Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-04-23

a IulCh uldV WY
arc. If no shape ut all, and his head was
%l""noted by a fox-skin cap, that bristied IN
1,sc,;ons. and lent a queer expression to has
al" 10 carried a stick to support himself, and
ace ,.J n he the colored Cicetone of the place.
y fund him quite spacious anu cominun'ca-
80 Wishing to see the old tomo-for the one
~ =. he bodv rests is called the neW one, 10
"",,,Ji,tinction-our old fellow led the way,
80 as We went along, he US some partcu-
:. 81 The attempt to steal the remains many
,,o. Il seems, from his account, that
y ss, the person who attempted this outrage,
o,e of the servants Of the family. and OF a
- and abandoned character. In the words
rr i.nc aid attendant, he was "a eighty bad pup
.. proaably with a hope of getting out Of
L',,,rv with has prey. and Of making some sPe-
- !; with il, abroad, he contrived to wrench
:. ,ns fonb door, in the night time. with a
'N" h,r We had now arrived at the old grave
md a, the passage to the sepp,chre is still in
- observation, we were pointed to the bro
'"D Dorron of the old door, where Fisher made
!. attempt. By good fortune he did not sue
.eI The coffin was too well secured. Still
b., hire Of the skull Of one Of the male membcrs
4 ,e fayiS. and that of u female child. Fish
..Nsrward. attempted to set hre to the man
'boose. He was discovered IN this and the
~" ,,rrible business-and Oh examination.
Hli on, I'D Guide, the skulls were found sewed
~H" Il. nod clothes. How likely the story is,
" .a.i Judge. see nothing improbable in it
.,.E-snd the narrator had no object IN telling
lfise one.
80, hi. sncic&t of the famiiy-and accordingly.
~ mod lesning upon the broken cate which
',aos before the door Of the old tomb. put hin
.s train, BIZ a few questions. "ln front OF
now vraye place. yondet," said he, =" lie bu-
"A ,bn1dred people of color" These, it seem
4 yer, slaves of the plantation who from time
:, .;,oe had died here. lie spoke OF the great
d,dness Of W ashinston and his emanclpating
,asndred Of his people. "His wife dld the
anne. too" added he. There were now. he sand,
~, about fifteen attached to the establishment
Tie estate is diyided-and but a few acres per-
ain IN Inc waiting inheritance of John Washing
,oo the present proprietor OF this delightful stu
,roo. In the hands of George Washington. the
Whole ur,uer,y embraced four thousand. "He
va, always an early %stirrer, sir. aud used to ride
v,od ali his farm, often, before breakfast" Ii
. well known that in one Of these excursions he
not vet. and took the cold which wa, fatai to him.
p,,,inr from Que thing to another without much
c~n6ec,ion, he went on 10 say-referrins tONash-
,ogtou-..I never see that man laugh TO show his
teeth-hs done all his laughing inside" This
vas capital bit. and | thought it worth a page OF
description. We then required to Lafayette's
,isit in 1925. ale were obliged TO tote him
NJ abaut," said he-by which | understood that
NE General vas so overcome that ne was literal
IS supported by the arms Of attendants. in
Galrpd how he appeared at the tomb. lie cried
ike a little infant" "Did he go ina" | asked.
20 yes-he went IN, ir-alone-andh lie made
amighiy long talk thsre-but don'tknow what
twas about" All these little things were Jew
ds loved to hear such simple variations from
such a source-and it was with reluctance / turn
ID away, after gathering a relic or two, and fol-
owed car old guide up 20 the house again. But
We lad seen all we could see, and after g~lancing
stthe garj-e and green house, which appeared in
al lhe coming beauty Of spring, and turning one
more melancholy gaze upon tine cluster Of build
lns, which had once been improved by the great
One who now slept in their shadow, we entered
or carriage and rode slowly away from Mount
Vernon.
shall ever rccollect this visit with a chasten-
I'd pleasure. Every American ought TO 20 to that
aoly spot, and renew ms spirit Of patriotism-his
owe Of country-and his generation for the great
aad good character Of him who loved it best
Would to Heaven that they who now seem to be
departing from the polar principles which he be.
qaedtned US, mould make one last pilgrimage to
ae Tomb of Washington! If there they felt no
fecallng influence, | should look on them a. be-
yOHd all hope of return.
And now farewell to the Capital Much doth
H s''eye me to part from so much that is attract.
We ard excellent. | leave much accomplish
NenteSery way. leave learning and eloquence
lad music. | leave the roof of kind friends, and
ne hearth OF a home. l leave the young flowers
md the aus Of the sweet SOUTH" Yet to New
hGsiand | look with a yearning of a strayed
"'d' As follow the steps of Spring to our own
,o''er Skies, may | ind bloom ON the path. Sure
Ian That kind hearts will be found as | 90 on
JrOCgh Its borders, even If snow and Ice keep
ooNa me Serdure. Good night! l commend
you to all good angels. NJ.