Litchfield enquirer., 1851-07-17
Correspondence Ofthe N. Y. Evangelist.
The st. Lawrence and its Islands.
ADAMS, June, 1851.

| correspondence OF the N. I. Evangelist.
The st. Lawrence and its Islands,
| ADAMS, June, 1851.
The passage from Kingston to Clayton
on the American side, is short and deligh-
full. It intersects the Southwestern
boundary of the Thousand Islands--or
rather sirteen hundred isles of the st.
Lawrence, among which I passed many
sunny hours; and which, like the more
sublime scenes of Niagara, increase in
interest with every additional visit, and
each new survey of the varied and am
pie Archipelago. Taking sail-boat at
Clayton and escorted by Bill Johnson
the hero of this wilderness of beauty, I
entered the channel of the river for an
excursion through its unfrequented mar
rows. johnson, with whom have be.
come well acquainted was hunted out.
law here at different times for years, and
is wary now about voyages into Her
Majes!y's dominions. He is 70 years of
age, yet hale and active. His lawless
life has blunted his moral sensibilities,
but left perception of propriety that
prevented the use of profanity while with
me, though generally his indispensable
language by way Of emphatic affirmation.
He spends much Of his time on his little
fortress, Selkirk, a few miles above Clay
ton. His eye would flash as be recoun>
ted his dark and perilous adventures,
and his bronzed face glow with desire of
revenge, while he dwelt upon his suffer-
ings during the vigilant pursuit of his
foes. He fled from island to island
sat all night often on the naked rocks
beneath the driving storm--and was fed
by his brave daughter. who sought his
solitude in her light skiff under the eon>
cealment of darkness. She is married,
and lives quietly at c..
But the poor old man He says he
is not afraid to die. How sad the insen-
sibility that gives tranquility to such a
heart, scathed as it is by the fires of
passion. admired his kind attentions,
while plying his we'll nigh completed
descent down the incline plane of moral
ruin. l find | am wandering from the
islands. which come and go to the enrap-
tured eye, while the tourist moves out
into the congregation of emerald forms
which glass themselves in the crystal
waters, Round Isle, Pc gder Horn and
Shot Bag, Pine, Bluff. Grindstone, Wells
Club, &c, are the names of few of these
watchers upon the Representing an end
less variety of views-an unfolding pam
Drama of foliage. rock and food.
The finest scenery is at the Fiddler's
Elbow, between Clayton and Alexandra
Bay. Here leaving broad expanse. we
were soon lost along aVenues Of islands,
without sight or sound of human hab-
itations. On every hand, far as the vis>
ion can sweep. lie the ranks of green sol>
ltudes where only the wild birds sing,
LAYING with their luxuriant drapery the
mirror current, which turns to purple
and gold when the sun goes down be-
hind the distant hills of the mainland.
There is nothing so like the tales of
fairy land. in shadowy groves, dreamy re-
pose, and limpid channels, winding in
graceful curves around shores of green>
est vegetation, pure;t sand-and some
times ragged cliffs. in any American
scenery have seen. Said friend to
me, while we were gliding down deep
and tranquil current, with rapid yet all
most imperceptible motion, the wild mu-
sic of nature all around us, and the sky
bright above, I would like to hoat on
thus a thousand miles. aud drink in the
entertainments of such endless romance
and beauty, untouched by human hand.'
} Entreat your friends, whe have not been
there, to hasten during the warm months
to the Thousand Islands. If they desire
to invade the clear depths beneath these
glorious surface scenes, they can supply the
tnble therefrom bountifully, as an interlude
in the unwritten poem-or as said Scotch
man of DR.. Chalmers stop after an elo.
quent climax "a pause between the cantos.'
No one can wander thither, without feeling
that God has made every thing beautiful
"And only man is vile
But must close. arrived safely, after
a pleasant travel upon our frontier, at this
beautiful village, 80 miles from the dividing
line between an Empire and Republic.
The railroad from Rome reaches Adams
on the 4th of July. This noble road will
open Northern New York, with its fine
farms, wild and picturesque scenery, and
thriving towns, TO the observation and knowl.
edge Of multitudes, who think of it now as
a half-cleared portion OF the great Adiron-
dac forest. Yours truly, P. c. H.
The USE OF Fruit. Instead of stand.
ing in any fear of generous consump-