—A roadway has been staked out across the river, on the ice, from the foot of State street to the Hudson River Depot. A beg sages bridge is being erected from the pier on to the ice; and for the pu of strengthening the roadway on the ice, some fifty persons were en- gaged this morning, with ork hand, dipping water from the river and ig it upon the ice. By Monday it will be ready for ase, provided the temperature of the weather does not inte and eet at naught the labors of the workmen. It is quite cold and clear, and ice is forming rapidly in the river. —Albany Journal, Feb, 19. MORNING EDITION----MONDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1853. Our Quebec Correspondence. Qvesee, Jan. 28, 1852. Quelec, its Harbor and Fortifications—Monuments to Wolfe and Montcaln—Grave and Epitaph of Menteulm—Montgomery-—Police Regulations— Militory Preparations and Defences—Seenery— Charitable and Educational Institutions--Nun- neries, &c. 1 cannot leave the capital of Canada without briefly describing a place well worthy the attention of the tourist, but which many visiters quit the province without seeing, being contented witha glimpse pf the magnificent Falls of Niagara. It is the most ancient city in North America, tl st establishment having been made in 1608, when the fort of Quebec was erected. The population, which in 1830 was, accord- ing to Bouchette, 30,000 souls, has not much in- creased since that time, and is at present, according to the last census returns, only 42,050. The which forms the harbor before Quebec, is safe and spacious, and is sufficiently large to contain one hundred sail of the line. The depth of wator is twenty-eight fathoms, and the spring tides rise twenty-three or twenty-feur feet—the neap tides seventeen or eighteen feet. It is situated some four hundred miles from the ocean, notwithstanding which it is crowded during the summer months with fleets from Europe, which load with timber for the English market. The promontory on which Quebec is situated is formed by the St. Lawrence and St. Charles, and is the termination of a ridge of land about a mile in width, which runs from east to west. Cape Dia- mond, across and under which Quebec is situated, rises almost perpendicularly three hundred and forty- five feet above the river, upon which is a fortification as strong as military science and art could render it, and which could be held after the other approaches, and even the city, were in po ion of the enemy. On nearing Quebec, as the river is descended, you pass Wolfe's Cove, where the expedition landed—the troops composing which ascended under cover of night the precipitous heights around it, and the fol- lowing day fought the battle on the Plains of Abra- ham, which resulted in the success of the British arms, and led ultimately to the cession by France of the province of Canada; and in which both the generals who commanded fell mortally wounded— the one expiring in the arms of victory, and the other borne down by defeat. A column was erected by the late Earl of Dalhousie, when Governor-Gen- eral of Canada, in what is called the Governor's Garden, near the old castle of St. Louis, to comme- morate the memory of both those heroes, having on one side the word ‘‘ Montcalm,” and on the other “ Wolfe;” and in front is an inscription describing by whom the monument was erected. On the Plains of Abraham, about a mile from St. Louis gate, at a short distance from the road, another mopument was erected in 1839, to re- place one which had been previously placed on the spot where Wolfe died, by Lord Aylmer, surmounting a rock on which the dying General breathed his last; but which’, as is stated on the HE aE had been much mutilated, as I understand, by persons who had visited the field, and were anxions to carry away with them some fragment of so interesting ‘a relic. The present monument is a plain column, about twenty feet high, surmounted by a helmet and sword, and was erected by the officers of the garri- son, when Sir Benjamin D’Urban commanded, with merely the following inscription:—‘‘Here Wolfe died victorious, Sept. 13, 1759." His remains were after- wards, I believe, conveyed to England, where a suit- able monument was placed in Westminster Abbey. ‘There exists a prevailing misconception, as to the disposal of the remains of Montcalm, it having been ekisgn stated, even in a historical account of Quebec, which is in general accurate, that the body was interred in the are of the Ursuline convent, in an opening scooped out by a bombshell, which had per- forated the roof—a very fitting sepulchre it must be ad- mitted forascldier. Thad recently an aor eenty of ascertaining what is thefact, from the Vicar General, who has charge of the convent, and whose statement may be relied upon for its correctness. He told me he had always felt much interest in the subject, and some years since instituted an inquiry with reference to the popular tradition; and from conversations held a number of years since, with old inhabitants of Que- bec, and, in particular, with a nun in the con- vent, who remembered the battle, and recollected seeing the