Mobile register and journal., 1845-04-12

MAbEtRA.-The editors of the Journal of Com merce have been favored with the following extract
 FUNcHAL, Jan. 23, ls45.
 We occupy onr time very agreeaniSy m riding. walking, sight seeing, reading, Sc. The island of Madeira is IS miles long, and its greatest bread l5 It consists of mountain ranges of considerable height. with intervening valleys The highest peak is 620O feet aboye ihe sea, and several others moi much less, Branch ridges Iun down 10 tue coaat' terminating abruptly in sen cliffs oi great height, which are la shed necessarily by the ocean surges = Depp ravines lnterseci these ranges, and through them mountain torrents find heir way to the oceaa. Marryait says, ''l do not know spot on the globe which so much aslonishes and d,lgnis, upon nrat arrival, as the island of Madeira" Contrasting ,,bat inc traveller had left with what he sees, he continues ssWhen he lands upon lhe island, what a change: Winter has become summer, the naked trees which he Jeff arc exchanged Tor the most mx uran and varied foliage-snow and frost for warmth and spendor-ihe scenery "i the temperate zone TOT he protus ion aud maenhrence oi the tropics-a bright blue sky n glowing sun, hills covered with vines, deep blue sea, all meet and delight the eye, &c. All this applies fully to, and only to, the Southern side of the island, at ihis season-bit ,n sprinp and summer the whole is said to be very charming. At Funchal, at the same time that we are enjnving mild and balmy air. and are surround ed wuh lnxurrnt vegetation, the sunmiis of the mountains whn sight cl,thed with cold mist, and we have even seen n little snow there.
 The ot FuncnAi ls sltudleu on me loWet ropc and smail fiat facing the South, of semi circle of high hills cut by ravnes, which also through the town and have rivuets mnning through them, which al times become ioaILing torrents. The streets are l very narrow, and paved with small stones-tno s,le walks s)-many ot themup steep decliviiies- | The buildings ate all oi stcne, mostly siuccoed white. cove:ed with tiles, and of very irregular furms. Large gardens are atia'hed 10 many oi the houses in which are raised great variety oi ifu,s
 vegetables, flowers, and aromatic shrubs. Roses carnatInHs, heolropes, geranums, Sc are ahundan', 1 and nou in flower Fruits plenty, throughout the season for them, sach as oranges, lemons, gnasns, | bananas, &c. Orange trees as large as apple trees; and, loaded with teir yellow fruit contrast- l ing with their deep green leaves, are really very beautiful. Masy plants winch in America are small or grown in green houses, here flourish m the open air, and some attain gigantic size. In the vicin. l i,y of the town many d. lghlful walks and rides -and by extenihg the latter few miles, we obtair most charmingyiews of the city, ocean. mountains studded with q'intas or country seats. &c.
 1 The populate of Madeira is l2O ,COO-ot Fuacha 2S, ,0UO The arge mass of he people are poor an' ignorant. Sone efforts have been made ID ionn' schools for their benefit, and there few now i, | operation in tln different villages. The government and priesthood ne jealous oi ihe interference oi Pro teslants in hs case, and Dr. Ralley, Scotch res iden, has been in trouble and has excited ennit, and persecui.n for his exerlions in behalf of tn, poor, for whom he set in operation several school l which were attended by number U. adults an, children. An early effect of his scriptural insruc lions was, sinking of the faith of some of the poo Catholics. Tlis would net answer-the school were broken nr-ihe pupils dispersed, and some Q them imprisoned, of whom about twenty are now Il | confinement. A sad slale of afiars-but such as the universal voice of history would lead us | expect in any country where Ro,nansm prevails:
 The wine trade of Madeira has very much declin ed of hate ,eam--and as that was the grand s'apl of the country, there iS general stagnaiion in bu sness. This would moi long be the case, if the fan kees owned ,.l governed here; for the capabilitie of the island are great -much of the soil rich-ti' temper xture 6ne-and various articles of commerce might be produced in nbundance-say tobacco, cof | fee, silk, Sc. Sc. But there is no energy or enter prise in eiiler government or people. |.