Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1864-10-12

from ali parts Of the country gathering to co
homage at the shrine OF Washington. ne
negro hackdrivers In the streets Of Alexandra
prudently decline to drive any. out there, no
matter how large is the proHfered pay. It is
fortunate that the Prince Of Wales visited
Washington tomb before the war; isr 1t
would have been rather hunaala5lng to have
been obliged to send with him . large tnllitaiy
escort to Mount Vernon, to:aasFe hlm from i 5aE
Confelerates, prowliDg aroun1 ID sight or the
national capital
A few wears ago a colony Of Quakers from
New jersey located in the vicinity CT AieSan
dria. Ofcourse, being industrious aid thrifty,
they p2ospered, and their farms. We're soon
stocked with herds OF cattle aud dioVes. ol
horses: most temptlng>so guerrilla eyes: re
peaceful principles CT these worthy fuendS
prevented them from seeking battle wish TIE
enemy, but they organized sheinse!ges 1nto
home Guard. 50 far as this: the old :ljan pro-
missed. on the approach Of a guerrilla iron, any
quarter, 50 blow vigorously Oh a~sonouous horn
provided for The purpose; anu tnen sae young a}
men would hasten to the rescue. y Will
not fight thee. friend, said 81 cid Quaker once
to party OF guerrlllas, but we cannot tel
w1at our rash young men NAY do II thee take
any CT our horses. :, ~,
On the occupation Of this town by the Fed
eral t1oops many of the leading citizens Went
South. and their property, Including many or
the finest houses OF the place. was conhscated>
and either sold at auction or turned toUoyern
ment uses. One lucky buyer bought corner
! property for nine hundred dollars. now Woith
as many thousand Governeur Morris BOUGHT
In one fine estate, formerly belonging TO some
relative. The fine old Mason mansion, IN the
suburbs Of the town, was hired oy an army
officer. Many people made small fortunes oy
| Investing few hundred dollars In connscaseo
Alexandra are making fifty to one hnndred
!. Der cent. per annum by building small houses,
rented at low rate, and chiefly to negroes.
Alexandria was and is real CITY OF refuge
| Hither flock crowds Of negro refugees from
/ the eSouth--rupaway>slaves who wish to taste
and see how good freedom is There are over
ilseyen thousand conuabands now ID zalexan-
! drla. 80, ,,@,
The Mason mansion previously alluded to,
is a fair tvpe Of the residence OF a wealthy Vlr
oinian, A wide hall in the centre opens Into
various rooms, while the front entrance IS ap7
preached through pleasant jlttle court yaFc.
At the rear of the house Is a spacious area
naged with marble III diamond shaped pocks;
looking out upon large garden, wen snaaea
with fruit trees and surrounded by neaYy
brick wall. At one corner OF this garden IS tne
family tomb, in which are the remains OF ola
.T,dae ind ~ Mason, the former owner Of the estate.
who died just before the war broke cut;
He was near relative Of the present Contede-
rate Commissioner to England, and his WIDOW
nov resides at Point Of Rocks.
When the Government conhscated certa'n
houses in Alexandra, some twenty OF tnem
were devoted at once to hospital purposes and
their fne,s large, cool apartments make admir-
able hospital wards. Besides the twenty
buildings SO occupied, there is a very large