Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-08-05
Letter from Old Point Comfort.

Correspondence IF He Aletan'iIid Gdzefte.
OLD PoINT. August IL left Baltimore,
on Friday afternoon, in the fine steamer
Adelaide. of the Bay Line, for Old Point.
Portsmouth, and Norfolk. The Adelaide
was formerly i'll the trade between ST. John,
n b., and Boston, but being IN opp"sltlon
boat, was bought otf, and subsequently, nj
ter laying up in New York, WAS purchased
by this Company, t" take the place OF the
North Carolina, destroyed by fire. The
Adelaide is fine SEA boat, and admirably
adapted to the trade she is now employed IN
Was grntiiipI to learn that the trade Of
Norfolk and Portsmouth WAS gradually i'm
proving, their recei pts of Cotton increasing
this season some 80 or -, 600 bales, besides
large arrivals Of slaves, shingles, lumber,
corn, peas, aud naval stores. The principal
direct shipments ara slaves To the West IN
dies and Mediterranean the corn and cot
ton 80 North.
The new Atlantic Hotel was to open to-
day. by a. q. Newton, esq. formerly Of your
city. The house is plainly and neatly FUR
nished the location is good one, aud 1t is,
beyond question, the best ventilated and
most delightful house in the Southern coun-
try. With such host and hostess, | am
quite sure all who visit Norfolk wall feel it
to be u pleasure To pay 1t II visit.
| understood there Is ut Norfolk and
Portsmouth, in addition to the Banking cap
ital, four VI five Savings Banks, who iIa's
ON deposite near million Of dollars. One
Of them alone has deposits OF hear 100000,
and does rs much business uS the Banks; and
ON the capital invested, (S5o,OOo,) owned by
nineteen individuals, they receive al an
nual profit OF ~ per cent. or $1,000 ON each
share Of 50. 900
The Norfolk and Petersburg Railroad is
increasing its business, and it is supposed
It's receipts will be, for the twelve months,
from $50 to 10000; yet it has powerful
opposition to contend against in the river
boats For the sake Of the borough OF Nor
folk, it is to be hoped it may finally be sue
cesstnl. twill require time and patience
to get its recei pts up sufficiently to pay Its
running expenses, and the interest on their
bonds, but chat time will undoubtedly come.
Norfolk, like all Virginia ports, depends too
much upon coastwlse trade; but tins, II
appears, cannot be avoided. Our exports,
except cotton and slaves, are not wanted
abroad, except in times of famine or short
crops; and large number of the old mcr-
chants. except those engaged IN the Virginia
Tobacco trade, have retired from business,
and are investing in stocks, Sc, instead IT
keeping their money To do business On, or to
help those who have the brains, but not the
money, to do business with, aud thus 1t Is
that people seem astonished at Virginia com
merce declining.
At tins delightful watering place or resort,
the company, at present, Is about 100. The
season. 81 lar, has been II very successful
one 10 the proprietor Col. Srgar Every
drlicncy the market affords il 10 be found
here, with the greatest ABUNDANCE of fish,
crabs, and oysters The servants are polite
aud attentive There are stationed ut For
tress Monroe, six companies of artillery, VIII"
twice day, to the great enjoyment OF the
guests of the "liygeia go through all the
exercise of artillery drill. They have II
magnificent band of music. Of course, 80
SO large number Of young officers draw To-
gether great many young ladies from the
adjoining counties; and they have most
agreeable time Of it, do not know il pleas.
antrr place to be at this hot weather, than
Old Point, with Col. Segar.
One thing struck me rs most remarkable
at Fortress Monroe. While every thing about
the Notifications and the grounds was Of the
most substantial and durable character, the
soldiers quarters, instead Of being brick, and
of Il sufficient size to accommodate the men
comfortably, were the most ordinary boards,
and, in case Of tire, nothing could prevent
their total destruction. l. il not Singular,
that n government whose expenditures ran
nm at one time to 81, OOO, 600 dollars, should
not have provided secure quarters for the
soldiers. at this important post, when they
were squandering the money on every con
ceiyable object, until they got alarmed at
themselves. and have commenced hauling III,
for fear they may be- turned out Of power:
was sorry to learn from many farmers
AT Old Point, from James River and many
counties on the Rappahannock and Potomac,
that the wheat crop WAS not turning cut as
well as they expected from the straw, by =,
per cent; but there will be enough for all
our wants, and at moderate prices, unless a
foreign demand shall spring up. +.