The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1855-06-18

washington. More than 100 yeara .oo !,
Ine year 1873, Frederick and Augusta cnnn
les were formed out Of Orappe. and e,r
oraced the whole of Virginia, vest Of ~.
Blue Ridge. In 1869, Botetourt was far,,,a, -,
out OF Augusta, and embraced all Southvsst
ern virginia. In I772, the county of Fin
castle was formed out of Botetourt. and e-
,enaed from New River Southwest wardlv :
!.Io' flncastle became extinct, il BEING
alvioed INTO three counties: Kentucky
washington and Montgomery. Washington
county then included parts Of wythe, Gray
son ana Tazewell, all of Smyth, Scott. Rms.
ssn ana Lee: Wythe was formed IN 17ef
Su. oM parts OF montgomery and Washington
uWWstI W.ssL; was FORMED in 1881, out of parts OF
washington and Wythe; and Pulss[; Co.,
Montgomery and Wythe, in 1899. Tha ' rs;I
road crosses the Allegheny in Montoonar1,
sno foiiowlng the small tributaries If Nayr
nlver short distance, obliquely crosses that
stream into Pulaski The counties of PnlssI;
ana Wythe are open and undulatino. ths h;,,s
Deing often tall, but generally hsndsonais
rounded. presenting a softened outline CON, :.
Psree with other portions Of transmontane
airglnia. si The same features mark the county
Wy VI Dnytn; throughout Montgomery. Pulaski,
ersss omytn and Washington. the finest
srass lands prevail-the limestone forma.
tions SO favorable to grasses. erist;nc nth
sng ssnngnt interruptions throughout the whole Of
suen ,engtn and breadth Passing the houn
us1y oesweeu the waters of New River and
Tue Hoiston our route ran with the waters of
tne latter, as does the railroad route. The
country seemed brighter, and the landscapes
were what the painters call warmer. Indeed,
TINS tendency to mildness and brightness
slows certainty, but almost imperceptiblv,
as .1e .Iayeiier proceeds Southwestwardly-
the latitude getting lower, and there seeming
70 De better shelter from the sharp North,
casters; The lowiands of the head waters of
.ue noiston are surprisingly wide and as fat
as iand well can be. The hills rise gracafuI.
y, and are very fertile, while the piotr,re
presented in our whole route always Seemed
20 20 oe set IN frame by the admirable lines
.. mountain ranges at distance on either
These noble counties, SO finely adapted to
sg1cuiture, are also rich in minerals; and of
these l shall have more to saw. What a
country is it to be thus endowed with lands 70
fruitful, OVERLAPPING minerals of great value
and lnexhaustible extent! What o country
for railroad! - :" " oNA''J
but rerenons nos naoutons-i. a.. If W q
may De excused for the quotation, let us re-
turn 70 the Board of Trade and our other
friends. said we were all quartered at
nlght-some of US in royal style. On the
morning OF the 18th, by invitation of Colonel
PRESTON, all of our party in Abingdon re-.
paired to his splendid mansion and break
TASTED. l will not, in fashionable parlance.
can 1t te de jeune a la touchette; for in
Washington county they don't get mn apv.
thing with that name; but they spread before
the guest what is much better than anytbing
that ever bore that French phrase. shall
| not 60 into particulars; but content myselt
WIN saying tnat the taste and hberality oil
the entertainment, and the delicacy and
grace OF the attentions paid them, drew
the guests. -
The forenoon of the day we spent in Abing
don. Col Preston showed us the interestine
parts OF the town, and told us many interest
ing things. called to see our brother edi
| tors, CoALE q BARR, of the Virginiap. and
BRUNETTE ofthe Democrat, and spent a plea.
SAINT hour with them, talking of matters and
things IN general, and their grand country i'm
| particular. am obliged to them for their
kind manifestations Great plans were form
eo oy them TOR future enjoyment and l ac
| cepteo an thelr invitations, as have made
it point to do with regard to all others.
| Our company dined with WYNDHAM Ro-
BERTsoN, Esq, at his delightful residence
1 near A6angdon, called the Meadows. l can
say nothing to give better appreciation
among my Richmond readers of this noble
hearted gentleman and true Virginian. He
was evidently greatly delighted at receiving
his old friends from Richmond and nothing
that ne and his most estiinable lady could do
to minister to their comfort and pleasure,
vas left undone. The dinner spread before
them was sample of the luxurious country
In which we were. 1t was served with an
elegance not to be surpassed in the city. The
| enjoyment of the viands was followed by a
| flow of wit and sentiment remark ahla fnr its
exuberance and appropriateness. This con-
cluded The day in Abingdon. a day that will
be cherished, am sure, in the memories of
all present, ss one of the most pleasant of
their lives. At night we were all lodged at
Mr.. Robertson's, Col. Preston's and Gov.
Floyd's, (in the absence of the Governor,
those who went to his house, accepting the
| kind invitation of his amiable LADY, In the
morning.. e.-the 7th June, our party went
to visit the Salt Works-an account of which
we will give in our next G.