Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1855-11-10
Correspondence of the Fayetteville Observer

has occasional glmpses of distant range of beau.
tiiul undulatng country. On leaving behind the
plne-clad hills and entering the land of the noun
tain and the oak, felt sad, if forsaken of old
tried friend.
The early dawn of morning found me near the
banks of the river Enoe, looking down into its val
ley In which Hillsboro, the ancient capital of the
State, seemed to sit in calm repose and dignity,
mindful of the stream of passengers that passed al
most within the verge of her ancient court yard.
A desire to gaze upon such calm tranquility
came all ideas of speed and business. L fingered
tarrIed ON my journey, and have spent emphaticaly
most delightful day.
Hlsboro' depot, from some incomprehensble rea-
son, is neraly mile southwest of the centre of the
town. 70 reach the Union Hotel, kept by Major
Howerton we had to traverse King street and Chur-
ton. After breakfast, took stroll over the town
proper and beheld the evidences of its antiquity at
every step made upon the stone-paved foot path,
well as in the diapidated condition and Anticipated
appearance of many of the buildings, On Churton
street, and nearly opposite my hotel there stands
one story house, mentioned in LoSsng'S" Field
Book of the Revolution" Cornwallis's Office:
while King street boasts OF possessing in good re-
pair, the house he occupied his Quarters Upon
this latter street fine brick masonic edfce is
ed, on the site where stood the notorious Fannings
Office. Of course l visited the grave yard of the
Presbyterian Church, which is in part bounded by
Churton and Tryon streets; and there beheld the
grave OF William Hooper, one of the sgners of the
Declaration of Independence. 1t is enclosed by
substantial brick WALL and large freestone slab lies
fiat upon the grave, announcing that he was the son
of Rev. William Hooper, Rector of Trinity Chul ch
Boston Born l743, Died October 14th, 1892. No
mention is made Of the act that has stamped i'm
mortality upon his large Cedar, wild
Cherry, and the Towering Locust, shade the haow-
ed spot AS statesman, William Hooper is most
generally known-but the statute laws of North
Carolina prove that he distinguished lawyer,
and a humane man. AT early period in his ca
reer he appointed Solicitor for the County Court
III Cumberland, and several indictments in his hand
writing are filed away in that office.
From the grave of HOOOer | desired to to the
grave of Gov. Thomas Burke vino is inferred two
miles west of Hillsboro' This | could not accom-
pish and satisfied my curiosity by looking on his
residence on the west side of Queen street, from
which, whilst Governor of the State, he was car
ried off by the Tories and confined prisoner of
war on St. James Island, Charleston, South
Carolina. Upon an examination Of the office OF the
Clerk of the County Court, found a copy of his
will, i'll which he speaks of debt due to him from
the State, which he could not believe she would re-
fuse to pay-and proceeds to appropriate the amount
when collected. In subsequent clauses he devlscS
and bequeaths all his real and personal estate to his
wife and daughter and IN the event of their dying
without issue, devsing said estate FROM ms meet 81
lin heirs ut lao. His will is that all his estate
shall pass to his Executors, Willie Jones and James
Hogg The witnesses to it are John Williams and
Alfred Moore. The daughter of Gov. Burke is still
,alive, in Green County, Alabama.
This is another to whom North Carolina owes
monument. TO his ardent love of liberty and the
spirit of freedom that burned within him,
indebted for the invaluable Bill of Rights under
which now live That and our old State Con-
StitutOn being principally from his pen.
The Records of this County are in an admirable
state of preservation from 1853. About 1854,
Richard Caswell, the first Governor of North Caro-
lima, after independence, appointed Clerk OF the
County Court-but in a short time
appointed Deputy.
i had pointed out to Churton street, the
original Court House, and the building in which the
Convention met to adopt the Constitution OF the
United States. At that sitting it rejected, but
the speeches of such men Judge Iredell in its
behalf, had influence to have it accepted the follow
ing year at Halifax
The present Court House stands in the of
the Town. 1t is modern brick building, and equal
to any i'll the State. cupola rises from its roof,
in which is the town Cock-a present from his
Majesty George the Sd to Col. Tanning, to be by
him presented to the Royal Borough of lIillsbor
ough. Both Donors and all of the Donees sleep the
sleep of death, but the Gift ticks on, and ever and
anon its tongue of time" tells the hour to one and
all.
Strong around the suburbs of the Town. saw
many elegant and stately mansions, cmbosomed in
gigantic oak groves. Eastwaldy stands the former
residence of EX-Chef Justice Rutfin now occupied
by Gen. Cadwaliader Jones' Beyond is the man
sion-housc of Gov. Graham; and still further
lies the residence of Mrs. Kirkland the hill beyond
which assembled and had distant prospect of the
surrounding country, and for some distance could
trace the course of the Enoe, beyond which rose
stately hills, clothed and crowned with almost
impenetrabe oak forest, dressed in tine gorgeous
drapery which autumn loves to
opposite the residence OF Gov. Graham stands
the house in which Presty Mangum lived and died.
The Episcopal Church is literally embowered in
oak grove, and is neat tasteful building, but the
grave yard is much neglected. Near the Church,
house in the most modern fancy style, is being
built by Mr.. Hill.
On Queen street DR.. Long has recently erected
brick building addition to the house. that
is the counterpart of the Eccles Farm House, in
Fayetteville. The old house has been renovated by
a modern front, but the shingles still left to at
test its antiquity: and to enable it to maintain inter-
est with those who venerate the past. The resi-
and beautiful, rejecting credit on their taste. Walk
Burwell's Female Seminary, which is adorned by
ing west reached the outskirts of the town, and
walked back by the HilIsborough Academy an in
stitution which had acquired almost NATIONAL repu.
taton, and felt sad witnessing the evidences of
decay it now presents.
A range of mountains, three in number, called
the Ocanoeche mountains rises abruptly on the
south-side of the Town. They had tantalized me
all day; wherever looked they seemed to attract
my notice. l could stand it no longer; crossed the
River Enoe on stepping Stones assembled to the sum-
NIT of the nearest mountain, and looked down upon
the Town below, and around on either hand over
large space of beautiful landscape, alternating in
hill and dale far as the eye could reach This
ramble took longer time than expected, and pre-
vented me the pleasure of dining with friend.
On my return passed the residence of Judge
Bailey which is really beautiful and romantic home.
Close by stands the residence of Mr.. Norwood and
further east is that of his father, the late Judge Nor
wood, at which his son now resides On gazing upon