No. 4. 



JVew Settlers in Eastern Virginia. 



131 



adjacent to the noble James' River, which 

 divides the latter from the two former — in- 

 spect the numberless deposits of rich calca- 

 reous marl — the effects of this cheap and 

 most excellent fertilizer, where it has been 

 a|)|)lied to the soil — the facilities for reach- 

 ing-, with the greatest ease and convenience, 

 all our northern markets, as well as all the 

 world besides — the great abundance of fine 

 timber, and wood, which find a ready sale on 

 the banks of the river, — and the delig-htful 

 climate, a just medium between the northern 

 and southern extremes of our extended coun- 

 try, — I believe they could scarcely fail to 

 give it the preference, over every other por- 

 tion of the United States. But it is impos- 

 sible to form a correct estimate, without a 

 patient and careful examination — a single 

 locality may be seen in a shorter time; but 

 where so much has been abused and ne- 

 glected, and presents so forbidding and dis- 

 couraging a prospect at the first glance, — 

 time must be taken to view and examine some 

 bright spots, where the proprietors have with 

 enlightened views, and most praiseworthy 

 perseverance, departed from the habits which 

 have heretofore prevailed, and applied the 

 means, which almost every where are on the 

 farms in the greatest abundance, to renew 

 and increase the fertility of the soil. 



One of the most gratifying incidents of my 

 life, was a visit to Beech Wood, at Coggins' 

 Point, in Prince George, the residence of 

 Edmund RufHn, Jr., to meet there his father, 

 the author of the "Essay on Calcareous Ma- 

 nuies," &c., late editor of the "Farmer's 

 Register." works which will ensure him the 

 gratitude and veneration of every enlighten- 

 ed agriculturalist, as long as works on agri- 

 culture remain to be read. To ride and walk 

 with him, over the scenes of his early and 

 successful experiments, — to visit with iiim 

 the very marl banks, from which his first 

 experiments were made; and to listen to his 

 remarks, and observations, the result of so 

 many years of the most persevering and in- 

 defatigable labour and study, was indeed 

 most gratifying and instructive. Here, the 

 enquirer after a knowledge of the action of 

 calcareous manures on soils, may have all 

 demonstrated to his satisfaction — and if he 

 will see, can no longer doubt the capacity of 

 the soil of this region fur the highest pro- 

 ductiveness, by a judicious application of 

 means which are abundantly supplied, in 

 almost every farm in this region. 



Within a short distance of Coggins' Point, 

 I visited many farms, of 250 to 600 acres 

 each, mostly with good buildings, and on, or 

 very near navigation, with marl of good 

 quality, finely watered, well timbered, and 

 producing now fair crops, which can be pur- 



chased at prices varying from $5 to $10 per 

 acre; the terms ot payment as easy as could 

 be desired in most iij?taiicos. In the same 

 region, lands can be had without improve- 

 ment, at much lower prices; and in one in- 

 stance, a few miles from tiie river, one tract 

 of 100 acres was shown, which can be had 

 for tifil per acre. Here, I think, is one of 

 the finest places for the settlement of a co- 

 lony of northern farmers, that I have seen — 

 in a space of a few miles, enough land may 

 be had, for many families, — and I may re- 

 mark here, that in the latter part of the 8th 

 month, I found the people generally, through- 

 out this region, in the enjoyment of health 

 quite as good, and I think better, than in 

 Burliugton county, when I left home; and 

 although every one agreed that the weather 

 was more oppressive than it had been at any 

 time previously, during the summer, I did 

 not find the mercury above 85°; and I was 

 careful to observe the temperature. At home 

 at the same time it was often above 90°. 



There are several other princely estates 

 on the river which ought to be visited, as 

 Evergreen, a little below City Point, the re- 

 sidence of Capt. H. H. Cocke. Florida Hun- 

 dred, the residence of J. W"ilcox, Upper and 

 Lovvt'r Brandon, &c., all in Prince George, 

 and Shirley, the residence of H. Carter, — 

 Berkley, the birth-place of Gen. Harri.-on, 

 VVestover, the seat of Col. Bird, now the 

 residence of J. Seldon, in Charles City Co. ; 

 several of these my time would not allow 

 me to visit, but their reputation for skilful 

 management and high productiveness, is well 

 established. 



After again partaking of the generous hos- 

 pitality of my excellent friend R. B. Boiling, 

 during most of the time I remained aiiout 

 Petersburg, lie was so kind as to accompany 

 me again to his noble estate at Sandy Point. 

 Although this estate has been several times 

 noticed in the Cabinet, I shall, for reasons 

 which may appear more justifiable hereafter, 

 atteuipt to give a more full description than 

 has heretofore appeared, though it would 

 require many pages to do it full justice. 

 This estate is situated at the junction of the 

 Chickahoming with the James River, at the 

 eastern end of Charles City Co., Va., aliout 

 half Vv'ay from Richmond at the head of the 

 tide, to Old Point Comfort, where the latter 

 river enters the Chesapeake Bay. It con- 

 tains over 7000 acres of land, of excellent 

 neutral "mulatto" soil — considered in the 

 " Essay on Calcareous Manures," as the best 

 quality for agricultural purposes generally ; 

 it has a river front of near twelve miles — 

 the river banks are high with a beautiful 

 clean beach, and no marsh or wet land worth 

 naming — affording many most delightful si- 



