Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-04-28
EARLY VIRGINIA HISTORY.
OLD BELvo1R-CoNTINUED.
No. IL.

mansion to the rivers edge, over whict
Washington SO frequently passed in hi:
visits by water 10 his friends, the Fair
faxes, with whom he was on the mos
intimate and cordial relations, may be
still traced through a growth of pines
oaks and cedars. Here at Belvoir in
those primitive times lived like fendal
magnates, the representatives of the
honorable Fairfax family who, marry
ing aud giving in marriage with other
noted scions of Virginia, saw their
wealth and influence steadily increase
as the years passed on.
AS we behold the mansion now in
imaainalion after the lapse Of a century
and a-half. with the help of not only
Washington description, but also Of ac-
counts gathered from old inhabitants
OF the neighborhood long since dust,
aud with the aid of the tracings of the
ruins already noted, our idea is that OF
stately manor house very similar inout-
iine and finish to most of the old colon
i'll dwellings of the best structure still to
b : seen in theNorthernNeck down totwo
generations ago. 1t has two stories and
au attic, with steep over reaching roofs,
iormer windows, and huge outside
chimneys of stone and brick. There
are belfry aud outlook, and ample
verandas for the summer breezes, and
views of the near flowing river. With
in, the halls and rooms are spacious
with high ceilings, wainscoted and
paneled walls, and the fire places are
wide for warmth and CHEEKY flames.
This is our ideal of "Belvoir House. "
There is not only "fruit garden" as
has been stated, with bountiful supply
of varieties of fruits, but there is gar
den of flowers where my Cady Fairfax
has her box bordered beds of lady slip
pers, sweet williams, rnarigolds: shrubs,
lilacs and the like, and a wealth of
English ivy, and roses and eglantlne
and jessamines clambering the walls;
and there are terraces and winding
paths, and carriage ways which lead
down under the branches of great oaks
and cedars to the edge of the ripping
waters or out into the broad fields ad-
Joining. AS we see it, it was an lnvlt.
ing retreat, d home where taste and
toll had we'll done their parts to beau
tifv and adorn the surroundings.
The apartments of the house judging
from partial inventories of the house,
hold effects sold at two public sales in
IVA. must have been furnished as COM
forlably and luxuriously as any "O.d
England" manor house of that period.
The purchases made by Col. George
Washington in August, 1744, alone
amounted to nearly Two hundre
pounds sterling. They were as fol-
lows:
l mahogany shaving desk Al, l settee
bed and furniture 13l, 4 mahogany
chairs 4, chamber carpet II Is, L oval
gllss with gilt frame in the green
room" Il IS, l mahogany chest and
drawers in Mrs. Fairfsx's chamber III
los, mahogany sideboard 12l IS, | ma
hogany cistern and stand Al, l mahog-
auy voider, dish tray and knife tray
II los; Japan bread tray Is, Il chairs
and 8 window curtains from dining
room 3ll, 1 looking glass and gilt frame
l3l SIS, 2 candle sticks and bust OF
Shakespeare II 6., 8 floor carpets in
pentlemen's room 81 5s, large carpet
III, / mahogany wash desk, Sc, II q
81; 1 mahogany close stool II los, 2
mattresses Al los, l pair andirons, tongs,
fender and shovel, 81 los; l pair and
irons, tongs, fender and shovel, 81 lis
81; / pair andirons, toDgs, fender and
shovel, II It's Sd; 1 pair dog irons IN
great kitchen 81, l hot rache Al, l roast
ing fork 25 Sd, plate basket IS, | ma
hcgany spider make tea table Ii lis, l
screen los, carpet 81 15s. l pair bel
lows and brush lis, 2 window curtains
2l, large marble mortar ii Is, l hot
rache in cellar II Is 81, 2 mahogany
card tables Il, bed, pair of blankets,
19 C pverlets, pillows, holsters and l ma
houany table, II ; bottles and pickle
pots 14s, dozen mountain wine Ii Is,
/ chariot glasses frames lbs Cd, II pc"
ter water plates IL.
Another inventory of the Belvoir
house furniture is given by Co" way in
his 'Barons of the Potomac" This
was sold at public sale in December
of IVA.
In the dining room-1 mahogany 5 #.
,ideboard table 81 5s, pair mahogany
square card tables 81, 5s, l oval cistern
on frame q lis, l kuife tray s., l seal
loped mahogany stand lis, . dish trays
II l2.. l large mahogany cut rim tea
tray Ii los, l sconce glass, gilt in bur
nished gold, Isl; y mahogany chairs
III, y covers for chairs II los, 8 Grim
son marine drapery curtaips III IS, i
large wilton Persiau carpet 81 los, pair
tongs, shovel, dogs snd fender II los.
Iu the parlor-1 mahogany table and
glass to take of 81 l5., mahogany
leg spider table q 5S, l folding hre
screen lined with yellow II Is, 2 ma
hogany arm chairs 81 %, chimney
glass 1Ol. dogs. tongs, shovel and fender
2l las 6i; , Saxon green plain drapery
curtains 81.
In Mrs. Fairfax's chamber ma
hogany chest of drawers 81 10 L btd-