The Portland daily press., 1871-08-08
Terms $500 per- 0nnMns, in advance.

pleasure to behold. On either side run broad
and well sheltered piazzas, the font includ-
ing them being over eighty feet. The door is
massive, and its ponderous fastenngs and
brasses the same as when Washington made
it his home in the memorable winter of '76-
The hall, twelve feet in breadth, contains the
broad, square, staircase, with landings, to
which poetic genius has given special associ-
alton to the father of his country.
Ihe drawing room is of great height for
the period, some twenty feet in either dimen-
sion, wainscotted in panels elaborately carved,
the man.el with Corinthian pilasters on eth
er SIDE In it hangs fine painting, by Cop
ley, OF the second Sir William Pepperell and
ms sister as children. Across the entry from
TINS apartment is the study, a bright, sunny
room, anu oehlnd it the library of noble pro-
Porlons, Ihirty ieet In length, with columns
dlVersfying the longer side opposite the win
dows. Between this and the dining room.
winch is nearly as handsome an apartment
rises another principal staircase, as broad and
as much decorated as that in the front hall
Beneath, the cellar walls are of special stabl
ity, a portion of them in handsome brick.
work, which seem of date more recent than
the rest.
Colonel Vassa having LETT it, the house for
nine months that the seige lasted was the
abode of Washington. From it were address
ed those admirable letters which organized
rebellion into successful revolution. There
gathered his generals in council; there came
10 confer with him the patriotic leaders be-
longing 10 the legislative body at Waterfowl,
anu Within its spacious apartments occurred
many an interesting incident which his biog.
raphers nave worthily narrated. After the
war the property was sold to Nathaniel Ira
cy, oil Newburyport, who conveyed il To
Inomas Russell in 1786, and in 1793 il finally
passed 10 Andrew Craigie, who long dweIt
there, and in whose time it consisted Sf nears
ly two hundred acres. Mr.. Craigte married
the daughter OF the Rev. Bezaleel Shaw. ri.
Z: lIo2, settled at Nantucket, near relative
OF the late chef justice. He possessed a
handsome estate, and was fond of display.
ne purchased the handsome equippage and
four horses which had been the proDertv of
the duke of Kent when in Boston. ard was
exclusive enough in his habits to provoke the
i'll will of his neighbors.
When he built an ice cellar with a summer
house over it, near the sight of the present
observatory, and extensive green houses. thew
prognosticated no good could come 20 one
who flew III the face OF providence, splitting
the summer with his ice and the winter with
his flowers. He was liberal in his hospitality,
and bis widow, who long made the house her
home after his death, maintained its charac-
ter. 1t was at different times the residence
of Edward Everett, Jared Sparks and OF Jo-
seph Worcester, the distinguished lexlco-
grapher, but for the last quarter of a century
it has been the abode OF one who, renowned
as he is in letters, has also won laurels to be
cherished in the affectionate regard of his
countrymen. Under its roof have been COM
posed most of those exquisite productions of
his genius which have made him famous over
the world, and which in all time must infest
his abode with associations not likely to fade.