Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1854-01-02
LOCAL AFFAIRS.
Exeursioa Kind Invitation OF the President and Dree
tors OF the Richmond and Petersburg Railroad, TO
Members or the Legislature.

mempefS OF tue tcgistaturc.
The President and Directors Of this road having kindly
invited tho members OF Legislature upon
sion to Norfolk, many Of them especially the Western
members, who too from their homes to 60
there during the holidays svaied themselves Of this WI
oc TO visit the Eastern section Of the State which
unknown to many Of them. The invitation was extended
through Mr. Ii. X. Elyson, of worthy representa-.
tycs, and such OF the members did purpose spend
ing the Christmas time with their families were induced
to accept it. from the little prospect If quorum being
present during this week. the proceedings of Saturday
so evidently oreshadowed Mr. Eyson in pursuance Of
that production, which upon other occasions he has
evinced for sought companonshp in this agrees
BILE excursion.
Once before, avaed ourselves Of similar invitation
from that gentleman, and the qualification aud pleasure
which We experienced had given such foretase for
any movement of this character, with which he would be
identified that did hesitate accept the invita-.
ton, even though it should be at inconv enencc
Monday morning last, at half past o'clock, fixed
"a the time for all who JUN in the excursion
be present at the Petersburg Railroad Depot Our
iety and impatience To be prescnth due time. made
altogether intoerant of strict limitation time so
and young friend who accompanied u.s. repairci the
depot cold the morning quarter before o'clock
if we had yielded To our mpatencc would have been
there at midnight. But il appears not the only
victims Of that ccning anxiety for scarcely had we
arrived there when several Of the members came up in
hot haste apparently under apprehension that the
were gone.
General Daniel Smith, the veteran member from Ks-
nswha was among those whom first recognized. We
offered the usual slutalions the General who promptly
| returned them. Rcporter-Cold morning General.
] GcneIal-Ics Sir,
Reportcr-why you very lightly dressed General
| Have YOU coat?
Grneril-No SIR Incver cmb,rrass myself with one.
Eepotcr-iou don't like to carry much baggage it ap.
pcars--I see YOU have none
GeucTal-l always carry my baggage before me- like
retreatng army. weighs about 400 hs)
| That satisfied us, and W. made no more remarks.
When the hour inr starting arrived, the entire force
| consisting o forty five fity members, among whom
Senator Stuart of Patrick, the nly member Of that
body who awaited himself of the invitation, Dr. Watts OF
Piusy lvania, Mr. lrnc Of the abingdon Democrat aud
ourselves, tooour seats in the cars aud short time
| were on our way 10 Port Wathall.
The day was unusually fine for such season, and
consequence all were in good cheer in anticipation of
agreeable time. Short the distance Was which the cars
had To travel many of the members seemed eager for
seat beside the General erjoy the full advantage of his
society during this short interval which the would
take in their passage from the depot Port Walthall
only nineteen miles.
We happened occupy position near him mot in the
same seat however, for Il" needed bench himself
and exceedingly interesting the humorous anec-
doles which he related that the hour aud half which
the cars took in their passage seemed to but many
minutes.
= Arrived at Port Waha shortly after O'clock we en-
tered the Steamboat Augusta, and before half an hour
| were on our way steamng down the beautiful Appomat
tok--a band as gay cheerful and happy ever
waited on its placid waters Our Western friends ancied
themselves i'll the very Eysium of temporary happiness
being their first trip in this direction every object had
peculiar charm for them. The day delightful and
though the landscape ut either side OF the river lacked
every feature which could render object of interest
TO many, the charming influence of the lay made I'm To
considerable extent for the dull monoonous appearance
of the this drcary season. But novelty Of what.
phase commands interest and hence the
sve pleasure experienced 10y many of the ihrong to whom
| the
At 10 o'clock breakfast served; Western friends
partonk freely Of oyster sewSOo freely indeed TO admit
Of continuation OF their pleasures up to this Getting
bcow City point into the rong the oysters became
oah7omc, and many who sought after them while ago
with almost Unsuitable eigCrness recoilei the very
| thought of them them
IL really amusing wiincss the writings and dis.
