Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1818-02-20

The pathetic m.hrerin wh:ch Neiq.
john Reid reticss this ,.tsleci. is ,si,g.
lated to az AIKEN in our minds rrcol!cg.
ton al virtues in a e'eat nan vh,r
! should never BE- forgotten. hrd 10 cite
ish such recoIltCt,oUs We thiEA Ia No, q.
consistent with our duty.
Washington City, s6ih Sou. 1875.
DEAN pass
1t is now night, and am just rsturn.
ed from visit 10 Mount Vernon: SIC.
rendered sacred I, every American Lc.
som by the residence OF its former OWNER
/ Judge Washington was unfortunately
not at hone /; hu, from Mr.. Herbert, who
| married his niece, and from the rest Oh
The family, we received the utmost hos.
pitality and pnliteness.
The read TO Mount Vernon leads BY
Alexandria, through which we passed in.
cog. that we might not in so solemn
pilgrimage be interrupted by the intru.
siOr of imrertinent curiosity.
The sigh, is really a delightful one
BY a gente ascent you reach he summit
Ut an enihence which commands, On
the one side. an extensive country pros
gcct, and ove,lCoks, on The other. Tie
majestic1 o'"msc, Oh the bosom of which,
vessels If various descriptions are cont.
nuaIiy gliding. On the summit stand,
The venerable dwelling Of the patriarch
OF cur liberties corresponding in i,s
style with the plain and simple style Of
him who planned il. A neat little flower
garden, laid out ard trimmed with the
almost exactne.s, and ornamented with
green and hot houses, IN which flourish
the most beautiful and tropical plants,
affords a happy relief to the solemn
sadness produced BY view of thean.
tiqae structure which it adjoins, and
leafs you inseLsib!y into trair of plea.
sing melancholy mu,iug, in witch you
review, in Imagination, the manner in
which the greatest and best of men, al.
ter the most active and evertful lite,
sn!aced in retirement the evening of his
lays. Indeed every thing you behold
derives rhOusanG-iold interest from be-
ing associated with the memory of its We.
nerable proprietor.-All the splenaor Of
the most ianciful decorations, formed to
crafty nations or an individuals va.
nifty can excite no such interest
From the garden, went to visit spot
in which no enlivening. scarcely conso.
ling emotion could find a place in nv
bosom. In small vault on the river
side OF the hill, i'll constructed aud over.
grown with shrubhery, repose the bones
Of the father of his country Why is
this so Must the charge OF ingrati'ude
for ever rest upon Republic. /? 1t is now
several sessions sisce Congress solicited
the the remains" of hin whose life
had been devoted TO his country's SER
vice, in order that some suitable test,
monial of that country's respect might
b. shewn to them The venerable widow
mo cherished them as the most precious
relic, sacrificed her individual feelings
to the nations wishes, end granted the
request. Since then, as though this
apparently warm interest had been but
as studied mockery, those remains have
been permitted { noulder in the " dark
narrow ceii' where they were ct first
deposited. ! perceive that the whole Ia
mily are mortified and hurt a it-nOt
that they desire any splendid national
Mausoleum to preserve the perishable
remains of one whose virtues are
eDtombed in their hearts, and will live
forever--but that the, themselves, are
now debarrcd an opportunity OF testify
ing that deceit respect for their " dear
lost lord" which their feelings dictate to
them a. duty. Oh my country, when
W1sHINGToN is forgotten, who Of thy
Sons can ever hope to be remember
ed
had intended to have given you an
account of our SPLENDID dinings with
Mr. and Mrs Madison on Thursday last,
and with Mr.. Madison on yesterday -
but | find that my heart is not in tune
for the recital Of festivities