Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1859-08-18
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP.

hAfI-1HE OONABNCENENr OF THE X APiDS-
AFREScH VILLAGE WITH ITS CRoss-sURNouNT-
KID SPIRE. Il
Editorial Correspondence Of 1as Star
OK THE STEAMER WELLAND.
81. Laurence Rirer, tslO,c Ogdensbsug, :.
mo. IS. August a, 1859 } -
The work Of transferring passengers freight
and baggage from the New York to this steamer
delayed us an hour at the Ogdensburg wharf,
during which the rain poured down and the fog
rose as, together almost to obscure the opposite
shore, not mile of. l am under many obliga-
tons to the attentive and kind officers Of the New
York for interesting information and facilities.
However, geniality belongs to the tribe-else, one
who seeks to play steamboat officer fails in the
attempt. Passengers in their hands are like chill
dren-too often like very unreasonable children,
too. He who humors them with display of most
good temper and patience is the best steamboat
man, far as inducing travel 10y his route is con-
cerned.. Captain Van Cleve, OF the New York,
and his purser, are exceedingly popular with
hGJitHes Of this route, es well they may be. Their
boat is of 200 tons and is almost entirely devoted
to the comfort of passengers, the living aboard
her being the best have ever found on a steam
boat. AS competition is the life Of trade, in this
section where there are SO many rival lines of
travel, each seeking popular favor it induces
those managing them to spare no means at COM
mand to deserve success.
The weIland, on which we are now steaming
down the st. Lawrence, is half the size of the
New York and is built much on her model. Our
passengers have increased until they now number
$50. Few of them appear to pay much attention
To the appearance of the much finer and more
highly improved country on the banks of the St
Lawrence here, than any we had seen since leav
ing Niagara. On the American side, though the
buildings continue less attractive in appearance
than those on the English side, the style of
farming is quite good that Of the descend
ants of our tories on the other side-both vieing
with the agricultural methods and modes / de-
scribed as those of the country around Rochester,
two days ago. They raise spring wheat principally
here, when attempting the growth of that cereal
their seasons being altogether too short to admit
of attempting to sow wheat successfully in the
fall. For four months in the year. Lake Ontario is
mass of ice from end to the other; as well as
the rivers, Niagara and St. Lawrence, J except in
the rapids of both Navigation closes here early
in November, and does not open again until some
time in May, as the insurance companies will
take no winter risks the lake and their rivers
when sudden and violent storms are prevalent,
and in single night impenetrable ice makes so
as to enclose whatever may be caught In it,
wherever, SO caught, possibly for a period of five
months.
have seen but single raft being towed down.
1t was an acre in extent, and perhaps dozen men
were encamped upon it. / hear that they some
times cover an extent of acres, and require forty
or fifty Of the hardy voyagers and lumbermen of
the country to guide them through the intricacies
Of the navigation of the st. Lawrence:
The rain continues, with fog, approach
the rapids, the most remarkable of whch-Ia
Chne-are still many miles further down stream
We come at times so near either shore. and the
many isets in the river, to afford us many beau
tiful views Of highly cultivated territory
Fortunately. as we progress, the weather clears
| and affords us very fine opportunity to see this
truly magnificent country; as well improved, APP
Parently, Us almost any in northern New York
Stone takes the place of plank both sides here
and Of the elaborate use of paint and patty. OPP
pOsIte the village of Matilda. the upper rapids
we are just passing, laws the steamer Boston upon
her side very recent vic tim of the ex pertinent of
navi gating them. Sailing vessels make attempt
to do so, but pass through the different canals
Structed around them. which are all on the Can
ada shore. The more / of the cult walton here
| the more favorably does il impress my mind-and
more especially the style in which the Canad ians
| construct their farm buildings most of which
seem to be built OF stone. do not wonder that
the Americans on their borders covet their coun-
try, which is not surpassed, apparently, by any
within our own limits in desirable attributes. 1t
must surely be the condition of other portions OF
the Provinces-nOt of this-which gives rise to the
| Impression that Canada is not progressing sufi-
GENTLY FAST for have seen nothing on the Amer
lean side to equal the soldity of the improvements
on the Canada side. So far, their wharves and land
ing places seem to be universally more staunchly
AT Oo1a ehur ybar.
have evidently outstripped them The absence
Of commerce-yessels-on the river continues re-
markable. We steam for an hour at time with
out the sight Of steamer even; nor has sailing
vessel yet appeared either canal since we reached
the head Of the rapids.
The rapids are not continuous, but are strewed
along at short intervals So far a very general
boiling Of the waters alone tells of the presence
Jutting rocks underneath, on both sides of the
| steamers course. The current is evidently very
strong here-l should think from four to six miles
per hour; evncng that the fall Of the rivers bed
is quickxning rapidly. Various dangerous rocks
on the Canada side of the river (where the chan
mel lies principally are buoyed, and the buoys
dance up and down-fairly out of the water and
then entirely underneath it-with the rush of the
current st. Lawrence county, New York here
ION the American side) seems TO he but inst OPEN
ing Tor settlement as while fields, and some we'll
improved ones are constantly in sight nearly all
the houses seem to be on the other side Ii being
hardly possible that there can be much difference
in the soil of the two banks of the river brisk JON
athan will soon overtake plodding John over the
way In - iixin things up" II he would only
take lesson from John in the matter of fixing
substantially when he does fix, twenty wears hence
will see this portion of st. Lawrence county, New
York, most delightful region, indeed in all Its
attributes except its now almost universal half
crazed prevailing abolitonism
On the Canada shore at an humble hamlet
sPire appears, surmounted by the cross, with an
other crowning lower and larger building in
close juxtapostion. The latter is evidently an old
colonial probably French) church, surrounded as
1t Is by venerable and extensive graveyard
This picture varies the scene effectively.
w. ID. WI
Mr. DoSNELLY.-rhe New York Herald bears
out to the letter our account Of Mr.. B. DonneIly.
Governor Wise's New York correspondent, pub
lished ia hafo -.