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It was here, in the Virginia convention of '75, that Patrick Henry thundered against the common oppressor of America, and uttered that immortal sentence, "Give me lib. erty, or give me death!"

The celebrated Virginia convention of '88, that met to ratify the federal constitution, assembled within its walls. The transcendent talents engaged in its discussion, "tempted industry to give up its pursuits, and even dissipation its objects," for the high intellectual feast here presented. Among the crowd from far and near, who filled the hall, "no bustle, no sound was heard, save only a slight movement when some new speaker arose, whom they were all eager to see as well as to hear; or when some master-stroke of eloquence shot thrilling along their nerves, and extorted an involuntary and inarticulate murmur. Day after day was this banquet of the mind and the heart spread before them, with a delicacy and variety which could never cloy." Among its illustrious members were Madison, Marshall, and Monroe; and "there were those sages of other days, Pendleton and Wythe; there was seen the Spartan vigor and compactness of George Nicholas; and there shone the radiant genius and sensibility of Grayson; the Roman energy and the Attic wit of George Mason was there; and there also the classic taste and harmony of Edmund Randolph; the splendid conflagration' of the high-minded Innis; and the matchless eloquence of the immortal Henry!"

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The medical department of Hampden Sidney College was established in the year 1838, and has succeeded beyond the expectations of its most sanguine friends. The necessity of an institution where the young men of Virginia might prosecute the study of medicine without incurring the expense of a winter's residence in a northern city, had long been keenly felt, and the projet was carried into effect by a few enterprising mem bers of the faculty resident in Richmond. Unassisted by legislative appropriation, this college struggled nobly through an infancy of six years, and "now presents to the student of the healing-art advantages not to be surpassed by any other establishment in the Union." The hospitals of the penitentiary and almshouse are under the supervision of the professors; and the most abundant opportunities for clinical study are thus afforded. Attached to the college building is an extensive infirmary. The college building recently erected, is a fine specimen of the Egyptian style of architecture, admirably arranged for the purposes of lecture and dissection. The following is the faculty:-Augustus L Warner, M. D., Dean of the faculty, John Cullen, M. D., Jeffries Wyman, M. D., S. Maupin, M. D., L. W. Chamberlayne, M. D., R. L. Bohannan, M. D.

St. Vincent's College, under the control of the Catholic clergy, is pleasantly situated about a mile east of the city. The Rev. Bishop Whelan is president. There is a very respectable number of students, who attend mass every morning at the chapel in Rich

mond.

Richmond College, a Baptist institution, was incorporated by act of legislature in the year 1832. The Rev. Robert Ryland is president of the institution. It contains five or six professors, and about one hundred students. The buildings are delightfully situated, about a mile west of the city, on the Fredericksburg rail-road.

The Richmond Academy, Wm. Burk principal, is a school for the preparation of youth for college in the higher branches of classical and mathematical education. There are five teachers, and some ninety or one hundred pupils. The pupils are allowed the privilege of being enrolled in a corps of cadets, at their option, in which the exercises of drill and military tactics are taught by a competent professor.

The Orphan Asylum is an institution under the direction of the "Ladies' Humane Association," for the education and support of female orphans. A large number of this unfortunate class are maintained there annually. A commodious and elegant building has been recently erected, out of a munificent bequest of the late Edmund Walls, Esq. There is also, in Richmond, a Lancasterian free school for the use of the poor.

The following are slips cut from newspapers. The first was published a few years since, under the signature of C. C., and is a graphic sketch of the Virginia convention of 1829-30. The sec ond is an inscription on a monument at Turkey island, in this county. The last is from the Virginia Gazette of August, 1776: CONVENTION OF VIRGINIA.—I attended the debates of this body a fortnight. The capitol, in which the convention sat, is a fine building, nobly situated-more so than any

