576 
EDITORIAL. 
ing  through  the  press  as  rapidly  as  is  consonant  with  the  imperfect 
condition  of  some  of  the  MSS.,  and  the  engagements  of  the  Executive 
Committee.  We  are  informed  that  the  volume  will  probably  extend  to  450 
pages,  and  we  doubt  not  it  will  be  a  valuable  contribution  to  the  pharma- 
ceutical literature  of  the  United  States. 
"We  should  be  doing  great  injustice  to  the  subject,  if  we  passed  unnoticed 
the  courtesy  and  attentions  extended  by  the  Pharmaceutical  Association  of 
the  District  of  Columbia,  through  its  committee  of  reception,  Messrs.  Kid- 
well,  Walsh,  Clarke  and  others.  By  previous  invitation,  the  Association 
adjourned  on  the  16th,  at  10  o'clock,  to  visit  Mount  Vernon  and  the  tomb 
of  Washington.  Numerous  as  were  the  members,  they  were  amply  accom- 
modated with  omnibuses  to  reach  the  steamer  Thomas  Colyer.  Several  of 
the  members  were  accompanied  by  their  wives,  whose  presence  added  no 
little  to  the  pleasure  of  the  excursion.  The  weather  proved  favorable, 
and  after  a  short  stop  at  the  old  city  of  Alexandria,  the  steamer  soon  came 
within  sight  of  Washington's  homestead  and  the  scene  of  his  agricultural 
labors.  As  the  vessel  passed  preparatory  to  rounding  to,  the  bell  was  tolled 
as  is  the  universal  custom  with  all  steamers  in  passing.  The  tomb  is  reached 
by  the  ascent  of  a  ravine  path  which  opens  out  on  the  plateau  above,  just 
opposite  that  structure.  About  an  hour  and  a  half  was  spent  here  and  in 
visiting  the  old  mansion  and  its  vicinity.  The  impression  conveyed  to 
the  mind  has  rather  a  melancholy  or  saddened  cast;  one  cannot  doubt 
that  the  great  moving  spring  of  its  prosperity  has  long  since  passed  away 
from  Mount  Vernon  ;  every  thing  bearing  the  impress  of  human  art  exhibits 
more  or  less  the  finger  marks  of  decay,  whilst  the  venerable  old  trees,  pro- 
bably planted  by  its  former  master,  still  tower  up  as  evidences  of  the 
superior  skill  of  nature's  architect.  We  feel  glad  to  have  seen  Mount 
Vernon  as  it  is,  before  it  has  been  submitted  to  the  renovating  processes  of 
the  Ladies'  National  Association.  To  us  it  conveys  the  proper  idea, — the 
earthly  remains  of  departed  greatness  submitting  to  their  inevitable 
destiny,  feature  by  feature.  We  fear  that  soon  the  busy  hand  of  innovation 
will  seek  to  restore  what  is  lost,  to  change  the  pallor  of  disease  with  added 
colors,  to  animate  in  semblance  the  long  rigid  features  of  dissolution,  but 
it  will  be  in  vain.  Let  them  retard  decay  as  much  as  possible  ;  while  it 
lasts,  let  the  present  and  future  pilgrim  behold  the  mansion  that  Washing- 
ton dwelt  in,  and  the  trees  and  paths  that  he  moved  among  and  along. 
Let  these  be  curbed  in  their  growth  and  preserved  in  their  outline ;  but  do 
not  by  a  course  of  "  modern  improvements"  destroy  that  which  now  speaks 
to  the  reflective  visitor  in  a  way  not  to  be  forgotten. 
Whilst  the  members  were  grouped  in  front  of  the  tomb  of  Washington, 
an  artist  who  accompanied  the  excursion  by  invitation  of  the  Committee, 
took  an  ambrotype  picture  of  the  company,  which  was  subsequently  copied 
on  paper  for  the  gratification  of  the  members,  as  a  memento  of  the  occasion. f 
The  members,  on  returning  to  the  boat,  were  conveyed  to  White  Hall 
