Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1847-02-25
coRREspoNDENcE or THE AGE.
WNsAiNgtOn NIkN, Tlb. lO. q,

Washington city, FEB, 10, AZ.
DEAR SIR:--l returned this mornid
from Mount Vernon in Virginia, the red
Idence and place OF sepuIture of Ger
Washington.
The plantation which at present cor
s'sts OF about 1900 acres is owned and cd
cupIed by Mr. John A. Washington,
great grand nephew of the General. Thl
Mansion, the out buildings, walls, gal
dens, and even the Tomb, are in a mol
wrelched state of diIapidation.
Ills most gloomy to see that spot corI
secraled by the life and death Of NIL
Father of his country" so grossly ned
lected, so shamciully suffered to decay
Where is the reverence Cor the memory d
the iIlusterous dead, the pride Of anceslr
remembrance, and the conservation d
family affection, winch every where
bounds in New.England, and which S
much rebounds to the credit of her son
and the glory Of her departed fathers!-
IT'S not seen, It's not felt at Mount We
non.
This rs a mos, delightful location, d
rectly on the right bank of the majest
Potomac, and occupying commandinS
elevation nearly opposite Fort Washing
ton in Maryland The old Mansion whic
is falling to decay, is of ancient style, AM
IN New'England, would be called one arI
half stories high, fronting the river, viii
colonnado Of eight columns in front,
cupoIn, spire and vane upon the top. TIL
grounds about the buildings were mol
beautifully and splendidIy laid out, an
tasteIulIy ornamented with trees, shru
and flowers. The garden-allhough, lil
all else at Mount Vernon is going to d.
cay--has much left Of its former beaut
The Box wood and the Magnolia, even
this dreary season, remind you of the We
dure of Summer. The Lemon and the OIL
nnge trees are loaded with their goldC
fruit while the Sage plant and the Cactu
rear their heads like tenants Of the fores %
Here is one Lemon tree loaded with fru
which was planted by Gen. Washington
own hand.
The storm on the Sd inst upturned on
Of the beautiful Firs in front Of the Ma
sion and several of the lofty Locusts,
if to put in mind the indolent prophet
of his shameful, if not criminal neglect
the memory Of his illuslirous ancestor.
While the British were ascending t
Potomac, during the war of 1879, the "
coiors were lowered to half mast and mi
ute guns were fired when passing Mou
Vernon the Tomb of Washington. Con
pare this reverence Of a public foe, TO II
ashes of the yenerated Washington wi
he criminal Indifference of the prese
proprietor of that ancient Mansion, az
what american is there, that must II
blush
| have just been listening to very So
,mn discourse in the House of Represe
atves, from the Rev. Mr. Foote Of 20
State, from the following text LET hi
who thinks he stands take heed lest
I."Thc speaker in most impressive
clerical manner portrayed The wicked ar
objectionable condition Of the executiv
II consequence of his persecution Of tho
models of christianity and uncxampl
,iety,-the Mcric0nS. And after invo
ng'the judgments Of heaven upon II
wicked and ungodly administration,
roceeded TO prophesy their utter destru
ion from the face Of the earth, in ii
most significant language, "Mene, Men
Perez, upharsin.
Truly he is the greatest Solomon Of I
&c, and at his malediction, the nati{
nay well tremble, and put on sack-clol
Yours, &c.