reach, might throw some light on the part he early took in Public Affairs, and particularly in contemporaneous Legislation. But the originals of these records, (earlier than 1773) as I learn, were transferred to England by Lord Botetourt, and the State has not yet procured copies. In the Statutes themselves his name occasionally appears. Thus in 1758, 1764, 1765, 1775, I find him named as Commissioner for settling the accounts of Militia for services in the frontier wars against the Indians.* So early as 32 Geo. II. the Assembly had passed" an Act for the Improvement of Arts and Manufactures." But this, from various causes, having proved inefficient, it appears that in ¡1762 William Cabell, Jr. subscribed, with many other gentlemen, £1 for 8 years, to make up bounties to encourage the raising of domestic wine and silk. In 1770 he and his brother Joseph became members of the Association for abstaining from the use of British manufactures, whose Resolves are given in your last number. I have also seen his name appended to several other documents of the years immediately preceding the Revolution-particularly that which records the famous meeting at the Raleigh Tavern, but they are not at hand for present reference. In 1765 he was appointed a Commissioner to obtain subscriptions for making the old canal around the Falls of James River; and again a Commissioner in 1784 to procure subscriptions to the stock of the Old James River Company-whose object it was to remove obstructions from the bed of that stream above the Falls, so as to render it navigable for batteaux.§ It thus appears that he was one of the first, and as tradition states, one of the most active and efficient, in promoting an improvement which however imperfect at that time, has since receivd a large share of the attention and patronage of the Legisla

ture.

N. F. C.

* Hening's Statues at Large, VII., 202, 232, VIII., 10, 124,

IX.,

61.

+ Ibid, vII., 568.

‡ Ibid, VIII., 148.

Act of October 1784.

LEVELLING UP.

It is agreed on all hands, I believe, that levelling down is a bad business, but some persons seem to suppose that levelling up (as they call it) is a good work. But is it so indeed? I confess I am strongly inclined to doubt the soundness of this opinion. For fill up all the vallies to the tops of the highest mountains, and what would you have but a lofty table-land as flat, and of course as dead and dull, as the lowest plain? You have made the landscape not more but less lovely to an elegant eye, because you have made it less earthly, and even less heavenly than it was beforefor, as the poet says,

"For earth hath this variety from heaven,
Of pleasure situate in hill and dale."

So you have actually spoiled the scene, instead of mending it, by your improvement.

W. S.

THE PICTURE OF VIRTUE.

[The following Lines supposed to be suggested by a Picture of Virtue representing her as a young woman meanly clad, treading on the image of Death, and with wings on her shoulders, are hinted from an old poem, entitled "Descripsion of Vertue," by Nicholas Grimoald, who wrote between 1530-1550. See Montgomery's Christian Poet, p. 62.]

Say, who art thou that hast an angel's face,
Yet wearest weeds of sorrow and disgrace?
'A maiden pilgrim, Virtue is my name,
And, far from home, I suffer scorn and shame;
Unknown, unhonored by the passing throng,
Who spurn my counsels, and despise my song.'
Why treadest thou on death? I cannot die.'

6

And why hast thou those wings? To reach the sky;

For I shall shortly bid the world farewell,

And soar to heaven where all my kindred dwell.'

Various Intelligence.

THE LAUNCH OF THE POWHATAN.

We learn from Norfolk that the Launch of the new Government Steam-Ship, the Powhatan, came off at Gosport, on the 14th inst., (February last,) in handsome style. The morning of the day was stormy and forbidding, and many were kept away from the scene who would have enjoyed it highly. A large crowd, however, had assembled in spite of the weather, to witness the exciting spectacle, and at the appointed hour the conscious ship broke away from her bed, and rushed into the river with a joyous crash that called forth thunders of applause. "There was a beautiful and touching incident," says the Argus, that occurred at the very moment the Powhatan plunged into her destined element, which rendered the scene truly thrilling and sublime. The morning, as we before remarked, was lowering, blustering, and rainy, but as the ship went proudly over the waves, the winds were suddenly stilled, the rain ceased to fall, and a brilliant rainbow made its appearance in the heavens, spanning, as it seemed, the sister towns of Norfolk and Portsmouth, in one long and delightful embrace."

"After the ceremony of the launch was over, Commodore Sloat and the officers of the Yard extended every civility and attention to the honorable members of the Legislature and other visitors, and after conducting them to the Dry-dock and the various departments connected with the station, the Commodore took them to his residence where a sumptuous repast awaited them, and where they were entertained with the most cordial hospitality.

We are happy to state that not a single accident occurred to mar the pleasures of the occasion."

THE WASHINGTON MONUMENT.

