Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1865-1869, 1865-05-12
RICHMOND WHIG.-
FRIDAY MORNING. MAY 70, 1866.
From the Washington Star.]
MNIINT VERNON.

A recent visit to Mount Vernon found the
place In good state of preservation, none
Of the rayagos Of war having extended In
that direction. The scouting parties Of both
armies have always regarded it as neutral
grounds, and never violated its precincts by
acts Of hostility. The Agent OF the Mount
Vernon Association remains at the mansion,
and is bitter secessionist, not having visit d
Alexandria since the war In consequence
OF the necessity of taking the oath. His
wife, however, more loyal or less scrupulous,
subscribed to the oath, and is allowed to
come to the city for supplies.
The house remains precisely as it was four
years ago. The same table and blank book
for registering the names Of visitors stands
in the hall, with the key TO the French Bas-
tile, presented by Lafayette to Washington,
hanging over them in It's little glass case,
and specimens Of wood and minerals above
the doors. The agent, with his wife and two
OF three children, occupy a suite Of rooms
on the left OF the hall, and few negroes
inhsbit the kitchen. In the dining hall are
three Of Wsshiag gton's dining tables, an old
feeble toned harpsichord, aud the tripod
and compass with which their illustrious
owner surveyed the wilderness of Lord Fair
faI's estate.
The stucco of the ceiling representing
flowers and shesves of wheat Is In as good
condition as could be expected, and with 9
little early attention can be preserved for
many years. In the east parlor is sofa,
rocking chair, and in the west parlor ter
restrial globe, and a dim old sketch Of
scene before Carthage.
In the library is the original plaster cast
OF Washington, by Houdon, and q cast of
Lafayette. The few books are all of modern
production and belong to the inmates of the
house, with the exception Of gray oldlvol-
ume entitled "An Essay on Fortifications, /"
with "George Washington" on the fly lear.
With the book Is letter dated 1898, to Rev.
Mr.. Fairfax. Up stairs, in the southwest
corner of the mansion, is the room in which
Washington died. A fac Simile of the bed
upon which he breathed his last stands in
| the corner, and is the only furniture in the
| apartment. On the iron back OF the fire
| place are deeply cut the letters &c. W."
| Throughout the mansion there reigns an
oppressive stiffness, broken only by the echo
| of footsteps on the bare floor; and looking
| from the dim, time. stained rooms out upon
| the deserted tield>, and unbroken surface OF
i the river, feeling of loneliness comes over
/ one which no effort can shake off.
| Without, the grsvelied drive Is as smooth
and clean as when the carriages of the mos,
lordly rolled up to the hospitablc mansion,
| and the lawns stretch down towards their
border OF trees csrpeted with the riches,
yerdure. The flower garden is filed with
the choicest plants, many of which are in
full bloom, loading the air with fragrance
| The tomb, so often described, remains un.
touched. 4 lonely "PhGbe" bird ha. bull
! against the wall inside, and with its plain
| tive monotonous call is the only thing tc
brsak the dead silence of the spot. 1t Is 9
subject for congratulation that so little ex
pense is required to put the premises in al
| complete order for the reception Of visitor,
as before the war. The fences need some re-
pairs, the shrubbery requires trimming, anc
| few vacant places in the flower gardeI
might be filled with plants, but beyond thi,
little remains to be done. The landing
place is in perfect order, though the watel
has become rather shallow, but at high It'd,
will no doubt be Of sufficient depth to permi
| light draught steamers to land. Itis under
stood that arrangements are now on foot fol
reopening the mansion to visitors, and tina
| in short time excursion trips to this spo
will be regularly made.