The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-12-30

RICHMON OND. Y A.,
/ Here it Is claimed was made 5the first white
settlement OF the English In America, and
! it was for long time tile chief town OF the
country. But its glory has departed, and
naught remains To be seen but few rutns,
the most notable of which Is portion OF
1.-THE tower Of the old church in which II is
said Pocahontas was married to John RolYe.
At this place, in 1920, was, laid the founda-
stion Of slavery in. our c0untry.
Newport News is situated at the point
where the James river enters Hampton
| Roads. i. It WIS Off this point that the great
naval battle was fought which. resulted in
3the sinking Of the Cumberland" and
burning of the !" Congress-" and practically
was the deatb-knell Of wooden war-yessels.
/ Our steamer landed at Old Point Comfort
little after 4 O'Clock in the afternoon. and
after registering our names ;at the Hygeia
Hotel, the entire party. hastened to Fortress
Monroe, and arrived in time to witness
dress-pafade and make a tour around the
tWalIs before night came on. The next
/ morning The greater portion Of the party
returned to Richmond on the steamer,
while party of seven, Of whom the writer
was one, cut loose from the James as basis
of opei ations, and took: the steamer for
Norfolk, distant about fifteen miles across
Hampton Roads. We found Norfolk a much
liyelier place than we had ticipated. ..Bu-
Isiness appeared TO. be good, especially in
the cotton trade, chat city having hereto
fore claimed to rank as second In point of
shipments Of cotton, and further claim that
so far this season they are ahead. Immense
quantities of "truck" are shipped from
| Nnrfn1Iy RI oil rarfs of fhp country
+ During our stay we visited Portsmouth,
which lies on the opposite side Of Elizabeth
river, and went to the navy-yard. which is
situated In Gosport, asuburb Of the city.
While there we visited the Quinnebaug, a
steam vessel OF war, which was in the dock
being overhaulcd. preparatory to going on q
three years. cruise. The thanks OF our par
ty are: due to Midshipman Knapp for his
kindness IN showing US around! The
Franklin, the, flagship OF the North-Atlar-
ic.squadron, lies in the stream. #-t!~
From Norfolk we went by rail to Peters
burg and spent half day in visiting the
battle-feids around the city. We stopped
at the Bollingbrook Hotel, and found in the
person OF General D. A. Weisiger, the pro-
prietor, the leader OF the party that recap
tured the Crater" or mine, that. was
sprung during the siege OF the city. lie
very cheerfully accompanied us to the spof,
and, gave US very complete description OF
the place and the manner in which it was
constructed, exploded, and retaken. In the
leyening our party OF seven returned to
Richmond and found that the others had
been "received" by Governor Holiday, du-
ring the forenoon in very handsome man
ner. , -, -.
On Thursday we visited the State Fair,
and. although the day was very disagree.
able one, we enjoyed it very much, seeing
many things that, we're new to Us. The
principal feature Of the day was the com.
fppetitiye drill of the military companies and
a review of the troops by the Governor.
From a Buckeye standpoint the Fair; would
not be considered as a very great success.
The exhibition, however, in some OF its de.
partments was very credltable, and evi.
IDENTIFY showed marked Improvement over
former years. - e-~--..,,... .<.,
On Friday as many as desired to dc
so accepted a kind invitation from the
officials Of the Petersburg and Richmond
railroad to visit Petersburg, On their ar.
rival they were received by some of the citi-
liens and escorted to Jarratt's Hotel, and
from there visit was made to the tobacco
Emanufactory or Messrs. c. A.. Jackson q
Co., and were, courteously received and
shown through, the establishment by the
proprietors and their assistants. They af
forwards visited the Petersburg Cotton Mil
Company's mill. On returning TO- the hote
, dinner was announced, and q, very pleas
ant time after the cloth was removed (fgu
rativeIy speaking) and the ladies had re
tired: We were welcomed by DR.. D. W
, Lassiter in few remarks, and reply was
made by Colonel Phelps, Of Detroit.
After dinner carriages were taken, ant
, the party made visit to the Notifications
going over much the same ground as made
. By the seven friends two days previous. al
Though much more eXten ded examination
: was made OF the old Blandford church
, which was built in 1875 Of brick br"ugh
from England. 1t is not much to the credi
1of the parties having the control OF the pro
perty that it has been allowed to 60 to de
, cav. The party returned to Richmond IL
the evening, feeling that one OF the plea
santest parts of their trip to Virginia wa
their visit to Petersburg, and will ever b.
held in pleasant memory!
Having captured Richmond and Peters
burg, about fifty OF the excurslonists con
cIuded to retire in good order to thei
homes, and accordingly left Richmond OF
Saturday morning at ,haff-past Z O'Clock
Right here occurred another Of those .evi
dences OF good friendship. The train OF
(which we left ordinarily does not run be
yond !Covngton on Saturday nights, bu
Mr.. DeFord made an arrangement to hav
it 60 through to Huntington, and MI
George Chandler, Of our. own Scioto Val
: Eiey railway, telegrapbed and had the Seiot
! meet us at Huntington on Sunday and carr
us to Portsmouth, thus enabling usto reac
home q day sooner, and for which ;thcs
5 gentlemen have, the thanks of the party.
. Leaving Richmond in the morning en-
g abled US to see the country passed over b
:. us during the night. on our way east; Fo
!, some distance out the Land is rolling, bu
5 not mountainous; but as we approach Char
! lottesvlle we begin to strike the foot-hill
of the Blue Ridge. Charlottesville is th
: seat OF the University Of Virginia, founde
by Thomas Jefferson. 1t ranks high as
: educational institution. About two mile
), east Of the city, on an eminence, stand
y Monticello, the home or Thomas Jefferson
y A short distance from Charlottesville tn
> > ascent of the Blue, Ridge commences, an
= the tourist his succession Of panorami
+ views that are truly grand. The conducto
;, OF the train called our attention to one ius
u after passing Alton Station, which he sal
! was considered the finest on the road. - =
Staunton was reached for dinner. Th
is q prominent point on the road, standin
: as it does at the head OF the Shenandoa
;. Valley. It is the seat of several institr
: : tions OF learning and State asylums. Foul
= teen miles west of StauntOn the highes
!. elevation on the line OF the road is reached
- being 1000 feet above tide-water at Ricl
. mond.