The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-08-13

Whilst it is . melancholy picture to contem-
plate tire present solitude and demolition Of
Hampton and other places upon Hampton
Roads ard its tributaries, it is some consola-
ton to rea-ct that ont Of their ashes will
spring Ph"nix of wealth and prosperity,
such 81 would no. have been witnessed for
centuries under the old 1 MON. ireinia had
ouee respectable foreign trade, and was her
>s'i tho foremost of the States but, with
Greater advantages than any other, she has
been drained of her wealth and strength, and
asr magnificent rivers ard harbors have he
como Sc iary coast of waters.
The city of Norfolk, which ought to be the
drs, commercial city of America, is now but
little ia advance of what it was quarter Of 4
century ago; and, under the old Union, 1t
xould have rem sined stationary for quarter
# century more. Instead Of the insignih-
cant neis hborhood trade which she has hith-
srto possessed, she will have the trade Of The
vast West; and, Instead CT being o mere
transhipper tf cotton TO New York, she will
ship direc to Europe, and receive in return
he commodities and fabrics in exchange for
our great staples, which have hitherto gone to
and but up the Northern cities.
That Norfolk is destined to DO Tie grea.
commercial city of America, and tia antrepot
of most of the merchandise which will pass
through cur various lidcs Of improvement 10
The iaterior VI our own state ana Of the re-
| mole West, is undesirable. That she has TAO
nobest barber and the Alest shipping pert Oh
| all the seaboard, is beyond all dVabt. Norft Tx
| and Portsmouth, have deep water la, Dor
where storms are harmless; wharke5 at which
| the prcudest merchantmen can SWING, ami
| streams 1ere the heayie3. men Ut. war can
| swim like swans in lake. Ibis Is necessarily
| the destined port for tie tyirisn export trade
which is to be founded upon the mighty trade
| which will rush dowa lf0m the James River
, Canal and railroads CT tie West. II viii also
| be tae point for the ret4fn import trade which
is sac necessary consequence oi the export
| fhe return cargoss viii ind in Norfolk dis
f! tribuiiEg depot. These thugs %, existing
| the toI ardiug to the foreign merchant ard
| tie bringing back Vi tho return cargo for dis
| trbution 10 the points CT demand with the
| completion Of the Jalaes River Canal, will
| under O. new Goverunient, be able to &C
| complish all fOr Norfolk that he Erie Csna
| has ever accomplished for the North-that
| city vii, Dee sme the great emporium Of the
| South.
TIE cotton current which had begun before
| the war IL set into Norfolk from, tae South,
only, however, lo be iransailpel from that
| port to the North, will then take the direct
| route to Europe. Tbs Navyfafd at Ports
| mouth will build Up the whole Navy Of the
South and, having easy access to the mex
| haustble supply of materials for ship building
| and equipments in North Carolina, will ex-
hibit d degree Of activity which has never
| been seen il any single Navy Yard in Anne
RIGA, and employ vast number Of mechanics,
| and give rise to many enterprises of public
| and private advantage. In one word, Norfolk
| will in time become the New York and Ports
| mouth the Brooklyn of the Southern Confede-
| rsoy.
These triumphs could never have been
achieved under the old Government. No
effort that Virginia could have made would
ever have interrupted the sd channels of
trade, Whereby the whole South had become
| tributary TO the commercial supremacy Of the
North. The enormous efforts which the North,
especially tie commercial cities, have put
| forth 10 keep the South ia the MON, show
! that they appreciate its value, and that they
| feel, if the Mon be broken W, the CONNER
cial Sceptre passes forever from their hands to
| the South. And Norfolk is that Southern city
which is prepared by nature to WELD the scep
| ire, and to accommodate upon her magnificent
waters all the fleets that ever congregated in
he harbors of New York, Boston and Phila-
| delpha'
Through the gloom and solitude now upon
our scaboard, We console ourselves with tie
CLEANS of "a good time coming" Not only
will Norfolk and Portsmouth become grea,
cities, but the whole country around for d
hundred milss will feel the vivifying infu
| once of their increasing wealth and com
| mercial Importance. Just az the banks
| of the Hudson river up almost to Albany,
| Long Island, Staten Island, and even portions
Of Conn ecticut, have appreciated in value;
| lands, houses and all they contain, being
| three times their former price, so will it be
| in the whole country in the neighborhood of
| Norfolk. There is place OF the Hudson
| river abou, eighteen miles from New York,
| which, thirty years ago, had about two hun
| bred inhabitants, and where the land could
have been got for next to nothing, which is
| now beautiful country resort, and the lots
bring city prices. This place has no such
natural advantages as our i laF old Virginia
Hampton, but which--,nark fhe prediction
will one day become one Of the most beautiful
and attractive towns in the South. This is poor
consolation for the present loss; bat no loss is
complete which leaves US hope, and that remains
aud inspires as with the assurance that, though
the Affections of ear seaboard were a. great
as those of the patriarch jop, their latter
days, like his, will be better than the begin
ming.
Who was Victorious mt Bull Rua!
This il question which, one week ago, we
thought we could have answered very satis-
factorily but We confess that considerable
doubts have begun to thrust them selves upon
US. The Yankee journals al first scknow
lodged defeat but they are sottenipg it
do WI to such degree that we almost spy
=. a a;x IL RI