New-York daily tribune., 1844-03-16
THE TRIBUNE.
A yi.it to Ashland.

tho Snr;np of '42 on a tour of Agricultural OBJ
servstion. gives the following account OF his vist
to Ashland
Asur.sp. SEAT OF Hon. HENRY CLAY-Ihls
beautiful seat and superb plantation, OF one o'
the mos. gifted and celebrated men of America,
is abou: one and a half miles from Lexington anu
is approached by an excellent Macaoa" ioau
leadino directly by it. We called there III CON- % :
nanv With nephew of Mr.. Clay, Mr. finoen OF
T,er;nc,on. who took US by clrcultous roao' mrs.
sbowjng rs his own fine plantation, ltlIe oeyono
that of Ashland The buildings on 1t are hano'
some and commodious, and there was cholce
collection of stock OF ali KINDS, Pa,ticula'iy 'i
Mood horses. One Of the FLIES, the name OF
.,,l;cb wc have forgotten, struck US as being as
promising an animal of her kind as we sa" IN
kentucky. Mr.. P. had repeatedly exhibited ner
At their agricultural shows and she had invariably
carried off the first prize over all competitors.
division fence separates the property OF Nh
Ciav and Mr. PndelI, which We passed by wide
g,te and came Immediately into the woodland,
or mere properly speaking, park pastures OF Ash
land the trees of which are mostly the reserva-
tions of the original forest They are grand and
majestic in their appearance, and give dignity,
comfort and beauty to the landscape, which can
not be too much admired. 1t was Still IN the
month of January, but the winter being a mild
AAAAS N>S ~
blood horses and Short Horn cattle were out
feeding, and looking as fat and sleek as need be.
The show of these, Mr. nindell informed me,
was not so good as formerly, Mr.. Clay having
been tempted, when high prices prevailed, TO part
with the greater proportion OF his choicest AMI
mails.
When VIC called at Ashland, Mr.. Clay was
passing the last of his term at Washington inhs
senatorial duties; we, therefore, missed the ad-
vantage of seeing him at home on his farm,
where he is universally acknowledged to rank as
high as in the councils of the nation. He has
ever been foremost in every good word and work
in agriculture in Kentucky, and perhaps few have
done as much TO assistin developing and improv
ing the resources of his native State. No one
was more ardent and persevering in the introduc-
ton and growing Of hemp than Mr.. Clay; in the
introduction also of improved stock, and all other
measures calculated to promote agriculture, which,
although well known at home, account of his
brilliant forensic talents, his labors and example
In this department, have in measure been over
ahadowed and kept hid from the nation.
The mansion. house at Ashland is roomy and
handsome, and sHch as a refined country gentle
man may have been supposed to erect Tor MS own
comfort and convenience. The grounds are am
pie and beautiful, abounding with what we most
admire in winter, profuslon ofloity eVergreens
i
ing the town of Lexington just beyond, and a |
fertile country of considerable extent in quiet re-
pose around In the absence Of Mr.. Clay, his
respected lady received us very politely, and we
found her presiding with equal dignity and grace
over the affairs of the household; where to her
honor be it spoken, and also in the general man.
agement Of the plantation, she as cmlnently ex-
GELS, as her husband in the Legislative Halls
proving herself an admirable wife for one whose
public duties have so often called him away from
his home
We are fearful of trespasslng upon the sanctity
of private life by dwelling longer upon this theme,
and will only add that we felt no less honored
than gratifed by our visit to Ashland, and at our
departure could not but breathmore strongly than
ever, the wish that its possessors may soon be
transferred by the voice of this great nation, to
that exalted seat which their eminent talents and
virtues have so well fitted them to adorn and fill.
The Protection of American Shipping,
From the National In,elligencer,
In conversation with gentleman from the
State of Maine on the present Tariff, stated to
him how much that State was benefited through |
her immense Shipping Interest by the Protective
System, and in giving my reasons ne said he
thought the publication Of them would he OF ben
eft to the cause of American Industry, and its
great champion HENRY CLAY. If you think with
him, please publish, and ask my friend GREELEY
TO copy.
In the first place, there is no interes: in the
country so entirely protected as the Shipping In
terest, and that has been the policy from the first
days of the Government. To prove this will
cnumcrate.
No vessel can take out register or license as
an American vessel, unless she is of an American
build, excepting she has been condemned for some
violation OF law or captured
No foreigner can own an Amerlcan Vcssel.
No foreigner can command an American ves-
sci, and two thirds the crew must be Americans.
No foreign vessel can carry package from
one of our ports to another, thereby giving to our
vessels the entire control of the coasting trade.
The advantages resulting to the commercial IN
terests by adhering to this policy, and through
them to the country, have been so great, and
have produced such an enlargement of our COM
merce, that we are now only second IN extent TO
Great Britain. 1t is unnecessary for me to say any
thing upon that branch Of the subject, but will
add few words as to what free trade will do if
be adopted in commerce.
American built vessels cost from So to - dol
lars per ton, ready for sea. Captains get from 90
to 80 dollars per month, with prlmage. Mates
so to 90 per month. Sailors Is to II; they are
well fed, good white bread, beans, small stores,
and, when allowanced, one pound of beef or of
pork per diem. 1t is very seldom that they are
put on allowance in American merchant vessels
Our great competitors for the South American
market, and some little in the China trade, are
the Swcdcs Swedish vessels cost from 40 to SO
dollars per ton. The captains get Is rix dollars
per month, "a rix dollar is IS ccnts) mate