Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1819-11-16
From the .Nsuv- York Commercial Advertiser
RIVER ST. LAWRENCE,

From the day let, Whitehall until last eve
ming, | have experienced continuation OF
unpleasant weather. We have bad several
snow storms, but it has this day cleared off
with fine breeze from w. n. w. We have
on board the whole of the North West Com
pany. They have been down to Quebec, to
attend the prosecution brought against them
by The earl OF Selkirk. As this is OF great
interest to all who are concerned in the Hud-
son Bay AMI North West trade, have pro-
cured report of the proceedings for the
Commercial Advertiser Several OF the gen
,lemeu have come 5000 miles to attend the
trial; some of them from the Rocky Noun
tains beyond Columbia river. From these
gentlemen, some of whom have been in that
savage country nearly twenty years, have
received much interesting information con-
corning the natives which the limits of this
letter will not admit of my detailing. These
poor creatures, it is said, actually worship
the Devil. They, indeed, believe in good
and bad spirit but they say the good spi-
rit is at all times attending them for their
good but the evil spirit waits every opportu-
nifty to do them injury; and to appease him,
they are continually making offerings TO him.
Why do we send missionaries to India and
neglect these poor Indians at home
Since you visited this country very consi-
derable mproyemeAts have been made, but
none so pleasing TO the traveller, as the IN
PRODUCTION of steam boats. There are now
seven good boats betw cen Montreal and Que
bee, to wit the Malsham, Lady Sherbroke,
Swiftsure, Carol Commerce, Telegraph, Ca
ledonia, and Quebec. On board the last yes
sci am now writing and certainly every
traveller will acknowledge that this boat IS
not inferior TO any passage boat between
Philadelphia. She has every accommodate
ton of the Chancellor Livingston or the Hud-
son in addition 10 which, an elegant band
Of martial music is constantly on board for
the amusement of the passengers. The ur-
banity of captain Hall, her commander, emit
ties him 10 the esteem of the numerous pas
sengers who go in this boat. 1t would be
improper to omit that most Of the other boats
are furnished in an elegant style, and their
commanders are men who merit the esteem
of their passengers. ! he Maisham, Lady
Sherbroke, and Swiitsure are owned by John
Nelson, ESQ. who was the first person that
introduced steam vessels on the St.LawrenCe,
and to this gentleman Montreal Is indebted
for many improvements. The Car oi-Com-
MERGE, and Telegraph are partly owned by
Americans, and partly by residents OF this
country The price of passage TO Quebec
from Montreal in the cabin is 10 dolls. i'll all
the vessels, except The Telegraph, which is
At ) dollars, with the addition Of IS, Halifax
currency, day for board. Storage pas
seugers are taken at l so in all the boats.
i A correspondent has sent u the following
proceedings Of the court al Quebec, on ali in
dictuent Tor murder against several OF the
partners and servants OF the North West COM
pany. The complaint, on which the indlct-
rnent was grounded, was, il will be Iecollect-
ed. preferred by lord Selknk. Our cores
poudent heard the opinion that was offered by
the chief Justice in relation TO one or two
points of law which were discussed by the
! council. and he expresses the belief, that the
indictment will eventually be relinquished.
He adds, that the subject is now before the
British parliament; but il will undoubtedly
be referred back to the provinces, and a
noiis prosequi will close The unpleasant affair:
Court Of oyer and terminer for the district OF
| Quebec aud the Indian territories opened
by commission under the great seal, dated
29th Of April, 1918, and continued by adj
| iournment 10 the 2lst Oct. 1919.
1t appeared in the course Of the proceed
ings in the session Of the commission, that IN
Nov. 1918, memorial was presented to hls
grace the duke of Richmond on the part OF
the North West Company, praying that
7 special court of oyer and terminer might take
MACE. to hear and determine all cases arising
in the Indian territories. An early reply was
given, that court would open for that pur-
pose on the 2Ist Of October, 1919, and that
/ the crown would. in due time, give notice TO
the parties On the cath OF May last,
the crown gave notice, that court W oud be
held at Quebec on the Cd OF Nov. instant, tor
that purpose, and the notice was imme-
diately acted upon by those OF the North
West Company Interested therein 1t was
| r.l...:,L lasD,tcb Cd into the interior. and