Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1860-08-25
RICHMOND WHIG.
From Me Home Journal.
IN THE OLD DOMINION.


One Of the most attractive, heelthlu aud beautiful
spots Of Virginia is the village Of S'aunton numbering
about four thousand inhabitants and nesting in the heart
of charming valley between the Blue Ridge aud the
North Mountain Chains IL is the county seat Of Angus
ta which once gave its pane TO all Western Virginia,
and TO which Washington referred when, in the darkest
days Of the Revolution ne exclaimed "Give me but a
banner and let plant it on the mountails OF West
Augusta and will yet secure the liberty aud indepen-
dence Of my country" Ii is, probably the strongest
Union county in Virginia.
St,uaon is one hundred aud sixty-three miles from
Washington in the healthy spot in the State, sur
rounded BY grand mountain scenery and with popua-
ton remarkable for cultivation and refinement IL has
been the residence Of several prominent characters
among whom may be met toned the late u u5trious
Daniel Sh,fey, General Robert Porterfeld gallant Of
6cer of the Revolution and Judge Archibald STUART IA
ther Of the Hon. Alexaud H. H. Stuart Secretary OF the
Interior under President Hlmores admins ration who
also resides here. The venerable widow of Mr. Shelley
still occupies the beautiful spot kalOrama, THE most
lovely aud plrk-like grounds have in my travels
through Virginia and which formerly the Beverly
Manor House)-where the Home School for Young la
Dies which has been successfully conducted Tor twenty
five years and IS under the superntendence OF MIS- Shelf
fey and her accomplished daughters sti maintains lis
pre- eminent position OF the best male schools in
VirgiE. Mrs Stuart, the widow Of Judge Stuart, OILY
died about year ago, having lived TO great age.
The bar here numbers of the finest l,g minds
OF Virginia. Thomas j. Michie A. II. H. Stuart John
-
guished aud urisl OF that name Gen. W. H.
Harmol, aud others.
Saunon bls newspaper printing Offices six church
es-an Episcopal Romal Catholic, Lutheran fresbyte-
ran, Methodist and Baplist-aud many mercantile aud
mechanical establishments
The Western Insane Asylum, noble pill having over
four hundred patients esabshedin this place. aud the
beautiful tdce OF the Virginia Institution for the Deaf
and Dumb and he Blind Of the neighboring
bills. The Central Railroad from Richmond and Wash
ington TO the Virginia Springs, passes through this
place.
An excellent macadamzed road leads from here to
Winchester. The population OF Augusta county is about
twenty-five thousand OF which five thousand are negros
Twelve miles northeast OF StsuntOn the Augusta
SPRING. which strongly imprcGnAted with sulphuret'
ted hydrogen and said to equal the springs OF Harrow
gate, England. About twelve miles southwest Of the
town. is Of those ebbng and flowing springs 50 con.-
mon in Western Virginia. Near the Augusta Springs,
the Cyclopean Towers which among the greatest
curosities OF to be found this continent On
first sight their tops rising above the lofty walls look
ke the grey submits Of castle. They seven in num-
ber about sixty seventy feet in height rising almost
perpendicusy from the bed Ol stream which has been
apiy lkeued TO n natural mOat to the castle) and
seuble In their formation the palisades the Hudson
River They are however, regular in their struc
turr and an Intelligent visitor has remuked appear
have been arranged III huge masses OF pri,ct work
maushp, with pft actilns like cOinces Of Gothic
chitccture in a state OF dlapidaon Their resemblance
to the structures Of the Cycopean walls of the ancient
is remarkable.
Another Of tie wonders OF nature, the famous Weyer
Cave is seventeen miles north Of Staunton. foreign
traveller, who visited it at au annual llumn,tion says it
will compare voraby with the celebrated Grotto of An
tparos. Its dimensions by the direct course
more than Que thousand six hundrcd feet and by the
more winding paths, twice that length. TIE largest
apartment is hundred aud fifty feet in length Fancy
these cayerns and apartments with isuumeraLle
suowy white coucreuons Of thousand various forms
Respondent in the blaze Of two or three thousand lights
Indeed the whole neghbOhOOd here is full Of wonders
and visit well repays the tours. who makes it,