The Express.
London, England, 1860-12-26 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, WEDNESDA Y EVENING, DECEMBER 26 ism.

THE HEW DIOCESE 01 OODUMBIA. •
_ _

The following letter, addressed by the Bishop of
Columbia to Mao Burdett Coutte, coalmine tome interaiting
particular relative to the aewly formed diocese :

Creyoosh, British Colombia, July 14 (on the Fraser.)
I have to thank you for your two last kind letters, one
of which awaited me hers. For upwards of two months
part I have been travelling in the continental part of my
diocese, and am now far op in the mountains, some 300
miles from Victoria. My mode of travel thus far has been
principally on foot, and I am this moment waiting in my
hut on the ground, within • stone's throw of a party of
Cornish miners, who are busily excavating for gold.
My route has been along the Fraser, through mountain
scenery of the wildest, the grandest character. The narrow
pathway :bin sometimes carried nie up saran thousand
feet to the region of snow, whence the mighty torrent below
seemed like • white thrad, while around and far off the eye
could rest upon nothing but mans upon mem of rugged
rooky mountain-range. At times our road lay along the
river's bank, amid pines and underbrush, and flowery
shrubs, here and there checked by ravines, down which
came foaming, rolling, shining the tributary streams, of
which, with gratitude, we drank the cool, clear, refresh-
ing water. The latter pat of the journey we have had
more open scenery, and fine pasture lead has taken the
place of mountain defile.
The whole way has been the WOW of gold.mbring opera-
tions. The river appears to have carried down and depo-
sited gold all along its hanks. In former time it flowed at
a higher level, and upon flats or terraces now dry, as well as
by its immediate bed, the gold is found. I conversed
on the spot with many miners, and with all descriptions
of persona, and there is now but one sentiment
as to the ineneaurtible resources of this country.
Owing to the extreme difficulty of communication,
many who first came from California went bark disheartened,
but all who remained are doing well, and there will be a
steady increase in the population. Roads are being made,
and acme to the mines will every day become sealer. The
miners are • foe hardy race of men ; they are of all nations
- °means, Americans,French, Italians, Swedes, Nor-
wegian, Chine e, as wall as English. The latter am the
newest of all, There Is an utter absence of religion, and
much awful vice and profanity abounds. I make • practice
of speaking to everybody I meet, and I am clas,alas ! coin.
polled to hear in commie talk the most
This 1 always reprove, and have geoerally rors:adtmzenyl=
taken well. Whenever I have had services the miners have
attended, and severalhan have told me they had sot for 10end
14 years attended • religious service. How thankful one is to
Mee the privilege of fiat bearing to those oar fellow-men
the renewed opportanitien of gram I The church of F.ng.
lasdim alone in the field. Not • representative of any other
religious body is yet among the miners. At two places,
Hope and Yale, there was a Methodist minister, but he has
been withdrawn. We have two clergymen in those town',
both of whom are working well. I was present at a meeting
, in the latter on my way, when an address was presented to
me, and the chairman, an American and Presbyterian, called
upon all present in this new land to forget the past differ-
ences and adopt the church of England for their religion, as
a church in which they could have confidence, which had •
broad bens, and which was " at work among them."
The great drawback to the wholesome progress of society
is the dearth of female population. I suppose there is not
above one to every 200-14 the other sex. I COM upon •
pleasing exception the other day at Hill', Bar. I was visit-
ing the miners. One log.but seemed more neat than the
rest. As we approached • modest-looking young woman
asked us to come in. She was from the north of Ireland,
• protestant, and had married in Australia. There was
something simple and touching in her manner. I entered
upon the subject of religion ; she loved to attend church,
and had been piously brought up by her parents, whose
custom was to have family prayer night and morning.
Her father was still living. She was very lonely, and
bad no female society. One other there was, but her
character was such she could not emaciate with her.
Her husband seemed • fine young 1319,11. When he weed
out, being busy, she asked us to excuse him. "He is vmy
rough here, sir—so different from what he was is Mel-
bourne." On reading and explaining • portion of Scripture
and offering prayer, with team she said, " Oh, how well I
remember all that !" On going away she thanked us several
times and rid, " I sever thought hers I should have a reve-
rend genileman to call upon me."
