The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1859-07-18
CORRESPONDENCE.
Correspondence of the Richmond Dispatch.
West Poiaf-- Description Of the Piace--Anause-
msnts--CaraiSy Eaeansp,neat, 5e., Sc.

Correspondence oi the Richmond Dispatch
West PoiatDeser'ptiom Of the Piaee--Amuse-
aaen's--carairy Eaeampmenf, 5e. Se.
WEST PorNT, VA, July "a, 1850.
/ arrived at this pleasant place OF resort
about a week ago, and having made some OBJ
seryations of matters and things In the vicini-
", will note down and place them at the dis
posal Of the Dispatch. As the summer begira
has commenced, that valuable newspaper will
doubtless keep MS posted with regard to the
progress OF events AT the fashionable watering
places, and possibly your migratory as we'll
as stationary citizens may like To hear some
thing about this comparatively new resort
West Point, having been selected for the
eastern terminus of the Richmond and York
River Railroad has of late attracted no small
share OF pubic attention. The site of the en-
hryc town covers an area OF 5eJ acres perfectly
level, and 40 nearly surrounded by water as to
give ii the appearance of an island. The Mat
taponi .weers around The northern base OF the
plateau and the Pamunkey around the south
ern-the two uniting at the eastern point and
forming the i ok. Standing upon this point,
the scone is really grand and sublime. The
waters spread out before You 10 the width OF
three miles, and far away in the distance the
eye rests upon The Chesapeake Bay while on
either side the fields and forests OF the rich
plan tations fringe the rolling waters with Nv
ing green. Vessels are freq uently passing and
requesting, and as the mariners seldom have
10 whistle for 4 breeze, they speed onward
with every sail set; and the tiny fishing boats
bask lazily all the surface of the twin
moonlight almost SURPRISES description. York
river then looks like n broad sheet of silver,
and the pleasant breeze that fans the brow of
the beholder, scarce seems to create ripple on
its surface.
Tho town has been divided into over n thou
sand building lots, and streets have been laid
ont with great regularity; but everybody is
now waiting for the wagon. Here are marine
facilities equal, if not superior, TO any in the
United Statc> bat the locomotive approaches
slowly Nature certainly designed this for n
shipping port, and the ruins 10 be found here
and there indicate that West Point was once a
commercial town. Like many other places of
anti-reyolutionary rpnoWn. ii has however,
been suffered 10 decay. Still, the people of the
neighborhood are satisfied that it Will spring
up again and in the neantin manifest their
friendship for the locality by frequently assem-
bling here for social en- ioyuent. The proprietor
of the hotel Mr.. James F New. has, by unceas-
ing industry and great perseverance, succeeded
III establishing profitable business. Grabs,
oysters and fresh fish are 10 me- the chief at
fractions OF the table, although it is excellent
in all other respects. The n-pin alleys fur
nish a good deal of amusement; but the best
sport Is 10 be found III fishing and bathing
The place is perfectly healthy, and a fine breeze
almost constantly sets III from the bay.
A mile or two above here. on the Mattaponi,
4 marine railway was constructed about two
years ago, and the proprietors doing a
large and profitable business. From the place
where ! am writing, can see several vessels,
waiting 10 90 on the ways few days ago,
river, in yacht built there and she flew
the water like a bird.
The wheat crop in this vicinity turned out
well, and it is believed that The corn crop will
be fully up TO the average. l Observed on the
way hither, that many farmers i'll King Will
liam are giving some attention to the cultiva-
ton of tobacco.
The most comfortable mode of coming to
this place from Richmond, is to go TO Norfolk
or Yorktown, and take the steamer Sea Bird,
which comes up every Thursday. The trip
Will occupy the greater portion of two days,
hut persons in search of pleasure should not
be in too much of a hurry. private convey
ance from Richmond might also be recon-
mended, rs the roads are generally excellent.
and the last twenty miles quite level. The
King William stage brings passengers only to
the Courthouse. where carriage must De
hired Of possible,) for the remaining dstance
some nineteen miles.
The encampment of the cavalry companies
of the fourth division, to commence at York
town, on the 18th of October, is much talked
about here. A strong effort was made in be-
half of West Point as the locality, and it very
nearly succeeded.
Hot as the weather is at present. we can here
anticipate fine sea-b breeze in the afternoon
which we calculate is something of an adyan-
tage over those OF you who can't get away
from town. York.