The New York Herald Newspaper, November 20, 1853, Page 3

INTERESTING LETTERS. Our Nicaragua Correspondence. Ban Juan DE Nicaracua, Oct. 1, 1853. leewrate Sketch of the Coast from Aspinwall to San Juan de Niuearagua—Voyage from Aspinwall— Voyage of a Coaster—Pleasures of the Sea and Scenery on Shore—An English Host—Gold Mines—Trip to Boca del Toro—Appearance of the Town—Its Trade—Tour to San Juan—Perils of the Deep—Arrival at San Juan—Embark for Home. The idea of getting off in avy of the steamers was of the question—we knew they would be too ely. watched for that. Still, it was absolately e to leave Aspinwall, or be utterly over- helmed by the nature of the pecuniary claims ainst us. Our only chance was to get, by any s, and at any risk, to Greytown, and take ner from thence. And now 1 will give youa ch of what we saw of this partof the Atlantic ions of New Granada. We had embarked night on board a small flat bottomed sloop, ing om a coasting voyage, the captain of which, in sideration of an exorbitant price, had agreed to at us about eighty miles on our way, at a small vil- called Escribanos. That eighty miles consumed hundred hours, or upwards of four days and hts, to complete it. Drenched with rain in the ht, and exposed to the tropical sun in the day, hout a ehance of cover, and with very poor provi- ons on board, you may imagine how comfortable ye felt, The excellent chart on board told us “‘these are subject to light baffling winds and currents current three to five knots per hour to the south.” mple opportunity was given us to prove the entire prreetness of these observations; we had to drop or to prevent being carried back, on an average ce in an hour, a mode of proceeding which seemed en to affeet our good humored eaptain, who told }, by way of consolation, that the very passage we ere now making, occasionally, nay, usually, ocean d from ten to fifteen days. Our eourse was within two miles of the shore pring the whole time. The scenery is by no means beautiful as on the Pacific side ; the only thing at struck me was the enormous quantity of cocoa- it trees along the beach; almost the whole line from lavy Bay to San Juan is eovered with them. The de and wind have been the agente in propagatiog valuable a Property, which, of course, has no ers—every one ig allowed to gather without or hindrance. At length our journey terminated, and we were died ashore in an exceedingly dangerous canoe, the assemblage of mere huts called ribanos— we I was agreeably surprised at meeting on land- ig, a respectable gentleman, an Englishman, with ble white beard and mustache, of the name of yy, Who gave us a kind welcome on learning we were buntrymen, providing us with a substantial break- , rendered highly aceeptable after our four days te om Mr. anon Asie Einaeth G manager e “Vera; ant ver ning om pan: ho: riser ae yet; is situated at about fearteea es distance up the river Belen. The company formed in London at the beginning of this pre- nt year, with a capital of £150,000 sterling—a ves- SAT sereetraps cb if phtlga bead &e., pee Sanh hed in long Wi e necessary able me), ‘and senumber of Cornish and other borers, the latter of whom have either died or re- ned home invalided, greatly retarding the compa- ’g operations. The climate of courve is not suited Europeans, more especially if exposed to the rain d sun, and—bad brandy. Gold, it is well known, exists over all parts of the mus; and more especially in the province of Ve- uas, Where the natives can always obtain from ee to four dollars per day when they “ feel like” king. White men of course cannot stand the ex- a The company’s gold is contained in quartz, wal ee only three ounces to the ton are ob- tined—t aaa bee heen very mpl; uk a Se hine: crusl 8 jay, great hopes enteriaine d of a highly profitabl it—all the ployera are extremely sanguine; but the diffical- ba to be Overcome in the way of climate, want of ovisions, want ef labor, &c., &c., are enormous, d sufficient to frighten any but a body of capi- | The vein, the property of the company, was work- by the p bie ay upwards of fifty ‘ears jo—then erted, then purchased for forty dollara by Alex- er, French negro; by him sold for $5,000 to meral Norris, an American, who succeeded in dis- ing of it to the present proprietors at some enor- pus advance. Ve (which means two of us,) remained in Escriba- | for four days, and then determined to Boca del Toro, at eighty miles diuce | fe scouted the idea of the sloop altogether, and suc- | ded for $60 in engaging a canoe for the pi arpose 3 embarkation was tbe most crank and tieklih af | I ever saw, and it n on the part of our black captain to convince us ita safety. ‘“ Oh,” said he, “ they upset of course; there is no in ! broad, had two enormous lateen sails and a lon; ; the slightest movement of any of us 0 capsize it, and there we were cramped up, seated the water at the bottom of the boat, engaged in an ipedition which was to last at least forty-eight hours. lay down was impossible, and we almost regret- H the exchange, was it not that the canoe-kept wstantly moving—the paddles were out the mo- nt the wind lulled. Our black crew, four in num- ke Creole-French, mixed with bad 8; glish, grating most disagreeably on the ear. unately we arrived without mishap—though we d two or three narrow escapes, and were quite irvous—at Boca del Toro, after another four days’ d nighta’ ex; » Part of the time, however, was ed on the +h, where we landed for water and ep. a e lagoon, or harbor of Boca del Toro, is really ficent, extending inland in one place upwaras seventy miles, with Ere as clear as crystal. e whole was surveyed about sixty years ago by the h Fed ed and forms a portion of the ter- ory of New Granada—at least it ought to forma on, as a reference to the map will convince any . I was, therefore, surprised to find that the pjeet is one of dispute between New Granada and sta Rica. The town of Boca del Toro, consisting of at fifty houses, was first settled by the Creoles about mty-five years ago. New Granada afterwards ht soldiers and authorities, the whole of which been withdrawn, with the exception of an ealde ard Jefé Politico, leaving the place entirely the hands of the Creoles ig English. niards there are very few. Those Creoles, scat- ed over the various islands in the lagoon, are lead- an easy and pleasant life; very little exertion is huired for the actual necessities of life. Turtle any p ean catch without treuble, and iseaten instead of ef, of which there is none. Fish of excellent quality, they do not astually cook themselves aud cry , eat me,” as has been related, are so abun- that they only wait to be caught. Bananas lantains are a substitute for bread, and fruit d vegetables abound. But this is not enough to am bieag Whivenaeratetag toh have beta lng |. For this purpose they pursue the turtle, ose esbell is o valuable for combs, &c., which ured without any great difficulty. Tortoise