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Williamsburg, one of the ancient capitals of Virginia, was first laid out
in the shape of the letter W, in honor of the Prince after whom it was
named, and through whose munificence its principal ornament was first endowed.
This strange and even enigmatical plot of the town was, however,
soon abandoned for one more consonant with the natural features of its admirable
position.

The houses of the gentry were principally built upon one great thoroughfare,
and this was then called the Duke of Gloucester street—for shortness,
Gloucester street. At one end, and immediately at right angles to it, stood,
and yet stands, William and Mary College; and at the other, about three-quarters
of a mile distant, the capital.

These two edifices at once gave a character and dignity to the place; and
the traveller even now turns his head naturally, first to the one and then to
the other, as he enters the ancient city. We have entered the modern Babel
of our country, and, like all other neophytes, have been deeply impressed with
the tumultuous and thronging ideas and sensations which they produced, but
never have we been so deeply impressed as while entering for the first time
the scene where those old ruinous walls were once vocal with the eloquence
of Patrick Henry, on the one hand, and the academic shades on the other,
where Jefferson and Madison wandered in the days of their boyhood, and
where was concocted the first germ of that rebellion which eventuated in the

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most glorious structure of civil liberty which the eye of man has ever yet
looked upon.

Strange, that the thousands who live under its benign influence—and Virginians
especially—have no curiosity to visit this ancient cradle of our liberties.
It lies gradually mouldering to decay, and only saved from utter demolition,
by the noble literary institution, which has survived alike the royal and
republican capital. Long may it rear its noble head above the ruins which
surround it, the great conservator, of all that remains of Virginia's ancient
metropolis, as well as the stern republican principles which first had their
growth beneath its portals.

About the centre of Gloucester-street, two parallel avenues of noble trees
led through a green lawn, near two hundred yards, to the front of the Palace.
A little to the left of this opening, as you faced the Palace, stood the Episcopal
Church, then recently built. On the opposite side of the street, its line
was again broken a little nearer to the Capitol, by a public square, in which
were contained the Market-House and the military round tower, already
alluded to as having been erected by Governor Spotswood. Facing this public
square, was a small Theatre,[10] and nearly opposite to all these again, on the
other side of the street, was the hotel frequented by the gentry and Burgesses,
when the assembly was in session.

The Palace was a large brick building, flanked on the right and left by two
smaller ones, nearly adjoining it, one of which contained, the dormitories and
offices connected with the culinary department, and appropriated exclusively by
the servants—the other contained the Governor's library, official departments,
&c., &c., so the whole of the main building was appropriated to the elegant
and extensive hospitalities, at all times considered as appertaining to the Gubernatorial
mansion in Virginia.

It was a few days after Hall's departure from prison, upon his melancholy
pilgrimage, that the well known sound of a trumpet startled the denizens of
the city—many of them from their early dinners. It proceeded from the Governor's
body guard, not yet visible in the city, but the enlivening blast of the
bugle could be heard, from time to time, as they wound along the turnings of
the road—the breeze sometimes wafting its mellow sounds to the ear, and, at
others, suffering them to fall faintly in the distance, as it lulled with the breeze.

It was always a glad day to the citizens when the Governor and his family
returned from his summer residence. Joy was visible upon the countenances
of the portly dames and merry urchins, as they crowded round their respective
doors, to welcome back the loved inmates of the Palace. Near the gate
of the mansion, among the trees of the double avenue, stood a long line of little
girls all dressed in white, with flowers in their hands, waiting to strew the
path of the ladies from the carriage to the house. They were pupils of a
female school, of which Lady Spotswood was chief patron.

First came a company of Rangers, which had been detailed to escort the
Governor, followed by the veteran body guard, all in full regimentals. Then
his Excellency, with his staff, and male guests, on horseback—next, the state
coach with the Governor's immediate family, and Dr. Evylin's carriage containing
his daughter, alone; the rear of the cavalcade brought up by the family
servants, in carriages and on horseback, old Essex riding at their head, like a
field-marshal, and June bringing up the extreme rear, awfully carricaturing the
Major's stately equestrianism.

The troops on duty at the capital, consisting mostly of Rangers—under the
command of Duke Holloway, second to John Spotswood—were drawn up on
the green in front of the Palace, and presented arms as the Governor

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approached: the military escort filing to the right and left as they entered the
avenues.

