Show diversions of 1737 entertained col byrd A library a garden a grove and a Pt purling irling stream are the innocent scenes that divert our leisure william byrd 11 II wrote to a friend in england as he sat in his palatial residence westover on the james one of the most celebrated and beautiful of all colonial homes As for the library it numbered nearly v volumes the largest private library in the colonies it was in april 1737 that colonel byrd advertised A in virginia gazette that on the north side of the james river a little below the falls there had been laid oil of by maj william mayo a town called richmond with streets ca feet wide A pleasant and healthy situation and a well supplied with springs of good water As the founder of richmond a writer and as a statesman he Is one of the most mosi imbor tant men of his time westover vcr is still used as a resi residence deme |