Monongalia mirror. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1855, 1853-10-29
CORRESPONDENCE.
Nonrolk, VI, Oct. 10, 1853

ANU -
about the city, l sit dom to drop you
line by way of recreation, hoping 'Na'
I may furnish your readers with ian item
or two Of sufficient interest to justify
the tax it may be upon their time 10
read this communication.
I left Baltimore on Thursday last at
about s o'clock, P. NJ, and arrivedhere
on Friday. The waves in the bay roll
ed sufficiently high to impart to the
large steamer an undulatory motion
which produced nausea rather IN
pleasant to q lanI 1ubber, | assure you
A trip by daylight down tile broad and
beautiful Chesapeake is d rich trea'-
Between the agitated waters, over which
our barquo glided mnjestically, andue
surprising beauty of the scenery one
Their shore, there was striking con'ras
and one with which no one could fail TO
be pleased. 4
Tho first point OF note which we
touched was Fort Monroe, at Old Point
Comfort, which is what is ordinarily
called the mouth of the Bay, ut dis
lance of 165 miles from Baltimore
The fort at this point is said to be the
most extensive, and the best construct
ed in tho United States, and from its
massive walls, with bomb arch.way, and
ground recesses, should consider it i'm
3ene,rable. At a distance of about
1900 yards from Fort Monroe is Castle
Calhoun, or tho Fortress Of the Rip
Raps, upon an artificial island, made by
throwing over large rocks, at depth of
20 feet. Truly these two large Forts
have formidable appearance, and not
outstanding their warlike character
and design, yet even a Quaker, with al!
his anti-war sentiments, would have to
admire the grandeur and terrific mojcs-
ty of these soa.lasled bulwarks, am
sorry that tho boat merely touched at
this point, hence | had no opportunity
to examine the extensive defensive pre-
parations which have been made.
At the distance oftwo miles is the
town of Hampton, beautifully situated
in full view of tho bay, and where a
thousand ships might ride in safety.
About l6 miles further brought US to
Norfolk, which is situated on the North
side of Elizabeth river, near the South
Eastern extremity of tho state and al
most in hearing Of the decp.toned roar
of the Ocean.
Norfolk has about $500 Inhabitants,
and IL churches-4 Baptist, | Presb!y'
terian, Protestant Methodist, 9 Meth
olist Episcopal, and | Catholic. The
appearance Of tho town in general is
rather untidy and dilapidated,-whilc
there arc many buildings which display
considerable taste.
| next visited Portsmouth on tho OPP
positc side of the buy, or as it is termed
here Elizabeth river, fiom the fact OF
the river emptying ut this point, but ii
is in fact continuation of the broad
sheet of waters which is at this point
narrowed down to about one mile il
width. Portsmouth is we'll situated
and if she possessed onterprising CAPT
talists no doubt this place would be
come one of the largest and most -four
ishing cities in tho Union. Tho mum
Der Of inhabitants is about 5000.
1t is at this place that the Navy Yarc
is located, which is said to DO the mos
extensive in the United States, There
is every convenience here for the build
ing of ships Of the largest size The
Dry Dock is built Of dressed stone, ant
Of sufficient capacity to receive an!
sized vessel. 1t is SO constructed as &c
open two sets of doors for tho admis
sion of the ship, which are closed alle'
tho entrance is made. There are large
suctions, or pumping apparatus, b.
which all the water is drawn oft from
the dock, which leaves the ship resting
upon its solid rock stocks, where thu
workmen can easily get at every part
that may need repairing. 1t was con
s,ructed by immense labor, and is o
great practical utility. There are seve
raj Ships of the Line hero now waiting
repairs, and at few hundred yard
from the wharf the Pennsylvania is ar
chored, the largest ship Of our Nay
| wen, on board and examined hersll
through. She is truly floating cstle'
She has four decks for cannon, teside