The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1865-07-19
THn scRNRRY OF MA1nr.

ceifes, VINO tnttfs our State by water, IS quite
forbiddins, The seacoast, for the most part is
rocky and Judging the interior by its sterile
shores, onewould conclude that Maine is most
uninviting and barren region. No wonuer
that the old Popham colony, which did noe make
| a settlement at the Kennebec entrance IN ioUF,
concluded that the country was not worth oc-
1 cupying, and returned back 10 tneir OLD home
in England. The scenery, however, rugged as
His.-is not without IT'S picturesque beauties
Some of the bold promontories, dashed by the
| doan blue waters of the sea, are truly grand,
and the many Ferdant Islands of Casco, PEN
obscot and Frenchman's Bay, are the very
gems Of old ocean. And no where on all the
American coast, is there more unique and
sublime view, than is to be had on seaward
approach to Mount Desert There triplet of
very mountains rises from the fathomlleess
depths of the sea, as the eternal outposts OF
mighty continent. The sight, in clear day,
is worth trip from Portland to Eastport, to
behold Elsewhere, on more southern coasts
YOU wilisee the white foam of breaking waves
over treacherous sand bars and low fat islands
or sand beaches without trees; but here you
behold an actual mountain rearing its giant
liead from the briny deep, IFS sides covered
with yerdure and its base surrounded by well
cultivated farms. aIU0J To
70 / recollect once getting the impression Of
scholarly Louisianian in regard to our Maine
sea-coast II was in l847. On the 4th Of July
of that year, our National Independence was
celebrated at the Maine capital by the Legisla-
ture then in session, and by the citizens gener-
,ally;of Augusta and the adjacent cities and
towns. By invitation the President of the
United States and portion Of his Cabinet
with other distinguished visitors were to join
in the celebration. A joint committee of the
Legislature and Of the city, (of which the
writer happened to beone,) was, appointed to
\ proceed to South Berwick on the preceding
day and receivethe Presidential party at the
dent j. K. Polk, James buchanan, Secretary
Of State, Nathan Clifford, Attorney General
Edmund Burke, Commissioner of Patents, LIE
vi Woodbury., ex-Secretary Of the Treasury,
Commodore Charles Stewart, of old sIronsides'
memory, and Governors Mouton Of Louisiana
Hubbard of New Hampshire, and Dunlap,
Fairfield, Anderson and Dana of Maine. At
Portland the party embarked on board the
steamer Hmtress for the Kennebec. Passing
amongst the Islands of Casco Bay, the Presi-
dent was charmed with the ocean scenery
around him, and Mr.. Buchanan did your city
tae compliment to say, as he stood upon the
deck and viewed 1t from a point below Fort
Il
Preble, that Portland, in his eye, was the
handsomest city save one New HAVEN in the
United StatesA AS the boat approached the
Kenpebee entrance, happened to be sitting
upon stern seat between Gov. Mouton and
Com. Stewart. Wishing to apologize to the par.
ty for the forbiddihg appearance Of our rock
boundcoast, remarked that as travellers pass
ed up the river and saw the fertile valley of the
Kennebec spread out before them, they would
find an agreeable contrast between the coast and
the interior efthe State. "What Y suddenly ex-
, claimed the Louisianian Governor, "do you
, call this, scenery disagreeable? To me it is
most delightful: Why, look at your bold and
cleanly shores, to the pure deep waters tina
greet them. See you that whale spouting yon
der, and NOTICE the green schools of swee
mackerel that break the surface just here; ay
look at that high green isle on which Light
House stands like the statue of a mermaic
queen-what do you call it ~ gave him it
/ name, HSeguin." "Heaven bless my eyes," sale
the enthusiastic French Louisianian, 81 could
spend awhole summer on that Island, breath.
ing its pure air, bathing in its saline coves
: shooting the numerous waterfowl, catching
the sea perch, cod and mackerel, and gather
ing the berries that grow among the rocks
7 Why, we have nothing like the magnifcenet
: and beauty of all this in o,u' State-Louisiana
There the land is fiat as the ocean, the water
, muddy and polluted, and the mouth of on
river 1.-THE Mississippi,) is q perfect desolation
. You could not find a stone large as my snuff
box, taking out and tapping a golden recep
taclepf sneezing powder,) nothing but 1nu'
mud mud-and noxious reptiles. No sir
make no apologies to me for the rudeness- o
yoar rivers mouth to me it is perfect de
light" Just at this moment, old Commodore
Stewart interrupted the discourse by suddenly
rising from his seat and pointing seward with
his heavy cane, exclaiming @There-just of
|. that Island, and nearer Monhegan than Sc
gum, took place the battle between the Amer
lean Enterprise and the English Borer in thu
last war with Great Britain. was command
ing this station at the time from the Fort il
! Portland harbor. The Enterprise was in thai
town and I sent her out and gave her Capt
(Butroughs) Instructions how to engage the
saucy Boxer In due time the Enterprise re-
turned into port proudly bringing with hel
/ the captured Boxer as a prize; but my very
heart was panied on her arrival to learn, thai
) the young commanders of both vessels, Bur
roughs and blythe were killed in the action
Hiseyes glistened as heraised his glass to re-
survey the waters whereon that sanguinary
but successful naval battle was fought. This
incident led me to interrogate the old hero as
to his own naval engagements. He cheerfully
4 proceeded to relate all the particulars of the
battle in which he was engaged, when, COM
manding the Frigate Constitution or Old Iron
sides, as she was called he engaged teco English
sloops or war at one time, the Cayane and
.Levant and captured both in the same action
He put his own ship between the two, and
pouring broadsides simultaneously into either
, he soon brought both to terms and compelled
: them to surrender. keia
II But 1 am running away from my subject;
and must ask "leave to sit again." and resume
some accounts of the interior scenery Of
Maine. TRAxI.
AvIsIT TO OLD ORCHARD. e