Alexandria Gazette

[COMMUNICATED.]

A VISIT TO RICHMOND, VIRGINIA.—

In a recent visit to Richmond, the capitol of Virginia, I spent agreeably several days in seeing the usual places of resort with strangers, and in viewing such objects of general or local interest, as most strongly attracted my attention. I have taken a brief note of what I saw there, and send it to you for publication, if its admission in the columns of your paper will not exclude other matter of greater interest and importance.

After a few days sojourn at Fredericksburg, I took my seat in the train of cars which left that place for Richmond, on Monday, the 19th of June. The day was delightful, a fresh breeze blowing all the while from the south-west, and four hour's pleasant ride conveyed us to Richmond. I took lodgings at the Powhatan, an old, and well-established house. Mr. Hodges, the present manager and lessee of the premises, supplying a neat and well-furnished table with all the delicacies of the season. And in his reading room are to be found the best newspapers from every section of the Union. There is another hotel in this city called the Exchange, which receives a large share of patronage both from residents and travellers. It is a new and superb building, and in elegance of appointment and system of management, is unsurpassed by any hotel in the United States. Mr. Boyden, the worthy and gentlemanly host, has won the respect and esteem of all who know him, and receives at their hands freely and liberally, the reward of acknowledged merit.

Richmond is a prosperous and growing city. It is situated at the head of tide water, on the James River, and contains about 23,000 inhabitants. It is a place of active enterprise and trade. It has several large flour mills and an equal number of cotton factories in successful operation. The city cannot be said to be a handsome one, although it contains, for a place of its size, many fine looking buildings, public and private. The site is remarkable for its variety of hill and vale. Many points in its very midst command a perfect view of every part of the city. From Richmond Hill a map of the whole city spreads before you. And from the highest point of Shockoe Hill, you are presented with a prospect singularly varied and beautiful. Not only the entire city, but also an extended space of wild and picturesque landscape appear with distinctness before you. The James, far above and below the Falls, rolls its clear and smooth expanse, and in the distance, swell up the dark-blue mountains, forming a grand and striking feature in the background of the picture.

Among the public buildings which I visited, those of greatest interest were the Capitol, the Governor's House, the City Hall, and the Federal Court Room. The Federal Court for this, the Eastern District of Virginia, is held in a large and antiquated building called the "Old Fellows Hall." Judge Mason is at this time the presiding judge.

The City Hall is used for local purposes. The Hustings Court is held by the Mayor of the city. The present incumbent is Gen. Lambert, a popular and influential citizen.

The Governor's House is a large but plain brick building, standing on a beautiful eminence at the foot of Shockoe Hill. The grounds are neatly laid out, and tastefully interspersed with ornamental trees and gravel walks.

In the Capitol I met with the Governor, James McDowell. He is a tall, portly, and commanding personage, about forty-five years old, with a face denoting high intelligence, and decision of character. His manner is marked with peculiar ease and dignity. He is an able lawyer, and quite an eloquent orator.

I spent an hour of interest in a visit to the Capitol. Viewed at a favorable distance, it is one of the handsomest structures with which I am acquainted. Its proportions are beautiful and classical in the extreme, and its architecture simple and unadorned. It is said to have been constructed after some model of antiquity, that Mr. Jefferson met with in his travels on the continent, which is, if I mistake not, a Cathedral in Nismes, in the south of France. In the centre of the entrance hall stands a marble statue of Washington. It is exactly of the same height and proportion as the original, and admitted to be the best statue of Washington in this country. His garb is the simple costume of his time with the long-waisted, large-flapped vest, gaiter breeches, and knee-buckles. He is in a military frock coat and spurs, with a walking-stick in his right hand. His hair is thrown from off his forehead, and tied in a long cue behind. On the pedestal is the following inscription:

"The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Virginia have caused this statue to be erected as a monument of affection and gratitude to GEORGE WASHINGTON; who uniting to the endowments of the Hero, the virtues of the Patriot, and exerting both in establishing the liberties of his Country, has rendered his name dear to his fellow-citizens, and given to the world an immortal example of true glory. Done in the year of Christ, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-eight, and in the year of the Commonwealth the twelfth."

This statue is the work of the accomplished Houdon, an artist of no mean celebrity. It stands in the most appropriate place that could be selected—the time-honored Capital of the native State of the Father of his Country. This statue though not needed to perpetuate the name of one whose memory is reflected from all that is great and glorious in the history of our country, and which is even still as fresh in the hearts of his countrymen, as if he had departed but yesterday, should yet be carefully preserved for the fidelity with which it was executed. It should be prized not merely as a triumph of art, but as the bodily image of a character that in true greatness of mind, in deep and ardent devotion to country, and sublime elevation above the passions and the prejudices common to mankind, stands unequalled and unapproached in the annals of the world.

A door on the left hand as you enter from the north side of the capitol, leads to the House of Delegates, a spacious and handsome room, with a commodious gallery at either end. My attention was called to the Speaker's chair, an old fashioned mahogany. It was imported to this country from England whilst we were yet colonies—Berkeley being at that time Governor of Virginia. Just opposite to the House of Delegates, is the Senate Chamber, a small but neatly finished room.

On the floor above the Senate-chamber, is the State Library. It numbers about ten thousand volumes; among which, are many valuable works on History, Law, Medicine, Literature, Theology, and moral and physical Philosophy. I observed a very large number of volumes filled with English Parliamentary Debates. There is, perhaps, no library in the country, that contains a more full and complete parliamentary history of England.

Near the entrance into the room appropriated to the Court of Appeals—the highest judicial tribunal of the State—stands a rich and glowing half-length portrait of Chief Justice Marshall, by Herbert. It is a beautiful painting, and a faithful likeness. It appears to have been taken at the age of fifty. The face, though not free of wrinkles, shows still the vigor of ripened manhood; and whilst it betokens the lightened energies of intense thought, it is all over radiant with the spirit of that pure and christian-like benevolence, that formed so beautiful a feature in his almost perfect character.

There were many other objects of interest, that came under my observation whilst in Richmond, that I would willingly speak of, but as my communication has grown almost too long, I will forbear to write more.

P. W. R.