The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-02-23

old gentleman, Mr. B and Mr.. M
of Alexandria, whom 1 have heard in
Georgetown, are on the other extreme
again, too old and callous. There is a
Mr.. Laury, whose church is much closer
to us than any of the rest 1 have not
heard him for two reasons, first because l
understand he is not exactly orthodox,
and secondly because have been told by
goodjudges that he is very theatrical and
the last l could never endure in the pull
pit, although l am friend both to high
animation and to action, too, there; when
it is the action of nature and springs
spontaneously from the subject 1 know
that you are as well and even better ac-
quainted with all those people than am,
but am desirous that you should know
my sentiments of them too, that 1 may, if
possible, persuade you either to come
yourself or to send some one who is quail
ified to labor with better effect, in this
vineyard. l know that Paul may plant
and Apollos may water, and [ know too
the divine hand from which alone the
increase is to be expected, but it cannot
be denied think, that something very
natural depends on the mode, both of
planting and watering. Don't say that
| am hard to please your modesty would
hinder you from saying it, did not deli
cacy forbid my saying how much 1 have
been pleased elsewhere L think you
have formed a mistaken opinion of the
people here, so far as such spiritually
blind sinner as |, can judge; there is
good deal of piety, or at least of aptitude
for, and propensity to, piety in this place.
You were thinking of those corruptions
which surrounded the courts of Europe,
when you expressed this opinion, I ap-
prehend. | can see nothing of it here.
The manner of the President and of his
cabinet are very plain, natural, and sim
pie, and | do not see why ever they (and
much less the sphere of which they are
the aaucleuS) should be considered as
given over to Dathan and Abiram. NY
children are In quite as moral and as re-
lgious circle here as they were in
Richmond, with two or three only excep-
tlons In favor of the latter, with which |
fear, however, they came too rarely into
contact, there isprivate society to counter
act the dissipating gaiety that more gene
rally surrounded them. Pray let us hear
something cf Mrs Rices health. Miss
Isabella Smith, who is on visit to Laura,
tells us that she saw her lately apparent
ly quite well, which is very delightful.
1t has, In writing the last sentence, Just
crossed my mind that you will be the
President of William and Mary College;
by chain of thought too rapid and ex-
tensive to be traced here. The mention
OF Laura, her Latin, sentiment of the
present President of that college as to
the total ldleness of Latin education to
any one but professional man, which
was communicated to me by letter of
last week; your more liberal, and, in my
opinion, more just mode of thinking on
that subject-you having heard Laura
some of her lessons-his unfitness for the
office, your peculiar fitness. see the
Eplscopalian objection, and | see the
personal one too, from having devoted
yourself to different pursuit; but the
legislature can overcome the first. and
your patriotism, nay the very motive of
general and religious utility, from which
you are acting, the second. How incon-
venlent that the pen cannot follow up the
mind. Performers on the piano are
sometimes visited by fits OF inspiration in
which they play unprecedented preludes
OF enchanting effect which they can never
recalf-and | saw some years back the
annunciation of device by which the
keys stamped the notes, in these impromp-
tus, on musically ruled sheet Of paper
placed over them. Can you devise any
thing of this kind to catch and stamp the
electric concentrations of the mind? I
fear it is impossible. Yet who can fix a
limit to the progress of this boldly inven-
tive age? The problem is not much more
difficult than that of perpetual motion
and one of the most distingui, he'd (per-
haps the most distinguished) American
of the present age, has been heard to say
that he sees nothing physically impracti-
cable IN that, e., perpetual motion. But
enough, and, dare say, you will think
too much of this-excuse it all.
Mother, Mrs. Writ, Laura, your Eliza
beth, and all the children unite with cor
dial sincerity in love to you, Mrs. Rice
and Harriet may add to them that Of
your friend, in time, may hope in eter-
nifty. WIN. WRIT.
Mrs. Writ says that young Mr.. Balch
Is only going on visit to Natchez, not
to leave us permanently.
1t is indicative of the changes oi