Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1858-02-09

A FREQUENT recurrence to the history of thel
past. in connection with the characters OF those
who, by reason of their talents and virtues, oc-
cupicd a conspicuous position, IS duty 20 oe
performed and pleasure TO be desired. On
former occasion we briefly penned sketch OF
the character of our subject as alawyer; on the
present occasion we propose to make feeble
effort to rescue from oblivion, some facts IN
connection with his early lifs and legislative ca
recr. =,
upper portion of the then Colony of Maryland,
to the wilderness of Western Virginia. The
father of the subject of our sketch, with small
number of neighhors, made his settlement in
what is now Brooke County, in the Spring oil
the year 1878. Instead of the busy hum OF in
dustry and the ceaSeless noise and untiring
clack of busy machinery, which now strike the
sense, then the silence of natures temple was
broken only by the war whoop of the willy sa-
wage, or the dreary howl Of the prowlng beast
of prey.
The limits of our present sketch forbids our
entering into an enumeration of the trials, cares
and privations which surrounded him, whose
ttemcrity led him to penetrate these, Western
wilds Suffice it 10 say, at that early day it
was difficult to obtain the common necessarles
of life. But these wants anddeprivauons form
ed u race of heroes, whose courage was as UNI
doubted, and whose virtues as unmistakeable
as any recorded upon the pages of Grecian or
Roman history.
At an carly age young Dodridge lost both his
father and mother. Thus he was thrown upon
the world without that kindly advice and sym
pathy SO acceptable to the hearts of the young,
and which is so necessary to warn and guido
them at that period oflife SO susceptible to good
or evil impressions.
Possessed of delicate constitution at the
age of sixteen of eighteen years, he was taken
| from the plough and placed at school, whore he
commenced the study of Latin. His vigorous
0f
Thought, or as dry sponge absorbs water. His
close application to his studies greatly enfeeblcd
his health, and hence it became necessary for
him to suspend them. AT this period the re.
gion in which he lived had become so much I'M.
proved as to afford considerable surplus produce
beyond the wants of the inhabitants, the only
market for which was to be found on the Missis.
sippi river or at New Orleans Some of his
cousins, young men of his own age, having
loaded boat with -four invited him to so with
them, and recruit his enfeebled health and frame
bya voyage to the South.
Nothing very interesting occurred until they
reached Natchez, at that time in the possession
of the Spaniards, They were very strict in
their police, forbidding any strangers or boat
men to go up into the town, seated on a high
bluff without certain permission from the
Commandant or Governor
Young Doddridge, feeling the i'll effects of
confinement to the narrow limits of the boat,
and that he needed exercise, determined to take
walk and visit the town on the hill. He had
assembled about half way, when he was met by
a well dressed man who accnStcd him in the
| Spanish language. Doddridge did not fully I'M
defStand him, bnt thought it similar to the Lat
| in, and answered him in that tongue. 1t so
| happened that the individual who addressed
] hin. less u parsonage than tho GoreTror
| of Natchez, and was well versed in the Latin,
having been literally educated in Spain.
| They soon fell into familiar and animated
| discourse without Philip once suspecting the
station of his new acquaintance. Learning that
he had visited the Mississippi country OH ac-
count of his delicate health, and that he was
! now walking for exercise, after long confinement
| to the boat, and withal nStonished and delighted
| to have discovered so learned man In an up
country boatman, he invited him to his house.
The sprightly wit and uncommon intellect OF
the young stranger soon won his whole heart,
and Interested the Spanish Commandat deeply
| in his welfare.
| His admiration was not the less excited from
/ having pointed out to him on largo map of
the Western country, which being against the
wall, the spot near the head of the Ohio river
where he was born, and from whence,he depart
! ed on the present voyage.
Whilst thus agreeably engaged, a black SER
| vunt drove up to the door with neat Spanish
carriage and pair of horses, accompanied with
an invitation from the Governor to step in and
ride as far as he pleased With many thanks,
not the less acceptable to his benefactor from
their being clothed in the Latin tongue, Philip
accepted the offered kindness and extended his
ride to some distance around the suburbs
When about to deUart, he was invited to call
every day MS long as he remained, aud the car
riage and servant should be ready for his SER
vice.
This pleasing intercourse was continued for
about a week, and when he finally took his
leave, the Governor gave him letters ofintroduc-
lion to several of the first gentlemen in New
Orleans, accompanied with many fatterng ex-
Ipressions of his admiration for his uncommon
Requirements, and the pleasure his acquaintance
had afforded him, thus demonstrating the hon.
age that is ever paid by the wise and good to
learning and worth, even when accompanied
with poverty and amongst strangers.
HIS companions looked with wonder and as.
tonishment at the gracious reception aud at
tention paid to their cousin by the Governor,
while they were hardly allowed to step on shore
and not suffered to leave the vicinity of the
landing. Philip laughiugly told them it WAS all
owing to his good looks, which they could hard.
lily believe, as in this particular they were de-
cidedly superior to their cousin.
1 On reaching New Orleans, his letters procured
him ready admission to the tables and the soci-
ETY. of the most prominent men in the city, and
the few weeks he staid there were passed in
round of amusements, freely bestowed by the
L sk.ll