THE FARMERS' REGISTER. 



Vol. VI. 



JULY 1, 1838. 



No. 4. 



EDMUND R U F F I N, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR. 



IIUMAKKS OtV THE SOILS AND AGUICULTlTUIi 

 OF GLOUCESTER COUNTY. 



By the Editor. 



[Coiiliiiucil fioiii page 178 of this volume] 



One o( the most interesting objects which I vi- 

 sited in Gloucester, was Kosewell, the residence of 

 the distinguished patriot John Page, Governor of 

 Virginia, and of his family preceding and succced- 

 inghim. Tlie house is situated on the border of 

 York river, and commands an extensive view 

 over the dee|) blue waters and the clean white 

 beach of that most beautiful of all our wide wa- 

 ters. The land, though said to be good, and pro- 

 ductive, as a i'arm, considering its long neglected 

 state, presented nothing which attracted my no- 

 tice, or diverted attention from the ancient and 

 venerable building, to see which, was the object 

 of my visit. The walls of the mansion-house 

 Ibrm a cube of 60 feet. The roof is Oat and cover- 

 ed with lead, except the central and more elevat- 

 ed parts, which are so low, however, as to be hid- 

 den from the outer view by the surrounding para- 

 pet wall of about 3 or 4 feet hich. The style of 

 building is plain and simple. Though the ma- 

 terials were of the best land, and the construction 

 and decoration such as must have been very cosily, 

 still the whole appearance is as plain, as if embel- 

 lishment and display were not only not sought, 

 but despised by the builder. It is said that the mas- 

 sive walls contain about a million of bricks; most 

 of which, according to the fashion of old times, 

 were brought fi'om England. The interior walls 

 of all but the upper apartments are wainscoted 

 with black-walnut to the ceiling, and the balus- 

 trade of the great staircase is of mahogany, richly 

 carved. All appears simple and severe, and yet 

 grand, and nothing seems designed for ornament, 

 or ostentation. The chimneys, which so much 

 disfigure all modern buildings, are here so massive 

 that they seem more like the turrets of tlie an- 

 cient structures of the Itjudal age; and the resem- 

 blance is further increased by two small circular 

 erections in the roof; one of which is the upper 

 end of the flight of stairs, and the other a sort of 

 observatory, where the extensive prosjiect and re- 

 freshing sea-breeze might be enjoyed in the great- 

 est perfection. Altogether, the Roscwell house 

 bears not a very (hint resemblance to an ancient 

 baronial castle; and, except the ivy-capf)cd ruins 

 of the old Jamestown church, (under whose shade 

 these lines are pencilled.) I have never seen any 

 structure so venerable in its form, and in its pro- 

 gress to decay. Both these buildings, and some 

 others on hallowed spots, ought to be made pub- 

 lic property, by purchase, and preserved, both 

 from decay, and from any repairs except such as 

 might be necessary to preserve the present ap- 

 pearance. Rosewell house overlooks a wide ex- 

 panse, rich and beautiful by nature, and now de- 

 formed and impoverished by both the abuse and 

 neglect of man ; and it stands alone, in solemn 

 grandeur, though undervalued and in decay, an 

 emblem of the old aristocracy of Virginia, of 

 Vol. VI-25 



which, with all its virtues and vices, its wealth, 

 refinement, and vvastefulness, there is now so lit- 

 tle left, and that little liist fading away. 



But though in comparison to its lormerstate, the 

 Rosewell house may now be considered in a state 

 of dilapidation, still, as a residence, for the i)resent, 

 it has not greatly suffered by decay. The |)rinci- 

 pal injury sustained, and which threatens future 

 destruction to the interior of the building, if not 

 soon guarded against, is the partial sinking of the 

 ceilinl: of the great hall, on the lower floor, and 

 which takes away the support of the second and 

 third floors above the place ol' failure. A timely 

 support by a central pillar would prevent (he fur- 

 ther progress of this injury. The present owner, 

 and recent purchaser of this estate, Mr. Booth, 

 besides the convenience of keeping his own resi- 

 dence in comfortable repair, doubtless feels the in- 

 clination to preserve this noble monument of an- 

 cient times. But the expense necessary for this 

 purpose would exceed the cost and present valua- 

 tion of the whole estate; and there are lew indi- 

 viduals, in this utilitarian age, who would be will- 

 ing to bear this burden. The estate, containing 

 more than 1000 acres of land, was sold at auction 

 a lew years ago, for i?? 11,000; and was bought by 

 Mr. Booth, for a small advance on that price. 

 This is not more than the bricks of the mansion 

 house alone would cost; and the probable future 

 destiny of this building, will be, after falling into 

 complete decay, to be demolished, lor the use of the 

 remaining materials. Such has already been the 

 end of another building, not far distant, which not 

 many years ago was not less an interesting object as 

 a venerable ruin, than hallowed by historical events. 

 This was tlie once splenditl mansion of the old 

 Secretary Nelson, uncle to the [lalriotic Governor 

 Nelson, in Yorktown, which in the beginning of 

 the siege was the ijuarters cf Loi'd Cornwallis and 

 his principal officers. The walls were perforated 

 in many places by the cannon balls from the bat- 

 teries of' tlie besiegers; which in part were so direct- 

 ed by the specialorders of Governor Nelson, then 

 commanding the Virginia militia, and who dealt 

 (he same measure to his own dwelling-house, 

 though tliat was better protected bydistance,and its 

 more'humble size; and it still stands, the best re- 

 maining building in the decayed and almost de- 

 serted village of Yorktown. Secrclary Nelson 

 was then "'confined by disease to his house, 

 which stood in an angle of the Britisli interior in- 

 trenchmenf, and directly in the most importarit 

 line of defence, and attack, and therelbre peculi 

 arly exposed. His three sons, as well as his ne- 

 |)hew the governor, were in arms among the be- 

 siegers; and he was at last permitted to take re- 

 iuge in the American camp, on a flag of truce 

 being sent for that purpose by Washington, and 

 borne by one of the Secretary's sons. Before his 

 removal, one of his servants, in the same apart- 

 ment with his master, and while speaking to him, 

 was killed by a ioall from the besiegers' cannon. 

 Thouirh the "house was made a ruin by the fire of 

 the American batteries during the siege, it long 

 remained one of the objects of highest interest on 



