Richmond Dispatch

(reviewed up to March 15, 1852)

LVA has film for 1852-through end of the century. Generally, the paper seems to carry more stories of a "human interest" nature than do the Whig or Enquirer, who are locked in political battle. There is still a great deal of coverage for speeches and affairs of state and Federal legislatures.

Jan. 15, 1852 (LVA, stacks microfilm)

p.1 "An Unfortunate Pig" from "an amusing book lately translated" from France; a barnyard story.

Jan. 16, 1852

p.2 "A Black Family Squabble":

Description of adultery and the cuckolded husband are less than sympathetic; the newspaper does not appear to have printed such accounts of white families. The high tone of this short account resembles ironic distance of the SW humorists:

Henry Robertson, slave to Mr. Drew, was, at the instance of his wife Caroline, arrested, and brought before his Honor on yesterday, charged with coming home to his wife in liquor, and cursing and abusing her--though not to the extent of personal chastisement. Caroline was a very good-looking mulatto woman, and it appears has taken a liking to other "gemmen of color" than her spouse, and in fact has allowed them to usurp her husband's matrimonial rights. He, naturally indignant at this state of affairs, expostulated with her, and mutual criminations followed, leading to the charge preferred. Robertson was discharged by his Honor on condition that he refrain from visiting his unfaithful better half in future.

March 15, 1852

p. 1 "A Broadside at Bachelors." A farewell "of a bachelor to his comrades." The type of genteel humor that is much at odds with the earthiness of SW humor.

Advertisements:

Month of January, 1852:

"Mexican Mustang Liniment. We bring glad tidings of great job to the Halt, the Lame, the Sore, and the Stiff-Jointed. . . .it acts open scientific principles and fixed laws of creation." [accounts of cures follow]

Jan. 17, 1852

p. 4 Advertisement by F. Schuman, "an old Philosopher, a Swede by birth, late Astrologer to his Majesty, the Emperor of Russia" who set up shop on 18^th Street between Main and Cary, from 9am-9pm for Astrology, "Signs," and "Geomancy."

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