mountains in the form of blue domes, by its great height, by its smooth waving line, by its assuming every attitude of waves in motion. But what puzzles the fancy to delusion, is the seeming uniformity both in height and distance of the intervening mountain, which appears like so many steps of equal distances one from the other, while it is evident they are not. They appear to be near you, even the farthest, the Blue Ridge, which seems almost within your grasp, while it must be at least one hundred and sixty miles distant. The thin appearance of this last, resembles any thing rather than a mountain, in its graceful curves; but language would fail me, to give even a glimmering of this grand spectacle. As we began to descend the Warm Spring mountain, the Blue Ridge disappeared by degrees, until we lost sight of it entirely; nor did we see it again until we were within a few miles of Staunton; but it did not appear to be the same; it no longer retained the power to please. The third day brought us to Hodge's, who gives name to a fertile valley, in which he resides. Hodge is one of your plain Augusta farmers. Here we found peace and plenty, and by the way, another young lady; but whether my friend had another heart to lose, or had recovered the one he had already lost, I am unable to say.. Next morning we had to contend with another mountain; and to add to the misfortune, it rained the whole. day. We took care, however, to fortify ourselves with a comfortable cup of coffee and a slice of ham before we set out. It never ceased raining, nor did we cease travelling, until we arrived at Staunton, which was about three o'clock P. M., when a good dinner and comfortable fire restored our exhausted spirits. Besides Jackson's river, this road crosses the Cowpasture, Calfpasture, and Bullpasture rivers; all of which streams are small, but when united, form James's river, a navigable river of Virginia, well known. From Lewisburg to Staunton, which is ninety-six miles, you cross three mountains, viz: the Alleghany, the Warm Spring, and North mountain. The appearance of the country. as you recede from the North mountain, is precisely the same with that on the west side of the Alleghany moun

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tain at the same distance; dark shadowy vales, lofty hemlock, laurels and cedar, with the same.rolling rivulets; in imagination, it seems as though I were transported one hundred miles in the opposite direction. few miles above Staunton, we cross Middle river, which is no more than a creek; it has its source in the North mountain. The land on this river is fine, and the farms display the wealth and independence of the farmer's vast barns, extensive meadows covered with droves of sleek cattle, and elegant buildings. I have always remarked, that wealth forever accompanies good land. This county (Augusta,) is the wealthiest county, except two, in West Virginia.

Staunton.-Although Staunton is on Middle river, it may be called an inland town. The nearest navigation is Port Tobacco, forty miles. It is the seat of justice for Augusta county. The Superior Court of law and Superior Court of Chancery also hold their sessions there twice in every year. It is situated in a beautiful valley, between the North and South mountain, and contains two court-houses, one prison, two clerk's offices, a fire office, one printing office, one post-office, three churches, one for Episcopalians, one for Methodists, and one for Presbyterians. There are no public squares in Staunton; the public buildings are on the streets. Staunton contains two hundred and forty dwelling-houses, ten stores, three Doctors, and thirteen Lawyers.

History.-Staunton was first settled by an emigrant from Ireland, by the name of Cunningham; who built the first framed house where Staunton now stands, on the land contained in Beverly's grant. In the year 1746, there were two log cabins, a log court-house and a log prison, on the site, when Cunningham arrived; a man by the name of Brown, lived in one of the cabins and a woman by the name of Molly McDonald (not of very good fame) lived in the other. I had these particulars from Mrs. Reed, daughter of the same Cunningham. This lady is now living in Staunton; and, although in the eighty-fourth year of her age, she retains

her intellects in their full vigour. She hears distinctly, and converses with judgment and uncommon understanding; although her eye sight, owing to a disorder in her eyes, is very imperfect. She never was confined by sickness in her life, she informed me, until a few days before my visit to her; she was then in bed; but when I spoke to her, she sat up in the bed, and conversed some time without fatigue. She was born in Ireland, and was in her seventh year when her father built the house mentioned. She said they lived there unmolested, until after her marriage with Reed; when the Indians became troublesome, she had to escape over the Blue Ridge. The citizens built a fort for their protection, where the centre of Staunton now is, though the Indians killed none in or nearer than five miles off.