I meet many Chaim. They are flowing in by thousands.
I trust we may be enabled to bring the light of truth
among Arta. They are well-conducted at present, and are
an advantage as pioneers and as consumers. I look upon
them as a meet interesting part of my duck, as affording an
opportunity of, through them, reaching their dark home in
Asia with the Gasper These migrations of man are provi-
dential. God directs them people to a British land for His,
glory, in their conversion by the church He has sea and
planted here. lam very anxious to have special instneeciee
for them, and have applied to the Society for the
tion of the Compel to send iniseionaries. They arir=
people, and are full of good-hunnair and very friendly. They
respect the English much. At ma place I came to a pretty
bridge over • river. It had been built by a Chinaman
named Ali.Soo. He takes the tolls. On OUT smooth be
ran forward with cool waters to drink, and told us we were
free of the bridge. "No Englishee pay over de bridge,
and no poor Chinaman." "Me makes no charge to de
English. Me chains Boston man (American.) Bones man
charges Chinaman very high in Clliforny ; Chinaman now
charge Boston man—ha! ha!"
Everywhere the Indiana come about us and regard us an
their friends. I have had some interesting gatherings, and
have begun to preach to them in Chinooh, which is a jargoe
I or trade language, understood by all Indian tribes to same
extent. Their own languages are various. I have passed
already through people who speak four lam
One interests scene I must relatesJungelti bed en-
camped near •v. of Quayonee Indians. It was about 5
o'clock ; our mwaa preparing. Indiana Lame to
assemble. There were three old men in particular,
who sat like sages—grave and solemn ; there was waiting
also • smart looking, ruiddle-aged Indian, who wished
to see me. It was lloochan, • chieftain of the tribe, knows
by his magnificent voice. I addressed the Indians as-
sembled. I spoke of their Father is heaven, of His love,
of Jesus ; 'eked what became of them when they died ;
held up the word of Gad as given for them as well as us,
he. Mochas, and Sailer, seal own Indian, interpreted
that is, explained, my CYomh. Both at tunes were ex-
cited, end reamed to enter fully into the subject. Sucher
especially took up one of the sins I had named—drunken-
, nen, and reminded them of the consequences. I dismissed
them after • touching and interesting scene. A short time
after we heard • loud noise at the Indian village. It was
lloochan. His loud and clam voice brought echoes from
I the mountains ; we could see his figure upon rising ground,
I and distinctly hear him repeating what I had said.
Towards dusk linnets began again to assemble. One
brought • present of salmon, worth, to sell at this time,
My two companions wens gone to some Maumee. 1 was
alone with the Indians, who came up ow after the other
unobserved, except that now and then • greater glare front
the fire revealed more faces. The Indies is stealthy in his
movement. Among others who had come and taken a
more prominent place, but wrapped this time in a blanket,
was Ilcochan. I took my seat uu a fallen eras in front of
him. There was now • large gathering. I stood up, and
commenced observations. Our talk was long ; the evening
grew darker, the fire blazed brighter. Mocha' became very
excited. it. stood up, and, with great vehemence and
gesticulation, reiterated my words in Quayome. The
scene was striking. My companions returned. As
they approached they felt a slight alarm ; they
thought there was trouble, and were much re-
lieved to see me sitting in the midst of the circle mutt:k-
iln Ilcochan. I was deeply interested—indeed, affected,
to see the evident impression upon these poor Indians. I
was also ape to not., the pantomime of gesture with
which lloochan sought to move the spirits of his people.
I then brought forward the subject of the education of
their children. I inquired how many children there were
in the tribe. It was difficult to make them uuderstard ;
at length they appeared to catch my meaning. Two
young men started up, came forward, and offered to go. I
supposed they were going to count the children. Presently
they came back—there was • difficulty. Instantly every
one shouted to put them on their mettle—and not see di
culty. They conferred, and then darted off into the dark-
ness. In • little time from all quarters approached more
Indians. As they came on the ground they took their seats
in rows. 1 perceived every cue had a child. I diecovered,
to my dismay, they lied misunderstood me, and had been
bringing the children themselves instead of the number.
