Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1871-10-26
Letter from Fauquier Go.

Cores pOndencc OF Tie hlcAanaIft bAZct'c.
The PLAlNs, Oct 2l.-ln compliance with
solicitations OF friends To visit them ut
their home near this station, We iclL your town
ON Tuesday morning. The day WAS Il perfect
one, and the woods all arraycd III Their autumn
luvcllncSS. y young gentleman ol Alexandria
rode as far as Thorough iare, where we under
stood he is engaged III filing the contract Tor
timber for the Long bridge. In due time wcs
reached the staton where we were met by our
host in Il vehicle, HOW almost entirely used III
our mountainous country, Il wagon with two
seats, but without either back or top. Having
two good horses, We were quickly conveyed to
his house about Il mile distant, where IL true
uld-iashioucd Virginia welcome awaited u.s. the
hostess with all the children that could walk,
meeting lis at the foot Of the porch steps. At
the usual hour the dinner bell rang, and
the sight of the delicious Virginia ham, home
cured, would have nrlde your mouth water
mountain mutton tuu--Uuly thInk Ui 1t! But
such sights and tastcS arc rarely enjoyed by
Yourself; YOU arc 50 tied down tu that taZcttr OF
YOURS, which, bye the bye, COMES to Us dny,
giving us all the news Of tho country and Of your
good old town. 1t is highly appreciated here,
which must be your compensation Tor the OLD
ham and mutton. Our lloSpltablc host, in
tent OH the enjoyment Of his guests proposed
next morning ride on horseback to Round
Top Mountain, about six miles distant, where
a party belonging to the coast survey, consist
iny of Capt Buutclle, Blake and Scott, arc at
present stationed taking observations OF the
heavens and of the hclg Int OF the mountains
adaccnt. Being nothing 10th, We with party
OF five in numbcr.Sct out. When We reached It's
base some Of the ladies insisted OH leaving the
horses and making the ascent Oh foot, but
others thought not, 50 all determined to ride
up. The Captain of the post having heard Of
our intention had kindly come to be our guile
So, in Indian file we set off; We were reminded
in Il small way Of pictures we have seen in our
younger days Of l}ouapartc crossing the Alps,
saving the difference in the time Of year, the
absence of munitions of war, &c. After great
cxcrtiun on the part Of our horses, (tor in some
places the road seemed almost Perpendicular
We at last reached tho summit. An cmcamp-
mcnt Of Is tents broke on our view at IN clcva-
ton Of 900 feet about Underwater. The view
from that height ls as you may suppose, mag
niticrnt. Alter resting 4 while III Captain
Boutcllc's tent, which Is as comfortable as 4
city parlur, with books, pictures, Nc, where
We were most agrccably entertained by INN,
for he is 4 gentleman OF general information,
we were invited to lunch. Of this all partouk
with much satisfaction, particularly us the nc
COMPARTMENTS were such us VIC arc not accus-
toned to now a-dayS-l'ac Sherry and Ciarct
Being asked which we would prefer We replied
icstngly, that at such an altitude it was scarce
ly needed, and that We were Somewhat OF tc-
tota!crS; but we tasted the trcachcrouS glass lnl
the SAKE Of Auld Lang Syne. After our dainty
rcpast VIC walked out to src the instruments
used by the surveyors, consisting OF the tlIco-
lolitc, hclotrnrc and telescope which were ad-
iustcd, and We We're invited to look through
them. 'utthc haze prevented our seeing clear
ly the tops OF the distant mOntalnS, the talCSt
of which has been named by Capt. Boutclle,
MARSHALL, in compliment to the gentleman
who SO kindly assisted him in making road
to the mountain top. The sun somewhat
obScures the brightness Of the young moon, ami
the star in that point in the heavens to which
our eye was directed; however, We would sec
both, and never before had We conceived the
rapidity with which We were rushing through
space. But the sweetest are evcrthc tiectcSt,
and so VIC made ready to descend the mountain,
with many thanks to our stranger friends )or Il
day nearer the stars than We shall be again
soon; and We reached the Plains iuSt lis the
sun babe us good night. But we arose with
him the next morning and rode to Cherry
ILL., about lWO lliltS uIAlaiil. IIuiH ll' vi,
our companion pointed out to lis the several
farms that lly in view, aud the green fields OF
wheat, which already covers the soil, were il
beautiful contrast with the gorgeous colorS OF
the forest With the mnlntan brcczrs and the
horseback exercise We were quite ready Ion
breakfast, which awaited us in the shape OF Il
fine dish Of partrdgcs. But we must blill lie oul
muse for have learned through your columns
that your special dislike is Il long newspaper
article. fISrrUR