The ship Virginia Dare
as at length reached our port in safety, and will soon be freighted with a full cargo for
Liverpool.
She is certainly a beautiful specimen of nautical skill, with proportions indicating usefulness and speed.
I believe she bears the name of the first born daughter of a Pilgrim Father, one of the earliest settlers in the Old Dominion, and in my heart I wish she may increase and multiply the fortunes of her projectors alike the little babe of
Jamestown, whose posterity have overspread this Commonwealth, and, perhaps, the remotest bounds of earth.
Now, I have a little jealousy in my compound; or, I might say, properly, I have a desire to do equal justice to all, and cannot omit on this occasion, to say what I am quite sure will be endorsed by every one conversant in this community with the subject.
It was my pleasure to attend the first meeting in
Richmond to devise means of increasing, Direct Trade, to promote which ships of our own are indispensable.
On such occasions, generally, those who have
most money contribute less in such laudable undertakings.
Not so, however, the senior partner of one of the most intelligent and wealthy firms of our city.
He, with a spirit and readiness as honorable as patriotic, was first to subscribe the largest amount with the
Company; or, if need be, to furnish a ship, and very soon a new and splendid bark, with the appropriate name of "
Pioneer, " entered
James River, in readiness for the service, and has performed two trips across the ocean, with full cargoes, and has just cleared with a third for
Liverpool.
This vessel, in the onset, was commanded by
Captain Daniel C. Chiles, formerly of a Charleston packet ship, whose perseverance and modesty as a sailor is equalled only by his courtesy and kindness as a gentleman — for I write what I know.
But this is not all--
Capt. Childs has recently left the "
Pioneer," and is now in a neighboring ship-yard, superintending the construction of perhaps the finest ship which has ever graced our waters.
She is intended as a Richmond and
Liverpool packet, the sole property of
Messrs. Ed. Wm. DeVoss & Co., of this city.
This is what the boys call "going it strong." and is the right way to declare our independence and devotion to the
Union.
Having but little power to do favors, I could beg to ask
one on this occasion, that I be permitted to name this ship
United States, and to present her with a suit of colors with
all the
Stars and Stripes at the mast head, which, under God's providence, should never float "Union down." P.
*A sailor's phrase for distress.
