The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-02-23
incidents and Episodes.

! as it appeared in Lord BotetourtS uay, was
reproduced at the Theatre last night with all
the splendor of the original. The ladies with
their sparkling jewels, pulled hair, hesvy oro.
cades. and court trains were as lovely, and
the gentlemen in their cut-away coats, low
vests. ruffled shirts, buckles, and swords,
! were as handsome and gallant as their an
cestors, who welcomed to the Virginia
shores one Of the best beloved Of the royal
governors. The occasion vas grand and iC.
| sprino. It turned back the tide of time for
| more than hundred years, and presented to
the view of the assembled multitude as
pretty a picture as ever dwelt in poets
dream or furnished q subject for an artists
pencil. It was the work Of Il number of
| patriotic ladies', who. desiring to appropri-
| atey celebrate Wasbington's birthday and
at the same time to earn money to improve
| the condition of the Virginia room at Mount
Vernon, conceived the idea which they last
night carried into execution with so large
measure Of success and satis action.
The accession Of Lord Botetourt to the
yce-regal government of Virginia occurred
at period rife with discoBtent among the
colensts and pregnant with swiftly ap.
preaching and momentous events.
Norborne Berkeley, Baron de Botetourt,
son of John Symes Berkeley, was born in
IT'S; was colonel of the North Gloucester.
shire militia in 1761, represented that shire
| in Parliament. and in 1854 was raised to the
peerage. Having ruined himself by gam.
| inc," says the relentless Junius, "he became
| cringing, bowing, fawning, sword bearing
courtier." 1t would appear from the subse-
quent career Of this est-belovei and most
Of ul
ptiless character drawn by the stern censor
was hardly meritcd. He received the ap.
pointment Of Governor succeeding Sir JEFF.
frey Amherst) in July, 1TGS, though be did
not arrive in the Colony until November fol-
lowing. 4 contemporary thus presents a
foil to the Venomously- -drawa picture above.
He says of Lord Botetourt:
| BoTEroURr's CHARACTER.
"lf from birth and education he had not
been courtier, bis dependence on the crown
for q revival of an extinguished title must
have generated habits to conci!iate and please
He came hther not only with the grace of
polished life, but also with the predictions
of the people, who were proud in being no
longer governed by a deputy. His prede.
cessors, Fauquier, Diuwiddie, Gooch, Spots
wood, Nicholson, and Drysdale, had been
| the vehicles of sinecurcs to some principals
who never cast an eye or thought on Vir.
ginia. Through Botetourt the Colony was
| assured by the king that as a mark OF honor
to it the evidence Of the Chief Governor
there should never be dispensed with in fu
ture. Always accessible on business, ad.
herring without single deviation to the
resolution Of sleeping every night in the
metropolis, atfable to the humbleSt visitor IN
social circles, easy himself, and contributing
to the ease of others, he was sincerely and
universally beloved. In his public functions
his purity and punctuality confirmed the at
tachment which his qualities as a gentleman
had begun. BY his patronage he inspired
the youth Of William and Mary with ar6or
and emulation, and by his daily mple in
the observance Of religion be acquired kind
OF sacred ascendancy over the public mind
ms. History OF Virginia by Edmund Ran
dolph, in the collections of the Virginia His.
torical Society,"
| ASSEMBLY DISSOLVED.
Solicitous to crafty the Virginians7 Bote'
tourt pledged his life aud fortune to extend
the boundary of the Colony on the west 10
the Tennessee river on the parallel OF 36}
! degrees.
sembiy was convened, the Governor, attend.
ed by a numerous retinue of guards, rode
| from the palace to the capitol in luxurious
state. coach.arawn by six mik.white horses
present from George IlI.-aud the In
| sigma of royalty was displayed with ua
! usual pomE. On that day and the one fol
flowing he entertained tifty.two guests a
dinner. The Assembly, however, ON the
4Gth instant following. yenturing upea the
assertion Of certain colonial prerogstWes 6y
| the passage of resolutions against pariia.
me ntary taxation and the sending of accused
| persons to England for trial, was DISSOLVED
| by him.
HEARTY CANCELLATION.
But this exercised evidence OF arbitrary
power was speedily condoned by an action
apparently of hearty conciliation. BotetoEt
having received from the Fart of Hills
borough, Secretary of State for the colonies,
assurances that it was not the ineention .of
the ministry to psopose any further taxes
aud that they intended to advocate repeal
on those already complained OF, called the
Assembly together and communicated these
assurances, pledging himself to every exer-
ton 10 his power towards the redresSing OF
the grievances of the colonists and the pro-
motion of every measure tending to their I'D.
yancement and prosperity, which led to aa
Interchange OF cordial greeting between the
colonial legislative bodies and the Governor,
and the inauguration Of that warm sentiment
OF esteem and affection already so graph
cally portrayed. But the generous-minded
Botetourt, soon finding that the promises
held out to him by the ministry were utterly
faithless, and indignant at the deception
Dracticed unOu him. he demanded his recall.