Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1870-10-18
GEORGIA CORRESPONDENCE.
HAwK1Nsv1LLE, PULASKI Co., Ga,
October 1st, 1870.

Messrs. Editors For the benefit of my
many friends among the readers of your ex-
cellent paper, [ have concluded to write. Civ
ing you a short account of myself and the
country in which 1 am, at present, located.
Before attempting, however, to present the
status of affairs here, | will notice briefly my
trip southwark, as there are some among your
subscribers who, l fatter myself, will peruse
these imperfect lines with interest Although
not a native of Virginia, resided for some
time in your midst, in the neighborhood of
Charlestown, and [ take this occasion for
gratefully acknowledging the hospitality, and
Kindness which l received from the people of
Jefferson. 1t was there that [ found, har-
moniously blended, the most beautiful elements
that 90 to form au exalted state of society, re-
fnement, education, social regard, in short,
all things which tend to ennoble the mind and
elevate the soul. 1t was there that formed
some of the dearest friendships that have ever
blessed my life, and 1 cling, with passionate
fondness to the memory of those two years
which spent in the Shenandoah Valley.
x 1: x *
I left Baltimore Thursday, September 18th,
taking passage on the steamer Garagossa, Capt.
7. A. Hooper, for Savannah. a little tug
towed US out of the harbor at exactly 4 o'clock,
P. NJ, and ere long we were gliding smoothly
over the ripping waters of the Chesapeake.
As the towering spires of the "M onumeutal
City" faded from my view in the evening twi-
light, began to realize that was leaving the
glorious old state, maryland my Maryland; )"
a momeutary paug shot through my heart as
visions of home arose before me, but [ was
speedily reclaimed fiom sadness by the an-
nouncemeut of supper which never was, in my
g.,
reaction under similar circumstances | was
not long in becoming oblivious to all care,
past, present, or future, as the delightful odor
Of the steamiug Java permeatcd my olfactories,
and the smoking rolls sent up flavor that
would have racitied Madame Juno herself, in
one of her worst fits of Mrs. Caudleism.
The Captain advised US to eat, drink and be
merry, as he anticipated the Equuoctial
squalls down the coast, and then woe TO the
unfortunate landsman who had never been to
sea; falling under that head myself [ en-
deavored to profit by his advice and think I
succeeded.
There we're seven passengers besides your
correspondent, all sgcntlcmen, and a merry
crowd they were until Sea- Sickness, brooding
Ger the deep, ike the fabed monster of old,
ready to pOunce upon the uususpecting travel
Ter who dared to invade its dread dominions,
hovered DER our craft, and shed gloom from
its leaden wings which dcepcnGd AS the winds
grew high despite all efforts to the contrary.
The hour waxing late, most of the passeu-
gers retired to the cabin to amuse themselves
as best they could, but |, more solitary in my
tastes, wandered aft To watch the play of the
mighty propelcrs as they dashed mp the briny
foam. There is species Of little fish or insect
iuhabiting the ocean called the sea>star which,
when thrown up to the surface, emits a sort
of prosphorescent glow, twinkling, as they do
upon the dark waves, like stars in midnight
sky. The track of the vessel seemed a broad
belt of liquid flame growing fainter and fainter,
until it was lost to view in the black distance.
Friday morning, and the beautiful sky of
yesterday is overcast; murky-looking clouds
hang gloomily around the low horizon as if
boding evil. At l0k o'clock we passed Cape
Henry and rode out upon the broad Atlantic.
The threatening clouds now began to pour
down their watery contents, angry winds
whistled through the rigging with an ominous
sound, and the bosom of the ocean looked like
a reethipg cauldron. For the first time did I
realize what it was to be crooked in the cradle
of the Deep" but I assure you that its sooth-
ing influence brought neither 'slecp to my
eyes nor slumbcr to my cyelids," for was too
busily engaged with the rest of the passen-
gers, in emptying the contents of my stomach
over the taf frail. The storm increased in
fury until we passed Cape HHttcras, about II
o'clock in the night. But all its sublime
magnifcence was wased on me. for when the
deck grew too dangerous for the uncertain
foot of the landsman, | retired to my berth, so
sick that Indifference siezed me and I verely
believe that had we gone to the bottom not
one single sigh of regret would have escaped
me as we went down. [ would advise all who
anticipate trip down the coast, to select any
other time than that of the Autemnal equinox
After we rounded the cape the sea grew
gradually calm, and when morning broke over
the world of waters, instead of white-crested,
angry waves wherling their briny spray over
the very deck, long, uubroken swells rolled
gently, one after another, to the shore.
The remainder of our voyage was pleasant
enough for the smile which now played over
the face of old ocean seemed brighter after
the dark frown had been swept away.
As was sitting on deck. Saturday morn
ing saw huge, hog-like fish springing out
of the water soon others came, and in a few
minutes there were hundreds. 1t was a
,shoal of porpoises, and they played round the
PROV for several hours, darting hither and
thither with almost incredible swiftness.
4 little after dinner, Sunday, we entered
the river, and at 4 o'clock, P. NJ, of the same
day, the gallant "Saragossa" ran up to her
wharf at Savannah, after trip of seventy
two hours. As was obliged to leave by the
early train, which went off at 5 o'clock next
morning, determined to improve the little
time had in looking round the city
Savannah, situated on the river Of the same
name. about twenty miles from its mouth, Gas
the geographers say,) has a population va
riously estimated from $4,000 to 10000
By the last census it was made % 600, though
was told, by reliable men of the place, that
at the time it was taken at least one third of