Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-08-27
BONES &c.
ilefrat 81 a letter from ge,itienu, t,q,veli,n,r
=" parSt"'d, to his friend IN re7mont, dstfea
MouNT VERNoS Juno IA 100,

eta "ioUST VERNON June ii, 1894
on wished me to date my next letter 10
you on tue TOMB oil tnat man, who is not the
boast of nation, but the glory of /, vol,
After spending several weeks at Wasb;n,r,on
and viewing the public buildings, and other en-.
riosities,-an account of wi ch has ALREADY
reached you--i prepared 90 visit Mount Vernon
Taking with mea letter of introduction TO J udrc
w ash'ng,on, from the Hon. -, was corJ;-
ally welcomed, and invited to spend several DAYS
al tic HarsiOn House.
9 Mount Vernon is situated on the west bank
Oh the fotomac, eight and a half miles below
alexandra. Ii IS an e,niuence 81 feet accord
| ing TO the admeasurement of Gen w above
the level oil the river. The house is ninety six
ieet In length, and two stories in height. On
uiie east front is a porico the Whole length of
the building, supported by a coIonnade OF eiplt
pillars The whole structure has latelyundergone
thorough repair, and has in every resnect
the same appearance as when the Gen. died
| except a small portion winch the Judge has
| built at the south end. Before the west front
OF the mansion Stretches wide lawn bounded
by serpenne ~favel walk, studded ON eacI,
side with popp,.s. Back of this walk sI,ubbe
ry is imp9 led, very thick, two or three rods in
width, Ind filled with every beautiful and aro
matte tree. The wboeis bounded by a parapet
| buiit OF brick. On each side of the lawn is n
garden. On the right you may find a most
beautiful collection of native and exotic orna
mental plants, arranged in the finest taste.
Among the most interesting to me, were the
orange and lemon tress loaded with fruit; the
pine apple, date, apricot, banana and plantain
trees; the pomegranite, amarillo, and a great
variety OF others. On the north side of this
garden, stand the hot and green houses, in
which some ofthe tropcal plants are very sue
cessttiiiy cultivated. On the south side of tie
lawn are the kitchen garden vineyard, aboun.l-
ing with great variety offiuits and vegetables
These grounds were all laid of by Cen. w. in
the manner in which you now find them
The hall of this celebrated seat is hung with
great variety of elegant prints. The first
thing however, which cought my eye, was a
| huge maplne iron key, which has screamed in
the affrighted ear of thousands as they passed
the threshold of the Bast,le. This kew was
taken by the Metropolitan guards under the
command of the Marquis Della Fayettc, on The
morning of the 5th of July 1888, when the
bastile was devoted to destruction by the Ma
tiopal Convention. The Bastiie Won will re-
collect was in possession of the mob the day
! previous, and its governor and officers slain.
But the demolishing hand had not YET been laid
on tins engine OF desPolisn. This remained for
| the Marquis who was equally ayerse to despo-
! tism, and to the wild spirit of anarchy falsely
called republicanism, which then distracted
| Paris. Fayette sent this rnonstrous kew 10 Gen.
svashington and IL now hangs in the very spot
There are four public rooms in this establish
ment, two sitting rooms a dining room, and a
drawing room. The Judge has recently con-
| verted the generals study into another dining
room. The Generals library is in good order and
contains very handsome collection of books.
''The land about Mount Vernon is covered
with forest timber, which gives il very shady
and retired appearance. Through these woods
| as ride along, frequently see the American
1 and g. n
| speed for the thic1ets The deer are very a.
| bundant, and have been propagated from those
formerly contained in the park, which has long.
since been broken dc,vn.
There IS one subject of high interest to every
writer at Mount Vernon; to every friend of his
country, who has spark of gratltude,-to every
! friend OF the rights ofman. IL is the tomb of
| the immortal Washington The vault in which
his remains are deposited lies south of the house,
! at the distance OF about one hundred Yards
situated on tue very brow of the hill which over
! looks the river II is completely oyersIadowed
with trees, and several cedars eight or ten inches
| IN diameter are growing on the vault. Its very
humble; and it seems scarcely possible that SO
mean place can contain the remains ofso rreat
a man. The ccdars are nearly stripped of their
! green boughs by the great number of visitors.
who pluck them and carry them away as me-
meDtos. The generals remains were deposited
| III three collins the first lead, tie second uaho-
/, gony. the t'lra cedar. Over the whole is spread
| a cloth ofbiack silk velvet. BY his side sleeps
| the amiable partner of his life, the companion
ct his Joys and sorrows. at a short distance
H. the remains of venerable father and ofotlIer
relatives.
SIS il not shame that this great man, who
under Providence, gave independence TO A
| inorIca, aud contributed more than any other
| individual towards forming and consolidating the
| national government, should have no monument
| erected TO his nam ? He needs no scuptured
| marble to hand down to posterity the record of
his achievements. or to keep alive the fame of
gratitude which will forever burn in the hearts
| of American citizens. But snail any future pat
riot hope TO have his memory pcrpetuated when
| Washington lies neglected, Nota stone tells
the stranger where the hero is laid. No proud
column declares that his country is grateful. |
cannot forbear quoting a few lines from dis
course pronounced before the PENNSYLVANIA
academy of fine arts, by Jos. Hopknson Esar
''the stranger who in years 10 come, shall visit
our shore, will exClaim, show me the statue of
your Washington that l may contemplate the
| majestic form which cpcompassed his mighty
/ soul, that may gaze upon those features once
| lighted with every virtue.n f" Alas there is no
| such statue" Lead me then American, to the
tomb your cOu1try has provided for her deli;
! veror; to the everlasting monument she has
erected 10 his fane.n Alas his country las
I not given tomb; size has erected no monu-
meDt to his fame. His grave is in the bosom
| NJ his O,on soil, and tic cedar that was watered
/ m i,acr Le, = ..ffs 81.