Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1824-04-01
Sketches from lie Journal Of Tourist.
CHAUMIERE.
Lexington. Jutg is, 1898.

the day at Chauniere, the far famed re-
sidence of Mr.. NJ. Our party consisted
Of ten in number; three ladies and
seven gentlemen. Thisceicbreted villa
is situated about nine miles southwest
of Lexington. Upon our arrival We
found Mr.. ~ in his usual morning
dress; which consisted OF a brown linen
round about with waist coat and small
clothes Of the same material; woollen
stockings, and coarse shoes. In this
plain garbe he commonly passes the
| forenoon of each day, walking over
his farm, and experimenting the ser
wants who are employed in keeping il
in order. At twelve, about an hour
after our arrival, he changed his dress
for one ofwhite flannel, made in tie
| old fashion, and in every respect be-
coming his years. BY birth, he is a
Virginiau; in his ndness for rural
scenery and pleasureg grounds, an En-
glishman; in manners and intelligence,
polished gentleman. While young,
he spent several years in Europe, where
he acquired that fondness f,i he beau
ties Of nature, which has since render
ed his farm one Of the handsomest in
the United States. After his return
from Great Britain, he resided for
time upon his paternal estate, on James
River. Atan early period, however,
of the settlement of the Western Coun-
try, he became one Of the pioneers TO
this fertile region; and selected as bis
permanent residence, the spot on which
he now resides. Mr. Nj. is now in his
eigbfieth year. His appearance is VEN
cradle and highly interesting. His con-
versaIion is fluent and agre eabie, "a
Bounding in good sense, and exhibiting
clear and discriminating views of hui
man character. His hospitality and
politeness, have long been proverbial.
Mrs VI. is few years younger than
her husband. She took her seat at the
piano, and played for US with as much
spirit as either Of the young ladies of
our party. Flfty-six years have wing
cd their way, since this aged pair, in all
the buoyancy fyo1th, presentedthem-
selves before the altar of Hymen. At
one, we had cake and wine handed
round: and att four, sat down to fine
substantial dinner, durng which, the
old gentleman conversed In an animal
ed strain, addressing himself by turns
to each of his guests. Among other
things, he remarked that Cincinnati and
her Steam Boats, were TO him, objects
of peculiar interest, having never had
the pleasure of seeing either.
The dwelling house Of Mr. NJ is a |
singular one, From the name, (Chau- !
miere, il would be seen that original, !
~, it was only thatched cottage, but
various additions have been making to
it for the last quarter of a centary, with
but little correspondence either as to
plan or materials. The antique win
dows, and tesselated floors, which some
ofthe apartments present, taken in con-
nexion with the appearance of ruins
which is afforded by the exterior of the
building, are calculatedto remind one
ofthe country seats of English gentle
men.
The pleasure grounds, include about
thirty acres Ia front of the house, a
beautiful lawn spreads its verdant car
pet, with here and there black walnut,
or Towering locust, in whose branches
there is throughout the summer months,
"warbing world of love- The sur
face of this lawn, which has been
"smoothed by the syibe, and levelled by
the roller" has gentle descent for two
hundred yards; and the grass upon it
is mown every other day, and carefully
swept off. On the ght of the lawn, as
you leave the house, there is an extern
sive coppice, so luxufantly interviewer
as to be almost impenetfable. Through
this run two avenues, ornamented on
the borders by lifachs, honey-suckles,
rose bushes, &c. The first Of these
embowered walks conducted us to the
foot ola small lake, about 900 yards
from the house. Soon after entering
this shady promenade, we perceived at
the termination OF the vista, a neat
dolic portico, which, based upon
stone abutment, rises from the water,
on whose bosom the inverted columns
are presented with fine effect. Near
the head OF the lake, there is a minia-
ture island, oyergrown with young trees
and Towering shrubs this is connected
10 the main land by small tasteful
Chinese bridge, the strength of which
was sufficiently tested, by our passing
over it.
Formerly there was small pleasure