corpse of the gallant French officer carried into the chapel, accompanied by a few offi- cers, and bad an opportunity of looking into the grave, which she ascertained was dug in the ordinary manner. The Vicar General himself subsequently examined the roof of the building, and ascertained from the direction the shot must have taken after passing through it, that not one of them could have fallen onthe spot where the remain were interred, in which opinion he was subsequently confirmed on examining the grave, which he found to be an ordinary one, and where no other portion than the head of the remains of Montcalm was found. This’ he carefully peearen and deposited in his apartments, secured ina glass case, and which he kindly showed me; it is that of an apparently small man, whose phrenological developements I am not sufficient of an adept to detect. A suitable epitaph was prepared in France, and a ass was obtained from Mr. Pitt, when Prime Minis- er, for the vessel which was to convey it to Canada, but which was unfortunately lost at sea. The fol- lowing inscription, however, has been placed on the Bait of which I obtained a copy from my reverend friend:— Honneur a Montcanat ! Le Destin en lui dérabant la Victoire, La recompense par Une Mort glorivuse. “Honour to Montcalm! Destiny, in robbing him of victory, recompensed him by a glorious death.’ There is an inscription on the cliff, after passing Wolfe's Cove, which can be read from the vessel when Meat Sida tees the spot where Montgomery fell, in his ill-fated attempt to capture Quebec. On approachihg the quay, as is the case at Mont- real and Toronto, the attention of a stranger is ar- rested by the display of policemen, with blue frock coats and uniform buttons, each having a baton of office, who prevent the cab and _caleshe drivers from going on board steamers, and who preserve order on the wharf—an example which might well be followed in New York, and in other parts of the Union. The trunks of the passengersare promptly handed on shore by the crew, and in a moment the traveller is on his way, in one of the numerous vehicles that are in at- tendance, at full speed, to his hotel. Quebec is divided inte ~* 2 called the upper and lower town—the former being situated on the side of Cape Diamond, which slopes towards the river St. Charles, and is separated from the other by a range of precipitous rocks, surmounted by an extended battery, which commands the river and lower town, at the farther extremity of which are the St. Rocque suburbs, and beyond which is the Lunatic Asylum, of which I gave an account in a former letter. ** A steep and winding street, called Mountain street, leads to the ‘Prescott gate,” the principal entrance to the upper town; there are also two others, also connect the two portions of the city, called the “Wope” and “Palace” gates. At all of these sergeant’s rds are stationed, to which are attached artillerymen, ready in case of an attack, to discharge a carronade that is placed directly over a gate intended for foot passengers, and which if charged with grape and canister, would mow down an approaching foe. The guard house is directly over the gate, through which, and a high wall on the right of Mountain street, are loop holes, from which a murderous fire of musketry could also te prTee ent fte ing the gate, is what i mn the , after ie gate, is at is called “the Bat vhich e: ‘ is which extcrds from the ‘‘Pres- cott gate” past “Hope” and “Palace” gates, to the artillery barracks, tn which about forty pieces of heavy ordnance are mounted on iron carriages, with piles of balls beside them, and sentinels which night and day tread their “weary round,” are placed along the entire line, in sight of each other. On the opposite side of the hd pe cde and facing the interior, is an embankment of at least twenty feet in height, resting against a massive stone wall, with a dry ditch outside. This wall extends from the works on Cape Diamond round to the Artillery park, thus completely protecting the upper town on the land side. There are only two gates in the rear of the town, called the “St. Louis” and “St. John’s” gates, at the head of the streets of those names, at each of which is stationed a sergeant’s guard, with artilleryyen on duty, in the same manner 48 at the if ott” gate. Xi these gates are mervly of suffi- cient width to enable a single oie to pass ata time, which causes much detention to foot passengers oa vehicles, approaching from an opposite direc- tion. On the elevation alluded to are pieces of heav; ordnance, similarly mounted to those on “the Bat- tery,” and om an esplanade within is a large mraga- zine, with an ample supply of bombshelis, cannon balls, spare cannon, and iron carriages, to mect. any exigency that might require their use. About a mile beyond the walls are three round stone towers, at ap- parently equal distances apart, witly ao port holes ow the opposite side, but in a direction towards ¢ other, and in theeear, so tha’ cross fire could be poured spon an enemy while passing them, and afterwards placing him between the Sve of the for- tress and their guns. 8, to whom