The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-01-23
News from the Bahsanas.
OUR NASSAU CORRESPONDENCE


NASSAU, N. p, Bahamas, Dec 26, 1866.
q o. my Christmas Day-Failures and Defaleotions
DESCRIPTION Of the Hland-Esbiic Buiidings--
The Gortrnor-Eariy Settiers-Nassaa Tbon
and ito Appearance--z The Legislative Body
Churches, &c.
Christmas has come once moYe-but not with the
same festivities and demonstrations as we were wont
to see in days "lang syne John Canoe and his train
of followers were nowhere to be seen. Even the
boys showed less activity in firing crackers and the
only thing that could give evidence Of its being one
OF the dies asf, was the harmonious discord OF the
militia band parading the streets. l mentioned in
my last that there was q dark cloud surrounding
many in this community, consequent upon the defal-
cations at the public treasury and the failure OF
princey merchant. To this cause attribute the
ombreness at this heretofore joyous season. My
chief object in writing you, however is to fulfil the
promise made with respect to description of the
Bahamas. / must tell you very fairly and honestly,
that am about to gather much from compilation
made some years ago by . gentleman then connect
ed with the press, editor of local journal, and
who is q lawyer, intending to embellish and add
thereto as seems desirable.
The Bahamas consist Of several hundred islands,
of various magntudes, occupying distance Of near
" COO miles, in southeast and north vest direction
between Havti and Florida. They extend from the
Turks Islands in 81 deg. 20 min to the Mautilla
reef (where the steamship Crescent City was
wrecked last winter in 81 deg. so min. north lat
tude and from II deg. min. to 70 deg. min. west
longitude. They are mostly of c ,ral line formation
low, fat, and but scantily covered with so,
and the greater number uninhabited. The
most important of the islands in the Caribbean
Archipelago, from its harbor and situation with re-
spect 70 the Florida channel, is New Providence,
where is the residence of the Governor, fine, com
modious house built Of native stone, upon the hill
running parallel with the island, and which on ap-
breaking the land from the sea presents very fine
appearance. Persons are scarcely material for q
letter OF this kind, but would remark that the
present Governor. Sir Alexander Bannerman, is
table in the broadest sense and friend to the poor
He has just been appointed 70 the gOvernorship of
Newfoundland. Here, also. is the seat Of the
Legislature ard the chief station for troops 1t diff
fers from the other islands in essential features,
nor in its general appearance, so when you peruse
the outline Of its geographical features, &c, yau
know what the others like unless there be some
special exception.
New Providence lies in lat % deg 90 min north
and in long &c deg. "a min west and extends about
81 miles from east to west and miles from north
to south. II is for the most part, covered with
large trees and bushwood and partially intersected
with marshes and low pass. range Of slightly ee
vsttd hills runs along part Of the island at very
short distance from the and here, have just
before stated, stands the Governors residence, to-
gether nth some Others, such as the Attorney Gene
rails and that OF T. Darling, Esq On the face of
this ridge stands Nassau, the capital and the seat of
government. a bout two miles and half from these
hills there run parallel 10 them anOsher range called
the Baion Hills, but by corruption the Blue Hills.
This island VAS settled in 1929 by The English,
who Kept possession of it til l64l, when they were
expelled by the SpaDialds, who murdered the Go
vernon, and committed many acts Of barbarous
cruelty In 1866 it Was a second time colonized by
the English. but they were again expelled by the
Fret ch aud SpaniaIds in l703 and rom that period
it became rndszyous for pirates, (Which has fur
apvirn DALI in faIn AZ hA,
1ois ample scope for their psr aors,) till finally It
was ceded to the English in 1885, in whose possession
with the othlr ISLANDS, il has since remained King
Charles II In bis reign gave these islands, by deco
OF grant, to certain mobiles and others
IL is almost unnecessary t. gay that st. Salvador
comuoply called by the inhabitants Cat Island,
which forms one Of this group was the first land in
lumbus, IN lt92. In frcnt Of the government
house IN Nassau ia statue in terra Gotta, believe,
of this hardy pioneer Of the West, erected in 1882
Governor, at bis own expense. Some person or
Persons have suggested that colossal pyramid or
mcr ument Of some sort, should be raised on the
spot where he first landed at st. Salvador: and I
think such an idea needs only to be put into ircua
fion TO effect its accomplishment.
The town OF Nassau has fine block of public
buildings, in which are the House of Assembly, the
Council Chamber the public Treasury, Post Office,
public bank pubic library and reading room. &c.
Now to take things IN order:-The Legislature is
composed OF the Governor. Legislative Council,
appointed by the crown, consisting Of seven mem
bers. ard the House Of Assembly, consisting of
twenty eight members, representing tse various
islsncs and elected by the people Their meetings
take pace in February The Post Office consists OF
two departments-the imperial and the colonial:
over the former the colony has no control and her
Majesty government may, of any time, close IT,
and permit Us 10 get our letters as best can.
n ention this only fact. not having the remotest
idea that such ever will be the case. This how
ever, is talked of-the establishing a steamer be-
tween New York, Nassau and Matanzas, IL the Bd.
tish government will permit our mails to be taken
to the United States instead of ST. Thomas by the
West India Royal Mail Steam Packet Company,
and thtuce 10 Nassau by sailing vessel
The bank is government affair and under the
contiol OF the colony.
The library and reading room are supported, in
part BY the government, and In part Dy private
subscriptions Of members, and contain great many
books, literary and scientific and periodicals, both
English ard American. Strangers may here pass
the mornings pleasantly enough, either IN readiag,
rude Boreas fills his cheeks and exudes She vas Of his
wrath upon rs, by watching from the windows the
lreoking Of the sea at the lighthouse on the oppo
sssr ' I'D. 10 ns SaSs height ore he
in amott breatbess silence, upon ssme vessel, by
stress OF weather or some other cause, attempting
TO cross the bar, driven by the huge breakers upon
the rocks, to the great peril Of the mariners.
and distant about eight or nine hundred yards The
water is beautifully clear. ten cent piece can be
seen lying on the clear, white sandy bottom, and
hundred little imps will be ready to dive il up for
you. On ts western point stands the lighthouse
close TO the bar which, at high water, there are
twenty feet, and eighteen at low.
Church going people Of all classes are here accom-
nodsted. We have in New Providence six Episco-
pal churches and chspcls. three Wesleyan chapels,
ind four Baptist chapels Roman Catholic places Of
worship there are none, and don't think the Ro-
naDists are likely to get footing.
Instead of plain matter Of fact shall in my next
write mere Of what promise.
The Atreto River Canal Ia New Granada
From II Pansmeno, Dso FL