The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-01-26 00:00:00

TIIE ISLAND AND CITY OF MONTREAL.

dirt Oe island of Montreal, at its western extremity,
of "des the waters of the Ottawa inha two channels ne
srhi
the Lit meets the St. Lawrence there, and the other at
eastern end. The united streams, from Lake St.
14,ue•
form a basin 20 miles long and from 8 to 10
The island is 32 miles long. and in its broadest
rt about 15. There is probably no spot of similar
ably" in Canada of so great fertility • the soil is remark
'ion rich, and throughout is under the highest cultiva
perfe All kinds of vegetables grow here in the greatest
o "lon and I consider it no exaggeration to samy that
ee.,:oa le of North America does not offer a arket
011 r stocked in regard of such products than that of
selsiintreal. The island is also celebrated for its fruits,
pseeeally for its apples, which have a delicious flavour
nhar to themselves. This is attested by the fact that
are in gr
which eat demand for exportation to countries
straw, grow very fine apples. rapes, pears, plums,
elonnerries,and the other small fruits,with very superior
u,tierls are also raised, and may be had at exceedingly
gard rate prices. In respect to the products of the
sly and dairy, the island of Montreal is unquestiona-
en °no of the choicest localities in Canada. Of the
bast It is hardly necessary to say more, than that it is the
the °Mit, and the handsomest, as well as the largest, in
s
.cale .revitiee, The architecture of Montreal is upon a
s„
eeestol magnificnce' which is rivalled by few of the
with Europ !an cities, and perhaps equalled by none
la .4,4 equal population. The churches, banks, colleges.
straen.` and court houses are the admiration of all
ing t° such
who invariably admit that nothing approach-
dee.'" 'ltch excellence had been anticipated. The city
ei;," not stand high above the water like the upper
freri °E. Quebec, but it has a gradual ascent from the
ahee et t° its suburban limits in the rear, amounting to
elneutl 150 feet in a mile ; and back of this, the eminence
tuere tile Mount tin raises its stately head some 400 feet
aiej ,_nontreal is the commercialeamporium of Canada,
of tilet`Tueh its trade suffered a good deal in consequence
some ecenarlge in the commercial policy of Great Britain
ea*te ars ao, it has considerably revived, and it is
ts et that the recent communication with Upper
Treala, established by the completion of the Grand
lost, Railway to Toronto, will bring back all it has
drae,","u a good deal more. This road will doubtless
to be down the products of the Western States in winter
firit-as'n'eyed to Portland, and thence shipped to Great
irlif;
are v,P Portion to their abilities. the Montreal merchants
.-rY energetic. The present Canadian Ocean Steam
Gets owned in part by a house there ; and at this very
%
arcieint a project is being pushed for the establishment
fait t° nee or large propellers to Chicago, which cannot
great uivert a considerable portion of the trade of the
1, West from the American artificial water ways to
the s,
the • Lawrence, the natural outlet for the products of
/i ivsast grain countries bordering the immense lakes.
/Mee forti making the Ocean Line weekly, instead of
41thhoel . :outer', at present ; and if it is effected,
_s western aspassenger traffic will assuredly take
which is shorter, more pleasant, and a
etor'altileal cheaper than the New York and Boston routes
stet, real is already the centre of an extensive railway
Jeeteni; five lines converging to it, and others are pro
is caw: , When the Victoria Bridge, now far advanced,
viatePted, Montreal will be able to boast the greatest
avh,re in the world. It would be easy to expend the
Flo tune allotted to this address in a description of
se ietreal, its numerous factories being alone deserving
riehigthened notice ; but as other matt Ts claim a
131-111 attention, I shall have to pass on.
ebevet- re proceeding west, howsver, I shall give you a
sehi ,acootint of the south shore of the St. Lawrence,
seatee_n comprises a large part of Lower Canada. The
eivi ,'s of the River Ristigouche, in the bay of Chaleur,
4te the province of New Brunswick frau' Canada, and
I`,7e line runs up in a north-weste ly direction as far as
Grand Falls on the noble river St. John, where the
from odary of the United States intersects. This tract.
