Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB

was calculated and indicated with exactness; and in every arrangement for his home, he appears to have made convenience and durability the prime objects of his care. The following letter to Mr. William Rumney, of Alexandria (who had been an aide to General Charles Lee at one time during the Revolu tion), will give an idea of the carefulness and forethought of Washington in the management of his affairs. Mr. Rumney was then about to leave for England:

"General Washington presents his compliments to Mr. Rumney-would esteem it as a particular favor if Mr. Rumney would make the following enquiries as soon as convenient after his arrival in England, and communicate the result of them by the Packet, or any other safe and expeditious conveyance to this country.

"1st. The terms upon which the best kind of Whitehaven flag-stone- black and white in equal quantities—could be delivered at the Port of Alexandria, by the superficial foot,―workmanship, freight, and every other incidental charge included. The stone to be 2 Inches, or thereabouts, thick; and exactly a foot square-each kind. To have a rich polished face, and good joints so as that a neat floor may be made therewith.

"2nd. Upon what terms the common Irish Marble (black and white if to be had)-same dimensions, could be delivered as above.

3rd. As the General has been informed of a very cheap kind of Marble, good in quality, at or in the neighborhood of Ostend, he would thank Mr. Rumney, if it should fall in his way, to institute an enquiry into this also.

"On the Report of Mr. Rumney, the General will take his

altimate determination; for which reason he prays him to be precise and exact. The Piazza or Colonnade, for which this is wanted as a floor, is ninety-two feet eight inches, by twelve feet eight inches within the margin, or border that surrounds it. Over and above the quantity here mentioned, if the above Flags are cheap-or a cheaper kind of hard Stone could be had, he would get as much as would lay floors in the Circular Colonnades, or covered ways at the wings of the House—each of which at the outer curve, is 38 feet in length by 7 feet 2 Inches in breadth, within the margin or border as aforesaid.

"The General being in want of a House Joiner & Bricklayer who understand their respective trades perfectly, would thank Mr. Rumney for enquiring into the terms upon which such workmen might be engaged for two or three years (the time of service to commence upon the ship's arrival at Alexandria); a shorter term than two years would not answer, because foreigners generally have a seasoning, which with other interruptions too frequently waste the greater part of the first year -more to the disadvantage of the employer than the Employed.-Bed, board & Tools to be found by the former, clothing by the latter.

"If two men of the above Trades and of orderly and quiet deportment could be obtained for twenty-five or even thirty pounds sterling per annum each (estimating the dollar at 4s. 6d.), the General, rather than sustain the loss of Time necessary for communication would be obliged to Mr. Rumney for entering into proper obligatory articles of agreement on his behalf with them and sending them by the first vessel bound to this Port. "GEO. WASHINGTON

"MOUNT VERNON, July 5, 1784 "

The pavement-stone procured through Mr. Rumney, in ac

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

cordance with the foregoing

order, still exists beneath the

grand piazza and the colonnades, but in a dilapidated state. Many of the blocks are gone, others are broken, and all show abrasion by footsteps and the elements. Many of the carpenter's tools, imported from England at that time by Washington, for the use of his workmen, are preserved. Washington was very fond of planting trees and shrubbery; and his diaries show that he was much engaged in that business in 1784 and

1785. He went to the woods almost every day to select and mark young trees for transplanting to the grounds around the mansion, and he generally superintended their removal.

In the rear of the mansion, Washington laid out a fine lawn, upon a level surface, which comprises about

[merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

GENERAL PLAN OF THE MANSION AND GROUNDS AT MOUNT VERNON.

[blocks in formation]

twenty acres. Around it he made a serpentine carriage-way; and he planted a great variety of shade trees upon each side of it. Upon one side of the lawn he formed a spacious flowergarden, and upon the other an equally spacious vegetable garden, and these were planted with the greatest care, according to the minute directions of the master. I have before me the original plan of these grounds, made by Washington's own hands. It is very carefully drawn. The exact position and the name of every tree to be planted, are laid down. With it is a section-drawing, on a larger scale, showing the proposed carriage-way around the lawn, the names of a large number of trees that were to adorn it, and the places of others indicated by letters and numerals, which are explained by a memorandum. Directly before the western front an oval grass-plot was designed, with a dial-post in the centre, and a carriage-way around it.

The lawn, the oval grass-plot, and the gardens were laid out according to the plan drawn by Washington, and remain unchanged in form. Quite a large number of trees, planted along the margins of the carriage-way, at that time, are yet there, and are noble specimens of their kind. Many others have decayed and passed away; and, in some instances, quite large trees now stand where others were planted by the hand of Washington three-quarters of a century ago.

In each garden Washington erected small houses, of octagonal form, for the storage of seeds and implements of horticulture. These are yet standing. The lower portion of each is of brick, and the remainder of plank, wrought so as to resemble blocks of stone. These garden-houses, and waterclosets of similar form and dimensions, standing on the borders of the garden near the mansion, are now [1859] fallen into

« ZurückWeiter »