The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1852-01-03


village Cincinnati counted a population of
six hundred Louisville was still smaller,and c
Chiliicothe had not been surveyed two years. fl
In this great wilderness, Blennerhasset chose l
the spot perhaps the most agreeable to his I
tastes The Island secured solitude when
ever it was wished. while the village of Bel
pre- on the Ohio shore, settled by retired Of
fcers of the army of the revolution, Marietta
coonized by a company of highly educated
New Englanders, and some of the families of
Wood Count-the adjoining County on the
virginia shore-afforded sufficient sOciety.-
The Island is long. and about the middle,
quite narrow. BlennerhasSct bought the up
per portion, containing about one hundred
and seventy acres, and reared there the home
which tradition and oratory have invested
with the interest of romance. !
The traveller sailing down the river, when
some miles distant, saw the white walls ot'the
house, cleaning through an opening which
had been cut through the trees on the head
of the island Except this white speck, all
looked as wild as nature had made it. But
on landing a gateway was seen. ornamented
with large stone pillars. Beyond, a we'll gra-
ded road with gentle slope, led through the
forest trees to the general level of the Island.
There spread lawn of several acres, from
which every stump and root had been rcmov-
| ed. and where clumps of shruhbcry variegat-
ed the smooth -shaven grass. Facing the lawn
was a spacious mansion presenting, with ITS
, wings, front of lo4 feet. Beyond the house
e was garden as large as the lawn. where de
yious paths, and arbor> covered with trailing
;, vines, and the mingled hues of native flowers
! and exotics, together with choice wall fruit.
: we're in strange contrast with the forest that
l. waved its heavy bouehs upon its borders. Be
n vond was an orchard and kitchen garden.
,, together with farm of hundred acres. The
i house was furnished in a style which then
d had no parallel beyond the mountains. The
o hall was noble apartment constructed on
a acoustic principles. that B!rnncrhaSSet's ex-
K ccllent PLAYING on the violin should be mar
t red bv no echo; the walls, painted with a
e dark tint, the gildcd cornire, and massive
e furniture gave this room quite 4 stately air.
To this, the curtains, gay carpet. elegant fur
: niturc and LARGE mirrors of the drawing room
In, Il
L room, TIL ~1drhoarc> were maonIhc,nt with
: plate The chict pccuiaritv of the mansion,
II however. was the wing which contained the
) study There. the ancient classics, the stan
o dard works of modern literature. full col
c lection of the French and German philoso-
r, pliers, good telescope. solar microscope
fr and good collection of chemical and e!ectri
vs. cal apparatus. formed the implements Of TIL,
= pioneer in the wilderness.
IS The owner of the mansion was tall anf
r slender in person, and stopped slightly. lie
had marked. though not a handsome face
A. which general V wore a grave expression. Hs
Il, was not a man of strong will or firm purnoSc
# but was honest. kind and ronfiding. Man,
IS of his generous acts are sill remembered II
Y; the neiehhorhood HIS unsn>recting honest,
in laid him open to frequent impoSitonS. From
S dread of earthquakes he built the house OF
at wood. instead of the fine stone that abound
n near the island and 50 great was his fear OF
tn lightning. that he closed the house and lay OF
TO feather bed, whenever there was a thunde
tn storm. He studied for amusement, withou
as ever becoming an adept in any brauch of
i'll science His knowledge of medicine wa
enough to enable him to administer doses
he all his poor ne ghborS, and to fancy constan,
ce ly that he was suffering from some dangerou
,r- illness. His only recorded experiment i
re- chemistry was unfortunate. Conceiving tha
,c- beef, if kept a sufficient time in running VIZ
ire ter. would be convertellinto a good substtut
ne for spermaceti, he tried the experiment. Br
10 the fish of the river had 50 little respect ft
ties his science "a. to nibble the meat away beior
Sc, the experiment was finished. His music WI
.th more admired than hiscxpcriments in scienc
S. some pieces of his composition are still r.
ate mcmbered in Marietta. lie was most at hon
ue with the old classic writers and it is said th
me he could repeat a considerable portion Of I'll
in Had from memory. He was cxccssive
fond of such sports as the Island afiorde
.on shooting at quails and other small birds. II
for sporting, however,was almost apractical bu
ret for, being very near-sighted, he only fire
nor the GUN after his wife or servant had ponte
en-. it.
vn Mrs Blennerhasset was a very differe
bly, person. Her remarkable beauty was heigh
lad ened by every charm of grace, dignity, lnte
res, ligence and high breeding. Ladies, who kne
She her WE'LL say that they have not seen in .
lol- merica or Europe a lovelier woman or mo
ish accomplished lady. Always dressed with tast
gho often brilliantly surprising every one in Il
ac- dance, charming all with her manners, al
TWO soothing distress wherever it appeared, 81
trv was regarded with passionate admiration
aw, 4 Young farmer rented cornfeld on the
rye land, simply in order to catch glimpse of h
hi in her daily walk Or ride. In all disputes b
81, tween her husband and guest, upon poi
in history, she was made arbitrator. Som
ork times she would delight favored party wi
and her reading of Shakespeare. At the same tin
,ar. she did all the shopping for the large hous