! Gaspe Head to Montreal. is over 600 miles; in
reePgti h, and may have an average breadth of 83 Bay
;I'o lenr, Perce, and Gaspe are well knewe fishin:
'lnds, and give employment to thousands of men
fromand hors in summer, many of whom are brought thith -r
the British Channel Islands in the spring, to
dentn with the loaded vessels in autumn. The reel.
Population is considerable. Undivided atten ion
to toning k
but of kept
these
people 'poor fora 'rest many years,
and
clater more attention has been paid to agricul ores,
Zeraspaeti:upewiraevudinsnstranlsecies have,greetly improved. From
. habitations; and
miles dr more. there are but few.
lles unoccupied; it thus appears th ev in
this; portion of the province, there are over 10,000 square
nor is it very probable that this wil-
derness will soon be opened up. Proceeding westward,
We then begin to find lumbering and fishing establish-
ments, as at Cape Chat, Rimouski, Matane, Metis,
1.1 the River du Loup, where a grew deal of timber
.
18\211acie, anl thence shipped to Great Britain.
bare already stated, that from River du Loup
P'varls, the bank looks like a lone file pf houses ;
d
ieee , •
'co they are so near together that, without much
hagropriety, the road might be called a long st,eet. It
is been observed of this portion of Lower Canada—that
to
and Quebec—the houses are better built and kept,
I the farms are better cultivated, than. in any other
tlealttY in this section of the province. The people, too,
sm
see
be 'fore active and enterprising, and altogether it may
said to he in a very prosperous condition. There are
3eral large villages on that line of road, the most
eoesiderahle of which are River du Loup and St. Tho-
;lasied both of which might with oropriety be desig-
t as towns. Opposite to Quebec there is a
la community spread out at the part of the high
4)(1_8 which come d .wn almost to the river. The
res for five or six miles are used as lumber ecteezolad
g ghinvards, and the population cannot be less than 7, or
del "°' The coves on the Quebec or north side having been
inTseribed, I need only say that these resemble them in ever
y
e"Portant particular. The country on both sides of the
leawrence is occupied for from 30 to 60 miles in depth,
e".tmtnense tracts continue as they were from " the
rtritening" —dense forests. Several considerable rivers
e
""e!°agh the country, the principal of which are t
OaattuiTare, the Nicolet, the St. Francis, and the Richelieu,
dlief.nu of these the invariable lumbering business is COIL
tee
and there are also various manufactories where
teo eri cloth and coarse linen are -made. Sorel at the
ItauSnth of the Richelieu, Chambly, farther up, Melbourne,
are all and Seerbroake, in the interior townships,
large tow"
la thriviug places, and in process of time will become
fail:etro proceeding to the vicinity of Montreal, I would
countr 011: at some length upon the very fine district Of
Alp button south-east, and known as the Eastern Town_
tons., t
Very warul.. altitude of things which have as yet to be
u me that I shall not be able to do this—a
tawyti Zief allusion to them must therefore suffice. These
bee °.°mPrehend an area of somethinglike 25,000 square
ulat uegm :
ato`g at the back of the French country on the
bettyee of the south bank of the St. Lawrence, midway
boati'fi'n Quebec and Montreal, and terminating with the
Pop arY line between Canada and the United States. The
ee ation of these townships is chiefly English, and may
`ralireent to about 80,000 souls. Since the projection of the
414 ad between Montreal and Portland in 1847, this dis-
h
has
Made extraordinary progress not only in popula-
on
bet in wealth, and it is now held to compare favour-
tee eeee with the best portions of Upper Canada in respect to
shouts
taral thrift and general forwardness. And why
theu it not ? The soil is of the best, and the climate,
is cr,gfil somewhat more rigorous than Western Canada,
'tipthat account unfavourable to farming operations.
atisleaat.is not grown there in equal profusiob, bat oxen
and bwins are raised in much greater abundance. Cheese
tuies utter of the best descriptions are made in great quan
salsst' ald brine handsome returns. The capacious acid
great autial farm houses, many of them made of brick, the
iteerf,beartls and other outbuildings, the good fencing and
teae—ed implements of husbandry in use, the powerful
fe,
.. a with their capital appointments, and the dress and
a?,e'pazet of the sturdy farmers, show that our townships
he allabNid by a class of indomitable workers, who cannot
ce, behind in the race for material improvement. A
gelaterable proisertion of the people are somewhat Yanl.cee-
firmil•i, a'iog formed alliances by marriage with American
kith" on the border, but in respect to loyalty to the
Lave throne they yield to no other class.'Tis trne they
thee they
accused of annexationist tendencies, and at one
ha, eiey were perhaps open to the charge; but that time
divii:4B6ed away with them, as it has with all other t Cana-
treat Irsaraafer,w young and inexperienced politicians, Mo
of Rot ,i ; Quebec excepted. About twenty-four milest south
'
011ie 'real, there is village of considerable extent called St.
