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“In 1795, he married the eldest daughter of Dr. George Gilmer, a distinguished physician, and took up his residence at Pen Park, the seat of his father-in-law, near Charlottesville; and here he was introduced to the acquaintance of Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, and other persons of celebrity.

"In 1799 his wife died, and he was soon after elected clerk of the House of Delegates. Having performed the duties of his office two years, he was in 1802 appointed chancellor of the Eastern District of Virginia, and then took up his residence at Williamsburg; and the same year he married the daughter of Col. Gamble, of Richmond. He soon after resigned his chancellorship, and at the close of the year 1803 removed to Norfolk, and entered upon the assiduous practice of his profession. Just before he removed to Norfolk, he wrote the letters published in the Richmond Argus, under the title of the British Spy,' which were afterwards collected in a small volume, and have passed through many editions. In 1806 he took up his residence in Richmond, and in the following year he greatly distinguished himself in the trial of Col. Burr. In 1812 he wrote the greater part of a series of essays, which were originally published in the Richmond Enquirer, under the title of 'The Old Bachelor,' and have since, in a collected form, passed through several editions. The Life of Patrick Henry,' his largest literary production, was first published in 1817. In 1816 he was appointed, by Mr. Madison, the U. S. Attorney for Virginia; and in 1817, by Mr. Monroe, attorney-general of the United States, a post which he occupied with distinguished reputation until 1829, through the entire administrations of Monroe and Adams. In 1830, he took up his residence in Baltimore for the remainder of his life. He died Feb. 18th, 1834, at Washington City, in his 62d year. As a public and professional man, Mr. Wirt ranked among the first of his time; and in all the relations of private life, as a man and a Christian, he was most exemplary, and was regarded with singular affection and veneration."

ALLEGHANY.

ALLEGHANY was formed in 1822, from Bath, Bottetourt, and Monroe. Its mean length is twenty-six, mean breadth twenty miles. Most of this county is a high mountain valley, drained by the head waters of the James. The main Alleghany chain forms its boundary on the west; Peter's mountain and Warm Spring mountain divide the county into two nearly equal parts, having only a narrow gap at Covington, and Middle Mountain and Rich Patch form its southeastern boundary. The passage of Jackson's River through Waite's mountain, is a sublime feature of the natural scenery of the county. Population in 1830, 2,816; 1840, whites 2,142, slaves 547, free colored 60; total, 2,749.

Covington, the county-seat, lies one hundred and ninety-six miles west of Richmond, at the head of the James River navigation, on Jackson's River, fifteen above its confluence with the Cow-Pasture, both of which by their union constitute the James. It contains, at present, about fifty dwellings. At some future period, it is contemplated that the James River Canal will be continued to here; in which case, it will be the depôt between the land and water communication in the chain of the James River and Kanawha improvements, and will then command the trade of a large and fertile region of country. Near Covington, a fort, called Fort Young, was built in the early settlement of the country, as a protection against the Indians.

Peter's Mountain derived its name from Peter Wright, a famous hunter at the time of the first settlement, who was accustomed to hunt upon it. He resided near the

present site of Covington. Near the house of Mr. John Lewis, there is, on the roadside, a large shelving rock, called Peter's Rock, where, says tradition, he sought shelter in a snow storm. There he lay for several days, until the snow was four feet deep, when he was obliged to eat his moccasins to prevent starving. He at length discovered and shot a deer, which furnished him with food. He left, at his death, two sons, both of

whom emigrated to the west many years since.

There was an eccentric female, who lived in this section of the country towards the latter part of the last century. Her name was Ann Bailey. She was born in Liverpool, and had been the wife of an English soldier. She generally went by the cognomen of Mad Ann. During the wars with the Indians, she very often acted as a messenger, and conveyed letters from the fort, at Covington, to Point Pleasant. On these occasions she was mounted on a favorite horse of great sagacity, and rode like a man, with a rifle over her shoulder, and a tomahawk and a butcher's-knife in her belt. At night she slept in the woods. Her custom was to let her horse go free, and then walk some distance back on his trail, to escape being discovered by the Indians. After the Indian wars she spent some time in hunting. She pursued and shot deer and bears with the skill of a backwoodsman. She was a short, stout woman, very masculine and coarse in her appearance, and seldom or never wore a gown, but usually had on a petticoat, with a man's coat over it, and buckskin breeches. The services she rendered in the wars with the Indians, endeared her to the people. Mad Ann, and her black pony Liverpool, were always welcome at every house. Often, she gathered the honest, simple-hearted mountaineers around, and related her adventures and trials, while the sympathetic tear would course down their cheeks. She was profane, often became intoxicated, and could box with the skill of one of the fancy. Mad Ann possessed considerable intelligence, and could read and write. She died in Ohio many years since.

