University of Virginia Library

"The Lynchburg Water Works, for furnishing the town with an unfailing supply of pure and wholesome
water, were constructed in 1828-29, under the direction of Albert Stein, Esq., engineer, at an expense
of $50,000. The height—unprecedented in this country—to which it was necessary to raise the
water, renders this one of the most interesting undertakings of the kind in the United States.

"An arm of the James, formed by an island about 2 miles in length, is crossed, a short distance above
the limits of the corporation, by a dam 10 feet high. A canal of half a mile in length conveys the water
to the pump-house on the river bank, at the foot of 3d alley. A double forcing-pump, on the plan of De
la Hire, worked by a large breast wheel, impels the water through the ascending pipe, which is 2000 feet
long, to a reservoir containing 400,000 gallons, situated between 4th and 5th streets, and at the elevation
of 253 feet above the level of the river. Fire-plugs are connected with the distributing pipes, at every intersection
of the alleys with 2d and 3d streets, and afford an admirable security against the danger of
fire. The height of the reservoir, above these streets, gives a jet of water by means of hose pipes, of
from 60 to 80 feet elevation, and throws it, in bold and continuous streams, over the roofs of the highest
houses.

"The water-power created by the dam for the water works, is amply sufficient for working a large
additional amount of machinery, and waits only for a clearer perception by capitalists, of the manufacturing
advantages of this town, to be brought into extensive use. The cheapness of labor, the abundance
of provisions, and the extent and wealth of the country looking this way for supplies of domestic,
as well as of foreign goods, unite with the vast water-power actually prepared and ready for any application,
in inviting the attention of men of capital and enterprise to this important subject." These
works are gradually enlarged, from year to year, to meet the wants of an increasing population.

The annexed account of the celebration of laying the corner stone of the water works, is from a newspaper
of that date:—

Interesting Event.—On Saturday last, [August 23d, 1828,] an event deeply interesting to Lynchburg
took place; one in which the convenience, health, and safety of us all, are involved. The corner stone
of the Lynchburg Water Works was laid—works, the magnitude of which exceed any ever attempted
in Virginia.... The stone was laid with civic, masonic, and military ceremonies. About 9, A. M., the procession
was formed at the Presbyterian church, at the lower end of Main street, in the following order.—
The military; the reverend clergy; the engineer; the members of the common council, preceded by
the watering committee; the judge of the General Court for the circuit, and mayor of the Corporation;
the recorder and aldermen; the Masonic fraternity; citizens.

When the procession, under the directions of the marshals of the day—Major James B. Risque, Col.
Maurice H. Langhorne, and Captains R. R. Phelps, Samuel I. Wiat, and A. M. Gilliam—reached the
ground, the artillery and rifle companies formed a hollow square, within which were the masons, the
adjacent banks being thronged with spectators.

The impressive ceremonies commenced with a prayer appropriate to the occasion, by the Rev. W. S.
Reid, followed by solemn music. The Rev. F. G. Smith then implored of the Supreme Architect of the
Universe, a blessing on the undertaking. The Masonic fraternity proceeded to lay the corner stone; the
plate bears the following inscription:—

This Stone, the foundation of a work executed by order of the common council of Lynchburg, for
supplying the town with water, was laid under the direction of John Victor, John Thurman, John Early,
David G. Murrell, and Samuel Claytor, by the Rt. W. Howson, S. White, D.D., G. Master, and the Worshipful
Maurice H. Garland, M. of Marshall Lodge, No. 39, of Free and Accepted Masons, on the 23d
August, A.M. 5828, A.D. 1828, in presence of the Mayor, Recorder, Aldermen, and Common Councilmen,
of said Town; the members of said Lodge; the Artillery and Rifle Companies, commanded by Captains
J. E. Norvell and James W. Pegram, and numerous citizens, Albon McDaniel, Esq., Mayor, John Thurman,
Esq., President of the Council, Albert Stein, Esq., Engineer.

