From Norfolk.
a calm after the storm — harbor of Norfolk — future of Norfolk — the Pomone — negroes, &c., &c.[Special Correspondence of the Dispatch.]
Norfolk, Jan. 29, 1862.
Notwithstanding the dreary, damp, and cloudy weather yesterday, to-day is as charming as heart can reasonably desire.
Such spring-like days will soon work a great change upon the face of Nature, if this balmy temperature and this bright, warm sunshine continue.
The blue birds are already singing in the fields and among the leafless branches of the trees; spring flowers are lifting their heads above the ground, and the sward by the hill-side, close by the dancing rill, is already changing its dingy color to the rich hue of Nature, so pleasing to the eye.
It is so calm that the whole surface of our wide and deep harbor resembles a vast miror.
Occasionally a steamer passes along, and raises a few wavelets that go rippling and dancing to the shore, and sparkling in the sunshine like ten thousand polished diamonds.
It is a quiet scene, this harbor of Norfolk, at this time, compared to what it was a few months ago, when there were large steamers from — where Well, Boston, New York, Philadelphia; and Baltimore, besides a hundred schooners from the smaller cities along the Northern and Eastern coast.
And these were taking in the corn cotton, lumber, naval stores, &c., &c., from other sections of Virginia, and from North Carolina and Tennessee.
Shall the heavy trade of the interior be soon commenced here?
The knowing ones declare that the day is not distant when the busy work of shipping hence the products of a vast region of rich country, to European ports, will commence here in good earnest, and the brightest hopes of the friends of the seaport of Virginia shall be fully realized.
As long as the Northern cities monopolized the shipping, and fattened upon the legitimate trade of Southern ports and Southern cities, there was no just ground to hope for great prosperity, even a fair share of commerce, or any reasonable degree of advancement in wealth and influence.
Now the spell is broken, and the surging tide of trade and commerce will no longer flow only towards the cities whose overgrown proportions and vast wealth have been produced by Southern labor and generosity.
How, splendidly has this long-continued benefit which the North has derived from the South been reciprocated during the last nine months. In return for the wealth and the proud position the South has given them, they most charitably and religiously seek to deprive us of our lives, our homes, our liberty — thirsting for our blood and striving to reduce us to the condition of slaves.
But the change has commenced, and ere long cities will rise and cities will fall, as in days far back on the tracks of old Time's noiseless car.
The edict of justice and truth has gone forth, and the effect of the exercise of the laws of human right and human liberty will be seen and felt in good time.
The French frigate Pomone will probably sail in a day or two for a Southern port.--Some of her officers were in the city yesterday.
They visited the Navy-Yard and some of the fortifications near the city, and seemed much interested in what they saw. The French corvette Catina is still in the Roads.
She will sail for Europe in about two weeks after receiving the mails, in accordance with an arrangement recently made.
It was stated two or three days ago that a citizen of Portsmouth, named Bright, a member of the city police, had mysteriously disappeared.
I learn that his dead body was found yesterday in a grove a very short distance from the limits of Portsmouth, and that it was mangled in a most shocking manner.
There has evidently been foul play, and it is hoped the perpetrators of the act may be brought to justice.
Yesterday, an occupant of a cell in the city prison, who is charged with stealing twenty dollars from a member of Wise's Legion, escaped from his place of confinement; and, after running a short distance, concealed himself in an old unoccupied house, where he was soon secured by the police.
Captain Hunter, of the C. S. N., says he has never reported an enemy's vessel inside of Pamlico Sound, but only stated that he had counted twenty-odd vessels of all descriptions, including eight steamers, at anchor near Hatteras, while returning from his usual cruise of observation on the 6th and 7th inst.
About twenty negroes made their escape Monday night from their owners living on the Tanner's Creek road, near this city.
They stole a large fishing boat, and no doubt escaped to Fortress Monroe.
I learn that Mr. Wm. H. Talbot has lost four; Captain Hancock, one R. H. Wilkins, one; W. W. Hawkins, two; D. Simmons, two; W. J. Denby, two; besides others, whose names and losses I cannot give.
Some of these negroes are very valuable, and the loss falls heavily upon their owners, who are known to have been remarkably kind to them.
They have gone to their worst enemies, and will soon sorely regret their course in leaving comfortable homes and kind masters to be enslaved and compelled to work hard for a miserable pittance, even if they should not die of the small-pox, which is said to be prevailing at Fort Monroe. 