Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-06-17
VISIT TO MONTICELLO.

VISIT TO MONTICELLO.
The correspondent of the Portland Advertise
thus records his observations and reflections a
the grave, the present. and the house, the late re
sidence Of Thomas Jefferson.
In the afternoon took horse and rode ia
Monticello, which is distant about three miles
from Charlottesville. went BY one or two p an.
ta,ions-with fine buildings upon them, forded
a small creek, the water in which was now high
wound round the mountain, on wretched road,
among stones and gulies-snd after passing twc
| or three gate-ways, came TO one which suppos-
ed led TO Monticello. for it looked different from
the rest. hanging suspended on a semi tone
wali,-a semi rail circular fence, L ppcned the
gale and rode perhaps two bundled yards
met another gate and opened that-"hen there
was an appearance OF a grave yard. | was
jus, beginning to cali up these rehec tiOns, which
will come over all men, standing near the graves
of 1.-The mighty dead, when 10 aud behold, |
saw printed placards pasted on almost every tree.
o every old shed, and every old rail. Curiosity
prompted me To read them, which being DOME
the man must have biuntrd feelings, whose Gu
riusiy alone will promp, him to 90 further. The
present occupants talks in a two colu,nned pla
card of sundry grievances" of having his gate
left open. aud losing $50 bushels Of wheat, and
90 bushels of Corn, "--of his house brIng enter.
ell by force and his servants bribed, "-and there.
fore he cannot pat up with it,-and therefore,
what? exclude ali from entering as he ought, IT
he had made up his mud to do sol No! but he
offers to peddle out the reputation OF Thomas JET
Ierson for 2. SO cents a pers"n;-to shew off his
letters and his grounds far $50 cents plece;-
to make money out Of the relics and name OF o
great man whose seat he occupies!-TIllsI came
to this mprcenarv item had resolved to leave
his grounds.-an item so unlike, SO unworthy at
the Virginia character. so different from any thing
have ever met with in her poorest taverns, her
meanest novels or her best houses-in her high
ways or bye-wayss So dl,honora5le too to the fair
fame of the Safe But now, if the occupant
was ready for bargain, as a true Yankee was
ready for one too 1 ,pouii see Monticello, if
money could ouy sight, though could have un.
da.SJopt The occupants feelings, II he had left
tae merceracY g 80 cents out of the piacard, land
wonih have cpaien,si myself with glance at The
grave of Jrffyrsun without going farther had
t&0 objects IN view, one was to beat him down"
IN the price, for amusement's sake, aud ask him
ii he would not take less, or if "he would not
show me little for half price," or stake pay in
barter" for in truth was angry. end Of course
impudent. at this unmany traffic in dead mans
name. My other object was TO get bill, (which
| presumed would read after this sort:
Mr.. b Dirt to
Dr.. B -ly
To viewing The county Of A'bemarIe from Mon.
ticcllo, 81 w
To going into the chief of the rooms in Mon-
To NV attendance Qor servant said, he at
tended himseT( %
To turning the keys 70
To viewing the grave, w
Received Payment, 80 so
| was perfectly serious about the bill, and
would have had one, or would not have paid
for it would have looked SO well, all in print
and then TO be circulated in Virginia. Full OF
these resolutions. went to the House. dogs
bow. WOW. WOW was the first salutaton. found
a servant, and inquired for the master, but the
master was away-at Charlottesville with his ia.
n wand thus no bill was to b. obtained, and,
wnat was worse. none Of the interior Of Monticello
was 10 BE- seen. waited awhile, but in vain. |
found the grave of Jefferson in a small grave yard.
But brick covering is at present upon it, level
with the surface of the earth. | am told, how.
ever, that a monument is in preparation. The
dirt is now washed over the bricks. Many OF
the bricks themselves are washed away. The
stone wall around has fallen down. Old leaves
and old bushes have accumulated, till every thing
about has wild aud neglected aspect. Indeed
Monticello itself has an air Of desolation. The
roads are washed out. The barn and sheds
are falling, or have fallen. The roofs Of the me-
GRO apartments look rusty and messy. All is
desertion, desolation. One cannot now on the
summit Of Monticello, participate in the agricul.
tural enthusiasm Of Jefferson. when 10 his letters
he spoke of his peas and clover. or respond to his
off used quotation, - F,unina amo sytcasq"e
ingIorious, "-striking though it may be, for 1t:
commanding view Of surrounding scenery, and
a. Unfolding in its bosom the relics Of the great,
the admired, the gifted. the learned. and oh that