The Sun.
London, England, 1861-01-29 00:00:00

un

PRIV'S 4D. STAMPED, SD.

--Now -....---- Free fo 1
a complete separation of slave States from 9, -
lowed by a collision. People cling convulsively to
the hope that thPip,!eparation will be partial and
peaceful, and that the severed fragments will bere-
constructed into a new and more permanent union.
I see little in the tone of sentiment here to induce
me to think that, if the border slave States elect to
jcin their fortunes to the South, the disintegration '
of the Republic will be either peaceable or without
a violent and deadly collision. If on the other hand,
the border States remain in the Union they will, I
think, control the ardour of the North, and pre-
vent an immediate collision. I give you these spe-
culations for what they are worth,premising that you
are just as well able to form a sound opinion on
these questions in London as we are here.
I may add, that the friends of the Union rely
upon delay and discussion to save the Border
States. Since writing the above I have seen seve-
ral leadingifriends of the Union from this section,
who say that they are ready to go into the can-
vass on the basis of Mr. Seward's speech, if the
Republican party will bring the propositions for-
ward in the form of practical measures, and com-
mit themselves to their support. They say that
they have the strength to compel a submission of
the question to a popular vote and public discus-
sion, and they feel confident of winning. But suc-
cess, they say, depends upon an absence of force
and collision. Only one-third of the voters of Ala-
bama, they say, voted in the choice of members of
the Convention of that State, and yet the Conven-
tion has hurried the State out without giving the
people any opportunity to vote upon the question
directly. They say that they have already pre-
vented such precipitation in Virginia, and that
they have the power to prevent it in the other
Border States. For the rest they rely upon dis-
cussion, moderation, aad good temper. I give you
their views for what they are worth.

YANCOUVE.R'S ISLAND, BRI2LSH

COLZI3EBI.A.

The annexed letter, which strived by the last
mail, is from a young naval engineer to a clergyman
who has taken much interest in -his welfare. It
contains recent information of a highly interesting
and useful character as to the state of this new
colony.

Victoria, Vancouver's Island, British
Columbia, Oct. 10, 1860.
Rev. and dear Sir,—Although I have had comparatively
no duty to monopolise my time, yet events seem to have
crowded so on each other that I have never felt at liberty
to sit down to answer your kind letter received before leav-
ing England. lam afraid that now I shall fulfil your re-
quest very imperfectly, but I hope sir, you will excuse and
correct any mistakes I may make, for you will remember
that writing and composition were always my weakest
points, especially at examinatiors.
Any remarks on our long ♦oyage would, I think, be un-
necessary, for I believe that my father has had the honour
of telling you a little of our doings since leaving Old Eng-
land. I will therefore proceed to give what little informa-
tion I possess respecting "this new land of ours."
Most people that I have spoken with here agree with me
in pronouncing this to be a delightful country. Tho climate
is much superior to England, and then there is something
so enchanting and agreeable in the picturesque wildness
of these grand old forests, and something so soul-stirring
in the:air of freedom that surrounds the rambler in these
endless solitudes, which until very lately were sacred to the
red man and the wild deer—that even the usual discom-
forts attending bush life, and the heavy drain on the
pocket for simple necessaries, aro quite overlooked or
thought compensated for by the enjoyments arising
from all that is strange and beautiful. This is perhaps,
colouring the account a little, but I cannot speak too highly
so far as my own experience goes. I have always been
partial to woodland scenery, and here I can enjoy myself
to my heart's content, for I can go ashore nearly every
day either alone or in company. The country is open to
all ; no fear of trespassing. I have a gun, and there is
plenty of game, and no game laws : in the winter Ihe ducks
and geese are by thousands. I have a nice Indian canoe,
and I paddle about the harbour or anywhere I choose.
But I have had what I ought to be most thankful for,
good health. Since I left England I have never been ill
a day, except from sea sickness. I think this climate will
suit me very well. Rheumatics are rather prevalent in
the winter, and I think that is almost tho only sickness
here.

In most parts of the island the settlers can easily supply
themselves with sufficient deer and grouse to live upon. I
have shots at deer, but I have never got one; they get into
the bush, and we have no dog. The Indians supply us
chiefly. We buy deer, ducks, geese, grouse, salmon, and
potatoes very cheap in the season ; we give about 2d par lb.
for ealmon, and other things in proportion. We generally
barter for biscuit or old clothes.

