The number of messages sent each year is estimated at 5,000,000; giving a revenue of $2,000,000, and employing 10,000 operatives and clerks. A message throughout the United States and British provinces is scaled to ten words; beyond which, the price for each word is generally about 20 per cent. less. On the line from Savannah to New Orleans it is 50 per cent. less for each added word; from Boston to New York, 25 per cent. less; and from St. Louis, westward, 16 per cent. less. The average may be considered at 20 per cent. discount on all words over the first ten. No charge is made for signature or address. Thus, a message may be transmitted: : "Tremont House, Boston, Massachusetts, January 1st, 1859. "To John James Doe, Esq., No. 500 William street, 3d story, room No. 25, New York city. "Purchase for me 1,000 bbls. of flour, and ship to me at New Orleans, immediately. 44.33. "WILLIAM RICHARD ROE." The above is the form of a message, usual on the American lines. There are fifteen words. According to the tariff hereinbefore mentioned, for the first ten words the charge is 40 cents, and the five added words 3 cents each, or 15 cents: total, 55 cents. The figures 44 mean, "Answer immediately by telegraph;" and the figures 33 mean, "Answer paid here." These figures are free. Each number is counted as a word. The telegraph companies in the United States and the British provinces solicit particulars as to address, and the policy is good. In Europe, many men locate and remain a lifetime in the same building and in the same business. Like cases rarely occur in America. In the former country, a brief address is sufficient; but in the latter, particulars are necessary. Experience has taught that it is best for the telegraph to encourage its patrons to be full in address. In the regular form, forty-four words are transmitted in one despatch for 55 cents. There is no charge for delivery. The telegraph encourages explicitness in the writing of a message, and discourages the use of ciphers formed by letters or figures. And for the purpose of discouraging laconic despatches, the companies have adopted the liberal discount in the tariff.on all words over ten in a message. It encourages the patrons to write their despatches full and intelligible. In most of the American states, penal laws have been adopted, from time to time, for the protection of telegraph lines. At the opening of the courts, the judge embraces the question in the charge to the grand jury, requiring that body to indict every person who may be guilty of a violation of the law. For the honor of the people, however, but few cases have occurred requiring the exercise of that duty. In the early history of telegraphing, the most formidable objection to overground lines, was the liability of interception by malicious and mischievous persons, in the breaking of the lines, etc. Experience has proven that the people do more to maintain the lines in order than to disturb them. The penal laws adopted are, moreover, less severe, and it cannot be doubted, but what they have had a salutary influence. The laws are of the following form and tenor, viz.: Any persons who shall intentionally and unlawfully injure, molest, or destroy, any of the lines, wires, posts, instruments, abutments, or any of the materials or property of any telegraph company, association, or owner, or shall, by any means whatever, interrupt the working of any line of telegraph in the transmission of despatches or otherwise, shall, on conviction thereof, be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and be punished by fine not less than $500, nor more than $1,000, or imprisonment in the penitentiary for a term not less than one year, nor more than three years, or both, at the discretion of the court having cognizance thereof. PENALTY FOR REFUSING TO TRANSMIT DESPATCHES. In most of the states, penal laws have been enacted, relative to the transmission and reception of despatches by the telegraph companies. Any despatch, with the money offered at a station, cannot be refused by the telegraph unless it involves the violation of the patent rights of another company. No one can be excluded from sending messages over any line, and by any route, that he wishes, except in the case above cited. From one of the acts, I extract the following, viz.: "Every such company, and every owner or association, engaged in telegraphing for the public by electricity, in this state, shall receive despatches from and for other telegraph lines, companies, and associations, and APPENDIX. from and for any individual; and on payment or for lines holding rival positions. The of the usual charges for transmitting des- rejecting of these despatches caused those in patches, according