pil, each animal yielding from two to fire pounds, is h from $6 to $8 currency per pound—the whole it is exported to the United States. The last price iLondon was 25s. per pound. lagoon, however, is principal commerce of the parila, collected in the first instance by the ians, by them sold or bartered to traders, and yn_ transferred to the stores in Boca del Toro, A finally hed to Jamaica, and thenee to and, for I ascertained that none is sent to the hed States. The average price has been $40 | ency per quintal, until la' ‘4 when, in conse- bee of competition, it rose to $56. I was shown a | don account tale, dated in August, of a parcel at 60, (or equal to that) in American gold, so that ge is not great—indeed, the profit consists in 18 Off the goods, The total export of sarsapa- fa is about 12,000 pounds annt . The trade is | the hands of a few, whocan dispose of about | )0,000 merchandise amongst them, per annum; everything is done upon credit. ocoa nuts, of which there are thousands to had for the picking, are sold at 80 cents, U.S. D ey, per hundred; afew only,are exported. One nuts will Mowe two and a half gallons of wort 80 cents per gallon, at which price all old on the spot that can be made. An attemy been made to express it by horse power, but e “gave in,” and nothing will do bat steam er. | turtles are a drug in the market, worth $2 to | each. ¢ is from thé town of David, on the Pacific, to a int on this lagoon, that the Chiriqui road company making a plank.road forty-five miles across, necessary surveys have been made, but there of its completion, for it would not . I think, however, it would injare Panama, and m up the resources of the splendid province of poring our stay in Boca del Toro we made the ac- intance of Mr. Peter Shepherd, a creole, who has d upwards of years op es ovat hee Jamaica, and for a builder; deome ‘orm, though slightly colored. Mr. ak a is the most int t man T have met with reat length of time. Contented in his retired po- on, Mr. hephecd follows his buisness of ship and t builder, with success, waiting for the time when bbe)! be pot i possession of an immense tract of wired considerable protesta- | er—we jump out and right them | It pater five fas foog by three-and-a- | | Great Manatoulin island, at the hea 68 the lagoon, surrounded b; th mountains, prominent amo. which Chiriqui volcano, about 7,500 feet high, it is im; sible to The climate is stated to be admirable, though warm, of course, and by no means unhealthy. foveal ways ie for lie pr tp je Oke poswence e Heceseary capital and courage to overcome the difficulties oovasicned by a want of labor, severely felt all over the isthmus. We stayed fem days at Boca del Toro. Our object was now to reach San Juan, one hundred and twenty miles distant. We had sent our canoe back again, and after a good deal of trouble succeeded in finding another, though still smaller, the captain of Avery as be was going on his own account, ce us two as passe: for $26 a piece, an offer gladly accepted, seeing t as we had been asked ane for the trip. Our new conveyance sailed like the ; bat luring the seven days and nights of our A which were in the boat, not one of us ry dry article on us. I shall not attempt to give youan idea of the trip—how a shark swallowed the paddle our captein was steering with—how another followed the shadow of our sail on the water for more thanan hour—how two enormous breakers nearly swallowed us up—how our black captain (from Bel tried to inspire us with confidence by telling us of marvellous stories ef his prowess—of his havin; upset at sea, in a cance, when only himself and his baby were in it—how he held the baby in one arm, righted the canoe, bailed her dry, and proceeded as if nothing had happened. I shall only you that, though accustomed to dangers and hard: , We got nervousand frighten- ed. Tigers and es prevented any comfort oa shore. Sharks and the cance frightened us on the water. Any one wishing a little excitement, and anxious to spend a little money and see the beauties of the tropics (that we read about) can do ao by following burfootsteps; but, unless he is a strong man, let him beware of the consequevees. Our eouree lay close in shore, upon which we con- stantly landed—an almost unbroken line of eocoa nut trees lined the beach—a beautiful volcano (the name I forget) was burning and visible during the nights—and the scenery was very pretty. On the fourth day we put into a place called Salt Creek. ‘We were now in Costa R.ca, though from our recep- tion we thought we had landed in an Austrian town; and immediately upon our arrival a message waa sent that the commandante wished for our presence. Then came an Alcalde, speaking Spanish and ask- * ing ur names—tnen another Alcalde, speaking Eng- ligh, for the same purpose. All thts seemed strange; but upon enquiry we found that Costa Rica had just issued an order that this should be done, and that parties should proanse their passport !—as if we had poerre in jis part of the world. It was Rarely, ridiculous, and we told the commandantso. He pera earone with us. The commandant is a young and Well educa. ted German, living with a young French lady, his wife and her mother, in an old wooden house, upon a miser- able pittance of seventy-five dollars per month. The house, surrounded with a swamp, was swarming with bats, while tigers and snakes were so numerous that the commandant assured me he was afraid to move out at night. Upon my remonstrating with him upon the propriety of secluding himself in so unhealthy and daogerous places, he replied that he was living in hopes of making his fortune ere long. A road is to be cut from toe in_ the interior to Salt Creek, when all the e will pass that way, instead of round the Horn, as formerly. Lhe road, as proposed, will doubtless be executed in two or three years time; as yet only a track has been made. It was originally a German scheme, headed by Baron Bulow ; but as soon as papers can be made it is to be transferred toan American com- pany, who will put is through. Ss Salt Creek is a mere village, peopled with the creoles, speaking English, whose business is fishing for turtle and trading io sarsaparilla. We had still about seventy-five miles to go, and this was fortunately accomplished without any inci- dent worth recording. We arrived at San Juan exactly one month after learing Navy Bay, havin, made about three hundred miles in that tine—gl enough to exchange our little cockle shell for the comfort on board the Northern Light. The very same night we started for New York. Our Canadian Correspondence. Panis, Canada West, Nov. 3, 1853. Bay of Quinte—Lord Mowntcassel—A Mohawk Settlement—“ Lake on the Mountam”— The White Fishery—Statistics of Cownties having Commer- cial Intercowrse with Oswego—Land Speculation connected with Railroads—Belleville—Stage Route to Coburg—Rushing to Meals— Wesleyan Chape! COMlege— Meeting with a Deaf Mute who