KONTICELLO. 
201 
among the number is Mr. Jefferson^, from 
whose seat I date this letter. His house Is 
about three miles distant from Charlottesville 
and two from Milton, which is on the head 
' waters of Rivanna River. It is most singularly 
situated, being built upon the top of a small 
mountain, the apex of which has been cut 
go as to leave an area of about an acre and half. 
At present it is in an unfinished state ; but if 
carried on according to the plan laid down, it 
will be one of the most elegant private habita¬ 
tions in the United States. A large apartment 
is laid.out for a library and museum, meant to 
extend the entire breadth of the house, the 
windows of which are .to open into an exten¬ 
sive green-house and aviary. In the centre is 
another very spacious apartment, of an octa¬ 
gon form, reaching from the front to the rear 
of the house, the large folding glass doors of 
which, at each end, open under a portico. An 
apartment like this, extending from front to 
back, is very common in a Virginian house; 
it is called the saloon, and during summer is the 
one generally preferred by the family, on acr 
count of its being more airy and spacious than 
any other. The house commands a magnifi¬ 
cent prospect on one side, of the blue ridge of 
mountains for nearly forty miles, and on the 
* Vice-president of the United States* 