every fi pass, a supply of which is kept at Russell's Hotel, for the greater convenience of strangers. It contains bar magazines that are bomb proof, and is too strong and inacceesible to be carried hy assault. Some idea may be formed of the strength and importance of Quebec when the reader is informed thut the fortifications ave cost, from first to last, the enormous sum of 060 ,000—seventy-five millions of dollars ! e old castle of St. Loui very unimposing ing, stands within and to the leit of the Prescott as you enter, in front of which is what is called the Durham terrace, supported by stone pi lars, from which is a commanding view of the bor, Point Levi, and the extended villages on the opposite shore, aud whence it almost makes one giddy to look down upon the chimneys and roots of houses immediately underneath. On looking into the garden adjoining the castie, | discovered that it sort of masked battery, pieces of mounted ord- nn being concevled among the trees and shrub- very. The Principal places of worship are the Roman Catholic and Protestant Episcopal “cathedrals ; and opposite the front of the first of these, during two months, J had unfortunately fixed my residence. ‘The street here, as elsewhere, is extremely narrow, and, consequently, the interminable ringing of bells was one continied source of annoyance—commen- cing at four o'clock in the morning and continuing till long after sunset. There are several bells in this church, which are all set 2-going whenever a death, marriage, or christening occurs among the members of the congregation. [have heard of a writer who devoted upwards of five hundred pages of his work to proving that the employment and enjoymentof heaven consists in the ringing of bells; und one would be led to infer, from the constant practice in Quebec and Montreal, that the ysare a sort of preparatory school in which to practice for a future state. Near the Roman Cath athedral stands what was the Jesuits’ College, which has been converted into barracks, in which a regiment of troops is wartered, and another occupy barracks near St. Louis street. ‘The view of the surrounding country, from every part of the upper town, is most splendid; ond from the walls in the rear of the city, the St. John and St. George suburbs, and the villages in the vicinity of the St. Charles, are seen to great advantage, which lie as it were almost beneath your feet—relieved in the distant back ground by the picturesque and un- dulating wooded mountains of St. Laurent. The drives around Quebec are delightful, commanding-| everywhere a corresponding scenery, an which may be enjoyed at a very reasonable expense. Nine miles from the city are the Falls of Montmo- rency, which forma beautiful cascade; the breadth of the river at their surface is about one hundred feet, and the perpendicular descent is two hundred and forty-six. Not far from there is the Indian vil- lage of Lorette, and the water-works, from which it is intended to supply Quebec with water—that which at prpsent is used being brought from the river, and tis taid becomes putridin twelve hours. It is ne- cessarily impure in the first instance, owing to t) number of vessels in port during the summer moni and the filth which flows into it from the upper a lower towns. Among the charitable institntions, the mo conspicuous are the Ursuline Convent, the Hotel Dieu, where poor sick people are taken in and care: for, the Gencral Hospital and that of ths Sisters of the Congregation, on the St. Rocque suburbs, where oor children receive the rudiments of education— in all of which nuns are the attendants and teachers. The principal of these is the Ursuline Convent, the nuns of which are under a vow to teach without remuneration, and where three hundred and fifty female children receive a common school education. There are at present in the convent, also, one hundred and ninety pupils, who are instrncted in the higher branches, indiscriminately, in both languages, with music and drawing. The nuns and scholars rise at four o'clock, the Tater sometimes at five; and the Vicar General informed me, that except on one or two occasions when he was ill, he had not been in bed after that hour in the morning, during the las fifty years. The convent was founded by Madame de la Peltrie, for the instruction of the Indians, and there is extant a pictorial map of the original build- ings, in which her house is represented as occupying the corner of Garden street, in 1642. It was, at the time of its being pulled down, a few years since, the oldest building existing, except in the old Spanish settlements; and was razed for the purpose of obtain- ing funds to enable the Ursuline nuns to enlarge their labors of charity, but which the authorities should have purchased, as the last remaining vestige of a former age. In conclusion, I must he permitted to repeat, that the traveller who vi Canada should not quit it without viewing the ancient city of Quebec, and in- specting the objects of interest that are connected with this remarkable place; where the language of France may be considered the vernacular tongue of men, women and