The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1844-05-09

The U. s. steam ship Union, and Ole Bull, ar
| rived here last night.
Washington.
Correspondence of the Herald
WASHINGTON, May s, 1874
Visit to Mount Vernon.
paid my fret visit yesterday to Mount Yer
non, IN company with several of our New York
Representatives, Messrs. Anderson, from West
Ches'er; Fish, from the City, Robinson, from o.
wego; Carroll from Ontario; Rathburn, from Au.
burn; Judge Semple, Senator from Illinois, and
several other gentlemen, most Of whom were &C.
companied by ladies. but not having been intro.
duced to them, cannot say who they were, *
ceptlDg Miss lie, who accompanied one of the
gentlemen Of the party.
| The morning was most delightful for a country
excurson-the sun shone out bright and Gle ar with
scarce cloud in all the horizon TO veil his face
In the city, although the trees looked green with
foliage, yet all else was confusion dust and politics
Some OF the party started in light open wagons.
| gentleman and lady in each Others chartered
stage coaches with four horses others went on
horse beck one gentleman rode upon side saddle
Il know not the reason exec pit that he was plav.
ing vice versa with some lady who was then usi no
his privilege IN come wheeled vehicle. 1t was nv
lot to get INTO the very worst coach in the city-one
OF that superanuated class peculiarly
to the antiquarian, as illustrating the style of coach
building In ancient times No two of the four
wheels appeared to run in the same direction. al
ent roads for any great distance. One of the hind
wheels threw the mud all into the coach. while The
other threw 1t off at an angle of As degrees in the
opposite direction, 10 the great establishment of
those we met, who all had an unfortunate wav Of
cursiDg and swearing at the muddy roads immedi-
ately after passing US. MEM. 1t is bad practice
| to swear
We had not got mile out of the city of Wash
ington, before plunge went the nigh wheel into a
slough, and broke the forward axtIetree nearly in
two, (ihere were six Of us, all told. IN the coach
go that we rode In Imminent expectation OF total
swaipwIeck; ana every One who met us hailed
Moses-that was our colored commodore who com.
manded the ship, and like his namrsake of old.
GUIDED US through the wilderness-I sav tyerv one
we met hailed Moses to tell him his fore-whees
we!e Iunhins on ana that rs axletree was broken
MS WAS all true enough except that there was not
the ighttst danger OF any OF our wheels running
on win our present team OF horses-one of which
was stone bind, aud the other wind broken and
spawned
On we drove-the distance sixteen miles. and the
road the worst ever travelled with few landscapes
70 cheer the eye-no feathered warblers to enchan,
tne eal-sno no oaimy breeze, redolent Of fragrant
nowrrs, 10 re1iesh The SENSES. The roads were
paved with loose stones, and margined with ruts
ana holes SO deep as 10 render lateral somerset
mater OF constant expectation. How many streams
we ,i ioiard, cannot now enumerate. But in the
mldd'e OF one OF them know we stuck fast, and it
was long doubtful whether Moses had either faith
or works adequate to exricste US.
What river Is this 7" said to Moses
" 1t Is de rlber Jordan, beeve Sir"
Luckily we had very pious and devout aboli-
ZIONIST along with us, and lie Immediately struck
Sweet fields beyond the swelling food
Stand dressed in living green
So to the Jews old Canaan stood
While Jordan rolled between.
Mr. W, the abolitionist, very piously sung the
ar, while harmonizrd with the bass whilst
Messrs. Anderson and Robinson sympathsed with
the sentiment. No sooner was the Hymn con.
ceuded than the horses took us across in a twin.
king.
Thus we passed the four hours, from nine till one
O'Clock, when we arrived at Mount Vernon, eYces-
sivriv fatisucd, hungry, and thirsty.
Inc family mansion Of George Washington
stands upon bold eminence overlooking the Poto.
mac, a. about 20 rods distance from the river whose
bank . lined with trees and thick underwood, diff
CUT OF passage: Ihere 10 no open country to pe
seen IN the vicinity Of the Mansiop which stands
like Cowper's
Many of The trees are of domestic cultivation,
ana are large and shady. The locusts were in full
blossom, Their fragrance borne upon tile breeze, aud
!her sweets extracted by &c the busy bee," improv-
ing each SHINING hour
Gathering honey all the day,
FROM every opening flower"
An occasional vista through the woods, gives Won
glimpse Of the broad Potomac, upon whose oniet
bosom some humble sail might here and there be
seen.
The Mansion s surrounded by numberese
out buildings OF varied size and use--many of
which are occupied by the colored domes-
ncs OF the family The mansion itself is OF an
uque style, two stories high, and surmounted by
a cupola, over which is ancient and storm beaten
weathercock. There is a piazza upon the side
fronting the river, reaching from the ground to the
saSes, a1o unon the roof there is light and tasteful
oalns'rade The pillars are large but not of modern
style The porch is paved with tme-worn stones
and IT was here that Washington 10 said 10 have
passed much OF his time in promenading, while his
thoughts were devoted to his country
The interior OF the house is wainscotted after
the fashion OF those days, with highly wrought
cornlces and shafts. Every part and portion of the
mansion presents topics Of interest which il is bet
which Lafayette presented to Washington, still
hangs In the Hall, enclosed in glass CASE beneath
which is picture OF the Bastlle in process of de-
structiOn.
Tomb upon the hill side towards the river sit is
a rude and despoiled vaut'-although the location
is evidently unsurpassed Every thing about il
bears evidence OF neglect and dcsecration-no
pam ieaos 10 i-aor is 1t even accessible except BY
clambering over fences, and creeping through un-
derbrush and brambles The old Tomb is sur
rounded by several stately oaks and locusts while
some holt score OF cedars upon the sodded vault
are w,,nerng and fading away-a melancholy
eight The door way to the interior vault is broken
10, the wood work rotted, and the stones falling
down.. The whole is stamped with ruin and decay
Yet 1t was in this humble tomb that until within
few years past, slumbered the remains of the i'm
mortal WasHINGroa. They are now removed to
the new vault some distance of in another dlrec-
tion where they now lie in a sarcophagus, present
ed BY E. friend to his memory. Upon the lid are
wrought the arms of his country, and the only in
scription is the eloquent name Of
:, WASHINGTON
Upon his right side, in corresponding sarcophagus
are the ashes OF
Martha, Consort of Washington"
h,, Inc Tomb, or family vault, is a small brick
u;unulng or enclosure, something like a small en-
s..e mouse, and where the doors should be, there
''e''e grating like the bars Of prison door.