The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1811-08-23
Gle 9aQutrer.
RICHMOND. AUGUST %, 1911.


RICHMOND, AUGUST %, 1911.
DESCRIPTION or RrcpMoNp.
disin,eres,ed Stranger nov. IN this city,
mas handed us the following Communi
canon, with a request that we would lay it
before the public. We do it with pleasure:
because, although we do not agree with
MN IN sorne particulars. yet the testimony OF
an impartial stranger may be of some ser.
wee. Its even better. that such sketches
should be more cutting than nahin,cnfary
ior we have all OF us too much seit-l love we
are apt to love what is our own, and TO
mink too we'll oft, because we love il. IL
vs. therefore, not auiiss sometimes to hold
up the mirror, IN which we may content
P'ate our own preJudices and defects The
"ri,er indeed, mus, execute this operation
WIN much delcacy and skill--not like
Tue English tourists, who laugh at US with
out mercy or justice, or the Edinburg Re
viewers, who like another Omar. would
make bon fire OF all our literature at once ::
he. must not too strongly excite oar prejudices
against himself, lest they should ex.
tend tohis opinions. Besides, new views q.
our situation may do us service, even il
thtre wer- no self love in he way Those
who are used to certain set of objects, are
ge"crai!y Ill the hablt Uf regarding, them in
Particular aspects may therefore be
OF use tor others To show them to us under
new lights and at least excite fresh enquiry.
even ifthcy canno; fuusG any fresh infor
mation.---Wiih these remarks we Law the
following commu n;catiOn before the reader:
sk
ye-standcrs. they say, sometimes see
more VI the game. than the parties at play
RICHMOND, Aug, 10Th 1911.
Since last wrote you, my dear father,
have made visit to this place, aud as |
have taken pleasure, in giving to you the
esult OF MY observations upon most of the
principal places have visited, / will now
call Your attention to The metropolis of Viz
gaia-
In the first place, the style, and capacity
OF the private houses. and public ediRces
manifest even 20 The stranger, that there is
IN this place an unusual degree of prospe
rity. but this observation is more especi
ally true, as it applies to the evidences of
private wealth.
The most notable of the public institute
ons are the State House, Penitentiary. Ar
mory, and Poor-House The frs, stands
on the summit OF the Hill which hangs over
James River, looking down upon all the
comme' clal part Of the city, and at the same
time, commanding a view of the shipping
at the landing prospect oft the river above
and oeio" the city, and AN interesting
aud extensive survey Of the Country on the
opposite shore, chequered by the houses in
Manchester, the farms in its neighborhood,
aud bounded by a bold and shady forest
the whole exhibiting a very picturesque
and romantic landscape. East and north
OF the Capitol, stretches a beautiful hori.
zontai plain, Sufficiently extensive to afford
room for large emporiUm, as Richmond
VIII no doubt be. This plain is now filing
q eli
HOUSES
TIE PenHenfiGry is situated on the con
fines of the city as the eastern margin of
The River is assembled. The edifice in
most respects favors the design of the in
sntu'ion. Its general figure is that os the
Larger segment of circle The entrance
into the Area circumscribed by the walls
Is by two large massy gates. through the bass.
ofthe segment, and nnder an arcade which
supports the apartments occupied by the
Keeper and superintendent. His apartments
are again secured from injury or assault
from within, by an internal wall, interdict.
Ing all communion or intercourse with the
prisoners, and which prohibits all entrance
into the general area, even after the arcade
is passed but through strong gate that is
opened, locked, or guarded the option of
the keeper.
The convicts are kept at hard labour, and
ara ted on bread. water and molasses for
breakfast, and for dinner receive stronger
TODD, such as soup and beef Their en-
ploynent consists chiefly in making nails,
trace chains, shoes, boots, and in spinning
and weaving; for which latter purposes
they have rowing and spinning machines
and numberof looms. among which I per
ceiycd the flying shuttle. They are said
at present to amount to the number of one
hundred
ms institutions supported BY appropri-
atlons annually, from the treasury of the
State, and the product of all the labour in the
Peni;enuary goes into the public. Golfers
! which IN, the aggregate, annual amount, ex
ceeds the sum appropriated nire or ten
Thousand dollars
! This institution speaks much in favor oe
/ the enterprise, moral Improvement. and hu
manly OF Virginia, and lit was conduc, ed in
all respects as fortunately and as jnc,icious
+ ~ as ITS original projectors contemplated
II would have great tendency TO entice
her sister States into the imitation of her Iau
dable example. In the Internal infringement
or Conduct Uf the institution itself there is
great error, or rather room tor improve
ment The several apartments ought Co be
Kept clean, and tree from all kind OF filth
the cells, walls, and whole area within ourht
Tor the security of health to be better ven
tllateo; Immediately upon entering the
! gates tue detects which are to be inferred
from the latter observations arc pa!pabie.
aud exhibit serious shock To- the fec lipys
| OF humanity for il will, by the noyv,r at