Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1845-07-03
A VISIT TO MT. VERNON.
From ne u s. Ga=sae.
HOUSE, GROUNDS, AND SERVANT


We had an occasion, some days since
to visit the Western Shore Of Maryland
and to sojourn there a few days, with
"our brethren and kindred according &c
the flesh" Among the means which
kindness suggested for amusement, las II,
IN visiting friends, their association, their
fire-slde, and their fellowship, were not
the most agreeable entertainment, was o
visit TO Mount Vernon which, all who
have read the writings of Washington, as
published by Sparks, will recolect is op-
posite the mouth of piscataway river.
near which estuary stands the village OF
that not very attractive, but very eener.
al Indian name. Providence smiled on
the undertaking, for the only day of our
absence, on which il did not rain, was that
selected for the pilgrimage. And at an
early hour we took carriage, a pleasant
party, and made our way to Fort Wash
lngton; and only those who have travelled
in that section Of the country, where the
county road is fifteen feet wide by twenty
deep, with farm gate at every half mile,
can tel. wha: are the difficulties OF the
journey. Whatever they were, we es-
sayed, and overcame taem, reaching
the splendid Fort al 8, A. NJ, and thence
proceeded in barge down and across
the river Potomac, to Mount Vernon.
The approach to this consecratei ground,
as we descend the river, is not SO impos-
ingly beautiful as when ascending, aud
we, therefore, reached the dlapdated
wharf, (if deAgnated is not better term
for the decaying logs) at 10 O'clock
The ascent to the river is bold, and since
the heavy rains, rather difficult. Our
party, (male and female however, pro-
ceeded UP the hill of difficulty, without
mourning the Inconvenience of the slough
of dependency. On reaching the brow
Of the first hill, one is Immediately struck
with the evidence OF former taste and or.
namen', and Of continued natural abilities.
Before reaching the dwelling, The stables,
where stood the numerous and splendid
stud Of Washington, is seen--seen il de.
cay, not such as his eyes would have res
ted on for minute, but such as, even in
decay, show how much Of order, of ele-
gance, was in al. his plans. The houses
or quarters for the laboring slaves, we're
pretty dwellings, affordng comfort to the
inmates. who were yet numerous and
growing. Every door was crowded with
groups of youngsters, from six months to
six years Of age, and there seemed no rea-
son to apprehend any dIminulon in the
supply OF this production of the estate
We turned TO the left, and passing along
some elegant walks, through rich lawns,
we used The privilege with which our CT
cerone was invested, and entered the pr
vate garden, that is usually locked. A
huge stone wall surrounded this delightful
place; and at each angle, and the shape
was such as to afford many, there was a
handsome summer house, giving to the
whole an appearance Of fort, with bas,
tons. Here was splendid exhibition Of
fruit trees and flowers, Of all kinds, from
the humble illley ofthe valley, TO the Gle.
CANT AID beautiful roso, (that Mary OF all
flowers, with such a collection Of eCoirs,
as gentlemen OF liberal taste love to pos
sess and cultivate. The air was burthen
ed with the Mingled perfumes Of The rose,
the shrub, the mgnonstte, and the olaage
blossom; ana above us and around US,
wero enough TO satisfy the eye and graft.
fly the taste, Of any lover of plants. II
was lovely season to enjoy the riches oil
horticulture. The vine was crowed with
Incipent grapes, of delightful odor, aud
the branches OF the ig tree were bending
with their young fruit. We could scarce
ly fail to recall TO memory the beautiful
language of Solomon; the fig tree put
teth forth her green figs, and the vines,
with he tender grape give good smell"
OF all the exOtics, only two had been The
property Of General ashington--an old
orange tree, and an aloes plant. These
were consecrated articles, things TO be
gazed on and remembered.
One OF .hc greatest curosiiies of this
garden, was the gardener himself
"Phil Smith," as he was called. Phil
was a character. lie had no recollec-
tons himself of the great man, whose
name and character gave interest to the
place, but he knew how to give special
interest 10 what could reach back to the
life time Of that mao, aud TO profit by his
abilities. Though Phil was not obsequi.
ousIy polite, there was nothing logged in
his temper. He liked company, but be
liked to chose a.; and there vas that IN
his face and eye, but especially in The
protuberances beneath aud near his meth.
er lip, which showed him fond of "the
good things OF this hfe" Phil knew what
grapes were cultivated for.
Having gathered boquet, and procur.
ed a few relics, ihe party moved towards
the house. It's western front had beau,
uful view of the cultivated portions OF the
ground, aud from each corner swept cir
cular open galleries TO neat houses for
kitchens, and the abode OF house servants,
one OF whom, over whose head time had
swept for nearly hundred years, was
standing and feeling out the familiar OBJ
iects around her. A bandage beneath
her forehead, showed
wisdom at one entrance quite shut out"
The eastern front of the house, along
tho whole length of which extends por-
tco reaching upwards to the roof, looks
out upon the Potomac which, at thai point,
has considerable bend, so that an i'm
menSe view ia ACQUIRED inward and down.