Weekly miners' express. (DuBuque, Iowa) 184?-1849, 1847-12-01

made q compromise with us. that if we re-
mnined OIL the outside, she would open the
window and allow US the privilege of look
ing in. We here saw family picture,
which, frotn being the only one in the room
we will describe. 1t is q tableau Of Mrs.
Jane Washington and her children, and &C.
cupies about forty square feet Of canvass.--
This lady it will be recollected, was the
wife OF John Washington, nephew OF G EoRGE
On the right Of Mrs. w. is her daughter,
Maria, now Mrs. Alexander, of Jefferson
County, Va. She is about fifteen years of
age, well formed, fine foil face, aud in her
bands is guitar. On the left, in the back
ground, is her son Richard, sprightly look
ing lad of about eleven years; near him, in
front, Robert Herbert, nephew of Judge
Bushrod Washington, an interesting youth
of seven years. Immediately to his ght
is a boy Of about fourteen years, of most
singularlY dull and insipid countenance,
with his arms negligee upon Herbert's shout
ders. This latter one is Castor Washing
ton, the present tenant Of the estate. The
group are listening attentvely to Mrs.
Washington, who. seated In an arm chair,
with the Bible upon her lap, appears TO be
reading aloud. ....
The vlsiter is surprised to fad that with
the exception of the library, but little re
mains Of the furniture Of WASHINGTON. 1t
has all been removed to the house of Mr..
GUSTS. on the bank of the Potomac, oppo-
site the Capital. Here arc found many
choice paintings. 1t is pity that change
like this should have been deemed necessa
ry, but the liberal mind and polished char
acter Of this gentle man. who is a near rela
ofG a rroti Nv n
assurance the safety Of these sacred relics.
The parlor Of the old mansion has been fur
n;sbed by its present tenant, in the modern
style. We are struck, however, by its spa
ciousuess. aud the richly moulded wreaths
udorning the ceiling. The beautiful marble
mantle piece was the present of Lafayette. 1t
is of the finest variegated Italian marble,
and splendidy carved, The porcelain hearth
stone, magnificent in its virgin paleness, is
now broken. While thus scanning the va
rous objects in the room, we could not for
get that many day, at the window upon
which we were so careless!y leaning, have
sat the wives Of WASHINGTON and Franklin
and around the table in the centre Of the
room, have been the now King of France,
the ever-me morabc Jefferson, the elder
Adams. the Promethean orator Patrick Hen
ry, the deep and subtle politician. Hamilton.
and The pure hearted patriot, La/uyehe.-
Now all is silence, decay, and ruin! few
years more, and the venerable mansion will
be numbered among the things that we're ! |!
We must soon see at Mount Vernon but the
old trees whose heads have faced the winds
Of a hundred years. and the hill where the
crumblng edfice now stands will be as bare
! of human habitation as when the woods held
primeval sway!!!
Is there nothing 10 the sanctity Of this
place to move our government to respect it?
Shall Mount Vernon become Wilderness :!
Would such 4 scene be a fitting obatior to its
departed spirit! Let these sacred shades
becom the property Of the Republic. 1t may
then be the privilege Of our citizens, as well
as forei gners. TO find here hospitalities equal
to the American character. and the visiter
receive something like civil and decent
respect. Mount Vernon should be as dear
to us as Mecca is to the Mahometans. and a
pilgrimage to its hallowed soil as deep an
object Of our love and veneration. Now, nc
one comes to it without regret. and no stran.
ger leaves it without denouncing our selfish
ness and inGrlttnde. The present proprie
tor is odous to the name Of American He
|
of Mount Vernon than the beasts driving o.
yer it! Yet it is to such hands that we are
willing to commit the remains Of the Fnthe,
Of our Country! OF how much worth are
those sentiments Of reverence for his me mo
ry with which oar children, from the St
Johns to tho Rio Grande. are daily nspired
How little should we feel in the eyes of a
civilized world! What are monuments
what are euogies-stand before the world
in the attitude of throwing aside all the feel
ings Of humanity-all the pride Of country,
and exhibiting in naked dcformity. heart
less neglect. which in all The walks Of social
life would Withhold from the citizen claim,
to the common sympathies and impulses Of
his nature! Will not some action be taken
by our countrymen Of the South, to whom
these facts are unknown.
J. NJ. & W. NJ. s.