Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1849-08-08
Number 80.
4 VISIT TO FORT HILL,
THE RESIDENCE OF THE HON. JOHN c. Cal
HoUN, NEAR PsNDLEroN. S. {.

~
We find in one of our exchanges u
lengthy. but exceedingly interesting &C.
count Of q recent visit. BY traveller. to
the residence Of the Hon. John Z. Cal
houn, at For, Hill. S. C.. from which we
ex,rac, the following:
In paving visi, TO the grea, statesman
Of America. in his secluded home at the
South, the visitor is SO struck with both
him and his home, that he Is at loss
which TO admire most--,he far seeing sage
or the magnificent scenery by which ne
is surrounded.
! Few Nor;herners have had tie pleas
ure of seeing Mr. Calhoun at home. On
! his plantation. in the bosom o.. his tami-
ly and surrounded by scenes familiar to
him for so many years, he is the same.
and yet he is in some respects a differ
en-, person from the Senator at the Capt.
tall He is more at his ease. more socia-
bic and familiar, and far happier.
His residence is about tour miles from
Pendle,on. an old town in Picken's dis
trict. about two hundred and fifty miles
from Charleston.
! | reached Pendleton about midday.
and no sooner had landed from the mail
stage, than | made inquiry Of the land
| lord Of the hotel in regard to the distance
to Fort Hill. He replied, "Yonder is
Mr. Calhoun hmself.'' My eyes follow
ed the direction to which his finger point
ed. and sure enough saw, seated under
the shade of a large tree. that stately
head, whose features if once seen are
scarcely if ever forgotten. and | had seen
Mr.. Calhoun before in the Senate, and
recognised him at once. He rose as
approached TO where he was seated. sur
rounded by q group Of gentlemen. his
neighbors. and when delivered him my
letter Of introduction, he asked me to q
seat. When he had read the letter. he
introduced me to his neighbors. and then
kindly invited me to return with him to
his residence and spend two or three
days. 1t is needless to say. that at once
accepted his invitation, cordially Civ
en-, and in the course Of an hour l was
seated by his side in his carriage, and on
the way to Fort Hill.
Soon after leaving Pendlcton, the car
riage entered a forest. in which we con-
tinued until we reached the gate, which
opened into the grounds in the immediate
vicinity of the mansion. This is so con-
cealed that you hardly notice it. until you
are within very short distance of the
/ white pillars Of the north and east fronts
OF MS mouse.
The door yard is filed with trees and
shrubbery--oaks that have stood there
; at least two hundred years. locusts, elms,
willows, wild orange. and fig trees innu-
merable. the latter loaded with fruit; at.
tached is large garden. filled with fruits,
flowers, plants and vegetables of every
description; and not far distant are large
apple and peach orchards. The mansion
itself is plain, unpreteading looking
building, relieved by wide piazzas, and, ,
on each side, rows Of columns As
said before, the oak trees standing close
to the house are very old, large. and lofty.
and their immense tops are Of great SER
vice. not only in presenting an impcne-
trable shade. but in protecting it in a
= thunder storm, as had occasion to wit
, ness, for. during my shor, stay, Fort Hill
y was visited by one Of the most severe
thunder storms | ever Witnessed, and I
should do the thunder injustice were not
!, to state that it was the regular Calhoun
= order, and exactly what should have ex-
: pected in this region.
Y We reached Fort Hill about two o clock
5 p. NJ. 1t was nearly the dinner hour. I
9 was introduced to his family. which, al
that time, consisted Of Mrs. Calhoun, his
youngest daughter. and the three young
II est sons. Mr.. Calhoun has seven chill.
s dren-the eldest, Andrew, is a planter in
If Alabama; the next, Patrick. is a captain in
i the army, and stationed near New Or
st leans; the eldest daughter is in Europe,
r the wife Of our Charge at Belgium. Mrs
Calhoun is just such a wife as man like
Mr.. Calhoun should Unreasonable, do
;, mestic, and Industrious She governs
ho~ hrt, I0fI
;, matron, in the old times. ever surpassed
q Cornelia, the daughter at home. is mos,
E affectionate companion for the mo,her.--
n Of the three sons who were at home.
must make some mention. John is a
physician, and was married shortly after
], left. to the daughter of a near neighbor
e He will make leading physician wher-
t. ever his destiny leads him to settle.
IS James, the next, is calm. quiet, think.
ing young man, of 20. and, in many re.
- spects. strongly resembles his father
If Willie IS the youngest Of all Mr.. Cal.
houn's children. about 18 years Of age,
and the pet Of all. The two last are stu
q dents in the South Carolina College, and
e at home during the vac alton.
d | dressed for dinner. and when ! sal
n down to the table | was soon a. home
$; and felt as much SO as If had known ev.
'e cry member Of the family for the las
Re twelve years.
IS Everything that is to be had in the
&c South is raised or found on Mr.. Cal
o. houn's estate, and on his table. He is q
p very spare eater. and his Temperance is
d SO well known, that need not sl!ude 10
AZ it.
,"
2 The view to the sonthward of his house
is very beautiful, extending over hill and
dale; the Seneca river passes through his
a plantation. and forms the principal branch
u Of the Savannah river. by which the pro.
e duce of his plantation is sent TO Hamburg,
4 Anu,r~r~ RI. h1.,~> 81