Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1867-06-07

WILMINGTON CORRESPONDENCE OF THE PLTkhs-
BURG 1NDEx.-The session Of the baptist state
Convention in this place recently, was atterded
by Rev. T. H. Pritchard Pastor Of the First Bap.
ust church in Petersburg, who correspondel e.
quarry with the hade1 of that city, and gave in
terestIng accounts OF the proceedings of the Con
ventiOn. In the last letter Of Mr. Prtcbard IN tbe
Jnder. We extract the following relative to the ex
curson of the delegates the bar ON the steam
er Oldham. Re says;
We passed Forts Anderson, Fisher, Caswell and
Campbell and ventured with our little craft sever
al miles out to sea, where il would ride upon the
crest OF the waves and then sink into the trough
or the sea. The sensation Of the first was most
exhilirating. The enjoyment was OF the most ex-
citing character, the ladies would almos: scream
with delight as we rode over the beautiful bilows
but our joy short-lived, for, stopping to
catch some blackfsh, we were soon the sickest set
oflandubbers that ever salt water for the first
time. However, most of us recovered sufficiently
when we put back into smooth water, to replace
our lost breakfast by most savorv and varied
ainner at s1aithville. Batting our sea sickness, it
was day or unalioyed pleasure Grave divines
forgot their dignity and with perfect abandon gave
themselves to fun and frolc, and the occasion
gave rise to many witticisms anecdotes and iokea
which will never be forgotten by this acoomnIish.
ed party OF ladies and gentlemen. Just before we
landed on our return, meeting was held and res
oiutlons or thanks were returned TO Alexander
Oldham, the owner OF our little boat, the Captains
crew, and the kind friends who had 80 gratefully
refreshed the inner man. Speeches were made by
representatIyes from Georgia, South Carolina,
North Carolina and Virginia, and we parted, feel
ing that this WI day to be numbered by = white
stone.
To this letter is appended the following compar
lson between the two cities, Wilmington and Pc
tersburg. AS regards the intelligence and hospi-
talty OF our citizens, the beauty of our ladies and
the distinction ot our professional men, we not on
ly think, however that Wilmington roav be equal,
to Petersburg in these respects, but feel assured
that it Is fully the equal Of the Cockade City; and
further, we will venture to assert, without fear OF
being deemed guilty of any vain or idle boast
that there is no city or town in the South which
surpasses us-many are not our equals-in these
respects. We have ever been justly proud Of the
hospitality Of our citizens and their intelligence
is unquestioned; the distinction of our profess
sional men has ever been acknowledged aud as
for the beauty of our ladies, it has long been our
boast that not only equal, but fer ahead
of other cities.
We thank the gentleman for his compliment,
however, and are pleased that his impressions Of
our city were so favorable, and trust that when he
next visits it he will find it very much improved
+ WILMINGTON AND PETERSBURG.
T." few words about Wilmington as contrasted
with the Cockade City, and your reporter will re-
sign his pen.
Petersburg is larger than Wilmington; the one
having upwards of twenty thousand inhabitants,
the other but fifteen. Petersburg has more pluck
and enterprise, and therefore more trade than
Wilmington. Both cities have two excellent daily
papers, though Wilmington is ahead of us on the
score of Sunday work, for they issue number
Sunday morning instead of Monday. Wilmington
certainly equals our city in church architecture
and greatly surpasses it in the beauty and ele.
gance of it's private residences 80 too it exces
us in the variety and extent OF its shrubbery and
flowers, the IL best Don It's cemetery and
lieve that there is o town in the whole country
that surpasses in the intel igenco an h spital
ity of our citizens, the beauty OF WON II, and
the distinction of our pr ftssora me-. though,
in these respects, Wi mington may be with us -
Indeed, Wi mngton is charming place and
your reporter leaves it with grateful m,mUries Of
it's pleasures and people " p.