Monongalia mirror. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1855, 1853-11-05
CORRESPONDENCE.
Washington. D. C, Oct, 10. 1858


addressed to you from Norfolk, and
then promised to give you an occasion
al limo during my pcregrinaIions, as OF.
rOrtun,y would afford. embrace tho
few moments of leisure which have AT
present to give you sketch of matters
and things from this city
I left Norfolk in fine steamer, the
Curtis Peck, for Richmond, at which
latter point arrived in about l2 hours
after our departure. Tho only point on
James River of peculiar interest to me,
notwithstanding the rich and beautiful
scenery on either shore, was the site
where jamestown onco stood, which
was the first permanent settlement CT
fec,el in Virginia, A. d. zoos. All that
has survived the ruvages of time, and
now visible, of this ancient town, onco
the only public mart aud commercial
emporium Of the Old Dominion, is a
fragment of the wall Of the old Church,
probably about thirty feet high, and
few lilapidated graves and Wondering
,omb.stones, which mark tho resting
places of many of the early adventures.
A solemn gloom pervades the place.
which is well calculated to inspire scri-
Gus meditation in tho mind Of every be-
holder. 1t is situated on the right bank
of the river (usccnding) abou. so miles
from its mouth.
found, on my arrival at Richmond,
that business was quite brisk, and tho
city had an unusual appearance of ac'
tiyity and prosperity.
Dr.. Howell made speech recently
at an Association, in favor Of the Rich
mond Female Seminary, which resulted
in raising seventeen hundred dollars for
that object; and hope the effort which
is now being made to erect first class
institution of learning in Richmond for
Young Ladies' will succeed. Aside from
the individual advantages, which must
necessarily arise from the facilities at.
forded by such an institution, it will be
of incalculable advantage to our denom-
ina,ion at large. Icould wish that sim
liar institutions were established in 9th.
er sections of our State.
Prompted by curiosity l visited the
Richmond Penitentiary, in order to see
how the three scoundrels recently sent
there from Taylor county, were employ
ed, &c. Boyd and Hall were yet in
close confinement in the cells, hence l
was not permitted to see them sling the
sledge; but I was informed that they
have selected axe making as the bust
ness which they propose pursuing here
after-at leas, for three years TO come.
Fisk | found on the tailor-board, at.
tempting to sew, but it was rather
clumsy attempt. He looked so truly
detected and penitont, that | mus! con-
TESS, Notwithstanding his villainous con-
duct, felt sorry for him.
, Petersburg is on the Appomattox ri
yer, about 90 miles from Richmond
Its number of inhabitants is about Isl
900. 1t has 10 churches.
On leaving the Richmond and Fred
ericksburg cars at Aqua creek, so or
60 miles down the Potomac from Wash
ington, we took steamer FOR the Capi.
tol. On passing up, on tho right bank
of tho river, about IS miles from Wash.
ington, we came in view Of mount.
Vernon" the former residence. and now
the silen, resting place Of the illustrious
and vcnerated Washington. The fam.
lily residing in the old mansion have
been SO much annoyed by visitors that
the boat is not allowed to s;op,-hencc
the great pleasure that ! had promised
myself of visiting the spot hallowel by
SO many pleasing "reminiscences of tho
past, and so dear to the hear. Of every
American, was denied me. All that
can be seen from the boat, owing to the
height Of tho banks, and the thick clus'
ter of trees which grow on tho brow Vi
the river, is tho top Of the mansion and
the upper end Of the columns which
support the oveljutting roof
, 1t is said that the British fleet, on
leaving Washington, after burning tho
Capitol, was commanded by the Admi-
raj, on passing the tomb of Washington,
to stand with heads uncovered, and in
silence, each man observed tho com