Page:The Southern Literary Messenger - Minor.djvu/226

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been validated.
202
The Southern

sions: One was on the Baltimore & Ohio R. R., in company with Judge Warren, of Boston, Commander M. F. Maury, N. P. Willis, Bayard Taylor and Hon. Jno. P. Kennedy. They had plenty of grand scenery, excellent cheer (cognac for the cele-brandi and lager for the cele-beerimi) and lots of fun. Maury was full of humor and pleasantry. But the other excursion was of greater interest and higher sentiment, being a pious pilgrimage to the site of ancient Jamestown. By pre-agreement of a year, a party went from Brandon, in a small steamboat chartered for the purpose, anchored at Jamestown and went ashore in boats. It consisted of sixteen ladies and gentlemen, who hailed from four States and from Halifax. They were there to see all that could be found of the historic place, to recall the associations of the past and especially to plant ivy upon the remnant of the old brick church tower. Among them were the venerable and versatile Thomas Ritchie, Sr., whose daughter was the proprietress of Brandon, and the Hon. Edward Everett. They searched and viewed everything and planted the ivy. But Mr. Thompson was gently constrained to address the orator of Massachusetts "in such unstudied phrases of welcome as he could command and the occasion suggested." Mr. Everett made a beautiful and very happy reply. After some refreshments at the