The Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1834-184?, 1845-06-26
NO. "a.

800 - AoitS PSltAapo L1Ok6 Lldu any man
In the country, and he enjoys showing his
his friend the lands which he has brought to
such perfection, and he is constantly adopt
ing every improvement that is suggested. In
fact he is the prince pastoral, the real
bona tide farmer, and every part of his es-
tate, 1ocks and herds show il. Beside the
six hundred, he has about two hundred acres
at Assistance in the rear of Ashland. and
these two lots form his estate. As il was
nearly night when we called on Mr.. Clay. we
had hardly time to see things properly, and
he urged me TO come up again. went IN
the day following in company with the "Swiss
Bell Ringers who were also on a wish 10
Ashland. MIR, Clay received the band and
myself warmly at The door, and after a few
clVilitles, put on his white hat and walked
through the grounds with US, talking freely
and Familiarity to all.
He is the most easy and afable man
have ever seen. He picked a rose for eae.
OF us-mine | have most carefully preserved.
and shall give it TO my lady-love when | find
one, and she may consider it a prize! He
told me while we were walking, about Lord
Morpeth's early rising while at Ashland. and
said he used TO 60 on foot a mile downt5the
post, and bring up the mail before he was
out of bed. Some sprigs ofnobiliiy are not
so truly great and humble, | surmise, but of
Morperh Mr.. Clay spoke in the highest
terms. After an hour spent in the Park and
garden, the 'Bell Ringers proposed giving
Mr.. Clay and his family a specimen Of their
music, and we of course adjourned 10 the
house. Here for the first time | saw Mrs.
Clay, and a son, Mr.. John Clay; besides
these were present some half a dozen
young gentlemen and ladies whom | did not
know, and an old French gentlemen. MIR.
Mentell, and his lady. Mr.. Clay was ex-
pecling the Bell-Ringers and had invited for
the occasion a few friends. They perform
ed before him inthe room have already des-
cribed, to his very great delight. Mrs. Mon
tell a woman of remarkable mind for SO old a
person, was Mr.. Clay's referee on all points
OF musical criticism, for, she seemed intimate
with all great compositions and ~artistes. and
she decided this 10 be the last and GROWING
novelty of the musical world. On this oc-
caslon MIR. Clay sent for some of his home
made wine, pressed at Ashland from the Cat
awba grape-it was most delicious, sometime
like sparkling Hook in flavor, but OF a richer
tasie. After performing several pieces in
the house, the Bell-RingeTs went out into
never heard anything so perfectly bewitching
as the sound of the bells during that chime.
Family the sounds came stealing through
the branches Of the old trees, and seemed TO
drop all liquid and trembling from the leaves,
the air and the delicate vines climbing on
the windowarches. Mr.. Clay said he would
be glad 10 have a chapel in the Park, if he
could always hear such voices from it. Ii was
10 me a rare time and treat. There | was at
Ashland, and there was before me the man
whom | had so long loved without seeing
him, and my great heart-Ionging was satisfied.
| recollect, so long ago as when a mere
boy, how earnestly my father hoped TO live
to see Henry Clay President, how he told
me he was one of the first, noblest, and
most eloquent men living-and what I then
heard gave a hue to my mind grow up 10
feel as my father had felt-I too heard his
mighty voice above the storms OF civil war
in his own land, quelling it as with a mas
ler's spirit too heard the echoes Of that
voice rushing like a mighty wind among the
tombs and alters of the Greeks, kindling life
from Spartan ashes-and up from the hills
and valleys of Bolivia it rose like a song nerv-
ing the hearts and hands Of the oppressed
until they become free, and why should I
not love Henry Clay? All that was beauti-
full or venerable clustered on his brows, and
| sought him as the worshiper seeks his Or
acle-not that | worship men-but that
[ worship the heroic and beautiful dwell
ing in them. | shall ever look upon nv vis-
it TO Henry Clay and Ashland as the bright
est spot in my life. | have brought awsa
from there in my recollection thing ofbeau-
ty-and Keats says:
IA thing of beauty is Joy foreverila'
Before parting with Mr.. Clay he gave me
two Ashland canes, one for myself and one
for you, which | shall deliver to you e~relong.
The Sun was behind the woods when our
last visit terminated, and | left the Sage. Far
mer with as much regret as though he had
been my brother. God bless him and his
forever! What crown would lend lustre 10
his brow, since it has been twined with the
greenest wreaths a free people could give?
May the evening of his years be as cloudless
as his noon has been glorious, as, though lie
may never sit in the White House as Presi-
dent, he is above that point, where Office,
however high, can add lustre to his fame
On Sunday, the day following my visit 10 the
Mansion at Ashland, | could not resist the
inclination to see once more a place to me
so very hallowed. On my way up | passed
Mr.. Clay, who with his wife had started for
church--alasi thought |, as | looked upon
his high calm brow for the last time, can
this be the gambler, Sabbath breaker, bias.
phemer, all these vile characters blended.
which, which have been ascribed to him and
cried abroad by men whose lips were too