The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-05-27
his country. Nat Mar. Is, 1911 Mort.
Aug. &c, 1744. An. etat TO-"
Grigsby's Comment

SollllllSll. fH.sr.
Hugh Blair C,rigsby. who was said to
have edited Wynne's reprint, says IN the
| Introduction to that volume, "1his monu-
mental Tribute Is, indeed, a cordial Ex-
preston of the Mcrts of tho Man; but so
far fran being open to the Charge OF
Flattery, it fails short Of the Panegyric
employed by most Of those who have
written Of Virginia Affairs during his
Time"
The Northern writer above quoted
makes the following brief but wholesome
criticism of the MISSIONER manuscript:
AS now printed (1S41) they form ono
Of the most characteristic and entertain-
Ing productions of the kind ever written.
They have that sharp outline IN descrlp-
ton and freshness of feeling in sentiment
which marks the best Virginia tracts OF
Captain John Smith and his fellows a
century earlier with humor Of u more
modern date derived from a good
natural vein, and the stores of expert.
cncc of man acquainted with books,
and Of society In intimacy with what was
best In the old world and the new; and,
moreover, of that privileged license of
fortune which permits a, man to please
others BY first pleasing himself. Colonel
Byrd is little free in his language at
times, but that belongs to the race of
hearty livers Of his century There are
touches in the journal worthy Of Field
Ing; indeed, 1t Is quite In the vein of his
exquisite Journal from London to Lis
bon.''
A privately printed book Of limited num-
ber-Wynne's smaller set was an issue OF
two hundred copies. his larger of only
forty Gopies-is usually given away by its
editor to public libraries, and to those gem
tlcmen who, like HIMSELF are collectors
n nd ir,,os pfe
tracts, etc.
This being so. the reprint very often be-
comes as unattainable as its original and
so the great world of readers is barred out,
as 1t were, by the privilege extended to a
favored few
Irregularly Built Up.
The design of Byrd in building his "City
in the Air." where the traffic of the outer
inhabitants mAt CENTER was we'll con-
ceived, but not happily followed by those
who came after him. Its growth was by
leaps and starts, with wide intervals be-
tween house and house, up Main Street to
Shockoe Creek, or up Adams Valley to
Bowling Green, or up Broad and thence
down to Bacon's Quarter Branch. It was
not rs short Of body as 1t should have
been, and longer of body than 1t ought to
have been. Such extensions weakened the
central mass, and raised UP suburban
communities every one Of which was in
measure independent Of the other and OF
the city proper. The settlement on the
Brook Avenue from the Branch up to
Broad Street is Of old date.
The mountain men, as they were an
GENTLY called. usually came to u halt
there with their huge wagons and four
horse teams. At the intersection OF the
Avenue with Broad Street were stationed
mercantile firms. who got tho most of
the mountaneers' trade. Sometimes, but
rarely, the wagons were driven into the
heart Of the city. The names Of those
occurring to me are Philip August,
Matthews & Timberlnke, Glazobrook &
Thomas. Henry & Royal Parrish and
the two Boa twrights The houses Of
Brook Avenue show, in some Instances
that might be mentioned much age but
little elegance. Small shops and small
dwellings flank either side OF tho Ave
nue., with no crossroads breaking into
1t of old date. Streets may have been
plotted on the surveyors map. but If so,
they were all in tho air. and for the very
good reason that west of the Avenue
were nought but Rutherfoords Commons.
and east Of 1t unsightly gullies and bar
rem lands, which formed part of
Duval's Addition to the city.
Not only the people OF the Avenue but
those OF upper Broad Street were segre-
gated from those Of lower Main Street and
the Adams Valley. The former locality
had its taverns. one called Brackets.
situate on the south side of Broad boz
tween First and Second Streets; the other
stood near the Bacon's Quarter Branch,
on the east side OF tho Brook Avenue its
proprietor for many years, John coddfn.
formerly High Constable OF Richmond, and
father Of his successor in that office
Wellingt On Goddin.
am not aware that there were OF old