The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1876-11-22
WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENCE.
WASHINGTON,
Nov. 6, 1851

EDITOR DEMOCRAT
I promised in my last to give you
a description of Mt. Vernon in my
next, which promise / now propose
to make good.
The Mt. Vernon estate was origi
nally five thousand acre grant as
signed to John Washington, the great
grandfather of George, who, together
with Nicholas Spencer, patented it
from Lord Culpeper in 1910. 1t de-
scended from John TO his son Law
renee, who in turn left it to Angus
tine, the father of George. The ia
ther of George left it to his son Law
renee, and it was called at that time
the "Hunting Creek Estate" Law
renee. in 1743, built the main build
ing and gave it its present name in
honor of Admiral Vernon, with whom
he had served in the battle of Garth
apena in TAI. At his death he left
it to his infant daughter, providing
that in the event Of her death, it
shorld go to his brother George
By Washington's will it went to his
wife, and afterwards to his nephew,
Judge Bushrod Washington, a JUS
tice of the Supreme Court of the
United States. He was appointed
by President Adams.) This gentle
man died in 1929, aged 6S, and left
the place to his nephew John Angus
tine, who, dying in 1882 left the es-
tate to his widow, Mrs. Jane, by
whom it was left to her son, John
Augustine Washington, by whom it
was sold, 200 acres to the Mt. Yer
non Ladies' Association of the Union
for the sum of 100000, Congress
having previously refused to pur-
chase the place. This John Angus
tine Washington was an old class
mate of the writer at the University
of Virginia, and was killed near Har-
per's Ferry by some of John Browns
men, during the time that that crazy
fanatic attempted to free the slaves
Of the South with a handful of men,
and who was hung by Governor
Wise, of Virginia, for. the insane
attempt.
Having given succinct history of
the Estate, let us now enter the sac
red portals Of the ancient mansion.
Before doing so, however, let us ex-
anime for a moment the porch, or as
we in Louisiana would call it, front
gallery. Just before we reach the
porch we pass under gigantic oak,
beneath whose outrageous foliage
the old General was said to be very
fond of resting during the heated
days of Summer. But there is one
object | neglected to mention as we
approach the house from the South,
and that is the old stable. 1t was
here that Washington kept the best
blooded stock in Virginia, which was
estimated in his will to be worth
$4,000. Now for the porch. This
is 90 feet s inches by II feet inches.
The flag stones, which are now pref
ty we'll worn, were brought from Eng
land bv the General himself when he
enlarged the mansion. In front we
have a fneNiew of the Potomac in
all its beauty and grandeur. Before
we enter tue mansion let me direct
your attention for moment TO the
Deer Park, which lies to the left as
we enter the house. The deer are
oil gone, but it is now being re- stock
ed by ex Governor Walker, of Vir
ginia, and gentleman from Montans
has promised to furnish some elk
Now, with our genial guide we enter
the large hall and follow him into the
East Parlor. Here is to be found the
sideboard presented by Mrs. Genera
X. +. Lee to the Ladies' Mt. Vernon
Associations globe used by Wash
ington;-then there is glass CASE
covering one entire side of the room
where we find several original letters
written by him, also a compass uset
by him in his surveys; q suit o
Clothing worn by him; his spy-glass
handsome cast of Washington; Lafa
yette's Masonic apron; an old tim'
breastpin or locket, with some o
Washington's hair-a relic, I think
more valuable than any other say
at Mt. Vernon. Over the sideboart
hangs tree of the Washington fami
~. On the mante1 is an old bottl,
dug up when the house was enlarg
ed' In neat frame hangs the Fare
well Address. The next room is thu
STATE DINING ROOM,