New-York tribune., 1869-05-29

rises into a ridge the soil is DOOR The defenses Of
Richmond. such rhe-pits and forts are beginning
to have old look and the red earth is mostly COW
cred with thin grass. Dutch Gap is looked for with
interest and it is awonder that it was not completed,
for the distance is quite short and those who
dislike Gen. Butler, speak of it an evidence that
he never completed anything except mischief They
grant that if this gap had been finished 1t would
save many miles in the navigation of the river, but
it does not to that they themselves might
The landing for Williamsburg is at Kings Mill
Wharf where for the first time. learned that every
one passing from one of these river wharfs to the
shore must pay toll. On this wharf 1T IS p cents.
1t is to be noted that this point is just below the ISL
and of jamestown where the first white settlement
in North America was made. The island IS divided
into forest, cultivated fields, and sWamps, and in
cudes about LOO acres which, like most other prop
erty is for sale The improvements consist Of six or
seven chimneys, and the remains OF an old church.
IL is not considered favorable for health.
The distance from the landing to Williamsburg is
shout four miles the country gently rolling, o part
being unfenced fields, and another part old pine
forests, the site of worn out plantations. James
town soon gave place to Williamsburg and here the
first well directed efforts at settling America were
made. Some English families came over. Ihey 0c-
Cuped all the adjacent country. The capital OF Inc
colony located here, and also tho College OF VIII
liam and Mary. After q long ride over rongh ROAD,
with scarcely any inhabitants on the route ana
without meeting single team or individual, we
the growth of the old field pine had COMMENCED.
Here was the desperate battle OF Williamsburg. Inc
forts and lines Of defense are OF vast extent, ana
was shown where the battleTaged hottest ana WneTe
hundreds of our men fell i asked where they
were buried. and told they had been re-
moved to the National Cemetery at YORK
town, but the Confederates lilo buried where
they fell The COnfederates seem TO pay
little attention 10 their dead; still, Rlch-
mOnd paper recently expressed some Indignation De-
case the bones of their soldiers bad been taken IN
large quantities from the battlefield of Malvern
Hill to Richmond, to be ground into dust Tor making
superphosphate
pally one street, about mile long Across one end
stands q female seminary now IN ruins, having been
burned during the war; and ITS site IS noted as Delng
the one on which the Colonial Capitol stood. ana
where the House of Burgess met to which George
Washington belonged Across the other end IS the
College of William and Mary large hnc building,
also burned during tbe war; but ITS walls were SO
thick and strong that they received llttie damage,
and through the efforts Of President EWell 1t has re-
Ceiycd root, aud is 60 be opened Tor students
this Fall People IN the North and among them
Henry Ward Beecher, have contributed literally.
IhiscOllggo was built IN 1923, OF brick brought IRON
England 10 is 40 by 40 feet, with two wings J6NO
Here Jefferson, Madison. Randolph, and all the dis-
tmguished men OF Virginia were educated Upon each
side stand two fine residences equally ancient Tor Jle
professors and recently some shade trees nave Decn
planted. IL would seem, then, that from the nrst
this College has stood on fat open ground, without
% single shade tree The houses OF the town are old
but they are pleasantly located on large lots ana
trras Only n few hOmcstcads have orchards, or IN
deed flu-tTees Of any kind and yet lrnlt does well
IL must have been taken for granted that II they
planted fruit the slaves would gtt the largest snare.
mi. ia reasonable for no one will plant If he can
not euiov il. A large part Of the houses were Duht
OF English brick; most of them are M tOieIaDie Ie
uair but there Il a general dingness and dllapda-
lion Other houses have fallen into decay; some nave
the end walls standing. While OF others only the
foundations remain. Formerly line Of stages ran
through Tins place from Fortress Monroe, or GA
Point Comfort, to Richmond, tho Sidewalks
were paved, and brick sewers were laid,
most of which DO their duty today, but
ONLY in few places viii remains OF The pave
meut. This place is built on the plan OF the New
EurIaud villages. the inhabitants having out lots
.ut here these lots consisted Of hundreds u acres
The crops raised were wheat, corn, tobacco, ana
negroes but rs | said before fruit was scarcely
planted. Grass and clover are rare. sun 1 was
shown a small piece Of clover which looked hne, ana
saw four acres OF wheat equal to any grown IN the
most favored wheat regions. The cows range through
fIe towu aud old fields aud gather scanty subs!s-
trIcc Several times was | told that the country IS
so favorable iOr stock that 10 iced - required a
Winter which was willing 10 believe from the looks
of the cattle. When got mp ln tho morning saw
two strange sights from two Windows From ore
saw "A negro who had established market by well.
and under mulberry tree, ana where lljIle grass
grew. He had a sturgeon LAID out on TINS grass,
and when customer came he chopped of n piece as
ID lay with aN From the other window saw
cali lying in pen, and no bliuked his eyes IN the
sunshine, and vaiuly attempted 10 raise his head.
After while smart cOlored gTl, with gray squlr-
r. pcrchcd on her head came out Of the house with
u wash basin, and in 10 nearly pint of milk. She
got the pen and sat down while the squirrel
took several positions on her head, aud then saw
hrr feed that milk t0that calf from teaspoon. The
squirrel danced and played. Finally the milk was
all gone, when the gIrl went IN, and after short
time the calf cOnrlycd 10 stand up when lie thrust
his mouth through the rails. IN q slow, uncertain and
ldotc way. And yet ! could take the land on which
that calf stood and make clover grow high enough 10
hide hun IN
Tho Episcopal Church in this town is of especial in
ter,st for ~ antiquity Several members Of the no
bility. and such families as are connected with the
Colonial Government and tho leading society of the
colony. lie buried here, and costly tOmbs with IN
sCrIptiOus nearly cg!ble are 20 be seen Within the
church monuments are placed against the wall, and
noticed one marble recently placed, TO the memory
of those FILLING in the battle of Williamsburg, who
died for u.s." that is for the Confederate Government
All through the south 10 Is customary for the people
when speaking TO stranger Of the war, 10 say our
ii Ien and "vour side" Not far from the church are
the ruins of the palace Of the colonial governors.
One of the two lunac asyluIs of the State IS loca-
ted here, aud found ii me and well managed lnstl-
tuition. IL was organized IN 1909 and hence lt was
the first established specially for this object IN our
country. The Superintendent, DIR. ID. *. Brower, IN
formed me that there are ly2 patients OF which ITO
are males five per cent are epllepc, and the NOR
tality Is only five per cent. The average age IS 80
ycars-sOme are 90 years old, and have been under.
care over 40 years. War is not known 20 have been
special cause OF insanity, except as 10 loss oI prop
erty There are four wards 10 each sex, one attend
ant for eight patients and the expenses are about
$4,000 per annrm Gardening is carried on success
fully, and carpentry and mechanical work furnishes
constant occupation for many inmates.
Williamsburg is about equally distant from the
James aud York rivers, but creeks. or inlets from
each, with feet of water, run up within mile of
the town. For the most part, the land is level and
mainly fertile. Farms with fair improvements. and
plenty of timber, can be had from s. 10 $l2 an
nc re- but such will be Of several hundred acres each
Within the town. lots of an acre each are held at
about 5000. and houses and lots are cheap. Northern
people wishing to 20 South and have the advantages
of education and society, ought 10 unite and buy
some OF these large estates and If they should enter
cloycris leading feature, they can scarcely fail 10
do we'll Among the large landed prOprietors are
James ". Custis. remotely connected with the
Washington Custls family, who can be written 10.
These waters abound with oysters shcllfsh, and fish