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

works or APPENDICES, we were at once struck
with the simple beauty Of the structure and the
ouiet and secluded lOveIiness Of its situation.-
The roof is crowned with a little cupola or stee.
pie, a common thing upon the old seats Of the rich
proprietors of Virginia. and the building itself il
two stories IN height. The portion nearest the
river, and which i tronted with a light piazza,
is an addition whit1 ~ AS made To the mansion BY
the general. By this arrangement the beauty of the
wl,o,e must have been much Increased. The style
of the work and the painting have the effect Of a
frec-stone front-and though there is nothing i'm.
posing or grand in the appearance Of the house, sui
there Is an air Of substance and comfort about it
that after all is far more satisfying than magnifi.
cence.GScnding IN our cards by an old servan.
We were soon invited to enter. Not having let.
tiers to Mr.. w. the present prop'ietor-Who is
now very i'll, we did not expect To see any Of the
family. A servant accordingly, at our request,
merely accompanied US through the rooms made
interesting bv the hallowed associations that came
fast upon US as we traverscd them. In the bal. or
entry. hangs, in a glass case, the key Of tie B,:.
tile.whic6 every body has heard Of. 1t wa,
presented to Washington by Lafayette. Underi,
is a picture Of that renowned fortress-This KEY
is by no means formidable for its s,ze-beir!.
about as large as a bank key-and Of a shape BY
no means mysterious enough for a dissertation.
| The only curious portion Of it is that grssped b.
the hand in turning. 1t is solid and Of an oval
shape--and appeared to me-for | always love
to be curious IN these matters-to have been bro.
ken, on a time-and then soldered or brazeu
again. 1t probably had sumo hard ~wrenc!.es n
its day. On the whole it appeared to be a yerv
amiabIe key, and by no means equal to all The
turns it must have seen in The Revolution.
We were first shown into a small room, which
was set apart as the study Of Washington. Here
he was wont to transact all his business of Sta,e.
in his retirement. 1t was hung with pictures and
eng-avings of revolutionary cvents-and among
the miniatures was one of himself. said to be the
best likeness ever taken. Another room was
shown US which had nothing remarkable abouti,.
and we then passed into a larger one, finished
with great taste, and containing q portrait Of
Judge Washington. A beautiful organ stood in
the corner-and the fire place was adorned BY.
mantlepiece Of most splendid workmanship, ia
bas% relief. 1t is Of Italian marble, and was ne.
sented to Washington by Lafayette. This par.
of our visit was soon over. There was little {,
see in the House-and the portions referred to
were all to which we were admitted. [ could
not help admiring, however the neatness and ali,
of antiquity together, which distinguished the Sc.
veral rooms through which we passed. There was
something. also. ~fanciful in their arrangement,
that was quite pleasing to my eye-far more 50
than the mathematical exactness and right.angle..
ism Of modern and more splendid mansions. [
like these old houses and quaint apartments. that
tell you fantastic tales of their first proprielory,
and of their arChitectsj and, as you wander through
them something of the old time comes upon you |
that you would not away with IL you could-w |
could not, if you would. Passing from the houa,.
down a rude and neglected pathway, and ther'
over a little broken but already verdsnt ground,
We came to an open space, and found ourselves
standing before the humble tomb of George Wash.
ington. 1t was a happy moment to visit the spot.
There was something in the time, fortunate for
the feelings. The very elements seemed IN &C.
cOrdance with the season. The day was beau,l
ful-the sunlight was streaming full upon the
trees roundabout, and glowing with a mellow
beam upon the grave;-the place was quiet and
embosomed, and the only sound that we heard,
save that OF our own hearts, was the voice OF the
wind through the pines, or of the waters as the!
broke upon the shore below Us. Who can ana.
lyze his feelings as he stands before that sepulchre.
Who can tell the story of his associations, or do
any justice by his tongue or his pen to the emo
tiOns which the memories Of the past awaken
there! The history Of a whole country is over
towering him at once. Its strugsIe-its dark.
ness-its despair-its victory rush upon him.
Its gratitude, its glory, and its loss, pass befMe
him-and IN a few moments he lives through al
aye of interest and wonder. Strange power OF
the human mind! Whit an in;imarlon doest tbs
rapid communion with the past, and with the sP''
rlts Of the past, give. at oncesof their immorti.
Iity and our own! But it is vain to folio" o'
these feelings here. They would fill volumes
There is no inscription upon the tomb. lhs
simple words " WAsHISoToN FAMILY" ehl'ell'd
in granite, surmOunts the plain brick work lt
masonry was originally wretched, and the P'a'I
is now falling from 1t. Tn door IS well secure"
and of iron. There is total absence Of eve
~ thing like parrde or circumstance about m'
resting. place of the Hero and Father. lie serP
there in The midst Of the very simplicl'Ir'" D.,
ture. Laurel trees wave over his dust. o1er.
side. and the pilgrim who goes to stand C'
grave, finds no careful enclosure to Iorb''''%
near approach. In short Washington res!'"
obscurity just that obscurity which be voo,.
have chosen, but which seems hardly cOmpitD'
with the vast gratitude and deep reverence I"
-s..-lE r.