Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1846-01-22
ron TAX nAHTissnuRo GAzarrg.
MONTPELIER.

what u VAS, when u was The tenement oil
him. who delighted TO have around him
all the comforts and conyeniences OF life.
With his demise mighty depreciation has
befallcn this once fertile farm and SPLEEN
did mansion. DETACHMENT and dilspida.
ton, are now TO be seen, where formerly,
were naught but polished surfaces and
beautiful architecture. IA soon as The
spirit of Madison, ceased TO be the guar
dian Angel OF this his fondly cherished
home, SO soon commenced the work of
destruction, with her blghted breath.
casting sompre gloom about the whole
place, and making il look like some desert
ed castle, bearing strong marks Of its
pristine beauty and former renown at
the same time evidencing TO the passing
stranger, tha, this was once the abode of
some more than ordinary man. Melan-
choly are the associations which uncon-
views the ruin Of what was once so love-
ly and beautiful. Such reflections as
these, viz: Decay has stamped its ndel-
BILE impression on ell things earthly !,
"All that is bright must fade: All flesh
is as the grass Of the field end the glory
of man as the flower thereof, crowd upon
the mind while gazing upon those lime-
worn walls. Montpelier is situated about
FIVE miles South Yves, OF Orange Court
House, Va, and about twenty-five North
East Of Monticello, on one Of the most
beautiful elevations Of the South Yves,
Mountains, commanding, over magnif.
cent and infinitely diversified panorama
Of hills and dales, and extensive views Of
the Blue Ridge as far as the yisIon can
reach. This spo, was selected and built
upon by Mr.. Madison's fn,her. The
mansion az built by him being large two
stored building with a beautiful colonnade
portico (ts hslghth and nearly its whole
length, TO which Mr.. Madison added TWO
wings, each single stored, having fla,
roofs elegantly balustraded. In the rear
is another long por:ico opening into a
rich, level lawn, on the South side of
which is the entrance into one OF the best
constructed and most fertile gardens 10
Virginia, abourding in every variety OF
vegetables and ffui. TO which our soil and
climate are adapted. A number Of rich
and rare paintings, together with large
collection Of elegantly carved busls,
among which are those Of the Presidents
OF the United States, many Of the Gener-
ais and Liierah Of America and Europe,
aud several statues of Godesses decorate
tho interior, while the exterior is orna.
mented with admirable taste, by shady
groves and grassy lawns, which contri-
butte much TO the beauty and comfort OF
the location.
The room in which Mr.. Madison died
10 furnished now as j: was at that tlme.--
The same small French beds.cad-- with
the same covering on it, MAINTAINS now
the same position II then did.
On entering this apartment. numerous
and melancholy are the reflections which
rushed across the mind. 1t seems that
the noble spirit which breaihed its last on
that lowly couch, still hoyers over and
admonishes the visitor as he gazes in
bresthless enxiety and establishment, tina,
this is hallowed spot, rendered more
coRsecratsd, by the brilllan: genius--thc
pure morality--the unsull ed integrity and
the never-fading glory of the ilIustrious
sage and patriot. That it was here he
babe adieu to earthly csres-to affection
ate friends and beloved relations, and met
with socratc frmness the grim monster,
whose hdeous aspect had no terror for
him. Such reflections overwhelm the
mind with sable grief, and we are, borne
back upon the raven wing OF gloomy re-
membrance, to the morning Of the 2Stn Of
June. 1886, when we find ourselves, com
mingling our hearts with those, whose
good fortune it was 10 share his conf
dence, those who heard the last accents
tina, fell from the lips, which in time past
had spoken lessons OF wisdom TO a nation.
Although the remains oil Madison now
res, iu sweet repnse, beneath Montpel'er's
verdant sod. without even marble slab
to mark the spot. and tell the enquirng
stranger who delights to look upon the
graves Of the noble dead, that here rs the
tomb Of Madison, yet part of aim is still
lief: to US. He has left behind charac-
ter as pure and spotless as the icicle fro.
zen or Dlana's Temple ;--I1e has lei, an
example worthy Of imitation by oil even
from the least to the greatest. lie has
left as beacon light TO future genera.
tons, millions yet unborn, the imperisha-
bic monuments of his mind, which he
erected by assiduous labour and persever-
ing industry, "around whose submits eier-
nifty will play. "snd beneath whose shadows
things will moulder. He has left me.
mory which will be reverenced by Anne
ricans, SO long as America exists as
nation.
Led on by the fsncies Of former years,
when frs, heard OF Patriotism and Phi
lanthfopy, of have ! rambled along the
meandering road which leads tothe peace
ful shades of Montpelier. When nature
appears in its mlldest and loveliest garb,
how pleasant il is to 60 to the patriots
tomb and, at that holy shrine, offer up
the tribute OF generous and enlightened
admiration. How suggestive the inAu-
ence Of that spot. Like every thing else
that is venerated, our associations become
dearer. the more they are mellowed by
age, and each successive visit bestirs
deeper cast Of thought. AS time recedes
year by year, from the period Of us erec-
ton. that PLAIN Locust Stake wIll have