was educated at New York. It is much to be regretted that American teurists pass with such rapidity from almost one extreme of Canada to another as not to afford themselves suffi- cient time and opportunity to notice the numerous objects that are every way worthy of attention. In 8 former letter I alluded to the town of Trois Rivitres, which the steamers running between Montreal and Quebec pass during the night, when their passen- gers are asleep ; many of whom leave the province without knowing even of the existence of sucha place, although it is next in point of age to Quebec ; and I would now call attention to the Bay of Quinte, a short distance from Kingston, at the foot of Lake Ontario, which extends eighty-one miles from that city, and is separated from the lake by a narrow isthmus of about three miles, through whieh it is pro- posed ta cut a canal, by which a considerable extent of dangerous navigation would be avoided during the more tempestuous seasons of the year. I was rather surprised to find three steamers run- ning between Kingston and Trenton, at the head ot the Bay, and calling at intermediate points, two of which are owned by Mr. Gilderslieve, a very enter- prising gentleman, in one of which, the Bay of Quinte, I took passsge for Pictou, the county town of Prince Edward, the name of the peninsula, imme- diately opposite Oswego, and which forms one side of the bay. She is @ very fine boat, fitted up ina superior style, with a pianoforte, and runs at the rate of fifteen and sixteen miles per hour. We called at the several points on our way to Pic tou—forty miles. Among others, at the Isle of Tanta, the property of Lord Mountcassel, an Irish noble- man, to whom the island has descended by inherit- ance, and who has recently arrived in Canada for the purpose of taking possession of the estate. At Adolphustown, on the opposite side of the bay, a young Indian woman, belonging to the Mohawk tribe, came om board the boat, being on a visit, as she told me, to some white friends. She was very neatly and even tastefully dressed, from head to foot, in the European fashion—was very intelligent, and spoke food ipglish. There is a settlement of these people about three miles from Adolphustown, who everywhere seem to have intermixed more freely with the whites than any other tribe, and who, I believe, are invariably Protestants. Near Brant- ford, uot far from Hamilton, at the head of Lake Ontario, they have a church, and possess a service of sacramental plate, presented them by one of the bag an of England—I believe George the Third. Previous to arriving at Pictou we passed what is ealled the Lake on the Mountain, from its elevated position. and which is considered as a great natural curiosity, being fed by no tributary stream, and its waters, it is said, rising and falling as do those of Lake Erie. There is a lake aileny situated on the of Lake Huron, and osreful observation might detect a correspond- ing movement of its waters with those of Lake Su- perior. In connection with this subject, it may be as well to mention that Rice lake, which is about fifty miles distant from the Lake on the Mountain, in @ direct line, is 365 feet above the level of the Ontario; and that a small lake, called Balsam lake, which is probably some hagbag 4 miles further distant, has the highest elevation in Canada. There are two minor lakes situated on the south side of the peninsular, called East and West Lakes, crpcetts the former of which there is an extensive white fishery, which commences in September and continues till November. This is a delicious fish, and, not having any republican tendencies, frequents wide of ¢ ‘te he lake, where they are taken in great numbers, salted down, ani of at Oswego, where the hig and fetch from four to five dollars per barrel. This fish generally weighs from a and a half to two pounds. They are caught at night in seines, and | peaags eight or nine thousand are taken at one al. There is considerable commercial intercouse be- tween the counties situated more immediately on the Bay of Quinte and Oswego, to which port large the monarchical Miny nal oe Ce NAPS oar wl bt are anni shipped. The was the popu- lation, quanttt a wheat raised, and of lumber sawed, in 1852, secording to the census of that year:— Counties. com, Wheat. anes itenac, 30,736 94,132 4,695, + 15,166 78,268 7,720,000 Lenox + 7,965 179,878 2,565,000 | 31,977 18,009,000 Prince 18,887 192,408 853,000 812,189 33,824,000 Lane ies of sawed lumber are al down the Erotx, Trent and Moira rivers, which empty into the bead ef the bay of Quinte. It is quite a business place, of consi je extent and, lation in 1860 was 3,326, and to 4,569, and is still rapidly cipated to construct a Georgian bay; the line has been surve understand, has been contracted for fne effect of the railroad movement might be expected, has been to raise the land beyond what can possibly be realized, and siderable loss will doubtless be sustained in this way. At Belleville individuals were laying off the land into town lots, for which they were de- manding at the rate of eighty dollara an acre; and in the immediate vicinity of the town this may be obtained. In. fact, I believe no where else in the | ost the extravagant ex; that have mn formed be realized. The churches and buildings at Belleville are of a superior description, » kept in the and there is an exeellent hotel American style, by Messrs, Harris & Oakes, from the pored to take passage inthe Buy of Guin and ve pose passage e v an interesting part ot the province may profitably and agreeably spend & day at Belleville. From Bel ie to Cobourg, on Lake Ontario, the distance is fifty-one miles; the road g through Colbourne, eighteen miles from the lace, and over a rather sandy and unproductive mn of the country, resembling that immediately on the north shore of the lake. But fifteen or twenty miles in the interior there are a number of ery fine farms; and in the neighborhood of Percy, the county of Northumberland, fruit is cultivated with success, and tee Sheet in iin ce aes from Belleville to ly it e ym pais instead of returning to Kingston, was to ascertain whether it could not bea desirable route for travellers in quest of pleasure, who might land at Cebourg, on their way down the lake, croas over to Belleville, and there take the Bay of Quinte for Kingston; and if some enterprising American would establish a line of coaches, I would recommend that course. At present there are two lines of Seaage rupning daily, which consume pretty much the whole day in pong fifty-one miles, the being very heavy, and the unfortunate horses being changed only once in sixteen or eighteeo miles, pro- bably better time cannot be expected; but with judi- jecious arrangements the distance might be accom- plished by noon. A hotel is also required at Cobourg, where the traveller will meet with that attention which he is entitled, and where the attendants will