Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-09-08

ers. 1t was the place where the
politicians of the surrounding neigh
borhood came to fix up their slales
for the c0ming elections ard where the
lou, gers did coGcrrgate 10 get the
"fresnest Advices" dropped by the
passing travellers. The old weather
beaten struc ure on account Of its iu-
tereating historic associations surely
deserves that timely care OF some of our
patriotic societies. which might make
possible its yet long continuance as q
landmark OF Il vanished town.
Not veslige of the piers aud
wharvt where stately ships bad come
so often to deliver and r. caive cargoes
is now TO be seen. BuU here before
ne Is bill of L.ding" of ore of the
many cargoes wi ich LIFT the long van.
ished waIeht uses. | has survived The
changes of all the years. The paper is
brown and ciumbllne. The writiHg is
almost il,egile. The hand VIII ch
traced il has been dust hundred and
fifty years / Is ialisman TO Cell up
the scenes of ! be oace busy port and TO
make them fresh again
'Shipp October 20th, 1850, by the
grace OF God in good order and well
conditioned, fifty hopsheads Of sweet
scented tobs eco aud ten OF O onoco by
Henry Grayson, merchant in and upon
the good ship Enterprise, whereof is
master und, God for this present voy-
ag. Captain John Robinson, and now
riding at anchor iu Occoquan river and
ny Gods grace bound for Rotterdam,
&c and so, God send he good ship TO
ner destined haveU ln safety. Amen"
An aged resident of the neighbor-
hood ren nbers per ion of the old
Ii. dpgs f the port, hut 10 one living
can tell just where stood the boselry
nearby h. ferry known as the + sex
House al d often spoken Of by early
travellers.
"Lvw lies that house where nut brown
draught- inspired;
Where gIey beard mirth and ,miing toll re
tired;
Where vi 'age statesman talked with looks
profound,
and news IN ,ch oder than their ale W Mt
round.
I'm ,gnatinn fonjly stoops to trace
The parl,r sp!endors of that parlor place
The whiewsshed wHl S, the nicely sande1
Tee vanished clock that tickcd behind the
door,
The chrst contrived double debt to p-y-
bed by nigh. a ch st Of drawers b.. day"
There are old ledgers OF the mer-
chants bound in vellum still i'll exist
ence, which afford curious reading and
give US exact information about the
prices OF all the articles OF merchan-
disc then sold in The stores, and the
names Of he customers of the times,
George Washington's among them
But this wall dated Colchester on Oc-
coquan, Va, May, 1850, is the only
letter we have seen from that far oil
shore of the past.
"De4r cousin Mary, l have an OPP
oortuuity to send you a message by
Mr.. John McGregor, master of the
brig Good Fortune which came into
our port of entry nearly three weeks
ago, aud is now loading with tobacco
and will sa for London in few days
By the Good Fortune we received your
welcome letter and the bale of accept
dDlb lOheIS W SOul doiuiuB iCLhou'
brance and sfec!ion. Nothing YOU
could have sent US would have been
m re useful to US in this far off country.
We are Very grateful for your good
offices. Capt. McGregor is said to be
good seaman and his vessel very
staunch, but the weather at sea was
verv tempestuous and he wes nearly
six weeks making the voyage. May
he find more favorlrg gales on his ie-
turn. l have concluded to be Vir
ginian and to cast my lot among the
colonists. like the country. 1t is 9
land OF plenty for everybody. Col
chester has q very pleasant situation
on deep river. It's trade is increasing
and many houses are building. We
see many Iadlans passing through, but
they are friendly and going over the
mountains. The wars are over and
the plantations are peaceful and quiet.
We have regular church service In the
neighborhood. The people are very
hospitable TO all newcomers. Remem-
ber me to sll inquiring friends, and be-
lieve me as ever,
Your loving cousin,
JOSEPH ADAMS"
w. H. S.