Middletown transcript., 1869-07-10
Monticello, the Home of Jefferson

GA winter in Washington OF Memoirs
of the Seymour Family" published in
1924:
Monticello is small mountain, rising
six hundred feet above the surrounding
country, on the summit of which is a
large edifice, built in modern style. The
base of this small and isolated mountain,
which is washed by the Revanna, ex-
ceeds mile in diameter. 1t is encom-
passed by four parallel roads, that at
equal distances sweep round it, and are
so connected with each other by easy de-
scents, as to afford, when completed, a
level carriage way of almost ten miles.
AT present the whole, with the excep-
tion of the summit, is in wood but it is
the intention of the proprietor to blend
cultivation and forest in such manner as
to present that variety most grateful to
the eye of taste.
On the top is nearly level plain, of
about ten acres, formed by art, in the
shape of an ellipsis, with its longest di-
ameter running east and west, correspon-
ding to the main fronts of the house. The
mansion is structure presenting front
in every direction of hundred feet in
length, and above sixty in depth.
The principal front looks to the east,
on an open country, and is adorned with
noble portico, with corresponding one
on the west. A lofty dome of twenty
eight feet in diameter rises from the CEN
tire of the building. The north and south
fronts present arcades, under which are
cool recesses that open in both cases on a
foored terrace, projecting hundred feet
in a straight line, and then another hun
dred feet at right angles, until terminated
by pavilions.
Under the whole length of these ter
races are the various offices requisite for
domestic purposes, and the lodgings of
the household servants.
The basement story is raised five or
six feet above the ground, from which
springs the principal story, above twenty
feet in height, and that supports an altar
of about eight feet.
The level, on which the house stands,
is laid out in an extensive lawn, only
broken by lofty weeping willows, poplars,
acacias, catalpas, and other trees of for
eign growth, distributed at such a distance
from the house as neither to obstruct its
prospect nor that of the surrounding
country, of which it commands the view
From this lawn you contemplate, without
the obstruction of any intervening en-
closure, the mountains above, and the
country below with frequent glimpscs of
the Revanna. This elevated spot COM
mands view of more than sixty miles,
limited only by the horizon on one side,
and the distant mountains on the other.
On the declivities of the mountains are
arranged the dwellings of the artifcers and
mechanics of every kind, it being the
study of Mr.. Jefferson to make himself
perfectly Independent. OF his success,
some idea may be formed by the circum-
stance of his workmen having made his
carriage and many articles of his furniture.
The internal arrangement of the house
is SO peculiar as to render precise de-
scription difficult, though its general effect
is imposing. You enter the hall through
wide folding doors, which we never saw
closed, and whose ever open portals seemed
indicative of the disposition of the mas
ter. Here a variety and multiplicity of
objects offered themselves to our view,
and so imposingly arranged as to excite
surprise and admiration. After a mo-
mentary pause We passed into the draw
ing-room, through doors so wide as
scarcely to separate it from the hall,
where, being seated, we had an oppor-
tunity more distinctly to notice the pre-
vailing elegance and singularity of these
apartments, in which ornamental, instruc-
tive and interesting objects were blended
with furniture suitable to the dwelling and
simple taste of the owner. Among these
various articles were statues, paintings,
engravings, and a profusion of natural Gu
riosities, the latter so blended with the
others as to produce an ornamental effect,
though, if taken separately, they were
by no means handsome in themselves
yet the arrangement was so admirable as
to produce the general impression of ele-
gance and harmony. Among others we
particularly noticed perfect model of the
great pyramid of Egypt; the upper and
lower jaw-bones and tusks of the NAM
moth, whose magnitude is advantageously
exhibited by contrast with those of an
elephant alongside of them several maps,
particularly one of the Missouri country,
painted on buffalo hides by the American
Indians; rough hewn stone images, or
statues, likewise of their workmanship,
which are supposed to be the idols they
worshipcd, and many other curiosities of
our country.
Here, too, we saw the busts of Alex
ander and Napoleon, placed on pedestals
each side of the door or entrance and
here, and in other rooms, are portraits of
Newton, Bacon, Locke; of Columbus,
Vespucius, Cortez, Magellan, Raleigh of
Franklin, Washington, Adams and Madi-
son, Rittenhouse, Paine, Surgot, Voltaire
and many other distinguished persons.
The whole of the southern wing is oc-
cupied by the library, and the cabinet and
chamber of Mr. Jefferson. The library is
divided into three rooms, the walls of
which are covered with books and mans.