The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1853-07-23
correspondence Of the journal.
BURLINGTON, VT, July 4th, 1853.

Mr.. EDITOR:
Sir:-I arrived in this beauti-
full village to day, and now. before GO cous-
ininq, must jot down few items about Mon.
treal, and for three reasons! and first, be-
cause, the air line Railroad from Evansville
to Cleveland is going to make Evansville and
Montreal, not only near neighbors, but on
terms of frequent intimacy; I'd, because our
folks at home know very little about the city
of Montreal and it is time they did; and third
", as well as lastly, Iwant to write, and
might as well scribble about Montreal as
Gibralter or Vincennes.
Ask your readers then to bear with me
little while, as tell them that Montreal is
one of the oldest settlements on the North
American Continent, taking precedence in
deed, i'm point of date, both over the landing
of the Pilgrim Fathers Oil the Rock of Ply.
mouth. and the founding of jamestown i'm
Virginia by Captain Smith. Several years
of my early life were passed in the city Of
Montreal; my long residence at the west has
not cffaced from my memory many interest
ing "reminiscences Of ITS early history. Be-
sides, you will not forget, that, here took
Rachael TO wife, and the consequence was
that Isaac was born in due time, and my par
tialities for the venerable city induce me to
say word now in her praise. The city of
Montreal is situated on the South East side of
the Island Of the same name, with the river
ST. Lawrence flowing before it, from South
West to North East, from a mile and half to
two miles wide.
The CITY ~r.sz=-----I- after the beautiful
~ curry IuuIurnrrs
: Mount Royal 1t rises behind the town to
the North West, and forms prominent OBJ
Ject in the picture from every point of view.
1t is about $50 feet i'm elevation above the
stream, is well wooded, and its side toward
the st. Lawrence is dotted with manv bean.
tiful villas and gardens, which add much IN
the charm Of the landscape, while the view
from its summit is extensive and picturesque
In the extreme. The island upon which the
city is built is twenty.eight miles i'm length
and ten miles i'm breadth. LIS fertility has nj.
ways been such as to give it the name of the
garden of anada. The town extends along
The border of the river for about three miles
including the suburbs. The principal street
. called NOtre Dame, and this goes along n
handsome ridge elevated above. and almost
parallel with the river. The Rue Notre
Dame, which is nearly mil. long is the finest
avenue in the whole city, and is only thirty
eet broad and ST. Paul's which is'next in inn.
'ortance is still narrower. Some of rho |
anes and alleys leading from st. Paul's down
o the river, are barely wide enouob for
horse and cart to so through, leaving little
'r no room for the poor pedestrian who nav
Happen to be travelling there at that par,;cn.
ar time.
The extensive fire which recently visited
montreal swept away many very fine build.
ngs, few of which have. been replaced and
ne ravages OF the destructive element arc
'et plainly visible. The only remarkahIe
'uoiic monun ent in Montreal, is Doric Col.
INN at the head Of the New Market. erected
n honor of Lord Nelson whose statue is nIsc.
"a on its summit being a colossal fgura IS
ghe leet high. The shaft of the column is
IVY ,eet In diameter, and the height of the
snoie monument including the pedestal and
oiossai inquire at the top is seventy.fiye feet. :
= as IL stands on nearly the highest pronnd ;
the CITY. 1t is one of the principal orna.
hents OF the town: The Champ de Mars is
very limited field for SO imposing a name .
Is lined with formal row of Iombsrdv Q
optals on each side, Is nearly in the middle v
"o owu' and serves the double purpose o
Pa.aue ground Tor the exercise and drill of p
az az a"u promenade Tor the inhabitants. j.
vi the public edifices of Montreal. the Il
nurcnes form the most prominent and of e
nd ndS w ens catholic Cathedral is the largest
I.r ,ao'' important: The size of the building
breadth. The towers, two in no. tee'
Sc go feet and present a most impos;n" an 1t
earance: Ten thousand persons c.n Ibp o
lated comfortably under its roof. W o.
ihere are many other places of interest in q
nd about Montreal which I would OIsd', d.
ave visited, but time would not permit 81
,pe that our citizens may become acoua;n,-
with this ancie At city, for certainIv NO
her route to the Eastcan afford like injuc ~ m
ents to the traveller than that via Montreal ca
- tne beautiful Ontario and st. Lawrence. be-
e ielt the city by Steamer-landed at the ii,
Burlington-distance 100 miles. "'
Yours Respectfully, 8.
c. X. d.