New-York tribune., 1869-05-22


Washington went on a snowy and stormy day. ana
returned TO 90 hence no more. Old fields Welo az
around, and here and there were relics OF cottages
The fences for the most part are made by GInis
stakes ., feet apart and four fcot hlsh' anu
in all tbe spaces with pine brush. Al laS' "0 'J
tbe fields and turning to the left, ascehdeu uu''
eton,, hill vyas willing to walk for was coiu, anu
il was necessary: the vehicle went py d io'u ou'
tl,rourh the brush and went IN INC a,c9"Y "".',
On the ton of the hill was larEeho" Ne',' 49,. ~
IN q tract bouplt not long ago at apouV 80 on
-, -, X acres lust planted IN peaches Dut 10
,,,,,,o ,ros in sight. nor was house near beyohu
this was an openiGg through tho trees; at aOout
r,n5 J;tont we caught a glimpse of the mansion Of
1Tt Ve,nop standing OH another hil and noticeable
NV IFS red roof Then we came TOT old gateway.
an each side of which stood the ruins of small stone
bpdpg which were the lodges of the porter or gate
kceper. The entrance was by country gate that
had to be lifted. We now entered the park, which
belongs to the Ladies Association Of Mt. Vernon,
comprising 200 acres which cost them $1,000 an acre.
All around were the trees of the original forest which
was glad to sce for they furnish an indication OF
the value of the native soil These trees were by no
means large nor tall and hence conclude that tho
soil of the farm of Mount Vernon never was first
class. Following winding road with signs OF
wagon tracks having been made few days before
We descended into gully 70 or 100 feet deep, with
trees ovcrhangng the steep hill sides, and wood
flowers growing in the dells. Rising out of this gulf
an Old uncutiyated field was on the right hand, and
the remains of an apple orchard, while scanty grass
covered the ground and Mount Vernon Mansion and
numerous out-buildngs were Immediately before us.
We passed the flower garden nclOsed by brick
wall six feet high and came TO the back door, which
really is the door Of entrance for although there Is
double front door it has latch to it, aud is fast
ened by a bar nor does road or even path lead to
the front door, This mansion is SO feet long, 33 feet
wide. and two stories high, When 1t came into
Washington's possession it was only about 80 feet
long but he added extensions to each end The
concrng is in imitation Of blocks Of stone. made OF
l42 boards with beveled grooves, so as to make
divisions of about two-anda-half feet by one foot.
The piazza in front is supported by square pillars,
two stories high, and the floor of this piazza is OF
sand stones one foot square. many OF which are
much worn away. Facing from the back door
are walks and an open grassy space of about
half an acre, terminated by q lawn planted
with trees: on each side are various small
buildings intended for the kitchen, the garden,
the butler and the overseer; the right is the
fower-gardcn, and on the left the kitchen-gardcn,
also inclosed with brick wall, and each containing
about three-fOurths of an acre. The flowergarden
contains old hedges Of box, planted by Washington
and there is handsome serpentine walk which he
himself laid out greenhouse is near, also seed
house. Several men at work preparing to build
a new greenhouse. The garden contains nothing
noticeable. Beyond the garden, and part way down
the hill, toward the tomb, is brick bank barn. about
50 feet long and 40 WIDE with stables the lower
side and the ground approaching is well paved with
cobbe-stoues From the front of the house the river
,l,; v,,loa aala ia ahD
200 feet above the river the bluff breaks away in
steep short benches and trees grow from the river 20
the top and cover a considerable space, particularly
to the left The grass lawn in front is about
in extent; the grass has wild, uncultiyated look
and it is mixed with yellow daisies and other useless
plants STILL it is fair lawn, but not shrub or
flower of any description is planted therein nor is
there n sign that such ever planted. The most
cheerful view is from the back door.
The rooms on the lower floor are as follows: On
the south the library, perhaps 20 feet square, with
case that would hold some 80 volumes; adjoining,
the private dining-rOom and the east parlor next,
the west parlor and the grand dnng-room, 80 feet
long and perhaps % wide This room contains a
beautiful marble mantel, gift from Italy; old
harpsichord and STOOL bridal presents from Washing
ton TO Miss Custis; his surveyors tripod, two or
three military baggage equipages, and his pistol
holsters The library contains original cast of
Washington from which HOudan's statue at Rich
mond Is said to have sbeen made, and a cast of
Lafayette.
grand staircase rises from the central hall to tho
second story. but several rooms are not shown. An
other staircase is the library. by which Wash
ingtons bedroom was reached, and here he died.
Adjoining is dressngrOOm, about six feet square,
and pantry OF buttery little larger Tho position
of this last room will seem singular to Northern
folks but it was necessary 10 have some place
where sugar, cream, cake and the like could remain
undisturbed. The lady Of all such mansions carried
little basket of keys. The room in which Lafayette
slept is about u feet square, not remarkably cheer
ful and the plastering is rough. In tho attic are
many low, dark rooms, not well finished or plastercd
saw no other relics than those mentioned and all
tho rooms which shown are absolutely bare.
If the ladies could have been contented with the
buildings and 30 of land, and if they had OBJ
tanned original furniture and fitted up the rooms
as they were, they would present something worthy
of being seen. But, as it is, they have spent
most of the money they got for land, at ten times
more than most Of it is WORTH and they hope in few
years to be able to plant fruit, that there may be
some revenue from the property, which now must be
a dead expense One would think that they should
be equal to the task Of furnishing refreshments,
which visitors greatly need since the trip by boat
consumes about six hours but nothing is TO be had
except little trash on the boat.
The soil never was deep, but it was quick, and
easily cultivated. Parts of the place evidently
productive of musketoes and fever and ague. In
some letters written by Washington to Arthur
Young of England it is to be gathered that he had
no good plows; 1T is true he had one, but being
broke, there was no black South who could mend it,
and, accordingly, he wished two of the best kind to
be sent him. He also wanted some Of the best kind
of cabbage seed, 20 pounds Of turnip Seed
50 pounds of clover seed, bushels OF velvet
wheat, of beans and OF tho best KIND OF
~ 10 land hna hpnn pOnl