Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1845-06-13
CorrcNpond,ncs of The n. T. Tribune
VISIT To MIR. CLAY AT ASHLAND

'i'i' w Mn. llsA1 NJ ASHLAND
LEXtNGroN. nv, May 26, 1913.
have at last realized one ot my dearest
wishes, that oi seeing Henry Clay at Ashland
called ON him with friend this morning, bat
lr was absent on his farm, and Charles, the
'ltCed slave told us hc would not be- at honc
unlil afternoon, 80 we returned tn Lexington,
and AT L. Nj. rctIICcd our steps To Ashland,
Mr.. Clay had returned. and meeting us al the
door, took hold of our hands before could
even prcscnta letter of introduction, and made
us welcome to his house. His manners com
pletciy ovcrCame all the ceremonies of speech
had prepared, and | was so nervous as tn
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 a
hail hours time, we had talked about the va
rlour sections of the country had visited in
the past year, Mr. Clay occasionally giving Us
incidents and recolcCtions of his own life and
lelt as though had known him personally
Tor years. He Is at present rather feeble i'm
health and WAS obliged tn resort To glasses on
reading my letter, bat his step and his voice
are hrm and strong as those of man in the
| prime of life
| The room into which we were shown was
a species oi sitting and audience room: a bust
oil Mr.. Clay graccd niche i'm one corner and
one which Judged To- be Theodore Frclinghuy-
sens, stood IN AN opposite corner. On one
side of the walls was hung the original or
copy oil Washington and his family on the
other the engraving representing MIR. CLAY
standing out in the field with globe at his
feet; besides these there were some family
portraits, which, with splendid large cut
Slass vase, standing upon n centre table made
up The furniture of the room. Here Mr.. CLAW
sat IN his easy chair. every thing abou, him
neat and simple Us his own dress. and taking
his occasional pinch of snuff from silver snuii
box, on the lid of which | could see a log cabin
engraved; hc looked and seemed more like the
quiet farmer than anything else. Mr.. CLAY
has lived at Ashland more than forty wears:
the place bore that name when he came tn it.
as he says, probably on account of the quantity
oil ash timber on IL, and he has made il the
most delightful retreat i'm all the West The
estate is about six hundred acres large. all
under the highest cultivation, excepting some
hundred acres of park, which is entirely
cleared oil underbrush and small trees, and is
10 use the words of Eord Morpcth who STAYED
AT Ashland nearly week, the nearest approach
To AN English park of any i'm this country. 1,
serves also for noble pasture, and here / saw
some OF Mr.. Clay's fine horses and Durham
cattle. He is said To have some of the finest
stock IN all lkcntucky, which is to say the
finest IN America, and if am able TO Judge.
confirm that report The largest part of his
farm Is devoted TO wheat. rye, hemp, &c. and
his crop looks most splendidly. lie has also
Pald great attention To ornamenting his lands
with beautiful shade trees, shrubs, flowers and
fuR orchards.
Rom the road which passes his place ON
The Northwest side, a carriage course leads up
To the house, lined with locust, cypress. cedar
and other rare.trecs, and the rose Jasmine and
IVY were clustering about them, and peepng
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 loveliest situations around that delightful
town-Mr Clay's mansion is nearly hidden
from the road by the trees surrounding it, and
is as quiet and secluded save In the .h -, ef
i's more 'han royal possessor, as though II
were IN the wilderness. Some of !, y. IL. !.
undergoing repairs, and Mr.. Clay took us about
to see his contemplated improvements. The
houses OF his slaves are very neat. and SIR
rounded by better gardens, and more flowers
and Shrubbery than one half of the farm -hous-
es IN the country, and all the inmates are as
happy as human beings can be. Charles. of
whom 50 much has been said, is a kind of seq
ond master of household to Mr.. CLAY. and en-
Joys the greatest trust and confidence. To
HIM can the keys of the wine cellar be given
without fear, and on all occasions where helm
was needed, MIR. Clay called for Charles
Charles brought us wine, Charles was at the
door, at the carriage, at the gate every where
IN TACT. and as polite and civil as man seek
ing Office. He is fine looking, middle sized
negro, about thirty years old and do not be-
iieve he could be drawn from Mr.. Clay except
by absolute animal force, so great is his dcvo-
ton tn him.
Speaking of Cincinnati, he said il was the
only city, the causes of whose rapid rise he
could not compass. He has never been i'm ST
LOUIS, though he has land near that CITY. and
intends visiting il soon To effect sale of his
property there. He concurred with me i'm. the
opinion that st. Louis was TO be ultimately
INC great city of the West. Mr. Clay is visit
cd perhaps more than any other man i'm the
country, and he enjoys showing his friends the
lands which ne has brought to such perfcc-
llon, and he is constantly adopting every i'm
provement that is suggested In fact ne *
the prince OF pastoral, the real bona fde far
ner, and every part of his estate, flocks and
herds. Showit. Besides the six hundred he has
about two hundred acres at distance i'm the
rear OF Ashland, and these two lots form his
estate. As 1t was nearly night when we call
ed ON Mr.. Clay, we had hardly time to see
Things properly, and he urged Inc TO come up
again.
went up the day following in company
with the Swiss Bell Ringers" who Were also
on visit TO Ashland. Mr.. Clay received the
band and myself warmly at the door, and after
lew civilities, put on his white hat and
walked through the grounds with It's, talking
freely and Familiarity TO all. He is the most
easy and aiablc man have ever seen. He
picked rose for each of us--lnine have most
carefully pressed, and shall give it to INV lady
love, when find one, and she may consider il
a prize.
lie told while we were walking. about Lord
MoIPr'h early rising while at Ashland and
Sdld ne used To 90 OH foot mile down TO the
post, and bring up the mail before he was ont
oi bed. Some sprigs of nobility arc not so
truly great and humble, surmise, but of Nor
peth Mr.. Clay spoke in the highest tenns.-
Aiter am hour spent ia the park and garden.
the BELL Ringers proposed giving Mr.. CLAY
and his family specimen of their music. and