Alexandria Gazette

Letter from Bedford Springs.

Correspondence of the Alexandria Gazette.

BEDFORD, PA., Aug. 6, 1859.—Observing that you have occasional letters from the Virginia Springs, I have thought that a brief description of the route to this celebrated Watering-place, and of the Spring and its visitors, would not be uninteresting to your readers. With your kind permission, therefore, I will attempt the task.

We left Alexandria, on Monday last, at a quarter to six, A.M., and taking the Baltimore train at ten minutes to seven, found the Western cars waiting for us at the Relay House and commenced our journey Westward.—The valley of the Patapsco presents, undoubtedly, some of the finest scenery I have ever looked upon—in the neighborhood of Ellicott's Mills, especially, it is very attractive; and up to the Point of Rocks, those who, like myself, seldom see great overhanging rocks and falling waters, will find much to interest them. Before reaching Monocacy, the road passes through a short tunnel cut in the solid rock, and at that point, a view of the mountains is first obtained. From the Point of Rocks to Harper's Ferry the Railroad, Canal, and Potomac River run side by side, and the scenery is really magnificent, though we did not stop at the Ferry, long enough to obtain a fair view of it. Reaching Martinsburg about 12, M., we found an excellent dinner in waiting for us, which we were allowed nineteen minutes to partake of; and we were then rattled on, under overhanging crags, and under and beside lofty mountains, with the old Potomac for many miles beside us, towards Cumberland. Those who are accustomed to look upon the majestic flood which rolls past our good old town, cannot help feeling a little surprised at the small size of the river up in the mountains. Four Mile Run is a great stream in comparison with it, and though it appears wider and deeper at some points, I should think that it might easily be crossed dry-shod in a few seconds. At Sir John's Run we found coaches waiting for such of our passengers as were bound for Berkley Springs, which are only two miles and a half from that point, and at 4 we reached Cumberland, and put up at the St. Nicholas, a very quiet and respectable house, kept by Mr. Samuel Lennan, a most polite and attentive host. Just after we arrived, the President passed in a carriage, on his return home, and took lodgings at the Revere House, whither multitudes of people wended their way to pay him their respects. At 7 in the morning, we took the Good Intent Stage for Bedford, but her performance was not equal to her intention, for we broke a spring in ascending a hill, soon after starting, and had to send the horses back for another coach, which delayed us until 8½, A. M. In this, a lady and five gentlemen were safely conveyed over one of the worst roads imaginable, about twenty-eight miles. We were said to be ascending the Cumberland Valley, but said Valley though hemmed in by spurs of the Alleghanies, appears to consist of pretty steep hills, rising one after another throughout the entire route. At 12, M., we got a pretty good dinner at the Lafayette House in Centreville, a mountain village of forty inhabitants, and about 5 we reached the Springs, upon which one comes so suddenly that you do not see them until you are just in front of the buildings. Four of our party stopped, but the rest, preferring the village, rode a mile and a half farther, and took lodgings at Mrs. Fuller's'. As a description of the Springs would make my present letter too long, I will give it in another, and merely mention to those who think of coming, that a round trip ticket from Washington costs $7.75, the route expenses being $2.50, and that board at the Springs is $14, and in the town $8 per week. Those who have the time to spare, would, I think, find it best to go from Georgetown to Harper's Ferry in the Canal packet, and there take the Railroad, as the journey through by the latter is excessively fatiguing.

FIDELIS.