John,
Dime a. It is situated at the north end of lake Obtpi-
eseld' a alld was for many years the custom house gate into
forrile
American merchandise, but it has lost that pri-
St.l9. An consequence of the extension of the Champlain and
batw—eZrAlice Railway to Rouse's Point, on the division line
what eir_`-'aulda and the United States. This has some-
toted the Prosperity of St. John's, but it still con-
ernb'e_to be a thriving place, exporting la rge quantities of
Dotat r to Troy and New York, as well as peas, oats,
The °eel, and other farm products, to the latter market.
Leer! Bt of Lower Canada on the south side of the St.
to enc., •
that ° is of small extent, but possesses a claim to notice,
Public the Beanharnois Canal, one of the most splendid
acre, works of the province is situated there. Passing
th B the riv
e jun • er, we come to the tongue of land formed by
(liviotoon of the rivers St. Lawrence and Ottawa. The
scrosion line between the two sections of Canada runs
0 the
.
miles _sine etteara to the other, at a distance of about
gaele Points—Rolio Campbell Lectures on

MONETARY AND COMMERCIA

Cotton continues to meet an active enquiry. The
recent.statements which haie been, put forth by
several well informed parties as to the future sup.
ply of this article induces speculators and
exporters to operate with considerable energy, and
spinners are desirous of increasing their stocks as
much as possible. These considerations, and the
fact of holders supplying the market but sparingly,
has given sellers a further advantage of 1-16 d, On
Saturday 14,000 bales changed hands, speculators
and exporters taking 6,000. The prices paid were
441 to 6d for Surat, 7/d to 74d for Brazil, and 71d.
to 94 for Egyptian. •
Our local Share Market, on Saturday, manifested
a quiet but steady tone ; and although the business.
transacted was not large, prices generally were
supported, and, in some few instances, rather more
money paid. Among the closing rates of the day
were Lancashire and Yorkshire 96 to 961; London
and North Western, 1061, s ; Mauchester, Sheffield,
and Lincoln, 331, 34 ; Caledonian, 34 4 ; South
Eastern and Dover, 22*, 5-16.
Money, both here and in London, is in less active
demand ; still there is not any relaxation in the
rate of interest. In a few instances bills are
discounted at 51 to 54 per cent ; but the Lombard
street banks find full employment for their capital
at the bank minimum. We may further observe
that the late advance in the quotation for advances
on stock to 61 per cent has, no doubt, interfered
with the activity of business at the Stock Exchange,
and, notwithstanding loans for short periods may
be obtained. at 51 to 6 per cent, the dealers exhibit
scarcely any disposition to enter into extensive
transactions. Indeed, such is the inactivity of bu-
siness, that COM plaints aregeneral of the languor ex-
istin gin the various departments, and should a turn
for the better not shortly .take place, the conse-
quences may prove disagreeable. Now that anxiety is
again manifested with regard to the expected
stringency of money, a variety of reports have
been circulated, attempting to account for the
future prospect of affairs in this particular. Among
other rumours which have been current are some
which profess to indicate a desire on the part of
our government to raise another loan; but this
cannot be true, looking at the satisfactory condi-
tion of the national balance sheet just published,
and the impression derived from the remarks made
by the Chancellor of the Exchequer that the
property and income tax will be continued. Another
statement is that the Bank of France is about to
increase its capital from 91,000,000 to 250,0)0,000,
but at present no certain information has trans-
pired on the subject. Apart from these consider-
ations, the certainty that many new projects are in
course of organisation for the purpose of carrying
out foreign undertakings of magnitude, will make
capitalists generally circumspect, seeing that the
general tendency is to extend enterprise of this
1 character with the attractive feature of high rates
of guarantee, and those who may be seeking an
investment will probably risk something in thsm.
