The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1852-1855, 1854-10-19

we made promise some days ago b
give an account of our visit TO Ashland
which for SO many years was the home Of
Henry Clay, name dear to the Amer ricar
people, and to which the memory cling;
like ivy to the oak. Ashland has often been
described by abler pens than ours, and it.
name has gone forth 70 the ends of the
earth. Those who have preceded us, how.
ever, saw Ashland when in It's full glory
as quiet, modest, unpretending dwelling
and when the occupant was in his pride
of place, FIRST in the race Of men. Those
days have passed away never to return.-
Not only has the jewel vanished from our
sight, but the casket has been broken which
contained it. Henry Clay is dead, and
Ashland is a ruin.
1t was near the close of warm and
pleasant day, that we rode in carriage
from the hotel door in Lexington, to Ash
land. We were not prepared to find the
dwelling totally demolished, but all that
remained of it was part of brick wall,
which had once served to divide the parlor
from the libray and upon this some hall
dozen men were at work with crow bar
and pick-axe, leyeling it to the ground
All, therefore, that remains of the old
homestead of the Statesman, is pile of
bricks and rubbish. We were told that
the present proprietor of the estate--a son
.of Henry Clay-is about to erect on the
site ofthe old dwelling new edi6ce of its ex-
act form and character. This will make
some amends for the work of demolition
he has completed, but it will hardly par
don it. The old house might have been
repaired; it should not have been destroy
ed. 1t was one Of the most consecrated
spots, those shrincs of liberty; to which the
pilgrim would oft retire to revive hope, and
strengthen his love ofcountry. -.
Aside from the interest fixed to the spot
because Of him, who, for so many years had
found there his home, there is nothing re-
markable about Ashland The estate par
takes Of the general character of the lands
in the neighborhood of Lexington, being
rich and fruitful There are many fine
trees III the immediate locality where the
dwelling stood, and we can scarcely imag-
inc a more proper rural home than Ash
land once was, for such man as Henry
Clay. But its glory has departed; Henry
Clay's home israzed to the earth. Itwas
with mortified and disappointed spirit
that we left Ashland, and directed our way
towards the cemetery, which is on the
other side of Lexington from Ashland, but
nearer the closely inhabited partof the city.
1t is an exceedingly well-selected spot, land
contains many handsome monuments
Our chief desire, however, was to see the
grave of the Great Commoner.' We soon
found it. 1t is marked by no stone or
monument. The place of sepulchre is
well selected. Henry Clay lies Just where
he ought to-in the heart of Kentucky
The spot is beautiful and quiet, and 'he
sleeps WELL His grave is heaped up in
the usual form, and covered with the green
sward. It's contemplated to build lis
monument onthe spot where he now rests.
We own that we like the simple beauty OF
his unmarked grave better than we would
a monument 1t brought to our mind Il e
grave of Sir Walter Scott, in st. Mary's
aisle, in the ruined Abbey of Dryburgh.
SCOTS grave, like Clay's, bears no monu-
mentalstone; the green hillock alone marks
where he rests, But how quite and holy
that rest doth seem.ACin. Gaz.