[Correspondence of The Cecil Whig.]
“Harold” sends us a letter this week from which we have room only for the following extract, relative to Old Virginia.
— Since I last wrote you I have visited the Old Dominion. The western part of the State, particularly the Valley– the country surrounding Winchester, is a favorite with me. I could scarcely say half of what I thought of the kind, noble people that live in this most beautiful inland town, which has pleased me more than any town or country previously visited. The population is about 6000. Agricultural and grazing pursuits occupy the wealthy, free and sociable old farmers. The old linseywoolsey is not out of fashion here. Slavery exists on a rather small scale. Plenty and concord exist: for industry is respected, and good fellowship is in the hearts of all.
Jefferson’s Rock is plainly observable from the cars as you go on from Harper’s Ferry to Winchester. Nature’s throne upon which the man of mutual rights sat, when he immortalized the romantic prospect before him, is still there. Some years since a person having a personal prejudice against the Statesman, undertook to throw the topmost rock from its base, over the steep bank upon the margin of which it rests. He succeeded in removing it from its former position but not in rolling it off, and thus added another incident to the history of that profound man’s life. The spot is bleak and rocky, and the earth must be sterile around it. We noticed however, a stinted lone pine growing near by the spot so sacred to the patriotic tourist, and reckoned in our own mind its solitary position and its never changing green were fit emblems of the lofty greatness of the man whilst he lived, and the freshness of his memory, now whilst he is sleeping.
The government is making the Minie Rifle at Harper’s Ferry. An improved conical shot is used instead of those first invented. The lead is run in a mould which has in it a small pin that makes a little hole in the square butt end of the shot. In this cavity the powder is placed which partly explodes the ball as it goes out of the rifle and as the artisans there told us, makes the ball go further and more accurately. Seven hundred yards is an estimated distance for them to do efficient service. A slightly curved sword is also being made to be used as either a sword or bayonet, and will answer equally as well for either. The infantry will most likely all be rifleman after this; for it is plain that fair play would be out of the question is one column of belligerants were marching against another, the one having the modern rifle and the other the old style of shot guns.
HAROLD.
