Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1847-08-05
eoRaEsPoNpEScE OF TUE \. Y. rRIsusE.
LETTER FROM s RAMBLER IN TIE
MOUNTAINS OF WESTERN VA.
WARM SPRtSes. Bath County,
f,tlv iGtb 1917

, friends lett behind with descriptions OF the go-
luplous baths. refreshing breezes, fresh yeni-
son, speckled trout, and blrd-nusic they are
enjoying in the mountains 5000 feet above
tide water. Nevertheless. | must redeem my
promise 10 write you again ifou this delight
fol resting place. where, beside the most deli
eious baJhing, and fare TO satisfy the most tas'
tidious, the company. like that which IS al,
ways found in old Congress Hall al Saratoga.
IS of that intelligent, quiet and domestic Kind
which for me has the strongest attraction.
On arrival here we found Governor Coles
and his family the venerable Judge Brooke aud
his, Madame Pagoot, the wife OF the French
Minister. Mr. Skinner, Editor Of The farmers
Library, MIR. Garter or Virginia, Mr.. Haral-
son aud MIR. Moulnie from Charleston, with
others whom did not know. You renem-
Der Governor c. as the Secretary OF Mr.. Mad
ison, his brolher having served in the same re-
lation TO his ''illusirious predecessor" lis
family, education, and personal relations with
some of the first men of the best days OF the
Republic. have stored the memory OF Gov.
Coles with biographical and political anec-
doies and "reminiscences OF peculiar interest,"
These. with his own easy and ailabie man
ners. invest his conversation with charms that
make every one willing listener WAS par
I ticularly interested with an account OF how
agreebly he was entertained by exPresident
! ADAMS on visit he made TO him--being on
journey through New England--at the parc-
ular instance Of MIR. Madison. from whom he
bore letter Of introduction. In place OF the
reserve of the cautious or the acrlnony Of the
1 disappointed politician, he found the venera-
bic patriot generous. unreserved, and even
communicative on every subject.
Asto Judge Brooke, it is no little TO say Of
! him. that he is one of the few, very few men
4 living who can claim 10 have had personal
intercourse and acquaintance with Gen. WASH
INGroS, and ofhavng been the compauiot, tel-
1 low-sodler and friend of Marshal Lafayette,
and their companions in counsel and IN arms.
There is, as you will readily imagine, IN the
( recolleetions of such venerable characters, SO
much that still throws light on and keeps alive
the fading remembrance OF the actors and
events of that glorious epoch OF our country /;
much that never has or may be told IN the
formal pages of elaborate history. that one
cannot too highly prize All opportunity OF
hearing them relate, while yet they may even
trivial incidents connected with the Reyolu-
ton and characteristic ofth minds and the
men who conducted il 10 It's happy consum-
nation.
Judge b. is in his 94th year, yet as straight
him to attend regularly TO his official duties,
IN this lar-of. mountainous region. His man
ners, too, are of that peculiar stamp, which
belonged 10 the gentleman OF the olden time,
equally removed from arrogant haughilness
and elc-suificiency, which some men OF small
Ecalbre mistake for dignity and from that 9th
er extreme, which invites unseemly and I'M
pertinent familiarity. lie says, OF all the at
tempts of artists to personify Gen. Washing
ton, the statue at Richmond is decidedly the
most successful, and in that he thinks (and
says Gen. Lafayette concurred with him.
there is little too much embonpoiit --or, as
Gov. Barbour Gone II the purest and mostpa-
tfiotic men that Virginia ever produced,)
would have said, 100 much abdominal protu-
lberGnce. The Judge says the portraits taken
by Stewart, good as they are, and the copies
Of them have the defect of representing his
limbs as too fat, whereas they were reniarka
by roiaad, indicating what he possessedin fact,
uncommon physical strength. Headly, as If
he would dilate his personal dimensions TO
correspond with his unequaled mora! great
ness, makes the General six feet three inches
but Judge b. says he was exactly and bare
ly six feet. He corrects, too the impression
that Washington never relaxedlrom the usual
gravity Of his temper and countenance. On
the contrary, al convival parties, where al
were hnowlt To him as friends, he could MN
gle as heartily and eheerislly in the laugh aud
the merriment as the liyeieSt among them
and moreover, was no Stouch IN q cotRt'otl,
on occasion, as il used to offer in Richmond
and elsewhere These personal observations
of a Revolutionary officer and accomplished
! gentleman, one Of the few survivors who
! knew him well, may perhaps have some IN
terest for you individually. even though they
may not be deemed worthy OF as much space
as they would Gil in your paper.
Madame Pageot, the lady OF The French
I Minister, is the daughter Of Maj. w, u. Lew
1 is, who attended Gen. Jackson in his dying
moments, and was for many years one OF his
most intimate and trusted friends. Madame
I p IN search Of the most agreeable Summer
residence, selected the Warm Springs. where
she has been sojournlng since May--ihe Mn
ster himself having left this for Washington
only a week ago.
/ A $ for your EIiior OF the Farmers Library
I Mr.. Skinner, his thoughts seem 10 be ever rum
ming on Aqriculture--catechizin closely all
I the farmers who come in TO sell their poultry
and potatoes. Should the chiel 'prent7 half
I his notes." YOU will have, one would think,
in.his Journal. pretty full account fall the IN
\ dustrial resources of Western Virginia for he
asks a Thousand questions about its agrlcultu-
raj economy. mineral deposits, waier-power,
I cattle trade, eonveyances 10 market, sc. |
I heard HIM draw one curious fact from aa IN
! telli2ent husbandman OF tiis ilk namely that
/ il is quite common practice in the mountains
/ ives, ofthis to winter large herds Of cattle on
/ the boagis Of ne sugar alapie troes which are
I regularly ielied for that purpose, when the
ground is covered with snow--the saceharine
matter Astounding IN the bonghs Of thai tree,
being found on trial TO be very acceptable and
nutritious food for cattle. But whatever he
may say IN the Formers Library. Mr.. :. in
conversation, contends most earnestly chat The
landed interest is entitled 70, and, il properly nm
hued with sense of their rights, as other elias
SEES are. would Insist upon. neutrality-suspicious.
from the Treasury for the diffusion ofagfcul
tural. as well as naval and military knowledge.
For this purpose he would have Normal
Schools established, for the Instruction Of pro-
fessors in the Sciences connected with Agrl-
culture; and in this way provide competent
teachers for country schools. lie insists that
its kindred sciences. if applied 10 the art, com
lbined with The practice OF Agriculture, as
science is applied ia our Military Schools TO
the art Of war, would DO as much 10 promote
skill and efficiently in the operations OF AmeT-
can Husbandry, as they have done To insure
success IN 6elds Of battle His great anxiety