The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1858-06-04
Iron THE INDEPENDENT PRESS
Trip to Washington American Medical As
sociation-Excursion to MT Vernon
Boarded Shad Entertainment, &c,

Tip 10 " aSnlnSton American Medical As
socialion-Excursiont to Mt. Vernon
Boarded Shad Entertainment, &c.
Tile programme for Friday, May 7th, was as
follows:
Excursion per steamboat, Thomas Coliycr
to Mt. Vernon, Navy Yard, Fort Washington,
and the Pavilion, where plank stand enter
tainment will be given to the Association, by
the Medical profession Of the District. The
Thomas Coilycr will leave her pier Mt the foot
Of 7th street, punctually Mt l S minutes before
10 o'clock a. H."
BY hali:past nine the little steamer was load
el almost to her gun nwales with living freight
of Doctors aud lovely women considerable
alarm ran through the crowd, MS to the chan
ees Of "a domn 6ctow," when the committee Of
arrangements chartered large Mail Steamer,
that was lying at her wharf; this relieved from
all fears, aud both boats were soon stearnin
down the beautiful Potomac, with its bold
shores studded, with rural villas, and wood
land scenery the day was mild and cloudy
SO that even the fair ones could stay OH deck
and enjoy the passing scenery.
rest the remains of the Fnthcr Of his, of our
Country, what associations, crowded the Citl-
del of thought sad. and glorious reminiscent
ses, Of the past, were passed in quick success
sion as memory called up the scenes of revo-
lutionary times what scene was before US,
as we slowly walked up the hill from the Ri.
yer, some six hundred strangers the represen-
Tot; ,f Ill
visiting the Tomb OF George Washington no
monarch that ever swnyed the m millions of Eu-
rope had ever such heart felt homage paid to
his resting place truly Inns it been said, there
needs no monument to Washington, for his
memory is cngraftcd Oh the tablet Of every
American heart and in terw oven into the exist
encc ofthese republics, never to fade away while
a love Of liberty and free Government, exists in
the mind Of man. We were stuck with the ap-
parent neglect Of all around, no son or daugh-
ter, was left to watch the sacred resting place, =,
Of this great, and good man to nicely trim
the trees, and lop their wanton growth to
dress the grass plots, and clean the walks so
often trod by Iii whose ashes arc enclosed in
that unostentatious marble Coffin ; but proba.
bly, an idea lies behind, all his seeming ne.
glcct, That it is to present to the visitor, tho
place just as the the father Of his country left
it.
Mount Vernon is stuatcd on the southern
branch Of the Potomac, fifteen mules from
Washington City, and eight miles from Alexan-
dria, on high bluff the plantation is said to
contain several hundred acres. we judged the
soil to be light clay approaching TO sandy.
The mansion is of wood the weather boarding
cut to initiate stone work the whole length of
the building is near 100 feet in length por-
tico runs the whole length with plain square
columns one Of which is nearly rotted down :;
the house is too stories high 1--WE were not ad-
mitted into the upper story.) and from it is
seen reach of 10 or Is miles eastward AMI
westward Of the beautiful Potomac; the house
and grounds nre made interesting by the mum.
Der Of trees that are growing planted by
George Washington ; these trees have been
carefully preserved; the most prominent were
large buckeyes, in full bloom; every. thing
spoke more of comfort, than show we .,aould:
sec the remains Of shady walks tending :tS-a
summer house which commands q fne pros.
pect of the river and surrounding scenery, On
the hillside about two hundred steps from the
summer house, ond about thirty steps from
the the mansion, stands the tomb Of Washing.
ton, the present resting place ofhis remains !;
near by is the original vault where he was
fret entombed; it is now in q state of decay
the arch over the coffin is giving way being
mado Of rather soft white sand stone we ask.
ed for piece of this stone, and were permitted
20 bring IL away. The present vault is built of
brick, with open front. except iron railing as
gates DO. inside are two marble sarcophagi
side by side on the left hand, as you stand in
front, is the sarcophagus Of George Washington;
IL ID Of white marble ), the LID . wrought with
the srms OF h,s country aud shs ohlyavordssa,
igraysd on i, are his name but what epitaph
50 impressive as that TO tie right is a