Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-05-15
The-Jamestown Cele bration.

JAMESTOWN, May 10, 1857
My Dear Star: sent you few lines from
Norfolk to announce the safe arrival of your
friends OF the " Jamestown Society of Washing
TONI at that ancient city. I now cont inue a brief
narrative Of our pilgrimage to the spot Of the first
settlement OF Virginia, and of the proceedings
there.
At O'Clock this morning, our steamer, the
Powhatan left her dock at Norfolk, closely fol-
lowed by the steamers J. E. Coffee, Curtis Peck
and Seabird of that city, and the Georgia. of Bal
timore, all crowded to their utmost capacity with
passengers. Arriving at the scene of the celebra-
ton, we found the splendid sea steamers James
town, from New York, and Norfolk from Phila
delphia, and the Maryland, from Richmond. had
preceded up. Other steamers from different
points, arrived during the day, and by noon the
river presented most beautiful panorama of
steamers and sailbOats, with their bargeS inces-
sanity blying between them and the shore.
Arriving upon the ground, we found many tenn
porary booths and the tents of the military al
commanded by Col r. NJ. Carey, of Richmond
This comprised the following companies:
Payette Artillery, Capt: Clopton.
Richmond Grays, Lieut.. Boisseau.
Young Guard, Capt. Richardson.
Montgomery Guards, Capt. Moore.
National Guards, Capt. Bayly.
Virginia Rifles, Capt. Lybrook
Petersburg Artillery, Capt Nichols
Norfolk Junior Volunteers, Capt Robinson
About noon, the booming of the artillery an
nounced the arrival of other distinguished visit
teers from Portsmouth, commanded by Col ID. 8
Walton. and comprising the following compa-
MES, viz:
Portsmouth Rifles, Capt Richardson.
National Guards, Capt. Dean.
Marion Rifles, Capt. Hodges.
Dismal swamp Rangers, Capt Choate.
Webster Cadets, Capt. Philips
Old Dominion Guards, Capt. Kearns
/ immediately after, the arrival of the distin-
guished orator, ex-President Tyler, was an
nounced: He was received by the executive oom-
mi IF fho lam
Tyler, Gen. John Tyler Jr., and several Younger
children Of the orator, conducted to large and
handsome stand erected for the occasion. His
Excellency Gov Wise, who had reached the
ground early in the morning, was next waited
upon by the committee and also invited to occupy
a seat on the stand.
Theceremonies Were now commenced by Philip
X. Fendall, Esq, of Washington, the President
| of the Jamestown Society, in few appropriate
| remarks, upon the conclusion Of which he intro
| duced the Rev. Mr.. Wilmer Of the Episcopal
Grace. The orator was next Introduced, and en-.
chained the attention of the audience for about
two hours. He was followed by James Barron
Hope, Esq, with poem. These productions
are highly and justly eulogized, and anticipate
Tor them very general publication throughout
the Union.
and the venerable and distinguished orator of Ar
| lington, (the old man eloquent, who had accom-
panied the society to Jamestown but the lateness
| of the hour prevented either of those gentlemen
from taking the rostrum Mr.. Wise. however' in
| answer to the call, made u few remarks in his
usual feTvent style of eloquence.
The Norfolk Junior Volunteers were acconpa-
| MED by the Town Sergeant who bore with him
very large and massive silver mace, 1.-THE badge
OF authority Of that officer which was presented
! to the city by Gov. Dinwiddie in the year I759-
| one hundred and four years ago-and which had
not been used out of the city since the celebration
al Jamestown in 1907, and never before that De-
| Rod. r
There could not have been less than eight or
ten thousand persons in attendance at the celebra
ton, embracing many ladies, and about one thou
sand handsomely uniformed and well Disciplined
volunteers, accompanied by several excellent
bands of music
| As night approached the steamers began TO
| leave, and when the Powhatan took her de part
ure at O'Clock, the spot became almost as quiet
! as II has been for the last century and half
Among the few and diapidated tombstones re-
manning in the church yard, some bear date ante
| rior to the year 100, and few afterward
STEAMER PowHATAN, MAY Ia, 1857
we left Jamestown about O'Clock, and soon
after sat down to a most sumptuous dinner at
which our invited guests-Ex President TYLER
Governor w Use and OtheTs-were only prevented
from attending on account of the lateness of the
hour.
hftcr proceeding down the James river for
eighteen or twenty miles, we ran aground but
this did not dampen the ardor or chill the enthu-
slasm OF the company, who spent large portion
OF the night in the delivery Of toasts and speeches
Amongst the speakers were Mr. Fendall Mr.
Custs, Hon: Mr.. Paris of Maine, Mr.. Harbour of
Iowa, j. G. Brent, ESQ and several others
for much Of which we are indebted to Capt Geo
Mattinply, ir for his attention and Dot;ten.,,