It was entered by a flight of steps soon after going out of Franklin and had, on each floor, two long and large rectangular rooms and several smaller—ones in front, without interfering with the two stairways in the vestibule. The first floor and one of the large upper rooms were occupied by the Richmond Whig, then edited by John Hampden Pleasants and Alexander H. Mosely. The Southern Literary Messenger had one of the large rooms, on the second floor, for printing, mailing and storing, and two smaller ones one for the fine hand lever press and the other for the editor and proprietor. The editorial room was a marvel of plainness and simplicity. There was no carpet, nor upholstering; only tables, wooden chairs, a small desk with pigeon-holes, in which were some letters from highly distinguished men and women, and a small iron safe, with a solid brass key almost as ponderous as that of the Bastille at Mt. Vernon. Yet Mr. White would have made room for Lord Bacon to have written Shakespeare's plays; or Henry B. Hirst to have composed "The Raven." This editorial room opened into both of the others. The press was worked by a man who could operate like a steam engine. But he would have his sprees and several times gave his employers a terrible scare. During his absence work had to proceed and so much type got locked up in forms and otherwise tied