other I have seen in this country. Richmond is a picturesque place; the James looks beautiful there in a spring morning; the rocks and islands, and foaming rapids, and murmuring falls, and floating mists, all light and glorious, under a clear blue sky. The convention boasted several men of distinction-Madison, Monroe, Giles, Marshall, Randolph, Leigh, Tazewell, &c. Mr. Madison sat on the left of the speaker, Mr. Monroe on the right. Mr. Madison spoke once for half an hour; but although a pin might have been heard to drop, so low was his tone, that from the gallery I could distinguish only one word, and that was, "Constitution." He stood not more than six feet from the speaker. When he rose, a great part of the members left their seats and clustered around the aged statesman, thick as a swarm of bees. Mr. Madison was a small man, of ample forehead, and some obliquity of vision, (I thought the effect probably of age,) his eyes appearing to be slightly introverted. His dress was plain; his overcoat a faded brown surtout. Mr. Monroe was very wrinkled and weather-beaten-ungraceful in attitude and gesture, and his speeches only common-place. Mr. Giles wore a crutch-was then governor of the state. His style of delivery was perfectly conversational-no gesture, no effort; but in ease, fluency, and tact, surely he had not there his equal; his words were like honey pouring from an eastern rock. Judge Marshall, whenever he spoke, which was seldom, and only for a short time, attracted great attention. His appearance was revolutionary and patriarchal. Tall, in a long surtout of blue, with a face of genius, and an eye of fire, his mind possessed the rare faculty of condensation; he distilled an argument down to its essence. There were two parties in the house; the western or radical, and the eastern or conservative. Judge Marshall proposed something in the nature of a compromise. John Randolph was remarkably deliberate, distinct, and emphatic. He articulated excellently, and gave the happiest effect to all he said. His person was frail and uncommon-his face pale and withered-but his eye radiant as a diamond. He owed, perhaps, more to his manner than to his matter; and his mind was rather poetical than logical. Yet in his own peculiar vein, he was superior to any of his cotemporaries. Benjamin Watkins Leigh cut a distinguished figure in the convention, as the leader of the lowland party. His diction is clear, correct, elegant, and might be safely committed to print just as spoken. Yet high as he stands, he is not perhaps in the highest rank of speakers. He never lightens, never thunders; he can charm, he can convince, but he can hardly overwhelm. Mr. Tazewell I never saw up but once, for a moment, on a point of order; a tall, fine-looking man. P. P. Barbour presided over the body with great dignity and ease. Of these seven extraordinary men, four have since died, to wit: Monroe, Giles, Randolph, and Marshall. Mr. Leigh is now a United States senator, and Mr. Tazewell governor of Virginia.

The foundation of this pillar was laid in the calamitous year 1771, when all the great rivers of this country were swept by inundations never before experienced; which changed the face of nature, and left traces of their violence that will remain for ages.

On Monday last, being court-day, the DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE was publicly proclaimed in the town of Richmond, before a large concourse of respectable freeholders of Henrico county, and upwards of 200 militia, who assembled on that grand occasion. It was received with universal shouts of joy, and re-echoed by three volleys of small-arms. The same evening the town was illuminated, and the members of the committee held a club, where many patriotic toasts were drunk. Although there were near one thousand people present, the whole was conducted with the utmost decorum, and the satisfaction visible in every countenance, sufficiently evinces their determination to support it with their lives and fortunes.

Now will America's sons her fame increase,

In arms and science, with glory, honor, and peace.

"EDMUND RANDOLPH was an eminent lawyer, and a warm friend of the revolution. After having filled several honorable stations in the state, he was, in 1779, elected to a seat in Congress, and held it until 1782. In 1787, he was a member of the convention which formed the federal constitution, but voted against its adoption. The next year he was chosen governor of Virginia, and in 1789, was appointed attorney-general of the United States; and in 1794, secretary of state, which office he resigned the succeeding year. He died Sept. 12th, 1813." His personal and intellectual characteristics are described in the British Spy.

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"The old Stone House," is situated on the northern side of Mainstreet, a few rods below the market. It is the oldest dwelling standing in Richmond, and among the first ever built in the town.

It is the residence and property of Mrs. Elizabeth Welsh, and has been in the same family for six generations. Mr. Jacob Ege, her great-grandfather, was a native of Germany, who settled upon this spot when there were few or no inhabitants on the site of the town, and previous to the erection of Byrd's warehouse. Mr. Ege had originally intended to have settled further up the country, but was so well pleased with the place, that he took up some land for a garden, and built this house. When President Monroe was a young man, attending school in Richmond, he boarded here. Mr. Samuel Ege, the father of Mrs. Welsh, resided in this house during the revolution. At that time it was one of the best houses in Richmond. It has been honored by the visits of Washington, Jefferson, Lafayette, Madison, Henry, and other distinguished personages. This part of the town was first settled, and it gradually extended to the capitol, which building was commenced in 1780, and was several years in constructing. It was a question whether it should be on Richmond Hill, or where it now is. It was decided by a gentleman's giving all the land included in the capitol square.

