Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1874-03-17

LOUIS PRILLpEs VISIT To THE UNITED
STATES. = A correspondent of the Washington
Star furnishes the following:
Amongst nv books on Washington is one on
titled France, its King Court and Government.
By an American" This book was published
in l84O, and contains al interesting account OF
the visit of Louis Philippe TO the size OF Wash
in gton in 1897.
December "A, 1896, the future king arrived in
Philadelphia, where he remained unit! II slow
Swedish ship brought his two brothers. Phla-
delphia was then the capital of the United States
and Gen. Washing on President. The exi.es
heard him deliver his last address to Congress,
and saw Mr. Adams inauguruted. ThHn, at
Wash ngtons invitation, tIey went to visit
Mount Vernon, passing, of course, through the
new and imperfect capital, without streets, and
full of slashes and stumps
He was entertained by the eccentric and rich
Thomas Law, by whom he was introduced to
Gen. John Mason, of MasDns or Analostan Is
land At that time Georgetown containt d two
hundred and fifty houses and Alexandria live
hundred The Presidents house was lncom-
piete Blodget's hote, on the site OF the present
postotice, was rooted III, and the Capitol WAS
raised only to the basement hoor. a NUMBER oil
houses were finished and remained for rent or
for ale and there were more houses at Green
leafs Point near the Arsenal, than anywhere
else; 5000 people WAS the population, including
the workmen the whole place was covered with
trees except around the public buildings, and
where vistas Of streets had BEEN hewn through
deep woods.
Louis PHILIPPE and his two brothers, the Due
de Montpensler AMI the G. unit de Bouj-sulais,
stopped on Mason's Island, then beautifully cul-
tiyated in flowers, vines and fruit trees Ill
blooming in the spring weather. and Gen. Ma,
son, who was man OF great force, entertained
them lavlshly, and made them accompany him
to the Grea; Falls Of the Potomac, where the
party had picnic. That year Was born JaH es
M Mason on Anaostsn Island, who became the
Commissioner of the Confederate States to Eu-
roue in 1861 and died little while ago on u
farm near Alexandria, within sight OF his lost
patrimony .
From Mason's Island the princes went to AL
exsndria, which was ell built and with good
paved reefs; then by eXecrable roads they
pass, to Mount Vernon, which they found In
some dilapidation, owing to WssLington.s long
absence and Inhabited by his slaves bis gar
dens and fields looked as if he had begun The
business of cultvatlng them Tor profit instead OF
show The following lines convey Louis fhil-
ippes idea OF the most celebrated man OIL inc
world ut that period:
sHe was comparatively silent, somewhat re-
served. methodical in the division of his time,
and careful in the use OF it. The arrangement Ut
his household WAS unostentatlous, comfortable,
and leaving his guests to fill up their hours rs
they saw fit, and at the same time proVidlng
whatever was necessary tor plea ant emrloy-
ment One morning, alter the usual sa:utations,
the Prince asked bis distinguished host how ne
hed slopt the preceding night. 1t is probable,
from the answer, that some peculiar circum-
stance had turned his thoughts towards the evils
too often produced in society by reprehenslbie
publications. However this my pc, that an
swer deserves to be engraved upon the hearts Of
his countrymen: I always sleep well for new
er wrote word in my life which had after
wards cause to regret.
General Washington, whose months on earth
were to be few, prepared Tor the princes an
itinerary of Journey 10 the western country,
and gave them several letters of introduction.
They started on horseback with saddle bags
Brsdley's maps, and creature comforts, and
went by Leesburg and Harper's Ferry to Bush's
hotel. at W inches:er.- being an immigrant
from Mannheim, Germany. Bush turned them
out of the house because they dcnurrei to cat
ing at the public table. They proceeded to
Stanton.