On Saturday there was increased firmness in Abe
English Stock Market, and a rise of* per cent was
established without leading to an increased
business' It is evident that the account is Bu/Ash,
and a disposition is occasionally shown to close
engagements, which tends to prevent any upward
movement. The diminished pressure for discounts
and the general aspect of the Bank return were
highly in favour of prices ; but while the Money
Market -remains in its present uncertain condition
there will probably be no revival of speculation or
bona fide purchasers. Consols were 931 I and
eaa 1 for money, but for account they remained
at 931 all day. Exchequer Bills ruled rather
firmer, viz , at 2s premium, and East India Bonds
on ler 1,0001 were also 2s premium. The New
Three taw Cents brought 941 le and the Reduced
931 to 948.
The traffic retierns of railways in the United
King loin published for tha week ending January
17. amounted to 391,5431, and for the correspond-
ing week of 1856 to 367,9711, showing an increase
of 23,5721 The gross receipts of the eight rail-
ways havieg their termini in the metropolis
amounted for the week ending as above to 163,8191,
and for the corresponding week of last year, to
157,590/, showing an increase of 6 2291 The
increase on the Eastern Counties Railway
amounted to 1,8861; on the Great Western to 773/;
on the London and. North Western to 3,5701; on
the London and Blackwall to 191; and on the
London, Brighton, and South Coast to 1,0371 ;
total, 7,2851. But from this must be deducted
4691., the decrease on the Great Northern ; 301 on
the London and South Western ; and 5511, on the
South Eastern ; together 1,0561, leaving the in
crease, as•above, 6,229/ The receipts on the other
lines in the United Kingdom amounted to 227,7247.,
and far the corresponding period of 1856 to 210,3811.,
showing an increase of 17,343/. in the receipts
of those lines, which, added to the increase on the
metropolitan lines, makes the total increase 23,5721.
as compared with the corresponding week of 1856.
We understand there is very little doubt that the
dividend of the South Western Railway Company
will be at the rate of 61 per cent. We hear that
the dividend of the London and North Western
Railway Company may be pretty safely taken at
51 per cent , with a good round balance over. A
great deal of speculation exists with respect to the
forthcoming dividend of the Great Western Rail-
way Company. They earned in round numbers
800,000/. during the past half, against 735,0001. in
the corresponding half of 1855 and their expenses
will come out about 40 per cent. against 41 7 per
cent. for 1855. From• these data it is calculated
that they have enough to pay at the rate of 3 per
cent. and 6,000/. over, exclusive of the balance
from Midsummer last. For the half ending
Christmas, 1855, the dividend was 1 per cent less.
In the course of the past week the arrivals of the
precious metals has been rather limited, namely,
148,450/:Consisting- of 140 000/ in silver from Ant-.
werp, and 8,4501 from the Mediterranean by tha
Indus. The shipments have comprised 367 3271
to India by the Pera, chiefly in silver; 3 4071 to
the Continent, through the London custom house,
making a total of 370,734/, independent of which
about 180,0001 is estimated to have been sent by
private hands to the Continent. The following are
the particulars of both imports and-exports :—By
the Europa from New York, 251.047 dols, or
50,2101; the Baltic from America, 66,000 dols or
13,2001; the Indus from Alexandria, 8,5001; the
Baron Osy from Antwerp, 33 cases bullion. By
the Pera for Alexandria and the • East Indies,
367,3271, of which 7,882/ was in gold and the rest
silver, divided as follows :—gold, Ceylon 6,882/:
Madras 1,0001; silver, Calcutta 141,1751, Bombay
208.270/ and Madras 10,000/.
The following joint-stock companies' meetings
have taken place during the week ;—The London
and Westminster Bank, at which a favourable report
was presented, showing an available balance of
93,265/, from which a divideed of 6 per cent per
annum, and also a bonus of 6 per cent was declared.
The chairman (Mr. Alderman Salomon's) congratu-
lated the proprietors on the position of the concern,
and stated that the deposits were, last year,
9,000,0001 and had since , increased to 11,500,000.
