Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-09-13
MONTICELLO.

writer in the National uaLe''e' 49,
scribing his ride from Warrenton TO Cna''o''e''
ville.-a ride which he says "is upon !"e ""'''
agreeable, the equipment o! the stages Is ''''"s'
the movement is rapid, one or more OF !he orN'
ers superIative. and all Of them very good "'
line is part of the Piedmont, when oes'""'"s
at Washinton ends in Georgia, anu mas 'e''
enterpr,sing proprietor. Mr. s"l'h:"--'"e" p'o
ceeJs to describe, in the following manner MS
v;s;, IN Monticello. the seat of the late President
JEEFERsoN:
One s,ay may be spent most asreea6iy at Cnar'
Iottesville, the morning in visil 10 .'!"""'e"
and the afternoon in another to the Oh'e''"J "
Virginia, the urbanity aud P"liteness o' ~"o.e
professors can onv be exceeded ov the,r 'a,'n's
add learning. They are frequently visited oy
persons who are entire strangers anu nave "o
claim upon them, not even that OF an lntro'uc'
tori letter. and vet thew have uniformly sustain
.J Tho Unsuitable character of the state.
The pilerimaec to Monticello flor such 1t may
no called. was of course one Of the first objects
of our own arrangement, and may be accomplish
pd in a carriage though the ascent Is rather Ia.
tiouing. II IS distant about three miles, anu
tho summit il about five hundred feet above the
Rivsnna. being crowned by the Mansion House.
The view from the latter, of the Blue Ridge, OF
the North. the South. and other mountains. nas
all the richness and masnihcence when lame
bas attached to it. The house is antlquated IN
| annearance, aud from its having passed INTO the
hands of another proprietor since the death OF
its distinguished founder, it Is ct course stripped
of much which gave it interest; memorials. how
ever. are here and there left. 1t occupies
large area; and its exterior IS imposing; out II
would be difficult TO give it genuine appe 'ation
in architecture. Its interior arrangement - IN
trcate. and should think inconvenlent, and 1t
sbounds With what may be called notions, which
cumber it. One of OR good Philadelphia house
keeper's wives would have readily eciIPseu the
,rsa, President of the United States in the latter
particulars.
One of the rarlor floors is pannelIed like door,
and the wood variegated; another floor Is laid IN
fish bone pattern like a pavement OF brick
These devices are common abroad but not IN this
country, and thew have great advantage in keep
ing floor perfectly level and without warplng,
which are almost impossible under other circum.
stances. in old buildings There is a Chinese
eoing that NAV be heard at great distance, and
weights SO fixed as to tell bv their descent the
day of the week. cum multis aiis.
| It's said that Mr.. Jefferson spent about eighty
thousand dollars on his mansion and IN improv-
inc his grounds, exclusive of the labor of his ne
oroes. horses and oxen, to the same end, which.
by the way Virginia economist never thinks OF
computing AS he has those things already on hand.
Much of the expenditure must however have oc.
Cured in leveling the summit OF Monticello and
in getting road to it. The great and absorbing
point OF interest vet remains. As you approach
the house a small enclosure Of rough dry stone
work indicates the family burying place. Two
f,o
in it. the upper one being that Of daughter Of
MIR Jefferson and the lower OF some 3ther mem.
her Of his family. Ten or twelve feet from the
upper tomb. small unobtrusive pavement Of
bricks, seven feet BY three feet. on plane with
the Ground and half covered BY its washiDgs of
dirt, cover the remains Of the man who once FILL
ed so large a share of public attention, and gave
such signal directions to popular opnons-Tho
mas J.lferson-the Author of the Declaration o!
Independence and one of the most active con-
tributurs to ia President Of eight years Of the
United Srates-the purchaser Of Louisidna--the
Patriotic Sage and the Founder Of the Universe
ty of Virginia. How striking a contrast ia his
now humble and neglected dwelling to the vast
sphere in which its master spirit once moved!-
We nav canOniZe the memories OF our great
men, and lavish verbiage in their praise; but
there is no evidence, from the desolation which
Surr0 unu8 tneIT graves tdt VIC ehpeSt cFef !"
see either political any other kind Of miracles
done at them; or even to give that strong stimu-
lus to virtue and to patriotism which is created
BY the view of splendid and imposing mould
ment to their name and achievements.
The present proprietor Of Monticello, DR.. Bar.
CLAW. seems disposed to do every thing which
could be reasonably expected of him in yielding
to the public curiosity to visit so celebrated
place: this facility has, however, been much abus.
ed, and impropriet,es of gross kind committed.
| He is. however. invariably attentive to persons
who come introduced; others are placed under
certain restrictions"
There is a movement under consideration at
Washington. which may result in the removal OF
the Deposits. 1t is well understood that Mr..
Duane. the present Head of the Treasury, will
consent to no such measure. In this resolution
he is supported in the Cabinet by the Secretaries
OF State and War. The Secretary of the Navy,
the Attorney General. and the Postmaster Gene.
rail-, are understood to 90 with Amos Kendall