The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1859-08-20
Rifbmonh 4ispatth.
SATURDAY MORNING
AUG. 90, 1850.

SATURDAY MORNING. AUG 90. 1850,
Correspondence Of tho Richmond Dispatch
The Vatteg Of the SleaaadoaA--A Valley Farna---
fasefessing Historical "Reminiscences Fairfax
--WasAingtoa-~Tae .Gsmfleman Assoefaters, %
&e, &c, 5e..
WINCHESTER, August 6. 1859.
l. 1t Is good to be in a land OF beauty--it IL
good to be in land of plenty-a land that
| flows with milk and honey" ibid the Jew
ish patriarehs and prophets know anything
| of milk and peaches ~ If they did, would
not this most delicious luxury OF bountifuf
/ land have had place in their songs, in their
inspired praises OF those fertile wales and
/ plains which were dear to their hearts, ana
| which even the world at this day yearns al,
| ter They certainly knew not milk ana
! peaehes''l ii 10 good to look upon teeming
| fields blooming gardens, happy homes, clear,
| swift-running streams, lovely groves, aha Il
/ horizon bounded by lofty mountains, whose
peaks seem 70 kiss the skies. 10 iook upon
| such scenes, TO live amidst them, however
| briefly are TO the dweller in the popuious
city, good for the body good for the soul, aud
! to the heart a JOY inexpressible. Ii is In the
! broad and lovely Valley OF the dear Shenan-
doal that these dell gh Is are to be found. Here,
| indeed, may the wearied frame rest itself upon
| the bosom of a sea OF loyeiiness, presenting TO
! the keen senses of the soul, attained to nature,
I beauties that never fade, charms that never
/ die.
/ The Valley of the Shenandoah is indeed
/ one of the most fertile as Well as one OF the
/ think the people who live in ii do not appre-
| cate the blessings they possess, the beauties
/ of nature by which they are surrounded--l
! NAV say, in which they are bathed. Is 1t not
+ the nature Of man not to- appreciate those
/ blessings he has, while he Is prone to enioglz-
| ing those he hath not! The stranger mere is
| enchanted with what he sees, and, like Mr..
| Jefferson when he stood upon the mountain
/ and looked down upon the stupendous scene
! Mt Harper's Ferry, wonders at the apparent
indifference of the population to what trans
ports him with delight. When the scotch,
Irish aud Hessians came to this fair heritage
| of man. l wonder if they felt any OF the en-
thuslasm which excites us now, as we jour
ney through the land Did the Macs and the
| Vans, the Pnftenbargers, the obenchalns, the
Cfoedycoontzes and the Funkhousers exciaim:
! q, lovely land-O, sweet valleys-O, noble
| forests-O, crystal fountains and majestic
| mountains, how delightful ye are rather
think not; but. taking a hoe or spade, they Dig
ged t. the earth, saw it was good, stuck down
| their stakes and went 10 work. Well, they
| were useful people-sober. industrious, sem
| sible and thrifty. Their descendants are good
| citizens; they till the fair land which came
down to them from their fore-fathers with
| an improved husbandry. which adds largely
TO the beauty and fertility Of the Valley.
Let me describe Valley farm: The man.
sion, large double brick house, with wide
| hall in the centre, through which floats the
! south wind, stealing and giving odor," sits on
| IL graceful elevation, ,embow cred in trees. Near
| it, on the right, is the blooming garden. At q
! convenient, yet respectful distance to the left
| are the spacious barn and stables, where are
| carefully housed the horses and their proven
| der, and where are kept with a great deal more
| care than in Eas tern Virgins ia, the farming
! utensils. Along the rayine and meadow in
| front, courses a pretty stream that issues from
| the noble spring near the garden, in aquantiiy
| sufficient to turn mill Just at this spring.
which is ley-cOId, Is the neat stone dairy, with
| its stone reservoir inside where the rich milk
| and butter are kept cool and delicious; and
| whose interior, with the clean and sweet yes-
| sells on the shelves, attest the good housewife
| ry of the mansion. 1t is admirable to see what
! an important position in domestic economy
| this little stone edifice occupies. Looking over
| the fields, you find them we'll divided with
| good fences. kept clean of undergrowth; and
you see in some Of them luxuriant crops of
grain, &c., while grass--that crop of inesti-
mable va!ue-occupies large part of the land.