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In 1764, a party of about fifty Indians came into this region, and then dividing into two, one went towards the Roanoke and Catawba settlements, and the other in the direc tion of Jackson's River, where each committed murders and depredations. Captain Paul, who commanded at Fort Dinwiddie, went in pursuit of the latter party, and accidentally came upon the other, about midnight, encamped on New River, at the mouth of Indian Creek. In an instant after firing upon them, Captain Paul and his men rushed forward to secure the wounded and prevent further escapes, as most of them had One of the party raised his tomahawk to strike, as he supposed, a squaw, who sat composedly awaiting the result. As the tomahawk was descending, Captain Paul threw himself between the assailant and his victim, and received the blow on his arm, exclaiming: "It is a shame to hurt a woman, even a squaw !" She proved to be Mrs. Catharine Gunn, an English woman, an acquaintance of Captain Paul, taken prisoner on the Catawba a few days before, when her husband and two children were killed. On being asked why she had not made known she was a prisoner, by crying out, she replied: "I had as soon be killed as not-my husband is murdered-my children are slain-my parents are dead. I have not a relation in America-every thing dear to me here is gone-I have no wishes, no hopes, no fears-I would not have risen to my feet to have saved my life."

AMELIA.

AMELIA was formed in 1734, from part of Prince George. Its length is about 30, mean breadth 10 miles. It is drained by the Appomattox. The surface is agreeably diversified; the soil on the hills poor and usually much worn, on the bottoms fertile, and it has generally much deteriorated from its original fertility, owing to the injudicious modes of cultivation pursued by its early settlers. Pop. 1830, 11,031; in 1840, whites 3,074, slaves 7,023, free colored, 223; total, 10,320.

There are no villages in the county of any note. Amelia C. H., which is centrally situated, 45 miles sw. of Richmond, contains but a few dwellings.

WILLIAM ARCHER, Col.-commandant of the county, made himself so conspicuous by his zeal in the revolutionary cause, that he was made prisoner by Tarleton, on his return

from his excursion to New London. He was conveyed to one of the prison-ships at Norfolk, so well known for the sufferings of which they were the scenes. There he was retained until he became a victim of the small-pox. He was finally permitted to land, but in so advanced a stage of the disease that he died in a few days, without restoration to his family. One of his sons, Lieut. Joseph Archer, was killed at the battle of Brandywine. Another of his sons, Major John Archer-the father of the present member of the U. S. Senate, the Hon. Wm. S. Archer-was an aid to one of the American generals. He was sent to remove public stores, when a detachment from the army of Lord Cornwallis made the celebrated dash on Charlottesville. Delaying too long in the discharge of his duty, he was overtaken in the rapid advance of the enemy. The English officer to whom he surrendered his sword, received and passed it entirely through his body. The speedy retreat of the enemy permitting immediate assistance, he had the good fortune to recover, and lived many years.

Major JOSEPH EGGLESTON was a native of Amelia. He was a highly meritorious officer of Lee's legion, and served through the whole of the southern campaigns. At the conclusion of the war he turned his attention to literature. He was a member of Congress in 1798-9, where he served with credit. He was cut off in the flower of his age, by the effects of an amputation of a disordered limb.

The residence of the late distinguished WILLIAM BRANCH GILES, was near the margin of the Appomattox, in this county. He sprang from humble, but respectable parentage, and was educated at Princeton. He was for many years a member of Congress from Virginia, both in the Senate and House of Representatives, where he arrived, as a debater, to very high rank.

"He resigned his seat in the Senate, in 1815. He was governor of Virginia from 1826 to 1829, and died in 1830, at an advanced age. He published a speech on the embargo laws in 1808; political letters to the people of Virginia, in 1813; a series of letters, signed a Constituent, in the Richmond Enquirer of Jan. 1818, against the plan for a general education; in April, 1824, a letter of invective against President Monroe and Henry Clay, for their hobbies,' the South American cause, the Greek cause, Internal Improvements, and the Tariff in Nov. 1825; he addressed a letter to Judge Marshall, disclaiming the expressions, not the general sentiments in regard to Washington, ascribed to him in the Life of Washington. He has also appeared before the public as the correspondent of John Quincy Adams." Mr. Giles was also one of the most dis. tinguished members of the convention that revised the constitution of Virginia, in 1830.

In 1843, there died in this county, at an advanced age, a negro preacher of considerable local celebrity, who went by the name of UNCLE JACK. He was kidnapped, and brought from Africa at seven years of age, and landed at Osborne's, on James River, from what it is supposed was the last slave-ship which deposited its cargo in Virginia. Such was his worth of character, that, on the death of his master, several benevolent individuals by their contributions purchased his freedom. One, who knew him well, said, "I regard this old African as a burning light, raised up by Christian principles alone, to a degree of moral purity seldom equalled and never exceeded in any country." The late Rev. Dr. Rice also remarked, "The old man's acquaintance with the scriptures is wonderful. Many of his interpretations of obscure passages of scripture are singularly just and striking. In many respects, indeed, he is the most remarkable man I ever knew.” His views of the leading doctrines of Christianity were thorough and evangelical. His preaching abounded with quotations surprisingly minute, and his illustrations were vivid and correct. His knowledge of human nature was profound; and hence his extensive usefulness among the African population, as well as an extensive circle of whites. His language was pure English, without the vulgarities of the blacks. In his intercourse with all classes he was governed by Christian humility, and he abhorred cant and grimace. "He uniformly opposed, both in public and private, every thing like noise and disorder in the house of God. His colored audience were very prone to indulge themselves in this way. But, whenever they did, he uniformly suspended the exercises until they became silent. On one of these occasions, he rebuked his hearers substan. tially, as follows: 'You noisy Christians remind me of the little branches after a heavy rain. They are soon full-then noisy-and as soon empty. I had a great deal rather see you like the broad, deep river, which is quiet because it is broad and deep.""

