Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-08-10

In approaching tie classic ahades Of Smiihtrld in
Montgomery county, Virginia, we tread on sacred
ground, aud scarcely trust our pen-s comparative
stranger to its thrilling early scenes aud lie eyentfu
history, to trace even line in its praise since We
canno, make it more beautiful, nor add usre to the
name of Preston which ia the synonyme OF all that il
good, patriotic and noble. But We have nruded, and
the glorious lveliDes of the scenes that surround
Us; the richness of landscape made charming by the
emulation here displayed, between Nature and Art,
or rather the combination AMI efforts Of both. chsl
lenges our unbounded admiration, and arouses s the
druwsy poetry OF our soul.
On the summit of the A!leghanies, where aEiaes
the springs that flow through the bright river OF the
woods" 10 swell the mighty waters OF tina West,
and where the James aud The Stanton sp;GS from
their mother earth, aud rush down The moun'aia siaes
and through the vairs and iowlanGs OF the east, 10
inset their ocean sre-es Snithtied, snaiiing with
inviting beauty, charming With cIs-sc TASTE. aud Ter
tile and boun'iiul from the generous hand OF Nature
Well nigh; The most dull and prosy gov wj'h eGhu-
siasm and ecquence in such those-tiir
garden spots OF the world, the very Eden OF our ima
gnation4, and neither the romantic vale vi Wyoming
reposug in beauty "at Su-Guehsnaa'e side. nor fair
and fertile Chemung, ,he boosted 6elds of Goshen
or cultivated jersey, can produce oveer spot, or
u more magnificent prospec'-Smithheid Is model
plantation. Those splendid groves, that lock moe
lik. msgnic.ut parks, with their grand and ma este
oaks and tall and graceful hickory, seem more like
cultivated forests than the rude productions Of print
tive nature here there appears defects dwarsd
growth or guarded twisted trunk. bat. like athletic
young Indians, they their leay cres;s III the
breez or stand untnching in the war OF tho elements
B.ue.,h their outrageous shsd, on '1s emerald Sod
IN the pure air OF the mountains famed by the gen
tlesr Eephyrs, how The poet might dream his beau
tilul visions. weave til soul awakening vrrsehnw
the lover might "sigh like firnace, or max. dole
fu! balsds"-how The sage might ponder hoy in
noc.nc- might sport Bu; here are other scenes TO
charm the practical business man. the herdcE!an or lie
planter. As far rs the eye can reach We behold the
wavy fields Of yellow wheat, thousand AGREE almost
~ level lawn; on the other hand staads vas! for
esis of dark green corn--iorea,e. We say. because
those stalks like trees than reeds, they
tower twelve aud even fifteen feet above us Here,
too is The Virginia weed, tho Rose OF Alabama,
Iuxurieng in rich end early growth. Around lis lie,
like carpets 0! green and u1uriaut verdure, exei-
mo,,lad herds o.! choice stock rare and fine iho-e
that roam upon their native Devon hiiis. Here
are m!ci cows tina: woud deligh, the herd-mani
beeves that tbs butcher might gloat over; aud here
too are booded and fancy steeds that even th-
wild Boudon might covet. But We are adtnoniehed
by our paper 20 cur'aiI and. inviting rs the sabjra;
il, we must round of our paragraphs
Sonlfe!i contains about 4 900 aci-a and is the best
part Of II 900 of choice land which selected
by an ancestor of the Preston family, nearly
~ ngo 1t divided into three splendid eeater.
which are Owned respectively by Gen Robert Col.
jaime, and Hon. Wan. Ballard Preston. TIE Old
homestead or former re-iisnc. of Gov. Preston, il
now occupied by Ba.rd-rhc iilus,rious of an
ilu-iiious sire. NJ man is better acquainted wit!
Vi.gnis, oomp r-iends clearly her rea;'
wants cr is more alive 10 her best policy. lie has
worked hard ur her glory and her welfare he Is eiu
dying s.l!i 10 promote her interests, and his grea,s
ambition is 10 aid in placing her first among the CON
ied-racy ot States lie does not despair, and com
plain ri Northern supremacy or aggression, bur b.
eves that there is inna- strength and power in Virgo
Iia, which only wants active irve!oprair - brraH
lowu ali opposition aud sink out t''C.nP:!''!y ]"
he wan Of Western progression. he Sow- Wih
tired coqarncs whro epeikir., Of Eir.;ais's n
tlrr, and sees dazzling :o:i.s wien ouy w.It
IN our enjoyment. From Norfolk, az the gates
Of our noble Chesapeake 10 The stsnn laden
rivers OF the mighty West, tom Maryland 10
tennessee, h. views country which nature has 81
oremey bi- but with regret that b's coun'rym-n
~. glow 10 s;pr-cia- the benefits ana advantage
when they emneut!y posscss lie sees, too more
cnal s"ishncss an.! loch Pr-ju:'ces than is con.s
.rt with out general good or calculated = promote
tina, concentration oil pow-- or purpose which alone
-s--ri,s a"i ga ""h''h mot 4 "F-n1
or future greatness, !: W. would 'ant head taller
than iii" gigantic States growing up 40 fast around us.
shall NV York look do,en With irowu upon ia, u
Young Ohio dictate 10 the Old Dominion! II MT
then lrt every man work, and let not such men a. Pres
ton b. allowed Ia remain idle in The seoGd blades ~
some retired Smttfed, when their voice aud ihrir
wisdom ia wanted "to govern men aud guide The
State" Preston il natinna. man, and knows u"
party and no creed, but those That conduc" 10 ;hs
welfare OF Virginia. His last years schi.v. CEMENT
was a noble one and in the right direction. Let it
be folio wed up, for France ia the natural ally o! TIE
South and it is the interest of bo;h 10 cultivate al
intercourse Of the most binding ard friendly nature
How loudly rang the carons Of the press when Mr.
Preston returned from Europe. crowned with snc-
ceas. as far Il. has mission concerned We cannct
forget since il only a cr months ago. le'. w.
cannot but 0baerv- how they are silent. Has IN"
fam died out and are the effort, OF thu pres fifth
Can't Wa take "s long pull, strong pIl and pull
s.ogeher" and never ceas- our efforts until W. pull
down svery obetacle i'll our way Faith will remove
mountains. =. IL ~ ID.