only opening now remaining between Pamlico Sound and the Atlantic, and which is not likely to have the fate of the former Currituck Inlet a probability which favours the project under consideration. It will then be readily seen, that a very extensive country is included in this scheme; but as regards the exact revenue and benefits to be derived from it, I do not think that any person is now qualified to make a statement to be relied

upon.

"The extent of the subscription, by the persons immediately interested, will be, I conceive, the surest and most decisive criterion to judge by."

September 27. Departed this life at Lebanon, on Tanner's Creek, the seat of her late husband, Mrs. Mary B. Johnston, aged eighty-six, a native of Philadelphia. She had been a member of the Methodist Church for sixty years, and died in great peace. Her father fell in one of the battles of the Revolution; after which she visited Norfolk; but the only indications of a town to be seen, were immense heaps of ruins, and three new buildings. She came to attend to some business connected with a claim upon the Government, growing out of her father's services, and meeting with Captain John Johnston, formerly well known in Norfolk, they were shortly after married. She witnessed the rise and progress of the town, from its ruins to its present limits and prosperous condition. She was one of the first resident Methodists in this section of the country, having had a distinct recollection of Bishop Asbury, and the first preachers who visited Virginia. A long and capacious room, in which her aged and coffined remains were placed for the performance of the funeral solemnities, was built with a view to the accommodation of the small flock that gathered there in the early days of Methodism; which has since increased from scores to hundreds and thousands. Verily, great works have been wrought, both temporally and spiritually, within the limits of one eventful lifetime.

October 1. The Councils passed a resolution, requiring the appointment of a joint committee to inquire into the propriety of a survey of the harbour, with reference to an application to Congress for the purpose of running a stone wall from Town Point to Fort Norfolk. This was in contemplation many years ago.

Should the work ultimately be accomplished, it will prove a great and striking, though costly improvement to the harbour and to the city.

The General Appropriation Bill passed at the recent session of Congress, very properly made provision for fifty thousand dollars for a new custom-house at Norfolk,-a building greatly needed here, in consequence of the dilapidated condition of the old one, and the anticipated increase in the commerce of the port. In 1852, the appropriation was increased to $100,000. The site chosen for the building is on the south side of Main, nearly opposite Granby Street.

"The design is by A. B. Young, Esq., Government Architect. The building will front on Main, running back one hundred and thirty-five feet to Broad Water Street, and will be three stories. high. The front basement is to be used for a post-office, the entrance to which will be on each side of the main entrance to the first story, which, together with the rest of the building, will be used for a custom-house. A porch extending the whole width of the building and supported by six columns will ornament the front, in the centre of which the main entrance will be. On each side of this entrance, there will be an entrance to the postoffice. The structure is to be of granite and is to be finished in a plain and substantial manner, but when completed according to the plan will be one of the most imposing and showy buildings in the city."

An extensive powder magazine is also to be erected by the U. S. Government, at the site of old Fort Norfolk.

October 9th. On this day the centre stone-laying and curbing of Church Street, north of Town Bridge was completed by Mr. R. Dalrymple the contractor-distance, 11663 yards. The improvement was exceedingly necessary and important. This is the principal thoroughfare out of the city to Princess Anne, and a portion of Norfolk County, and yet in wet weather the traveling had been through mud, mire, and water, and in dry seasons, through the dust, which rose in clouds, and was scattered by the winds, to the great annoyance of both travellers and residents. It is now a long and handsome though crooked street, and "affords a wide field for the spirit of progress to

pursue the onward work of improvement in.

To it, then,

my masters!' and let us see in the next ten years, the whole of the newly paved division of the street built up with handsome houses, and another application to the City Councils for authority to pave the extended part of Church Street (or Centre Street at it should then be called), from its present terminus to Lindsay's Gardens.

"The appreciation of lots on Upper Church Street goes ahead. of everything we have heard of. We might safely say that it averages one hundred per cent.; for in not a few instances, to our knowledge, it exceeds that rate. And yet this is not the result of a spirit of speculation; for those who offer to buy do so with a view to build."

The months of September and October were exceedingly dry for the season. To this date (15th October), there had been no rain for four or five weeks.

