The New York herald., 1845-08-07

/ has Ieacneu our nanus. III Is description Dy rt
ther Ritchie himself, of recent visit to the res
dence of Francis p Blair, Esq AT this charmin
retreat, so felicitously named " "Sver Spring."
alluson to the rich contracts obtained during man
years by the proprietor, the ex-editor enjoys hi
otium cum dignitafe, and as he quaffs his rich ole
wine, thanks the gods that preside over successfl
unofficial station In "the party" Hither Fathe
Richie bent his steps the other day, and we hastent
present our readers with the pleasant story in whic
the happy old gentleman has conveyed his impres
| sions.
VIRTUE ITS OWN REWARD,
DEMOCRACY IN IN RETIREMENT,
BY FATHER RIrcHIE.
He breedeth his cattle he traineth his vinc
He hath much that was bought and sold,
And his cellars are bursting with brave old wine
And his Golfers are crammed with gold.
barry Corn,OaH
Father Richie receives an in'aft0n to Fist Fa'ms
"THE SILVER SpRINa"-One Of our correspond
ents in this city has recently favored our reader
with brief but charming description Of the beau
ties OF Washington and It's surrounding scenery ant
wound it up with the following alluson to Mr.. F.
Blalr's country seat:
"The whole neighborhood of Washington is in
teresting, from constant and increasing improve
ment. Cottages and gardens are springing up as b,
magic in every direction. Amongst the splendic
and graceful establishments to be seen, is that O
Silver Spring, the seat Of T. p Blair, Esq, on the
Seventh street road 1t is appropriately named
from the source of its abundant water supply. The
house Isl spacious, chase, and architectural, whilst
shade, cultivation, and the unmistakable evidences
abode OF elegance and hospitality
We could not be content with this simple but
beautiful description of the place, when we had q
fair opportunity given US by the hospltable owner to
criminal For ourselves
Father Ritchie is determined to hare Frolic
Say what shall be our sport to-day7
There's nothing on earth, in sea or air,
Too bright, too high, too wild, too gay,
For spirits like mine to dare
So, on Saturday last, "nothing 10TH" we deter
mined for once, to the acquaintance of printers
devils, and leave the revises to their fate that we
the beauties of the Silver Spring
CHAPTER
Father Richie pauses in his flight and becomes geogrs
phicai.
Mr. Blair's farm is about six miles from the city
being on the very verge of the District of Columbia
and part of it running into Montgomery county In
the State OF Maryland.
Father Ritchie again becomes poetca and smacks his
lips srsr the good things at Farmer Biairs-
Farewell my hearts will to my honest knight Fall
staff, and drink canary with him."
We pass over "the unmistakable evidences of
abundance, Of elegance, and OF hospitality" We
shall not dwell upon the warm welcome which was
extended to every guest by the proprietors tf the
mansion-the viands, and the wines and the delici-
Gus fruits which graced the round tabe-more deli
catey covered perhaps, than was the celebrated
round table Of King Arthur himself.
cHAPrERv
Father Richie sces his for not passing the bottle
We must leave the hospitable board to itself, and
all the 'sgoody creature comforts, and all the good
things besides which circulated around it for zoe
hare not get taken any lessons in the school Of Mr.
Willis.
Father Richie feels little so-sosh, and follops the ad
pice Of DR.. Dryden
He acts the best who nature to repair,
Draws physc from the fields in draughts Of vital air.
Let us pass then, into the open air, and leave be-
hind us even the handsome and convenient mansion
which its proprietor has lately erected, and approach
the Silver Spring, which gives its own name, and
great part of the attraction of the scene the whole
farm.
Father Ritehie's beautiful Description Of the staiey"
This farm takes, indeed, its very appropriate name
from bold and li'npid spring Of the purest water
house. AT the back of this spring, which is guarded
Wih great care, and adorned with taste, is marble
statue of exquisite beauty and Of the purest chite
II is petHeVenus, rising from the bath She stands
in the recess, with her feet bathed in the water.
CHAPTER
Father Richie becomes less ecstac and talks Of Hydro
states.
But there is more than beauty about the spring.
The value of this delightful fountain justifes the
attention bestowed upon it. Various are the pur-
poses which subserves Its stream, carried off in
small iron pipe, supplies water for spacious dairy,
handsome fish-pond and for delightful baths. But
the bijou of the whole establishment is neat COM
pact stone mil which is as remarkable for the vari-
ETY. of functions it performs as for the beauty OF the
machinery which puts the whole in notion. The
water Of the spring is conveyed up a perpendicular
trough, that empues into the buckets of small
over-shot wheel This wheel is about twenty-five
feet in dlameter the rim very thin and very light
made upon the principle OF the arch, with iron
spokes to bind together 1t appeared to us as if
quart of water would put 1t IN motion, along with
the machinery which 1t moves in the interior OF the
mill. Here II performs variety OF functions at the
same moment
CHAPTER
Father Richie describes ronderfu Mild Democratic
Mui-Grinds ererything.
"Als grist that comes to his mll"Bioir's Rhetoric
The fine structure and ingenious machinery Of
this mill enable 1t to thrash out grain; to Oced gi0
and transfer IL TO convenicm repositories; TO shell
corn, to convert 1t into homlny and meal and also
to grind corn and cobs together, tor horses and
cows; to cut hay, chun butter, and, in the lower
basement floor, to wash clothes by means of labor
saving machine. The whole mill was built under
the direction, and, believe, by the patent of Mr.
Page, late Of Baltimore, now of Washington.
CHAPTER
Father Richie relates touching instance ofFarmer Blair
generosity.
We understand that the whole establishment wa.
to be furnished for III ,0Co, but it complete il
itself, and so satisfactory to Farmer Blair, that hi
own generosity added something considerable t
the amount of the contract.
Father Rche risits the dairy and finds the dhcious
We visited, too, his stalls and his farm pens
where we behed many noble animals OF the fines
breed. In single building we counted sixteen o
the best cows, all confined to neal and separat,
stalls, and daily yielding large supply Of deliciou
! milk
CHAPTER
Father Richie can keep
4" knows what knows
| But Wilma tell youn
] We will not say how many milk-pans we countes
in the cool dairy of the lady Of the mansion
| CHAPTER sIu.