VANCOUVER ISLAND.-By the last advices from Vancouver Island, the Hudson's Bay Company have been informed of a discovery of the capability of that colony for producing hemp, which may have an effect on its prosperity almost as important as that from its coal mines. In some of the works of the early voyagers, there are notices that the natives were found to be possessed of tackle of remarkable strength, and it was now ascertained that the plant from which this was prepared was the nettle hemp, which is indigenous, and which is found scattered over various localities of the island Specimens of rope roughly made from it have been received in London, and it appears that it will bear a strain of 2lb. above the Admiralty standard of 84lb. The material has also been examined by competent dealers, and its value estimated at £30 per ton.

THE LIVERPOOL SAILORS' HOME.-A magnificent building was opened on Monday for the transaction of the business hitherto conducted in the temporary offices, Bath Street.

METEOROLOGICAL REGISTER.

Kept at Croom's Hill, Greenwich, by Mr. W. Rogerson, Royal Observatory. From the 21st of November, to the 20th of December, 1850.

2 M.

30 28

3 T.

30 20

4 W.

30.06

5 Th. 30 30

6 F.

12 Th.

29.95 13 F. 29 85

14 S. 29-78 15 Su. 29.46 16 M. 29 30 17 Tu. 29-31 18 W. 29.38

30-28 42 45 36 46 S 30.14 42 42 38 44 20 t 8 30-10 46 49 32 50 S 30.32 51 33 46 54 8 30.40 30.38 37 45 36 46 SW 7 S. 30-38 30-35 44 44 42 46 SE 8 Su 30-36 30-34 36 38 32 9 M. 30-32 30.29 33 37 32 38 10 T. 30.24 30.28 34 35 11 W. 30.02 29.95 38 41 32 42 SE S 29.95 46 48 39 49 SW SW 29.74 44 46 38 47 SW SW 29.62 42 50 40 51 SW SW 2 29.21 43 45 38 55 SW SW 3 29.14 40 44 41 46 SW SW 29.10 88 41 35 42 SW SW

SW

SW

bc

SE

bf

E

bc

19 Th. 29.26

29.42 33 39 32 40 W SE
29.46 34 36 32

20 F. 30,08 30.18 32 36 28

1511

409

b

N

NE

1

38 NW

N 2

b

qbcp (2)

bem

qor 41 qo! (3) (4) gop 3 gbe ber 4 ors 3 b

November, 1850.-Mean height of the barometer

29'853 inches; mean temperature

-46-1

degrees; depth of rain fallen 9'47.

Hunt. Printer, Church Street, Edgware Road.

THE PROVINCE OF SUEDIAH.-By William Holt Yates, Esq., M.D.

It has been said that on the coast of Syria, there is a great want of ports and harbours. There is at present, I believe, only one that may be considered available and safe, viz. that of Alexandretta or Scanderoon; but its remote position and insalubrity are great inconveniences. The other ports, so called, which are usually frequented, viz. Jaffa, Khaifa, Beyrout and Tripoli are open roadsteads; Latichia is perhaps somewhat better, but not much.

There are two places which it has always struck me (one particularly) are of the greatest importance on many accounts, viz. Suédiah in the Bay of Antioch, at the embouchure of the Orontes, and the Island of Ruad, a little to the North of Tripoli.

The Bay of Antioch extends between the Ras el Khanzer and Cape Posidium, a distance from point to point of about eighteen or twenty miles. The valley of Suédiah, the ancient Seleucia, occupies the hollow or centre of the bay, beginning at the base of Mount Cassius, (a picturesque mountain which tapers to the height of 6,400 feet,) and terminating at the old port and city of Seleucia, where Mount Rhossus reaches the sea. It is in long. 36°, and includes the beautiful valley of the Lower Orontes, which, after collecting the water from the Turcoman plains, here falls into the Mediterranean.

Posidium of Soldini.—In the angle formed by the shore and Mount Cassius, stood formerly an important city, believed to be the Posidium of the Romans, the Soldini of the Saracens, from an Arabic word NO. 2.-VOL. XX.

