Washington sentinel., 1855-11-17

enhanced value Of her property and the de.
velopment of her trade Worn out lands will
be redeemed, and sterile soil will be enriched
by the iertilizing effects Of guano; agriculture
will be quickened by the facilities to market;
and the immense mineral resources which lie
imbedded in her western hills will be made to
contribute to her wealth and greatness.
There is enough coal west of the Blue Ridge
to supply the world, and almost Ito make
an old proverb true) set James river on fire.
We surely speak within bounds when we say,
that in the single counties of Washington and
Kanhawa there is enough salt to furnish old
Mr.. Lot with as many wives as the whole Nor
mon tribe possess, or the most pious polyga.
mist could desire
We cannot too strongly commend the system
of Agricultural fairs and exhibitions, as tending
to keep alive this interest aud to awaken a
generous emulation in the hearts of the farm
ers of the State. ST. Paul was philosopher,
as well as an apostle, when he advised the
early Christians to "forsake not the assembling
of themselves together" While we would not
have the citizen to forget that it is by individ-
ual enterprise that individual success can
alone be attained, we would not have him lost
to the advantages of association. Not only
does it inspire the individual with lively in.
terest in the prosperity Of his State; not only
does it contribute to the most delightful, social,
and intellectual intercourse, but it teaches him,
tbot, into ,aor IL
of others; it informs him of principles which
the wisdom of others had adopted; and it af.
fords him that :! first round in ambitions lad.
der" becoming humility and sense of de.
trate our meaning than by adverting to one
fact which was apparent to every one present
at the recent exhibition. While there was not
half the number of cattle and stock exhibited
as at the last annual fair, the standard of worth
and quality was very much higher. 1t arose
from the simple fact, that heretofore our stock
graziers and stock fatteners were really igno.
rant Of the true character Of superior stock, and
hence crowded the exhibition of previous years
with specimens of very ordinary merit. But
now, by comparisons afforded by this annual
association, their inferior specimens remained
at home, like the young men of Jericho, until
they are better groHn-and yielded their places
to stock which reflected credit alike on their
owners, their State and themselves.
But we have been tempted to extend our
remarks beyond the space generally allotted to
a single editorial, and have scarcely time to
advert to another most interesting exhibition,
which it was our good fortune to witness du-
ring our sojourn in Richmond. We refer to
the Virginia Mechanics Institute an associa.
ton established few years since, and having
for its object the advancement of mechanics
and the arts, as the Agricultural Society has
for its object the improvement of agricultural
science. In addition to the exhibition which
contains many useful and beautiful specimens
of art, and reflects great credit on the handi.
work of some Of the fair young daughters Of
Richmond, the Mechanics Institute has been
recently enlivened by a series of addresses
from many distinguished gentlemen in Virgi-
MIA. Among these we have only been able to
gather the names of Messrs. B. johnson Bar.
bour, Allan B. Magruder, William II. McFar-
land and George Wythe Munford, 1t was our
privilege and pleasure to hear the last named
of these gentlemen on Saturday night last
For more than an hour he entertained the au.
dience assembled to hear him, with rich treat,
wherein substantial information was enlivened
with bursts of the most genuine wit and hu-
NOR, and adorned with passages Of real elo-
quence and beauty.
Our visit to Virginia has made Us even prouder
of our native State, and thoughtful for the
pleasures thus afforded, which have so sweetly
relieved the weary monotony Of political life.
We are impressed, too, with the belief that while
every nerve should be strung to preserve intact
the sovereign rights Of the States, under the
Constitution, much may be done at home in
building up and maintaining her rights there
in developing her wealth, in inspiring her
children with pride as well as love for their
noble old mother, in opening her trade and
commerce to- the world, and in establishing
her dependence upon herself and thus afford
ing her the glorious privilege Of being indie.
pendent"
Wbeh James the First of England ascended
the throne Of Great Britain, We are told that
the crown Of Scotland was locked up in an iron
chest, and left for more than two centuries
neglected. This has. been two nearly the
result Of the union Of the States Two little
regard has been paid to the development OF
State strength, and too much to the. support
Of the federal power. Il is time that the rich
resources OF Virginia should be unlocked, and
that freed from her subservient dependence upon
the North for all Of her supplies, she should
rest once more upon her own strength for her
support, and wear once more the crown of
superiority which for so long was awarded with
one acclaim to the proud Old Dominion.
POWDER MASUFAcToRY.-The Sacramento
Al.