The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1859-04-08
From an Occasional Cerresp endcnt.
CORRESPONDENTS or the aIcHxosp p,uy nr,p.rru
NoagoIK. Asr,, a 1850

Noa1oLK, April o, 1859.
ihi: old seaport is going ahead, and, under The
| bright sun and sky Of to day, looks az Rood a
new. 1t Is steadily improving, its commerce. ia.
ereasing, and II has ct last O Railroad to Peters
ourg, one OF the best In the country over a region
ss level asa Aoor, and with oos stretch of ff.y.
nse miles which hasn't q single curve. They
trsset slowly over it now that Is, what we fast
young men, 10 1859, call sIew-twenty miles an
noutnnt nor, when Il 10 necessary to improve that
gat, tney can go thirty miles an hour with more
SAFETY than most railroads st fifteen.
me popaiation Of Norfolk is now about twenty
thousand. Its exports, forty Eve years ago, we're
ss great o. those OF New York. but the embargo
khockea u on the head, and the New York and
Erie canal transferred the commercial sceptre TO
Tue umpire City. Norfolk and Portsmouth have
uotn revived OF tate years, and If Virginia pursnes
.ne true policy 10 regard to Internal Improve.
washes these docks will not remain dsaert. The
completion OF the water line the Ohio is what ia
needed TO build up New York Of the South. here.
VINO can look at that colossal ship, the Penn.
syisanla, throwing the shadows of its huge sides
anu IIowning batteries almost upon the wharves
OF portsmouth,, and not wonder that Virginia
Gegiects to avail herself of waters which foat
WIZ ease such vessel? heard to-day q fact
,nSnMoned ,asn oy MT Bisbie, to whose intelligent
isoors on the subject of completing the James
river a9d ksnawha Canal, the people of tide.
water are under obligations, that shows the won :
aerIuI effect of the New York and Erie Canal in
Enr,s;ng the value Of property, not alone in the
nmpIte CITY, but at considerable distance from it,
An estate was lately cold at spu,,eodeyi, Creek
on W tue huoson river, seventeen miles from New
fors, for nine hundred ard ninety-odd dollars
ao acre, which. before the impetus given to the
prosperity OF New York by the Canal, sold for
al1e doiiars an acrei 1 know something perso-
naiiy OF the neighborhood Of Spuytsndevii, before
that great magician, De Witt Clinton arose and
converted Sleepy Hollow into the most wide awake
reeion on the lace of the earth, and can readily
ha vain ~:
know place 10 all Virginia, that pretepds to be
place, that looks as somnoIent and stupid as the
neighoorhood of Spuytendevil, when Ichabod
crane, Brom Bones and were boys. The whole
rolled by with lauguid grace. for the ner.
.urDing spirit OF steam, at that period, rarely
ruined It's placid depths; the white sails of the
soas.'ng vessels stole stealthIy and spiri,-like
,ue green banks of the Hudson; the smoke
cnimheys OF fonkers, the neighboripg village and
always seemed glad OF an Opportunity, such az bad
weather Afforded, to settle down sgain; aud the
oLoaa oottomed Mynheers Dover puffed even their
cray pipes with anything like energy, except when
they pulled out their contempt of De Witt Cliutou's
notion OF Dig ditch from the Hudson TO the
Lakes. Ii anybody at that time had predicted
mat an acre OF ground on Spuytendevii Creek, or
ail the territory which the SpuvtendeviI ever
Drained or any other sort OF devil in that section
ever owned. including the village of Yopkers. and
aiihe sleepy headed Dutchmen in il would ever
nave D9ougnt nine hundred aud ninety nine dol.
lars, be would have been put into a straight
Jacket at once, and sent to the Bloominedale Lu.
na'!c Asylum by the next ox-cart. The Spuyten-
devi' stil retains its harmonious name, which I
beiieve originated in trick that some Dutchman
was Iacetiousy supposed to have played on the
Prince OF Darkness, but no trick of Dutchmau or
Devii ever equalled the wonders which De Witt
clinton, by the aid of that magic mirror the Erie
Canal, has accomplished. Let US have the water
line, by all means. If Virgiuiaus would behold an
inspiring image OF their glorious Future.
Among the new public buildings of Norfolk the
Catholic Church, lately erected, stands pre- .emi
nent. tits grand structure, externally, and the
interior is marvel of beauty. If had the archis
tectnral technicaiites at my fingers ends, would
try to give you description of IT, but it is one of
those objects which must be seen to be appre.
cated, aud which, once seen is not soon forgotten
You have heard of the death of Mr.. Robert Ans
derson, that eccentric and wealthy Old gentleman
OF yorktown, who owned that famous place. in
GLIDING the mmoI tai battle field, and reat deal
OF other property besides. He bad preserved with
much Care in one of his houses at York town, some
OF the most interesting relics of Revolutionary
days, which it would be we'll enough to look after,
aud which ought to be in possession of the Virginia
historical Society. told thai he has left bis
estate to bis servants, but understand that
the VIII VIII be contested. B.