Jess consult their owm personal convenience. The coach stopped at the Globe Hotel, and after taking tea I went into the public room to read twe or three papers which I found there. The landlord subsequently came in, and as the American boat ar- rived about four o’clock in the morning, I inquired of him if I could be called at that time. The reply was that be could not promise, as the servants some- times overslept themselves. Soon after this one of the waiters came in, and notwithstanding I was read- ing at the time, partly turned off the gas—so much 80 that I could not see to read. I do not think there ‘was any disrespect intended, but I thought it was rather a small affair, the saving of the difference of light, and Seooraing)y paid bill and cleared out. The night was , and f was a stranger in the place, but a eee who came out of the hotel when I did directed me where to find another—the North American, I think—at the head of the steam- boat wharf, where I someined Ea night and the fol- beets day, receiving every @ttention that could be esired. Cobourg isa place of considerable business, and there isa large woollen establishment here which gives emipliymant to upwards of two hundred per- sons, and where two hundred and fifty thousand saree of cloth are manufactured annually. The esleyan Methodists nave a university here, called the Victoria College, where about one hun- dred and fifty youths are educated. It is a very handsome building, situated in the rear of the town, on an elevated site, and in a healthy posi- tion. As is my custom, I called upon the Principal, the Rey. Mr. Nelles, from whom I obtained a cop’ of the rules of the institution. One of these, it struck me, should be adopted very generally in the United States. It is that which strictly prohibits “rushing to or from meals, unbecoming conduct at aplagand the odious practice of spitting on the jor.’ Iam sure bet Meehan American will agree with me that it is high time some moral influence should be exerted to put an end toa practice which prevails 20 very generally in our steamboats, hotels and boarding-honses, of rushing into the dining hall at the sound of the bell or gong, and seizing upon whatever is nearest at table, in a manner that sets all decorum at defiance. It is true the doors are kept locked till females and their friends have been introduced by another entrance; but there should be no necessity for such a precaution. Then, again for half an hour before the meals are ready, young men will be seen clustered about the door, ready to make a rush when they are opened. In Canada, until recently, there has been ae to complain of on this score, thoee who travelled, whether provinciala or Americans, being (reel well bred men ; but during the last year there has been such an influx of strangers that in one or two of the boats, when they are crowded, the captains deemed it poe he) untimely ingress by closing the door. was found so repugnant to public sentiment, and was in fact so offensive to those who were restrained by a senee of propriety, that it has been abandoned ; and the servants quie: intimate to gentlemen having ladies under their charge, when meals are ready. This, however, is often overheard by others, who instantly follow and take their seats at table ; and on one occasion, on board the Lord Elgin, Captain Farlington, to whom I beg leave to express my acknowledgments for his urbanity and kindness while I was on board his vessel—his passengers, ay of whom thought he was presiding, had near!: fivished aetper before he made his appearance, lead- ing in two ladies who happened to have no gentle- men with them. The same difficulty occurred on board of other boats in which I took passage while in Lower Canada, that would have been avoided if people would make up their minds not to “ rush to their meals. ” While I was atthe college, Mr. Nelles informed me that @ young lady, a deaf mute, had recently arrived from New York as governess in the family of a gentle- wan who has three daughters who have beon visited with a similar privation. As I am well acquainted at the Deaf and Dumb Asylum, at which I often spend some very happy hours while in the city, I felt satisfied that I should meet in her an acqusint- anee, and was not disappointed, as I was immediate- ly recognised Lad the young lady, who had frequent- ly geen me at the institution. She is yt? pleasant- lf situated, contented and happy; and the lady of the house, it appeared to me from what I saw ef her, will make her residence an agreeable home. It is a subject of equal rise and regret that in an extensive province like Canada there should be no institution similar to those at New York and in pepe of the United States, for the education of deaf mutes and the blind, particularly when it has been ascertained that there are from a thousand to twelve hundred of each class in the colony. An ef- fort was made by Mr. Papineau, when he was a leading man in Canada, to establish an asylum for the deaf and dumb, but which failed, owing to the troubles of 1837-38; and since that period the peo- ple of Canada have found so much to quarrel about, in connection with politics and religion, that the claims and dictates of humanity are unheeded and disregarded. The Legislature last cession voted $40,000, however, for the erection of such an estab- lishment; but if it should go into operation, and « conclusion can be drawn from the manner in which the Lunatic Asylum at Toronto and the Marine Hos- pital at Quebec have been managed, any institution that may be formed for the deaf mutes and the blind will fail through similar mismanagement. Kiyeston, Canapa, Nov. 4, 1953. The Ottawa and its Principal Tributaries—Bytown —The Rideaw Canal—Lachme, Beauharnois and Cornwall Canals—Ogdensburg—Prescoti— Ratlroad Improvements—Events of 1837-33— Execution of Van Schultz. On my return from Sherbrooke, I remained three or four days at Montreal, where travellers should re- main a couple of days. The ride round the moua- tains will pretty well ‘‘use up ” one of these, and the other may be employed in witnessing the parade of the troops, and in visiting the Roman Catholic Ca- thedral and the nunneries, and in driving about the city. The quays at Montreal, which extend along the entire front of the river, and connect with the Lachine canal, have no where their equal for strength end beauty on this continent. It was originally my intention to have gone up the Ottawa—as far at least as Bytown ; but want of time prevented this; and having been there some three or four years since, I shall content myself at present with farnishing a brief account from recollection premising however, that I understand Bytown has much altered for the better since I was there. The Ottawa is only second is magnitude to the St. Lawrence, and has ite source in the far distant Northwest. There arescveral other important rivers that flow into it ; these are the