Year: 1870




time, few lines expressive of my impressions in
the Old World. If | am unable to render them in a
manner worthy of an experienced "quill," or ofthe
readers of the GAZETTE yet can vouch for their
unprejudieed sincerity.


The first part of our travels was, unlike those of
Gulliver, unattended by any exciting romantic
adventure, and We prosaieay landed from our tenn
porary but pleasant residence board the Idaho,
the golden shores of California, (metaphorically
speaking for never any golden pebbles there.)
had formerly passed few months in San Fran
cisco, but notwithstanding all had heard or read
about its wealth, could hardly realize the immense
progress accomplished by the Pacific Metropolis in
4 the space Of few years l found the area of the
/ city considerably enlarged and my amazement and
regret can be conceived, when l told that a
piece of ground had purchased in the vicinity Of
/ the Mission Dolores, had reached value twenty
times greater than the price sold it for when left
San Francisco. 1t was useless repinng, and 1 phi


osophically consoled myself with the idea that, at
another time would try to be wiser


However, we had a most pleasant time in San
Francisco, and were called upon by many friends
from the Islands, some of whom came to meet US
on the pier, to have the latest news from Hawaii
| From San Francisco to New York. our route
by the Trans-continental Railway. Let me at once
declare that this road is the most wonderful and
boldest achievement of any enterprise of the kind.
The trip has been often described and especially, in
the ablest manner in the Friend, by one of the pi-
oneer travellers. the Rev. S. c. Damon whom it
would he presuming my part to follow, in the
eloquent description he has given of the natural
beauties of the vast continent of North America.
If allude to it, it is only to contribute my mite of
admiration for such a noble and gigantic proof of
the genius and perseverance of man. 1t is a very
safe and comfortable way of travelling, which can
recommend to all those who wish to arrive at their
destination promptly, and to avoid the incoE-
venienees inherent to long and tedious seavoyage.
But those who happen to have delicate children may
well consider that in case of illness on the way,
medical attendance is very difficult TO procure and
that stay of even few days in of the stations
of the yet undeveoped localities on the road is very
onerous and expensive. speak from experience,
as was obliged, account of illness in my family
to stop whole week at Omaha.


From San Francisco to Elko, (where the White
Pine miners stop,) the scenery is such to please
the most fastdious tourist The rich fields of Cali
fornia, all carpeed with the prolific and beautiful
flora peculiar to that favored climate, the apparent
signs of prosperity in the farms both sides of the
way, the contented and robust looks OF the inhab-
itants, suggest the idea that there is place on
earth where people seem TO be aware of the bless
ings they enjoy, and to whom the oft-quoted lines
Of the Latin poet can not be applied


go fortunate minimum, sua 81 bona norint


Agricon"


As striking contrast to the unduatng, culti
waited plains of the Sacramento, the traveller per
ceves, in the background, the lofty peaks Of the
Sierras whose venerable heads family glimmer under
the scintillating rays of the setting No pen
giyean adequate idea of the sublime grandeur of the
scene, when the powerful locomotive, whstling and
out of breath, winds its snowy way gradually up to
those summitsin past ages the inaccessible abodes
of wild beasts and birds OF prey The savage beauty
of those mountains, where lofty pines with their
lark-emerald leaves, half covered with snowy beads
gntterng in the light towering up proudly on
the unrodden sides of the hills the play of light and
shade in the distant gronps of trees in the ravines
the quiet character of sublimity and immobility
thrown oyer the whole scene at night, by the soft
beams of the mOon all these inspire with
feelings of awe and admiration.


After due homage paid TO the aesthetic side of the
question, not help paying a similar tribute
to the practical side of it, by which the genius of
man has been led to overcome obstacles that had,
for many years, been deemed insuperabe, in order
to insure, by means Of speedy communication, new
road to the commercial world and TO facilitate good
relations between citizens of the same nation, who
separated by these impossible mountains.


When on the other side of the Sierras, the scenery
is dreary and monotonous and think one fully de-
serves to become Saint during his lifetime,
who has painfully trodden his weary way the
dreadful desert of Salt Lake. must here candidly
confess that | would hesitate to reach sanctfca
tom at the price OF such fatiguing, pedestrian
journey.


From Omaha TO New York, the scenery is of
genial nature; and the rich and well cultivated
fields, the beautiful villas and fine houses impress
with grateful feeling at being once more in the
midst of civilization.


New York is, undoubtedly, of the most mag |
nfcent cities of the world, and those who have |
lived, have, in some of the capitals of Europe,
not help admiring its large and noble avenues,


its crowded and gaily decorated Streets and its beau
tiful Park, all of which avorsbly compare with
any city Of the Old World; and l will go as far as
saying that, on the whole, the plan of New York is
laid grander scale than any metropolis have 1
seen.


On my arrival in France, the whole nation was /
astir, and the newspapers were freely commenting, |
according to their opinions, upon the bold step the
emperor had taken IN inviting the people 10 express
by their votes the confidence they felt in the Impe
rial system, and their approval of the liberal changes
made in the Constitution granted by Napoleon III,
the 2nd Of December, 1851, after his Coup Etat
substituting the Imperial for the Republican Gov
ernment.


1t was indeed, a bold STEP and one which might |
have been the OF great disasters, it the
cause of uneasiness, and of morbid state of COM
mercal and financial Transactions while the definite
result unknown. vote contrary to the expec-
tations of the Emperor, would have ertainly led, to
either to a reaction toward absolute military rule
or to the triumph OF demagogism and " socialism"
But, on the other hand, it was well calculated to \
rally around the yachating prestige of the present
form Of government all those who having acquired /
property during an uninterrupted succession of /
eighteen years of prosperity, afraid OF a revo-
lutonary movement in which their fortunes might
be jeopardized.


circumstance which tool place few days pre-
vious to the popular voir aatly increased the
number of adhereuis to the established order Of
things plot against the life of the Sovereign was
discovered by the police and the fear and indigna-
ton which created in France, to certain de-
gree, Influenced the vote of those timorous minds
which otherwise, would have abstained from ex-
pressing their opinion. must say that the opposi-