The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-07-13

a Witt 10 tho Old Grounds Of Joseph Bonapmtg
and Msrhal Narst-Thsir PRESENT
Owner ead Occupant

IA.
pay visit to the Ole Bonaparte Estate situaseo iust
on the enyi tue city, RAINING along for on
Siderable distance between tue Crosswick's creek
ard the Trenton turnpike.
My oD,ect Ia tnc man was to obtain permit
from the proprietor OF the estate 20 examine tue
runous old bnlidinR where Murat resided y zen ne
with other roval personsges took NJ his abode In
the United StaJes, following that time wnen tho
bonapuIte dynasty met lts Overthrow at Waterloo.
Marars old han stts Just on the edge OF winding
stream, snort distance rom the picturesque sto0e
arch bridge Laai spans the old rien' on road When
one approaches the locality mas the appearance Of
haunted req IN, the novelist womb delight
IN weaving INTO mysterious tale. There is a doubt
exlstiug, eNea III my own mind whether the world
famed sleepy Hollow OF lrving's legends could sur
pass II IN w'ldness and scenic beauty.
IRON the Oulwark Of the bridge to the surface OF
the brook there ID distance Of some twenty ieet,
aud one standing upon tine 'ormer, with his sight
cast down the stream, following ITS Berpentlno
course, IS afforded scene OF exquisite beauty; o
miniature valley, with giant OLD trees rising on
either bank anordlng cool retreats to the ai.nalb
grazing on the nsld r. while the foliage thick
that II PAL ualJ screens from view the Old nal,,
whose white NOISY SIDES are discern ibie through
the lnierstces OF the lonthas and u trees
The Old hail In very modest ana unimpoging
structure, two stories IN heght wItn basement Ia
tho rear. IL ~ unoccupled, and has been for
many wears. Tbis no doubt Ii what gave rise to
the wild tales which circulate among the VII ayers
III reference 10 it-ol It's being the abode o. evil
spirits.
Previous to nv visit mad been well rosted In 70.
ference 10 the gentleman who reJ0ces In the owner
was portrayed by those who had anything TO say on
the suojecI was led to believe bin 'charaoter,"
Beckett ~ the propfietor's cognoro1. ne pur.
chased the PARK estate, soon folio wng che negira ~
the royasts TO France. and no. neing Pleased WITH
the old Inaiise, which Was located some dist nce
from the ..ighway, he demolished II and erecsc0
for himself pa.a,,a residence about eiRiity.fvs
rods l. ON the esJrade OF the old BOnararte building.
Tue piace demolished was not, however. tue one
originally erected by Joseph bonaparte. That was
consumed by Dre. II seems 5000 after its compile
ton. On ne place where III u oOd u tower huns
to mark the SCOT, but few years ago It was torn
down on account OF us r,itnous condition.. From
the lookout OF this old tower spleudid Is OBJ
tanned vi Crosswick Greek the broad Delaware and
the circum laceUt cOrutry.
AT the burning .. the former building many paint
inge OF rare merit were destroyed Some works "
art nov ever, acre preserved and graced TOR 9
period OF years the was OF the building torn aOwn
by tile present resident Of the estate Among tho
master productions winch conmnn.cant rene1-
bers seeing busts OF the iaparte family,
carved from the finest Italian marble, aad a llfa-
lie Dalhting vi the first Emperors eldest sister.
Pauline, The Princess Barpens. SAID to be one OF the
most accomplished womeD OF Ter time. These
works OF art eventually, With others. were sold 81
Fer number OF days proceed az the sale me ART.
cles were displayed IN * the apartments OF the
building tor puGlic Inspect on. and the IMMUNITY
went 10 gratlfy their curiosity 0y surveying
tl6t winch possessed IA iaffame reputation. They
were overplcased with the paintings and whea
the nude pOrtrait Of Pauline, ~ rye,sO, met their
view $50 said my IN Ormant tney were dumb 0unded.
and had no he3ltalcy whatever III den0uncing ".
They gave no credit to the mner for MS skill ID Ls
fdelity TO nature, but locked upon the whole thing
as sclndalOus III The extreme.
Since Mr.. Becgets purchase he has reclused HIN.
self almost entirely from the world without, and ftS
peculiar manner has from lime TO tue created &C
siderable gUssip IN the community. Various ere
tue rumors respecting his lie. one person. resi-.
dent OF Bordenloyn. impaired to some the intelH.
gesce that 'fHcy say he was AZ time, In his
younger years. ~ English lord, and sat during tho
lime OF his residence In England in the House OF
Lords"
he Is reported TO be very naughty in his manner,
and Is imperative In his njrnctions against the WI.
lagcs trespassing hls acres, which are lying In
dIeBess. la Bonapartes tlme the PARK, now greatly
abbreviated, comprised fifteen hundred acres. tt
was lad IN beautiful drives aud walks, and IN
the fairy bowers oy the mur,nurinR streams kt0sks
and rustic seats bcautiied the es alto Then tue
among The prlncely nauuts VIII seemed to be
Haloved by tbs breath OF other times.
