The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1860-01-12

are concerned, nave Deen exceedingly dul
for day or two, and like the knight of La
Mancha, we were ready to pitch into any
thing, even though it had been a wind mill.
True, we were not possessed OF the basin
helmet nor the armor of the celebrated Quiz
otte, neither had we Rosinante, else We
should not have tramped through the mud
Nor had we such follower as Sancho Pan
"a; nor had we consecrated ourselves to
the service in the presence of the Sonbr ettes,
Of the Inn of Espiel; nor did We think the
possession Of an item as important as the
Spanish Don thought the famous Dulcinea
del Toboso. Nevertheless, we tramped from
Town Point to the famous bridge where the
fish bite so amazingly; we walked out on the
piers and around the docks, visited vessels
and enquired of captains, and like the ia
nous Capt Cutie, stood with note book and
pencil in hand ready to make a note of any
thing which might present itself; but twas
no use, there was nothing doing, no items to
be had, nothing to write about. True, we
saw the once famous Arctic which br ough
DR.. Kane and the remnant Of his party
home from the Dutch settlement; true, we
saw the W. W Towns, which Crawfsh like,
has to back down the river when it goes
to Petersburg; true, we saw hundreds
of bales of cotton and thousands bushels
of corn and perfect forest Of of masts.--
By the way, it occurs to US that we. saw
enough for several items, which we write
out as follows
FROM THE KANAwHA TO THE ALBEMARLE.
The Albemarle and Chesapeake Canal
Company have purchased four of the barges
lately owned by the Seaboard Towing and
transportation Company, which they are
having oyerhauled and repaired fer the
transportation of freight in the Albemarle
and Chesapeake Canal. These boats, from
their appearance, were built in Richmond,
and thus by the changes in commerce and
business are forced from the mountains to
seaboard. The builders of the Cleveland and
T. w. Johns little thought when they laid
the keels of these crafts that they wer e
commencing the construction Of boats which
were to traverse the waters Of North Caro-
lima as we'll as the salt waters of the sea-
board OF Virginia; yet such is the fate of
business operations.
The FERRY Boar NoRF LK.-This il l-iated
little craft has been hauled upon the fats,
where she rests with Der deck just outside
the water. She will be removed in a few
she will be hauled oat of the water to under
go patching and pitching.
THR CRY FERRY STEAMER.-The steamer
Princess Anne is lying. at her wharf a tar
get for the merciless pattings of the ele-
ments. She looks as lonely and disconsolate
as possible, and as she is not improving very
fast, we would advise the committee to sell
her as speedily as possible.
Dr. KANE's STEAMER.-The steamer Arc
tic, famous in the history Of the arctic re-
gions as the steamer sent in search of the
explorers of that distant North, land the veri-
table steamer which DR.. Kane came home
in after he had abandoned his own vessels,
and which we spoke of some time since as
having been sent to tn is port to be altered
into.a light vessel, has been completely
overhauled and fitted up for that purpose,
and will soon leave for Rattlesnake Shoals,
between Savannah and Charlestown.
The Arctic is the most massive. and deci-
dedly the strongest vessel aaoat, having been
made so as to withstand the shocks and
thumps of Northern voyage. She is fitted
up snugly and neatly, will carry nine men,
all told, two large lanters, with eight lamps
in each, and is calculated to ride out any
gale that may sweep down that dangerous
coast, She will be ready in few days.
The STEAMER W W TOWNSHIPS steam
en-, better known in the less saline waters
of James River than in this port, and which
has the honor of bearing the name of the
very estimable Mayor of the Cockade City,
was cut through with the ice, and so dam
aged her wheels in her efforts to get through
the frigid embargo, which chilly January
few days ago laid upon the serpentine
stream, that she had to be towed into this
port, where she was put through regular
course of sprouts, and then sheeted over
with heavy iron, in anticipation OF another
encounter with the frozen encrusta tions OF
this same Jim kioer. This little steamer is
used upon James River as tow boat, and is
we'll known to the denizens of Petersburg,
where she manages to find her way some
times through the creek, yclept the Apo
mattox. She is very snug little craft, and
is commanded and owned by Mr.. Carter, son
Of Hill Carter, Esq, of Charles City, gen
tlemen well known all over Virginia.
The W. W. Townes was launched from
Nash's yard yesterday afternoon, and will
resume her place upon the turbid tides of
I..>.a.o,d ADpnmattoy Rivara obi