The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1866-03-03
Letter From Annapolis.

ANNAPOLIS, Feb. 18th isOG
Mars. Editors :--Ne!;her historians hog letter
writers have ever done Justice 70 ANNAPOLIS -
The term ancient ciiy has been applied 10 the
beautiful capital Of our State "a a stigma and "a
impression has gone abroad that II y a dull. dir
~, decaying collection of old buildings the
failing remnants ofan age whose glories have long
since been ecliPsed by more modern institutions.
The citizens have been represented as buried in
Rip Van Wrinkle sleep, from which even the
shock Of war could not arouse them, aai ;ic
feeble channels Of trade, IL was thought, were
kept open only by the State aud national patron
age.
II gives US pleasure to say that public rcpu,e
does great injustice 10 Annapolis, and that IL has
not only one Of the most beautiful aud advania-
geous situations on our coast. but has within IL
the elements Of prosperity and wealth. independ-
ent Of any governmental faVors. Built ON a
neck Of land projecting into the Severn River,
within n fen miles Of the noble Chesapeake, IL
has harbor unsurpassed for capacity and safety
On It's heaving bosom the heaviest vessels can
float with case, aud when other ports are sealed
with Ice, Annapolis still has an open channel to
the Sc. II Is thirty miles from baltimore by
water, forty by rail aud about the same distance
from Washington. Its convenience OF access,
the beauty Of the surrounding scenery aud the
courtly hospitality Of It's people, ought To make
II most desir bile place Of residence. Business
seems 10 be reviving aud n spirit OF enterprise
springng up among the people. New buildings
are going up, aud some property Is changing
hands. The permanent return OF the Naval
Academy and the rr-opening OF 81. johns Coi-
legc, are both events favorable to Annapolis aud
with liberal policy on the part Of the authori-
ties, In beauty Ing and leri,cling the city aud
n generous spirit ON tie part Of the citizens aud
freeholders, there j. no r.ason Why the ancient
city should not become rapidly moderated.
aud made Que VI the most attractive places In the
county.
Annapolis was 20 named In i7Os. In honor Of
Queen Ann, then the rcigning monarch ~ Eng
land. As early as l52C printing press was 80
tabllshed In the city, for printing the laws aud
public documents which previously had been
printed AZ Philadelphia by VIM bradford. On
the 27th of Jan. i7I5, James Green issued the
first number Of the Maryland Gazette" at An
napolis, which was long the only paper publish
ed In the colony. This paper was issued BY the
descendants Of lis founder until 1880.
According 10 MeMakin's 4" annals" Annspo-
lie was for long time 81 The Aihens OF America, {"
the seat Of learning, wealth and refinement. Iis
high character In ancient times Il still shown In
the nssr.sse=ee Of he venerable hrildlngs, hear
ing the marks OF age bat still grand and sub
stnntial, displaying 10 their elaborate decorations
and solid comforts the taste and resources their
original owners.
The most prominsnt building In the city Is the
State House. II stands on q beautiful eminence
near the centre Of the city, and 10 the admiration
Of The beholder, not only on account ofiho beauty
aud eymmetFy OF lie structure, but also on ac-
count Of the historic memories connected with H.
The main bulldlng 10 Of brick, surmounted BY q
beautiful dome ofwood. Il is lighted through
out with gas and heaAd By steam. The height
from The bass 10 the top Of the splre is 400 feet
From The platform Of The dome. which 10 1875 feet
high, panorama Il presented 10 the spectator
UNSURPASSED Cor grandeur and beauty.