The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1854-06-27
r / c Il NJ 0 ND, VA:
Correspondence of the Dispatch.
Charlottesville, june

NilidSt itbhS IuAullaill anu lovely. 1nGTP Is
an appearance of solid and substantial pro-
ductiveness in the land that gives the pas
senger the impression that the nhabitants
are all well to-do in the world, as | doubt
not the great body of them are The soil
Is however, stiff. and its abundant yielding
of the necessaries of life, is only the result of
determined and vigorous culture The tiller
must give for his fine crops, a due proportion
of those precious drops which ooze from the
brow, which are at once the bright Jewels
with which, by divine law, he purchases
health and plenty
The railroad passes through portion of
the district assailed by the joint worm, and
saw several fields which bore sad marks of
their ravageS. The heads hung drooping.
the stalks staggered like drunken men, while
much of the golden ears trailed the ground
in a confused cross-and pile tumble, and not
in a single direction as if prostrated bv the
wind Out of this district, though, the crop
is fine. The wheat crop of the Valley, as /
learn from Mr.. Lucas, of jefferson county,
one Of the visitors to the University is one
of the finest ever reaped there He is, him.
self, one of the most devoted and successful
Agriculturists of the Valley He tells me
that such a crop as his of the present year,
he never yet reaped. BY the way, Mr. L.
has embarked largely in the cultivation of
fruit trees, and has been successful in es-
tablishing the fact that with proper exertions
and precautions, we may have as regular
crops of fruit in Virginia, as they have at the
North while our fruit is vastly superior to
that produced there. He is satisfied more
over, that these excrtions and precautions
j. IL
than the Northern fruit raisers have to en-
counter. He contends that III the matter
OF fruit raising Nirginians have never been
in the habit of resorting to precGutiou: and
that as they puH until the trees are diseased
or assailed by the worm, they very naturally
lind it exceedingly difficult to preserve them.
With fruit trees, as with every thing else,
IAN ounce of prevention is worth a pound of
cure 1t is indeed a shame and scandal to
Virginia that, with the very best soil and
climate for fruit, she is one of the poorest
fruit raising States in the Union. | hope to
see Il great change in this matter in few
years. The fruit crop has become too valua-
bic for our farmers, to leave that resource of
profit in their vocation so utterly neglected as
they have done.
Preparations are making here for the an
nual Commencement at the University The
visitors are arriving. Mr. WISE, and Mr.
PRYOR, OF the Enquirer, arrived today.-
Mr.. w. looks well, and there is as much pith
piOnt and humor in his conversation as ever.
lie is one of the most piquant and racy talk
erSl ever listened tO-and in the private cir
Gle is not eXceled, if equalled, by any man of
the times, The address of JoHN MITCHELL
is anticipated with pleasure by both stu
dents and citizens here, and it will be an ad-
dltlonal attraction of the occasion that will
increase the number of auditors present
With my friend Mr.. ALEXANDER. of the
Jetlersonian, and two very talented and
gentlemanly students went up to Monticel-
10, tor the first time. We could not go into
the mansion, the overSeer who kept the KEYS
being absent. | was therefore deprived of
the pleasure of looking into the room where
the great Apostle of Liberty drew his last
breath. walked about the grounds. how
ever, and surveyed tie unique contrivances
and arrangements which make the habitation
as well in style, as in location, one of the
most remarkab BILE. All wonder that Mr.. JEFF
ferson ever should have conceived the idea
of building house at such an elevation, so
announcement for such variety of reasons.
yet when we are up here, and look out upon
the vast and eXquisitely beautiful panorama
which IS spread out to view, we are fairly
enchanted with the spot. 1t is indeed deli
caouS-the air, the scenery and the pleasant
shade of the dear old trees, planted by the
hand of the immortal Statesman. Some of
these venerable mementOs that have so long
survived HIM, are decaying very rapidly-
Some OF the old poplarS have recently sue
cumbed to the strong blasts which sween DER
the mountain, and we saw the laborers lop-
ping Oft the branches and cutting up the
body of one of the old giants which had lust
fallen, strewing his leafy honors about the
ground.
We paused a while at the enclosure where
repOSes the venerable dust of the great
Statesman. shall not attempt description
of what has been so often described-n0r of
the feelings which filled my bosom on the
occasion, and which are so natural to every
American, every true friend of rational Ii
berty. Thei enclosure is substantial and
high brick wall, with iron gates. The
granite obelisk, which indicates the tomb of
d jefferson, bears the marks of the vandalism
OF the lnconsiderate visitors 1t is Clipped
at every point and greatly disfgured. This
process of chipping was carried to such an
extent as to loosen the marble tablet on
which was the simple inscription, Author of
the Declaration of independence and founder
of the University of Virginia To preserve
this, too, from their sacreligious hands, it be-
came necessary to deposit it in the mansion,
and now the marred and battered granite
block stands there without it-and so will re-
main, until respect and gratitude for the IL
lustrious man, may prompt the State or some
person or persons to put there a mark more
IN keeping with what is due to his memory
May this pious, yet poor tribute to SO much
worth be not long delayed
Returning TO Charlottesville, it was my
pleasure TO meet my kind friend of the Jeffer
sonian at his own house, and to see him sur
rounded by his happy family, for whom and
through whom he seems to live lam much
indebted 10 him for his kindness, and shall
not soon forget the pleasure afforded in the
example of domestic happiness around his
family altar. 1t is well bestowed upon one
whose sincerity and whose unostentatious
virtues make him esteemed of all who know
him.
In this passing notice, | trust my friend
will not imagine he discovers any desire to
write his obituary. Certainly, | have no
such propensity. Nevertheless, though |
trust he may live a thousand years, / had ra-
ther pay that last tribute to him, than that he
should pay it to me &.
HORRIBLE MURDER.-On the night of the 18th
inst, a shocking murder was committed about
twelve miles above nansridge. Tenn, on French
!