The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1858-09-23
Of the south-Scwanee.

The following letter is a most ex-
celent one. 1t contains the unbiased
opinions of very smart and good
man, and we shall take pleasure in
publishing whatever else may come
from his pen. How our heart swells
with qualification and pride when we
see Sewanee winning the golden opin-
ions Of all who visit it. Let all read
the predatory remarks Of the Nashville
Banner, too, from which paper we
take the letter:
From the Nashville Banner.
Our readers have already had
through our columns pretty full no.
tices Of the peculiarities Of the coun-
try selected for the location of the
proposed University of the South
But the place is worthy of all that has
or can be said of it within the bounds
Of reason, as we know from personal
observation, and is interesting to every
one aside from its association with the
great educational movement of the
age.
Rev, DR.. j. McMahan, Professor in
the Theological Seminary Of New
York, clergyman OF the Episcopal
Church, and associate editor of the
New York Church Journal, has re-
Gently been spending IA few days at
Sewanee, and has given the result OF
his observation to the public in two
very interesting letters which .,c pro-
pose TO rcpubISh. The following is
the first. Aside from any interest
which may be felt in the University,
every reader will be charmed with his
pleasing style, and interested in his
description Of some Of the beauties
and wonders Of Tennessee scenery.
SEwANCE, Franklin Co., Tenn.
August II, 1858,
Sewanee, which the obIgmg reader
will please pronounce Se'wa.nec, the
chosen site Of the future University of
the Southland we may add by way Of
Gus site II isis the point from which we
dale our present communication. In,
slted by Bishop Polk, we came on to see
with our own eyes what sort Of "loCa.
ton" the Committee appointed for the
purpose, had been able TO secure. II lay.
ng seen, and explored, with every oppor.
tunIty to form Judgment on the subject,
we can assure the readers Of the Church
Journal, that the advantages Of the Moth.
l.moUntaIn--lor such, we learn, is one,
though somewhat doubtful interpreter
'oh OF lhe name-can hardly be over.
stated. A Iavoring Providence brought
a tract of land, than which none heller
could be desired, before the Committee;
a happy inspiration led them to discern
It's merits; ami wonderful concurrence
oI favorable circumstances enabled them
to secure it in magnificent length and
breadth, on easy terms, and with such an
aggregation OF cOnComltant advantages as
the must ardent ireuds Of the enterprise
could hardly have expected.
Let the reader convey himseI T in fancy,
or ii he objects to that mode OF travel,
let him come by the way of the Nash.
vile anI Chattanooga Railroad, first TO
Cowan Depot in the ordinary fashion,
and thence by woIminga and zigzagging
process along the slope of an IRON rail
ascending 80 feet to the mile. up to one
OF the mnumerabIe projections of that
wonderful plateau, which lorms the sum.
nit, or we should rather say the surface,
or bfoadbaCk, Of the great Cumberland
Mountain. The ascent is admirably
managed, and involves lttIe peril to life
OF limb. For the greater part Of the way
the outlook towards the plain is yelled
by rocks and trees. At one point, how
ever, we look down into the mouth Of
the tunnel, through which the Chattanoo.
ga road, now some distance below, pier.
ccs 100 yards OF the Montgomery Gap.
AT another, the oblging engineer reins
in his iron steed, that we may indulge
IOretaste of the glorious birds eye views
which await US in greater breadth and
beauty at the summit. But having come
thus far, let the traveller be in readiness
to halt at the right place. Let not his
imagination he excited by the stimulating
title Of the Fiery Gizzard; let not the
euphonlous esignations Of Spung Spring.
or Dumping Dick, or the morc ambitious
names Of Allamont, or Tracy City, lure
him beyond certain modest station in
the woods, pointed ont 10 him if he is
watchIul, by bIazed road on the left,
at which he is to stop, being now within
a mile Of the site Of the future University.
Allghting there, AMI hiding his val,c, if
too heavy for him to carry, behind a
bush, he has on y TO follow the blazcs-
SO every one will tell him; though we
might suggest from our experience that
these blaZes are sometimes Of the nature
Of tho ignuS ta!uuS-in orler to reach
the precise spot, a. which, as we have
said, we would have him place himself
| As a whoIe--itw will be Gound-the Uni.
versity estate is one Of the Southwesterly
projection Of that great table.und, some
1000 feet above liGe.wq!er, which forms
SO interesting feature of the State of
Tennessee. lis area is about 10000
acres; the extreme length abou, I, and
the breadth some 2 or miles. This sur.
face, not level BY any means, but beau,i.
ully.undulating; broken up into hills,
and daIes, and in its general appearance
crow looted, as it were, by the tracks of
some cIossal paleo.zoic crow; covered
with rich and porous soil and clothed
with magnificent growth Of chestnuiS,
hickories, oaks, ashes, gums, and other
~. ,..
with springs Of The purcst water, leaping
out Of the caves, or yelling up from the
Fat bottoms Of coves and dels; this richly
varied surface presents the most perfect
system Of drainage, and the finest ma tural