Dr. Evylin's carriage drove on to his private residence, which stood a little
back from Gloucester street, between the Church and the College, embowered in
trees and vines, and presenting to the eye one of the sweetest retreats it was
possible to imagine, in the midst of the capital. Every thing about the premises
gave evidence of the ministering hand of that gentle and tasteful spirit,
which, since the death of the Doctor's lady, had conducted all his household
affairs. The good old physician stood at the wicket gate, almost as impatient as
a lover, to throw his arms round the neck of his cherished idol. Even before
entering the house, they walked hand in hand among the fast fading shrubs and
flowers, the old man giving an account of his stewardship, during his daughter's
absence, and having a little history ready for each favorite plant. How these
gentle and humanising, affections, throw a mellow hue over such trifles as these,
and how the heart loves to toy with them on the surface, while its depths, like a
deep and silent stream, are tossed all the more for the serene calm above. The
servants too, loved their young mistress, and came flocking round, dropping
their rude curtsies and awkward bows, and asking about her health as if she
had crossed the Atlantic. Each one expressed delight at the renovated bloom
of their favorite, and the old Doctor himself, seemed so happy at the change,
that he became almost as puerile as any of them. Once more seated in their
quiet parlor, Ellen's arm thrown affectionately round her father's neck, we
will leave her to detail all the transactions of the Governor's country establishment,
while we return to the Palace, where the bustle and excitement of
the important arrivals still continued.

The city was thronged with visitors, brought together by the proclamations
of the Governor inviting them thither; and also by the arrival of many of
the Burgesses, who came in obedience to the call of his Excellency for the
assembling of their body, somewhat in anticipation of their usual time of
meeting.

In the evening, a levee was held, where all the gentry, without distinction
of party, were expected to call and pay their respects.

The Governor was very much gratified to find that his proclamation, containing
the scheme for new conquests of lands, had fired either the cupidity
or ambition of most of the young men of the colony; but while he listened,
with sparkling eye and gratified feelings, to the plans of his young friends, he
could not resist the feelings of regret which the subject brought with it, for
the young Secretary who had originated the scheme. His eve turned anxiously
to the door at each successive arrival of guests, but Hall made not his
appearance. He had been greatly prepossessed in favor of this young man,
and notwithstanding the powerful array of circumstances against him, he
was loth to give him up entirely. He still hoped that something would turn
up, to prove at least that he was not criminal. In these hopes, he was seconded
by most of the females of the family. Kate and Dorothea at all times
expressed their most decided convictions, that he would yet turn out to be a
gentleman of untarnished name; and Ellen, before her departure from the
country seat, could brook no suspicions of his integrity or honor. She maintained
openly, that there were no charges against him, except those brought
by Harry Lee, and that she was ready at any time to lay as great ones at his
own door, if necessary, and, consequently, that he was not an unimpeached
witness.

It was expected by the young ladies that something would turn up during
the evening, by which Mr. Lee might understand, that Hall's case was
espoused by them, and that they intended to carry the war home to him if he
continued his persecutions against their favorite. Only one thing prevented
an open rupture between the parties. Lee was a member of the House of

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Burgesses, as before stated, and the Governor wanted his vote. He had consequently
warned them against a premature move in the matter. Those however
who are experienced with the world, will understand how difficult it was
for him to make the ladies of his establishment understand any thing of political
expediency.

Lee was among the earliest arrivals, and it may be well imagined that his
movements did not pass unnoticed by any of the parties just mentioned. His
first demonstration however was in quite an unexpected quarter, on encountering
Bernard Moore, soon after paying his respects to the Governor and his
Lady, he treated him with the utmost hauteur and disdain. Not a hand was
extended by either party. Moore was quite taken by surprise, but, in a moment
recollected his late interference in Lee's schemes of revenge. He passed on,
after a cold and distant bow, a smile of derision playing about his mouth.
Could he have seen Kate's eyes flashing fire and indignation, as she witnessed
the interview, he would have been truly flattered and pleased and, perhaps
might have sought a renewal of the experiment, but he did not; he passed on,
and joined himself with more congenial spirits than Harry Lee, and soon forgot
that young gentleman, amidst the animated discussion going on relative to
the tramontane expedition. Not so with Kate, she followed with her eyes,
the haughty young aristocrat's movements wherever he went. She was
moved by strong impulses, which brooked no control from cold political expediency.
She was all a woman in her feelings; and like a woman would
she have acted, had the opportunity offered. Fortunately for her father's interests,
no occasion was presented for the execution of the plans of the female
trio, those developements were destined to fulfilment in another quarter.
Ellen Evylin was not present at the Levee, seeing which, Mr. Lee soon absented
himself from the party, and bent his steps toward the Doctor's house.
He rejoiced in his own mind, that it was so; for he now imagined, that he had
placed the man who had interfered with his movements in such a light, that
Ellen must feel nothing but gratitude towards him for his efforts in the cause.
Such were his anticipations as he lifted the knocker of the Doctor's door—he
was admitted. What occurred at the interview will be related in the next
chapter.