torons the evident mpltienre and discomfort which
suddenly supcrvcned after the put board
so sudden change from real enjoyment sadness and
dissatisfaction at all thatwas passing could seldom he wit.
messed. la the mean time GencTa! Smith continued
to relate some OF hsricy an.c.tcs lie Invariably took
his position in the centre of the floor II afford all an
opportunity OF assembling round and it mlcred not in
what at tie boat lac placed himself nucleus Of such
OF the members not sick, Immediately formed
about HIN. We could Judge whenever away from the
view o the members when the General in his happy
mood inces''nt r"ir' OF hnshtsr rns through every
part of the boat, that coui BE- At a loss to con
lecture shat was going Oh, however distant the
| he may be.
Anh when the General exhausted after long recital of
many humorous anecdotes sunk into my sleep,
Pondirg dnnes pcrvatCd ALL Sleep the order of the
interval which the General spent in composlre.
Such the main features of the scene during the
time which interviewed between breakfast and dinner
Inc rush to the dinner table nv q
a. at breakfast time. Several of the members who par
took lmnodcrltcy OF Oy for breakfast far
attempting TO feast he uxnrcs spread out ON the
dinner table recolei the very appearance of them
Some, however, who Fortunate having eat To-
oysters and being therefore less sick, rallied somew
for attack upon fIyOrite i.h. The inducc a',
was strong, and they would make the attempt
shot or two from champagne gun aroused ~ 80.
cilectually fro their suPor, end they marche t W,
apparently resolved to share in the contests -
But they could not go it. bit ortwo Oh: IF
ella ECrTtft than ani 8tsn
looks which evidently l'etrlEs envy Mt the iu1nron.
revealing q" Their friends Ii was certain
I"!'',s Champagne sparkling at all sides, while
~Sl not venture TO approach it, The Compmy fur
nished baskets of that article for the down trip, while
only disposed Of Before asccrtlned tc real
oil this temperate indulgence, 1--WE Ourselves
TOO busy during this part Of the performance to be very
obsetvaul) pronounced Philip =. Whites advocacy Of
Maine Liquor Law very feasible To prospect Of Ul
innate success Foiyive fifty members OF the I.ngis.
atc satisfied time with basket o. chanpainnc
We cOull have arrived at other conclusion under -nc
circumstances. We expressed surprise in this
nrcii"n to friend board aud hsrepy was wait until
tue sickness il and then you better nI.c of
the prospects Of Maine Liquor Law being passed III Viz
GINA We were premature II appeared, in our conclu.
son and the remarks Of friend removed cur apprc.
tensions upon this matter for the time being.
All retired from tbs dinner table, evidently well salts.
fed, at least, the portion Of tcm who dealt lightly will,
the oysters tat morning and not sick sulicicncy
Oi all the good things served out, remained to satisfy
twice he number The remainder of the day from
o'clock dinner hour.to the time Of arrival at Not.
folk, O'clock - the evening, passed oil without any
features Other uan those described already. The General
continued TO entertain his with rlcy anecdotes
until the boat reached her destinations.
Upon reaching tie wharf, they found DR.. Mallory DR..
Robinson aud one two others awaiting their arrival
The evening being cold, they ought the earliest opportu.
nifty {" getting To the Hotel and accordingly get out in
solid plhlnnN, Gcncra Smith in the van aud in few
minutes found Themselves safely enlconeed within tie
National Hotel
Having enrolled their in the register they took
their positions 10y two large fires in the reception room
The question whether or not they would renrr, ON We'd
ncs1iy then broichyI aud discussed for short time
The discussions howoyer had not reference their return
on Wednesday, but the arrangements which should 10.
ycn them IA their movements while there NJ ELY s1n sug
ge-tel HAT they would not until Thursday n. Il
would lie impossible to all that was worthy Of notice
III day tc time allotted in tie beginning Tor tcir
stay ia Norfolk general desire beiug expressed To
visit Old Point aud Hampton, for which purpose an entire
day would be necessary, while similar time would be con.
smcd in visit To the Navy Yard the line Of battla ship
"Pcnsylyania and other objects worthy of notice in the
Vicinity OF Norfolk, they decided to take u vote upon tue
whether they would fptufu mn. Vyc,Inc.1,v ar