The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-10-24
Affairs in the British Provinces.
Our Canadian Correspondence.


mont and Viac from, Queenstown Heights SHspss
sion Bridge at Acknowledgements. Catha-
riaes-Afairs at Stoney Creek-Han,ilton- In.
dsYe mde,a Comditio,, of the Rural Population Of
Upper Canada-Faiiurs ofthe Potato Crop.
My last letter left the reader at the Falls of
Niagara, opposite to which the cars from Buffalo
are drawn by locomotive, which is there replaced
by horses that are attached to the train. The
road for considerable distance just before reach
ing Lewiston, runs on the side of precipitous hill,
30 steep as to require drags on the wheels, and
where the slightest accident would be attended
with fatal results; but from which Is presented
splendid view of the broad and well cultivated
valley lying beneath, which extends as far as the
eye can reash into the interior of the country and
which, probably, is the bed of some former river
that was connected with the Niagara.
Lewiston is composed of one principal street, and
like all other American villages have seen, is re-
markabe for its neatness-the houses as is usual
being painted white, with green Venetian blinds.
Immediately opposite, on the Queenstown Heights
on the British side, stands the Brock monument
q conspicuous object-erected to the memory Of the
during the last war, when leading the advance Of
his army to the attack of the American forces, who
were posted on the heights.
crossed on the suspension bridge that was COM
the surface Of the river. 1t is suspended from ten
wire cables, of the length of twelve hundred and
forty five feet and which passed over two stone
towers, and secured on the cliff beyond them, the
distance between which is one thousand and forty
feet and the length Of the bridge is eight hundred
and forty nine feet. Viewed from the desk of the
steamboat, it resembles q spiders " most attenu
ated thread" thrown across the ravine, and sus
pended by some unseen means in the air.
The river here dimnishes to about NO hundred
yards in width but the is from eighty to nine
ty feet deep, making the aggregate depth from the
one hundred and sixty feet
Queenstown Heights are nearly three hun lred
feet above the bank of the river, and are reached
by a good road. The monument was extensively
shattered, and almost overthrow, by means of
gunpowder, which deposited within the lower
chamber, by miscreant, during the troubles of
lo3I-3S, and has never been repaired, although
suffcient sum OF money has been raised for that
purpose
Previous to this disgraceful act, there was within
the monument winding stair case that led to the
top, which commanded an extensive view of Lake
Ontario, the Falls, and the waters of the more dis
tant Erie. That from the base, however, is suff-
the ascent
Immediately beneath lies the village of Queens
town, where the mails are received and despatched
in connection with the United States. 1t is a mere
apology for village, however, and contain
two hundred Inhabitants.
Seven miles below Queenstown, at the entrauae oil
the river, is the village of Niagara, fOrmerV New
ark, which does not seem to have recover rom
the effects of the last 1t is delightfully."- sisua-
ted, but the wharves and buildings the shore,
are in very dilapdattd condtion-the former hav-
ing been nearly carried away by the ice few years
since, and remaining in the same state in which
they were then left
Immediately opposite, on the American side, is
well built fort, which commands the village and
trance of tie river. The headquarters Of British
rifle regiment are at Niagara. and there is a fort
and light house on the English side, at short dis
ILL.,.
Since the opening Of the Welland canal, the trade
OF Niagara has almost entirely left it, and has bst
up St Catharines, five miles from its junction with
the lake at Port Dalhousie, twelve miles to the
westward Of Niagara.
An attempt was made last year, by large num-
Der Of American and British ship owners, and
Others who interested in the trade Of the. lake,
to induce the Legislature to connect a branch Of
the w ellsnd canal with the mouth of the Niagara
river, by which twelve miles Of most dangerous
vigation would be saved to vessels arriving at the
canal from American barbors the value Of the time
| lost in proceeding thither having been estimated
the interest in favor Of st. Catharines was too
strong in the government, of which Mr.. Merritt
was Q member, and the application was Of course
unsuccessful.
The Niagara river discharges itself on the south
side OF Lake Ontario, about forty miles from its
head, and directly op posite Toronto, from which il
is distant between thirty and forty miles: The up
per part ofthe lake lying within line drawn from
one Of these places to the other Is therefore within
the British territory.
81. Catharines, to which allusion has been made,
contains population of between three and four
thousand souls 1t has seven churches, with q
handtome town hall Of cus stone, . rea ding room,
six grist mills, and various other Industrial estab
ishmepts, Indicative Of enterprise and public spirit
From three Of these grist mills there were turned
out last year, seyenty-two thousand barrels Of -four
Stages, from Hamilton to Buffalo, pass through
| St. Catharines daily. A salt spring was formerly
worked there, and from twenty to thirty bushels Of
sott A. La.ly. l,s AZ L..
Improbable, the mandatory was discontinued.
l remarked, In former letter, that the route
from Buffalo to Niagara lies through portions of
the country in which, during the last war, the
armies OF the two nations contended for mastery
And the same remark will applyto that section Of
Canadian territory lying between tho mouth Of the
Niagara river and Hamilton, about ten miles, be-
fore reaching which place Is Stoney creek, to which
with the American forces, after capturing York,
now Toronto, and compelled the British General
to retreat from Queenstown to Burlington Heights,
near Hamilton, where he was surprised during
night attack, planned by 1t. Col. Harvey. the
present Governor Of Nova Scotia, in which Biga.
der Generals Chandler and Wihder we're taken
prisoners: IL was during that campaign that Gen.
Scott and Sir John Harvey were opposed to each
other, and who ct that time formed the reciprocal
respect and esteem which those gallant men have
retained for each other until the present hour.
Hamilton, Of which am unable to say much, on
my way through Western Canada, after leaving
Toronto, is rapidly advancing, contains at present
upwards Of ten Thousand inbs bitants. The streets
are laid out for the moot part at right angles, and
hing street, which from its great width may be
considered an oblong square, Is well built up. and
runs paIalel with the range Of mountains that are
in tie rear Of the town, from which Is q splendid
view Of Lake Ontario and the surrounding country.
There are here a number Of msnufacto rics, moved
by steam power; among others there is broom
factory, the material for manufacturing which is
brought from Ohio, Notwithstanding II may be
grown with facility in the province
lsmi ton Is well situated for receiving the trade
Of Canad a West and itsenterprisng citizens have
rot been pairing In their efforts perm anently to re-
tain It.. There Is post road, on which the mail
is carried to end from Owens sound, in Georgian
Gay. at the head Of Lake Huron, in which direction
the country is rapidly settling What is called the
huron tact, which was given by the Indians in
exchange for lands near Amherst, is a very fertile
territory.
The beet route to Ovens sound, and that which
is taken by immigrants, who are almost daily flock
ing 10 that anAfter. lie rnceed frnm Tornntn hr