The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-09-02
WASHINGTON, Aug. n, 1850.
Trip TO Mount Vcrn0n.
"whst. that hallowed name

W nat. that hallowed name
Which freed the Atlantic May we hope the same
Fer outworn Europe! With the sound arise,
Like samuel's shade to sauls monarchic eyes,
The prophets Of young Freedom, summoned far
From chimes Of Washington and Bolivar"
1t is incumbent upon the believer in the Prophet
TO make at least pilgrimage in his lifetime to
the tomb of the founder of his religion. The bones
which whiten the desolate sands of the surround
ing deserts mark the routes to Mecca, and confirm
the Mahometan's devotion to his faith. If the
false creed of an mpostor has conquered the East,
and holds it in subsection, and its believers to
fidelity fearless of death, why should we wonder
at the expansion of the great truths of civil and
religious liberty, established by Washington and
his compeers, under the guidance of the Ruler
Suprenel When we meet at the tomb of " Pater
Patra," the disciples and teachers of liberty from
all quarters of the round earth, we can recognise in
such pilgrims TO such shrine, the diffusion OF the
sublime principles of self.gCvernment, which, in
due season, are destined to sweep even the deep
rooted fenaticism of the Mosem fro m the minarets
OF Siamboul aud the deserts of Arabia.
As the believer in Mahomet leaves the tomb of
his Prophet with deeper conviction Of the diyi-
nifty Of his faith, so the believer in mans capacity
for self government, and in the beauty, glory,
prosperity, and benetcence of this Union of ours,
leaves the tomb Of Washington, with his patriot
ism aud his faith revived ana illuminated-hs
purposes re.establlshed TO labor TO preserve the
grand fabric Of freedom empire, which il is our
blessed privilege 10 inhabit and topossess.
From the foundation Of the government down TO
Yesterday, the only available approach To Mount
Vernon, from Washington city, has been by the
high road, over the rorgh hills, from Alexandra.
They who have tried the experiment of hiring a
hack, in Washington, for the journey TO Mount
Vernon and back, have foundt almost as expensive,
and more laborious, than journey to New York,
although the distance to the former is only fifteen
nil. hot I.a.r. l..l.
by this classic ground; bat the river is wide the
channel Is on the opposite shore, and passengers
have been forbidden an entrance from the river
side. The result has been that hundreds Of persons
annually visiting the capital have failed TO reach
Mount Vernon, becauie of the time, the expense,
and the difficulty in getting there,
We take pleasure IN announcing TO the public,
through the worldwide circulation of the Ne,c
York Herald, that ali these impediments are at
length removed.
"A company Of our citizens have recently put
upon the liver a swift, light draft steamboat the
Thomas Collyer, Captain Corson, end, by a sue
cessiul negotiation with Colonel John A. Wash
lngton, the proprietor Of the Mount Vernon estate
have obtained The privilege of erecting a wharf at
the foot OF the hill and landing passengers within
gunshot Of the house. The wharf Is nearly COM
pleted. The steamer made her first trip yesterday
aud, taking occasion Of lull in Congress, and OF
the beautiful day, We went down, in company with
some sixty passengers. They were mostly siran-
gers, who gladly availed themselves of so delight
fnl an excursion, for the trfhng expense Of dollar
the round trip.
Passing down the river, its wide expanse of
water, the unduatng and softly varegated hills of
helds and forest land, would comp nsate the ira
weller, till passing the frownng blitlements of the
heavy fortress on the left, when his attention is
directed 10 the poplars, on the HILL II the right for
that is The spot where Washington was at home,
and hard by his ashes repose.
The landing readily effected, and the COM
pany ascendet, by difficult and stony path, to the
mansion-an avenue Of approach totally inhibited.
heretofore, TO the public. Ascending from the
growth Of wild shrubbery and woods, which give
the declivity Of the hill the appearance Of a de-
area Of the demesnes immediately pertaining to the
establishment. There are the stables going TO
wreck-a half dozen neatly built brick and wood
negro houses becoming hoary aud dismantled-the
lines Of brick walls, originally surrounding the
lawn, half buried in the earts, and rank with a
profusion Of weeds-tLe mansion ITSELF threadbare
and desolste in its exterior, as IL inhabed-the
beautiful lawn, sprinkled over with wild vege-
taton, and even the negroes, Piccanlnnes and all,
looking antique and venerable, as If belonging TO
the olden tine. The drowsy atmosphere Of ruin
hangs over everything, except the memory Of
Washington, which sanctifes and beauties the
Il would take more time than we have at com
mend, and greater space than a business daily
paper spare, TO describe ell that is 10 be seen
In a walk about Mount Vernon. The mansion
needs no description. II is sufficient TO saw that
IL is a two stored house, weather-boarded, and
succeed so as TO represent building Of cut stone,
horizontal anc vertcal-that II has wide portico
in front extending the whole length COG feet) OF
the building, and TO the height Of the caves, sup.
ported by eight square columns Of wood, origi-
naily succeed TO represent stone, and that the
portico IL eurmounted by light balerstrade: and
that on the summit Of the building there is GU
yola with weather vane Of gilt swallow in full
flight, the gliding pretty well preserved, notwih-
stsnding the rains and storms of half century.
But there are alec two comfortable houses, one
upon each side, uniform in size and style, in the
rear Of the main building, yet standing out par.
TALLY in relief, and each connected with the man.
SIGN by a covered archwsy, supported by light
and graceful columns Of wood, and curving round
in the segment Of a circle TO the main pile This
arrangement leaves an open court in the rear, in
the centre of which is the circular carriage wav
for the ineress and egress Of carriages for il the
days Il Washington the only approach to the house
wss on that side, and even till yesterday al vsiters
approaching nom the river front were regarded a.
intruders.
The doors being thrown open upon both sides OF
the main hall. the company entered. without further
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