Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1845-06-27

Ia
by his abilities Though Phil was not obsequious
~ polite, there was nothing logged in his temper.
lie liked company, but he liked TO choose it and
there was that in his face and eye but especially
IN the protuberances beneath and near his neither
lip which showed him fond of "thc good things
Of this life" Phil knew what grapes were cult
waited for.
Having gathered boquet, and procured few
relics, the party moved towards the house. Its
western front had beautiful view of the cultivated
portions OF the ground, and from each corner swept
circular open galleries TO neat houses for kitchens,
and the abode of house servants one of whom
over whose head time had swept for nearly hun
dred years, was standing and feeling out the famil-
lar objects around her. bandage beneath her
forehead, showed
"Wisdom ut ono entrance quite shut out
The eastern front of the house, along the whole
length Of which extends a portico reaching up
wards to the roof looks out upon the Potomac,
which, at that point, has considerable bend, so
that an Immense view is acquired upward and
downward. The grounds are beautiful on the front
and sides -beautitul not from iinicnl ornament but
from well spared trees, well chosen vstas and most
lovely lawns. Pictures of the place give tolera-
Bile idea Of the front of the house. but it is standing
at the point which the picture represents, that the
grand view is obtained We entered the house.
1t is furnished in elaborate style, with remarka-
bly, high walls for the age in which it was erected.
all decorated with stucco work Of various descrip-
tOllS III null seen several CurlOSltloS that
belonged to Washington the key of the Bastilc,
and other matters familiar to travel-readers and
letter-writers. The furniture of General Washing
ton has been removed the property of other heirs
than those which occupy the place. and many
things that were regarded as valuable, from having
oeen the personal property OF Washington, are de-
posted in the Alexandria Museum
| In one of the rooms, of which the stucco work
on the ceiling represents agricultural instruments,
| there is a splendid marble mante the Gift of La
fayete, on which is wrought in bold relief, figures
employed in agricultural labor, drawing water, and
pouring it from the bucket into the tub field work.
dairy business, &C., beautiful specimen of that
species of art
On entering the house, we were received and
conducted round by colored man, one of the prop
critics OF the place, whose quiet movements, and
respectful distance, showed him to be of the house.
hold. His head was that al artist might study
for statuary it was large, well formed, slightly
oald, with round projecting forehead; full but
mild eye; large, but proportionable mouth; with
a general expression of meekness, and almost of
veneraton, that made us more than once propose
questions to him, less for the information which the
answer should contain, than to bring into action the
features of his face. They told the same story that
they did IN repose; and we felt certain, that had
our attendant lived in the time of St Cvprian, he
would have done honor to the faith and companion.
ship OF that African preate. We are not sure but
even now he does honor to the faith, for we thought
that on one occasion, there was in his countepance
light, such as religion alone sheds down, when !
standing near some memorial of piety the heart is |
elevated to the of all good and the counte-
nance catches ray of the light that bursts out
ward from the heart, newly lighted to a sense of
goodness by the spark of love suddenly struck in
to 1t by some collision of right thought, with es-
tabshed truth. And let not our readers smile at
the idea of light upon the face of slave, or of
goodness in his heart Goodness is not the conse-
Or of md
igion pour glory that is the most conspicuous
when seen in the contrast of human disabilities
The Tomb Of Washington.-In the broad space
between the river and the house, and at the brow
OF the hill, are several buildings, pleasant summer
houses, and an observatory; and just below these,
are the remains of the tomb in which were placed
the bodies of General Washington and his wife at
their death. Pursuing his directions in the will,
ms executors erected another tomb at considera-
BILE distance from the first, on nearly the same lev
ell bnt further south, or lower with reference to
the river Ihlther then, our party repaired On
approaching the place. the eve is struck with
whlte marble monument, surrounded by an iron
railing. The column denotes the resting place of
grand neice of General Washington, who was
born In Virginia, and died at the residence of her
husband, on the banks of the Mississippi. She |
died young, in the midst Of life and loneliness, be-
fore sorrow could reach her. before the errors or
msfortunes of children could wrinkle the fair brow,
or evil days come, or the years draw Nigh in which
she should say, 81 have no pleasure in Them" The
tomb OF Washington is large brick structure pro-
jectng from the side of hill, with ornamented
front, and two iron railing doors, one six or eight
inches within the other Through these the visit
ers look in upon what may be called the vestibule
Of the grave, distance of about twelve feet from
the railing door, TO close iron door, that leads to
the inner chamber of the tomb. In this vestibue, |
which is, of course, entirely light, the ground or
floor Is covered with small white pebbles, and upon
these rest two marble sarcophagi. The one on the
right as we look in, is that prepared by our csma-
BILE townsman, John Struthers, an elegant piece of
sculpture, bearing the name of Washington, and
presented as an offering to the memory of the great
man. 1t contains his sacred remains. The sar-
cophagus on the left is that of Martha Wash
ngton, the wife of our country's father This, too,
was the work Of Mr.. Struthers
We paused as we reached the CRATE and stood
uncovered and in silence for time, to allow the
feelings which the place had called up salutary
action; to realize that we at the loved home
OF Washington, that we stood amid scenes in which
he had been the quiet but ruling actor; that almost
all around us had been marked by his taste, had
been almost sanctliied by his ownership: that we
stood there, for the first time, gazing on
The spot where he lay"
1t was quiet resting place grandeur was mar
led upon the scene. The lofty oaks and native
popars, and the bold declvity, told of the last
''''~ VI t'S SiCoI. anu tlt sllllpe legend ABOVE
the unadorned tomb, and the retired spot seemed
to suit the goodness that made the glory of the
characters OF those who had been laid in the sa-
cred retreat. In corner of Il marble entablature,
over the inner door, a swallow had made her nest
She that builds her eyrie in inaccessible emnences
or clGlns immunity beneath the caves of sacred
edliices, had set up her nest, and treasured her
young, IN the sanctiied tomb, which the human
foot approaches in noiseess respect and where the
human voice is hushed into half audible sounds
The tomb of Washington, in its deepest recesses,
had nothing to offend the keen sense and delicate
perception of that purity-loving bird, which ap-
proves by its mansoning, that the breath of heaven
smells wooingly in that sacred retreat.
Something of disappointment will come over
the imaginative, who place themselves at the tomb
of Washington, and await high promptings to des.
cripiion or inspiration for pages of lofty thought
You may stand amid the ruins of Tadmor, and