The meeting of the City Bank passed off satisfac-
torily, although the dividend was only at the rate
of 5 per cent per annum. It was recommended by
the chairman, Mr. Alderman Carden, that any
surplus beyond the 5 per cent should be divided at
the end of the year. The report was adopted. At
the Union Bank of Australia Company's meeting,
a dividend at the rate of 10 per cent for the half
year was declared. The undivided profits were
89,1311 The half-yearly meeting of the St.
liatharine's Dock Company took place on Tuesday,
when a dividend of 2-1 per cent for the half year
was resolved upon. The balance in favour of the
company was 110,328/. A dividend at the rate of 7
per cent will be proposed by the Electric Telegraph
Company.
We understand that, during the week, some of
the foreign mining companies have received infor-
mation from their agents abroad, the substance of
which is as follows :—The agent of the Fortuna
Company writes that the mines are gradually im-
proving, and that they calculate the raisings of
January to be 140 tons of lead ore. The Pontgi-
baud agent reports that the stones and tribute
pitches are looking well, and yielding large quan-
tities of stuff for the lavines, which were being
pushed on. From the Wildborg Mining Company's

works, they write that the average assay of the ores
smelted, was 50 per cent., and the produce
obtained in silvery lead is 451 per cent. The
Liberty Mining Company's agent, advises that
there is a plan for Working the sulPhurets, by which
the company can make good profits The Nouveau
Monde Company have received the report of Mr.
Tregoning on the Alotepeque mines, which' was
very favourable. The East India Coal Companys'
works are said to be progressing very satisfactorily.
The Peel River Company' have received advises
that the influx of population at the Rocky River',
would give a great impulse to the sale of the com-
pany's lands. A dividend of is per share will be
recommended by the directors of this company at
the forthcoming meeting. It is expected that the
Cobre Copper Company will pay a dividend of £3
per share. The only foreign mining company
which held a meeting during the week was the
Imperial Brazilian, at which a report was presented
from the committee of investigation, stating that
the loss for the eighteen months eliding June 30,
was £10,097 2s- 11d; and that, as no hope existed
of their being able to find Duval's Shoot, it was
best for the shareholders to decide on winding up
the concern, which proposition was agreed to, and
the meeting was adjourned for a month. The
Mining Journal of Saturday, says :
A very large business has been transacted since our last,
end the demand for good mines would seem to increase,
whilst improvements in several mines coming all at once
have caused a considerable rise in prices. We are glad to
see, moreover, that the Committee of the Stock Exchange
have resolved at last to admit British dividend and pro-
gressive mines into the official list, and thus open out a new
market for these securities. We have so often expressed
our surprise that they should so long have refused to do so,
especially as almost every foreign scheme has found ready
admittance to it.

Our usual weekly reports of trade in the menu
featuring districts have been received: The Man
chester market has not undergone any particular
change, although the somewhat stiffer appearance
of the raw material has had a slight effect upon pro-
ducers. Buyers, however, do not seem to be much,
if at all, move I by the increased activity of the cotton
market here. There is very little going forward in
cloths; buyers are ready enough to make offers, but
at prices which manufacturers steadily refused
This remark applies to goods for export. The home
demand is steady, and a fair business has been
recorded. Advices from Leeds state that•there is
no important alteration to report in the Woollen
Trade. There has been a fair attendance of
and a good business has been done for the home
market. The demand for the Canadian . market
has also been brisk, and the future prospects of the
trade are considered highly satisfactory. At Brad-
ford business in all descriptions of Wools had been
active at very firm rates, but the operations in
manufactured goods were limited, owing to the
high prices of Wool. Yarns fully maintained their
values. At Halifax Long Wools were in active
request, and prices ruled rather dearer. In the
piece and yarn trades, however, there was very little
doing, manufacturers being unwilling to enter into
fresh engagements at the present rates. At Leices-
ter very little business was doing, the increased
value of wool having compelled spinners to advance
prices, and but few sales have been effected at the
enhancement. The accounts from Birmingham
inform us that another advance has been made in
the value of Copper to the extent of 91. per ton.
The present advance brings the price of the manu-
factured article to is 3d per lb, and on Friday an
advance of id per lb on brass was announced.