childre priests, almost with- out number, in their ecel tical dress, crowd the streets on errands of consolation to the sick or dying, and where in all directions the military array of Europe meets the eye of the stranger—presenting a scene that has no parallel on the North erivan continent; and who would quit the towering fort- ress and frowning battlements, strong in the conyic: tion of its importance to England, and of the perma- nence of British rule throughout the possessions held by Grent Britain, and that even were the entire ot Canada, with this exception, occupied by a succesful enemy, the conquest would be evanescent and the advanteges obtained insecure, so long as Quebec belonged toa nation which, from its naval superiority, would he enabled to afford the necessary veinforce- ments and supplies to the garrison within its wale Our Halifex Correspondence. Harrrax, February 6, 1453. Important from Nova Scotia—Telegraph Line— Vindication of the Government Management— Quarrel About the Spoils of Ofice—Factious Op- position to the Railway Bills—Probable Defeat of the Government Scheme—Consequent Dissolu- tion of the Assembly. On Thursday, 2 memorial was presented to the House of Assembly, from the Nova Scotia Electric Telegraph Company, embodying many of the charges against the old Commiasioners, while the line was under the control of the government, of whom the Provincial Secretary was one, which have for the past six months flooded the conservative—or rather the aristocratic organ of this city. An op- portunity was thus afforded that gentleman to make explanations, which he conceived due the House and he country, in relation to the charges made; and he ompletely showed their falsity in every particular. The duties of the Prothonotarics throughout the province, have hitherto been performed by deputies of the Prothonotary in Halifax, and a bill has passed the House, making them principals after the demise of Mr. Nutting, the present incumbent. (i Jn the Legislative Council, as announced in my last, the Hon. M. B. Almon’s resolution condemming thé government for advancing the pay of the mem- bers of the House of Assegibly, at the close of the last sessiam, came up for disctssion, which promises to be an exciting subject. The honorable gentleman made an eloquent speech in its favor, and was met dy the Solicitor-General, who acknowledged the illegality of the act, but showed clearly the expediency which called for the executive action complained of, and which he defended. He rated soundly those mem- berswho, after accepting seats for life in that branch —knowing that the im) 1 government would never consent to their receiving Deere d to pass the bill for the Assembly, unless they were also included. After the Solicitor General took his seat, the Hon. J. McCully, one of the ablest men in that branch of the legislature, introduced an amendment acknow- ledging the expediency of the measure, and justify- ing the government, which, after some discussion, passed by a division of ten to nine—one of the sup- porters of the administration being absent. In the House of Assembly on Wednesday, Mr. Joho son, leader of the opposition, delivered a long ad- dress against the government railway scheme, and in favor of Mr. Jackson’s 5 proposal which is, that Nova Scotia shall pay $32,500 per mile for the railway, in- stead of ¢: oe, as offered by Sykes & Co., and ac- cepted by the government. He was replied to on the following day, by Mr. Howe, in a speech of four hours duration. His address was one of the most calm, dignified, and argumentative that I ever heard him deliver, calling down the applause of both gal- leries, which were crowded, ané of the House were unable to reprass. l very much feur that the opposition intend, if possible, to Wefeat the railroad altogether, or at least for a twelvemonth; as such must be the result of the success of Mr. Johnson's amendment, which is to defer the bills for three months. ment be carri cannot agvin be brought forward, in any shape, throughout the prosent session. Many ef Mr. Jolin- son's friends are in favor of railways, ond two or three of the government supporters are’ opposed to them. Should the opposition prefer the advancement of their political party to that of their country, and vote together, they will be joined by at least'two of the government side, when Jchnson’s‘amendment will pass by a majority of one. The government, by a dissolution, will then at once appeal to the people, so that you will perceive we have some rare sport in prospect. G. Our New foundiand Correspond Joun, N. F., Jan. Approaching Meeting of the L atire—Stale of Parties with Reference to Free Trade—Soiree of the Sons of Temperance—fnports and Exports at St. John—Statisties of Harbor Grace. The session of our Legislature will commence on Monday next, and I shall send you, during the ses sion, from time to time, an account of any measure that may be passed, having a bearing upon the trade of the colony, or in connection with its commercis intercourse with the United States or the dependen- cies of Great Britain. The majority, [ believe, are in