The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1857-11-19
Letter from the Lo.,Iands.
or Tas RICHMOND psILr pisfA'en


OK Board STEAMER "SsA BIRD
YORK RIVER. Nov. 18th, 1891.
In our last we promised to give you III &c
scenes of the Fair of the Seahoatd tE'i - a..
ci.ty I'm, bpno une xpectedIy called away, We nave
n". "eins a. f,r, yonr Norfolk exchanges
surh items as may please your paliate' anu pr 80
IKE a faithful correspondent, tn RiNeyou 'ne pyn
of interest to he gathered irou, ,"e ap Who
Riyer we have on board some htty passehSeis' "ho
90. r,,ute for their respective homes on tne e.
fSer hank of this 'nobe stream, and upon en4nir-
ing I apd each and every one OF them returning
with feslincs Of disappointment and disgust, rom
80, olJ Norfolk and her fair. We now making
fast TO "A pile OF logs, usually called a whar AT
Yorktown up the hill q few hundred feet, lies the
ancient city: quiet and somhre presenting as diiap
fdsted an appearance as possible. Prominent among
the buildings is the residence of Governor Nelson,
who figured I'm the Colonial History of Virginia:
littIe below, and some three hundred yards from
the wharf Il the noted of Cronwallis used last
summer ice home. and now degenerated into
q ',r-psa." Alas what characterization how
ever does not give to Lord Cronwallis the credit of
its construction for tits supposed to have been cut
by smuggeTs for the better secretion of their con-
trabsnd wares Just below here, and in sight, is
the Temple Farm" former residence Of Governor
Spotswood the house is prominent in the history
OF Virginia ~ the "Moore House, the farm, how
ever, gets it's name from the ruins Of au old Tenn
pie situated upon it, and which is held AZ q sacred
relic of the past, by the eLtire community,
Our few dilapdated buildings in this village are
occupied by about one hundred Inhabitants, the
most of whom are negroes get the white portion
of the population are noted for their hospitality
and tenacity to the etiquette Of the old colonial
families of Virginia.
A"meeting house" stands in bold relief upon
ono of the hills but Is closed for want of minis
ter. In the stream u fleet of "small crafts,
the occ upsnts of which are . iged in catching
oysters to plant, to be retaken early spring for
the Northern market.
few miles above Yorktown, aud on the right
bank Of the river, lies the prominent farms
Belle Field and Indian Feld-the two contain
some twenty-five hundred acres, in high state oi
cultivation. and are tho property of Col. hcCan-
dish, OF Williamsburg, gentleman well known
IN your city. rs true type of the "Old virginia
gentleman"
We are now approaching West Point. known
smong the denzens OF Richmond, as the terminus
Of the York River Railroad-one or two small
buildings have been erected, and some lew lots
sold, aud this is the only evidence Of the embryo
Importance Of this place, upon which the farmers
around have built 80 many hopes and INDUCED III
SO many bright visions of the future.
We notice upon the bosom of this noble river,
many vessels OF large size; the inward bound FUR
uishing the comforts and Injuries, and bearing
away in their cspacious holds. the grain and lun
Der exported by the more energetic aud indus
trious of the community.
This is u noble stream, and candor compels me to
say that the merchants OF Richmond have only to
make the proper exertion to render it subservient
Il their use, and make it pay tribute to their
wealth.
We now approach Shepperd's landing. where we
bid adieu to Capt Rowe aud his noble boat, and for
the present cease our iOttings PERCUSSION.