Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-05-20
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP
HE MUNICIPAL ExCURsIoy.-
Editorial Corrsspondenes of The Star.l

Ok BOARD STEAMER BALTIMORE,
Potomac Rirsr, 81 a. M. May 10, 1857 I
The storm this morning proved too boisterous
Tor the nerves Of most Of the honorable Corpora
ton of Washington City, who were to have
Joined the Excursion Party to Ashland. Some
twelve or fourteen of its members headed by
the Mayor, are, however, along; and a jolly set
they are, truly-cayorting under the influence
of their day of holiday, like so many 'two year
olds. The occasion that brings US together
of course is to be credited for much of the genial
influence which seems to be relaxing the rigid
ity of their usually stern and fxed countenances;
Williams (the colored barkeeper Of the boat
skiil In brewing that peculiar institution of the
vlcinage-Juleps-may be justly credited with
the balapce. He evidently knows thing or
two in his lire, if not three or four, or FIVE, or
six.-judging by the way in which his elbow Is
kept going among the variegated different
tinted) implements Of his department of the
boats garnishments; of course simply to graf
hy the curiosity of her guests of the occasion,
every mothers son Of them being far too steady
and sOberly inclined to exact his services for
aught but the qualification of that so natural
attribute Ofthe Oyer-worked business man when
on an excursion, rather than through any possi-
bic penchant for the creature comforts per SO he
handles SO gracefully, and with so much agility.
The breakfast set before us by Captain Mat
hngly was capital one, embracing all the del
icacies of the Potomac far famed feeding ca
pacities of the Spring season
Our worthy Mayor, who sat near me. did in
finite credit to the lines reputation for good
living, as well as to his own for fondnes, for
II The way IN which rare and fat beef.teaks,
hot rolls, omelets, broiled .had, radi.hes, and
half dozen ct ceteras disappeared from before
MIN would have been astonishing to me, but for
the fact that L, too, got up at a. N, this morn
ing and hustled about for four hours ere setting
down to table, under the influence of quite as
keen an appetite, shsrpened not q little by the
aforesaid Williams skill in compromising appe-
Tiers But bless your soul, dear Washington
reader, we had ocular demonstration of the
eternity of the truth Of the familiar sdage-a
lean dog for long chase-as e1emplifed in the
astronomical performances Of Mr.. Councilman
EdHonstOn, who, seating himseIf-like the Door
ooy at the weddlng-away down at the foot of
the table, made such . time al seemed to in
duce MS rlght-hand neighbor for the occasion
councilman BOhlayer-to regret that he had
failed to bring along his well known beef cart
lest there should arise a regular famine ere the
journeying Corporation be, restored to their
anxious, If not distressed, families.
But the hero of this capital breakfast feas.
was no other than Major Gen. John R. Queen,
the commander-in-chief of the city's gratuitous
shpendlaries, whose capacious jaws, and still
more capaeIous TANKS, seemed bent on doing bv
proxy what his numerous (offciaD family or
charge usually kept on poor-house fare, Of
oourse,) would assuredly have done had thew
one and all been seated around such a table
Alderman Clark, of the rampant Sixth, pro.
verbally modest man as he is, seemed uonds-
struck with the Generals signal achievements
upon broiled shad and hot coffee Thus. tbonoh
be could say nothing under the influence of his
% great astonishment, he looked so unutterabls
things as that one Of his eyes has become abso-
Iutely b!oOdshot. Some malicious BODY at NV
elbow whispers that one of Williams popping
corks, taking wrong direction, inflicted that
injury to his so very handsome countenanee
instead Of hitting its usual mark-instead of
icing, as 1t should have been, a L" shot in the
neck"
But the boat is rapidly nearing Aouia Crack
where we ere to take the railroad and INV e.
NdSlllrtDnl
are hustling on Overcoats, hats, &c So mnst
drop the pen and look to my muster-roll. to
make sure that Williams's fragrant persuaders.
20 near at hand, do not seduce any of them ftbe
honorable Corporation to forget for the nonce
the Tlands II store for the consolation OF their
Aldermanic sppetites, away down at Ashland
30 adleu for the time being. WI.
ASHLAND, 8p. N.
IN reaching Aqua Creek ut IOS a. m. our
precious party was Immediately transferred to
the rail car, wherein it duly journeyed at TWEEN
ty miles per hour to Ashland, passing through
Fredericksburg, on the way.
Not having travelled the route for four mr. Ave
years, was struck with the remarkable agri.
cultural advancement Of the region bordering
1t "nlch lie naturally one of the poorest in the
sCa's' OF Tery light soil and very little of il.
Inc ploSing' from end to end, was we'll done
ahd nearly every farm appeared to be we'll.
orained' precaution necessary to secure re-
Enumeration Tor labor upon farms, there. If INV
"here under the sun for the region Ia unite
nat and greatly lacks natural DRAINAGE
Inc train reached Ashland-sixteen u;I.s
w -','hiiond-at p In, where our party
n, HunIn hODlnsOn, ESQ, the
n iosiden' Of The Fredericksburg and Richmond
h1iroad Company, Mayor Mayo of Richmond,
eeVerai members of the Richmond CITY Conn.
1 u ana citizens Of Richmond, Ashland, and
Hanover county.
Inc state OF the weather-for the cold rain
"as driving down by fits and starts in torrents
Anu must hung heavily over every thing-pre
en'ed Us from Venturing far from the limits of
,ne capital hotel formerly known as the Slash
'otase' which had been doubled in all its en-.
PaoNlues since L had been there Indeed, as
a'e as TWO years ago Ashland consisted of tbi,
u'e Oh entertainment only Since. a COM
iany nave purchased large body of land there
anu nave instituted improvements which al.
make the point one Of the most beautiful
t-: "ah retreats-fOr the railroad connection
II within but half an hour of Rich. |