Our Correspondence.
from Norfolk.
speculators and supplies — industry of the ladies — the hotels — Congressional Nominations — more flags of truce — Vessels in Hampton Roads, Ess.
Norfolk, Sept. 24, 1861.
It is stated as a significant fact, that while there are thousands in the camp, here and in other parts of the State, drilling for battle, cheerfully suffering the privations attending a preparation for active warfare, far away from home and its endearments, standing guard by day and by night, in storm and calm, in rain and sunshine, there are some who are rapidly increasing the dimensions of their ‘"pile"’ by speculations, and in some cases by extortion.
I do dot prefer this charge, and hope it could not be sustained; but the charge is made.
Such, indeed, is said to be the case in some of the Southern cities.--We are not only to be conquered and subjugated, say the Yankees — scattered like leaves before the angry wind — sent back to our homes to find poverty at our firesides and see privations in the anxious eyes of mothers and the rags of children; but we are to be starved — starved to death.
‘"In this respect, however,"’ says a Southern writer, ‘"the Yankees have a bad prospect ahead."’ But if such a thing could possibly happen in this great Southern land of plenty and untold abundance, those Southern men who assay thus to increase their wealth by taking advantage of opportunities presented by the war for profitable speculation, would greatly assist our sworn enemies in their efforts to starve us out.-- ‘"Prices of provisions,"’ says the writer alluded to, " are high now, and they will be kept up by a disorganized market and the practices of trade.
We would again reiterate our caution to planters to spare no exertion in making meat and cereal crops, so as to reduce prices which are now forced up by speculators, by the disorganization of the accustomed course of trade, and by the impression that the heavy demand for staple supplies for the army will keep up prices.
But let not the false impression be for a moment entertained that there can be a deficiency of bread and meat in the South--no matter if the war should continue for years.
The census of 1850 shows that Virginia and North Carolina produced jointly 13,363,000 bushels of wheat, or 241,000 more than the great wheat State of New York, or a quantity equal to the whole product of the six New England States, with New Jersey, Michigan, Iowa, and Wisconsin, all put together.
Virginia, Nortl.
Carolina, and Tennessee produced 115,471,593 bushels of corn, a quantity exceeding by 300,000 bushels the joint product of New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, New Jersey.
Connectiout, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine.
And let it be remembered that there never was so much grain planted in Virginia, North Carolina, and other Southern States, as there has been and will be this year, and the yield has been perfectly enormous. I say, then, to all here and elsewhere, dismiss your fears about any probability of a real scarcity of provisions in the South. The young men are fighting the battles of the country, while the staunch old farmers and planters, with their slaves, are making plentiful supplies of bread and meat to feed them — enough for man and beast, and some to spare for rascally Yankee prisoners. And the thrifty wives and daughters — the crowning glory of the South--these are spinning, knitting, weaving, and sewing, to clothe the fighting men comfortably, and protect them from the cold and the storms in winter time.
The foregoing will probably be considered a digression — running off at a tangent; but, as there is no fighting to announce, the ideas are caught flying and put down in a tangible form for the consideration and disposal of those who are fully competent to judge of the quality and quantity of intellectual food for the digestion of the insatiate public mind.
The charming weather calls out thousands to breathe the invigorating air, and the streets are crowded with people of all classes and conditions. The ladies are out in full force, and at this moment Main street presents a gay and attractive scene. Our excellant hotels, however, are not so crowded as formerly, and the rush of travel hitherwards is not as great as it was a few weeks ago. Be it known, therefore, that persons in search of health, pleasure, and plentiful supplies of good things for the inner man, that that splendid new hotel, the Atlantic, under the judicious management of its gentlemanly proprietor, A. G. Newton, Esq., formerly of Alexandria, has superior accommodations for travellers — the tables being daily furnished with all the choicest productions and delicacies for which this favored section of Virginia is justly celebrated. The erection of this beautiful, airy, and commodious public house was, by-the-way, a wise movement. Hundreds of officers and men connected with the army and navy, besides a large number of ladies visiting their relatives, who are here to fight for their country, have found ample accommodations and superior fare; while the National fully sustains its well-earned reputation.
Major Wm. Lamb, of this city, is named as a candidate for Congress from this Congressional district, and it is believed that he would be clected should he consent to take the field.
A flag of truce came to Craney Island yesterday from Old Point with four ladies from Washington, and two prisoners from the Rip Raps.
Yesterday a flag of truce went down from this city to the Fort with four Northern timber-getters, from the neighborhood of Williamsburg, who refused to take the oath of fidelity to the South.
There are now at Hampton Roads, at anchor, four first-class frigates and several old whale ships, with large boats. These last are no doubt intended for transporis.
Heavy firing was heard this morning at 9 o' clock, in Hampton, Roads. This was no doubt an exchange of salutes on the occasion of some arrival.