When the British, under Arnold, invaded Richmond in 1781, Mr. Ege was absent on duty, as a commissary in the American army. The first his wife (Mrs. Welsh's mother) knew of their approach, was the seeing a body of their cavalry galloping down Richmond Hill, then much steeper than at present. She described it as the most beautiful sight she ever witnessed. One of their officers quartered with her. The enemy broke open the stores, and emptied the liquors and provisions into the gutters. The spirits ran into the creek and gutters. The cows and hogs, having partaken of the liquid, were seen staggering about the streets.

HENRY.

HENRY was formed in 1776, from Pittsylvania, and named in honor of Patrick Henry. It is in form approaching a square of about 18 miles on a side. Its extreme sw. angle is crossed by the two branches of Mary's River; but the greater part of the area of the county is included in the valley of Smith's River, which enters the county near its Nw. angle, and forms a junction with the

Dan near its SE. angle. Tobacco, Indian corn, oats, and wheat, are the principal staples. Pop. in 1840, whites 4,243, slaves 2,852, free colored 240; total, 7,335.

Martinsville, the county-seat, lies near the N. bank of Smith's River, about 70 miles sw. of Lynchburg, and 194 miles from Richmond. It is but a small village, situated on a beautiful eminence, commanding an extensive view of the surrounding country, and well supplied with excellent springs.

ISLE OF WIGHT.

ISLE OF WIGHT was one of the eight original shires into which Virginia was divided in 1634. Its name originally was Warrosquyoake shire, which it retained three years only, when its present one was given to it. The county is 37 miles long, with a mean width of 11: it has many creeks and swamps upon its surface, and a great variety of soil, though it is generally thin and sandy. Pop. in 1840, whites 4,918, slaves 3,786, free colored 1,268; total, 9,972.

Smithfield is in the northern part of the county, 65 miles southeasterly from Richmond, 15 above Hampton Roads, and 3 miles from James River. It lies on an elevated bank on the margin of Pagan creek, a bold and navigable stream, commanding a beautiful view of both land and water scenery-the country for 10 miles on the opposite bank of the James is in full view. This town was established in February, 1752, ten years after the founding of Richmond. Arthur Smith, Esq., the original owner of the land, had then laid it out into streets and lots, and being "an healthy place, and open to trade and navigation," it had begun to be built and settled upon. By the provisions of the act, Robert Burwell, Arthur Smith, William Hodsden, James Baker, James Dunlop, James Arthur, and Joseph Bridger, gentlemen, were appointed trustees. Smithfield at present contains 10 or 12 stores, 1 Episcopalian, 1 Baptist, and I Methodist church, and a population of about 1000. The village is ornamented with shade-trees; and the numerous porches to the dwellings impress the stranger favorably as to the social and neighborly habits of its people. Several vessels sail from Smithfield with the exports of the county. Among these is bacon, cured here, which has long been celebrated, and commands the preference in all markets. Mayfield is a small village in the western part of the county.

Within an hour's ride from Smithfield, near the road to Suffolk, in the depths of the forest, stands an ancient church in ruins. It is alike an object of interest from its secluded 'situation, and its great antiquity. We have before us a communication from a highly respectable gentleman of this vicinity, which gives strong evidence that it was built in the reign of Charles I., between the years 1630

and 1635. Tradition, too, states that it was the second church erected in Virginia. The brick, lime, and timber, were imported from England. The timber is English oak, and was framed be

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fore shipment. The whole structure was built in the most substantial manner; and even now, the wood-work, where not exposed to rain, is perfectly sound, and the mortar sufficiently hard to strike fire when in collision with steel. The structure is of brick, has a lofty tower, and is in good preservation. Its walls are overrun with a delicate net-work of vines.

In its day, it was a splendid edifice. One window, of about 25 feet in height, was composed of painted glass, representing scriptural subjects. It was probably abandoned about the period of the American revolution, when the Episcopal church, for a time, became nearly extinct in Virginia. Within the last twenty-five years it has been temporarily occupied by a sect called O'Kellyites. There is a project, which may be carried into effect, to repair it. If successful, generations yet unborn will meet within its time-hallowed walls, where, even now, more than two centuries have elapsed since their forefathers first raised the hymn of praise to the living God.

JACKSON.

JACKSON was formed in 1831, from Mason, Kanawha, and Wood⚫ its length is 33, and its mean breadth 24 miles. The surface is

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