The Hampton Institute, which has done much to work all the changes mentioned, is a village by itself, and Gen. Armstrong, its principal, has 704 students under his supervision. The village of Hampton, which was burned early in the war, has been rebuilt, and recently Newport News has come to the front in consequence of the extension of the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad to that point. Already the company has constructed a pier said to be the largest in the United States, and land is held at $16,000 an acre at a point where scarcely a dozen houses can be seen. The harbor facilities at Newport News are unrivaled. These varied developments have created a demand for labor and given to the negro, especially as he is the recognized laborer, a grand opportunity for securing property. A canvasser for a sewing machine company, who has spent three years in Eastern Virginia, testifies that the negroes have most of the money to be found in that country. He says they are prompt in paying their instalments, whereas when he sells to the poorer white people he fails to collect his money, for the reason that they have none. [Illustration] The manners and customs of the people are still unique. It is no uncommon thing to see a heifer or a steer harnessed to a cart and driven by one or two women who bring supplies to market. Possibly one-half of the conveyances seen by a visitor during a month’s stay are of this fashion; but the proprietors do not seem to be unhappy. Indeed, a Wall street broker, who had been spending a month at the Hygeia hotel, and who was fond of the recreation afforded by visiting Hampton on market days, affirmed that these negroes were the happiest people he ever saw. If twenty years of freedom can work such changes all over the land as are manifested here, where emancipation first dawned, surely the future is full of hope. * * * * * EMERSON INSTITUTE, MOBILE, ALA., BURNED. Emerson Institute is lying in ruins. For the second time in her history she is smoldering in ashes, and we are in mourning for the destruction of our little church, made dear by so many sacred and hallowed associations, and our beautiful school building, in which so many happy hours of toil have been spent and labors of love performed. November 21 a vain attempt was made to burn the little Congregational church at Mobile, but the fire, being set at an early hour in the evening, was discovered and soon extinguished. The insurance company repaired damages at an expense of $30. Now, when our minds were relaxing this tension, and lapse of time was giving us a degree of security against further molestation, the enemy approaches again and applies the torch—this time with marvelous success.