The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1853-09-16
THE DAILY DISPATCH,
LETTERS FROM THE NORTH.
NO. VII.
Correspondence of the Dispatch.l
Mor-p, r.

yet there Is no railroad connection between
the two cities, nor is there any railroad an
proach to QUEBEC from any quarter of the
Provinces. Between two such cities in the
United States, there would be railroads and
steamers for the accommodation of every
class of passengers, from nabobs to Irish EN-.
igrants. But there is so little energy and en-.
terprise among the Canadians, that few
ricketty, crazy old night boats, afford the only
means by which travellers can visit QUEBEC
from MONTREAL. BY this savage arrange.
ment, you are deprived of nearly all oppor-
tunity of seeing the most interesting and pic
turesque portion of the Saint Lawrence. The
lights along the widely separated banks of
the river, alone indicate the number of ham
lets and villages by which the steamer glides
in its nocturnal trip.
These night steamers are used for almost
every purpose of transportation and travel
They are generally loaded to their utmost
capacity, with the most varied and amusing
miscellaneous assortments. The steerage is
crammed with people that you see nowhere
else, except in the steerage of steamer
lIlou, ElCICiir ucIilidil, IuSiiSu anu
emigrants, are packed away with no more
thought for their comfort, than Smyrna fig
merchant has for the comfort of the fruit
which he congresses within the limits of
small drum. The dirty, unc0mbed, unwashed,
unhealthy looking emigrants, to this coun-
try, before they have had time to wash off the
loathsome filth of forty days voyage across
the Atlantic, are the most repulsive objects
have ever seen. They appear, physically,
morally and intellectually, so far inferior to
the sleek, well clad, Virginia negroes, that af-
ter looking at them. you cannot but reflect
upon the superior condition of the slave, to
such wretehed creatures. You feel happy
at the thought that the institution of slavery
renders it impossible for class so ignorant
and debased, to be found in any of the South
ern States. Together with the emigrants are
slowed away horses, sheep and oxen; besides
every conceivable article of merchandise and
traffic
Upon the occasion of my trip from QUE
BEG to this place. the most savory of these
articles, in addition to the live stock enume-
rated, were Goldfish garlic, onions and Scotch
herrings.
The boat advertised to start for MONTREAL
at five clock in the evening. AT that hour,
fastened on board, congratulating myself
that was just in time. But in this l exhi-
bited my ignorance of Canadian character.
Some of the machinery of the boat was out
of order, and the Captain concealed the fact
until rival steamer left the wharf Then
having us at his mercy, the work of repair
commenced, and with CANADIAN workmen-
five of whom are perhaps equal to one ener-
getic Yankee, the job of wedging in the cylin-
der lasted only four hours. After the work
was completed, the steamer throbbed and
trembled with every motion of the machine
ry, and kept timid passengers constantly APP
prehensive of moonlight excursion through
the air, over the top of the trees upon the
banks of the SAINT LAWRENCE. 1t aros my
misfortune to secure a state r0om-the Sc
quel will show in what my misfortune con-
sisted. / triumphed long in the evening in
the cunning piece of diplomacy by which
circunvented five other applicants for that
very state room. noticed that two or three
shrewd Canadian merchants, perfectly ia
miliar with the boat, declined taking state
rooms-but attributed to economy what l
afterwards found out was the result OF sleep
less experience.
Before morning / envied the men who
were trying to get ten minute s. maps, i'll ricket
ty chairs and on the tables. As an American
citizen, and quiet respectable man, | have
acted invariably towards insects of all ma
tions and lands, and of all sorts, upon the hu-
name principle of notion laid down by
Uncle Toby, when he released a troublesome
fly, with the benign declaration that there
was room enough in the world for both of
them. But if even the benevolent Uncle
Toby had been in my place, he would have
been a raging Tamerlane in cruelty-he
would have slain hundreds of his assailants.
From the condition of my carcase the next
morning, have every reason to believe that
Twas attacked by thousands of her Maiesty's
devoted subjects. They exhibited a pertina-
city and energy before which the drowsiness
of the God of sleep would have fled, and the
Citadel of Quebec would have yielded. am
not disposed to boast of my acts of prOwess;
but | crushed regiments of my assailants. |
swept advancing columns away like bate
ry OF grape shot. l cut off detachments as
they were retreating to every crevice of the
room and my wrath overlook the most pie
thoric leaders of the hosts of bed bugs as
they moved off with the spoils of the sangui
nary fight But they continued to attack me.
hungry as wolves, from the frosty Appeaanes,
until / gave up the unequal fight, and
fled to the upper deck for safety. | feel
convinced that / was not the only sufferer
for if the large and somewhat irascible gen
tlemanwho occupied the room ON the left did
not make his berth creak and groan with his
troubled tossings, and mutter, not inaudibly.
''d--n the bugs / am very much mista-
ken. The next morning saw the young la
dles comparing the number and size OF the
ugly red marks upon their faces and arms
and when the steward demanded the eternal,
invariablc, never omitted English request of
"a shilling a deep sense of my wrongs and
sutierings disposed me to knock him down.
When the boat touched the wharf in Mon
treal the most appalling rush and scramble
occurred for the baggage of the passengers,
that it has ever been my fortune to witness.
The idle population of city of some Co.,
oo0 souls seemed collected, hungry, ragged
| and anxious, ready TO precipitate itself upon
| the unfortunate travellers. The Canadians,
| of the lower classes seem possessed OF one
| absorbing passion. that of taking baggaSeto
| the hotels. All of their energies appeario be
| absorbed in this occupation. 1t possesses
with them all the uncertainty and excitemenf
OF game of chance. Rude and rough as
| they are in pursuit OF their prey, tiIeir no
nesty is as proverbial as that OF the savoy
ards of Parss
There is not much TO interest stranger m
| MONTREAL, 1t Is prosperous commercial
| city, with none Of the aatsqne quaintness of
| Quebec. The streets are broad ana not un-
| like those of ALBAsY and BosToN. The cit
| izeils have been thoroughly Ameriean1zedby
| their dealings with tie people OF the United
States They build new houses, ana trade
and speculate in the genuine Yankee style :,
The statesmen in the fashionapie TeIaii
stores on NoTRg DANE street have the