New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-02-16
Correspondence Of The \. Y. Tribune.
VIRGIN BAY, Thursday, Fe

Correronderoe Of The y. Y Tribune
VIRGIN Bay Thursday Feb. /, 1856.
have lust returned from Ryas and ST. Georges.
The former place, distant from here about ten
miles, entains a population Of 5000 inhabitants,
who are without exception the most miserable of
the human family The walls Of cathedral of
large dimensions stand there as a monument Of
labor done on the Sabbath Sunday being the only
day on which the population can spare time to
contribute by their labor to the building OF
churches. cOnversed with the parish priest,
who inquired if we had any such buildings in the
United States, or if we had any such large towns
or if there were any Christians among us. found
him grossly ignorant The town is garrisoned by
about 100 native trOOps-idle, vagabOnd fellows.
The town Of Ryas, surrounded by the most
beautiful scenery, is already gone to ruin. The
natives have neither knowledge, industry, nor
energy.
visited st. Georges, aud remained there two
nights. In an old house l found two persons
writing behind kind of rail- resembling a post
and rail fence One looked daggers at me-
and ordered, in the most imperative man
ner, that i should take my spurs oil in
the presence his Honor the Acalde; but |
respectfully declined, assuring him l meant no
contempt. In the course of conversation he
offered to sell me his plantation OF twenty-five
acres Of cultivated land, with two houses for 500.
/ visited the residence of the priest Padre Ra-
mon, who told me he had over 100, 600 acres for
sale, and as he was now quite poor, he would dis
pose of some Of his Lake Shore property for the
low price of $500 per acre-this he was willing to
do TO obge his friends the Americans; while others
desire TO sell their lands at from So to $50 the
acre.
ST. Georges contains church. three priests
and population of some three thousand; the
country around the town is surprisingly beautiful
and lacks nothing but industry to make il pro-
ductve.
Seeing several children in and around the resi-
dence Of the priest, asked girl to whom they
belonged. Without hesitation, she replied, TO the
padre. Other inhabitants of Saint Georges IN
formed me that this man is the father of at least
thirty living children; so demoraized is the whole
population that the children have scarcely yirtu-
Gus idea.
dyes were marching through the street playing on
a rude instrument, and carrying a small picture of
the Virgin in glass case. The natives knet aud
kissed the case as IL passed.
returned to Virgin Bay and found number of
invalids from Granada, among them Mr.. Pozet of
Pa, the United States agent for bonded goods.
Judge Gushing, the Agent of the A. T. Com.
pany, keeps kind of public hospital here. where
almost all who are ailing resort. He is kind of
town clock whose movements are watched by all
the residents here; he acts as kind of moral
restraint upon the Americans, as we'll as natives.
When any difficulty occurs between parties,
whether foreign OF native, the Judge is referred
to, and his decision invariably settles the trouble
When death takes place Mr. Gushing acts as
sexton and dictates as clergyman.
On the night Of the I'd February an alarm Of an
attack reached here, and in few minutes there
were gathered one hundred and sixty Americans,
who offered their services to Judge Gushing to pro-
tect the property Of the Company.
Immigrants from California and the States are
daily pouring in.