to the regulations of such rival interest to memorialize the respective company, owner, or association, shall transmit the same faithfully and impartially, and in the order in which they are received; and for every wilful neglect or refusal so to do, the company, owner, or association, as the case may be, shall be liable to a penalty of not more than $100, with costs of suit, to be recovered in the name and for the benefit of the person or persons, association, or company, sending or desiring to send such despatches." Such enactments as the above originated some years ago, when one of the leading companies refused to receive despatches from legislatures for the passage of laws of the nature as above given. The legislatures promptly passed the necessary laws, though, for a combination of reasons, they have not been practically effective, owing to the patent laws of the land limiting their enforcement. Upon the expiration of the patent franchises held by the companies, then the special law, with its penalty, can be enforced. The common law will guarantee the right to any one to command the transmission of his despatch, equally with all others, on its presentation, with the money, at any telegraph station. The change in the means of communication between distant points, within a quarter of a century, is one of the most remarkable evidences of progress. Just before the introduction of railroads as a means of communication an important case was pending at Washington in which certain parties in Boston had large interests. The long looked for decision was about to be reached amid the greatest anxieties, when news arrived at Boston which it was of the highest importance should be placed without delay in the hands of Daniel Webster. The mail was too slow-an express was required; relays of horses every ten miles had been prepared in anticipation, and a gentleman started with the news, vaulting from saddle to saddle as he reached the relays, still urging the fresh animal to its utmost, and allowing himself no rest. Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, were all threaded with energy, the facul ties of the man evidently flagging as Washington came in sight; but the skilful rider still urged his noble animal, which passed the gate of the last relay and pitchpoled forward dead as he fell. The rider gaining his feet held out the papers and his watch to expectant hands with the exclamation, "I am within time; seventy-two hours from Boston." This was a distance of five hundred miles, or seven miles an hour average. The bill for dead horses was $1000; and the rider, a powerful man, suffered a dangerous nervous fever as a consequence. Had that gentleman, when he recovered sufficiently to receive the admiring attentions of the public, been told that he would live to see the same intelligence conveyed over the same space in a few minutes, at an expense of a few dollars, or that he himself might again cover the ground in twenty hours, at an expense of ten or twelve dollars, and without more fatigue than it would cost him to remain in his chair at home, he would have supposed his own delirium to have possessed the speaker; nevertheless he has lived to witness such a result. The cut represents the disparity between horse and lightning. PROGRESS OF CANADA. THE PHYSICAL FEATURES OF CANADA. CHAPTER I. BOUNDARIES. of the Bay of Chaleurs in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. The States of the American Union which abut on this long and sinuous frontier, are Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, and the British Province of New Brunswick. The vast tract of country called the Province of Canada, has an area of about 340,000 square miles, 140,000 belonging to Upper Canada, and 200,000 to the lower division of the province. It lies wholly within the valley of the St. Lawrence, in which are included the most extensive and the grandest system of fresh-water lakes in the world. THE GREAT LAKES AND THE ST. LAWRENCE. MONTREAL, the commercial capital of Canada, is situated at an equal distance from the extreme western and eastern boundaries of the province. The source of Pigeon River (long. 90° 50'), one of the foaming tributaries of Lake Superior, forty-six miles in a straight line from its mouth, and 1,653 feet above the sea, is the point where its western limits touch the boundary between the United States and British America. Blanc Sablon harbor (long. 57° 50), in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and close to the western extremity of the Straits of Belle Isle, marks the eastern limits of Canada, touching Labrador, a dreary waste under the jurisdiction of Newfoundland. Draw a line through the The bottom of Lake