Montreal, Mattawan, Petauwame, Bonne Chére, Madawaska, Mississippi, Rideau and Petite Nation, on the Upper Oanads side, and on that of Lower Canada, the Gatineau, Dee, Moine, Aux Livvres, Petete Nation and Du- Nord. The entire length of the Ottawa is apwarde of seven hundred miles; and on two lakes above Bytown, -- miles above Montreal, there are steam- was the leader of the enterprise, was subsequently 8 @ very pretty cascade; town a very superior suspension bri rapide in that ‘en. ees ters here find their way, by a au! to the Ottawa; and it has where is the exact which is named after Col. By, of the royal who superintended the construction or the Rideau canal, is divided into what all called there is a bridge. The position, ly be very commandi river, and the Ppl, Oe on which they are con- structed might place impregnable. The Rideau canal was completed at the expense the works are prevented from ruin at the of the parent State, which would willingly make them a present to the Canadian go- vernment, although they have cost about a million sterling, provided it would ke them in re- pair—a gitt which the latter does not seem dis oe to accept. The length of the canal is 26 miles, and it bas forty-seven locks, thirty- tour of which are required to overcome a rise of 292 feet between Bytown and what is called the Isthmus, and thirteen others.are requisite to descend 166 feet between the Isthmus and ton. when I was last in that part of the country the canal was being repaired, in consequence of which the lands in ita vicinity were overflowed during the summer, producing a corresponding amount of fever and ague, the ravages of which extended as far as Brock- ville, on the St. Lawrence. Travellers generally take the steamers on the route up, and leave them on the e down at Lachine, nine miles from Mon’ , over which @ railroad pasees; but as one of the boats had been tempora- rily withdrawn from the route to undergo repairs, the time of eee of the British Queen—in which I had en my passage—-had been changed to the evening, and consequently I | to pass through the Lachine canal—a | rather tedious cese—and it was late be- fore we entered the Beauharnois canal,and we did not reach Cornwall till the next morning, at a short distance below which the American line strikes the &t. Lawrence at St. Regis, throwing the portion of the river above that it into British territory. The Beauharnois canal is eleven miles long, with nine | locks, forty-five feet wide, and two hundred long. | The rapids near Cornwall are also avoided by Mears of a canal at that place, with seven locks, and of the same length and dimensions the other. Ata short distance below there is a cairn erected on the river, composed of loose stones, piled up in the form of @ pyramid, erected by the people of Glengevy, as a testimonial of respect for Sir John Colborne, a general officer, who administered the government of the province some years since. There is @ lateral canal at some distance above Corn- wall, for the accommodation of sailing vessels, but which is not used by the more powerful steamers. The Long Sault Rapids are seen to much advantage from the deck of the steamer while passing the up- remy lock above Cornwall, and seem to threaten Soin os to any vessel that shall attempt their de- scent. It was late on Saturday evening before we reached Ogdensburg. Since I was last there the railroad has been constructed which connects that place with j New York and Boston, and consequently I found it much improved. In fact, s0 great is the change that I did nct know it again, and I have the bump of licality pretty weli developed. The Roman Catho- lics are erecting a ious stone church here, that at present occupied ig found Hang to meet ‘be Presby- the requirements of the congregation. terians, Methodists and Baptists have theirrespective places of worship, and at the Episcopal church I found, a8 usual, ®& very respe le congregation, ard beard some fine singing. Prescatt, immediately oposite, which is about be- ing cornected with Bytowa by a railroad, is regu: Jarly laid out. There are some men of wealth in i: ; but, as is the case in all the colonies, they will no employ it for the benefit of the community ; conse uently, all the railroads in Canada have to be un- er‘ske> and carried on with government aid, or by the municipalities levying a tsx, which has to be borne by the inhabitants geaerally, aud very often contrary to the wish of s numerous minority. The different places of worship are neat, and sufficient for the accommodation of those who frequent them. The population of the town is about 2,300; and as that of Ogdensburg has, since the railroad was built, increased from 6,000 t 9,000, whoever shall visit it five years hence will find ip pueeercndieg increase at Prescott. About two miles below the town she a yd Lede Mlised ge beet Cees | sympathizers gained possession ing rebellion of 1837-38, and itwas some time before they were dislodged. A person of the name of Van Shultzr, who | the The Difficulty between the New York Opera tried at Kingston, and hung for offence. Troupe and the Detroit Manager, | THE QUESTION ON THE OTHER BIDE. From the Detroit Free Press, November 17 In last night’s Tribune and this morning’s taser there is an unjust and wholly unwarranted at- idver- The Less of the Ship Southernor—Defence of Colonel Aspinwall. TO THE BDITOR OF THE NEW YORK HERALD. Lonpon, Nov. 4, 1853. It is with feelings of much surprise that I have seen in your journal of the 19th October a letter from Capt. Benj. Rassell to his owners, Messrs. Btan- ton & Thomson, dated London, Oct. 4, in which,wh'le relating matters connected with the loss of the ship Southerner, lately under his command, he speaks in terms of most unmerited censure of the treatment sustained, as he alleges, by himself and crew in their misfortune, at the hands of Col. Aspinwall, late Consul of the United States at London. Now, having been present as clerk in the Consul- ate, (an effice I have since relinquished,) at the dif- ferent interviews between Col. Aspinwall and Capt. Russell, and having a thorough knowledge of the circumstances alluded to, I beg to state that what Capt. Rassell has alleged is wholly untrue, and to submit a short statement of facts, which I trust you will give a place to in your journal for the informa- tion of those, who, being unacquainted with the dis- tinguished character borne by Col. Aspinwall ia the estimation of all who have known him, may have formed an unfavorable impreesion of his condact from the misstatements put forth by Capt. Russell, without any other purpose, as it appear® to me, than that of rendering himself an object of interest with his owners, from the hardships he would make it ap- pear he has had to contend with, but which, I be- lieve, he would have paused before consigning to paper, had he known thoy were afterwards destined to appear in print. I was present at the interview