Delaware State journal and statesman., 1867-09-10
LnTrER FROM VIRGINIA.
Special Correspondence NJ me Journal end Saysman
CArEvTLLE, NORTHAMPTON Co., VA, l
Sent od 1877

specidi c"rFesp9ndehe ~ NE Journal end Sid',Smdn
CAPEvILLE, NORTHAMPTON Co., VA,
Sept. cd, 1867. ]
DEAR JOURNAL IL enclose copy of an
inscription on u beautiful marble monument,
standing on the South bank of Old Planta-
tion Creek, about half mile from the Ches-
apeake Bay, on beautiful eminence, COM
manding view of the same. Alongside the
monument is slab, partially delaced by
time and the rudeness of the people, but
enough is left to tell it is where the remains
of Capt. John Parke Gusts lies. He, it ap-
pears, was the original of the Custis family
in tins country, and came from England,
and was Gentleman OF the Realm, so the
stone says. He settled here and named the
place Arlington, after the custom set in Eng
land, and in the course of time, some of his
children went on to Williamsburg and set
tied there; and Arlington Heights over the
Potomac ut Washington City, was called so
after the family residence here, which still
bears the name the first settler gave it, and
it is one of the prettiest places in the coun-
try. You Will see that there is no date on
the inscription, but from some records here
It is about one hundred and ten years old.
There is no slab or anything TO indicate
where his wife was buried. Tradition here
says the grey mare was the better horse OF
the two, which explains the innuendo on the
monument OF the honorable esquire, as he
calls himself; another thing you will see
plainly, that the preseht crop of would-be
arlstocrats sucked in such notions with their
mothers milk. Who but F. f. V. would
think OF writing himself as honorable es-
| qnlrep Their lofty ideas are inbred, but
they are in pretty fair way to get some of
tins arlstocratic starch taken out them. But
to the inscription, here it is, the old English
long ls always used, and capitals as put
them: "Under this marble Tomb lies ye
~ dNy nfN LlE.x L.. 1t. 4
ye city OF Williamsburgh and Parish of
Bruton, formerly OF Hongers Parish on the
Eastern Shore of Virginia and county of
northampton, the Pluce of his Nativity.
Aged II years and yet lived but seven years
which was the space of time he kept a
bachelors house at Arlington on the Eastern
Shore of Virginia"
On the diverse side is this: "This nscrip-
ton Put on this tomb was by his Positive
Willim Coorlie Mason in Ten
church ST London Fect. /"
The property has now gone out OF the
GUSTS family, and in fact, the family has
run out. The tomb will, / think, soon be
removed, as the present owner intends build
ing line house close to where it stands
tradition also says, the Honorable Esquire
gave positive order TO bury him in an up
right position, which was complied with, he
stlll inncying he could look on the pleasant
scenes OF his short seven years of lile as he
expressed IT, Poor old man he has left thou
sands here, just as cranky as he was himself
lie is the type OF the present generation OF
f. F. VS..
Another monument of VirEinia's past
PRIDE, lays IN the creek, just above marble
tomb, 1t is the wreck and ruin OF the old
schooner Keziah, OF Wilmington, Delaware.
the one Capt. Lambdln was taken in in
attempting TO run off some negroes from
petersburg or Richmond, some years ago.
ne, yon Will remember, was sent to the
penltentlary for ten years, and the vessel
contiscated 10 the State; she was sold at
auction and party bought her and run her
out oil plantation creek until the rebellion,
when they went into blockade running with
her, until Gen. Lockwood put a squad of
men at Arlington, the owner then run her
up Il small prong OF the creek and scuttled
heri they soon after repented OF their folly
anu appned Tor permission to raise her and
go into regular trade To Baltimore again,
put the General, l suppose, knowing some
thing OF her history, thought she might as
wcll lay still awhile longer. So by the time
the rebellion was crushed and they could
raise her, the salt water worms had put il
past any use in doing SO, she was then strip
ped OF masts and sails and all the rigging
and what could be got, and the hull Of the
old keziah is still II monument OF Virginia
folly II the Delaware owners had known
her Whereabouts at the time, they might have
repossessed themselves of their property,
which was so unjustly taken from them
1t seems almost like a Providential inter
/ position that she should soon become
ashes as it were, in their hands.
The blind staggers, fatal disease, has
broken out here among the horses, and it
bids fair to kill off all III the county. In the
last ten days fifty one horses died in this dis
trict; not one has recovered that has been
taken. And it IS still raging, and learn it
is equally as fatal over about Norfolk, Hamp-
ton and Richmond, and In fact, in all paris
Of Virginia that hear from. 1t seems
strange that no remedy can be found for this
fatal disease. Here is certainly Il fine field
for skilliul horse Doctor. Your cores
pondent has not yet lost his Bucephalus or
Rozinante, but as he lost all three he had
last Fall, he hopes he has gwen his sha-e to
the names of this fell disease.
The farmers are now selling their Sweet
Potatoes at three dollars per barrel, or one
dollar per bushel, Wholesale
We now have cool nights, and thermome.
ter is ranging from 70 TO rs degrees. We
had fire the first time, in the setting room,
Saturday evening
Yours, n