The 22nd of February, always marked in our calendar as the birth-day of Washington, was specially signalized this year by the ceremony of laying the corner-stone of the Monument to his memory, which has been decreed by the General Assembly and People of Virginia to be erected in the capitol square in this city. The occasion was naturally one of surpassing interest, and crowds of citizens, assembled from all parts of the

ence.

country, were here to witness and enjoy the scene. The President of the United States, too, a worthy and honored son of our old Commonwealth, having been specially invited by the Legislature, was with us to grace our solemnities by his presIt was a day, indeed, (in classical phrase,) to be noted by a white stone, and thousands of "hearts beat happily" under all the cheering associations and emotions which it awakened in our breasts. We shall not attempt to relate the particulars, but will only say for ourselves, that the whole exhibition, as far as we saw it, was conducted with a degree of order and propriety that was highly gratifying to all our patriotic feelings, and truly honorable, as we thought, to our city and State.

We add the following account of the Proceedings from the Times of the 25th, which is much fuller and better than any we should be able to furnish from our own view.

"The Procession was formed, at an early hour, at the appointed spot in Main Street, when the Governor with the President of the United States and his suite, and other invited guests; the different military companies, and civil societies and orders, took their positions as designated in the programme. The line was much the longest ever seen in our city, and was about an hour and a quarter in passing any single point. Before the head of the Procession reached the Square, the seats that had been provided, on either side of the site for the Monument, were filled, and a great mass of human beings pressed closely to the spot, whilst a vast number occupied the grounds near the Capitol and the City Hall. A detachment of the Public Guard with the Dragoons, having cleared the space about the large circular pit which had been dug for the reception of the corner-stone, the Governor, with President Taylor on one arm, and ex-President Tyler on the other, followed by R. G. Scott, Esq., the Masonic orator of the day, and other persons of distinction, advanced to the spot, when the Governor took his position by the side of the corner stone, and the other gentlemen ascended a high platform erected in the centre of the great walk. The members of the Masonic Fraternity, of the higher degrees, occupied the steps formed in the solid earth on the sides of the pit, and presented, with their rich insignia, a very picturesque display.

The ceremonies were now opened with prayer by the Rev. Dr. Empie, who was arrayed in his Masonic garb. Then followed the mystic rites usually performed by the Masons on such occasions. The records and other memorials, collected for the purpose, were placed in the compartment prepared in the large nether stone presented by the James River and Kanawha Company and the granite cap stone, presented by the Richmond and Danville Railroad Company, was slowly let down to its

position by means of a strong pully, the Governor assisting to adjust it.

The Masonic Rites over the stone being completed, the Governor ascended the central platform, and Mr. Scott addressed his brother Masons, and the audience at large, in a speech of somewhat less than an hour, in which he spoke chiefly of General Washington's connection with the Masonic Fraternity, and his attachment to their order, and produced some very interesting memorials of his Masonic history. Amongst these were the record of his initiation into Lodge No. 4, of the town of Fredericksburg, in 1752, and the apron, sash and gloves which he wore on the occasion of laying the corner stone of the Capitol at Washington. Mr. Scott also exhibited, a small silk mantle in which Gen. Washington when an infant, was baptized, in his mother's arms. This very remarkable relic was looked upon with much sensation by the vast assembly.

Gov. Floyd followed Mr. Scott, and spoke with a voice of extraordinary power. His subject was the military and civil character of Washington, and the sentiments of veneration which he warmly expressed, were received with great emotion. In conclusion, the Governor made very appropriate allusions to President Taylor, and to ex-President Tyler, both of whom sat near him. The reference to General Taylor elicited the most enthusiastic cheers from the vast crowd.

The Rev. Mr. Cowles concluded the ceremonies of the occasion with a brief prayer.

Mr. Mayo, the delegate from the city, then came forward, and said he had the honor to present to his fellow citizens Gen. Zachary Taylor, the President of the United States. General Taylor spoke a few unpretending sentences, which were received in the spirit of hearty sincerity with which he uttered them. He modestly expressed the pride with which he looked upon Virginia as his native State, and declared that his long absence from her borders had never caused him to forget that she was his mother.

After this brief address, the President descended from the stand, and mingling with the crowd, walked towards the Northern front of the Capitol, where, in company with Col. F. H. Smith, he reviewed the corps of Cadets from the Virginia Military Institute; and declared himself highly gratified with the appearance and beautiful discipline of this noble band of youthful soldiers.

The troops, after leaving the Square, were marched to Stuat's Factory, in one of the spacious rooms of which a collation had been prepared, by the attention of the City Council. The President was present at this collation for a short time, and made a few remarks to the Volunteer Companies, expressive of the