Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1841-10-25
A VISIT TO MOUNT VERNON.
Washington, Sept. 4, ls4l

Washington, Sept A, l64l.
steamboat passage of six miles, TO Alexan-
dria aud drive of nine miles further in the same
southern direction, over wretched rOad, through
thin spIled, wood .covcred country, brought us, in
little less than three hours from this city, TO Mount
Vernon. The estate is completely isoluted from all
other cultivation on the eust by the broad, magifi-
cent Potomac, which sweeps partly around it in
southeast and then souihery direction on the
west and south west by broken tract of half
grown forest, through which brooklct has worn
deep and wide gorge ns way to the river.
The cultivated portion OF the estate slrealches
mainly north and north west from the mansion,
plain and modest white house Of goodly slhe
which stands near the bank OF the Potomac, from
ting westerly upon the garden ard grounds of the
estate, around which half dozen humber dwell
ings, tenaned by families of black laborers and
servants, are scattered with little regard to order
or symmetry. The estate is now the possession aud
residenc of Mrs. John A. Washington, widow of
nephew OF Judge Bushrod Washington so swift
ly do the generations of men follow each other IN
their solemn march TO the tomb
The original resting place of the Father of his
Country, aud the old family sepuchre, is south Of
the mansion, Immediately Oh the bank OF the Pot
olnac, though steep aud woody descent of sew
cra hundred feet intervenes between it and the
waller. This sepulchre is II mere excavation in
the earth, walled over in the rudest manner, and
looking far at its entrance like hop kiln
an out door cellar than place OF rest Tor the Illus
trious departed. But this cemetary is now de-
serted and Of couise dllnpdated. new and
more fitting mausoeum of brick constructed
in lS37, south of the garden, and some two or
three hundred Yards south Of the former, in
which the remains Of the Washington family are
now deposited. IL is built on ground slopng TO
the south, and the family cenietary is eXcuvaed
in the bill side, and is entered by an iron door; but
in troit Ofthls under the neat aud appropriate
brick structure Itself, separated from the outer
world only n 4
side in two marble sarcophag,,he ashes Of GEORGE
aud MARTHA WAsBINGToN. The marble eiiclO-
sures are well executed though simple, aud we be-
leve were presented by MIR. T. Sruthers, Phil
adelphid artist, ms token Of aiicctiOnate
aud lmiration for the memory of the departed
The inscription upon the top OF each merely states
The name, age and time Of the decease of each
respectively; the death of Mrs. Washington hav-
occurred in 1901 two years after that of her rever-
ed consort; and as her age is stated at IL years,
while he did not reach Go, she must have been
nearly two years his senior. There is another
inscription at the foot of Nashingtons sarcopha-
gus, but was not near enough TO read il.
After missing an hour by the sepulchre,
were conducted through the garden by cCmmu-
NEGATIVE black mau, who reioces in the appeIa-
ton of Bill Smith and who has been forty years on
the estate, having come there with Bushrnd WASH
ington otter the descease Of the X-Presdent.
The garden is rich in rare and valuable plants, a.
mong them are many planted by the hand
of w ashIhgton Peaches, pears, lemons oranges,
are thIcky surrounded by the aloe, myrtle, rose,
geranium, &C., as well as plants whose uniam.
lar names ecape me. The burning of an adjon
ing building few years since destroyed some of
them but the garden probably is little changed
since its world removed master stood in its midst,
save in the great protusion of its contents. Long
may it continue to people the mind THE visitor
with limoges Of the past, aud fifty blend its fra
GRANGE with the memory of Washington
Slowly, penslvey we turned our faces from the
rest of the mighty dead, to the turmoil of the rest
less liyng-lrom the solemn, sublime repose of
Mount Vernon to the ceaSGess intrigues, the pet.
ty srites the ant-Hill hustle of the Federal City.
Each has its own atmosphere; London and Nice
ale not unlike as they. The silent enshrou-
ded woods, the cleaning, majestic river, the bright
bengnant sky-it is fifty here amid the scenes be
Low ed and hallowed that the man whose life aud
character have redeemed Patriotism and Liberty
from the reproach which centuries of designing
knavery and hollow profession had upon
them, now calmly awaits the trump of the Arch
angel. Who does not rel DICE that the original de-
sign of removing his ashes TO this City has never
been consumma ell that they lie where the pilgrim
may reverenuy approach them unvexed by the
light laugh OF the time killing wording, unannoy-
ed by the vain or vile scribblings of the thought
less or the bnse? Thus may they repose forever!
that tie heart Of the Patriot may be inylgorated
the hopes of the Phanlhropist strengthened and
his aims exalted, the pulse of the American quick
encd and Lis aspirations purified by visit TO
Mount Vernon Fl. G.