The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-11-08


Bar, Sc, SC.
The following is the text of the interesting lecture
delivered by President Tyler, Thursday night last,
before the Richmond Mechanics Institute
GKSuxMKS-I am here tonight in compliance with your
repeatedly urged request that would deliver ture
before you aid of your praseworthy undertaking You
have kindly left the subject to my own selection; ana
memory-the privilege of age-carres me back to the
DAYS Of my youth when for the first time walked your
streets looked upon your beautiful eminences and formed
some acquaintance with the men of that day. who have
long since travelled the road dusty death leaving
their names and high deserts deeply impressed on the
mind OF Richmond My theme TO night is Richmond ana
its memories brief glance at the early history oil the
site which the city stands will neither be unnstruct'e
nor Improbable The first daring adventures IN the set
Element Of Virginia lost time exploring the river on
whose noble band had cast their hopes and
fears They visited the great Werowanee, who by his
arms and policy subjected TO his sway the numerous
tribes who inhabited the tide region, at his chief
residence now the hospitabe home OF Mr.. Robert Mayo
below the Falls That residence, bearing the name of
poyhatan attracts the attention of all who travel up
down the river and may be regarded constituting
OF the features and by the least interesting one,
Of the city The falls Of the river were for many
the ultima thule of the early adventures. Formidable
tribes OF savages ranged the country above this
locality these falls whose evening echoes constitute
the nightly tattoo of the inhabitants, lulling them TO
repose each day of toll and whose morning resound
ings make their revee summoning them to their daily
labor, formed barrier over which the white man for
long wears pass The first actual settlement
the neighborhood OF which We have Wen autheni-
Gated account that of Nathaniel Bacon, whose
possessions watered the south by thu
stream universally known as Bacous Quarter Branch
which is now settled a frugal and industrious
population. which is embraced within the expanding
limits the city At that early day the colonisis were
thrown into violent agitation by OF the frequent
the
by indians, Among others, the oyerseer OF Bacon
was cruelty and shockngly murdered aud the embers
which the Governor Sir William Berkeley, had tried 10
smother broke into flame that nothing could resist
Desnue The Governors extraordinary supineness and
his procamatons denounclng as traitors all who should IN
dertake prosecute war against the Indians without his
consent the people fastened 10 embody themselves into
military corps unanimously elected Nathaniel Bacon
a. their chief lead them against their border enemies
60 no further the history of those times than
say that ultimately that talented aud ndomtable leader
with his patriotic band encountered the combined forces
OF the Indians almost within sight OF this city, and took Of
them terrible retributon. Their blood crmsoHed thc
of the stream on the margin Of when the battle
fought that from that day to this that stream has
borne the OF " The Bloody Run, and will for ages
vet 10 come memorial OF the victorious leader
and intrepid band The wayfarer, wandering on the
banks OF that stream looks in vain for the evidences Of
that bloody day Nearly two centuries have passed away
since them and instead Of readng dead mems bones
the wild pressed beneath his footsteps the stream
runs mpdy beside him, and as steals quietly its
10 mngle With other waters, dimples its surface with
smiles and gdes laughingy on And yet that bloody day
electualy broke the power Of the INDIAN who from that
day TO this has been driven by resstess to
the place the setting where he is destined 10 sink
beneath the horizon TO be remembered in tn
tales Of tradition, which as the world grows old
err will be classed with fable, or only mentioned
in ,oetry and song Notwithstanding this signal defeat
the rovers Of the wilderness coming distance, AMI
belonging 70 powerful tribes often stole in upon the
Elements and rendered them insecure. To guard against
this the Grand Assembly, II called m those days
granted to Captain William Bird in 1879 tract Of land
both Of the river including on the north side tn
greater part Of what is tue city Of Richmond, upon
Condition that he would the granted land, my
able men armed and constantly furnished with sufficient
ammunition and provisions; and number Of tytheable
persons not exceeding $50 IN the whoe-and made him
The Commander Chief Of the settlement lie is supposed
70 have built Beyidere as h place OF residence and to
have had a store and mill lower down, in what
the city He valuable acquisition TO Virginia, and
man OF great thr and enterprise He manifested far
reaching sagacity IN seizng upon the advantages which
ths location offered He doubtless foresaw In the future
what realizeda large and popuous city springng
up on his domain That lac man OF great thrift
not ony proven by the large possessions he left behind
but established by bis correspondence preserved in the
first and second volumes of the Virginia Historical Register
postscript 10 Of his letters viii sufficiently attest this.
