Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1849-04-04
Correspondence Of the Christian Advocate and Journal
STAUNTON, VIRGINIA.

DESIRING to gather all the information | could in
regard to this ourishing town and the surrounding
country, have awaited myself Of all the opporiunl-
ties which were in my power to learn its history,
&c. From an intelligent and influential CITIZEN,
II. Brooke, Esq, have procured number citizens;
which it is hoped will be of interest to you aud
your readers and beg to use them as the mdteflei
of the present communication.
The town of S,aunton occupies central position
on the map of Virginia, and is distant from the city
of Richmond about one hundred and thirty miles,
and near one hundred miles from the town Of Win
chester 1t is situated in tho fertile and compara-
, lively populous county of Augusta, which contains
upwards of twenty Thousand Inhabitants, about four
fifths of whom are white; the remainder, with the
exception of about five six hundred free emanc-
,pated negroes, slaves. The town contains up
wards of two thousand inhabitants, and is the seat
ofjustice for the county. 1t has four churches-the
, Episcopalian, Presbyterian, Methodist, and Roman
Catholc-the latter cOmprehending only small
community, composed altogether OF Irish, VINO nave
recently settled here. Numerous courts OF justices
held here during the year, these are the month
~ and quarterly courts of the county OF Augusta,
and of the corporation Of Staunton, the superior
Courts of Law and Chancory, twice year, and the
Circuit Court of the u. States for Western District
of Virginia, in the months of May and October
These, together with the position of thetown on the
great highway of travel between Eastern and Yves
tern Virginia, and the numerous public schools, both
male and female, which have been established here
make Staun,on place of much public resort. IL
is consequently quite prominent town IN the State,
though small and seems destined, from IFS position,
Its many natural advantages and the intelligence,
enterprise, and public spirit of its inhabitants, and
of those of the surrounding country, to>exert con-
siderable moral, social and political influence on the
State at large.
There have been established here or very lib
. eral scale, two Institutions, the Western Asylum
for the Maintenance and care of the Insane, and the
Virginia Institution for the Education OF the Deaf
and Dumb and the Blind. The first was founded
= some twenty five years since. 1t can at this time
accommodate i'll the most comfortable manner about
two hundred and twenty patients; but in another
year, by means of the enlargement which is now in
progress, the number of four hundred may be accom-
modated. The buildings spacious. substantial,
and handsome, well adapted to the humane purpose
for which they are intended and the comfortable
condition of the unfortunate inmates indicates the
ample liberality with which the institution is fos-
tered by the State. DIR. Francis T. Stribling, who
is the superintendent and physician of this noble
charity, is every way worthy of the office which he
holds Adopting to the fullest extent the mild per-
suasive, and moral treatment OF the insane, he has
been eminently successful in his practice land there
are probably few institutions of the kind in which
the unfortunate unatic or maniac, Judging from the
past experience of the institution, is placed under
more hopeful and effcien. influences for his esora-
tion to reason and society. The other Institution,
blind, has been recently founded. The building
is spacious and elegant, and beautifully situated
and its annual endowment by the Legislature is am
pie for The number which it contain. The super
intendents, the Rev. Mr.. Tyler and DIR. Merrillat,
the first the principal instructor Of the deaf and
dumb, ana the latter Of the blind, are Jealous and
interchangeable in their arduous dites. The system
of education for both classes, suitable to their pecu
liar mental condition, and embracing the arts of
reading and writing, the sciences OF arithmetic and
mathematics geography, history, music, and vari-
ous handlcrals, has been most successfully applied
and It's happy results, as manifested in the public
exercise of the unfortunate pupils, truly wonder
full and gratifying. The stranger sees at a glance
that order, humanity, and ability preside thir
Interesting charity.
The county Of Augusta, in which the town of
Staunton Is situated is one OF the largest, most pop
,ulous, and fertile counties in the State It's climate
is distinguished for its saubrty-iis surface is high
and r0lhng-its soil is chiefly the stiff limestone of
the Valley of the Shenandoah River, and it is well
watered by the numerous head springs and small
tributaries which form that beautiful stream. II is
connected with Winchester, and the Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad, by weli-graded M'Adamzed turn
pike, and will, in all probability, be connected, in
few years more, with the city of Richmond. and
the tidewater by the Louisa Railroad, which, I'M
der the fostering of the Legislature, is rapidly
progressing towards Staunton. Whenever that oc-
ours, this beautiful section must advance rapidly in
every respect. Its population is now intelligent
and enterprising and with such quick and
prompt communication with the markets of the sea-
board as railroad will supply, its fine soil will de-
iVelop rural wealth and beauty, which, with its
salubrlous climate and charming scenery, must
make 1t one of the most attractive spots in our coun
try. The same causes which have retarded the
progress of wealth and population throughout Vir-
gina generally, have of course had their influence
here also but it cannot be denied that they have
exersed, and will continue to exert, less of it here
shan In the more eastern portion of the state A
large majority of the population are white II is
farming and grazing, and 4ot q planting, country
and the occupations and habits of its people are well
adapted to produce the fruits of hardy intelligent
and enterprislug industry Tho moral sentiment
ofthe community is remarkably sound and much
attention is paid by all classes to moral and reli-
glons education. The Presbyterians are the predo
mlnating denomination. The Episcopalians have
large society in Staunton, and two smaller ones in
the county. The remainder of the population is d.
vded principally among the Melhodisis, Lulherans,
and German Reformed
10 the gentleman from whom have derived Inc
foregoing interesting view of Staunton and lis re-
gion, which have given almost in his verv words
beg thus publicly to return my sincere thanks
,One additional fact was communicated to me from
enother source. There is a locality in Stanton cal
Jed Gospel Hill" This appeilation struck me as
peculiar and inquired as to its origin, and found
That, to Methodist at least it had special interest
On that hill, it seems, the first Methodsts at Staun
BON clustered together, land there, in waponmakers
chop the pioneers of Nicholson first proclaimed the
Gospel Of God. The thoughtless and profane. in
derision, named TIE place Gospel Hill and what il
once bore mockery, it now wears as an honoura-
bic distinction. Farewell. M.
March Ia, 1S49.