Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1872-07-18

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GENERAL WASHINGTON FARM.-The farm
of General Washington, at Mt. Vernon, con-
tanned in his days l0,0U0 acres Of land in one
body-cqual to about fifteen square miles. a
great portion Of it was vast valley Or basin
surrounded by range of hills; third OF 1t was
neck of laud on the Potomac river, with Int
tie Hunting Greek bay on the cast, and Dogue
Creek bay on the west. These creeks are navi-
gable for about two and a half miles up from
the river channel, and certainly would have
afforded the General great facilities, as they
now do our farmers 10 boating and landing
manure or fertilizers, on the ground, but 1t Is
not probable that the General did anything at
this. 1t was divided into farms or fields {, OF
convenient size, by deep bitches which may be
traced now and showed that one Of them con-
tanned as much as 5, 700 acres.
These fields were situated at a distance OF
two, three and FIVE miles from the mansion
house The walls Of sixteen square barn are
now standing, and quite curiosity. 1t was
made Of brick and quite large, situated three
mes from his residence, He had TWO grist
mills on the place, one run by water power.
having, | Judge, twelvefo Wheel and
race two miles in length. The mills.
the foundation walls of which are standing,
we're at the head of the Dogue Creek bay, and
it is supposed that boats ran right to the mill
door, The other mill is said to have been pro-
peled by oxen or horses The General de-
lighted to visit the farms above spoken OF every
day in pleasant weather. and was constantly
engaged in making experiments for the iul-
movement of agriculture.
Some idea OF the extent of his farming opc-
rations may be formed from the following
facts: In 1877 he had $50 acres in grass,
sowed COO bushels Of oats, 700 acres of wheat,
and as much more in corn, barley, potatoes,
beans, peas &C., aud $50 acres with turnips.
His stock consisted OF 14O horses, l. II COWS,
236 working oxen, heifers and steers, and $50
and kept "A plows going during the whole
year, when the earth and the state OF the
weather would permit. In 1850 he slaughtered
$50 hogs Il hope not the 'Firginia Pine RoOst-
ers } for the use of his own family, and for
provisions for his negroes, for whose comfort
he had great regard.
OF the ten thousand acres, but two hundred
now belong to the mansion, and the Washing
ton farm has been greatly reduced. But small
portion of this is now cultivated.
THE MILITARY AcADEMY.-Tho Board of
visitors to the United States Military Academy
for 1872 have submitted a unanimous report to
the Secretary of War, in which they state that
the discipline Of the academy has been excel
lent under the administration of the present
superintendent and commandant The board
approve the discontinuance OF the system OF
cxacting from cadets pledges on oath or on
honor with regard to their conduct. They con-
slider the punishment Of summary dismissal too
severe to be made by regulation, the only legal
punishment for the offence Of harraSslng or
moIesting new cadets. They dcprecatc the in
huence of authorities outside of and above the
academy as inevitably injurious to discipline,
unless such interference Is very rare and very
judcious Violence of speech is condemned in
the cadets, and eight hours unbroken sleep is
recommended and breakfast to be served as
soon as practicable after revele. The board
deplore the low standard of admission, and re-
commend that several studies be added to the
list in which appointees are to be examined,
and believe that some of the present studies
could very we'll be dispensed with. The time
allotted to Spanish should be given entirely to
learning thoroughly the French language. The
knowledge of English, and lacking ease in ex
pressing themselves with precision, to remedy
which, suitable recommendations are made.
The equipment of the departments of natural
philosophy and chemistry is wholly inadequate,
aud the mode of teaching needs reconsldera
ton and modification They recommend serar
ate professorshps for military and civil engi-
necrng, both being now under one. Recita-
tions should be lessened from one and one half
hours to one hour and it is also desirable
that more skillfu cook and better class of
walters should be employed for the mess. A
new hospital should be constructed immediate
Is. The board also recommend that the list
appointments be kept full all the time.
A CITY OF WOMEN Mrs Leonowens, in
her lecture on Siam tells the following:
The central part Of the capital city Of Bang
kok, in Siam, is devoted exclusively to the re-
sidence of some nine thousand women among
whom no man but the King may enter. The
inhabitants of this inner city are the thousand
woman of the royal harem, and some eight
thousand more, who are soldiers, arti6cers and
slaves. This little world is ruled by women as
magistrates, who administer the laws of the
Kingdom. There is no appeal from their de-
clSonS. Prisoners are arrested by sherltts OF
their own SEX If it is necessary to chain them
it is done by blacksmiths Of their own sex. If
disturbance arises, it is suppressed by force
Of five hundred amazonS, trained from infancy
to the use Of sword and spear. Meanwhile the
slave women carry on a variety of manufactures,
or 60 outside the walls to till the fields. The
women of higher birth are sealed to the
King The slave women may marry, but their
husbands dwell outside the walls The chill
drcn, if boys, are banished from the city of wo-
men at six years old: only the girls remain.
All the Oriental distinctions of rank are scru-
pulouSy observed in this strange realm, except
that the magistrates are chosen for personal
character and wisdom, Mrs. Leonowens speaks
with great reverence of the woman who was
Chief Justice when she lived in Bangkok, and