It was past 10 o'clock, and all these poor things had been
pulled out of bed. Most were naked, some in their
cradles. la the midst of my last talk an lodise woman
brought • lighted mould candle, and sat it down sear ram.
We concluded by singieg the Evening Hymn. A dime
tional and deep impression sat upon each and all, most
striking to witness. Reluctantly they took their leave one
by one. Every one shirk lands ; every little child was
brought, and hold out its little hard. These incidents give
hope, at heat, that any efforts we make for them will be
well received. The plan I propose is to have—let, • cate-
chist to each village ; 2nd, a missy clergyman over a
district comprising several villages ; • central institu-
tion, to which promising children may brought and then
trained, sod from whom may come afterwards native cats-
ciliate—perhaps, by flod grace, • missionary clergy.
I no mtwual in a foul.* letter my anxiety about the
education of girls of the middle and upper classes. Rowe
has this at present altogether in hand. My desire is to
form • female collegiate school, where the beet education
can be given. Guverneases cannot be had, nor could
they be retained by private families. The institution
most have, in the first place, the right person for head.
We may find some competent, devoted Christian lsdy,
who, for Christ's sake, would undertake this important
work. The excellent women alluded to in Mr. Garrett's
letter would not, I think, find this their best line. They
would be admirably qualified for training native girls in the
Indian inetitution,-which I hope may be established in time.
I have made applhation to the Christian Knowledge Society
for a grant towards the female collegiate achool, for the
buildiag which will not cost lees than 2.000/. I hope to see
it moognined as s blowing, not merely for there colonies,
but for the many British subjects living all along the Penile
coast. We shall have children from California, Mexico,
the Sandwich Islands, where English parents desire for their
children English habits, feeling, refinement, and, above all,
the pure ad sober, and evangelic religion of England's
church. O. Cotussu.

A new church was consecrated on Friday, at
Quaniaaws, awe Lamaist.

• THE INTERIOR OP AUSTRALIA.
- • -
The South Australian Register contains a long
account of the discoveries made by Mr. Stuart, the explorer,
who at the &pular of the last mail bad just returned to
Adelaide.

Enough is known to warrant us in making the aseertioa,
that the centre of this long impervious continent is neither
a shallow sea nor a sterile desert. It is, on the oontrary, an
elevated region, on the whole fertile, and by no means dee.
titute of water.

From the statements made by the government, we learn
that Mr. Stuart reached a point at least 1,300 miles from
Adelaide in a straight line, and within 300 of the north-
west coed of the Gulf of Carpentaria. Through all this
gurnuiiisoshis principal :illy was troutabu, oslitcouutentry
water.aoft
Most of the country traversed is fitted for the support of
human life, for it is inhabited by natives ; all of whom, up
to the warlike tribe by whom the explorers were stopped,
were perfectly friendly, and rendered them considerable
service by supplying them with animal food. As far animal
life, there would seem to be no difficulty whatever ; for the
country is described as clothed most luxuriantly with na-
tive grasses of some familiar and some unknown varieties,
including • new plant, specially adapted to the sustenance
of horses. It would seem, too, that nature has not been
unmindful of the prospective wants of civilised man in the
far interior, having already planted there that essential con-
comitant of civilisation, the potato. The only published
statement of the recent journey of Mr. Stuart and his cow
pinions is the following, which was despatched by that gen-
tleman to Mr. Chambers immediately on his arrival in the
settled districts of
is theiscpooliroftf:ot
As Mr. Goyder embrace
the opportunity of writing to in orm you that I arrived here
on the Ist lost., after a fearful journey, in • very exhausted
state. lam sorry lofty that I have been unable to make
the north-wed coast. 7lie difficulties have been more than
I was able to overcome. After making the centre, I was
assailed by that dreadful disease, the scurvy, which com-
pletely prostrated me and rendered me quite helpless.
