Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-01-01
E,rIy Soctety OF VIRGINIA,

Lands were obtained on easy conditions
from the Government and rtherwise; and pre-
yiient individuals secured vast estates. This
was particularly the case on James River,
where the most ehtcrprising and wealthy Of
the earlier emigrauts established themselves.
Some ofthese men, OF particular mark and
energy, acquired possessions vieIng IN ex-
tent with those OF the proudest mobiles OF their
native land. These were perpetuatcd IN their
families by entails, the laws regulating which
we're ultimately rendered more stringent in
Virginia, than in England Itself. As their
lands rose gradually in value, the great low
land proprietors began to vie with English
mobiles in wealth as well as in territory
Many of them lived in baronial splendOr.-
Their abOdes, it is true, were comparatively
mean ne the country did not yet furnish per.
N 3nent building materials, except at vast cost,
nor did it furnish =. acticed architects to make
use of them; but their spacious grounds and
gardens were bravely orDsmented; their tables
were loaded with plate, and with the Injuries
of the Old AID New World; numerous slaves.
and white persons whose time they owned
for term of years, served them In every ca
pacity, which use, luxury, or ostent4tlon
could dictate; and when they travelled IN
state, their cumbrous and richly appointed
coaches we're dragged by six horses, driven
BY three positions. But usually the mis-
tress of the household with her children and
maids, appropriated this vehicle. The Viz
ginia gentleman of that day, with much OF
the feeling of earlier fcudal times, when the
spur was the badge of knighthood, esteemed
the saddle the most manly, if not the only
l., 6 Ii, oG be pt
brutes. lie accordingly performed all his
ordinary journeys on horseback. When he
went forth with his whole household, the ca
valcade consisted Of the mounted white males
Of the family, the coach and six, numbering
through the sands, and retinue of mounted
body servants, groOns with spare led horses,
etc, in the rear.
10 their general tone Of character, the low.
land aristocracy of Virginia resembIed the
cultivated landed gentry of the mother coub-
try. Numbers of them were highly educa-
ted ard accomplished, by foreign study and
travel; and nearly all, or certainly much the
largest portion, obtained an excellent educa-
tim at William and Mary College, after its
esta blishment,' or respectable requirements
10 the classical schools kept 10 peArly every
parish by the learned clergy Of the Establish
ed Church AS class, they were intelligent,
polished IN manners, high toned aud hos
pitable-a sturdy in their loyalty and In
their adherence to the national Church.
Their winters were often spent in gaIet'es
and festivities of the provincial capital; their
summers, when not connected with the pub
lie service, principally in supervising their
in,mense estates, in visiting each other, and
in such amusements as country tite afforded
Among the latter, the chase held prom-
nent place. Born almost to the saddle and to
the use Of fire arms, they were keen buffers,
and when the chase was over they sat round
grooming boards, and drank confusion to
Frenchman aud Spsniard abroad, and u
R1uudhead and Prelstist at home. When the
lurking and predatory Indian became the
object Of pursuit, no strength Of the Red man
could withstand, no speed of his eiude, tae
fiery and gslantly mounted cavalry. The
social gulf which separated this from the com
mon class of coouist., became about as deep
and wide, and az difficulty to overlenp IN mar
rage and other social arrangements, as that
which divided the gentry aud peasantry OF
England. Such were the Carriers, the Clrys,
the Burwells, the Byrds, the Falria1es, the
Harrisons, the Lees, the Kandolphs, and
many other families of early Virginia. Hd''-
duWS Life Of jefferson.