The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1854-04-26
THE DAILY DISPATCH.
vrpNEsDAY MORNING. APRIL g, 1854

The JAIL = LAN- : : : -. :
=vSrpNEsDAY MORNING. APRIL =, 1854
a NOTE OR TWO ON A TRIP TO THE
VALLEY.
u;sa difficult thing for msn tc-go 70 tho
Valley, and see the country and me poopss
here without being at once inspired WIN
f..l;nrs and thoughts that set him to taiking
or writing. The former Is the easiest way d
believing ones self; but the latter y the me-
a;um to which the journalist is SO limited by
habit and profession, that he makes poor
out of the other.
Lexington, in the staunch county of Rock
bridge, was the terminus OF our Journey. IL
is situated upon the North river, which, with
the Jackson's river, forms our james r1ver.
Mountains are in full view nearly all around
It. and the adjacent country is exceedingly
n;cturesaue and rich. The canal from Lex
ineton along the North river to our james
river canal, promises great facilities to that
region of country, and will add mucn 10 tue
trade and prosperity Of the town A sober
industrious and thrifty people are they OF
Rock bridge. During several days session
of the Circuit Court, we saw not single
drunken man-and such thing as a bottle
Of wine, or anything to drink except pure
water, never appeared upon the table OF the
hotel.
The literary institutions Of the place are in
a flourishing condition. Old Washington
College is as well sustained as ever, and has
been much improved in outward appearance
The Military Institute, one Of the giories OF
the State, is undergoing improvements and
additions which will add greatly to its capa-
city and its beauty. 1t stands upon bold
protecting hill, facing the Main street OF the
town and overlooking the North river. IL is
admirably managed by the superintendent
Col. r. H. Smith, who is one of the best tao
ticisns and disciplinarians of the DAY. ne
has for his aids gentlemen OF hne a''ain'
ments and decided ability. Judge BRockEN-
,porcus Lar School has become deservedly
popular, and the number OF his students Is
large.
These constitute the chief literary features
of the place, and they are something 10 De
proud of. Religion is much fostered there'
and there are a variety of churches distin'
guished for their zeal. As may be naturally
enough supposed, where there IS so mucn
tauoht in science, law and morals, in a small
community, the propensity to investigation
is not much ahead of the fondness for dispu'
tation; and there is not much in politics, law
or religion, which has not its pro and con
fully and valiently represented-sometlmes
in a way quite Hudibrastic.
We were present in the Circuit Court du-
ring the taking of the testimony in the case
of Christian, and heard Capt MooRE's open
ing speech for the prosecution. Judge Lu-
CAS- P. THOMPSON presided; and more dig
nified Judge we have not seen on the bench
since the day of old Chief Justice MARSHALL,
who, of course, all Yirginians must write
down as incompatible. We sat, by courtesy
of the highest authority, accorded, possibly,
on the ground that we are one OF five Judges,
sometimes, ourself, when at honey near the
Judge, and felt little awkward at our con-
spicuosity and proximity to the distinguished
jurist.
The trial was one of great interest in all its
features and concomitants. The judge was a
man fit to hold the scales of justice-the jury
was an intelligent and highly respectable
looking body of men-the counsel, on both
sides, was distinguished for its ability-and
the prisoner was minor, indeed looked to
be boy. Even the witnesses excited a live
ly interest. The judges dignifed but placid
countenance never relaxed into smile at the
most amusing incident, and there were some
quite irresistibly ludicrous to every person
present but him. The tall figure, the husky
voice and positive manner of the estimable
Attorney for the Commonwealth, were not
the least remarkable things of the occasion.
His hurried take the witness gentlemen"
was the signal for MosBY's searching cross
examination, interspersed with bland in
quiry here and there, in STuART's rich voice,
with an occasional question from DoRMAN or
DOYLE, indicating that they were looking out
for apoint in the case, that should not be for
gotten. NICHE, who was present for the
prosecution seldom interrupted the course OF
things but when he did, it was evident that
he had not omitted good opportunity
STUART read the letter, THAT letter which was
called something rich, J and he read it with
SO municipalities, that when he came to "rale-
uale" we verify believe he drew tears to o
good many eyes
But the witnesses-both of the Law School
and the Military Institute-they were gallant
young fellows. 1t could not have failed to
crafty any Virginian to have beheld them
The high sense of honor-the gallant spirit
although often under mistaken sense OF
propriety or duty-which were constantly
displayed, were worthy of admiration There
was the modest little boy who blushed like
the maiden-whose every word might be i'm
plicitly believed-who was as timid as hare,
yet had the soul of the lion for an exigency;
there was the older and the more composed
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