Still I persevered, and endeavoured to reach the mouth of
the Victoria River on a north-west course, but was obliged
to relinquish the attempt three separates times through the
want of water. The country in which I got the find COW'S
was an immense plain of red light soil, soil, covered
with nothing but 'phase and gum trees
—not a blade of grass. On this the horses
were three days without a drop of water; and bad I not been
fortunate enough to drop in with a native well I should
have lost nearly all of them. 1 then tried again twice to
the eastward to round this horrid plain if I could. The re-
sult was the same. I was now forced to back into the centre.
Three miles to the north of the centre is a high hill, on
which I planted the flag, and named it Central Mount Sturt
From this I could see ranges to the northeast, which pee
me a better idea of the country for water, and I thought I
might get an opening that would lead me to the north-west
of Gum and Spinifth Plain. I therefore proceeded in that
direction to lat. 19 deg. 22 min., long. 134 deg. 18 min.
From this I again made another attempt to make the
Victoria on a northwest course, but again 1 was obliged
to retreat from the want of water. Oa this trip I regret to
say that I had the misfortune to lose three horses, which
perished from the want of water. We were 111 hours
without • drop of water, under • burning hot sun, and
hsay sandy soil to travel on. After. thisolourna
fIo gave
Gpulf ofh°&erspeantaria, linagt6ehehoVpectoof cut: etch for the
was carrying off the surplus waters of the lake in a course
more to the saatward. On it I reached lat. 18 dog. 47 min.
and found myself upon long plain of alluvial soil, covered
with grass, and surrounded by low stony hills, with • few
mulga and =lles bushes on them ; but on the plains there
is not a bush above two feet high. Not • drop of water
could we find ; my horses being without water two days and
a night, and in such • weak state that I was afraid to risk
their being without water for a longer time, 1434 I should
lose the lot, and I was therefore again compelled to fall
back to the last water. The next course I tried was
W.N. W., towards some very distant hills. One day's
journey brought me to a creek, having very large and long
water-hole ; situate in lat. 18 deg. 50 min. long. —., run-
ning towards the N.E. This I determined to follow, think-
ing it might be the fall of the country towards the Gulf.
Next morning I traversed it dowu, but found it running
more to the east than I expected. At six miles the water
ceased, the creek becoming narrower and deeper, and the
bed sandy. I continued for 15 mike, but from that there
was no chance of water further down. It was running
direct for the eastern and gravy plain. Seeing that, I de-
termined to return to my last night's camp, and continue
my farmer courses to the distant hills, which I supposed to
be about 30 miles off ; but when within seven miles I was
attacked by • number of natives, who endeavoured to pro-
vost me from crowing the creek. Three times they came
roehlog to the attack, but were repolsed. They
also endeavoured to surround us and cut us off
from the horses, but that I prevented. They were the
and natives I encountered, and were in appearance tall,
powerful, muscular men, bold, daring, and courageous, not
at all frightened by either ue or the hones, bat rushing
boldly to the charge. It was nearly dark when they came
upon us, when we were in the middle of a small scrub. There
was so sign whatever of any of them being near as we ap-
proached the creek. The moment we entered the scrub they
were us. Every bush seemed to have hidden a man. and
of 30 attacked us iu front, and how many more
Tid;;,-ire endeavouring to surround sad out its off from our
peekhorees I cannot tell. As soon as I was able to stop the
and career of those in my front I pushed the horses across the
creek to an open space of ground, which was a more favoura•
ble position for us. We now had them all in our rear. They
set fire to the grass all round, and the shouting and yelling
from numerous voices was most fearful. It was with difficulty
we could restrain the hones from bolting away. It now
became so dark that I was unable to see what their move-
ments were, and I thought it more prudent to continue
on my course now that they kept without range of our guns,
and we proceeded up the creek to our last night's encamp-
ment. They still followed US, hut at a distance. Seeing
that, and their number being fa gyest, and the acrid, extend-
ing nearly cloth to the creek, I did not, think it prudent to
remain there, where I could be easily out off. I therefore
feU hack upon a long open plain that I crossed the day
before. This we reached about 11 o'clock at night, and
turned out the horses to feed. The natives seemed to have
lost our track at when we encamped before, for I could
hear nothing of them through the night ; but immediately
