The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-08-30
A PLEASURE ExcURsIoN-A CHASE.
literary Correspondence of the Era.

Literary Correspondence of the Era.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 20, 1855.
While many "summer birds" are waiting
their songs from more fashionable resorts, ma
king their voices eloquent with praises Of all
healing springs, and the benevolent results of
sea bathing, fear my summer loiterings will
hardly furnish material for an interesting epis-
tie. But this is such delightfully."- cool morn
ing, | am quite in writing mood; so will ven
ture to give you hasty sketch of facts and
fancies gathered from short trip on the Poto-
mac, and brief sojourn at Piney Point.
Passing over the delay which invariably
precedes the departure of Southern boat, we
were at last a1oat on the broad Potomac
The praises of this noble river have not, /
think, been spoken in vain, although / was
rather disappointed by the monotony of the
scenery along its banks. Being passengers in
the accommodation boat, we had ample time
to note the appearance of the country, for, from
nearly every point Of land white flag was dis
played, as signal for stopping. The lowering
of the small boats, to row passengers to and
from the shore, offered something of novelty to
me, it was in such direct opposition to the 60
ahead spirit of travel at the North. 1 fancied
these way.passeusers left our boat with feel
ing of regret, as they invariably waited on the
shore to wave us a farewell, and then, like
"solitary horsemen," wendell their way up
bride. paths, to their isolated homes.
| A gentleman, who evidently rejoiced in that
pride of birthplace so universal in the " Old
| Dominion" assured me l could judge nothing
of the interior, or western part Of Virginia, by
this trip. / do not doubt there is better side
to the State; but for these homes on the banks
of the Potomac, in comparison, thought of
New England with pride. There, we have the
neat cottage, with its shade, and Towering or
naments, and the richly cultivated land. Here,
we see the poorest houses, with chimneys built
on the outside, suggesting the idea of ruins,
cornfelds in close proximity, and an entire
absence of shade, if we except what is almost
UNIVERSAL row of aged poplars, standing
! like ragged senUinc1s, gue. The tbriftless
home. 1t is undoubtedly the pride of the V1r,
gilman to be great land-holder, and great
STAKEHOLDER. l think he has large idea of
qudntay-a very small one of quality
But to return to my trip. From the descrip-
tons of my friends Piney Point realized nv
expectations. "The Pavilion " is well kept,
and well situated as regards the facilities for
bathing. 1t is the everchanging company,
however, that lends the Charm of variety to the
| place, while the perfect home feeling, which
every visiter seems to realize, imparts free
dom and satisfaction seldom found at a more
extensive watering place. Every day offered
an attractive programme to pleasure seekers,
| and every evening was a gala season for the
devotees of Terpsichore.
| / have Just finished reading letter dated
Neutrality-suspicious. Nahant At the mere men
ton of the name, the waves of memory back
ward roll and what an idea of contrast is sug-
gested Albeit, the queen of fashion yields
her sceptre there, yet the lover of Nature in
her grandest and boldest aspects feels himself
independent of all society. "Deep calleth un-
to Deep" and silence is the SOULS expression.
At Piney Point, however, Nature treated us
to some of her variatons;" and had / pro-
vided myself with volume of Glaucus," /
would doubtless have found wonders at every
turn, nor dreamed of monotony while l tarried
on the shore.
1t was with quite feeling of regret at part
ing from so pleasant company, we prepared
for our home return, goodly number being
companions of our trip. The morning was de-
lightful and also the scenery, as we threaded
our way through the little creeks, sometimes
stopping for passengers, and sometimes larry
ing for quantity of wheat to be placed on our
boat, not, OF course, in the most expeditions
manner, yet we could not complain, while en-
joying picture Of rustic beauty.
The chief feature of our travel, however, was
the excitement of slave chase, an "extra "
in the way of our trip, which / was far from
approaching. About MONDAY we were stopped
by small boat, containing eight or ten per-
sons, one an outraged STAKEHOLDER, who, evil
IDENTITY in the highest state of excitement, called
for the Captain, and expressed belief that one
of his slaves was secreted in a vessel desgna-
ted by him, about twelve miles distant, under
full sail. He wished to engage the Captains
services to tow up the small boat, that they
might board the schooner. In this slave region,
asserting voices were not wanting, and, in spite
of remonstrance in some quarters, he engaged
in the humiliating business
From the upper deck watched the proceed
ings with the deepest interest, gathering conf
dence from the selfpossession manifested by
the way-laid vessel. &c. indeed, search was
vain; and l must own to feeling of relief
when it was abandoned, and / saw the inter
ested party, with their volunteer aids, return to
our boat, looking quite dissatisfied, and much
the worse for their pains.
In answer to my inquiries, the owner inform
ed me it was the first loss of the kind be had
met with but several slaves had escaped from |
neighboring plantations in this manner, being
engaged in loading timber on these Eastern |
schooners.
livery likely" he added, my slave is out
of his hiding place already, and laughing at
us; and doubtless, when he reaches Maine,
he'll send me back saucy letter for my salts
faction. That's the way they all do" smiled
at his bitter tone and left him, fearing he might
mistake me for a sympathizer
1t was the opinion of most of our passen.
gers, that the fugitive was somewhere secret
ed in the vessel. The sound of the dinner
bell, however, had superseded their interest in
the matter, and, as stood alone on deck, oues-
toned in my own mind if it were not so, and
waved my handkerchief in token of kindly SYM
patty, as again the sails were filed by the pros.
porous wind.
Then l watched the distance doubling be.
tween US, and listened to the echo of my own
heart" God prospers the right" while the
sunlight, dancing on the placid waters, to my
fancy seemed tracing, in letter. of fire, I" There
is Higher Law!" WINNIE WOODLAND.
CENSUS OF PRovIDENcE.-The census of the
city of Providence, Rhode Island, has Just been
from which it appears that the whole
number of inhabitants, at the present time, is
46,687, being an increase of STA since 1850,
Il. GO - Al