Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1816-11-30

hopeless condition of these mansions, for
merly the abode of wealth, luxury, and
dissipation, with those cottages of sim
pilcity and happiness, that every where
| adorn the mountain banks of our Allan
tic rivers, and the shores Of the western
waters, he feels with enthusiastic rapture
| all the advantages which free govern
ment affords. In place of repining at the
fall, ORE retting the decay of the seats
OF the ancient aristocracy of Virginia, lie
regards every roofless house, and beholds
| every broken pane of glass, as an addi-
tional proof of the growing prosperity of
| the state. These deserted habitations
only prove, that the inhabitants Of Virgil
! MIA are no longer dependent on the ma
| tiOns of Europe-tllat the interior of the
State, whichwas once wilderness, and
| the hunting forest of the savage, is now
the residence of the citizen-and that the
marshes of the sea-cOast, which necessi-
| ~ at first compelled the new settlers 10
lnhabit, are at this day exchanged
for the more fruitful soil, and the
more healthy climate of the upper coun-
try.
Perhaps the friend 10 Church Govern
ment may feel highly indignant, when he
casts his eyes around, and surveys the
decayed state of those buildings, which
had been erected by his ancestors for the
worship of the creator. Probably, such
| person willaccuse the impiety and the
wickedness of the present age; but very
different sensations WILDE excited in the
heart of Tie true christian, who is ac-
quainted with the history and cause of
the ruinous aspect which is exhibited by
every EpiscOpaian Church on James Ri
yer.
To the uniformed reader, the follow
ing sentence from Mr.. .Je6arson's Notes
OH Virginia, will be sufficient explana-
ton for that deserved destiny which Pro-
violence has assigned to these ancient
buildings
g The first settlers in this country were
g emigrants from England, of the English
" Church, just at point of time when it
=" was flushed with complete victory over
:" The religious of all other persuasiOns.-
Possessed, as they became, of the pow
ers making, administering, and exc
g cutting the laws, they showed equal in
tolerance in this country, with their
&c Presbyterian brethren, who had emf
grated TO the Northern Government"
1t has been frequently remarked, that
in cold countries, the inhabitants
of the sea-coast are characterised by
a spirit of enterprise, curiosity and
activity, unknown to those who live
in the higher regions-while or the other
hand, III warm climates, an incident leth-
argy, and singular apathy distinguish
the inhabitant of the coast from the
mountaineer. | had an opportunity,
while making my survey, of Witnessing
two facts, which strongly corroborate
the truths of this remark. The FIRST is
with respect to distances. | invariably
found the computed mile TO be much
shorter than the measured mile, when the
reverse is well known TO prevail among
people accustomed TO fatigue and bodi-
ly exercise. As an example, the dis
lance between the, Lighthouse, on Old
Point Comfort and Richmond has been
when measured by the chain, / only
found il 1873 miles and 457 yards The
distance between Richmond and City
Point, has been generally called 90 miles.
| only found it 455 Tie other fact
observed is, that many considerable
creeks and streams run into the James
River, which are not distinguished by any
| particular name. For instance, immedi-
ateIy above Pagan Creek, Creek runs
yearly six miles up, deep enough to admit
vessel which draws four feet water
which is not known by any appellation
| In the upper counties, as well as in the
western counties of Virginia, the compu-
| ted mile is always found TO be much lon
| ger than the measured mile-and altho'
these counties may be regarded as a new
country, when compared with the coun-
ties towards the sea-coast, yet it is i'm
possible TO find the most inconsiderable
stream of water, hill, rock, valley, or gut,
which has not some appropriate term as
signed by the inhabitants.
I shall add one other fact, of which
was not only informed, but happily expe-
rienced, and which may be of considera-
bic importance i'll physiology. Ii is well
known, that all the inhabitants OH the
banks of James River, towards the sea-
coast, aresubject in tie autumn months
to the ague and bilious fever.-Those
boatmen, however, who, with their fami-
lies live upon thewater, trading TO q from
Norfolk, and the small towns upon the
river, are all exempt from disease. This
appears contrary to the general theory
which makes fogs and dampncss the con
slant causes of sickness. believe it true,
that moisture is productive of injurious
consequences TO the inhabitant Of the
land-but why the waterman, who is CON
siantly exposed TO fogs, day and night,
should be free from fever and disease, is
question which requires the information
| of professional men 10 solve.
Trusting that these remarks will be
regarded as made with The best inten-
| tons,
| ro,,.;n