after unwise we could see signal smokes springing up all
around us. They were again upon our track. During the
night I took into consideration the position in which I was
then placed—my horses tired and wady, three of them un-
able to be longer than one night without water ; the men
had oomplainal six weeks before this of being so weak from
want of sufficient food that they were unable to perform
their duty (their movements were wore those of men 100
years old that, of young MO Of 25) ; sod niilf being so
unwell that 1 was enable to sit in the addle the whole
day without suffering the most excruciating pain ; our pro-
visione scarcely sufficient to carry us hack, and now being in
the midst of hostile natives, who were wily, bold, and daring
—so much so that I could see at once that my party would be
unable to cope with them, although we gained the advant-
age at first. In a short time they would be able to wear
us out. If I proceeded I should leave enemies behind, and
in all probability meetwith enemies io front. Thus would I
have to fight my way to the coast and hack again. To do
that with only two men and myself, and having six pack-
horses to look after, would be utterly impossible. I could
only ant en the defensive ,• we were burs to be cut off in
some way or other. Could I have made friends of them I
would have gained the coast, hut they would take no notice
of all the signs of friendship I made. Even after they had
made their first charge upon us I endeavoured to con-
ciliate them, but it was of no avail. We received a
shower of lxinierangs and spears for our trouble, the at
which struck my horse. They were then within 40 yards of
us, and it was high time to stop their further advance,
which was accordingly done. If I proceeded I was cut off
by them ; all the information I had obtained would in all
probability be lost. I therefore nubile up my mind, with
great reluctance, to return. la returning I was surprised
at the extraordinary rapidity with which the waters were
drying up. I was dependiug upon the winter rain to bring
me back—noire fell. AVe had bed not so much as would
wet a shirt through from March to the 21ith of August.
I intended to make another trial to reach the Victoria from
a creek five days' journey to the south-west, in which I had
found large holes of water ; but alien 1 returned to it I
found it very much reduced, and saw that the case was
hopeless. If I delayed, my return would have been cut off
until rain fell, and we were rumble to hold out till that
time, which would not be before September. I was for-
tutote in arriving at this decision, for on returning I found
many of the weter•holes dry which I thought would have
lasted niuch longer. A week's delay would have prevented
my reknit In many places we obtained scarcely enough
for the hones. I met with no desert, but with three or
four mulga scrubs, the broaden• a little more than sixty
miles; the ranges not higher than Finders Range, and
many not near so high. The salthush and flat-topped bills
ceased in let. 25 deg., and aphides gnus, sandstone, granite,
quarts, slate, and ironstone commenced and continued as
far as I went.

The Sorra Australian Reyistrr adds understand
from private sources that Mr. Stuart has discovered a large
lake in the northern interior, tne extent of which he could
not see with the naked eye. lie represents its waters aa
being blue, and therefore in all pmhebility of considerable
depth, and As 000tainiug large quantities of fish. It lay to
the right of his track as he proceeded northwards. Mr.
Stuart also came open an extraordinary pillar of sanstone,
perfectly isolated and upwards of 100 feet high.

A new expedition has been fitted out under Mr. Stuart's
guidance, and oonsista of 10 rue°, besides himself and Mr.
Lakirick, and Mines. Of /tali of the persons com-
posing Mr. Stuart's party took their departure from the red-
dens:eat Mr. James Chambers,North Adelaide, on Saturday
morning last. The following is a list of their names :
Mime B. Head (one of the former expedition), J. Wood-
feeds, jou , Thomas Lawrence, William Masters, Jun.,
end Thompson. They are all tine young men, end appear
well able to hear the trials and privation which their in,
Waded sourney will necessarily entail upon them. They
tiawler Town the Wile night, where they remained
dating Sunday, and on Monday morning they proceeded,
haying received instructions as to their future noun. On
arriving at Chambers s Creek they are to remain there for
Mr. Stuart and tho restof the company, the meantime being
devoted to completing the final preparations for their lung
jonrney. The men took with them 20 horses in the selec-
tion of which must care and skill most have keen exere'asd
for they all sesssdof Ike proper v young, quick, and

hardy. The rxpeditious manner in which the smingemento
were made for sending this -detachment off is certainly very
creditable to the gentlemen upon whom the duty devolved.
