Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1855-01-02
DAILY VIRGINiAN.
The Old Year.

were. Its days. weeks, and months have quick
ly tled--hed almost like the meteor's fash or
s-z- Like the SNOW. drop ON the river,
A moment white, then gone forever"
The year which has just closed has been a
most eventful one. AM will occupy prominent
place in the records of time. Recollcctons oil
it will continue vivid in the minds Of many, and
in the hearts If thousands its impress viii dwell
in continual freshness, creating sud and mourn
full emotions. There are many causes that will
tend to make the past year memorable. War. that
terrible scourge, has abundantly done its desoln-
ting work. The most powerful nations of earth
have entered into deadly strife, and scores of
bravo aud gallant men, either side, have found
q soldier. death, and soldiers sepulchre, on
the plains of the Danube aud the enssnguined
fields of the Crimea.
:" They have fought their last fight they have
won their last battle
y, sound shall awake them 70 glory again"
and their dying groans have been waited TO
far off homes and far off friends and made
them sick with unavailing anguish. The swords
of the Crmea have uron these inflicted their
second wounds. and the mscries of war
haye been felt, in bitter poigDanoy, far away
from the shock of battle Eighteen hundred
and fifty four will be memorable for the bloody
battles of the Eastern War.
Pestilencc, too, with it, blighing touch, has
been busy actor in the scenes of the past year.
In various parts of the world it has rnged with
ruthless severity. aud its works will not soon be
forgotten.
Fire has done more Than lis accu-t stoned IA
mount of destruction. The devouring flame ha,
hazed and cracked among princely hills, the
costly edihce,, the rooms and the holmes of
cities, and left charred and crnmhug walls
as monuments Of It's might. Ir~ Obstructive ca
pacity has been Supremacy and woefully vlndica-
ted during the pn.t year, aud human life and
property have been sacrificed uponits consuming
altar TO frighiful extent.
If we turn from the disasters of fire To those
of water, find still sadder picture for the
same length of time. The waters have not since
the flood run in more fatal currents than during
the last year. The catalogue OF disasters is a
long one-so long and So melancholy in its ia.
ture shat the heart saddeus with the contempla-
ton. The world yet mourns the fate of the
Arctic. The doom of that gallant vessel is of
itself sufficient To render year memorable But
il has not been alone in its misfortune. Its fate
has only been that of vast number Of others
with their invaluable freights of life and prop
erty. which now rest together beneath the wave.
The Ocean has claimed an unwonted number of
victims. and the pillows have closed over an un
usually large amount of human life aud property
during the departed year.
Accidents by land have been still more hume
rous than 10y sea. We have scarcely recover
ed from the shock of one disaster before the
news of another has come upon US From one
end of the year TO the other accident after ncci
dcpt has occurred until the aggregate isa stnrt
ling one.
And lastly, we mention the financial depres.
Sion and its consequenees,as calculated to render
the year memorable. 1t is long since such dis
;ress has existed in the business world as during
the past year. The hard times " have borne
with heavy hand upon every department of
business, and all have been made to feel the pres
sure, and tremble they felt. Failures and sus,
pensions have been of every day occurrence, and
that too, among those who have been thought to
be as firm and steady granite. Business of al.
most every character has been contracted and |
the effect upon the working classes has been |
most deplorable. Numbers have been thrown
out of employment, aud are now in needy eireum
stances. From the scarcity Of work aud the |
b ign price of the nccessnrics of life, numbers
are i'll "A most destitute condition. Want, al
most famine, is actually abroad in this land of
boosted plenty.
These, briefly. ARE some of the circumstances
which have rendered eyenttu the year 1854 and
which Will make IT conspicuous in the record of |
'nourniil memories. From the depth of our hearts
do we hope the year upon which we have Just en-.
tered may not be similarly eventful, and memora-
BILE for like circumstances. But rather that the
clarion of war may be hushed and that peace may
gladden. the word-that the poisonous breath of
pestilence may be stayed,and the sweet blessings
of health be everywhere enjoyed-th flame and
Hood may deal tenderly with the world--and that
pecunary Impressions and want may gradually
and entirely disappear, and prosperity All plen.
ty-the welcome messengers, tie sweet angels of |
mercy, may take up their abode not only in this.
but IN every nation of the earth
With this hnsty and imperfect review of the
events OF the Old year we bid it adieu and wei
come in the New one and embrace the occasion
to wish our readers "a happy new year" and
the full enjoyment of the bounteous and henip
nsnt blessing of Providence
Upon the introduction Of bill in the Honse
OF Representatives, by MIR. Noble making an an
Droprafion for continuing thu n,,ll;a