Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1875-06-03
Mount Vernon.

Yesterday was gala day at Mount vernon,
It being the time set apart for the annual meet
ing of the Ladies' Mount Vcrnon Association,
and the Board Of Visitors, and long will it be
remembered by all who were present. The
steamer ARROW" having on board select
company, left her wharf at this city at l o'clock
a. NJ, having been detained IN Washington
half an hour behind her usual time to await
the arrival of Gen. G. S. Meem, who was ex
pected from Baltimore, but who having been
DELAYED by an accident on the B. & p. r. r.
made the Journey from Washington overland,
reaching Mount Vernon 10 time, however, to
take charge OF the ARRANGEMENTS tor the recep-
ton OF the visitors As the title steamer nearcd
her destination many glances were directed
into the distant ''smoky light that formed the
rivers horizon to the point where the "keyport"
was expected with Gov. kempcr and other dis
tiuguished persons from Richmond, and soon
that steamer appeared, her flags streaming in
the wind, floating upon the water like thing
| OF life
Tie Arrow having landed her passengers,
steamed out to where the keyport, which, ow-
ing to her iraught, could not reach the wharf,
was lying al anchor, and taking the Governor
and his party on, landed them upon the mem
orable spot. With the Governor s party were
many living descendants OF illustrous families
of we olden time, whose ancestors had been
more or less intimately connected with the lame
and fortunes of Washington, or related TO him
by kindred ties.
Among these were Miss jennie Fairfax, a de-
sceudaut OF Lord Fairfax, who, when Governor
of Virginia, had commissioned Washington,
at the age Of Is years, a surveyor Tor the col
ony; the Lees, whose name Is associated with
his military glory the Maurys, and the Wash
ingtous There were also present Nj. Y. kem-
per, son Of and private secretary to the Gov
crnor COL S. Bas,ett French and CoL. W. S.
Gilman, aids the Board Of Visitors -Licuten-
aut Governor Henry W. Thomas. President ;
Judge Robert OuId, Gen; u: ); Meem, Gcn'
Ftznugh Lee and Major B. +, Rlxey. Also,
Col. James Mcdonald, Secretary Of State OF
Virginia Dr. Bagby, State Librarian; DR.;
WIN. Palmer, Of Richmond; J. G. Southal
and wife, Judge Christian, wife aud daughter,
Mai. Z. b. I. Myers, WV. Corcoran, of Wash
ingtou Judge Cockerile, of Fairfax co., Va,
and ladies' Gen Dabney Maury, Judge Chas.
b. Ball, of Lvudoun county, Va; Col. Richard
Maury. Judge Charles Il. Sinclair, Mrs. Robt.
Ould, Miss Mary Lee, daughter of General
Il. K. Lee, Mis-, Lizzie Lelcher, Captain John
G. Meem, of Shenandoah; Miss Irving grand
daughter of Henry Clay; Miss Bette Ward, Of
Kentucky; the Misses Dunlap, of Richmond;
Mrs. Hammond, of South Caroluu; Mrs.
Judge Thomas, Misses Cockelil!e, klnzer and
Tebis AID Ould, oil this city, and many others.
OF the Council of Regents there We're pres
ent Madame Bcrghman, Regent, from Penn
sylvania Mrs. A. Lucas Hunt, Y. r., Mis-,
souri,; Miss Emily Harper, V. r., Maryland
Mrs. NJ. A. Comcgys, V. r., Delaware; Miss
NJ. j. NJ. Sweat, V. r., Maine; Mrs. A. W
Chace, V r., Rhode Island; Mrs. s. h. j.
Hudson, V. r., Connections; Mrs. Nj. T.
Barnes, V. R., District of Columbia: Mrs: 7.
+. Eve,V. r., Georgia; Mrs. Judge Ball, F:R
Virginia; Mrs. l.. w. Washington. Y. r.,
Yves! virginia, and Mrs. General Emory, ex
Y. r., District of Columbia.
After 40 hour spcntin examining the grounds
the party repaired to the Mansion, "a venera'
| Bile pile, where formal reception took place,
after which Mrs Lewis Washington conducted
the Governor and official visitors through the
building, exhibiting and explaining the Varlou:
objects of interest associated with the memory
OF Washington. The company were then In
vited to an elegant and bounteous repast, that
had been prepared tor their entertainment, at
ter which all returned to the West Par
lor" where Madame Bcrghmao, advancing
to the Governor, thanked him on behalf OF
the Regents for the interest he had exhibited
in Mount Vernon, and the encouragement hi:
rresence had afforded them in the work which
they have in charge.
| In reply, Crow kempcr said that here the
daughters Of America, as Vestal virgins, watch
the fires at the sacred tomb Of the father Of
America $ freedom, the hottest OF all the affairs
| of the world Here the ashes OF the dead VIC
all revere are protected and held 10 reverence.
| As it had been determined that the dust OF
| Washington should remain here forever, the
efforts of this association should receive all the
support the State, uuder his administration,
| could afford. lie trusted The one hundredth
| anniversary Of the independence Of America
would give a new impetus to the grand objects
Of the association, and bring back the tervor
| of Washiugton's patriotism. The genius OF
| Virginia was hovcrlug over the sacred spot on
which they stood 10 bcck0u them on TO renew
| ed zeal and love OF country. The ladies should
receive all the aid it Was in his power as Gov.
ernor of the State to afford, aud he thanked
them 10 the name of tho Commonwealth for
the patriotic zeal they had exhibited in restor-
ing and protecting the resting place OF him
who bore the noblest name that ever adorned
the diadcn Of u State.
Judge InQmas, CD me part vi tue Dpalu VI
Visitors, followed the Governor in few appro-
pirate remarks, in which he paid merlted
tribute to the Regent and Vice Regents for the
manner 10 which they were conducting their
trust.
Gen. Fiz Lee was then introduced and
said the Board as Gen. Mccm had said last
year, were not there as a board of inquisition
or ceusure, but to cooperate with the ladies in
their noble efforts to preserve the tomb and
protect tho remains of him who was the father
of our freedom. He said he commended the sen
tment which had its late expression in a union
OF the blue and the gray at the decoration OF
the graves Of those who fell 10 the last war.
Here all the States unite in preserving the
dust and doing honor to the memory of Wash
iugton. He saw iu this the burial of all the
an,mosities Of The past and union Of all who
love the namc of Washington. Ouce the couo.