He writes TO Thomas Grendon, by singular Coincidence
per the Jack Tailor and postscript, says; Jack
Warren and Will Randolph, our worthy burgesses,
frequently drink your health. Pray be mindful OF my
carried an successful trade with the Indians In skins and
furs thereby preserved the peace better than by the
use Of guns and gunpowder. Such was the original set
Tier OF the city OF Rchmond-a OF bold and hardy
adventure possessed in the beginning Of ample means,
and greatly charging them by thrift and cconomy-oen
the representative in the House Of Burgcsses from the
County Of Henrico. and for time treasurer II Is
expressed upon his tombstone the public burial ground
WegtOyer
The an December i7Ol leaving his heir law the
celebrated Col VIM Bird, large and valuable p,ssssions
who erected and adorned the beautiful seat called Wsio
YER now IN the possession of my friend John Seldon, Esq
Tie inscription on his monument which Il u the garden
At wcstover, will best explain his character aud mpor
tant public services. II reads as foiiows?-
Here yeih The Honorable wism Bird Esq being born
q The ampes, fortunes ~ he county he was s,ni early
OF sir Roer and favored with hrs particular
b 4. asSs t Psss .aa 1 ao
duced The aequain.snee Of many q The Ts persn q that
sieuIary coniractsd and friendship with
The ss Bsl u. o s Tsmes a S a
time IN ne Low Countries yslisd The r. q md w.s
me service Of bis country he male Receiver
pubic agent q D. Court Ministry fngaDd aud being
thirty years member a. a became President of The
d waste and Ne, Wen bred rshiem.9 "a polite com
h e constant enemy q AZ s!ooinsl power saa harry
Is74-dbed Aug %, l7A. Aged 70.
IT'S TO be hoped ths the proprietor q the place will
consider II solemn duty 70 see that that monument, so
FUN OF the history Of the past shall be preserved from
decay. The paternity Of cities h often lost in the merits
OF the past. Fable sometimes supplies the place Of
history and the has been made the foster mother
OF high imperial Rome. Richmond has no Obsouriy
nected with its origin. II presents TAR scroll aud
that is indellbly recorded on the page o history.
with wise forecast q the future, Colonel Bird the
advantages of hs possessions here and IN 1897 resolved
10 law OH h lands on the north side Of the river
bic ard lots Tor the foundation Of
large city The Indian power had been broken ny the
sanguinary affair q Bloody Rum sixty years before and
Ridge Fredericksburg had been already laid on al the
foot q the falls the Rappahanuock, and courted the
trade Of Al the country watered by that river more
extensive country called for town Al the falls Of the
and the far proprietor resolved 20 open this
spot Tor settlement lis advertisement Is ~ be found IN
the Williamsburg Gdssr, Of that day. town OF some
pretenscns speedily and It's increase IN population
soon placed alongside Of older towns while - greater
centrally caused at an early day the General Court
which then court Of almost nmited jurisdiction
20 be transferred q from Williamsburg and along with
IL came much q the high forensic talent which at that
day aud long Afterwards celebrity 70 the bar of Nr
GINA Tradition tells that the great hotel whore the
learned Judges and lawyers and clients assembled
wooden building, which still stands opposite the Union,
which fos years past has been appropriated 70 greatly d
fcrcni purposes at an aftcr day when the aspr
ng city hsd clambercd up the steep aud then difficult
ascent ~ e monS caJstHuv that the City Hotel had 10
surrender claim of being considered the hotel par sD
-. ~ ne Ian And SWIM which now u bel-eye