Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1858-01-23
NJ | s { L L L A n Y.
From Randalls Life Of Jererson.l
SHADWELL, BIRTHPLACE OF JET
FERS0N

From the slopes of the Blue Ridge, west of
Charlottesville, spring two streams which unite
to form the Rivanna, the principal northern trib-
utary Of the James and after their confluence,
they find their way through gap in the south
in Aibemarle conhty ihis opening through
the hills is about mile in breadth. A little more
than mile from its eastern outlet, on one Of
those gentle swells into which the river banks
are here everywhere broken in the midst Of
now cultivated field stand two plane and two
locust trees and hard by is Tor was in ls5) a
cavity, nearly filled by the plow, indicating to
the passer, by the bits of broken bricks and plas-
ter and remnants of chimney stones, fre-cracked
and vitrfcd, which lay in and about it, that here
once had been the cellar OF a human habitation
Virginia farm house formerly occupied the
site. 1t was OF n story aud half in height ad
the four spacious ground rooms and hall, with
earre, chambers above common in those struc-
lures hundred years since and also the usual
huge outside chlmneys planted against each ga
BILE like Golhc buttresses, bat massive enough,
had such been their use, TO suppnIt the walls OF
a cathedral, instead OF lho,e of low, womIlen
cottage. In that house was born uoMAs JEF-
FERsoN April 18th. l743 i the plane and To-
Gust trees were planted 10y his hand in his twen-
ty-first year.
The spot commands delightful view. On
the east and south, the eye wanders over roll
ing plain, bounded only by the horizon. West
and north, it rests on the wooded folds and wav-
ing summit line OF the southwest range. The
| first of these elevations south of the Rvanna-a
hill six hundred feet in height, and approaching
nearer to hemispherical than conlcal FORM
topped on the south by CATERS mountain, and
on the north dropping down in rocky cliffs TO
the rivers brnk--s Monticello. Through the
| fl,a an
| of the valley west of the hills, encounters, on the
left tle broken and picturesque submits of the
Ragged mountains, while beyond, and to the
right the Blue Ridge lifts up its towering bar
rier-as if typical OF the soil and climate, OF the
rich hue Of the ripe blue wild grape-against the
western sky.
EARLY SOCIETY IN VIRGINIA.
Lands were obtained on easy conditions from
the Government and otherwise; and provident
individuals secured vast estates. This was par
ticuarly the case on James river, where the most
enterprising and wealthy Of the earlier emigrants
established themselves. Some Of these, men ol
particular mark and energy, acquired posses
sions veing in extent with those of the proudest
mobiles OF their native land. These were pcrpet-
uated in their families by entails, the laws regu-
lailng which were ultimately rendered more
stringent in Virginia than in England itself. AS
their lands rose gradually in value, the great
low.land proprielors began to vie with English
mobiles in wealth as well as in Territory. Many
of them lived in baronial splendor. Their abodes
it is true, were comparatively mean, as the coun-
try did moi yet furnish permanent building ina
terlals, except at vast cost, nor did it furnish
practcec architects to make use of them; but
their spacious grounds and gardens were brave
ly ornamented; their tables were loaded with
plate, and with the luxurics Of the Old and New
World numerous slaves. and white persons
whose time they owned for II term Of years, serv'
ed them in every capacity which use luxury, ol
ostentation coul dictate and when they trav
eIed in state their cumbrouS and rchly-appolnt
ed coaches were dragged by six horses, driven
by three postillions. But usually the mistress o
the household, with her children and maids, ap
propriated this vehicle. The Virginia gentle
man of that day, with much of the feeling OF ear
ler frudal times, when the spur was the badge
of knghthoo1, esteemed the saddle the most man
y, il not the only manly way of making use o
the noblest brutes. He accordingly performed
all his ordinary journeys on horseback. Wher
, he went forth with his whole household, the cav
alcade consisted of the mounted white males o
the family, the coach and six numbering through
the sands, and retnue of mounted body ser
wants, grooms with spare led horses, &C., in tht
E rear
In their general tone and character the low
land arlstocracy of Virginia Iesembed the cult
$ valedl gentry ofthe mother country. Mum
bers of them were highly educated and accom-
Il plished, by foreign study and travel and nearl,
all, or certainly much the largest portion, OBJ