The Southern Literary Messenger, Vol. I., No. 6, February, 1835Various
History
The Southern Literary Messenger, Vol. I., No. 6, February, 1835
Various
American literature -- 19th century -- Periodicals
Besides the manufactures produced at the Penitentiary on state account,
the city has its due proportion of the various mechanic trades, and
private manufactories. Of printing establishments there are as many as
11, (perhaps an undue proportion) from two of which there are issued
daily, political and commercial papers,--from one, a semi-weekly
political--from four, weekly Religious,--and from one, a monthly
journal devoted to literature, &c. The others are either Book or Job
Offices. The number of professional men is also considerable, and it is
the more remarkable that so many members of the medical faculty should
find employment in a city proverbial for the salubrity of its climate.
Situated at the point of demarcation between the upper and lower
districts, it is fortunately exempt from many of the maladies which are
peculiar to both regions. It is neither visited by the enervating
autumnal diseases of eastern Virginia, nor by the more violent and
inflammatory attacks which belong to the upper country. The yellow
fever, that scourge of cities more populous and commercial, has never
prevailed.
The population of Richmond has nearly trebled in 30 years. By the
census of 1800, the free whites numbered, 2,837
Slaves, 2,293
Free colored persons, 607
-----
5,737
By the census of 1830, the free whites amounted to 7,755
Slaves, 6,349
Free colored, 1,956
------
16,060
The several classes have increased in nearly corresponding ratios.
Richmond has been frequently reproached for a want of hospitality, and
if this virtue consists in unreserved and indiscriminate attention to
strangers and visiters,--the reproach is probably not altogether
unfounded. It must be acknowledged too, that the manners and customs of
what are called the leading classes, are not characteristic of the old
Virginia character,--which was frank, simple and unostentatious. In
almost all considerable towns, even in republican America, artificial
_castes_ or classes exist, which are founded principally upon the
possession of wealth, or the mysterious refinements of fashion, and
have but little reference either to moral or intellectual distinction.
It is probable that this vice of cities is one of the chief sources of
that prejudice which is felt towards them by the people of the country.
These remarks, however, are not to be construed into a sweeping censure
upon towns--for although in all dense populations, there is always a
greater or less degree of human infirmity,--there is also an equal
concentration of the more virtuous and noble qualities of our nature.
For the Southern Literary Messenger.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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