Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1830-12-14
LETTER FROM

Richmond. .hk1rch 1871, 1880
DEAR CoEoSEL:-l stepped into the mail stare
in The CITY of Richmond. a, o'clock in the morning
of Friday, and arrived 1t the city of Washington in
the steamboat. bef're day Sa' urday morning-now
vas not that expedition Col b.
went to Washington about ten wears 400 and
was Jour days in the ordinary way of travelling
My trip to Washington of friendship plea
sure: and curIosi'y and l was disappointed, bu,
gratified to the full extent of all nv wishes 7 am
no NAL content am often pleased.
shsil often make of the and o-for,h as il
often gave us great pleasure when we were reading
Coke upon litileton his histories in his black letter
we were often relieved by his &c &c SC T shall
net say word about tie politics of he dav; sha IL
never, for the balance of my life, contend with Ill
humour about politics, religioD-to be sure have
an interest in these things, but God willing, will
not make myself miserable i'm This world, and in the
world to como, if can help it, by contendinp too
terceiy with my fellow man. | know sir, that YOU
do not like long eXordlums, decentralization and ong
stories!-hut above all, short story made very long
oy the manner OF telling it-you a gentleman
always to he point: will then write with as much
expedition as travel, and therefore catch the
manners living as they rise -
take mp at Gadsby's Hotel, rise earlv ,but don't
take rest late dress myself with great expedition-
have my barber called in-have nv coat hat &c &c
brushed, and move directly into tho Pennsylvania
avenue, that beautiful street. and with elastic step
and cheerful heart, repair to the captol-po imme
dately into the rotunda. viewing before CONGRESS- ;s
IN session, those large and superb paintings stauarv
ands sculpure-I have sravelled but lit,le in this
great world. and have therefore seen but little;-
now Win oil my prepossesslons. &c. people NAV call
them preludces If they WILL am easily persuaded
that the American Capitol, at Washington, il the
most superb and elegant building in the world-and
have always found, when conversng w tn enlight-
ened foreigners on this occasion, if I would admit
that Saint Paul's Church, in London, and Saint Pc
tefs Church, in Rome were the finest Churches i,
the world, they would readily admit. that the Capitol
at Washington. was the noblest Capitol ON the oobe!
In the rouDda began, by viewing the painting
representing the landing of the pilgrlmsit is mme
diately before you as you enter the rounda. to the
West The landing of the pilgrims in New Enr
land must have been the most interesting spectacle
that had been before presented tn an Enpspman
and American INDIAN for while the white man was
viewing the red man with wonder and SURPRISE the
American Indian is viewing the Englishman vi n
equal astonishment The mex painting TO the riobt
is the represent alton of the sgners Of the Decara
ton of American Independence, and although
viewed with devotion of heart, individually that host
| OF heroes, p1trios, and statesmen--my ewes were
nnyountarily cast upon the likeness of Mr. Jefferson.
knew him in life, but his like | shall never look
upon again --nethought could see him holdiny IN
ms hand, the declaration of independence, and the
act concerning religious freedom-the charters of
our civil aud religious freedom The next represen.
tation as large as life, Is Col. Daniel Boon contend
ihg with two l dIans-one of them lies prostrated
al the rect OF Col Boon-ihe Colonel has in his hand
"a sword drawn, at the breast of the other IndiaD;
who, with uplIfted tomabnwk. which seems ms if il
was descending on the head of Boon which made
me cry out, Involuntary, "strike Boon for your life
he
surrender of Gen. Burgoyne and his whole army 10
Gen. Gates, at Saratoga in the year I777 Gen
Burgoyne, with the best appointed army that ever
crossed the Atlantic ocean, ten thousand strong with
a tine train nj brass artillery, and host of Indians
attempted to march from Quebec, to form a
junction with Gen Clinton, on the Hudson river in
the state of New York; but he was compelled to
STIR ander his whole army, which sent to Virginia
III The year IT'S, aud stationed at Albemarle
barracks, where you and myself were with them
about years. As I cast nv ewes on the
personages, represented almost as large as life and
saw the British and German officers precisely the
same uniforms that we had seen them so years AGO
Oh! how it reminded me of the DAYS of our yontb-
wished yon had been present with me on this osca-
sion, as we had often been viewing the British and
herman regiments There was the British tirena
der Light Infantry and Artillery, together with the
German regiments of Hessians, Anspacners Wall
deckers, and Wolfem butilers-how it IMPRESSED
nv unnd with the British and German officers tina, we
had 5oen acquainted with--Blackwood, Prince, &c
&C. &C | was greatly affected when considered,
that as az these were little older than myself
perhaps not one in hundred is now alive
and where viii you be- said to rnyself las reclined
against The woll of the rotuHda,) few years hence2
swept INTO the great ocean of eternityi ike mere
atom or fly Eternity, tbou pleasing dreadful
thought However pleasing TO the Roman Cato.
or yourself, am afraid it will always be dreadful
thought to ne-ot least it Sll never be a very plea
sing one! could not help plying Gen. Bnrpovne
at seeing with what seeming disconsolniion he sur
rendered his sword 10 Gen Gates Gen Burc1vne
had greatly distinguished himself in Portugal and
r'anders' IN his campaigns but not so in America -
He was a brave and gallant soldier and an sccom.
plishcd scholar and gentleman-but hc bad different
fnemf TO contend with in America from what he
pad ~ Europc--bu' above all. the cause he fought
for was not coed ono; but Gen B;,rreepe could
say that it was he fate Of war and for,0ne is as
tickle ~ the field as any where else AZ any rate
Gen Burgoyne was unfortunate, and that was a suf
hclent PASSPORT 10 the hearts Of Gen. Gates and
Schuyler, who treated bim his officers and men, with
great tenderness delicocy, and mercy, which drew
rth a burst Of gratitude from the heart of Gen
Burgoyne, his officers and armv--and in letter 10