Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1876-12-20
Letters from skichlmOnd.

Correspondence oil the Alexandria Gazette.
RICHMOND. Va, Dec. IS, lS76.-The legis-
Iature will certainly do nothing until after the
Christmas holidays. aud unless they do better
than they hgvc done they will do nothing then.
The wo houses have not as yet agreed when
they will adjourn.
There are a number Of small people 10 the
legislature who imagiuc they can go 10 Con
eress GU projects OF bogus economy, and who
are willing to 90 for the letter of rctreuchment
aud reform, when there is DO spirit of reform
10 them. They Introduce res 'lulions Of enquiry
about short sessions, reduced per dlem, curtall-
meat Of expenses 10 capitol Offices, &c, while
many good people believe they pray all the
time they may not lose a dollar themselves by
their proposed economy. This docs not in
these days, however, send a man TO Congress,
and to reach il one has to have merit, vim aud
popularity.
A set Of very handsome resolutions, eouchcd
10 elegant language, aud prepared in excellent
taste by the House Committee on Schools and
Colleges iu recognition OF Mr.. W. w. Corco-
ran donation to the University of Virginia,
we're ordered to their engross:ueui in the House
o.day. They arc as follows:
''rh General Assembly Of Virgins having
learned that w. w. Uorcorsn, esq, of Wash
ington city, after many acts Of kindness to citl-
z.ns cf the State, and Of liberslity to her public
Institutions, has recently given a large SUN to
her chief scat Of learning, sad having observed
with admiration the conduct Of ono who has
shown the capacity to acquire wealth without
injustice, to possess it with out ostentatlon, and
to dispense it with no other OBJECT than the BEN
eft Of his follow man, gratefully acknowledge
| his right to fellowship with those whom the
the Commonwealth has deemed worthy OF an
| enduring place in her annals rs examples to be
hoaored and initiated by her people, therefore,,
"Resolved by the House Of Delegates (the
Senate concurring.) That it DE entered of record
on the Journals OF the General Assembly thai
ton, has entitled himself TO the thanks OF the
Commonwealth by his muniicent gift to the
University o. Virginia
"Hesolved, That MS Exceliency the Governor
be requested to transmit TO Mr.. Corcoran o copy
OF this preamble and resolu ion engrossod on
parchment"
Mr.. Gilman, Of Richmond city, chairman of
the Committee on Schools and Colleges, said
"At a time when men in high places and in
V6SLeu Will cAhiIco lusLS q y w tOu, III
their greed for money and power, are obliterat-
ing tie landmarks Of tbs Constitution and tear
ing down the bulWarks of republican liberty
which our fathers thought impregnable, we see
al American gentleman and patriot, already
conspicuous for his good deeds, making from his
private fortune q mpnlicent donation to our
great University. The value of his benefaction
is enhanced when we remember that he owes to
Virginia neither the allegiance due to birth nor
residence within her borders, and that it comes
to US at 3 time when, in our poverty and sore
distress, we have not the means, but only the
will, to endow our chief Institution of learning
commensurately with S great merits and press
ing necessities. In these days when the imam.
cial outlook is dark and the political situation
darker, we ure prone to think that Virginia,
when unlike Connecticut, she gave her vast
northwestern domain 10 the Union, without
money and without price, was as ~prodigal as
poor old Lear when he divided his kingdom
among his ungrateful daughters; but it seems,
as if like bread cast upon the waters, it is now
coming back to US sfLer many days. Who
knows, Mr.. Speaker, but that this ls the begin.
ming of a long list of donations and bequests
which are to enaole our people to push forward
! to complete contamination the grand education
III scheme Of the illustrious founder Of the Uni
versity. And when it shall become the Oxford
of the South, and young men by hundreds shall
come from the most distant sections of our dis
enthralled and prosperous republic. to drink IN
knowledge from its pure fountains. they will
find there a statue of William Corcorsn near to
that of Thomas Jefferson, and those Ell gies will
teach them daily the silent and impressive leg
son that peace has its %triumph5 no less than war,
and that civilians may perform deeds tor 8 State
ss worthy Of enduring remembrance as the
achievements of those who fight and fall on the
battle field in its defence. | am sure, Mr..
Speaker, that the resolutions will be- sdopted
without dissent"
RICHMOND, Dec. l9-rhc annual report of
the Fish Commissioners, just completed, is a
very Interesting paper, and will, [ hope, have
some effect upon the members Of the Lcgisla-
ture, and impel them to take more interest 10
this subj ct. The Commissioners are Messrs.
Alex. Moscley, w. B. Robertson, and NJ. G.
+ ley. The members of the Legislature take
little interest in the fish and oyster interest,
although, at this particular time, they spend a
good pile Of per diem 10 oyster suppers, in
which they manifest a commendable interest.
The Fish Commissioners, report-evldently
written by Mr.. A. xander Moseley-in speak
Jog of CD establishment for the promotion Of
the special Interests OF the tide water interests,
says:
There are the oysters-a great interest.
How best to propagate aud multiply them to
ted the people and yield revenue, might we'll
engage the close 5 udy o. aud justify az estab-
lishmcDt Of this kiud. There are the ierrapips
the delight Of e%picures, aud OF those cot epi-
cures-capabc Cf indefinite increase and a
source of profit. The bybrid;ziog salt and fresh
wafer fs;ies, aud ~acc,imatiug salt water fishes
to fresh wafer, opeo a wide aud useful field;
for, uotiI experiment is exhausted, there is no
saying what beneiceD5 results may be achieved.
We know that salt water fishes have, by being
to fresh water, Lived and propagated
10 .heir new habitat, aud lost their instinct for
10 tho ocean. May not the instinct )