Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1856-05-17
Editorial Correspondence Of the yirginian.
A Trip to Mount Vernon.
WASHINGTON. y. c.,
~ pO-H


WASHINGTON. y. c.,
May 18th, 1856
Having just returned from visit to the home
and grave Of the Father of his country, | avail
myself of the few moments remaining before the
starting of the mail to give account of the
appearance of things at that sacred spot. En-
barking at o'clock this morning board the
"Thomas Colyer,' with large number OF ladies
and gentlemen, run of about an hour on the
placid waters of the beautiful Potomac brought
US to Mount Vernon wharf. Landing and defling
up the winding hill the first object of interest that
is reached is the tomb. A large brick vault with
an open grating, through which fine marble
sarcophagus can be seen, is the resting place of
our beloved Washington Another sarcophagus,
TO the memory of his wife, is also visible; and
arouni,on either side of the vault, are the graves
Of other members Of the family. 1t is still and
solemn place.-one propitious to contemplation.
with no exlraneous object, to divert the thoughts
from the great absorbing object of rejection
Standing by the grave of that great man the mind
naturally reours to the trying scenes, the heroic
deeds and the mornentous events of the period Of
his life and laborS, mud the patriot heart in
the inestimobe gift Ct Washington and the in
comparable blessings of Liberty, Union and Re-
publicnnsm Transmitted to u.s. his descendants
by the might OF his arm, the herosm of his SOUL
and the grasp Of his intellect. And nov as he
those blessings menaced and in imminent
danger. the lover Of his country. in the earnest
ardor of his soul involuntarily offers up the as
piration of his haart's desire that the cloud may
be disspated, the danger dispersed, the foul
spirit Of fanaticism mad dsunion banished. peace,
quiet and fraternal feeling restored, and that our
proud stars aud stripes undmmed and unpolluted
ehnll continue
oor the land Of the free and the home of the brave"
few hundred yards further on stands the
house. 1t i. long two story stuccoed building
with a porto" in trent running the whole length
Of the house. Only two rooms and the hall are
thrown open to veiters. These contain the
same furniture, paintings, &c, as when occ uped
by Washington. The furniture is plain. but
substantial One ofthe most interesting objects
to be seen is the key of tho Bastille, presented
by Gen. Lafayette to Washington 1t is en-
closed in a handsome glass and Gilt case, and
hangs in the hail. just above picture of that
celebrated building. The key is an enormous
one of ordinary iron. The grounds alta ched to
the house are spacious aud naturally very hand.
some. but arc in quite neglected condition.
There are large front ard rear yards with vene-
rable shade trees, and fine looking garden which
seems once to have been in high state of i'm
provement and cultivation. The kitchen and
servants houses are in the rear of the mansion,
MI, II, all Al.
Everything seems to have sunken into state of
dilnpidaton. and neglect is manifest on every
baud. The situation is beautiful and picturesque
Hill, vale plain and woods diversity the scene on
either side, and in front the majestic waters of
the nohest vt rivers spread themselves far out in
the distance, dotted with many sail and steamer.
One leaves Mount Vernon with an increased
desire that the ladies may consummatc their pur-
pose of buying and presenting it to the State of
Virginia. 1t should either belong TO that State
or the nation The grave of Washington should
be the heritage of the nation as is his glory. II
should be the political Mecca of Americans where
they may make their pilgrimages and infringe on
no private rights; resort in whose green shades
all could lie down under their own vine and
hg tree. Another reason why il should be the
property of the State or nation is that it might
have that care and attention which are necessary
To preserve it from decay and ruin. The hand
of care and improvement are necessary about it,
and that should be put forth by grateful and
affectionate people. Let the ladies g on in
their noble work. and weary not until it is nc
eempE-hed, aud they will have performed a deed
worthy of the descendants of him who was " first
in war; first in peace aud first in the hearts of his
countrymen." A. MCD.