The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1859-08-10
Correspondence OF the Lancaster Ledger
WASHINGTON, July 90, 1859.


WASHINGTON, July %, 1859.
am just from Mount Vernon, the resi-
dence and grave of Washington. II is sit
uatcd on The Western bank of the Potomac,
about l6 miles below this city. A boat
leaves every Tuesday and Friday, which
c nvcys persons to that consccrated ground
now the Mecca of America After as
cending Il sloplrg hill from the river BY
serpentine walk, Of about four hundred
yards, YOU come to the tomb. The remains
of Washington lie in marble sarcophagus,
made in the shape oc coffin, Immediately
III front of the new vault, archcd over but
can be seen through the iron bars Of the
gate. The lid ar covering stone is n heavy
block Of marble, cmbazoncd with the arms
aud insignia OF the United States Ills re-.
mains were placed in this sarcophagus in
| 1897. lie was first placed in vault near
or the house, but ut and before the death of
General Washington, it was in n dilapda.
/ ted condition. and he directed BY his will
| that new one should be built where it
has been, in which his remains and those Of
| his deceased relatives in the old vault
I might BE- deposited The new vault was
! completed in 1881 and his remains removed
/ to il, where they remained until placed in
the sarcophagus in 1887. The remains of
: his wife are placed also in sarcophagus
/ bv his side. Other members of the Wash
ington family are about there, but made
/ no examination as to them, for there is only
/ one WAsHTHGToN.
Mount Vernon was originally large and
extensive body Of land, and had been in the
Washington family for several generations.
/ 1t was called Mount Vernon by Lawrence,
the half brother, and who devised it 10
! General Washington. The tract now con-
tains 1000 acres and is owned bv John 4.
( Washington, the great grand nephew of the
/ General. lie has contracted TO sell 300
acres, including the dwelling. gardcn and
! tomb, To tho Ladies' Mount Vernon associa
! ton, for the unrightcous and unconsconahlc
sum of 5000 .OO0--spc :ulating. rs it were
, upon the ashes "f his ilusirou: kinsman
| More on this subject after Il while
| The ruins of the old vault can sill he
/ seen archcd over with free stone and COW
cred with dut. The dwelling is now al.
most uninhabit bic, being very much d"ruy
| ed and Gilpiiatcd The house is probably
| 80 feet loug. built on the ground, two short
stories high. With piazza in iSoul. ">t"ud~
. Il
I /" the top, supported 10y square pillar
/ The floor "f the piazza IS square Il stone.
! \ cupola or observatory is on top of the
| house ,urmountrd with an eagle. Th" cell.
/ ing of the piazza is drcaycd aud drcaNiug
/ and in some places supported by pr"ps.-
/ The passage ana two rooms below stairs
are open TO visitors. ! noticed some ancient
/ furniture, but was told it was not the gene
! rails, also some old pictures, which were
his property ais" his spy glass The key
! of the Ba>tIlc, enclosed in glass case, i
hanging in the passngr-thiS key was sent
! hy LAFAYETTE from France, soon after the
! destruction Of that dreadful prison. The
! old vault stood near some large oaks, hc-
tween 'he mouse ana Tue ri'er. IL - said
one "i lho7e OAKS 'oWmchc ed To die short
~ "i'er the removal OF the remains.
nave Sa'n e-oo'ooo was m 'Ah"rO''an'
price aui a speculation, in this YOU will
/ agree nat Is mere III 'h' intrinsic "nd
"''""' \"'"e oil 'He ''hd l" command such
price, apart from It's being In" gr"v" OF
t'' '"'h'r "i MS country ana aside from
mas no h'Sher N"'"e 'hah "'her lands on
Tie fo'of"'c' learn The s2oo'ooo has
o''h m"H" up ana All pa'd ~ except about