I lived myself near Staunton, when a child; and was often in company with this same Mrs. Reed; who was then an old woman, and a widow ; she had a sister, Mrs. Burnes, also a widow, whom I used to know; and who is still alive, though she does not live in Staunton; she is two years younger than Mrs. Reed. Mrs. Burnes when I knew her, kept a tavern, the best one in Staunton. I was likewise acquainted with Mrs. Chambers, at whose tavern I now am. It is thirty-six years since I saw Mrs. Chambers; but I did not find her so much altered by time, as Mrs. Callahan; although she has had as many children, she had shrunk down a little, and had grown corpulent, but her stature, her eyes particularly, retained much of her former likeness. She was, when young, a very handsome woman, and is still so for her years. Of all parts of the United States, Augusta county must be the most healthy, from the longevity of its inhabitants. Besides the two instances above cited, many others exist. The mother of Mrs. Chambers, who was a very old woman (upwards of seventy) when I left Augusta, thirty-six years ago, has been dead (as her daughter informed me) only five years. She had bécome in every respect like an infant, for several years. The salubrity of the climate is abundantly displayed in the appearance of the inhabitants. From this cause, the fertility of the soil, and numerous streams of the purest

water, may be ascribed that exuberance of nature every where visible. Every thing seems to be propelled beyond nature; the people, horses, and cattle, as well as inanimate productions, are of great size. Even the African race are overgrown, and look as though they would burst. Staunton is situated in a circular hollow, or low spot of ground, entirely surrounded by hills. In approaching it from any direction, the traveller never sees it till he may be said to be in the town. No town in the world can boast better water, or more abundant, than Staunton. The most beautiful springs burst out in every part: they are found in every street, and almost in every lot. This contributes greatly to the health and cleanliness of the place. Staunton is inhabited by a sober, industrious, and moral people; it is likewise the seat of some refinement; some of the first men, both for talents and erudition, have their residence in Staunton. Among these are Major Sheffy, Judge Brown, Judge Stewart, Major Baldwin, Mr. Peyton, and Chapman Johnston. Staunton, however, has not improved latterly, in proportion to that success which marked the first twenty years of its growth. It received a great check by those enterprising merchants west of it, some of whom have been mentioned in these sketches. Previous to this, Staunton drew all the trade of the west, which was considerable. It has no market-house, nor has it either watch or patrol, although it is an incorporated town.

This town, and the whole county of Augusta, is famous in history for its courage and patriotism during the revolutionry war: the most of the people volunteered their services, both against the Indians and the British. It will be recollected the Virginia legislature was drove from place to place, during that war, until it finally took refuge in Staunton. While it was in session there, word came one night, that Tarleton, with a British force, was approaching, and that he was expected to arrive at the Rockfish gap by ten o'clock next day. Colonel Samuel Lewis, (son of Gen. Lewis, already mentioned,) called about midnight at the house of his uncle, William Lewis, late of the Sweet Springs, who then lived about a

quarter of a mile from Staunton. Mrs. Lewis (from whom I had the story) said that Samuel opened the door, and calling her, hastily asked, "Where are the boys, aunt?" (meaning her sons, who were men grown.) She replied, they were up stairs in bed.. "Call them up, quick," said he, "Tarleton is coming on with his forces, and we want to stop him at the pass of the mountain,' (meaning the gap.) She instantly called up her sons, who were soon equipped, and set off with their cousin' Sam. In the mean time, several of the members, who boarded with Mr. Lewis, arose, calling out, "Bob, Sam, Dick," (speaking to their servants,) "saddle the horses, quick" and here they came running down stairs, she said, as though they would overturn each other. She, and Mr. Lewis, thinking they were going to the mountain, gave them all the assistance in their power, in order to hasten their departure; but instead of going to the mountain, they steered their course toward the west, with all possible dispatch. Next morning disclosed a marvellous spectacle. The streets of Staunton were strewed with portmanteaus, saddlebags, and bundles of clothes tied up in pocket-handkerchiefs, which the affrighted tuckahocs, (as these members were called,) had dropped in their hurry to escape. Not a member was to be found next morning. They rode with the utmost speed during the night, and continued their flight the best part of the ensuing day. One member, (a Dr. Long,) rode twenty miles without a saddle! Meantime the Cohees, as the Augusta people were called, repaired, to a man, old and young, without fear or trepidation, to the place of danger But Tarleton, getting wind of the reception he was likely to meet with from these backwoodsmen, turned his course, nor was it clearly ascertained that he ever intended to cross the Blue Ridge. These particulars, which I had from Mrs. Lewis, were likewise confirmed by Major William Royall, who was a member from Amelia county, in the same legislature. He proceeded with the Augusta troops, (the only low Virginian,) on his way to Charlottesville, to see Major John Archer, a relation of his, who was badly wounded