Baltimore daily commercial. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1865-1867, 1865-11-27
CORRESPONDENCE.
LETTER FROM NORFOLK.
from our Travelling Correspondent, South. !

Leaciag Bcltimore-Pdssage Dozen The HarJor anc
River-hdian Names Of RiUers-Conrersation ,cit
North Carolinian- Viec Of the Capes-Fortres
Misunderstanding Incident There-Norfolk, its Bus
iness ospects-PortSmouth and the Navy Yard
de-, dc.
On Tuesday. the list instant, ate P. NJ, took pas
sage on board the steamer Dictator, for this place
not expecting to return to my home in the Monument
al City for months, and intending to pass the time
my absence in traversng the farther South. In 1860
from the first of January to the last of July, wa
engaged in visiting the principal places in the differ
ent Southern States. | observed well the condition
OF things at that time: and now | shall have de
posente to perform the melancholy task of noting tn
sad changes which civil war must have produced
There ile will however be, no doubt much seen tha
VIII afford consolation to the patriotic heart by prom
ising bright things for the future in the more perfec
union" which an identity. of interests must in th
course OF time secure, when, the whole cGntinen
6elng devoted to human progress in the arts of free
dom our beloved country shall dictate to the whole
World through the hearts of men. the proper form
government 10 produce the greatest amount of hu
Shiloh of Liberty
The night was dark and gloomy as our vessel lef
her wharf and laid her course" down the harbor.-
A ven OF heavy clouds concealed the entire face o
heayen but the numerous lights of the city reflected
the bea o SG Eaf # the sodG M
upper forward deck noting by the dim light the OBJ
Jects we were passing in few moments we had left
the basin then came into view the lights Of Fells
Point and Canton, and the hills behind them then
yagIely looms into sight, upon our right old Fort
Mchenry; shining upon cur left at the same instant
was seen the revolving light at the Lazaretto, and In
atew moments we~had left the harSo- and entered
upon the broader waters of the Patapsco. | missed
succession OF beautiful sights in passing down OuI
noble river in the darkness of cloudy night instead
Of in the glory of sun bright day. Any one who
looks upon the waters of this stream in the daylight
when the winds are still, will notice the whtish glare
upon the surface which caused the Indians to give il
tho name OF Patapsco, sisnifying White water. -
| cannot remember how learned it. nor how | also
learned that Potomac means Broad-water' and Pa
tuxent Clear water" am satisfied that such arc
the true definitions of these Indian words
As we passed Fort Sellers, standing upon its partly
artificial iset, supper was announced and, hunger
ccnqqerns romance left the deck to satisfy the de-
mands of appetite. ! mav be allowed to say pas
SAINT, that the viands various and excellent
When returned TO the deck after supper-tO use
nautical parlance,5the two lights Of North Point
were on our larboard quarter and Bodkin Point light
was on our starbOard BEAM (Are these right sea
phrases y We were soon out upon the open bay
As our steamer heeted onward. the beacons became
DINNER and DINNER in the murky dizziness, until at
length all that could see behind me in the gloom
was the looming form of the upper works of the
steamer, while before me and around me the slightly
stirred waters cleaned family in the spectral light
With many mingled tones-how full of sadness-did
the waves break upon our vessels PROV. De Lamar,
nature seeming to send up the incense of its adora
ton to God says. Its my srrit that gives tongue to
nature; it is from my heart that she draws the nspi
ration of her worship. And thus it was the sadness
of my own feelings at the thought of parting for an
indefinite time from all whom love that gave its
a charm there is in the sound of dashing waves any
one knows who has listened to the noise of the surf
beating upon the shore. [ had been for some time
leaning over the rail of the steamer, looking at and
listening to the waters and unconsciously striving to
Danish, the saddening influence of the melancholy
notes by forming bright visions of the future in
which; with all the knowledge acquire. by my travel
| should return to happy home, when l was sud
denly startled by voice at my elbow:
Does this boat stop at Fortress Monroe? ?" said
The speaker, as well as 1 could judge in the dark
ness, was stout man of medium height His voice
was that Of young man.
- Do you speak to me?' l asked
Il can assure you, then" / said, that the boat
goes to Norfolk"
Il thought so, too" he remarked; but Just
now heard it said that we change boats at Fortress
Monroe"
Passengers for points on the James river change
boats there" | answered.
thought that | had now done with my new ac-
quaintance; but was mistaken. Other people have
curiosity, as well as Yankees.
Going down SOuth?' he asked.
Going far2'
a. can't say SIR l answered . may go all over
the South before return. Or may be home again in
Home in Baltimore heh?"
Going into North Carolina ,"
" am almost certain that shall"
You'll see things changed there, l tell you,' he
saldi and tor the worse too, Just now But you'll
after while, when we white folks get all to work"
The young man then proceeded to entertain me
with long account of the state of things in his part
OF North Carolina-the southeastern middle. All that
learned from hi" T"-th mentioning was that there
VIII be but small cot: n crop raised there
found more economical than colored labor in the
South.