I

signifying "power," "royal, &c;" and as in the plain on the other side, here also ancient tumuli are to be seen, commonly called the Tombs of the Kings or Giants. It is probable that this formed a suburb of the same city. Moreover, close at hand, there is a small lake which some imagine to be the remains of a harbour, which, from neglect, has been gradually filling up, and is now shut out from the sea by the shore. Beneath Mount Cassius, where the road leads up to the mountain pass, are some leech ponds, and the remains of an aqueduct or water course, which having been allowed to go to ruin, the water which still flows out of an adjacent rock, and is as clear as crystal, cool and delicious, escapes, and mingling with other springs, floods the low ground between it and the sea, where, it is not improbable, there was once a harbour in front of the town, yet within the outer wall, and corresponding in position to that of the old port which may still be seen. This spot is now overgrown with canes and rushes, which constitute an article of commerce, quantities thereof being exported annually for the manufacture of baskets.

The casual observer might suppose that this is an insalubrious marsh; but as the water is never stagnant, it never becomes a source of malaria. The ground adjacent is also well cultivated, the soil is rich and productive, and the inhabitants of the village (which is now called Karajak) enjoy excellent health.

The shore of Suédiah is composed of a firm sand, like that of Worthing, and there is good and safe anchorage in the entire length for more than two miles out. There are no sunken rocks, and the officers of the Spartan, the Harlequin, and others in H.M. Service who have been there, all speak well of it, and infinitely prefer it to Beyrout and other stations on the Syrian coast. On one occasion the Pacha of Egypt's fleet rode out the gales of an entire winter there, under the shelter of Mount Cassius and the promontory of Possite, or Cape Posidium.

The men of war find it most convenient to anchor from half a mile to a mile off shore, between the embouchure of the river and a small white building with a cupola, which is seen near the beach, to the north. In a line with these marks, some distance inland, will be observed a cluster of poplars which mark the situation of the British Vice Consulate, and beyond those on an eminence, the chateau Ruaicy, the residence of Dr. Holt Yates. A ship of the line might ride there securely, she would have plenty of sea room and nothing to fear in summer, and in winter would be better off than at Beyrout or any other place between Mount Cassius and Alexandria; for if it came on to blow hard, she might either take shelter, like the Pacha's fleet, under Mount Cassius, or run for the Gulf of Iskenderoon or Cyprus, as circumstances directed. But, all with whom we have communicated, agree that the anchorage is good, and that they prefer riding there to Beyrout. Even while I now write, we have accounts of shipwrecks and the loss of several lives at Beyrout, further illustrating the importance of, if possible, finding some harbours of refuge on this coast.

I am not aware that the Bay of Antioch has ever been surveyed. If not, it certainly should be, as the time may come when British ships of

war, as well as merchantmen, may be called on to anchor there, and make the best they can of it.

The practicability of navigating the Orontes, at least as far as Antioch, if not to the rich districts of Hamah and Homs, is another important subject for enquiry.

The Old Port, or harbour of Seleucia too should be well examined. If it depended upon Englishmen it would doubtless be cleared out and restored, but Turks have neither money nor enterprise. Its basin is capacious; it is enclosed by thick and lofty walls, and well defended both by nature and art. The city is in ruins; the mouth of the harbour is obstructed by sand from the sea, and the interior is overgrown with vegetation, among which are springs of running water, as on the site of what I believe to have been the harbour of Posidium above mentioned. The entrance was formerly defended by massive towers, the greater part of which remain; and there are two piers or jetties, built of enormous stones from twenty to twenty-five feet, by five feet wide, and five feet deep. It was at this harbour that St. Paul embarked for Cyprus, after leaving Antioch, see Acts., XIII. v. 4. There are few things that cannot be accomplished in modern times, when the importance of the object justifies the expenses; and were Suédiah in the hands of Europeans, it would, I feel assured, be restored, and another harbour would perhaps also be made at or near the mouth of the Orontes for steamers and smaller craft navigating the river; for we must not overlook the fact that the day will come, (and is probably not distant,) when Suédiah will again become the high road to Persia and India. In spite of all that was said by those who preferred the route by Egypt and the Red Sea. Col. Chesney, and Lieuts. Lynch, Campbell, and others, subsequently clearly demonstrated the practicability of navigating the Euphrates. The obstacles which exist, so far from being insurmountable, would only be named by a great nation, because it might not be convenient to undertake the work.