Mr. John Victor, the chairman of the watering committee, delivered an address; after which the
military fired a salute, and the gratified beholders returned to their homes, all, we hope, determined to
use their efforts to carry on the work to a successful termination. We cordially unite with Mr. V. in
saying, "Let us join hands, nothing doubting that we too can accomplish what others have so often
done."

The census of 1840, showed a population of upwards of five thousand. Since that time, there has
been a considerable accession to the number of buildings; from which we may safely assume that our
present population reaches, if it does not exceed 6,000. The extent of the tobacco trade of Lynchburg
may be judged of from the fact that upwards of fifteen thousand hogsheads have already been inspected
here the present year—a number which far exceeds all previous calculation. We have about 30 tobacco
factories and stemmeries, giving employment to about 1000 hands; three flouring-mills, manufacturing,
I am told, about 20,000 barrels of flour annually; 1 cotton factory, operating, 1,400 spindles; iron foundries,
which consume, probably, 100 tons pig-iron annually. More than 100,000 bushels of wheat are sold
here yearly. 300 tons bar-iron; 200 tons pig metal, sold to the country, 1000 tons plaster of Paris. About
50 dry-goods and grocery stores—selling, in the aggregate, more than one million of dollars worth of goods.
Some of our stores are so extensive and elegant, as not to suffer by a comparison with those of Philadelphia
and New York.—4 apothecaries and druggists; several cabinet manufactories; 4 saddle and harness
manufactories; 10 blacksmith-shops; several excellent hotels; 5 jewellers' establishments; 2 printing
offices.

There are here branches of the Bank of Virginia, and the Farmer's Bank of Virginia, and also 3 Savings'
Banks. Seven flourishing Sabbath-schools, with from 700 to 1000 scholars. One debating society,
with a library of several thousand volumes, &c. &c. &c. From the hasty view I have presented, and
which by no means does justice to the industry and enterprise of our citizens, it will be seen that we
have already the elements of a flourishing city. But I have said nothing of the magnificent line of canal
now in the "full tide of successful experiment," between this place and Richmond, from which we are
distant 147 miles by water. This splendid work, the pride and boast of Virginia, opens to Lynchburg the
brightest era which has ever yet dawned upon her fortunes; securing to us a safe, speedy, and cheap
navigation for the immense produce shipped annually to Richmond and the north—and destined, as the
writer believes, to furnish a great thoroughfare for the countless thousands of produce and merchandise
for the western and southwestern part of our state, as well as Tennessee, Alabama, &c.

Hook was a Scotchman, a man of wealth, and suspected of being unfriendly to the
American cause. During the distresses of the American army, consequent on the joint
invasion of Cornwallis and Phillips in 1781, a Mr. Venable, an army commissary, had
taken two of Hook's steers for the use of the troops. The act had not been strictly
legal; and on the establishment of peace, Hook, on the advice of Mr. Cowan, a gentleman
of some distinction in the law, thought proper to bring an action of trespass against
Mr. Venable, in the district court of New London. Mr. Henry appeared for the defendant,
and is said to have deported himself in this cause to the infinite enjoyment of his
hearers, the unfortunate Hook always excepted. After Mr. Henry became animated in
the cause, says a correspondent, he appeared to have complete control over the passions
of his audience: at one time he excited their indignation against Hook; vengeance was
visible in every countenance; again, when he chose to relax and ridicule him, the whole
audience was in a roar of laughter. He painted the distresses of the American army,
exposed almost naked to the rigor of a winter's sky, and marking the frozen ground
over which they marched with the blood of their unshod feet; where was the man, he
said, who had an American heart in his bosom, who would not have thrown open his
fields, his barns, his cellars, the doors of his house, the portals of his breast, to have received
with open arms, the meanest soldier in that little band of famished patriots?
Where is the man?—There he stands—but whether the heart of an American beats in
his bosom, you, gentlemen, are to judge. He then carried the jury, by the powers of
his imagination, to the plains around York, the surrender of which had followed shortly
after the act complained of: he depicted the surrender in the most glowing and noble
colors of his eloquence—the audience saw before their eyes the humiliation and dejection
of the British, as they marched out of their trenches—they saw the triumph which
lighted up every patriotic face, and heard the shouts of victory, and the cry of Washington
and liberty, as it rung and echoed through the American ranks, and was reverberated
from the hills and shores of the neighboring river—"but, hark! what notes of
discord are these which disturb the general joy, and silence the acclamations of victory
—they are the notes of John Hook, hoarsely bawling through the American camp,
beef! beef! beef!"

The whole audience were convulsed: a particular incident will give a better idea of
the effect, than any general description. The clerk of the court, unable to command
himself, and unwilling to commit any breach of decorum in his place, rushed out of the
court-house, and threw himself on the grass, in the most violent paroxysm of laughter,
where he was rolling, when Hook, with very different feelings, came out for relief into
the yard also. "Jemmy Steptoe," he said to the clerk, "what the devil ails ye, mon?"
Mr. Steptoe was only able to say, that he could not help it. "Never mind ye," said
Hook, "wait till Billy Cowan gets up: he'll show him the la'." Mr. Cowan, however,
was so completely overwhelmed by the torrent which bore upon his client, that when he
rose to reply to Mr. Henry, he was scarcely able to make an intelligible or audible remark.
The cause was decided almost by acclamation. The jury retired for form
sake, and instantly returned with a verdict for the defendant. Nor did the effect of Mr.
Henry's speech stop here. The people were so highly excited by the tory audacity of

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"Poplar Forest," 3 miles NE. of New London, is the name of the seat of William
Cobbs, Esq., which was originally the property of Jefferson, and occasionally his residence
in the summer months. It is an octagonal brick edifice, built by him, on the
same plan with Monticello, although much smaller. Its situation is commanding,
within sight of the Blue Ridge, and the grounds around are beautifully laid out, and
adorned with shrubbery.

Immediately after Tarleton's incursion to Charlottesville, when Jefferson narrowly
escaped being made prisoner, he retired with his family to Poplar Forest, where, riding
upon his farm some time after, he was thrown from his horse and seriously injured.
"While Mr. Jefferson was confined at Poplar Forest," says Tucker, "in consequence
of the fall from his horse, and was in consequence incapable of any active employment,
public or private, he occupied himself with answering the queries which Mons. De Marbois,
then secretary of the French legation to the United States, had submitted to him
respecting the physical and political condition of Virginia; which answers were afterwards
published by him, under the title of `Notes on Virginia.' When we consider
how difficult it is, even in the present day, to get an accurate knowledge of such details
in our country, and how much greater the difficulty must then have been, we are surprised
at the extent of the information which a single individual had thus been enabled to acquire,
as to the physical features of the state—the course, length, and depth of its
rivers; its zoological and botanical productions; its Indian tribes; its statistics and
laws. After the lapse of more than half a century, by much the larger part of it still
gives us the fullest and most accurate information we possess of the subjects on which
it treats. Some of its physical theories are, indeed, in the rear of modern science; but
they form a small portion of the book, and its general speculations are marked with that
boldness, that utter disregard for received opinions, which always characterized him;
and the whole is written in a neat, flowing style, always perspicuous, and often peculiarly
apt and felicitous."

Jefferson's notes were printed in Paris, in 1784, soon after his arrival there as minister
to the court of France. Says the same author: "One of the first objects which engaged
his attention, was the printing his notes on Virginia. He had, for the sake of
gratifying a few friends with copies, wished to publish them in America, but was prevented
by the expense. He now found they could be printed for about a fourth of what
he had been asked at home. He therefore corrected and enlarged them, and had 200
copies printed. Of these he presented a few in Europe, and sent the rest to America.
One of them having fallen into the hands of a bookseller in Paris, he had it translated
into French, and submitted the translations to the author for revision. It was a tissue
of blunders, of which only the most material he found it convenient to correct; and
it was thus printed. A London bookseller having requested permission to print the
original, he consented, "to let the world see that it was not really so bad as the French
translation had made it appear."