Superior is 600 feet dividing ridge which separates the waters below the level of the ocean; its mean surflowing into Hudson's Bay from those tribu- face is exactly 600 feet above it. With a tary to the St. Lawrence, and the ill-defined length of 300 miles and a breadth of 140 and almost wholly unknown northern limits miles, it comprises a water area of 32,000 of the province are roughly represented. square miles, and, supposing its mean depth The boundary-line between Canada and the to be 600 feet, it contains 4,000 cubic miles United States follows the course of Pigeon of water. It is the grand head of the St. River, runs north of Isle Royale, strikes Lawrence, receiving the waters of many tribthrough the centre of Lake Superior, the St. utaries, and discharging them into Lake Mary's River, Lake Huron, the St. Clair Huron by the St. Mary's River, with a fall River, Lake St. Clair, the Detroit River, of nearly 20 feet in half a mile, to overcome Lake Erie, the Niagara River, Lake Ontario, which, the most magnificent locks in the and the St. Lawrence as far down as the world have been constructed on the United intersection of the 45th parallel of latitude. States side, thus forming, with the Welland It follows this parallel to near the head and the St. Lawrence canals, an uninterrupted waters of the Connecticut River, when, strik- communication with the sea, and enabling ing northeast, it pursues an undulating large vessels from any part of the world to course roughly parallel to the St. Lawrence, penetrate one-third across the continent of and from thirty to one hundred miles distant America in its broadest part, or about 2,000 from it, until it reaches the north entrance miles from its ocean boundary. Lake Huron, the next fresh water sea in River St. Lawrence into the gulf of the same succession, has an area of 21,000 square name. A few miles above Montreal, the miles, and, like its great feeder, Lake Superior, it is very deep, 1,000 feet in some places having been measured. The great Manitoulin Island (1,500 square miles in area), with others belonging to the same chain, divides the lake into two portions, the northern part being called Georgian Bay. It receives numerous important tributaries on the north side, among which French River is the most interesting, in consequence of its being on the line of a proposed canal communication between the Ottawa and Lake Huron. The distance between Montreal and the mouth of French River is 430 miles, and of this distance 352 are naturally a good navigation; of the remaining 78 miles it would be necessary to canal 29 miles in order to complete the communication for steam-vessels. These data are the result of careful governmental surveys, and are calculated for vessels of one thousand tons burden. The cost of establishing this important communication is estimated at $12,057,680. The distance between Chicago and Montreal by the St. Lawrence is 1,348 miles, by the Ottawa and Huron Canal route, 1,005 miles. Lake St. Clair forms the connecting link between Lake Huron and Lake Erie, another magnificent sea of fresh water, 265 miles long and 50 broad on the average, with a depth of 120 feet. Its shores, particularly on the United States side, are the seats of numerous populous cities; its waves on the north shore wash the garden of Canadathe fertile western peninsula. The last of this great and magnificent chain is Lake Ontario, separated from Lake Erie by the Niagara River, in whose short and tumultuous course occurs the most stupendous cataract on the face of the globe. Before reaching Niagara Falls the river descends about 50 feet in less than a mile, over limestone rocks, and then plunges 165 feet perpendicularly. For seven miles more the torrent rushes through a narrow gorge, varying from 200 to 400 yards in width and 300 feet deep. It then emerges into a flat open country at Queenstown, and, after a further flow of about twelve miles, glides peacefully into Lake Ontario. Lake Ontario is 180 miles long, 50 broad, 600 feet deep, and has an area of 6,300 square miles; it discharges its waters, together with those of the upper lakes, by the Ottawa River comes in from the north, draining an area of 80,000 square miles. Below Montreal the St. Maurice debouches into the St. Lawrence at Three Rivers, drawing contributions from 22,000 square miles of timbered country. At Quebec the St. Lawrence is 1,314 yards wide, but the basin below the city is two miles across, and three and three-quarters long. From this point the vast river goes on increasing in size as it swells onward toward the gulf, receiving numerous large tributaries, among which is the famous Saguenay, 250 feet deep where it joins the St. Lawrence, and 1,000 feet