The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-09-11
8ithmond 0ispattI1.
SATURDAY.... SEPTEMBER II, 1869.
letter from williamsburg.
corrcspondcnce Of the Richmond Dispatch.
WILLIAMSBURG, VA, September 2.
THE TOWN.

Il JoNN.
uPoor old williamsburg" This was
tho exclamation of n dark-eyed little Miss
os the steamer John Sylvester ncarcd tht
wharf at Kings Mill one day this week
Poor Williamsburg !" end she looked
archly at "your own" as much as TO say
DENY j. Il YOU can. sir" Dear old Will
Harrisburg / responded, and she, being "na'
tive and to the manor BORN" and perhaps
incipiently proud Of the past, contentec
herself with an amiable pout. Yes 1t Is {
dear old place! Iii 8 refreshing to escape
NJ least for n while, from the inevitable
novelties of the present and under the sha
dow of her ancient relics drift back INTO th'
dreamy past. The Episcopal church, buli
with brick brought from England, with III
clock presented by Queen Anne, still ialtf1
July notes the tccting hours the statue
nrcctcd to The :: good Lord Botetourt, m!
Slaicsty's late Lieutenant anil Governor Of
the Colony and Dominion of Virginia .
tho ancient residences, where the sons an
daughters of Old Virginia lived, and loved
md died these and a hundred lesser Oh
,ccts, viewed in the dreamy light OF thi'
autumn sun, fill the spectator with emo
tions Of mingled sadness and pafr!o'i'
pride. -.
Through the courtesy of DR.. Brewer, th'
supcrintendent of the Insane Asylum, YOU
CORRESPONDENT had the pleasure Of eXamln'
ing
4 VERY ANCIENT RECORD,
which the Doctor found in n store here, the
kcerer of which had been tearing tho
leaves one by one for wrapping paper. 1t
is n manuscript book, but legibly and
neatly written. It's contents relate mainly
TO the asylum. Here We have n list Of the
"Court of Directs" appointed by act OF
Assembly in 1878. This list embraces the
historic names of Nelson, Lewis, Pcyton
Randolph, George Wytlic, John Tazewcll,
witt, those of Digges, Carter, Blair, Bur
well, and Evcrard. Here and there through
ont the book the lover Of historic lore Will
End much to interest him.
THE ASYLUM,
under the management of DR.. Brewer and
his assistant, Dir. Clopton, seems to be 81
model institution. The Doctor believes in
fresh air, sunlight, and modern improve
ments, and the asylum is a beautiful Illus
tration of his theory. The numerous apart
mcnts are arranged with special rcgGrd to
ventilation, and he is introducing number
Of useful inventions for the convenience
and pleasure Of his patients. The remark
able cleanliness of the floors would astCnlsh
the most fastidious housewife, and the
howcr-plots and spreading elm trees of the
grounds would please the eye Of your most
poetic SCHOOLGIRLS. Besides the chapel for
religious service, the asylum has its bowl
ing-alleys and its rcading-room, and II IS
proposed soon 20 have a billiard saloon Tor
the amusement Of patieuts.
One OF the most remarkable men among
the patients is n Mr.. Walton, of Louisa
county, who went insane upoathc subject OF
PERPETUAL MOTION.
Your correspondent had the pleasure Of
visiting this gentleman in his WI room,
and of hearing his explanation of the mys-
terics of q machine he has constructed. Ills
theory Of perpetual motion, to use his "
language, is 1.-the h~armoaizing of equal
upon unequal centres upon parallels" In
illustration OF this idea he showed us q
most complicated but ingcniously-con-
structed machine. His lo0m is nothing
more than q workshop. His whole mind
is bent upon the realization of his one idea,
and lie thinks that an cxpcctant world is
anAlously awaiting TIC ieSuli VI us iiootn.
Yet lie is not q man to be laughed at. One
need only glance his noble though aged
form, and look into his intellectual, earnest
eyes, to feel & sentiment OF respect, and
perhaps think Of what might have been"
After all, somewhere in the pregnant fu-
ture, we shall all awake as from Il dream,
and who knows but what his shall be proved
TO be as real as ours, and his life lie adj
Judged as noble rs tlat of some more sue
ccssful son of ambition Roy.
p. S.-The benevolent are invited to con-
tribute hooks and magazines (ncw or old)
to the asylum rcading-room. There are
more than 200 patients, about one-half OF
whom are disposed to read. DR.. Charles ;,
Mills, Richmond, will receive these contri-
buttons.