Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1855-09-21
A WORK MUCH NEEDED.

A
In some late hasty "sketchings," we cndeavorcd 10
draw attention to the wants Of Virginia in direction
hitherto but little regarded-we mcan the need of
accurate, comprehensive cyclopedia OF the Sate-one
,ha, shall be an useful manual to the statesnan and
politician, convenient reference book to the agrl.
cullurr,, aud al the same time affordng Interesting
instruction and agreeable reading TO all professions
and pursuits. It is hardly possible that individual
enterprise and individual capital will prove equal to
the task OF collecting arranging, aud putting into
proper form all the information which such a"'rk
should contain In the department Of history, alone
there would be enough to engage hundred 7eas'
and employ o hundred hands in the gathering oi
facts Our historical society, in some sort, has ad
dressed itself to this workout how little mas
CLEANED, in the Of eight or ten years com
pafa;ively active labor Yet it's labors have moi
been without their fruits. 1t has gathered 'H'ne
mass Of r1r sIt71ai which may be ~orKca 10 ai
vantage provided sufficient reward is he!a OUT 'o'
it's successful accom- plishment. Then, in biography
part and parcel OF The history Of the s'a'e-
what fields ripe for the harvest f'e''n o"'
before us. The lives OF few OF 'ne NJ
roe. Of our history have been HrItlen' ''''1 y,
them imper.cy, Others with inimtah!e e'c-an'e a"u
beau,y-bul tho largo majority Of our d!st'h-"'s"eu
men have never enjoyed. md perhaps Will never GU
;,v ANYTHING more than traditional rrPu'a'on'-
| The Lee., and Marshals, Madisons and Monroes-
,he -rca, and good and wise, distinguished IN pouee
in law and in medicine, or as hsnr1n' writer's ana
orators, all 'of them should become as """useh''N
words" in Virginia. And wha, better memo" 10 se,
cure ,h. result than By faithful. ami accurate DEAN
of their history, their lives. Our youth no" NV ''
Tar acquainted with tho actions OF Ca'-ar ara
than 0! Washington and Henry-coud ten !'u' " u"
greater facility, the emPoyments ot the campus VAC"
,rs a,d tbs f,cts connected with chlstory o Rome
,bnp tell Won Of the produce OF the State or
-. b;,,o,r O. Yorktown. We repeat, the Ge.
o-,,nhr, history minera!oS!, zoology, ge"I-
o,y. and marine and riparian resources OF Virginia
.s.arys 10 BE- and shoalI be, made the subject OF
.sn,rate book. Tho exclusive study Of this book
shoud occupy the attention Of every scholar, male
| ,,d f.nele for some months before leaving school
OF all knowledge, tha: most cas-! and agreeable to
ncon;re ia tba, which is most necessary and useiu
,hs spovl,dps Of what is nearest ~ Us ir time and
,,sce. All children learn something OTTOMAN history
and Of the geography Of Europe and Ne" England.
But rerv few como down 10 their own times and
their own homet, and acquire The history oi America
and the geography uf their own State. Il u 'l'hS
tbn, such book wri:ton. IL IA dscrrditaoe u
the State th.t we have such book ]! would res
cue from oblivion the most useful portions oi doHea
&c history which the regular historian is apt 10 con-
tenn or overlook Se1cs aud battles, the snccc''!"h
Of King. and Governors. form hu: the drama Inc ro
mauee, the outline OF history. 0: such mafera''
virginia affords bu, little; but of materials IA. inoF"
navel and Interesting she furnishes abundanes'-i'
would be An agreeable and Csetu task to trace the
history and progress OF the original immigration "a
m. Snte-to Ascertain the materials nf which Il was
eomnpsd Tho making and administering nt hw
the social and domestic habits Of tho peop!e-heir
morality and religion their trade. Agriculture and
manufacturers. at each twenty Of their progress
should b.. carefully eliminated and eIpo,ed. Then,
,bs nro,rs,, Of emyrnton from the Seaboard 10 the
hs,d, OF the tide, ~ the Piedmont region, 10 the
mountains, and, saally to the West, would be nte.
resting and instructive. The family names now eI'
tine, in the Eastern part OF 20 State but common
in ,b. West, would throw m.ch light this part q!
the subject, new kind # statistics would be
educed. interesting alike 10 Virsinians al! to the
world al large As yet g!e. deal Of Revolutionary
and colonial family corres?ondeuce is preserved
that would be useful; bat which, il not used, Will
soon be lost, The Salt and othcr Mineral Springs
the geology and ninersogy Of the State, would fur
nish ine1hau.tibic themes @: inquiry. 1ts zoology
should now be s:ereotypcc for many quadruPed'
and birds arc disappearin: before, an advancing
population, and many more ~i!i hereafter disappear
Running ou, the idea ,e, farther. cyciopedia
would embrace all tina, interes; or vane to the
educated virsininn Viz; and as palos"-
Dhic observer Of facts.
Our neishboring State, Nav York, has been aive
10 the Importance of gean:; ,rch facts in regard 10
her own history and re.our-s and sho has appointed
for the purpose officer, -hom shs style. the keeper
Of the Archives, take p:oper Of the informa
,ion thus gathered. Why ,houd our State be behind
hpr