CHAPTER I.
A TOPOGRAPHICAL DISCOURSE.
The belt of mountains which traverses the state of Virginia diagonally,from north-east to south-west, it will be seen by an inspection of themap, is composed of a series of parallel ranges, presenting aconformation somewhat similar to that which may be observed in miniatureon the sea-beach, amongst the minute lines of sand hillocks left by theretreating tide. This belt may be said to commence with the Blue Ridge,or more accurately speaking, with that inferior chain of highlands thatruns parallel to this mountain almost immediately along its easternbase. From this region westward the highlands increase in elevation, thevalleys become narrower, steeper and cooler, and the landscapeprogressively assumes the wilder features which belong to what isdistinctly meant by "the mountain country."
The loftiest heights in this series are found in the Alleghany, nearlyone hundred and fifty miles westward from the first thread of the belt;and as the principal rivers which flow towards the Chesapeake find theirsources in this overtopping line of mountain, it may be imagined thatmany scenes of surpassing beauty exist in those abrupt solitudes wherethe rivers have had to contend with the sturdy hills that nature hadthrown across their passage to the sea.
The multiplication of the facilities of travel which the spirit ofimprovement has, of late years, afforded to this region; thehealthfulness, or,--to use a term more germain to its excellence,--thevoluptuousness of the climate, and the extraordinary abundance of watersof the rarest virtue, both for bathing and drinking, have allcontributed, very recently, to render the mountains of Virginianotorious and popular amongst that daintily observant crowd ofwell-conditioned people who yearly migrate in quest of health, or of arefuge from the heats of summer, or who, perchance, wander in pursuit ofthose associations of hill and dale which are supposed to repair a jadedimagination, and to render it romantic and fruitful.
The traveller of either of these descriptions, who holds his journeywestward, will find himself impelled to halt at Charlottesville, as apleasant resting-place in the lap of the first mountains, where he maystop to reinforce his strength for the prosecution of the rugged taskthat awaits him. His delay here will not be unprofitable. This neatlittle village is not less recommended to notice by its position in themidst of a cultivated and plentiful country, than by its contiguity tothe seats of three Presidents of the Union; and, especially, by itsimmediate proximity to Monticello, whose burnished dome twinkles throughthe crown of forest that adorns the very apex of its mountain pyramid,and which, as it has now grown to be the Mecca of many a pilgrim, willof itself furnish a sufficient inducement for our traveller's tarrying.An equal attraction will be found in the University of Virginia, which,at the distance of one mile, in the opposite direction from that leadingto Monticello, rears its gorgeous and fantastic piles of massive andmotley architecture--a lively and faithful symbol (I speak itreverently) of the ambitious, parti-colored and gallican taste of itsillustrious founder.
From Charlottesville, proceeding southwardly, in the direction of Nelsonand Amherst, the road lies generally over an undulating country, formedby the succession of hills constituting the subordinate chain ofmountains which I have described as first in the belt. These hillsderive a beautiful feature from the manner in which they arecommanded,--to use a military phrase,--by the Blue Ridge, which, for thewhole distance, rests against the western horizon, and heaves up itsfrequent pinnacles amongst the clouds, clothed in all the variegatedtints that belong to the scale of vision, from the sombre green andpurple of the nearer masses, to the light and almost indistinguishableazure of its remotest summits.
The constant interruption of some gushing rivulet, which hurries fromthe neighboring mountain into the close vales that intercept the road,communicates a trait of peculiar interest to this journey, affordingthat pleasant surprise of new and unexpected scenery, which, more thanany other concomitant of travel, wards off the sense of fatigue. Thesestreams have worn deep channels through the hills, and constantly seemto solicit the road into narrow passes and romantic dells, where fearfulcrags are seen toppling over the head of the traveller, and sparklingwaters tinkle at his feet; and where the richest and rarest trees of theforest seem to have chosen their several stations, on mossy bank orcloven rock, in obedience to some master mind intent upon the mosttasteful and striking combination of these natural elements.
A part of the country embraced in this description, has obtained thelocal designation of the South Garden, perhaps from its succession offertile fields and fragrant meadows, which are shut in by the walls ofmountain on either hand; whilst a still more remote but adjacentdistrict of more rugged features, bears the appellation of the Cove, thename being suggested by the narrow and encompassing character of thesharp and precipitous hills that hem in and over-shadow a rough andbrattling mountain torrent, which is marked on the map as the Covecreek.
At the period to which my story refers, the population of this centraldistrict of Virginia, exhibited but few of the characteristics which arefound to distinguish the present race of inhabitants. A rich soil, apure atmosphere, and great abundance of wood and water, to say nothingof the sylvan beauties of the mountain, possessed a great attraction forthe wealthy proprietors of the low country; and the land was, therefore,generally parcelled out in large estates held by opulent owners, whosehusbandry did not fail, at least, to accumulate in profusion thecomforts of life, and afford full scope to that prodigal hospitality,which, at that period even more than at present, was the boast of thestate. The laws of primogeniture exercised their due influence on thenational habits; and the odious division of property amongst undeservingyounger brothers, whom our modern philosophy would fain persuade us haveas much merit, and as little capacity to thrive in the world as theirelders, had not yet formed part of the household thoughts of thesemany-acred squires. From Charlottesville, therefore, both north andsouth, from the Potomac to the James river, there extended a chain ofposts, occupied by lordly and open-hearted gentlemen,--a kind of civilcordon of bluff free-livers who were but little versed in the mystery of"bringing the two ends of the year together."
Since that period, well-a-day! the hand of the reaper has put in hissickle upon divided fields; crowded progenies have grown up under thesepaternal roof-trees; daughters have married and brought in strangenames; the subsistence of one has been spread into the garner of ten;the villages have grown populous; the University has lifted up itsdidactic head; and everywhere over this abode of ancient wealth, the humof industry is heard in the carol of the ploughman, the echo of thewagoner's whip, the rude song of the boatman, and in the clatter of themill. Such are the mischievous interpolations of the republican system!
My reader, after this topographical sketch and the political reflectionswith which I have accompanied it, is doubtless well-prepared for theintroduction of the worthy personages with whom I am about to make himacquainted.
Horse-Shoe Robinson: A Tale of the Tory Ascendency Page 3