V RECITATIVE. IRGINIA, see, thy GOVERNOR appears! The peaceful olive in his brow he wears! Sound the shrill trumpets, beat the rattling drums; AIR. He comes: his EXCELLENCY comes, RECITATIVE. Search every garden, strip the shrubby bowers, Ye virgins, haste, prepare the fragrant rose, And with triumphant laurels crown his brows. DUET. Enter Virgins with flowers, laurels, &c. See, we've stript each flowery bed; Here's laurels for his LORDLY HEAD; And while Virginia is his care, May he protect the virtuous fair. AIR. Long may he live in health and peace, To this let ev'ry swain and lass Take the sparkling, flowing glass; Then join the sprightly dance, and sing, Health to our GOVERNOR, and God save the KING. VIRGINS Health to our GOVERNOR. BASS SOLO. Health to our GOVERNOR. CHORUS. Health to our GOVERNOR, and GOD SAVE THE KING! Facing the public square is the house-shown on the right of the annexed view-in which, a few years since, resided President Tyler. On the square stands the Old Magazine, built about 120 years ago, and memorable as being the building from which Lord Dunmore, in 1775, removed the powder belonging to the colony on board the Magdalen man-of-war, which arbitrary act threw the whole of Virginia into a state of ferment, and occa sioned the first assembling of an armed force in the colony in opposition to royal authority. At the head of a small, but beautiful grassy court, called the Palace Green, are two small brick structures, the remains of the Palace of Lord Dunmore, the last of the colonial governors. That on the right was the office, and the one on the left the guard-house. The main building occupied the space between them; it was of brick, 74 feet long, and 68 feet wide. Here Lord Dunmore resided in great state, surrounded by the pomp and pageantry of viceroyalty. At that time the adjacent grounds, comprising 360 acres, were beautifully laid out, with carriage-roads winding through them. Numerous lindens were imported from Scotland and planted; one or two of which now remain, and are almost unrivalled in magnificence and beauty. The palace was accidentally destroyed by fire during its occupancy by some French troops, immediately after the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown. The first building erected in Williamsburg for a capitol was burnt in the year 1746, and shortly after another was built, which in its turn was consumed by fire, in April, 1832. Of this structure, now known as the " OLD CAPITOL," nothing remains but a few scattered bricks. Fortunately, we are enabled to present an engraving, from a drawing preserved by a lady of the place. Within its walls did the great and patriotic of Virginia's sons deliberate in the darkest period of the nation's history. There were those resolves made, and that course of action pursued, which made Virginia foremost in opposition to the arbitrary measures of Britain. It was there that Patrick Henry made his début in the House of Burgesses, when, attired in a coarse apparel, with the air of " an obscure and an unpolished rustic," he arose and astonished all by "the rugged might and majesty of his eloquence," teaching "the proud aristocracy" of that body the superiority of native talent over the learning of schools and the glitter and assumptions of high life. It was there, also, that occurred that touching incident in the life of Washington, who, (says Wirt,) after closing his glorious career in the French and Indian war, was complimented by the speaker, Mr. Robinson, for his gallantry; but in such glowing terms, that when he arose to express his acknowledgments for the honor, he blushed, and stammered, and trembled, unable to give distinct utterance to a single syllable; when the speaker, observing his 42 trepidation, relieved him by a masterly stroke of address, saying with a conciliating smile, "Sit down, Mr. Washington; your mod esty is equal to your valor, and that surpasses the power of any language that I possess." The "OLD RALEIGH TAVERN" is yet occupied as a public-house; over the portico of which is the bust of Sir Walter Raleigh. It is memorable from being the place "where many important committees of the legislature met, where some of our most distinguished patriots concerted measures for aiding in the arduous struggle for liberty, and where it is said Richard Henry Lee and others originated the plan to establish corresponding committees throughout many or all of the colonies." The subjoined description of the characteristics of Virginians about 120 years since, is from the work of Hugh Jones, previously quoted. He appears pleased with every body and every thing around him, while the colonies more remote, instead of looming up brightly by "the enchantment of distance," are presented to his imagination in the most sombre and forbidding hues. The description is a curiosity in its way, and is written in a quaint, hyperbolical style, quite amusing: The habits, life, customs, computations, &c., of the Virginians, are much the same as about London, which they esteem their home; and for the most part, have contemptible notions of England, and wrong sentiments of Bristol and the other outports, which they entertain from seeing and hearing the common dealers, sailors, and servants, that come from these towns, and the country-places in England and Scotland, whose language and manners are strange to them. For the planters, and even the native negroes, generally talk good English, without idiom or tone, and can discourse handsomely on most common subjects. Conversing with persons belonging to trade and navigation from London, for the most part, they are much civilized, and wear the best of cloaths, according to their stations; nay, sometimes too good for their circumstances, being for the generality comely, handsome persons, of good features and fine complexions-if they take care-of good manners and address. The climate makes them bright, and of excellent sense, and sharp in trade; an idiot or deformed native being almost a miracle. Thus they have good natural notions, and will soon learn arts and sciences; but are generally diverted, by business or inclination, from