The Sun.
London, England, 1849-04-07 00:00:00

NORTII AMERICAN RAILWAY.

TO THE EDJ'[OIC OF THE SUN.
have much pleasure in forwarding the en
closed memorandum, and in authorising you to state
that it has been: both graciously and favourably re-
ceived by Sir John Henry Pelly.
I am well aware that the columns of The:Sun, have
not unfrequently been used to convey sentiments in op-
position to the Hudson's:Bay Company, but the highly
favourable notice, you have considered it your:duty to
take of the project brought forward for,a!British Colonial
Railway from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean, con-
vinces me that, in a question of such vast importance,
no recollection of any past differences will be allowed
to bias your judgment of present proceedings, and I
have no doubt, therefore, you will give full publicity
to the memorandum I now forward.

I cannot permit this opportunity to pass without
recording my grateful thanks for the warm support
this railway project has received at your hands; but
I must not dwell on this subject, lest it should seem
that it was the vanity of the author you have gratified,
and not his labours that had been encouraged.
I have the honour to remain, Sir,
Your most obedient servant,
ROBERT CARMICHAEL SMYTH.
Junior United Service Club,

March 30, 1849.

Major R. Carmichael- Smith presents his respectful
compliments to Sir John Henry Pelly, and in sub-
mitting to his favourable consideration the accom-
panying Memorandum,•.begs at the same time to be
permitted to return his sincere thanks for the kindness
and attention with which he has been received at the
Hudson's Bay House.
Major R. Carmichael. Smyth is fully impressed
with the vast importance of the subjects on which
he has had the honour to be allowed to communicate
with Sir John Henry Pelly, but he is also equally
aware of his own humble position, as regards either
commercial or political matters ; and he cannot,
therefore, but feel the more grateful to those who,
forgetting this circumstance, are willing to consider
only, whether the project he has brought forward is
a practical one, and whether it may not be the means,
under Providence, of adding to the happiness and to
the glory of the industrious, intelligent people of this
great empire.

J. U. S. Club, Charles-street, Haymarket,
27th March, 1849.
" MEMORANDUM FOR THE CONSIDERATION
OF SIR JOHN HENRY PELLY, BART., IN
HIS CAPACITY AS GOVERNOR OF THE
HON. HUDSON'S BAY COMPANY.
" It is not proposed in this Memorandum to trespass
upon the valuable time of Sir John Henry Pelly by any
attempt to enumerate the various important results that,
as a matter of course, would follow the accomplishment
of the long wished-for junction of the Atlantic and Pa-
cific Oceans; neither is it contemplated to dwell, even
for a moment, on the many beneficial consequences that
would naturally arise to the British Empire, should it be
ascertained, after a careful survey of the ground, that a
line of connexion, or practicable communication even of
a secondary nature, could be made throughout our North
American colonies and the Hudson's Bay territory.
"It is highly necessary that all these matters should
be frequently brought under the notice of the public, and
although there are many points upon which more de-
tailed information might be given, yet it would indeed
be mere idleness and waste of words to attempt to say
anything on such subjects to one who has so long and so
ably conducted the affairs, directed the energies, and guided
the destiny of a great and powerful company; and who
most have been consulted, and have taken part in the
discussions and treaties that have been entered into about
the Oregon question, and it stands recorded by a cele-
brated writer on colonial matters, that' but for the Ilud-
son's Bay Company England would have been shut out
from the Pacific.'

"This Memorandum, therefore, will, as;far as it regards
the Governor, assume a knowledge in a general way,
and, to a certain extent (that is to say, as far as the
wants of the servants and of the services of the Hudson's
Bay Company have up to this moment required), of the
degree of practicability of the several routes across the
Rocky Mountains. But as the project now brought for-
ward is one arising from the peculiar circumstances of
the present day,—from the great strides of practical
science,—from the many improvements afforded by lo-
comotive power for rapid communication and easy tra-
velling, as well as from numerous other causes;—it is
probable that the country of which we are now
treating may not have been examined, much
less surveyed, nor• even perhaps looked at
in a casual way, with a view to a permanent thorough.
fare for the commerce of the Colonies to the Pacitic ;
still less, perhaps, has the thought of a railway ever en-
tered into the mind of those who, no doubt accustomed
to every hardship, have spent their lives in trading with
the Indians, and in hunting through wild districts to pro-
cure the furs which serve for the comfort and ornament
of those who aro fortunate enough to live in the posses-
sion of (very luxury.
"It is believed, that not until the very last moment
did the Hudson's Bay Company contemplate resigning
any portion of the Oregon, north of the Columbia ; and
that river was therefore considered as the natural outlet
for New Caledonia,

