Historic Gardens of Virginia 



planted by Samuel Dobie who, as early as 1782, occupied the 

 stuccoed building which stands on the northeast side of the resi- 

 dence. Samuel Dobie was the architect of the roof, the steps and 

 the interior of the Virginia State Capitol, the plan of the exterior, 

 a reproduction of the Maison Carree at Nismes, France, having 

 been brought to America by Thomas Jefferson. 



In the year 1847 Daniel Webster was invited to Richmond by 

 the citizens and a public banquet was given for him. This distin- 

 guished statesman was entertained in the Archer home at a notable 

 dinner. Many other interesting men have been within its walls — 

 Henry Clay, Chief Justice Marshall, the Virginia ^Embassadors 

 to England and France — James Barbour and William C. Rives; 

 and greatest and most beloved of all, General Robert E. Lee. The 

 late Dr. S. Weir Mitchell was a kinsman of the family and visited 

 there when a boy and again in later years, after he became one of 

 America's eminent men in medicine and letters. 



Frances Archer Christian. 



[80] 