alluded to by Capt. Russell, on the 30th of September, when, having de- tailed the cireumstances of the loss of his vessel, Capt. R. noted his protest, as he states, and the Con- sul having infermed him of the arrangements for the disposal of his crew, who were provided with a bearding-house forthwith, next questioned Captain Russell respecting his views and wishes as to himself personally, and was informed by fait R., in reply, that he already had funds placed at his disposal by his friend, Capt. Daggett, or who had au- thorized him to draw upon him, (Capt. D.,) for such amount as he might stand in need of, to meet his necessities. Wishing te avail himself of this per- mission, Col. Aspinwall, upon his request, consented to make him the requisite advance on his draft—not reluctantly, however, as Capt. R. states, but most readily, leaving the amount at Capt. Russell's own discretion, and not even asking to see Capt. Dag- t's letter, which Capt. R. held in his hand; and aving mentioned the sum he required, then showed the letter to the Consul of his own accord, and having received a check for the amount, and in ad- dition a letier to a tailor, requesting him to supply Ospt. R. with whatever he might want, on the con- multe responsibility for payment, he then left the of- fice, appar ently juite satisfied and thankful for the attention shown him. ? As to Capt. Rus:ell’s statement that the Consul would not make him any advance to pay off his crew. I would observe that he certainly did not make such advance, nor, in fact, did he refuse to make it. Capt. R. did not even make the request, as his letter would infer that he did. He merely threw out a suggestion to that effect, as if submitting it for tae Consul’s approval; but on Col. Aspinwall Temareine that as the crew had all their necessities provi fer, and might, therefore, without inconvenience, | wait the return of a post, when Capt, R. could re- ceceive a cash remittance which he expected from Capt. Daggett—whom he had already written to on the subject—he readily assented to the justice of the remark, and remained, to all appearance, quite satiafied. I shall next allude to Captain Rassell’s statement as to his protest, which, he says, “ after strong eerreation he got the Consul to extend.” Here the unscrupulous nature of Capt. Russell's assertions are manifest in the extreme, for Iwas the person whom he conferred with on the subject—the extension of protests falling within my line of duties—and, if any one was to blame in the. matter, it must have been myself. Had he found reason to be dissatisfied with any want of diligence on my part, the proper course would have been for him to have laid his complaint before the consul, and, as he did not do so, nor show any sign of dis- satisfaction, from first to last, it is to be presumed that he was satisfied, in spite of his pretence to appear otherwise before bis owners, for the reasons men- tioned in.the first part of this letter. 1 would state, that on the 3d of October Capt. R. laced in my hands a written statement he had rawn up of the circumstances attending the loss of the Southerner, after much hesitation, and once t:king away the paper, before he could make up his mind whether to have the protest ext:nded here or in the United States, with a request to have the same forthwith reduced to a protest, as he was desirous of leaving Lordon on the following, day for Glasgow, to avail himself of an offer he had made him of a passage thence to the United States. Tnis offer had been communicated to him at the same time he received Cupt. Daggett’s let'er; and he announced his intention t> avail bimself of it on his first appli cation at the consulate, oa the 30th of Septem yer. It was at a time of great pressure of business in the office when this request was made, and it was im- possible to baye the protest prepared the same day. In order, however, to meet Capt. Russell’s wishes, as far as possible, by waiting long after office hours the protest was got ready for signature by the following morning, when the erew were apron to attend, | to swear to the protest, and, at the same time, to re- | ceive payment of their wages from Capt. Russell crew; and after some delay, occasioned by the un: willingness of the crew to join in the protest, (which they finally refused to do,) the same was sworn to by the captain, mates, and carpenter only, and a copy delivered to the captain the same afternoon, when, having settled with his men, and despatched all his tack on me, as proprietor of the Metropolitan Thea- tre. If the writers of these articles mean me, they have stated what is falee. There are two sides to every story, and the public havea right to know both ; then they can judge for themselves. The facts of the case are these:—The Italian Opera Troupe made a contract with me to rent the theatre for four nights, at forty dollars per night, to be paia nightly, I rnishin loor-kee pers, gas, and men to shift the scenes. I have petal pt my part of the contract, by furnishing th as, and men. I paid those 1 employed, and receipts. Other persons were carte by this troupe, and extra days’ work was [tbh to them, over whom I could have no control; they romised them money for this extra work, which they were entitled to. They hired several servants; to all they promised money. This was done oy their agent, Pogli- ani and Signor Devries. ‘These two gentlemen left for Pittsburg some time ago, and those re- maining refused to pay these people. On Mon- dsy evening, during the second act, the man wifo received the money left the box office, and did not return to pay me, as per Le Sten When the audience had left the theatre, [ met this man, and told him that he must not take away every- thing until he paid me forty dollars for the use of theatre. sHe refused to pay me unless I paid him all | the money he had paid out to these People. I told him that I had paid those persons that I employed, | and showed him my “Seip! He still refused to pay | me. I then went to the e, and Madame Devries, hearing me, sent for me to the dressing room. I then entered by her request she being the only lady there, aud speaking English, she and I read over the con- tract, quietly and peaceably, while the men (the Italian company) were wrangling among themselves | of thi | ties before even he had time to experience other business, he left the office the same afternoon, after taking a cordial farewell of the consul and clerks, as one thoroughly satisfied with the attention he had met with, and which was certainly extended to the utmost, to meet his necessities and wishes. The only portion of Capt. Russell's statements which contains the smallest particle of truth, is that which refers toa delay occasioned in the supply of clothing to his men; and this, it will be seen, arose from a circumstance which the consul could not be expected to have foreseen, viz.; the unusual demand of outfits for