Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1879-04-28
Extracts from the "Black Book"
Published 81 Years Ago.

neut ctizaus of Alexandria, at that time
"District Of Columbia. to wit: Be it remcm'
bercd that on the lS.b day Of February, 1928,
and Ct tine Independence, Of the United States
G! America, the fifty second, Mrs. Anne Roy
all, Of said district, deposited in tho Office Of tho
cclk Of tho Distric! of Columbia, the title Of q
back, to wit "lho Black Book" &c.
The It'll was very proper name for Mrs.
Royall's book; she used it to "black mali the
people, and voc to the man that refused 10
subscribe and pay for i. 1t aDpers that Mrs.
Il. was Ucitariap, and thought well OF the
Aiasons bat utterly desplsed the PresbyteIians,
Episc)palians, and missionaries, which she
called "Blueskios." Here is what she said of
Alexandria
Tho next day | took the Stage to Alexss-
dri,, IS was dying to see Mr.. Clagett We
had a beautiful ride down the Potomac. the
land vas level, though poor and pioy. | had
tho pleasure Of finding my friend Dr.. Guunell
in the stage, who was going TO Alexandria;
likewise we had a sick officer and few noude-
scripts, but my greatest pleasure was derived
from the enlightened conversation OF DE-. q.
OF curse, stopped Mt tho Uniol, and was
pleased to find Mr.. CIagett and family we'll.
After exchanging hasty salute walked over
the city.
| could fill much larger volume With the
Incidents of few hours, but the LOUD call for
my book will couEne mo to few brief remarks
Here, as elsewhere, tho priests have become
tho terror Of tho land. There arc tho Episc).
pai.1s, who outgo tho copper heads in mean
stratagcEls to de!ude 81 iy women. Our no
men are moro corrupt now than 10 tho days of
pop'sl Ignorance. They were Ignorant, but
viItuous, but dare not say so Of cur women.
Tho Turks have large S,ragio5, 50 have cur
Turks, The priests, aud all tho difference is,
that the women Of the Turkish seragos arc coz.
tiacd in house, and the saraglios Of our Turks
run at large and cheat every one they fnd.
These EpscopaIans, however, have ssraglios
somewhere near Alexandria, as tho young gen.
tlemcn Of Alexandria informed me, where they
manufacture plous young men for the ministry,
at their leisure. These young gentlemen like
wise declared to mo that they bad resolved to
live and die bachelors. as thsy could not think
Of % arryiDg any young woman 10 or near Alex.
aDdria. They deserve much credit for their
wisdom and taste 10 spurolng women so lost to
propriety.
The young ladies Of Alexandra employ their
time 10 working for plous young men, and have
fairs to sell tho articles; u do they stop at any
sp ccics Of fraud or meanness. The other day,
a young lady. not pious one, bought an cry
bag at one of these fairs for sharpening needles.
Finding it did not answer The purpose she
opened tho bag, ard instead of emery, fourd
it WAS filed with ashes. Can these people bc.
Ieyc 10 God No. they are rank atheists
There is great deal OF religion 10 our couu.
try. 50 there is amongst Turks and Hindocs.
But to retarR; the only acquaintance | made
worll nauing was the amiable d. Bryan, esq.
lie il tho postmaster cf Alexandra; by which
means | became acquainted With him, but to
even his beautiful "lay of gratitude. (of Gen.
Llfsyette,) and was grevtd to hear that he
had not sold single copy of that elegant poem
in the District. If [ had p. Il. aud Walsh
within my grasp OF the moment should have
torn them 10 pNc,s. Thus America is abused
aud betrayed by English book sellers. Shame
on cur cit:z,n7. America is unworthy of such
a man as Bryan,
Leaving the posofics called 90 the lawyers
and the presidents Of tho banks If there be
any l;bcrsi!y going it is generally fund
amongst these classes OF people. But | soon
quit the lawyers. tho meanest men ia Alexan-
dria. Tho irste called 90 gave mo surfait
OF lawyers. He Was black. toll, gangipg.
awkward looking piece OF divinity. Poverty
and ignorance rightly named. did fad one
gcrtcel lawyer but | lost his name. quit the
lawyers and went to tho banks. do not re.
member the namo CT tho bank; it was nesr the
lawsar's Office. One, Mr. IIooG, received
no very politely. lie was the cashier, stout
good figure. prcpossessl0g couDtenance, ard full
lair face. The other, clerk, also behaved very
politely. At another bank found very ami.
able man. His nsmo was N1ok. His faco was
oval and salow. lie was Of middle ago and
good siz., and very lively and gay 10 manners.
So the banks carry tho day 10 Alexandria.
| called on my old acquaintauoes, Messrs.
Cazanove, Irving aud Peako Of the custom
house. Dir. Z. was absent, but | found some
very gentcsl young men 10 his oountiog house.
They were tho most polished young gentlemen
ia A!ty ,ndris
Mr. Caz,noVo is a French gentleman, and
the first merchant 10 the city. He sells Alto
gcthtr By wholesale, and is highly esteemed as
40 upright, honest dealer. Next. if not equal
in capital, ia Messrs lrvings, James Irving,
esq.,, and younger brother. The Irviugs arc
people OF great wealth, part in Alexandria aud
part IN Baltimore. These gentlemen and Mr..
Robert Vaux, cf Philadelphia, are tho only
Quakers have ever met that deserve men
ton. | Etytr saw spark of charity or human
ity about them except as before excepted nor
did ever sec Woe or immortality 10 their ranks.
They are generally ignorant and haVo no ex.
preston oil count:nauce. They move about like
stalueg.
Hearing Mr.. T. was great man and great
lawyer thought l would have something to
top off my book, and 80 it happened. I think
he was tho greatest boor | ever met With 10
all my travels. If he ever had any of the gen.
tlemln about him ho is certainly bankrupt
now.
Having desire to 500 tho Uenglish book.
seller Stewart, l bent my course thither. had
walked but few steps until | heard footsteps
behind me, and looking round, whom should l
sec but black, long missionary, as quaint as
greyhound. told him I'VE had net With
pinching limts aud if he we're wis, no would
partako himself to some honest calling-the
pldw and spade" He CAPPED and wondered,
passed By, turning round now and then to view
me.
Stow5r; has Two doors to his book store close
together, both open into the same room. and
as approached one door discovered DR.. p.