The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-05-27

Richmond was formerly city OF mag
nii1cent promises, OF neglected oppor-
Y tunities and Of unrealzcd aims. Byrd
foresaw Its possibilities, and provided
s4tor them by selecting n sto which lay
4 midway between Rockets and Shockoes,
< two of the oldest settlements at the head
of tidewnter. Upon returning from IA
Journey to the Land of Eden Of tho
date OF September. 1888, he remarks:
when we got home, we laid the foun-
dation Of two large cities. One at Shac-
cos, to be called Richmond. and tho
other at the Point of Appomattuck River,
to be named Petersburgh. These Major
I Mayo offered to lay out into lots without
fee or reward The truth of it is these
two places being the uppermost Landing
of James and AppomatuX Rivers, are
naturally intended for Marts, where the
Traffick of the Outer Inhabitants must
Center. Thus we did not build Castles
only, but also Citys in the Air.
s In the course Of his narrative, Byrd
mentions the Duke Of Richmond as ali
acquaintance we'll known to him, from
which circumstance 1t has been suggested
that our city was named in his honor.
I hardly think this surmisc as probable
as another, which proposes Richmond
on the James as derivnble from Rich.
lnond on the Thames.
An English gentleman, whilst viewing
the scenery from l1ibbys Hill many
years ago, said within my hearing:
'4This reminds me of home-of our Rich
mond Nature here is a little grander
than with us, yet the situation of one
city is SO much like that Of the other
as to incline me to think that both might
have been constructed. down to the cob-
blestones of the streets, by one and the
self-same architect"
For Richmond, England.
Richmond on the Thames Is but Il few
miles above London, and it is highly
probable that Byrd knew it as we'll as he
knew Oxford or Cambridge The nat
ural situation, 50 like that of the country
about the Falls, may have prompted him
to give his city In the air a like name.
The fault will not lie with the founder
Of two cities, if neither has become "a
mart where the traffic Of the outer in
habitants must CENTRE"
sit is to be regretted that there arc
no low-priced reprints of the MISSIONER
Manuscripts. They were first published
TN 1S41, by Edmund and Julian c. Ruff
fin, large 5 vo., ppl43. and privately
printed in 1866 by the late Thomas ri,
Wynne from the original manuscript.
The latter work has the merit Of being
q; literal copy Of the original whilst al.
.terations and suppressions of text occur
in the Ruftins publication.
An eminent Northern writer has this 4
to say OF the manuscript and its nutlior:
ct was the production of a gentleman
once much celebrated IN the Old Do
minion whose story cannot be better
told for our purpose than In the distin-
guished recital of the inscription upon
the monument which covers his remains
IN the garden of this once splendid Estate
OF Westover, on the north bank of James
River-'Here lieth the Honorable William
BYRD, Esq, being born to one of the
amplest fortunes In this country. Hc
was sent early to England for his edu-
5cation' where under tho care of ana d.
rection of Sir Robert Southwell and
ever favoured with his particular instr,,c-
ton, he made a happy proficiency in
polite and various learning @
vs. BY the means of the same noh1e frio,a
ne was introduced to the acquaintance
OF many OF the first persons of that, are
Tor knowledge wit, virtue, birth or high
station, and particularly contracted n
most intimate and bosom friendship win
me learned and illustroNs Charles Bowie.
Earl Of Orrcry. He was called 70 no
bar IN the Middle Temple, studied for
some time In the Low Countries. ylsitoo
the Court Of France, and was chosen Fol.
low OF the Royal Society. Thus eminent.
~ fitted for the service and ornament or
his country. he was made reimbursement
of his Majesty's revenues here, was thrice
appointed public agent to the court ana
ministry OF England. anA being thirty
seven years a member, at last became
president OF the Council of this. Colony
To all this were added a great e,nUanc,,
OF taste and life, the well-bred gentleman
and polite companion, the splendid econo-
mist and prudent father OF q family. with
the constant enemy OF all exorbtant pow
er. and hearty friend TO the liberties OF