Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-01-17
From the New-England Galaxy.
VISIT TO MOUNT VERNON.

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10 make. but never expected TO have II IN my
mower. at least, so pleasantly as have made it.
In The evening of the 22d of this month was
in company with some OF our New-England
men. and others, from the North, and the sub
;ee, Of conversation turned upon our pilgrim
fathers who had landed upon the bleak and IN
bospitable shores Of Plymouth at this Indictment
season Of the year; :heir hardwood, their trials,
their meek forbearance, their love OF learning,
and their reliance on God, came all to our minds
with that intensity which distance often enhan
ces in the minds Of those who love their birth
place. Not only the dark, but the brighter
aide was in view Our towns and cities with
their pleasant dwellings, and their palaces, and
temples of worship, and Of human learning, a.
rosr also to our recollectioDs. The mighty dead
and the graves in which their ashes rest were
no, forgotten. In this frame Of mind, excited
by remembering the day. was retlrins 10
re Il when I received from professor OF Capt.
Patr,dge's Institution an invitation to attend
them or an excursion TO Mount Vernsn Ibis
readily accepted, when understood that eve
Nv arrangement had been made to facilitate the
;onrnev 4 steamboat had been chartered
judpe Washington consulted-and all things
were in a happy train. On the morning OF the
Odd. at half past nine o'clock, we embarked,
from The bridge which spans the Potomac at
Washington, for Mount Vernon Capt 2. his
Professors and Cadets, corps Of Cadets under
Can't. Cobb from George,own,-(,his seminary
has lately been established 1.-THE Hon Samuel
Smith. Col. Roberdeap, Col. Jones, AdJutant
General of U. s. army, and Mr.. Weems, mem
Der of Congress, with myself and a few others,
made up the party At Fort Washington on
the Maryland shore, we stopped and took IN
Col. Armistead and Captain Childs, and from
thence proceeded to Mount Vernon. This was
the frs, time was ever On the Potomac. The
s,rean, il broad and the waters smooth and
safe. | had often heard OF the immense num-
her of canvass-back ducks on this river, but
now could bear testimony 10 Hocks sporting
ON this stream, containing countless thousands
of those exquisite birds. The hocks as they
Aasted the stream, o. arose al some disturbance
among them, were frequently an hall mile or
more in length, and nearly as much IN width.
A, For, Washington there is tine prospect OF
the Potomac, extending towards Washington
.;x,esn miles and down the current nearly as
far. No prospect have ever seen exceeds TINS
in beauty as a mere waite: prospect. Az ABOUT
half mast twelve O'Clock we landed al Mount
Vsrnon. This manor is on the right bank nf
the river twenty miles from the seat Of Govern
mem, hut The distance does not seem so much,
=. the Capital IS constantly in view the whole
voyage from the Federal city 10 this place On
rs.cb;np Mount Vernon the Cadets landed and
won, TO the brow Of the hill TO form into CON-
NAMES. While this ceremony was taking place,
Col, Jones and myself and others approached
IN. man,ion-house, viewing the premises as We
wen, along. Judge Washington received US
all with srea, cordially, and in the manner OF
a well-bred man. The Cadets were formed IN
columns of companies and marched TO the man
s;on.bouse and formed in line in front OF II, and
were .hen introduced TO Judge Washington,
who addressed the young gentlemen In lew
afF.e,iona,e words; then the Cadets were form.
ed into funeral procession, and with arms re-
xer,ed marched TO the tomb OF The Father OF
his country,--opening to the right and lett they
encircIed the enclosure and resting on their
arms reversed, attended TO an address from
General Samuel Smith, Senator OF the United
S,stes from Maryland He spake from the
consecratec mound. 1t was fair, kind, patri-
otto. and honest speech, 10 which l listened
With bare-headed reverence. This being finish
al the corps fred three yollies over the tomb,
and were then addressed by Capt. Partridge on
the motives Of his visit TO this place, in their
company. This address partook OF his usual
character and good sense. From the character
and education Of the Great Man who slept be-
low, he ingeniously drew an argument in sup
mort of his own system Of education. Previous
~ 10 this. the door OF the tomb was opened by
Judge washington himself, who descended in
10 the vaul, and designated the collins Of the
General and his Lady. The eemetry contains
many other bodies besides these. The vault
ia made on the deelivity Of the hill, its IN
terual heish, is about Eve feet, its length about
twelve ieet. The walls are Of rude free stone;
the arch is turned with brick. It's more than
half above the surface OF the ground The door
is not sufficiently close to keep out the air, and
the ground is so dry that the collins bore but
few marks Of decay. There is slight picket
fence around the cemetery, and the ground in
cluded is an oblong square, about twenty feet
one way. and about sixteen the other. In this
enclosure there was one oak Of considerable
AIR. and seventeen esdars Of not a large growth.
On the southwestern side, within few feet Of
The lShce, are two6ne oak trees Of large growth,
for hat shore; al the other end, which is the
door Of the tomb, are three beautiful oak trees.
On the largest Of these latter were hanging two