"Having thus touched urn all the preliminary points
connected with the proposed undertaking, and brought
the pr, ject nn ler the immediate notice of the Governor
of the Hudson's aty Company ; the great question of
the practicability, or otherwise, of a railway communi-
cation through the territories over which he presides
stands out pr..,mitently to view, the solving of which is of
course of the utmost importance to all those who, from
any cause whatsoever, wish for a safe, a rapid, and a
national communication with the Pacific Ocean, through
our North American provinces.
" Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and the Canadas are
at this moment most anxious and zealous in the cause ;
and it is humbly and respectfully submitted to Sir John
Henry Pelly, that the moment has arrived when he can
materially assist in the endeavours about to be made for
a great national move to the West; and when the pres-
sure of population on subsistence in this country, toge-
ther with the anxious desire of all to improve the con-
dition of society by affording to every man wholesome
and permanent employment, will enable him to open
out the valuable territory of the Hudson's Bay Company.
" The object, then, of this Memorandum is to solicit
the good offices of Sir John Henry Pelly, and to request
that he will use the influence his high position must
naturally give him to bring this matter under the favour-
able consideration of the Colonial Minister, urging the
importance of exploring and surveying parties being
sent out, as soon as the season would permit, to the seve-
ral points upon the proposed Line that he may consider
necessary ; and of fixing upon some spot on the right
bank of FrasPr's River, or any other point that may
appear more desirable, as a proper site for a Terminus
for the Pacific.

" A scientific and talented young officer, one of the
Royal Engineer corps, whose mind has been engaged in
considering the manifold important results that woul,i
follow a perfect and rapid communication through the
North American provinces, has already pointed to the
Rocky Mountains ; and it is not bdieved that there
would be any great difficulty in reaching some of the
passes through them from the Atlantic,—but the coun-
try between those mountains and the Pacific is of such
a nature, that, although the direct distance is compara-
tively short, a careful survey could alone decide the
point as to the practicability of descent, by railway, for
commercial purposes, to the waters of that ocean.
" ROBERT CARMICHAL SMYTH,
" Author of the Letter lately published on this sub-
ject to the Author of the ' Clockmaker.'
" J. U. S. Club, Charles-street, Haymarket,
March 27, 1849."

COURT CIRCULAR.
WINDSOR, FRIDAY.
The Queen and Prince Albert took their usual walk
this morning i❑ the Slopes.
The Royal Family took walking and pony exercise.
The Queen and Prince Albert, the Ladies and Gentle.
men of the Court, and the domestic household, attended
Divine service this morning in the private chapel of the
Castle. The Hon. and Rev. C. Leslie Courtenay officiated.

Her Majesty the Queen Dowager, and her Ladies and
Gentlemen in Waiting, attended Divine service yester-
day, in the Chapel Royal, St. James's.
__.

Dispatches were sent off yesterday evening from the
Colonial office for the Governors of the North American
Colonies.

It is understood that an effort is to be made to gain
admission for reporters to the meetings of the guardians
of the Lincoln union; and that, should the request be
refused, one or two guardians who deem that the public
have a property in the knowledge of the transactions of
the board, will become voluntary servants of the public
in reporting the proceedings. That a great deal of the
long•maintained prejudice against the poor-law has
arisen from the secrecy with which the proceedings are
shrouded cannot be doubted. Mystery is repugnant to
the minds of the people of this country; and that which
is not done openly in the face of all, seldom obtains the
credit of being honestly and rightly done. Nothing is
so conservative of institutions as openness; and there is
nothing so revolutionary in its tendencies as unnecessary
secrecy.—Stamford Mercury.
GLASGOW.—TUE WEATHER.—Seed-time, of all
seasons of the year, is regarded by the husbandman with
i
athlreeamd7gtonane d under very
:ciitoubsassoolnicitthuedeu..hoSieobfeaeranosuittliihveLeable,
and
the seed has been deposited in the g
present- month was
promising circumstances.
Thedelihtful da)s yet expe-
ushered in by
abundance of mu's
°cstx genial,
pe
rwith a brilliant sun
ed to the lull the
shine.r i nc e d
nletite.l9t
ho;
ennwelitolrtemt hhfaeantvhdeeseason,
usual characteristics o.
having passed without copious and
drenching Yesterday forenoon was
°awtd,(s'ilts.-euref nightfall the torrents of rain that
lure,
h r verification of the " •
fell added
aadndelesden
antiyo,l e
uncertain g!ory
of an April day." However, as April showers have
potent virtues, it would be unwise to complai❑ of them
on the mere score of personal discomfort,—Noah British
Mail.

THE ►SALMON FISIIINGS IN THE NESS. - The
smallness of the quantity of water now floalug in thy
channel of the Ness has completely spoiled the salmon
fishing in the meantime. The season opened sph,ndidly
for the rod, but the net has never been hawed, and now
both rod and net must " bide their time." It is a puzzle
to know where the fish have gone to, since the favourite
streams and pools have been converted into dry land.—
verness Courier. _ . .

PROLIFIC EwEs.—A few days ago six Leicester
ewes, the property of Timothy Fetherstonhaugb, Esq.,
Of The Wine? Eirkonla, swum le leroba•