The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-11-13
Our p, escott Correspondence.

Our Prescott Correspondence.
PREscoTr, c. w., Nov. /, 1853.
The Eastern I6rnsh ps-- Connection Nth the Sea.
board-Land JobJ,ng-Mineral Resources
S7lsnd Scenuy-Shrbrooks Manufacturing
Estabiishments-Brtis american Land Com
pamy--Places of Worship-Ths Chauditre Dig
g,ngs, &c.
As was DESTROYS Of knowing from personal OBJ
seryaton something Of the eastern townships which
lie between the ST. Lawrence and the States Of Maine,
Vermont and New Hampshire, Immediately on my
arrival at Montreal took the for Sherbrooke,
on the Portland and Montreal railroad, where re-
NAMED two or three days. The cultivatable lands in
this district, between the Chamby and Chaudiere
rivers, may be divided into three BELTS running pa
ralel with the StLawrence; the nearest to which in
cludes the segniores in which there are still lands
to be procured the second belt is about fifty miles in
breadth by ninety in length; and the third lies be-
tween that and the frontier which has recently been
thrown open for settlement by the Canadian 60
vernment. The second Of these belts, however, is d.
vided among small number of landhoders, and
has become the domain Of monopoly. The popu-
lation according to the census returns of 1862 was
94sl6, while in 1s48 it was only 69,l6S-os the for.
mer of which, 1915 are natives of the United
State5.s
These townships are comprised in six great coun-
-Sherbrooke, Stans.ead, Shefford, Missisquoi,
Drummond sand Megantic, which contain 1886,
400 acres of land. The number Of them is
eighty containing one hundred square miles,
or GA 900 acres each. The lands are every where
well watered by springs and brooks. and several
considerable rivers traverse the tract, which, besides
their excellent varieties of fish, afford many valuable
mill SITES and are used for floating timber down to
the st Lawrence, TO be forwarded by the Chambly
canal to the United States. Large quantities OF
pot ashes are annually manufactured in the town.
ships, and the climate ssimar to that in tue interior
Of the State Of Maine. They are centrally situated
between the pavigabe waters OF the ST. Lawrence
and the Atlantic coast, and are most advantageousy
placed for transporting their products to the sea-
board by the present railroad to Portland aud Bos
ton, ana when that shall have been opened from
Lhambly 10 Island Pond, directly to New York,
which must be the routes of transport not only on
accoupt OF the superior facilities that will thus be at
fl rded, but owing to the want of adequate roads to
connect with the ST. Lawrence, of which the inhabi-
'snts bave lori and unavailDgly complained.
Tie neglected the government to compel the great
andhoders to contribute to the opening and keeping
in repair the roads that are required Is the more in
.xcusabe from the fact that tax of one penny per
acre On lald, would produce annually the sum Of
Sl3l ,G64- an amount that would be amply sufficient
10 reiair the old roads, which are in many places
impossible, and to open new ones. The general
'atuIes of the eastern townships are unsurpassably
beautiful, particularly from Richmond, where the
railroad from Quebec, which is rapidly approaching
completion, will connect with that from Montreal to
Portland, AID which prepares the traveller for the
magnificent and mountainous country through
which he will pass, for distance of fifty miles, sub
sequeDt TO reaching the boundary line
Marble Of q superior quality Is abundant In the
eastern townships. beautiful white variety Is
found in the township Of Stukeley, which was much
admired at the London Exhibition, and received
favorable notice from the Jurors dove olored aud
varigatei marble is to be found in Dodswell, and the
Egyptian marble obtained there is much sought
after by the dealers in New York.
Sherbrooke is ninetyfive miles distant from Mont
real passengers being conveyed in steamboat from
Montreal TO LoDgue'l-the terminus of the railroad,
which crosses the Richelieu at distance of fifteen
miles over bridge twelve hundred feet in length,
and fifty feet from the water Near this is the ~.
uilare station, and the resi- ience of Major Camp
bell, which il much admired by those VINO pass IT,
and on the banks of the Richelieu Is the village OF
St. Hilare which is ex usively French Canadian.
For distance Of twelve miles, the road posses
through body of fertile land, but evideoty much
exhausted and neglected, when the traveller arrives
at 81. Hyacinth, the residence of the Roman CATHOLIC
Bishop OF that docesa. This is thriving town, and
contains population Of nearly three thousand souls
II is very neat village and the church, VIII IN IS
large and handsome is seen to mach advantage from
the raiLcars There has long been college here Of
much celebrity and very spacious building three
stories in height, has recently been erected on the
opr cte side Of the read, 10 surerece the old one,
which was q few weeks since opened with much