Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1860-08-07
CITY ITEMS.

feowcitzens who repaired 10 the seaboard last week
to obtain glimpse Of the Great Eastern In justice
10 himself the Local deems il proper 10 remark, that
he forwarded on Saturday another letter to the Wig
descriptive OF the arrival Of the Great Eastern, which
letter fortunately or unfortunately did not reach It's des-
tination until yesterday morning.
We went down 10 the big steamship" and did
not dream Of writing any extended description Of the
vessel Nor is il our purpose now TO do than pre-
sent brief sketch OF personal experience during the
recent trip subsequent TO our arrival 10 Norfolk on Fri
day morning.
After partaking of an excellent breakfast at the At
lAntic Hotel walked about town, and bad the pleas
ure Of meeting our good friends heSsrs. Foster and
Hathaway, Of the Day Book They exhibited TO US the
calorc engine by of which the presses OF their
establishment propelled. There are so many won
Serul inventions nowadays that the eaorie engine Is
lost sight Of by the Million but Is yet destined, We
think 70 supersede steam 70 great extent It's espe'
csy adapted 20 localities such Norfolk, where reg
uAr supply Of water cannot be Obtained except upon
the river side The eaorc engine requires no water
The motive power Is obtained BY the combustion Of
small quantity OF fuel communicating heat 10 the air
chambers, and causing expansion Of the air which
rushes in az each revolution OF the machinery.
The newspaper Offices in Norfolk located within
stones thrOs OF another. The Args is located at
the intersection OF Main street. opposite the Atlantic 10
tel On street. in the rear, Is the Day Book o.
ice, and dagOualy opposite towards the river Is the
Herald The buildings have the appearance, Ike many
others in Norfolk, OF great antiquity aud while looking
proprietors bad ParIaken Of the progressive
spirit OF the age 20 the application Of few coats
OF paint the exterior Of their houses Nothing short
Of pulling down and rebuilding the city would be bet
ter calculated to improve the appearance OF Norfolk than
the free application Of paint IN the manner suggested
The influence Of appearance is potential and should not
be Ignored by those who seek TO thrive
During our sojourn in Norfolk bad occasion to en-
ploy hack and in settling with the negro driver paid
him 6fty cents. lie handed back halt Of the amount,
stating that % cents enough. We mention his cir
cuusauce as an unparalleled instance OF honesty and
moderation the part OF hackmen and regret that IN
hurry omitted 70 take the drivers name or num-
Der There are no omnbusses IN Norfolk except those
-eurOyed at the hotels but the hacks are numerous
They have a regular stand on Main street. at the bead
Of the marketpace, and can be engaged there al any
hour Of the day. This arrangement Is very convenient
for citizens well visitors and tse system ought TO
be introduced here.
A . O'Clock we went aboard the caplcious steamer
Northampton; Capt McCarrick which vas advertised 70
that hour, eNcur-on 20 the Capes, 10 meet
the Great Elscrn but such the rush OF passengers
that the boat did not &c, of until hlpast and the
Captain then determined that he would ouy proceed as
mr. as Old Point aud returu for more passengers Tins
Inoney-maug arrangement caused no little disappont-
msut 70 the passengers Who had been tempted OY the
Published programme 20 embark on the Northampton,
bu, they exercised the virtue OF resignation and content
e. themselves With the prospect Of viewing the approach
OF the Leviathan from Old Point The boat made IA
pad the Poin arriving there about twenty minutes
past O'Clock. AN eyes were directed oeeauward aud
s sharpesL observers discovered 10 the DIM distance,
faint column Of smoke curling above the horizon, ndca
ting the approach OF steamer some said that Il must
be the Great Eastern aad others that 1t was the New
York or Boston boat while not few insisted that u was
impossible that the Great Eastern could have become
visible az so early hour the telegraph had announ
ced that she had only LEFT NeS York al o'clock the eve
ming before
Alter landing from the Northampton we walked uptO
the "IIygeia Hotel sbich overlooking With peope.
A.. uH.H. HHra WhaN Mwua
Eastern was in sigh, ard geaera rush towards the
ramusrt OF the fortress took place From two 10 three
thousand ladies aud gentlemen FASTENED 20 the bas,ons
oycr60,iug the Bay aud distributed themselves along
the elevated grassy slopes, from wheaee they distinctly
bcheld the same column OF smoke which had originated
the report that the big steamer was approaching. All
dJub As TO the accuracy Of that report we're soon dis
PEELED by the appcirta OF the hull oil the monster,
winch though twenty miles distant, doomed up couspicu-
o!sly above the horizon. Larger and larger 10 grew,
and az length the MSS and stacks Of the vessel
became plainly visible The sight WAS profoundly inter-
esi1c and amply repaid those who had come long d.