November 1. Dr. Francis Mallory, of Elizabeth City County, formerly member of Congress, entered this day upon his duties as Navy Agent at this station, to which he was appointed as successor to George Loyall, Esq. This new appointment appeared to give very general satisfaction, inasmuch as the Doctor is not only well qualified for the discharge of the responsible duties of the office; but he is also a gentleman of great urbanity of manners, whose private character is marked by a happy combination of agreeable social and moral qualities. He is, moreover, an able and zealous advocate of some of those measures which are believed to be well calculated to advance the prosperity of the city.

An intelligent writer thus appropriately alludes to the appoint

ment:

"I am pleased that the office has been bestowed upon the Doctor, than whom Virginia does not possess a purer and more courteous gentleman. Besides, his qualifications for its duties must be of a high order, from his practical knowledge of the Navy, and the interest he evinced in its extension and usefulness while a member of Congress. When removals are made, the intelligent friends of the removed cannot otherwise than feel gratified when the mantle falls on those equally deserving and

patriotic-and not on the shoulders of professional office-seekers, and impertinent demagogues.'

Mr. Loyall had held the office for thirteen years, during which time he disbursed more than $14,000,000 of the public money without the loss of a cent to the treasury.*

Colonel Wm. Garnett was, during the past year, appointed Collector of this Port, in place of Conway Whittle, Esq. Mr. W. had been in office for a number of years, and was also a most correct and faithful public officer. The present esteemed incumbent, is considered well fitted for the discharge of the responsible duties of the office.

Saturday, Nov. 9th. On this day the Seaboard and Roanoke Railroad (which takes the course of the old Portsmouth and Roanoke road) was completed to Suffolk; and, by invitation of the obliging President of the Company, some five or six hundred of the citizens of Norfolk and Portsmouth made a trip in the cars to the above-named pleasant little town. The track is laid with the best imported T iron, and the road, thus far, is said by those well entitled to an opinion, to be one of the most level and best constructed in the country. This important work was completed, in 1851, to the rich and fertile valley of the Roanoke.

* Mr. Loyall is a gentleman of no ordinary talents. The following remarks respecting his style as an orator, are from the pen of one who had listened to a political speech which he delivered more than twenty years ago.

***“His manner was pleasing and impressive; and his action evidently reflected that polish which true oratorical taste and long experience only can impart. His voice is full and its tones are remarkably distinct.

"He advances openly and honestly in the demonstration of his subject. The main object of the investigation is perpetually exhibited to the eye of the understanding, and the hearer follows the orator in the clear and luminous track of his argument, without being confounded by subtile wanderings, or bewildered by needless intricacies. His course is onward; he is seldom fascinated by the golden glitter of an ornament, or beguiled by the fading beauty of a flower; his occasional illustrations do not appear to have been previously culled and collected, and are almost as well adapted for one subject as another; but they spring directly from the one under consideration. Hence, he invariably leaves a distinct and lasting impression on the mind of the hearer."

CHAPTER XXXV.

1850.

New Methodist Episcopal Church-Description of the Building-WorkmenPew System-Seating of a Congregation-Pews and Free Seats Dedication -Rev. J. E. Edwards-Membership-Dr. Doggett-Quarterly Review-Labelling the Streets and Houses-Census.

IN November, another house of worship was completed in the city, the new Methodist Church, situated at the northeast corner of Granby and Freemason Streets, fronting on the latter. It is a very neat structure, of the Ionic order, fifty-five by seventy-five feet, covering an area of four thousand one hundred and twenty-five square feet, and measuring forty-five feet from the ground to the apex of the roof, and thence to the top of the cupola, sixty-six feet, making the entire height one hundred and eleven feet. The front is ornamented by a beautiful and handsomely finished portico, with four large fluted pillars. The external appearance of the church is singular and striking, although improvements could be made in the plan of this as well as other public buildings in the city. There is considerable raised and indented square work on the outside of the walls, which are well stuccoed, showing several different colours. The entrance is by two ascents of granite steps, which rise to a platform paved with hexagonal bricks.

The seats, which are in strict accordance with the "pew system," as it is generally called, have the appearance of rows of mahogany sofas; being beautifully finished, and cushioned with fine black hair-cloth. They form a curve, from wall to wall, of an eighth of a circle. Two massive fluted columns rise from the floor of the pulpit, which is in a recess built in the rear. The pulpit-desk is a neat piece of joinery; and the railing of the altar being handsome figured work, assists in giving beauty and appropriateness to the whole interior. On the first or basement