profound study and prying into the depth of things; being ripe for management of their affairs before they have laid so good a foundation for learning, and had such instructions and acquired such accomplishments, as might be instilled into such naturally good capacities. Nevertheless, through their quick apprehension, they have a sufficiency of knowledge and fluency of tongue, though their learning for the most part be but superficial. They are more inclinable to read men by business and conversation, than to dive into books, and are, for the most part, only desirous of learning what is absolutely necessary, in the shortest and best method. . . . . As for education, several are sent to England for it, though the Virginians, being naturally of good parts, as I have already hinted, neither require nor admire as much learning as we do in Britain; yet more would be sent over, were they not afraid of the small-pox, which most commonly proves fatal to them. But indeed, when they come to England, they are generally put to learn to persons that know little of their temper, who keep them drudging on what is of least use to them, in pedantick methods too tedious for their volatile genius. . . . . If New England be called a receptacle of Dissenters and an Amsterdam of religion, Pennsylvania a nursery of Quakers, Maryland the retirement of Roman Catholics, North Carolina the refuge of runaways, and South Carolina the delight of Buccaneers and Pyrates, Virginia may be justly esteemed the happy retreat of true Britons, and true Churchmen for the most part; neither soaring too high, nor dropping too low, consequently should merit the greater esteem and encouragement. The common planters leading easy lives, don't much admire labor, or any manly exercise, except horse-racing, nor diversion, except cockfighting, in which some greatly delight. This easy way of living, and the heat of the summer, makes some very lazy, who are then said to be climate-struck. The saddle-horses, though not very large, are hardy, strong, and fleet; and will pace naturally and pleasantly at a prodigious rate. They are such lovers of riding, that almost every ordinary person keeps a horse: and I have known some spend the morning in ranging several miles in the woods to find and catch their horses, only to ride two or three miles to church, to the court-house, or to a horse-race, where they generally appoint to meet upon business, and are more certain of finding those that they want to speak or deal with, than at their home. No people can entertain their friends with better cheer and welcome; and strangers and travellers are here treated in the most free, plentiful, and hospitable manner, so that a few inns or ordinaries on the road are sufficient. The first newspaper printed in British America was in Boston, in 1704, and in 1719 the second was issued, in the same city. In 1725 a newspaper was first printed in New York; from this time they were gradually extended through the continent. “In 1671, Sir William Berkeley thanks God there are no free schools nor printing, [in Virginia,]—and hopes we shall not have these hundreds of years to come.' The first printing-press erected in Virginia, in 1682, was shortly after put down." The first newspaper published in Virginia was the Virginia Gazette, the first number of which was issued at Williamsburg, August 6th, 1736. It was then a sheet about 12 inches by six, and was printed and published by W. Parks, at 15s. per annum. In his introduction, after mentioning that papers had been established elsewhere in the colonies, as well as in Europe, he says: "From these examples, the encouragement of several. gentlemen, and the prospect I have of success in this ancient and best-settled colony, VIRGINIA, I am induced to set forth weekly newspapers here; not doubting to meet with as good encouragement as others, or at least such as may enable me to carry them on." This same Wm. Parks printed, in 1729, Stith's History of Virginia and the Laws of Virginia, at this place. His paper was under the influence of the government. Parks died in 1750, and the paper was discontinued for a time. In Feb., 1751, this paper was renewed by Wm. Hunter. He died in 1761. It was then enlarged, and published by Joseph Royle; after whose death it was carried on by Purdie and Dixon, who continued it until the commencement of the revolution; and Purdie, alone, published it several years during the revolutionary contest. Mr. Jefferson in answer to an inquiry observes, "till the beginning of our revolutionary disputes we had but one press; and that having the whole business of the government, and no competitor for public favor, nothing disagreeable to the governor could find its way into it. We procured Rind to come from Maryland to publish a free paper." Accordingly, in May, 1766, a second paper, entitled also "The VIRGINIA GAZETTE," "published by authority, open to all parties, but influenced by none," was issued at this place by Wm. Rind. The clause, "published by authority," was omitted at the end of the first year. Rind dying in August, 1773, the paper was continued by his widow, Clementina Rind, and at her death by John Pinckney. Another "Virginia Gazette" was first published at Williamsburg in 1775, and continued weekly, for several years, by John Clarkson and Augustine Davis.* From these papers we make the subjoined extracts: Williamsburg, Nov. 12, 1736.—On this day sen'night, being the 5th of November, the president, masters, and scholars, of William and Mary college went, according to their annual custom, in a body, to the governor's, to present his honor with two copies of Latin verses, in obedience to their charter, as a grateful acknowledgment for two valuable tracts of land given the said college by their late K. William and Q. Mary. Mr. President delivered the verses to his honor; and two of the young gentlemen spoke them. It is further observed there were upwards of 60 scholars present; a much greater number than has been any year before since the foundation of the college. * For most of the facts above stated we are indebted to Thomas's History of Printing. |