Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-07-22

party, and so some we're quartered In private
houses, the owners of which were very KIND
and generous. We were received cor
daily, the Mayor soon appearing IN person 10
look after our comfort. After tea carriages
were provided and all drove to the govern
ment house, where Governor Wilmot ap-
peared and invited US to step in and look at
his grounds, which are spacious and elegant
" ornamented with flowers, walks, lawns,
shrubbery, and rare plants and trees artisti-
cally arranged. The house is an imposing
looking building, constructed of common
ledge rock, three stories high. Governor
Wilmot's term of office expired the first of the
month. No appointment has yet been made,
but he will doubtless be re appointed. The
Governors term of Office is five years. He is
appointed by the Dominion Governor. In the
evening a fine band played in the public square
in front of the principal hotel, and some of
the principal citizens called upon us, but
business meeting necessary to be attended ~
prevented any formal or general reception
Fredericton contains about G000 Inhabitants:
1t is in the county of York and is the capital
OF New Brunswick. The site is almost per-
feet level several fet t above high water marx,
as beautiful and pleasant a spot as coulc De
wished. 1t is regularly laid out the streets
being straight and wide and crossing each
other at right angles. The houses ana FENCES
are placed on the line of the street, almost
without exception. The buildings are not so
well built and neatly kept as with us, and
there is kind of faded-gentility appearance
about the place, as though it had seen better
days and now is struggling with adversely and
trying to keep up appearances. One OF the
citizens whom we fell in with described the
condition of the city as follows: You see,'
said he, ''that large piece of woods upon the
hill yonder, where no improvement at all has
been made; and you see to the south and
alongside OF it that fine clearing, showing the
effects of labor and enterprise. The former
belongs to a wealthy aristocrat, who will do
nothing to improve his property nor sell it to
any one who will improve it; the latter is
owned by an enterprisIng tailor. The arlsto-
Gratis must die out and give place to men OF
public spirit and enterprise. This IS what we
are passing through now, not only in this city
but elsewhere in the province. and one OF
these days there will be different, order and
new face upon things in New brunswick"
Formerly from 1000 to 1900 red coats were
kept here but the barracks are now without q
soldier and are turned into schools for the
children. Surely the change in that case Is
sign of growing wisdom and better days l
dare say there are some who mourn for the
lost qayety and show of old times but the
mass of the people feel that it is better to have
things as they are. The gardens look well
kept, and the crop as far advanced as In
Maine There are some fine private Hover
gardens and grounds. Flowers are very
common in and about the houses. There is
evidently good deal Of refinement and cul-
ture in the place, but there is no life TO
wake UP the streets and make the city laugh
with prosperity.
Christ's Church Cathedral, OF the Episco-
pal denomination, where the Governor and
other officials attend religious service, is a
magnificent building. 1t is built OF stone
and finished more deliberately than any church
in New England we should judge. One win
dow alone cost $4,000. A cloth of gold used
in its service was used at the coronation Of
| William ". 1t has library of 1000 vol
umes. As we left it a chime of bells in its
tower broke sweetly upon the ear TO which
we could have listened long had not the whis
tie of the steamer uttered its discordant voice
and warned us that it was time to tramp.
At nine o'clock Friday morning a portion
of our party took the cars for home. and 9TH
ers to the number of 35 reembarked on the
steamer for St. John, intending to extend
their journey to Halifax. On the way down
the river. after dinner, a couple of hours were
spent in toasting and speech making, in which
wit flowed freely. Maine, Massachusetts,,
New Hampshire and New Brunswick were
well represented, but what was said l shall
not undertake to report. President Shaw is
immensely fond of such entertainments and
has rare knack of putting them through.
There was many wish that the absentees
were present to share with us, and that more
of those in New Brunswick who had contrib
u,ed so largely to our happiness could have
Joined in the occasion. which was kept up un-
til the landing at ST. John came in sight. We
are at the Victoria Hotel to might, ana start
in the morning for Halifax by rail. The
weather has been charming. s.