A canal between the Orontes and the Euphrates might soon be cut, or the transit be completed by a railway, for the distance is only fifty miles for the former, the ground is level, and there are many tributary streams on the line which might be turned to account. As it is, many travellers proceed by this, the shortest route to Mossul and Nineveh; and we are visited by officers on leave from India, who prefer coming by Bagdad and Aleppo. Some who are on furlough for their health, and who find it inconvenient to go to England, would do well to remain at Suédiah for a season, as they would not then lose their Batta, as they do when they visit England or the Colonies, for Suédiah is within the prescribed limits. And if a school were established there, the children of European families settled in India, might conveniently be sent there. shall be pardoned for this digression, as it shews how many and great advantages may hereafter open to our countrymen, in connexion with this interesting and healthy spot.

At the mouth of the Orontes there is a bar of sand, over which there is I believe from four to twelve feet of water, according to the season of the year; but this requires confirmation.

Query. Is this bar formed by the sea, or by deposits from the river? Could it be got rid of, and how? Or, could the inconvenience to which it gives rise be obviated?

The favourable solution of this question, would render essential service to the present inhabitants.

I have mentioned that a short distance from the mouth of the Orontes, there is a small lake with springs in it; might not this be made available for the excavation of a harbour? and if so, would it be necessary to lead a canal into it with a sluice gate, as a backwater? Can it be determined whether there ever was a harbour at Posidium, where the reeds now grow? and if so, could they be cleared away, and a harbour formed there under Mount Cassius?

These are all important questions, and it is not irrelevant to British interests to consider them. Already one English factory has been built at Suédiah, and others of our countrymen have evinced a disposition to settle there, on account of the salubrity of the climate.

That there was once a harbour of some kind at the mouth of the Orontes, we know from this, that when Godfrey de Bouillon and Tancred, were besieging Antioch, they were supplied with stores and provisions by the Pisans, who landed the same at the port of Antioch, and this was long after the destruction of the old port of Seleucia; (see Milman's History of the Crusaders, &c.)

If then there was formerly a harbour here, why should there not be again? I insert the following extract from Lieut. Lynch's narrative of the United States expedition to the River Jordan, and the Dead Sea.

"In the hollow of the hills near the Jaffa is a circular plain, where Ibrahim Pacha contemplated making a harbour, to be connected with the Mediterranean by a canal.

"At the request of our vice-consul, who had come to meet us early in the day, we examined it carefully, and felt satisfied that the work could be done at little cost, compared with the immense benefit that would be derived from it. The duties of the customs 12 per cent. amount to £10,000 sterling per annum, and twice that sum or two years duties appropriated to the purpose, would accomplish it. Vessels not exceeding 160 tons burthen, can anchor near the town in the summer, but in winter, they must keep in the offing.

P. 441.-" There were some thirty or forty small polacre vessels in the port, which is protected by a reef of rocks to the westward.

"This reef is generally supposed to be the remains of a breakwater, built by the Emperor Adrian; but to me the reef presented a natural aspect.

"I could detect no vestiges of an ancient mole, and have not been able to find any historical account of an artificial harbour being formed here. On the contrary, Josephus speaks of the dangers of the anchorage caused by a number of rocks off the town".-p. 446.

If then, I would ask, a harbour could be formed at Jaffa at an outlay of £20,000 where a canal from the sea would be requisite, are not the facilities greater at Suédiah? and if the export duties at Suédiah do