favor of responsible government, which has been. conceded to the British Provinces and Prince Edward (sland, and also of free trade ; but there is a weigh- tier influence, that may, perhaps, operate against ob- taining those objects. ‘The Sons of ‘Temperance held their second winter soirée, last week, at Harbor Grace—one of the outports of these islands—which was numerously attended, and went off with much éclat. ‘The following is the statement of imports ard ex- ports at this e, during the years 1851 and 1852, which will a a correct idea of the importance of this port ina commercial point of view. It will be seen that there was a considerable falling off in both, last year, when compared with the preceding, in the trade with the continent of Europe; that with Catho- lic countries being materially affected by any altera- tion in the rules of the Roman Catholic Church, which is frequently to be attributed to political consi- derations :— IMPORTS AT ST. JOT. Bread, ewt. Flour, bla... Corn meal, bb! Pork, bbl: beef, bb) Butter, ew Rum, pun Molasses, Sugar, ew Coffee, ew Manufact ur |.Tea, Ibs. Soap, boxes, Candles, boxes, Salt, tons.... Coal, tons... Pitch and tar, bbls. Potatoes, bbls.. Oats, bushels. Boards and plank, If. Oxen and cows, No 16,613, 3,020 Sheep, No 21833 ROM ST. JOHN, | 1851. <a srilish Weat indie | Brazil Irland, as United States and other part: Total £529,408 ‘ $5,147,490 The articles exported were: Oil, seal and whale, tuns 6,224 “Cod, tun: 2.510 “ Blabber, tuns 280 Seal skins, to the United Ki dom, No 380,463 Seal skins to United States and British America, No. Saimon, tierces..... Mackerel and herring, bbls ry rt The following are the statistics of Conception Bay, another of the ontports. The quantity and valne of agricultural produce annually raised, will surprise the readers of the Herat; the attention of the inhabitants of this island, until recently, hay- ing been exclusively directed to the fisheries : Number of towns and settlements. vanier 50 Population. . fron sevees 80,000 Dwellings...... 5,000 Places of worship.. 40 Schools........... 5A Tonnage of sealers. Fishing boats. Live stock. . : sf Value of agricultural products per annum.¢450,000 T hope in a few days to have it my power to send you a statistical return of the island generally. H. Gur Washington Correspondence, Wasuinaron, Feb. 11, 18. Eceviement in the House—Report of the Secretary of State—State of the Negotiat with England— Counting the votes of States,and Proclamation of the President and Vice Prestdent—Curious Coin- cidence—Proceedings in the Maine Legislature connected with the Ashburton Treary. The morning set apart under the rules for moving resolutions, is usually one of much excitement, but on Monday this exceeded anything I have before wit- nessed—a dozen or twenty members at a time vocife- rating “Mr. Speaker” at the top of their voices, rendeiing the chair perfectly inaudible amid this babel of tongues. It is much to be regretted that these unseemly exhibitions take place in the presence of persons from various parts of the Union, as it can- not fail to reduce the body in the estimation of the people generally. When the committees came to be called upon, that for Pennsylvania was the first in order, and the adop- tion of an uausual course by the delegates from that body, materially interrupted the business of the day, and prevented the House trom getting through the remaining States—in the opinion of the Speaker—the consequence being a protracted discnssion upon points of order. As Pennsylvania was the birth place of the first regularly organized American Congress, these gentle- men thought it was their hohtge! Sig stand godfather to every State in the Union. This was considered to adopt this rvse; and being appealed against, the Speaker decided that the rule Bing imperative, he could exercise no discretion, but considered it a case in which the House should interfere. Things went on, however, untila resolution to grant a pension to the mother of a lad who lost his lite in the Mexican war, brought matters to a stand until the House adjournment took place. » The morning sitting of Tuesday was remarkable for nothing, except the reception of the message from the President, accompanied by a report from the Secretary of State, in relation to the pending nego- tiation with England with reference to reciprocity and the fisheries, which, after being read, was sent | gotiated, in producing this to the Committee on Foreign Relations; from which itappears that no progress has been made, the Bri- tish government having gone no farther than to ex- press a willingness to allow the free use of the fishe- ries, with the exception of those of Newfoundland, rovided British cured fish shall be admitted into the United States free of duty, and British fishermen ontd this amend- | d bya rule of the House, the subject | | | at ich the officers | dried; but, boih the Secretary o:’ State and the Biitih minister eox™unitted a grave ei Tor in negotint- ing until the action of Congress en, tbled them to “predicate a treaty upon that basis, 4 "he rey thas hat the former bad to retrace