American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1845-06-10
Correspondence of the New York Tribune.l
VISIT TO MR.. CLAY AT ASHLAND.
LEXINGTON, Ky, May %, 1915

LEXINGTON, Ky, May 25, 1915.
| have at last realized one Of my dearest
wishes, that of seeing Henry Clay at Ashland.
\ called on him with friend this morning but
he was absent on his farm, and Charles, the
''frecd slave" told us he would not be at home
until afternoon, so we returned to Lexington,
and at ) p. NJ retraced our steps to Ashland.
Mr., Clay had returned, and meeting US at the
door, took hold of our hands before | could
even present letter Of introduction, and made
us welcome to his house. His manners COM
pletely overcanle all the ceremonies of speech
| had prepared, and was so nervous as to give
my left hand instead of the right for his grasp.
But we were soon perfectly at home, as every
one must be with Henry Clay, and in half
hours tme we had talked about the various
sections of the country bad visited in the past
year, Mr. Clay occasionally giving US incidents
and recollectons of his own life, and | felt as
though had known him personally for years.
He is at present rather feeble in health, and
was obliged TO resort to glasses on reading my
letter, but his step and his voice ale firm and
strong as these of man in the prime of life.
The room into which we were shown was a
species of sitting and audience room; bust of
Mr.. CLAW graced niche in one corner, and one
which Judged TO be Theodore Frenghuysen's,
stood in an opposite corner. On one side of
the walls was hung the original or copy Of
"Washington and his family on the other the
engraving, representing Mr.. Clay standing out
in the field with globe at his feet; besides
these there were some family portraits, which,
with a splendid large cut-glass vase, standing
upon centre table, made up the furniture of
the room. Here Mr. Clay sat in his easy chair,
every thing about him neat and simple as his
own dress, and taking his occasional pinch of
snuff from 4 silver snuff box on the lid of
which l could see a log cabin engraved; he
looked and seemed more like the quiet farmer
than any thing else, Mr.Clay has lived at Ash
land forty years: the place bore that name
when he came to it, as he says, probably on
account of the quantity of ash timber on it,
and he has, made it the most delightful retreat
in all the West. The estate is about six hun
bred acres large, all under the highest cultiva-
ton, excepting some hundred acres of park,
which is entirely cleared of underbrush and
small trees, and is to use the words of Lord
Morpeth, who staid at Ashland nearly week,
the nearest approach to an English park of any
IN this country. 1t serves also for noble pas
ture, and here saw some of MIR. Clay's fine
horses and Durham cattle. He is said to have
some ofthe finest stock in all Kentucky, which
is to say the finest in America and if | am able
to Judge, confirm that report. The larger
part of his farm is devoted to wheat, rye, hemp,
&C., and his crops look most splendidly. He
has also paid great attention to ornamenting
his lands with beautiful shade trees, shrubs,
flowers and fruit orchards.
From the road which passes his place on the
Northwest side, carriage course leads up to
the house, lined with locust, cypress, cedar and
other rare trees, and the rose, jasmine and ivy
were clustering about them, and peeping
through the grass and boughs like so many
laughing fairies as we drove up. Ashland is
about mile from lexington East, on the
road leading out of Main street, and is one of
the lovelest situations around that delightful
town-Mr. Clays mansion is nearly hidden
from the road by the trees surrounding it, and
is as quiet and secluded, save to the throng of
pilgrims continually pouring up there to greet
its more than royal possessor, as though it were
in the wilderness. Some OF it are now under
going repairs, and Mr.. Clay took us abont to
see his contemplated improvements. The
houses of his slaves are very neat, and sur
rounded by better gardens, and more flowers
and shrubbery than one half of the farm-houses
in the country, and all the inmates are as hap
Ply as human beings can be. Charles, of whom
SO much has been said, is kind of second
master OF household to Mr.. Clay and enjoys
the greatest trust and confidence. To him can
the keys OF the wine-cellar be given without
fear, and on all occasions where help was need
ed, Mr. Clay called for Charles Charles
brought US wine, Charles was at the door, at
the carriage, at the gate, every where in fact,
and as polite aud civil as man asking for of
fee. lie is fine looking, middle sized negro,
about thirty years old, and | do not believe he
could be drawn from Mr., Clay except by abso-