The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1853-08-06

Neill's) Church, tomorrow morning and eve
ming.
Correspondence of the Minnesotian.
Fourth Of July in the g Old Dominion '-Deca-
tur's HOuse-Foreign Men-Of-War-Thc Penn
sylvania-Naval CuriOsities.
NORFOLK, July 18th, 1853.
The Fourth of July was periodically kept, as
it generally is, throughout Virginia, and par
tieularly in this place, where SO many relics of
the Revolution dwell within its precincts.
There were parades of the military and fire
men speeches. dinners and a grand exhibition
of fireworks at Old Point, or Point Comfort;
where no less than five thousand visitors as
semblcd
The mansion in which Decatur lived is still
standing-Of course mOrderniZed and improved.
1t stands upon the waters edge, commanding
full view of the surrounding scenery-sea, sky,
and wooded isles,-a combination of the beau
tiful. The gentleman who is now its fortunate
pOsscssOr, has adorned it to the greatest extent
of its susceptibility. The arch of the gate is
formed entirely of the jaw-boncs of an immense
whale, and ornamcnted by the sword of a VERT
able sword-fish he has also two peculiar yet
picturesque seats beneath blooming Grape myr-
tie trees, formed of two bones of the vertebra
of the whale.
Off this lovely place, for two weeks, has been
anchored two Prussiau vessels of war. on their
way home from BuenOs Ayres, put in here for
fresh supplies and water. The water, accord
ing to usage, was sent from the Navy Yard in
tanks, by Commander Breese. The officers of
the Prussian frigatc and sloop are ferOciOus-
looking men, with German faces, mustached
and epauletted to the highest degree Todds
Point was IA great place of resort from six, PM
to eleven. At sunset the drum on the larger
vessel beat reveiIle the band played ma
tional air, a Prussian God Save the King
and down came the flag, amidst a burst of mel
ody. The moonlight played upon the ripping
waters; little crafts, like white winged birds,
glided nOiselessly by, and when on the fitful
breeze the music came now with bnrst of ioy
now faint, low and sweet as an Eolian harp.
one almost imagined themselves in -facry
land" and enjoyed scene of tranquility and
peace only to be found on our Atlantic shores.
One token of our superiority in naval skill
noticed on the arrival of the foreign vessels.
In firing the national salutes the Pennsylvania
fired thrice to one return of the foreign and the
latter fired from both Sides whereas it is forbid
den on the former, it doing too much damage to
the Navy Yard windows. Our national pride,
according to John G. SAKE, q is subject to irri-
tation," but sometimes it is not only natural,
but just.
We paid visit to the Pennsy Fvania, week
Or two since. She is q mammoth ship, well
built, in a good state of preservation, but used
as receiving vessel We were shown there
water nine years old, like brandy in color. but
clear and sweet to the taste. Some they had
kept nineteen years. still good. The water
tanks (whOse dark rcstng-place we expIorcd)
were serenty.feet below water.
In the curiosity shop" we saw waters from
the Jordan, clear and pure as "the lilies on
Siloah's banks" This has been used to bap-
tie the infants of some of the officers 1t was
brou Dff hnmp hC / iput Mt T ~, =
Navy Yard We saw the portable boats, 1.-THE two
Fanny's) used by him in his explorations Of the
Dead Sea, so well known to readers.
This Navy Yard is said to be the finest in the
States, and the dry dock is in itself curiosity.
Here while the vessel is repairing you descend
the steps, and walk under seventy feet below.
Here We saw the trip-hammers, with ponder
GUS weight, crushing an incredible bulk to
atonic, and the shears of AtropOs, cutting
same ease that one would cut paper. This is
all done by steam power, and seventeen en-
gines are supplied by one fire.
We also in the cabinet of woods saw the
subtle sea-wOrm that destroys to so great an
extent the bottoms Of vessels. Some of them
are eight inches long, and on examining their
heads through magnifying glass, their mouths
are found to be miniature augurs with which
they perfOratc the wood scientifically. They
dpPCdI " eHGcT Tue WOOu through minute pores,
but when taken thence, measure two inches in
circumference. They are supposed to he form
ed from the action of salt water upon wood
Here we were shown an old piece of the fri
gate Macedonian, and specimens of different
woods, labelled and placed in different acids,
to test their durability. We were also shown
the wings of a fying-fsh, transparent as gauzc,
and webbed with the traceries of a leaf The
gentleman who holds this important station is
in every way equal to it. We saw several
fungi there, and he thinks the fungus is min
iaturc tree in form, of the real tree to which it
belongs.
The weather has been excessively warm here
as elsewhere, but not one day has been entirely
calm The delcously cool sea-brccze is &c
phyr during the day, and a gentle BOreas when
the sun goes down. Let the foreign-loving talk
Of Italian sunsets. l do not believe the Mcdit-
erranean can boast of such clouds of snow,
goldcn-edgcd a blue sky, yelled with silver and
crimson tints, rose-colOred above, deepening
into orange, as they reach the glorious orb,
sinking like Phoenix on its funeral pyre.
JEANNE DEANS.
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