Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1860-07-09
Mount Vernon.

MOUNT ERSOS, virginia, Juic ou-De-
low here. on the river bank, are several pavii-
ions erected for the use of pleasure parties
who come down in steamers from the metro
polls, enjoy dance and a supper, and return
home in the small hours of the morning.
We landed at one of these known as the
"White House." and clambering up the wood
ed bank, came to IL pile of bricks, surround
ed by garden shrubs, in the midst of Il field.
This is all that remains of ''Belvoir," the
residence of the FalriaXes, where Washing
ton surrendered to ''the lowland beauty"
writing very Indifferent verses to her praise.
Afterwards when he had forgotten his youth
full passion, and brought the widow Custis to
Mount Vernon as his bride, he used to gallop
over to the Bclvoir frequently, to join the
farlaxes in fox-hunting. The house, left In
charge of servants, was destroyed by fire.
Near by is redoubt, which was well defend
ed when the British fleet sailed up the P0to-
mae during the last war.
just above the Belvoir is the old Mount
Vernon estate, which is bounded on the East,
some ten miles, by the Potomac, which there
forms m elbow. The portion bordering on
the river, and extending northward to Hunt
ing creek, containing some two thousand
acres, was known as the river farm. An
other natural division between Hunting creek
and Doguc creek. and extending backward
from the river some distance, contained about
six thousand acres, divided into the Union
farm the Dogue creek farm, the Muddy-hole
farm, and the Mansion House farm. The
mansion house farm was bequeathed to Lush
rod Washington, from whom it came into
possession OF John Augustine Washington,
| whose great grandfather was George Wash
in gtons brother. The orig inal will, IN the
| Paier Patyi~'s own handwriting is at the
clerk 5 office of the Fairfax county Court
ItcoverS twenty-nine pages, conveying sou,
| 900 worth of property and many valuable
| presents, vet the writer consulted no ''proies-
sioua'' man, us he states. lie also provides
that if ambiguity or dispute arises, which
he leprecates, umpires shall settle it, and
their decision shall be as binding as if de-
cded by the Supreme Court of the United
States.'' The reasons for donating each
piece Of land or other property are clearly
stated.
The ladies of the United States have pur-
chased about two hundred acres oi the Man
sion House farm, and other portions of the
original estate are still owned by members
of the Washington family. Some sixteen
hundred acres of the Muddy Hole and the
Union farms were occupied by the late Aaron
Leggctt, of New York city originally, who
resided in house built by Judge BuShrod
Washington and called Mount Zephyr
"No estate in united America is more
pleasantly situated than this" wrote Wash
ington, ar the mature age ftilty-two. After
| he had returned from the wars, he said to a
friend in pleasant epistie; 1.-The more am
acquainted with agricultural affairs, the better
| | am pleased with them; insomuch that |
can no where find so much satisfaction as i'll
these innocent and useful pursuits. While
induging these feelings | am led to reflect
how much more delightful to an unde-
| baunched mind, is the task Of maklng i'm
proyemcnts on the earth than all the yaln-glo
r. that can be acquired from ravaging it
| by the most uninterrupted career OF con
quest
We landed at the homestead, stopped Ia
pay reverential homage to the tomb, and
then halted at the old tomb, wherein the
remains Of Washington were once deposited.
At the mansion house we found carpenters
at work, busily engaged in restoring the di-
lapidatei portico, so faithfully represented in
Rossiter and Misnct well known picture
The whole ediiice will have to be renovated
! from cupo!a to foundation. So with the nr-
mcrou> out buildings, Of which two small
pavilions in the garden have been put IN
complete repair. The ma ster carpenter
showed us some old tools, which were ini-
ported. lie said, by the Cineinnatus Of our
| Republic.
The restoration" Of the grounds has also
been commenced and it is TO be hoped that
soon the fine old garden will be put in order.
and its ruined conservatory rebuilt. Much
remains to be done, and much money must
necessarily be expended, to rescue this ma
| tiunal shrine from decay, and 10 restore the
| grounds to the neatness for which they were
celebrated, in the days OF their illustrions
| designer.
\ horsc-railroad is talked off from Alexan-
dria, although the steamer which comes down
from the metropolis thrice il week, affords
the present means Of conveyance.
4 CuRioUS Observation-Disclosures LOOMS.