Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1845-07-11
Correspondence ofthe NJ Y. Tribune.
VISIT TO MR.. CLAY AT ASHLAND

| LhhiN1tON, hFNICChf, MAY [0b 1912
have al last realized one of my dearest
wishes, that Of seeing iienry Clay at ASH
land. | called on him with friend this
morning, but he was absent on his farm, and
Charles, the ''irred slave" tcd us ne would
not be athome until afternoon, so we re-
turned to Lexington, and at Ave in the af-
ternoon retraced our steps to Ashland
Mr.. Clay had returned, and meeting US at
the door, took hold Of oer hands before
could present letter OF introduction, and
made as welcome 10 his house. His man
ners Completely oyefcame all the cereHfo-
nies 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
time we had talked about the various Sec
lions Of the country had visited in the
past year, Mr.. Clay occasionally giving US
incidents and recoeclions Of his own life,
and felt as though had known him per-
g sonally for years. He is at present rather
' feeble in health, and was obliged TO resort
J, to glasses on reading my letter, but his step
and voice are firm and strong as those Of
: man in the prime OF life.
The room into which we were shown
y ! was species Of audience and sitting room;
'' bust of Henry Clay graced Mich in one
e corner and one which Judge 10 be Theo-
II dore Frenghuysen's, stood in all opposite
r corner. Onone Of the side walls was hung
II the original Of q copy Of "Washington and
his family" on the other the engraving, re-
d presenting MIR. Clay standing out in the
field with globe at his feet: beside these
there were sone family portraits, which,
&c with a splendid cut-glass vase, standing
y upon centre table, made up the furniture
u OF the room. Here Mr.. Clay sat in his ca
TO sy chair, every thing neat and simpl as bis
le own dress, and taking his occasional pinch
le OF snuff from a silver snuff box, on the lid
I'd Of which | could see log cabin engraved
10 be looked and seemed more like the quie'
20 Farmer than any thing else.
nj Mr.. Clay has lived at Ashland forty years
=, the place bore that name when he came Il
=. it, as he says, probably on account of tht
w quantity Of ash timber on 1t, and he ha'
W made il the most delightful retreat in all ;h
49, west. The estate is aboutsX hundred acre
er large, all under the highest cultivation, ex
at ccpting some two hundred acres OF farKe
Of which is entirely cleared oi uhder'rusn an
snail trees, and Is, 10 use the WORDS OF lof
Morpeth, who stayed at ashland nearly
IN. week, the nearest approach to an hng'Is
nd Parke, OF any III this country, II serve
w " also for q noble pasture, and here | say
Oe some of Mr., Clays fine horses, and Dur
ham cattle, lie is said to have some of tn
70 finest stock IN aIl hehlucNy' WIi'ch Is
say the hneslin AhefIca' ana i an aOl
to Judge cohIllh i've fePoI" 4Ae 'o'be
part ei Ills laFm Is ue'o!eu 70 "he1'' ~
~ hemp, &c ana HIS crops IooN 'l'o7' ihoIo'o
n y. He has also PAD great a'teh!loh 70 OF
ny namentng his lands with oeautIlnl shad
trees, shrubs, Hover, ana lf"'l oIchafos'
From the road when passes his pace o
10 the north west side, carriage course lead
up to the house, lined with locust, cyprus
cedar and other rare trees, and the ros
iessamin and ivy were clustering aooI
them, and peePng through the grass an
boughs like so many laughing iairles as
drove up, Ashland is about mIle 'fol
Lexington, east, on the road leading outt
Main street, and is one OF the loVeIlest 81 81
u, uations around that delightful town. M
ina Clay's manson is nearly h.uuen NUN !"
lug road by the trees surrounding it, and is
quiet and secluded, save to the throng
pilgrims continually pouring up there
- greet its more than royal possy yssor,as thou{
it were in the wilderness Some parts
it are now undergoing repairs, and M
Clay took ~ Gvout to see his contemp ate
II, Improvements. The houses Of his slav
y a.e all very neat, and surrounded by bett
"" gardens, and more flowers aud shrubber
10 than one half of the farm houses in Il
e" country, and all the inmates are as hapI
lie as human beings canbe. Caarles,oi who
5 TO so much has been said, is kind of secol
,iIh master of household to Mr.. Clay, and e
otk lows the greatest trust and confidence.
RI, To him can the keys Of the VINE cell
rs be given without fear, and on al occaslo
~" "IJ where help was needed, MIR. Clay calI'
wv for Charles. Charles brought us wIne'Cha
Il Z tha a