St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1863-05-21
Correspondence:
GOSSIP FROM AENAPOhIS.

OFFICE OF CHRISTIAN COMMISSIONS s
GENERAL HOSPITAL, ANNAPOLIS, Nd,
! April 3Oih, 1858. } Z
DEAR W1LL.-In my last I gave you
an account Of my sojourn in Dixie. Twill
now cndeavor to interest you with matters
AMI events connected with this locality
for this purpose | have made several tours
Of observation in and around Annapolis,
getting one item here, and another there,
until [ have material sufficient to COM
nencc the patchwork. But few Of your
readers who arc not familiar with the early
history Of this part Of our country.
Annapolis is in 4 nne Arundel county,
situated on the south branch Of the river
Severn, thirty miles south Of Baltimore,
and forty miles east northeast from Wash
ington City. Its population is a1cct Eve
thousand. 1t stands on peninsula formed
by Acton's Creek on the south. ahd Co.
vey's Creek on the north; the heads Of
these TWO creeks being within half Z mile
Of caeh other. Its greatest length is It,
| tie more than ,ri;c and its breadth some
thing more than ha'f mile 1t covers
an area Of about 'nndved and
forty-three acr:s. Yhe site of the city
is one of great beauty, commanding an ex-
tensive view of the Chesapeake E:; 4nd the
surrounding country, which, exhibits a
great diversity Of landscape and pictu7s
esque scenery: The appellation Of the
"Beautiful City, has often been applied
to Annapolis, especially when clothed in
natures brightest livery. In these days
such an encomium would be misplaced
there are too many non-beautiiers. while
there are many places which with propri-
city might be characterized as magnificent,
grand, and shovy, there exists many op-
po:itc pictures. There are many dilapi-
dated buildings, d!nsy with age ard neg
lect The Sidewalks are di>tressiugly na:-
row, a1;ord'og <canty room for female PC
iestr;ans habited in fashionable costume
streets, ditto, aud not paved-thc yellow
clay foundation being admirably adapted
70 the manufacture, in wet weather, of
mud. The article is very abundant, ma
king cquestrianiSm slow and uncertain.
On some OF the most important business
streets however, lavish distribution ct
coal-ashes and oyster shells have convert
cd mud holes into compact road.
Like all southern towns of this size,
there = much that exhibits plainly the re-
suit Of slave labor. Everywhere there is
a deficiency Of freedom, thrift, polish and
the go-aheadativenes which charactcrzcs
the large minded men on the other side of
Mason and Dixon's line. The wealth CT
Annapolis is still evidenced by many of
its venerable dwellings, bearing the marks
Of age upon them, yet displaying in their
elaborate decorations the taste aud re-
sources of their original owners She was
in truth, at one period; the "4athens of
America" There are many memcntos Of
antiquity for which this time houorel me-
tropolis is justly distinguished.
In company with some friends, visit
ed the ancient State House. It is stu
ated on beautiful elevation in the center
of the city. When thinking of the age
in which it was built, it elicits ones ad-
niration for the beauty and magnifcence
OF It's sstructure and symmetry of its pro-
portions. The main building is of brick,
and the superstructure which surmounts
it, is wood The height from the base to
the top of the spire is two hundred feet.
From the platform of the dome-which is
one hundred and thirty-fve feet highs
one of the most delightful panoramic views
to be found in the United States. It CON-
mands view Ct nature in all the beauty
of poetic scenery. The ancient city-its
environs-the adjacent country-~the no.
bic Chesapeake and the eastern shore be-
yond it, for an extent of twenty miles
! around, breaks upon the vision of the
delighted bellolder.
The hill, on which stands this noble cd
ifce, is enclosed by neat aud substantial
granite wall, surmounted BY a handsome
iron railing, which Is en.etsd ty ,1,fee
gates. The main entrance to the huitdins
is through portiee Of but modest p:s:sn=
sious, and opens into spacioas and h,ost
attrantirn hill Il, irh;n!, - Ill q .:on eel