undertaking to Exeter has been - abandoned, and perhaps judiciously, from peatiug
the same delicious repast. The inhabitants of those places where eastward ; and during the whole intervening period he had annually planted Tog WIELAND CANAL, IN UPPER Castaua.-.-An account of this grand the potatoes in the fields in the immediate neighbourhood, without change. Canal, which has excited some attention owing to the large sums which In the spring of 1813, I got a supply for my own use, and from that period to have been voted for its completion in the Ordnance Estimates laid before the present I have continued to cultivate the roots, equally without change. parliament, may be interesting to many of our readers. This magnificent In size and quality I have never seen better, nor any equally good. The soil work is intended to unite the navigation of Lake Erie with that of Lake on which this variety of potato has been cultivated, in this immediate neigh- Ontario, by avoiding the celebrated Falls of Niagara, and promises to prove bourhood, and by extensions froni the same stock, during the period of forty- of vast advantage to the mercantile intercourse of Canada and the United five years, is a stiff clay, with a close tilly bottom, and varying from 150 States. The work was commenced three years ago, and is now nearly coin- above, nearly, to the level of the sea, and on the margin of the estuary of pleted, The funds have been raised chiefly by a company of private indi the Tay.—Blachwood's Quarterly Journal of _Agriculture. viduals, assisted by a loan from the Colonial Legislature, and another
front the British Government. The route through which this canal passes, is admirably adapted for two purposes. Its whole extent is about forty-two His mind was great and powerful, without being of the very first order ; miles ; twenty-four of which is already navigable rivers and creeks, and the his penetration strong, though not so acute as that of a Newton, Bacon, or remaining eighteen only requiring excavation. The general dimensions of Locke, and, as far as lie saw, no judgment was ever sounder. It was slow the artificial cut are eight feet depth of water, which may be increased to in operation, being little aided by invention or imagination, but sure in con- ten if necessary ; and filly-eight feet wide at the surface, with about thirty elusion. Hence the common remark of his officers, of the advantage he de- feet at bottom; after allowing for the sloping of the banks. But the natural rived from councils of war, where, hearing all suggestions, he selected what- course of the Welland river, which forms about one-third of the whole ex- ever was best ; and certainly no general ever planned his battles more tent of the navigation, presents a series of reservoirs, or basins, which will judiciously. But if deranged during the course of the action, if any member be extremely beneficial. The level of Lake Erie is about 300 feet above that of his plan was dislocated by sudden circumstances, he was slow in re-adjust- of Lake Ontario, and the canal will require thirty-five locks throughout ment. The consequence was, that he often failed in the field, and rarely its whole extent. But as there is an unlimited supply of water, no difficulty against an enemy in station, as at Boston and York. He was incapable of will attend this part of the navigation. As the greater part of the excavation fear, meeting personal danger with the calmest unconcern. Perhaps the runs through a marsh, the expense bears no proportion to the amount sacri- stroagest feature in his character was prudence, never acting until every ficed in the celebrated job called the Caledonian Canal, while the rapid in- circumstance, every consideration, was maturely weighed ; refraining if he crease of settlers in our Canadian provinces, and the commercial intercourse saw a doubt, but when once decided, going through with his purpose, what- with the United States, gives good reason to believe that within a short period this canal will turn out a very prosperous undertaking to the pro- inflexible I have ever known ; no motives of interest or consanguinity, of victors, and an incalculable benefit to the Canadas, by enabling the produce friendship or hatred, being able to bias his decision. He was, indeed, in of the Upper Provinces to be brought down to St. Lawrence by a shorter cut, instead of the long canal navigation to New York.
naturally irritable and high-toned ; but reflection and resolution had obtained LIEVT:COLONEL DENHAM.—We hear that this distinguished traveller and. a firm and habitual ascendancy over it. If ever, however, it broke its bounds, amiable man, who died in June last, at Sierra Leone, has left behind him some ha was most tremendous inihis wrath. In his expenses he was honour- manuscript notes, in the form of personal narrative, collected during his. able, but exact ; liberal in contributions to whatever promised utility ; but perilous journies in the interior of Africa ; and that as soon as arrangements. frowning and unyielding on all visionary projects, and all unworthy calls can be made to that effect, another publication may be expected relating to. on his charity. His heart was not wirm in its affections ; but he exactly the establishment of a better understanding with the ferocious savages the calculated every man's value, and gave him a solid esteem proportionate to it. Ashantees, and other tribes who inhabit the interior of Western Africa. His person, you know, was fine, his stature exactly what one would wish ; METEOROLOGICAL AGENCY.—The extraordinary succession of wet weather his deportment easy, erect, and noble ; the best horseman of his age, at this season of the year, which we have experienced for the last six weeks, and the most graceful figure that could be seen on horseback. Although, affords a strong corroboration of the opinion entertained by many persons as in the circle of his friends, where he might be unreserved with safety, he to the influence of the spots on the sun's disc on meteorological phenomena. took a free share in conversation, his colloquial talents were not above That these spots are induced by atmospherical agency, will scarcely admit mediocrity, possessing neither copiousness of ideas, nor fluency of words. of a doubt. And whatever theory we may entertain as to the heating property In public, when called on for a sudden opinion, he was unready, short, and of the sun's rays on reaching our atmosphere, it is quite certain, that when the embarrassed. Yet he wrote readily, rather diffusely, in a correct style. face of the sun is observed to be more than usually obscured by spots or clouds,
This he had acquired by conversation with the world : for his education was as has been the case during the present summer, the season is more than merely reading, writing and common arithmetic, to which he added stir- usually cold and wet.
