Who that has ever sojourned for a time in this dear old county, does not remember the generous and elegant hospitality of Colonel Wood, Joseph Dunbar, and Mr. Chew; nor must I forget that truly noble-hearted man, David Hunt, the founder of Oakland College, whose charitable munificence was lordly in character, but only commensurate with his soul and great wealth.  It seems invidious to individualize the hospitality of this community, where all were so distinguished; but I cannot forbear my tribute of respect—­my heart’s gratitude—­to Wood and Dunbar.  I came among these people young and a stranger, poor, and struggling to get up in the world.  These two opened their hearts, their doors, and their purses to me; but it was not alone to me.  Should all who have in like circumstances been the recipients of their generous and unselfish kindnesses record them as I am doing, the story of their munificent generosity and open, exalted hospitality would seem an Eastern romance.

They have been long gathered to their fathers; but so long as any live who knew them, their memories will be green and cherished.  In this neighborhood was built the first Protestant Episcopal Church in the State, and here worshipped the Woods, Dunbars, MacGruders, Shields, Greens, and others composing the settlement.  The descendants of these families still remain in that neighborhood, where anterior to the late war was accumulated great wealth.  The topography of the country is beautifully picturesque with hills and dales, and all exceedingly fertile.  These hills are a continuation of the formation commencing at Vicksburg, and extending to Bayou Sara.  They are peculiar, and seem to have been thrown over the primitive formation by some extraordinary convulsion, and are of a sandy loam.  No marine shells are found in them; but occasionally trees and leaves are exhumed at great depths.  No water is found in this loam by digging or boring; but after passing through this secondary formation, the humus or soil of the primitive is reached—­the leaves and limbs of trees superincumbent on this indicating its character—­then the sand and gravel, and very soon water, as in other primitive formations.  These hills extend back from the river in an irregular line from ten to fifteen miles, and are distinguished by a peculiar growth of timber and smaller shrubs.

The magnolias and poplars, with linn, red oak, and black walnut, are the principal trees.  There is no pine, but occasionally an enormous sassafras, such as are found in no other section on this continent.  There is no stone, and no running water except streams having their rise in the interior, passing through these hills to their debouchment into the river.  The entire formation is a rich compost, and in great part soluble in water; this causes them to wash, and when not cultivated with care, they cut into immense gullies and ravines.  They are in some places almost mountainous in height and exceedingly precipitous.  They are designated at different localities by peculiar names—­as the Walnut Hills, Grand Hills, Petit Gulf Hills, Natchez Hills, and St. Catherine Hills.  In primitive forest they presented a most imposing appearance.