Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1841-05-14
From Combc's Tour in thcUnitcd States.
MANSION AND FARM AT NORTH
REND

From Combc's Tour in theUnited States.
MANSION AND FARM AT NORTH
BEND.
General IIarrison's residence at North
Bend consists of IA centre house of two stor-
les, now covered with clapboards, but which
the General told us is really built of logs,
and two clap-boarded wings of one story
each. 1t stands about a quarter of mile
from the Ohio in ii grass park, having few
cherry trees in the distance, and several la
burnums close to the door. The park may
contain forty or fifty acres, enclosed with a
rail fence. A toot-path worn i'll the grass,
but not formed by art, leads from the gate
to the door of the house. The floor of the
house is about fifteen or eighteen inches
abo We the grass, and three stones of incrcas-
ing thickness, undrcssed, not built on each
other, hut each laying on the ground, at
successive distances, serve as steps TO sur
mount this height The centre house has
much the appearance ola log cabin. The
principle room in it is coarscly finished, and
the wooden fire blazes on the hearth. One
Of the wings, however, is finished like a
modern house, and comfortably furnished as
"A drawing room. Between the park and the
rivera canal is forming, to connect Cincin-
natl with the interior Of the State.
Gen. Harrison was suffering from a violent
headache when we arrived, but Mrs. Iar-
rison gave us a kind welcome, and the Gen
cra at length appeared He is now sixty
seven, rather above the middle stature. and
he s,oops considerably. His temperament is
nervous and bilious, his head is long, of full
average height, but not remarkably broad
The anterior lobe is above an average, both
in length from front to back and height; and
both the observing and rejecting organs are
well developed. The head is obviously fiat
in TIE region OF responsiveness. The NOR
a! region seemed to present an average de-
vclopcncnt. His eye is vivacious; and his
countenance is highly expressive of thought !;
indeed his whole appearance Is much more
! that ola literary or scientific man, than of IA
military commander. His habitation pre-
scented unequvocal indications of humble
fortune indeed may say (and l say ii
without the least feeling Of disrcspecO OF
poverty; yet his manner and appearance
were those of man Of the world, who was
familiar with the best society, and who, in the
retirement Of his farm at the North Bend,
retained the polish and appearance ola gem
tlcman.
. In making these remarks, may appear
to be trcSpassiug beyond the limits of lcgili-
mate publication, and ,rcnclling on the pr-
vaccs of domestic life but at the time Of my
visit, and for many subsequent months, all
/ the circumstances of General Harrison S con-
duct and condition, private as well as public
were described and discussed in almost every
periodical in the Union; and | state little
here that is no, as public in the United
States as the MONDAY sun.
Immediately after dinner we retired and
walked with him over part Of his farm, 1t
is his own property, and we are told extends
TO about 1900 acres, part OF ms wtc's dow
ry. From the rising ground behind his
house, the view is highly IcautifuI, embrace
ING two bends onthc Ohio aud lis picturesque
banks. At first II was intended to plan,
on this spot the great city of the west but
i, is said that the commanding officer Of the
district entertained an affection for the wife
ola sergeant who was then stationed at Gin
cinali, and this induces him to remove his
troops there, from which circumstance the
town sprang into being. Behind the Gen
erals house is IA large garden, in which was
white headed eaglc, with one leg. 1t was
presented to him by IA convention ofhs pol
ilical friends. The cap,ors of the eagle
had dislocated its leg, and DR.. Thornton, the
Generals sou-n-law, believing it to be
broken, amputaled it. The friend who in.
troduccd us to the General, said GENERA
Harrison has promised TO keep the eagle til
the 4lh of March next, when we hope he
will 90 to the White House" "Ah !" sale
the General promptly, and in the most nat,
= ural tone, 'lhere is one other condition
about that. lfMr. Van Buren, abandons hi,
mschevious policy, he may stay in tho
White House, and shall remain jim mine.
In the evening we left North Bend, ant
had a delightful drive along the right bank o.
the Ohio to Cincinnati. was impressed b.
this visit with strong feeling of respect 70
General Harrison. After a long lie spen
nthe service of his country, he lives, pool
indeed, but he seems cheerful and happy
lie does no, conceal his poverty, nor doe
he make the least parade of it. lie aludc
10 it simply as a fact, and he betrayed not one
emotion of envy or jealousy of any human
being, and still less did he indicate amy feel
Ing of disappointed ambition.