veying at a later day. His time was employed in action chiefly, reading AMERICAN SILK.—The Linnean Society of New York is devoting its at- little, and that only in agriculture and English history. His correspon- tention to the rearing and cultivation of the silk-worm on an extended scale. dente became necessarily extensive, and, with journalizing his agricultural One of its members, Dr. Pascals, has shown that the climate of the southern proceedings, occupied most of his leisure hours within doors. On the states of the Union is calculated to rear this valuable insect in as great per- whole, his character was, in its mass, perfect, in nothing bad, in few points fection as the Italian states ; and has written a treatise on the breeding and indifferent ; and it may truly be said, that never did nature and fortune management of these insects, which cannot fail to encourage this interest- combine more perfectly to make a man great, and to place him in the same ing and valuable branch of manufacture over a considerable tract of country. constellation with the ... srthies who have merited from man an everlasting From the severity of the American climate, even in the latitude of New remembrance. For his was the singular destiny and merit of leading the York, it appears to us that artificial means must be in all cases resorted to armies of his country successfully through an arduous war, for the establish- for the preservation of those interesting insects during the winter season, as meet of its independence—of conducting its councils through the birth of a is the practice in many districts of North Italy.
catching the alligator iu Ulloa, is similar to that described by Mr. Waterton
they abound are very industrious in catching and destroying them. Their usual method is by a ea.sonate, or piece of hard wood sharpened at both ends, and baited with the lungs of some animal. This casonate they fasten to a thong, the end of which is secured on the shore. The alligator, on seeing the lungs floating on the water, snaps at the bait, and thus both points of the wood enter his jaws in such a manner that he can neither shut nor open his mouth. Ile is then dragged ashore, where he violently endeavours to rescue himself, while the Indians bait hint like a bull, knowing that the greatest damage he can do is to throw down such as, for want of care or agility, do not keep out of his reach. THE CLIMATE OF Quire,—Quito is a town which is as highly gifted with the bounties of nature in her genial moods as she is accursed by her capri- cious and fatal violence in her moments of passion. The happy temperature of the air, the fertility of the soil, and the grandeur of its scenery, all speak of a paradise to one who does not know that its inhabitants live in continual dread of earthquakes ; that the tempests of thunder and lightning are dread- ful and amazing ; that all the neighbouring mountains, and here are the highest peaks of the Andes, tremble amidst these storms ; that rain descends in such impetuous torrents that the streets assume the appearance of rivers, and the squares of lakes. These scenes generally occur in the middle of the day, and continue till near sunset, when the weather clears up, and nature again puts on the beautiful appearance of the morning. The fertility of this country is almost incredible ; while some herbs of the field are fading, others of the same kind are springing up ; whilst some flowers are losing their beauty, others are blowing.. When the fruits have obtained their maturity, and the leaves begin to change their colour, fresh leaves, blossons, and fruits, are seen in their proper gradations on the same tree. The reaping of the corn and the sowing of it are carried on at the same moment. That corn which has been recently sown is coming up; that which has been longer sown is in its blade, and the more advanced begins to blossom, so that the declivities of the neighbouring hills exhibit all the beauties of the four sea- sons at once. This fertility, joined with the peculiar temperature of the climate, naturally produces every fruit in its perfection, whether those of the new or the old world.—ketruspective Review.
'FOE COYA.—In the district of Popayan, which lies to the north of Quito, there occurs an insect of very remarkable properties. It is shaped like at spider, and is much less than a hug: its common name is coya, but others call it covba; its colour is of a fiery red, and, like spiders, it is generally found in the corners of walls, and among the herbage. Its venom is of such a malignity, that on squeezing the insect, if any happen to fall on the skin of either man or beast, it immediately penetrates into the flesh, and causes large tumours, which arc soon succeeded by death. The only remedy hitherto known, is, on the first appearance of a swelling, to singe the party all over the hotly with the flame of straw, or long grass, growing in those plains. In order to this, the Indians of that country lay hold of the patient, some by the feet, and others by the hands, and with great dexterity perform the operation, after which the person is reckoned to be out of danger. Pelt it is to be observed, that though this insect be so very noxious, yet squeezing it between the palms of the hands is attended with no bad consequence : from whence the plain inference is, that the callus, usual on the hands of most people, prevents the venom from reaching the bleed. Accordingly the Indian muleteers, to please the curiosity of the passengers, squeeze them betwixt the palms of their hands, though unquestionably, should a person of a delicate hand make a trial, the effects Would be the sane as on any other part of the body.— [Nods Ib2prirs.
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