Yet with the present incumbent came a chau4c.
Peone were forbidden a cess 70 the Park; the walks
eventually became oyerYrowu with brambles ana
un, srDrush. aud the place assumed the appearance
OF a wild Ioiest. Al present u knowledge
there but drive On the estate and that runs Ia
q sent CiIC uar passing, u It's extreme dis.
tance The broad cstrade In front OF the propretors
reaidepce. There ar. two gates winch afford IN
giess w The PARK anG they are about haH mile
apart on the Trenton turnpike.
formerly there WAS lake on the estate, wbefe,
dnrl1g the wlDicr season, the y unR people OF thd
town would resort u sKase. rms displeSsed the
ancicnr nabUb, so NJ procured number OF southern
bipodhor nis ana trainei them To - itch the bOfs;f
Int somehow other Tits plan dd not meet with
success. and he rcsortetl TO the more enicacioua
practice OF draining the lake OF every winter, ana
In this way accomplished ms purp,se,
men OF English etiquette ana aaIlantry, the follow
In: incldent may win proprety Cred. Every
In BOr lcntDwI Is familiar with IT,
IL seems one pleasant afrern 'oD. some Time aRn
the vile OF Nj. Cannon IL io'et lei u ge'teT.1 Of
Bordcutown) entered tie encosure aud lie. drcly
stroied up the iOotpsth runniu, ai0rF tae lriv0,
Ths lady had proceeded but few To- : u n the
lodge when sne WAS starttso Ivy the rafilig Wheels
OF the NUMBERING t.quaied Eng ish codcl beiohg-
Ing to Lord tecket. IN a feg nomeut he eame
up to the $50, where the lady PASSING. wnen he
ordered hts coachulau Ia STOP which being aonc,
he protruoed hts sublime Uranium out OF the win.
dow and IL an opp curious manner asked the auy
what BUSINESS she had tresps gsIrg on the premises,
nj nbr %
back by hearing such language emanating from an
..sngsa seaiisa,ann ana sspposng INA. asr name
haps s.r. Yea are not aware OF the person 60 whom
you address your remarks; am Mrs. Cannon"
Her remarks were interrupted by The iniuriatcu
al ordn who voc ferated 81 dent care who In the
deyil you are; what want is that you get out Of
TINS place Immediately IL Ia needless TO say mat
the IL y acquesceo and 'T0t" -
Alter hearing these stores In reference ~ the
loIdy Beckett came TO the concius,on ,na n 'ad no
there would not be much Improvement III MS
etiquette sho n one " Tho masculine ge"er. now,
ever, demanded adm itance at tue lodge gate ana
entered the enclosure. soon entered the embOwer.
ing shade OF the noble oil rUad, and mas nucn a.
MT In any great haste, SAT down by the Drive IN
comfort ab oOging rustic seat. The Jay was very
sultry and tue cool retreat pleased rue exceedingly,
When the spirit moved however, l arose and bent
my fooiscps towards tue residence OF the "Lord VI
the Manor" ! passed over the romantic looking
ooonre Tn inc prospective winch 50 suddenly eawned
upon my sight was enchanting to say the least.
In the centre stood tae Iiansl0n Ane uesien WIS
not resircte any particular order OF architecture
II was "A Kind OF cOnG.0ncrated concern. proad
plaxlG and steps leading thereto we're OF snootny
polished sone. TIE walk was COMPOSED OF piOcks
OF marble ana slate arranged togesher III an artistic
manner. 49,
the hall an invest gaton told me the gale was
secured py large paddock. servant connected
with the nall inquired Oi my business. 8nd wnen l
In formed h,rn that II was INV ~ have an In.
tervlew win mr.. Beckett ne unlocked tue nuxe
gate, swung II oEen aud | passed inside the en-
way brought me to the court door oil TIE hali. MY
bell su.uuons was answered by tdS-"
domestic; chain ataoheu 70 900 acor prescribed
Us .-s.a!son VIZ some eight Inches. Igsve
- '""'"'a an" ma partial impc-t OF my visit 70
the servant.
Following directions entered the hail. and after
Las,lug through several .. ! meats emerged iuto
the DRAWING room, Here occupied q seat, and .
dog winch had followed me closely through inc
hallway took his position py my side, and. In u
IL tar-aa anAfh