Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1891-04-15
Antiquarian Notes-Letter From John
Fl. PeytOn.

1
| Fl. Peyton.
| In 1926, John 81. Peyton obtained an appoint
ment as Cadet at West Point for his brother.
| in-law John B. Lewis, of the Sweet Springs.
AS young Lewis was inexperienced, had never
Travelled beyond the limits of Virginia. Mr.
| Peyton determined to accompany him to the
| United States Military Academy, though the
journey at that day was long and tedious and
| his professional engagements madehis absence
| at any time matter of great Inconvenience to
himself and clients.
| The following letter to Mrs. Peyton will be
| read at this day with interest and something
like establishment, so great has been oar prog
ress and development within the past sixty
I'VE years-such changes would hardly have
occurred in European countries in centuries.
At that day the old fashioned stage-coach was
still in use, there were few macadamized roacs
a'd no railways. The entire journey, there
| f)re from Staunton in Virginia 10 West Point
was made in what were called "hacls'-most
| of them rickety and unsafe, and in steam
boats no better, and not SO safe as the Tug and
Ferry boats of the present and unlike as
possible the floating places of our day. 1t
must be remembered that railroads were not
opened In the United states until 1880, and
state described by Mr.. Plckw!ck. "Fravel,"
said Mr.. Pickwick sis in troubled state and
the minds of coachmeB are unsettled. Stage
coaches are upsetting IN all directions, horses
are tIottlng, boats are oveTtnrning aud b,ilels
are bu. sting" Such was true In no Pick W lex
ian sense in our country In 1926 aud tae priils
oil travelling were increased by the use of high
pressure engines on the boats and unskilful
drivers and bad horses in the coaches. There
was not much Improvement in things in Vir-
ginia since A. d. 1865 when Col. Valentine Pey-
tor, of Nominy, in the county of Westmore-
land, Virginia, thus remarks in has last will
and testament [See note April number 1884,
of the New England Historical and geneolog-
cal RegisterI before leaving home, being
about to take uoyd9e TO jamestown and kno,0ing
The life Of man to be uncertain, do make this
my last aUiu and testament" If a man were in
different to such dangers there was little pleas
ure to be derived from travelling. The taverns
were miserable and the rural districts almost
destitute of the comforts of civilized life. Ex-
citem ent there might have been in journeying
then. but none of the pleasant exhllaration
which attends Jaunt in a Pullman now-a-
days. Mr.. Peyton makes no complaints
though 1t is obvious from his description of q
half hour map on the Baltimore boat, that
Jo1,a II. Peyton to Mrs. a. NJ. Peyton.
NEW YORK, June 18th, 1926.
My dear Ann: On the 18th at O'Clock we
left Baltimore on the steamboat for Philadel-
phia. The view of the city. Fort McHenry. the
lighthouses on North Point. and of the Ches
apeake Bay. with It's numerous vessels spread.
ing their canvas to the winds, just as the sun
was sinking below the horizon, animated
the prov of the vessel contemplated this in
terssting scene as long as the light enabled me
to enjoy its beauties. Soon after dusk peal
ing bell summoned. US. TO the supper table,
where we were surprised to find a sumptuous
repast spread cut. We had not anticipated
such variety or delicacy of food. After partak-
ing Of the good cheer, we drew lots for our
berths. I was unlucky-my BERTH was SO
warm. not to say hot and stuffy that before I
could get any sleep our arrival at French town
was announced. Turning out at II O'Clock at
night but with no regrets. we shortly after
continued our journey and at O'Clock in the
morning, found ourselves at New Castle. Here
we re- shipped In a steamboat without berths. |
This did not regret after my recent expert |
enee of them. and BENZ amin and myself essay
ed to secure half hours sleep stretched upon
two pine benches. How long we might have
courtei sleep on these hard and narrow |
coaches Know not We were not leftto make |
the experiment any length OF time, but were |
shortly reused up by the hustle among the |
seamen and passengers preparatory to landing |
al Philadelphia. The breakfast table, when |
we entered the SO called saloon, was smoking |
with coffee and STEAK, and about the time we |
had paid our respects TO both, the boat was at |
Chestnut street wharf Landing here we pro- |
a glad surprise to find him astir. thanks to the |
business habits of the city of brotherly love.
Under his guidance, afterianother cup of cof-
fee, and hot roll. we proceeded 10 attend to
the numerous commissions with which we
were charged. This occupied Us something |
over four hours, when we babe our friends |
adieu and went aboard the New York steamer. |
About o'clock P. M. we reached Princeton,
where spent four of the happiest years of my |
youth. and which had not seen since taxing |
my degree in 1870. The stages were running |
with such rapidity, however, that it was i'm
possible to call, as 1 wished, upon my old
friends DR.. Alexander and Prot. Comfort, or
deliver the letter for Miss Waddell. I CHANGED
to meet young gentleman Of my acquain-
tanee from Washington. who stopped at
Princeton, by whom 1 sent it to her.
I shall make it a point to stay over day at
princeton on my Teturn. IN uue tlNlo we GT-
rived here Benjamin is perfectly we'll. does
not regard either the fatigue, or loss of sleep.
but am worse for the wear and tear. nd I
would not advise those to take the trip whose,
only business is pleasure.
On yesterday I dined with Mr.. Gallager
where met Mr.. Reid, whom you may remem-
Der preached some time since at the Pfesby-
terry in Staunton. He is to preach in New
York to-day, and hope to hear him. He is
highly esteemed here as q preacher aud man.
In the evening took tea with Mrs. Murray,
mother of my brother Rowzs's wife, where all
the family were collected round me making
enquiries after their relatives and friends In
Virginia. For the most part 1 was unable to
crafty their curiosity. having recently neither
seen nor heard of the kith and kin in Rich-
mond or the Northern Neck.
At 10 O'Clock to morrow shall set out for
West Point with Gen. Huston of Tennessee, to
whom was introduced on yesterday by Gen.
Scott lGen. Winfield Scott requested Miss
Heiskell of Philadelphia to execute Jane and
Lynn's Commissions, which she promised to
do against my return.
Give my love to all the family.
Yours affectionately,
Though in much haste.
JOHN II. PEYToN.
Ia GRIPPE IN WASHINGTON.-The |