The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1859-11-25
Committee,
VIRGINIA MILITARY INSTITUTE. !


To the Citizens of Norfolk and Portsmouth.
Having received kind and courteous in
yitation from the Executive Committee of
the Seaboard Agricultural Society to attend
their annual exhibition, we were Induced
by the proverbial kindness and Hospitality of
the people of the Seaboard to be with them
on that ever to be remembered OCCASION
Having experienced your uaboanded gen
erosity, revelied in the exhuberance of your
hospitality and returned safely to our wes-
tern home in the beautiful blue mountains of
sour own Virginia" it nowremains for us as
citizen soldiers of this old Commonwealth,
while the warmest sentiments of gratitude
glow in our hearts, to express to you our
most sincere and heartfelt thanks for the
kind and aflable manner with which you en-
tertained us during our short but pleasant
sojourn among you. But indeed, language
is inadequate to convey in appropriate terms
the profound emotions of love, gra titude and
admiration which fill our bosoms. We Wis
tied you under the most extravagant expec
tations of pleasure, and we utter no feigned
sentiments, nor use the language of dissimu-
lation, but speak the t'ueral voces al ino
pectore," when we say they were fully real
lied, nay, more than realized.
We went among you as strangers we
were received not only as friends and Vir-
ginians, but as brothers, and we felt while
domiciled under your hospitable roofs, that
we enjoyed the blessings .of a paternal
mansion. Should it ever be your pleasure,
citizens of the Seaboard, to visit our portion
OF the Old Dominion, we tender to you, one
and all, soldiers hand and Virginia wei
come. Or should your hospitable city ever
be invaded by the impious tread OF hostile
foe, you will find that the corps of Cadets of
the V. M. l. are az ready to protect and de-
fend your homes and fire sides, as they have
been to partake of your kindness and hospi
tality.
TO the ladies, We would now address our
selves, to those without whose cheering
smiles and words of consolation, earth would
be desert without an oasis, life Pandora's
box without the essence of hope.
You, fair daughters of Norfolk and Ports
mouth, who so largely attended our drills
and so gracefully adorned the splendid ball
given US, will ever be remembered with fond
ness and affection you will ever occupy
the freshest and greenest spot in our mem
cries. The mere mention Of your names sends
thrill OF admiration through every bosom,
quickens the pulsation of every heart, causes
every eye to sparkle with delight, and every
countenance to radiate with joy. We speak
not the language of extravagant hyperbole |
Portsmouth far excel their fair sisters of ali
other places, not only in beAuty and lowell |
ness, but also in the diviner attributes of fe-
male character.
Never, until the unwelcome whistle had
announced our speedy departure, and the
"glimmering landscape was fast fading from
our viaw," and we had cast not one, but 0any
"long, lingering looks behind" at the grace
tul waving Of your handkerchiefs, did we
feel the deep, and soul-stirring pathos of that
magic word "good bye"
IL 10 none is orr pratituda moro iueklu 1ua
than to you, gentlemen of the Executive
Committee, to whom we tender our warm
est and most cordial thanks for the marked
and distinguished manner with which YOU
treated us on the Fair Grounds and else
where, and we cherish the hope that the
Virginia Military Institute Virginia's aur-
sery Of science and the arts--will in future CO.
operate with you in your no BILE undertaking
to further the agricultural interest of the |
good old State. May their united efforts in |
this worthy cause rebound to the glory and |
honor OF our common mother.
10 you, gallant volunteers of Norfolk and
Portsmouth, around whose festal board we felt
the warmth of a soldiers hand and shared
soldiers hospitality, we offer our most CRATE
full thanks. We feel assured that while the
same sentiments of patriotism which animate
your bosoms inspire the hearts of Virginia's
sons, that the blood.stained flag Of rebellion
VI OPPAOo5iotl WILL ACtCI wave III
over the consecrated soil that urns the ashes
of Washington or Jefferson.
To the noble commanders and their gal.
liant subordinates of Old Point, the Navy
Yard and the Pennsylvania, we wonld also
tender our warmest and most cordial thanks
for the signal and distinguished manner with
which we were received, and entertained by
them. We trust. and doubt not that they
will prove as brave and generous in war as
they are kind and courteous in peace. Now,
in conclusion, citizens of Norfolk and Ports
mouth, permit us once more to express to
you our most earttelt thanks. We will ev-
er look upon our pleasant, though short So
journ among you, as one OF the brightest Pc
riods OF our lives. You will ever live fresh
in our memories, and be dotted on with fond
ness and atfection-not single incident con-
nected with our trip will ever be forgotten,
until the unerring hammer of Times Horo-
loge shall peal the last moment of our exis.
tence on earth. CORPS OF CADETS.