Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1854-05-30
CITY AsD STATE NEWS.

JOHN MlTCIIELL.-ThiL gentleman. tho -lrlEh
Patriot, left this city en- Wednesday morning ter
Churlnitcs, lille, aud returned yesterday, 10 ncst.lua
friends to-day at the festive luurd, in obedience to III
invitation extended to him by citizens of Richmond
about two weeks since. The following liz his letter of
acceptance:
New YORK. May 10, ISL.
Gentlcmcn:-l have received Your letter Of the 9TH
inst, 81 courtcolsly conveying tn me the high lonors
Of an invitation Ia visit the city Of Rlclnn"nd ana
enclosing. the fartoo fattcrinS resolution adopted ut II
public meeting held for that purpose.
1t is n distinction which l vnluc very highly; ma It's
value il much enhanced by the frank and cordial ap-
proval expressed in the resolution and its preamble
of the course which have purscd III relation To pub
lie nffuirs in this country. No one can feel more SEN
slbly than ! do, how presumptuous II would be, III II
stranger and n refugee, who has found shelter under
the noble institutions md laws of this country, to va
luntccr either Il defence of, or an uttnck upon, any
portion of those laws and institutions. | never dd
81. Being challenged, III Il public letter, Ia speak my
mind On certain important social questions, ] dld 81
frailkly; but without spccinl reference Ia any llistItu-
ton ms peculiarly IN American one. In fact, the III
Stliutinn OF slavery, and the moral ana social qurs-
tons involved in il, nrc not specially .tmcricau, but
world wide, und M old us history. Regarded in this
point of view, every one who has observed mankind,
nnl studied the records of society, Is entitled Ia speak
upon it without mourning the charge OF presumption.
American citizens ot the Southern States, who hive
most knowledge of, and interest in, the question, have
fully recognized this right; and their approval weighs
tur more on The one side than Oh the uther-thc vrhc-
ment cclislircs of Il school of politicians. wlI", rnInr
pretcxt of universal philanthropy, seek +" discredit,
or even to break To pieces, thu, grand Republican
Union which, is not only the sole shelter of liberty now,
but its best hope and guarantee for the future.
| have long wished and designed Ia visit Nirginln;
and shall gladly avail myself "l this opportunity ~
visit the homes Of thn.c Immortal Nirginians nj the
Revolution, whose nnmcs have been sucred t" III"
from bnyhood.
On Friday, the 2Gtll irrt., therefore. | shall be i'll
Richmond, where | hope 10 spend tw" days before
proceeding IN other parts Of the State.
Will you have the goodness ~ communicate my
reply, and to nccrpt my warncst thanks for the kInd
invitation, and the manner in which ii has been ten
dcrei
| have the honor 10 remain, gentlemen, your nbt.
servant, JOHN MITCHELL.
To Jos. Mayo, Esq. and the members Of til" Com
mitrrc.
Mr.. Mitchell arrived Yesterday in the Central train,
and was formally lrrcivcd in from: oi the Exchange
Hotel. James Lyons, Esq Oh behalf Of III" Com
mi;tcc of Reception, delivered, in his usual happy
style, the welcome nddress, which, was replied +" III "
handsome muIIncr BY Mr.. Mitchell. The dinner ccr''-
monies will take place al the Exchange, tins evening.
MEDICAL COLLEGE OF VIRGINIA.-Thc vi.
.itors OF thir College met Thursday evening, for til"
purpose OF filling two vacancies existing in the Fa-
Guilty. DIR. Is. Il. Wexford, Of Fredericksburg, was
chosen To fill the clnir Of Mairria Medicn and Them.
peulirs. The visitors then adjourned until Friday,
when the chair Of Physiology and Medical JuriSprl!-
dcnce wns. filled by the appointment OF DR.. Brown 81
guard ut Paris.
The ECLIPSE came on Yesterday according Ia ap-
pointmcnt. The sky was clcnr, and the gazrrs nu-
mcrous. All, We briierr, were highly Sratiiicd with
the exhibition. We heard II" complaints Of II future.
III. ,,,,r,,,u, ,pnCi fully rUrri,.l nIt fran hrtrIuul;O
to End.
TIE UNIYERSITY.-Wc have been favored
with n copy of the catalogue of the University Of
Virginia, for the present session. We gather from ii
that tlis noble Institution is in a condition which must
BE- highly gratifying TO the friends ot thorough and
liberal education. 1t il fast becoming, il it has not
already become, the first institution in the country, in
all those particulars wlirh mark q great University.