lance 20 behold i several excursion steamers, loaded
with ptsseuEsrs meet the Great Eastern aud
"a She ueared the roads yachts yaWs and other
small craft, also sailed towards hvrheir white canvass
and rapid movements forming picturesque feature Il
the imposing scene We expected bat some demoustrd
lion OF welcome would proceed from the multitude
ss1sd upon le rampaTt OF the tort bu save the wa
wing o. hard,crchies by group Of ladies' We saw or
heard uOfaa. of the kind. Tue spectators we're too
deepv eugossed Oy the novelty aud absorbing interest
Of the dierau1 before them 10 think OF cheering We dd
hear a general estimation AS the pgmy steamer "Ca-
lyI-o formerly Ogutt by haOy Hugh Fry OF this city
advanced towards the Great Eastern, and sOuned her
hrU whistle The contrast between the two vessels was
ludicrousy great party OF gentlemen IRON Richmond
went out towards the Leyiath1u in small skill pr0peL-
ed by a miniature steam engine and eru wheeL The
hte craft danced like cora upon the water, aud Was
almost invisible from shore, when alongside the Great
Elsrrn She observed however, by persons aboard
she steamer OF whom called out; ship ahoy. what
craft Is that The steutorau reply was "The Great
Western" This incident afforded considerable auluse-
rspt 20 the looGer,-On aboard the mammoth vessel
The Csea Eastern reached her anchorage about three
fourts Of mile from Old Point Wharf, Al 20 minutes 10
O'Clock ard after casting anchor fired four guns which
were responded from the Fort by the discharge OF ten
guns in rapid succession. A, ococS the Northampton
brought load OF excursOnsis from Norfolk aud return
ed With those who down on the previous trip We
re.u-ued 10 her. aud thus avoided the dscomiorts aud
prvatOus complained Of aiterwards by VISITORS Who eX-
pacted accommodation a. the Nygca hO,eL
On the following morning, Saturday. we again pat
Fouzsd the Northampton, which, on the payment OF 90
cent, 20 the captain conveyed u 10 Old Point Three
other steamers abeas-the Adelaide Baltimore and Sea
Brd-were living alongside OF the Great Eastern, and
by a comparison OF SIZES enabled 10 comprehend the
vast magnitude Of the latter. Tue wharf al Old Point
Wa thrUuged with men, women and children, eager 70
get aboard the big vessel while the intervening expause
Of watar vas covered vIth saib0s yawls, etc. going
posed 70 the rays Of the burning sun well 70 the
Danger Of an upset or collision We veutured across IN
small skih and instead cf going direct 70 the gang
way Of the Great Eastern, Jumped aboard the Sra
Bird and crossed her deck and that Of the Baltimore TO
the Adelaide surprising that could pass thence 10 the
Great Eisteru. But grieyousy mistaken. The
steamers we're literally alive with human beings all NOV
ing about ~ nexcabls confusion, nobody knowing e1
actly what 70 do or where to 70. About midday, We
induced party Of boatmen 20 take US from the stern
Of the Sea Bird the Great Eastern twenty yards on
the pavmeut Of twenty 1--WE cents. We then asceudtd
the ofv stairway leading up the side Of the vessel aud
soon enoycd the isteuse satisfaction Of a promenade
upon the deck Of The great Great Etseru A numated
al the outset shall attempt no DESCRIPTION OF the YES
sci Suffice &c 10 saw anucipatiOns OF her proPOr-
tons $ere fully realized and while elected upon the
bodness Of the conception which suggested the under
taking aud contemplated the success OF the colossal al
dertaking We were unable 90 repgcss emotions OF awe
and amlzement. After spending an hour or two IN ex-
aiming the different paris Of the vessel We reluctantly
took departure for the Shore which We safely reach
ek in an oar boat
we found a large number Of familiar faces a. Old
Point Indeed during cur stay the seaboard We saw
so many Richmond people, who had come down to see
IL Great Eastern, that it seemed half the male
population had been attracted to Hampton Roads The
number Of visitors from all quarters, at Old Point on
SATURDAY, must have exceeded twelve thousand and IS
most remarkable that accident mshap occurred TO
mar the general pleasure Al o'clock returned
10 Norfolk in the Northampton, repaired 10 our
quarters and obtained good nights rest Sunday al
ruoon We embarked the Yorktown and arrived here
Yesterday morning at O'clock having fortunately sur
vived the efforts OF Purser Wm- Smith 10 kill us Win
Kindness in which eudeavOrs be vas loeted BY Capt
Parrish, Engineer Wright and Stewart Clrush-names
ALREADY inscribed in grateful remembrance upon the tab
lets Of our memory.