Vandalia Whig and Illinois intelligencer. [volume] (Vandalia, Ill.) 1832-183?, 1833-07-17
From the correspondent of the Portland Daily Adv
VISIT TO MR.. MADISON.


left Charlottesville little before mid
night in the mail stage, and found myself
here by day light this morning, distance
thirty miles. As Mr.. Madison's plantation
is only five miles distant from this. | resolv
ed to stop, and visit almost the last of the
Romans. | took horse, raining though il
was, sand after going over Virginia road
about three miles, which you probably know
is the worst in the world, for here 1t is 'un
constitutional 10 have good roads, came
to by-path, a sort of carriage road that
led into the woods, when kept riding and
ridingror nearly two miles, or one mile and
half, passing one gate that led to Planta
ton, till came to another, where met an
old negro, who told me the way, and added
that his .old master would be glad to see
the young gemman,' that Mr.. Madison rails
ed him. aud that he (the negro was now
= sixty one years of age and Mr., Madison
was a good man. and would not let his over
seer make fight with the men, thus running
on with communicative loquacity, seeing he
had found white man to listen to his talk.
rode on then through well built gate
on the road way,-leading through an i'm
mense field of rye-by yet another gate,-
a
house, built in the Virginia fashion, with
wings, projecting portco, walk in 'front.'
&c. &c.
What on earth could send a man here,
said to myself-here, so far from the road,
so far from the neighbors, so far from the
village, the Post office, in this hide-and-go-
seek place in the woods, where it is difficult
to find dwelling, no matter how conspicu-
Gus it may be. But such is the Virginia
fashion. The Virgnians get off from the
road with the same zeal we rowd on,-and
here you may travel where there is no signs
OF life, but where, if you were 10 sound al
trumpet to call men together, they would
jump up as if from the earth. Truly, truly
this is retirement, this habitation in such al
iield-in such a valley-wth the morning
music of the whippoorwlll aud the evening
song of the nightingale, undisturhed by the
little hustle in the neighboring negro camps.
or the solitary traveller, who, perchance,
stops here, as have done, to pay the hon.
age that it is due to character, to patriotism,
to an upright and well done political career.
As | fastened my horse, and drew near TO
the door Of the yard, with a well fitted and
well painted fence, was musng much on
the changes that come over man in the
course OF long life. How can we accus.
tom ourselves to such solitude after all the
hustle of an active life to which we have
been habituated? How can we withdraw
and forget men and things, and live and feed
on thoughts within US, aud with the few un-
varying companions that our home affords.
Cicero, in that admirable treatise of his
nut int of 20,
i think it is ne, but my memory of the
reading of other days is even now growing
rusty--the true lesson for enjoying happy
old age or Z change Of life, or meek subms.
sion to circumstances. 1t was not long be,
fore saw living exemplifcation and prac-
tiser of all these lessons with yet another
aid for the enjoyment of happy old age
than Cicero has spoken of.
raped at the door. A servant, courte-
Gus, well-bred, and welidressed, came to
my call. | sent in my card, for not expect.
ing to return this way, had refused letters
offered me by friends in Washington, to Mr..
and Mrs. Madison. The card was carried
to Mr.. Madison--and was invited into the
parlor, in the centre Of the building, full of
the portraits of eminent individuals, among
and Lafayette, | think, but am not certain,--
and of paintings also, representing differ.
emit scenes and passions, but chiefly of re-
ligious character. The furniture was of
Shat rich old cast, which, while it keeps up
the idea of magnilicenoe, carries US back to
other days, and reminds, that we are in the
houses of our ancestors, of our fathers
Mrs. Madison soon appeared, and after lit
Tie cUfryersrtion, carried me into her hus-
bands room, and presented me to Mr.. Mad
ison. He was ying on his he'd, in "A thick
silk robe-reading, with the book near at his
side, and his spectacies put in to preserve
the place His ption was generous an d
cot-teqas. His conversation fluent, agreea.
BILE, v.sore US, and frank, and displayed even
on common topics, instruction and interest.
T.:.re is no decay of mind, mot the least
visible decrease of that intellectual vigor,
which ever distinguished him. His memo
ry seems to be as good as overland he
speaks Of trade, of improvements, public
health, and of the different sections of the
country, with all the interest of man who
is calmly. but zealously surveying what his