Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-03-21
Historical "Reminiscences.

I have sometimes felt like sending you
q paragraph or two. when noticing In
your column OF Queries and Answers an
inaccurate or defective reply to an In
quiry propounded by a correspondent.
For example, about a fortnight ago there
was an answer TO somebody who wished
to know about Martins History Of Viz
GINA" The book referred to was not
so much a history as it was a gazetteer,
compiled by Mr.. Joseph Martin, who was
more Of book-binder than a book
maker, then residing in Charlottesville.
He was one Of the men, planted by Mr..
jefferson In or near the University. who
had connection Of one sort or another
with the building or equipment OF the
University, and who, after its completion,
remained in the vicinity as useful and
respected citizens during the residue OF
their lives.
The historical preface TO Martins Ga
zetteer was written, not by John w.
Brockenbrough. but by his cousin, VIII
liam II. Brockenbrough. a brother OF the
late Thomas w. Brockenbrough, OF Rich
mond. They were nephews OF DR.. John
Brockenbrough, of Judge William Brock
enbrough, and OF Mr.. Thomas Broken
brough, OF the old firm Of Brockenbrough
81 Harvie merchants, on Main street,
down below the Bell Tavern. The father
Of William II. Broekenbrough was Mr..
Arthur p. Brockenbrough, an accountant,
as well as an architect, who had been
employed by the Board Of Visitors in
erecting the buildings and laying out the
grounds Of the University. After the
completion Of this work he was chosen
proctor, and in this position he continued
until my first year at the University as
a student. After his death the board,
through sympathy for the widow ap-
pointed her son, William Henry Broken
brough then a student, the librarian,
and also authorized her TO receive few
students as boarders, I'm the former resi-
dence of Mr.. Monroe, then and now call
ed Monroe HiB" situated within the
University grounds. The students whom
she selected for her boarders were VIII
liam Ashe Aston. William Frazier. Hugh
NJ Nelson, Frank G.. Rufin, John W.
Stevenson, and myself. We were the
envy Of the whole college, because Of the
homelike and favored manner in which
she treated us. Her son, William. and
Ashe Aston were room-mates In Mr..
Monroe's old law office.
OF course, I came to known William
Henry BrockenbrOugh very we'll anu
thus cams TO feel an interest in the his
tory Of Virginia which he was employed
by Mr. Martin TO write for his Gazetteer
soon after ne had opened an Office in
Charlottesville for the practice or the
law At that time he could not have
been more than 70 years OF age. The
history gained for him quite reputa-
ton. and the remarkable fact is, that the
whole Of it was written in few weeks,
certainly, less than sixty days; written
almost as fast as copy" was called for
by the printer.
Brockenbrough. influenced by conside-
rations of health, removed at an early
day to the Territory of Florida. Theirs
he was elected a senator in the Terri
toral Legislature; subsequently, was
elected a representative IN congress-
after a heated contest with Edward Car
rington Cabell, formerly Of Richmond;
and served both as District Attorney and
District Judge Of the United States,
dying in the 35th year of his age. His
talents were of a high order, and his
educational training thorough, as he was,
during seven sessions, diligent ana am
bilious student al the University. lie
was one Of the best debaters OF my date
In the Jefferson Society.
Another error in your paper, was in
the name of the firm which printed Mar
tins Gazetteer. The paper Is not now
before me- and 1 do not recall how the
first name was misprinted but, the style
of the firm was Moseley q Tompkins.
editors and proprietors Of one OF the TWO
newspapers then published In Charlottes-
yille-one Wing, the other Democratic, in
political faith; or, perhaps, more dis
tinctively Jackson" and Calhoun, Tor
about that time nearly all political dis
cuSson centered either IN union or
Qualification" Mr.. Moseley was also
graduate OF the University, having. like
Brockenbrough, taken the degree or u.
L. In the law school
This was Alexander Moseley. after
wards one Of the editors OF the Richmond
Wing. Next to John Hampden peasants,
I suppose he was the most forcible of all
those who, for so many years, were en-
ployed in editing that paper. His style
was eminenty vigorous and classical,
at the same time easy and graceful
He and John NJ. Daniel, of the Exami-
ner were we'll pitted against each other
Noseley once ran for Congress In the
Amherst District against Paulus Powell
II so happened that while Daniel knew
there was "a" Mr.. Moseley, who had
been nominated by the Wings In that
district. he did not for some time,
realize that it was his editorial opponent
Alexander. who was running agair~>
his particular friend and pet, Paulus;
but, when he found IL out he made II
the occasion Of some very humorous
writing.
The later years Of his life was spent
ON "a beautiful James-river estate, called
"Flsh Pond" in Nelson county. Having
travelled with an observant eye through
agricultural portions of England, France
Germany. and Switzerland, he introduced
many admirable things as improvements
upon this Virginia farm, paying par
ticular attention 10 his extensive Vine
ward and orchard, and even 20 his shade
trees and flowers He was an enthusiast
tic fisherman; a taste which he INDUCED
while living in Richmond, by frequent
ly going out with a few chosen friends
10 the Pamunkey or the Chickahomony
or to noted mill-ponds in one OF the
adjacent counties. Included in his es-
tate was large pond, which had been
formed on the BERN side OF the canal,
partly by natural depression and part
ly by excavation rendered necessary In
tho construction OF the canal; this he
stocked with choice fish; and there he
might frequently be seen by passengers
on the packet-boat as II passed daily UP