Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1845-11-06
Froip tho Cleveland Herald.
Horny Clay ana Ashland.

Horny Clay ana Ashland.
Tie men are mpars,ively few, IN
any aye or country ~ whose "daiIy
walk aud cony yeisaiion" the peaple gen
erally haze, or can be mado 10 ie~l, any
Interest. Mos, men have local hnb'-
taliop. and name hut small indeed 10
the number whose nun,e has become so
intimately associated with the individual
prosperity and national glory Of their
country ,as to repder descripli"n oi their
Home" aud home life oi public interest.
Henry Clay is one Of the few ~ this
Country, whose name snd Tame move
beeome public property. During pe.
riod Of nearly forty years, his -ofhcln'
life has been inseparably identified with
his country's history and during :'hai
time, his principles, lis measures, aud
his elnauence have had a CONSERVATIVE
and saving influence upon naliona' "f-
fairs, and directed aud modified govern
rental action.
To speak Of such man, in his retire.
meni upon his Farm ut Ashiand-to de-
40 ibe his plantation and apPur'enances,
and give publicity to his daily habits
and manner OF living, cannot he regard
ed as imper,inent in the writer, or un'n-
terc sting TO the reader.
The city Of Lexington, ndJ'''nnIng
which is Ashland, is a neat and flourish
ing inland town Of some 8 600 inhsbi-
ianls it has many handsome public aud
private buildings, and splendid Nc
Adamized roads leading 10 from all
directions. The surprising beauty and
loveliness Of Lexington consist, not IN
any thing ,eiihin or e;ihom the city. 1t
is in the centre Of an extensive range "i
country, second to no other IN fertility,
beauty nnd cultivation and the number,
elegance and spaciousness oi the private
residences without the town, give TO It
attractions more substantial, al well rs
ornamental, than are possessed by any
city in the Union.
About one mile east from this city ~
Ashland. the Farm and the Home OF
Henry CLAY. His house is hand
some aud substantial edificc, the main
body about forty feet by fifty, with
wings Of proporiionsie dimensions. II
stands in the midst Of proius'oD al ven
cradle forest trees, evergrecns aud
shrubbery, upon a gentle elevation, IN
the centre Of lot containing about hity
acres, and is some forty rods from the
road. a serpen,ine carriage way, leads
through the grove TO the house, and nu-
merous pathways, .as.efully arranged,
siudiously preserved and improved, beau
lily his extensive grounds. His house
is plainly but well furnished contain
ing many choice and valuable evidences
OF respect and affection Of his country
men. Then there is a stone cheese
house and stone butter-house, Ashland
being celebrated for the quantity Of hut
ter and cheese made thereat. His
chcken-house, dove-house, barn and
sheds, are all in perfect repair, spacious,
neat and in order. His fruit and v-ge-
table garden con, aims abou, four acres,
and in its arrangement and cultivation, !
saw Mrs. Clay giving personal d,rec-
iions. There is also q. large "green
house,, filled with choice plants and
beautiful flowers.
His negro cottages are exceedingly
comfort able, all white-waslied, clean
and well furnished, and plenty Of flow
ers in The windows and about the dwell.
lings. His slaves possess more 81 the
comforts vi life, have better dwellings,
are better clothed, work less than a
large majority Of the day laborers Of the
north. | have never seen an establish
ment in any country, in all its depart
men,s furnish SO many proofs OF domestic
comfort, permanent and useful arrange
Inent, united with such exceeding good
taste and unpretending elegance.
Mr.. Clay's Farm contains about eight
hundred acres, and n all my wandrrings,
including even Old England, ! have
never seen the same number of acres
in body, as handsome, as productive,
as well fenced, aud as well cultivated.
His wood land is cleared of all under
BRUSH and dead wood-his fields are en-
closed with good fences, with the top
rails all on, aud not n weed or brier IN
the corners his hemp fields, Sc. are
prepared with the skill aud care oi "A
thrifty farmer-a he has a ten acre
lot OF corn, upon which he has bestowed
extra labor and attention, with the view
oi obtaining the premium. Then there
are his fine blended cattle, sheep and
horses, nppor,ioned of 10 lots, according
io age aud the uso and purposes i"r
which they are designed. Indeed there
is no spot iD or about the residence :"
farm that will not furnish evidence Of hls
being a thrifty, profitable aud prarl,cal
Farmer. True II is, that had read aud
heard much OF Mr.. Clay, as the Far
mer of Ashland" hut ] regarded him M
wha, is termed u Gentleman Fm,ner--a-
one who had farm, but knew little aud
cared less how IL was cultivated. But
let any one walk with Mr. Clay over h's
broad acrcs-noiice his intimate kno"l-
edge of every ih,ng pertaining 10 in'u'-
ng-hear him relate how he prepares
aud improves his hands, changes his
crops, improves his stock, aud yearly
renders more and more productive aud
profitable his extensive plan'aii"n aud
he will then see with his own eyes, That
"oo of the bes, practical and most useful
Farmers ~ this or any oihcf country, ~
HrSRr CLav, the Farmer "f Ashland,
"a.