Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1855-12-14
From the Petersburg Express.


Dear Express The readers of your columns who
may be numbered by thousands, will long feel an in.
erest in matters relating to late desolate but
now busy town I believe rents are as high and
houses in as good demand now as before the awful
scourge that rendered so many of them tenantless
We many strange faces in our streets, and many
are the indications that Portsmouth will soon regain
her former prosperous condition, and start anew
with increased thrift and enterprise.
Now instead of literal " Thanatopsis." instead OF
the incessant contemplation of "the innumerable
caravan" moving 10 the "mys:erious realm-the 81
lent halls of death, that alone greeted the vision,
but a few weeks since; may now be seen unmista-
kable indications of life, health industry and return
ing confidence and prosperity.
The Navy Yard employs its full complement of
men !; the Union Car Works are in successful opera
ton. Messrs Page & Allen, known as extensive
ship builders have large force employed at their
yard the Collegiate Institute has already over fifty
scholars in attendance; shop keepers are all busy in
supplying the necessaries and luxuries Of life, and
activity pervades all classes We are beginning to
appear somewhat like Petersburg, which [ truly
think the model City of Virginia.
Iruckman, to local name for market gar
1eners, busy in vicinity in preparing to sup
ply the northern cities with early edibes next spring
for which business, the steamers for trans
portaon, the peculiar soil of eastern Virginia and
the ocean attempered climate for early vegetation,
afford great facilities and advantages It is we'll
known that the season is two three weeks earlier
on the seaboard than in the interior on the par
allel. Truly this is region
"Where smiling spring its earliest visit pays,
And parting summers lingering bloom delays
Those who have beautifully contributed of their
means to relieve the numerous widows, orphans, and
lnhrm, whose means of support have been suddenly
taken from them, have thereby not only accomplished
their object in the alienation of the distressed, but
have also contributed incidentally to the present com
paratively prosperous and cheerful state of affairs
Last Sabbath the Rev Mr. Handy, who remained
by his charge, the Middle St. Presbyterian Church,
until he and his family FRUSTRATED with the fe-
yer, and until both the elders of the Church-the la
mented BoutweH and Irugien and about one-third of
the members, had fallen victims and who then left
at the instance of his physician preached earnest
and pathetic Sermon from the consolatory words OF
Paul My grace is sufficient for thee" The sable
hablments and sufused eyes of the congregation
too plainly indicated the awful Affections they had
sustained, both as individuals and as Church.
In the Catholic Church yard among the numerous
recent graves, may be seen thickly tufted with
fowers-some wthered and faded-ohers fresh and
briant-all placed there by the hand of Affection
spontaneous manifestations of inexpressible respect
and love for the honored and faithful pastor OF his
flock. The leaves of box and bay-the sprigs of ar
Dor vitae, all denotng constancy and friendship
changing, are expressngly entwined with the with
cred white rose and yellow chrysanthemum. emblems
OF desolate heart, while chrysanthemums red and
white declare the love that placed them there. 1t is
hardly necessary tell the reader that this is the
grave of the Rev. Francis Devlin.
Yours, &c, NJ B. w.