Year: 1867

the ART OF PUBIC speaking, auu Will tulS VIC" ho
joined the Franklin Society," literary association,
which has existed for many years, and which still
existsin Lexington Heused to take part in the de-
bates, but with the most distressing stammerings,
haltings and break-downs, and never attained any
more than mediocre faculty Of utterance. AS he
came more under the influence Of the religious SEN
timent, after the death Of his first wife, he ceased
to attend the Franklin Society, and becoming more
and more moody and eccentric, he grew more and
more unpopular. Indeed he was looked upon as
kind of mild lunatic, and the board had frequent
meetings with the view of displacing him from his
chair in the Academy. At length the war broke
ont and the qualities that had smouldered in mere
fre-damp suddenly burst into clear and steady
fame. All the people here speak Of the wonder
full change that came over him at the outbreak Of
the war; Though he had been all his life an ar
dent States Rights Democrat, yet he bitterly op-
posed secession Nevertheless when the wan came,
he threw into it all the tremendous energies of his
nature Then his religious fervor became guild
ing light and an impelling power. He believed
that he was literally led by the hand Of God
''Most men will think" he said, referring to his
overwhelming attack at Charlottesville, that l
had planned it all from the first, but it was not so.
I simply took advantage of circumstances as they
presented themselves to me in the Providence OF
God. feel that His hand ledme." Long before
the war, and even in regard to minor matters, he
used to express the same views of Divine interyen-
ton and inspiration and of his letters, which
have read, he says that through the grace given
him from above" he feels that rain will fall at such
and such time. Certainly, he was an extraordi-
nary man; ; and standing by his grave this evening
I seemed to realize that there lay below the only
man who could have conducted the war to sue
cessful issue on the part Of the South.


But must cease these musings or shall run
out this letter to undue length. Indeed, there is
here very little else on which to descant. The in
terest of Lexington centres almost entirely in itE
educational establishments, and both are pronounc
ed to be in very prosperous condition. The last
catalogue of Washington College shows 399 stu
dents now. in attendance, and there are constantly
new applicants for admission. The commence
ment, which is to come off aboutthe middle of this
month, is looked forward to as one of the grea
fasti; and understand Gov. Piermont and Gene
raj Schofeld are both to be here. There is less
political talk here than at any other place have
visited. Yet in very extended intercourse,
have found the people perfectly well disposed
everybody intending to register and do oil he car
to aid practical reconstruction. The blacks in thii
region are quiet, peaceable and industrious, anc
there is far more prosperity here than In tide-wa


ter Virginia and the crops in this region, as al
the way down the valley to the Potomac, are look
ing magnifcent-farmers from all parts tell me
they are the finest they ever saw The houses
and barns, and mills burned during the war have
all been replaced by superior structures; the great


valley is blossoming like rose, and hopeit may
soon be said of its inhabitants, as Numa Pompelius
said of the inhabitants of another happy valley


that protected by the Divinity they adore, sup


ported by the earth which they cultivate, and a


peace with themselves they enjoy the sweets
life, without dreading or desiring desolation."