Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1859-07-25

profits Of their cultivation, resulting from their
natural fertility.
We are now between Blackstone Island and
Moore's landing with Britain's bay fairly opened
before us-on its banks stands Leonardtown, one
Of the first Maryland settlements-a century ago
place Of much commercial importance, and yen
yet the shire town Of venerable st. MaFy's Fhe
environs Of -Bfinin's bay present more varied and
therefore attractive features to the eye Of the voy
ager than have seen for hours. The cultivation
Of different crops here in comparatively small
patches, produce this effect. / observe that the
tall Lombardy poplars which thirty years ago
were marked features Of nearly every headland
between Washington city and Point Lookout,
are now rarely to be seen. The tree has lived its
day on the North American continent, I appre-
hend Ii was naturalized here by Mr.. Jefferson,
IL will be remembered, who was an enthusiastic
admirer Of its tall and graceful proportions and
its deep green hue. In such Localities as the diff
fersnt headlands Of the Potomac, it certainly ap-
peared to better advantage than elsewhere. So
though comparatively useless. even for shade, and
prolific Of dirt and worms, one who remembers
the effect of the tree the landscape In all direc-
tons, upon this river twenty years ago, must
regret the monotonous effect Of its absence.
John Smith-the Capt John Smith Of history
was the first white man who sailed up the Poto-
mac. The copies Of his sketch Of its headlands
and indentations, even yet extant, are most accu-
rate. They prove that his fame was not accidental
that there was scrupulous method in the man,
| and clear judgment and keen perceptive powers.
1t Is not little singular that from his day to ours
better sketch-map Of the river than his has
| the light. He left his pnnace near where the
Powhatan now floats, and, with boats crew,
coursed up stream to the Little Falls So, beyond
all question he and his little band of adventurous
companions were the first whites who ever stood
| upon the site of the Federal Metropolis. He was
| man of vast and most adventurous designs, and
Of daring in essaying to execute them, which, had
he lived in NEUROLOGICAL times. would have earned
him seat among the gods, yet his so exciteable
| and imaginative mind could never have taken In
the wonderful truth that in but day, as 1t were,
lin the lifetime Of nations) upon the banks of this
river, would stand the capital Of the most power
full nation in the world-most powerful in all the
real elements of national wealth, prosperity, hap
| piness and greatness.
| At p. m. we are nearing Moore's landing
rapidly, under strong head breeze that affords us
an atmosphere, as it comes leaping over the white
caps, with which the river (here ten or fifteen
miles wide) is speckled, so delightful to repay
any one for the cost Of trip down the Potomac
A more bracing and invigorating air one could
not wish How I should like to gladden. all the
overtasked thousands at home by its transfer for
brief hour to Washington city, that it might in
| vigorate them as it certainly invigorates me.
| Moore's landing, now kept as a summer resort
| principally for families from up the river and
| the surrounding country, 10 just now spread
| out before me. Its neat white cottages, COM
Portable though small pavilion, beautiful shade
/ trees and fine beach, upon which the tide is
| breaking in torrents Of white foam, make II the
| most picturesque sight upon the river. Its fish
ing grounds are the best on the Potomac, which
here has width of full fifteen miles. So, when
stiff breeze blows, the water being almost as salt
as that of the ocean, the bather enjoys all the lux
ury of a sea bath at Cape May, which, by the by,
is infinitely superior to the bathing at Newport,
only fit for namby- pamby folks who prefer to 90
| through the fashionable form OF gentle dip once
| or twice day, only because it is fashionable.
know no other point on the river that comb mes
| 30 many advantages for brief sojourn to the
fagged-out and fried-out citizen as this same
Moore's landing; and therefore do not wonder that
year by year the company there steadily increases
After landing passengers there in a row boat,
most gracefully tossed to and fro upon the tops of
the foaming waves the Powhatan has again turned
her head for Piney Point lighthouse. which
| looms up conspicuously nine miles of. The sun
glares brightly upon the spotless white of its
siderable tower, rejecting glare in ones eyes
which, though not pleasant, has the effect of CIV
ing 1t a brillancy and extent of appearance that
are quite striking. The river narrows again as we
| approach ii, and as a consequence, grows more
placid. Now within mile or two of it, the waters
| are well nigh as calm as between Washington and
| Alexandria. We are now leaving the Potomac
fishing landings, with which both shores have
been dotted throughout the days voyage. For the
last three years the value of these landings have
| been decreasing, perhaps million Of dollars an
nually notwithstanding the fish caught bring three
| times as much per thousand ere "the catch'
began to fail. II is thought that most of them
must be gradually abandoned. Not few Of them
have rented at from two to four thousand dollars
per annum 1.-THE privilege of hauling the seine upon
them) years ago. Now, no cautious man will give
| more than tenth that sum for any of them we ap-
| prehend. At not a few of them during the fishing
| season from one to two hundred hands have found
employment, at wages averaging fifty per centum
more than can be obtained in this region at any
other employment. For the sake of the laborers
the decay Of the Potomac fisheries is much to
be regretted as account of the positive loss of
much money it has brought on the owners Of the
various landings and on those contracting to fish
them.
We are just now rounding Piney Point light
house, to land passengers at what was few years
ago the most fashionable bathing place in all this
| region. The approach to it down the river is
anything but agreeable. Ii stands sand bank
| not three feet anywhere above the waters level
Its foliage as seen from that approach is, as its
name indicates, mere stunted pines. The light
house once rounded, however, and the wharf
approached, very different scene greets the eve
All the improvement has been expended on the
front, which has been embellished carefully with
spreading trees Of various varieties and elaborate
white Palngs, arches. and arbors. The bathing
is esteemed fine here, and the air most conducive
to health. The burning Of most of the buildings
few years ago, however, gave the tide of its
affairs as watering place ''set back" from
which il has never recovered. W.D.W H.
THE WAR Misunderstanding as was the an
nouncement of an armistce between the parties to
the European war, when least expected 1t Is now
followed up by the yet more bewildering news
Of peace being concluded, and peace which
seems to satisfy no one. Without apparent cause
Napoleon pauscs in his career of freeing italy