Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-02-05
Letters from Richmond.


Maddox is well known to many RchmonderS.
He fourishcd here for i time during the war
and cut quite dash. Upon one occasion L
have heard that he wanted to fight the late
John NJ. Daniel for some severe structures on
well known Virginian. 1t seems that Mr..
Daniel had "goDe for the Virgioiau 10 such
terocious style that four or five Of the friends |
of tie latter got together and determined thai
Daniel ought to be challenged. Maddox was
one of this number, and they drew straws as to
who should send the challenge. Maddox took
his chances with the others aud drew straw,
but he did not get the shortest, and so it did
not fall to his lot to challenge John NJ. Daniel.
Ooc gentleman did draw but the duel was
prevented by the interpositon OF friends. Mad
dox has, | learn, made and lost one or two for
tunes 10 his day, and is said TO be by those
who know him uDcommonly smart, and as sharp
as triar or needle point, or any other sharp
thing. lie says be was Federal spy, and yet
it is singular that he should have been willing
TO peril his life 10 a duel to save The honor OF
leading member OF the Confederate States
government have 10 doubt that were the
whole OF his history told it would read like
romance and be Of very absorbing nature.
DR.. Armstrong has invited the members
Of the Committee on Schools and Colleges to
come to Hampton and examine the Normal
Institute. The committee will 90 IN a day or
two.
The old sport Of fox hunting is on the in
crease in Richmond. There is large club
here which goes out two or three times week,
and the party arc very often successful. The
club has 81 dogs The number of Eogllshmen
10 Richmond has increased greatly in the last
twelve months and they have created new
interest in the old sport Of fox hunting.
The Governor to-day pardoned ELI Sergeant,
sentenced to one year in the pcultcntlary Tor
attempt at murder, on the grounds that when
influenced by an older person to attempt the
crime. The attempt was wholly Intellectual.
Ia the House to-day tue special committee
on the lease of the James River aud kanawha
Canal reported bills to authorize the James
River and kanawha Canal Company to lease
out this property, works and franchises for !
term OF twenty years, upon conditions which
wi secure the extension Of its wafer line to 4
point 90 the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad at
or near Clifton Forge; to amend Section 10 OF
Chapter SO, Code Of 1913, 10 provide for the
completion OF liue or lines OF railroad from
the waters Of the Chesapeake to the Ohio
river.
la the House resolution was also presented
ustruciag the Committee for Courts Of Justice
to enquire into the cxpcdiency Of amending the
Code 10 relation to tie enforcement Of judy
ment liens as to require the judgment creditor
to proceed To enforce the same within five years
alter the passage OF this act Oh all judgments
heretofore obtained, aud within one year from
the date OF all judgments hereafter obtained
and in failure to proceed rendering the judy
ment lien void
In the House COL Ball has presented and had
referred a petition of citizens of Fairfax couuty
in regard to the Manassas Gap railroad bed.
Mr.. }. Bell Bigger, the popular and efficient
clerk of the House, is quito i'll at his residence
in this city.
RICHMOND. Feb. 3, lS17.-Just now there
arc large number Of applicants for places
under the forthcoming democratic government
of The u. s. IF Gov. TiIdcn could see the
large number OF persons OF all ayes classes and
conditions who arc getting ready to rush on to
Washington to ask him for office lie would be
convinced that the Virginia people, at least,
arc very sanguine Of his inauguration. The
, conservative members Of the Legislature arc
. bcsicgcd By day and night by this eager crowd
with petitions TO which the members signature
is requested notice the members sign all
the papers. 1t is the best way 10 get rid Of
, the crowd This reminds me Of the story told
: by President Lincoln OF the eighteen applicants
for the same position and ali eighteen were
recommended by the same members of Con-
crcss. Candidates would do we'll to hurry up
and get the signatures Of the members Of the
Virginia Legislature before that body ad-
iourus. The trouble is that everybody wants
the same place. A well known newspaper man
and correspondent Of Petersburg Journal has
wisely determined, | learn, to apply for the
place OF consul at Florence. | think however,
there may be some other applicants for the
place, but of course the number will not be so
great as that for postmaster Of Richmond. If
your corrcspondent-who has modcstly put in
a claim sometime since for the 3ousuIship at
St. Petersburg, Russia, gets that place, which
no one else has asked for, he will he more
than satisfied The newspaper men must not
be forgotten in this great struggle for liberty
and Office
The bill to regulate uniformity Of text books
in the public schools. that has passed the Sen
ate, provides that after the expiration Of the
present contracts, the selection Of text books
for the schools shall! be made by the county and
city school boards for their respective schools.
a list may, at discretion, be recommended by
the Board of Education, or upon default there.
of by the Superintendent Of Public Instruction,
but such recommendation not 10 be obligatory.
No book containing immoral, irreverent, false
or unpatriotc statements shall be chosen for
the use of public schools. Any parent, teacher
or school officer discovering such Objectionable
matter 10 any such book may enter complaint
and appeal TO the Board of Education.
| Ice Gorge.
New YORK, Feb. "a Heating. Pa, tclc-