American Scenery, Vol. 2 (of 2): or, Land, lake, and river illustrations of transatlantic natureWillis, Nathaniel Parker
General
American Scenery, Vol. 2 (of 2): or, Land, lake, and river illustrations of transatlantic nature
Willis, Nathaniel Parker
United States -- Description and travel
discovered the rock before him, she launched into the channel on the
breaking wave, and they heard her no more. They spoke of her to each
other as lost, and betook themselves again to their silent despair. The
tempest stilled toward morning, and the sun rose clear, and till noon
again they bore the gnawings of despairing hunger, and watched the
desolate sea in vain for a passing sail. Soon after noon a boat suddenly
pulled into the channel between the rocks, friendly voices hailed the
exhausted mariners, and with daring humanity they were successfully
taken off. The ship they had seen in the night was lying-to not far from
the opposite side of the rock, and they were soon on board of her,
where, with proper treatment, they recovered from their exhaustion, and
arrived safe in port. The pilot had seen them by the same gleam which
revealed to him his danger, and after being saved by the recoil of the
wave, which threw the ship into the current of the channel between the
reefs, he lay-to till morning, when finding the vessel had drifted far
south of the rock, he returned upon her course, and with the first
abatement of the waves, manned his boat for the dangerous service he
succeeded in.
Successful as Mr. Doughty is in sketches of this description, his forte
lies in scenery of a softer and inland character—in the lonely
forest-brook, the misty wood-lake, the still river, the heart of the
quiet wilderness. In painting these features of Nature, he has (in his
peculiar style) no rivals among American painters—perhaps none in
England. His landscapes can scarcely be appreciated by those who have
not seen the untouched and graceful wilderness of America; but of
travellers who have, they touch the heart and fill the memory afresh. He
is a most sweet and accomplished artist; and when the time comes for
America to be proud of her painters, Doughty will be remembered among
the first.
[Illustration]
WASHINGTON’S HOUSE, AT MOUNT VERNON.
* * * * *
The house erected on this consecrated spot is of wood, cut in imitation
of freestone. The centre part was built by Lawrence Washington, brother
to the General. The wings were added by General Washington. It is named
after Admiral Vernon, in whose expedition the former served. The house
is two stories high, and ninety-six feet in length, with a portico
fronting the river, extending the whole length of the house, surmounted
with a cupola. The grounds are in the same state as left by General
Washington.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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