Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1851-05-24
NATIONAL INTELLIGENC Err.
THE SOURCES OF THE PoToMAC.-No. II.
MoonYIrID, HARDY CoUsrr, vrasIsIA,


South Branch Of the Potomac than where my las, letter
dated The intervening country, bordering upon the river
mostly mountainous but not remarkably picturesque eI
cepng point, half dozen miles from this place.
where there appears be second but inferior edition Of
hanging rocks" With the hamlet Of Moorfsa however,
and especially the surrounding country, have been much
pleased II lies the of valley, which has sp
propatsy been termed the Garden Of Virginia Icontans
about five hundred inhabitants onamened with two hand
some little churches, (Methods and Presbyterian,) and
about the village the people, and the surrounding country
there kind Of Arcadian simplicity which is truly
freshing 70 one accustomed city e As 10 the landlord
and table Of the Virginia House, where staying it af
fords pleasure say they would be acquisition in any
Of the eastern Cities The valley in question twelve
miles long, and from one miles wide level and very
FERTILE and completely hsmmed in by wood mountains
of moderate elevation from the summit Of which the beau
full Potomac may be pursuing its serpenne
Many Of the farmers in the valley wealthy, and Of
them poorhe marketable price of the land averaging about
one hundred dollars per Corn is the principal products
and is said that of the fields have yielded good crop
annually upwards Of thirty years. Hence the reputation
of the valley for its CATTLE which raised in great numbers
and Of the finest quality and this very moment there is
passing my window, bound Washington, drove Of
hundred Indeed the people here pe-emnenty ndepen
dent in outward circumstances well in their feelings
On Sunday last attended morning service in the Presby
terrain Church, and particularly pleased with what
there and heard The audience large and consisted
Of goody number of the sturdy and aged Of the
many Of the valley, with their wives and children and
chdrens Children who conducted themselves with degree
of proprey that have seldom e1ceed in communities
boasting of all the renements OF the age In every Pareu
lar the church was plain perfectly and comfortable
rJ;oc .pI
oveures psalms and hymns sung by the congregation,
to the good old tunes Of century ago. The preacher
the Rev. WILLIAM NJ ScorT, venerable in years,
and the father of two sons, who are as informed emf
nen in the sacred profession of their father. The text
the occasion follows, proverbs 4h, 18Th } "The
pahof the just the shining light, that sneh more and
unto the perfect day." and the tribute Of
respect to the memory Of young lady who had recently died
of consumption. The preacher spoke exemporaneously
with soft and plainve voice, using concise and elegant
language and briefly commented upon the beautiful
and christian character Of the deceased was orcby remind
cd of Hvngs touching essay entitled The Pride Of the
Village" The range Of thought throughout the discourse
elevated and yet there something about in strict
keeping with the rural district in which devered-the
imagery being drawn from the works Of nature, actually
in part from the pulpit which the preacher occupied
For example, in speaking Of the law of progression, (Which
the leading idea Of the he remarked bis hear
het in the flowing of their Valleys
and the giant oaks upon their mountains well the
planetary worlds the human intellect and the light of re-
violation developed in the human heart Upon the WHOLE
the sermon really an impressive one.
With regard natural cuosites, the region of Moorfeld
rather meage and may afford be without them since
boast Of the scenery and superior agricultural
sources. In the way of interesting characters however,
well supplied. -. ..'
One story that have picked up here, ilustrats, the
character ola old hunter who lives upon Of the neigh
boring mountains For many years past he has imposed upon
the credu Of his ignorant brethren Of the bush by
passing himself off wizard, by which profession he
ged to pick up good deal Of money. And the in
which he originally established his reputation and made him
self the Of the country follows brother hun
ter to him with his rife declaring that he had made
many shots deer and other wild animals but that he could
hit any of them, and he therefore supposed be
of order The wizard examined the gun and percevng
glance that the sight only out of its proper place. be
myseousy shook his head and said that the gun had spell
upon which could not be removed without the payment of
three dollars The paid the money and told call
the The sight then fixed in its proper place,
and when the after his gun he gave fair trial,
and expressed himself perfectly satisfied The wizard then
told the that he must perform another incarnation
the gum and that would be ready take away
hour; whereupon he retired into alone, when he
proceeded load the gun with small charge of powder,
using for wad quantity Of soft punk and this charge he
continued to repeat till the barrel was filed within foot Of
the muzzle He forth to deliver the gun into the
hands Of its owner and while giving him particular
directions how he hold the gum and prohibiting
him from looking behind while he hasten home with
all possible Dispatch the wizard silly dropped coal of FIRE
into the rife and the disappeared Hardly had he gone
hundred yards before bang went the old gun, and the
hunter was alarmed few moments more, and = second
charge followed and he astounded another brief period
elapsed and still another report foowed another, and
still snothe when the poor hunter became almost fran
tic with fear and throwing the gun away he for his
home with all speed while nearly every dozen PAGES that he
accomplished was measured by the explosions Of the SPELL
bound gun. OF course the escape which he had
made spread far and wde and the power well
ickedness Of the wizard universally acknowledged.
OF another eccentric character, wealthy but improvident
farmer, long since deceased, have heard the following
particulars He famous for always being in hurry, and
occasion he from home early in the morning.
informing his family that he in hurry and would be
back in couple Of days He departed, and gone to
gears On his return, he stopped within mile Of lis
habaou, where he met old acquaintance who invited
him to supper. "oh am in hurry, he replied, and
cannot Blu. be did dsmount and spent ttOo Oceks with
his friend. He to Washington with drove of
CATTLE and just he about ready return he thought
be would call and pay his respects the hen) President
Mr. ADAMS He did So riding directly up the front door
oil the White House He happened to the President