The demand for all kinds of Birmingham wares is
good, and the factors' travellers are sending in
numerous and extensive orders for all kinds of
ironmongery and braziery goods. There is also
considerable activity in the iron trade, but no
material alteration has taken place in price during
the week: Pig iron is in good demand. and the
late advance is firmly maintained. From Barnsley
we have a report stating that the common goods
trade continues in the same depressed state as it
was at the date of our last report. The fancy trade.-
at the leviathan firm of Messrs. T. Taylor and
Sons, is very good, as yet, but many weavers in
connection with other establishments have been;
waiting for work in this department. The spring
trade is later this year than usual, but on its corn
mencing en improvement is expected to take place
The deinand for all kinds of coal is very good, with
the exception of . the Skilst9ne. This is owing
partly to the Great Northern Railway Company
having large stocks of this kind in their yards; and
partly to several new collieries having got now
fairly into working operation ; but it is expected
that as soon as the Anglo-French Company
obtain a further supply of steamers, which were
ordered some time ago, they will take the Silkstone
as well as the Barnsley coal, the latter of which
quality having been nearly, if not the only kind of
coal exported by that company to France in want
of more steamers. The opening of the Barnsley
and `Penistone branch of the Manchester, Sheffield,
and Lincolnshire Railway through to Barnsley,
which is fixed for the Ist proximo, will open up
increased facilities for the transit of coal from
some parts of the neighbourhood. From Belfast
we are advised that the linen trade of the province
of Ulster is in a healthy position, the demand
being brisk, and full prices obtainable. Linen
yarns met an active enquiry, and prices have
again advanced 11-d to 3d per pound. Flax of all
kinds finds a ready sale, and rates are very stiffly
supported. •
During the fortnight ending the 24th January
the sum drawn by the Honourable East India
Company on the Presidencies of Bengal, Madras,
and Bombay, 'amounted to on Bengal 82,068/.5d,
on Madras, 18,6901. 14s lld,on Bombay,73B/. les 9d,
making a total of 51,4871. 12s ld.
The advices received from the Continent today
report increased easiness in the Belgian Money
Market, the rate of discount having declined. In
Paris no alteration has yet taken piece, but there
is generally a more confident feeling with regard
to the future.
It is noticed as a novel feature in the bullion
market that parcels of Chilian-dollars have of late
reached this country by the West India packets.
As this coin is of the same standaid as the five
franc piece, it would appear to be equally suitable
for transmission to India. The five franc pieces, on
their arrival out, do not circulate in India in that
shape, being either melted into ingots, or coined
into rupees. For either purpose the Chiliau dollar
seems almost equally available.
Among the new projects announced during the
last few days is the California Water Company, the
Promoters of which are sanguine of realising very
large profits from the required capital, viz, 310,0001.
.1 he California projectors are to be paid for their
rights and interests in shares, and other provisions
are made which establish the bona fide character
of the concern. The shares have already attained
a moderate premium
The telegraphic advices regarding the Brazil
royal mail steamer Tamar, which has put into
Vigo with damaged machinery, state that the requi-
site material for the repair of her rudder cannot be
obtained at that place. The company are therefore
making arrangements to send it out by the Penin-
sular steamer, which is to leave Southampton on
the 27th. The interruption occasioned by the
accident will throw the vessel nearly three weeks
out of her time.
According to the latest advices, the Heather Bell
west° leave Melbourne on the Ist of November
for London, and the Morning Star on the 10th of
November for Liverpool. Assuming that they
sailed on the days fixed, these vessels have now
been at sea 83 and 74 days respectively. The
William Money and Tornado were also to leave
shortly for Liverpool; and the Admiral and Copen-
hagen, for London.
The recent advices from China have excited great-
interest and caused a further advance in the tea
market, a large business having been transacted
both in London and Liverpool. The arrival of the
telegraphic despatches by this mail was not
expected before the end of the month, and the fact of
their being transmitted from Hong Kong in 38 days
is altogether unprecedented. Up to this time they
wait confirmation, none of the India and China
houses being yet in receipt of any private messages,
but no doubt is entertained of their general aeon
racy. The last letters mentioned that the French
Folly Fort was about to be attacked just as the mail
was leaving, and that it -was supposed when this
was taken the fleet would temporarily suspend