Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1864-06-17
The City of Richmond.

richmond, by the last census, had Il
population of 81, 600 souls, but the great
influx of civil and military officers and
refugees from other parts of the State
has probably raised it to much higher
figure. 1t is situated at the head of tide
water, at the lower falls of james River,
about $50 miles from its mouth. The
city occupies most picturesque situa-
ton, being built On Richmond and
Shockoe hills, which are separated by
Shockoe Creek, and surrounded by
beoutfnl scenery. 1t is regularly laid
out and well built, the streets, which are
lighted with gas, crossing each other at
right angles.
On Shockoe Hill are the State Capitol
and other public buildings The Capt.
tol is an imposing edifice, and contains
in its central hall, Houden's celebrated
statue of Washington. On the east of
the square is the Governors mansion
jeff Davis residence is private man
sion, which was purchased for him by
the rebel Government The city has
many fine public buildings, six banks,
thirteen newspapers, and twenty three
churches. In one of the three Presbyte-
rian churches jeff Davis wOrships.
The falls of James River afford i'm
mense water power, and there are very
extensive factories, iuclnding cotton
and tobacco factories, flour mills, roll
ing mills, FORCES, furnaces, machine
shops, &C., the latter Of which, and par
ticularly the Tredegar Iron Works, have
been OF Immense service to the rebels
in turning out ordnance and material
of war. The annual exports of Rich
mond before the rebellion reached near
~ $7,0O0,000, and it's imports $750,O00
But since it had the honor of being
the rebel Capital its foreign commerce
has been eXtinguished. Vessels or gum
boats drawing ten feet can ascend to
withina mile of the city at place called
Rockets. Vessels of fifteen feet draft
ascend to Warwick, three miles below
A canal has been built below the falls,
and above them there is navigation for
200 miles. The James River and Kama
whp Canal, intended to extend to Coving-
ton, is completed for two hundred miles.
Richmond has very extensive rail-
road communications, being the ter
minus of five rOads-running to Fred
ricksburg and the Potomac, to West
Point and the York River, Petersburg
and Norfolk to Danvlle, Va. to jack
sons River, by the central Railroad and
from these the connections lead all
through the Southern States. Opposite
the city are the two towns Of Spring
Hill ana manchester.
Richmond was founded in 1742, be-
came capital of the State of Virginia in
1879, and in June 1861, it was made the
seat of government of the Confederate
States of America whose Congress as
sembled there on July 20. It's history
since then is only too familiar to the
country. Around the city are various
hills, extending great distance, on the
most important of which Notifications
were erected in the days of the "On to
Richmond" cry.
Mr.. MAH1N:-Won't you please pub
fish the annexed, for the benefit of those
Copperheads who, after voting, have
claimed foreign protection?
Plain Talk from British Consul.
The British Consul at Buffalo has adj
dressed the following expressive letter
to drafted man who claimed exemption
as British subject:
BRITISH CONSULATE,
BUFFALO, n. " May 81, 1854.
Richard Fitzgerald, Barracks No. l, Elnira "; Y:
SIR: am in receipt Of your letter OF the 29th
tary authorities at Elmira in regard to the man
ner in which you have been treated.
have to inform you that on the Goth instant
receiveda letter from your wife stating that you
had been arrested, and writing Of you she says:
'They will hold him because he is voter. He
never voted but Once-at town meeting" I
must now point out to you that in the face of
this admission from your wife, you have com,
mitted perjury and if had not been deceived
by your false swearing, should never for an in
slant have endeavored to protect you from the
conscription.
In voting, you have assumed the character OF
an American citizen and you will now have to
take the consequences. l have written to your
wife MAY 10TH and Informed her that you have
forfeited all claim to the protection OF her Maj
estys servants in this country. You have con-
tracted an obligation towards the government
of the United States, by voting, and for your
own peace and comfort you will ind that the
best thing you car now do is to make up your
mind to fulfill the obligations you have been
placed under by the military authorities and
by doing so quietly and peacefully you will find
that, in the long run, you have saved yourself
from much misery and suffering.
am, sir, your obedient servant,
DENIS DONOHoE,
Her Majestys Consul.
". Y. Ersni,0 Post, June 10.