| In The grazing fields you behold feeding, fine
| horses aud improved cattle, with their clean
limbs, straight backs, and small, gentle looking
| heads. In one large field, covered with a pe-
| culiariy rich carpet of grass, you see an ex-
pansive grove of noble walnut trees, meath
| whose deep shade some of the aforementioned
cattle are IuXuriating. This field alone is IA
| lovely picture The farm is skirted by forest
| preserved for timber and fuel. Now, how
would you like to be the Robinson CrusOe of
| look upon your beautiful acres, your fat cat
tie, your groves, and extend your glance to the
| grand mountains in the distance Could the
| honors OF political life. could even the honor
| OF being an editor ~ tempt you to leave 1t
| As an editor knows every thing, Of course
YOU know that this Valley, or the greater part
| of it, was included in the extensive domain OF
| LORD FAIRFAX. But as il recurring to the
fact, and some events long gone by may say
| what is not known to ALL will venture upon
them. Lord Fairfax, The early friend and
patron OF Washington, figured to advantage
III his younger days, Ill the cOurtly society
of London. A fair lady to whom he was de-
voted, being dazzled by ducal coronet. turn
ed him adritt, when lin 1882 he became sour
D. & n.
and determined to come TO America to look
after the vast landed estates he inherited
through his mother, a daughter of Lord Cul-
peper. These according To the grant. lay be-
tween the Potomac and Rappahannuck rivers.
meaning only what is known As the 'North-
cru Neck" His Lordship discovering that
the Potomac rose in the Allegheny mountains.
Claimed a corresponding definition OF the grant.
The matter was arranged by compromise eX-
tending his grant over large portion OF the
Shenandoah valley, with the condition that a
number of inhabitants who had settled there
in and opened lands, should not be disturbed
but should have their title secured. Never
theless. great deal OF litigation ensued, and
Mr.. Philip Williams, one OF the leading men,
bers of the very able bar of Winchester, in.
forms me, that within few years he has set.
tied the lastof the disputed claims under the
compromise with Lord Fairfax
WASHINGTON accompanied Lord Fairfax in
l.is to the Valley, and suryeyeda Il considerable
| part OF it, They encamped near Winches
| ter. In their expedition they went down te
the Potomac, and from thence they went te
examine certain warm springs now known
| as Berkeley Springs, where they had theil
camp in the woods. Washington received fol
his services doubloon per day, and some
times six pistoes-the doubloon worth 81 ~
the pistole $500 He speaks of tie ser. ice as
having been hard one. In a letter he says
Il have slept not above three or four nights
in bed but after walking good deal ali tht
day, have lain down before the fire, upon q
| little straw or fodder, or q bearskin, whichevel
| As m ha h1H W. vnan Ntyifa obi ii,
dogs and cats and happy rs he ,cho gets the berfl
nearest the fye.''
Lord Fairfax first resided a Belvoir. on thu
Potomac, below Alexandria; but moved 1,
Greenway Court formerly in Frederick, bu
now in Clarke county.) thirteen miles iron
Winchester. lie lived to be 81 years old A
6D he was described rs upwards of six fee.
gaunt raw-boned, near-sighted, with ligh
grey eyes, sharp features, aud acquiline nose
Greenway Court still survives the changes o
time Ii is long, low stone house, with
principal story and attic 1t is owned by
gentleman OF wealth. (Mr. Bell,l who respects
the antiquity of the euifice, and preserves i
as near as possible in its original style. He /,
a hospitable and intelligent gentleman.
| Winchester, the largest town, save Wheeling
in Virginia, West of the Blue Ridge, is il
Frederick, very rich part of the Valley. l
was the headquarters of the army under
Washington, after Braddock's defeat. Befor,
the Winchester and Potomac Railroad wa
built, II had very extensive trade, especially
/ in Hour, and was a town of remarkable activi
ty and prosperity. That road swept most o
this trade TO baltimore, and Winchester de
| cfined. The Manassas Gap read has occasion
ed a further drain of her commerce. and now
there is little indications OF the thrifty trad,
| which once kept her people actively EMPLOYED
| Winchester Is situated III a kind of basin 81
peculiar TO limestone countries is lighted with
gas, well supplied with water, and Is remark
able for its order and for its salubrity ant
| general good health. There is no town NOR,
| fS xaytfh f,a,.