Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1864-06-09
(Ftom Tie london Ind.r, May la
A LANCASHIRE MAN IN RICHMOND.

a nhNOAOLAhE HAN IN nj JnMONDs
Oar Manchester correspondent has forwarded to US
long aud interesting letter dated Richmond March 90
from gentleman who was OF the chief promoters
Of the Confederate movement In Lancashire and who
has since migrated 10 tho Confederate States The i'm
preston Of intelligent LancashIreman visiting Rich
mOnd Just for the first timo scarcely fail to be
Of interest to many Of readsrs and therefore We
have much pleasure 10 making the following extracts
When left England for the Confederate States, if
had put my in the representations of Northern ia.
natcs In Manchester or London, ought 10 have found
on my arrival in the South, disaffeected army half
starved and diaascted people, the slaves uneasy aud
nsuborduRte and thing at skies and sevens But
all these things found 70 be dreams, without the
slightest foundation in fact. Ga the other hand, the
frat thing that takes the attention Of the stranger is the
method and which characterize the transaction of
public business in the several departments The ma
chineFy of the Confederate Government is working as
smoothly and saetOTiy though it had been In
stence for fifty years. As with the Government go with
the peopIe-no breath Of discomfort anywhere, but
determination to make any sacrifice that may be re-
quired of them.
/ see from some of the London papers (Daily N,os
and Sdr) that We are short of food in Richmond This is
the frs knew Of It. Scarcity, assure you there is
none the only inconvenience the people suffer arises
from the temporary difficulty of getting suppes from
the country. am now staying at the American Hotel
an establishment equal in sz, 10 your leens ia Man.
chester aud the waiting IA done by four hundred col
ored servants who exceedingly civil well hammered
and obligGg As for the 'desttuton' that prevails
only say that anybody live here at half the eost
he eau In Manchester.
have bsen to too Libby and Belle Isle prisons sew
era times. and found tho prisoners looking very well
and enjoying themselves over the chessboard and at
other games thought Neal Dow looking better than
when las: saw him. Tho Sunday before he left (by
the exchange Is h) was invited down by the Ry.
Chaplain Cameron aud was surp' 'ed to see the Prison
ers doing soldiers justice 10 ham, bacon and chickens
Everything was very clean and tidy the doctor going
his rounds every morning. often as his services
required. The mode of exchange shows that tn,
terms are pretty much at the dctaon Of the Oonfsd
crates For every ten prisoners the Federals send the
OInfederAtes send seven but the Southerners will not
reoognizs Bur In this matter, will they surrender
any captured negroes. Many exchanges have taken
place Of late 80 that few prisoners now remain here.
have Travelled through great portion Of the South,
and have had more than ordinary opportunities OF OBJ
STRIVING the Institution Of slAVery" in all is folms
The other day met a clergyman Of my acquaintance
in Main street. who invited me to accompany him some
xseen miles In the country as be was about to preach
on the following day Sunday to some 400 slaves on
antatioD. occurred to me, as piece OF pleasantly,
tlat by accepting the invitation on the spot should
give the horrd planter no time for preparing for my
ceotiou BY decorating his kitchen with hams and ba-
con- which, according 10 the Unlon and Emancipation
Society are hung up for the dedication OF visitors but
which the slaves 81 mel but never touch" We drove
On together and arrived a. the estate OF Major Allen,
by whom was received aud entertained for days
with the greatest hospitality and the most gentemany
feeling Tue estate eolsiJs of about 1000 acres, and
is one of the finest in Virginia l found the negroes
living in cottages in dtren. parts Of the plantation
They receive their ppes weekly and cook them as they
please By the way the practice to pay the slaves for
o5eFWoIk and know many instances OF slaves making
considerable sum OF "pin money" or bounty annually
There Is q Chuoch on the estate for the benefit OF
the negroes, and hospital which found very clean,
with separate divisions for men and women. went
into several Of their dwellings, which also found very
clean and comfortable the walls hung with pictures,
floors well swept chairs tables foCk-beds clean white
sheets and bed covers. 60, 40 The boys and girls
clean and well clad and made eourtesles to me as
took them BY the hand. Major Allen Is gentleman
u heart As veil as manners and is well known 10 Mr..
LAvley Of the Tmss.