Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1858-07-15
NOTES OF TRAVEL.


Town, 1uSI as Tue oIIehl gre" ioeeate iiou
the smiles of the sun, in small one horse
vehicle, for the city Of Wiimin gton, where
had hoped to arrive by 6-o'clock, A. NJ,
in time for the morning boat. Our horse
was plow nag, unused to travel, and as
consequence our progress was slow. The
air was balmy, though, the scenery rich,
and the w1nas sweeping o'er the plain,
bending beneath their burden the golden
fruit and grain, go engaged US that time
sped on rapid wings, leaving the regret
only that life could not always be. .so.-
Wood after waod Gas passed; field after
field; and stream after stream, that rippled
by to their own sweet melodies, till the
spires of the city one by oLe began to peep
at our aRproseh from the hiiltops. Sosn
the din of busy hands and hustle of busy
feet broke upon us; black smoke wreathed
up from thousand fues; porter, cabman,
and carIasA hurried by with clash, cIang
and clatter; engines, groaned, locomotives
screamed, and bells pealed forth hurried
notices. Giving whip and rein, reached
the wharf in the nick of tim, to see my
boat move of in her majesty. The second
boat les]E at liza. NJ, gave me five
hours .lasSr which ] improved to sdvan-
tsge fSyhe %itI, feeling IN no wise discom-
fitted BY my disappointment. After de-
posting my luggage at the Delaware House,
| struck of for a visit to the famous Bran
DIVINE Touring mills. Apart from their
number lseventeen) and structure, there is
nothing unusual about them. Their world
wide renown makes them subjects OF in
terest 70. the traveller :: They are construct
ed OF fine. qualify Of lime stone, found
near at hand, and located on Brandywine
creek, SO near the Delaware that vessels of
considerable tonnage are accommodated at
the lover doors. They do not seem TO
have suffered much from their long service,
and much of the original machinery is still
in them. -Four miles above these mills are
located Dupont's powder mills, made ia
nous from the many explosions that have
occurred, as well as for the good article of
powder there produced. did not visit
these, the dis,auce being SO great, but i
did visit-she place of their last great explo-
sion of lHst summer. A number of the
houses are still in ruins; trees are rent
asunder, and the earth upturIed, as if bv
the Plow.s Strange as it may appear, |
was credibly informed by citizen that no
vestige Of the drivers of the three teams,
one or two persons in company, street
beggar, nor the horses Except one leg Of
the latt, y was ever found, so terrible was
the concession. The city is furnished with
water from reservoir filled from the river.
The basin is undergoing repair, the old
walls are torn down, and new ones sup
plying. Good schools are well supported
and the number of churches erected and
dedicated exceeded nv expectations, for
city of thirty thousand inha abitants. The
town clock. that faithful monitor, assures
me that my time has come, and without
further delay ] engaged passage on the
Zephyr for the Quaker City, where arr-
we'd, after pleasant trip, on the evening
OF the seme day. .s.- d. ....
Alter few moments rest, glass oI ice
water and the necessary etc., for a hot dsy
Cor the 1hsrcury climbs daily to 95 y l.
accompanied by friend, repaired to Inde-
pendence Hall. As our national natal an
niversarg approaches each year, our usual
dormant inspirations of patriotism are
aroused, which enhances the interest in
the Hall, in Bunker Hill, Lexington, and
Other theatres of our youthful war-like
plays. .-..--..... ..
The interpa! appearance OF the Hall is
much the. same to-day as i: was on the 4th
July, IS, apart from the paintings of our
prominent men, which deck the, wallis
The old mahogony chairs, with leather
cushions, once the properly of Washington,
and subsequently, the seats of Hancock and
Henry, occupy their original places, which
are Immediately in front of the entrance
Back of these is the statue of the "Father
of his Country" representation of his
more youthful days. To the right of him
stands DR.. Frankiin's desk. in state ofI
good preservation, retaining its first cover
ing o { bombazine. 1t, with the statue and
some national relics, are enclosed with nm
iron rail. The opposite side is occupied
by large marble pedestal, surmounted by
the bell that toled our liberties bearing
the inscription, aProclaim liberty through
out the land, to all the inhabitants thereof"
which seems to partake of the marvellous
nature of prophecy, as the bell was manu.
factured fifteen years before Independence
day. block of marble, bearing the coat
of arms of the Keystone State, exquisitely
executed, at a cost of $4,000, and designed
for present from the State to the Wash
ington Monument Association, is to be |
seen here. Also chair, of antique style,
in its parts SINE OF the wood
belonging to the domicil of Christopher
{ olumbus; some from tine house of Lafay-
cite; lock of hair from the head of Chief
Justice Marshall; and variety of such rel
les. Procuring a ticket from :be superin-
tendent, we were allowed 20 work our way
up into the belfry. This contains tie city
clock apd-hsu, the latter weighing four
thousand pounds, and serving as bell for
The clock to denote the hours, as well as
to give the alarm of FIRE. The day being
clear, we were furnished magnificent
view Of the city and the Delaware from
this point, i: being the most elevated posi-
ion to be found in The city. Night shook
,ut her sable curtain and closed the pan
'rama, and need scarcely say felt CRATE
rul, for my days labors were tiresome.--
First. vexed with delay, stiAed with smoke.
oarched by the scathing sun, and then sui.