Getting rid of this customer by pleading drowsi-
ness, sought my couch and slept sOundly until
early daylight soOthed by tho lullaby of the waters
beating dreamy, just at my against the side OF
the steamer, as with steady speed she made her
way through them.
When l came upon deck the next morning little
before sunrise. the Cares at the mouth of the Chesa
peake were on our larbOard bow through The open
ing between them was seen the broad Atlantic, losing
itself in the eastern horizon. The clouds, which had
sun III a few moments arose, beautiful flood OF
golden light poured over land and water. Focks OF
wild ducks We're seen in the nearer view flying about
or floating on the waters, and close at hand and in
the distance were noted here and there the white
sails of ships and bay craft and the wreaths of smoke
from steamers one OF the last so lar on as to seem to
be on the line where the eastward waters met the
sky.
Soon we were at the wharf at Fortress Monroe
10 the b % east Of Us near midway the mouth Of HamP
ton Roads lay the rocky artificial island called the
"Rip-Raps, and beyond it the fiat wooded strip OF
land which separates the Roads from the Atlantic
Fortress Monroe as viewed from the deck of our
steamer, seemed but little changed from what it was
when visited it five years ago. There are more
buildings outside the walls on the east than there
were then. The vivid green of the grass upon the
ramparts attracted my attention; this brilliant
dure is doubleSsly due to the moisture of the climate
W nat Il lovely Sheet OF water Is hampton Roads
think it more beautiful than either New York bay
or Charleston harbOr But mournful memories have
clustered around it since saw it last in July, 1860
passenger who stood beside me on the deck of the
Dictator, pointed out as we glided up the Roads tc
Elizabeth river, the positions of the different vessels
attacked and destroyed by the celebrated Merrimac
We can all unite in thanking heaven that that 'crue
war is over"
Our steamer arrived at her wharf in this city about
half-past eight this morning' After accompanying
my baggage to the old National hotel and securing
room there sailed out TO learn what changes have
taken place in Norfolk since visited it last. So fa
as the appearance Of the streets and houses is con
judge from the display of merchandise on the bus
ness streets. ysiter would suppose that there
brisk trade going but customers seem to be few
and idle clerks and statesmen, standing in the door
wavs! are suite numerous. ALI the merchants, how
ever, with whom converse speak hopefully; they say
that business Is looking up and prospects art
Frightening. A direct line of steam packets run
between this city and Newbern, n c., by way of thu
Albemarle and Chesapeake canal: ard hut s.tee,
miles remain unfinished on the Seaboard and Roanoke
railroad Regular lines of steamers connect this cit!
with Philadelphia and New ork as well as with Bal
timOre. So far as communication With the cute
wcrl5 is concerned. Norfolk will soon have all tn,
convenences which she ever had. All that stands IL
the way of her progress is the impoverished condition
of the territory upon which she mainly depends fo
her trade. That evil will doubt, be cured by time
l crossed the Elizabeth River this afternoon Il
Portsmouth, by the government ferry boat and alsI
visited the navy-yard. Business in Portsmouth
seems to be still duller than in Norfolk even but few
people seen passing in the streets; An old mer
very dull. but he had no doubt they would soon b.
better. The navy4yard still presents an appearance
of almost utter ruin. A few of the fine substantial
workshops have been rebuilt; about five hundred
hands, | was told are employed there; the NUN
ber was nearly a thousand i'll the summer: and still
more are soon to be discharged.
The wrecks of the old Pennsylvania and few o
the other government ships destroyed in the ciyi
war still show themselves above the water. But tive
three vessels lying at the wharf at the navy
yard, and only one, was told, on which any worl
towns on the western side of the Elizabeth River op
posite Norfolk? Crossing the ferry enter Porta
mouth: south of that town, and between it and tn
navy-yard, is Gospor and west of the navy yard lie
Newtown. They all have an antique look Between
Portsmouth and Gosport is creek lying anon
marshes-all crossed by long bridge l asked
number of persons, and not one of them knew an
name for that creek.
Glenns theatre here has been closed for while
the company are now acting at Petersburg. They in
tend to return to this place in few days.
St. Pauls Church, in Church street, is an interest
ing object In its southern gable is still seen sma
cannon ball. embedded there in the revolutionar
war, during the Royal Governors bombardment G
ancient tombstones, of them having quaint an
interesting inscriptions dating far back in the la;
century.
had an interview yesterday with James Barro
Hope, the well-known Richmond poet. 1t will
remembered that &. P. r. James, the English novel
ist preferred this geneman's charge at Balaklava
| to TennJ sons Charge Of the Light Brigade
ORIoyIs.
ANOTHER PosToFFTCE ROBBERY.--The Detro
| Free Press of Thursday, says: