It is worthy of note that near where the first slaves disembarked in our country, bondmen were first disenthralled by the events of our civil war. Gen. Butler, in May, 1861, issued his famous proclamation, declaring the negroes about his camp in Hampton contrabands. At that time, and later on, thousands of them gathered in near proximity to his headquarters, living for the most part in an improvised city, christened Slabtown. Twenty years have wrought many changes in the condition of these people. Slabtown has disappeared, and in its place and for miles around, cottages with garden plots, and even considerable farms, are found. A large number of these are owned by the freed people, who constitute a majority in Elizabeth City county, and form a quasi-negro republic. The blacks are courteous in their deportment toward the white citizens, who in return display much kindness and good will. One of the negroes, when asked recently by a Northern gentleman how his people were treated by the whites, is reported to have said. “Oh, we are largely in the majority, and the white man knows how to keep his place.” They seem willing that the white people should hold the important offices, and the most cordial relations apparently exist between all classes. Not long after the recent election in Virginia, the black people about Fortress Monroe were observed to be intently reading the newspapers. A ministerial-looking colored man, of fifty or upward, was asked by the writer if there was any law forbidding the white people to read. “Why do you wish to know that?” he inquired. On being told that the colored people were seen reading the papers while the white laborers were standing idly about, he replied pertinently, “These white folks don’t like the way the election went much, but it just suited us.” [Illustration: ASSEMBLY-ROOM AT HAMPTON.] The improvements about Fortress Monroe and Hampton during the past twenty years have been considerable. New buildings have been constructed inside of the fort, and Mr. Harrison Phoebus has built near the government wharf a mammoth, hotel, the Hygeia, capable of accommodating a thousand visitors. The Soldier’s Home at Hampton has extensive grounds, and accommodations for over 600 people. A large and tasteful building has just been completed, with an audience room seating from six to eight hundred. The grounds and buildings connected with the Soldier’s Home are kept up with much care and expense.