7 1/ JOURNAL OP THE REVEREND ASHBEL GREi'N SIHONTON. On looking over the journal which I kept during my trip South, and whicl^I thought had "been destroyed or lost, I havo come to the conclusion to make use of it in filling up the hi- atus between the time of leaving home and the commencement of{jn my Hebdomad. It gives an account of some experiences which should not be lost and though no manner of care was given to the writing of it, yet it is interesting occasionally to look over it* It is very common to hear College Students speak of ths dull- ness of student like and to long for the "active scenqes of life", " to pass on to the stage of action" etc. I had often too looked forward to this future with considerable interest, even whilst being quietly amused at those pet school boy expressions which seemed to me only less dim, shadowy and undefined than Jfwere the ideas to which they were intended to give expression. It may therefore be interesting, by way of contrast, to record this account of m^ entrance upon the active duties of life and mark how nearly the reality agrees with the ideal of a school- boy's imagination. But to the Journal. 1852 Norfolk, Nov. 5th, 1852. Nov. 5. Our ride to Baltimore was very tedious, it being nearly twelve J on our arrival. Though I had never travelled over the road, yet the scenery after leaving the Susquehanna is so little inter- esting, that I soon turned from it, to indulge such feelings as natura ly forced themselves upon one leaving home, ofr the first time to sojourn for so long a time, a stanger in a strange land. We took dinner at Barnums for which we were Barnumed at the rate of seventy-five cents apiece, where we met quite a number of our Princeton acquaintances. We visited the Monument and has- tily prospected parts of the city. With a bird's eye view from the Monument and the little else I saw, I was pleased. At four o'clock I saw James off for Washington, and after buying myself an overcoat for thirteen dollars, I boarded the Herald bound for this place. At seven she left the pier and steamed down the Bay. Owing to the lateness of the hour, of course but little of V 2 . the scenery could he seen. Still as it was a pleasant night, I Staid on deck long after the rest of the passengers had pone be- low, gazing out into the darkness and watching the faint and glimmering lights as they rose and fell on hoard the boats slow- ly coining up the hay. There is a pleasure in the loneliness of a night watch on deck. I have never found a better time for medi- tation. However much both thought and feeling may have been en- grossed by the every day pursuits and petty cares of life, they are sure to be drawn away by the influences of such an hour m d engaged in the contemplation of the inner life. One’s whole be- ing seems ( if the expression be allowable) sublimated - freed from the grosser part of itself and absorbed by thoughts and feelings so tender and delicate that their influence is usually unfelt and unnoticed in the hurry of the bustling world. The companionship of a friend is then a luxury, if he is loved as David loved Jonathan " as his own soul” - but to be compelled to endure the society of one whose temper and tastes are not congenial, is "an endurance hard to be endured". About ten ©' clock I "turnrd in" - and slept so long and soundly that I bare- ly awaked in time to see the glorious sun rising. The morning was not perfectly clear nor the land entirely out of sight and therfore I suppose this could not give me a full idea of the splendor of a sunrise at sea. Still it was a beautiful sight. The water and clouds were so beautifully tinged and the colors blended 30 well that it was difficult to tell where the sepa- rating line ran. But for a full description, I refer you else^h where - You know there is no poetry in me. About half-past seven, we passed Old Point Comfort. In an hour after, we reached Norfolk. This city has a population of 16,000 - a pretty large city as I soon found to my cost. I have always thought agencies in general humbugs and agents mean 3orts of fel- lows and no better than they ought to be, and I feel now strorg ly impressed with this additional idea, that without strenuous e* ertion my particular agency will be a particular humbug, and as for meanness, I hope that feeling will not continue to grow oryme at the rate and ratio of this day’ growth. I console myself with . 3. the thought that my present feelings are only the natural result of that operation called "breaking in" and that it will be nothing when I get used to it. After a deal of trouble, I discovered where Rev. George W. Armstrong, the Presbyterian Minister, lived, got his reoommendaticn and subscription to the Magazine and had a pleasant chat with him. I presented several bills, collected one and had the promise of several more payments to-morrow. But this is not all. Seeing that it was like shooting bats in a dark room with a pop-gun, to go a-hunting Presbyterians in a pop- ulation of 16,000 souls, I got Mr. Armstrong to give the names of the heads of Presbyterian families to me, and by this means and the aid of the Directory, I have mapped out the city and to- morrow I Will take it by storm. Yes Sir: I have laid such a train as will either insure sucess or blow me and my agency sky high* One thing I have determined on, to push ahead until a trace breaks. 1852 Norfolk, Nov. 6th, 1852. Nov. 6 I found my map of the city of great service to me, in fact I could not have got along without it. I had little strips of pa- per, labelled with the names of the different streets and on each, the names and numbers of the residents of each head of a Presby- terian family living in that street, so that by this means I could make clean work of each street at a 3v/eep. The great difficulty is that men of business are ffom home and the ladies dare not subscxiibe I found also that Gildersleeve *s paper is generally taken and it therefore to a great extent supplies the demand. For these reasons I only got two subscriptions to the Presbyterian and one to the Magazine, and collected twenty-nine dollars and fifty cents. ThiB is not much it is true but it v/ill pay for a little salt. So much for the agencjr, now for other matters. This was market day as I at once discovered on getting up, by the carts along the pavement. The great majority of the market people are negroes and they all come in one horse carts. The horse is un- harnessed, and then tied to the hinder part of the cart so as to al- low him to eat out of it and the shafts are allowed to rest upon the pavement. Across these a board or two are laid, and upon them, their - 4. goods are exposed for sale. I am this particular in my descrip- tion, because when I have described one, you have an idea of all, and can form for yourselves a correct impression of market day in the Old Dominion. And it is the more worth while to be at this trouble, for in all probability they have marketed in this fashion from time immemorial and will continue to do so as long as niggers, scrubby horses and carts are to be found in Ole Virginny. Almost all the collars for the horses are made of corn husks - shuck-col- lars - home made, I suppose, and an easy rather than a substantial one. There were a good many possums in market, a rare delicacy a* mong the negroes. The usual price tenty-five cents. Game suoh as wild duoks , squirrels, etc. was abundant. Seeing one singular looking bird, cleaned and for sale, which had a wonderful develop- ment of the lego, I inquired its name " a hav/k‘, ':assa " - rather a tough morsel for most stomacha. On the whole I am pleased with Norfolk and Portsmouth. Of the latter I do not know much, but I do fla.ter myself on having some little acquaintance with Norfolk. The only thing I can discover to be wanting to its growth into a large city, is enterprise. It has many facilities for carrying on a large trade - an excellent harbor and means of communication in- land. It is too, a beautiful place of residence and contains a great many fine private houses. Host of its inhabitants live well and enjoy both the comforts and luxuries of life but lack the ad- energy to improve their natural advantages. With an infusion of Yankee energy and industry, the oyster trade alone v/ould make Nor- folk wealthy. Natural beds of them in the harbor yield an inex- haustible supply and vessels from the North are constantly loading with them to sup ly the Northern trade.