bis steps, a 24 Lar at this late period of the session, which he OS on to have done at first; and if something is 1. ‘0b — promptly it will be too late to meet the exige. wies the next fishing season—partivularly as the g oe ment of Englané do not appeer disposed to , Wlow anything finally to be determined upon here. here was an evening meeting 9 Tuesday, w. ‘en disorder seemed to reach its climax, and after « % bausting the usual motions to adjourn and take tl © yens and nays, the House adjourned about nine o'clock, without haying done any other ba siness, if I except locking in those members who wer ¢ present. when calls took place. The result of this 1 uilure to proceed with the public business at_night, le d to the adoption on Wednesday of a resolution to sadjourn over till yesterday, at twelve o'clock. ‘The important business of Wednesday was 4 \e 48- | certaining the number of votes cast for the Prem dent and Vice Pre: houses of Con lent elect, in the presence of \ th gress, and the official enunciation, by the President of the S ,that Franklin Pierce a @ William R. King, having the greatest number © votes, were duly elected to fill those offices for th © next term of four years, Soon alter this took place + the attention of ‘all present was drawn to the full ength portrait of the Father of his Country, upom whose benevolent countenance the sun at that in- stant darted its enlivening beams: and if the spirits of the departed are permitted to visit this sublunary sphere, we might suppoxe that that great patriot was rejoicing in the successful working of the consti- tution of a pte whose independence he was in- stromental in achieving, and which his wisdom and patriotism assisted in bringing into being. It was an interesting sight to witness the repre- sentatives of a free people, assembled to give effect to their choi and we would have supposed that, om such an occasion, quiet and order would have been maintained in the House, but a continuous conversa- tion was kept up in the body of the hall, and, in the rear of members, by a number of strangers who obtained admittance; consequently the ceremony was performed pretty much in dumb show, the voice of the President of the Senate, to whom the Speaker had resigned the chair, rarely rising superior to the surrounding hubbub. Ww. WasuInGTon, Feb. 12, 1853. Important Week in the House—New Territorial Gow- ernmeni—Chawman of the Committee of Ways and Means—Reciprocity Bill and Amendment—- Necessity for Prompt Action—Colonial Legisla- tion Indispensable—Omrssion to Provide for the Entire Navigation of the St. Lawrence and St. John, This has been rather an important week in the House, as, in addition to the official announcement of the result of the late Presidential election, a bil has passed constituting a territory in the West, to be called Nebraska; which, according to the view taken. of it by the opponents of the measure, will conflict with Indian titles and rights. ‘Then we had the disposal of the Military Appro- priation bill, with a number of heterogeneous amend- ments engrafted upon it, which will doubtless create considerable discussion in the Senate and protract iis ultimate passage, if it does not endanger the bill. Getting it out of the Committee of the Whole, how- ever, must have been a great relief to Mr, Houstoa, who seemed to perspire at every pore during ita pro- tracted discussion. With the exception of the Speaker, whose patience and gentlemanly demeanor are daily taxed to the utmost, for the preservation of an assimilation to order, there isno member of the House more to be pitied than the Chairman of the Committee of Ways and Means; entrusted, as it is, with the preparation of bills essential to conducting the government, and opposed as he invariably is im his endeavours to get them before the House, where they have to run the gauntlet through a host of amendments, and speeches for and against their adoption. On Friday, Mr. Seymour managed to get the Reoi- procity billand Report of the Committee of Com- merce before the House, which he rather took by surprise; but he was unable to have its consideration put down for next Thursday, at which I was rathee surprised, for at this late period of the session it ia evidently the most important measure that can be brought under consideration; as whoever has read the abstracts of the fishery documents and Com. Campbell's report on that subject, which have ay peared in the Hrnatp during the present wet, must be satisfied that, unless some arrangement is effected between the two governments before the next fishing season commences, it will be in vain for the Americans to resort to the Gulf of St. Lawrence or coast of Nova Scotia, for the purpose of prose- cuting the mackerel fishery. ‘The tenor of the bill has already appeared in the columns of the Hrraup, and which provides that whenever the government of Great Britain shall have satisfied that of the United States that Americam citizens shall enjoy, unmolested, the right to take and cure fish in the Gulf of St. Lawrence and on the coasts of the British provinces, to the same extent as British