New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-11-08
THE CARLYLE HOUSE.
Relic Of Pre-Re0OIutionary Days an
Alexandria, IA.

Alexandria, Va Nov. Z (SpeciaD.-In the old Car
lyle mansion in this city in 1755 drawn up the
system Of taxation which helped to bring on the
Revolution twenty years later. Alexandria was
then the metropolis of British Empire in
America. ard soldiers and statesmen focked here.
II April Il 1855. that the congress of
Alexandria opened its session in the blue room
Of the Carlyle house, its owner John Carlyle. hav-
ing rendered TO the English general Edward Brad
dock its hospitality. and the general had invited
| 20 him six colonial Governors-Dinwiddie Of
Virginia; Shirley. Of Alassa chusetts; De Lancey,
! Of New-York: Morris. OF Pennsylvania Sharpe.
Of Maryland. and Dobbs. Of North Carolina The
OF the assembling Of this congress had spread
throughout the colonies and the village OF Alex
andria was crowded with colonists who gathered
give evidence that they were ready 20 shed their
blood for the Crown. All life, and the soldiers
rejoiced in unlimited tobacco and got drunk
superintendent West India rum. The public square,
or market square" was opposite the Carlyle house,
and here it that the soldiers and colonsts held
high carnival while the English general and the
Governors Of the colonies discussed the situation
in the blue Of the mansion. George Wash
ington had been summoned from Mount Vernon
and offered a commission major in the British
Army, and it contrary to young Washinston's
advice that the disastrous expedition to Fort Du-
quesne was planned.
After the plans Of campaign had been arranged.
the congress in secret session resolved that having
found it impracticable obtain in their respective
governments the proportion expected by his maj
esty toward defraying the expenses Of his services
IN North America they unanimously OF opinion
that II should be proposed his majesty's Min
listers TO find out some method compelling them
to do f. and Of assessing the several governments
in proportion TO their respective abilities" This
was the resolution of the congress. and when the
policy became public the Alexandrfans and their
visitors met in the courthouse. a small frame
structure opposite the Carlyle house. and. with
washington in the chair resolved. That there is
nothing 10 warrant the belief that the coonists will
not contribute TO the expense of defending the
empire.
Resolved. That taxation and representation are
in their nature inseparable
The ire Of the coonists had reached high pitch.
and Praddock's sojourn did not increase loyalty
and the coIonist soldiers had been dubbed BOB
tails" q name given account or their scant UNI
forms FIoratio Gates here TO tender the ser
vices Of two New-York regiments in the French
and Indian War; Richard Henry Lee led a country
troop Hugh Mercer. with the Fredericksburg Voiun-
teers; Andrew Lewis from the wilderness with
retinue Of Indians and halfbreeds and BENJAMIN
Franklin deputy postmaster to give man laci'les
- the arrnv On April % General Braddock LETT
Arxsnaria and on July 9 he fell. Washington kept
- the French and Indians from the town, and
when the French power was broken ne DETERMINED
n settle down to a quiet life and MADE the stare
nv getting married. He became an everyday clu%eh
az Alexandria. and mixed and mingled win her
neople. but Mortified the society people oy SD
-erirtending the running OF market wagons 10 the
Alexandria market from his Mount vernon nome,
However then. as now, whatever some PeoP
MAS the thing and 1t was not long before WASH
,rf-ton had a number Of followers in the market
wagon business 1t on market ana eIec'oA
5s,- tbe. he became involved in a dispute Win
Colonel PAYNE who gave him a severe dow ai
knocking him down The blow was not 'e'uiiIeu'
washington realizing that he was il Ne -,
and the difficulty settled over e4o "
Al washingtons expense. after which they dined
with Mr. Carlyle
For years and years the old house. which ng-
ured so prominently in Revolutionary days mas
been shut of from the public eye by the prlck
hotel the Braddock House built around the west
north and south Of it. Recently there has been IN
oorporated the Society for the Restoration OF
Historic Alexandria" and the first effort of the
society restore the Carlyle house The society
iopes 10 be able 10 buy the dsreputable old hotel
and tear II away. that there Will be nothing 10
obs,ruct the view of the historic house. The hotel
has not been habitable for n long while, and is
f,sed largely now as wareroom for antique furni-
ture The Carlyle house is in a fair state OF pres
erya,ion ard. with timely repairs. can De
made IN perfect condition. fact due > the exec
lart material used IL it's exterior and interior CON
s,r,,c.ion Tradition has it tina. the house IL pun
"a a stone fort erected more than two ceh'"i
ago Tie massive stone walls upon NHio a.
b,pse rests are eighteen twenty feet hish ia
closing All kinds OF subterranean Vauits' i"'
and passageways. some square and otheis oNa
sbaped and some Of the openings leaoiile no
knows where. Some assert that there Is 81 -
ground passageway which leads 10 the
some two hundred yards away. but tneIe ~
trustworthy record OF any one havine aue w
tn 20 the river by this route There was o".e
mon a time a well in this sub-basen'eH" ou' ~
bas been the dumping place Tor ruOoi7" 1-- :.
tout ilIed M Il IS even stated oy BONE mat
~-.... ro,r smith had hand in building the
.,., a., queer vaults and rooms. The stone
x,ork and masonry IS Of too high order TO have
-, 6o,e nv any Of the men who were In these
49, .'s,h srn,,h The large doorway which leads