twenty persons, which composed the Southerner’s crew, for which the clothier employed by the consul beppeeed, unfortunately, to be unpre- pared. The deficiency, however, was supplied too promptly to occasion any serious inconvenience to the men, whe themselves evinced no such dissatis- faction as that Ne by Capt. Russell, but bore themeelves cheerfully, as men satisfied that every- thi g fone was being done for their comfort. As to Capt. Ruasell’s statement, that while here he had no one to advise with, and therefore had to proceed according to his own judgment, &c., I can only say that whenever he came, (and that was very frequently, and at all hours, even after the office was closed for business,) he always found the consul ready to receive him, and to afford him the same countenance and advice for which he has always been distinguished in his treatment of his country- men, and which an experience ef more than six- teen years in the consulate has afforded the writer letter ample means of testifying to. With his crew provided for from the moment of their landing, and the fenerons assistance of Capt. Dag- gett, which provided for all Capt. opt ne - ie morti- fication ot neglect, (had he been so unfortunate as to have to deal with those who would have turned a with drawn daggers. Both Madame Devries ane myself did our best to keep them still, when she con- claded to pay the forty dollars for the theatre, and told those who ref that they had done aa ta paying those people that I had employed, as I had their receipts present. I was then aid my share | snd I lett. Madame Devries laughed, and ead the boys were too much tor their agents. This seemed toend the dispute. Those persons that had been promised money were then called in, it the treasurer thought | and each one got what proper to give them, as the agent, Pogliani, had | romised them something. can only account | ‘or the terrible story that the Tribune and Adver- | tiser have got up, except that the Zyibune has | shown always a desire to injure me, and the Adver- tiser, because the ne of the theatre is not done | at that office, of that my som and the proprietor are on bad terms, for the reason that, unortnately, he | happens to owe him and cannot pay him. Jeal ers. The Ottawa territory is a fine timber country, is working at the bottom of all this, and with a wial to ruin an inexperienced young man they are glad to catch at anything to injure him, as was publicly ex- pressed yesterday, in the streets, “They were long watching him, and now they Sal im.” Iam cenfident that the troupe would think very little about it were it not forthe advisers they met, who are most anxions to do all the harm they can. The company met with good success, and it is unbecom- ing them to make a notse about a few dollars pre- | sented to their help, which their te promised. I gave them my own time and tion, on and seating the audienee, though not tract. This given free, and I forwarded means was their interests by all the the only tronble was that Le i ing out some nine dollars to the een ay cna not to have pea, than as ‘hat t! present help, as they Srgampoar Aociaxrs on Lake Enie.—The steamer Loui in coming out of Sandusky harbor on the 17th inst., with s cargo of rolling a aleak and sunk. No insurance on boat. steamer | Arctic was driven ashore on Beaver Island, lake Michi- gen, with @ cargo of hogs and provisions for the Sault Cane] Comypeny, Beat an? corgo a total Jose, probably, i caught flre— New London Chronicle, Nov. deaf ear to his wants, but which, it will be seen, was not the case,) it does not appear that his position was one of such extreme hardship as he describes | in his letter referred to. It has fallen to the lot of Colonel Aspinwall, how- ever, as it has, I presume, to that of most others holding similar trusts, and with the same kindly feelings, to meet with but little gratitude for numer- ous favors conferred, although in no case, with my knowledge and experience, like that of Capt. Ras sell, where acts of kindness have been retorted by an attempt at itive Ly a e honor to be, air, I have Your most obedient servant, Marqvertt. Fir in New Lonvon.—This morning, bet ween 3 and 4 o'clock, a fire broke out in the building (known as the old Methodist Church) on the corner of Union and Methodist streets, occupied by Messrs. T.M. &J. H. Allyn as a piano ‘manuthotory, and by the Sons of Temperance as a division room. The building was burned to the Eva with its contents. Otis, Baptist Church, at some A Taxasvry Drersion—The Treasury ment refuse to allow the extra pay to the army and in Oregen and California, yo- Bed np ho anh lg of the or marine’s term of service, ‘and not then unless he shall have been honorabl; |, such being the evident intent of the law. ‘The Congr ogational eharoh at Greenfield Hil, Fuirbeld, Conn, wan destroyed by fire on the 13th inst. Anaad: joining barn. belonging to ex Governor Tomlingoo, wax bho derneyed. < who attended, accordingly, with his mates and | | land, 22 deaths annually to 1, Foreign Miscellany. It was mentioned tn June last that an Sue was abeut to start from Portsmouth, to the capabilities of ae Southern coast of Green- consequence of a grant haviog been made by King of Denmark toa Mr. Lunde, The Do! phin yacht, of 217 tons, which was fitted out for ti»: purpose by Mr. Albert Robinson, Sir Walter Tre» lyn, and Mr. Regner Westenholtz, has now retarne’, after an unprecedentei pawage of six days, fia Cape Farewell to Land’s End, having on board »)) wards of 16 tons of copper ore. said to average more than 50 per cent of pure metal, and a great vari 'y of specimens of silver and lead ores. expedi- tion was accom) by Mr. W.C. Vivien, a mit, 4 captain, from wiry tog Mr. Hoff, a mine. »- eee Seay ing eovany incladed in the grant. Mr. Friis, a Norwe-ian mining captain, and ten men, were left at the wines to carry on operations.— Portsmouth (Eng.) 7: Bier pal eel ty Be ogee a et in + within s few miles of 3 n, on the 15... of an tin; ond reach of danger, when the ear) , shivering the ship into Pm Fo: ta- nately. a ship was attracted to the by the in- tense light of the explosion, and picked up the « ew » who were landed at Melbourne * icw days afterwards. The vessel is reported to b in- sured. The Princess Victoria sailed from the Duwns on the 8th of April. A Madrid journal publishes an account of th» will of thelate accomplished senator and ambas-..!or, Donoso Cortes, Marquis de Valdegamas. Itap, ara that by this testament, dated December 23, 11 he directed 20,000 reals to beemployed in saying m.