The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-11-24
OF the Richmond pispatch.I

NORFOLK, November %, 1870.
The average traveller. or pleasure-seeker
would hardly select stormy November for a
sea trlp from Richmond to New York, and
vet it is most admirable season, even
though it may be a-little rough. have
tried it in May and November, and am
now prepared to say that the latter month
is the preferable season. There are many
reasons, chief among which is the superior
living and the additional fact that very
few people 60 to New York by sea In the
late fail or early w1nter. The travellers,
and invalid, and pleasure-seekers, al! turn
from the North to the sunny South. so L
was induced by these reasons and others
to visit the great metropolitan city. and on
Sunday last, under clear sky and balmy
atmos phere, set sail at 2. NJ. in the
Staunch steamship Manhattan with such
pleasant companions as Messrs. W. H..
Cary and l. n. Vaughan-but the latter
gentleman is not now partial to sea trips
to New York, and so hereafter the Old
Dominion Line will be deprived OF his pa
tronage and passengers OF his agreeable
society. He can best give his reasons.
THE OUTWARD TRIP.
The "home trip" as the sailors call it,
was devoid OF special interest-except, per-
haps, Il "southeaster" on Monday night
and u few cases OF sea-sickness. The yes-
sci was we'll laden, and carried out fine
freight, including much cotton and many
oysters, the latter being taken on at Nor
folk. The oyster trade has grown to con-
siderable importance OF late, and now each
ship carries out many barrels OF fine, freshly
| opened oysters. designed Ior New 1oTh ana
| Boston.
While at Norfolk visited the navy-yard,
and went on board the new war-yessel Ga
lena, which is now nearly ready for her
guns; saw the Nipsic and Franklin. and
| other representatives OF Uncle Sans navy.
| The most interesting part. OF our stay, how
ever, was visit to the many machine
shops, the dry dock, and other Government
property at the navy-yard. Wherever we
| went we were most courteously treated,
and without solicitation ON our part. In al
most every instance we were shown through
| the shops by the foremen and everything
explained so satisfactorily that the pleasure
OF our visit was greatly enhanced. The
kindness and polite attention shown to
| strangers visiting the nayy-yard is not only
very striking, but is also rather surprising.
| The southeast storm which visited Nor
| folk, and no doubt Richmond. Oh Monday
night and Tuesday fell upon our good ship
with all its fury, but with the exception OF
| the sick passengers there was no other
cause OF complaint.
COMMODORE M'CREADY's WOOD.
When we got to Norfolk the Richmond
passengers went ashore 10 see what was 60
ing on in what seemed to me to be very
busy little city. Monday afternoon, while
walking I'D and down the docks, I noticed
two wood-sawyers at work saving up about
cord of Virginia hickory wood into
lengths Of about fourteen inches. Before
the ship sailed they had finished their WORK
and gone, and the steyedore was having the
wood, which had now been split up into
pieces a little larger than the wood which our
Richmond dealers sell, put into ,wheelhar-
rows and rolled into the hold OF the SHIP
as other cargo. / couldn't stand 1t any
longer. My curiosity to know. what they
were going to take that wood to New YORK
for got the better Of me. went up to one
OF the officers Of the vessel, who was stand
ING on the dock, and asked why that wood
was being taken to New York. '.Oh," said
he, laughing, ''that's Mr.. McCready's
wood. He believes in burning Virginia
hickory, and we are taking that on Tor
him." ~.
The wood was not the best hickory have
ever seen. 1t was small, and bad evidently
been cut but short time. Now. why the
Commodore likes to burn Virginia hickory
wood in a stove in New York when he can
get Just as good at home is question Which
he alone Gun answer. ,... ..-