The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1864-08-16
Yankee coniiscations and Pillage.

When Hannibal lay in sight OF Rome the ground
on which his army was cnoamped was sold a. public
auction and brought fair price. The purchaser
and the people had fear that he would take
the city. The city of Alexandria has been held BY
the Yankees for three years. They have sold o.
late vast deal Of con6scated rebel real estate In
no instance did il bring onetcnth part Of its actual
value. The conclusion il irresistible. The Yankees
entertain no hope of holding Alexandria. As a
particular case, would mention the sale of Free
stone Point, the residence Of Colonel Fairtax-a
magnificent e~tate-the very fishery. upon which
rented before the for the interest upon 900
in gold. OF course Il was worth greatly more than
that sum- for the rentee would expec: 10 make out Of
tho fishery at leas. much (clear gain as he gave
in tho shape of rent. Well, the whole estate, land
houses, and fishery, Sold the other day for the sum
of S5,0o0-iess than years rent OF the fishery
alone We may very fairly presume that the intru-
der expects to be ouseed in short time, and that
he hopes to himself by working the fishery in
the interval to ito utmost capacity.
Such temporary occupation of the old mansions
Of Virginia would scarcely give occasion for more
than transient pang of regret were the occupants
any other than Yankees. But they, in the spirit OF
what they cali improvement fail to vulsa,ize
everything they touch. Theirs is utilitarian
sprita spirit which seeks the destruction Of every
thing desirable tasteful, provided, 10 use their
own characteristic phrase, ait don't pay" They
cut down the most ancient and venerable shade trees
to plant few acres of or potatoes destroy
old orchard to make potato patch pull down a
venerable clubhouse 70 make room for some vulgar
Yankee money making concern of their owr-in
word, moderrze and vulgarize everything SO entirely
that the place loses all the interest and respec-
liability that result from antiquity and association
of ideas. We have idea that Colonel Fairfax
will recognize his old home, eidearcd to him by a
thousand memories of his ancestors when they
were almost princes in the land He will find his old
furniture some of it dating back to the reign O.
Charles H., carried of for "trophcs" his ancient
mirrors, which might have thrown back the image
OF the colleague Of Cromwell himself torn from
their places, and fippery New York frame
glasses, with gilt frames and pretentous
hangings of the genuine Yankee type, sticking
in their places hir massive old chairs. of
tho style OF Anne or the first George suppanted by
the latest style of Yankee hair-botoms; his Old /
oaken tables at which Washington and BRYAN Fair
fax may often have sat, sent to Coventry and set
OF fashy vaniers supplying their plice his ancient
wainscoting of solid mahogany, painted and glazed
the old brass knobs to the DOORS that came over be-
fore Sir William Berkeley, substituted by the silver
looking vulgarism that pass for knobs among shod-
dy aristocrats Of New York his old hall and his
Old dining-room fitted up like the cabin of a North !
river steamboat or the reception room of q first |
class New York hotel In word, all traces of the |
old house. OF the old family, and of the old colonial
days. gone forever Yet it will be q satisfaction-a
gor1ous sstlsfacton-to him, and to others situated
hike him, to see the vandas compelled to leave for
ever the scenes which they have long desecrated,
and where their presence is hateful and SO uncon-
genial with everything around
Yet, though the Yankees are tasteless and yu,ear !
let 1t not be thought that they do not know how 70
appreciate memorials Far from IL They y,Iue |
mem IN their own peculiar manner, according To |
heir idea OF the money that can BE- made of them |
hey took up all the headstones the graves of
ne soldiers who fell at the siege Of York designing
10 DOUBT TO exhibit them for pay, they would ex-
ipi monkey or rnlhocerous, or as the Boston :
nan exhibited the remains Of old Pa,kman who was
numbered some years ago by the amiable and phi-
anthlopc professor Of chemistry in Harvard Col
eye because ne presumed to ask payment of debt
'hlch had been long justly due They.steal pic
ures, too, to sell; and the Yankees buy because
aey read that to have pictures is an evidence of
aste, just as they think it evidence OF learning
have large library, although tho majority of the
ooks be nothing more than wood, with the title or
DOCK printed on the back. OF silver and gold | 0
'ensils and ornaments, they, of course, know the
aiue; and OF carriages and horses no less as Gene
u hihg proved at fredericksburg when he bought | '
lr' Robb's carriage and horses for fifty dollars
ON Mr.. Robbs servant who had stolen them and i,
IN away, and when he not only rode in the car .
age du1ng the campaign, but sent il to New York NJ
r his wife and children to ride in also g.