To Mr. Chambers, especially, great commendation u due
for the valuable assistance he boa rendered towards forming
ths party and getting than well mounted. The remainder
of they expedition wig Arai, we believe, to-day (Saturday).
On morning the little party attended St. George's
Sandny
Church, Gawkr ; as elan Mr. James Chambers (the liberal
originator of the expedition), with his friend Mr. R. Hol-
land, and Dr. and Mrs. Woodforde, whose eldest son beloogs
to the party, The Reverend Canon Coombe preached to •
very large and respectable congregation, from Proverbs
5, 11,—" Trust in the Lord with all thy heart, and lean not
unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknow-
ledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths." A more ap-
propriate text could scarcely perhaps have been chosen,
and in the course of hie sermon the reverend gentleman
took °cession to address a few words to the young
men composing the exploring party, reminding them
that eouplr 20 years had elapsed since the Riot on which
they were then anietubled for worship was • wild waste—the
home of the savage. By the help of God its had no doubt
that civilisation would eventually be extended to the distant
parts which they were about to visit. God would bless the
labours of their small band if they acknowledged Him in
all their undertakings. Their prayers, and those of their
enterprising leader, offered up in the far wilderness, would
be heard by the Almighty, and after all their perils and
hardships He would restore them again to their relations
and triads. The rev. gentleman's discourse was listened
to with deep attention, and many of the tion were
affected even to tears. All the members of the expedition,
we may mention, are to be armed with revolvers, breech-
/ceding rifles, and swords.
In rioselusiou, it is only fair to ourselves to remind all
our neighbours that the interest of South Australia in this
enterprise is of an almost purely disinterested kind. The
valuable country discovered, or yet to be discovered, is much
more likely to belong commercially, and perhaps politically,
to • new settlement on the northern coast than to South
Australia. We are not likely to get any accession of terri-
tory—whops not even ao increase of customers—whatever
may be the character of the northern portions of the in-
terior district of Australia. Our chief interest in the
matter arises from the fact that the gallant and successful
explorers are South Australians—that they started from
this !colony, fitted out by means supplied by • South
Australian colonist, and that the coming expedition is. its
the national sense, • truly South Australian enterprise.
But this is quite enough of • selfish kind to in-
spire us with • lively interest in the undertaking ; we shall
inevitably reap • rich harvest of national Pory, which,
with all our affectatioft of utilitarianism, we cannot choose
but are for. There is little doubt, however, that there are
many collateral advantages of a practical character which
we, in common with our neighbours, will derive from the
settlement of large tracts of country in the tropical portions
of Australia. All the Australian colonies will find there
customers for their staple products, and will in return be
supplied with merchandise of • kind which they are now
compelled to import from foreign climes. The more
numerously flourishing settlements ars planted on the
Australian continent the more completely will the
prosperity of the whole be secured ; the united
sisterhood forming • whole infinitely more powerful
and wealthy than the aggregate strength and resources
of each, could they have no connexions with each other,
would ever produce. One of the "nest obvious benefit, to
result to the whole of the colonies from the success of
Stuart's expedition is the facility it will afford for connect-
ing the settlement* on the southern and eastern mast with
the European and ludian telegraph system. A line of tele-
graph across this continent from south to north must ob-
viously he a much cheaper, surer, and more permanent mode
of connexion thane seriesof shallow water-cables submeiged
on our eats. While, if • land line is considered necessary,
it is evident theta great pecuniary saving, in workings well
AA in construction at the outset, will be effected by taking
the shortest direct route across the continent. All these,
however, are matters in which we are interested in our
degree as portions of the peat Australian community, not
specially a South Australians. As South Australians we
have little exclusively to hope for, excepting the credit of
the enterprise and the honour of its success. Yet these are
enough to arouse us to a due appcec of the importance
of the achievement which has been already acconiplishod,
and of the attempt which has yet to be made.