attained to its full altitude, when it fell to the ground, proving that bad bricks and weak mortar were unfit for high pressure, or perhaps the rock on which it was based may not have been dressed to a true level, and the tall structure slid off sidewise. The materials served to form a less aspiring structure, to use a gentle term, for a block of buildings in the Valley not always in very good repute.

Thus dead to any useful purpose, the Rock Landing was buried under the accumulating mass of earth and rubbish, which was carted from foundations for houses and from less pure sources. After many years interment it was exhumed, and like some other subjects, whose graves are violated, its still firm body was dislocated, and the members scattered abroad or used in the erection of a huge monument (the gas holders) which cover its grave, but a bright and subtle spirit arises from it, which serves to enlighten our citizens in the most benighted times.

"The Cage" is, I believe, a term peculiar to Richmond as applied to the receptacle for offenders. It originated from a structure so called, erected at the north-east end of the market bridge, some fifty years ago, when it terminated close to the market-house; its long parapet wall of brick was surmounted by a coping of free-stone, which extended west to the store now and for many years

occupied by Mr. Palmer, and an equal length on the opposite side of the street. In the rear of Mr. P.'s was the first iron foundry in Richmond, erected by the Brothers Dunlop. This cage, of octagonal form, had open iron gratings on three sides, about ten feet above the street, and the floor of this open prison was arranged amphitheatrically, so that each occupant could see, and what was worse, be seen from the street.

Here were encaged, when caught, the unfeathered night-hawks that prowl for prey, and screeching owls that make night hideous, and black birds, who had flown from their own nests, to nestle elsewhere, like cuckoos; and some birds, both black and white, who had no nests at all were brought to roost here until that official ornithologist the police master should examine into their characters. This was a somewhat convenient arrangement to the citizen, who on rising in the morning, missed the attendant on his household comforts, and as he went to market had only to look into the cage for his flown bird.

A structure made memorable to future ages by the author of Hudibras, stood in rear of the cage.

And yet men durance there abide,
In dungeon, scarce three inches wide,
With roof so low, that under it

They never stand, but lie or sit;

And yet so foul that whoso is in,
Is to the middle-leg in prison;
In circle magical confin'd,

With wall of subtile air and wind;

Which none are able to break thorough,
Until they're freed by the head-borough."

This mystical prison-the stocks—surmounted the whipping-post, and was an awful warning to the foul birds; some of whom were occasionally condemned to roost in the upper part and others to become acquainted with the twigs in the lower.

Another mode of punishment, derived from the mother country, was "whipping at a cart's tail." I saw this inflicted, when a child, in Petersburg. The culprit on foot, naked to the waist, was tied to the rear of a cart, which was driven slowly along the street. A constable with a whip walked near the miserable offender, and at short intervals. applied the lash to his bleeding back. The limits. of the town were the limit to his punishment. His hands were then untied, and he was admonished never to repass those limits, under the penalty of a similar infliction.

There was yet another mode of punishment adopted in Virginia for offenders of another class, viz: those whose tones were too high and discordant for the peace and comfort of their neighbors.

The implement for inflicting this was called a cucking or ducking stool. The occupancy of it was an exclusive privilege of the fair and gentle sex, so called, and never contested by the rougher one. It was thus constructed: a post was planted in the ground on the margin of a pond or stream; on the top of this post a long pole fixed at its centre on a pivot, was made to revolve; at one end of the pole a chair was fastened in which the privileged party entitled to the seat was placed so securely that she could not abdicate it. The pole was then turned so as to bring the incumbent over the water and was depressed sufficiently to dip her beneath the surface. This plunging bath was repeated until the patient was cooled-externally "Common scolds were thus silenced

at least. pro tem.

This bathing machine fell into disuse many years ago, whether because the offence ceased to be committed, or that instead of an offence it became a venial privilege, can be decided by members of the Caudle Club. The last revolution of the stool recorded in our history, was excited by an old lady of literary renown, and of a Royal family, who exacted black mail for exemption from her scurrilous pen-perhaps this also has become a privilege, for scurrility prevails unpunished. The water of the Potomac gave ablution to this victim.

In Philadelphia, a case is recorded of the cuck

ing stool being put in requisition as late as 1824, when Nancy Jones was convicted of being a common (query, uncommon?) scold and sentenced

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to be placed in a certain engine of correction, called a cucking or ducking stool and being so placed to be plunged three times in the water.”

In 1661-2, it was enacted by "the Grand Assembly of Virginia," that there should be erected in each county (then seventeen in number) a pillory, whipping post, ducking stool and

stocks.

CHAPTER II.

BRITISH MERCHANTS AND COMMERCIAL QUACKS.

THE term "British merchants" is here used not in its general acceptation, but as it was formerly applied in Virginia to those who had establishments here and who in fact had the monopoly of trade in most of the Southern States. Far be it from me to impugn the integrity and liberality of so truly noble a class as the British merchants, or to reflect on any nationalities, classes or sects.

On another page it is stated that supplies of goods were imported into Virginia previous to and