The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-09-20
Our Canadian Corr espondcnoe.


aid of the Lake Huron Ra,Load-E1ceyent
Sporting and Fishing on Lake Simcoe-Novsl
Mode Of Catching Deer-Battle of Nec Orleans
-Voyage Round the Lake-Fste Champetrs By
the Officers Of the 7lst Regiment.
In my letter last week, from Bradford, a small
village at the foot of Lake Simcoe described the
delightful ride traveller has in that direction from
Toronto A public meeting was held at the vii
lage on the evening of my arrival, to discuss the
nature of the instructions that should be given to
its representatives, who were about to attend a
meeting of the County Council at Barrie during the
following week, relative to assessing the county 10
the amount of $500, 900, towards the construction
of railroad, to annex Lakes Ontario and Huron,
touching at Lake Simcoe; and am thus afforde
an opportunity of witnessing display of that mar
row and contracted feeling, which more than any
other cause so effectualy retards the advancement
of this splendid province The result was, that the
wardens and Deputy Warden were prohibited from
voting for any such expenditure of money, unless
the railroad went through Bradford. The council,
at Its subsequent meeting, however, acted more
enlarged policy, and voted the money irrespective
of the line which the engineer might select
On Monday, about two o'clock, went on board
the steamer Beaver, Capt. Laughton, who is very
gentleman man, to whom, and the purser, Mr.
SLIPPING, am much indebted for their courtesy and
kinoness together with much valuable local nfor-
nation. so little is known of the interior of this
Y. 4
for such treat this vessel afforded. She ID kept
in high order, and her machinery works with as
much ease and precision as have ever witnessed,
even on board the first class steamers that ply TO
and from New York.
There are two boats on Lake Simcoe, the
Beaver, coming up TO the lindng on the west
branch of Holland river, and the other, the Morn
ing, going up to what is called Holland landing on
the eastern branch, both of which branches unite
about four miles below Bradford. These creeks
wind through an immense body of marsh, which
abounds with snipe and wild ducks, particularly
during the present month, and in the spring, and
II any OF your New \ ork sportsmep wish to enjoy
delightful excursion, they will find their way to
Lake Simcoe. There is a house at the junction of
the two branches, where they can spend the night,
and return in The steamer as she passes on the fol-
lowing day, if satated with the abundance of
sport. BY taking the Erie railroad route from
New York 10 Piermont, on the night train, down
Seneca Lake, thence by rail cars TO Rochester,
and embarking board one of the boats that leave
that place every day for Toronto, they may be in
in this city in thirty hours, and then, by taking
the coach which starts from the Western Hotel,
in Wellington street, on the following morning,
they will be on the shooting ground that afternoon
Or, should they be disposed to stop at Bradford,
they NAV be certain of as good bed and fare as
the locality affords, at the house of Mr.. Joel
Rodgers, not far from the landing, who is well
informed man, aud can furnish them with every
information they may require.
After leaving Holland river, the distance is some
fifteen or twenty miles TO the south headland, at
the head Of which Barrie is situated. This is a
capacous inlet, ten miles IN length, and, uniformly,
upwards of two miles wide the primeval forests
everywhere extending 10 the shore, and its pro-
jecng headlsnds-particuarly on ths northern
side-adding 10 the beauty of the enchanting scene.
On our way thither, we passed Snake and Bird
Islands, on the former OF which is an Indian VII
lage, containing about twenty-five houses
II was after dark when we landed at Barrie, and
] imme iiately went in search of MIR. Smith, the
high sheriff Of the county, whom had met a day
or two before al Bradford, and who kindly accom-
panied me te the house of Mr.. Lount, who is well
acquainted with the country, particularly in the
vicinity of Lake Huron, through which the con-
templated Railroad would pass, the terminus being
either at the mouth Of the river Nattawassaga, or
at Penetapeuishene, further 10 the northward. and
who readily communicated 10 me the information
was desirous OF obtaining relative 10 those To-
caiies.
Barrie is scattered village, containing however,
some good houses, and is situated on a high bank
OF the bay IL is the county town. Lake Smcoe
was originally settled in great measure by half
pay officers Of the army, and the society IN this
place, and al others in its vicinity, is consequently
81 a more refined character than is usually met
with IN remote country places Ii is here the rail-
road would touch, as, by the charter, 1t must con
meet with Lake Simcoe. From Barrie TO the Nat
tawasssga is fifteen miles, and TO Penetanguishine
both on Georgian Bay which forms the northern
portion OF Lake Huron-it is about thirty.
omitted 10 mention, that among the passengers
on board the Beaver, was the warden OF Bradford,
who was non-commissohed officer in the 95th
e,
New Orleans and, by a singular coincidence
had In my pocket book the sentence passed on
Lieut. Colonel Mullins, who commanded the 4lth
regiment on that occasion, TO whose neglect in not
bringing up the fascines and scaling LADDERS as he
was ordered, the failure Of the attack in the centre
was owing, and for which he was afterwards tried
by courtDartial, and cashiered. Had General
Gibbs survived the action, he would have, as he
told HIM, hung him the next morning, II he could
have found tree.
Notwithstanding the failure of the column which
attacked the centre of the American lines Colonel
Renne had carried the right, while Col Thornion,
With the e5th, and party OF seamen and marines,
had taken tort on the opposite side Of the river,
which commanded Jackson's position, and Sir
John, now Lord keane, had outilanked him on his
left and by passing up the bank of the bayou,
along which he had advanced, could have entered
New Orleans. AT ihrs juncture. owing TO the fall
Of Generals Pakenham and Gibbs, the command
temporarily devolved upon him; and instead Of
supporting Col. RenIie, and folio wing up the adj
vantage he had gained he directed the recall to be
sounded. and the attack was abandoned.
slept on board the Beaver, aud at five o'clock
on the notwithstanding we started for Orilli, at
the head OF the Lake. Soon after leaving we
passed boat, the men in which had thrown a
moose over the horns Of a deer which was inef-
feotuay struggling to effect its escape, while he,
resting on his oars, was patiently waiting I'LL the
poor animal should become exhausted by its una
Willing efforts. when he could safely haul il long
side, aud despatch it,
Amer delightful sail of nearly thirty miles, we
udoln ol through a Draw
bridge which connects both sides Of the Simcoe,
at what is called the Nsrrows where the waters
descend through the river Severn at the rate of
three miles an hour. AT the head Of this small
lake, whose name signifies the outlet" is
an Indian village of considerable extent, which
regretted had not an opportunity Of visiting
and at the distance Of couple of miles on the
LETT, as YOU enter, is the village Of Onliia; sitsa-
ted ON gentle declvity, and occupying the most
delightful cite for town ! ever met WITH but ex-
hibitlng every evidence Of ineTtness and neglect
sirolled about Tor half an hour, and saw little of
cultivation or signs of industry; the cleared land,
II such i might be called, except Immediately
around the houses, Is not even enclosed: the
stumps OF trees everywhere cucumber the ground,
and the great my step is, how the inhabitants con.
tive to live.
From Orillia TO Sturgeon Bay on the waters of
LAKE Huron, the distance is only twenty miles,
over good road, to which a steamboat resorts,
calltd the Pore, which plies far up as Saut Ste
Mare, at the foot Of Lake Superior. calling at
owens Sound, and other places on that route.
"a n hp.r "A s,-s A