Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-09-09

following graphic and exceedingly interesting record of
brief tour which he recently made through portion
Virginia We present the sketch whole rather thar
divide it, and we are quite that readers after
perusipg it. will not wish it had been shorter.
DIP INTO THE OLD DOMINION.
Dozen the Potomac-Arington House, lezandria- Var
egersons House
Burial Place Virginia Uaiversity-C Crossing the Blue
Ridge-Staunton- Wcyer's CaUe-Ths Shenandoah Val
Icy Wachester-A Virginia Plantation htsuatde
Hoiyday among the Slapss-A Rural Sabbath Service
HGgpr's Ferry
The trip from Washington to Alexandra in steamers
plying between the two points every half hour distance
of FIVE six miles, is of the peasantest little
excursions any where to be found in the country The
sides of the broad Potomac present lovely spectacle OF
town and country art and nature-the CAPITOL FORT and
navy yard and verdaut shores hand on the other
the rising grounds of Virginia. the crest of which is
Arlington the Of the adopted and favorte heir
of Washington, GEORGE w. p. CusTIs The hospitable
proprietor receives his vsters with the courtesy Of the
oden time and in his ancient but stately mansion shows
them innumerabe precious relics of the Father Of his
Country The ornamented with historical por-
traits and pictures drawn by his own handfor Mr. Gus
tbs is himself artsof revolutionary Of heroic
memory. These paintings are particularly valuable,
they exhibit in exact truth the costume, military and
civil of that period and the personal aspect of the cha
racters all of whom were well known to the painter
From the plared portico the Capitol and the cities Of
Washington and Georgetown in full view the op
poste side of the river. Standing at his front door, Mr.
Gusts has overlooked each Administration Of the country
from the foundation of the Union He is venerable
gentleman in his department. and his conversation is
plete with interest and instruction With his rued wrist
bands and rich oldfashoned vest and polished address,
he carries back to the very life Of the times which he
eloquently describes '.".....r
Alexandria is large town. and, since the railroad has
opened the country behind is getting to have lively and
somewhat thriving aspect. The railroad track leads
through the counties of Fairfax and Prince William into
lance of nine miles. Warrenton is pleasant village,
having air Of comfort and quiet and like all the
in this part of Virginia. fragrant with and other
flowers, which are cultivated in great abundance and
reach perfection of tint and richness not known in
northern ATTITUDES In the neighborhood springs Of
much resort, where preparations made on large
scale for the entertainment Of visitors From the juno
ton of the Warrenton branch the traveller proceeds west
ward through the counties of Culpeper and Orange to
Gordonsyile the corner Of Louisa county, where
the trains from Richmond crossing the track convey him
the Virginia Central Railroad to Charlottesville, the
centre and capital of Albemare county. \.
Charlottesville is quite large village, and contains
within its limits all sides, great number of beauti-
full dwellings, surrounded with every thing that magnih
cent scenery, fertile fields, ornamental and fruit trees,
trailing vines, and sweetscented flowers contribute
to the beauty and desirabeness Of residence The
cety Of the place is excellent and upon the whole it may
be safely said that few finer specimens be found in
any part Of the country of n rural town.
picturesque ride of three miles in easterly drec
ton leads to Monticello the seat and the burial place of
Thomas Jefferson. The mansion house still preserves its
exterior form and aspect and its interior compartments
although il is evidently not taken care of as it ought to
be- the present proprietor being necessarily absent
large part of his time 1t has eastery and western
front, with fine portico both fronts Subterranean
passages the dapdated roofs just rising to the level of
the ground, extend some hundred feet or to the
north and also to the SOUTH from the ends of the main
building to long series of for servants and other
purposes under roof which also just rises to the
level of the ground On the south and north outer
sides of these and offices the descent of the hill
gives elevation of story which is faced by series
Of pillars supporting arcade projecting roof along
their whole length At the western end of these two
ranges of apartments, thus separated from the main
house and connected with by the subterranean way
there small brick which rise the height Of
stories, in which Jefferson had his workshops, stu
dies and private offices for his observations and various
philosophical recreatons. The whole structure with its
fxngs and appendages, is illustrative Of the genius,
taste originality and fancul pecuiarities of its Illus
trous occupant Its location is perhaps of the most
commanding and romantic selected for the abode Of
q philosopher 1t is the very summit of lofty noun
tain rising from the fields below with smooth and gra
dual swell and sufficiently cleared Of trees to give view
in all directions of the outstretched world below To the
south and east and southwest far the eye go,
there Dense dark forest broken only at unfrequent
and distant intervals by settements-a perfect
of wilderness To the east and around the north and
west you behold the cultivated plantations of Orange and
Abemarle counties, and nothing be lovely and
attractive The soil is rch the surface rolling and
riegated and while there is sufficient ntermxture of
forest foliage the general aspect conveys idea OF
larged and complete cultivation. The vast plantations
divided into fields, whose parallel burrows of rising
and surfaces of bending grain stretch away
for miles, without break limitation The orange
reddish color of the soil presents striking contrast be-
tween fields where the growth has scarcely yet reached
the surface and dacent tracts covered with thick grass
grain Of the deepest green the richest brown the
ruddest clover. Oxen not used in this country, and
the drag work is done by horses altogether which
seen all Sides attached to the plough grazing in the
clover fields The large size Of the plantations, making
the houses few and far apart gives air of stiffness and
solitarness the in contrast with the yeness Of
similar landscapes in country eeming with viii
lagos, farm houses, and visible activity all sides The
range of scenery taken in by the it wanders
the complete circle Of vision Monticello is sextensive
and magnificent as can we'll be imagined.
JefeIson's buria-place containing his remains and
those Of the wife of his youth early lost and his accomplish
ed daughters with their children and various members
of his family conuexien, and personal favorte
friends is enclosed by high square brick wall of the
length each side of perhaps sixty seventy feet His
monument is granite column with place left to
ceiye descriptive tablet which has yet been pro-
yided.
About one mile west Of the Charlottesville depot is the
famous Virginia University, founded by Thomas Jefer
son and endowed by the Legislature of the State. 1t
varies In many respects from other colleges in this
try Its period is not fixed at four years, but students
can make as many few terms they choose, and
the voluntary system to prevails Students
select the departments they pursue These depart
nents are called "schools each under the charge OF
Professor Each student is required attend at least
three Professors that is, to belong at least three
schools One or the Professors is selected from time to
time by the trustees as head of the
institution His title is not President but Char.
man" There is but one term in the year which con-
tinues without interruption from October st June Goth
The present number Of pupils is four hundred aud sixty
six from the District of Columbia and seventeen of the
TT faIla 70 u.