The Sun.
London, England, 1859-01-21 00:00:00

A WONDERFUL VALLEY.

A correspondent in a- contemporary says :
During a recent tour in California I paid a visit to
a valley which, in scenic loveliness and grandeur
is, as far as I can learn, quite unrivalled, and as I
find upon inquiry that even its name is almost en-
tirely unknown in this country, I thought a suc-
cinct account of its wonders might not be without
interest to your readers.

Some years since, when a fierce border warfare
was raging between the Californians and the Indians
all along the range of Sierra Nevada, the inhabit-
ants of Mariposas county, who had formed them-
selves into a battalion for mutual protection, were
much annoyed by heavy losses of cattle, which the
Indians managed to secrete in some part of the
mountains, so well concealed as for months to com-
pletely baffle the most strenuous efforts of their
pursuers. At last they were so much enraged by
these repeated thefts, that they determined to solve
the mystery ; but it waS not till about 1850 that a
company of these backwoodsmen at last came upon
the valley of which I am about to speak, and which
had proved so effectual a cache for the "stealings"
of the Indians. _ _ _

The Yosemite (Bear) Valley is situated in the
beautiful range of the Sierra Nevada, about 240
miles east from San Francisco and about 45 miles
from the nearest village, and. the road to it lies
through an almost untouched pine forest, the noble
trees of which, towering to an average height of
250 feet, covered with thick festoons of delicate
lichen, form a delightful shelter from the noonday
heat (which here rises to 120 deg. in the shade.)
After a weary ride amid these lonely wild, the
traveller suddenly emerges from the forest, and.
finds himself on the brink of a tremendous precipice
in full view of the Yosemite Valley, lying 3,500
feet below him.
The valley is 12 miles long, and about a mile and
a-half wide, and is, in fact, a great chasm .shut in
on both sides by granite rocks, which average in
height 3,500 feet. These rocks are on the north
side quite perpendicular, and present an unbroken
face, while on the south they are jagged and dis-
torted, having in consequence a most picturesque
appearance. The most notable rocks in the valley
are Totochanula, 3,600 feet, Loyd, 3,200, the North
Dome, 3,500, and Tesaack, according to the Indian
legend, the Queen of the Valley, which exactly
resembles the vertical section of a dome, is as
upright as a wall, and 4,884 feet high. These rocks
are all solid granite.
Over these walls of stone fall several streams (there
are eight as far as the valley has been explored),
forming waterfalls, which for height and beauty
stand unrivalled. The most remarkable of these,
the Yosemite Fall, comes into the valley on the
north side and falls at one leap 2,355 feet. Over
this in the spring there is a very heavy discharge
of water. Another, the Nevada Fall, over which
the main stream of the Merced river tumbles,
makes a descent of 1,285 feet, and immediately
another of 780 feet. The smallest fall in the valley
is upwards of 600 feet high. All these falls are
worthy of being descanted upon at length, but I
am unwilling to trespass upon your space, except
for the bare statement of facts.
The bottom of the valley is filled with a noble
pine forest, as yet untouched by man, and, close at
the foot of the immense Tesaack, there nestles a
lovely little lake, the transparent waters of which,
after passing through the stony portal of. he valley,
run down towards the great plains of the San
Joaquin, and soon become defiled with the mud
from the myriads of rockers established on its banks
by miners in search of the precious metal with
which its bed is impregnated.
One or two small shanties were the only dwell-
ings in the valley when I was there last August,
and but few white .people have as yet visited it,
though it is now very justly beginning to be recog-
nised as one of the most remarkable scenes in the
world.
I wish to mention that near the road to this val-
ley.l visited a grove of the far-famed Welling-
tomas, or mammoth cypresses, of which there are
about 500 interspersed among numerous others less

A public meeting was held at Pudsey, near Leeds,
on Wednesday night, to take into consideration
the subject of Parliamentary Reform, and consider
the question of Pudsey and the neighbourhood
being made an electoral district to send a member
to Parliament. Mr. G. Hinings was called to the
chair. There was a numerous attendance.

