The New York herald., 1862-07-28

The following an extract from statement Of gsa
tsman who visited the city last summer
The principal feature that strikes every who
Richmond for Arst time is its curious topography
From the James river, which, tumbing over its rocky
bed makes wide bend hsrs, with its convex faos -
the city rise without any regard to uniformity Of dec
ton some half dozen hills, OF gravel formation aud OF
rretty considerable elevation. There has never been
any attempt 10 grade into level streets, but the
city is scattered promiscuously up and aud
hon just fashion, tsst7 or business may have hap
psued 10 dictate The principal part Of the city, how.
ever occupies actually only OF those elevations,
aud the garden spot Of that IL the Capitol square,
where stands the building Of which Jefferson procured
tho design Franco; but which, however magnificent
IL may have been deemed in the simple unostentatious
days 10 which il built. is certainly be laudsd
now either for it's beauty for It's adaptation 70 the
wants Of State Legislature much loss to those of
ogrss. Of Confederate States In the centre OF ths
sauare The beautiful equestrian statue Of Washington,
ook n calm and serene and commanding AZ f the city
which he ov srooks hot Of the
rouest treason that showed itself iu the light
Jsv Ths pedestal designed for eight other statues Of
distinguished yirguans, but three of which have YET
bean put in their places These Jefferson Henry and
Mason-not the arrogant selr.concesa blockhcad who
recently represented the state the Senate at Washing
ton aud has gone seeking recognition at London
toe diplomatic representative OF soeessiondom-but FAR
pursr and patriotic namesAks OF his. Here
Also is a small statue OF Henry Clay.
Richmond has really bun business thoroughfsrs.
That Ia Nam street. Most OF the hotels banks news.
paper Offices ami stores located II. u extends
porthward into tho opeu country and souhssstward tp
suburb called Rockets In this latter section OF
Situated some Of the tobacco warehouses our Union
prisoners are sow confined. These large old brick
sdboss Of mouldy diapidAtsd appearance They stand
three tcgsher side OF the street. which here is os
most diugy character, and two nearly opposite Those
on tho north side are overlooked by the blufs In which
Chwch I'm here terminates, and which supply gravel tor
the city while these the south side Of have
the James aud Kanawha canal aud the river itself
immediately in their rear.
Near the summit Of the elevation known ~ Church
Hi ID large, oldashionad brick bpildng known ~ the
Ashouse. 1t has been converted from original pur.
pose and serves ~ hospital for eur sick aud
wounded Sisters Of Charity come and 90, un-
tirlns angels s consolation, and the hsarse 10
kept IN coretsn. rsauisition, 80 great N the
mo,tsty that prevails hore. Many OF the private
houses in the vcin, also converted nto temp rary
hospitals As n general thing The former residents
OF This vsr o Tho city havs gone elsewhere since hslo-
cation Of the hospitals hare; sAd now on every tenth
house OF more you sss waving little dirty, ~hitish.
yellow nag, depotiny . iszaretio The Odd Fellows
Hail. en- Broad s,set, 10 also used s general hospiai
N, the most commanding par, oi Church Hill stil stands
% good preservation too th. church in which Parios
Henry ado hs famous speech at the commencement Of
the evolutionary struggle whore he used that msmors-
be aud otquctsd phrase, "Givs me liberty or give mo
assb, Around ,bs church are the graves u tho sss
generation Of the people Of Richmond and was no little
srus,sd 10 observe few Of tho hsadscnes had es
cspsa the vandalism Of some scoundrss who rs proof
Of tbsr Wit cut 1gure T before The agurss record
Ing the gss ot the deceased making appear that ,hoss
~ .s,sd here from their abors had suoyed ncrsd,t
bly patvarchsi length Of years
pa,,s.u vN,sh and the fieSsr, assp,b known -