Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-02-25

President of the United States for the time being.
Tbs done, and if done "'tis well 1t were done
quhkly," the Tomb of Washington would cease to
be- repsoach among nations. The pilgrim from
distant lands, as he journeys Through mighty
Enpire with his heart filed with generation of the
fams and memory of Americas illustrious son, when
he arrives at the National Sepulchre, that casts its
bro.d shadow Ger the Potomac's wave, will be-
com, awed by the solemn grandeur of the spot.
The American of generations yet to come will
behcd with filial reverence the " time-honored re-
cept,ce that contains the ashes of the Father of his
Country the enduring marble mellowed by age,
the Inscription freshly preserved IN never-dying
bronze when, proud of such monument erected by
the piety of his ancestors, the future American may
cxclaim in the words Of the immortal Bard
! Such honots Ilion to her Hero paid,
And peaceful sleeps the mighty Hectors shade"
Another object claimed the attention Of the Chief
during the Last Days at Mount Vernon-the
complete survey and remodeling Of his farms, with
a view to their Improvement These surveys he
made in person, the calculations and estimates drawn
out by his own hand; and indeed it was spec
taoe to behold this venerable man, who had attained
the very topmost height of human greatness, carry
ing his own compass, the emblem of the employ
ments Of his early days.
His correspondence with Sir John Sinclair and
other eminent characters in Europe gave great
deal Of information touching the improvements IN
agriculture and domestic economy in the Old World
This valuable information was carefully digosted by
the Farmer of Mount Vernon with view to its
adaptation to the climate and resources OF the United
States Nothing that tended to public benefit was
too vast to be undertaken by this man OF mighty
labors The whole of his public as well as private
'tcarerr was marked by usefulness. His aim was
good to his country and mankind, and to effect this
desirable end untirng were his energies and onward
his course public benefactor.
Washington ceased to be a sportsman after l7ST,
when he gave up the hunting establishment. True,
he bred the blood horse and favorite colt of his,
named Magnolia, was entered and ran for purse /;
but this was more to encourage the breeding of fine
horses than from any attachment to the sports OF
the turf All the time that he could spare for
active exercise in his latter days was devoted to
riding about his farm and inspecting his improve
ments. In this he was ably assisted BY several Of
his stewards and managers, who were Europeans,
and who had brought from their own countries
habits of industry and knowledge of improved
agriculture and rural affairs; 50 that had the Farmer
of Mount Vernon been spared but few years longer,
his estate would have exhibited series of model
farms, examples to neighboring improvers and to
the country at large. .s -"
Mount Vernon, in the olden time, was celebrated
for the Injuries of the table The fields the forest,
and the river, each in their respective seasons, fur
nshed the most abundant resources for good living
! Among the picturesque objects on the Potomac to
be seen from the eastern portico Of the mansion
house, was the light canoe Of Father Jack, the
fisherman to the establishment. Father Jack was
an African negro an hundred years of age, and, al
though greatly enfeebled in body by such vast
weight of years, his mind possessed uncommon
vigor. And he would tell of days long past, Of
Afc's cline, and of Africs wars, in which he (of
course the son of king was made captive, and of
the terrible battle in which his royal sire slain,
the village consigned to the flames and he to the,
slave ship. ,.... ~. d.
Father Jack possessed in an eminent degree the
leading quality Of all his race, somnolency. BY look
ing through spyglass you would see the canoe
fastened to stake, with the old fisherman bent
nearly double, enjoying nap, which was only dis
turbed by the hard jrking of the white perch that
became entangled by his hook.
But the slumbers of Father Jack OCCASION
ally attended by some inconvenience. The domestic
: duties at Mount Vernon were governed by clock
time Now, the cook required that the fish should be
forthcoming at certain period, so that they might
be served smoking on the board precisely at three
o'clock. He would repair to the river bank and
make the accustomed signals; but, alas there would
be no response; the old fisherman was seen quietly
reposng in his canoe, rocked by the gentle undula-
IlUHS VI inc sIIcau, anu Ho uoupb VI
events "long time ago" The unfortunate artistic
of the culinary department grown furious by delay,
would now rush down to the waters edge, and, by
dnt Of loud shouting, at length the canoe would be
seen to turn its PROV to the shore. Father Jack,
indignant at its being even supposed that he was
asleep on his post would rate those present on his
landing with What you all meek such debil of a
noise for hey; want Sleep only noddin."
Poor Father Jack No more at early dawn will
J he be seen, as with wthered arms he padded his
light canoe on the broad surface of the Potomac,
to return with the fnny spoils and boast of famous
fish taken |" on his own hook" His canoe has long
since rottcd the shore his paddle hangs idly in his
cabin his occupation gone, and Father Jack, the
old fisherman of Mount Vernon, 'tsleeps the sleep
that knows no waking"
A hunter too was attached to the household es-
Establishment. Tom Davis and his great Newfound-
land dog, Gunner, were as important characters in
the department for furnishing game and wild fowl
as Father Jack in that of fish. So vast were the
numbers of the canvass-back duck on the Potomac
in the ancient time that single discharge of Tom
Davis's old British musket would procure as many
of those delicious birds would supply the lardcr
for week.
George Washington Lafayette, and his tutor and
friend NJ. Frestel, became members of the Mount
Vernon family during the last days. These esti-
mable Frenchmen, driven by persecution from their
native country, found refuge in America.
/ While reasons of State prevented Washington as
President from receiving entgres, soon as he be-
came the private citizen he warmly, joyfaiy vel