The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1855-11-01
LOCAL MATTERS.

Nafc agricultural Fair-At an eariy hour YES
sseruay morning. the weather being as charming a
neaI could wish, thousands of strangers and citi
,a .sns began to move towards the Western Square
~ anend the State Fair, SO that by IL O'Clock til,
Sah'plt'on grounds were literally covered with mo
ing masses of human beings, apparently born.
aiong in every direction by some mighty win
pausanS mere to look at new invention there te
Namine the contributions of the ladies' and farther
on % witness other sights until the whole present
III tae appearance OF a grand panorama propelled
Ds machinery. As the day had been appropriated
70 the examination of horses, by the appointed
shs' sha'' tne large lot in which these animals were
SHOWN, attracted our attention. but we soon found
lnat the entire circle literally walled in by men
women and children, and that it would be ilnpossi
PIE to witness anything within the ring We there
.ore started for the large pavilion devoted to public
aadresses, to hear the envening strains of Smiths
famous band but ON reaching its outskirts found
!hat It also was packed as close as clipped herrings
in a barrel
Indeed, start where we would. we found our
lives, lives nemmed in by Gordon of human beings, SC
cio'ely Jammed together, that it was impossible tc
move against their will Contenting ourselves
therefore, as best could in our living prison we
were carried hither and thither until nearly ls
oeiock, when the approach of the Cadets to the
Northern gate attracted the masses; and by taking
an opposite direction, we effected our release In
decd, we do not think that we have ever seen So
many people in the square at one time as on yes
to-day, and such 4 number of pleasant faces II
aI.eFents very creditable one, and should stmu.
late the people of Virginia renewed exertons so
that IN future they may look forward and not back
ward for the glorious results of their organization
Hooded Stock.-Since our last notice of b.ooded
stock on exhibition at the State Fair, several
handsome additions have been made of horses
horned cattle and sheep, so that the number and
variety OF each species is sufficiently large for all
practical purposes. The horses are certainly yery
hne and as many of them are not only stylish but
remarkably "qtiick roadsters" the space devoted
to their use has been continually filled with specta
tors anxious to see them move
In the sheep pens, the French and Spanish Meri
noes Cotswold and mixed breeds are not onIy V large
and attractive, but from their purity of blood and
superiority OF fleece, greatly admired by farmers
and grazlers who are continually on the look out
for the best animals to be had.
Another attractive feature especially to those
who have been reared in cities and had no opportl.
nifty to witness the inhabitants of the forest, is a
pen OF three fawns, each four months old, and as
gentle as dogs These pretty creatures are contin-
uaiiy surrounded by ladies and children and seem
to enjoy the kindness and caresses of their visitors
We noticed in the poultry department two coops
of mammoth ducks, several of geese two of tur-
keys and one of Chinese fowls, that were very fine
The Shanghas, Chitagongs and game chickens,
were also well represented in quality, and greatly
admired.
A cage of appeared rabbits and two cages of
guinea pigs, seemed greatly to interest the Juvenile
portion of the vast assemblage; while the ladies
were quite extravagant in their praise of coop of
rufhe and fan:taii pige6iis
A second visit to the ladies' department discov-
cred to us some admirable specimens of needle
work and embroidery, but we regret to be COM
PEELED to say that tho exhibition in this respect is
vastly inferior to that of last year.
According to appointment an experiment was
made Harrison g. Gallaher's Hydro Thermal
Churn, which resulted in the production of rich,
sweet butter, in the short space of three mnites.
This experiment is to be repeated again to-day at 10
o'clock, in the large tent, where all the farmers
should gather to witness it.
In the machine department are two or three
specimens of mills for grinding corn and cobs, one
of which was at work and producing good meal
These mils are designed for the Use of farmers and
if they are capable of performing one-haf of the
labor claimed for them by their inventors, will
soon find ready sale in every section of the State
Of for the Clouds.-This is the day appointed for
Professor Elliotts grand balloon ascension on
horseback, from Slash Cottage and as Mr.. E. is
certain to fulfil his engagement, all those who wish
to witness the wonderful sight, should secure tick
cts mount the Northern ears ind HE to the Slashes
in time to witness the sight. Prof Elliott is the
only 9ronaut who has ever attempted an ascen-
sion in this country, on horseback, and the prob
ability is, that others will not initiate him very
soon owing to the extreme danger of the feat; but
whether they do not he is the daring of his
perilous profession, and deserves a liberal en-
Let all, therefore, who wish to see
a man ascending to the clouds on horseback secure
tickets to-day and visit Slash Cottage, this may
be the last opportunity they will have for wit
Messing such hazardous journey.
PickpOckets operating in small way, in yari-
ous parts of the city, but meet with little encour
agement. Last year, it was said, that twenty-five
gentlemen from one county were relieved of their
pocket books by the light fingered profession who,
on assembling TO calculate their gains found that
they had realised by their operations the enormous
HOHHr
ately held an indignation meeting and passed reso
utions condemnatory of the parsimoniousness of
the persons robbed, and at the same time declaring
that in all time to come that no respectable 'pck"
should touch denizen of the well robbed county
YIrginia Cadets-The officers and corps of Ca
lets of tho Virginia Military Institute, now on
visit to this city, by invitation from the Executive
Committee, appeared on the Agricultural Fair
Grounds yesterday, at 10 o'clock, where they were
received by the officers of the Society. The Exc
cutive Committee then reviewed the corps, in mill
tary form; Immediately after which, they were ad
dressed by President COOKE, in the following Ian
guage:
Officers and Cadets Of the Tr9inid Military Institute:
The agreeable duty has been assigned to me- on this
occasion, OF rendering to you as now do, Oil behalf
Of the Executive Committee and of the members of
State Agricultural Society most cordial greeting
welcome you, gentlemen, TO the Exhibition and Fair
Of our Society, here in the Metropolis, where you
win meet many of your friends and fellow citizens
from every part of the State.
Gentlemen greet you officers and students of a
favorite literary institution of the State.
Young gentlemen of the corps of Cadets: hail you
the youthful citizen soldiers of the State training
for the service of your country either in peace in
war You are here to-day, in the midst of peaceful
scenes, and of happy people-yourselves in the
spring time of life and of hope Firginias sons-the
ynosure of all hearts But should these happy
scenes be changed, and those of and contest
sue--which God forefend your country will know
where to find you, and how to count upon you.
Young gentemen-youne cheyalers of Virginia !
We proud of you and all hearts join to-day in the
welcome which now tender to you.
An appropriate response was made by Colonel
SMITH, Superintendent of the Institute; after
which, drill of the corps followed in presence of
an immense concourse of people, who manifested
intense interest in the beautiful evoutons Of that
welltrained body of young soldiers
Rich Treat in Store-Dr John G. McCabe of
Hampton, Va has accepted an invitation to deliver
an address before the Mechanics Institute of this
city, in their exhibition room ON Main and 18th
streets, this evening" at O'Clock. DR. McC. is too
well known an orator to require any notice at
hands. Those who wish to hear him should secure
tickets as early possible as the hall will no doubt
be crowded.
tpholsfcry-The beautiful specimens of upholste.
ry on exhibition at the fair of the Mechanics
institute, are from the establishment of Messrs.
Doggett and Anderson, and reflect credit on the
taste and skill of those gentlemen.
Nen.-Mrs George Watt has on exhibition at