The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-05-28
Mount vernon.

We have cut the following beautiful and graphic de-
scnpIon OF visit to Mount Vernon from "Gances al
Congress-" number X, published in the PennsylyaDian
and repnle TO be from the versatile and nervous pen oil
Colonel Foney Clerk OF the House of Representatives
Mount Vernon is distant from Fort Washington four
or I'VE miles You catch glimpse OF il first through
mass OF iolage-a mere glimpse, which is soon lost
the boat moves onwards-and presently YOU landed
az an old wharf al the base OF high but not oyesleep
hill. along which you pass, over board walk, TO the
Tomb aud the mansion. You reach the tomb first Ii is
qale and halowed spot. Wild flowers bloom around
i, and the perfumes OF May rise like an eyerly
ing incense OF praise TO him who sleeps close at
hand. There two strong collins, or sarcophag-
the one 10 the east containing the remains OF Wash
ngton. the other The remains OF Martha, his wife These
are The work OF your townsman, Strulhers. Where all
IS SO supple and 80 plain, description is superuous The
heart IS hed with the overlooking recoections OF the
past You go back involuntarily 10 the eventiu
oil the patriot whose remains mouder before you
the boy prisoner; the man warrior the sage and the
staesman-frst the loyal subject OF a crown he after
wards despoiled OF its brightest gem next the head OF
republic he had built from chaos ato order then the
nobest Cincnnaus OF any age who gave up honor and
prerogaye. and calmly awaited the immortality he had
earned in these classic shadesthe fitting resting placein
Lille and IN death for no had danger
save Tor his country and who assumed power only that
he might aid TO preserve what he had achieved. How
holy these groves how solemn this rural solitude how
sweet these evidences OF spring how quiet yon mighty
river conrsing with unpausng current TO the eternal
and yet how cmblemac of his life, his DEATH his end
less iame his sublime and dignihed characters his
l.
murng death his fixed place in the love OF mankind
and the deafness value OF his example, which, through
every age shall live till times summons shall have
ceased to sound" short walk brought to the man
sion. 1t is beautifully situated; and when erected
was an edice doubtless OF equal capacity and CON.
fort. The mansion faces the Potomac, and the lovely
lawn front and rear, fresh when, many years
ago, he worked out upon while resting from the fatgues
OF his own mighty career. There is complete garden
conservatory now in ruins; ouhouses of all kinds;
noticed That the ancient order that prevailed the
angement Of the grounds still preserved The
son ii to furnish contrast to the fame OF Washington
is rapidly going TO decay His descendants occupy por
ton OF It but the most oil the closed to the
public eye. BY the kind permission of lady of the
house, we were admitted into the reception room
and saw there the famous carved marble mante
piece of which so much has been saba triumph
Of art that even in these days OF taste and OF pro-
gress could not fail TO be appreciated After wander
ing about these stored halls, and inspecting much
OF the exterior our leisure would allow we left after
genial shower of rain. for the boat The ladies brought
with them all the testimonials OF Mount Vernon they
could collect and the gentlemen armed themselves with
rude purchased from of the negro boys tina
followed TO the wharf. Mount Vernon contains in al
about twelve hundred OF good land and various
proposals have been made that government should pur
chase it. But what shall be done with il is the question
most difficult decide II be turned into source
of without offending alike the ius,Iious dead
and the grateful living The national sense would ap
plaud and the national demands the purchase
this property, and It's appropriation TO purpose
inconsistent with the character OF Washington and the
policy Of the repsbc.