Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1874-04-28
AND RAMBLES
ABOUT DRIA.
wAsHINGToN's CLOCK,

WASHINGTON's CLOCK,
which was stopped at the moment OF bis death
FIVE and oue-fourth minutes past five o'clock.
1t is small mantle time piece, 10 plain ma
hogany case, with Geo. Melhurst, London"
printed upon its face. A model of the Bastile,
taken from the ruins of that prison of terrible
memories, and presented to Washington by the
French National Assembly. General Washing
ton 5 walking cane.
RELIC oFTHE CITY OF WASHINGTON,
A piece of the cof6n of Benjamin Young, who
Was an original proprietor of the land on which
this city is located He. died February 8.
1854, aged ST. aud was buried in his, own gar
den. % laying out a pew street his remains
were uuavoidably removed from the spot where
they had been deposited seventy FIVE years pre-
vous, the 18th July, 1929 Presented by Mr..
William Ward.
LORD NELSON.
The remains of the barometer, and thermome
ter, many years the companions OF Lord Nelson
given by Sir Richard Keats, of his Britannia
Majesty's ship Superb, "a guns, to John Jarvis
treasurer OF the garrison Of Gibraltar and con-
sui of the United States, and by the latter Civ.
en- to Mr. Mumford in- 1906. The instru-
meut was shattered by cannon ball at Tratal-
gar the day on which Nelson fell covered with
immortal fame.
.Iustrumeuts for mensuration and survey
ipg," mahogany triangles, &C., made by Ihos
Jefferson esq.,, late President OF the United
States" Presented by William Small, July s,
1872
John Bull Returning from the American
War" an engraving representing the fat gen
teman in damaged condition, on crutches,
with "Chippewa" in prominent letters upon
his huge belly-a caricature published at the
time of the battle.
PRITCHARD, THE FAT NAN,
is another engraving. representing what Is;
claimed in the Inscription to have been the most
gigantic lump of human flesh and bones at that
tme-"District Of Columbia March 4, 1874
waddIing upon the earth. The figures are as
follows Weight, SIS pounds; measure around
waist, feet inches; rouad shoulders, 5 feet 10
inches.
NEW HAMPSHIRE BUILDS THE FIRST "74
In the centre of one of the rooms is the model
of a full rigged "a gun ship, some seven or eight
feet 10 length, and iu perfect preservation. The
inscription explains as follows:
The An,erica--Model of a ship Of the line,
being the first that was built III the Unrted
States During the Revolution Congress resolv-
ed that the thirteen States should each build la
ship, of seventy:fou guns, and New Hamp-
der into complete effect Towards the close OF
the war, q French seventy-four, while noby aid
ing the American cause, was accidentally lost
90 a shoal off Cape Cod, Mass, and Congress,
grateful for past services, reinstated their loss
by giving the seventy four. of which this model
is representation, to the French government.
The ship was built at that highly spirited aud
patriotic town, Portsmouth, the capital OF
New Hampshire. The war having ended, she
sailed for France However, previous TO
her departure. the Viscouut Barras, an officer
of the ship, made this miniature on board aud
sent il to General Washington, who gave 1t 10
George w. p Custis, aud by the latter 1t was
presented to the museum, June 5, 1917
THE MASONIC RELICS.
are preserved in the Masonic lodge rooms.
These rooms are con>ecrated with great and
imposing memories, aside from the relics. The
ancient, ample, stuffed, leather covered chair,
which first was used in the lodge by Washing
ton, is still preserved and used in good condI-
tion. The walls are adorned by hoe portraits
of the illustrious patriot, and OF Lafayette In
case are preserved many relics of the Father
of His Country" Among them we noted,
"Boot.strap or garter worn BY Gen. Washing
ton at Braddock's defeat" His farm spurs,
the pruning knife which he used, pocket
knife presented by his mother ffty-six years
before his death, button worn by Washington
at his first inauguration; rght-hand glove worn
by him while 10 mourning for his mother, dur
inp his Presidency; brace of pistols, studded
with brilliants, presented TO Washington by
Louis XVI, through the hands Of Lafayette;
the mantle in which Washington received bap-
tism. and his grand masonic robes.
CHRIST CHURCH GRAVE YARD AND THE FOR
GOTTEN GRAVES.
The surroundings of Christ Church are in
harmony. with the ancient structure and It's
memories. The church stands upon the retlr-
ed corner of the square it occupies. The fence
erected 10 1880, the original enclosure having
been built 10 1888, is high, massive, and anti
que, and the grounds, with their scattered moss
grown, and crumbliug grave-stones, are th'ckly
passway up to the church, with It's neglected
graves on either hand, and towing branches
casting their somber shadows upon the scene.
eonspre to awaken impressive thoughts; and
as you pass into the heavy arched gateway and
up the walk, the feverish thoughts which beset
you at the entrance flee away and you approach
the vestibule of the ancient sanctury with emo
tious imperceptibly toned to sottened sadness:
"a kindly mood of melancholy, ;,
That wings the soul and points her to the SKIES
There have been no iptermeuts iu the grounds
for some quarter of century, the latest being
that Of Charles Bennett, benefactor Of the
city, over whose remains rises the massive
obelisk, raised TO his memory by the Common
Couoci of the Corporation 10 lS4l. The fol-
lowing inscription upon small headstone bears
the earliest date We discovered in the enclo-
sure:
Here lies the body of Mr.. Isaac Pierce. Botn
IN Boston. Son of AIR. Isaac Pierce, Dlstiller.
who departed this life March 10Th. l77l. Aged
"A years"
Another slate headstone, iu perfect preserva
ton, records, 10 plain letters, as follows:
:, This monument is sacred to the memory of
the once loved and esteemed Capt Geo. Mum
iGtd, late of New Haven, in the Colony of Conn.
de departed this trsnsitory life at Georgetown.
July 7th, l77S, in the 2sth year of his age. r
From a large, elaborateIy carved sandstone