Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1830-05-22
DISSERTATION OF MONTICELLO.

DESCRIPTION OF MONTICELLO.
From the letter Of a correspondent we take
the following extract descriptive Of Monticello,
the seat Of The late venerable patriot, Mr.. JET
VERSION. Baltimore american.
"CHARLorrEsvILLE, 10th May, 1880.
"We reached Charlottesville this morning.
after ride through very pleasing part OF Viz
yinia. This description cannot be applied. how
ever. TO the thirty-six miles between Fredericks-
burg and Orange Court House. a mere forest,
with scarcely farm intervening, traversed BY
vaat is rather jocularly called Orange Turnpike,
and which had SO far that character as the de-
mand Of toll can impart it. The genius OF Nc
Adam would feel pang at beholdns the VIOLA
ton of all his principles of road making In every
part Of this Virginia highway, which Is only sur
passed by some of the streets in our good city.
4 few miles from Orange Court House the scene
frightened. The mountains began to encompass
us, und the undulating valleys inclosed in them,
10 smile under the hand of toll. Thence to Char
ottesvlle, the ride was pleasing and picturesque,
4 number of fine farms and gentlemen's seats ap-
peared successfully in view through the whole
day; and as the wheat is forward all through this
country, the landscape was clothed in the rich
est green.-The :. South West Mountain"
skirted AMI bounded the landscape on the west,
forming bold and dark perspective to this rich
foreground.
Charlottesville We approached along the left
bank of the Rivanna, from the opposite bank
of which Monticello rises some five or six hun
dred teet, of a conical shape, and rather less
striking, in its'hrst aspect, than several OF It's
neighbor mountains. Nor is the view OF 1t much
improved from Charlottesville. which lies on
rising. ground, embosomed by mountains of vari-
Gus height and distance, the Blue-Ridge forming
the western rampant of this cultivated valley
1t is pretty little town, commanding fine view
of the buildings of the University, lying mile
to the west, and wearing very architectural air
at distance. Before visiting, however, this
nursing of Mr.. Jeferson's old age, we set out
on our pilgrimage TO the residence OF the sage
himself. which is about two miles TO the south,
one mile of that distance being occupied by the
ascent to the summit of the mountain. Having
mistaken our wav, we followed an unusual road,
wild aud neglected, as indeed every thing now is
about this venerable spot, perhaps not less veneer
able to the imagination on that account This
led US through plantations Of Scotch broom, now
in full blossom, tangled and Of great height, on
issuing from which we found ourselves in front OF
the mansion, which looks eastwardly over the
VALLEY traversed by the Rivanna.
The view is certainly a very noble one. had
visited Monte VideO, near Hartford, and my COM
psnion had seen Mount Holyoke, both celebrated
a, panoramc views The former has been pre-.
ferred to the prospect from the tower of Pisa in
Tuscany, and my companion pronounced this to
be vet fner--Monte Yideo has the advantage
of Monticello in height, in the clear mountain
lake which unexpectedly meets YOU at the top,
and in the woody aud precipitous conical rock
which forms the extreme summit. Belween the
landscapes seen from them should be puzzled
to decide. Monticello commands a great semi
circle of mountains, (the Blue Ridge on the
north west, with some. yet remoter submits seen
dimly in the distance: aud we locked with some
interest to decry in the northern horizon, the
peak of some mountain in Maryland which we
were told might be discovered i'll fine day from
this insulated elevation. The nearer landscape
being highly cultivated country, the surface of
which undulates finely. and swells gradually up-
ward to the foot Of the ridge, is Of course very
picturesque, and is not little enlivened by the
town of Charlottesville and the University spread
at your feet, both occupying elevated knobs in
this extensive valley. The coloring of this land
scape, which fades away in the blue distance to-
wards the north east and is partially hidden by a
woody belt of forest on the crest of Monticello,
towards the south west, is sometimes quite gaudy
from the peculiar hue Of the soil, which is of a
Bright vermilion. such as have seen no where
else. tits impossible to describe the strong con-
trast thus produced to the general verdure,
, where field has been recently ploushed or is
set with young corn, or where road runs wind
ing through the valley. The prospect towards
the south east and south is of very different
character.-There the forest seems interminable,
and looks more like the ocean than the land
In the south west, ''Willis's Mountain rises
in the extreme distance like lofty island in this
sea of verdure; and in the same direction in clear
weather, NAV be deserted the Peaks of Otter, the
highest SUBMITS in Virginia, towards which we
shall wend our way tomorrow. This illimitable
forest, . hch strikes all Foreigners with surprise
in our landscape, always impresses me strongly
with the idea of the vast resources for the habita
ton and .ustenance Of man, yet undevelOped II
. our boundless confines.
II is this part of the prospect that is overlook
ed by the apartments which were more peculiar
ly occupied BY Mr.. Jefferson, and which are II
the south wing of the building. Here was his Ii
-. ,nd cbamher With a room YDOrDDriated [