Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-11-11
A FooT-JAUNT IN VIRGINIA.
FROM THE NEW YORK EVENING rosr.

tare-NatraL Bridge Coporteur Lexington
LExIsGros, SEPTEMBER 20.
With my change of cotton q am inclined TO think many
say linen when they cannot fer another afford
to) once packed nmy pockets sci out for Lynch
burg the 26h Of September for the Natural Bridge, dis
tant thirty eight miles. The expectations of the traveller at
particular crises do certainly affect his STEP The Blue Ridge
rose to oppose my progress, but in space OF time that
not exactly state, il rodden under, and stood on
its other sde should remark that this ridge, except ITS
upper mound is composed am told and superficial
observation goes to prove Of species Of granite and flint
The country beyondand this includes the Allegheny range
ranges-rests upon lime stone. state this from inorma
ton derived in part from the The wood which
mbes the Blue Ridge oak, hickory, and chestnut the
@ as the prncp Species superseded the pine Of the east
ern parts at distance short of Lynchburg. The Ridge
seeming to have been crossed other mountains numerous
and about large succeeded and took to the towpab OF
the prosecuted ANIMAL which among the mountains and
along the James River aording variety Of route. For
doing this was rewarded by witnessing the thrilling scene,
the first sight Of the kind ever had OF baeaux descending The
rapids OF river And another presented itself OF other
boats worked up rapids by Of poles This at a
famous place called Beconys Point which in time Of eshets
caused the wreck OF many boats and the drowning OF
ny Flour is the principal article conveyed by these
baeaux from places the pasture and other rivers
forming the James river, to Lynchburg Previous to the
completion Of the canal they numbered Thousands, and were
navgated to Richmond AT this point the abrupt termination
of thin but high ledge of flint rock, dipping steep
gle. shown me, which corresponds nearly
the opposite side of the river to induce the belief that al
day the two were parts Of whole The person show
ing me, who supervisor the canal of opinion
that lake existed the inland side Of the ledge which
the of the rupture. Those who may become pas
senger this canal will here find themselves mountainous
gorges such they rarely have visited In this vicinity
there is conspicuous mountain, two of whose sides form
perfect Ightabge and have pyramda shape. Viewed OPP
pose tho angle tmay readily appear to be pyramid design
ed by Turning aside from the road was repaid in
other respect fell in with negroes, with waom had
not walked far when down The side Of the towpath u
He had sneH them and well he might thought the last
place CO. but he shaking tree; aud hack he
with his bands fell of apples Here discovery
The next mcmen was devourng fruit the skin and
seeds, whose richness deicacy, and sweetness OF favor
ceeded any fruit had ever eaten.
These, in other words paw-paw apples; in appear
and taste they very nearly resemble the banana
pass that in sgreeablenes OF flavor unlike the banana they
have large and brown seeds, resembling beans.
The second night after my leaving Lynchburg, ard when
three miles short of the Natural Bridge, or after two
r. NJ when left Lynch5urg, slsckened my pace house
where two little ROC eyed negro girls milking
6 Who is your master J" asked. He Billy Thomp-
son." replied "Where is he J" They pointed, and
installed in substantial brick quarters surrounded
by large plantation Plantations in Virginia average, per-
haps from two hundred TO thee hundred many have
thousand, only eusi Mr. Thompson had hundred
There is more growing than any thing else but
hundreds Of of freshly narrowed land enclosed by one
ience las whole plantations sometimes ae beoken
preparation for sowing winer wheat in greatest quantity
The OF Virginia striknsy contrasts with Northern
The SECULAR Of the grain generally well enough known
hut its stalks grow ehe rank height feet aud
when IT. tops cut the level with mans
head. Tobacco is extensively with, locking more nearly
than any thing else can think of Ike cultivated Of Gin
absence Of the botanical nancy skunk cab5ags found wild
- growing by the sides Of raaDy parts Of the North
AID the present It's harvest ,ime II is AMI hung dry
poles when tobacco house Ca tall log building
Of which IS in every tobacco 6ed) receives it, touch
Of frost it. and thorough frost would unfit it or
One looking field Of this tobacco help forming
rious associations TO It's fate. Cotton is us su
Gent quantities to supply the families that raise Il spun
wool at the North and used Tor nearly the purposes
but pases into many fabrics used about house the bed
covee made oft towels cloths for ornamenting chests
| OF drawers DC.
word here about Virginia fare and Virginia table customs
which time prevented my saying in my last Bacon ard hoe
cakes bread the Distinguishing features OF Nr-
nia table The former either boiled in the leg or flied
with without eggs. have not Surveyed the kitchens to
how the latter cooked have inquired bit no
stronger cement, 81 reckon, than them
bigger serne and other consscnce than this with
the meal belongs them they agreeahy served at each
neal FOL they excellent Bstter-b.ead is better quality
of conbead into which eggs enter served according
cumstances. Coffee is drank morning aud evening, and
pitcher u milk is necessary accompaniment each sitting
tumb Of this goes with all desserts Potatoes, 20 much
dependence at the Norh seldom eaten. table is no.
set without vessel Of nolasses used any way Negroes Of
surround the table, and very attentive these are
attendants in the commonost families The host ard hostess
contn ally urge you beyond your capacity After this sort
Jared M Thomp~on supper table and the b,eaass. Ia
ble When the fog cleared away finishing NV three
miles 70 the bridge.
write from under" the bridge Il is more wonderful
production Of nature than the mind at once uly real
izss How accident could have formed thing 50 com
peng all respects, the character Of bridge and how
they should have formed this (under circumstances Of
country stream, and other things belonging bridge
quions that arise in the mind OF a bebaljer and
Of which long consideration aft rds little satisfaction.
had certain first impressions, bot they dmned aud unfit
TO be copied. But the heightened my previous con-
ception The abyss yaSns deeper as you |
look over The bridges sides tho extended abuens are more
precipicus capped by trees. Standing below, you SEEM
from the massy,ness OF the and the hueeucss OF its
abu,ncnts, TO look for its top greater height and is
then looking up il that circumstance Of wild beauty st
not found in the programme chains your this is
the relief OF hs whole Of the impending part upon the
blue sky Raising the eye from the ground stream,
traverse the PERCEPTIONS though partly southern bank
which thrown in the wsy BY the il mnkes ill we
emerge the e of vision, tops upon
Of imprisoned blue sky. Continuing traverse our gaze
the solid bridge arriving frs, the Of trees
then the tops when we jump i1o fancy Boat IL will
the blucst ether The stream ing thin three TO
six eight feet wd and "a the deepest places up the
knees. Nature made two extremes when she made and |
brought together these This stream Cedar Creek that az
Ter rcnnng three mics emiies into James rscr,) like all
other small streams has the habit Of babbng and this habit
learn north and south. Over my right shoulder, asI SIT
facing its southern abumen the side spot which Piper
student from Washington College in Is Sclinbcd and from
which he narrowly escaped He had climbed hundred
fret when, rs Of his companions says he lePcd into the