dreary anticipation of bad roads, worse accommodations, and a hard-trotting horse. But, these difficulties subsided into nothing, when compared with a trip to New-York or Philadelphia, either of which places was the Ultima Thule to a mountaineer.Then, indeed, came the "tempest to the soul." All accounts were settled; all preparations made for an indefinite absence, and every thing arranged to meet the result of casualties. Indeed, an old gentleman who was an acquaintance of the author's early years, upon his annual expeditions to Philadelphia for goods, never failed to have his will made in due form, properly sealed and attested, and left in the charge of some confidential friend. But, with every thing else, this plan of doing business has entirely changed. A journey to the North is now a mere trip of pleasure; with a single change of linen, and a few dollars in pocket, the adventurous traveller is whirled in a stage-coach from the mountains to the sea shore, and from thence the magic power of steam wafts him to his point of destination in the twinkling of an eye. It was some twenty years since, that a party of merchants, men of pleasure, &c. chanced to embark together in one of the little packets which in those days coasted very cautiously and regularly between Richmond and Philadelphia. Richmond, in those days, was not as it is now, a gay, thriving Metropolis. Its buildings were "few and far between ;" its streets unpaved, and where splendid buildings at this time rise over the surrounding plain, the massive oak then threw its shadows. Our travellers determined to secure every comfort which could render their passage one of pleasure, as there was no certainty when they should arrive at their place of destination. Provisions in abundance, and all the luxuries of the day were unsparingly stowed away in the ship's lockers, and to obviate the effect of sea sickness, they took in a small adventure of Holland gin and other diffusible stimuli. Among the rest who had taken passage, was an old gentleman, whose courtly style of behaviour, and venerable appearance, secured to him the most respectful attention from his fellow passengers. As might be well supposed, he had been a soldier of the revolution, one of those unyielding hearts of Virginia oak, who had been foremost in withstanding the efforts of tyranny, and who in his latter days formed an unerring chronicle of past events, and an interesting example of devotion to long-gone periods of time. He had lived in the days of the good Lord Botetourt, and had shared the friendship of the nobility of the time; and, notwithstanding the violent feelings of republicanism which had prompted him, with the greater part of his countrymen, to a resistance of regal usurpation, he strenuously adhered to the style of dress which was in vogue during the Colonial vice-royalty. He was most usually equipped in a gala dress of short-knce'd breeches and embroidered waistcoat, with a claret coloured coat, in the fashion of those worn by Hogarth's gentlemen of rank. To these were superadded a cocked hat, and a long queue of silvery hair, rendered still more white by an ample coating of powder. He was, indeed, a perfect spe cimen of the Virginia gentle man of the preceding age, the last of whom, according to Mr. Randolph, (if I mistake not,) became extinct with the late venerable Mr. Bolling. It was upon a mild and beautiful evening, when the air was so tranquil as to excite but little agitation in the loose flapping sails of the packet, that it became necessary to lower anchor for the purpose of avoiding the effects of the flood tide. The company somewhat tired of their situation in the cabin, concluded to suspend their never-ceasing game of whist, and take a walk upon the shore. They landed upon a part of the coast immediately opposite to the little county of Warwick, and proceeded leisurely up a barren looking hill, which jutted close upon the water's edge. They at length reached a naked point, which seemed to form the pinnacle of the high lands around, when they were arrested by the view of gravelled walks, covered with the wild grass of the forest, and hedge rows of foreign plants which had run into the wildest luxuriance. The spot shewed many other marks of its having been once occupied by wealthy proprietors, and although wild and desolate, yet from its verdure and pleasantness of situation, it formed an agreeable contrast to the deep red sterile soil around. But, it was a scene well calculated to arouse melancholy ideas and sensations; from the blackened remains of its stone walls, and the completely deserted appearance of the fields, it seemed as if the building had been a prey to violence, and the domains around from mere neglect, were suffered to waste into barrenness, and to produce alone its annual stock of wild broom and hares. The party gazed upon the scene for some time in silence; the light-hearted, careless manner with which they had at first approached it, subsided into seriousness and attention. There is something appalling and much more calculated to arouse our sympathies in the view of one single ruin, than in the appearance of the largest cities which have been subjected to the ravages of warfare. In the one we can readily appreciate the suffering of the inmates, by identifying them; but in the other all feelings of pity are merged in the immensity of the havoc, and every idea of individual suffering is excluded by curiosity. But, of the whole party above mentioned, none appeared so particularly affected as the old revolutionist. Having seated himself upon a bank, he gazed long and intently upon the ruin until his companions were upon the point of returning, when, with a deep sigh, he arose and accompanied them. In a conversation which took place after they had reached the vessel, he informed the company that the original proprietor of that place had been his intimate friend; and the cause of his deep dejection was occasioned by unfortunate events which had occurred to him in the times of the revolution. Being requested by the company to relate the circumstances, he consented to do so, and the substance of his narrative may be collected from the following tale. |