The CHAIRMAN, in opening the meeting, said
that the first subject for their consideration was the
claim. of Pudsey to be represented in Parliament.
That claim might excite a smile on the face of
some, but looking at the population and industry
of the district, he thought it was fair and just.
(Hear.) Their population, according to the last
census, was 11,600, and he' thought they
.had a
strong claim to be represented ; but they were
modest, and proposed to take in the parish of Cal-
verley, which had a population of 24,000, and this
would make their claim still stronger. (Hear.) The
next subject was the necessity of reform. Many
persons considered at the time of the passing of the
Reform Bill that the franchise might safely have
been extended ; and looking at the progress which
had been made since that time, they Must be satis-
fied that the franchise ought now to be extended
to the masses of the people. But. it .was urged
against the extension of the franchise so as to in-
clude all ratepayers, that in the lowest class of rate-
payers there was not that intelligence which ought
to be found amongst persons who- sought to exercise
the suffrage. There was a notion also .that identity
.of opinion was to be inferred from similarity of
rating, but they might depend upon it that there
was as great a diversity of opinion amongst the £5
cottagers as amongst other classes of society, and in
any election that class would display the same feel-
ings and enthusiasm as' were to be found amongst
the classes above them. (Hear.) Not only, how-
ever, did the objectors commit this error, but their '
ti midity led them to make reflections on the working
classes, which they did not deserve. He believed,
however, that this was a groundless fear, and that
the working classes would exercise the vote as
honestly ci the £lO householders. (Hear, hear.) They
would have observed that Mr. Bright proposed to
reduce the county franchise to £lO, whilst he would''
make the franchise in boroughs a rating one • but
such an arrangement would be very unfair to places
like Pudsey, because the population of a district like
this was just as well qualified to vote as the rate-
payers in boroughs. (Hear.) Nay, he believed even
more so than in densely populated boroughs. (Hear.)
With reference to the qualification of persons in
this district, he might state that he had obtained a
return of the members of the religious societies in
the township, and he found that out of 92 members
there were only 16 voters, and that if Mr. Bright's
scheme was adopted there would only be two
more. For himself, he thought that all these men
would exercise the suffrage honestly. Much had
been said about education as a necessary qualifica-
tion for the suffrage ; but he did not think such
was the case, for there were many persons
thoroughly up to themark in politics who were not
up to the mark in arithmetic or science. (Hear,

hear.) Expressing his conviction that an extension
of the franchise would promote national order and
prosperity, he concluded by calling upon

The Rev. J. MARSDEN, who moved the first reso-
lution—" That in the opinion of this meeting a
large measure of reform is absolutely required,'
which he enforced by an able speech.
Mr. SWANN seconded the motion, which was
carried.
The Rev. J. L. HAIGH moved the second resolu-
tion :—" That the franchise, together with the pro_
tection of the ballot, be extended to all persons of
full age and sane mind, not convicted of crime, who
are rated to the relief of the poor." If, however, he
could not obtain, all he wanted, he would take as
much as he could get, in the hope that it would
afterwards lead to more. (Hear, bear.) He was
prepared to accept a rating suffrage, meaning by
that all persons liable to pay rates, whether under
the operation of the Small Tenements Act or not.
(Hear.) . With that extension of the franchise they
must have the protection of the ballot. (Hear.)
Mr. J. WIIITEIIEAD seconded the motion. He
spoke, as he said he had voted at Bradford, against
Mr. liright'o prnpoeal fn harm a £lO franchise in
counties and a rating franchisein boroughs, and re-
ferred to their own township, where one side of the
road was in the borough of Leeds and the other in
the West Riding, as an illustration of the injustice
of such a scheme.
Mr. SWANN moved as an amendment :—" That
the franchise be extended to all persons of age, not
legally incapacited—in boroughs, to all persons
rated to the poor, and in the counties to £lO
occupiers."
Mr. S. HARGREAVES seconded the amendment,
which was lost by a large majority.
After some remarks by Mr. Joseph Walker, in
explanation of Mr. Bright's views on the question
of incorporating populations like that of Pudsey in
electoral districts, the motion was put and carried.
Several other speakers addressed the meeting,
and resolutions were passed in favour of a more
equal distribution of seats, and triennial parlia-
ments.

Petitions to parliament having been adopted, an
association was formed, and the proceedings ter-
minated.