The bert evidence of the mrriis nf n college is u-uAlly
the number of lis students. Though only some thirty
wears old, ilrs., we bclrvc) and consequently in ia
ininnry, liz roll Of student" for THU session numbers
four b1md,yd and ~SiJty-SGr! n larger number than
the books of any college in the Union run show,
with the exception Of Yale and Harvard; each nj
which dates fnr back into colonial days. Of this
number Virginia sends 2S', and next on il" list, n
she hn- been Tor several years, comes The mime Of our
gallant sister :. Carolina. This year, however y lubnIma
,reud- clu.. on the Palmetto State, sending 20, while
the latter sends 81.
Seventeen States arc represented in the list, but
there arr but two names from States North Ut Mary
land. Our Northern, friends never dream ri sending
their children oil To the South for education i'll thif,
M in all other rrSpHctr, manii'rstilg the ! ailk'c cXclli'
siycncsa. Nor do We blame Them.
SLASH COTTAGE EXCURSION.-Scc motto"
in advertising columns Of intended visit of knnkrl's
Troupe to Slash Cottage. on Monday, leaving Rich
mond at 10 O'Clock, \. NJ, b" Rail Road.
A~RREST.-A negro siarr, nmncl Anthony. the
property of Col. Suite nf Alexandria, and hired t"
Mr.. Mill4paush Of the Richmond and Danvillr mil
rnad depot, in thi- city, ran "nf about six weeks ago.
Information having been received by Col. 5. rhnt his
slave was in Boston, he proceeded there n few day-
| neo, in company with IL gentleman from this city, and
lind him urrisiCi cll committed. He was 10 lr Ia
ken, Yesterday, before the plopGr trbnnal III Boston,
for examination, OF which We have iii yet RECEIVED
the result.
MAMMOTH TURTLE.-A sea turtle weighing
over 800 pounds was taken by the crew "i the
schooncr Santcc, off Hog Island, OH her passage from
New York to Norfolk, while sleeping upon the surface
of tho winter. They approached him in n boat, seized
him by hs fns, turned him on hiH buck, AMI III this
helpless condition made him a cnptivr: lie WINS taken
to Norfolk, but will liz transported To New l"rk' Tor
sale.
NUN l.Alrl !. - taSF.--NIH IIlIs'hHy nv l".
WINS cmpannrllcd, and the trial Ii now proceeding
Mr. JOHN r. Ecklrs was the first witness examined,
Oh the side of the Commonwealth. The Petersburg
Express states that Mcssrs. Joyncs, Wallacc, Rlrc:,
Meade aud Lyon appeared for the prisoner, ana
McsFrs. Watson, Gholson md Jones for the Common
wealth. The prisoner looks exceedingly pair' ciIhcl-
u.nl and cari-w0rn. The strong and robust naii
has wasted away to Il mere skeletons; AMI IT ~ II mat
ter Of great doubt, whether he W"usd survive hihhE
months more clusc confinement.
MELANCHOLY DEATH.-Tlr Petersburg IA
press announces the melancholy and ui!lmrly death
Of Mr.. John W. Smith, Jr, recently I" r!tlZen OF
and well knn%n il Petersburg. On "wednesday
moruin. last he irll from the hurricane 'icch 10 the
.par deck OF the steamship jamestown, on her pms
snge from Richmond to Norfolk, and waa taken up Ia
sensible. upon arriving nj Norfolk, he wa' con
viewed tn the Union Hotel, but survived "hiy aD"ut
Two hours. lie continual i%lsrisiblc up 10 the time OF
,lcnrlI:. and though The best medical aid VA. pro-
cured, his injuries were beyond the reach OF human
skill.
His eIuain. were conveyed to Richmond, on IMGr+.
,la", on the steamer Augusta, where h. left but Il lew
honrs ureyiou. Il devoted wife and i've intcrcs'in.
children.
SpOrSYLvANIA COUNTY JAIL.-Tbc con-
tract for building the .inil Il: Spot-ylvnnin Court
house, has DifU nv itil !" '''"''' ~
l.. Ia construct il in n Substantial manner n''"f'li"
To specifications for S2,SUD.
BAPTIST ClEURCH.-Thc corner stone II! Ia"
Baptist Church in Fredericksburg, will be Ind with
appropriate ceremonies, on tuesday, the TIN "i June
Rev. DR.. Fuller will deliver the address on the occn-
sion.
FOUND GUILTf.-Cico. McCaulcy hna been cen.
virtcd of murder in the first degree ut Hnrrisonburg,
Va, for killing George Lilly.
ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATGOS.-A villainous
attempt was inndc in Williamsburg, II few nights
linrc, by some person or persons unknown, {" assas-
siuate n policeman by the name Of Lindsay. His
skull was hprribly crushed hy n blow from an iron