Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1874-01-12


stable and vegetable garden, ard with the tlre-
engine, which has been obtained, protect the
premises from all injury by fire. The drainage
of the premises, which was very Imperfect, and
the condition Of which add:d to the naturaI
unhcalthiuess Of the spot, has been improved
aud extended
Access to the tomb has been facilitated by
the road froul it to the wharf hclng put IN or
der. Two houses for aholers have been pulit.
About cue thousand fruit trees have been
planted. The grounds around the tomb auo
between it aud the river, have been cleared ol
undcrgrowth, and over eight hundred rare ior'
eign evcrgreeus have been set out. Inc sle*h-
house is in good order, and Is source OF rcVc'
nue. to the association. The room In the hia'',
sion occupied by Lafayette, when the guest OF
Washington, has been furnished ard put IL
complete order, the other rooms are neatIy
kent, and the great aim OF the assoca'loh 10
preserve in the entire building Will" Undergo
;ng necessary repairs, the same antique appear
ancc as in the days of its honored occupant,
has been nIcst happily effected. The employees
are uolite. attentive and courteous TO the Vlsi-
tors. One of the most attractive features pre-
septcd by this time-honored mansion IS the
equestrian portrait OF Washington and his
Generals before Yorktown, executed by that
great and distinguished artist, the late Rem
brandt Peale, and presented to the ASSOCIATION
az Mt. Vernon on the day OF the meeting or
this Board at thar place, by Mrs. Rosalba I'm
cicrwood, cxccutriX and daughter CT the artist
This splendid portrait OF the Father or his
Country now adorns the mansion OF Mt YER
non, and the heartfelt thanks OF grateful peo-
pie are due the distinguished daughter OF so
gifted father for this expression OF ber gen.
erous PATRIOTISM.
The association derives its chief income from
the profits Of daily boat owned and run TO
Mt. Vernon by Mcssrs Sykes 4 Hongshead,
and FROM sales on the place. An entrance fec
of twenty-five cents is charged each person
visiting Mt. Vernon. To those coming on the
boat this fee is embraced in the fare charged,
which is reasonable; in addition to which the
boat company pays to the association as wharf
age twenty-five per cent. OF the actual passage
money This arrangement with said company
was entered into for the purpose or preventing
excursion parties and other unauthorized Vlsl-
tants from landing at the wharf, thercbt pro-
tectug the buildings and surrounding grounds
from depredations, which would likely result
from the free access of unlicensed parties to
this hallowed spot.
The board would recommend that Col. llol-
lingsworth, the resident secretary and supcrln-
tendeut of Mt Vernon Association, be consll.
tuted c,uscrvator Of the peace, IN aud Tor
Mt. Vernon for its further protection.
In view of the depressed condition of the fl
nanccs Of the State, the board, at this time, re-
trains from making any recommendation for an
appropriation for the benefit of the association;
but should the finances Of the State, at any
time, admit of such an appropriation, We would
commend this as most worthy object OF the
State liberaity.
1t has been suggested by the association that
each of the original thirteen States take upon
itself the work of furnishing one Of the rooms
of the mansion with furniture of antique style,
and, if possible, with relics of Washington him
self. Some Of the States have already acted
upon this suggestion, and should this noble de-
sign be carried into effect by the association,
the board would recommend that Virginia, his
birth place and home, should be amoug the
first to collect her relics with which to adorn
the apartments assigned 10 her in the sacred
mansion of her great and immortal Washing
ton.
In conclusion, the Board of Visitors hereby
tender, through your excellency, to the mem
bers of the council of the Ladies Mt. Vernon
Association, their thanks for the polite manner
n which they were received and entertained by
them, aud the kind attention shown them at
their meeting ou the l4th of May, 1878.
Respectfully submitted,
FL w. THOMAS,
President Board of Visitors