subjects, and to navigate the rivers St. Law- rence and St. John, from their source to the ocean, and use the canals onsthe same term3; and whenever New Brunswick shall abolish all duty on lumber when exported, that shall have been cut on Ameri- can territory, and transported down the St. John, then articles that are enumerated in the first section shall be imported into the United Statees free of duty, on condition that the same articles may be re- imported into the British provinces. ‘The second section has reference exclusively tothe lumber trade. and provides that during the existence of this reciprocal trade, if timber and lumber, the produce of the United States, are admitted into the ritish West India islands as when imported from the provinces, then those articles shall be admitted into the United States free of duty, so long as they may be imported into the United’ Kingdom on the same terms: but that whenever any duty shall be there charged on these articles, when eee di- rectly from the United States, the same duty shall be imposed on timber and lumber of cvety Oca. it will thus be seen what a complicated affair isat length before the House—one which involves the re- construction of the entire colonial system of Great Britain, and upon which the various legislatures in the North American provinces and the British West India islands must_agree to legislate in accordance with the prescribed conditions, before any definite pile can take place between the two govern- ments. ‘The legislatures of Canada, Nova Scotia, New- foundland, and, F believe, New Brunswick, are at present in session; and as their views must be ascer- tained as a preparatory step, not only in relation to this bill, but that of Mr. Davis, of the Senate, which unfair by those members who had not condescended | was offered by Mr. Fuller as a substitute, it must be evident that no time should be lost in disposing of the question during the present session of Congress, it being the basis upon which a treaty may be ulti- mately concluded—a consummation of which I en- tertain very serious doubts. As was stated in the Hera in advance, the ori- ginal bill does not include coal among the enume- rated articles that may be admitted free of duty, the interest of the mining companies being too power- ful; neither dees it provide for the free navigation up, as well as down, the St. Lawrence and St. John. Is it possible that that of Maine has been as suc- cessful as it was when the Fes si treaty was ne- omission ? The entire of to-day was “used up” in discussing a bill for the relief of Col. Fremont, authorizing the payment to that officer of the sum of $19,500, she amount of four drafts that had been pi by the | Saae there being no appropriation to meet them. There was considerable opposition to the bill; but it was evident, from the statement of be allowed the same privilege on the American coast, | Mr. Gorman, of Indiana, whose candor I have repeat- and within fts bays. The exception as to Newfound- land is owing to the existing treaty between Great | derived from the drafts ha Brit 2 ave to be abro- | oficers of the United States, who had made Britain and France, which would gated if the fishermen of any other foreign nation should poseess rights that had not been conceded to | duly expended, those of thatcountry. The Secretary of State is prepared to throw reci- rocity overboard for the present, and ‘recommends Regisietion as, on the fishery question, in the expectation that Great Britain will in that event adopt a similar course. But as Canada is deeply in- terested in the fishery in the Bay of Chaleur, and is desirons of obtaining reciprocity, and such being the prevailing sentiment in Nova Scotia and New Bruns- wick, it becomes very ovident tliat the settlement of both questions must go hand in hand; avd T am rather disposed to think that the passage of the bill which hes Png cag en re ie House, ay) is preferable to that introduced into the Senate by Mr. Davis, of Massachusetts, Kieg f ance with the views of the Secretary of 8 Thave no doubt, an Heving, that a treaty was sent to England, cut and d T have the best reason for be- | workin the mine, about ten edly admired, and who eerie i hate te Bs ne 4 i Fremont, and by whom it had adequate onchers i been pro- ‘was one of great irregularity, tions upon Col. duced. The discu an uninterrupted fire of question and being kept uj by the friends and opponents of the mea- sure. Phe bill was amended by leaving out all after the enacting clause, and aut ig the og np ad War to pay the amount, to be deducted on the le- mentof Col. Fremont’s accounts, and providing that nothing therein contained shall be constrned as re- cogni: ad the claims now pending in the courts o(y Great Britain. A Sovrn Canontna Got. During the mor ith e is prepared to | of January, eight hands employed in the ve im Sar eve? eave af ¢ oppor- ‘Abbeville and Edgefield aches C.,) toryk out $19,000 worth of gold, and di twenty arid a half in accord- | da; in December they secured $20,500 We rth. The tate. age ite yield of gold, since ee ne aeman of ths ago, has been upwards of $200,009,