The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1857-02-10
THE DAILY DISPATCH.
Tuesday nIernius, February 10, 1857.
Letter from Charleston. \. q.
DENcgor orTHEpIsp ATcE
CHARIEsroN. Eah- 7th 1877

CHARLESTON, Feb. fth, 1857.
| haveso you that this Is the gay week OF
Charit ston. The glorious weather succeedin .
the grim. Icy grasp which whit :, in : savage
mood, has lately laid upon the astonished South.
makes every thing brighter and more ioyous bv
contrast The Southern sun, rs II enraged q, the se
ia'e Nor'hern aggressions. has come out with re-
doubled en- ersy, reminding that the South
nnder cleud for time, can put an end TO the
winter Of its discomfort" whenever IL sees AT to
bring its prodisious latent enereies into action -
All South Carolina is in Charleston, and all
Charleston Is in the street,, baskinR in the genial
sunlight The races here sttract far more eene, Al
interest than in Virginia Ladies attend them in
great NUMBER; not unfrequsntiy business men
close their stores; the course presents speci-
mems of every class and vocation of human society
there are dinner parties every day, and balls eve-
ry night Indeed no better opportunity for seeing
Charleston society could be afforded stranger
than the week of the races in Charleston. The
hospitality, refinement and intelligence of the
but confess tia. they fully equal my highest inns
ginioes. They are people whom one knows net
VT ether most TO admire for the genius and valor
OF .heir public men, or the eminent social virtues
which adorn and gladden. as happy and as pure
domestic affairs as the sun shines on
= One of the principal objects of attraction here
even in this gay week, is the Fraser Gallery." as
1t II called, collection of some hundreds of the
most exquisite miniatures have ever seen, aud
numerous drawings and oil paintings, by Mr..
advanced age, who is an exception to rule which
applies generally to artists well others, that
"a prophet is not without honor save in bis own
country Mr.. Fraser Is one of the few artists of
America who through long life have been able
to make the place in which they began their career
their abiding CITY," and to reap from it not only
honors but emoiuments worthy their genius He
commenced life lawyer, and by a diligen. pursuit
of his profession made him self In great measure
independent of contingencies atten ding disappoint
n sy,if
ever dearer 10 his heart than that of the law He
commenced his present career in 1919, since which
time, with the exception of two months passed in
the exercise of his profession at Hartford Connec-
ticut, his fellow citizens of Charleston and their
visitors have amply occupied his time Is not this
fact equally credable to the genius of the artist
and the good taste of Cbariestonl The present
gallery is made up of miniatures deposited for tho
occasion.-a voluntary tribute of Charleston to this
aged and meritOrious geutleman,-by families of
this and other cities, not few of them being like.
nesses of four generations of the same house.
Mr.. John Mitchell (who lectured here on Thursday
night) remarked that they were the finest minia-
ture likenesses be had ever seen.
Speaking of John Mitchell, how long does h.
mean TO bury himself alive in rural district Of
Tennesseet He sacrificed the most splendid pros, T.,
poets in New York that ever opened before the
eyes eff literary man by the intrepid defa
which he hurled into the teeth of Northern aboi-
tonism, aud is now, with his large family residir q
in obscurty and indigence in the South, for whose
cause he fought and fell / hope be will soon
emerge from his eclipse, and scatter the beams of
his bright genius and corruscating wit over wide
tirmament
The press Of Charleston is conducted " ith great
talent vgor, information, and with a degree of
dignity and courtesy which reflect the highest
honor On the editorial vocation. 1 must acknow-
ledge here my Indebtedness for the greatest kind.
ness and attention to Richard Yeadon Esq and
Mr.. Carlyle, of the Charleston Courier and Rev
Mr Myers, editor of the Methodist Christian Adyo
cate l had also the pleasure of forming the &C.
quaintance of Mr. Moore, one Of the editors of the
Charleston Evering News There are other gen.
nenen. not connected with the press, whom i re-
member with feelings of warm esteem and love,
but l take liberty with the public men" of the
press, in mentioning their names, which feel sure
they will excuse, az 1t is their destiny. in one form
or other, to be made public property" In nv
next, therefore propose to say something of these
gentlemen, and other celebrities Of Charleston