Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1861-02-12
sTAUNTON In 1896.

Il
I'VE have been furnished by friend the fol-
lowing extract from the End volume Of the
travels Of of the Duke De La Rochefoucault in
the United States, more than halfa century ago.
We are sure that our readers will be interested
in the description given of this place SO many
years ago. 1t proceeds as follows j oe =
On descending the Blue Mountains. the South
River, or Southern branch Of the Shenandoah,
is crossed and before Stanton is reached, the
Greeks, Christian and Lewis, are passed, which,
at few miles distance from that spot, empty
themselves into the SheIendoah.
Staunton is the capitol of the county of Au-
gusta. From its being in the centre Of group
Of hills, it is one of the places in Virginia where
the heat is most intense, and, above all, most
oppressive and intolerable. Some houses con-
structed on the heights enjoy little more air,
but they are commanded by other neighboring
mountains, which frequently prevent the air
from reaching them, and very seldom suffer it
to circulate. The land in the Deighborhood is
not remarkably fruitful. II would be difficult to
account for this spo. having been chosen for the
site of a town, in preference to others, but for
the numerous springss OF excellent water, and q
rivulet, which, bursting from a hill near the
town, turns two mills, and might turn few
more if there were money enough to establish
them, and sufficient quantity of corn to be
ground The small rivulet forms the Middle
River, which empties itself into the SheDendoah.
The mos. frequented road to the Sweet,
Warm and Hot Springs at Greenbrier, and from
thence to Kentucky, passes through Staunton,
and makes it q considerable thorougbfare.-
Eight inns are established there, three Of which
are large and frequently full. The Warm and
Hot Springs are in the county of Augusta,
towards the source of James River. They
are 8 miles distant from each other, and strong
ly impregnated with sulphur. The temperature
of the Warm Springs is 80 degrees of Fahren-.
heit, which are equal to 26 2-3 degrees of Reau-
men that of the Hot Springs 112 degrees and Is
minutes of ReauInen. These two Springs are
considered to be very eticacious in Rheumatic
complaints, and in all cases where it is necessa-
ry to purify the blood. The Sweet Springs are
in the county of Botetourt, 40 miles from the
other, and near another source of James River.
They are quite cold Tue accommodations are
not remarkably good in any OF these three pla-
ces, although they are much frequented. 10.
Staunton contains about 800 inhabitants, a
fourth of whom are negroes. The houses are
toerably we'll built. From fifteen to eighteen
stores receive the produce of the back country,
which chiefly consists in wheat, Indian corn,
large quantities of bear skins and beaver skins
are also carried thither, rs well as OK hides, for
the supply of a lanyard, which has been estab-
lished in the place. The goods sold by the
store keepers are bought directly from Baltimore,
yet more frequently from Philadelphia, as the
small capitals of the merchants of Richmond do
not allow them to give as long credit as the
Staunton traders can obtain in those two large
cities, where they also fnd cheaper market
The trade OF Staunton has decreased OF late
years on account OF the establishment of several
small towns in the county of Greenbrer, IS the
store keepers in those places buy some of the
commodities which were formerly brought to
'Stanhton,o and supply the same parts OF the
country with merchandise, which were Origin
nally supplied by Staunton.
Two market days are weekly kept in the
LOWE, but the market is but badly furnished
with. provisions. Meat sells at six pence q pound.
Flour fetches about $11 tbe barrel it is fine and
white, and of tasts infinitely superior to that
on the other side of the Blue Mountains. The
price of q town lot of one acre varies according
to its position from $50 to 500. This country
is nos free from bilious fevers in autumn, yet
they are less frequent than in the low countries.
Four physicians are established in this small
town, whose practice is extensive. 90 5sg
A paper is published at Staunton twice a
once q week. These papers, it is true, are rath-
or warm in defence of the French cause, yet
they are written with moderation, and never at
tack, directly or indirectly, the government Of
the United States. As far as | am able to
judge, they are but little read.
. had a considerable Inflammation in my eyes,
which increased to such degree that, on my
arrival at Slaunton, was absolutely blind. In
order to get rid OF it, was obliged to have re-
course to bleeding, physic and blisters and to re-
main tour days in that small town. This dis,
temper, which caught at Monticello, is very
common throughout this country in the hottest
part OF the season, especially with those who
expose themselves to the sun.
During my stay in the Inn where / was,
lodging, saw great numbers of travellers pass
by, who were merchants or sellers of land, going
to Greenbrier or Carolina, or persons on their
way to the medicinal Springs for relief from
Rheumatic pains, or other maladies, which they
contracted in the lower countries. The political
opinions they delivered in the course of CONVEX
sation were remarkably good. The declaration
made by the President, that he will not be a
candidate at the next election, was the common
topic; and while they unanimously declared that
Mr.; jefferson should be his successor, they were
at the same time clearly of the opinion that
nothing could repair his loss.
A Presbyterian Church has been built at
Staunton !; it is we'll frequented every Sunday by
the followers of that sect, as well as by persons
of different religious persuasions. A Baptist
preacher delivers now and then sermon in this
church, which does not, however, make the
least alteration In the composition of the audi
ence. 7.t ~ 1ia4 aIsa z5
The inhabitants of Staunton, like the general
ity of Virginians, are fond of gambling and bet
ting. i witnessed there two miserable horse ra-
ces. The best horse was not worth sixty dol
lars, and the bets amounted to three or four
hundred. But as money is by no means plenti-
tul, they lay knives, watches, &C., &c. | have
seen as many as twelve watches deposited in the
hands Of the same umpire. With respect to the
manners of the people here, they are in general
much like those of Richmond, nor are actuated
by superior desire to discharge the debts which
they contract.
The New York Herald introduces with effect
the declaration Of the Duke of Wellington to the
British Parliament at the time be introduced
the Catholic Emancipation bill. As concession
was to be made, the Duke resolved it should be
made fully and freely, so as to satisfy all, and
leave no ranking vestiges behind In proposing
the bill in the House Of Peers, he nsed these
memorable words My lords, I am one of
those who have probably passed more. of my
life in war than most men, and principally, /
may say, in civil war, too; and must say
this, that if l could avoid, by any sacrifice
whatever, one month of civil war in the coun-