The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1850-02-09

a WONDERFUL RIVER IN CANADA Hlrn-
tRTo ALMOST UNKNowN.-The following
description OF an extraordinary river CALI
cd the Seguenay, is taken from pamph-
let published by M. Burr, explanatory Of
bis beautiful panorama of the St. Law
renee, work of art far exceeding that Of
any other ever exhibited in America. Bv
reference to the old Biographies we find
no mention made OF the Seguenay river.
yet its importance may be arrived at by
the fact, that tourists have given 1t as an
opinion, that the volume OF water at its
confluence with the st. Lawrence, is equal
to that of the Mississippi:
This river enters the 81. Lawrence 40
miles below Quebec, and although mile
| wide it appears narrow when compared
with the mighty St. Lawrence, which at
this point is considerably more than 25
miles in width. The Seguenay is one of
the important tributaries of the great riv-
err; its volume Of water is immense, and
the depth and force OF its current is 50 sem
sibly felt at its confluence with the St.
Lawrence, that for a distance OF several
miles, vessels are obliged to yield 10 its
influence. 1t is decidedly the largest riv-
CT east OF the Allegheny Mountains, the
81. Lawrence excepted. From the inky
, hlackness Of its waters, and the strange,
| wild, and romantic character Of the seem
e.y along It's banks, it may be considered
4nquestionably the most remarkable river
or this continent. Whilst we are ap-
preaching the lofty portals of this mystic
riou: stream, brief description OF the re-
gion from whence it derives its source,
will better enable the reader to form q
proper estimate OF this great wonder ofna-
iuTe. In an immense valley, forming
part Of the territory belonging to the Hud-
sons Bay Company, and about 40 leagues
north from the st. Lawrence, is the beau
tiful LAX. of St. John. It's form is nearly
circular; it, diameter, about 80 miles, and
it serves ass great natural reservoir. into
which twelve rivers and many smaller
,trean., discharge their waters. The Sc
guenay is the onl y outlet by which this
VT collection of water finds its way to
the St. Lawrence. Its scenery is of the
widest and most startling description
through its whole length, which is about
1870 mile, from Lake St John to Tadousac
Bay. The first half OF its course lies
through a wilderness of hills covered with
pine, the fir, and the spruce, and iormida-
bic rapids render the navigation hazard
Gus except to experienced canoemen. But
below Chicoutimi, which is 6S miles from
its mouth, it Is navigabe for the largest
vessels. From Ila Ha Bay, downwards,
the passage of its waters is through solid
mountains Of sienite granite, which seem
to have been split asunder BY the upheav-
Sings of earthquake, thus forming an I'M
incn,e canal with banks of perpendicular
rocks towering up to 1900 to 1000 feet
abovt the water, which Is ABBOTT $50 faith
oms deep nearly the whole distance. Its
depths at different points has never been
ascertaned; it has been plumbed with
line of $50 iathoms, 1880 feet, and that
too Immediately at the base Of the cliff,
and no bottom could be found. The pow
or OF language is inadequate to describe
this great specimen of natures handiwork,
nor is it possible to convey to the reader
any conception OF it, by adducing any 9TH
or river scenery as simile-for nothing
like it can be found in North America.