Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-07-10
NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER.
LETTERS FROM sAGUENAY RIVER, CANADA.
TO THE EDITORS.

salmon fsnlng. am writing tnlS leller al Tic
mouth of probably the most remarkable river in
North America. But, before entering upon descrip-
ton of my soourn here, il is meet, ween, that
should give you an account of my Journey down
the st. Lawrence.
On reaching Quebec was informed that there
was no regular mode of conveyance down the great
river and that | should have to take passage in
transient ship or schooner which would land me at
nv desired haven. This intelligence had ten
dency to dampen my spirits, and had to content
myself by sauntering about the citadel city.
Among the places visited was the fish market,
where it was my good fortune to find small
smack, which had brought load of fresh salmon to
market, and was on the point OF returning to the
Saguenay for another cargo. In less than thirty
minutes after first saw him had struck bargain
with the skipper, transferred my luggage on board
the smack, and was on my way to a region which
was to me unknown.
We hosed sail at twelve o'clock, and were favored by
stiff westerly breeze Every thing fact connected with the
voyage beautifully accidental, and had glorious
time" In the first place craft just the thngscoo
rigged fast sale and perfectly safe. The skipper
named Beand-was a hearted and intelligent French
man, whose entire consisted OF boy The day was
superb and the scenery of the river appeared to me more like
the work of enchantment than nature
The appearance of Quebec, from the eastward is imposing
in the Standing it does upon lofty bluff, its
massive ampars and Uncovered roofs domes and cupoas
suggest the idea of immense power and opuence Just below
the city the Lawrence spreads the width of three
four miles, while from the margin of either shore fade
away continued succession of hills, which vary from five
hundred fifteen hundred feet in height Those upon the
north shore the highest and both sides of the river for
distance of some twenty miles below the city penfuy
pnked with the white cottages Of the Canadian peasanty
H.. al,
hills upon the north shore become lofty, reaching the
elevation of thousand feet and while you only occasion
ally discover farmhouse upon their SUBMITS the south
shore continues bear the appearance of settled
try where the spe of catholic church is frequently
looming above cluster of rural residences In descending
the river the first pictorial feature which attracts attention is
the Fall of Monmorency, pouring the waters of noble tn
butary Immediately into the ST. Lawrence. Just below this
fall the is divided by the island of Orleans, which
about twenty miles in length and five in breadth 1t is
partly covered with forest and partly cultivated and, though
the shores rather low it contains number of points which
are hundred feet high At the termination of this
island the parish of St. laurent remarkably tidy little
French village, whose inhabitants said to be simple in
their they vrtuous and ignorant of the world
at large. On smaller island which lies thirty miles
below Quebec and directly opposite noble cape called Tour
men located the quarantine station for the shipping of the
river; and when passed this spot counted less than
forty ships anchor nearly all which were feigh,ed
with foreign paupers who then dying of the ship
fever the of hundred and fifty individuals pc day
might here mention that the vessels usually thspar
of the ST Lawrence merchant ships and briggs which
chiefly and extensively employed in the lumber and timber
trade Another island in this portion of the ST. Lawrence
which attracts attention from its peculiar sylvan beauty
called Goose island, and owned by Sistehood of Nuns
who have cultivated quite extensively The portion
of it yet covered with forests the channels either side
far from five miles wide and is distant from Quebec
about fifty miles.
We landed here at and while my companions
building watch fire and cooking supper of fish, pork and
onions, amused myself by taking sundry observations
found the vegetation of the island quite luxuran the COM
hard woods of the north prevailing but its foundation
seemed be composed of two distinct species of stone
Both varieties Of the finest grain and while was of
rich Indian red the other deep blue This portion of
the St Lawrence good deal blocked extensive reefs
composed of these identical sandstones and point they
extend nearly the render the ship nav
cation extremely dangerous. On subsequently examining
the high hills the north Shore in this vicinity found
them solid granite veined with red marble extensive beds
of quartz and covered with suned forest of pine and hem
lock- But this geological dissertation is keeping my pen from
describing night picture which my privilege wit
this beautiful but badly named island where for sun
dry reasons, concluded to spend the night
Our supper ended and the skipper had paid his
visit the little craft, and with his boy had smoked himself
to sleep by campfire The sky without cloud but
studded with stars and the breeze which kissed my cheek
soft and pleasant the breath of dearly love.
had seated myself upon rock, with my face turned
wards the NORTH when my was attracted by
column Of light which shot upward the zenith behind the
distant mountains. The broad expanse the ST Lawrence
without RIPPLE and the mountains together with the
column of light and the unnumbered stars, distinctly
mirrored in its BOSOM While looking upon this the
idea struck that the about to rse but
crimson glow stealing up the sky, and knew that
looking upon the fantastic performances of the Northern
Lights Broad and Of the purest white the many rays
which shot upward from behind the mountain and equal
distances between the horizon and the zenith displayed
four arches of purple hue, the uppermos melting i'm
perceptby the deep blue sky On again turning my eyes
upward discovered that the columns and arches had all dis
appeared and that the entire sky covered with crimson
color which resembed lake of liquid fire tossed into nn-
merabe Strange my feelings looked upon
this and thought of the unknown wilderness before
me- and Of the Being whose ways past finding out and
who holdc,h the entire world with its Cities mountains
rivers and boundess wldcrncsscs, in the hollow of his
hand. Long and ntentIy did gaze upon this wonder of
md fnd;n