MEETING AT CARDIFF.

A very respectable and enthusiastic meeting in
favour of a reform in parliament, was held at Car-
diff or. Tuesday evening. The Town Hall was
densely crowded, The chair was occupied by John
Batchelor, Esq., a member of the Town Council.
Letters were read from the county members ex-
pressing regret at not being able to attend. Col.
Stuart, M.P. for the borough, was stated to be on
the continent.

Mr. J. N. CARNE, of Dimlands Castle, moved the
first resolution, stating that while he was strongly
in favour of manhood suffrage, he was willing to
waive his own views in favour of those enunciated
by Mr. Bright in his Bradford speech. At the
same time he considered, that with regard to Car-
diff, which he proposed should continue to send one
member only, Mr. Bright had been led into error
by the census of 1851. The population of Cardiff
had siice that period increased so much as to be
double in amount, if the suburbs of Roath and
Canton were included.

Subsequently a committee was appointed to
communicate with Mr. Bright on this point.
The resolution, which adopted the alterations in
the franchise proposed by Mr. Bright, was seconded
by Mr C. TIIOMPSON, and unanimously agreed to.
Mr. E. A. FREEMAN moved a resolution affirming
the necessity of adopting the ballot and a re-distri-
bution of seats, supporting his views by a very
argumentative speech.
The resolution was seconded by Mr. ENSOR,
solicitor, and carried with only one dissentient.
Mr. JOHN BIRD, solicitor, in a brief but effective
speech, proposed the appointment of a committee to
watch the progress of all the proposed reform bills,
which was seconded by Dr. Edwards, and unani-
mously agreed to.
Other addresses were delivered, after which the
Rev. A. TILLY moved a vote of confidence in Mr.
Bright, which was seconded by the Rev. N. THOMAS,
and carried without opposition.

A GAMEKEEPER SHOT BY A POACHER.—On
Sunday morning, about 3 o'clock, three keepers in the ser-
vice of the Marquis of Ailsa encountered two poachers,
named Ross and Withers, belonging to Maybole, on the
farm of Park, between Kirkoswald and Turnberry. As the
keepers were some distance from each other, one of them,
named Jones, who was in advance, came first on the
poachers. He had a dog on the string, and was advancing
in order to seize them. When within a few yards, both
the poachers deliberately, and without provocation, levelled
their guns and fired—the one aiming at the dog, the other
at Jones. Each shot took fatal effect. Jones was shot
through the heart. When he received the deadly dis-
charge, he leaped up, exclaiming " Oh!" and then fell life-
less. Another of the keepers, named Nicholson, coming
up, seized Withers, who said, " I'm no caring. I only
shot the dog ; but Ross shot the man." Pursuit was given
as soon as possible ; and two policemen were set to watch
the house of Ross, if possible to know when he entered.
As daylight approached, the watch was given up. On en-
tering Ross's house they found him in, and his boots
cleanly brushed. He denies all knowledge of the affair.
One of his boots was taken back to the scene of the tragedy,
and it corresponds exactly with the footprints. Jones, the
keeper, who was shot, has left a wife and three or four of
a family. The two poachers were brought down to Ayr
and lodged in gaol. Ross is known as a notorious poacher.
The sad event has created a great sensation in the district.
—Glasgow Bulletin.
SNOW STORM IN CONSTANTINA.—The Algiers
journals state that in the night of the Ist and up to mid-day
of the 2d, a heavy fall of snow took place at Constantina.
At eight o'clock in the morning of the latter day it was
about three inches thick, but at noon it began to melt. They
add that a battalion of the 76th regiment, on the march
from Bona to Constantino., was caught in a snow storm, en
suffered greatly ; also that, from falls of snow, the r oad to
the Setif was almost impracticable, and that to Philippe-
vine was in a pitiable state.

