From Norfolk.
[special correspondence of the Dispatch.]
‘ "Tis raging noon; and vertical, the sun
Darts on the head his forceful days.
O'er heaven and earth, far as the ranging eye
Can sweep, a dazzling deluge reigns."
’
This is just the kind of weather desired for the corn crop, which, in this section and for many miles down into the ‘"Old North State,"’ promises a most abundant yield. A magnificent sight it is to see some of the vast cornfields in the neighboring counties of North Carolina. In some of the ‘"bottom lands"’ the growth is astonishing. The color of these great, waving, rustling, fields of ripening vegetation is a rich, dark green; the stalk very large and tall, the tassels and silken flavory ornaments giving a pleasing contrast, and adding ‘"bright beauty"’ to the handsome and valued production of nature's lavish hand. If ‘"cotton is King,"’ corn is ‘"Queen,"’ and the elements combine to give perfection to her graceful proportions and vastness, and influence to her treasure-houses. Queen Corn will supply the wants of millions in the South.
The dense smoke that rose in black volumes from the smouldering ruins of the pleasant town of Hampton is no longer seen. The brilliant flames, whose glaring light was reflected by our Church spires, will not soon be forgotten by our people, while the worthy citizens of the devoted town are confident of speedy vengeance upon the dastardly cowards who vainly hoped to revel in halls long noted for pleasant scenes of joyous hilarity and a princely hospitality. I hear at this moment a gallant gentleman, formerly a resident of Hampton, describing his loss, which, though he seems to feel but little regret, amounts to about $13,000. Many a worthy family, however, remembers with tearful eyes and aching hearts the cozy cottage home and its pleasing associations. ‘"There is no place,"’ &c. "Hampton, the shire- town of Elizabeth City County, is distant sixteen miles from Norfolk. The site was visited by Captain John Smith and others in 1607. Burk, one of the historians of Virginia, says: ‘"While engaged in seeking for a place for the first settlement, they met five natives, who invited them to their town, Kecaughton, or Kechotan, where Hampton now stands." ’
It became a town in 1705. It was in allusion to the outrages at Hampton in 1813 that Sir Sidney Beckwith, in a letter to the late talented General Robert B. Taylor, of this city, who commanded the army in Norfolk and vicinity at the time, made this striking and forcible remark: ‘"Worthless is the laurel that is steeped in woman's tears."’ We say Death to the cowardly rascals that recently insulted and drove away the hospitable inhabitants, desecrated the churches and graveyards--‘"the tombs and monumental caves of death"’--and plundered the once peaceful dwellings.
Our gallant troops are delighted to hear the report of the arrival this morning of General Wool, at Fortress Monroe, as they think now, there is some chance for a fight, for which they have been waiting impatiently for months. Let the would-be bullies attempt to come up to our splendid naval establishment on the opposite side of the river, or to land their forces on the Eastern shore of the roads, and a warm and cordial reception they will have surely. It will be a good time generally, when the hoped for conflict comes — charming to hear the deepening thunders of our great guns reverberating all along our shores and echoing far back into the deepest recesses of the ‘"wild old woods,"’ while the sinking of their ships and the groans of the wounded and dying Hessians will teach a lesson to the burlesque President and all the bloodthirsty fools around him that will not be soon forgotten in all Yankeedom; if they can be taught anything.
Since the wise military arrangement of Gen. Huger, with regard to the maintenance of peace and good order, our city has been comparatively quiet. There were no important cases in Mayor Lamb's Court this morning. The watchmen of the night reported no arrests or cases of disorder.
The counsel of Mr. Fish, charged with the shooting of Mr. Pepper, has applied for a writ of habeas corpus, and the prisoner will probably be released from his confinement. He is a gentleman of character and means, and exceedingly regrets an occurrence caused by a needless indulgence in that which has been more destructive of life and happiness than all the bloody carnage of war and pestilence.
The eagerness to get the Dispatch continues here undiminished. The people will have the news, and as the supply of paper in our city has nearly been exhausted, with but little chance of getting the needful article for some time to come, we must depend upon you and others away for the latest intelligence from the battle fields. Galerius.
