The daily gazette., 1875-11-10
Correspondence Of the Gazette.l
MT. TernOn-the Tomb of Wash
t1lgtOfl.
ALEXANDRIA, VA, Nov. 9Th, rs.

tnOtOn.
ALEXANDRIA, VA, Nov. 9Th, rs.
DEAR GAZETTE: In a former COM
munication, il promised to give your
readers an account of visi to Mount
Vernon. Some weeks ago, our party
left this city on the steamer "ArIo W,
(Capt. Hollingshead,) and, after a de-
lightful sail of one hour, reached the
landing at Mount Vernon. This
American Mecca was the chosen home
of Washington, and the place OF his
death and burial it is in the county OF
Fairfax, lying on the Potomac river,
eight miles below Alexandria, and
fifteen from Washington City. 1t was
ipherited by Lawrence Washington,
from Augustine Washington, his
father and the father Of George Wash
ington, IN April, 1743, and was named
| by him, Mount Vernon, in honor of
Admiral Vernon, of the English Navy,
with whom he had been intimate in
the campaigns in West Indies, in 1741-
AZ. After his death (26Ih OF July,
1852, Mount Vernon descended to
George Washington. 1t was willCd by
| General Washington to his nephew,
Bushrod Washington, son Of John
Augustine Washington, after whose
death, it descended to his son, John
Augustine Washington, (who was,
while aid to the late General Il. E. Lee,
with the rank of Colonel, killed near
Cheat Mountain, in September, 1851
In 1855 Miss Ann PAMELA Cunning
ham and other ladies conceived the
plan of forming an association, the OBJ.
ject of which should be the purchase
of Mount Vernon, or that portion in
cluding TIE dwelling, tomb, and pres
ent steamboat landing. In the spring
of 1856, the matter was brought before
the Legislature of Virginia, then in
lsession, and on the 18th of March,
}lS56, the association was incorporated
as "The Ladies Mount Vernon Asso-
citation Of the Union" On the 9th
day of April, 1858, Miss Cunningham,
lSouthern Matron, Regent, on behalf of
the association, entered iato an agree
ment with John A. Washington, for
the purchase of two hundred of the
1000 acres then contained in the Mt.
Vernon tract, including the Washing
ton mansion, the uthouSes belonging
thereto, the tomb and steamboat land
ing. The association agreed to, and
have since paid the sum of tr0 hun
dred Mousund dollars for the portion Of
the Mount Vernon estate now held
and controlled by them. During the
last session of the Mt. Vernon council.
held June 2nd, Ord and 4th, the eXami-
nation'of the accounts as reported by
the finance committee, showed the
ASSOCIATION to be free from debt, also
u considerable increase in the available
sources of revenue,
Upon landing at the wharf, we were
introduced to Col. Hollingsworth, the
gentlemanly Superintendent of the
Association. A short walk through
we'll kept grounds brought us to the
! spot where stands the family tomb, q
Iplain structure OF brick, with strong
iron gate, through which, are to be
seen two sarcOphagl of white marble,
side by side containing the remains ct
General Washington and his consCrt.
: This tomb was finished and the re-
mains recovered from the old family
. vault, about the year 1S43. The site
was selected, the new tomb erected
and remains removed thereto in strict
accordance with directions given in
Washington's will The old tomb was
! in more picturesque situation, upon
: knoll, in full view of the river, but
i, the situation of the new one was con-
= sidered by Washington, more retired,
which was reason euough to determine q
the wishes of modest man. 1t is
with the old tomb that the early asso-
Citations of the people are connected,
to it, the British feet is said to have
lowered its flags, while passing up the
= Potomac to make the attack upon the
Capitol. To it thousands of men and
women, who have long since ''passed
over the river" wended their way
4 Around its portals in times agone,
: many distinguished persons of this and
foreign lands, have stood with uncov-
cred head, as mark of respect to the
precious memory OF "the Father and
defender of his country, the founder
OF liberty, the friend of man.
4 few minutes walk from the tomb
brought us to the mansion; as we
. approached il we were struck with the
!, high piazza reaching from the roof to
the ground, and the general outline of
the building. 1t is said that under the
piazza, upon its pavement of flat stones
Washington used to walk to and fro
with military regularity every morn
ing, the majestic Potomac in fun
view spreading out to the width of a
Bay at the foot of the Mount, and the
picturesque shore of Maryland lining
the eastern horizon. On the west side
d of the mansion are two gardens, green
houses, &C., all enclosed by brick
walls which were standing in Wash
ington's time. There are also barr
and numerous small structures jacen'
to, and to the southwest of the mansion
all said to have been standing In
3 Washington's life time. Near one OF
: the outbuildlngs formerly used as a
kitchen) is TO be seen beautiful whit,
magnolia tree, of large size and
luxurient foliage, planted by Genera
Washington's own hands. In one o.
the gardens is to be seen beautiful
large white hydrangea the root o
which was brought from the Island o
St. Helena and presented to General
Washington by General Lafayette
After being shown around the ground