deep some distance above the point of junction. Below Quebec the St. Lawrence is not frozen. over, but the force of the tides incessantly detaches ice from the shores; and such immense masses are kept in continual agitation by the flux and reflux, that navigation is totally impracticable during part of the winter season. Vessels from Europe pass up the great system of canals which render the St. Lawrence navigable for 2,030 miles, and land their passengers at Chicago without transshipment. The following table shows a profile of this ship route from Anticosti, in theestuary of the St. Lawrence, to Superior City. do Beauharnois Canal Galops do 5 200 45 444 58.5-141.3 9 200 45 82+ 662 142.6-185.6 7 200 45 48 12 1 200 45 2 do 2 = contain more than eight grains of solid matter to the gallon of 70,000 grains. The variations to which their level is subjected are common to all, and may be generally stated to be as follows: 1. The mean minimum level is attained in January or February. 2. The mean maximum level is in June. 3. The mean annual variation is twentyeight inches. 4. The maximum variation in twelve years has been four feet and six inches. 5. There is no periodicity observable in the variations of their levels, and there is no flux and reflux dependent upon lunar influ ence. GEOGRAPHICAL SURFACE OF CANADA. The western peninsula,-comprehending the rich tract of country west of an undulating escarpment or ancient sea-margin, reaching from Queenstown on the Niagara, round the head of Lake Ontario, and thence north to Georgian Bay, Lake Huron,-is a gently sloping plain, deeply covered with drift clays; the highest part of this plain is at the Blue Mountains, abbutting on Georgian Bay, where their northwestern escarpment is about 1,000 feet above Lake Huron. From the central townships of Proton and Luther, a low axis or water parting causes the rivers to discharge west into Lake Huron and east The St. Lawrence carries past the city of into Lake Erie, as far south as the head⚫ Montreal 50,000,000 cubic feet of water in a waters of the Thames, which flows in a minute, and in the course of one year bears southwesterly direction to Lake St. Clair. 143,000,000 tons of solid materials, held in Joining the ancient sea-margin about half solution, to the sea. All the phenomena of way between Lake Ontario and Nottawasaga a mighty river may be here witnessed on a Bay, Lake Huron, a ridge of drift, about stupendous scale, its irresistible ice masses, 700 feet above where the Northern Railway crushing and grinding one another in the crosses it, pursues a course roughly parallel depth of winter its wide-spreading and de- to Lake Ontario, but with gradually diminvastating floods in spring; its swelling vol- ishing altitude, and terminates near the Bay ume stealing on with irresistible power in of Quinté. This ridge of drift blocks up a summer; broken here and there by tumultu- communication which once existed between ous and surging rapids, or by swift and Georgian Bay and Lake Ontario. There is treacherous currents, or by vast and inex- strong evidence to prove that another "Niahaustible lakes. As it approaches the ocean gara" formerly existed somewhere between it rolls on between iron-bound coasts, bear- Lakes Huron and Ontario, probably in the ing the tributary waters of a region equal to neighborhood of the line of the Northern half Europe in area, and subject to a climate Railway. A direct artificial water commuwhich vainly endeavors to hold it frost-bound nication between these lakes is now advofor fully one-third of the year. The whole cated. In the rear of these subordinate elevalley of the St. Lawrence is a magnificent vations, which only slightly diversify the example of the power of water in motion, and the great lakes themselves are splendid illustrations of the " dependence of the geographical features of a country upon its geological structure." great plain of western Canada, the Laurentide Mountains, stretching from Lake Superior to Labrador, separate the valley of the St. Lawrence from the region tributary to Hudson's Bay. The Laurentides approach or form the northern shores of the Gulf and River St. Lawrence from Labrador to near Quebec; they then retire from the river by degrees, and at Montreal are thirty miles from the St. Lawrence. They cross the Ottawa one hundred and fifty miles from Montreal, and, bending round, approach the St. Lawrence again in the direction of Kingston. From this point they run in a northwesterly direction, and form the rough country in the rear of Lakes Huron and Superior, and the water-parting between the St. Lawrence valley and Hudson's Bay. The height of land is really a table-land, diversified with innumerable lakes, large and |