I have been some distance into the interior, and round
to all the farms. The accounts are pretty good. The soil
is very rich, and an extra crop may be gathered to what is
usual in England. But the island would not be worth
much if entirely dependent upon its agriculture, for the
soil though rich is shallow, and the fields are few and far
between. Rocks are everywhere to be met with. The
island appears to be ono huge rock, with a thin covering of
soil, and that broken up into patches. Neither do sheep
farms or cattle rearing pay very well, for there is no grass
grown for winter use, and it is very cold, so the poor
things die of cold and hunger.
As we have not bad any winter since 1858 and 1850, I
expect we shall feel the cold very much. We had a little
cold weather in the Straits of Magellan, but not much,
for it was their summer, though the snow covered the hills.
Wo were a long time in the tropics.
I do not know much respecting the gold fields. We
hear little of them just now. There was a little excite-
ment last month, and a small rush of speculators up the river
to Rock Creek, where a vein of silver quartz had been found.
There has been an average supply of gold from Frazer River
but nothing very extraordinary. The grand excitement was
over before we arrived. At one time there were 20,000
miners and others living in tents where Victoria now stands.
Flour was as high as Sd. per lb., hay 4d. per lb., and other
things in proportion. Many men made immense fortunes.
One hotel here cost 6d. per brick, and they small ones.
I was quite surprised to find Victoria so large as it is.
There are some very nice buildings already, mostly of wood,
but now many stores are being built of stone and bricks,
some having very nice iron fronts. The Government houses
are built of brick, and look very well. Victoria boasts of
two Churches, one large Wesleyan Chapel, a Roman Ca-
tholic Church, and a Congregationalist Chapel, a Collegiate
School and Indian School, Government houses, police
offices, jail, and a theatre, several fine streets, many fine
shops and stores, two fire companies (both volunteers); one
is called the Hook and Ladder Company. They are on the
American principle, and are supported by voluntary contri-
butions. Within the last week or twe a corporation has
been formed as is England, Mayor, Council, &c. ; there is
an efficient body of police, both English and Indian ; there
are Courts of Justice much the same as in England. We
have had one case of capital punishment, and that was
since we arrived. An Indian was hanged for killing a
coloured man; the Yankee part of the community wanted
him to be reprieved, insisting that it was no murder to kill
negroes, but Old England triumphed, and gave another
assurance to the poor persecuted negro that her sons, though
so far away, still recognised him as a man and a brother.
There has been a great dispute here about the coloured
people attending places of worship. One minister—l was
about to say a Christian minister—refused to allow them
to mix with his congregation, and if they attended his
church (Congregational) they were obliged to huddle up in
one remote corner; but Mr. Cridge, the minister of Christ's
Church, took up their cause and opened his church doors
to as many as liked to come, and I am pleased to see a good
proportion of coloured people in every meeting I ha!!
attended. There are a great number of them in Victoria;
many very respectable, some of the prettiest bout: belong-
ing
theaxtc.used,
te
tending
dtoi n them. e
thens.
theatre,
case waswh triedere t hereinh e y
are co:
eo houses
i;el r t aht
e-
h their
gallery. k There are a great number ermo J 5
There has been a little
children attend the bishop's school.
dispute there. They wish
attending prayers, au bishopllr childrenwi ln ot atlol ow be
do not know how the
hte urt
I do not know much
the House of Assembly is composed of members elected by
about
settled Gov er n ,
but I think
. Government,
the poopfe. The Governor, ,of course, is elected by the
Queen.
Governor Douglas is a Seotchman, and was for-
the Hudson Bay Company's service ; he is
n
inghly acquainted with the country and the different
tribesitherrul°Y.
of Indians, and of course is well qualified to treat
with them. lie is a fine, well-looking man, and I think he
is pretty well liked, lie paid us a visit. I was introduced
to him.

I must not forget to mention the two sources of the
island's future wealth—the coal fields and the extensive
forests of excellent timber. A great quantity of coal is
supplied from Nanimo, a place to the northward from here,
distant 90 miles. There is a considerable export down the
coast as far as San Francisco. The Yankees tried all they
could to run them down, but it was no use. The coal is of
average steaming quality. We have a settlement there,
and a resident minister. The Bishop was there a short tine

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