Of this worthy and strong-minded old man, we take the fiberty of annexing a few

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anecdotes, drawn from his memoir in the Watchman of the South. In speaking of the excitement and noise at a protracted meeting, he remarked, I was reminded of what I have noticed in the woods: when the wind blows hard, the dry leaves make a great deal more noise than the green ones." When persons scoffed at his religion, his usual diffidence and reserve would give way to a firm and dignified defence, and most happily would he "answer a fool according to his folly." A person addicted to horse-racing and card-playing stopped him one day on the road, and said—“ Old man, you Christians say a great deal about the way to heaven being very narrow. Now, if this be so, a great many who profess to be travelling it will not find it half wide enough." "That's very true," was the reply, "of all who have merely a name to live, and all like you." Why refer to me?" asked the man; "if the road is wide enough for any, it is for me." " By no means," replied Uncle Jack; "when you set out you will want to take along a card-table, and a race-horse or two. Now, there's no room along this way for such things, and what would you do, even in heaven, without them?" An individual accustomed to treat religion rather sportively, and who prided himself upon his morality, said to him, "Old man, I am as good as I need be; I can't help thinking so, because God blesses me as much as he does you Christians, and I don't know what more I want than he gives me." To this the old preacher replied, with great seriousness, "Just so with the hogs. I have often looked at them, rooting among the leaves in the woods, and finding just as many acorns as they needed; and yet I never saw one of them look up to the tree from whence the acorns fell." In speaking of the low state of religion, he said, "there seems to be great coldness and deadness on the subject of religion everywhere; the fire has almost gone out, and nothing is left but a few smoking chumps, lying about in places."

The laws of Virginia prohibit religious as well as other assemblies of slaves, unless at least two white persons are present. Such, however, was the universally acknowledged happy influence of Uncle Jack's meetings, that in his case it was not deemed necessary to enforce the law. On one occasion, some mischievous persons undertook to arrest and whip him and several of his hearers. After the arrest, one of the number thus accosted Uncle Jack: "Well, old fellow, you are the ringleader of all these meetings, and we have been anxious to catch you; now, what have you got to say for yourself?" "Nothing at all, master," was the reply. "What! nothing to say against being whipped! how is that?" "I have been wondering for a long time," said he, "how it was that so good a man as the Apostle Paul should have been whipped three times for preaching the gospel, while such an unworthy man as I am should have been permitted to preach for 20 years, without ever getting a lick." It is hardly necessary to add, that these young men immediately released him.

His influence over the members of his church was almost unbounded. As evidence of the fact, take the following:

A gentleman who resided in the neighborhood, on walking out over his farm, detected one of his servants, who belonged to Uncle Jack's flock, in some very improper conduct. The only notice he took of it, was to threaten that he would inform that spiritual man. When he arose on the following morning and came to the door, he found this servant waiting and anxious to see him. "Why, Tom," said he, "what is the matter; why don't you go to your work?" Why, master," replied the servant, "if you would please whip me yourself, and don't tell Uncle Jack."

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We would like to extend this notice, but want of space forbids. Uncle Jack died at the age of nearly 100 years. He was one of those characters, that, under propitious circumstances, might have left an undying name. But in the limited sphere of his influence, his humble and consistent life won for him the affections of the best people in the community

AMHERST.

It is about 22

AMHERST was formed in 1761, from Albemarle. miles long, and 19 wide. The James River forms its sw. and SE. boundary, and the Blue Ridge its northwest. The James River Canal passes through the SE. part of the county. The soil is naturally fertile, and of a dark, rich, red hue, and the scenery

beautifully diversified.

Pop. in 1830, 12,072; in 1840, whites

6,426, slaves 5,577, free colored 373; total, 12,576. Amherst C. H., on the road from Lynchburg to Charlottesville, about 15 miles N. of the former, and New Glasgow, are small villages.

Pass of the James River through the Blue Ridge.

The pass of the James River through the Blue Ridge, is on the line of this and the county of Rockbridge. There a canal, seven miles in length, has been constructed around Balcony Falls, which will form the bed of the James River Canal, whenever that work is continued westward. The stage road from Lynchburg to the Natural Bridge winds along the side of the mountain, through wild and romantic scenery, which, to the lowlander accustomed only to the flatlands and pine-barrens of eastern Virginia, is striking. As he enters the gap from the east, the road gradually

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