Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1830-06-02
VISIT TO MOUNT VERNON.
The senior editor of the Ulster Sent


Thc senior editor of the Ulster Scnti-
mel mas given very interesting account
of an excursion made by the Steam boat
Columbia to Mount Vernon, from which
we extract the following speaking of
the tomb and residence Of Washington,
he says:
| "Ah. what shall l say of this sacred
vault, containing the remains of our i'm
mortal Washington-"first in war, first
in peace, and first in the hearts of his
countrymen." In what language shall |
describe the spot, where the good and
the great from every quarter of the civil
lied world have paid the homage of pro-
found respect, s. shed the tear of regret.
The tomb of Washington is simple
structure Of brick, situated at the verge
of sloping lawn, about one hundred
PAGES from the house. 1t faces the east.
1t is enclosed with rude paling of oak,
and the door, very plain, is made Of pine.
Four or five tall cedars, from six to eight
inches in diameter, are growing upon it.
On one side the wide lawn, ahording
rich pasture, spreads out to the n. w.
while on the other, toward the river, and
not far from II, the bank suddenly be-
comes sleeper, and is heavily timbered
with oak, cedar, and other forest trees.
AS the vault was not to be opened, and
no other induccmcnt of delay existed, |
rested spell at the door, and then, with
few trifling relics, in solemn mode,
wound my way along the path to a
turreted summcr-housc upon the most
elevated part of the mount. This build
ing, like the other more important ones,
appears to be rather in dilapidatcd
state. Every part of the interior, afford
ing a smooth surface, is Inscribed with
the names and residence of visitors from
Europe and America, and the settees,
wcathcr-bc atcn and rickcty, have been
deprived of several rundlcs, imagine,
as memcntos of the place. Having sat
in the scat which the colourcd ciccrcno
assured me was that usually occupied by
Washington, and taken a look through
has telescope, next approached, on a
gravcDcd walk, the unostcntatious domi-
Gil itself
/ Washington's house is, in every sense
of the word, plain, republican cdificc-
one story high-thc threshold eyed with
the ground-not equal in size or style OF
architecture to the proud mansions that
line the banks of the Hudson. 1t is fur
nishcd in an ample, though not costly
manner. The apartment containing the
library, which is not large, has undergone
no change since his dcceasc.-Thc
books are placed in case with glass
doors, and appear to be modern works,
richly bound. In the hall hangs the key
of the Bastilc, which was sent to him
from Paris on the breaking out of the
French Revolution, after that cXccrable
prison had been demolished by the popu-
lace. 1t has three wards, and is about
four inches in lcngth-is well finished
and, instead of an eye at the end for a
handle, it was simple cross bar in the
form of II. From either extremity OF
the main cdiice, the kitchen, the ser
wants house, stove house, and other out
houses, (smallcr of course, though in ex-
tcrnal appearance the samc) extend IL
regular order, around semi-circular car
rage way which leads westwardly to,
wards the public road. Farther of is a
long brick stable, flankcd by other shell
ters of timber for the storage Of fodder.
The view from the portlco along the
eastern front is perhaps more interesting
than that from any other country seat in
the u. States. The Potomac, at Mount
Vernon, is wider than for some distance
above or below, occasioned by the en-
trance of Broad Creek, on the left banl
and bend in its course on the right
Near the point thus formed by the juno
ton of Broad Creek stands Fort Wash
ington, the star spangled banner proud.
waving over it, and terminating the pros
pect in that direction. Below, far as thu
eye can reach, the glittering waters rol
onward to the sca-whilc opposite ,on thu
Maryland shore, the green woods ant
open spaces, rising gradually from TIN
beach to height corresponding witt
that of the fort, present an agreeable
picture for the admirers Of rural scenery