Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1847-05-17
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A VISIT 10 WILLY. Mountain.


Msssrs Editors-Csn YOU allow place in your valua.
DC journal Tor the following account Of rural jauntt
may serve to diversity the inonotony OF political matter with
which your paper hed-snd 10 which 10 moro expro,.
ly sesoted.
More than months since, . gentleman from the
West, who visiting county, expressed wish 10
visit Wils's mountain in the prcsenc, of some Of ,h ho.
pitable gentlemen dwelling round about it, Though
small specimen Of mOunfaindO, IL yet served to remind
MIN oil hts western home, seemed be fashioned on
larger scale than the surrounding eounTy-for they OF
the West always claim that their country wa. made ON
larger scale than oursand for larger people Of
ana mat they have "a bigger aud MOON aud more
stars"
II was determined that our Western friend should
be gra6ed-and accordingly by some ,tle eXertion ,bc
| arrangements were all completed. A company of both
sexes organiscda day ixed-a place of r,nd,x
vous In the ncehborhood sppOnled-rom which We were
on me morning OF the day set apart for the
That day dawned in uneouded be auty-"wincr no long.
or fingered IN the lap OF SPRING TO avorc
OF your 9h0ndim neghbOr)-and oil the indications of
change OF season the pleasantly warm sun
and bslmy Southern breeze, peculiar To this period of the
year Every thing canduccd that oxhraton of spri.
which adds 80 much o enjoyment such occasions
We mounted brisk seeds, and xay went forth MUcu
hERSiER than "a MARRIAGE
Mcssrs, Editors have you visited wliss mountain
Tor really It is one OF the eKoLoscAL OF our
State which should neither be overlooked nor
Mr. Jefferson, in his "Noies Virginia." has under
stand, paid II some COMPLIMENT for which allow me 10 ~,
fer to the book itself, rare and a copy of WHICH
do possess. Professor Rogers in his examin,,ion Of
the geology OF the State, II but lille his
nevertheless he speaks OF II Of his annual
"mountain destined to become noted among mper,Io
gsts" Ii the Legislature is taken with such y,r of
beraity in the way OF appropriations for INTERNAL IN
fRoVEAksr a. the last its attention should be called to tn.
subject OF providing RKcoNsoisANcE of Willis.
mountain-or am assured that will be quite as prota
bic, and well nigh useful the State as some nj ,h.
proceed RAILWAY, for appropriations which Jealous nd
voea'es OF internal improvement have apped-and more
over would Keep sharp exercise the geological attain
ments of worthy Professor, and afford him that empoy
mcni for which he has such a
Nevcrthele ris sole curiosity Of nature amplv
eomPcnsates one for long DAYS de Though the view
from III summit embraces not within its limits highly
cultivated country, dotted with numerous ourshiny
towns anG cities, the prospect is extended and stand
ing, does isolated in the midst of country comn,ra
lively level, the view is intercepted by Intervening
heights. as is always in mountainous countries Pardon
this little dgressouas tins only mountain Won mus
allow little Dragging, make as much of II as no.sibI.
The mountain Is divided by low gap into two knobs or
peaks, commonly called. from their respective shapes the
road aud long mountains The latter the higher of the
two, and possesses the incidents mountains sucb a
sleeps and cags-(cTags, which may be allowed TO
oreR sfSpendousl-in much higher degree than the for
mer The depression or gap between them is probably
$50 or 300 feet beneath their submits OF course we
wished TO ascend the long mountain, the taller of the two
aS the view from its top the extensive We com
menccd the ascent the Western SIDE coming throush
e gap around 10 the Eastern sidc which slopes gradually
nearly 10 the mountain while the Western side l.
precipce from its Northern terminus to the dividing o.p
Inc ascent was easily accomplished horseback for more
than half OF the distance, when dsmounted TO perfr
the remainder of the wayne did without difficulty un
al reached the base of tall craggy rocks which
We had 70 climb, aud assist others CLIMB through unite
steep hssurc IN the rocky side. would attempt do
eupuon ri the mode in which overcamc this obstacle
IN farther progress-but do not think that coud do
make ntc,gibo without the and of d,,yv
rg Suffice 1t TO say, that this ssue affords me op,nig
10 young man to display his strength and calant.y
The rewrrd OF tolls ihsn sy before us In handsome
OF great extent aud beauty much diversified with hill and
dale, and bounded the West with the range of the Blne
Ridge, " ROBBED azure hue" The obecs beneath duin
died into apparent ins-nhcancc hisA places The
prominent objects OF the landscape hunted ~ and
discussed. lueM ttlcda
valy until the grateful repast made ready-there on
the mountainop and on abo-roek OF the uount,n-,on
we dined and quaBed the Oh be joyful" to the GEM
Of It's cayeTns.
regret exceedingly that the soourners of the neiphbour
hood have not taxed their memory hand down 10 sue
ceeding their Imagination some legend ~
interest connected with tins mountain with which might
interest But unfortunately the GEM that preside Over
have lain d0i far back the memory of tho ola
nhabtant runneh, and the spirs of Us erappy cnve
have been heard in their bound apartments
Although respectable echo may gotten W between IN.
neighbonng peaks, IN thunderstorm no RIP Van Wnkc
has yet IN his Dreams heard sounds similar TO those
mentioned by w Irving IN the which he gives of
the glmbos OF Hendnck Hudson and his men among te
Caskls. can, however, inform the overcuiious thai
there Is IN existence brief, unadorned tale of fyRfipe
from Juffiee who inside his home oil these cavetns
after having escaped duranee uieand who ,.ns in
the very uugracious habit descending from his high pos
ton 10 levy bLaekna the hocks OF his neigh hours
But must Be left TO the future Irving of this
part of the world invest this story with interes-o
- Gd0TH this tale"
When the declining warned Of the lapse Of time
made way down, and returned home as gay AZ We
came though much fatiguod with the days exeriions
CUNEEELGSD COUNTY. JUVENIS