A tour of inspection among the several buildings develops points of interest at every turn. The family kitchen bears evidence, in the proportions of its huge fireplace with ponderous crane and bake-oven near by, of what feasts were prepared therein. The interior of this room was renovated by Miss Amy Townsend, late Vice-Regent for New York, who obtained for it furnishings of contemporaneous date. The smoke-house stood near, and in season was filled with hams and meats for smoking. The larder was well stocked, tradition states, as indeed it must have been, to feed so many guests in addition to the regular household and large retinue of servants.
[Illustration: _Powder Horn used by one of the "Minute Men" at the Battle of Concord Charleville Musket brought by General Lafayette in 1777 Shot Gun sometime used by General Washington_]
[Illustration: Mrs. Washington's Sitting Room]
The sitting room is in the care of the Vice-Regent for Georgia. The card table and mirror are original Washington articles of considerable interest. The silver candlestick was owned by Col. William Washington, a nephew of the General. It was presented by Mrs. Georgia Page Wilder, late Vice-Regent for Georgia. The four prints representing the siege of Gibraltar are those which hung at Mount Vernon in the days of Washington. The window curtains and hangings are of the type of that period. A mahogany chair, presented to Washington by Lafayette, is a recent acquisition. One of the candles moulded for the illumination of Yorktown in 1776 is a relic of unique character. A couch which once belonged to Nellie Custis has recently been added.
This is one of the rooms General Washington added. It was designed for his study, as shown by the old book shelves built in the wall. Back of opposite doors were shelf rooms for his maps and manuscripts. The bulk of Washington's library he bequeathed to Judge Bushrod Washington, from whose nephews the books were purchased by a syndicate (1848) and deposited in the Boston Athenæum, where they still are. Some scattered volumes recovered by the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association include several bearing the genuine signature of George Washington. The names of his mother and members of his family appear upon others. An ancient Bible presented to Washington by the Bishop of Sodor and Man, together with twenty volumes of French History of Travel, sent him by Rochambeau, besides many duplicates of Washington's books, give interesting character to the present collection. Mrs. Washington's Prayer Book, and a Family Bible with record of George Washington's birth and baptism, have lately been acquired.