1 Another frightful murder has been committed in
Paris. An elderly, lady _of property, Mine,_G---,
of 109, Boulevard Beaumarchais, left home on
Monday . morning after breakfast, and told, her
servant.that 'she should not return until .ten at
night. On returning, she was surprised to find
that the servant, ,Itlarguerite L--.---, aged thirty-
:throe, was not -Waiting to' receive her,• and still
more so to see that the cloth was laid in the dining-
' room, and the things not removed. She went to
the woman's room, and there to her horror, found
her lying dressed on the bed, quite dead, bathed in
blood, and with numerous wounds inflicted by a
knife in different parts of her person. She had
evidently been .murdered, and the. murderer. in
derision, had placed on her breast a crucifix,
clumsily made, which she had brought from the
country, and had kept at the head of her bed.
Madame G cried, out in terror, and some per-
sons having come :in, the 'commissary of polic6 of
the district was sent for. He found that . the
drawers and closets bad been broken open, and
that their content,Q, which were stained with
blood, had been ransacked; but what was singular
was, that nothing, not even the plate and jewellery,
of which there was a considerable quantity, had
been stolen. On the day before Mine. G had
received, in money and securities, at the Bourse,
the sum of 60,000 francs, and she • had placed it in
a small box. The sum was still in the box, ,and
the box had not been touched. It wits assumed
that the object of the murderer had been to steal
"'the 60,000 francs, and that he had sought for them
in the drawers and closets, but had not examined
the box, either on account of its insignificant ap•
pearance or of his having been interrupted by a rinbo.
of the bell at the outer door. The porter recollected
perfectly well having seen the girl. about seven
o'clock in the evening, and afterwards, having occa-
sion
.to speak to her, he went upstairs and rang-, but
received no answer. It was that ring vvhie/1 pro-
bably disturbed the murderer in his search:,,'ies()
circumstances having been communicated Ito the
detective police they set to work to diseqyer 4e
al,mur-
derer. They learned that the girl had:',ll . in the
habit of receiving, unknown to her ' Tess, the
visits of a journeyman hatter of the time boule-
vard. This man was sought for, and was found to
be in the -employment of a man in the Rue du
Temple. •He was soon arrested, and on searching
his lodgings, a great coat stained with- blood was
found. He energetically denied his guilit„ and on
being confronted with the dead bocljeoldly ex-
' claimed, " What ! that is poor Marg rite !" The
knife with which the deed was perpati-ated has not
been found.
. ,
It appears from investigation that it was-not in
the evening, as at first supposed, that the crime
was committed, but at about one o'clock, just; after
Madame Garnot, the victim's mistress, had left'
home after breakfast: This appears clear,not only
from the breakfast things having been found still
on the table, but from the meal the girl had taken
being undigested in her stomach. It is clear also
from the fact that shortly before two o'clock a lady
in the house, an acquaintance of Middle Garnot,
rang at the door, but received no answer, though it
appeared to' her that she heard some one moving
softly about inside. In addition to the seizure of a
coat stained with blood, other circumstances tending
to prove the guilt of the journeyman hatter, now in
custody, have been brought to light. Not only had he
carried on an intrigue with the girl and been accus-
tomed to visit her in her mistress's absence, but he
had been seen hanging about the house shortly
before the murder must have been committed,
waiting no doubt for the mistress to go away. On
the day of the murder he did not go to work at all,
neither at night did he return to his lodgings, but
hired a room in a lodging-house near the Hotel de
Ville ; and he could not give any explanation of
those circumstances. In the lodging-house, more-
over, he would not allow himself to be shown to a
room, but said that he could find his way himself,
a proof that he did not wish to be seen too closely p•
and before he retired to rest he was heard washing
his shoes. The next morning he returned to work,
and when, a few hours after, the police having
arrived to arrest him, he was told that some one
was asking for him, he turned very pale, and ex-
claimed in agitation, " Adieu, my friends ! adieu
for ever !" He was asked what he meant by such
strange language, but he gave no answer, When
the police told him he was arrested, he did not
even ask why, and he replied with embarrassment
to the questions put to him. Lastly, there were
scratches on his hand and spots of blood on his
clothes. Notwithstanding all these circumstances,
the man continues to protest his innocence. The
house in which the murder was committed is occu-
pied by several persons engaged in trade, so that
it was easy for him to enter and leave unobserved
by the concierge. The knife with which he per-
petrated the murder has not yet been discovered ,
hut in the house half of a pair of shears used for
cutting metals, with which evidently the drawers
and closets had been fractured, way found.