The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-06-11
A R-ETROSPECT.

Let US turn the clock of ting back one
hundred and fifty years ard contemplate for a
few moments our surroundings.
Frederick the Second, afterwards known as
Frederick the Great, had just mounted the
throne Of Prussia ana without prOyocatlon
had made an attack upon Austria, which
proved 10 be the signal fora general European
war. lasting seven years and known as the
war of the Austrian Succession" as 1t IN
yolyed the right Of Maria Theresa 10 the
throne of Austria. The weak Louis Ky. was
king Of France, and the corruptions OF the
nobility and priests, together with their OPP
pressiOns of the peasantry. were last klndling
the s%ulphurous flames which burst forth IN
the terrible revolution of the last Of the cen
turv. His nephew, Philip of AnlOu, was
king Of Spain. and thus the two kingdoms
were linked together by Bourbon rulers-a
fact destined to be of great importance in tho
history Of Europe. Peter the Great was IN
his grave and his daughter Elizabeth ruled
over the people be had elevated - a position
among the great Kingdoms of this world.
George IL. was in the midst of his long
reign in England and was taking sides with
his nephew. Frederick Of Prussia. The strife
raging in Europe had extended to America,
where the English We're at war with the Span
ish and French. Thus all the world, so far as
Virginia was brought IN contact with 1t, was
at war.
IMPORTANT CHANGES.
The political armament Of England was I'M
dergoing important changes. The corruptlng
influence of the celebrated Sir Robert Wal
pole was on the decline and William Pitt,
rising in prominence and already acknowl-
edged 10 be the greatest of British orators,
was soon to prove himself to be the greatest
of English ministers. Dissent from the Estab-
lished Church was growing apace, the hrststeps
towards religious liberty having been taken
in the act OF Parliament of 1883 granting re-
lipiOus liberation. John Wesley and George
Whitefeld were stirring the religious world
TO its depths and founding what is now one OF
the strongest religious denominations.
In nothing was Virginia more dependent on
ENGLAND than in literature. Pope and Swift
had finished their life work, and were rapidly
Fastening to their graves. Samuel Johnson
was growing in reputation, Dut stiistfogghhg
with poyertv. DefOe. Richardson, Fielding.
THOMPSON, ramsey, Addison and Steele had
won commanding positions IN English ltera-
ture. and delighted the Virginians no less than
the residents of England with the productions
of their pens.
INTERESTING PERIOD.
Az home we find ourselves in the midst Of a
most interesting period. William Gooch was
Governor of Virginia. which contained about
eo0 600 inhabitants, of which about 125, 600
we're slaves. He had just agreed that tho
Scotch-Irish might settle the Valley and en-
ioy religious liberty; under which agreement
n bold stream OF that hardy race soon poured
down the Valley and oyerfowed the Ale
ghanies. not only protecting the eastern set
Elements from the savage foe, but in a few
years controlling the political destinies or
The colonies.
A band Of 400 Virginians commanded by
the Governor had just returned from the dis
astrous expedition against the city OF Cartha-
pena. whore the discord between Admiral
Tefnon-. commandment ERelssh feet, aud