The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1848-02-10

thing like IN old man who recently died ut
Portsmouth, Va. Though GO years old ut
the time Of his death, and blessed BY nature
with stout limbs and good health in his
prime, he Ind not in his whole life wander
ed ten miles from his native village! N.
York ID world in itself. But DO not alarm
ed do not intend detailing my impress.
sions Of the city. How vain the task-im-
prcssions Of as many hucs and colors rs a
rainbow, and as varied as form and figure.
l have mingled iamliarly with the ma
hobs and spectators Of Wall street, men
who cnn influence tho commercial afiairs
OF tho world-and have cracked jokes and
peanuts with tho voadcrs Of matches aud
toothpicks in allies. Queer persons for i'm
pressions. have visited aristocratic shclls'
in which thousands Of dollars changed
hands every hour--and cellars where cop
pcrs were lost and won over greasy cards
and dingy dice, while men anxiously watch
ed for the "police sharks" Funny impress
sions! have been introduced into splcn-
did mansions, furnished in costly and luxu.
rious style, Brussels, velvcts, satins and
lacc, and welcomed by beautiful and richly
dressed ladlcs,-nnd have passed through
dcns Of pollution, tho wrctchcd female in.
mates Of which were blouted with liquor,
and whose mildest words wsrc akin to bias
phcmy. Delightful impressions! I have
promenadcd the grcs. Broadway, lined with
rich and elegant stores, its walks crowded
with tho gay nnd proud and beautiful, il
street git,ering in the pomp Of shining car
ringcs and livricd drivers and footmen--
and in a walk Of On hundred ynrds have
placed myself mid squalid poverty, thieves,
bcggars and pollution, base women cursing,
men scowling, and children practicing oil
manner ofvices. Precious impressions! /
have visited s'houscs Of God" vust monu-
ments to wealth and pride, costing hun.
dreds Of thousands Of dollars each, sents
richly cushioned, books heavy with gold, a
sexton Sowing ut ,hrcadbarc coats aud
pushing them aside; the mockery Of pray
ers ascending through pcrfumcd Dir, and
songs Of praise ~ahed only from the lips ol
the rich and proud--and I havo paused a,
tho threshold Of humble cdificcs built to
Ills worship alone, and where honest pow
erty breathed thanks for tho little that the
wealthy refused for the much. Holy im-
prcssicns! Such arc a Tow Of tho sources
Of my imprcssions--how can I detail the
many ?-how describe the impressions
thcmselvcs2
For a change ii thcmc-all hail land ri
siggcrs, old virginny! Thank my stars
am we'll out Of you. My thoughts nrc col
orcd. am sick Of seeing black faces con-
.inuaIIy, and ever hearing their rude laugh
ter. They are happy, ugly, lnzy set, and
| am we'll rid Of them. spent two weeks
in Richmond, Norfolk and Portsmouth, Va.
In private letter you may rccollect spoke
Of Richmond iavorably. Il is, or must be,
in summer, rather pretty place than 9TH
crwise. The streets orc wide, and regular
~ laid Of, shade trees abundant, many
handsome private residences and fine pub
lie buildings, park, &c. Norfolk is an old
fashioned town, bearing outward evidences
Of age, and Offering but few illustrations Of
the spirit Of progress marking the period
and other parts Of tho country. Il should
be noted, however, for iis ladies'. Certain.
" ! never saw 30 many and such good look
ing ones in my other city Of equal size,
aud you know lam Judge in such matters!
And if its ladies be thus uurivalIed, iss oys-
tcrs arc equally unsurpassed. They are
the largest, latest and bcs. favored ever
swallowed.
In company with naval officer ] visit
cd Portsmouth several times. Il 10 con.
nectcd with Norfolk By ferry. My friend
introduced mo To number Of citizens and
officers whose hospitality, united 10 the So
ciable grsces Of the ladies upon whom We
called, will ever cndear the town TO me.
We visited tho Gosport Navy Yard while
At Portsmouth, where saw several large
ships 10 course Of erection, and in the dock
an iron steamship the boil Of which was
built ut Pittsburgh. At this, and At SINH
lar yards, almost every pnrt ofvessels ars
m.A> laro nrc nm ~ mills. black sn,;th nd