The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1854-11-22
THE DAILY DISPATCH
-. - .snaY MoRNINa. ;NiovEMsEs ., Is54

l T. sIAIL IIOI a 80. 80
1vrnNEsD1Y MORNING. NovEMBEs "a, 1854
V,no,sta DEcESERAcr.---We know moth
;ny more disgusting than the parrot jike talk
Of some Northern presses about ...virginia
degeueracy.'' The phrase has been SO often
used. that it has become receiveI article
of faith among people who are iH olligent
enough ON every other subject, but who on
this point are as ignorant of the rea. state of
things in Virginia as the Chinese. If they
mean by 'degeneracy' steady improvement
in agriculture, manufactures and all that con-
,titutes the wealth Of State, then we plead
guilty to the charge. Our late State Agri-
cultural Fair, which drew together the lar
gest, best clothed. best looking, and best be-
bayed multitude that was ever assembled on
similar occasion On the American continent,
is proof. we suppose, of our 'degeneracy' !!
Or is it that we have not as large popula-
ton as we formerly had' This cannot be
pretended, for, notwithstanding the vast emf
grafton to other States. the population has
increased here as fast as the native popuIa-
ton in some of the most prosperous of the
Northern States. tits true that foreign emf
grafton is not attracted here, but judging
from the demonstrations al the North, they
regard the foreign immigration there as an
evil of the first magnitude, and are trying to
get rid OF it by every means in their power.
We are quite satisfied with our population
Our laborers are orderly and contenfess and
whist we are ready to welcome exiies OF good
character and industrious habits from evesy
land, we would rather have the slow "n@
healthful growth of our native population
rnaii to invite an influx of emigration from
all quarters of the globe, and then seek TO
drive it back by riding priests on raiir tear
ing down converts and burning churches.
What then do these ridiculous cockneys
mean by Virginia degeneracy The stare
Is improving in every thing that pertains ~
material wealth, and in the character OF III
people occupies position which it would De
well if its assailasts had the soul to compre-
bend and initiate.
pp,r,sH ARIsTocRAcY.-TheL London cor
RESPONDENT of the New York Sunday Times,
in a sketch which he furnishes that Journal OF
the family of the late Sir Robert fesi' says
that the father of the baronet, "who an>assed
r colossal fortune by cotton spinning vas
very ambitious of founding family, as'ie
is called, and the first step would be OF course
to get a baronetcy. Now, though Pitt made
quite an army of peers and baronets OUT OF
bankers, merchants, ship-owners, and coun-
try gentlemen, he had dislike to fastening
hereditary rank on meremanuiacturers. Old
Peel was in Parliament, and, as rank tory,
voted for the greater portion OF Pitt mea-
sures. In return he demanded barOnetcy.
Pitts response was, ale may have knight
hood. which is all that we gave Arkwright,
the millionaire cotton spinner in Derhyshlre.
This was true, with the addition that Ark
wright, who appeared at court with "a loyal
and dutiful address was dubbed knight by
George III, of his own accord, without any
suggestions from his minister, Pitt
All this time, continues the correspondent
"while the question of the baronetcy was
pending, Peel lwho then spelt his name Peels)
did two things-he continued to vote with
Pitt, and he kept in trade. The firm was
Peel & Yates as every Manchester man re-
collects The war with France came on, and
when invasion was threatened a loyalty loan
was got up, to which the bulk of British cap
italists contributed largely. Peel gave i20,-
600, which was very large sum. But be-
sides this, Peel also madea present to George
III of a splendid 74-gunship, which he had
purchased from the builder, and had fully
fitted up with stores, provisions and all Other
requirements of firss rate man of. war
This liberal example was thought so well Of
by the King that he himself suggested that
the wealthy manufacturer should be raised to
the rank of baronet, which was done, on Peel S
showing (which he really did, having by that
time purchased the great landed estate of
Tamw ORTIZ that he could settle and entail to
the annual value of $4,000 year to main
tain the dignity of the rank ,"
To all unsophisticated American it is diff
cult to say which is most ridiculous, Pitts
"dislike Christening hereditary rank on mere
manufacturers or the Unsuitable appetite of
the manufacturer for baronetcy If a mer-
chant or a banker could be made baronet,
why not manufacturer But it is still more
inexplicable that man who had shrewdness
enough to accumulate an immense fortune
should be fool enough to contribute f2O, 900
and line of battle ship, to obtain a title
which could add nothing to his real merit, or
even to the consideration of the aristocracy
themselves.
BARNUM's BooK.-The New York Express
says that Barnum's Autobiography is likely
to have wider sale than any work ever pub
lished in this country. Up to the 4th inst
orders had been received by Redfield, pub
Usher, from booksellers and travelling agents,
for minety-odd thousand copies. The Express
says, that should the orders continue for the
next two months, in the same ratio, as the
publisher confidently anticipates, the copy
right of his Autobiography, for the United
States alone, will net Barnum over 5000, 900.