Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1874-04-22
"REMINISCENCES AND RAMBLES
ABOUT ALEXANDRIA

The name Of Payne, attached to one of the
streets OF Alexandra, revlves the story OF the
RENCOUNTRE OF WASHINGTON AND PAYNE,
which 10 conclusion we give. as it has often
been published, though the name of the street
perhaps has no reference 10 this particular
Payne, or his family The supplies for his ex-
pedition into the Indian country were procured
at Alexandria, and on the return from Great
Meadows, in 1854, the colonel of the regiment
having died on the expedition, Washington was
for some time stationed at Alexandria, in com
maud of the troops During this period an
election for the Assembly took place. Mr. w.
Payne and Washington supporting opposing
candidates. meeting on one occasion, grew very
heated 10 their political discussion, Washing
ton, in the angry contest, said some extremely
offensive personalities to Mr.. Payne, who, in
retaliation, with one blow extended him on the
ground. The regiment immediately gathered
the news, exaggerated iuto the murder of their
coopel and were forthwith in motion to take
summary vengeance on the murdcrous mob. To
their great Joy their colonel, uuharmed, met
them 90 their march. and they returned, at his
solicitation, quietly to their barracks Early
next moruing Washington sent polite note
10 Mr.. Payne, asking an interview at the
tavern. % entering the room where
Washington was, instead of the prepare,
tjous for duel, as was expected, Payne saw
before him wine and glasses. WasbiDtou rose,
extended his hand with smile, and said: "Mr.
payne, to err is nature, to rectity is glory.
teIieye was wrong yesterday. You have
already had some satisfaction, and if you deem
that sufficient, here is my haod-let US be
friends" An act OF such sublime virtue pro-
duced its proper effect, runs the story, and Mr..
PAYNE was from that moment the friend OF
Washington.
There is no place in Alexandria, nor in the
original bounds of the District of Columbia,
more interesting in its memories than
CHRIST CHURCH,
and the church yard 10 which it is located.
Visitors curious to see the objects in the city
cmbamed in sacred and great recollectlops are
sure to inquire for the church 10 which Wash
iugtou was vestryman and pew. holder, and
in his closing years constant and devout wor-
shipper.
FAIRFAX PARISH
was formed in 1863, though small Episcopal
church appears to have been built in Alcxan-
dria some years earlier than that period. The
yestry-book began 10 1853. There were then
two churches within its limits, the one located
near where Little Falls Church now stands,
aud known by the same name; and the other,
called the Lower Church, was perhaps an old
one at Alexandria, thong this is not clearly as
certaned. 1t is believed that there was church
in the town, or very near 1t, before the estab-
lishment of Christ Church, which was not COM
peted as will be hereafter seen, till l773, thirty
one years after Alexandria was founded. Anoth-
er remark. When it is stated, as 10 the case OF
Christ Church, aud so many other buildings 10
the early history Of Virginia, that they were
built of imported stone and brick, it should
be borne in mind that vessels coming here tor
tobacco and other heavy merchandise were ac-
customcd to bring such building material as
ballast at very small expense, merely the cost
of the lading aud dischargng
The rcstry repaired the two original churches
in 1868, at a cost of more than thirty two
thousand pounds Of tobacco. and the same year
they determined to build two new churches to
take their places, in due time, the one at the
Falls, ''the Little Falls Church" and the other
"thc Church at Alexandria" as it was called
in all the records during the eight years that
the work OF building fingered.
OLD FASHIONED SPECIFICATIONS.
Mr.. James Wren drew plan, which was
adopted by the vestry. An advertisement was
ordered to be published in the Virginia aud
Maryland Gazette, inviting offers fiom build
ers. The size of the building was to be 90 feet
by 40 feet, occupying on the ground twenty
four hundred squire feet from outside to out
side" aud Ito be high pitched to admit of
galleries." "2S feet in height from fuunda-
tion, three bricks and half to the sleepers,
three bricks to the water table, aud two
aud half bricks thence to the floor, y outside
to be rubbed brick" ''the shingles to be of
the best cypress or juniper, and three quar-
gcd shingle, according to modern ideas;)
''mortor to be two-thirds lime and oue-third
saud," (another striking feature;) tiles to be
laid iu tiles or flags lower windows leigh,
teen lights. nine by eleven;" upper, twelve
lights each, besides the compass head out
doors foldiug" the ALTAR piece, Pu pit, and
Canopv'' were to be complicated In the Ionic
clder;" the floors were to be 'raised four inch
es above the lies" and the ''pews to be three
feet six inches high, besides the coping, with
doors to ALL" The inside walls were to be
well plastered with three coats, with cone
cornish" and ''the lies six feet" wide. The
plaster was to be half sand and half lime, >
which is interesting to those who would COM
pare
OLD FASHIONED MORTAR AND PLAsTERING
WITH NEW.
We have been induced By this feature IN this
old contract to look little into this matter
Appleton Encyclopedia informs US that one
cask of Thomaston lime requires from seven to
eight casks of good sand, while the old Ency-
elopeda Americana, work Of great reliability,
says that the proper proportions for good NOR,
tar are from two to four parts of sand to one OF
hme, according to the quality of the materials
and the amount of labor expended on them.
Ihe men who were mixing mortar for large
building in one locality 10 this city assured US.
The other day, that they used three loads OF
eal',y the intelligent gentleman who had
10 hand a large contract of mortar work,
Informed us that he used two loads Of sand to
aeask Of hme, and that load was fifteen bush
els. lie used, he said, at least ten bushels of
saou to one Of lime On the other hand, some
.ieo highly experienced in mixing mortar, and
uo~ employed on the Government works, as
Eureu US that cask of frst-rate wood burnt
nule ,S would not take more than two to two and
q or,1.,