Year: 1861

be back again within tho Jurisdiction of Mr. JEFF
ferson Davis Enough to say that spent several weeks
recently in the capital Of the Confederate statesfo
here may say, in passing that all over the South the
pretty little city the left bank Of the James river is
spoken Of 1.-THE capita Just Washington used TO be
in the United States, and still is in the loyal portion
thereof not idle or uniacrested observer Of
and things In and about Richmond, and in that Sec
ton Of the South through which made way over the
border and If you consider my observations of suff
cent interest TO the HERALD they are
most willingly at your service


RICHMOND AND IT'S ENvrRoNs.


The principal feature that strikes every VINO
Richmond for The Afst time is its curious topography
From the James which. umbng over its rocky bed
makes wide bend here with its face to the city
rise, without any regard TO uniformity Of direction
half dozen hills gravel formation Of pretty consid
cradle elevaoon There has never any attempt to
grade them Level Streets but The city scattered
promiscuousiy up and and them just fashion,
business may have happened 70 dictate. The
principal part OF the city however occupies actually only
Of those elevations and tho garden spot Of that
10 the Capitol square, where stands the building
Of which Jefferson procured the design in France,
but which, hcwever magnificent it may have been
deemed in the simple, unestentatious days In which
was built is certainly not to be auded either for
its beauty for its adaptation 10 the wants OF State
Legislature much less TO those OF Congress OF Confede
rate States Within the enclosure is the Governors
mansion where POOR John Letcher badgered and bued
and backguarded all Sides resigns himself to his fate,
and, il all bc true that the Erdmner charges, tries
beguiie II with jolly living In the centre Of the square
s the beautiful equestrian statue OF Washington looking
calm and and commanding If Che city which
he overocks was not the centre hotbed Of the foues
thata in tha al
pedestal designed for eight other statues Of distinguished
virginians but three OF which have yet been put
in their places These Jefferson, Henry and Mason
the arrogant selfconceited bockhead who recently
represented the State In tho Senate at Washington and
has gone seeking recognition at London the dpo
matte representative OF scccssiondom but far purer,
wiser and more patriotic namesake Of his. Here also is
q small statue TO Henry Clay.


THE UNION PRISONERS OF WAR.


Richmond has really but one business thoroughfare
That is Main street Most Of the hotels, banks
paper Offices and stores located IT, II extends
northwsrd the open country and southcastward
suburb called Rockets In this latter section OF il
situated some Of the tobacco warehouses where our
Union prisoners are now confined TThe mar which we
publish win show the points referred 70 by our cores
pondentED HERALD These ore large old brick edices,
Of mould dapidated appearance They stand three to-
rcter on one side Of the streetwhch here Is OF most
dincy character-and two nearly opposite Those on
tho north side are overlooked by the bluffs in which
Church Hill here terminates and which supply gravel for
the city, while those the south side Of the street have
the James river aud Kanawha Canal and the river itself


Immediately in their have often passed by these
prison houses and had my feelings accraied by seeing
The condition cf the brave who suffering here for
their loyalty and devotion to the country u s hard
to find ont anything relating to the affairs Of he govern
ment and inquisitveness into public matters s not
safe weakness TO indulge in Observations have there