Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1833-10-01
TO THE EDITORS Of TyE IN

TO THE EDITORS Of TIE ENQUIRER
mad Intended TO ask you 10 make corrections, n
my correspondence with Mr.. 8. iisms, two mails
earlier but receiving the Enquirer OF the 20ih found
my old friend " Tom Thumb" sill awake and the alert
like his famous progentor Of the days oil yore
sorry to sec that he is in bad humOur Unpleasant sp
prehensons fear have been ranging the egion Of his
brain; and although had not intended paying any farther
attention TO his communications yet aiding his last he
gives US concusvely 10 unde rssnd that he is a well
informed echsnc. civil engineer gentleman (conse
queniy worthy Of auenon for that he views the Ency.
cop@dia Britannica work OF merit is evident, and he
says il is considered by well informed mechanics ci
vii engineers and gentlemen" Doublless Mr. "T.' is
some venerable sage some Cincnnatus, who would and
,OH save his native Virginia from imposition he says
he thought it full time 10 set enquiry sopt. which
would Low up the invention" Ought the people
OF This " wide pre- ad Republic" TO say, with Sancho
Blessed be the man that first invented (no, seep) this
valuable book" Che British Ency clopadi)! Would not
Mr. Minor Of the Rail Road Journal do we'll 10 procure
copy Of this toaf book OF Mr.. Thumb % or if he has
one, TO present his patrons with it, contents il doubt
less contains all that is ever ,oH he known upon ia.
suhec, Of Kali Roads will certainly take the advice Of
Mr. Thumb" and without prejudice read the articles
alluded to. though dispute not word there quoted nor
do suppose any thing can be found TO the point
than he has produced do wonder if were 10 read il
as s'ten'ively as he has, and adopt it my guide, If
could learn to "sons,r1e plain English, and charge i'm.
taon from my letter Of the 9Th August to Mr.. Williams
that he babs the lost and aiding condition Of
happy State in the following iamentable srain-"
feeI assured, &C. (eDding the quotation w) But Vir
ginia Is lost TO every thing that makes TO her
in the shape OF internal improvement that have 10
a continued retrogradng and depreciation"
Now, ask what work Of Internal improvement has
Virginia TO boast OF, except her Pete rburg Rail Road
lew dry toeaher ,urDpkes' Surely she will boast
her 30 miles Of James River Canal large enough when
IN good order, TO float about with ten hhds and
what propc had she Of other on the 9Th
August; the Farmers Bank having just refused 10 aid
the grand James and Ksnawbs project When thought
probable that Mr.. Williams the ner Of the right TO
the crack" or" wooden rail road wrote TO know in
what way, what terms could be instrumental in in
Producing the plan in Virginia, believing it useful and feel
ing deep INTEREST," 10 have IL used. In my ton in
the Enquirer OF the 13h inst, aijng Mr. r. in speak
ing OF spirit OF improvement abroad in land" could
MIR. "Thumb any person Of common, honest sense,
suppose that alluded 10 pginio7 "Our land, is
expression, and had understood
the whole Union these United States, "this wide spre
Repubc;" and with regard TO the u. S. is there no,
spirit OF improvement abroad, until lately unknown?
And do think, " Mr. T. has not confined his reading
clusively 10 publications detailing the nve lions and i'm
he must he acquainted with these facts II very unfor
tunae that England not blessed with such man,
that he mghtbave saved her from the great expence and
the impuaiion OF stupidity for having tried wooden rail
made the discovery that "ibe cost exceeds the value Of
the roads"
Whether Mr.. T. intended to msepresent "tbe merits"
OF my plan, will leave others judge when he gays
conclusion OF his brst commune alton that ibs Is kind Of
paten, right flourish puff which Is as hard bsdf
is unworthy Of confidence or refutsion PEN liberal
sentiment for friend! But this is the last notice
intend TO take OF his communities will In conclusion
say, that think " Mr. T. would visit the piece Of road
done upon this plan this place, and take ride upon
II IN broad day light when grim o0is" do not pounee
upon him for ga kissing gooSs. he would feel better:
know he would ess'e bis sfor to SOP its progress
- JOHN HARTMAN.
~ The writer ststes, that he has one quarter of Is
Of road DONE which much more than meets the eTgre,s
lions OF the most ssnguins.