- sea for the of his soul and in good works. “uc will contains the following we:—I recon, 1 to all my family, and eg; ly to my brothe: >» Francisco, to consider, as their sister and thei: children, the widow and children of our defanct » ther Pon Pedro, and that the latter shall endc to follow the path of their father, who lived th: of the just and died the death of the saints, Ii: and his death have been the perpetual subject o! tears, and J still mourn over his meney {dors, however, render to him all that I owe: his progig).us virtue, after the grace of God, operated my con: ~ sion, and, with the Divine mercy, his ardent pray will open to me the gates of 4 eaven. I express'y forbid all ostentation at my funeral; let cu tent itself with its empire over the living, and let i+ leave the dead in ee. T expressly forbid, in the celebration of my ral, profane and volumptu»s music, such ashas changed our temples into thea’. «:. The official returns of the movemeat of the ¢:::i- ing trade of France for 1852 have just been; '- lished. The general movement, whether from sea to another, or within the same sea, repres' 3 2,544,785 tona, having been, 2,121,520 tons in 1x5). and 1,918,030 tons in 1848, The average from | 347 to 1851 inclusively, is 2,145,675 tons, which gives an increase of 19 per cent for the quin 7 pez. The portion of the Atlantic in this movement is 1,835,590 tons, and that ot the Mediterranean 709,105 tons, or 72 cent for the Atlan‘ic, afid 28 per ont for the Mediterranean. For the 2,544,785 tons‘ 1 conveyed, the six principal ports are thus classiue?: Bordeaux, 272,135; Marseilles, 188,717; Cette, 151, 577; Havre, 138,535; Nantes, 111,086; aud Roue 109,573, ‘The amount for the six poe coming next in importance varies from 96,128 to 54,314, and tl; ten next porte are down for 47,721 tons at most, an( 20,290 at least. Inthe total movements, wine i( down for 431,643 tons; timber, 312,735; cern and flour, 288,690; salt, 272,749; building materials, 212,172; oysters, 112,000; coals, 98,528; and bran- dies, 76,222. The trips made, are 76,051; of which 8,099 are to be assigned to Nantes, 6,796 to Bor- deaux, 3,927 to Brest, 3,514 to Marseilles, 2,560 to Havre, and 2,226 to Libourne. These 76,051 veasele Tepresent 2,806,726 tons as their real tonnage, what- ever msy be the cargo carried. With respect to ten- nage, Marseilles ranks first, and then Bordeaux, Havre, Nantes, Rouen, and Cette. The vessels em- ployed in the coasting trade to the thirteen ports of Algeria, where a custom house is established, have made 2,036 trips, representing 60,391 tons. In that amount Algiers is down for 977 trips, and 34,419 tons; Bona for 419, and 12,289; Mers-el-Kebir for 405, and 11,620; Tenez for 238, and 10,900; ag for 245, and 8,520; and Stora 187, and 8,078; seven other ports had 1599 trips, and 34,947 tons. During the year 1852, the general movement of nav-, igation—foreign, colonies, fisheries, and coasting— resent the following results for the 242 porta of France :— Vessels. Timnage. Orews. 6,150, 786,670 4,287}613 663,129 In the ports of the Mediterr mean... 143 1,863,220 191, 442 Departure 119,947 6,226,230 684 878 From the ports of the Atlantic 91719 4 354,561 463,098 From the ports of the Medi VOFFAMERD...... 0. ees ev ee 8 1,871,000 171,180 Total arrivals and departures 230,857 12,877,072 1,371 448 The number of veacels in ballast has been 52,157, of wes 24,667 are on arrival, and 27,490 on depar- ure. Lieutenant Colonel Beatson, of the Bengal army, who distinguished bimself in Spam under Sir De Lacy Evans, and who has aince acquired additional military experience wnd a large accession of profes- sional reputation in his command of a brigade of the Nizam’s army in India, is about to proceed to Turkey. We believe it is urderstood that Lieutenant Colonel Beatson is to be employed, with the sanction of the Sultan, inthe drill and discipline of the Osmanli regulars. The following comparative view of the salubrity of the different countries of Europe is given in the sixth annual report of the Re; aris hase th 5 Prussia, 27; Austria, 30; and Russia, 36. The officers of the French navy now at Rochefort have determined to have a funeral service celebrated for the re} of the soul of Lieutenant Bellot, who perighed in the Arctic regions, and who was a native of Rochefort. The officers of the other branches of the service have been invited to attend. The ter of Marine, on reseiving notice of this intention from the Maritime Prefect, signified his fall approval of this pious act. The Earl of Eglinton has consented to preside Kenda ato meeting, which is to be held in the Music Hall, Edinburg, on the evening of Wednee- See 2, for the vindication of Seottish nig : The Railroad War in Erie, Pa. (From the Buffalo Cou: ier, Nov. 18.) We received the following blood-and-thunder yack by the O'Reilly Line, at a late hour last it seems that, like the warriors in the 0; Accomac, who were exhorted ‘to fight for scows and their women,” the Erie folke are to strike one tremendous blow for their right to crackers and peddle apples at theirstation. Drive a gentlemen! Yours isa game two can play at:— Erin, Nov. 17—8 P. There is a meeting of railroad men here to decide upon the course to be pursued with change of guage. The military are preparing to turn on call of the Mayor. A wagon, load of powder has taken to the Armory for cartridges. It is thought if in any resistance om the part of the ruilroas com that the track will be torn up the whole of county, and the bridges destroyed. The people are desi- rous that the track should remain as it is—but if the railroad cympany force'them to act, there is no telli they will stop. Our Supreme Court decided that the western road has no law to protect it, and only vord is reeced from the authoritiegto tear up the whole to the Ohio line. Monday will probably decide the mat- ter. The Cleveland Plaindealer of the 17th inst. says:— Latest accounts from the Algerines at Erie say that they are making all manner of felonious rations to resist the execution of the law upon aes track running through their one borse wo. We learn from another source thatthe railroad company design to Pd & sufficient number of men upon the work next Sunday, to alter the entire eigh- tn | in one day. The result will be impatient I , < ‘ RAXLROAD Accrpent.-A melancholy appened to & construction train yer! on path Columbus and Cleveland Ra’ roads hich human fc ht , tender and pla‘form ‘ton for ties, whem about ‘y* the axle of the tender broke, speed could be checked, one of the wheels catching under the car—om which were —threw the car eff the track, partiall; ‘mall bee's) and pitching the wreok in po pam l, bine #0 bag ura, ful great a, a in bya Sreeabee that it required two men to pry it off and effect his release. was an Irishman, singl and boarded in Ohio Houie trvety eset a louse at through the side of the jaw. This man bled for four Coute, and lies in a critical state, chances appear to be in favor of his living. Mr. am Irishman and bass family, The third man injured was Mr. McDonnough, of Ohio City, who was severely but ” Sarouey injured iu the back.— Cleveland mw. i z § ® those misha; yainst. An nirg out to G fail ii = g F Hy 5 ieraudlereke glace 9 he Bia nstion name, and thas rolvi thirtees mystery —be wom